Senate approves stop-gap spending bill

Congress is half way to avoiding another government shutdown, with the Senate voting 72-26 to approve a spending bill that will keep the government open through Dec. 9. The House is expected to vote on the measure—and approve it—late tonight or early tomorrow morning. The bill includes $1.1 billion to combat the Zika virus and $500 million to help rebuild parts of Louisiana devastated by flooding earlier this summer. Senate Democrats delayed the bill earlier this week to demand it include money to help alleviate the ongoing water crisis in Flint, Mich. They protested sending money to Louisiana but not Flint. Leaders eventually agreed to postpone the Flint funding debate until after the election. House lawmakers have brokered a deal that would send $170 billion to Flint, if it’s approved in the lame-duck December session.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.