ZWF: The fight over free school lunch
Zander's Weekend Facts #71: Sunday, June 18, 2023
Inside this week’s edition of Zander’s Weekend Facts, why there are different sides to the free school meals debate, and a look at what Zander’s been reading this past week. Plus, a compilation of the top headlines you need to know from the last seven days.
Also, go listen to the latest episode of the Zander’s Facts podcast! Episode 108 features a recap of all the latest soccer stories with Zander’s Facts soccer guru Emma Adams. The two discuss the end of the English Premier League season, Lionel Messi moving to Inter Miami, the latest with the U.S. Men’s National Team, and much more. Go download the Zander’s Facts podcast wherever you get your podcasts!
Here are Zander’s Weekend Facts for Sunday, June 18, 2023:
Why would you oppose universal school meals?
Since the Free School Lunch Act of 1946, the U.S. government has operated the National School Lunch Program. NSLP initially provided free and reduced-cost meals to children coming from families who qualify financially. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the federal government expanded the program to include everyone.
While that ended last summer, several states have continued with the program. California, Colorado, Maine, and Minnesota are the states that have signed laws continuing the program to include all K-12 students.
What those four states, and others that have passed similar laws such as Massachusetts and New York have in common is that their governments are controlled by Democrats. The other side of the aisle appears to have a different take on the matter.
As Washington gets ready for another funding fight, this time to prevent a government shutdown in the fall, some House Republicans recently unveiled their own budget proposal promising big cuts to government spending.
The conservative Republican Study Committee’s proposal, which you can read here, includes many things of note, including changes to the previously-off limits Medicare and Social Security programs. It also includes massive cuts to the National School Lunch Program, because it is subject to “widespread fraud and abuse.”
Fraud from who? Third graders?
The benefits to the program, and expanding it to have universal access, far outweigh the potential of embezzlement activities from eight-year-olds.
As noted by HealthAffairs, free school meals lead to decreased food insecurity, - whose negatives include lower academic progress and higher risk of poor mental and physical health outcomes - decreases in obesity prevalence, and more children from food-insecure households getting fed. Giving free meals to everyone also removes the stigma against those who qualify.
NPR found that during the 2022 fiscal year, when meals were free for everyone nationwide, 80 million more meals were served than during 2019, the year before Covid began. There’s an estimated $19 million in unpaid meal debt nationwide, which brings even more financial pressure on families already struggling to pay bills.
The Department of Agriculture, led by former Iowa Democratic Governor Tim Vilsack, recently proposed expanding the free meal program. But if it’s up to House Republicans, the program will considerably shrink.
When Minnesota’s Democratic Governor Tim Walz signed the bill that expanded the free school meals program in the state, this image went viral on social media:
Likely because of its remarkable contrast to the image that came from Arkansas’ Republican Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ signing of a bill that loosens child labor protections:
For more information on this week’s top story, here’s an article from Newsweek - Republicans Plan to Cut Free School Lunches
What Zander’s been reading
As cities across America have reclaimed some streets for pedestrians in recent years, there’s one city across the pond who may serve as a prime guide.
Check out this week’s featured article on Slate - How Paris Kicked Out the Cars - (Apple News link)
Rapid-fire Facts
These are top news headlines from the past week in rapid-fire fashion:
Trump Indictment: After being indicted by a federal grand jury over his handling of classified documents, former President Donald Trump appeared in a Miami courtroom on Tuesday. Trump pleaded not guilty to all 37 counts, which include willful retention of classified information and obstruction of justice. While it is not known when a potential trial would begin, the federal Speedy Trial Act says a case must be brought to trial within 70 days of an indictment, although that deadline could be extended.
Native American Case: The Supreme Court ruled in favor of Native American tribes in a case regarding children and adoptions. In a 7-2 opinion, Justice Amy Coney Barrett wrote that the 1978 Indian Child Welfare Act, which regulated adoptions of Native American children in an attempt to end the practice of children being placed in homes with no connection to their tribes, does not infringe on traditionally state-regulated areas of power. The ruling argued that the challengers in Haaland v. Brackeen did not have standing to argue whether the law violated the 14th Amendment’s equal protection clause.
Ticket Fees: The White House announced on Thursday that popular ticket marketplaces Ticketmaster and Seat Geek have agreed to eliminate “junk fees.” The services are expected to show the full cost, including fees, for events up-front, instead of adding the costs later in the purchasing process. The Government Accountability Office found in 2018 that fees increased the price of event tickets by an average of 27% on the primary market, and 31% on the secondary market.
CDC Head: Former North Carolina health official Dr. Mandy Cohen was named as the next director of the CDC last week. Cohen replaces Dr. Rochelle Walensky, who has run the agency since January 2021. Cohen previously served as North Carolina’s secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. As the leading government agency dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic, a recent CDC report found that homicide and suicide rates among young Americans in the last few years rose sharply.
Zander’s Facts Sporting Club
Here are the top headlines from the sports world in the ZF Sporting Club:
NBA Finals: The Denver Nuggets won their first NBA championship after beating the Miami Heat in the 2023 NBA Finals. The Nuggets won Game 5 in Denver, 94-89, to clinch the four games needed to win the series. Nikola Jokic was named Finals MVP after averaging 30.2 points and 14.0 rebounds in the five-game series, including shooting 75.0% from the field in Game 5. The Nuggets became the 20th active franchise to win an NBA title. The Clippers, Grizzlies, Hornets, Jazz, Magic, Nets, Pacers, Pelicans, Suns, and Timberwolves are the remaining 10 franchises yet to have won a championship.
Stanley Cup Finals: The Vegas Golden Knights took home the franchise’s first Stanley Cup after beating the Florida Panthers in five games in the 2023 Stanley Cup Finals. In the series-clinching Game 5 at home, Vegas scored nine goals in the 9-3 win, the most goals in a Stanley Cup Final game since the Toronto Maple Leafs’ nine goals in Game 5 of the 1942 Finals against the Detroit Red Wings. Jonathan Marchessault was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy, given to the series’ most valuable player, after scoring four goals in the series.
CONCACAF Nations League: The final of the CONCACAF Nations League will take place later tonight between the United States and Canada. In the semifinals, Canada took down Panama 2-0, while the U.S. beat rivals Mexico 3-0, the largest margin of victory for the U.S. against Mexico in a competitive match ever. The U.S.-Mexico match featured 13 cards in total, four of them red cards, and two goals from U.S. captain Christian Pulisic. News also broke during Thursday’s match that U.S. Soccer has rehired Gregg Berhalter as manager of the U.S. Men’s National Team through the 2026 World Cup. Tonight’s final between the U.S. and Canada will kick off at 9:00 pm et air on Paramount+ and Univision. (Zander will post an Instant Reaction podcast after tonight’s final whistle on the Zander’s Facts podcast feed.)
U.S. Open: Golf’s third major of the year will conclude later today from the Los Angeles Country Club with the final round of the U.S. Open. At the end of three rounds, Rickie Fowler and Wyndham Clark currently share the lead at -10. Rory McIlroy sits in third at -9, while Scottie Scheffler sits at -7 and Harry English rounds out the top five at -6. Last year’s U.S. Open champion, Matt Fitzpatrick, is currently tied for 15th at -1. Final round coverage begins later today at 1:00 pm et on NBC, with a champion expected to be crowned shortly before 10:00 pm et.
NBA News: Besides the conclusion of the NBA Finals, the past week was brimming with NBA news. Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant was suspended by the league for the first 25 games of next season after Morant posed with a firearm in an Instagram video. Morant was previously suspended eight games for showing a firearm on Instagram Live in a Denver-area nightclub. In Charlotte, Michael Jordan has reportedly agreed to sell his majority stake in the Charlotte Hornets, ending his 13-year tenure as owner of the team. While Jordan was owner, the Hornets made the Playoffs just twice. Additionally, the NBA Draft is set to take place on Thursday night, with prized prospect Victor Wembanyama expected to be drafted first overall by the San Antonio Spurs.
Bob Huggins: West Virginia head basketball coach Bob Huggins has resigned after 16 years at the helm of WVU’s men’s basketball program. Huggins was arrested and charged with a DUI on Friday night in Pittsburgh, with a breath test determining Huggins' blood alcohol content was 0.21%, more than doubling the legal limit of 0.08% in Pennsylvania. Huggins had already been suspended three games and given a reduced salary for the upcoming season after using a homophobic slur in an interview with a Cincinnati radio station last month. Huggins was previously convicted of a DUI in 2004 while head coach of the Cincinnati men’s basketball team.
Wrapping up the Facts
Before this edition of Zander’s Weekend Facts wraps up, here’s another reminder to check out the latest episodes of the Zander’s Facts podcast. Download and listen to the latest episode of the podcast, along with every episode of Zander’s Facts, wherever you get your podcasts.
Check out the Zander’s Facts Linktree page for more on everything Zander’s Facts related, including the all-new Zander’s Facts website. At ZandersFacts.com, get the latest on all the facts that Zander is putting out, and check out the freshest styles at the Zander’s Facts shop!
You can also listen to every episode of the podcast on this very website. All Zander’s Facts podcast episodes are now available on zandersfacts.substack.com under the “Zander’s Facts” tab for your enjoyment! That includes the next episode of the Zander’s Facts podcast, which comes out this Wednesday!
That’s a wrap on this week’s edition of Zander’s Weekend Facts. The facts in print return next Sunday, June 25, 2023.
