It’s Wednesday, June 5, 2024.
Good morning, Boulder and happy Wednesday.
Today, BRL contributor Jenna Sampson brings you a story about a new climbing route near the Flatirons — the first set by women. The route, fittingly located on the Maiden, is called the Queen Line. Set by Lynn Hill, 63, and Sasha DiGiulian, 32, the project is featured in an upcoming HBO documentary titled Here to Climb.
We’re also covering the City of Boulder’s response to Yellow Scene Magazine’s lawsuit related to a fatal police shooting in December. When body cam footage is requested by the press from Boulder PD, it can come with a high price tag, which the city says is necessary for proper processing, including blurring or muting sections for privacy reasons. Yellow Scene argues these costs are prohibitive and violate a 2020 state law. The City of Boulder defends the approximately $30-per-hour charge for video release. The case could proceed to trial.
Finally, Stephanie Wolf has a story about the Longmont Water Fair this Sunday, June 9. The event aims to help residents understand the path their drinking water takes and encourage them to think about the future of water and water policy. It’s a free opportunity to connect with a resource we should all appreciate more.
Your ballots should be arriving today or soon — use our election coverage, including candidate questionnaires, to help you vote. Have a tremendous day.
— Tim, reporter
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Jovita Schiffer, Democratic candidate for Colorado Senate, is a single working mom, equity consultant, and advocate for excluded communities and children. Learn more about her grassroots campaign for equity, economic stability, and wellness at www.jovitaschiffer.com, and vote your Primary ballot by June 25th.
Featured stories
Lynn Hill and Sasha DiGiulian establish Boulder’s first women-made climbing route: The Queen Line
Two rock stars of the climbing world decided to put up a route here in their own backyard, and the process was documented in a film that premiered recently. Continue reading…
City of Boulder defends right to charge fees for body camera footage amid legal challenge
Yellow Scene Magazine sued the city in April 2024 for charging ‘prohibitive sums of money’ for body camera footage of a recent fatal police shooting. The case has implications for the public’s access to evidence of police use of force. Continue reading…
‘Heartstrings instead of just knowledge strings’: First annual Longmont Water Fair reckons with climate change and water scarcity through art
The June 9 event at Dickens Farm Nature Area features science activities, dance performances (in and near the water), and interactive, participatory art. Organizers hope it helps residents feel more connected to their nearby water sources. Continue reading…
Boulder Reporting Lab is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization that empowers our community through non-partisan, locally focused journalism that informs and connects.
In other news
Sunny sun with a side of sun
Whatever clouds arise today will be short-lived as the 90+ degree heat will burn them off. Though it’ll be hot, at least the air will be moving with breezes topping out at 15 mph. Don’t get down about today’s dryness, though. The chance of precipitation picks up on Friday and continues for several days.
Folsom Field July 4 celebration ends after 24 years
This year, the longstanding public-private partnership for the annual Ralphie’s Independence Day Blast has ended, resulting in no Fourth of July event at Folsom Field, the city has announced. WK Real Estate, which supported the event for 24 years, will be honored with a city council declaration on Aug. 15.
Alternative celebrations include a Boulder Symphony concert at the Glen Huntington Bandshell and various activities at Boulder Reservoir, East Boulder Community Center and city parks.
It doesn’t pay to be rich if you want bee diversity
A new study from CU Boulder has found that wealthier neighborhoods in Boulder County tend to have fewer varieties of bees compared to their middle-income counterparts. One reason, the study suggests, is that wealthier areas often have more impervious surfaces that prevent rainwater from seeping into the ground. These neighborhoods also have more mature trees, which are beneficial for temperature regulation but not for native pollinators when most of those trees are non-native species. One way to counteract this trend is to plant more native vegetation.
Wealthier areas also tend to use more pesticides, fertilizers and mulch, disrupting the natural balance of soils, the study found.
“Most of the bees found in these gardens, such as long-horn bees and squash bees, nest in the ground, so they are sensitive to changes in the soil,” said Asia Kaiser, a doctoral student in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at CU Boulder and the study’s lead author.
Last spring, the team planted approximately 70 jalapeño pepper plants in seven large community gardens across Boulder and Louisville. Using traps, they collected over 3,000 insects and other arthropods, including spiders, from the gardens.
The study’s findings contradict previous research suggesting that wealthier neighborhoods, with increased green space, tend to have more animal biodiversity. This study did find that some insects, such as beetles, thrived in wealthier areas, but these pests are not effective pollinators.
The impact of the pollinators was evident, as plants in the middle-income gardens produced larger fruits than those in wealthier areas. It turns out pest beetles aren’t doing much pollinating.
Survey: Boulder falling short on meeting its transportation goal of reducing single-occupancy vehicle trips
The city released its 2023 Modal Shift Report this week, the latest iteration of a survey dating back to 1990, used to gauge whether Boulder is meeting its 2030 transportation goals, which include reducing single-occupancy vehicle trips.
The survey results indicate that the percentage of trips made by foot, bike and bus have generally increased over the past few decades. However, the progress isn’t fast enough for the city to meet its goal of reducing single-occupancy vehicle trips to just 20%. The survey found that about 35% of trips are still made in vehicles with only one person.
Notably, the survey looked at a sample of CU Boulder’s 37,000 students, who make up about a third of the city’s overall population. It found that students use a single-occupancy car for about 21% of their trips, putting them on track to meet the city’s goals. Renters and residents in multi-family housing were also less likely to drive, according to the survey.
We reported on the survey’s preliminary results in March. The final report includes more data on how people get around, broken down by demographic variables and other factors. You can find it here.
Boulder commissioner Ashley Stolzmann to serve as EPA adviser
Boulder County Commissioner Ashley Stolzmann has been appointed to the EPA’s Local Government Advisory Committee, where she will advise on disaster response, PFAS chemicals and climate equity. Stolzmann, who served as mayor of Louisville during the 2021 Marshall Fire, will bring experience on community resilience to the committee, she said. “Although we come from 37 communities across 27 states, we all face threats from climate change and pollution. It is vital that local, state, and federal governments collaborate, and I am committed to bringing Boulder County’s perspective to this crucial conversation,” Stolzmann said.
The LGAC’s next meeting is scheduled for September and will include public comment opportunities. In 2024, the committee will address initiatives including proposed Lead and Copper Rule Improvements, the draft Strategy for Reducing Plastic Pollution and community-level climate communication.
Louisville Library celebrates artists and entrepreneurs with disabilities
The City of Louisville is hosting Creative Connections, a weekend event celebrating artists and entrepreneurs with intellectual and developmental disabilities, on June 15 and 16 at the Louisville Public Library. Saturday will feature the Celebrate EDU Pop-Up Market and crafting workshops, while Sunday will offer additional workshops. All events are free, but registration is required for workshops. The Library’s Coal Creek Gallery will display works by featured artists throughout June.
Pride festivals start this weekend
Rocky Mountain Equality has published a comprehensive events calendar for all local Pride events this month. Boulder County Parks & Open Space will celebrate June with Pride in the Parks, featuring trailhead displays and Pride in the Parks Birding Hikes throughout the month. For event details, visit the county’s calendar.
Here are some big upcoming events:
- Longmont Pride Festival – June 7
- Lafayette Youth Pride – June 15
- Lyons Pride – June 15
- Boulder Pridefest – June 30
Explore ALL upcoming events in Boulder. If you have something to promote, use the self-submission form on our events page, for free.
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