ILLINOIS – Illinois has joined 25 other states in suing the Trump administration over its decision to suspend Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits amid the ongoing federal government shutdown.

The shutdown began Oct. 1 after lawmakers failed to reach a funding agreement.

What we know:

Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced Tuesday that he joined a coalition of 26 attorneys general and governors in filing the lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Secretary Brooke Rollins. The suit accuses the agency of unlawfully suspending SNAP, which helps more than 40 million Americans buy food.

While the federal government funds and sets the monthly allotment for SNAP benefits, states are responsible for administering the program.

On Oct. 10, the USDA warned state SNAP agencies that if the shutdown continued, it would not have sufficient funds to pay full November benefits. 

Two weeks later, on Oct. 24, the agency notified states that SNAP benefits would be suspended beginning Nov. 1, according to Raoul.

The lawsuit argues that the USDA’s claim of insufficient funds is false, noting the agency has access to billions in SNAP-specific contingency funds. It also claims the USDA has used emergency funds to support other programs during the shutdown but “has refused to fund SNAP.”

According to the filing, the suspension of benefits is “contrary to law and arbitrary and capricious under the Administrative Procedure Act.” The coalition also argues the USDA lacks authority to halt SNAP payments because Congress has already appropriated funding for the program.

The full lawsuit can be viewed below.

What’s next:

Raoul said he and other attorneys general plan to seek a temporary restraining order requiring the court to immediately restore SNAP benefits.

The lawsuit was also joined by the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin.

Governors from Kansas, Kentucky and Pennsylvania also signed on to the complaint.

ILLINOIS (WCIA) — The Illinois State Police is warning drivers to keep an eye out for deer during the fall — which the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) says is when many of the accidents involving deer occur.

Most deer-vehicle accidents happen from October to December, between the hours of 5 to 10 p.m. and 5 to 8 a.m., according to the IDNR. But, accidents also peak in May and June as deer relocate to new areas.

To avoid a deer-related accident, IDNR said there are several steps you should take. This includes:

• Be aware of your surroundings and pay attention to deer crossing signs
• Use high-beams at night — this could help you see a deer a few seconds earlier
• Use extra caution when near woodlots, field edges or water
• Slow down around curves where deer are known to be
• Prepare to stop if a deer is near the road — there are likely more nearby
• Alert other drivers if you see deer. You can flash your lights, tap the breaks or honk your horn
• If a deer is approaching, don’t slam on your breaks or swerve — it can cause a more severe accident
• Leave plenty of room between vehicles

IDNR added that if you hit a deer, you should pull over and turn on your emergency flashers. They also said you should not go out in the middle of the road to check on the deer — this would put you in danger of being hit by another driver.

State Police said that if you do hit a deer, you should contact the police or create your own crash report online.

“Remember the crash must be a single vehicle, property-damage-only crash where there were no injuries to anyone involved, and it occurred on either an Interstate or a U.S. or Illinois Route,” State Police said in a post on Facebook.