Good Wednesday morning, Boulder. Today’s BRL Today is sponsored by Motus Theater. Get tickets now for “What Love Requires,” a storytelling performance on March 28 at the Boulder Public Library.
A record-breaking heatwave is on its way. But first…
Leading today: Brooke Stephenson breaks down a new lawsuit and the timeline of how we got here, as the federal government moves to dismantle Boulder’s NCAR. The suit alleges the effort was retaliation tied to Gov. Jared Polis’ refusal to grant clemency to Mesa County election official Tina Peters. Brooke traces the chain of events leading to the case.
Boulder Reporting Lab has closely covered the issue, and the lawsuit cites our reporting.
Also today: Boulder has cleared Police Oversight Panel co-chair Maria Soledad Diaz after a union complaint alleged bias. The city attorney found she did not violate the code of conduct, rejecting the complaint tied to her role in sustaining discrimination findings against two officers. Several panel members said the complaint raised concerns about the independence and safety of the city’s police oversight system. John Herrick reports.
And in BRL Opinion: A Boulder business owner at the Boulder County Democratic assembly says candidates paid little attention to AI as it reshapes jobs and the local economy.
Plus more, Below the Fold:
- BoulderCAST: Record-breaking heatwave builds, Red Flag Warning today.
- City finances: City seeks input on long-term strategy.
- Youth Corps: Summer team leaders, teen jobs now open.
- Circular economy: Five local groups receive county grants.
- BIFF: 2026 lineup announced, tickets now on sale.
Thanks, as always, for reading,
– The BRL team
Motus Theater presents “What Love Requires,” an autobiographical storytelling performance featuring parents of transgender and nonbinary adults. Through powerful monologues, parents share journeys of love, reckoning, and growth as they support their children to live authentically. This special performance ahead of Transgender Day of Visibility offers an intimate glimpse into how families transform through courage and understanding. Join us March 28 at the Boulder Public Library. Learn more and RSVP.
UCAR sues Trump administration over plan to dismantle Boulder’s NCAR
Lawsuit alleges federal effort to break up climate research center is retaliation against Colorado after Gov. Jared Polis refused clemency for election official Tina Peters. Continue reading…
Boulder clears police oversight co-chair after union files bias complaint against her
The City Attorney’s Office found Maria Soledad Diaz did not violate the city’s code of conduct. The police union had accused her of bias after she helped sustain discrimination findings against two officers. Continue reading…
Historic March heatwave slams Boulder through Saturday
The last few days of winter are about to feel more like midsummer in Boulder. A remarkably strong ridge of high pressure is parking itself over the Southwest, pumping hot, dry air straight into Colorado through Saturday. By several measures, this ridge may end up being the strongest ever recorded in the U.S. during March. And it’s on track to shatter March temperature records across most of the West, Boulder included.
For today, we’re still on the “cooler” side of this heatwave, with highs topping out in the upper 70s and sunny skies. Even so, gusty afternoon winds around 25 mph and very dry air will push fire danger into critical territory. A Red Flag Warning is in place through 7 p.m.
Tonight stays mild, with lows in the mid-40s.
Tomorrow, we climb a few more degrees, with Boulder expected to hit 83 degrees under continued sunshine. That would tie the warmest March temperature ever recorded — a mark set in 1910. And believe it or not, Friday and Saturday look even hotter, with highs in the mid- to upper 80s as the heatwave peaks.
This historic stretch of warmth will finally break Saturday night, when a cold front sweeps in, knocking us back into the lower 60s by Sunday.
Youth Corps hiring summer team leaders; teen ranger applications open
Boulder County’s Youth Corps is hiring team leaders and assistant team leaders for the summer season, supervising crews of up to 10 teens on conservation and public works projects. Positions run June 1 through Aug. 7, with pay starting at $24.57 an hour for team leaders and $20.89 for assistant team leaders.
Applications are also open for Boulder’s Junior Ranger Program, where youth ages 14-17 work on trail maintenance, forestry, and invasive plant management projects while building job skills. The program runs in two cohorts: June 2 through July 3 and July 14 through Aug. 7. Junior rangers work 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Tuesday through Friday, for a total of 28 paid hours per week. Applications are due March 28.
Boulder seeks public input on long-term financial strategy
The city is inviting residents to weigh in on its Fund Our Future initiative, a long-term financial strategy intended to guide future budget decisions and potential tax measures. The effort aims to identify new revenue sources, increase spending flexibility and align city services with community priorities. Several virtual engagement sessions are scheduled from March 31 through April 19, and residents can also participate in an online activity open through April 19.
Context: The city is facing tightening finances as sales tax revenue, Boulder’s largest funding source, has flattened while costs continue to rise. Officials are exploring potential 2026 ballot measures, including a tax on vacant homes, possible property tax increases for parks and open space, and restructuring existing taxes to give the city more flexibility. Some departments, including Parks and Recreation, say service cuts may be unavoidable by 2027 if new revenue is not found.
Five local projects get county sustainability grants funded by voter-approved tax
Five Boulder County organizations will receive a total of $50,000 in grants to support waste reduction and “circular economy” projects, officials announced. The funding comes from Boulder County’s Sustainability Tax, a 0.125% countywide sales tax approved and extended by voters in 2019.
Recipients include Community Fruit Rescue, Growing Gardens, Cal-Wood Education Center, Harvest of Hope and Coal Creek Meals on Wheels, supporting projects ranging from fruit harvesting and plastic reduction in greenhouses to food rescue and composting. The county’s Circular Economy Fund has distributed more than $1.5 million over 28 years to projects aimed at reducing waste and reusing materials.
BIFF 2026 lineup announced, tickets on sale now
The Boulder International Film Festival has announced its 2026 program, with tickets now on sale ahead of the April 9-12 event.
The lineup includes film premieres, the opening night gala, a singer-songwriter showcase, youth and adventure film programs, and the festival’s popular chef competition featuring Colorado “badass women chefs” creating dishes inspired by movies.
Colorado premieres include Power Ballad, directed by John Carney and starring Paul Rudd and Nick Jonas; The Christophers, Steven Soderbergh’s film about siblings hiring a forger to complete their father’s paintings; The Los Lobos: Native Sons; and Rory Kennedy’s documentary The Trial of Alec Baldwin. Actor Alec Baldwin is also scheduled to appear for an onstage interview. Tickets are available on its website.
Aquiles La Grave: AI is reshaping Boulder’s economy. Our candidates aren’t talking about it
At a recent Democratic assembly, the silence around artificial intelligence, and its impact on jobs, was striking. Continue reading…
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