Early voting begins ahead of the 2024 election, Shohei Ohtani becomes the first in MLB history to reach 50/50 and Netflix releases new teaser for “Squid Game”

Good morning everyone. Fall officially begins this weekend with the equinox. Here are a few things to note. And now for the news.

WORTH KNOWING

What you should know about early voting

Early voting begins today in Minnesota, South Dakota and Virginia, while several other states begin sending out their mail-in ballots, marking the start of the 2024 election season.

What you should know: Experts predict many Americans will cast their ballots before Election Day, either by mail-in ballot or through early voting. Here's how to find out if you live in a state where voting starts today and when early voting starts in. (GMA/USA Today)

PPE by post: Postmaster General Louis DeJoy said the U.S. Postal Service will make a “heroic effort” to deliver mail-in ballots on time, but still recommended voters do so at least a week before Election Day on Nov. 5. (CNN)

IF YOU MISSED IT

⚾ Ohtanis 50/50

Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani made MLB history by becoming the first player ever to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in the same season. Watch his impressive feat. (Yahoo Sports)

⛈️ Hurricane threat in the Gulf

Meteorologists warned of a high risk of a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico that could develop into a hurricane next week and potentially threaten the southern United States (AccuWeather)

🌍 Air strikes between Israel and Hezbollah

Israel and Hezbollah exchanged air strikes after Hezbollah's leader said the pager and walkie-talkie explosions that killed dozens and injured thousands this week were equivalent to an explosion that killed 1.4 million people. (BBC News)

📱 iPhone 16 hits stores

Apple released the iPhone 16 without the software it has been touting since June. Users will have to download the software individually as it becomes available in the coming weeks and months. (Bloomberg)

📺 Teaser for “Squid Game”

Netflix releases a new teaser for Squid Game Season 2, with Lee Jung-jae returning to the lead role of Seong Gi-hun. The new season premieres on December 26. (Hollywood Reporter)

WHAT'S HAPPENING TODAY

🎬 George Clooney and Brad Pitt's new is in theaters now. (Rolling Stone)

🎵 and released new albums overnight. (Variety/Billboard)

⚾ In baseball: the Phillies and the Mets at 7:10 p.m. ET on the MLB app. (AP)

☀️ And don't forget: Read your newspaper. Play. Check out the ones near you.

TODAY IN HISTORY

In 1964, the Beatles ended their first U.S. tour with a benefit concert at the Paramount Theater in New York City. This was a full-circle performance for the band, as their tour ended where it began. Check out theirs. (Yahoo Entertainment)

3 QUESTIONS

…about Canada's “Best” Train ride

Looking for an original travel idea for autumn? Travel influencers recommend a bike ride. Anthony asks why.

Anthony: Why do you recommend traveling through Canada by train?

Kara and Nate: We traveled on VIA Rail, Canada's national railroad. There were many amenities and activities on the train, but we loved the glass-roofed observation cars that offered panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. They also have .

Anthony: If you had to choose one of your fall packages, which would it be and why?

Kara and Nate: We absolutely loved the week-long VIA tour from Vancouver to Toronto. It was a relaxed way to see a lot of the country in a short amount of time.

Anthony: Why is Canada such a great travel destination for fall?

Kara and Nate: We believe that autumn is the ideal time of year to visit as the fall leaves are incredibly beautiful, the weather is cool but pleasant and after the summer there are fewer tourists and prices are lower.

Want more travel ideas? Kara and Nate have . Follow them on .

MOMENT OF WELL-BEING

Moo Deng, a two-month-old pygmy hippo, is the first hippo to be born after photos and videos of her rolling around and being bathed went viral. “When I saw Moo Deng's birth, I set a goal to make her famous,” said zookeeper Atthapon Nundee. (BuzzFeed)

Have a fantastic weekend. See you on Monday!

💡 PS Before you go, your daily advice: Do not open the oven to check on your dish while it is baking – this will cause it to cool down too much. (Food Republic)

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