State

• Pritzker’s executive orders unchecked as lawmakers return home until January

• Democrats, Republicans pass incentives for electric car industry

• Legislation to allow prisoners to vote stalls

Lawmakers leave for the year without addressing looming watchdog vacancy

Legislative Inspector General Carol Pope and former LIG Tom Homer testify in front of lawmakers in February 2020.

BlueRoomStream

• Darin LaHood announces he is running for re-election to Congress in 2022

• State offers free, confidential safety consultations for grain handlers

Nation

Prince Andrew 'unequivocally' denies Giuffre's sexual abuse claims, seeks to end lawsuit

Britain's Prince Andrew has 'unequivocally' denied sexually abusing Virginia Giuffre and called her lawsuit against him 'baseless', in filings with a New York court.

• Sheriff defends Cuomo investigation after filing of sex offense charge

• As vaccination mandate looms, New York prepares for shortage of firefighters, police

• Eleven states sue U.S. government over vaccine mandate for federal contractors

• Safety nets kept U.S. uninsured rate steady during pandemic, HHS says

Government, Politics, Campaigns  & Elections

Biden says pope thinks he is a 'good Catholic,' further fuelling U.S. abortion debate

Pope Francis meets U.S. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden at the Vatican, October 29, 2021. Vatican Media/­via REUTERS

• Biden administration issues new memo ending Trump 'Remain in Mexico' policy

• U.S. Supreme Court to consider allowing Republican bid to defend Trump-era immigration rule

• U.S. Supreme Court rejects religious challenge to Maine vaccine mandate

• U.S. FDA authorizes first COVID-19 shot for young kids

• U.S. House plan would give electric vehicles boost but faces opposition

• 12 automakers urge California senators to oppose union EV tax credit

• Group of anti-Trump Republicans was behind tiki torches in Virginia campaign

• New York State Attorney General Letitia James announces run for governor

International

Migrant caravan advances slowly in southern Mexico, some reject visas

A migrant carries his daughter, while covering both of them with an umbrella, as they take part in a caravan heading to Mexico City, in El Fortin, Mexico October 29, 2021. REUTERS/Daniel Becerril

• Tigrayan forces say they have seized strategic town in Ethiopia's Amhara region

• Thousands gather in Khartoum for planned nationwide protests

• Turkish-flagged cargo ship with migrants to dock at Greek port

• Arab League concerned at 'rapid deterioration' of Lebanese-Gulf ties

• U.S. back with 'guns blazing' on climate issue - U.S. Treasury adviser

• UK's Johnson says can't rule out trade action in French fishing row

• Queen Elizabeth is on 'very good form', UK PM Johnson says

Science, Medicine, Technology & Environment

Explainer-High-tech climate solutions that could cut emissions in the long term

A facility for capturing CO2 from air of Swiss Climeworks AG is placed on the roof of a waste incinerating plant in Hinwil, Switzerland July 18, 2017. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann