Here are today’s top stories.
Headlines
U.S. Casualties in Iran War Higher Than Reported
Eight U.S. Marines were injured on Sept. 14 when an Iranian cruise missile struck the ship they were operating on in the Strait of Hormuz, according to three U.S. officials. The previously undisclosed injuries were not serious, including smoke inhalation and possible concussions, and the Marines returned to duty soon afterward. Source
President Trump rejected Iran’s latest ceasefire offer but said he expects new talks with Tehran to continue this week. He declined to rule out more strikes on Iran before the midterm elections, while predicting the war will end soon, gas prices will fall and Iran will never obtain a nuclear weapon. Source
SpaceX’s Starship, the most powerful rocket ever built, reached orbit for the first time Monday after launching from Starbase, Texas, and deployed all 26 of its Starlink satellites despite engine trouble. The milestone landed exactly 18 years after the company’s Falcon 1 first reached orbit on Sept. 28, 2008. Source
Politics
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth signed a memo directing U.S. Cyber Command and other Pentagon agencies to work with the Department of Homeland Security to counter foreign cyber threats targeting American elections. Hegseth described protecting the vote as a no-fail mission for the department. Read More
Nearly 1.5 million vote-by-mail ballots have been sent to Florida voters for the November general election, according to state figures posted Monday. County election supervisors reported more than 2,200 ballots already returned, mostly from military and overseas voters. See Details
Taxpayer-funded television ads featuring President Trump are drawing bipartisan scrutiny over whether they violate federal law just weeks before the midterms. The black-and-white spot shows Trump walking a hallway over audio warning against the “deep state” and “globalists,” and while critics call it propaganda, the White House describes the ads as public service announcements. Source
U.S. News
Five teenagers remained hospitalized Monday after a shooting at Macon, Georgia’s Carolyn Crayton Park left 12 young people wounded early Sunday. Two boys, ages 17 and 18, were in critical but stable condition after a confrontation between two groups, one of them celebrating a teenage girl’s birthday, erupted into gunfire. Source
The Tompkins County, New York, district attorney reopened the investigation into an alleged 2024 gang rape involving members of Cornell University’s Chi Phi fraternity. Prosecutors said the case will go before a grand jury once appropriate charges are determined. Read More
The Trump administration finalized its repeal of Biden-era Title IX protections for LGBTQ students, Education Secretary Linda McMahon announced Monday. The final rule returns Title IX to what McMahon called commonsense language and was expected to be published Tuesday. Source
Business
Stock futures were mixed early Tuesday as traders looked to recover from a losing Monday session driven by rising Treasury yields. Yields eased slightly overnight, while economic sentiment in Europe weakened. Source
Overseas travel to the United States declined this summer despite the country hosting the World Cup, with the U.S. on pace to lose about 2 million foreign visitors compared with last year. Visits from Canada are down 23% over two years, and arrivals from Germany and France are down 16% and 15% so far this year. See Details
The Trump administration finalized lower vehicle fuel economy standards Monday, reversing a Biden-era push toward more fuel-efficient and electric vehicles. The Transportation Department’s own estimates show the rules will lower new-vehicle prices but increase fuel use and emissions, with automakers praising the change and the Sierra Club vowing to fight it. Source
World News
Sudan’s military leader, Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, struck a defiant tone from Khartoum against a U.S.-backed ceasefire push following a dispute over a U.S. visa denial. Both warring sides have been accused of intensifying combat as foreign powers compete for influence in the country. Read More
Monsoon rains killed dozens of people across India, Nepal, and Thailand. In Nepal alone, 21 people died in weather-related incidents from Thursday through Sunday; five remained missing, and floods and landslides damaged nearly 200 homes. Source
United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan discussed bilateral relations with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a Sunday visit to the Gulf nation. The state news report was the UAE’s first confirmation of the trip, which Netanyahu’s office said came at the Emirati leader’s invitation. Source
Entertainment
Sunday’s MTV Video Music Awards drew a combined 8.4 million viewers on CBS and MTV, the most-watched telecast since 2015 and up 51% from last year. The show opened with Madonna’s first VMAs performance in 23 years and featured tributes to Dolly Parton and George Michael. Source
Taylor Swift became the most-awarded artist in VMAs history after receiving the show’s inaugural Artist Director Honors. She dedicated the top prize to the late Dolly Parton. Source
AEW wrestling star PAC was found unresponsive inside a car outside an Illinois restaurant shortly before he was pronounced dead. The Cook County Medical Examiner performed an autopsy, but the cause and manner of death are pending additional tests that could take several weeks. Find out More
Sports
Third-string quarterback Case Keenum threw two touchdown passes and ran for another in his first start in nearly three years as the Chicago Bears routed the Philadelphia Eagles 27-7 on Monday night. Filling in for injured Caleb Williams, Keenum went 24 of 34 for 247 yards, handing the previously unbeaten Eagles their first loss. See Details
LeBron James wore his new No. 23 Philadelphia 76ers jersey at media day and heaped praise on center Joel Embiid, saying he wants to help him win his first championship. James said he is prepared to fill whatever role the team needs on a roster that also added Jaylen Brown this offseason. Source
Major League Baseball’s playoff bracket is set, with all four Wild Card Series beginning Tuesday. The Guardians and Brewers earned byes along with the defending champion Dodgers, and a potential World Series Game 7 is scheduled for Oct. 31. Find out More
Off the Wall
When Robin Gay’s car broke down on a busy Massachusetts road as she drove home from her volunteer job, a group of high school students walking home from a game rushed to help. The teens directed traffic and pushed her car to safety, with one saying he hoped the small act would inspire others to be kind. Source
