food insecurity

Fern Kupfer discusses her new novel Strong Women of Chicago, and a look at Iowa organizations that help pet-owners-in-need feed their pets.

Gov. Kim Reynolds has requested a waiver from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to limit what foods are eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in Iowa. If approved, SNAP participants would not be able to buy food products subject to sales tax in the state.

Gov. Kim Reynolds’ plan to provide “healthy” foods for low-income Iowa kids over the summer, instead of sending their families money for food, has been approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Efforts to keep junk foods from being paid for by Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, are increasing at the federal and state level. Lawmakers proposing such bills say they want to encourage healthy habits, but some food advocates say the restrictions would have harmful effects.

Iowa House Republicans advanced a proposal Wednesday that would restrict SNAP users to only using benefits for "healthy foods and beverages." The Department of Health and Human Services would have to request federal approval to override the list of current eligible items.

Former USDA secretary Tom Vilsack hopes for bipartisan support to addressing hunger as the new CEO of the World Food Prize Foundation.

More states in the Midwest and Great Plains are trying to support rural, independent grocery stores through tailored grant programs. Advocates say these businesses are vital for rural communities to thrive.

A pilot program run by the State of Iowa is battling food insecurity by growing local food networks. Farmers and distributors say the program is changing the way they run their businesses, although they aren’t sure it will continue.

DMACC is ending a food forest and urban prairie program that harvested fresh produce and rescued food waste around Des Moines, citing funding issues, aesthetic concerns and irrelevance to academic programs.

DMARC food pantries in Des Moines face even more stress on their budget deficit after seeing a record high demand for food assistance this holiday season.