Food insecurity is affecting some of the state’s most vulnerable residents: seniors. Then, Minnesota loses a longtime Twin Cities news anchor. And, youth leaders defend immigrant access to higher education.
—–Executive Producer: Victor Palomino Producer: Britt AamodtAnchor: Chantel SinGsReader scripting: Victor Palomino Fact checking: Joel Glaser, Victor Palomino Editorial support: Emily Krumberger Mixing & mastering: Chris Harwood
Transcript
[sound element: NSS intro theme]
HOST: You're listening to North Star Stories: Voices from Where We Live, a daily newscast about what it means to live in Minnesota.
ANCHOR: Food insecurity is affecting some of the state's most vulnerable residents. Then, Minnesota loses a longtime Twin Cities news anchor. And, youth leaders defend immigrant access to higher education.
I'm Chantel SinGs.
Veteran Twin Cities journalist Stan Turner has died at age 81. Turner reported the news from KSTP-TV for 35 years and was known for his integrity, curiosity, and signature storytelling voice.
A University of Minnesota journalism graduate, he was also honored with a degree in media law from William Mitchell School of Law. A Stan Turner Journalism Scholarship has been established at the University of Minnesota's Hubbard School of Journalism.
Next, seniors in Minnesota living on fixed incomes are experiencing new levels of food insecurity. Britt Aamodt looks at two organizations that are trying to fill the gap for Minnesotans age 60-plus.
Britt Aamodt: Seventeen percent of Minnesota's households with at least one senior citizen are food insecure, according to Second Harvest Heartland Food Bank.
Robin Matnee: They're facing that even with programs we know that are targeted to meet the needs of seniors, like Meals on Wheels and Social Security, right?
Britt Aamodt: Robin Manthee is director of Neighbor Services for Second Harvest.
Robin Manthee: Many of them are working part-time jobs and doing everything they can to extend their income. But there is a point in your life where that isn't an option anymore. And my hope is they can reach out to us at Second Harvest. We have something called a Care Center where you can call us and we can help you understand your potential eligibility for two core programs.
Britt Aamodt: One is the commodity supplemental food program, or CSFP, which is a senior-focused food box with core items—grains, fruits, vegetables, protein—available on a monthly basis.
Britt Aamodt: The other is SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
Robin Manthee: We can walk you through the eligibility criteria and application.
Britt Aamodt: Only 40% of eligible Minnesota seniors are enrolled in SNAP. Robin thinks that might be due to an incorrect notion that if they receive the benefit, they'll be taking it out of the mouths of those who need it more.
Robin Manthee: And actually having people who are eligible and not participating in the program means we're leaving money on the table that could be coming into our state to support our economy, to invest in local grocery stores, to get more food getting grown locally by farmers. So we know that every dollar that someone gets in SNAP benefits creates $1.50 of economic benefit in the community
Britt Aamodt: Rising food costs on a limited budget means that some older Minnesotans are facing food insecurity for the first time as a senior.
Susie West: When you only have this much money and everything starts costing more, suddenly that much money doesn't go as far.
Britt Aamodt: Susie West is an educator at the University of Minnesota Extension, which, like Second Harvest, connects people to local food shelves.
Susie West: SNAP you have to apply, and it can take a while to get approved and get your benefits, whereas food shelves, if you go to a food shelf, it's because you need food today.
Britt Aamodt: Last year, state food shelves saw a record breaking 9 million visits per a report by the nonprofit Food Group.
Susie West: It's not embarrassing to need help, and there's literally hundreds of food shelves across Minnesota who would love for you to come in if you need food.
Britt Aamodt: You can find out more at hungersolutions.org and 2harvest.org. This is Britt Amit for North Star Stories.
ANCHOR: You are listening to North Star Stories.
Immigrant youth leaders and the Minnesota Attorney General are speaking out against a U.S. Department of Justice lawsuit that could roll back the state's Dream Act and North Star Promise Program. At an event in Minneapolis, students and advocates shared how these programs made college affordable and urged the state to defend them. The Attorney General pledged to protect access to higher education, saying Minnesota should not lead with fear. The programs help undocumented and low-income students pursue college and strengthen Minnesota's workforce.
[sound element: NSS outro theme]
HOST: North Star Stories is produced by AMPERS, diverse radio for Minnesota's communities, with support from the McKnight Foundation and the State of Minnesota. Online at ampers dot org.