Search

In 2013, the state of Colorado passed the ASSET (Advancing Students for a Stronger Economy Tomorrow) bill, which allowed eligible undocumented/DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) students residing in Colorado the ability to qualify for in-state tuition at public institutions. Using qualitative methods, we examine how undocumented/DACA students experience their campus climate at 2 institutions in Colorado. This article highlights the voices of 12 undocumented/DACA students. We utilize the concept of legal violence and campus climate to illuminate 3 forms of racist nativist microaggressions (a) institutional ignorance; (b) the reproduction of pervasive invisibility; and (c) hidden/nonpresent communities of support as ways in which colleges and universities reproduce injurious acts. Recommendations and implications are provided.

In response to the "Trump Effect", or the negative climate in education following President Trump's election, we examine the ways in which anti-immigration rhetoric from the recent election cycle and the elimination of DACA has influenced college experiences and trajectories of undocumented Latinx students. Using critical race theory, along with literature on trauma and resilience, we based our findings on three focus groups with 16 undocumented student participants, and highlight four emergent themes: (1) citizen fragility seemed pervasive and finding hope was deemed as challenging; (2) students experienced an increase of emboldened racist nativism on their college campuses; (3) the exploitation of undocumented student labor; and (4) shared solidarity was beneficial for student resilience. Findings illuminate how colleges and universities need to reconceptualize the notion of resilience by addressing systemic racist nativism in higher education.

This article chronicles how a group of university researchers initiated a research and professional development project called Culture of Care at a large high school in the Denver Metropolitan area. After implementation, Latino/Hispanic students and their parents maintained the project. It was the charge of Latino/Hispanic parents to dismantle the school-to-prison pipeline by introducing restorative justice practices into the classroom as a way of responding to wrongdoing and conflict. The purpose of the project was to change teachers' practices, as well as involving these students and their parents as primary informers in the process. Conceptually, the project was based on an ethic of care, the theory of culturally responsive pedagogy, and the principles of restorative justice practices in schools. Data were collected in the form of focus group interviews to create "testimonios" to legitimate the voices of the participants. Data were analyzed based on the typologies of authentic caring and aesthetic caring. Findings indicate that the high school needed to change, particularly in classrooms, and that tension in the school was based on deficit theorizing by teachers. Based on these findings, a recommendation is made to build the capacity of teachers and their students to build caring relationships by using restorative justice practices to respond to wrongdoing and conflict. With the support of the Latino/Hispanic parents, this recommendation was turned into action.

This article challenges the pervasive notion that linguistic and ethnic diversity are causes of the perceived gap in achievement in schools highly affected by Spanish-speaking students participating in programs of bilingual education. The study examines existing data from the state of Colorado with regard to student achievement and compares these data to teacher and policy maker perceptions about Latino Spanish-speaking students and bilingual education programs. Results indicate that teachers and policy makers largely adhere to the notion that there is a gap in achievement between Spanish-speaking students and other Colorado students and that language in particular is a problem. Student-achievement data from the Colorado Student Assessment Program, however, indicate that Spanish speakers in English-language acquisition/bilingual classrooms are among the highest performing students in their schools. Furthermore, findings from this study challenge teacher educators and teachers to be more critical in interpreting the results from high-stakes tests.

This chapter presents an overview of the demographic shifts occurring in the United States and discusses the associated rapid increase in the number of community college students from diverse racial backgrounds. Profiles of two community colleges offer examples of timely responses to emerging majority students' academic, economic, and social needs. (Contains 1 table.)

Global studies that quantify climate effects on crop yields using top‐down spatial frameworks are invaluable for assessing generalized effects on world food supplies, yet do not contain the resolution necessary to identify local mediating effects of management. Our objectives were to identify (a) what climate factors have historically affected winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yields in eastern Colorado, (b) how management may mitigate climate impacts, and (c) the potential for varietal selection to climate extremes. We paired long‐term yield data for wheat in rotations that varied in management (tillage intensity, with and without fallow) with robust on‐site weather data. We also used data from colocated variety trials to investigate trade‐offs between mean yields and the ability to withstand water and temperature stress. Precipitation in April–June was nearly as predictive of yields as full growing season precipitation. While precipitation and air temperatures are tightly linked in this agroecosystem, temperatures were more predictive of yields than precipitation. Increases in minimum May temperatures positively affected yields, likely because of minimizing freeze damage, but did not offset detrimental effects of warmer daytime spring and summer temperatures. The largest negative temperature effects were caused by extreme maximum temperatures in June. No‐till with fallow maximized yields. Low‐ and high‐yielding varieties did not differ in yield responses to high temperatures, suggesting that future advancements in heat stress resistance will not necessarily require yield trade‐offs. Climate pressures will likely require producers to balance yield goals with maintaining soil cover, underscoring the difficulty of identifying win–win climate adaptations. Core Ideas: Precipitation in a 90‐d window (April–June) was nearly as predictive of yields as full growing season precipitation.Information on monthly air temperatures (April–June) was more predictive of wheat grain yields than precipitation.Daytime temperatures in May and June are already above optimum in most years, negatively affecting grain yields.Both no‐till and fallow increased the intercept of the yield response to precipitation and temperature.The slope of the yield responses to high temperatures did not differ between low‐ and high‐yielding varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecologically and economically valuable Pacific salmon and trout (Oncorhynchus spp.) are widespread and susceptible to the ectoparasite Salmincola californiensis (Dana). The range of this freshwater copepod has expanded, and in 2015, S. californiensis was observed in Blue Mesa Reservoir, Colorado, USA, an important kokanee salmon (O. nerka, Walbaum) egg source for sustaining fisheries. Few S. californiensis were detected on kokanee salmon in 2016 (<10% prevalence; 2 adult S. californiensis maximum). By 2020, age‐3 kokanee salmon had 100% S. californiensis prevalence and mean intensity exceeding 50 adult copepods. Year and kokanee salmon age/maturity (older/mature) were consistently identified as significant predictors of S. californiensis prevalence/intensity. There was evidence that S. californiensis spread rapidly, but their population growth was maximized at the initiation (the first 2–3 years) of the invasion. Gills and heads of kokanee salmon carried the highest S. californiensis loads. S. californiensis population growth appears to be slowing, but S. californiensis expansion occurred concomitant with myriad environmental/biological factors. These factors and inherent variance in S. californiensis count data may have obscured patterns that continued monitoring of parasite–host dynamics, when S. californiensis abundance is more stable, might reveal. The rapid proliferation of S. californiensis indicates that in 5 years a system can go from a light infestation to supporting hosts carrying hundreds of parasites, and concern remains about the sustainability of this kokanee salmon population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patterns of cannabis consumption among regular users within a legalized environment have not been explored in detail. We aimed to conduct a survey among regular cannabis users to collect detailed information on frequency of use, methods of use, amounts consumed, and adverse health effects experienced. Data was collected via the Cannabis Users Survey on Health, a self-administered, anonymous online survey. Participants were adults (age 21+), residing in Colorado, who used cannabis at least once in the past month. Survey administration occurred June through October 2016. Of 1297 participant responses, 65.1% used cannabis at least once daily and smoking was the most common method of use (83.1%). Cannabis flower was the product most frequently purchased (n = 1006) and in the largest average amount per month (10 g). Adverse health effects were experienced by ~ 40%; most prevalent was paranoia (20.8%). The Cannabis Users Survey on Health provided data needed to inform public health on patterns of cannabis use in Colorado. Surveillance of adverse effects is needed to assess severity. High prevalence of daily use and smoking are concerning for long-term health effects. Continued data collection will allow public health to better assess the effects of increased cannabis availability on use patterns and health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: Cannabis legalization in Colorado resulted in increased cannabis‐associated health care utilization. Our objective was to examine cooccurrence of cannabis and mental health diagnostic coding in Colorado emergency department (ED) discharges and replicate the study in a subpopulation of ED visits where cannabis involvement and psychiatric diagnosis were confirmed through medical review. Methods: We collected statewide ED International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification diagnoses from the Colorado Hospital Association and a subpopulation of ED visits from a large, academic hospital from 2012 to 2014. Diagnosis codes identified visits associated with mental health and cannabis. Codes for mental health conditions and cannabis were confirmed by manual records review in the academic hospital subpopulation. Prevalence ratios (PRs) of mental health ED discharges were calculated to compare cannabis‐associated visits to those without cannabis. Rates of mental health and cannabis‐associated ED discharges were examined over time. Results: Statewide data demonstrated a fivefold higher prevalence of mental health diagnoses in cannabis‐associated ED visits (PR = 5.35, 95% confidence interval [CI], 5.27–5.43) compared to visits without cannabis. The hospital subpopulation supported this finding with a fourfold higher prevalence of psychiatric complaints in cannabis attributable ED visits (PR = 4.87, 95% CI = 4.36–5.44) compared to visits not attributable to cannabis. Statewide rates of ED visits associated with both cannabis and mental health significantly increased from 2012 to 2014 from 224.5 to 268.4 per 100,000 (p < 0.0001). Conclusions: In Colorado, the prevalence of mental health conditions in ED visits with cannabis‐associated diagnostic codes is higher than in those without cannabis. There is a need for further research determining if these findings are truly attributed to cannabis or merely coincident with concurrent increased use and availability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In November 2012 Colorado voters approved legalized recreational marijuana. On January 1, 2014 Colorado became the first state to allow legal sales of non-medical marijuana for adults over the age of 21. Since that time, the state has been monitoring potential impacts on population health. In this paper we present lessons learned in the first three years following legal sales of recreational marijuana. These lessons pertain to health behaviors and health outcomes, as well as to health policy issues. Our intent is to share these lessons with other states as they face the prospect of recreational marijuana legalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over 22 million Americans are current users of marijuana; half of US states allow medical marijuana, and several allow recreational marijuana. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact marijuana has on hospitalizations, emergency department (ED) visits, and regional poison center (RPC) calls in Colorado, a medical and recreational marijuana state. This is a retrospective review using Colorado Hospital Association hospitalizations and ED visits with marijuana-related billing codes, and RPC marijuana exposure calls. Legalization of marijuana in Colorado has been associated with an increase in hospitalizations, ED visits, and RPC calls linked with marijuana exposure. From 2000 to 2015, hospitalization rates with marijuana-related billing codes increased from 274 to 593 per 100,000 hospitalizations in 2015. Overall, the prevalence of mental illness among ED visits with marijuana-related codes was five-fold higher (5.07, 95% CI: 5.0, 5.1) than the prevalence of mental illness without marijuana-related codes. RPC calls remained constant from 2000 through 2009. However, in 2010, after local medical marijuana policy liberalization, the number of marijuana exposure calls significantly increased from 42 to 93; in 2014, after recreational legalization, calls significantly increased by 79.7%, from 123 to 221 (p<0.0001). The age group <17years old also had an increase in calls after 2014. As more states legalize marijuana, it is important to address public education and youth prevention, and understand the impact on mental health disorders. Improvements in data collection and surveillance methods are needed to more accurately evaluate the public health impact of marijuana legalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copepods of the genus Salmincola (gill lice) parasitize salmonids. We collected kokanee salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) from a reservoir in Colorado to identify the species of gill lice present and investigate intensity and prevalence of infestations. We observed increasing intensity and prevalence with age offish. Our study adds to limited knowledge of infestations of Salmincola in Colorado and the western United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The variability of manure nutrient levels within and across farms makes manure sampling and development of reliable tabular values challenging. The chemical characteristics of beef, dairy, horse, sheep, and chicken solid manures in Colorado were evaluated by sampling six to ten different livestock operations for each manure type and comparing the results to values found in the literature. Due to the semi-arid climate of Colorado, manure tends to be drier and have lower ammonium (NH4-N) levels and higher phosphate (P2O5) and potash (K2O) levels than those reported in the Midwest. Within-farm variability was assessed by analyzing ten sub-samples from each of nine manure sources. Coefficients of variation were calculated and the sample numbers necessary to achieve 10% probable error were determined. On average, about 25 sub-samples are necessary for nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) characterization of solid manures, but determining NH4-N and nitrate (NO3-N) concentrations requires over 100 sub-samples to form a representative sample, due to their relatively low concentrations. Data from Colorado, Utah, and New Mexico were combined to form a Mountain West Manure Database. The manure types, with a minimum of 72 farms represented in the database, have narrow confidence intervals. Until we have adequate sample numbers (>72 farms) to establish reliable table values based on local data for all manure types, manure sampling will be recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]