🌱 Omicron Update + Travel Guidelines + Record-Breaking Overdoses

Good morning, people of Denver! Amber Fisher here with a fresh edition of the Denver Daily. I'm delivering the latest news about the omicron variant, travel safety, overdose statistics and the 'Christmas comet.'

First, today's weather:

You can look forward to a sunny Saturday ahead, with a high of 45 and a low of 29.

Here are the top stories today in Denver:

1. Omicron is on track to become the dominant variant strain in Colorado, Gov. Jared Polis said. As of Friday, five omicron cases were confirmed in our state, but the strain is expected to spread rapidly. Public health officials are urging Coloradans to get their booster shots. (Colorado Newsline)
2. Speaking of which, here's a reminder of Denver's holiday travel safety guidelines, whether you're traveling by plane, bus or train. And if you're gathering with others, avoid poorly ventilated spaces, wash your hands frequently and wear a well-fitting mask, public health officials said. (Denver Patch)
3. A record-breaking number of Coloradans are dying of drug overdoses so far in 2021, the latest state data shows. Colorado lost 1,230 people to overdoses between Jan. 1 and Aug. 31 — a surge compared to the same time last year, which broke the previous record. (Colorado Newsline)
4. So far, 792,371 Americans have died from COVID-19 — more than the total number of Americans killed in World War I and World War II combined. The metro Denver county with the highest pandemic death rate is Adams County, which has reported 196 deaths for every 100,000 people. (24/7 Wall St. - Denver)
5. It's not too late to spot the 'Christmas comet'! We may be able to see comet Leonard and its impressive tail in Colorado through the final days of December. But catch it soon! The longer you wait, the more difficult comet Leonard will be to see before it leaves our solar system. (Patch)

Today in metro Denver:

• BRDG Project Gallery Art Bazaar Party & Sale in Denver (11 a.m.)
• Marijuana Mansion Holiday Gift Show in Denver (1 p.m.)
• Mile High Spirits Annual Awesome Sweater Party in Denver (2 p.m.)
• Scotty Wiese's "Connections" - An Evening of Magic, Mystery, and Surprise in Denver (7 p.m.)
• The Long Run - Live @ The Rose in Golden (8 p.m.)
• The Louisville Underground Holiday Party (8 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Denver is now a What Works Cities Certified city, officials announced. We’re one of 50 cities in the country recognized to date for using data to make our community more prosperous, equitable and safe, the city said. (Facebook)
• Pup looking for a home: Ricky is an 8-year-old American Pit Bull Terrier and English Bulldog mix who is "very excited to find himself a family to call home," Denver police said. (Facebook)
• Denver Public Schools is holding a Facebook Live event on Jan. 13 and virtual school expos Jan. 18-20, which are designed to help you learn more about school options and the district's School Choice process, officials said. (Facebook)
• The Lovve Project is all about "neighbors supporting neighbors,” the city said. The initiative was founded at the beginning of the pandemic to ensure that even if kids are not in school to get meals, they won’t go hungry. (Facebook)
• The Denver Broncos' Diontae Spencer is auctioning his custom #MyCauseMyCleats to benefit United Way of Southeast Louisiana: Hurricane Ida Relief Fund, the team announced. (Facebook)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Events:

• Indie singer-songwriter Evan James LIVE at BOCO Cider! (Dec. 19)
• Real Estate Investment Hour (Dec. 21)
• Brighten The First Day Of Winter With 15 Percent Off FTD’s Sunniest Blooms (Dec. 21)
• A Winter's Eve - Christmas Standards @ Gold Hill Inn (Dec. 22)
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Alrighty, you're all caught up for today. See you all tomorrow morning for another update!

— Amber Fisher

About me: I'm a Patch editor covering news in Denver's metro area and Boulder. I've spent the past nine years working for various news outlets across North America, including Chicago Patch, Global News and WBEZ. I've covered high-profile court cases, civil rights abuses, mass shootings, natural disasters and major crimes — but also countless happy news stories about kindness, innovation and resilience. When I'm not writing articles, I can be found hiking, snowboarding, debating politics with my husband and attempting to be a sci-fi and astronomy geek.