Good Wednesday morning, Boulder. Today’s BRL Today is sponsored by Visit Boulder. Learn how to open your home for the 2027 Sundance Film Festival in Boulder with a City of Boulder Festival Lodging Rental License.
Leading today’s edition: Colorado lawmakers are mobilizing after the National Science Foundation opened the door to dismantling Boulder’s National Center for Atmospheric Research. Rep. Joe Neguse is organizing a bipartisan response and urging Coloradans to submit public comments in support of NCAR, as local leaders warn the move could undermine weather forecasting, climate research and public safety nationwide. Brooke Stephenson reports.
Also today: Another Trump administration funding move is playing out locally, putting Boulder County’s childcare assistance system — already frozen for nearly two years — under renewed strain. County officials warn that a federal pause affecting CCAP and other safety-net programs could deepen waitlists for subsidized childcare and ripple through providers, even as the issue is tied up in court and the state pushes back. Jenna Sampson reports.
And in yesterday’s Nibbles: John Lehndorff profiled Carmen Pacheco, whose journey from selling mole at the Boulder Farmers Market to teaching coffee, chocolate and beer engineering at CU Boulder is a testament to Boulder’s deep, homegrown food culture and creativity. Don’t miss the next edition of Nibbles, landing in your inbox Tuesday around lunchtime — sign up here.
Plus more, Below the Fold:
- BoulderCAST: Mild midweek, Arctic chill possible by Friday night.
- Cold snap: All Roads shelter hit capacity, turned people away.
- Climate boost: $200M federal program targets building emissions.
- NCAR outage: Power failure closes Mesa Lab, unrelated to dismantling review.
- Allenspark fire: High winds destroy home; no injuries reported.
- Power forum: Boulder hosts Xcel shutoff Q&A.
- Groundhog Day: Flatiron Freddy returns to Chautauqua.
Thanks, as always, for reading,
– The BRL team
Open your home for the 2027 Sundance Film Festival in Boulder and be part of a cultural moment. With a City of Boulder Festival Lodging Rental License or regular short-term rental license, Boulder homeowners can host Festival guests and help meet lodging demand—while earning income and supporting local businesses. Visit Boulder has partnered with trusted property management companies to make hosting simple, safe and stress-free, or you can self-manage on your own terms.
Colorado lawmakers mobilize after NSF opens door to dismantling Boulder’s NCAR
Rep. Joe Neguse is organizing a bipartisan response as Sen. John Hickenlooper looks for new ways to add protections to future funding bills. Continue reading…
Boulder County’s childcare assistance has been frozen for two years. New federal threats could worsen it.
Hundreds of Boulder County families are stuck on a waitlist for subsidized childcare after federal policy changes reduced access. Now, a Trump administration funding pause and fraud allegations are adding fresh uncertainty. Continue reading…
Mild midweek weather
Wednesday is shaping up to be another calm, pleasant day around Boulder as a ridge slides over the Rockies. Even with a layer of mid‑level clouds drifting overhead, we’ll still warm into the lower 50s today with just light winds.
A weak disturbance will move through this evening, mainly bringing a little sprinkle of snow to the mountains (1 to 3 inches). Down here on the plains, it will be just a dry cool front with a quick round of northwesterly gusts.
Lows tonight will dip to around 27, then we bounce back to the upper 40s on Thursday. Looking ahead, a stronger cold front tied to an Arctic air mass in the Great Plains may sneak into Boulder Friday evening. If it shows up, it shouldn’t bring any precipitation. Our next shot at moisture doesn’t show up until around Tuesday of next week.
All Roads Shelter hits capacity during cold snap, turns people away
We previously reported that the city did not open its emergency extreme cold weather shelter during the recent cold snap. During that period, All Roads Shelter opened its day services center over the weekend, outside its usual weekday schedule, and staff said they were hopeful no one would need to be turned away.
That hope did not hold Saturday night. As temperatures dropped to a low of 3 degrees, the shelter hit capacity and turned three people away. No one was turned away on Sunday night, according to shelter officials.
The weather did not meet the city’s threshold for opening its emergency shelter, which requires overnight lows of zero degrees or daily highs of 5 degrees or lower accompanied by extreme winter conditions expected to last at least three nights.
An All Roads representative said overall turnaway numbers remain lower than last year. As of Monday, Jan. 26, the shelter had turned away 20 people in January and 13 in December.
All Roads increased its winter capacity from 160 to 180 beds again this year.
Local climate action: New Power Ahead Colorado program targets building emissions
A major new regional program is launching with nearly $200 million in federal funding to cut pollution and improve energy efficiency across the Denver metro area.
The Denver Regional Council of Governments this week announced the launch of Power Ahead Colorado, a four-year initiative funded by a 2024 Environmental Protection Agency grant aimed at reducing emissions from buildings, the region’s single largest source of pollution.
The program will focus on low-income households and communities most vulnerable to extreme weather and high energy costs, connecting residents and property owners with energy advising, rebates and vetted contractors. Upgrades include heat pumps, electric water heaters, electrical panels, backup power and EV and e-bike charging.
“Power Ahead Colorado has the potential to transform the building sector,” program manager Robert Spotts said, pointing to improved indoor comfort, cleaner air and better public health outcomes.
The launch comes as Boulder and other Front Range communities continue to grapple with how to cut building emissions, and signals a rare recent infusion of federal dollars aimed squarely at local climate action. Related: How Boulder is warming up to cold climate heat pumps
House destroyed in Allenspark fire; no injuries reported
A house was destroyed by fire Monday morning in Allenspark, according to the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office.
The fire was reported around 11:30 a.m. at a residence in the 10,400 block of State Highway 7, after a resident called 911 to report a fire under the porch and smoke inside the home. All residents and pets were able to evacuate safely.
By the time sheriff’s deputies arrived, the home was fully engulfed in flames. High winds contributed to the rapid spread of the fire, and the house was a total loss. A detached garage on the property was not damaged.
Firefighters had to truck in water to suppress the fire because of limited water availability in the area. Five fire tenders were used, and crews were able to quickly contain and extinguish several spot fires around the property. No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
NCAR briefly closes after South Boulder power outage; unrelated to NSF dismantling review
The National Center for Atmospheric Research’s Mesa Laboratory in South Boulder closed Monday after intermittent utility power loss and a failure in the building’s backup power supply, according to NCAR spokesperson David Hosansky.
Hosansky emphasized that the brief closure was unrelated to the National Science Foundation’s recent letter exploring how NCAR could be restructured or dismantled, which Boulder Reporting Lab has been reporting on in recent days.
NCAR was among thousands of South Boulder customers affected by a substation-related outage that knocked out power to nearly 14,000 customers Monday, according to The Daily Camera.
Tuesday afternoon saw another minor outage for over 3,000 people in the neighborhoods near Sunshine Canyon, according to Xcel’s power outage map.
Reminder: Boulder to host virtual forum on Xcel power shutoffs
The City of Boulder will host a virtual community forum Thursday to discuss recent Xcel Energy power shutoffs that left tens of thousands of residents without electricity during high winds earlier this month.
The session, Powering Boulder 101, is scheduled for Jan. 29, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. City staff will explain how Boulder’s electric grid operates, how shutoff decisions were made, and what steps are underway to reduce wildfire and outage risks. Residents can submit questions in advance, and interpretation services will be available. The forum will be recorded and posted online. Registration is required.
The Boulder way to celebrate Groundhog Day
Boulder’s own Groundhog Day tradition returns this Monday, Feb. 2, when Flatiron Freddy, a top-hat-wearing yellow-bellied marmot, will once again “predict” the weather.
The event begins with treats at 7:30 a.m., followed by Freddy’s appearance at 8 a.m. at the Chautauqua Ranger Cottage (900 Baseline Road). A livestream will also be available for those who can’t attend in person.
Hosted by the City of Boulder’s Open Space and Mountain Parks, the annual celebration blends folklore with science. Rangers will interpret Freddy’s forecast and share facts about wildlife, seasonal patterns and how a changing climate affects local species.
Flatiron Freddy has been a Boulder tradition for more than 15 years. The stuffed marmot — a close relative of the groundhog — was once housed quietly at the Flagstaff Nature Center before rangers gave him a second life as the city’s unofficial meteorologist. Over the years, Freddy has made memorable appearances by canoe, fire engine, skis, bobsled and even zip line.
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