– Hi, I’m Isabella Janney with the Colorado Springs Daily and today is July 6th, 2020. Our first segment today, we’ll talk about the protests in Pueblo as tensions rise over the statue of Christopher Columbus. Our second story today is about the 3 officers who have been fired following Elijah McClain’s killing. And, our last story of the day is about the reopening of Flying W. Ranch, 8 years after it was destroyed by the Waldo Canyon Fire.
– Our first segment today takes us down to Pueblo. This is the third weekend in a row that protestors have stood near Rawlings Library in Pueblo, where a statue of Christopher Columbus stands, demanding its removal. But, there are also counterprotestors, arguing in favor of keeping the statue where it is. Tensions escalated on Sunday, and two arrests were made – one protestor and one counterprotestor – after they crossed yellow tape surounding the statue. Pueblo Police say they were at the rally to mediate after there werereports of counterprotesters usin pepper spray against the protesters. Statues honoring Columbus have been the site of many protests recently; protestors in Denver tore one down late last month. A group called [For The People – Pueblo](https://www.facebook.com/ftppueblo/) has vowed to protest every week until the statue is removed; they say the statue honors a historical figure who was responsible for the genocide of indigenous American people. Colorado — the first state to celebrate Columbus Day — abolished the holiday earlier this year, exchanging it for Frances Xavier Cabrini Day to honor an Italian-American nun who started several charitable organizations in Colorado.
– [https://krdo.com/news/2020/07/05/pueblo-police-arrest-at-least-two-during-sunday-protest-against-columbus-statue/](https://krdo.com/news/2020/07/05/pueblo-police-arrest-at-least-two-during-sunday-protest-against-columbus-statue/)
– Our second story today takes us to Aurora where three officers were fired and one resigned before he could be officially terminated in connection with Elijah McClain’s killing in 2019. The interim police chief Vanessa Wilson announced that their termination was tied to photos on October 20, 2019 at the site of a memorial for McClain. Elijah McClain was a 23-year-old who was stopped by officers while walking home from a convenience store. He was not armed and did not stop when officers told him to. The officers used a chokehold on him and paramedics injected him with a sedative. McClain died several days after the encounter. McClain’s death has generated renewed attention after the death of George Floyd stirred worldwide protests over racial injustice. Wilson said the allegations of officers taking a photo, posing in a chokehold, aren’t criminal but are a “crime against humanity and decency.”
– [https://www.kktv.com/content/news/BREAKING-3-officers-fired-in-Colorado-1-resigned-over-photo-at-the-site-of-Elijah-McClain-incident-571619871.html](https://www.kktv.com/content/news/BREAKING-3-officers-fired-in-Colorado-1-resigned-over-photo-at-the-site-of-Elijah-McClain-incident-571619871.html)
– And our last story today is a happy one. Flying W. Ranch is set to reopen eight years after it was destroyed by the Waldo Canyon Fire. It was orginally set to reopen at the end of May, but COVID has pushed the date back to the new set date of July 10th. Only two buildings remained standing after the fire all those years ago, so there was a lot to rebuild of this iconic destination in Southern Colorado. And, the new Ranch will have some new attractions, including donkeys, oxen and rug weaving. You can check out their website to buy tickets.
– [https://krdo.com/news/local-news/2020/07/03/eight-years-after-devastating-fire-flying-w-ranch-set-to-reopen-next-weekend/](https://krdo.com/news/local-news/2020/07/03/eight-years-after-devastating-fire-flying-w-ranch-set-to-reopen-next-weekend/)
– Thank you so much for listening today. I’m Isabella Janney with the Colorado Springs D
