There's a new voice in the debate over Pueblo's Christopher Columbus statue. After weeks of protests on both sides of the issue and no decision made on whether to keep or remove it, the Pueblo City Council says it has passed an agenda item on first reading. It will go for final presentation on August 10 and if passed, the city will be allowed to hire a mediator.

Mayor Nick Gradisar said, "It's necessary, I think, to try to resolve a dispute." The City of Pueblo is trying out a new tactic in the ongoing battle over the Columbus statue. Gradisar said, "We're trying to bring the parties together." The plan is to do that through the help of a mediator - Fred Galvez.