Good morning, Boulder. Today’s BRL Today is sponsored by the Chautauqua Association – get your tickets now for their June 21 Flatiron Sounds Music Festival to kick off summer.
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We had planned to launch this campaign earlier this month. Then the unthinkable happened. It’s been a horrific month — for many of us personally, and for our entire community. Even before the terror attack, Boulder was already navigating major shifts, from deep federal cuts hitting local institutions to the arrival of Sundance and a high-stakes election this fall. The Pearl Street attack could change our city in ways yet to be seen. Like you, our focus is on the victims and their recovery.
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Leading today’s edition: The City of Boulder announced a hiring freeze and spending cuts through 2025 late Friday to address a projected $10 million budget shortfall, citing slowing tax revenue and economic uncertainty.
Friday night also marked the official start of the 2025 election season with the Raucous Caucus candidate forum. Meet the likely contenders and hear what they had to say.
On Saturday, thousands gathered downtown for Boulder’s “No Kings” protest — one of the city’s largest demonstrations in years. See the photos.
Also today: City council passed an ordinance that triples the size of Boulder’s wildfire risk zone — from about 4,600 to more than 16,000 properties. Starting Aug. 1, new homes and major remodels in the expanded wildland-urban interface must meet stricter fire safety standards. Enter your address in our interactive map to see if your property is affected.
Related: Boulder Fire-Rescue’s free home wildfire assessments are now booked until at least August. The service, required for residents applying for up to $2,000 in home-hardening grants, has seen a surge in demand.
More, Below the Fold:
- Wildfire contained: Blaze near Eben G. Fine Park extinguished Saturday night.
- Measles alert: Case confirmed in Boulder County; exposure locations listed.
- Magnus White crash: Driver sentenced to four years in cyclist’s death.
- H.R. 1 impact: Commissioners urge pushback on sweeping federal cuts.
- Traffic shift: Canyon Drive lane changes now in effect.
- Things to Do: Juneteenth music, Niwot Jazz, park concerts, art walks, late shows and more.
Thanks, as always, for reading,
– Stacy, publisher
Flatiron Sounds Music Festival returns to Chautauqua Park this Saturday, June 21! Enjoy a full day of free live music from national and local artists, including The Main Squeeze, Salin, and more. Soak up the summer vibes with food trucks, a beer garden, artisan vendors, and unbeatable Flatirons views. All ages welcome—bring your friends, family, and even your dog for Boulder’s best summer kickoff!
In photos: Thousands rally in Boulder’s ‘No Kings’ protest against Trump — one of the city’s largest in years
The demonstration was part of a nationwide day of action opposing the Trump administration’s policies. Continue reading…
Boulder expands wildfire risk zone to 16,000+ homes. Is yours one of them?
An interactive map of the city’s new wildland-urban interface shows which homes are now considered at higher wildfire risk — and what new construction rules may apply. Continue reading…
Boulder Fire-Rescue’s free home wildfire assessments booked until August as demand surges
The city’s free service to help residents harden homes against wildfires now has a monthlong waitlist. Continue reading…
2025 Boulder City Council race kicks off with candidate forum focused on housing, finances
The event, organized by the Boulder Progressives, featured four incumbents and several likely challengers. Continue reading…
Boulder braces for $10M budget shortfall, freezes most hiring through 2025
The city said economic uncertainty and slowing tax revenue have forced it to halt most new hires and curb spending through the rest of this year. Continue reading…
Heat today, storms possible tomorrow
It’s a hot, sunny Monday in Boulder, with temperatures climbing to the low 90s and just a light breeze expected this afternoon. Tomorrow brings a cool down and a 50% chance of afternoon showers and thunderstorms, along with gusty winds. Expect a high near 80 before skies clear again Tuesday night.
Wildfire near Eben G. Fine Park extinguished Saturday night
A small wildfire that broke out Saturday evening about a quarter-mile southwest of Eben G. Fine Park was fully contained later that night, according to fire officials.
The blaze burned mid-slope in steep terrain and reached about a quarter-acre in size. It crept upslope with occasional tree torching before crews were able to contain it.
No cause has been identified. Favorable humidity and green hillside vegetation aided the firefighting effort.
The Watch Duty app issued an alert Saturday night with initial details.
Measles case confirmed in Boulder County
A Boulder County resident has tested positive for measles after returning from Europe, where the virus is spreading, according to state and local health officials.
The person was fully vaccinated, and officials say the risk to the public is low. But measles is highly contagious, and anyone who may have been exposed should monitor for symptoms — especially if unvaccinated — and consider avoiding large gatherings for 21 days. Earlier this year, Boulder County Public Health’s executive director told us it was not a matter of if, but when, a local measles case would emerge.
Possible Boulder exposure locations include:
- Rosetta Hall (1109 Walnut St.) on Friday, June 6, between 7:30–10:45 p.m.
- RTD Flatiron Flyer buses between Boulder and Denver during commutes on:
- Tuesday, June 3, from 6:45–9:35 a.m. and 4:05–7:15 p.m.
- Thursday, June 5, same time windows
- Friday, June 6, same time windows
Symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes and a rash that typically begins on the face a few days after other symptoms. The MMR vaccine offers strong protection and typically leads to milder illness in breakthrough cases.
Driver sentenced for killing Boulder teen cyclist Magnus White
Yeva Smilianska was sentenced Friday to four years in prison and three years of parole for killing 17-year-old Magnus White, a rising Team USA cyclist from Boulder, in a crash on Diagonal Highway in July 2023.
A jury previously convicted Smilianska of vehicular homicide. She admitted to falling asleep at the wheel after drinking until early morning and getting only a few hours of sleep. Prosecutors argued she acted recklessly by knowingly driving while dangerously impaired. Magnus was riding on the shoulder when he was hit. White’s family had asked for the maximum sentence of six years, Velo reported.
White’s family has previously said that justice was not served. They criticized law enforcement’s initial investigation, saying troopers failed to conduct drug or alcohol testing at the scene, accepted the driver’s story of a mechanical malfunction without scrutiny and allowed her to remove items from the car—resulting in the loss of critical evidence. They believe the full story of what happened was never told in court.
Commissioners warn of impacts from sweeping federal cuts
Boulder County Commissioners are urging residents to contact Colorado’s congressional delegation about the sweeping federal bill that could slash critical social programs and introduce unrelated policy changes with far-reaching local impacts.
The so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill” (H.R. 1) narrowly passed the U.S. House of Representatives and is now under consideration in the Senate. Commissioners warn that, if enacted in its current form, the bill could cut Medicaid and make it harder for people to access benefits, reduce the Child Tax Credit and scale back food assistance programs like SNAP.
They also raised alarms about provisions that would deregulate gun silencers and portions of the Clean Air Act, limit states’ ability to regulate artificial intelligence or combat election misinformation, impose new barriers to immigration and restrict the authority of federal judges.
Traffic shift on Canyon Drive now in effect
As of Friday, June 13, two-way traffic on Boulder Canyon Drive has shifted to the south side of the road for ongoing state pavement rehab work on CO 119 and CO 7. Drivers should detour via 9th Street and Pearl Street to reach closed-off side streets. Two-way traffic into and out of Boulder Canyon remains in place. More details on the project here.
☀️ 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 our Monday to-do list, make sure to submit it to our events calendar.
And we are still not saved: On Love, Freedom and Salvation — Monday, June 16, 3:00–6:00 p.m.; Tuesday, June 17, 3:00–4:15 p.m.; Wednesday, June 18, 3:00–6:00 p.m., Dairy Arts Center, 2590 Walnut St. Read More
Music in The Park: Monday, June 16, 5:30 p.m., Boulder Central Park, 1236 Canyon Boulevard. Read More.
Boulder Concert Band Parks Series: Monday, June 16, 7:00–8:00 p.m., Scott Carpenter Park, 2900 Arapahoe Ave. Read More.
Fort Chambers/Poor Farm Workshop: Tuesday, June 17, 5:00–6:30 p.m., OSMP Administrative Office. Read More.
120 Years in Motion: Connecting Boulder Through Time: Wednesday, June 18, 3:30–6:30 p.m., Rembrandt Yard, 1301 Spruce St. Read More.
Boulder Public Art Guided Walking Tours: Wednesday, June 18, 5:30–7:00 p.m., 17th & Pearl, 2221 Walnut St. Additional dates: Saturday, June 21; Wednesday, June 25; Saturday, June 28. Read More.
On The Rise Concert: A Juneteenth Celebration of Freedom Through Music: Thursday, June 19, 6:00–9:00 p.m., The Hill, 1221 Pennsylvania Ave. Read More.
Summer Concerts in the Park: Thursday, June 19, 6:30 p.m., Louisville Community Park, 100 Roosevelt Ave. Read More.
Béla Fleck, Edmar Castaneda & Antonio Sanchez Trio: Thursday, June 19, 7:30 p.m., Chautauqua Auditorium, 900 Baseline Rd. Read More.
A.J. Croce: Thursday, June 19, 8:00 p.m., Boulder Theater, 2032 14th St. Read More.
Ryan Benthall & Solvation at Four Mile Fest House: Friday, June 20, 8:00 p.m., Four Mile Fest House, 8453 Four Mile Canyon Dr. Read More.
Niwot Jazz Festival: Saturday, June 21, 3:00 p.m., Cottonwood Square, 7960 Niwot Rd., Niwot. Read More.