The legislation that ended the longest government shutdown in U.S. history could upend a multi-billion-dollar industry due to a provision banning the vast majority of hemp products.

The end of the 43-day government shutdown hasn’t brought immediate relief to air travelers or federal workers at Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport (ROA), where flight disruptions continued Thursday.

Flight cancellations continue to mount at Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport as the government shutdown enters another week, affecting hundreds of local travelers daily while federal employees work without pay.

In a dramatic turn of events, federal judges have ordered the Trump administration to continue funding SNAP benefits during the government shutdown, as states like Virginia implement emergency measures to ensure food assistance continues for millions of Americans.

Virginia is launching an emergency program to ensure families don’t go hungry when federal SNAP benefits pause due to the government shutdown, becoming the first state in the nation to use state funds for food assistance benefits.

As the federal government shutdown stretches into its third week, Bedford County officials are warning that thousands of residents may not receive their November SNAP benefits.

Access to medical care is already a major issue in rural Virginia, particularly in the southwest region. The ninth congressional district of Virginia has more than 60 community health centers, more than any other district in the state.

Federal workers in Southwest Virginia face a dual crisis as a potential government shutdown coincides with the end of a mass resignation program, potentially affecting thousands of employees in the region.