Good morning, Boulder!

Ready for the possible snow this week after that glorious weekend?

Today’s Lead Stories
Late Friday, John Herrick reported that a Boulder County judge upheld Boulder’s camping ban, dismissing a high-profile lawsuit claiming it violates constitutional protections against cruel and unusual punishment. The judge cited a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling supporting a similar ban and ruled that Boulder’s ordinance complies with state and federal law. Plaintiffs plan to appeal, pointing to the growing number of people being turned away from Boulder’s largest shelter.

In other news, Jenna Sampson reports that the BVSD school board has drafted a resolution to protect undocumented and vulnerable students as federal policies shift under the Trump administration. Discussed at a recent school board meeting, the resolution aims to reassure families that the district will stand up for its students. The board is set to vote on the resolution at its meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 10. Meanwhile, city and county officials reiterated their commitment to keeping local law enforcement separate from federal immigration enforcement.

Other News Below the Fold
Boulder police investigate tainted drug overdoses; city leads in remote work; regulators probe falsified oil data; Bike-n-Ride adds safety measures; controlled burn near Nederland; prairie dog meeting set; and more.

BRL Today Relaunch
If you’ve been reading BRL Today for a while, you may notice some tweaks today. We’re excited to introduce the improved BRL Today. With a streamlined redesign, we aim to make the newsletter easier to read and clearer in how we deliver the city’s latest and most important news. Read all about it here.

We’re also rolling out two new sections on BRL:

Let us know what you think of the updates — we’d love your feedback.

Thank you for reading, 

– BRL Team

Support our Boulder journalism – 2X match until Dec. 31

BVSD addresses deportation fears, acts to protect immigrant students under Trump policies

The Boulder Valley school board will act on a resolution Dec. 10 to protect undocumented and other vulnerable students, as city and county officials reiterate policies separating local law enforcement from federal immigration enforcement. Continue reading…

Boulder County judge upholds Boulder’s camping ban, citing U.S. Supreme Court homelessness ruling

The lawsuit seeks to halt enforcement of the city’s camping ban, which allows officers to ticket homeless people. The plaintiffs plan to appeal the ruling. Continue reading…

Winter arrives this week

Grab your mittens and hot cocoa — winter is making its entrance. Today brings a 40% chance of snow and an evening low near 20. Sunshine returns Tuesday, but don’t be fooled — highs will only climb into the mid-30s, with gusts near 30 mph adding to the chill. Relief arrives Wednesday with a milder high around 50.

Police warn of possibly tainted drugs after overdoses in Boulder

Police are investigating after several college students overdosed and were hospitalized late Saturday night, possibly due to tainted cocaine.

Between 10 and 10:30 p.m., officers responded to calls from the Kappa Sigma fraternity at 1100 Pennsylvania Avevue. At least six men, who reportedly consumed cocaine and alcohol at a party, were treated at the scene and taken to the hospital. Although one man was initially in critical condition, all six are now stable, police said.

Detectives are investigating whether the incident was linked to fraternity pledging activities.

The Boulder Police Department is encouraging anyone with information to contact the police tip line at 303-441-1974, referencing case 24-12864. This investigation is ongoing, and charges are pending.

Boulder leads U.S. metro areas in remote work

An Axios analysis of 2023 census data reveals that Boulder leads U.S. metropolitan areas in remote work. About 28.1% of workers in Boulder work from home — more than double the national average of 13.8%.

Austin, Texas, ranked second with 24.9%, while Denver came in fourth at 22.3%.
Boulder’s 2023 Modal Shift Report shows a similar trend, with 23% of city residents working from home daily — a figure that has nearly doubled since the last survey in 2018.

The surge in remote work reflects the long-term impact of the Covid pandemic, which transformed workplace and commuting patterns nationwide. This shift is having ripple effects for the city’s restaurant industry and sales tax revenue, with fewer workers dining out during workday hours.

Colorado regulators investigate falsified oil and gas data in Weld County

Two consulting firms working for major oil and gas companies in Colorado are under investigation for submitting falsified environmental data for 350 wells in Weld County, according to the Colorado Energy and Carbon Management Commission (ECMC), the Colorado Sun reported.

The fabricated reports, discovered by oil and gas operators and reported to the state, included altered soil and groundwater sampling data on contaminants like benzene and arsenic. ECMC Director Julie Murphy said the data manipulation does not pose new or increased public health risks but could extend the duration of environmental cleanup efforts.

The firms, Eagle Environmental Consulting and Tasman Geoscience, allegedly falsified data on behalf of clients including Chevron, Civitas Resources and Occidental Petroleum between 2021 and mid-2024. Chevron and Civitas said they retested samples and notified ECMC upon discovering the issue. The ECMC is prioritizing and reassessing the impacted sites and considering enforcement actions, with Murphy noting the degree of fraud warrants a criminal investigation.

County’s Bike-n-Ride program announces new safety measures and abandoned bike policy

The county’s Bike-n-Ride program is introducing new steps to enhance bike safety and manage abandoned bicycles left in its shelters.

Bikes that appear abandoned — such as those with flat tires or heavy dust — will be tagged for removal. Owners will have 30 days from the tagging date to retrieve their bikes before removal. This policy ensures shelters remain accessible for active users. To prevent theft, the program advises using a U-lock to secure the bike frame and wheels and registering bikes on Bike Index, a free database for recovering stolen bikes. Riders are also encouraged to record their bike’s serial number for added security.

The program has also updated its access card sign-up process for increased safety. New applicants must now upload a government-issued photo ID, and users will be limited to three shelter access cards unless they request additional access. For more details, visit the Boulder County website or email bikes@bouldercounty.gov.

Controlled burn planned Monday near Nederland’s Reynolds Ranch

A controlled slash pile burn is scheduled for today, Dec. 9, at Reynolds Ranch, east of Nederland near Magnolia Drive, Boulder County officials said. The Fire Management Program will conduct the burn to reduce forestry debris that could fuel wildfires, proceeding only if sufficient snow cover ensures safety and containment.

Smoke and flames may be visible for up to 72 hours, and residents should expect heavy smoke in the area. Officials ask the public not to call 911 to report the fire, as it is a planned operation. The area will be monitored until the burn is fully extinguished.

Courtesy of Boulder County

Boulder to hold its annual public meeting on prairie dog management

Boulder’s Open Space and Mountain Parks will host a public meeting on prairie dog management on Wednesday, Dec. 13, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the OSMP Hub, 2520 55th Street. The meeting is also accessible via Zoom.

City staff will share updates on prairie dog populations, relocation efforts and plans for 2025, including the city’s lethal control measures. Boulder has broadened these measures to include most of its farmland, aiming to prevent large-scale prairie dog colonization that could jeopardize agriculture. Prairie dog colonies now cover more than 5,000 acres of Boulder’s open space. Officials say the growing populations threaten leased farmland, as the rodents damage soil and disrupt crops.

Prairie dogs play a crucial role in Colorado’s ecosystem, but their presence on farmland has led to soil degradation and economic strain for farmers who lease city land. Boulder’s management efforts, including lethal control, have sparked debate over ethics, habitat preservation and sustainability.

Section of East Boulder/Teller Farm Trail to close for facility removal

The north section of the East Boulder/Teller Farm Trail, near 95th Street and Valmont Road, will close weekdays from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. starting as early as today, Dec. 9, according to OSMP. The closure will allow for the removal of an old oil and gas facility installed before the area was acquired as open space.

☀️ Explore more 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 this list, make sure to submit it to our events calendar.

The Arts HUB presents Alice in Wonderland Jr.: Monday, Dec. 9, 2:30 p.m., 420 Courtney Way, Lafayette. Read More

Holiday Pop-Up Shop at Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art: Tuesday, Dec. 10, 11 a.m.–5 p.m.; Wednesday, Dec. 11, 11 a.m.–5 p.m.; Thursday, Dec. 12, 11 a.m.–5 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 14, 11 a.m.–5 p.m., 1750 13th St. Read More

SEEN V Opening Reception at Boulder Public Library: Wednesday, Dec. 11, 4–6:30 p.m., 1001 Arapahoe Ave. Read More

Lisa Siciliano: Rock & Roll Art Show & Sale at Roots Music Project: Thursday, Dec. 12, 6–10:30 p.m., 4747 Pearl St., Suite V3A. Read More

Curator Talks at the Museum of Boulder: Friday, Dec. 13, 12–2 p.m., 2205 Broadway. Read More

Melvin Seals & JGB at Boulder Theater: Friday, Dec. 13, 8 p.m., 2032 14th St. Read More

Cheap LAUGHs $100 and Under Art Sale at The District: Saturday, Dec. 14, 11 a.m.–4 p.m., 400 W. South Boulder Rd., Lafayette. Read More

Freezie Fest with Cookie Crawl at 1300 Block of the Pearl Street Mall: Saturday, Dec. 14, 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Read More

Caroling in Downtown Boulder on Pearl Street Mall: Saturday, Dec. 14, 4:30 p.m.; Monday, Dec. 23, 4:30 p.m., 1333 Pearl St. Read More

Second Chance Comedy: A Standup Comedy Show About Addiction at Ent Center for the Arts: Saturday, Dec. 14, 7–9 p.m., 640 Main St., Louisville. Read More

Trace Bundy’s Acoustic Holiday at Boulder Theater: Saturday, Dec. 14, 7:30 p.m., 2032 14th St. Read More

Dairy Comedy in the Boe at Dairy Arts Center: Saturday, Dec. 14, 8:30–10 p.m., 2590 Walnut St. Read More

Sanitas Winter Makers Market at Sanitas Brewing Co: Sunday, Dec. 15, 2–6 p.m., 3550 Frontier Ave. Read More

Hazel Miller and the Collective Holiday Show at Dairy Arts Center: Sunday, Dec. 15, 4–5:30 p.m.; 7–8:30 p.m., 2590 Walnut St. Read More

15th Annual Gold Hill Inn Concert at Gold Hill Inn: Sunday, Dec. 15, 7–10 p.m., 401 Main St. Read More