Central California School Abandons Redskins Mascot

FRESNO, Calif. (AP) -- A California school district has decided to give up its Redskins team mascot.

The Fresno Bee reports that the Tulare Joint Union High School District is abandoning its battle to keep the mascot in the wake of state legislation banning it.

The district announced this week that it will form a committee to select a new mascot for the high school. The school board plans to select from a list of finalists by the end of June.

California passed a bill outlawing the Redskins name in October and gave schools until Jan. 1, 2017 to choose a new mascot.

The school district had enlisted the help of the Tule River tribe to lobby against the bill.