Thursday, October 29

Readthrough

Updated 4:08 AM CT
XLE$68.45▲ 0.35%3:00 PM CT
WTI Crude$101.13▼ 1.61%3:58 AM CT
Brent$110.19▼ 4.45%3:58 AM CT
Chainlink$11.47▼ 2.66%4:07 AM CT

Top Stories

NW Arkansas

40/29 News·

Dunk Party Dominance: Arkansas beats Memphis in final exhibition

No. 12 Arkansas closed its exhibition schedule 2-0 by beating Memphis 93-81 Wednesday night at Bud Walton Arena. John Calipari's Razorbacks took control before halftime, stretched the lead past 20 after the break and leaned on inside scoring, following an earlier 76-72 exhibition win over Gonzaga.

Arkansas Governor news releases·

Arkansas Named Most Pro-Life State in America for Seventh Year in a Row

Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders joined Americans United for Life and the Arkansas Family Council in Alexander on Wednesday to announce that Arkansas has again been ranked the most pro-life state in the country. It is the seventh year in a row the state has topped the group's annual ranking, which scores all 50 states on laws covering the unborn, elderly, disabled and terminally ill.

40/29 News·

Rain possible on Halloween in Northwest Arkansas, River Valley

The 40/29 Weather Team says Halloween weekend looks soggy for Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley, with Saturday flagged as an impact day. A stray shower is possible Friday, but better chances for scattered showers arrive late Friday night or Saturday morning, and models have been inconsistent on timing, so rain is possible anytime Saturday.

Arkansas Advocate·

MAP: Data center rules enacted in Arkansas’ most populous county after judge’s veto overridden

The Pulaski County Quorum Court voted 10-4 Tuesday night to override the outgoing county judge's veto of land-use rules for data centers, a hard-fought win for opponents of the facilities. Van Buren also approved its own data center regulation ordinance, and the Arkansas Advocate mapped where such rules now apply around the state.

Hawaii

Hawaii News Now·

Dry season was one of the wettest on record, but a drier wet season on the horizon

Hawaii's dry season ended as one of the wettest on record, with an El Nino bringing Kona lows and several hurricanes, and the islands are now under a comparatively mild monsoon trough. National Weather Service hydrologist Tina Stall said rain rates have mostly been reasonable and brief, though Molokai's heavier downpours swamped Kamehameha V Highway, and forecasters see a drier wet season ahead.

Big Island Now·

Royal Kona Resort workers ratify new contract

Royal Kona Resort workers represented by UNITE HERE Local 5 voted Oct. 28 to ratify a new contract after nearly two years of bargaining, with 100% of voting employees in favor. The deal brings what the union calls historic wage increases, stronger job security and emergency protections; the previous contract expired in January 2025 and workers staged a one-day strike in December 2025.

University of Hawaii News·

$20M grant renews UH role in AI research to improve engineering design

The University of Hawaii at Manoa will keep helping develop AI tools that could make it faster and cheaper to design and test everything from airplanes to wind turbines, thanks to a new $20 million federal grant. Three UH Manoa faculty members are part of the renewed research effort.

Kauai Now·

UPDATE: Brown water advisory canceled for Kaua‘i’s ‘Anini Beach

The Hawaii Department of Health has canceled the brown water advisory issued Oct. 13 for 'Anini Beach on Kauai. The department still urges people to stay out of brown, murky coastal water, especially after storms or heavy rain.

Business

Federal Reserve (monetary policy)·

Federal Reserve issues FOMC statement

The Federal Open Market Committee voted 10-2 on Wednesday to hold the federal funds rate target range at 3-3/4 to 4 percent. The Fed said economic activity is expanding at a strong pace and domestic spending has been resilient, while uncertainty remains elevated partly because of geopolitical developments.

CNBC·

Shell nearly doubles quarterly profit year-on-year as refining margins soar to record high

Shell nearly doubled its third-quarter adjusted earnings to $10.81 billion from $5.43 billion a year earlier, beating analyst expectations of $9.92 billion. Geopolitical turmoil pushed indicative refining margins to a record $42 per barrel, well above the previous high of $28.04, making it the oil major's strongest quarter since 2022.

HM Treasury·

UK boosts support to Ukraine with £10 billion package

The UK will give Ukraine a further £10 billion of economic and military support, its largest-ever package of financial backing for the country. Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Chancellor John Healey told President Zelenskyy of the decision before announcing it in the Budget, calling it vital for collective security as Ukraine heads into winter.

HM Treasury·

Budget 2026 speech

Chancellor John Healey delivered the UK's Budget 2026, pitching it as a budget for working people and businesses built on fiscal discipline. He set out three aims: breathing space on the cost of living and the cost of doing business, backing British enterprise to drive innovation and growth across the country, and a clear direction for the future.

Tech

Apple Newsroom·

Apple unveils groundbreaking MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display

Apple introduced a new MacBook Pro with a tandem OLED "PROLED XDR" display and, for the first time on a Mac, touch input. The 14- and 16-inch models run M5 Pro and M5 Max chips and Apple claims up to 24 hours of battery life in a thinner, lighter design.

Engadget·

Hackers leaked details of more than 41,000 Homeland Security personnel

A hacktivist group stole and published records on more than 41,000 Department of Homeland Security personnel, including email addresses, phone numbers and office addresses of ICE agents and border officers, according to Wired, the Washington Post and NPR. About 21,000 of the records identify Customs and Border Protection staff, and some cover undercover and surveillance programs.

GitHub Blog·

Octoverse: Commits, pushes, reach new highs in 2026 as developers build with agents

GitHub's 2026 Octoverse report says developers pushed code 17.9 billion times in the past 12 months, more than in 2024 and 2025 combined, as building with AI agents took off. The report highlights growth across every industry and region, including a volunteer flood bulletin built in Nepal on GitHub Pages.

TechCrunch·

Upwind raises $400M after walking away from Datadog acquisition offer

Cloud security startup Upwind raised a $400 million Series C at a $3.8 billion valuation, led by Bessemer Venture Partners with Greylock and Craft Ventures participating. The round comes after the San Francisco company walked away from an acquisition offer from Datadog.

XLE & Oil

Rigzone·

Oil Rises with Iran Attack Report, Israeli Election in Focus

Oil rose Wednesday as traders weighed whether the U.S. could resume strikes on Iran after next week's midterms and watched a tight Israeli election. Brent rose 1.3% to settle above $115 a barrel after a two-day drop and WTI closed near $103; the Wall Street Journal reported the U.S. told several Gulf nations to prepare for a short, intense campaign, though President Trump hasn't decided.

OilPrice.com·

Oil Prices Fall as Vance Moves to Restart Iran Peace Talks

Crude gave back some of this week's gains after Vice President JD Vance contacted the secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council in a bid to restart peace talks. At the time of writing Brent traded at $114.14 and WTI at $101.45, both down from Wednesday but still well above where they started October.

Oil & Gas 360·

UBS raises Brent forecast to $110 as Middle East supply risks persist

UBS raised its year-end Brent forecast to $110 a barrel from $100, citing continued Middle East supply disruptions, rising transportation costs and uncertainty over how fast global petroleum inventories recover. The bank's outlook suggests prices could stay elevated.

Oil & Gas 360·

Phillips 66 posts record quarterly profit as refining margins more than triple

Phillips 66 posted record third-quarter earnings as refining margins more than tripled and overseas demand for U.S. fuel stayed strong. Adjusted earnings of $14.08 a share beat the $11.73 analysts expected, and net income reached $5.62 billion, up from $133 million a year earlier.

Patriots

Patriots.com·

Game Preview: Patriots at Dolphins | NFL Week 8

The 4-3 Patriots go on the road for a second straight week to face the Miami Dolphins on Sunday at 4:25 p.m. ET, the first of two meetings this season. Patriots.com's preview notes New England swept last season's series, and the rematch at Gillette Stadium will close out the 2026 regular season.

Patriots.com·

Week 8 Injury Report: Patriots at Dolphins

On Wednesday's first Week 8 injury report, A.J. Brown (ankle/knee), Ben Brown (knee), DaQuan Jones (back) and Morgan Moses (foot) were limited in practice. Drake Maye (right shoulder), Kevin Byard III and Carlton Davis III were among those listed as full participants, and no Patriots missed practice.

NBC Sports Boston·

Mailbag: Will Patriots make a big splash ahead of trade deadline?

After losing to the Bears on Thursday Night Football, the 4-3 Patriots get a bounce-back chance Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium against 1-5 Miami, which is coming off a surprising 28-25 win over the Jets. NBC Sports Boston's mailbag weighs where New England must improve and whether a big move is coming before the Nov. 10 trade deadline.

Patriots (YouTube)·

Previewing the New England Patriots vs. Miami Dolphins NFL Week 8 Matchup

Patriots.com writers Mike Dussault and Evan Lazar break down Sunday's Week 8 matchup against the Miami Dolphins in this video preview.

Movies

/Film·

First Sunrise On The Reaping Reactions Tease Another Hit For The Hunger Games Franchise

Early social media reactions to Francis Lawrence's The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping suggest another big hit for the franchise. The film opens in theaters on November 20, 2026.

/Film·

Does Godzilla Minus Zero Have A Post-Credits Scene? A Spoiler-Free Guide

Takashi Yamazaki's Godzilla Minus Zero, the sequel to 2023's Oscar-winning Godzilla Minus One, is one of 2026's most anticipated sequels. /Film's spoiler-free guide answers whether you need to stay through the credits.

Netflix newsroom·

Netflix’s ‘Empress of Flames’ Trailer Teases a Kingdom Ablaze in the Fight for the Throne

Netflix released the main trailer for Empress of Flames, a reimagined Thai epic from the creators of Master of the House, premiering worldwide December 3. It follows Ananthip (Pimchanok Luevisadpaibul), the last heir of the Phuka Luang Dynasty, who is exiled after her father is assassinated before the court.

IndieWire·

Barbara Barrie, Oscar-Nominated ‘Breaking Away’ and ‘Private Benjamin’ Star, Dies at 95

Barbara Barrie, the Oscar-nominated character actress best known for playing boisterous moms in Breaking Away and Private Benjamin, has died at 95. IndieWire looks back on her long career on screen and stage.

Lorcana & SWU

Disney Lorcana·

Disney Lorcana TCG Products from D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event Now Available Online

Ravensburger will sell the 2026 D23 Collection and the Winnie the Pooh Hunny Wizard Premium Foil Playmat online in limited quantities. Fans can enter the launches from 9 a.m. ET Saturday, Oct. 31, through 9 p.m. ET Sunday, Nov. 1, by signing up for an EQL account.

Star Wars: Unlimited·

Star Wars: Unlimited | Iconic Musings

In Iconic Musings, Star Wars: Unlimited designer Tyler Parrott previews memorable cards from Icons, a smaller set with all-new rare and legendary units. He also notes that many reprints in the set get new art.

Jedi News (SWU)·

Starting Out with Star Wars: Unlimited Icons, Available November 20th

Fantasy Flight Games takes a closer look at Icons 2027, the first Icons set for Star Wars: Unlimited, arriving November 20. The slightly smaller set focuses on fan-favorite characters and simpler mechanics, while its cards are designed to match the power of a standard set, making it an entry point for new and returning players.

Wargamer (Lorcana)·

Disney Lorcana reveals Illustrious new Evil Queen and an Iconic Cinderella for Hyperia City

Ravensburger revealed its second Illustrious rare, an elegant reprint of The Evil Queen, Commanding Presence from Rise of the Floodborn, alongside an Iconic Cinderella. Illustrious cards are limited to 23 copies each and will only come in Collector Booster packs debuting with Into the Inkdark in February 2027.

Faith

Vatican News·

Pope greets activists supporting migrants at Chicago’s ICE detention center

Pope Leo XIV greeted about thirty members of a Chicago coalition supporting migrants at the Broadview ICE detention center during his General Audience on Oct. 28. Mexican migrant Abigail Ortiz Valles said, "every time I visit Broadview, I encounter Jesus and His Passion."

Vatican News·

Parolin: Totalitarian regimes of past defeated; temptation to 'be like God' remains

Opening an academic conference on Oct. 28, Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin said the totalitarian regimes of National Socialism, communism and fascism belong to history, but the phenomenon does not. It arises, he said, from the human temptation to "be like God" and impose one's ideology on how humanity lives and thinks.

LCMS Reporter·

Preparation strengthens response to Isaias

Hurricane Isaias made landfall Oct. 9 near Destin, Florida, as a Category 2 storm with winds up to 105 mph, hitting Pensacola, Gulf Breeze and Milton hardest. The LCMS Southern District's disaster response coordinator, Rev. Paul Ernewein, said preparation and the fast-moving storm helped churches respond.

Religion News Service·

Three takeaways from a tight Israeli election with no clear outcome

After record turnout in Israel's parliamentary election, neither Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud nor challenger Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar Party has a clear path to a government without outside support. Religion News Service offers three takeaways as leaders jockey over the next coalition.

Christian Metal

Solid State Records (YouTube)·

SUNBORN - Silent Attraction (Official Music Video)

Solid State Records premiered the official music video for Sunborn's "Silent Attraction," directed and edited by Yann LCR with visual effects from Effulgence Studios.

Heaven's Metal·

News: Light The Dark’s (2027) Lineup Is Now Complete

Light The Dark, Scandinavia's largest Christian-founded rock and hard rock festival, has completed its 2027 lineup for its third year at Arbis in Norrköping, Sweden. Headliners include Bride, the Christian hard rock band that has decided to end its career.

Heaven's Metal·

Feature: Stryper Brings an Incredible Night of Rock to Liberty, South Carolina

Heaven's Metal recaps Stryper's Oct. 23 show at the Pickens County Performing Arts Center in Liberty, South Carolina, opened by local band Chuck W. Chapman. Before the set, the South Carolina Entertainment & Music Hall of Fame recognized bassist Perry Richardson, a Conway native inducted in 1995.

ThePRP (August Burns Red)·

August Burns Red Issue “Behemoth” Live Video From May 2026 Philadelphia Show

August Burns Red released a live video of "Behemoth" from their latest album, Season Of Surrender, filmed May 17 at The Fillmore in Philadelphia. The band's annual Christmas Burns Red show in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, will feature Underoath headlining with a performance of Define The Great Line.

Chris Voss

Negotiation Mastery (YouTube)·

How Tactical Empathy Will Change Your Life- Justus Parmar & Chris Voss

Fortuna Investments founder Justus Parmar tells former FBI hostage negotiator Chris Voss how the Black Swan Method changed his negotiating, moving him from focusing on his own goals to first understanding what the other side wants. They discuss how tactical empathy builds trust and long-term business relationships, and Voss explains that rapport-based influence is not manipulation.