🏕️ Boulder moves homelessness services away from downtown

Good Friday morning, Boulder. Today’s BRL Today is sponsored by The Chautauqua Association. Don’t miss their free July 12 celebration honoring America’s 250th and Colorado’s 150th anniversaries.

Leading today: Boulder is moving two services used by people experiencing homelessness from the Penfield Tate Municipal Building to St. John’s Episcopal Church later this month. The relocation of Community Court and Deacon’s Closet comes as the city continues implementing a broader homelessness strategy that emphasizes moving services away from downtown, enforcing its camping ban and discouraging outdoor sleeping near Boulder Creek. Brooke Stephenson explains what the changes mean.

Also today: Boulder Municipal Airport has begun offering unleaded aviation fuel, marking a significant step toward reducing lead pollution. But because the fuel works for only about 70% of piston-engine aircraft, leaded fuel will remain available as the city works toward a 2030 transition goal. Por Jaijongkit reports.

Finally: Boulder has moved the boulder. After Boulder Reporting Lab reported on a rock and signs that sparked confusion over bike access at Boulder Reservoir, the city rolled the boulder to the side, replaced the signs and acknowledged its original messaging was misleading. Cyclists can continue using the route, officials say, but are asked to slow down and dismount at the intersection. Stephenson has the story.

Plus more, Below the Fold:

BoulderCAST: Heat dome to bring days of 95- to 100-degree temperatures.
Longmont shooting: DA declines to charge officer in fatal police shooting.
Power resilience: Boulder offers nonprofits up to $50,000 for backup batteries.
Wildfire: Lightning likely sparked small fire west of Boulder.
Child welfare: Boulder County families asked to weigh in on Warm Line pilot.

Thanks, as always, for reading,

– The BRL team

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Join Chautauqua and the Colorado Music Festival to celebrate America’s 250th and Colorado’s 150th anniversaries at this free, family-friendly event on July 12. Explore local vendors, live music, games, a petting zoo, and more. Enjoy a fun-filled day of music, community, and celebration for all ages!

Boulder relocates homelessness services amid broader push to curb outdoor sleeping downtown

The city’s Community Court, which helps unhoused people resolve low-level charges like camping, will move to St. John’s Episcopal Church. So will Deacon’s Closet, which distributes clothing and supplies. Continue reading…

Boulder airport begins offering unleaded fuel, but not all planes can make the switch

The change marks the beginning of a transition away from toxic leaded fuel, though it could remain available at the airport for years. Continue reading…

After backlash, Boulder moves boulder blocking popular Reservoir bike route

The changes came hours after Boulder Reporting Lab reported confusion over bike access and conflicting messages from city officials. Continue reading…

One last round of storms before a dry heatwave takes over

A major national heatwave is building, and while Boulder won’t take a direct hit, we’re facing a long stretch of stubborn heat. Today will be the last mild day — upper 80s with one final 20% chance for afternoon and early evening storms. Overnight lows will settle near 60.

This weekend a strong high‑pressure center will surge out of the Four Corners and balloon into a broad heat dome over much of the country. The core of that dome is now expected to sit just north and east of Colorado. It is a small but important shift that should shave a few degrees off the most extreme forecasts, keep widespread wildfire smoke away, and likely prevent many record highs from being set here. Still, plan on 95 to 100 afternoons from Saturday through much of next week, and the usual hot spots in Boulder County, such as Longmont, will hit triple digits more than once.

East of the mountains, we’ll be bone‑dry with almost no cloud cover during the heatwave. Fire danger will remain elevated, though light winds will limit the potential for spread.

Overnight lows will generally stay above 65, and at times above 70, so nights will offer little relief.

True relief will only arrive when this persistent heat dome finally breaks down. And right now, it’s not exactly clear when that will happen, likely not until late next week at the earliest, a time when the first hints of monsoon moisture could sneak into Colorado.

— BoulderCAST

Boulder County DA declines to charge officer in fatal Longmont shooting

Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty will not file criminal charges against the officer who fatally shot Ashlyn Brownell, 31, following a standoff with police outside a Longmont home earlier this year. Dougherty determined the shooting was legally justified under Colorado’s use-of-force laws, according to a decision letter released this week.

The incident began March 19 at 4 p.m., when Longmont police received a 911 call from Brownell’s mother, who said her daughter was on the front porch holding a gun to her own neck and was suicidal, according to law enforcement officials. Officials said Brownell later fired the gun from inside the home, prompting officers to call in a SWAT team.

During the hours-long standoff, Brownell showed officers through a window that she was loading the gun, according to officials. When the garage door opened, she pointed the gun at officers. Frederick Police Sgt. Tyler Farson, a member of the SWAT team, fired two shots, striking her in the chest and face. She died from the gunshot wounds, officials said. Read more on BRL.

Boulder offers up to $50,000 for nonprofit backup batteries as resilience planning expands

The City of Boulder is launching a pilot program that will provide nonprofits with up to $50,000 for backup battery systems to prepare for public safety power shutoffs.

The batteries can be stand-alone storage or battery-plus-solar systems intended to help create resilience hubs that provide services such as refrigeration, power for medical equipment and charging stations during outages. The program is open to nonprofits that provide critical services, with technical assistance available through Boulder County’s Partners for a Clean Environment, or PACE. Applications are due Aug. 14, and an informational workshop will be held July 27.

The city is also seeking public feedback on a roadmap to improve energy reliability and resilience through an online questionnaire open through Aug. 9.

Boulder Fire-Rescue quickly contains 0.2-acre fire west of Boulder

If you saw smoke Wednesday north of Boulder, it was from a 0.2-acre fire in the Lee Hill area. Boulder Fire-Rescue responded to the slow-moving fire near Meadowlook Way and Cedar Brook Road at about 4 p.m. The fire was quickly contained.

No evacuations were ordered, but the intersection of Broadway and Linden Avenue was temporarily closed. Although the cause remains under investigation, officials believe it was likely caused by lightning.

Boulder County families asked to weigh in on child welfare pilot

Colorado is seeking public feedback on its Warm Line, a pilot program that connects families with local child welfare resources before problems escalate. Boulder County is one of several communities participating in the pilot.

The Warm Line serves as an alternative to the Colorado Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline, giving callers the option to speak with a navigator about available services and support. The pilot launched in December 2025 and is expected to run through at least this summer.

State officials are seeking input from parents, caregivers and others who work with children about how families recognize when they need help, where they turn for support and how they connect with community resources. The survey takes about 10 minutes and closes July 31.

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