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Sundance tickets go on sale Thursday

There are a range of packages, but the lineup won't be announced until December, so you'll be buying blind.

News

Thursday&#x27;s your first shot at tickets for the Sundance Film Festival&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="debut year in Boulder" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boulder/2026/07/31/boulder-sundance-2027-festival-dates-venues-programming" data-vars-content-id="9444ad2e-509b-48ee-a5bd-315349e2f00e" data-vars-headline="Sundance tickets go on sale Thursday" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boulder/2026/07/31/boulder-sundance-2027-festival-dates-venues-programming" target="_self">debut year in Boulder</a>.Zoom in: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Available packages" data-vars-click-url="https://festival.sundance.org/tickets/in-person" data-vars-content-id="9444ad2e-509b-48ee-a5bd-315349e2f00e" data-vars-headline="Sundance tickets go on sale Thursday" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://festival.sundance.org/tickets/in-person" target="_blank">Available packages</a> will range from $350 for 10 matinee tickets to $4,500 for unlimited access to the second half of the festival.

Boulder reservoirs hold after record-tying dry year

Reservoirs are 76% full — enough to avoid mandatory restrictions through winter. But another weak snow season could erase that cushion.

Environment

Boulder reservoirs are full enough to avoid mandatory water restrictions through fall and winter.Why it matters: You won&#x27;t have to ration your showers or stop watering your plants — for now.

Nederland's $120M Eldora deal faces new hurdles

More than a year after Nederland struck a deal to buy Eldora, the purchase remains unsettled. Here's what's holding it up.

More than a year after Nederland <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="struck a deal to buy Eldora" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boulder/2025/07/09/nederland-buys-eldora-boulder-county-ski-area" data-vars-content-id="0386a348-4a43-497f-b77a-e4065da1168f" data-vars-headline="Nederland&#x27;s $120M Eldora deal faces new hurdles" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boulder/2025/07/09/nederland-buys-eldora-boulder-county-ski-area" target="_self">struck a deal to buy Eldora</a>, the $120 million purchase is still up in the air.Why it matters: Eldora is Boulder County&#x27;s only ski area, and Nederland leaders see owning it as key to its long-term vitality.

Lawmakers demand action on Boulder County cell service woes

Federal research restrictions have disrupted coverage, raising concerns about wildfire safety.

Colorado lawmakers want federal regulators to fix spotty cellphone service in parts of Boulder County after restrictions meant to protect a government research facility disrupted coverage.Why it matters: Unreliable service could leave residents unable to receive emergency alerts or call for help during fast-moving wildfires — not to mention the everyday inconveniences.

Boulder climate case gets boost in Supreme Court

The ruling will determine whether Boulder can keep pursuing potentially millions in damages to cover climate-related costs.

Sharp questioning from both sides during <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Monday&#x27;s Supreme Court arguments" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/10/02/supreme-court-state-climate-lawsuits-preemption" data-vars-content-id="4f713218-d013-4259-be7b-9f559863465f" data-vars-headline="Boulder climate case gets boost in Supreme Court" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/10/02/supreme-court-state-climate-lawsuits-preemption" target="_self">Monday&#x27;s Supreme Court arguments</a> suggested Boulder&#x27;s landmark climate lawsuit could narrowly survive the court&#x27;s conservative majority.Why it matters: The ruling will determine whether Boulder can keep pursuing potentially millions in damages to cover climate-related costs — and could shape the fate of dozens of similar lawsuits filed nationwide.

House GOP subpoenas Boulder DA in immigration fight

The clash over Boulder County's immigration policies is escalating.

House Republicans escalated their <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="months-long clash" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boulder/2026/05/21/house-gop-boulder-immigration-records" data-vars-content-id="2fad988c-aeae-41c9-b245-d8c9656b7d00" data-vars-headline="House GOP subpoenas Boulder DA in immigration fight" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boulder/2026/05/21/house-gop-boulder-immigration-records" target="_self">months-long clash</a> with Boulder County over local immigration policies on Wednesday, subpoenaing District Attorney Michael Dougherty for records.Why it matters: The subpoena pulls Boulder deeper into <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="a national fight" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/11/democrats-trump-sanctuary-cities-ice-funding" data-vars-content-id="2fad988c-aeae-41c9-b245-d8c9656b7d00" data-vars-headline="House GOP subpoenas Boulder DA in immigration fight" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/11/democrats-trump-sanctuary-cities-ice-funding" target="_self">a national fight</a> over local limits on participation with federal immigration enforcement.

Independent Bob Chew bets big on Colorado Senate bid

The Boulder candidate has spent more than $1 million of his own money.

Boulder independent <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Bob Chew" data-vars-click-url="https://bobchew2026.com/" data-vars-content-id="7fefd5d1-25bb-4ac8-a1bd-1e58e26d725a" data-vars-headline="Independent Bob Chew bets big on Colorado Senate bid" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://bobchew2026.com/" target="_blank">Bob Chew</a> is spending big to shake up Colorado’s U.S. Senate race ahead of the November election.Why it matters: Chew is betting U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper&#x27;s closer-than-expected <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Democratic primary" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2026/07/01/john-hickenlooper-us-senate-julie-gonzales" data-vars-content-id="7fefd5d1-25bb-4ac8-a1bd-1e58e26d725a" data-vars-headline="Independent Bob Chew bets big on Colorado Senate bid" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2026/07/01/john-hickenlooper-us-senate-julie-gonzales" target="_self">Democratic primary</a> win created an opening for a third-party challenger.

Boulder puts four measures on November ballot

Voters will weigh new taxes, city debt and firefighter bargaining rights.

Boulder voters will decide this November whether to tax vacant homes, borrow $400 million for aging city facilities and dramatically expand the city&#x27;s debt capacity.The big picture: The four city-backed ballot measures would put some of Boulder&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="biggest financial questions" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boulder/2026/07/24/boulder-city-council-mark-wallach-resigns" data-vars-content-id="388113b5-30f1-47dd-9d0a-ed8fd3c3a8ba" data-vars-headline="Boulder puts four measures on November ballot" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boulder/2026/07/24/boulder-city-council-mark-wallach-resigns" target="_self">biggest financial questions</a> in the hands of voters, including two tax measures that would have to pass together for the city to borrow $400 million for recreation and public safety projects.

Voters set to weigh expanding Boulder County commissioners

Voters will likely decide whether to add two county commissioner seats.

Boulder County voters will likely decide whether to grow the Board of County Commissioners from three seats to five this November.Why it matters: Expanding the board would reshape how residents are represented — and how county decisions get made.

Boulder weighs higher tip offset for restaurants

The proposal could change tipped wages and restaurant labor costs starting in 2027.

City Council will vote Thursday on whether to let restaurants pay tipped workers less than the city&#x27;s standard minimum wage beginning next year.Why it matters: The decision could reshape restaurant labor costs and tipped workers&#x27; pay in one of Boulder&#x27;s biggest workplace policy debates in years.

Wallach abruptly resigns from Boulder City Council

His departure adds another open City Council seat to November's election.

Boulder City Councilmember Mark Wallach&#x27;s sudden resignation Thursday night will leave his seat vacant until November, turning an already consequential election into an even bigger shakeup.Why it matters: More than half of City Council will effectively be on the ballot this fall, giving voters an unusually big say in the city&#x27;s next chapter.

Boulder County primary turnout hits record 43.6%

Strong statewide and local races helped drive record voter participation.

Boulder County&#x27;s primary turnout topped 43% — the highest for a local midterm primary since Colorado adopted universal mail voting in 2013.Why it matters: Competitive Democratic statewide contests and several <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="high-profile" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boulder/2026/06/23/boulder-democrats-seek-cu-regent-seat-cd2" data-vars-content-id="ed6fdd37-0309-4de5-918f-705d57d8e55c" data-vars-headline="Boulder County primary turnout hits record 43.6%" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boulder/2026/06/23/boulder-democrats-seek-cu-regent-seat-cd2" target="_self">high-profile</a> <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="local races" data-vars-click-url="https://boulderreportinglab.org/2026/06/14/meet-the-candidates-for-boulder-county-treasurer-in-the-2026-democratic-primary/" data-vars-content-id="ed6fdd37-0309-4de5-918f-705d57d8e55c" data-vars-headline="Boulder County primary turnout hits record 43.6%" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://boulderreportinglab.org/2026/06/14/meet-the-candidates-for-boulder-county-treasurer-in-the-2026-democratic-primary/" target="_blank">local races</a> drove unusually strong voter participation across Boulder.

Edie Hooton wins CU regents Democratic primary

The former state lawmaker is now favored to win the open regent seat in November.

Former state Rep. Edie Hooton won the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="three-way Democratic primary" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boulder/2026/06/23/boulder-democrats-seek-cu-regent-seat-cd2" data-vars-content-id="f4ac65dd-b4f9-406b-84e9-753d6f5f711a" data-vars-headline="Edie Hooton wins CU regents Democratic primary" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boulder/2026/06/23/boulder-democrats-seek-cu-regent-seat-cd2" target="_self">three-way Democratic primary</a> race for the University of Colorado&#x27;s 2nd Congressional District seat, with both the Daily Camera and Boulder Reporting Lab calling the race Wednesday morning.Why it matters: Hooton will now be the favorite in November to claim the only regent&#x27;s seat without an incumbent running this cycle.

House panel sends 2nd immigration records request to DA

The committee set a new deadline as the dispute over immigration records continues.

Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty said his office received a second letter from the House Judiciary Committee seeking immigration-related records.Why it matters: The Republican-led U.S. House committee and Boulder County officials continue to clash over &quot;sanctuary city&quot; policies.

Politics 🇺🇸

Colorado governor candidates Marx, Weiser clash over domestic violence

What's at stake on Colorado's ballot in 2026

Key 2026 election dates in Colorado

Colorado prints longest-ever Blue Book voter guide

Boulder climate case gets boost in Supreme Court