Author

Lindsey Toomer

Lindsey Toomer

Lindsey Toomer covers politics, social justice and other stories for Newsline. She formerly reported on city government at the Denver Gazette and on Colorado mountain town government, education and environment at the Summit Daily News.

‘A devastating blow’: SNAP cuts, inflation put stress on Colorado food aid programs

By: - September 8, 2023

Food banks and pantries in Colorado are feeling the pressure of increased demand as more people are experiencing food insecurity amid high inflation and reduced government benefits.  Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, many families have relied on expanded monthly benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, a federal program that provides food aid […]

DeGette decries ‘poison pills’ in House spending bills as government shutdown looms

By: - August 31, 2023

As Congress prepares to go back into session on Sept. 12, U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette of Denver is worried about the prospects of a government shutdown. The U.S. House has passed only one of its annual appropriations bills. With far-right Republicans inserting what DeGette, a Democrat, referred to as “poison pills” in typically bipartisan appropriations […]

Hospital distribution of opioid overdose antidote funded under Pettersen bill

By: - August 31, 2023

A bill U.S. Rep. Brittany Pettersen plans to introduce in Congress will allow hospitals across the country to get reimbursed for distributing opioid overdose-reversal treatments to people at risk for an overdose.  Pettersen, a Lakewood Democrat who is vocal about her mother’s experience recovering from an opioid addiction stemming from a pain-management prescription, announced the […]

Hickenlooper joins SAG rally for entertainment workers in Denver, urges fair AI use

By: - August 28, 2023

U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper joined entertainment workers on the picket lines Friday as the Colorado chapter of the Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists held a solidarity rally in Denver amid the continued national strike. Hollywood productions have ground to a halt this summer after SAG-AFTRA joined the Writers Guild […]

Biden issues disaster declaration in Colorado for recovery from June storms

By: - August 25, 2023

President Joe Biden on Friday issued a disaster declaration for Colorado in the wake of the severe storms, flooding and tornados that came through the state in June, opening up opportunities for federal support. The declaration orders assistance from the federal government and allocates funding for state, tribal and local governments to use for emergency […]

Pettersen, Jeffries call for continued support of food resource organizations amid increasing need

By: - August 23, 2023

U.S. Rep. Brittany Pettersen on Tuesday accompanied House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries during a visit to a family resource center in Broomfield, where they saw how the demand that charitable food organizations need to meet continues to grow.  Broomfield FISH — originally named Fellowship in Serving Humanity 60 years ago — distributes food to low-income […]

‘Fierce urgency’ needed to prevent gun violence, House minority leader tells Boulder audience

By: - August 22, 2023

U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries joined U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse and local stakeholders for a conversation on gun violence prevention Monday in Boulder.  Representatives from various gun violence prevention organizations as well as leaders in education answered questions about what leads to incidents of gun violence and what should happen to properly address its […]

Governor urges HOA reform. One Colorado lawmaker wonders what took him so long.

By: - August 18, 2023

A Colorado lawmaker who has long advocated reform is skeptical about Gov. Jared Polis’ support of new homeowners associations solutions based on how previous HOA legislation has gone over with him. State Rep. Brianna Titone told Newsline she is surprised to see the Democratic governor sounding the alarm on issues with HOAs four years after […]

Fentanyl overdose crisis discussed by Rep. Lamborn and El Paso County educators

By: - August 15, 2023

Leaders from local school districts joined U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn and other advocates for a conversation Tuesday on how to prevent fentanyl overdoses among students across El Paso County. The roundtable focused on how fentanyl has become a leading cause of death and what schools and elected officials must do to prevent additional overdoses. According […]

State investigating Buena Vista prison staff discrimination claims

By: - August 15, 2023

Colorado prison officials are investigating discrimination claims made by workers in Buena Vista and implementing changes to improve an on-site housing option available to staff. The Office of the Inspector General within the state Department of Corrections is investigating claims of discrimination toward Puerto Rican workers at the Buena Vista Correctional Complex. CDOC spokesperson Annie […]

Inflation in Denver area among highest in nation, federal data shows

By: - August 11, 2023

Inflation in the Denver metro area remains one of the highest in the nation, according to the latest consumer price index report, released Thursday, from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.  While the national inflation rate has slowly improved, certain metropolitan areas highlighted in the July CPI report remain above national averages. Colorado’s biggest metropolitan […]

‘Unlocking pathways’: Education secretary pitches career training at Aurora summit

By: - August 10, 2023

Some of Colorado’s top Democrats joined U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona for a summit focusing on alternative pathways to successful careers for students, particularly within the energy sector.  Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper and U.S. Rep. Jason Crow spoke at the Unlocking Pathways Summit at the Community College of Aurora along […]