Monday, August 17, 2026

An actor's all-too-early death

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The Short List

Mon Aug 17 2026

Phaedra Trethan | National Correspondent

@wordsbyphaedra

👋🏼 Hello and welcome to a new work week! I'm Phaedra Trethan, trying not to be " polyester." 👚

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In Monday's news:

•	Hayden Panettiere, an actor known for her roles in "Remember the Titans," "Heroes" and "Nashville," died Sunday at the age of 36. 💔
•	President Donald Trump threatened a U.S. ally in the Middle East and instructed the Pentagon to scale back on joint operations with a key Asian ally.
•	Lake Powell, a vital reservoir that powers communities across the Southwest, hit a record low. 💦

But first: Arborists and preservationists are working to save a 300-year-old tree that bore witness to a key Revolutionary War battle. 🌳

An actor's all-too-early death 💔

Actor Hayden Panettiere died Sunday at the age of 36, leaving behind a young daughter, legions of fans and a long, impressive body of work that began when she was a baby.

"It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden," her father, Skip Panettiere, said in a statement, calling her "an incredible light and a force of nature who brought immeasurable love and joy to all who knew her – and to the millions who watched her onscreen." The actor's career spanned decades from her breakout role in "Remember the Titans," as well as the TV shows "Heroes" and "Nashville." Here's what we know.

•	Panettiere wrote about her struggles with depression, alcoholism and addiction in her memoir, released months before her death. ✍🏻
•	Photos: Hayden Panettiere's on-screen legacy. 🎞️
•	Why we feel "collective grief" when a celebrity dies. 😢
•	Panettiere's brother also struggled with addiction, and she talked about her grief over his 2023 death.

Hayden Panettiere attends the premiere of 'Scream VI' in New York City, March 6, 2023.

Caitlin Ochs, Reuters

Trump on Iran, Oman and the Koreas

President Trump threatened military action against a key U.S. ally in the Middle East, if Oman's negotiations with Iran over the Strait of Hormuz interfere with U.S. efforts to reach a peace deal with Tehran. A Fox News correspondent said Trump told him in an interview, "If Oman gets in the way, we'll bomb the [expletive] out of them." Oman and Iran have engaged in separate talks to reopen the Strait of Hormuz ‒ as negotiations between the U.S. and Iran continue to stall.

Trump also said on Sunday he instructed the Pentagon to scale back joint military exercises with South Korea , a U.S. ally in Asia, citing the cost of the drills and the country's refusal to participate in actions against Iran. He also cited his "very good relationship" with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un.

•	Watch: What Trump said about Oman. 📺
•	A former Trump ally-turned-critic says the president is considering a serious escalation against Iran. The White House says she's "completely out of the loop."

Real quick

•	Construction was paused on a controversial section of Trump's border wall that was being built in a beloved national park. 🛑
•	Lawmakers are blasting Trump and Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth over reports about deteriorating conditions aboard a warship that's been in the Middle East for nearly nine months.
•	The Trump administration is enforcing more deportations through mass hearings for immigrants.
•	The Supreme Court rejected Trump's appeal in E. Jean Carroll's $5.6 million suit. Again. ⚖️

Lake Powell's low point 💦

A crucial reservoir on the Utah-Arizona border has fallen to its lowest level ever amid an worsening drought fueled by climate change. Lake Powell helps power millions of homes across the Southwest, and federal officials have been pulling water from smaller reservoirs to keep it going. Still, further drops could take the lake down to what's known as "dead pool," where it's too low to flow downstream. That could spark draconian cuts to how much drinking water is available for millions of people and imperil farms 500 miles away in California's Imperial Valley.

•	In Indiana, the problem is too much water, as deadly storms and flooding have inundated several communities.

A World War II-era Higgins landing craft rests on exposed shoreline at Lake Mead National Recreation Area as declining water levels reveal long-submerged features near Boulder City, Nevada, photographed on July 21, 2026. Lake Mead, the largest reservoir in the United States by water capacity, has declined after years of prolonged drought, rising temperatures and heavy demand on the Colorado River system.

Caroline Brehman, REUTERS

Wanna save on rent? Live with the (pa)rents. 🏡

Hey, we get it: Rent is high. Houses are unaffordable. Good entry-level jobs can be scarce. And if your parents are like, well, me, we're pretty cool. So why move out?

A record number of young adults are coming to that conclusion and living with their parents after college , a new survey found. And why not? Living at home can free up cash for travel, or nights out, or savings for your own (eventual) place. (Because we love you, but, you know... we need our own lives, too.)

A break from the news

•	Parents might be counting the days until school starts again. But one member of the family is sure to miss the rugrats when they hop on the bus. 🐶
•	Tommy John died over the weekend. But the surgery that was named for the pitcher saved more careers than his. Here are some of the biggest stars who underwent the procedure. ⚾️
•	As the former owner of a rescue cat (RIP, Hobbes) I can confirm that cats often choose their owners. 😻

Phaedra Trethan is a national correspondent at USA TODAY. I’d love to hear from readers about The Short List, story ideas from across the nation and any pets you've rescued (or who've rescued you). Email her at ptrethan@usatoday.com