• Everyone wants to blame the pandemic for learning loss among our students, but maybe something else is going on. A year after testing found excessive levels of lead in 2,200 drinking sources across Colorado’s 10 largest school districts, two-thirds of them still have not been fixed.
• Curious what would be at the center of a Venn diagram of Carmen Miranda and Colombian death squads? We now know the answer: Chiquita bananas.
• Adding insult to injury, Barnes & Noble appears to be the top bidder for the beloved-but-bankrupt independent Denver bookstore chain Tattered Cover.
• Wells Fargo confirmed it fired a dozen remote employees who were caught using tools that simulate keyboard activity – think mouse jigglers. In its statement, the company said “Wells Fargo holds employees to the highest standards and does not tolerate unethical behavior,” which is laughable given all of its recent scandals.
• The U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team is ranked fifth in the world, its lowest ranking since FIFA began releasing standings for women’s teams in 2003. There is hope, however. The women will have a chance to climb back up the rankings when they participate in the Paris Olympics in July.
• Speaking of soccer, Yan Couto, a defender on the Brazil men’s national soccer team, changed his signature pink hair after a request from officials of his national team. He plays professionally for Manchester City, and they apparently had no concerns about the color of his hair.
• If you are wondering how the world sees the state of American politics, Canada is game-planning for what a U.S. civil war would mean for our polite neighbors to the north.
• Ahhh, Independence Day. The holiday synonymous with fireworks, apple pie and … competitive eating? Organizers of the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest have banned Joey Chestnut from its signature July 4th event after he signed an endorsement deal with plant-based, meat alternative company Impossible Foods.
• Ball Arena has evicted Biker Jim’s Gourmet Dogs for allegedly not paying sponsorship fees. The arena is suing the restaurant that has its flagship location in the Ballpark neighborhood for $868,000.
• Gum-maker Orbitz clearly understands Millennials and Gen Z. Rather than focusing on fresh breath or taste, the company is launching a $50 million ad campaign to convince consumers that chewing gum “can silence anxious thoughts, improve focus or boost confidence.” Fun fact: chewing gum sales peaked in 2011.
• Friends of Keo Frazier are mourning her passing. She was the owner of 9+2 Agency, and held a number of marketing and communications positions with organizations such as Denver Housing Authority, Emily Griffith Technical College and McWhinney.

Who won the week?

• Holland & Hart named Lisa Simon chief marketing and business development officer. Simon previously was with law firm Lewis Roca and Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck.
• Tesla shareholders approved a compensation package for CEO Elon Musk that will award him approximately $48 billion in stock.
• “A conservation veterinarian discovered that if you’ve got a sedated lion on your hands and need to monitor its heart rate, wrapping an Apple Watch around its tongue does the trick.”
• Chef Kelly Whitaker and his partner Erika Whitaker of Id Est Hospitality Group were named best restaurateur in the nation by James Beard.