Latest news with #QuentinYoung
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Less signaling, more doing is needed on the environment in Denver
A pair of e-scooters sit on a street in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Denver in June 2025. (Quentin Young/Colorado Newsline) This year, Denver again earned the ignominious distinction as the sixth worst city in the country for certain air pollutants. Poor air quality is a public health threat, leading to respiratory symptoms and negative long-term health outcomes — coughing, asthma attacks, cardiovascular diseases, etc. As the Trump administration proudly rolls back federal regulations intended to protect people from air pollution and climate change, it's imperative that local governments pass policies to fill the void. However, thus far in 2025, Denver's City Council has done more to signal its disapproval of poor air quality than actually tackle it. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Denver's 13-member council made headlines at the start of May when it unanimously rejected a $25 million contract with Suncor Energy's Commerce City oil refinery to purchase asphalt. The council cited concerns of environmental justice and persistent regulatory violations committed by Suncor. While divestment from negligent or unethical businesses can be a powerful tool to drive change, the practice must be undertaken strategically. In this case, Denver is taking a stance against Suncor by paying an additional $300,000 to an oil refinery with a similarly long rap sheet of regulatory violations — including some that led to explosions and fires. Because Denver's asphalt will now come from Cenovus Energy in Wisconsin, it must be transported by rail to Colorado, which creates additional environmental risk. Twenty-five percent of the nation's hazardous material accidents are caused by railroad derailments. For example, in 2023, a train spilled 500,000 pounds of asphalt into the Yellowstone River damaging hundreds of miles of natural habitat. And finally, asphalt is a byproduct of the oil refining process, and will be produced regardless of whether or not the city buys it. The Denver council's symbolic support of environmental justice and clean air is well-intentioned, but not strategic. A more effective means of opposing Suncor would be to reduce demand for gasoline — perhaps by promoting public transit or other modes of transportation, which would have the added benefit of reducing air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Just weeks after the Denver City Council's symbolic move against Suncor, the council passed an ordinance to crack down on micromobility. Since Denver signed an exclusive contract with Lime and Lyft in 2020, ridership of shared electric scooters and bikes has increased steadily. On average, Denverites take 11,100 micromobility rides every day, many of which replace car trips. Considering the emission reduction potential of micromobility, Denver's council should focus on increasing adoption while balancing the needs of pedestrians and other road users. Unfortunately, the new ordinance isn't balanced — it forces micromobility companies to mitigate 'sidewalk riding,' which is tantamount to making micromobility less safe and, therefore, less desirable. In 2024, 134 pedestrians and bicyclists were killed by cars in Denver — a 78% increase in fatalities since 2015. Although bike infrastructure is expanding, the city is still decades away from a truly connected, cycle-safe city. Going forward, Lime and Lyft must enforce Denver's law prohibiting sidewalk riding or face fines. A possible outcome is charging riders more if they ride on sidewalks. But in a city where sidewalk riding is sometimes the only safe option, that discourages safety. For many riders, this would create a lose-lose situation: Avoid the sidewalk even on busy, dangerous roads, or use sidewalks for safety and incur fines. Or, drive a car, instead. The new micromobility ordinance isn't all bad, though. It implements a much needed mechanism to reduce improperly parked scooters and bikes, which too often obstruct sidewalks for pedestrians and wheelchair users. The council should have stopped there — regulate parking, but don't dictate how riders should safely navigate our car-oriented landscape. The best way to encourage riders to avoid sidewalks is to build safe bike infrastructure. Contrary to its stated support of cleaner air, Denver's City Council has recently made moves to further entrench the city's car reliance by taking steps to widen Peña Boulevard. This Spring, in a 9-2 vote, the council approved a $15 million study to investigate widening Peña and assess other options to alleviate traffic congestion. One council member suggested that the study is a mere 'formality' unlikely to seriously consider alternatives to widening Peña. Transportation contributes significantly to the region's poor air quality and is the greatest source of greenhouse gas emissions in Colorado. Investing in road expansion would undermine the city's commitments to clean air, climate action, and a transit-oriented future. To retain a modicum of consistency, City Council should instead fund bus rapid transit, improvements to the Denver A-Line, greater security at Park-n-Rides along the A-line, or any number of options that would make public transit the most convenient method of traversing the city and getting to the airport. Considering Denver's record of poor air quality and the ongoing attacks on our nation's bedrock environmental protection laws, Denver's City Council should focus less on signaling support for clean air and environmental justice and more on substantive policies. Besides limiting the construction of new gas stations, the city has done nothing to improve Denver's air quality this year — the opposite, actually. Hopefully, the council reconsiders its priorities — before Peña is widened and micromobility ridership drops. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
DOJ files hate crime charge against suspect in Boulder attack
A view of the Boulder County Courthouse on the Pearl Street Mall in downtown Boulder on Aug. 14, 2021. (Quentin Young/Colorado Newsline) The U.S. Department of Justice filed a federal hate crime charge against the man suspected of attacking a group of demonstrators with incendiary devices in Boulder on Sunday, leaving eight victims hospitalized. The victims, ranging in age from 52 to 88, were participants in the Boulder branch of Run For Their Lives, which organizes events calling for the immediate release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. They suffered burns from Molotov cocktails and what FBI officials described as a 'makeshift flamethrower.' At least one victim was described as being in critical condition. The suspect, 45-year-old Mohammed Sabry Soliman, was arrested by Boulder police and later told investigators that he targeted what he called a 'Zionist group' after learning about it through an online search, according to an FBI affidavit filed Monday. Officials previously reported that Soliman, a Colorado Springs resident, was heard to shout 'Free Palestine' during the attack. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX 'He stated that he wanted to kill all Zionist people and wished they were all dead,' the FBI wrote of the suspect's interview after his arrest. 'He stated that he had been planning the attack for a year.' A criminal complaint filed in federal court charges Soliman with one count of 'a hate crime offense involving the actual or perceived race, religion, or national origin.' 'No American should experience violence motivated by hatred based on their faith or national origin, and the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice will act swiftly and decisively to bring the perpetrators of such crimes to justice,' Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon said in a statement. 'There can be zero tolerance for such acts in our great nation.' Soliman is expected to face additional state and federal charges in connection with the attack. Officials said they would provide more information on the charges at a 2:30 p.m. press conference. Tricia McLaughlin, the Department of Homeland Security's assistant secretary for public affairs, said Monday that Soliman was in the U.S. unlawfully, having entered the country in August 2022 on a tourist visa that expired in February 2023. An Egyptian national, he filed an asylum claim in September 2022, McLaughlin said. This is a developing story and will be updated. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
People lit on fire in ‘targeted terror attack' in Colorado
A view of the Boulder County Courthouse on the Pearl Street Mall in downtown Boulder on Aug. 14, 2021. (Quentin Young/Colorado Newsline) Multiple people were injured Sunday in downtown Boulder when a man reportedly lit them on fire, according to local police. Eight victims ranging in age from 52 to 88 years old were transported to hospitals in the region, police said. One was described as being in critical condition, with other victims' injuries ranging from serious to minor. The suspect, 45-year-old Mohamed Sabry Saliman, was taken into custody by police and was treated for minor injuries at a hospital, Mark D. Michalek, special agent in charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Denver field office, said during a Sunday evening press conference. 'Witnesses are reporting that the subject used a makeshift flamethrower and threw an incendiary device into the crowd,' Michalek said. The attack took place near the Boulder County Courthouse on the Pearl Street Mall, an area in the heart of the city that typically attracts hundreds of people on the weekend. The first calls about the attack came at 1:26 p.m., Boulder Police Chief Stephen Redfearn said earlier Sunday. 'The initial callers indicated that there was a man with a weapon and that people were being set on fire,' he said. 'When we arrived, we encountered multiple victims that were injured with injuries consistent with burns and other injuries.' Participants in the Boulder branch of Run For Their Lives, which organizes events calling for the immediate release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, were the apparent target of the attack. Michalek said the suspect was 'heard to yell 'Free Palestine' during the attack.' He called it a 'targeted act of violence' and said the FBI was investigating it as an act of terrorism. Kash Patel, director of the FBI, earlier on Sunday called the incident a 'targeted terror attack,' and Colorado Gov. Jared Polis said it was a 'heinous act of terror.' The Anti-Defamation League said on social media it was 'monitoring the situation in Colorado.' Joe Neguse, a Democrat who represents Boulder in the U.S. House, characterized the attack as targeting Jewish people. 'I am horrified by the heinous act of terror that took place in downtown Boulder this afternoon,' he said in a statement. 'Tonight, as many prepare to mark the Shavuot holiday, our Jewish community has been subjected to yet another brutal and horrific act of violence. The scourge of antisemitism has metastasized across our country, and we must do more — now — to stop this hatred and violence.' Phil Weiser, Colorado's attorney general, also indicated the group was targeted. 'From what we know, this attack appears to be a hate crime given the group that was targeted,' Weiser said in a statement. 'People may have differing views about world events and the Israeli-Hamas conflict, but violence is never the answer to settling differences. Hate has no place in Colorado.' Chase Woodruff contributed to this report. Like the SC Daily Gazette, Colorado Newsline is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Colorado Newsline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Quentin Young for questions: info@
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Colorado Democrats fear deep health care consequences in federal spending bill
A view of the Colorado Capitol in Denver on June 6, 2023. (Quentin Young/Colorado Newsline) Colorado Democrats and health care providers are warning of dire consequences for patients who rely on Medicaid for insurance coverage if the federal spending bill becomes law. The bill passed the U.S. House of Representatives by one vote last week and now sits in the U.S. Senate, where it could be largely rewritten. It could take most of the summer to shepherd a final version of the bill to President Donald Trump's desk. Colorado's four Republican House members voted for the bill and the four Democrats in the delegation voted against it. The bill enacts much of Trump's domestic policy agenda, including an extension of the 2017 tax cuts, and Republicans argue it targets waste and fraud in government spending. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Some of the House-approved bill's most sweeping provisions are changes to Medicaid, the nation's health care program for low-income people that covers roughly 1 in 5 Americans. The changes include new work requirements for most people, more frequent eligibility checks and elimination of federal matching funds for some types of care, including gender-affirming care. Those modifications would amount to about $700 billion in cuts over the next decade, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. It would also mean fewer people enrolled and more cost-sharing for states, which are in charge of administering Medicaid programs. Democrats wrote in a letter to the state's congressional delegation this week that Colorado's hospitals, clinics and other providers could lose up to $990 million in annual federal Medicaid funding. 'The intent is to have people dis-enroll to save money in the short run. Make no mistake about it,' Dr. Steve Federico, the chief of government and community affairs at Denver Health, said during a virtual press conference on Thursday with legislative leaders and health care providers. 'Ultimately, all health systems will see more patients who cannot afford to pay, thus seeing uncompensated care, which hurts all of us. These costs will stress health systems' ability to care for patients, to provide needed appointments or to buy necessary medications or supplies. Hospitals and communities across Colorado will be at risk of decreasing services, decreasing access, or closing their doors all together.' When hospitals provide uncompensated care, some of the costs ultimately get shifted to people with private insurance through higher premiums. Ultimately, all health systems will see more patients who cannot afford to pay, thus seeing uncompensated care, which hurts all of us. – Dr. Steve Federico, chief of government and community affairs at Denver Health Sen. Jeff Bridges, a Greenwood Village Democrat who chairs the Legislature's Joint Budget Committee, said an increase in administrative work could cost the state about $57 million and require thousands of new case managers. Lawmakers passed an ultra-tight budget this year that already required about $1 billion in cost-saving measures to absorb the cost of the state's Medicaid program. '(Republicans in Congress) talk about waste in government. This is $57 million that will be spent on admin and not health care. And this isn't a huge problem — we're not seeing $57 million worth of health care provided to people who don't qualify,' he said. Democratic lawmakers said the proposed Medicaid cuts could result in 11% to 18% of participants losing coverage. That could include Veronica Montoya, a Denver resident who began relying on Medicaid after her chronic illnesses made it difficult to work. Her coverage has made it possible to get appropriate and effective care, she said. 'I'll be on this medicine for the rest of my life, God willing, because it has helped. But if I lose this medicine, I don't see a very good future,' she said. 'I think about what these proposed cuts would do to me and I wonder how a silencer is more important than something that keeps me able to still function and have a life.' The bill includes the elimination of a customer tax on firearm silencers. The Colorado Legislature, which completed its regular 2025 session earlier this month, might need to reconvene for a special session if deep Medicaid cuts go through in order to find a solution that keeps the program functioning. House Speaker Julie McCluskie, a Dillon Democrat, said Thursday no decisions on a special session had been made yet. 'Obviously there's a great deal of uncertainty at the moment. Whether or not a special session is in our future will depend on the impacts that ultimately are felt by the passage of the budget this year at the federal level,' she said. 'So no decisions or determinations have been made on what our response will be — whether that is something that comes in a special session or next legislative session.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Prep baseball roundup: Quentin Young's 14th homer powers Oaks Christian to playoff win
Quentin Young of Oaks Christian is in his final days of high school baseball, giving pro scouts one final chance to evaluate his immense skills. Fans have already decided his entertainment value is off the charts. He hit his 14th home run on Friday in the opening round of the Southern Section Division 2 playoffs — a three-run blast — that helped send the Lions to a 9-2 victory over Redlands East Valley. Young finished with two hits and four RBIs. Joshua Brown and James Latshaw also hit home runs. Ty Hanley threw a complete game. San Clemente 8, Westlake 0: Stanford commit Mike Erspamer threw a one-hit shutout with seven strikeouts and one walk. Kaden Raymond had a two-run home run. Advertisement Servite 1, Riverside Prep 0: Toby Kwon gave up two hits and no walks in the complete game. Mater Dei 3, South Hills 0: Brandon Thomas struck out seven, walked none and gave up four hits in a Division 2 playoff opener. Ezekiel Lara had two RBIs. West Ranch 4, Palm Desert 3: Hunter Manning had three hits and three RBIs and also threw six innings with six strikeouts to lead West Ranch to a road victory in Division 2. Mikey Murr got the save with a scoreless seventh. Simi Valley 3, Ventura 0: Kyle Casey struck out four and walked none in a complete game for No. 2-seeded Simi Valley in Division 2. Crean Lutheran 6, La Habra 1: Ben Keller had three hits and three RBIs as Crean Lutheran toppled top-seeded La Habra in Division 2. Advertisement Etiwanda 11, Sherman Oaks Notre Dame 5: Angel Mejia and LJ Roellig hit home runs for Etiwanda, which had a six-run fifth inning. Gahr 10, La Salle 0: Andres Gonzalez and Adrien Ramirez each had three RBIs and Jake Ourique struck out eight in six innings. Trabuco Hills 4, Bonita 3: Ryan Luce had two doubles for Trabuco Hills. Fountain Valley 4, El Segundo 2: A three-run fifth inning helped Fountain Valley come back from a 2-1 deficit. Anaheim Canyon 10, Maranatha 6: Cooper Stevenson had a two-run double in the first inning to ignite the Comanches. Camden Goetz had a home run. Foothill 6, Long Beach Millikan 4: Gavin Lauridsen threw 6 1/3 innings, striking out seven. Advertisement Torrance 5, Chino Hills 1: Hector Chavez hit a two-run home run for Torrance. Murrieta Mesa 6, Santa Monica 0: Tanner Blackmon struck out seven and gave up three hits in the Division 4 victory. Valencia 4, Northview 1: Lincoln Hunt had three hits for the Vikings. Saugus 22, Wise Da Vinci 3: Zach Seeley hit two home runs and finished with nine RBIs. Sign up for the L.A. Times SoCal high school sports newsletter to get scores, stories and a behind-the-scenes look at what makes prep sports so popular. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
