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05-27-25 Headlines Ainsley Coogan
Public radio in Colorado and NPR sue Trump Admin
Public radio stations in Colorado and National Public Radio (NPR) have filed a joint lawsuit against the Trump administration.
The suit, which was filed earlier this morning, seeks to challenge President Donald Trump’s May 1 executive order focused on cutting all federal funding to both NPR and the Public Broadcasting Service, or PBS. Aspen Public Radio, Colorado Public Radio, and KSUT Public Radio are all a part of the lawsuit.
According to an NPR press release from CEO Katherine Maher, the executive order violates freedom of speech, as well as freedom of the press. She added that the order is “directly counter to Congress’s long standing intent, as expressed in the Public Broadcasting Act, to foster vibrant institutions” that serve all Americans independent of political influence.
The Colorado public stations involved released a joint statement this morning saying the lawsuit isn’t about politics, but about principle, and that their stations reflect the diversity of public radio across the country.
Trump has repeatedly expressed disapproval of NPR, calling it “left-wing propaganda.” Maher says the executive order clearly aims to punish NPR for content the President dislikes.
Under the executive order, federal agencies and the nonprofit Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) are directed to withhold all federal funding from NPR and PBS. It also aims to prohibit local public radio and television stations from using federal funds to acquire programming from the new media organizations.
NPR has 246 member stations, which are locally-owned, nonprofit focused, noncommercial and across all 50 states and territories.
Boulder camping ban appeal
The American Civil Liberties Union of Colorado is working to overturn Boulder’s camping ban.
The ACLU filed its opening brief last week with the Colorado Court of Appeals. The civil rights organization is looking to overturn a Boulder County District Court ruling that upheld the city’s right to ticket people for sleeping outside. The ACLU first filed a lawsuit against the city back in 2022, alleging the camping ban is a form of cruel and unusual punishment when no shelter beds are available.
That initial lawsuit was dismissed in 2024 by a local judge, and the camping ban has been upheld since.
The City of Boulder has argued that the ban is a “reasonable exercise” of its police powers to protect public health and safety and to keep spaces widely accessible. As part of its 2025 budget, the city increased funding for its encampment removal program to about $3.7 million.
According to Boulder Reporting Lab, the city will have a chance to respond to the ACLU’s arguments before the Colorado Court of Appeals makes its decision.
Hundreds of people live outside in the City of Boulder currently.
Measles cases
A person with a confirmed case of measles traveled through Denver International Airport and a nearby hotel two weeks ago, increasing the potential of being exposed, according to state health officials.
The Colorado Sun says that the person walked to the international customs area and was also in the international baggage claim, before taking a shuttle to the Quality Inn and Suites on Tower Road May 13. That same person returned to DIA for a domestic flight the next day.
Anyone who thinks they may have come in contact with that person is asked to stay away from groups and monitor themselves for signs of potential symptoms.
In another case, someone with a confirmed case of measles stayed at a Holiday Inn Express in Pueblo on May 9. Anyone who thinks they were in contact with that person is also asked to avoid groups and watch for measles symptoms, which include fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes and a rash.
Meanwhile, The Denver Post says that Colorado has had five confirmed measles cases since January. That’s more than it’s had over nearly two decades. The Post says that some rural areas of Colorado are under-vaccinated for measles, in part due to vaccine skepticism that grew during the pandemic. Two shots of the measles vaccine are about 97 percent effective in preventing the disease.
Rabid bat found in Boulder County
At the same time, Boulder County health officials are warning residents to take precautions to reduce their risk of getting rabies.
Their warning comes after a bat found in the City of Boulder tested positive for the disease, according to a county press release. The bat was found recently at a private residence.
Health officials say that to protect yourself, never touch or handle unfamiliar animals, wild or domestic, even if they appear friendly. Anyone who is bit or scratched by an animal should immediately wash the wound and then call a doctor.
Rabies is a deadly disease that affects the nervous system and is usually fatal once symptoms appear.
About fifteen percent of bats tested for rabies in Colorado have tested positive, according to the release. Rabies can also be carried by raccoons, skunks, foxes and other wild animals.
Bolder Boulder
Tens of thousands of people took part in the 45th annual Bolder Boulder 10K run on Memorial Day.
Conner Mantz won the men’s pro race with a late surge, becoming just the second runner to win the men’s race three times and the first to win three straight, according to The Daily Camera. He finished with a time of 28 minutes, 21 seconds.
Grace Loibach Nawowuna won her second straight women’s pro race with a time of 31 minutes, 51 seconds. Her time set a new women’s pro race record.
In the citizen’s races, Nick Scudder finished first in the men’s division, with a time of 30 minutes, three seconds. On the women’s side, CU grad and Boulder resident Sara Vaughn came in first with a time of 34 minutes, 42 seconds.
All told, 52,195 people registered for this year’s Bolder Boulder, according to The Camera. It was the first time since 2015 that the number of registrants passed 52,000.
