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Latest Center News

 

SNAP Benefits and Rural Households

By Jon Bailey on July 30, 2014 - 10:31am

Our newest report looks at the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits (formerly known as food stamps) by where people live. SNAP is a program of the United States Department of Agriculture and offers nutrition assistance to millions of eligible, low-income individuals and families. SNAP is the largest program in the domestic hunger safety net.

Our report Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Rural Households makes the following findings based on federal Census Bureau data:

Iowa Loses Solar Opportunity

By Lucas Nelsen on July 28, 2014 - 4:32pm

In mid-July, the state of Iowa gave up a $1 million grant that would have helped the state take steps to become a national leader in solar power, just as it has with wind energy. The U.S. Department of Energy grant was aimed at analyzing state policies that affect solar energy, and assist them in removing barriers to expanding solar in the state.

Eating Is Education

By Sarah Smith on July 28, 2014 - 7:46am

Food culture in America is changing. In the book Lunch Wars, author Amy Kalafa describes her concern that her children were exposed to unhealthful school food. She investigated and then approached the superintendent of schools to share her findings.

His response? “It was not the school district’s responsibility to feed the kids, just to educate them.” Citizens across the nation are speaking up with challenges to this statement.

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