By | SANTA FE, N.M. — A bronze chest filled with gold, jewels, and other valuables worth more than $1 million and hidden a decade ago somewhere in the Rocky Mountain wilderness has been found, according to a famed art and antiquities collector who created the treasure hunt.Forrest Fenn, 89, told the Santa Fe New Mexican on Sunday that a man who did not want his name released — but was from “back East” — located the chest a few days ago and the discovery was confirmed by a photograph the man sent him.“It was under a canopy of stars in the lush, forested vegetation of the Rocky Mountains and...…By | SANTA FE, N.M. — A bronze chest filled with gold, jewels, and other valuables worth more than $1 million and hidden a decade ago somewhere in the Rocky Mountain wilderness has been found, according to a famed art and antiquities collector who created the treasure hunt.Forrest Fenn, 89, told the Santa Fe New Mexican on Sunday that a man who did not want his name released — but was from “back East” — located the chest a few days ago and the discovery was confirmed by a photograph the man sent him.“It was under a canopy of stars in the lush, forested vegetation of the Rocky Mountains and...WW…

By | JUNEAU, Alaska — Alaska Airlines has banned an Alaska state senator for refusing to follow mask requirements.“We have notified Senator Lora Reinbold that she is not permitted to fly with us for her continued refusal to comply with employee instruction regarding the current mask policy,” spokesman Tim Thompson told the Anchorage Daily News on Saturday, adding that the suspension was effective immediately.Reinbold, a Republican of Eagle River, said she had not been notified of a ban and that she hoped to be on an Alaska Airlines flight in the near future.Last week, Reinbold was recorded...…By | JUNEAU, Alaska — Alaska Airlines has banned an Alaska state senator for refusing to follow mask requirements.“We have notified Senator Lora Reinbold that she is not permitted to fly with us for her continued refusal to comply with employee instruction regarding the current mask policy,” spokesman Tim Thompson told the Anchorage Daily News on Saturday, adding that the suspension was effective immediately.Reinbold, a Republican of Eagle River, said she had not been notified of a ban and that she hoped to be on an Alaska Airlines flight in the near future.Last week, Reinbold was recorded...WW…

By | DENVER — Denver Mayor Michael Hancock has told the city’s board of ethics in a letter that his trip last year to Mississippi was a mistake but not a violation of the ethics code.Hancock had made a Thanksgiving trip to visit family despite sending messages on social media and to city staff asking them to avoid travel because of the coronavirus pandemic.“Stay home as much as you can,” Hancock tweeted about an hour before he boarded his flight. “Host virtual gatherings instead of in-person dinners. Avoid travel if you can.”Hancock later apologized for his actions and acknowledged he...…By | DENVER — Denver Mayor Michael Hancock has told the city’s board of ethics in a letter that his trip last year to Mississippi was a mistake but not a violation of the ethics code.Hancock had made a Thanksgiving trip to visit family despite sending messages on social media and to city staff asking them to avoid travel because of the coronavirus pandemic.“Stay home as much as you can,” Hancock tweeted about an hour before he boarded his flight. “Host virtual gatherings instead of in-person dinners. Avoid travel if you can.”Hancock later apologized for his actions and acknowledged he...WW…

By | The Associated PressRepublicans offered only modest reproach when President Donald Trump said there were “very fine people” on both sides of a white supremacist rally. They stayed in line when Trump was caught pressuring a foreign leader and later defended his handling of a deadly pandemic.But with a sudden force, the wall of Republican support that has enabled Trump to weather a seemingly endless series of crises is beginning to erode.Trump’s weakened standing among his own party will come into sharper focus on Wednesday when the House is expected to impeach the president for inciting...…By | The Associated PressRepublicans offered only modest reproach when President Donald Trump said there were “very fine people” on both sides of a white supremacist rally. They stayed in line when Trump was caught pressuring a foreign leader and later defended his handling of a deadly pandemic.But with a sudden force, the wall of Republican support that has enabled Trump to weather a seemingly endless series of crises is beginning to erode.Trump’s weakened standing among his own party will come into sharper focus on Wednesday when the House is expected to impeach the president for inciting...WW…

By | The Associated PressNEW YORK — This is the deadliest year in U.S. history, with deaths expected to top 3 million for the first time — due mainly to the coronavirus pandemic.Final mortality data for this year will not be available for months. But preliminary numbers suggest that the United States is on track to see more than 3.2 million deaths this year, or at least 400,000 more than in 2019.U.S. deaths increase most years, so some annual rise in fatalities is expected. But the 2020 numbers amount to a jump of about 15%, and could go higher once all the deaths from this month are...…By | The Associated PressNEW YORK — This is the deadliest year in U.S. history, with deaths expected to top 3 million for the first time — due mainly to the coronavirus pandemic.Final mortality data for this year will not be available for months. But preliminary numbers suggest that the United States is on track to see more than 3.2 million deaths this year, or at least 400,000 more than in 2019.U.S. deaths increase most years, so some annual rise in fatalities is expected. But the 2020 numbers amount to a jump of about 15%, and could go higher once all the deaths from this month are...WW…

By | The Associated PressNo “blue state bailout” is a rallying cry for many congressional Republicans as attempts to provide more federal aid to a nation stricken by an ever-worsening coronavirus pandemic remain stuck in neutral.Yet it’s not just Democratic states asking for help amid plunging tax revenue, rising joblessness and a stuttering economy. Plenty of Republican-led states are feeling the pain, too.Just this past week, five GOP governors made a joint statement calling for Congress to pass a relief package to help their states deal with the fallout from the fast-spreading...…By | The Associated PressNo “blue state bailout” is a rallying cry for many congressional Republicans as attempts to provide more federal aid to a nation stricken by an ever-worsening coronavirus pandemic remain stuck in neutral.Yet it’s not just Democratic states asking for help amid plunging tax revenue, rising joblessness and a stuttering economy. Plenty of Republican-led states are feeling the pain, too.Just this past week, five GOP governors made a joint statement calling for Congress to pass a relief package to help their states deal with the fallout from the fast-spreading...WW…

By | The Associated PressWASHINGTON — The number of people applying for unemployment aid jumped last week to 853,000, the most since September, evidence that companies are cutting more jobs as new virus cases spiral higher.The Labor Department said Thursday that the number of applications increased from 716,000 the previous week. Before the coronavirus paralyzed the economy in March, weekly jobless claims typically numbered only about 225,000.The latest figures coincide with a surging viral outbreak that appears to be weakening the job market and the economy and threatening to derail any...…By | The Associated PressWASHINGTON — The number of people applying for unemployment aid jumped last week to 853,000, the most since September, evidence that companies are cutting more jobs as new virus cases spiral higher.The Labor Department said Thursday that the number of applications increased from 716,000 the previous week. Before the coronavirus paralyzed the economy in March, weekly jobless claims typically numbered only about 225,000.The latest figures coincide with a surging viral outbreak that appears to be weakening the job market and the economy and threatening to derail any...WW…

By | | Greeley TribuneWhen the Weld County commissioners late this past month issued a statement declaring their intent in accordance with the county’s Level Red designation, state officials warned they could issue cease and desist orders and temporarily suspend business licenses.A number of Weld restaurants ignored the threats and announced their intentions to remain open for indoor dining, including in Greeley and in Firestone. At least one restaurant, Bulldog Pub and Grub in Greeley, has had its liquor license suspended due to violating COVID-19 restrictions, according to posts on...…By | | Greeley TribuneWhen the Weld County commissioners late this past month issued a statement declaring their intent in accordance with the county’s Level Red designation, state officials warned they could issue cease and desist orders and temporarily suspend business licenses.A number of Weld restaurants ignored the threats and announced their intentions to remain open for indoor dining, including in Greeley and in Firestone. At least one restaurant, Bulldog Pub and Grub in Greeley, has had its liquor license suspended due to violating COVID-19 restrictions, according to posts on...WW…

By | The Associated PressWASHINGTON — Republican Lauren Boebert, the firearms-toting congresswoman-elect who owns a gun-themed restaurant in Rifle, has already asked Capitol Police about carrying her weapon on Capitol grounds, her office has acknowledged. If she does so, she apparently won’t be alone.The practice is allowed for lawmakers, with some limitations, under decades-old congressional regulations. The public is barred from carrying weapons in the Capitol, its grounds and office buildings.Boebert, 33, was elected this month from a conservative western Colorado district after gaining...…By | The Associated PressWASHINGTON — Republican Lauren Boebert, the firearms-toting congresswoman-elect who owns a gun-themed restaurant in Rifle, has already asked Capitol Police about carrying her weapon on Capitol grounds, her office has acknowledged. If she does so, she apparently won’t be alone.The practice is allowed for lawmakers, with some limitations, under decades-old congressional regulations. The public is barred from carrying weapons in the Capitol, its grounds and office buildings.Boebert, 33, was elected this month from a conservative western Colorado district after gaining...WW…

By | By Michael Elizabeth Sakas, Colorado Public Radio via APDENVER — Colorado is wasting more and recycling less.From 2018 to 2019, the state’s recycling rate dropped to 15.9% from 17.2%, far below the national average of 35%, according to an annual report released by Eco-Cycle and the Colorado Public Interest Research Group.The rate also continues to fall short of the state’s recycling goal of 28% landfill diversion by 2021, Colorado Public Radio reports.“We clearly have a lot more work to do here in Colorado to move our state forward,” said Suzanne Jones, executive director of...…By | By Michael Elizabeth Sakas, Colorado Public Radio via APDENVER — Colorado is wasting more and recycling less.From 2018 to 2019, the state’s recycling rate dropped to 15.9% from 17.2%, far below the national average of 35%, according to an annual report released by Eco-Cycle and the Colorado Public Interest Research Group.The rate also continues to fall short of the state’s recycling goal of 28% landfill diversion by 2021, Colorado Public Radio reports.“We clearly have a lot more work to do here in Colorado to move our state forward,” said Suzanne Jones, executive director of...WW…