HOUSTON – Wall Street closed the week with record highs on Friday as the S&P 500 topped 6,800 for the first time in history.

The rally follows new data showing inflation slowed more than expected, fueling optimism that the Federal Reserve could cut interest rates next week.

But the positive economic news comes as the federal government shutdown threatens to leave millions of Americans without Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits in November — including more than 877,000 people across the Houston area. Those benefits help families pay for basic groceries, including ingredients for Thanksgiving dinner.

Matagorda County is the latest to confirm to KPRC 2 News that it cannot afford to fund SNAP benefits without federal assistance. These are working Texas families, doin

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