Wisconsin health officials initiated a recall of eggs following an outbreak of salmonella infections among 65 people in nine states — including Colorado — that originated on a Wisconsin farm.
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services said in a statement Friday that among those infected by salmonella are 42 people in Wisconsin, where the eggs are believed to have been sold.
“The eggs were distributed in Wisconsin, Illinois and Michigan through retail stores and food service distributors,” the department said. “The recall includes all egg types such as conventional cage-free, organic, and non-GMO, carton sizes, and expiration dates in containers labeled with ‘Milo’s Poultry Farms’ or ‘Tony’s Fresh Market.’”
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed in a statement on its website that 65 people in nine states were infected by a strain of salmonella, with 24 hospitalizations and no deaths as of Friday. The states include Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Iowa, Virginia, Colorado, Utah and California, the agency said.
One case has been reported in Colorado to date, according to the CDC.
The egg recall was undertaken by Milo’s Poultry Farms LLC of Bonduel, Wisconsin, the CDC said.
“Anyone who purchased the recalled eggs is advised to not eat them or cook with them and to throw them away. Restaurants should not sell or serve recalled eggs,” the Wisconsin health department said.
The department advised anyone who ate the eggs and is experiencing symptoms to contact a health care provider. Symptoms include diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever and vomiting lasting for several days, the statement said.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture in July announced new measures to limit salmonella in poultry products. The proposed directive included requiring poultry companies to keep salmonella levels under a certain threshold and test for the presence of six particularly sickening forms of the bacteria, three found in turkey and three in chicken.
Bacteria exceeding the proposed standard and identification of any of the strains would prevent poultry sales and leave the products subject to recall.
The CDC estimates salmonella causes 1.35 million infections annually, most through food, and about 420 deaths. The Agriculture Department estimates there are 125,000 infections from chicken and 43,000 from turkey each year.
A Colorado State Patrol trooper was injured Saturday afternoon after he was shot while in his patrol vehicle in Westminster, according to the agency.
The trooper shot the suspect, who died at the scene, according to the news release. The suspect has not yet been publicly identified.
The shooting occurred at about 1:18 p.m. The trooper was parked in the center median on U.S. 36, west of Federal Blvd., when a car drove by and shot several rounds at him. One bullet hit the trooper, according to the news release.
The driver of the car then pulled over on a shoulder and the suspect exited and began firing again at the windshield of the patrol vehicle. The trooper then exited his car and fired back at the shooter, according to the news release.
The trooper was transported to a local hospital for non-life-threatening injuries, according to the release.
U.S. 36 is closed while police conduct their investigation, according to the news release.
A mama bear was fatally shot by a San Juan County sheriff’s deputy in Silverton this week after a beanbag round used to haze wildlife penetrated her stomach.
Several people called 911 just after 9 p.m. Tuesday to report someone harassing bear cubs near the 1300 block of Greene Street, the sheriff’s office said Thursday.
A deputy arrived to find a crowd of people in a narrow alley with a mama bear and her two cubs and directed the bystanders to leave the area before using a beanbag round to get the sow off the roof.
As the bear headed down the block with her cubs, the officer used a second beanbag round to keep her moving out of downtown. The second shot penetrated the bear’s lower abdomen and killed her, the sheriff’s office said.
Sheriff’s officials contacted Colorado Parks and Wildlife officers, who removed the bear and captured, tagged and relocated the two cubs.
“The officer involved was acting accordingly, using commonly practiced methods, and attempting to save this bear’s life, not cause any serious harm. This is a most unfortunate incident, and our entire office is saddened by the outcome,” agency officials said in a statement.
While orphaned bear cubs can be taken to a wildlife rehabilitation center in Del Norte, wildlife officers determined the two cubs could be released immediately, said CPW spokesperson John Livingston.
“These cubs were in good body condition, at a great weight for this time of year and released to a place with ample natural forage to continue to pack on weight ahead of denning this winter,” Livingston said.
While bear sightings are not uncommon in town, Silverton Mayor Dayna Kranker issued a statement calling for community members to form a coalition to reduce harm from human-wildlife interactions.
Three people were killed after the driver of a Jeep Grand Cherokee hit two Colorado Department of Transportation employees working outside their vehicle on U.S. 6 near Palisade.
Colorado State Patrol troopers responded to a fatal crash on westbound U.S. 6 between Palisade and Clifton in Mesa County around 10:42 a.m. Wednesday, agency officials said in a news release.
Investigators determined the driver of the Jeep Grand Cherokee struck two CDOT workers who were working outside of their vehicle and then hit a parked CDOT vehicle, causing the Jeep to roll.
The CDOT vehicle was parked off the right side of the road, CSP officials said.
One person in the Jeep was taken to the hospital and a second person in the Jeep died at the scene. Both CDOT workers died at the scene.
Troopers are still investigating the cause of the crash, according to the agency.
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis’ chief of staff will leave the administration next week to take a job as a lobbyist at UCHealth.
Then-Speaker Alec Garnett of the Colorado House of Representatives during a committee hearing on fentanyl at the Colorado State Capitol on Tuesday, April 12, 2022. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Alec Garnett, a former Democratic lawmaker from Denver, joined the governor’s office at the start of 2023 after serving as speaker of the Colorado House of Representatives. He used those close ties to lawmakers as he worked to pass Polis’ agenda and weigh in on legislation, including during a special legislative session last week that was aimed at averting property tax reform ballot initiatives as part of a deal with conservative and business advocacy groups.
Polis’ office announced Tuesday morning that he will step down as chief of staff on Sept. 13. UCHealth, in an internal announcement, says Garnett will join the health system as vice president of government and regulatory affairs.
Polis’ new chief of staff will be David Oppenheim, who served as the deputy to Garnett, handling legislative and policy affairs. Before that, he was director of operations and cabinet affairs. He joined the governor’s office as legislative director in 2019.
“I thank Alec Garnett for his incredible leadership and hard work for the people of Colorado, culminating in a historic special session that successfully cut the property tax rate for every homeowner and small business,” Polis said in a news release.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Several cars at the back of a motorcade carrying Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz crashed while heading from the airport to a campaign stop in Milwaukee on Monday, but Walz was unhurt.
President Joe Biden called and spoke to Walz a short time later, as the president was traveling to a separate campaign stop in Pittsburgh with Vice President Kamala Harris. Harris’ campaign said that she also spoke with her running mate by phone after the crash and that he was not injured.
The Harris campaign said the crash involved cars near the rear of the motorcade. Walz, who is also the governor of Minnesota, was riding closer to the front.
It wasn’t immediately clear what caused the crash, which occurred shortly before 1 p.m. local time and caused some minor injuries.
The White House said that Harris was briefed on the collision and spoke with Walz to check on him and the staff. She’s expected to get updates throughout the day.
A member of the traveling pool staff, who was in a van carrying reporters, was injured and being treated by medics, according to a pool report from a reporter traveling in Walz’s motorcade, who wrote that passengers were “violently thrown forward, as our van slammed into the one in front of us and was hit from behind.”
The van carrying the reporters remained pulled over on the side of the road for several minutes afterward.
Some reporters had scrapes and bruises and one had a bloody nose. Another feared having suffered a concussion and was initially looking to be taken to urgent care — but eventually climbed aboard a new van to accompany the rest of the press to the event.
All who wanted to be checked out by paramedics were assessed, according to the pool report.
The crash occurred after Walz and his wife, Gwen, were greeted at the airport by Democratic Rep. Gwen Moore of Wisconsin. The trio embraced, chatted and posed for a photo before the motorcade began heading to the event.
Monday’s campaign stops marking Labor Day were Walz’s first aboard the Harris-Walz campaign charter aircraft. It bears decals of an American flag, the words Harris-Walz, and “A New Way Forward.”
The Kid Rox were more than all right Saturday night in a 7-5 victory over the Orioles at Coors Field.
Rookie right fielder Jordan Beck delivered a clutch RBI single in the eighth to drive in Nolan Jones, who had reached on a one-out double to left-center. Beck then swiped third base and scored on rookie catcher Drew Romo’s infield groundout.
Beck delivered the first game-winning RBI of his career and Romo drove in a career-high three runs.
Colorado’s two-run, game-clinching rally came against veteran right-hander Craig Kimbrell, who’s become a weak link for a Baltimore team that is now 20-21 since the All-Star break but remains just 1 1/2 games behind the Yankees in the American League East.
The Rockies, with a 51-86 record, are on pace to lose 102 games, and they face a tough schedule in September. But manager Bud Black likes the idea of throwing his young players into the fire.
“This is good for our guys to go against these types of teams in September,” Rockies manager Bud Black said. “We talked about it last year. We don’t want to be in this position, but we are. The reality is we are. But is good for our guys to be in these games against teams that are vying for a playoff spot.”
Colorado’s unheralded heroes Saturday night were rookie relievers Luis Peralta, Seth Halvorsen and Jeff Criswell, who combined to pitch 3 1/3 scoreless innings. Criswell picked up his first career victory.
Rockies veteran right-hander Tyler Kinley scored his eighth save of the season, but it wasn’t easy. He gave up a leadoff walk to Cedrick Mullins, threw a wild pitch, and plunked Gunner Henderson to paint himself in a corner. But Kinley struck out three, including Adley Rutschmnan, to end the game.
Romo was pumped that Colorado’s young players delivered with the game on the line.
“This feels awesome,” said Romo, who extended his hitting streak to five games and his RBI streak to four games “Beck hit the ball well tonight and did a great job stealing third in the eighth.
“And it’s crazy how many rookie relievers we have right now. I feel like there is a good connection with them. I’ve worked with them before, and they’re comfortable with me, and I’m comfortable out there with them.”
Colorado had a chance to take control in the seventh but couldn’t cash in. Ezequiel Tovar and Ryan McMahon drew back-to-back one-out walks, but reliever Yennier Cano struck out Brenton Doyle and got Brendan Rodgers to ground out to third.
The Rockies keep waiting for starter Ryan Feltner to turn the corner, but the hard-throwing right-hander keeps spinning out.
Feltner pounded the strike zone for the first three innings and kept the Orioles on the defensive. That changed in the fourth, and then the wheels came off in the fifth.
An infield hit by Rutschman, followed by a 437-foot, two-run homer by Anthony Santander got the Orioles on the board in the fourth.
The O’s tied the game, 5-5, in Feltner’s erratic fifth inning. Eloy Jimenez led off with a 441-foot homer to center. The Feltner hit Ramon Urias, gave up a single to Jackson Holliday, and jammed the bases by issuing a two-out walk to Rutschman.
Feltner needed one big pitch to escape the jam. He didn’t get it. Ryan O’Hearn ripped a two-run single to center. Feltner’s night was over, meaning he hasn’t notched a victory since April 10 at Toronto.
The next step for Feltner, Black said, is “finishing off an inning and finishing off an outing.”
“He knows, and you learn through these battles,” Black continued. “He’s got the aptitude and the smarts to learn when you really have to get and out and when you really have to make a pitch. There’s an art to that.”
Feltner, however, didn’t think he pitched much differently in his first three innings vs. his last two.
“It was nothing about how I felt or any of the pitches I was throwing,” he said. “It was just kind of results. Things went sideways, but I thought I stayed pretty consistent with the game plan.”
Feltner said he’s improved this season when it comes to keeping games in control.
“I definitely feel like I’ve done that throughout this year, and I feel like I’ve gotten better at that,” he said. “I don’t feel like it’s the next step for me. I think tonight just wasn’t my night.”
Colorado took a 3-0 lead in the second off Dean Kremer with a leadoff double by Doyle and an RBI single by Rodgers. Then rookie catcher Drew Romo blooped a two-run double into left field.
Baltimore lost Kremer to injury in the fourth inning, when Beck hit a 103.1 mph comebacker off the right-hander’s forearm. Kremer was later diagnosed with a right forearm contusion and X-rays came back negative for a fracture.
Charlie Blackmon’s two-run triple to the gap in left-center off reliever Keegan Akin gave Colorado a 5-2 lead after four innings.
Quantrill scratched. Right-hander Cal Quantrill, who was scheduled to start Sunday afternoon’s game against Baltimore, was scratched because of right triceps inflammation, the club announced after Saturday night’s game.
They will start left-hander Ty Blach, whose contract will have to be selected from Triple-A Albuquerque. So a move will be necessary to create room for Blach on the club’s 40-man roster.
One person died and another was injured in a Thursday morning, single-vehicle crash in Denver’s Windsor neighborhood.
Officers responded to reports of a crash near South Clinton Street and East Alameda Avenue early Thursday morning, according to a 12:36 a.m. statement from the Denver Police Department.
The intersection is just north of the Windsor Gardens Community Center and northeast of Windsor Lake.
One car was involved in the crash, but paramedics took two people to the hospital with serious injuries, police said. Police did not specify if the second person involved in the crash was a passenger or a pedestrian.
Sidney Raymond Eudy, a professional wrestler known as Sid Vicious who was known for his intense persona and imposing stature, has died, his son announced Monday. He was 63.
Gunnar Eudy, one of the wrestler’s two sons, wrote on Facebook that his father died after “battling cancer for several years.”
“He was a man of strength, kindness, and love, and his presence will be greatly missed,” his son wrote. “We appreciate your thoughts and prayers as we grieve this loss.”
The 6-foot-9-inch Eudy went by many names in the ring, including Sid Justice and Sycho Sid, and rose to prominence at the height of the WrestleMania craze in the 1990s. He was a two-time champion in the World Wrestling Federation (now World Wrestling Entertainment) and also performed for its ’90s rival World Championship Wrestling and the United States Wrestling Association. He faced off against Hulk Hogan and The Undertaker among other stars.
In a statement, WWE called Eudy “one of the most imposing and terrifying competitors of his generation” who had a “natural charisma that immediately connected with the WWE Universe.”
“Sid’s reputation as one of the toughest and most thrilling superstars cemented his legacy in WWE, and his influence can still be seen in wrestling rings around the world,” the statement said.
Eudy was born in West Memphis, Arkansas, and lived in Tennessee for many years. Survivors include his wife, Sabrina Estes Eudy, his sons Frank and Gunnar, and his grandchildren.
A 42-year-old man fatally shot by Fort Collins police during an armed confrontation at Grandview Cemetery in July was a suspect in a 2019 cold-case homicide, police officials said Friday.
Pierce was involved in a single-vehicle rollover crash and left the scene armed with two “ghost guns,” or guns without serial numbers, which are illegal to own, sell or create.
Pierce was also carrying a bottle of bourbon with the words “His last day” written on it, according to the district attorney’s letter.
He pointed the rifle at responding police officers and shot one officer in the arm, according to the agency. He then walked into Grandview Cemetery, where he was fatally shot by police.
Pierce had twice the legal driving limit of alcohol as well as methamphetamine, THC and gabapentin in his system at the time of his death, according to the letter.
District Attorney Gordon McLaughlin found Fort Collins Police Services Sgt. Brian Mallory and Officers Peter Nolan, August Barber and Cole Giandomenico were legally justified in using deadly force “to defend themselves, other officers and the public at large” from the threat posed by Pierce.
At the time of Pierce’s death, Fort Collins police were “in the process of formalizing charges” against him in connection to a 2019 cold-case homicide, the police agency said Friday.
Detectives determined there was “sufficient evidence” to arrest Pierce on suspicion of first-degree murder in the death of Joseph “Sonny” Brigman.
Brigman, 62, died from a gunshot wound after he was found unresponsive in his apartment in the 4100 block of Verbena Way the night of April 29, 2019, according to the Fort Collins Coloradoan.
Professional golfers and spectators come to Castle Pines Golf Club for the BMW Championship from Thursday, Aug. 22, through Sunday, Aug. 25, 2024, in Castle Rock, Colorado. The BMW Championship, featuring the top 50 players on the PGA Tour, is the penultimate event of the FedEx Cup playoffs on the PGA Tour schedule.
Professional golfers and celebrities take part in the Gardner Heidrick Pro-Am tournament of BMW Championship at Castle Pines Golf Club in Castle Rock, Colorado on Aug. 21, 2024. Among the celebrities were Peyton Manning, Gabe Landeskog, John Elway and Country singer Luke Bryan. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)
Thornton police officers shot and injured an armed man allegedly resisting arrest Tuesday night.
Around 8 p.m. Tuesday, Thornton officers approached a man with a warrant in a parking lot in the 200 block of East 120th Avenue — just west of Interstate 25 near Webster Lake — according to a news release from the police department.
Officers told the man he was under arrest, but he refused to listen to officers and attempted to walk away, the news release stated.
The police department said officers fired a taser at the man, but it was “ineffective.” When the man allegedly pulled out a handgun in response, multiple officers shot him.
Paramedics transported the man to a hospital with “serious injuries,” police said in the release. An update on his condition was not available Wednesday morning.
The 17th Judicial District Critical Incident Response Team will investigate the shooting and the officers’ use of force.
None of the officers were injured, and all have been placed on administrative leave during the investigation, police said. The number of officers involved in the shooting was not available Wednesday.
Quality start doesn’t begin to describe Austin Gomber’s performance.
How about dominating? Or commanding? Or just plain terrific?
Whatever the adjective, Gomber sparkled in the Rockies’ 3-1 win over the Nationals on Tuesday night in Washington, D.C.
The left-hander, throwing a confounding curveball, was in command for all seven innings. His one mistake was giving up a leadoff homer to CJ Abrams in the sixth.
Gomber yielded just three hits, struck out five and walked two. He was efficient, too, throwing 96 pitches, 63 for strikes. It marked the second time in his career that he pitched seven innings and allowed three hits or fewer.
The bullpen backed up the starter. Tyler Kinley, who’s been on a roll, pitched a scoreless eighth, despite giving up a two-out double to Alex Call.
Rookie right-hander Angel Chivilli was called on to close out the game because usual ninth-inning reliever Victor Vodnik was out with discomfort in his right shoulder.
Chivilli, who picked up his first career win on Sunday against the Padres, notched his first career save. Utilizing his effective changeup, he dodged some trouble in the ninth — giving up a walk and a bloop single — but he never lost his cool.
The Rockies received offensive boosts from two players who were way past due. Ryan McMahon delivered in the first with an RBI single, driving in Ezequiel Tovar, who had reached on a one-out double vs. rookie left-hander DJ Herz.
Nolan Jones, who came off the injured list on Sunday, delivered an RBI single to score Brenton Doyle in Colorado’s two-run sixth. A throwing error charged to Nationals third baseman Jose Tena — first baseman Andres Chaparro should have scooped the ball — led to the Rockies’ other run when Brendan Rodgers came around to score.
Feltner progressing. Right-hander Ryan Feltner, placed on the 15-day injured list on Aug. 8 with a right shoulder strain, is scheduled to start for Triple-A Albuquerque at Round Rock on Wednesday. Manager Bud Black told MLB.com that Feltner would throw three to four innings (50-60 pitches), and then the club would discuss Feltner’s next step.
Wednesday’s pitching matchup
Rockies RHP Tanner Gordon (0-4, 7.00 ERA) at Nationals LHP Mitchell Parker (6-7, 4.44)
4:45 p.m. Wednesday, Nationals Park
TV: Rockies.TV (streaming); Comcast/Xfinity (channel 1262); DirecTV (683); Spectrum (130, 445, 305, 435 or 445, depending on region).
Radio: 850 AM/94.1 FM
Pitching probables
Gordon is still trying to find his big-league footing, especially after his tough start at Arizona last Wednesday, when he was ripped for four runs on three hits in just two-thirds of an inning. He has pitched deep into several games, going six innings or more in three of his six major league starts. The rookie has never faced the Nationals.
The Phillies rocked Parker in his last start. He allowed nine runs on 10 hits and two walks over three innings. Still, he managed to strike out six. Philly pounded Parker in the first inning when six consecutive batters reached base, and he gave up two homers. Parker had pitched six scoreless innings in each of his previous two starts coming in, but he’s now failed to make it through four innings in three of his last six outings. The rookie started against the Rockie on June 22 at Coors Field and lasted six innings in a no-decision. Colorado tagged him for four runs on four hits, including a homer. He struck out eight and walked two. The Rockies won the game 8-7.
Thursday: RHP Cal Quantrill (8-8, 4.59) at Nationals LHP Patrick Corbin (2-12, 5.92), 11:15 a.m.
Friday: Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (3-5, 5.97) at Yankees LHP Carlos Rodon (13-8, 4.34), 5:05 p.m.
Saturday: Rockies RHP Bradley Blalock (0-0, 2.92) at RHP Marcus Stroman (8-6, 3.82), 12:05 p.m.
Under a sunny Colorado sky at Pikes Peak National Cemetery, Kennedy Pugh took a breath Thursday afternoon, bracing himself as members of the U.S. Air Force Honor Guard slid a gleaming silver casket out of a hearse.
His brother, Alvin Pugh, was finally home.
As Taps echoed through the cemetery, the Honor Guard draped a flag over the casket, and the priest from the Pugh family’s parish in Pueblo began the ritual of laying Alvin to rest.
“It was beautiful,” Kennedy said.
Alvin Pugh’s remains arrived at Pikes Peak National Cemetery in Colorado Springs, Colorado on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024. Pugh, a 60-year-old Air Force veteran, died in his apartment in New York City in February 2022. (Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post)
This was Alvin Pugh’s second burial, though. His two sisters and three brothers didn’t attend his first one. They didn’t even know about it.
On Feb. 21, 2023, about 1,800 miles away from Colorado, the Department of Veterans Affairs mistakenly buried 60-year-old Pugh as an unclaimed veteran in Calverton National Cemetery in New York. After The War Horse reported on the Pugh family’s ordeal three months ago, the VA pledged to reinter Alvin Pugh at Pikes Peak and cover all costs.
“I’m at peace,” said Patti Pugh, Alvin’s sister, after the burial, which included the traditional 21-gun salute, and a surprise touch Alvin would’ve loved. The Blue Angels were practicing for an air show in nearby Colorado Springs, and as his family prepared for the burial, their jets roared overhead in formation.
Most unclaimed veterans don’t find such a resolution. For decades, bureaucracy and a lack of coordination among Veterans Affairs and local agencies have allowed the remains of tens of thousands of veterans who die alone to pile up in funeral homes and morgues around the country, some collecting dust for more than 100 years.
Had the VA checked Pugh’s medical records, they would’ve seen one of his sisters, Theresa, listed as a contact. But when Pugh died in his New York City apartment on Feb. 2, 2022, from a pulmonary embolism, the medical examiner didn’t find any evidence of family members at his home or in city public records. All his siblings live in Colorado, and his parents died years ago.
The medical examiner’s office did, however, discover a VA prescription in his apartment, and reported Alvin as an unclaimed veteran. The agency took their word, never looking to see if Pugh’s records in their system indicated otherwise.
More than 40 years ago, in 1981, Pugh announced to his family that he was joining the Air Force, following in the footsteps of his father and two uncles who also served in the military.
A photo of Alvin Pugh at his family’s home in Pueblo, Colorado on Thursday, May 23, 2024. (Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post)
Kennedy recalls his brother being proud of his time in uniform. Alvin deployed to Germany and the Persian Gulf, earning achievement medals for his work in intelligence and the rank of staff sergeant before an honorable discharge in 1995.
Despite his family’s deep military connections, and a family he often talked to in Colorado, Pugh mistakenly became one of the 2,300 “unclaimed veterans” buried by VA’s National Cemetery Administration across the country last year. By law, the VA is required to ensure that deceased veterans without a next of kin receive dignified burials, with a casket or urn.
Veterans Affairs recently surveyed funeral homes and counted 21,000 unclaimed deceased veterans. Don Gerspach, director of the Missing in America Project, told The War Horse in May that that number seems low. There’s “probably 100,000 or more out there,” said Gerspach, whose nonprofit has located and identified unclaimed veterans and provided thousands of proper burials since 2007.
The Department of Veterans Affairs has tried to improve its handling of unclaimed vets. Until April 2023, no one in the agency was responsible for overseeing burials, but the VA’s Pension and Fiduciary Service Office is now in charge. Its coordinators throughout the country search the entire VA system to find a next-of-kin.
The Pughs only learned of Alvin’s accidental burial in March when Patti was conducting one of her many online searches in hopes of discovering her brother’s whereabouts. For two years, she and her siblings could not find a trace of him. Then, this past March, Findagrave.com popped up: Calverton National Cemetery, section 51A, site 2098.
In the months since, she and her siblings have pushed for the VA to correct its error and bring their brother back to Colorado.
In a statement, VA spokesman Terrence Hayes said the agency was glad to honor the wishes of the Pugh family and that, “moving forward, we will continue to review and improve our policies to prevent issues like this from happening again.”
Kennedy Pugh is relieved that the burial has finally happened, but he says there are parts of this ordeal that remain hurtful. After the New York Medical Examiner identified Pugh as an unclaimed veteran, all of his belongings, including photos and other personal items, were thrown away.
And after they learned Alvin had died this past spring, his devoutly Catholic siblings held a funeral mass without their brother’s body. Usually the ache of a funeral and burial is contained to one day, and for Kennedy, grief swelled when he saw his brother’s casket for the first time.
Alvin Pugh’s family receives a flag at Pikes Peak National Cemetery in Colorado Springs, Colorado on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024. The family members, from left, are Kennedy, Horace and Patti Pugh. (Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post)
“It felt more like, this is real,” he said.
It also felt like proper closure.
A childhood friend of Alvin’s who went to boot camp with him arrived out of the blue. And members of the Colorado Patriot Guard Riders showed up, held flags, and paid their respects.
“They kept on coming up to us and saying how honored they were to be there,” Kennedy said, fighting tears. “We were honored that they were there.”
When the burial service ended, and the small crowd of family and close friends drifted, Kennedy and one of his brothers laid their hands on Alvin’s casket. They took a moment — an overdue and final goodbye.
If the Padres fail to catch the Dodgers in the National League West, or should they slip in the wild-card race, they’ll no doubt mutter under their breath about those blankity-blank Rockies.
The Rockies beat San Diego again Sunday afternoon at Coors Field, winning 3-2 behind timely hits and a stellar start from rookie Bradley Blalock. The Rockies won the three-game series, halting the Padres’ streak of eight consecutive series victories.
Victor Vodnik shut down San Diego in the ninth for his ninth save.
Colorado is tracking toward another 100-loss season, but it went 8-5 vs. the Padres this season. The Padres entered Sunday’s game having won 20 of their last 24 games.
Colorado center fielder Brenton Doyle’s leadoff triple off of reliever Bryan Hoeing ignited the Rockies’ game-clinching two-run sixth. With one out, San Diego decided to intentionally walk the dangerous Michael Toglia, put runners on the corners, and pitch to slow-footed catcher Jacob Stallings.
The move backfired. Stallings punched a single to right, and when David bobbled the ball for an error, Toglia raced to third. Toglia scored on Sam Hilliard’s groundout to second for a 3-1 Colorado lead.
Manny Machado’s big swing cut the lead to 3-2 with a leadoff homer off Tyler Kinley in the eighth. Kinley left a hanging slider over the heart of the plate and Machado ripped it down the left-field line for his 19th homer.
Blalock has pitched like a cool veteran in his first two starts with the Rockies. And the rookie right-hander took a step forward on Sunday, matching Padres veteran Joe Musgrove. Blalock gave up one run over 5 2/3 innings on six hits and three walks while striking out two.
San Diego scratched out a run in the fourth on a single by Xander Bogaerts and an RBI double by David Peralta.
In Blalock’s first major league start and Rockies debut on Monday at Arizona, he allowed three runs on six hits over 5 2/3 innings, striking out four and walking one.
Musgrove limited Colorado to one run on three hits over 4 1/3 innings. He struck out six and walked one. The Rockies got to Musgrove in the third on a leadoff single by Jordan Beck and a line-drive RBI double into the left-field corner by Aaron Schunk.
The Rapids have spent the Leagues Cup wondering how much magic was stored in their reserves. Saturday night against Club América in the quarterfinal, every last drop was required.
Tense at every touch of the ball and turn of the feet, the Rapids somehow held on against Liga MX giants — and arguably the best team on the continent — Club América. Colorado held them scoreless, then beat them in penalties, 9-8, to move onto a semifinal date with LAFC.
Rapids goalkeeper Zack Steffen once again came up huge for the Rapids in penalties. After forward Rafael Navarro missed his team’s third penalty and América not yet missing, Steffen had to come up with an enormous save on the last of five penalties to send the shootout to sudden death.
All four of each team’s next shooters stepped up and scored, including one by América that bounced off the post, ricocheted off of a diving Steffen’s head, then right back in the net. Last up were the goalies: América’s Luis Malagon and big-game Steffen. Steffen sent Malagon the wrong way; Malagon painted the grass outside of the left post.
Ball game.
That late in the order, Rapids coach Chris Armas said the next penalty-taker would be decided by who wanted it more. Defender Lalas Abubakar was halfway done with the long walk from midfield to the spot for the Rapids’ 10th penalty of the night. Steffen, who admitted to having to overcome mental and confidence struggles this year, waved Abubakar off.
He wanted it more.
“At one point, there were a lot of critics out there about Zack Steffen, but what I’ve gotten to see on the inside of our locker room and on the pitch is a professional, top talent,” Armas said. “He’s a real man on the pitch and he’s a leader, leads by example. He’s everything we want the Colorado Rapids to be about: quality, aggressive, humble.
“Another day in the office for Zack Steffen.”
In regulation, the match felt much like last Tuesday’s jaw-clenching win over Deportivo Toluca, sans the ball hitting the back of the net.
The best first-half chance for the Rapids was in the 44th minute, when midfielder Cole Bassett made a nice move at the top of the box to free up space for a finesse shot to the bottom right corner which went just wide.
In the second half, the Rapids’ best chance came from winger Calvin Harris after midfielder Djordje Mihailovic glanced a header to a streaking Harris down the middle. Harris took a long distance shot which Malagon had to save. That went down as the Rapids’ lone shot on goal all night.
América, like Toluca, shot 21 times (four on goal). The possession wasn’t as one-sided as it was four days ago, but América still led in that category, 58% to 42%.
The Rapids were forced into uncomfortable possession for long stretches of the game as América sat in a compact defense, not allowing for any easy build-up play or transition moments.
Defensively, the Rapids suffered. Bent, but didn’t break. Lots of talk around the club over the past week has been around being able to come out on top of games in which they suffer.
For Armas, that mentality has been forged from day one. As the stakes get bigger and the suffering gets worse, the feeling of advancing gets stronger.
“I think it’s rare that you get to be a part of groups that are really team first, all about the team, who run for each other, suffer together,” Armas said. “They win together, they lose together, they are together. I try to remind them that it’s rare and you’ve got to keep fighting for it and appreciate it (in real time). It’s pure joy that only football and sport can do for you.”
With the win, the Rapids have now beaten four Liga MX teams in a row and have knocked out the last Mexican team left in the tournament. Before this tournament, the Rapids had never beaten one in sanctioned play.
They’ll stay in Los Angeles to face LAFC next Wednesday after it beat the Seattle Sounders, 3-0, earlier on Saturday.
Perhaps even bigger for the Rapids: advance to the Leagues Cup final or win the third-place game, and they’ll punch their ticket to the CONCACAF Champions Cup for the first time since 2022.
Colorado Rapids teammates celebrate as Club America goalkeeper Luis Malagón, bottom right, reacts on the ground after Malagón missed a penalty shot during the penalty shootout of a Leagues Cup quarterfinal soccer match Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, in Carson, Calif. (AP Photo/Raul Romero Jr.)
Denver is heating back up, with city temperatures nearing 100 degrees Saturday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service.
If Denver hits the forecasted 98-degree high, Saturday will tie for the hottest Aug. 17 of all time in the metro area, according to NWS records. Just one degree higher and Saturday’s heat will break the record.
The current 98-degree record was set in 2020.
The heat is expected to peak at 98 degrees around 4 p.m. Saturday before dropping down to 67 degrees overnight, NWS forecasters said.
Chances of afternoon thunderstorms in the metro area are small — close to 10% — and any rain showers that hit Denver are expected to wrap up by 9 p.m., according to NWS forecasters.
“Most will stay dry, but the mountains should see some scattered high-based showers in the evening,” forecasters said. “These will decay as they try to push into the urban corridor given the dry conditions, although they may produce gusty winds at times.”
With the increased heat, an Ozone Action Day Alert has been issued for Colorado’s Front Range — including Douglas, Jefferson, Denver, western Arapahoe, western Adams, Broomfield, Boulder, Larimer, and Weld counties — through at least 4 p.m. Saturday.
Short-term exposure to unhealthy ozone levels can cause coughing; eye, nose and throat irritation; chest pain; difficulty breathing and asthma attacks, according to state officials. Long-term exposure has been linked to a variety of health issues, including lung and cardiovascular disease and premature death.
People in the affected counties should stay inside during the heat of the day, avoid driving gas- or diesel-powered cars until the alert is lifted and conserve energy by setting air conditioners to a higher temperature, air quality officials said.
Denver will cool off a bit Sunday — with temperature highs around 93 degrees — but 90-degree heat is expected to last throughout the week, according to NWS forecasters.
Stormy weather will return Sunday and Monday, but the rest of the week will be relatively dry with scattered afternoon showers, forecasters said.
