In the course of the course of the coronavirus pandemic — amid the shutdowns, workplace closures and job uncertainty — the federal authorities doled out tens of billions of {dollars} to states within the type of a number of support packages. Colorado acquired practically $66 billion via varied applications established to bolster the economic system and preserve staff employed.
The Denver Submit got down to decide the place all the cash went that got here into Colorado. Reporter Aldo Svaldi constructed a database of all that funding, and the tales revealed listed below are based mostly on that work.
The quantity of support is so huge, these are simply the primary tales on this effort. We are going to proceed digging into how companies, municipalities, companies, counties and the state spent these taxpayer {dollars}.
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Right here’s what you’ll want to find out about The Massive Payout challenge thus far:
Investigation: Colorado acquired $65.8 billion in pandemic support. We tracked the place all that cash went
State leaders scrimped and saved final decade, pulling collectively practically $900 million in reserves to climate surprising tough patches Colorado would possibly face. When the pandemic hit in March 2020, they shortly realized it wasn’t sufficient. Our foremost story breaks down the huge allocations, the place they went, what specialists and the individuals who benefitted say, and places support applications into historic perspective. Learn extra…
Explainer: How we tracked the motion of pandemic help from the federal degree right down to Colorado counties
This explainer particulars how The Denver Submit tracked the motion of pandemic reduction support from the federal authorities’s 22 main program to Colorado’s 64 counties. Learn extra…
Interactive graphics: A visible take a look at the place Colorado’s practically $66 billion in federal pandemic support went
Well being care suppliers used COVID support lifelines to remain afloat (Coming Friday)
The Division of Well being and Human Service’s Supplier Aid Fund doled out practically $1.7 billion to hospitals and medical clinics in Colorado. The most important slice in Colorado went to Arapahoe County-based suppliers.
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When some rural counties did settle for support, it was with a wholesome dose of suspicion (Coming Sunday)
The sparsely populated elements of the Centennial State had been impacted in a different way than the denser city facilities alongside the Entrance Vary. As a result of rural areas in lots of circumstances weren’t as affected by shutdowns — social distancing, for example, is far simpler within the Japanese Plains’ Cheyenne County as a result of for each particular person, there’s multiple sq. mile of area — and since the suspicious eye these residents typically direct on the federal authorities, pandemic help was seen skeptically and typically used reluctantly.
Mountain resort counties obtain disproportionate quantity of support (Coming Monday)
Pitkin County, residence to Colorado’s quintessential tony ski city, Aspen, introduced in $19,545 per resident, greater than twice the state’s per capita breakdown. Different mountain and tourism-reliant counties — San Miguel, San Juan, Summit and Eagle — had been additionally on the prime of the pack in per capita funding. Solely town and county of Denver, rating third, prevented the mountain counties of a clear sweep of the Prime 5.
What’s being achieved about fraud (Coming Monday)
Colorado leaders know rampant fraud plagued COVID-19 reduction applications within the state. An actual whole isn’t recognized but it surely’s within the tens of tens of millions of {dollars}. We take a look at how investigators are going after the perpetrators and dealing to construct safeguards to guard in opposition to extra fraud sooner or later.
How Denver plans to make use of American Rescue Plan Act funds (Coming Tuesday)
The town of Denver is working to determine methods to spend $73.6 million value of American Rescue Plan Act funding to construct a stronger, extra equitable economic system within the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. ARPA, because the act known as, will likely be paying out via 2026, that means it might be round after the virus itself is much less of a disaster and simply a part of each day life. We take a look at how the pandemic spawned a once-in-a-generation alternative for Denver leaders to assist working class individuals after billions had been spent propping up the economic system throughout the depths of the pandemic.
Dogs like Bailey — the former Dog of the Week in The Denver Post’s Adventurist newsletter — will be in good company at the first Denver Dog Fair this weekend. (Provided by Barbara Ellis)
Denver Dog Fair
Saturday-Sunday. Woof! If the last few weeks have left you panting, why not surround yourself with unconditional love? The first Denver Dog Fair takes place on Nov. 22 and 23 with the promise of unending poochie goodness. There will be dog adoption booths, “celebrity” dogs, performances and tricks, a dog-fashion show, vendors, a dozen food trucks, kids’ bounce house, crafting, and more.
It takes place indoors at the Arapahoe County Fairgrounds, 25690 E. Quincy Ave. in Aurora, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. Tickets: $20, good for both days; 5 and under free. $5 per dog. Price includes all entertainment and activities (minus adoption fees and food/drink). denverdogfair.com
Christkindlmarket and the Mile High Tree
Friday. The annual Mile High Tree at Civic Center park has quickly become a modern classic in Denver, with its 110-foot-tall display of 60,000, color-changing LED lights. Its location next to the annual Christkindlmarket and across from the brightly decorated Denver City & County Building makes it a one-stop shop for free family holiday fun.
At the 24th Christkindlmarket you’ll find local vendors plus Glühwein (mulled spiced wine), German biers and hot chocolate, Bavarian-style pretzels, fresh smoked salmon, Knödel, goulash, Nürnberger sausages, pastries, caramels and European chocolates. The tree’s light-and-music shows run from 5 to 10 p.m. nightly.
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The market and tree both open on Friday, Nov. 22, with the market running through Dec. 23. The market is open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday-Wednesday; and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday-Saturday. denver.org/milehighholidays/mile-high-tree or christkindlmarketdenver.com
Charlie Fausette, 6, from Tampa, Fla., ice skates with her father Rob at Downtown Denver Rink in Denver on Friday, Jan. 12, 2024. (Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post)
Free ice skating downtown
Through Feb. 2, 2025. Whatever the weather, you can get a bit of holiday fun in by stopping by the popular Downtown Denver Rink. The rink, which basically bisects the 16th Street Mall’s Skyline Park (just outside the Daniels and Fisher Clocktower at 16th and Arapahoe streets), is a public rink where you can rent or bring your own skates.
It’s open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday-Saturday; and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Entry is free; skate rentals are $12 for adults and $9 for kids 12 and under. winterindenver.com/rink
Santa and Mrs. Claus will be ready for photos at the Denver Christmas Show, this year moving to the National Western Complex. (Provided by Michelle Ellis)
A very merry Denver Christmas Show
Friday-Sunday. You don’t have to be in the market for gifts to get something out of the Denver Christmas Show at the National Western Complex. It’s a family-friendly affair, with Santa visits (and photos), daily storytime and hot cocoa with Mrs. Claus, live music, dancing, and more.
Of course, if you want to pick up some candy or chocolate, local gifts, or holiday decor, that will be right there too (with free gift wrapping), as well as plenty of other vendors. Tickets for the Friday, Nov. 22-Sunday, Nov. 24, event are $14 for 14-and-up, and free for 13-and-under. It runs 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at 4655 Humboldt St. in Denver. denverchristmasshow.com
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Dallas Mavericks (8-7, 11th in the Western Conference) vs. Denver Nuggets (8-5, fifth in the Western Conference)
Denver; Friday, 10 p.m. EST
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BOTTOM LINE: Dallas seeks to keep its three-game win streak alive when the Mavericks take on Denver.
The Nuggets are 4-5 in Western Conference games. Denver is fifth in the league with 46.2 rebounds led by Nikola Jokic averaging 13.7.
The Mavericks have gone 6-6 against Western Conference opponents. Dallas ranks sixth in the Western Conference with 17.2 fast break points per game led by Luka Doncic averaging 4.6.
The Nuggets make 46.8% of their shots from the field this season, which is 2.1 percentage points higher than the Mavericks have allowed to their opponents (44.7%). The Mavericks average 115.6 points per game, 0.5 more than the 115.1 the Nuggets give up to opponents.
TOP PERFORMERS: Michael Porter Jr. is shooting 47.9% and averaging 18.3 points for the Nuggets.
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Kyrie Irving is averaging 24.3 points and 5.2 assists for the Mavericks.
LAST 10 GAMES: Nuggets: 7-3, averaging 119.7 points, 45.4 rebounds, 30.7 assists, 9.0 steals and 4.5 blocks per game while shooting 48.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 116.0 points per game.
Mavericks: 5-5, averaging 118.0 points, 44.3 rebounds, 25.5 assists, 7.7 steals and 4.8 blocks per game while shooting 50.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 109.2 points.
INJURIES: Nuggets: Aaron Gordon: out (calf), DaRon Holmes II: out for season (achilles), Nikola Jokic: day to day (personal).
Mavericks: Dante Exum: out (wrist).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Pop music icon Billie Eilish had a very important request before performing a sold-out show at Denver’s Ball Arena on Tuesday night: She wanted to snuggle with some animals.
Two Front Range shelters were more than happy to bring some furry friends for a backstage meet-and-greet with Eilish and her team, Brighter Days Dog Rescue founder and director Becca Orin said.
Broken Shovels Farm Sanctuary first got the request through the venue, and the Commerce City sanctuary teamed up with Brighter Days in Boulder to bring puppies, kittens and a pony to the arena.
Billie Eilish snuggles with a puppy and pony from Brighter Days Dog Rescue and Broken Shovels Farm Sanctuary before performing at Ball Arena in Denver on Nov. 19, 2024. (Courtesy of Becca Orin)
Eilish, her mom and team were “amazing,” Orin said, and showered the animals with love – particularly Samson the pony, who was overjoyed by all of the attention and cookies.
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Brighter Days shared photos of the visit in a post on Facebook, with Eilish grinning cheek-to-cheek with a puppy and getting a nuzzle from Samson.
“This is not the first time we have brought animals to Ball Arena for the artists ahead of their performance, but this was the first time the artist was kind enough and generous enough to let us take pictures and give us permission to post them on social media,” Orin said.
Eilish is set to perform a second sold-out show at Ball Arena on Wednesday night as part of her Hit Me Hard And Soft Tour.
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