Friday, October 9, 2026 · Laguna Woods today: sunny and much cooler, high near 84. Tonight increasing clouds, low around 65. Saturday mostly cloudy, high near 78, with a chance of showers late at night. Sunday a 50 percent chance of showers, high near 73.
★ Five things to know today
❤ Health
1Medicare Open Enrollment begins Oct. 15: know what HMO and PPO mean before you compare plans
Medicare Open Enrollment runs from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7, 2026; changes take effect Jan. 1, 2027, and the plan must get your request by Dec. 7. Medicare.gov explains two common kinds of Medicare Advantage plans. In an HMO you generally must use doctors and hospitals in the plan's network and need a referral to see a specialist. In a PPO you do not need a referral and may go outside the network, but you usually pay more when you do.
Why it matters: Medicare.gov also notes that plans typically require approval in advance, called prior authorization, before covering certain services.
What to do: Before choosing, ask your own doctors which plans they accept for 2027. Medicare: 1-800-633-4227.
2After the heat, rain: showers are possible from Saturday night through Monday
The National Weather Service forecast for our area shows a 30 percent chance of showers late Saturday night, a 50 percent chance on Sunday, showers likely Sunday night, and an 80 percent chance on Monday morning. Sunday could bring a quarter to half an inch of rain, with wind gusts up to 25 miles an hour. Monday's high is only about 69, nearly 30 degrees cooler than Wednesday.
Why it matters: Roads are slick when the first rain falls after a long dry spell.
What to do: Today or Saturday, check your windshield wipers and bring cushions and anything that should stay dry in from the patio. Drive slowly on Sunday and Monday.
3Village pools move to fall and winter hours; Pool 6 is closed for the season
The Village has posted its fall and winter pool schedule, with shorter hours at most pools. Pool 6 is closed for the season, and Children's Swim returns to Pool 2 from 2 to 4 p.m.
What to do: Before you go, check the new hours on the Village website under Pool Schedule, or call Aquatics at 949-597-4281.
4FTC: fake QR code stickers on parking meters steal card numbers
The Federal Trade Commission warns that scammers paste their own QR code stickers over the real ones on parking meters. A driver in a hurry scans the sticker and lands on a fake payment site that takes card numbers and personal information.
What to do: Look at the web address your phone shows before you tap it, and watch for misspellings. If you already entered information, change that password and check your card and bank statements. Report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
5Third Mutual cancels its Oct. 28 and Dec. 23 town halls; the next one is Feb. 24
Third Laguna Hills Mutual has canceled the town halls planned for Wednesday, Oct. 28, and Wednesday, Dec. 23. Town halls will now be held every other month. The next one is Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2027, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. in the Sequoia Ballroom at Clubhouse 2.
What to do: If you had the October date on your calendar, cross it off. Questions: 949-597-4600.
Village Television movies: 'Dark Waters' today, 'Guess Who's Coming to Dinner' Saturday
Village Television, TV6, shows a movie at 2 p.m. and again at 6 p.m. on these days: "Dark Waters" today, "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" on Saturday, "Singin' in the Rain" on Monday, "Friendly Persuasion" next Friday and "Sixteen Candles" on Saturday, Oct. 17. All showings have closed captions.
About 450 Orange County workers may strike as soon as next week
Nearly 450 county employees in Teamsters Local 952 may walk off the job next week unless the county offers a new contract by Tuesday, Voice of OC reports. They maintain county roads, parks, landfills and the animal shelter, and service county vehicles. A state labor board letter dated Oct. 6 said the county had bargained in bad faith; the county says it has plans to limit any disruption.
California's largest state worker union votes to allow a strike; DMV delays are possible
Members of SEIU Local 1000, which represents about 100,000 state employees, voted 96 percent in favor of authorizing a strike, the union announced Thursday. No date has been set. The union president said a walkout could delay services at the Department of Motor Vehicles and at unemployment and disability insurance offices. The state says it is ready to enter mediation.
Why it matters: If you need to renew a driver's license or ID soon, it may be wise not to wait.
Fullerton will turn off its license plate cameras for six months
The Fullerton City Council voted 3 to 1 to switch off the city's 19 license plate reader cameras for six months, the first such pause in Orange County, Voice of OC reports. Residents raised privacy concerns, including the sharing of data with federal agencies. The city will hold a town hall and compare crime rates before deciding what to do next. Santa Ana postponed its own discussion to Oct. 20.
Isaias is now a major Category 3 hurricane; landfall is expected tonight
Hurricane Isaias strengthened quickly to Category 3 with winds of 120 miles an hour and is expected to come ashore tonight or early Saturday between Ocean Springs, Mississippi, and the Florida Panhandle. Evacuations were ordered in parts of Okaloosa and Walton counties in Florida. Georgia has joined Florida and Alabama in declaring an emergency, and up to 15 inches of rain is possible in places.
What to do: Flights through the Southeast may be delayed this weekend. If you or your family are traveling, check with the airline first.
Army report finds safety failures at every level behind the Washington midair collision
The Army on Thursday released its report on last year's collision between an American Airlines jet and an Army Black Hawk helicopter near Washington, which killed 67 people. It cites breakdowns "across all layers," including two failed radio calls, night-vision goggles that limited the pilots' view, and a helicopter route that left only 75 feet of separation from landing planes. The Army says it has inspected and reconfigured 3,585 helicopters and is reviewing its flights over Los Angeles and Seattle.
Administration suspends Microsoft and Adobe from the H-1B skilled worker visa program
Vice President JD Vance announced that Microsoft, Adobe and several large technology outsourcing firms are suspended from the program that lets employers sponsor H-1B visas for highly skilled foreign workers, accusing them of abusing the system. Vance said Microsoft is a great American company but should hire American workers. Microsoft said most of its applications are for people who already work there.
Grand jury weighs whether a Jan. 6 witness lied to Congress, CBS reports
Federal prosecutors are presenting evidence to a grand jury in Washington on whether former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson lied to Congress in her 2022 testimony about the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, two sources told CBS News. Her account of President Trump's actions that day angered many of his supporters, and his driver later disputed part of it under oath. CBS said it asked her lawyers for comment.
NFL asks the Supreme Court to settle who regulates sports betting on prediction markets
The National Football League asked the Supreme Court to decide whether the federal government or the states should set the rules for prediction markets, where people can wager on game results. The league sided with states that call these contracts sports gambling and warned of harm to consumers and to the integrity of games. Kalshi, one of the companies, said federal regulators are actively policing the markets.
Trump says the U.S. will not strike Iran before the Nov. 3 election; oil eases to about $103
President Trump wrote on Thursday that the United States will not attack Iran "at any time prior to the Midterm Elections" on Nov. 3, while the naval blockade stays in force. Brent crude slipped from about $105 to about $103 a barrel after the post. Iran's president, meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin, said Tehran has revised its peace proposals and will finalize them through mediators.
Nobel Peace Prize goes to Navi Pillay, 85, for a lifetime in international justice
The Norwegian Nobel Committee on Friday honored Navanethem "Navi" Pillay, a South African-born former United Nations human rights chief and international judge. The committee said a peaceful world depends on international law and on holding war criminals to account. There were 287 nominations this year, and the prize is worth 12 million Swedish kronor, about $1.2 million.
U.S. adds a torture charge against Venezuela's ousted leader Maduro and his wife
Federal prosecutors in New York on Thursday added a charge of conspiracy to commit torture against Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, who already face drug trafficking and weapons charges. The indictment says they oversaw a system that tortured political opponents, and the FBI director said more than a dozen American citizens were among the victims. A judge denied bail for Flores.
Britain and Israel reach a deal that keeps a smaller British mission in East Jerusalem
Britain and Israel agreed Thursday that Britain's consulate in East Jerusalem, open since 1839, will stay as a renamed and much smaller mission. Israel had threatened to close it after Britain and 11 other Western nations announced sanctions on Israeli settlements in the West Bank. Britain's consul general and 19 diplomats will leave, and no more than seven will remain.
Today is Hangeul Day, and this year marks its 100th anniversary
Oct. 9 is Hangeul Day in Korea. The observance began in 1926, under Japanese colonial rule, when Korean linguists and independence activists proclaimed "Gagya Day" to protect the language and fight illiteracy. King Sejong created the alphabet in 1443. The number of people taking the Korean language proficiency test nearly doubled from 223,000 in 2021 to 421,000 in 2025.
Kim Jong-un's sister again rejects South Korea's offer of medical aid
Kim Yo-jong on Friday called South Korea's offer of medical supplies a "farce," a day after first rejecting it as an insult. Seoul had planned to send 1,431 medical items to a hospital in Pyongyang under a program that received a United Nations sanctions exemption in May. She tied the offer to the dispute over the Sept. 21 mine blast in the Demilitarized Zone and said the North will keep rejecting the South.
White House trade adviser accuses Korea of flooding the U.S. with subsidized steel
Peter Navarro, the White House senior counselor for trade, wrote Thursday that South Korea is sending the United States heavily subsidized steel and Chinese steel shipped through Korea, and added, "We are cracking down." He said Korean exporters are getting around the 50 percent U.S. steel tariff. Last month Hyundai and POSCO broke ground on a steel mill in Louisiana that is due to be finished in 2029.
Coupang goes down for about two hours overnight in Korea
Coupang's shopping site and app, its food delivery service Coupang Eats and its streaming service Coupang Play stopped working around 1 a.m. Friday, Korea time, and came back about two hours later. Some users could not log in or track orders, and many asked online whether it was another hacking attack. The cause is not yet clear; some customers were told it was an internal system error.
Recalls: frozen berries sold as Great Value and Trader Joe's, and Nature's Own Hawaiian bread
The Food and Drug Administration lists a recall, dated Oct. 2, of frozen organic blueberries and berry blends sold under the Great Value and Trader Joe's names because of possible E. coli contamination. Separately, on Oct. 5, Flowers Foods recalled Nature's Own Hawaiian Bread in the 20-ounce loaf and the 40-ounce two-pack because the label does not declare milk.
Why it matters: E. coli can make older adults seriously ill, and the bread is a risk for anyone with a milk allergy.
What to do: Check your freezer and bread box. For the exact lot numbers, see the recall list at fda.gov or ask the store. Do not eat a recalled product; return it for a refund or throw it away.
Ordering prescription drugs from abroad gets harder starting Oct. 22
Korea Daily, citing USA Today, reports that from Oct. 22 people who order prescription drugs by mail from pharmacies in Canada and other countries must file a customs declaration with the product name, country of origin, price and information for the Food and Drug Administration. An advocacy group estimates that more than 4 million Americans buy medicine this way, and that most buyers from Canadian pharmacies are 65 or older.
Why it matters: A package without the required information may be delayed at customs.
What to do: If you rely on medicine mailed from abroad, order early and ask the pharmacy how it will handle the new customs forms.
No mail on Monday: Columbus Day is a postal holiday
Monday, Oct. 12, is Columbus Day, a federal holiday. The Postal Service lists it as a holiday with no mail service, so regular mail will not be delivered and post offices will be closed.
What to do: Mail bills, ballots and packages today or Saturday, and expect anything coming by mail to arrive a day later next week.
Lyft to pay $272.5 million; people who drove for it in California from 2016 to 2020 may get money
Lyft agreed to pay $272.5 million to settle claims by California and the cities of Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco that it wrongly treated its drivers as independent contractors, CalMatters reports. Drivers will share at least $237 million, based on the miles and hours they drove between April 2016 and December 2020. A settlement administrator will contact drivers after the court approves the deal.
Why it matters: If you or a family member drove for Lyft in those years, money may be owed to you.
What to do: You do not need to pay anyone to receive a settlement. Be careful with any call or text that asks for a fee or your bank password.
Film historian presents the 1931 'Frankenstein' at the PAC on Nov. 4
Theo Siegel, a film historian known as "The Movie Guy," shows the 1931 classic "Frankenstein" with behind-the-scenes commentary on Wednesday, Nov. 4, at 2 p.m. at the Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $5.
What to do: Tickets: PAC box office, weekdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., or tickets.lagunawoodsvillage.com. Credit card or check only. Information: 949-597-4289.
3D Printing Club shows how to set up design software, Oct. 28
The CNC 3D Printing Club meets Wednesday, Oct. 28, at noon in Dining Room 2 at Clubhouse 1. The topic is how to set up 3D design software and slicer software on your own computer. The meeting is free, and the club meets every two weeks.
What to do: Information: Richard Hall, 949-566-3372.
Springboks Club hosts speed dating Nov. 8 at 19 Restaurant
The Springboks Club holds a speed dating evening on Sunday, Nov. 8, at 4 p.m. at 19 Restaurant. Tickets are $25. The club says its past speed dating events have led to lasting connections.
What to do: Information: Lori Trevor, 714-471-2225, or springboks-online.com/speed-dating.
Save the date: jewelry and craft show 'Dazzling Darlings' is Dec. 6
The Springboks Club's annual jewelry and craft show and fundraiser is Sunday, Dec. 6, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Clubhouse 1 Main Lounge. Admission is free, with music and refreshments. Village residents sell handmade jewelry and crafts, and raffle proceeds help local women's shelters.
Dodgers-Brewers series starts Sunday at 5 p.m. on Fox; first home game is Wednesday
Major League Baseball has set the times for the National League Championship Series. Game 1 in Milwaukee is Sunday at 5 p.m. Pacific on Fox, and Game 2 is Monday at 2 p.m. Pacific. The series moves to Dodger Stadium for Game 3 on Wednesday at 5 p.m. and Game 4 on Thursday at 6 p.m., both on FS1. Times can still change.
Margaret Hamilton, who led the team that wrote the Apollo moon software, dies at 90
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology announced the death of Margaret Hamilton at 90. As a young mathematician in the 1960s she was the first woman programmer on the Apollo project and later led the 100-person team that wrote the software for the moon missions. President Barack Obama gave her the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016.
Souplantation, the salad buffet, hints at a return to California
Sweet Tomatoes, the sister brand of Souplantation, posted a "Welcome to California" sign on Instagram on Oct. 5 with the words "Stay tuned," Korea Daily reports. Souplantation began in San Diego in 1978 and closed all of its restaurants during the pandemic in 2020. No location or opening date has been announced.
Four astronauts splash down off California after nearly eight months in space
Four astronauts from the United States, France and Russia returned from the International Space Station on Thursday, landing in the ocean off the California coast. They went up in February and stayed nearly eight months. Repairs to their capsule briefly delayed the trip home, and seven astronauts remain on the station.
After a week of 98-degree days, the forecast finally says rain. A man went to the closet for his umbrella, and his wife asked, "Do you two need to be introduced again?"
