Good Monday morning, Boulder. Today’s BRL Today is sponsored by the Chautauqua Association — step away and recharge at the Chautauqua Women’s Wellness Retreat this spring.
Leading today: As BVSD begins weighing school closures tied to declining enrollment, Jenna Sampson looks back at the district’s 2000 consolidation, a fraught effort that affected about 700 students and sparked protests, recall efforts and deep mistrust after families felt blindsided.
Now, the stakes are far higher. Thousands, not hundreds, of students could be impacted. District leaders say they’re prioritizing early community input, but whether families feel genuinely heard may determine how this unfolds.
This story is part of a new BRL series, BVSD: The Enrollment Reckoning, tracking the district’s transformation in real time and what it could mean for families and taxpayers across Boulder County.
And in BRL Opinion, a physician warns Colorado’s data center boom could strain air quality, water supplies and the power grid without new guardrails.
Plus much more, Below the Fold:
- Weather: Summer heat surges back, fire danger rises midweek.
- Resource Central: Get paid to replace your lawn and save water (sponsored).
- Erie drought: Sprinklers banned as town warns of possible shutoffs.
- Longmont police: Woman fatally shot.
- Cultural brokers: Free training begins this week.
- Niwot Road: Median closure detours drivers on Colo. 119.
- Things to Do: Indigenous cooking, a garden workshop, mahjong, a magic show, Shakespeare in silk, a 1920s ball + more
Thanks, as always, for reading,
– The BRL team
You deserve a chance to step away from the everyday and into a journey like no other. In the hills between the Rocky Mountains and vibrant downtown Boulder, that journey is waiting for you. The constant demands and expectations can wait, and you will come back to them more empowered and centered than when you left. Discover what awaits you this spring at the Chautauqua Women’s Wellness Retreat.
A school consolidation once divided Boulder. Now the district is about to try again.
In 2000, an abrupt plan to close and merge five schools sparked protests and deep mistrust. Now, as enrollment declines force new decisions, district leaders say they are trying to do it differently this time. Continue reading…
Still summer in March, fire danger rising by midweek
After a brief cooldown, we’re heading back into summer-like warmth this week.
Monday will be mostly cloudy with highs in the upper 60s to low 70s, offering a short break. Temperatures climb quickly Tuesday, with partly cloudy skies and highs in the upper 70s to low 80s, along with gusty winds. By Wednesday, the heat returns with sunny skies and highs in the mid- to upper 80s.
Fire danger is expected to increase as the week goes on, driven by warm temperatures, dry conditions and wind, especially Tuesday. Boulder has already set multiple records, including 89 degrees Saturday, the warmest temperature ever recorded in March and hotter than the previous April record.
Snowpack above 10,000 feet is already melting under this early-season heat, raising concerns about water supply and fire risk as spring approaches.
Replace your lawn for less and conserve water with Resource Central (sponsored)
Resource Central, an award-winning Boulder-based conservation nonprofit, is now accepting applications for the Lawn Replacement program. Replace thirsty grass with a vibrant waterwise landscape that supports pollinators and reduces outdoor water use. On average, participants save about 15,000 gallons of water each year. City of Boulder residents and neighbors are eligible for discounted removal services.
Learn more about the program and start your application.
Erie declares drought emergency, threatens water shutoffs for sprinkler use
The Town of Erie on March 20 issued an emergency advisory telling residents to refrain from using sprinkler systems, warning it may shut off water service for those who do not comply.
That same day, Erie escalated its drought status from “normal” to “emergency,” the highest level, with a target to reduce water use by more than 45%. The town’s Parks and Recreation Department has paused all irrigation “to be in lockstep with the community.”
Officials said the town does not have the capacity to handle the “extraordinary early use of irrigation water,” driven by an unusually warm March.
“The Town will be monitoring for irrigation system use and will turn off water systems at the tap if residents cannot comply with the request to withhold irrigation watering,” the alert reads. “This is an extraordinary measure for an extremely precarious situation.
“The Town does not take it lightly turning off water taps.”
Erie and Superior are among the only municipalities in Boulder County that rely almost entirely on Colorado River water, making them more vulnerable to drought than cities like Boulder and Lafayette, which hold older, “senior” water rights tied to local sources such as Boulder Creek and St. Vrain Creek. Read more on BRL.
Longmont police shoot and kill woman following mental health call
Longmont police shot and killed a woman on March 19 after she reportedly brandished a firearm as officers responded to a mental health call on the 1500 block of East Third Avenue, according to a police news release.
Officers responded around 4:15 p.m. to a report of a suicidal woman at the address. As officers were leaving after making contact with her, the woman allegedly fired a gun inside a garage, according to the release. After attempting to negotiate with her, police said she emerged from the garage holding a firearm, and an officer then shot her.
She was transported to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Her name has not been released.
The officer who fired the weapon has been placed on paid administrative leave. The Boulder County Critical Incident Team, a multi-agency unit that investigates use-of-force incidents in the 20th Judicial District, is leading the investigation.
Cultural broker training begins Wednesday
For nonprofits and community members who want to build trust and improve how they serve diverse communities, the next cohort of Boulder County’s free Cultural Brokers Program training begins this Wednesday, March 25. Cultural brokers are trusted community partners who act as bridges, connectors or mediators between people and groups with different cultural contexts, helping reduce conflict and support change.
The training consists of six weekly sessions through April 30, with instruction on how to work as liaisons, cultural guides, mediators and leaders. Most sessions are held on Thursdays from 2 to 4 p.m., with two sessions on Wednesdays. Attendees must participate in at least five sessions to receive a certificate. Register here.
Niwot Road median closure to detour drivers this week
The median at Niwot Road and Colo. 119 (the Diagonal) will be closed from 7 p.m. March 25 to 5 p.m. March 30. The closure will allow crews to complete signal work, striping, paving and guardrail installation. The construction is part of the Colo. 119 Safety, Mobility and Bikeway Improvements Project.
For detours, motorists can turn at Airport Road (northbound) and Colorado Highway 52 (southbound). While there will be no dedicated signage for bicycle detours, cyclists are encouraged to use alternative routes. The RTD southbound bus stop at Niwot Road will also be closed; riders should use the Monarch Road stop instead.
Simona Martin: Colorado’s data center boom needs public health guardrails
As AI infrastructure expands across the state, lawmakers face a choice about who bears the costs and risks. Continue reading…
☀️ 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.
Indigenous Mexican Foodways Cooking Demonstration: Monday, Mar. 23, Museum of Boulder, 2205 Broadway. Read more.
The High Kings: The Rocky Road Tour: Wednesday, Mar. 25, 8:00 p.m., Boulder Theater, 2032 14th St. Read more.
Garden Planning & Design for Produce, Planet & Pollinators: Thursday, Mar. 26, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Growing Gardens, 1630 Hawthorn Ave. Read more.
Pressure Drop Après Party: Thursday, Mar. 26, 6:00 p.m., Limelight Hotel Boulder, 1915 28th St. Read more.
Open Play: Beginner Mah Jong: Friday, Mar. 27, 1:00-3:00 p.m., Boulder Library George Reynolds Branch, 3595 Table Mesa Drive. Additional dates monthly. Read more.
The Great Affinity Game Show: Friday, Mar. 27, 4:00 p.m., Affinity at Lafayette, 860 W Baseline Rd., Lafayette. Read more.
Paint and Sip @ the Riverside: Friday, Mar. 27, 6:00-9:00 p.m., The Riverside, 1724 Broadway. Read more.
Have I Got a Story for You – Queer/trans stories: Friday, Mar. 27, 7:00-9:00 p.m., Kin Studio and Gallery, 4725 16th St., Suite 104. Read more.
High Lonesome: Friday, Mar. 27, 7:00 p.m.-12:00 a.m., Chautauqua Picnic Shelter, 900 Baseline Rd. Read more.
Boulder Philharmonic – JAZZ | explored: Friday, Mar. 27, 7:00 p.m., Roots Music Project, 4747 Pearl, Suite V3A. Read more.
Boulder Magic Show: Saturday, Mar. 28, 2:00-3:30 p.m., Dairy Arts Center, 2590 Walnut St. Additional date Sunday, Mar. 29, same time. Read more.
Migrations on Silk: Poetry and Shakespeare: Saturday, Mar. 28, 6:00-8:00 p.m., NoBo Bus Stop Gallery, 4895 Broadway. Read more.
Vienna Teng, music x climate action: Saturday, Mar. 28, 7:00-9:30 p.m., eTown, 1535 Spruce St. Read more.
Miner’s Ball 1929: Saturday, Mar. 28, 8:00 p.m., The Louisville Underground, 640 Main St., Louisville. Read more.
Taste of Pearl: Sunday, Mar. 29, 2:00-5:00 p.m., Pearl Street Mall, 1303 Pearl St. Read more.