Severe storms with strong winds and hail have hit the southwestern United States. The weather caused damage in multiple areas, affecting people and property.
Key Facts
Powerful storms are affecting the southwestern U.S. region.
The storms include strong winds and hail.
Damage to buildings, vehicles, and crops has been reported in some locations.
Emergency services are responding to calls related to storm impacts.
Weather officials warn of possible flash flooding and continued severe weather.
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Virginia state senator L. Louise Lucas was charged by federal authorities with drug trafficking and money laundering linked to a criminal group that sold large amounts of marijuana. The charges also involve family members, and the FBI said Lucas used her political power to protect the illegal business.
Key Facts
L. Louise Lucas is a Virginia state senator and president pro tempore of the state senate.
She was indicted along with six others, including family members, on drug and money laundering charges.
Authorities say they ran a multi-year marijuana trafficking operation called "the Lucas Enterprise."
Lucas allegedly used her position as chair of the Senate Finance Committee to avoid law enforcement scrutiny.
The FBI searched her office and a cannabis shop she partly owns in May.
Marijuana possession is legal in Virginia, but retail sales of recreational marijuana are not yet allowed.
Lucas has supported marijuana legalization and co-opened a cannabis shop selling hemp and CBD products.
She also manages companies that provide services to adults with intellectual disabilities.
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A rare storm hit Phoenix, Arizona, causing large hail and heavy rain. The hail damaged homes, broke windows, and forced people to take shelter inside cars. The National Weather Service warned about the storm and possible tornadoes.
Key Facts
The storm brought hail the size of golf balls in Phoenix.
Hail damaged houses and broke windows in the area.
People were seen sheltering inside cars to stay safe.
The National Weather Service issued multiple weather warnings.
Tornado watches were also announced during the storm.
The intense storm covered neighborhoods with ice.
The storm affected other parts of Arizona, not just Phoenix.
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Sabato’s Crystal Ball, a group that predicts election results, changed its rating for the Ohio governor race. It now thinks Democratic candidate Amy Acton has a better chance after Republican Vivek Ramaswamy released a controversial attack ad.
Key Facts
Sabato’s Crystal Ball is an election forecast group.
The Ohio governor race rating changed from "toss-up" to "leans Democratic."
Democratic nominee Amy Acton benefits from this change in rating.
Republican nominee Vivek Ramaswamy released an attack ad that sparked controversy.
The ad was described as "explosive" and labeled "desperate" by the forecaster.
The change suggests the ad may have hurt Ramaswamy’s campaign chances.
The race was previously considered very close between the two candidates.
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Two mothers, Hope Hooton and Kellie Elliott, feared their children were unsafe with their fathers, who later killed their children. The article looks at how family courts sometimes miss or ignore warnings about danger, and it examines calls for changes to protect children in custody cases.
Key Facts
Hope Hooton sought protection after her husband showed signs of suicidal behavior and mental health problems.
Kellie Elliott documented long-term domestic violence and abuse by her child's father.
Both fathers were allowed unsupervised visits with their children despite these concerns.
The fathers later killed their children during these visits.
Evidence of danger to the children was often missed, ignored, or never reached family courts.
There is a debate about equal custody laws and how they may affect child safety.
Experts and advocates suggest changes in court practices to better protect children from violence.
The film "Fault Lines" explores these issues through the mothers’ stories.
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Many Americans are feeling financial pressure even when they have jobs. Wages are growing slower than prices, and some workers have to settle for part-time jobs or multiple jobs to cover their expenses.
Key Facts
Stacy Eichel lost her healthcare marketing job and now depends more on her side business, which is struggling as companies cut spending.
The unemployment rate only counts people actively looking for work, but a broader measure, U-6, which includes underemployed workers, is still high at 7.6 percent.
About 4.5 million people work part-time because they cannot find full-time work.
Nine million Americans have more than one job, making up 5.5 percent of employed workers.
Average wages went up 3 percent in the past year, but prices increased by 3.7 percent, meaning people can buy less with their earnings.
In the most recent month, prices rose 0.6 percent while wages rose only 0.1 percent, increasing financial stress on workers.
Many workers, including college graduates and former executives, work lower-paying or part-time jobs because better work is not available.
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Kashim Chowdhury, a UK civil servant, is on trial for fraud after holding five full-time public sector jobs at the same time without telling his employers. He said he was "in a panic" and "not thinking straight" when applying for multiple roles and that his jobs helped him cope while caring for his sick mother.
Key Facts
Chowdhury held five full-time civil service jobs simultaneously in 2023.
These jobs included roles at the Department for Environment (Defra), Department of Health, Food Standards Agency, Department for Business and Trade, and Home Office.
He was contracted to work 183 hours a week, which is more than the total hours in a week.
Each job paid a full-time salary; in one month, he earned £11,000.
The prosecution says he exploited the work-from-home setup to hide his multiple jobs and took sick leave when needed.
Chowdhury said he applied hurriedly and did not want some of the jobs but accepted offers coming at the same time.
He cared for his ill mother, which he said made him overwhelmed and the jobs served as a link to the outside world for him.
Chowdhury denies intending to act dishonestly or gain unfairly.
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A federal appeals court ruled against the Trump administration’s claim that the six-month detention limit for immigrants should restart when they are detained again. The court decided that the six-month limit applies only once and sent the case of immigrant Kaveh Abedi back to a lower court for further review.
Key Facts
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit made the ruling in June 2025.
The case involved Kaveh Abedi, an Iranian immigrant detained by ICE after being released more than 20 years earlier.
The court said the six-month detention limit starts only once after a removal order becomes final and should not reset if detainees are held again later.
The six-month rule comes from a 2001 Supreme Court case, Zadvydas v. Davis, which protects immigrants from long-term detention if deportation is unlikely soon.
Abedi had been protected from removal under the Convention Against Torture and lived in the U.S. lawfully for many years.
The court also found that Abedi was not given a prompt chance to challenge his detention, violating federal rules.
The ruling sends the case back to the lower court to reconsider Abedi’s detention without restarting the six-month clock.
This ruling does not mean all immigrants detained again must be released, but it clarifies how courts should apply detention limits.
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A valuable historic globe linked to President Dwight D. Eisenhower was damaged by staff while trying to move it to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s office in the Pentagon. The globe broke because aides moved it themselves instead of hiring specialists, and it is now being repaired.
Key Facts
The globe dates back to before World War II and was used by Eisenhower to plan the D-Day landings.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth requested the globe for his Pentagon office.
His staff tried to move the globe without professional movers and dropped it during the move.
The globe broke off its stand and suffered a large crack near Antarctica on the globe.
The globe is one of two similar historic items kept in the Pentagon since the 1930s.
The Pentagon, now called the “war department” during President Trump’s administration, said the globe was a replica.
The Department of Defense said the accident was minor, no one was hurt, and the globe is being fixed.
Specialized companies have completed successful cautious moves of similar globes in the past, involving carefully built protective cases.
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In the upcoming elections, voters are set to choose a large group of new members for Congress. This new group may also be among the youngest ever elected.
Key Facts
The next election will bring in a significant number of new lawmakers to Congress.
The incoming group is expected to be one of the youngest classes in recent history.
Freshman classes refer to new members serving their first term in Congress.
This change shows a shift in the makeup of lawmakers by age and experience.
Despite new faces, this does not guarantee all current problems in Congress will be solved.
Voters have a chance to influence the future direction of Congress through these elections.
The generational change may impact how Congress works but challenges will remain.
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Two 15-year-old girls were arrested for allegedly planning a school shooting at Corona High School in California. Police found they had a list of names and were possibly motivated by revenge, but no weapons were found. The investigation is ongoing, and both remain in custody on charges related to conspiracy to commit murder.
Key Facts
The FBI alerted local police about online communications suggesting a threat to Corona High School.
The first suspect is a 15-year-old student at Corona High School; the second is a 15-year-old from Norco High School.
Investigators found evidence the girls researched past school shootings and discussed how to get weapons.
Police discovered a list of individuals’ names, indicating potential targets, but the motive seems focused on the school itself.
No weapons were found during searches of residences and electronic devices.
The suspects are charged with conspiracy to commit murder and are being held in juvenile custody.
The Riverside County District Attorney’s Office is reviewing the case to decide on formal charges or whether to move the suspects to adult court.
Law enforcement agencies involved include Corona Police, FBI, Riverside County Sheriff's Office, and Corona-Norco Unified School District.
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President Donald Trump is campaigning for Republican candidates in states that typically vote for his party as the U.S. election day approaches. The article mentions his support for Darline Graham amid disagreements about lifting sanctions on Russia but primarily focuses on his ongoing election efforts.
Key Facts
President Trump is actively campaigning in Republican-leaning states.
Election Day is approaching soon.
Darline Graham is one of the candidates Trump supports.
Some Republicans disagree about removing sanctions on Russia.
The article highlights Trump’s efforts to rally voters for the GOP.
The main focus is on election campaigning, not on the Russia sanctions debate.
The content is related to U.S. domestic politics and election activity.
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More than 18 million Americans have voted early in the 2026 midterm elections by mail or in person. Early voting data shows that Democrats are more enthusiastic in some key states, though the final results will also depend on who votes closer to or on Election Day.
Key Facts
Over 18 million early votes had been cast in the 2026 midterms as of October 22, 2026.
Democrats have cast a higher share of early votes compared to 2024 in states like Georgia and Iowa.
In some states without party registration, data models predict likely party support, showing more Democratic early voting.
Early voting trends suggest higher enthusiasm among Democrats, consistent with this year’s primary elections.
Polls show more Democrats say they are certain or enthusiastic about voting compared to Republicans.
Republicans tend to vote more on Election Day, which may balance early voting advantages for Democrats.
Past elections showed Democrats lead in mail ballots, while Republicans tend to lead in early in-person and Election Day votes.
The total votes usually split fairly evenly between mail, early in-person, and Election Day votes.
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A recent survey shows most people want the next U.S. Congress to focus on lowering the cost of living and ending the war in Iran. About 80% of those surveyed said lawmakers should make reducing prices a top priority.
Key Facts
The survey polled 1,119 people.
Around 80% want Congress to focus on lowering costs.
Ending the war involving Iran is also a top concern.
The survey was done by the Associated Press and NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.
Respondents identified cost of living and foreign conflicts as key issues.
The results reflect public priorities for the next Congress’s work.
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Sherrod Brown, the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Ohio, has gained support in recent polls after Republican Vivek Ramaswamy took responsibility for a controversial campaign ad against Brown’s opponent Dr. Amy Acton. The ad, which involves Acton’s estranged mother, has caused debate in the Ohio governor’s race and may affect both the Senate and governor contests on the November 3 ballot.
Key Facts
Sherrod Brown is running to reclaim an Ohio Senate seat against Republican Jon Husted.
Vivek Ramaswamy is the Republican candidate for Ohio governor and created a campaign ad targeting Democrat Amy Acton.
The ad features Amy Acton’s birth mother disputing Acton's childhood story about abuse and living in a tent.
Since the ad aired, Brown’s chances of winning have increased by about 5-8 points in prediction markets.
A recent Marist poll shows Brown leading Husted 48% to 44%, and Acton leading Ramaswamy 50% to 43%.
President Donald Trump supports Ramaswamy, but his approval rating in Ohio is 43%, with 55% disapproving.
Vice President J.D. Vance and Senator Husted have mixed reactions to the ad controversy.
Brown and Acton plan to appear with former President Barack Obama at a rally to promote a unified Democratic campaign.
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Federal agents from the Department of Homeland Security have been visiting houses in some states to check whether people are citizens and eligible to vote. This activity is happening as the U.S. midterm elections near and has raised concerns about voter suppression.
Key Facts
Federal agents from DHS have knocked on doors in certain states to check citizenship and voter status.
These visits are taking place ahead of the U.S. midterm elections.
The efforts are related to voting eligibility verification.
Some people have expressed worry that these actions might suppress voter turnout.
The DHS action is linked to the administration under President Donald Trump.
The news was reported by Nicole Sganga on CBS News.
The focus is on ensuring only eligible voters participate in elections.
This activity is part of broader election security and enforcement measures.
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Virginia state Senator L. Louise Lucas and six others have been charged by the Department of Justice in a case involving marijuana trafficking and corruption. Prosecutors say Lucas used her political position to help run a marijuana business involved in illegal activities.
Key Facts
Senator L. Louise Lucas, a Democrat and Virginia Senate pro tempore, was indicted by federal authorities.
The indictment accuses her and six others, including family members, of running a marijuana trafficking operation.
The charges include racketeering (running a criminal business), money laundering (hiding illegal money), drug trafficking, and fraud.
Prosecutors say Lucas used her political roles to protect the business from investigation.
Over 100 kilograms of marijuana were allegedly bought and sold through the operation.
Marijuana and firearms were found during FBI searches of Lucas’ office and dispensary.
Lucas surrendered to authorities following the indictment unveiling.
This investigation dates back to the Biden administration and was publicly known after FBI raids in May 2026.
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Virginia state Senator L. Louise Lucas was charged with public corruption and taken into custody. The Department of Justice says she and her family ran an illegal marijuana business and broke the law by selling and handling large amounts of marijuana.
Key Facts
Senator L. Louise Lucas from Virginia was charged with public corruption.
The charges were announced by the Department of Justice.
The case involves her and family members in a marijuana business.
The marijuana business was illegal according to the indictment.
The accusation includes obtaining and selling large amounts of marijuana.
The charges accuse them of racketeering, which means running a criminal operation.
Lucas was taken into custody after the indictment was made public.
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Senator Roger Marshall said the war in Ukraine has caused diesel prices to rise because it has lowered diesel production. He mentioned that energy costs are a major issue as the U.S. midterm elections approach.
Key Facts
Senator Roger Marshall is from Kansas and is a member of the Republican Party.
He said the war in Ukraine is the main reason diesel prices are high.
Diesel production has decreased due to the war.
High energy costs, including diesel prices, are a key concern for voters before the midterm elections.
The statement was made on a Wednesday during a discussion of energy and politics.
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There are worries about possible political problems and disagreements before the new Congress starts on January 3. Some members are nervous that these issues could disrupt the opening day.
Key Facts
The new session of Congress is set to begin on January 3.
Some members expect political interference during this time.
There are concerns about partisan challenges, meaning conflicts between political parties.
These concerns have caused nervousness among members.
Potential disruptions could affect the normal start of Congress.
The worries focus on the opening day events.
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