The Short List

Tue Oct 1 2024

Laura L. Davis | Audience Editor

@lauradavis

The two candidates for vice president will face off on the debate stage. Former President Jimmy Carter celebrates his 100th birthday. And Iran launches a major missile attack on Israel.

👋Hey, Tuesday! Laura Davis here. It's officially October! Now, here's the news.

But first: Skygazers, assemble. 🌌 As the sun reaches its solar maximum, northern lights activity could be coming soon.

It's VP fight night

We're in the home stretch of a tight presidential race that's set to be decided in just over a month. And on Tuesday night, Democratic Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota and Republican Sen. JD Vance of Ohio, the two vice presidential nominees, meet on the debate stage in New York City. The "CBS News Vice Presidential Debate" is set to begin at 9 p.m. ET. 🎤 Debate day: See the latest updates and watch it live here.

Play along with our debate bingo cards:

Long-term recovery ahead after Helene

Search and rescue operations across western North Carolina made some headway Tuesday as authorities worked to clear roads and provide electricity, running water and cellular service to communities struggling since the furious assault of Hurricane Helene and its remnants.

What to know: The storm killed more than 100 people across six states, and the death toll is expected to climb.

Repairs will take awhile: For some residents of western North Carolina, power, water and Wi-Fi probably won't be restored for weeks. Landslides have taken away mountain properties. Sinkholes have claimed other homes. Asheville and the surrounding communities face long-term trauma. 👉 See our latest coverage.

•	Streets of mud: Helene dashes a small town's hopes for revival.
•	Tennessee factory workers swept away by floodwaters.
•	Asheville was a hub for healing. Now it's 'apocalyptic.'
•	Mountain terrain, monstrous rain: What caused the NC disaster?
•	See footage: Drone video captures aftermath in Asheville.

🌀 Storm tracker: Tropical Storm Kirk may become the next hurricane

Jannette Montenegro, owner of the Cotton Mill Studios in Asheville, N.C., salvages items at her business on Monday.

Andrew Nelles/USA TODAY NETWORK, Andrew Nelles/USA TODAY NETWORK / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Real quick

•	'Girl dinner,' 'girl math' were cute. But has it gone too far?
•	This is the No. 1 reason women won't get screened for breast cancer.
•	Rancher who created giant sheep hybrid for hunting gets prison time.
•	Civil rights or affordable housing? In one town, both are being tested.
•	This is not a drill: Boo Buckets are returning to McDonald's.
•	What's next for Simone Biles? A Winter Olympics, maybe.

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100 years of Jimmy Carter

Marking another milestone for the longest-living commander-in-chief in U.S. history, Jimmy Carter celebrated his 100th birthday on Tuesday.

Peanut farmer to president: James Earl Carter Jr. was born Oct. 1, 1924, in Plains, Georgia, where he still lives today. A Democrat known for his early career as a peanut farmer, Carter was elected state senator and the governor of Georgia before serving as the nation's 39th president from 1977 to 1981. When he left office, he and former first lady Rosalynn Carter founded the Carter Center, a nonprofit promoting democracy and global development. In 2002, he received the Nobel Peace Prize.

How he's doing now: Carter entered hospice care in February 2023, but his grandson, Jason Carter, has said his grandfather was holding on to vote in the upcoming presidential election. 👉 Read more about his life and legacy.

📸 Photo gallery: See Jimmy Carter's life in pictures.

Former President Jimmy Carter, photographed at the Peninsula Hotel in New York in 2018. Tuesday marks Carter's 100th birthday.

Jack Gruber, Jack Gruber / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Iran launches missile attack on Israel

Calling it a revenge attack for the killing of Hezbollah leaders, Iran fired a barrage of missiles at Israel on Tuesday, targeting Tel Aviv and other central parts of the country. Israeli air defenses intercepted the majority of the missiles, the Pentagon said, and there were no immediate reports of Israeli casualties. The attack comes as the Middle East appears to be teetering on the brink of a multi-state war and followed an Israeli ground invasion into Lebanon, where Iran-backed Hezbollah is based. 👉 Here's what we know.

•	See video: Residents urged to shelter amid missile attack.

A break from the news

•	🍁 Make your home smell like fall with this simmer pot recipe.
•	🎥 See the moment these baseball lovers were invited on TV.
•	🗺️ Adventure, but make it luxury: Take a National Geographic expedition cruise.

Laura L. Davis is an Audience Editor at USA TODAY. Say hi: laura@usatoday.com. Support quality journalism like this? Subscribe to USA TODAY here.