Welcome to spooky season 👻!🙋🏼♀️ I'mNicole Fallert. Chunk is thefattest bear. The federal governmentshut downat midnight. Life in Broadview, Illinois, has beentransformedamid ICE presence. This WNBA star'sexit interviewwas the news conference heard around the world. There's no end to a government shutdown in sight as Democratic lawmakers demand health care policy changes that President Donald Trump and Republicans have refused to entertain. What is a government shutdown?Each fiscal year, Congress appropriates funds for federal agencies to operate. If Congress does not agree on appropriations or a temporary spending bill, federal agencies must effectively shut down or stop normal spending. How we got here:Both sidestraded barbs over who is to blame. Democrats have demanded the reversal of Medicaid cuts that Republicans passed this year and the extension of health care subsidies be included in a funding measure. Some Americans awake to uncertain employment.Trump said he maylay off"vast numbers" of federal workers and eliminate programs in a shutdown. What happens Wednesday?The Senate will reconvene this morning, while the House won't be in session at all. Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican, iskeeping lawmakers in recessin order to pressure Democrats. Will a government shutdowndelayyour flight? A shutdownwon't excuse borrowersfrom making progress on their student loans. Banks, post offices, courts, parks —know what's open and closed. Which Democratsbroke ranksto fund the government? Here's what veteransshould knowabout service disruptions. How do Americansfeelabout a shutdown? A judgeruledTrump's deportation moves against pro-Palestinian students were unconstitutional. Homescollapsedas waves from hurricanes Imelda and Humberto slam North Carolina. How will "TrumpRx"lowerdrug prices? A year after a USA TODAY investigation,a rape kit backlog persists. What's the weather today?Check your local forecast here. President Donald Trump threatened firings and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth lambasted "decades of decay" at the Pentagon as they spoke before a silent audience of hundreds of top military commanders who'd traveled from around the world on short notice to hear them at a Quantico, Virginia military base. Hegseth, who took the podium first before a billboard-sized American flag, unveiled his major policy priorities, telling the country's military elite that new measures would weed out political correctness among the world's most powerful armed forces.Critics said the gatheringwas a wasteof taxpayer dollars and dangerous to national security ~Katrina Thompson, mayor of the small village of Broadview outside Chicago home to a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility,saying federal agents the area amount to a "siege."Tense moments between the two sides in Broadview have frequently ended with federal agents deploying chemical agents and other crowd control tactics on protesters as well as journalists. Heartbreak overNicole Kidman and Keith Urbanis everywhere. Jimmy Kimmel, Stephen Colbert, and Seth Meyersunitedto say "Hi Donald." We'rewatching"Love is Blind" Season 9. See what 50 differenthomeslook like across America. In her end-of-season comments this week, Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier called out WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert and the league's lack of transparency, in addition to officiating concerns, player safety, and stalled CBA negotiations. Collier, who currently serves as the WNBPA vice president, said she decided to publicly air her grievances after repeated concerns she voiced directly to Engelbert went ignored.Collier made it clear that she was speaking for herself — but fellow WNBA players, coaches and former starsare now speaking upin support of Collier. Engelbert said she was"disheartened"amid the criticism. On the court: The Las Vegas Acesheld off the Indiana Feverto reach the WNBA Finals. October is here and so are Trader Joe's Halloween-themed mini canvas bags.Here's how to get oneof the viral totes. Nicole Fallert is a newsletter writer at USA TODAY,sign up for the email here. Want to send Nicole a note? Shoot her an email at NFallert@usatoday.com. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Shutdown, hurricane, military, ICE, WNBA, Halloween, Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban: Daily Briefing
