The National Weather Service (NWS) issued frost advisories for parts of four northern U.S. states due to a cold front. These advisories, meant to protect crops and infrastructure, are in effect during the early hours of Thursday and will last until 9 a.m. Other areas in the U.S. are also facing winter weather with snow predictions in California and Nevada.
Key Facts
Frost advisories affect parts of Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, and New York.
The advisories start at midnight or 2 a.m. and end at 9 a.m. on Thursday.
In Ohio, counties such as Carroll, Harrison, and Jefferson are impacted.
West Virginia's affected areas include Taylor County and regions like Northwest Pocahontas.
Pennsylvania's affected counties include Crawford and Southern Erie.
New York sees impacts in Erie and Genesee Counties.
Other U.S. regions, including parts of California and Nevada, are facing snow storms.
Residents are advised to protect sensitive plants and prepare for winter conditions.
FBI agents will continue to get paid during the government's shutdown. President Donald Trump arranged funding to ensure law enforcement, including the FBI, and military personnel receive their paychecks.
Key Facts
FBI agents will still receive paychecks despite the government shutdown.
FBI Director Kash Patel announced this decision.
President Trump secured the necessary funds for this purpose.
Most other federal workers will not be paid during the shutdown.
The news is part of a broader, ongoing story with more updates expected.
The Supreme Court is reviewing a case that may change how electoral maps are drawn in the U.S. The focus is on whether lawmakers can consider race when creating voting districts. The decision could affect a key part of the 1965 Voting Rights Act.
Key Facts
The Supreme Court's conservative justices are hearing a case about electoral map drawing.
The case examines if race can be a factor when lawmakers draw congressional districts.
This case could impact the 1965 Voting Rights Act, a major law for voting rights.
Ali Rogin from News Hour spoke to experts about the possible effects of the case.
Amy Howe, a Supreme Court analyst, and David Wasserman, a political expert, discussed the case's implications.
President Trump's administration is supporting a national school voucher program to expand parent choice in education. Arizona started the U.S.'s first universal school voucher program in 2022, and its effects are being closely watched.
Key Facts
President Trump's administration supports a national school voucher program.
The program is designed to give parents more educational options for their children.
Critics argue that school voucher programs can negatively affect public schools.
Arizona launched the first universal school voucher program in 2022.
Observers are studying Arizona's program to predict the impact of a national rollout.
The report focuses on how the voucher program is working in Arizona.
The government shutdown has caused significant disruptions for federal workers. Many employees have been furloughed, and some are working without being paid, while there may be future layoffs.
Key Facts
The government shutdown is impacting federal workers' jobs and daily lives.
Hundreds of thousands of federal workers are on furlough, meaning they are temporarily not working and not paid.
Many other federal workers are working without receiving pay.
President Trump’s administration has plans for potential mass layoffs.
Federal employees are speaking out about their experiences during the shutdown.
Lisa Desjardins is reporting on the number of federal workers currently not working due to the shutdown.
The U.S. federal government has been shut down for 15 days, which is one of the longest funding gaps in history. Geoff Bennett talked with political experts Faiz Shakir and Doug Heye to understand the political consequences of this shutdown.
Key Facts
The federal government has been shut down for 15 days.
This shutdown is one of the longest in U.S. history.
Geoff Bennett, a journalist, discussed the situation with two political strategists.
Faiz Shakir is a strategist for the Democratic Party.
Doug Heye is a strategist for the Republican Party.
They talked about the political impact of the shutdown.
More than 10,000 federal employees might lose their jobs due to a government shutdown, according to OMB Director Russell Vought. This number is higher than the previously stated 4,100 planned layoffs. The information was discussed on a broadcast from the White House.
Key Facts
Russell Vought is the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
Vought mentioned the potential job losses during an appearance on the Charlie Kirk Show.
Initially, the White House announced plans to lay off 4,100 federal workers.
The new estimate suggests over 10,000 federal jobs could be cut.
The shutdown refers to a situation where government operations are partially closed due to budget issues.
Vice President J.D. Vance and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt were also present on the show.
President Donald Trump posthumously awarded Charlie Kirk the presidential Medal of Freedom recently.
A leaked group chat from the Young Republican National Federation included racist and offensive comments. This led to calls for the people involved to resign. Despite the controversy, Republican Vice President JD Vance defended those involved.
Key Facts
A Young Republican group chat included racist language and offensive jokes.
The Young Republican National Federation represents Republicans aged 18 to 40.
There were bipartisan demands for those involved in the chat to resign.
The exchanges were first reported by Politico.
The Federation described the messages as not fitting for any Republican.
Vice President JD Vance defended those involved, downplaying the situation.
Zohran Mamdani, a New York City mayoral nominee, spoke directly to President Donald Trump during a Fox News interview, stating his plans to partner on reducing living costs in the city. Mamdani, who recently won the Democratic nomination, emphasized his goals for improving public safety and affordability. He also addressed issues related to international peace but did not take a specific stance on the ongoing conflict involving Hamas and Israel.
Key Facts
Zohran Mamdani is the Democratic nominee for New York City Mayor.
He addressed President Trump directly during a Fox News interview, stating his intention to reduce living costs.
Mamdani defeated former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who is running as an independent.
The current New York Mayor, Eric Adams, dropped out of the race in late September.
Mamdani is supported by young progressives and endorsed by New York Governor Kathy Hochul.
He plans to improve quality of life, public safety, and affordability.
Republican Curtis Sliwa is also competing in the mayoral race.
Mamdani discussed the importance of international law in conflicts but did not specify opinions on Hamas or Israel.
A federal judge has ordered a stop to the layoffs of federal workers. Lee Saunders, the union president, discusses how federal workers are dealing with these changes.
Key Facts
A federal judge has issued an order to stop the layoffs of federal workers.
Lee Saunders is the president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.
NPR's Mary Louise Kelly interviewed Lee Saunders.
The interview focused on how these layoffs are affecting federal workers.
The discussion was heard on NPR's program "All Things Considered."
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Several journalists left the Pentagon after the government put new rules in place that limit how they can report on military affairs. These new rules, introduced by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, could lead to journalists being removed if they report on unapproved information.
Key Facts
Reporters handed in their Pentagon access badges and left.
The new rules were introduced by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Journalists are restricted from reporting on unapproved information.
The government describes the rules as "common sense."
News organizations largely disagree with the rules and rejected them.
Journalists covering the military often need access to the Pentagon to do their work.
Vice President JD Vance and members of the Trump family will participate in Turning Point USA's campus tour, as announced by the group. The tour aims to continue Charlie Kirk's work after his recent death and features events at various universities with significant attendance expected. Key figures like Eric and Lara Trump, along with Vance, will speak at these events.
Key Facts
Vice President JD Vance will join Turning Point USA's campus tour.
The tour continues after the group's founder, Charlie Kirk, passed away.
Erika Kirk, Charlie Kirk's widow, will appear at the University of Mississippi event.
Eric and Lara Trump will speak at Auburn University on November 5.
The events will have speeches and question-and-answer sessions with attendees.
The tour aims to maintain Charlie Kirk's mission and influence on campuses.
It is expected to have strong participation, with 9,000 to 10,000 attendees at some events.
Volunteers have stepped in to lead tours at the Oklahoma City National Memorial. This is happening because government workers are not working during a shutdown.
Key Facts
A government shutdown has caused park rangers to stop working.
Volunteers are now giving tours at the Oklahoma City National Memorial.
These volunteers have personal connections to the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing.
The Memorial is a site dedicated to remembering the bombing incident.
The government shutdown has affected various federal operations.
The Supreme Court is considering a case that could weaken the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which protects minority voting rights. The case revolves around a redistricting map in Louisiana, where arguments focus on whether creating a second majority-Black district is necessary for fair voting. The court's decision could impact how racial considerations are used in drawing voting districts.
Key Facts
The Supreme Court is reviewing a case that may change how the Voting Rights Act is applied.
The 1965 Voting Rights Act aims to protect minority voting rights in the U.S.
The current case involves Louisiana's decision to create a second majority-Black voting district.
Louisiana has a 30% Black population, with two out of six House members being African-American.
A group opposed to the new map argues the second majority-Black district is unnecessary.
Justices are debating whether political advantages can be separated from racial considerations.
This case revisits issues from a similar decision involving Alabama two years ago.
Some justices believe there should be a time limit on using race-based remedies in voting laws.
A new poll from Quinnipiac University shows that in the New Jersey governor's race, Democratic candidate Mikie Sherrill leads over Republican candidate Jack Ciattarelli by 6 points. The election, scheduled for November 4, is one of only two gubernatorial races this year and is drawing national attention due to its potential impact on future political strategies.
Key Facts
Mikie Sherrill leads Jack Ciattarelli by 6 points, with 50% to his 44%, according to a Quinnipiac poll.
This poll surveyed 1,327 likely voters in New Jersey from October 9 to October 13 and has a margin of error of 3.6%.
New Jersey is historically a Democratic state, but the race is competitive this year.
Sherrill has a 43% favorability rating, while Ciattarelli has a 39% favorability rating.
The candidates are focusing on issues such as taxes, utility costs, and their views on President Donald Trump.
The election is set for November 4, and both candidates are aiming to persuade undecided voters.
Both candidates have made statements on social media highlighting their campaign issues and criticising each other.
The U.S. State Department revoked the visas of at least six foreign nationals due to their public comments about the death of Charlie Kirk, a conservative influencer and ally of President Donald Trump. Kirk was shot dead during a university event, and some of the visa holders reportedly expressed support for his death on social media. The action is part of broader efforts by the Trump administration to monitor social media and tighten immigration policies.
Key Facts
The U.S. government canceled the visas of at least six individuals for comments on Charlie Kirk's death.
Charlie Kirk, a supporter of President Trump, was killed while speaking at Utah Valley University.
The revoked visas were linked to posts that supported or celebrated Kirk's death.
The affected individuals are from Argentina, South Africa, Mexico, Brazil, Germany, and Paraguay.
President Trump awarded Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously.
The Trump administration has increased social media checks during visa applications.
Over 6,000 student visas have been canceled this year for various violations.
A suspect named Tyler Robinson was charged with aggravated murder in Kirk's death.
The FAFSA application for federal student aid is open for the 2026-27 school year, despite a government shutdown. The Education Department confirmed that the processing of FAFSA applications will continue as usual. While most of the Department of Education's workforce is furloughed, essential operations like FAFSA processing are automated to reduce disruptions.
Key Facts
The FAFSA application for the 2026-27 school year opened on September 24.
The government shutdown has not affected FAFSA processing, which continues as normal.
FAFSA helps students qualify for financial aid like scholarships, grants, and loans.
Students need to input financial details, with dependent students including one parent's information.
The Department of Education states that essential operations, including aid disbursement, will carry on.
87% of the Education Department staff is furloughed; issues may arise if technical problems occur.
Financial aid eligibility is determined by the FAFSA, crucial for federal programs like work-study.
The application is available early, and applying soon is advised to secure available aid.
Protests took place at many U.S. universities last year as students called for an end to the Israel-Gaza war. A ceasefire has now been announced, leading to mixed feelings among the students. Some students feel relieved about the ceasefire, while others remain cautious about how the situation will develop.
Key Facts
Many U.S. college students protested against the Israel-Gaza war, demanding a ceasefire.
Protests were held on major campuses, with some being peaceful and others resulting in arrests.
President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire deal, stating "the war is over."
Students felt both relieved and wary about the ceasefire, unsure of its long-term impact.
Some students with family ties to the region felt apprehensive about the future despite the ceasefire.
Universities faced calls from government officials to address antisemitism amid the protests.
Over 3,000 protesters were arrested during the campus demonstrations.
The ceasefire deal included the release of hostages and prisoners.
During a press briefing, FBI Director Kash Patel spoke about the investigation into Charlie Kirk's death. Patel stated that the FBI quickly caught the suspect and is following every lead to ensure full legal action.
Key Facts
FBI Director Kash Patel addressed the death of Charlie Kirk at a press briefing.
Patel stated that the FBI caught the alleged assassin within 33 hours.
He emphasized focusing on facts and not on conspiracy theories.
Patel mentioned the FBI is pursuing all leads for full prosecution.
The capture of the suspect was described as a record-breaking operation.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon suggested that the federal shutdown shows the Education Department might not be needed. She made this statement after her department began laying off hundreds of workers due to the shutdown.
Key Facts
Linda McMahon is the Education Secretary.
McMahon stated the federal shutdown shows the Education Department may be "unnecessary."
She shared her views in a social media post.
Thousands of government workers are being laid off, including at the Education Department.
McMahon emphasized that schools are still running normally and teachers are being paid during the shutdown.
