With the partial government shutdown over, Kansas officials have begun issuing assistance checks again to women participating in a nutrition program.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment says Thursday that local clinics could start issuing assistance checks for use in November and December.

Payments were halted Oct. 9 for the Women, Infant and Children program because of uncertainty about federal funding. The program provides financial assistance for the purchase of nutritious foods, breastfeeding support and nutrition education.

The WIC program is administered through contracts with local county health clinics and serves about 70,000 residents every month.