On the version of Hot off the Wire posted Sept. 25 at 7 a.m. CT:

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A tentative deal has been reached to end Hollywood’s writers strike after nearly five months. The Writers Guild of America reached the deal Sunday with an alliance of studios, streaming services and production companies. The guild's board and members must approve the agreement before the strike officially ends. Hollywood's actors remain on strike with no deal yet in the works. The writers walked off the job May 2 over issues including the size of staffs on shows, long-term payment for their work and the use of artificial intelligence in scripts. The terms of the new deal were not immediately announced.

Auto workers remain on strike and President Joe Biden says he will go to Michigan on Tuesday to support the union.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Allies of Speaker Kevin McCarthy are working furiously to shore up support for the latest Republican plan to prevent a government shutdown. McCarthy is planning to start voting as soon as Tuesday on various bills to keep the government funded before next weekend’s Sept. 30 deadline for a shutdown.

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian officials say a Russian drone and missile strike near Odesa damaged port infrastructure, a grain silo and an abandoned hotel and injured one person. The Ukraine president's office said Monday four civilians were killed and 13 wounded in the past day as the war entered its 20th month. Russia has continuously targeted port and grain storage facilities in Odesa since pulling out of a deal that allowed Ukrainian grain exports to countries facing the threat of hunger. The attacks have destroyed silos, warehouses, oil terminals and other infrastructure critical for storage and shipping. Russia says it downed several Ukrainian drones, with some buildings damaged but no injuries reported.

A space capsule carrying NASA’s first asteroid samples has landed in the Utah desert. The Osiris-Rex spacecraft released the capsule Sunday, following a seven-year journey to asteroid Bennu and back. The capsule peeled away 63,000 miles from Earth, four hours ahead of the planned landing. Scientists expect to get at least a cup of rubble from Bennu. Japan collected about a teaspoon in a pair of asteroid missions. The pristine samples are believed to be leftover building blocks from the dawn of our solar system. Osiris-Rex, the mothership, is already targeting another asteroid.

PLAINS, Ga. (AP) — The Carter Center says former President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, took a ride through the Plains Peanut Festival in their Georgia hometown over the weekend. In a social media post on X, formerly known as Twitter, the Carter Center said the former first couple enjoyed “a ride through the Plains Peanut Festival” on Saturday and highlighted the former president's upcoming birthday on Oct. 1. The former president is 98 and has been in home hospice care since February. The former first lady has been diagnosed with dementia. The couple this summer marked their 77th wedding anniversary, extending their record as the nation’s longest-married first couple.

The Dolphins roll past the Broncos to remain unbeaten, the Lions' defense leads them past the Falcons, the Packers rally late to stun the Saints, numerous Major League Baseball playoff races remain undecided as the season enters the final week and NASCAR races in Texas. Correspondent Mike Reeves reports.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Usher has a new confession: The Grammy winner will headline the Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show in Las Vegas. The NFL, Apple Music and Roc Nation announced Sunday that Usher would lead the halftime festivities from Allegiant Stadium on Feb. 11. The music megastar, who has won eight Grammys, said he’s looking forward to performing on the NFL’s biggest stage. Usher spring boarded into superstardom with “Confessions,” which sold more than 10 million units in the U.S. The 44-year-old is 44, is currently headlining his “Usher: My Way” residency in Las Vegas, which has drawn sold-out shows and rave reviews.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Sylvester Stallone and Jason Statham weren’t enough to save “Expend4bles” from a debut box office flop. Comscore reported on Sunday that the fourth installment suffered the franchise’s worst opening weekend while “The Nun 2” took home the top spot for a third straight week. The film, also known as “Expendables 4,” pulled in a mediocre $8.3 million for the big-budget project. It’s been nearly a decade since the franchise released a film, which opened with $15.8 million and eventually grossed $214 million globally. But times have changed, as the film barely placed second behind “The Nun 2,” a horror movie that earned $8.4 million in its first week.

—The Associated Press

About this program

Host Terry Lipshetz is a senior producer for Lee Enterprises. Besides producing the daily Hot off the Wire news podcast, Terry conducts periodic interviews for this Behind the Headlines program, co-hosts the Streamed & Screened movies and television program and is the producer of Across the Sky, a podcast dedicated to weather and climate.

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