NYC NOW Morning Headlines: SNAP Delays Hit New York Grocers, Health Officials Warn of Rising Viruses, and State Investigates False Text Alert
Nov 13, 2025
Karen Yee, a WNYC reporter, discusses the troubling impact of SNAP delays, revealing that grocers in New York have seen sales plummet by 25% as customers are left without funds. Stores are responding by cutting orders and marking down perishable goods. Additionally, health commissioner Dr. Michelle Moore emphasizes the urgency of vaccine updates as respiratory illnesses surge, reporting a significant spike in ER visits. Lastly, Yee covers the state's investigation into a false text alert issued to 200,000 subscribers regarding Bank of America.
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Grocers Describe SNAP Pain At Checkout
- Grocers reported customers leaving in tears at checkout when SNAP cards had no money left.
- Some store managers like Juan Jimenez even covered costs from their own pockets and cut orders to avoid waste.
SNAP Timing Directly Hurts Store Sales
- Stores reduced meat and produce orders and marked down items to avoid spoilage during SNAP delays.
- Sales dropped up to 25 percent, showing how benefit timing directly affects neighborhood store economics.
ER Visits Spike For Flu
- Emergency room visits for flu rose about 80 percent compared to last week, signaling a sharp upswing in respiratory illnesses.
- The surge highlights simultaneous circulation of flu, COVID, and RSV this season.