Good Morning, Colorado, and welcome to the Daily Sun-Up. It’s Monday November 23rd, and we’re feeling lucky to start the day with you. Join us daily for an in-depth look at one of our top stories. Today, we’re discussing Backcountry.com, the e-commerce giant that’s mostly delivering on reparations - after suing small businesses for using the word “backcountry”.

 

Before we begin, let’s go back in time with some Colorado history adapted from historian Derek R Everett’s book “Colorado Day by Day”:

 

Franklin D. Roosevelt declared the date of November 23rd as Thanksgiving in 1939 - instead of holding it on the last Thursday of that November. This was done in an effort to combat the Great Depression - Roosevelt had taken the advice of American merchants who asked to move Thanksgiving forward a week and extend the Christmas shopping season. The state of Colorado decided to celebrate both Thanksgivings that year.

 

And now, our feature story. 

 

When news broke last November that Backcountry.com, an e-commerce giant, had for several years been suing small businesses for using the word “backcountry,” the Utah-based company weathered blistering criticism. Eventually, Backcountry.com dropped its lawsuits, fired its trademark attorneys and launched a nationwide effort to make reparations. 

 

Today Colorado Sun reporter Jason Blevins is joining us to discuss the details of how backcountry.com got to this point, what types of small businesses have been affected, and how the reparations are going.

 

Jason, Thank you so much for joining us. Can you start by explaining why backcountry,com is now working with a lot of the small businesses that they had formerly tried to sue?

And, based on your research, have they followed through on these reparations?

 

So, a lot of businesses are comfortable with the way Backcountry.com has handled the situation, can you tell us - are there businesses that don’t feel this way - that are still frustrated?

 

Thank you, Jason

As Jason mentioned, the former CEO of Backcountry.com is gone now, and Melanie Cox, a retail veteran who served on the company’s board, stepped into the role back in June. She’s hired a new chief counsel and chief marketing officer, and has followed through - mostly - on promises made by her predecessor as the company struggled to make amends for its tenacious pursuit of legal trademarks held by small companies.

 

Cox said that, “We strive to be a dedicated, passionate and contributing member of the greater outdoor community, and this responsibility will continue to guide us into the future,” 

 

Finally, here are a few stories you should know about today:

 

The federal State Extended Benefits program provided 13 extra weeks of unemployment benefits. That now ends four weeks early on Nov. 28, due to Colorado’s improved unemployment rate.

-

According to a new study led by the Colorado School of Mines, lettuce and other produce could soak up dangerous concentrations of a banned firefighting chemical - tainting agricultural irrigation, even in areas where drinking water is already filtered for the substance

-

Hotels are one of the business sectors fighting for survival as the COVID-19 pandemic stretches into its eighth month.

-

Three coal-burning power plants in Colorado face orders to close early. Their owners aren’t happy. Tri-State, Xcel, and Platte River Power had the closures slated for 2030. But Colorado air quality regulators say it must be done earlier to meet greenhouse gas targets.

-

Colorado’s 634,000 public pension members face automatic contribution hikes and benefit cuts in 2022 thanks to a financial failsafe that’s expected to kick in for the second time in three years.

 

For more information on all of these stories, visit our website, www.coloradosun.com. 

 

And remember, The Colorado Sun is non-partisan and completely independent. We're always dedicated to telling the in-depth stories we need today more than ever. And The Sun is supported by readers and listeners like you.


Right now, you can head to ColoradoSun.com and become a member. Starting at $5 per month for a basic membership and if you bump it up to $20 per month, you’ll get access to our exclusive politics and outdoors newsletters. Thanks for starting your morning with us and don’t forget to tune in again next time.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good Morning, Colorado, and welcome to the Daily Sun-Up. It&rsquo;s Monday November 23rd, and we&rsquo;re feeling lucky to start the day with you. Join us daily for an in-depth look at one of our top stories. Today, we&rsquo;re discussing Backcountry.com, the e-commerce giant that&rsquo;s mostly delivering on reparations - after <a href="https://ttabvue.uspto.gov/ttabvue/v?qt=adv&amp;procstatus=All&amp;pno=&amp;propno=&amp;qs=backcountry&amp;propnameop=&amp;propname=&amp;pop=&amp;pn=&amp;pop2=&amp;pn2=&amp;cop=&amp;cn=">suing </a>small businesses for using the word &ldquo;backcountry&rdquo;.
&nbsp;
Before we begin, let&rsquo;s go back in time with some Colorado history adapted from historian Derek R Everett&rsquo;s book &ldquo;Colorado Day by Day&rdquo;:
&nbsp;
Franklin D. Roosevelt declared the date of November 23rd as Thanksgiving in 1939 - instead of holding it on the last Thursday of that November. This was done in an effort to combat the Great Depression - Roosevelt had taken the advice of American merchants who asked to move Thanksgiving forward a week and extend the Christmas shopping season. The state of Colorado decided to celebrate both Thanksgivings that year.
&nbsp;
And now, our feature story.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
When<a href="https://coloradosun.com/2019/10/31/backcountry-com-sues-anyone-who-uses-its-namesake-is-it-bullying-or-just-business/"> news broke last November</a> that Backcountry.com, an e-commerce giant, had <a href="https://ttabvue.uspto.gov/ttabvue/v?qt=adv&amp;procstatus=All&amp;pno=&amp;propno=&amp;qs=backcountry&amp;propnameop=&amp;propname=&amp;pop=&amp;pn=&amp;pop2=&amp;pn2=&amp;cop=&amp;cn=">for several years been suing </a>small businesses for using the word &ldquo;backcountry,&rdquo; the Utah-based company weathered blistering criticism. Eventually, Backcountry.com <a href="https://coloradosun.com/2019/11/08/backcountry-com-fires-attorneys-tries-to-make-amends/">dropped its lawsuits</a>, fired its trademark attorneys and launched a<a href="https://coloradosun.com/2019/11/21/backcountry-com-apology-tour-before-black-friday/"> nationwide effort to make reparations</a>.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Today Colorado Sun reporter Jason Blevins is joining us to discuss the details of how backcountry.com got to this point, what types of small businesses have been affected, and how the reparations are going.
&nbsp;
Jason, Thank you so much for joining us. Can you start by explaining why backcountry,com is now working with a lot of the small businesses that they had formerly tried to sue?
And, based on your research, have they followed through on these reparations?
&nbsp;
So, a lot of businesses are comfortable with the way Backcountry.com has handled the situation, can you tell us - are there businesses that don&rsquo;t feel this way - that are still frustrated?
&nbsp;
Thank you, Jason
As Jason mentioned, the former CEO of Backcountry.com is gone now, and Melanie Cox, a retail veteran who served on the company&rsquo;s board, stepped into the role back in June. She&rsquo;s hired a new chief counsel and chief marketing officer, and has followed through - mostly - on promises made by her predecessor as the company struggled to make amends for its tenacious pursuit of legal trademarks held by small companies.
&nbsp;
Cox said that, &ldquo;We strive to be a dedicated, passionate and contributing member of the greater outdoor community, and this responsibility will continue to guide us into the future,&rdquo;&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Finally, here are a few stories you should know about today:
&nbsp;
The federal State Extended Benefits program provided 13 extra weeks of unemployment benefits. That now ends four weeks early on Nov. 28, due to Colorado&rsquo;s improved unemployment rate.
-
According to a new study led by the Colorado School of Mines, lettuce and other produce could soak up dangerous concentrations of a banned firefighting chemical - tainting agricultural irrigation, even in areas where drinking water is already filtered for the substance
-
Hotels are one of the business sectors fighting for survival as the COVID-19 pandemic stretches into its eighth month.
-
Three coal-burning power plants in Colorado face orders to close early. Their owners aren&rsquo;t happy. Tri-State, Xcel, and Platte River Power had the closures slated for 2030. But Colorado air quality regulators say it must be done earlier to meet greenhouse gas targets.
-
Colorado&rsquo;s 634,000 public pension members face automatic contribution hikes and benefit cuts in 2022 thanks to a financial failsafe that&rsquo;s expected to kick in for the <a href="https://coloradosun.com/2019/06/21/pera-state-employees-2019-contributions/">second time</a> in three years.
&nbsp;
For more information on all of these stories, visit our website,<a href="http://www.coloradosun.com/"> www.coloradosun.com</a>.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
And remember, The Colorado Sun is non-partisan and completely independent. We're always dedicated to telling the in-depth stories we need today more than ever. And The Sun is supported by readers and listeners like you.
 Right now, you can head to ColoradoSun.com and become a member. Starting at $5 per month for a basic membership and if you bump it up to $20 per month, you&rsquo;ll get access to our exclusive politics and outdoors newsletters. Thanks for starting your morning with us and don&rsquo;t forget to tune in again next time.See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.

Welcome to The Colorado Sun's daily podcast, The Daily Sun-Up. Every day we’re sharing an in-depth look at one of our top stories, followed by a quick summary of important things happening in our state. For more visit us at https://coloradosun.com/.

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