District 21 Senate Vote Set for Feb. 26; Student activists urge gun law reform; Boulder Valley School District addresses enrollment decline

Headlines Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026

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    02-12-2026 Headlines KGNU News

District 21 Senate Vote Set for Feb. 26

Following the resignation of Colorado Senator Dafna Michelson-Jenet, announced Monday, the Senate District 21 Vacancy Committee, in accordance with revised statutes and Colorado Democratic Party Rules, will meet virtually to elect a new Senator to represent Senate District 21 on February 26 at 6 p.m. If the election is contested, the committee will hold a candidate forum before conducting the election. The meeting will be streamed live on YouTube. More information about the vacancy process, including a list of announced candidates, can be found at coloradodems.org

Colorado Democratic Party Chair Shad Murib said in a statement, “Sen. Michaelson Jenet has been an extraordinary leader for Colorado, championing mental health, reproductive freedom, strong public schools and standing up to antisemitism. I’m grateful for her service and excited to see the impact she’ll make in her next chapter.”

 

Student activists urge gun law reform

More than a hundred high school students held a rally at the State Capitol yesterday, calling for tighter gun laws. The event was part of an annual statehouse advocacy day for Colorado members of Students Demand Action. This year, students urged lawmakers to pass a bill that would expand Colorado’s existing ban on 3-D printed ghost guns and their parts. They were joined at the rally by two of the bill’s Democratic sponsors. KGNU’s Don Davis was there, so tune into the Morning Magazine early next week to hear his reporting on that.

This story was reported by the Colorado Capitol News Alliance.

 

Boulder Valley School District addresses enrollment decline

Tuesday afternoon, the Boulder Valley School District sent a statement to parents, staff, and community members to address declining enrollment and plans.

The district reported a decline of more than 5,000 students since 2017 and projected further decreases in the coming years. The enrollment decline directly affects the district’s funding and budget, making it more difficult to manage facilities and deliver the education BVSD promises students.

The impacts are especially significant at the elementary level, where the district said potential options could include “consolidation, closure, or programmatic changes.” No decisions have been made. 

The district said it will maintain transparency and communication throughout the process. Additional information is expected after BVSD’s spring break.

 

ChatGPT blocked on BVSD networks

Boulder Valley School District is planning to block generative AI application ChatGPT on its network devices, effective Monday, Feb. 16. This decision stems from a recent software update that allows the creation of group chats and customization of AI chatbots. BVSD Information Technology sent a statement to parents, staff and community members yesterday evening detailing this decision. 

The statement reads, “The safety of our students, both physical and digital, is a priority. The BVSD Board of Education has this issue scheduled for discussion in March.” 

Until then, BVSD recommends students and staff to use the application ‘MagiSchool’, a district-approved AI enterprise software that BVSD has purchased, and says it better meets both their educational and safety standards.

 

Winter bike to work day tomorrow

Tomorrow, Friday, February 13, is Winter Bike to Work Day, a worldwide celebration of winter bike commuting. In Boulder the event is co-sponsored by the City of Boulder, Community Cycles, and others. From 7 a.m. to 9 a.m., there will be over 40 stations around Boulder offering free breakfast. Sue Prant, Executive Director of Community Cycles, says the event celebrates people walking and biking to work. 

 ”We’re rewarding people for keeping it up all winter, keeping those good habits up all winter. And also to encourage new people to get out. To walk and bike in the winter by doing it as part of a group, which sometimes makes it a lot easier, and getting a reward for doing it, which is the free breakfast.”

You can go to communitycycles.org to take the pledge to ride, and see a map of those breakfast stations, which includes KGNU. You’ll also find more information about Community Cycles’ upcoming events, which include free classes and an urban hike this Saturday. That’s communitycycles.org

 

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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