Danielle Bock News Today

scrambling to cover the cost. and the swimmer defying the odds and "inspiring america." >> announcer: this is "nbc nightly news" with lester holt >> good evening, everyone when it rains it pours, but rarely like this tonight, an unraveling emergency continues to unfold across swaths of the southwest as severe flooding leaves several areas under water or caked in mud. in texas, arizona, and new mexico fast rising floodwaters triggered some harrowing rescues and shut down major thoroug...

Some of the new federal money coming down is designed to help other farmers find their own paths to farm to school success.

When Farm to School programming works, kids fill their plates with fresh, nutritious food, and local farm economies get a major boost.

Some school meal programs buy fruit and veggies from local farms, improving kids' diets and supporting the agricultural economy. A boost in federal funds to expand these efforts runs out next year.

Nutrition services is also taking a sustainability approach to stay stocked by repackaging food from schools that would otherwise go to waste and making it available at the pantries.

Bock was honored as a woman of distinction in the field of education, marking the second time in five years a District 6 leader was honored in the category. District 6 Superintendent Deirdre Pilch received a woman of distinction honor for education in 2019. 

After the additional pandemic funds ran out, several schools tried out a novel idea: offering free lunches to all children, regardless of their ability to pay.

A Denver conference this week brought school nutrition directors to taste-test new items for their cafeterias. Plant-based chicken nuggets. And an enchilada dish made from a gigantic tree fruit.

The agency's proposed rules aim to help more school districts cover the costs of universal free meals.

This year’s midterm elections include eleven ballot measures. One of them would raise the money needed to provide free school lunches at all public schools in Colorado. If approved, the measure would likely have impacts beyond school cafeterias.