By Chase Woodruff | deputy editor
“The idea that we’re living in a nation right now where our school teachers cannot afford to feed their families without going to the food bank to supplement their income says something really terrible about our priorities.”
— U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet
Erin Pulling, right, CEO of Food Bank of the Rockies, talks to U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, middle, and Ron Meehan, government relations manager for Feeding Colorado, on a tour of the food pantry’s Aurora facility on Oct. 14, 2026. (Photo by Lindsey Toomer/Colorado Newsline)
By Lindsey Toomer
Fueled by the rising cost of living and cuts to federal benefits, food assistance programs from around the Denver metro area have seen growing demand and an influx of new, first-time families in need of support this year. Leaders with local food pantries and other nutritional aid groups highlighted the need for more resources at a roundtable Wednesday hosted by U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet at the Food Bank of the Rockies.
Finalists in the National Civics Bee Championship on Oct. 14, 2026, work on their answers to a question about gerrymandering. (Screenshot courtesy of C-SPAN)
By Shauneen Miranda
Peter Daniell of Broomfield, Colorado, took home the grand prize Wednesday night after winning the National Civics Bee Championship in the nation’s capital. Daniell, a ninth-grader, was one of 52 students from all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and American Samoa who put their civics knowledge to the test at the third annual nonpartisan civics championship presented by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation.
4th Judicial District Attorney Michael Allen, left, a Republican, and Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold, a Democrat, met for their only scheduled debate ahead of the November race to be Colorado’s next attorney general. (Photos courtesy of candidates)
By Lindsey Toomer
Secretary of State Jena Griswold and El Paso County District Attorney Michael Allen attacked each other’s records and leadership of their current offices in the only scheduled debate in the Colorado attorney general’s race Wednesday. The candidates vying to be Colorado’s top law enforcement official debated their approaches to challenging the Trump administration, protecting Colorado water rights, data centers and more at an event hosted by the Colorado Sun at the University of Denver.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Trump pressed states for info on millions of voters in the midterms. It’s mostly failed. | By Jonathan Shorman
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