
Monday Munchies: Mealtime pivot
We review a lot of fancy (and not so fancy) meals on Mondays, but I'm taking a break to remember that some of our neighbors don't have enough to eat.
The big picture: One recent USDA report pegged Arkansas' average food insecurity rate at 18.9% during 2021-2023, the highest in the nation. That's nearly one out of every five people.
Food prices will likely continue to climb in the foreseeable future and proposed cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program could exacerbate the issue, experts say.
By the numbers: NWA generally performs better than the rest of the state on this metric, but the food insecurity rate in Benton County was still 13.5% in 2022, according to Feeding America. It was 17% in Washington County.
Driving the news: I was reminded that Arvest's annual Million Meals kicks off this week, the bank's largest visible corporate philanthropic effort.
Charities and food banks get a lot of attention during the Holidays, but often are overlooked the rest of the year.
The good news: Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders recently signed a law guaranteeing breakfast to all students regardless of their families' income starting this fall.
Between the lines: That was the education part. If you made it this far, here's a call to action:
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Politico
an hour ago
- Politico
Soothing farm groups' MAHA tensions
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How we got here: Groups that have kept quiet in the face of President Donald Trump's tariff plans and funding cuts drew the line at supporting HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s MAHA Commission report, which targets the use of glyphosate and atrazine, according to industry representatives and former and current administration officials, granted anonymity to discuss the behind-the-scenes tensions. The initial report, which came out in May, only briefly mentions that glyphosate and atrazine — two of the most widely used herbicides — could lead to adverse health impacts, and it notes that federal reviews of data have not established a direct link. But groups are nevertheless worried that the report could create the impression that U.S.-produced food products aren't safe. 'American agriculture does not feel sufficiently protected against government mandates that would outlaw chemicals they need,' said one agriculture advocate granted anonymity to share concerns about the administration's work. 'How do we know that the nanny-state side of RFK Jr.'s agenda isn't going to show itself?' The White House didn't respond to a request for comment about the meetings, but spokesperson Kush Desai said in a statement earlier Friday that the MAHA Commission will 'continue to engage with stakeholders' as it drafts next steps. 'President Trump's initiative to Make America Healthy Again is a bottom-up movement, with stakeholders across the board — including farmers, everyday parents, local governments, and family physicians — having a role to play,' Desai said. A former Biden administration official, granted anonymity to discuss the private lobbying efforts, said farmers 'basically instinctively trust Trump' on tariff and other agricultural policies, but don't have the same belief in Kennedy. 'They think [Trump] has a master plan and that ultimately it will all work out,' the person said. 'That is not the feeling about this report.' Read more from your host here. AROUND THE AGENCIES SMOKEY BEAR BACKUP: Forest Service employees who accepted President Donald Trump's offer to resign will still be allowed to take on wildfire assignments this summer, according to a new agency memo obtained by our Jordan Wolman. The announcement comes as the U.S. barrels toward fire season and as officials around the country worry about the Forest Service's ability to staff response efforts now that thousands of employees have been fired from or have quit their posts under the Trump administration. 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Axios
4 hours ago
- Axios
One in 5 Arkansas kids live in poverty, and it could get worse, advocates say
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Fox News
6 hours ago
- Fox News
A New Approach To Driving Down Drug Prices
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