Public News Service

Six decades ago, President Lyndon B. Johnson forged the War on Poverty by signing the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964. (Adobe Stock)

Reflections on 60 years of Economic Opportunity Act in NC

Tomorrow marks 60 years since the Economic Opportunity Act became law and in North Carolina, it is a moment to reflect and look forward. The federal …

Nationally, the child poverty rate decreased from 17.2% in 2021 to 15.9% in 2022, returning to pre-pandemic levels, according to the Annie. E. Casey Foundation. (Adobe Stock)

NC kids face challenges at school, but rising economic well-being

A new report sheds light on children's well-being in North Carolina, and highlights the need for greater academic support. According to the latest …

According to Jonathan Tyndall, about 30% to 40% of farm produce goes to waste and doesn't get used. He says Ripe for Revival is working to make those numbers smaller. (Courtesy of Joe Mecca/Coastal Credit Union)

New mobile market tackles food deserts in North Carolina

A new mobile market is tackling food deserts in North Carolina, where 1.4 million people struggle to find healthy food. Ripe for Revival, a nonprofit …

In the United States, more than 44 million people, including 13 million children, experience food insecurity. (Adobe Stock)

Farm Bill could help food banks across North Carolina

In a state where nearly 11% of households face food insecurity, North Carolina's food banks are grappling with an urgent problem. The nonprofit …

A 2017 report in the New England Journal of Medicine found, among participants with coronary artery disease, fluctuation in body weight was associated with higher mortality and a higher rate of cardiovascular events, independent of traditional risk factors. (Karen Roach/Adobe Stock)

Post-holiday diets can impact heart health

Diet and exercise ads may be all your social media feed is filled with in January, however, resolutions to maintain balance are best for the heart…

MarketBoxx partners with universities and colleges food pantries to address food insecurity and combat 'food deserts,' which can affect the health and nutrition of college students on a budget. (Photo courtesy of MarketBoxx)

Nonprofit fights hunger on founders' former NC campus

Just in time for the holidays, two North Carolina A&T State University graduates are taking a stand against hunger among college students, and making …

MarketBoxx colabora con despensas de alimentos de universidades y colegios para hacer frente a la inseguridad alimentaria y combatir los

Organización no lucrativa lucha contra hambre en un antiguo campus de fundadores en NC

Justo a tiempo para las vacaciones, dos graduadas de la Universidad Estatal A-&-T de Carolina del Norte están tomando una posición contra …

A study by the Hope Center for College, Community and Justice found basic needs insecurity, particularly food insecurity, is prevalent among many students of color, with 75% of Indigenous students and 70% of both Black and American Indian or Alaska Native students across two- and four-year institutions experiencing it. (Adobe Stock)

North Carolina university works to fight food insecurity on campus

More than 1 million North Carolinians, including college students, are grappling with food insecurity. Recognizing the urgent need, schools like …

Youth-Led Nonprofit Works to Transform Rural NC Health, Wellness

Rural areas in North Carolina have long been grappling with limited access to services, from health care to internet access, and a unique nonprofit …

Aspartame was approved for use as a sweetener in the United States in 1974. (Adobe Stock)

Dueling Reports about Aspartame Leave Consumers Confused

Recent news headlines about the possible cancer risks from using the common artificial sweetener aspartame might have alarmed people who eat and drink…

The average annual cost of child care in North Carolina is $9,255 for an infant and $7,592 for a 4-year-old. (Adobe Stock)

Report Highlights NC Needs for More & Better Child Care

Families in North Carolina are in critical need of more and better child care options, according to the latest Kids Count Data Book, released today …

Feeding America estimates 1.2 million North Carolinians are food insecure. (Adobe Stock)

NC Food Banks Noting Increasing Demand After SNAP Benefit Reductions

With the end of SNAP emergency allotments, North Carolina hunger advocates are noting increased demand on food banks. In 2022, more than 1.5 million …

Produce Purpose has two goals in mind - to offer meaningful employment to individuals with special needs and to bring healthy, nutritional food to college campuses. (Adobe Stock)

Hydroponic Farm Boosts Healthy Eating, Special-Needs Jobs at NC University

William Peace University is teaming up with Produce Purpose, a nonprofit organization, to install a hydroponic farming operation on campus. The new …

The National Eating Disorders Association offers a screening tool on its website for someone wondering if they or a family member suffer an eating disorder. (Adobe Stock)

NC Minorities Receive Less Treatment for Eating Disorders

As part of National Eating Disorders Awareness Week, specialists are calling for additional funding, research and resources for people affected by …

Children aged 5 to 19 from low-income families are twice as likely to have cavities, compared with children from higher-income households, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Adobe Stock)

Children’s Dental Health Month: Tooth Decay Warning Signs Explained

More than 20% of U.S. children 2 to 5 years old, and 52% of children 6 to 8 have dental cavities - according to a report published last year in the …

Black farmers made up 14% of U.S. farmers in 1920, but having been denied equal access to land, financing and other resources, that number dwindled to 1.4% in 2017, according to the U.S. Census of Agriculture. (Adobe Stock)

NC's Black Farmers Face Uphill Battle

Two Democratic senators have introduced legislation in Washington they hope will become part of the 2023 Farm Bill. Debate is set to begin in the …

According to data from UNC-Chapel Hill, more then 30% of kids living in Robeson County live in food-insecure homes.

NC Housing Authority Launches 'Pay What You Can' Mobile Food Bus

One North Carolina Housing Authority in Robeson County has plans to launch a mobile "pay-what-you-can" food bus loaded with fresh fruits, vegetables …

Taro plant leaves growing on a North Carolina Farm. (Utopian Seed Project)

As North Carolina Warms, One Farm Turns to a Tropical Crop: Taro

By Lina Tran for Grist.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for North Carolina News Service reporting for the Grist-Public News Service Collaboration …

FLOC was founded in 1968 to defend the rights and basic human dignity of farm workers regardless of immigration status. (Heather Craig / Adobe Stock)

FLOC Convention Resolves to Make Common Cause with Small Farmers

Leaders of the Farm Labor Organizing Committee want to change the narrative about agriculture in America. FLOC members who gathered in Toledo, Ohio…

One in eight people in North Carolina faces hunger, according to Feeding America. (Adobe Stock)<br />

NC Food Justice Advocates, Faith Leaders ‘Come to the Table’ to Address Hunger

Food pantries run by rural churches are often a lifeline for older, retired residents or those living with a disability. Come to the Table is a …

Agricultural producers of color own over 73 million acres of farmland and rent or lease more than 21 million acres of farmland, according to a 2022 report from the Congressional Research Service. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Push to Reform Food Sector Through BIPOC, Immigrant-Owned Cooperatives

As more farm and food cooperatives pop up across North Carolina, advocates say they are creating a new model for food distribution and landownership …

The Four Leaf Clover Program is a small group making a big difference in Benson, N.C., where its volunteers organize summer day trips and provide lunches for local children. (Cleo McKinnon)<br />

Grassroots Group Offers Rural NC Kids Access to Summer Activities, Meals

Many rural North Carolina kids lack access to summer camps and consistent meals when school is out, but an organization in Benson is working to …

RAFI-USA launched the Fresh Bucks consumer incentive program in 2015, in partnership with the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust. The Double Bucks incentive program began in 2019. (Adobe Stock)

NC Farmers’ Markets Double Buying Power for Food-Insecure Households

People in North Carolina who need to stretch every dollar spent on food can get double the value of fresh produce and other goods through government a…

According to Feeding America, Latino or Hispanic residents are 2.5 times more likely to live in food insecure households compared with White residents. (Adobe Stock)

Durham Food Bank Expands Offerings of Culturally Appropriate Fare

A food pantry serving immigrant families in the Triangle is bracing for an uptick in demand driven by the highest levels of inflation in decades…

Rising food costs have prompted a closer look at strengthening local and regional supply chain infrastructure for small farms across North Carolina. (Adobe Stock)

As Costs Rise, Opportunities Dwindle for NC Small Farmers

Advocates for small farms and ranches in North Carolina say the businesses are ready to bring local, affordable meats and produce to residents…

Kendrick Ransome ha estado cultivando en Pinetops, Carolina del Norte, desde 2018 en tierras que su familia ha pose�do durante generaciones (Kendrick Ransome).

Esfuerzos para impulsar suministros locales en la Llanura Costera Superior

Un nuevo proyecto de mapeo en línea está ayudando a conectar a los productores locales con los mercados regionales en la llanura superior co…

Kendrick Ransome has been farming in Pinetops, N.C., since 2018 on land his family has owned for generations.(Lee Everette)

Efforts to Boost Local Food-Supply Chain in Upper Coastal Plain

A new online mapping project is helping connect local growers to regional markets in the state's Upper Coastal Plain. Planning and Development …

Students in Greensboro, N.C., started an herb garden as a way to learn about how to grow plants and their nutritional benefits. (Sarah Fedele)

Community Herb Garden Reconnects NC Residents with Plants’ Health Benefits

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- A community herb garden in Greensboro is helping students and community members reconnect with plants and stay healthy by …

Los precios de los alimentos est�n aumentando en todo el pa�s y el costo de un viaje de compras ha aumentado un 3,5% con respecto al a�o anterior, seg�n un informe del USDA. (Adobe Stock)

Grupos rurales trabajan para impulsar acceso a alimentos y ayudar a agricultores

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Más de $1 millón en subvenciones para la COVID-19 están ayudando a organizaciones rurales a aumentar su enfoque en la …

Food prices are rising nationwide, and the cost of a grocery store trip is up 3.5% from a year ago, according to a USDA report. (Adobe Stock)

Rural Groups Work to Boost Food Access, Help Farmers

RALEIGH, N.C. -- More than $1 million in COVID-19 relief grants are helping rural organizations increase their focus on locally sourced food relief…

North Carolina ranks 34th among states for children's well-being in the 2021 Kids Count Data Book from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, although the state improved on many individual measures in the report. (Adobe Stock)

Pandemic-Relief Measures Can Help More NC Kids

RALEIGH, N.C. -- New survey data offer a clear picture of how North Carolina kids and families are faring, both before and after the pandemic…

WIC brinda apoyo para la lactancia materna, alimentos nutritivos, informaci�n sobre alimentaci�n saludable y derivaciones al cuidado de la salud para mujeres embarazadas y aquellas con ni�os peque�os. (Estudio de pa�ales)

Informe: Cambios de COVID en programa de nutrición benefician a madres y niños de NC

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Las barreras para acceder a un programa federal de nutrición para mamás y bebés persisten en Carolina del Norte…

WIC provides breastfeeding support, nutritious food, information on healthy eating and referrals to health care for pregnant women and those with young children. (Nappy Studio)

Report: COVID Changes to Nutrition Program Benefit NC Moms, Kids

RALEIGH, NC -- Barriers to accessing a federal nutrition program for moms and babies persist in North Carolina, but new research shows loosening the …

Volunteers stock shelves at SHARE Cooperative in Winston-Salem. (Facebook)<br />

Black-Led Nonprofits Supporting NC Communities During Pandemic

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Black-led nonprofits in Winston-Salem are working to help residents with food scarcity, internet access and other issues …

Los voluntarios almacenan estantes en SHARE Cooperative en Winston-Salem. (Facebook)<br />

Organizaciones sin fines de lucro lideradas por negros apoyan a comunidades de NC durante pandemia

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Organizaciones sin fines de lucro lideradas por negros en Winston-Salem están trabajando para ayudar a los residentes con …

Cobblestone Farmers Market is the only sustainable farmers market in Forsyth County, N.C., says founder Margaret Norfleet-Neff. (Adobe Stock)

Farmers Markets Rely on Tech to Serve Communities During Pandemic

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- North Carolina farmers markets increasingly are relying on technology to keep up access to fresh food during the pandemic…

The North Carolina Department for Health and Human Services says its goal is to decrease the percentage of children living in food insecure homes from 20.9% to 17.5% by 2025. (Adobe Stock)

NC Food Orgs Work to Share Local Produce for Holiday Season

DURHAM, N.C. - Thanksgiving gatherings may be smaller this year, but North Carolinians need access to food more than ever, as the pandemic's economic …

Carbon pollution is changing the chemistry, temperature and biology of the ocean, with negative impacts on oyster farms. (The Nature Conservancy)

NC Shellfish Growers on Front Lines of Changes to Climate, Ecosystems

NEWPORT, N.C. -- North Carolina's oyster farmers are grappling with rising seas, ocean acidification and more severe storms - and many now are …

The national food bank network Feeding America estimates this year food insecurity will affect nearly one in five North Carolina residents, around 19%. (Adobe Stock)

Congress Stalls on SNAP Benefits as More NC Families Go Hungry

ASHEVILLE, N.C. -- More North Carolina families are struggling to buy food, yet Congress continues to stall on another round of House-passed …

In 2019, the city of Brevard received $1 million from the state of North Carolina to undertake a stream-restoration project aimed at preventing the city's water treatment plant from being damaged by high levels of sediment. (Adobe Stock)

Rural Water Infrastructure at Risk as More Budget Cuts Loom

BREVARD, N.C. -- Water systems across North Carolina are in need of repair, yet local government budgets are shrinking amid the economic fallout from …

The coronavirus pandemic has prompted many North Carolina residents to start their own gardens.(Adobe Stock)

NC’s Rural Communities Finding Food Solutions Amid COVID-19

WASHINGTON, N.C. -- Rural communities across North Carolina are working to meet the rising needs of residents who are unable to access healthy food …

Almost one in five North Carolina children faces hunger on a regular basis. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Report Reveals Wide Childhood Disparities Among NC Counties

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Kids in Union County are faring better than those in other parts of the state, according to a new report that looks by county at …

Members of Fertile Ground Food Cooperative in Raleigh are active participants in creating policies and making decisions. (Facebook/Fertile Ground)

For Thanksgiving Meal, Shopping at Local Cooperatives Urged

RALEIGH, N.C. – Residents and community leaders in southeast Raleigh are spearheading an effort to open the neighborhood's first food …

According to the organization Food & Water Watch, there are more factory-farmed hogs than people in North Carolina. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Factory Farming Driving Global Environmental Crisis

RALEIGH, N.C. - Factory farms and other industrial farming practices are contributing to a climate catastrophe, according to a new global assessment …

North Carolina is ninth in food insecurity, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, with Guildford County ranking at the top in the state. (American Heart Association)

National Nutrition Month: Groups Provide Healthy Food Education in Greensboro

GREENSBORO, N.C. – For this National Nutrition Month, chef N'gai Dickerson is traveling through underserved neighborhoods in Greensboro…

The community group Jesus House of Prayer takes a load of Florence Disaster Relief supplies to Johnston County. (Whichard/Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina)

Hurricane Florence SNAPs NC to Attention on Importance of Food Benefits

WILMINGTON, N.C. — This week, members of Congress are expected to release a compromise version of the Farm Bill that could impact the future of …

Several major state roads and sections of interstate remain closed, forcing some relief groups to air-drop supplies via helicopter. (NC Dept. of Public Safety/Flickr)

Eastern NC Groups are First "Boots on Ground," Post-Florence

KINSTON, N.C. – After a few days' wait, Federal Emergency Management Agency officials are in eastern North Carolina today, assessing the damage …

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 32 percent of North Carolina seniors live in poverty and regularly confront almost empty food pantries. (Jewel Lake-Parish/Flickr)

SNAP Work Requirements in Farm Bill Could Cost NC

RALEIGH, N.C. - The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote Thursday on the Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018, more commonly known as …

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PNS Daily Newscast: Afternoon Update - September 18, 2024

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NC: Hunger/Food/Nutrition