
Evergreen High students help determine what return to class will look like
Students at Evergreen High School have had a big voice in what their return to campus will look like next week.
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Ashley Portillo is a multimedia journalist for CBS News Colorado and is passionate about Covering Colorado First.
Ashley chose reporting as a career with the goal of telling stories in her community and listening to what others have to say.
"I knew since middle school that I wanted to be a journalist when I grew up," she says.
She also believes it's important to get answers, hold people accountable and give people a platform to share their story through tragedy or through celebration. She's covered everything from court and crime to city and county government, plus education, breaking news and severe weather.
Before joining the team in Denver, Ashley was a reporter at KOAA in Colorado Springs for three years. At KOAA, she covered the mass shooting at Club Q, the Letecia Stauch murder trial and the Joshua Johnson murder trial. She also covered stories during the Olympics and Paralympics. Prior to that, she worked as a reporter at KRIS 6 News in Corpus Christi, Texas.
Outside of the newsroom, you can find Ashley trying new restaurants around town, cooking, traveling or hiking in the mountains. She also enjoys soaking in the hot springs and she says it's just a matter of time before she learns how to snowboard or ski.
Just The Facts
Position: Multimedia Journalist
Year hired: October 2023
Alma Mater: Temple University, go Owls!
Why I am a journalist: To give people a platform to share their stories, listening to others, creative storytelling and making a difference in my community.
Most memorable interview: Sharing the stories of recovery and resilience after the Club Q shooting
Dream job: I'm doing it!
Star sign: Taurus
First TV appearance: Haha, does doing the morning announcements in high school count?
First story: My first several months in the industry, I was covering the aftermath and devastation of Hurricane Harvey, a category 4 hurricane that hit the Coastal Bend of Texas.
Hidden talent: I can spell supercalifragilisticexpialidocious and antidisestablishmentarianism.
Hometown: Maryland/Pennsylvania
Favorite food: Mexican food
Number of pets: I don't have any pets, but I'm a big dog lover and will most likely ask to pet your dog if I meet them
Favorite sports team: I was born in Baltimore, so go Ravens!
Favorite vacation spot: Somewhere warm and tropical
What keeps you in Colorado? The mountains, the beauty, the fact that there is so many things to do, and of course the people and the community
What's the biggest risk you've taken? Moving away from all of my family and everything I knew when I was 22 years old
Who would play you in a movie? Selena Quintanilla, but then again J.Lo already did a phenomenal job playing her
You can contact Ashley by sending an email to yourreporter@cbs.com.
Students at Evergreen High School have had a big voice in what their return to campus will look like next week.
Residents and business owners in a Colorado county can now help solve crimes by sharing their doorbell or security camera footage with law enforcement.
While some passes might come at high costs, there are ways to save money so kids can ski or ride for free or at a reduced rate.
As shots rang out at Evergreen High School on Wednesday, many students ran for safety. In the ensuing aftermath, first responders began the process of reuniting the children with their families, a process some parents expressed frustration with.
The former principal at Columbine High School, Frank DeAngelis, said the shooting at Evergreen High School hits close to home. He says he's dedicated to supporting the students, families, and school staff affected.
More restaurant workers say they're struggling with their mental health, and one Denver employer is taking steps to help.
College students are back in class for the start of the fall semester across Colorado, and financially, school can be stressful for students.
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Two Colorado nurses are working to save the lives of cardiac patients outside of hospital walls.
With a bipartisan 7-2 vote, the State Board of Education voted on Thursday to change science standards so K-12 students are expected to study climate science.
Many companies in the Denver Tech Center have since shifted toward hybrid work, and some are even moving into newly designed spaces that work better for hybrid schedules.
A program helping nonprofit organizations in Arapahoe County is resuming after being put on pause for a year.
Colorado car experts say maintaining your car is a key component of saving money.
Colorado businesses are worried about the impacts of new tariffs placed on India by the Trump administration.
Students in Cherry Creek Schools head back to class on Monday, but beginning with the graduating class of 2026, the district will no longer recognize valedictorians and students won't be given the title.