Hunger/Food/Nutrition / Public News Service

Symptoms from foodborne illnesses can appear as quickly as 30 minutes, but can also take days to manifest. (Mirsad/Adobe Stock)

Friday, July 26, 2024

WA launches food poisoning monitoring system

The state of Washington has launched an online system for tracking food poisoning cases. The Washington State Health Department has opened its …

Created by a bipartisan act of Congress in 2022, what is now called the Sun Bucks program provides $120 in nutrition benefits nationally during summer months to households whose children who qualify for free and reduced-price school meals. (Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, July 24, 2024

Iowa advocates rally for kids' summertime food

Iowa is one of 13 states not participating in a federal summer food program for children. The Iowa Hunger Coalition has launched a petition drive to …

Brian Burton with the Arkansas Food Bank said children experiencing malnourishment have a tougher time learning in the classroom. (fotokitas/Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, July 24, 2024

Hunger is another struggle for Arkansas 'ALICE' residents

By Mary Hennigan for The Arkansas Advocate.Broadcast version by Freda Ross for Arkansas News Service reporting for The Arkansas Advocate-Winthrop Rock…

In New Mexico, 12 small family-operated farms have provided food for over 1,000 children at more than 30 preschools. (American Friends Service Committee)

Tuesday, July 23, 2024

NM preschoolers discover purple carrots, plant organic veggies

Like kids everywhere, New Mexico preschoolers balk at eating fresh vegetables. But an educational project has found that with a creative nudge…

Large confined animal feeding operations can pose pollution threats to surface and groundwater. (Aaron/Adobe Stock)

ID offers grants to improve confined animal operations

Idaho is accepting proposals for projects that improve confined animal feeding operations in the state. The operations - also known as CAFOs - can …

Cherokee Health Systems serves East Tennessee and its surrounding counties through 19 health centers,<br />telehealth services and a mobile unit. (Cherokee Health Systems)<br />

East TN health centers' community gardens: More than fresh produce

In rural Tennessee, many residents lack access to healthy, fresh, and affordable food. So, two health center systems in the state are sprouting …

The Farm Bill, which is updated every five years, covers programs ranging from crop insurance for farmers to healthy food access for low-income families, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. (Adobe Stock)

Plan to keep SNAP benefits in check doesn't sit well with WI advocates

Congress is back in session two more weeks before the August recess. Wisconsin voices worried about the future of a key hunger relief program hope …

U.S. per capita consumption of fish and shellfish rose from nearly 16 lbs. in 2002 to more than 20 lbs. in 2021, a 31% increase according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. (Adobe Stock) <br />

New guidelines aim for sustainable growth of MA aquaculture

New global guidelines for aquaculture aim to address growing concerns about the industry's impact on the oceans. Scientists have suggested ways to …

Researchers said children who live in poverty lose an additional two months of reading skills over the summer, with a lack of proper nutrition serving as a key factor. (Adobe Stock)

ND encourages more signups for kids' summer meal program

Some North Dakota leaders believe healthy food is part of what is needed to help all kids achieve better outcomes and they hope low-income families si…

The Northwest is the biggest supplier of cherries in the country. (Dmitry/Adobe Stock)

Supports available for migrant workers' families during peak harvest in OR

A program in the Columbia River Gorge helps migrant farmworkers' families during harvest season. The Resources Available for Migrant Access to …

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 …

Smaller ranchers voice concerns about USDA electronic tag mandates

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 …

Weill Cornell Medicine notes that, along with drinking water to remain hydrated in extreme heat, foods such as watermelon, cantaloupe, grapefruit and homemade popsicles can work well, too. (Adobe Stock)

NY medical professional advises best ways to beat the heat

New York doctors are advising people how to stay healthy in the summer heat. Temperatures across the state will reach the high 80s and mid-90s in …

Organizers says Providence Park, featuring

'Tiny Home' community in AR aims to combat homelessness

By Nathan Treece for Little Rock Public Radio.Broadcast version by Freda Ross for Arkansas News Service reporting for the Little Rock Public Radio-Win…

According to America's Health Rankings, Illinois ranks 42nd among states for fruit and vegetable consumption among people over age 60, but the same group lags in terms of getting healthy sleep and sufficient physical activity. (Adobe Stock)

IL organization seeks extra hands to serve older adults

Isolation and a lack of regular nutritious meals are circumstances many older adults find themselves in. One organization is working to remedy this - …

Food Bank of Northwest Indiana reminds the community food support is crucial year-round, not just during the holidays. (Adobe Stock)

Increasing demand devours IN food bank resources

Food Bank of Northwest Indiana is facing a surge in demand for food assistance, despite the end of the pandemic. The facility serves about 60,000 …

Hunger Free America's 2023 Annual Hunger Survey found more than 175,000 people in West Virginia are food insecure. (Adobe Stock)

Health center to develop programs to fight WV food insecurity

A West Virginia community health center is participating in a program addressing food scarcity. The National Association of Community Health …

There are no income or registration requirements for kids to participate in the state's Summer Meals program, which serves breakfast, lunch, snacks and dinner to all youths up to age 18. (Adobe Stock)

Summer meals for kids available to-go and by delivery in remote rural areas

With school cafeterias closed for the summer, community groups and nonprofits are working to ensure that Colorado's one in five children who go …

The approach aims to make nutritious foods more accessible and affordable, ultimately leading to better health outcomes for mothers and their babies. (Prostock-studio/Adobe Stock)

AR health center aims to get more healthy foods to expecting mothers

A southeast Arkansas healthcare system is using grant money to help increase its patients' access to healthy foods. Mainline Health Systems will …

Hunger Free America's 2023 Annual Hunger Survey found almost 774,000 people in Virginia are food insecure. (Adobe Stock)

VA health center selected for food scarcity innovation program

A Virginia community health center is part of a program addressing food scarcity. The National Association of Community Health Centers' 2024 …

Since they began resettling in the Midwest after the Vietnam War, Hmong farmers have been credited for revitalizing farmers markets in states like Wisconsin and Minnesota. (Adobe Stock)

Preparing the next generation of Hmong farmers

Visit a Wisconsin farmers market, and chances are there are products grown by Hmong producers. But like other agricultural groups, the population is …

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits brought more than $700 million to local Colorado economies in 2017, creating more than $1.25 billion in economic activity. (Adobe Stock)

Farm Bill proposal would cut SNAP food assistance by $30 billion

One proposed version of the next Farm Bill, introduced by the Republican chair of the House Agriculture Committee, would cut the Supplemental …

Corporations have raised retail pork prices by 20%, but the farmers supplying California with crate-free pork are only receiving about 5% more for their hogs, according to data from the USDA. (Adobe Stock)

California 'price gouging' ripples to Iowa

Farm advocates claim price gouging on meat and poultry in California is spreading across the country, including in Iowa, which is the nation's …

A tax-cut package, passed in an Arkansas special legislative session, also increased the homestead property tax credit in Arkansas from $425 to $500. (zimmytws/Adobe Stock)

Opponents of latest state tax cuts say they benefit wealthy Arkansans

Leaders of some nonprofit organizations in Arkansas are not happy with a recent tax cut package passed by the Legislature. The law reduces the tax …

Maryland schools served more than 34 million breakfasts during the 2022-2023 school year. (Adobe Stock)

Report: MD schools serving thousands fewer meals post-COVID

The latest Maryland School Breakfast Report finds tens of thousands fewer kids are being served post COVID. The end of pandemic era waivers two …

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 …

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 …

On most farms, pregnant sows are confined to a small

Report: Restaurants allow abuse, disease risk at MD animal farms

Many food producers have made progress since 2008 toward ending the use of gestation crates for pregnant pigs, according to a new report from animal-…

In 2023, Arkansas' Farm to School Kitchen Equipment Grant Program increased the capacity to process and serve more specialty crops to students through the school cafeteria. (Cheangchai/Adobe Stock)

Arkansas students learn importance of healthy foods through school gardens

School children in Arkansas are learning how to grow their own fruits and vegetables through the Farm to School and Early Childhood Education program …

Rhode Island has one of the nation's highest percentages of students enrolled in early childhood education programs. (Drazen/Adobe Stock)

Building a brighter future for Rhode Island children

Rhode Island has ranked 12th in the nation for child well-being according to the 2024 Kids Count Data Book by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. The …

About 40% of food produced by farmers worldwide is never consumed. (TheStockCube/Adobestock)

Making 'climate candy' from upcycled fruits and veggies

Worldwide, 40% of food is wasted but a new candy company is trying to make a dent in it and fight climate change to boot. The company is called …

Ontario is the biggest city in southeast Oregon's rural Malheur County. (Nathan/Adobe Stock)

Community organizing key for ending hunger in rural OR

Organizing to end hunger is one tool groups are using in Oregon to highlight and address the issue. Workers said advocacy is especially important in …

The United States sends nearly 80 billion pounds of food to municipal solid waste landfills annually. (Pixel-Shot/Adobe Stock)

Ohio State tackles household food waste

Ohio State University is spearheading a $2.5 million U.S. Department of Agriculture-funded initiative to reduce food loss and waste in the United …

The current version of the Farm Bill is an extension of the 2018 bill, which expired in 2023 and was extended for one year. (Kenishirotie/Adobe Stock)

MO advocates demand fairness in beef labeling, support for small farms

Family farm advocates are pushing for major changes in the new Farm Bill, including reduced subsidies for large factory farms, mandatory beef country-…

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 …

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 …

In 2021, an estimated 352,000 children and adolescents younger than 20, or 35 per 10,000 U.S. youths, had diagnosed diabetes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Childhood diabetes becoming more common in Kentucky

Experts say sedentary lifestyles, food insecurity, and other factors are driving an increase in childhood diabetes in Kentucky. Research shows …

Advocates are concerned that large corporate

MN farmers push for more protection from corporate agriculture in Farm Bill

With a September deadline looming for Congress to finish work on renewing the Farm Bill, Minnesota family farmers are pushing for more regulations to …

Around 27% of South Dakotans who applied for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, funded by Inflation Reduction Act dollars in 2023, were accepted. (Marc Braner/Adobe Stock)

House Farm Bill could chop climate-smart programs

The U.S. House of Representatives will likely vote this summer on a version of the Farm Bill, which passed through the committee process last month…

A 2015 study by the Boston Federal Reserve Bank found the median net worth for white households in Greater Boston was $250,000, while for Black households it was just $8. Researchers are currently updating those findings. (Adobe Stock)

MA Commission on Poverty tackles historic wealth gap

A Legislature-backed Commission on Poverty in Massachusetts aims to address the state's historic wealth gap. The commission will study demographic …

According to Indiana Career Explorer, 1,300 job openings as chefs and head cooks are projected through 2030. (Adobe Stock)

Culinary camp teaches IN teens cooking, business skills

Kids' summer camp means horseback riding, hiking and scavenger hunts. But one Indianapolis chef is using the school break to teach youths cooking and …

Iowa family farm advocates are calling on Congress to reduce the subsidies given to large-scale factory operations in the Farm Bill, and invest more in conservation programs that help small ag producers. (Adobe Stock)

Family farmers call for tougher CAFO regulations in Farm Bill

Family farm advocates are calling for cuts in federal subsidies to large animal feeding operations - technically known as Concentrated Animal Feeding …

States ranked lowest in the new Kids Count Data Book from the Annie E. Casey Foundation tend to have more children of color in their populations, highlighting institutionalized and systemic racism. (Diego Cervo/Adobe Stock)

Children's advocates: NM 'cradle to career' investment pays off

Advocates for New Mexico's kids say at the heart of an annual report on child welfare is positive news for the state's families. The Annie E…

According to the Annie E. Casey Foundation's 2024 Kids Count Book, 425,000 Illinois children live in poverty. (Adobe Stock)

Kids Count Data Book shows IL children fare well in health care, lag in academics

The 2024 Kids Count Data Book was released this week. The publication is a 50-state report of data from the Annie E. Casey Foundation about the …

Advocates are calling for higher teacher salaries to help Alaska can recruit and retain more educators. (Jacob Lund/Adobestock)

Report: Alaska ranks near bottom in overall child well-being

Alaska ranks 41st in the nation in terms of overall child well-being, according to the new 2024 Kids Count Data Bookfrom the Annie E. Casey …

Chronic absence from school may be driving learning loss. Some 30% of students, about 14.7 million, were chronically absent in 2021-2022, nearly double pre-pandemic rates, according to new data from the Annie E. Casey Foundation. (Adobe Stock) <br />

Report: Ohio make has made some progress on child well-being

Math and reading proficiency among Ohio kids has worsened over the past five years, according to new data. The latest Kids Count Data Book from the …

The number of Maryland seniors reporting insufficient sleep increased to 29%, according to the American's Health Rankings Senior Report from the United Health Foundation. (Adobe Stock)

Report: MD senior health ranks 10th in nation; challenges remain

A new report found Maryland's older residents face worsening physical and behavioral health and looks at the possible reasons. The America's Health …

Students with strong math and science skills are more likely to graduate from high school, attend and complete college, earn higher incomes and take advantage of the future opportunities available to them, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation. (Monkey Business/Adobe Stock)

Mixed reviews of Michigan kids' well-being in new report

Michigan ranks 34th in the nation for overall child well-being, in the new Kids Count Data Book from the Annie E. Casey Foundation. A closer look at …

Audio Activation
	"Siri, play the Public News Service (podcast)"
	"Hey Google, play the Public News Service podcast"
	"Alexa, play Public News Service podcast" or "Alexa, what's my news flash?" once you set it up in the Alexa app
	Embed this Newscast

Audio Activation
	"Siri, play the 2024 Talks podcast"
	"Hey Google, play the 2024 Talks podcast"
	"Alexa, play 2000 24 Talks podcast" or "Alexa, what's my news flash?" once you set it up in the Alexa app
	Embed this Newscast

Audio Activation
	"Siri, play the Yonder Report podcast"
	"Hey Google, play the Yonder Report podcast"
	"Alexa, play the Yonder Report podcast" or "Alexa, what's my news flash?" once you set it up in the Alexa app
	Embed this Newscast

PNS Daily Newscast: Afternoon Update - July 26, 2024

2024Talks - July 26, 2024

The Yonder Report - July 25, 2024