In the News

"Millions of low- and middle-income Americans are facing a looming health care affordability crisis," Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) said in a virtual news conference Wednesday.

The association "anticipates that WIC has enough funding on hand to remain open for the short term — likely one to two weeks," Georgia Machell, president and CEO of the organization, said in a statement on its website.

Suffolk Legis. Samuel Gonzalez (D-Brentwood) said he believes there will be a ripple effect from the shutdown at the local level and believes the county can help.

Union officials and Democratic lawmakers quickly blasted Mr. Trump for what they described as only the latest attempt to use federal workers as bargaining chips during the shutdown.

"No contract, no coffee!" came the loud chant of about 15 picketers as part of an effort to reinvigorate negotiations between the Starbucks Workers United labor union and the Seattle-based company that have yet to yield a labor deal.

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Parents on Long Island, regardless of income levels, often find covering the cost of child care difficult, and few options to help with the costs, local experts said.