There’s been a lot of tragedy in our corner of the world over the past 12 months. A deadly mass shooting, an ongoing public health crisis and historically destructive wildfires have all left their mark on our collective psyche in ways we’ve likely only begun to grasp.
But there’s another link in this chain of cascading crises: the Whittier Place apartment complex fire on Pearl Street in central Boulder, which destroyed 81 homes in the middle of a bitterly cold night in October.
For today’s top story, I spoke with three victims from that night, whose grief has been reignited by the wildfires that followed. Among those voices, you’ll hear from a Boulder County resident who lost everything in last fall’s downtown blaze, only to be displaced again two months later from her new home in Louisville as the Marshall Fire carved its path of destruction.
Also in this morning’s newsletter: an update on unemployment claims related to the Marshall Fire ahead of Wednesday’s sign-up deadline. Plus your regular dose of curated community information, the latest on Covid-19 in Boulder County and more.
Thanks for reading!
– Jezy, managing editor
Top Stories
Marshall Fire reignites grief among victims of last fall’s Pearl Street blaze. Here are some of their stories.
One couple lost everything they owned at the Whittier Place apartment complex in downtown Boulder, where 81 units were destroyed in October. Two months later, they were displaced again by one of the most devastating wildfires in Colorado history. Read the full story
Hundreds of people have claimed unemployment due to the Marshall Fire. Deadline to sign up is Wednesday.
As the deadline nears, the state is processing at least 392 applications for unemployment benefits from residents who say they lost work due to the Marshall Fire, according to the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment. “This help is here for a reason and people should apply,” said Boulder County’s disaster recovery manager. Read the full story
Quickly
⏱️ Sunny with highs in the mid-50s today. But snow is in the forecast for Tuesday, and NWS says we’re likely in for the coldest air of the season.
⏱️ Emergency food assistance applications for residents affected by the Marshall Fire and damaging winds closes Tuesday, Feb. 1.
⏱️ Here’s a list of who’s eligible for the assistance, and how to apply.
⏱️ Applications for the federal Small Business Administration’s loan assistance program close March 1. The program has approved more than $50 million in disaster loans for residents so far.
⏱️ The City of Boulder’s Human Services Fund is providing funding for damaged mobile home parks in city limits. (Sans Souci, which is located outside city limits, does not qualify.)
⏱️ Update: Curbside collection of materials damaged by smoke and wind will now start on Monday. Here’s a map of the pick-up order.
⏱️ Another update: The deadline to complete Right of Entry forms to allow debris removal program teams to get started has been extended to Feb. 8.
⏱️ Table Mesa King Soopers is set to reopen on Feb. 9, nearly one year after a gunman killed 10 people in a mass shooting.
⏱️ The City of Boulder is reminding residents to be mindful of mountain lions in the winter months, after sightings in the area around 15th through 17th streets and Iris through Orchard avenues.
⏱️ A public hearing will be held on Feb. 8 regarding Boulder County’s acquisition of 110 acres owned by the Debra S. Wallace Living Trust. Register here.
Covid-19 in Boulder County: Jan. 31, 2022
- 648 daily new cases (7-day avg.) ⬇Down 10% over preceding 7-day avg.
- 90 patients hospitalized with Covid (7-day avg.) 🔺Up from avg. of 40 since July 2020.
- 69% percent of ICU is occupied. ⬇Down from avg. of 72% since July 2020.
- Data: Here’s how and where we’re tracking all of the above.
Latest Covid news
- Boulder Public Library is currently out of KN95 masks. For other places where you can get free KN95 and surgical-grade masks, see the full list from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
- Denver mask mandate set to expire Feb. 3. The City and County of Denver issued the following update Friday: The Denver Department of Public Health & Environment “is encouraged by the continued decline in case rates, positivity and hospitalizations in Denver and across the metro area and it seems likely we will be able to let the public health order expire.”
BRL Picks
⭐ Star power. Are you an artist who wants to take a crack at this year’s Boulder Star holiday card with a $1,000 paid commission? The application deadline has been extended to Feb. 14. All professional visual artists and designers from the region are encouraged to apply.
🧑🏿🌾 Growing equity. Frontline Farming is offering a paid apprenticeship program for Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) to get started as growers. Today is the last day to apply, so read more here and submit your application here.
🚲 Relief on two wheels. Reminder: Community Cycles is still offering free used bikes to anyone affected by the Marshall Fire. These bicycles are best suited for everyday transportation needs. To apply for a bike (or donate one) click here to learn more. Donate at Community Cycles (2601 Spruce St, Unit B) daily from 11 a.m.–6 p.m.
🌈 Pride is back! Out Boulder is opening applications for exhibitors, vendors and performers for this year’s Pride fest, June 6–12. Sign up now to get the early-bird rate, or become a sponsor today.
What We’re Reading
- Something in the air. After measuring volatile organic compounds (VOCs) inside a home affected by smoke from the Marshall Fire, an atmospheric chemistry research group at CU Boulder offers charts and tips for dealing with smoke-damaged homes. A key (and simple) takeaway: “Indoor air contains higher concentrations of most chemicals including benzene. Opening windows reduces indoor concentrations.” [de Gouw Lab]
- Bilingual in Boulder. CU Boulder Associate Professor Andrea Dyrness and PhD students Jackquelin Bristol and Daniel Garzon explore “the cultural knowledge of transnational Mexican and Latinx children” in a new article as part of the Latino History Project. “As low-income, Latinx English Language Learners, they belong to a community that is underrepresented on [the CU] campus and face multiple barriers to higher education. Behind these simple descriptors, however, are complex sociocultural, political and economic realities and lived experiences that offer unique cultural resources for surviving and transcending inequality.” [Latino History Project]
ICYMI from BRL
📈 Eleven years of Boulder crime data in three charts. The violent crime rate today is similar to the peak of the last major wave, in the late 1980s and early 1990s, according to an analysis of FBI data by the Boulder Reporting Lab. Even then, the rates of aggravated assaults, robbery, rape and murder were comparatively low.
About Us
Hi. We’re Boulder’s new nonprofit newsroom. Our mission is to help you get more informed about the issues you care about and more connected to the city you love. To do this, we provide high-quality, original journalism on the most pressing issues plus curated community information — all paywall-free. Learn more about us here and here.
Not subscribed to this newsletter yet? Sign up. It’s free! You can find all previous editions of BRL Today here.
We’re just getting started, but we have BIG plans. Already like what you see? Consider becoming a BRL member today.
Thanks for reading!
Our journalism depends on you.
Have a story tip for us?
Send us your ideas at tips@boulderreportinglab.org.
– The BRL Team
