Associated Press

BOSTON (AP) — Two federal judge have ruled that the Trump administration must continue to fund the SNAP food aid program using contingency funds during the government shutdown. The rulings Friday came a day before the payments were due to be halted. SNAP is used by 1 in 8 Americans to buy groceries and is a major piece of the nation's social safety net. The administration has said it can't fund SNAP with the government shuttered. Democratic state officials challenged the plan to freeze SNAP payments starting Nov. 1, saying there's a legal obligation to keep providing the assistance for low-income people. Judges agreed, but gave the administration some leeway on the details.

The government shutdown is exacting a heavy mental toll on the nation's military families, leaving them not knowing from week to week whether their paychecks will arrive.

Authorities say a North Carolina man charged with killing four of his children and placing their remains in the trunk of a vehicle believe the slayings occurred over several months.

President Donald Trump's call for Republicans to redraw U.S. House districts ahead of next year's election has triggered an unusual outbreak of mid-decade gerrymandering among both Republican- and Democratic-led state legislatures.

A shooting at a large party in southeastern North Carolina has left two people dead and several others critically wounded. Robeson County Sheriff Burnis Wilkins' office reported on Saturday that 13 individuals were shot.

Virginia Democrats are taking steps to redraw their state’s U.S. House districts, hoping to boost their party’s chances in next year’s midterm elections and counter President Donald Trump’s push for more partisan districts in Republican-run states.

North Carolina Republican legislative leaders completed their remapping of the state's U.S. House districts on Wednesday, intent on picking up one more seat to help President Donald Trump's efforts to retain GOP control of Congress in next year's midterm elections.

North Carolina Republican legislative leaders were poised Wednesday to complete a retooling of part of the state's U.S. House map in hopes of picking up an additional GOP seat and helping President Donald Trump retain majority control of the lower chamber of Congress in next year's midterm elections.

North Carolina's legislature formally began redrawing the state's congressional district map Monday, plainly stating their intent to help Republicans gain another U.S. House seat under President Donald Trump's push to retain his party's grip on Congress next year.

A North Carolina appeals court has ruled that the Republican-controlled General Assembly can reduce the governor's appointments to certain commissions.