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COOK COUNTY, Ill. (WLS) -- Expanded early voting begins Monday at dozens of locations across suburban Cook County and all 50 Chicago wards. Cook County officials have unveiled new technology aimed at making the voting process more efficient and transparent. More than 10% of registered voters in suburban Cook County are expected to vote by mail this year. While email ballot tracking is not new, officials said new technology will provide voters with more detailed information about their ballots. ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watchExpanded early voting will be available at 56 locations throughout suburban Cook County beginning Monday. Voters will find smart ballot drop boxes that, combined with new technology, will allow them to track their ballots from beginning to end, including detailed U. S. Postal Service data. "There's over 200,000 mail ballots sent out and we track six categories of that," said Dheeraj Patri, chief technology officer at KNOWiNK. Cook County Deputy Clerk for Elections Ed Michalowski said the system will give voters more information about where their ballots are during the process.

More than a million Albertans have already voted in a referendum that asks fundamental questions about the province’s future, preliminary numbers show. Elections Alberta says a total of 1,356,873 votes were cast between Oct. 13 and Oct. 17 through advance and special ballots. That’s compared to 809,988 votes cast at the same point during the 2023 provincial election campaign. Broken down further, the agency says a total of 837,791 votes were cast at advance voting locations, with 519,082 special ballots mailed in. By comparison, 758,637 advance votes were cast in 2023 and 51,351 special ballots. The agency notes special ballot totals from 2023 are “not directly comparable” to the referendum, as they weren’t available to all eligible electors and weren’t required to be received by mail. There were a total of 3,148,343 eligible electors for the referendum, with the agency saying 43 per cent cast their ballot during the advance voting period. Only 27.5 per cent did so during the same period in the 2023 election. Story continues below advertisement

MANKATO, Minn. — Mike Lindell, the MyPillow founder and failed GOP gubernatorial candidate, is dropping a legal challenge related to his primary election claims and will back GOP candidate Lisa Demuth for governor of Minnesota. “Everyone’s just got to get out and vote, and we’ve got to vote for Republicans and especially Lisa Demuth,” Lindell told Forum News Service via telephone on Friday.

ATLANTA -- Caleb Williams completed his first 12 passes in his return from a hamstring injury, D'Andre Swift ran for two touchdowns and the Chicago Bears beat the Atlanta Falcons 31-23 on Sunday. The Bears led 31-7 before holding off Atlanta's comeback attempt in the final quarter. ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watchBears cornerback Kyler Gordon, who was activated from the physically unable to perform list before the game in his return from a calf injury, had three sacks and two forced fumbles. Gordon's big day was capped by a sack of Michael Penix Jr. and forced fumble with 2:54 remaining and the Bears protecting a 31-23 lead. The fumble was recovered by Devin Bush at the Atlanta 28. The Bears ran out the clock inside the Atlanta 5. After missing three games, Williams was both mobile and accurate in his impressive return for the Bears (4-2). He opened the game by completing 6 of 6 passes for 64 yards, including a 14-yard scoring pass to Colston Loveland, on Chicago's opening drive. Williams was 12 of 12 for 142 yards before throwing his first incompletion in the second quarter.

Chicago BearsSunday, October 18, 2026 10:36PMThe Chicago Bears defeated the Atlanta Falcons 31-23 on the road as quarterback Caleb Williams made his return from a hamstring injury Sunday. CHICAGO (WLS) -- Sunday would have been the late Mike Ditka's 87th birthday. To honor the Chicago legend, Pippin's Tavern celebrated Da Coach's life by hosting a Ditka look-alike contest during the Bears-Falcons game. ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watchFans were asked to come with their best mustache, aviator sunglasses and Bears sweater vest for a pre-game party. It began at 11 a.m. at Pippin's Tavern in River North. The winner was selected by an audience vote at halftime of the Bears-Falcons game. The Bears won the game 31-23 in Atlanta, pleasing fans at watch parties across Chicago. Copyright © 2026 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.

A slow start put the Soo Greyhounds in a deep early hole Sunday, and the team couldn’t fully recover It’s not uncommon to see a slow start become a major issue and for the Soo Greyhounds, it was exactly that on Sunday afternoon.

“People are hungry, and they are scared,” said Manno, 57, who is on medical leave from her job at a nonprofit and shares an apartment with her 22-year-old disabled son. “I am here because my food budget kept getting tighter and tighter.”Rising grocery bills and dwindling federal food benefits — the first driven by tariffs and war, the second by government budget cuts enacted, in part, by President Trump’s signature tax-cut-and-spending law — are pushing struggling families to food pantries to help bridge the gap. Get Starting PointA guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter EmailAn NBC News survey this month of 48 of the largest food banks, representing 35 states and Washington, D. C., found that nearly three-quarters reported increases in the number of people coming to their sites over the past year. The rise is coinciding with midterm elections that could prove to be a referendum on Trump’s economic stewardship.

MetroWeatherPoliticsSportsBusinessPuzzlesRhode IslandGlobe MagazineOpinionHealth careArtsLifestyleEducationCambridge & SomervilleMoney, Power, InequalitySpotlightTechnologyClimateCarsReal EstateEventsLive updatesPatriots 26, Jets 19: New England grinds out a third straight win in A. J. Brown’s rusty return. Here’s how it unfolded.

Tropical cyclones top the list of nature’s most powerful storms. Larger than tornadoes and more intense than any single thunderstorm, these systems can change the landscape when they swirl ashore. A handful of tropical cyclones take full advantage of their surroundings to achieve the apex of their potential, the strongest storms nature can produce. DON’T MISS: What’s the difference between hurricanes, typhoons, and cyclones? Tiny fraction of storms achieve upper limitsOnly about 4 per cent of all the world’s recorded tropical cyclones have reached the equivalent of Category 5 strength. Most tropical cyclones are relatively weak and short lived because it’s tough for all the necessary ingredients to align just right. But explosive development can result when all those factors come together in perfect harmony. Strongest Winds: Hurricane PatriciaAn exceptionally favourable setup off the western shores of Mexico in late-Oct. 2015 allowed Hurricane Patricia to grow into the world’s strongest hurricane since reliable observations began in 1966.

Panasonic Automotive Systems has developed an integrated active noise control system that simultaneously reduces road and engine noise in series-hybrid vehicles. Making its production debut in the standard audio systems of Nissan’s new Elgrand X and G grades for Japan, the noise cancellation technology combines vibration sensing, proprietary broadband processing, and the vehicle’s loudspeakers into a unified implementation. Panasonic Automotive Systems has developed an integrated active noise control system that simultaneously reduces road and engine noise in series-hybrid vehicles. Making its production debut in the standard audio systems of Nissan’s new Elgrand X and G grades for Japan, the noise cancellation technology combines vibration sensing, proprietary broadband processing, and the vehicle’s loudspeakers, extending the company’s automotive acoustic control development into a unified implementation. The Elgrand is Nissan’s premium minivan, built to pair spacious comfort with engaging driving performance. The new model adopts the third-generation e‑POWER hybrid system, the enhanced e‑4ORCE electric-drive all-wheel control technology, and the Intelligent Dynamic Suspension.

The Mount Loretto warehouse was destroyed, but the church was spared. ByEyewitness News Sunday, October 18, 2026 10:34PMPLEASANT PLAINS, Staten Island (WABC) -- A fire at an abandoned warehouse threatened a historic church on Staten Island. Flames broke out Saturday just before 6 p.m. on Hylan Boulevard between Sharrot Ave. and Mt. Loretto near the Old Church of St. Joachim and St. Anne. "Upon arrival we immediately had heavy fire throughout the building," said FDNY Chief Kevin Woods. Initially, a 911 caller indicated the church was burning as the building seemed to be surrounded by smoke and flames. The landmark was spared, as were dozens of structures in the area, including two schools and a senior center. It was no small feat given there were strong winds. "Our units did a great job with many of the flying embers, preventing additional structures from going o fire," added Chief Woods. The flames have been put out, but dozens of firefighters remained on scene overnight. There was heavy damage to the structure and the roof of the warehouse collapsed. The cause of the fire is under investigation. One firefighter was taken to the hospital with a minor injury.

WeatherAccuWeather forecast for NYC, New York, New Jersey and ConnecticutByEyewitness News The Loop: Your live look at weather and trafficNEW YORK (WABC) -- Looking ahead to next week, temperatures moderate back into the 60s, closer to seasonal averages. However, a developing storm system off the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic coast will require monitoring. Current indications keep the storm far enough offshore to avoid a direct impact on the region, but it may occasionally increase winds near the coast and create concerns for minor to moderate coastal flooding and beach erosion. Overall, those away from the coast can expect a classic stretch of fall weather next week, featuring crisp mornings, seasonable afternoons, and plenty of opportunities to enjoy the autumn colors. LATEST ACCUWEATHER FORECASTGet the latest in the AccuWeather Forecast. THE 7-DAY FORECASTMondaySun and cirrus, windy coast. High 63TuesdayStorm just offfshore. High 65WednesdayBreezy blend. High 63ThursdayPartial sunshine. High 65FridaySun with some clouds. High 62SaturdayBright and cool. High 59SundaySun and a few clouds.

Need to Know WeatherOur coldest weather since March is in the forecast for Sunday morning, and the weather looks really nice for the week ahead. Sunday, October 18, 2026 10:30PMHOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- We've stumbled into a delightful weather pattern that will bring cool mornings, warm afternoons, and pleasant humidity for the work week ahead. Going back to work and school on Monday, it should still feel like fall with a low in the mid 50s and a high near 80. How long does this fall goodness stick around? The morning temperatures stay cool all week long in the upper 50s and low 60s, but high temperatures will steadily climb each day. By midweek, we'll be back in the upper 80s. Our highs will stay just under 90 degrees through the end of the week and next weekend as low temperatures climb back into the low 60s. When could we get our next decent chance of rain? Rain chances will be close to zero for the foreseeable future as this front has pushed the tropical air far away from the U. S. Gulf Coast. There are subtle signs that another front could pass through Texas toward the end of the month, and that would be our next best chance of getting rainfall.

President Donald Trump says he will close the East Potomac golf course, just across the river from Arlington, for 15 months of renovations starting Sunday, Nov. 15. Trump announced the plan on social media today (Sunday). He said the work would make the historic public course “one of the Best and Most Spectacular Golf Courses anywhere in the World.”

Sunday, October 18, 2026 10:29PMLucy Yang has the latest details from Midtown. MIDTOWN, Manhattan (WABC) -- A man was killed in a shooting at a Midtown Manhattan subway station Saturday, and police are continuing to search for the gunman, authorities said. The shooting happened on the northbound E train platform at the Seventh Avenue-53rd Street station. The victim was taken to Bellevue Hospital in critical condition and later died, police said. Crystal Cranmore has the latest details from Midtown. Sources told Eyewitness News that the victim and the suspect had been arguing on the platform before the shooting. Police released surveillance images of the suspect and said the shooting occurred shortly before 12:30 p.m. Saturday inside the station. Investigators said the suspect approached the victim before pulling out a gun and shooting him in the chest. The shooting disrupted subway service. According to the MTA, uptown E trains were running via the F line from West Fourth Street to Jackson Heights-Roosevelt Avenue, while uptown C and D trains were bypassing Seventh Avenue. Police have not released the victim's identity.