The death toll rises as rescue crews respond to Hurricane Helene’s devastation Power was out for more than 2 million customers across the Southeast and southern Appalachia on Sunday. Residents in hard-hit western North Carolina and Georgia faced water outages. Read more on NPR

California Gov. Newsom vetoes AI bill, considered strictest in nation The measure, known as SB 1047, was one of the nation’s most far-reaching regulations on the booming AI industry. It would have held AI companies legally liable and enabled a “kill switch” if systems went rogue. Read more on NPR

California Gov. Newsom vetoes AI bill, considered strictest in nation The measure, known as SB 1047, was one of the nation’s most far-reaching regulations on the booming AI industry. It divided Silicon Valley over the balance between artificial intelligence safety and tech innovation. Read more on NPR

From pager blasts to Nasrallah’s killing: 12 days that transformed a bloody war NPR steps back and takes a closer look at the days leading up to the killing of Hezbollah’s leader. Experts say this development has transformed an already complex and deadly conflict. Read more on NPR

Along Florida’s Gulf Coast, residents are reeling from the effects of Hurricane Helene The scope of the damage Hurricane Helena caused is still not totally clear. Read more on NPR

The Pentagon says it wants to prevent Iran from spreading the conflict in the Middle East After Israel killed Hezbollah’s leader, the U.S. says it wants to stop Iran from “exploiting the situation or expanding the conflict.” Read more on NPR

IDF prepares to invade southern Lebanon as 2 more Hezbollah leaders are presumed dead At least 11 people were killed in the latest Israeli airstrikes, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency. The Israeli military, meanwhile, says it’s preparing for a ground invasion into southern Lebanon. Read more on NPR

Getting the COVID vaccine during pregnancy protects newborns from hospitalization Babies under six months can’t be vaccinated directly against COVID. A new study found that most infants hospitalized for COVID had mothers who didn’t get the vaccine while they were pregnant. Read more on NPR

Should you vote your feelings? A traveling play helps audiences think that through An acclaimed Edinburgh Fringe show encourages the audience to think about why they’re voting the way they do. Read more on NPR

Why the U.S. government is hailing Israel’s killing of Hezbollah’s leader as ‘justice’ Hezbollah’s leader Hassan Nasrallah was killed by Israeli airstrike this weekend. The Biden administration said it gives the victims of the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group “a measure of justice.” Read more on NPR