Good Morning! Today’s edition is 734 words, a 3-minute read.

What’s on tap: 

• California gets a new marine sanctuary

• Archaeologists discover 2,000-year-old church

• Hackers control robot vacuums

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Big Story

Militias Aren’t Hunting FEMA Workers

North Carolina police arrested a man for threatening FEMA workers who were helping with recovery efforts after Hurricane Helene.

• William Jacobs Parsons, a 44-year-old from Bostic, N.C., made comments about harming FEMA employees and was found with a rifle and handgun. He was arrested and released after posting bail.

• After the threat was reported, FEMA temporarily stopped its aid operations in North Carolina to ensure safety. There were also initial reports of armed militia groups “hunting” FEMA workers, but further investigation found that Parsons acted alone.

• The incident follows a rise in misinformation about FEMA's recovery efforts after Hurricane Helene, which impacted several Southeastern states. False information about FEMA's role in the recovery has caused confusion and tensions in the region.

Big Story

New National Marine Sanctuary

The Biden-Harris Administration announced the creation of the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary.

• The sanctuary will cover over 4,500 square miles of water along California's central coast. It’s part of President Biden’s efforts to conserve US lands and waters, aiming to protect 30% by 2030. The sanctuary will also help preserve kelp forests, shipwrecks, and other natural resources.

• It gives Indigenous communities, especially the Chumash people, a role in managing the sanctuary that honors their traditions and values. The area will also allow for clean energy projects like wind farms, balancing conservation with future energy needs

• The new sanctuary, which will officially be established in late 2024, is one of the largest in the US and is seen as a major step forward in protecting California’s coastal ecosystems and cultural heritage.

Big Story

Central & Eastern US Cold Front

Millions in the central and eastern US will feel a chill this week.

• A cold front, and chilly air from Canada, will bring temperatures down 10 to 15 degrees below normal by midweek. The first wave of the cold started over the weekend, with temperatures dropping in the Plains and Midwest on Monday.

• Today and Wednesday will be the coldest days, with high temperatures struggling to reach 50 degrees in places like Chicago. Cities from Washington, D.C. to Atlanta will also have much cooler temperatures than usual for mid-October.

• Freeze alerts have been issued for parts of Pennsylvania and may expand to other areas in the Northeast.

• The cold will ease up by late in the week, with warmer temperatures returning by the weekend in the central US and Northeast. Highs in the 70s and 80s will come back for the Southeast by Saturday.

Little Stories

• A new survey shows that 25% of adults in the US think they might have ADHD but only 13% have talked to a doctor about it. Social media has made more people aware of ADHD, especially younger adults, but experts say self-diagnosing can be risky. Adult ADHD can be hard to spot and is often mistaken for anxiety or depression. (More)

• Archaeologists have discovered the remains of an Armenian church nearly 2,000 years old, making it the oldest of its kind in the country and one of the oldest in the world. The church was uncovered in Artaxata, an ancient city that was once the Armenian kingdom’s capital. (More)

• China started large-scale military exercises around Taiwan and nearby islands on Monday. They called it a "stern warning" against people in Taiwan who want independence. This comes after Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te gave a speech saying the island will resist a Chinese takeover. (More)

• The Italian navy, under a new deal with Albania, has intercepted a group of migrants at sea and is sending them to Albania to have their asylum claims processed. The people being sent to Albania are all men who were trying to cross the Mediterranean from Africa to Europe. (More)

• Vice President Kamala Harris introduced a plan called the "Opportunity Agenda" for Black men. It includes 1 million forgivable loans for Black entrepreneurs and new ways to help Black Americans succeed in the legal marijuana industry. (More)

Extra Credit

🤖 Hackers take control of robot vacuums.

🍔 The best burgers in every state.

🌀 How hurricanes get their names.

👫 Maine’s annual Wife-Carrying Championship.