Good midweek morning, Boulder. Soak up the morning sunshine — storms roll in later today. Today’s edition of BRL Today is sponsored by MahlerFest — check out their upcoming music festival.
More in local music news: The founder of the Bluebird Music Festival is launching a new school this fall offering free music instruction to the children of teachers, first responders and mental health professionals — something never before offered in Boulder. The two-semester program, led by a University of Denver music professor, will be housed at Broadway Music Studios. Applications open this summer.
In other news: A new lawsuit over Boulder’s CU South flood project has stalled construction plans, with a hearing set for May 16 on whether the city can fast-track a ruling and resume bond sales.
Plus, in restaurant opening news: After reconnecting post-Covid, two longtime Longmont locals opened Duets Bistro & Deli near Airport Road — bringing deli sandwiches, French-inspired comfort food and cocktails to their own neighborhood. The goal: great food, a welcoming space and prices that keep the locals coming back.
More, Below the Fold:
- Tech cuts: Boulder Library loses digital navigators to AmeriCorps rollback.
- Legal pushback: Colorado sues to block AmeriCorps gutting.
- Real talk: Raw, recovery-themed comedy show hits Lafayette May 3. (sponsored)
- Fire update: Stone Canyon victim ID’d; cause still unclear.
- Niwot detour: Median closed for underpass work.
- Trail upgrades: Big 2025 repairs coming to Sanitas, Saddle Rock, more.
- Trail closure: Fourmile Link to shut for step replacement.
Thanks, as always, for reading,
– The BRL team
MahlerFest 38 is centered around Mahler’s Sixth Symphony—a powerful tribute to those who fight against all odds, whether on the battlefield, in moments of personal adversity, or through acts of quiet defiance. The festival’s lineup explores this theme across a range of musical expressions, from an opera written in an WWII internment camp to an American piano concerto about the Great Dismal Swamp, a sanctuary for those seeking freedom. Tickets and schedule.
Lawsuit over South Boulder flood mitigation project threatens construction timeline
The lawsuit challenges the city’s ability to pay for the CU South project, preventing it from selling bonds needed to acquire land and start construction, according to city officials. Continue reading…
Free music school launching in Boulder, led by Bluebird Music Festival founder
Set to open this fall, the school will offer free music instruction to children of teachers, first responders and mental health professionals — a first for Boulder. Continue reading…
New Longmont bistro, Duets, pairs deli sandwiches with French-inspired fare
The new bistro and deli near Airport Road aims to fill a neighborhood gap with approachable comfort food, cocktails and croque monsieur. Continue reading…
Showers and storms roll in later today
Soak up the sunshine while you can this morning. Highs will reach near 70 before a fast-moving system brings a cold front through the area this afternoon, triggering thunderstorms into the evening. Light rain may linger overnight before tapering off Thursday morning.
Boulder could see a quarter to half an inch of rain, with a chance of wet snow in the higher Foothills by morning.
Thursday will be cooler, with highs in the 50s. But don’t worry — warmer weather is on the way for the weekend. Check out the full week’s forecast.
AmeriCorps funding cut hits Boulder Library’s digital navigator program
Last week, Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) ordered AmeriCorps to terminate nearly $400 million in grants. As a result, Boulder Public Library has lost funding for two “digital navigators” — full-time positions that help people navigate new technology, including applying for jobs online and accessing digital resources.
About 80 people, mostly older residents, visited the digital navigators each month, according to David Farnan, director of the Boulder Public Library District.
Farnan said he hopes to find a way to honor the contracts of the navigators, who have worked at the library for 18 months and were supposed to be funded through August. The library has some volunteers who fill a similar role helping people navigate new technology, but they aren’t available full-time like the navigators were. The Learning Source, which ran the digital navigators program for the library, is trying to keep it going, according to Farnan.
“It’s just nice to have some experts on hand and in the building that can walk people through a myriad of problems,” he said. The decision to eliminate millions in AmeriCorps funding affects 1,031 organizations and 32,465 AmeriCorps members and volunteers. If you have information about other programs affected in Boulder, reach out to Brooke Stephenson at brooke@boulderreportinglab.org. Read on BRL.
Colorado sues to stop AmeriCorps cuts
Meanwhile, Attorney General Phil Weiser has joined 24 states and D.C. in suing the Trump administration over what they call the illegal dismantling of AmeriCorps — a move they say guts the agency’s ability to operate national service programs supporting wildfire mitigation, education, public health and more.
State officials say the cuts threaten nearly all AmeriCorps operations in Colorado, including 32 active grants and over 1 million hours of community service last year. Gov. Jared Polis called the decision “devastating” for communities statewide. It’s the latest legal challenge in a growing pushback from states over the administration’s early efforts to reshape federal agencies.
Comedy that hits different — real, raw and hilarious (sponsored)
A night of stand-up that’s smart, funny, and packed with real-life grit. Featuring top comics sharing raw, hilarious takes on life’s chaos — with just enough heart to make it hit different. Catch Second Chance Comedy at The Muse Performance Space (200 E South Boulder Rd, Lafayette) on May 3 at 7 p.m. Whether you’re in recovery, know someone who is, or just need a solid night out, this show brings the funny without the fluff. Bold, honest and real — Second Chance Comedy is stand-up with soul, and you won’t find another show quite like it.
Stone Canyon Fire update: Fatality identified, cause remains unknown
The Boulder County Coroner’s Office has made a circumstantial identification of the person killed in the Stone Canyon Fire near Lyons last summer. Investigators believe the remains found at a home on Eagle Ridge Road belong to Kevin James Tracy, 74, although DNA testing was unsuccessful.
The Stone Canyon Fire broke out on July 30, 2024, destroying five homes and burning about 1,500 acres before being contained. It started at the residence where Tracy was found, but investigators were unable to determine an exact cause. Lightning was ruled out.
The fire, along with the Lake Shore Fire near Nederland the following day, stretched local firefighting resources, though rapid response and federal support helped contain both blazes.
Niwot Road median closure underway
Construction is in full swing on a new bikeway underpass at Niwot Road and CO 119/Diagonal Highway. The median is now fully closed to all traffic — cars, bikes, and pedestrians — through 5 a.m. on Wednesday, May 7.
During the closure, Niwot Road and CO 119/Diagonal Highway will function as a right-in, right-out intersection. Cyclists: There’s no official detour, so plan to reroute.
Also happening:
- Drivers: Detours in place via Airport Rd. (westbound) and CO 52/79th St. (eastbound).
- Bus riders: Niwot Rd. stop closed — use Monarch Rd. stop instead.
- Southbound Diagonal: Right shoulder closures between Jay and Hover through May 2, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
City outlines major open space repairs for 2025
The City of Boulder has launched a new webpage and interactive map highlighting major open space projects planned for 2025. Projects include repairs to the Mount Sanitas Trail — funded by a $1.1 million federal grant and donations from the Boulder Open Space Conservancy — as well as continued work on the new Shale Trail at Boulder Valley Ranch. Crews will also reroute portions of the Saddle Rock, Hidden Valley and Degge trails to protect ecosystems and improve accessibility.
Trailhead upgrades at Marshall Mesa, Chapman Drive and Sawhill Ponds will add new amenities, better multimodal access and expanded options for visitors with disabilities. Additional upgrades are planned at Flatirons Vista, Foothills and Teller Farm North trailheads.
Mount Sanitas, one of the city’s oldest and most iconic trails, has been undergoing ongoing repairs to address erosion and design flaws dating back to the early 1900s.
Fourmile Link Trail to close for step replacement project
The Fourmile Link Trail will close starting May 5 for a 4-6 week project to replace timber steps. There will be no access to Betasso Preserve from Fourmile Canyon Drive during the closure. Heavy equipment will be in use.
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