Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Louise Skiyavoni.

The government of Jamaica says recovery efforts are in full swing in the western part of that country.

NPR's Ada Peralta reports that's where Hurricane Melissa made landfall as a category five storm.

The country's prime minister, Andrew Holness, took a helicopter to St. Elizabeth Parish.

Footage shows devastation. Homes with roofs ripped away, vast tracks of land that have been stripped of trees. The images show the town of Black River was reduced to rubble.

The government of Jamaica says crews are working to open up roads.

Local government minister Desmond McKenzie tried to reassure the island's western residents.

We are all in your corners and we are hoping for the best.

There is no official death toll yet, as many of the hard hit areas are still cut off.

Hurricane Melissa is still in the Atlantic, now headed for Bermuda.

Adapralta, NPR News, Mexico City.

Snap recipients across the nation are at risk of losing benefits next month. As the government

shutdown continues, that's leaving it up to the states to try to find funding for the

food assistance program for low-income households.

Alex Cox with Member Station WRKF has the story on funding in Louisiana.

While already convened for a special session on redistricting, the Louisiana legislature passed a resolution

that paved the way for SNAP recipients to receive funding from the state.

But 53,000 of those who rely on the program probably won't get the benefits.

Louisiana Health Secretary Bruce Greenstein says that's because they are prioritizing children,

the elderly, and people with disabilities.

The intention is that we're not covering able-bodied adults.

That's the direction that we're headed.

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