Tag Archives: food insecurity

The Biden Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a 1.5 billion dollar investment to fund emergency food assistance. Feeding Indiana’s Hungry, the statewide association of Feeding America affiliated food banks, applauded the investment. According to the Map the Meal Gap study conducted by Feeding America, one out of every nine Indiana residents faces hunger. One in seven children …

The global pandemic has exacerbated an already-simmering crisis of food insecurity, itself rooted in growing populations pushed outside of formal labor markets.  This exclusion, often implemented along racial lines, leads to precarity and a struggle for survival, which has only grown more bleak with the pressures of COVID-19.  The economy simply cannot produce enough jobs, and even those existing jobs …

The U.S. House of Representatives struck down the first draft of the Federal Farm bill, yesterday. The bill, which is rewritten every four years, provides subsidies and insurance to farmers and agricultural businesses. It also serves as the regulatory legislation for SNAP benefits, formerly called food stamps. The failed congressional draft would have expanded work requirements for SNAP beneficiaries. The …

Indiana University will be redeveloping Crosstown Plaza, on 10th street in Bloomington; The influential pop artist Robert Clark, later known as Robert Indiana, died this weekend; The Richland Bean Blossom Community School Board has approved contracting with investment bankers George K Baum and Company to assist with its finances. FEATURE A revision to the federal Farm Bill failed in Congress …

The City of Bloomington’s Comprehensive Plan, previously known as the Growth Policies Plan, covers a broad range of topics; from housing, to the environment. It is the guiding policy document for growth within the city. The Bloomington Food Policy Council, along with many residents, are telling the city that they believe the plan should also address local food systems. Today, …

Food Insecurity is down across the United States — but it’s up in Indiana; The Indiana Supreme Court deliberated yesterday about whether police departments operated by private universities should be held to the same open records requirements as other departments; Candidates for the Indiana General Assembly recently heard an earful about the growing challenges facing the caregiver industry for aging …

WFHB reporters were at the Courthouse Square in downtown Bloomington this weekend covering what turned out to be one of the largest political rallies the city has seen in recent years. The Black Lives Matter rally was organized following the recent police killings of Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Philando Castile in Minneapolis. The event began with a …

Since the 2007 recession, increases in poverty have drawn attention to the need for community kitchens and food banks. Today, 1/7 Americans rely on these services to feed themselves and their families. Food banks and agencies have become an important resource across the country. IU student journalist, Alyson Weigel, reports that Bloomington is no different. Each Monday during June and …

According to studies performed by the Continuum of Care, there are more than 400 people experiencing homelessness in our region on any given night. The region includes Monroe, Greene, Lawrence, Martin, Morgan and Owen counties. More than 27% of the homeless individuals are children. IU student reporter, Victoria Hansel, looked into the issue of childhood homelessness for today’s WFHB community …

Impoverished areas without grocery access to health foods are increasingly drawing attention in Indiana. Known as food deserts, these areas represent health problems for those with limited resources. Correspondent Sarah Zinn looked into this complex issue in Bloomington’s Crestmont neighborhood. This WFHB Community Report was produced by Sarah Zinn in a partnership with the Spring 2016 Indiana University Media School’s …