Good morning! Here’s your Daily News for Tuesday, October 9.

1. Kavanaugh sworn in, will hear arguments today.

• Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh was sworn in (again) in a White House ceremony last night.
• If you didn’t watch the ceremony, I recommend it.
• The fact that all the other justices were present and applauding after his oath seemed important to me.
• Kavanaugh promised to be a “team player” on the “team of nine” of the Supreme Court, and not the Republican or Democratic team.
• He said the contentious confirmation battle, while emotional, had not changed him as a person or as a judge.
• Kavanaugh will be on the bench for oral arguments today.
• The cases include long sentences for repeat offenders and the detention of illegal immigrants. Read more on that HERE.

2. Gov. Ivey declares State of Emergency as Michael threatens Wiregrass.

• Alabama won’t get the worst of Hurricane Michael, but strong winds and heavy rains are likely over the next few days.
• The Wiregrass will be the hardest hit. The Dothan area could see winds approaching the hurricane speed of 70mph.
• Gov. Kay Ivey has declared a State of Emergency saying “now is the time for residents in south Alabama to review your emergency preparedness plans and also get prepared.”
• “Please stay weather aware today and tomorrow for any forecast changes. Most importantly, heed all warnings and instructions from local authorities.”
• That’s good advice.
• In Florida, storm surge is already impacting the coast. It could get really bad for places like Panama City and Apalachicola.
• Read more and see the latest projected storm track HERE.

3. It’s Lester Holt Day in Montgomery.

• NBC Nightly News Anchor Lester Holt is in Montgomery today as part of his “Across America” tour.
• He was in Houston yesterday. Montgomery is the smallest city he’s visiting.
• He’ll be broadcasting Nightly News from Dexter Avenue near the King Memorial Baptist Church.
• If you’re looking to get a glimpse or shake his hand, Holt told WSFA’s Sally Pitts that he might hit up Chris’ Hot Dogs for lunch.
• The hardworking crew at WSFA gets to hang with Holt and the national NBC folks and help run the show.
• Check out more from the station, see what roads are closed for the event, and watch the interviews HERE.

4. Planned Parenthood spending big in Alabama.

• The nation’s largest abortion provider, Planned Parenthood, and its affiliated advocacy groups, are investing large amounts of political money in Alabama aiming to defeat a pro-life ballot initiative.
• Alabama Healthy Families PAC, a political group ostensibly set up to fight a constitutional amendment enshrining “the sanctity of life,” reported more than $800,000 in donations from Planned Parenthood and its affiliated groups in the last few weeks.
• That’s serious money. It’s more than either candidate for governor has on hand.
• It could buy a lot of media (TV, radio, mail, etc). However, its more likely purpose is voter turnout through micro-targeting, canvassing, and busing.
• Turnout mechanisms worked well to get voters to the polls in December’s special election. But, until now, no serious national money has come in to boost Democratic turnout.
• More pro-choice people at the polls is good for Democrats. However, this conspicuous cash influx will also raise the profile of Amendment 2 and the issue of abortion, which is home turf for Republicans in a pro-life state.
• Read my full story HERE.
• H/T to Sean Ross at Yellowhammer who had the filings first.

5. News Briefs.

• Keep an eye on the Auburn Mayor’s race where City Councilman Ron Anders is running against former Auburn University Professor David Hill.
• Longtime Mayor Bill Ham is retiring after 20 years on the job.
• I’m hearing the race will be tight considering the angst many voters have over the development that has taken place downtown. Hill seems to have tapped into the emotion surrounding the issue but Anders has the backing of Ham, as well as a significant fundraising advantage.
• Read more from Chip Brownlee on the candidate’s differing views on growth HERE.

• A few weeks after he was ready to offer President Trump his resignation, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein is in the good graces of the commander-in-chief.
• The two flew to Florida for an event with police chiefs from around the country on Tuesday. Trump later said they had a good conversation, he didn’t want to get rid of Rosenstein, and that he expected to be treated fairly in the Russia probe that Rosenstein is overseeing.
• Not for nothing but I kinda predicted this the other day.
• Read more HERE.

• The man who was charged in the wreck that killed State Rep. Allen Treadaway’s daughter died in another accident yesterday.
• Brandon Adam Hamm was killed near Huntsville when his truck hit a tree.
• Read more HERE.

Headlines.

Front Pages (images link to newspaper websites, which you should visit and patronize).