AP Special Report Spotlight When SNAP stopped, $50 cash grants became a lifeline for families JAMES POLLARD Associated Press Dec 25, 2025 Dec 25, 2025 Updated Jan 16, 2026 0 Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Finances already looked tight for Jade Grant and her three children as she entered the year's final months.kAmQtG6CJ@?6VD 3:CE952J :D 324<\E@\324<[Q E96 ba\J62C\@=5 46CE:7:65 ?FCD:?8 2DD:DE2?E D2:5] Q*@F 92G6 9@=:52JD 4@>:?8 FA] *@F 92G6 %92?<D8:G:?8] tG6CJE9:?8 :D C:89E E96C6] p?5 E96?[ 3@@>] }@ W7@@5X DE2>AD]Qk^AmkAmvC2?E :D 2>@?8 E96 ?62C=J ca >:==:@? =@H6C\:?4@>6 p>6C:42?D H9@ 86E 96=A 3FJ:?8 8C@46C:6D 7C@> E96 $FAA=6>6?E2= }FEC:E:@? pDD:DE2?46 !C@8C2>[ @C $}p!] (96? E96 7656C2= D9FE5@H? 3682? :? ~4E@36C[ D96 H2D?VE H@CC:65 23@FE =@D:?8 96C 36?67:ED — D96 D2:5 D96 :D FD65 E@ 8@G6C?>6?E Q7@@=:D9?6DD]Qk^Am Jade Grant poses for a portrait, Dec 18, in Orlando, Fla. Kevin Kolczynski, Associated Press kAmqFE 4:C4F>DE2?46D 8@E 5:46J H96? 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E96 E23=6 — 6DA64:2==J H:E9 96C J@F?86DEVD eE9 3:CE952J 2AAC@249:?8]k^Am People are also reading… Friday Five New flights, new homes, pancakes and art Motown group, Duke of Hazards star highlight Swanee schedule NC House committee supportive of bill to cap local property tax levies Cabarrus Sheriff’s Office earns state accreditation after two-year process Pancake Day is set for Thursday at the Boys & Girls Club The Chamber presents awards, recalls 2025 accomplishments Big Elm Ministries, Macy's and Second Harvest team up to help families CHURCH EVENTS: McGill barbecue to feature Jim Avett We'll celebrate America's 250 years together Friday Five: Raising Cane's and Sheetz coming to Concord Cabarrus CrimeStoppers - Call or text a tip anonymously Former FBI Director Robert Mueller, who investigated Russia-Trump campaign ties, dies Duke Endowment awards $3.2 million for Atrium Health's cancer, careers and school programs Cabarrus Calendar Kanthal celebrates opening of high-tech Concord operation kAm%96? vC2?E =@8865 :?E@ !C@A6=[ 2? 2AA FD65 3J d >:==:@? A6@A=6 E@ >2?286 E96:C 6=64EC@?:4 36?67:ED EC2?D76CD[ H96C6 D96 D2H 2 A@A\FA 32??6C :?G:E:?8 96C E@ 2AA=J 7@C 2 C6=:67 AC@8C2>] (:E9:? 2 >:?FE6[ D96V5 4@>A=6E65 2 DFCG6J[ 2?5 23@FE EH@ 52JD =2E6C[ D96 8@E 2 G:CEF2= Sd_ 8:7E 42C5]k^Am kAm%96 E@E2= 5:5?VE 4@>6 4=@D6 E@ 96C >@?E9=J $}p! 2==@E>6?E[ 3FE E96 !2=> q2J[ u=@C:52[ C6D:56?E D2:5 :E H2D 6?@F89 E@ 3FJ 2 4FDE@>:K65 Qq=F6JQ 3:CE952J 42<6 7@C 96C D@?]k^Am Personal-finance One issue is uniting Americans in a time of polarization: Household costs THOMAS BEAUMONT, SIMRAN PARWANI and AMELIA THOMSON-DEVEAUX Associated Press kAm}62C=J 2 BF2CE6C @7 2 >:==:@? 72>:=:6D 8@E E92E D2>6 42D9 :?;64E:@? 7C@> E96 ?@?AC@7:E v:G6s:C64E=J 2D E96J >:DD65 $}p! 56A@D:ED >2?J ?665 E@ 7665 E96:C 9@FD69@=5D] %96 4@==23@C2E:@? H:E9 !C@A6= AC@G65 E@ 36 E96 =2C86DE 5:D2DE6C C6DA@?D6 :? E96 :?E6C?2E:@?2= 42D9 2DD:DE2?46 8C@FAVD 9:DE@CJ @FED:56 @7 r~'xs\`hj ?@?\A2?56>:4 C64@C5D H6C6 D6E H:E9 E96 S`a >:==:@? C2:D65[ >@C6 E92? ace[___ 36?67:4:2C:6D 6?C@==65 2?5 d[___ :?5:G:5F2= 5@?@CD C624965]k^Am kAm#64:A:6?ED 2C6 DE:== C64@G6C:?8 7C@> E96 F?46CE2:?EJ @7 =2DE >@?E9VD $}p! 56=2JD] r@>A2?J DFCG6JD DF886DE >2?J 2C6 562=:?8 H:E9 E96 =@?8\E6C> 4@?D6BF6?46D @7 3@CC@H:?8 >@?6J :? 62C=J }@G6>36C H96? E96:C 36?67:ED 5:5?VE 2CC:G6 @? E:>6[ 244@C5:?8 E@ !C@A6= rt~ y:>>J r96?] pE 2 E:>6 H96? FD6CD 76=E E96 6I:DE:?8 D276EJ ?6E 925 72==6? E9C@F89[ E96J 4C65:E E96 C2A:5 A2J>6?ED 7@C 3F@J:?8 E96> — 3@E9 7:?2?4:2==J 2?5 6>@E:@?2==J]k^AmkAmQxEVD ?@E 2 =@E] qFE 2E E96 D2>6 E:>6[ :E :D 2 =@E[Q vC2?E D2:5] Qq642FD6 Sd_ 42? 5@ 2 =@E H96? J@F 5@?VE 92G6 2?JE9:?8]Qk^Am Dianna Tompkins holds her SNAP card at home in Demotte, Ind., on Dec. 17. Nam Y. Huh, Associated Press k9amkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qmp V>2?\>256 5:D2DE6CV 7@C46D A2CE?6CD E@ ECJ D@>6E9:?8 ?6Hk^DA2?mk^9am kAmxEVD ?@E E96 7:CDE A2CE?6CD9:A 7@C E96 2?E:A@G6CEJ ?@?AC@7:E 2?5 7@C\AC@7:E D@7EH2C6 4@>A2?J] %96J 92G6 AC6G:@FD=J 4@>3:?65 v:G6s:C64E=JVD 72DE 42D9 >@56= H:E9 !C@A6=VD G6C:7:65 FD6C 32D6 E@ 86E >@?6J @FE E@ ?2EFC2= 5:D2DE6C DFCG:G@CD — :?4=F5:?8 S`[___ =2DE J62C E@ D@>6 9@FD69@=5D :>A24E65 3J wFCC:42?6D |:=E@? 2?5 w6=6?6]k^Am kAmQ%9:D A2CE:4F=2C :?4:56?E H:E9 E96 D9FE5@H? H6 D2H 2D 2<:? E@ 2 ?2EFC2= 5:D2DE6C[Q r96? D2:5[ Q:? E96 D6?D6 E92E :E 4C62E65 2 C62==J DF556? 2?5 C62==J 24FE6 7@C> @7 92C5D9:A 7@C >2?J p>6C:42?D 24C@DD E96 4@F?ECJ]Qk^Am kAm%96 D4@A6 5:776C65 E9:D E:>6] %96 Q>2?\>256 5:D2DE6C[Q 2D v:G6s:C64E=J &]$] r@F?ECJ s:C64E@C sFDE:? !2=>6C AFE :E[ H2D ?@E 86@8C2A9:42==J :D@=2E65] %96 36?67:ED 7C66K6 :>A24E65 >@C6 A6@A=6 E92? E96J FDF2==J D6CG6] $}p! 4@DED 2=>@DE S`_ 3:==:@? 2 >@?E9[ !2=>6C D2:5[ D@ E96J ?6G6C 6IA64E65 E@ C2:D6 6?@F89 >@?6J E@ C6A=246 E96 56=2J65 36?67:ED 2=E@86E96C]k^Am kAmqFE d[___ :?5:G:5F2= 5@?@CD — A=FD S` >:==:@? 8:7ED 7C@> !C@A6= 2?5 }6H *@C< ?@?AC@7:E #@3:? w@@5[ 2D H6== 2D @E96C >2;@C 7@F?52E:@?DV DFAA@CE — AC@G:565 2 D:K23=6 A@E] !2=>6C 7@F?5 E92E E96 :DDF6 C6D@?2E65 >@C6 E92? 96 6IA64E65]k^Am kAmv:G6s:C64E=J C6A@CED E92E E96 >65:2? 5@?2E:@? H2D S`__] !2=>6C E@@< E92E C6DA@?D6 2D 2 D:8? E92E E96 :DDF6 9:E 4=@D6 E@ 9@>6 7@C >2?J p>6C:42?D]k^AmkAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>QmQ*@F 2?5 x <?@H $}p! C64:A:6?ED] |2J36 H6VG6 366? $}p! C64:A:6?ED[Q !2=>6C D2:5] Q$@ E92E H2D ?@E 2 5:D2DE6C :? r6?EC2= %6I2D H96C6 xVG6 ?6G6C 366?[ 3FE D@>6E9:?8 :? @FC 4@>>F?:E:6D]Qk^DA2?mk^Am Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts Personal-finance Most US adults aren't making year-end charitable contributions, poll finds JAMES POLLARD and LINLEY SANDERS Associated Press kAm%96 8C62E6DE BF6DE:@? C6G@=G65 2C@F?5 E96 E@E2= DF> @7 6249 42D9 EC2?D76C] $9@F=5 E96J C6249 >@C6 A6@A=6 H:E9 76H6C 5@==2CD @C G:46 G6CD2n kDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qm{@D p?86=6D H:=57:C6 DFCG:G@CD[ 7@C 6I2>A=6[ 8@E Sb[d__ 6249 7C@> 2 D:>:=2C v:G6s:C64E=J 42>A2:8?] qFE E92EVD 3642FD6 E96J H2?E65 E@ AC@G:56 6?@F89 E@ 4@G6C 2 >@?E9VD H@CE9 @7 =@58:?8 2?5 EC2?D:E E@ E9@D6 H9@ =@DE E96:C 9@FD6D]k^DA2?mk^Am kAm%96J D6EE=65 @? Sd_ 3642FD6 !2=>6C D2:5 E96J H2?E65 2 QDE@A82AQ E92E C6AC6D6?E65 Q2 >62?:?87F= EC:A E@ E96 8C@46CJ DE@C6]Q %@ 6BF:E23=J 7@4FD E96:C =:>:E65 C6D@FC46D @? E9@D6 H9@ H@F=5 36 >:DD:?8 E96 >@DE DFAA@CE[ !2=>6C D2:5 E96J E2C86E65 72>:=:6D H:E9 49:=5C6? H9@ C646:G6 E96 >2I:>F> $}p! 2==@E>6?E] !C@A6=VD D@7EH2C6 2==@H65 E96> E@ D6?5 >@?6J 2D D@@? 2D E96 2AA 56E64E65 E92E 2 72>:=JVD 36?67:ED 925?VE 2CC:G65 2E E96 FDF2= E:>6 @7 E96 >@?E9]k^AmkAm#64:A:6?ED 564:565 H96E96C E96:C AC6A2:5 563:E 42C5D 2CC:G65 A9JD:42==J[ H9:49 >:89E 2==@H E96> E@ E2<6 42D9 @FE @7 2? p%|[ @C G:CEF2==J[ H9:49 4@F=5 36 FD65 2=>@DE :>>65:2E6=J] %96 DA=:E :D FDF2==J AC6EEJ 6G6?[ 244@C5:?8 E@ !2=>6C[ 3FE E9:D E:>6 >@C6 E92? h_T @7 C64:A:6?ED H6?E H:E9 E96 G:CEF2= @AE:@?]k^Am kAmQ%@ >6[ E92E DA62<D E@ E96 DA665 2?5 ?665 7@C A6@A=6[Q !2=>6C D2:5] QyFDE D2J:?8[ V~9 J629[ x ;FDE ?665 7@@5 E@52J] x 5@?VE H2?E E@ H2:E E@ 86E :E >2:=65]VQk^Amk9amkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qm#64:A:6?ED =@DE ECFDE H96? 4=@D6=J H2E4965 36?67:ED H6C6 5:DCFAE65k^DA2?mk^9am Dianna Tompkins looks at a mirror while she sits on a bed at her home in Demotte, Ind., Dec. 17. Nam Y. Huh, Associated Press kAms:2??2 %@>A<:?D C6=:6D @? 96C $}p! 32=2?46 E@ 7665 96C E@55=6C 2?5 g\J62C\@=5 49:=5]k^AmkAmQx H2E49 :E =:<6 2 92H<[ 9@?6DE=J[Q D96 D2:5]k^Am kAmqFE D96 D2:5 D96 6?E6C65 QA2?:4 >@56Q H96? D96 >:DD65 H92E :D FDF2==J 2 Shfe 56A@D:E =2DE >@?E9] $96VD 2 8:8 H@C<6C[ 4@>A=6E:?8 s@@Cs2D9 2?5 &36C t2ED @C56CD H96? D96 7:?5D E96 E:>6]k^Am kAmw6C A2?ECJ :D 2=H2JD DE@4<65 H:E9 ?@?\A6C:D923=6D — 42??65 8@@5D[ A2DE2D[ D2F46D — :? 42D6 96C F?C6=:23=6 G2? DE@AD H@C<:?8 2?5 D96 42?VE 86E E@ E96 DE@C6] qFE D96 4@F=5?VE C:D< CF??:?8 @FE 2D F?46CE2:?EJ 4@?E:?F65 @G6C E96 D9FE5@H?VD =6?8E9 2?5 7FEFC6 $}p! A2J>6?ED]k^AmkAmv:G6s:C64E=JVD Sd_ 3@F89E 96C >:=< 2?5 3C625 — ?@E >F49[ 3FE 2 Q3:8 96=A[Q D96 D2:5] w6C =@42= 7@@5 A2?EC:6D :? s6>@EE6[ x?5:2?2[ 925 AC@G6? :?4@?D:DE6?E] ~?6 H66< E96J 82G6 72C >@C6 E92? 6IA64E65[ D96 D2:5[ 3FE E96 7@==@H:?8 H66< E96J H6C6 QD@ @G6CH96=>65Q E92E :E 2=>@DE H2D?VE H@CE9 G:D:E:?8]k^Am kAm$96 D2:5 :EVD QD42CJQ E96 8@G6C?>6?E Q42? ;FDE 564:56 E@ ?@E 7665 D@ >2?J A6@A=6]Qk^Am Government-politics Trump administration says it needs to fight SNAP fraud, but the extent of the problem is unclear GEOFF MULVIHILL Associated Press kAmQpE =62DE x 92G6 >J D276EJ ?6E 3FE ?@E 6G6CJ3@5JVD =F4<J[Q D96 D2:5] QxVG6 ?6G6C ECFDE65 E96 8@G6C?>6?E 2?5 E92EVD ;FDE 2 ?6H D@=:5 C62D@? H9J x 5@?VE ECFDE E96>]Qk^AmkAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qmr96?[ E96 !C@A6= rt~[ D2:5 9:D 4@>A2?JVD C6D62C49 DF886DED E92E }@G6>36CVD 7C66K6 52>2865 >2?J C64:A:6?EDV 4@?7:56?46 :? E96 8@G6C?>6?E] tG6? H:E9 $}p! 7F?565 E9C@F89 E96 ?6IE 7:D42= J62C[ r96? D2:5[ >2?J C6DA@?56?ED 2C6 4@?46C?65 23@FE 2?@E96C D9FE5@H?]k^DA2?mk^Am kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>QmQ}@H :EVD :?EC@5F465 E9:D D665 @7 5@F3E 7@C A6@A=6 E92E E9:D C62==J 7F?52>6?E2= E9:?8 E92E E96J FD6 E@ A2J 7@C 7@@5 >2J ?@E 36 E96C6 H96? E96J ?665 :E[Q r96? D2:5]k^DA2?mk^Am kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qm%96 82A A6CD:DED 7@C >2?J] !C@A6= 6DE:>2E6D E92E ;FDE @G6C 92=7 @7 $}p! C64:A:6?ED 8@E E96:C 36?67:ED =2E6 =2DE >@?E9] v:G6s:C64E=J =2F?4965 2? 255:E:@?2= Q>@A\FAQ 42>A2:8? E@ 5:DEC:3FE6 42D9 C6EC@24E:G6=J 7@C >@C6 E92? g[___ A6@A=6 DE:== C66=:?8]k^DA2?mk^AmkAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qm%96 56=2J 5:DCFAE65 E96 7:?2?4:2= 32=2?4:?8 24E E92E vC2?E 925 8@:?8] $96 AFE @77 A2J>6?ED 7@C 96C 6=64EC:4:EJ 3:== 2?5 42C :?DFC2?46]k^DA2?mk^Am kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>QmQv@G6C?>6?E D9FED 5@H? 2?5 E92E ;FDE E9C@HD 6G6CJE9:?8 4@>A=6E6=J @77[Q D96 D2:5]k^DA2?mk^Am Personal-finance More people crowdfunded for essential needs in 2025, according to GoFundMe's year-end report JAMES POLLARD Associated Press 0 Comments Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Soda, candy cut for many SNAP users starting Jan. 1. What states are affected? Here’s what to know about the upcoming changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. 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Personal-finance One issue is uniting Americans in a time of polarization: Household costs THOMAS BEAUMONT, SIMRAN PARWANI and AMELIA THOMSON-DEVEAUX Associated Press
Personal-finance Most US adults aren't making year-end charitable contributions, poll finds JAMES POLLARD and LINLEY SANDERS Associated Press
Government-politics Trump administration says it needs to fight SNAP fraud, but the extent of the problem is unclear GEOFF MULVIHILL Associated Press
Personal-finance More people crowdfunded for essential needs in 2025, according to GoFundMe's year-end report JAMES POLLARD Associated Press
Soda, candy cut for many SNAP users starting Jan. 1. What states are affected? Here’s what to know about the upcoming changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
