By using AI-powered bots and better supporting caseworkers, social service providers in Georgia are still trying to catch up on a backlogs of applications to the programs.

A new national campaign is rallying restaurants to support immigrant workers fearing detention by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Atlanta’s Michelin-starred Lazy Betty is one of more than 100 to sign on.

Republicans want to change or reduce key social safety net programs that provide health care, food benefits and financial assistance for millions of children.

Millions of people who use the food assistance program SNAP are facing changes: on what food they can buy, how much money they'll receive or even if they'll still qualify for the program.

Georgia's U.S. senators worked on protecting the Okefenokee, urged Senate leadership to fund the CDC, pressing USDA about Georgia family farms, and upgrading Georgia airports.

The goal of the changes, which head to the Senate next week, is to save money and send a signal that Republicans are tough on immigration.

The first Trump administration tried to scale back who gets food benefits, and allies aim to try again. Food pantries say they're already busier than ever.

A nonprofit organization found that 1.1 million Georgians were food insecure over two weeks in August and September this year, a number that is significantly higher than during the height of the pandemic.

People in communities damaged by recent hurricanes have an opportunity to get extra food assistance through adjustments made to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and other temporary federal programs. But there are some hard deadlines to apply for help.

The so-called Summer EBT program is an extension of the Pandemic EBT program model, which had near-national enrollment and ended last year. 

The bill's funding formula would limit benefits for federal nutrition assistance programs.

Some nutrition programs are at risk of funding shortfalls as politicians spar over federal spending. Supplemental nutrition programs help millions of people every year who otherwise could not afford food.

17 million U.S. households were food insecure in 2022. That's 3.5 million more than the prior year. Families with children and people of color experienced higher than average rates of food insecurity.

A shutdown would affect the nearly 7 million women and children who rely on WIC for healthy food. Free school lunch and Meals on Wheels are also at risk, and SNAP could be impacted eventually too.

Some members want to use the package for changes that could expand or limit access to the country's biggest food safety net program.