Here are today’s top stories.
Headlines
Isaias Threatens Southeasterns United States
Isaias strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane late Wednesday with 75 mph winds, becoming the first Atlantic hurricane of the season. It is expected to make landfall on the Florida Panhandle Friday night as a Category 1 or 2 storm. A hurricane warning now runs from Ocean Springs, Mississippi, to the Bay-Gulf County line in Florida. Source
The FBI arrested an 18-year-old Minnesota man accused of pledging allegiance to ISIS and discussing a mass shooting at the Mall of America. Sheikhdoon Abdullahi Mohamud was taken into custody in a sting operation before any attack was carried out. Read More
Vice President JD Vance said Iran must make a "meaningful" reduction in its nuclear enrichment capacity to end the seven-month war, while acknowledging Washington is unsure how Tehran makes decisions in negotiations. A senior Iranian official responded Wednesday that recognition of Iran’s right to enrich is a red line, though he said the details could be discussed later. See Details
Politics
President Trump made his third trip to Texas in less than a month Wednesday to rally for Republican Senate nominee Ken Paxton, who trails Democrat James Talarico 51% to 45% in a recent poll. Republicans have now spent more on advertising in the Texas contest than in any other non-presidential race on record. Find out More
Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms and Republican Rick Jackson clashed over the economy, data centers and President Trump on Tuesday night in their only scheduled debate of the Georgia governor’s race. The two are locked in a tight contest to succeed Republican Gov. Brian Kemp. Read More
Lawyers for CNN, MS NOW, and Politico are due back in court as the legal fight continues over President Trump’s decision to ban their reporters from the White House. Source
U.S. News
Attorneys for Christa Pike have described her first words after she woke in a Tennessee hospital following the state’s failed Sept. 30 attempt to execute her. A Tennessee judge has ordered the state to preserve evidence connected to the botched execution, in what her lawyers call the first step of a long legal battle. Find out More
Texas executed Jamaal Howard by lethal injection after his lawyers tried to stop the procedure by pointing to the Pike case. They argued he faced risks similar to those in Tennessee, where Pike survived the state’s attempt to put her to death. Read More
A judge ruled that California realtor Wanying Zhang will remain in custody amid concerns she is a flight risk. Zhang faces federal prosecution for allegedly surveilling the Taiwanese president’s son in Washington last year at the direction of Chinese government officials. Source
Business
Dow futures fell about 410 points, or 0.8%, early Thursday, with S&P 500 futures down 0.4% and Nasdaq-100 futures off 0.6%. The 10-year Treasury yield climbed to roughly 5.3%, near levels last seen in 2002, after Fed Governor Christopher Waller said more rate hikes are needed. Oil prices also rose again. See Details
Paramount closed its $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, creating a combined company called Skydance under David Ellison. The deal puts CBS, CNN, HBO Max and Paramount+ under one owner. The new company carries about $87.5 billion in debt. Source
Americans are paying 62% more for household water than they did a decade ago. The average household paid $531 in 2025, though residents of some states pay far more. Source
World News
Former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has been sentenced to death in absentia. Assad fled Syria when his government fell in December 2024. See Details
The United States has intercepted 90 Cuba-bound shipments of biodiesel worth about $3 million. The seizures widen a U.S.-imposed oil blockade aimed at cutting off illegally trafficked fuel to the island. Find out More
After a heavy-handed police response to nationwide student protests, the French government has shifted its approach, with President Emmanuel Macron calling for "empathy" from officers. Wednesday’s school blockades were a fraction of the size of Tuesday’s marches, but organizers have called another day of protest for Thursday. Source
Entertainment
Court documents show Dolly Parton’s nephew and longtime security chief, Bryan Seaver, sent a profanity-laced email on Aug. 21, four days before the country legend’s death. The message stemmed from a dispute over security at a Nashville hotel project and has surfaced in his legal fight with the company that manages her business interests. Parton died Aug. 25 at age 80. See Details
Actress Mia Goth has filed for divorce from Shia LaBeouf, citing irreconcilable differences and listing their separation date as July 28, 2025. She is seeking primary custody of their 4-year-old daughter. Source
A song by British singer Olivia Dean is facing accusations that it lifts its melody from the Bill Withers classic "Just the Two of Us." Source
Sports
A fan-interference ruling wiped out Anthony Volpe’s apparent game-tying two-run homer in the sixth inning Wednesday at Yankee Stadium. Tampa Bay held on to beat New York 4-3 and complete a three-game sweep of the American League Division Series. Read More
The Milwaukee Brewers beat the San Diego Padres 3-1 in Game 4 at Petco Park to win their National League Division Series. Milwaukee now gets a rematch with the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS. Source
NFL Week 5 opens Thursday night with winless Tampa Bay visiting Dallas at 8:15 p.m. ET on Prime Video, with the Cowboys favored by 8.5 points. Five teams enter the week still looking for a first win. Source
Off the Wall
Researchers studying a formation long rumored to be Noah’s Ark say new drilling results challenge the theory that it is natural rock. The team says it is "inching towards" confirmation. Source
