Games' closing ceremony 📷 Olympics highlights Perseid meteor shower 🚗 Car, truck recalls: List
NEWSLETTER
Donald Trump

President Trump draws fire over taxes

Editors
USA TODAY

Good morning Daily Briefing readers! Another week, another Monday — and it's five weeks to go until Election Day. It’s Jane here, bringing you today’s news.

President Donald Trump is taking flak after the New York Times unveiled a bombshell report about his taxes. Weary California residents are bracing for more wildfires. And it's Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year in Judaism.

Here's today's news:

Trump taxes: Questions continue after NYT report

Questions are continuing to be asked Monday after President Donald Trump refused to discuss his tax returns after a report said he paid only $750 in personal federal income taxes in 2016 and 2017, and he paid no income taxes at all in 10 of the previous 15 years. Trump on Sunday dismissed a New York Times investigation into his tax records, which revealed a string of financial losses that helped him avoid paying taxes, and showed the president is beset by hundreds of millions in personal debt that will come due within the next four years. The analysis also found Trump earned millions abroad after he took office, raising questions about whether it conflicts with his role as president. The president dismissed the story Sunday during a news conference, calling the reporting "totally fake news." Trump was the first major presidential candidate in four decades to refuse to release tax returns and has long used the excuse that he cannot reveal them due to an audit by the Internal Revenue Service. However, an audit does not prevent Trump from releasing his records.

ICYMI...

The Senate plans to begin confirmation hearings for Amy Coney Barrett on Oct. 12. She's a longtime favorite among religious conservatives. Our SCOTUS reporter Richard Wolf and national political correspondent Phillip Bailey explain what Barrett's nomination means for politics on the left and the right in America — no matter who the next president is. Listen to them on the 5 Things podcast.

In coronavirus news:

Heat wave brings 'critical risks' of wildfires to California

California residents are bracing for another wave of wildfires as the state is exposed to “critical risks for fire weather’’ Monday. The state’s biggest utility, PG&E, said it planned to cut off power to 89,000 customers Sunday through Monday morning, mostly in the Northern and Central Sierra but also extending to parts of the San Francisco Bay Area, as a preventive measure to avoid igniting fires. The number of affected customers was later reduced to 65,000. A new fire erupted early Sunday in the Napa Valley wine country north of San Francisco, quickly burning through 1,000 acres and forcing officials to order mandatory evacuations.

Deadline arrives for Trump administration to stop holding immigrant children in hotels

Hundreds, possibly thousands, of immigrant children are being held in hotels in several cities for prolonged periods of time under secretive emergency measures that quickly expel undocumented immigrants who arrive at the border during the pandemic. A federal judge last week gave the Trump administration until Monday to put an end to the practice. U.S. District Judge Dolly Gee ruled Sept. 4 that the government's detention of children longer than 72 hours violated a settlement that governs the treatment of immigrant children in custody – and previously ordered the Trump administration to stop holding the children in hotels as part of the policy by Sept. 15. But the practice has continued while the Trump administration sought stays pending an appeal.

More news you need to know:

Tampa Bay looks to beat Dallas, lift Stanley Cup

The Tampa Bay Lightning will try again Monday to finish off the Dallas Stars as the two teams meet in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals (8 p.m. ET, NBC). The Lightning lead the Stars in the best-of-seven series, three games to two. The Stars stayed alive in Game 5 on Saturday in a come-from-behind, double-overtime victory. Center Joe Pavelski tied the game in the third period with a power-play goal and Corey Perry sealed the 3-2 win with his second goal of the game. Interesting stat: The Lightning are 6-0 in the postseason after a loss. 

Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement, ends

Yom Kippur, which is observed from sundown Sunday to sundown Monday, is considered the holiest day of the year in Judaism. It’s a high holiday that follows Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. Yom Kippur translates from Hebrew to English as Day of Atonement. Traditionally, Jews spend the holiday fasting and reflecting on sins committed over the past year.  According to Jewish tradition, one's fate is decided on Rosh Hashanah and sealed on Yom Kippur. People who observe Yom Kippur neither eat nor drink for 25 hours, with the exception of children and those for whom fasting is dangerous. Once the period of fasting ends, it’s time to break the fast with bagels and egg dishes.

And finally:

Eight-year-old Maximus Turner didn’t let another military move cancel his plans to dance. Instead he choreographed a ballet recital for himself and his sister — and you can watch it in this Militarykind video. 

Featured Weekly Ad