North Dakota postpones ban on using food assistance for soda, candy

Delay prompted by request from federal agency days before new restrictions were to take effect

A ban on purchasing candy, soda and other sweetened drinks with federal food assistance was postponed for North Dakotans days before it was set to take effect.

The restrictions on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program were expected to take effect Sept. 1, followed by a three-month grace period to g…