Gov. Newsom sues Trump administration for illegally withholding SNAP food benefits

On Tuesday, Gov. Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta announced that California, along with a coalition of 24 other states, is suing the Trump administration over the administration’s unlawful refusal to fund SNAP benefits due to the nearly month-long federal government shutdown, despite possessing funds to support SNAP in November.

The 25 states that are taking the legal action allege that, under President Trump, the United States Department of Agriculture, or USDA, is needlessly suspending November SNAP benefits, causing 5.5 million Californians to lose critical access to $1.1 billion in food assistance. 

“While Donald Trump parades around the world trying to repair the economic damage he's done with his incompetence, he's denying food to millions of Americans who will go hungry next month. It's cruel and speaks to his basic lack of humanity. He doesn't care about the people of this country, only himself,” said Gov. Newsom.

“When families don’t know where their next meal will come from, our government has failed its most basic duty to care for its people. The Trump administration’s decision to withhold food assistance that’s already been funded has left millions of Americans in fear and uncertainty. As a state, we know we must stand up and fight back. We are taking action for our families, for our children, and for the 5.5 million Californians who deserve the simple dignity of knowing there will be food on the table,” said First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom.

“Let’s be clear about what’s happening: For the first time ever, SNAP benefits will not be available to the millions of low-income individuals who depend on them to put food on the table," said Attorney General Rob Bonta. "November SNAP benefits can and must be provided, even with the government shutdown. USDA not only has authority to use contingency funds, it has a legal duty to spend all available dollars to fund SNAP benefits. The Trump Administration, however, has chosen instead to play politics with this essential safety net that so many people depend on — including 5.5 million individuals in California alone.”

Bonta added, “With the holidays around the corner, we are seeing costs for groceries continue to increase and food banks facing unprecedented demand. We are taking a stand because families will experience hunger and malnutrition if the Trump Administration gets its way.” 

Trump choosing to delay SNAP benefits

The federal government is legally required to make payments to SNAP. Congress appropriated $6 billion to the USDA in SNAP-related contingency funds through September 2026 to continue funding SNAP benefits in instances like the current government shutdown. 

Instead of helping, the Governor’s Office said the Trump administration chose to suspend November SNAP benefits despite contingency funding in place to help feed American families.

The USDA is selectively choosing what programs to keep open during this shutdown, as it has provided billions in aid for farmers and been able to temporarily fund WIC benefits. Trump is simply choosing not to use this authority to fund SNAP benefits for millions of Americans, including veterans and vulnerable populations, such as children and seniors. 

California’s assistance to food-insecure families

While food benefits are delayed for 5.5 million residents, California is stepping up to protect families from hunger by fast-tracking $80 million in state funds to stabilize food bank food distribution and offset delays in federal CalFresh benefits. 

Gov. Newsom has also mobilized the California National Guard and California Volunteers on a humanitarian mission to support food banks and Californians by planning, packing, distributing and delivering meals to families in need throughout the state — similarly to his actions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sutter Health signs contract with unionized staff at eight facilities

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Contract negotiations between Sutter Health and employees at eight of its medical facilities — including Sutter Lakeside — have come to a successful and amicable conclusion, with the two sides confirming they signed a new contract agreement on Monday. 

More than 4,700 frontline health care workers “overwhelmingly” approved a new contract agreement with Sutter executives, said SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West, or SEIU-UHW, the union representing those staff members.

The agreement averted a strike at eight Sutter Health facilities in nine cities across Northern California that workers had authorized earlier this month, following informational pickets in August and September.

In addition to Lakeport, the new agreement covers facilities located in Antioch, Berkeley, Castro Valley, Oakland, Roseville, San Francisco, Santa Rosa and Vallejo.

SEIU-UHW said the Sutter Health workers it represents voted by a margin of 98% to approve the new agreement, which “addresses critical issues around staffing and working conditions by ensuring fair pay and benefits for frontline healthcare workers, allowing them to continue serving patients without disruption.”

In a statement released Monday night to Lake County News, Sutter Health said, “We’re pleased to have reached an agreement that supports our frontline employees while maintaining our shared focus on patient care and safety. As Sutter Health continues to achieve high safety scores, expand access to care, add new services and bring more physicians to the communities we serve, we’ll continue investing in and supporting the teams who make that care possible.”

The newly approved contract agreement provides 14 percent across-the-board raises over the life of the contract for workers, the union said.

The union reported the agreement also protects health care and retirement benefits for these frontline health care workers.  

“This new contract shows that when we stand united, we can win improvements that protect both healthcare workers and our patients,” said Dinora Garcia, a dietary clerk from Sutter Lakeside Hospital. “Reaching this contract agreement wasn’t easy, but we stood together to advocate for worker and patient safety, improved staffing levels, and fair wages and benefits that reflect the vital work we do daily.”

SEIU-UHW represents Sutter Health workers who serve as nursing assistants, respiratory therapists, licensed vocational nurses, X-ray technicians, environmental and food services workers, among others. 

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, and on Bluesky, @erlarson.bsky.social. Find Lake County News on the following platforms: Facebook, @LakeCoNews; X, @LakeCoNews; Threads, @lakeconews, and on Bluesky, @lakeconews.bsky.social. 

Lake County Burn Ban to be lifted Nov. 1

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Lake County Air Quality Management District reported that the county’s burn ban will be lifted on Saturday, Nov. 1.

The district’s burn permits are required for all outdoor burning in the Lake County Air Basin. 

Residential burning requires a one acre or larger parcel. Only clean dry vegetation that was grown on the property may be burned. Burning vegetation that was transported from another parcel is prohibited.

District residential and agricultural burn permits will be available online Nov. 1 at www.lcaqmd.net from any device that has internet access. 

The fee for a residential burn permit is $63 and the fee for an agricultural burn permit is $94. Residential and agricultural burn permits issued online are paid by credit card at time of issuance. If an alternative permit issuance or payment method is needed please call the district office to make arrangements.

A district smoke management plan burn permit is required for any of the following types of burning: multi-day or overnight burning, smoke impact potential, tule burning, piles greater than 10 feet diameter, more than one acre of standing vegetation, whole vines, whole trees or burning more than 20 acres in one day. 

Smoke management plan burn permits will be available starting Nov. 3 at the district office by appointment only. Call 707-263-7000 to schedule an appointment. Bring the following information to your appointment: a map showing the burn location (https://gis.lakecountyca.gov/portal/home/index.html), burn site coordinates (GPS locations), parcel number or address, acres to be burned and details of vegetation to be burned. 

The fee for a smoke management plan burn permit varies by size, type and number of parcels. Fees for the first parcel ranges from $125 for pile burning; $188 for standing brush; and $625 for complex burns such as levees, dams, right of ways, and reservoir burns. Additional parcel fees may apply. Payment must be made at the time of issuance by cash, check or money order to the District. Credit card payment is not available at this time.

District burn permits must be printed and readily available during burning. Read your burn permit carefully and follow all the conditions. 

Be advised, a Cal Fire general or broadcast burn permit may be required for agricultural burning. For more information visit https://burnpermit.fire.ca.gov.

Consider composting or using the vegetative waste pickup provided with your waste collection service as an alternative to burning leaves. Greenwaste bins and dumpsters are available through your local waste collection provider. Thank you for your cooperation this burn season.