The cost of everything that goes into farming is sky-high
农民面临的问题包括：种子、化肥和农机设备等农业投入品的高价和不断上涨；作物价格无法抵消高昂的投入成本；记录高位的农场债务；以及上升的利率使借贷更加困难，还款压力更大。明尼苏达州大石县（Big Stone County）的农民安妮·施瓦格尔（Anne Schwagerl）和明尼苏达州农民联合会副主席告诉记者：“我认为人们正处于‘为了生存而耕种’的状态。
Stephen T. Hamilton .....13,554票（0.61%） Greg Lopez .....61,527票（2.79%） Victor Marx (R) .....745,744票（33.83%） Eric Mulder (LIB) .....33,934票（1.54%） Jeff Peckman .....4,278票（0.19%）
民主党众议员克里斯·帕帕斯（Chris Pappas）将成为首位公开同性恋男参议员，他击败了前共和党参议员约翰·E·苏努努（John E. Sununu）赢得新罕布什尔州空缺的参议员席位。帕帕斯是一位深受欢迎的民主党人，他一直在该州历史上倾向中立的第1国会选区中稳定获胜，面对苏努努的严峻挑战，后者是该州最受欢迎的政治家族之一，民调显示整个竞选期间仅相差几个百分点。
Analysts say it may need state buyers to meet goal Ella Cao, Tom Polansek and Lewis Jackson In May, the White House said Beijing agreed to buy \170亿美元 of U.S. agricultural goods annually from 2026, with this year's target prorated. Those purchases were on top of a commitment made in October last year to buy U.S. soybeans. While China is on track to hit its soybean target, it bought just \72亿美元 worth of the other agricultural goods – from meat to corn – between January and September, the analysis showed. Imports are at their lowest for this period since 2019, at the height of the first trade war. Whether Beijing is in breach of its commitment is unclear because the White House has not said whether the "Our growers are patriots, but there's a lot of bins of grain full and certainly a desire to see grain trade."
每周在为期11个月的“小镇星期二”（Small Town Tuesday）活动中，爱荷华民主党众议院候选人克里斯蒂娜·博汉南（Christina Bohannan）专注于走访农村小镇。她的竞选经理丹·德里斯科尔（Dan Driscoll）在一封电子邮件中表示，她的团队经常听到当地居民说，从未有任何政治竞选团队联系过他们。
Jeff Crank (R) .....123,210票（45.85%） Mark "Marky Jr" Elworth (LIB) .....4,722票（1.76%） Jessica Killin (D) .....136,461票（50.79%） Christopher Mitchell (CON) .....4,306票（1.60%） Jason Clark (R) .....74,588票（31.43%）
Tim Bennett (R) .....123,774票（36.38%） Susan Hall .....1,490票（0.44%） Lawrence Kyle Clark .....1,099票（0.32%） Joe Krzeczkowski .....3,790票（1.11%） Brittany Pettersen (D) .....206,647票（60.74%）
Chris Coons (D) .....240,347票（63.57%） Michael "Dr. Mike" Katz (R) .....137,764票（36.43%） ### 特拉华州检察长 David C. "Dave" Graham (R) .....137,464票（36.38%） Kathy Jennings (D) .....240,429票（63.62%）
Chuck Conboy（AF NE）......8,914票 1.21% Mike Marvin（LMN）......15,974票 2.16% Dan Osborn（I）......322,625票 43.62% Robin Richards（WPP NE）......19,064票 2.58% Pete Ricketts（R）......373,115票 50.44%
Herb Conaway（D）......169,650票 62.47% Ryan Kelly......3,580票 1.32% Michael P. McGuire（R）......96,692票 35.61% Steven Welzer（GRN）......1,646票 0.61% ## 美国众议院新泽西州第四选区
Josh Gottheimer（D）......168,450票 62.31% Sean Kirrane（R）......93,609票 34.62% Adam Rueda......8,296票 3.07% Hillary Herzig（R）......64,345票 30.94% Frank Pallone（D）......143,589票 69.06%
Carlton E. Bowen（I）...5,823票（2.97%） Daniel Cottam（LIB）...3,176票（1.62%） Peter Crosby（D）...83,852票（42.83%） Robert M. Moesinger（NP）...4,952票（2.53%） Blake D. Moore（R）...97,966票（50.04%）
Farmers are small in number, but vital to America's well-being
农业确实是一个很难让人们关注或关心的主题。很少有美国人从事农业，但所有人都依赖农业。美国农场主联合会（American Farm Bureau Federation）称，美国农场和牧场家庭的数量不足美国人口的2%。然而，根据美国农业部的数据，我们吃的食物中80%来自国内供应链，因此这少数的农民为我们提供了大量食物。
Minnesota Vikings trade target Indianapolis Colts RB Jonathan Taylor
泰勒在转会市场上将有许多竞争对手，但没有哪支球队比维京人队更需要他。尽管明尼苏达队本赛季取得了6胜1负的战绩，但球队的进攻表现却乏善可陈。特别是维京人队的阿伦·琼斯和乔丹·梅森领衔的跑攻组合，本赛季在NFL Next Gen Stats的评估中排名第27位，每次传球的进攻效率值（rushing EPA）极低。
意料之中，No. 25波士顿州立大学是唯一一支进入排名的六人组（Group of Six）球队。能够有六人组球队进入首次前25名有些出乎意料；去年首次排名中没有六人组球队。但布朗科斯队（Broncos）凭借对俄勒冈队的接近失利以及对孟菲斯、西密歇根和弗雷斯诺州立大学的胜利，已经进入了争夺另一次锦标赛参赛资格的主导地位。
Pittsburgh Steelers trade target Indianapolis Colts WR Josh Downs
钢人队今年进攻表现超出预期，但他们需要在接球手阵容中增加深度。迈克尔·皮特曼Jr.和罗曼·威尔逊都在伤病名单上，这让钢人队在DK·麦卡夫和杰米·伯纳德之后阵容薄弱。道恩斯将是钢人队的天然选择，因为他作为短距离接球手的能力出色。根据NFL的Next Gen Stats，他每次路线跑动平均获得3.2码的开球空间，在本赛季73名有资格的接球手中排名第19。
Carolina Panthers trade target Philadelphia Eagles CB Riq Woolen
卡罗来纳老鹰队在失去顶级角球员Jaycee Horn和Mike Jackson后，因伤势放入伤残名单，导致防守传球能力严重下滑。为了争夺开放式NFC南区冠军，卡罗来纳队需要加强角球员阵容，因此目标伍伦是合理的选择。伍伦在费城老鹰队的首个赛季并未达到预期，这位27岁的角球员在Pro Football Focus的数据中，以116.1的传球评分创下职业生涯最差成绩。
D / P / S / P / O / R / T / S / L / I / Y I / U / E / L / G / Y / E / L / O / W N / M / C / L / N / S / H / M / I / N / K D / O / C / K / I / L / G / E / Y / M / R I / L / V / R / M / C / G / O / R / O / S
Francisco“Cisco”Aguilar（D）......553,889票 57.82% Brad Lee Barnhill（IAPN）......13,771票 1.44% John T. Kennedy（LIB）......8,053票 0.84% Jim Marchant（R）......382,319票 39.91%
[Justices lean to Catholic schools] Religious vs. LGBTQ+ rights debated by court
Maureen Groppe
USA TODAY
WASHINGTON – The Supreme Court on Nov. 3 sounded likely to side with the Catholic Church in the latest high court dispute that pits religious rights against anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people.
The justices debated for about two hours whether Colorado can require Catholic preschools to accept children of gay parents as a condition of public funding.
In recent years, the conservative court has robustly backed the First Amendment right to practice religion without government interference. A broad ruling for the church could pave the way for a wider range of religious exemptions from nondiscrimination laws.
In the current case, Colorado encouraged churches to participate in the state's universal preschool program, started in 2023 to provide free, early education throughout the state.
Without the state subsidies, the church said, enrollment at its preschools has "swiftly declined."
Faith-based schools are free to teach religious views on sex, marriage and gender. But in exchange for taxpayer dollars, schools must both meet certain quality standards and be open to all students.
The Archdiocese of Denver, which oversees 36 preschools, said Colorado is forcing it to choose between participating in the program and violating the Church's teachings on biological sex and marriage.
Without the state subsidies, the church said, enrollment at its preschools has “swiftly declined,” while parents who want to keep their children in those schools must pay thousands of dollars to do so.
The archdiocese, two parishes and the parents of a preschooler sued the state in 2023 after Colorado rejected its request for a religious exemption so the schools can require families to follow the church's teachings.
Lower courts said the state's non-discrimination policy complies with a 1990 Supreme Court decision curtailing religious rights challenges to laws that apply to everyone and don't target a particular religious group.
But the Supreme Court has since limited the reach of Employment Division v. Smith. And the Catholic Church argues the more relevant decisions are a trio of rulings since 2017 that have allowed taxpayer funds to flow to religious organizations. Most recently, the court said Maine couldn't exclude religious schools from an indirect aid program based on the schools' religious use of the funds.
In a stinging midterm rebuke of President Donald Trump, Democrats were poised to win control of the House of Representatives and the Senate. After a decade of defining American politics, Trump now begins a new political chapter, his trademark coalition showing signs of fraying while his opponents gain a foothold to confront him during his final two years in office.
Republicans faced losses even in red states and districts that Trump had carried by double digits just two years ago. That's the definition of a political tsunami, when the opposition's wave is overwhelming enough to swamp even distant shores.
Why?
Three of 4 voters said in a survey sponsored by NBC and other news organizations that they were dissatisfied
See PAGE, Page 2A
President Donald Trump faces a fraying coalition.
UMIT BEKTAS/REUTERS
President's picks didn't fare well
Trump's push fell short, as he failed to flip seats. 3A
Follow online: Find more election coverage at usatoday.com. Don't miss statewide election results from around the country in the Nov. 5 eNewspaper.
Democrats
are poised
to be a thorn
in Trump's side
Zachary Schermele
USA TODAY
WASHINGTON – For two years, Congress has largely done the bidding of President Donald Trump – but that will soon end.
Democrats are projected to wrest control of the Senate and House of Representatives back from Republicans, which means the legislative branch is about to become a much bigger thorn in the president's side.
Investigations, impeachments of Cabinet members and fiery hearings all are likely on the way.
Rep. Robert Garcia, a California Democrat poised to become the next chairman of the House Oversight Committee, put his party's message for Trump and his allies succinctly upon learning the GOP had lost its already-slim majority in the chamber.
“LAWYER UP,” Garcia wrote on social media.
Even with Republicans fully in charge, Congress has sometimes
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, left, is in line to be the first Black speaker of the House. Keisha Lance Bottoms is the first Black woman to be elected Georgia governor. And Abdul El-Sayed of Michigan is the first Muslim elected to the Senate. JEFFRIES BY JONATHAN ERNST/REUTERS; BOTTOMS BY TAYLOR EDGERTON/REUTERS; EL SAYED BY SALWAN GEORGES/GETTY IMAGES
Terry Collins
USA TODAY
In an election of historic firsts, Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms of Georgia will become the nation's first Black woman governor, and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-New York, is in line to be the first Black Speaker of the House.
Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed of Michigan became the first Muslim elected to that congressional chamber, after a contentious campaign featuring vicious verbal attacks from GOP opponent Mike Rogers, President Donald Trump, and even former Democratic Senate primary
Something unusual is happening in the skies above the Arctic, but will it have any impact on our weather here in the United States?
Our favorite wintertime punching bag, the polar vortex, is being disrupted in a climate process known as “sudden stratospheric warming,” which could eventually lead to an outbreak of frigid air across much of the United States at some point over the next few months.
What's unusual is that the sudden warming is occurring so early in the season. Indeed, forecast confidence has risen recently that the polar vortex will undergo an extraordinarily early major disruption early in November.
Meteorologists already have been seeing the polar vortex “become stretched out and splitting into two smaller vortex lobes,” said Laura Ciasto, a meteorologist with NOAA’s National Weather Service. It has the potential to be the earliest sudden stratospheric warming event since 1958, when reliable records began, Ciasto wrote in an email to USA TODAY.
"These are very interesting times for the polar vortex and likely for our weather. This will be very interesting
to watch unfold!"
Judah Cohen
Polar vortex expert at Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Whether that disruption translates into significant cold or snow in the United States later in November or December is much less certain.
"These are very interesting times for the polar vortex and likely for our weather. This will be very interesting to watch unfold!" said polar vortex expert Judah Cohen of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in an e-mail to USA TODAY.
With the event meteorologists have been watching, the polar stratospheric winds could reverse direction from westerly to easterly sometime between Nov. 6-10, Ciasto said.
The polar vortex is a gigantic, circular area of cold air high up in the atmosphere that typically spins over the North Pole (as its name suggests). It's strongest during the winter and usually weakens or even disappears in the summer.
Its position can determine what part of the United States that Arctic air will invade. Also, the polar vortex is not a synonym for “cold snap,” according to the Polar Vortex Blog at Climate.gov, and it’s not the only weather pattern to blame for blasts of cold air.
Meanwhile, the phrase “polar vortex” has captured public attention and is now often misused to describe short-term bouts of frigid weather, experts told USA TODAY in 2025.
“Weather can happen regardless of what the stratosphere is doing,” said Isla Simpson, a scientist with the National Center for Atmospheric Research.
Shortened to SSW, it is a dramatic warming of the stratosphere above the Arctic, typically 10 to 30 miles above Earth, that can disrupt or even temporarily reverse the normal west-to-east winds of the polar vortex.
The stratospheric polar vortex generally keeps the coldest air bottled up near the pole in the stratosphere, some 20 miles up in Earth's atmosphere, said Andy Hazelton, an associate scientist at the University of Miami.
But sometimes, large waves in the atmosphere can push up from below and knock the vortex off balance. That causes air over the pole to warm and its westerly winds to slow down or reverse direction, Hazelton wrote in an early November blog post.
This sometimes allows very cold Arctic air to spill farther south into North America, Asia or Europe several days or weeks later.
Hazelton's post on Brightband.com included analysis by scientists with Brightband, a technology company that says it's using artificial intelligence to improve weather forecasts.
In the records since 1958, only two other warming events happened in November, Ciasto said. Typically the events occur in January-March. They are less common in November, she said, because the polar vortex is still growing, with less wave energy propagating into the stratosphere to disrupt it.
Typically the events increase the chances of below-normal temperatures across the eastern United States and northern Europe, but those events in January, February or March occur when Arctic temperatures “have had time to get quite cold,” she said. “In November, there hasn’t been as much time so there’s less cold to source a cold-air outbreak.”
The Arctic as a whole at the end of October was about 8 degrees warmer than the 1990–2019 normal, while Alaska and the Yukon was about 13 degrees warmer, Hazelton said.
The only pool of truly cold air was over Eastern Siberia, Hazelton added.
Ciasto said it's important to remember the polar vortex is often not the only player in the atmospheric playground. This is especially true this winter with the very strong El Niño, Ciasto said. "How these two play together or compete will definitely influence what we feel at the surface in the next month."
While the sudden warming events have a reputation for causing some of the “most memorable cold outbreaks in recent years,” Hazelton said the AI model ensemble from Brightband indicates this event could be weak and short-lived, settling back toward the pole in late November with little impact on the United States.
Cohen previously told USA TODAY the most certain impact is a period of milder weather to eastern North America, probably for much of November.
The Capitol looms in the distance as President Donald Trump departs following his remarks before the midterm elections at the National Mall in Washington, DC, on Nov. 2. JONATHAN ERNST/REUTERS
“Usually it takes two weeks (but recently it seems to take much longer) for the impacts of the SSW to impact our weather, so that puts it as early as late November but more likely in December and could even be delayed until January,” Cohen said. “The downward influence of the SSW in my opinion is more likely to impact the weather of Northern Europe and/or Northern Asia than the eastern United States.”
In recent years, the impacts from SSWs in the eastern United States have been heavily skewed to resulting in overall milder weather across the eastern United States in stark contrast to expectations, Cohen said. "The last El Niño in 2023-24 featured two SSWs and it was a very mild winter in the eastern U.S. and may have even been record mild. In short, lots of uncertainty!"
or angry with the way things are going in the United States – including almost every Democrat and nearly half of Republicans. Seven of 10 voters complained that Congress hadn't done enough to check the powers of the presidency.
Now that is likely to change.
For the past two years, the weapons of Trump's Democratic opposition have been largely limited to lawsuits and rhetorical shadowboxing. After the results of Nov. 3, they will be able to wield legislative powers to investigate his administration and challenge policies on everything from safety-net spending and global tariffs to waging war with Iran.
"I have the ultimate power – it's called ‘veto,’” Trump told CBS News as votes were being counted. He predicted Democrats eventually would be forced to cooperate with him. “Historically, you veto for a couple of months and then they come and say, ‘We’ve got to make a deal.’”
“America is back,” Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-New York, expected to become the first Black speaker of the House, told exuberant Democrats at an election night rally in Washington. “Today begins the great American comeback.”
Democrats, who needed a net gain of three seats to control the House, were rolling well past that to a solid majority. In Senate races, where they needed a net gain of four seats to win control, their road to the majority ran through some very red states.
Democrat Roy Cooper flipped a Republican-held seat in North Carolina. In Texas, which Trump carried by 14 points in 2024, Democrat James Talarico defeated Attorney General Ken Paxton. And in South Carolina, Democrat Annie Andrews ousted Sen. Darline Graham.
Trump, who carried the state by 18 points two years ago, had hand-picked her as the nominee.
Once again, it was the economy, stupid – the mantra coined by Bill Clinton's presidential campaign more than three decades ago and one that politicians have ignored at their peril.
Nearly 9 in 10 voters in exit polls said the cost of living had been a crucial or major factor in determining their vote, and almost 8 in 10 said inflation had caused a hardship for their families. The president was getting much of the blame: By more than 2-1, 65% to 28%, they said he had made economic conditions worse, not better.
Trump found himself being hammered for the issue that helped propel his election two years ago. Then, he lambasted the Biden administration for failing to control inflation. Now, voters said they trusted Democrats more than Republicans to handle the economy.
Then, Trump blasted then-President Joe Biden for allowing a massive influx of undocumented immigrants across what he called “open borders.” Now, nearly 6 in 10 voters said Trump’s immigration enforcement measures had gone too far.
In Minneapolis, voters left “I Voted” stickers at street memorials for Alex Pretti and Renee Good, who were fatally shot by immigration officers in January.
Concern about immigration was costing Republicans among some Hispanics. That voter group, like young people, had swung toward Trump in the presidential election two years ago only to fall away this year.
That said, Democrats can't count on automatically reclaiming their political loyalty. Neither party is held in high regard: Republicans had a favorable-unfavorable rating of $41\%$ to $58\%$ . The Democratic Party fared only slightly better, at $46\%$ to $54\%$ .
To be sure, midterm elections are typically tough on presidents.
In four of the last five midterms, the president's party lost control of the House. In two of them, it lost control of the Senate. Midway through Trump's first term, in 2018, Republicans lost the House though they gained two seats in the Senate.
Still, unlike his predecessors, Trump sought to make the election a referendum about him, urging voters in a final sprint of 29 rallies to “pretend” that he was on the ballot. The effort to generate turnout among his MAGA base also spurred turnout among his Democratic opposition.
That made the results unusually personal: 41% said one reason for their House vote was to express their opposition to Trump. Just 16% said it was to express their support.
With the 2026 midterms over, the 2028 presidential race begins in earnest.
Among the White House hopefuls, three Democrats sailed to easy reelection in gubernatorial contests – Wes Moore in Maryland, JB Pritzker in Illinois and Josh Shapiro in Pennsylvania. Sen. Jon Ossoff's reelection in Georgia fueled interest in him as a potential presidential contender.
And in Detroit, at the election night party for Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed, former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg was on stage, ginning up the crowd. He's a hopeful, too.
Next time.
Volume 45, No. 38
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Texas Sen.-elect James Talarico and Gov.-elect Gina Hinojosa, both Democrats, toast with drinks while being surrounded by supporters at Whataburger in Austin, Texas. PROVIDED BY JAMES TALARICO VIA X/VIA REUTERS
challenger and Rogers backer Rep. Haley Stevens, which captured the nation's attention.
Texas Democratic state Rep. Gina Hinojosa was elected the first Hispanic governor of the Lone Star state, and the first Democratic governor in more than three decades.
In California, longtime Democrat and former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra was elected to become the first Hispanic governor of America's most populous state, where Hispanics make up more than 40% of the population.
Fellow Democrat Deb Haaland of New Mexico also won that state's governor race, which will make her the first Native American woman to serve as a governor of any state. She previously made history as the first Native American woman in Congress and the first Native American woman in former President Joe Biden's Cabinet.
Haaland is an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Laguna. She also has Jemez Pueblo heritage.
The Democratic nominee for Senate in Minnesota, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, won the race in that blue-leaning state and became the first Native American woman in the Senate.
Flanagan, a member of the White Earth Band of Ojibwe, might be joined in the Senate by Yup'ik Alaska Native Mary Peltola if she ousts incumbent GOP Sen. Dan Sullivan. However, Alaska's results could take up to two weeks to be reported.
Illinois will make history as the first state to have two women of color serving simultaneously in the U.S. Senate. Democratic Lt. Gov. Julianna Stratton defeated Republican challenger Don Tracy on Nov. 3. Stratton, who is Black and the heavy favorite, will join Sen. Tammy Duckworth, who is Asian American.
"All across the board, we're seeing history being made with the statements made by these accomplished women," National Urban League President and CEO Marc Morial told USA TODAY. "There might be more to come."
Bottoms, the former Atlanta mayor, was the second Black woman to run for Georgia governor after former state Rep. Stacey Abrams lost in both 2018 and 2022 as the Democratic nominee.
Jeffries poised to be first Black speaker of the House
Jeffries is likely to become the first Black House speaker after Democrats were projected to win control of the chamber.
He is now fast-tracked to the position that follows the vice president in the line of presidential succession, as well as leading a revitalized Democratic Party during Trump's final two years in the White House.
“America is alive and well,” Jeffries said in a late-Election Day post on X.
Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas will become the first openly gay man to serve in the Senate after defeating former Republican Sen. John E. Sununu for New Hampshire's open seat.
Pappas, a popular Democrat who has consistently won the historically purple 1st Congressional District, faced a serious challenge in Sununu, one of the more popular political families in the state, as polls had shown a single-digit contest throughout the campaign.
The seat was open after Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen's retirement.
Voters elect Donalds as Florida's first Black governor
Republican Rep. Byron Donalds also made history by being elected as Florida's first Black governor.
The favored Donalds defeated Democrat David Jolly. Donalds' win marked the first time in eight years Floridians have picked a new governor to replace termed-out Republican Gov. Ron De-Santis.
Donalds received Trump's endorsement, but briefly distanced himself from him as the president's approval ratings hit new lows. On the campaign trail, Donalds said making Florida more affordable, lowering prescription prices, cutting taxes and insurance rates, and driving down housing costs were among his top priorities.
In addition to making history, Donalds' win continues the trend of Republicans winning every gubernatorial election in the Sunshine State since 1998.
Contributing: 艾米莉·R·康顿（Emily R. Condon）、杰伊·斯塔尔（Jay Stahl）、玛吉·卡伦（Margie Cullen）、莫莉·贝克（Molly Beck）、玛丽·斯皮库扎（Mary Spicuzza）和劳拉·舒尔特（Laura Schulte），《今日美国》
📄 Original Section
Crowley elected as Wisconsin's first Black governor
In Wisconsin, Milwaukee County Executive and Democrat David Crowley defeated Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany to become the state's first Black governor in an odds-defying run that included suspending his campaign just four months ago and being massively outspent by the GOP.
Crowley also will be only the third governor to be born in Milwaukee, the state's largest city. At age 40, Crowley will be the youngest Wisconsin governor in almost a century.
“Thank you for placing your faith in me. That’s ultimately what voting is. A tremendous act of faith,” Crowley said at a campaign event in Milwaukee. “Not faith in one person or party, but faith in the ideas and the lessons learned – that the right leadership can make a difference in people’s lives.”
Contributing: Emily R. Condon, Jay Stahl, Margie Cullen, Molly Beck, Mary Spicuzza and Laura Schulte, USA TODAY
在得克萨斯州，共和党众议员莫尼卡·德拉克鲁兹（Monica De La Cruz）败给民主党人鲍比·普利多（Bobby Pulido），共和党候选人布兰登·埃雷拉（Brandon Herrera）则败给民主党人凯蒂·帕迪拉·斯托特（Katy Padilla Stout），后者接替共和党人曾占据的席位。
📄 Original Section
President's picks didn't fare well in the election
With Trump on stump,
hopefuls fail to flip seats
Bart Jansen
USA TODAY
WASHINGTON - Be careful what you wish for.
President Donald Trump invited voters to pretend he was on the ballot. But candidates he endorsed in a number of key competitive races suffered losses, and he flipped no seats from Democrat to Republican among the races that had been decided by 9 a.m. ET Nov. 4, according to an analysis by USA TODAY.
Trump endorsed 22 gubernatorial candidates, with 10 winning, 11 losing and Alaska undecided. The losses included five seats Democrats won that had been held by Republicans: Georgia, Iowa, Nevada, Ohio and Texas.
The president endorsed 24 Senate candidates. Of them, 13 won, nine lost and two contests remained undecided in Alaska and Mississippi. The losses included six races where Democrats won GOP seats: Iowa, Kansas, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina and Texas.
And in the House, Trump endorsed 234 candidates. The vast majority of those were incumbents in seats that Republicans already held. But Democrats flipped at least 23 GOP seats where the president endorsed their opponents. His chosen candidates won 128 seats and lost 40, with 66 undecided.
“Never has a president been more involved in selecting a party’s primary and general election candidates,” Marc Short, chief of staff to Trump’s first-term vice president, Mike Pence, said on social media.
“It’s hard for me to think of a White House that has done more to sabotage their own fellow members than this one has,” he added.
Trump campaigned aggressively in dozens of rallies across the country during the final month of the campaign, boasting that his promotion would boost turnout.
"I left every one of those states and the places were packed with thousands and in some cases, tens of thousands of people," Trump told Fox News. "If I'm not on the ballot, they wouldn't go."
But polls found voters were angry about the high cost of living and the continuing war in Iran.
The defeats among Trump's gubernatorial endorsements included several in safely Democratic seats where Trump had tangled with incumbents, such as California, where Democrat Xavier Becerra beat Republican Steve Hilton to succeed term-limited Democrat Gov. Gavin Newsom. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul beat Republican Bruce Blakeman, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker beat Republican Darren Bailey and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro beat Republican Stacy Garrity.
But the defeats included some striking flips from Republican to Democrat. In Texas, Gina Hinojosa became the first Hispanic woman elected governor by knocking off Gov. Greg Abbott. In Georgia, Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms became the first Black female governor by beating Rick Jackson. In Ohio, Republican Vivek Ramaswamy, a former Trump adviser on cost-cutting measures, lost to Democrat Amy Acton.
Trump rallied repeatedly in Iowa, but Republican Zach Lahn lost to Democrat Rob Sand. Nevada's Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo lost to Democrat Aaron Ford. And in Arizona, GOP Rep. Andy Biggs, a vocal supporter of Trump in Congress, lost to Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs.
Sen. Darline Graham gives her concession speech after losing in South Carolina to Democrat Annie Andrews. ALLISON JOYCE/GETTY IMAGES
In the Senate races, Democrats beat six of Trump's Republican endorsees to help reclaim control of the chamber.
Trump personally asked South Carolina Sen. Darline Graham to hold on to the seat of her late brother, Lindsey. But she lost to Democrat Annie Andrews, whom Trump had blasted for supporting transgender people.
The president visited Texas four times after Labor Day in support of Attorney General Ken Paxton, whom he supported against Sen. John Cornyn in the GOP primary.
"Ken Paxton was a good guy and I just wasn't a fan of Cornyn," Trump said. "You know, I just wasn't a fan."
But James Talarico became the first Democrat Texans elected to the Senate since 1988.
Trump held several rallies in Kansas and Iowa to support his candidates. But in Kansas, Sen. Roger Marshall lost to Democrat Adam Hamilton. And in Iowa, GOP Rep. Ashley Hinson lost to Democrat Josh Turek.
In North Carolina, Michael Whatley, Trump's personal pick to head the Republican National Committee after his first term, lost to Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper to succeed retiring GOP Sen. Thom Tillis.
Trump made endorsements in only three Senate races where Democrats had held the seats – and all three GOP candidates lost.
Abdul El-Sayed beat Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan to become the first Muslim elected to the Senate. Rep. Chris Pappas beat Republican John Sununu in New Hampshire to become the first openly gay member of the Senate. And Sen. Jon Ossoff easily fended off a challenge from Republican Rep. Mike Collins.
In the House, more than 200 of Trump's endorsements were for incumbents or for seats Republicans already held. He endorsed 27 candidates for seats held by Democrats; none of them had flipped Republican by early Nov. 4.
Among the GOP-held seats where Democrats picked up ground, three were in Iowa, where Trump rallied supporters in Sioux City on Oct. 22 and in Dubuque on Nov.1. GOP Rep. Marianette Miller-Meeks lost to Democrat Christina Bohannan, GOP Rep. Zach Nunn lost to Democrat Sarah Trone Garriott and Republican Joe Mitchell lost to Democrat Lindsey James for Rep. Ashley Hinson's seat.
Another state where Democrats grabbed three GOP seats was Pennsylvania, despite Trump's endorsements of Reps. Ryan Mackenzie, Rob Bresnahan and Scott Perry, who was a vocal Trump defender. The seats went to Democrats Bob Brooks, Paige Cognetti and Janelle Stelson, respectively.
In Texas, Republican Rep. Monica De La Cruz lost to Democrat Bobby Pulido, and GOP candidate Brandon Herrera lost to Democrat Katy Padilla Stout for the seat that had been held by Republican Tony Gonzalez.
Both chambers have voted to end the Iran war and release the Epstein files. The House has repudiated Trump's tariffs on Canada while outgoing GOP senators pushed back on Trump's plans to build a White House ballroom and launch an “anti-weaponization” fund.
But Republican leadership largely had worked to advance Trump's agenda. With Democrats poised to take over, that's about to change.
Investigations, impeachments and shutdown showdowns
Armed with control of both chambers,
Democrats will have powerful new tools at their disposal to conduct oversight of the Trump administration.
They'll be able to subpoena government agencies, drag administration officials to Capitol Hill for dramatic hearings and conduct investigations into the president and his allies. Unlike when Democrats were in the minority, the probes will carry the full force of the legislative branch's authority.
“You will have a Congress that recognizes we don’t work for the president,” said House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-New York, who’s now poised to become the next speaker.
And while congressional Democrats have largely left the possibility of impeaching Trump off the table, there are articles pending in the House to remove a number of Cabinet secretaries, including Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth.
Those measures will likely see new momentum in that chamber, though they'll ultimately have to clear trials in the Senate before any high-level Trump administration officials could actually be removed.
And Trump may have a tougher time negotiating deals to keep the government funded. Despite Democrats' wins, they still need to win over GOP votes in the Senate – and Trump's signature – to pass spending bills.
Health care, affordability are Democrats' priorities
In his victory speech celebrating his party's gains, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-New York, said he had five words for Americans who supported Democrats: "Relief is on the way."
They've outlined lowering health care costs and addressing widespread affordability concerns as among their biggest goals.
While the Trump administration has opposed previous Democrat-led efforts to enact policies such as extending Obamacare subsidies, the president has expressed a willingness to try to ease health care expenses for Americans.
Without mentioning specific issues, he indicated the night of Nov. 3 he'd be open to passing legislation championed by the opposite party, though he stressed he reserves the right to veto any bills.
"I don't want to be just sitting there for two years vetoing everything," he told Politico.
At the same time, congressional Republicans such as Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-South Dakota, vowed not to let Democrats “unwind everything we’ve done.”
Trump says U.S. will end nearly \$4B in Israel aid
President says ally no longer needs support
Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy
USA TODAY
President Donald Trump said the United States will end about \$4 billion in annual aid to Israel by the end of the year, saying he had reached an agreement with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“Israel’s our No. 1 [recipient] – we give them more than anybody else. And they no longer need it,” said Trump during a Nov. 3 interview on Fox and Friends. “We’ve been doing it for years. Israel is a very thriving country. They don’t need it.”
Trump's comments came on Election Day as voters head to polling booths to make their voices heard in the midterms. U.S. aid to Israel amid its war in Gaza was one of the most contentious issues leading up to those elections.
Public opinion on aid to Israel has also shifted. A New York Times/Siena poll found in May that three-quarters of Democratic voters opposed U.S. economic or military support for Israel.
In July, nearly half of House Democrats voted to cut off aid to Israel through an amendment to a State Department spending bill, signaling a lack of political support for a longtime ally. The measure did not pass due to lack of support from Republicans.
Progressive Democratic candidates have used pro-Israel groups' backing of establishment candidates as a cudgel in competitive Democratic primaries.
In the interview, Trump also mentioned Michigan's Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, who has been an outspoken critic of U.S. military aid to Israel and other countries, and who argues that taxpayer dollars should prioritize domestic needs like health care and education.
El-Sayed reiterated his stance at a recent appearance with Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont, at a “Students vs. Billionaires” town hall in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
President Donald Trump said that he has agreed with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to halt roughly \$4 billion in annual U.S. aid to Israel after 2026. ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES FILE
“Right now, they’re getting bombs and tanks and unconditional foreign military aid. I want to ban unconditional foreign military aid. I want to ban it to Israel, I want to ban it to Egypt, where my family immigrated from, to Jordan, to Pakistan, to Saudi Arabia, to Qatar, to all of them,” said El-Sayed. “I don’t pay my tax dollars so another country gets a bomb or a tank. We pay our taxes so that our kids get good schools.”
Trump, in the Election Day interview, said Israel had been a “great ally, much more reliable than most.”
“Why should we suffer the slings from lunatics like in El-Sayed when they don’t need it?” said Trump. “It’s a bad talking point.”
Neither Netanyahu's party nor the opposition secured a majority in Israel's Oct. 27 parliamentary elections, leaving coalitions to negotiate to determine the country's next government.
Trump has said he would not be inclined to support Israel if Netanyahu doesn't win.
Democratic Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida criticized Trump's stance.
“A true friend of Israel doesn’t threaten to withhold U.S. support based on the result of its election,” she wrote on X. “Israeli voters decide who leads Israel, not Trump.”
U.K. adventurer back home after 28-year trek around world
REUTERS
HULL, England – A British adventurer who has been walking around the world for almost three decades finished his trek Nov. 2, ending a 31,000-mile journey at the house where he grew up.
Karl Bushby has hacked through jungles in Central America, crossed the ice between Alaska and Russia and last month swam across the English Channel on the final stretch of a voyage made entirely under his own steam.
Hundreds of cheering supporters greeted the 57-year-old in the square of his home city of Hull on Nov. 2.
"After 28 years, you just couldn't ask for more than this," he told the crowd, before pushing on with his few possessions in a trolley, a spare tire which will now never be needed slung on top.
"I guess I'll be seeing you around," he added. He then headed for his family home where his mother, his 36-year-old son and a 12-year-old granddaughter were waiting.
Bushby served in the British Army's Parachute Regiment in his 20s. After the breakdown of his marriage he drew a line on a world map and set off, inspired by his father, who had wondered if it was possible to walk from London to New York.
Carrying a tent, a few hundred dollars and a cheap plastic camera, he started in Chile and headed north through the Americas, crossing from Alaska to Russia, Mongolia and China, and back through Europe after swimming the Caspian Sea.
“Sometimes the monotony is incredible. You’re in deserts and the landscape doesn’t change for days to weeks. That can get a little mind-bending. The same with the Arctic,” he told Reuters last year.
He originally expected to spend about 10 years on the road but hadn't anticipated the obstacles he'd face, among them a brief imprisonment in Panama, being held at gunpoint in Mexico and detention by Russian authorities for crossing the border illegally, not to mention delays from the 2008 financial crisis and the COVID pandemic.
Adventurer Karl Bushby is greeted by his mother, Angela Bushby, as he arrives home on Nov. 2 in Hull, England. LEON NEAL/GETTY IMAGES
"This is what an odyssey in the 21st century looks like. Half of it is literally dealing with these bureaucratic geopolitical problems, not just the environmental hurdles. There are some times where the solution is just to wait. ... After 28 years, you just couldn't ask for more than this. I guess I'll be seeing you around."
“This is what an odyssey in the 21st century looks like,” he told the Telegraph newspaper. “Half of it is literally dealing with these bureaucratic geopolitical problems, not just the environmental hurdles. There are some times where the solution is just to wait.”
Bushby told the BBC he has only spent about 15 of the 28 years walking, returning to Mexico periodically to sort out visas, logistics and corporate and media sponsorship deals.
A feature-length documentary about his journey is in production, and Bushby is planning to embark on a speaking tour around England in the coming weeks.
Bamboo needs no fertilizer and is drought tolerant, making it a good fit in areas with subpar conditions for agriculture. GETTY IMAGES
Plant seen as viable fuel option amid high prices
Henry Schwan
Worcester Telegram & Gazette
USA TODAY NETWORK
WORCESTER, MA – Want some relief from high prices at the pump? How about bamboo? The stiff, hollow plant that can grow quite tall could be the answer.
Researchers, including a team at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, believe bamboo has the potential to be a cheaper and more environmentally friendly alternative when compared to petroleum-based transportation products that power planes, trains and automobiles.
Research findings recently published in the journal Sustainable Energy & Fuels includes some eye-popping results, including that bamboo fuels could reach as low as \$2.75 per gallon, compared to the price of gasoline that is currently more than \$4 per gallon, and over \$6 per gallon for diesel.
Chemical engineering professor Michael Timko, who led the WPI research team, said the school's interest in bamboo started several years ago when a visiting student from Nigeria brought the plant with her to the United States.
"I was surprised that she did that," said Timko, but she had a passion for the perennial and a WPI team worked with her to convert the bamboo into ethanol, which is a substitute for petroleum-based fuels.
There are nearly 1,500 species of bamboo – some of them invasive – and it's the fastest-growing land plant on Earth. Timko ticked off bamboo's benefits: It needs no fertilizer and is drought tolerant, making it a good fit in areas with subpar conditions for agriculture.
Timko's team calculated that bamboo shoots up at least 10 times faster than corn that is grown in abundance in the
United States for the production of ethanol.
As for its environmental benefits, bamboo captures and stores large amounts of carbon above and below ground. WPI's research discovered that using bamboo as a fuel source cut greenhouse gas emissions 26 times below conventional petroleum diesel fuel.
So how did Timko's team arrive at its conclusions?
It used economic and environmental modeling and experiments with hydrothermal liquefaction. Timko described hydrothermal liquefaction as heating up bamboo in a thermal pressure cooker that reaches temperatures of nearly 600 degrees Fahrenheit.
The pressure cooker was a batch reactor the size of a washing machine, and the result was biocrude in 10 minutes.
Timko isn't sure why hydrothermal liquefaction achieved that result in such a short amount of time. He believes it has something to do with the amount and types of impurities in bamboo. Those are the materials that plants absorb from the ground, such as salt and silica.
Timko sees bamboo's low levels of impurities as an advantage when considering the possibilities of using the plant as a transportation fuel instead of corn stover, which some experts believe can be used on a broad scale to make biofuels.
Corn stover consists of the stalks, leaves, husks and cobs left after harvest, and it has at least 10 times more impurities than bamboo, according to Timko.
What matters is output levels in fuel production when materials are fed into machinery for processing, and Timko said WPI's studies showed bamboo produced 50% to 100% more biocrude per kilogram than corn stover.
Turning bamboo into fuel comes with challenges, including how to develop a process to grind it up and continuously feed large amounts into a reactor. It would be similar to the large-scale chemical processing for petroleum that Timko said is efficient and cost-effective.
The batch reactor used by WPI was inefficient, Timko said, because the door had to be opened and closed when feeding bamboo into it.
“Solids into a high-pressure reactor that is energy-efficient is the next challenge,” he said. “It’s an engineering challenge.”
Another challenge involves world events that can cause crude oil prices to fluctuate. When the swings result in lower prices at the pump for long stretches of time, Timko said, it becomes harder to present the argument about bamboo's profitability potential.
There's also the economic and political forces tied to farming, corn and ethanol that are entrenched in American culture and congressional budgets, but Timko believes growing bamboo will benefit farmers.
Not only will it grow faster and in marginal conditions so the most fertile areas remain for growing other crops, but bamboo only needs 10% to 15% of the land mass devoted to growing corn for ethanol in the United States, according to WPI's modeling.
There's also an education component that Timko says is needed so the facts about bamboo lead to informed political and economic decisions.
No investments are risk-free, said Timko, adding that the next steps include scaled-up processing to reach 100 tons of bamboo biocrude daily to achieve a commercial-level operation. Moreover, connections would have to be developed with the petroleum industry for refining.
Time and tolerance from the public is needed if bamboo is to potentially reach its potential as a reliable, cheaper and renewable source of fuel that benefits the environment, he said.
“There’s a lot of vested interest by farmers and the petroleum industry,” he said. “High petroleum prices and public will is usually the way these things are going to happen. And tolerance of a bit longer timeline.”
Humans have long dreamed of reaching Mars, but it could be hard on the body.
Mark Shelhamer, the former chief scientist for NASA's Human Research Program, has an idea to manage that: Use artificial intelligence to provide early clues about astronaut health so doctors can get ahead of any potential problems. The hope is the technology could pick up on changes and stressors that otherwise might be overlooked.
Shelhamer, who now works as a scientist at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, has studied the health risks of long-duration spaceflight, including radiation exposure and bone loss, as well as the vestibular system, space motion sickness and coordination.
He says more work is needed before the first humans take off for the Red Planet.
After 26 years of a continuous human presence on the International Space Station, researchers know space-flight affects bone density, muscles and the immune, cardiovascular and digestive systems. Without gravity, blood and other bodily fluids shift upward in the body, causing issues like face puffiness and sinus problems.
Some astronauts have lived aboard the ISS for a year or more, but how these stressors would affect them on a far longer round-trip to Mars, which could take three years, remains unknown.
"It's a very challenging, very demanding environment. The technology is pushed to its limits. The people are pushed to the limits," said Shelhamer.
It was just this year that the first medical evacuation from the ISS occurred, cutting the mission of Crew-11 about a month short. While the specifics were not revealed due to medical privacy, NASA astronaut Mike Fincke said that he experienced a scare that called for ground-based evaluation.
As people travel farther and spend more time off Earth, something unexpected is bound to happen. Shelhamer said we must think about how to deal with that uncertainty: "How can we design a mission and train the people so that when the unexpected occurs, and we don't have the place to treat or deal with that specific thing, how can the mission still go on successfully? How can it be resilient?"
One answer: monitor the medical and psychological well-being of the crew through AI, treating the crew, spacecraft and mission as an interconnected system, and flagging changes that could signal emerging problems. While unclear exactly what this system would look like or how it could work, Shelhamer believes it could hold significant potential.
For instance, imagine that briefly elevated carbon dioxide levels impact a particular crew member more than others. The AI would look at trends and correlate carbon dioxide levels with that particular astronaut's mental state.
“You could have an algorithm alert the crew,” said Shelhamer.
Shelhamer noted that astronauts may be hesitant about the idea of being “monitored,” which could be a challenge. Yet the goal is to give the crew the information they need to succeed.
“我们没有发现一瓶恐龙血液。我们看到的是一种矿物和分子对古代生物学的回响，这在科学上更加引人入胜，”澳大利亚珀斯科廷大学（Curtin University）的有机和同位素地球化学家、该研究的首席作者克利蒂·格里斯（Kliti Grice）表示。该研究于11月2日发表在《美国国家科学院院刊》（Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences）上。
Evidence of red blood cells is found in a dinosaur fossil
Will Dunham
REUTERS
Scientists have discovered what they consider the strongest evidence yet of blood cells in a dinosaur fossil inside the bone from the right leg of a medium-sized meat eater that prowled Brazil some 115 million years ago during the Cretaceous Period.
The researchers identified numerous microscopic structures in the bone from the species Aratasaurus museunacionali that appear to be fossilized red blood cells. They also detected chemical evidence related to a key component of these cells – an iron-containing biomolecule called heme that is associated with hemoglobin, the protein that gives blood its red color.
The evidence for blood cells and heme was found in vascular canals inside bones of an Aratasaurus individual, thought to be a juvenile or young adult about 4 years old when it died. The bipedal dinosaur would have measured about 10 feet long.
"We have not found a vial of dinosaur blood. What we are seeing is a mineral and molecular echo of ancient biology, and that is scientifically much more interesting," said Kliti Grice, an organic and isotope geochemist at Curtin University in Perth, Australia, and lead author of the study published on Nov. 2 in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
A portion of the fossilized remains of the right hind limb of an Aratasaurus is seen at the Placido Cidade Nuvens Paleontology Museum in Brazil.
PROVIDED BY CURTIN UNIVERSITY VIA REUTERS
“For me, the most surprising thing is that we can see the structures together with chemical evidence of their biological origin after such enormous geological time,” Grice said.
Red blood cells, continuously manufactured inside bone marrow, transport oxygen from the lungs to the body's tissues and then help bring carbon dioxide back from the tissues to the lungs to be exhaled.
Unlike hard bones and teeth, soft tissues like muscles and feathers are only rarely preserved in fossils. Cells present in bodily liquids like blood are even less commonly spotted in fossils.
“Bones and teeth tell us an enormous amount about anatomy, growth and evolution. Molecular and cellular evidence potentially adds another level of biological information,” Grice said.
The research does not document dinosaur DNA, Grice said, cautioning against interpreting the discovery as evidence that intact dinosaur genetic material is present.
“DNA and other large, information-rich biomolecules have very different preservation characteristics from small molecules and chemically transformed molecular remnants. The survival of cell-like morphology and heme-related chemical signals does not mean that the DNA that was originally contained within cells has survived," Grice said.
The researchers also detected collagen-related amino acids in the Arata-saurus bone, though Grice noted that this is not equivalent to recovering an intact ancient protein or genetic information. Collagen is an abundant structural protein, sort of the scaffolding that holds the body's tissues together.
“What the work does encourage us to do is keep testing the limits of molecular preservation rather than assuming that all biological information must disappear after a particular length of time,” Grice said.
The oldest-known DNA reported by scientists came from animals, plants and microbes dating to about 2 million years ago from sediment in Greenland.
The Aratasaurus fossil was unearthed in a gypsum mine in Ceará state in northeastern Brazil.
6月，在《今日秀》与詹娜·布什·哈格（Jenna Bush Hager）的对话中，萨凡娜·古德里分享了在母亲失踪期间继续工作的艰难。她说：“我知道也许人们会问，‘她在做什么？她如何能做到？她不在想这件事吗？她忘记了吗？’不，永远不会。”她补充道，“我每天早上上班时都会哭泣，每天回家时也会哭泣。”
贡献：卡利亚·理查德森，《今日美国》
📄 Original Section
Guthrie begs for help finding her mother
‘We cry out for answers,’ TV show cohost said
Kim Willis
USA TODAY
Savannah Guthrie has issued a new plea for information about Nancy Guthrie, nine months to the day after her 84-year-old mother was reported missing.
The “Today” show cohost marked the anniversary Nov. 1 on Instagram, sharing a sentimental old drawing by her daughter, Vale, of a blue umbrella
"Our mom was a light in this world. We want to celebrate her and give her the dignity she deserves."
in the rain, scrawled with the words, “I know it might not seem like it but I really need my Mommy.”
Savannah Guthrie
Nancy Guthrie was reported missing from her Tucson, Arizona, home on
Feb. 1. Authorities say she was taken against her will.
The FBI released images in February of an armed person at her front door, appearing to tamper with the camera. The person has not been identified.
Guthrie noted that the drawing says "so much about how I feel."
"The world goes on, things appear ‘normal’ – as we try to keep going and be strong, especially for our young kids - but it's not and it never will be," she wrote. "For Annie and Tommy, for Cam and Kristine, for Mike and me and for all of mom's beloved grandchildren: we ache for her, we cry out for answers, we cannot move forward. We need someone to help us, tell us what you know.
"Our mom was a light in this world. We want to celebrate her and give her the dignity she deserves. The reward is still available. Please. We are begging you. Please help us."
She closed the message by thanking those “who have been kind and shown the best of humanity” and a yellow heart emoji. “Join us in praying without ceasing.”
On Oct. 30, the Pima County Sheriff's Department in Arizona issued an update about its investigation on X.
"The Nancy Guthrie Task Force continued to work with our labs in hopes of furthering our DNA analysis in this investigation," a statement from Sheriff Chris Nanos read. "Earlier [in October] investigators traveled to Florida to meet with lab scientists to see what more could be done to advance the case. A number of ideas were discussed, and we continue to work with all of our partners to solve this case."
The statement ends with a call to action, urging that “no tip is too small.”
Former FBI agent and NewsNation law and justice contributor Jennifer Coffindaffer said four purported ransom emails she received in April were an attempt to cash in on concern about the 84-year-old's disappearance, and she alerted the FBI. She believes the senders were scammers.
According to Coffindaffer, the bureau told her the bitcoin address provided did not match the address associated with ransom demands investigators considered potentially legitimate.
She decided to speak publicly after learning Guthrie's neighbor Lauren Serpa received a similar message and both notes included nearly identical images.
In July, Savannah Guthrie made an emotional plea in an Instagram video, and said her “family is in agony” and asked listeners to “help us find her.”
“We are in a nightmare that will not end; nothing about our situation has changed,” she said in the video. “We will never stop looking for her. We will always ache for her and feel that hole in our hearts.”
In a June conversation on “Today” with Jenna Bush Hager, Savannah Guthrie shared that continuing to do her job amid her mom’s disappearance hasn’t been easy. “I know maybe people wonder, ‘What’s going on? How is she able to do that job? Is she not thinking about it? Did she forget?’ No. Never,” she said, adding, “I cry every morning on the way to work, and I cry every morning on the way home.”
Ahead of the scheduled execution of Jeffrey Weisheit, his attorneys claim the state of Indiana purchased its lethal injection drugs from a pharmacy it is actively investigating and has placed on probation for drug contamination.
Weisheit's attorneys have asked Gov. Mike Braun to push back the Nov. 5 execution and conduct an independent review of the state's process for procuring the drug pentobarbital for lethal injections. They argue that Indiana's process is similar to the one used in Tennessee, which botched the executions of Tony Carruthers and Christa Pike and triggered nationwide scrutiny over the protocol, transparency and whether such executions are humane.
The state bought pentobarbital from Pharmaneek Pharmacy Services in Indianapolis, according to Weisheit's attorneys and records included in their petition to Braun. It's the first public confirmation of the state's execution drug supplier.
State law prohibits the release of identifying information about the procurement of lethal injection drugs, but the attorneys identified the pharmacy through an address on an invoice. IndyStar confirmed that Pharmaneek's address is included on an improperly redacted invoice.
"It is alarming that the state purchased these drugs from a pharmacy it is trying to shut down due to major safety issues in the storage and management of drugs," said Joe Perkovich, one of Weisheit's attorneys, in a news release.
Jeffrey Weisheit's attorneys say they identified Indiana's supplier of a lethal injection drug, pentobarbital, through an address on an improperly redacted invoice. GETTY IMAGES
Hours after the attorneys publicly raised concerns about the drug supplier, Braun announced he was denying Weisheit clemency and said the state would continue preparations to execute him on Nov. 5. Last week, the Indiana Parole Board unanimously recommended denying Weisheit's plea.
The governor's office has not responded to IndyStar's questions, including whether it plans to pause the execution.
Indiana Department of Correction said it received the drug on Oct. 29. Spokesperson Noelle Russell said the state purchased 6 vials, 50 milliliters each, of pentobarbital on Sept. 25 for \$275,000.
The state's Board of Pharmacy may suspend Pharmaneek's license this month for issues related to contaminated drugs, according to documents provided by Weisheit's attorneys. The pharmacy has also failed multiple state
Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita's office filed a complaint against the pharmacy in November 2025, which resulted in a settlement and put the pharmacy on probation. The complaint to the state pharmacy board says the pharmacy has been found operating with "numerous shoddy procedures," such as unlabeled pill bottles, expired drugs on active shelves, a room kept at 84 degrees, and a lack of consistent temperature logs. These issues were included in exhibits attached to the petition filed by Weisheit's attorneys.
The board did not respond to a request for comment asking it to confirm its investigation of Pharmaneek. Pharmaneek did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Indiana also has come under scrutiny as one of the least transparent states when it comes to executions. It is the only state actively executing people to deny journalists the opportunity to witness the death penalty.
Indiana resumed executions for the first time in 15 years in December 2024. In less than a year, the state has used lethal injection to kill three men.
Weisheit was convicted and sentenced to death for the 2010 murders of two children, 8-year-old Alyssa Lynch and her 5-year-old brother, Caleb. The children were burned alive in their home in Evansville.
Contributing: Kristine Phillips, Indianapolis Star
Cate Charron's role covering First Amendment issues at IndyStar is made possible by a collaboration among Freedom Forum, Journalism Funding Partners and the USA TODAY Network. Freedom Forum does not provide editorial input.
参与模拟火星任务的4名宇航员组成员已于美国宇航局（NASA）休斯顿中心约翰逊航天中心（Johnson Space Center）完成为期378天的隔离生活，这一任务旨在为可能的未来火星探测任务做准备。
“这是一个艰苦的一年——我们自愿选择的‘囚禁’生活，作为类似宇航员（analog astronauts），”CHAPEA（Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog，宇航员健康与表现探索模拟任务）医疗官埃伦·埃利斯（Ellen Ellis）在10月30日从隔离中出来后，于约翰逊航天中心发表评论时表示。
Mars crew concludes yearlong stint in isolation at NASA's Houston center
CHAPEA Mission 2 crew members Ross Elder, Matthew Montgomery, Ellen Ellis and James Spicer pose before spending more than a year in isolation.
PROVIDED BY NASA VIA REUTERS
Will Dunham
REUTERS
The four members of a crew who took part in a simulated mission to Mars have emerged after 378 days in isolation at the U.S. space agency's Johnson Space Center in Houston, an endeavor designed to help prepare for a possible future excursion by NASA astronauts to Earth's planetary neighbor.
"It's been a hell of a year – analog astronauts living in captivity of our own free will," Ellen Ellis, the medical officer on the Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog, or CHAPEA, mission, said in remarks at Johnson Space Center after emerging with her three crewmates on Oct. 30.
The four entered the 1,700-square-foot 3D-printed habitat on Oct. 19, 2025, and performed tasks such as growing crops in simulated Martian soil and interfacing with NASA officials with delays recreating those inherent in interplanetary communications.
NASA, which has explored Mars with robotic rovers and orbiting spacecraft, has ambitions for a human mission to Mars as early as the 2030s, with plans before that to return astronauts to the moon for the first time since 1972.
“We have a narrowing window of opportunity to maintain U.S. preeminence in space,” Ellis said.
Ellis mentioned the service academy for space-related operations pursued by President Donald Trump's administration and plans for a lunar base.
“Let’s seize the initiative, lead with science that will benefit our economy and ensure our legacy in space for our children’s children,” Ellis said.
The other crew members were mission commander Ross Elder, science officer Matthew Montgomery and flight engineer James Spicer.
“For Mars, the risks are great,” Elder said in remarks after emerging from isolation. “But through seeking understanding, strong vision and leadership, creativity, fortitude, hard work and incredible foundation, the goal of putting humans on Mars is not only achievable, but rather inevitable.”
The crew is set to participate in two weeks of post-mission evaluations and debriefing with NASA scientists. NASA has said it is looking for insight into what it takes for astronauts to adapt to the routines and demands of daily life on long-duration missions beyond Earth to keep them healthy, productive, and connected.
This was NASA's second CHAPEA mission, with another four-person crew in isolation at Johnson Space Center for
Vanessa Wyche, director of the Johnson Space Center, greeted the crew members when they exited isolation. Wyche said they managed to live with limited resources, maintain their habitat, and carry out simulated Mars operations.
378 days spanning 2023 and 2024.
Wyche also noted how the crew dealt with the simulated interplanetary communications, with lag times between sending messages and receiving responses.
"These delays require patience, careful planning and greater independence
\- qualities that will be essential for future astronauts traveling millions of miles from home," Wyche said.
Wyche said the lessons learned from the CHAPEA crew and their experiences will help pave the way for the missions first to the moon and “one day, Mars.”
The court's three liberal justices said that the Catholic Church is trying to push the court far beyond those rulings to require exemptions even when there's no explicit discrimination against a religious entity.
"It seems to me that you're asking for a special rule for religious schools,"
The court's conservatives appeared to agree with the church that it would become too easy for states to discriminate against religious entities unless the court focused on the effect of the law and not just the specific text.
Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson told the attorney for the archdiocese. “Your rule is not allowing our society to have all people live together because it’s preferencing the religious entity’s ability to discriminate against others.”
the court was just “wasting our time” in the previous cases.
Helen Norton, attorney for Colorado, said the state worked hard to include religious schools in its universal preschool program and there's “zero evidence” that the court indirectly targeted Catholic schools by adopting the rule.
"The only thing Colorado asks is that they comply with the same conditions that every publicly funded preschool must meet, religious and secular alike," Norton said.
in recent years: a cafe, an auto repair, a beauty shop.
Kathy Draeger and Mike Jorgenson check in on the beef cattle that inhabit a paddock on their farm in Clinton, Minnesota, on Oct. 16. The pair, who rent out the paddock to a neighboring beef farmer, said they could have just as easily rented the land to a conventional farmer for greater profits, but environmental concerns pushed them toward the former route. PHOTOS BY CASEY EK/FOR USA TODAY
Rex Huppke
USA TODAY
This is the first column in USA TODAY Opinion columnist Rex Huppke's new series, America's Looming Farm Crisis. Farmers across the country are struggling to keep their heads above water, reminding some of the lead-up to the devastating 1980s farm crisis.
CLINTON, Minnesota – Kathy Draeger, whose husband's family has farmed the land in west-central Minnesota's Big Stone County for generations, knows trouble is coming for America's farmers. She can feel it like storms rolling off the plains of neighboring South Dakota.
Her fellow farmers feel it, too. The squeeze. The pressure of debt on their chests. She knows one nearby farmer already selling land to make ends meet.
"I was with a group of farmers recently and asked if it felt now like it did in the 1980s," Draeger said. "They all nodded their heads."
That statement alone should alarm us all. The 1980s farm crisis was an agricultural cataclysm of bankruptcies and foreclosures that devastated and forever reshaped rural America. It was the worst economic crisis in farming since the Great Depression.
Whether you're a farmer or a finance executive who has never seen a farm, the health of U.S. agriculture is vital to you. American farmers keep grocery shelves full, restaurants stocked and protect our national security by giving us a sound domestic food supply.
Basically, when farming gets a cold, America gets sick.
Minnesota saw the most farm bankruptcies in the country in the first quarter of this year, and the autumn harvest arrived with record-high diesel prices cutting into thin to nonexistent profit margins.
But it's not just here, among rolling hills of corn as high as your head and tidy rows of soybeans waving on land farmed by generations of the same families, that you're hearing echoes of the 1980s farm crisis.
“This does remind me so much of the ’80s,” said Pam Johnson, a retired Iowa farmer and past president of the National Corn Growers Association. “We were farming in the ’80s and we almost had survivors guilt because we had friends and neighbors that didn’t survive, by no fault of their own.
“You know the old standard: Pull yourself up by your bootstraps, and if you work, you’re gonna be able to make it. Well, that theory was kind of bashed.”
Brian Kuehl, a principal at Pinion, an advisory firm that works with the agriculture industry, described the current moment in American farming like this: "I think that this is a farm crisis that is as significant as the 1980s.
"It's different. We don't have the high interest rates that you had in the '80s. But I think you've got a lot of the same dynamics unfolding, and a lot of farmers being hurt."
明尼苏达州大石县（Big Stone County）的农民安妮·施瓦格尔（Anne Schwagerl）和明尼苏达州农民联合会副主席告诉记者：“我认为人们正处于‘为了生存而耕种’的状态。也就是说，我们会尽一切可能坚持下去，并希望未来条件能有所改善。”
📄 Original Section
The cost of everything that goes into farming is sky-high
The issues that farmers are facing include: the high and rising cost of farm inputs like seeds, fertilizer and equipment; crop prices that aren't doing enough to offset high input costs; record-high farm debt; and rising interest rates that make borrowing more difficult and loan payments harder to manage.
Anne Schwagerl, a Big Stone County farmer and vice president of the Minnesota Farmers Union, told me: “I think people are in a farming-to-survive mode. Right, so we’re gonna do anything we can to hang on and hope for better conditions in the future.”
农业确实是一个很难让人们关注或关心的主题。很少有美国人从事农业，但所有人都依赖农业。美国农场主联合会（American Farm Bureau Federation）称，美国农场和牧场家庭的数量不足美国人口的2%。然而，根据美国农业部的数据，我们吃的食物中80%来自国内供应链，因此这少数的农民为我们提供了大量食物。
Farmers are small in number, but vital to America's well-being
Farming can, admittedly, be a difficult topic to get people to think or care about. It's a job few Americans do, but all Americans rely on.
Jorgenson decommissions an electric fence at his and Draeger's home in Clinton, Minnesota, on Oct. 16.
To put that in context, the American Farm Bureau Federation puts the number of farm and ranch families in America at less than 2% of the U.S. population. But more than 80% of the food we eat, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, comes from the domestic supply chain, so that tiny percentage of farmers does a lot to keep us fed.
Even if you don't know a farmer, even if you have zero connection to or concern for rural America, if you care about a steady U.S. food supply and about what you're eating, the state of agriculture in America should be of significant concern.
The total number of U.S. farmers may be small, but the ripple effect of any crisis in the agriculture industry is felt everywhere – from tractor dealerships and shops in rural towns like Clinton, Minnesota, to grocery stores and upscale restaurants in big cities like Chicago nine hours southeast.
Politicians pander to farmers, but rarely deliver what's needed
And yet, perhaps because most of us are so disconnected from the land that we forget where the food in our refrigerators comes from, farmers tend to be easily ignored.
They're paid lip service by politicians of both parties who swear their allegiance to America's great farmers, but such patter uses “farmers” more as a code word for “rural America.”
The reality is farmers are a tiny vot-
ing bloc, so they're easily leveraged
while campaigning, then just as easily
forgotten once a politician takes office.
There's no clearer example of that than the fact that Congress hasn't passed a new farm bill – a package of federal legislation dictating agricultural and food policy that's supposed to be renewed every five years – since 2018.
Jorgenson and Draeger are western Minnesota farmers, and Draeger also is a sustainable agriculture professor at the University of Minnesota.
The Kansas-based Barry Flinchbaugh Center for Ag and Food Policy noted earlier this year that since 2018, "input costs have spiked dramatically.
“Trade uncertainty – including significant tariff volatility – has created risks that existing commodity programs were never designed to address. ... Agricultural labor challenges have grown more acute with no clear legislative resolution.”
The lack of a farm bill makes farmers' already uncertain lives more uncertain.
Number of farmers keeps going down, a dangerous trend line
With economic pressures and lawmakers failing to hear the voices of U.S. farmers, it's no surprise their numbers are shrinking.
According to the USDA, there were 1.865 million U.S. farms in 2025, down 15,000 farms from the previous year.
In 2018, the total number of farms was just over 2 million.
So in just seven years, the nation lost close to $10\%$ of its farms. (It's worth noting that, according to the USDA, as of 2024, $86\%$ of farms are still small, family operations.)
Draeger, walking with her husband, Mike Jorgenson, and their friend and local farmer Clayton Brobst near the fields of her and Jorgenson's farm in Clinton, Minnesota, said that in the 1950s, there were about 400 dairy farms in Big Stone County.
“And now, as of St. Patrick’s Day of this year,” she said, “there are zero dairy cows in this county.”
“Every Friday night growing up, farmers were bringing their cream cans to the creamery in Clinton,” Jorgenson recalled. “I can hear the cream cans clanging in the back of pickups. You know that’s part of my early childhood.”
When farms fail, the economic ripples spread to other businesses
Now the fields in Big Stone County are primarily used for corn and soybeans. Farms have grown bigger, but the number of farm families has dropped, hollowing out the infrastructure of small towns.
Not far from Draeger's farm, in the town of Clinton, Bonnie's Hometown Grocery Store is one of the few independent groceries left in the area.
“Clinton has been hit hard,” said Bonnie Maas, the owner.
She ticks off the local businesses lost
Even the local school was shut down and consolidated.
Brobst, a 41-year-old farmer, said his wife works a full-time job to help them get by financially: "The people I'm most familiar with, most of them have a day job. We live a nice life in lieu of her wages and the health insurance she grabs for us, and we're happy doing what we're doing.
“But is it the American dream to say, ‘Well, we’re going to both work a town job, and we’re going to farm a little bit’? I’d like to just farm.”
Draeger, who is executive director of the Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture and an adjunct professor at the University of Minnesota, also worries about the knowledge drain.
Fewer farmers means fewer people with the skills and know-how to run a farm.
“You lose a whole body of skills,” she said. “I think one of the things we need to conserve and preserve is that body of skills that we are losing. ... Probably 75% of crops are farmed using GPS guidance, and so you’re getting in a tractor and you don’t even necessarily need to know how to keep it in a row. You just set it and go, and then you call the co-op to apply pesticides if you see you’ve got an aphid problem. So you don’t even know how to spray.”
Farm bankruptcies jump 46%, and signs of desperation rise
Farming has always been a high-risk occupation, with unpredictable weather and unexpected swings in commodity prices.
But for many farmers, the risk has grown considerably in recent years, following shifts in the global marketplace, climate change, tariffs, and now the spiking fuel and fertilizer costs associated with the Iran war.
Chapter 12 family farm bankruptcies jumped by 46% last year, and the trend has continued this year.
Bankruptcies hit a six-year high in April, rising as much as they did during the COVID-19 pandemic
At Farm Aid, an advocacy group that grew out of the 1980s farm crisis, calls to the crisis hotline have been on the rise.
“Farmers will often call only when it’s the last choice, only when they’ve gotten notice the bank is accelerating the loan and they’re running out of time,” said Jennifer Fahy, co-executive director of Farm Aid.
"The number of farmers who are calling and identifying as financially distressed is much bigger," Fahy said. "About $80\%$ of farmers who are calling are saying they need support."
Now is the time to pay attention to what's happening in farming
This is the first in a series of columns on America's looming farm crisis. The columns are based on more than two dozen interviews with current and retired farmers, agricultural economists, historians, financial advisers who work with farmers, and advocates who assist agricultural communities across the country.
The 1980s farm crisis serves as a backdrop for these columns, not because there's a one-to-one comparison between then and now. There isn't.
Things are different today, and there are steps that can be taken, by stabilizing markets, breaking up monopolies that control farm inputs and outputs, and moving toward more sustainable farming practices, to avoid disaster.
But what's clear right now is there are lights flashing red in American agriculture and we must pay attention.
There were warning signs before the 1980s farm crisis as well, and they were ignored. Because of that, rural America and the farmers who form the backbone of our very existence were irrevocably changed.
Email USA TODAY columnist Rex Huppke at rhuppke@usatoday.com. You can follow him on Bluesky at @rexhuppke.bsky.social and on Facebook at facebook.com/RexIsAJerk.
Analysts say it may need state buyers to meet goal
Ella Cao, Tom Polansek and Lewis Jackson
REUTERS
BEIJING – Chinese buying of U.S. farm goods other than soybeans is on track for a seven-year low this year despite an agreement to purchase billions of dollars in imports, a Reuters analysis of customs data showed, underscoring long-running uncertainties about the deal.
In May, the White House said Beijing agreed to buy \170亿美元 of U.S. agricultural goods annually from 2026, with this year's target prorated. Those purchases were on top of a commitment made in October last year to buy U.S. soybeans.
While China is on track to hit its soybean target, it bought just \72亿美元 worth of the other agricultural goods – from meat to corn – between January and September, the analysis showed. Imports are at their lowest for this period since 2019, at the height of the first trade war.
Whether Beijing is in breach of its commitment is unclear because the White House has not said whether the "Our growers are patriots, but there's a lot of bins of grain full and certainly a desire to see grain trade."
Tim Lust
Chief executive of National Sorghum Producers, an industry group
clock began after the announcement in May or will start once China's proposed tariff cuts have been finalized, which has yet to happen.
The sluggish buying nonetheless deepens doubts about a surge in imports this year, frustrating U.S. farmers who are grappling with high fuel prices.
"Our growers are patriots, but there's a lot of bins of grain full and certainly a desire to see grain trade," said Tim Lust, chief executive of National Sorghum Producers, an industry group. "Beans are trading, but other commodities are not."
The U.S. Department of Agriculture referred questions about the prorating schedule to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. The White House and China's Ministry of Commerce did not
📄 Original Section
China tests pledge for U.S. farm goods
Analysts say it may need state buyers to meet goal
Ella Cao, Tom Polansek and Lewis Jackson
REUTERS
BEIJING – Chinese buying of U.S. farm goods other than soybeans is on track for a seven-year low this year despite an agreement to purchase billions of dollars in imports, a Reuters analysis of customs data showed, underscoring long-running uncertainties about the deal.
In May, the White House said Beijing agreed to buy \$17 billion of U.S. agricultural goods annually from 2026, with this year's target prorated. Those purchases were on top of a commitment made in October last year to buy U.S. soybeans.
While China is on track to hit its soybean target, it bought just \$7.2 billion worth of the other agricultural goods – from meat to corn – between January and September, the analysis showed. Imports are at their lowest for this period since 2019, at the height of the first trade war.
Whether Beijing is in breach of its commitment is unclear because the White House has not said whether the "Our growers are patriots, but there's a lot of bins of grain full and certainly a desire to see grain trade."
Tim Lust
Chief executive of National Sorghum Producers, an industry group
clock began after the announcement in May or will start once China's proposed tariff cuts have been finalized, which has yet to happen.
The sluggish buying nonetheless deepens doubts about a surge in imports this year, frustrating U.S. farmers who are grappling with high fuel prices.
"Our growers are patriots, but there's a lot of bins of grain full and certainly a desire to see grain trade," said Tim Lust, chief executive of National Sorghum Producers, an industry group. "Beans are trading, but other commodities are not."
The U.S. Department of Agriculture referred questions about the prorating schedule to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. The White House and China's Ministry of Commerce did not
BLOOMINGTON, IN – The folks who show up to Brent Duncan's warehouse after foraging in the woods come bearing herbs, leaves and other wares of the gnarled, vegetal variety. Duncan, an herb dealer, buys and sells nearly 50 different botanical products to customers around the world.
His flashiest specimen is a leafy plant found only in the eastern half of North America.
Diggers sometimes call this herb “sang.” Duncan uses its more formal name, American ginseng. Regardless of the nomenclature, diggers and dealers alike are in the business for the same reason: Ginseng is surprisingly lucrative.
Duncan is one of the middlemen in the U.S. ginseng industry. He helps American ginseng make its way from the forested hills of rural Indiana to homes across East Asia, where ginseng's history of medicinal properties drives a high price. Until late November, Duncan will see an influx of visits from local ginseng diggers, who provide the roots he'll sell.
For years, brokers like Duncan, who inherited the business from his father in 1994, have made a comfortable living profiting off a wild crop once abundant in this country. But the industry is starting to wane.
Once prevalent enough to offer rural people a profitable side hustle, American ginseng is proving harder and harder to find. The plant is considered endangered by a major international trade treaty, and population growth is hampered by its slow-growing nature and unusually specific habitat preferences. Digging ginseng on public land is prohibited, and as more private property gets developed, there are fewer places for ginseng to grow and for harvesters to find it, according to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.
Duncan has processed hundreds of ginseng transactions since Indiana's ginseng season opened in September, but year after year, fewer diggers arrive at his door. When they do come, some transactions involve the transfer of
See GINSENG, Page 2B
Brent Duncan, owner of Duncan's Botanical Products, grabs ginseng Oct. 30 at his warehouse in Bloomington, Indiana.
It's been five years since a headline-grabbing crackdown on robocalls went into place, and the safest thing to do still is to stop answering all those oddball, unexpected calls. • Just don't do it. • About 21% of people answer phone calls from numbers they don't recognize at least half of the time, according to a survey of 1,696 U.S. adults 18 and older released by AARP in April. And 10% who responded to that survey admitted replying to unknown texts. Worse yet, maybe, 13% accept friend requests on social media from people they do not know.
Unfortunately, many people love the idea of making a connection and pick up the phone no matter who calls. Many times, scammers are hiding behind those texts and calls.
Just don't do it, people.
Robocalls down but plenty of trouble spots remain
Bad guys try to use illegal robocalls to impersonate your bank, threaten to disconnect your electricity or gas, tempt you with debt relief, or impersonate the Internal Revenue Service, Social Security Administration, the FBI and the FTC.
Bank impersonation schemes – where a scammer claims to be from your bank's fraud department – are especially hot.
The risk is that consumers who believe these impersonators will lose money by agreeing to buy gift cards, send money by bitcoin ATM, wire money or hand over cash. Or they might provide sensitive financial information.
We benefit from tougher regulations for robocalls. However, it's far from a belt-and-suspenders kind of a safeguard.
In 2021, major U.S. voice service providers were required to use tech-savvy caller authentication to identify calls and reassure
See CALLS, Page 2B
CHAIRMAN
BRENDAN CARR
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr is being pushed to further strengthen robocall roadblocks to help prevent scammers from using the phone network to make illegal calls. KYLIE COOPER/REUTERS FILE
"IT'S OK. LIFE GOES ON IF YOU DON'T ANSWER EVERY SINGLE PHONE CALL."
Even if buying picks up, weak Chinese demand and stiff competition make the target difficult to meet unless Beijing orders state-owned buyers into action, analysts said.
Consider corn. At its peak in 2021, China imported \$5.6 billion worth of the crop – almost 20 million metric tons. Last month, COFCO Futures, a futures broker affiliated with the Chinese state trader, said U.S. corn was not competitive partly because of ample domestic supply. It forecast imports of about 900,000 tons of U.S. corn for the 2026/27 marketing year, which started in September.
U.S. sorghum shipments to China peaked at 6.5 million metric tons worth \$2.1 billion in 2021 and now face competition from Brazil, which secured access in September 2025. Brazil has shipped 1.7 million metric tons to China so far this year, with nearly 1 million additional tons planned for shipment, said Eduardo Vanin, senior agriculture strategist at Marex.
The United States exported about 3.7 million tons of sorghum to China up to the end of August, government data shows, significantly higher than a year earlier, when trade stalled amid bilateral tensions, but sales have dried up over the past four months.
Chinese imports of U.S. meat, once worth several billion dollars, face similar constraints. Pork and chicken are oversupplied domestically while U.S. beef prices are high because herds have declined.
In addition, beef still faces regulatory barriers despite China renewing export licenses in May for more than 400 U.S. beef plants. About half of U.S. fed-cattle slaughter capacity is ineligible to export to China, according to the U.S. Meat Export Federation. Some plants were barred after Chinese authorities reported finding residues of substances not approved in China, said Joe Schuele, a spokesperson for the federation. Such constraints mean Beijing will probably need to lean on state buyers to meet the \$17 billion target, as it is already doing with soybeans, said analysts. Whether that happens is ultimately a political question, they added.
“Much of this seems to depend on how much China will use state-owned enterprises to do purchases,” said Darin Friedrichs, co-founder of Sitonia Consulting, a China-focused agricultural market intelligence firm.
U.S. sorghum shipments to China peaked at 6.5 million metric tons worth \$2.1 billion in 2021 and now face competition from Brazil, which secured access in September 2025.
ANTOINE BOUREAU/HANS LUCAS/
AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES FILE
Continued from Page 1B
only a few dollars. Other diggers bring in several pounds of ginseng and leave with several thousand dollars.
Watching the industry shrivel provides Duncan with a painful reminder of how Indiana's once-wild areas, where people like his dad used to hunt, trap and forage, are rapidly disappearing.
"It's sad. You're losing a culture," Duncan said. "People want to go out and dig ginseng, but they don't have access to land."
Several Indiana ginseng dealers said their product travels to countries like Taiwan, South Korea and, primarily, China. But it all starts in the hills.
American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) is a small, finicky plant that grows in the forests of the eastern United States. Reaching maturity can take years and requires a perfect recipe of soil moisture, temperature and shade.
The plants can reach over a foot tall, sprouting clusters of shiny green leaves and red berries. Underground, ginseng plants push out a dense root network that resembles those of other taproots like carrots and parsnips. After harvesters dig under and pry up a ginseng plant, many discard most of its leafier features to concentrate on the roots.
American ginseng has been traded overseas since at least the early 18th century, and the industry has long provided rural Americans, especially those living near the Appalachian mountains, a way to make money close to home.
Ginseng has long boasted a medicinal, almost mythical, reputation. For centuries, people in some Asian countries, particularly China, consumed Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng) in tea, pills, extracts and soups. Traditional Chinese medicine considers the herb to be a potent revitalization tonic. While research studies remain inconclusive on claims that ginseng can support immunity, lower blood sugar and reduce inflammation, the herb remains a popular supplement and is sold in drugstores and grocery stores across the United States.
American ginseng is similar enough to its Asian relative that it could readily step in to supply Asia's ginseng needs after overharvesting and extraction left that continent unable to meet demand. And so, an international trade system erupted.
Still, like its Asian counterpart before it, American ginseng has seen declines from harvest pressure. To protect the resource from extinction, the species was placed on the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora list in 1975.
Until recently, the industry has thrived.
The United States exports tens of thousands of pounds of ginseng each year, mostly to China. In 2015, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimated that the country annually exported nearly \$30 million worth of ginseng; recent estimates from trade firms and market researchers suspect that number has ballooned over the last decade.
Brent Duncan, owner of Duncan's Botanical Products, holds several pounds of ginseng Oct. 30 at his warehouse in Bloomington, Indiana. Duncan inherited the business from his father in 1994. MYKAL MCELDOWNNEY/USA TODAY NETWORK
Despite Indiana's shrinking ginseng trade, the state documented more than 1,000 diggers in 2025, who collectively contributed more than 1,000 pounds of exported ginseng. On average, the plant sold for about \$600 a pound.
However, while ginseng might be one of the most lucrative wild plants in the Indiana backcountry, many diggers warn the price per pound sounds better on paper. Acquiring a pound of ginseng is no easy feat and digging is not exactly a get-rich-quick scheme.
“What it comes down to is about \$1.84 per plant,” said Detective Sgt. Trent Stinson, who enforces ginseng regulation through the Indiana Department of Natural Resources’ Law Enforcement division. “Which doesn’t seem very impressive, right?”
When new diggers express an eagerness to cash in on the endangered species, he suggests they try recycling aluminum cans instead.
Some small-scale dealers sell their ginseng to bigger dealers across Indiana, but before any of it can be sold out of state, it must be certified by the DNR.
This season, Terry Manley, one of Indiana's 16 registered dealers, is paying around \$700 a pound for dry ginseng, \$200 for wet. Manley sends his ginseng to a broker in Pennsylvania, who ships it directly to Asia.
Duncan used to export his ginseng directly to Hong Kong, but he stopped in 2016. He wasn't a fan of the paperwork. Now, he ships his ginseng to a broker in New York, who then flies it to Hong Kong, where a network of dealers disseminate it.
While Indiana's ginseng population isn't at immediate risk of extinction, the future of digging and dealing in the state is bleak.
Land access is becoming an acute issue. Ginseng diggers aren't allowed to harvest the plant on public land, where the population is healthy, said Laura Minzes, Indiana's state ginseng coordinator.
Digging on private land can be equally challenging. Diggers must have permission to do so and those who are caught harvesting without permission can face fines or prosecution.
In addition, private land is increasingly devoid of ginseng. Large tracts of forest that used to grow pockets of ginseng have been carved up, sold or developed. Sixteen Indiana counties that likely once had the plant have reported no ginseng harvest for at least two years.
With fewer places to dig, ginseng diggers can inadvertently overharvest familiar forests, leaving nothing behind for future seasons. Duncan thinks some diggers are taking years off and others have given up the hobby altogether.
“They’re either bringing less or they’re not coming in at all,” he said. “We haven’t had a really good ginseng season since probably 2019. That’s when things really started to tail off.”
In 2024, Duncan moved around 600 pounds of ginseng through his warehouse. In 2025, it was closer to 400.
The state has noticed the decline of harvesters, Minzes said. She, too, traces the change back to 2020, when an unusually low statewide harvest total prompted her to start keeping track of how the industry was changing.
"Not nearly as many people were digging," Minzes said. "The harvester population, in general, is getting older. And foraging is not as popular as it used to be."
In 2021, Minzes recorded 2,121 harvesters across the state. In 2025, there were only 1,186. And since 1998, the number of dealers has dwindled by more than 50%.
Those who have stuck with the industry seem to be in it for the long haul. Manley is in his 80s, and he has no plans to stop dealing, despite recent health challenges.
“Mother Nature will get us one of these days, probably,” Manley said. “But in the meantime, we just keep going.”
Duncan, however, said this will be his last year trading herbs out of his warehouse.
He already has plans for retirement: Next fall, he plans to spend a lot more time in the woods, looking for 'sang.
IndyStar's environmental reporting is made possible through the generous support of the nonprofit Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust.
Calls
Continued from Page 1B
consumers that a phone call is real – and not spoofed to appear to be coming from a local area code or well-known business or agency.
The rule change continues to represent a meaningful, regulatory effort.
Many big providers are complying, but plenty of carriers are not, according to U.S. PIRG Education Fund's new report, Ringing in Our Fears 2026.
Only $42\%$ of phone companies know who exactly is making all calls they originate or pass along on their networks, according to the new analysis by U.S. PIRG Education Fund. That's down from $44\%$ in 2025.
Compliance has never reached 50%, according to PIRG, which indicates that the Federal Communications Commission's enforcement has been inconsistent.
The report noted that 11,467 phone companies are registered with the FCC – and 4,853 have completely installed the robocall-fighting software on their entire network but 6,614 phone companies have not.
The FCC did not respond to questions from the Detroit Free Press.
Unwanted calls fell to less than 1.8 billion in the month of September, according to YouMail, one of the largest robocall blocking services. That's down
28% from September 2025 and the lowest level since December 2023.
In September, one of the most annoying calls involved pre-approved debt consolidation loans, according to YouMail. “These campaigns appear to have produced hundreds of millions of calls during the month, originating from tens of thousands of different numbers,” according to YouMail.
We're all getting an average of one unwanted call each day, according to call tracker Hiya.
The online survey of 12,009 consumers – across the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Germany and Spain – was conducted from Dec. 17, 2025, to Jan. 2, 2026, and did not focus only on scam calls. Respondents could also be referring to calls that may be perfectly legal but still unwelcome, like telemarketing, surveys or political calls, according to David Niu, a spokesperson for Hiya. The survey also included both robocalls and live calls.
Interestingly, one in three reported they received an AI deepfake voice call in the past twelve months.
Periodically, of course, we do hear of crackdown efforts. In 2022, a bipartisan coalition of state attorneys general formed the Anti-Robocall Multistate Litigation Task Force to investigate and take legal action against those responsible for routing significant volumes of illegal robocall traffic into and across the United States.
The attorneys general currently are pushing the FCC to further strengthen robocall roadblocks to help prevent scammers from using the U.S. phone network to make illegal calls.
The effort calls for more rigorous “Know Your Upstream Provider” rules that require voice service providers to ensure they receive calls from legitimate and responsible providers and do not regularly route high volumes of illegal calls.
The FCC has announced various crackdown efforts in recent years.
On Oct. 16, the FCC mandated that U.S. voice service providers and intermediate providers block calls from Mexico IP Phone.
According to the FCC, Mexico IP Phone and its CEO, Hemant Kumar Bharti, came to the FCC's attention for seeking direct phone numbering access by filing a forged FCC document and failing to disclose in its Robocall Mitigation Database certification that it was the subject of a State Attorneys General Task Force anti-robocalling investigation.
Yep, we're dealing with a ton of bad actors out there at every turn.
Unfortunately, the PIRG report indicates that when companies don't have the required technology to verify calls, it's far more likely that more robocalls will go through – upping the odds that you could connect with a scammer pretending to be someone from your bank or credit union, the hospital or police department.
“It’s OK. Life goes on if you don’t answer every single phone call,” said Teresa Murray, who directs the Consumer
Watchdog office for U.S. PIRG, a non-profit advocacy group.
Murray's top 3 tips:
\- First, if the call is unexpected or marked spam, you're best bet is often not to answer it. If you do, never share personal information with an unexpected caller.
\- Second, recognize that artificial intelligence tools make it easier for crooks to sound just like your mother, or write an email that you could swear came from Bob the CEO. AI also enables fraudsters to do their homework and know far more about you than you'd imagine in order to sound more believable.
\- Third, get a code word. You may need to confirm that someone who appears to be a family member or friend is really talking to you, not some deepfake audio. Like a fire drill in school, Murray suggests that you practice using a code word with friends and family so that you use it when there's uncertainty about a situation or demand for \$1,000 on the spot.
Hiya also suggests using tools available on both iPhone and Android phones to screen or silence calls from unknown numbers. If, by chance, you pick up an spam call and it's a recording, hang up without pressing any buttons or talking. Engaging tells scammers your number is live.
If you think it is your bank, hang up, call back a trusted number on your card or statement.
Never share personal or financial information, experts warn, or one-time passcodes, on a call you didn't expect.
特拉华州 乔治敦：萨塞克斯技术高中（Sussex Technical High School）的学生和学区合作伙伴将在新校区的电气技术部分建造一座“剖面房”（cutaway house）。这是萨塞克斯县职业技术学校学区（Sussex County Vocational Technical School District）描述的首个此类项目，即“拉文之家”（The Raven House）。
乔治亚州 伊万斯：CSRA行走寻水（CSRA Walk for Water）是一项受欢迎的社区募捐活动，旨在让参与者体验数百万人寻找饮用水的困境。今年，该活动将移师至新地点。经过七年在SRP公园举办后，今年的活动将于11月7日在伊万斯镇中心公园（Evans Towne Center Park）举行，组织者宣布。
夏威夷州 火奴鲁鲁：阿拉瓦伊小船港（Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor）的浮动码头替换项目将于年底前关闭船坞，以便工人安装新的符合《美国残疾人法》（ADA）的码头，替换受损的基础设施，夏威夷新闻（Hawaii News Now）报道称。
罗得岛 普罗维登斯（Providence）：近期调查显示，公共交通支持率强劲，一年多前罗得岛公共交通局（Rhode Island Public Transit Authority）实施了历史上最大规模的服务削减。罗得岛之声（Rhode Island Voices）的一项分析发现，尽管大多数居民依赖私人汽车出行，但居民希望加强公共交通，并将其提升为立法者的优先事项。
ALABAMA Covington County: Conecuh National Forest is among the forests featured in a recent World Atlas list examining national forests where coral snakes live. The snake's presence in Conecuh is notable because Alabama wildlife officials describe the eastern coral snake as rare in the state, with a possible decline linked to habitat loss.
ALASKA Haines: The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities has informed a contractor it could begin mobilizing equipment and preparing the site for the controversial Cascade Point Ferry Terminal project between Haines and Juneau, KHNS reported.
ARIZONA Tempe: As Arizona soaked under thrashing storms during Halloween weekend, Salt River Project released excess rainwater that was filling reservoirs. Up to 403,000 gallons of water per second were sent coursing into the Salt and Verde rivers to relieve the water levels and make room for more storage.
ARKANSAS Hot Springs: Trustees at National Park College approved a merger with the University of Arkansas System, advancing plans to bring the community college under the statewide university network, KARK reported.
COLORADO Windsor: Banner Health is planning to build a \$59 million, 80,000-square-foot Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center in Windsor. The facility is expected to begin construction in late 2026 and open in late 2028, according to Banner.
CONNECTICUT Hartford: The Connecticut State Department of Education reported continued gains in statewide student achievement, with new assessment data showing progress in multiple academic subjects, WTNH reported.
DELAWARE Georgetown: Sussex Technical High School students and district partners will be building a cutaway house within their electrical technologies section of the new school. That's The Raven House, which Sussex County Vocational Technical School District described as the first project of its kind.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Washington: U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, the top Democrat on a subcommittee that oversees aviation regulation, asked government agencies for a full accounting of why they allowed a White House flyover by the presidential airplane in what she said was a “dangerous stunt.”
FLORIDA Jacksonville: The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office is one of four agencies selected for the U.S. Department of Justice's new Model Cities Initiative to combat violent crime and maintain law and order.
GEORGIA Evans: The CSRA Walk for Water, a popular community fund-raiser designed to give participants a glimpse into the struggles millions of people face in finding drinking water, is moving this year. After seven years at SRP Park, this year's event will be Nov. 7 at Evans Towne Center Park, organizers announced.
HAWAII Honolulu: The Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor floating dock replacement project will close the boat ramp through the end of the year as crews install new ADA-compliant docks to replace damaged infrastructure, Hawaii News Now reported.
IDAHO Boise: Micron Technology announced a \$67 million community investment package in Idaho that will fund public transit improvements, affordable housing initiatives, child savings accounts and other workforce-support programs tied to the company's growing presence in the Boise area, KTVB7 reported.
ILLINOIS Springfield: Three years after the state filed a lawsuit against City Water, Light & Power for multiple violations of the EPA and Illinois Pollution Control Board regulations over coal ash dust, the city is still debating over the closure of the ash ponds which caused the suit.
INDIANA Muncie: Ball State University has upgraded its Esports Center with 36 high-end gaming computers and 40 chairs from Corsair, expanding the facility's technology for esports competition, classroom instruction and creative projects.
IOWA Des Moines: More than \$750,000 will be distributed across eight Iowa hospitals to expand a program that aims to prevent opioid addiction, Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird announced.
San Bernardino County Fire Chief Dan Munsey and Seneca Founder and CEO Stuart Landesberg announced the San Bernardino County Fire Department will begin using automated, AI-powered firefighting drones built by Seneca.
PROVIDED BY SENECA
San Bernardino County: The San Bernardino County Fire Department is set to become the first fire agency in California to launch a fleet of automated, AI-powered, foam-spraying drones designed to attack flames in remote and inaccessible places before they get out of control. A strike team of five of the “autonomous suppression aircraft” will soon take to the skies under a contract announced by fire officials and Seneca, the company that built the unmanned aircraft. The drones will be accompanied by a “Mobile Air Operations Base.” Fire Chief Dan Munsey said the goal of the cutting-edge program is to extinguish 90% of fires before they reach more than 10 square feet in size.
KANSAS Wichita: State transportation officials say construction is progressing on a major upgrade of U.S. Highway 83, KSNW reported.
KENTUCKY Wilder: Construction is officially underway on the “new and improved” Bobby Mackey’s Music World location.
LOUISIANA Bossier City: The Bossier Chamber of Commerce marked the fifth anniversary of its NWLA State of the Community Report with a Nov. 2 event in Bossier City focused on Northwest Louisiana's progress and future. This year's report focused on healthcare, energy, transportation, defense, cyber and technology, education and economic development.
MAINE Biddeford: The Biddeford office of U.S. Sen. Susan Collins was vandalized with the words “Blood on her hands” painted outside the building, marking the second incident in just over a month, News Center Maine reported.
MARYLAND Hagerstown: Maryland is investing an additional \$500,000 in the Safer Stronger Together community safety initiative in Hagerstown, Salisbury and East Baltimore to continue youth services and support community organizations. The new funding follows a two-year pilot in the three communities, according to an announcement.
MASSACHUSETTS Boston: A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit by President Donald Trump's administration seeking to force Harvard University to turn over records for an investigation into whether it continues to consider race in its student admissions process.
MICHIGAN Lansing: The Michigan Department of Corrections is tapping artificial intelligence in a bid to more safely house the state's 32,000 inmates amid a rise in prison violence. The plan would use an AI-based system to rank the security risk of inmates from Level 1, the lowest risk, to Level 5, the highest risk, based on numerous factors including the nature of their crimes, assessments by department experts, and how they have behaved in prisons.
MINNESOTA Minneapolis: The Minneapolis City Council voted to eliminate the Office of Community Safety amid debate over the department's effectiveness and management, KARE11 reported.
MISSISSIPPI Jackson: Jackson's airport could trade its two concourses for one, move passengers through a single security checkpoint and give them more places to eat and wait for a flight. That's the plan taking shape after the Jackson Municipal Airport Authority selected a development team. The development team is set to lead a major overhaul of Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport.
MISSOURI Webster County: An audit of Webster County found several areas for officials to improve and ensure taxpayer money is accounted for and protected. According to a State Auditor's Office news release, the audit report gave the county a "fair" rating, the second lowest ranking given in state audits.
MONTANA Helena: The Montana Lottery suspended its Montana Millionaire drawing after system failures disrupted ticket sales statewide, leaving officials to delay the game until technical issues can be resolved and sales data validated, the Daily Montanan reported.
NEBRASKA Lincoln: New revenue forecasts have increased Nebraska's projected budget shortfall for fiscal years 2028 and 2029 to about \$1.2 billion, Nebraska Examiner reported.
NEVADA Reno: The first chair of the Lake Tahoe ski season is set for 9 a.m. Nov. 6. Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe will open for the 2026-27 season with bragging rights to be among the first ski in the country and the first in the West to open.
NEW HAMPSHIRE Durham: Close to 30% of the University of New Hampshire's library print book collection has been designated for possible removal in advance of a multi-phased renovation at Dimond Library.
NEW JERSEY Roxbury: An investigation by the New Jersey Attorney General's Office has found no credible evidence that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents processed detainees inside the ICE warehouse in Roxbury, township officials said. Township Attorney Anthony Bucco confirms, though, that U.S. Department of Justice officials "admitted" to him that on two occasions, detainees were "processed in the parking lot" of the warehouse but "did not go in."
NEW MEXICO Santa Fe: Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has asked President Donald Trump to issue a major disaster declaration following recent flooding that damaged hundreds of homes across the state, KRQE reported.
NEW YORK Bergen: The New York State Department of Transportation has completed a \$2.5 million project replacing the State Route 19 bridge over the Black Creek Overflow in Bergen. The new bridge has an expected service life of 75 years.
NORTH CAROLINA Asheville: Brother Wolf is converting a former retail space into a \$17 million dollar adoption center that will offer on-site veterinary care for rescued animals
NORTH DAKOTA Minot: A state audit found multiple oversight and financial control issues within the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services, prompting recommendations to strengthen accountability and compliance practices, KMOT reported.
OHIO Cincinnati: A Cincinnati judge tossed out the last vestiges of Ohio's "Heartbeat Law," ruling that doctors are not legally required to ask women why they are seeking abortions or to test for fetal cardiac activity.
OKLAHOMA Oklahoma City: An Oklahoma City man has been arrested and accused of sending letters with white powder to election offices across the country as well as to members of Congress, the media, pollsters and the FBI.
OREGON Salem: Oregon anglers will get the chance to catch and harvest a species of rockfish for the first time in two decades if the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Commission approves new regulations. Yelloweye rockfish, which declined to dangerous levels in the early 2000s, have rebounded enough that department staff are proposing a limited recreational and commercial harvest of the fish in 2027.
PENNSYLVANIA Harrisburg: Pennsylvania's measles outbreak has surpassed 1,400 confirmed cases, with hundreds of patients hospitalized and cases now reported across much of the state.
RHODE ISLAND Providence: Recent surveys are showing strong support for public transit, a little more than a year after the largest service cuts in the history of the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority. One such analysis from Rhode Island Voices found that despite a large reliance on personal vehicles for transport, residents want to see public transportation strengthened and become a higher priority for lawmakers.
SOUTH CAROLINA Columbia: With teacher pay generally considered to be low and turnover in the profession is relatively high, South Carolina lawmakers have created a program to provide financial incentives for teachers to stay in public education. The General Assembly has set aside \$10 million for the South Carolina Student Loan Corporation to offer teachers the opportunity to refinance outstanding educational debt to a fixed 2% rate.
SOUTH DAKOTA Rapid City: The Second Century Habitat Fund received nearly \$8 million in federal funding to restore 7,500 acres of South Dakota grasslands while supporting livestock producers through its Working Lands Grassland Recovery Initiative, KOTA reported.
TENNESSEE Jackson: MAT Industries plans to create 85 new jobs as the company expands its manufacturing operation in Jackson, officials announced.
TEXAS El Paso: A girl under the age of 13 is the first flu-related death of the respiratory season, according to the city of El Paso Department of Public Health.
UTAH Bluff: Mayor Josh Ewing said the southeastern Utah community of Bluff faces years of recovery after multiple floods damaged homes, businesses and infrastructure, including a major bridge on Highway 163 that left Bluff and Monument Valley disconnected, KUTV reported.
VERMONT Burlington: Health officials said emergency room and urgent care visits related to tick bites are rising in Vermont, WCAX reported.
VIRGINIA Hopewell: AdvanSix's Hopewell polymer plant has been selected for a proposed \$47.4 million U.S. Department of Agriculture grant to help fund a \$98.1 million project to expand ammonia production used in fertilizer manufacturing, the company announced.
WASHINGTON Bremerton: The Navy is taking longer than anticipated to repair the USS Connecticut, the Sea-wolf-class submarine damaged after striking an uncharted seamount in the South China Sea in October 2021, injuring 11 sailors, and returned to at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard that December. The Navy is now targeting summer 2027 to complete the maintenance and repair work of the Connecticut at the shipyard, spokesperson Catherine Norton said.
WEST VIRGINIA Charleston: Charleston Area Medical Center will receive \$3.9 million from the state to support rural healthcare initiatives focused on increasing access to medical services across West Virginia, WV News reported.
WISCONSIN Madison: A new report from the research arm of the Wisconsin Counties Association cautions policymakers from “misreading” the state’s budget surplus and advises against using the funds for ongoing tax cuts or implementing new programs. The surplus is “a cushion, not a windfall,” the report from Forward Analytics argues.
WYOMING Casper: Prometheus Hyperscale announced that it has canceled its proposed data center project near Casper, WyoFile reported.
Spirit Halloween stores begin transition to Christmas
Gabe Hauari
USA TODAY
Halloween has come and gone, and Spirit Halloween stores are now beginning to make way for Spirit Christmas.
A spinoff of the popular Halloween-themed stores, Spirit Christmas told USA TODAY in October it will open 44 locations across 15 states this holiday season, from New England to the Great Lakes.
The Christmas-themed concept first opened in 2024 when Spencer Spirit Holdings, parent company of both brands, launched eight locations throughout the Northeast. Last year, the company nearly quadrupled its locations, with 30 stores opening across 12 states.
The company told USA TODAY five stores opened with grand opening celebrations on Oct. 17. The remaining 39 stores were scheduled to open in the first week of November after they transition from Spirit Halloween stores, according to a company spokesperson. A list of locations can be found at spir- itchristmas.com.
"The holidays are so much more than what's under the tree. They're about the traditions families return to year after year and the magic of creating new ones," said Kym Sarkos, executive vice president of Spirit, in a news release. "Spirit Christmas was created to celebrate that feeling."
The brand touts itself as a “one-stop destination for all things Christmas,” including an assortment of holiday decor, inflatables, animatronics, gifts, apparel and stocking stuffers, among other items.
Last year, some locations offered customers the chance to take photos with Santa Claus; however, it is currently unclear if that will be an option this year.
Yum Brands said same-store sales at Taco Bell were recovering after a wider-than-expected decline in the third quarter following a multistate cyclosporiasis outbreak that hurt traffic at the Tex-Mex chain.
Taco Bell has been offering value deals such as its combo boxes to attract inflation-hit consumers in the United States. Executives said on a post-earnings call that such deals were helping attract lower-income households.
The business was first linked to the outbreak in early July, causing a 20% drop in weekly foot traffic at its outlets at the peak of the epidemic, according to Placer.ai.
U.S. health authorities declared the
Taco Bell has been offering value deals such as its combo boxes to attract inflation-hit consumers in the United States. MARIO TAMA/GETTY IMAGES FILE
outbreak was over last month.
Yum said loyalty-program promotions and partnerships were helping it bring back customers, and added that Taco Bell's same-store sales have risen about $1\%$ so far this quarter.
“[Customers are] actually spending 5% more and visiting 6% more frequently than the consumers we lost,” CEO Chris Turner said.
Recovery in the business has been more pronounced among younger consumers, Consumer Edge analyst Michael Gunther said.
Shares of the company, which completed the divestiture of its Pizza Hut chain in September, pared premarket gains and were flat in morning trading.
Taco Bell's same-store sales fell $4\%$ in the reported quarter, its first decline in about six years, missing analysts' expectations for a $0.9\%$ drop, according to data compiled by LSEG.
A focus on value also helped Burger King parent Restaurant Brands International beat sales expectations last week. Bigger rival McDonald's is set to report quarterly results on Nov. 4.
Overall Yum same-store sales were flat from a year earlier, below estimates for 0.9% growth. KFC same-store sales rose 1%, missing expectations for a 2.1% increase.
Yum's adjusted profit per share fell 1.3% to \$1.56, but beat estimates of \$1.49.
Thanksgiving hosts tired of doing everything themselves may soon have a new way to put their guests to work, without having to ask.
Butterball is introducing the Butterball Buddy, a turkey-shaped gadget that chimes and vibrates to hand out holiday chores. Whoever is holding it could be tasked with setting the table, helping prepare the meal or tackling the dishes.
The retro-style device is meant to make Thanksgiving more of a team effort, with prompts timed to different stages of the celebration. The initial batch of free Butterball Buddies was gobbled up; additional releases are planned for Nov. 9 and Nov. 16 at butterballbuddy.com, while supplies last.
Butterball's new Thanksgiving host helper is a timer that can give whoever is holding it a preprogrammed chore. After the holidays, it can me used as a kitchen timer. PROVIDED BY BUTTERBALL
The idea tackles a familiar Thanksgiving problem. Butterball's 2026 Togetherness Report found that $85\%$ of hosts would prefer guests to offer help, but only $38\%$ actually ask them to pitch in. According to the report, one-third of hosts hesitate to ask guests for help because they don't want to inconvenience them. Another $65\%$ say they would like cleanup help at the push of a button.
The Butterball Buddy essentially does the asking for them, prompting guests to pitch in without leaving the host to delegate every job.
Guests pass the Butterball Buddy from person to person during Thanksgiving. When the device chimes and vibrates, whoever is holding it gets a pre-programmed task. Once the chore is finished, the Buddy is passed to someone else.
The gadget does more than delegate Thanksgiving duties. Its reverse side includes contact information for Butterball's Turkey Talk-Line at 1-800-288-8372. The hot-line offers help with turkey preparation, thawing and cooking questions. The service marks its 45th anniversary in 2026, with more than 50 experts expected to help holiday cooks through Dec. 24.
Butterball also offers turkey cooking, thawing and food safety guidance on its how-to website. After Thanksgiving, the Buddy also can be used as a kitchen timer.
Books ship Nov. 13, 2026.
"America: The Places and Paths That Made Us" pairs these journeys and more with the places where they happened, then shows you what stands there now. Published with USA TODAY for the nation's 250th anniversary, this 160-page hardcover is a keepsake worth holding onto.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Sweet
bluegrass
vibes
Will Stein has Kentucky drunk on football ... basketball season can wait
Matt Jones' experience hosting Kentucky Sports Radio told him to expect a few calls or texts about Kentucky basketball on his Monday morning show after UK's first exhibition game.
Blake
Toppmeyer
Columnist
USA TODAY
NETWORK
Top: Coach Will Stein, celebrating an interception against Vanderbilt, has Kentucky at 7-1 and sixth in the first CFP selection committee's rankings. Bottom: Kentucky QB Brennen Ward runs in for a TD vs. Vanderbilt. JORDAN PRATHER/ IMAGN IMAGES VIA REUTERS
Basketball never sleeps in Kentucky.
It did, however, take a back seat on KSR's airwaves that day. Jones was 37 minutes deep into his show before anyone mentioned basketball.
Jones, his cohosts, and the show's callers and texters had football on the brain.
"It's intoxicating," Jones said on the airwaves that day.
For two hours, the conversation fixated on Will Stein's surging football team that, at the time, was fresh off a win against Oklahoma.
Blue blood became another pelt on the wall for the Big Blue. Now, that's worth discussing.
"On that Monday's show, it would've normally been maybe half football and half basketball, but there was like five minutes (of conversation) on basketball," Jones told USA TODAY Sports. "All anybody wanted to talk about was football. I've never seen it like that."
In 1st place, trade target for leaders of division
Jacob Camenker
USA TODAY
The 2026 NFL season is nearing its midpoint and the playoff race is shaping up to be one of the most exciting in recent memory.
Almost every division race remains competitive as the NFL turns its calendar to Week 9. The Jacksonville Jaguars have a three-game lead in the AFC South, but most are separated by just one or two games.
With that in mind, division leaders aren't going to want to stand pat ahead of the league's Nov. 10 trade deadline. Many will need to stay aggressive to keep themselves on top of their power structures, especially in divisions like the AFC North and NFC North, where no teams are below .500 for the season.
What types of trades could these division leaders consider? Here's a look at one trade that each of the division leaders entering Week 9 should consider with the trade deadline drawing nearer.
Buffalo Bills trade target
Arizona Cardinals
edge Josh Sweat
Gregory Rousseau has been a revelation for the Bills this year, racking up seven sacks and 37 pressures – good for the fifth-most leaguewide entering Week 9, per the NFL's Next Gen Stats – across just seven games.
Despite that, the Bills rank just 24th leaguewide in pressure rate, even after bolstering their numbers in a favorable Week 8 matchup against Baltimore Ravens third-string quarterback Joe Fagnano. That's largely because they have struggled to generate pressure across from Rousseau, with No. 2 pass rusher
See TARGET, Page 7C
[COMMENTARY] Can't blame CFP selectors for not trusting Ohio State
Blake Toppmeyer USA TODAY
Buckeyes, are your ears burning?
Because, the College Football Playoff committee is talking about you, and it's nothing good.
Never mind Hunter Yurachek's mealy-mouthed language about Ohio State, because the upshot of the playoff committee's initial rankings is unmistakable: Lose again, Buckeyes, and you're out.
The proof is in the No. 12 ranking.
Can't argue with the committee on this one.
The committee should not – and did not – ignore the truth that Ohio State (6-2) looked deeply damaged in its first full game playing without injured starting quarterback Julian Sayin. Combine backup-turned-starter Luke Fahey with a suddenly crumbling defense and a barrage of penalties, and the Buckeyes put their worst foot forward in a 30-18 loss to previously reeling Southern Cal.
So, despite Ohio State possessing a sturdy strength of schedule, the committee embraced reality. These are not the same Buckeyes who whipped Iowa, beat Indiana, and lost to Texas on the road by a single point.
“They didn’t look like the same Ohio State team this past weekend against Southern Cal,” Yurachek, the committee chairman, said on ESPN, “a Southern Cal team that defensively had not been very good to this point in the season.”
The Buckeyes control their path to the playoff, but that path demands a 4-0 November.
Want to know why Ohio State is ranked eight spots behind Indiana,
许多人质疑PGA巡回赛墨西哥站是否能成功举办。其他人则怀疑它是否能在初始赞助协议结束后存续。然而，几乎所有人冒险参与这场赛事的人最终都从中受益。本周，第20届赛事将于11月5日至8日在达曼特的埃尔卡多纳尔球场（Diamante's El Cardonal Course）举行，一块纪念牌将于周二在第一洞揭幕，以纪念赛事在边境南部的成功。
📄 Original Section
WWT at 20: Bold gamble to lasting legacy
Adam Schupak
Golfweek | USA TODAY Network
Fred Funk had to be convinced to play in the first PGA Tour tournament in Mexico. He won the Mayakoba Golf Classic at El Camaleon in Playa Del Carmen on Feb. 22, 2007. MIKE EHRMANN/GETTY IMAGES
LOS CABOS, Mexico – Twenty years ago, Fred Funk nearly backed out of the first official PGA Tour event played in Mexico.
He had initially committed to play, a major coup for tournament director Larson Segerdahl, who had moved to Mexico in the summer of 2006 to launch an event scheduled for February 2007 opposite the World Golf Championships-Match Play Championship. Without access to the world's top 64 players, Segerdahl needed a proven star to lend credibility to what was then known as the Mayakoba Golf Classic.
Funk, a former Players Championship winner and one of the PGA Tour's most recognizable veterans, fit the bill perfectly.
But doubts crept in after a scouting report from his longtime caddie, Mark Long.
Segerdahl had hired Long, who also produced the yardage books used by many PGA Tour players and caddies. After studying El Camaleón, the Greg Norman-designed course at Mayakoba Resort near Cancun, Long wasn't convinced it suited the shorter-hitting Funk.
On that recommendation alone, Funk called Segerdahl ready to withdraw.
"I've got to pick my spots and maybe this isn't one of them," Funk recalled saying.
Segerdahl had already been promoting Funk's participation and did everything possible to change his mind.
"I remember being like, 'We need you down here, Fred. I know what Mark's telling you, but don't take his word for it. Come see for yourself.' And Fred, being the class act that he is, was open to that. He ended up coming down, and I don't think I could've scripted a better finish for the first event," Segerdahl said.
Funk not only showed up, he delivered one of the most memorable finishes in tournament history.
He holed a 30-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole to force a playoff, then defeated Argentina's José Cóceres with a birdie on the second extra hole. At the par-3 10th, Funk's 5-iron drifted right of the flag toward the water, not exactly where he intended. But it settled safely, and he converted the winning putt for an improbable victory.
Funk was 50 years, 8 months, 12 days old when he went wire-to-wire to win the inaugural tournament, making him the fifth-oldest winner in PGA Tour history at the time.
His victory became a fitting metaphor for the tournament itself.
Many questioned whether a PGA Tour event could succeed in Mexico. Others wondered whether it would survive beyond its initial sponsorship agreement. Yet nearly everyone who took a chance on the event ultimately benefited from doing so. This week, the 20th edition will be held Nov. 5-8 at Diamante's El Cardonal Course, where a plaque to be placed on the first tee was unveiled on Tuesday to commemorate the tournament's success south of the border.
Today, the tournament known as the World Wide Technology Championship is stronger than ever.
As the tournament celebrates its 20th anniversary, those who helped build it look back on a journey that exceeded anything they imagined possible when the inaugural event teed off in 2007.
What began as an ambitious experiment has evolved into one of Latin America's most significant golf events.
Taylor Ives, executive vice president of events and consulting at Team, the firm which manages the tournament, has been involved in all 20 editions of the championship. He keeps a photo in his office of tournament staff surrounding Funk with the trophy from that inaugural event. "It's a fun reminder of how much the event has grown," he said, "and how styles and hairlines have changed!"
When Brent Geiberger struck the opening tee shot at 6:40 a.m. on Feb. 22, 2007, the game of golf in Mexico took a giant step forward. Few remember where that first ball came to rest, but the moment marked a turning point. For the first time, a full-field official PGA Tour event was contested outside the United States and Canada.
The championship has continued to defy expectations. It has survived sponsor changes, venue changes and industry upheaval while maintaining its place on the tour schedule.
"There were years where we had to piece it together," said Joe Mazzeo, World Wide Technology Championship tournament director since 2013. "It was too good to let it die."
World Wide Technology assumed title sponsorship in 2021, shepherding the event through another major transition when Mayakoba opted to host an
LIV Golf event. The move required finding a new home, and the tournament found one at Diamante.
Situated at the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula, Los Cabos provided a natural fit, combining a thriving tourism industry with one of North America's premier golf destinations. El Cardonal became the first Tiger Woods-designed course to host a tour event.
When the tournament arrived in 2023, Woods himself visited during tournament week, spending time with First Tee participants on the par-3 course he also designed. For Ives, such moments represent the tournament at its best.
Another example was the launch of Golf for Everyone, a program designed to expose residents to the game. Local professionals conducted clinics throughout the year, giving many participants their first opportunity to swing a golf club. Within five years, more than 500 people were regularly attending monthly sessions.
Perhaps the program's greatest achievement came in 2011 when 1,073 participants gathered on the practice facility at El Camaleón, each occupying a nine-by-nine-foot hitting station, to establish a Guinness World Record for the largest golf lesson ever conducted under the watchful eye of veteran Mexican tour pro Esteban Toledo.
“This was one of the most incredible experiences of my career,” said Toledo.
In the event's earliest years, however, there were limited options when it came to awarding sponsor exemptions to Mexican players.
"The first year it was Esteban and who else can play?" recalled Mazzeo. "Now, it's one of the most challenging decisions we have to make because there are so many talented young Mexican players."
Over the years, participation in golf and the depth of elite talent throughout Mexico and Latin America have grown dramatically. In 2019, a record eight Mexican players competed in the 132-man field. (This week there are five in the 120-man field.) Carlos Ortiz
PGA Tour
World Wide Technology
Championship
Course: El Cardonal at Diamante (Par 72; 7,452 yards) in Los Cabos, Mexico
Purse: \$6 million (winner: \$1.08M)
TV: Nov. 5-8, 3-6 p.m. ET (Golf Channel)
X: @WWTChampionship
Inside the numbers
544,591
Since 2007, that's the total number of competitive strokes that have been played by participants in the event's first 19 years.
\- Ryan Gerard. His ball striking has been dynamite. He's gained the most strokes of any player from tee to green over the last 20 rounds. In his last 27 starts on the PGA Tour, he has recorded eight top-10 finishes compared to his first 53 where he had six.
\- Blades Brown. The 19-year-old sensation earned a promotion to the PGA Tour for the 2027 season. He'll get a chance to show off his talents with another start in the big leagues. He's recorded six top-20 finishes in his last seven starts.
\- Jackson Koivun. The 3M Open winner has performed well in his rookie season on the PGA Tour since turning pro in June, having the second-best scoring average by a rookie this season (68.09). Koivun has scored better on average in his final two rounds (67.44) versus his first two (68.67), over a stroke difference.
recorded the best finish by a Mexican player in tournament history, tying for second that year before finishing runner-up again in 2021.
Ortiz, Abraham Ancer, Oscar Fraustro, Raúl Pereda, Emilio González, and Alvaro Ortiz, who earned his PGA Tour card for the 2027 season, are among the Mexican players who have used opportunities such as these as stepping stones to higher levels of pro golf.
The World Wide Technology Championship also helped pave the way for broader growth throughout the region. When the event debuted in 2007, professional golf opportunities in Mexico were limited. Since then, PGA Tour Americas has been created, the Latin America Amateur Championship was launched through a partnership of Augusta National, the R&A and the USGA, the PGA Tour added the Mexico Open, and multiple Korn Ferry Tour events have been staged throughout Latin America, including the Tulum Championship at PGA Riviera Maya.
“Witnessing golf’s growth in Latin America at all levels serves as a reminder that this is far more than a one-week tournament,” Ives said. “And I look forward to celebrating our first Mexican champion at some point over the next 20 years.”
Major League Baseball proposed on Nov. 3 that a salary cap would be delayed by a year and implemented in 2028, permitting teams to operate knowing what the proposed rules would be in the upcoming collective bargaining agreement, which was immediately scorned by the players union.
MLB proposed a \$258.2 million salary cap and a \$180.2 million floor, with MLB projecting that it would require 12 teams to increase payroll by \$636 million to reach the floor, and eight clubs to decrease their payroll by \$528 million to abide by the cap. MLB says that would net an additional \$108 million payroll increase league-wide.
MLB also proposed increasing the minimum salary to \$1 million for players with at least two years' major league service and \$900,000 for those with less service; a \$30 million increase to their pre-arbitration bonus pool, while also agreeing to the union's proposal of lowering free agency from six years to five years for players 30 and older, while eliminating the qualifying offer system for free agents.
The MLBPA fired back in a response later Tuesday afternoon. "Coming off another incredible season of baseball, MLB owners continue to propose blowing up the current system and replacing it with one designed to line their pockets and increase their franchise values," the union said in a prepared statement.
“Even with a so-called ‘transition year’ in 2027, the owners’ latest offer would result in: immediate restrictions to player contract rights; stagnant luxury tax thresholds; a \$400M reduction in amateur signing bonuses; stripping current competitive advantages for smaller market teams; rejection of dozens of player proposals on issues from minimum salaries to revenue sharing to rosters and transactions, and many more,” the union said.
If the salary cap and floor are implemented, the 12 teams that would have to increase payroll would be: the Miami
Marlins, Cleveland Guardians, St. Louis Cardinals, Tampa Bay Rays, Washington Nationals, Chicago White Sox, Minnesota Twins, Colorado Rockies, Pittsburgh Pirates, Athletics, Cincinnati Reds and Milwaukee Brewers.
The clubs that would have to lower their payroll: Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies, Toronto Blue Jays, San Diego Padres, Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs.
The current collective bargaining agreement expires at 11:59 p.m. ET on Dec. 1. If no agreement is reached, MLB is expected to implement a lockout, which happened during their last negotiations in 2021, lasting 99 days.
坎茨勒曾在明尼苏达双城队（Minnesota Twins）组织中担任外场手，并在第20轮被缓冲城大学（University of Buffalo）选中。
📄 Original Section
Mariners hire 36-year-old manager Jason Kanzler
Gabe Lacques
USA TODAY
The Seattle Mariners opted to go young filling their managerial job, hiring 36-year-old Jason Kanzler to replace Dan Wilson, the club announced Nov. 3.
Kanzler becomes the second-young-est manager in Major League Baseball, behind Washington's Blake Butera, who took over the job at 33 one year ago.
Kanzler
Kanzler was the Chicago Cubs' director of player development since 2024, a period that saw outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong emerge as one of the top players in the game.
In Seattle, he will con-
front a clubhouse with a mix of emerging talent and established stars. The club debuted top prospects like infielders Cole Young – a Gold Glove winner at second base – and Colt Emerson and, later in the season, slugging outfielder Lazaro Montes.
Yet it was the veteran core, most notably 2025 MVP runner-up Cal Raleigh, that disappointed in 2026 and led to Wilson's firing. Raleigh, All-Star outfielder Julio Rodriguez and a deep pitching staff helped lead the Mariners to
Game 7 of the 2025 American League Championship Series before backsliding to a 76-86 record and third-place finish in the AL West.
Kanzler was a major league coach for the Astros in 2022 and '23, a period in which they won the World Series and reached Game 7 of the ALCS.
Kanzler played three seasons as an outfielder in the Twins organization and was a 20th-round pick out of Buffalo.
Three picks stop Burrows from overtaking Allen at 1
Jack McKessy
USA TODAY
Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow scores the game-winning touchdown on a 9-yard scramble in a Week 8 defeat of the Titans in overtime.
SAM GREENE/THE ENQUIRER
Eight weeks down, 10 to go and one clear front-runner for the MVP race.
The 2026 regular season is already almost halfway over. The Super Bowl favorites and NFL playoff picture are becoming clearer, and with them, the clarity of who the real contenders are for some of the end-of-season awards.
Plenty of football remains, but as things stand, Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills are standing tall. The 2024 MVP is a massive betting favorite to win a second in three years, and the Bills are the betting favorites to win the AFC.
But power rankings don't directly reflect betting odds. A big week from a player or two can displace the frontrunner, if only briefly. Here's how the full list of 10 players –shakes out before Week 9 (with previous ranks in parentheses):
1. QB Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills (1): Did the intro throw you off? Or maybe it was the promo image from this piece featuring someone else. Either way, sorry about that. Once again, Allen stands at the top of the MVP power rankings. No other player has held the No.1 spot for as many weeks as Allen so far.
He nearly gave up the top spot with a shaky first half against a middling Ravens pass defense: 8-for-19 (42% completion rate) with 112 yards and an interception (plus a rushing touchdown). In the second half, Allen returned to form in a big way. He went 13-for-15 (86.7%) and tossed for 177 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Bills to a third straight win.
Allen is the NFL leader in yards per attempt (8.7) and yards per completion (13.3) and has been responsible for 20 touchdowns this year – 11 passing, nine rushing. He also leads all quarterbacks with 270 rushing yards through seven games.
2. QB Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals (2): If not for his three interceptions in a near-loss to the Tennessee Titans at home, Burrow would have easily taken the top spot on this list. The Bengals quarterback tossed five touchdowns, rushed for a sixth and finished the day with 462 passing yards – his second 400-yard game this season.
Burrow now leads the NFL with 20 passing yards, and his two rushing touchdowns this year – including a game-winner in Week 8 – put him above Allen for the league lead in total touchdowns. His 73% completion rate leads the league, as do his 302.1 passing yards per game.
That said, Burrow's three interceptions in the game let the one-win Titans stick around long enough to force overtime. Tennessee only scored on one of their three possessions that followed those picks thanks to strong defensive efforts, but Burrow doubling his interception total for the season in one game – including one on a horrible underthrow – is too tough a look to excuse.
3. QB Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars (3): One thing about Lawrence this season: He's going to throw multiple touchdowns. Turns out, that's true even when he throws fewer than 15 times.
Jacksonville dominated the Colts in Week 8 for the first of two divisional matchups between the AFC South teams. That meant a lot more rush attempts for the Jaguars' game script, but it didn't stop Lawrence from making an impact with his arm. The former No. 1 overall pick completed 10 of 14 passes (71.4% completion rate) for 210 yards and three touchdowns.
Lawrence couldn't keep up his streak of 300-yard games, but he's now up to three straight games with multiple touchdowns. He's also on a stretch of four multi-touchdown games in his last five outings, and he has five multi-touchdown games in his seven showings this year. That has him leading the NFL in TD% (8.6%) and passer rating (112.6).
4. QB Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers (4): No game for Purdy and the 49ers this week as they enjoyed their bye. That means no change for Purdy in the power rankings as his strong start to the season props him up near the top despite a rough day against the Falcons in Week 7.
Despite his week off, Purdy still leads the NFL in success rate (56.4%), per Pro Football Reference. His 69.2% completion rate is third in the NFL, his 15 touchdowns are tied for fifth, and his 8.3 yards per attempt are tied for fourth. Notably, the 49ers are fourth in points per game through Week 8 and are the current favorites to win the Super Bowl. Not so bad for a former Mr. Irrelevant.
5. QB Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears (7): Williams is surging up the MVP power rankings with every passing week. The Bears quarterback got off to a white-hot start in Week 1 before falling out of the top 10 after a middling Week 2 outing and a hamstring injury. The three games since have been outstanding, and the third-year quarterback is suddenly among the favorites to win MVP.
Williams had two straight 300-yard outings in his return from the hamstring ailment, but he faced a tougher defense in Week 8: the reigning Super Bowl champion Seahawks' "Dark Side" defense. Well, like Atlanta and New England before it, Seattle got torn up by Williams and head coach/offensive play-caller Ben Johnson.
The Bears signal-caller went 24-for-34 on pass attempts – a 70.6% completion rate, his third-best mark this season – for 247 passing yards and a touchdown. Williams became the first quarterback to throw for more than 200 yards against the Seahawks this season in Chicago's big “Monday Night Football” win. The Bears have also shot up the overall NFL power rankings as a result of his excellent play.
6. QB Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs (5): Mahomes and the Chiefs' second straight loss knocked them out of first place, and the two-time MVP slipped down the power rankings. However, Mahomes' 73.2% completion rate, 321 yards, three touchdowns and a season-high 120.1 passer rating meant he didn't fall very far. It was an impressive bounce-back performance for the Chiefs star quarterback after his bad outing against the Seahawks in Week 7.
One interesting trend to watch ahead of the NFL trade deadline is how Tyquan Thornton's absence (ankle injury) has affected Mahomes' ability to throw the deep ball. In the early weeks of the season, Mahomes looked like his vintage self, with his average depth of target (ADOT) sitting at 7.4 yards in those games, per Pro Football Focus. In the three games since Thornton's injury, Mahomes' ADOT was just 5.2.
7. QB Drake Maye, New England Patriots (6): Good teams are supposed to beat lesser opponents, so it was a good sign that Maye and the Patriots took care of the Dolphins after trailing by 10 at the half. The quarterback's steady performance despite the scoring deficit was a big reason why.
Maye finished with a 16 of 20 line (80%) and 199 yards with two touchdowns. He also rushed for a touchdown late in the third quarter to take the lead back for the Patriots. Last year's NFL MVP runner-up has turned things around after an underwhelming start to 2026. He's third in the league in yards per attempt (8.5) and tied for fifth in passing touchdowns (15).
8. RB Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions (9): Gibbs is having a great season through eight weeks, and these last three weeks have been an especially phenomenal stretch. The Lions' rising star running back is up to three straight games with more than 100 rushing yards. In two of the last three games, he has more than 150 yards and a touchdown.
Gibbs' 153 yards on 23 attempts (6.7 yards per attempt) against the Vikings' outstanding defense in Week 8 was a major reason the Lions handed Minnesota its first loss.
After Kenneth Walker and Bijan Robinson dominated the early MVP conversation among non-quarterbacks, Gibbs has taken over the mantle. The Lions' lead back is atop the NFL with 110.4 yards per game and tied for the top spot with 10 touchdowns from scrimmage. His 4.9 yards per carry rank 10th.
9. QB Jared Goff, Detroit Lions (8): Gibbs was Detroit's shining star in Week 8, but Goff had a solid game of his own to complement the run game. Though he threw his first interception of the year, he was otherwise excellent, finishing 18 of 25 (72%) with 176 yards and a touchdown.
Goff has been quietly outstanding this year. His 176 yards were a season-low against the Vikings' top-rated defense in Week 8, but he's still third in the NFL with 280.6 yards per game. Goff also ranks fifth in completion rate (67.7%), is tied for fifth with 15 touchdowns and is fourth in Pro Football Reference's success rate metric (51.5%).
Gibbs' excellence has helped Goff succeed off of play-action passes, as the Lions deploy play fakes at one of the highest rates in the NFL. The Lions' quarterback's lack of eye-popping throws at the rate of Williams or Mahomes, his lack of rushing heroics like Allen, and the exceptionally strong cast of playmakers around him all take away from his MVP case.
10. WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks (not ranked): He's clearly the MVP of his team. Can Smith-Njigba continue to make a case for MVP of the league, becoming the first wide receiver to win the award? His 2026 performance so far is an excellent start. The reigning Offensive Player of the Year is 15 yards shy of 1,000 in just eight games. He's had more than 100 yards in seven out of eight games, and he's scored at least one touchdown in six of those outings.
The Seahawks lost in Week 8 as their offense mustered just 252 yards – yet Smith-Njigba still tallied 118 of those yards. He also scored a touchdown. The “Monday Night Football” loss made it exceptionally clear that Seattle’s offense runs through the young wideout. The Bears limiting Smith-Njigba to start the second half is what allowed Chicago to really pull away as the rest of the Seahawks offense sputtered.
Nov. 5, 8:15 p.m. ET, Amazon Prime Video (Jaguars by 9.5)
Key storylines
QB NONE: Lamar Jackson? Out. Tyler Hun-
tley? Out. Joe Fagnano? Also bitten by the injury bug. In other words, if you are within driving distance of M&T Bank Stadium on Thursday night – watch out and check the caller ID. You may be asked to play quarterback for the Ravens. As far as quarterbacks with experience go, Baltimore signed Austin Reed and Kedon Slovis. Jesse Minter might have to spin the QB wheel and hope for the best.
On the road again: In Week 8, the Jaguars played a real home game at EverBank Stadium for the first time since Sept. 27. They had enough time to do some laundry, make sure nothing was out of place and maybe sleep in their own bed for a night or two before packing those bags again. That Week 8 contest was the only true home game for Jacksonville during an eight-week stretch. The Jags' next home game isn't until Nov. 29 (Week 12) against the Titans. That's a lot of luggage.
Show us what you've got, Brian Thomas Jr.: It's the last game before the NFL trade deadline for both teams and perhaps no player is more intriguing than the 2024 first-round pick. Thomas is one player who didn't benefit from Liam Coen's arrival in Jacksonville, falling down the receiver depth chart. He was benched against the Texans in London and hauled in a touchdown against the Colts. His time with the Jags appears to be coming to an end, so will the team give him some extra reps to squeeze some more value out of the trade market?
– USA TODAY Sports' Adam Kaufman, Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz and Nick Brinkerhoff
Ohio State coach Ryan Day talks to Luke Fahey during the QB's first start Oct. 31. ADAM CAIRNS/COLUMBUS DISPATCH
despite beating the Hoosiers? I'll tell you what Yurachek couldn't quite put into words. The rankings separation isn't because Ohio State is 6-2 and Indiana is 8-1. It's because Sayin started Ohio State's win against Indiana, and the committee doesn't trust the Buckeyes with the three-star freshman Fahey taking the snaps.
The Buckeyes are out of chances for marquee victories, too. No. 23 Oregon is the only ranked opponent left.
If the Buckeyes lose again with Fahey, that'll reaffirm what the committee already understands: It cannot justify putting three-loss Ohio State in the playoff, unless Sayin makes a miraculous recovery from his arm injury and is back on the field by Thanksgiving weekend.
Ohio State scheduled tough, and the committee offered some hints that it values strength of schedule. (How else to explain Alabama at No. 5, other than its strength of schedule and a dash of Script A bias?) Because of Ohio State's schedule, under normal circumstances, it would join Texas as top contenders to become the playoff's first 9-3 qualifiers, if that's where this season goes. But Sayin's injury altered the script.
Florida State can tell 'em all about how the new script goes.
Three years ago, the committee used quarterback Jordan Travis' injury as justification to reject undefeated Florida State from the four-team playoff.
The playoff committee is not bound by precedent, nor is it stagnant. Committee membership turns over, and yet we detect some parallels between how a past committee treated FSU to how this committee will handle the Buckeyes.
Quarterback injuries matter, especially if the production reverses with the backup.
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The NBA paused its action to encourage Americans to vote.
So with no games scheduled for Nov. 3, it offered a bit of a reset to take in the lessons learned from the first two weeks of the 2026-27 regular season.
The good news for teams is that the spate of injuries that ravaged rosters across the league have (mostly) calmed a bit.
And while it's still so very early in the season, the action has led to sweeping changes across the board. Already, there is a new No. 1 team, and a new No. 2 for that matter.
30. Sacramento Kings, 1-6 (-): They're second-to-last on net rating (minus-13.2) and are prime candidates to sell off their assets before the trading deadline.
29. Chicago Bulls, 1-6 (-2): No team plays faster than the Bulls, who lead in pace (105.86), but the offense has been wildly inefficient, with Chicago shooting 41.6%, second-worst in the NBA.
28. Brooklyn Nets, 1-6 (+1): The addition of Julius Randle has not been enough to stabilize the offense, and 3-point defense (15.0 conversions allowed per game) has been another Achilles' heel.
27. Utah Jazz, 1-6 (-3): The Jazz, who were looking to take a step forward, have been one of the more disappointing teams. Utah doesn't force enough turnovers and its transition offense is basically nonexistent.
26. Milwaukee Bucks, 1-6 (−): Tyler Herro has been pretty solid, but too many Bucks players have been far too inconsistent, starting with Kel'el Ware.
25. Los Angeles Clippers, 1-6 (-): The Clippers still are the only team to average at least 20 turnovers per game.
24. Phoenix Suns, 1-4 (-1): They're the only NBA team to have only played five games, but Phoenix has been getting killed on the glass, where they rank 29th in rebounding (39.6 per game).
23. Indiana Pacers, 2-6 (-9): Indiana is banged up, but without Tyrese
Rockets guard Marcus Smart grabs a rebound away from Celtics guard Hugo Gonzalez during the third quarter at Toyota Center on Nov. 2 in Houston.
TROY TAORMINA/IMAGN IMAGES VIA REUTERS
Haliburton, this offense lacks a catalyst and identity.
22. New Orleans Pelicans, 3-4 (+6): Winners of three consecutive, the Pelicans have been a nice story so far and are dominating down low; New Orleans leads the league with 62.6 points in the paint per game ... which is 7.5 points more than the next team.
21. Orlando Magic, 2-5 (-1): Since Paolo Banchero (ankle) and Jalen Suggs (knee) have been out, Orlando has been unable to find consistent offense, and turnovers (17.3 per game; tied for 25th) are a massive issue.
20. Miami Heat, 2-5 (+1): No team is allowing more 3-pointers per game (17.3). The defense has been a nightmare, with players even saying they're not trusting each other on the court.
19. Charlotte Hornets, 3-5 (-2): They've lost four consecutive and the warning sign is an offense that has it drastically underperforming; Charlotte ranks dead last in offensive rating (100.4), which is nearly four full points below the next closest team.
18. Washington Wizards, 4-3 (+1): Are the Wizards finally a player in the Eastern Conference? The early returns on this group look good, but the schedule hasn't exactly been a slog.
17. Denver Nuggets, 3-3 (-5): They look older and slower, but the more curious issue is the sweeping dip across Nikola Jokic's stats: 22.0 points, 9.7 rebounds and 9.0 assists per game.
16. Dallas Mavericks, 4-3 (+2): They have won three of four but became the first team to lose to the previously winless Kings. The Cooper Flagg-Kyrie Irving partnership, however, has been a fun watch.
15. Atlanta Hawks, 4-4 (-): They have had five different leading scorers through eight games and lead the NBA in assists per game (30.6) and assist-to-turnover ratio (2.08). The results have nonetheless been uneven.
14. New York Knicks, 3-4 (-5): Are we in championship hangover territory? The Knicks are a bit of a rarity, ranking dead last in pace (96.5). They've struggled against marquee opponents.
13. Toronto Raptors, 4-3 (−): No team has been hauling in more offensive boards per game (15.3), but losses in three of their last five have stunted their progress up the standings. And they got good news: Kawhi Leonard (knee swelling) might be back soon.
12. Cleveland Cavaliers, 4-3 (-1): They share the ball well and protect it, but the Cavs have had an uneven start to the season. A loss against an extremely shorthanded Thunder team was a missed opportunity.
11. Golden State Warriors, 5-3 (+11): They've won five consecutive, some against top-level teams (Lakers, Timberwolves, Nuggets). And Stephen Curry, at 38, is playing his way into the MVP conversation.
10. Minnesota Timberwolves, 5-3 (-5): Minnesota's two victories this past week were against the Clippers and the Bucks, which is fine. But the Timberwolves will need to show that they can beat some of the league's better teams without Anthony Edwards. The saving grace will be the defense.
9. Memphis Grizzlies, 6-1 (+7): The overtime loss against the Pelicans was a setback, but Memphis remains the biggest surprise in the NBA, and Ty Jerome (28.2 points per game; seventh in the NBA) has been a revelation.
8. Portland Trail Blazers, 5-1 (+2): Losing Ja Morant (hamstring) is certainly a blow, but Portland has been doing a great job on the glass, limiting teams to a 10.0 second-chance points per game.
7. Boston Celtics, 5-2 (+1): The move to add Mitchell Robinson is paying off so far, as pairing him alongside Neemias Queta has Boston ranking third in the league in opponent points in the paint per game (39.4).
6. San Antonio Spurs, 5-2 (−): Recent competition hasn't been as robust, but the Spurs have won five consecutive and are taking care of the ball, ranking second in turnovers per game (13.4).
5. Los Angeles Lakers, 6-2 (+2): Luka Dončić is flaming opponents, averaging an absurd 38.3 points per game and orchestrating the NBA's best offense (121.9 points per 100 possessions).
4. Oklahoma City Thunder, 5-2 (-4): They've dropped two of their last three as the injuries keep piling up. The latest, to Chet Holmgren, means OKC will be without three starters for the foreseeable future.
3. Detroit Pistons, 3-1 (-1): It's rather unfair to drop a team one spot even though it won all three games this past week. This is more about how good the 76ers have been and the quality of opponents Detroit faced. But can the Pistons sustain this level with Duncan Robinson (a career-high 17.9 points per game) as their second-leading scorer?
2. Philadelphia 76ers, 7-1 (+2): Interestingly, it's the defense that has been Philly's strength. The Sixers have the league's third-best defensive rating (105.1 points allowed per 100 possessions).
1. Houston Rockets, 7-1 (+3): They own the NBA's top net rating (+12.8), Alperen Şengün is anchoring the offense and Jabari Smith Jr. is breaking out.
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Alabama RB EJ Crowell gets into the end zone past Georgia defensive back KJ Bolden for a TD at Bryant Denny Stadium on Oct. 10 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
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USA TODAY
The debut College Football Playoff rankings show the power of being unbeaten.
Miami does not have the wins to match one-loss teams such as Georgia, Indiana and Kentucky, not to mention two-loss contenders such as Texas, Alabama and Tennessee.
But being one of only three unbeaten teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision helped land the Hurricanes at No. 1 in the first rankings of the 2026 season Nov. 3, ahead of No. 2 Georgia, No. 3 Utah and No. 4 Indiana.
Miami has a very good win against No. 16 Wake Forest and two lopsided wins against a pair of opponents with a winning record in Clemson and Pitt. Only two of eight wins have come by a single-digit margin.
The Hurricanes should feel confident in their ability to hold onto the top spot by running the table in the regular season. That quest begins on Nov. 7 with a huge matchup against Notre Dame, ranked No. 11 by the committee, in what could be a playoff eliminator for the Fighting Irish.
Miami, the SEC and Ohio State lead the winners and losers from the first playoff rankings:
Winners
The SEC
While Miami took the top spot, the SEC owned the debut rankings with four teams in the top seven and nine teams overall in the Top 25. After Georgia, the list of ranked SEC teams features No. 5 Alabama, No. 6 Kentucky, No. 7 Texas, No. 10 Ole Miss, No. 13 Tennessee, No. 14 LSU, No. 18 Missouri and No. 21 South Carolina.
That the conference has just two one-loss teams heading into November is a little concerning given that no three-loss team has earned an at-large playoff berth without winning or playing for the conference championship. But having this many teams in the first rankings speaks to how the committee currently views the SEC as the strongest of the Power Four leagues, and rightfully so. Come early December, this perception should overcome playoff history to land at least one and potentially multiple three-loss teams in the bracket.
The biggest type of winner is the many two-loss teams in the SEC. No contender proves that point more than the Crimson Tide, whose rise into the top five was the most stunning single ranking on Tuesday night. Think of it this way: Tennessee dominated Alabama last month but came in eight spots behind the Tide. What buoys Alabama are wins against Kentucky and South Carolina, what was then a ranked win against Mississippi State and a very competitive loss to Georgia. Committee chair Hunter Yurachek noted that win against Mississippi State on the road as a significant plus to the Crimson Tide's résumé because it came when the Bulldogs were unbeaten and quarterback Kamario Taylor was healthy before a season-ending injury. Before Tuesday night, the thought was that Alabama had to win this weekend against LSU to stay alive in the playoff race. But these rankings say that the Tide probably can afford a close loss to the Tigers and remain in the bracket as long as they win out from there.
意料之中，No. 25波士顿州立大学是唯一一支进入排名的六人组（Group of Six）球队。能够有六人组球队进入首次前25名有些出乎意料；去年首次排名中没有六人组球队。但布朗科斯队（Broncos）凭借对俄勒冈队的接近失利以及对孟菲斯、西密歇根和弗雷斯诺州立大学的胜利，已经进入了争夺另一次锦标赛参赛资格的主导地位。虽然无法确定评委会考虑的六人组球队有哪些，但其他竞争者可能包括得克萨斯-圣安东尼奥、北达科他州立大学和孟菲斯。
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Boise State
Unsurprisingly, No. 25 Boise State was the only team from the Group of Six in the rankings. To have any Group of Six team in the debut Top 25 is a little surprising; there were none in the first rankings of last season. But the Broncos have moved into the driver's seat for another playoff appearance thanks to a narrow loss to Oregon and wins against Memphis, Western Michigan and Fresno State. While there's no way to know what Group of Six teams the committee had under consideration, other contenders include Texas-San Antonio, North Dakota State and Memphis.
While lacking the overall depth of the SEC, the Big Ten was also rewarded with six teams in the rankings. This group includes several teams on the back end of the Top 25 in No. 19 Iowa, No. 20 Southern Cal and No. 23 Oregon. (The Ducks were one of the bigger surprises in the rankings after posting three losses.) Closer to the top, the conference has the Hoosiers and unbeaten No. 8 UCLA. One thing to keep in mind this month: While this will be a bloody final month for the SEC, with multiple games on the docket between two-loss contenders, the Big Ten has fewer bubble-bursting match-ups in November and could end the regular season with more two-loss teams than the SEC.
Coming in at No. 11 is a total nightmare for Notre Dame, emphasizing the do-or-die aspect of the matchup with Miami. Clearly, a loss on Saturday should end any chance the Fighting Irish have of getting back into the play-off after missing last year's tournament with two losses. The issue is the lack of marquee wins: Wisconsin is the best note on Notre Dame's résumé, which is a serious problem. That has led to additional fallout for No. 9 BYU, which beat the Irish last month. The Cougars hoped to crack the top five largely because of that win, but a loss to Central Florida and close calls against TCU, Iowa State and Arizona State have dinged their reputation.
Had they won against Southern Cal last Saturday, the Buckeyes would've been in the top three of the rankings and in the debate for No. 1. Instead, Ohio State debuted at No. 12, behind every unbeaten or one-loss Power Four other than Wake Forest and also well behind Texas due to the Longhorns' nonconference win in September. This is rare territory for one of the dominant programs in the country: OSU hadn't been ranked lower than No. 7 at any point in the playoff rankings since being No. 10 on Nov. 18, 2018, and hadn't been this low in the debut rankings since coming in at No. 16 in the first-ever Top 25 on Oct. 26, 2014. (That team won the national championship.)
Wake Forest had an argument for being higher based on the good loss to Miami, a win against Louisville and an active four-game run of depleted ACC competition. As one example of a team ahead of the Demon Deacons, LSU has just a single win against a Power Four opponent with a winning record, blowing out Clemson in the season opener. While suggesting that they might tumble out of the rankings with a loss this month, to debut at No. 16 also says the Deacons are in the mix for an at-large spot should they run the table in November with wins against SMU and Duke and play the Hurricanes tight for a second time in the ACC championship game.
Meanwhile, No. 15 Texas Tech comes in as the lowest-ranked one-loss Power Four team. There is an argument for the Red Raiders being ranked too low: No. 17 Houston and No. 22 Arizona are very good wins, and they also scored a nice nonconference victory against Oregon State. Tech was also pushed around by Cincinnati, though, and that loss looks worse after the Bearcats were blown out by Utah. More than anything, this first ranking essentially narrows the Red Raiders' playoff path. While messiness in the SEC and Big Ten would change things, Tech might be a team that can only reach the playoff via another conference championship.
Say this for UCLA: The Bruins fired their athletic director, but they believe they've found their football coach for the foreseeable future.
What does that mean?
It means UCLA officials are in serious discussions with first-year coach Bob Chesney about a contract extension and raise.
Two individuals with direct knowledge of the situation told USA TODAY Sports on Nov. 2 that UCLA and Chesney have held productive talks about a more lucrative deal that would further cement his future with the Bruins while helping ward off potential interest from programs such as Florida State.
The Bruins remain undefeated in Chesney's first season and landed inside the top 12, at No. 8, when the first 2026 College Football Playoff rankings were released Nov. 3.
Bob Chesney's UCLA Bruins are 8-0 in his first season as their head coach. LUKE HALES/GETTY IMAGES
Big 12 officiating errors renew calls for national overhaul
Another week, another controversy, or two or three or four, involving college football officiating.
For the second time in three weeks, the Big 12 was forced to acknowledge its officials botched a ruling involving BYU. On Oct. 17, officials ended the game against Notre Dame at least one second early, with the Irish inside BYU's 10-yard line and in position to attempt a walk-off touchdown.
Most recently, in BYU's 27-20 win against Arizona State, the Cougars were awarded an early touchdown on a play that should have ended at the 2-yard line. BYU fumbled forward, and a different offensive player recovered the ball in the end zone.
The Cougars should have retained possession, but the play should not have resulted in a touchdown.
So, what can be done?
One college executive shared an idea with USA TODAY Sports that has, at minimum, been discussed, even if it remains far from implementation.
“We need a national consortium of top officials,” the executive said. “Rate them, score them and aggregate over a period of time.
"You grade the refs and assign them games and pay them accordingly."
Under that proposal, the highest-rated officials would be assigned to each week's biggest games, most often, though not exclusively, in the Big Ten or SEC.
Those two leagues, according to people who spoke with USA TODAY Sports, pay their officiating crews “substantially more” than either the ACC or Big 12.
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上周决定的另一项职业联盟冠军是WNBA，由2025年扩张球队金州女武神（Golden State Valkyries）夺得。湾区的“球迷”（Ballhalla）粉丝对这支球队爱不释手，展示了对女性体育投资的强大影响力。我们将分析大学橄榄球第9周对第10周及以后的影响，并通过大学橄榄球锦标赛进行探讨。我们还将审视NBA中出人意料的灰熊（Grizzlies），并给出NHL首月球队评分。此外，我们还有NFL第9周预测、球队统计数据、NFL、NBA和NHL各位置统计领袖和比赛成绩。您可以在[onlinestore.usatoday.com](http: / onlinestore.usatoday.com)订购此期刊，或通过访问[mysportsweekly.com](http: / mysportsweekly.com)或致电800-872-1415订阅杂志。
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Sports Weekly
in a lower-revenue town, said the conventional, external wisdom. Lose elite talent, try to backfill with leftovers. Yet these Brewers ultimately never bought into that, and in 2026 they cruised through the regular season with the best record and in the postseason kept rolling all the way to the franchise's first World Series championship. We take a look at how they achieved it and their plans to be MLB's next dynasty in a multiple-page look at the Fall Classic. The other pro league championship decided last week was in the WNBA, which was won by the Golden State Valkyries, a 2025 expansion team that "Ballhalla" fans in the Bay Area couldn't get enough of and shows the power of investing in women's sports. We take a look at how Week 9 in college football will affect Week 10 and beyond through the College Football Playoff. We examine the surprising Grizzlies in the NBA and hand out first-month team grades in the NHL. Plus we have NFL Week 9 previews and team-by-team statistics and NFL, NBA and NHL position stat leaders and box scores. You can order the edition at onlinestore.usatoday.com and subscribe to the magazine by going to mysportsweekly.com or by calling 800-872-1415.
A potent storm will move into Canada today, but wet weather will extend along the Eastern Seaboard marking the end of an unusually long dry stretch. Rain will be likely from Wisconsin to New York, while showers dampen the Great Lakes, Northeast and mid-Atlantic. A few thunderstorms will rumble from North Carolina to Florida.
A few showers will dampen Oklahoma and Washington. The rest of the nation will be dry. Temperatures will be near to just below the historical average for this time of year from the Mississippi Valley and the West.
It will remain warm from Maine to Florida. Abundant sunshine will be across the Southwest, while it remains cloudy elsewhere. It will be breezy in the Great Lakes and western Texas.
You'd need to be a fan of a certain age to remember a Kentucky season quite like this one.
Kentucky is 7-1 and ranked No. 7 in the US LBM Coaches Poll entering a rivalry game at No. 16 Tennessee. Kentucky's strength of record ranks No. 2 in the nation behind only undefeated Miami, according to ESPN metrics.
When you consider the résumé, you'd be entitled to believe Kentucky would be ranked higher if not for its name and its history.
"How do you go earn respect? Go win. That's it," Stein told USA TODAY Sports. "And, soon, people will respect this program."
Buoyed by an overtime win against LSU, Kentucky would possess a compelling College Football Playoff résumé if it wins at least three of its final four games.
Kentucky is finding out what Indiana already experienced: A state crazy about basketball can fall in love with a winning football program.
"I've never seen the city like this, in terms of cheering on the football team like they are right now," senior safety Ty Bryant told USA TODAY Sports.
Bryant is something of an authority on this subject. He's a Lexington, Kentucky, native who previously played for Mark Stoops.
"It just makes me want to continue doing what we're doing," Bryant said of the fan base's energy. "We have to continue to give them something to cheer about."
It's not that Kentucky's never tasted success. Bear Bryant once served an 11-1 season. Fran Curci's Wildcats finished 10-1 in 1977. Stoops twice delivered 10-win seasons.
Each time, the success proved fleeting. A lack of consistency became Kentucky's bugaboo. So, is this sustainable? Ask Stein or his boss that question, and you'll detect nothing but belief.
“It’s completely possible that we can have elite-level football on an annual basis here, that we are in the hunt for championships,” athletic director J Batt told USA TODAY Sports. “That is the goal. I can tell you, Will Stein wouldn’t be here, and I wouldn’t be here, if we
Bradley Chubb ranking second on the team with just 1.5 sacks and 19 pressures.
Sweat would go a long way toward improving those numbers. He has three sacks and 19 pressures while playing for a lowly Cardinals defense, and he would get a big-time boost playing across from Rousseau. Sweat had a career-best 12 sacks last season and won Super Bowl 58 with the Philadelphia Eagles, so the 29-year-old would be an ideal organizational fit for the win-now Bills.
道恩斯将是钢人队的天然选择，因为他作为短距离接球手的能力出色。根据NFL的Next Gen Stats，他每次路线跑动平均获得3.2码的开球空间，在本赛季73名有资格的接球手中排名第19。这位身高5英尺9英寸、体重171磅的球员能够快速打开空间，这与亚伦·罗杰斯当前的进攻风格相契合，后者依赖短距离传球来保持匹兹堡进攻的节奏。
钢人队和科尔特队在赛季前已经交易了皮特曼，因此完成道恩斯交易的补偿可能不会太难。
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Pittsburgh Steelers trade target Indianapolis Colts WR Josh Downs
The Steelers have been better than expected on offense this season, but they could use extra depth at receiver. Both Michael Pittman Jr. and Roman Wilson are on injured reserve, which has left the Steelers thin behind DK Metcalf and Germie Bernard.
Downs would be a natural fit for the Steelers given his skills as a slot separator. He is averaging 3.2 yards of separation per route run, according to the NFL's Next Gen Stats, which ranks 19th among 73 qualified receivers this season. The 5-foot-9, 171-pounder's ability to get open quickly should mesh well with Aaron Rodgers' current playing style, which relies heavily on the short passing game to keep Pittsburgh's offense on schedule.
The Steelers and Colts already swung a trade involving Pittman during the off-season, so it might not be too difficult for them to agree on compensation to complete a Downs trade.
The Jaguars have sported the NFL's best run defense during the 2026 season, but they have struggled to consistently contain opposing passing attacks. They enter Week 9 having allowed the fourth-most passing yards per game (253.9) and could stand to add some talent to their secondary for that reason.
Baker would be a massive upgrade for Jacksonville's safety room. The didn't think that was a real possibility."
Big Blue Nation is buying in. Kentucky's game against Florida in two weeks will mark a fourth consecutive sellout for an SEC home game. Social media engagement is “through the moon,” Batt said, and Kentucky has already generated thousands of new season-ticket sales for next season. Those new sales include existing season-ticket holders adding more seats, past season-ticket holders returning to the fold, or fans putting in for season tickets for the first time.
It adds to the story, too, that Kentucky is coached by one of its own, a 37-year-old wunderkind who grew up watching Hal Mumme's Air Raid.
Will Stein's confidence evident 'from a mile away'
The day Bryant met Stein, one unmistakable trait jumped out about Kentucky's new coach.
“I seen he was a confident guy from a mile away,” Bryant said.
You can't lack for moxie when you're coaching a program that ranks 14th out of 16 SEC teams in all-time winning percentage.
History matters less than ever in this era – ask Indiana – but Stein nonetheless knows the history.
Stein's dad played for Kentucky, and he grew up attending games. Stein's childhood memories are painted with scenes of tailgates and time spent around his dad's former teammates at the K House, Kentucky's game-day hub for its past athletes.
Stein attended the Bluegrass Miracle game in 2002, when Nick Saban's LSU Tigers won on a Hail Mary. He rushed the field as a fan in 2007, when Kentucky stunned No. 1 LSU and Les Miles in triple-overtime. LSU went on to win the national championship that season.
That next year, after graduating from Trinity High School in Louisville, Stein became a walk-on quarterback at Louisville, where he started five games throughout his career.
Playing for UK would've been a dream, but the opportunity didn't come. Stein says he harbors no ill will about that.
At Louisville, Stein finished his career playing for Charlie Strong, for whom he'd later work at Texas.
"It all brought me back here to Kentucky, where I dreamt of playing, and
Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert, catching a pass that he'd run in for a TD on Sept. 13, would be a good catch for a division leader like the 49ers.
ERIC HARTLINE/IMAGN IMAGES VIA REUTERS
perennial Pro Bowler is undersized at 5-foot-10, 195 pounds, but he has long been a savvy playmaker with excellent instincts and versatility. This season, he has generated 51 tackles, a career-high 3.5 sacks and an interception despite playing for a leaky Cardinals stop unit.
The only question is about whether the Cardinals will trade Baker, who has been with the team for a decade. But given that Baker is 30 and the Cardinals don't appear to be close to contention, the franchise could part with him if they get a significant enough offer.
Denver Broncos trade target Philadelphia Eagles TE Dallas Goedert
The Broncos have one of the NFL's deepest rosters, so they don't have many glaring needs. They could swing big for an upgrade at running back, like Jonathan Taylor, but if they can't get him, adding a higher-end tight end to their room would be a solid move.
Evan Engram hasn't developed into the threat many expected he would when he signed with the Broncos before the 2025 season. He, Nate Adkins and Adam Trautman have combined for just 23 catches and 220 yards this season – albeit with four touchdowns – so adding a player like Goedert, who has 26 catches for 258 yards and two touchdowns in six games on his own, could go a long way toward giving Bo Nix another security blanket.
The Eagles have long been rumored to be considering trading Goedert, so obviously it's a dream come true to be the head coach here," Stein said.
Stein's Kentucky roots, his childhood fandom, and his K House memories make for more than a good footnote to this story. Batt considers the coach's roots a legitimate advantage.
“In a time when the window of time you’re afforded to build credibility is compressed, authenticity of leadership is even more important,” Batt said. “Will’s connections to the University of Kentucky, connections to the Commonwealth having grown up here, and just who he is, is very authentic.”
Stein's armed with another quality particularly useful to this era: This guy knows quarterbacks.
Stein is good with QBs. Kenny Minchey is his latest
As Stein's career took off on a meteoric rise these past few years, he proved himself as an ace QB developer.
What's his secret sauce?
“We don’t just plug a person into the system and hope it works,” Stein said. “We literally mold our system to the player that we have.”
As Texas-San Antonio's offensive coordinator, he leaned into Frank Harris' dual-threat abilities and incorporated a dose of quarterback draws and zone-read plays.
At Oregon, Stein embraced the empty-set formations quarterback Bo Nix favored.
The next year, he served a dose of tempo offense and run-pass option plays suited to Dillon Gabriel. Next came Dante Moore, who was something of a blend of Nix and Gabriel.
At Kentucky, Stein trusts Kenny Minchey's acumen.
“We’re able to put more on him at the line of scrimmage to get us into the best plays possible,” Stein said.
Minchey's wits, plus Stein's belief in his quarterback, and a dash of moxie resulted in Kentucky beating LSU at home, a bit of a throwback to that 2007 game Stein attended as a teenager.
Awww snap! Kentucky is winning with 2-point conversions
Like most new coaches, Stein leaned into the transfer portal before his first season. His haul ranked among the nation's top-10 transfer classes, according to 247Sports.
Among the newcomers: Minchey,
offloading the 31-year-old in the midst of what looks like a lost season would be sensible. It would also give them a chance to see how second-round rookie Eli Stowers looks in an expanded role.
New York Giants trade target Tennessee Titans RB Tony Pollard
The Giants are thin at the running back position after releasing Najee Harris and losing Tyrone Tracy Jr. to a hamstring injury. Backfield leader Cam Skattebo came out of the team's Week 7 game with a mild hamstring injury of his own, and John Harbaugh also benched the second-year back earlier in the season as he dealt with fumbling issues.
All of that could lead the Giants to target a reliable veteran at running back. Could that be Jonathan Taylor? Surely, but if the team is confident in Skattebo being its longer-term starter, general manager Joe Schoen may pursue more of a short-term stopgap who can split the workload with the Arizona State product.
Pollard is on pace to log his fifth consecutive 1,000-yard season and has posted a combined 236 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns over his last two games. The 29-year-old will be a free agent after the season, so it wouldn't likely cost too much to pry him away from the 1-6 Titans.
尽管明尼苏达队本赛季取得了6胜1负的战绩，但球队的进攻表现却乏善可陈。特别是维京人队的阿伦·琼斯和乔丹·梅森领衔的跑攻组合，本赛季在NFL Next Gen Stats的评估中排名第27位，每次传球的进攻效率值（rushing EPA）极低。在第8周对阵底特律雄狮队时，两人表现并不出色，而琼斯还在养伤（膝伤），因此维京人队亟需在后卫阵容中加入一名高水平的武器。
布莱克·托普迈耶（Blake Toppmeyer）是《今日美国》网络的全国大学足球专栏作家。听听他的播客《College Football Unfiltered》。发邮件给他：BToppmeyer@gannett.com，并关注他在X上的账号 @btoppmeyer。
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Minnesota Vikings trade target Indianapolis Colts RB Jonathan Taylor
Taylor will have many suitors on the open market, but no team could use him more than the Vikings.
Minnesota's offense has sputtered this season despite the team's 6-1 record. Notably, the Vikings' Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason-led running game ranks 27th in rushing EPA per play this season, per the NFL's Next Gen Stats. Neither looked particularly sharp against the Detroit Lions in Week 8, and with Jones nursing a nagging knee injury, it would behoove the Vikings to add a high-caliber weapon to their backfield.
Taylor wouldn't just be an instant upgrade for the Vikings. He would also help give Kevin O'Connell's offense a much-needed identity. Minnesota could focus on becoming a ground-and-pound offense that would pair very well with the team's aggressive, attacking-style defense.
who'd been Notre Dame's blue-chip backup.
Throughout Stoops' tenure, Kentucky typically played tough defense, but it ached for better quarterback play. Insert Stein and Minchey, and consider the problem remedied.
Bryant learned two things about Minchey before the season started: He's very smart, and he knows how to improvise.
"The first time I realized, ‘We got something special with this one’ was in the spring," Bryant said. "I came on a blitz off the edge. He changed his arm angle and flicked it out there for a completed pass. I was like, ‘OK, he’s legit.’"
Fast-forward several months, and Stein put the LSU game in Minchey's hands. Stein swiftly held up two fingers after Kentucky scored in overtime. Forget the extra point. He wanted a 2-point conversion and a walk-off win.
Kentucky already had beaten South Carolina when Minchey fired a completion for a 2-point walk-off. What did Bryant think when he learned his coach wanted to run it back with another 2-point walk-off against LSU?
“Awww snap!” Bryant said of his reaction. “In the moment, my heart was beating out of my chest.”
Minchey's got this, so breathe easy.
At the line of scrimmage, Minchey saw LSU's defense aligned with an empty box as the Tigers scrambled to line up against Kentucky's five-wide set. The play wasn't designed to be a quarterback run, but Minchey improvised, kept the ball himself, and ran into the end zone untouched.
Many of Stoops' best wins occurred on the road. So, Kentucky fans welcomed an overdue cathartic moment at Kroger Field.
Just as they did in 2007, fans stormed the field.
“It was just a collective moment of happiness that really this fan base hasn’t had since COVID, in either football or basketball,” said Jones, the radio entrepreneur who’s built a big following in the Bluegrass State.
"I used to always say: No fan base has given more and gotten less than UK football. It's nice to see people get to celebrate some success."
Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network's senior national college football columnist. Listen to his podcast, "College Football Unfiltered." Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on X @btoppmeyer
Carolina Panthers trade target Philadelphia Eagles CB Riq Woolen
The Panthers have unsurprisingly struggled to defend the pass since their top two cornerbacks, Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson, were placed on injured reserve due to injuries.
Carolina will need to shore up its depth at the position to have a chance to win the wide-open NFC South, so targeting Woolen would be sensible.
Woolen's first season with the Eagles hasn't gone as either party would have hoped, as the 27-year-old has surrendered a career-worst 116.1 passer rating, per Pro Football Focus.
Still, the 6-foot-4, 205-pound cornerback is a freak athlete and spent four years as part of a productive Seattle Seahawks secondary, so there's hope a change of scenery could allow him to bounce back.
The Panthers could also look to target an offensive tackle on the trade market should a starting-caliber player end up on the block. However, that seems unlikely to happen given the dearth of high-end talent at the position league-wide.
San Francisco 49ers trade target Jacksonville Jaguars WR Brian Thomas Jr.
The 49ers have dealt with a plethora of injuries at receiver this season with players like Deebo Samuel, Ricky Pear-sall and De'Zhaun Stribling all missing extended time.
Mike Evans has largely been up to the task of carrying San Francisco's receiver room, but he was unable to play in the 49ers' lone loss of the season, and it showed in the passing game.
The 49ers need to add healthy depth to their receiver room if only to ensure their offense isn't overly reliant on Evans to carry it.
Targeting someone like Josh Downs could make sense, but if John Lynch wants to swing for the fences, Thomas could be worth chasing.
Thomas has seemingly fallen out of favor in Jacksonville and has not caught more than three passes in a game this season.
Still, Thomas is just two years removed from a rookie campaign when he posted 87 catches, 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns, so maybe a change of scenery would serve him well.
Miami duo's chance for Heisman moment
Austin Curtright
USA TODAY NETWORK
Who's going to have their Heisman Trophy moment?
College football's slate of games in Week 10 is loaded with high-tier ranked games, including No. 1 Miami vs. No. 6 Notre Dame, a matchup with multiple contenders for college football's most prestigious individual award.
The race feels wide open with four weeks left in the regular season. Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith, a frontrunner for several weeks, now appears in jeopardy of winning the award due to the Buckeyes' offensive struggles without starting quarterback Julian Sayin.
Smith was peppered with targets in Ohio State's 30-18 upset loss to Southern Cal in Week 9, but the struggles of true freshman quarterback Luke Fahey could impact Smith's Heisman candidacy.
Darian Mensah, Malachi Toney and CJ Carr could all vault up the Heisman power rankings with strong performances in one of the biggest college football games of the season.
Here's a look at USA TODAY's weekly Heisman Trophy power rankings after Week 9 of the college football season.
Despite Ohio State's offensive struggles, Smith remains the front runner – for now. He caught 10 passes for 83 yards with a touchdown in the Buckeyes' loss to USC, also breaking the Big Ten record for all-time receiving touchdowns with his 40th.
The 6-foot-4 top-tier NFL prospect is easily one of the best players in college football. If his quarterback can keep getting him the ball at a decent rate – and if Ohio State doesn't completely fall off the tracks – his Heisman candidacy should remain strong.
Smith still ranks second nationally with 1,067 receiving yards this season.
Mensah faces his first test since transferring to Miami. A huge performance in a win over Notre Dame in
Receiver Malachi Toney (1) and Miami avoided an upset by North Carolina in Week 9.
BOB DONNAN/IMAGN IMAGES VIA REUTERS
Week 10, with “College GameDay” in town, could be the last obstacle he has to overcome before becoming the Heisman front-runner.
Mensah ranks eighth nationally with 2,425 passing yards, tied for first nationally with 25 passing touchdowns and tied for second nationally with only one interception.
He also boasts the nation's best QBR at 90.3 this season.
The former Tulane and Duke quarterback is completing 80.7% of his passes this season and Mensah has been dominant in every game against lesser opponents.
It's time to see if he can do it against a team of Notre Dame's stature.
Mensah and Toney have been the best quarterback-receiver duo in college football this season.
As a result, they are both vying for the Heisman in 2026.
Toney has 73 receptions for 1,027 yards and 13 touchdowns this season but has been especially dominant in Miami's last three wins against Florida State, Pitt and North Carolina. He has a ridiculous 34 catches for 433 yards with seven touchdowns during his recent stretch.
If Toney goes ballistic against Notre Dame, maybe it's him that jumps to the top of the Heisman race, not his quarterback.
4. Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss (5)
Ole Miss and Trinidad Chambliss bounced back in a huge way after their loss to Texas in Week 8. Chambliss had a slow start but still completed 22 of 34 passes for 263 yards with two touchdowns to an interception in the win, also rushing seven times for 65 yards with another score.
Chambliss has a chance for another Heisman moment if the Rebels can take down No. 2 Georgia at home in Week 10.
Mensah and Toney have been the best quarterback-receiver duo in college football this season.
As a result, they are both vying for the Heisman in 2026.
Toney has 73 receptions for 1,027 yards and 13 touchdowns this season but has been especially dominant in Miami's last three wins against Florida State, Pitt and North Carolina. He has a ridiculous 34 catches for 433 yards with seven touchdowns during his recent stretch.
If Toney goes ballistic against Notre Dame, maybe it's him that jumps to the top of the Heisman race, not his quarterback.
4. Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss (5)
Ole Miss and Trinidad Chambliss bounced back in a huge way after their loss to Texas in Week 8. Chambliss had a slow start but still completed 22 of 34 passes for 263 yards with two touchdowns to an interception in the win, also rushing seven times for 65 yards with another score.
Chambliss has a chance for another Heisman moment if the Rebels can take down No. 2 Georgia at home in Week 10.
Sam Leavitt is quietly playing the best football of his career the last two weeks, and is getting healthy for LSU, which is still vying for a berth in the SEC championship game.
Leavitt ranks fourth nationally in QBR at 85.3 and is coming off back-to-back performances with 300 or more total yards with eight total touchdowns and no turnovers. He could earn his biggest win of the season if he and the Tigers defeat Alabama on Nov. 7.
CJ Carr was solid enough in Notre Dame's 35-13 win over Navy in Week 9, as he completed 19 of 29 passes for 210 yards with two touchdowns in the win.
Carr and the Fighting Irish only led 14-13 at halftime, which sparked questions. Still, he's having an efficient season for one of college football's top brands and is a huge performance against Miami away from vaulting back into the elite tier of contenders.
Like Carr, Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton's Heisman status falls more into the category of being a solid quarterback on a national championship contender than one lighting up scoreboards every week.
Stockton is one of college football's best at operating within an offense, although he didn't do much in Georgia's 27-8 win over Florida in Week 9: The second-year starter completed 13 of 23 passes for 101 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions, while rushing 12 times for 45 yards.
He makes the plays needed to win, and there's something to be said for that trait.
Drew Mestemaker is likely upset with his defense after Oklahoma State's 51-49 loss to Iowa State in Week 9. The potential first quarterback off the board in the 2027 NFL draft passed for 323 yards with five touchdowns in the loss, as the Cowboys defense was torched for 521 total yards.
OSU now has two conference losses, which puts a huge dent in its Big 12 championship chances. It'll be tough for Mestemaker to win the Heisman if OSU keeps losing.
Jesse Legree and Oregon State were upset by Fresno State in Week 9, falling 38-22 in the Pac-12 matchup.
Degree had his worst game of his college career, although it says something about how prolific he has been this season given he still had seven receptions for 70 yards in the loss. The true freshman still leads college football with 1,110 receiving yards and 14 receiving touchdowns this season.
He's still on the radar, but his chances of making it to New York take a hit after the loss.
It's time to start taking Wake Forest seriously, including Gio Lopez. The left-handed quarterback has been outstanding for the Demon Deacons, with 2,176 passing yards and 18 touchdowns to an interception this season. His 84.4 QBR ranks sixth nationally, and he has 317 rushing yards with six scores.
Lopez is a good story, too. He struggled at times last season at North Carolina and was even benched for the ACC bottom-feeder last season. Now, Lopez is near the top of the conference and could push for Heisman contention if Wake Forest keeps winning.
The annual CFDA Fashion Awards brought out the A-list stars and all the gold. Page 2D
His “Back to the Beginning” documentary comes alive again on screen. Page 4D
LIFELINE
DIA DIPASUPIL/GETTY IMAGES FILE
MAKING WAVES
ANGELINA JOLIE, DAUGHTER
Another one of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's children no longer uses their father's surname. Their youngest daughter, an aspiring artist, was granted her petition to change her name from Vivienne Marcheline Jolie-Pitt to Vivienne Marcheline Jolie, according to a Los Angeles Superior Court filing obtained by USA TODAY on Nov. 2. She moved to make the change legal a little more than a week after she turned 18 on July 12, following in the footsteps of three of her older siblings. The notification of her name change request was published, as legally required in California, several times in the Los Angeles Daily Journal throughout July and August.
Singer-musician Art Garfunkel turns 85. TV personality-businesswoman Kris Jenner, 71. Actor Nestor Serrano, 71. Actor-comedian Mo Gaffney, 68. Actor Robert Patrick, 68.
Singer-musician Bryan Adams, 67.
Actor Tilda Swinton, 66. Actor Tatum O'Neal, 63. Actor Famke Janssen, 62.
Singer-saxophonist Angelo Moore (Fishbone), 61. Actor Judy Reyes, 59.
Actor Sam Rockwell, 58. Actor Seth Gilliam, 58. Guitarist-keyboardist Jonny Greenwood (Radiohead), 55.
Actor Luke Hemsworth, 46. Actor Annet Mahendru, 41. Singer BoA, 40.
Aries (March 21-April 19). Where do others end and you begin? Emotional lines blur, problematically, as the moon and Neptune oppose!
Taurus (April 20-May 20). Reading into a sign? That's fine, as long as you know that prediction is no substitute for practice.
Gemini (May 21-June 21). Confused by a friend's behavior? As the moon and Neptune clash, try not to read too much into it!
Cancer (June 22-July 22). Discouraged by your work? You lack direction as the moon and Neptune oppose, but all isn't lost!
Leo (July 23-Aug. 22). Tempted to gossip? Skip the impulse and spare yourself a headache as the moon and Neptune oppose!
Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Considering giving someone a pass? You might rethink that impulse as the moon and Neptune oppose.
Libra (Sept.23-Oct. 23). Giving your all to help a partner? As the moon and Neptune oppose, ask why you think this person needs “saving”.
Scorpio (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Feeling off-balance? Don't check out! Check IN with your intuition as the moon and Neptune oppose.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Projecting onto a friend? Avoid reading into something they've said or haven't said – as the moon and Neptune clash!
\- as the moon and Neptune clash!
Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Giving off the wrong impression? Avoid bringing a personal issue into your professional sphere today.
Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). What are you trying to communicate? You have lots of ideas, but no real focus as the moon and Neptune oppose.
Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20). Do you trust them? An ally's suspicious behavior gives you pause as the moon and Neptune oppose.
STREAMING
Jaalen Best says the audition process for “The Greatest” lasted about a year. PROVIDED BY BROOKE PALMER/PRIME
'Greatest' champions Ali outside of the ring
Erin Jensen USA TODAY
How does one learn to “float like a butterfly” and “sting like a bee,” especially when they’ve never boxed before? That was the challenge that lay ahead for newcomer Jaalen Best. ● Best, who made his television debut in a role credited simply as “Hot Guy” for “American Horror Stories” in 2022, stars as legendary boxer Muhammad Ali in Prime Video’s “The Greatest” (streaming now). Season 1 opens with Ali winning gold at Rome’s Summer Olympics in 1960 and ends with Ali defeating Sonny Liston (Amin Joseph) for the heavyweight belt on Feb. 25, 1964. In the eight episodes between, it sheds light on the formative bonds with his parents, Cassius Clay Sr. (Omari Hardwick) and Odessa “Bird” Clay (Dana Gourrier), and his younger brother Rudy (Kai Parham). The series also traces the start of his interest in Islam and his early days of his friendship with Malcolm X (Michael Ealy).
The audition process for the biographical series, which is the first blessed by Ali's family, stretched "pretty much a year," 28-year-old Best tells USA TODAY.
Without any experience in the ring, “that audition process was my first time training and learning how to develop that foundation,” he says.
Series creator Ben Watkins, a “lifelong fan” of the boxer with 56 victories (37 by knockout) and only five losses to his name, says he “didn’t want to do the greatest hits” and felt it was important to remind viewers that Ali, born Cassius Clay Jr., “didn’t just come out into the world a fully formed legend.”
In fact, the odds were heavily against Ali before the Liston battle.
“Before the fight, [Ali] had a panic attack,” Watkins explains. But when it was time to fight, “he had somehow summoned an inner resolve where he walked in there and felt impervious, and we get to show
See THE GREATEST, Page 2D
Sonny Liston pushes Cassius Clay, later Muhammad Ali to the ropes during the heavyweight title fight that lasted seven rounds. Clay beat Liston by TKO at the Miami Beach Convention Hall on Feb. 25, 1964 in Miami Beach, Florida.
PROVIDED BY ALLSPORT/HULTON ARCHIVE VIA GETTY IMAGES
Andy Serkis gets back into Gollum in a different way
Clare Mulroy
USA TODAY
The first time Andy Serkis met Gollum, he was a schoolboy reading J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Hobbit" on the bus.
He remembers feeling marveled by the character and the vivid descriptions of the way he spoke. He remembers feeling swept into Middle-earth. By the time Serkis played him in Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings movies, he knew the creature inside and out.
But in his latest project, 62-year-old Serkis and Gollum aren't on great terms.
"My Pressures" (out now from Mariner) is clever in name and format, a memoir written with some fictional, fantastical flair. Rather than a chronological life retelling, "My Pressures" puts Serkis face-to-face in a tense roundtable with his iconic characters, including Caesar from "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" and Ulysses Klaue from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Serkis opens by voicing his anxieties. His manager wants him to write a memoir, but will anyone care? Does anyone want to hear about anything more than Gollum?
“Whingeing and whining. Who cares about him?” Gollum tells Serkis in a fictional conversation. Just 50 pages in, he already is verbally abusing Serkis. By the end, he’s trying to strangle him: “No one cares about its boring life. No one cares about its other characters, does they?”
Andy Serkis' memoir "My Pressures" mixes fictional techniques. NATHANIAL GARY/USA TODAY
The unique format was the only way he could fathom writing about his life, Serkis says, calling USA TODAY mid-journey home from New Zealand where he was filming “The Hunt for Gollum,” a new Lord of the Rings film scheduled for a December 2027 release. He revisits his early career, relationships and growing up between England and Baghdad, but also picks up a fictitious, magic script featuring a mediation among him and his characters.
“Time is a big theme in the book. And it’s like, why would I spend the time that I’ve got left on this planet reliving a life that I’ve already lived?” he says. “If there was a way of telling a version of my story, it would probably be best if it was seen through the eyes of the characters that I’ve played, because they define a lot of my life. So then it became an interesting proposition … it doesn’t just have to be stories of being on set and ramblings of an older actor.”
This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.
Question: Which characters were you eager to bring back and “meet” and which did you dread having a fictional conversation with?
Answer: Oh, that's a good question. I suppose, obviously, everyone associates me perhaps most with Gollum. I wanted to bring Gollum back, but sort of as an antagonist and as someone I could rub up against. But the character I think I really wanted to give voice to was the one that I really loved the most, which was Caesar. I really do miss him as a character and he sort of became the voice of reason and compassion and sanity in a kind of crazy world.
The character I suppose I least wanted to go back into was a character
Demi, Pamela, Hailey shine as A-list event takes on golden hue
Anika Reed
USA TODAY
NEW YORK – It was a gold mine of stars – literally.
Dripping in golden gems, brocade, sequins and lamé, celebrities from Zoë Kravitz to Hailey Bieber and Rosé and more were on hand at the CFDA Fashion Awards in New York City to celebrate the gold standard of the fashion industry Monday, Nov. 2, at the American Museum of Natural History.
Host Keke Palmer also glittered in a vintage Bob Mackie gown once worn by Raquel Welch on the red carpet before taking the stage for the event, often called the Oscars of American fashion, which brought together everyone from Pamela Anderson and Demi Moore to Matt Damon, Naomi Osaka and Adriana Lima on the Upper West Side.
The night before the midterm elections, fashion's biggest names and its behind-the-scenes talent found out the results of their votes for the best names in design.
Jamaican-American designer Rachel Scott, who won one of the night's top prizes, womenswear designer of the year, for her work at her brand Diotima, used her acceptance speech to issue a call to action ahead of Election Day.
"It's very unusual that someone like me can stand in a space like this, and in a world where independent and marginalized voices are systematically quieted, I feel extremely lucky and very, very responsible," Scott said. "And we have a lot more work to do, starting tomorrow morning.
What is the CFDA Fashion Awards? One of fashion's biggest nights
But before Election Day, the fashionable attendees elected to have a good time in a diverse room of skills, from models and designers to business owners and pattern makers to musicians, Oscar winners, Olympians and Victoria's Secret Angels. The stars' polka dots, feathers and fur rivaled that of the taxidermy animals in glass casings throughout the night at the museum.
Image architect Law Roach sauntered by Moore and Emmy Rossum, deep in conversation, as Damon and his daughter Isabella took their seats early on. Shaboozey works the room all night, schmoozing alongside Becky G at the cocktail hour before the festivities kicked off and smiling for the cameras next to Donatella Versace. Megan Thee Stallion hugged Coi Leray and sat alongside Lila Moss and Coco Jones, later snapping a big group selfie with Palmer, Chloe Bailey, Brandy, Monica, Leray and Jones.
Julia Fox, Monica and Brandy made a fashionable entrance after the first speech by CFDA chairman Thom Browne, while Lola Tung, Elle Fanning and Adriana Lima also sneaked in as attendees tucked into dinner: a festive chicken pot pie topped with puff pastry shaped like animals, including butterflies, bears and whale tails.
This marks the first CFDA Fashion Awards since the group's longtime president and CEO Steven Kolb stepped down in September. The abrupt end to Kolb's tenure came after he was seen grabbing and restraining PETA protesters off the runway at the COS show during New York Fashion Week. He issued a statement before announcing his resignation after 20 years heading the CFDA, days after the videos of him circulated across social media.
Hailey Bieber, left, and Rosé attend the 2026 CFDA Fashion Awards on Nov. 2 in New York City.
PROVIDED BY MATTEO PRANDONI/BFA.COM
Designers from the organization's board, including Thom Browne, Tory Burch, Ralph Lauren and Michael Kors, were in attendance (and celebrated) Monday night.
Damon joined Denim Tears founder Tremaine Emory to present the menswear designer award to Lauren, 87, who was on hand to receive an ovation. Burch accepted the positive change honor, while Instagram's fashion partnerships leader and former Teen Vogue and Lucky magazine editor Eva Chen earned the media award.
Rappers Future and Travis Scott slipped out early before the final awards of the night, which went to designer Susan Cianciolo (the Isabel Toledo Board of Directors Tribute), photographer duo Inez and Vinoodh (the Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award) and Linda Fargo (the Founder's Award in Honor of Eleanor Lambert).
Where previous years have had notable celebs such as A\$AP Rocky or Naomi Campbell receiving the Fashion Icon honor, this year the title went to architect Peter Marino, who is the force behind designing spaces and boutiques for Armani, Calvin Klein, Chanel, Dior, Louis Vuitton and Barneys New York.
Jewelry designer Ana Khouri surprised with the accessory designer win, and the Google Shopping emerging designer of the year honor went to newcomer Colleen Allen.
Bieber, Kravitz and Rosé sparkled as a trio to present the international designer of the year award to Anthony Vaccarello, who recently stepped down from Saint Laurent after 10 years as creative director.
Moore also took to the stage to present Gap Inc. and creative director Zac Posen with the Innovation Award Presented by Amazon Fashion, recalling sharing an iconic brand moment with her daughter.
"In 1990, I stood in front of a camera for Gap in a cropped denim jacket. And then years later, my daughter Rumer re-created that very same look for Gap. I love that something so simple as a denim jacket could become this beautiful little thread between us, connecting generations," Moore said.
called Ian Brady (from “Longford”) who was a serial killer. That was a very dark character to have to climb into in the first place.
It gets pretty physical. I mean, Gollum tries to kill you.
A lot of the characters that I've played are very physical characters, so I wanted there to be this constant wrangling between them, that they were vying for supremacy.
And having me caught in the middle of this sort of discussion about how they were going to voice Andy Serkis. Who was going to own me?
Going back in time and reflecting on your childhood and early career, what foreshadowed the character actor you'd one day become?
As an actor, you spend so much time constructing a backstory, constructing a life for a character. I had to almost treat it as doing that for myself in a way, and kind of go back and go, well, what are the salient points here? What are the touchstone moments? What are the sliding doors moments?
I do remember it clearly (when I was 5 years old), our neighbors, these two elderly ladies, who had this dog, Shandy, and me asking them to take me for a walk on a lead with their dog. I can't quite believe I did that, but I did.
Seeing a young Andy Serkis walking around your neighborhood on all fours – I can imagine that's someone's dinner party story.
I'm sure there are people out there that witnessed that and thought, what a little strange boy. I don't know if I mentioned this ... it was about the doggy treats, because they gave these little chocolate buttons to their dog, Shandy, after the walk. And I think that was probably part of what I was after, really.
Your character research has since turned more sophisticated, even if it was just frightening hikers while you practiced your Gollum in New Zealand caves. But you've also observed gorillas in Rwanda and learned knife techniques from chefs. Is there anything you're dying to research that you haven't gotten to yet?
I've never really played a political character. I've never really played someone whose job it is to be in government.
I would love to spend time in government or in a particular party being around a table, a cabinet. Being around government and really, really spending a lot of time in that world, I think, would be fascinating.
With so much preparation into the physical, emotional and mental state of these characters, do you ever have a hard time getting out of their heads?
I've always believed and I still do believe that you're always altered by the characters that you played as an actor, that you learn something either about yourself or the world that changes your worldview. Sometimes decompressing from a character can take a long time.
I think you are kind of chemically changed in some way. You are tricking your body and your mind and your head and your psyche to fit this other being. I have to say, as I've got older and I've got more responsibilities and I'm doing other things I'm able to drop out of it much quicker because you have to.
But I still believe that you don't entirely shed them, that you are sort of a receptacle for all of these different ideologies and ways of thinking and ways of being and the most random things will come back years later and actually affect another character that you don't like.
Can you share an example?
The character of DogBoy (in April de Angelis' stage play "Hush"), which really was a very close cousin of Gollum. He was one of the characters that I did a huge deep dive into and so kind of the schizophrenic nature of that character that I played on stage really did inform the early stages of getting back into thinking about how we would work on Gollum.
You're fresh off of filming "The Hunt for Gollum." What was it like getting back into him?
He's probably a character that will never, ever leave me and has never left me over the course of the last 26 years or whatever. That's certainly what I wanted to bring out in the book, that there are some characters that will keep returning, and I don't suspect that Gollum will ever leave me, quite frankly.
But obviously this was a different journey. This was not just playing that character, but also directing the movie. So it was a huge number.
People always want you to talk about Gollum. You hint at this a few times in the book. Your characters say it to you, your wife says it to you. You have this funny anecdote where a cab driver says he feels bad that people will only ever know you for Gollum. How does that make you feel?
I adore that character, obviously, you know, he's been a huge part of my life and so it's a love-hate relationship.
He's a huge source of rediscovery, actually. That's what's been so interesting. He's a huge source of kind of going back in and thinking you know what you're doing and then actually finding something new and fresh.
Without going into it, because I don't want to talk too much about “The Hunt for Gollum” because that'll be next year, but it has been really exciting this time around. It's really exciting to go back in and revisit him in more depth. I do love and hate him.
You write that you initially felt othered on the “Lord of the Rings” set because you were motion capture acting. These types of performances are historically left out of award runs. Where do you feel we are about it now?
What I love about performance capture is the fact that any actor can play anything and you are driving that character, you're physically driving that character. You've created the emotional center of the character. There's no doubt that there are a whole team of artists who also work on that character. But then filmmaking is a collaborative endeavor, and any actor in any film isn't just their performance, it's the way that they're lit, it's the way that they're costumed. It's the way that they're made up with makeup.
If you have prosthetic makeup and you look entirely different somehow, that's still acting, but performance capture still isn't accepted as acting. My beef is that people don't accept performance capture as acting. I mean, it's a basic thing. It couldn't be a more pure form of acting.
So it is still sort of discriminated against. There is definitely a greater understanding of it, but it's still not... I mean, it's a simple request. It's acting. That's all it is.
That's all I wish – not it be anything special or require special awards or it require special treatment. I just want actors on set, whether you're wearing a motion capture suit or a costume, to be treated exactly the same because we are doing exactly the same job.
"A lot of people don't even know that he was that nervous, a 22-year-old kid about to fight someone that is indestructible, and there were literally journalists who thought he might die in that fight."
To get into fighting shape, Best followed a “very restricted” diet, studying Ali’s technique in his fights and analyzing interviews to perfect his voice and mannerisms. He also worked with boxing trainer Rob Salley.
"It was repetition after repetition for a year-and-a-half, [a] long process for me," says Best.
"It was just nice when we [were] able to start training together in Toronto, learning choreography. And even there, we would continue to grow and learn."
While filming in Toronto, Best says he and onscreen foe Joseph would watch fight footage. “We had to mimic exactly what we’d seen, in the actual fights, in real life,” Best says.
"He was a well-tuned Ferrari," Joseph, 46, recalls of his costar. "I just knew I needed to be in fighter shape. I needed to stay healthy. I needed not to hit the Ferrari and mess up our lead... But he was the one, he always was that racehorse that I was always trying to be as good as."
——由大卫·L·霍伊特（David L. Hoyt）和罗素·L·霍伊特（Russell L. Hoyt）撰写
📄 Original Section
Lonnie Ali and ‘game-changing’ involvement in ‘The Greatest’
Yolanda “Lonnie” Ali, who was married to Muhammad Ali from 1986 until his death from septic shock at age 74 in 2016, lends her expertise an executive producer on the series. She believes Best’s efforts and portrayal would be pleasing to her late husband.
"He would be so proud of Jaalen as a young actor, a young man, and he would tell him he nailed it," Lonnie Ali says, before joking, "He would still tell him, 'You're not as pretty as me.'
Lonnie Ali's participation in the series was "game-changing," Watkins says.
Lonnie and Muhammad Ali greet the press in Washington, DC in 2001.
MIKE THEILER/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES
Though Lonnie Ali and Muhammad Ali wed in 1986, when she was 29, they knew each other much longer.
A picture by Steve Schapiro in 1963 shows Muhammad Ali, then 21, entertaining the local children at his parents' house in Louisville.
In the image, Lonnie Ali, then 6, locks eyes with the neighborhood hero. Their mothers also were friends.
“Lonnie herself was there many times on set,” Gourrier, 47, says, “and she would always impart knowledge, always impart stories.
"She would always talk about each of [the family members] individually and collectively as a family, and she really was a wealth of information.
"It's like our own personal Clay family encyclopedia right there on set with us."
Lonnie Ali's reactions also provided Best with a sense of reassurance, which helped calm his nerves as a young actor on set.
He recalls seeing her at the monitors after a take, “and she’s smiling or she’s crying or she’s just laughing because she’s getting to truly experience young Cassius Clay, that’s a very refreshing thing.”
And though Lonnie Ali was involved as an executive producer, she is uncertain about how much of her husband's story will unfold in the television series.
Future seasons likely will show Muhammad Ali's Parkinson's diagnosis, which was revealed in 1984, "because that was one of the biggest fights of his life," Lonnie Ali says.
“Somebody of his physicality, but to walk it with dignity and grace the way he did it,” she adds.
Ultimately, Lonnie Ali, says, “I think wherever it ends, it won’t be enough.”
By David L. Hoyt and Russell L. Hoyt
Now arrange the circled letters to form the surprise answer, as suggested by the above cartoon. | CLUES | SOLUTIONS | 1 draining (9) | _ | 2 candy cover (7) | _ | 3 F1 pros (7) | _ | 4 feigning (6) | _ | 5 “flattened spaghetti” (8) | _ | 6 Turkish strait (8) | _ | 7 sounds of a sleepover (7) | _ |
1. Each row and column must contain the numbers 1 through 4 without repeating.
YESTERDAY'S SOLUTION
Trademark KenKen, LLC Distributed by Andrews McMeel
2. The numbers within the heavily outlined boxes, called cages, must combine using the given operation (in any order) to produce the target numbers in the top-left corners.
1. Each row and column must contain the numbers 1 through 4 without repeating.
YESTERDAY'S SOLUTION
Trademark KenKen, LLC Distributed by Andrews McMeel
2. The numbers within the heavily outlined boxes, called cages, must combine using the given operation (in any order) to produce the target numbers in the top-left corners.
Enter the missing numbers from 1 to 16 without repetitions so that the sum of the four numbers in each row and column is the same as the corresponding circled number.
puzzles.usatoday.com | D | P | S | P | O | R | T | S | L | I | Y | I | U | E | L | G | Y | E | L | L | O | W | N | M | C | L | N | S | H | M | I | N | K | D | O | C | K | I | L | G | E | Y | M | R | I | L | V | R | M | C | G | O | R | O | S | G | E | I | D | A | M | A | R | O | N | S | O | G | L | M | L | N | G | N | R | S | N | S | W | A | N | F | N | E | W | S | E | M |
Find the 7 words to match the 7 clues. The numbers in parentheses represent the number of letters in each solution. Each letter combination can be used only once, but all letter combinations will be necessary to complete the puzzle.
8< / > n / a< / > 《Real Housewives and the Bravoverse》 / 科恩，安德鲁< / > 安德鲁·科恩图书< / > 电视< / > NF< / >< / >
📄 Original Section
USA TODAY BEST-SELLING BOOKS BOOKLIST.USATODAY.COM
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| TITLE/AUTHOR | PUBLISHER | GENRE | C | 1 | n/a | A Court of Splintered Harmony: The Valkyrie Cycle, Movement I/Maas, Sarah J. | Bloomsbury Publishing | NF | 2 | 1 | Fight or Flight (Diary of a Wimpy Kid #21): Volume 21/Kinney, Jeff | Amulet Books | Humorous Stories | F | 3 | n/a | The Hollow: A Harry Bosch Novel/Connelly, Michael | Little Brown and Company | Thrillers - Crime | F | 4 | 9 | The Witch (Deluxe Edition)/McFadden, Freida | Poisoned Pen Press | Thrillers - Suspense | F | 5 | 6 | Theo of Golden/Levi, Allen | Atria Books | Literary | F | 6 | n/a | Public Access Afterworld/Schoenbrun, Jane | Hogarth Press | Friendship | F | 7 | 3 | Threshing Day (Wing and Claw Collection)/Yarros, Rebecca | Entangled: Red Tower Books | Romance - Fantasy | F | 8 | n/a | Once Upon a Broken Heart Collector's Edition: [Limited Stenciled Edge Edition]/Garber, Stephanie | Flatiron Books | Fairy Tales & Folklore - General | F | 9 | 5 | Simply Ina A Barefoot Contessa Cookbook/Garten, Ina | Clarkson Potter Publishers | NF | 10 | n/a | Heated Rivalry (Deluxe Limited Edition): Now Streaming on Crave and HBO Max (Reissue)/Reid, Rachel | Harlequin | Friendship | F | 11 | 21 | Murdle: Volume 1: 100 Elementary to Impossible Mysteries to Solve Using Logic, Skill, and the Power of Deduction/Karber, G. T. | St. Martin's Griffin | Logic & Brain Teasers | NF | 12 | 13 | The French Illusion/Grisham, John | Doubleday Books | Thrillers - Suspense | F | 13 | n/a | The New Social Code: Five Relational Edges That Outperform Algorithms/Arena, Michael | Wiley | Personal Success | NF | 14 | 72 | A Court of Thorns and Roses/Maas, Sarah J. | Bloomsbury Publishing | Fantasy - Epic | F | 15 | n/a | Original Food: Recapturing the Joy of Eating/Zakarian, Geoffrey | Wiley | Personal Growth - General | NF | 16 | 17 | Dungeon Crawler Carl/Dinniman, Matt | Ace Books | Fantasy - Action & Adventure | F | 17 | n/a | Simple Kitchen Magic: Whole-Food Recipes and Remedies for a Holistic Life: A Cookbook/Moyer, Rebekah | DK Publishing | Health & Healing - General | NF | 18 | 23 | Contend: Standing Boldly for Biblical Truth While Winning the War Within/Mitchell, Philip Anthony | Thomas Nelson | Christian Living - Spiritual Growth | NF | 19 | n/a | The Long Game (Deluxe Limited Edition): Now Streaming on Crave and HBO Max (Reissue)/Reid, Rachel | Harlequin | Small Town & Rural | F | 20 | n/a | Witch Hat Atelier: Grimoire Edition 1/Shirahama, Kamome | Kodansha Comics | Fantasy | NF | 21 | 147 | Andy's Bravo Scrapbook: Twenty Years Behind the Scenes of the Real Housewives and the Bravoverse/Cohen, Andy | Andy Cohen Books | Television | NF | 22 | n/a | Role Model (Deluxe Limited Edition): Now Streaming on Crave and HBO Max (Reissue)/Reid, Rachel | Harlequin | Small Town & Rural | F | 23 | 35 | Murdoku: 80 Murder Mystery Logic Puzzles / Garand, Manuel | Puzzlewright Press | Logic & Brain Teasers | NF | 24 | n/a | Into the Quiet: Following Jesus in a World of Noise/Comer, John Mark | Waterbrook Press | Christian Living - Spiritual Growth | NF | 25 | n/a | Game Changer (Deluxe Limited Edition): Now Streaming on Crave and HBO Max (Reissue)/Reid, Rachel | Harlequin | Small Town & Rural | F |
| TITLE/AUTHOR | PUBLISHER | GENRE | C | 26 | 4 | A Married Little Christmas (Deluxe Edition)/Jimenez, Abby | Forever | Romance - Romantic Comedy | F | 27 | 24 | The Calamity Club/Stockett, Kathryn | Spiegel & Grau | Literary | F | 28 | 2 | Miss Wolcott's Ghost/Penny, Louise | Minotaur Books | Mystery & Detective - Traditional | F | 29 | 19 | Threshing Day (Standard Edition)/Yarros, Rebecca | Entangled: Red Tower Books | Romance - Fantasy | F | 30 | n/a | The Keeper (Deluxe Edition)/Huang, Ana | Bloom Books | Romance - New Adult | F | 31 | n/a | Tough Guy (Deluxe Limited Edition): Now Streaming on Crave and HBO Max (Reissue)/Reid, Rachel | Harlequin | Romance - Sports | F | 32 | n/a | A Crimson Ridge Christmas: Deluxe Limited Edition/Rose, Elliott | Kensington Publishing Corp | Romance - Western | F | 33 | 58 | Vibe: The Secrets of Strong Connections in a Lonely World/Grant, Adam | Viking | Personal Growth - General | NF | 34 | 29 | Red Rising/Brown, Pierce | Del Rey Books | Action & Adventure | F | 35 | 40 | Peck & Peck/Garmus, Bonnie | Scribner Book Company | Humorous - General | F | 36 | 32 | The Killer Isn't Alice: The Bestselling Murder Mystery Puzzle Book - 46,600 Suspects, 1 Killer. Can You Solve the Crime?/Starling, Iris | Little Brown and Company | Logic & Brain Teasers | NF | 37 | 83 | Mad Mabel/Hepworth, Sally | St. Martin's Press | Women | F | 38 | 16 | Partita/Kingsolver, Barbara | Harper | Literary | F | 39 | n/a | This Is a Door/Nayeri, Daniel | Stonefruit Studio | Action & Adventure - General | F | 40 | 34 | Pirate Queen/Lawhon, Ariel | Doubleday Books | NF | 41 | n/a | Common Goal (Deluxe Limited Edition): Now Streaming on Crave and HBO Max (Reissue)/Reid, Rachel | Harlequin | Romance - Sports | F | 42 | n/a | The Summer Hikaru Died, Vol. 8/Mokumokuren | Yen Press | Manga - School Life | NF | 43 | 31 | Verity/Hoover, Colleen | Grand Central Publishing | Women | F | 44 | 46 | The Dungeon Anarchist's Cookbook/Dinniman, Matt | Ace Books | Fantasy - Action & Adventure | F | 45 | 71 | Wildwood/Meloy, Colin | Balzer & Bray/Harperteen | Action & Adventure - General | F | 46 | 76 | Between Two Fires/Buehlman, Christopher | Tor Nightfire | Thrillers - Suspense | F | 47 | 43 | Rowley Jefferson's Awesome Friendly Spooky Stories 2: From the Creator of Diary of a Wimpy Kid/Kinney, Jeff | Amulet Books | Humorous Stories | F | 48 | 49 | Yesteryear/Burke, Caro Claire | Knopf Publishing Group | Feminist | F | 49 | 75 | Fruit Fly/Silver, Josh | Crooked Lane Books | Thrillers - Suspense | F | 50 | 8 | The Family Cross: An Alex Cross Thriller/Patterson, James | Little Brown and Company | Thrillers - Suspense | F | WHAT AMERICA'S READING® The book list appears every Thursday. You also can find it at booklist.usatoday.com. Each week, USA TODAY collects sales data from booksellers representing a variety of outlets: bookstore chains, independent bookstores, mass merchandisers and online retailers. Using that data, we determine the 150 top-selling titles of the week.
50 / 8 / 《家庭十字架：亚历克斯·克罗斯惊悚小说》 / *The Family Cross: An Alex Cross Thriller* / 帕特森（James Patterson） / Little Brown and Company / 悬疑 – 惊悚 / F
音乐新闻与观点
📄 Original Section
USA TODAY BEST-SELLING BOOKS BOOKLIST.USATODAY.COM
□ Rank this week □ Rank last week |
| TITLE/AUTHOR | PUBLISHER | GENRE | C | 1 | n/a | A Court of Splintered Harmony: The Valkyrie Cycle, Movement I/Maas, Sarah J. | Bloomsbury Publishing | NF | 2 | 1 | Fight or Flight (Diary of a Wimpy Kid #21): Volume 21/Kinney, Jeff | Amulet Books | Humorous Stories | F | 3 | n/a | The Hollow: A Harry Bosch Novel/Connelly, Michael | Little Brown and Company | Thrillers - Crime | F | 4 | 9 | The Witch (Deluxe Edition)/McFadden, Freida | Poisoned Pen Press | Thrillers - Suspense | F | 5 | 6 | Theo of Golden/Levi, Allen | Atria Books | Literary | F | 6 | n/a | Public Access Afterworld/Schoenbrun, Jane | Hogarth Press | Friendship | F | 7 | 3 | Threshing Day (Wing and Claw Collection)/Yarros, Rebecca | Entangled: Red Tower Books | Romance - Fantasy | F | 8 | n/a | Once Upon a Broken Heart Collector's Edition: [Limited Stenciled Edge Edition]/Garber, Stephanie | Flatiron Books | Fairy Tales & Folklore - General | F | 9 | 5 | Simply Ina A Barefoot Contessa Cookbook/Garten, Ina | Clarkson Potter Publishers | NF | 10 | n/a | Heated Rivalry (Deluxe Limited Edition): Now Streaming on Crave and HBO Max (Reissue)/Reid, Rachel | Harlequin | Friendship | F | 11 | 21 | Murdle: Volume 1: 100 Elementary to Impossible Mysteries to Solve Using Logic, Skill, and the Power of Deduction/Karber, G. T. | St. Martin's Griffin | Logic & Brain Teasers | NF | 12 | 13 | The French Illusion/Grisham, John | Doubleday Books | Thrillers - Suspense | F | 13 | n/a | The New Social Code: Five Relational Edges That Outperform Algorithms/Arena, Michael | Wiley | Personal Success | NF | 14 | 72 | A Court of Thorns and Roses/Maas, Sarah J. | Bloomsbury Publishing | Fantasy - Epic | F | 15 | n/a | Original Food: Recapturing the Joy of Eating/Zakarian, Geoffrey | Wiley | Personal Growth - General | NF | 16 | 17 | Dungeon Crawler Carl/Dinniman, Matt | Ace Books | Fantasy - Action & Adventure | F | 17 | n/a | Simple Kitchen Magic: Whole-Food Recipes and Remedies for a Holistic Life: A Cookbook/Moyer, Rebekah | DK Publishing | Health & Healing - General | NF | 18 | 23 | Contend: Standing Boldly for Biblical Truth While Winning the War Within/Mitchell, Philip Anthony | Thomas Nelson | Christian Living - Spiritual Growth | NF | 19 | n/a | The Long Game (Deluxe Limited Edition): Now Streaming on Crave and HBO Max (Reissue)/Reid, Rachel | Harlequin | Small Town & Rural | F | 20 | n/a | Witch Hat Atelier: Grimoire Edition 1/Shirahama, Kamome | Kodansha Comics | Fantasy | NF | 21 | 147 | Andy's Bravo Scrapbook: Twenty Years Behind the Scenes of the Real Housewives and the Bravoverse/Cohen, Andy | Andy Cohen Books | Television | NF | 22 | n/a | Role Model (Deluxe Limited Edition): Now Streaming on Crave and HBO Max (Reissue)/Reid, Rachel | Harlequin | Small Town & Rural | F | 23 | 35 | Murdoku: 80 Murder Mystery Logic Puzzles / Garand, Manuel | Puzzlewright Press | Logic & Brain Teasers | NF | 24 | n/a | Into the Quiet: Following Jesus in a World of Noise/Comer, John Mark | Waterbrook Press | Christian Living - Spiritual Growth | NF | 25 | n/a | Game Changer (Deluxe Limited Edition): Now Streaming on Crave and HBO Max (Reissue)/Reid, Rachel | Harlequin | Small Town & Rural | F |
| TITLE/AUTHOR | PUBLISHER | GENRE | C | 26 | 4 | A Married Little Christmas (Deluxe Edition)/Jimenez, Abby | Forever | Romance - Romantic Comedy | F | 27 | 24 | The Calamity Club/Stockett, Kathryn | Spiegel & Grau | Literary | F | 28 | 2 | Miss Wolcott's Ghost/Penny, Louise | Minotaur Books | Mystery & Detective - Traditional | F | 29 | 19 | Threshing Day (Standard Edition)/Yarros, Rebecca | Entangled: Red Tower Books | Romance - Fantasy | F | 30 | n/a | The Keeper (Deluxe Edition)/Huang, Ana | Bloom Books | Romance - New Adult | F | 31 | n/a | Tough Guy (Deluxe Limited Edition): Now Streaming on Crave and HBO Max (Reissue)/Reid, Rachel | Harlequin | Romance - Sports | F | 32 | n/a | A Crimson Ridge Christmas: Deluxe Limited Edition/Rose, Elliott | Kensington Publishing Corp | Romance - Western | F | 33 | 58 | Vibe: The Secrets of Strong Connections in a Lonely World/Grant, Adam | Viking | Personal Growth - General | NF | 34 | 29 | Red Rising/Brown, Pierce | Del Rey Books | Action & Adventure | F | 35 | 40 | Peck & Peck/Garmus, Bonnie | Scribner Book Company | Humorous - General | F | 36 | 32 | The Killer Isn't Alice: The Bestselling Murder Mystery Puzzle Book - 46,600 Suspects, 1 Killer. Can You Solve the Crime?/Starling, Iris | Little Brown and Company | Logic & Brain Teasers | NF | 37 | 83 | Mad Mabel/Hepworth, Sally | St. Martin's Press | Women | F | 38 | 16 | Partita/Kingsolver, Barbara | Harper | Literary | F | 39 | n/a | This Is a Door/Nayeri, Daniel | Stonefruit Studio | Action & Adventure - General | F | 40 | 34 | Pirate Queen/Lawhon, Ariel | Doubleday Books | NF | 41 | n/a | Common Goal (Deluxe Limited Edition): Now Streaming on Crave and HBO Max (Reissue)/Reid, Rachel | Harlequin | Romance - Sports | F | 42 | n/a | The Summer Hikaru Died, Vol. 8/Mokumokuren | Yen Press | Manga - School Life | NF | 43 | 31 | Verity/Hoover, Colleen | Grand Central Publishing | Women | F | 44 | 46 | The Dungeon Anarchist's Cookbook/Dinniman, Matt | Ace Books | Fantasy - Action & Adventure | F | 45 | 71 | Wildwood/Meloy, Colin | Balzer & Bray/Harperteen | Action & Adventure - General | F | 46 | 76 | Between Two Fires/Buehlman, Christopher | Tor Nightfire | Thrillers - Suspense | F | 47 | 43 | Rowley Jefferson's Awesome Friendly Spooky Stories 2: From the Creator of Diary of a Wimpy Kid/Kinney, Jeff | Amulet Books | Humorous Stories | F | 48 | 49 | Yesteryear/Burke, Caro Claire | Knopf Publishing Group | Feminist | F | 49 | 75 | Fruit Fly/Silver, Josh | Crooked Lane Books | Thrillers - Suspense | F | 50 | 8 | The Family Cross: An Alex Cross Thriller/Patterson, James | Little Brown and Company | Thrillers - Suspense | F | WHAT AMERICA'S READING® The book list appears every Thursday. You also can find it at booklist.usatoday.com. Each week, USA TODAY collects sales data from booksellers representing a variety of outlets: bookstore chains, independent bookstores, mass merchandisers and online retailers. Using that data, we determine the 150 top-selling titles of the week.
超过300万名粉丝争抢了这场汇聚了金属乐皇家阵容的演出的44,000张票，包括金属乐队（Metallica）、安桑克斯（Anthrax）、槍與玫瑰（Guns N' Roses）、爱丽丝合唱团（Alice in Chains）、羔羊之神（Lamb of God）、玛斯托顿（Mastodon）和潘特拉（Pantera）。
[MUSIC NEWS & VIEWS] Ozzy's final concert comes alive in new film
Melissa Ruggieri
Ozzy Osbourne has a blast with Black Sabbath at the “Ozzy & Black Sabbath: Back to the Beginning” concert in Birmingham, England, July 5, 2025, just 17 days before he died. PROVIDED BY TRAFALGAR RELEASING
USA TODAY
A mere 17 days before he died, Ozzy Osbourne sat on his gothic throne adorned with black skulls and bat wings and proclaimed, “Let the madness begin!”
The Back to the Beginning concert at Villa Park in Osbourne's hometown of Birmingham, England, on July 5 2025, was initiated by wife Sharon, who wanted her rock icon of a husband to revel in the roar of the crowd a final time both as a solo star and with his origin band, Black Sabbath.
More than 3 million fans pursued the 44,000 available tickets for a show jammed with hard rock royalty including Metallica, Anthrax, Guns N' Roses, Alice in Chains, Lamb of God, Mastodon and Pantera.
A concert documentary, “Ozzy Osbourne & Black Sabbath: Back to the Beginning,” in theaters for a limited time, condenses the 10-hour marathon of madness into just under 2 ½ hours.
Music director and curator Tom Morello says in one of the film's backstage glimpses that he didn't want it "to be like a European metal festival." Instead, he corralled a few iterations of Tom Morello's All-Stars (Steven Tyler, Ronnie Wood, Travis Barker, Yungblud, Chad Smith, Nuno Bettencourt, Sammy Hagar, Andrew Watt, Billy Corgan) to shred and blitz through an assortment of Black Sabbath and Osbourne favorites.
A soundtrack from the concert will be released Dec. 11 on CD, vinyl and digitally as well as 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray (pre-orders are available now, as well as Osbourne's performance of "Mr. Crowley"). A deluxe box set with an expanded track list, memorabilia and a Blu-ray of the 35 Osbourne and Black Sabbath songs performed will be released in April (pre-orders also available now).
Here are highlights from the film, which will play theaters for a varying number of days depending on market.
Obviously the kingpin of this shindig was its namesake. With eyes ringed in raccoon black and sporting a long black coat with a gold armband emblazoned with "Ozzy," Osbourne clearly absorbed the love and adrenaline of the crowd as he clutched the mic, his left leg swaying as he stayed seated while singing “I Don’t Know.”
While he didn't always sound robust and the use of a Teleprompter was obvious, Osbourne had a blast as he told the crowd to "go nuts" during "Crazy Train."
Along with his own songs, Osbourne was reunited for the first time since 2005 with Sabbath mates Tony Iommi (guitar), Geezer Butler (bass) and a shirtless Bill Ward (drums) for a slate of songs including “N.I.B.” “Paranoid” and “Iron Man,” the latter spurring thousands of metal horns hand signals in the air.
The film ends with Osbourne's touching “Mama I'm Coming Home,” which is made all the more poignant by his son Jack Osbourne's voiceover paired with vintage footage of him and sister Kelly onstage with Osbourne as kids.
“He felt complete,” Jack said of the joy his father felt after the event, making Osbourne’s July 22, 2025 death no less shocking, but at least more centered.
The British punk rocker has been a favorite of Sharon Osbourne's – he won his first Grammy this year for his cover of Black Sabbath's “Changes” – and it's easy to see why she views him as a savior of rock.
Calling the invite to perform at the concert “an absolute fever dream,” the charismatic singer, clad in a black suit and tie and hot pink socks, brought theatricality to his rendition of “Changes.” The crowd relished the performance as they sang along with little prompting.
鬼面乐队主唱帕帕V·佩鲁佩塔（Papa V Perpetua）、吉他手维恩·里德（Vernon Reid）和贝滕库尔（Bettencourt）、键盘手亚当·瓦克曼（Adam Wakeman）、贝斯手鲁迪·萨尔佐（Rudy Sarzo）和鼓手巴克（Barker）在1983年的《月光下吠叫》中狂野演绎。无法不被佩鲁佩塔戴着恐怖面具、穿着光亮银色外套的形象吸引。同样无法不想在看到贝滕库尔和里德交换吉他独奏时，自己也随之挥舞空中吉他。
📄 Original Section
Tom Morello's All Stars, 'Bark at the Moon'
The collection of Ghost frontman Papa V Perpetua, guitarists Vernon Reid and Bettencourt, keyboardist Adam Wakeman, bassist Rudy Sarzo and drummer Barker rip-roared through the 1983 singalong. It's impossible to look away from Papa V in his ghoulish mask and slick silver jacket. It's also impossible not to want to break into air guitar just watching Bettencourt and Reid trade riffs.
Danny Carey, Chad Smith, Travis Barker, 'Symptom of the Universe'
This trio of heavy hitters adds a wallop of a coda to the 1975 Sabbath slammer with spotlight drum solos. With three kits across the back of the stage, the threesome take turns walloping so hard that Smith's leg flails in the air.
As Barker battered his snare drum to introduce the 1974 Aerosmith classic (by way of jazz and blues musician Tiny Bradshaw in 1951), Tyler, bedecked in his usual flair of trench coat and scarf-adorned mic stand strolled out with trademark swagger.
With Morello, Bettencourt, Wyatt, Sarzo and Wood pumping the strings, Tyler strutted and smiled, even hitting a few high notes as he scampered around the stage with his musical pals.
Party's resounding midterm victory could set up 2 years of deadlock in Washington
Gram Slattery, David Morgan and Jason Lange
REUTERS
WASHINGTON – Democrats vowed on Nov. 4 to use their resounding midterm victory to rein in President Donald Trump, setting up two years of possible deadlock in Washington, as Trump spent his first post-election appearance showing off his under-construction White House ballroom.
A wave of anger over Trump's policies, particularly the U.S.-Iran war's role in pushing the cost of living higher, helped Democrats take the Senate, where they flipped seats in deeply Republican states for a majority of at least 54-44, and the House of Representatives, where they gained at least 28 seats.
It will be the first time that Trump, a Republican who also held the White House from 2017 to 2021, has had to contend with a Democratic-controlled Congress.
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said the incoming majority will be focused on affordability and accountability.
"We don't work for Donald Trump," Jeffries, a New York lawmaker who is on track to become the first Black speaker of the House, told reporters on Nov. 4. "We work for the American people. And the days of the House of Representatives functioning like a wholly owned subsidiary of the Trump administration are over."
Trump, who had devoted his last preelection public appearance on Nov. 2 to talking about his renovations of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, called in
See MIDTERM, Page 4NN
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer takes questions from reporters in Washington on Nov. 4 after Democrats successfully flipped both the House and Senate. TOM BRENNER/GETTY IMAGES
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said the new majority will be focused on affordability and accountability. KEVIN DIETSCH/GETTY IMAGES
A Democratic Party fundraiser in Warren County, Iowa, in October 2025 was so crowded that local party chair Jim Culbert found himself ordering pizza after the food ran out.
"If we don't have enough food, that's a good problem," he recalled telling volunteers.
The big turnout offered an early glimpse of the mounting Democratic enthusiasm in rural America – traditionally a stronghold of President Donald Trump's Republican Party. A year later, it would help propel Democrats to sweeping victories in the Nov. 3 midterm elections.
Democrats flipped House, Senate and gubernatorial seats in rural Republican strongholds including in Iowa, Kansas, Texas and Wisconsin, where farmers have been hard hit by Trump's global tariff campaign and high fuel prices caused by the Iran war. Hispanic voters, who surveys identified as particularly critical of Trump's deportation campaign and the rising cost of living, swung roughly 40 points toward Democrats in the
Vance repudiates Iran war after GOP midterm defeat
Trump says ‘I would have done it again’
Phil Stewart and Erin Banco and Nandita Bose and Humeyra Pamuk
REUTERS
WASHINGTON – Vice President JD Vance distanced himself from President Donald Trump's war on Iran on Wednesday, questioning whether it was worth the cost and blaming it for Republicans' election losses that handed Democrats control of both chambers of Congress.
Vance's extraordinary remarks in a post on X could further complicate Trump's deliberations as he weighs whether to restart major combat operations against Iran, a step U.S. officials have told Reuters is still under consideration.
They also raise questions about the political fortunes of senior Pentagon officials, most notably Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Trump has described Hegseth as an early advocate for the war.
Hegseth has also faced fierce criticism from members of Congress.
"The reason we lost is the war," Vance said on X. "If you'd like to argue it was worth it, that losing the Senate for the next 6 years was worth it, then do so."
In the digital e-edition, you can click anywhere on the US map to get up-to-date forecasts, radar, MinuteCast® and more.
AccuWeather
As a storm moves into Canada, rain will stretch from the Upper Midwest to the Northeast today. Showers will extend southward along the Atlantic Seaboard to Florida. A few showers will also dampen Oklahoma and Washington state. The rest of the nation will be dry, with high temperatures near to below early-November 30-year averages.
In the digital e-edition, you can click anywhere on the US map to get up-to-date forecasts, radar, MinuteCast® and more.
AccuWeather
As a storm moves into Canada, rain will stretch from the Upper Midwest to the Northeast today. Showers will extend southward along the Atlantic Seaboard to Florida. A few showers will also dampen Oklahoma and Washington state. The rest of the nation will be dry, with high temperatures near to below early-November 30-year averages.
In the digital e-edition, you can click anywhere on the US map to get up-to-date forecasts, radar, MinuteCast® and more.
AccuWeather
As a storm moves into Canada, rain will stretch from the Upper Midwest to the Northeast today. Showers will extend southward along the Atlantic Seaboard to Florida. A few showers will also dampen Oklahoma and Washington state. The rest of the nation will be dry, with high temperatures near to below early-November 30-year averages.
NATIONAL (for the 48 contiguous states) | High: | 90 at Falfurrias, TX | Low: | 16 at Burns, OR | Precip: | 3.40" at Portland, TN | NATIONAL CITIES THURSDAY
INTERNATIONAL (excludes Antarctica) | High: | 117 at Mandora, Australia | Low: | -36 at Toko, Russia | Precip: | 3.62" at Kakinada, India | Cooperstown, N.Y., home of baseball's Hall of Fame, entered the “weather hall of fame” on Nov. 5, 1971, with its third-latest first frost on record. The cold made only a short stop. Record warmth rallied in December.
Wall Street closed sharply higher on Nov. 4 as Democrats' sweeping midterm election victory eased political uncertainty and boosted risk appetite, though data center shares fell on fears of tighter AI regulation.
Some large technology stocks rose on expectations that a slower expansion of AI infrastructure will favor them competitively, while smaller companies carrying out aspects of the AI infrastructure buildout fell on fears that a slowdown will strain their finances.
AI stocks were split. Shares of cash-rich AI heavyweights rose, while chip-makers and data center operators fell after Democrats made gains in key data center states including Texas and Georgia, where public opposition to the industry's rapid expansion has been growing.
The move reflected expectations that a slowdown in expanding AI infrastructure could ease cash demands on tech companies, while pressuring operators and suppliers whose growth depends on a rapid buildout.
Among AI heavyweights, Microsoft rose 6.7%, Amazon.com added 6.1%, Alphabet gained 3.2% and Meta Platforms rose 1.4%. Shares of data center operators slumped, with Hut 8 down 23%, IREN off 11%, Core Scientific falling 10% and Applied Digital lower by 6.7%.
The Philadelphia SE Semiconductor index hit a six-month low, dropping 3.1%. AMD rose 1% after forecasting faster-than-expected 2027 growth as its data center sales surged.
The AI trade has come under pressure recently as investors grow more concerned over Big Tech's soaring AI spending. The tech-heavy Nasdaq-100 index confirmed on Nov. 2 it was in a technical correction.
The S&P 500 gained 119.7 points, or 1.6%, to end at 7,688.62 points, while the Nasdaq Composite added 364.50 points, or 1.4%, to 25,736.51. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1,569.40 points, or 3%, to 53,356.12.
All but two of the S&P 500 sector indexes rose, with consumer discretionary jumping 4.3% and energy falling 4.8%. The dollar weakened against most currencies and yields on long-dated Treasuries moved lower.
Brent futures settled \$8.98, or 8.7% lower, at \$94.62 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate crude futures fell \$7.97, or 8.3%, to \$88.12. Both benchmarks closed at their lowest since Aug 31.
1605，英国谚语“Remember, remember, the fifth of November”源于此。当局在议会地下室发现盖伊·福克斯（Guy Fawkes）与数十桶炸药，但大部分阴谋参与者在前夜已经逃离伦敦。天主教极端分子试图炸毁议会大厦并杀害国王詹姆斯一世，以推翻政权并争取宗教宽容。
1824，在致神父萨缪尔·布拉奇福德（Rev. Samuel Blatchford）的信中，斯蒂芬·范伦塞勒（Stephen Van Rensselaer）宣布他创立了特洛伊（Troy）的范伦塞勒学校（Rensselaer School），该校后成为美国最早和最具影响力的工程学校之一。该校于1825年1月开学，后更名为范伦塞勒学院（Rensselaer Institute），最终更名为范伦塞勒理工学院（Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute）。
1852，美国土木工程师学会（American Society of Civil Engineers），美国首个全国性土木工程学会，成立。
1857，调查记者伊达·塔贝尔（Ida Tarbell）出生于宾夕法尼亚州阿米蒂镇（Amity Township），她以对标准石油公司（Standard Oil）的调查报道而闻名。塔贝尔的《标准石油公司史》（The History of the Standard Oil Company）首次分期刊登在《麦克卢尔杂志》（McClure's Magazine）上，帮助公众形成对标准石油公司的负面看法。
📄 Original Section
TODAY IN HISTORY
Today is Nov. 5. On this date in:
1605: “Remember, remember, the fifth of November.” Authorities discovered Guy Fawkes with dozens of barrels of explosives in the undercroft of Parliament, but most of the conspirators in the Gunpowder Plot had fled London late the night before. Catholic extremists had sought to blow up the building and kill King James I, forcing regime change in hopes of religious tolerance.
1824: In a letter to the Rev. Samuel Blatchford, Stephen Van Rensselaer announced he had founded the Rensselaer School in Troy, New York, which later became one of the nation's earliest and most influential engineering schools. It opened in January 1825 and later changed its name to Rensselaer Institute and eventually Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
1852: The American Society of Civil Engineers, the first national civil engineering society in the United States, was founded.
1857: Ida Tarbell, an investigative reporter best known for her exposé on Standard Oil, was born in Amity Township, Pennsylvania. Tarbell's "The History of the Standard Oil Company," which was first published piecemeal in McClure's Magazine, helped shape public opinion against Standard Oil. A
皮尤研究中心（Pew Research Center）是一家监测全球信仰的非营利组织，其调查显示，所有调查的国家在2024年都出现了天主教认同度的下降。
📄 Original Section
Catholicism on decline around Latin America
Churchgoers pray during a worship service at the Baptist church Iglesia del Centro in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Oct. 31. FRANCISCO LOUREIRO/REUTERS
Pope Leo readies for 11-day journey in region
Lucinda Elliott
REUTERS
MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay – Pope Leo XIV begins his first trip to Latin America as pontiff on Nov. 6, embarking on an 11-day journey across a region that remains the world's largest Catholic stronghold but where Catholic identity is steadily shrinking even as belief in God remains strong.
Coming weeks after the 71-year-old pontiff's lung cancer surgery, the ambitious itinerary from Nov. 6-17 remains unchanged, the Vatican said. It is one of the most demanding overseas tours by a Catholic leader in decades. The trip takes him from secular Uruguay to Argentina, homeland of his predecessor Pope Francis, before heading to Peru, where he spent years as a missionary and bishop, eventually becoming a citizen.
Leo will spend two days in Uruguay, three in Argentina and nearly a week in Peru, where he will celebrate outdoor Masses expected to draw millions, address political leaders, join youth vigils and reach remote Andean communities by helicopter.
Latin America remains the world's largest Catholic region in absolute numbers. Yet the continent the Chicago-born pope is returning to is markedly less Catholic than the one he first encountered as a missionary decades ago. The Catholic Church has been losing ground to fast-growing evangelical denominations, more progressive social attitudes and individualized forms of worship.
A Pew survey in 2024 of six of the most populous Latin American countries found that in all those nations fewer people were identifying as Catholic compared to a decade ago. Around one-fifth of adults in each country said they were raised Catholic but had left the church, the poll found.
“We have seen a decline in all of the countries that we surveyed in 2024,” said Kirsten Lesage, an associate researcher at the Pew Research Center, a nonprofit that monitors faith worldwide. “There are fewer people identifying [as Catholic].”
But, she added: “The region is still very religious and they’re very religious by a variety of standards.”
The Rev. Jorge Reinaudo, a parish priest in Córdoba, Argentina, one of the cities on Pope Leo's itinerary, has spent nearly a decade building a social media following. He posts humorous sketches to his 800,000 followers across different platforms, gently poking fun at biblical stories and trends like superstitions aimed at helping Argentina's soccer team win the World Cup.
Growing numbers of younger people are seeking spirituality through retreats, silence and even Buddhist- or Hindu-inspired practices, often blending them with traditional Christian elements such as rosaries and holy water, he said in an interview.
"Not belonging to a religion does not mean people lack faith; it means they live out their faith in their own way," Reinaudo said.
Belief in God remains exceptionally high in Latin America compared to other global regions, even among the growing numbers of people who are unaffiliated with a religion, according to the Pew survey.
That distinction suggests the Catholic Church's challenge is less disbelief than changes in worship habits and people keen to build their own spiritual identities outside traditional institutions, according to religious leaders and researchers interviewed by Reuters.
Marverick Ruben Mendoza Osegue-ra, a 31-year-old accountant in Hondu-ras, came across Reinaudo on social media while following Argentine Catholic musicians. Raised Catholic, he said he became critical of organized religion after witnessing troubling behavior in church communities, including violence against women and clergy who appeared to protect abusers.
“Experiences like these eroded the trust and faith of many young people, including me,” he said.
In all six countries Pew found adults 50 and older were more likely than those aged 18 to 34 to identify as Catholic.
Oseguera attends a weekly online Eucharistic adoration service to help manage anxiety, finding comfort in the ritual even though he no longer identifies as Catholic. “It feels more like spending time with a close friend,” he said.
Catholic decline has coincided with a period of rapid social change across Latin America, as countries expanded rights ranging from abortion and euthanasia to same-sex marriage. However, Miguel Pastorino, a professor at Uruguay's Catholic University who studies the philosophy of religion, cautioned against attributing the Catholic Church's losses directly to those shifts, saying a broader culture of individual choice has also reshaped how people approach religion globally.
"There's a growing trend toward ‘à la carte’ religiosity, in which people create their own spiritual menu, without feeling the need to subscribe to any particular institution," he said.
Evangelical groups have also made inroads among urban working populations in Latin America and are especially strong in Brazil, where nearly 27% of people identify as evangelical Christians.
Pentecostalism, the fastest-growing branch, was introduced to Latin America by U.S. missionaries a century ago. Today, most towns are home to a Pentecostal chapel, where song and prayer often blare over loudspeakers onto the street.
“They [Pentecostals] go straight to personal testimony, like the early church did,” Pastorino said. “When the Catholic Church goes into poor neighborhoods, it often does a great deal of social work, but very little evangelization.”
However, events such as a papal visit can help strengthen Catholic identity, he said.
The Rev. Pablo Coimbra, a Uruguayan parish priest at Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe in Montevideo's Casavalle neighborhood, where the pope plans to visit on his second day, said the pontiff's impending arrival was already having an effect. More people were participating in Masses at his church. Demand for baptisms and holy communion was also rising, he added.
"The pope's visit has perhaps awakened a memory, something deep in people's hearts regarding faith and belonging to the church," Coimbra said.
federal investigation and breakup of the company's monopoly followed.
1872: Susan B. Anthony and 14 other women from her ward in Rochester, New York, cast a ballot in the presidential election even though women were not allowed to vote. They were later arrested, and Anthony was convicted, though the resulting fine was never collected.
1895: George Selden, a patent lawyer from Rochester, New York, received a landmark U.S. patent for a gasoline-powered “road engine,” widely described as the first U.S. patent for an automobile.
1912: Democrat Woodrow Wilson won a four-way presidential election in a landslide. Wilson took 435 of the electoral votes, while Progressive Party candidate Theodore Roosevelt claimed 88. Incumbent Republican President William Taft garnered only 8, and Eugene Debs won none on the Socialist ticket.
1930: “For his vigorous and graphic art of description and his ability to create, with wit and humour, new types of characters,” Sinclair Lewis became the first American to win the Nobel Prize in Literature.
1935: Parker Brothers began marketing the board game Monopoly. It had been created decades earlier as The Landlord's Game by Elizabeth Magie and later pitched to Parker Brothers by Charles Darrow.
1940: Franklin Roosevelt became the first and only person elected to a third term as president of the United States. In 1944, he became the only person elected to a fourth term. The 22nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was proposed in 1947, nearly two years after Roosevelt died in office, and ratified in 1951, limiting the number of terms a person can be elected as U.S. president to two.
1968: Shirley Chisholm, a Democrat from New York, became the first Black woman elected to Congress. She later became the first Black woman to vie for a major party's nomination for president, trying to top the Democratic ticket in 1972.
1974: Elaine Noble was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives, becoming the first openly gay American to be elected to a state legislature.
1994: George Foreman, at 45, became the oldest boxer to win a heavyweight belt, defeating 26-year-old Michael Moorer by 10th-round knockout.
2009: U.S. Army Maj. Nidal Hasan committed a mass shooting at Fort Hood in Texas, killing 13 people and wounding more than 30.
2013: India launched its first interplanetary mission, which, upon its arrival, made the Indian Space Research Organisation just the fourth space agency to successfully guide an uncrewed craft to an orbit around Mars.
2024: Former President Donald Trump once again became President-elect Donald Trump, having won the presidential election, his second victory but a rare nonconsecutive one. The Republican's first term was won in 2016 and ran from 2017-2021, but he lost in 2020 to Democrat Joe Biden, who served one term from 2021-2025. Only one other person had served nonconsecutive terms as president: Grover Cleveland, who was president from 1885-1889 and 1893-1897.
2024: Sarah McBride became the first openly transgender person elected to Congress, chosen by the people of Delaware to represent them in the U.S. House. She had previously served as a state senator in Delaware, having become the first openly transgender state senator in U.S. history after her election in November 2020.
USA TODAY Network
NEWS IN BRIEF
U.S. sanctions Indian, Turkish companies accused of aiding Iran
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Treasury issued fresh sanctions on Nov. 4 against companies and individuals based in India and Turkey for their support of Iran, warning that it would continue to go after anyone who supported the Iranian government.
The sanctions are part of the Trump administration's “Operation Economic Outcast,” which aims to cut off Iran's ability to sell oil to fund the war with the United States and Israel.
Treasury last week said its actions were decimating Iran's economy, driving the rial currency to new lows and sending domestic inflation rates to levels around $90\%$ .
Treasury said the Nov. 4 action targeted what it called “the vast criminal network” run by India-based Suniel Kumar Sharma, his wife, Jaspreet Preeti Shahid, and two other Indian citizens who head two of the couple’s businesses, as well as nine separate entities connected to Sharma.
The department also sanctioned Turkey-based Fugo Ground Services Inc. for its ongoing support of Iran's heavily sanctioned aviation sector.
Death toll in Russian strike on Ukrainian aid center rises to 40
KOMYSHUVAKHA, Ukraine – The death toll from a Russian bombing of an aid distribution point in Ukraine's southeastern Zaporizhzhia region on Nov. 2 has risen to 40, with dozens still missing, officials said, in one of the deadliest strikes on civilians this year.
The attack came a day after a brief U.S.-brokered local ceasefire expired and less than a week before the United States is due to bring together Ukrainian and Russian delegations in Abu Dhabi for talks on ending the war, now in its fifth year.
Reuters footage on Nov. 4 showed men in military fatigues loading bodies in white plastic bags into the back of a van in the village of Komyshuvakha, which was struck multiple times. Excavators were digging up earth near a huge blast crater while rescue workers searched underground for bodies.
Ivan Fedorov, the cohead of the Zaporizhzhia Regional Defense Council, wrote on Telegram that 59 people were missing.
Pennsylvania reports its sixth measles-linked death as cases rise
Pennsylvania health officials on Nov. 4 reported the state's sixth measles-associated death this year as the outbreak continued to spread.
The state has emerged as the epicenter of the outbreak, accounting for a substantial share of infections reported nationwide. The state health department said the latest death involved an unvaccinated resident of Jefferson County who tested positive for measles.
State officials said measles-associated deaths this year have involved three residents of Lancaster County, two residents of Jefferson County and one resident of Mifflin County.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said it was saddened by the latest death and noted that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had deployed additional support to work alongside state and local health officials to investigate the outbreak and strengthen response efforts.
NASA's Swift satellite telescope falls from orbit in fiery finale
NASA's Swift satellite telescope, which spent two decades studying the most powerful known blasts of energy in the cosmos, tumbled out of orbit as expected on Nov. 4 and burned up in Earth's atmosphere over Indonesia, the space agency reported.
The fiery demise of the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, weighing roughly 3,200 pounds, came less than three months after a rescue spacecraft failed its mission to boost the satellite to higher orbit and extend its life.
The U.S. Space Force confirmed that Swift's reentry occurred at 7:39 a.m. ET, as the satellite streaked into the upper atmosphere at about 22 times the speed of sound over Indonesia's North Sumatra province, roughly 200 miles north of the equator, according to NASA.
NASA said it expected the frictional heat of reentry would incinerate most of the satellite well above Earth's surface, with some fragments surviving the plunge, though the U.S. space agency reported no damage or injuries on the ground from falling debris.
The drubbing for Donald Trump's Republicans in midterm elections could embolden some trade partners to push back against his combative policies, although they may need to tread lightly to avoid provoking him in his final two years in power.
Democrats captured majorities in both the Senate and House on Nov. 3, as U.S. voters delivered a stinging rebuke for Trump's policies, including his tariffs, blamed alongside the Iran war for persistent inflation.
That could hand economic rival China a perceived upper hand in ongoing talks, prompt allies in Asia to slow-walk hundreds of billions of dollars in investment commitments, and give Europe more predictability over trade issues that remain unresolved.
But some partners still see choppy waters ahead, with Trump showing little sign of accepting voters' verdict on his tariff policies that have upended global trade.
“U.S. protectionism won’t simply disappear,” said Bernd Lange, chair of the trade committee in the European Parliament.
"A weakened Trump could become even more aggressive and unpredictable. A lame duck could quickly turn into an angry duck."
Among countries that may be quietly hoping for an easier ride are America's closest Asian allies. Japan has promised \$550 billion and South Korea \$350 billion in U.S. investments in deals intended to placate Trump.
Heo Yoon, economics professor at Sogang University in Seoul, said countries might now feel less pressure to fulfill such commitments: “Democrats seem to perceive that the investment commitments were forced on allies.”
But Kazuhiro Maeshima, a professor of U.S. politics at Sophia University in Tokyo, said the allies will not easily be able to back out. “The tariff issue is not over. If Japan’s response is slow, calls for additional tariffs could resurface,” he said.
South Korea has become a notable lightning rod for Trump's anger at countries he believes have not lived up to investment pledges.
Most recently, Seoul pushed back on Trump's assertions that it had agreed to fund Alaska LNG, a major pipeline. Ban Kil-joo, international relations professor at Korea National Diplomatic Academy, said scrutiny from Congress over such projects could give Seoul more time to review them.
South Korea's Foreign Ministry said it would continue to discuss economic and trade issues with the U.S. administration, Congress and states, regard-
In Europe, transatlantic trade tensions have largely been eased by a series of deals that have so far limited the impact of Trump's tariff onslaught.
But there are still potential quarrels, including whether Trump will retaliate against European countries that impose a digital services tax on U.S. tech giants, and against a EUR3 billion loan of public money to European aircraft maker Airbus.
For India, still negotiating trade deals with the United States, the midterm results could provide an incentive to adopt a wait-and-see approach.
India's trade minister earlier this month said the first phase of an India-U.S. trade deal was in the final stages of drafting, but reiterated that New Delhi would proceed only if it secures an advantage over competing exporters.
The biggest U.S. rival is China, which struck a trade truce with Trump that expires in January. Beijing may look for ways to use Trump's political fragility to strengthen its hand, but also may find it harder to win him over with Congress looking over his shoulder. Trump has gone to great lengths to improve relations with Xi. A Democratic-controlled Congress may constrain his ability to offer sweeteners for future deals.
reporters on the morning after his party's sweeping midterm defeat to show off the ballroom he is building at the White House.
"When I get criticized, like, 'Why are you working on the White House?' I'm doing it because the White House is the ultimate symbol of America, and it's got to be pristine, it's got to be perfect," Trump said. "For me, it's relaxing."
People react during an election night watch party for Texas Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gina Hinojosa in Austin on Nov. 3.
JOEL ANGEL JUAREZ/GETTY IMAGES
He turned only briefly to the elections during his nearly hourlong appearance, telling reporters, “I’ll get along probably with the Democrats, unless they want to be destructive, but I have the power of the veto.”
Trump had cast the midterm elections as a referendum on the first half of his second four-year stint in the White House, repeatedly urging his Republican base to “pretend I’m on the ballot,” a message that Democratic Party leaders were happy to amplify.
The result: voters in conservative strongholds who had propelled the president to his second term in office just two years ago swung dramatically toward Democrats, fueled by deep frustration over the unpopular war with Iran, anxiety over the high cost of living and anger at Trump's stewardship of the country.
In Texas, the biggest Republican-led state before Nov. 3, Democrats ended a decades-long losing streak in seismic fashion, winning their first Senate seat there since 1988 and ousting three-term Gov. Greg Abbott.
Kansas elected its first Democratic senator since the Great Depression nearly a century ago, and in South Carolina, a state that Trump carried by nearly 18 points in 2024, Democrats turned aside his hand-picked Senate candidate.
Senate races in Alaska and Mississippi remained uncalled as of Nov. 4, leaving open the possibility that the Democrats' majority could grow by another two seats to 56-44.
Once seated in January, Democrats are expected to use their power to investigate Trump's administration, family and allies and demand concessions on major legislation. The Democratic Senate can block Trump's nominees, including any U.S. Supreme Court justices should a vacancy arise.
However, until then, Republicans hold the reins and will have at least one must-pass piece of legislation ahead – a measure to fund the federal government past December – that they could use to enact conservative priorities during the so-called lame-duck period.
The loss also upended Republicans' House leadership, with House Speaker Mike Johnson saying he would not continue to lead his caucus next year.
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan both announced plans to seek the minority post in party leadership elections expected Nov. 10.
Trump told reporters that he would stay out of the Republican leadership election. “The speaker was fantastic. The people under him were fantastic. All good people,” he said.
Democrats focused their campaign on corruption and affordability, blaming Trump's expensive tariffs on imports, some of which were ruled to be an illegal tax by the courts, and the war with Iran for driving up costs while highlighting the billions of dollars the Trump family has made since he returned to the White House.
Republicans, led by Trump, attacked Democrats for defending transgender people's rights and similar social issues, portraying them as radical and extreme. But voters made it clear they were far more concerned with pocket-book issues.
The Democratic wave flooded huge swaths of the country. Republicans lost ground in 99% of the approximately 2,100 counties where most votes had been counted as of Nov. 4, according to tallies compiled by Reuters and USA TODAY.
Democrats made gains in the richest counties and the poorest; in counties where more people have college degrees and where fewer do. Democrats' advances were particularly sharp in heavily Latino counties, including the border counties of Texas that shifted toward Trump in 2024 and the agricultural towns of the Kansas prairie.
Democrats flipped more than two dozen House seats currently held by Republicans, locking in a majority. Democrats won all the closely contested House races that have been decided so far, and they won about a dozen races in districts that Trump won by double digits two years ago.
Meanwhile, Trump faced pressure from Republicans on Nov. 4 to change course after the midterm election rout.
Republican allies and strategists called for Trump to shake up his White House personnel, restore discipline and scrap policies they blamed for the losses, including the Iran war and tariffs, as his presidency enters its final years.
Veteran Republican strategist John Feehery called the results a “huge disaster” for Trump.
“He needs to clean house,” Feehery said. “Every day from this point forward, he’s becoming more and more lame.”
But Trump showed little indication that he viewed the election outcome as a reason to change direction.
"I don't view it as a hit on me," he told Fox News late on Nov. 3.
Inside the White House, senior aides were bracing for staff departures, possible Cabinet changes and Democratic investigations, according to a senior official who spoke on condition of anonymity.
"It absolutely sucks to be here right now," the official said. "Morale is as low as it can get."
The official said internal polling had warned six weeks before the election that Republicans were headed for losses in both chambers, but Trump refused to change course on Iran despite warnings about the political consequences. “Ultimately, he just didn’t care,” the official said. “He refused to listen to anyone.”
The White House struck a defiant public tone, posting a photograph of Trump on social media with the message: "PSA: TRUMP IS STILL YOUR PRESIDENT."
Democrats' takeover of Congress on Nov. 3 was replicated at the state level, with the party flipping Republican-held governors' offices in at least five states and poised to seize full control of state government in at least six more.
Democratic victories mean the party, for the first time in years, will control a majority of the governorships, including traditional conservative strongholds such as Texas, where Democrat Gina Hinojosa defeated well-financed Republican Gov. Greg Abbott to become the first Latina governor in the state's history.
The wins extended beyond governors' mansions. Democratic candidates seized control of both state legislative chambers in Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, giving the party "trifecta" control of the legislature and governor's office in those states. They also broke Republican trifectas in Georgia, Iowa, Ohio and Texas.
On top of giving Democrats more control over state laws on minimum wage, data centers, abortion access and other hot-button issues, the wins could affect future national elections by changing how U.S. congressional districts are drawn, how elections are administered and how results are certified, according to policy experts.
Some of the biggest and most surprising wins came in battleground states that have been key to President Donald Trump's election victories, and where Republican-led legislatures in recent years redrew congressional district boundaries to favor their party.
In at least three states – Georgia, Indiana and Ohio – Democrats also ousted incumbent GOP secretaries of state: the office that typically oversees election administration and certification of results. All those outcomes are “very significant” for future U.S. elections, according to Michael Berkman, director of
Penn State University's McCourtney Institute for Democracy.
He said Republicans won a similar sweep of state-level offices during former President Barack Obama's first midterm election in 2010, which allowed them to pass election laws, redraw congressional districts and give their party more control over how elections were administered in some states.
“So this gives Democrats an opportunity to really start to claw that back,” Berkman said.
The new Democratic leaders and legislators will likely try to undo some conservative policies that have recently dominated the national discourse, such as abortion restrictions and data center incentives, experts said.
But the incoming Democrats will also take office with “a huge backlog of liberal legislation that they want to do,” said Chris Warshaw, a professor at Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy.
Their top priorities will likely address voters' concerns about affordability, such as raising the minimum wage, expanding the federal Medicaid health insurance program and protecting labor rights, Warshaw said.
In Texas and Georgia, Republicans looked likely to lose control of the state legislatures for the first time in more than 20 years, yielding control over one chamber in each state to Democrats.
"The voters have delivered a mandate for change, and it is change they will get," Hinojosa said in a victory speech late Nov. 3.
Texas and Georgia voters also elected Democratic attorneys general for the first time in more than a decade, replacing Republican incumbents who had frequently sued past Democratic presidents over federal policies with which they disagreed.
As a result, “those places will stop being fountains for initial lawsuits, and start being fountains for lawsuits that are challenging things that Trump is doing,” said Jim Battista, associate professor of political science at the University at Buffalo.
Rural
Continued from Page 1NN
Kansas and Texas Senate races compared to the 2024 presidential election, according to exit polls.
The victories followed a yearslong Democratic effort to compete more aggressively in rural communities, where the party had steadily ceded ground to Republicans, according to interviews with 16 Democratic candidates, campaign staff and political experts and strategists.
Democratic strategists said that push was part of a broader Democratic National Committee effort to compete in places the party had long neglected. Rather than concentrating resources on a handful of battleground states, the DNC invested in every state party and pushed to field candidates in every race, they said.
"A lot of folks in rural America feel left behind because [Democrats] haven't been showing up to talk to people," said Democrat Rebecca Cooke, who unseated the Republican incumbent to win Wisconsin's 3rd Congressional District on Nov. 3. Now, she told Reuters, "there's no community too small" to visit.
The question now is whether Democrats can hold on to their gains through the 2028 presidential election cycle. The Nov. 3 election was widely seen as a rebuke of Trump rather than an embrace of the Democratic Party.
Republicans still won races on Nov. 3 in rural states including Arkansas, Oklahoma and Nebraska. And history shows that so-called wave elections dominated by one party do not necessarily translate into a presidential victory for the same party two years later.
To make their gains durable, Democrats will need to stick with their expansive electoral strategy, continuing to invest time and money in rural communities and other areas where they have made inroads, three Democratic strategists told Reuters.
“This was a rejection in essence of the way the party had worked in recent years, which was this focus on six or seven states,” said Simon Rosenberg, a Democratic strategist. “We had been operating on a very narrow map – too narrow.”
Rural Americans have steadily moved toward the Republican Party over the past 25 years, according to the Pew Research Center, driven by splits with Democrats on cultural issues and economic policies.
At the White House, Trump acknowledged that the Iran war had contributed to his party's midterm losses but said he still felt it was worth it.
The Republican National Committee did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
每周在为期11个月的“小镇星期二”（Small Town Tuesday）活动中，爱荷华民主党众议院候选人克里斯蒂娜·博汉南（Christina Bohannan）专注于走访农村小镇。她的竞选经理丹·德里斯科尔（Dan Driscoll）在一封电子邮件中表示，她的团队经常听到当地居民说，从未有任何政治竞选团队联系过他们。
Every week for 11 months, on what she dubbed “Small Town Tuesday,” Iowa Democratic House candidate Christina Bohannan focused on canvassing rural towns. Her team regularly heard from residents that no political campaign had ever contacted them before, campaign manager Dan Driscoll said in an email. Bohannan flipped the state’s 1st Congressional District.
For her campaign in Wisconsin, Cooke said she hired four regional field organizers and knocked on 54,000 doors, many in rural areas, in addition to those knocked on by the statewide Democratic Party.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee said it implemented a program for engaging rural voters for the first time this year.
Cooke, Bohannan and other Democratic candidates in rural districts aimed to capitalize on declining support for Trump. Approval of the president in rural areas fell to a new low in October of 45%, down from 60% at the start of his term, according to Reuters/Ipsos polling.
Across more than 1,500 rural counties where nearly all ballots had been counted on Nov. 4, Republican candidates were collectively underperforming Trump's 2024 share of the vote by 8 percentage points, according to vote totals compiled by Reuters and USA TODAY, which are partnering this year to collect live election results for U.S. Senate and House races.
In Iowa, Democratic candidates united for the state's first coordinated campaign since 2018, said Frances Patano, who ran the effort for the Iowa Democratic Party. That meant candidates could chip into a joint organizing effort that saved on costs and boosted lower-profile campaigns.
“By coordinating, you can run a far more efficient field program because you're not competing” for the same group of organizers, Patano said.
In the first two weekends of October, the statewide campaign nearly doubled its door knock attempts from the 2018 midterms, Patano said.
In rural Warren County, the coordinated program paid for a staffer who led six canvassing shifts every weekend out of the county's party office.
The added capacity boosted volunteer turnout. After years of organizing the same local Democrats to volunteer, Culbert said he would glance at a list of doorknockers and think: “Well, I don’t know half these names.”
Adam Hamilton is the first Democrat elected to the U.S. Senate from Kansas in nearly a century.
In Kansas, efforts to elect Adam Hamilton, the first Democrat elected to the Senate from the state in nearly a century, began four years ago.
When Jeanna Repass became chair of the Kansas Democratic Party in 2022, she knew the party would need to make inroads in a heavily rural state that Trump won by double digits in 2016 and 2020. She hired a year-round organizer and grew the number of county party chapters from 57 to 68.
The effort “helped us to stir people’s passions and get them organized,” Repass said.
This year, the party knocked about 50% more doors than they did in the 2022 midterms, Repass said. That strategy paid dividends for Hamilton Nov. 3, particularly in Seward County, where about half of eligible voters are Hispanic. Hamilton won by 13 points in Seward, a dramatic shift from 2024 when Trump won the county by 39 points.
"We are not flyover country," Hamilton said in his victory speech late Nov. 3, to huge cheers. "We are the heart of America."
Vance
Continued from Page 1NN
Vance, who is seen as a leading 2028 presidential contender, also said an earlier recommendation to end the war was “sound advice.”
Asked about Vance's remarks, Trump told reporters he thought they were good, saying: "I know how he feels about it." But Trump then defended the war effort, saying: "We stopped them from having a nuclear weapon."
Some officials and staff inside the White House viewed Vance's post as a foreign policy break from the president and a public recognition that the war had domestic economic consequences, a White House adviser told Reuters.
Democrats secured control of both the Senate and House of Representatives on Nov. 3, scoring sweeping victories in Republican strongholds for the first time in generations.
Voters in conservative bastions who had propelled the president to his second term in office just two years ago swung dramatically toward Democrats, fueled by deep frustration over the war with Iran, anxiety over the high cost of living and anger at Trump's stewardship of the country.
Vance sought to play down any difference of opinion with Trump, saying the president had also acknowledged that the Iran war cost Republicans the midterm elections. But Trump was far more measured, saying the Iran war was only one of multiple reasons for the electoral rout.
“I did the right thing,” Trump told the Wall Street Journal. “I would have done it again.”
Marco Rubio, a possible 2028 rival to Vance, has remained silent since the midterm elections.
The White House did not provide comment for this story but referred Reuters to Trump's comments from earlier agreeing with Vance's assessment that the Iran war was a major factor in Republican losses.
Trump launched the Iran war jointly with Israel in February, predicting a brief conflict that could bring the end of the Iranian government, which he called the “bully of the Middle East.”
While the attacks dealt devastating blows to Iran's military and its underground weapons storage facilities, the conflict turned into an effective stalemate after an April ceasefire failed to deliver a peace deal.
Since then, Iran has recovered some of its buried arsenal and threatened ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, contributing to concerns over global oil supplies.
With no clear path out of the conflict, Trump was briefed last week by Admiral Brad Cooper, the head of U.S. Central Command, on options for restarting combat operations, according to two sources familiar with the matter.
But U.S. intelligence assessments in recent months have indicated that renewed strikes on Iran would not fundamentally change Tehran's negotiating position or lead to regime change, according to a U.S. intelligence official and two other U.S. officials briefed on the intelligence.
Still, sources familiar with the deliberations warn Trump could still decide to act, noting he was aware of the political risks before midterm elections and “just didn’t care.”
One source said Trump did not have anything to lose politically now that the midterms were over and that he was more likely to double down on Iran and go ahead with an attack on Iran.
A second source agreed the most likely course was renewed hostilities, saying: "He is planning to bomb Iran. Don't listen to what he's saying. He held off because of the midterms. We asked him to hold off until the midterms."
All of the sources spoke on condition of anonymity.
Vance's comments could be seen as the start of his 2028 campaign, a person familiar with the matter said.
Some officials in the White House were made aware prior to Vance's post.
But a White House official, in a response to questions from Reuters, said most, if not all, senior White House staff were caught off guard by it.
Mediators have intensified efforts to end the war amid fears it could reignite after the election.
Some view Vice President JD Vance's comments on the Iran war as a sign of preparing for a 2028 presidential run by distancing himself from President Donald Trump's more divisive moves. TOM BRENNER/GETTY IMAGES
Vance has in recent weeks leaned more heavily into negotiations with Tehran. But there has been little indication from Iran that it is willing to accept American demands, including that it reduce its nuclear enrichment levels to zero.
[Justices lean to Catholic schools] Religious vs. LGBTQ+ rights debated by court
Maureen Groppe
USA TODAY
WASHINGTON – The Supreme Court on Nov. 3 sounded likely to side with the Catholic Church in the latest high court dispute that pits religious rights against anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people.
The justices debated for about two hours whether Colorado can require Catholic preschools to accept children of gay parents as a condition of public funding.
In recent years, the conservative court has robustly backed the First Amendment right to practice religion without government interference. A broad ruling for the church could pave the way for a wider range of religious exemptions from nondiscrimination laws.
In the current case, Colorado encouraged churches to participate in the state's universal preschool program, started in 2023 to provide free, early education throughout the state.
Without the state subsidies, the church said, enrollment at its preschools has "swiftly declined."
Without the state subsidies, the church said, enrollment at its preschools has "swiftly declined."
Faith-based schools are free to teach religious views on sex, marriage and gender. But in exchange for taxpayer dollars, schools must both meet certain quality standards and be open to all students.
The Archdiocese of Denver, which oversees 36 preschools, said Colorado is forcing it to choose between participating in the program and violating the Church's teachings on biological sex and marriage.
Without the state subsidies, the church said, enrollment at its preschools has “swiftly declined,” while parents who want to keep their children in those schools must pay thousands of dollars to do so.
The archdiocese, two parishes and the parents of a preschooler sued the state in 2023 after Colorado rejected its request for a religious exemption so the schools can require families to follow the church's teachings.
Lower courts said the state's non-discrimination policy complies with a 1990 Supreme Court decision curtailing religious rights challenges to laws that apply to everyone and don't target a particular religious group.
But the Supreme Court has since limited the reach of Employment Division v. Smith. And the Catholic Church argues the more relevant decisions are a trio of rulings since 2017 that have allowed taxpayer funds to flow to religious organizations. Most recently, the court said Maine couldn't exclude religious schools from an indirect aid program based on the schools' religious use of the funds.
In a stinging midterm rebuke of President Donald Trump, Democrats were poised to win control of the House of Representatives and the Senate. After a decade of defining American politics, Trump now begins a new political chapter, his trademark coalition showing signs of fraying while his opponents gain a foothold to confront him during his final two years in office.
Republicans faced losses even in red states and districts that Trump had carried by double digits just two years ago. That's the definition of a political tsunami, when the opposition's wave is overwhelming enough to swamp even distant shores.
Why?
Three of 4 voters said in a survey sponsored by NBC and other news organizations that they were dissatisfied
See PAGE, Page 2A
President Donald Trump faces a fraying coalition.
UMIT BEKTAS/REUTERS
President's picks didn't fare well
Trump's push fell short, as he failed to flip seats. 3A
Follow online: Find more election coverage at usatoday.com. Don't miss statewide election results from around the country in the Nov. 5 eNewspaper.
Democrats
are poised
to be a thorn
in Trump's side
Zachary Schermele
USA TODAY
WASHINGTON – For two years, Congress has largely done the bidding of President Donald Trump – but that will soon end.
Democrats are projected to wrest control of the Senate and House of Representatives back from Republicans, which means the legislative branch is about to become a much bigger thorn in the president's side.
Investigations, impeachments of Cabinet members and fiery hearings all are likely on the way.
Rep. Robert Garcia, a California Democrat poised to become the next chairman of the House Oversight Committee, put his party's message for Trump and his allies succinctly upon learning the GOP had lost its already-slim majority in the chamber.
“LAWYER UP,” Garcia wrote on social media.
Even with Republicans fully in charge, Congress has sometimes
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, left, is in line to be the first Black speaker of the House. Keisha Lance Bottoms is the first Black woman to be elected Georgia governor. And Abdul El-Sayed of Michigan is the first Muslim elected to the Senate. JEFFRIES BY JONATHAN ERNST/REUTERS; BOTTOMS BY TAYLOR EDGERTON/REUTERS; EL SAYED BY SALWAN GEORGES/GETTY IMAGES
Terry Collins
USA TODAY
In an election of historic firsts, Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms of Georgia will become the nation's first Black woman governor, and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-New York, is in line to be the first Black Speaker of the House.
Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed of Michigan became the first Muslim elected to that congressional chamber, after a contentious campaign featuring vicious verbal attacks from GOP opponent Mike Rogers, President Donald Trump, and even former Democratic Senate primary
Something unusual is happening in the skies above the Arctic, but will it have any impact on our weather here in the United States?
Our favorite wintertime punching bag, the polar vortex, is being disrupted in a climate process known as “sudden stratospheric warming,” which could eventually lead to an outbreak of frigid air across much of the United States at some point over the next few months.
What's unusual is that the sudden warming is occurring so early in the season. Indeed, forecast confidence has risen recently that the polar vortex will undergo an extraordinarily early major disruption early in November.
Meteorologists already have been seeing the polar vortex “become stretched out and splitting into two smaller vortex lobes,” said Laura Ciasto, a meteorologist with NOAA’s National Weather Service. It has the potential to be the earliest sudden stratospheric warming event since 1958, when reliable records began, Ciasto wrote in an email to USA TODAY.
"These are very interesting times for the polar vortex and likely for our weather. This will be very interesting
to watch unfold!"
Judah Cohen
Polar vortex expert at Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Whether that disruption translates into significant cold or snow in the United States later in November or December is much less certain.
"These are very interesting times for the polar vortex and likely for our weather. This will be very interesting to watch unfold!" said polar vortex expert Judah Cohen of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in an e-mail to USA TODAY.
With the event meteorologists have been watching, the polar stratospheric winds could reverse direction from westerly to easterly sometime between Nov. 6-10, Ciasto said.
The polar vortex is a gigantic, circular area of cold air high up in the atmosphere that typically spins over the North Pole (as its name suggests). It's strongest during the winter and usually weakens or even disappears in the summer.
Its position can determine what part of the United States that Arctic air will invade. Also, the polar vortex is not a synonym for “cold snap,” according to the Polar Vortex Blog at Climate.gov, and it’s not the only weather pattern to blame for blasts of cold air.
Meanwhile, the phrase “polar vortex” has captured public attention and is now often misused to describe short-term bouts of frigid weather, experts told USA TODAY in 2025.
“Weather can happen regardless of what the stratosphere is doing,” said Isla Simpson, a scientist with the National Center for Atmospheric Research.
Shortened to SSW, it is a dramatic warming of the stratosphere above the Arctic, typically 10 to 30 miles above Earth, that can disrupt or even temporarily reverse the normal west-to-east winds of the polar vortex.
The stratospheric polar vortex generally keeps the coldest air bottled up near the pole in the stratosphere, some 20 miles up in Earth's atmosphere, said Andy Hazelton, an associate scientist at the University of Miami.
But sometimes, large waves in the atmosphere can push up from below and knock the vortex off balance. That causes air over the pole to warm and its westerly winds to slow down or reverse direction, Hazelton wrote in an early November blog post.
This sometimes allows very cold Arctic air to spill farther south into North America, Asia or Europe several days or weeks later.
Hazelton's post on Brightband.com included analysis by scientists with Brightband, a technology company that says it's using artificial intelligence to improve weather forecasts.
In the records since 1958, only two other warming events happened in November, Ciasto said. Typically the events occur in January-March. They are less common in November, she said, because the polar vortex is still growing, with less wave energy propagating into the stratosphere to disrupt it.
Typically the events increase the chances of below-normal temperatures across the eastern United States and northern Europe, but those events in January, February or March occur when Arctic temperatures “have had time to get quite cold,” she said. “In November, there hasn’t been as much time so there’s less cold to source a cold-air outbreak.”
The Arctic as a whole at the end of October was about 8 degrees warmer than the 1990–2019 normal, while Alaska and the Yukon was about 13 degrees warmer, Hazelton said.
The only pool of truly cold air was over Eastern Siberia, Hazelton added.
Ciasto said it's important to remember the polar vortex is often not the only player in the atmospheric playground. This is especially true this winter with the very strong El Niño, Ciasto said. "How these two play together or compete will definitely influence what we feel at the surface in the next month."
While the sudden warming events have a reputation for causing some of the “most memorable cold outbreaks in recent years,” Hazelton said the AI model ensemble from Brightband indicates this event could be weak and short-lived, settling back toward the pole in late November with little impact on the United States.
Cohen previously told USA TODAY the most certain impact is a period of milder weather to eastern North America, probably for much of November.
The Capitol looms in the distance as President Donald Trump departs following his remarks before the midterm elections at the National Mall in Washington, DC, on Nov. 2. JONATHAN ERNST/REUTERS
“Usually it takes two weeks (but recently it seems to take much longer) for the impacts of the SSW to impact our weather, so that puts it as early as late November but more likely in December and could even be delayed until January,” Cohen said. “The downward influence of the SSW in my opinion is more likely to impact the weather of Northern Europe and/or Northern Asia than the eastern United States.”
In recent years, the impacts from SSWs in the eastern United States have been heavily skewed to resulting in overall milder weather across the eastern United States in stark contrast to expectations, Cohen said. "The last El Niño in 2023-24 featured two SSWs and it was a very mild winter in the eastern U.S. and may have even been record mild. In short, lots of uncertainty!"
or angry with the way things are going in the United States – including almost every Democrat and nearly half of Republicans. Seven of 10 voters complained that Congress hadn't done enough to check the powers of the presidency.
Now that is likely to change.
For the past two years, the weapons of Trump's Democratic opposition have been largely limited to lawsuits and rhetorical shadowboxing. After the results of Nov. 3, they will be able to wield legislative powers to investigate his administration and challenge policies on everything from safety-net spending and global tariffs to waging war with Iran.
"I have the ultimate power – it's called ‘veto,’” Trump told CBS News as votes were being counted. He predicted Democrats eventually would be forced to cooperate with him. “Historically, you veto for a couple of months and then they come and say, ‘We’ve got to make a deal.’”
“America is back,” Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-New York, expected to become the first Black speaker of the House, told exuberant Democrats at an election night rally in Washington. “Today begins the great American comeback.”
Democrats, who needed a net gain of three seats to control the House, were rolling well past that to a solid majority. In Senate races, where they needed a net gain of four seats to win control, their road to the majority ran through some very red states.
Democrat Roy Cooper flipped a Republican-held seat in North Carolina. In Texas, which Trump carried by 14 points in 2024, Democrat James Talarico defeated Attorney General Ken Paxton. And in South Carolina, Democrat Annie Andrews ousted Sen. Darline Graham.
Trump, who carried the state by 18 points two years ago, had hand-picked her as the nominee.
Once again, it was the economy, stupid – the mantra coined by Bill Clinton's presidential campaign more than three decades ago and one that politicians have ignored at their peril.
Nearly 9 in 10 voters in exit polls said the cost of living had been a crucial or major factor in determining their vote, and almost 8 in 10 said inflation had caused a hardship for their families. The president was getting much of the blame: By more than 2-1, 65% to 28%, they said he had made economic conditions worse, not better.
Trump found himself being hammered for the issue that helped propel his election two years ago. Then, he lambasted the Biden administration for failing to control inflation. Now, voters said they trusted Democrats more than Republicans to handle the economy.
Then, Trump blasted then-President Joe Biden for allowing a massive influx of undocumented immigrants across what he called “open borders.” Now, nearly 6 in 10 voters said Trump’s immigration enforcement measures had gone too far.
In Minneapolis, voters left “I Voted” stickers at street memorials for Alex Pretti and Renee Good, who were fatally shot by immigration officers in January.
Concern about immigration was costing Republicans among some Hispanics. That voter group, like young people, had swung toward Trump in the presidential election two years ago only to fall away this year.
That said, Democrats can't count on automatically reclaiming their political loyalty. Neither party is held in high regard: Republicans had a favorable-unfavorable rating of $41\%$ to $58\%$ . The Democratic Party fared only slightly better, at $46\%$ to $54\%$ .
To be sure, midterm elections are typically tough on presidents.
In four of the last five midterms, the president's party lost control of the House. In two of them, it lost control of the Senate. Midway through Trump's first term, in 2018, Republicans lost the House though they gained two seats in the Senate.
Still, unlike his predecessors, Trump sought to make the election a referendum about him, urging voters in a final sprint of 29 rallies to “pretend” that he was on the ballot. The effort to generate turnout among his MAGA base also spurred turnout among his Democratic opposition.
That made the results unusually personal: 41% said one reason for their House vote was to express their opposition to Trump. Just 16% said it was to express their support.
With the 2026 midterms over, the 2028 presidential race begins in earnest.
Among the White House hopefuls, three Democrats sailed to easy reelection in gubernatorial contests – Wes Moore in Maryland, JB Pritzker in Illinois and Josh Shapiro in Pennsylvania. Sen. Jon Ossoff's reelection in Georgia fueled interest in him as a potential presidential contender.
And in Detroit, at the election night party for Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed, former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg was on stage, ginning up the crowd. He's a hopeful, too.
Next time.
Volume 45, No. 38
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Texas Sen.-elect James Talarico and Gov.-elect Gina Hinojosa, both Democrats, toast with drinks while being surrounded by supporters at Whataburger in Austin, Texas. PROVIDED BY JAMES TALARICO VIA X/VIA REUTERS
challenger and Rogers backer Rep. Haley Stevens, which captured the nation's attention.
Texas Democratic state Rep. Gina Hinojosa was elected the first Hispanic governor of the Lone Star state, and the first Democratic governor in more than three decades.
In California, longtime Democrat and former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra was elected to become the first Hispanic governor of America's most populous state, where Hispanics make up more than 40% of the population.
Fellow Democrat Deb Haaland of New Mexico also won that state's governor race, which will make her the first Native American woman to serve as a governor of any state. She previously made history as the first Native American woman in Congress and the first Native American woman in former President Joe Biden's Cabinet.
Haaland is an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Laguna. She also has Jemez Pueblo heritage.
The Democratic nominee for Senate in Minnesota, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, won the race in that blue-leaning state and became the first Native American woman in the Senate.
Flanagan, a member of the White Earth Band of Ojibwe, might be joined in the Senate by Yup'ik Alaska Native Mary Peltola if she ousts incumbent GOP Sen. Dan Sullivan. However, Alaska's results could take up to two weeks to be reported.
Illinois will make history as the first state to have two women of color serving simultaneously in the U.S. Senate. Democratic Lt. Gov. Julianna Stratton defeated Republican challenger Don Tracy on Nov. 3. Stratton, who is Black and the heavy favorite, will join Sen. Tammy Duckworth, who is Asian American.
"All across the board, we're seeing history being made with the statements made by these accomplished women," National Urban League President and CEO Marc Morial told USA TODAY. "There might be more to come."
Bottoms, the former Atlanta mayor, was the second Black woman to run for Georgia governor after former state Rep. Stacey Abrams lost in both 2018 and 2022 as the Democratic nominee.
Jeffries poised to be first Black speaker of the House
Jeffries poised to be first Black speaker of the House
Jeffries is likely to become the first Black House speaker after Democrats were projected to win control of the chamber.
He is now fast-tracked to the position that follows the vice president in the line of presidential succession, as well as leading a revitalized Democratic Party during Trump's final two years in the White House.
“America is alive and well,” Jeffries said in a late-Election Day post on X.
Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas will become the first openly gay man to serve in the Senate after defeating former Republican Sen. John E. Sununu for New Hampshire's open seat.
Pappas, a popular Democrat who has consistently won the historically purple 1st Congressional District, faced a serious challenge in Sununu, one of the more popular political families in the state, as polls had shown a single-digit contest throughout the campaign.
The seat was open after Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen's retirement.
Voters elect Donalds as Florida's first Black governor
Voters elect Donalds as Florida's first Black governor
Republican Rep. Byron Donalds also made history by being elected as Florida's first Black governor.
The favored Donalds defeated Democrat David Jolly. Donalds' win marked the first time in eight years Floridians have picked a new governor to replace termed-out Republican Gov. Ron De-Santis.
Donalds received Trump's endorsement, but briefly distanced himself from him as the president's approval ratings hit new lows. On the campaign trail, Donalds said making Florida more affordable, lowering prescription prices, cutting taxes and insurance rates, and driving down housing costs were among his top priorities.
In addition to making history, Donalds' win continues the trend of Republicans winning every gubernatorial election in the Sunshine State since 1998.
Crowley elected as Wisconsin's first Black governor
Crowley elected as Wisconsin's first Black governor
In Wisconsin, Milwaukee County Executive and Democrat David Crowley defeated Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany to become the state's first Black governor in an odds-defying run that included suspending his campaign just four months ago and being massively outspent by the GOP.
Crowley also will be only the third governor to be born in Milwaukee, the state's largest city. At age 40, Crowley will be the youngest Wisconsin governor in almost a century.
“Thank you for placing your faith in me. That’s ultimately what voting is. A tremendous act of faith,” Crowley said at a campaign event in Milwaukee. “Not faith in one person or party, but faith in the ideas and the lessons learned – that the right leadership can make a difference in people’s lives.”
Contributing: Emily R. Condon, Jay Stahl, Margie Cullen, Molly Beck, Mary Spicuzza and Laura Schulte, USA TODAY
President's picks didn't fare well in the election
President's picks didn't fare well in the election
With Trump on stump,
hopefuls fail to flip seats
Bart Jansen
USA TODAY
WASHINGTON - Be careful what you wish for.
President Donald Trump invited voters to pretend he was on the ballot. But candidates he endorsed in a number of key competitive races suffered losses, and he flipped no seats from Democrat to Republican among the races that had been decided by 9 a.m. ET Nov. 4, according to an analysis by USA TODAY.
Trump endorsed 22 gubernatorial candidates, with 10 winning, 11 losing and Alaska undecided. The losses included five seats Democrats won that had been held by Republicans: Georgia, Iowa, Nevada, Ohio and Texas.
The president endorsed 24 Senate candidates. Of them, 13 won, nine lost and two contests remained undecided in Alaska and Mississippi. The losses included six races where Democrats won GOP seats: Iowa, Kansas, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina and Texas.
And in the House, Trump endorsed 234 candidates. The vast majority of those were incumbents in seats that Republicans already held. But Democrats flipped at least 23 GOP seats where the president endorsed their opponents. His chosen candidates won 128 seats and lost 40, with 66 undecided.
“Never has a president been more involved in selecting a party’s primary and general election candidates,” Marc Short, chief of staff to Trump’s first-term vice president, Mike Pence, said on social media.
“It’s hard for me to think of a White House that has done more to sabotage their own fellow members than this one has,” he added.
Trump campaigned aggressively in dozens of rallies across the country during the final month of the campaign, boasting that his promotion would boost turnout.
"I left every one of those states and the places were packed with thousands and in some cases, tens of thousands of people," Trump told Fox News. "If I'm not on the ballot, they wouldn't go."
But polls found voters were angry about the high cost of living and the continuing war in Iran.
The defeats among Trump's gubernatorial endorsements included several in safely Democratic seats where Trump had tangled with incumbents, such as California, where Democrat Xavier Becerra beat Republican Steve Hilton to succeed term-limited Democrat Gov. Gavin Newsom. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul beat Republican Bruce Blakeman, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker beat Republican Darren Bailey and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro beat Republican Stacy Garrity.
But the defeats included some striking flips from Republican to Democrat. In Texas, Gina Hinojosa became the first Hispanic woman elected governor by knocking off Gov. Greg Abbott. In Georgia, Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms became the first Black female governor by beating Rick Jackson. In Ohio, Republican Vivek Ramaswamy, a former Trump adviser on cost-cutting measures, lost to Democrat Amy Acton.
Trump rallied repeatedly in Iowa, but Republican Zach Lahn lost to Democrat Rob Sand. Nevada's Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo lost to Democrat Aaron Ford. And in Arizona, GOP Rep. Andy Biggs, a vocal supporter of Trump in Congress, lost to Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs.
Sen. Darline Graham gives her concession speech after losing in South Carolina to Democrat Annie Andrews. ALLISON JOYCE/GETTY IMAGES
In the Senate races, Democrats beat six of Trump's Republican endorsees to help reclaim control of the chamber.
Trump personally asked South Carolina Sen. Darline Graham to hold on to the seat of her late brother, Lindsey. But she lost to Democrat Annie Andrews, whom Trump had blasted for supporting transgender people.
The president visited Texas four times after Labor Day in support of Attorney General Ken Paxton, whom he supported against Sen. John Cornyn in the GOP primary.
"Ken Paxton was a good guy and I just wasn't a fan of Cornyn," Trump said. "You know, I just wasn't a fan."
But James Talarico became the first Democrat Texans elected to the Senate since 1988.
Trump held several rallies in Kansas and Iowa to support his candidates. But in Kansas, Sen. Roger Marshall lost to Democrat Adam Hamilton. And in Iowa, GOP Rep. Ashley Hinson lost to Democrat Josh Turek.
In North Carolina, Michael Whatley, Trump's personal pick to head the Republican National Committee after his first term, lost to Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper to succeed retiring GOP Sen. Thom Tillis.
Trump made endorsements in only three Senate races where Democrats had held the seats – and all three GOP candidates lost.
Abdul El-Sayed beat Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan to become the first Muslim elected to the Senate. Rep. Chris Pappas beat Republican John Sununu in New Hampshire to become the first openly gay member of the Senate. And Sen. Jon Ossoff easily fended off a challenge from Republican Rep. Mike Collins.
In the House, more than 200 of Trump's endorsements were for incumbents or for seats Republicans already held. He endorsed 27 candidates for seats held by Democrats; none of them had flipped Republican by early Nov. 4.
Among the GOP-held seats where Democrats picked up ground, three were in Iowa, where Trump rallied supporters in Sioux City on Oct. 22 and in Dubuque on Nov.1. GOP Rep. Marianette Miller-Meeks lost to Democrat Christina Bohannan, GOP Rep. Zach Nunn lost to Democrat Sarah Trone Garriott and Republican Joe Mitchell lost to Democrat Lindsey James for Rep. Ashley Hinson's seat.
Another state where Democrats grabbed three GOP seats was Pennsylvania, despite Trump's endorsements of Reps. Ryan Mackenzie, Rob Bresnahan and Scott Perry, who was a vocal Trump defender. The seats went to Democrats Bob Brooks, Paige Cognetti and Janelle Stelson, respectively.
In Texas, Republican Rep. Monica De La Cruz lost to Democrat Bobby Pulido, and GOP candidate Brandon Herrera lost to Democrat Katy Padilla Stout for the seat that had been held by Republican Tony Gonzalez.
Both chambers have voted to end the Iran war and release the Epstein files. The House has repudiated Trump's tariffs on Canada while outgoing GOP senators pushed back on Trump's plans to build a White House ballroom and launch an “anti-weaponization” fund.
But Republican leadership largely had worked to advance Trump's agenda. With Democrats poised to take over, that's about to change.
Investigations, impeachments and shutdown showdowns
Investigations, impeachments and shutdown showdowns
Armed with control of both chambers,
Democrats will have powerful new tools at their disposal to conduct oversight of the Trump administration.
They'll be able to subpoena government agencies, drag administration officials to Capitol Hill for dramatic hearings and conduct investigations into the president and his allies. Unlike when Democrats were in the minority, the probes will carry the full force of the legislative branch's authority.
“You will have a Congress that recognizes we don’t work for the president,” said House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-New York, who’s now poised to become the next speaker.
And while congressional Democrats have largely left the possibility of impeaching Trump off the table, there are articles pending in the House to remove a number of Cabinet secretaries, including Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth.
Those measures will likely see new momentum in that chamber, though they'll ultimately have to clear trials in the Senate before any high-level Trump administration officials could actually be removed.
And Trump may have a tougher time negotiating deals to keep the government funded. Despite Democrats' wins, they still need to win over GOP votes in the Senate – and Trump's signature – to pass spending bills.
Health care, affordability are Democrats' priorities
Health care, affordability are Democrats' priorities
In his victory speech celebrating his party's gains, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-New York, said he had five words for Americans who supported Democrats: "Relief is on the way."
They've outlined lowering health care costs and addressing widespread affordability concerns as among their biggest goals.
While the Trump administration has opposed previous Democrat-led efforts to enact policies such as extending Obamacare subsidies, the president has expressed a willingness to try to ease health care expenses for Americans.
Without mentioning specific issues, he indicated the night of Nov. 3 he'd be open to passing legislation championed by the opposite party, though he stressed he reserves the right to veto any bills.
"I don't want to be just sitting there for two years vetoing everything," he told Politico.
At the same time, congressional Republicans such as Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-South Dakota, vowed not to let Democrats “unwind everything we’ve done.”
Trump says U.S. will end nearly \$4B in Israel aid
Trump says U.S. will end nearly \$4B in Israel aid
President says ally no longer needs support
Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy
USA TODAY
President Donald Trump said the United States will end about \$4 billion in annual aid to Israel by the end of the year, saying he had reached an agreement with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“Israel’s our No. 1 [recipient] – we give them more than anybody else. And they no longer need it,” said Trump during a Nov. 3 interview on Fox and Friends. “We’ve been doing it for years. Israel is a very thriving country. They don’t need it.”
Trump's comments came on Election Day as voters head to polling booths to make their voices heard in the midterms. U.S. aid to Israel amid its war in Gaza was one of the most contentious issues leading up to those elections.
Public opinion on aid to Israel has also shifted. A New York Times/Siena poll found in May that three-quarters of Democratic voters opposed U.S. economic or military support for Israel.
In July, nearly half of House Democrats voted to cut off aid to Israel through an amendment to a State Department spending bill, signaling a lack of political support for a longtime ally. The measure did not pass due to lack of support from Republicans.
Progressive Democratic candidates have used pro-Israel groups' backing of establishment candidates as a cudgel in competitive Democratic primaries.
In the interview, Trump also mentioned Michigan's Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, who has been an outspoken critic of U.S. military aid to Israel and other countries, and who argues that taxpayer dollars should prioritize domestic needs like health care and education.
El-Sayed reiterated his stance at a recent appearance with Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont, at a “Students vs. Billionaires” town hall in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
President Donald Trump said that he has agreed with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to halt roughly \$4 billion in annual U.S. aid to Israel after 2026. ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES FILE
“Right now, they’re getting bombs and tanks and unconditional foreign military aid. I want to ban unconditional foreign military aid. I want to ban it to Israel, I want to ban it to Egypt, where my family immigrated from, to Jordan, to Pakistan, to Saudi Arabia, to Qatar, to all of them,” said El-Sayed. “I don’t pay my tax dollars so another country gets a bomb or a tank. We pay our taxes so that our kids get good schools.”
Trump, in the Election Day interview, said Israel had been a “great ally, much more reliable than most.”
“Why should we suffer the slings from lunatics like in El-Sayed when they don’t need it?” said Trump. “It’s a bad talking point.”
Neither Netanyahu's party nor the opposition secured a majority in Israel's Oct. 27 parliamentary elections, leaving coalitions to negotiate to determine the country's next government.
Trump has said he would not be inclined to support Israel if Netanyahu doesn't win.
Democratic Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida criticized Trump's stance.
“A true friend of Israel doesn’t threaten to withhold U.S. support based on the result of its election,” she wrote on X. “Israeli voters decide who leads Israel, not Trump.”
U.K. adventurer back home after 28-year trek around world
U.K. adventurer back home after 28-year trek around world
REUTERS
HULL, England – A British adventurer who has been walking around the world for almost three decades finished his trek Nov. 2, ending a 31,000-mile journey at the house where he grew up.
Karl Bushby has hacked through jungles in Central America, crossed the ice between Alaska and Russia and last month swam across the English Channel on the final stretch of a voyage made entirely under his own steam.
Hundreds of cheering supporters greeted the 57-year-old in the square of his home city of Hull on Nov. 2.
"After 28 years, you just couldn't ask for more than this," he told the crowd, before pushing on with his few possessions in a trolley, a spare tire which will now never be needed slung on top.
"I guess I'll be seeing you around," he added. He then headed for his family home where his mother, his 36-year-old son and a 12-year-old granddaughter were waiting.
Bushby served in the British Army's Parachute Regiment in his 20s. After the breakdown of his marriage he drew a line on a world map and set off, inspired by his father, who had wondered if it was possible to walk from London to New York.
Carrying a tent, a few hundred dollars and a cheap plastic camera, he started in Chile and headed north through the Americas, crossing from Alaska to Russia, Mongolia and China, and back through Europe after swimming the Caspian Sea.
“Sometimes the monotony is incredible. You’re in deserts and the landscape doesn’t change for days to weeks. That can get a little mind-bending. The same with the Arctic,” he told Reuters last year.
He originally expected to spend about 10 years on the road but hadn't anticipated the obstacles he'd face, among them a brief imprisonment in Panama, being held at gunpoint in Mexico and detention by Russian authorities for crossing the border illegally, not to mention delays from the 2008 financial crisis and the COVID pandemic.
Adventurer Karl Bushby is greeted by his mother, Angela Bushby, as he arrives home on Nov. 2 in Hull, England. LEON NEAL/GETTY IMAGES
"This is what an odyssey in the 21st century looks like. Half of it is literally dealing with these bureaucratic geopolitical problems, not just the environmental hurdles. There are some times where the solution is just to wait. ... After 28 years, you just couldn't ask for more than this. I guess I'll be seeing you around."
“This is what an odyssey in the 21st century looks like,” he told the Telegraph newspaper. “Half of it is literally dealing with these bureaucratic geopolitical problems, not just the environmental hurdles. There are some times where the solution is just to wait.”
Bushby told the BBC he has only spent about 15 of the 28 years walking, returning to Mexico periodically to sort out visas, logistics and corporate and media sponsorship deals.
A feature-length documentary about his journey is in production, and Bushby is planning to embark on a speaking tour around England in the coming weeks.
Bamboo needs no fertilizer and is drought tolerant, making it a good fit in areas with subpar conditions for agriculture. GETTY IMAGES
Plant seen as viable fuel option amid high prices
Henry Schwan
Worcester Telegram & Gazette
USA TODAY NETWORK
WORCESTER, MA – Want some relief from high prices at the pump? How about bamboo? The stiff, hollow plant that can grow quite tall could be the answer.
Researchers, including a team at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, believe bamboo has the potential to be a cheaper and more environmentally friendly alternative when compared to petroleum-based transportation products that power planes, trains and automobiles.
Research findings recently published in the journal Sustainable Energy & Fuels includes some eye-popping results, including that bamboo fuels could reach as low as \$2.75 per gallon, compared to the price of gasoline that is currently more than \$4 per gallon, and over \$6 per gallon for diesel.
Chemical engineering professor Michael Timko, who led the WPI research team, said the school's interest in bamboo started several years ago when a visiting student from Nigeria brought the plant with her to the United States.
"I was surprised that she did that," said Timko, but she had a passion for the perennial and a WPI team worked with her to convert the bamboo into ethanol, which is a substitute for petroleum-based fuels.
There are nearly 1,500 species of bamboo – some of them invasive – and it's the fastest-growing land plant on Earth. Timko ticked off bamboo's benefits: It needs no fertilizer and is drought tolerant, making it a good fit in areas with subpar conditions for agriculture.
Timko's team calculated that bamboo shoots up at least 10 times faster than corn that is grown in abundance in the
United States for the production of ethanol.
As for its environmental benefits, bamboo captures and stores large amounts of carbon above and below ground. WPI's research discovered that using bamboo as a fuel source cut greenhouse gas emissions 26 times below conventional petroleum diesel fuel.
So how did Timko's team arrive at its conclusions?
It used economic and environmental modeling and experiments with hydrothermal liquefaction. Timko described hydrothermal liquefaction as heating up bamboo in a thermal pressure cooker that reaches temperatures of nearly 600 degrees Fahrenheit.
The pressure cooker was a batch reactor the size of a washing machine, and the result was biocrude in 10 minutes.
Timko isn't sure why hydrothermal liquefaction achieved that result in such a short amount of time. He believes it has something to do with the amount and types of impurities in bamboo. Those are the materials that plants absorb from the ground, such as salt and silica.
Timko sees bamboo's low levels of impurities as an advantage when considering the possibilities of using the plant as a transportation fuel instead of corn stover, which some experts believe can be used on a broad scale to make biofuels.
Corn stover consists of the stalks, leaves, husks and cobs left after harvest, and it has at least 10 times more impurities than bamboo, according to Timko.
What matters is output levels in fuel production when materials are fed into machinery for processing, and Timko said WPI's studies showed bamboo produced 50% to 100% more biocrude per kilogram than corn stover.
Turning bamboo into fuel comes with challenges, including how to develop a process to grind it up and continuously feed large amounts into a reactor. It would be similar to the large-scale chemical processing for petroleum that Timko said is efficient and cost-effective.
The batch reactor used by WPI was inefficient, Timko said, because the door had to be opened and closed when feeding bamboo into it.
“Solids into a high-pressure reactor that is energy-efficient is the next challenge,” he said. “It’s an engineering challenge.”
Another challenge involves world events that can cause crude oil prices to fluctuate. When the swings result in lower prices at the pump for long stretches of time, Timko said, it becomes harder to present the argument about bamboo's profitability potential.
There's also the economic and political forces tied to farming, corn and ethanol that are entrenched in American culture and congressional budgets, but Timko believes growing bamboo will benefit farmers.
Not only will it grow faster and in marginal conditions so the most fertile areas remain for growing other crops, but bamboo only needs 10% to 15% of the land mass devoted to growing corn for ethanol in the United States, according to WPI's modeling.
There's also an education component that Timko says is needed so the facts about bamboo lead to informed political and economic decisions.
No investments are risk-free, said Timko, adding that the next steps include scaled-up processing to reach 100 tons of bamboo biocrude daily to achieve a commercial-level operation. Moreover, connections would have to be developed with the petroleum industry for refining.
Time and tolerance from the public is needed if bamboo is to potentially reach its potential as a reliable, cheaper and renewable source of fuel that benefits the environment, he said.
“There’s a lot of vested interest by farmers and the petroleum industry,” he said. “High petroleum prices and public will is usually the way these things are going to happen. And tolerance of a bit longer timeline.”
Humans have long dreamed of reaching Mars, but it could be hard on the body.
Mark Shelhamer, the former chief scientist for NASA's Human Research Program, has an idea to manage that: Use artificial intelligence to provide early clues about astronaut health so doctors can get ahead of any potential problems. The hope is the technology could pick up on changes and stressors that otherwise might be overlooked.
Shelhamer, who now works as a scientist at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, has studied the health risks of long-duration spaceflight, including radiation exposure and bone loss, as well as the vestibular system, space motion sickness and coordination.
He says more work is needed before the first humans take off for the Red Planet.
After 26 years of a continuous human presence on the International Space Station, researchers know space-flight affects bone density, muscles and the immune, cardiovascular and digestive systems. Without gravity, blood and other bodily fluids shift upward in the body, causing issues like face puffiness and sinus problems.
Some astronauts have lived aboard the ISS for a year or more, but how these stressors would affect them on a far longer round-trip to Mars, which could take three years, remains unknown.
"It's a very challenging, very demanding environment. The technology is pushed to its limits. The people are pushed to the limits," said Shelhamer.
It was just this year that the first medical evacuation from the ISS occurred, cutting the mission of Crew-11 about a month short. While the specifics were not revealed due to medical privacy, NASA astronaut Mike Fincke said that he experienced a scare that called for ground-based evaluation.
As people travel farther and spend more time off Earth, something unexpected is bound to happen. Shelhamer said we must think about how to deal with that uncertainty: "How can we design a mission and train the people so that when the unexpected occurs, and we don't have the place to treat or deal with that specific thing, how can the mission still go on successfully? How can it be resilient?"
One answer: monitor the medical and psychological well-being of the crew through AI, treating the crew, spacecraft and mission as an interconnected system, and flagging changes that could signal emerging problems. While unclear exactly what this system would look like or how it could work, Shelhamer believes it could hold significant potential.
For instance, imagine that briefly elevated carbon dioxide levels impact a particular crew member more than others. The AI would look at trends and correlate carbon dioxide levels with that particular astronaut's mental state.
“You could have an algorithm alert the crew,” said Shelhamer.
Shelhamer noted that astronauts may be hesitant about the idea of being “monitored,” which could be a challenge. Yet the goal is to give the crew the information they need to succeed.
Evidence of red blood cells is found in a dinosaur fossil
Evidence of red blood cells is found in a dinosaur fossil
Will Dunham
REUTERS
Scientists have discovered what they consider the strongest evidence yet of blood cells in a dinosaur fossil inside the bone from the right leg of a medium-sized meat eater that prowled Brazil some 115 million years ago during the Cretaceous Period.
The researchers identified numerous microscopic structures in the bone from the species Aratasaurus museunacionali that appear to be fossilized red blood cells. They also detected chemical evidence related to a key component of these cells – an iron-containing biomolecule called heme that is associated with hemoglobin, the protein that gives blood its red color.
The evidence for blood cells and heme was found in vascular canals inside bones of an Aratasaurus individual, thought to be a juvenile or young adult about 4 years old when it died. The bipedal dinosaur would have measured about 10 feet long.
"We have not found a vial of dinosaur blood. What we are seeing is a mineral and molecular echo of ancient biology, and that is scientifically much more interesting," said Kliti Grice, an organic and isotope geochemist at Curtin University in Perth, Australia, and lead author of the study published on Nov. 2 in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
A portion of the fossilized remains of the right hind limb of an Aratasaurus is seen at the Placido Cidade Nuvens Paleontology Museum in Brazil.
PROVIDED BY CURTIN UNIVERSITY VIA REUTERS
“For me, the most surprising thing is that we can see the structures together with chemical evidence of their biological origin after such enormous geological time,” Grice said.
Red blood cells, continuously manufactured inside bone marrow, transport oxygen from the lungs to the body's tissues and then help bring carbon dioxide back from the tissues to the lungs to be exhaled.
Unlike hard bones and teeth, soft tissues like muscles and feathers are only rarely preserved in fossils. Cells present in bodily liquids like blood are even less commonly spotted in fossils.
“Bones and teeth tell us an enormous amount about anatomy, growth and evolution. Molecular and cellular evidence potentially adds another level of biological information,” Grice said.
The research does not document dinosaur DNA, Grice said, cautioning against interpreting the discovery as evidence that intact dinosaur genetic material is present.
“DNA and other large, information-rich biomolecules have very different preservation characteristics from small molecules and chemically transformed molecular remnants. The survival of cell-like morphology and heme-related chemical signals does not mean that the DNA that was originally contained within cells has survived," Grice said.
The researchers also detected collagen-related amino acids in the Arata-saurus bone, though Grice noted that this is not equivalent to recovering an intact ancient protein or genetic information. Collagen is an abundant structural protein, sort of the scaffolding that holds the body's tissues together.
“What the work does encourage us to do is keep testing the limits of molecular preservation rather than assuming that all biological information must disappear after a particular length of time,” Grice said.
The oldest-known DNA reported by scientists came from animals, plants and microbes dating to about 2 million years ago from sediment in Greenland.
The Aratasaurus fossil was unearthed in a gypsum mine in Ceará state in northeastern Brazil.
Savannah Guthrie has issued a new plea for information about Nancy Guthrie, nine months to the day after her 84-year-old mother was reported missing.
The “Today” show cohost marked the anniversary Nov. 1 on Instagram, sharing a sentimental old drawing by her daughter, Vale, of a blue umbrella
"Our mom was a light in this world. We want to celebrate her and give her the dignity she deserves."
in the rain, scrawled with the words, “I know it might not seem like it but I really need my Mommy.”
Savannah Guthrie
Nancy Guthrie was reported missing from her Tucson, Arizona, home on
Feb. 1. Authorities say she was taken against her will.
The FBI released images in February of an armed person at her front door, appearing to tamper with the camera. The person has not been identified.
Guthrie noted that the drawing says "so much about how I feel."
"The world goes on, things appear ‘normal’ – as we try to keep going and be strong, especially for our young kids - but it's not and it never will be," she wrote. "For Annie and Tommy, for Cam and Kristine, for Mike and me and for all of mom's beloved grandchildren: we ache for her, we cry out for answers, we cannot move forward. We need someone to help us, tell us what you know.
"Our mom was a light in this world. We want to celebrate her and give her the dignity she deserves. The reward is still available. Please. We are begging you. Please help us."
She closed the message by thanking those “who have been kind and shown the best of humanity” and a yellow heart emoji. “Join us in praying without ceasing.”
On Oct. 30, the Pima County Sheriff's Department in Arizona issued an update about its investigation on X.
"The Nancy Guthrie Task Force continued to work with our labs in hopes of furthering our DNA analysis in this investigation," a statement from Sheriff Chris Nanos read. "Earlier [in October] investigators traveled to Florida to meet with lab scientists to see what more could be done to advance the case. A number of ideas were discussed, and we continue to work with all of our partners to solve this case."
The statement ends with a call to action, urging that “no tip is too small.”
Former FBI agent and NewsNation law and justice contributor Jennifer Coffindaffer said four purported ransom emails she received in April were an attempt to cash in on concern about the 84-year-old's disappearance, and she alerted the FBI. She believes the senders were scammers.
According to Coffindaffer, the bureau told her the bitcoin address provided did not match the address associated with ransom demands investigators considered potentially legitimate.
She decided to speak publicly after learning Guthrie's neighbor Lauren Serpa received a similar message and both notes included nearly identical images.
In July, Savannah Guthrie made an emotional plea in an Instagram video, and said her “family is in agony” and asked listeners to “help us find her.”
“We are in a nightmare that will not end; nothing about our situation has changed,” she said in the video. “We will never stop looking for her. We will always ache for her and feel that hole in our hearts.”
In a June conversation on “Today” with Jenna Bush Hager, Savannah Guthrie shared that continuing to do her job amid her mom’s disappearance hasn’t been easy. “I know maybe people wonder, ‘What’s going on? How is she able to do that job? Is she not thinking about it? Did she forget?’ No. Never,” she said, adding, “I cry every morning on the way to work, and I cry every morning on the way home.”
Ahead of the scheduled execution of Jeffrey Weisheit, his attorneys claim the state of Indiana purchased its lethal injection drugs from a pharmacy it is actively investigating and has placed on probation for drug contamination.
Weisheit's attorneys have asked Gov. Mike Braun to push back the Nov. 5 execution and conduct an independent review of the state's process for procuring the drug pentobarbital for lethal injections. They argue that Indiana's process is similar to the one used in Tennessee, which botched the executions of Tony Carruthers and Christa Pike and triggered nationwide scrutiny over the protocol, transparency and whether such executions are humane.
The state bought pentobarbital from Pharmaneek Pharmacy Services in Indianapolis, according to Weisheit's attorneys and records included in their petition to Braun. It's the first public confirmation of the state's execution drug supplier.
State law prohibits the release of identifying information about the procurement of lethal injection drugs, but the attorneys identified the pharmacy through an address on an invoice. IndyStar confirmed that Pharmaneek's address is included on an improperly redacted invoice.
"It is alarming that the state purchased these drugs from a pharmacy it is trying to shut down due to major safety issues in the storage and management of drugs," said Joe Perkovich, one of Weisheit's attorneys, in a news release.
Jeffrey Weisheit's attorneys say they identified Indiana's supplier of a lethal injection drug, pentobarbital, through an address on an improperly redacted invoice. GETTY IMAGES
Hours after the attorneys publicly raised concerns about the drug supplier, Braun announced he was denying Weisheit clemency and said the state would continue preparations to execute him on Nov. 5. Last week, the Indiana Parole Board unanimously recommended denying Weisheit's plea.
The governor's office has not responded to IndyStar's questions, including whether it plans to pause the execution.
Indiana Department of Correction said it received the drug on Oct. 29. Spokesperson Noelle Russell said the state purchased 6 vials, 50 milliliters each, of pentobarbital on Sept. 25 for \$275,000.
The state's Board of Pharmacy may suspend Pharmaneek's license this month for issues related to contaminated drugs, according to documents provided by Weisheit's attorneys. The pharmacy has also failed multiple state
Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita's office filed a complaint against the pharmacy in November 2025, which resulted in a settlement and put the pharmacy on probation. The complaint to the state pharmacy board says the pharmacy has been found operating with "numerous shoddy procedures," such as unlabeled pill bottles, expired drugs on active shelves, a room kept at 84 degrees, and a lack of consistent temperature logs. These issues were included in exhibits attached to the petition filed by Weisheit's attorneys.
The board did not respond to a request for comment asking it to confirm its investigation of Pharmaneek. Pharmaneek did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Indiana also has come under scrutiny as one of the least transparent states when it comes to executions. It is the only state actively executing people to deny journalists the opportunity to witness the death penalty.
Indiana resumed executions for the first time in 15 years in December 2024. In less than a year, the state has used lethal injection to kill three men.
Weisheit was convicted and sentenced to death for the 2010 murders of two children, 8-year-old Alyssa Lynch and her 5-year-old brother, Caleb. The children were burned alive in their home in Evansville.
Contributing: Kristine Phillips, Indianapolis Star
Cate Charron's role covering First Amendment issues at IndyStar is made possible by a collaboration among Freedom Forum, Journalism Funding Partners and the USA TODAY Network. Freedom Forum does not provide editorial input.
Mars crew concludes yearlong stint in isolation at NASA's Houston center
Mars crew concludes yearlong stint in isolation at NASA's Houston center
CHAPEA Mission 2 crew members Ross Elder, Matthew Montgomery, Ellen Ellis and James Spicer pose before spending more than a year in isolation.
PROVIDED BY NASA VIA REUTERS
Will Dunham
REUTERS
The four members of a crew who took part in a simulated mission to Mars have emerged after 378 days in isolation at the U.S. space agency's Johnson Space Center in Houston, an endeavor designed to help prepare for a possible future excursion by NASA astronauts to Earth's planetary neighbor.
"It's been a hell of a year – analog astronauts living in captivity of our own free will," Ellen Ellis, the medical officer on the Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog, or CHAPEA, mission, said in remarks at Johnson Space Center after emerging with her three crewmates on Oct. 30.
The four entered the 1,700-square-foot 3D-printed habitat on Oct. 19, 2025, and performed tasks such as growing crops in simulated Martian soil and interfacing with NASA officials with delays recreating those inherent in interplanetary communications.
NASA, which has explored Mars with robotic rovers and orbiting spacecraft, has ambitions for a human mission to Mars as early as the 2030s, with plans before that to return astronauts to the moon for the first time since 1972.
“We have a narrowing window of opportunity to maintain U.S. preeminence in space,” Ellis said.
Ellis mentioned the service academy for space-related operations pursued by President Donald Trump's administration and plans for a lunar base.
“Let’s seize the initiative, lead with science that will benefit our economy and ensure our legacy in space for our children’s children,” Ellis said.
The other crew members were mission commander Ross Elder, science officer Matthew Montgomery and flight engineer James Spicer.
“For Mars, the risks are great,” Elder said in remarks after emerging from isolation. “But through seeking understanding, strong vision and leadership, creativity, fortitude, hard work and incredible foundation, the goal of putting humans on Mars is not only achievable, but rather inevitable.”
The crew is set to participate in two weeks of post-mission evaluations and debriefing with NASA scientists. NASA has said it is looking for insight into what it takes for astronauts to adapt to the routines and demands of daily life on long-duration missions beyond Earth to keep them healthy, productive, and connected.
This was NASA's second CHAPEA mission, with another four-person crew in isolation at Johnson Space Center for
Vanessa Wyche, director of the Johnson Space Center, greeted the crew members when they exited isolation. Wyche said they managed to live with limited resources, maintain their habitat, and carry out simulated Mars operations.
378 days spanning 2023 and 2024.
Wyche also noted how the crew dealt with the simulated interplanetary communications, with lag times between sending messages and receiving responses.
"These delays require patience, careful planning and greater independence
\- qualities that will be essential for future astronauts traveling millions of miles from home," Wyche said.
Wyche said the lessons learned from the CHAPEA crew and their experiences will help pave the way for the missions first to the moon and “one day, Mars.”
The court's three liberal justices said that the Catholic Church is trying to push the court far beyond those rulings to require exemptions even when there's no explicit discrimination against a religious entity.
"It seems to me that you're asking for a special rule for religious schools,"
The court's conservatives appeared to agree with the church that it would become too easy for states to discriminate against religious entities unless the court focused on the effect of the law and not just the specific text.
Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson told the attorney for the archdiocese. “Your rule is not allowing our society to have all people live together because it’s preferencing the religious entity’s ability to discriminate against others.”
the court was just “wasting our time” in the previous cases.
Helen Norton, attorney for Colorado, said the state worked hard to include religious schools in its universal preschool program and there's “zero evidence” that the court indirectly targeted Catholic schools by adopting the rule.
"The only thing Colorado asks is that they comply with the same conditions that every publicly funded preschool must meet, religious and secular alike," Norton said.
in recent years: a cafe, an auto repair, a beauty shop.
Kathy Draeger and Mike Jorgenson check in on the beef cattle that inhabit a paddock on their farm in Clinton, Minnesota, on Oct. 16. The pair, who rent out the paddock to a neighboring beef farmer, said they could have just as easily rented the land to a conventional farmer for greater profits, but environmental concerns pushed them toward the former route. PHOTOS BY CASEY EK/FOR USA TODAY
Rex Huppke
USA TODAY
This is the first column in USA TODAY Opinion columnist Rex Huppke's new series, America's Looming Farm Crisis. Farmers across the country are struggling to keep their heads above water, reminding some of the lead-up to the devastating 1980s farm crisis.
CLINTON, Minnesota – Kathy Draeger, whose husband's family has farmed the land in west-central Minnesota's Big Stone County for generations, knows trouble is coming for America's farmers. She can feel it like storms rolling off the plains of neighboring South Dakota.
Her fellow farmers feel it, too. The squeeze. The pressure of debt on their chests. She knows one nearby farmer already selling land to make ends meet.
"I was with a group of farmers recently and asked if it felt now like it did in the 1980s," Draeger said. "They all nodded their heads."
That statement alone should alarm us all. The 1980s farm crisis was an agricultural cataclysm of bankruptcies and foreclosures that devastated and forever reshaped rural America. It was the worst economic crisis in farming since the Great Depression.
Whether you're a farmer or a finance executive who has never seen a farm, the health of U.S. agriculture is vital to you. American farmers keep grocery shelves full, restaurants stocked and protect our national security by giving us a sound domestic food supply.
Basically, when farming gets a cold, America gets sick.
Minnesota saw the most farm bankruptcies in the country in the first quarter of this year, and the autumn harvest arrived with record-high diesel prices cutting into thin to nonexistent profit margins.
But it's not just here, among rolling hills of corn as high as your head and tidy rows of soybeans waving on land farmed by generations of the same families, that you're hearing echoes of the 1980s farm crisis.
“This does remind me so much of the ’80s,” said Pam Johnson, a retired Iowa farmer and past president of the National Corn Growers Association. “We were farming in the ’80s and we almost had survivors guilt because we had friends and neighbors that didn’t survive, by no fault of their own.
“You know the old standard: Pull yourself up by your bootstraps, and if you work, you’re gonna be able to make it. Well, that theory was kind of bashed.”
Brian Kuehl, a principal at Pinion, an advisory firm that works with the agriculture industry, described the current moment in American farming like this: "I think that this is a farm crisis that is as significant as the 1980s.
"It's different. We don't have the high interest rates that you had in the '80s. But I think you've got a lot of the same dynamics unfolding, and a lot of farmers being hurt."
The cost of everything that goes into farming is sky-high
The cost of everything that goes into farming is sky-high
The issues that farmers are facing include: the high and rising cost of farm inputs like seeds, fertilizer and equipment; crop prices that aren't doing enough to offset high input costs; record-high farm debt; and rising interest rates that make borrowing more difficult and loan payments harder to manage.
Anne Schwagerl, a Big Stone County farmer and vice president of the Minnesota Farmers Union, told me: “I think people are in a farming-to-survive mode. Right, so we’re gonna do anything we can to hang on and hope for better conditions in the future.”
Farmers are small in number, but vital to America's well-being
Farmers are small in number, but vital to America's well-being
Farming can, admittedly, be a difficult topic to get people to think or care about. It's a job few Americans do, but all Americans rely on.
Jorgenson decommissions an electric fence at his and Draeger's home in Clinton, Minnesota, on Oct. 16.
To put that in context, the American Farm Bureau Federation puts the number of farm and ranch families in America at less than 2% of the U.S. population. But more than 80% of the food we eat, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, comes from the domestic supply chain, so that tiny percentage of farmers does a lot to keep us fed.
Even if you don't know a farmer, even if you have zero connection to or concern for rural America, if you care about a steady U.S. food supply and about what you're eating, the state of agriculture in America should be of significant concern.
The total number of U.S. farmers may be small, but the ripple effect of any crisis in the agriculture industry is felt everywhere – from tractor dealerships and shops in rural towns like Clinton, Minnesota, to grocery stores and upscale restaurants in big cities like Chicago nine hours southeast.
Politicians pander to farmers, but rarely deliver what's needed
Politicians pander to farmers, but rarely deliver what's needed
And yet, perhaps because most of us are so disconnected from the land that we forget where the food in our refrigerators comes from, farmers tend to be easily ignored.
They're paid lip service by politicians of both parties who swear their allegiance to America's great farmers, but such patter uses “farmers” more as a code word for “rural America.”
The reality is farmers are a tiny vot-
ing bloc, so they're easily leveraged
while campaigning, then just as easily
forgotten once a politician takes office.
There's no clearer example of that than the fact that Congress hasn't passed a new farm bill – a package of federal legislation dictating agricultural and food policy that's supposed to be renewed every five years – since 2018.
Jorgenson and Draeger are western Minnesota farmers, and Draeger also is a sustainable agriculture professor at the University of Minnesota.
The Kansas-based Barry Flinchbaugh Center for Ag and Food Policy noted earlier this year that since 2018, "input costs have spiked dramatically.
“Trade uncertainty – including significant tariff volatility – has created risks that existing commodity programs were never designed to address. ... Agricultural labor challenges have grown more acute with no clear legislative resolution.”
The lack of a farm bill makes farmers' already uncertain lives more uncertain.
Number of farmers keeps going down, a dangerous trend line
Number of farmers keeps going down, a dangerous trend line
With economic pressures and lawmakers failing to hear the voices of U.S. farmers, it's no surprise their numbers are shrinking.
According to the USDA, there were 1.865 million U.S. farms in 2025, down 15,000 farms from the previous year.
In 2018, the total number of farms was just over 2 million.
So in just seven years, the nation lost close to $10\%$ of its farms. (It's worth noting that, according to the USDA, as of 2024, $86\%$ of farms are still small, family operations.)
Draeger, walking with her husband, Mike Jorgenson, and their friend and local farmer Clayton Brobst near the fields of her and Jorgenson's farm in Clinton, Minnesota, said that in the 1950s, there were about 400 dairy farms in Big Stone County.
“And now, as of St. Patrick’s Day of this year,” she said, “there are zero dairy cows in this county.”
“Every Friday night growing up, farmers were bringing their cream cans to the creamery in Clinton,” Jorgenson recalled. “I can hear the cream cans clanging in the back of pickups. You know that’s part of my early childhood.”
When farms fail, the economic ripples spread to other businesses
When farms fail, the economic ripples spread to other businesses
Now the fields in Big Stone County are primarily used for corn and soybeans. Farms have grown bigger, but the number of farm families has dropped, hollowing out the infrastructure of small towns.
Not far from Draeger's farm, in the town of Clinton, Bonnie's Hometown Grocery Store is one of the few independent groceries left in the area.
“Clinton has been hit hard,” said Bonnie Maas, the owner.
She ticks off the local businesses lost
Even the local school was shut down and consolidated.
Brobst, a 41-year-old farmer, said his wife works a full-time job to help them get by financially: "The people I'm most familiar with, most of them have a day job. We live a nice life in lieu of her wages and the health insurance she grabs for us, and we're happy doing what we're doing.
“But is it the American dream to say, ‘Well, we’re going to both work a town job, and we’re going to farm a little bit’? I’d like to just farm.”
Draeger, who is executive director of the Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture and an adjunct professor at the University of Minnesota, also worries about the knowledge drain.
Fewer farmers means fewer people with the skills and know-how to run a farm.
“You lose a whole body of skills,” she said. “I think one of the things we need to conserve and preserve is that body of skills that we are losing. ... Probably 75% of crops are farmed using GPS guidance, and so you’re getting in a tractor and you don’t even necessarily need to know how to keep it in a row. You just set it and go, and then you call the co-op to apply pesticides if you see you’ve got an aphid problem. So you don’t even know how to spray.”
Farm bankruptcies jump 46%, and signs of desperation rise
Farm bankruptcies jump 46%, and signs of desperation rise
Farming has always been a high-risk occupation, with unpredictable weather and unexpected swings in commodity prices.
But for many farmers, the risk has grown considerably in recent years, following shifts in the global marketplace, climate change, tariffs, and now the spiking fuel and fertilizer costs associated with the Iran war.
Chapter 12 family farm bankruptcies jumped by 46% last year, and the trend has continued this year.
Bankruptcies hit a six-year high in April, rising as much as they did during the COVID-19 pandemic
At Farm Aid, an advocacy group that grew out of the 1980s farm crisis, calls to the crisis hotline have been on the rise.
“Farmers will often call only when it’s the last choice, only when they’ve gotten notice the bank is accelerating the loan and they’re running out of time,” said Jennifer Fahy, co-executive director of Farm Aid.
"The number of farmers who are calling and identifying as financially distressed is much bigger," Fahy said. "About $80\%$ of farmers who are calling are saying they need support."
Now is the time to pay attention to what's happening in farming
Now is the time to pay attention to what's happening in farming
This is the first in a series of columns on America's looming farm crisis. The columns are based on more than two dozen interviews with current and retired farmers, agricultural economists, historians, financial advisers who work with farmers, and advocates who assist agricultural communities across the country.
The 1980s farm crisis serves as a backdrop for these columns, not because there's a one-to-one comparison between then and now. There isn't.
Things are different today, and there are steps that can be taken, by stabilizing markets, breaking up monopolies that control farm inputs and outputs, and moving toward more sustainable farming practices, to avoid disaster.
But what's clear right now is there are lights flashing red in American agriculture and we must pay attention.
There were warning signs before the 1980s farm crisis as well, and they were ignored. Because of that, rural America and the farmers who form the backbone of our very existence were irrevocably changed.
Email USA TODAY columnist Rex Huppke at rhuppke@usatoday.com. You can follow him on Bluesky at @rexhuppke.bsky.social and on Facebook at facebook.com/RexIsAJerk.
Analysts say it may need state buyers to meet goal
Ella Cao, Tom Polansek and Lewis Jackson
REUTERS
BEIJING – Chinese buying of U.S. farm goods other than soybeans is on track for a seven-year low this year despite an agreement to purchase billions of dollars in imports, a Reuters analysis of customs data showed, underscoring long-running uncertainties about the deal.
In May, the White House said Beijing agreed to buy \$17 billion of U.S. agricultural goods annually from 2026, with this year's target prorated. Those purchases were on top of a commitment made in October last year to buy U.S. soybeans.
While China is on track to hit its soybean target, it bought just \$7.2 billion worth of the other agricultural goods – from meat to corn – between January and September, the analysis showed. Imports are at their lowest for this period since 2019, at the height of the first trade war.
Whether Beijing is in breach of its commitment is unclear because the White House has not said whether the "Our growers are patriots, but there's a lot of bins of grain full and certainly a desire to see grain trade."
Tim Lust
Chief executive of National Sorghum Producers, an industry group
clock began after the announcement in May or will start once China's proposed tariff cuts have been finalized, which has yet to happen.
The sluggish buying nonetheless deepens doubts about a surge in imports this year, frustrating U.S. farmers who are grappling with high fuel prices.
"Our growers are patriots, but there's a lot of bins of grain full and certainly a desire to see grain trade," said Tim Lust, chief executive of National Sorghum Producers, an industry group. "Beans are trading, but other commodities are not."
The U.S. Department of Agriculture referred questions about the prorating schedule to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. The White House and China's Ministry of Commerce did not
BLOOMINGTON, IN – The folks who show up to Brent Duncan's warehouse after foraging in the woods come bearing herbs, leaves and other wares of the gnarled, vegetal variety. Duncan, an herb dealer, buys and sells nearly 50 different botanical products to customers around the world.
His flashiest specimen is a leafy plant found only in the eastern half of North America.
Diggers sometimes call this herb “sang.” Duncan uses its more formal name, American ginseng. Regardless of the nomenclature, diggers and dealers alike are in the business for the same reason: Ginseng is surprisingly lucrative.
Duncan is one of the middlemen in the U.S. ginseng industry. He helps American ginseng make its way from the forested hills of rural Indiana to homes across East Asia, where ginseng's history of medicinal properties drives a high price. Until late November, Duncan will see an influx of visits from local ginseng diggers, who provide the roots he'll sell.
For years, brokers like Duncan, who inherited the business from his father in 1994, have made a comfortable living profiting off a wild crop once abundant in this country. But the industry is starting to wane.
Once prevalent enough to offer rural people a profitable side hustle, American ginseng is proving harder and harder to find. The plant is considered endangered by a major international trade treaty, and population growth is hampered by its slow-growing nature and unusually specific habitat preferences. Digging ginseng on public land is prohibited, and as more private property gets developed, there are fewer places for ginseng to grow and for harvesters to find it, according to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.
Duncan has processed hundreds of ginseng transactions since Indiana's ginseng season opened in September, but year after year, fewer diggers arrive at his door. When they do come, some transactions involve the transfer of
See GINSENG, Page 2B
Brent Duncan, owner of Duncan's Botanical Products, grabs ginseng Oct. 30 at his warehouse in Bloomington, Indiana.
It's been five years since a headline-grabbing crackdown on robocalls went into place, and the safest thing to do still is to stop answering all those oddball, unexpected calls. • Just don't do it. • About 21% of people answer phone calls from numbers they don't recognize at least half of the time, according to a survey of 1,696 U.S. adults 18 and older released by AARP in April. And 10% who responded to that survey admitted replying to unknown texts. Worse yet, maybe, 13% accept friend requests on social media from people they do not know.
Unfortunately, many people love the idea of making a connection and pick up the phone no matter who calls. Many times, scammers are hiding behind those texts and calls.
Just don't do it, people.
Robocalls down but plenty of trouble spots remain
Bad guys try to use illegal robocalls to impersonate your bank, threaten to disconnect your electricity or gas, tempt you with debt relief, or impersonate the Internal Revenue Service, Social Security Administration, the FBI and the FTC.
Bank impersonation schemes – where a scammer claims to be from your bank's fraud department – are especially hot.
The risk is that consumers who believe these impersonators will lose money by agreeing to buy gift cards, send money by bitcoin ATM, wire money or hand over cash. Or they might provide sensitive financial information.
We benefit from tougher regulations for robocalls. However, it's far from a belt-and-suspenders kind of a safeguard.
In 2021, major U.S. voice service providers were required to use tech-savvy caller authentication to identify calls and reassure
See CALLS, Page 2B
CHAIRMAN
BRENDAN CARR
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr is being pushed to further strengthen robocall roadblocks to help prevent scammers from using the phone network to make illegal calls. KYLIE COOPER/REUTERS FILE
"IT'S OK. LIFE GOES ON IF YOU DON'T ANSWER EVERY SINGLE PHONE CALL."
Even if buying picks up, weak Chinese demand and stiff competition make the target difficult to meet unless Beijing orders state-owned buyers into action, analysts said.
Consider corn. At its peak in 2021, China imported \$5.6 billion worth of the crop – almost 20 million metric tons. Last month, COFCO Futures, a futures broker affiliated with the Chinese state trader, said U.S. corn was not competitive partly because of ample domestic supply. It forecast imports of about 900,000 tons of U.S. corn for the 2026/27 marketing year, which started in September.
U.S. sorghum shipments to China peaked at 6.5 million metric tons worth \$2.1 billion in 2021 and now face competition from Brazil, which secured access in September 2025. Brazil has shipped 1.7 million metric tons to China so far this year, with nearly 1 million additional tons planned for shipment, said Eduardo Vanin, senior agriculture strategist at Marex.
The United States exported about 3.7 million tons of sorghum to China up to the end of August, government data shows, significantly higher than a year earlier, when trade stalled amid bilateral tensions, but sales have dried up over the past four months.
Chinese imports of U.S. meat, once worth several billion dollars, face similar constraints. Pork and chicken are oversupplied domestically while U.S. beef prices are high because herds have declined.
In addition, beef still faces regulatory barriers despite China renewing export licenses in May for more than 400 U.S. beef plants. About half of U.S. fed-cattle slaughter capacity is ineligible to export to China, according to the U.S. Meat Export Federation. Some plants were barred after Chinese authorities reported finding residues of substances not approved in China, said Joe Schuele, a spokesperson for the federation. Such constraints mean Beijing will probably need to lean on state buyers to meet the \$17 billion target, as it is already doing with soybeans, said analysts. Whether that happens is ultimately a political question, they added.
“Much of this seems to depend on how much China will use state-owned enterprises to do purchases,” said Darin Friedrichs, co-founder of Sitonia Consulting, a China-focused agricultural market intelligence firm.
U.S. sorghum shipments to China peaked at 6.5 million metric tons worth \$2.1 billion in 2021 and now face competition from Brazil, which secured access in September 2025.
ANTOINE BOUREAU/HANS LUCAS/
AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES FILE
Continued from Page 1B
only a few dollars. Other diggers bring in several pounds of ginseng and leave with several thousand dollars.
Watching the industry shrivel provides Duncan with a painful reminder of how Indiana's once-wild areas, where people like his dad used to hunt, trap and forage, are rapidly disappearing.
"It's sad. You're losing a culture," Duncan said. "People want to go out and dig ginseng, but they don't have access to land."
Several Indiana ginseng dealers said their product travels to countries like Taiwan, South Korea and, primarily, China. But it all starts in the hills.
American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) is a small, finicky plant that grows in the forests of the eastern United States. Reaching maturity can take years and requires a perfect recipe of soil moisture, temperature and shade.
The plants can reach over a foot tall, sprouting clusters of shiny green leaves and red berries. Underground, ginseng plants push out a dense root network that resembles those of other taproots like carrots and parsnips. After harvesters dig under and pry up a ginseng plant, many discard most of its leafier features to concentrate on the roots.
American ginseng has been traded overseas since at least the early 18th century, and the industry has long provided rural Americans, especially those living near the Appalachian mountains, a way to make money close to home.
Ginseng has long boasted a medicinal, almost mythical, reputation. For centuries, people in some Asian countries, particularly China, consumed Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng) in tea, pills, extracts and soups. Traditional Chinese medicine considers the herb to be a potent revitalization tonic. While research studies remain inconclusive on claims that ginseng can support immunity, lower blood sugar and reduce inflammation, the herb remains a popular supplement and is sold in drugstores and grocery stores across the United States.
American ginseng is similar enough to its Asian relative that it could readily step in to supply Asia's ginseng needs after overharvesting and extraction left that continent unable to meet demand. And so, an international trade system erupted.
Still, like its Asian counterpart before it, American ginseng has seen declines from harvest pressure. To protect the resource from extinction, the species was placed on the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora list in 1975.
Until recently, the industry has thrived.
The United States exports tens of thousands of pounds of ginseng each year, mostly to China. In 2015, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimated that the country annually exported nearly \$30 million worth of ginseng; recent estimates from trade firms and market researchers suspect that number has ballooned over the last decade.
Brent Duncan, owner of Duncan's Botanical Products, holds several pounds of ginseng Oct. 30 at his warehouse in Bloomington, Indiana. Duncan inherited the business from his father in 1994. MYKAL MCELDOWNNEY/USA TODAY NETWORK
Despite Indiana's shrinking ginseng trade, the state documented more than 1,000 diggers in 2025, who collectively contributed more than 1,000 pounds of exported ginseng. On average, the plant sold for about \$600 a pound.
However, while ginseng might be one of the most lucrative wild plants in the Indiana backcountry, many diggers warn the price per pound sounds better on paper. Acquiring a pound of ginseng is no easy feat and digging is not exactly a get-rich-quick scheme.
“What it comes down to is about \$1.84 per plant,” said Detective Sgt. Trent Stinson, who enforces ginseng regulation through the Indiana Department of Natural Resources’ Law Enforcement division. “Which doesn’t seem very impressive, right?”
When new diggers express an eagerness to cash in on the endangered species, he suggests they try recycling aluminum cans instead.
Some small-scale dealers sell their ginseng to bigger dealers across Indiana, but before any of it can be sold out of state, it must be certified by the DNR.
This season, Terry Manley, one of Indiana's 16 registered dealers, is paying around \$700 a pound for dry ginseng, \$200 for wet. Manley sends his ginseng to a broker in Pennsylvania, who ships it directly to Asia.
Duncan used to export his ginseng directly to Hong Kong, but he stopped in 2016. He wasn't a fan of the paperwork. Now, he ships his ginseng to a broker in New York, who then flies it to Hong Kong, where a network of dealers disseminate it.
While Indiana's ginseng population isn't at immediate risk of extinction, the future of digging and dealing in the state is bleak.
Land access is becoming an acute issue. Ginseng diggers aren't allowed to harvest the plant on public land, where the population is healthy, said Laura Minzes, Indiana's state ginseng coordinator.
Digging on private land can be equally challenging. Diggers must have permission to do so and those who are caught harvesting without permission can face fines or prosecution.
In addition, private land is increasingly devoid of ginseng. Large tracts of forest that used to grow pockets of ginseng have been carved up, sold or developed. Sixteen Indiana counties that likely once had the plant have reported no ginseng harvest for at least two years.
With fewer places to dig, ginseng diggers can inadvertently overharvest familiar forests, leaving nothing behind for future seasons. Duncan thinks some diggers are taking years off and others have given up the hobby altogether.
“They’re either bringing less or they’re not coming in at all,” he said. “We haven’t had a really good ginseng season since probably 2019. That’s when things really started to tail off.”
In 2024, Duncan moved around 600 pounds of ginseng through his warehouse. In 2025, it was closer to 400.
The state has noticed the decline of harvesters, Minzes said. She, too, traces the change back to 2020, when an unusually low statewide harvest total prompted her to start keeping track of how the industry was changing.
"Not nearly as many people were digging," Minzes said. "The harvester population, in general, is getting older. And foraging is not as popular as it used to be."
In 2021, Minzes recorded 2,121 harvesters across the state. In 2025, there were only 1,186. And since 1998, the number of dealers has dwindled by more than 50%.
Those who have stuck with the industry seem to be in it for the long haul. Manley is in his 80s, and he has no plans to stop dealing, despite recent health challenges.
“Mother Nature will get us one of these days, probably,” Manley said. “But in the meantime, we just keep going.”
Duncan, however, said this will be his last year trading herbs out of his warehouse.
He already has plans for retirement: Next fall, he plans to spend a lot more time in the woods, looking for 'sang.
IndyStar's environmental reporting is made possible through the generous support of the nonprofit Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust.
Calls
Continued from Page 1B
consumers that a phone call is real – and not spoofed to appear to be coming from a local area code or well-known business or agency.
The rule change continues to represent a meaningful, regulatory effort.
Many big providers are complying, but plenty of carriers are not, according to U.S. PIRG Education Fund's new report, Ringing in Our Fears 2026.
Only $42\%$ of phone companies know who exactly is making all calls they originate or pass along on their networks, according to the new analysis by U.S. PIRG Education Fund. That's down from $44\%$ in 2025.
Compliance has never reached 50%, according to PIRG, which indicates that the Federal Communications Commission's enforcement has been inconsistent.
The report noted that 11,467 phone companies are registered with the FCC – and 4,853 have completely installed the robocall-fighting software on their entire network but 6,614 phone companies have not.
The FCC did not respond to questions from the Detroit Free Press.
Unwanted calls fell to less than 1.8 billion in the month of September, according to YouMail, one of the largest robocall blocking services. That's down
28% from September 2025 and the lowest level since December 2023.
In September, one of the most annoying calls involved pre-approved debt consolidation loans, according to YouMail. “These campaigns appear to have produced hundreds of millions of calls during the month, originating from tens of thousands of different numbers,” according to YouMail.
We're all getting an average of one unwanted call each day, according to call tracker Hiya.
The online survey of 12,009 consumers – across the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Germany and Spain – was conducted from Dec. 17, 2025, to Jan. 2, 2026, and did not focus only on scam calls. Respondents could also be referring to calls that may be perfectly legal but still unwelcome, like telemarketing, surveys or political calls, according to David Niu, a spokesperson for Hiya. The survey also included both robocalls and live calls.
Interestingly, one in three reported they received an AI deepfake voice call in the past twelve months.
Periodically, of course, we do hear of crackdown efforts. In 2022, a bipartisan coalition of state attorneys general formed the Anti-Robocall Multistate Litigation Task Force to investigate and take legal action against those responsible for routing significant volumes of illegal robocall traffic into and across the United States.
The attorneys general currently are pushing the FCC to further strengthen robocall roadblocks to help prevent scammers from using the U.S. phone network to make illegal calls.
The effort calls for more rigorous “Know Your Upstream Provider” rules that require voice service providers to ensure they receive calls from legitimate and responsible providers and do not regularly route high volumes of illegal calls.
The FCC has announced various crackdown efforts in recent years.
On Oct. 16, the FCC mandated that U.S. voice service providers and intermediate providers block calls from Mexico IP Phone.
According to the FCC, Mexico IP Phone and its CEO, Hemant Kumar Bharti, came to the FCC's attention for seeking direct phone numbering access by filing a forged FCC document and failing to disclose in its Robocall Mitigation Database certification that it was the subject of a State Attorneys General Task Force anti-robocalling investigation.
Yep, we're dealing with a ton of bad actors out there at every turn.
Unfortunately, the PIRG report indicates that when companies don't have the required technology to verify calls, it's far more likely that more robocalls will go through – upping the odds that you could connect with a scammer pretending to be someone from your bank or credit union, the hospital or police department.
“It’s OK. Life goes on if you don’t answer every single phone call,” said Teresa Murray, who directs the Consumer
Watchdog office for U.S. PIRG, a non-profit advocacy group.
Murray's top 3 tips:
\- First, if the call is unexpected or marked spam, you're best bet is often not to answer it. If you do, never share personal information with an unexpected caller.
\- Second, recognize that artificial intelligence tools make it easier for crooks to sound just like your mother, or write an email that you could swear came from Bob the CEO. AI also enables fraudsters to do their homework and know far more about you than you'd imagine in order to sound more believable.
\- Third, get a code word. You may need to confirm that someone who appears to be a family member or friend is really talking to you, not some deepfake audio. Like a fire drill in school, Murray suggests that you practice using a code word with friends and family so that you use it when there's uncertainty about a situation or demand for \$1,000 on the spot.
Hiya also suggests using tools available on both iPhone and Android phones to screen or silence calls from unknown numbers. If, by chance, you pick up an spam call and it's a recording, hang up without pressing any buttons or talking. Engaging tells scammers your number is live.
If you think it is your bank, hang up, call back a trusted number on your card or statement.
Never share personal or financial information, experts warn, or one-time passcodes, on a call you didn't expect.
ALABAMA Covington County: Conecuh National Forest is among the forests featured in a recent World Atlas list examining national forests where coral snakes live. The snake's presence in Conecuh is notable because Alabama wildlife officials describe the eastern coral snake as rare in the state, with a possible decline linked to habitat loss.
ALASKA Haines: The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities has informed a contractor it could begin mobilizing equipment and preparing the site for the controversial Cascade Point Ferry Terminal project between Haines and Juneau, KHNS reported.
ARIZONA Tempe: As Arizona soaked under thrashing storms during Halloween weekend, Salt River Project released excess rainwater that was filling reservoirs. Up to 403,000 gallons of water per second were sent coursing into the Salt and Verde rivers to relieve the water levels and make room for more storage.
ARKANSAS Hot Springs: Trustees at National Park College approved a merger with the University of Arkansas System, advancing plans to bring the community college under the statewide university network, KARK reported.
COLORADO Windsor: Banner Health is planning to build a \$59 million, 80,000-square-foot Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center in Windsor. The facility is expected to begin construction in late 2026 and open in late 2028, according to Banner.
CONNECTICUT Hartford: The Connecticut State Department of Education reported continued gains in statewide student achievement, with new assessment data showing progress in multiple academic subjects, WTNH reported.
DELAWARE Georgetown: Sussex Technical High School students and district partners will be building a cutaway house within their electrical technologies section of the new school. That's The Raven House, which Sussex County Vocational Technical School District described as the first project of its kind.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Washington: U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, the top Democrat on a subcommittee that oversees aviation regulation, asked government agencies for a full accounting of why they allowed a White House flyover by the presidential airplane in what she said was a “dangerous stunt.”
FLORIDA Jacksonville: The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office is one of four agencies selected for the U.S. Department of Justice's new Model Cities Initiative to combat violent crime and maintain law and order.
GEORGIA Evans: The CSRA Walk for Water, a popular community fund-raiser designed to give participants a glimpse into the struggles millions of people face in finding drinking water, is moving this year. After seven years at SRP Park, this year's event will be Nov. 7 at Evans Towne Center Park, organizers announced.
HAWAII Honolulu: The Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor floating dock replacement project will close the boat ramp through the end of the year as crews install new ADA-compliant docks to replace damaged infrastructure, Hawaii News Now reported.
IDAHO Boise: Micron Technology announced a \$67 million community investment package in Idaho that will fund public transit improvements, affordable housing initiatives, child savings accounts and other workforce-support programs tied to the company's growing presence in the Boise area, KTVB7 reported.
ILLINOIS Springfield: Three years after the state filed a lawsuit against City Water, Light & Power for multiple violations of the EPA and Illinois Pollution Control Board regulations over coal ash dust, the city is still debating over the closure of the ash ponds which caused the suit.
INDIANA Muncie: Ball State University has upgraded its Esports Center with 36 high-end gaming computers and 40 chairs from Corsair, expanding the facility's technology for esports competition, classroom instruction and creative projects.
IOWA Des Moines: More than \$750,000 will be distributed across eight Iowa hospitals to expand a program that aims to prevent opioid addiction, Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird announced.
San Bernardino County Fire Chief Dan Munsey and Seneca Founder and CEO Stuart Landesberg announced the San Bernardino County Fire Department will begin using automated, AI-powered firefighting drones built by Seneca.
PROVIDED BY SENECA
San Bernardino County: The San Bernardino County Fire Department is set to become the first fire agency in California to launch a fleet of automated, AI-powered, foam-spraying drones designed to attack flames in remote and inaccessible places before they get out of control. A strike team of five of the “autonomous suppression aircraft” will soon take to the skies under a contract announced by fire officials and Seneca, the company that built the unmanned aircraft. The drones will be accompanied by a “Mobile Air Operations Base.” Fire Chief Dan Munsey said the goal of the cutting-edge program is to extinguish 90% of fires before they reach more than 10 square feet in size.
KANSAS Wichita: State transportation officials say construction is progressing on a major upgrade of U.S. Highway 83, KSNW reported.
KENTUCKY Wilder: Construction is officially underway on the “new and improved” Bobby Mackey’s Music World location.
LOUISIANA Bossier City: The Bossier Chamber of Commerce marked the fifth anniversary of its NWLA State of the Community Report with a Nov. 2 event in Bossier City focused on Northwest Louisiana's progress and future. This year's report focused on healthcare, energy, transportation, defense, cyber and technology, education and economic development.
MAINE Biddeford: The Biddeford office of U.S. Sen. Susan Collins was vandalized with the words “Blood on her hands” painted outside the building, marking the second incident in just over a month, News Center Maine reported.
MARYLAND Hagerstown: Maryland is investing an additional \$500,000 in the Safer Stronger Together community safety initiative in Hagerstown, Salisbury and East Baltimore to continue youth services and support community organizations. The new funding follows a two-year pilot in the three communities, according to an announcement.
MASSACHUSETTS Boston: A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit by President Donald Trump's administration seeking to force Harvard University to turn over records for an investigation into whether it continues to consider race in its student admissions process.
MICHIGAN Lansing: The Michigan Department of Corrections is tapping artificial intelligence in a bid to more safely house the state's 32,000 inmates amid a rise in prison violence. The plan would use an AI-based system to rank the security risk of inmates from Level 1, the lowest risk, to Level 5, the highest risk, based on numerous factors including the nature of their crimes, assessments by department experts, and how they have behaved in prisons.
MINNESOTA Minneapolis: The Minneapolis City Council voted to eliminate the Office of Community Safety amid debate over the department's effectiveness and management, KARE11 reported.
MISSISSIPPI Jackson: Jackson's airport could trade its two concourses for one, move passengers through a single security checkpoint and give them more places to eat and wait for a flight. That's the plan taking shape after the Jackson Municipal Airport Authority selected a development team. The development team is set to lead a major overhaul of Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport.
MISSOURI Webster County: An audit of Webster County found several areas for officials to improve and ensure taxpayer money is accounted for and protected. According to a State Auditor's Office news release, the audit report gave the county a "fair" rating, the second lowest ranking given in state audits.
MONTANA Helena: The Montana Lottery suspended its Montana Millionaire drawing after system failures disrupted ticket sales statewide, leaving officials to delay the game until technical issues can be resolved and sales data validated, the Daily Montanan reported.
NEBRASKA Lincoln: New revenue forecasts have increased Nebraska's projected budget shortfall for fiscal years 2028 and 2029 to about \$1.2 billion, Nebraska Examiner reported.
NEVADA Reno: The first chair of the Lake Tahoe ski season is set for 9 a.m. Nov. 6. Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe will open for the 2026-27 season with bragging rights to be among the first ski in the country and the first in the West to open.
NEW HAMPSHIRE Durham: Close to 30% of the University of New Hampshire's library print book collection has been designated for possible removal in advance of a multi-phased renovation at Dimond Library.
NEW JERSEY Roxbury: An investigation by the New Jersey Attorney General's Office has found no credible evidence that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents processed detainees inside the ICE warehouse in Roxbury, township officials said. Township Attorney Anthony Bucco confirms, though, that U.S. Department of Justice officials "admitted" to him that on two occasions, detainees were "processed in the parking lot" of the warehouse but "did not go in."
NEW MEXICO Santa Fe: Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has asked President Donald Trump to issue a major disaster declaration following recent flooding that damaged hundreds of homes across the state, KRQE reported.
NEW YORK Bergen: The New York State Department of Transportation has completed a \$2.5 million project replacing the State Route 19 bridge over the Black Creek Overflow in Bergen. The new bridge has an expected service life of 75 years.
NORTH CAROLINA Asheville: Brother Wolf is converting a former retail space into a \$17 million dollar adoption center that will offer on-site veterinary care for rescued animals
NORTH DAKOTA Minot: A state audit found multiple oversight and financial control issues within the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services, prompting recommendations to strengthen accountability and compliance practices, KMOT reported.
OHIO Cincinnati: A Cincinnati judge tossed out the last vestiges of Ohio's "Heartbeat Law," ruling that doctors are not legally required to ask women why they are seeking abortions or to test for fetal cardiac activity.
OKLAHOMA Oklahoma City: An Oklahoma City man has been arrested and accused of sending letters with white powder to election offices across the country as well as to members of Congress, the media, pollsters and the FBI.
OREGON Salem: Oregon anglers will get the chance to catch and harvest a species of rockfish for the first time in two decades if the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Commission approves new regulations. Yelloweye rockfish, which declined to dangerous levels in the early 2000s, have rebounded enough that department staff are proposing a limited recreational and commercial harvest of the fish in 2027.
PENNSYLVANIA Harrisburg: Pennsylvania's measles outbreak has surpassed 1,400 confirmed cases, with hundreds of patients hospitalized and cases now reported across much of the state.
RHODE ISLAND Providence: Recent surveys are showing strong support for public transit, a little more than a year after the largest service cuts in the history of the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority. One such analysis from Rhode Island Voices found that despite a large reliance on personal vehicles for transport, residents want to see public transportation strengthened and become a higher priority for lawmakers.
SOUTH CAROLINA Columbia: With teacher pay generally considered to be low and turnover in the profession is relatively high, South Carolina lawmakers have created a program to provide financial incentives for teachers to stay in public education. The General Assembly has set aside \$10 million for the South Carolina Student Loan Corporation to offer teachers the opportunity to refinance outstanding educational debt to a fixed 2% rate.
SOUTH DAKOTA Rapid City: The Second Century Habitat Fund received nearly \$8 million in federal funding to restore 7,500 acres of South Dakota grasslands while supporting livestock producers through its Working Lands Grassland Recovery Initiative, KOTA reported.
TENNESSEE Jackson: MAT Industries plans to create 85 new jobs as the company expands its manufacturing operation in Jackson, officials announced.
TEXAS El Paso: A girl under the age of 13 is the first flu-related death of the respiratory season, according to the city of El Paso Department of Public Health.
UTAH Bluff: Mayor Josh Ewing said the southeastern Utah community of Bluff faces years of recovery after multiple floods damaged homes, businesses and infrastructure, including a major bridge on Highway 163 that left Bluff and Monument Valley disconnected, KUTV reported.
VERMONT Burlington: Health officials said emergency room and urgent care visits related to tick bites are rising in Vermont, WCAX reported.
VIRGINIA Hopewell: AdvanSix's Hopewell polymer plant has been selected for a proposed \$47.4 million U.S. Department of Agriculture grant to help fund a \$98.1 million project to expand ammonia production used in fertilizer manufacturing, the company announced.
WASHINGTON Bremerton: The Navy is taking longer than anticipated to repair the USS Connecticut, the Sea-wolf-class submarine damaged after striking an uncharted seamount in the South China Sea in October 2021, injuring 11 sailors, and returned to at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard that December. The Navy is now targeting summer 2027 to complete the maintenance and repair work of the Connecticut at the shipyard, spokesperson Catherine Norton said.
WEST VIRGINIA Charleston: Charleston Area Medical Center will receive \$3.9 million from the state to support rural healthcare initiatives focused on increasing access to medical services across West Virginia, WV News reported.
WISCONSIN Madison: A new report from the research arm of the Wisconsin Counties Association cautions policymakers from “misreading” the state’s budget surplus and advises against using the funds for ongoing tax cuts or implementing new programs. The surplus is “a cushion, not a windfall,” the report from Forward Analytics argues.
WYOMING Casper: Prometheus Hyperscale announced that it has canceled its proposed data center project near Casper, WyoFile reported.
From USA TODAY Network and wire reports
Spirit Halloween stores begin transition to Christmas
Spirit Halloween stores begin transition to Christmas
Gabe Hauari
USA TODAY
Halloween has come and gone, and Spirit Halloween stores are now beginning to make way for Spirit Christmas.
A spinoff of the popular Halloween-themed stores, Spirit Christmas told USA TODAY in October it will open 44 locations across 15 states this holiday season, from New England to the Great Lakes.
The Christmas-themed concept first opened in 2024 when Spencer Spirit Holdings, parent company of both brands, launched eight locations throughout the Northeast. Last year, the company nearly quadrupled its locations, with 30 stores opening across 12 states.
The company told USA TODAY five stores opened with grand opening celebrations on Oct. 17. The remaining 39 stores were scheduled to open in the first week of November after they transition from Spirit Halloween stores, according to a company spokesperson. A list of locations can be found at spir- itchristmas.com.
"The holidays are so much more than what's under the tree. They're about the traditions families return to year after year and the magic of creating new ones," said Kym Sarkos, executive vice president of Spirit, in a news release. "Spirit Christmas was created to celebrate that feeling."
The brand touts itself as a “one-stop destination for all things Christmas,” including an assortment of holiday decor, inflatables, animatronics, gifts, apparel and stocking stuffers, among other items.
Last year, some locations offered customers the chance to take photos with Santa Claus; however, it is currently unclear if that will be an option this year.
Yum Brands said same-store sales at Taco Bell were recovering after a wider-than-expected decline in the third quarter following a multistate cyclosporiasis outbreak that hurt traffic at the Tex-Mex chain.
Taco Bell has been offering value deals such as its combo boxes to attract inflation-hit consumers in the United States. Executives said on a post-earnings call that such deals were helping attract lower-income households.
The business was first linked to the outbreak in early July, causing a 20% drop in weekly foot traffic at its outlets at the peak of the epidemic, according to Placer.ai.
U.S. health authorities declared the
Taco Bell has been offering value deals such as its combo boxes to attract inflation-hit consumers in the United States. MARIO TAMA/GETTY IMAGES FILE
outbreak was over last month.
Yum said loyalty-program promotions and partnerships were helping it bring back customers, and added that Taco Bell's same-store sales have risen about $1\%$ so far this quarter.
“[Customers are] actually spending 5% more and visiting 6% more frequently than the consumers we lost,” CEO Chris Turner said.
Recovery in the business has been more pronounced among younger consumers, Consumer Edge analyst Michael Gunther said.
Shares of the company, which completed the divestiture of its Pizza Hut chain in September, pared premarket gains and were flat in morning trading.
Taco Bell's same-store sales fell $4\%$ in the reported quarter, its first decline in about six years, missing analysts' expectations for a $0.9\%$ drop, according to data compiled by LSEG.
A focus on value also helped Burger King parent Restaurant Brands International beat sales expectations last week. Bigger rival McDonald's is set to report quarterly results on Nov. 4.
Overall Yum same-store sales were flat from a year earlier, below estimates for 0.9% growth. KFC same-store sales rose 1%, missing expectations for a 2.1% increase.
Yum's adjusted profit per share fell 1.3% to \$1.56, but beat estimates of \$1.49.
Thanksgiving hosts tired of doing everything themselves may soon have a new way to put their guests to work, without having to ask.
Butterball is introducing the Butterball Buddy, a turkey-shaped gadget that chimes and vibrates to hand out holiday chores. Whoever is holding it could be tasked with setting the table, helping prepare the meal or tackling the dishes.
The retro-style device is meant to make Thanksgiving more of a team effort, with prompts timed to different stages of the celebration. The initial batch of free Butterball Buddies was gobbled up; additional releases are planned for Nov. 9 and Nov. 16 at butterballbuddy.com, while supplies last.
Butterball's new Thanksgiving host helper is a timer that can give whoever is holding it a preprogrammed chore. After the holidays, it can me used as a kitchen timer. PROVIDED BY BUTTERBALL
The idea tackles a familiar Thanksgiving problem. Butterball's 2026 Togetherness Report found that $85\%$ of hosts would prefer guests to offer help, but only $38\%$ actually ask them to pitch in. According to the report, one-third of hosts hesitate to ask guests for help because they don't want to inconvenience them. Another $65\%$ say they would like cleanup help at the push of a button.
The Butterball Buddy essentially does the asking for them, prompting guests to pitch in without leaving the host to delegate every job.
Guests pass the Butterball Buddy from person to person during Thanksgiving. When the device chimes and vibrates, whoever is holding it gets a pre-programmed task. Once the chore is finished, the Buddy is passed to someone else.
The gadget does more than delegate Thanksgiving duties. Its reverse side includes contact information for Butterball's Turkey Talk-Line at 1-800-288-8372. The hot-line offers help with turkey preparation, thawing and cooking questions. The service marks its 45th anniversary in 2026, with more than 50 experts expected to help holiday cooks through Dec. 24.
Butterball also offers turkey cooking, thawing and food safety guidance on its how-to website. After Thanksgiving, the Buddy also can be used as a kitchen timer.
Books ship Nov. 13, 2026.
"America: The Places and Paths That Made Us" pairs these journeys and more with the places where they happened, then shows you what stands there now. Published with USA TODAY for the nation's 250th anniversary, this 160-page hardcover is a keepsake worth holding onto.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Sweet
bluegrass
vibes
Will Stein has Kentucky drunk on football ... basketball season can wait
Matt Jones' experience hosting Kentucky Sports Radio told him to expect a few calls or texts about Kentucky basketball on his Monday morning show after UK's first exhibition game.
Blake
Toppmeyer
Columnist
USA TODAY
NETWORK
Top: Coach Will Stein, celebrating an interception against Vanderbilt, has Kentucky at 7-1 and sixth in the first CFP selection committee's rankings. Bottom: Kentucky QB Brennen Ward runs in for a TD vs. Vanderbilt. JORDAN PRATHER/ IMAGN IMAGES VIA REUTERS
Basketball never sleeps in Kentucky.
It did, however, take a back seat on KSR's airwaves that day. Jones was 37 minutes deep into his show before anyone mentioned basketball.
Jones, his cohosts, and the show's callers and texters had football on the brain.
"It's intoxicating," Jones said on the airwaves that day.
For two hours, the conversation fixated on Will Stein's surging football team that, at the time, was fresh off a win against Oklahoma.
Blue blood became another pelt on the wall for the Big Blue. Now, that's worth discussing.
"On that Monday's show, it would've normally been maybe half football and half basketball, but there was like five minutes (of conversation) on basketball," Jones told USA TODAY Sports. "All anybody wanted to talk about was football. I've never seen it like that."
See KENTUCKY, Page 7C
NFL
In 1st place, trade target for leaders of division
In 1st place, trade target for leaders of division
Jacob Camenker
USA TODAY
The 2026 NFL season is nearing its midpoint and the playoff race is shaping up to be one of the most exciting in recent memory.
Almost every division race remains competitive as the NFL turns its calendar to Week 9. The Jacksonville Jaguars have a three-game lead in the AFC South, but most are separated by just one or two games.
With that in mind, division leaders aren't going to want to stand pat ahead of the league's Nov. 10 trade deadline. Many will need to stay aggressive to keep themselves on top of their power structures, especially in divisions like the AFC North and NFC North, where no teams are below .500 for the season.
What types of trades could these division leaders consider? Here's a look at one trade that each of the division leaders entering Week 9 should consider with the trade deadline drawing nearer.
Buffalo Bills trade target
Arizona Cardinals
edge Josh Sweat
Gregory Rousseau has been a revelation for the Bills this year, racking up seven sacks and 37 pressures – good for the fifth-most leaguewide entering Week 9, per the NFL's Next Gen Stats – across just seven games.
Despite that, the Bills rank just 24th leaguewide in pressure rate, even after bolstering their numbers in a favorable Week 8 matchup against Baltimore Ravens third-string quarterback Joe Fagnano. That's largely because they have struggled to generate pressure across from Rousseau, with No. 2 pass rusher
See TARGET, Page 7C
[COMMENTARY] Can't blame CFP selectors for not trusting Ohio State
Blake Toppmeyer USA TODAY
Buckeyes, are your ears burning?
Because, the College Football Playoff committee is talking about you, and it's nothing good.
Never mind Hunter Yurachek's mealy-mouthed language about Ohio State, because the upshot of the playoff committee's initial rankings is unmistakable: Lose again, Buckeyes, and you're out.
The proof is in the No. 12 ranking.
Can't argue with the committee on this one.
The committee should not – and did not – ignore the truth that Ohio State (6-2) looked deeply damaged in its first full game playing without injured starting quarterback Julian Sayin. Combine backup-turned-starter Luke Fahey with a suddenly crumbling defense and a barrage of penalties, and the Buckeyes put their worst foot forward in a 30-18 loss to previously reeling Southern Cal.
So, despite Ohio State possessing a sturdy strength of schedule, the committee embraced reality. These are not the same Buckeyes who whipped Iowa, beat Indiana, and lost to Texas on the road by a single point.
“They didn’t look like the same Ohio State team this past weekend against Southern Cal,” Yurachek, the committee chairman, said on ESPN, “a Southern Cal team that defensively had not been very good to this point in the season.”
The Buckeyes control their path to the playoff, but that path demands a 4-0 November.
Want to know why Ohio State is ranked eight spots behind Indiana,
Fred Funk had to be convinced to play in the first PGA Tour tournament in Mexico. He won the Mayakoba Golf Classic at El Camaleon in Playa Del Carmen on Feb. 22, 2007. MIKE EHRMANN/GETTY IMAGES
LOS CABOS, Mexico – Twenty years ago, Fred Funk nearly backed out of the first official PGA Tour event played in Mexico.
He had initially committed to play, a major coup for tournament director Larson Segerdahl, who had moved to Mexico in the summer of 2006 to launch an event scheduled for February 2007 opposite the World Golf Championships-Match Play Championship. Without access to the world's top 64 players, Segerdahl needed a proven star to lend credibility to what was then known as the Mayakoba Golf Classic.
Funk, a former Players Championship winner and one of the PGA Tour's most recognizable veterans, fit the bill perfectly.
But doubts crept in after a scouting report from his longtime caddie, Mark Long.
Segerdahl had hired Long, who also produced the yardage books used by many PGA Tour players and caddies. After studying El Camaleón, the Greg Norman-designed course at Mayakoba Resort near Cancun, Long wasn't convinced it suited the shorter-hitting Funk.
On that recommendation alone, Funk called Segerdahl ready to withdraw.
"I've got to pick my spots and maybe this isn't one of them," Funk recalled saying.
Segerdahl had already been promoting Funk's participation and did everything possible to change his mind.
"I remember being like, 'We need you down here, Fred. I know what Mark's telling you, but don't take his word for it. Come see for yourself.' And Fred, being the class act that he is, was open to that. He ended up coming down, and I don't think I could've scripted a better finish for the first event," Segerdahl said.
Funk not only showed up, he delivered one of the most memorable finishes in tournament history.
He holed a 30-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole to force a playoff, then defeated Argentina's José Cóceres with a birdie on the second extra hole. At the par-3 10th, Funk's 5-iron drifted right of the flag toward the water, not exactly where he intended. But it settled safely, and he converted the winning putt for an improbable victory.
Funk was 50 years, 8 months, 12 days old when he went wire-to-wire to win the inaugural tournament, making him the fifth-oldest winner in PGA Tour history at the time.
His victory became a fitting metaphor for the tournament itself.
Many questioned whether a PGA Tour event could succeed in Mexico. Others wondered whether it would survive beyond its initial sponsorship agreement. Yet nearly everyone who took a chance on the event ultimately benefited from doing so. This week, the 20th edition will be held Nov. 5-8 at Diamante's El Cardonal Course, where a plaque to be placed on the first tee was unveiled on Tuesday to commemorate the tournament's success south of the border.
Today, the tournament known as the World Wide Technology Championship is stronger than ever.
As the tournament celebrates its 20th anniversary, those who helped build it look back on a journey that exceeded anything they imagined possible when the inaugural event teed off in 2007.
What began as an ambitious experiment has evolved into one of Latin America's most significant golf events.
Taylor Ives, executive vice president of events and consulting at Team, the firm which manages the tournament, has been involved in all 20 editions of the championship. He keeps a photo in his office of tournament staff surrounding Funk with the trophy from that inaugural event. "It's a fun reminder of how much the event has grown," he said, "and how styles and hairlines have changed!"
When Brent Geiberger struck the opening tee shot at 6:40 a.m. on Feb. 22, 2007, the game of golf in Mexico took a giant step forward. Few remember where that first ball came to rest, but the moment marked a turning point. For the first time, a full-field official PGA Tour event was contested outside the United States and Canada.
The championship has continued to defy expectations. It has survived sponsor changes, venue changes and industry upheaval while maintaining its place on the tour schedule.
"There were years where we had to piece it together," said Joe Mazzeo, World Wide Technology Championship tournament director since 2013. "It was too good to let it die."
World Wide Technology assumed title sponsorship in 2021, shepherding the event through another major transition when Mayakoba opted to host an
LIV Golf event. The move required finding a new home, and the tournament found one at Diamante.
Situated at the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula, Los Cabos provided a natural fit, combining a thriving tourism industry with one of North America's premier golf destinations. El Cardonal became the first Tiger Woods-designed course to host a tour event.
When the tournament arrived in 2023, Woods himself visited during tournament week, spending time with First Tee participants on the par-3 course he also designed. For Ives, such moments represent the tournament at its best.
Another example was the launch of Golf for Everyone, a program designed to expose residents to the game. Local professionals conducted clinics throughout the year, giving many participants their first opportunity to swing a golf club. Within five years, more than 500 people were regularly attending monthly sessions.
Perhaps the program's greatest achievement came in 2011 when 1,073 participants gathered on the practice facility at El Camaleón, each occupying a nine-by-nine-foot hitting station, to establish a Guinness World Record for the largest golf lesson ever conducted under the watchful eye of veteran Mexican tour pro Esteban Toledo.
“This was one of the most incredible experiences of my career,” said Toledo.
In the event's earliest years, however, there were limited options when it came to awarding sponsor exemptions to Mexican players.
"The first year it was Esteban and who else can play?" recalled Mazzeo. "Now, it's one of the most challenging decisions we have to make because there are so many talented young Mexican players."
Over the years, participation in golf and the depth of elite talent throughout Mexico and Latin America have grown dramatically. In 2019, a record eight Mexican players competed in the 132-man field. (This week there are five in the 120-man field.) Carlos Ortiz
PGA Tour
World Wide Technology
Championship
Course: El Cardonal at Diamante (Par 72; 7,452 yards) in Los Cabos, Mexico
Purse: \$6 million (winner: \$1.08M)
TV: Nov. 5-8, 3-6 p.m. ET (Golf Channel)
X: @WWTChampionship
Inside the numbers
544,591
Since 2007, that's the total number of competitive strokes that have been played by participants in the event's first 19 years.
\- Ryan Gerard. His ball striking has been dynamite. He's gained the most strokes of any player from tee to green over the last 20 rounds. In his last 27 starts on the PGA Tour, he has recorded eight top-10 finishes compared to his first 53 where he had six.
\- Blades Brown. The 19-year-old sensation earned a promotion to the PGA Tour for the 2027 season. He'll get a chance to show off his talents with another start in the big leagues. He's recorded six top-20 finishes in his last seven starts.
\- Jackson Koivun. The 3M Open winner has performed well in his rookie season on the PGA Tour since turning pro in June, having the second-best scoring average by a rookie this season (68.09). Koivun has scored better on average in his final two rounds (67.44) versus his first two (68.67), over a stroke difference.
recorded the best finish by a Mexican player in tournament history, tying for second that year before finishing runner-up again in 2021.
Ortiz, Abraham Ancer, Oscar Fraustro, Raúl Pereda, Emilio González, and Alvaro Ortiz, who earned his PGA Tour card for the 2027 season, are among the Mexican players who have used opportunities such as these as stepping stones to higher levels of pro golf.
The World Wide Technology Championship also helped pave the way for broader growth throughout the region. When the event debuted in 2007, professional golf opportunities in Mexico were limited. Since then, PGA Tour Americas has been created, the Latin America Amateur Championship was launched through a partnership of Augusta National, the R&A and the USGA, the PGA Tour added the Mexico Open, and multiple Korn Ferry Tour events have been staged throughout Latin America, including the Tulum Championship at PGA Riviera Maya.
“Witnessing golf’s growth in Latin America at all levels serves as a reminder that this is far more than a one-week tournament,” Ives said. “And I look forward to celebrating our first Mexican champion at some point over the next 20 years.”
Major League Baseball proposed on Nov. 3 that a salary cap would be delayed by a year and implemented in 2028, permitting teams to operate knowing what the proposed rules would be in the upcoming collective bargaining agreement, which was immediately scorned by the players union.
MLB proposed a \$258.2 million salary cap and a \$180.2 million floor, with MLB projecting that it would require 12 teams to increase payroll by \$636 million to reach the floor, and eight clubs to decrease their payroll by \$528 million to abide by the cap. MLB says that would net an additional \$108 million payroll increase league-wide.
MLB also proposed increasing the minimum salary to \$1 million for players with at least two years' major league service and \$900,000 for those with less service; a \$30 million increase to their pre-arbitration bonus pool, while also agreeing to the union's proposal of lowering free agency from six years to five years for players 30 and older, while eliminating the qualifying offer system for free agents.
The MLBPA fired back in a response later Tuesday afternoon. "Coming off another incredible season of baseball, MLB owners continue to propose blowing up the current system and replacing it with one designed to line their pockets and increase their franchise values," the union said in a prepared statement.
“Even with a so-called ‘transition year’ in 2027, the owners’ latest offer would result in: immediate restrictions to player contract rights; stagnant luxury tax thresholds; a \$400M reduction in amateur signing bonuses; stripping current competitive advantages for smaller market teams; rejection of dozens of player proposals on issues from minimum salaries to revenue sharing to rosters and transactions, and many more,” the union said.
If the salary cap and floor are implemented, the 12 teams that would have to increase payroll would be: the Miami
Marlins, Cleveland Guardians, St. Louis Cardinals, Tampa Bay Rays, Washington Nationals, Chicago White Sox, Minnesota Twins, Colorado Rockies, Pittsburgh Pirates, Athletics, Cincinnati Reds and Milwaukee Brewers.
The clubs that would have to lower their payroll: Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies, Toronto Blue Jays, San Diego Padres, Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs.
The current collective bargaining agreement expires at 11:59 p.m. ET on Dec. 1. If no agreement is reached, MLB is expected to implement a lockout, which happened during their last negotiations in 2021, lasting 99 days.
The Seattle Mariners opted to go young filling their managerial job, hiring 36-year-old Jason Kanzler to replace Dan Wilson, the club announced Nov. 3.
Kanzler becomes the second-young-est manager in Major League Baseball, behind Washington's Blake Butera, who took over the job at 33 one year ago.
Kanzler
Kanzler was the Chicago Cubs' director of player development since 2024, a period that saw outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong emerge as one of the top players in the game.
In Seattle, he will con-
front a clubhouse with a mix of emerging talent and established stars. The club debuted top prospects like infielders Cole Young – a Gold Glove winner at second base – and Colt Emerson and, later in the season, slugging outfielder Lazaro Montes.
Yet it was the veteran core, most notably 2025 MVP runner-up Cal Raleigh, that disappointed in 2026 and led to Wilson's firing. Raleigh, All-Star outfielder Julio Rodriguez and a deep pitching staff helped lead the Mariners to
Game 7 of the 2025 American League Championship Series before backsliding to a 76-86 record and third-place finish in the AL West.
Kanzler was a major league coach for the Astros in 2022 and '23, a period in which they won the World Series and reached Game 7 of the ALCS.
Kanzler played three seasons as an outfielder in the Twins organization and was a 20th-round pick out of Buffalo.
NFL MVP POWER RANKINGS
Three picks stop Burrows from overtaking Allen at 1
Three picks stop Burrows from overtaking Allen at 1
Jack McKessy
USA TODAY
Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow scores the game-winning touchdown on a 9-yard scramble in a Week 8 defeat of the Titans in overtime.
SAM GREENE/THE ENQUIRER
Eight weeks down, 10 to go and one clear front-runner for the MVP race.
The 2026 regular season is already almost halfway over. The Super Bowl favorites and NFL playoff picture are becoming clearer, and with them, the clarity of who the real contenders are for some of the end-of-season awards.
Plenty of football remains, but as things stand, Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills are standing tall. The 2024 MVP is a massive betting favorite to win a second in three years, and the Bills are the betting favorites to win the AFC.
But power rankings don't directly reflect betting odds. A big week from a player or two can displace the frontrunner, if only briefly. Here's how the full list of 10 players –shakes out before Week 9 (with previous ranks in parentheses):
1. QB Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills (1): Did the intro throw you off? Or maybe it was the promo image from this piece featuring someone else. Either way, sorry about that. Once again, Allen stands at the top of the MVP power rankings. No other player has held the No.1 spot for as many weeks as Allen so far.
He nearly gave up the top spot with a shaky first half against a middling Ravens pass defense: 8-for-19 (42% completion rate) with 112 yards and an interception (plus a rushing touchdown). In the second half, Allen returned to form in a big way. He went 13-for-15 (86.7%) and tossed for 177 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Bills to a third straight win.
Allen is the NFL leader in yards per attempt (8.7) and yards per completion (13.3) and has been responsible for 20 touchdowns this year – 11 passing, nine rushing. He also leads all quarterbacks with 270 rushing yards through seven games.
2. QB Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals (2): If not for his three interceptions in a near-loss to the Tennessee Titans at home, Burrow would have easily taken the top spot on this list. The Bengals quarterback tossed five touchdowns, rushed for a sixth and finished the day with 462 passing yards – his second 400-yard game this season.
Burrow now leads the NFL with 20 passing yards, and his two rushing touchdowns this year – including a game-winner in Week 8 – put him above Allen for the league lead in total touchdowns. His 73% completion rate leads the league, as do his 302.1 passing yards per game.
That said, Burrow's three interceptions in the game let the one-win Titans stick around long enough to force overtime. Tennessee only scored on one of their three possessions that followed those picks thanks to strong defensive efforts, but Burrow doubling his interception total for the season in one game – including one on a horrible underthrow – is too tough a look to excuse.
3. QB Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars (3): One thing about Lawrence this season: He's going to throw multiple touchdowns. Turns out, that's true even when he throws fewer than 15 times.
Jacksonville dominated the Colts in Week 8 for the first of two divisional matchups between the AFC South teams. That meant a lot more rush attempts for the Jaguars' game script, but it didn't stop Lawrence from making an impact with his arm. The former No. 1 overall pick completed 10 of 14 passes (71.4% completion rate) for 210 yards and three touchdowns.
Lawrence couldn't keep up his streak of 300-yard games, but he's now up to three straight games with multiple touchdowns. He's also on a stretch of four multi-touchdown games in his last five outings, and he has five multi-touchdown games in his seven showings this year. That has him leading the NFL in TD% (8.6%) and passer rating (112.6).
4. QB Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers (4): No game for Purdy and the 49ers this week as they enjoyed their bye. That means no change for Purdy in the power rankings as his strong start to the season props him up near the top despite a rough day against the Falcons in Week 7.
Despite his week off, Purdy still leads the NFL in success rate (56.4%), per Pro Football Reference. His 69.2% completion rate is third in the NFL, his 15 touchdowns are tied for fifth, and his 8.3 yards per attempt are tied for fourth. Notably, the 49ers are fourth in points per game through Week 8 and are the current favorites to win the Super Bowl. Not so bad for a former Mr. Irrelevant.
5. QB Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears (7): Williams is surging up the MVP power rankings with every passing week. The Bears quarterback got off to a white-hot start in Week 1 before falling out of the top 10 after a middling Week 2 outing and a hamstring injury. The three games since have been outstanding, and the third-year quarterback is suddenly among the favorites to win MVP.
Williams had two straight 300-yard outings in his return from the hamstring ailment, but he faced a tougher defense in Week 8: the reigning Super Bowl champion Seahawks' "Dark Side" defense. Well, like Atlanta and New England before it, Seattle got torn up by Williams and head coach/offensive play-caller Ben Johnson.
The Bears signal-caller went 24-for-34 on pass attempts – a 70.6% completion rate, his third-best mark this season – for 247 passing yards and a touchdown. Williams became the first quarterback to throw for more than 200 yards against the Seahawks this season in Chicago's big “Monday Night Football” win. The Bears have also shot up the overall NFL power rankings as a result of his excellent play.
6. QB Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs (5): Mahomes and the Chiefs' second straight loss knocked them out of first place, and the two-time MVP slipped down the power rankings. However, Mahomes' 73.2% completion rate, 321 yards, three touchdowns and a season-high 120.1 passer rating meant he didn't fall very far. It was an impressive bounce-back performance for the Chiefs star quarterback after his bad outing against the Seahawks in Week 7.
One interesting trend to watch ahead of the NFL trade deadline is how Tyquan Thornton's absence (ankle injury) has affected Mahomes' ability to throw the deep ball. In the early weeks of the season, Mahomes looked like his vintage self, with his average depth of target (ADOT) sitting at 7.4 yards in those games, per Pro Football Focus. In the three games since Thornton's injury, Mahomes' ADOT was just 5.2.
7. QB Drake Maye, New England Patriots (6): Good teams are supposed to beat lesser opponents, so it was a good sign that Maye and the Patriots took care of the Dolphins after trailing by 10 at the half. The quarterback's steady performance despite the scoring deficit was a big reason why.
Maye finished with a 16 of 20 line (80%) and 199 yards with two touchdowns. He also rushed for a touchdown late in the third quarter to take the lead back for the Patriots. Last year's NFL MVP runner-up has turned things around after an underwhelming start to 2026. He's third in the league in yards per attempt (8.5) and tied for fifth in passing touchdowns (15).
8. RB Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions (9): Gibbs is having a great season through eight weeks, and these last three weeks have been an especially phenomenal stretch. The Lions' rising star running back is up to three straight games with more than 100 rushing yards. In two of the last three games, he has more than 150 yards and a touchdown.
Gibbs' 153 yards on 23 attempts (6.7 yards per attempt) against the Vikings' outstanding defense in Week 8 was a major reason the Lions handed Minnesota its first loss.
After Kenneth Walker and Bijan Robinson dominated the early MVP conversation among non-quarterbacks, Gibbs has taken over the mantle. The Lions' lead back is atop the NFL with 110.4 yards per game and tied for the top spot with 10 touchdowns from scrimmage. His 4.9 yards per carry rank 10th.
9. QB Jared Goff, Detroit Lions (8): Gibbs was Detroit's shining star in Week 8, but Goff had a solid game of his own to complement the run game. Though he threw his first interception of the year, he was otherwise excellent, finishing 18 of 25 (72%) with 176 yards and a touchdown.
Goff has been quietly outstanding this year. His 176 yards were a season-low against the Vikings' top-rated defense in Week 8, but he's still third in the NFL with 280.6 yards per game. Goff also ranks fifth in completion rate (67.7%), is tied for fifth with 15 touchdowns and is fourth in Pro Football Reference's success rate metric (51.5%).
Gibbs' excellence has helped Goff succeed off of play-action passes, as the Lions deploy play fakes at one of the highest rates in the NFL. The Lions' quarterback's lack of eye-popping throws at the rate of Williams or Mahomes, his lack of rushing heroics like Allen, and the exceptionally strong cast of playmakers around him all take away from his MVP case.
10. WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks (not ranked): He's clearly the MVP of his team. Can Smith-Njigba continue to make a case for MVP of the league, becoming the first wide receiver to win the award? His 2026 performance so far is an excellent start. The reigning Offensive Player of the Year is 15 yards shy of 1,000 in just eight games. He's had more than 100 yards in seven out of eight games, and he's scored at least one touchdown in six of those outings.
The Seahawks lost in Week 8 as their offense mustered just 252 yards – yet Smith-Njigba still tallied 118 of those yards. He also scored a touchdown. The “Monday Night Football” loss made it exceptionally clear that Seattle’s offense runs through the young wideout. The Bears limiting Smith-Njigba to start the second half is what allowed Chicago to really pull away as the rest of the Seahawks offense sputtered.
Nov. 5, 8:15 p.m. ET, Amazon Prime Video (Jaguars by 9.5)
Key storylines
QB NONE: Lamar Jackson? Out. Tyler Hun-
tley? Out. Joe Fagnano? Also bitten by the injury bug. In other words, if you are within driving distance of M&T Bank Stadium on Thursday night – watch out and check the caller ID. You may be asked to play quarterback for the Ravens. As far as quarterbacks with experience go, Baltimore signed Austin Reed and Kedon Slovis. Jesse Minter might have to spin the QB wheel and hope for the best.
On the road again: In Week 8, the Jaguars played a real home game at EverBank Stadium for the first time since Sept. 27. They had enough time to do some laundry, make sure nothing was out of place and maybe sleep in their own bed for a night or two before packing those bags again. That Week 8 contest was the only true home game for Jacksonville during an eight-week stretch. The Jags' next home game isn't until Nov. 29 (Week 12) against the Titans. That's a lot of luggage.
Show us what you've got, Brian Thomas Jr.: It's the last game before the NFL trade deadline for both teams and perhaps no player is more intriguing than the 2024 first-round pick. Thomas is one player who didn't benefit from Liam Coen's arrival in Jacksonville, falling down the receiver depth chart. He was benched against the Texans in London and hauled in a touchdown against the Colts. His time with the Jags appears to be coming to an end, so will the team give him some extra reps to squeeze some more value out of the trade market?
– USA TODAY Sports' Adam Kaufman, Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz and Nick Brinkerhoff
Ohio State coach Ryan Day talks to Luke Fahey during the QB's first start Oct. 31. ADAM CAIRNS/COLUMBUS DISPATCH
despite beating the Hoosiers? I'll tell you what Yurachek couldn't quite put into words. The rankings separation isn't because Ohio State is 6-2 and Indiana is 8-1. It's because Sayin started Ohio State's win against Indiana, and the committee doesn't trust the Buckeyes with the three-star freshman Fahey taking the snaps.
The Buckeyes are out of chances for marquee victories, too. No. 23 Oregon is the only ranked opponent left.
If the Buckeyes lose again with Fahey, that'll reaffirm what the committee already understands: It cannot justify putting three-loss Ohio State in the playoff, unless Sayin makes a miraculous recovery from his arm injury and is back on the field by Thanksgiving weekend.
Ohio State scheduled tough, and the committee offered some hints that it values strength of schedule. (How else to explain Alabama at No. 5, other than its strength of schedule and a dash of Script A bias?) Because of Ohio State's schedule, under normal circumstances, it would join Texas as top contenders to become the playoff's first 9-3 qualifiers, if that's where this season goes. But Sayin's injury altered the script.
Florida State can tell 'em all about how the new script goes.
Three years ago, the committee used quarterback Jordan Travis' injury as justification to reject undefeated Florida State from the four-team playoff.
The playoff committee is not bound by precedent, nor is it stagnant. Committee membership turns over, and yet we detect some parallels between how a past committee treated FSU to how this committee will handle the Buckeyes.
Quarterback injuries matter, especially if the production reverses with the backup.
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The NBA paused its action to encourage Americans to vote.
So with no games scheduled for Nov. 3, it offered a bit of a reset to take in the lessons learned from the first two weeks of the 2026-27 regular season.
The good news for teams is that the spate of injuries that ravaged rosters across the league have (mostly) calmed a bit.
And while it's still so very early in the season, the action has led to sweeping changes across the board. Already, there is a new No. 1 team, and a new No. 2 for that matter.
30. Sacramento Kings, 1-6 (-): They're second-to-last on net rating (minus-13.2) and are prime candidates to sell off their assets before the trading deadline.
29. Chicago Bulls, 1-6 (-2): No team plays faster than the Bulls, who lead in pace (105.86), but the offense has been wildly inefficient, with Chicago shooting 41.6%, second-worst in the NBA.
28. Brooklyn Nets, 1-6 (+1): The addition of Julius Randle has not been enough to stabilize the offense, and 3-point defense (15.0 conversions allowed per game) has been another Achilles' heel.
27. Utah Jazz, 1-6 (-3): The Jazz, who were looking to take a step forward, have been one of the more disappointing teams. Utah doesn't force enough turnovers and its transition offense is basically nonexistent.
26. Milwaukee Bucks, 1-6 (−): Tyler Herro has been pretty solid, but too many Bucks players have been far too inconsistent, starting with Kel'el Ware.
25. Los Angeles Clippers, 1-6 (-): The Clippers still are the only team to average at least 20 turnovers per game.
24. Phoenix Suns, 1-4 (-1): They're the only NBA team to have only played five games, but Phoenix has been getting killed on the glass, where they rank 29th in rebounding (39.6 per game).
23. Indiana Pacers, 2-6 (-9): Indiana is banged up, but without Tyrese
Rockets guard Marcus Smart grabs a rebound away from Celtics guard Hugo Gonzalez during the third quarter at Toyota Center on Nov. 2 in Houston.
TROY TAORMINA/IMAGN IMAGES VIA REUTERS
Haliburton, this offense lacks a catalyst and identity.
22. New Orleans Pelicans, 3-4 (+6): Winners of three consecutive, the Pelicans have been a nice story so far and are dominating down low; New Orleans leads the league with 62.6 points in the paint per game ... which is 7.5 points more than the next team.
21. Orlando Magic, 2-5 (-1): Since Paolo Banchero (ankle) and Jalen Suggs (knee) have been out, Orlando has been unable to find consistent offense, and turnovers (17.3 per game; tied for 25th) are a massive issue.
20. Miami Heat, 2-5 (+1): No team is allowing more 3-pointers per game (17.3). The defense has been a nightmare, with players even saying they're not trusting each other on the court.
19. Charlotte Hornets, 3-5 (-2): They've lost four consecutive and the warning sign is an offense that has it drastically underperforming; Charlotte ranks dead last in offensive rating (100.4), which is nearly four full points below the next closest team.
18. Washington Wizards, 4-3 (+1): Are the Wizards finally a player in the Eastern Conference? The early returns on this group look good, but the schedule hasn't exactly been a slog.
17. Denver Nuggets, 3-3 (-5): They look older and slower, but the more curious issue is the sweeping dip across Nikola Jokic's stats: 22.0 points, 9.7 rebounds and 9.0 assists per game.
16. Dallas Mavericks, 4-3 (+2): They have won three of four but became the first team to lose to the previously winless Kings. The Cooper Flagg-Kyrie Irving partnership, however, has been a fun watch.
15. Atlanta Hawks, 4-4 (-): They have had five different leading scorers through eight games and lead the NBA in assists per game (30.6) and assist-to-turnover ratio (2.08). The results have nonetheless been uneven.
14. New York Knicks, 3-4 (-5): Are we in championship hangover territory? The Knicks are a bit of a rarity, ranking dead last in pace (96.5). They've struggled against marquee opponents.
13. Toronto Raptors, 4-3 (−): No team has been hauling in more offensive boards per game (15.3), but losses in three of their last five have stunted their progress up the standings. And they got good news: Kawhi Leonard (knee swelling) might be back soon.
12. Cleveland Cavaliers, 4-3 (-1): They share the ball well and protect it, but the Cavs have had an uneven start to the season. A loss against an extremely shorthanded Thunder team was a missed opportunity.
11. Golden State Warriors, 5-3 (+11): They've won five consecutive, some against top-level teams (Lakers, Timberwolves, Nuggets). And Stephen Curry, at 38, is playing his way into the MVP conversation.
10. Minnesota Timberwolves, 5-3 (-5): Minnesota's two victories this past week were against the Clippers and the Bucks, which is fine. But the Timberwolves will need to show that they can beat some of the league's better teams without Anthony Edwards. The saving grace will be the defense.
9. Memphis Grizzlies, 6-1 (+7): The overtime loss against the Pelicans was a setback, but Memphis remains the biggest surprise in the NBA, and Ty Jerome (28.2 points per game; seventh in the NBA) has been a revelation.
8. Portland Trail Blazers, 5-1 (+2): Losing Ja Morant (hamstring) is certainly a blow, but Portland has been doing a great job on the glass, limiting teams to a 10.0 second-chance points per game.
7. Boston Celtics, 5-2 (+1): The move to add Mitchell Robinson is paying off so far, as pairing him alongside Neemias Queta has Boston ranking third in the league in opponent points in the paint per game (39.4).
6. San Antonio Spurs, 5-2 (−): Recent competition hasn't been as robust, but the Spurs have won five consecutive and are taking care of the ball, ranking second in turnovers per game (13.4).
5. Los Angeles Lakers, 6-2 (+2): Luka Dončić is flaming opponents, averaging an absurd 38.3 points per game and orchestrating the NBA's best offense (121.9 points per 100 possessions).
4. Oklahoma City Thunder, 5-2 (-4): They've dropped two of their last three as the injuries keep piling up. The latest, to Chet Holmgren, means OKC will be without three starters for the foreseeable future.
3. Detroit Pistons, 3-1 (-1): It's rather unfair to drop a team one spot even though it won all three games this past week. This is more about how good the 76ers have been and the quality of opponents Detroit faced. But can the Pistons sustain this level with Duncan Robinson (a career-high 17.9 points per game) as their second-leading scorer?
2. Philadelphia 76ers, 7-1 (+2): Interestingly, it's the defense that has been Philly's strength. The Sixers have the league's third-best defensive rating (105.1 points allowed per 100 possessions).
1. Houston Rockets, 7-1 (+3): They own the NBA's top net rating (+12.8), Alperen Şengün is anchoring the offense and Jabari Smith Jr. is breaking out.
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Alabama RB EJ Crowell gets into the end zone past Georgia defensive back KJ Bolden for a TD at Bryant Denny Stadium on Oct. 10 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
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USA TODAY
The debut College Football Playoff rankings show the power of being unbeaten.
Miami does not have the wins to match one-loss teams such as Georgia, Indiana and Kentucky, not to mention two-loss contenders such as Texas, Alabama and Tennessee.
But being one of only three unbeaten teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision helped land the Hurricanes at No. 1 in the first rankings of the 2026 season Nov. 3, ahead of No. 2 Georgia, No. 3 Utah and No. 4 Indiana.
Miami has a very good win against No. 16 Wake Forest and two lopsided wins against a pair of opponents with a winning record in Clemson and Pitt. Only two of eight wins have come by a single-digit margin.
The Hurricanes should feel confident in their ability to hold onto the top spot by running the table in the regular season. That quest begins on Nov. 7 with a huge matchup against Notre Dame, ranked No. 11 by the committee, in what could be a playoff eliminator for the Fighting Irish.
Miami, the SEC and Ohio State lead the winners and losers from the first playoff rankings:
Winners
The SEC
While Miami took the top spot, the SEC owned the debut rankings with four teams in the top seven and nine teams overall in the Top 25. After Georgia, the list of ranked SEC teams features No. 5 Alabama, No. 6 Kentucky, No. 7 Texas, No. 10 Ole Miss, No. 13 Tennessee, No. 14 LSU, No. 18 Missouri and No. 21 South Carolina.
That the conference has just two one-loss teams heading into November is a little concerning given that no three-loss team has earned an at-large playoff berth without winning or playing for the conference championship. But having this many teams in the first rankings speaks to how the committee currently views the SEC as the strongest of the Power Four leagues, and rightfully so. Come early December, this perception should overcome playoff history to land at least one and potentially multiple three-loss teams in the bracket.
The biggest type of winner is the many two-loss teams in the SEC. No contender proves that point more than the Crimson Tide, whose rise into the top five was the most stunning single ranking on Tuesday night. Think of it this way: Tennessee dominated Alabama last month but came in eight spots behind the Tide. What buoys Alabama are wins against Kentucky and South Carolina, what was then a ranked win against Mississippi State and a very competitive loss to Georgia. Committee chair Hunter Yurachek noted that win against Mississippi State on the road as a significant plus to the Crimson Tide's résumé because it came when the Bulldogs were unbeaten and quarterback Kamario Taylor was healthy before a season-ending injury. Before Tuesday night, the thought was that Alabama had to win this weekend against LSU to stay alive in the playoff race. But these rankings say that the Tide probably can afford a close loss to the Tigers and remain in the bracket as long as they win out from there.
Unsurprisingly, No. 25 Boise State was the only team from the Group of Six in the rankings. To have any Group of Six team in the debut Top 25 is a little surprising; there were none in the first rankings of last season. But the Broncos have moved into the driver's seat for another playoff appearance thanks to a narrow loss to Oregon and wins against Memphis, Western Michigan and Fresno State. While there's no way to know what Group of Six teams the committee had under consideration, other contenders include Texas-San Antonio, North Dakota State and Memphis.
While lacking the overall depth of the SEC, the Big Ten was also rewarded with six teams in the rankings. This group includes several teams on the back end of the Top 25 in No. 19 Iowa, No. 20 Southern Cal and No. 23 Oregon. (The Ducks were one of the bigger surprises in the rankings after posting three losses.) Closer to the top, the conference has the Hoosiers and unbeaten No. 8 UCLA. One thing to keep in mind this month: While this will be a bloody final month for the SEC, with multiple games on the docket between two-loss contenders, the Big Ten has fewer bubble-bursting match-ups in November and could end the regular season with more two-loss teams than the SEC.
Coming in at No. 11 is a total nightmare for Notre Dame, emphasizing the do-or-die aspect of the matchup with Miami. Clearly, a loss on Saturday should end any chance the Fighting Irish have of getting back into the play-off after missing last year's tournament with two losses. The issue is the lack of marquee wins: Wisconsin is the best note on Notre Dame's résumé, which is a serious problem. That has led to additional fallout for No. 9 BYU, which beat the Irish last month. The Cougars hoped to crack the top five largely because of that win, but a loss to Central Florida and close calls against TCU, Iowa State and Arizona State have dinged their reputation.
Had they won against Southern Cal last Saturday, the Buckeyes would've been in the top three of the rankings and in the debate for No. 1. Instead, Ohio State debuted at No. 12, behind every unbeaten or one-loss Power Four other than Wake Forest and also well behind Texas due to the Longhorns' nonconference win in September. This is rare territory for one of the dominant programs in the country: OSU hadn't been ranked lower than No. 7 at any point in the playoff rankings since being No. 10 on Nov. 18, 2018, and hadn't been this low in the debut rankings since coming in at No. 16 in the first-ever Top 25 on Oct. 26, 2014. (That team won the national championship.)
Wake Forest had an argument for being higher based on the good loss to Miami, a win against Louisville and an active four-game run of depleted ACC competition. As one example of a team ahead of the Demon Deacons, LSU has just a single win against a Power Four opponent with a winning record, blowing out Clemson in the season opener. While suggesting that they might tumble out of the rankings with a loss this month, to debut at No. 16 also says the Deacons are in the mix for an at-large spot should they run the table in November with wins against SMU and Duke and play the Hurricanes tight for a second time in the ACC championship game.
Meanwhile, No. 15 Texas Tech comes in as the lowest-ranked one-loss Power Four team. There is an argument for the Red Raiders being ranked too low: No. 17 Houston and No. 22 Arizona are very good wins, and they also scored a nice nonconference victory against Oregon State. Tech was also pushed around by Cincinnati, though, and that loss looks worse after the Bearcats were blown out by Utah. More than anything, this first ranking essentially narrows the Red Raiders' playoff path. While messiness in the SEC and Big Ten would change things, Tech might be a team that can only reach the playoff via another conference championship.
Say this for UCLA: The Bruins fired their athletic director, but they believe they've found their football coach for the foreseeable future.
What does that mean?
It means UCLA officials are in serious discussions with first-year coach Bob Chesney about a contract extension and raise.
Two individuals with direct knowledge of the situation told USA TODAY Sports on Nov. 2 that UCLA and Chesney have held productive talks about a more lucrative deal that would further cement his future with the Bruins while helping ward off potential interest from programs such as Florida State.
The Bruins remain undefeated in Chesney's first season and landed inside the top 12, at No. 8, when the first 2026 College Football Playoff rankings were released Nov. 3.
Bob Chesney's UCLA Bruins are 8-0 in his first season as their head coach. LUKE HALES/GETTY IMAGES
Big 12 officiating errors renew calls for national overhaul
Another week, another controversy, or two or three or four, involving college football officiating.
For the second time in three weeks, the Big 12 was forced to acknowledge its officials botched a ruling involving BYU. On Oct. 17, officials ended the game against Notre Dame at least one second early, with the Irish inside BYU's 10-yard line and in position to attempt a walk-off touchdown.
Most recently, in BYU's 27-20 win against Arizona State, the Cougars were awarded an early touchdown on a play that should have ended at the 2-yard line. BYU fumbled forward, and a different offensive player recovered the ball in the end zone.
The Cougars should have retained possession, but the play should not have resulted in a touchdown.
So, what can be done?
One college executive shared an idea with USA TODAY Sports that has, at minimum, been discussed, even if it remains far from implementation.
“We need a national consortium of top officials,” the executive said. “Rate them, score them and aggregate over a period of time.
"You grade the refs and assign them games and pay them accordingly."
Under that proposal, the highest-rated officials would be assigned to each week's biggest games, most often, though not exclusively, in the Big Ten or SEC.
Those two leagues, according to people who spoke with USA TODAY Sports, pay their officiating crews “substantially more” than either the ACC or Big 12.
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in a lower-revenue town, said the conventional, external wisdom. Lose elite talent, try to backfill with leftovers. Yet these Brewers ultimately never bought into that, and in 2026 they cruised through the regular season with the best record and in the postseason kept rolling all the way to the franchise's first World Series championship. We take a look at how they achieved it and their plans to be MLB's next dynasty in a multiple-page look at the Fall Classic. The other pro league championship decided last week was in the WNBA, which was won by the Golden State Valkyries, a 2025 expansion team that "Ballhalla" fans in the Bay Area couldn't get enough of and shows the power of investing in women's sports. We take a look at how Week 9 in college football will affect Week 10 and beyond through the College Football Playoff. We examine the surprising Grizzlies in the NBA and hand out first-month team grades in the NHL. Plus we have NFL Week 9 previews and team-by-team statistics and NFL, NBA and NHL position stat leaders and box scores. You can order the edition at onlinestore.usatoday.com and subscribe to the magazine by going to mysportsweekly.com or by calling 800-872-1415.
A potent storm will move into Canada today, but wet weather will extend along the Eastern Seaboard marking the end of an unusually long dry stretch. Rain will be likely from Wisconsin to New York, while showers dampen the Great Lakes, Northeast and mid-Atlantic. A few thunderstorms will rumble from North Carolina to Florida.
A few showers will dampen Oklahoma and Washington. The rest of the nation will be dry. Temperatures will be near to just below the historical average for this time of year from the Mississippi Valley and the West.
It will remain warm from Maine to Florida. Abundant sunshine will be across the Southwest, while it remains cloudy elsewhere. It will be breezy in the Great Lakes and western Texas.
You'd need to be a fan of a certain age to remember a Kentucky season quite like this one.
Kentucky is 7-1 and ranked No. 7 in the US LBM Coaches Poll entering a rivalry game at No. 16 Tennessee. Kentucky's strength of record ranks No. 2 in the nation behind only undefeated Miami, according to ESPN metrics.
When you consider the résumé, you'd be entitled to believe Kentucky would be ranked higher if not for its name and its history.
"How do you go earn respect? Go win. That's it," Stein told USA TODAY Sports. "And, soon, people will respect this program."
Buoyed by an overtime win against LSU, Kentucky would possess a compelling College Football Playoff résumé if it wins at least three of its final four games.
Kentucky is finding out what Indiana already experienced: A state crazy about basketball can fall in love with a winning football program.
"I've never seen the city like this, in terms of cheering on the football team like they are right now," senior safety Ty Bryant told USA TODAY Sports.
Bryant is something of an authority on this subject. He's a Lexington, Kentucky, native who previously played for Mark Stoops.
"It just makes me want to continue doing what we're doing," Bryant said of the fan base's energy. "We have to continue to give them something to cheer about."
It's not that Kentucky's never tasted success. Bear Bryant once served an 11-1 season. Fran Curci's Wildcats finished 10-1 in 1977. Stoops twice delivered 10-win seasons.
Each time, the success proved fleeting. A lack of consistency became Kentucky's bugaboo. So, is this sustainable? Ask Stein or his boss that question, and you'll detect nothing but belief.
“It’s completely possible that we can have elite-level football on an annual basis here, that we are in the hunt for championships,” athletic director J Batt told USA TODAY Sports. “That is the goal. I can tell you, Will Stein wouldn’t be here, and I wouldn’t be here, if we
Bradley Chubb ranking second on the team with just 1.5 sacks and 19 pressures.
Sweat would go a long way toward improving those numbers. He has three sacks and 19 pressures while playing for a lowly Cardinals defense, and he would get a big-time boost playing across from Rousseau. Sweat had a career-best 12 sacks last season and won Super Bowl 58 with the Philadelphia Eagles, so the 29-year-old would be an ideal organizational fit for the win-now Bills.
Pittsburgh Steelers trade target Indianapolis Colts WR Josh Downs
Pittsburgh Steelers trade target Indianapolis Colts WR Josh Downs
The Steelers have been better than expected on offense this season, but they could use extra depth at receiver. Both Michael Pittman Jr. and Roman Wilson are on injured reserve, which has left the Steelers thin behind DK Metcalf and Germie Bernard.
Downs would be a natural fit for the Steelers given his skills as a slot separator. He is averaging 3.2 yards of separation per route run, according to the NFL's Next Gen Stats, which ranks 19th among 73 qualified receivers this season. The 5-foot-9, 171-pounder's ability to get open quickly should mesh well with Aaron Rodgers' current playing style, which relies heavily on the short passing game to keep Pittsburgh's offense on schedule.
The Steelers and Colts already swung a trade involving Pittman during the off-season, so it might not be too difficult for them to agree on compensation to complete a Downs trade.
The Jaguars have sported the NFL's best run defense during the 2026 season, but they have struggled to consistently contain opposing passing attacks. They enter Week 9 having allowed the fourth-most passing yards per game (253.9) and could stand to add some talent to their secondary for that reason.
Baker would be a massive upgrade for Jacksonville's safety room. The didn't think that was a real possibility."
Big Blue Nation is buying in. Kentucky's game against Florida in two weeks will mark a fourth consecutive sellout for an SEC home game. Social media engagement is “through the moon,” Batt said, and Kentucky has already generated thousands of new season-ticket sales for next season. Those new sales include existing season-ticket holders adding more seats, past season-ticket holders returning to the fold, or fans putting in for season tickets for the first time.
It adds to the story, too, that Kentucky is coached by one of its own, a 37-year-old wunderkind who grew up watching Hal Mumme's Air Raid.
Will Stein's confidence evident 'from a mile away'
Will Stein's confidence evident 'from a mile away'
The day Bryant met Stein, one unmistakable trait jumped out about Kentucky's new coach.
“I seen he was a confident guy from a mile away,” Bryant said.
You can't lack for moxie when you're coaching a program that ranks 14th out of 16 SEC teams in all-time winning percentage.
History matters less than ever in this era – ask Indiana – but Stein nonetheless knows the history.
Stein's dad played for Kentucky, and he grew up attending games. Stein's childhood memories are painted with scenes of tailgates and time spent around his dad's former teammates at the K House, Kentucky's game-day hub for its past athletes.
Stein attended the Bluegrass Miracle game in 2002, when Nick Saban's LSU Tigers won on a Hail Mary. He rushed the field as a fan in 2007, when Kentucky stunned No. 1 LSU and Les Miles in triple-overtime. LSU went on to win the national championship that season.
That next year, after graduating from Trinity High School in Louisville, Stein became a walk-on quarterback at Louisville, where he started five games throughout his career.
Playing for UK would've been a dream, but the opportunity didn't come. Stein says he harbors no ill will about that.
At Louisville, Stein finished his career playing for Charlie Strong, for whom he'd later work at Texas.
"It all brought me back here to Kentucky, where I dreamt of playing, and
Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert, catching a pass that he'd run in for a TD on Sept. 13, would be a good catch for a division leader like the 49ers.
ERIC HARTLINE/IMAGN IMAGES VIA REUTERS
perennial Pro Bowler is undersized at 5-foot-10, 195 pounds, but he has long been a savvy playmaker with excellent instincts and versatility. This season, he has generated 51 tackles, a career-high 3.5 sacks and an interception despite playing for a leaky Cardinals stop unit.
The only question is about whether the Cardinals will trade Baker, who has been with the team for a decade. But given that Baker is 30 and the Cardinals don't appear to be close to contention, the franchise could part with him if they get a significant enough offer.
Denver Broncos trade target Philadelphia Eagles TE Dallas Goedert
Denver Broncos trade target Philadelphia Eagles TE Dallas Goedert
The Broncos have one of the NFL's deepest rosters, so they don't have many glaring needs. They could swing big for an upgrade at running back, like Jonathan Taylor, but if they can't get him, adding a higher-end tight end to their room would be a solid move.
Evan Engram hasn't developed into the threat many expected he would when he signed with the Broncos before the 2025 season. He, Nate Adkins and Adam Trautman have combined for just 23 catches and 220 yards this season – albeit with four touchdowns – so adding a player like Goedert, who has 26 catches for 258 yards and two touchdowns in six games on his own, could go a long way toward giving Bo Nix another security blanket.
The Eagles have long been rumored to be considering trading Goedert, so obviously it's a dream come true to be the head coach here," Stein said.
Stein's Kentucky roots, his childhood fandom, and his K House memories make for more than a good footnote to this story. Batt considers the coach's roots a legitimate advantage.
“In a time when the window of time you’re afforded to build credibility is compressed, authenticity of leadership is even more important,” Batt said. “Will’s connections to the University of Kentucky, connections to the Commonwealth having grown up here, and just who he is, is very authentic.”
Stein's armed with another quality particularly useful to this era: This guy knows quarterbacks.
Stein is good with QBs. Kenny Minchey is his latest
Stein is good with QBs. Kenny Minchey is his latest
As Stein's career took off on a meteoric rise these past few years, he proved himself as an ace QB developer.
What's his secret sauce?
“We don’t just plug a person into the system and hope it works,” Stein said. “We literally mold our system to the player that we have.”
As Texas-San Antonio's offensive coordinator, he leaned into Frank Harris' dual-threat abilities and incorporated a dose of quarterback draws and zone-read plays.
At Oregon, Stein embraced the empty-set formations quarterback Bo Nix favored.
The next year, he served a dose of tempo offense and run-pass option plays suited to Dillon Gabriel. Next came Dante Moore, who was something of a blend of Nix and Gabriel.
At Kentucky, Stein trusts Kenny Minchey's acumen.
“We’re able to put more on him at the line of scrimmage to get us into the best plays possible,” Stein said.
Minchey's wits, plus Stein's belief in his quarterback, and a dash of moxie resulted in Kentucky beating LSU at home, a bit of a throwback to that 2007 game Stein attended as a teenager.
Awww snap! Kentucky is winning with 2-point conversions
Awww snap! Kentucky is winning with 2-point conversions
Like most new coaches, Stein leaned into the transfer portal before his first season. His haul ranked among the nation's top-10 transfer classes, according to 247Sports.
Among the newcomers: Minchey,
offloading the 31-year-old in the midst of what looks like a lost season would be sensible. It would also give them a chance to see how second-round rookie Eli Stowers looks in an expanded role.
New York Giants trade target Tennessee Titans RB Tony Pollard
New York Giants trade target Tennessee Titans RB Tony Pollard
The Giants are thin at the running back position after releasing Najee Harris and losing Tyrone Tracy Jr. to a hamstring injury. Backfield leader Cam Skattebo came out of the team's Week 7 game with a mild hamstring injury of his own, and John Harbaugh also benched the second-year back earlier in the season as he dealt with fumbling issues.
All of that could lead the Giants to target a reliable veteran at running back. Could that be Jonathan Taylor? Surely, but if the team is confident in Skattebo being its longer-term starter, general manager Joe Schoen may pursue more of a short-term stopgap who can split the workload with the Arizona State product.
Pollard is on pace to log his fifth consecutive 1,000-yard season and has posted a combined 236 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns over his last two games. The 29-year-old will be a free agent after the season, so it wouldn't likely cost too much to pry him away from the 1-6 Titans.
Minnesota Vikings trade target Indianapolis Colts RB Jonathan Taylor
Minnesota Vikings trade target Indianapolis Colts RB Jonathan Taylor
Taylor will have many suitors on the open market, but no team could use him more than the Vikings.
Minnesota's offense has sputtered this season despite the team's 6-1 record. Notably, the Vikings' Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason-led running game ranks 27th in rushing EPA per play this season, per the NFL's Next Gen Stats. Neither looked particularly sharp against the Detroit Lions in Week 8, and with Jones nursing a nagging knee injury, it would behoove the Vikings to add a high-caliber weapon to their backfield.
Taylor wouldn't just be an instant upgrade for the Vikings. He would also help give Kevin O'Connell's offense a much-needed identity. Minnesota could focus on becoming a ground-and-pound offense that would pair very well with the team's aggressive, attacking-style defense.
who'd been Notre Dame's blue-chip backup.
Throughout Stoops' tenure, Kentucky typically played tough defense, but it ached for better quarterback play. Insert Stein and Minchey, and consider the problem remedied.
Bryant learned two things about Minchey before the season started: He's very smart, and he knows how to improvise.
"The first time I realized, ‘We got something special with this one’ was in the spring," Bryant said. "I came on a blitz off the edge. He changed his arm angle and flicked it out there for a completed pass. I was like, ‘OK, he’s legit.’"
Fast-forward several months, and Stein put the LSU game in Minchey's hands. Stein swiftly held up two fingers after Kentucky scored in overtime. Forget the extra point. He wanted a 2-point conversion and a walk-off win.
Kentucky already had beaten South Carolina when Minchey fired a completion for a 2-point walk-off. What did Bryant think when he learned his coach wanted to run it back with another 2-point walk-off against LSU?
“Awww snap!” Bryant said of his reaction. “In the moment, my heart was beating out of my chest.”
Minchey's got this, so breathe easy.
At the line of scrimmage, Minchey saw LSU's defense aligned with an empty box as the Tigers scrambled to line up against Kentucky's five-wide set. The play wasn't designed to be a quarterback run, but Minchey improvised, kept the ball himself, and ran into the end zone untouched.
Many of Stoops' best wins occurred on the road. So, Kentucky fans welcomed an overdue cathartic moment at Kroger Field.
Just as they did in 2007, fans stormed the field.
“It was just a collective moment of happiness that really this fan base hasn’t had since COVID, in either football or basketball,” said Jones, the radio entrepreneur who’s built a big following in the Bluegrass State.
"I used to always say: No fan base has given more and gotten less than UK football. It's nice to see people get to celebrate some success."
Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network's senior national college football columnist. Listen to his podcast, "College Football Unfiltered." Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on X @btoppmeyer
Carolina Panthers trade target Philadelphia Eagles CB Riq Woolen
Carolina Panthers trade target Philadelphia Eagles CB Riq Woolen
The Panthers have unsurprisingly struggled to defend the pass since their top two cornerbacks, Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson, were placed on injured reserve due to injuries.
Carolina will need to shore up its depth at the position to have a chance to win the wide-open NFC South, so targeting Woolen would be sensible.
Woolen's first season with the Eagles hasn't gone as either party would have hoped, as the 27-year-old has surrendered a career-worst 116.1 passer rating, per Pro Football Focus.
Still, the 6-foot-4, 205-pound cornerback is a freak athlete and spent four years as part of a productive Seattle Seahawks secondary, so there's hope a change of scenery could allow him to bounce back.
The Panthers could also look to target an offensive tackle on the trade market should a starting-caliber player end up on the block. However, that seems unlikely to happen given the dearth of high-end talent at the position league-wide.
San Francisco 49ers trade target Jacksonville Jaguars WR Brian Thomas Jr.
San Francisco 49ers trade target Jacksonville Jaguars WR Brian Thomas Jr.
The 49ers have dealt with a plethora of injuries at receiver this season with players like Deebo Samuel, Ricky Pear-sall and De'Zhaun Stribling all missing extended time.
Mike Evans has largely been up to the task of carrying San Francisco's receiver room, but he was unable to play in the 49ers' lone loss of the season, and it showed in the passing game.
The 49ers need to add healthy depth to their receiver room if only to ensure their offense isn't overly reliant on Evans to carry it.
Targeting someone like Josh Downs could make sense, but if John Lynch wants to swing for the fences, Thomas could be worth chasing.
Thomas has seemingly fallen out of favor in Jacksonville and has not caught more than three passes in a game this season.
Still, Thomas is just two years removed from a rookie campaign when he posted 87 catches, 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns, so maybe a change of scenery would serve him well.
Miami duo's chance for Heisman moment
Austin Curtright
USA TODAY NETWORK
Who's going to have their Heisman Trophy moment?
College football's slate of games in Week 10 is loaded with high-tier ranked games, including No. 1 Miami vs. No. 6 Notre Dame, a matchup with multiple contenders for college football's most prestigious individual award.
The race feels wide open with four weeks left in the regular season. Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith, a frontrunner for several weeks, now appears in jeopardy of winning the award due to the Buckeyes' offensive struggles without starting quarterback Julian Sayin.
Smith was peppered with targets in Ohio State's 30-18 upset loss to Southern Cal in Week 9, but the struggles of true freshman quarterback Luke Fahey could impact Smith's Heisman candidacy.
Darian Mensah, Malachi Toney and CJ Carr could all vault up the Heisman power rankings with strong performances in one of the biggest college football games of the season.
Here's a look at USA TODAY's weekly Heisman Trophy power rankings after Week 9 of the college football season.
Despite Ohio State's offensive struggles, Smith remains the front runner – for now. He caught 10 passes for 83 yards with a touchdown in the Buckeyes' loss to USC, also breaking the Big Ten record for all-time receiving touchdowns with his 40th.
The 6-foot-4 top-tier NFL prospect is easily one of the best players in college football. If his quarterback can keep getting him the ball at a decent rate – and if Ohio State doesn't completely fall off the tracks – his Heisman candidacy should remain strong.
Smith still ranks second nationally with 1,067 receiving yards this season.
Mensah faces his first test since transferring to Miami. A huge performance in a win over Notre Dame in
Receiver Malachi Toney (1) and Miami avoided an upset by North Carolina in Week 9.
BOB DONNAN/IMAGN IMAGES VIA REUTERS
Week 10, with “College GameDay” in town, could be the last obstacle he has to overcome before becoming the Heisman front-runner.
Mensah ranks eighth nationally with 2,425 passing yards, tied for first nationally with 25 passing touchdowns and tied for second nationally with only one interception.
He also boasts the nation's best QBR at 90.3 this season.
The former Tulane and Duke quarterback is completing 80.7% of his passes this season and Mensah has been dominant in every game against lesser opponents.
It's time to see if he can do it against a team of Notre Dame's stature.
Mensah and Toney have been the best quarterback-receiver duo in college football this season.
As a result, they are both vying for the Heisman in 2026.
Toney has 73 receptions for 1,027 yards and 13 touchdowns this season but has been especially dominant in Miami's last three wins against Florida State, Pitt and North Carolina. He has a ridiculous 34 catches for 433 yards with seven touchdowns during his recent stretch.
If Toney goes ballistic against Notre Dame, maybe it's him that jumps to the top of the Heisman race, not his quarterback.
4. Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss (5)
Ole Miss and Trinidad Chambliss bounced back in a huge way after their loss to Texas in Week 8. Chambliss had a slow start but still completed 22 of 34 passes for 263 yards with two touchdowns to an interception in the win, also rushing seven times for 65 yards with another score.
Chambliss has a chance for another Heisman moment if the Rebels can take down No. 2 Georgia at home in Week 10.
Mensah and Toney have been the best quarterback-receiver duo in college football this season.
As a result, they are both vying for the Heisman in 2026.
Toney has 73 receptions for 1,027 yards and 13 touchdowns this season but has been especially dominant in Miami's last three wins against Florida State, Pitt and North Carolina. He has a ridiculous 34 catches for 433 yards with seven touchdowns during his recent stretch.
If Toney goes ballistic against Notre Dame, maybe it's him that jumps to the top of the Heisman race, not his quarterback.
4. Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss (5)
Ole Miss and Trinidad Chambliss bounced back in a huge way after their loss to Texas in Week 8. Chambliss had a slow start but still completed 22 of 34 passes for 263 yards with two touchdowns to an interception in the win, also rushing seven times for 65 yards with another score.
Chambliss has a chance for another Heisman moment if the Rebels can take down No. 2 Georgia at home in Week 10.
Sam Leavitt is quietly playing the best football of his career the last two weeks, and is getting healthy for LSU, which is still vying for a berth in the SEC championship game.
Leavitt ranks fourth nationally in QBR at 85.3 and is coming off back-to-back performances with 300 or more total yards with eight total touchdowns and no turnovers. He could earn his biggest win of the season if he and the Tigers defeat Alabama on Nov. 7.
CJ Carr was solid enough in Notre Dame's 35-13 win over Navy in Week 9, as he completed 19 of 29 passes for 210 yards with two touchdowns in the win.
Carr and the Fighting Irish only led 14-13 at halftime, which sparked questions. Still, he's having an efficient season for one of college football's top brands and is a huge performance against Miami away from vaulting back into the elite tier of contenders.
Like Carr, Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton's Heisman status falls more into the category of being a solid quarterback on a national championship contender than one lighting up scoreboards every week.
Stockton is one of college football's best at operating within an offense, although he didn't do much in Georgia's 27-8 win over Florida in Week 9: The second-year starter completed 13 of 23 passes for 101 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions, while rushing 12 times for 45 yards.
He makes the plays needed to win, and there's something to be said for that trait.
Drew Mestemaker is likely upset with his defense after Oklahoma State's 51-49 loss to Iowa State in Week 9. The potential first quarterback off the board in the 2027 NFL draft passed for 323 yards with five touchdowns in the loss, as the Cowboys defense was torched for 521 total yards.
OSU now has two conference losses, which puts a huge dent in its Big 12 championship chances. It'll be tough for Mestemaker to win the Heisman if OSU keeps losing.
Jesse Legree and Oregon State were upset by Fresno State in Week 9, falling 38-22 in the Pac-12 matchup.
Degree had his worst game of his college career, although it says something about how prolific he has been this season given he still had seven receptions for 70 yards in the loss. The true freshman still leads college football with 1,110 receiving yards and 14 receiving touchdowns this season.
He's still on the radar, but his chances of making it to New York take a hit after the loss.
It's time to start taking Wake Forest seriously, including Gio Lopez. The left-handed quarterback has been outstanding for the Demon Deacons, with 2,176 passing yards and 18 touchdowns to an interception this season. His 84.4 QBR ranks sixth nationally, and he has 317 rushing yards with six scores.
Lopez is a good story, too. He struggled at times last season at North Carolina and was even benched for the ACC bottom-feeder last season. Now, Lopez is near the top of the conference and could push for Heisman contention if Wake Forest keeps winning.
The annual CFDA Fashion Awards brought out the A-list stars and all the gold. Page 2D
His “Back to the Beginning” documentary comes alive again on screen. Page 4D
LIFELINE
DIA DIPASUPIL/GETTY IMAGES FILE
MAKING WAVES
ANGELINA JOLIE, DAUGHTER
Another one of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's children no longer uses their father's surname. Their youngest daughter, an aspiring artist, was granted her petition to change her name from Vivienne Marcheline Jolie-Pitt to Vivienne Marcheline Jolie, according to a Los Angeles Superior Court filing obtained by USA TODAY on Nov. 2. She moved to make the change legal a little more than a week after she turned 18 on July 12, following in the footsteps of three of her older siblings. The notification of her name change request was published, as legally required in California, several times in the Los Angeles Daily Journal throughout July and August.
Singer-musician Art Garfunkel turns 85. TV personality-businesswoman Kris Jenner, 71. Actor Nestor Serrano, 71. Actor-comedian Mo Gaffney, 68. Actor Robert Patrick, 68.
Singer-musician Bryan Adams, 67.
Actor Tilda Swinton, 66. Actor Tatum O'Neal, 63. Actor Famke Janssen, 62.
Singer-saxophonist Angelo Moore (Fishbone), 61. Actor Judy Reyes, 59.
Actor Sam Rockwell, 58. Actor Seth Gilliam, 58. Guitarist-keyboardist Jonny Greenwood (Radiohead), 55.
Actor Luke Hemsworth, 46. Actor Annet Mahendru, 41. Singer BoA, 40.
Aries (March 21-April 19). Where do others end and you begin? Emotional lines blur, problematically, as the moon and Neptune oppose!
Taurus (April 20-May 20). Reading into a sign? That's fine, as long as you know that prediction is no substitute for practice.
Gemini (May 21-June 21). Confused by a friend's behavior? As the moon and Neptune clash, try not to read too much into it!
Cancer (June 22-July 22). Discouraged by your work? You lack direction as the moon and Neptune oppose, but all isn't lost!
Leo (July 23-Aug. 22). Tempted to gossip? Skip the impulse and spare yourself a headache as the moon and Neptune oppose!
Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Considering giving someone a pass? You might rethink that impulse as the moon and Neptune oppose.
Libra (Sept.23-Oct. 23). Giving your all to help a partner? As the moon and Neptune oppose, ask why you think this person needs “saving”.
Scorpio (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Feeling off-balance? Don't check out! Check IN with your intuition as the moon and Neptune oppose.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Projecting onto a friend? Avoid reading into something they've said or haven't said – as the moon and Neptune clash!
\- as the moon and Neptune clash!
Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Giving off the wrong impression? Avoid bringing a personal issue into your professional sphere today.
Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). What are you trying to communicate? You have lots of ideas, but no real focus as the moon and Neptune oppose.
Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20). Do you trust them? An ally's suspicious behavior gives you pause as the moon and Neptune oppose.
STREAMING
Jaalen Best says the audition process for “The Greatest” lasted about a year. PROVIDED BY BROOKE PALMER/PRIME
'Greatest' champions Ali outside of the ring
Erin Jensen USA TODAY
How does one learn to “float like a butterfly” and “sting like a bee,” especially when they’ve never boxed before? That was the challenge that lay ahead for newcomer Jaalen Best. ● Best, who made his television debut in a role credited simply as “Hot Guy” for “American Horror Stories” in 2022, stars as legendary boxer Muhammad Ali in Prime Video’s “The Greatest” (streaming now). Season 1 opens with Ali winning gold at Rome’s Summer Olympics in 1960 and ends with Ali defeating Sonny Liston (Amin Joseph) for the heavyweight belt on Feb. 25, 1964. In the eight episodes between, it sheds light on the formative bonds with his parents, Cassius Clay Sr. (Omari Hardwick) and Odessa “Bird” Clay (Dana Gourrier), and his younger brother Rudy (Kai Parham). The series also traces the start of his interest in Islam and his early days of his friendship with Malcolm X (Michael Ealy).
The audition process for the biographical series, which is the first blessed by Ali's family, stretched "pretty much a year," 28-year-old Best tells USA TODAY.
Without any experience in the ring, “that audition process was my first time training and learning how to develop that foundation,” he says.
Series creator Ben Watkins, a “lifelong fan” of the boxer with 56 victories (37 by knockout) and only five losses to his name, says he “didn’t want to do the greatest hits” and felt it was important to remind viewers that Ali, born Cassius Clay Jr., “didn’t just come out into the world a fully formed legend.”
In fact, the odds were heavily against Ali before the Liston battle.
“Before the fight, [Ali] had a panic attack,” Watkins explains. But when it was time to fight, “he had somehow summoned an inner resolve where he walked in there and felt impervious, and we get to show
See THE GREATEST, Page 2D
Sonny Liston pushes Cassius Clay, later Muhammad Ali to the ropes during the heavyweight title fight that lasted seven rounds. Clay beat Liston by TKO at the Miami Beach Convention Hall on Feb. 25, 1964 in Miami Beach, Florida.
PROVIDED BY ALLSPORT/HULTON ARCHIVE VIA GETTY IMAGES
BOOKS
Andy Serkis gets back into Gollum in a different way
Andy Serkis gets back into Gollum in a different way
Clare Mulroy
USA TODAY
The first time Andy Serkis met Gollum, he was a schoolboy reading J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Hobbit" on the bus.
He remembers feeling marveled by the character and the vivid descriptions of the way he spoke. He remembers feeling swept into Middle-earth. By the time Serkis played him in Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings movies, he knew the creature inside and out.
But in his latest project, 62-year-old Serkis and Gollum aren't on great terms.
"My Pressures" (out now from Mariner) is clever in name and format, a memoir written with some fictional, fantastical flair. Rather than a chronological life retelling, "My Pressures" puts Serkis face-to-face in a tense roundtable with his iconic characters, including Caesar from "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" and Ulysses Klaue from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Serkis opens by voicing his anxieties. His manager wants him to write a memoir, but will anyone care? Does anyone want to hear about anything more than Gollum?
“Whingeing and whining. Who cares about him?” Gollum tells Serkis in a fictional conversation. Just 50 pages in, he already is verbally abusing Serkis. By the end, he’s trying to strangle him: “No one cares about its boring life. No one cares about its other characters, does they?”
Andy Serkis' memoir "My Pressures" mixes fictional techniques. NATHANIAL GARY/USA TODAY
The unique format was the only way he could fathom writing about his life, Serkis says, calling USA TODAY mid-journey home from New Zealand where he was filming “The Hunt for Gollum,” a new Lord of the Rings film scheduled for a December 2027 release. He revisits his early career, relationships and growing up between England and Baghdad, but also picks up a fictitious, magic script featuring a mediation among him and his characters.
“Time is a big theme in the book. And it’s like, why would I spend the time that I’ve got left on this planet reliving a life that I’ve already lived?” he says. “If there was a way of telling a version of my story, it would probably be best if it was seen through the eyes of the characters that I’ve played, because they define a lot of my life. So then it became an interesting proposition … it doesn’t just have to be stories of being on set and ramblings of an older actor.”
This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.
Question: Which characters were you eager to bring back and “meet” and which did you dread having a fictional conversation with?
Answer: Oh, that's a good question. I suppose, obviously, everyone associates me perhaps most with Gollum. I wanted to bring Gollum back, but sort of as an antagonist and as someone I could rub up against. But the character I think I really wanted to give voice to was the one that I really loved the most, which was Caesar. I really do miss him as a character and he sort of became the voice of reason and compassion and sanity in a kind of crazy world.
The character I suppose I least wanted to go back into was a character
See SERKIS, Page 2D
CFDA FASHION AWARDS
Demi, Pamela, Hailey shine as A-list event takes on golden hue
Demi, Pamela, Hailey shine as A-list event takes on golden hue
Anika Reed
USA TODAY
NEW YORK – It was a gold mine of stars – literally.
Dripping in golden gems, brocade, sequins and lamé, celebrities from Zoë Kravitz to Hailey Bieber and Rosé and more were on hand at the CFDA Fashion Awards in New York City to celebrate the gold standard of the fashion industry Monday, Nov. 2, at the American Museum of Natural History.
Host Keke Palmer also glittered in a vintage Bob Mackie gown once worn by Raquel Welch on the red carpet before taking the stage for the event, often called the Oscars of American fashion, which brought together everyone from Pamela Anderson and Demi Moore to Matt Damon, Naomi Osaka and Adriana Lima on the Upper West Side.
The night before the midterm elections, fashion's biggest names and its behind-the-scenes talent found out the results of their votes for the best names in design.
Jamaican-American designer Rachel Scott, who won one of the night's top prizes, womenswear designer of the year, for her work at her brand Diotima, used her acceptance speech to issue a call to action ahead of Election Day.
"It's very unusual that someone like me can stand in a space like this, and in a world where independent and marginalized voices are systematically quieted, I feel extremely lucky and very, very responsible," Scott said. "And we have a lot more work to do, starting tomorrow morning.
What is the CFDA Fashion Awards? One of fashion's biggest nights
What is the CFDA Fashion Awards? One of fashion's biggest nights
But before Election Day, the fashionable attendees elected to have a good time in a diverse room of skills, from models and designers to business owners and pattern makers to musicians, Oscar winners, Olympians and Victoria's Secret Angels. The stars' polka dots, feathers and fur rivaled that of the taxidermy animals in glass casings throughout the night at the museum.
Image architect Law Roach sauntered by Moore and Emmy Rossum, deep in conversation, as Damon and his daughter Isabella took their seats early on. Shaboozey works the room all night, schmoozing alongside Becky G at the cocktail hour before the festivities kicked off and smiling for the cameras next to Donatella Versace. Megan Thee Stallion hugged Coi Leray and sat alongside Lila Moss and Coco Jones, later snapping a big group selfie with Palmer, Chloe Bailey, Brandy, Monica, Leray and Jones.
Julia Fox, Monica and Brandy made a fashionable entrance after the first speech by CFDA chairman Thom Browne, while Lola Tung, Elle Fanning and Adriana Lima also sneaked in as attendees tucked into dinner: a festive chicken pot pie topped with puff pastry shaped like animals, including butterflies, bears and whale tails.
This marks the first CFDA Fashion Awards since the group's longtime president and CEO Steven Kolb stepped down in September. The abrupt end to Kolb's tenure came after he was seen grabbing and restraining PETA protesters off the runway at the COS show during New York Fashion Week. He issued a statement before announcing his resignation after 20 years heading the CFDA, days after the videos of him circulated across social media.
Hailey Bieber, left, and Rosé attend the 2026 CFDA Fashion Awards on Nov. 2 in New York City.
PROVIDED BY MATTEO PRANDONI/BFA.COM
Designers from the organization's board, including Thom Browne, Tory Burch, Ralph Lauren and Michael Kors, were in attendance (and celebrated) Monday night.
Damon joined Denim Tears founder Tremaine Emory to present the menswear designer award to Lauren, 87, who was on hand to receive an ovation. Burch accepted the positive change honor, while Instagram's fashion partnerships leader and former Teen Vogue and Lucky magazine editor Eva Chen earned the media award.
Rappers Future and Travis Scott slipped out early before the final awards of the night, which went to designer Susan Cianciolo (the Isabel Toledo Board of Directors Tribute), photographer duo Inez and Vinoodh (the Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award) and Linda Fargo (the Founder's Award in Honor of Eleanor Lambert).
Where previous years have had notable celebs such as A\$AP Rocky or Naomi Campbell receiving the Fashion Icon honor, this year the title went to architect Peter Marino, who is the force behind designing spaces and boutiques for Armani, Calvin Klein, Chanel, Dior, Louis Vuitton and Barneys New York.
Jewelry designer Ana Khouri surprised with the accessory designer win, and the Google Shopping emerging designer of the year honor went to newcomer Colleen Allen.
Bieber, Kravitz and Rosé sparkled as a trio to present the international designer of the year award to Anthony Vaccarello, who recently stepped down from Saint Laurent after 10 years as creative director.
Moore also took to the stage to present Gap Inc. and creative director Zac Posen with the Innovation Award Presented by Amazon Fashion, recalling sharing an iconic brand moment with her daughter.
"In 1990, I stood in front of a camera for Gap in a cropped denim jacket. And then years later, my daughter Rumer re-created that very same look for Gap. I love that something so simple as a denim jacket could become this beautiful little thread between us, connecting generations," Moore said.
called Ian Brady (from “Longford”) who was a serial killer. That was a very dark character to have to climb into in the first place.
It gets pretty physical. I mean, Gollum tries to kill you.
A lot of the characters that I've played are very physical characters, so I wanted there to be this constant wrangling between them, that they were vying for supremacy.
And having me caught in the middle of this sort of discussion about how they were going to voice Andy Serkis. Who was going to own me?
Going back in time and reflecting on your childhood and early career, what foreshadowed the character actor you'd one day become?
As an actor, you spend so much time constructing a backstory, constructing a life for a character. I had to almost treat it as doing that for myself in a way, and kind of go back and go, well, what are the salient points here? What are the touchstone moments? What are the sliding doors moments?
I do remember it clearly (when I was 5 years old), our neighbors, these two elderly ladies, who had this dog, Shandy, and me asking them to take me for a walk on a lead with their dog. I can't quite believe I did that, but I did.
Seeing a young Andy Serkis walking around your neighborhood on all fours – I can imagine that's someone's dinner party story.
I'm sure there are people out there that witnessed that and thought, what a little strange boy. I don't know if I mentioned this ... it was about the doggy treats, because they gave these little chocolate buttons to their dog, Shandy, after the walk. And I think that was probably part of what I was after, really.
Your character research has since turned more sophisticated, even if it was just frightening hikers while you practiced your Gollum in New Zealand caves. But you've also observed gorillas in Rwanda and learned knife techniques from chefs. Is there anything you're dying to research that you haven't gotten to yet?
I've never really played a political character. I've never really played someone whose job it is to be in government.
I would love to spend time in government or in a particular party being around a table, a cabinet. Being around government and really, really spending a lot of time in that world, I think, would be fascinating.
With so much preparation into the physical, emotional and mental state of these characters, do you ever have a hard time getting out of their heads?
I've always believed and I still do believe that you're always altered by the characters that you played as an actor, that you learn something either about yourself or the world that changes your worldview. Sometimes decompressing from a character can take a long time.
I think you are kind of chemically changed in some way. You are tricking your body and your mind and your head and your psyche to fit this other being. I have to say, as I've got older and I've got more responsibilities and I'm doing other things I'm able to drop out of it much quicker because you have to.
But I still believe that you don't entirely shed them, that you are sort of a receptacle for all of these different ideologies and ways of thinking and ways of being and the most random things will come back years later and actually affect another character that you don't like.
Can you share an example?
The character of DogBoy (in April de Angelis' stage play "Hush"), which really was a very close cousin of Gollum. He was one of the characters that I did a huge deep dive into and so kind of the schizophrenic nature of that character that I played on stage really did inform the early stages of getting back into thinking about how we would work on Gollum.
You're fresh off of filming "The Hunt for Gollum." What was it like getting back into him?
He's probably a character that will never, ever leave me and has never left me over the course of the last 26 years or whatever. That's certainly what I wanted to bring out in the book, that there are some characters that will keep returning, and I don't suspect that Gollum will ever leave me, quite frankly.
But obviously this was a different journey. This was not just playing that character, but also directing the movie. So it was a huge number.
People always want you to talk about Gollum. You hint at this a few times in the book. Your characters say it to you, your wife says it to you. You have this funny anecdote where a cab driver says he feels bad that people will only ever know you for Gollum. How does that make you feel?
I adore that character, obviously, you know, he's been a huge part of my life and so it's a love-hate relationship.
He's a huge source of rediscovery, actually. That's what's been so interesting. He's a huge source of kind of going back in and thinking you know what you're doing and then actually finding something new and fresh.
Without going into it, because I don't want to talk too much about “The Hunt for Gollum” because that'll be next year, but it has been really exciting this time around. It's really exciting to go back in and revisit him in more depth. I do love and hate him.
You write that you initially felt othered on the “Lord of the Rings” set because you were motion capture acting. These types of performances are historically left out of award runs. Where do you feel we are about it now?
What I love about performance capture is the fact that any actor can play anything and you are driving that character, you're physically driving that character. You've created the emotional center of the character. There's no doubt that there are a whole team of artists who also work on that character. But then filmmaking is a collaborative endeavor, and any actor in any film isn't just their performance, it's the way that they're lit, it's the way that they're costumed. It's the way that they're made up with makeup.
If you have prosthetic makeup and you look entirely different somehow, that's still acting, but performance capture still isn't accepted as acting. My beef is that people don't accept performance capture as acting. I mean, it's a basic thing. It couldn't be a more pure form of acting.
So it is still sort of discriminated against. There is definitely a greater understanding of it, but it's still not... I mean, it's a simple request. It's acting. That's all it is.
That's all I wish – not it be anything special or require special awards or it require special treatment. I just want actors on set, whether you're wearing a motion capture suit or a costume, to be treated exactly the same because we are doing exactly the same job.
"A lot of people don't even know that he was that nervous, a 22-year-old kid about to fight someone that is indestructible, and there were literally journalists who thought he might die in that fight."
To get into fighting shape, Best followed a “very restricted” diet, studying Ali’s technique in his fights and analyzing interviews to perfect his voice and mannerisms. He also worked with boxing trainer Rob Salley.
"It was repetition after repetition for a year-and-a-half, [a] long process for me," says Best.
"It was just nice when we [were] able to start training together in Toronto, learning choreography. And even there, we would continue to grow and learn."
While filming in Toronto, Best says he and onscreen foe Joseph would watch fight footage. “We had to mimic exactly what we’d seen, in the actual fights, in real life,” Best says.
"He was a well-tuned Ferrari," Joseph, 46, recalls of his costar. "I just knew I needed to be in fighter shape. I needed to stay healthy. I needed not to hit the Ferrari and mess up our lead... But he was the one, he always was that racehorse that I was always trying to be as good as."
Lonnie Ali and ‘game-changing’ involvement in ‘The Greatest’
Lonnie Ali and ‘game-changing’ involvement in ‘The Greatest’
Yolanda “Lonnie” Ali, who was married to Muhammad Ali from 1986 until his death from septic shock at age 74 in 2016, lends her expertise an executive producer on the series. She believes Best’s efforts and portrayal would be pleasing to her late husband.
"He would be so proud of Jaalen as a young actor, a young man, and he would tell him he nailed it," Lonnie Ali says, before joking, "He would still tell him, 'You're not as pretty as me.'
Lonnie Ali's participation in the series was "game-changing," Watkins says.
Lonnie and Muhammad Ali greet the press in Washington, DC in 2001.
MIKE THEILER/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES
Though Lonnie Ali and Muhammad Ali wed in 1986, when she was 29, they knew each other much longer.
A picture by Steve Schapiro in 1963 shows Muhammad Ali, then 21, entertaining the local children at his parents' house in Louisville.
In the image, Lonnie Ali, then 6, locks eyes with the neighborhood hero. Their mothers also were friends.
“Lonnie herself was there many times on set,” Gourrier, 47, says, “and she would always impart knowledge, always impart stories.
"She would always talk about each of [the family members] individually and collectively as a family, and she really was a wealth of information.
"It's like our own personal Clay family encyclopedia right there on set with us."
Lonnie Ali's reactions also provided Best with a sense of reassurance, which helped calm his nerves as a young actor on set.
He recalls seeing her at the monitors after a take, “and she’s smiling or she’s crying or she’s just laughing because she’s getting to truly experience young Cassius Clay, that’s a very refreshing thing.”
And though Lonnie Ali was involved as an executive producer, she is uncertain about how much of her husband's story will unfold in the television series.
Future seasons likely will show Muhammad Ali's Parkinson's diagnosis, which was revealed in 1984, "because that was one of the biggest fights of his life," Lonnie Ali says.
“Somebody of his physicality, but to walk it with dignity and grace the way he did it,” she adds.
Ultimately, Lonnie Ali, says, “I think wherever it ends, it won’t be enough.”
By David L. Hoyt and Russell L. Hoyt
Now arrange the circled letters to form the surprise answer, as suggested by the above cartoon. | CLUES | SOLUTIONS | 1 draining (9) | _ | 2 candy cover (7) | _ | 3 F1 pros (7) | _ | 4 feigning (6) | _ | 5 “flattened spaghetti” (8) | _ | 6 Turkish strait (8) | _ | 7 sounds of a sleepover (7) | _ |
1. Each row and column must contain the numbers 1 through 4 without repeating.
YESTERDAY'S SOLUTION
Trademark KenKen, LLC Distributed by Andrews McMeel
2. The numbers within the heavily outlined boxes, called cages, must combine using the given operation (in any order) to produce the target numbers in the top-left corners.
1. Each row and column must contain the numbers 1 through 4 without repeating.
YESTERDAY'S SOLUTION
Trademark KenKen, LLC Distributed by Andrews McMeel
2. The numbers within the heavily outlined boxes, called cages, must combine using the given operation (in any order) to produce the target numbers in the top-left corners.
Enter the missing numbers from 1 to 16 without repetitions so that the sum of the four numbers in each row and column is the same as the corresponding circled number.
puzzles.usatoday.com | D | P | S | P | O | R | T | S | L | I | Y | I | U | E | L | G | Y | E | L | L | O | W | N | M | C | L | N | S | H | M | I | N | K | D | O | C | K | I | L | G | E | Y | M | R | I | L | V | R | M | C | G | O | R | O | S | G | E | I | D | A | M | A | R | O | N | S | O | G | L | M | L | N | G | N | R | S | N | S | W | A | N | F | N | E | W | S | E | M |
UP & DOWN WORDS | 1. MORNING | 2. | 3. | 4. | 5. | 6. | 7. | FORM | Clues: | <td colspan="2">Wednesday's Answer | 1. Venus, sometimes | CREDIT | CARD | 2. Celebrity appeal | CARD | SHARK | 3. Electricity producer | SHARK | TANK | 4. Garden fertilizer | TANK | TOP | 5. Mall dining area | TOP | SECRET | 6. Judge's directive | SECRET | AGENT | 7. Purchasing document | AGENT | SMITH |
Find the 7 words to match the 7 clues. The numbers in parentheses represent the number of letters in each solution. Each letter combination can be used only once, but all letter combinations will be necessary to complete the puzzle.
USA TODAY BEST-SELLING BOOKS BOOKLIST.USATODAY.COM
□ Rank this week □ Rank last week |
| TITLE/AUTHOR | PUBLISHER | GENRE | C | 1 | n/a | A Court of Splintered Harmony: The Valkyrie Cycle, Movement I/Maas, Sarah J. | Bloomsbury Publishing | NF | 2 | 1 | Fight or Flight (Diary of a Wimpy Kid #21): Volume 21/Kinney, Jeff | Amulet Books | Humorous Stories | F | 3 | n/a | The Hollow: A Harry Bosch Novel/Connelly, Michael | Little Brown and Company | Thrillers - Crime | F | 4 | 9 | The Witch (Deluxe Edition)/McFadden, Freida | Poisoned Pen Press | Thrillers - Suspense | F | 5 | 6 | Theo of Golden/Levi, Allen | Atria Books | Literary | F | 6 | n/a | Public Access Afterworld/Schoenbrun, Jane | Hogarth Press | Friendship | F | 7 | 3 | Threshing Day (Wing and Claw Collection)/Yarros, Rebecca | Entangled: Red Tower Books | Romance - Fantasy | F | 8 | n/a | Once Upon a Broken Heart Collector's Edition: [Limited Stenciled Edge Edition]/Garber, Stephanie | Flatiron Books | Fairy Tales & Folklore - General | F | 9 | 5 | Simply Ina A Barefoot Contessa Cookbook/Garten, Ina | Clarkson Potter Publishers | NF | 10 | n/a | Heated Rivalry (Deluxe Limited Edition): Now Streaming on Crave and HBO Max (Reissue)/Reid, Rachel | Harlequin | Friendship | F | 11 | 21 | Murdle: Volume 1: 100 Elementary to Impossible Mysteries to Solve Using Logic, Skill, and the Power of Deduction/Karber, G. T. | St. Martin's Griffin | Logic & Brain Teasers | NF | 12 | 13 | The French Illusion/Grisham, John | Doubleday Books | Thrillers - Suspense | F | 13 | n/a | The New Social Code: Five Relational Edges That Outperform Algorithms/Arena, Michael | Wiley | Personal Success | NF | 14 | 72 | A Court of Thorns and Roses/Maas, Sarah J. | Bloomsbury Publishing | Fantasy - Epic | F | 15 | n/a | Original Food: Recapturing the Joy of Eating/Zakarian, Geoffrey | Wiley | Personal Growth - General | NF | 16 | 17 | Dungeon Crawler Carl/Dinniman, Matt | Ace Books | Fantasy - Action & Adventure | F | 17 | n/a | Simple Kitchen Magic: Whole-Food Recipes and Remedies for a Holistic Life: A Cookbook/Moyer, Rebekah | DK Publishing | Health & Healing - General | NF | 18 | 23 | Contend: Standing Boldly for Biblical Truth While Winning the War Within/Mitchell, Philip Anthony | Thomas Nelson | Christian Living - Spiritual Growth | NF | 19 | n/a | The Long Game (Deluxe Limited Edition): Now Streaming on Crave and HBO Max (Reissue)/Reid, Rachel | Harlequin | Small Town & Rural | F | 20 | n/a | Witch Hat Atelier: Grimoire Edition 1/Shirahama, Kamome | Kodansha Comics | Fantasy | NF | 21 | 147 | Andy's Bravo Scrapbook: Twenty Years Behind the Scenes of the Real Housewives and the Bravoverse/Cohen, Andy | Andy Cohen Books | Television | NF | 22 | n/a | Role Model (Deluxe Limited Edition): Now Streaming on Crave and HBO Max (Reissue)/Reid, Rachel | Harlequin | Small Town & Rural | F | 23 | 35 | Murdoku: 80 Murder Mystery Logic Puzzles / Garand, Manuel | Puzzlewright Press | Logic & Brain Teasers | NF | 24 | n/a | Into the Quiet: Following Jesus in a World of Noise/Comer, John Mark | Waterbrook Press | Christian Living - Spiritual Growth | NF | 25 | n/a | Game Changer (Deluxe Limited Edition): Now Streaming on Crave and HBO Max (Reissue)/Reid, Rachel | Harlequin | Small Town & Rural | F |
| TITLE/AUTHOR | PUBLISHER | GENRE | C | 26 | 4 | A Married Little Christmas (Deluxe Edition)/Jimenez, Abby | Forever | Romance - Romantic Comedy | F | 27 | 24 | The Calamity Club/Stockett, Kathryn | Spiegel & Grau | Literary | F | 28 | 2 | Miss Wolcott's Ghost/Penny, Louise | Minotaur Books | Mystery & Detective - Traditional | F | 29 | 19 | Threshing Day (Standard Edition)/Yarros, Rebecca | Entangled: Red Tower Books | Romance - Fantasy | F | 30 | n/a | The Keeper (Deluxe Edition)/Huang, Ana | Bloom Books | Romance - New Adult | F | 31 | n/a | Tough Guy (Deluxe Limited Edition): Now Streaming on Crave and HBO Max (Reissue)/Reid, Rachel | Harlequin | Romance - Sports | F | 32 | n/a | A Crimson Ridge Christmas: Deluxe Limited Edition/Rose, Elliott | Kensington Publishing Corp | Romance - Western | F | 33 | 58 | Vibe: The Secrets of Strong Connections in a Lonely World/Grant, Adam | Viking | Personal Growth - General | NF | 34 | 29 | Red Rising/Brown, Pierce | Del Rey Books | Action & Adventure | F | 35 | 40 | Peck & Peck/Garmus, Bonnie | Scribner Book Company | Humorous - General | F | 36 | 32 | The Killer Isn't Alice: The Bestselling Murder Mystery Puzzle Book - 46,600 Suspects, 1 Killer. Can You Solve the Crime?/Starling, Iris | Little Brown and Company | Logic & Brain Teasers | NF | 37 | 83 | Mad Mabel/Hepworth, Sally | St. Martin's Press | Women | F | 38 | 16 | Partita/Kingsolver, Barbara | Harper | Literary | F | 39 | n/a | This Is a Door/Nayeri, Daniel | Stonefruit Studio | Action & Adventure - General | F | 40 | 34 | Pirate Queen/Lawhon, Ariel | Doubleday Books | NF | 41 | n/a | Common Goal (Deluxe Limited Edition): Now Streaming on Crave and HBO Max (Reissue)/Reid, Rachel | Harlequin | Romance - Sports | F | 42 | n/a | The Summer Hikaru Died, Vol. 8/Mokumokuren | Yen Press | Manga - School Life | NF | 43 | 31 | Verity/Hoover, Colleen | Grand Central Publishing | Women | F | 44 | 46 | The Dungeon Anarchist's Cookbook/Dinniman, Matt | Ace Books | Fantasy - Action & Adventure | F | 45 | 71 | Wildwood/Meloy, Colin | Balzer & Bray/Harperteen | Action & Adventure - General | F | 46 | 76 | Between Two Fires/Buehlman, Christopher | Tor Nightfire | Thrillers - Suspense | F | 47 | 43 | Rowley Jefferson's Awesome Friendly Spooky Stories 2: From the Creator of Diary of a Wimpy Kid/Kinney, Jeff | Amulet Books | Humorous Stories | F | 48 | 49 | Yesteryear/Burke, Caro Claire | Knopf Publishing Group | Feminist | F | 49 | 75 | Fruit Fly/Silver, Josh | Crooked Lane Books | Thrillers - Suspense | F | 50 | 8 | The Family Cross: An Alex Cross Thriller/Patterson, James | Little Brown and Company | Thrillers - Suspense | F | WHAT AMERICA'S READING® The book list appears every Thursday. You also can find it at booklist.usatoday.com. Each week, USA TODAY collects sales data from booksellers representing a variety of outlets: bookstore chains, independent bookstores, mass merchandisers and online retailers. Using that data, we determine the 150 top-selling titles of the week.
USA TODAY BEST-SELLING BOOKS BOOKLIST.USATODAY.COM
USA TODAY BEST-SELLING BOOKS BOOKLIST.USATODAY.COM
□ Rank this week □ Rank last week |
| TITLE/AUTHOR | PUBLISHER | GENRE | C | 1 | n/a | A Court of Splintered Harmony: The Valkyrie Cycle, Movement I/Maas, Sarah J. | Bloomsbury Publishing | NF | 2 | 1 | Fight or Flight (Diary of a Wimpy Kid #21): Volume 21/Kinney, Jeff | Amulet Books | Humorous Stories | F | 3 | n/a | The Hollow: A Harry Bosch Novel/Connelly, Michael | Little Brown and Company | Thrillers - Crime | F | 4 | 9 | The Witch (Deluxe Edition)/McFadden, Freida | Poisoned Pen Press | Thrillers - Suspense | F | 5 | 6 | Theo of Golden/Levi, Allen | Atria Books | Literary | F | 6 | n/a | Public Access Afterworld/Schoenbrun, Jane | Hogarth Press | Friendship | F | 7 | 3 | Threshing Day (Wing and Claw Collection)/Yarros, Rebecca | Entangled: Red Tower Books | Romance - Fantasy | F | 8 | n/a | Once Upon a Broken Heart Collector's Edition: [Limited Stenciled Edge Edition]/Garber, Stephanie | Flatiron Books | Fairy Tales & Folklore - General | F | 9 | 5 | Simply Ina A Barefoot Contessa Cookbook/Garten, Ina | Clarkson Potter Publishers | NF | 10 | n/a | Heated Rivalry (Deluxe Limited Edition): Now Streaming on Crave and HBO Max (Reissue)/Reid, Rachel | Harlequin | Friendship | F | 11 | 21 | Murdle: Volume 1: 100 Elementary to Impossible Mysteries to Solve Using Logic, Skill, and the Power of Deduction/Karber, G. T. | St. Martin's Griffin | Logic & Brain Teasers | NF | 12 | 13 | The French Illusion/Grisham, John | Doubleday Books | Thrillers - Suspense | F | 13 | n/a | The New Social Code: Five Relational Edges That Outperform Algorithms/Arena, Michael | Wiley | Personal Success | NF | 14 | 72 | A Court of Thorns and Roses/Maas, Sarah J. | Bloomsbury Publishing | Fantasy - Epic | F | 15 | n/a | Original Food: Recapturing the Joy of Eating/Zakarian, Geoffrey | Wiley | Personal Growth - General | NF | 16 | 17 | Dungeon Crawler Carl/Dinniman, Matt | Ace Books | Fantasy - Action & Adventure | F | 17 | n/a | Simple Kitchen Magic: Whole-Food Recipes and Remedies for a Holistic Life: A Cookbook/Moyer, Rebekah | DK Publishing | Health & Healing - General | NF | 18 | 23 | Contend: Standing Boldly for Biblical Truth While Winning the War Within/Mitchell, Philip Anthony | Thomas Nelson | Christian Living - Spiritual Growth | NF | 19 | n/a | The Long Game (Deluxe Limited Edition): Now Streaming on Crave and HBO Max (Reissue)/Reid, Rachel | Harlequin | Small Town & Rural | F | 20 | n/a | Witch Hat Atelier: Grimoire Edition 1/Shirahama, Kamome | Kodansha Comics | Fantasy | NF | 21 | 147 | Andy's Bravo Scrapbook: Twenty Years Behind the Scenes of the Real Housewives and the Bravoverse/Cohen, Andy | Andy Cohen Books | Television | NF | 22 | n/a | Role Model (Deluxe Limited Edition): Now Streaming on Crave and HBO Max (Reissue)/Reid, Rachel | Harlequin | Small Town & Rural | F | 23 | 35 | Murdoku: 80 Murder Mystery Logic Puzzles / Garand, Manuel | Puzzlewright Press | Logic & Brain Teasers | NF | 24 | n/a | Into the Quiet: Following Jesus in a World of Noise/Comer, John Mark | Waterbrook Press | Christian Living - Spiritual Growth | NF | 25 | n/a | Game Changer (Deluxe Limited Edition): Now Streaming on Crave and HBO Max (Reissue)/Reid, Rachel | Harlequin | Small Town & Rural | F |
| TITLE/AUTHOR | PUBLISHER | GENRE | C | 26 | 4 | A Married Little Christmas (Deluxe Edition)/Jimenez, Abby | Forever | Romance - Romantic Comedy | F | 27 | 24 | The Calamity Club/Stockett, Kathryn | Spiegel & Grau | Literary | F | 28 | 2 | Miss Wolcott's Ghost/Penny, Louise | Minotaur Books | Mystery & Detective - Traditional | F | 29 | 19 | Threshing Day (Standard Edition)/Yarros, Rebecca | Entangled: Red Tower Books | Romance - Fantasy | F | 30 | n/a | The Keeper (Deluxe Edition)/Huang, Ana | Bloom Books | Romance - New Adult | F | 31 | n/a | Tough Guy (Deluxe Limited Edition): Now Streaming on Crave and HBO Max (Reissue)/Reid, Rachel | Harlequin | Romance - Sports | F | 32 | n/a | A Crimson Ridge Christmas: Deluxe Limited Edition/Rose, Elliott | Kensington Publishing Corp | Romance - Western | F | 33 | 58 | Vibe: The Secrets of Strong Connections in a Lonely World/Grant, Adam | Viking | Personal Growth - General | NF | 34 | 29 | Red Rising/Brown, Pierce | Del Rey Books | Action & Adventure | F | 35 | 40 | Peck & Peck/Garmus, Bonnie | Scribner Book Company | Humorous - General | F | 36 | 32 | The Killer Isn't Alice: The Bestselling Murder Mystery Puzzle Book - 46,600 Suspects, 1 Killer. Can You Solve the Crime?/Starling, Iris | Little Brown and Company | Logic & Brain Teasers | NF | 37 | 83 | Mad Mabel/Hepworth, Sally | St. Martin's Press | Women | F | 38 | 16 | Partita/Kingsolver, Barbara | Harper | Literary | F | 39 | n/a | This Is a Door/Nayeri, Daniel | Stonefruit Studio | Action & Adventure - General | F | 40 | 34 | Pirate Queen/Lawhon, Ariel | Doubleday Books | NF | 41 | n/a | Common Goal (Deluxe Limited Edition): Now Streaming on Crave and HBO Max (Reissue)/Reid, Rachel | Harlequin | Romance - Sports | F | 42 | n/a | The Summer Hikaru Died, Vol. 8/Mokumokuren | Yen Press | Manga - School Life | NF | 43 | 31 | Verity/Hoover, Colleen | Grand Central Publishing | Women | F | 44 | 46 | The Dungeon Anarchist's Cookbook/Dinniman, Matt | Ace Books | Fantasy - Action & Adventure | F | 45 | 71 | Wildwood/Meloy, Colin | Balzer & Bray/Harperteen | Action & Adventure - General | F | 46 | 76 | Between Two Fires/Buehlman, Christopher | Tor Nightfire | Thrillers - Suspense | F | 47 | 43 | Rowley Jefferson's Awesome Friendly Spooky Stories 2: From the Creator of Diary of a Wimpy Kid/Kinney, Jeff | Amulet Books | Humorous Stories | F | 48 | 49 | Yesteryear/Burke, Caro Claire | Knopf Publishing Group | Feminist | F | 49 | 75 | Fruit Fly/Silver, Josh | Crooked Lane Books | Thrillers - Suspense | F | 50 | 8 | The Family Cross: An Alex Cross Thriller/Patterson, James | Little Brown and Company | Thrillers - Suspense | F | WHAT AMERICA'S READING® The book list appears every Thursday. You also can find it at booklist.usatoday.com. Each week, USA TODAY collects sales data from booksellers representing a variety of outlets: bookstore chains, independent bookstores, mass merchandisers and online retailers. Using that data, we determine the 150 top-selling titles of the week.
[MUSIC NEWS & VIEWS] Ozzy's final concert comes alive in new film
[MUSIC NEWS & VIEWS] Ozzy's final concert comes alive in new film
Melissa Ruggieri
Ozzy Osbourne has a blast with Black Sabbath at the “Ozzy & Black Sabbath: Back to the Beginning” concert in Birmingham, England, July 5, 2025, just 17 days before he died. PROVIDED BY TRAFALGAR RELEASING
USA TODAY
A mere 17 days before he died, Ozzy Osbourne sat on his gothic throne adorned with black skulls and bat wings and proclaimed, “Let the madness begin!”
The Back to the Beginning concert at Villa Park in Osbourne's hometown of Birmingham, England, on July 5 2025, was initiated by wife Sharon, who wanted her rock icon of a husband to revel in the roar of the crowd a final time both as a solo star and with his origin band, Black Sabbath.
More than 3 million fans pursued the 44,000 available tickets for a show jammed with hard rock royalty including Metallica, Anthrax, Guns N' Roses, Alice in Chains, Lamb of God, Mastodon and Pantera.
A concert documentary, “Ozzy Osbourne & Black Sabbath: Back to the Beginning,” in theaters for a limited time, condenses the 10-hour marathon of madness into just under 2 ½ hours.
Music director and curator Tom Morello says in one of the film's backstage glimpses that he didn't want it "to be like a European metal festival." Instead, he corralled a few iterations of Tom Morello's All-Stars (Steven Tyler, Ronnie Wood, Travis Barker, Yungblud, Chad Smith, Nuno Bettencourt, Sammy Hagar, Andrew Watt, Billy Corgan) to shred and blitz through an assortment of Black Sabbath and Osbourne favorites.
A soundtrack from the concert will be released Dec. 11 on CD, vinyl and digitally as well as 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray (pre-orders are available now, as well as Osbourne's performance of "Mr. Crowley"). A deluxe box set with an expanded track list, memorabilia and a Blu-ray of the 35 Osbourne and Black Sabbath songs performed will be released in April (pre-orders also available now).
Here are highlights from the film, which will play theaters for a varying number of days depending on market.
Obviously the kingpin of this shindig was its namesake. With eyes ringed in raccoon black and sporting a long black coat with a gold armband emblazoned with "Ozzy," Osbourne clearly absorbed the love and adrenaline of the crowd as he clutched the mic, his left leg swaying as he stayed seated while singing “I Don’t Know.”
While he didn't always sound robust and the use of a Teleprompter was obvious, Osbourne had a blast as he told the crowd to "go nuts" during "Crazy Train."
Along with his own songs, Osbourne was reunited for the first time since 2005 with Sabbath mates Tony Iommi (guitar), Geezer Butler (bass) and a shirtless Bill Ward (drums) for a slate of songs including “N.I.B.” “Paranoid” and “Iron Man,” the latter spurring thousands of metal horns hand signals in the air.
The film ends with Osbourne's touching “Mama I'm Coming Home,” which is made all the more poignant by his son Jack Osbourne's voiceover paired with vintage footage of him and sister Kelly onstage with Osbourne as kids.
“He felt complete,” Jack said of the joy his father felt after the event, making Osbourne’s July 22, 2025 death no less shocking, but at least more centered.
The British punk rocker has been a favorite of Sharon Osbourne's – he won his first Grammy this year for his cover of Black Sabbath's “Changes” – and it's easy to see why she views him as a savior of rock.
Calling the invite to perform at the concert “an absolute fever dream,” the charismatic singer, clad in a black suit and tie and hot pink socks, brought theatricality to his rendition of “Changes.” The crowd relished the performance as they sang along with little prompting.
The collection of Ghost frontman Papa V Perpetua, guitarists Vernon Reid and Bettencourt, keyboardist Adam Wakeman, bassist Rudy Sarzo and drummer Barker rip-roared through the 1983 singalong. It's impossible to look away from Papa V in his ghoulish mask and slick silver jacket. It's also impossible not to want to break into air guitar just watching Bettencourt and Reid trade riffs.
Danny Carey, Chad Smith, Travis Barker, 'Symptom of the Universe'
Danny Carey, Chad Smith, Travis Barker, 'Symptom of the Universe'
This trio of heavy hitters adds a wallop of a coda to the 1975 Sabbath slammer with spotlight drum solos. With three kits across the back of the stage, the threesome take turns walloping so hard that Smith's leg flails in the air.
As Barker battered his snare drum to introduce the 1974 Aerosmith classic (by way of jazz and blues musician Tiny Bradshaw in 1951), Tyler, bedecked in his usual flair of trench coat and scarf-adorned mic stand strolled out with trademark swagger.
With Morello, Bettencourt, Wyatt, Sarzo and Wood pumping the strings, Tyler strutted and smiled, even hitting a few high notes as he scampered around the stage with his musical pals.
Party's resounding midterm victory could set up 2 years of deadlock in Washington
Gram Slattery, David Morgan and Jason Lange
REUTERS
WASHINGTON – Democrats vowed on Nov. 4 to use their resounding midterm victory to rein in President Donald Trump, setting up two years of possible deadlock in Washington, as Trump spent his first post-election appearance showing off his under-construction White House ballroom.
A wave of anger over Trump's policies, particularly the U.S.-Iran war's role in pushing the cost of living higher, helped Democrats take the Senate, where they flipped seats in deeply Republican states for a majority of at least 54-44, and the House of Representatives, where they gained at least 28 seats.
It will be the first time that Trump, a Republican who also held the White House from 2017 to 2021, has had to contend with a Democratic-controlled Congress.
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said the incoming majority will be focused on affordability and accountability.
"We don't work for Donald Trump," Jeffries, a New York lawmaker who is on track to become the first Black speaker of the House, told reporters on Nov. 4. "We work for the American people. And the days of the House of Representatives functioning like a wholly owned subsidiary of the Trump administration are over."
Trump, who had devoted his last preelection public appearance on Nov. 2 to talking about his renovations of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, called in
See MIDTERM, Page 4NN
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer takes questions from reporters in Washington on Nov. 4 after Democrats successfully flipped both the House and Senate. TOM BRENNER/GETTY IMAGES
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said the new majority will be focused on affordability and accountability. KEVIN DIETSCH/GETTY IMAGES
A Democratic Party fundraiser in Warren County, Iowa, in October 2025 was so crowded that local party chair Jim Culbert found himself ordering pizza after the food ran out.
"If we don't have enough food, that's a good problem," he recalled telling volunteers.
The big turnout offered an early glimpse of the mounting Democratic enthusiasm in rural America – traditionally a stronghold of President Donald Trump's Republican Party. A year later, it would help propel Democrats to sweeping victories in the Nov. 3 midterm elections.
Democrats flipped House, Senate and gubernatorial seats in rural Republican strongholds including in Iowa, Kansas, Texas and Wisconsin, where farmers have been hard hit by Trump's global tariff campaign and high fuel prices caused by the Iran war. Hispanic voters, who surveys identified as particularly critical of Trump's deportation campaign and the rising cost of living, swung roughly 40 points toward Democrats in the
See RURAL, Page 5NN
Vance repudiates Iran war after GOP midterm defeat
Vance repudiates Iran war after GOP midterm defeat
Trump says ‘I would have done it again’
Phil Stewart and Erin Banco and Nandita Bose and Humeyra Pamuk
REUTERS
WASHINGTON – Vice President JD Vance distanced himself from President Donald Trump's war on Iran on Wednesday, questioning whether it was worth the cost and blaming it for Republicans' election losses that handed Democrats control of both chambers of Congress.
Vance's extraordinary remarks in a post on X could further complicate Trump's deliberations as he weighs whether to restart major combat operations against Iran, a step U.S. officials have told Reuters is still under consideration.
They also raise questions about the political fortunes of senior Pentagon officials, most notably Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Trump has described Hegseth as an early advocate for the war.
Hegseth has also faced fierce criticism from members of Congress.
"The reason we lost is the war," Vance said on X. "If you'd like to argue it was worth it, that losing the Senate for the next 6 years was worth it, then do so."
In the digital e-edition, you can click anywhere on the US map to get up-to-date forecasts, radar, MinuteCast® and more.
AccuWeather
As a storm moves into Canada, rain will stretch from the Upper Midwest to the Northeast today. Showers will extend southward along the Atlantic Seaboard to Florida. A few showers will also dampen Oklahoma and Washington state. The rest of the nation will be dry, with high temperatures near to below early-November 30-year averages.
In the digital e-edition, you can click anywhere on the US map to get up-to-date forecasts, radar, MinuteCast® and more.
AccuWeather
As a storm moves into Canada, rain will stretch from the Upper Midwest to the Northeast today. Showers will extend southward along the Atlantic Seaboard to Florida. A few showers will also dampen Oklahoma and Washington state. The rest of the nation will be dry, with high temperatures near to below early-November 30-year averages.
In the digital e-edition, you can click anywhere on the US map to get up-to-date forecasts, radar, MinuteCast® and more.
AccuWeather
As a storm moves into Canada, rain will stretch from the Upper Midwest to the Northeast today. Showers will extend southward along the Atlantic Seaboard to Florida. A few showers will also dampen Oklahoma and Washington state. The rest of the nation will be dry, with high temperatures near to below early-November 30-year averages.
NATIONAL (for the 48 contiguous states) | High: | 90 at Falfurrias, TX | Low: | 16 at Burns, OR | Precip: | 3.40" at Portland, TN | NATIONAL CITIES THURSDAY
INTERNATIONAL (excludes Antarctica) | High: | 117 at Mandora, Australia | Low: | -36 at Toko, Russia | Precip: | 3.62" at Kakinada, India | Cooperstown, N.Y., home of baseball's Hall of Fame, entered the “weather hall of fame” on Nov. 5, 1971, with its third-latest first frost on record. The cold made only a short stop. Record warmth rallied in December.
Wall Street closed sharply higher on Nov. 4 as Democrats' sweeping midterm election victory eased political uncertainty and boosted risk appetite, though data center shares fell on fears of tighter AI regulation.
Some large technology stocks rose on expectations that a slower expansion of AI infrastructure will favor them competitively, while smaller companies carrying out aspects of the AI infrastructure buildout fell on fears that a slowdown will strain their finances.
AI stocks were split. Shares of cash-rich AI heavyweights rose, while chip-makers and data center operators fell after Democrats made gains in key data center states including Texas and Georgia, where public opposition to the industry's rapid expansion has been growing.
The move reflected expectations that a slowdown in expanding AI infrastructure could ease cash demands on tech companies, while pressuring operators and suppliers whose growth depends on a rapid buildout.
Among AI heavyweights, Microsoft rose 6.7%, Amazon.com added 6.1%, Alphabet gained 3.2% and Meta Platforms rose 1.4%. Shares of data center operators slumped, with Hut 8 down 23%, IREN off 11%, Core Scientific falling 10% and Applied Digital lower by 6.7%.
The Philadelphia SE Semiconductor index hit a six-month low, dropping 3.1%. AMD rose 1% after forecasting faster-than-expected 2027 growth as its data center sales surged.
The AI trade has come under pressure recently as investors grow more concerned over Big Tech's soaring AI spending. The tech-heavy Nasdaq-100 index confirmed on Nov. 2 it was in a technical correction.
The S&P 500 gained 119.7 points, or 1.6%, to end at 7,688.62 points, while the Nasdaq Composite added 364.50 points, or 1.4%, to 25,736.51. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1,569.40 points, or 3%, to 53,356.12.
All but two of the S&P 500 sector indexes rose, with consumer discretionary jumping 4.3% and energy falling 4.8%. The dollar weakened against most currencies and yields on long-dated Treasuries moved lower.
Brent futures settled \$8.98, or 8.7% lower, at \$94.62 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate crude futures fell \$7.97, or 8.3%, to \$88.12. Both benchmarks closed at their lowest since Aug 31.
1605: “Remember, remember, the fifth of November.” Authorities discovered Guy Fawkes with dozens of barrels of explosives in the undercroft of Parliament, but most of the conspirators in the Gunpowder Plot had fled London late the night before. Catholic extremists had sought to blow up the building and kill King James I, forcing regime change in hopes of religious tolerance.
1824: In a letter to the Rev. Samuel Blatchford, Stephen Van Rensselaer announced he had founded the Rensselaer School in Troy, New York, which later became one of the nation's earliest and most influential engineering schools. It opened in January 1825 and later changed its name to Rensselaer Institute and eventually Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
1852: The American Society of Civil Engineers, the first national civil engineering society in the United States, was founded.
1857: Ida Tarbell, an investigative reporter best known for her exposé on Standard Oil, was born in Amity Township, Pennsylvania. Tarbell's "The History of the Standard Oil Company," which was first published piecemeal in McClure's Magazine, helped shape public opinion against Standard Oil. A
Churchgoers pray during a worship service at the Baptist church Iglesia del Centro in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Oct. 31. FRANCISCO LOUREIRO/REUTERS
Pope Leo readies for 11-day journey in region
Lucinda Elliott
REUTERS
MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay – Pope Leo XIV begins his first trip to Latin America as pontiff on Nov. 6, embarking on an 11-day journey across a region that remains the world's largest Catholic stronghold but where Catholic identity is steadily shrinking even as belief in God remains strong.
Coming weeks after the 71-year-old pontiff's lung cancer surgery, the ambitious itinerary from Nov. 6-17 remains unchanged, the Vatican said. It is one of the most demanding overseas tours by a Catholic leader in decades. The trip takes him from secular Uruguay to Argentina, homeland of his predecessor Pope Francis, before heading to Peru, where he spent years as a missionary and bishop, eventually becoming a citizen.
Leo will spend two days in Uruguay, three in Argentina and nearly a week in Peru, where he will celebrate outdoor Masses expected to draw millions, address political leaders, join youth vigils and reach remote Andean communities by helicopter.
Latin America remains the world's largest Catholic region in absolute numbers. Yet the continent the Chicago-born pope is returning to is markedly less Catholic than the one he first encountered as a missionary decades ago. The Catholic Church has been losing ground to fast-growing evangelical denominations, more progressive social attitudes and individualized forms of worship.
A Pew survey in 2024 of six of the most populous Latin American countries found that in all those nations fewer people were identifying as Catholic compared to a decade ago. Around one-fifth of adults in each country said they were raised Catholic but had left the church, the poll found.
“We have seen a decline in all of the countries that we surveyed in 2024,” said Kirsten Lesage, an associate researcher at the Pew Research Center, a nonprofit that monitors faith worldwide. “There are fewer people identifying [as Catholic].”
But, she added: “The region is still very religious and they’re very religious by a variety of standards.”
The Rev. Jorge Reinaudo, a parish priest in Córdoba, Argentina, one of the cities on Pope Leo's itinerary, has spent nearly a decade building a social media following. He posts humorous sketches to his 800,000 followers across different platforms, gently poking fun at biblical stories and trends like superstitions aimed at helping Argentina's soccer team win the World Cup.
Growing numbers of younger people are seeking spirituality through retreats, silence and even Buddhist- or Hindu-inspired practices, often blending them with traditional Christian elements such as rosaries and holy water, he said in an interview.
"Not belonging to a religion does not mean people lack faith; it means they live out their faith in their own way," Reinaudo said.
Belief in God remains exceptionally high in Latin America compared to other global regions, even among the growing numbers of people who are unaffiliated with a religion, according to the Pew survey.
That distinction suggests the Catholic Church's challenge is less disbelief than changes in worship habits and people keen to build their own spiritual identities outside traditional institutions, according to religious leaders and researchers interviewed by Reuters.
Marverick Ruben Mendoza Osegue-ra, a 31-year-old accountant in Hondu-ras, came across Reinaudo on social media while following Argentine Catholic musicians. Raised Catholic, he said he became critical of organized religion after witnessing troubling behavior in church communities, including violence against women and clergy who appeared to protect abusers.
“Experiences like these eroded the trust and faith of many young people, including me,” he said.
In all six countries Pew found adults 50 and older were more likely than those aged 18 to 34 to identify as Catholic.
Oseguera attends a weekly online Eucharistic adoration service to help manage anxiety, finding comfort in the ritual even though he no longer identifies as Catholic. “It feels more like spending time with a close friend,” he said.
Catholic decline has coincided with a period of rapid social change across Latin America, as countries expanded rights ranging from abortion and euthanasia to same-sex marriage. However, Miguel Pastorino, a professor at Uruguay's Catholic University who studies the philosophy of religion, cautioned against attributing the Catholic Church's losses directly to those shifts, saying a broader culture of individual choice has also reshaped how people approach religion globally.
"There's a growing trend toward ‘à la carte’ religiosity, in which people create their own spiritual menu, without feeling the need to subscribe to any particular institution," he said.
Evangelical groups have also made inroads among urban working populations in Latin America and are especially strong in Brazil, where nearly 27% of people identify as evangelical Christians.
Pentecostalism, the fastest-growing branch, was introduced to Latin America by U.S. missionaries a century ago. Today, most towns are home to a Pentecostal chapel, where song and prayer often blare over loudspeakers onto the street.
“They [Pentecostals] go straight to personal testimony, like the early church did,” Pastorino said. “When the Catholic Church goes into poor neighborhoods, it often does a great deal of social work, but very little evangelization.”
However, events such as a papal visit can help strengthen Catholic identity, he said.
The Rev. Pablo Coimbra, a Uruguayan parish priest at Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe in Montevideo's Casavalle neighborhood, where the pope plans to visit on his second day, said the pontiff's impending arrival was already having an effect. More people were participating in Masses at his church. Demand for baptisms and holy communion was also rising, he added.
"The pope's visit has perhaps awakened a memory, something deep in people's hearts regarding faith and belonging to the church," Coimbra said.
federal investigation and breakup of the company's monopoly followed.
1872: Susan B. Anthony and 14 other women from her ward in Rochester, New York, cast a ballot in the presidential election even though women were not allowed to vote. They were later arrested, and Anthony was convicted, though the resulting fine was never collected.
1895: George Selden, a patent lawyer from Rochester, New York, received a landmark U.S. patent for a gasoline-powered “road engine,” widely described as the first U.S. patent for an automobile.
1912: Democrat Woodrow Wilson won a four-way presidential election in a landslide. Wilson took 435 of the electoral votes, while Progressive Party candidate Theodore Roosevelt claimed 88. Incumbent Republican President William Taft garnered only 8, and Eugene Debs won none on the Socialist ticket.
1930: “For his vigorous and graphic art of description and his ability to create, with wit and humour, new types of characters,” Sinclair Lewis became the first American to win the Nobel Prize in Literature.
1935: Parker Brothers began marketing the board game Monopoly. It had been created decades earlier as The Landlord's Game by Elizabeth Magie and later pitched to Parker Brothers by Charles Darrow.
1940: Franklin Roosevelt became the first and only person elected to a third term as president of the United States. In 1944, he became the only person elected to a fourth term. The 22nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was proposed in 1947, nearly two years after Roosevelt died in office, and ratified in 1951, limiting the number of terms a person can be elected as U.S. president to two.
1968: Shirley Chisholm, a Democrat from New York, became the first Black woman elected to Congress. She later became the first Black woman to vie for a major party's nomination for president, trying to top the Democratic ticket in 1972.
1974: Elaine Noble was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives, becoming the first openly gay American to be elected to a state legislature.
1994: George Foreman, at 45, became the oldest boxer to win a heavyweight belt, defeating 26-year-old Michael Moorer by 10th-round knockout.
2009: U.S. Army Maj. Nidal Hasan committed a mass shooting at Fort Hood in Texas, killing 13 people and wounding more than 30.
2013: India launched its first interplanetary mission, which, upon its arrival, made the Indian Space Research Organisation just the fourth space agency to successfully guide an uncrewed craft to an orbit around Mars.
2024: Former President Donald Trump once again became President-elect Donald Trump, having won the presidential election, his second victory but a rare nonconsecutive one. The Republican's first term was won in 2016 and ran from 2017-2021, but he lost in 2020 to Democrat Joe Biden, who served one term from 2021-2025. Only one other person had served nonconsecutive terms as president: Grover Cleveland, who was president from 1885-1889 and 1893-1897.
2024: Sarah McBride became the first openly transgender person elected to Congress, chosen by the people of Delaware to represent them in the U.S. House. She had previously served as a state senator in Delaware, having become the first openly transgender state senator in U.S. history after her election in November 2020.
USA TODAY Network
NEWS IN BRIEF
U.S. sanctions Indian, Turkish companies accused of aiding Iran
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Treasury issued fresh sanctions on Nov. 4 against companies and individuals based in India and Turkey for their support of Iran, warning that it would continue to go after anyone who supported the Iranian government.
The sanctions are part of the Trump administration's “Operation Economic Outcast,” which aims to cut off Iran's ability to sell oil to fund the war with the United States and Israel.
Treasury last week said its actions were decimating Iran's economy, driving the rial currency to new lows and sending domestic inflation rates to levels around $90\%$ .
Treasury said the Nov. 4 action targeted what it called “the vast criminal network” run by India-based Suniel Kumar Sharma, his wife, Jaspreet Preeti Shahid, and two other Indian citizens who head two of the couple’s businesses, as well as nine separate entities connected to Sharma.
The department also sanctioned Turkey-based Fugo Ground Services Inc. for its ongoing support of Iran's heavily sanctioned aviation sector.
Death toll in Russian strike on Ukrainian aid center rises to 40
Death toll in Russian strike on Ukrainian aid center rises to 40
KOMYSHUVAKHA, Ukraine – The death toll from a Russian bombing of an aid distribution point in Ukraine's southeastern Zaporizhzhia region on Nov. 2 has risen to 40, with dozens still missing, officials said, in one of the deadliest strikes on civilians this year.
The attack came a day after a brief U.S.-brokered local ceasefire expired and less than a week before the United States is due to bring together Ukrainian and Russian delegations in Abu Dhabi for talks on ending the war, now in its fifth year.
Reuters footage on Nov. 4 showed men in military fatigues loading bodies in white plastic bags into the back of a van in the village of Komyshuvakha, which was struck multiple times. Excavators were digging up earth near a huge blast crater while rescue workers searched underground for bodies.
Ivan Fedorov, the cohead of the Zaporizhzhia Regional Defense Council, wrote on Telegram that 59 people were missing.
Pennsylvania reports its sixth measles-linked death as cases rise
Pennsylvania reports its sixth measles-linked death as cases rise
Pennsylvania health officials on Nov. 4 reported the state's sixth measles-associated death this year as the outbreak continued to spread.
The state has emerged as the epicenter of the outbreak, accounting for a substantial share of infections reported nationwide. The state health department said the latest death involved an unvaccinated resident of Jefferson County who tested positive for measles.
State officials said measles-associated deaths this year have involved three residents of Lancaster County, two residents of Jefferson County and one resident of Mifflin County.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said it was saddened by the latest death and noted that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had deployed additional support to work alongside state and local health officials to investigate the outbreak and strengthen response efforts.
NASA's Swift satellite telescope falls from orbit in fiery finale
NASA's Swift satellite telescope falls from orbit in fiery finale
NASA's Swift satellite telescope, which spent two decades studying the most powerful known blasts of energy in the cosmos, tumbled out of orbit as expected on Nov. 4 and burned up in Earth's atmosphere over Indonesia, the space agency reported.
The fiery demise of the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, weighing roughly 3,200 pounds, came less than three months after a rescue spacecraft failed its mission to boost the satellite to higher orbit and extend its life.
The U.S. Space Force confirmed that Swift's reentry occurred at 7:39 a.m. ET, as the satellite streaked into the upper atmosphere at about 22 times the speed of sound over Indonesia's North Sumatra province, roughly 200 miles north of the equator, according to NASA.
NASA said it expected the frictional heat of reentry would incinerate most of the satellite well above Earth's surface, with some fragments surviving the plunge, though the U.S. space agency reported no damage or injuries on the ground from falling debris.
The drubbing for Donald Trump's Republicans in midterm elections could embolden some trade partners to push back against his combative policies, although they may need to tread lightly to avoid provoking him in his final two years in power.
Democrats captured majorities in both the Senate and House on Nov. 3, as U.S. voters delivered a stinging rebuke for Trump's policies, including his tariffs, blamed alongside the Iran war for persistent inflation.
That could hand economic rival China a perceived upper hand in ongoing talks, prompt allies in Asia to slow-walk hundreds of billions of dollars in investment commitments, and give Europe more predictability over trade issues that remain unresolved.
But some partners still see choppy waters ahead, with Trump showing little sign of accepting voters' verdict on his tariff policies that have upended global trade.
“U.S. protectionism won’t simply disappear,” said Bernd Lange, chair of the trade committee in the European Parliament.
"A weakened Trump could become even more aggressive and unpredictable. A lame duck could quickly turn into an angry duck."
Among countries that may be quietly hoping for an easier ride are America's closest Asian allies. Japan has promised \$550 billion and South Korea \$350 billion in U.S. investments in deals intended to placate Trump.
Heo Yoon, economics professor at Sogang University in Seoul, said countries might now feel less pressure to fulfill such commitments: “Democrats seem to perceive that the investment commitments were forced on allies.”
But Kazuhiro Maeshima, a professor of U.S. politics at Sophia University in Tokyo, said the allies will not easily be able to back out. “The tariff issue is not over. If Japan’s response is slow, calls for additional tariffs could resurface,” he said.
South Korea has become a notable lightning rod for Trump's anger at countries he believes have not lived up to investment pledges.
Most recently, Seoul pushed back on Trump's assertions that it had agreed to fund Alaska LNG, a major pipeline. Ban Kil-joo, international relations professor at Korea National Diplomatic Academy, said scrutiny from Congress over such projects could give Seoul more time to review them.
South Korea's Foreign Ministry said it would continue to discuss economic and trade issues with the U.S. administration, Congress and states, regard-
In Europe, transatlantic trade tensions have largely been eased by a series of deals that have so far limited the impact of Trump's tariff onslaught.
But there are still potential quarrels, including whether Trump will retaliate against European countries that impose a digital services tax on U.S. tech giants, and against a EUR3 billion loan of public money to European aircraft maker Airbus.
For India, still negotiating trade deals with the United States, the midterm results could provide an incentive to adopt a wait-and-see approach.
India's trade minister earlier this month said the first phase of an India-U.S. trade deal was in the final stages of drafting, but reiterated that New Delhi would proceed only if it secures an advantage over competing exporters.
The biggest U.S. rival is China, which struck a trade truce with Trump that expires in January. Beijing may look for ways to use Trump's political fragility to strengthen its hand, but also may find it harder to win him over with Congress looking over his shoulder. Trump has gone to great lengths to improve relations with Xi. A Democratic-controlled Congress may constrain his ability to offer sweeteners for future deals.
reporters on the morning after his party's sweeping midterm defeat to show off the ballroom he is building at the White House.
"When I get criticized, like, 'Why are you working on the White House?' I'm doing it because the White House is the ultimate symbol of America, and it's got to be pristine, it's got to be perfect," Trump said. "For me, it's relaxing."
People react during an election night watch party for Texas Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gina Hinojosa in Austin on Nov. 3.
JOEL ANGEL JUAREZ/GETTY IMAGES
He turned only briefly to the elections during his nearly hourlong appearance, telling reporters, “I’ll get along probably with the Democrats, unless they want to be destructive, but I have the power of the veto.”
Trump had cast the midterm elections as a referendum on the first half of his second four-year stint in the White House, repeatedly urging his Republican base to “pretend I’m on the ballot,” a message that Democratic Party leaders were happy to amplify.
The result: voters in conservative strongholds who had propelled the president to his second term in office just two years ago swung dramatically toward Democrats, fueled by deep frustration over the unpopular war with Iran, anxiety over the high cost of living and anger at Trump's stewardship of the country.
In Texas, the biggest Republican-led state before Nov. 3, Democrats ended a decades-long losing streak in seismic fashion, winning their first Senate seat there since 1988 and ousting three-term Gov. Greg Abbott.
Kansas elected its first Democratic senator since the Great Depression nearly a century ago, and in South Carolina, a state that Trump carried by nearly 18 points in 2024, Democrats turned aside his hand-picked Senate candidate.
Senate races in Alaska and Mississippi remained uncalled as of Nov. 4, leaving open the possibility that the Democrats' majority could grow by another two seats to 56-44.
Once seated in January, Democrats are expected to use their power to investigate Trump's administration, family and allies and demand concessions on major legislation. The Democratic Senate can block Trump's nominees, including any U.S. Supreme Court justices should a vacancy arise.
However, until then, Republicans hold the reins and will have at least one must-pass piece of legislation ahead – a measure to fund the federal government past December – that they could use to enact conservative priorities during the so-called lame-duck period.
The loss also upended Republicans' House leadership, with House Speaker Mike Johnson saying he would not continue to lead his caucus next year.
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan both announced plans to seek the minority post in party leadership elections expected Nov. 10.
Trump told reporters that he would stay out of the Republican leadership election. “The speaker was fantastic. The people under him were fantastic. All good people,” he said.
Democrats focused their campaign on corruption and affordability, blaming Trump's expensive tariffs on imports, some of which were ruled to be an illegal tax by the courts, and the war with Iran for driving up costs while highlighting the billions of dollars the Trump family has made since he returned to the White House.
Republicans, led by Trump, attacked Democrats for defending transgender people's rights and similar social issues, portraying them as radical and extreme. But voters made it clear they were far more concerned with pocket-book issues.
The Democratic wave flooded huge swaths of the country. Republicans lost ground in 99% of the approximately 2,100 counties where most votes had been counted as of Nov. 4, according to tallies compiled by Reuters and USA TODAY.
Democrats made gains in the richest counties and the poorest; in counties where more people have college degrees and where fewer do. Democrats' advances were particularly sharp in heavily Latino counties, including the border counties of Texas that shifted toward Trump in 2024 and the agricultural towns of the Kansas prairie.
Democrats flipped more than two dozen House seats currently held by Republicans, locking in a majority. Democrats won all the closely contested House races that have been decided so far, and they won about a dozen races in districts that Trump won by double digits two years ago.
Meanwhile, Trump faced pressure from Republicans on Nov. 4 to change course after the midterm election rout.
Republican allies and strategists called for Trump to shake up his White House personnel, restore discipline and scrap policies they blamed for the losses, including the Iran war and tariffs, as his presidency enters its final years.
Veteran Republican strategist John Feehery called the results a “huge disaster” for Trump.
“He needs to clean house,” Feehery said. “Every day from this point forward, he’s becoming more and more lame.”
But Trump showed little indication that he viewed the election outcome as a reason to change direction.
"I don't view it as a hit on me," he told Fox News late on Nov. 3.
Inside the White House, senior aides were bracing for staff departures, possible Cabinet changes and Democratic investigations, according to a senior official who spoke on condition of anonymity.
"It absolutely sucks to be here right now," the official said. "Morale is as low as it can get."
The official said internal polling had warned six weeks before the election that Republicans were headed for losses in both chambers, but Trump refused to change course on Iran despite warnings about the political consequences. “Ultimately, he just didn’t care,” the official said. “He refused to listen to anyone.”
The White House struck a defiant public tone, posting a photograph of Trump on social media with the message: "PSA: TRUMP IS STILL YOUR PRESIDENT."
Democrats' takeover of Congress on Nov. 3 was replicated at the state level, with the party flipping Republican-held governors' offices in at least five states and poised to seize full control of state government in at least six more.
Democratic victories mean the party, for the first time in years, will control a majority of the governorships, including traditional conservative strongholds such as Texas, where Democrat Gina Hinojosa defeated well-financed Republican Gov. Greg Abbott to become the first Latina governor in the state's history.
The wins extended beyond governors' mansions. Democratic candidates seized control of both state legislative chambers in Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, giving the party "trifecta" control of the legislature and governor's office in those states. They also broke Republican trifectas in Georgia, Iowa, Ohio and Texas.
On top of giving Democrats more control over state laws on minimum wage, data centers, abortion access and other hot-button issues, the wins could affect future national elections by changing how U.S. congressional districts are drawn, how elections are administered and how results are certified, according to policy experts.
Some of the biggest and most surprising wins came in battleground states that have been key to President Donald Trump's election victories, and where Republican-led legislatures in recent years redrew congressional district boundaries to favor their party.
In at least three states – Georgia, Indiana and Ohio – Democrats also ousted incumbent GOP secretaries of state: the office that typically oversees election administration and certification of results. All those outcomes are “very significant” for future U.S. elections, according to Michael Berkman, director of
Penn State University's McCourtney Institute for Democracy.
He said Republicans won a similar sweep of state-level offices during former President Barack Obama's first midterm election in 2010, which allowed them to pass election laws, redraw congressional districts and give their party more control over how elections were administered in some states.
“So this gives Democrats an opportunity to really start to claw that back,” Berkman said.
The new Democratic leaders and legislators will likely try to undo some conservative policies that have recently dominated the national discourse, such as abortion restrictions and data center incentives, experts said.
But the incoming Democrats will also take office with “a huge backlog of liberal legislation that they want to do,” said Chris Warshaw, a professor at Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy.
Their top priorities will likely address voters' concerns about affordability, such as raising the minimum wage, expanding the federal Medicaid health insurance program and protecting labor rights, Warshaw said.
In Texas and Georgia, Republicans looked likely to lose control of the state legislatures for the first time in more than 20 years, yielding control over one chamber in each state to Democrats.
"The voters have delivered a mandate for change, and it is change they will get," Hinojosa said in a victory speech late Nov. 3.
Texas and Georgia voters also elected Democratic attorneys general for the first time in more than a decade, replacing Republican incumbents who had frequently sued past Democratic presidents over federal policies with which they disagreed.
As a result, “those places will stop being fountains for initial lawsuits, and start being fountains for lawsuits that are challenging things that Trump is doing,” said Jim Battista, associate professor of political science at the University at Buffalo.
Rural
Continued from Page 1NN
Kansas and Texas Senate races compared to the 2024 presidential election, according to exit polls.
The victories followed a yearslong Democratic effort to compete more aggressively in rural communities, where the party had steadily ceded ground to Republicans, according to interviews with 16 Democratic candidates, campaign staff and political experts and strategists.
Democratic strategists said that push was part of a broader Democratic National Committee effort to compete in places the party had long neglected. Rather than concentrating resources on a handful of battleground states, the DNC invested in every state party and pushed to field candidates in every race, they said.
"A lot of folks in rural America feel left behind because [Democrats] haven't been showing up to talk to people," said Democrat Rebecca Cooke, who unseated the Republican incumbent to win Wisconsin's 3rd Congressional District on Nov. 3. Now, she told Reuters, "there's no community too small" to visit.
The question now is whether Democrats can hold on to their gains through the 2028 presidential election cycle. The Nov. 3 election was widely seen as a rebuke of Trump rather than an embrace of the Democratic Party.
Republicans still won races on Nov. 3 in rural states including Arkansas, Oklahoma and Nebraska. And history shows that so-called wave elections dominated by one party do not necessarily translate into a presidential victory for the same party two years later.
To make their gains durable, Democrats will need to stick with their expansive electoral strategy, continuing to invest time and money in rural communities and other areas where they have made inroads, three Democratic strategists told Reuters.
“This was a rejection in essence of the way the party had worked in recent years, which was this focus on six or seven states,” said Simon Rosenberg, a Democratic strategist. “We had been operating on a very narrow map – too narrow.”
Rural Americans have steadily moved toward the Republican Party over the past 25 years, according to the Pew Research Center, driven by splits with Democrats on cultural issues and economic policies.
At the White House, Trump acknowledged that the Iran war had contributed to his party's midterm losses but said he still felt it was worth it.
The Republican National Committee did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Every week for 11 months, on what she dubbed “Small Town Tuesday,” Iowa Democratic House candidate Christina Bohannan focused on canvassing rural towns. Her team regularly heard from residents that no political campaign had ever contacted them before, campaign manager Dan Driscoll said in an email. Bohannan flipped the state’s 1st Congressional District.
For her campaign in Wisconsin, Cooke said she hired four regional field organizers and knocked on 54,000 doors, many in rural areas, in addition to those knocked on by the statewide Democratic Party.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee said it implemented a program for engaging rural voters for the first time this year.
Cooke, Bohannan and other Democratic candidates in rural districts aimed to capitalize on declining support for Trump. Approval of the president in rural areas fell to a new low in October of 45%, down from 60% at the start of his term, according to Reuters/Ipsos polling.
Across more than 1,500 rural counties where nearly all ballots had been counted on Nov. 4, Republican candidates were collectively underperforming Trump's 2024 share of the vote by 8 percentage points, according to vote totals compiled by Reuters and USA TODAY, which are partnering this year to collect live election results for U.S. Senate and House races.
In Iowa, Democratic candidates united for the state's first coordinated campaign since 2018, said Frances Patano, who ran the effort for the Iowa Democratic Party. That meant candidates could chip into a joint organizing effort that saved on costs and boosted lower-profile campaigns.
“By coordinating, you can run a far more efficient field program because you're not competing” for the same group of organizers, Patano said.
In the first two weekends of October, the statewide campaign nearly doubled its door knock attempts from the 2018 midterms, Patano said.
In rural Warren County, the coordinated program paid for a staffer who led six canvassing shifts every weekend out of the county's party office.
The added capacity boosted volunteer turnout. After years of organizing the same local Democrats to volunteer, Culbert said he would glance at a list of doorknockers and think: “Well, I don’t know half these names.”
Adam Hamilton is the first Democrat elected to the U.S. Senate from Kansas in nearly a century.
In Kansas, efforts to elect Adam Hamilton, the first Democrat elected to the Senate from the state in nearly a century, began four years ago.
When Jeanna Repass became chair of the Kansas Democratic Party in 2022, she knew the party would need to make inroads in a heavily rural state that Trump won by double digits in 2016 and 2020. She hired a year-round organizer and grew the number of county party chapters from 57 to 68.
The effort “helped us to stir people’s passions and get them organized,” Repass said.
This year, the party knocked about 50% more doors than they did in the 2022 midterms, Repass said. That strategy paid dividends for Hamilton Nov. 3, particularly in Seward County, where about half of eligible voters are Hispanic. Hamilton won by 13 points in Seward, a dramatic shift from 2024 when Trump won the county by 39 points.
"We are not flyover country," Hamilton said in his victory speech late Nov. 3, to huge cheers. "We are the heart of America."
Vance
Continued from Page 1NN
Vance, who is seen as a leading 2028 presidential contender, also said an earlier recommendation to end the war was “sound advice.”
Asked about Vance's remarks, Trump told reporters he thought they were good, saying: "I know how he feels about it." But Trump then defended the war effort, saying: "We stopped them from having a nuclear weapon."
Some officials and staff inside the White House viewed Vance's post as a foreign policy break from the president and a public recognition that the war had domestic economic consequences, a White House adviser told Reuters.
Democrats secured control of both the Senate and House of Representatives on Nov. 3, scoring sweeping victories in Republican strongholds for the first time in generations.
Voters in conservative bastions who had propelled the president to his second term in office just two years ago swung dramatically toward Democrats, fueled by deep frustration over the war with Iran, anxiety over the high cost of living and anger at Trump's stewardship of the country.
Vance sought to play down any difference of opinion with Trump, saying the president had also acknowledged that the Iran war cost Republicans the midterm elections. But Trump was far more measured, saying the Iran war was only one of multiple reasons for the electoral rout.
“I did the right thing,” Trump told the Wall Street Journal. “I would have done it again.”
Marco Rubio, a possible 2028 rival to Vance, has remained silent since the midterm elections.
The White House did not provide comment for this story but referred Reuters to Trump's comments from earlier agreeing with Vance's assessment that the Iran war was a major factor in Republican losses.
Trump launched the Iran war jointly with Israel in February, predicting a brief conflict that could bring the end of the Iranian government, which he called the “bully of the Middle East.”
While the attacks dealt devastating blows to Iran's military and its underground weapons storage facilities, the conflict turned into an effective stalemate after an April ceasefire failed to deliver a peace deal.
Since then, Iran has recovered some of its buried arsenal and threatened ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, contributing to concerns over global oil supplies.
With no clear path out of the conflict, Trump was briefed last week by Admiral Brad Cooper, the head of U.S. Central Command, on options for restarting combat operations, according to two sources familiar with the matter.
But U.S. intelligence assessments in recent months have indicated that renewed strikes on Iran would not fundamentally change Tehran's negotiating position or lead to regime change, according to a U.S. intelligence official and two other U.S. officials briefed on the intelligence.
Still, sources familiar with the deliberations warn Trump could still decide to act, noting he was aware of the political risks before midterm elections and “just didn’t care.”
One source said Trump did not have anything to lose politically now that the midterms were over and that he was more likely to double down on Iran and go ahead with an attack on Iran.
A second source agreed the most likely course was renewed hostilities, saying: "He is planning to bomb Iran. Don't listen to what he's saying. He held off because of the midterms. We asked him to hold off until the midterms."
All of the sources spoke on condition of anonymity.
Vance's comments could be seen as the start of his 2028 campaign, a person familiar with the matter said.
Some officials in the White House were made aware prior to Vance's post.
But a White House official, in a response to questions from Reuters, said most, if not all, senior White House staff were caught off guard by it.
Mediators have intensified efforts to end the war amid fears it could reignite after the election.
Some view Vice President JD Vance's comments on the Iran war as a sign of preparing for a 2028 presidential run by distancing himself from President Donald Trump's more divisive moves. TOM BRENNER/GETTY IMAGES
Vance has in recent weeks leaned more heavily into negotiations with Tehran. But there has been little indication from Iran that it is willing to accept American demands, including that it reduce its nuclear enrichment levels to zero.
Wyoming Proposed initiative proposition number one
No. 59,279 59.50%
Wyoming Proposed increase of the hospital district Mill Levy
Yes 8,012 72.40%
No 3,054 27.60%
Wyoming Proposed Continuation of the Conservation district tax
Yes 16,484 70.34%
No 6,951 29.66%
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THE NATION'S NEWS | \$3 | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2026
ARTURO HOLMES/ GETTY IMAGES
Ali's story steps into stream, out of the ring
Prime's "The Greatest," made with the blessing of Muhammad Ali's family, stars newcomer Jaalen Best as the champ. In Life
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Robocalls won't stop, but you can stop answering
Five years after the crackdown, a watchdog group offers advice for coping. In Money
Kentucky football is sweet music to Bluegrass State
Columnist: Surging University of Kentucky has put basketball season on back burner. In Sports
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ARTURO HOLMES/ GETTY IMAGES
Ali's story steps into stream, out of the ring
Prime's "The Greatest," made with the blessing of Muhammad Ali's family, stars newcomer Jaalen Best as the champ. In Life
---
Robocalls won't stop, but you can stop answering
Five years after the crackdown, a watchdog group offers advice for coping. In Money
Kentucky football is sweet music to Bluegrass State
Columnist: Surging University of Kentucky has put basketball season on back burner. In Sports
USA TODAY
THE NATION'S NEWS | \$3 | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2026
ARTURO HOLMES/ GETTY IMAGES
Ali's story steps into stream, out of the ring
Prime's "The Greatest," made with the blessing of Muhammad Ali's family, stars newcomer Jaalen Best as the champ. In Life
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[Justices lean to Catholic schools] Religious vs. LGBTQ+ rights debated by court
Maureen Groppe
USA TODAY
WASHINGTON – The Supreme Court on Nov. 3 sounded likely to side with the Catholic Church in the latest high court dispute that pits religious rights against anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people.
The justices debated for about two hours whether Colorado can require Catholic preschools to accept children of gay parents as a condition of public funding.
In recent years, the conservative court has robustly backed the First Amendment right to practice religion without government interference. A broad ruling for the church could pave the way for a wider range of religious exemptions from nondiscrimination laws.
In the current case, Colorado encouraged churches to participate in the state's universal preschool program, started in 2023 to provide free, early education throughout the state.
---
Without the state subsidies, the church said, enrollment at its preschools has "swiftly declined."
Faith-based schools are free to teach religious views on sex, marriage and gender. But in exchange for taxpayer dollars, schools must both meet certain quality standards and be open to all students.
The Archdiocese of Denver, which oversees 36 preschools, said Colorado is forcing it to choose between participating in the program and violating the Church's teachings on biological sex and marriage.
Without the state subsidies, the church said, enrollment at its preschools has “swiftly declined,” while parents who want to keep their children in those schools must pay thousands of dollars to do so.
The archdiocese, two parishes and the parents of a preschooler sued the state in 2023 after Colorado rejected its request for a religious exemption so the schools can require families to follow the church's teachings.
Lower courts said the state's non-discrimination policy complies with a 1990 Supreme Court decision curtailing religious rights challenges to laws that apply to everyone and don't target a particular religious group.
But the Supreme Court has since limited the reach of Employment Division v. Smith. And the Catholic Church argues the more relevant decisions are a trio of rulings since 2017 that have allowed taxpayer funds to flow to religious organizations. Most recently, the court said Maine couldn't exclude religious schools from an indirect aid program based on the schools' religious use of the funds.
See CATHOLIC, Page 6A
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Voter backlash propels Democrats to major gains
Susan Page
Washington Bureau Chief
USA TODAY
Yes, it was a tsunami.
In a stinging midterm rebuke of President Donald Trump, Democrats were poised to win control of the House of Representatives and the Senate. After a decade of defining American politics, Trump now begins a new political chapter, his trademark coalition showing signs of fraying while his opponents gain a foothold to confront him during his final two years in office.
Republicans faced losses even in red states and districts that Trump had carried by double digits just two years ago. That's the definition of a political tsunami, when the opposition's wave is overwhelming enough to swamp even distant shores.
Why?
Three of 4 voters said in a survey sponsored by NBC and other news organizations that they were dissatisfied
See PAGE, Page 2A
President Donald Trump faces a fraying coalition.
UMIT BEKTAS/REUTERS
President's picks didn't fare well
Trump's push fell short, as he failed to flip seats. 3A
Follow online: Find more election coverage at usatoday.com. Don't miss statewide election results from around the country in the Nov. 5 eNewspaper.
Democrats
are poised
to be a thorn
in Trump's side
Zachary Schermele
USA TODAY
WASHINGTON – For two years, Congress has largely done the bidding of President Donald Trump – but that will soon end.
Democrats are projected to wrest control of the Senate and House of Representatives back from Republicans, which means the legislative branch is about to become a much bigger thorn in the president's side.
Investigations, impeachments of Cabinet members and fiery hearings all are likely on the way.
Rep. Robert Garcia, a California Democrat poised to become the next chairman of the House Oversight Committee, put his party's message for Trump and his allies succinctly upon learning the GOP had lost its already-slim majority in the chamber.
“LAWYER UP,” Garcia wrote on social media.
Even with Republicans fully in charge, Congress has sometimes
See CONGRESS, Page 3A
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Election Day victories bring historic firsts
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, left, is in line to be the first Black speaker of the House. Keisha Lance Bottoms is the first Black woman to be elected Georgia governor. And Abdul El-Sayed of Michigan is the first Muslim elected to the Senate. JEFFRIES BY JONATHAN ERNST/REUTERS; BOTTOMS BY TAYLOR EDGERTON/REUTERS; EL SAYED BY SALWAN GEORGES/GETTY IMAGES
Terry Collins
USA TODAY
In an election of historic firsts, Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms of Georgia will become the nation's first Black woman governor, and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-New York, is in line to be the first Black Speaker of the House.
Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed of Michigan became the first Muslim elected to that congressional chamber, after a contentious campaign featuring vicious verbal attacks from GOP opponent Mike Rogers, President Donald Trump, and even former Democratic Senate primary
See HISTORY, Page 3A
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Polar vortex faces a rare early disruption
Historic November shift could affect winter temps
Doyle Rice and Dinah Voyles Pulver
USA TODAY
Something unusual is happening in the skies above the Arctic, but will it have any impact on our weather here in the United States?
Our favorite wintertime punching bag, the polar vortex, is being disrupted in a climate process known as “sudden stratospheric warming,” which could eventually lead to an outbreak of frigid air across much of the United States at some point over the next few months.
What's unusual is that the sudden warming is occurring so early in the season. Indeed, forecast confidence has risen recently that the polar vortex will undergo an extraordinarily early major disruption early in November.
Meteorologists already have been seeing the polar vortex “become stretched out and splitting into two smaller vortex lobes,” said Laura Ciasto, a meteorologist with NOAA’s National Weather Service. It has the potential to be the earliest sudden stratospheric warming event since 1958, when reliable records began, Ciasto wrote in an email to USA TODAY.
"These are very interesting times for the polar vortex and likely for our weather. This will be very interesting
to watch unfold!"
Judah Cohen
Polar vortex expert at Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Whether that disruption translates into significant cold or snow in the United States later in November or December is much less certain.
"These are very interesting times for the polar vortex and likely for our weather. This will be very interesting to watch unfold!" said polar vortex expert Judah Cohen of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in an e-mail to USA TODAY.
With the event meteorologists have been watching, the polar stratospheric winds could reverse direction from westerly to easterly sometime between Nov. 6-10, Ciasto said.
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What is – and is not – the polar vortex?
The polar vortex is a gigantic, circular area of cold air high up in the atmosphere that typically spins over the North Pole (as its name suggests). It's strongest during the winter and usually weakens or even disappears in the summer.
Its position can determine what part of the United States that Arctic air will invade. Also, the polar vortex is not a synonym for “cold snap,” according to the Polar Vortex Blog at Climate.gov, and it’s not the only weather pattern to blame for blasts of cold air.
Meanwhile, the phrase “polar vortex” has captured public attention and is now often misused to describe short-term bouts of frigid weather, experts told USA TODAY in 2025.
“Weather can happen regardless of what the stratosphere is doing,” said Isla Simpson, a scientist with the National Center for Atmospheric Research.
---
What is 'sudden stratospheric warming'?
Shortened to SSW, it is a dramatic warming of the stratosphere above the Arctic, typically 10 to 30 miles above Earth, that can disrupt or even temporarily reverse the normal west-to-east winds of the polar vortex.
The stratospheric polar vortex generally keeps the coldest air bottled up near the pole in the stratosphere, some 20 miles up in Earth's atmosphere, said Andy Hazelton, an associate scientist at the University of Miami.
But sometimes, large waves in the atmosphere can push up from below and knock the vortex off balance. That causes air over the pole to warm and its westerly winds to slow down or reverse direction, Hazelton wrote in an early November blog post.
This sometimes allows very cold Arctic air to spill farther south into North America, Asia or Europe several days or weeks later.
Hazelton's post on Brightband.com included analysis by scientists with Brightband, a technology company that says it's using artificial intelligence to improve weather forecasts.
---
What typically happens during these events?
In the records since 1958, only two other warming events happened in November, Ciasto said. Typically the events occur in January-March. They are less common in November, she said, because the polar vortex is still growing, with less wave energy propagating into the stratosphere to disrupt it.
Typically the events increase the chances of below-normal temperatures across the eastern United States and northern Europe, but those events in January, February or March occur when Arctic temperatures “have had time to get quite cold,” she said. “In November, there hasn’t been as much time so there’s less cold to source a cold-air outbreak.”
The Arctic as a whole at the end of October was about 8 degrees warmer than the 1990–2019 normal, while Alaska and the Yukon was about 13 degrees warmer, Hazelton said.
The only pool of truly cold air was over Eastern Siberia, Hazelton added.
---
How, when will this affect the U.S. weather?
Ciasto said it's important to remember the polar vortex is often not the only player in the atmospheric playground. This is especially true this winter with the very strong El Niño, Ciasto said. "How these two play together or compete will definitely influence what we feel at the surface in the next month."
While the sudden warming events have a reputation for causing some of the “most memorable cold outbreaks in recent years,” Hazelton said the AI model ensemble from Brightband indicates this event could be weak and short-lived, settling back toward the pole in late November with little impact on the United States.
Cohen previously told USA TODAY the most certain impact is a period of milder weather to eastern North America, probably for much of November.
The Capitol looms in the distance as President Donald Trump departs following his remarks before the midterm elections at the National Mall in Washington, DC, on Nov. 2. JONATHAN ERNST/REUTERS
“Usually it takes two weeks (but recently it seems to take much longer) for the impacts of the SSW to impact our weather, so that puts it as early as late November but more likely in December and could even be delayed until January,” Cohen said. “The downward influence of the SSW in my opinion is more likely to impact the weather of Northern Europe and/or Northern Asia than the eastern United States.”
In recent years, the impacts from SSWs in the eastern United States have been heavily skewed to resulting in overall milder weather across the eastern United States in stark contrast to expectations, Cohen said. "The last El Niño in 2023-24 featured two SSWs and it was a very mild winter in the eastern U.S. and may have even been record mild. In short, lots of uncertainty!"
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Page
Continued from Page 1A
or angry with the way things are going in the United States – including almost every Democrat and nearly half of Republicans. Seven of 10 voters complained that Congress hadn't done enough to check the powers of the presidency.
Now that is likely to change.
For the past two years, the weapons of Trump's Democratic opposition have been largely limited to lawsuits and rhetorical shadowboxing. After the results of Nov. 3, they will be able to wield legislative powers to investigate his administration and challenge policies on everything from safety-net spending and global tariffs to waging war with Iran.
"I have the ultimate power – it's called ‘veto,’” Trump told CBS News as votes were being counted. He predicted Democrats eventually would be forced to cooperate with him. “Historically, you veto for a couple of months and then they come and say, ‘We’ve got to make a deal.’”
“America is back,” Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-New York, expected to become the first Black speaker of the House, told exuberant Democrats at an election night rally in Washington. “Today begins the great American comeback.”
Democrats, who needed a net gain of three seats to control the House, were rolling well past that to a solid majority. In Senate races, where they needed a net gain of four seats to win control, their road to the majority ran through some very red states.
Democrat Roy Cooper flipped a Republican-held seat in North Carolina. In Texas, which Trump carried by 14 points in 2024, Democrat James Talarico defeated Attorney General Ken Paxton. And in South Carolina, Democrat Annie Andrews ousted Sen. Darline Graham.
Trump, who carried the state by 18 points two years ago, had hand-picked her as the nominee.
---
It's still the economy, stupid
Once again, it was the economy, stupid – the mantra coined by Bill Clinton's presidential campaign more than three decades ago and one that politicians have ignored at their peril.
Nearly 9 in 10 voters in exit polls said the cost of living had been a crucial or major factor in determining their vote, and almost 8 in 10 said inflation had caused a hardship for their families. The president was getting much of the blame: By more than 2-1, 65% to 28%, they said he had made economic conditions worse, not better.
Trump found himself being hammered for the issue that helped propel his election two years ago. Then, he lambasted the Biden administration for failing to control inflation. Now, voters said they trusted Democrats more than Republicans to handle the economy.
Then, Trump blasted then-President Joe Biden for allowing a massive influx of undocumented immigrants across what he called “open borders.” Now, nearly 6 in 10 voters said Trump’s immigration enforcement measures had gone too far.
In Minneapolis, voters left “I Voted” stickers at street memorials for Alex Pretti and Renee Good, who were fatally shot by immigration officers in January.
Concern about immigration was costing Republicans among some Hispanics. That voter group, like young people, had swung toward Trump in the presidential election two years ago only to fall away this year.
That said, Democrats can't count on automatically reclaiming their political loyalty. Neither party is held in high regard: Republicans had a favorable-unfavorable rating of $41\%$ to $58\%$ . The Democratic Party fared only slightly better, at $46\%$ to $54\%$ .
---
The mean streets of midterms for presidents
To be sure, midterm elections are typically tough on presidents.
In four of the last five midterms, the president's party lost control of the House. In two of them, it lost control of the Senate. Midway through Trump's first term, in 2018, Republicans lost the House though they gained two seats in the Senate.
Still, unlike his predecessors, Trump sought to make the election a referendum about him, urging voters in a final sprint of 29 rallies to “pretend” that he was on the ballot. The effort to generate turnout among his MAGA base also spurred turnout among his Democratic opposition.
That made the results unusually personal: 41% said one reason for their House vote was to express their opposition to Trump. Just 16% said it was to express their support.
With the 2026 midterms over, the 2028 presidential race begins in earnest.
Among the White House hopefuls, three Democrats sailed to easy reelection in gubernatorial contests – Wes Moore in Maryland, JB Pritzker in Illinois and Josh Shapiro in Pennsylvania. Sen. Jon Ossoff's reelection in Georgia fueled interest in him as a potential presidential contender.
And in Detroit, at the election night party for Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed, former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg was on stage, ginning up the crowd. He's a hopeful, too.
Next time.
Volume 45, No. 38
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Texas Sen.-elect James Talarico and Gov.-elect Gina Hinojosa, both Democrats, toast with drinks while being surrounded by supporters at Whataburger in Austin, Texas. PROVIDED BY JAMES TALARICO VIA X/VIA REUTERS
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History
Continued from Page 1A
challenger and Rogers backer Rep. Haley Stevens, which captured the nation's attention.
Texas Democratic state Rep. Gina Hinojosa was elected the first Hispanic governor of the Lone Star state, and the first Democratic governor in more than three decades.
In California, longtime Democrat and former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra was elected to become the first Hispanic governor of America's most populous state, where Hispanics make up more than 40% of the population.
Fellow Democrat Deb Haaland of New Mexico also won that state's governor race, which will make her the first Native American woman to serve as a governor of any state. She previously made history as the first Native American woman in Congress and the first Native American woman in former President Joe Biden's Cabinet.
Haaland is an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Laguna. She also has Jemez Pueblo heritage.
The Democratic nominee for Senate in Minnesota, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, won the race in that blue-leaning state and became the first Native American woman in the Senate.
Flanagan, a member of the White Earth Band of Ojibwe, might be joined in the Senate by Yup'ik Alaska Native Mary Peltola if she ousts incumbent GOP Sen. Dan Sullivan. However, Alaska's results could take up to two weeks to be reported.
Illinois will make history as the first state to have two women of color serving simultaneously in the U.S. Senate. Democratic Lt. Gov. Julianna Stratton defeated Republican challenger Don Tracy on Nov. 3. Stratton, who is Black and the heavy favorite, will join Sen. Tammy Duckworth, who is Asian American.
"All across the board, we're seeing history being made with the statements made by these accomplished women," National Urban League President and CEO Marc Morial told USA TODAY. "There might be more to come."
Bottoms, the former Atlanta mayor, was the second Black woman to run for Georgia governor after former state Rep. Stacey Abrams lost in both 2018 and 2022 as the Democratic nominee.
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Jeffries poised to be first Black speaker of the House
Jeffries is likely to become the first Black House speaker after Democrats were projected to win control of the chamber.
He is now fast-tracked to the position that follows the vice president in the line of presidential succession, as well as leading a revitalized Democratic Party during Trump's final two years in the White House.
“America is alive and well,” Jeffries said in a late-Election Day post on X.
---
Pappas will become first openly gay male senator
Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas will become the first openly gay man to serve in the Senate after defeating former Republican Sen. John E. Sununu for New Hampshire's open seat.
Pappas, a popular Democrat who has consistently won the historically purple 1st Congressional District, faced a serious challenge in Sununu, one of the more popular political families in the state, as polls had shown a single-digit contest throughout the campaign.
The seat was open after Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen's retirement.
---
Voters elect Donalds as Florida's first Black governor
Republican Rep. Byron Donalds also made history by being elected as Florida's first Black governor.
The favored Donalds defeated Democrat David Jolly. Donalds' win marked the first time in eight years Floridians have picked a new governor to replace termed-out Republican Gov. Ron De-Santis.
Donalds received Trump's endorsement, but briefly distanced himself from him as the president's approval ratings hit new lows. On the campaign trail, Donalds said making Florida more affordable, lowering prescription prices, cutting taxes and insurance rates, and driving down housing costs were among his top priorities.
In addition to making history, Donalds' win continues the trend of Republicans winning every gubernatorial election in the Sunshine State since 1998.
---
Crowley elected as Wisconsin's first Black governor
In Wisconsin, Milwaukee County Executive and Democrat David Crowley defeated Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany to become the state's first Black governor in an odds-defying run that included suspending his campaign just four months ago and being massively outspent by the GOP.
Crowley also will be only the third governor to be born in Milwaukee, the state's largest city. At age 40, Crowley will be the youngest Wisconsin governor in almost a century.
“Thank you for placing your faith in me. That’s ultimately what voting is. A tremendous act of faith,” Crowley said at a campaign event in Milwaukee. “Not faith in one person or party, but faith in the ideas and the lessons learned – that the right leadership can make a difference in people’s lives.”
Contributing: Emily R. Condon, Jay Stahl, Margie Cullen, Molly Beck, Mary Spicuzza and Laura Schulte, USA TODAY
---
President's picks didn't fare well in the election
With Trump on stump,
hopefuls fail to flip seats
Bart Jansen
USA TODAY
WASHINGTON - Be careful what you wish for.
President Donald Trump invited voters to pretend he was on the ballot. But candidates he endorsed in a number of key competitive races suffered losses, and he flipped no seats from Democrat to Republican among the races that had been decided by 9 a.m. ET Nov. 4, according to an analysis by USA TODAY.
Trump endorsed 22 gubernatorial candidates, with 10 winning, 11 losing and Alaska undecided. The losses included five seats Democrats won that had been held by Republicans: Georgia, Iowa, Nevada, Ohio and Texas.
The president endorsed 24 Senate candidates. Of them, 13 won, nine lost and two contests remained undecided in Alaska and Mississippi. The losses included six races where Democrats won GOP seats: Iowa, Kansas, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina and Texas.
And in the House, Trump endorsed 234 candidates. The vast majority of those were incumbents in seats that Republicans already held. But Democrats flipped at least 23 GOP seats where the president endorsed their opponents. His chosen candidates won 128 seats and lost 40, with 66 undecided.
“Never has a president been more involved in selecting a party’s primary and general election candidates,” Marc Short, chief of staff to Trump’s first-term vice president, Mike Pence, said on social media.
“It’s hard for me to think of a White House that has done more to sabotage their own fellow members than this one has,” he added.
Trump campaigned aggressively in dozens of rallies across the country during the final month of the campaign, boasting that his promotion would boost turnout.
"I left every one of those states and the places were packed with thousands and in some cases, tens of thousands of people," Trump told Fox News. "If I'm not on the ballot, they wouldn't go."
But polls found voters were angry about the high cost of living and the continuing war in Iran.
The defeats among Trump's gubernatorial endorsements included several in safely Democratic seats where Trump had tangled with incumbents, such as California, where Democrat Xavier Becerra beat Republican Steve Hilton to succeed term-limited Democrat Gov. Gavin Newsom. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul beat Republican Bruce Blakeman, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker beat Republican Darren Bailey and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro beat Republican Stacy Garrity.
But the defeats included some striking flips from Republican to Democrat. In Texas, Gina Hinojosa became the first Hispanic woman elected governor by knocking off Gov. Greg Abbott. In Georgia, Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms became the first Black female governor by beating Rick Jackson. In Ohio, Republican Vivek Ramaswamy, a former Trump adviser on cost-cutting measures, lost to Democrat Amy Acton.
Trump rallied repeatedly in Iowa, but Republican Zach Lahn lost to Democrat Rob Sand. Nevada's Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo lost to Democrat Aaron Ford. And in Arizona, GOP Rep. Andy Biggs, a vocal supporter of Trump in Congress, lost to Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs.
Sen. Darline Graham gives her concession speech after losing in South Carolina to Democrat Annie Andrews. ALLISON JOYCE/GETTY IMAGES
In the Senate races, Democrats beat six of Trump's Republican endorsees to help reclaim control of the chamber.
Trump personally asked South Carolina Sen. Darline Graham to hold on to the seat of her late brother, Lindsey. But she lost to Democrat Annie Andrews, whom Trump had blasted for supporting transgender people.
The president visited Texas four times after Labor Day in support of Attorney General Ken Paxton, whom he supported against Sen. John Cornyn in the GOP primary.
"Ken Paxton was a good guy and I just wasn't a fan of Cornyn," Trump said. "You know, I just wasn't a fan."
But James Talarico became the first Democrat Texans elected to the Senate since 1988.
Trump held several rallies in Kansas and Iowa to support his candidates. But in Kansas, Sen. Roger Marshall lost to Democrat Adam Hamilton. And in Iowa, GOP Rep. Ashley Hinson lost to Democrat Josh Turek.
In North Carolina, Michael Whatley, Trump's personal pick to head the Republican National Committee after his first term, lost to Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper to succeed retiring GOP Sen. Thom Tillis.
Trump made endorsements in only three Senate races where Democrats had held the seats – and all three GOP candidates lost.
Abdul El-Sayed beat Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan to become the first Muslim elected to the Senate. Rep. Chris Pappas beat Republican John Sununu in New Hampshire to become the first openly gay member of the Senate. And Sen. Jon Ossoff easily fended off a challenge from Republican Rep. Mike Collins.
In the House, more than 200 of Trump's endorsements were for incumbents or for seats Republicans already held. He endorsed 27 candidates for seats held by Democrats; none of them had flipped Republican by early Nov. 4.
Among the GOP-held seats where Democrats picked up ground, three were in Iowa, where Trump rallied supporters in Sioux City on Oct. 22 and in Dubuque on Nov.1. GOP Rep. Marianette Miller-Meeks lost to Democrat Christina Bohannan, GOP Rep. Zach Nunn lost to Democrat Sarah Trone Garriott and Republican Joe Mitchell lost to Democrat Lindsey James for Rep. Ashley Hinson's seat.
Another state where Democrats grabbed three GOP seats was Pennsylvania, despite Trump's endorsements of Reps. Ryan Mackenzie, Rob Bresnahan and Scott Perry, who was a vocal Trump defender. The seats went to Democrats Bob Brooks, Paige Cognetti and Janelle Stelson, respectively.
In Texas, Republican Rep. Monica De La Cruz lost to Democrat Bobby Pulido, and GOP candidate Brandon Herrera lost to Democrat Katy Padilla Stout for the seat that had been held by Republican Tony Gonzalez.
---
Congress
Continued from Page 1A
broken with Trump over the past year.
Both chambers have voted to end the Iran war and release the Epstein files. The House has repudiated Trump's tariffs on Canada while outgoing GOP senators pushed back on Trump's plans to build a White House ballroom and launch an “anti-weaponization” fund.
But Republican leadership largely had worked to advance Trump's agenda. With Democrats poised to take over, that's about to change.
---
Investigations, impeachments and shutdown showdowns
Armed with control of both chambers,
Democrats will have powerful new tools at their disposal to conduct oversight of the Trump administration.
They'll be able to subpoena government agencies, drag administration officials to Capitol Hill for dramatic hearings and conduct investigations into the president and his allies. Unlike when Democrats were in the minority, the probes will carry the full force of the legislative branch's authority.
“You will have a Congress that recognizes we don’t work for the president,” said House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-New York, who’s now poised to become the next speaker.
And while congressional Democrats have largely left the possibility of impeaching Trump off the table, there are articles pending in the House to remove a number of Cabinet secretaries, including Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth.
Those measures will likely see new momentum in that chamber, though they'll ultimately have to clear trials in the Senate before any high-level Trump administration officials could actually be removed.
And Trump may have a tougher time negotiating deals to keep the government funded. Despite Democrats' wins, they still need to win over GOP votes in the Senate – and Trump's signature – to pass spending bills.
---
Health care, affordability are Democrats' priorities
In his victory speech celebrating his party's gains, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-New York, said he had five words for Americans who supported Democrats: "Relief is on the way."
They've outlined lowering health care costs and addressing widespread affordability concerns as among their biggest goals.
While the Trump administration has opposed previous Democrat-led efforts to enact policies such as extending Obamacare subsidies, the president has expressed a willingness to try to ease health care expenses for Americans.
Without mentioning specific issues, he indicated the night of Nov. 3 he'd be open to passing legislation championed by the opposite party, though he stressed he reserves the right to veto any bills.
"I don't want to be just sitting there for two years vetoing everything," he told Politico.
At the same time, congressional Republicans such as Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-South Dakota, vowed not to let Democrats “unwind everything we’ve done.”
---
Trump says U.S. will end nearly \$4B in Israel aid
President says ally no longer needs support
Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy
USA TODAY
President Donald Trump said the United States will end about \$4 billion in annual aid to Israel by the end of the year, saying he had reached an agreement with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“Israel’s our No. 1 [recipient] – we give them more than anybody else. And they no longer need it,” said Trump during a Nov. 3 interview on Fox and Friends. “We’ve been doing it for years. Israel is a very thriving country. They don’t need it.”
Trump's comments came on Election Day as voters head to polling booths to make their voices heard in the midterms. U.S. aid to Israel amid its war in Gaza was one of the most contentious issues leading up to those elections.
Public opinion on aid to Israel has also shifted. A New York Times/Siena poll found in May that three-quarters of Democratic voters opposed U.S. economic or military support for Israel.
In July, nearly half of House Democrats voted to cut off aid to Israel through an amendment to a State Department spending bill, signaling a lack of political support for a longtime ally. The measure did not pass due to lack of support from Republicans.
Progressive Democratic candidates have used pro-Israel groups' backing of establishment candidates as a cudgel in competitive Democratic primaries.
In the interview, Trump also mentioned Michigan's Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, who has been an outspoken critic of U.S. military aid to Israel and other countries, and who argues that taxpayer dollars should prioritize domestic needs like health care and education.
El-Sayed reiterated his stance at a recent appearance with Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont, at a “Students vs. Billionaires” town hall in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
President Donald Trump said that he has agreed with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to halt roughly \$4 billion in annual U.S. aid to Israel after 2026. ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES FILE
“Right now, they’re getting bombs and tanks and unconditional foreign military aid. I want to ban unconditional foreign military aid. I want to ban it to Israel, I want to ban it to Egypt, where my family immigrated from, to Jordan, to Pakistan, to Saudi Arabia, to Qatar, to all of them,” said El-Sayed. “I don’t pay my tax dollars so another country gets a bomb or a tank. We pay our taxes so that our kids get good schools.”
Trump, in the Election Day interview, said Israel had been a “great ally, much more reliable than most.”
“Why should we suffer the slings from lunatics like in El-Sayed when they don’t need it?” said Trump. “It’s a bad talking point.”
Neither Netanyahu's party nor the opposition secured a majority in Israel's Oct. 27 parliamentary elections, leaving coalitions to negotiate to determine the country's next government.
Trump has said he would not be inclined to support Israel if Netanyahu doesn't win.
Democratic Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida criticized Trump's stance.
“A true friend of Israel doesn’t threaten to withhold U.S. support based on the result of its election,” she wrote on X. “Israeli voters decide who leads Israel, not Trump.”
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U.K. adventurer back home after 28-year trek around world
REUTERS
HULL, England – A British adventurer who has been walking around the world for almost three decades finished his trek Nov. 2, ending a 31,000-mile journey at the house where he grew up.
Karl Bushby has hacked through jungles in Central America, crossed the ice between Alaska and Russia and last month swam across the English Channel on the final stretch of a voyage made entirely under his own steam.
Hundreds of cheering supporters greeted the 57-year-old in the square of his home city of Hull on Nov. 2.
"After 28 years, you just couldn't ask for more than this," he told the crowd, before pushing on with his few possessions in a trolley, a spare tire which will now never be needed slung on top.
"I guess I'll be seeing you around," he added. He then headed for his family home where his mother, his 36-year-old son and a 12-year-old granddaughter were waiting.
Bushby served in the British Army's Parachute Regiment in his 20s. After the breakdown of his marriage he drew a line on a world map and set off, inspired by his father, who had wondered if it was possible to walk from London to New York.
Carrying a tent, a few hundred dollars and a cheap plastic camera, he started in Chile and headed north through the Americas, crossing from Alaska to Russia, Mongolia and China, and back through Europe after swimming the Caspian Sea.
“Sometimes the monotony is incredible. You’re in deserts and the landscape doesn’t change for days to weeks. That can get a little mind-bending. The same with the Arctic,” he told Reuters last year.
He originally expected to spend about 10 years on the road but hadn't anticipated the obstacles he'd face, among them a brief imprisonment in Panama, being held at gunpoint in Mexico and detention by Russian authorities for crossing the border illegally, not to mention delays from the 2008 financial crisis and the COVID pandemic.
Adventurer Karl Bushby is greeted by his mother, Angela Bushby, as he arrives home on Nov. 2 in Hull, England. LEON NEAL/GETTY IMAGES
"This is what an odyssey in the 21st century looks like. Half of it is literally dealing with these bureaucratic geopolitical problems, not just the environmental hurdles. There are some times where the solution is just to wait. ... After 28 years, you just couldn't ask for more than this. I guess I'll be seeing you around."
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Karl Bushby
“This is what an odyssey in the 21st century looks like,” he told the Telegraph newspaper. “Half of it is literally dealing with these bureaucratic geopolitical problems, not just the environmental hurdles. There are some times where the solution is just to wait.”
Bushby told the BBC he has only spent about 15 of the 28 years walking, returning to Mexico periodically to sort out visas, logistics and corporate and media sponsorship deals.
A feature-length documentary about his journey is in production, and Bushby is planning to embark on a speaking tour around England in the coming weeks.
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Could bamboo replace gasoline at pump?
Bamboo needs no fertilizer and is drought tolerant, making it a good fit in areas with subpar conditions for agriculture. GETTY IMAGES
Plant seen as viable fuel option amid high prices
Henry Schwan
Worcester Telegram & Gazette
USA TODAY NETWORK
WORCESTER, MA – Want some relief from high prices at the pump? How about bamboo? The stiff, hollow plant that can grow quite tall could be the answer.
Researchers, including a team at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, believe bamboo has the potential to be a cheaper and more environmentally friendly alternative when compared to petroleum-based transportation products that power planes, trains and automobiles.
Research findings recently published in the journal Sustainable Energy & Fuels includes some eye-popping results, including that bamboo fuels could reach as low as \$2.75 per gallon, compared to the price of gasoline that is currently more than \$4 per gallon, and over \$6 per gallon for diesel.
---
Inspired by Nigerian student
Chemical engineering professor Michael Timko, who led the WPI research team, said the school's interest in bamboo started several years ago when a visiting student from Nigeria brought the plant with her to the United States.
"I was surprised that she did that," said Timko, but she had a passion for the perennial and a WPI team worked with her to convert the bamboo into ethanol, which is a substitute for petroleum-based fuels.
There are nearly 1,500 species of bamboo – some of them invasive – and it's the fastest-growing land plant on Earth. Timko ticked off bamboo's benefits: It needs no fertilizer and is drought tolerant, making it a good fit in areas with subpar conditions for agriculture.
Timko's team calculated that bamboo shoots up at least 10 times faster than corn that is grown in abundance in the
United States for the production of ethanol.
As for its environmental benefits, bamboo captures and stores large amounts of carbon above and below ground. WPI's research discovered that using bamboo as a fuel source cut greenhouse gas emissions 26 times below conventional petroleum diesel fuel.
---
Rapid biocrude production
So how did Timko's team arrive at its conclusions?
It used economic and environmental modeling and experiments with hydrothermal liquefaction. Timko described hydrothermal liquefaction as heating up bamboo in a thermal pressure cooker that reaches temperatures of nearly 600 degrees Fahrenheit.
The pressure cooker was a batch reactor the size of a washing machine, and the result was biocrude in 10 minutes.
Timko isn't sure why hydrothermal liquefaction achieved that result in such a short amount of time. He believes it has something to do with the amount and types of impurities in bamboo. Those are the materials that plants absorb from the ground, such as salt and silica.
Timko sees bamboo's low levels of impurities as an advantage when considering the possibilities of using the plant as a transportation fuel instead of corn stover, which some experts believe can be used on a broad scale to make biofuels.
Corn stover consists of the stalks, leaves, husks and cobs left after harvest, and it has at least 10 times more impurities than bamboo, according to Timko.
What matters is output levels in fuel production when materials are fed into machinery for processing, and Timko said WPI's studies showed bamboo produced 50% to 100% more biocrude per kilogram than corn stover.
---
Several challenges await
Turning bamboo into fuel comes with challenges, including how to develop a process to grind it up and continuously feed large amounts into a reactor. It would be similar to the large-scale chemical processing for petroleum that Timko said is efficient and cost-effective.
The batch reactor used by WPI was inefficient, Timko said, because the door had to be opened and closed when feeding bamboo into it.
“Solids into a high-pressure reactor that is energy-efficient is the next challenge,” he said. “It’s an engineering challenge.”
Another challenge involves world events that can cause crude oil prices to fluctuate. When the swings result in lower prices at the pump for long stretches of time, Timko said, it becomes harder to present the argument about bamboo's profitability potential.
There's also the economic and political forces tied to farming, corn and ethanol that are entrenched in American culture and congressional budgets, but Timko believes growing bamboo will benefit farmers.
Not only will it grow faster and in marginal conditions so the most fertile areas remain for growing other crops, but bamboo only needs 10% to 15% of the land mass devoted to growing corn for ethanol in the United States, according to WPI's modeling.
There's also an education component that Timko says is needed so the facts about bamboo lead to informed political and economic decisions.
---
Next step: Scale it up
No investments are risk-free, said Timko, adding that the next steps include scaled-up processing to reach 100 tons of bamboo biocrude daily to achieve a commercial-level operation. Moreover, connections would have to be developed with the petroleum industry for refining.
Time and tolerance from the public is needed if bamboo is to potentially reach its potential as a reliable, cheaper and renewable source of fuel that benefits the environment, he said.
“There’s a lot of vested interest by farmers and the petroleum industry,” he said. “High petroleum prices and public will is usually the way these things are going to happen. And tolerance of a bit longer timeline.”
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AI could be used to flag astronaut health issues
Long future Mars
missions pose a challenge
for the human body
Brooke Edwards
Florida Today
USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida
Humans have long dreamed of reaching Mars, but it could be hard on the body.
Mark Shelhamer, the former chief scientist for NASA's Human Research Program, has an idea to manage that: Use artificial intelligence to provide early clues about astronaut health so doctors can get ahead of any potential problems. The hope is the technology could pick up on changes and stressors that otherwise might be overlooked.
Shelhamer, who now works as a scientist at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, has studied the health risks of long-duration spaceflight, including radiation exposure and bone loss, as well as the vestibular system, space motion sickness and coordination.
He says more work is needed before the first humans take off for the Red Planet.
After 26 years of a continuous human presence on the International Space Station, researchers know space-flight affects bone density, muscles and the immune, cardiovascular and digestive systems. Without gravity, blood and other bodily fluids shift upward in the body, causing issues like face puffiness and sinus problems.
Some astronauts have lived aboard the ISS for a year or more, but how these stressors would affect them on a far longer round-trip to Mars, which could take three years, remains unknown.
"It's a very challenging, very demanding environment. The technology is pushed to its limits. The people are pushed to the limits," said Shelhamer.
It was just this year that the first medical evacuation from the ISS occurred, cutting the mission of Crew-11 about a month short. While the specifics were not revealed due to medical privacy, NASA astronaut Mike Fincke said that he experienced a scare that called for ground-based evaluation.
As people travel farther and spend more time off Earth, something unexpected is bound to happen. Shelhamer said we must think about how to deal with that uncertainty: "How can we design a mission and train the people so that when the unexpected occurs, and we don't have the place to treat or deal with that specific thing, how can the mission still go on successfully? How can it be resilient?"
One answer: monitor the medical and psychological well-being of the crew through AI, treating the crew, spacecraft and mission as an interconnected system, and flagging changes that could signal emerging problems. While unclear exactly what this system would look like or how it could work, Shelhamer believes it could hold significant potential.
For instance, imagine that briefly elevated carbon dioxide levels impact a particular crew member more than others. The AI would look at trends and correlate carbon dioxide levels with that particular astronaut's mental state.
“You could have an algorithm alert the crew,” said Shelhamer.
Shelhamer noted that astronauts may be hesitant about the idea of being “monitored,” which could be a challenge. Yet the goal is to give the crew the information they need to succeed.
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Evidence of red blood cells is found in a dinosaur fossil
Will Dunham
REUTERS
Scientists have discovered what they consider the strongest evidence yet of blood cells in a dinosaur fossil inside the bone from the right leg of a medium-sized meat eater that prowled Brazil some 115 million years ago during the Cretaceous Period.
The researchers identified numerous microscopic structures in the bone from the species Aratasaurus museunacionali that appear to be fossilized red blood cells. They also detected chemical evidence related to a key component of these cells – an iron-containing biomolecule called heme that is associated with hemoglobin, the protein that gives blood its red color.
The evidence for blood cells and heme was found in vascular canals inside bones of an Aratasaurus individual, thought to be a juvenile or young adult about 4 years old when it died. The bipedal dinosaur would have measured about 10 feet long.
"We have not found a vial of dinosaur blood. What we are seeing is a mineral and molecular echo of ancient biology, and that is scientifically much more interesting," said Kliti Grice, an organic and isotope geochemist at Curtin University in Perth, Australia, and lead author of the study published on Nov. 2 in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
A portion of the fossilized remains of the right hind limb of an Aratasaurus is seen at the Placido Cidade Nuvens Paleontology Museum in Brazil.
PROVIDED BY CURTIN UNIVERSITY VIA REUTERS
“For me, the most surprising thing is that we can see the structures together with chemical evidence of their biological origin after such enormous geological time,” Grice said.
Red blood cells, continuously manufactured inside bone marrow, transport oxygen from the lungs to the body's tissues and then help bring carbon dioxide back from the tissues to the lungs to be exhaled.
Unlike hard bones and teeth, soft tissues like muscles and feathers are only rarely preserved in fossils. Cells present in bodily liquids like blood are even less commonly spotted in fossils.
“Bones and teeth tell us an enormous amount about anatomy, growth and evolution. Molecular and cellular evidence potentially adds another level of biological information,” Grice said.
The research does not document dinosaur DNA, Grice said, cautioning against interpreting the discovery as evidence that intact dinosaur genetic material is present.
“DNA and other large, information-rich biomolecules have very different preservation characteristics from small molecules and chemically transformed molecular remnants. The survival of cell-like morphology and heme-related chemical signals does not mean that the DNA that was originally contained within cells has survived," Grice said.
The researchers also detected collagen-related amino acids in the Arata-saurus bone, though Grice noted that this is not equivalent to recovering an intact ancient protein or genetic information. Collagen is an abundant structural protein, sort of the scaffolding that holds the body's tissues together.
“What the work does encourage us to do is keep testing the limits of molecular preservation rather than assuming that all biological information must disappear after a particular length of time,” Grice said.
The oldest-known DNA reported by scientists came from animals, plants and microbes dating to about 2 million years ago from sediment in Greenland.
The Aratasaurus fossil was unearthed in a gypsum mine in Ceará state in northeastern Brazil.
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Guthrie begs for help finding her mother
‘We cry out for answers,’ TV show cohost said
Kim Willis
USA TODAY
Savannah Guthrie has issued a new plea for information about Nancy Guthrie, nine months to the day after her 84-year-old mother was reported missing.
The “Today” show cohost marked the anniversary Nov. 1 on Instagram, sharing a sentimental old drawing by her daughter, Vale, of a blue umbrella
"Our mom was a light in this world. We want to celebrate her and give her the dignity she deserves."
in the rain, scrawled with the words, “I know it might not seem like it but I really need my Mommy.”
Savannah Guthrie
Nancy Guthrie was reported missing from her Tucson, Arizona, home on
Feb. 1. Authorities say she was taken against her will.
The FBI released images in February of an armed person at her front door, appearing to tamper with the camera. The person has not been identified.
Guthrie noted that the drawing says "so much about how I feel."
"The world goes on, things appear ‘normal’ – as we try to keep going and be strong, especially for our young kids - but it's not and it never will be," she wrote. "For Annie and Tommy, for Cam and Kristine, for Mike and me and for all of mom's beloved grandchildren: we ache for her, we cry out for answers, we cannot move forward. We need someone to help us, tell us what you know.
"Our mom was a light in this world. We want to celebrate her and give her the dignity she deserves. The reward is still available. Please. We are begging you. Please help us."
She closed the message by thanking those “who have been kind and shown the best of humanity” and a yellow heart emoji. “Join us in praying without ceasing.”
On Oct. 30, the Pima County Sheriff's Department in Arizona issued an update about its investigation on X.
"The Nancy Guthrie Task Force continued to work with our labs in hopes of furthering our DNA analysis in this investigation," a statement from Sheriff Chris Nanos read. "Earlier [in October] investigators traveled to Florida to meet with lab scientists to see what more could be done to advance the case. A number of ideas were discussed, and we continue to work with all of our partners to solve this case."
The statement ends with a call to action, urging that “no tip is too small.”
Former FBI agent and NewsNation law and justice contributor Jennifer Coffindaffer said four purported ransom emails she received in April were an attempt to cash in on concern about the 84-year-old's disappearance, and she alerted the FBI. She believes the senders were scammers.
According to Coffindaffer, the bureau told her the bitcoin address provided did not match the address associated with ransom demands investigators considered potentially legitimate.
She decided to speak publicly after learning Guthrie's neighbor Lauren Serpa received a similar message and both notes included nearly identical images.
In July, Savannah Guthrie made an emotional plea in an Instagram video, and said her “family is in agony” and asked listeners to “help us find her.”
“We are in a nightmare that will not end; nothing about our situation has changed,” she said in the video. “We will never stop looking for her. We will always ache for her and feel that hole in our hearts.”
In a June conversation on “Today” with Jenna Bush Hager, Savannah Guthrie shared that continuing to do her job amid her mom’s disappearance hasn’t been easy. “I know maybe people wonder, ‘What’s going on? How is she able to do that job? Is she not thinking about it? Did she forget?’ No. Never,” she said, adding, “I cry every morning on the way to work, and I cry every morning on the way home.”
Contributing: Kalia Richardson, USA TODAY
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Execution challenged over Indiana's drug supplier
and federal inspections, the petition said.
Lawyers cite state's probe of pharmacy
Cate Charron
Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY NETWORK
Ahead of the scheduled execution of Jeffrey Weisheit, his attorneys claim the state of Indiana purchased its lethal injection drugs from a pharmacy it is actively investigating and has placed on probation for drug contamination.
Weisheit's attorneys have asked Gov. Mike Braun to push back the Nov. 5 execution and conduct an independent review of the state's process for procuring the drug pentobarbital for lethal injections. They argue that Indiana's process is similar to the one used in Tennessee, which botched the executions of Tony Carruthers and Christa Pike and triggered nationwide scrutiny over the protocol, transparency and whether such executions are humane.
The state bought pentobarbital from Pharmaneek Pharmacy Services in Indianapolis, according to Weisheit's attorneys and records included in their petition to Braun. It's the first public confirmation of the state's execution drug supplier.
State law prohibits the release of identifying information about the procurement of lethal injection drugs, but the attorneys identified the pharmacy through an address on an invoice. IndyStar confirmed that Pharmaneek's address is included on an improperly redacted invoice.
"It is alarming that the state purchased these drugs from a pharmacy it is trying to shut down due to major safety issues in the storage and management of drugs," said Joe Perkovich, one of Weisheit's attorneys, in a news release.
Jeffrey Weisheit's attorneys say they identified Indiana's supplier of a lethal injection drug, pentobarbital, through an address on an improperly redacted invoice. GETTY IMAGES
Hours after the attorneys publicly raised concerns about the drug supplier, Braun announced he was denying Weisheit clemency and said the state would continue preparations to execute him on Nov. 5. Last week, the Indiana Parole Board unanimously recommended denying Weisheit's plea.
The governor's office has not responded to IndyStar's questions, including whether it plans to pause the execution.
Indiana Department of Correction said it received the drug on Oct. 29. Spokesperson Noelle Russell said the state purchased 6 vials, 50 milliliters each, of pentobarbital on Sept. 25 for \$275,000.
The state's Board of Pharmacy may suspend Pharmaneek's license this month for issues related to contaminated drugs, according to documents provided by Weisheit's attorneys. The pharmacy has also failed multiple state
Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita's office filed a complaint against the pharmacy in November 2025, which resulted in a settlement and put the pharmacy on probation. The complaint to the state pharmacy board says the pharmacy has been found operating with "numerous shoddy procedures," such as unlabeled pill bottles, expired drugs on active shelves, a room kept at 84 degrees, and a lack of consistent temperature logs. These issues were included in exhibits attached to the petition filed by Weisheit's attorneys.
The board did not respond to a request for comment asking it to confirm its investigation of Pharmaneek. Pharmaneek did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Indiana also has come under scrutiny as one of the least transparent states when it comes to executions. It is the only state actively executing people to deny journalists the opportunity to witness the death penalty.
Indiana resumed executions for the first time in 15 years in December 2024. In less than a year, the state has used lethal injection to kill three men.
Weisheit was convicted and sentenced to death for the 2010 murders of two children, 8-year-old Alyssa Lynch and her 5-year-old brother, Caleb. The children were burned alive in their home in Evansville.
Contributing: Kristine Phillips, Indianapolis Star
Cate Charron's role covering First Amendment issues at IndyStar is made possible by a collaboration among Freedom Forum, Journalism Funding Partners and the USA TODAY Network. Freedom Forum does not provide editorial input.
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Mars crew concludes yearlong stint in isolation at NASA's Houston center
CHAPEA Mission 2 crew members Ross Elder, Matthew Montgomery, Ellen Ellis and James Spicer pose before spending more than a year in isolation.
PROVIDED BY NASA VIA REUTERS
Will Dunham
REUTERS
The four members of a crew who took part in a simulated mission to Mars have emerged after 378 days in isolation at the U.S. space agency's Johnson Space Center in Houston, an endeavor designed to help prepare for a possible future excursion by NASA astronauts to Earth's planetary neighbor.
"It's been a hell of a year – analog astronauts living in captivity of our own free will," Ellen Ellis, the medical officer on the Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog, or CHAPEA, mission, said in remarks at Johnson Space Center after emerging with her three crewmates on Oct. 30.
The four entered the 1,700-square-foot 3D-printed habitat on Oct. 19, 2025, and performed tasks such as growing crops in simulated Martian soil and interfacing with NASA officials with delays recreating those inherent in interplanetary communications.
NASA, which has explored Mars with robotic rovers and orbiting spacecraft, has ambitions for a human mission to Mars as early as the 2030s, with plans before that to return astronauts to the moon for the first time since 1972.
“We have a narrowing window of opportunity to maintain U.S. preeminence in space,” Ellis said.
Ellis mentioned the service academy for space-related operations pursued by President Donald Trump's administration and plans for a lunar base.
“Let’s seize the initiative, lead with science that will benefit our economy and ensure our legacy in space for our children’s children,” Ellis said.
The other crew members were mission commander Ross Elder, science officer Matthew Montgomery and flight engineer James Spicer.
“For Mars, the risks are great,” Elder said in remarks after emerging from isolation. “But through seeking understanding, strong vision and leadership, creativity, fortitude, hard work and incredible foundation, the goal of putting humans on Mars is not only achievable, but rather inevitable.”
The crew is set to participate in two weeks of post-mission evaluations and debriefing with NASA scientists. NASA has said it is looking for insight into what it takes for astronauts to adapt to the routines and demands of daily life on long-duration missions beyond Earth to keep them healthy, productive, and connected.
This was NASA's second CHAPEA mission, with another four-person crew in isolation at Johnson Space Center for
Vanessa Wyche, director of the Johnson Space Center, greeted the crew members when they exited isolation. Wyche said they managed to live with limited resources, maintain their habitat, and carry out simulated Mars operations.
378 days spanning 2023 and 2024.
Wyche also noted how the crew dealt with the simulated interplanetary communications, with lag times between sending messages and receiving responses.
"These delays require patience, careful planning and greater independence
\- qualities that will be essential for future astronauts traveling millions of miles from home," Wyche said.
---
Catholic
Otherwise, Justice Neil Gorsuch said,
Continued from Page 1A
Wyche said the lessons learned from the CHAPEA crew and their experiences will help pave the way for the missions first to the moon and “one day, Mars.”
The court's three liberal justices said that the Catholic Church is trying to push the court far beyond those rulings to require exemptions even when there's no explicit discrimination against a religious entity.
"It seems to me that you're asking for a special rule for religious schools,"
The court's conservatives appeared to agree with the church that it would become too easy for states to discriminate against religious entities unless the court focused on the effect of the law and not just the specific text.
Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson told the attorney for the archdiocese. “Your rule is not allowing our society to have all people live together because it’s preferencing the religious entity’s ability to discriminate against others.”
the court was just “wasting our time” in the previous cases.
Helen Norton, attorney for Colorado, said the state worked hard to include religious schools in its universal preschool program and there's “zero evidence” that the court indirectly targeted Catholic schools by adopting the rule.
"The only thing Colorado asks is that they comply with the same conditions that every publicly funded preschool must meet, religious and secular alike," Norton said.
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When farming gets a cold, America gets sick
in recent years: a cafe, an auto repair, a beauty shop.
Kathy Draeger and Mike Jorgenson check in on the beef cattle that inhabit a paddock on their farm in Clinton, Minnesota, on Oct. 16. The pair, who rent out the paddock to a neighboring beef farmer, said they could have just as easily rented the land to a conventional farmer for greater profits, but environmental concerns pushed them toward the former route. PHOTOS BY CASEY EK/FOR USA TODAY
Rex Huppke
USA TODAY
This is the first column in USA TODAY Opinion columnist Rex Huppke's new series, America's Looming Farm Crisis. Farmers across the country are struggling to keep their heads above water, reminding some of the lead-up to the devastating 1980s farm crisis.
CLINTON, Minnesota – Kathy Draeger, whose husband's family has farmed the land in west-central Minnesota's Big Stone County for generations, knows trouble is coming for America's farmers. She can feel it like storms rolling off the plains of neighboring South Dakota.
Her fellow farmers feel it, too. The squeeze. The pressure of debt on their chests. She knows one nearby farmer already selling land to make ends meet.
"I was with a group of farmers recently and asked if it felt now like it did in the 1980s," Draeger said. "They all nodded their heads."
That statement alone should alarm us all. The 1980s farm crisis was an agricultural cataclysm of bankruptcies and foreclosures that devastated and forever reshaped rural America. It was the worst economic crisis in farming since the Great Depression.
Whether you're a farmer or a finance executive who has never seen a farm, the health of U.S. agriculture is vital to you. American farmers keep grocery shelves full, restaurants stocked and protect our national security by giving us a sound domestic food supply.
Basically, when farming gets a cold, America gets sick.
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'This does remind me so much of the '80s'
Minnesota saw the most farm bankruptcies in the country in the first quarter of this year, and the autumn harvest arrived with record-high diesel prices cutting into thin to nonexistent profit margins.
But it's not just here, among rolling hills of corn as high as your head and tidy rows of soybeans waving on land farmed by generations of the same families, that you're hearing echoes of the 1980s farm crisis.
“This does remind me so much of the ’80s,” said Pam Johnson, a retired Iowa farmer and past president of the National Corn Growers Association. “We were farming in the ’80s and we almost had survivors guilt because we had friends and neighbors that didn’t survive, by no fault of their own.
“You know the old standard: Pull yourself up by your bootstraps, and if you work, you’re gonna be able to make it. Well, that theory was kind of bashed.”
Brian Kuehl, a principal at Pinion, an advisory firm that works with the agriculture industry, described the current moment in American farming like this: "I think that this is a farm crisis that is as significant as the 1980s.
"It's different. We don't have the high interest rates that you had in the '80s. But I think you've got a lot of the same dynamics unfolding, and a lot of farmers being hurt."
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The cost of everything that goes into farming is sky-high
The issues that farmers are facing include: the high and rising cost of farm inputs like seeds, fertilizer and equipment; crop prices that aren't doing enough to offset high input costs; record-high farm debt; and rising interest rates that make borrowing more difficult and loan payments harder to manage.
Anne Schwagerl, a Big Stone County farmer and vice president of the Minnesota Farmers Union, told me: “I think people are in a farming-to-survive mode. Right, so we’re gonna do anything we can to hang on and hope for better conditions in the future.”
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Farmers are small in number, but vital to America's well-being
Farming can, admittedly, be a difficult topic to get people to think or care about. It's a job few Americans do, but all Americans rely on.
Jorgenson decommissions an electric fence at his and Draeger's home in Clinton, Minnesota, on Oct. 16.
To put that in context, the American Farm Bureau Federation puts the number of farm and ranch families in America at less than 2% of the U.S. population. But more than 80% of the food we eat, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, comes from the domestic supply chain, so that tiny percentage of farmers does a lot to keep us fed.
Even if you don't know a farmer, even if you have zero connection to or concern for rural America, if you care about a steady U.S. food supply and about what you're eating, the state of agriculture in America should be of significant concern.
The total number of U.S. farmers may be small, but the ripple effect of any crisis in the agriculture industry is felt everywhere – from tractor dealerships and shops in rural towns like Clinton, Minnesota, to grocery stores and upscale restaurants in big cities like Chicago nine hours southeast.
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Politicians pander to farmers, but rarely deliver what's needed
And yet, perhaps because most of us are so disconnected from the land that we forget where the food in our refrigerators comes from, farmers tend to be easily ignored.
They're paid lip service by politicians of both parties who swear their allegiance to America's great farmers, but such patter uses “farmers” more as a code word for “rural America.”
The reality is farmers are a tiny vot-
ing bloc, so they're easily leveraged
while campaigning, then just as easily
forgotten once a politician takes office.
There's no clearer example of that than the fact that Congress hasn't passed a new farm bill – a package of federal legislation dictating agricultural and food policy that's supposed to be renewed every five years – since 2018.
Jorgenson and Draeger are western Minnesota farmers, and Draeger also is a sustainable agriculture professor at the University of Minnesota.
The Kansas-based Barry Flinchbaugh Center for Ag and Food Policy noted earlier this year that since 2018, "input costs have spiked dramatically.
“Trade uncertainty – including significant tariff volatility – has created risks that existing commodity programs were never designed to address. ... Agricultural labor challenges have grown more acute with no clear legislative resolution.”
The lack of a farm bill makes farmers' already uncertain lives more uncertain.
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Number of farmers keeps going down, a dangerous trend line
With economic pressures and lawmakers failing to hear the voices of U.S. farmers, it's no surprise their numbers are shrinking.
According to the USDA, there were 1.865 million U.S. farms in 2025, down 15,000 farms from the previous year.
In 2018, the total number of farms was just over 2 million.
So in just seven years, the nation lost close to $10\%$ of its farms. (It's worth noting that, according to the USDA, as of 2024, $86\%$ of farms are still small, family operations.)
Draeger, walking with her husband, Mike Jorgenson, and their friend and local farmer Clayton Brobst near the fields of her and Jorgenson's farm in Clinton, Minnesota, said that in the 1950s, there were about 400 dairy farms in Big Stone County.
“And now, as of St. Patrick’s Day of this year,” she said, “there are zero dairy cows in this county.”
“Every Friday night growing up, farmers were bringing their cream cans to the creamery in Clinton,” Jorgenson recalled. “I can hear the cream cans clanging in the back of pickups. You know that’s part of my early childhood.”
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When farms fail, the economic ripples spread to other businesses
Now the fields in Big Stone County are primarily used for corn and soybeans. Farms have grown bigger, but the number of farm families has dropped, hollowing out the infrastructure of small towns.
Not far from Draeger's farm, in the town of Clinton, Bonnie's Hometown Grocery Store is one of the few independent groceries left in the area.
“Clinton has been hit hard,” said Bonnie Maas, the owner.
She ticks off the local businesses lost
Even the local school was shut down and consolidated.
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Many farmers need off-farm jobs just to get by
Brobst, a 41-year-old farmer, said his wife works a full-time job to help them get by financially: "The people I'm most familiar with, most of them have a day job. We live a nice life in lieu of her wages and the health insurance she grabs for us, and we're happy doing what we're doing.
“But is it the American dream to say, ‘Well, we’re going to both work a town job, and we’re going to farm a little bit’? I’d like to just farm.”
Draeger, who is executive director of the Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture and an adjunct professor at the University of Minnesota, also worries about the knowledge drain.
Fewer farmers means fewer people with the skills and know-how to run a farm.
“You lose a whole body of skills,” she said. “I think one of the things we need to conserve and preserve is that body of skills that we are losing. ... Probably 75% of crops are farmed using GPS guidance, and so you’re getting in a tractor and you don’t even necessarily need to know how to keep it in a row. You just set it and go, and then you call the co-op to apply pesticides if you see you’ve got an aphid problem. So you don’t even know how to spray.”
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Farm bankruptcies jump 46%, and signs of desperation rise
Farming has always been a high-risk occupation, with unpredictable weather and unexpected swings in commodity prices.
But for many farmers, the risk has grown considerably in recent years, following shifts in the global marketplace, climate change, tariffs, and now the spiking fuel and fertilizer costs associated with the Iran war.
Chapter 12 family farm bankruptcies jumped by 46% last year, and the trend has continued this year.
Bankruptcies hit a six-year high in April, rising as much as they did during the COVID-19 pandemic
At Farm Aid, an advocacy group that grew out of the 1980s farm crisis, calls to the crisis hotline have been on the rise.
“Farmers will often call only when it’s the last choice, only when they’ve gotten notice the bank is accelerating the loan and they’re running out of time,” said Jennifer Fahy, co-executive director of Farm Aid.
"The number of farmers who are calling and identifying as financially distressed is much bigger," Fahy said. "About $80\%$ of farmers who are calling are saying they need support."
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Now is the time to pay attention to what's happening in farming
This is the first in a series of columns on America's looming farm crisis. The columns are based on more than two dozen interviews with current and retired farmers, agricultural economists, historians, financial advisers who work with farmers, and advocates who assist agricultural communities across the country.
The 1980s farm crisis serves as a backdrop for these columns, not because there's a one-to-one comparison between then and now. There isn't.
Things are different today, and there are steps that can be taken, by stabilizing markets, breaking up monopolies that control farm inputs and outputs, and moving toward more sustainable farming practices, to avoid disaster.
But what's clear right now is there are lights flashing red in American agriculture and we must pay attention.
There were warning signs before the 1980s farm crisis as well, and they were ignored. Because of that, rural America and the farmers who form the backbone of our very existence were irrevocably changed.
Email USA TODAY columnist Rex Huppke at rhuppke@usatoday.com. You can follow him on Bluesky at @rexhuppke.bsky.social and on Facebook at facebook.com/RexIsAJerk.
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China tests pledge for U.S. farm goods
Analysts say it may need state buyers to meet goal
Ella Cao, Tom Polansek and Lewis Jackson
REUTERS
BEIJING – Chinese buying of U.S. farm goods other than soybeans is on track for a seven-year low this year despite an agreement to purchase billions of dollars in imports, a Reuters analysis of customs data showed, underscoring long-running uncertainties about the deal.
In May, the White House said Beijing agreed to buy \$17 billion of U.S. agricultural goods annually from 2026, with this year's target prorated. Those purchases were on top of a commitment made in October last year to buy U.S. soybeans.
While China is on track to hit its soybean target, it bought just \$7.2 billion worth of the other agricultural goods – from meat to corn – between January and September, the analysis showed. Imports are at their lowest for this period since 2019, at the height of the first trade war.
Whether Beijing is in breach of its commitment is unclear because the White House has not said whether the "Our growers are patriots, but there's a lot of bins of grain full and certainly a desire to see grain trade."
Tim Lust
Chief executive of National Sorghum Producers, an industry group
clock began after the announcement in May or will start once China's proposed tariff cuts have been finalized, which has yet to happen.
The sluggish buying nonetheless deepens doubts about a surge in imports this year, frustrating U.S. farmers who are grappling with high fuel prices.
"Our growers are patriots, but there's a lot of bins of grain full and certainly a desire to see grain trade," said Tim Lust, chief executive of National Sorghum Producers, an industry group. "Beans are trading, but other commodities are not."
The U.S. Department of Agriculture referred questions about the prorating schedule to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. The White House and China's Ministry of Commerce did not
See CHINA, Page 2B
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Indiana's ginseng tradition fades
Fewer diggers hunt for
valuable root in woods
Sophie Hartley
Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY NETWORK
BLOOMINGTON, IN – The folks who show up to Brent Duncan's warehouse after foraging in the woods come bearing herbs, leaves and other wares of the gnarled, vegetal variety. Duncan, an herb dealer, buys and sells nearly 50 different botanical products to customers around the world.
His flashiest specimen is a leafy plant found only in the eastern half of North America.
Diggers sometimes call this herb “sang.” Duncan uses its more formal name, American ginseng. Regardless of the nomenclature, diggers and dealers alike are in the business for the same reason: Ginseng is surprisingly lucrative.
Duncan is one of the middlemen in the U.S. ginseng industry. He helps American ginseng make its way from the forested hills of rural Indiana to homes across East Asia, where ginseng's history of medicinal properties drives a high price. Until late November, Duncan will see an influx of visits from local ginseng diggers, who provide the roots he'll sell.
For years, brokers like Duncan, who inherited the business from his father in 1994, have made a comfortable living profiting off a wild crop once abundant in this country. But the industry is starting to wane.
Once prevalent enough to offer rural people a profitable side hustle, American ginseng is proving harder and harder to find. The plant is considered endangered by a major international trade treaty, and population growth is hampered by its slow-growing nature and unusually specific habitat preferences. Digging ginseng on public land is prohibited, and as more private property gets developed, there are fewer places for ginseng to grow and for harvesters to find it, according to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.
Duncan has processed hundreds of ginseng transactions since Indiana's ginseng season opened in September, but year after year, fewer diggers arrive at his door. When they do come, some transactions involve the transfer of
See GINSENG, Page 2B
Brent Duncan, owner of Duncan's Botanical Products, grabs ginseng Oct. 30 at his warehouse in Bloomington, Indiana.
MYKAL MCELDOWNEY/USA TODAY NETWORK
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Robocalls won't stop 5 years after crackdown
What still
needs to be
done to fix
unwanted calls?
Susan Tompor
Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY NETWORK
It's been five years since a headline-grabbing crackdown on robocalls went into place, and the safest thing to do still is to stop answering all those oddball, unexpected calls. • Just don't do it. • About 21% of people answer phone calls from numbers they don't recognize at least half of the time, according to a survey of 1,696 U.S. adults 18 and older released by AARP in April. And 10% who responded to that survey admitted replying to unknown texts. Worse yet, maybe, 13% accept friend requests on social media from people they do not know.
Unfortunately, many people love the idea of making a connection and pick up the phone no matter who calls. Many times, scammers are hiding behind those texts and calls.
Just don't do it, people.
Robocalls down but plenty of trouble spots remain
Bad guys try to use illegal robocalls to impersonate your bank, threaten to disconnect your electricity or gas, tempt you with debt relief, or impersonate the Internal Revenue Service, Social Security Administration, the FBI and the FTC.
Bank impersonation schemes – where a scammer claims to be from your bank's fraud department – are especially hot.
The risk is that consumers who believe these impersonators will lose money by agreeing to buy gift cards, send money by bitcoin ATM, wire money or hand over cash. Or they might provide sensitive financial information.
We benefit from tougher regulations for robocalls. However, it's far from a belt-and-suspenders kind of a safeguard.
In 2021, major U.S. voice service providers were required to use tech-savvy caller authentication to identify calls and reassure
See CALLS, Page 2B
CHAIRMAN
BRENDAN CARR
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr is being pushed to further strengthen robocall roadblocks to help prevent scammers from using the phone network to make illegal calls. KYLIE COOPER/REUTERS FILE
"IT'S OK. LIFE GOES ON IF YOU DON'T ANSWER EVERY SINGLE PHONE CALL."
TERESA MURRAY,
DIRECTOR OF THE CONSUMER WATCHDOG OFFICE
FOR U.S. PIRG, A NONPROFIT ADVOCACY GROUP
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China
Continued from Page 1B
respond to requests for comment.
Even if buying picks up, weak Chinese demand and stiff competition make the target difficult to meet unless Beijing orders state-owned buyers into action, analysts said.
Consider corn. At its peak in 2021, China imported \$5.6 billion worth of the crop – almost 20 million metric tons. Last month, COFCO Futures, a futures broker affiliated with the Chinese state trader, said U.S. corn was not competitive partly because of ample domestic supply. It forecast imports of about 900,000 tons of U.S. corn for the 2026/27 marketing year, which started in September.
U.S. sorghum shipments to China peaked at 6.5 million metric tons worth \$2.1 billion in 2021 and now face competition from Brazil, which secured access in September 2025. Brazil has shipped 1.7 million metric tons to China so far this year, with nearly 1 million additional tons planned for shipment, said Eduardo Vanin, senior agriculture strategist at Marex.
The United States exported about 3.7 million tons of sorghum to China up to the end of August, government data shows, significantly higher than a year earlier, when trade stalled amid bilateral tensions, but sales have dried up over the past four months.
Chinese imports of U.S. meat, once worth several billion dollars, face similar constraints. Pork and chicken are oversupplied domestically while U.S. beef prices are high because herds have declined.
In addition, beef still faces regulatory barriers despite China renewing export licenses in May for more than 400 U.S. beef plants. About half of U.S. fed-cattle slaughter capacity is ineligible to export to China, according to the U.S. Meat Export Federation. Some plants were barred after Chinese authorities reported finding residues of substances not approved in China, said Joe Schuele, a spokesperson for the federation. Such constraints mean Beijing will probably need to lean on state buyers to meet the \$17 billion target, as it is already doing with soybeans, said analysts. Whether that happens is ultimately a political question, they added.
“Much of this seems to depend on how much China will use state-owned enterprises to do purchases,” said Darin Friedrichs, co-founder of Sitonia Consulting, a China-focused agricultural market intelligence firm.
U.S. sorghum shipments to China peaked at 6.5 million metric tons worth \$2.1 billion in 2021 and now face competition from Brazil, which secured access in September 2025.
ANTOINE BOUREAU/HANS LUCAS/
AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES FILE
Continued from Page 1B
only a few dollars. Other diggers bring in several pounds of ginseng and leave with several thousand dollars.
Watching the industry shrivel provides Duncan with a painful reminder of how Indiana's once-wild areas, where people like his dad used to hunt, trap and forage, are rapidly disappearing.
"It's sad. You're losing a culture," Duncan said. "People want to go out and dig ginseng, but they don't have access to land."
Several Indiana ginseng dealers said their product travels to countries like Taiwan, South Korea and, primarily, China. But it all starts in the hills.
American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) is a small, finicky plant that grows in the forests of the eastern United States. Reaching maturity can take years and requires a perfect recipe of soil moisture, temperature and shade.
The plants can reach over a foot tall, sprouting clusters of shiny green leaves and red berries. Underground, ginseng plants push out a dense root network that resembles those of other taproots like carrots and parsnips. After harvesters dig under and pry up a ginseng plant, many discard most of its leafier features to concentrate on the roots.
American ginseng has been traded overseas since at least the early 18th century, and the industry has long provided rural Americans, especially those living near the Appalachian mountains, a way to make money close to home.
Ginseng has long boasted a medicinal, almost mythical, reputation. For centuries, people in some Asian countries, particularly China, consumed Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng) in tea, pills, extracts and soups. Traditional Chinese medicine considers the herb to be a potent revitalization tonic. While research studies remain inconclusive on claims that ginseng can support immunity, lower blood sugar and reduce inflammation, the herb remains a popular supplement and is sold in drugstores and grocery stores across the United States.
American ginseng is similar enough to its Asian relative that it could readily step in to supply Asia's ginseng needs after overharvesting and extraction left that continent unable to meet demand. And so, an international trade system erupted.
Still, like its Asian counterpart before it, American ginseng has seen declines from harvest pressure. To protect the resource from extinction, the species was placed on the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora list in 1975.
Until recently, the industry has thrived.
The United States exports tens of thousands of pounds of ginseng each year, mostly to China. In 2015, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimated that the country annually exported nearly \$30 million worth of ginseng; recent estimates from trade firms and market researchers suspect that number has ballooned over the last decade.
Brent Duncan, owner of Duncan's Botanical Products, holds several pounds of ginseng Oct. 30 at his warehouse in Bloomington, Indiana. Duncan inherited the business from his father in 1994. MYKAL MCELDOWNNEY/USA TODAY NETWORK
Despite Indiana's shrinking ginseng trade, the state documented more than 1,000 diggers in 2025, who collectively contributed more than 1,000 pounds of exported ginseng. On average, the plant sold for about \$600 a pound.
However, while ginseng might be one of the most lucrative wild plants in the Indiana backcountry, many diggers warn the price per pound sounds better on paper. Acquiring a pound of ginseng is no easy feat and digging is not exactly a get-rich-quick scheme.
“What it comes down to is about \$1.84 per plant,” said Detective Sgt. Trent Stinson, who enforces ginseng regulation through the Indiana Department of Natural Resources’ Law Enforcement division. “Which doesn’t seem very impressive, right?”
When new diggers express an eagerness to cash in on the endangered species, he suggests they try recycling aluminum cans instead.
Some small-scale dealers sell their ginseng to bigger dealers across Indiana, but before any of it can be sold out of state, it must be certified by the DNR.
This season, Terry Manley, one of Indiana's 16 registered dealers, is paying around \$700 a pound for dry ginseng, \$200 for wet. Manley sends his ginseng to a broker in Pennsylvania, who ships it directly to Asia.
Duncan used to export his ginseng directly to Hong Kong, but he stopped in 2016. He wasn't a fan of the paperwork. Now, he ships his ginseng to a broker in New York, who then flies it to Hong Kong, where a network of dealers disseminate it.
While Indiana's ginseng population isn't at immediate risk of extinction, the future of digging and dealing in the state is bleak.
Land access is becoming an acute issue. Ginseng diggers aren't allowed to harvest the plant on public land, where the population is healthy, said Laura Minzes, Indiana's state ginseng coordinator.
Digging on private land can be equally challenging. Diggers must have permission to do so and those who are caught harvesting without permission can face fines or prosecution.
In addition, private land is increasingly devoid of ginseng. Large tracts of forest that used to grow pockets of ginseng have been carved up, sold or developed. Sixteen Indiana counties that likely once had the plant have reported no ginseng harvest for at least two years.
With fewer places to dig, ginseng diggers can inadvertently overharvest familiar forests, leaving nothing behind for future seasons. Duncan thinks some diggers are taking years off and others have given up the hobby altogether.
“They’re either bringing less or they’re not coming in at all,” he said. “We haven’t had a really good ginseng season since probably 2019. That’s when things really started to tail off.”
In 2024, Duncan moved around 600 pounds of ginseng through his warehouse. In 2025, it was closer to 400.
The state has noticed the decline of harvesters, Minzes said. She, too, traces the change back to 2020, when an unusually low statewide harvest total prompted her to start keeping track of how the industry was changing.
"Not nearly as many people were digging," Minzes said. "The harvester population, in general, is getting older. And foraging is not as popular as it used to be."
In 2021, Minzes recorded 2,121 harvesters across the state. In 2025, there were only 1,186. And since 1998, the number of dealers has dwindled by more than 50%.
Those who have stuck with the industry seem to be in it for the long haul. Manley is in his 80s, and he has no plans to stop dealing, despite recent health challenges.
“Mother Nature will get us one of these days, probably,” Manley said. “But in the meantime, we just keep going.”
Duncan, however, said this will be his last year trading herbs out of his warehouse.
He already has plans for retirement: Next fall, he plans to spend a lot more time in the woods, looking for 'sang.
IndyStar's environmental reporting is made possible through the generous support of the nonprofit Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust.
Calls
Continued from Page 1B
consumers that a phone call is real – and not spoofed to appear to be coming from a local area code or well-known business or agency.
The rule change continues to represent a meaningful, regulatory effort.
Many big providers are complying, but plenty of carriers are not, according to U.S. PIRG Education Fund's new report, Ringing in Our Fears 2026.
Only $42\%$ of phone companies know who exactly is making all calls they originate or pass along on their networks, according to the new analysis by U.S. PIRG Education Fund. That's down from $44\%$ in 2025.
Compliance has never reached 50%, according to PIRG, which indicates that the Federal Communications Commission's enforcement has been inconsistent.
The report noted that 11,467 phone companies are registered with the FCC – and 4,853 have completely installed the robocall-fighting software on their entire network but 6,614 phone companies have not.
The FCC did not respond to questions from the Detroit Free Press.
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Billions of unwanted calls
Unwanted calls fell to less than 1.8 billion in the month of September, according to YouMail, one of the largest robocall blocking services. That's down
28% from September 2025 and the lowest level since December 2023.
In September, one of the most annoying calls involved pre-approved debt consolidation loans, according to YouMail. “These campaigns appear to have produced hundreds of millions of calls during the month, originating from tens of thousands of different numbers,” according to YouMail.
We're all getting an average of one unwanted call each day, according to call tracker Hiya.
The online survey of 12,009 consumers – across the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Germany and Spain – was conducted from Dec. 17, 2025, to Jan. 2, 2026, and did not focus only on scam calls. Respondents could also be referring to calls that may be perfectly legal but still unwelcome, like telemarketing, surveys or political calls, according to David Niu, a spokesperson for Hiya. The survey also included both robocalls and live calls.
Interestingly, one in three reported they received an AI deepfake voice call in the past twelve months.
Periodically, of course, we do hear of crackdown efforts. In 2022, a bipartisan coalition of state attorneys general formed the Anti-Robocall Multistate Litigation Task Force to investigate and take legal action against those responsible for routing significant volumes of illegal robocall traffic into and across the United States.
The attorneys general currently are pushing the FCC to further strengthen robocall roadblocks to help prevent scammers from using the U.S. phone network to make illegal calls.
The effort calls for more rigorous “Know Your Upstream Provider” rules that require voice service providers to ensure they receive calls from legitimate and responsible providers and do not regularly route high volumes of illegal calls.
The FCC has announced various crackdown efforts in recent years.
On Oct. 16, the FCC mandated that U.S. voice service providers and intermediate providers block calls from Mexico IP Phone.
According to the FCC, Mexico IP Phone and its CEO, Hemant Kumar Bharti, came to the FCC's attention for seeking direct phone numbering access by filing a forged FCC document and failing to disclose in its Robocall Mitigation Database certification that it was the subject of a State Attorneys General Task Force anti-robocalling investigation.
Yep, we're dealing with a ton of bad actors out there at every turn.
Unfortunately, the PIRG report indicates that when companies don't have the required technology to verify calls, it's far more likely that more robocalls will go through – upping the odds that you could connect with a scammer pretending to be someone from your bank or credit union, the hospital or police department.
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Don't pick up the phone
“It’s OK. Life goes on if you don’t answer every single phone call,” said Teresa Murray, who directs the Consumer
Watchdog office for U.S. PIRG, a non-profit advocacy group.
Murray's top 3 tips:
\- First, if the call is unexpected or marked spam, you're best bet is often not to answer it. If you do, never share personal information with an unexpected caller.
\- Second, recognize that artificial intelligence tools make it easier for crooks to sound just like your mother, or write an email that you could swear came from Bob the CEO. AI also enables fraudsters to do their homework and know far more about you than you'd imagine in order to sound more believable.
\- Third, get a code word. You may need to confirm that someone who appears to be a family member or friend is really talking to you, not some deepfake audio. Like a fire drill in school, Murray suggests that you practice using a code word with friends and family so that you use it when there's uncertainty about a situation or demand for \$1,000 on the spot.
Hiya also suggests using tools available on both iPhone and Android phones to screen or silence calls from unknown numbers. If, by chance, you pick up an spam call and it's a recording, hang up without pressing any buttons or talking. Engaging tells scammers your number is live.
If you think it is your bank, hang up, call back a trusted number on your card or statement.
Never share personal or financial information, experts warn, or one-time passcodes, on a call you didn't expect.
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50★States
ALABAMA Covington County: Conecuh National Forest is among the forests featured in a recent World Atlas list examining national forests where coral snakes live. The snake's presence in Conecuh is notable because Alabama wildlife officials describe the eastern coral snake as rare in the state, with a possible decline linked to habitat loss.
ALASKA Haines: The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities has informed a contractor it could begin mobilizing equipment and preparing the site for the controversial Cascade Point Ferry Terminal project between Haines and Juneau, KHNS reported.
ARIZONA Tempe: As Arizona soaked under thrashing storms during Halloween weekend, Salt River Project released excess rainwater that was filling reservoirs. Up to 403,000 gallons of water per second were sent coursing into the Salt and Verde rivers to relieve the water levels and make room for more storage.
ARKANSAS Hot Springs: Trustees at National Park College approved a merger with the University of Arkansas System, advancing plans to bring the community college under the statewide university network, KARK reported.
COLORADO Windsor: Banner Health is planning to build a \$59 million, 80,000-square-foot Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center in Windsor. The facility is expected to begin construction in late 2026 and open in late 2028, according to Banner.
CONNECTICUT Hartford: The Connecticut State Department of Education reported continued gains in statewide student achievement, with new assessment data showing progress in multiple academic subjects, WTNH reported.
DELAWARE Georgetown: Sussex Technical High School students and district partners will be building a cutaway house within their electrical technologies section of the new school. That's The Raven House, which Sussex County Vocational Technical School District described as the first project of its kind.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Washington: U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, the top Democrat on a subcommittee that oversees aviation regulation, asked government agencies for a full accounting of why they allowed a White House flyover by the presidential airplane in what she said was a “dangerous stunt.”
FLORIDA Jacksonville: The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office is one of four agencies selected for the U.S. Department of Justice's new Model Cities Initiative to combat violent crime and maintain law and order.
GEORGIA Evans: The CSRA Walk for Water, a popular community fund-raiser designed to give participants a glimpse into the struggles millions of people face in finding drinking water, is moving this year. After seven years at SRP Park, this year's event will be Nov. 7 at Evans Towne Center Park, organizers announced.
HAWAII Honolulu: The Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor floating dock replacement project will close the boat ramp through the end of the year as crews install new ADA-compliant docks to replace damaged infrastructure, Hawaii News Now reported.
IDAHO Boise: Micron Technology announced a \$67 million community investment package in Idaho that will fund public transit improvements, affordable housing initiatives, child savings accounts and other workforce-support programs tied to the company's growing presence in the Boise area, KTVB7 reported.
ILLINOIS Springfield: Three years after the state filed a lawsuit against City Water, Light & Power for multiple violations of the EPA and Illinois Pollution Control Board regulations over coal ash dust, the city is still debating over the closure of the ash ponds which caused the suit.
INDIANA Muncie: Ball State University has upgraded its Esports Center with 36 high-end gaming computers and 40 chairs from Corsair, expanding the facility's technology for esports competition, classroom instruction and creative projects.
IOWA Des Moines: More than \$750,000 will be distributed across eight Iowa hospitals to expand a program that aims to prevent opioid addiction, Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird announced.
San Bernardino County Fire Chief Dan Munsey and Seneca Founder and CEO Stuart Landesberg announced the San Bernardino County Fire Department will begin using automated, AI-powered firefighting drones built by Seneca.
PROVIDED BY SENECA
San Bernardino County: The San Bernardino County Fire Department is set to become the first fire agency in California to launch a fleet of automated, AI-powered, foam-spraying drones designed to attack flames in remote and inaccessible places before they get out of control. A strike team of five of the “autonomous suppression aircraft” will soon take to the skies under a contract announced by fire officials and Seneca, the company that built the unmanned aircraft. The drones will be accompanied by a “Mobile Air Operations Base.” Fire Chief Dan Munsey said the goal of the cutting-edge program is to extinguish 90% of fires before they reach more than 10 square feet in size.
KANSAS Wichita: State transportation officials say construction is progressing on a major upgrade of U.S. Highway 83, KSNW reported.
KENTUCKY Wilder: Construction is officially underway on the “new and improved” Bobby Mackey’s Music World location.
LOUISIANA Bossier City: The Bossier Chamber of Commerce marked the fifth anniversary of its NWLA State of the Community Report with a Nov. 2 event in Bossier City focused on Northwest Louisiana's progress and future. This year's report focused on healthcare, energy, transportation, defense, cyber and technology, education and economic development.
MAINE Biddeford: The Biddeford office of U.S. Sen. Susan Collins was vandalized with the words “Blood on her hands” painted outside the building, marking the second incident in just over a month, News Center Maine reported.
MARYLAND Hagerstown: Maryland is investing an additional \$500,000 in the Safer Stronger Together community safety initiative in Hagerstown, Salisbury and East Baltimore to continue youth services and support community organizations. The new funding follows a two-year pilot in the three communities, according to an announcement.
MASSACHUSETTS Boston: A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit by President Donald Trump's administration seeking to force Harvard University to turn over records for an investigation into whether it continues to consider race in its student admissions process.
MICHIGAN Lansing: The Michigan Department of Corrections is tapping artificial intelligence in a bid to more safely house the state's 32,000 inmates amid a rise in prison violence. The plan would use an AI-based system to rank the security risk of inmates from Level 1, the lowest risk, to Level 5, the highest risk, based on numerous factors including the nature of their crimes, assessments by department experts, and how they have behaved in prisons.
MINNESOTA Minneapolis: The Minneapolis City Council voted to eliminate the Office of Community Safety amid debate over the department's effectiveness and management, KARE11 reported.
MISSISSIPPI Jackson: Jackson's airport could trade its two concourses for one, move passengers through a single security checkpoint and give them more places to eat and wait for a flight. That's the plan taking shape after the Jackson Municipal Airport Authority selected a development team. The development team is set to lead a major overhaul of Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport.
MISSOURI Webster County: An audit of Webster County found several areas for officials to improve and ensure taxpayer money is accounted for and protected. According to a State Auditor's Office news release, the audit report gave the county a "fair" rating, the second lowest ranking given in state audits.
MONTANA Helena: The Montana Lottery suspended its Montana Millionaire drawing after system failures disrupted ticket sales statewide, leaving officials to delay the game until technical issues can be resolved and sales data validated, the Daily Montanan reported.
NEBRASKA Lincoln: New revenue forecasts have increased Nebraska's projected budget shortfall for fiscal years 2028 and 2029 to about \$1.2 billion, Nebraska Examiner reported.
NEVADA Reno: The first chair of the Lake Tahoe ski season is set for 9 a.m. Nov. 6. Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe will open for the 2026-27 season with bragging rights to be among the first ski in the country and the first in the West to open.
NEW HAMPSHIRE Durham: Close to 30% of the University of New Hampshire's library print book collection has been designated for possible removal in advance of a multi-phased renovation at Dimond Library.
NEW JERSEY Roxbury: An investigation by the New Jersey Attorney General's Office has found no credible evidence that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents processed detainees inside the ICE warehouse in Roxbury, township officials said. Township Attorney Anthony Bucco confirms, though, that U.S. Department of Justice officials "admitted" to him that on two occasions, detainees were "processed in the parking lot" of the warehouse but "did not go in."
NEW MEXICO Santa Fe: Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has asked President Donald Trump to issue a major disaster declaration following recent flooding that damaged hundreds of homes across the state, KRQE reported.
NEW YORK Bergen: The New York State Department of Transportation has completed a \$2.5 million project replacing the State Route 19 bridge over the Black Creek Overflow in Bergen. The new bridge has an expected service life of 75 years.
NORTH CAROLINA Asheville: Brother Wolf is converting a former retail space into a \$17 million dollar adoption center that will offer on-site veterinary care for rescued animals
NORTH DAKOTA Minot: A state audit found multiple oversight and financial control issues within the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services, prompting recommendations to strengthen accountability and compliance practices, KMOT reported.
OHIO Cincinnati: A Cincinnati judge tossed out the last vestiges of Ohio's "Heartbeat Law," ruling that doctors are not legally required to ask women why they are seeking abortions or to test for fetal cardiac activity.
OKLAHOMA Oklahoma City: An Oklahoma City man has been arrested and accused of sending letters with white powder to election offices across the country as well as to members of Congress, the media, pollsters and the FBI.
OREGON Salem: Oregon anglers will get the chance to catch and harvest a species of rockfish for the first time in two decades if the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Commission approves new regulations. Yelloweye rockfish, which declined to dangerous levels in the early 2000s, have rebounded enough that department staff are proposing a limited recreational and commercial harvest of the fish in 2027.
PENNSYLVANIA Harrisburg: Pennsylvania's measles outbreak has surpassed 1,400 confirmed cases, with hundreds of patients hospitalized and cases now reported across much of the state.
RHODE ISLAND Providence: Recent surveys are showing strong support for public transit, a little more than a year after the largest service cuts in the history of the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority. One such analysis from Rhode Island Voices found that despite a large reliance on personal vehicles for transport, residents want to see public transportation strengthened and become a higher priority for lawmakers.
SOUTH CAROLINA Columbia: With teacher pay generally considered to be low and turnover in the profession is relatively high, South Carolina lawmakers have created a program to provide financial incentives for teachers to stay in public education. The General Assembly has set aside \$10 million for the South Carolina Student Loan Corporation to offer teachers the opportunity to refinance outstanding educational debt to a fixed 2% rate.
SOUTH DAKOTA Rapid City: The Second Century Habitat Fund received nearly \$8 million in federal funding to restore 7,500 acres of South Dakota grasslands while supporting livestock producers through its Working Lands Grassland Recovery Initiative, KOTA reported.
TENNESSEE Jackson: MAT Industries plans to create 85 new jobs as the company expands its manufacturing operation in Jackson, officials announced.
TEXAS El Paso: A girl under the age of 13 is the first flu-related death of the respiratory season, according to the city of El Paso Department of Public Health.
UTAH Bluff: Mayor Josh Ewing said the southeastern Utah community of Bluff faces years of recovery after multiple floods damaged homes, businesses and infrastructure, including a major bridge on Highway 163 that left Bluff and Monument Valley disconnected, KUTV reported.
VERMONT Burlington: Health officials said emergency room and urgent care visits related to tick bites are rising in Vermont, WCAX reported.
VIRGINIA Hopewell: AdvanSix's Hopewell polymer plant has been selected for a proposed \$47.4 million U.S. Department of Agriculture grant to help fund a \$98.1 million project to expand ammonia production used in fertilizer manufacturing, the company announced.
WASHINGTON Bremerton: The Navy is taking longer than anticipated to repair the USS Connecticut, the Sea-wolf-class submarine damaged after striking an uncharted seamount in the South China Sea in October 2021, injuring 11 sailors, and returned to at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard that December. The Navy is now targeting summer 2027 to complete the maintenance and repair work of the Connecticut at the shipyard, spokesperson Catherine Norton said.
WEST VIRGINIA Charleston: Charleston Area Medical Center will receive \$3.9 million from the state to support rural healthcare initiatives focused on increasing access to medical services across West Virginia, WV News reported.
WISCONSIN Madison: A new report from the research arm of the Wisconsin Counties Association cautions policymakers from “misreading” the state’s budget surplus and advises against using the funds for ongoing tax cuts or implementing new programs. The surplus is “a cushion, not a windfall,” the report from Forward Analytics argues.
WYOMING Casper: Prometheus Hyperscale announced that it has canceled its proposed data center project near Casper, WyoFile reported.
From USA TODAY Network and wire reports
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Spirit Halloween stores begin transition to Christmas
Gabe Hauari
USA TODAY
Halloween has come and gone, and Spirit Halloween stores are now beginning to make way for Spirit Christmas.
A spinoff of the popular Halloween-themed stores, Spirit Christmas told USA TODAY in October it will open 44 locations across 15 states this holiday season, from New England to the Great Lakes.
The Christmas-themed concept first opened in 2024 when Spencer Spirit Holdings, parent company of both brands, launched eight locations throughout the Northeast. Last year, the company nearly quadrupled its locations, with 30 stores opening across 12 states.
The company told USA TODAY five stores opened with grand opening celebrations on Oct. 17. The remaining 39 stores were scheduled to open in the first week of November after they transition from Spirit Halloween stores, according to a company spokesperson. A list of locations can be found at spir- itchristmas.com.
"The holidays are so much more than what's under the tree. They're about the traditions families return to year after year and the magic of creating new ones," said Kym Sarkos, executive vice president of Spirit, in a news release. "Spirit Christmas was created to celebrate that feeling."
The brand touts itself as a “one-stop destination for all things Christmas,” including an assortment of holiday decor, inflatables, animatronics, gifts, apparel and stocking stuffers, among other items.
Last year, some locations offered customers the chance to take photos with Santa Claus; however, it is currently unclear if that will be an option this year.
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Yum says Taco Bell on rebound
Cyclosporiasis cases affected chain's sales
Neil J Kanatt
REUTERS
Yum Brands said same-store sales at Taco Bell were recovering after a wider-than-expected decline in the third quarter following a multistate cyclosporiasis outbreak that hurt traffic at the Tex-Mex chain.
Taco Bell has been offering value deals such as its combo boxes to attract inflation-hit consumers in the United States. Executives said on a post-earnings call that such deals were helping attract lower-income households.
The business was first linked to the outbreak in early July, causing a 20% drop in weekly foot traffic at its outlets at the peak of the epidemic, according to Placer.ai.
U.S. health authorities declared the
Taco Bell has been offering value deals such as its combo boxes to attract inflation-hit consumers in the United States. MARIO TAMA/GETTY IMAGES FILE
outbreak was over last month.
Yum said loyalty-program promotions and partnerships were helping it bring back customers, and added that Taco Bell's same-store sales have risen about $1\%$ so far this quarter.
“[Customers are] actually spending 5% more and visiting 6% more frequently than the consumers we lost,” CEO Chris Turner said.
Recovery in the business has been more pronounced among younger consumers, Consumer Edge analyst Michael Gunther said.
Shares of the company, which completed the divestiture of its Pizza Hut chain in September, pared premarket gains and were flat in morning trading.
Taco Bell's same-store sales fell $4\%$ in the reported quarter, its first decline in about six years, missing analysts' expectations for a $0.9\%$ drop, according to data compiled by LSEG.
A focus on value also helped Burger King parent Restaurant Brands International beat sales expectations last week. Bigger rival McDonald's is set to report quarterly results on Nov. 4.
Overall Yum same-store sales were flat from a year earlier, below estimates for 0.9% growth. KFC same-store sales rose 1%, missing expectations for a 2.1% increase.
Yum's adjusted profit per share fell 1.3% to \$1.56, but beat estimates of \$1.49.
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Butterball introduces timer for guests
Device is meant to make
holidays a team effort
Anthony Thompson
USA TODAY
Thanksgiving hosts tired of doing everything themselves may soon have a new way to put their guests to work, without having to ask.
Butterball is introducing the Butterball Buddy, a turkey-shaped gadget that chimes and vibrates to hand out holiday chores. Whoever is holding it could be tasked with setting the table, helping prepare the meal or tackling the dishes.
The retro-style device is meant to make Thanksgiving more of a team effort, with prompts timed to different stages of the celebration. The initial batch of free Butterball Buddies was gobbled up; additional releases are planned for Nov. 9 and Nov. 16 at butterballbuddy.com, while supplies last.
Butterball's new Thanksgiving host helper is a timer that can give whoever is holding it a preprogrammed chore. After the holidays, it can me used as a kitchen timer. PROVIDED BY BUTTERBALL
The idea tackles a familiar Thanksgiving problem. Butterball's 2026 Togetherness Report found that $85\%$ of hosts would prefer guests to offer help, but only $38\%$ actually ask them to pitch in. According to the report, one-third of hosts hesitate to ask guests for help because they don't want to inconvenience them. Another $65\%$ say they would like cleanup help at the push of a button.
The Butterball Buddy essentially does the asking for them, prompting guests to pitch in without leaving the host to delegate every job.
Guests pass the Butterball Buddy from person to person during Thanksgiving. When the device chimes and vibrates, whoever is holding it gets a pre-programmed task. Once the chore is finished, the Buddy is passed to someone else.
The gadget does more than delegate Thanksgiving duties. Its reverse side includes contact information for Butterball's Turkey Talk-Line at 1-800-288-8372. The hot-line offers help with turkey preparation, thawing and cooking questions. The service marks its 45th anniversary in 2026, with more than 50 experts expected to help holiday cooks through Dec. 24.
Butterball also offers turkey cooking, thawing and food safety guidance on its how-to website. After Thanksgiving, the Buddy also can be used as a kitchen timer.
Books ship Nov. 13, 2026.
"America: The Places and Paths That Made Us" pairs these journeys and more with the places where they happened, then shows you what stands there now. Published with USA TODAY for the nation's 250th anniversary, this 160-page hardcover is a keepsake worth holding onto.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Sweet
bluegrass
vibes
Will Stein has Kentucky drunk on football ... basketball season can wait
Matt Jones' experience hosting Kentucky Sports Radio told him to expect a few calls or texts about Kentucky basketball on his Monday morning show after UK's first exhibition game.
Blake
Toppmeyer
Columnist
USA TODAY
NETWORK
Top: Coach Will Stein, celebrating an interception against Vanderbilt, has Kentucky at 7-1 and sixth in the first CFP selection committee's rankings. Bottom: Kentucky QB Brennen Ward runs in for a TD vs. Vanderbilt. JORDAN PRATHER/ IMAGN IMAGES VIA REUTERS
Basketball never sleeps in Kentucky.
It did, however, take a back seat on KSR's airwaves that day. Jones was 37 minutes deep into his show before anyone mentioned basketball.
Jones, his cohosts, and the show's callers and texters had football on the brain.
"It's intoxicating," Jones said on the airwaves that day.
For two hours, the conversation fixated on Will Stein's surging football team that, at the time, was fresh off a win against Oklahoma.
Blue blood became another pelt on the wall for the Big Blue. Now, that's worth discussing.
"On that Monday's show, it would've normally been maybe half football and half basketball, but there was like five minutes (of conversation) on basketball," Jones told USA TODAY Sports. "All anybody wanted to talk about was football. I've never seen it like that."
See KENTUCKY, Page 7C
NFL
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In 1st place, trade target for leaders of division
Jacob Camenker
USA TODAY
The 2026 NFL season is nearing its midpoint and the playoff race is shaping up to be one of the most exciting in recent memory.
Almost every division race remains competitive as the NFL turns its calendar to Week 9. The Jacksonville Jaguars have a three-game lead in the AFC South, but most are separated by just one or two games.
With that in mind, division leaders aren't going to want to stand pat ahead of the league's Nov. 10 trade deadline. Many will need to stay aggressive to keep themselves on top of their power structures, especially in divisions like the AFC North and NFC North, where no teams are below .500 for the season.
What types of trades could these division leaders consider? Here's a look at one trade that each of the division leaders entering Week 9 should consider with the trade deadline drawing nearer.
Buffalo Bills trade target
Arizona Cardinals
edge Josh Sweat
Gregory Rousseau has been a revelation for the Bills this year, racking up seven sacks and 37 pressures – good for the fifth-most leaguewide entering Week 9, per the NFL's Next Gen Stats – across just seven games.
Despite that, the Bills rank just 24th leaguewide in pressure rate, even after bolstering their numbers in a favorable Week 8 matchup against Baltimore Ravens third-string quarterback Joe Fagnano. That's largely because they have struggled to generate pressure across from Rousseau, with No. 2 pass rusher
See TARGET, Page 7C
[COMMENTARY] Can't blame CFP selectors for not trusting Ohio State
Blake Toppmeyer USA TODAY
Buckeyes, are your ears burning?
Because, the College Football Playoff committee is talking about you, and it's nothing good.
Never mind Hunter Yurachek's mealy-mouthed language about Ohio State, because the upshot of the playoff committee's initial rankings is unmistakable: Lose again, Buckeyes, and you're out.
The proof is in the No. 12 ranking.
Can't argue with the committee on this one.
The committee should not – and did not – ignore the truth that Ohio State (6-2) looked deeply damaged in its first full game playing without injured starting quarterback Julian Sayin. Combine backup-turned-starter Luke Fahey with a suddenly crumbling defense and a barrage of penalties, and the Buckeyes put their worst foot forward in a 30-18 loss to previously reeling Southern Cal.
So, despite Ohio State possessing a sturdy strength of schedule, the committee embraced reality. These are not the same Buckeyes who whipped Iowa, beat Indiana, and lost to Texas on the road by a single point.
“They didn’t look like the same Ohio State team this past weekend against Southern Cal,” Yurachek, the committee chairman, said on ESPN, “a Southern Cal team that defensively had not been very good to this point in the season.”
The Buckeyes control their path to the playoff, but that path demands a 4-0 November.
Want to know why Ohio State is ranked eight spots behind Indiana,
See OHIO STATE, Page 3C
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WWT at 20: Bold gamble to lasting legacy
Adam Schupak
Golfweek | USA TODAY Network
Fred Funk had to be convinced to play in the first PGA Tour tournament in Mexico. He won the Mayakoba Golf Classic at El Camaleon in Playa Del Carmen on Feb. 22, 2007. MIKE EHRMANN/GETTY IMAGES
LOS CABOS, Mexico – Twenty years ago, Fred Funk nearly backed out of the first official PGA Tour event played in Mexico.
He had initially committed to play, a major coup for tournament director Larson Segerdahl, who had moved to Mexico in the summer of 2006 to launch an event scheduled for February 2007 opposite the World Golf Championships-Match Play Championship. Without access to the world's top 64 players, Segerdahl needed a proven star to lend credibility to what was then known as the Mayakoba Golf Classic.
Funk, a former Players Championship winner and one of the PGA Tour's most recognizable veterans, fit the bill perfectly.
But doubts crept in after a scouting report from his longtime caddie, Mark Long.
Segerdahl had hired Long, who also produced the yardage books used by many PGA Tour players and caddies. After studying El Camaleón, the Greg Norman-designed course at Mayakoba Resort near Cancun, Long wasn't convinced it suited the shorter-hitting Funk.
On that recommendation alone, Funk called Segerdahl ready to withdraw.
"I've got to pick my spots and maybe this isn't one of them," Funk recalled saying.
Segerdahl had already been promoting Funk's participation and did everything possible to change his mind.
"I remember being like, 'We need you down here, Fred. I know what Mark's telling you, but don't take his word for it. Come see for yourself.' And Fred, being the class act that he is, was open to that. He ended up coming down, and I don't think I could've scripted a better finish for the first event," Segerdahl said.
Funk not only showed up, he delivered one of the most memorable finishes in tournament history.
He holed a 30-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole to force a playoff, then defeated Argentina's José Cóceres with a birdie on the second extra hole. At the par-3 10th, Funk's 5-iron drifted right of the flag toward the water, not exactly where he intended. But it settled safely, and he converted the winning putt for an improbable victory.
Funk was 50 years, 8 months, 12 days old when he went wire-to-wire to win the inaugural tournament, making him the fifth-oldest winner in PGA Tour history at the time.
His victory became a fitting metaphor for the tournament itself.
Many questioned whether a PGA Tour event could succeed in Mexico. Others wondered whether it would survive beyond its initial sponsorship agreement. Yet nearly everyone who took a chance on the event ultimately benefited from doing so. This week, the 20th edition will be held Nov. 5-8 at Diamante's El Cardonal Course, where a plaque to be placed on the first tee was unveiled on Tuesday to commemorate the tournament's success south of the border.
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Mexico event has grown stronger
Today, the tournament known as the World Wide Technology Championship is stronger than ever.
As the tournament celebrates its 20th anniversary, those who helped build it look back on a journey that exceeded anything they imagined possible when the inaugural event teed off in 2007.
What began as an ambitious experiment has evolved into one of Latin America's most significant golf events.
Taylor Ives, executive vice president of events and consulting at Team, the firm which manages the tournament, has been involved in all 20 editions of the championship. He keeps a photo in his office of tournament staff surrounding Funk with the trophy from that inaugural event. "It's a fun reminder of how much the event has grown," he said, "and how styles and hairlines have changed!"
When Brent Geiberger struck the opening tee shot at 6:40 a.m. on Feb. 22, 2007, the game of golf in Mexico took a giant step forward. Few remember where that first ball came to rest, but the moment marked a turning point. For the first time, a full-field official PGA Tour event was contested outside the United States and Canada.
The championship has continued to defy expectations. It has survived sponsor changes, venue changes and industry upheaval while maintaining its place on the tour schedule.
"There were years where we had to piece it together," said Joe Mazzeo, World Wide Technology Championship tournament director since 2013. "It was too good to let it die."
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Mexican representation has grown over years
World Wide Technology assumed title sponsorship in 2021, shepherding the event through another major transition when Mayakoba opted to host an
LIV Golf event. The move required finding a new home, and the tournament found one at Diamante.
Situated at the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula, Los Cabos provided a natural fit, combining a thriving tourism industry with one of North America's premier golf destinations. El Cardonal became the first Tiger Woods-designed course to host a tour event.
When the tournament arrived in 2023, Woods himself visited during tournament week, spending time with First Tee participants on the par-3 course he also designed. For Ives, such moments represent the tournament at its best.
Another example was the launch of Golf for Everyone, a program designed to expose residents to the game. Local professionals conducted clinics throughout the year, giving many participants their first opportunity to swing a golf club. Within five years, more than 500 people were regularly attending monthly sessions.
Perhaps the program's greatest achievement came in 2011 when 1,073 participants gathered on the practice facility at El Camaleón, each occupying a nine-by-nine-foot hitting station, to establish a Guinness World Record for the largest golf lesson ever conducted under the watchful eye of veteran Mexican tour pro Esteban Toledo.
“This was one of the most incredible experiences of my career,” said Toledo.
In the event's earliest years, however, there were limited options when it came to awarding sponsor exemptions to Mexican players.
"The first year it was Esteban and who else can play?" recalled Mazzeo. "Now, it's one of the most challenging decisions we have to make because there are so many talented young Mexican players."
Over the years, participation in golf and the depth of elite talent throughout Mexico and Latin America have grown dramatically. In 2019, a record eight Mexican players competed in the 132-man field. (This week there are five in the 120-man field.) Carlos Ortiz
PGA Tour
World Wide Technology
Championship
Course: El Cardonal at Diamante (Par 72; 7,452 yards) in Los Cabos, Mexico
Purse: \$6 million (winner: \$1.08M)
TV: Nov. 5-8, 3-6 p.m. ET (Golf Channel)
X: @WWTChampionship
Inside the numbers
544,591
Since 2007, that's the total number of competitive strokes that have been played by participants in the event's first 19 years.
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Keep an eye on
\- Ryan Gerard. His ball striking has been dynamite. He's gained the most strokes of any player from tee to green over the last 20 rounds. In his last 27 starts on the PGA Tour, he has recorded eight top-10 finishes compared to his first 53 where he had six.
\- Blades Brown. The 19-year-old sensation earned a promotion to the PGA Tour for the 2027 season. He'll get a chance to show off his talents with another start in the big leagues. He's recorded six top-20 finishes in his last seven starts.
\- Jackson Koivun. The 3M Open winner has performed well in his rookie season on the PGA Tour since turning pro in June, having the second-best scoring average by a rookie this season (68.09). Koivun has scored better on average in his final two rounds (67.44) versus his first two (68.67), over a stroke difference.
recorded the best finish by a Mexican player in tournament history, tying for second that year before finishing runner-up again in 2021.
Ortiz, Abraham Ancer, Oscar Fraustro, Raúl Pereda, Emilio González, and Alvaro Ortiz, who earned his PGA Tour card for the 2027 season, are among the Mexican players who have used opportunities such as these as stepping stones to higher levels of pro golf.
The World Wide Technology Championship also helped pave the way for broader growth throughout the region. When the event debuted in 2007, professional golf opportunities in Mexico were limited. Since then, PGA Tour Americas has been created, the Latin America Amateur Championship was launched through a partnership of Augusta National, the R&A and the USGA, the PGA Tour added the Mexico Open, and multiple Korn Ferry Tour events have been staged throughout Latin America, including the Tulum Championship at PGA Riviera Maya.
“Witnessing golf’s growth in Latin America at all levels serves as a reminder that this is far more than a one-week tournament,” Ives said. “And I look forward to celebrating our first Mexican champion at some point over the next 20 years.”
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MLB proposes delay in salary cap to 2028
Bob Nightengale
USA TODAY
Major League Baseball proposed on Nov. 3 that a salary cap would be delayed by a year and implemented in 2028, permitting teams to operate knowing what the proposed rules would be in the upcoming collective bargaining agreement, which was immediately scorned by the players union.
MLB proposed a \$258.2 million salary cap and a \$180.2 million floor, with MLB projecting that it would require 12 teams to increase payroll by \$636 million to reach the floor, and eight clubs to decrease their payroll by \$528 million to abide by the cap. MLB says that would net an additional \$108 million payroll increase league-wide.
MLB also proposed increasing the minimum salary to \$1 million for players with at least two years' major league service and \$900,000 for those with less service; a \$30 million increase to their pre-arbitration bonus pool, while also agreeing to the union's proposal of lowering free agency from six years to five years for players 30 and older, while eliminating the qualifying offer system for free agents.
The MLBPA fired back in a response later Tuesday afternoon. "Coming off another incredible season of baseball, MLB owners continue to propose blowing up the current system and replacing it with one designed to line their pockets and increase their franchise values," the union said in a prepared statement.
“Even with a so-called ‘transition year’ in 2027, the owners’ latest offer would result in: immediate restrictions to player contract rights; stagnant luxury tax thresholds; a \$400M reduction in amateur signing bonuses; stripping current competitive advantages for smaller market teams; rejection of dozens of player proposals on issues from minimum salaries to revenue sharing to rosters and transactions, and many more,” the union said.
If the salary cap and floor are implemented, the 12 teams that would have to increase payroll would be: the Miami
Marlins, Cleveland Guardians, St. Louis Cardinals, Tampa Bay Rays, Washington Nationals, Chicago White Sox, Minnesota Twins, Colorado Rockies, Pittsburgh Pirates, Athletics, Cincinnati Reds and Milwaukee Brewers.
The clubs that would have to lower their payroll: Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies, Toronto Blue Jays, San Diego Padres, Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs.
The current collective bargaining agreement expires at 11:59 p.m. ET on Dec. 1. If no agreement is reached, MLB is expected to implement a lockout, which happened during their last negotiations in 2021, lasting 99 days.
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Mariners hire 36-year-old manager Jason Kanzler
Gabe Lacques
USA TODAY
The Seattle Mariners opted to go young filling their managerial job, hiring 36-year-old Jason Kanzler to replace Dan Wilson, the club announced Nov. 3.
Kanzler becomes the second-young-est manager in Major League Baseball, behind Washington's Blake Butera, who took over the job at 33 one year ago.
Kanzler
Kanzler was the Chicago Cubs' director of player development since 2024, a period that saw outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong emerge as one of the top players in the game.
In Seattle, he will con-
front a clubhouse with a mix of emerging talent and established stars. The club debuted top prospects like infielders Cole Young – a Gold Glove winner at second base – and Colt Emerson and, later in the season, slugging outfielder Lazaro Montes.
Yet it was the veteran core, most notably 2025 MVP runner-up Cal Raleigh, that disappointed in 2026 and led to Wilson's firing. Raleigh, All-Star outfielder Julio Rodriguez and a deep pitching staff helped lead the Mariners to
Game 7 of the 2025 American League Championship Series before backsliding to a 76-86 record and third-place finish in the AL West.
Kanzler was a major league coach for the Astros in 2022 and '23, a period in which they won the World Series and reached Game 7 of the ALCS.
Kanzler played three seasons as an outfielder in the Twins organization and was a 20th-round pick out of Buffalo.
NFL MVP POWER RANKINGS
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Three picks stop Burrows from overtaking Allen at 1
Jack McKessy
USA TODAY
Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow scores the game-winning touchdown on a 9-yard scramble in a Week 8 defeat of the Titans in overtime.
SAM GREENE/THE ENQUIRER
Eight weeks down, 10 to go and one clear front-runner for the MVP race.
The 2026 regular season is already almost halfway over. The Super Bowl favorites and NFL playoff picture are becoming clearer, and with them, the clarity of who the real contenders are for some of the end-of-season awards.
Plenty of football remains, but as things stand, Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills are standing tall. The 2024 MVP is a massive betting favorite to win a second in three years, and the Bills are the betting favorites to win the AFC.
But power rankings don't directly reflect betting odds. A big week from a player or two can displace the frontrunner, if only briefly. Here's how the full list of 10 players –shakes out before Week 9 (with previous ranks in parentheses):
1. QB Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills (1): Did the intro throw you off? Or maybe it was the promo image from this piece featuring someone else. Either way, sorry about that. Once again, Allen stands at the top of the MVP power rankings. No other player has held the No.1 spot for as many weeks as Allen so far.
He nearly gave up the top spot with a shaky first half against a middling Ravens pass defense: 8-for-19 (42% completion rate) with 112 yards and an interception (plus a rushing touchdown). In the second half, Allen returned to form in a big way. He went 13-for-15 (86.7%) and tossed for 177 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Bills to a third straight win.
Allen is the NFL leader in yards per attempt (8.7) and yards per completion (13.3) and has been responsible for 20 touchdowns this year – 11 passing, nine rushing. He also leads all quarterbacks with 270 rushing yards through seven games.
2. QB Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals (2): If not for his three interceptions in a near-loss to the Tennessee Titans at home, Burrow would have easily taken the top spot on this list. The Bengals quarterback tossed five touchdowns, rushed for a sixth and finished the day with 462 passing yards – his second 400-yard game this season.
Burrow now leads the NFL with 20 passing yards, and his two rushing touchdowns this year – including a game-winner in Week 8 – put him above Allen for the league lead in total touchdowns. His 73% completion rate leads the league, as do his 302.1 passing yards per game.
That said, Burrow's three interceptions in the game let the one-win Titans stick around long enough to force overtime. Tennessee only scored on one of their three possessions that followed those picks thanks to strong defensive efforts, but Burrow doubling his interception total for the season in one game – including one on a horrible underthrow – is too tough a look to excuse.
3. QB Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars (3): One thing about Lawrence this season: He's going to throw multiple touchdowns. Turns out, that's true even when he throws fewer than 15 times.
Jacksonville dominated the Colts in Week 8 for the first of two divisional matchups between the AFC South teams. That meant a lot more rush attempts for the Jaguars' game script, but it didn't stop Lawrence from making an impact with his arm. The former No. 1 overall pick completed 10 of 14 passes (71.4% completion rate) for 210 yards and three touchdowns.
Lawrence couldn't keep up his streak of 300-yard games, but he's now up to three straight games with multiple touchdowns. He's also on a stretch of four multi-touchdown games in his last five outings, and he has five multi-touchdown games in his seven showings this year. That has him leading the NFL in TD% (8.6%) and passer rating (112.6).
4. QB Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers (4): No game for Purdy and the 49ers this week as they enjoyed their bye. That means no change for Purdy in the power rankings as his strong start to the season props him up near the top despite a rough day against the Falcons in Week 7.
Despite his week off, Purdy still leads the NFL in success rate (56.4%), per Pro Football Reference. His 69.2% completion rate is third in the NFL, his 15 touchdowns are tied for fifth, and his 8.3 yards per attempt are tied for fourth. Notably, the 49ers are fourth in points per game through Week 8 and are the current favorites to win the Super Bowl. Not so bad for a former Mr. Irrelevant.
5. QB Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears (7): Williams is surging up the MVP power rankings with every passing week. The Bears quarterback got off to a white-hot start in Week 1 before falling out of the top 10 after a middling Week 2 outing and a hamstring injury. The three games since have been outstanding, and the third-year quarterback is suddenly among the favorites to win MVP.
Williams had two straight 300-yard outings in his return from the hamstring ailment, but he faced a tougher defense in Week 8: the reigning Super Bowl champion Seahawks' "Dark Side" defense. Well, like Atlanta and New England before it, Seattle got torn up by Williams and head coach/offensive play-caller Ben Johnson.
The Bears signal-caller went 24-for-34 on pass attempts – a 70.6% completion rate, his third-best mark this season – for 247 passing yards and a touchdown. Williams became the first quarterback to throw for more than 200 yards against the Seahawks this season in Chicago's big “Monday Night Football” win. The Bears have also shot up the overall NFL power rankings as a result of his excellent play.
6. QB Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs (5): Mahomes and the Chiefs' second straight loss knocked them out of first place, and the two-time MVP slipped down the power rankings. However, Mahomes' 73.2% completion rate, 321 yards, three touchdowns and a season-high 120.1 passer rating meant he didn't fall very far. It was an impressive bounce-back performance for the Chiefs star quarterback after his bad outing against the Seahawks in Week 7.
One interesting trend to watch ahead of the NFL trade deadline is how Tyquan Thornton's absence (ankle injury) has affected Mahomes' ability to throw the deep ball. In the early weeks of the season, Mahomes looked like his vintage self, with his average depth of target (ADOT) sitting at 7.4 yards in those games, per Pro Football Focus. In the three games since Thornton's injury, Mahomes' ADOT was just 5.2.
7. QB Drake Maye, New England Patriots (6): Good teams are supposed to beat lesser opponents, so it was a good sign that Maye and the Patriots took care of the Dolphins after trailing by 10 at the half. The quarterback's steady performance despite the scoring deficit was a big reason why.
Maye finished with a 16 of 20 line (80%) and 199 yards with two touchdowns. He also rushed for a touchdown late in the third quarter to take the lead back for the Patriots. Last year's NFL MVP runner-up has turned things around after an underwhelming start to 2026. He's third in the league in yards per attempt (8.5) and tied for fifth in passing touchdowns (15).
8. RB Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions (9): Gibbs is having a great season through eight weeks, and these last three weeks have been an especially phenomenal stretch. The Lions' rising star running back is up to three straight games with more than 100 rushing yards. In two of the last three games, he has more than 150 yards and a touchdown.
Gibbs' 153 yards on 23 attempts (6.7 yards per attempt) against the Vikings' outstanding defense in Week 8 was a major reason the Lions handed Minnesota its first loss.
After Kenneth Walker and Bijan Robinson dominated the early MVP conversation among non-quarterbacks, Gibbs has taken over the mantle. The Lions' lead back is atop the NFL with 110.4 yards per game and tied for the top spot with 10 touchdowns from scrimmage. His 4.9 yards per carry rank 10th.
9. QB Jared Goff, Detroit Lions (8): Gibbs was Detroit's shining star in Week 8, but Goff had a solid game of his own to complement the run game. Though he threw his first interception of the year, he was otherwise excellent, finishing 18 of 25 (72%) with 176 yards and a touchdown.
Goff has been quietly outstanding this year. His 176 yards were a season-low against the Vikings' top-rated defense in Week 8, but he's still third in the NFL with 280.6 yards per game. Goff also ranks fifth in completion rate (67.7%), is tied for fifth with 15 touchdowns and is fourth in Pro Football Reference's success rate metric (51.5%).
Gibbs' excellence has helped Goff succeed off of play-action passes, as the Lions deploy play fakes at one of the highest rates in the NFL. The Lions' quarterback's lack of eye-popping throws at the rate of Williams or Mahomes, his lack of rushing heroics like Allen, and the exceptionally strong cast of playmakers around him all take away from his MVP case.
10. WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks (not ranked): He's clearly the MVP of his team. Can Smith-Njigba continue to make a case for MVP of the league, becoming the first wide receiver to win the award? His 2026 performance so far is an excellent start. The reigning Offensive Player of the Year is 15 yards shy of 1,000 in just eight games. He's had more than 100 yards in seven out of eight games, and he's scored at least one touchdown in six of those outings.
The Seahawks lost in Week 8 as their offense mustered just 252 yards – yet Smith-Njigba still tallied 118 of those yards. He also scored a touchdown. The “Monday Night Football” loss made it exceptionally clear that Seattle’s offense runs through the young wideout. The Bears limiting Smith-Njigba to start the second half is what allowed Chicago to really pull away as the rest of the Seahawks offense sputtered.
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THURSDAY NFL
Jaguars (5-2) at Ravens (4-4)
Nov. 5, 8:15 p.m. ET, Amazon Prime Video (Jaguars by 9.5)
Key storylines
QB NONE: Lamar Jackson? Out. Tyler Hun-
tley? Out. Joe Fagnano? Also bitten by the injury bug. In other words, if you are within driving distance of M&T Bank Stadium on Thursday night – watch out and check the caller ID. You may be asked to play quarterback for the Ravens. As far as quarterbacks with experience go, Baltimore signed Austin Reed and Kedon Slovis. Jesse Minter might have to spin the QB wheel and hope for the best.
On the road again: In Week 8, the Jaguars played a real home game at EverBank Stadium for the first time since Sept. 27. They had enough time to do some laundry, make sure nothing was out of place and maybe sleep in their own bed for a night or two before packing those bags again. That Week 8 contest was the only true home game for Jacksonville during an eight-week stretch. The Jags' next home game isn't until Nov. 29 (Week 12) against the Titans. That's a lot of luggage.
Show us what you've got, Brian Thomas Jr.: It's the last game before the NFL trade deadline for both teams and perhaps no player is more intriguing than the 2024 first-round pick. Thomas is one player who didn't benefit from Liam Coen's arrival in Jacksonville, falling down the receiver depth chart. He was benched against the Texans in London and hauled in a touchdown against the Colts. His time with the Jags appears to be coming to an end, so will the team give him some extra reps to squeeze some more value out of the trade market?
– USA TODAY Sports' Adam Kaufman, Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz and Nick Brinkerhoff
Ohio State coach Ryan Day talks to Luke Fahey during the QB's first start Oct. 31. ADAM CAIRNS/COLUMBUS DISPATCH
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Ohio State
Continued from Page 1C
despite beating the Hoosiers? I'll tell you what Yurachek couldn't quite put into words. The rankings separation isn't because Ohio State is 6-2 and Indiana is 8-1. It's because Sayin started Ohio State's win against Indiana, and the committee doesn't trust the Buckeyes with the three-star freshman Fahey taking the snaps.
The Buckeyes are out of chances for marquee victories, too. No. 23 Oregon is the only ranked opponent left.
If the Buckeyes lose again with Fahey, that'll reaffirm what the committee already understands: It cannot justify putting three-loss Ohio State in the playoff, unless Sayin makes a miraculous recovery from his arm injury and is back on the field by Thanksgiving weekend.
Ohio State scheduled tough, and the committee offered some hints that it values strength of schedule. (How else to explain Alabama at No. 5, other than its strength of schedule and a dash of Script A bias?) Because of Ohio State's schedule, under normal circumstances, it would join Texas as top contenders to become the playoff's first 9-3 qualifiers, if that's where this season goes. But Sayin's injury altered the script.
Florida State can tell 'em all about how the new script goes.
Three years ago, the committee used quarterback Jordan Travis' injury as justification to reject undefeated Florida State from the four-team playoff.
The playoff committee is not bound by precedent, nor is it stagnant. Committee membership turns over, and yet we detect some parallels between how a past committee treated FSU to how this committee will handle the Buckeyes.
Quarterback injuries matter, especially if the production reverses with the backup.
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NBA POWER RANKINGS
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Sweeping changes, most notable at the top
Lorenzo Reyes
USA TODAY
The NBA paused its action to encourage Americans to vote.
So with no games scheduled for Nov. 3, it offered a bit of a reset to take in the lessons learned from the first two weeks of the 2026-27 regular season.
The good news for teams is that the spate of injuries that ravaged rosters across the league have (mostly) calmed a bit.
And while it's still so very early in the season, the action has led to sweeping changes across the board. Already, there is a new No. 1 team, and a new No. 2 for that matter.
30. Sacramento Kings, 1-6 (-): They're second-to-last on net rating (minus-13.2) and are prime candidates to sell off their assets before the trading deadline.
29. Chicago Bulls, 1-6 (-2): No team plays faster than the Bulls, who lead in pace (105.86), but the offense has been wildly inefficient, with Chicago shooting 41.6%, second-worst in the NBA.
28. Brooklyn Nets, 1-6 (+1): The addition of Julius Randle has not been enough to stabilize the offense, and 3-point defense (15.0 conversions allowed per game) has been another Achilles' heel.
27. Utah Jazz, 1-6 (-3): The Jazz, who were looking to take a step forward, have been one of the more disappointing teams. Utah doesn't force enough turnovers and its transition offense is basically nonexistent.
26. Milwaukee Bucks, 1-6 (−): Tyler Herro has been pretty solid, but too many Bucks players have been far too inconsistent, starting with Kel'el Ware.
25. Los Angeles Clippers, 1-6 (-): The Clippers still are the only team to average at least 20 turnovers per game.
24. Phoenix Suns, 1-4 (-1): They're the only NBA team to have only played five games, but Phoenix has been getting killed on the glass, where they rank 29th in rebounding (39.6 per game).
23. Indiana Pacers, 2-6 (-9): Indiana is banged up, but without Tyrese
Rockets guard Marcus Smart grabs a rebound away from Celtics guard Hugo Gonzalez during the third quarter at Toyota Center on Nov. 2 in Houston.
TROY TAORMINA/IMAGN IMAGES VIA REUTERS
Haliburton, this offense lacks a catalyst and identity.
22. New Orleans Pelicans, 3-4 (+6): Winners of three consecutive, the Pelicans have been a nice story so far and are dominating down low; New Orleans leads the league with 62.6 points in the paint per game ... which is 7.5 points more than the next team.
21. Orlando Magic, 2-5 (-1): Since Paolo Banchero (ankle) and Jalen Suggs (knee) have been out, Orlando has been unable to find consistent offense, and turnovers (17.3 per game; tied for 25th) are a massive issue.
20. Miami Heat, 2-5 (+1): No team is allowing more 3-pointers per game (17.3). The defense has been a nightmare, with players even saying they're not trusting each other on the court.
19. Charlotte Hornets, 3-5 (-2): They've lost four consecutive and the warning sign is an offense that has it drastically underperforming; Charlotte ranks dead last in offensive rating (100.4), which is nearly four full points below the next closest team.
18. Washington Wizards, 4-3 (+1): Are the Wizards finally a player in the Eastern Conference? The early returns on this group look good, but the schedule hasn't exactly been a slog.
17. Denver Nuggets, 3-3 (-5): They look older and slower, but the more curious issue is the sweeping dip across Nikola Jokic's stats: 22.0 points, 9.7 rebounds and 9.0 assists per game.
16. Dallas Mavericks, 4-3 (+2): They have won three of four but became the first team to lose to the previously winless Kings. The Cooper Flagg-Kyrie Irving partnership, however, has been a fun watch.
15. Atlanta Hawks, 4-4 (-): They have had five different leading scorers through eight games and lead the NBA in assists per game (30.6) and assist-to-turnover ratio (2.08). The results have nonetheless been uneven.
14. New York Knicks, 3-4 (-5): Are we in championship hangover territory? The Knicks are a bit of a rarity, ranking dead last in pace (96.5). They've struggled against marquee opponents.
13. Toronto Raptors, 4-3 (−): No team has been hauling in more offensive boards per game (15.3), but losses in three of their last five have stunted their progress up the standings. And they got good news: Kawhi Leonard (knee swelling) might be back soon.
12. Cleveland Cavaliers, 4-3 (-1): They share the ball well and protect it, but the Cavs have had an uneven start to the season. A loss against an extremely shorthanded Thunder team was a missed opportunity.
11. Golden State Warriors, 5-3 (+11): They've won five consecutive, some against top-level teams (Lakers, Timberwolves, Nuggets). And Stephen Curry, at 38, is playing his way into the MVP conversation.
10. Minnesota Timberwolves, 5-3 (-5): Minnesota's two victories this past week were against the Clippers and the Bucks, which is fine. But the Timberwolves will need to show that they can beat some of the league's better teams without Anthony Edwards. The saving grace will be the defense.
9. Memphis Grizzlies, 6-1 (+7): The overtime loss against the Pelicans was a setback, but Memphis remains the biggest surprise in the NBA, and Ty Jerome (28.2 points per game; seventh in the NBA) has been a revelation.
8. Portland Trail Blazers, 5-1 (+2): Losing Ja Morant (hamstring) is certainly a blow, but Portland has been doing a great job on the glass, limiting teams to a 10.0 second-chance points per game.
7. Boston Celtics, 5-2 (+1): The move to add Mitchell Robinson is paying off so far, as pairing him alongside Neemias Queta has Boston ranking third in the league in opponent points in the paint per game (39.4).
6. San Antonio Spurs, 5-2 (−): Recent competition hasn't been as robust, but the Spurs have won five consecutive and are taking care of the ball, ranking second in turnovers per game (13.4).
5. Los Angeles Lakers, 6-2 (+2): Luka Dončić is flaming opponents, averaging an absurd 38.3 points per game and orchestrating the NBA's best offense (121.9 points per 100 possessions).
4. Oklahoma City Thunder, 5-2 (-4): They've dropped two of their last three as the injuries keep piling up. The latest, to Chet Holmgren, means OKC will be without three starters for the foreseeable future.
3. Detroit Pistons, 3-1 (-1): It's rather unfair to drop a team one spot even though it won all three games this past week. This is more about how good the 76ers have been and the quality of opponents Detroit faced. But can the Pistons sustain this level with Duncan Robinson (a career-high 17.9 points per game) as their second-leading scorer?
2. Philadelphia 76ers, 7-1 (+2): Interestingly, it's the defense that has been Philly's strength. The Sixers have the league's third-best defensive rating (105.1 points allowed per 100 possessions).
1. Houston Rockets, 7-1 (+3): They own the NBA's top net rating (+12.8), Alperen Şengün is anchoring the offense and Jabari Smith Jr. is breaking out.
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CFP deciders love SEC in their 1st rankings
Alabama RB EJ Crowell gets into the end zone past Georgia defensive back KJ Bolden for a TD at Bryant Denny Stadium on Oct. 10 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
BUTCH DILL/GETTY IMAGES
Paul Myerberg
USA TODAY
The debut College Football Playoff rankings show the power of being unbeaten.
Miami does not have the wins to match one-loss teams such as Georgia, Indiana and Kentucky, not to mention two-loss contenders such as Texas, Alabama and Tennessee.
But being one of only three unbeaten teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision helped land the Hurricanes at No. 1 in the first rankings of the 2026 season Nov. 3, ahead of No. 2 Georgia, No. 3 Utah and No. 4 Indiana.
Miami has a very good win against No. 16 Wake Forest and two lopsided wins against a pair of opponents with a winning record in Clemson and Pitt. Only two of eight wins have come by a single-digit margin.
The Hurricanes should feel confident in their ability to hold onto the top spot by running the table in the regular season. That quest begins on Nov. 7 with a huge matchup against Notre Dame, ranked No. 11 by the committee, in what could be a playoff eliminator for the Fighting Irish.
Miami, the SEC and Ohio State lead the winners and losers from the first playoff rankings:
Winners
The SEC
While Miami took the top spot, the SEC owned the debut rankings with four teams in the top seven and nine teams overall in the Top 25. After Georgia, the list of ranked SEC teams features No. 5 Alabama, No. 6 Kentucky, No. 7 Texas, No. 10 Ole Miss, No. 13 Tennessee, No. 14 LSU, No. 18 Missouri and No. 21 South Carolina.
That the conference has just two one-loss teams heading into November is a little concerning given that no three-loss team has earned an at-large playoff berth without winning or playing for the conference championship. But having this many teams in the first rankings speaks to how the committee currently views the SEC as the strongest of the Power Four leagues, and rightfully so. Come early December, this perception should overcome playoff history to land at least one and potentially multiple three-loss teams in the bracket.
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Alabama
The biggest type of winner is the many two-loss teams in the SEC. No contender proves that point more than the Crimson Tide, whose rise into the top five was the most stunning single ranking on Tuesday night. Think of it this way: Tennessee dominated Alabama last month but came in eight spots behind the Tide. What buoys Alabama are wins against Kentucky and South Carolina, what was then a ranked win against Mississippi State and a very competitive loss to Georgia. Committee chair Hunter Yurachek noted that win against Mississippi State on the road as a significant plus to the Crimson Tide's résumé because it came when the Bulldogs were unbeaten and quarterback Kamario Taylor was healthy before a season-ending injury. Before Tuesday night, the thought was that Alabama had to win this weekend against LSU to stay alive in the playoff race. But these rankings say that the Tide probably can afford a close loss to the Tigers and remain in the bracket as long as they win out from there.
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Boise State
Unsurprisingly, No. 25 Boise State was the only team from the Group of Six in the rankings. To have any Group of Six team in the debut Top 25 is a little surprising; there were none in the first rankings of last season. But the Broncos have moved into the driver's seat for another playoff appearance thanks to a narrow loss to Oregon and wins against Memphis, Western Michigan and Fresno State. While there's no way to know what Group of Six teams the committee had under consideration, other contenders include Texas-San Antonio, North Dakota State and Memphis.
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The Big Ten
While lacking the overall depth of the SEC, the Big Ten was also rewarded with six teams in the rankings. This group includes several teams on the back end of the Top 25 in No. 19 Iowa, No. 20 Southern Cal and No. 23 Oregon. (The Ducks were one of the bigger surprises in the rankings after posting three losses.) Closer to the top, the conference has the Hoosiers and unbeaten No. 8 UCLA. One thing to keep in mind this month: While this will be a bloody final month for the SEC, with multiple games on the docket between two-loss contenders, the Big Ten has fewer bubble-bursting match-ups in November and could end the regular season with more two-loss teams than the SEC.
Losers
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Notre Dame
Coming in at No. 11 is a total nightmare for Notre Dame, emphasizing the do-or-die aspect of the matchup with Miami. Clearly, a loss on Saturday should end any chance the Fighting Irish have of getting back into the play-off after missing last year's tournament with two losses. The issue is the lack of marquee wins: Wisconsin is the best note on Notre Dame's résumé, which is a serious problem. That has led to additional fallout for No. 9 BYU, which beat the Irish last month. The Cougars hoped to crack the top five largely because of that win, but a loss to Central Florida and close calls against TCU, Iowa State and Arizona State have dinged their reputation.
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Ohio State
Had they won against Southern Cal last Saturday, the Buckeyes would've been in the top three of the rankings and in the debate for No. 1. Instead, Ohio State debuted at No. 12, behind every unbeaten or one-loss Power Four other than Wake Forest and also well behind Texas due to the Longhorns' nonconference win in September. This is rare territory for one of the dominant programs in the country: OSU hadn't been ranked lower than No. 7 at any point in the playoff rankings since being No. 10 on Nov. 18, 2018, and hadn't been this low in the debut rankings since coming in at No. 16 in the first-ever Top 25 on Oct. 26, 2014. (That team won the national championship.)
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Wake Forest
Wake Forest had an argument for being higher based on the good loss to Miami, a win against Louisville and an active four-game run of depleted ACC competition. As one example of a team ahead of the Demon Deacons, LSU has just a single win against a Power Four opponent with a winning record, blowing out Clemson in the season opener. While suggesting that they might tumble out of the rankings with a loss this month, to debut at No. 16 also says the Deacons are in the mix for an at-large spot should they run the table in November with wins against SMU and Duke and play the Hurricanes tight for a second time in the ACC championship game.
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Texas Tech
Meanwhile, No. 15 Texas Tech comes in as the lowest-ranked one-loss Power Four team. There is an argument for the Red Raiders being ranked too low: No. 17 Houston and No. 22 Arizona are very good wins, and they also scored a nice nonconference victory against Oregon State. Tech was also pushed around by Cincinnati, though, and that loss looks worse after the Bearcats were blown out by Utah. More than anything, this first ranking essentially narrows the Red Raiders' playoff path. While messiness in the SEC and Big Ten would change things, Tech might be a team that can only reach the playoff via another conference championship.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL WHAT I'M HEARING ...
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UCLA talking Chesney extension as openings rise
John Brice
USA TODAY
Say this for UCLA: The Bruins fired their athletic director, but they believe they've found their football coach for the foreseeable future.
What does that mean?
It means UCLA officials are in serious discussions with first-year coach Bob Chesney about a contract extension and raise.
Two individuals with direct knowledge of the situation told USA TODAY Sports on Nov. 2 that UCLA and Chesney have held productive talks about a more lucrative deal that would further cement his future with the Bruins while helping ward off potential interest from programs such as Florida State.
The Bruins remain undefeated in Chesney's first season and landed inside the top 12, at No. 8, when the first 2026 College Football Playoff rankings were released Nov. 3.
Bob Chesney's UCLA Bruins are 8-0 in his first season as their head coach. LUKE HALES/GETTY IMAGES
Big 12 officiating errors renew calls for national overhaul
Another week, another controversy, or two or three or four, involving college football officiating.
For the second time in three weeks, the Big 12 was forced to acknowledge its officials botched a ruling involving BYU. On Oct. 17, officials ended the game against Notre Dame at least one second early, with the Irish inside BYU's 10-yard line and in position to attempt a walk-off touchdown.
Most recently, in BYU's 27-20 win against Arizona State, the Cougars were awarded an early touchdown on a play that should have ended at the 2-yard line. BYU fumbled forward, and a different offensive player recovered the ball in the end zone.
The Cougars should have retained possession, but the play should not have resulted in a touchdown.
So, what can be done?
One college executive shared an idea with USA TODAY Sports that has, at minimum, been discussed, even if it remains far from implementation.
“We need a national consortium of top officials,” the executive said. “Rate them, score them and aggregate over a period of time.
"You grade the refs and assign them games and pay them accordingly."
Under that proposal, the highest-rated officials would be assigned to each week's biggest games, most often, though not exclusively, in the Big Ten or SEC.
Those two leagues, according to people who spoke with USA TODAY Sports, pay their officiating crews “substantially more” than either the ACC or Big 12.
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[Chicago at Florida Calgary at Seattle] Calgary at Seattle San Jose at L.A. Kings
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San Jose at L.A. Kings Thursday's Com
Thursday's Games
Vancouver at Winnipeg, 7 p.m.
St. Louis at New Jersey, 7 p.m.
Carolina at N.Y. Islanders, 7 p.m.
Vegas at Detroit, 7 p.m.
Philadelphia at N.Y. Rangers, 7 p.m.
Utah at Montreal, 7 p.m.
Chicago at Tampa Bay, 7 p.m.
Boston at Pittsburgh, 7 p.m.
Dallas at Columbus, 7 p.m.
Anaheim at Edmonton, 8 p.m.
Nashville at Colorado, 9:30 p.m.
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Sports Weekly
in a lower-revenue town, said the conventional, external wisdom. Lose elite talent, try to backfill with leftovers. Yet these Brewers ultimately never bought into that, and in 2026 they cruised through the regular season with the best record and in the postseason kept rolling all the way to the franchise's first World Series championship. We take a look at how they achieved it and their plans to be MLB's next dynasty in a multiple-page look at the Fall Classic. The other pro league championship decided last week was in the WNBA, which was won by the Golden State Valkyries, a 2025 expansion team that "Ballhalla" fans in the Bay Area couldn't get enough of and shows the power of investing in women's sports. We take a look at how Week 9 in college football will affect Week 10 and beyond through the College Football Playoff. We examine the surprising Grizzlies in the NBA and hand out first-month team grades in the NHL. Plus we have NFL Week 9 previews and team-by-team statistics and NFL, NBA and NHL position stat leaders and box scores. You can order the edition at onlinestore.usatoday.com and subscribe to the magazine by going to mysportsweekly.com or by calling 800-872-1415.
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SOCCER
MLS
Eastern Conference |
Eastern Conference | W | L | T | Pts | GF | GA | Nashville | 22 | 3 | 8 | 74 | 69 | 25 | Inter Miami CF | 16 | 6 | 11 | 59 | 77 | 56 | New England | 18 | 11 | 4 | 58 | 55 | 46 | Chicago | 16 | 10 | 7 | 55 | 61 | 50 | Charlotte FC | 15 | 10 | 8 | 53 | 63 | 48 | Philadelphia | 13 | 12 | 8 | 47 | 62 | 51 | Cincinnati | 12 | 11 | 10 | 46 | 67 | 73 | Columbus | 13 | 15 | 5 | 44 | 55 | 49 | Orlando City | 12 | 14 | 7 | 43 | 62 | 78 | NY Red Bulls | 11 | 16 | 6 | 39 | 45 | 62 | NY City FC | 9 | 12 | 12 | 39 | 48 | 45 | Toronto FC | 9 | 12 | 12 | 39 | 51 | 63 | Atlanta | 9 | 18 | 6 | 33 | 43 | 57 | D.C. United | 7 | 14 | 12 | 33 | 39 | 60 | CF Montreal | 6 | 19 | 8 | 26 | 37 | 67 | Western Conference | W | L | T | Pts | GF | GA | Vancouver | 18 | 8 | 7 | 61 | 72 | 34 | FC Dallas | 15 | 8 | 10 | 55 | 59 | 50 | San Jose | 14 | 9 | 10 | 52 | 56 | 48 | Saint Louis | 14 | 10 | 9 | 51 | 58 | 48 | Houston | 14 | 10 | 9 | 51 | 43 | 42 | Los Angeles FC | 12 | 10 | 11 | 47 | 51 | 38 | LA Galaxy | 11 | 11 | 11 | 44 | 49 | 55 | Portland | 12 | 14 | 7 | 43 | 60 | 61 | Colorado | 12 | 14 | 7 | 43 | 46 | 47 | On newsstands: For years, as the Brewers contended with high-profile departures on and off the field while exiting the playoffs in the early rounds, they were defined as much by who was gone as who they had. Such was life | Seattle | 11 | 12 | 10 | 43 | 42 | 45 | Real Salt Lake | 12 | 15 | 6 | 42 | 51 | 51 | Minnesota | 10 | 12 | 11 | 41 | 53 | 57 | San Diego FC | 9 | 13 | 11 | 38 | 57 | 62 | Austin FC | 8 | 15 | 10 | 34 | 42 | 63 | Sporting KC | 6 | 22 | 5 | 23 | 39 | 81 |
A potent storm will move into Canada today, but wet weather will extend along the Eastern Seaboard marking the end of an unusually long dry stretch. Rain will be likely from Wisconsin to New York, while showers dampen the Great Lakes, Northeast and mid-Atlantic. A few thunderstorms will rumble from North Carolina to Florida.
A few showers will dampen Oklahoma and Washington. The rest of the nation will be dry. Temperatures will be near to just below the historical average for this time of year from the Mississippi Valley and the West.
It will remain warm from Maine to Florida. Abundant sunshine will be across the Southwest, while it remains cloudy elsewhere. It will be breezy in the Great Lakes and western Texas.
WORLD CITIES | TODAY | FRI | Beijing | 65/31s | 58/31s | Buenos Aires | 78/63s | 74/52sh | Cancun, Mexico | 89/74sh | 89/73r | Dubai, UAE | 93/78h | 96/78s | Frankfurt | 53/36s | 50/37s | Hong Kong | 87/78t | 87/77pc | Istanbul | 55/47c | 54/46h | Jerusalem | 70/59c | 64/55sh | Johannesburg | 85/61t | 85/61t | London | 52/46c | 53/43c | Mexico City | 79/52pc | 79/52pc | Montreal | 65/51r | 60/45c | Moscow | 40/33sn | 37/29c | Mumbai, India | 97/79h | 98/80s | Paris | 53/41pc | 52/39c | Rio de Janeiro | 89/73t | 80/72t | Rome | 68/53pc | 62/53r | Seoul | 65/36pc | 50/30s | Singapore | 89/78t | 88/78t | Sydney | 72/58sh | 75/59pc | Toronto | 62/51r | 53/41c | Tokyo | 67/62r | 75/58s | ### Kentucky
Continued from Page 1C
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'Never seen the city like this'
You'd need to be a fan of a certain age to remember a Kentucky season quite like this one.
Kentucky is 7-1 and ranked No. 7 in the US LBM Coaches Poll entering a rivalry game at No. 16 Tennessee. Kentucky's strength of record ranks No. 2 in the nation behind only undefeated Miami, according to ESPN metrics.
When you consider the résumé, you'd be entitled to believe Kentucky would be ranked higher if not for its name and its history.
"How do you go earn respect? Go win. That's it," Stein told USA TODAY Sports. "And, soon, people will respect this program."
Buoyed by an overtime win against LSU, Kentucky would possess a compelling College Football Playoff résumé if it wins at least three of its final four games.
Kentucky is finding out what Indiana already experienced: A state crazy about basketball can fall in love with a winning football program.
"I've never seen the city like this, in terms of cheering on the football team like they are right now," senior safety Ty Bryant told USA TODAY Sports.
Bryant is something of an authority on this subject. He's a Lexington, Kentucky, native who previously played for Mark Stoops.
"It just makes me want to continue doing what we're doing," Bryant said of the fan base's energy. "We have to continue to give them something to cheer about."
It's not that Kentucky's never tasted success. Bear Bryant once served an 11-1 season. Fran Curci's Wildcats finished 10-1 in 1977. Stoops twice delivered 10-win seasons.
Each time, the success proved fleeting. A lack of consistency became Kentucky's bugaboo. So, is this sustainable? Ask Stein or his boss that question, and you'll detect nothing but belief.
“It’s completely possible that we can have elite-level football on an annual basis here, that we are in the hunt for championships,” athletic director J Batt told USA TODAY Sports. “That is the goal. I can tell you, Will Stein wouldn’t be here, and I wouldn’t be here, if we
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Target
Continued from Page 1C
Bradley Chubb ranking second on the team with just 1.5 sacks and 19 pressures.
Sweat would go a long way toward improving those numbers. He has three sacks and 19 pressures while playing for a lowly Cardinals defense, and he would get a big-time boost playing across from Rousseau. Sweat had a career-best 12 sacks last season and won Super Bowl 58 with the Philadelphia Eagles, so the 29-year-old would be an ideal organizational fit for the win-now Bills.
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Pittsburgh Steelers trade target Indianapolis Colts WR Josh Downs
The Steelers have been better than expected on offense this season, but they could use extra depth at receiver. Both Michael Pittman Jr. and Roman Wilson are on injured reserve, which has left the Steelers thin behind DK Metcalf and Germie Bernard.
Downs would be a natural fit for the Steelers given his skills as a slot separator. He is averaging 3.2 yards of separation per route run, according to the NFL's Next Gen Stats, which ranks 19th among 73 qualified receivers this season. The 5-foot-9, 171-pounder's ability to get open quickly should mesh well with Aaron Rodgers' current playing style, which relies heavily on the short passing game to keep Pittsburgh's offense on schedule.
The Steelers and Colts already swung a trade involving Pittman during the off-season, so it might not be too difficult for them to agree on compensation to complete a Downs trade.
The Jaguars have sported the NFL's best run defense during the 2026 season, but they have struggled to consistently contain opposing passing attacks. They enter Week 9 having allowed the fourth-most passing yards per game (253.9) and could stand to add some talent to their secondary for that reason.
Baker would be a massive upgrade for Jacksonville's safety room. The didn't think that was a real possibility."
Big Blue Nation is buying in. Kentucky's game against Florida in two weeks will mark a fourth consecutive sellout for an SEC home game. Social media engagement is “through the moon,” Batt said, and Kentucky has already generated thousands of new season-ticket sales for next season. Those new sales include existing season-ticket holders adding more seats, past season-ticket holders returning to the fold, or fans putting in for season tickets for the first time.
It adds to the story, too, that Kentucky is coached by one of its own, a 37-year-old wunderkind who grew up watching Hal Mumme's Air Raid.
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Will Stein's confidence evident 'from a mile away'
The day Bryant met Stein, one unmistakable trait jumped out about Kentucky's new coach.
“I seen he was a confident guy from a mile away,” Bryant said.
You can't lack for moxie when you're coaching a program that ranks 14th out of 16 SEC teams in all-time winning percentage.
History matters less than ever in this era – ask Indiana – but Stein nonetheless knows the history.
Stein's dad played for Kentucky, and he grew up attending games. Stein's childhood memories are painted with scenes of tailgates and time spent around his dad's former teammates at the K House, Kentucky's game-day hub for its past athletes.
Stein attended the Bluegrass Miracle game in 2002, when Nick Saban's LSU Tigers won on a Hail Mary. He rushed the field as a fan in 2007, when Kentucky stunned No. 1 LSU and Les Miles in triple-overtime. LSU went on to win the national championship that season.
That next year, after graduating from Trinity High School in Louisville, Stein became a walk-on quarterback at Louisville, where he started five games throughout his career.
Playing for UK would've been a dream, but the opportunity didn't come. Stein says he harbors no ill will about that.
At Louisville, Stein finished his career playing for Charlie Strong, for whom he'd later work at Texas.
"It all brought me back here to Kentucky, where I dreamt of playing, and
Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert, catching a pass that he'd run in for a TD on Sept. 13, would be a good catch for a division leader like the 49ers.
ERIC HARTLINE/IMAGN IMAGES VIA REUTERS
perennial Pro Bowler is undersized at 5-foot-10, 195 pounds, but he has long been a savvy playmaker with excellent instincts and versatility. This season, he has generated 51 tackles, a career-high 3.5 sacks and an interception despite playing for a leaky Cardinals stop unit.
The only question is about whether the Cardinals will trade Baker, who has been with the team for a decade. But given that Baker is 30 and the Cardinals don't appear to be close to contention, the franchise could part with him if they get a significant enough offer.
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Denver Broncos trade target Philadelphia Eagles TE Dallas Goedert
The Broncos have one of the NFL's deepest rosters, so they don't have many glaring needs. They could swing big for an upgrade at running back, like Jonathan Taylor, but if they can't get him, adding a higher-end tight end to their room would be a solid move.
Evan Engram hasn't developed into the threat many expected he would when he signed with the Broncos before the 2025 season. He, Nate Adkins and Adam Trautman have combined for just 23 catches and 220 yards this season – albeit with four touchdowns – so adding a player like Goedert, who has 26 catches for 258 yards and two touchdowns in six games on his own, could go a long way toward giving Bo Nix another security blanket.
The Eagles have long been rumored to be considering trading Goedert, so obviously it's a dream come true to be the head coach here," Stein said.
Stein's Kentucky roots, his childhood fandom, and his K House memories make for more than a good footnote to this story. Batt considers the coach's roots a legitimate advantage.
“In a time when the window of time you’re afforded to build credibility is compressed, authenticity of leadership is even more important,” Batt said. “Will’s connections to the University of Kentucky, connections to the Commonwealth having grown up here, and just who he is, is very authentic.”
Stein's armed with another quality particularly useful to this era: This guy knows quarterbacks.
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Stein is good with QBs. Kenny Minchey is his latest
As Stein's career took off on a meteoric rise these past few years, he proved himself as an ace QB developer.
What's his secret sauce?
“We don’t just plug a person into the system and hope it works,” Stein said. “We literally mold our system to the player that we have.”
As Texas-San Antonio's offensive coordinator, he leaned into Frank Harris' dual-threat abilities and incorporated a dose of quarterback draws and zone-read plays.
At Oregon, Stein embraced the empty-set formations quarterback Bo Nix favored.
The next year, he served a dose of tempo offense and run-pass option plays suited to Dillon Gabriel. Next came Dante Moore, who was something of a blend of Nix and Gabriel.
At Kentucky, Stein trusts Kenny Minchey's acumen.
“We’re able to put more on him at the line of scrimmage to get us into the best plays possible,” Stein said.
Minchey's wits, plus Stein's belief in his quarterback, and a dash of moxie resulted in Kentucky beating LSU at home, a bit of a throwback to that 2007 game Stein attended as a teenager.
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Awww snap! Kentucky is winning with 2-point conversions
Like most new coaches, Stein leaned into the transfer portal before his first season. His haul ranked among the nation's top-10 transfer classes, according to 247Sports.
Among the newcomers: Minchey,
offloading the 31-year-old in the midst of what looks like a lost season would be sensible. It would also give them a chance to see how second-round rookie Eli Stowers looks in an expanded role.
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New York Giants trade target Tennessee Titans RB Tony Pollard
The Giants are thin at the running back position after releasing Najee Harris and losing Tyrone Tracy Jr. to a hamstring injury. Backfield leader Cam Skattebo came out of the team's Week 7 game with a mild hamstring injury of his own, and John Harbaugh also benched the second-year back earlier in the season as he dealt with fumbling issues.
All of that could lead the Giants to target a reliable veteran at running back. Could that be Jonathan Taylor? Surely, but if the team is confident in Skattebo being its longer-term starter, general manager Joe Schoen may pursue more of a short-term stopgap who can split the workload with the Arizona State product.
Pollard is on pace to log his fifth consecutive 1,000-yard season and has posted a combined 236 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns over his last two games. The 29-year-old will be a free agent after the season, so it wouldn't likely cost too much to pry him away from the 1-6 Titans.
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Minnesota Vikings trade target Indianapolis Colts RB Jonathan Taylor
Taylor will have many suitors on the open market, but no team could use him more than the Vikings.
Minnesota's offense has sputtered this season despite the team's 6-1 record. Notably, the Vikings' Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason-led running game ranks 27th in rushing EPA per play this season, per the NFL's Next Gen Stats. Neither looked particularly sharp against the Detroit Lions in Week 8, and with Jones nursing a nagging knee injury, it would behoove the Vikings to add a high-caliber weapon to their backfield.
Taylor wouldn't just be an instant upgrade for the Vikings. He would also help give Kevin O'Connell's offense a much-needed identity. Minnesota could focus on becoming a ground-and-pound offense that would pair very well with the team's aggressive, attacking-style defense.
who'd been Notre Dame's blue-chip backup.
Throughout Stoops' tenure, Kentucky typically played tough defense, but it ached for better quarterback play. Insert Stein and Minchey, and consider the problem remedied.
Bryant learned two things about Minchey before the season started: He's very smart, and he knows how to improvise.
"The first time I realized, ‘We got something special with this one’ was in the spring," Bryant said. "I came on a blitz off the edge. He changed his arm angle and flicked it out there for a completed pass. I was like, ‘OK, he’s legit.’"
Fast-forward several months, and Stein put the LSU game in Minchey's hands. Stein swiftly held up two fingers after Kentucky scored in overtime. Forget the extra point. He wanted a 2-point conversion and a walk-off win.
Kentucky already had beaten South Carolina when Minchey fired a completion for a 2-point walk-off. What did Bryant think when he learned his coach wanted to run it back with another 2-point walk-off against LSU?
“Awww snap!” Bryant said of his reaction. “In the moment, my heart was beating out of my chest.”
Minchey's got this, so breathe easy.
At the line of scrimmage, Minchey saw LSU's defense aligned with an empty box as the Tigers scrambled to line up against Kentucky's five-wide set. The play wasn't designed to be a quarterback run, but Minchey improvised, kept the ball himself, and ran into the end zone untouched.
Many of Stoops' best wins occurred on the road. So, Kentucky fans welcomed an overdue cathartic moment at Kroger Field.
Just as they did in 2007, fans stormed the field.
“It was just a collective moment of happiness that really this fan base hasn’t had since COVID, in either football or basketball,” said Jones, the radio entrepreneur who’s built a big following in the Bluegrass State.
"I used to always say: No fan base has given more and gotten less than UK football. It's nice to see people get to celebrate some success."
Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network's senior national college football columnist. Listen to his podcast, "College Football Unfiltered." Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on X @btoppmeyer
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Carolina Panthers trade target Philadelphia Eagles CB Riq Woolen
The Panthers have unsurprisingly struggled to defend the pass since their top two cornerbacks, Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson, were placed on injured reserve due to injuries.
Carolina will need to shore up its depth at the position to have a chance to win the wide-open NFC South, so targeting Woolen would be sensible.
Woolen's first season with the Eagles hasn't gone as either party would have hoped, as the 27-year-old has surrendered a career-worst 116.1 passer rating, per Pro Football Focus.
Still, the 6-foot-4, 205-pound cornerback is a freak athlete and spent four years as part of a productive Seattle Seahawks secondary, so there's hope a change of scenery could allow him to bounce back.
The Panthers could also look to target an offensive tackle on the trade market should a starting-caliber player end up on the block. However, that seems unlikely to happen given the dearth of high-end talent at the position league-wide.
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San Francisco 49ers trade target Jacksonville Jaguars WR Brian Thomas Jr.
The 49ers have dealt with a plethora of injuries at receiver this season with players like Deebo Samuel, Ricky Pear-sall and De'Zhaun Stribling all missing extended time.
Mike Evans has largely been up to the task of carrying San Francisco's receiver room, but he was unable to play in the 49ers' lone loss of the season, and it showed in the passing game.
The 49ers need to add healthy depth to their receiver room if only to ensure their offense isn't overly reliant on Evans to carry it.
Targeting someone like Josh Downs could make sense, but if John Lynch wants to swing for the fences, Thomas could be worth chasing.
Thomas has seemingly fallen out of favor in Jacksonville and has not caught more than three passes in a game this season.
Still, Thomas is just two years removed from a rookie campaign when he posted 87 catches, 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns, so maybe a change of scenery would serve him well.
Miami duo's chance for Heisman moment
Austin Curtright
USA TODAY NETWORK
Who's going to have their Heisman Trophy moment?
College football's slate of games in Week 10 is loaded with high-tier ranked games, including No. 1 Miami vs. No. 6 Notre Dame, a matchup with multiple contenders for college football's most prestigious individual award.
The race feels wide open with four weeks left in the regular season. Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith, a frontrunner for several weeks, now appears in jeopardy of winning the award due to the Buckeyes' offensive struggles without starting quarterback Julian Sayin.
Smith was peppered with targets in Ohio State's 30-18 upset loss to Southern Cal in Week 9, but the struggles of true freshman quarterback Luke Fahey could impact Smith's Heisman candidacy.
Darian Mensah, Malachi Toney and CJ Carr could all vault up the Heisman power rankings with strong performances in one of the biggest college football games of the season.
Here's a look at USA TODAY's weekly Heisman Trophy power rankings after Week 9 of the college football season.
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1. Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State (1)
Despite Ohio State's offensive struggles, Smith remains the front runner – for now. He caught 10 passes for 83 yards with a touchdown in the Buckeyes' loss to USC, also breaking the Big Ten record for all-time receiving touchdowns with his 40th.
The 6-foot-4 top-tier NFL prospect is easily one of the best players in college football. If his quarterback can keep getting him the ball at a decent rate – and if Ohio State doesn't completely fall off the tracks – his Heisman candidacy should remain strong.
Smith still ranks second nationally with 1,067 receiving yards this season.
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2. Darian Mensah, Miami (2)
Mensah faces his first test since transferring to Miami. A huge performance in a win over Notre Dame in
Receiver Malachi Toney (1) and Miami avoided an upset by North Carolina in Week 9.
BOB DONNAN/IMAGN IMAGES VIA REUTERS
Week 10, with “College GameDay” in town, could be the last obstacle he has to overcome before becoming the Heisman front-runner.
Mensah ranks eighth nationally with 2,425 passing yards, tied for first nationally with 25 passing touchdowns and tied for second nationally with only one interception.
He also boasts the nation's best QBR at 90.3 this season.
The former Tulane and Duke quarterback is completing 80.7% of his passes this season and Mensah has been dominant in every game against lesser opponents.
It's time to see if he can do it against a team of Notre Dame's stature.
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3. Malachi Toney, Miami (3)
Mensah and Toney have been the best quarterback-receiver duo in college football this season.
As a result, they are both vying for the Heisman in 2026.
Toney has 73 receptions for 1,027 yards and 13 touchdowns this season but has been especially dominant in Miami's last three wins against Florida State, Pitt and North Carolina. He has a ridiculous 34 catches for 433 yards with seven touchdowns during his recent stretch.
If Toney goes ballistic against Notre Dame, maybe it's him that jumps to the top of the Heisman race, not his quarterback.
4. Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss (5)
Ole Miss and Trinidad Chambliss bounced back in a huge way after their loss to Texas in Week 8. Chambliss had a slow start but still completed 22 of 34 passes for 263 yards with two touchdowns to an interception in the win, also rushing seven times for 65 yards with another score.
Chambliss has a chance for another Heisman moment if the Rebels can take down No. 2 Georgia at home in Week 10.
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3. Malachi Toney, Miami (3)
Mensah and Toney have been the best quarterback-receiver duo in college football this season.
As a result, they are both vying for the Heisman in 2026.
Toney has 73 receptions for 1,027 yards and 13 touchdowns this season but has been especially dominant in Miami's last three wins against Florida State, Pitt and North Carolina. He has a ridiculous 34 catches for 433 yards with seven touchdowns during his recent stretch.
If Toney goes ballistic against Notre Dame, maybe it's him that jumps to the top of the Heisman race, not his quarterback.
4. Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss (5)
Ole Miss and Trinidad Chambliss bounced back in a huge way after their loss to Texas in Week 8. Chambliss had a slow start but still completed 22 of 34 passes for 263 yards with two touchdowns to an interception in the win, also rushing seven times for 65 yards with another score.
Chambliss has a chance for another Heisman moment if the Rebels can take down No. 2 Georgia at home in Week 10.
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5. Sam Leavitt, LSU (10)
Sam Leavitt is quietly playing the best football of his career the last two weeks, and is getting healthy for LSU, which is still vying for a berth in the SEC championship game.
Leavitt ranks fourth nationally in QBR at 85.3 and is coming off back-to-back performances with 300 or more total yards with eight total touchdowns and no turnovers. He could earn his biggest win of the season if he and the Tigers defeat Alabama on Nov. 7.
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6. CJ Carr, Notre Dame (9)
CJ Carr was solid enough in Notre Dame's 35-13 win over Navy in Week 9, as he completed 19 of 29 passes for 210 yards with two touchdowns in the win.
Carr and the Fighting Irish only led 14-13 at halftime, which sparked questions. Still, he's having an efficient season for one of college football's top brands and is a huge performance against Miami away from vaulting back into the elite tier of contenders.
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7. Gunner Stockton, Georgia (8)
Like Carr, Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton's Heisman status falls more into the category of being a solid quarterback on a national championship contender than one lighting up scoreboards every week.
Stockton is one of college football's best at operating within an offense, although he didn't do much in Georgia's 27-8 win over Florida in Week 9: The second-year starter completed 13 of 23 passes for 101 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions, while rushing 12 times for 45 yards.
He makes the plays needed to win, and there's something to be said for that trait.
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8. Drew Mestemaker, Oklahoma State (6)
Drew Mestemaker is likely upset with his defense after Oklahoma State's 51-49 loss to Iowa State in Week 9. The potential first quarterback off the board in the 2027 NFL draft passed for 323 yards with five touchdowns in the loss, as the Cowboys defense was torched for 521 total yards.
OSU now has two conference losses, which puts a huge dent in its Big 12 championship chances. It'll be tough for Mestemaker to win the Heisman if OSU keeps losing.
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9. Jesse Legree, Oregon State (4)
Jesse Legree and Oregon State were upset by Fresno State in Week 9, falling 38-22 in the Pac-12 matchup.
Degree had his worst game of his college career, although it says something about how prolific he has been this season given he still had seven receptions for 70 yards in the loss. The true freshman still leads college football with 1,110 receiving yards and 14 receiving touchdowns this season.
He's still on the radar, but his chances of making it to New York take a hit after the loss.
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10. Gio Lopez, Wake Forest (NR)
It's time to start taking Wake Forest seriously, including Gio Lopez. The left-handed quarterback has been outstanding for the Demon Deacons, with 2,176 passing yards and 18 touchdowns to an interception this season. His 84.4 QBR ranks sixth nationally, and he has 317 rushing yards with six scores.
Lopez is a good story, too. He struggled at times last season at North Carolina and was even benched for the ACC bottom-feeder last season. Now, Lopez is near the top of the conference and could push for Heisman contention if Wake Forest keeps winning.
The annual CFDA Fashion Awards brought out the A-list stars and all the gold. Page 2D
His “Back to the Beginning” documentary comes alive again on screen. Page 4D
LIFELINE
DIA DIPASUPIL/GETTY IMAGES FILE
MAKING WAVES
ANGELINA JOLIE, DAUGHTER
Another one of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's children no longer uses their father's surname. Their youngest daughter, an aspiring artist, was granted her petition to change her name from Vivienne Marcheline Jolie-Pitt to Vivienne Marcheline Jolie, according to a Los Angeles Superior Court filing obtained by USA TODAY on Nov. 2. She moved to make the change legal a little more than a week after she turned 18 on July 12, following in the footsteps of three of her older siblings. The notification of her name change request was published, as legally required in California, several times in the Los Angeles Daily Journal throughout July and August.
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IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY WHO'S CELEBRATING TODAY
Hemsworth
Singer-musician Art Garfunkel turns 85. TV personality-businesswoman Kris Jenner, 71. Actor Nestor Serrano, 71. Actor-comedian Mo Gaffney, 68. Actor Robert Patrick, 68.
Singer-musician Bryan Adams, 67.
Actor Tilda Swinton, 66. Actor Tatum O'Neal, 63. Actor Famke Janssen, 62.
Singer-saxophonist Angelo Moore (Fishbone), 61. Actor Judy Reyes, 59.
Actor Sam Rockwell, 58. Actor Seth Gilliam, 58. Guitarist-keyboardist Jonny Greenwood (Radiohead), 55.
Actor Luke Hemsworth, 46. Actor Annet Mahendru, 41. Singer BoA, 40.
Actor-musician Kevin Jonas, 39.
USA TODAY Network
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HOROSCOPE | SANCTUARY More: www.sanctuaryworld.co
Aries (March 21-April 19). Where do others end and you begin? Emotional lines blur, problematically, as the moon and Neptune oppose!
Taurus (April 20-May 20). Reading into a sign? That's fine, as long as you know that prediction is no substitute for practice.
Gemini (May 21-June 21). Confused by a friend's behavior? As the moon and Neptune clash, try not to read too much into it!
Cancer (June 22-July 22). Discouraged by your work? You lack direction as the moon and Neptune oppose, but all isn't lost!
Leo (July 23-Aug. 22). Tempted to gossip? Skip the impulse and spare yourself a headache as the moon and Neptune oppose!
Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Considering giving someone a pass? You might rethink that impulse as the moon and Neptune oppose.
Libra (Sept.23-Oct. 23). Giving your all to help a partner? As the moon and Neptune oppose, ask why you think this person needs “saving”.
Scorpio (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Feeling off-balance? Don't check out! Check IN with your intuition as the moon and Neptune oppose.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Projecting onto a friend? Avoid reading into something they've said or haven't said – as the moon and Neptune clash!
\- as the moon and Neptune clash!
Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Giving off the wrong impression? Avoid bringing a personal issue into your professional sphere today.
Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). What are you trying to communicate? You have lots of ideas, but no real focus as the moon and Neptune oppose.
Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20). Do you trust them? An ally's suspicious behavior gives you pause as the moon and Neptune oppose.
STREAMING
Jaalen Best says the audition process for “The Greatest” lasted about a year. PROVIDED BY BROOKE PALMER/PRIME
'Greatest' champions Ali outside of the ring
Erin Jensen USA TODAY
How does one learn to “float like a butterfly” and “sting like a bee,” especially when they’ve never boxed before? That was the challenge that lay ahead for newcomer Jaalen Best. ● Best, who made his television debut in a role credited simply as “Hot Guy” for “American Horror Stories” in 2022, stars as legendary boxer Muhammad Ali in Prime Video’s “The Greatest” (streaming now). Season 1 opens with Ali winning gold at Rome’s Summer Olympics in 1960 and ends with Ali defeating Sonny Liston (Amin Joseph) for the heavyweight belt on Feb. 25, 1964. In the eight episodes between, it sheds light on the formative bonds with his parents, Cassius Clay Sr. (Omari Hardwick) and Odessa “Bird” Clay (Dana Gourrier), and his younger brother Rudy (Kai Parham). The series also traces the start of his interest in Islam and his early days of his friendship with Malcolm X (Michael Ealy).
The audition process for the biographical series, which is the first blessed by Ali's family, stretched "pretty much a year," 28-year-old Best tells USA TODAY.
Without any experience in the ring, “that audition process was my first time training and learning how to develop that foundation,” he says.
Series creator Ben Watkins, a “lifelong fan” of the boxer with 56 victories (37 by knockout) and only five losses to his name, says he “didn’t want to do the greatest hits” and felt it was important to remind viewers that Ali, born Cassius Clay Jr., “didn’t just come out into the world a fully formed legend.”
In fact, the odds were heavily against Ali before the Liston battle.
“Before the fight, [Ali] had a panic attack,” Watkins explains. But when it was time to fight, “he had somehow summoned an inner resolve where he walked in there and felt impervious, and we get to show
See THE GREATEST, Page 2D
Sonny Liston pushes Cassius Clay, later Muhammad Ali to the ropes during the heavyweight title fight that lasted seven rounds. Clay beat Liston by TKO at the Miami Beach Convention Hall on Feb. 25, 1964 in Miami Beach, Florida.
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BOOKS
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Andy Serkis gets back into Gollum in a different way
Clare Mulroy
USA TODAY
The first time Andy Serkis met Gollum, he was a schoolboy reading J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Hobbit" on the bus.
He remembers feeling marveled by the character and the vivid descriptions of the way he spoke. He remembers feeling swept into Middle-earth. By the time Serkis played him in Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings movies, he knew the creature inside and out.
But in his latest project, 62-year-old Serkis and Gollum aren't on great terms.
"My Pressures" (out now from Mariner) is clever in name and format, a memoir written with some fictional, fantastical flair. Rather than a chronological life retelling, "My Pressures" puts Serkis face-to-face in a tense roundtable with his iconic characters, including Caesar from "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" and Ulysses Klaue from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Serkis opens by voicing his anxieties. His manager wants him to write a memoir, but will anyone care? Does anyone want to hear about anything more than Gollum?
“Whingeing and whining. Who cares about him?” Gollum tells Serkis in a fictional conversation. Just 50 pages in, he already is verbally abusing Serkis. By the end, he’s trying to strangle him: “No one cares about its boring life. No one cares about its other characters, does they?”
Andy Serkis' memoir "My Pressures" mixes fictional techniques. NATHANIAL GARY/USA TODAY
The unique format was the only way he could fathom writing about his life, Serkis says, calling USA TODAY mid-journey home from New Zealand where he was filming “The Hunt for Gollum,” a new Lord of the Rings film scheduled for a December 2027 release. He revisits his early career, relationships and growing up between England and Baghdad, but also picks up a fictitious, magic script featuring a mediation among him and his characters.
“Time is a big theme in the book. And it’s like, why would I spend the time that I’ve got left on this planet reliving a life that I’ve already lived?” he says. “If there was a way of telling a version of my story, it would probably be best if it was seen through the eyes of the characters that I’ve played, because they define a lot of my life. So then it became an interesting proposition … it doesn’t just have to be stories of being on set and ramblings of an older actor.”
This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.
Question: Which characters were you eager to bring back and “meet” and which did you dread having a fictional conversation with?
Answer: Oh, that's a good question. I suppose, obviously, everyone associates me perhaps most with Gollum. I wanted to bring Gollum back, but sort of as an antagonist and as someone I could rub up against. But the character I think I really wanted to give voice to was the one that I really loved the most, which was Caesar. I really do miss him as a character and he sort of became the voice of reason and compassion and sanity in a kind of crazy world.
The character I suppose I least wanted to go back into was a character
See SERKIS, Page 2D
CFDA FASHION AWARDS
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Demi, Pamela, Hailey shine as A-list event takes on golden hue
Anika Reed
USA TODAY
NEW YORK – It was a gold mine of stars – literally.
Dripping in golden gems, brocade, sequins and lamé, celebrities from Zoë Kravitz to Hailey Bieber and Rosé and more were on hand at the CFDA Fashion Awards in New York City to celebrate the gold standard of the fashion industry Monday, Nov. 2, at the American Museum of Natural History.
Host Keke Palmer also glittered in a vintage Bob Mackie gown once worn by Raquel Welch on the red carpet before taking the stage for the event, often called the Oscars of American fashion, which brought together everyone from Pamela Anderson and Demi Moore to Matt Damon, Naomi Osaka and Adriana Lima on the Upper West Side.
The night before the midterm elections, fashion's biggest names and its behind-the-scenes talent found out the results of their votes for the best names in design.
Jamaican-American designer Rachel Scott, who won one of the night's top prizes, womenswear designer of the year, for her work at her brand Diotima, used her acceptance speech to issue a call to action ahead of Election Day.
"It's very unusual that someone like me can stand in a space like this, and in a world where independent and marginalized voices are systematically quieted, I feel extremely lucky and very, very responsible," Scott said. "And we have a lot more work to do, starting tomorrow morning.
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What is the CFDA Fashion Awards? One of fashion's biggest nights
But before Election Day, the fashionable attendees elected to have a good time in a diverse room of skills, from models and designers to business owners and pattern makers to musicians, Oscar winners, Olympians and Victoria's Secret Angels. The stars' polka dots, feathers and fur rivaled that of the taxidermy animals in glass casings throughout the night at the museum.
Image architect Law Roach sauntered by Moore and Emmy Rossum, deep in conversation, as Damon and his daughter Isabella took their seats early on. Shaboozey works the room all night, schmoozing alongside Becky G at the cocktail hour before the festivities kicked off and smiling for the cameras next to Donatella Versace. Megan Thee Stallion hugged Coi Leray and sat alongside Lila Moss and Coco Jones, later snapping a big group selfie with Palmer, Chloe Bailey, Brandy, Monica, Leray and Jones.
Julia Fox, Monica and Brandy made a fashionable entrance after the first speech by CFDA chairman Thom Browne, while Lola Tung, Elle Fanning and Adriana Lima also sneaked in as attendees tucked into dinner: a festive chicken pot pie topped with puff pastry shaped like animals, including butterflies, bears and whale tails.
This marks the first CFDA Fashion Awards since the group's longtime president and CEO Steven Kolb stepped down in September. The abrupt end to Kolb's tenure came after he was seen grabbing and restraining PETA protesters off the runway at the COS show during New York Fashion Week. He issued a statement before announcing his resignation after 20 years heading the CFDA, days after the videos of him circulated across social media.
Hailey Bieber, left, and Rosé attend the 2026 CFDA Fashion Awards on Nov. 2 in New York City.
PROVIDED BY MATTEO PRANDONI/BFA.COM
Designers from the organization's board, including Thom Browne, Tory Burch, Ralph Lauren and Michael Kors, were in attendance (and celebrated) Monday night.
Damon joined Denim Tears founder Tremaine Emory to present the menswear designer award to Lauren, 87, who was on hand to receive an ovation. Burch accepted the positive change honor, while Instagram's fashion partnerships leader and former Teen Vogue and Lucky magazine editor Eva Chen earned the media award.
Rappers Future and Travis Scott slipped out early before the final awards of the night, which went to designer Susan Cianciolo (the Isabel Toledo Board of Directors Tribute), photographer duo Inez and Vinoodh (the Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award) and Linda Fargo (the Founder's Award in Honor of Eleanor Lambert).
Where previous years have had notable celebs such as A\$AP Rocky or Naomi Campbell receiving the Fashion Icon honor, this year the title went to architect Peter Marino, who is the force behind designing spaces and boutiques for Armani, Calvin Klein, Chanel, Dior, Louis Vuitton and Barneys New York.
Jewelry designer Ana Khouri surprised with the accessory designer win, and the Google Shopping emerging designer of the year honor went to newcomer Colleen Allen.
Bieber, Kravitz and Rosé sparkled as a trio to present the international designer of the year award to Anthony Vaccarello, who recently stepped down from Saint Laurent after 10 years as creative director.
Moore also took to the stage to present Gap Inc. and creative director Zac Posen with the Innovation Award Presented by Amazon Fashion, recalling sharing an iconic brand moment with her daughter.
"In 1990, I stood in front of a camera for Gap in a cropped denim jacket. And then years later, my daughter Rumer re-created that very same look for Gap. I love that something so simple as a denim jacket could become this beautiful little thread between us, connecting generations," Moore said.
Contributing: Morgan Evans, USA TODAY
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Serkis
Continued from Page 1D
called Ian Brady (from “Longford”) who was a serial killer. That was a very dark character to have to climb into in the first place.
It gets pretty physical. I mean, Gollum tries to kill you.
A lot of the characters that I've played are very physical characters, so I wanted there to be this constant wrangling between them, that they were vying for supremacy.
And having me caught in the middle of this sort of discussion about how they were going to voice Andy Serkis. Who was going to own me?
Going back in time and reflecting on your childhood and early career, what foreshadowed the character actor you'd one day become?
As an actor, you spend so much time constructing a backstory, constructing a life for a character. I had to almost treat it as doing that for myself in a way, and kind of go back and go, well, what are the salient points here? What are the touchstone moments? What are the sliding doors moments?
I do remember it clearly (when I was 5 years old), our neighbors, these two elderly ladies, who had this dog, Shandy, and me asking them to take me for a walk on a lead with their dog. I can't quite believe I did that, but I did.
Seeing a young Andy Serkis walking around your neighborhood on all fours – I can imagine that's someone's dinner party story.
I'm sure there are people out there that witnessed that and thought, what a little strange boy. I don't know if I mentioned this ... it was about the doggy treats, because they gave these little chocolate buttons to their dog, Shandy, after the walk. And I think that was probably part of what I was after, really.
Your character research has since turned more sophisticated, even if it was just frightening hikers while you practiced your Gollum in New Zealand caves. But you've also observed gorillas in Rwanda and learned knife techniques from chefs. Is there anything you're dying to research that you haven't gotten to yet?
I've never really played a political character. I've never really played someone whose job it is to be in government.
I would love to spend time in government or in a particular party being around a table, a cabinet. Being around government and really, really spending a lot of time in that world, I think, would be fascinating.
With so much preparation into the physical, emotional and mental state of these characters, do you ever have a hard time getting out of their heads?
I've always believed and I still do believe that you're always altered by the characters that you played as an actor, that you learn something either about yourself or the world that changes your worldview. Sometimes decompressing from a character can take a long time.
I think you are kind of chemically changed in some way. You are tricking your body and your mind and your head and your psyche to fit this other being. I have to say, as I've got older and I've got more responsibilities and I'm doing other things I'm able to drop out of it much quicker because you have to.
But I still believe that you don't entirely shed them, that you are sort of a receptacle for all of these different ideologies and ways of thinking and ways of being and the most random things will come back years later and actually affect another character that you don't like.
Can you share an example?
The character of DogBoy (in April de Angelis' stage play "Hush"), which really was a very close cousin of Gollum. He was one of the characters that I did a huge deep dive into and so kind of the schizophrenic nature of that character that I played on stage really did inform the early stages of getting back into thinking about how we would work on Gollum.
You're fresh off of filming "The Hunt for Gollum." What was it like getting back into him?
He's probably a character that will never, ever leave me and has never left me over the course of the last 26 years or whatever. That's certainly what I wanted to bring out in the book, that there are some characters that will keep returning, and I don't suspect that Gollum will ever leave me, quite frankly.
But obviously this was a different journey. This was not just playing that character, but also directing the movie. So it was a huge number.
People always want you to talk about Gollum. You hint at this a few times in the book. Your characters say it to you, your wife says it to you. You have this funny anecdote where a cab driver says he feels bad that people will only ever know you for Gollum. How does that make you feel?
I adore that character, obviously, you know, he's been a huge part of my life and so it's a love-hate relationship.
He's a huge source of rediscovery, actually. That's what's been so interesting. He's a huge source of kind of going back in and thinking you know what you're doing and then actually finding something new and fresh.
Without going into it, because I don't want to talk too much about “The Hunt for Gollum” because that'll be next year, but it has been really exciting this time around. It's really exciting to go back in and revisit him in more depth. I do love and hate him.
You write that you initially felt othered on the “Lord of the Rings” set because you were motion capture acting. These types of performances are historically left out of award runs. Where do you feel we are about it now?
What I love about performance capture is the fact that any actor can play anything and you are driving that character, you're physically driving that character. You've created the emotional center of the character. There's no doubt that there are a whole team of artists who also work on that character. But then filmmaking is a collaborative endeavor, and any actor in any film isn't just their performance, it's the way that they're lit, it's the way that they're costumed. It's the way that they're made up with makeup.
If you have prosthetic makeup and you look entirely different somehow, that's still acting, but performance capture still isn't accepted as acting. My beef is that people don't accept performance capture as acting. I mean, it's a basic thing. It couldn't be a more pure form of acting.
So it is still sort of discriminated against. There is definitely a greater understanding of it, but it's still not... I mean, it's a simple request. It's acting. That's all it is.
That's all I wish – not it be anything special or require special awards or it require special treatment. I just want actors on set, whether you're wearing a motion capture suit or a costume, to be treated exactly the same because we are doing exactly the same job.
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The Greatest
Continued from Page 1D
that.
"A lot of people don't even know that he was that nervous, a 22-year-old kid about to fight someone that is indestructible, and there were literally journalists who thought he might die in that fight."
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How Best prepared to play Ali
To get into fighting shape, Best followed a “very restricted” diet, studying Ali’s technique in his fights and analyzing interviews to perfect his voice and mannerisms. He also worked with boxing trainer Rob Salley.
"It was repetition after repetition for a year-and-a-half, [a] long process for me," says Best.
"It was just nice when we [were] able to start training together in Toronto, learning choreography. And even there, we would continue to grow and learn."
While filming in Toronto, Best says he and onscreen foe Joseph would watch fight footage. “We had to mimic exactly what we’d seen, in the actual fights, in real life,” Best says.
"He was a well-tuned Ferrari," Joseph, 46, recalls of his costar. "I just knew I needed to be in fighter shape. I needed to stay healthy. I needed not to hit the Ferrari and mess up our lead... But he was the one, he always was that racehorse that I was always trying to be as good as."
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Lonnie Ali and ‘game-changing’ involvement in ‘The Greatest’
Yolanda “Lonnie” Ali, who was married to Muhammad Ali from 1986 until his death from septic shock at age 74 in 2016, lends her expertise an executive producer on the series. She believes Best’s efforts and portrayal would be pleasing to her late husband.
"He would be so proud of Jaalen as a young actor, a young man, and he would tell him he nailed it," Lonnie Ali says, before joking, "He would still tell him, 'You're not as pretty as me.'
Lonnie Ali's participation in the series was "game-changing," Watkins says.
Lonnie and Muhammad Ali greet the press in Washington, DC in 2001.
MIKE THEILER/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES
Though Lonnie Ali and Muhammad Ali wed in 1986, when she was 29, they knew each other much longer.
A picture by Steve Schapiro in 1963 shows Muhammad Ali, then 21, entertaining the local children at his parents' house in Louisville.
In the image, Lonnie Ali, then 6, locks eyes with the neighborhood hero. Their mothers also were friends.
“Lonnie herself was there many times on set,” Gourrier, 47, says, “and she would always impart knowledge, always impart stories.
"She would always talk about each of [the family members] individually and collectively as a family, and she really was a wealth of information.
"It's like our own personal Clay family encyclopedia right there on set with us."
Lonnie Ali's reactions also provided Best with a sense of reassurance, which helped calm his nerves as a young actor on set.
He recalls seeing her at the monitors after a take, “and she’s smiling or she’s crying or she’s just laughing because she’s getting to truly experience young Cassius Clay, that’s a very refreshing thing.”
And though Lonnie Ali was involved as an executive producer, she is uncertain about how much of her husband's story will unfold in the television series.
Future seasons likely will show Muhammad Ali's Parkinson's diagnosis, which was revealed in 1984, "because that was one of the biggest fights of his life," Lonnie Ali says.
“Somebody of his physicality, but to walk it with dignity and grace the way he did it,” she adds.
Ultimately, Lonnie Ali, says, “I think wherever it ends, it won’t be enough.”
By David L. Hoyt and Russell L. Hoyt
Now arrange the circled letters to form the surprise answer, as suggested by the above cartoon. | CLUES | SOLUTIONS | 1 draining (9) | _ | 2 candy cover (7) | _ | 3 F1 pros (7) | _ | 4 feigning (6) | _ | 5 “flattened spaghetti” (8) | _ | 6 Turkish strait (8) | _ | 7 sounds of a sleepover (7) | _ |
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USA TODAY CROSSWORD
EDITED Amie Walker
BY Heather Stanger McIntire
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[OPENING ACT] ACROSS
1 Word after "happy" or "rush"
5 \_\_/her pronouns
8 Not us
12 Get hyped
14 Triumphed
15 "They're the \_\_ of my existence"
16 "Single \_\_ (Put a Ring on It)"
18 Tiny farm inhabitant
19 Spanish for "Miss" (Abbr.)
20 Phone feature often used for selfies
23 "Have we \_\_\_\_?"
24 Pack down
25 Blunder
27 Performer that inspired the "Blackfish" documentary
29 "Preach!"
30 Injection that smooths lines
32 Final
35 Place to do some surfing?
38 Annual exam performed by a general practitioner
1. Each row and column must contain the numbers 1 through 4 without repeating.
YESTERDAY'S SOLUTION
Trademark KenKen, LLC Distributed by Andrews McMeel
2. The numbers within the heavily outlined boxes, called cages, must combine using the given operation (in any order) to produce the target numbers in the top-left corners.
1. Each row and column must contain the numbers 1 through 4 without repeating.
YESTERDAY'S SOLUTION
Trademark KenKen, LLC Distributed by Andrews McMeel
2. The numbers within the heavily outlined boxes, called cages, must combine using the given operation (in any order) to produce the target numbers in the top-left corners.
Enter the missing numbers from 1 to 16 without repetitions so that the sum of the four numbers in each row and column is the same as the corresponding circled number.
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Words
WORD ROUNDUP
By David L. Hoyt and Jeff Knurek
Find and Circle:
Find and Circle:
Seven water-loving birds
Three mammals starting with M
Three types of TV shows
Three four-letter flowers
Three six-letter colors
Wednesday's answer: CHICAGO AMADEUS ROCKY CRASH
ARGO CODA / AMERICAN UNITED DELTA / AFRICA EUROPE ASIA /
WYOMING OREGON IDAHO / HYENA LLAMA PUMA
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[QUICKCROSS] By John Wilmes
11/5
QUICKCROSS ON YOUR PHONE
puzzles.usatoday.com | D | P | S | P | O | R | T | S | L | I | Y | I | U | E | L | G | Y | E | L | L | O | W | N | M | C | L | N | S | H | M | I | N | K | D | O | C | K | I | L | G | E | Y | M | R | I | L | V | R | M | C | G | O | R | O | S | G | E | I | D | A | M | A | R | O | N | S | O | G | L | M | L | N | G | N | R | S | N | S | W | A | N | F | N | E | W | S | E | M |
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UP & DOWN WORDS | 1. MORNING | 2. | 3. | 4. | 5. | 6. | 7. | FORM | Clues: |
Wednesday's Answer | 1. Venus, sometimes | CREDIT | CARD | 2. Celebrity appeal | CARD | SHARK | 3. Electricity producer | SHARK | TANK | 4. Garden fertilizer | TANK | TOP | 5. Mall dining area | TOP | SECRET | 6. Judge's directive | SECRET | AGENT | 7. Purchasing document | AGENT | SMITH |
Basketball player Charles Barkley thinks about the game.
Rearrange the words to complete the quote.
BETWEEN GOES GOOD IF NOT ONLY SHOT
Wednesday's Answer: "I always pass on good advice. It is the only thing to do with it. It is never any use to oneself." - Oscar Wilde
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7 LITTLE WORDS
Find the 7 words to match the 7 clues. The numbers in parentheses represent the number of letters in each solution. Each letter combination can be used only once, but all letter combinations will be necessary to complete the puzzle.
USA TODAY BEST-SELLING BOOKS BOOKLIST.USATODAY.COM
□ Rank this week □ Rank last week |
| TITLE/AUTHOR | PUBLISHER | GENRE | C | 1 | n/a | A Court of Splintered Harmony: The Valkyrie Cycle, Movement I/Maas, Sarah J. | Bloomsbury Publishing | NF | 2 | 1 | Fight or Flight (Diary of a Wimpy Kid #21): Volume 21/Kinney, Jeff | Amulet Books | Humorous Stories | F | 3 | n/a | The Hollow: A Harry Bosch Novel/Connelly, Michael | Little Brown and Company | Thrillers - Crime | F | 4 | 9 | The Witch (Deluxe Edition)/McFadden, Freida | Poisoned Pen Press | Thrillers - Suspense | F | 5 | 6 | Theo of Golden/Levi, Allen | Atria Books | Literary | F | 6 | n/a | Public Access Afterworld/Schoenbrun, Jane | Hogarth Press | Friendship | F | 7 | 3 | Threshing Day (Wing and Claw Collection)/Yarros, Rebecca | Entangled: Red Tower Books | Romance - Fantasy | F | 8 | n/a | Once Upon a Broken Heart Collector's Edition: [Limited Stenciled Edge Edition]/Garber, Stephanie | Flatiron Books | Fairy Tales & Folklore - General | F | 9 | 5 | Simply Ina A Barefoot Contessa Cookbook/Garten, Ina | Clarkson Potter Publishers | NF | 10 | n/a | Heated Rivalry (Deluxe Limited Edition): Now Streaming on Crave and HBO Max (Reissue)/Reid, Rachel | Harlequin | Friendship | F | 11 | 21 | Murdle: Volume 1: 100 Elementary to Impossible Mysteries to Solve Using Logic, Skill, and the Power of Deduction/Karber, G. T. | St. Martin's Griffin | Logic & Brain Teasers | NF | 12 | 13 | The French Illusion/Grisham, John | Doubleday Books | Thrillers - Suspense | F | 13 | n/a | The New Social Code: Five Relational Edges That Outperform Algorithms/Arena, Michael | Wiley | Personal Success | NF | 14 | 72 | A Court of Thorns and Roses/Maas, Sarah J. | Bloomsbury Publishing | Fantasy - Epic | F | 15 | n/a | Original Food: Recapturing the Joy of Eating/Zakarian, Geoffrey | Wiley | Personal Growth - General | NF | 16 | 17 | Dungeon Crawler Carl/Dinniman, Matt | Ace Books | Fantasy - Action & Adventure | F | 17 | n/a | Simple Kitchen Magic: Whole-Food Recipes and Remedies for a Holistic Life: A Cookbook/Moyer, Rebekah | DK Publishing | Health & Healing - General | NF | 18 | 23 | Contend: Standing Boldly for Biblical Truth While Winning the War Within/Mitchell, Philip Anthony | Thomas Nelson | Christian Living - Spiritual Growth | NF | 19 | n/a | The Long Game (Deluxe Limited Edition): Now Streaming on Crave and HBO Max (Reissue)/Reid, Rachel | Harlequin | Small Town & Rural | F | 20 | n/a | Witch Hat Atelier: Grimoire Edition 1/Shirahama, Kamome | Kodansha Comics | Fantasy | NF | 21 | 147 | Andy's Bravo Scrapbook: Twenty Years Behind the Scenes of the Real Housewives and the Bravoverse/Cohen, Andy | Andy Cohen Books | Television | NF | 22 | n/a | Role Model (Deluxe Limited Edition): Now Streaming on Crave and HBO Max (Reissue)/Reid, Rachel | Harlequin | Small Town & Rural | F | 23 | 35 | Murdoku: 80 Murder Mystery Logic Puzzles / Garand, Manuel | Puzzlewright Press | Logic & Brain Teasers | NF | 24 | n/a | Into the Quiet: Following Jesus in a World of Noise/Comer, John Mark | Waterbrook Press | Christian Living - Spiritual Growth | NF | 25 | n/a | Game Changer (Deluxe Limited Edition): Now Streaming on Crave and HBO Max (Reissue)/Reid, Rachel | Harlequin | Small Town & Rural | F |
| TITLE/AUTHOR | PUBLISHER | GENRE | C | 26 | 4 | A Married Little Christmas (Deluxe Edition)/Jimenez, Abby | Forever | Romance - Romantic Comedy | F | 27 | 24 | The Calamity Club/Stockett, Kathryn | Spiegel & Grau | Literary | F | 28 | 2 | Miss Wolcott's Ghost/Penny, Louise | Minotaur Books | Mystery & Detective - Traditional | F | 29 | 19 | Threshing Day (Standard Edition)/Yarros, Rebecca | Entangled: Red Tower Books | Romance - Fantasy | F | 30 | n/a | The Keeper (Deluxe Edition)/Huang, Ana | Bloom Books | Romance - New Adult | F | 31 | n/a | Tough Guy (Deluxe Limited Edition): Now Streaming on Crave and HBO Max (Reissue)/Reid, Rachel | Harlequin | Romance - Sports | F | 32 | n/a | A Crimson Ridge Christmas: Deluxe Limited Edition/Rose, Elliott | Kensington Publishing Corp | Romance - Western | F | 33 | 58 | Vibe: The Secrets of Strong Connections in a Lonely World/Grant, Adam | Viking | Personal Growth - General | NF | 34 | 29 | Red Rising/Brown, Pierce | Del Rey Books | Action & Adventure | F | 35 | 40 | Peck & Peck/Garmus, Bonnie | Scribner Book Company | Humorous - General | F | 36 | 32 | The Killer Isn't Alice: The Bestselling Murder Mystery Puzzle Book - 46,600 Suspects, 1 Killer. Can You Solve the Crime?/Starling, Iris | Little Brown and Company | Logic & Brain Teasers | NF | 37 | 83 | Mad Mabel/Hepworth, Sally | St. Martin's Press | Women | F | 38 | 16 | Partita/Kingsolver, Barbara | Harper | Literary | F | 39 | n/a | This Is a Door/Nayeri, Daniel | Stonefruit Studio | Action & Adventure - General | F | 40 | 34 | Pirate Queen/Lawhon, Ariel | Doubleday Books | NF | 41 | n/a | Common Goal (Deluxe Limited Edition): Now Streaming on Crave and HBO Max (Reissue)/Reid, Rachel | Harlequin | Romance - Sports | F | 42 | n/a | The Summer Hikaru Died, Vol. 8/Mokumokuren | Yen Press | Manga - School Life | NF | 43 | 31 | Verity/Hoover, Colleen | Grand Central Publishing | Women | F | 44 | 46 | The Dungeon Anarchist's Cookbook/Dinniman, Matt | Ace Books | Fantasy - Action & Adventure | F | 45 | 71 | Wildwood/Meloy, Colin | Balzer & Bray/Harperteen | Action & Adventure - General | F | 46 | 76 | Between Two Fires/Buehlman, Christopher | Tor Nightfire | Thrillers - Suspense | F | 47 | 43 | Rowley Jefferson's Awesome Friendly Spooky Stories 2: From the Creator of Diary of a Wimpy Kid/Kinney, Jeff | Amulet Books | Humorous Stories | F | 48 | 49 | Yesteryear/Burke, Caro Claire | Knopf Publishing Group | Feminist | F | 49 | 75 | Fruit Fly/Silver, Josh | Crooked Lane Books | Thrillers - Suspense | F | 50 | 8 | The Family Cross: An Alex Cross Thriller/Patterson, James | Little Brown and Company | Thrillers - Suspense | F | WHAT AMERICA'S READING® The book list appears every Thursday. You also can find it at booklist.usatoday.com. Each week, USA TODAY collects sales data from booksellers representing a variety of outlets: bookstore chains, independent bookstores, mass merchandisers and online retailers. Using that data, we determine the 150 top-selling titles of the week.
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USA TODAY BEST-SELLING BOOKS BOOKLIST.USATODAY.COM
□ Rank this week □ Rank last week |
| TITLE/AUTHOR | PUBLISHER | GENRE | C | 1 | n/a | A Court of Splintered Harmony: The Valkyrie Cycle, Movement I/Maas, Sarah J. | Bloomsbury Publishing | NF | 2 | 1 | Fight or Flight (Diary of a Wimpy Kid #21): Volume 21/Kinney, Jeff | Amulet Books | Humorous Stories | F | 3 | n/a | The Hollow: A Harry Bosch Novel/Connelly, Michael | Little Brown and Company | Thrillers - Crime | F | 4 | 9 | The Witch (Deluxe Edition)/McFadden, Freida | Poisoned Pen Press | Thrillers - Suspense | F | 5 | 6 | Theo of Golden/Levi, Allen | Atria Books | Literary | F | 6 | n/a | Public Access Afterworld/Schoenbrun, Jane | Hogarth Press | Friendship | F | 7 | 3 | Threshing Day (Wing and Claw Collection)/Yarros, Rebecca | Entangled: Red Tower Books | Romance - Fantasy | F | 8 | n/a | Once Upon a Broken Heart Collector's Edition: [Limited Stenciled Edge Edition]/Garber, Stephanie | Flatiron Books | Fairy Tales & Folklore - General | F | 9 | 5 | Simply Ina A Barefoot Contessa Cookbook/Garten, Ina | Clarkson Potter Publishers | NF | 10 | n/a | Heated Rivalry (Deluxe Limited Edition): Now Streaming on Crave and HBO Max (Reissue)/Reid, Rachel | Harlequin | Friendship | F | 11 | 21 | Murdle: Volume 1: 100 Elementary to Impossible Mysteries to Solve Using Logic, Skill, and the Power of Deduction/Karber, G. T. | St. Martin's Griffin | Logic & Brain Teasers | NF | 12 | 13 | The French Illusion/Grisham, John | Doubleday Books | Thrillers - Suspense | F | 13 | n/a | The New Social Code: Five Relational Edges That Outperform Algorithms/Arena, Michael | Wiley | Personal Success | NF | 14 | 72 | A Court of Thorns and Roses/Maas, Sarah J. | Bloomsbury Publishing | Fantasy - Epic | F | 15 | n/a | Original Food: Recapturing the Joy of Eating/Zakarian, Geoffrey | Wiley | Personal Growth - General | NF | 16 | 17 | Dungeon Crawler Carl/Dinniman, Matt | Ace Books | Fantasy - Action & Adventure | F | 17 | n/a | Simple Kitchen Magic: Whole-Food Recipes and Remedies for a Holistic Life: A Cookbook/Moyer, Rebekah | DK Publishing | Health & Healing - General | NF | 18 | 23 | Contend: Standing Boldly for Biblical Truth While Winning the War Within/Mitchell, Philip Anthony | Thomas Nelson | Christian Living - Spiritual Growth | NF | 19 | n/a | The Long Game (Deluxe Limited Edition): Now Streaming on Crave and HBO Max (Reissue)/Reid, Rachel | Harlequin | Small Town & Rural | F | 20 | n/a | Witch Hat Atelier: Grimoire Edition 1/Shirahama, Kamome | Kodansha Comics | Fantasy | NF | 21 | 147 | Andy's Bravo Scrapbook: Twenty Years Behind the Scenes of the Real Housewives and the Bravoverse/Cohen, Andy | Andy Cohen Books | Television | NF | 22 | n/a | Role Model (Deluxe Limited Edition): Now Streaming on Crave and HBO Max (Reissue)/Reid, Rachel | Harlequin | Small Town & Rural | F | 23 | 35 | Murdoku: 80 Murder Mystery Logic Puzzles / Garand, Manuel | Puzzlewright Press | Logic & Brain Teasers | NF | 24 | n/a | Into the Quiet: Following Jesus in a World of Noise/Comer, John Mark | Waterbrook Press | Christian Living - Spiritual Growth | NF | 25 | n/a | Game Changer (Deluxe Limited Edition): Now Streaming on Crave and HBO Max (Reissue)/Reid, Rachel | Harlequin | Small Town & Rural | F |
| TITLE/AUTHOR | PUBLISHER | GENRE | C | 26 | 4 | A Married Little Christmas (Deluxe Edition)/Jimenez, Abby | Forever | Romance - Romantic Comedy | F | 27 | 24 | The Calamity Club/Stockett, Kathryn | Spiegel & Grau | Literary | F | 28 | 2 | Miss Wolcott's Ghost/Penny, Louise | Minotaur Books | Mystery & Detective - Traditional | F | 29 | 19 | Threshing Day (Standard Edition)/Yarros, Rebecca | Entangled: Red Tower Books | Romance - Fantasy | F | 30 | n/a | The Keeper (Deluxe Edition)/Huang, Ana | Bloom Books | Romance - New Adult | F | 31 | n/a | Tough Guy (Deluxe Limited Edition): Now Streaming on Crave and HBO Max (Reissue)/Reid, Rachel | Harlequin | Romance - Sports | F | 32 | n/a | A Crimson Ridge Christmas: Deluxe Limited Edition/Rose, Elliott | Kensington Publishing Corp | Romance - Western | F | 33 | 58 | Vibe: The Secrets of Strong Connections in a Lonely World/Grant, Adam | Viking | Personal Growth - General | NF | 34 | 29 | Red Rising/Brown, Pierce | Del Rey Books | Action & Adventure | F | 35 | 40 | Peck & Peck/Garmus, Bonnie | Scribner Book Company | Humorous - General | F | 36 | 32 | The Killer Isn't Alice: The Bestselling Murder Mystery Puzzle Book - 46,600 Suspects, 1 Killer. Can You Solve the Crime?/Starling, Iris | Little Brown and Company | Logic & Brain Teasers | NF | 37 | 83 | Mad Mabel/Hepworth, Sally | St. Martin's Press | Women | F | 38 | 16 | Partita/Kingsolver, Barbara | Harper | Literary | F | 39 | n/a | This Is a Door/Nayeri, Daniel | Stonefruit Studio | Action & Adventure - General | F | 40 | 34 | Pirate Queen/Lawhon, Ariel | Doubleday Books | NF | 41 | n/a | Common Goal (Deluxe Limited Edition): Now Streaming on Crave and HBO Max (Reissue)/Reid, Rachel | Harlequin | Romance - Sports | F | 42 | n/a | The Summer Hikaru Died, Vol. 8/Mokumokuren | Yen Press | Manga - School Life | NF | 43 | 31 | Verity/Hoover, Colleen | Grand Central Publishing | Women | F | 44 | 46 | The Dungeon Anarchist's Cookbook/Dinniman, Matt | Ace Books | Fantasy - Action & Adventure | F | 45 | 71 | Wildwood/Meloy, Colin | Balzer & Bray/Harperteen | Action & Adventure - General | F | 46 | 76 | Between Two Fires/Buehlman, Christopher | Tor Nightfire | Thrillers - Suspense | F | 47 | 43 | Rowley Jefferson's Awesome Friendly Spooky Stories 2: From the Creator of Diary of a Wimpy Kid/Kinney, Jeff | Amulet Books | Humorous Stories | F | 48 | 49 | Yesteryear/Burke, Caro Claire | Knopf Publishing Group | Feminist | F | 49 | 75 | Fruit Fly/Silver, Josh | Crooked Lane Books | Thrillers - Suspense | F | 50 | 8 | The Family Cross: An Alex Cross Thriller/Patterson, James | Little Brown and Company | Thrillers - Suspense | F | WHAT AMERICA'S READING® The book list appears every Thursday. You also can find it at booklist.usatoday.com. Each week, USA TODAY collects sales data from booksellers representing a variety of outlets: bookstore chains, independent bookstores, mass merchandisers and online retailers. Using that data, we determine the 150 top-selling titles of the week.
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[MUSIC NEWS & VIEWS] Ozzy's final concert comes alive in new film
Melissa Ruggieri
Ozzy Osbourne has a blast with Black Sabbath at the “Ozzy & Black Sabbath: Back to the Beginning” concert in Birmingham, England, July 5, 2025, just 17 days before he died. PROVIDED BY TRAFALGAR RELEASING
USA TODAY
A mere 17 days before he died, Ozzy Osbourne sat on his gothic throne adorned with black skulls and bat wings and proclaimed, “Let the madness begin!”
The Back to the Beginning concert at Villa Park in Osbourne's hometown of Birmingham, England, on July 5 2025, was initiated by wife Sharon, who wanted her rock icon of a husband to revel in the roar of the crowd a final time both as a solo star and with his origin band, Black Sabbath.
More than 3 million fans pursued the 44,000 available tickets for a show jammed with hard rock royalty including Metallica, Anthrax, Guns N' Roses, Alice in Chains, Lamb of God, Mastodon and Pantera.
A concert documentary, “Ozzy Osbourne & Black Sabbath: Back to the Beginning,” in theaters for a limited time, condenses the 10-hour marathon of madness into just under 2 ½ hours.
Music director and curator Tom Morello says in one of the film's backstage glimpses that he didn't want it "to be like a European metal festival." Instead, he corralled a few iterations of Tom Morello's All-Stars (Steven Tyler, Ronnie Wood, Travis Barker, Yungblud, Chad Smith, Nuno Bettencourt, Sammy Hagar, Andrew Watt, Billy Corgan) to shred and blitz through an assortment of Black Sabbath and Osbourne favorites.
A soundtrack from the concert will be released Dec. 11 on CD, vinyl and digitally as well as 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray (pre-orders are available now, as well as Osbourne's performance of "Mr. Crowley"). A deluxe box set with an expanded track list, memorabilia and a Blu-ray of the 35 Osbourne and Black Sabbath songs performed will be released in April (pre-orders also available now).
Here are highlights from the film, which will play theaters for a varying number of days depending on market.
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Ozzy Osbourne, Black Sabbath
Obviously the kingpin of this shindig was its namesake. With eyes ringed in raccoon black and sporting a long black coat with a gold armband emblazoned with "Ozzy," Osbourne clearly absorbed the love and adrenaline of the crowd as he clutched the mic, his left leg swaying as he stayed seated while singing “I Don’t Know.”
While he didn't always sound robust and the use of a Teleprompter was obvious, Osbourne had a blast as he told the crowd to "go nuts" during "Crazy Train."
Along with his own songs, Osbourne was reunited for the first time since 2005 with Sabbath mates Tony Iommi (guitar), Geezer Butler (bass) and a shirtless Bill Ward (drums) for a slate of songs including “N.I.B.” “Paranoid” and “Iron Man,” the latter spurring thousands of metal horns hand signals in the air.
The film ends with Osbourne's touching “Mama I'm Coming Home,” which is made all the more poignant by his son Jack Osbourne's voiceover paired with vintage footage of him and sister Kelly onstage with Osbourne as kids.
“He felt complete,” Jack said of the joy his father felt after the event, making Osbourne’s July 22, 2025 death no less shocking, but at least more centered.
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Yungblud
The British punk rocker has been a favorite of Sharon Osbourne's – he won his first Grammy this year for his cover of Black Sabbath's “Changes” – and it's easy to see why she views him as a savior of rock.
Calling the invite to perform at the concert “an absolute fever dream,” the charismatic singer, clad in a black suit and tie and hot pink socks, brought theatricality to his rendition of “Changes.” The crowd relished the performance as they sang along with little prompting.
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Tom Morello's All Stars, 'Bark at the Moon'
The collection of Ghost frontman Papa V Perpetua, guitarists Vernon Reid and Bettencourt, keyboardist Adam Wakeman, bassist Rudy Sarzo and drummer Barker rip-roared through the 1983 singalong. It's impossible to look away from Papa V in his ghoulish mask and slick silver jacket. It's also impossible not to want to break into air guitar just watching Bettencourt and Reid trade riffs.
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Danny Carey, Chad Smith, Travis Barker, 'Symptom of the Universe'
This trio of heavy hitters adds a wallop of a coda to the 1975 Sabbath slammer with spotlight drum solos. With three kits across the back of the stage, the threesome take turns walloping so hard that Smith's leg flails in the air.
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Tom Morello's All Stars, 'Train Kept A-Rollin'
As Barker battered his snare drum to introduce the 1974 Aerosmith classic (by way of jazz and blues musician Tiny Bradshaw in 1951), Tyler, bedecked in his usual flair of trench coat and scarf-adorned mic stand strolled out with trademark swagger.
With Morello, Bettencourt, Wyatt, Sarzo and Wood pumping the strings, Tyler strutted and smiled, even hitting a few high notes as he scampered around the stage with his musical pals.
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NATION&WORLD EXTRA
ELECTIONS 2026
Supporters in Austin react after media outlets projected Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico's victory on Nov. 3. MIKE SEGAR/REUTERS
President Donald Trump had cast the midterm elections as a referendum on the first half of his second four-year stint in the White House.
EVAN VUCCI/REUTERS
Mississippi Democratic Senate candidate Scott Colom speaks in Jackson, Mississippi, Nov. 4. The race remains uncalled. ROGELIO V. SOLIS/GETTY IMAGES
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Party's resounding midterm victory could set up 2 years of deadlock in Washington
Gram Slattery, David Morgan and Jason Lange
REUTERS
WASHINGTON – Democrats vowed on Nov. 4 to use their resounding midterm victory to rein in President Donald Trump, setting up two years of possible deadlock in Washington, as Trump spent his first post-election appearance showing off his under-construction White House ballroom.
A wave of anger over Trump's policies, particularly the U.S.-Iran war's role in pushing the cost of living higher, helped Democrats take the Senate, where they flipped seats in deeply Republican states for a majority of at least 54-44, and the House of Representatives, where they gained at least 28 seats.
It will be the first time that Trump, a Republican who also held the White House from 2017 to 2021, has had to contend with a Democratic-controlled Congress.
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said the incoming majority will be focused on affordability and accountability.
"We don't work for Donald Trump," Jeffries, a New York lawmaker who is on track to become the first Black speaker of the House, told reporters on Nov. 4. "We work for the American people. And the days of the House of Representatives functioning like a wholly owned subsidiary of the Trump administration are over."
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'For me, it's relaxing'
Trump, who had devoted his last preelection public appearance on Nov. 2 to talking about his renovations of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, called in
See MIDTERM, Page 4NN
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer takes questions from reporters in Washington on Nov. 4 after Democrats successfully flipped both the House and Senate. TOM BRENNER/GETTY IMAGES
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said the new majority will be focused on affordability and accountability. KEVIN DIETSCH/GETTY IMAGES
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How Democrats expanded map and won in rural U.S.
Discontent grew after tariffs, war lifted prices
Leah Douglas and Yasmeen Abutaleb
REUTERS
A Democratic Party fundraiser in Warren County, Iowa, in October 2025 was so crowded that local party chair Jim Culbert found himself ordering pizza after the food ran out.
"If we don't have enough food, that's a good problem," he recalled telling volunteers.
The big turnout offered an early glimpse of the mounting Democratic enthusiasm in rural America – traditionally a stronghold of President Donald Trump's Republican Party. A year later, it would help propel Democrats to sweeping victories in the Nov. 3 midterm elections.
Democrats flipped House, Senate and gubernatorial seats in rural Republican strongholds including in Iowa, Kansas, Texas and Wisconsin, where farmers have been hard hit by Trump's global tariff campaign and high fuel prices caused by the Iran war. Hispanic voters, who surveys identified as particularly critical of Trump's deportation campaign and the rising cost of living, swung roughly 40 points toward Democrats in the
See RURAL, Page 5NN
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Vance repudiates Iran war after GOP midterm defeat
Trump says ‘I would have done it again’
Phil Stewart and Erin Banco and Nandita Bose and Humeyra Pamuk
REUTERS
WASHINGTON – Vice President JD Vance distanced himself from President Donald Trump's war on Iran on Wednesday, questioning whether it was worth the cost and blaming it for Republicans' election losses that handed Democrats control of both chambers of Congress.
Vance's extraordinary remarks in a post on X could further complicate Trump's deliberations as he weighs whether to restart major combat operations against Iran, a step U.S. officials have told Reuters is still under consideration.
They also raise questions about the political fortunes of senior Pentagon officials, most notably Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Trump has described Hegseth as an early advocate for the war.
Hegseth has also faced fierce criticism from members of Congress.
"The reason we lost is the war," Vance said on X. "If you'd like to argue it was worth it, that losing the Senate for the next 6 years was worth it, then do so."
See VANCE, Page 5NN
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NATIONAL SUMMARY
In the digital e-edition, you can click anywhere on the US map to get up-to-date forecasts, radar, MinuteCast® and more.
AccuWeather
As a storm moves into Canada, rain will stretch from the Upper Midwest to the Northeast today. Showers will extend southward along the Atlantic Seaboard to Florida. A few showers will also dampen Oklahoma and Washington state. The rest of the nation will be dry, with high temperatures near to below early-November 30-year averages.
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NATIONAL SUMMARY
In the digital e-edition, you can click anywhere on the US map to get up-to-date forecasts, radar, MinuteCast® and more.
AccuWeather
As a storm moves into Canada, rain will stretch from the Upper Midwest to the Northeast today. Showers will extend southward along the Atlantic Seaboard to Florida. A few showers will also dampen Oklahoma and Washington state. The rest of the nation will be dry, with high temperatures near to below early-November 30-year averages.
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NATIONAL SUMMARY
In the digital e-edition, you can click anywhere on the US map to get up-to-date forecasts, radar, MinuteCast® and more.
AccuWeather
As a storm moves into Canada, rain will stretch from the Upper Midwest to the Northeast today. Showers will extend southward along the Atlantic Seaboard to Florida. A few showers will also dampen Oklahoma and Washington state. The rest of the nation will be dry, with high temperatures near to below early-November 30-year averages.
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WEDNESDAY EXTREMES
NATIONAL (for the 48 contiguous states) | High: | 90 at Falfurrias, TX | Low: | 16 at Burns, OR | Precip: | 3.40" at Portland, TN | NATIONAL CITIES THURSDAY
INTERNATIONAL (excludes Antarctica) | High: | 117 at Mandora, Australia | Low: | -36 at Toko, Russia | Precip: | 3.62" at Kakinada, India | Cooperstown, N.Y., home of baseball's Hall of Fame, entered the “weather hall of fame” on Nov. 5, 1971, with its third-latest first frost on record. The cold made only a short stop. Record warmth rallied in December.
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TODAY IN HISTORY
Q: What is the record low temperature for the lower 48 states in November?
WEATHER TRIVIA™ | High/low/W | Air Quality | Aberdeen, SD | 44/26/s | 20 | Abilene, TX | 76/46/pc | 43 | Accomac, VA | 73/63/sh | 31 | Adrian, MI | 57/43/c | 25 | Akron, OH | 63/48/pc | 25 | Alamogordo, NM | 70/40/pc | 40 | Alexandria, VA | 76/63/sh | 44 | Alliance, OH | 62/51/c | 25 | Amarillo, TX | 54/35/s | 25 | Ames, IA | 52/38/c | 25 | Anderson, SC | 75/61/sh | 40 | Appleton, WI | 52/38/r | 25 | Asheville, NC | 73/52/sh | 40 | Ashland, OH | 60/50/pc | 25 | Athens, GA | 76/61/sh | 31 | Augusta, GA | 82/66/sh | 31 | Austin, TX | 81/56/pc | 75 | Bartlesville, OK | 63/40/sh | 55 | Battle Creek, MI | 54/41/c | 25 | Bedford, IN | 63/47/pc | 45 | Binghamton, NY | 68/50/r | 23 | Bluffton, SC | 78/67/t | 26 | Bremerton, WA | 56/44/c | 33 | Brockton, MA | 74/63/c | 40 | Brownwood, TX | 80/49/s | 48 | Burlington, IA | 53/42/c | 39 | Burlington, NC | 76/64/sh | 45 | Burlington, VT | 66/51/r | 40 | Cambridge, OH | 67/48/pc | 34 | Camdenton, MO | 62/45/pc | 20 | Canandaigua, NY | 69/50/r | 23 | Canton, OH | 62/51/pc | 25 | Carlsbad, NM | 67/40/s | 38 | Chambersburg, PA | 75/51/r | 33 | Cherry Hill, NJ | 72/63/sh | 35 | Cincinnati, OH | 66/47/pc | 45 | Clarksville, TN | 72/46/pc | 41 | Coldwater, MI | 56/42/c | 25 | Columbus, OH | 64/48/pc | 44 | Corning, NY | 74/45/r | 33 | Corpus Christi, TX | 80/67/t | 25 | Daytona Beach, FL | 84/68/t | 25 | Deming, NM | 68/44/pc | 39 | DeRidder, LA | 78/52/s | 44 | Des Moines, IA | 52/41/c | 25 | Detroit, MI | 59/45/c | 25 | Devils Lake, ND | 40/29/pc | 30 | Dover, NH | 72/61/c | 25 | El Paso, TX | 71/48/s | 75 | Elmira, NY | 73/45/r | 27 | Erie, PA | 64/51/c | 30 | Eugene, OR | 59/38/c | 25 | A: -53 F Lincoln, Mont.: Nov. 16, 1959 | High/low/W | AFP Quality | Evansville, IN | 66/45/pc | 75 | Fall River, MA | 70/62/c | 40 | Farmington, NM | 56/38/pc | 48 | ● Fayetteville, NC | 81/67/t | 45 | ● Fond du Lac, WI | 52/37/r | 25 | Fort Myers, FL | 86/71/t | 25 | ● Fort Smith, AR | 72/50/sh | 38 | ● Framingham, MA | 73/63/c | 40 | Freeport, IL | 55/38/sh | 25 | Fremont, OH | 62/47/c | 30 | Fort Collins, CO | 63/35/s | 25 | Gadsden, AL | 75/47/c | 48 | Gainesville, FL | 85/68/t | 25 | Galesburg, IL | 53/41/c | 25 | ● Gastonia, NC | 75/64/sh | 50 | Glen Rose, TX | 79/51/pc | 48 | Gonzales, LA | 82/55/s | 55 | Great Falls, MT | 55/35/pc | 26 | ● Green Bay, WI | 52/37/r | 25 | ● Greenville, SC | 75/60/sh | 40 | ● Hackensack, NJ | 71/63/sh | 38 | Hagerstown, MD | 75/55/sh | 33 | Hattiesburg, MS | 82/52/s | 44 | Henderson, KY | 68/47/pc | 75 | Hendersonville, NC | 74/55/sh | 40 | Herkimer, NY | 71/48/r | 30 | Hillsdale, MI | 56/42/c | 25 | ● Holland, MI | 54/42/sh | 25 | Hornell, NY | 72/47/r | 29 | ● Houma, LA | 82/57/s | 44 | ● Howell, MI | 56/42/c | 25 | Hutchinson, KS | 58/34/sh | 27 | Hyannis, MA | 68/60/pc | 40 | Indianapolis, IN | 63/48/c | 25 | Iowa City, IA | 53/39/c | 39 | Ithaca, NY | 73/47/r | 23 | Jackson, MS | 78/50/pc | 42 | Jackson, TN | 71/46/pc | 27 | Jacksonville, FL | 83/67/t | 25 | ● Jacksonville, NC | 81/67/t | 40 | Kent, OH | 62/50/pc | 25 | Kewanee, IL | 54/41/c | 25 | Keyser, WV | 76/47/sh | 28 | ● Kinston, NC | 84/68/t | 40 | Knoxville, TN | 72/49/c | 44 | Lafayette, IN | 60/46/c | 24 | ● Lafayette, LA | 79/56/s | 44 | Lakeland, FL | 86/68/t | 25 | ● Lansing, MI | 56/42/c | 25 | Las Cruces, NM | 68/43/pc | 44 | ● Lebanon, PA | 72/56/sh | 35 | Leesburg, FL | 86/68/t | 25 | High/low/W | AFP Quality | ● Levittown, PA | 72/63/sh | 35 | Lincoln, IL | 58/44/c | 25 | Louisville, KY | 68/48/pc | 75 | Lubbock, TX | 60/36/s | 25 | ● Manitowoc, WI | 52/39/r | 25 | Mansfield, OH | 62/47/pc | 32 | Marshall, NC | 74/53/sh | 40 | Marshfield, WI | 49/33/r | 25 | Massillon, OH | 63/51/pc | 25 | ● McLean, VA | 76/61/sh | 44 | Melbourne, FL | 85/69/t | 25 | Memphis, TN | 71/52/pc | 44 | ● Middletown, NY | 69/58/r | 17 | ● Milford, MA | 72/62/sh | 40 | ● Milwaukee, WI | 53/39/sh | 25 | Monroe, MI | 60/45/c | 25 | Monroe, LA | 75/49/s | 50 | Montgomery, AL | 79/55/pc | 35 | Muncie, IN | 63/47/c | 28 | Murfreesboro, TN | 71/44/c | 42 | Naples, FL | 87/70/t | 25 | Nashville, TN | 71/47/c | 42 | ● Neptune, NJ | 70/63/sh | 30 | New Bedford, MA | 70/62/c | 40 | ● New Bern, NC | 80/68/t | 40 | New Philadelphia, OH | 64/50/pc | 25 | Newark, OH | 64/48/pc | 44 | ● Newton, NJ | 68/59/r | 35 | ● New York, NY | 70/64/sh | 38 | ● Norwich, CT | 70/61/sh | 17 | Ocala, FL | 85/68/t | 25 | ● Oklahoma City, OK | 63/43/sh | 55 | Opelousas, LA | 77/53/s | 44 | Oshkosh, WI | 52/37/r | 25 | Palm Beach, FL | 86/77/s | 25 | Palm Springs, CA | 83/63/s | 44 | ● Panama City, FL | 81/69/pc | 25 | Pekin, IL | 55/43/c | 25 | Pensacola, FL | 80/64/sh | 25 | Peoria, IL | 54/42/c | 25 | ● Petersburg, VA | 78/65/sh | 50 | Phoenix, AZ | 78/58/pc | 55 | Port Huron, MI | 59/45/c | 18 | ● Portsmouth, NH | 71/61/c | 25 | ● Poughkeepsie, NY | 69/60/r | 17 | Providence, RI | 71/63/c | 39 | Pueblo, CO | 62/32/s | 25 | Quincy, MA | 74/63/c | 40 | Redding, CA | 74/42/s | 82 | Reno, NV | 60/33/s | 25 | Ravenna, OH | 62/51/pc | 25 | Richmond, IN | 62/47/c | 33 | - Denotes possible travel delays | High/low/W | Air Quality | Rochester, NY | 68/50/r | 22 | Rockford, IL | 53/38/sh | 25 | Ruidoso, NM | 60/33/pc | 35 | Salem, OR | 59/41/pc | 50 | Salina, KS | 57/35/pc | 30 | Salinas, CA | 74/47/s | 25 | Salisbury, MD | 77/65/sh | 33 | San Angelo, TX | 78/45/s | 41 | Sarasota, FL | 85/72/sh | 25 | Savannah, GA | 82/68/t | 30 | Sheboygan, WI | 52/39/sh | 25 | Shelby, NC | 75/62/sh | 50 | Sherman, TX | 76/51/pc | 42 | Shreveport, LA | 75/55/s | 53 | Silver City, NM | 64/40/pc | 42 | Sioux Falls, SD | 46/30/pc | 23 | Somerset, PA | 67/47/r | 20 | Somerville, NJ | 71/62/sh | 35 | South Bend, IN | 54/43/c | 25 | Spartanburg, SC | 74/62/sh | 40 | Springfield, IL | 57/45/c | 25 | Springfield, MO | 65/44/s | 22 | St. Augustine, FL | 81/68/t | 25 | St. Cloud, MN | 45/27/c | 11 | St. George, UT | 63/43/pc | 25 | Staunton, VA | 75/53/sh | 18 | Stevens Point, WI | 51/33/r | 25 | Stockton, CA | 73/43/s | 44 | Stroudsburg, PA | 69/57/r | 35 | Stuart, FL | 85/70/s | 25 | Sturgis, MI | 56/43/c | 25 | Tallahassee, FL | 83/68/pc | 25 | Thibodaux, LA | 82/56/s | 44 | Topeka, KS | 57/40/pc | 29 | Tuscaloosa, AL | 76/49/pc | 43 | Utica, NY | 70/48/r | 25 | Ventura, CA | 76/56/pc | 41 | Victorville, CA | 73/38/s | 44 | Vineland, NJ | 73/63/sh | 35 | Visalia, CA | 70/46/s | 42 | Washington, DC | 75/64/sh | 44 | Watertown, SD | 40/27/s | 27 | Wausau, WI | 48/33/r | 25 | Waynesboro, PA | 74/54/sh | 33 | White Plains, NY | 70/62/r | 28 | Wichita Falls, TX | 73/45/pc | 35 | Wilmington, DE | 73/63/sh | 44 | Wilmington, NC | 81/68/t | 40 | Wisconsin Rapids, WI | 51/34/r | 25 | Wooster, OH | 63/48/pc | 25 | Worcester, MA | 66/60/sh | 40 | York, PA | 75/57/sh | 35 | Air Quality Index: 0-50, Good; 51-100, Moderate; 101-150, Unhealthy for sensitive groups; 151-200, Unhealthy; 201-300, Very unhealthy; 301-500, Hazardous
Wall Street closed sharply higher on Nov. 4 as Democrats' sweeping midterm election victory eased political uncertainty and boosted risk appetite, though data center shares fell on fears of tighter AI regulation.
Some large technology stocks rose on expectations that a slower expansion of AI infrastructure will favor them competitively, while smaller companies carrying out aspects of the AI infrastructure buildout fell on fears that a slowdown will strain their finances.
AI stocks were split. Shares of cash-rich AI heavyweights rose, while chip-makers and data center operators fell after Democrats made gains in key data center states including Texas and Georgia, where public opposition to the industry's rapid expansion has been growing.
The move reflected expectations that a slowdown in expanding AI infrastructure could ease cash demands on tech companies, while pressuring operators and suppliers whose growth depends on a rapid buildout.
Among AI heavyweights, Microsoft rose 6.7%, Amazon.com added 6.1%, Alphabet gained 3.2% and Meta Platforms rose 1.4%. Shares of data center operators slumped, with Hut 8 down 23%, IREN off 11%, Core Scientific falling 10% and Applied Digital lower by 6.7%.
The Philadelphia SE Semiconductor index hit a six-month low, dropping 3.1%. AMD rose 1% after forecasting faster-than-expected 2027 growth as its data center sales surged.
The AI trade has come under pressure recently as investors grow more concerned over Big Tech's soaring AI spending. The tech-heavy Nasdaq-100 index confirmed on Nov. 2 it was in a technical correction.
The S&P 500 gained 119.7 points, or 1.6%, to end at 7,688.62 points, while the Nasdaq Composite added 364.50 points, or 1.4%, to 25,736.51. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1,569.40 points, or 3%, to 53,356.12.
All but two of the S&P 500 sector indexes rose, with consumer discretionary jumping 4.3% and energy falling 4.8%. The dollar weakened against most currencies and yields on long-dated Treasuries moved lower.
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Energy prices
Brent futures settled \$8.98, or 8.7% lower, at \$94.62 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate crude futures fell \$7.97, or 8.3%, to \$88.12. Both benchmarks closed at their lowest since Aug 31.
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TODAY IN HISTORY
Today is Nov. 5. On this date in:
1605: “Remember, remember, the fifth of November.” Authorities discovered Guy Fawkes with dozens of barrels of explosives in the undercroft of Parliament, but most of the conspirators in the Gunpowder Plot had fled London late the night before. Catholic extremists had sought to blow up the building and kill King James I, forcing regime change in hopes of religious tolerance.
1824: In a letter to the Rev. Samuel Blatchford, Stephen Van Rensselaer announced he had founded the Rensselaer School in Troy, New York, which later became one of the nation's earliest and most influential engineering schools. It opened in January 1825 and later changed its name to Rensselaer Institute and eventually Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
1852: The American Society of Civil Engineers, the first national civil engineering society in the United States, was founded.
1857: Ida Tarbell, an investigative reporter best known for her exposé on Standard Oil, was born in Amity Township, Pennsylvania. Tarbell's "The History of the Standard Oil Company," which was first published piecemeal in McClure's Magazine, helped shape public opinion against Standard Oil. A
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Catholicism on decline around Latin America
Churchgoers pray during a worship service at the Baptist church Iglesia del Centro in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Oct. 31. FRANCISCO LOUREIRO/REUTERS
Pope Leo readies for 11-day journey in region
Lucinda Elliott
REUTERS
MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay – Pope Leo XIV begins his first trip to Latin America as pontiff on Nov. 6, embarking on an 11-day journey across a region that remains the world's largest Catholic stronghold but where Catholic identity is steadily shrinking even as belief in God remains strong.
Coming weeks after the 71-year-old pontiff's lung cancer surgery, the ambitious itinerary from Nov. 6-17 remains unchanged, the Vatican said. It is one of the most demanding overseas tours by a Catholic leader in decades. The trip takes him from secular Uruguay to Argentina, homeland of his predecessor Pope Francis, before heading to Peru, where he spent years as a missionary and bishop, eventually becoming a citizen.
Leo will spend two days in Uruguay, three in Argentina and nearly a week in Peru, where he will celebrate outdoor Masses expected to draw millions, address political leaders, join youth vigils and reach remote Andean communities by helicopter.
Latin America remains the world's largest Catholic region in absolute numbers. Yet the continent the Chicago-born pope is returning to is markedly less Catholic than the one he first encountered as a missionary decades ago. The Catholic Church has been losing ground to fast-growing evangelical denominations, more progressive social attitudes and individualized forms of worship.
A Pew survey in 2024 of six of the most populous Latin American countries found that in all those nations fewer people were identifying as Catholic compared to a decade ago. Around one-fifth of adults in each country said they were raised Catholic but had left the church, the poll found.
“We have seen a decline in all of the countries that we surveyed in 2024,” said Kirsten Lesage, an associate researcher at the Pew Research Center, a nonprofit that monitors faith worldwide. “There are fewer people identifying [as Catholic].”
But, she added: “The region is still very religious and they’re very religious by a variety of standards.”
The Rev. Jorge Reinaudo, a parish priest in Córdoba, Argentina, one of the cities on Pope Leo's itinerary, has spent nearly a decade building a social media following. He posts humorous sketches to his 800,000 followers across different platforms, gently poking fun at biblical stories and trends like superstitions aimed at helping Argentina's soccer team win the World Cup.
Growing numbers of younger people are seeking spirituality through retreats, silence and even Buddhist- or Hindu-inspired practices, often blending them with traditional Christian elements such as rosaries and holy water, he said in an interview.
"Not belonging to a religion does not mean people lack faith; it means they live out their faith in their own way," Reinaudo said.
Belief in God remains exceptionally high in Latin America compared to other global regions, even among the growing numbers of people who are unaffiliated with a religion, according to the Pew survey.
That distinction suggests the Catholic Church's challenge is less disbelief than changes in worship habits and people keen to build their own spiritual identities outside traditional institutions, according to religious leaders and researchers interviewed by Reuters.
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Rapid social change
Marverick Ruben Mendoza Osegue-ra, a 31-year-old accountant in Hondu-ras, came across Reinaudo on social media while following Argentine Catholic musicians. Raised Catholic, he said he became critical of organized religion after witnessing troubling behavior in church communities, including violence against women and clergy who appeared to protect abusers.
“Experiences like these eroded the trust and faith of many young people, including me,” he said.
In all six countries Pew found adults 50 and older were more likely than those aged 18 to 34 to identify as Catholic.
Oseguera attends a weekly online Eucharistic adoration service to help manage anxiety, finding comfort in the ritual even though he no longer identifies as Catholic. “It feels more like spending time with a close friend,” he said.
Catholic decline has coincided with a period of rapid social change across Latin America, as countries expanded rights ranging from abortion and euthanasia to same-sex marriage. However, Miguel Pastorino, a professor at Uruguay's Catholic University who studies the philosophy of religion, cautioned against attributing the Catholic Church's losses directly to those shifts, saying a broader culture of individual choice has also reshaped how people approach religion globally.
"There's a growing trend toward ‘à la carte’ religiosity, in which people create their own spiritual menu, without feeling the need to subscribe to any particular institution," he said.
Evangelical groups have also made inroads among urban working populations in Latin America and are especially strong in Brazil, where nearly 27% of people identify as evangelical Christians.
Pentecostalism, the fastest-growing branch, was introduced to Latin America by U.S. missionaries a century ago. Today, most towns are home to a Pentecostal chapel, where song and prayer often blare over loudspeakers onto the street.
“They [Pentecostals] go straight to personal testimony, like the early church did,” Pastorino said. “When the Catholic Church goes into poor neighborhoods, it often does a great deal of social work, but very little evangelization.”
However, events such as a papal visit can help strengthen Catholic identity, he said.
The Rev. Pablo Coimbra, a Uruguayan parish priest at Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe in Montevideo's Casavalle neighborhood, where the pope plans to visit on his second day, said the pontiff's impending arrival was already having an effect. More people were participating in Masses at his church. Demand for baptisms and holy communion was also rising, he added.
"The pope's visit has perhaps awakened a memory, something deep in people's hearts regarding faith and belonging to the church," Coimbra said.
federal investigation and breakup of the company's monopoly followed.
1872: Susan B. Anthony and 14 other women from her ward in Rochester, New York, cast a ballot in the presidential election even though women were not allowed to vote. They were later arrested, and Anthony was convicted, though the resulting fine was never collected.
1895: George Selden, a patent lawyer from Rochester, New York, received a landmark U.S. patent for a gasoline-powered “road engine,” widely described as the first U.S. patent for an automobile.
1912: Democrat Woodrow Wilson won a four-way presidential election in a landslide. Wilson took 435 of the electoral votes, while Progressive Party candidate Theodore Roosevelt claimed 88. Incumbent Republican President William Taft garnered only 8, and Eugene Debs won none on the Socialist ticket.
1930: “For his vigorous and graphic art of description and his ability to create, with wit and humour, new types of characters,” Sinclair Lewis became the first American to win the Nobel Prize in Literature.
1935: Parker Brothers began marketing the board game Monopoly. It had been created decades earlier as The Landlord's Game by Elizabeth Magie and later pitched to Parker Brothers by Charles Darrow.
1940: Franklin Roosevelt became the first and only person elected to a third term as president of the United States. In 1944, he became the only person elected to a fourth term. The 22nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was proposed in 1947, nearly two years after Roosevelt died in office, and ratified in 1951, limiting the number of terms a person can be elected as U.S. president to two.
1968: Shirley Chisholm, a Democrat from New York, became the first Black woman elected to Congress. She later became the first Black woman to vie for a major party's nomination for president, trying to top the Democratic ticket in 1972.
1974: Elaine Noble was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives, becoming the first openly gay American to be elected to a state legislature.
1994: George Foreman, at 45, became the oldest boxer to win a heavyweight belt, defeating 26-year-old Michael Moorer by 10th-round knockout.
2009: U.S. Army Maj. Nidal Hasan committed a mass shooting at Fort Hood in Texas, killing 13 people and wounding more than 30.
2013: India launched its first interplanetary mission, which, upon its arrival, made the Indian Space Research Organisation just the fourth space agency to successfully guide an uncrewed craft to an orbit around Mars.
2024: Former President Donald Trump once again became President-elect Donald Trump, having won the presidential election, his second victory but a rare nonconsecutive one. The Republican's first term was won in 2016 and ran from 2017-2021, but he lost in 2020 to Democrat Joe Biden, who served one term from 2021-2025. Only one other person had served nonconsecutive terms as president: Grover Cleveland, who was president from 1885-1889 and 1893-1897.
2024: Sarah McBride became the first openly transgender person elected to Congress, chosen by the people of Delaware to represent them in the U.S. House. She had previously served as a state senator in Delaware, having become the first openly transgender state senator in U.S. history after her election in November 2020.
USA TODAY Network
NEWS IN BRIEF
U.S. sanctions Indian, Turkish companies accused of aiding Iran
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Treasury issued fresh sanctions on Nov. 4 against companies and individuals based in India and Turkey for their support of Iran, warning that it would continue to go after anyone who supported the Iranian government.
The sanctions are part of the Trump administration's “Operation Economic Outcast,” which aims to cut off Iran's ability to sell oil to fund the war with the United States and Israel.
Treasury last week said its actions were decimating Iran's economy, driving the rial currency to new lows and sending domestic inflation rates to levels around $90\%$ .
Treasury said the Nov. 4 action targeted what it called “the vast criminal network” run by India-based Suniel Kumar Sharma, his wife, Jaspreet Preeti Shahid, and two other Indian citizens who head two of the couple’s businesses, as well as nine separate entities connected to Sharma.
The department also sanctioned Turkey-based Fugo Ground Services Inc. for its ongoing support of Iran's heavily sanctioned aviation sector.
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Death toll in Russian strike on Ukrainian aid center rises to 40
KOMYSHUVAKHA, Ukraine – The death toll from a Russian bombing of an aid distribution point in Ukraine's southeastern Zaporizhzhia region on Nov. 2 has risen to 40, with dozens still missing, officials said, in one of the deadliest strikes on civilians this year.
The attack came a day after a brief U.S.-brokered local ceasefire expired and less than a week before the United States is due to bring together Ukrainian and Russian delegations in Abu Dhabi for talks on ending the war, now in its fifth year.
Reuters footage on Nov. 4 showed men in military fatigues loading bodies in white plastic bags into the back of a van in the village of Komyshuvakha, which was struck multiple times. Excavators were digging up earth near a huge blast crater while rescue workers searched underground for bodies.
Ivan Fedorov, the cohead of the Zaporizhzhia Regional Defense Council, wrote on Telegram that 59 people were missing.
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Pennsylvania reports its sixth measles-linked death as cases rise
Pennsylvania health officials on Nov. 4 reported the state's sixth measles-associated death this year as the outbreak continued to spread.
The state has emerged as the epicenter of the outbreak, accounting for a substantial share of infections reported nationwide. The state health department said the latest death involved an unvaccinated resident of Jefferson County who tested positive for measles.
State officials said measles-associated deaths this year have involved three residents of Lancaster County, two residents of Jefferson County and one resident of Mifflin County.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said it was saddened by the latest death and noted that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had deployed additional support to work alongside state and local health officials to investigate the outbreak and strengthen response efforts.
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NASA's Swift satellite telescope falls from orbit in fiery finale
NASA's Swift satellite telescope, which spent two decades studying the most powerful known blasts of energy in the cosmos, tumbled out of orbit as expected on Nov. 4 and burned up in Earth's atmosphere over Indonesia, the space agency reported.
The fiery demise of the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, weighing roughly 3,200 pounds, came less than three months after a rescue spacecraft failed its mission to boost the satellite to higher orbit and extend its life.
The U.S. Space Force confirmed that Swift's reentry occurred at 7:39 a.m. ET, as the satellite streaked into the upper atmosphere at about 22 times the speed of sound over Indonesia's North Sumatra province, roughly 200 miles north of the equator, according to NASA.
NASA said it expected the frictional heat of reentry would incinerate most of the satellite well above Earth's surface, with some fragments surviving the plunge, though the U.S. space agency reported no damage or injuries on the ground from falling debris.
Reuters
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Midterm results could embolden trade partners
less of changes in the composition of Congress.
REUTERS
The drubbing for Donald Trump's Republicans in midterm elections could embolden some trade partners to push back against his combative policies, although they may need to tread lightly to avoid provoking him in his final two years in power.
Democrats captured majorities in both the Senate and House on Nov. 3, as U.S. voters delivered a stinging rebuke for Trump's policies, including his tariffs, blamed alongside the Iran war for persistent inflation.
That could hand economic rival China a perceived upper hand in ongoing talks, prompt allies in Asia to slow-walk hundreds of billions of dollars in investment commitments, and give Europe more predictability over trade issues that remain unresolved.
But some partners still see choppy waters ahead, with Trump showing little sign of accepting voters' verdict on his tariff policies that have upended global trade.
“U.S. protectionism won’t simply disappear,” said Bernd Lange, chair of the trade committee in the European Parliament.
"A weakened Trump could become even more aggressive and unpredictable. A lame duck could quickly turn into an angry duck."
Among countries that may be quietly hoping for an easier ride are America's closest Asian allies. Japan has promised \$550 billion and South Korea \$350 billion in U.S. investments in deals intended to placate Trump.
Heo Yoon, economics professor at Sogang University in Seoul, said countries might now feel less pressure to fulfill such commitments: “Democrats seem to perceive that the investment commitments were forced on allies.”
But Kazuhiro Maeshima, a professor of U.S. politics at Sophia University in Tokyo, said the allies will not easily be able to back out. “The tariff issue is not over. If Japan’s response is slow, calls for additional tariffs could resurface,” he said.
South Korea has become a notable lightning rod for Trump's anger at countries he believes have not lived up to investment pledges.
Most recently, Seoul pushed back on Trump's assertions that it had agreed to fund Alaska LNG, a major pipeline. Ban Kil-joo, international relations professor at Korea National Diplomatic Academy, said scrutiny from Congress over such projects could give Seoul more time to review them.
South Korea's Foreign Ministry said it would continue to discuss economic and trade issues with the U.S. administration, Congress and states, regard-
In Europe, transatlantic trade tensions have largely been eased by a series of deals that have so far limited the impact of Trump's tariff onslaught.
But there are still potential quarrels, including whether Trump will retaliate against European countries that impose a digital services tax on U.S. tech giants, and against a EUR3 billion loan of public money to European aircraft maker Airbus.
For India, still negotiating trade deals with the United States, the midterm results could provide an incentive to adopt a wait-and-see approach.
India's trade minister earlier this month said the first phase of an India-U.S. trade deal was in the final stages of drafting, but reiterated that New Delhi would proceed only if it secures an advantage over competing exporters.
The biggest U.S. rival is China, which struck a trade truce with Trump that expires in January. Beijing may look for ways to use Trump's political fragility to strengthen its hand, but also may find it harder to win him over with Congress looking over his shoulder. Trump has gone to great lengths to improve relations with Xi. A Democratic-controlled Congress may constrain his ability to offer sweeteners for future deals.
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Midterm
Continued from Page 1
reporters on the morning after his party's sweeping midterm defeat to show off the ballroom he is building at the White House.
"When I get criticized, like, 'Why are you working on the White House?' I'm doing it because the White House is the ultimate symbol of America, and it's got to be pristine, it's got to be perfect," Trump said. "For me, it's relaxing."
People react during an election night watch party for Texas Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gina Hinojosa in Austin on Nov. 3.
JOEL ANGEL JUAREZ/GETTY IMAGES
He turned only briefly to the elections during his nearly hourlong appearance, telling reporters, “I’ll get along probably with the Democrats, unless they want to be destructive, but I have the power of the veto.”
Trump had cast the midterm elections as a referendum on the first half of his second four-year stint in the White House, repeatedly urging his Republican base to “pretend I’m on the ballot,” a message that Democratic Party leaders were happy to amplify.
The result: voters in conservative strongholds who had propelled the president to his second term in office just two years ago swung dramatically toward Democrats, fueled by deep frustration over the unpopular war with Iran, anxiety over the high cost of living and anger at Trump's stewardship of the country.
In Texas, the biggest Republican-led state before Nov. 3, Democrats ended a decades-long losing streak in seismic fashion, winning their first Senate seat there since 1988 and ousting three-term Gov. Greg Abbott.
Kansas elected its first Democratic senator since the Great Depression nearly a century ago, and in South Carolina, a state that Trump carried by nearly 18 points in 2024, Democrats turned aside his hand-picked Senate candidate.
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Waiting on Alaska, Mississippi
Senate races in Alaska and Mississippi remained uncalled as of Nov. 4, leaving open the possibility that the Democrats' majority could grow by another two seats to 56-44.
Once seated in January, Democrats are expected to use their power to investigate Trump's administration, family and allies and demand concessions on major legislation. The Democratic Senate can block Trump's nominees, including any U.S. Supreme Court justices should a vacancy arise.
However, until then, Republicans hold the reins and will have at least one must-pass piece of legislation ahead – a measure to fund the federal government past December – that they could use to enact conservative priorities during the so-called lame-duck period.
The loss also upended Republicans' House leadership, with House Speaker Mike Johnson saying he would not continue to lead his caucus next year.
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan both announced plans to seek the minority post in party leadership elections expected Nov. 10.
Trump told reporters that he would stay out of the Republican leadership election. “The speaker was fantastic. The people under him were fantastic. All good people,” he said.
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Democratic wave
Democrats focused their campaign on corruption and affordability, blaming Trump's expensive tariffs on imports, some of which were ruled to be an illegal tax by the courts, and the war with Iran for driving up costs while highlighting the billions of dollars the Trump family has made since he returned to the White House.
Republicans, led by Trump, attacked Democrats for defending transgender people's rights and similar social issues, portraying them as radical and extreme. But voters made it clear they were far more concerned with pocket-book issues.
The Democratic wave flooded huge swaths of the country. Republicans lost ground in 99% of the approximately 2,100 counties where most votes had been counted as of Nov. 4, according to tallies compiled by Reuters and USA TODAY.
Democrats made gains in the richest counties and the poorest; in counties where more people have college degrees and where fewer do. Democrats' advances were particularly sharp in heavily Latino counties, including the border counties of Texas that shifted toward Trump in 2024 and the agricultural towns of the Kansas prairie.
Democrats flipped more than two dozen House seats currently held by Republicans, locking in a majority. Democrats won all the closely contested House races that have been decided so far, and they won about a dozen races in districts that Trump won by double digits two years ago.
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GOP call to change course
Meanwhile, Trump faced pressure from Republicans on Nov. 4 to change course after the midterm election rout.
Republican allies and strategists called for Trump to shake up his White House personnel, restore discipline and scrap policies they blamed for the losses, including the Iran war and tariffs, as his presidency enters its final years.
Veteran Republican strategist John Feehery called the results a “huge disaster” for Trump.
“He needs to clean house,” Feehery said. “Every day from this point forward, he’s becoming more and more lame.”
But Trump showed little indication that he viewed the election outcome as a reason to change direction.
"I don't view it as a hit on me," he told Fox News late on Nov. 3.
Inside the White House, senior aides were bracing for staff departures, possible Cabinet changes and Democratic investigations, according to a senior official who spoke on condition of anonymity.
"It absolutely sucks to be here right now," the official said. "Morale is as low as it can get."
The official said internal polling had warned six weeks before the election that Republicans were headed for losses in both chambers, but Trump refused to change course on Iran despite warnings about the political consequences. “Ultimately, he just didn’t care,” the official said. “He refused to listen to anyone.”
The White House struck a defiant public tone, posting a photograph of Trump on social media with the message: "PSA: TRUMP IS STILL YOUR PRESIDENT."
Democrats' takeover of Congress on Nov. 3 was replicated at the state level, with the party flipping Republican-held governors' offices in at least five states and poised to seize full control of state government in at least six more.
Democratic victories mean the party, for the first time in years, will control a majority of the governorships, including traditional conservative strongholds such as Texas, where Democrat Gina Hinojosa defeated well-financed Republican Gov. Greg Abbott to become the first Latina governor in the state's history.
The wins extended beyond governors' mansions. Democratic candidates seized control of both state legislative chambers in Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, giving the party "trifecta" control of the legislature and governor's office in those states. They also broke Republican trifectas in Georgia, Iowa, Ohio and Texas.
On top of giving Democrats more control over state laws on minimum wage, data centers, abortion access and other hot-button issues, the wins could affect future national elections by changing how U.S. congressional districts are drawn, how elections are administered and how results are certified, according to policy experts.
Some of the biggest and most surprising wins came in battleground states that have been key to President Donald Trump's election victories, and where Republican-led legislatures in recent years redrew congressional district boundaries to favor their party.
In at least three states – Georgia, Indiana and Ohio – Democrats also ousted incumbent GOP secretaries of state: the office that typically oversees election administration and certification of results. All those outcomes are “very significant” for future U.S. elections, according to Michael Berkman, director of
Penn State University's McCourtney Institute for Democracy.
He said Republicans won a similar sweep of state-level offices during former President Barack Obama's first midterm election in 2010, which allowed them to pass election laws, redraw congressional districts and give their party more control over how elections were administered in some states.
“So this gives Democrats an opportunity to really start to claw that back,” Berkman said.
The new Democratic leaders and legislators will likely try to undo some conservative policies that have recently dominated the national discourse, such as abortion restrictions and data center incentives, experts said.
But the incoming Democrats will also take office with “a huge backlog of liberal legislation that they want to do,” said Chris Warshaw, a professor at Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy.
Their top priorities will likely address voters' concerns about affordability, such as raising the minimum wage, expanding the federal Medicaid health insurance program and protecting labor rights, Warshaw said.
In Texas and Georgia, Republicans looked likely to lose control of the state legislatures for the first time in more than 20 years, yielding control over one chamber in each state to Democrats.
"The voters have delivered a mandate for change, and it is change they will get," Hinojosa said in a victory speech late Nov. 3.
Texas and Georgia voters also elected Democratic attorneys general for the first time in more than a decade, replacing Republican incumbents who had frequently sued past Democratic presidents over federal policies with which they disagreed.
As a result, “those places will stop being fountains for initial lawsuits, and start being fountains for lawsuits that are challenging things that Trump is doing,” said Jim Battista, associate professor of political science at the University at Buffalo.
Rural
Continued from Page 1NN
Kansas and Texas Senate races compared to the 2024 presidential election, according to exit polls.
The victories followed a yearslong Democratic effort to compete more aggressively in rural communities, where the party had steadily ceded ground to Republicans, according to interviews with 16 Democratic candidates, campaign staff and political experts and strategists.
Democratic strategists said that push was part of a broader Democratic National Committee effort to compete in places the party had long neglected. Rather than concentrating resources on a handful of battleground states, the DNC invested in every state party and pushed to field candidates in every race, they said.
"A lot of folks in rural America feel left behind because [Democrats] haven't been showing up to talk to people," said Democrat Rebecca Cooke, who unseated the Republican incumbent to win Wisconsin's 3rd Congressional District on Nov. 3. Now, she told Reuters, "there's no community too small" to visit.
The question now is whether Democrats can hold on to their gains through the 2028 presidential election cycle. The Nov. 3 election was widely seen as a rebuke of Trump rather than an embrace of the Democratic Party.
Republicans still won races on Nov. 3 in rural states including Arkansas, Oklahoma and Nebraska. And history shows that so-called wave elections dominated by one party do not necessarily translate into a presidential victory for the same party two years later.
To make their gains durable, Democrats will need to stick with their expansive electoral strategy, continuing to invest time and money in rural communities and other areas where they have made inroads, three Democratic strategists told Reuters.
“This was a rejection in essence of the way the party had worked in recent years, which was this focus on six or seven states,” said Simon Rosenberg, a Democratic strategist. “We had been operating on a very narrow map – too narrow.”
Rural Americans have steadily moved toward the Republican Party over the past 25 years, according to the Pew Research Center, driven by splits with Democrats on cultural issues and economic policies.
At the White House, Trump acknowledged that the Iran war had contributed to his party's midterm losses but said he still felt it was worth it.
The Republican National Committee did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
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Showing up
Every week for 11 months, on what she dubbed “Small Town Tuesday,” Iowa Democratic House candidate Christina Bohannan focused on canvassing rural towns. Her team regularly heard from residents that no political campaign had ever contacted them before, campaign manager Dan Driscoll said in an email. Bohannan flipped the state’s 1st Congressional District.
For her campaign in Wisconsin, Cooke said she hired four regional field organizers and knocked on 54,000 doors, many in rural areas, in addition to those knocked on by the statewide Democratic Party.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee said it implemented a program for engaging rural voters for the first time this year.
Cooke, Bohannan and other Democratic candidates in rural districts aimed to capitalize on declining support for Trump. Approval of the president in rural areas fell to a new low in October of 45%, down from 60% at the start of his term, according to Reuters/Ipsos polling.
Across more than 1,500 rural counties where nearly all ballots had been counted on Nov. 4, Republican candidates were collectively underperforming Trump's 2024 share of the vote by 8 percentage points, according to vote totals compiled by Reuters and USA TODAY, which are partnering this year to collect live election results for U.S. Senate and House races.
In Iowa, Democratic candidates united for the state's first coordinated campaign since 2018, said Frances Patano, who ran the effort for the Iowa Democratic Party. That meant candidates could chip into a joint organizing effort that saved on costs and boosted lower-profile campaigns.
“By coordinating, you can run a far more efficient field program because you're not competing” for the same group of organizers, Patano said.
In the first two weekends of October, the statewide campaign nearly doubled its door knock attempts from the 2018 midterms, Patano said.
In rural Warren County, the coordinated program paid for a staffer who led six canvassing shifts every weekend out of the county's party office.
The added capacity boosted volunteer turnout. After years of organizing the same local Democrats to volunteer, Culbert said he would glance at a list of doorknockers and think: “Well, I don’t know half these names.”
Adam Hamilton is the first Democrat elected to the U.S. Senate from Kansas in nearly a century.
AUSTIN JOHNSON/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES
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Years of preparation
In Kansas, efforts to elect Adam Hamilton, the first Democrat elected to the Senate from the state in nearly a century, began four years ago.
When Jeanna Repass became chair of the Kansas Democratic Party in 2022, she knew the party would need to make inroads in a heavily rural state that Trump won by double digits in 2016 and 2020. She hired a year-round organizer and grew the number of county party chapters from 57 to 68.
The effort “helped us to stir people’s passions and get them organized,” Repass said.
This year, the party knocked about 50% more doors than they did in the 2022 midterms, Repass said. That strategy paid dividends for Hamilton Nov. 3, particularly in Seward County, where about half of eligible voters are Hispanic. Hamilton won by 13 points in Seward, a dramatic shift from 2024 when Trump won the county by 39 points.
"We are not flyover country," Hamilton said in his victory speech late Nov. 3, to huge cheers. "We are the heart of America."
Vance
Continued from Page 1NN
Vance, who is seen as a leading 2028 presidential contender, also said an earlier recommendation to end the war was “sound advice.”
Asked about Vance's remarks, Trump told reporters he thought they were good, saying: "I know how he feels about it." But Trump then defended the war effort, saying: "We stopped them from having a nuclear weapon."
Some officials and staff inside the White House viewed Vance's post as a foreign policy break from the president and a public recognition that the war had domestic economic consequences, a White House adviser told Reuters.
Democrats secured control of both the Senate and House of Representatives on Nov. 3, scoring sweeping victories in Republican strongholds for the first time in generations.
Voters in conservative bastions who had propelled the president to his second term in office just two years ago swung dramatically toward Democrats, fueled by deep frustration over the war with Iran, anxiety over the high cost of living and anger at Trump's stewardship of the country.
Vance sought to play down any difference of opinion with Trump, saying the president had also acknowledged that the Iran war cost Republicans the midterm elections. But Trump was far more measured, saying the Iran war was only one of multiple reasons for the electoral rout.
“I did the right thing,” Trump told the Wall Street Journal. “I would have done it again.”
Marco Rubio, a possible 2028 rival to Vance, has remained silent since the midterm elections.
The White House did not provide comment for this story but referred Reuters to Trump's comments from earlier agreeing with Vance's assessment that the Iran war was a major factor in Republican losses.
Trump launched the Iran war jointly with Israel in February, predicting a brief conflict that could bring the end of the Iranian government, which he called the “bully of the Middle East.”
While the attacks dealt devastating blows to Iran's military and its underground weapons storage facilities, the conflict turned into an effective stalemate after an April ceasefire failed to deliver a peace deal.
Since then, Iran has recovered some of its buried arsenal and threatened ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, contributing to concerns over global oil supplies.
With no clear path out of the conflict, Trump was briefed last week by Admiral Brad Cooper, the head of U.S. Central Command, on options for restarting combat operations, according to two sources familiar with the matter.
But U.S. intelligence assessments in recent months have indicated that renewed strikes on Iran would not fundamentally change Tehran's negotiating position or lead to regime change, according to a U.S. intelligence official and two other U.S. officials briefed on the intelligence.
Still, sources familiar with the deliberations warn Trump could still decide to act, noting he was aware of the political risks before midterm elections and “just didn’t care.”
One source said Trump did not have anything to lose politically now that the midterms were over and that he was more likely to double down on Iran and go ahead with an attack on Iran.
A second source agreed the most likely course was renewed hostilities, saying: "He is planning to bomb Iran. Don't listen to what he's saying. He held off because of the midterms. We asked him to hold off until the midterms."
All of the sources spoke on condition of anonymity.
Vance's comments could be seen as the start of his 2028 campaign, a person familiar with the matter said.
Some officials in the White House were made aware prior to Vance's post.
But a White House official, in a response to questions from Reuters, said most, if not all, senior White House staff were caught off guard by it.
Mediators have intensified efforts to end the war amid fears it could reignite after the election.
Some view Vice President JD Vance's comments on the Iran war as a sign of preparing for a 2028 presidential run by distancing himself from President Donald Trump's more divisive moves. TOM BRENNER/GETTY IMAGES
Vance has in recent weeks leaned more heavily into negotiations with Tehran. But there has been little indication from Iran that it is willing to accept American demands, including that it reduce its nuclear enrichment levels to zero.
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U.S. House Arizona District 3
Yassamin Ansari (D)....103,137 88.32%
Alan Aversa....7,218 6.18%
David Redkey....6,422 5.50%
U.S. House Arizona District 4
Tisha Benoit 4,643 2.19%
Zuhdi Jasser (R) 75,216 35.44%
Greg Stanton (D) 132,395 62.38%
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U.S. House Arizona District 5
Mark Lamb (R)....137,240 51.12%
Elizabeth Lee (D)....131,226 48.88%
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U.S. House Arizona District 6
Juan Ciscomani (R) 137,709 44.88%
Jereme Lance Peters 3,744 1.22%
JoAnna Mendoza (D) 162,733 53.04%
Gary Swing 2,625 0.86%
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U.S. House Arizona District 7
Daniel Francis Butierrez Sr. (R).... 45,525 28.37%
Adelita Grijalva (D).... 114,916 71.63%
Abraham "Abe" Hamadeh (R) 127,063 51.12%
Bernadette Greene-Placentia (D) 121,500 48.88%
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U.S. House Arizona District 9
Paul Gosar (R)....138,732 57.82%
Danielle “Dani” Sterbinsky (D)....101,203 42.18%
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Arizona Corporation Commissioner
Mike Cease (GRN)....56,442 1.44%
Ralph Heap (R)....856,988 21.92%
Jonathon Hill (D)....1,020,300 26.10%
Clara Pratte (D)....1,060,521 27.13%
Kevin Thompson (R)....915,175 23.41%
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Arizona Governor/Lieutenant Governor
Teri Ann Hourihan 17,505 0.82%
Risa Lombardo (GRN) 19,122 0.89%
Katie Hobbs (D) 1,193,939 55.61%
Andy Biggs (R) 916,236 42.68%
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Arkansas Lieutenant Governor
Michael Kalagias (LIB) 212,793 39.81%
Leslie Rutledge (R) 321,669 60.19%
Rick Crawford (R) 126,957 65.45%
Terri Yarbrough Green (D) 60,074 30.97%
Steve G. Parsons (I) 6,938 3.58%
French Hill (R) 127,437 50.88%
Chris Jones (D) 123,032 49.12%
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U.S. House Arkansas District 2
Robb Ryerse (D)....96,189 41.48%
Bobby Wilson (LIB)....8,413 3.63%
Steve Womack (R)....127,303 54.89%
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[U.S. House Arkansas District 3] U.S. House Arkansas District 4
Cole Jester (R)....321,985 60.76%
Christopher Olson (LIB)....207,905 39.24%
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[CALIFORNIA] California Governor
Xavier Becerra (D)....4,992,161 63.94%
Steve Hilton (R)....2,815,459 36.06%
California Treasurer
Jennifer Hawks (R)....2,764,491 36.04%
Eleni Kounalakis (D)....4,905,258 63.96%
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California Controller
Malia M. Cohen (D) 4,891,240 63.77%
Herb W Morgan (R) 2,779,231 36.23%
California Proposition 2
Yes....4,517,170 59.55%
No....3,068,289 40.45%
Yes 4,483,609 58.65%
No 3,160,538 41.35%
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California Proposition 5
Yes.... 3,706,839 50.33%
No.... 3,658,414 49.67%
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California Proposition 37
Yes....4,605,778 60.99%
No....2,946,506 39.01%
Yes....4,221,039 55.72%
No....3,354,819 44.28%
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California Proposition 37
Yes....4,605,778 60.99%
No....2,946,506 39.01%
Yes....4,221,039 55.72%
No....3,354,819 44.28%
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[California Proposition 39] California Proposition 40
Yes 3,419,652 44.41%
No 4,280,110 55.59%
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California Proposition 41
Yes.... 3,598,679 47.57%
No.... 3,966,849 52.43%
Yes 4,150,258 54.32%
No 3,489,519 45.68%
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California Proposition 44
Yes....1,364,440 18.16%
No....6,148,087 81.84%
Yes.... 3,438,817 45.92%
No.... 4,050,212 54.08%
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California Proposition 44
Yes....1,364,440 18.16%
No....6,148,087 81.84%
Yes.... 3,438,817 45.92%
No.... 4,050,212 54.08%
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[California Attorney General] California Secretary of State
Donald P. (Don) Wagner (R) 2,721,661 35.32%
Shirley N. Weber (D) 4,983,791 64.68%
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California Lieutenant Governor
Fiona Ma (D) 4,917,762 63.77%
Gloria Romero (R) 2,794,433 36.23%
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U.S. House California District 1
James Gallagher (R)....66,369 42.97%
Mike McGuire (D)....88,089 57.03%
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U.S. House California District 2
Jared Huffman (D)....106,795 66.54%
Robin Littau (R)....53,693 33.46%
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U.S. House California District 3
Ami Bera (D)....95,372 57.06%
Robb Tucker (R)....71,774 42.94%
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U.S. House California District 4
Eric Jones (D)....61,299 51.52%
Mike Thompson (D)....57,671 48.48%
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U.S. House California District 5
Michael Masuda (D) 79,957 43.79%
Tom McClintock (R) 102,646 56.21%
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U.S. House California District 5
Michael Masuda (D) 79,957 43.79%
Tom McClintock (R) 102,646 56.21%
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[U.S. House California District 6] U.S. House California District 7
Doris Matsui (D) 75,732 57.38%
Mai Vang (D) 56,248 42.62%
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U.S. House California District 8
John Garamendi (D) 111,130 72.34%
Rudy Recile (R) 42,498 27.66%
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U.S. House California District 9
Josh Harder (D)....78,226 65.80%
John McBride (R)....40,665 34.20%
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U.S. House California District 9
Josh Harder (D)....78,226 65.80%
John McBride (R)....40,665 34.20%
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[California Insurance Commissioner] U.S. House California District 10
Mark DeSaulnier (D).... 131,901 69.06%
Jeff Frese (R).... 59,082 30.94%
Connie Chan (D) 78,594 44.54%
Scott Wiener (D) 97,876 55.46%
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[California Insurance Commissioner] U.S. House California District 10
Mark DeSaulnier (D).... 131,901 69.06%
Jeff Frese (R).... 59,082 30.94%
Connie Chan (D) 78,594 44.54%
Scott Wiener (D) 97,876 55.46%
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[California Insurance Commissioner] U.S. House California District 10
Mark DeSaulnier (D).... 131,901 69.06%
Jeff Frese (R).... 59,082 30.94%
Connie Chan (D) 78,594 44.54%
Scott Wiener (D) 97,876 55.46%
---
[California Insurance Commissioner] U.S. House California District 10
Mark DeSaulnier (D).... 131,901 69.06%
Jeff Frese (R).... 59,082 30.94%
Connie Chan (D) 78,594 44.54%
Scott Wiener (D) 97,876 55.46%
---
[California Insurance Commissioner] U.S. House California District 10
Mark DeSaulnier (D).... 131,901 69.06%
Jeff Frese (R).... 59,082 30.94%
Connie Chan (D) 78,594 44.54%
Scott Wiener (D) 97,876 55.46%
---
[California Insurance Commissioner] U.S. House California District 10
Mark DeSaulnier (D).... 131,901 69.06%
Jeff Frese (R).... 59,082 30.94%
Connie Chan (D) 78,594 44.54%
Scott Wiener (D) 97,876 55.46%
---
[California Insurance Commissioner] U.S. House California District 10
Mark DeSaulnier (D).... 131,901 69.06%
Jeff Frese (R).... 59,082 30.94%
Connie Chan (D) 78,594 44.54%
Scott Wiener (D) 97,876 55.46%
---
[California Insurance Commissioner] U.S. House California District 10
Mark DeSaulnier (D).... 131,901 69.06%
Jeff Frese (R).... 59,082 30.94%
Connie Chan (D) 78,594 44.54%
Scott Wiener (D) 97,876 55.46%
---
U.S. House California District 12
Adam Gray (D)....58,217 61.32%
Kevin Lincoln (R)....36,724 38.68%
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U.S. House California District 14
Melissa Hernandez (D) 52,755 43.47%
Aisha Wahab (D) 68,612 56.53%
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U.S. House California District 15
Charles Hoelter (R)....29,845 22.53%
Kevin Mullin (D)....102,633 77.47%
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U.S. House California District 16
Sam Liccardo (D) 112,647 75.98%
Peter Sundin Soulé (R) 35,604 24.02%
[COLORADO] Colorado Treasurer
Jodie Barr (LIB)....44,255 2.04%
Jeff Bridges (D)....1,267,320 58.30%
Kevin Grantham (R)....854,598 39.31%
Marilee Langner Sturgis....7,662 0.35%
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U.S. Senate Colorado
Mark Baisley (R)....836,474 35.68%
Christopher Baum....3,409 0.15%
Bob Chew....60,828 2.59%
John Hickenlooper (D)....1,406,783 60.01%
Blake Huber (LIB)....26,226 1.12%
Adam Withrow....10,665 0.45%
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U.S. Senate Colorado
Mark Baisley (R)....836,474 35.68%
Christopher Baum....3,409 0.15%
Bob Chew....60,828 2.59%
John Hickenlooper (D)....1,406,783 60.01%
Blake Huber (LIB)....26,226 1.12%
Adam Withrow....10,665 0.45%
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Colorado Amendment 81
Yes....988,198 45.14%
No....1,200,803 54.86%
Colorado Amendment 62
Yes....1,004,671 46.31%
No....1,164,647 53.69%
---
Colorado Amendment 83
Coverage Commitments to
Yes....977,128 45.01%
No....1,193,885 54.99%
Yes....806,498 36.80%
No....1,385,094 63.20%
---
Colorado Amendment 83
Coverage Commitments to
Yes....977,128 45.01%
No....1,193,885 54.99%
Yes....806,498 36.80%
No....1,385,094 63.20%
---
Colorado Amendment 86
Yes....999,287 46.75%
No....1,138,370 53.25%
Yes....1,099,295 50.40%
No....1,081,719 49.60%
Colorado Proposition 132
Yes....1,148,292 52.84%
No....1,024,805 47.16%
---
Colorado Proposition 133
Yes....1,346,602 62.00%
No....825,323 38.00%
---
Colorado Proposition 135
Yes....1,142,090 52.55%
No....1,031,138 47.45%
---
Colorado Proposition 136
Yes 1,020,369 47.49%
No 1,128,269 52.51%
Colorado Proposition 14
Yes....1,088,853 50.36%
No....1,073,186 49.64%
---
Colorado Proposition 136
Yes 1,020,369 47.49%
No 1,128,269 52.51%
Colorado Proposition 14
Yes....1,088,853 50.36%
No....1,073,186 49.64%
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[U.S. House California District 17] U.S. House California District 18
Ro Khanna (D)....75,971 70.61%
Ritesh Tandon (R)....31,621 29.39%
Shane Lewis (R)....28,569 28.28%
Zoe Lofgren (D)....72,451 71.72%
Peter Coe Verbica (R)....50,131 26.67%
Jimmy Panetta (D)....137,866 73.33%
Vince Fong (R) 102,115 62.26%
Sandra Scotter (D) 61,887 37.74%
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U.S. House California District 21
Jim Costa (D)....53,874 62.21%
Kyle Kirkland (R)....32,732 37.79%
David Valadao (R) 27,480 33.59%
Rudy Villegas (D) 54,337 66.41%
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[U.S. House California District 23] U.S. House California District 24
Salud O. Carbajal (D)....109,061 65.83%
Bob Smith (R)....56,606 34.17%
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U.S. House California District 25
Joe Males (R).... 38,455 35.59%
Raul Ruiz (D).... 69,581 64.41%
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U.S. House California District 27
Sam Gallucci (R) 68,307 38.40%
Jacqui Irwin (D) 109,558 61.60%
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U.S. House California District 28
Judy Chu (D) 121,906 68.37%
April A. Verlato (R) 56,394 31.63%
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U.S. House California District 29
Angelica Maria Duenas (R) 45,955 39.82%
Luz Maria Rivas (D) 69,450 60.18%
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[U.S. House California District 30] U.S. House California District 31
Alex Balekian Meyers (R)....43,453 24.53%
Laura Friedman (D)....133,724 75.47%
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U.S. House California District 32
Brad Sherman (D).... 124,371 65.80%
Larry Thompson (R).... 64,635 34.20%
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[U.S. House California District 33] U.S. House California District 34
Pete Aguilar (D)....76,663 67.66%
Stephanie M. Vargas (R)....36,648 32.34%
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U.S. House California District 35
Mike Cargile (R) 38,102 34.39%
Norma Torres (D) 72,707 65.61%
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U.S. House California District 36
Houston Brignano (R) 61,486 29.34%
Ted Lieu (D) 148,056 70.66%
Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D)....73,622 61.98%
Samantha Mota (R)....45,170 38.02%
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[U.S. House California District 38] U.S. House California District 39
Steve Manos (R)....25,504 34.65%
Mark Takano (D)....48,095 65.35%
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U.S. House California District 40
Ken Calvert (R) 70,550 54.53%
Young Kim (R) 58,817 45.47%
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U.S. House California District 41
Mitch Clemmons (R)....59,126 35.05%
Linda Sánchez (D)....109,542 64.95%
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[U.S. House California District 42] U.S. House California District 43
Cristian Morales (R) 22,906 18.75%
Maxine Waters (D) 99,258 81.25%
U.S. House California District 44
Genevieve Angel (R) 24,340 20.19%
Nanette Barragan (D) 96,194 79.81%
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[U.S. House California District 46] U.S. House California District 47
Dave Min (D) 113,811 56.74%
Jenny Rae Le Roux (R) 86,784 43.26%
Jim Desmond (R)....63,015 40.41%
Marni von Wilpert (D)....92,924 59.59%
[U.S. House California District 49] U.S. House California District 50
