Headlines Wednesday October 15th, 2025
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10_15_25_AM_Headlines KGNU News
Southern Colorado flood update
Major storms from the Pacific Ocean brought two to four inches of rain to the San Juan Mountains over the weekend, resulting in major floods that overwhelmed Pagosa Springs and La Plata County, causing over a million dollars in damage, and destroying homes and businesses. But it’s not yet clear how much federal assistance will still be available with the ongoing government shutdown. Most FEMA workers are considered essential, and have continued working throughout the two-week shutdown. But according to NPR, the agency’s main source of funding, the Disaster Relief Fund, is running dangerously low, and states could see delays in reimbursement. FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program could also lapse without congressional action. Governor Jared Polis has issued a verbal disaster declaration, freeing up additional state resources for the response. Colorado state officials say they’re already working with FEMA, the Army Corps of Engineers, and the Small Business Administration on response, and may bring in more federal partners on damage assessments.
Overhaul of Boulder Water Program
Boulder is preparing to restrict daytime lawn watering for all residents and businesses. The reason for this is to conserve water and boost wildfire resilience. The Waterwise Landscaping Project has become the first major update to its landscaping rules in over two decades. The main cause for the restriction is because watering lawns during 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. is when the most water is lost to evaporation. As climate conditions become hotter and drier, the goal is to make properties more fire resilient. There are also plant-related changes that took effect in August. This includes businesses and home owners must use fire resistant materials and it bans flammable plants within five feet of structures.
Supreme Court of Colorado debating tenant-friendly housing measure
The Colorado Supreme Court’s civil rules committee is debating a provision that would grant tenants a case number before an eviction is filed against them. Colorado Politics says the rule would primarily help renters whose eviction is part of a ‘batch filing.’ Batch filings have been known to cause back up in the clerk and recorder’s office meaning tenants may not receive a case number and appropriately file a court response. Victor Sulzer, a lawyer representing evicted tenants argued against the provision, saying that there’s no “demonstrable need” for a case number when a tenant receives a summons, but worries it could increase costs for tenants and would be passed on to tenants. Sulzer recommended that tenants call their legal counsel for a case number, critics told Colorado Politics that this was unrealistic, and would stress time being spent on tenant and counsel’s behalf. The state Supreme Court rule is slated to not have an effect on individual filings, where landlords file single evictions and receive a case number at the time of filing.
CU Boulder faculty calls for federal defense compact
University of Colorado Boulder faculty members have signed a resolution urging University leadership to adopt and establish a statewide University Mutual Academic Defense Compact. The Boulder Faculty Council said in a resolution sent to the University that the compact would keep a mutual fund in case of funding cuts and would allow for sharing of legal resources. CU Boulder told the Daily Camera that they have no intention of adopting the plan laid out in the resolution. Similar mutual defense compacts have been cropping up around the country, with the first benign established at New Jersey’s Rutgers University earlier this year. More locally, faculty at Colorado State University have adopted a similar resolution asking for the university to join or establish a compact, also currently going without approval from university governance. The CU Boulder system said in a statement that they share the Boulder Faculty Council’s mission to protect CU’s academic programs. According to the Camera, The university already writes letters to elected representatives in Congress and provides campus declarations included in multiple lawsuits filed by the Colorado Attorney General’s office. The petition for CU to lead the compact is being fought for, even with University officials saying CU does not plan to take action on the proposal.
