Effects Of Food Stamp Cuts, Revisiting The Dontre Hamilton Case, Starbucks And #RaceTogether, South By Southwest Report

Air Date:
Heard On Central Time

More than 250,000 low-income households in Wisconsin have been affected by recent cuts to the federally funded FoodShare program. We hear from the Milwaukee Hunger Task Force about how people are handling the cuts. We also look back on the Dontre Hamilton case, get a report from the South By Southwest festival, and learn effective ways to talk to one another about race in America.

Featured in this Show

  • Steep Cuts In Foodstamp Benefits Disproportionately Affect Elderly And Disabled

    Changes in the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program–known in Wisconsin as FoodShare–are causing drastic cuts to food stamp benefits for more than 255,000 low-income Wisconsin households. Some elderly and disabled residents report their monthly food stamp benefits dropping from $96 to $16. A member of Milwaukee’s Hunger Task Force shines a light on the causes and possible remedies.

  • As Officer Who Killed Dontre Hamilton Appeals Firing, A Look Back At The Case

    The disciplinary appeal of Christopher Manney, the Milwaukee Police officer who shot and killed Dontre Hamilton last April, is scheduled to begin in downtown Milwaukee at 4:30 p.m. Thursday.

    Christopher Manney was fired from the Milwaukee police department after he shot Hamilton because the department says he did not follow protocol when he frisked Hamilton.

    Dontre Hamilton, a black man diagnosed with schizophrenia, was sleeping in Milwaukee’s Arrow Park when Manney approached him. An altercation began after Manney patted him down. Manney was not charged by the Milwaukee District Attorney, who said his use of force was justified self-defense. Manney is now trying to appeal his firing.

    The questions of racial disparities in Wisconsin’s police and criminal justice system that this case brought about were reignited two weeks ago with the shooting of black 19-year-old Tony Robinson in Madison.

    Corrinne Hess is a Milwaukee-based freelance journalist, and her story of the events of Dontre Hamilton’s death is featured in the March issue of Milwaukee Magazine.

  • Starbucks Launches #RaceTogether Campaign

    Starbucks, in partnership with USA Today, is launching a “Race Together” campaign, hoping to spark a national conversation about race. The campaign is already drawing criticism. We ask a psychologist about effective ways to discuss racism and prejudice.

Episode Credits

  • Rob Ferrett Host
  • Veronica Rueckert Host
  • Marika Suval Producer
  • Galen Druke Producer
  • Cynthia Schuster Producer
  • Sherrie Tussler Guest
  • Corrinne Hess Guest
  • Cyndi Kernahan Guest

Related Stories