Coronavirus In Colorado; The Numbers

According to today's data release, in Colorado there have been 188,069 people tested, 26,577 positive cases, 4,372 hospitalized, 1,458 deaths among cases (1,185 deaths due to COVID), 282 outbreaks at residential and non-hospital health care facilities, 60 of 64 counties with positive cases. In Adams County we have 3,291 cases and 123 deaths. Read More from CDPHE HERE

For Fourth Night, Denver Police Unleash Tear Gas And Foam Bullets As Marchers Again Defy Curfew

Marchers who defied Denver’s emergency curfew Sunday following a day of peaceful demonstrations were again doused with tear gas and peppered with foam bullets, though police on this fourth night of protests waited longer to deploy crowd-control munitions. Demonstrators massed at the state Capitol and in Civic Center Park on Sunday afternoon to protest violence by law enforcement and rally for justice in the name of George Floyd, the black man whose killing by police in Minneapolis sparked a national conflagration. Read More from The Denver Post HERE

Denver Extends Curfew In Response To Protests, 170 Arrested After Curfew Sunday

Denver Mayor Michael Hancock said Monday morning that the weekend curfew aimed at dispersing protests against police brutality will be extended into Monday night. Hancock said the curfew would begin at 9 p.m. Monday; it was 8 PM the previous two nights. Demonstrators are expected to gather Monday night at 5 p.m. for the fifth day of protests. They began after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis Police custody last week. Read More from CPR HERE

Before Protests Brought Thousands Together, Data Pointed A Possible Coronavirus Resurgence In Colorado

As the protests over the death of George Floyd brought thousands of Coloradans together to demonstrate against racism and police violence, the novel coronavirus was already showing signs of potentially heading toward a resurgence, new data from a Colorado university modeling team revealed Monday. While hospitalizations from COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, continue to decline across the state, the team found that the rate of decline appears to be slowing. Read More from The Colorado Sun HERE

Colorado Black, Latino Legislative Caucuses Speak Out

The Colorado General Assembly's black and Latino caucuses issued a joint statement Monday morning about racist police officers in the violence and outrage that has followed the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis a week ago. Four officers were fired and one is facing murder charges as a result. Denver, like other American cities, is weathering violent destructive protests, as a result. Members of the Colorado causes are Democrats. Here is their statement in its entirety. Read More from Colorado Politics HERE

Governor Polis Signs Updated Safer At Home Executive Order To Transition To Safer At Home And In The Vast, Great Outdoors

Gov. Polis today signed an Executive Order, transitioning from Safer at Home to Safer at Home and in the Vast, Great Outdoors. “Our state has some of the most beautiful natural open spaces in the world and we want Coloradans to enjoy our vast, great outdoors. While we are all still safer at home, we are also able to practice greater social distancing in our great outdoors than in confined indoor spaces,” said Governor Jared Polis. Read More from Governor Jared Polis HERE

RTD Continues Downtown Service Suspension Into Monday

For the fourth straight day, the Regional Transportation District has suspended bus, light rail and commuter rail service into downtown Denver as the unrest caused by the police murder of Minneapolis man George Floyd roils the city. The protests, which began on Thursday and continued through Sunday, were largely peaceful during the day. However, vandalism from rioters and use of teargas from police generally characterized the chaos after the city’s 8 p.m. curfew. At least one member of RTD’s board of directors directly criticized the service adjustment. Read More from Colorado Politics HERE

CDPHE Seeking Input On Draft Guidance

Thank you to Colorado Counties Inc. (CCI) for flagging this item. With the knowledge of the latest modeling data, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is seeking feedback on draft guidelines today. Coloradans can review draft guidelines in the following areas: Places of Worship Draft Guidance; Personal Recreation Draft Guidance; and Outdoor Industry Draft Guidance. The deadline for providing feedback is Wednesday, June 3, at noon. The draft guidance may be updated based on stakeholder feedback and will go in effect when announced as final on June 4. Read More from CDPHE HERE

CPR Asked 2 Coronavirus Experts How They Feel About Going Out As Colorado Reopens

Now that more and more activities and services are reopening after coronavirus closures, how do people who fight the virus every day decide which activities are safe to resume and which are off-limits? Dr. Michelle Barron, who oversees infectious disease control and prevention at UCHealth and Dr. Ken Lyn-Kew, a critical care pulmonologist with National Jewish Health both agreed to tell CPR how they look at re-entering the world after long sheltering as a precaution against COVID-19. Read More from CPR HERE

Online Petition-Gathering Rules Released For Colorado's November Ballot

The Secretary of State's Office is moving ahead with new rules to allow people to sign petitions by mail or email, an exception granted by order of Gov. Jared Polis. To get on the ballot, petitioners need at least 124,632 signatures from registered voters before Aug. 3, a tall order given the limits of in-person contact. The governor's actions gave new life to a raft of potential ballot measures, and he's being sued and criticized by state business organizations who say he is overstepping his constitutional limits on executive authority. Read More from Colorado Politics HERE

Colorado's Oil And Gas Producers Are Slashing Budgets, Closing Wells As Demand And Cash Flow Dwindles

Oil and gas drilling in Colorado hit a historic low in May with only six drill rigs operating and an average for the month of seven drilling platforms – the fewest in the 28 years that oil field services company Baker Hughes has kept monthly records by state. The combination of plunging oil prices – set-off in part by a brief price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia – and a collapse in demand due to the novel coronavirus pandemic shutting down economies has roiled the industry worldwide and led to an oil glut. Read More from The Colorado Sun HERE

Slices Of Uncertainty, Caution And Normalcy Served Up As Coloradans Go Back To Eat

After months, Coloradans can get back to eating out at their favorite restaurants — if those places are open and if they are following some strict rules about social distancing. Still, some in Denver faced additional hurdles after Mayor Michael Hancock ordered an 8 p.m. curfew after people damaged property downtown following a peaceful protest over the death of George Floyd. So how’s dine-in service going across the state? Colorado Public Radio reporters checked in with restaurants and here’s what they found. More from CPR HERE  

Killed Bills; 9 Measures Colorado Lawmakers Won't Vote On This Year Because Of COVID-19

Colorado lawmakers killed a bunch of bills in their first days back to work after a more than two-month hiatus, and they expect the “bloodbath,” as many have called it, to continue. Rep. Jonathan Singer, a Longmont Democrat, said the House Public Health Care and Human Services Committee alone killed more bills in two hours than probably in the last two years combined. Lawmakers will likely deep-six more bills than they pass as they try to wrap up their 2020 session in just three weeks. Read More from The Denver Post HERE 

Colorado Lawmakers Focus On Essential Workers Amid Coronavirus, Push To Make Paid Sick Leave A Right For All

To lift public health restrictions and reopen Colorado, Democratic lawmakers say the first step is to protect essential workers like Mirja McDade in the retail and service industries. McDade’s past jobs in the restaurant industry didn’t include paid sick time, so she worked regardless of her health. In the era of COVID-19, that’s a dangerous situation — and it’s driving new legislation at the Capitol that would require all companies to provide paid sick leave to employees. Read More from The Colorado Sun HERE

Colorado Lawmakers Launch Bipartisan Effort To Repeal Gallagher Amendment

Gallagher ties residential property taxes to commercial property taxes, so the pandemic’s extreme impact on Colorado businesses’ bottom lines will result in significant property-tax decreases across the board for years to come, experts expect. Unless the amendment is removed from the state Constitution. To head off the upcoming financial crisis, Sen. Jack Tate, R-Centennial, said he and a bipartisan group of lawmakers are proposing to repeal the 1982 Gallagher Amendment, which they say has become a twisted version of what was once a good idea. Read More from The Denver Post HERE

Ethics Board Votes Unanimously To Subpoena Hickenlooper To Testify Thursday

Colorado's Independent Ethics Commission (IEC) voted unanimously Monday to subpoena former Gov. John Hickenlooper (D-Colorado) to testify at a remote hearing on Thursday. The former governor faces an ethics probe over whether accepting private jet travel from wealthy supporters constituted illegal gifts. Hickenlooper is seeking to delay his public testimony until August, at which time, Democratic primary voters will have decided whether Hickenlooper or former House Speaker Andrew Romanoff will face Republican Senator Cory Gardner in the general election. Read More from 9News HERE

State Supreme Court Establishes New Criteria For Threatening Speech In Teen Tweet Case

The Colorado Supreme Court on Monday established a five-part test for determining whether a communication is protected speech under the First Amendment or a threat, stemming from a bellicose exchange between teenagers on Twitter. The determination of a threat will now depend upon the context of a communication, including outside events happening before or while the statement is delivered. The medium, the private or public nature of the statement, and the relationship between the correspondents are also key factors, as is the recipient’s response to the alleged threat. Read More from Colorado Politics HERE

ACLU Lawsuit Asks For Release Of Nonviolent Inmates At Risk Due to COVID-19

The Colorado division of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed a class action lawsuit last week against Gov. Jared Polis and the Colorado Department of Corrections (CDOC) seeking an emergency order to protect medically vulnerable incarcerated people in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The lawsuit asks for an order that will, among other things, prioritize releasing people who are older, sick or are otherwise vulnerable to COVID-19, and who "pose no threat to public safety," ACLU of Colorado said. Read More from 9News HERE

When Will Concerts Return To Colorado? Bad News, It Might Be 2021

Colorado's legendary Red Rocks Amphitheatre was set to host The String Cheese Incident this summer for the 43rd, 44th and the 45th time. The pandemic hasn't been kind to concert loving Colorado. Big Head Todd’s regular run at Red Rocks? See you next year. Denver’s Underground Music Showcase has thrown in the towel too, while the city’s annual Juneteenth Music Festival will go virtual. Phish’s annual run at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park? Sorry, 2020 wasn’t in the cards. Plan on Labor Day Weekend 2021 instead. The list grows longer every day. Read More from CPR HERE

Governor Polis Takes Action To Address COVID-19 Pandemic

Governor Jared Polis took further action to address the COVID-19 pandemic. Gov. Polis signed Executive Order D 2020-089, extending the temporary suspension of certain statutes concerning taxpayer filing requirements for certain taxable property. The Governor also signed Executive Order D 2020-090, allowing food trucks to operate at rest areas to support the movement of commercial vehicle activities. Gov. Polis extended the Executive Order limiting evictions, foreclosures, and public utility disconnections and expediting unemployment insurance claim processing for 15 days. The Governor signed an extension directing the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) to provide additional funds to nursing homes and other congregate care facilities that care for vulnerable older and disabled populations. Gov. Polis also extended and amended an Executive Order temporarily suspending certain regulatory statutes, and extended Executive Orders concerning petition collection for unaffiliated and independent candidates, temporarily suspending the personal appearance requirement before notarial officers to perform notarizations, suspending certain statutes preventing the issuance of marriage licenses when county clerk and recorder offices are closed, and expanding telehealth services. Read More from Governor Jared Polis HERE and HERE

New Denver Program Brings Art, Financial Help To Small Businesses

The next time you drive by your favorite restaurant, you may see a mural in the window that's part of something bigger. The marketing company Eclectic Activation, run by all women, came up with the idea for companies to sponsor small businesses, kick in a little financial support, and bring in artists to create inspirational murals. All the while, the small business can continue to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. They called it Window of Inspiration. Read More from Denver7 HERE 

Cities, Including Denver, Fear George Floyd Protests May Fuel New Wave Of Coronavirus Outbreaks

The massive protests sweeping across U.S. cities following the police killing of a black man in Minnesota have sent shudders through the health community and elevated fears that the huge crowds will lead to a new surge in cases of the coronavirus. In Denver, Mayor Michael Hancock has asked anyone who attended four days and nights of demonstrations in the city to get tested over the next weekend. Read More from The Colorado Sun HERE

U.S. At Crossroads As Protests Grip Cities And Police Crack Down, Causing Violent Confrontations

Protesters took to the streets for a sixth night Sunday, as anger over the Memorial Day death of a black man in police custody burned across a country already reeling from the deadly coronavirus and the resulting economic crisis. As the violent and chaotic weekend drew to a close, officials in more than two dozen cities had imposed sweeping curfews, including in Minneapolis and St. Paul, the epicenter of the crisis. Governors in 26 states called in the National Guard. Read More from The Washington Post HERE

Family-Commissioned Autopsy Says George Floyd's Death Was Homicide

Preliminary results from an independent autopsy commissioned by George Floyd's family found that his death in the custody of Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was "homicide caused by asphyxia due to neck and back compression that led to a lack of blood flow to the brain," according to a statement from the family's attorney. Why it matters; The autopsy contradicts preliminary findings from the Hennepin County medical examiner, who found “no physical findings that support a diagnosis of traumatic asphyxiation or strangulation,” according to charging documents against Chauvin. Read More from Axios HERE 

National Guard Civil Unrest Update; More Than 17,000 Troops in 23 States And DC Activated

The National Guard has drastically increased it’s response to unrest sweeping America over what prosecutors say was the murder of a handcuffed black man by Minneapolis police. There are now more than 17,000 National Guard troops in 23 states and the District of Columbia have been activated to help quell the unrest. That’s more than a three-fold increase in just over a day. Read More from Military Times HERE

Facing Protests Over Use Of Force, Police Respond With More Force

Demonstrations continued across the United States on Sunday as the nation braced for another grueling night of unrest over police shootings and the death of George Floyd, amid growing concern that aggressive law enforcement tactics intended to impose order were instead inflaming tensions. Videos showed police officers in recent nights using batons, tear gas, pepper spray and rubber bullets on protesters, bystanders and journalists, often without warning or seemingly unprovoked. Read More from The New York Times HERE

President Trump Urges Governors To 'Dominate' Protestors After Another Night Of Unrest

After pockets of the United States descended into chaos — following more protests over the death of yet another black man in police custody, leading to another night of fire and fury — President Trump urged the nation’s governors to use force and take back the streets. During a conference call Monday, Trump berated the state leaders, calling them “weak,” and urged them to “dominate” protesters, according to officials familiar with the president’s remarks. Read More from The Washington Post HERE

Communities Of Color At Higher Risk For Health And Economic Challenges Due To COVID-19

The COVID-19 outbreak presents potential health and financial challenges for families, which may disproportionately affect communities of color and compound underlying health and economic disparities. This brief analyzes data on underlying health conditions, health coverage and health care access, and social and economic factors by race and ethnicity to provide insight into how the health and financial impacts of COVID-19 may vary across racial/ethnic groups. Read More from Kaiser Family Foundation HERE

99 Years Ago Today, America Was Shaken By One Of Its Deadliest Acts of Racial Violence

As Americans' rage over racial injustice boils over into a sixth day of protests, today also marks the 99th anniversary of one of the worst acts of racial violence the country has ever seen. This year's anniversary of the 1921 Tulsa race massacre comes amid nationwide demonstrations sparked by the death of George Floyd, a 46-year-old unarmed black man who died last week at the hands of a white police officer in Minneapolis, Minnesota. And while Floyd's name along with his repeated plea, "I can't breathe," have been exclaimed by thousands of protesters, the victims' names of the Tulsa race massacre have been rarely spoken as the incident went unmentioned for decades in classrooms across the state.

Read More from CNN HERE 

There Has Been An Increase In Other Causes Of Deaths, Not Just Coronavirus

New York and New Jersey have had more than 44,000 deaths above normal from mid-March to May. While COVID-19 is the leading cause of these excess deaths, more people have also died from other causes like heart disease, diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease in recent weeks than for the same period in previous years. Public health experts have said that many of these additional deaths from other causes may be undercounts or misdiagnoses of COVID-19, or indirectly linked to the pandemic otherwise. Read More from The New York Times HERE 

There Were Limited COVID-19 Cases In The U.S. During Most Of January Says New CDC Report

In its latest Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, researchers at the U.S. Centers for Diseases Control (CDC) say that there were limited instances of COVID-19 in the U.S. during most of January, and that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes the disease, didn’t start to spread widely until the end of the month and into February. These findings suggest that an aggressive testing and detection program might have mitigated some of the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 and allowed public health officials to contain the infection more reliably. Read More from Time HERE

Retailers And Restaurants Hit In Protests, Adding To Coronavirus Damage

Many retailers and restaurants, already crippled by the coronavirus pandemic, are grappling with damage to their properties and new closures following protests sparked by the death of George Floyd that have sometimes turned violent. From Minneapolis, where Mr. Floyd died while handcuffed and in police custody, to California and Georgia, big and small retailers and restaurants have shut locations in anticipation of violence or are working to rebuild after destruction over the past week. Read More from The Wall Street Journal HERE

What Businesses Damaged In Riots Need To Know About Insurance Claims

Business owners across the U.S. are surveying damage, boarding up windows and planning how to rebuild after violent nights of protests that left storefronts smashed or even burned to the ground. Virtually all business and commercial property owners should have insurance policies that cover riots, fire and civil unrest, and most residential and car policies cover these events too. But there are enough potential hurdles that acting fast gives them have the best chance of recouping losses. Read More from Denver Business Journal HERE

What Happens In An Outcome-Based Financing Model When A Major Crisis Hits?

In this policy brief, Brookings explore the impact of the pandemic on social services that are funded through impact bonds, an innovative outcome-based financing mechanism in which investors provide up-front capital to service providers, with the potential for a return if selected outcomes are achieved. Read More from Brookings HERE

A $16T Hole In The Economy

The pandemic will suck $16 trillion out of the economy over a decade, the Congressional Budget Office projected this afternoon. And after the federal government mounted a nearly $3 trillion response to the coronavirus crisis, a bipartisan group of 60 House lawmakers is calling for modest provisions in the next relief package to tackle the rising federal debt and evaporating trust funds for programs like Medicare and Social Security. Read More from Politico Pro HERE and CBO HERE

A Wayfair Check-In

How will it affect small businesses? That’s been one of the big questions ever since the Supreme Court gave states broader powers to charge sales taxes on online purchases made by residents from out-of-state retailers. And here’s one set of data: Avalara, which makes tax compliance software, has a new survey out this morning that found that smaller companies were the least likely to be compliant with all the various state laws created in the wake of South Dakota v. Wayfair. Read More from Politico HERE  

VA Says It's Providing A COVID-19 Test To Any Employee Who Asks. Employees Say That's Not True

Veterans Affairs Department employees across the country are disputing a claim VA leadership made to Congress on Thursday that any employee who wants a COVID-19 test—for any reason—could get one. Government Executive heard from employees at a dozen VA facilities in as many states who said the department was not offering widespread testing for the disease related to the novel coronavirus. In most cases, they said, only symptomatic workers could receive a test. That reality falls in sharp contrast to the situation described by VA’s top leaders. Read More from Government Executive HERE

McConnell And Pelosi's Next Battle; How To Help The 40 Million Unemployed

The debate over whether Congress will approve a new round of pandemic aid is over. Now it’s just a question of what’s in the package. After brushing off Democrats’ demands for more relief, Senate Republicans now say the next major coronavirus package is likely to move in the coming weeks. And a key conflict ahead will be over how to help the 40 million Americans out of work. The shift comes as the state of the economy grows worse and more GOP senators call for action. Read More from Politico HERE  

McConnell Seeks Fast Track To Ease PPP Rules For Small Businesses

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell will attempt to expedite approval of changes to the popular Paycheck Protection Program aimed at giving small businesses more flexibility in using the money from the fund. The bill would extend the eight-week period when proceeds must be spent for loans to be forgiven to 24 weeks or until the end of the year, whichever comes first. Businesses would also have as long as five years, instead of two years, to repay any money owed on a loan and could use a greater percentage of proceeds on rent and other approved non-payroll expenses. Read More from Bloomberg HERE

House Punts On Spy Bill Amid Flurry Of Masks And Proxies

It is perhaps fitting that when the House convened last Wednesday and Thursday, primarily to consider Senate amendments to a previously House-passed secret spy bill, it did so wearing masks and casting stealth votes (by proxy). Ironically, the main purpose for the House’s return, to finalize action on extending provisions of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), was dashed when the president issued a last-minute veto threat and Republicans who previously supported the bill switched positions. Read More from The Hill HERE

Next Steps For Online SNAP Expansion

USDA has done a “commendable job” quickly allowing low-income families in most states to use their food benefits online, but more sellers need to be authorized for the new program. For now, only a handful of companies that meet certain e-commerce requirements can accept Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits online. In the vast majority of states, Amazon and Walmart are the only options. The department has approved about 37 states to participate, accounting for 90 percent of SNAP households. Read More from Politico HERE

Domestic Abuse Can Escalate In Pandemic And Continue Even If You Get Away

One consequence of COVID-19 is a projected global increase in domestic violence, including intimate partner violence. As many areas of the United States loosen quarantine restrictions, that's creating more opportunities for people to flee their abusers, but technology and a lack of money often make those escapes more complicated. Read More from NPR HERE

A Busy Week For IPOs Despite Upheaval From Protests And Pandemic

This week is expected to be the busiest for U.S. IPOs since February, with Warner Music leading a group of four companies that could raise over $3 billion. This shouldn't be happening, under any traditional rubric for how markets work. American passions over race and policing are inflamed, with many neighborhoods literally in flames. Over 104,000 Americans are dead from the ongoing pandemic, with infection rates rising in several large states. Tens of millions of Americans are unemployed. China is threatening to renege on part of the phase one trade deal. Read More from Axios HERE

Cyber Essentials Toolkit

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) released the first in a series of six Cyber Essentials Toolkits. CISA’s toolkits will provide greater detail, insight and resources on each of the Cyber Essentials’ six “Essential Elements” of a Culture of Cyber Readiness. Toolkit 1 focuses on the role of leadership in forging a culture of cyber readiness in their organization with an emphasis on strategy and investment. Read More from CISA HERE

HUD Allocates Third Wave Of Funding to States

In May Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Ben Carson announced the release of the third wave, $1 billion, of funding made available to states and insular areas through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). Allocations are based on a formula that focuses on public health needs, risk of transmission, the rate in which a state has active cases, and the economic disruption a state is enduring. Read More from HUD HERE

USDA Releases Final Rule for Coronavirus Aid To Farmers

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released the final rule regarding the direct aid portion of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). The CFAP will provide up to $16 billion in direct payments to farmers and ranchers affected by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Applications will be accepted through Aug. 28, 2020. Read More from USDA HERE

How Accurate Have Senate Polls Been, And What That Could Mean For November

Senate polling has been remarkably consistent in its accuracy from year to year. Since the 2001-02 cycle, the weighted average error of U.S. Senate polls conducted in the final 21 days before the election has never been lower than 4.2 points (its score in 2005-06) or higher than 5.4 points (2013-14). But that doesn’t mean there haven’t been any surprises in Senate races. The battle for the U.S. Senate, of course, is waged on a state-by-state basis, and while polling errors may average out to around 5 points across these races, they are higher in some states and lower in others. Read More from FiveThirtyEight HERE

George Floyd Reverberates Globally

Thousands Protest In Germany, U.K., Canada: U.S. protesters rallying against the killing of George Floyd and countless other black Americans are being heard around the world as demonstrators launched their own protests in the United Kingdom, Germany and Canada over the weekend. Read More from NPR HERE

Reopening America & The World

As America and the world reopen from this devastating pandemic, it is important to examine how the process is taking place, its impact on individual lives and livelihoods, and learn from the experiences of other nations. In this report, Brookings look at the experiences of the United States and other countries to see what they can derive about the reopening and its human impact. They present the insights and observations of three dozen Brookings scholars who look at reopening from many different angles and offer their thoughts and recommendations. Read More from Brookings HERE

Second Ebola Outbreak Strikes Congo

A second outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus has struck Congo, even before an earlier outbreak in a volatile eastern region has formally ended. The Congolese health ministry said Monday it had identified six cases of the Ebola virus in Equateur Province, a region along the Congo River on the border with the Republic of the Congo. Four people have died. Read More from The Hill HERE

SpaceX Capsule Carrying Astronauts Docks With Spaace Station

SpaceX's Crew Dragon safely delivered two NASA astronauts — Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken — to the International Space Station on Sunday after the company's historic launch Saturday. Why it matters; This marks the first time a private company has delivered people to the space station, and it signals the beginning of the end of NASA's reliance on Russia's Soyuz spacecraft for flights to orbit. Read More from Axios HERE

A Historic Docking, 250 Miles Above Earth

The spacecraft handled just like it did in the simulators back on Earth. The astronauts carefully toggled the controls and signaled the thrusters to gently nudge the capsule around. Outside, fuel escaped in plumes, glittering brightly against the matte black of space before vanishing. But minutes before the astronauts approached the International Space Station, the commander let go.The SpaceX capsule they flew in is designed to dock itself autonomously to the space station. Read More from The Atlantic HERE