Good Monday morning, Boulder, and happy December. Today’s BRL Today is sponsored by Shoshoni Yoga Retreat & Eldorado Yoga Ashram. Don’t miss their Holiday Artisan Market & Festival of Light, Dec. 5-7 — with local gifts, yoga, art and more.

Leading today’s edition: As Boulder County faces layoffs and a deepening budget shortfall, the county’s new employees union says officials are dragging out contract talks and failing to negotiate in good faith. Union members say workers are scared and frustrated as cuts loom. County leaders reject the allegations and say the timeline is typical for a first agreement and shaped by ongoing budget pressures. Brooke Stephenson reports.

Also today: For the data-minded among us, BRL contributor Simon Testa breaks down Boulder’s latest greenhouse gas inventory — charts, analysis and a clear look at where emissions are actually falling and where they aren’t. It’s hard to talk about solutions without knowing where we stand. Hint: Natural gas remains the biggest challenge, declining far more slowly than electricity or transportation.

And in Local History: As we report on the uncertain future of another of Boulder’s longtime bars, the Dark Horse, Silvia Pettem looks back at the rise and fall of the Broken Drum Tavern on Pearl Street — its loyal patrons, its 3.2% beer era, and the redevelopment that ultimately brought the bar’s decades-long run to an end.

Plus, more Below the Fold:

  • Record snow: Boulder logs its latest first snowfall ever.
  • Faith Winter: Family honors the late state senator’s legacy.
  • Election results: County certifies 2025 winners and measures.
  • Eldo fall: Climber remains in critical condition after a 70-foot drop.
  • $21M housing: Boulder makes investment in affordable homes.
  • Veterans tribute: Wreath-laying ceremonies set for Dec. 13.
  • Things to do: Meditative art, ’70s music trivia, holiday markets and shows, lights parade, game lab, a ski film screening + more.

Thanks, as always, for reading,

– The BRL team

Shop local, support local artisans, and promote inner peace at our annual Holiday Artisan Market (Dec. 5-7), where all proceeds benefit affordable yoga, meditation, art, and kids & family programs. This year, Shoshoni Yoga Retreat & Eldorado Yoga Ashram are celebrating 50 years in Colorado and offering activities by donation, including yoga, a sound bath, artmaking and more. Market details and the festival schedule can be found at lotusandlion.org. Bring light into your holiday season!

Boulder County union accuses county of delaying negotiations amid layoffs and a budget deficit

Union members say the county is not negotiating in good faith, while officials argue delays are typical for a first contract and shaped by broader budget pressures. Continue reading…

Boulder has cut greenhouse gas emissions nearly in half since 2005. Here’s what’s driving the decline.

Analysis: New city data show continued progress toward climate goals, but many of the recent gains reflect broader regional trends. Meeting future targets will require significantly faster reductions. Continue reading…

The rise and fall of Boulder’s Broken Drum Tavern — the city’s last 3.2 bar, on Pearl Street

Once a hub for mechanics, laborers and early-morning regulars, the Broken Drum was demolished in 1983 to make way for the 15th Street parking garage. Continue reading…

Boulder records its latest first snowfall ever

Boulder finally saw its first snow of the season this weekend, and it set a record, BoulderCAST reports. An Arctic front moved in early Saturday, dropping temperatures fast and leaving the city with just 0.3 inches of snow. It was Boulder’s latest first snowfall on record, arriving nearly two weeks later than the previous mark.

The dusting ended a 223-day snowless streak, just one day short of the all-time record set in 1992. BoulderCAST notes the delayed start mirrors a broader trend of later, lighter early-season snows across the Front Range, with implications for fire risk and water supply.

Meanwhile, a sunny but chilly Monday will give way to a warmer Tuesday. A slight chance of snow arrives late Tuesday night, with clouds lingering into Wednesday.

Family honors Sen. Faith Winter’s legacy after fatal crash

The family of state Sen. Faith Winter, who was killed in a multi-vehicle crash on Nov. 26, at age 45, is remembering her as “a champion for a more just and compassionate Colorado” and “a woman who believed profoundly in the power of community, in the dignity of every person, and in the idea that the world could always be made just a little bit better.”

Winter served more than a decade in public office, from Westminster City Council to the Colorado House and Senate. Her family said she “carried her values into every committee room and every debate: compassion, courage, fairness, and the belief that government should lift people up.”

She is survived by her two children; her fiancé Matt Gray, a former state representative; his children; her father; sister; and extended family. A celebration of life will be announced at a later date.

A GoFundMe has been set up to support funeral arrangements and a college fund for her children. Donations to causes she championed — environmental stewardship, gender equity and support for vulnerable communities — are also encouraged.

The official election results are in

Boulder County has certified the 2025 Coordinated Election results. Here’s how the major local races and ballot measures shook out:

Boulder City Council — top four elected:

  • Matt Benjamin — 20,276 votes (17.80%)
  • Mark Wallach — 17,476 (15.34%)
  • Nicole Speer — 16,165 (14.19%)
  • Rob Kaplan — 15,867 (13.93%)

Other candidates: Jenny Robins (12.98%), Lauren Folkerts (12.49%), Rachel Rose Isaacson (4.46%), Montserrat Palacios (2.60%), Max Lord (2.51%), Aaron Stone (2.38%), Rob Smoke (1.32%).

BVSD District E: Deann Bucher defeated Jeffrey Lowe Anderson, 51% to 49%. Total votes: 52,752.

Countywide ballot measures: Voters strongly backed both county tax measures. Issue 1A, extending the open space sales and use tax, passed with 74% support. Issue 1B, establishing a mental and behavioral health sales and use tax, passed with 65%.

City of Boulder ballot measures: City voters also approved both Community, Culture, Resilience and Safety (CCRS) measures. 2A, extending the CCRS tax, passed with 72% support, and 2B, authorizing related debt, passed with 65%.

Certification notes: Election officials completed the county’s post-election risk-limiting audit and reconciliation process, confirming the accuracy of the tabulated results. The Canvass Board certified the election Tuesday, Nov. 25, though the Republican representative declined to sign without explanation. All certification documents are available at BoulderCountyVotes.gov. We’ll have more analysis on the election results and what they mean for Boulder’s future in the coming weeks.

Climber injured in 70-foot fall in Eldorado Canyon remains in critical condition

The Boulder climber seriously injured in a fall in Eldorado Canyon State Park last month remains in a coma and in intensive care, according to a GoFundMe set up by his family.

On Nov. 2, 69-year-old Greg Cameron fell roughly 70 feet while climbing Chockstone. Bystanders and rescuers performed CPR before he was flown to Denver Health with life-threatening injuries. Cameron, a highly respected climber of more than 50 years who made the first free ascent of Pipeline in Squamish, suffered a severe fall after his rope either broke or was cut, his climbing partner told Gripped.

Cameron spent nearly three weeks in Denver Health’s trauma ICU and has since been moved to the hospital’s surgical intensive care unit, where he is undergoing procedures for infections, lung complications and other critical issues. His neurological outlook remains uncertain.

His family says he will eventually be transferred to a long-term acute-care hospital, and possibly to Craig Hospital if he regains enough responsiveness for rehabilitation.

Boulder awards $21M for new affordable homes

The city is putting more than $21 million in funding into building and preserving affordable housing, its largest one-year investment to date. The funding will add 184 homes across Boulder.

Boulder Housing Partners will receive the bulk of the money, including $15 million for Penrose Place, a 113-unit permanently affordable community in a “high-opportunity” area; $4.4 million for a 44-unit all-electric project on 34th Street; and $1.4 million to convert the Golden West North Tower into updated senior housing.

Thistle Community Housing will receive $500,000 for major repairs at the Fairways Apartments on Arapahoe Avenue to preserve 70 affordable homes without displacement.

The grants come from the city’s Affordable Housing Fund, supporting Boulder’s goal of making 15% of all homes permanently affordable by 2035.

City to honor fallen veterans with wreath-laying ceremony Dec. 13

Boulder will join communities across the country in placing remembrance wreaths on veterans’ graves on Saturday, Dec. 13. The free ceremony, hosted by the Parks and Recreation Department and the nonprofit Wreaths Across America, begins at 10 a.m. at Columbia Cemetery. Community-sponsored wreaths will be laid at the graves of service members, and volunteers are welcome to help place them.

Parks and Recreation Director Ali Rhodes said the event is a chance for Boulder to “come together in gratitude and remembrance” while caring for one of the city’s historic cemeteries.

A separate wreath-laying ceremony hosted by the Arapahoe Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution will take place at Mountain View Memorial Park.

☀️ 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.

Drawing the Breath: Tuesday, Dec. 2, 12:30-1:00 p.m., CU Art Museum, 1085 18th St. Read More

Face Vocal Band – Rock the Halls!: Tuesday, Dec. 2, 7:30 p.m., Nissi’s, 1455 Coal Creek Dr., Unit T, Lafayette. Additional date Wednesday, Dec. 3 same time. Read More

Creative Connections: Sing-Along to 50s Standards and Screening of Singin’ in the Rain: Tuesday, Dec. 2, Dairy Arts Center, 2590 Walnut St. Read More

70’s Music Trivia: Thursday, Dec. 4, 3:00-4:30 p.m., Meadows Branch Library, 4800 Baseline Road. Read More

ARTastic Winter Market: Friday, Dec. 5, 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m., Horizons K8 School, 4545 Sioux Dr. Read More

Parade of Lights 2025: Friday, Dec. 5, 7:00 p.m., 901 Main St, Ste A, Louisville. Read More

Rocky Mountain Rhythm’s Holiday SpecTAPular!: Friday, Dec. 5, 7:00-8:15 p.m., The Spark, 4847 Pearl St, Ste B4. Additional dates: Saturday, Dec. 6 2:00-3:15 p.m. and 7:00-8:15 p.m. Read More

Frequent Flyers Aerial Dance presents RATCRACKER: Friday, Dec. 5, 7:00-8:30 p.m., Dairy Arts Center, 2590 Walnut St. Additional dates: Dec. 6, 2:00-3:30 p.m.; Dec. 7, 2:00-3:30 p.m.; Dec. 12, 7:00-8:30 p.m.; Dec. 13, 2:00-3:30 p.m. and 7:00-8:30 p.m. Read More

Vegan Holiday Market: Saturday, Dec. 6, 11:00 a.m., Avalon Ballroom, 6185 Arapahoe Rd. Read More

Art Game Lab with Andy DiLallo: Saturday, Dec. 6, 11:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art, 1750 13th St. Additional date: Sunday. Dec. 7, same time. Read More

Papier Fantastique Opening Reception: Saturday, Dec. 6, 1:00-3:00 p.m., Boulder Public Library, 1001 Arapahoe Ave. Read More

Crystal Ski Shop presents ORNADA: Saturday, Dec. 6, 6:00-7:30 p.m., Sanitas Brewing Company, 3550 Frontier Avenue, #Ste A. Read More

Holiday Needle Felting Ornament Workshop: Sunday, Dec. 7, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., pARTiculars Art Gallery and Teaching Studio, 401 South Public Road, Lafayette. Read More

25th Annual Lavender Gala, Celebration of Boulder County’s Rainbow Elders: Sunday, Dec. 7, 12:00-3:00 p.m., Nissi’s, 1455 Coal Creek Dr., Unit T, Lafayette. Read More

Christmas Movie the Play: Sunday, Dec. 7, 7:00-9:00 p.m., Junkyard Social Club, 2525 Frontier Avenue Unit A. Read More