Good morning, Boulder. Hope your week is off to a strong start. Leading today’s news:
“We’re just getting our butts kicked all the time.”
That’s how Seth McKinney, fire management officer for the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office, described to Brooke Stephenson the challenge of fighting wildfires after nearly two weeks on the frontlines in Los Angeles alongside other Colorado crews.
McKinney shared what he witnessed — how extreme wildfires are outpacing traditional firefighting tactics and what that means for Boulder. His message is clear: Firefighting alone isn’t enough. Protecting homes must be a community effort.
“We don’t put the Navy in front of a hurricane and expect the Navy to stop it.“
The same, he says, applies to wildfires. For Boulder homeowners, fire mitigation at the household level is critical — without it, firefighters are being asked to do the impossible.
Also: We want to hear from you. Help us report on how Trump’s executive actions are affecting lives in Boulder. Share your experience via this short, anonymous form.
Below the fold:
- Prairie dog removal: City plans lethal control at Foothills Park today.
- NIH funding fight: CU Boulder expects legal action after NIH imposes 15% cap on indirect costs.
- Polis in Boulder: Governor talks housing, affordability, education.
- No new drilling: Boulder County oil, gas freeze holds since 2012.
- CU tuition hikes: Regents weigh 2.3–4% increase, higher fees.
- Self-serve emissions: Testing kiosks coming in 2026.
- Federal leases: Trump plan may affect Boulder’s NOAA sites.
Have a wonderful week,
– the BRL team
Boulder fire officer on LA wildfire devastation: ‘Everything we historically trained on is irrelevant now’
Seth McKinney spent 12 days battling the LA fires alongside crews from across the West. The devastation reinforced how wildfires — and the job of fighting them — are rapidly changing. Continue reading…
Snow incoming: Expect a wintry drop
Clouds will build today, with a slight chance of afternoon snow and a high in the upper 30s. Snow becomes likely tonight, with temps dipping to around 10 and up to an inch of accumulation possible. Another round of snow is expected Tuesday into Tuesday night, with a high of 25 and snowfall expected overnight.
City to remove prairie dogs at Foothills Community Park
Starting today, Feb. 10, the city will begin removing prairie dogs using lethal control at Foothills Community Park, citing conflicts with recreation and city infrastructure.
The decision follows a 2015 city management plan that designates the area as prairie dog-free. Officials say relocation isn’t possible due to a lack of available sites, and other non-lethal options were deemed unfeasible.
About 15 prairie dogs will be removed before March 1 to prevent breeding. The last lethal removals at the site occurred in 2013, 2014 and 2020. Boulder recently approved expanding lethal prairie dog control to most of its farmland, citing agricultural threats and lost revenue.
CU Boulder expects legal action after NIH imposes 15% cap on indirect costs
The National Institutes of Health has announced a sweeping change to how it reimburses research institutions for indirect costs, capping payments at 15% starting today. The change replaces negotiated rates — some as high as 70% — and applies to both current and future grants.
The financial impact could be severe. Top universities and medical centers stand to lose hundreds of millions of dollars annually. Experts warn that the sudden loss of funding could lead to layoffs, halted clinical trials and long-term damage to U.S. biomedical research.
In a statement, CU Boulder said the policy contradicts federal law, which has prohibited changes to NIH indirect cost rates since 2017, and legal action is expected. Of the 47 NIH grant recipients in Colorado, the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus —part of CU Denver — received the largest share, securing nearly $350 million in NIH funding last fiscal year, about 60% of the state’s total, according to a Colorado Sun analysis. CU Boulder received $61 million in 2024. CU Boulder is collaborating with lawmakers and national research organizations to address the policy.
Polis talks housing, schools in Boulder visit
Gov. Jared Polis delivered a regional State of the State address in Boulder on Friday, focusing on affordability, housing and education.
“Good enough is not good enough,” Polis told the Boulder Chamber, pledging to continue efforts to lower costs, expand transit and invest in public safety.
He then visited Rocky Mountain Elementary in Longmont, a Universal Free Preschool provider and recipient of the Governor’s Math Bright Spot Award. “Giving our students a strong start is important for their success in the classroom and our future workforce,” he said.
Polis also met with manufactured home builder Clayton Homes to discuss affordable housing solutions, saying the high cost of housing remains a top priority for him and his administration.
His visit comes as Boulder implements land-use changes following new state housing laws passed last year. The city has scrapped occupancy limits, loosened restrictions on accessory dwelling units, set the stage to eliminate parking minimums and approved zoning changes to increase density near transit.
County reports no new drilling, ramps up oversight
Boulder County’s 2024 Oil and Gas Year-End Report confirms that no new oil and gas development has occurred in unincorporated areas since 2012, with no drilling applications submitted since 2011.
The county continues monitoring and enforcement, it said, overseeing 165 wells —more than half of which are shut-in — while plugging 11 wells in 2024. Inspectors conducted 505 site visits, identifying 113 emissions and issuing 15 violation notices, resulting in $4,500 in fines.
Officials said they remain committed to minimizing industry impacts through legislative and environmental efforts. In November, the Colorado Energy and Carbon Management Commission halted the Draco Pad fracking project, which would have drilled under Boulder County. Boulder County officials testified against the plan, citing environmental and health risks.
CU Regents consider tuition hikes, student fee increases
The CU Board of Regents reviewed tuition and fee proposals for the 2025-26 academic year during its Feb. 6-7 meeting, with a final vote expected in April, according to CU Boulder Today.
Key proposals include:
- A 2.3-4% tuition increase for incoming undergraduates and all graduate students. Continuing undergraduates are exempt due to CU’s tuition guarantee.
- An increase in student athletic fees from $28.50 to $90 per semester, funding women’s sports scholarships and non-revenue-generating sports.
- A 4% increase in residence hall and Bear Creek apartment fees, and 3% for graduate and family housing.
- A 4% pool for merit-based faculty and staff raises and a 2.5% across-the-board increase for classified staff.
Higher-than-expected student retention this year boosted CU Boulder’s revenue by 3%, and enrollment is projected to rise another 1.3% next year, the university reported.
The board also approved an $8.3 million upgrade to the University Memorial Center, reviewed potential land acquisitions and approved a new master’s program in artificial intelligence. Football defensive coordinator Robert Livingston received a two-year contract extension through 2026. The next board meeting is April 10 at CU Denver.
Self-service emissions kiosks coming to the Front Range in 2026
Colorado air quality officials have approved new measures aimed at making vehicle emissions testing more accessible, including self-service emissions kiosks launching in 2026, according to the Colorado Sun.
The kiosks will allow owners of 8- to 11-year-old vehicles to skip a trip to an Air Care Colorado location. Currently, these vehicles must undergo an on-board diagnostics test — which checks emissions signals from the car’s software — at a physical testing site. Older vehicles still require a more extensive treadmill test.
Vehicle emissions are a major contributor to Colorado’s air pollution, releasing ozone precursors that contribute to smog. Last summer, nine Front Range counties, including Boulder, exceeded federal ozone limits 40 times.
Could Trump’s federal lease plan impact Boulder’s NOAA site?
The Trump administration is advancing a plan to reduce the number of federally owned worksites, potentially affecting more than 1,000 government buildings nationwide, CPR reported.
The General Services Administration (GSA), which manages federal properties for various agencies, is at the center of the effort. In Colorado, the GSA oversees 89 buildings, including the David Skaggs Research Center in Boulder, home to key federal research institutions such as the NOAA Earth System Research Laboratory, the National Geophysical Data Center, the Space Environment Center and the National Weather Service Forecast Office.
A senior GSA official said the agency aims to cut its real estate holdings by half. The Associated Press reported last week that regional GSA officials across the country have been directed to begin canceling leases.
☀️ Explore events in Boulder and use the self-submission form on our events page to reach thousands in our community — for free! To have your event featured on this list, make sure to submit it to our events calendar.
Free Bike Maintenance Classes: Monday, Feb. 10, 5:30–7:30 p.m., Community Cycles, 2601 Spruce St., Unit B. Winter Bike Commuting (Feb. 10, 5:30 p.m.) and Fix a Flat (Feb. 12, 5:30 p.m.). Read More
Todd Stern – “Landing the Paris Climate Agreement”: Wednesday, Feb. 12, 6:30 p.m., Boulder Book Store, 1107 Pearl St. Read More
Valentine’s Day Pop-Up: Thursday, Feb. 13, 10 a.m.–6 p.m., and Friday, Feb. 14, 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m., The New Local, 741 Pearl St. Read More
Love & Lyrics Pop-Up: Wednesday–Saturday, Feb. 12–15, 5–11 p.m., Velvet Elk Lounge, 2037 13th St. Read More
LatinSoul Valentine’s Dance Party w/ special guests: Thursday, Feb. 13, 7:30–10 p.m., Roots Music Project, 4747 Pearl St., Suite V3A. Read More
“Come Away with Me” – A Valentine’s Day Tribute to Norah Jones: Friday, Feb. 14, 6:30 p.m., Roots Music Project, 4747 Pearl St., Suite V3A. Read More
NAACP Freedom Fund: Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble: Sunday, Feb. 16, 3:30–5:30 p.m., Macky Auditorium, 1595 Pleasant St. Read More