Republicans may like to rail against big government. But here in Wisconsin — where conservative lawmakers just introduced a bill to dramatically restrict what people can buy with their own food stamps — Republicans want to cook up a new kind of nanny state.
This isn’t a new idea altogether.
Recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) already can’t buy prepared foods or booze with their benefits. More recently, some conservative politicians and policy wonks have suggested restricting food stamp recipients from using government aid to buy soda or junk food.
But now, Wisconsin Republicans want to bar people from using their food stamps to buy shrimp, lobster, and other shellfish, and require them to use at least two-thirds of their SNAP benefits on items found on a specific and arbitrary list of products.
If the bill were to pass, bulk dry beans — a very affordable and nutritious choice — would be out, but canned beans would be in. That is, unless they’re green beans, in which case they’re off limits. Fruit juice is allowed, as long as it’s not organic. Canned tomatoes are in, but spaghetti sauce is out.
The Food Research and Action Center says the proposal would create a “grocery nanny state.”
As a former food stamp recipient myself, I can’t even imagine what a trip to the grocery store would be like — or how humiliating it would be to check out and discover that half of my purchases weren’t allowed. Imagine holding up an entire line of shoppers as a clerk goes through your groceries, sorting them into “yes” and “no” piles.
And with only $70 to feed an adult woman for a month, how much lobster do the Republicans think I would’ve been buying anyway?
Like the rest of our fraying social safety net, food stamps are intended to help Americans out when we’re down on our luck. To qualify, you have to be incredibly poor — so poor that nobody would be tempted to avoid work to obtain public assistance.
My $70 per month for food was definitely helpful. But when I was that poor, I had a hard time paying for gas, rent, utilities, and everything else in my life. I was eager to earn more money and get off food stamps — and I did after a few months.
If you want to see what an average food stamp recipient looks like, look in the mirror. Anyone can fall on hard times. Every single person I’ve met who’s fallen that low has worked their tails off to get back on their feet.
Being poor is stressful enough without being kicked while you’re down. The last thing food stamp recipients need is a handful of rich politicians telling them what they can and can’t eat.
OtherWords.org columnist Jill Richardson is the author of “Recipe for America: Why Our Food System Is Broken and What We Can Do to Fix It.”
ROMNEY, W.Va. (AP) — Part of the erotic movie “Fifty Shades of Grey” was shown in a West Virginia high school classroom this week after students convinced their teacher to let them watch it as a reward for good work.
Hampshire High principal Jeff Woofter says the film was shut down after 10 minutes when an assistant principal walked by and saw what they were watching.
Hampshire County school policy prohibits students from watching movies of any kind in the classroom.
It is unclear if the students or teacher will face disciplinary action.
The first “50 Shades” film opened this year on Valentine’s Day weekend and became one of the biggest R-rated openings ever.
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Blues legend B.B. King has died in Las Vegas at age 89, his lawyer says.
Attorney Brent Bryson tells The Associated Press that King died peacefully in his sleep at 9:40 p.m. PDT Thursday at his home in Las Vegas.
The one-time farmhand brought new fans to the blues and influenced a generation of musicians with his heartfelt vocals and soaring guitar on songs such as “The Thrill Is Gone.”
King sold millions of records worldwide and was inducted into the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
King played a Gibson guitar that he affectionately called Lucille and was not only the undisputed king of the blues but a mentor to scores of guitarists including Eric Clapton.
He was awarded his 15th Grammy in 2009 in the traditional blues album category for “One Kind Favor.”
Schools will be celebrating with their graduates as another school year ends. Here is a list of scheduled commencement ceremonies from around the area.
Hays High School
Baccalaureate: Sunday, May 17, 1:30 p.m., 12th Street Auditorium, 323 W.12th
Commencement: Sunday, May 17, 3:00 p.m., Gross Memorial Coliseum, 600 Park St
Number of students graduating: 146 RELATED STORY: Complete list of Hays High Senior Honors
Thomas More Prep-Marian
Baccalaureate: Sunday, May 24, 1:00 p.m., St. Nicholas of Myra Church, 2901 East 13th
Commencement: Sunday, May 24, 3:00 p.m., Al Billinger Field House, 1701 Hall St
Number of students graduating: 64
Russell High School
Commencement: Saturday, May 16, 7:30 p.m., RHS Gym, 565 E State St
Number of students graduating: 41
Plainville
Commencement: Saturday, May 16, 2:30 p.m., Cardinal Gym, 203 SE Cardinal Ave
Number of students graduating: 31
La Crosse
Commencement: Saturday, May 16, 3:00 p.m., LHS Gym, 400 Washington St
Number of students graduating: 21
Ellis
Commencement: Saturday, May 16, 2:00 p.m., EHS Gym, 1706 S. Monroe
Number of students graduating: 25
KINGMAN – A Kingman County jury on Thursday found Dean Alan Cowles, 48, of Kingman, guilty of second-degree intentional murder according to Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt said.
Cowles was found guilty of one count of second-degree intentional murder in the death of Curtis Shelton. The charges stemmed from a crime committed in February of 2014. Judge Larry T. Solomon presided over the trial. Sentencing has been set for June 15 at 1:30 p.m. in Kingman County District Court.
In March, a second defendant, Jeffrey Hartpence, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in connection with this crime. Hartpence’s sentencing is scheduled for June 5 at 1:30 p.m.
The case was investigated by the Kingman Sheriff’s Office. Assistant Attorneys General Amy Hanley and Lyndzie Carter of Schmidt’s office prosecuted the case.
The TMP-Marian baseball team ends their regular season on a six-game win streak after defeating Goodland 12-7 in the completion of a rainout from last week then sweeping Colby 6-0 and 10-6. The Monarchs have won nine of their last 10 games to finish the regular season 16-4.
Ryan Ruder and Ryan Schippers both had three hits against Goodland. Ruder drove in three and scored twice. Schippers tripled and also scored two runs. Ricky Hockett allowed one run on six hits over four innings for the win. Hockett struck out six and walked none.
Kameron Schmidt threw a the complete game shutout in the opener against Colby, holding the Eagles to five hits while striking out five and walking none. Ricky Hockett drove in two while Schmidt, Justin Pfeifer and Jared Vitztum all had two hits.
Liam Stults pitched five innings in the second game with the Eagles and picks up the win. He struck out four and walked four. Braiden Werth drove in three.
The Monarchs will now play Russell/Victoria at two o’clock Tuesday in Hoisington in their regional opener.
The Hays High softball team closed out the regular season with a pair of run-rule wins in Liberal Thursday. The Indians win 18-0 and 24-0 to finish the regular season at 5-15.
A big day for Kaylie Schoendaller who went 5-for-7 in the two games with two home runs and 12 RBIs. Schoendaller hit a solo homer in the first game then added a grand slam in the second and scored six runs.
Schoendaller now has hit 26 home runs in her career which is second most in Kansas history behind Bishop Carroll’s Brittany Finney (32). Both moved past the old mark of 24 held by former TMP-Marian and Fort Hays State standout Maddie Holub.
Madison Prough picks up the game one win, holding Liberal to two hits. Hope Aufdemburge wins the second game.
The Indians will play McPherson at three o’clock Tuesday in Andale in their regional opener.
The TMP-Marian boys golf team finished second at the MCL tournament held at the Rooks County Golf and Country Club Thursday afternoon.
The Monarchs shoot a 318 and finish nine shots back of Plainville. Trego finished third with a 323.
Hayden Rohr shot a 76 to lead the Monarchs and finish sixth. Max Megaffin fired a 77 and was seventh.
Plainville’s Gunner Kerns wins the tournament with a 71. Trego Emmit Owens and Dion Reetz both shoot a 74 to and finish second and third respectively. Plainville’s Colten Bobeck was fourth with a 75.
Team Results
Plainville 309
TMP-Marian 318
Trego 323
Stockton 341
Phillipsburg 342
Norton 347
Oakley 365
Hill City 368
Smith Center 413
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas prison officials have not said how a 28-year-old woman died at a Topeka prison two months ago.
The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that Michele Lee Suppes died March 22 when she was an inmate at Topeka Correctional Facility.
She had been at the prison since October 2014 after she was convicted of involuntary reckless manslaughter in the death of her 18-month-old daughter in Ellsworth in 2010. Suppes was sentenced to 32 months in prison after the child ingested morphine.
Officials at the Topeka facility directed questions about Suppes to the state. But officials from the Kansas Department of Corrections won’t comment on Suppes’ death or say how she died. Viola Riggin, corrections department director of health care services, said she couldn’t comment on Suppes’ case because of privacy laws.
The Hays High girls finished third and the boys fifth at the Western Athletic Conference track and field meet in Dodge City Thursday.
The Indian girls had two first and three second place finishes. Kali Pitcock wins the 100 meter hurdles and Lexi Summers the long jump. Ashlyn Parish was second in the 300 meter hurdles. Mattison Schlaefli was second in the javelin and the 4×800 relay was second.
Hayden Kreutzer won the pole vault and Ethan Nunnery the triple jump to lead the boys. Shane Berens finished second in the discus.
