Midwest Wildfires Soar Amidst Extreme Heat | JQJO

Val Chmerkovskiy was suspended from the October 20 episode of *Dancing with the Stars* after a deleted Instagram post referenced Will Smith’s 2022 Oscars slap. The post, directed at judge Carrie Ann Inaba, prompted the first suspension in the series’ history. Chmerkovskiy confirmed the suspension on Oct. 17, saying he would still be “watching and cheering everyone on.” Alan Bersten stepped in to dance with Jenna Dewan, performing a Viennese waltz to “Unchained Melody.” Chmerkovskiy apologized to Inaba and the show, stating he had “never intended” to cause a distraction. The episode aired without Chmerkovskiy, who was absent from the ballroom.

On Dancing with the Stars Dedication Night, pro dancer Connor Wood performed a Viennese waltz to Billy Joel’s “Piano Man,” dedicating the dance to his father, Pete. Wood, wearing a burgundy suit, glided across the ballroom before joining his dad near the piano for an emotional embrace. Judges praised his performance: Derek Hough noted he had “come a long way,” Kym Johnson highlighted his infectious smile, Bruno Tonioli called it a “proper, real Viennese waltz,” and Carrie Ann Inaba named Wood the night’s most improved dancer. Wood earned a perfect score of 32/40, all straight 8s. The episode aired at 9:30 pm ET.

In October 2026, Daily Kos marked another Tongue Out Tuesday, a campaign to expose fake accounts and disinformation. The site reported that a foreign influence operation had targeted Daily Kos with propaganda. Daily Kos’ team identified and shut down the bots and fake accounts, noting that the effort relies on reader support rather than a billionaire backer or paywall. The organization urged readers to contribute $5 to help keep independent, progressive media running and to give the truth a fighting chance.

The New York Giants released running back Najee Harris two days after he started in a loss to the New Orleans Saints. Harris, who had only four carries in the 34‑27 defeat, expressed frustration with the team’s running‑back‑by‑committee approach. Head coach John Harbaugh acknowledged the player’s concerns and emphasized the need for a consistent rhythm. In five games with the Giants, Harris accumulated 31 carries for 99 yards, the lowest average of his six‑year NFL career. The release marks a swift roster change following the Sunday night loss.

Judge Ana Reyes withdrew her request that Justice Department attorneys sign a filing in the East Potomac Golf Links case after President Donald Trump called her a “crazed lunatic” on Truth Social. The reversal came after a nearly seven‑hour hearing in which Reyes had invoked Rule 11 to require DOJ attorneys to identify who signed the brief. Reyes said she would no longer require the identification, citing “better things to spend our time on.” The case centers on Trump’s plan to renovate the federally owned golf course, which the National Park Service recently removed about 430 trees from. The judge’s earlier temporary restraining order barred further tree removals, and the hearing prompted Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward to seek Reyes’ removal from the case. Both Woodward and Trump have requested the release of the court’s audio recordings of the proceedings.

At a Wichita rally, President Donald Trump played footage of violent protests in France, warning that similar unrest could occur in the United States if Democrats win the November midterms. Trump described the French demonstrations as a result of migrants, jihadists and communists, and linked them to liberal immigration policies. He echoed Marine Le Pen’s criticism of President Emmanuel Macron, suggesting that France’s instability was due to uncontrolled migration. Trump’s remarks were intended to rally Republican voters ahead of the midterm elections.

Microsoft is set to transform Xbox Game Pass from a single‑price subscription into an à la carte model, allowing players to select add‑ons such as cloud gaming, multiplayer, and console‑only titles. CEO Asha Sharma announced the shift to reduce costs and attract more subscribers. The overhaul will also remove day‑one access for first‑party games, a move that has been hinted at for years. Microsoft’s plan follows a plateau in Game Pass growth at thirty‑five million subscribers and aims to launch before the 2027 Fable release.

Reliable Robotics is opening a 11,000‑square‑foot office in Bothell, Washington. The new location will house 25 employees and has capacity for more than 100 staff members.