Congress Moves to End Shutdown: What's Happening and What's at Stake

The U. S. government shutdown is finally nearing its end after a long stalemate. A small group of Senate Democrats and an independent senator broke ranks and joined Republicans to move forward with a plan to reopen the government. This decision has angered many in their party, but it seems like the shutdown's days are numbered. The deal on the table doesn't include a clear solution for the expiring Affordable Care Act tax credits, which have been a big help for millions of Americans in making private health insurance more affordable. It's still unclear when the final votes will happen, but Senate Majority Leader John Thune hopes it will be quick. However, if any senators object, it could take a few more days. Meanwhile, the shutdown has been causing major disruptions. Thousands of flights have been canceled or delayed because air traffic controllers, who haven't been paid in weeks, are calling out sick. President Trump has proposed $10, 000 bonuses for those who stay on the job, but it's unclear where the money for that will come from. The Trump administration is also trying to keep full payments for the SNAP federal food aid program frozen during the shutdown, even as some families struggle to put food on the table. In New Mexico, the state Legislature has approved a bill to use state funding to ensure food assistance if federal aid falls short. In other news, clean energy groups and the city of St. Paul, Minnesota, are suing the Trump administration over its cancellation of $7. 6 billion in grants for projects in Democratic states. The administration says the projects didn't advance the nation's energy needs or were not economically viable, but the lawsuit claims the cuts were politically motivated. The Senate has also blocked a Democratic effort to extend the expiring tax credits for health insurance, and California is considering a plan to fund scientific research in response to federal cuts. Meanwhile, Trump has been making headlines with his comments on various topics, from his meeting with the Syrian president to his criticism of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene.