school lunch Archives - KVRR Local News

Group seeks to ask voters to approve free public school meals in North Dakota

November 26, 2025

TJ Nelson,

BISMARCK, N.D. (KVRR) — A new effort is underway to provide free breakfast and lunch to all students in public schools in North Dakota. Secretary of State Michael Howe has just received a proposed petition to initiate a constitutional measure for funding of school lunches. It would require school districts to maximize federal reimbursements for the meals before the final…

Nd Legislature Considers Free School Meals Bill.

Lawmakers expand free school meals in North Dakota after rejecting larger proposal

February 26, 2025

KVRR Staff,

Students eating lunch at Carl Ben Eielson Middle School in Fargo. (North Dakota Monitor)BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — A day after rejecting free school meals for all North Dakota K-12 students, House members on Tuesday slightly increased the number of students who qualify for free lunch. Within House Bill 1013, the budget bill for the Department of Public Instruction, students…

Free School Lunches Proposed for North Dakotans

The bill would use money from the Legacy fund to ensure kids were properly fed every day at school.

February 20, 2025

Gabriel Ostler,

BISMARCK, N.D. – Free school meals could be coming to North Dakota public schools. A House bill with bipartisan support would appropriate $140 million from the Legacy Fund to cover school lunches for two years. Other supporters of the bill include student council members, a spokesperson from the American Heart Association, and the president of North Dakota AFL-CIO. They say…

Great Plains Food Bank saw “unprecedented” numbers during Youth Summer Meals Program

September 27, 2023

Alison Voorhees,

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — Great Plains Food Bank announces it was it a huge year for it’s Youth Summer Meals Program. They say the program more than quadrupled the meals they gave out this summer. An unprecedented 23,270 meals were given out at 14 different locations throughout the state. That is an increase of over 17,000 meals compared to last…

Bill would provide free lunches for every student regardless of income

January 25, 2023

Site Staff,

BISMARCK, N.D. (KVRR) — Two proposed bills in the North Dakota legislature would give a free lunch to every student in public schools and remove the stigma of those already getting a free lunch. House Bill 1491, co-sponsored by Senator Tim Mathern of Fargo, would give a free lunch to every student in public schools regardless of income. An $89…

North Dakota House Bill Would Make School Lunch Free

January 24, 2023

KVRR Staff,

BISMARCK, N.D. (KFGO/KVRR) — During the Covid-19 pandemic, the federal government paid for universal free meals for all students regardless of income. With that subsidy ending this school year, some North Dakota legislators have joined those in a number of other states looking to make the program permanent. A bill in the House would make lunch free for all North…

Minnesota expands free meals program to students this school year

Minnesota was one of eight states selected for the USDA pilot program

August 15, 2022

Alison Voorhees,

ST. PAUL, Minn. (KVRR) — Governor Walz says the state is expanding its free meals program to an additional 90,000 new students this school year. More than 200,000 students on Medicaid will be automatically enrolled. Minnesota is one of eight states selected for the USDA pilot program that makes this move possible. Walz says, “This project means fewer children will…

West Fargo School Lunch Repack Pilot Program deemed a success

A total of 134 servings were repackaged and 116 were claimed

April 8, 2021

Site Staff,

WEST FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) – The West Fargo Public School District has wrapped up a pilot program aimed at repacking leftover lunch meals and distributing them to students in need. Officials say the School Lunch Repack Pilot Program has been a big success. Over the past month, 86% of the repacked servings were claimed by students. Liberty Middle School’s food…

Fargo Public Schools students receive hand-written “miss you” notes in lunch meals

1,000 hand-made cards were created by a staff member's sibling

March 30, 2020

Site Staff,

FARGO, N.D. — Fargo Public Schools is now including frozen items to the free meals being provided to students during the pandemic. That includes foods like hamburger patties, corn dogs, or cheese bread sticks. Those with the school’s Nutrition Services Program say they see the meals as a way to engage with their students while social distancing. One staff member’s…

LIVE: Healthy School Lunches

Naturopathic Doctor, Andrea Hillstad, Gives an Example of What to Pack Your Kid This School Year

August 17, 2017

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KVRR’s Jackie Kelly sits down and talks with Naturopathic Doctor, Andrea Hillstad, about how to pack your kid a healthy lunch. Categories: Morning – Features, Morning – In The Community Tags: back to school, healthy food, naturopathic doctor, school lunch