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Crocs capitalizes on holes in clogs and tax code

From major acquisitions to a longtime shop closing, August has brought plenty of change.

News

It&#x27;s been another busy month for the Boulder-area business scene.The big picture: A longtime Pearl Street shop is closing, an alt-weekly may be coming back to life, and Crocs is getting attention for its Mediterranean tax strategy.

Inside BVSD's plan to shrink its school footprint

Four schools would close as BVSD responds to years of declining enrollment.

South Boulder would bear the brunt of Boulder Valley School District&#x27;s sweeping consolidation plan, with three elementary schools slated to close and students shuffled across the area.Why it matters: The proposal shows how BVSD is responding to declining enrollment while trying to preserve its preferred model of at least three classes per grade.

CU rolls out ChatGPT amid continuing concerns

The launch follows months of faculty concerns over privacy, equity and the contract.

University of Colorado students will get free ChatGPT access this semester despite a months-long delay — even as concerns about privacy, equity and the university&#x27;s OpenAI contract persist.Why it matters: CU is betting that giving every student access to AI — with required training and school safeguards — is better than leaving them to navigate the technology on their own.

Casa Juani is among the nation's hottest tables

The Pearl Street newcomer is among Bon Appétit's 19 best new restaurants in America.

Things to Do

Boulder&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Casa Juani" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boulder/2026/03/25/casa-juani-spanish-restaurant-pearl-street-buzz" data-vars-content-id="0768004f-d1e1-414d-b77d-c38ca4bf6ee8" data-vars-headline="Casa Juani is among the nation&#x27;s hottest tables" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boulder/2026/03/25/casa-juani-spanish-restaurant-pearl-street-buzz" target="_self">Casa Juani</a> is living up to the hype, landing on Bon Appétit magazine&#x27;s 2026 list of the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="19 best new restaurants in America" data-vars-click-url="https://www.bonappetit.com/story/best-new-restaurants-2026" data-vars-content-id="0768004f-d1e1-414d-b77d-c38ca4bf6ee8" data-vars-headline="Casa Juani is among the nation&#x27;s hottest tables" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.bonappetit.com/story/best-new-restaurants-2026" target="_blank">19 best new restaurants in America</a>.Why it matters: The honor adds to a growing list of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="national accolades" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boulder/2025/12/02/frasca-top-us-restaurant-ranking" data-vars-content-id="0768004f-d1e1-414d-b77d-c38ca4bf6ee8" data-vars-headline="Casa Juani is among the nation&#x27;s hottest tables" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boulder/2025/12/02/frasca-top-us-restaurant-ranking" target="_self">national accolades</a> for downtown Boulder&#x27;s dining scene, which has gained fresh momentum in the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="post-pandemic years" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boulder/2026/01/08/boulder-pearl-street-revitalization-downtown-plan" data-vars-content-id="0768004f-d1e1-414d-b77d-c38ca4bf6ee8" data-vars-headline="Casa Juani is among the nation&#x27;s hottest tables" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boulder/2026/01/08/boulder-pearl-street-revitalization-downtown-plan" target="_self">post-pandemic years</a>.

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.

House GOP seeks Boulder immigration records

The request is part of a broader push on sanctuary policies.

Politics

A Republican-led House committee is seeking records from Boulder law enforcement officials about their immigration policies.Why it matters: The requests are part of a broader congressional push targeting &quot;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="sanctuary cities" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/11/democrats-trump-sanctuary-cities-ice-funding" data-vars-content-id="6eefc3ef-b2a0-4761-80f0-caf6fd5f77b8" data-vars-headline="House GOP seeks Boulder immigration records" 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">sanctuary cities</a>&quot; that limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.

Atmospheric research group sues Trump over imminent science lab breakup

A Boulder-based climate research group argues that dismantling NCAR is unlawful retaliation.

Energy & Climate

The University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) sued the Trump administration Monday, alleging efforts to dismantle <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="a Boulder-based federal lab" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boulder/2025/12/17/trump-closing-ncar-climate-lab-boulder" data-vars-content-id="5762ccda-7eb0-4d63-830f-52dee4913792" data-vars-headline="Atmospheric research group sues Trump over imminent science lab breakup" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boulder/2025/12/17/trump-closing-ncar-climate-lab-boulder" target="_self">a Boulder-based federal lab</a> are &quot;unlawful retaliation&quot; against the state of Colorado.Why it matters: The lawsuit escalates <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="a growing conflict" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2025/12/12/colorado-trump-administration-fights-escalate" data-vars-content-id="5762ccda-7eb0-4d63-830f-52dee4913792" data-vars-headline="Atmospheric research group sues Trump over imminent science lab breakup" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2025/12/12/colorado-trump-administration-fights-escalate" target="_self">a growing conflict</a> between the Trump administration and Colorado over election policy, federal authority and the future of a major U.S. climate research hub.

Politics 🇺🇸

Tina Peters' comeback tests Polis' clemency gamble

Independent Bob Chew bets big on Colorado Senate bid

Colorado communities split on data center boom

Colorado puts new limits on sports betting as wagers soar

Boulder puts four measures on November ballot