skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Wednesday, November 6, 2024

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Donald Trump defeats Kamala Harris to become the next U.S. president; UA Little Rock wins grant to expand cybersecurity education; Post-election analysis: Rural voter nuance is deeply entrenched.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Harris concedes, but promises to 'fight on' in a speech at Howard University. Republicans celebrate a potential red sweep, though a House majority is still uncertain. And a statehood mandate gains support on Puerto Rico.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Abortion care can be five minutes away in California or 11 hours for women in Texas, rural living proves a mixed blessing for veterans, an ancient technique could curtail climate-change wildfires, and escape divisive politics on World Kindness Day.

New Bill Would Make CA School Lunches Healthier

play audio
Play

Thursday, February 9, 2023   

Starting next year, school lunches in California could get a lot healthier if a new bill passes to set guidelines for added sugar.

Senate Bill 348 would limit the amount of added sugar to 25 grams a day.

Sen. Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley, authored the bill to improve the quality of school lunches, as California now provides two free meals a day to all public school students.

"For many of these kids, that's more than half the calories they'll consume in a day," Skinner pointed out. "We need to make sure that our meals are as healthy as possible and don't contribute to chronic diseases like diabetes."

The Biden administration unveiled new guidelines for sugar, salt, fat and whole grains, which will be phased in over the next few years. It marks a reversal from the Trump administration policy, which argued stricter guidelines do little and generate more waste if children reject the healthier options.

Skinner noted the bill also directs the state to study whether kids in school currently have sufficient time at lunch to eat.

"My bill asks to get the data on whether we are providing adequate time for children to eat," Skinner explained. "And if not, what adjustments would we make?"

According to the American Diabetes Association, more than 4 million Californians have diabetes and another 10.3 million have prediabetes.

The bill does not address food sold in vending machines or at school events.


get more stories like this via email
more stories
Political scientists said even in elections where the youth vote surges in certain areas, it is still heavily outnumbered by older voting populations. (Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

As results continue to come into focus post-Election Day, factors like the youth vote are expected to be scrutinized. Experts said it is important …


Social Issues

play sound

Although Florida was not considered a swing state this year's election, its diverse demographics reflect national trends, and political observers are …

Social Issues

play sound

The brisk pace of voting continued on Election Day, and Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson expects the battleground state to shatter a 64-…


The City of Dearborn has partnered with others in Wayne County to apply for and implement several federal programs funded by the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. (Branden/Adobe Stock)

Environment

play sound

The mayor of Dearborn has adopted a "health-in-all-policies" approach, a pledge to prioritize health, environmental justice and climate action in …

Social Issues

play sound

pro-Palestinian groups are hosting a demonstration today starting at Red Arrow Park in downtown Milwaukee. The groups Students for a Democratic …

The addition of more than 750 megawatts of renewable energy for rural portions of Kentucky significantly reduces the amount of greenhouse gases developed by natural gas and coal-fired generators. (Adobe Stock)

Environment

play sound

New funding from the federal Empowering Rural America program will allow the East Kentucky Power Cooperative to add more than 750 megawatts of solar e…

Social Issues

play sound

A new report quantifies the contribution of Wyoming's arts and culture sector to the state's economy and shows it is significant. Wyoming in 2022 …

Social Issues

play sound

In Minnesota and across the U.S., poll workers are being praised for stepping up during another big election. Administrators hope the goodwill …

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021