Journalism is often considered “a first rough draft of history,” as liked to say.
For this Sunday story, though, reporter John Aguilar dove into actual history books. We wanted to know how Colorado dealt with the United States’ last pandemic, the 1918 flu epidemic, and whether that awful experience could shed light on our current struggles with the coronavirus.
Short answer: yes.
John found striking similarities in how the disease, called the Spanish flu by many, unfolded. It claimed the lives of 8,000 Coloradans in just a few months. We have the benefit today of that past experience as well as a century of medical and scientific advances.
— Cindi Andrews, politics editor
Not Colorado’s first pandemic: What we can learn from the Spanish flu
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Five in-depth looks at Colorado in the age of coronavirus
Meet Ross Palmer, a 64-year-old nurse on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic in Boulder County
Even as COVID-19 spreads across Colorado — a virus, it must be noted, that’s exceedingly more fatal for those in Ross Palmer’s age group — the 20-year health care professional says he doesn’t give much thought to the threat to his own health. Rather it’s the well-being of others, and those he comes into contact with, that are top of mind. Read more from Matt Schubert.
RELATED: Are you a Colorado health care professional? Tell us about your experience with coronavirus.
How do a first-grade teacher, educator to the deaf and photography instructor make remote learning work?
In Colorado, teachers in the Jeffco Public Schools district were among the first to make the unprecedented leap from classroom instruction to teaching students scattered across the county.
The transition has been trying, so The Denver Post is spotlighting the efforts of a trio of Jeffco teachers who have been particularly innovative as they go about their duties from a distance. Read more from Elizabeth Hernandez.
ICYMI: Colorado kitchen tables become school desks in the age of coronavirus
Rent is almost due, and many Coloradans don’t have the money due to coronavirus’ impact on their finances
Revvy Broker has lived in the same townhome for five years but is unable to work right now, or even leave his house in unincorporated Arapahoe County outside of emergencies. He has a pre-existing respiratory condition that makes him extra vulnerable to the coronavirus.
“I don’t have any way to come up with the money that the landlord’s asking for,” he said Thursday. Read more from Alex Burness.
RELATED: Flood gates open on Colorado unemployment claims, on pace for 75,000 this week, after state speeds up its processing
“How do we stay open?” Colorado child care providers struggle to keep up amid coronavirus crisis
“What are we supposed to be doing?” said Tonie Rutledge, who runs Tonie’s Precious Cargo Childcare and Preschool out of her Aurora home. “Are we supposed to stay open? How do we stay open when we have no financial security?” Read more from Elizabeth Hernandez.
“Crazy, scary and satisfying”: Grocery workers manage crowds and fears as coronavirus outbreak continues
Grocery store employees are among the workers on the front lines as Colorado battles a coronavirus outbreak — playing a sort of Russian roulette with their health for modest pay while dealing with masses of sometimes-frantic customers. Read more from Saja Hindi.
RELATED: Roving produce trucks, curbside farm stands and more alternative grocery options
A few stories not related to the pandemic
As you might imagine, the vast majority of our resources are spent covering COVID-19, but here are a handful of other important stories that we reported on this week.
+ Colorado abolishes death penalty; governor commutes sentences of three on death row
+ ICE can no longer make civil arrests at courthouses in Colorado
+ Federal prosecutors find no civil rights violations in the Colorado Springs police shooting of De’Von Bailey
+ Kelsey Berreth murder case: Krystal Kenney eligible for placement in halfway house after serving 60 days
+ Colorado man dies during hunt for Forrest Fenn’s treasure in Dinosaur National Monument
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