Public News Service

Massachusetts Public Interest Research Group Student advocates say the Hunger-Free Campus Initiative has already helped to grow cultural food options at Middlesex Community College, enroll eligible students for SNAP benefits at UMass Boston and provide meals for homeless students during breaks at Salem State University. (MASSPIRG)

MA students urge lawmakers to fund campus anti-hunger efforts

A coalition of college students and administrators is asking state lawmakers to help fight food insecurity on campus. The group is asking for $2 …

The Greater Boston Food Bank reports one in three households in Massachusetts experienced child-level food insecurity in 2022. That means a child was hungry, skipped a meal or did not eat for<br />a whole day because there wasn't enough money for food. (Adobe Stock)

Stalled Farm Bill puts pressure on MA food banks

Massachusetts food banks are struggling to keep up with demand as the Farm Bill remains stalled in Congress. The bill is renegotiated every five …

The child care crisis is costing the American economy $122 billion a year in lost earnings, productivity and tax revenue and putting great stress on parents, according to a new report. (Adobe Stock)

Inaccessible, Unaffordable Child Care Hurts MA Families

Massachusetts ranks first in the nation for education and children's health but a lack of quality child care poses great challenges for families…

Physical inactivity in adults age 65 and older in fair or better health increased 6% between 2018 and 2021, according to United Healthcare's 2023 Senior Report. (Adobe Stock)

MA Makes Top Ten List of States for Senior Healthy Living

Massachusetts ranks tenth in the nation when it comes to healthy senior living, according to a new report. United Healthcare's 2023 Senior Report …

In a Pew Research Center survey, 57% of Americans cited reducing the budget deficit as a top priority for the president and Congress to address this year. That's up from 45% a year ago. (Adobe Stock)

MA Activists Urge Congress to Raise Debt Ceiling, Resist Spending Cuts

Local activists will rally in Boston Common tomorrow to urge Congress to lift the debt ceiling without cuts to social programs in return. President …

Community action agencies help families with housing assistance in Massachusetts, where a critical shortage of affordable rental homes often forces low-income households to forgo other necessities<br />such as healthy food and medical care to pay the rent. (Adobe Stock)

Community Action Month Honors Agencies Across Commonwealth

Community action agencies in the Commonwealth are working with state lawmakers to ensure funding of their work to alleviate poverty continues…

Roughly 30,000 individuals across the Commonwealth access the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance sites, resulting in $60 million in tax credits for taxpayers each year. (Adobe Stock)

Bill to Expand Tax Credits Draws on Children's Health Data

A bill to increase tax credits in the Commonwealth is backed up by research showing the credits lead to better nutrition for working families and bett…

A Poor People's Campaign report examining the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic found the 300+ counties with the highest death rates have a poverty rate of 45%, which is 1.5 times higher than in counties with lower death rates. (PPC)

Advancing MLK’s Dream of Economic Justice in MA

Advocates for low-income workers in the Commonwealth said today is a reminder of the need to continue to advance Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream …

Starting in 2023, the pay rate for tipped service workers in the Commonwealth will increase from $6.15 an hour to $6.75, while time-and-a-half pay on Sundays and holidays will be eliminated completely. (Adobe Stock)

MA Minimum Wage Hike Not Enough for Costly Housing Market

At least 25 states are raising their minimum wage in the new year - including Massachusetts, where the minimum wage increases to $15 per hour…

The city-run Engagement Center is a low-barrier day facility, which serves a few hundred people each day from the nearby

Engagement Center Finding Success Near Boston’s Troubled 'Mass and Cass'

Boston's 'Mass and Cass' area, with its large homeless population and open-air drug market, remains a trouble spot for city officials, but staff at …

According to the Campaign for HIP Funding, the Healthy Incentives Program has resulted in an additional $61 million in local economic impact across the Commonwealth. (Atlas Farms)

Farmers Markets Help MA Shoppers Eat Healthier, Beat Inflation

Some low-income shoppers might assume farmers markets, with their specialty products, are out of reach. But more of these markets in the Commonwealth …

Nuestras Ra�ces manages nine urban community gardens in Holyoke, plus four for the Holyoke Education System, supporting over 100 families with locally grown, fresh food. (Adobe Stock)

Celebrating 30 Years of Puerto Rican “Agri-Culture” in Western MA

The Holyoke area is home to many Puerto Rican families who say they will do what they can to help people there as they recover from the latest hurrica…

Food banks across Massachusetts and the nation have been stretched thin during the pandemic. (Drazen/Adobe Stock)

Wraparound Services Spotlighted for Community Action Month

May is Community Action Month, and Community Action Agencies in Massachusetts are raising awareness about the wraparound services they provide to low-…

The final payments for people who receive a 2021 Child Tax Credit will be included in this year's income-tax returns. (Yurii Kibalnik/Adobe Stock)

Report: Pandemic Policies Reduce Poverty in Massachusetts

A new report shows financial supports made available in the pandemic have led to a direct reduction in poverty in Massachusetts. From expanded …

The price of beef and veal in the last year has skyrocketed 20%. Fruits and veggies cost 4% more. (kucherav/Adobe Stock)

Food Insecurity in MA Compounded by Supply-Chain Issues, Inflation

Supply-chain issues, inflation and job loss during the pandemic have put many families' food security at risk. In Massachusetts, food insecurity …

Nearly 80% of respondents to a Project Bread survey said they had experienced food insecurity, but just over 30% knew little or nothing about SNAP. (Tada Images/Adobe Stock)

Group Applauds SNAP Benefit Increase, Says Barriers Still Exist

BOSTON -- Groups working to end hunger in Massachusetts say the upcoming increase to SNAP benefits, the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance …

The budget passed by the Massachusetts General Court includes $1 million for VITA, or Volunteer Income Tax Assistance programs. (Centaur/Adobe Stock)

Gov. Baker Urged to Commit to Anti-Poverty Efforts in State Budget

WORCESTER, Mass. -- Community Action Agencies applauded the Massachusetts General Court for its commitments to anti-poverty efforts in the 2022 state …

A Greater Boston Food Bank survey found that only one in three adults experiencing food insecurity in Massachusetts is getting food from charitable sites, like food pantries. (Adobe Stock)

High Demand for Food Assistance Persists in MA

BOSTON -As COVID-19 restrictions are lifted and the country opens up, some Massachusetts residents are still feeling the ripple effects of the …

Roughly 18,500 households in Massachusetts are excluded from the Earned Income Tax Credit because at least one member can't get a Social Security number. (JackF/Adobe Stock)

Report: MA Should Open Earned Income Tax Credit to Working Immigrants

BOSTON -- Groups are calling on Massachusetts to open up the state Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) to working residents who pay taxes but may not qual…

Around $5 million in funding for Community Action helped agencies with a variety of support systems in the past year, including keeping food pantries open during the pandemic. (aerogondo/Adobe Stock)

Funding "Critical" for MA Anti-Poverty Efforts, Post Pandemic

TAUNTON, Mass. - Community Action Agencies say $5 million in the House version of the Massachusetts state budget next year would go a long way toward …

About 1.5 million Americans are highly allergic to sesame seeds and sesame-based products. (TAndrews/Morguefile)

Sesame May Be Named Country's Ninth Major Allergen

BOSTON -- Some 1.5 million Americans are highly allergic to sesame, yet it isn't required to be listed on food labels. That may be about to change…

Food pantries have had to figure out new ways to acquire and store food as donations from grocery stores have gone down but excess produce meant for restaurants has increased. (Share our Selves)

Report: Pandemic Disrupts Food Supply, Increases Waste

BOSTON -- Even before the pandemic, Americans wasted about 40% of the food we produced, worth an estimated $218 billion each year. Now a report …

More than 25,000 workers from the food and accommodation sector filed unemployment claims last week in Massachusetts, the sector with the most unemployment claims in the Bay State. (Sam Nota, Paul Vakalis/Creative Commons)

MA Bill Expands Business Insurance to Cover Viruses

BOSTON - Massachusetts lawmakers are considering a bill to get business interruption insurance to cover the economic losses from COVID-19, …

Among the states, Massachusetts is second only to Wisconsin for its farm output of fresh cranberries. (djorenstein/Pixabay)

A Bitter Year for MA Cranberries?

PLYMOUTH, Mass. – If Thanksgiving cranberry sales don't pick up, it could be a tough year for Massachusetts growers of the bitter fruit – …

Some lower-income students would rather skip lunch than go to the cafeteria and be lectured or denied a hot meal because their parents owe the school money. (Wokandapix/Pixabay)

Meal Shaming, Denying Food to Students Spurs MA Lawmakers to Action

BOSTON – A cold sandwich is what students may get instead of the hot lunch they wanted at some Massachusetts public schools. They often are …

As many as 1 in 10 current or recent college students face homelessness as they struggle to pay student debt and living expenses, research shows. (andrew_t8/Pixabay)

Studying While Hungry, Homeless: Educators Float Solutions

BOSTON – Studying while hungry – many college students struggle to get enough to eat because they lack money to buy food. At Worcester …

Studies show that SNAP benefits help families purchase healthier diets. (Pexels/Pixabay)

Study Says Food Assistance Improves Health

BOSTON – A new report links access to SNAP benefits to improved health and lower health care costs. The paper, published by the Center on …

A jump in the number of food sites is one reason Massachusetts is getting free summer meals to lower-income kids. (USDA)

Massachusetts Moving Up in Providing Summer Meals to Kids

BOSTON -- The number of lower income children getting access to free summer meals is down nationwide, but New England states are doing better than …

Proposed SNAP food assistance cuts are likely to hit low-income seniors and people with disabilities hardest. (USDA)

Proposed SNAP Cuts Put MA Seniors, People with Disabilities in Crosshairs

BOSTON – President Donald Trump wants to take a $193 billion slice out of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program over the next 10…

If the proposed Trump budget cuts are maintained, it's estimated that thousands more Massachusetts residents could lose some options for nutritious foods. (Pixabay)

Trump Budget: Deep Cuts to SNAP Could Affect Thousands in MA

BOSTON - Even a 25 percent cut to SNAP - enough to leave thousands more hungry in Massachusetts - can't make the White House budget math add up…

Advocates say KFC's move makes sense given the global concern about the rise of antibiotic-resistant superbugs. (MASSPIRG)

KFC Move Called "Win" for Responsible Antibiotic Use

BOSTON -- Consumer and public health advocates are applauding the latest pledge by a fast food chain to phase out its use of chickens raised on antibi…

At least 14,000 Bay Staters at risk of serious heart ailments could benefit from eating a more colorful variety of fresh produce on National Eating Healthy Day. (Mike Clifford)

National Eating Healthy Day: Prevention Benefits for Thousands in Bay State

BOSTON - Heart disease and stroke are two of the biggest killers around, and today is National Eating Healthy Day to help people fight back. The …

Some products, including M and M's, will be found with GMO labels on Bay State store shelves thanks to a new Vermont labeling law that faces a challenge in the U.S. Senate (M. Clifford).

New GMO Labeling Law Faces Likely Senate Challenge

BOSTON – Consumer advocates are cheering the nation's first mandatory GMO labeling law, but they are also concerned the U.S. Senate is trying …

Local letter carriers will be scrambling on Saturday picking up nonperishable food donations for the nation's largest one-day annual food drive. (National Association of Letter Carriers)

Stamp Out Hunger: Bay State Expected to Help Out by the Millions

BOSTON – Stamp Out Hunger is the nation's largest one-day, charitable food drive, and coming up this weekend, Bay Staters are expected to help …

Supporters join Rep. Jay Livingstone, D-Boston, second from right, as lawmakers hold a hearing on a new measure to improve the well-being of hundreds of thousands of children in the Commonwealth. Courtesy: Health Care For All

Bill Aims at Coordination: Better Health, Housing, Healthy Food

BOSTON - There is no shortage of state agencies trying to battle health and housing issues in the Commonwealth, but a new bill says a lot more could …

Para Educator Nancy Burke (r.) with student Taylor Warren. Courtesy: Massachusetts Teachers Association

National Bammy Award for Massachusetts Educator

BOSTON - A Massachusetts educator won national recognition this week for a garden project that enables high school students in wheelchairs to do some …

Supporters are gathering petitions for a 2016 ballot initiative to curb farm animal confinement in Massachusetts. Courtesy: Humane Society of the United States.

Fall Signature Drive: MA Farm Animal Confinement Initiative

BOSTON - People who are concerned about animal cruelty are hitting the streets gathering support for a 2016 Ballot Initiative to curb farm animal conf…

Window of Opportunity for Universal Free Meals for High-Needs MA Schools

BOSTON - A big window of opportunity opens August 1 for high-needs school districts to sign up for a program that provides universal free meals to all…

SNAP coordinator Beth Zambia talks with a veteran at the Soldier On shelter in Leeds. At least 26,000 low-income veterans rely on SNAP benefits in the Commonwealth. Courtesy: Food Bank of Western Massachusetts.

Independence Day: No Time to Forget Hungry Vets

BOSTON - As Massachusetts gets ready for Independence Day, local hunger-fighting advocates say it's a good time to remember tens of thousands of …

A new (FRAC) report find other states are catching up, but Massachusetts still is among the tops in the nation in getting nutritious summer meals to kids. Credit: Michael Dwyer

Massachusetts Treading Water on Summer Meals for Kids

BOSTON – Summer months can be lots of fun, but efforts are under way to ensure they don't leave more children in the Commonwealth going hungry…

A new (FRAC) report finds Worcester has jumped to the top third for cities where residents are struggling to put food on the table. Credit: Mike Clifford

One in Five Worcester Households Struggles to Find Food

BOSTON - A new report finds more families are struggling to find food in Worcester than in any other large metro area in the state. Patricia Baker…

PHOTO: Project Bread�s Chef Vanessa LaBranche with students is part of the outreach that is moving the Commonwealth out of the basement when it comes to participation in school breakfast. Courtesy: Project Bread

Breakfast-in-Class Ruling Helps MA Reach More Low-Income Students

BOSTON – The Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education now says instruction provided during the breakfast period can be included…

PHOTO: The winter storm last month dubbed Juno left Nantucket and parts of Cape Cod flooded and without electricity. Thanks to an extension of SNAP replacement benefits, some residents are going to be able to replace lost or spoiled food. Photo courtesy Galvin/Flickr.

Cape and Islands SNAP Back After Juno

NANTUCKET, Mass. - The several feet of recent snow may have diverted attention from the plight of victims of the storm dubbed Juno that wracked Cape …

PHOTO: A two-generation approach to lifting the Commonwealth's children out of poverty is the recommendation of a new report that says opportunities for their parents must be widened. Photo credit: TaniaVDP/Pixabay

Report: Commonwealth Needs “Two-Generation” Help on Poverty

BOSTON - If the Commonwealth of Massachusetts wants to lift its children out of poverty, it should put its focus on their parents at the same time…

PHOTO: Three groups are suing the FDA over their approval of new combinations of growth-enhancing drugs to be administered to millions of animals raised for food, including cows. Photo courtesy Humane Society of the United States.

Groups take FDA to court over New Drug Combos for Farm Animals

BOSTON - Pharmaceuticals....it's what's for dinner. And groups in the U.S. are suing the federal government over it. The Humane Society of the U.S (…

GRAPHIC: While food insecurity in Massachusetts is below the levels in many other states, nearly eleven percent of all Commonwealth households are struggling to put food on the table. Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture.

A Persistent Hunger in Massachusetts

BOSTON – Food insecurity will not loosen its grip on many Commonwealth households. According to the latest government figures, one in nine …

PHOTO: Nearly 900 Commonwealth schools may be eligible for a program that would feed all their students breakfasts and lunches and do away with much of the paperwork and application hassles. An effort is under way to make sure they know about it and act by the end of this month. Photo Credit: U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Feed MA School Kids, Eliminate Stigma: As Easy as CEP

BOSTON – Some 880 high-poverty schools in the Commonwealth may be eligible for a program that would feed all their students breakfasts and lunch…

GRAPHIC: A new report on Summer Nutrition Programs shows Massachusetts and many other states are doing a better job of helping children stay nourished and healthy when school�s out. Credit: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture.

Commonwealth Among Leaders in Summer Nutrition for Kids

GLOUCESTER, Mass. – A new …

Audio Activation
	"Siri, play the Public News Service (podcast)"
	"Hey Google, play the Public News Service podcast"
	"Alexa, play Public News Service podcast" or "Alexa, what's my news flash?" once you set it up in the Alexa app
	Embed this Newscast

Audio Activation
	"Siri, play the 2024 Talks podcast"
	"Hey Google, play the 2024 Talks podcast"
	"Alexa, play 2000 24 Talks podcast" or "Alexa, what's my news flash?" once you set it up in the Alexa app
	Embed this Newscast

Audio Activation
	"Siri, play the Yonder Report podcast"
	"Hey Google, play the Yonder Report podcast"
	"Alexa, play the Yonder Report podcast" or "Alexa, what's my news flash?" once you set it up in the Alexa app
	Embed this Newscast

PNS Daily Newscast - April 16, 2024

2024Talks - April 16, 2024

The Yonder Report - April 11, 2024

MA: Hunger/Food/Nutrition