USA Today - October 22, 2026 - Fall Classic sends big message on small markets

Oct 22, 2026

Uploaded by OmBimo

USA TODAY’s October 22, 2026 issue features multiple front-page stories spanning sports, politics, public safety, and personal finance. It reports on diplomacy involving Steve Witkoff and Vladimir Putin, covering the release of Stephen Hubbard and subsequent U.S. criticism. The paper also describes a Milwaukee “swatting” harassment campaign lasting years, along with reporting on how voters view the economy and how rising diesel prices affect daily costs.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages26

Reading Time1 h 6 min

AccessFree to download

Top Stories

International diplomacy and war talks

Swatting harassment case

Economy and voter views

Baby names and trends

Fall Classic sends big message on small markets Columnist: The Milwaukee-Tampa Bay World Series comes as a lockout looms. In Sports ‘Shark Tank’ is still selling the American Dream Season 18 of the long-running ABC series promises more guests and big deals. In Life Taxing treats is tricky USA TODAY THE NATION'S NEWS | $3 | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2026 Your Halloween candy may be subject to state sales tax or not at all, depending on ingredients. In Money GETTY IMAGES U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff meets with Stephen Hubbard, who who was freed by Russia on Oct. 21 in St. Petersburg. VIA REUTERS Putin ready to resume meeting on ending war Trump envoy secures release of American Jeanine Santucci and Miles J. Herszenhorn USA TODAY Russian President Vladimir Putin told U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff on Oct. 21 that Moscow is willing in principle to resume talks in November with Ukraine and the United States on ending the war in Ukraine, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said. Witkoff flew into St. Petersburg a day after conducting talks in Oslo with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the leaders of Finland and Norway and European and NATO representatives. Witkoff said he would brief Putin on the Oslo talks which he described as productive and said had been characterized by “some degree of momentum.” The talks, the ninth time that Witkoff has met Putin in person, began with a goodwill gesture from Russia – the release of Stephen Hubbard, a 73-year-old retired [U.S. school](U.S. school) teacher held in Russia. Hubbard was living in Ukraine in February 2022 when Russia invaded. He was captured and taken to Moscow, where he was sentenced to nearly seven years after being convicted of fighting as a mercenary for Ukraine. He was designated wrongfully detained by the U.S. State Department in January 2025 . “Stephen is on his way back home and will soon be with his family,”Trump said on his social media platform Truth Social.“Welcome home Stephen, it’s great to have you back.” Putin announced that Hubbard was released and was at the Pulkovo Airport in St. Petersburg, in comments published by Russian State Media, according to Reuters. Trump said in his post that the United States didn’t make a “swap”for Hubbard’s release and chided the Biden administration for failing to secure the release. USA TODAY has reached out to the State Department and the White House for comment. In recent days, Trump has eased sanctions on Moscow and said the United States would import Russian diesel to lower fuel prices. The moves drew bipartisan criticism that Trump was favoring Putin over Zelenskyy. See RUSSIA, Page 2A QIJFAF-04005w(O)N ©COPYRIGHT 2026 USA TODAY, A division of USA TODAY Co., Inc. HOME DELIVERY 1-800-872-0001, USATODAYSERVICE.COM Niki Robinson’s door sign alerts emergency responders to call her if they are called to her home. ANGELA PETERSON/ USA TODAY NETWORK Swatters used police to‘terrorize’ Cyberstalkers harassed couple with swatting calls over 8 years Gina Lee Castro Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | USA TODAY NETWORK For years, Niki Robinson and Patrick Tomlinson have been targets. In the span of 22 years, police were dispatched to the couple’s home more than 50 times, all in response to anonymous callers falsely claiming someone had been shot, murdered or taken hostage inside the couple’s Milwaukee home – part of a harassment scheme known as “swatting.” Police pounded on their front door and threatened to kick it down. Members of the department’s SWAT team flooded their yard, guns in hand. In text messages and digitally altered voicemails, the cyberstalkers teased their next plot and said their goal was to get the police to kill Tomlinson and Robinson. Despite repeatedly explaining to police that they were the victims of a coordinated “You are in a constant state of being under attack by an unseen adversary.” Patrick Tomlinson See SWATTERS, Page 6A Niki Rob

FAQs

What did Putin say about resuming talks on ending the war?

Putin told U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff that Moscow is willing in principle to resume talks in November with Ukraine and the United States on ending the war.

Who was released in the goodwill gesture described in the report?

Stephen Hubbard, a 73-year-old retired U.S. school teacher held in Russia, was released and returned as described in the coverage.

How did swatting cyberstalkers target the Milwaukee couple?

Anonymous callers falsely claimed someone was shot, murdered, or taken hostage, prompting police visits and SWAT deployments while digitally altered messages and voicemails teased further attacks.

Oct 22, 2026

Uploaded by OmBimo