Good morning, and happy Thursday. Here are some of the stories we’re following today:
1. Maine nurse steps out to fight quarantine
The Ebola battle could come to a boil Thursday, as nurse Kaci Hickox plans to defy orders to home quarantine even if the state of Maine legally forces her. Officials are seeking a court order to detain Hickox, who had been volunteering in West Africa but has tested negative for Ebola, until her incubation period ends on Nov. 10. The nurse stepped out briefly Wednesday night to talk to reporters as a state trooper watched from across the street. President Barack Obama, coincidentally, will be in Maine on Thursday for a “get out the vote” rally for Democratic candidates. Read more in HEALTH.
2. Giants clinch World Series crown against Royals
Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner was an ace on the mound Wednesday night, throwing five innings of near-perfect relief. He helped San Francisco hold off the Kansas City Royals 3-2 in Game 7 of the series, giving the Giants their third title in five years. Bumgarner, 25, earned the MVP honors for his dazzling display. “He’s such a humble guy, and we rode him pretty good,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy later said. “It’s historic what this kid has done,” he added. Read more at NBC SPORTS.
There were reports of some street violence in San Francisco following the Giants’ victory. One person was reportedly shot in the arm, while another man was stabbed, police said.
3. National Guard scrambles to scene of lava flow
With the lava now within 100 feet of the nearest home in Pahoa — on Hawaii’s Big Island — about 80 members of the National Guard are being dispatched Thursday to help manage roadblocks and traffic. The main river of lava was about 240 yards from Pahoa Village Road, which runs through the town of 1,000 people. But Wednesday, a small, 5-yard-wide finger broke off and began advancing toward a residence. Evacuations, however, are still not mandatory. Read more in NEWS.
4. Was race a factor in N.J. high school hazing case?
The shocking hazing allegations among football players at Sayreville War Memorial High School brought seven arrests of students and an abrupt end to the season. But with officials saying very little about the case, theories have crept on social media up about why such action was taken. One of the more controversial theories involves race: The seven kids are black, their victims are white, and Sayreville is a borough veined by racism. Read more in NEWS.
5. Arctic blast to slug East Coast
The unseasonable warm this week is about to become a distant memory this weekend. Temperatures are expected to be 10 to 20 degrees below average from the Mississippi Valley to the East Coast — what would be a first freeze for the fall. Cold air from the north has already settled over the northern Plains and is expected to trigger the first lake-effect snow for Michigan and northern Indiana. And yes, snow showers are still possible for other parts of the country. Read more in NEWS.
6. 'Unusual' uptick in Russian military flights
NATO said Wednesday its fighter planes have noticed a spike in the number of Russian military jets flying over European skies. Russia routinely fails to file flight plans or use on-board transponders, so the jump in activity is alarming, alliance officials added. NATO added that it has conducted more than 100 intercepts of Russian aircraft so far this year — “about three times more” than it conducted in 2013. “We have seen an increase in Russian flights since [the] Ukraine crisis,” one NATO military official told NBC News. “It doesn’t help current relations.” Read more in NEWS.
... What’s trending today?
Pirate3D is using 3D printers to recreate photographs so that the blind can “see” memories and important images by feeling them.