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Many GOP states have imposed new voting rules this year, some mirroring Trump's midterm proposals
President Donald Trump has pushed Congress to pass a proof-of-citizenship law, signed an executive order seeking a national voter ID requirement and tried to limit mail voting through U.S. Postal Service changes.None of those moves succeeded in time to affect this year’s midterm elections. It’s a different matter in the states.More than three dozen voting laws passed in Republican-controlled states are taking effect for the first time this year, many of them containing elements of Trump’s stalled proposals. They include changes to what IDs are acceptable to register for the first time and requirements to show proof of citizenship, an issue the Republican president has tried but failed to get through Congress."Trump's attacks on our elections are deeply damaging, but they are not happening in isolation," said Sophia Lin Lakin, director of the American Civil Liberties Union's Voting Rights Project. "Across the country, states are also advancing restrictions that make it harder for eligible voters to cast a ballot.”Republican lawmakers who support the tighter voting laws, especially around voter ID, describe them as common sense changes that help build trust in elections.Trump and other Republicans have been pushing for more restrictive rules since the president’s false claims of widespread fraud in his 2020 election loss to Democrat Joe Biden. Trump's false claims have resonated with Republican voters, a majority of whom believe Biden was not legitimately elected despite all evidence to the contrary. Trump lost dozens of court challenges, his own attorney general found no evidence of widespread fraud, and reviews, audits and recounts in the battleground states where he contested his loss all affirmed Biden's victory.Among the changes confronting voters as early voting gets underway: Students in New Hampshire can no longer use student IDs; Utah voters returning mail ballots must include more information on the envelope; and some voters in Mississippi might need birth certificates or passports to verify their identities.Changes to voter ID requirements are challengedNew Hampshire state Rep. Donald McFarlane said he sponsored the bill to eliminate student IDs as acceptable for voting because colleges don't have the same controls when issuing those cards as government agencies."The change removes a special exception and applies the same government-issued ID standard to all voters," he said, adding that his bill had bipartisan support.Students, he said, can still get state IDs free of charge.The new requirements have not gone unchallenged.In South Dakota, the ACLU has filed a lawsuit seeking to halt a new law that includes requiring voters registering for the first time to present the most common forms of ID — driver’s licenses, Tribal IDs and non-driver state IDs. They must be presented in person at places that accept registration."Proof of citizenship in itself is not terrible," said Kathryn Johnson, president of the League of Women Voters of South Dakota. Her concern is the requirement to present the IDs in person."We're kind of a remote state, so sometimes it takes a drive, and you have to coordinate, you have to take off work, and all of these kinds of things," she said.Some Democrats also have expressed support for voter ID during recent debates. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said he was open to the idea as long as it wasn’t based on "conspiracy theories." When legislatures change their state’s voting laws, they typically give election offices and voters time to adjust. Trump wanted federal voter ID and proof-of-citizenship legislation to take effect immediately, forcing election officials and voters to comply in the middle of the midterms.Ohio seeks to scrub voter rolls Ohio has a proof of citizenship requirement in effect for the first time this year for those registering to vote or updating their voter registration information at a Bureau of Motor Vehicles location. The state also eliminated its four-day grace period for mail ballots, which now must be received at local election offices by Election Day.Yet the biggest concern for voting rights groups is an ongoing purge of the state’s voter rolls. The databases used to check citizenship against voter registration lists can be outdated, said Freda Levenson, legal director of the ACLU of Ohio, which has sued to overturn the law."Vast numbers of perfectly eligible voters are vulnerable to being disenfranchised," she said.Republican state Sen. Theresa Gavarone, one of the primary sponsors of the bill, challenged the ACLU’s legal action and said the problem it addresses is a real one."In the past two years, hundreds of noncitizens have been removed from Ohio's voter rolls,” she said in an email. “Every single vote cast by a noncitizen disenfranchises a lawful Ohio voter."Voters have mixed views on the changesOutside an early voting center in Wayne County, Ohio, retired steel worker Dan Walter, an independent voter, said he opposes requiring documentary proof of citizenship to vote."It's to keep people from voting, it sounds to me like," he said.His wife, Jody, a retired aerospace executive and a Democrat, said she felt the same way about Ohio’s new requirement for registering to vote."A driver's license doesn't prove citizenship, and that's all they ask for now," she said. "It's going to be an obstacle for so many people."Genia Fortune had a different view. A nurse, the Millersburg resident described herself as an independent and said she voted for President Barack Obama, a Democrat, and later for Trump. She believes Trump’s false claims that the 2020 election was stolen and sees requiring documentary proof of citizenship as a necessary precaution."I just feel like you need to be a citizen and show proof of ID," she said. U.S. & World Trump administration Oct 11 Trump sticks with tariffs even as U.S. voters turn against them before the midterms Elections Oct 10 Bracing for the midterms, Trump says he will be blamed if Republicans lose Supreme Court Sep 25 Supreme Court lifts restrictions on federal data system for citizenship checks Voting and election laws have become a regular target for legislaturesThe Trump administration has pushed multiple strategies to influence this year's midterm elections, most of them stymied by Congress or the courts.Chris Diaz, director of legislative tracking at the Voting Rights Lab, said the group has seen several versions of the Republican president's proposals passed by his allies in the states.A recently released report by the group highlighted some of the key areas drawing Republican lawmakers' attention, including mail balloting, voter ID and the hunt for noncitizens on voter rolls.Noncitizen voting has been a focus of the Trump administration despite it being a rare problem. The U.S. Department of Justice recently announced it had brought charges in roughly 90 cases for various types of election misconduct, including 50 against people who are alleged to have voted as noncitizens. The U.S. had 227 million registered voters for the 2024 presidential election.The Brennan Center for Justice has identified nearly 40 laws in 21 states taking effect this election season that will make it harder for eligible voters to register, stay on the rolls or cast ballots.The report from the center, part of the New York University School of Law, found that many of the new laws target subsets of voters."What I want voters to take away from this is that elections are still run by the states and there are still people in many states who are trying to make it harder for you to vote,” said Sean Morales-Doyle, senior director of the center's Voting Rights and Elections Program. "But that’s all the more reason to go make a plan to vote and participate."
Down 1-0, Dodgers seek more postseason heroics from Yoshinobu Yamamoto
The Dodgers will look for another strong postseason start from pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto Monday afternoon when they take on the Brewers in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series in Milwaukee.Yamamoto, 8-1 with a 2.14 ERA in 11 postseason appearances, will face Logan Henderson as Los Angeles tries to even the series after Sunday’s 2-1 loss in the opener. Yamamoto pitched a three-hitter in a 5-1 victory at Milwaukee in Game 2 of last year’s NLCS, just one of his clutch playoff performances in helping Los Angeles to its second straight World Series. Los Angeles Dodgers 17 hours ago Dodgers drop Game 1 of the NLCS to Brewers 2-1 Los Angeles Dodgers Oct 11 Dodgers keep infielder Miguel Rojas on their NLCS roster against the Brewers Henderson is making his second career postseason start. The right-hander tossed five-plus innings of two-run ball in Milwaukee’s 4-3 win over San Diego in Game 2 of their NL Division Series.Henderson went 2-0 with a 0.75 ERA in two starts against Los Angeles this season.Los Angeles is looking to become the first team to win three straight championships since the 1998-2000 New York Yankees. Milwaukee had lost seven consecutive postseason games against Los Angeles, including a sweep in last year’s NLCS.Sunday’s Game 1 saw the Dodgers jump out to a 1-0 lead against Brewer’s ace and Cy Young Award candidate Jacob Misiorowski, but the offense struggled with runners in scoring position. Los Angeles chased Misiorowski in the fifth inning, but managed just two hits against a Milwaukee bullpen that has allowed one earned run in 23 2/3 postseason innings.LA grounded into three double plays, stranded nine runners and went 1 for 6 with runners in scoring position, dropping to 2 for 22 in the playoffs“You can't go into a long series against a team that has the best record in baseball and expect to just win four,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “It's going to be a long series. We knew it coming in.”The Dodgers have scored a total of 15 runs in their five playoff games so far. They are 2 for 22 with runners in scoring position, adding to the difficulty of their pursuit of a third consecutive World Series championship.They scored 24 runs and hit .324 with runners in scoring position over their first five postseason games in 2024. They scored 29 times and batted .265 with runners in scoring position over the same period in last year’s playoffs.Catcher Will Smith is 1 for 19 in the postseason after going 0 for 3 with a walk against the Brewers. Shohei Ohtani is 3 for 16 with no extra-base hits or RBIs. Mookie Betts is 4 for 18.Betts was the leadoff hitter for the NLCS opener. Smith batted third, and Ohtani was in the cleanup spot. Asked about changing the lineup to help Smith, Roberts acknowledged that was a possibility."I think there's always lineup construction," Roberts said. "I can think through — yeah, he's not swinging the bat well. Yeah, we'll see. I just — it's hard because the body of work, and he just has that knack to get a hit, to get a big hit."Smith batted .276 (16 for 58) with eight RBIs in the postseason last year. He homered twice in the World Series against Toronto.Los Angeles scored its only run Sunday night when Ohtani scampered home on Andy Pages’ single in the second. The Dodgers had the bases loaded when Kiké Hernández bounced into an inning-ending double play against Brewers ace Jacob Misiorowski.Pages struck out with runners on the corners for the final out of the sixth. Batting with two on and two down in the ninth, Betts flied to the warning track in center.
Agents search Rep. Omar's home in criminal probe as she vows she won't 'be silenced'
Federal agents on Monday searched the home of Democratic U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar, a startling escalation in a criminal investigation that brings renewed focus to the frequent target of Trump administration derision in the final weeks of her reelection bid.The search of the Minnesota congresswoman’s home so close to next month’s midterm contests that will determine control of the House and the Senate was swiftly condemned by top Democrats in Congress, who raised questions about the timing given longstanding Justice Department protocol to avoid overt investigative steps involving political candidates in the direct run-up to an election. Omar, an outspoken critic of President Donald Trump, said separately that she was being targeted as one of the Republican’s "political enemies."The nature and scope of the investigation were unclear, though Trump and officials in his administration have repeatedly referred in recent months to the existence of an inquiry into Omar, a Somali-born Democrat whose status as an immigrant to the U.S. and left-wing views have drawn scrutiny from the White House and other Republicans.Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin last month cited an "ongoing investigation" that he suggested was examining potential fraud on her family’s immigration paperwork. "Something’s going to happen," he said.In a statement on X on Monday, Omar called the search an "attempt to target political enemies and weaponize federal law enforcement.""For ten years, Trump has targeted me with baseless lies and smear campaigns. This is just the latest escalation in his campaign of political intimidation," she said. "I will not be silenced."Though the Republican focus on Omar’s background dates back years, the search notably took place three weeks before the November midterms, in which Omar is on the ballot for reelection. The Justice Department has historically sought to avoid public investigative actions involving a candidate within 60 days of a primary or general election. Top Democrats seized on the timing as the latest instance in what they said was the "continued corrupt weaponization" of law enforcement against Trump’s perceived adversaries."For years, Donald Trump and far-right extremists have relentlessly targeted Congresswoman Omar with vile personal attacks and baseless accusations," said a joint statement issued from House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and other top congressional Democrats. "Now, less than 30 days until the midterm election, his violent mass deportation machine has descended upon the home of a duly elected Member of Congress and her family."Trump referenced Omar as recently as this past weekendThe search was carried out by agents with Homeland Security Investigations, which is part of the Department of Homeland Security.A DHS spokesperson referred questions to the Justice Department, which said in a statement that HSI agents had executed a judicially authorized search warrant in the Washington, D.C., area related to an ongoing federal criminal investigation. It provided no other details.The street around Omar’s home was blocked off Monday morning as HSI agents carried out the search, with some removing boxes from "seized property evidence."The operation came just two days after Trump referred pejoratively to Omar at a rally in Tennessee as coming from a country of "crime and squalor” and suggested that Vice President JD Vance "and our people" were investigating her.Vance has in the past accused Omar of committing immigration fraud, an allegation she has denied, and has said that the White House was looking for pathways to investigate her.'This is what happens in authoritarian countries'Neighbors began hearing loud knocking and law enforcement activity at Omar's home between 4:30 and 5 a.m. Monday, they told NBC Washington.As news of the search began to spread, angry D.C. residents began showing up in the neighborhood."How dare you! Get the hell out this neighborhood!" a woman who said she lives in the neighborhood shouted as agents drove away."I cannot believe that they came on this block and did this," she said. She said she didn't know Omar but "from what I see online and on TV, she don't deserve this s—."Others were just as angry."This is what happens in authoritarian countries," D.C. resident Doug Knight said. "This is how authoritarians act. They come out. They do investigations into their critics, and doing it during an election time is really concerning."Neighbor Sharon Jackson also said she's concerned."A criminal is the people running around hijacking and killing people and stealing their cars and marking up cars and scratching them and stuff, not someone that's quietly in their home like this, unless she is a threat because she acts like she is doing something."There appeared to be someone in the home when NBC Washington knocked on the door Monday morning, but no one answered.Omar has long been a target for RepublicansOmar, who was first elected to the House in 2018, represents Minnesota's 5th District, including Minneapolis. She is part of The Squad of progressive lawmakers who are a vibrant political force on the left wing of Congress but have also endured repeated attacks from Trump, dating back to his first term. She was one of the first two Muslim-American women in the House and the first African refugee to be elected to Congress.When Republicans swept control of the House in 2023, they voted to oust Omar from the House Foreign Affairs Committee, citing her anti-Israel remarks.In January, Trump lashed out at Omar during a rally in Iowa hours before an assailant sprayed the congresswoman during her own town hall meeting in Minneapolis with a substance that turned out to be vinegar. The attacker was sentenced to 14 months in prison.Republicans have raised questions about Omar’s past since before she was even elected, including asserting that she had married her brother and committed immigration fraud. Omar has broadly denied the allegations as "disgusting lies.""It certainly seems like something fishy is there, but everybody’s entitled to equal justice under the laws," Vance told reporters in May. "So we’re going to investigate it. We’re going to take a look at it. If we think there’s a crime, we’re going to prosecute that crime. And that’s something the Department of Justice is looking at right now.”In an interview last March with conservative podcaster Benny Johnson, Vance said without offering evidence that "we actually think that Ilhan Omar definitely committed immigration fraud against the United States of America."Omar's office at the time dismissed Vance's claims as fabricated and defamatory, saying in a statement that, '"This is rich coming from someone who literally said they were willing to 'create stories' to redirect the media.'”Last month, when the podcaster Johnson reminded Mullin about Vance’s past comments on Omar and asked whether anything would happen as a result of that investigation, the Homeland Security secretary responded: "Something’s going to happen."He cited an "ongoing investigation" that he suggested was looking at potential fraud in the family’s immigration paperwork."If we actually move a case forward, it’s not a political case. It’s actually a case because they did things wrong," Mullin said. "If you decided to break the law or law on the information that you gave to the United States…there’s no expiration to that."___Associated Press writers Eric Tucker in Washington, Kathy McCormack in Concord, N.H., Mike Catalini in Morrisville, Pa., contributed.This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.
Bipartisan group of senators demand Trump reverse course on Russian diesel plan
A bipartisan group of six senators on Sunday called for President Donald Trump‘s administration to "immediately reverse course" on a plan to purchase diesel from Russia as part of an effort to lower high fuel prices.Trump shocked lawmakers when he announced on social media Friday that he struck a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin in a phone call. He said Russia will immediately supply more than 300,000 tons of diesel to the American and global market, followed by an additional 500,000 tons in November and 1 million tons "immediately thereafter." Russia will deliver an additional 3 million tons "within a short period of time" after that, he wrote.Four Republican senators and two Democratic senators signed onto the statement released Sunday in protesting the deal. They said the administration failed to consult with Congress or submit any explanation to justify its decision as required by statute."The United States should not provide Putin with a financial lifeline while Russia continues to kill Ukrainian civilians. The Administration must immediately reverse course," they wrote.The Republican senators who signed onto the statement are Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Thom Tillis of North Carolina and John Curtis of Utah. The Democratic senators are Sens. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire and Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut.Tillis, in an interview that aired Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press," said there’s a legitimate case for saying the president is not following the law if the administration goes through with its diesel purchase plan."We were very clear that Russia is the aggressor. Russia is the one who can end this war by backing out of territory that they occupied," Tillis said.Trump’s announcement came just a few weeks after Congress passed legislation that directed Trump to impose substantial tariffs on the top importers of Russian oil or natural gas, with an exception for countries that import less than 15% of Russia's natural gas exports and have taken significant steps to reduce those imports.The congressional effort was aimed at cutting the flow of money Russia receives from oil and gas sales to finance its war against Ukraine.The lawmakers also noted that Congress explicitly banned Russia energy imports in 2022 to prevent the United States from financing the war."Congress was clear: the U.S. should not import oil from Russia until it ends its aggression against Ukraine and ceases threats against our NATO Allies," the six lawmakers wrote in their statement. "President Trump's decision to allow Russian diesel imports to the U.S. runs directly counter to that law."Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., said Trump is focused on reducing the cost of energy when asked whether the president’s action would be in violation of U.S. law. "The president is balancing and has to make tough decisions," Barrasso said on CBS’s "Face the Nation." Russia-Ukraine War 20 hours ago Trump claims Russia and Ukraine agree to energy ceasefire, but Zelenskyy says this is 'news for me' Russia Oct 9 Trump eases Russia sanctions to allow Putin to release diesel fuel onto the global market amid price spike He also encouraged Trump to enforce the sanctions law that Congress passed last month."This is just another point of leverage for the president to use against Putin in an effort to get a long-term solution in that part of the world," Barrasso said.Energy experts say the Russia deal is unlikely to make a dent in high prices at the pump.Richard Nephew, a senior research scholar at Columbia University's Center on Global Energy Policy, noted that the total amount of diesel appears to be less than what the U.S. uses in a day. Nephew argued that Iran and Russia might benefit more than the U.S."The Iranians are probably very excited because it shows that there's a lot of pressure still on the U.S. And the Russians are excited because it puts a big hole in the sanctions regime," he said.Trump has recently sought to blame record U.S. diesel prices on Ukraine rather than the U.S.-led war in Iran, which has elevated world energy prices.—Associated Press writer Mae Anderson in New York contributed to this report.
Selma Blair in custody after attacking flight attendants on plane to JFK Airport: Sources
Actress Selma Blair was taken into custody and faces multiple charges after assaulting flight attendants aboard a plane en route to John F. Kennedy Airport in New York City, according to law enforcement sources.The Port Authority Police Department responded to a call around 11 p.m. Sunday about a passenger who had been physically abusive aboard a Delta Airlines flight from Los Angeles International Airport, a spokesperson for the department said. The passenger was identified as the 54-year-old Blair.The “Cruel Intentions” star attacked two flight attendants, one of whom had a bite mark and another had suffered a cut, law enforcement sources told NBC New York. One flight attendant was taken to the hospital for treatment, Port Authority said. The plane went on “lockdown,” sources said, adding that Blair was restrained in some way, but had not been duct taped. Listen to audio from air traffic control detailing the injuries in the player below.Port Authority Police and the FBI responded as the plane landed at the Queens airport. Blair was taken into custody and issued a violation summons by the FBI for the on-board assault, according to a senior law enforcement official.The violation she received can carry up to a year in prison, the senior law enforcement official said. A summons is issued in lieu of an arrest and, in essence, amounts to a federal misdemeanor, an official told NBC New York. The recipient of the summons is expected to show up for a court hearing at a later date where a penalty is negotiated, typically resulting in a fine or counseling.As she was being taken to Jamaica Hospital for evaluation, Blair assaulted a Port Authority officer by kicking her repeatedly in the head, law enforcement sources said. She also allegedly assaulted a nurse at the hospital.A law enforcement source in Queens said Blair will face two assault charges for the attacks on the officer and the nurse. She was awaiting arraignment, which could happen as early as Monday night.Blair had a support dog with her at the time of the incident, according to sources. Her lawyer met her at the hospital and took possession of the dog.A representative for Blair said the actress “experienced a medical emergency that led to the alleged conduct.” She “received immediate medical attention” after landing and was recovering at the hospital, the rep said, without providing further details regarding the medical episode. Blair revealed in 2018 that she had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.The FBI was investigating the incident, and confirmed to NBC News it had been contacted about a “potential assault aboard a flight that arrived into JFK.” The bureau told NBC News “as per long-standing DOJ policy, we do not comment on ongoing investigations.”The Federal Aviation Administration also said it would investigate a “passenger disturbance” on the flight.In a response to a request for comment from NBC News on Monday, Delta did not identify Blair as the passenger, but said it has “zero tolerance for unruly or unlawful behavior, as the safety of our customers and crew always comes first.”Jay Blackman, Sofia Sutter and Doha Madani of NBC News contributed to this report.
Carney's Thanksgiving message directed at Alberta ahead of separation referendum
Prime Minister Mark Carney addressed the nation from a classroom in Alberta on Thanksgiving morning, addressing the non-binding question tied to Alberta's potential separation from Canada in the upcoming referendum.
India's opposition leader marches with thousands against election chief
Opposition parties and supporters of the so-called "cockroach" youth movement marched towards the country's Supreme Court on Monday, in the latest show of outrage against the recent removal of millions of names from voters lists. Critics say the move is likely to benefit Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ruling party – and are demanding India's election chief step down over what they describe as misconduct. Details by FRANCE 24 correspondent in New Delhi, Navodita Kumari.
Zelenskyy blindsided after Trump announces 'energy ceasefire' in Ukraine war | First Thing
Ukrainian president says the deal is 'news to me' and that Russia is still attacking energy infrastructure. Plus, investigation into continuing mystery of Havana syndromeDon't already get First Thing in your inbox? Sign up hereGood morning. The Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has said it was "news to me" after Donald Trump announced a partial ceasefire deal in the Ukraine war. The US president had posted to social media to say: "Effective immediately, there is an ENERGY CEASEFIRE in the War between Russia and Ukraine. Both parties have agreed."There was no sign that the Kremlin was observing Trump's ceasefire. According to Zelenskyy, Russian drones took to the sky "throughout the day" on Sunday and there were several airstrikes, including on energy infrastructure. He said Russia hit a power station in Kharkiv – the latest of more than 200 strikes during the past week against electricity generation and transmission facilities in Ukraine.How has the prospect of a deal been welcomed? Despite the unconventional nature of the announcement, the ceasefire appeared to garner support from Ukraine's key western allies. The French president, Emmanuel Macron, said Paris supported a "real energy ceasefire" and the UK prime minister, Andy Burnham, said a sustained energy ceasefire was "the best route to get energy and fuel back into world markets".Will Trump's deal with Putin bring down gas prices? The agreement to temporarily lift sanctions on US imports of Russian diesel will have little "meaningful" effect on motorists and businesses in the US and overseas, energy and foreign policy analysts have predicted. Continue reading...
RJ Mitte, 'Breaking Bad' actor and disability rights champion, dies at 34
BROWNSVILLE, Texas (AP) — "Breaking Bad" actor and disability rights advocate RJ Mitte died Monday at age 34, authorities and his representatives said. Cameron County Justice of the Peace Cyndi Hinojosa told The Associated Press she declared Mitte dead at about 1:30 p.m. at what she believed was his home in Brownsville, Texas. She said […]
No more a free circus, but a tamasha worth crores
Congress and left-wing organizations are currently staging protests in Delhi against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Despite a Supreme Court dismissal of their petition for his removal, Rahul Gandhi continues to lead these protests. Gandhi's actions have been criticized as immature and lacking political understanding during these demonstrations. His tactics appear to be aimed at gaining publicity, which has affected his public standing negatively.
On TV

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New Music

No new drops today. Go rediscover something in your old playlists.

In theaters

No new releases hitting theaters today. Your popcorn can wait.

Launching today

Nothing launching today. Every rocket is staying grounded and behaving.

Useless Fact

The glue on Israeli postage is certified kosher.

The loonie
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Today In History
2001 — UN and Kofi Annan Awarded Nobel Peace Prize
The centennial Nobel Prize for Peace was awarded to the United Nations and the organization's secretary-general, Kofi Annan. How much do you know about the Nobel Prize? AP/Wide World Photos
2000 — Attack on USS Cole in Aden, Yemen
While preparing to refuel in the Yemeni port of Aden, the USS Cole, a U.S. naval destroyer, was attacked by suicide bombers associated with al-Qaeda; 17 sailors were killed and 39 wounded. U.S. Department of Defense
1999 — Wilt Chamberlain, Basketball Great, Dies at 63
American basketball player Wilt Chamberlain, who was considered one of the greatest offensive players in the history of the game, died at age 63. basketball quiz AP
1998 — Attack on Matthew Shepard Spurs Hate Crime Laws
American college student Matthew Shepard was beaten by two men, left to die in the cold, and died several days later in Fort Collins, Colorado. Shepard's homosexuality was believed to have motivated the attack, which contributed to expanded federal hate crime legislation.
1968 — Equatorial Guinea Gains Independence from Spain
Equatorial Guinea gained its independence from Spain
1915 — Execution of Nurse Edith Cavell in WWI
During World War I, English nurse Edith Cavellwas executed for assisting Allied soldiers in escaping from German-occupied Belgium
1901 — TR Renames the Executive Mansion to the White House
President Theodore Roosevelt officially changed the name of the president's residence at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C. from Executive Mansion to the White House. Take a tour of the White House
1898 — Virden Coal Mine Riot of 1898
A landmark in labour union history, a coal-mine riot took place in Virden, Illinois, when strikebreakers were brought in
1896 — Eugenio Montale Awarded Nobel Prize for Literature
Eugenio Montale, an Italian poet, prose writer, editor, and translator, was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1975. He was born in Genoa.
1866 — Birth of Ramsay MacDonald, First Labour Prime Minister
Ramsay Mac Donald, the first Labour Party prime minister of the United Kingdom—in the Labour governments of 1924 and 1929–31 and in the national coalition government of 1931–35—was born
1810 — First Oktoberfest Celebrates Bavarian Royal Wedding
The first Oktoberfest was celebrated in Munich, in the form of a horse race held in honour of the marriage of the crown prince of Bavaria (who later became King Louis I) to Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen. Learn key facts about Oktoberfest Joe Viesti/The Viesti Collection
1492 — New World sighted
The New World was "discovered" this day in 1492 when land (most likely San Salvador) was sighted in the Caribbean from the Pinta, one of the three ships that participated in Christopher Columbus's historic voyage

This is today, boiled down to the essentials. The full stash lives at logicalchaos.ca. Go get lost in it.