Posted inHealth, News, Politics and Government, Transportation

Denver airport, RTD drops masks as judge voids federal COVID mandate

By Curt Anderson, The Associated Press ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A federal judge in Florida on Monday voided the national mask mandate covering airlines and other public transportation as exceeding the authority of U.S. health officials in their response to the coronavirus pandemic. The mandate, recently extended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and […]

Posted inColoradans, Education, Equity, News, Politics and Government

Political swings on Colorado school boards spark level of antagonism not seen since desegregation

Julie Hensley believes her SUV was targeted because of the cheery blue-and-yellow “Come Together” message spray-painted on her back window.  The special education teacher at Legend High School in Parker was already at her desk at 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday when the hallways began to buzz with word that teachers’ cars were slapped with flyers: […]

Posted inCOVID, News

Adams, Arapahoe and Jefferson counties will have indoor mask mandates starting Wednesday

Facing the possibility that the current COVID-19 surge could breach Colorado’s hospital capacity, the public health agency for Adams and Arapahoe counties Monday issued a new indoor mask mandate through at least the end of the year. Also Monday, Jefferson County Public Health’s board voted 4-1 to pass a new ordinance to require people ages […]

Posted inCOVID, Health, News

Pressure grows on Gov. Jared Polis for a mask mandate to slow rising coronavirus cases

As coronavirus infections and hospitalizations continue to climb in Colorado, directors of county public health agencies and other medical leaders have begun urgently calling on Gov. Jared Polis to issue a statewide mask mandate. Last week, the Colorado Association of Local Public Health Officials sent a letter to Polis asking for a new order requiring […]

Posted inCOVID, Education, Health, News

Douglas County health board, faced with lawsuit, is no longer allowing schools to opt out of mask mandates

The new Douglas County Board of Health on Friday amended its first public health order, which had allowed parents to opt their children out of COVID-19 masking mandates, so it would no longer apply to the Douglas County School District, which had sued over the order. The revised order is written so it still applies […]

Posted inEducation, Health, News

Douglas County School District sues its new county health department over masks

The Douglas County School District and families of students at high risk of becoming seriously ill with COVID-19 are suing the county’s new health department in federal court, alleging a public health order allowing people to opt out of masking rules in the county violates the civil rights of students with disabilities. The lawsuit asks […]

Posted inCOVID, Health, News

Colorado schools that require masks have lower coronavirus case rates, state says

Colorado’s school-aged children are experiencing the highest rates of coronavirus infection among any age group in the state right now. But state health officials Thursday presented new data showing that requiring kids to wear masks while in school is associated with lower rates of COVID-19. The data back up guidance from the Colorado Department of […]