IJR News

Measles Cases Prompt Exposure Alerts in Iowa, NashvilleHealth — 1dIowa health officials identified potential measles exposure locations after cases were confirmed in Keokuk and Osage, including a Keokuk Hy-Vee and Mitchell County Regional Health Center. Nashville officials also warned of possible exposure at several area businesses and a Halloween party after confirming the city’s second measles case this year; people who may have been exposed should monitor for symptoms and call a health care provider before seeking care.

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Closing arguments expected Friday in ex-officer’s manslaughter trialWorld — 1dClosing arguments are expected in the trial of Cooper Ouellette, accused of fatally running over his 17-year-old girlfriend; prosecutors say he accelerated as she filmed from the truck, while the defense calls her death an accident. In a separate federal case, former Massachusetts officer Matthew Farwell is accused of killing pregnant Sandra Birchmore and staging her death as a suicide; he denies killing her and says their sexual relationship began when she was an adult.

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Rackham study of 35,000 calls finds hard closes backfire in large deals — 4dLarge sales succeed when buyers build their own case for change through ordered questions, not seller pressure.

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McCann Defeats Huizenga, Flipping Michigan House Seat — 3dDemocrat Sean McCann claimed victory over Republican incumbent Bill Huizenga in Michigan’s closely contested 4th District race, a potential flip that would leave Republicans with only four of the state’s U.S. House seats. The Associated Press had not called the race, with early reports showing a narrow margin and Huizenga briefly leading as votes were counted.

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Call of Duty Tops South Korea Steam SalesEntertainment — Oct 23, 2026Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, whose story depicts a North Korean invasion of South Korea, topped global and South Korean sales charts as real-world tensions rose after a blast in the DMZ injured three South Korean soldiers. The game has drawn interest and praise from some players, while also prompting concerns that its depiction trivializes the peninsula’s painful history and ongoing conflict.

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Most Influential Women in World HistoryYourlist — RankingFrom ancient queens who ruled empires to modern activists who changed laws, these women left indelible marks on politics, science, and culture. Vote for who you think shaped history most profoundly.

Martha Stewart Calls Herself Stupid for Homeless Halloween Costume — 16hMartha Stewart apologized for her Halloween costume depicting a homeless person, calling it insensitive and acknowledging she had made a mistake. On the Today show, she also clarified that Craig Melvin was not responsible for the costume and that her claim about chocolate on her sweater was a joke.

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Sam Okafor Martha should have realized a homeless costume was offensive long before wearing it, even as a joke.

FBI Agent Testifies Probe of Ex-Officials Began Day After Trump Call — Oct 27, 2026An FBI agent testified that he worried the investigation of former officials Nikki Floris and Bradley Benavides over their testimony about Hunter Biden probes would be seen as political, and said colleagues viewed it as a “witch hunt”; he also said senior FBI leaders urged an aggressive inquiry. Defense lawyers challenged the evidence and investigative process, and a judge is reviewing the allegations to determine whether there is probable cause for the case to proceed.

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Watchdog sues over Kushner’s unconfirmed diplomatic role — Oct 14, 2026CREW sued to challenge Jared Kushner’s diplomatic role in the Trump administration, alleging he exercises significant foreign-policy authority without Senate confirmation or required financial disclosures, creating potential conflicts with his investment business. Kushner’s lawyer and the White House called the suit baseless, saying he serves as a volunteer, receives no government pay, and covers his own expenses.

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Derek Foss Anyone exercising foreign policy authority should meet basic transparency rules, volunteer status doesn't change that.

Eagles rebuff trade interest in Moro Ojomo as defensive tackle market rises — Oct 29, 2026Despite a 2-5 start and interest from other teams, the Eagles have reportedly told clubs Moro Ojomo is unavailable and appear open to re-signing the defensive tackle, whose contract is expiring. The Titans’ blockbuster trade of Jeffery Simmons has fueled calls for Philadelphia to reconsider, with some analysts arguing it could raise Ojomo’s trade value, though that remains speculation.

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House incumbents win; Nevada Democrat declares historic victoryPolitics — 3dTeresa Benitez-Thompson declared victory over Republican David Flippo in Nevada’s 2nd Congressional District, potentially becoming the first Democrat to represent the district; the Associated Press had not yet called the race. Separately, Mississippi Democrat Bennie Thompson won reelection to an 18th term in the state’s 2nd District, extending his record as the state’s longest-serving member of Congress.

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Conflicting Reports on Tanker Incidents in HormuzWorld — Oct 29, 2026Iran’s Revolutionary Guard says three oil tankers struck mines and caught fire while using what Tehran calls an unauthorized southern route through the Strait of Hormuz, alleging the crews ignored warnings. The claims have not been independently confirmed, and the vessels’ identities and crews’ condition remain unknown.

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Madonna vs Lady GagaYourlist — VS BattleThe Queen of Pop versus the artist who studied at her throne.

American Spectator calls JD Vance both right and wrong1 source — 1d

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Chris Dalton Vance makes sense on trade and manufacturing but his stance on family policy goes too far.

Blackburn not considering Hegseth for her Tennessee Senate seat, reports say — 1dA source close to Gov.-elect Marsha Blackburn says Pete Hegseth "is not being considered" for her Tennessee Senate seat, calling the idea D.C. spin.

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Maya Lindstrom Blackburn should appoint someone with real Tennessee ties instead of chasing D.C. names like Hegseth.

Oil Majors Report Surging Profits Amid WarFinance — Oct 29, 2026Oil majors including ExxonMobil, Chevron, BP, Shell and TotalEnergies reported sharply higher third-quarter profits as conflict-related supply disruptions lifted fuel prices and refining margins. The windfalls drew criticism and calls for firms to ease consumer costs, while President Trump publicly celebrated the industry’s profits as households faced higher fuel bills.

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Philippines Summons Chinese Envoy Over Conflict Remarks — Oct 19, 2026On Oct. 19, 2026, the Philippines summoned Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan after he said China may easily win a conflict but would not use force; Manila called the remarks a threat.

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Elena Vasquez Calling those comments a threat makes sense given how often Manila has faced Chinese vessels near its waters lately.

The Pattern Gauntlet: an IQ-style challengeQuizie — QuizTwenty puzzles — sequences, logic, analogies, the classics. Scored hard, graded honestly. An entertainment estimate, not a clinical IQ score.

Iran Says Israeli Election Won’t Change Policy — Oct 26, 2026U.S. and Israeli elections could shape political and military decisions in the Iran conflict, including the prospect of renewed U.S. strikes. Tehran says Israel’s election will not change its policy toward Israel and has dismissed Benjamin Netanyahu’s calls for regime change as threats.

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Gun-Control Groups Ask Supreme Court To Reverse Landmark Ruling — Oct 29, 2026Two gun-control organizations called on the Supreme Court to use a case challenging laws banning modern semiautomatic firearms as an opportunity to overturn the court's landmark Heller ruling.

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Trump: Peltola should be removed from ballot in Alaska — Oct 28, 2026President Donald Trump called for former Rep. Mary Peltola (D-Alaska) to be removed from the ballot for senator. Trump made his case Wednesday following a report that her campaign… — by Sandra Rhodes

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Students Rally Across Campuses Against Sexual ViolencePolitics — 4dFollowing rape allegations at Cornell, students and advocates held Take Back the Night demonstrations at campuses including Yale, Berkeley and Stanford, calling for stronger protections for survivors and more accountability from universities. Cornell’s Washington, D.C., program also became a site of solidarity, with advocates projecting survivor-support messages and petition signers’ names onto its residence hall.

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England Names Bellingham, King for First Senior Call-Ups — 17hThomas Tuchel has given Jobe Bellingham and Josh King their first senior England call-ups for upcoming Nations League matches against Croatia and Spain. Cole Palmer, Phil Foden and Kobbie Mainoo are among the notable omissions, while Declan Rice and Ben White return to the squad.

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Jared Kim Omitting Palmer and Foden looks risky when creativity will be needed against Spain.

Romans 12:12 calls for joy in hope and patience in afflictionCommunity — 23hPosted to FaithTap by IJR.

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Omar Lawyers Ask Justice Department to Return Seized Home Property — Oct 17, 2026Federal agents seized Rep. Ilhan Omar's phone and passport in an Oct. 12, 2026 search of her DC home; her lawyers call the immigration probe unlawful and demand the property back.

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Tom Gallagher Investigations into any representative should follow clear legal steps before seizing personal items from a home.

Vance calls to end the war and abandon Israel2 sources — 2d

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Rachel Meyers It's one thing to push for peace but walking away from Israel entirely risks our own long-term security interests.

Germany Gives 17-Year-Old Mohya First Senior Call-Up — 1dJürgen Klopp has given 17-year-old Borussia Mönchengladbach midfielder Wael Mohya his first senior Germany call-up for upcoming Nations League matches, after the teenager impressed in the Bundesliga. Mohya is also eligible for Morocco, and Klopp said the call-up will let him assess the youngster in training without guaranteeing he will play; it does not by itself settle his international future.

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Sam Okafor Mohya has real potential but Germany should not assume this call-up locks him in when Morocco is still an option.

Developing storylines

AI safety and governance calls intensify