Nebraska first in nation to ban soda, energy drinks from public grocery aid benefits

LINCOLN — Nebraska has become the first state in the nation to restrict low-income recipients of public grocery aid from using SNAP benefits to buy soda and energy drinks. The ban related to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program was announced Monday during a daylong visit to the Cornhusker state by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins.

Rollins, accompanied by Gov. Jim Pillen on her …