Hunger/Food/Nutrition / Public News Service

California's Proposition 12 requires producers to give laying hens one square foot of space each, and breeding sows 24 square feet each. (Krustovin/Adobe Stock)

Congressional hearing challenges CA animal welfare laws

Pork producers are expected to argue against California's animal welfare laws at a hearing Wednesday before the House Committee on Agriculture…

168,000 Colorado residents, including older adults and children, are at risk of losing SNAP food assistance due to expanded work requirements under the GOP's new tax and spending law. (Adobe Stock)

298,000 Coloradans relying on food assistance could see benefit cuts

Nearly 300,000 Coloradans who depend on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to meet their basic nutrition needs are expected to lose some or…

An agroforestry project is a partnership between the Michael Fields Agricultural Institute, Savannah Institute and The University of Wisconsin-Madison to establish four publicly-accessible, educational demonstration sites across southeast Wisconsin. (Michael Fields Agricultural Institute)

Wisconsin nonprofit looks to expand agroforestry project

A Wisconsin nonprofit is working with farmers in Southeast Wisconsin to educate communities about the importance of agroforestry, with plans to …

In 2023, nearly two-thirds of adults nationwide covered by Medicaid were working, and nearly three in 10 were not working because of caregiving responsibilities, illness or disability, or due to school attendance. (Adobe Stock)

Eau Claire resident ‘terrified’ of Medicaid cuts, federal changes

An Eau Claire resident is speaking out about how federal cuts to Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program could affect his life and …

At least one in seven Nebraskans, or 287,240 people, are facing hunger, with one in five children considered food insecure. (Adobe Stock)

Nebraska creates learning pathways for food insecure

Groups working to end hunger in Nebraska are reaching out to all parts of the state to train food insecure people to advocate for others facing simila…

Workers pose in front of supplies in Wasco County. (Columbia Gorge Food Bank)

OR Food Bank vital to Rowena Fire recovery efforts

It has been about three weeks since the Rowena Fire in Oregon's Columbia Gorge was put out, and the local food bank remains vital to recovery efforts…

The Community Compass app, maintained by Indy Hunger Network serves between 4,000 and 8,000 users per month seeking food access resources. (Adobe Stock)

IN food pantries hit by SUN Bucks blackout

Indiana families are navigating the summer without SUN Bucks, a federal grocery benefit which delivered $120 per child last summer. Gov. Mike …

The shift to cage-free eggs has accelerated after 11 states, including Colorado, set regulations on so-called conventional eggs, and the recent bird flu crisis, which led to the loss of more than 125 million U.S. hens. (Adobe Stock)

'Compassion Calculator' helps CO meat eaters offset animal welfare effects

A new "Compassion Calculator" launched by the charity portal FarmKind aims to help Coloradans who eat meat improve their animal welfare footprints by …

The Feeding Texas network said despite federal cuts, the organization stands united in its commitment to fight hunger but food banks cannot fill the gap left by the cuts. (Studio Romantic/Adobe Stock)

Food banks across Texas prepare to help the needy despite federal cuts

Almost 3.5 million Texans utilize the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to purchase food. The budget reconciliation bill recently signed …

Lancaster secured a record $12.7 million federal grant in 2023 to eliminate serious traffic injuries and deaths by 2030, one of just 37 U.S. cities awarded funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. (Christian Hinkle/Adobe Stock)<br />

PA budget delay sparks concern over school, health funding

The mayor of Lancaster, Pennsylvania is voicing concerns about the state budget delay, warning it could affect the city's more than 58,000 residents…

Workers in the nonprofit sector predict veterans, children and older adults will be most adversely impacted by the new federal funding package. (Yingyaipumi/Adobe Stock)

AR nonprofits prepare to fill gaps from federal funding cuts

Among the hundreds of pages making up the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" just signed into law is a requirement some people must work to receive Medicaid…

1 in 8 Ohioans are employed in the agricultural industry, according to the Ohio Department of Agriculture. (Adobe Stock)

Ohio farmers say federal policies hinder healthy food production

Ohio's food and agriculture industry contributes $124 billion to the state's economy annually. Some farmers, however, argue that government …

Protesters gathered in Baker City on July 2nd to protest cuts to Medicaid and SNAP. (Partners for a Hunger-free Oregon)

Anti-hunger groups warn OR must backfill federal SNAP cuts

Oregon lawmakers would have to find an extra $850 million in the state budget starting in 2028 to cover cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance …

The new tax cut and spending law contains the largest federal cuts to SNAP benefits in the nation's history. (Drazen/Adobe Stock)

AR hunger rating could worsen under new federal budget

Now that President Donald Trump's big budget bill has been signed into law, Arkansas nonprofits that rely on federal funding to help people in need …

In Tennessee, more than 37% of SNAP recipients are in households that include older adults or individuals with disabilities. (Selene Studio/Adobe Stock)

Tennessee hunger relief group warns SNAP cuts would affect rural families

Tennessee hunger-fighting advocates warn that proposed cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly food stamps, could deepen food …

Pennsylvania gets $4.3 billion yearly for SNAP, helping 1.9 million people but the reconciliation bill could cut benefits for 401,000 Pennsylvanians, according to the Center for American Progress. (Kleberpicui/Adobe Stock)

PA educators warn federal cuts threaten health care, food benefits

As the Senate passes President Donald Trump's tax and spending bill and sends it back to the House, Pennsylvania educators warned in its current form…

The process known as budget reconciliation bypasses the usual Senate filibuster rules and allows bills to be passed with a simple majority of 51 votes, or 50, plus the Vice President's tie-breaking vote. (Adobe Stock)

IL professor: Senate-passed budget bill not a win, yet

An Illinois professor cautions against premature celebrations of victory or defeat after the U.S. Senate passed President Donald Trump's budget …

Meals are free to kids in Texas during the Summer Food Service Program. They are paid for by grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. (Halfpoint/Adobe Stock)

TX summer meal programs keep kids fed while out of school

Statistics show one in five children in Texas struggles with hunger. Approximately 10,000 students a day are getting a nutritious meal through the …

In 2023, the Iowa Food Bank provided meals to more than 661,000 families. (Adobe Stock)

Proposed SNAP cuts threaten Iowa families, food banks

Congress is debating a budget bill that could result in significant cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits. Those …

Nebraska's food insecurity rate of 12.2% is a percentage point higher than the national average, according to an October 2023 study by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. (Adobe Stock)

Social service cuts would hobble Nebraska food banks, families

Pending Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefit cuts could mean large reductions to services that provide meals to Nebraska's most vulnerabl…

In 2023, $70.6 million in SNAP benefits were spent at farmers markets, a 431% increase from $13.3 million in 2013, according to Investigate Midwest. (Photo courtesy Farmers Market Coalition)

ND to boost awareness of SNAP acceptance at farmer's markets

When North Dakotans head to farmers markets this summer, they might want to see which ones accept SNAP benefits, as the state is enhancing a search …

Agriculture advocacy group Farm Action says the federal government's support of corporate farms over smaller, family producers means less healthy food is available to American consumers. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Government action needed to help WV farmers produce healthier foods

A group of farmers says government policies need to change to support farms in West Virginia and elsewhere in cultivating foods that will improve Amer…

Nearly 16% of West Virginians are food insecure. (Adobe Stock/AI)

Senate poised to cut benefits, increase SNAP costs for West Virginia

As the budget reconciliation bill moves through the Senate, West Virginia still faces cuts to a key food support program. The House budget …

In Wisconsin, 300 farmers participated in the Local Food Purchase Assistance Program, which funded $4.2 million worth of food to more than 250 pantries. (Adobe Stock)

WI communities grapple to make up for fresh food grant cuts

By Olivia Herken for the Wisconsin Independent.Broadcast version by Judith Ruiz-Branch for Wisconsin News Connection reporting for the Wisconsin Indep…

In 2024, Helena Food Share recovered more than 825,000 pounds of food from grocery stores. (Adobe Stock)

Eight months after expansion, central Montana food bank meets increased need

A central Montana food bank has seen more traffic since it expanded last fall and as Congress considers cuts to safety-net programs including grocery …

The Inflation Reduction Act will create approximately 11,500 jobs annually in Utah between 2025 and 2035, according to the American Clean Power Association. (Adobe Stock)

Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Bill' could mean big changes for Utah

Utah communities could feel many effects from proposed changes within President Donald Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill Act." Several of the Republica…

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Arkansas farmers sell almost $14 billion in goods annually. (Pawel/Adobe Stock)

Nonprofit: Budget reconciliation bill could affect AR farming

More than 37,000 farmers in Arkansas could be affected by the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" before Congress, according to a sustainable farming …

According to federal data, SNAP benefits cover 34,000 children and 9,000 seniors in South Dakota. (Adobe Stock)

SD food bank: We're stretched too thin to absorb SNAP cuts

Federal data show roughly 75,000 South Dakota households rely on SNAP benefits to put food on the table and hunger-fighting groups paint a troubling p…

According to federal data, 48,700 people in North Dakota use SNAP benefits to help put food on the table. Relief organizations warn if Congress drastically cuts program spending, more people will wind up on the streets. (Adobe Stock)

ND org: SNAP cuts would worsen other instability woes, like housing

Nearly 10% of North Dakotans and almost 14% of children face food insecurity and if Congress passes a budget with big SNAP cuts, aid groups said …

More than 40% of the 3.4 million Illinoisians enrolled in Medicaid are children. (Adobe Stock)

Potential Medicaid, SNAP cuts could derail IL education system

As Congress considers federal cuts to Medicaid and SNAP food assistance, groups advocating for Illinois schools are speaking out on how it would …

In Fiscal Year 2024, Ohio's state-funded food programs created or sustained 292 jobs, supported $11.3 million in income and generated $38.4 million in economic output. (Adobe Stock)

Ohio foodbanks: Funding needed for fresh food with local roots

Ohio food banks are urging state lawmakers to approve what they said is a modest budget increase needed to get more fresh, local produce into the …

Student workers help distribute food as part of the 'Oh SNAP!' program at Cal Poly Humboldt. (Kellie Brown)

CA colleges and universities take food pantries to the next level

Hunger among college students in California has jumped dramatically since the pandemic, yet Cal-Fresh -- a statewide low-income food assistance …

More than two-thirds of SNAP recipients are in households with at least one child. (Adobe Stock)

Federal SNAP cuts threaten higher taxes or slashed benefits in VA, advocates say

Last week, Senate Republicans unveiled reduced cuts to food assistance programs in their version of the budget bill. The proposal from Senate …

Jewish communities have fasted for centuries in times of collective mourning and catastrophe. (Adobe Stock)

Chicago Jewish group leads hunger strike for Gaza

Local Jewish advocates for Palestinians are joining forces to draw attention to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. They are calling on the U.S…

California law bans unnecessary animal suffering but enforcement is rare in large-scale factory farms.(Adobe Stock)

Cal student faces prison for rescuing chickens

By Seth Millstein for Sentient.Broadcast version by Farah Siddiqi for California News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collabora…

According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, thousands of Arkansans could lose Medicaid coverage because of work requirements. (Vitalii Vodolazskyi/Adobe Stock)

AR residents could lose Medicaid under budget reconciliation bill

As Congress considers cuts to safety-net programs for what Republicans are calling the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," new analysis from the nonpartisan…

A single Abercrombie dairy facility will house 12,500 cows. Combined with the planned 25,000-cow Herberg site, these two operations will generate manure equivalent to that of a city of 1.5 million. (Adobe Stock)

ND mega-dairies draw criticism at Winnipeg news conference

North Dakota is facing growing opposition to two massive dairy operations planned near the Red River. Environmental advocates say the projects could …

More than 328,700 students are enrolled in 244 K-12 Nebraska school districts, according to Ballotpedia. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Two-thirds of Nebraska 4th graders not reading proficiently

Nearly two-thirds of Nebraska fourth graders are not reading at grade level and math scores are also lagging. The findings come from the 2025 Kids …

The 2025 Kids Count Data Book found in Minnesota in 2023, 28% of Black children, 16% of Hispanic children, 10% of Asian children and 6% of white children under age 18 lived in families with incomes below the federal poverty level. (Adobe Stock)<br /><br />

New reports says MN children face troubling health and education disparities

The 2025 Kids Count Data Book by the Annie E. Casey Foundation has released its findings for Minnesota. The report examines results for children in …

Each year, the Annie E. Casey Foundation's Kids Count Data Book aggregates national and state data from 16 indicators in four domains including economic well-being, education, health, and family and community factors, and ranks states according to how children are faring overall. (Adobe Stock)

Report: IL shows mixed results in child well-being despite high ranking

A national report finds mixed results in child well-being in Illinois with improvements in health care coverage for children and poverty rates and dec…

The rate of childhood obesity for South Carolina children dropped by a little more than 3% from 2019 to 2023, although 34% of 10- to 17-year-olds in the state are considered overweight or obese. (Adobe Stock)

SC ranks near bottom on list of states for child well-being

South Carolina has made slight improvements in children's well-being, mentioned in a new national report but groups working to support kids said much …

In 2023, 6% of Ohio teens ages 16 to 19 were neither in school nor working, a rate unchanged since 2019. (Craig Adderley/Pexels)

Ohio urged to prioritize kids as education, poverty trends worsen

New national data show worsening outcomes for Ohio kids, especially in the areas of education and family economic stability, and state and national …

According to 2025 Kids Count Data Book, nationally nearly one in three children live in households burdened by high housing costs and Washington follows the trend. (Louis-Photo/Adobe Stock)

Report ranks Washington down in overall child well-being

Washington state has dropped to 16th in the nation for overall child well-being, according to the 2025 Kids Count Data Book, a national report …

Wyoming ranks eighth in the nation for children's well-being in the category of family and community, but is 37th in terms of kids' health. (Cavan/Adobe Stock)

Wyoming makes strides on children’s health but ranks low nationally

Wyoming slipped five spots this year in an annual report on children's well-being by state, ranking 23rd in the nation. The 2025 Kids Count Data …

While Oregon ranked poorly for education overall, the 2025 Kids Count Data Book showed high school graduation rates are up in the state, as well as nationwide. (Drazen/Adobe Stock)

Kids Count report shows Oregon kids falling behind in education

Oregon maintained a troubling ranking, holding at 43rd in the nation for children's education, according to the 2025 Kids Count Data Book, a national …

In 2022, New Mexico voters approved a constitutional amendment to dedicate funds to early childhood education and care. (Bonsales/AdobeStock)

Report: NM's child well-being shows mixed momentum

A traditional marker used to measure child well-being in the U.S. shows New Mexico notched both improvements and declines in several areas. The …

A new annual report finds, despite high housing costs, Rhode Island has fewer children living in high-poverty areas and also fewer living in poverty. (Adobe Stock)

Report: RI child well-being falls despite efforts to improve it

A new annual report found children's well-being has slipped in Rhode Island despite previous gains. The state ranks 19th in this year's Annie E…

While Wisconsin ranked high overall in the areas of economic well-being and education, it ranked 17th and 25th in the categories of health, and family and community. (Adobe Stock)

WI leads nation in racial disparities, but ranks high in child well-being report

A national report found Wisconsin continues to lead the nation in racial disparities affecting children's well-being across the state. Wisconsin …

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