Hurricane Milton has intensified to a Category 5 and is projected to hit Florida's Tampa Bay area on Wednesday, prompting workers to clear debris left by Hurricane Helene and Gov. Ron DeSantis to declare a state of emergency due to anticipated storm surges and flooding. In North Carolina, emergency voting measures have been enacted in hurricane-affected counties to prevent voter disenfranchisement, while DeSantis is allegedly avoiding calls from VP Harris regarding disaster relief. Georgia's Supreme Court reinstated a six-week abortion ban, reversing a lower court's decision and posing challenges for reproductive rights advocates, although some patient privacy protections remain intact. A Russian court has sentenced a 72-year-old Michigan man to nearly seven years in prison for allegedly serving as a mercenary in Ukraine, making him the first American convicted on such charges in the ongoing conflict. Lastly, the Supreme Court has resumed its term, notably without cases related to the presidential election, leaving open the possibility of future intervention in a closely contested race.
Milton is now a Category 5 Hurricane (AP)
NC tweaks voting rules/Desantis refuses Harris’ call (Axios, NBC)
Georgia resumes 6-week abortion ban (NBC)
Michigan man sentenced in Russian court (PBS, Reuters)
New S. Court term (NBC)
