Good Friday morning, Boulder. Today’s newsletter is sponsored by Community Cycles’ Walk & Bike to Work Day on June 25. You’ve got five days to get ready. And after a dangerously hot and dry weekend, the forecast is looking great. Plus, Boulder Reporting Lab is a proud sponsor.

Leading today’s edition: A Republican plan in Congress could open the door to selling off millions of acres of public land — including popular recreation areas near Boulder. Brooke Stephenson breaks down what’s at stake locally, from ski terrain at Caribou Ranch to climbing routes in Boulder Canyon.

Also: John Herrick reports that the national NAACP is suing 13 former leaders of its Boulder County branch, accusing them of trying to dissolve the branch, take control of more than $100,000 in assets and defy national leadership. The lawsuit follows a power struggle triggered by tensions with city officials, mainly over the appointment of Boulder’s police chief. Read all our past coverage here.

Quick note: There was no city council meeting last night. For those used to seeing our Friday updates on what happened at council, we’ll be back with those after the next meeting.

And a huge thanks to everyone who’s contributed to our spring campaign so far — wow! We’re already more than 80% of the way to our goal. If you haven’t donated yet, now’s a great time to help us not just meet it — but surpass it — to power more high-quality local journalism for Boulder.

More, Below the Fold:

  • BoulderCAST: Dangerous weekend heat and elevated fire risk.
  • Hate crime case: Pearl Street attack charge moves forward.
  • Trans care ruling: Boulder leaders push back.
  • Sanitas upgrades: $1.1M trail project begins.
  • Diagonal crackdown: Speed cameras going live.
  • Packed weekend: Music, festivals, Pride and Juneteenth events.

Thanks, as always, for reading, 

– The BRL team

Support BRL’s spring campaign for Boulder journalism — $10K in 10 days!

This year’s Bike and Walk To Work Day is going to be the best yet! Grab a friend, register to ride, and plan your breakfast station stops all over Boulder County! Work from home, no problem? Pledge to take a walk or bike ride during the day.

Which public lands near Boulder could be sold under Senate Republicans’ proposal?

A GOP plan to auction off millions of acres of public land could include popular local skiing, biking, hiking and climbing areas in Boulder County. Continue reading…

National NAACP sues former Boulder branch leaders over control of funds and attempted dissolution

The lawsuit accuses 13 former members of the Boulder County branch of defying the national organization, refusing to relinquish assets and misusing donor lists amid a bitter split with headquarters. Continue reading…

Dangerous heat this weekend, elevated fire risk

Get ready, Boulder — it’s about to get even hotter for the official start of summer. A stubborn heat dome continues to settle in, pushing temperatures into the upper 90s to near 100 today and Saturday. With a Heat Advisory in effect, it’s a good idea to stay indoors during the hottest parts of the day and drink plenty of water. On top of that, gusty downslope winds up to 25 mph and super dry air will spur increased fire danger, though thankfully our still-green vegetation should help keep the risk a bit lower.

Sunday brings a slight dip in temperatures, but we’re still likely looking at the low to mid-90s.

Hang tight, though — there’s good news. A cold front is expected to roll in late on Sunday, and by Monday, we should finally feel some real relief: highs in the 70s with a chance of rain. After the sizzling weekend, that cool-down will be more than welcome.

— BoulderCAST

Judge allows hate crime charge in Pearl Street attack

A federal judge ruled Wednesday that prosecutors can proceed with a hate crime charge against Mohamed Sabry Soliman, who is accused of firebombing participants at a June 1 Run for Their Lives gathering on Pearl Street with Molotov cocktails. Authorities consider at least 15 people victims of the attack. Some were seriously burned, including at least one person who remains hospitalized with burns covering more than 50% of her body.

Investigators say Soliman planned the attack for a year and told them he intended to kill all 20 participants, according to the AP. He allegedly threw two incendiary devices while yelling “Free Palestine,” and later said he wanted to “kill all Zionist people.”

Soliman’s attorney argued the attack was politically motivated, not a hate crime under federal law. Prosecutors say it was based on perceived national origin. The judge ruled the case can move forward. Soliman also faces dozens of state charges, including attempted murder. See our previous coverage of the attack.

Boulder leaders rally in response to Supreme Court ruling on transgender youth care

Boulder community leaders and advocacy groups gathered at the Boulder County Courthouse on Wednesday to oppose a U.S. Supreme Court decision that upholds a Tennessee law banning certain forms of gender-affirming care for transgender youth.

The 6-3 ruling in Skrmetti v. United States allows states to prohibit treatments like puberty blockers, hormone therapy and surgery for minors. “This sets the precedent for any state to ban this medically necessary care,” Boulder-based nonprofit Rocky Mountain Equality said in a statement.

No such restrictions exist in Colorado. In fact, the state recently passed a law requiring health plans to cover gender-affirming care. Some providers paused services earlier this year after Trump threatened to withhold federal funding, but several resumed after a legal challenge was filed.

Boulder begins $1.1M in upgrades to Mount Sanitas trails

The City of Boulder has launched a multiyear effort to improve trails and restore natural areas on Mount Sanitas, one of the city’s most popular hiking spots. The work includes repairs to the heavily used Mount Sanitas Trail, a “legacy” trail that was built without switchbacks and does not meet modern trail design standards. It sees more than 300,000 annual visitors, according to the city. Its steep design has made it especially prone to erosion.

Planned improvements include trail stabilization, summit maintenance, upgrades to the East Ridge Trail, closures of undesignated paths and future construction of two new trails — one linking northeast neighborhoods to the trail system and another offering access to historic rock quarries. Infrastructure like steps, fencing, signage and gathering areas will also be installed around the area’s eight bouldering formations.

“These types of trails are iconic,” Phillip Yates, a spokesperson for Open Space and Mountain Parks, previously told Boulder Reporting Lab. “They’ve been part of the city’s fabric for a long time. But they come with more maintenance.”

The work is funded by a $1.1 million grant from the Land and Water Conservation Fund and local fundraising led by the Boulder Open Space Conservancy.

Speed cameras coming to Diagonal Highway work zone in July

Starting July 21, drivers on Colorado Highway 119 between Boulder and Longmont (the Diagonal Highway) will begin receiving speed warnings through CDOT’s new automated speed enforcement program. The rollout follows a record year for work zone fatalities in Colorado, according to CDOT, with 31 deaths and more than 500 injuries in 2024.

Cameras will calculate drivers’ average speed through the 10-mile construction zone. Those traveling 10 mph or more over the posted limit will receive a warning during the initial phase. Civil penalties of $75 will begin later this year.

The CO 119 construction project is meant to expand transportation options along the corridor to buses, bikes and other modes of transportation to improve safety and address an anticipated 25% increase in vehicular traffic.

A packed weekend across Boulder County

There’s something for everyone this weekend — from a brand-new bike and run festival in Lyons to live jazz, historic walking tours, Juneteenth and Pride celebrations, and Boulder’s Flatiron Sounds Music Festival at Chautauqua Park.

Get all the details on our community calendar →

☀️ 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.