Colorado

Coloradans using food assistance to buy produce can receive bonus matching funds

Published

1 hour ago

September 3, 2024

Coloradans using food assistance to buy produce can receive bonus matching funds

Coloradans who receive food assistance now have another financial incentive to buy produce, but only if they shop at certain local businesses.

The state is one of three piloting new incentives, and will receive $7.9 million by the end of 2027 to offer matching funds for money spent on fruits and vegetables purchased with money from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

The other states that will receive funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to try out the Produce Bonus program are Washington and Louisiana.

Recipients can receive up to $20 in matching funds per transaction, for a maximum of $60 per month. The match is available for money spent on fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables, provided they don’t contain added fat, salt or sugar. At farmers markets, recipients can also get matching funds for funds spent on dried beans, fruits and vegetables, provided they don’t have those three added ingredients.

Coloradans who receive food assistance already have some incentives to buy produce, such as Double Up Food Bucks, which are paper coupons they receive when buying fruits and vegetables.

Produce Bonus funds automatically appear on people’s earned benefit transfer cards, so they don’t have to remember paper coupons, said Abby McClelland, director of the food and energy assistance division at the Colorado Department of Human Services.

People can spend their Produce Bonus funds on any foods that SNAP covers, unlike the Double Up funds, which are only good for fruits and vegetables, she said.

Because the cards don’t differentiate funding for produce from other food, states aren’t able to limit how recipients can spend the bonus money, a USDA spokeswoman said.

So far, the only participating Denver location is a single farmers market, and the other locations are concentrated in the upper portion of the Interstate 25 corridor, between Loveland and Wellington. See cdhs.colorado.gov/snap-produce-bonus for a full list.

The department is working to get more retailers involved, though some may have to upgrade their software or card readers to process the rebate funds, McClelland said. They are focusing on locally owned businesses in areas with low access to food and low average incomes, with no immediate plans to bring in chain grocery stores, she said.

“We’re trying to be strategic,” she said.

While the USDA ultimately will decide if the program succeeded, McClelland said she hopes it can increase food assistance recipients’ produce consumption and overall purchasing power, while giving a boost to businesses in underserved areas.

“I think this is a step forward,” she said.

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Originally Published: September 3, 2024 at 6:00 a.m.

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Colorado

Campaign launched to protect TABOR caps in Jefferson County

Published

8 hours ago

September 3, 2024

Press Room

Campaign launched to protect TABOR caps in Jefferson County

Cities and counties across the metro area are going to voters asking to remove revenue limits set by the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR).

In Jefferson County there is now a push to save TABOR that is gaining momentum as well.

“I think these are like the third use of them,” county resident Jessica Fenske said.

The yard signs she’s helping to paint this year are sending the same message they did in 2019 and again in 2022 — to protect tax caps put in place by TABOR.

“It’s the same fight every time; it’s not a left or right fight going on,” Fenske said. “It’s just the people trying to keep some of their money.”

Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners approved a November ballot question to let voters decide if the county can retain additional revenue to address budget shortfalls and a growing backlog in infrastructure needs.

It’s a decision the county says was made after extensive community outreach and research. County Commissioner Andy Kerr says it reflects the spirit of TABOR.

“TABOR demands and necessitates action for the people from the people, and the only way to meet those demands is by having this conversation that lets have the community decide,” Kerr said during the July hearing.

Natalie Menten organized the sign “remaking” party after voters twice said no to simialr measures

She is a longstanding TABOR advocate

“They are very driven to do it. Why? I don’t know. Because tabor allows reasonable growth with governments. It allows the inflation rate plus local growth, “Menten said. “We don’t just have money growing in the backyard,” she said of the community.

Menten plans to lead once again the “No on 1A” fight that she sees gaining support.

“We had a big group in 2019 and 2022,” Menten said. “I think this is going to be even bigger this time. We have so much to lose.”

The research done to determine whether to go back to voters — Menten says and CBS Colorado has previously reported on — was done by a company hired by the county using taxpayer dollars.

Menten herself is now running for county commissioner.

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Colorado

Man caught in crossfire of Colorado Springs drive-by shooting

Published

15 hours ago

September 2, 2024

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Man caught in crossfire of Colorado Springs drive-by shooting

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KKTV) – On Monday evening, the Colorado Springs Police Department confirmed a drive-by shooting near South Academy Blvd. and Chelton Rd.

According to police on the scene, a man was in the passenger seat of the car driving by as two suspects shot at each other when a bullet hit him.

Police believe one person reportedly walked into a parking lot and exchanged gunfire with another person. The victim was in the car driving by as the second person was shooting back.

The victim made his way to the Loaf-N-Jug at 1900 S. Academy to report his injuries. CSPD said he was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

CSPD said the victim was not the intended target.

This is an active investigation.

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Colorado

Crooks smash Kia into Colorado Springs pawn shop, causing $30,000 in damage

Published

23 hours ago

September 2, 2024

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Crooks smash Kia into Colorado Springs pawn shop, causing ,000 in damage

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KKTV) – Crooks in a Kia smashed into a pawn shop early Monday morning, causing tens of thousands of dollars in damage to the building.

Police say that when they pulled up to First Cash Pawn off Chelton and South Academy at 3:30 a.m., the Kia was lodged in the side windows of the store. The suspects were long gone.

Employees tell 11 News that while some merchandise was stolen, no guns or anything considered valuable was taken. The true monetary hit was the building itself: the suspects left the business with $30,000 in damage to the store.

Criminals in Colorado Springs have been on a months-long spree of similar crimes, with nearly three dozen businesses across the city targeted in 2024. While Springs police have not said if all of the cases are connected, there have been similarities: most have involved a stolen vehicle, generally a Kia or Hyundai; outside of a few outliers, the businesses have typically been a gun store, a vape store, or a pawn shop; and they have usually occurred in the early morning hours. The crimes seemed to escalate starting in May.

Anyone with information on this or any of the other smash-and-grabs plaguing the city should contact the Colorado Springs Police Department at 719-444-7000 or Crime Stoppers at 719-634-STOP. Crime Stoppers tips can be made anonymously.

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