SNAP lapse drives massive Los Angeles aid

 

At the Kia Forum in Inglewood, thousands queued for a drive-through food distribution as SNAP benefits lapsed on the first day of the month during a federal shutdown that began Oct. 1. The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank loaded about 5,000 cars with roughly 40 meals each, while residents like...

Houston Food Bank Supersite Aids SNAP Families

 

Before dawn, cars lined up at NRG Stadium as the Houston Food Bank opened a drive-thru supersite to serve about 5,000 families with produce, frozen chicken and staples, amid anxiety over SNAP delays. The rush follows Agriculture Department warnings that SNAP funding could lapse during a government shutdown; a Rhode...

ACA premiums soar as subsidy fight intensifies

 

With open enrollment underway, Americans are bracing for steep Affordable Care Act premium increases tied to expiring tax credits. In Utah, Stacy Cox says her monthly bill could jump from $495 to $2,168 in 2026 without the subsidy, or to $754 even if it’s extended. In Virginia, Beth Dryer learned...

Louisiana moves to preserve SNAP during shutdown

 

After the Oct. 1 federal shutdown, Louisiana moved to blunt the fallout: Gov. Jeff Landry will tap about $147 million in emergency funds to keep SNAP benefits flowing temporarily for older residents, people with disabilities and households with children starting Saturday. The Trump administration says it will not issue November...

Jamaica tests disaster finance as Melissa strikes

 

Hurricane Melissa ravaged Jamaica, flattening fields and homes and washing away roads, yet the country is poised to cushion the financial blow. Officials say a multilayered disaster plan, including cash reserves, a regional insurance pool, preapproved loans, and a $150 million catastrophe bond, could provide about $820 million this year....

New York braces for SNAP funding halt

 

With federal funding for SNAP set to stop Saturday amid the government shutdown, roughly three million New Yorkers face a sudden food aid cliff. Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency and pledged $106 million for food banks and meal programs, a fraction of the $650 million in monthly...

FAA workers labor unpaid as shutdown bites

 

The government shutdown delivered $0 paychecks to some FAA employees, forcing essential workers to keep the skies safe while families keep heat off, burn firewood, and tighten belts. Radar technician Cleverson Schmidt in Washington, DC, continues certifying aircraft systems without pay, juggling creditors and side jobs. In Boston, a controller’s...

Car Insurance Soars as Consumers Seek Relief

 

Car insurance premiums have jumped 55% since February 2020, pushed up by pricier cars, repairs and medical care — and by pandemic-era speeding that made crashes costlier. Washington’s insurance commissioner Patty Kuderer says claims drive premiums and must be approved when costs are proven. Industry official Bob Passmore says profits...

Treasury Yields Rise as Fed Signals Uncertainty

 

U.S. Treasury yields edged higher Thursday as markets parsed the Federal Reserve’s second rate cut this year and mixed signals about December. The 10-year rose more than 3 basis points to 4.095%, the 2-year gained over 2 to 3.608%, and the 30-year added more than 5 to 4.651%. The FOMC...

Fed Cuts Rate; Powell Tempers December Expectations

 

The Federal Reserve cut its benchmark rate by a quarter point to about 3.9%, the second reduction this year, aiming to support growth and hiring amid still-elevated inflation. Chair Jerome Powell warned another cut in December is far from assured, citing a government shutdown that has stalled key data and...