Lawmakers under pressure to finish spending package or face shutdown

Lawmakers on Thursday were staring another government shutdown in the eye as they tried to wrap up negotiations on a year-end spending package that would fund the government for 2021 and also deliver another round of cash for coronavirus relief.

Optimism over a deal waxed and waned throughout the day as leaders worked through thorny pandemic issues such as how much food-assistance money to approve, how to prevent new emergency management money for the states from becoming a slush fund, and how big to make the next round of stimulus...