Maine State

Portland, ME

TravelNoire

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has reached a historic $2.2 billion settlement to compensate Black and other minority farmers who faced years of systemic discrimination in farm lending programs. This landmark agreement will address decades of unfair treatment. It will also provide financial assistance to those affected by discriminatory practices before January 2021.

USDA Announces $2 Billion Settlement For Black And Minority Farmers

Washington – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced changes to the Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) Farm Loan Programs, effective Sept. 25, 2024 — changes that are intended to increase opportunities for farmers and ranchers to be financially viable. These improvements, part of the Enhancing Program Access...

USDA Updates Farm Loan Programs To Increase Financial Freedom, Resilience And Profitability For Agricultural Producers

Farmers looking to try cover crops can get a helping hand with cost and technical assistance through the recently established Farmers for Soil Health (FSH) initiative. Operating in 20 states, FSH facilitates financial incentives and technical assistance to farmers planting cover crops for the first time. The initiative results from...

Program offers cover crop incentives for first-time growers

Georgia State

Florida State

WashingtonExaminer

With July quickly coming to a close, SNAP beneficiaries in eight states should expect to see their July payments hit their accounts by Sunday. The funds, worth up to $1,751 for a household of eight, will be uploaded to an Electronic Benefit Transfer card, which functions as a debit card and can be used at […]

Food stamps: Eight states sending out SNAP benefits worth up to $1,751 this week

The second round of Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) payments will be sent out by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) today. Eligible households will receive a new Summer EBT card with $120 per child starting on July 19. Households will receive only one card with the full benefit amount for all eligible children.

Second Round of Summer EBT Payments Going Out

USA TODAY

Nearly half of people who receive federal housing vouchers are unable to use them. "It's a dire situation," one researcher said.

Voucher program is supposed to help poor families rent a home. Nearly half the time, it fails.

Keeping up with rising home energy costs can be tough, especially when household bills, like electric and groceries, continue to increase. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, average energy prices were 29.9% greater in June 2024 compared to June 2020. Caring.com reveals that this, combined with other rising expenses, leaves many low- and moderate-income seniors as well as those on fixed incomes struggling to cover costs. Caring.com reveals that this, combined with other rising expenses, leaves many low- and moderate-income seniors as well as those on fixed incomes struggling to cover their household expenses.

Energy assistance benefits for seniors

Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced today the allocation of $7 million in PRIME grants to 28 awardees for 2024. The Program for Investment in Microentrepreneurs (PRIME) aims to support low-income microentrepreneurs through these grants. “The SBA’s PRIME grants support mission-oriented nonprofit organizations across...

SBA announces $7 million in PRIME grants for low-income microentrepreneurs

Colorado State

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David Heitz

A bill quietly introduced this spring in the Colorado legislature to decriminalize the possession of drug paraphernalia obtained by harm reductionists has become law. As low-key as the legislation was introduced, the bill was signed into law without fanfare June 6. It garnered little to no media attention.

Colorado legalizes needles, pipes for meth and crack if obtained by harm reduction group

Chalkbeat

Sign up for Chalkbeat’s free weekly newsletter to keep up with how education is changing across the U.S.Millions of children in six states won’t get federally backed summer food benefits they’re eligible for until just before school starts. And in Delaware, Montana, and Nevada, half a million kids won’t get them until the new school year begins.Summer EBT, also known as SUN Bucks, provides low-income families with $120 per school-age child to buy groceries over the summer. It’s a rare example of a pandemic-era program that Congress made permanent, and most states are offering it for the first time this...

Summer EBT delays have left families waiting weeks or months for crucial food benefits

New Mexico State

Source New Mexico

The new school year is just getting started, but families can still take advantage of a new federal program to support students K-12 during the summer who may otherwise rely on meals at school and eliminate the burden of families having to stretch their grocery budgets. The U.S. Department of Agriculture rolled out SUN Bucks […]

New Mexican families can still sign up this week to get kids’ summer food benefits

Savannah, GA

Daily Coffee Press

Newly returned indictments in the Southern District of Georgia include felony charges for illegal firearms possession and drug distribution, while additional defendants have been sentenced to federal prison or await further proceedings after pleading guilty to federal gun charges.

Federal Charges in Southern GA: Indictments and Sentences for Firearms and Drug Offenses

Ohio State

The Lantern

On Tuesday, licensed Ohio dispensaries began legally selling non-medical marijuana to consumers; however, the drug’s possession, growth and/or usage are still prohibited on Ohio State’s campus. Credit: Jefferee Woo/Tampa Bay Times/TNS [Original caption: Four citizen-led petitions with proposals to update Dallas’ charter hit the 20,000 valid signature threshold to make it on the Nov. 5 election ballot, including one that would ban police officers from arresting or citing people carrying less than four ounces of marijuana.] As of Tuesday, students 21 and older can now legally purchase marijuana in Ohio.

Dispensary sales of recreational marijuana began Tuesday; possession and usage still prohibited on Ohio State’s campus

North Carolina State

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Town Talks

In North Carolina, the divorce process can be challenging, particularly due to the mandatory one-year separation requirement. This law mandates that couples must live separately for at least a year before filing for divorce, a rule that can be frustrating for many.

You might be granted a divorce in North Carolina if your spouse is ‘incurably insane.’ Here’s how

Tallahassee, FL

The FBI is investigating the disappearance of a now 13-year-old girl who went missing from Florida last year and has ties to Georgia and Tennessee. A $15,000 reward is being offered to anyone with information that can lead to her location.

FBI Investigating Disappearance of 12-Year-Old Girl Who Has Ties to Georgia

New Jersey State

Jersey City, NJ

The meeting comes nearly two weeks after a federal judge declined to weigh in on whether federal law bars cops from using cannabis off duty. (Getty Images/iStockphoto) Nearly two weeks after a federal judge said he wouldn’t weigh in yet on whether it’s legal for New Jersey cops to use marijuana, the Civil Service Commission is set to decide the fate of another police officer who was terminated for ingesting cannabis.

N.J. panel to hear new case of cop fired for using cannabis

Massachusetts State

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Dianna Carney

Chloe, a 9 to 10-week-old puppy, is the last of her litter and is eagerly looking for a forever home. Sandy Paws Rescue Inc., a dedicated foster-based rescue in Massachusetts, recently shared Chloe's story and her endearing qualities.

Meet Chloe: The 10-Week-Old Puppy Who Is The Last Of Her Litter Looking For Love

Denver, CO

In addition to collecting more than 8,000 used needles in the past year from Denver drug users, the Harm Reduction Action Center passed out 10,000 meth pipes and “snort kits,” according to a newsletter sent to its supporters Thursday. They also connected about 1,700 people to medical, mental health and substance abuse treatment.

Denver group hands out 10K meth pipes, ‘snort kits,’ connects 1,700 to treatment annually

Kentucky State

Kentucky lawmakers from both parties are hoping to lessen childhood hunger while also supporting farmers with new legislation set to be introduced in next year’s legislative session. The pre-filed legislation from Sen. Cassie Chambers Armstrong, D-Louisville, and Reps. Chad Aull, D-Lexington, and Scott McPherson, R-Scottsville, would establish the “Kentucky...

Bipartisan bill aims to expand free school meals with more Kentucky-sourced food

Le Claire, IA

The US Sun

AMERICAN Pickers star Frank Fritz has been relying on “skilled nursing care” that will be “long-term” two years after he suffered a debilitating stroke. Frank, 60, has been under a conservatorship and guardianship since he suffered a stroke at his Le Claire, Iowa home in July 2022, as he has been in and out of the hospital and rehabilitation.

American Pickers’ Frank Fritz relies on ‘long-term nursing care’ after stroke as conservator demands access to his funds

South Portland, ME

Westbrook, ME

Cape Elizabeth, ME

Falmouth, ME

Scarborough, ME

Long Island, ME

Gorham, ME

Cumberland Center, ME

Chebeague Island, ME

Old Orchard Beach, ME

Windham, ME

Yarmouth, ME

Buxton, ME

Ocean Park, ME

Saco, ME

North Yarmouth, ME

NewsBreak

Maine farmers fed up with ‘royally failing’ WIC payment app

Goranson Farm stand at the Portland Farmers Market on Aug. 10, 2024. (AnnMarie Hilton/Maine Morning Star) “I don’t know whether to laugh or cry,” said Jan...

Maine farmers fed up with ‘royally failing’ WIC payment app

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