skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Friday, March 29, 2024

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

The latest on the Key Bridge collapse, New York puts forth legislation to get clean energy projects on the grid and Wisconsin and other states join a federal summer food program to help feed kids across the country.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Republicans float conspiracy theories on the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge, South Carolina's congressional elections will use a map ruled unconstitutional, and the Senate schedules an impeachment trial for Homeland Secretary Mayorkas.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

Reports: Maryland Food Insecurity Skyrockets During Pandemic

play audio
Play

Thursday, October 29, 2020   

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Maryland is experiencing a hunger crisis during the pandemic, and schools will need to reach out to more low-income children with school breakfast programs to at least help kids get food, according to two new reports.

The first report shows a 400% increase in Maryland applicants to the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), in April after unemployment rose from pandemic shutdowns in March.

Michael J. Wilson, director of Maryland Hunger Solutions, which put out the reports, said the rise is historic.

But he noted even before the pandemic, about 630,000 Marylanders were already receiving SNAP benefits.

"Having 844,000 people using SNAP in a state that has six million residents is a tremendous percentage," Wilson emphasized. "And it's both because of historic inequities, historic poverty and the pandemic on top of that."

The second report noted a rise in Maryland's childhood hunger during the pandemic and that breakfast programs in schools are needed more than ever.

But last school year, only about 62 Maryland low-income students ate school breakfast for every 100 who ate school lunch.

Wilson said when schools reopen, counties will have to shift how they provide breakfasts to boost those numbers.

He pointed to an innovative federal program that's helping right now, called "Pandemic-EBT," which gives families electronic benefit cards to buy food if their children have lost access to free school meals.

But he said the election next week could make or break some government assistance.

"Because most of these programs are federal programs, SNAP, school meals, whatever happens in the election is going to have an impact on how we deal with these issues going forward," Wilson explained. "And so, food insecurity is on the ballot next Tuesday as well."

During non-pandemic times, Wilson said the minimum benefit for people enrolled in SNAP is 16 dollars a month. The state supplements that amount, so Marylanders age 62 and older get at least $30 a month.


get more stories like this via email

more stories
The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments this week about the popular abortion pill Mifepristone and will weigh in on whether the U.S. Food and Drug Administration was correct in how it can be dosed and prescribed. (Ascannio/Adobe Stock)

Health and Wellness

play sound

Missouri residents are worried about future access to birth control. The latest survey from The Right Time, an initiative based in Missouri…


Social Issues

play sound

Almost 2,900 people are unsheltered on any given night in the Beehive State. Gov. Spencer Cox is celebrating signing nine bills he says are geared …

Social Issues

play sound

Education advocates are calling on lawmakers to increase funding for programs to combat the teacher shortage. Around 37% of schools nationwide …


A 2022 report finds failing to speed up transmission beyond the current pace will increase 2030 U.S. greenhouse-gas emissions by 800 million tons per year. (Adobe Stock)

Environment

play sound

New York's Legislature is considering a bill to get clean-energy projects connected to the grid faster. It's called the RAPID Act, for "Renewable …

Health and Wellness

play sound

A recent report examined how some rural Tennessee hospitals have managed to stay afloat despite financial challenges. The report includes interviews …

Many factors affect a customer's bill amount, including energy usage, weather, and the number of days in a billing period, according to Arizona Public Service. (Jason Yoder/Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

Earlier this month, a new Arizona Public Service rate hike went into effect and one senior advocacy group said those on a fixed income may struggle …

Social Issues

play sound

Michigan recently implemented a significant juvenile justice reform package following recommendations from a task force made up of prosecutors…

Health and Wellness

play sound

Medicare and Medicaid are key sources of health coverage for many Americans and some people qualify for assistance under both programs. With lagging …

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021