By GEOFF MULVIHILL and MARGERY BECK

It’s up to the U.S. Supreme Court and Congress to decide when full payments will resume under the SNAP food aid program that helps 1 in 8 Americans buy groceries as the financial pressures mount on families in some states.

The Supreme Court is expected to rule Tuesday on a request from President Donald Trump’s administration to keep blocking states from providing full benefits, arguing the money might be needed elsewhere.

The seesawing rulings so far have created a situation where beneficiaries in some states, including Minnesota, Hawaii and New Jersey, have received their full monthly allocations and those in others, such as Nebraska and West Virginia, have seen nothing.

The legal wrangling could be made moot if the U.S. House adopts and Trump signs legislation to end the federal government shutdown quickly.

SNAP has been the center of an intense fight in court

The Trump administration chose to cut off funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program after October due to the shutdown. That decision sparked lawsuits and a string of swift and contradictory judicial rulings that deal with government power — and impact the food access for 42 million Americans.

The administration went along with a pair of rulings from Oct. 31 from judges who said the government must provide at least partial funding for SNAP. It eventually said that recipients would get up to 65% of their regular benefits. But it balked last week when one of the judges said that it must fund the program fully for November, even if itt means digging into funds the government said need to be maintained in case of emergencies elsewhere.

The U.S. Supreme Court agreed to pause that order.

An appeals court said Monday that full funding should resume — and that requirement is set to kick in Tuesday night unless the top court takes action again.

It’s also a point in Congressional talks about reopening government

The U.S. Senate on Monday passed legislation to reopen the federal government with a plan that would include replenishing SNAP funds.

Speaker Mike Johnson told members of the House to return to Washington to consider the deal a small group of Senate Democrats made with Republicans.

Trump has not said whether he would sign it if it reaches his desk, but told reporters at the White House on Sunday that it “looks like we’re getting close to the shutdown ending.”

If the deal is finalized, it’s not clear how quickly SNAP benefits might start flowing.

Still, the Trump administration said in a filing Monday with the Supreme Court that it shouldn’t be up to the courts. “The answer to this crisis is not for federal courts to reallocate resources without lawful authority,” Solicitor General D. John Sauer said in the papers. “The only way to end this crisis — which the Executive is adamant to end — is for Congress to reopen the government.”

The impact is urgent for beneficiaries

The cascading legal rulings — plus the varying responses of each state to the shutoff — means people who rely on SNAP are in vastly different situations.

Some have all their benefits, some have none. In states including North Carolina and Texas, beneficiaries have received partial amounts.

In Pennsylvania, full benefits went out to some people on Friday. But Jim Malliard, 41, of Franklin, said he had not received anything by Monday.

Malliard is a full-time caretaker for his wife, who is blind and had a series of strokes earlier this year, and his teenage daughter, who suffered severe medical complications from surgery last year.

That stress has only been compounded by the pause in the $350 a month he receives in SNAP for himself, his wife and daughter. He has yet to receive any SNAP payment for November, and he’s down to $10 in his account and is relying on what’s left in the pantry — mostly rice and ramen.

“It’s kind of been a lot of late nights, making sure I had everything down to the penny to make sure I was right,” Malliard said. “To say anxiety has been my issue for the past two weeks is putting it mildly.”

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The Timberwolves continued their roll Monday in Utah, downing the Jazz for the second time in four days.

This one was more competitive than Friday’s drubbing, but Monday’s 120-113 victory in Salt Lake City was comfortable nonetheless, with Minnesota seizing control in the third quarter and never surrendered it from there.

Here are takeaways from Minnesota’s latest victory

Another avalanche

Minnesota’s victories of late have all featured signature quarters in which the Wolves pulled away.

A 40-29 second quarter in Sacramento on Sunday provided Minnesota with plenty of cushion. Friday’s 43-15 first quarter ended all doubt against Utah. The Wolves utilized a 34-21 third quarter in Brooklyn to down the Nets and outscored Charlotte 36-18 in the third nine days ago.

It was again the third frame where Minnesota did the bulk of its damage on Monday, as the Wolves outscored Utah 40-25 in the quarter to turn a halftime deficit into a 13-point lead.

Anthony Edwards was the star of the run. He scored 21 points in the third quarter alone, going 7 for 9 from the field while also setting a defensive tone.

Edwards finished with 35 points, six assists and six rebounds.

McDaniels’ run

Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels (3) posts up against Utah Jazz guard Svi Mykhailiuk (10) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Nov. 10, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Tyler Tate)

Jaden McDaniels has been a critical offensive piece for Minnesota this season, but he was quiet for three quarters in Utah.

The forward was heard from in the final frame. McDaniels scored 12 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter, all in a five-minute span that helped Minnesota keep Utah at an arm’s length.

Offense in different ways

Minnesota entered the game as the NBA’s best shooting team, leading the league in true-shooting percentage (62.7%) and effective field-goal percentage (59.4%).

The shots didn’t fall at the same clip Monday, as the Wolves shot 47% from the field and just 30.3% from distance. But the Wolves found offense in other ways, tallying 54 points in the paint while going 26 for 28 from the free-throw line.

Julius Randle was again the conductor of Minnesota’s offensive show. He had 27 points — on the strength of a 12-for-13 showing at the free-throw line — to go with eight rebounds and seven assists. Minnesota won Randle’s 34 minutes by 22 points.

Energy deficient

On the second-half of a back to back, the Timberwolves didn’t have the same bite they displayed in their two previous victories. The defensive intensity was evident in spurts, but not as consistent throughout.

And Minnesota was beaten up on the glass by Utah, who tallied 16 offensive rebounds that resulted in 22 second-chance points. The Wolves’ best brand of basketball involved tenacious defense that generates opportunities in transition going the other way.

It’s highly effective, but also draining. It’s also possible a lack of legs contributed to the subpar shooting performance.

That’s something to watch over the weekend, when Minnesota hosts Sacramento on Friday, and then welcomes the Denver Nuggets to Target Center on Saturday in a big-time Western Conference duel.

Minnesota now gets three days off — a rare break in the grueling NBA regular season — before that NBA Cup group play tilt with the Kings on Friday.

 

Como Zoo officials said Monday they were saddened to report that Ulysses, a 25-year-old plains zebra, had died overnight.

The zebra also known as “Uly” was born on April 13, 2000 at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo and came to Como Zoo in January 2002. Zoo officials said during his 23 years at the zoo he “became one of the most familiar and recognizable residents at Como. If you’ve visited in the last 20 years, chances are you’ve met Ulysses. He roamed between both African Hoofstock habitats and made friends with whatever species he was living with at the time, including giraffe, tortoise and ostrich. Keepers often joked that he was the ‘surrogate weird uncle’ to many giraffe calves through the years.”

He weighed around 550 pounds, enjoyed carrots and yam, and loved to nap in the sunshine. He sired 10 offspring during his lifetime, continuing his legacy beyond Como. Uly was the second oldest male plains zebra in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums population, according to Como Zoo.

Zoo officials said they are waiting to learn if there is more information about the cause of his death but that right now the focus remains on supporting one another and the animals at the zoo.

“Ulysses was part of Como for more than two decades, and his calm nature and steady presence made him a favorite among visitors and staff alike. He will be greatly missed,” zoo officials posted on the zoo website.

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North St. Paul and White Bear Lake are among the communities hosting Veterans Day commemorations Tuesday.

The North St. Paul Veterans Park, located at 2480 Margaret St. in North St. Paul, is hosting its annual Veterans Day Commemoration at 11:00 a.m.

Attendees are encouraged to gather at 10:45 a.m. The event includes the Veterans Park Committee, American Legion Post 39 Flag Detail and the VFW Post 1350 Rifle Detail, the North St. Paul High School 11th Avenue Singers and more.

Post 39 also is serving a free chipped beef on toast lunch for veterans from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 2678 Seventh Ave. E. in North St. Paul.

White Bear Lake VFW Post 1782 is celebrating Veterans Day beginning with a morning ceremony at Veterans Memorial Park followed by a lunch at the VFW next door and a luminary event later in the day.

The 10:30 a.m. ceremony kicks off at the park located at 4520 Highway 61 in White Bear Lake followed by lunch at the post (near the park) and a 4 p.m. luminary event at the Veterans Memorial Park.

VFW Post 1782 is also holding an event at 7 p.m. Friday: a slide show and book signing on PTSD and suicide prevention by the co-founders of the nonprofit Veterans Empowered Inc. at Boatworks Commons,4495 Lake Street South in White Bear Lake.

Other area events:

Minneapolis: Veterans for Peace Twin Cities (Chapter 27) will commemorate Armistice Day at Victory Memorial at 45th Avenue North and Victory Memorial Drive in Robbinsdale. The event will include poetry and song by Strong Buffalo with Scottie Clifford & Wemby June. A walk to the Memorial begins at 9:30 a.m. from Dowling Avenue and Victory Memorial Drive and bells will be rung at 11 a.m. to remember all victims of war.

Mankato: The official state Veterans Day event by the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs will be held at the Mankato Armory and Minnesota National Guard on Tuesday beginning at 10 a.m. It can be viewed live at vimeo.com/event/5494772.

Spring Park: A Veterans Day Finale to a two-month fundraising campaign to honor the “courage, sacrifice and resilience” of Minnesota military personnel will be held at Back Channel Brewing Co. in Spring Park on Lake Minnetonka. Operation Resilience 2025 began 9/11 and ends 11/11. The campaign “invites Minnesotans to stand with those who have served by helping remove barriers to mental health care for veterans, service members and their spouses.” Funds raised will support free trauma therapy. The campaign ends with live music, raffle prizes and more. Doors open at 5 p.m. Donate or learn more at veteranresilienceproject.org.

Appreciation for veterans

If you served — or are serving — in the armed forces, Leo’s Grill & Malt Shop in downtown Stillwater will serve you a free meal on Veterans Day. Meals will be available between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m.

The restaurant is planning to serve more than 250 veterans this year, said Cory Buettner, the restaurant’s owner. No proof of service is necessary, and veterans may choose from the entire menu, Buettner said.

This is the 18th year that Buettner has offered the meals to veterans. Leo’s is named for Buettner’s father, who served in the Army during World War II. Buettner’s son, Leo Blue Buettner, served in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Other free Veterans Day meals and offers:

American Legion Post 39 in North St. Paul is offering veterans free chipped beef on toast lunch with a fruit cup from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Great Clips salons are honoring veterans and active military service members by offering free haircuts.
The Museum of Illusions at the Mall of America is offering free admission to U.S. veterans and active military service members from Tuesday, Nov. 11 through Tuesday, Nov. 17.  For more information visit moimallofamerica.com.
Starbucks is offering veterans, military service members and military spouses a free 12 ounce brewed hot or iced coffee.
Hy-Vee stores will offer a free buffet-style breakfast to veterans and active-duty military members from 6 to 10 a.m. and 15 percent off groceries at Hy-Vee, Fast and Fresh and Dollar Fresh Market locations.
Participating Chili’s Grill & Bar locations are providing free meals to all veterans & active military members.
Participating White Castle locations will offer a free combo meal or breakfast combo meal to veterans and active-duty service members.
Dunkin Donuts will be giving away a free donut to veterans and active-duty military members.

Veterans Day began as Armistice Day to celebrate the agreement between the Allied nations and Germany to cease all fighting during World War I that took effect at 11 a.m. on Nov. 11, 1918. The U.S. marked its first Armistice Day under President Woodrow Wilson in 1919. Congress made Nov. 11 an official federal holiday in 1938.

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