It was November, and Casey Cunningham had a decision to make: She could pay her car registration or buy holiday gifts. Cunningham was already delinquent on her student loan payments. After shelling out for her rent, car and utilities, she was left with less than $1,000 to cover all of her other expenses. The third-grade […]
Barbara McLachlan
Posted inPolitics and Government
Fines for Colorado schools with Native American mascots start in June. But no one has the power to enforce them.
About a dozen schools have been told by the Colorado Commission of Indian Affairs to jettison mascots that appropriate American Indian imagery.
Posted inEducation, News, Politics and Government
Colorado schools with “Thunderbird” mascot set to get one-year reprieve from $25,000 monthly fines
Colorado schools that could face $25,000 monthly fines over “Thunderbird” mascots are poised to be granted a one-year reprieve to come into compliance with a 2021 state law banning American Indian nicknames. The one-year delay, tucked into a school finance bill working its way through the legislature, applies only to schools added after 2021 to […]
Posted inColoradans, Culture, Education, News, Politics and Government
New Colorado law banning most American Indian mascots forces schools to confront cultural shifts
Faced with a new state law requiring the elimination of most American Indian mascots, a handful of Colorado schools are delving into their histories and having community-wide discussions about what a nickname, mascot or logo should represent. In Lamar, that means sticking by its Savages nickname, even if images and logos must be changed. And […]
Posted inBusiness, Climate, Environment, Growth, News, Politics and Government, Water
Nevada farmers and conservationists balk at “water banking,” an idea also being weighed in Colorado
By Sam Metz, AP / Report for America CARSON CITY, Nevada — Rural water users are panicking over a proposal to create a market for the sale and purchase of water rights in Nevada, unconvinced by arguments that the concept would encourage conservation. Lawmakers on Monday weighed whether so-called “water banking” would be preferable to […]
Posted inEducation, News, Politics and Government
Gov. Jared Polis signs bill maintaining school funding amid pandemic challenges
By Jason Gonzales, Chalkbeat Colorado Colorado school districts will get some financial relief under a bill signed into law by Gov. Jared Polis Monday. Under normal conditions, Colorado schools are funded based on enrollment. The legislation approved by Polis ensures Colorado school districts will receive the money they originally expected for the 2020-21 school year […]
Posted inCOVID, Education, News, Politics and Government
Colorado plan to scale back CMAS testing moves forward. Kids would test in literacy or math, but not both.
By Jason Gonzales, Chalkbeat Colorado A proposal to significantly scale back Colorado’s standardized school testing this year cleared its first hurdle Friday after proponents and opponents came together in an overwhelming show of support. The bill cleared the House Education Committee with a bipartisan 8-1 vote after sponsors decided not to pursue their original proposal […]
Posted inElection 2020, Politics and Government
Democrats dominate campaign fundraising and spend big to build majority in the Colorado legislature
Democrats are outspending Republicans in state legislative races, and super PACs are pouring in $10 million, as the majority party looks poised to make gains in both chambers. A few of the competitive races are exceeding the $1 million mark with the most expensive contest — a state Senate seat in Adams County — topping […]
Posted inEducation, News, Politics and Government
Colorado could soon expand protections for student journalists by shielding their advisers from retaliation
Colorado lawmakers this year hope to broaden First Amendment protections for the state’s student journalists by passing legislation shielding public school employees who work with them from administrative retaliation. The bill would also broaden explicit free speech protections for student journalists to include audio and visual storytelling platforms. “This bill will update our law in […]