Ohio food banks can’t fill gap if federal shutdown cuts SNAP benefits: Capitol Letter

Rotunda rumblings

Shutdown strain : Ohio is warning more than a million residents that their November food benefits may be in jeopardy if the federal shutdown continues. Food banks say they can’t make up the difference, with SNAP providing nine meals for each one that they serve. Anna Staver reports Ohio Democrats want to tap state funds to fill the gap, while Republicans say the fix must come from Washington.

Kratom bill: New legislation would regulate naturally occurring kratom products while banning a synthetic version of the supplement, Mary Frances McGowan reports . Senate Bill 299, sponsored by state Sen. Louis Blessing, a Republican from Greater Cincinnati, would require sellers, distributors and manufacturers of kratom to register with the Ohio Department of Agriculture