
Higher costs, smaller quantities: professor weighs in on "shrinkflation" trends
You've probably noticed recently the amount or quantity in a package of food or house supplies is decreasing, while the price is increasing.
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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.
You've probably noticed recently the amount or quantity in a package of food or house supplies is decreasing, while the price is increasing.
Two people have been hailed as heroes after they apprehended a suspect following a deadly hit-and-run in Lakewood. Now, the community is missing a leader.
Starting later this week, expect a major closure of Highway 85 or Santa Fe at C-470. Crews were supposed to begin bridge demolition work as part of the ongoing project to widen Highway 85 on Thursday evening, but that has now been pushed back to Friday night.
The Denver Animal Shelter took in more than 7,400 animals, including cats and dogs last year.
Inflation is cooling right now, but the prices of groceries and food are still rising. For example, the latest CPI data shows that grocery store prices are 25% higher than in January 2020.
We all know that feeling of riding in a vehicle and suddenly hitting a big pothole, which can be jarring. It's also that time of the year when potholes are popping up on roadways.
Denver Restaurant Week kicks off on Friday, and a local restaurant is preparing for a busy week ahead of serving meals to their customers.
This week, Colorado state lawmakers will discuss a bill giving more protections for victims of sexual assault and rape.
The sisters of a victim whose body was found in a hearse in Denver want their loved one to be remembered for who she was along with the impact she had on others, and not what's happened the past few weeks.
Thieves have made off with a few bucks, but it's costing a Jefferson County business owner much more to recover and keep his operation open.
A locally-owned business has been the target of thieves at their stores located across the Denver area and the thefts were all caught on camera.
More help is on the way for Coloradans struggling to pay their rent. It's through the state's Temporary Rental Assistance Grant and the first deadline of the year for pre-applications is at 5 p.m. Tuesday.
Colorado roads have become increasingly dangerous for pedestrians and cyclists. The Colorado Department of Transportation said the state saw the deadliest year on record for people walking and biking.
On this Valentine's Day, local flower shops are blooming with business including the shop, Black and Blossomed. It's a Black-owned business in Denver that has spent the past week getting ready for today. That included preparing more than 100 flower orders and making nearly a dozen deliveries of flowers.
Chances are you or someone you know has gotten sick over the past few weeks or months.