*** REGIONAL NEWS FROM WEDNESDAY ***

+ Thurston Talk: Historic Yelm Water Tower Renovation To Be a Beacon of Light

+ Thurston County Auditor: Auditor’s Office Will Conduct Random Audit of the November 2 General Election

+ JOLT News: Many activities for seniors in Thurston County [Yelm Senior Center: Haunted Scavenger Hunt and Halloween Decoration Contest]

*** NATIONAL NEWS FROM WEDNESDAY ***

KING-5 News: US issues its 1st passport with ‘X’ gender marker

CNBC: Retail trade group expects holiday sales to rise by all-time record, despite congested ports

The Washington Post: Top U.S. general calls China’s hypersonic weapon test very close to a ‘Sputnik moment’

Gizmodo: All the Fast Food You Love Contains Hormone-Disrupting Chemicals, Study Finds

NBC News: Astronomers have spotted tantalizing signs of a planet in a star system outside the Milky Way, which, if it’s confirmed, would be the first ever found in another galaxy.

McClatchy News: “Buy it when you see it.” Retailers dread holiday shortages

KING-5 TV: US to appeal UK refusal to extradite WikiLeaks’ Assange, in epic legal saga

Daily Kos: Rep. Mo Brooks walks back claims that his staff were not involved in planning Jan. 6

Vice News: 45% of Americans Don’t Believe Humans Cause Climate Change, VICE News/Guardian Poll Shows

*** TRUMP NEWS FROM WEDNESDAY ***

The Hill: Trump lawyers ask judge to block IRS from giving his tax returns to congressional panel

The Washington Post: [Murdoch owned] Wall Street Journal publishes letter from Trump claiming ‘rigged’ election

Politico: Former DOJ official Jeffrey Clark splits with lawyer before Jan. 6 testimony

MSN: A new poll shows 35% of voters think the 2020 election results should be overturned

Associated Press: ‘America ‘on fire’: Facebook watched as Trump ignited hate