Peter Cullen, prolific voice actor who gave Optimus Prime his authoritative baritone, has died | JQJO

Val Chmerkovskiy, a "Dancing With the Stars" pro, joked about judge Carrie Ann Inaba’s car on September twenty‑nine, sparking controversy. Two weeks later, after an October thirteenth episode, he posted a TikTok story referencing Will Smith’s 2022 Oscars incident, prompting ABC to suspend him for one week. He apologized on Instagram and will be replaced by Alan Bernsten during the upcoming Dedication Night.

The 2026‑27 NBA season has begun, and the Spurs are ranked first in the new power rankings. The Spurs pulled a little rabbit out of the hat against OKC in the conference finals, and the Thunder are ranked second. The Knicks are third. The rankings reflect the Spurs’ recent playoff performance and the roster of young talent, including Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle, and Dylan Harper. The Thunder’s roster changes and Chet Holmgren’s development are noted as key factors for their second‑place position. The Knicks are highlighted as the team to beat in the East, though their regular‑season prospects are uncertain.

Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin will miss the remainder of the 2026 season after a torn patellar tendon sustained Monday night against the San Francisco 49ers. Head coach Dan Quinn confirmed the injury after Tuesday scans. McLaurin, 31, will undergo surgery and is sidelined for his eighth NFL year. He had missed one game this season with a hamstring injury and seven games in 2025 due to various ailments. The Commanders, 1‑4‑1, now face a weakened receiving corps as Stefon Diggs becomes the primary target.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health warned doctors Monday about a surge in measles infections among pregnant women and a concerning rise in congenital measles, a rare disease in the United States. Since the state outbreak began in April, sixty‑six pregnant women have been diagnosed with measles. The department noted that measles during pregnancy heightens risks of miscarriage, early labor, and low birth weight. While exact miscarriage numbers are unavailable, at least six newborns in Pennsylvania have been born with congenital measles, some requiring intensive care. The alert emphasizes vaccination before pregnancy and immunoglobulin treatment within six days for exposed unvaccinated women.

Jose Aldo explained that he would cut featherweight contender Movsar Evloev because the fighter’s style is boring and does not sell. Evloev is undefeated in the UFC with ten decision victories, including a majority decision win over Lerone Murphy in March. Aldo said Evloev is ranked first in the division but would not be given a title fight if he were president. Aldo prefers striking‑oriented fighters like Ilia Topuria and Max Holloway who draw larger audiences. The comments came ahead of UFC 333, where Evloev will face Alexander Volkanovski in Abu Dhabi.

A 16‑year‑old assailant opened fire in a special needs classroom at Silver Rail Elementary in Bend, killing three children and one teacher. Five students and four teachers were present when the shooting began. Two additional students and a special education staff member survived unharmed. The shooter was last enrolled in Bend‑La Pine schools in November two‑year‑ago. Police are investigating motives. School buildings in the district remain closed while authorities assess safety.

Joe Scarborough criticized President Donald Trump for making false and misleading statements about Kansas Democratic Senate nominee Adam Hamilton during a rally for Republican Senator Roger Marshall. Trump alleged Hamilton supports flooding Kansas with unvetted refugees, mocks Jesus, and uses church funds for anti‑religious transgender activities. Scarborough called the remarks deeply offensive and said everything Trump said was a lie. A fact check by The Kansas City Star found Hamilton does not support open borders and has said dangerous criminals do not belong here. Hamilton has stated he believes there are two genders and criticized Trump for targeting transgender people politically.

Reports about Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts traveling to London with a blood clot in his leg, playing with a blood clot in his leg, and promptly traveling back to Philadelphia with a blood clot in his leg have been filled with speculation due to a lack of complete information about the events that led to the situation.

A strengthening nor’easter hundreds of miles off the Atlantic is expected to bring several days of gusty onshore winds and coastal flooding along the East Coast. Flood advisories cover the Jersey Shore to the Outer Banks for one to two feet of inundation. Coastal cities from New Jersey to Cape Hatteras may experience beach erosion and gusts up to forty‑four miles per hour. Rain will remain mostly offshore, but Cape Cod and Nantucket could see light showers and rough surf by Thursday. The storm may intensify into a tropical system named Josephine, though it will likely remain offshore.

Jane Doe, who filed a civil suit against seven former members of the Chi Phi fraternity for drug‑assisted sexual assault in October 2024, sent a letter to Cornell’s faculty senate detailing a second‑hand account of President Michael Kotlikoff’s reaction to her complaint. Doe said the sorority president relayed that Kotlikoff had questioned why she waited to report the incident, implying doubt in her story. Cornell denied this characterization, stating Kotlikoff’s question in a January 2025 meeting was aimed at bystanders who had not reported the allegations. The letter arrives amid growing faculty scrutiny and a potential no‑confidence vote in the administration, as the university hires former acting U.S. Attorney General Sally Yates to conduct an independent review of its handling of the allegations.