Monday, October 20, 2025

Special education strained

eNewspaper | Crosswords | Horoscopes

The Daily Briefing

YOUR MORNING NEWS ROUNDUP

Mon Oct 20 2025

Nicole Fallert | Newsletter Writer

@nicolefallert

Welcome to a new week!🙋🏼‍♀️ I'm Nicole Fallert. These books transport me to "Gilmore Girls."

Quick look at Monday's news:

•	A weakened special education law puts pressure on parents.
•	Typhoon-struck Alaksa communities race to rebuild before winter.
•	Florida fired its head football coach.

Trump's cuts put special education on edge

The federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, also known as IDEA, is supposed to ensure children with disabilities receive instruction in the least restrictive environment possible, often alongside their peers without disabilities.

Now parents of children with disabilities are on edge: President Donald Trump's administration laid off a significant part of the Department of Education office that administers and enforces IDEA.

•	Staffing and funding cuts threaten IDEA. The ED has been silent on why it laid off 121 people dedicated to supporting special needs.
•	The state of education for students with disabilities was already tenuous. As of June, only 19 states were fully compliant with the requirements under the IDEA.
•	Parents see these challenges firsthand. Some told USA TODAY they're pulling their kids from public school or teaching them at home instead.

Keep reading: For this senator, Trump's special education layoffs are personal.

Major Alaska storm damage could displace thousands for months

Thousands of Alaskans won't be able to return home for at least 18 months after Typhoon Halong slammed remote villages along the state's western coast last weekend, destroying the area's infrastructure, Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy warned in a letter to President Trump. As crews work to clear out debris and get supplies to the remote region, they'll be forced in a few short weeks to contend with Alaska's bitter winter weather, including cold temperatures and potentially icy conditions. Rebuilding will be long and arduous.

Military personnel assist evacuees last week following Typhoon Halong in Alaska.

Alaska National Guard/Joseph Moon, via REUTERS

More news to know now

•	Jewelry was stolen from the Louvre in broad daylight.
•	The federal government is still shut down.
•	Israel launched strikes in Gaza over the weekend.
•	Their sons died from drug overdoses. Here's the unconventional way they grieved.

What's the weather today? Check your local forecast here.

An Epstein accuser's memoir

Virginia Giuffre, born Virginia Roberts, was among the most outspoken of Jeffrey Epstein's abuse accusers. She played a critical role in the investigations that eventually led to criminal charges against the financier and his associate, Ghislaine Maxwell. Giuffre died of suicide near her home in Neergabby, Australia, this year. Her story, "Nobody's Girl: A Memoir of Surviving Abuse and Fighting for Justice" is set to be released Tuesday. Read an excerpt.

•	Prince Andrew allegedly asked police to help him dig up dirt on Giuffre, who accused him of sexual abuse in 2011.

What ICE detainees eat

'You have to eat no matter what, or the night is going to get you. We were really hungry.'

~ Months after leaving immigration detention, Camila Muñoz told USA TODAY she still remembers the ice-cream scooper used to ladle food onto plastic trays and the "sour feeling" after every meal. In Louisiana — a major hub of the Trump administration's mass deportation effort — detainees and their representatives say people in custody are going hungry.

Today's talkers

•	A mid-century modern sofa for dogs?
•	It's almost time to "fall back."
•	Want to move abroad?
•	Meet Stationhead, the app hosting "Life of a Showgirl" listening parties.

Who will replace Billy Napier?

Florida has fired football coach Billy Napier, the school announced Sunday. The move comes after a 23-21 win against Mississippi State improved the Gators to 3-4 on the season. Napier is the first coach for Florida to have a losing career record since Raymond Wolf finished his tenure with a 13-24 record between 1946-49.

•	Here are eight candidates Florida should consider.

Photo of the day: Kim, is that you?

Kim Kardashian arrived at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures Gala on Saturday wearing a face-covering nude Maison Margiela look. She still did full hair and makeup, of course. See what everyone else wore .

Kim Kardashian said the look was "kind of a last-minute thing."

Mario Anzuoni, REUTERS

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.