Republican Sen. Ryan Fattman shut down the Senate’s session after just a few minutes Monday morning, saying he hoped to “send a message” about the Healey administration pointedly blaming President Donald Trump for a lapse in SNAP benefits in official state communications.

With SNAP benefits at risk of lapsing lapsing for about 1.1 million Bay Staters starting Saturday as a result of the federal government shutdown, the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance website says that “President Trump is currently choosing to not issue November SNAP benefits that help you and many families put food on the table,” and the same language went out in emails and text messages to SNAP recipients.

“People need to be adults and act as such,” Fattman told NBC10 Boston. “The immaturity, the political gamesmanship, it all has to stop.”

Senator Fattman halted the Senate’s Monday session by doubting the presence of a quorum in protest of the politicization of this issue.

Fattman told the State House News Service that he has been trying to help constituents access SNAP benefits and started seeing the department’s messaging over the weekend as state-funded emails and text messages started going out.

“We’ve seen the federal government play this political game using taxpayer resources to say crazy messages and now Massachusetts is doing it under the Healey Administration,” Fattman said. “I felt that was wrong. I wanted to send a loud message that this needs to end.”

Gov. Maura Healey said that President Donald Trump has the power to distribute federal dollars that serve as a lifeline for many residents, but that Massachusetts does not have the money to cover the benefits if they are lost.

Fattman brought about an early end to Monday’s Senate session by doubting the presence of a quorum. Because a quorum of senators was not on hand and could not be rallied in about 10 minutes, the branch adjourned until Thursday. Sen. Sal DiDomenico of Everett was presiding over Monday’s session and Millbury Sen. Michael Moore arrived in the chamber about 10 minutes after Fattman’s motion.

Republicans and Democrats in Washington have been unable to agree on bills to fund government operations for the last four weeks and leaders of the two major parties have blamed each other for the shutdown.

Healey on Monday reiterated her stance about Trump’s role in the SNAP funding sitaution, and she wasn’t alone among Democratic politicians.

“They’re trying to make their resources stretch when Republicans are cutting food assistance,” Congresswoman Lori Trahan said.

A woman in Massachusetts is worried for her family in Jamaica as Hurricane Melissa could bring catastrophic flooding to the island. 

Hurricane Melissa is currently a Category 4 hurricane, but could strengthen to a Category 5 before it hits Jamaica and Haiti in the coming days. The storm could bring up to 30 inches of rain to the island and cause damage to infrastructure.

“I am really concerned about mud slides,” Framingham resident and real-estate agent JoAnn Frye said.  

Frye owns an Airbnb in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, at Pyramid Point. She said that she has already lost power to her outdoor video cameras and that her home manager moved everything inside in anticipation of the storm. 

“I’m very nervous. I’ve been watching this WhatsApp group because that’s how we communicate in the community,” Frye said.  

Residents in Jamaica prepare for Hurricane Melissa

Jamaica’s Prime Minister, Andrew Holness, urged residents to take the storm very seriously.

“We’ve been prepared for a couple of days now. We have gas generators. We have extra water in the rooms, and then we have some larger tanks of water prepared for that, just in case power goes out. We have some solar lights,” said Frye’s cousin, Mark Walker, who lives on the island.

He plans on hunkering down with his family for the next few days. 

“It’s one of those scenarios where it’s not just us, it’s everyone else, but we have a pretty good group of neighbors and friends that are close by, kind of looking out for each other,” Walker said.

Joanne says she’s glad she’s not there, but is praying for her people in Jamaica.  

“I’m still scared for the people I know and love there. I’m scared for the community,” Frye said.

She said that she plans to fly down once the storm passes to check on her loved ones and her home. 

For more information on Hurricane Melissa and to see its potential path, click here. 

Michael J. Curll, 48, is facing criminal charges after allegedly attacking a man in an inflatable costume of Donald Trump in Swampscott, Massachusetts.

A man is facing criminal charges after allegedly attacking an individual in an inflatable costume of President Donald Trump in Swampscott, Massachusetts. The suspect, 48-year-old Michael J. Curll, has been accused of attacking Jonathan Silveira, a Trump supporter from Peabody, who was heading to a ‘No Kings’ protest. He was attacked near King’s Beach, and said he did not make it to the rally.

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The protest, which started on Humphrey Street and was organized by North Shore Indivisible, saw a crowd of about 1,200 people.

Read More | Who is Robert Flores? Man, 66, arrested after threatening to ‘run over’ No Kings protesters in downtown San Antonio

“He came up behind me and kicked me,” Silveira told WHDH. “I lost my balance and I felt the pressure, but it was more like a push. That’s when I hit the pole. Then he kind of grabbed the railing, so I couldn’t get away or get off him. He was trying to get me to go to the ground, and I wasn’t going to the ground.”

Read More | Why are ‘No Kings’ protesters turning up in frog, chicken, rooster, T. rex costumes? Explaining the trend

Five facts to know about Michael J. Curll

• Curll violently attacked Silveira, “yelling” and “screaming,” the victim alleged. “He just didn’t want me there. He kept yelling and screaming,” Silveira said, according to NBC10 Boston. “I kept telling him to get away from me, and he kept telling people around him that he wanted to punch me in the face.”
• Silveira’s girlfriend captured the incident on video. Curll’s arrest was also captured on camera. “I don’t understand why he got that crazy. I was just trying to get a few laughs,” Silveira said. “I thought it would be a couple of back-and-forths, you know, nothing like that.”
• Curll has pleaded not guilty to the crime. He pleaded not guilty to assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.
• Curll’s attorney said that it was Silveira who started the altercation, and that his client was hit in the face with a metal pole. Silveira has denied the accounts, telling NBC10 Boston, “Absolutely not. Not even close.”
• Curll is set to be back in court in December. He is now facing various unrelated charges in Massachusetts and Connecticut, including assault and battery, drug possession and criminal trespassing.

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