Good Friday morning, Boulder. Today’s BRL Today is sponsored by Community Foundation Boulder County. From May 1-15, support local nonprofits through its All In Boulder County campaign, helping more than 100 organizations providing essential services across the community.
Leading today: Boulder County is considering limiting access on some multi-use trails through a pilot that would restrict activities like biking, hiking or horseback riding on certain days. Officials say it could reduce conflict and improve safety, but mountain bikers are pushing back, arguing it would cut into already limited access without clear evidence of a problem. Why it matters: The decision could reshape how people use some of Boulder County’s most popular trails. Brooke Stephenson reports.
Also today: State Sen. Judy Amabile has pulled her bill to limit license plate readers like Flock, citing a lack of support after pushback from law enforcement. The proposal would have restricted how long agencies store and search vehicle location data, but amendments failed to win enough votes. Stephenson reports.
And finally, Odd Rabbit has opened in East Boulder, bringing sushi, ramen and creative small plates from the team behind Denver’s Michelin-recognized glo Noodle House. The menu leans into sharing and experimentation. Gabe Toth reports.
Plus more, Below the Fold:
- BoulderCAST: Sunshine returns, warmer weekend ahead.
- Fire engine theft: Suspect held on $100K bond.
- Watering schedule: Boulder assigns days under drought watch.
- Cinco de Mayo: Festivities planned across Boulder County.
Thanks, as always, for reading,
– The BRL team
Your community needs you: 51% of Boulder County nonprofits have had to cut programs or change services in the last year, and 70% of nonprofit leaders say community members’ access to basic needs is being threatened. So from May 1-15, we’re asking Boulder County to go all in. Community Foundation Boulder County’s Community Trust program supports 100+ organizations across animal welfare, arts & culture, civic engagement, education, environment, and health & human services. Donate at allinboco.org.
Boulder County proposal to limit multi-use trail access draws backlash from mountain bikers
The county is taking feedback on alternating trail use until May 19, after which it will decide on restrictions. The Boulder Mountainbike Alliance says the pilot is rushed and unnecessary. Continue reading…
Odd Rabbit opens in Boulder with sushi, ramen and more from Michelin-recognized chefs
The team behind Denver’s glo Noodle House expands to East Boulder with a broader, more experimental menu designed for sharing. Continue reading…
Amabile pulls Colorado bill limiting Flock and other license plate readers: ‘We didn’t have the votes’
Opposition from law enforcement and concerns about surveillance limits stalled an effort to restrict how police use and store vehicle location data. Continue reading…
Sunshine returns just in time for the weekend
It’s been a gloomy week indeed, with Boulder logging five consecutive days of measurable rain — something we haven’t pulled off since the tail-end of monsoon season last August. That said, this week’s actual moisture output was frustratingly underwhelming.
We finally catch some nicer weather to end the week. Skies turn partly to mostly sunny today, and highs rebound to around 60.
Tonight dips into the mid‑30s, and with clear skies overhead, patchy frost is possible in the usual cool spots.
The weekend is the real prize. Sunshine continues on Saturday with highs pushing into the upper 60s, and we’re on track to reach the lower 70s by Sunday.
Early next week, another trough slides into the West, bringing back cloudier skies and a cooler, unsettled pattern. But for now, we’ve got a genuinely pleasant weekend lined up — perfect for anything outdoors.
Man accused of stealing fire engine held on $100,000 bond
A man accused of stealing a Boulder Fire-Rescue electric engine from outside the Boulder County Jail this week, leading law enforcement on a pursuit across the county before his arrest, has been charged with multiple felonies and is being held on a $100,000 bond.
The Boulder Police Department said in a news release Wednesday that the incident began around midnight when officers arrested a man on a third-degree trespassing charge in North Boulder. He was booked and released just after 3:30 a.m. While Boulder Fire-Rescue first responders were inside the jail treating a patient, the man got into the fire truck outside and drove away, according to Boulder police. Sheriff’s deputies pursued the truck through Boulder and into Longmont, where police deployed stop sticks. The engine came to a stop and the man fled on foot before he was taken into custody. Read more on BRL.
Boulder keeps drought watch in place, voluntary water conservation encouraged
Following an official review and calculation of available water supplies, city staff announced that Boulder will remain in drought watch, which the city first entered on April 1. Residents are urged to voluntarily reduce water use through the summer.
Despite a record drought statewide and one of Boulder’s watersheds losing its snowpack weeks early, the city has a diverse enough water portfolio to avoid enacting mandatory drought restrictions. Reservoirs may or may not fill this year, but they currently appear steady. The Colorado Big-Thompson Project, which supplies Boulder with around a third of its water, has also increased its allocation above average, a common practice in dry years.
Still, Boulder residents are encouraged to save water where they can. A new daytime watering rule approved in January prohibits watering lawns from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. between May 1 and Sept. 30. City staff are also asking residents to water lawns no more than twice a week.
Single-family homes with even-numbered addresses should water their lawns Sunday and Thursday, while odd-numbered addresses should water Wednesday and Saturday. Sprinklers should also be programmed to avoid watering during rain. Indoor water reductions, such as shorter showers and running full dishwashers, are also encouraged. Read more on BRL.
Cinco de Mayo celebrations planned across Boulder County and beyond
Cinco de Mayo is May 5, and several venues in and around Boulder County are hosting events marking Mexico’s 1862 victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla, now widely celebrated as a symbol of Mexican resistance and heritage.
- In Lafayette, Colorado Beer History is hosting a Cinco de Mayo beer dinner at Liquid Mechanics Brewing Company.
- The City of Longmont will host a celebration on Saturday, May 2, from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Roosevelt Park. The event features live performances, a Chihuahua dog contest, a car show, a breakdance contest and plenty of food.
- Denver’s two-day Cinco de Mayo festival runs May 2-3, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day.
- In Boulder, Centro Mexican Kitchen is hosting an all-day patio fiesta on May 5, with featured menu items, a piñata and a spinning wheel full of prizes.
- Sancho’s in Gunbarrel will host a May 5 party with margarita specials and Los Cheesies from 6 to 8 p.m.
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