Good morning southern Colorado and here's what you need to know on your Wednesday morning.
If you'd like to read the full story, be sure to click on the story headline.
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Officials announce first case of COVID-19 variant in Colorado
Colorado Governor Jared Polis and state health officials announced the state's first case of the COVID-19 variant, B.1.1.7, the same variant discovered in the UK. The release said public health officials are doing a thorough investigation. The individual has no close contacts identified so far, but public health officials are working to identify other potential cases and contacts through thorough contact tracing interviews.
State health officials and the governor will provide further details during a press conference this morning scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. Watch live on your favorite streaming device and News5 Today.
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Majority of Pueblo CARES Act funds sent toward small businesses
The City of Pueblo says it split up its over $6.5 million in CARES Act funding among twelve different categories. Those categories include things like rent and hunger assistance, as well as cleaning and social distancing supplies for the city, and unemployment assistance. But nearly $4 million of that went toward small businesses.
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Bitter cold morning leads into a chilly afternoon
The forecast today is all about the COLD! After the snow on Tuesday, we're starting things off in teens and single digits. We'll warm up and melt snow today under sunny skies, but it'll still pretty chilly through most of the region.
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McConnell blocks initial Senate request to vote on $2,000 stimulus checks
The Senate appears to be in a stand-off situation Tuesday afternoon, involving votes on two large pieces of legislation. It’s unclear how long into the week it will stretch, and when, or if, increased aid to Americans could come. The Senate was slated to consider the House’s measure passed Monday night increasing direct payments to individuals in the COVID relief package from $600 to $2,000, as well as hold an override vote on the national defense bill.
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Feds: Stimulus checks starting to make their way into bank accounts
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said on Tuesday that some Americans will begin receiving $600 stimulus checks from the federal government by the end of the night. This comes two days after President Donald Trump signed into law a $900 billion stimulus package, which included the direct payments. Mnuchin said Tuesday that the stimulus checks will arrive in some bank accounts via direct deposit “as early as tonight and will continue into next week.” The department will also begin sending out paper checks on Wednesday.
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