Good Friday morning, Boulder.
Leading today’s edition: A truly devastating scene unfolded in the early hours of Thursday morning as a fire tore through the Caribou Village Shopping Center in downtown Nederland, destroying more than a dozen businesses and upending the lives of shop owners, workers and residents in the tight-knit mountain community. John Herrick was on the scene and reports on the losses and the community’s response. “It’s like standing in front of a dead body,” said John Thompson, owner of the Mountain Man Outdoor Store, as he stood before his burned-out storefront.
Also today: Brooke Stephenson reports on the Department of Energy’s decision to cancel nearly $20 million in clean energy grants for Boulder County projects, a move that affects CU Boulder, RMI and several local companies as the Trump administration targets what it calls “Democrat agencies.”
And we continue our Election 2025 coverage with candidate responses to two more questions shaping city politics: What specific steps would they take to address Boulder’s housing shortage — a premise some candidates pushed back on? And should the city council weigh in on foreign affairs, a question that’s been playing out amid months of heated debate over the war in Gaza?
Lastly, in BRL Opinion, an argument for the city to drop its fight with the FAA after a U.S. District Court judge dismissed Boulder’s lawsuit related to closing the municipal airport.
More, Below the Fold:
- BoulderCAST: Mostly cloudy, but not particularly rainy, weekend ahead.
- Martin Sexton: The Beatles come to Boulder, Oct. 24. (sponsored)
- Sundance prep: Council okays new short-term rental license.
- City budget: $521 million budget approved with new fees and cuts.
- Indigenous Peoples Day: Boulder celebrates with art, music and storytelling.
Thanks, as always, for reading,
– The BRL team
Rob Kaplan is a Dad, former Firefighter and Captain, Founder of Pro Peloton Bike Shop, and an active Parks and Recreation Board Member. After years of service protecting the community as a Firefighter, he brings critical insight and experience in helping mitigate wildfires in Boulder. With experience as a small business owner and Board Member, Rob works to strengthen community spaces and support families while ensuring Boulder is prepared for the challenges ahead.
‘It was an anchor’: Nederland shopping center fire destroys a pillar of the community
More than a dozen businesses were destroyed in the fire, leaving owners reeling and wiping out a mainstay of the mountain town. Continue reading…
2025 Boulder City Council election: Where candidates stand on the housing shortage
BRL asked each of the 11 city council candidates: What specific steps you would take to address the city’s housing shortage? Here’s what they said. Continue reading…
2025 Boulder City Council election: Where candidates stand on the council’s role in foreign affairs
BRL asked each of the 11 city council candidates: Should the Boulder City Council take positions on foreign affairs? Here’s what they said. Continue reading…
John Tayer, Leslie Durgin and Jan Burton: Boulder should drop its lawsuit over closing the municipal airport
A federal judge ruled the city must keep the airport open until 2040. With budgets tightening, an appeal would waste even more taxpayer money, they write. Continue reading…
Surge of tropical moisture brings more clouds than rain
Friday starts off with a tropical twist in the atmosphere — record moisture overhead thanks to the remnants of Hurricane Priscilla teaming up with a Pacific trough. That duo is dumping serious rain across the Four Corners, but here in Boulder, downslope flow and thick cloud cover will keep most of that moisture from translating into rain. Expect gray skies Friday and Saturday with just a few spotty showers or weak storms sneaking through (10–20% chance each day). Highs will settle into the low to mid-70s, and overnight temps will stay mild in the 50s thanks to all the clouds around.
Sunday brings a bit more sunshine and breezy conditions ahead of a late-day cold front. Depending on how things shake out, some outlying areas could see patchy frost Sunday night, but it shouldn’t be widespread. Post front, next week begins cooler with highs in the 60s on Monday.
Martin Sexton plays The Beatles in Boulder on Friday, Oct. 24 (sponsored)
Singer-songwriter Martin Sexton brings his Abbey Road Show to the Boulder Theater on Friday, Oct. 24. Don’t miss your chance to hear his blend of soul, gospel, country, rock, blues, and R&B as he pays homage to one of the most influential bands in history. Get tickets here.
Council approves new short-term rental license for Sundance
Boulder City Council on Thursday gave final approval to an ordinance creating a new short-term “festival lodging” license with fewer restrictions than the city’s existing short-term rental program. The policy marks the first major regulatory change linked to Boulder’s successful bid to host the 11-day Sundance Film Festival starting in January 2027.
Under the ordinance, property owners will be eligible to obtain a license to rent out their homes for up to 29 days each year during periods the city designates as “special festival events.” The city is still developing specific criteria for those events, but initial definitions include gatherings that attract more than 50,000 people, run longer than five days and create “a substantial demand for lodging,” according to a city spokeswoman. For more on the issue, see our previous reporting.
Council approves $521 million 2026 budget with new fees and cuts
On Oct. 9, the Boulder City Council unanimously approved City Manager Nuria Rivera-Vandermyde’s recommended $521 million budget for 2026. A final vote on the measure is scheduled for Oct. 23.
The spending plan slightly increases the city’s overall operating budget compared with last year but includes cuts across departments and eliminates 19 mostly vacant positions. The reductions aim to close a projected $7.5 million shortfall in the General Fund, the city’s largest source of discretionary money. The gap comes as sales tax revenue — one of Boulder’s biggest funding sources — has flattened. Additionally, about $50 million in federal funds remains unallocated, adding uncertainty to the city’s financial outlook.
The 2026 budget also relies on new fees with potentially far-reaching policy impacts. One would apply to owners who demolish single-family homes and replace them with larger ones. The proposed $15-per-square-foot “mansionization” fee, based on the additional square footage beyond 500 square feet, is expected to generate about $400,000 for affordable housing next year. The city council still needs to approve the fee. (See our previous reporting for details.)
Indigenous Peoples Day celebrations in Boulder
Since a 2016 city resolution, Boulder has recognized the second Monday in October as Indigenous Peoples Day and supports local partners in hosting free, public events.
Three celebrations are planned for Sunday, Oct. 12:
- Breaking Barriers to Native Education for All at the Dairy Arts Center (10 a.m.–5 p.m.) will feature Native-led panels, educational resources, healing sessions, and an Indigenous art market, with activities for all ages. Free tickets recommended.
- Indigenous Peoples Day Celebration at Mi Chantli (12–6 p.m.) will include music, dance, storytelling, bookmaking and printmaking workshops, a tamale tasting competition, and a performance by Los Mocochetes.
- Games, Poetry & Ancestral Mathematics at the Museum of Boulder (2–5 p.m.) will blend Indigenous oral tradition, creative writing, and ancestral math. Activities include creating a Nepohualtzintzin (a Mesoamerican abacus), plus a poetry workshop, food and live music.
Then, on Saturday, Oct. 19, at 6 p.m., the Indigenous Peoples Day Showcase will take place at the Savannah Bee Company Stage, presented by the Roots Music Project.
☀️ 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.