US Department of Agriculture

A student at Oakville Elementary School eats his lunch. Preliminary data on the national lunch program shows schools served almost 130 million fewer free or reduced price meals in the fall of 2022 compared to the same time period right before the pandemic.

Education

More schools can now offer free meals after federal policy change, but cost is still a burden

Kate Grumke

A change in USDA policy will make it easier for schools to offer free meals to all students, but they will still have to pay for part of the cost.

More than half of bankers reported that high interest rates were impairing agricultural equipment sales, according to Creighton University's Rural Mainstreet Economy survey.

U.S. farmers are facing a tough economy: Lower crop prices and higher interest rates

Eva Tesfaye

A slowdown in the agricultural industry is "going to put a strain on farmers." But analysts say the rural economy in the Midwest and Great Plains is still doing well.

An overlook of that Garden of the Gods at Shawnee National Forest. A resolution passed by the Carbondale City Council supports changing forest into a national park and climate preserve.

Health, Science, Environment

Carbondale resolution backs move to convert Shawnee National Forest to a national park

Chad Davis

City officials in Carbondale passed a resolution that supports changing Shawnee National Forest into a national park and climate preserve.

St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson announces that the US General Services Administration and US Department of Agriculture will relocate more than 1,000 jobs to downtown St. Louis, on Tuesday, June 23, 2020.

Economy & Business

1,000 Federal Jobs To Move Downtown From North St. Louis

Updated at 6 p.m. June 24 with comments from a USDA local union presidentMore than 1,000 federal jobs will relocate to downtown St. Louis from a north…