Page 34 - Poverty Issues News Today

Nearly 50,000 North Dakota children were served by hunger-relief groups last year. Their advocates hope that compels lawmakers to make sure all students have access to meals at school. The Legislature is considering bills that would expand eligibility for free meals, while also keeping schools from denying a lunch over unpaid debts. ...

Learning how to manage your finances is an important skill, but one educators believe many young people lack. A bill in the Idaho Legislature would work to fix it with financial literacy courses for high school students. Todd Christensen, chief marketing officer for CapEd Credit Union, which has branches in the Treasure Valley and Magic Valley and works to teach young people about finances, said research shows they lack knowledge of many basic money management principles. ...

The Indiana Senate has approved a bill to simplify access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for people older than 60 or those with disabilities. The U.S. Department of Agricultures anti-hunger program, formerly known as food stamps, is considered a lifeline by its low-income recipients. ...

Residential utility shutoffs are up by 228%, and electric bills by 17%, a recent report by the Energy and Policy Institute and Center for Biological Diversity said. Legislation introduced earlier this year by state Democratic Representative Lisa Willner and Republican representative Jason Nemes, both of Louisville, aims to rein in disconnections. Chris Woolery, residential energy coordinator with the nonprofit Mountain Association, said House Bill 66 would create a 30 day grace period protecti...

Many economists believe inflation will further ease this year, which cannot come soon enough for overburdened rural Americans, including those in New Mexico. The Consumer Price Index -- the main indicator of inflation -- looks at the prices urban Americans pay for a set basket of goods. Stephan Weiler, professor of economics at Colorado State University and co-director of the Regional Economic Development Institute, said people in rural America are not surveyed, leaving out relevant data on 14...

The pandemic-era boost to federal food aid is scheduled to end soon, but legislation in Olympia aims to help fill the gap in hunger relief. The emergency allotments for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, increased food assistance during COVID-19 but will expire in March. House Bill 1784 in the Washington State Legislature would provide $28-million in food aid as soon April, if it passes. ...

Protesters will be in Palm Springs at noon today to draw attention to ongoing negotiations on a huge international trade deal, the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework. Trade negotiators from the U.S. and 13 other countries are attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation conference over the next two weeks. ...

Many of Ohios urban farmers and farmers of color are locked out of USDA programs because they are not registered with their local Farm Service Agency, according to local advocates. Chad Anderson, Columbus Urban Farmers Coalition Executive Director said most Black farmers are unaware that an FSA number unlocks the doors to funding, tools and opportunities needed to run a successful agriculture business. The coalition has helped two farmers register, with six more in the process, he said. ...

A Goldman Sachs survey finds that 70% of small business owners give the federal government a grade of "C or below" for the effectiveness of programs, services and tax credits available to them. An overwhelming majority say it is important for Congress to modernize the Small Business Administration. The SBA is the government agency tasked with ensuring the health and vitality of the nations entrepreneurial community. ...

For their next act in life, retired attorneys in Montana are providing free legal advice on civil matters over the phone. The Second Act Justice Project from the Montana Legal Services Association recruits emeritus volunteers - that is, lawyers who are retired but have active attorney status - so they can provide pro bono advice for low income Montanans. Dan McLean is one of about 70 active volunteers. ...