Good Morning, Colorado, you’re listening to the Daily Sun-Up with the Colorado Sun. It’s Monday July 19th. 

 

This year, Colorado lawmakers passed a bill requiring school districts with Native American mascots to make a change or face thousands of dollars in fines. 

 

Today - Colorado Sun contributor Sue McMillin joined reporter Jesse Paul to discuss how districts are reacting to the new law.

 

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 going back to July 19th, 1879 when Colorado finally found its state limits. For years surveyors worked through rugged terrain to define Colorado’s straight boundaries. But it turns out, they’re not actually straight. All four edges meander from their course to some extent. In fact, a study done in 2018 suggested that as a result of the surveying challenges Colorado has no fewer than 697 sides. That makes it a hexahectaenneacontakaiheptagon.

 

 Now, our feature story. 

 

Only a few of Colorado’s public schools still use team names such as Redskins, Savages, Warriors and Indians. But a new state law says all of them must figure out how to rebrand with names and mascots that don’t misuse Native American images. They have until June of 2022 to complete the work or face $25,000 per month fines. Colorado Sun contributor Sue McMillin has been following the issue for almost a year. Last week, she went to Lamar, where the high school teams and even local streets carry the Savages name. She explained to reporter Jesse Paul how fraught the discussion of changing is, even sparking threats of lawsuits to avoid complying with the new law. 

 

To read more about how Colorado schools are rethinking their team names, visit coloradosun.com.

 

Thanks for listening. Finally, here are a few stories you should know about today:

 

Drought in the West is so severe and persistent that large reservoirs in Colorado, Wyoming and New Mexico must for the first time release water to replenish Lake Powell. The Bureau of Reclamation on Friday said about 2.5 million acre-feet of water that was projected to flow into Lake Powell has effectively disappeared because of drought. Water levels at Lake Powell are so low that there is a risk that turbines on the huge hydro electric plant will have to stop turning. Flaming Gorge Reservoir in Wyoming and Blue Mesa Reservoir near Gunnison will begin releasing water in August. Navajo Reservoir, which straddles the Colorado-New Mexico border, will send water starting in November. The reservoirs will in total send about 175,000 acre-feet of water, enough to raise Lake Powell by three feet.

 

Business leaders shocked University of Colorado economists with record high optimism about the state’s economy, sales and hiring. The most recent quarterly Colorado Business Review reported a third of the 250 business leaders polled said their sales never decreased during the pandemic. Another 19 percent said sales have returned to pre-pandemic levels. Most said they expect their company’s employment to return to pre-pandemic levels sometime between September and the end of 2022. The researchers from the Leeds Business Research Division at CU also said  Colorado’s real gross domestic product fully recovered from the recession by March 31.

 

Plague has been confirmed in a sample of fleas collected as part of the investigation into the death of a 10-year-old La Plata County girl on July 5. San Juan Basin Public Health said the fleas were tested by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The local health department said it is reaching out to people who live in south central La Plata County, near where the fleas were collected, to remind them to take precautions against the disease, including the use of veterinarian-approved flea control products for domestic animals. Plague, which is treatable, is caused by bacteria that can be transmitted to humans by the bites of infected fleas or by direct contact with infected animals. Plague has been found in animals in multiple Colorado counties this summer. 

For more information on all of these stories, visit our website, www.coloradosun.com. Now, a quick message from our editor.

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.

 

Featured clip from: KOAA-TV

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 Monday July 19th.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
This year, Colorado lawmakers passed a bill requiring school districts with Native American mascots to make a change or face thousands of dollars in fines.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Today - Colorado Sun contributor Sue McMillin joined reporter Jesse Paul to discuss how districts are reacting to the new law.
&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;
Today we&rsquo;re going back to July 19th, 1879 when Colorado finally found its state limits. For years surveyors worked through rugged terrain to define Colorado&rsquo;s straight boundaries. But it turns out, they&rsquo;re not actually straight. All four edges meander from their course to some extent. In fact, a study done in 2018 suggested that as a result of the surveying challenges Colorado has no fewer than 697 sides. That makes it a hexahectaenneacontakaiheptagon.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;Now, our feature story.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Only a few of Colorado&rsquo;s public schools still use team names such as Redskins, Savages, Warriors and Indians. But a new state law says all of them must figure out how to rebrand with names and mascots that don&rsquo;t misuse Native American images. They have until June of 2022 to complete the work or face $25,000 per month fines. Colorado Sun contributor Sue McMillin has been following the issue for almost a year. Last week, she went to Lamar, where the high school teams and even local streets carry the Savages name. She explained to reporter Jesse Paul how fraught the discussion of changing is, even sparking threats of lawsuits to avoid complying with the new law.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
To read more about how Colorado schools are rethinking their team names, visit coloradosun.com.
&nbsp;
Thanks for listening. Finally, here are a few stories you should know about today:
&nbsp;
Drought in the West is so severe and persistent that large reservoirs in Colorado, Wyoming and New Mexico must for the first time release water to replenish Lake Powell. The Bureau of Reclamation on Friday said about 2.5 million acre-feet of water that was projected to flow into Lake Powell has effectively disappeared because of drought. Water levels at Lake Powell are so low that there is a risk that turbines on the huge hydro electric plant will have to stop turning. Flaming Gorge Reservoir in Wyoming and Blue Mesa Reservoir near Gunnison will begin releasing water in August. Navajo Reservoir, which straddles the Colorado-New Mexico border, will send water starting in November. The reservoirs will in total send about 175,000 acre-feet of water, enough to raise Lake Powell by three feet.
&nbsp;
Business leaders shocked University of Colorado economists with record high optimism about the state&rsquo;s economy, sales and hiring. The most recent quarterly Colorado Business Review reported a third of the 250 business leaders polled said their sales never decreased during the pandemic. Another 19 percent said sales have returned to pre-pandemic levels. Most said they expect their company&rsquo;s employment to return to pre-pandemic levels sometime between September and the end of 2022. The researchers from the Leeds Business Research Division at CU also said&nbsp; Colorado&rsquo;s real gross domestic product fully recovered from the recession by March 31.
&nbsp;
Plague has been confirmed in a sample of fleas collected as part of the investigation into the death of a 10-year-old La Plata County girl on July 5. San Juan Basin Public Health said the fleas were tested by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The local health department said it is reaching out to people who live in south central La Plata County, near where the fleas were collected, to remind them to take precautions against the disease, including the use of veterinarian-approved flea control products for domestic animals. Plague, which is treatable, is caused by bacteria that can be transmitted to humans by the bites of infected fleas or by direct contact with infected animals. Plague has been found in animals in multiple Colorado counties this summer.&nbsp;
For more information on all of these stories, visit our website,<a href="http://www.coloradosun.com/"> www.coloradosun.com</a>. Now, a quick message from our editor.
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.
&nbsp;
Featured clip from: KOAA-TVSee <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/.

The Daily Sun-Up

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/.

Our intro music is by Matt Skellenger Group: https://mattskellenger.bandcamp.com/album/subspace-transmission 

Welcome to The Colorado Sun's daily podcast, The Daily Sun-Up. Every day we&rsquo;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 <a href="https://coloradosun.com/">https://coloradosun.com/</a>.
Our intro music is by Matt Skellenger Group: <a href="https://mattskellenger.bandcamp.com/album/subspace-transmission">https://mattskellenger.bandcamp.com/album/subspace-transmission</a>&nbsp;