Small grocers and convenience stores feel an impact as customers go without SNAP benefits

Some small grocery stores and neighborhood convenience stores are eager for the U.S. government shutdown to end and for their customers to start receiving federal food aid again. Late last month, the Trump administration froze funding for the SNAP benefits that about 42 million Americans use to buy groceries. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says about 74% of the assistance was spent last year at superstores like Walmart and supermarkets like Kroger. Around 14% went to smaller,stores that are more accessible to SNAP beneficiaries.  A former director of the United Nations World Food Program says SNAP is not only a social safety net for families but a local economic engine that supports neighborhood businesses.

What to know about Trump's plan to give Americans a $2,000 tariff dividend

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump boasts that his tariffs protect American industries, lure factories to the United States, raise money for the federal government and give him diplomatic leverage. Now, he’s claiming they can finance a windfall for American families, too: He’s promising a $2,000 tariff dividend. The president proposed the idea on his Truth Social media platform Sunday, five days after his Republican Party lost elections in Virginia, New Jersey and elsewhere largely because of voter discontent with his economic stewardship and the high cost of living. Budget experts scoffed at the idea, which conjured memories of the Trump administration’s short-lived plan for DOGE dividend checks paid for by billionaire Elon Musk’s federal budget cuts.

Senate approves bill to end the shutdown, sending it to the House

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate has passed legislation to reopen the government, bringing the longest shutdown in history closer to an end after a small group of Democrats struck a deal with Republicans. The shutdown could last a few more days as members of the House, which has been on recess since mid-September, return to Washington to vote on the legislation. President Donald Trump has signaled support for the bill, saying Monday that “we’re going to be opening up our country very quickly.” The final 60-40 Senate vote broke a grueling stalemate that lasted more than six weeks as Democrats demanded that Republicans negotiate with them to extend health care tax credits. The Republicans never did.

There's no timeline on when flight cuts will ease up after the government shutdown ends

Airlines have canceled over 9,000 flights across the U.S. since the Federal Aviation Administration ordered flight cuts late last week. The cuts aim to ease demands on short-staffed control towers during the federal government shutdown. On Tuesday, another 1,200 flights were canceled as the FAA increased its target for reducing flights at major airports. Flights are expected to remain disrupted even as the shutdown nears an end, and cancellations are unlikely to ease right away. The pace of airline ticket sales for Thanksgiving travel has slowed as more travelers have reconsidered whether to fly amid all the delays and cancellations.

Asian shares are mixed in cautious trading after a mixed day on Wall Street

TOKYO (AP) — Asian shares are mixed in cautious trading after most U.S. stocks rose, settling back to where they were before last week’s swoon over the future of artificial intelligence. U.S. futures edged higher while oil prices declined. Benchmarks fell in Tokyo and Shanghai but rose in most other major markets. SoftBank's shares plunged 6.6% in Tokyo after it said Tuesday that it sold its entire stake in the AI chip company Nividia for $5.8 billion last month. On Tuesday, the S&P 500 added 0.2% and the Dow industrials gained 1.2% to a record, surpassing its prior all-time high set two weeks ago. The Nasdaq composite dipped 0.3%

Lawsuit challenges TSA's ban on transgender officers conducting pat-downs

A Virginia transportation security officer is accusing the U.S. Department of Homeland Security of sex discrimination over a policy barring transgender officers from performing security pat-downs. The Transportation Security Administration enacted the policy in February to comply with a Trump executive order declaring two unchangeable sexes. The lawsuit, filed Friday, argues the policy violates civil rights laws. It also bars the officer from using restrooms aligning with her gender identity. TSA said it does not comment on pending litigation. DHS pushed back on assertions by some legal experts that its policy is discriminatory.

European Union and Indian navies take over ship used by pirates off Somalia to seize tanker

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The European Union and Indian navies have taken over a ship used by pirates off the coast of Somalia to seize a Malta-flagged tanker called the Hellas Aphrodite. The Iranian fishing vessel, Issamohamadi, was used as a “mother ship” for the attacks. A team from the Spanish frigate ESPS Victoria boarded the dhow and found the original crew safe. The EU naval force's Operation Atalanta says piracy in the area has been disrupted. Somali pirate attacks have increased over the last year, partly due to instability caused by attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels in the Red Sea corridor.

White House's 50-year mortgage proposal has one notable benefit but a number of drawbacks

NEW YORK (AP) — The White House says it is considering a 50-year mortgage to address the home affordability crisis. Critics argue it won't solve issues like supply shortages and high interest rates. Bill Pulte, director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, called it a "game changer" for homebuyers. He noted on X that it's just one potential solution among others being considered. A 50-year mortgage would lower a borrower's monthly payments but could dramatically increase their total interest paid. It would also delay equity accumulation compared to a 30-year mortgage.

Japan's SoftBank says it has sold its shares in Nvidia for $5.8 billion, turning its focus to OpenAI

TOKYO (AP) — Japanese technology giant SoftBank says it has sold its stake in Nvidia, raising $5.8 billion to pour into other investments. Tokyo-based SoftBank Group Corp. said it sold the stake in October. It reported its profit in April-September soared to almost triple what it was a year earlier thanks to gains in its investment in Chat GPT creator OpenAI. SoftBank is a major investor in the $500 billion Stargate project in the U.S. The company's fortunes tend to fluctuate depending on its investments in a range of ventures, including through its Vision Funds. SoftBank's stocks have about doubled in the past year. They gained nearly 2% on Tuesday.

Everyday volunteers are providing stopgap services during the shutdown in a show of community power

NEW YORK (AP) — Everyday people are improvising stopgap efforts to support their communities through the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. Whether feeding hungry families or maintaining local museum tours, volunteers nationwide are strengthening social ties that they hope will continue making their neighbors whole in the face of persistent precarity. And the community engagement isn’t slowing down even as lawmakers approach a deal to reopen the government. Hale Morrissette, who co-founded a Pensacola Grocery Buddies program to fight food insecurity, finds that “everybody’s stepping up.” She says "they know that this is not something that’s like a partisan type of issue. It’s about service and it’s about taking care of each other.”