Public News Service

A multistate outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in dairy cows was first reported on March 25, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, September 16, 2024

As USDA announces field trials for bird flu, UT veterinarian expects long process

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved field trials for bird flu vaccines among cattle, but one Utah State veterinarian says to his …

Around 20% of children in San Juan County are uncertain about their next meal, which is double the statewide average, according to Utah Food Bank. (Adobe Stock)

Utah Food Bank opens two pantries on Navajo Nation

Utah Food Bank is expanding in San Juan County, and has announced the opening of two new pantries that will help support residents of the Navajo …

Utahns lace up on Thanksgiving Day to fight hunger

Today, nearly 4,000 Utahns are lacing up their running shoes and putting on a costume for the Utah Food Bank's 18th annual Utah Human Race. Ginette …

Utah's average cost of center-based child care for toddlers was $9,003 per year, 9% of the median income of a married couple. (Adobe Stock)

UT Excels in Child Well-Being, But Parents Struggle with Child Care Costs

Utah ranks second in the country for overall child well-being, moving up from last year's fourth-place ranking in the annual Kids Count Data Book…

The Utah Food Bank's Southern Distribution Center works closely with 25 local grocery stores to help provide fresh food to Utahns in need. (Adobe Stock)

Utah Food Bank Southern Distribution Center Expands as Need Increases

The need for emergency food in Utah's six southernmost counties is on the rise, so Utah Food Bank is expanding its Southern Distribution Center in St…

The Utah Food Bank says updating its infrastructure will enhance its ability to establish a delivery baseline for the top 15

UT Food Bank Receives $100K for Culturally Responsive Foods

Utah Food Bank has received funding for distributing what it calls more "culturally responsive" foods. The $100,000 dollar grant from KeyBank will …

When Congress elected to let the Child Tax Credit expire, child poverty rose by 40%, according to the Coalition on Human Needs. (Adobe Stock)

Utahns Call on Congress to Expand Child Tax Credit

Utahns are calling on Congress to expand the Child Tax Credit and say it should be a priority in a year-end tax package. The debate comes as …

More than 200 children participated in the annual Kids Cafe Thanksgiving meal at nine of Utah Food Bank's cafe sites. (Utah Food Bank)

Utah Food Bank Braces for Challenging Holiday Season

The Utah Food Bank is responding to what it calls record levels of need for food assistance across the state. Lingering economic effects of COVID-19 …

The CDC says infected birds can shed and transmit the avian flu virus through saliva, mucous or feces. (Adobe Stock) The CDC says infected birds will shed and transmit the bird flu virus through saliva, mucous or feces. (Adobe Stock)

Avian Flu Takes Big Toll on UT Turkey Farms

About 700,000 turkeys across 18 Utah farms have to be euthanized following an outbreak of the avian flu. Bailee Woolstenhulme, public information …

The National Bureau of Economic Research estimates the benefits of a restored Child Tax Credit to low-income children would outweigh the program's costs by a factor of 10-to-1. (Jenko Ataman/Adobe Stock)

UT Group Urges Congress to Reinstate Child Tax Credit Payments

When families began receiving expanded Child Tax Credit payments during the pandemic, the extra family income lifted almost four-million children out …

During the COVID-19 pandemic, food pantries provided more than 60 million Americans with nutritious food. (aerogondo/Adobe Stock)

Inflation Brings Higher Demand, Fewer Supplies for Utah Food Pantries

During the pandemic, food pantries were a lifeline for thousands of Utah families experiencing hard times. Rising inflation, however, is making it …

In a recent survey on children's well-being, Utah ranked highest among the states in the Four Corners region. (Monkey Business/Adobe Stock)

Utah Ranks 4th Among States in Survey on Children's Well-Being

An annual report on children's well-being rates Utah among the best in the country, but advocates warn it also pointed to a growing mental-health …

Studies show that 40% of college students in Utah and across the country say food insecurity is affecting their academic performance. (prostock/Adobe Stock)

Study: Food Insecurity a Major Problem for Utah College Students

There may be some truth to the expression about the "starving college student" struggling to earn a degree. A survey of students enrolled in Utah …

Since the National Association of Letter Carriers began participating in the annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive, they have collected an estimated 1.8 billion pounds of food for families in need. (Andrii/Adobe stock)

UT Letter Carriers Help 'Stamp Out Hunger' with Food Collections

Utahns can expect their mail to be delivered as usual this Saturday but with a catch. Your letter carrier will be asking for something in return - a …

The Summer Nutrition Program provides free meals and snacks to all Utah children 18 and younger when school is not in session. (Sandra Cunningham/Adobe Stock)

Looming End to Pandemic Waivers Puts Utah Kids at Risk of Hunger

Federal waivers put in place at the height of the pandemic allowed federal child nutrition programs more flexibility in delivering meals to households…

Food banks and pantries across Utah saw double the normal number of families in need during the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. (Utah Food Bank)

UT Lawmakers Ponder Permanent Working Group on Hunger Issues

Statistics showed during the pandemic, the number of Utah families experiencing food insecurity grew, and advocates argued the state needs to take a …

The continuing pandemic and poor economic conditions in rural communities are keeping demand high at Utah's food banks. (Elena Shi/Adobe Stock)

Groups Scour 2022 Utah Budget for Funds to Fight Hunger

Advocates in the battle against food insecurity are urging lawmakers to find room in the upcoming Utah state budget to increase aid to food banks and …

A legislative report shows that more than 100,000 Utah families are considered food insecure and regularly depend on food banks for assistance. (areogondo/Adobe Stock)

Task Force Recommends Ways to Cut Utah's Poverty, Food Insecurity

CEDAR CITY, Utah - A new legislative study shows that more than 100,000 Utah families are periodically food insecure, meaning they do not have the …

Research shows low-income families spend a much higher percentage of their income on food than families with a higher income. (Adobe Stock)

Ogden Legislator Leads Push to Eliminate Utah's Food Tax

OGDEN, Utah - Utah is one of only a handful of states that taxes food, but one state legislator says taxing groceries should become a thing of the …

Thousands of Utah school children lose access to their daily school lunch and breakfast meals during the summer and other school breaks. (Anatoly/Adobe Stock)

'Stop Child Hunger Act' Aims to Fill Gaps in School Meal Programs

SALT LAKE CITY - Many Utah students, particularly those in rural areas, often are left without access to their school's meal program during breaks in …

The outlook for children's well-being in Utah is good, but a new report says 173,000 kids live in households where parents don't have stable employment. (diego serva/Adobe Stock)

Report: Utah Among Top 5 States for Children's Well-Being

SALT LAKE CITY -- Families with children in Utah and other states remained mostly steady over the past year in an annual report on children's wellbein…

A plan by the Biden administration would give eligible families money to provide meals for their children during summer break in the school year. (moodboard/Adobe Stock)

American Families Plan Would Boost Summer Nutrition for UT Kids

LOGAN, Utah -- Food insecurity among rural Utah children, already a problem prior to the pandemic, has grown worse in the past 15 months. Children's …

Gov. Spencer Cox announced an early end last week to Utah's participation in the $300-a-week federal unemployment stimulus program, claiming workers were making too much money in jobless benefits to return to their jobs. (zimmytws/Adobe Stock)

Utah Governor Ends $300 Federal Jobless Benefit Early to Boost Employment

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah -- Utah officials are cutting back on jobless benefits, claiming without evidence federal "bonus" payments are keeping thousands …

College students who are eligible for financial assistance are now also eligible for SNAP benefits under a new, temporary extension of the government nutrition program. (Brastock/Adobe Stock)

SNAP Benefit Extension: A Lifeline for Some in UT Colleges

SALT LAKE CITY -- For many students, money is scarce and getting a college education means making sacrifices, but it shouldn't mean going hungry…

The School Breakfast Scorecard recently ranked Utah 51st for the number of students receiving breakfast on a daily basis. A new program, Smart Start, aims to improve participation. (Wavebreaknedia/Adobe Stock)

Utah Seeks to Improve Participation in School Breakfast Program

SALT LAKE CITY -- As Utah students head back to the classroom soon, research shows providing breakfast will be a critical factor in helping kids who …

Thousands of Utah families who have lost jobs during the pandemic depend on SNAP benefits to buy enough groceries each month to stave off hunger. (Tada Images/Adobe Stock)

Advocates: Ending Hunger in Utah, U.S. Should be Biden’s Top Priority

SALT LAKE CITY -- In his first week in office, President Joe Biden signed an executive order extending a temporary increase in SNAP benefits during …

Thousands of Utahns affected by the pandemic turned to food banks for the first time to put meals on the table, pushing the state's network of assistance agencies to their limit. (aerogondo/Adobe Stock)

Utah Families Need Continued Support to Recover from Crisis

OGDEN, Utah - While the $900 billion pandemic-relief package should be a welcome assist for struggling Utah families, a coalition that works to fight …

Mealtime isn't an upbeat occasion for the one in six Utah families facing food insecurity as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. (vectorfusionart/Adobe Stock)

Pandemic Brings Food Insecurity to More Utah Families

SALT LAKE CITY -- As Congress debates a new coronavirus stimulus bill, more people in Utah are facing food insecurity as the economy struggles with …

The Utah Food Bank distributes supplies to more than 200 charitable kitchens and pantries across the state. (kuarmungadd/Adobe Stock)

COVID-19 Pandemic Triggers High Demand at Utah Food Banks

SALT LAKE CITY -- Utah's food banks, which already feed thousands of hungry people a day, are facing high demand and major challenges in the COVID-19 …

Research shows that low-income families spend about twice as much of their monthly income on food as middle-income households. (drobotdean/AdobeStock)<br /><br />

Utah Lawmakers Hear from Critics of Proposal to Hike Food Taxes

SALT LAKE CITY – A proposal to almost triple Utah's food tax to make way for an income-tax cut has critics saying the move could tear some low-i…

Many Utah families most likely won't be able to buy as many groceries if a proposal to increase the state sales tax on food goes into effect. (Adobe Stock)

Hunger-Fighting Group: Food Tax Hike Hurts Low-Income UT Families

SALT LAKE CITY - An advocacy group is opposing a massive increase in the sales tax on food as one of the changes being proposed for Utah state taxes…

About one in three college students face food insecurity, and the rate is even higher among community-college students, according to Wisconsin HopeLab. (Daphnee Marie/Twenty20)

Many College Students Face Food Insecurity

SALT LAKE CITY – Many college students in Utah will be heading back to class later this month - and juggling high college costs and low-wage job…

Several colleges in Utah have opened food pantries to help address the growing challenges of food insecurity among students. (USDA)

Combating Hunger on Utah College Campuses

SALT LAKE CITY - A growing number of college students in Utah and across the nation don't have enough money to buy food, according to a new national …

This week's Scouting for Food drive is looking for non-perishable donations, including peanut butter, canned beans, boxed meals, and canned fruits and vegetables. (Pixabay)

Scouts on the Job Fighting Hunger in Utah

SALT LAKE CITY – Shelves in food banks across Utah are getting pretty thin after the holiday rush, and the Boy Scouts of America are on the job…

Washing fruit and vegetables before eating them is one way to avoid foodborne illness. (Pumpkinsky/Wikimedia Commons)

Tips for Avoiding Foodborne Illnesses

SALT LAKE CITY — March is the month many people start planning vacations, and health advocates say it's not too early to start thinking about …

SNAP benefits help millions of low-income Americans put food on the table each month. (Martin Maddock/Wikimedia Commons)

Food Stamps Could be Targeted by Congress in Farm Bill

SALT LAKE CITY – Congress is expected to begin work soon on the $140 billion farm bill, but there are concerns that some conservatives are …

Scientists say if people across the globe switched to a Mediterranean diet full of nuts, beans, fish and less meat, global warming could be reduced by up to 15 percent by 2050. (Pixabay)

Scientists Make Case for Eating Less Meat in 2018

SALT LAKE CITY – As the New Year approaches, many Americans will be focusing on what resolutions they'll make to do things differently in 2018…

Food-safety advocates say faster production line speeds would jeopardize the safety of poultry workers, as well as the safety of the finished product. (Getty Images)

Poultry Industry Wants Approval for Faster Production

SALT LAKE CITY – The poultry industry is proposing allowing faster production-line speeds in factories - but at what cost to workers and consume…

Despite growing demand, only about 5 percent of milk sold in the United States comes from organic farms. (Pixabay)

Report Links Meat, Dairy Industry to Climate Pollution

SALT LAKE CITY – If the meat and dairy industries continue as usual, the Paris Climate Accord will be moot and a climate catastrophe inevitable…

Pollinators such as butterflies, certain birds and bats are an integral part of the health of natural ecosystems and agriculture. (Pixabay)

Year-End Challenge Under Way to Save Pollinators

SALT LAKE CITY – If you've ever watched the process of a caterpillar becoming a vividly colorful monarch butterfly, you probably have an …

Almost 70 percent of food stamp benefits go to children, seniors and people with disabilities. (Getty Images)

Trump’s Economic Policies to Increase Inequality, Report Says

SALT LAKE CITY – The Trump administration's tax proposals would not benefit all taxpayers or states equally, according to new analysis from the …

New analysis finds President Trump's budget for safety-net programs, including food stamps, at a historic low. (Getty Images)

Report: Trump Budget Cuts Use Fuzzy Math

SALT LAKE CITY – Even a 25-percent cut to SNAP - enough to leave thousands more in Utah hungry - can't make the White House budget math add up…

Utahans in at least five cities will join those at more than 500 March for Science events across the globe on Saturday. (Pixabay)

Utah Stands Up for Science

SALT LAKE CITY – Saturday is Earth Day, and thousands are expected to take to the streets in Washington, D.C., and more than 500 other cities …

When Utah Food Bank volunteers visit seniors at home to check in and make sure everything is okay, they also deliver boxes of food to help stretch limited budgets. (Pixabay)

Utah Joins Battle Against Seniors' Food Insecurity

SALT LAKE CITY – April is National Senior Hunger Awareness Month, and Utahns are rising to the challenge. More than 10 million Americans age 6…

More than 30 million meals were delivered to Utahans last year from food banks, as hunger-fighting groups worry about the future of nutrition-program funding in Congress. (EPA/Wikimedia Commons

Food Banks Make Case for Funding

SALT LAKE CITY – One in six people in Utah struggles with hunger, according to the group Feeding America, and 1 in 5 Utah children doesn’…

Three proposed mega-mergers would create companies that would control nearly 70 percent of the world's pesticide market, which has food and farm groups voicing concern. (Pixabay)

Utah Groups Join Call for Sessions to Oppose Ag Mega-Mergers

SALT LAKE CITY - Nearly 325 organizations have signed a letter pressing new U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions to make sure the Justice Department …

Rural farmers want their voices heard as changes take shape to the nation's immigration and trade policies. (Pixabay)

Rural Communities Want Say in Immigration, NAFTA Debate

SALT LAKE CITY – Agriculture and trade groups are voicing their concerns over President Donald Trump's stance on immigration and his threats to …

Food collected during the holidays is critical for keeping pantry shelves stocked for families facing hunger through the winter months ahead. (Pixabay)

Holiday Rush to Fill Utah's Food-Bank Shelves

SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Food Bank is in the middle of its Holiday Food and Fund Drive, and the need for donations goes beyond helping …

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PNS Daily Newscast: Afternoon Update - September 18, 2024

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UT: Hunger/Food/Nutrition