USA TODAY is reporting that the Supreme Court is returning to the bench with major cases involving climate change, religion, gun rights and Trump administration policies.
The outlet said the new term will put the justices at the center of several contentious national debates.
In other coverage, USA TODAY is reporting that President Donald Trump said he plans to send $90 checks to more than 20 million seniors this month. It said the payments are drawing attention for how much money is headed to midterm battleground states.
USA TODAY is also reporting that some Texas voters are turned off by Senate candidate Ken Paxton. It said the Republican is unusually vulnerable for a red state candidate amid ethics allegations.
Separately, the outlet reported that "Saturday Night Live" mocked Trump's $5,000 promise to voters in its latest cold open. It said the sketch showed the president preparing to declare victory in the midterm elections regardless of the actual outcome.
USA TODAY also reported that Taylor Swift appeared in Dakota Johnson's "SNL" monologue as her unofficial therapist. It said the appearance followed Johnson starring in Swift's "Patient Zero" video.
On the weather front, USA TODAY is reporting that a strong polar vortex has formed, bringing uncertainty to the winter forecast. It said a strong polar vortex combined with a powerful El Niño could signal a milder winter for many Americans.
The outlet also reported on an online campaign to shield the identity of a woman identified as "Jane Doe" after her rape at Cornell. It said the case has prompted countless women to come forward.
USA TODAY additionally reported that Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner confirmed a secret romance on the set of "Romancing the Stone," ending decades of denials. It said the affair was kept secret for 40 years.
The outlet also reported that "Even Stevens" alum Christy Carlson Romano, who was accidentally shot in the face in 2025, recalled the incident and her recovery.