Good Monday morning, Boulder. Today’s BRL Today is sponsored by The Institute of Behavioral Science at CU Boulder. Join panelists for “Returning Lost Treasures: Archaeology and Law” on March 9. Free and open to the public.
Leading today’s edition: Four Democrats, including a former state lawmaker, a tech-focused attorney, a longtime CU researcher and a young data scientist, are competing for Boulder’s CU regent seat in a relatively crowded race unfolding as higher education faces mounting federal pressure. On March 14, party delegates will decide which candidates advance, a key step in a heavily Democratic district where the primary winner is likely to prevail. Brooke Stephenson reports.
Also today, in BRL Opinion on the election front: In what is shaping up to be the biggest ballot issue so far, Big Tent Boulder County makes the case for expanding the county commission from three members to five.
And finally: John Lehndorff’s Nibbles is your must-read guide to Boulder County’s food scene. From French cafés and Denver Restaurant Week to new openings and local dining debates, it lands in your inbox every Tuesday around lunchtime. Not a subscriber yet? Fix that here.
Plus much more, Below the Fold:
- Warm stretch continues: Showers Tuesday, but winter still runs dry.
- Fatal crash: 75-year-old cyclist killed on Diagonal Highway.
- CU football player killed: 23-year-old dies in Baseline crash.
- Alpine-Balsam: Traffic shifts as housing moves ahead.
- Rain barrels: Free workshops open today.
- Things to Do: Gallery talks, book events, 303 Day, ballet, Broadway, square dance, live music, film + more.
Thanks, as always, for reading,
– The BRL team
Returning Lost Treasures: Archaeology and the Law — Join the Center for Collaborative Synthesis in Archaeology, the Institute of Behavioral Science and the University of Colorado Law School for a public panel on how archaeology, law and Indigenous sovereignty intersect in the return of cultural heritage. Panelists will discuss ethical responsibilities, legal frameworks and collaborative approaches shaping archaeology today. March 9, 6-7 p.m., 1440 15th St., Boulder. Free and open to the public.
The four Democrats vying for Boulder’s CU regent seat
Democrats will choose primary candidates March 14 in a district where the party nominee is widely expected to win. The new regent will help shape CU’s budget and major policy decisions. Continue reading…
Masyn Moyer and Tina Mueh: It’s time for five Boulder County commissioners
As Boulder County grows more complex, expanding the Board of County Commissioners from three members to five would strengthen representation, improve governance and better reflect our communities. Continue reading…
In photos: Bluebell Fire response in Boulder near Chautauqua
Scenes from the Bluebell Fire response southwest of Chautauqua in Boulder. Continue reading…
Rain chances return, but winter’s deficits remain
After a winter that barely felt like one, a cooler stretch moves in to start the week, though it won’t make much of a dent in the season’s moisture deficits.
Monday will be mostly sunny, with highs near 69 and light west winds. Skies turn mostly clear overnight, with lows around 39.
Rain becomes likely Tuesday, mainly after 11 a.m., with highs near 53 and a 70% chance of precipitation. Showers taper off Tuesday night, and sunshine returns Wednesday with highs rebounding into the mid-60s.
A weekend reminder about fire risk
Saturday’s Bluebell Fire southwest of Chautauqua offered an early-season reminder of how dry conditions have become.
The wildfire was initially estimated at about five acres before being mapped at approximately 1.5 acres. More than 100 firefighters responded, assisted by two helicopters making water drops. An evacuation warning was issued for the Chautauqua Cottages area, and hundreds of hikers were cleared from nearby trails. Officials said the fire never reached the cottages. No injuries were reported, and the blaze was 100% contained by Saturday evening.
Fire officials said fuels were extremely dry after weeks of warm, dry and windy weather across Boulder and the Front Range, with little recent snowfall and periods of single-digit humidity. While winds were not as strong as they could have been, the conditions underscored how quickly fire can spread heading into spring.
The cause remains under investigation by the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office. Read more on BRL.
Cyclist killed in crash with dump truck in Niwot
A cyclist was killed Friday morning in a crash with a dump truck in Niwot, according to the Colorado State Patrol.
Troopers responded around 11 a.m. to the intersection of Highway 119 and Niwot Road. The cyclist was pronounced dead at the scene. CSP identified him as a 75-year-old man from Lafayette. His name will be released by the Boulder County Coroner’s Office. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
In an update Friday afternoon, the Colorado State Patrol said the dump truck was facing eastbound on Niwot Road and stopped at a red light at Highway 119. The cyclist was also traveling eastbound on Niwot Road toward the intersection near the start of the bike lane.
CSP said the right-turn lane from eastbound Niwot Road to southbound Highway 119 was closed at the time. When the traffic signal turned green, the dump truck turned right onto southbound Highway 119 as the cyclist continued eastbound. The truck hit the bicycle, throwing the rider, and then drove over him before stopping on the shoulder of southbound Highway 119.
The driver, identified by CSP as 61-year-old Scott Marquardt of Platteville, was uninjured, remained at the scene and is cooperating with investigators.
The crash occurred on the Diagonal Highway, which has one of the highest rates of severe crashes and bike crashes of any corridor in unincorporated Boulder County, according to county data. The road’s danger for cyclists gained wider attention in July 2023, when Magnus White, a 17-year-old member of USA Cycling’s junior national team, was struck and killed by a driver while riding on the shoulder of the highway. Boulder County and CDOT have since started constructing a separated 12-foot-wide bikeway running the length of the corridor from Boulder to Longmont, including an underpass at Niwot Road near where Friday’s fatal crash occurred.
CU football player killed in crash on Baseline Road
A 23-year-old member of the CU Boulder football team was killed in a single-vehicle crash early Sunday morning in Boulder County.
According to the Colorado State Patrol, troopers responded around 3 a.m. March 1 to a crash on Baseline Road near Newland Court. Investigators said Dominiq A. Ponder was driving a 2023 Tesla Model 3 westbound when he lost control on a right-hand curve.
The vehicle crossed into the eastbound lane, struck a guardrail, then hit an electrical line pole before rolling down an embankment and catching fire. Ponder was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Colorado State Patrol’s Vehicular Crimes Unit is leading the investigation.
New construction impacts at Alpine-Balsam redevelopment site
As the Alpine-Balsam redevelopment of the former Boulder Community Health hospital site moves forward, new traffic changes are taking effect around the area between Alpine and Balsam avenues west of Broadway.
Ninth Street is set to reopen next week. Balsam Avenue between Ninth Street and Broadway will be westbound only, meaning drivers can travel west in that stretch but cannot head east toward Broadway. Alpine Avenue near Broadway remains closed through April due to unexpected delays.
The city purchased the property for $40 million in 2015 and spent an additional $16 million to demolish the former hospital. Officials estimated in 2024 the redevelopment will require roughly $40 million more in capital investment and $100 million in debt issuance.
The project will bring 157 permanently affordable housing units, 60 market-rate units, commercial space and new city offices to the site.
Free rain barrel workshops open today
Registration opens today at 9 a.m. for free rain barrel workshops offered by the Keep It Clean Partnership and Boulder County’s Resource Conservation Division. Workshops are scheduled for Boulder, Lafayette, Longmont, Louisville and Superior. Attendees will learn how to choose, build, install and maintain a rain barrel. A free 55-gallon rain barrel and installation are available upon request, while supplies last.
Spanish interpretation can be requested during sign-up or at least one week in advance of the event. Registration will be confirmed within a week of signing up through email. For residents unable to attend a workshop, FAQs and installation guides are available online.
☀️ Explore events in Boulder and use the self-submission form on our events page to reach thousands in our community — for free! To have your event featured on our Monday to-do list, make sure to submit it to our events calendar.
Black Futures in Art: Guided Tour & Talk with curator: Tuesday, Mar. 3, 5:00-8:00 p.m., Dairy Arts Center, 2590 Walnut St. Read more.
Beers+Cameras: The Photo Show: Wednesday, Mar. 4, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Backcountry Pizza, 2319 Arapahoe Ave. Read more.
Courtney Johnson–“Hike the Parks: Mesa Verde National Park & Beyond”: Wednesday, Mar. 4, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Boulder Book Store, 1107 Pearl St. Read more.
Sober Night Live!: Tuesday, Mar. 3, 6:30 p.m., Roots Music Project, 4747 Pearl, Suite V3A. Read more.
Kendall Street Company: Wednesday, Mar. 4, 8:00 p.m., The Velvet Elk Lounge, 2037 13th St. Read more.
3OH!3: 303 Day: Tuesday, Mar. 3, 8:00 p.m., Boulder Theater, 2032 14th St. Read more.
The Boulder County Square Dance: Friday, Mar. 6, 7:00-10:00 p.m., Altona Grange Hall, 9386 N. 39th St., Longmont. Read more.
Boulder Ballet presents Rebels and Innovators: Friday, Mar. 6, 7:00 p.m., Dairy Arts Center, 2590 Walnut St. Additional dates. Mar. 7 and 8. Read more.
Oklahoma!: by Rodgers and Hammerstein: Friday, Mar. 6, 7:30-9:30 p.m., Macky Auditorium Concert Hall, 1595 Pleasant St. Read more.
Global Bass Gathering w/ Mah Ze Tar, Peace Sine, Bloomurian and DROS: Friday, Mar. 6, 7:30-11:45 p.m., Roots Music Project, 4747 Pearl, Suite V3A. Read more.
Kevin McCaffrey: Friday, Mar. 6, 8:00 p.m., License No. 1, 2115 13th St. Read more.
Guided Tour with Food Historian John Lehndorff: Saturday, Mar. 7, 10:00-11:00 a.m., Museum of Boulder, 2205 Broadway. Read more.
Peak2Peak: Saturday, Mar. 7, 7:00 p.m., The Velvet Elk Lounge, 2037 13th St. Read more.
Flatiron Stomp Dance Party: Saturday, Mar. 7, 8:00-11:00 p.m., Avalon Ballroom, 6185 Arapahoe Rd. Read more.
Stepping Into the Unknown: Films from the Bob Dylan Center: Sunday, Mar. 8, 7:00-9:00 p.m., eTown, 1535 Spruce St. Read more.