Senate approves bill to end the shutdown, sending it to the House
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate has passed legislation to reopen the government, bringing the longest shutdown in history closer to an end after a small group of Democrats struck a deal with Republicans. The shutdown could last a few more days as members of the House, which has been on recess since mid-September, return to Washington to vote on the legislation. President Donald Trump has signaled support for the bill, saying Monday that “we’re going to be opening up our country very quickly.” The final 60-40 Senate vote broke a grueling stalemate that lasted more than six weeks as Democrats demanded that Republicans negotiate with them to extend health care tax credits. The Republicans never did.
Trump administration renews Supreme Court appeal to keep full SNAP payments frozen
The Trump administration is again asking the Supreme Court to keep full food aid payments on hold. The request Monday is the latest in a legal fight over how the SNAP program that helps 42 million Americans buy groceries should proceed during the government shutdown. Lower courts have ordered the government to keep all the money flowing. The justices are expected to decide late Tuesday whether to halt those orders, amid signs the shutdown could soon come to an end. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says it shouldn’t be forced to use certain funds for SNAP because they might be needed elsewhere.
While Trump threatens controllers, US flight cancellations will drag on even after shutdown ends
Air travelers should expect worsening cancellations and delays this week even if the government shutdown ends. The Federal Aviation Administration is moving ahead with deeper cuts to flights at 40 major U.S. airports. After a weekend of thousands of canceled flights, airlines scrapped another 2,300 flights Monday and more than 1,000 for Tuesday. Air traffic controllers have been unpaid for nearly a month. Some have stopped showing up to work, citing the added stress and the need to take second jobs. Controller shortages led to average delays of four hours at Chicago O’Hare on Monday. President Donald Trump pressured controllers via social media, writing “get back to work, NOW!!!”
Supreme Court rejects call to overturn its decision legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court has rejected a call to overturn its landmark decision that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide. The justices on Monday turned away an appeal from a former Kentucky court clerk who refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples after the Supreme Court’s 2015 ruling. Clerk Kim Davis had been trying to get the justices to overturn a lower-court order that she pay $360,000 in damages and attorney’s fees. Justice Clarence Thomas has urged his colleagues to overturn the Supreme Court's marriage decision, much as they did in 2022 when the high court overturned the right to abortion.
Arctic air hits much of the US, bringing snow to some areas and very chilly temperatures to Florida
The eastern two-thirds of the United States is experiencing some of the coldest weather of the autumn season. Arctic air is affecting millions, with record low temperatures expected in the Southeast, including Florida. On Monday, gusty winds and red flag warnings hit the Midwest, while the Great Lakes and Appalachian regions could see significant snowfall. In Florida, wind chills might cause iguanas to fall from trees. Local governments across the South have opened heated shelters. Hazardous road conditions are affecting travel in Tennessee, Michigan, Indiana, and Wisconsin. Gardeners in the Midwest and Northeast are advised to protect plants as the growing season ends.
Deployment of West Virginia National Guard members in nation’s capital can continue, judge rules
A West Virginia state judge has allowed the continued deployment of more than 300 West Virginia National Guard members to Washington, D.C. Kanawha County Circuit Judge Richard D. Lindsay made the ruling Monday after hearing arguments in a lawsuit by a civic organization. The group says Republican Gov. Patrick Morrisey exceeded his authority with the deployment. Morrisey’s office argues it is authorized under federal law. Trump issued an executive order in August declaring a crime emergency in Washington. Within a month, more than 2,300 Guard troops from eight states and the District of Columbia were patrolling. But the U.S. Justice Department says violent crime there is at a 30-year low.
Former French President Sarkozy released from prison pending appeal in conspiracy case
PARIS (AP) — France’s former President Nicolas Sarkozy has left a Paris prison after an appeals court granted him release under judicial supervision. It's less that three weeks after he began serving a five-year sentence for criminal conspiracy in a scheme to finance his 2007 election campaign with funds from Libya. Sarkozy was seen arriving at his home in western Paris. The former president, 70, is banned from leaving the French territory and from being in touch with key people including co-defendants and witnesses in the case. An appeals trial is expected to take place later, possibly in the spring.
Canada loses measles elimination status after ongoing outbreaks
International health experts say Canada is no longer measles-free because of ongoing outbreaks, as childhood vaccination rates fall and the highly contagious virus spreads across North and South America. The loss of the country’s measles elimination status comes more than a year after the highly contagious virus started spreading. Canada has logged 5,138 measles cases this year and two deaths. Both were babies who were exposed to the measles virus in the womb and born prematurely.
The FDA removes a long-standing warning from hormone-based menopause drugs
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Food and Drug Administration says it will remove a long-standing warning from hormone-based drugs used to treat menopause symptoms in women. The change announced Monday is a break from more than 20 years of FDA policy, in which the drugs carried the agency’s most severe warning label. But FDA Commissioner Marty Makary and some other doctors have long criticized the current warning label as outdated and unnecessary. They say it discourages some women from seeking treatment that can help with hot flashes, vaginal dryness and other uncomfortable symptoms. Other experts have said the warning carries important information about risks of stroke, heart attack and breast cancer.
MLB, sportsbooks cap bets on individual pitches in response to pitch rigging scandal
Major League Baseball said its authorized gaming operators will cap bets on individual pitches at $200 and exclude them from parlays, a day after two Cleveland Guardians were indicted and accused of rigging pitches at the behest of gamblers. MLB said Monday the limits were agreed to by sportsbook operators representing more than 98% of the U.S. betting market. The league said in a statement that pitch-level bets on outcomes of pitch velocity and of balls and strikes “present heightened integrity risks because they focus on one-off events that can be determined by a single player and can be inconsequential to the outcome of the game.”
