North Dakotans narrowly reject free school meals measure

BISMARCK — North Dakota voters have narrowly defeated a measure to require all public schools in the state to provide free breakfast and lunch to students. If approved, Measure 2 on the statewide ballot on Tuesday, Nov. 3, would have added a section to article VIII of the North Dakota Constitution related to how school lunches are funded. In final but unofficial results, no votes garnered 50.61% while the yes votes had 49.39%, with all 358 precincts reporting. The measure failed by just over 1% or fewer than 2,900 votes. A simple majority of yes votes was required for approval. Amy Jacobson, who leads Prairie Action ND and is part of Together for School Meals, a citizen-led initiative of more than 80 local organizations, was hopeful that the last votes to be counted in Cass County would put the measure over the top. No matter what the result, she said making sure all school children are fed is an important conversation in the state. "We know that families