skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Saturday, September 23, 2023

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Consumer health advocates urge governor to sign bill package; NY protests for Jewish democracy heighten as Netanyahu meets UN today; Multiple Utah cities set to use ranked-choice voting in next election.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

The Pentagon wants to help service members denied benefits under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," advocates back a new federal office of gun violence prevention, and a top GOP member assures the Ukrainian president more help is coming.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

An Indigenous project in South Dakota seeks to protect tribal data sovereignty, advocates in North Carolina are pushing back against attacks on public schools, and Arkansas wants the hungriest to have access to more fruits and veggies.

Inflation, Benefit Cuts Spur Demand at IN Food Banks

play audio
Play

Monday, March 6, 2023   

The federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program will reduce benefits by almost $90 per person at the end of March, but the change does not apply to Indiana, which is causing some confusion.

Congress voted to end the extra, pandemic-related benefits as part of a government funding package passed last year.

Emily Weikert Bryant, executive director of Feeding Indiana's Hungry, explained the benefits were already reduced in Indiana last summer by the General Assembly, so this month's federal reduction does not apply.

"Many people are hearing that their SNAP benefits are going to be reduced shortly, and in Indiana, that is not the case," Weikert Bryant clarified. "We want to make sure people are not alarmed, thinking that something is going to happen in Indiana, when it's already happened."

She noted starting in June of last year, SNAP benefits in Indiana went back to normal levels based upon household size, expenses and eligibility. According to the nonprofit Feeding America, more than 46% of the households receiving SNAP benefits in the state include children.

One in nine Indiana residents is considered food insecure. Weikert Bryant pointed out many of the people served by her organization's network of 11 food banks lack sufficient employment and dependable transportation. Their paychecks are not keeping up with inflation, prompting more visits to area food banks.

"And one of the things that our food banks are noting is causing that impact is, we have seen these increases in client numbers steadily grow since ending the SNAP emergency allotments last year," Weikert Bryant observed.

Feeding Indiana's Hungry serves all 92 Indiana counties.

Disclosure: Feeding Indiana’s Hungry contributes to our fund for reporting on Hunger/Food/Nutrition. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.


get more stories like this via email
more stories
Some 43% of young voters say they are more motivated to vote by candidates who represent their values, not by voting against candidates who do not represent their values (27%). (Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

The youngest North Carolina voters could end up shifting the political landscape of the state in the not-too-distant future. New data from the …


Social Issues

play sound

Protests have heightened in New York as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu joins the United Nations General Assembly today. Sonya Meyerson-…

Environment

play sound

Many across the state of Nevada will celebrate National Public Lands Day tomorrow. Nevadans will be able to visit state parks for free on Saturday…


Almost nine of 10 voters who used ranked choice voting said they were confident their ballot would be counted accurately, according to Utah Ranked Choice Voting. (Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

Across Utah, 10 cities will be using ranked choice voting in the general election in November. In 2018, Utah passed a bill to establish a pilot …

Social Issues

play sound

While North Dakota does not have voter registration, civic engagement groups say efforts are still needed to help underserved populations get …

USAFacts.org reports in 2020, $12,268 was the average amount spent on health care per Indiana resident. (Adobe Stock)

Health and Wellness

play sound

Open enrollment begins soon for employer-sponsored health insurance for coverage starting Jan 1. Most people will have multiple options to choose …

Health and Wellness

play sound

Health care advocates are urging Gov. Gavin Newsom to sign four bills aiming to lower medical bills, improve transparency, and make health care more …

Environment

play sound

Rural advocates are supporting the Farmland for Farmers Act in Congress. It would restrict the amount of Iowa farmland large corporations can own…

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021