Good Monday morning, Boulder. It’s a Red Flag Warning Day — avoid all open burning. Strong winds and dry conditions mean high fire danger, so be extra cautious.
This edition brings policy battles, government oversight, councilmember controversies and national news with local impacts.
Leading today…
Some BVSD parents say they’ve hit a wall trying to get the district to address bullying and discrimination against their kids. They allege complaints are dismissed, appeals lead nowhere, and the process for holding staff accountable remains largely hidden. Now, they’re organizing — holding meetings, sharing stories and pushing for change. With federal oversight shrinking and frustrations mounting, they see public pressure as their best shot at action. Jenna Sampson has the exclusive.
Also in the news…
A federal judge ruled that last month’s mass firings of probationary federal employees were unlawful, allowing some Boulder workers to be rehired — but uncertainty remains.
Below the Fold:
- No school March 20: BVSD cancels due to protest-related staff shortages.
- Councilmember complaint: Adams faces second book club allegation.
- Solar bill fight: Boulder warns of zoning overreach.
- Police ruling: Panel rejects complaint in fatal shooting.
- Library threat: Police clear bomb scare.
- EPA cuts: Denver environmental justice division to close.
- Neguse town hall: March 22 in Louisville.
- Things to Do: Electrify your home, comedy, ballet, Nowruz dinner and more.
Thanks, as always, for reading,
— The BRL team
Parents say Boulder Valley School District falls short on bullying and discrimination. Now they’re joining forces.
As federal oversight shrinks, parents say they’re turning to public pressure and grassroots organizing to demand change: “Taking action is scary.” Continue reading…
Some Boulder employees could be rehired after judge rules Trump mass firings unlawful
Federal workers in Boulder, including those from the U.S. Geological Survey and Department of Energy, are eligible for reinstatement. Continue reading…
Red Flag Warning in effect today
A Red Flag Warning is in effect for Boulder County today, March 17. All open burning, including agricultural burning, is prohibited from 12:01 a.m. to 11:59 p.m.
Fire danger is high with very strong winds — expect west winds at about 35-45 mph, with gusts up to 70 mph.
Amid the winds, enjoy today’s near-70 degree temps while they last — change is coming. A slight chance of rain Tuesday morning turns into steady rain by afternoon, with highs dropping to the mid-50s. By Tuesday night, expect snow, possibly heavy, as temps fall to the mid-20s.
No school for BVSD students on March 20
BVSD has canceled classes on Thursday, March 20, due to a staff shortage, with over 600 districtwide absences reported, as of Friday. The day remains a workday for school and district employees, who must use personal leave if absent.
The closure coincides with the No More Education Cuts statewide Day of Action, led by the Colorado Education Association, highlighting the ongoing public education funding crisis. BVSD faces a nearly $5 million budget reduction next year due to proposed state funding changes.
Superintendent Rob Anderson emphasized the district’s advocacy for fully funded schools.
Boulder councilmember faces second complaint from Boulder resident over book group
Councilmember Taishya Adams is facing a second complaint from a Jewish resident who alleges she barred him from joining a book group she organized in her capacity as a councilmember.
The complaint, filed on March 3 by local attorney Jeff Skovron, claims he and other Jewish residents registered for the group but never received follow-up communication. One of the books scheduled for discussion was “The Message,” a book of essays by Ta-Nehisi Coates, whose third essay is about about his 2023 experience visiting Israel and the West Bank.
Adams, who represents the council on the Boulder-Nablus Sister City Project, has publicly criticized Israel’s actions in Gaza. She has pushed for the council to consider a ceasefire resolution and revisit the city’s investment policies to further restrict funding for weapons manufacturers.
Earlier this year, Adams was named in a similar code of conduct complaint for blocking a Jewish resident on Instagram and allegedly excluding others from the book group. She declined to comment on the latest complaint. Read more on BRL.
Why Boulder is opposing a bill meant to speed up solar permits
The City of Boulder is opposing a Colorado bill that would require cities to adopt an automated online platform for approving residential solar and battery permits, arguing it could override local zoning.
House Bill 25-1096, sponsored by Rep. Lesley Smith of Boulder and Rep. Kyle Brown of Louisville, aims to streamline permitting for solar and other renewable energy projects.
Carl Castillo, the city’s chief policy advisor, said Boulder supports faster permitting but that the bill was developed without local government input and could conflict with zoning rules.
More than 90% of residential solar permits in Boulder are already approved within three days, Castillo said. He warned the bill could force the city to approve permits in cases where zoning restrictions or property history would normally prevent installation.
“Without the city being allowed to conduct a zoning review and an in-person inspection as necessary, SolarApp could result in a permit being issued for a system installed on a previously unpermitted structure or one otherwise restricted,” Castillo wrote in an email to Boulder Reporting Lab.
He cited concerns about floodplain regulations, historic districts, wildfire-resistant roofing and energy efficiency standards. If a permit were mistakenly issued, he said, some property owners could face the costly burden of removing the solar system. Read more on BRL.
Police Oversight Panel finds complaint over fatal police shooting unfounded
Boulder’s Police Oversight Panel has determined that a use-of-force complaint related to the December 2023 fatal shooting of Jeanette Alatorre by two city officers was unfounded.
Alatorre was shot and killed after a resident leaving the North Boulder Recreation Center reported that she had pointed what appeared to be a gun at him. According to footage of the incident, she ignored officers’ commands to drop the weapon and walked onto nearby residential streets. Officers fired less-lethal bean bags, but they appeared to have no effect. She was later shot eight times with a rifle and died at the scene. The weapon was later identified as an air pistol designed to resemble a 9mm handgun.
The oversight panel reviewed a complaint from a community member alleging that officers shot Alatorre in the back, a claim the complaint said conflicted with the autopsy report, according to a report by the city’s independent police monitor.
While the panel deemed the complaint unfounded, it recommended that the police department strengthen its commitment to de-escalation. It suggested incorporating de-escalation metrics into officer performance evaluations and urged the department to “take opportunities to recognize, celebrate, and reward officers for exceptional de-escalation.” Read more on BRL.
Boulder police investigate bomb threat
Boulder police investigated a bomb threat emailed to the Boulder Public Library’s main campus early Saturday morning and found no explosives, the Daily Camera reported. Officers, including an explosives detection K9 team, searched the library at 1001 Arapahoe Ave. and determined the threat was unfounded.
On X, someone noted the threat occurred before the monthly Drag Story Hour, writing, “We will not allow domestic terrorists to scare us back into the closet. We aren’t going anywhere.”
EPA to close environmental justice offices, leaving unclear impacts on Colorado
The Environmental Protection Agency will shut down all environmental justice offices nationwide, including at its Region 8 office in Denver, as part of a sweeping reorganization ordered by Administrator Lee Zeldin. The decision, outlined in an internal memo, effectively ends decades of federal efforts to address pollution in marginalized communities.
Colorado’s regional office previously housed about 25 employees focused on environmental justice, though some have already been placed on administrative leave. The extent of staff reassignments or layoffs remains unclear.
The closure coincides with the cancellation of hundreds of environmental justice grants, prompting criticism from Democratic lawmakers and environmental groups.
Neguse to host in-person town hall in Boulder County
U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse will hold an in-person town hall on Saturday, March 22, at Monarch High School in Louisville. The event, scheduled for 3:30 p.m., is part of a series of town halls the congressman has hosted across the district this year. Neguse will be joined by local leaders to provide updates on his work in Washington, D.C., and take questions from the public.
A separate town hall will be held earlier in the day in Breckenridge. Meanwhile, Sen. Michael Bennet is hosting one on Wednesday, March 19, in Golden.
☀️ Explore events in Boulder and use the self-submission form on our events page to reach thousands in our community — for free! Submit your event to our calendar to get featured.
Electrify Your Home! Free Library Program: Monday, March 17, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Louisville Public Library, 951 Spruce St., Louisville. Read More
Tom Green: Monday, March 17, 8 p.m.-midnight, Boulder Theater, 2032 14th St., Boulder. Read More
WTS Boulder – Women’s History Month Happy Hour & Trivia: Tuesday, March 18, 5-7 p.m., Twisted Pine Brewing Co., 3201 Walnut St., Ste. A. Read More
PLAY Boulder Foundation Spring Tree Tender Training: Tuesday, March 18, 5-7:30 p.m., East Boulder Community Center – Ballroom, 5660 Sioux Dr. Read More
Human Trafficking in Boulder: A Training for the Community: Tuesday, March 18, 6-8 p.m., Open Space and Mountain Parks, 2520 55th St. Read More
Family Emergency Planning Workshop: Thursday, March 20, 12-1:30 p.m., Boulder Public Library, 1001 Arapahoe Ave. Read More
Nowruz Dinner – A Persian New Year Celebration: Thursday, March 20, 5:30-10 p.m., The Riverside, 1724 Broadway. Read More
Boulder Comedy Hour: Thursday, March 20, 7:30-8:30 p.m., Full Cycle Cafe & Bar, 2355 30th St. Also on April 17, May 15, and June 19. Read More
Boulder Ballet: Revived: Friday, March 21, 7-8:30 p.m., Dairy Arts Center, 2590 Walnut St. Also on March 22 (2 p.m. & 7 p.m.) and March 23 (2 p.m.). Read More
Gimme Gimme Disco – All Ages: Saturday, March 22, The Fox Theatre, 1135 13th St. (Under 16 must be with an adult.) Read More
Kevin Nealon: Sunday, March 23, 7 p.m., Boulder Theater, 2032 14th St. Read More