Good Friday morning, Boulder. We’re heading into a hot weekend with scattered storms — but it gets even hotter and drier next week, so enjoy the cooler moments while they last.
By now, you’ve likely heard the news: The Town of Nederland is nearing the end of a deal that could make it the owner of Eldora Mountain Resort. It would be an astonishing development for a town of just 1,500 residents and 26 municipal employees to take on a $100 million-plus ski resort with 700 staff. There’s a lot of excitement about what a community-run Eldora could mean for Nederland and beyond — and yes, a lot of questions, many of which still don’t have clear answers. Today, contributor Jenna Sampson breaks it all down: the financing structure, what’s at stake and what happens next.
Plus, the Zaria Hardee murder trial begins in Boulder, new details emerge in the Megan Trussell case — and more, Below the Fold:
- BoulderCAST: Hot days, scattered storms, easing by Sunday.
- Zaria Hardee trial: Murder case heads to court July 21.
- Trussell case update: Stomach test results released.
- EV tax credit ending: Act by Sept. 30 to save money.
- Plastic bottles out: CU, Pepsi end single-use plastics in deal.
- EBT scam warning: Boulder County alerts recipients.
- Holi hits Longmont: Nepali Jatra brings color, cuisine and culture on Saturday.
Thanks, as always, for reading,
– The BRL team
Nederland’s bold plan to buy Eldora draws excitement — and questions
The town of 1,500 is eyeing a $100 million-plus ski resort acquisition. Residents see potential for big gains, but also risks tied to financing, oversight and climate vulnerability. Continue reading…
The fickle summer monsoon rolls on
Moisture from the south will stream into Colorado starting today and stick around through the weekend, stirring up daily chances for afternoon and evening storms.
- Friday: Expect scattered thunderstorms popping up later in the day. They won’t deliver much rain, but they could kick up strong wind gusts. Highs near 90.
- Saturday: More scattered storms are expected, and there’s a small chance a few could be severe — mainly east of Boulder. Temps stay steady around 90 or slightly below.
- Sunday: Moisture starts dialing back, but there should still be enough in the atmosphere to spark a few afternoon storms. Temperatures begin to creep up into the lower 90s.
The start of next week looks even hotter, with further reduced chances for rain.
Jury trial in Zaria Hardee murder case set to begin July 21 in Boulder
The jury trial of 52-year-old Jimmy West, who is charged with the murder and sex trafficking of 19-year-old Zaria Hardee in Boulder, is scheduled to begin Monday, July 21.
West was arrested on Jan. 30, 2025, following a roughly six-month investigation into Hardee’s death. Her body was discovered just over a year ago in the Goss Grove neighborhood, wrapped in a tent and tied to a bicycle trailer.
Police testified that West admitted to being with Hardee the night she disappeared, and that the trailer her body was found in belonged to him. Rope used to tie her body to the trailer matched rope found at West’s nearby camp, police said. An officer also testified that Hardee’s boyfriend, Nickolas Shepherd, told investigators he sold her to West in exchange for fentanyl the day she was last seen alive.
West pleaded not guilty at an April hearing. His attorney argued that the state failed to present a clear motive or enough evidence to support the charges.
The Boulder County District Attorney’s Office is also expected to file charges against Shepherd next week. Those details have not yet been made public.
Hardee’s family, who live in Wyoming, traveled to Colorado to attend the court proceedings this week and next. They’ve raised almost $2,700 through a GoFundMe page created after her death to help cover the cost of attending the hearings. Read more on BRL.
Coroner’s office publishes results of Megan Trussell’s stomach tests, reaffirms suicide ruling
For months, the parents of Megan Trussell, an 18-year-old CU Boulder student who went missing in February, have questioned the Boulder County Coroner Office’s determination that Trussell died by suicide.
The coroner’s office issued an opinion that Trussell died “as a result of the toxic effects of amphetamine” — a key ingredient in Adderall — with hypothermia as a contributing factor. They based their suicide determination largely on the high level of amphetamine in Trussell’s blood and the “abundant” volume of pill material found in her stomach. Trussell’s parents were skeptical that the extremely high volume of pill material in Trussell’s stomach — approximately 150 milliliters — was Adderall, and pushed to have their daughter’s stomach contents tested.
On July 16, the coroner’s office published an updated autopsy report with the results of the tests on Trussell’s stomach contents. The tests confirmed only the presence of amphetamine and ethanol that was “consistent with degradation of biological material … (decomposition).” The amphetamine levels also tested much higher in the stomach — 1,700,000 ng/mL compared to 1,900 ng/mL in blood tests. The coroner’s office maintained that the amphetamine caused Trussell’s death and that the manner of death was suicide. Read more on BRL.
EV tax credit set to expire Sept. 30 — time to act
Boulder County officials are urging residents to act soon if they’re considering buying or leasing an electric vehicle. A federal tax credit for new or used EVs, worth up to several thousand dollars, will expire on Sept. 30. The credit can be applied at the time of purchase or lease through participating dealerships.
EV drivers whose leases are ending soon are also encouraged to explore new lease options before the incentive goes away.
Colorado rebates remain available through at least the end of the year and could save buyers up to $12,000. Details on available incentives are at bouldercounty.gov.
To learn more, residents can attend an upcoming Ride and Drive event, including one at Longmont’s Nepali celebration on July 19. Additional events are planned for the fall.
CU Boulder cuts single-use plastics from beverage services under new PepsiCo deal
A 10-year agreement with PepsiCo Beverages will eliminate all single-use plastic beverage containers from CU Boulder’s campus, university officials announced this week. The first-of-its-kind deal for Pepsi aligns with CU’s Climate Action Plan and follows advocacy from students, faculty and staff, the university said. All campus beverage services, including vending machines and cafes, will transition to aluminum, glass or other sustainable packaging — with no exceptions for plastic bottles. Pepsi began restocking vending machines on July 7. The agreement requires third-party vendors to comply.
Scam targets Boulder County EBT recipients
Boulder County officials are warning residents receiving food or cash assistance about a recent spike in scam calls. In some cases, scammers have impersonated Human Services employees and asked for EBT card numbers and PINs — something the county says it will never do. Residents are urged to protect their information, use trusted locations, freeze their cards when not in use and switch to direct deposit if possible. If you believe your benefits were stolen or have questions about a suspicious call, contact Boulder County Human Services at 303-441-1000.
Color, culture and community return to Longmont at Nepali Jatra this weekend
Nepali Jatra, Longmont’s annual celebration of Nepalese culture, returns Saturday, July 19, from 4-7 p.m. at 4th Ave. and Kimbark St. Now in its fourth year, the free, family-friendly event will spotlight the “Festival of Colors” — Holi — with cultural performances, music, traditional rickshaw rides, interactive booths and a color-splashing canvas. Expect authentic Newari cuisine, arts and crafts, and storytelling rooted in Nepali myths and legends.
☀️ Explore events in Boulder and use the self-submission form on our events page to reach thousands in our community — for free! To have your event featured on our Monday to-do list, make sure to submit it to our events calendar.