Good Wednesday morning, Boulder. Today’s BRL Today is sponsored by MahlerFest — check out their May festival.
Leading today: On Monday, reporter Brooke Stephenson spent much of the day at NOAA after community members told us DOGE was in the building. That now appears to be untrue — and rumors of their presence in Boulder seem unfounded.
What is true: The Trump administration is proposing deep cuts to NOAA’s climate research. Its 2026 budget would slash funding for the Boulder office, sparking fears of major job losses and the disruption of vital scientific work. The cuts haven’t taken effect — but the concern is real and growing, Stephenson reports.
Also today: John Herrick covers the county commissioners’ final vote on whether to make the large-home construction moratorium permanent.
And something new:
First: BRL is now publishing community opinion stories. You’ll find commentaries in today’s edition.
It feels like the right time. Federal policy changes are hitting close to home, and big local decisions are underway about city government, nonprofits and the upcoming election. We’ll keep reporting with rigor and context, but also want to make space for residents, experts and newsmakers to help explain what it all means. That’s what this new section is for. Here’s how to submit — and we’re looking for regular contributors, too.
Second: We’re excited to announce a new partnership with BoulderCAST, Boulder’s go-to weather experts. From now on, they’ll be writing most of our daily weather blurbs — and we’ll be publishing their in-depth weather stories, too.
Corrections from Monday’s edition: We said 2025 would mark the last odd-year municipal election in Boulder. To clarify: It’s the last city council election held in an odd year — ballot measures may still appear. Also, we referenced an item about the Boulder County-Town of Superior airport lawsuit that was mistakenly left out. It’s included in today’s edition.
More, Below the Fold:
- Pedal power: BVSD hosts Bike to School Day.
- Laugh it out: “I’m My Therapist’s Favorite” brings standup to Louisville Underground, April 27. Tickets here. (sponsored)
- Visa crackdown: 22 CU international students lose visas.
- Youth voices: Boulder teens call for action on bullying, mental health.
- Airport lawsuit tossed: Court says it’s up to Jefferson County.
- Detention challenge: ACLU sues ICE over plans to expand facilities in Colorado.
- Solar boost: CU Boulder breaks ground on East Campus
Thanks, as always, for reading.
— Stacy, publisher
MahlerFest 38 is centered around Mahler’s Sixth Symphony—a powerful tribute to those who fight against all odds, whether on the battlefield, in moments of personal adversity, or through acts of quiet defiance. The festival’s lineup explores this theme across a range of musical expressions, from an opera written in an WWII internment camp to an American piano concerto about the Great Dismal Swamp, a sanctuary for those seeking freedom. Tickets and schedule.
Boulder County approves new limits on large homes in unincorporated areas
New rules tie home size to neighborhood medians in an effort to reduce carbon emissions and address affordability — overriding the advice of the planning commission. Continue reading…
Rumors of DOGE inspectors at NOAA Boulder spark protest amid fears of deep budget cuts
Scientists warn of hundreds of job losses in Boulder and major research disruptions if the Trump administration succeeds in dismantling the nation’s climate science infrastructure. Continue reading…
Mike Block: Efforts to dismantle housing-focused homelessness programs ignore history and risk repeating past mistakes
Macon Cowles: Boulder County should keep its North Broadway campus for mixed-income housing
April showers make a comeback
Today’s high will be around 69 degrees, with ominous clouds rolling in throughout the day. Don’t worry, though — most of the actual storms will be spotty here, with the real drama playing out well east of Boulder in the form of severe weather across far eastern Colorado.
Rain chances jump quite a bit on Thursday and Friday, and temperatures will settle back into the usual lower-to-mid 60s range. Time to dust off the umbrella! Read the full weekly forecast.
— BoulderCast
Today is BVSD’s Bike to School Day
BVSD is celebrating Bike to School Day today, April 23, as part of a broader spring campaign to get more students biking. Check with your school for events happening throughout the week, including bike rodeos (skill-building courses), group rides and bike buses. You can also visit BVSD’s Bike to School Week page to rent materials for your own bike rodeo or find other resources.
Laugh it out at ‘I’m My Therapist’s Favorite’ (sponsored)
An evening of standup comedy at the Louisville Underground on Sunday, April 27. Come for the laughs, stay for the catharsis. From awkward breakthroughs to hilarious breakdowns, this is comedy at its most relatable. Featuring Joe Huisman, Pam Moore, Stacy Pederson, Stephanie Sprenger and headliner AJ Finney.
CU international students affected by visa revocations; NSF freezes new research grants
CU officials say 22 international students across the university’s four campuses have now had their student visas revoked, part of a broader wave of more than 1,300 terminations nationwide reported by the National Association of International Educators.
Meanwhile, the National Science Foundation announced it will begin terminating active research grants not aligned with its current priorities — including DEI and misinformation-related work — and has frozen all new grants. The move comes at the direction of DOGE.
New report: Boulder youth urge action on bullying, mental health and poverty
Boulder’s young people say bullying, mental health struggles and rising child poverty are top issues in their lives, according to the State of the Child Report 2025 prepared by Growing Up Boulder as part of the city’s Child Friendly Cities Initiative with UNICEF. The report highlights identity-based bullying in schools, concerns about harassment and drug use in public spaces, and barriers to after-school programs for low-income and Latinx youth. Many also report sadness, stress and too much screen time — along with limited time in nature.
A youth-led action plan is now in the works, with top priorities including reducing bullying, improving safety and belonging and giving youth a greater voice in school and city decisions. A draft will be presented to city council on May 15. Despite concerns, the report also notes progress: improved internet and food access, lower teen vaping rates and strong parks and playgrounds. A summary of the report is here.
Court dismisses Superior and Boulder County lawsuit over airport noise
A Boulder County District Court has dismissed a lawsuit by the Town of Superior and Boulder County seeking to limit aircraft training flights at Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport. The March 28 ruling acknowledged that Jefferson County — which owns the airport — could impose noise restrictions, but found the court lacked authority to require it, citing federal control over airspace.
The town and county argued that near-constant touch-and-go flights — as frequent as every 90 seconds — are a persistent nuisance, especially during the summer.
In a joint response, officials expressed disappointment and said they are considering an appeal. They also renewed calls for Jefferson County to collaborate on solutions. “It is imperative that Jefferson County begin actively taking steps to protect the communities suffering from the negative impacts of touch-and-go operations,” the statement said.
ACLU sues ICE over possible expansion of immigrant detention in Colorado, Wyoming
The ACLU and ACLU of Colorado filed a lawsuit Monday against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for failing to respond to a March FOIA request seeking records about potential plans to expand immigration detention in Colorado and Wyoming. The request followed ICE’s February solicitation for new detention facilities in areas covered by the Denver field office. The lawsuit, filed in federal court in New York, demands the release of those records and comes amid a broader push by the Trump administration to dramatically expand detention nationwide.
Separately, a federal judge in Denver — in a case brought by the ACLU of Colorado and lawyers from the Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network — extended a restraining order blocking the deportation of two Venezuelan men, and potentially 100 others, from Colorado to a prison in El Salvador, CPR reported. The judge said the men face “irreparable harm” and must be given due process.
CU Boulder breaks ground on East Campus solar project
CU Boulder has started construction on a new 1.1 megawatt solar array on East Campus, part of its goal to cut greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030. The $7.8 million project is expected to be operational by January 2026 and will offset about 1.3% of the university’s annual electricity use — saving an estimated $122,000 per year.
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