United States Air Force

Massachusetts officials held a ribbon-cutting for the new $484 million Veterans Home at Holyoke, built beside the former Soldiers' Home where at least 76 veterans died in what is considered the nation's deadliest COVID outbreak at a long-term-care facility. The eight-story building replaces crowded multi-bed rooms with mostly single rooms, private bathrooms, and a "small house" care model, plus far higher nurse staffing ratios than the national average. Veterans are expected to move in starting in January, with the old building slated for demolition by 2028.

Oversight of veterans' homes was elevated to a Cabinet post with medical leadership required following the scandal. Some families of victims said they were initially left off the ribbon-cutting invite list, which Governor Maura Healey called a mistake; advocates continue pressing for a permanent memorial to those who died.

Missouri's 4th Congressional District race pits two-term Republican incumbent Mark Alford, a former TV anchor serving on House Armed Services and Appropriations committees, against Democrat Jordan Herrera, an Air Force veteran and Missouri assistant attorney general, and Libertarian Thomas Holbrook. Alford campaigns on an America First platform, border enforcement and reduced federal spending, while Herrera emphasizes economic security, healthcare access and limiting government regulation of personal life. Holbrook opposes gerrymandering and tariffs. The district's boundaries remain contested: the 2022 map, used for this election, covers west-central Missouri, while a newer 2025 map used for the primary would shift Kansas City into the district instead of District 5.

Gerald Prater, a candidate for Leander ISD's Place 1 board seat, died on Sept. 28, raising questions about Texas election procedure. Under state law, a certified candidate's name generally remains on the ballot after death unless removed well before the election, and votes cast for them still count. Prater's name will stay on the Nov. 3 ballot against opponent Serenity Coates. A similar situation exists in Brazoria County, where a sitting justice of the peace remains on the ballot; if he wins, commissioners would appoint a replacement. If Prater's seat becomes vacant, Leander ISD's board can appoint a replacement or call a special election in May.

Aiken City Council voted Oct. 26 against naming Aiken Regional Airport or its terminal after the late U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham. The proposal, initiated by council member Kay Brohl, originally sought to rename the airport itself but was amended to apply only to the terminal building after the General Aviation Commission unanimously recommended keeping the airport's name unchanged. Several speakers argued the terminal should instead honor Michael L. Laughlin, a former state senator and aviation businessman who funded its original construction. In a roll-call vote, Brohl, Messina and Mayor Teddy Milner supported naming the terminal for Graham, while Morgan, Price, Waldo and Diggs opposed it, defeating the measure.

Candidates have filed across 13 Georgia State Senate districts, mostly in metro Atlanta, ahead of the 2026 midterms. Several incumbents, including Sheikh Rahman, Ruwa Romman, Gail Davenport, Kenya Wicks, Jaha Howard, Kim Jackson, and Tonya Anderson, face no Republican opponent listed in their districts. Other seats are contested, including District 10, where Larry Johnson and Furquan Stafford compete to succeed Sen. Emmanuel Jones, and District 14, where Kevin Abel faces Mike Dvorscak for Sen. Josh McLaurin's open seat. Additional matchups include Romman vs. Shaikh, Castro vs. Setzler, Kemp vs. Helvy, and Jackson vs. Newlin, setting up a broad set of down-ballot races within the state's legislature.

Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old U.S. citizen jailed in Russia for more than four years on charges of fighting for Ukraine, has been released, U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff confirmed during talks with Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg. Hubbard, the last American formally designated wrongfully detained in Russia, was in poor health and expected to be flown to Texas for treatment. President Trump said he personally secured the release in a direct call with Putin, describing it as unconditional with no prisoner swap involved. The release came days after Trump eased sanctions on Russia, a move that drew bipartisan congressional backlash, with some states, including Colorado, publicly reaffirming solidarity with Ukraine.

Hubbard, a retired teacher and military veteran, was captured in Ukraine in 2022 and sentenced in 2024. His release follows those of Robert Gilman, Marc Fogel, Evan Gershkovich, and Paul Whelan. Roughly 10 Americans remain detained in Russia.

Retired Lt. Col. David Gauntlett received the Bronze Star Medal with Valor during an Oregon National Guard ceremony in Salem on Oct. 19, 57 years after his actions in Vietnam. From May 12 to 14, 1969, then-Sgt. Gauntlett, a 20-year-old Air Force radio operator, stayed at his radio through three days of mortar attacks at Song Be in Phuoc Long Province, continuing to coordinate airstrikes despite a shrapnel wound. His 1969 award recommendation was lost until a fellow veteran rediscovered the original citation around 2000, launching a five-year effort involving Rep. Val Hoyle's office to validate the recommendation. Hoyle is pushing a National Defense Authorization Act amendment to prevent similar delays for other veterans.