Good Morning, Colorado, you’re listening to the Daily Sun-Up with the Colorado Sun. It’s Tuesday July 27th,

 

Today - On August 1st, which is also Colorado’s birthday, Nicki Gonzales will become the first Latina state historian.

 

But 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”:

 

Today, we’re taking you back to July 27th, 1875 when, at last, work started on the first building of the University of Colorado, known today as Old Main. Boulder had been designated as the site back in 1861, but a lack of funds delayed work until 1875, The university didn’t open until the fall of 1877 - over two years later.

 

Now, our feature story.

 

Colorado has a new state historian, and for the first time, the job is held by a Latina. Nicki Gonzales is a history professor and vice provost for diversity at Regis University in Denver. She begins the one-year position on August 1, also known as Colorado’s birthday. Sun reporter and co-founder Jennifer Brown talks with reporter Kevin Simpson about his interview with Gonzales and what it will mean to have the first Latina state historian at a time when Colorado and the United States are working to uncover the erased history of marginalized people. 

 

To read more of Kevin’s reporting on the new state historian, go to coloradosun.com. 

 

And Before we go, here are a few stories that you should know about today:

 

The bodies of two people missing after flooding and mudslides in northern Colorado last week have been found in the Poudre River. This comes after the body of a woman was found near the small community of Rustic last week after a mudslide sent a large amount of debris into Poudre Canyon at Black Hollow Road. One more person remains missing after the flash flooding that destroyed six homes and damaged another.

 

The Bureau of Land Management has released a draft of its environmental analysis for a Salida gravel mine expansion. Hard Rock Paving and Redi Mix wants to expand onto public land outside Salida. The agency collected more than 1,900 public comments before releasing its analysis. The controversial plan highlights a growing divide in Colorado’s rural towns, where tourism is eclipsing traditional industries including mining and agriculture.

 

Xcel Energy is pushing for a record $344 million rate increase it says it needs to build a smarter, greener electric grid. But consumer advocates and state regulators are pushing back over the price tag. A major concern is that along with an earlier rate increase and other pending requests since the start of 2020, Xcel’s 1.3 residential million Colorado customers could see their bills increase by as much as 20 percent. Xcel is in the process of spending $4 billion on things such as wind farms, solar installations, battery storage, smart meters, cybersecurity and modernizing its distribution system, according to filings to the PUC. 

 

A 75-year-old man has filed a federal lawsuit alleging that an Idaho Springs police officer put a knee on his neck and caused an injury to his carotid artery. Michael Clark says he has suffered a litany of health problems since the incident, which also involved the officer using a Taser on him. Clark says he lost consciousness after he was hit with the Taser and that he struck a chair on the way to the ground. 

 

For more information on all of these stories, visit our website, www.coloradosun.com. And don’t forget to tune in again tomorrow.

 

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 tomorrow.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good Morning, Colorado, you&rsquo;re listening to the Daily Sun-Up with the Colorado Sun. It&rsquo;s Tuesday July 27th,
&nbsp;
Today - On August 1st, which is also Colorado&rsquo;s birthday, Nicki Gonzales will become the first Latina state historian.
&nbsp;
But 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;
Today, we&rsquo;re taking you back to July 27th, 1875 when, at last, work started on the first building of the University of Colorado, known today as Old Main. Boulder had been designated as the site back in 1861, but a lack of funds delayed work until 1875, The university didn&rsquo;t open until the fall of 1877 - over two years later.
&nbsp;
Now, our feature story.
&nbsp;
Colorado has a new state historian, and for the first time, the job is held by a Latina. Nicki Gonzales is a history professor and vice provost for diversity at Regis University in Denver. She begins the one-year position on August 1, also known as Colorado&rsquo;s birthday. Sun reporter and co-founder Jennifer Brown talks with reporter Kevin Simpson about his interview with Gonzales and what it will mean to have the first Latina state historian at a time when Colorado and the United States are working to uncover the erased history of marginalized people.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
To read more of Kevin&rsquo;s reporting on the new state historian, go to coloradosun.com.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
And Before we go, here are a few stories that you should know about today:
&nbsp;
The bodies of two people missing after flooding and mudslides in northern Colorado last week have been found in the Poudre River. This comes after the body of a woman was found near the small community of Rustic last week after a mudslide sent a large amount of debris into Poudre Canyon at Black Hollow Road. One more person remains missing after the flash flooding that destroyed six homes and damaged another.
&nbsp;
The Bureau of Land Management has released a draft of its environmental analysis for a Salida gravel mine expansion. Hard Rock Paving and Redi Mix wants to expand onto public land outside Salida. The agency collected more than 1,900 public comments before releasing its analysis. The controversial plan highlights a growing divide in Colorado&rsquo;s rural towns, where tourism is eclipsing traditional industries including mining and agriculture.
&nbsp;
Xcel Energy is pushing for a record $344 million rate increase it says it needs to build a smarter, greener electric grid. But consumer advocates and state regulators are pushing back over the price tag. A major concern is that along with an earlier rate increase and other pending requests since the start of 2020, Xcel&rsquo;s 1.3 residential million Colorado customers could see their bills increase by as much as 20 percent. Xcel is in the process of spending $4 billion on things such as wind farms, solar installations, battery storage, smart meters, cybersecurity and modernizing its distribution system, according to filings to the PUC.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
A 75-year-old man has filed a federal lawsuit alleging that an Idaho Springs police officer put a knee on his neck and caused an injury to his carotid artery. Michael Clark says he has suffered a litany of health problems since the incident, which also involved the officer using a Taser on him. Clark says he lost consciousness after he was hit with the Taser and that he struck a chair on the way to the ground.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
For more information on all of these stories, visit our website, www.coloradosun.com. And don&rsquo;t forget to tune in again tomorrow.
&nbsp;
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.
&nbsp;
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 tomorrow.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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