5 things you need to know Monday
1. Underdogs face off for U.S. Open men's title
Kei Nishikori and Marin Cilic will vie for the U.S. Open title in an unlikely final. Tenth-seeded Nishikori defeated No. 1 Novak Djokovic in the semis, while Cilic upset five-time Open champion Roger Federer. Both are looking for their first Grand Slam championship.
2. Congress returns for brief session
Congress returns Monday for a three-week sprint to the legislative finish that will focus on political messages ahead of the midterm elections that could transfer control of the U.S. Senate to Republicans. House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, advised GOP lawmakers on a recent conference call to expect a brief, but busy session with the key agenda item being the must-pass short-term funding bill to keep the government running until early December. Congress is unlikely to take any votes regarding the rise of the radical group Islamic State.
3. Survey out today says 2015 pay raises expected to be up 3%
How much of a pay raise are you expecting next year? U.S. employers are planning to give pay raises averaging 3% next year, about par with the 2.9% average raise in 2014 and 2013, according to a survey of nearly 1,100 U.S. companies out Monday by compensation consultant Towers Watson. Inflation is currently running at about 2.1%. "Your average employee is barely keeping ahead of inflation,'' says Towers Watson managing director Laury Sejen. "It's a little bit disappointing."
4. Olive Garden introduces the 'Never Ending Pasta Pass'
Olive Garden is about to try a pretty outlandish gimmick to lure folks in the door: pasta up the kazoo. They're not calling it that, of course. But on Monday, the casual dining chain whose business has seriously-softened in recent years, will announce plans for its first-ever "Never Ending Pasta Pass" — which, for $100, gives the holder the right to consume all of the pasta, salad, bread and Coca-Cola branded soft drinks that they can stuff down for seven weeks.
5. Chick-fil-A founder S. Truett Cathy has died
S. Truett Cathy, the billionaire founder of the privately held Chick-fil-A restaurant chain that famously closes on Sundays but also drew unwanted attention on gay marriage in recent years because of his family's conservative views, died early Monday, a company spokesman said. He was 93.
Bonus: New York celebrates its 350th birthday on Sept. 8 after being officially renamed from New Amsterdam. To celebrate, we take a hyperlapse through NYC.
And, the essentials:
Weather: Flash floods are possible Monday as monsoons sweep through the Southwest. Scattered thunderstorms are expected in the Southeast.
Stocks: Wall Street stock futures were trading mixed.
TV Tonight: Wondering what to watch tonight? TV critic Robert Bianco looks at Bachelor, Dome, and Marian.
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