Today’s Lead News Stories

CDC Closes 2025–26 Flu Season with 198 Child Deaths as Early Activity Runs Highest on the West Coast

CDC data close the 2025–26 flu season at 198 child deaths as early activity runs highest on the West Coast. Who is most at risk now?

Medical Daily · Oct 13

Zelenskyy says Ukraine received no intelligence from partners on incoming missile strike on Kyiv

Ukraine received no early warning from its partners about a Russian missile strike on Kyiv, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

The Independent UK · Oct 13

Ex-DRC president Kabila to lead new 'politico-military' alliance with M23 rebels

Former Democratic Republic of Congo president Joseph Kabila has joined forces with the Rwanda-backed M23 armed group to lead a new political and military alliance, marking his most direct intervention yet in the conflict that has gripped the country’s east.

Radio France Internationale · Oct 13

One of the ‘Cornell 7’ wants a gag order to limit what can be said publicly about alleged gang-rape

An attorney for one of the accused Chi Phi fraternity brothers said that Jane Doe’s attorney ‘has been trying his case in the media since filing the lawsuit’

The Independent UK · Oct 12

Ex-Chicago detective identified as killing child in 65-year cold case

Police used recently discovered DNA to pin murder of eight-year-old girl on Thomas McInerney, who died in 2006

The Guardian - US · Oct 13

Newly-released 911 calls from Christa Pike’s botched execution exposes confusion among prison officials

Pike was discharged from the hospital and is back at the women’s prison where she was housed for 30 years

The Independent UK · Oct 12

Hurricane Simon and Tropical Storm Rachel kill five people on Mexico’s Pacific coast

Security forces use helicopters to rescue dozens of people as the two storms damage infrastructure and cause flash flooding

The Guardian - AU · Oct 13

Piner High School Reprimands Football Captain Over 'Free the Cornell 7' Post After 200-Student Walkout

Piner High School reprimands football captain over 'Free the Cornell 7' Instagram post after more than 200 students stage a walkout in Santa Rosa.

International Business Times UK · Oct 13

Five dead as 100mph hurricane threatens Mexico with catastrophic flooding

Hurricane Simon pounded western Mexico with more wind and rain Monday after tropical weather systems caused five deaths

The Independent UK · Oct 13

Bird Flu Hits Indiana Duck Facility and Minnesota Turkey Farm as Another Texas Dairy Herd Tests Positive

H5N1 hit a Minnesota turkey farm, an Indiana duck facility, and a Texas dairy herd. Why public risk stays low while farm workers face more exposure.

Medical Daily · Oct 13