March 4, 2026: All headlines

Fire at Boulder’s Chautauqua

The Bluebell Fire burned 1.5 acres before being extinguished the same day. More than 100 firefighters responded. 

CU student journalists ‘not guilty’ in covering Palestine protest

Three student journalists were initially barred from campus and faced code of conduct charges for covering an October 2025 protest against military contractor Lockheed Martin. The demonstration was the third such event in which students faced disciplinary action from the university. Read more from the Daily Camera

BONUS CONTENT: An interview with Palestine Legal Defense Fund attorney Zoha Khalili about CU’s troubling pattern of punishing pro-Palestine activities. Listen at Patreon.com/BoulderFrequencyPod.

Boulder releases draft Comprehensive Plan

The Comp Plan guides Boulder’s decision-making for the next 15-20 years. Read the draft and comment by April 6.

GO: Comprehensive Plan Open House: 4:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 10, 2590 Walnut St., Boulder

Bill to curb Flock cameras watered down

Senate Bill 70, sponsored by Boulder’s Judy Amabile, would allow law enforcement to search a person’s location data up to 72 hours in the past without a warrant, and would continue to allow controversial data-sharing across jurisdictions. Read more from BRL

GET INVOLVED: March 7 demonstration against Flock, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. How to participate

BONUS CONTENT: Listen to an interview with local cybersecurity professional Andrew Gentry at Patreon.com/BoulderFrequencyPod.

Caribou Current Issue #2 Launch Party

7:30-9:30 p.m. Thursday, March 5

4720 Table Mesa Drive F100

New issue out March 5. Go to CaribouCurrent.com 

One More Thing

“A Tattoo of a Candle” by A Place for Owls

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Produced by BVHz in partnership with The Mountain Ear

Our team

Journalist + producer: Shay Castle

Audio producer + music: Kelly Garry

This episode is sponsored by Jill Grano. This week’s episode is sponsored by Jill Grano. Visit JillGrano.com for more information about Jill's award-winning real estate work and her support of organizations throughout our community, including the Gayla, I Have a Dream Foundation, and KGNU.

This podcast is made possible by listeners and local businesses. You can sponsor an episode of The Frequency. Reach our growing audience of highly engaged listeners. Email [email protected]

Boulder v. Big Oil lawsuit heading to Supreme Court

The City of Boulder and Boulder County have been suing Exxon Mobil and Suncor since 2018 over local impacts of fossil fuel-driven climate change.

Now, it will be up to the Supreme Court to decide if those companies should pay for the damage they’ve contributed to, or if they have immunity from state-level harms — as the companies themselves are arguing.

1. Read more from Colorado Sun
2. See the County + City responses

Kimbal Musk dated woman likely abused, trafficked by Jefferey Epstein

Musk, owner of The Kitchen and Boulder-based drone company Nova Sky Stories, was revealed to have sent and received 100+ emails to and from Jeffrey Epstein and his associates, as we reported earlier this month.

New reporting from The Denver Post connects Musk directly to a victim of Epstein, directly contradicting Musk’s previous statements.

1. News sparks protest outside Musk’s Boulder restaurant
2. Musk quietly resigned from the board of Burning Man

More news:

Erie’s town manager fired abruptly; Happy 10th Birthday to The Colorado Sound

ICE is present in Boulder County and has detained local residents, Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty said in an interview this week.

ICE activity could increase if Trump targets Colorado for opposing his policies, Dougherty believes.

ICE en el Condado de Boulder: Conozca sus derechos

Daniel Pariente, intérprete en la oficina del fiscal de distrito del condado de Boulder, Michael Dougherty, habla con la periodista Rossana Longo-Better sobre qué hacer si ICE se presenta en su casa o negocio y los recursos para ayudar a prepararse.

El Condado de Boulder

Recursos para inmigrantes

1. Folletos y guías sobre recursos de inmigración
2. Servicios legales
3. Capacitaciones y apoyos de organizaciones aliadas
4. Tarjetas rojas

Preparación familiar/conozca sus derechos

Ordene copias en ingles o español

Consulado mexicano

Consultas migratorias gratuitas

12-1 p.m. los viernes

Recursos para mexicanos en EE.UU.

This episode is brought to you by Dairy Arts Center and their signature event: the Crystal Ball Gala. PEEK returns April 23 with readings, immersive art, cuisine and cocktails.

Claim your place before the moment passes. Tickets on sale now at thedairy.org.

This podcast is made possible by listeners and local businesses. You can sponsor an episode of The Frequency. Reach our growing audience of highly engaged listeners. Email [email protected]

Dark Horse’s last day

The iconic restaurant will close March 14 — its 51st anniversary. Rather than relocate while the property is being redeveloped, its owners have decided to shut the beloved bar down. Read their farewell message

‘We will never build FasTracks’

So said the chair of the RTD board in a recent meeting, according to a report from CPR. Front Range residents have been paying for trains since 2004, but a promised train to Boulder and Longmont is nowhere in sight.

The money isn’t there, and RTD should focus on transportation needs for the next 25 years, board chair Patrick O’Keefe says.

NCAR-operated super-computer moves to new operator

The super computing center in Cheyenne, Wyoming will be operated by an unnamed third-party, the National Science Foundation (NSF) announced last week. The change comes as NSF seeks to restructure NCAR and potentially move some of its functions — such as weather forecasting — and facilities to private ownership. Read more from Daily Camera.

Colorado sees lowest snowpack in 40 years

That’s according to an analysis by Russ Schumacher, director of the Colorado Climate Center. There are still a few weeks left for snow; that’s typically when the state gets the most snow. But, as Russ wrote, “the odds of rebounding to near normal peak snowpack conditions are dwindling.” Read more.

Boulder City Council wants to keep exploring 500-acre expan

This episode is brought to you by Jill Grano. Visit JillGrano.com for more information about Jill's award-winning real estate work and her support of organizations throughout our community, including the Gayla, I Have a Dream Foundation, and KGNU.

You can sponsor an episode of The Frequency! Reach our growing, hyper-local audience of highly engaged listeners. Email [email protected]

This podcast is made possible by listeners and local businesses. You can sponsor an episode of The Frequency. Reach our growing audience of highly engaged listeners. Email [email protected]

Kimbal responds to Epstein Files

Kimbal Musk — brother of Elon Musk and owner of Boulder businesses The Kitchen, The Kitchen Lounge and Nova Sky Stories — sent and/or received more than 100 emails to/from Jeffrey Epstein and his associates between 2012 and 2015.

Musk used an email address associated with his nonprofit, The Kitchen Community, which established gardens at schools. There are currently no gardens associated with Musk at BVSD, a spokesperson confirmed, and Musk hasn’t been present at a school since at least 2021, according to internal records. Read more from The Denver Post.

Musk responded to the recently released emails Monday but downplayed a number of personal exchanges revealed in the documents. Read more from Gizmodo

Nederland-Eldora sale to close April 30; industry insiders out

The $20 million sale will be finalized later this spring, The Mountain-Ear reports. The group of business leaders who connected Eldora’s current owners with town officials is no longer involved, they told the Colorado Sun.

Ex-Longmont senator guilty of 4 felonies

Sonya Jaquez Lewis was convicted of sending fake letters of support to the state house ethics committee prior to an investigation into her alleged mistreatment of legislative aides. Read more from Colorado Sun.

Erie police officer no longer w

This episode is brought to you by Dairy Arts Center and their signature event: the Crystal Ball Gala.

The Dairy Arts Center’s most dynamic night of the year—PEEK—returns April 23, 2026 with the Crystal Ball Gala. Claim your place before the moment passes.

Tickets are on sale now at thedairy.org.

This podcast is made possible by listeners and local businesses. You can sponsor an episode of The Frequency. Reach our growing, hyper-local audience of highly engaged listeners. Email [email protected]

To celebrate the launch of Caribou Current, this week’s episode is all about the characters + events that help shape Boulder County’s culture. We’ll be back with your regularly scheduled news next week.

Malala at CWA

Malala Yousafzai will be the keynote speaker at this year’s Conference of World Affairs, CU Boulder announced last week. Read more

Audio from Oprah’s SuperSoul Conversations, via Wikimedia Commons. Listen

Flatiron Freddy predicts an early spring

Forget Punxsutawney Phil… Boulder has its own weather forecasting rodent: Flatiron Freddy, a stuffed yellow-bellied marmot.

This year, in a nod to the Winter Olympics, Freddy participated in a quick game of curling before predicting an early spring. Watch Freddy in action

Colorado at the Winter Olympics

The Winter Olympics start Friday, Feb. 6, and a ton of Colorado athletes will be competing. See the full list from CPR.

Local Olympic watch parties

Longmont - The Passenger (300 Main St.)

Opening Ceremony watch party: 12:30-2:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 6

Games will be streamed Feb. 6-22 during all open hours (Super Bowl excluded)

Erie - Coal Creek Park (575 Kattel St.)

NBC live broadcast: 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Feb. 7

Scheduled competitions: U.S. versus Finland women’s hockey, women’s freeski slopestyle, women’s ski jumping, men’s single luge, men’s freeski slopestyle, U.S. versus South Korea curling, men’s snowboarding big air and men’s short track speed skating.

9 to 10 a.m.: Learn to play hockey session led by the Boulder Hockey Club at the nearby Erie Ice Rink. Other activities: inflatable alpine slide, curling, and a podium-style photo booth

Allenspark - The Old Gallery (14863 Highway

This episode is brought to you by Jill Grano. Visit JillGrano.com for more information about Jill's award-winning real estate work and her support of organizations throughout our community, including the Gayla, I Have a Dream Foundation, and KGNU.

You can sponsor an episode of The Frequency Reach our growing, hyper-local audience of highly engaged listeners. Email [email protected]

Minneapolis Fed murders both connected to Colorado

Renee Good and Alex Pretti, two Americans killed by federal agents in Minneapolis this month, both had connections to Colorado. Colorado Sun / Associated Press

Feds ask for ideas on how to dismantle NCAR

The National Science Foundation on Friday issued a letter to the scientific community asking for ideas on how to break up NCAR and its many functions. It also is seeking new ownership and operations of the 7 NCAR labs in Boulder, which could be repurposed for public OR private use.

The letter also leaves open the door for ideas to privatize weather forecasting and other NCAR activities. Read the letter or stories from CPR, Boulder Reporting Lab and the Daily Camera.

The Librarians is a 2025 American documentary by Kim A. Snyder that chronicles the nationwide book banning movement and the forces behind it.

The Town of Superior’s Cultural Arts & Public Spaces (CAPS) advisory committee hosted a January 23 screening of The Librarians, followed by a discussion of the film with producer Janique L. Robillard and Michelle White, a public school librarian who left Florida for Colorado after her school district began removing hundreds of books from library shelves.

Learn more about the film: thelibrariansfilm.com

Listen to the full film discussion at Patreon.com/BoulderFrequencyPod.

Song: "moog part" from #mobygratis

Boulder Weekly’s last printed issue came out July 3, 2025. Editors, reporters and designers (basically everyone who made the paper) lost their jobs that week.

In this story:

1. An insider’s account of the meltdown and aftermath. Read more about what happened from Corey Hutchins
2. Introducing Caribou Current, a new arts + culture publication from former BW staffers. First issue on newsstands Feb. 5!
3. “If you're into death metal or the ballet, I want there to be a little something for everyone and a little something that surprises everyone.” Listen to Caribou Current managing editor Jezy Gray on The Mountain-Ear podcast
4. A trio of journalists are attempting to revive the Weekly, and they’re

You can sponsor an episode of The Frequency! Reach our growing, hyper-local audience of highly engaged listeners. Email [email protected]

You don’t have to have a business to support local, independent journalism. Visit Patreon.com/BoulderFrequencyPod to fund our work and access unedited interviews, sneak previews and more bonus content.

SVVSD, BVSD lead Colorado in graduation

St. Vrain Valley School District (SVVSD) has the highest graduation rate (of urban districts) in the state of Colorado. 96.8% of students finished in four years, CPR reports (using data just released by the state)

SVVSD has also added 5,600 new students since 2009, according to Chalkbeat

Longmont schools are losing kids, though: All 5 feeder elementaries for Longmont High are under capacity, and Sanborn will consolidate with Northridge before the 2027-2028 school year

Boulder Valley School District (BVSD) graduates 93.3% of its students in four years, the third-best in Colorado. Enrollment has declined by ~1.5K students since ’09.

How do local districts compare to Colorado? The state’s graduation rate is 85.6%, and it lost 10K students in the past year. Families moving out-of-state, a slowdown in immigration, declining birth rates and increasing home-schooling are all factors.

Bid to fund NCAR fails

Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennett attempted an amendment to keep NCAR’s budget. The amendment failed, and the funding package ultimately passed. There are other sources of funding for the climate monitoring and weather forecasting hub, but the Trump Administration has vowed to “dismantle” the institution. Denver Post

Lafayette challenges new FAA flight paths

The city is asking a federal judge to reverse recent changes, arguing they will increase air traffic over Lafayette, and that they were made without proper community engagement and environmental review. More from Colorado Hometown Weekly.

Boulder sets 6 priorities for 2026

1. Bike theft prevention
2. Wildfire mitigation support

This episode is brought to you by Jill Grano. Visit JillGrano.com for more information about Jill's award-winning real estate work and her support of organizations throughout our community, including the Gayla, I Have a Dream Foundation, and KGNU.

You can sponsor an episode of The Frequency! Reach our growing, hyper-local audience of highly engaged listeners. Email [email protected]

You don’t have to have a business to support local, independent journalism. Visit Patreon.com/BoulderFrequencyPod to fund our work and access unedited interviews, sneak previews and more bonus content.

State to review Megan Trussell case

Trussell, an 18-year-old CU Boulder student, was found dead in Boulder Canyon on Feb. 15, 2025. Local authorities ruled the death a suicide, complicated by drug use and hypothermia, but her family asked the state to push further. Now, the Colorado Bureau of Investigations will review the case— but not re-investigate, the agency clarified in a press release.

1,500 kids could lose child care in BoCo

The Trump administration cut off funding for low-income families in Colorado and other Democrat-led states. That includes millions of dollars to help parents pay for childcare.

A Boulder parent and daycare board member of says up to a quarter of kids at her center rely on the funding, which makes up 20% of the facility’s budget

In Boulder County, here’s who could be impacted:

1. 1,499 children are in child care paid for by the funding
2. 171 licensed child care centers receive money from this source
3. The average cost of child care for 1 child is $1,645 per month

Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser joined a lawsuit to stop the cuts, his office’s 50th against the president’s administration

Boulder OKs $17M in incentives for Sundance

The 10-year agreement includes revenue sharing for parking and taxes, breaks on permits and fees and free bus and e-bike passes. Daily Camera

1. Lafayette’s new council member (and lost sculpture), CU Bould

The Frequency is looking for sponsors! Reach our growing, hyper-local audience of highly engaged listeners. Email [email protected]

You don’t have to have a business to support local, independent journalism. Visit Patreon.com/BoulderFrequencyPod to

Two fires burn briefly in Boulder County on Monday afternoon

One near U.S. 287 and Dillon Road forced evacuations in Louisville and Lafayette. The blaze was contained in under an hour, while another near Boulder Reservoir was also quickly extinguished.

Petitions begin to add 2 Boulder County Commissioners

Big Tent Boco, a group of current and former elected officials, plus other politically connected residents, is starting to gather signatures for a measure that would add two commissioners to represent Boulder County by 2030, taking the governing body from 3-5 members. Learn more

Longmont’s new councilmember Alex Kahlkofher

Kahlkofer has been elected by acclamation the Ward 3 seat vacated by the recently elected mayor (Susie Hidalgo-Fahring), meaning he was the only applicant. Read more

No more sales tax on tampons, diapers and other menstrual products

Boulder County stopped collecting tax on the necessary items on January 1, following the City of Boulder and Colorado. Daily Camera

The City of Boulder needs a new flag…

… and residents are being asked to design it. Learn more and submit your design by April 24.

1. Record-breakers: Nearly $2M in scholarships at Front Range Community College and empty offices in downtown Boulder

Here are a few things that happened over holiday break:

1. Nederland’s didn’t buy Eldora before the New Year, as the Town said it would, but Trustees’ very first vote of 2026 was to finalize the deal. Go to themtnear.com for the latest.
2. Boulder’s Dark Horse will stay open through at least mid-March as the land owner seeks to redevelop the property into 427 student rentals. Read more about the beloved bar from Bucket List Community Cafe.