Florida Sentinel Bulletin

f doctors prescribed fruits and vegetables like medicine, could people improve their health through diet alone? That’s the theory behind a growing number of programs in the U.S. that deliver free produce.

These so-called produce prescription programs aim to combat heart problems and obesity-related diseases by either preparing free bundles of fruits and veggies for participants to pick up on a regular schedule, delivering fresh batches of produce to people’s homes or giving them money to buy produce.

Carol Grand, a 63-year-old retiree in Tulsa, Oklahoma, joined one such program in late 2022 after she was diagnosed with diabetes. Her doctor prescribed her medication, she said, but she didn’t want to rely on it forever.

“I said, ‘Well, this can’t possibly be the way I’m going to live my life,’” Grand said. “If there was another alternative, then I was there for it.”

Grand signed up for FreshRx Oklahoma, a nonprofit food prescription service for people with diabetes. The yearlong program distributes bags of locally grown fruits and vegetables, along with recipes, every two weeks. Participants also receive free health screenings every quarter.

Grand said her blood sugar dropped to nondiabetic levels and she lost 50 pounds.

The Sheetz convenience store chain has been hit with a lawsuit by federal officials who allege the company discriminated against minority job applicants.

Sheetz Inc., which operates more than 700 stores in six states, discriminated against Black, Native American and multiracial job seekers by automatically weeding out applicants whom the company deemed to have failed a criminal background check, according to U.S. officials.

President Joe Biden stopped by a Sheetz for snacks this week while campaigning in Pennsylvania.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed suit in Baltimore against Altoona, Pennsylvania-based Sheetz and two subsidary companies, alleging the chain’s longstanding hiring practices have a disproportionate impact on minority applicants and thus run afoul of federal civil rights law.

Sheetz said Thursday that it “does not tolerate discrimination of any kind.”

Beyoncé

Western boots have a new protector in Beyoncé.

The country fashion staple’s sales surged more than 20% in the week after the music superstar released her “Cowboy Carter” album, according to consumer behavior firm Circana. That can spell good news for companies making the iconic shoe, as well as other items that fit the same Wild West aesthetic.

“Cowboy Carter,” which came out late last month, marked the “Halo” singer’s foray into the country genre. Even before the full album dropped, Circana reported notable boosts to unit sales for this style of boot following the release of singles “Texas Hold ’Em” and “16 Carriages.”

The 32-time Grammy winner’s latest project adds to a groundswell of cultural support for stagecoach-inspired styles. Louis Vuitton unveiled an American Western line during Paris Fashion Week earlier this year, featuring models in everything from cowboy hats to bolo ties. This look has also caught a bid through the ongoing Eras Tour, as some attendees opt to channel Taylor Swift’s pre-pop days as a country singer.

Retailers and industry followers have already taken note of the trend.

Beyoncé’s chart-topping album can provide a same-store sales bump and help lasso in women shoppers at Boot Barn, said Williams Trading analyst Sam Poser. He upgraded his rating on the California-based retailer to buy on Thursday and raised his price target by $33 to $113, which now implies an upside of about 12%.

President Biden

When Vice President Kamala Harris dropped by a campaign office in Madison, Wisconsin, in March, those who attended were handed some poster board and asked to write down why they’re supporting President Biden’s reelection.

Democratic voter Frank Pohlkamp wrote, “because democracy matters.”

“There was quite a bit of planning [from Trump’s side] that went into the idea of the transfer of power,” Pohlkamp said of the period between the 2020 election and the Jan. 6, 2021, attacks on the U.S. Capitol. “That is concerning to me. The rule of law and democracy matters to the United States.”

Former President Donald Trump has placed Jan. 6 at the center of his presidential campaign, as both he and other Republicans downplay the severity of the attack and the baseless claims of election fraud that inspired it.

 President Biden believes reminding voters again about this rhetoric from Trump, and painting him as a “threat” to democracy is a crucial contrast to highlight. It’s a variation on the theme of his 2020 campaign, which he referred to as a fight for the “soul of the nation,” and one that he returned to during the 2022 midterm elections.