FORT LUPTON PRESS S E RV I N G T H E C O M M U N I T Y S I N C E 19 0 6
VOLUME 119
WEEK OF OCTOBER 13, 2022
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25 , 2020
VOLUME 117
THE SEASON FOR SHARING
75cI
ISSUE 41
Cyberattacks hit multiple communities
ISSUE 48
State of Colorado sees homepage taken down by foreign entity BY PAOLO ZIALCITA AND MATT MORET COLORADO PUBLIC RADIO
After ransomware disrupted the government services of multiple Colorado communities earlier this year, state officials warned that cybercrime is on the rise. That alert rang true on Oct. 5 when a cyberattack from a foreign entity took down Colorado.gov, the homepage for the state’s online services. The attack seems to be limited to the main directory page, with state services still available through their individual websites. There’s currently no timeline for the homepage’s restoration. Fort Lupton’s quarterback Will Alvarado (12) completes a short pass in the first half of their home league game against Eaton. The A Russian-speaking group known PHOTO BY JUAN ARELLANO Bluedevils were outmatched by the Reds 52-6. More coverage on page 14. as Killnet claimed responsibility for Wednesday’s website outages in a post on Telegram, an instant messaging service that’s grown in popularity outside the United States. The “hacktivist” group ramped up Kochia is found on rangelands, its activity in NATO countries after BY BELEN WARD riculture as a noxious weed despite pastures, fields, disturbed sites, Russia invaded Ukraine. This latest BWARD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM its highly invasive nature and its gardens, roadsides and ditch banks. attack also took down government ability to survive harsh environAccording to officials, the plant can websites in other states, including ments where other plants can’t. For many, autumn in Colorado be toxic to livestock because of the Kochia is a common weed found means the gentle cascade of bright Alabama, Alaska, Connecticut, Delawidespread in Colorado and hard to high level of nitrates. gold Aspen leaves. ware, Florida, Kansas, Kentucky “Tumbleweeds are an issue if the control. and Mississippi. Some of those But folks on the plains know ground is disturbed and if there are “The Kochia isn’t a noxious weed pages are now back online. better: Fall means the arrival of Kochia seeds, the plant will grow, because it is so widespread, infesttumbleweeds – in droves. A spokesperson for the Governor’s then spread its seeds,” Booton said. ing acreage,” Booton said. “There’s “Every year, I hear from people Office of Information Technology “A few plants are not a big deal, it’s declined to comment on the atwith concerns about Kochia and the not a lot the weed division can do the fields of Kochia that are the tack Thursday due to the ongoing arrival of tumbleweeds asking what to control it. The best we can do issue.” is encourage residents to mancriminal investigation. It’s unclear can be done to help address the The Kochia plant grows as a age growth on their property and whether the attack came with a issue,” Tina Booton, Weld County green shrub as early as March remind people about the control ransom demand. Weed Division Supervisor said. and flowers from July to October. options available to them.” That would put the state in a Although there are varieties of When it matures, it can grow from This nuisance species tumbles situation familiar to several local tumbleweeds blowing around the two feet to six feet tall, with bushy across open land, getting caught governments in Colorado that have world, Kochia, scientific name round leaves with soft, fine hair up in car grills, fences, clogging faced multimillion-dollar extortion Bassia Scoparia, is the strain of spikes and red streaks running verirrigation ditches, fence lines, attempts in order to restore their concern in Northeastern Colorado. Every year before Thanksgiving, First United Methodist Church in Fort Luptontically. and the Fort Lupton Food and Clothingsystems. Bank provide community When it dries, it breaks off residential properties and creating And Booton and her team spend a members with food boxes. This will be the program’s 10th consecutive year. Above, Joe Hubert, left China Garcia and Sue Hubert withCounty Changeand 4 Change, at the base of the plant and forms a a fire hazard. During a wind storm, Both Fremont the lot of time working to control the tumbleweed. hundreds can tumble across high-2. rolling Denver suburb of Wheat Ridge were anotherweed. organization that helps with the food drive. See more on Page ways – with some of as large as an Kochia is not identified or listed exercise ball – startling drivers. by the Colorado Department of AgSEE TUMBLEWEEDS, P16 SEE SECURITY, P17
Dealing with the humble tumbleweed
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