Good Friday morning, Boulder. Today’s BRL Today is sponsored by the Museum of Boulder — check out its Boulder Eats! exhibit, opening today.
Leading today’s edition: Less than a day after BRL published new details on the competing bids for Boulder County’s sale of the Iris Fields property, county staff issued an unexpected recommendation backing The Academy’s community-supported plan. Commissioner Claire Levy said a surge of resident messages — prompted by renewed attention after BRL’s reporting — appeared to drive the timing. A vote is scheduled for Nov. 18. Brooke Stephenson reports.
And in BRL Opinion: Aquiles La Grave writes for the first time about his behind-the-scenes role in the fight to save Iris Fields — and why he believes the real story isn’t the land, but the blueprint it created for community power in Boulder.
Also today: A federal funding cut has wiped out scholarships that help students from migrant farmworker families attend CU Boulder, part of more than $2.2 million in discontinued grants affecting two long-running campus programs. The cuts eliminated the BUENO Center’s migrant scholarship program and also defunded the Center for Asian Studies. CU is offering temporary support, but program leaders warn some students may not be able to stay enrolled without restored funding. Por Jaijongkit reports.
And in Food and Drink: Twisted Pine Brewing marks 30 years by doubling down on what’s kept it thriving: staying local, evolving with customers and keeping its taproom a true neighborhood spot. President Bob Baile reflects on scaling back distribution, testing new beers and expanding offerings as Boulder’s craft scene shifts. Gabe Toth traces its three decades and what they reveal about Boulder’s own changes.
More, Below the Fold:
- BoulderCAST: Warm weekend; light rain possible Sunday night.
- SNAP benefits: Payments restored after shutdown.
- Climate funding: County awards $2M for 15 projects.
- Cyclocross: International racing returns to Valmont this weekend.
- Arts Week: Deadline today to submit promotional images.
Thanks, as always, for reading,
– The BRL team
Boulder Eats! is an exhibition at the Museum of Boulder focusing on food traditions along the Front Range, with a special emphasis on our community’s restaurants, farms, and kitchens. Over 300 objects from the Museum’s historic collection featuring kitchens, health food businesses, orchards, schools and restaurants will be on view. Programs including cooking classes, demonstrations, nutrition workshops and more will also be available to our visitors making this a can’t miss experience!
Boulder County backs community plan to save Boulder’s Iris Fields following public outcry
Boulder County posts staff recommendation backing The Academy’s plan to preserve Iris Fields after Boulder Reporting Lab story on competing bids spurred a wave of public reaction. Continue reading…
Federal cuts leave CU Boulder language and migrant student programs scrambling
More than $2 million in federal cuts threaten CU Boulder’s foreign language, area studies and programs that help migrant students, part of a nationwide rollback of diversity and international education funding. Continue reading…
At 30, Boulder’s Twisted Pine Brewing still feels like the neighborhood bar that beer built
As Boulder has grown and the craft beer industry has shifted, Twisted Pine has survived by evolving with its customers and staying local.
Aquiles La Grave: The real win at Boulder’s Iris Fields isn’t the land — it’s the blueprint for community power
I helped lead the push to save Iris Baseball Fields. What mattered most wasn’t the outcome. It was proving how Boulder residents can reclaim agency and rewrite the process. Continue reading…
Warm weekend ahead, rain showers possible Sunday night
It’s going to feel more like early fall than mid-November in Boulder this weekend. An impressive storm system is hanging off the Southern California coast this morning, but it’s in no rush to get here. That means we’ll stay locked into warm weather through Sunday, with highs consistently in the upper 60s to mid-70s. We’ll be flirting with daily records, though intermittent wave clouds sitting overhead should keep us just shy of breaking any of them.
By late Sunday into early Monday, the storm off California will finally drift into Colorado. The mountains should pick up some light snow as the system passes, while Boulder will see just a few scattered rain showers. With the setup staying too warm and too loosely organized, lower elevations won’t get any snowflakes out of this one. That means Boulder’s snowless streak rolls on. And we’re virtually certain to break the record for the latest first snowfall, which currently stands at Nov. 17.
Looking beyond the weekend, next week finally brings a shift. The overall pattern turns cooler and more unsettled across the state. The weather models aren’t in great agreement yet on specifics, but the trend favors seasonal to below-normal temperatures accompanying one or two light precipitation events, with at least a chance for rain/snow in the city.
SNAP benefits restored in Colorado as federal shutdown ends
Full November SNAP payments are being released after the federal shutdown ended Wednesday night. Some benefits began appearing yesterday, and Boulder County officials expect all funds to be loaded onto EBT cards this week, according to the county’s federal impacts page. SNAP participants can use their cards as normal.
The newly approved federal funding package keeps the U.S. Department of Agriculture — and SNAP — funded through September 2026, guaranteeing December payments. Recipients should receive text updates from the Colorado Department of Human Services in the coming days.
New SNAP eligibility rules also took effect Nov. 1. Most able-bodied adults without dependents — including people experiencing homelessness, veterans and people aging out of foster care — must now work at least 80 hours per month. Parents with children 14 or older must also meet the 80-hour requirement. Most immigrants without U.S. citizenship or a green card are no longer eligible.
Some families will still need assistance. The Boulder County Sheriff’s Office is hosting a food drive tomorrow, Saturday, Nov. 15, from noon to 5 p.m. at 5600 Flatiron Parkway. Most-needed items include baby formula, beans, canned and dried fruit, canned meals, cooking oil, shelf-stable milk and whole grains. Donations will be distributed to Harvest of Hope, St. John Food Bank and Sister Carmen Community Center.
County awards $2M to 15 community-led climate projects across Boulder County
Boulder County commissioners have approved more than $2 million in Climate Equity Fund grants for 15 projects aimed at supporting communities most affected by climate change. The awards, announced Thursday, will back efforts ranging from clean-energy upgrades and resilience hubs to food access, youth climate education, and cooling screens for mobile homes.
More than 50 organizations applied, requesting over $12 million. The selected projects span the entire county, including rural mountain towns and mobile home parks. Awardees include Clean Energy Action, FLOWS, Growing Gardens, Sister Carmen Community Center, Brújula Comunitaria, the Nederland Food Pantry and other nonprofit and community groups. Projects are expected to be completed in 2026. A full list of funded organizations and partners is here.
International cyclocross returns to Valmont Bike Park this weekend
The premier international cyclocross race returns to Valmont Bike Park this weekend, Nov. 15-16, as the Boulder Cup makes its long-awaited comeback. Hosted by Boulder Junior Cycling, the event is UCI-sanctioned and serves as a stop on both the Colorado Cross Cup and the USA Cycling National Series, bringing elite cyclists from across the country to Boulder.
Spectators can attend for free and enjoy food trucks, music and a front-row view of racing on Valmont’s 2014 Nationals course. Amateur races begin each morning, with elite women at 2 p.m. and elite men at 3 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.
Deadline today: Have your image represent Boulder Arts Week
Today is the deadline to submit an image to be featured in Boulder Arts Week promotional materials. “Winning entries should feature vibrant, engaging images that capture people interacting with art in Boulder,” the organization says. Selected artists will receive a $100 stipend and broad recognition. Submit your image through the contest form to apply.
☀️ 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.