Starting in April, Florida plans to ban soda, candy, and other items deemed sugary junk food from SNAP benefits—joining more than a dozen other states pushing for similar restrictions.

This story was first published on Dec. 30, 2025.

As 2025 comes to a close, changes are coming in the new year for Florida’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

The Trump administration says it will withhold funds for administering SNAP food aid in most Democratic-controlled states starting next week unless they provide data about those receiving the assistance.

Hundreds of Central Florida families found holiday relief as the Orange County Sheriff’s Office gave away 600 turkeys just days before Thanksgiving.

The drive is collecting nonperishable food, baby items, toiletries, Gatorade and pet food for Central Florida families affected by the shutdown and for hurricane victims in Jamaica.

As families struggle with food insecurity and rely on SNAP benefits, many face an additional challenge: feeding their beloved pets.

According to Sheriff Mike Chitwood, more than 39,000 households in Volusia County rely on SNAP benefits. With recent cuts taking effect, local food banks and volunteers say the need has surged in recent weeks.

President Donald Trump's administration is demanding that states reverse full SNAP benefits issued under recent court orders.

The USDA says full food assistance benefits will be made available to states on Friday, even as the Trump administration appeals the ruling forcing them to release the money.

A federal judge gave the Trump administration until Friday to distribute November’s full SNAP benefits during a U.S. government shutdown. The Trump administration is appealing the order. Find out how to find help with food in Central Florida.

A federal judge in Rhode Island has ordered the Trump administration to find the money to fully fund SNAP benefits for November.

A drive-thru food giveaway happening today in Daytona Beach comes as local agencies scramble to meet the growing need.

With the pause in SNAP benefits, delayed pay for some federal workers, and rising grocery prices, food pantries across Central Florida say demand for donations is surging.

As many people in Central Florida face uncertainties surrounding benefits such as SNAP during the government shutdown, a local restaurant in Umatilla is stepping up by giving away free food to kids who need it.

On Monday, the Trump administration told a federal judge that partial payments for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) would be distributed. However, the following day, President Trump wrote on social media that the funds would not be released until the government shutdown ends. This back-and-forth has many people on edge. Nonprofits are doing what they can, but demand for assistance has increased.

Donations will be accepted on Saturday at the Sunoco Injector off NASCAR Drive at the Daytona International Speedway. The food distribution event for verified SNAP recipients will take place on Sunday.

The Trump Administration said Monday that it will send partial payments this month to families who rely on SNAP benefits to ensure they have enough food.

President Donald Trump’s administration says it will partially fund the SNAP food aid program in November after two federal judges required the payments to continue.

SNAP benefits for thousands of families here in Central Florida are cut off, leaving many scrambling to afford the food they need, including local seniors.

The government shutdown stretching into November will have a huge impact on millions of Americans, but only a handful of federal safety net programs are affected.

Federal funds for SNAP food stamp benefits will stop, raising concerns for millions of Americans.

As the government shutdown continues, federal employees are working without paychecks, and starting Nov. 1, federal SNAP benefits will not be available. If you or someone you know needs help with food donations, check out these websites to find programs near you.

Food aid for more than 40 million Americans is at risk of expiring at week's end.

President Donald Trump says the United States will share closely held technology to allow South Korea to build a nuclear-powered submarine.

With grocery prices rising and SNAP benefits set to end on Nov. 1, knowing how long your food can last is as important as ever.

Florida has notified people who depend on federal nutrition assistance that if the government shutdown continues into November, SNAP benefits will not be issued.

Carina Patterson says she applied for SNAP benefits last month to feed her family, but due to the government shutdown, her application is in limbo.

Nearly 3 million people in Florida, about 1 in 8 Floridians, receive SNAP benefits, and if the government shutdown continues into next month, they may have to go without that money for food. How to find food help if you need it.

Florida is now one of six states moving to ban sugary junk food items from Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programs (SNAP) benefits starting next year, according to News 6 partner News4JAX.

A survivor of clergy sex abuse in Peru brought her public campaign for reform to the American hometown of Pope Leo XIV.

Instead of focusing on independence from the British crown, the study instead opts to hone in on factors like government and financial dependency.

A new poll shows most U.S. adults don’t think the government is overspending on the programs Republicans in Congress have focused on cutting, like Medicaid and food stamps.

Survivors of clergy sexual abuse are amplifying calls for a global zero-tolerance policy and other reforms from the American hometown of the new pope.

Residents of Volusia and Flagler counties who were impacted by hurricanes Helene and Milton can get help applying for Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) benefits in Daytona Beach.

Fentanyl overdoses have become a leading cause of death for minors in the last 5 years or so — and social media, where tainted, fake prescription drugs can be obtained with just a few clicks, is part of the problem.

Louisiana's highest court is giving childhood victims of sexual abuse a renewed opportunity to file damage lawsuits.

A new survey shows that almost a quarter of people who have been dropped from Medicaid during post-pandemic eligibility reviews are still uninsured.

Advocates for adult victims of childhood sexual abuse say they will ask Louisiana’s Supreme Court to reconsider a ruling that wiped out 2021 legislation giving them a renewed opportunity to file damage lawsuits.

The number of Americans filing for jobless claims fell last week despite more layoff announcements from high-profile companies recently.

Following the launch of the state’s My Access Portal for SNAP and Medicaid benefits, a South Florida woman said a stranger’s name and her baby have appeared on her mother’s account.

Floridians who get food, cash or health care assistance through the government will need to navigate a new website starting Tuesday.

A Senate committee has issued bipartisan subpoenas to the CEOs of Discord, Snap and X, demanding that the heads of the three companies testify at a December hearing on protecting children online.

Child poverty in the United States more than doubled and median household income declined last year when coronavirus pandemic-era government benefits expired and inflation kept rising.

Many college students who are struggling with hunger are facing the potential loss of food stamp benefits that were boosted in the pandemic.

The devices you use to swipe your EBT debit cards could be designed to steal the funds in your account.

The formal end of the national Public Health Emergency on Thursday is largely a symbolic and psychological step, representing the country’s formal emergence from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Oakland has filed for bankruptcy due to hundreds of new child sex abuse claims, becoming the second diocese in California to do so.

Alarming new numbers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show our children are far worse off after the pandemic than most experts thought.

The public school district in Seattle is suing the tech giants behind TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Snapchat, seeking to hold them accountable for the mental health crisis among youth.

In-person Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program locations will open for the weekend at Oviedo Mall and the Volusia Ocean Center.

The Department of Children and Families announced on Sunday that the third phase of the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or D-SNAP, will open on Monday, Oct. 24 for Lake, Osceola, Seminole and Volusia county residents affected by Hurricane Ian.

Florida’s Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program has been shored up with a state-of-the-art security control system implemented by LexisNexis Special Services Inc. to block a potential surge of international imposters expected to attempt to steal benefits meant for victims of Hurricane Ian.

Orange County deputies have arrested a man they believe is responsible for a deadly shooting in early September.

A man was found dead near downtown Orlando, according to the police department.

Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings said as of Monday, the county has extended its state of emergency as the area deals with its first hurricane-related death, ongoing debris cleanup and an increased demand for affordable and emergency housing in the wake of Ian.

ORLANDO, Fla. – Monday night’s deal reached in Congress for a new stimulus package will be showing some strong support for small business owners and for nonprofit organizations. Funding from the new round of COVID-19 relief will go toward small businesses, including minority-owned businesses, nonprofits, and food assistance programs to help them recover from the pandemic. “In that package, there is some funding for food assistance programs, much like SNAP, which is formerly known as food stamps. Essentially, what happens in the bill is that they’ve allocated $13 billion for SNAP and other food assistance programs.”According to the organization, the current bill would provide them funding through the SNAP federal food assistance program. The much-anticipated federal relief funding also includes $15 billions to help independent movie theaters, cultural institutions and live venues like the Amway Center and Camping World Stadium, which weren’t included in the first round of COVID-19 relief funding.

There is no reason to spend a weekend freezing in air-conditioned grocery stores when Central Florida offers a huge selection of year-round farmers markets. There are open air markets across the greater Orlando area, many that accept SNAP benefits and support local farmers, food markers and artisans. Check out the list below of popular outdoor markets offering local handmade goods, live music and fresh produce. Did I miss your neighborhood weekend market? Let me know at especk@wkmg.com.

Stocks are mostly lower in Asia after pandemic concerns snapped a four-day winning streak on Wall Street. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)TOKYO – Asian stocks followed Wall Street lower on Thursday as investors watched Washington for signs of whether political leaders can agree on an economic aid plan in the two weeks before the Nov. 3 presidential election. On Wall Street, the benchmark S&P 500 index lost 0.2% on Wednesday as U.S. political leaders wrangled over economic aid following the expiration of extra unemployment benefits that propped up consumer spending. On Wall Street, the S&P 500 declined to 3,435.56. Industrial and health care stocks declined.

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – Wednesday is the first of the month, when people who depend on government assistance like WIC or SNAP, start receiving money for food. "We start filling out the shelves every hour we can fill it out, but sometimes the line outside is full. WIC is a federally funded nutrition program for Women, Infants and Children that meet the eligibility requirements. Jim and Debbie Crum plan to add themselves to that list when they plan on filing for unemployment and food assistance later today. To enroll in food assistance, click here