It’s Wednesday, June 26, 2024.
Good morning, Boulder, and happy Monday.
In today’s news: The City of Boulder moves to dismiss the lawsuit over the city’s camping ban, new details emerge on the train derailment, efforts continue to find Boulder’s next police chief, there’s an update on CU South, and we take a look at the BVSD bus driver shortage.
We’re also thrilled to share our own news: Over the weekend, BRL reporters won 15 Colorado Press Association awards for work published in just our second year. We were especially honored to sweep the “best public service project” category and earn “editorial excellence” in our class. We’re proud to be recognized by our journalism peers across the state, and we have you to thank. Your support enables us to deliver the in-depth reporting that keeps Boulderites informed and garners attention across Colorado and the nation. We want — and need — to keep going and growing. There are too many stories left to uncover.
Tomorrow marks the start of our late-summer fundraising campaign. These are busy times for democracy, and I know many of you are stepping up. I hope local news is on your list of things to support this year — it’s all connected. Like elections, the beauty of our business model lies in the power of collective action, where small gifts add up to something big.
If just 10% of this list — 2,000 Boulderites out of nearly 20,000 reading today — donate to BRL, we could do so much more to better cover our community. We could fund multiple reporters and secure a solid future for our newsroom, built by you and for you. Together, we can ensure local officials are held accountable to the community. Together, we can build a homegrown institution committed to excellence in reporting.
Over the next 10 days, we’re hoping 100 of you who rely on our reporting will become monthly donors for the first time. This is an ambitious goal, but we’re counting on loyal readers like you to step up and support BRL. You can donate now — monthly, yearly, or as a one-time gift — and you’ll also be opted out of our fundraising campaign.
We’re so grateful for your readership and support. Let’s get to the news.
— Stacy, publisher
P.S. Not a subscriber to BRL Today yet? Sign up here.
Featured stories
Following U.S. Supreme Court’s homelessness ruling, Boulder renews bid to dismiss camping ban lawsuit
Citing the recent ruling from the nation’s highest court, the city claims the Boulder City Council — not the court — should determine homelessness policies. Continue reading…
BVSD bus driver shortage moves mountain students to risky remote stops, raising safety concerns
The district has consolidated bus routes, forcing students from a mountain subdivision near Gross Reservoir to use a new bus stop in a remote and dangerous location along Flagstaff Road, as it struggles to hire drivers. Continue reading…
Boulder Reporting Lab wins 15 Colorado Press Association awards, including Editorial Excellence
The awards include 10 first-place honors, recognizing stories published in 2023, BRL’s second full year of publishing. 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
80s and some 70s this week
It’s too soon to be overly optimistic, but it looks like things are cooling off. This week will mostly be in the 80s, but the forecast shows a steady march toward autumn.
Update on train derailment
A train derailed near Boulder Creek, behind Foothills Hospital, late Thursday night, injuring two crew members, damaging a rail bridge and causing a minor fuel leak. BNSF Railway, the operator of the freight train, reported that the derailment occurred around 11:13 p.m., resulting in a small fuel spill that did not contaminate the creek, according to Kendall Sloan, BNSF’s director of external communications, in a statement to Boulder Reporting Lab.
Crews began clearing the derailed cars on Friday. When Boulder Reporting Lab visited the scene, Xcel Energy workers were installing a breaker on the power lines so that Foothills Hospital could remain connected to the grid while the lines over the crash site were de-energized. The nearby bike underpass along Boulder Creek was unaffected. On Friday evening, Xcel depressurized gas lines to facilitate the cleanup.
All roads had reopened by Friday morning. According to Boulder police, the train bridge sustained damage, but no other city property was affected except for a few trees. The cause of the derailment is still under investigation.
Last chance to submit questions for Boulder’s next police chief
The City of Boulder is hosting a community forum on Tuesday, Aug. 27, in the city council chambers from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The event is intended to give residents an opportunity to meet and vet the finalists for the position of police chief. The city is accepting online questions until noon today.
Last week, the city announced three finalists for the job: Interim Police Chief Steve Redfearn; Leonard Redhorse III, deputy police chief for the Navajo Police Department; and Josh Wallace, a commander with the Chicago Police Department. The Boulder Police Department addresses a broad range of public safety challenges, from managing rising rates of violent crime reports to responding to climate change-induced fires and floods. The incoming police chief will oversee a department budget of about $43 million and lead up to 190 sworn officers. The leadership transition comes as the department implements its “reimagining policing” initiative, focused on crime prevention, among other goals. Read on BRL.
Today: Boulder County hosts cash assistance enrollment event
Boulder County Human Services is hosting an enrollment event for its $6 million Nurturing Futures direct cash assistance program, which is designed to support low-income families with young children. The event is today, Aug. 26, from 3 to 7 p.m. at the St. Vrain Community Hub, located at 515 Coffman Street in Longmont. Funded by the federal American Rescue Plan Act, the program will provide $300 per month for two years to 725 qualifying households. The funds can be used for any family needs. The application deadline is Aug. 27, and families will be selected through a lottery.
CU South flood mitigation project on track to break ground in 2025
The South Boulder Creek flood mitigation plan, a project that once dominated civic debate in Boulder, is quietly progressing. The project, built on the controversial CU South property, is designed to protect the city from future flooding events by building a flood detention dam along US 36, among other steps. The undertaking has been years in the making, with several ballot measures allowing it to proceed amid public debate. It is adjacent to a future CU housing and facilities project, though that project’s timeline remains uncertain. For now, the flood mitigation efforts are on track to break ground in the first quarter of 2025.
A series of permits are required before construction can begin, including approvals from FEMA, the Colorado Department of Transportation and the Army Corps of Engineers. Joe Taddeucci, director of Utilities for the City of Boulder, confirmed that all necessary permits are progressing as expected, and no issues are anticipated to delay the project. In other words, things are moving along.
“Boring is what we like in the project world,” Taddeucci said.
City staff are currently working on the project design for the 90% phase. At this stage, they have established the project’s footprint and are now focusing on what a contractor will need to build it, like the shape of the concrete outlet that will convey flood waters from the detention dam under US 36. Read our ongoing coverage of the CU South issue.
Fed up with Boulder transit? Voice your concerns this week
Are you frustrated with the state of public transportation in the Boulder area? Boulder County is hosting a virtual public meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 27, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. to discuss improvements to the local transit system and gather community feedback. The webinar will provide updates on Boulder County-operated transit services, including the Lyons Flyer, Ride Free Lafayette, Mountain Rides and future transit projects.
Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions and share concerns during the meeting, which will be held in English with simultaneous Spanish interpretation. The webinar will be recorded and available online afterward. Those interested should register beforehand.
Boulder seeks applicants for neighborhood murals program
Boulder’s Creative Neighborhoods Mural Program is calling for residents to help beautify their communities with vibrant public art. Applications for the program are open through Sept. 10, with submissions being accepted on a first-come, first-served basis across 10 subcommunities.
Program organizers are particularly seeking applications from residents in Gunbarrel, Palo Park, University Hill and Southeast Boulder, where interest has been lower. Successful applicants will receive funding to commission a mural and can choose an artist from the 2024 mural artist roster to bring their vision to life.
BRL’s to-do list: What’s happening this week and weekend?
Explore ALL upcoming events in Boulder. If you have something to promote, use the self-submission form on our events page, for free.
Wednesday | Pearl Street Stampedes | 7 p.m.
“The Pearl Street Stampedes have become THE kickoff celebration for CU home football games for over a decade.”
Friday, Saturday, Sunday | 21st Annual Sans Souci Festival of Dance Cinema Season Premiere | 6:45 p.m.
“As always, our selections are submitted from around the world and curated by a panel of professional dance filmmakers to bring you the most cutting edge work in the realm where dance and cinema collide.”
Saturday, Sunday | Boulder Arts Festival | 11 a.m.
“The Boulder Art Festival is a celebration of creativity, where artists from various disciplines come together to showcase their imaginative works.”
Sunday | Sanitas Summer Market Series | 2 p.m.
“Join us the first Sunday of every month in Boulder for a unique selection of local makers, making cool s***!!! The Boulder patio will be bumping…local artists, good music, craft beer, heady tacos. Enjoy a summer afternoon at Sanitas Boulder.”
Sunday | Fall Festival at Memory Square Park | 9 a.m.
“Explore unique handmade goods, local crafts, fine arts, and freshly baked goods, and indulge your taste buds with a variety of food trucks. Get ready for a day of fun as we welcome autumn’s arrival!”
