Good Wednesday morning, Boulder.
Leading today’s edition: A major transformation is underway in the Boulder Valley School District, the biggest in years. As enrollment declines, BVSD is weighing school closures that could reshape the district. We don’t yet know which schools will be affected, but as Jenna Sampson reports, the stakes are high for educators, families and neighborhoods whose schools have long been anchors. The moment is stressful, but it could also create opportunities for change if handled well. Residents also have a chance to weigh in now, which could have a real impact on the outcome.
And the latest on the NCAR and NIST fronts, with NIST appearing to shift course after BRL’s reporting and Rep. Joe Neguse calling for an investigation into alleged plans to transfer part of NCAR’s space weather program to a private company. Brooke Stephenson has the latest.
Also today: In honor of Women’s History Month, a look at the remarkable life of Mary Rippon, CU’s first female professor. Hired in 1878, she helped shape the early university but kept her marriage and child secret to protect her career. Local historian Silvia Pettem explores how Rippon navigated those pressures and how her hidden life later came to light.
And in BRL Opinion: Local food advocates Mackenzie Sehlke and Lauren Kelso argue that Boulder must preserve housing on public farmland if it wants a thriving local food system and say residents now have a chance to weigh in.
Plus more, Below the Fold:
- BoulderCAST: Extreme fire conditions expected this week.
- Magnus Law: Cyclist-inspired bill advances at the Capitol.
- Nude Foods: Boulder zero-waste grocer heads to Shark Tank.
- Wild Bear: Solar powers new Nederland nature center.
- Senior taxes: Relief may still apply after a move.
Thanks, as always, for reading,
– The BRL team
Too many schools, too few students: BVSD begins planning possible closures
With thousands fewer students and enrollment expected to keep falling, Boulder Valley School District leaders are weighing school closures and how to reorganize schools, staff and programs across fewer campuses. Continue reading…
NIST appears to walk back limits on international researchers
The shift comes after Boulder Reporting Lab broke the story that the federal lab had imposed unpublished limits on foreign researchers, prompting questions from members of Congress. Continue reading…
Neguse calls for investigation into alleged plan to transfer NCAR program to private company
A whistleblower told the congressman’s office that Trump administration officials discussed transferring part of the federally funded research center, which operates major labs in Boulder. Continue reading…
Mary Rippon, CU Boulder’s first female professor, hid her husband and child to keep her job
In the late 1800s, when professional women were expected to remain single, the pioneering CU professor secretly married a student and had a child. Her hidden story surfaced nearly a century later. Continue reading…
A quiet Wednesday ahead of prolonged, multi-day fire danger
Yesterday’s cold front knocked our temperatures back, leaving us with a calm, sunny and seasonal Wednesday in Boulder. We’ll top out near 53 with a few light afternoon breezes, a moment to catch our breath before the weather turns fierce again.
After midnight, a strong, long-lasting mountain wave windstorm will develop in the foothills above 6,500 feet and could last nearly 24 hours into Thursday night. Gusts up to 90 mph are possible in the higher terrain. As of this writing, it remains unclear how much of that wind will mix down into Boulder, but there is a small chance the city could see damaging gusts during the day Thursday. Fire danger will be critical to extreme, depending on winds, as temperatures climb into the upper 60s.
Friday stays breezy with near-critical fire danger and highs in the lower 70s.
Winds strengthen again Saturday ahead of another cold front, with growing potential for widespread strong winds that could trigger another round of critical to extreme fire danger. With the weekend bringing seemingly beautiful weather, we’ll need to be cautious about any human-caused ignitions in open space.
And we haven’t even touched on next week’s heat wave. A multi-day stretch of exceptional late-winter warmth is expected to begin in Colorado around Tuesday. Several days in the 80s appear likely for Boulder, potentially triggering an early wave of snowmelt in the mountains. This winter just keeps getting worse.
Bill inspired by Boulder cyclist Magnus White advances at Colorado Capitol
A Colorado bill named for Boulder cyclist Magnus White, who was killed by a driver in 2023, cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee Monday with unanimous support, Colorado Politics reported.
The measure would require officers responding to crashes involving serious injury or death to offer drivers a voluntary breathalyzer test.
White, 17, was riding on the Diagonal Highway near Gunbarrel when a driver fell asleep at the wheel and struck him from behind. Investigators later discovered the driver had been drinking earlier that day. But no alcohol or drug test was conducted at the crash scene, a gap the White family says limited the charges prosecutors could pursue.
Supporters say the bill would help ensure impairment is investigated immediately in serious crashes and give families clearer answers.
If enacted, the measure would be known as Magnus Law.
Boulder’s Nude Foods Market heads to Shark Tank tonight
Boulder-based Nude Foods Market, a zero-waste grocery founded by Rachel Irons and Verity Noble, will appear on ABC’s “Shark Tank” on Wednesday, March 11 at 8 p.m. MT, pitching the company to the show’s panel of investors.
The women-owned business launched in Boulder with a simple premise: making it easier to buy groceries without packaging waste. Most products are sold in returnable glass jars that customers bring back to be cleaned and reused, helping eliminate single-use plastic.
Nude Foods Market also emphasizes local, organic and regenerative sourcing, with about 44% of products coming from local producers. The company now operates stores in Boulder and Denver and offers online ordering and local delivery.
“Appearing on Shark Tank is not the beginning of our story, it’s the amplification of years of work,” Noble said in a statement. “We’ve already proven this model works.”
The founders say the national TV appearance could help the company expand beyond Colorado and grow its zero-waste grocery model. A watch party will be held at the Rayback Collective, with a quick introduction and Q&A with Noble.
Wild Bear Nature Center switches on solar system at new Nederland campus
Wild Bear Nature Center has switched on a new solar energy system at its future nature center near Nederland, marking a milestone in construction of what the organization says will be the highest-altitude net-positive nature center in Colorado.
The building, located at about 8,250 feet, is designed to produce more energy than it uses, with a 50-kilowatt solar array and a highly insulated structure built for mountain conditions.
Wild Bear’s previous nature center was destroyed in Nederland’s Caribou Village fire. The new facility will also serve as a teaching space where visitors and students can learn about renewable energy and climate solutions.
The nonprofit, founded in 1995, offers environmental education programs focused on mountain ecology and outdoor learning.
Boulder County seniors who moved may still qualify for property tax relief
Boulder County seniors who lost their property tax exemption after moving may still qualify for relief through a statewide program.
The Qualified Senior Primary Residence Classification allows eligible homeowners to exclude $100,000 of their home’s value from taxation. It applies to seniors who previously qualified for Colorado’s senior property tax exemption on or after Jan. 1, 2020, but later moved to a new primary residence.
Applications are due March 15, with late applications accepted through July 15. If approved for the 2026 tax year, the reduction would appear on 2027 property tax bills. The Boulder County Assessor’s Office can help seniors determine eligibility and apply.
Mackenzie Sehlke and Lauren Kelso: Boulder’s open space needs farmers. Farmers need housing.
If Boulder wants a thriving local food system on public land, it must preserve the housing and infrastructure that make farming possible. Residents now have a chance to weigh in. Continue reading…
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