By Jasper Ward WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin declared a state of emergency on Thursday to help maintain food aid for state residents as a three-week-long U.S. government shutdown threatens to halt federal benefits.

As of this writing, it is entering its fourth week, raising concerns about delayed benefits for those who depend on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

“SNAP is a critical program that helps ensure families all across our state have access to nutritious foods, and even a brief disruption is problematic,” said department Secretary Janet Mann in the r...