SALT LAKE CITY — State leaders will give up to $4 million to Utah food banks in the coming weeks as tens of thousands of Utahns are set to lose nutritional food assistance due to the federal government shutdown.

Several business and community leaders also announced a donation to help cover school meals in several districts with high school lunch debt.

Blaming congressional Democrats for “playing political games,” Gov. Spencer Cox and top Republican lawmakers announced on Thursday that the state would provide $500,000 to the Utah Food Bank, followed by an additional $500,000 each week for the next eight weeks or until the government reopens.

“Washington has failed to do its job,” Cox said. “Utah is stepping up so families, especially those in rural communities, can keep food on the table

See Full Page