It’s Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024.
Happy hump day, Boulder. On this fine Wednesday, we’ve got bikes on the brain. Electric ones.
On Sept. 16, the City of Boulder will reopen its popular lottery for e-bike vouchers, offering up to $2,100 off standard e-bikes and $2,700 off cargo and adaptive e-bikes, John Herrick reports. This year an income limit applies: Only those earning less than 80% of Boulder’s area median income are eligible.
Also, Jenna Sampson shares the story of the Be Like Ellie Foundation, founded by Boulder residents Josh and Carly Berg after the tragic passing of their six-year-old daughter, Ellie, last November. Determined to honor her legacy, they created the foundation in her memory to spread kindness, inspired by Ellie’s natural ability to make everyone feel special. On Sept. 21, the foundation will host a benefit concert at the Fox Theatre. Find out how to get your tickets below and support this local foundation.
Finally, Sampson continues her coverage of the King Soopers shooting trial this week, providing digestible rundowns of what exactly is happening — all paywall-free, like everything we do. The courtroom was closed to everyone except jurors on Tuesday for jury selection, and more questioning is expected today as the process continues.
Have a tremendous day.
— Tim, reporter
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Make Your Voice Heard! The St. Julien plans a monolithic, 55-foot-tall building on downtown’s last civic space with a Flatiorns view. That’s not “civic space.” Attend the virtual Boulder Urban Renewal Authority meeting this Friday at noon and voice your concerns. More details at www.protectbouldercivicspace.com.
Featured stories
Boulder to launch new e-bike voucher lottery exclusively for income-qualified residents
The popular point-of-sale discount will be available to residents earning up to 80% of the area median income, setting Boulder’s program apart from others. Continue reading…
Ellie’s legacy of kindness: ‘Be Like Ellie Foundation’ hosts first benefit concert as Boulder family channels grief into purpose
After the sudden loss of their child, a Boulder family is on a mission to make people smile through their new foundation, which is hosting its first benefit concert at Fox Theatre on Sept 21. Continue reading…
Updates from the King Soopers mass shooting trial in Boulder, Week 2: High-profile proceedings begin
Jury selection progresses in high-profile trial under Judge Ingrid Baake, with discussions focusing on the defendant’s mental state and legal insanity defense. Continue reading…
Boulder Reporting Lab is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization that empowers our community through non-partisan, locally focused journalism that informs and connects.
In other news
Low 70s?
Today and for the rest of the week, temperatures will be in the 80s, with some days creeping frustratingly close to 90. But tomorrow — wow — will offer a hint of the spooky season to come. It might not be time to sprint to the store for a pumpkin, but that time is fast approaching.
Hiker found dead near St. Vrain trailhead
A 67-year-old hiker was found dead near the Middle St. Vrain Trailhead on Aug. 31. The Boulder County Sheriff’s Office received a report of the overdue hiker on Aug. 29 after he failed to return from a hiking and camping trip near Camp Dick Campground, north of Nederland. His vehicle was located at the trailhead, and search teams, including dog units, discovered his body in a scree field. The Boulder County Coroner’s Office is investigating the cause of death, which is not considered suspicious.
Stay out of the water after algae bloom spotted in Boulder Reservoir
A potentially harmful algae bloom, known as cyanobacteria, has been spotted in Boulder Reservoir, leading the City of Boulder to warn people to stay out of the water and keep their dogs away. Though the swim beach is closed for the season, watercraft are still allowed, but people are urged to be cautious around areas with active blooms. Cyanobacteria can release toxins that are dangerous to both people and pets, and anglers should make sure to clean fish thoroughly and dispose of waste properly. City staff are testing the water for cyanotoxins, though the reservoir isn’t currently used as a drinking water source.
Separately, the city is dealing with an invasive species that was first found in the reservoir in summer 2022, BRL reported this summer. It has since spread to the western coves and is threatening water infrastructure.
Boulder County updates fire restrictions: Stage 1 in west, lifted in east
Effective yesterday, Boulder County Sheriff Curtis Johnson and the Board of County Commissioners updated fire restrictions in Boulder County. The unincorporated western part of the county is now under Stage 1 fire restrictions, while all restrictions have been lifted in the unincorporated eastern area.
The main difference between Stage 1 and Stage 2 fire restrictions is that Stage 1 allows fires in designated fire pits at specific campgrounds and the use of gas-powered stoves. Both stages prohibit open fires, fireworks, recreational shooting (except for licensed hunting), smoking outside enclosed areas and using chainsaws or outdoor gas-powered equipment without proper safety measures. Violating these restrictions can result in a $500 fine or more for repeated offenses. The fire restrictions do not apply to incorporated cities and towns, where residents and visitors must follow local ordinances and regulations.
To prevent wildfires, the town of Superior has extended its Stage 2 fire restrictions through September. These restrictions remain in effect despite the lifting of restrictions in eastern Boulder County. The City of Boulder never allows open burning.
Boulder’s youth corps is working to reduce the wildfire risks to homes
Wildfire Partners recently completed its 2024 collaboration with TEENS, Inc. Youth Corps, a summer program for youth ages 14 to 17. The crews provided wildfire mitigation services to 10 homeowners and two mobile home parks, helping community members who couldn’t afford or do the work themselves. Their efforts included clearing vegetation in the Marshall Fire burn area and creating noncombustible gravel barriers to enhance fire safety. The project was partially funded by the Boulder County Wildfire Mitigation Tax.
Boulder Reporting Lab previously covered a similar initiative in which the same youth group improved wildfire resiliency in Gold Hill. The cost of wildfire mitigation has always been, and will continue to be, a significant challenge. The Wildfire Partners Program started as a free service for residents of unincorporated western Boulder County, offering advice on the greatest vulnerabilities to wildfire on their properties. But after the initial assessment, homeowners were responsible for either doing the mitigation work themselves or paying someone to do it — a burden that is not always financially or physically feasible.
As wildfires continue to burn in Boulder, with greater intensity due to prolonged dry spells, finding solutions to fund mitigation will become a growing problem. This issue extends beyond those who own the at-risk properties, as wildfires can build strength and throw embers from an unmitigated home to a mitigated one, greatly increasing the chance of a conflagration.
JLF Colorado Literature Festival returns Sept. 14-15
The 10th edition of the JLF Colorado Literature Festival will be held at the Boulder Public Library from Sept. 14-15, featuring two days of discussions and workshops with global authors, thinkers and artists. The lineup includes bestselling authors Pico Iyer and Chigozie Obioma, Emmy-winning journalist Ruchira Gupta, and historian Ruby Lal. Attendees can join fiction and poetry workshops for both youth and adults, as well as sessions on timely issues such as “Ballots, Bullets, and Democracy.” Admission is free, with options to donate or purchase tickets for special events.
Cross bridges connecting music at Sphere’s season opening concerts. Celebrate 100 years of Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue plus works by Hazel Scott, Shostakovich, Andrew Bird, Squirrel Nut Zippers, Gluck, Brenda Holloway, The Turtles and more. Sept. 21 at 7:30 pm, Nomad Playhouse and Sept. 22 at 3:00 pm, Truss House, Denver. Tickets available at SphereEnsemble.org.
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