Boulder International Film Festival kicks off this weekend; Stark drought to affect Colorado’s iconic peach season; Top Colorado officials broker agreement with railroad company over line extension

Headlines Friday, April 10, 2026

Boulder International Film Festival kicks off this weekend

Boulder’s Pearl Street businesses have been gearing up across the week in preparation for this weekend’s Boulder International Film Festival, the 22nd and the last before Boulder begins to play host to the Sundance Film Festival early next year.

Film showings began on Thursday and will continue until Sunday, April 12. Of special note this year is the appearance of Alec Baldwin, who is scheduled to speak on April 10 at the Boulder Theater.

Tickets are still available for purchase, both through the festival’s website and in person on Pearl Street.

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Stark drought to affect Colorado’s iconic peach season

Historic snow drought this winter is going to impact farming in the Rocky Mountains this spring and summer. One longtime farmer in Colorado’s Grand Valley says this year will be the earliest peach season he’s ever seen.

Bruce Talbott is the farm manager at Talbott’s Mountain Gold in Palisade, which grows mainly peaches, along with wine grapes and a few other fruits. He says in a normal year, they begin harvesting and packing peaches in mid-July, with peak season in August, and wrapping up in the first week of September. This year, they’ll likely begin the process much earlier.

“Normally August is the heart of the deal. We think this year July is actually gonna be when the most peaches are gonna end up getting harvested and shipped.” Talbott is also concerned that, for the first time in his decades with the farm, the irrigation district will shut off their canals early. “It will be dependent on some summer moisture. There’s not enough water in the reservoirs right now to get us to the end of October,” Talbott said.

He says farmers in the region are worried about the impacts of a warmer and drier climate on the Colorado River Basin.

This story was reported by Rocky Mountain Community Radio’s Caroline Llanes.

 

Top Colorado officials broker agreement with railroad company over line extension

Colorado lawmakers have unveiled the first draft of an agreement with BNSF, a railroad operator responsible for owning essentially every railroad west of the Mississippi, following years of disagreement around payment structure.

The originally proposed B-Line, which was designed to go through Boulder to Longmont, was stymied by BNSF’s $535 million upfront cost, as Colorado officials had only budgeted $66 million. While the full BNSF cost is currently unknown, it is included in the estimated $25 to $35 million operating budget.

While the cost was reduced, BNSF placed several operating restrictions on the proposed lines, several of which mean that the line will not have opposite-direction travel, but will be on a single-shuttle route from Fort Collins to Denver. Further negotiations with Amtrak and BNSF are expected to take place this summer, with hopes for construction to start in early 2027 with service by 2029.

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Survey of Colorado residents reveals lack of trust in the state

Coloradans are concerned about whether the state is headed in the right direction, according to a new survey from the Colorado Polling Institute. 

One of the biggest takeaways is that Coloradans are increasingly worried about affordability and the economy. Nine in ten voters surveyed say they are especially concerned about everyday expenses, from the cost of housing and healthcare to food, utilities, and gas. Many respondents also say they support limits on government spending and taxation. 

Other top areas of concern include political polarization and climate-related issues. The poll also looked at how Coloradans view their elected officials. It shows declining support for the top three Colorado Democrats – Governor Polis and US Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet.

It shows an even sharper decline for President Trump. 61% of respondents view him unfavorably. The poll surveyed roughly 600 likely voters late last month.

This story was reported by Colorado Capitol News Alliance.

 

City of Boulder releases arts blueprint

The City of Boulder has released its arts blueprint, a plan it says will set a shared direction for Boulder’s creative ecosystem over the next decade. 

City Manager Nuria Rivera-Vandermyde said, “Creativity is part of Boulder’s character and helps define what makes our community exceptional. The Arts Blueprint reflects what we heard clearly from our community – that creativity is not a luxury, but an essential part of how we live, connect, and thrive.”

The city says it developed the plan over 18 months with input from more than 2,000 community members.

The public is invited to celebrate the launch of the Blueprint this Sunday at 1 p.m. at KGNU’s new facility at 1720 14th St. The event will feature opportunities to meet artists, hear from speakers, and learn about upcoming programs from the Office of Arts and Culture.

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You can hear daily headlines on the Morning Magazine, KGNU’s weekday morning show, with coverage of local and regional public affairs and news with headlines and commentary. Click here to listen to full episodes of the Morning Magazine.

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