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Good morning, Colorado!
Before you stuff yourself with turkey and pumpkin pie this week, remember to tell any teens in your life to enter our essay contest — the Nov. 30 deadline is quickly approaching!
As part of our project investigating youth suicide in Colorado, we’re asking The winner of the contest will have their essay printed in The Denver Post newspaper, while the top three pieces will be posted on The Denver Post website.
You can find out more about
Not a teen? You can still share your story with us by filling or emailing health@denverpost.com.
If you or someone you know are having thoughts of suicide, call the Colorado Crisis Line at 1-844-493-8255.
A look at Colorado’s public health insurance option
Recently, we got a look at what a public health insurance option could look like in Colorado when two state agencies released their final report outlining the plan.
In the report, the agencies recommend the state insurance commissioner be given the authority to require at least two companies offer the state’s public option in counties where there’s only a single insurer. There are 22 counties with only one insurer, according to the report.
was released by the state Division of Insurance and the state Department of Health Care Policy and Financing. The agencies, which were told to craft a proposal earlier this year, have submitted the report to the legislature.
Read more here.
Health must-reads
- All 46 schools in Mesa County closed last week as two highly contagious viruses sickened hundreds of staff and students.
- Arapahoe High School and Regis Jesuit use basketball to raise money for suicide prevention awareness.
- Arvada said it will temporarily stop adding supplemental fluoride to its municipal water supply because efforts to fix a leaking tank of liquid fluoride at Ralston Water Treatment Plant have been unsuccessful.
- Businesses fear that a plan to expand limestone mining operations Glenwood Springs “will obliterate source waters feeding” into the springs.
Radon found in subsidized apartments in Denver
has found that public housing authorities across the nation have refused to find and remove radioactive gas from inside tenants’ homes.
About 70% of Denver’s public housing units have yet to be checked for radon, which is the second-leading cause of lung cancer, according to the report.
For its investigation, the Oregonian/OregonLive distributed test kits to Denver tenants last year. In two rounds of testing, three apartments in the Westridge Homes development had radon above the threshold needed for specialized ventilation systems to remove it.
Read more here.
Here’s what I’m reading
- In Illinois, for refusing to do classwork, swearing and for spilling milk — all reasons that violate the law. — Chicago Tribune and ProPublica Illinois
- Americans are still — even after a law mandating equal access for mental and physical care passed a decade ago. — Kaiser Health News
- Purdue Pharma by funding think tanks and placing friendly expert in leading outlets. — ProPublica
- A teenager who used e-cigarettes an injury factory workers would get from breathing in a chemical used to create a butter flavor. — The Washington Post
- Academic pressure is a — Colorado Public Radio
Have a story tip or other feedback? Email me at jseaman@denverpost.com. You can also follow me on Twitter at And don’t forget to become a to The Post!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Jessica
