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Connections
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Connections

Understanding cuts to SNAP and more

By Evan Dawson,
Megan Mack, Julie Williams
Published August 7, 2026 at 4:18 PM EDT
Two men wearing headphones sit at a table in a radio talk studio: a man at left has short brown hair, a brown beard and is wearing a light blue polo shirt; a balding man at right is wearing eyeglasses and a plaid button-down shirt.
Julie Williams
/
WXXI News
Mitch Gruber with host Evan Dawson on "Connections with Evan Dawson" on Friday, August 7, 2026
WXXI News

Thousands of people in the Rochester region are losing SNAP benefits due to new federal guidelines.

According to reporting by WXXI's Noelle Evans, the Monroe County Department of Human Services closed 3,900 cases at the end of May due to non-compliance or not verifying an exemption to new work requirements for some people without dependents.

This hour, we're joined by Rochester City Councilmember Mitch Gruber. He discusses the changes and answers listener questions. He also addresses a summer meal program.

In studio:

Connections
Evan Dawson
Evan Dawson is the host of "Connections with Evan Dawson." He joined WXXI in January 2014 after working at 13WHAM-TV, where he served as morning news anchor. He was hired as a reporter for 13WHAM-TV in 2003 before being promoted to anchor in 2007.
See stories by Evan Dawson
Megan Mack
Megan Mack is the executive producer of "Connections with Evan Dawson" and live/televised engagement programming.
See stories by Megan Mack
Julie Williams
Julie Williams is an associate producer for "Connections with Evan Dawson." She started at WXXI in 2019 and has been working on Connections since 2022.
See stories by Julie Williams