w/ Ric Hanson
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The use of food stamps in Cass County increased during the recession, assisting families in stretching their food dollars, contributing to local spending and helping spark a national debate about the future of the federal nutrition program. The nonprofit, nonpartisan Center for Rural Strategies, says according to the U-S Dept. of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Services, the proportion of Cass County residents receiving food stamps hit 14.2 percent in 2011. That’s an increase of 5.5 percentage points since 2007, the year the recession started.
Across Iowa, 13.1 percent of residents in 2011 received support from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), as the food stamp program is officially known. Nationally, 14.8 percent of the population receives SNAP benefits. Places like Cass County, which are located outside metropolitan areas, tend to have a higher percentage of the population receiving SNAP benefits. That’s because incomes are generally lower in nonmetropolitan counties.
The inflation-adjusted median household income in Cass County in 2011 was $42,805, compared to the Iowa median of $51,314 and the national median of $52,306 (in 2013 dollars). Food stamps may play a larger role in the local economy in rural areas and small towns, according to federal data. In Cass County SNAP benefits are one-tenth (.1) percent of personal income. Nationally, the figure is 0.6 percent. In 2011, residents of Cass County received a combined $2,551,998 in SNAP benefits. The USDA reports that each $5 in SNAP benefits generates $9.20 in spending.
Authorities in Montgomery County report two people were arrested early this (Friday) morning. Deputies acting along with officers from the Red Oak Police Department, arrested 31-year old George Allen Westbrook, of Red Oak, shortly after midnight in Red Oak. Westbrook was wanted on a Pottawattamie County warrant charging him with Violating the terms of his probation.
During the arrest, 34-year-old Peggy Gurney of Red Oak was also taken into custody, for interference with official acts. The pair were transported to the Montgomery County jail, where Westbrook was being held on a $10,000 cash bond, and Gurney was being held on a $300 cash bond.
The Freese-Notis weather forecast for the KJAN listening area, and weather data for Atlantic.
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The Department of Agriculture has announced a new effort aimed at connecting farmers with urban shoppers. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says the demand for local food is growing to between five and seven billion dollars every year and that could be an economic boon for farmers. “We know that there are a number of opportunities that exist in urban centers to expand local food production and promotion,” Vilsack says.
Certain urban projects will now be eligible for a loan guarantee program that’s long been a part of the farm bill’s Rural Development title. Local food efforts in cities will be considered for funds through a guaranteed loan program, provided they directly benefit rural communities. “If you’re going to be using U-S-D-A resources, it has to have a connection, a financial and legitimate connection to rural areas and that is why there is the condition that there has to be some linkage to rural productions and producers,” he explains.
Vilsack says a food hub that connects city institutions to local food is one example. “So the business and industry loan program will clarify that these resources can now be used for an urban project, so long as it’s benefiting rural producers,” according to Vilsack. The 78 million dollars in this year’s farm bill is the biggest ever federal boost to local food programs.
(Radio Iowa)
347 AM CDT FRI MAY 9 2014
EARLY THIS MORNING…MOSTLY CLOUDY. BREEZY. MUCH COLDER. NORTHWEST WIND 10 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 30 MPH.
TODAY…PARTLY SUNNY UNTIL LATE AFTERNOON THEN CLEARING. COOLER. HIGH IN THE MID 60S. WEST WIND 10 TO 15 MPH.
TONIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. LOW AROUND 50. SOUTHWEST WIND 5 TO 10 MPH SHIFTING TO THE SOUTH AFTER MIDNIGHT.
SATURDAY…PARTLY SUNNY. A CHANCE OF LIGHT SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS IN THE MORNING…THEN A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS IN THE AFTERNOON. WARMER. HIGH IN THE UPPER 70S. SOUTH WIND 5 TO 15 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 25 MPH. CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION 30 PERCENT.
SATURDAY NIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY THROUGH MIDNIGHT THEN BECOMING MOSTLY CLOUDY. A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS. LOW IN THE MID 50S. WEST WIND 5 TO 10 MPH SHIFTING TO THE NORTH AFTER MIDNIGHT.
SUNDAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 50 PERCENT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS. HIGH IN THE UPPER 60S. NORTHEAST WIND 5 TO 15 MPH.
SUNDAY NIGHT…LIGHT SHOWERS LIKELY AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS. LOW IN THE LOWER 50S. CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION 60 PERCENT.
MONDAY…LIGHT SHOWERS LIKELY. BREEZY. HIGH IN THE LOWER 60S. CHANCE OF SHOWERS 60 PERCENT.