Good Monday morning, Boulder. Today’s BRL Today is sponsored by Downtown Boulder Partnership. Pearl Street Arts Fest returns July 17-19, transforming Pearl Street Mall into an outdoor gallery featuring more than 100 juried artists from across the country.
Leading today: As drought deepens and wildfires burn in Colorado, Boulder’s own climate vulnerability is once again in the spotlight. At the same time, the city has quietly updated its Climate Action Plan, a document that consolidates its climate strategies and provides a check-in on progress toward its ambitious goals. We dug into the plan and the latest emissions data so you don’t have to. The bottom line: Boulder has made steady progress since 2018 but will need to roughly double the pace of emissions cuts to meet its 2030 target. Por Jaijongkit reports.
Also today: Hotel Boulderado workers are seeking to unionize after AJ Capital Partners bought the historic hotel last year, saying layoffs and cost-cutting have left employees overworked and hurt the guest experience. “My job, I was so proud of it for such a long time. Now I’m almost embarrassed about working here,” one employee told Boulder Reporting Lab. Brooke Stephenson reports.
Plus, Below the Fold:
- Weather: Hot, stormy week ahead.
- Election 2026: Official results confirm local winners.
- Elections: Ballot cure deadline is Wednesday.
- Wildfires: Boulder crews deployed to active fires.
- Housing: Golden West North Tower now leasing.
Thanks, as always, for reading,
– The BRL team
Pearl Street Arts Fest returns July 17-19 for its 49th year in downtown Boulder. Stroll the Pearl Street Mall as it becomes a lively outdoor gallery showcasing 100+ juried artists from across the country. From bold sculpture and fine photography to handcrafted jewelry and mixed media, there’s something for every art lover. Bring friends, bring family and experience one of Colorado’s most iconic summer celebrations of creativity, culture, and community.
Boulder must roughly double emissions-cutting pace to reach 2030 climate goal
Boulder’s updated Climate Action Plan outlines the city’s latest climate strategy, while emissions data shows the city is not on pace to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 70% below 2018 levels by 2030. Continue reading…
Hotel Boulderado workers launch union drive, citing layoffs and cuts under new ownership
Workers say layoffs, reduced hours and other cost-cutting measures since AJ Capital bought the hotel are pushing out longtime employees and hurting the guest experience. Continue reading…
Hot weather keeps wildfire risk elevated
Expect another hot week, with highs in the low to mid-90s and scattered afternoon thunderstorms Monday through Wednesday. Most storms will produce little rain, but lightning could spark new wildfires as drought conditions persist. Patchy smoke is also possible, especially Monday. The good news: Forecasters say the summer monsoon still appears on track to arrive around mid-July, bringing the potential for more widespread moisture.
2026 primary update: Rachel Friend wins Boulder County treasurer race
Rachel Friend, a former Boulder City Councilmember, defeated Superior Town Councilmember Jenn Kaaoush 56% to 44% in the Democratic primary for Boulder County treasurer, according to official results from the June 30 election. The office oversees county finances and investments.
In case you missed it, another major local result was former state Rep. Edie Hooton’s win in the Democratic primary for the University of Colorado Board of Regents in the 2nd Congressional District. She earned 40% of the vote, defeating geospatial data scientist Murray Smith and attorney Kubs Lalchandani. The district’s Democratic lean makes Hooton the favorite to win the general election in November.
In House District 19, one of the state’s most competitive legislative seats, Jillaire McMillan, co-founder of a marine robotics company, won the Democratic primary with 49% of the vote. She’ll face incumbent Republican Rep. Dan Woog in November. McMillan lost the district by roughly 100 votes in 2024.
About 43% of registered voters in Boulder County cast ballots in the June 30 primary, according to Boulder Reporting Lab’s analysis of election data. Read our full election coverage for complete results and analysis.
Check your ballot status: Signature cure deadline is Wednesday
The deadline to cure a signature issue on your mail ballot is Wednesday, July 8. Boulder County is urging voters to verify that their ballot was accepted.
Voters who recently moved to Colorado may be more likely to have a ballot flagged because election officials have fewer signatures on file for comparison. Even if your preferred candidate won or lost, checking your ballot helps ensure your vote is counted.
After the cure deadline passes, ballots with unresolved signature issues are referred to the Boulder County District Attorney’s Office for review under state election procedures.
If you aren’t signed up for BallotTrax notifications, visit BoulderCountyVotes.gov to check your ballot’s status and, if necessary, complete the cure process before the deadline.
Boulder firefighters deployed to Colorado, California wildfires
Boulder Fire-Rescue crews deployed to the Aspen Acres Fire near Rye (now at about 91,500 acres and 12% contained) and to the El Dorado National Forest in California as wildfire activity continues across the West. The department sent a Type 6 wildland brush truck and a crew of three firefighters to the Aspen Acres Fire for an initial 72-hour assignment, along with a task force leader to support incident management.
A separate crew of four firefighters, along with a Type 3 wildland brush truck, deployed to California on June 21. Their two-week assignment ended July 5, and another Boulder crew is expected to replace them. City officials said Boulder continues to maintain normal emergency response capabilities at home while supporting regional wildfire efforts and expects to send additional qualified personnel as resource requests are received.
Officials said the deployments give firefighters valuable experience on large, complex incidents while strengthening the mutual-aid partnerships Boulder could rely on if a major wildfire threatens the community.
Closer to home, firefighters quickly contained the 0.3-acre Sunset Fire west of Boulder near Switzerland Trail on July 2. The lightning-caused fire prompted an air response but did not threaten any structures.
Golden West North Tower now leasing renovated apartments
Golden West North Tower is now leasing newly renovated apartment homes for independent adults 62 and older. One-bedroom apartments start at $1,412 per month, and two-bedroom units start at $1,642. Housing vouchers are accepted, and limited apartments are currently available. The community includes on-site dining, gathering spaces and resident activities, and is part of Golden West, one of Boulder’s largest affordable senior communities. The apartments are now managed by Boulder Housing Partners, which took over the campus in 2024 to preserve its affordable housing for older adults after Golden West faced financial challenges.
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