COLORADO'S ECONOMY IS REBOUNDING FAST, MOST EMPLOYERS NEED WORKERS

In December, the Colorado Business Economic Outlook predicted employers in the state would add 40,500 jobs in 2021, which is a growth rate of only 1.5 percent. At that rate, the jobs lost during the pandemic year would not be replaced until 2023. That same group of experts met last month and revised their estimate to 3.4 percent, or the addition of 89,000 jobs, because the strong rollout of vaccines and heavy injection of federal dollars allowed the state's economy to rebound much more strongly than anticipated. Now, hiring is so strong many employers are facing labor shortages.

STATE HEALTH CARE WORKERS MUST BE VACCINATED

The Colorado Board of Health, in an emergency meeting Monday, voted to require all health care workers at the state's 3,800 licensed facilities to be vaccinated against COVID-19 by the end of October. The new vaccine mandate applies to staff and contractors who interact with patients or clients in assisted living homes, nursing homes, hospitals, hospices, community clinics and a variety of other health care settings that are regulated by the board. The mandate does not apply to individual practitioners, doctors’ offices or urgent care centers.

GOV. JARED POLIS: STATE INCOME TAX IN COLORADO "SHOULD BE ZERO"

Gov. Jared Polis last Friday appeared by video at the conservative Steamboat Institute’s Freedom Conference. When asked by the moderator what the state’s income tax rate should be, Polis said, “It should be zero. We can find another way to generate the revenue that doesn’t discourage productivity and growth and you absolutely can, and we should.” Nine other states currently have no state income tax. The governor cannot eliminate the state income tax without either legislative approval or a statewide ballot measure.

ASSESSING THE DAMAGE FROM IDA

People in Louisiana were able to begin the process of assessing damage and recovering from impacts of Hurricane Ida. More than one million customers were still without power on Monday. All eight transmission lines that bring power into New Orleans were knocked out. The 400,000 residents of Jefferson Parish, which includes the suburbs west and south of New Orleans were advised it may take three weeks to fully restore power. More than 300,000 customers in Louisiana lacked water on Monday, and another 300,000 were under boil-water advisories, according to the Louisiana Dept. of Health. In general, the assessment of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was that New Orleans’s storm-risk-reduction system built to protect the metro area after Hurricane Katrina had performed well so far. However, they cautioned that storm surges, flash floods and rainfall still pose a threat.

MANDATORY EVACUATION OF SOUTH LAKE TAHOE

The National Weather Service issued a Red Flag Warning Tuesday for the area of the Caldor Fire near Lake Tahoe. Because of those conditions and the rapid increase of the fire, Cal Fire officials imposed a mandatory evacuation for the town of South Lake Tahoe. The evacuation order covers communities just south of South Lake Tahoe, including nearly all the Lake Tahoe Basin in El Dorado County, from the California-Nevada state line on the lake’s southern end to Tahoma on its western shore. By Monday, the Caldor Fire had burned more than 177,000 acres, destroyed more than 420 structures and had been 19 percent contained on Sunday. By Monday, the containment level dropped back to 14 percent.

SECRETARY OF STATE FILES SUIT TO END MESA COUNTY CLERK OVERSEEING ELECTIONS

Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold Monday filed a lawsuit in Mesa County District Court to remove the clerk of Mesa County from her role overseeing elections because the clerk is under criminal investigation for allegedly allowing a security breach of election equipment. In the lawsuit, Tina M. Peters, the clerk and recorder for Mesa County, and Belinda Knisley, the deputy clerk and recorder for Mesa County are cited for allowing "an unauthorized individual to participate in the secure process for installing an update to the county’s electronic voting system, leading to the public disclosure of state-guarded passwords needed to access the equipment.” The lawsuit seeks to appoint Wayne Williams, Griswold’s predecessor, as Mesa County’s top election official for the November elections and give Sheila Reiner, Peters’ predecessor, the position of elections supervisor.

MESA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PLACE MARIJUANA MEASURES ON BALLOT

The Mesa County commissioners Monday approved measures placing two issues regarding marijuana on the November ballot. The first ballot measure asks voters if they want to allow the cultivation, manufacturing and testing of marijuana, but not the retail sale of it. The commissioners have the authority to implement this without voter approval, but elected to place it on the ballot because voters rejected medical marijuana sales in 2010. The second measure asks whether to assess a 5 percent excise tax on the sale or transfer of the marijuana cultivated or manufactured in the county to retail or medical marijuana stores outside of the county’s jurisdiction.

VAIL RESORTS PROVIDES FUNDING, GUIDANCE FOR FOREST SERVICE PROJECTS

Since 2006, the National Forest Foundation’s Ski Conservation Fund has been in place. The fund allows guests of some ski areas and lodges to contribute to the National Forest Foundation. The program has funded some 31 community projects totaling $7 million. Over the past year, the contributions from guests of Vail Resorts have almost tripled, going from around $500,000 per year to $1.5 million last year. One of the reasons for the increased funding was the ease of contributing $1 or more when purchasing lift tickets, season passes or lodging online. The National Forest Foundation, as the congressionally chartered nonprofit for the U.S. Forest Service, uses its federally appropriated funds to match 50 cents to every dollar donated.

HUGE ROUNDUP OF WILD HORSES BY BLM BEGINS WEDNESDAY

The Bureau of Land Management Wednesday will start an emergency wild horse roundup in the Sand Wash Basin area west of Craig. The roundup will seek to remove more than 700 horses or roughly 80 percent of the horses from the overpopulated management area. If the roundup is able to gather that many horses it would be by far the largest roundup in Colorado history. The population is estimated at 893 horses within the 158,000-acre Sand Wash Basin Herd Management Area and surrounding land beyond the planned horse range, far exceeding the population of between 163 and 362 horses that the area can accommodate. The plan is to gather about 783 horses in all, with all but 50 slated for adoption at BLM’s Cañon City facility.

STATES WITH BEST WORK-LIFE BALANCE

Lensa, a job search platform, has identified the best states for achieving work-life balance. Lensa looked at factors such as average work week and Gallup's well-being index, which measures American's financial security, physical health and social relationships, among other factors. Top 10 states for best work-life balance, according to Lensa:

1. Utah
2. Vermont
3. Montana
4. Wyoming
5. Maine
6. Nebraska
7. North Dakota
8. Delaware
9. Iowa
10. Hawaii

STATES WITH WORST WORK-LIFE BALANCE

Lensa, a job search platform, has identified the worst states for achieving work-life balance. Lensa looked at factors such as average work week and Gallup's well-being index, which measures American's financial security, physical health and social relationships, among other factors. The 10 states with the worst work-life balance, according to Lensa:

1. Tennessee
2. Maryland
3. West Virginia
4. Arkansas
5. Illinois
6. New York
7. Kentucky
8. Oklahoma
9. Texas
10. North Carolina

SUBMIT YOUR HIGH-PRIORITY STEWARDSHIP PROJECTS

Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado (VOC) is accepting project applications for its 2022 field season. Each year, VOC manages volunteers in building and maintaining trails; developing and maintaining other recreational infrastructure; seeding, planting, and erosion control tasks; habitat restoration efforts including noxious weed management and fence removal; and the deployment of crosscut and chainsaw crews. Land management agencies and other organizations are encouraged to submit their high-priority stewardship needs by Sept. 15 at the link below.

MINING & RECLAMATION CONFERENCE IN TELLURIDE

Diverse speakers and topics will span the breadth of considerations about mine reclamation, waste management and water protection at the 11th annual San Juan Mining & Reclamation Conference (SJMRC) in Telluride on Sept. 22-24. Watershed nonprofits from around the San Juan Mountains will gather scientists, artists, communicators, and community leaders to consider the intersection of mining and reclamation with arts and humanities. Hybrid ticket options for online presentations are available, while all receptions and tours are outside, and additional precautions will be taken during the event to limit the spread of COVID-19. Conference registration is available at the link below.

PEDAL FOR PREVENTION VIRTUAL RIDE

Mind Springs Foundation's second annual “Pedal for Prevention” Virtual Ride takes place Sept. 25-26. Join this “virtual” bike ride, walk, run – whatever your favorite activity may be – and help raise awareness (and funds!) during Suicide Prevention Awareness Month in September. Support your community when they may need you the most. Many people are feeling uncertain and helpless during this unprecedented time. Others may be asking, “What can I do to help?” This is our opportunity to be pro-active, take action and help Save Lives. To learn more, visit the link below.

5TH ANNUAL WESTERN COLORADO ECONOMIC SUMMIT RETURNS SEPT. 30

The Western Colorado Economic Summit returns in person on Thursday, Sept. 30, 2021. The event, which sold out in its last two years, has moved to the Grand Junction Convention Center to accommodate a larger audience. Nominations for the Spirit of Economic Development are currently being accepted via email at invest@gjep.org. The deadline to submit a nomination is Aug. 31. Registration is now open at westcoeconomicsummit.com.

VETERAN SUICIDE PREVENTION MONTH FUNDRAISER IN GJ

September is Veteran Suicide Prevention Month and Volley’s in Grand Junction is holding a fundraiser, "Reach Out," with the Student Veterans Assoc. and Colorado Mesa University. The fundraiser takes place Saturday, Sept. 18, beginning at 10 a.m. at Volley's, 1130 North Third St. Ten community co-ed teams made up of six players are needed. The teams are guaranteed three games. For more information, call 970-393-6379 or email Rainy.Reaman@va.gov.