Public News Service

Income, location and trust issues can contribute to health disparities in the Latinx community. (Krakenimages.com/Adobe Stock)

TX nonprofits address health disparities in Latino community

Nonprofits across Texas are coming together to address disparities in health care for the Latinx community. A report by the Commonwealth Fund shows …

Community health workers provide a trust-based relational framework for addressing nonmedical health drivers of health and connecting families to medical resources and social services. (Prostock-studio/Adobe Stock)

Central Texas nonprofit addresses health inequities for new moms

A program in Georgetown, in Williamson County, is working to improve health outcomes for low-income residents by helping them gain access to …

According to a key hunger-fighting organization, Texas has a food insecurity rate of 15.4% among older adults aged 50 to 59 and a rate of 9.8% among seniors who are 60 and older. (Adobe Stock)

Hunger issues grow deeper for older Texans

Reports continue to roll out underscoring food insecurity facing many Texans, and newly released numbers paint a troubling picture of hunger issues …

The USDA claims its electronic tag requirements will prevent disease outbreaks and protect beef export markets. (Jackie Nix/Adobe Stock)

USDA electronic tag mandates worry some smaller TX ranchers

The U.S. Department of Agriculture will soon require electronic eartags for cattle and bison that cross state lines. The USDA says its rule will …

Among 3- and 4-year-olds in Texas, 58% are not in school. (Seventyfour/Adobe Stock)

Texas remains near bottom in kids well-being

Texas is near the bottom in this year's annual Annie E. Casey Foundation Kids Count Data Book, which studies trends in child well-being. The report …

Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders make up almost 6% of the Texas population. Texas ranks third among all states with the largest AAPI population, after California and New York. (Trueffelpix/Adobe Stock)

Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in TX face health disparities

Almost half of the Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who live in Texas are skipping routine healthcare because of cost, according to a survey by …

The latest report from the Federal Trade Commission found some grocery price increases were unwarranted during the pandemic. (polack/Adobe Stock)

Report: Grocery prices unnecessarily inflated during pandemic

Americans got a bit of a reprieve last month, as food and auto prices dipped for the first time in 90 days. As Texas households continue to deal …

Feeding America's Map the Meal Gap study is the only one providing local-level estimates of food insecurity and costs for every county and congressional district. (disha1980/Adobe Stock)

Report: Texas tops nation in food insecurity

Texas leads the nation in food insecurity. According to the latest "Map the Meal Gap" study, from Feeding America, nearly 5 million people in the …

Only two humans in the U.S. have been infected with avian flu in the United States. A case in Texas this month is the first time it has been linked to exposure to cattle. (syhin_stas/Adobe Stock)

Texas officials address human avian flu case

The cattle industry and health officials in Texas are on alert after a person contracted avian flu while working around infected cattle in the Texas P…

The National Center for Education Statistics reports that 43% of public school students attend schools where a majority of them are eligible for free or reduced-price meals. (Adobe Stock)

Texas food bank, schools team up to help needy families

To reach more hungry families, one Texas nonprofit is setting up mini food markets in schools. The Tarrant Area Food Bank in North Texas provides 60…

Neighborhoods lacking sidewalks can discourage people from getting exercise which could improve their health. (JacobLund/AdobeStock)

TX health foundation broadens focus beyond the doctor's office

There are Texas ZIP codes where people with lower incomes and few health services have a 20-year difference in life expectancy than those who are more…

Young farmers, ranchers and others want issues of equitable land access, retention and transition addressed in the next Farm Bill. (StockMediaProduction/AdobeStock)

Eager but cash-strapped farmers seek Farm Bill solutions

Advocates for America's small farmers say younger folks express a growing interest in agriculture, but without necessary capital, they can't get a …

Due to service disruptions caused by the three-year pandemic, the Social Security Administration plans to implement a new telephone platform for its toll-free number by the end of 2023. (Vitalii Vodolazskyi/Adobe Stock)

Many Texans May Be Unaware They're Eligible for SSI Benefits

Most people eligible for Social Security know what's required to access the program, but another federal program aimed at underserved communities …

Families of at least 3.7 million Texas children would have been eligible for summer federal food assistance that the state declined to pursue. (highwaystarz/Adobe Stock)

Texas Families Lose Out on Summer Food Assistance

Many Texas families are still struggling financially post-COVID. Nonetheless, the state turned down millions of dollars in federal aid for summer …

The lack of nearby and affordable child care in the U.S. affects job opportunities and costs the economy $122 billion annually, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation. (mmg1design/Adobe Stock)

Report: Texas Ranks 44th in Nation for Child Well-Being

Child well-being in Texas is on the ropes, with a new study showing significant declines in third grade reading, eighth grade math proficiency and …

Ninety-percent of counties with the worst food insecurity are rural, according to Save the Children.(Viktoriia/AdobeStock)

Texas Kids Can Benefit from Nonprofit's “Make Summer Fair” Initiative

The last day of school for Texas kids is typically one of elation, but for children in rural areas with high poverty rates, it also can mean …

A report headed to the Texas Legislature urges state lawmakers to expand

Report: Addressing Non-Medical Factors a Game-Changer for Texans

Investing in factors outside the doctor's office could improve Texans' health and save the state money, according to a report from a group appointed …

More than a quarter of Texans surveyed by the Episcopal Health Foundation about nonmedical health factors that affect well-being said they don't have access to affordable and healthy food. (LudaKot/Pixabay)<br />

Study: Issues Beyond the Doctor's Office Impact Texans' Health

Across the board, Texans say they'd be healthier if the state put more resources, including money, toward nonmedical factors for their well-being…

One of the only bright spots in the USDA's food-price predictions for 2022 is that fresh vegetables are expected to rise in price just 1 to 2%. (Travel Photographer/Negative Space)

Along with Prices, Hunger Rises in Texas

Prices for food, gas and housing are all higher in Texas this year than last. And for local food banks, that means the need for their services is …

In Texas, the majority of cancer victims die from lung cancer, followed by colon, breast and pancreatic cancers, according to UnitedHealthcare. (maleni_ferrari/Pixabay)

Texas' Medicaid Coverage Gap Cited for Healthcare Woes

Texas is one of 12 states to not expand Medicaid, and a new report showed it is one reason the state is falling further behind others in providing …

Citrus crop losses in Texas were estimated at $230 million following February's freak winter storm, according to AgriLife Extension at Texas A&M. (sanantonio.org)

Rescue Plan May Reduce Hunger, But Threats Linger

AUSTIN, Texas -- Scientists expect climate change to increase extreme weather events such as the rare deep freeze that hit Texas in February…

Texas ranks as the fifth-highest state for senior food insecurity, according to Feeding Texas. (texasimpact.org)

TX Lawmakers Urged to Remove Barriers for Vulnerable SNAP Recipients

AUSTIN, Texas -- Hunger relief organizations say the pandemic combined with February's unexpected winter storm in Texas has highlighted the state's …

The best states for children during the pandemic are Minnesota, Utah, Washington and New Hampshire, while the worst are Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas and New Mexico, according to a new report from Save the Children. (marcinjozwiak/Pixabay)

COVID's Devastating Impact on Texas Children

AUSTIN, Texas -- When it comes to protecting children during the pandemic, Texas has not fared well compared with many other states. A new report …

It's estimated one in four Texas children are experiencing food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic. (afmc.org)

COVID-19 Increases Number of Texas Children Going Hungry

AUSTIN, Texas -- More than two million children are suffering from food insecurity in Texas, where the rate has increased more than 7% since the …

In Texas, 20% of families report slight or no confidence in their ability to pay rent or mortgage on time due to the pandemic, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation. (RobinHiggins/Pixabay)

TX Families Struggle to Keep Ahead of Pandemic Hardships

AUSTIN, Texas -- Congress has passed a new stimulus package that will provide most Texas residents with an extra $600 - but that may not go far for …

COVID-19 ha aumentado la demanda de alimentos de emergencia, ha disminuido las cantidades de donaciones de alimentos y ha obligado a interrumpir los programas caritativos de asistencia alimentaria. (congerdesign / Pixabay)

Legisladores en Texas consideran propuesta para Streamline SNAP

AUSTIN, Texas -- La inseguridad alimentaria se duplicó al comienzo de la pandemia, según un estudiorealizado a principios de este año…

COVID-19 has increased demand for emergency food, decreased food donation amounts, and forced disruptions to charitable food-assistance programs. (congerdesign/Pixabay)

TX Lawmakers Consider Bill to Streamline SNAP

AUSTIN, Texas -- Food insecurity doubled at the start of the pandemic, according to a study released earlier this year, and Texas groups that …

Blacks and Hispanics in Texas, at a higher percentage than Whites, say the state government should address economic and living conditions as public health priorities. (gabrielberophs/Pixabay)

Survey: Black, Hispanic Texans Cite Outliers to Quality Health

HOUSTON - To stay healthy, we're told to regularly see a doctor, but a new survey in Texas shows Blacks and Hispanics more than Whites believe …

Texas is home to nearly 5 million people without health insurance, but also is one of 17 states that has not expanded Medicaid. (Resprouk/Pixabay)

The Answer to Better Health? Investment in Health and Health Care

AUSTIN, Texas -- If we didn't know before, we now realize how important personal protective equipment, or PPE, and respirators are to fighting a …

Texas currently serves just 4% of the state's poorest families, one of the lowest rates in the country. (Libreshot)

How Trump Budget Proposal Could Impact Texas Kids

AUSTIN, Texas - The Trump administration's proposed 2021 budget takes aim at a number of safety-net programs, including $21 billion in cuts to the …

Texas students are getting hands on, high-tech experience growing fresh produce inside converted shipping containers. (Freight Farms)

Texas Schools Tap Container Farms to Fill Cafeterias with Fresh Produce

SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Texas schools are using refrigerated freight containers converted into hydroponic farms as an extension of the classroom…

At least 1,396 people have gone on hunger strike in 18 U.S. detention centers since May 2015, according to the group Freedom for Immigrants. (U.S. Customs and Border Protection/Wikimedia Commons)

Asylum Seekers' Hunger Strike Reaches 60th Day

EL PASO, Texas – Today marks Day 60 of a hunger strike by three political refugees from India, detained for more than a year in an El Paso …

Use of programs including Medicaid, SNAP and Section 8 public housing will factor into the determination by immigration officials of who gets a green card. (Pixabay)

Texas Kids' Health Care, Nutrition Threatened by Public-Charge Policy

BELLAIRE, Texas – This week the Trump administration finalized a new rule that could deny green cards to immigrants if they access public …

A new report shows that many Americans who frequently don't know how they'll pay for their next meal earn too much to qualify for federal food assistance. (PxHere)

Report: Texas One of 10 Most "Food Insecure" States

AUSTIN, Texas – A new Feeding America report shows that in every county and congressional district in the U.S., a subset of the population …

In 2019, the average American is projected to eat more than 110 pounds of beef. (Pixabay)

Study: Climate-Friendly Foods Also Healthier

AUSTIN, Texas – Foods produced with fewer greenhouse gas emissions are healthier than foods that create more climate pollution, according to …

Ebel Grasslands Ranch sits on 525 acres of native grasses near Sulphur Springs, where it has been a family farm for more than 100 years. (Ebel Grasslands Ranch)

Farm Bill Expiration Stalls Conservation Efforts on Farms

SULPHUR SPRINGS, Texas — While Senators were moving forward with the confirmation of the next Supreme Court justice, what wasn't moving on …

New Tool Grades Integrity of Organic Labels

STRATFORD, Texas — Shoppers can now choose between organic dairy products produced by large-scale factory operations and those produced by …

A recent Johns Hopkins survey found that nearly two-thirds of Americans oppose cuts to SNAP, the program formerly known as food stamps. (Maxpixel)

Work Requirements Could Backfire for SNAP Recipients

AUSTIN, Texas — As the U.S. House and Senate try to hammer out a final version of the Farm Bill, a new report shows that increasing work …

Households that spend more of their weekly food budget on beef, chicken, pork and other meats generate more greenhouse-gas emissions than households that opt for plant-based proteins. (Pixabay)

Consumer Diets Contribute to Climate Change

AUSTIN, Texas – Researchers say they've tapped the most comprehensive estimate of greenhouse gas emissions created by U.S. consumer food …

A coalition of organizations is working to launch a large-scale Double Up Food Bucks program soon in Houston. (Pxhere)

Struggling Texans Can Double Money at Farmers' Markets

LUBBOCK, Texas — One-in-four Texas children is food insecure, meaning he or she frequently doesn't know where the next meal will come from…

Military and civilian volunteers help sort and distribute food at the West Texas Food Bank in El Paso, one of 21 regional food banks across the state. (WikimediaCommons)<br /><br />

Study: Texas Has High Rate of Food Insecurity, Hunger

LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas ranks among the top states in the country for food insecurity, according to a new report, with more than 4.3 million …

A new report shows that children of color comprise 68 percent of the 7.3 million kids in Texas. (Arcurs/GettyImages)<br /><br />

Study: Texas Kids Face Major Social, Economic Challenges

AUSTIN, Texas -- A new report on the "State of America's Children" shows that large numbers of kids living in Texas confront poverty, homelessness…

Houston Food Bank officials say their volunteers have processed and distributed more than 1.5 million pounds of food since Hurricane Harvey. (Houston Food Bank)

Food Banks: Harvey Victims May Need Help for Year or Longer

HOUSTON - After the initial influx of food and other donations following Hurricane Harvey, southeast Texas food banks are preparing to serve the …

A Texas lawmaker is seeking to stop schools from �lunch shaming� or stigmatizing students who cannot pay for their cafeteria meals. (monkeybusiness/iStockphoto)

Proposal Bars Texas Schools from ‘Lunch Shaming’ Students

AUSTIN, Texas – Texas is joining New Mexico, California and other states in trying to prevent "lunch shaming" of children who can't pay for …

Texas schools have some of the highest participation levels in the School Breakfast Program compared to other states. (U.S. Dept. of Agriculture)

Texas Ranks High in School Breakfast Program Participation

WACO, Texas -- Texas is among the top states in the country for public school participation in the national School Breakfast Program. The 2017 School …

A new USDA report says 1 in 6 Texas families struggles with food insecurity at some point during the year. (USDA photo)

Report: Food Insecurity in Texas Tops National Average

AUSTIN, Texas – While the state's economy has improved in recent years, a new report says 1 in 6 Texas households still struggles to avoid …

Legislation currently under debate in Congress could force schools to reapply in order to participate in free meal programs. (USDA)

Congress Ponders Changes to School Food Program

AUSTIN, Texas - Congress is considering legislation that would change a program that currently allows schools in high-poverty areas to offer free …

The nonprofit group Feeding Texas says too few low-income children are taking advantage of the state�s summer meals program. (iStockphoto)

Report: Meal Program Not Reaching Hungry Texas Kids

AUSTIN, Texas -- A Texas nonprofit organization that fights hunger is concerned that too few children have access to the state's daily summer food …

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TX: Hunger/Food/Nutrition