President Donald Trump’s administration has been in power for a year now. “State of Trump” is our series discussing what’s changed in the state and what might be ahead. Diane Doherty is the executive director of the Illinois Hunger Coalition. She talks about federally funded programs for low-income individuals — such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — and their future in 2018.
On the 21st: We heard Illinois legislators reactions to a shooting that took place during a GOP Congressional baseball game practice. Also, we learned about how schools are trying to prevent "lunch shaming" and what the Loving vs. Virginia case means 50 years later.
Illinois has taken steps to prevent 260,000 residents from losing government food assistance. That gives the state a year to prepare these individuals for the job market.
Under federal law, poor people without kids or significant health problems are cut off from food stamps; they're limited to three months of eligibility in three years' time.
