government shutdown

REAL Services Executive Director Karla Mapes says they've had some carryover money from last year to help the first households signing up for energy assistance but that won't last if the federal government shutdown continues much longer.

South Bend Mayor James Mueller says the city will send the Food Bank of Northern Indiana $70,000 to buy more food for SNAP recipients who've lost benefits because of the federal government shutdown.

The Community Foundation of Elkhart County this week bought a large amount of food and is distributing it to 61 pantries. They'll need more volunteers to help hand out the food, especially after Saturday when the federal government shutdown freezes SNAP benefits.

South Bend Common Council Member Oliver Davis and Black Lives Matter South Bend say the city should send some of its cash reserves to local food pantries if the federal government shutdown doesn't end by Saturday, when SNAP recipients would normally receive their November benefits.

Portage Township Trustee Jason Critchlow says SNAP recipients shouldn't wait until Nov. 1 to prepare to lose their benefits. He suggests keeping current on paperwork, trying to stretch food spending more this week, and reaching out to food pantries.

“Every day, every week, it moves in that direction because when you look at our political competitors, they’re pretty well gerrymandered across every state they control,” Braun told reporters in Elkhart County on Wednesday.

Gov. Eric Holcomb said he’s holding out hope that the federal government won’t shut down as a funding deadline looms this week, even as the state braces for it.

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — There will be no partial shutdown of state government next week, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced Friday, after receiving the last of…