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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Several Colorado counties face new restrictions amid surge in coronavirus cases, hospitalizations
Eight Colorado counties are moving backward this week on the state’s COVID-19 response dial and will have to implement more restrictions because of a surge in cases and hospitalizations. Adams County announced last Friday that it would be moving to Safer at Home Level 3 restrictions effective Wednesday, and Denver on Tuesday announced it would be doing the same at the behest of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Otero and Crowley counties will move to Safer at Home Level 2 on Friday, the state said.
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El Paso County Sheriff's Office reports additional 2 deputies, 8 inmates test positive for COVID-19
The El Paso County Sheriff's Office says in the past 24 hours two more deputies and eight inmates have lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19. The deputies and inmates have been isolated and all employees and inmates, who have had direct or indirect contact, or other work-related contact have been contacted and/or notified. On Monday, The El Paso County Sheriff's Office announced eight employees have tested positive for COVID-19 in the last three weeks.
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Cold and cloudy with areas of rain and snow south of Highway 50
We will have a mixture of rain and snow falling today for areas along and mainly south of highway 50. There could be areas of freezing rain, mainly in and around Baca to Prowers county in the morning. Any snow accumulations today will be light and are most likely in Las Animas County out towards La Veta. Most of the region will be cloudy, cold, and dry.
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Help for disabled veteran's family displaced by squatters
Earlier this month, News5 Investigates aired the story of a disabled veteran's family who was forced to stay in a hotel for months while squatters lived in their condo, rent-free. The family now has their home back but inside, there was nothing but trash and a few items like a sleeping mat left behind. News5 interviewed Peter Dover and his wife, Leah, at a Colorado Springs hotel after they reached out for help, claiming no one was willing to assist them in getting access to their condo back.
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How USPS is handling record number of mail-in ballots in Colorado
With a record number of Coloradans voting early this year, USPS has kept busy handling hundreds of thousands of mail-in ballots. According to the Secretary of State, more than 1.7 million ballots have been received so far. El Paso County Clerk and Recorder Chuck Broerman says more than 210,000 ballots have been turned in out of the 425,000, and thanks to the Postal Service they've been able to manage the high volume.
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