🗳️ Tensions rise in Boulder's mayoral race

Good Friday morning, Boulder.

Leading today: With Election Day just days away, Boulder’s mayoral race is growing more contentious. Political newcomer Aquiles La Grave has raised the most money, but his attacks on Mayor Aaron Brockett and other city officials are drawing criticism from across the political spectrum. Councilmember Rob Kaplan went from supporting La Grave to endorsing Brockett and tells us why. We also report on an allegation by La Grave that Boulder’s police chief disputed. La Grave and his supporters defend his approach as a challenge to the political establishment and say his critics are applying a double standard. Brooke Stephenson reports.

Also today: Mohamed Soliman pleaded guilty to federal hate crimes in the June 2025 firebombing attack on Pearl Street that killed Karen Diamond and injured others. Already serving life in prison on state charges, he now faces an additional life sentence. His sentencing is set for Jan. 7.

And in BRL Opinion: Two local environmental advocates make the case for Proposition 137, which would dedicate existing sales tax revenue to forest restoration, watershed protection and wildfire risk reduction without raising taxes.

Plus more, Below the Fold:

BoulderCAST: Halloween looks dry, but Monday could bring rain.
Longmont shooting: DA clears officer; advocates seek state review.
Election rally: Buttigieg and Neguse fire up Boulder Democrats.
Melting away: Colorado’s glaciers suffer major ice losses.
Health insurance: Open enrollment begins Sunday as premiums rise.

Thanks, as always, for reading,

– The BRL team

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Boulder mayoral candidate Aquiles La Grave draws criticism over confrontational campaign

The political newcomer has raised the most money in the race, but his campaign has drawn objections from some early supporters and raised questions about the accuracy of his claims. Continue reading…

Man behind deadly Boulder firebombing pleads guilty to federal hate crimes

Mohamed Soliman is already serving life in prison plus hundreds of years of additional time after pleading guilty to state charges last spring. Continue reading…

Halloween weekend looks great, but wetter weather lurks Monday

Halloween weekend is shaping up nicely for Boulder, with weather that should cooperate for most outdoor plans. Friday starts with some eerie fog, but expect a mix of sun and clouds by late morning and highs in the low to mid 60s. Another round of fog is possible overnight as temperatures settle into the lower 40s.

Clouds will increase over the weekend as moisture streams into the Rockies, though the Front Range should stay dry. Meanwhile, mountain snow ramps up, especially across the San Juans, which are set to see another big round of rain and snow, with flooding and landslides a concern there.

For Boulder, both Saturday and Sunday should be comfortable for late October, with highs near 60 and generally favorable weather for Halloween festivities. The bigger forecast focus remains a developing storm expected to organize over the Southwest early next week.

Rain chances increase Sunday night and continue into Monday as cooler air arrives. Confidence is fairly high that Monday turns wetter and cooler, but the exact storm track and rainfall totals remain uncertain. Right now, Boulder appears headed for a modest rain event, with only a slight chance of a few snowflakes mixing in late Monday night or early Tuesday.

Enjoy the pleasant autumn weekend before early November brings a more unsettled feel.

—BoulderCAST

DA clears Longmont officer in fatal shooting of unarmed Black man; advocacy group calls for state review

Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty has determined that a Longmont police officer who fatally shot Dariss Yearby, an unarmed Black 20-year-old, was justified under Colorado’s self-defense and police use-of-force laws. The decision has prompted a Colorado-based Black advocacy group to call on Attorney General Phil Weiser to review the case.

On Aug. 10, a woman called 911 to report that Yearby was inside her Longmont home with her daughter, Hannah Thayer, in violation of a protection order, according to a decision letter by the district attorney. Officers entered the home and found Yearby holding Thayer in a headlock. His right hand was concealed inside a tan backpack pointed toward her head, and he told officers he had a gun. Thayer said he was lying and did not have one.

Officer Joshua Barry then joined the three officers on the scene, according to the letter. Officers ordered Yearby to drop the bag and let Thayer go. Two officers had holstered their guns and drawn Tasers. Then Barry shot Yearby once in the head. Read more on BRL.

Buttigieg, Neguse rally Boulder Democrats days before election

With just days until the Nov. 3 election, U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg headlined a get-out-the-vote rally Wednesday at the Boulder Theater.

Neguse, who is seeking a fifth term representing Colorado’s 2nd Congressional District, told the crowd of several hundred people there is “a better path,” one that rejects the fear, division and cruelty he said have become commonplace over the last 20 months. “That to me is what this election is all about. It’s finding a way to reject the fear and to choose something better instead — to choose hope.”

The rally also featured three Democratic nominees for statewide office: Attorney General Phil Weiser, the party’s nominee for governor; Secretary of State Jena Griswold, the nominee for attorney general; and Amanda Gonzalez, the nominee for secretary of state.

Buttigieg, a potential 2028 presidential candidate, said future generations studying history will encounter terms from this era that sound barbaric, such as “working homelessness,” “medical bankruptcy” and “presidential meme coins.”

“Then we will tell them that the turning point came in the fall of 2026,” he said.

Despite the rally’s focus on statewide and national races, Buttigieg, a former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, reminded attendees that local races matter too.

Colorado’s glaciers take a heavy hit in 2026

Colorado’s most prominent glaciers thinned twice as fast in 2026 as they did five years ago, amid record-low snowfall and high temperatures.

Andrews Glacier lost 12 feet of ice, Arapaho Glacier 10 feet and Isabelle Glacier 6.5 feet, the Associated Press reported. Andrews Glacier has lost half of its ice since 2017. St. Mary’s Glacier, a popular destination for hikers and skiers, melted completely in September.

“This past decade has showed us that these glaciers are out of balance with the climate here in Colorado, in the western U.S., and they’re thinning at a rate that could lead to their demise in the next 20 years,” said Colorado State University glaciologist Dan McGrath. Soot and dust from wildfires may be accelerating the melting by causing ice to absorb more sunlight.

The losses are part of a broader trend: The contiguous U.S. has lost about a quarter of its glaciers since the mid-1900s.

Colorado health insurance enrollment opens Nov. 1

Open enrollment through Connect for Health Colorado begins Sunday, Nov. 1. Individual plan premiums are rising about 10% to 11% statewide, and a new federal law will restrict eligibility for financial assistance starting Jan. 1.

Eligible households with incomes between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level can receive Colorado Premium Assistance, including $70 per month for the first eligible household member. For undocumented Coloradans, OmniSalud plans will cost $15 per month. Current members must reapply by Nov. 30 to keep coverage; new applicants can enter a lottery for any remaining spots.

Boulder County offers free help navigating health insurance options, regardless of immigration status.

Commentaries are opinion pieces from community members and newsmakers. They reflect the views of the authors, not BRL. Want to submit one? Here’s how.

Courtney Rogers and Billy Hoffmann: Passing Prop 137 is the right move to protect Boulder’s watersheds, forests and foothills

The measure would dedicate existing sales tax revenue to forest restoration, watershed protection and wildfire risk reduction without raising taxes. Continue reading…

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🗳️ Tensions rise in Boulder’s mayoral race