Top 10 US News Stories — Past 24 Hours
Monday, October 12, 2026
- IRAN WAR ESCALATES: HOUTHIS HIT RIYADH AIRPORT AGAIN, IRAN CALLS US RESPONSE “INADEQUATE”
- Saudi Arabia says a fresh Houthi strike on Riyadh’s airport Oct. 12 killed 1 and wounded 11, days after an earlier attack on the same airport killed 12 and injured over 300.
- Tehran says the US response to the ongoing conflict is “insufficient” as peace talks remain stalled; Trump is weighing new US strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen.
- Saudi air defenses intercepted additional incoming missiles; Riyadh has vowed a “decisive response.”
Source: Al Jazeera (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2026/10/12/iran-war-live-riyadh-airport-hit-again-tehran-says-us-reply-inadequate) and CBS News (https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/iran-war-us-trump-saudi-arabia-houthi/)
- OIL PRICES RISE AS MIDEAST CONFLICT INTENSIFIES
- Brent and WTI crude both ticked higher Oct. 12 as the Saudi-Houthi/Iran conflict continues to disrupt the region.
- Traders are watching for further supply disruption risk from repeated attacks near Gulf shipping and airport infrastructure.
Source: CNBC (https://www.cnbc.com/2026/10/12/oil-prics-today-iran-us-saudi-arabia-crude-.html)
- WALL STREET MIXED AS BIG BANKS KICK OFF EARNINGS SEASON
- The Dow edged higher while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq slipped Oct. 12 as investors braced for a heavy week of corporate earnings.
- JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, Wells Fargo and Citigroup are among major banks reporting results this week.
- US bond markets were closed for the Columbus Day holiday.
Source: CNBC / Yahoo Finance (https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/live/stock-market-today-monday-october-12-dow-sp-500-nasdaq-080321571.html)
- NINE DEAD, INCLUDING CHILDREN, IN ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA MASS SHOOTING
- A shooter killed 8 people — including two children and a pregnant woman — before turning the gun on himself, bringing the toll to 9 dead.
- Gov. Josh Shapiro and local officials responded as investigators continue to probe a motive; the case remains a major focus of national coverage this week.
Source: ABC News affiliate 6abc (https://6abc.com/post/9-dead-including-children-mass-shooting-erie-pennsylvania/19927187/) and The Hill (https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/6140615-erie-mass-shooting-nine-dead/)
- TRUMP NAMES KATIE ZACHARIA AS NEW WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY
- Trump has selected Katie Zacharia, a conservative commentator from his media company, to succeed Karoline Leavitt as White House press secretary.
- The move comes as the administration reshuffles communications staff heading into the final stretch of the midterm campaign.
Source: CNN (https://www.cnn.com/2026/10/09/politics/katie-zacharia-white-house-press-secretary) and CBS News (https://www.cbsnews.com/news/katie-zacharia-white-house-press-secretary-trump/)
- 2026 MIDTERM CAMPAIGN INTENSIFIES WITH DEBATES AND TRUMP RALLIES
- Senate candidates faced off in high-profile debates this week in Maine, Michigan and Georgia as control of Congress hangs in the balance.
- Trump rallied in San Antonio for Texas Senate candidate Ken Paxton, who is locked in an unexpectedly tight race; protesters interrupted the event.
- Early voting is already underway in several states ahead of the November election.
Source: NBC News (https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election) and The Philadelphia Inquirer (https://www.inquirer.com/politics/nation/senate-debate-takeaways-maine-michigan-georgia-20261009.html)
- ARMY LEADERSHIP TURMOIL AND BUDGET QUESTIONS OVERSHADOW ANNUAL CONVENTION
- The US Army opened its annual convention amid internal leadership shake-ups and unresolved budget questions under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
- The turmoil comes as the Pentagon also weighs a surge of naval forces to the Middle East amid the Iran conflict.
Source: The Washington Times (https://washingtontimes.com/news/2026/oct/10/us-army-heads-annual-convention-amid-leadership-turmoil-major-budget) and The Washington Post (https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/10/01/pentagon-prepares-potential-surge-naval-forces-middle-east/)
- CROSS-COUNTRY STORM CLEANUP: FLOODING IN THE SOUTHWEST AND SOUTHEAST
- Moisture from weakening Tropical Storm Rachel is bringing heavy rain and flash-flood risk to Arizona, California and the Southwest.
- In the Southeast, remnants of post-tropical storm Isaias have left at least 4 dead and continue to cause flooding and heavy rain.
- Forecasters warn more than 100 million people across roughly 30 states face a week-long flood threat.
Source: NBC News (https://www.nbcnews.com/weather/hurricanes/coast-coast-cleanup-three-storms-batter-north-america-rcna602938) and FOX Weather (https://www.foxweather.com/weather-news/over-150m-face-week-long-flood-threat-across-30-states-fueled-powerful-pacific-tropical-systems)
- SUPREME COURT OPENS NEW TERM, GRANTS REVIEW IN THREE NEW CASES
- The justices began the October Term 2026 by agreeing to hear three new cases, with a packed docket of major disputes expected this term.
Source: SCOTUSblog (https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/10/court-grants-three-cases-as-new-term-is-set-to-begin/)
- The justices began the October Term 2026 by agreeing to hear three new cases, with a packed docket of major disputes expected this term.
- SPACEX CREW-13 ASTRONAUTS ARRIVE AT INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION
- A fresh SpaceX Crew Dragon brought a new team of astronauts to the ISS this week, continuing the station’s crew rotation.
- The arrival follows the return of a previous NASA crew that splashed down after logging roughly 100 million miles in space.
Source: Space.com (https://www.space.com/news/live/spacex-nasa-crew-13-astronauts-launch-to-iss-october-1-2026) and ScienceDaily (https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261008232629.htm)
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