WASHINGTON, June 4 () – U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio ​told Bolivian President ‌Rodrigo Paz in a call on Thursday that the ​Trump administration was ​ramping up emergency assistance ⁠and support to help ​with food and medical ​shortages amid weeks of social unrest and mass protests in ​the South American country, ​the department said.
“Rubio reaffirmed that ‌the ⁠Trump Administration will continue to stand with Bolivia as it works toward ​stability, ​security, ⁠and a better future for all ​Bolivians,” U.S. State ​Department ⁠Spokesperson Tommy Pigott said in a statement.
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Reporting by ⁠Christian ​Martinez in ​Los Angeles; Writing by Ismail Shakil; ​Editing by Dhne Psaledakis

GRAND RIDS, MI —A new affordable housing development in Grand Rids has been completed on a site that once housed a Black-owned grocery store, marking a new chter for a location once central to the Madison Square neighborhood.
ICCF Community Homes hosted a ceremonial ribbon cutting Thursday for the Tate & Thomas artments, named for Wilson Tate and Frank Thomas, the late owners of Madison Food Center. The $18 million low-income housing development includes 45 units across two buildings at 1309 Madison Ave. SE and 415 Adams St. SE.
Michelle Covington, ICCF’s vice president of advancement, said Madison Food Center — opened by Tate and Thomas in 1983 — was more than a place to buy groceries.
It became a gathering place, a source of pride and a center of community life, she said.
The new housing development carries forward that vision, Covington said, serving the community by providing affordable housing at a time when such units are in high demand. Like the grocery store before it, the artments are intended to be a place where neighbors can connect, belong and thrive.
In a neighborhood built on community and belonging, we celebrate a new chter today, Covington said. Forty-five families will soon call this place home. It is a place rooted in a rich history, strengthened by the people who came before us and filled with endless possibilities for the future.
The Tate & Thomas artments are reserved for residents earning up to 80% of Kent County’s area median income, or about $59,760 annually for a one-person household. The project was financed using state low-income housing tax credits, said Ryan VerWys, president and CEO of ICCF Community Homes.
VerWys said ICCF chose to name the development after Tate and Thomas because of the site’s history and the example they set as community leaders and loving neighbors.
He recalled a story shared by one of Tate’s sons, who said his father, when arriving at the grocery store early in the morning, would occasionally find a person experiencing homelessness sleeping near the entrance. Instead of sending the person away, Tate would invite them inside, offering food and a warm drink.
The Tate and Thomas families have been loving neighbors in this community, VerWys said. So it’s fitting that we would, thankfully, have the permission to name these buildings after them, which honors that legacy of taking in and not turning away.
Grand Rids Mayor David LaGrand said the development will help strengthen the Madison Square neighborhood while building on other nearby investments.
We’ve got a grocery store here, we’ve got churches here, we’ve got neighborhood restaurants here, he said. So getting more people in this neighborhood is going to be a virtuous cycle. We are going to reinvest, and we are going to reinforce all of the good things that have been going on.
VerWys said the two artment buildings took about 18 months to complete. The building at 415 Adams St. SE has received its occupancy permit, while the building at 1309 Madison Ave. SE is still awaiting its permit. Residents are expected to begin moving in within the coming weeks.
We’re going to try and get these leased up as quickly as possible, VerWys said, noting demand is expected to be high because life’s getting more and more expensive.
According to a news release, the artments include a community room with a kitchenette, a fitness room, package rooms, in-unit laundry and shared laundry facilities. The development also includes electric vehicle charging stations and rooftop solar and is seeking LEED Gold certification.
The site at 1309 Madison Ave. SE has long been home to a grocery store.
According to Gary Burge, a historical consultant and church liaison at ICCF, an A&P Food Store opened there in 1939. It later became Eberhard Super Food and Madison Food Town before Tate and Thomas purchased it in 1982. They moved the store in 1989 to the Madison Mall at 1226 Madison Ave. SE, now the site of Great Giant Supermarket.
After Madison Food Center moved, the building was occupied by several other users, including a childcare center, mosque and African community center. The building was eventually demolished to make way for the new artments.
For the families whose names now mark the buildings, the recognition carries deep meaning.
It was a source of pride for the Black community, said Wanda Thomas, 85, reflecting on the grocery store’s legacy.
Carolyn Tate, 89, described the new housing as a continuation of that legacy of service.
This is progression to fulfill a need of the community, she said.

When class is in session, Maine’s students receive free breakfast and lunch to keep them energized and focused. In the summer, to help bridge the g when school is out, the state offers programs to help ensure children have access to nutritious food.
In a news release Wednesday, the Maine Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Family Independence, in partnership with the Maine Department of Education, announced the return of the federally-funded, state-administered summer SUN programs.
They include SUN Bucks, which provides eligible school-aged children with a $120 grocery benefit loaded onto an EBT card to be used at any retailer, grocer or market that accepts the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; SUN Meals, which offers free meals to those 18 and younger at sites statewide; and SUN Meals To-Go, which provides pick up and delivery options.
By Friday, families will receive the SUN Bucks on their EBT cards, according to the news release, with an estimated $10.2 million pouring into households. Families new to federal food assistance will receive a pre-loaded EBT card in the mail.
OFI Director Ian Yaffe praised the program, which he said launched in 2024 after successful pandemic EBT programs and has become a game-changer in the fight against hunger. A 2025 report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Administration showed that SUN Bucks has decreased child food insecurity by one-third nationwide.
According to Anna Korsen, co-executive director at Full Plates Full Potential, a food advocacy organization in Brunswick, the program intervenes at a critical moment when Mainers are feeling the weight of rising food prices and cost of living.
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Families are finding it harder and harder to make ends meet. Having that added grocery benefit is absolutely critical, Korsen said. SN and SUN is this beautiful partnership where a family can access all benefits in one place.
Yaffe said the state has worked to make access as straightforward and low-effort as possible.
About 85,000 children will be eligible for SUN Bucks this year, according to the news release. Families will automatically receive the benefit if they have children who attend a school that serves National School Lunch Program meals and if they participate in programs, such as SN, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families or the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations, if the families are experiencing homelessness, participating in migrant education programs or receiving MaineCare with a household income at or below 185% of the federal poverty level.
About 99% of households that participated were automatically enrolled in the first two years of the SUN Bucks program, according to the news release.
SUN Bucks can be used at any retailer that accepts SN EBT, including grocery stores and farmers markets, for foods such as fruits, vegetables, dairy, meats and whole grains.
Families that have not received benefits by Friday but believe they may qualify can ply online through My Maine Connection or by mail. plications must be submitted by Aug. 15, and benefits expire proximately four months after they are issued.
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For families in rural areas, where distance and transportation can make reaching a central meal site difficult, SUN Meals To-Go offers pick-up and delivery options. Maine’s high share of rural residents participating in SN compared to urban areas, making the To-Go option a critical piece of the program’s reach, Yaffe said.
A location finder for summer meal sites is expected to be updated with Maine-specific information by mid-June, according to the news release.
The program announcement also stressed the importance of nutritious food to support the learning and growth of Maine’s youth.
When you provide parents with a benefit that they can use to buy healthy food, they go buy healthy food with it, Yaffe said. These parents make healthy choices for their kids.
The FNA reports that summer grocery benefits lead to more whole grain, dairy and produce, and fewer sugary drinks in children’s diets.
Yaffe also highlighted how the economic impact of the programs extends into the community. A 2025 study from the USDA’s Economic Research Service shows that each dollar in federal nutrition assistance generates $1.54 in economic activity.

Philadelphia is the birthplace of this fine nation we call home, so it’s fitting that as part of America’s 250th birthday, the MLB All-Star Game is taking place in the City of Brotherly Love.
But as much as Philly is known for history, it’s equally known for food.
Cheesesteaks, TastyKakes, pretzels, roast pork sandwiches and anything from Wawa.
As part of the All-Star festivities, Citizens Bank Park will welcome a new food item from a selection of four candidates, which will be determined via a fan vote.
PERFECT GAME’S ALL-AMERICAN CLASSIC IS COMING TO PHILADELPHIA FOR AMERICA’S 250TH ANNIVERSARY
Of course, it’s not enough to just win the vote. The winning selection will need to look right at home alongside the city’s culinary titans.
But can any of them do it? Well, let’s take a look at them and see by giving them a one to five rating.
The Declaration Dog
You can’t do baseball without a hot dog, and what a name. We’re off to a hot start and haven’t even talked about what is in this patriotic SOB.
YOU’LL NEVER BELIEVE HOW MUCH THESE HOT DOGS AT THE F1 MIAMI GRAND PRIX ARE GOING FOR
Good lord.
I love the pretzel bun as a nod to Philly, and the smoked Wagyu beef frank sounds divine, even if I think taking Wagyu beef and making a glizzy out of it seems like a bit of a waste.
ROYAL FAMILY’S FAVORITE AMERICAN FOODS AND ‘HUMBLE’ HOT DOG’S IMPORTANT ROLE IN HISTORY REVEALED
Then you’ve got the candied bacon crumble and ple cider gastrique, which I think will go together nicely and play off of that barrage of smokiness from the bacon and frank.
Crispy shallots for some crunch and micro mustard greens so you can tell your doctor, “No, really, I eat greens.”
This may be a bit too highfalutin for a ballpark dog — Give me a foil-wrped dog with yellow mustard all day — but dammit, if that doesn’t sound incredible.
Score: 4.3 cups of wooder ice out of 5
The Liberty Stack
Alright, so maybe they used up all of their naming mojo on the Declaration Dog, because “Liberty Stack” doesn’t give you any inkling of what this might be, but it’s a buttermilk-brined hot chicken thigh on a brown butter-mle-glazed donut.
If that didn’t get your heart racing, it’s also topped with charred peach bourbon compote, aged cheddar and pickled Fresnos.
This is the headline stealer because for some reason, people still go, “WHAT?! Fried chicken on a donut?!” even though this has been hpening for quite some time. In fact, we’re way past this and started frying Pop-Tarts.
Still, I’m sure this tastes delicious, even if you will feel immense shame after eating it. My only concern is that there may be too much going on. The sweet and saltiness of the donut and chicken will work great, but once the peach bourbon compote, cheddar, and pickled Fresno come in, they might all crash into each other.
And, if this wins, godspeed to the Citizens Bank Park custodial staff. They might need hazard pay.
Score: 3.75 Butterscotch Krimpets out of 5
Betsy’s Banana Ice Cream Sundae
There’s a lot of savoriness, but if you’re inclined to pick something a little bit sweeter, here’s an option named after the nation’s flag-sewing GOAT.
This puppy has banana pudding and vanilla soft serve, with crushed vanilla wafers, peanut brittle, hot fudge, strawberry sauce and toasted marshmallow cloud. Then they top it with red, white and blue sprinkles before sweetening the deal by serving it in a souvenir mini-batting helmet.
I love this, but I just don’t feel like this is special enough for this stage.
I’m not mad at it, but I feel like, of all the options, something comparable to this is found in a lot of places.
Other stadiums, theme parks, malls.
ICONIC BRANDS GO OVER-THE-TOP FOR AMERICA’S 250TH, FROM AMERICAN DEW TO BIRTHDAY CAKE CHEERIOS
Hell, I think I could probably construct this at home (and might).
It’s still a winner, which goes to show what a strong field this is, but I suspect poor Betsy Ross’ namesake dish will be bringing up the rear.
Score: 3.25 bags of Utz potato chips out of 5
The Revolutionary Rib Melt
This. This is why we revolted against the tyranny of King George III, so that one day we may put smoked short rib, aged provolone, charred onion jam, fried peppers and pickle butter on a pressed brioche roll in the name of baseball… and freedom.
Oh, and as if that wasn’t enough, this comes with a side of consommé for dipping.
This sounds like someone took a French dip — already an elite sandwich — and said, “How do we make French dips look Lunchables?”
And not the good Lunchables.
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Everything about this sounds incredible, and like it would go together perfectly.
My only reservation is trying to wrangle a cup of hot beef consommé while watching a ball game. Maybe just don’t wear white and put a protective layer of nkins over your crotch, and you should be fine.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS P
As a Big J journalist, I’m supposed to be impartial, but this is the one I would vote for.

Affordability is a big concern across the country as the cost of food, rent, energy and gas increase. As a way to ease cost-of-living burdens, many states are considers some form of property tax relief.
More than a dozen states have either passed a plan to provide some relief, or are discussing a measure to do so. Some of the conversations revolve around eliminating property tax, while other states are raising the homestead exemption, looking into cs and limits on rates, or wanting to provide some sort of refund.
“We’re seeing this trend across the country because the cost of living is generally so high,” said Anirban Basu, the Chairman & CEO, Sage Policy Group.
Officials in Florida are making a big push for property tax relief. The legislature just passed a measure that would raise the homestead exemption to $250,000 by 2028. The proposal will pear on the November ballot for voters to decide.
“The reality is, is that the property tax has become a big, big burden for millions of people in this state. And fortunately, because we’ve had success, we have an ability to do something about it,” said Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
Despite being a high tax state, property tax relief is not being considered in Maryland.
“It should be noted that our state property tax rate is actually very low, at just about 11 cents per $100 of assessed value, where the property tax impacts people is really the jurisdictional rate,” Basu said. “Whether you live in Montgomery County, Prince George’s County, of course, Baltimore City, Baltimore City has by far the highest real property tax rate in Maryland, and Baltimore City residents, I think, could really use a major dose of property tax relief, and that would cause more people to move in the city, stay in the city, broaden the tax base and actually probably increase city tax revenues.”
“But states like Florida, of course, are working hard to maybe even eliminate their real property tax rate, and they don’t even tax income,” he added. “So, Maryland is going to have to work hard to remain competitive with other states, and right now we’re not that competitive with split to income taxes and corporate tax rates. We need to make some progress along those dimensions.”
While a big argument against property tax cuts is the reduction of revenue, which can go toward schools, infrastructure, roads, public safety and other critical needs, Basu said in many cases, providing property tax relief could incentivize more people to move into or stay in an area and could increase overall revenue.