President Trump's petty revenge campaign against Colorado continues. He has suspended the state's federal funds for the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families program. 

Trump took this action against five states: California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota, and New York. 

All blue states.

Trump already has: 

• Moved Space Force from Colorado to Alabama 
• Vowed to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder 
• Denied the state FEMA funds, including Archuleta County's request after our fall flooding 
• Vetoed a bipartisan water project for southeastern Colorado 

Rep. Jeff Hurd has consistently delivered his vote for Trump's priorities, including the so-called Big, Beautiful Bill. 

What are his constituents getting in return? 

Do you want to learn more about how the government shutdown is affecting services? 

There's a webinar at 2 p.m. Oct. 7 presented by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) to discuss impacts. Experts also will delve into polling numbers to explore how the public is reacting to the shutdown. 

You can register here to watch. 

No president - Democrat or Republican - has ever fully stopped SNAP benefits. Until now, thanks to Donald Trump and the GOP government shutdown.

If you or someone you know is facing hardship and food insecurity by the cuts, help is available here:

•  FINDHELP.ORG will provide a list of local resources for emergency food assistance, housing, and financial help.
• Healthy Archuleta coordinates a network of local food pantries at churches and nonprofits in uptown and downtown Pagosa Springs, Aspen Springs and Arboles. Food is available from at least one location six days a week. Find details here. (Older adults needing a ride to a local food pantry should contact the Archuleta County MET to schedule a ride with their para-transit service. Please contact the MET at 970-264-2250.)

• Pagosa Community Initiative, 550 B Hot Springs Blvd. (under DHS), provides a small emergency shelf for families who can’t make food bank hours. Mon-Thurs, 9 am-4 pm. 

Another large national protest is planned Oct. 18. You can sign up here for details on the Pagosa event. 

Meet at Town Park at 10:30 a.m. The protest will spread out along downtown sidewalks from there. 

On Oct. 18, Equality Pagosa and Indivisible continue to hold weekly protests on the sidewalk by the library. You can sign up here for information about those events.