Mueller Declares Food Emergency, Outlines City Steps

South Bend, Indiana, has declared a local state of emergency following disruptions to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) due to the US federal government shutdown. Mayor James Mueller signed Executive Order 01-2025, initiating a moratorium on utility shutoffs for vulnerable families and allocating $70,000 in emergency food assistance, with $60,000 directed to the Food Bank of Northern Indiana and $10,000 to Cultivate Food Rescue. An additional $55,000 has been pledged by local philanthropies. The move highlights the cascading impact of political deadlock on local communities, with implications for construction workers and their families who rely on such programmes. The city is urging donations to local food banks and the United Way. This situation underscores the vulnerability of the construction sector's workforce to broader economic and political instability. Read More