Good Wednesday morning, Boulder. Today’s BRL Today is sponsored by Rosetta Hall, Boulder’s all-day cultural hub where food, design and community come together.
Leading today’s edition: The weather and the outages. BoulderCAST reports below that powerful downslope winds will hit Boulder this afternoon, with gusts of 50 to 80 mph, and possibly higher in the Foothills, raising extreme fire danger. Xcel Energy has made a final decision: A public safety power shutoff will begin around 10 a.m., affecting up to 50,000 customers across the Front Range. You can check your address here to see if you may be affected.
BVSD has not canceled school, while CU Boulder has. Xcel also warns that high winds could trigger additional, unplanned outages beyond the scheduled shutoff. We have the latest here.
Also today: A somber tone took over downtown Boulder yesterday evening as residents commemorated the lives of 51 people who were homeless or formerly homeless and died in Boulder County in 2025. The annual memorial offers a sobering reminder of the toll of life without stable housing. Speakers honored friends, told stories of loss and love, and called for greater compassion and stronger safety nets as support services shrink.
And in Local History, from Silvia Pettem: At Columbia Cemetery, volunteers marked Boulder’s second Wreaths Across America, honoring veterans from the Mexican-American War to Korea. Among those remembered: a Buffalo Soldier, a Vietnam vet and a Korean War cartographer. Organizers hope the tradition endures.
And if you still haven’t signed up for John Lehndorff’s Nibbles newsletter — straight to your inbox — do so now. Then check out yesterday’s edition, where he shared local food gifts for a very Boulder Christmas and holiday season — from cactus spirits and handmade vegan paints to historic Pascal celery and a must-try Ethiopian meal.
Plus more, Below the Fold:
- BoulderCAST: Gusts up to 90 mph, fire danger spikes.
- KGNU event: Community listening session and journalism film screening (sponsored).
- NCAR in crosshairs?: Lawmakers push back after report on dismantling Boulder lab.
- Climbing closures: Flatirons shut for eagle nesting.
- Heating aid: LEAP applications now open.
- Visa fight: Colorado sues over $100K H-1B fee.
Thanks, as always, for reading,
– The BRL team
Rosetta Hall is Boulder’s all-day cultural hub — a third space where design, flavor and community come together. Every visit is a creative experience, from a beautifully plated lunch to a late-night DJ set. Whether you’re here for a cocktail, a celebration or just the vibe, Rosetta offers more than a meal — it offers connection.
Xcel plans power shutoff in Boulder on Dec. 17 amid extreme fire risk
This would be the second preemptive shutdown from Xcel in Boulder County. Here’s what to know and how to see if you’re affected. Continue reading…
Residents mourn 51 homeless or formerly homeless people who died this year in Boulder County
Attendees of a downtown memorial remembered their friends and called for more compassion within the community. “Be the guiding light that you would want if you were in their shoes,” one said. Continue reading…
Boulder’s Columbia Cemetery becomes a living history lesson during Wreaths Across America
Community members gathered at one of Boulder’s oldest cemeteries to honor veterans whose lives shaped the city’s past. Continue reading…
Damaging downslope winds and high fire danger
Big changes are lining up for Boulder today. Atmospheric conditions are setting the stage for a short but intense downslope windstorm, enhanced by the Continental Divide acting as a barrier to our west. Gusts of 50 to 80 mph are expected to slam into town for a few hours this afternoon into early evening, with the Foothills seeing gusts that could push up to 90 mph.
What makes this event especially tricky is how quickly it will hit. Models show winds going from calm to extreme in just minutes. Expect things to ramp up around midday or early afternoon, so be ready for potential sudden changes.
The big question mark is how far east the damaging winds will spread. Most guidance keeps the strongest gusts within about 10 miles of the base of the Foothills, but in a worst-case scenario, they could reach as far as Interstate 25.
With the combination of strong winds, low humidity, dry prairie vegetation and temperatures in the 60s, the risk for rapid fire growth will be high between 1 and 5 p.m. today. Stay alert for wildfire updates and avoid any activities that could spark a fire. Conditions aren’t nearly as primed as they were during the tragic Marshall Fire five years ago, so don’t panic, but do stay cautious. Boulder winters are often dry and windy, and today is no exception.
Later this evening, a strong cold front will sweep in from the northwest. That will bring a small chance of rain or snow showers, higher humidity, and push the winds back into the higher terrain, effectively ending the fire risk.
Thursday will be cooler with a break from the wind and highs only near 50 degrees. But keep an eye on Friday: another round of strong downslope winds is brewing, and if they materialize, fire danger will climb again. Friday will also feature near-record highs close to 70 degrees.
Join KGNU for a community listening event and film screening (sponsored)
On Thursday, Dec. 18, at the Longmont Museum, KGNU will present excerpts of our StoryCorps One Small Step conversations — when community members from different backgrounds and beliefs sat down to get to know each other. A panel of KGNU’s One Small Step participants will be there to share their experiences.
The conversation is followed by a special screening of Stripped For Parts — American Journalism on the Brink by two-time Academy Award nominee Rick Goldsmith a new documentary on how hedge fund ownership is destroying local newspapers. There will also be a Community Conversation on the Importance of Local Media, a catered reception, listening stations and more.
Free, RSVP to save your seats.
Colorado lawmakers push back after report says Trump administration may move to dismantle NCAR
Colorado’s Democratic congressional delegation is pushing back after a USA Today report said the Trump administration is considering plans to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, one of the world’s leading climate science institutions. In a joint statement, Rep. Joe Neguse and Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper warned that any effort to gut NCAR would be “deeply dangerous” for Colorado families, the state’s economy and climate and weather research nationwide.
According to USA Today, senior White House officials described a plan to break up NCAR, eliminate research they label as “climate alarmism,” and potentially close the Mesa Lab in Boulder, while shifting some functions, such as weather modeling and supercomputing, elsewhere. It remains unclear how formal or far along those plans are, what authority the administration has to carry them out, or how many jobs and programs could be affected.
Boulder Reporting Lab has been covering federal cuts and threats to NCAR, NOAA and other Boulder-based climate institutions throughout the year. We’ll be reporting to determine whether there is a concrete restructuring plan.
Boulder closes Flatirons climbing areas for golden eagle nesting
Closures have begun in Lefthand Palisades, Flagstaff Mountain and Skunk Canyon to protect nesting golden eagles on cliff formations and will last through July 31, 2026. Climbers should check the city’s Open Space and Mountain Parks seasonal closure map for the most recent details.
The Flatirons are considered prime nesting habitat for golden eagles, which are protected under the federal Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and listed as a species of greatest conservation need in Colorado’s State Wildlife Action Plan. Each year, staff and volunteers monitor the eagles, allowing closures to be lifted early if no nesting occurs. Two golden eagle nestlings successfully fledged last year.
Applications open for state heating-cost assistance program
Colorado’s Low-Income Energy Assistance Program, or LEAP, which helps income-qualified households pay for heating costs, is now accepting applications through April 2026.
The program typically sends payment directly to a utility company. Applicants receive a letter of approval indicating how much will be covered and when costs will be paid. LEAP may also help cover the cost of repairing or replacing a home’s main heating system. The program does not pay for portable or temporary heating devices.
To qualify, a household must meet income requirements, include at least one U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident, live in Colorado, and pay home heating costs.
Applications are available through the Colorado PEAK website.
Colorado AG sues Trump administration over H-1B work visa fees
Colorado is one of 19 states that have sued the Trump administration over its imposition of a $100,000 fee for new H-1B visa petitions. The visa allows specialized workers, such as physicians, researchers, engineers and analysts, in fields that require at least a bachelor’s degree, to work in the U.S. About 65,000 H-1B visas are available each year, with an additional 20,000 reserved for applicants with a master’s degree or higher.
A $100,000 fee would be required for all H-1B visa applications beginning Sept. 21, with exemptions determined by the Secretary of Homeland Security. H-1B petitions previously cost between $1,000 and $7,500 in fees.
“The unlawful $100,000 H-1B visa fee is devastating for Colorado, and threatens the quality of education, healthcare, and other core services available to our residents,” Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser said in a news release.
The lawsuit alleges that the steep new fee violates federal law by imposing costs beyond what Congress has authorized, conflicting with the intent of the H-1B program, bypassing required rulemaking procedures and exceeding the authority of the executive branch.
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