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The latest on the Key Bridge collapse, New York puts forth legislation to get clean energy projects on the grid and Wisconsin and other states join a federal summer food program to help feed kids across the country.

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Republicans float conspiracy theories on the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge, South Carolina s congressional elections will use a map ruled unconstitutional, and the Senate schedules an impeachment trial for Homeland Secretary Myorkas.

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Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

USDA: AZ Food Insecurity Still Rising

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Friday, September 23, 2011   

PHOENIX - Food insecurity means people don't always know where their next meal is coming from, and in Arizona, 15.3 percent of the state's households, almost one in six, do not have consistent, dependable access to enough food for active, healthy living, according to from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). That represents a 5 percent increase from the last report, and it's putting a lot of pressure on organizations that are trying to help.

Spokesman Brian Simpson with the Association of Arizona Food Banks says the increase means one of two things.

"More people are struggling, or more people were holding on for as long as they can and are finally saying that they need help."

Simpson says the food banks are seeing a lot of families who have lost jobs and exhausted their savings as the recession continues.

"Probably the most common story that we hear from the food banks are folks that say, 'I used to donate at the food bank, and now I'm here looking for help.' And they've never been in that situation."

Despite the record demand for emergency food boxes, Simpson says donations to the state's food banks are holding up well.

"At the present moment they're keeping up with demand, which is increasing, but it is increasing slower than it has been in previous years. It's plateauing a little bit, but it's still increasing."

He says food banks need donations of food or money throughout the year, and also welcome the volunteers who are vital to keeping the doors open.

For the annual USDA survey, more than 1600 Arizona households were polled. The Food Bank Association operates regional food distribution centers serving all 15 Arizona counties.

The report is at
www.ers.usda.gov



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