Happy Halloween, Boulder. It’s not too late to find something to do this weekend. Check out our ultimate guide for local events.
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No city council meeting last night, so if you’re used to council news on Fridays, not today.
Leading today’s edition: Boulder police have cleared the driver in an August crash that killed 88-year-old cyclist Daniel Bench, concluding the rider failed to stop at a posted sign on Edgewood Drive. Advocates say the case highlights ongoing safety concerns for Boulder’s most vulnerable road users. John Herrick reports. Also today: An arrest in the CU hockey stick assault case, a state food aid boost as SNAP is set to halt, and more local news.
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Below the Fold:
- BoulderCAST: Chilly Halloween, warm by Sunday.
- Hockey stick assault: Police make arrest, seek second suspect.
- Colorado food aid: State approves $10M in emergency funds as federal SNAP to lapse.
- Benefits update: WIC and housing aid continue.
- Parking rates: Boulder to raise downtown and street prices starting Jan. 1.
- Two small fires: Both quickly contained Wednesday afternoon.
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.
Boulder police find driver not at fault in crash that killed 88-year-old cyclist on Edgewood Drive
The driver had a yield sign and the cyclist a stop sign, and police concluded the cyclist was at fault for failing to stop before entering the road. Continue reading…
A chilly Halloween, but near-record warmth by Sunday
Today will land on the cooler side, with highs in the upper 40s thanks to a blanket of clouds drifting in from the northwest in the morning and a weak cold front. It will feel chilly all day, and hopeful trick-or-treaters should bundle up. Temps will dip into the 30s through the evening. The good news? No wind, no rain, and no snow. Remember, Halloween weather could be much worse in Boulder this time of year.
On Saturday, a strong ridge of high pressure will begin to move in from the southwest, kicking off a warming trend and pushing us into the 60s. The warmth will peak on Sunday with temps soaring into the mid to upper 70s. That’s near-record territory for early November, and it’ll be perfect for leaf cleanup, hikes, or any outdoor plans.
This incoming warm, dry pattern looks stubborn, too. Those 60s and 70s could stick around well into next week, and with no meaningful moisture in sight, Boulder may be inching closer to breaking its record for latest first snowfall. That currently stands as Nov. 17 based on reliable data records kept since 1948.
Arrest made in hockey stick assault near CU Boulder
Boulder police announced Thursday that they have arrested 36-year-old Taylor James Rose of Arvada in connection with an Oct. 23 assault near 27th Way and Baseline Road. The victim, who identified himself as CU Boulder student and Turning Point USA member Nathaniel Ellis, told police he was hit with a hockey stick by a man on rollerblades while riding his bike.
Police said Rose was arrested Thursday morning with assistance from Arvada police and the FBI and charged with second-degree assault, a felony. Detectives are still searching for a second person of interest who they believe may have witnessed the attack. The man was seen rollerblading near Rose before the incident and is not suspected or accused of any crimes.
The case has drawn heightened attention because Ellis is a member of CU Boulder’s Turning Point USA chapter and was the subject of recent social media posts and flyers, shared by the group Front Range Anti-Fascists, alleging ties to two white supremacist groups: Patriot Front and Active Club. Read more on BRL.
Colorado approves $10M in emergency food aid as federal SNAP benefits are suspended
On Thursday, Colorado’s Joint Budget Committee approved two emergency requests from the governor’s office “to ensure Coloradans continue to have access to food” during the federal government shutdown.
The first allocates $10 million to food banks ahead of the federal government’s temporary halt of SNAP food assistance on Nov. 1. The second extends emergency funding for the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program, a federal nutrition initiative for mothers and children younger than 5. WIC ran out of federal funding on Sept. 30, and the state has been supporting it with emergency funds since then.
Funding for federal food assistance has not been appropriated by Congress because of the shutdown. But some states argue the Trump administration could use other available funds — including $5 billion in contingency reserves — to continue SNAP payments, just as it has done to fund paychecks for the military and ICE agents. On Oct. 28, Colorado joined more than 20 other states in suing the Trump administration over the decision not to fund SNAP.
In the meantime, food banks and pantries have been seeing rising demand for months and expect conditions to worsen in November as families lose access to food assistance. In Boulder County, about 19,000 residents are currently eligible for SNAP, which provides an average of $332 per person per month for food, or $574 for a household with children. Depending on when the shutdown ends, families may go the entire month without that assistance. Read more on BRL and see our previous coverage of the strain on local food banks here and here.
Other federal benefits to continue as SNAP remains paused
While SNAP food assistance is on hold for November, other key federal and county-supported benefits will continue, Boulder County officials announced.
Programs including Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Housing Choice Vouchers and Women, Infants and Children (WIC) will operate as usual this month. The State of Colorado is covering WIC’s costs during November, as it did in October.
Any SNAP benefits already loaded onto EBT cards can still be used, and residents are encouraged to renew or apply for benefits so they are ready to receive funds when they resume.
Other programs — Social Security, Medicare, Health First Colorado (Medicaid) and Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) — are not currently affected, though officials warn payments could be delayed if the shutdown continues.
Boulder to raise downtown and street parking rates starting Jan. 1
Starting Jan. 1, parking rates downtown will rise, following approval as part of the city’s 2026 budget process. Street parking citywide will see a $0.50 increase, from $1.50 to $2 per hour. Garage parking will also increase, with hours two through six in the garage costing $1.75 per hour, up from $1.25. Parking rates for six to 12 hours, where much of the city’s parking revenue is generated, will remain the same at $15. The higher rates are expected to produce $800,000 additional revenue for the downtown area. Parking will remain free on weekends and public holidays. Read more on BRL.
Two small fires Wednesday, both quickly contained
If you saw smoke in Boulder Wednesday afternoon, it was likely from a structure fire on the 5000 block of Flagstaff Road, which started around 4 p.m. Mountain View and Boulder Fire-Rescue responded. The fire was contained to an outhouse used for hay storage and sheltering some domestic animals, including cats and rabbits. Four animals were accounted for, and responders said they hoped the others managed to escape when the caretaker opened the gates. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Around the same time, a small vegetation fire, referred to as the Nelson Fire, started near Hygiene. The fire was contained around 6 p.m. and burned about two acres, officials said.
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