Good morning, Boulder – thanks for being here.
Leading the news today: Ballot measure season for the 2025 election is underway, with the first campaign launching a signature-gathering effort to close two blocks of West Pearl Street to most vehicles. The proposal would bring back a pandemic-era street closure, allowing for expanded outdoor dining and pedestrian access.
Supporters say it would create a vibrant, walkable space for public events and local businesses, while some business owners argue it would hurt sales by limiting parking. The campaign has until May 28 to collect 3,401 signatures to qualify for the 2025 ballot.
Also making headlines: Mountain Sun’s Stout Month is back for its 30th year. Throughout February, the brewery’s Boulder, Longmont and Denver locations will feature a rotating tap list of nearly two dozen bold stouts — ranging from classic dry Irish styles to experimental barrel-aged brews. Whether you’re a stout aficionado or just stout-curious, there’s something for everyone.
More Below the Fold:
- King Soopers workers set to strike Thursday
- Weekend storm knocked out power for 8,000-plus in Boulder
- ‘Heart Rocks’ campaign spreads kindness in Boulder — Be Like Ellie
- Boulder-connected Oscar nominee “Porcelain War” showing at Cinemark
- Share your thoughts on Boulder’s growth and development — public meeting Feb. 8
- Free Nederland-Boulder bus service extended
- Reynolds Reading Pals seeks teen volunteers
Enjoy the rest of your week,
– Brooke, reporter
Boulder residents launch ballot measure petition to close West Pearl Street to cars
The proposal would recreate a pandemic-era street closure, reigniting a debate between transportation advocates and business owners ahead of the 2025 municipal election. Continue reading…
Mountain Sun marks 30 years of Stout Month in Boulder with massive tap list
The February tradition returns to all Mountain Sun locations, featuring nearly two dozen rotating stouts, from barrel-aged brews to lighter-bodied options. “There’s something for everyone on the tap wall,” says head brewer John Fiorelli. Continue reading…
Warm and blustery
Temperatures are once again above normal today, expected to reach into the 60s. It’ll be another windy day at times, with gusts potentially close to 40 mph — so best to avoid any outdoor burning. Tomorrow will also be semi-warm, with highs in the 50s.
For the record, Boulder nearly broke a record high on Monday, hitting 72 just before 1 p.m. — right before the cold front moved in. By 5 p.m., temperatures had dropped 34 degrees into the upper 30s, according to our friends at BoulderCast.
King Soopers workers to strike Thursday, including in Boulder
After contract negotiations stalled, UFCW Local 7 announced that about 10,000 union grocery store workers in Colorado — including those at King Soopers in Boulder and Louisville— will go on a two-week strike starting at 5 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 6, CPR reported. The union calls it an Unfair Labor Practice strike, alleging illegal actions by the company, including intimidation and refusal to provide bargaining information.
The strike follows a failed agreement on a new contract after months of negotiations. Workers in Colorado Springs and Pueblo also voted to authorize a strike, but it’s unclear if they will join.
More than 8,000 lost power in Boulder Sunday
According to Xcel Energy’s electric outage maps, about 8,700 City of Boulder customers lost power Sunday night. Boulder police said the outage stretched from Baseline to Table Mesa to University Hill, reaching as far east as Morehead.
Nederland also lost power over the weekend, shutting down most ski lifts at Eldora Resort and forcing several businesses to close temporarily.
Boulder was under a high wind advisory, and while Xcel previously shut off power intentionally due to wildfire risks, these outages were unplanned. Xcel said the South Boulder outage was caused by a tree in power lines but did not provide details on the cause of Nederland’s outage.
Michelle Aguayo, an Xcel spokesperson, told Boulder Reporting Lab that if the company intentionally shuts off power for public safety, it notifies customers 24 to 48 hours in advance. You can sign up for outage alerts on Xcel’s website through your My Account page. Press releases will also be sent.
“This first release will let customers know we are monitoring the situation but that a safety shutoff is not planned at this time. Once we identify the possibility of a power shutoff (48 to 72 hours before such an event), we will send another news release letting customers know this is possible,” Aguayo said.
Last April, Xcel cut power across much of Boulder with little notice, leaving critical facilities and essential services without electricity. The outage nearly caused a sewage spill into Boulder Creek when the city’s wastewater treatment plant lost power. Restaurants and other city businesses reported up to $1.4 million in losses from spoiled food and other losses. The widespread disruption led to sharp criticism from state and city leaders and prompted a Gov. Polis-ordered investigation into Xcel by the Public Utilities Commission.
‘Heart Rocks’ to spread kindness in downtown Boulder, in honor of Ellie Berg
The Be Like Ellie Foundation is honoring the memory of Ellie Berg by filling downtown Boulder with heart-painted rocks on Feb. 11. The initiative, part of Ellie’s birthday month, encourages locals and visitors to find, keep or share the colorful stones as a simple act of kindness. Inspired by Ellie’s love of collecting and painting rocks, the project has already surpassed its goal, with more than 300 heart-shaped stones ready to be placed along Pearl Street. Keep an eye out, and if you find one, share a photo and tag @belikeellie to help spread the love.
We profiled the Be Like Ellie Foundation last year — read more about their mission here.
While the project began in Boulder, it has now reached places in 15 other states. “Sitting down to do something creative has been therapeutic for us as we learn to live with our grief,” said Carly Berg, Ellie’s mom. “We wanted a simple, meaningful way for people to join us in honoring Ellie, and heart-painted rocks felt like the perfect way to bring joy to others.”
Boulder-connected film nominated for Academy Award, screens locally this week
A documentary with Boulder ties is in the running for an Academy Award after winning a top honor at Sundance. “Porcelain War” — an Oscar nominee for Best Documentary Feature and winner of the 2024 Sundance Grand Jury Prize for U.S. Documentary — is showing at Cinemark in Boulder through Thursday, Feb. 6.
The film, produced by Boulder local Paula DuPre Pesmen, follows three Ukrainian artists who remain in their homeland, using their art and cameras to document beauty amid war. It has also earned the prestigious duPont-Columbia award for journalism. Watch the official trailer here.
Weigh in on Boulder’s comprehensive plan Feb. 8
The City of Boulder is inviting residents to a public participation session for the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan on Saturday, Feb. 8, from 2 to 4 p.m. in Council Chambers on the second floor of City Hall, 1777 Broadway.
The comprehensive plan guides Boulder’s growth and development over the next 20 years. The city is seeking input on residents’ vision for Boulder’s future, including how dense neighborhoods should be and what types of growth should be prioritized — such as roads, bike paths, housing or small businesses.
At a broader level, city and county officials want feedback on Boulder’s biggest strengths and challenges, as well as what residents hope the city will look like in the decades ahead.
Free Boulder Canyon Extra bus service between Nederland and Boulder extended through May 23
Boulder County has extended its contract with Via Mobility Services to continue operating an additional weekday bus trip between Downtown Boulder Station and Nederland through May 23. The Boulder Canyon Extra bus is free to ride and was introduced to help fill service gaps in the existing NB1/NB2 routes until RTD expands those services later this year. It is primarily intended to improve connections to schools in Nederland.
The bus departs Boulder at 5:15 p.m. and arrives at Nederland High School at 5:55 p.m., and then returns to Boulder.
Boulder County is seeking public feedback on the service. Learn more here, or contact Landon Hilliard, senior transportation Planner, at lhilliard@bouldercounty.gov.
Teen volunteers needed for Reynolds Reading Pals
Reynolds Library is looking for teen volunteers (grades 9-12) to serve as “Big Pals,” helping younger kids (grades K3) build literacy skills through reading and games.
The Spring 2025 Reading Pals program begins with a training session on Monday, Feb. 10, from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Volunteers will then meet weekly with their Little Pals every Monday from Feb. 24 to April 14, 4:30 to 6 p.m. at Reynolds Library.
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