Ellington

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Despite a partial shutdown of the federal government, Mississippi has gotten permission to keep operating a nutrition program for more than 94,000 low- to moderate-income women and children.

Dr. Mary Currier, the state health officer, said Thursday that money left over from the previous federal budget year will keep the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children — better known as WIC — open through October.

WIC helps pregnant, breastfeeding and post-partum women, plus infants and children younger than 5.

Money to pay for WIC goes through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the state Health Department operates 96 distribution sites for the program.

Currier says the USDA gave Mississippi permission to keep offering WIC services this month. The state is one of the poorest in the nation.