Boulder officials who traveled to last month's Sundance Film Festival in Utah came home with a clearer picture of the massive logistical lift ahead as the city prepares to host the event next year.

Why it matters: Boulder will spend much of this year preparing for Sundance's arrival, with housing, transportation and winter staffing topping the list of concerns.

Driving the news: The city and Visit Boulder sent representatives to Park City for this year's festival to study what's ahead.

• "We've spent so much time talking about the festival, but there is a difference I think between talking about it and experiencing it," Visit Boulder marketing manager Bailey Burrows told us.

Behind the scenes: Cris Jones, Boulder's director of strategic partnerships, said the city contingent included officials from the police and fire department: "First and foremost, we want to make sure we keep people safe."

Between the lines: Of greater concern locally is the issue of housing attendees.

• "[Park City] is a resort town, so it has a large inventory of short-term rentals, timeshares, hotels, resorts," Jones said. But even with two hotels added on University Hill last year, Boulder has fewer than 4,000 rooms. Sundance drew about 85,000 attendees in 2025.
• And though the city passed a special ordinance to make it easier for residents to rent their homes during the festival, the math suggests most attendees will likely stay outside Boulder.

Yes, but: Jones said even if that is the case, the transportation system in Boulder and the Front Range is better equipped for visitors.

• And "if [attendees] choose to drive, one thing we have that Park City does not have a lot of is parking."

Zoom in: Jones noted that Boulder will take extra steps to ensure local businesses have adequate staffing and inventory to handle a large influx in the dead of winter.

• Unlike Park City, which is in peak ski season in January, Boulder will be hosting Sundance during one of its quietest months.

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From President Trump's first term to his second, Westerners have become more intensely concerned about the rollback of environmental protections, a new poll shows.

Why it matters: The numbers from the annual Conservation in the West poll released Wednesday suggest conservation isn't a niche issue — it's political bedrock in eight Southwest and Rocky Mountain states.

Driving the news: 84% of Western voters say backpedaling on laws that protect land, water and wildlife is a serious concern, up from 68% in 2018.

In addition, 86% say spending cuts to national parks, forests and other public lands are problematic.

• The sentiment crosses party lines. 75% of MAGA-aligned voters agree that spending cuts to national parks and public lands are a serious issue, the poll finds.

The intrigue: Entering the midterm election cycle, 85% of voters say conservation issues are a deciding factor in who they will pick on the ballot. That number is up from 75% in 2016.

Zoom in: Colorado voters are most concerned in many categories, the poll discovered, with 68% saying it's an extremely or very serious problem.

• Other issues where the state's voters expressed concern are fewer resources for wildfires, national parks and scientists who work on public lands.
• 83% of the state is opposed to selling national public lands for oil, gas and mining development. Instead, they overwhelmingly support expanded renewable energy projects

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📚 Principals at four Boulder Valley schools have announced they are resigning or retiring at the end of the academic year, including Boulder High School principal Alana Morales. (Daily Camera 🔑)

⚛️ An unnamed quantum company is eyeing Boulder's CHIPS Zone for a new research and development facility. (BizWest 🔑)

⚖️Colorado's former film commissioner filed a notice of his intent to sue the state for wrongful termination, alleging age discrimination played a role in his firing. (DBJ 🔑)

🏳️‍⚧️ State lawmakers removed a stipulation from a trans youth bill directing family court judges to consider a parent's acceptance of a child's gender identity after Gov. Jared Polis threatened to veto the measure. (Denver Post 🔑)

Crews are starting to demolish the last of the standing structures at the Caribou Village Shopping Center burn site in Nederland.

The latest: Workers began implementing a site stabilization plan on Wednesday at the charred remains of the strip mall at 20 Lakeview Drive in Nederland.

• Bill Rigler, a spokesperson for landowner Tebo Properties, told Axios Boulder the hope is to take down the last of the standing structures before the weekend and then get state approval for a new asbestos testing plan.

What's next: Once the area passes asbestos testing, it will take roughly six to eight weeks to clear the site, Rigler told us.

• Rigler said Tebo Properties does have a concept plan for a new building that will be about the same square footage.