1. The vote is coming! The House is expected to vote tonight on a Senate-passed funding bill that would end the government shutdown. The bill funds all of the federal government through January 30th and select portions of it through the end of September. Those to be fully funded include the Department of Veterans Affairs, military construction projects, the Department of Agriculture, the SNAP food assistance program it runs, and importantly to those on Capitol Hill, the offices of members of Congress. That means, if there is another shutdown at the end of January, Congressional aides will keep getting paid. The longest government shutdown in history now in Day 43.
2. It's deadline day! Today is the final day for Wisconsinites affected by historic August flooding to apply for FEMA's Individual Assistance program. Homeowners and renters may be eligible for individual aid even though a request for additional federal funding was denied. Eligibility for FEMA assistance requires that the damaged property was a primary residence and that needs are not covered by insurance. You can check your eligibility for assistance and apply at DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling the FEMA Helpline.
3. There's another chance to see the Northern Lights tonight! People across a wide section of the country will have the rare chance to see the Northern Lights again tonight. Normally you don't see the Northern Lights in the city, but there were some people who caught them in Milwaukee last night.