Cook County soda tax could cost Illinois $87 million in federal food stamp funding

By John Kristof

08/10/2017

Certain provisions of Cook County’s penny-per-ounce soda tax could cost Illinois more than $86 million in federal administrative funding.

TAGS: Chicago, Cook County, food stamps, SNAP, soda tax, Toni Preckwinkle

Cook County soda tax exempts food stamp purchases

By Chris Lentino

08/03/2017

While supporters of the tax claim success in the fight against obesity, the law exempts a vulnerable segment of the population.

TAGS: Chicago, food stamps, SNAP, soda tax

1.8 million Illinoisans are dependent on food stamps

By Brendan Bakala

05/30/2017

March 2017 saw 15,000 more Illinoisans on food stamps than March 2016, while the number of Indiana SNAP recipients dropped from March 2016 to March 2017.

TAGS: food stamps, Indiana, jobs, SNAP, unemployment

2 million Illinoisans struggle to put food on their tables

By Madelyn Harwood

12/25/2016

Recent data from the Illinois Department of Human Services show nearly 2 million Illinois residents need government assistance to put food on the table this holiday season, as the state continues to hemorrhage manufacturing jobs and other blue-collar opportunities. Each year’s end is a time for reflection.

TAGS: food stamps, jobs, SNAP

Food-stamp enrollment outpaces population growth in Illinois

10/25/2016

Participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program has increased more than six times the rate population has grown over the last five years.

TAGS: food stamps, SNAP, unemployment