Rural Health
News by Topic: Poverty
FNS: Child Nutrition Programs: Income Eligibility Guidelines
Federal Register
Apr 9, 2026 - Notice from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) announcing the adjusted income eligibility guidelines for free and reduced-price meals and free milk through the National School Lunch Program (and Commodity School Program), School Breakfast Program, Special Milk Program for Children, Child and Adult Care Food Program, Summer Food Service Program, and Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) for Children Program. These guidelines are applicable from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.
Source: Federal Register
Mar 24, 2026 - A new proposed California bill would create a program to provide menstrual products to female farmworkers in rural communities with high poverty rates. Discusses the lack of access to stores with hygiene products in rural areas.
Source: Imperial Valley Press
Mar 18, 2026 - Summarizes recent research finding disparities in mortality between urban and rural residents with cancer. The study analyzed 27,710,318 cancer deaths between 1969 and 2023 and compared rural and urban trends during that time. Notes drivers of outcome disparities including access to care, healthcare screenings, poverty, smoking, and more.
Source: American Cancer Society