Good Friday morning, Boulder. Today’s BRL Today is sponsored by the Colorado Chautauqua Association — check out its Kick Off Summer deals.
Leading today: A fight is brewing over the future of West Pearl Street. Will a proposed 2025 measure to close two blocks to most vehicles — reviving a popular pandemic-era street closure — make it onto the ballot? We don’t know yet. But opponents are already mobilizing, warning of economic impacts and signaling just how high-profile the issue has become.
Also today: A Boulder developer is proposing a 2,500-seat performing arts center near Boulder Junction — a major new venue that could reshape the city’s cultural scene ahead of Sundance’s arrival in 2027. The center wouldn’t open until 2029.
And: BVSD is backing Colorado’s decision to reject a new federal certification targeting DEI programs — even as the move puts more than $10.5 million in district funding at risk. With legal and budget questions mounting, the district is preparing for uncertainty.
Much more, Below the Fold:
- Burn notice: Slash pile burn planned today at Hall Ranch near Lyons.
- Aging programs at risk: Boulder County warns of major federal cuts to senior services.
- AmeriCorps program axed: Colorado to lose disaster crews as Trump shutters NCCC.
- Green groups on edge: Administration may target nonprofits’ tax status, rumors say.
- Earth Week: Events, cleanups and climate actions happening across Boulder — and a protest planned this weekend at the NOAA building.
- Season’s end: Last weekend to ski at Eldora, with a pond skim sendoff.
Thanks, as always, for reading.
— The BRL team
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Campaign backed by Boulder businesses aims to stop West Pearl closure measure
A proposed ballot measure would close part of West Pearl Street to most cars. An opposition campaign is working to keep it off the 2025 ballot. Continue reading…
Boulder developer considering new performing arts center near Boulder Junction
The project proposal comes as the Sundance Film Festival plans to relocate to Boulder in 2027. Continue reading…
BVSD backs Colorado’s refusal to comply with anti-DEI mandate as funding threatened
The Trump administration’s push to eliminate DEI programs in schools could jeopardize more than $10.5 million in Boulder Valley School District funding. Continue reading…
Wet spring snow blankets Boulder, with more on the way
A late-season storm dropped several inches of heavy, wet snow on Boulder overnight — and forecasters say more will fall today and tonight. A few additional inches are possible, with temperatures dipping to around 23 degrees.
The weight of the snow on leafed-out trees could cause minor damage or even impact power lines. Sun returns by Sunday, with highs near 60 and a gradual warm-up through the weekend.
Prescribed burn planned at Hall Ranch on Friday
Boulder County Parks & Open Space and the Sheriff’s Office plan to conduct a slash pile burn at Hall Ranch west of Lyons today, April 18, weather permitting. These burns reduce wildfire fuel from forest-thinning operations and are typically scheduled ahead of winter storms. Smoke may affect air quality.
Boulder County warns of cuts to aging services
Boulder County is warning that critical services for older adults and caregivers could be at risk due to federal funding uncertainty. Officials say the county’s Area Agency on Aging relies on about $1.8 million in federal funding each year — roughly one-third of its budget — to provide meals, transportation, caregiver support, home modifications and other services.
The concerns follow the recent dissolution of the federal Administration for Community Living (ACL), a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which oversaw funding and programs under the Older Americans Act. Half of ACL’s staff were recently let go, according to county officials. Boulder County is now urging Congress to protect and increase funding for these programs in the fiscal year 2026 budget.
Colorado expected to lose hundreds of AmeriCorps members as disaster response program shuttered
The Trump administration has shuttered AmeriCorps’ National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC), a federal program that deploys thousands of young adults to assist with disaster recovery, nonprofit work and community resilience nationwide. The closure follows a new executive order aimed at shrinking the federal workforce.
More than 2,000 NCCC members, ages 18-26, were told this week they’d be sent home early due to “programmatic circumstances beyond your control,” according to a memo obtained by the Associated Press. The decision ends a 30-year initiative that has contributed over 8 million service hours to disaster relief since 1999.
A White House official, speaking anonymously, said the administration questioned the program’s use of taxpayer funds. NCCC received $38 million in federal funding last year.
The shutdown could be significant in Colorado, home to one of the program’s five regional campuses. Based in Aurora, the Southwest Region NCCC hub deployed teams across Colorado and eight other states for fire mitigation, disaster response and infrastructure work.
Last year, 13 NCCC teams completed service projects at 94 Colorado locations, with the Aurora campus supporting work in 267 total sites across the region. Colorado’s NCCC operations received more than $10.4 million in federal support — including $1.2 million in education awards and $9.2 million in operational funding — now at risk.
Kent Maxwell, fire and forestry coordinator at Colorado Firecamp in Salida, said his nonprofit had just wrapped up a three-month project with one NCCC team and was preparing for another during Colorado’s peak wildfire season. “These young adults help restore faith in humanity,” he told 9News. “I just wish more people could see this and know why it matters.”
Environmental groups fear administration may target their tax-exempt status
E&E News by Politico reports that environmental groups are on alert amid rumors that the Trump administration may attempt to revoke the tax-exempt status of green nonprofits — possibly as soon as Earth Day.
The speculation, circulating widely in D.C., suggests the administration could direct the IRS to investigate groups that oppose fossil fuel development. No formal plan has emerged, and the White House has declined to comment.
“This is the rumor of the day flying around D.C.,” said Brett Hartl of the Center for Biological Diversity. “We are trying not to panic, because we don’t know what it is.”
The concern follows Trump’s recent suggestion that Harvard lose its nonprofit status for defying his administration.
While still unconfirmed, the rumors are likely to resonate in Boulder — a national hub for climate research and environmental advocacy — where many organizations rely on tax-deductible donations to support their work.
Earth Week in Boulder: A roundup of events and climate actions
Boulder is hosting a range of Earth Day and Earth Week events this month to celebrate the planet and encourage climate action. Highlights include:
- Sustainable travel challenge (April 21-27): Track your green trips for a chance to win prizes from Compost Colorado and Nude Foods.
- Earth Day for Pollinators (April 22): A free virtual class on pollinator-friendly landscaping, hosted by CSU Extension.
- Boulder Creek Path Clean-Up (April 27): Join the city for its annual spring cleanup of the creek path.
- Tree sapling giveaway (April 26): Free trees at the Boulder Farmers Market while supplies last.
- Earth Day film screening (April 23): Water Is Love at eTown Hall, free with registration.
- Stand Up for Climate Comedy (April 24): CU’s 10th annual climate-themed comedy night.
- Climate Café (April 22): In-person gathering at Dry Storage for conversations about community resilience.
- Valmont Park Clean-Up Day (May 17): Help refresh the bike park, dog park, and disc golf course.
More events, art installations, and cleanup kit sign-ups are listed on the city’s Earth Day event page.
National protest planned for Saturday, April 19
A grassroots group called 50501 — short for 50 states, 50 protests, one day — is organizing a nationwide demonstration on Saturday, April 19. The group, which also coordinated the “Hands Off” rally on April 5 and the “No Kings” protest in February, is calling attention to concerns about recent federal policy decisions and their impact on public services and democratic norms.
50501 says it aims to mobilize 3.5% of the U.S. population, referencing a theory by Harvard public policy professor Erica Chenoweth that governments are likely to respond to sustained nonviolent protest when that threshold is reached. Organizers claim that 5 million people participated in protests on April 5. Boulder’s protest will take place from 12 to 2 p.m. on Saturday at the corner of Broadway and Table Mesa, in front of the NOAA building.
Last weekend to ski at Eldora (and a few other spots)
Sunday, April 20 is closing day for Eldora, along with Silverton, Steamboat, Vail Purgatory and Aspen. Copper and Winter Park will stay open into mid-May. Eldora is marking the end of the season with a pond skim from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and live music all day. Heads up: You’ll need to register in advance to participate in the pond skim.
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