Few, if any, members of the Washington state Legislature have been allowed to climb to the top of the state Capitol dome this century. That will soon change. A provision in the new capital budget requires 10 legislators be given a guided tour of the upper ...

A new fiscal year began on October 1 with no legislation enacted to fund these activities. Thousands of federal workers have now been furloughed, and the battle has hung up around $1.7 trillion in discretionary funds that account for about one-third of total U.S. spending annually.

In the Capitol Visitor Center, where you can find a statue of Colorado astronaut Jack Swigert, the only sound is babbling water from a small water feature tucked away in the corner. Usually, it’s completely drowned out by the passing crowds. Something about the solitude makes it hard to speak above a whisper, even when you’re alone.

As the government shutdown continues into November, more citizens are losing benefits. Here are some of the major effects being felt.

Vital SNAP benefits that help feed 40 million people are within hours of running out. Federal workers deemed essential have slogged through demoralizing weeks without pay. And it’s no vacation for their furloughed colleagues either.