Food Insecurity

Locals share food with their neighbors through Sliger's Market

The National Weather Service has announced that a Fire Weather Watch is in effect from noon until 9 p.m. today for the South Plains region. Our reporter Bishop Van Buren has more on how a warm and dry winter contributed to increased fire risk this spring. Starting today, Texas won't allow people to SNAP benefits to purchase “candy” and “sweetened drinks.” KERA’s Abigail Ruhman reports that retailers have spent months preparing for the restrictions.

Starting April 1, Texans will no longer be allowed to use food stamps to buy sweetened beverages and candy.

Federal data found that millions of people struggled to get enough food in 2024. The report will be the final publication of such data after the U.S. Department of Agriculture said it will scrap the annual hunger survey.

A federal judge has issued a blistering dissent after two other judges on the same panel blocked Texas’ congressional redistricting map from taking effect next year. Houston Public Media’s Andrew Schneider reports the case has major ramifications for whether Republicans retain control of the House. After increased demand during the federal government shutdown, food pantries are expecting that to continue through the holiday season. The Central Texas Food Bank says some of its sites have had up to a 300% increase in people utilizing its services.

Federal food assistance has started to flow again after the government reopened. But the charitable food system is planning for continued need through the end of the year.

The Veterans Food Bank of Lubbock is set to open next month and organizers are calling on the community to contribute to its first food drive through Dec. 16. More information at the nonprofit's Facebook page. Our Samantha Larned reports now is an ideal time for folks to get their flu shots to reach peak immunity in time for Thanksgiving, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. Meanwhile, after a federal judge ordered the Trump administration to fully fund SNAP, some Texans have started receiving partial payments.

The federal government paused SNAP payments at the beginning of the month because of the shutdown.

Two federal judges ordered the Trump administration to use emergency funding to provide SNAP benefits. But it's unclear how much, or when, those funds would be provided before the funding runs dry.

Texas officials say food stamp benefits, which go to 1.7 million children, would not be distributed in November under an extended shutdown.