PBS NewsHour

Hurricane Ian left behind massive damage and widespread power outages after tearing through Florida. President Biden declared the storm a major disaster, paving the way for federal funds to support rescue and rebuilding efforts. After crossing the Florida Peninsula, the storm is now back over the water and expected to make a second landfall in the Carolinas. John Yang reports.

The city of Venice, Florida is about an hour south of Tampa and took its share of damage from Hurricane Ian. Vice Mayor Nick Pachota joined Amna Nawaz to describe what happened in his city.

In our news wrap Thursday, revised government data confirmed the U.S. economy shrank in the second quarter, U.K. Prime Minister Liz Truss defended her economic plan that includes billions in tax cuts for high earners without offsetting spending reductions and six Republican-led states sued over President Biden's student loan forgiveness plan saying the administration overstepped its authority.

Russian President Vladimir Putin admitted mistakes in the mobilization of 300,000 Russians to fight in Ukraine. His announcement last week sparked an exodus of Russians fleeing across the border to avoid being conscripted. Despite a troubled history, Russia’s neighbor Georgia has accepted the largest number of Russians. Nick Schifrin reports.

This year, Latino voters will be critical in deciding a number of key races that could determine the balance of power in Congress. For years, they have voted solidly Democratic, but the preferences of this diverse group are shifting. Progressive pollster Carlos Odio and Republican strategist Mike Madrid join Laura Barrón-López to discuss.

As demand grows for seafood, the business of fish farming is growing. Companies are raising and harvesting salmon on land, sparking pushback over sustainability and genetic engineering. Science correspondent Miles O'Brien has the second of a two-part look at what's known as "aquaculture."

After the 2020 killing of George Floyd and nationwide protests for Black lives, calls for police reform echoed through communities. Among America’s large police departments, Oklahoma City ranked second in the country for the rate of people killed by officers. In March of this year, they began implementing major reforms. Communities correspondent Adam Kemp reports on the changes.

It's turning into a historic September for Major League Baseball. Two of the game's great hitters, Aaron Judge and Albert Pujols, are moving toward remarkable batting records. Judge hit his 61st home run of the season, tying the American League record, while Pujols hit his 700th career home run. ESPN's Jeff Passan joined William Brangham to discuss the milestones.

Our own Judy Woodruff was honored with the Emmy Award for Lifetime Achievement in Television News. She shared some words of wisdom as she accepted the award at the News and Documentary Emmys ceremony in New York on Wednesday.

Hurricane Ian made landfall in Florida on Wednesday bringing fierce winds, heavy rain and storm surges. For the millions of people in the storm’s path, the impact could be catastrophic and life-changing. FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell joined Amna Nawaz to outline the federal government's response.

In our news wrap Wednesday, the European Union says it will retaliate against attacks on its energy networks after explosions damaged two pipelines in the Baltic Sea, Palestinian authorities say Israeli forces killed four Palestinians and wounded more than 40 during a raid in the occupied West Bank and the president of Iran is warning people there against any further violent protests.

The Russian-installed leaders of occupied regions of Ukraine formerly announced the results of so-called referendums and said they wanted to join Russia. Erik Møse, the official in charge of the U.N. Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine, joined Nick Schifrin to discuss crimes Russian forces committed in occupied territories.

President Biden unveiled a series of proposals to try and end hunger by 2030, expand nutritional assistance and reduce obesity. The plan calls for more free school meals, new labels on food and would have the government offer medically tailored meals for those on Medicare. Sen. Cory Booker joined William Brangham to discuss the president's proposal.

The life expectancy for firefighters is ten years less than the average person and it’s not just the fires themselves that present dangers. Firefighters are frequently exposed to toxic chemicals, and according to recent research, even their protective gear may carry health risks. Stephanie Sy looked into so-called “forever chemicals” and their possible effects on these essential workers.

Abdulrazak Gurnah is receiving worldwide attention after being awarded last year’s Nobel Prize in Literature. His latest novel “Afterlives” is set in colonial East Africa occupied by Germany in the early 20th century. Gurnah writes of individuals caught up in the sweep of history and the impact on their later lives. Jeffrey Brown caught up with him for our arts and culture series, "CANVAS."

In recent decades, producers of movies, TV series and other forms of art have been trying not only to reach out to new audiences, but to make sure new audiences are represented in their stories. As Nicole Ellis reveals, 'Thomas and Friends' recently added its first character with autism.

Hurricane Ian blasted ashore Wednesday afternoon near Fort Myers, Florida and the damage is likely to be catastrophic. At landfall, its sustained winds hit 150 mph after pulling power from the gulf's warm waters. John Yang reports.

As four-year colleges and universities look for ways to boost enrollment and reach underrepresented students, a growing number are focused on community college transfer students. At some of the nation’s most selective colleges, transfer acceptance rates are now higher than first-year acceptance rates. Special correspondent Hari Sreenivasan reports for our series, "Rethinking College."

Like millions of Americans, Karen Robertson of Iuka, Mississippi believed in conspiracy theories. But one day she had an experience that convinced her to challenge her beliefs. She spoke about that moment with student reporter Makenna Mead of Mississippi Public Broadcasting’s Youth Media Project. Their conversation is part of our Student Reporting Labs series on misinformation, "Moments of Truth."

It's the biggest scandal chess has seen in decades. Magnus Carlsen, the current world champion, accused American Hans Niemann of cheating in past games and lying about it. Niemann admitted to cheating when he was 12 and 16 in what he said were inconsequential games, but denies foul play when he played and beat Carlsen recently. Chess Grandmaster Maurice Ashley joined William Brangham to discuss.