5 things you need to know Tuesday
1. Supreme Court to hear case in inmate's religious right to grow beard
The Supreme Court will hear arguments in Holt v. Hobbs today. Gregory Holt, also known as Abdul Maalik Muhammad, convinced the Supreme Court to hear his case with a 15-page, handwritten petition, something the justices wouldn't normally look at. Holt's grievance stems from the Arkansas Department of Corrections rule prohibiting beards unless medically required. Muslims wear beards as part of their religious faith. The state argues that long beards can be used to hide weapons and contraband.
2. Panetta's new book is blistering blow to his former boss
Decisions made by President Obama over the past three years make the battle against the Islamic State and other emerging threats more difficult, Leon Panetta says in his book, out Tuesday. The former head of the CIA and the Pentagon has provoked rebukes at the White House and State Department and from Vice President Biden, even before his book has hit shelves.
3. 90% of waitresses endure sexual harassment
Almost all women in restaurant jobs that depend on tips report being bothered at work by some form of sexual harassment, a new report out Tuesday says. The lower the hourly base pay, the worse the harassment is. The women report sexual harassment from customers on a weekly basis and co-workers and management on a monthly basis. The report by the Restaurant Opportunities Center says all states should require that a full minimum wage be paid to all tipped restaurant workers. Only seven states, the report says, require the same wage for jobs that get tips and those that do not.
4. Early voting begins in Ohio
Ohio residents can head to their polling station to cast their ballot or absentee voting beginning at 8 a.m. ET. Early voting was established in Ohio in response to long lines and other voting complications in the 2004 election. A federal judge had earlier ruled that voting could begin Sept. 30, but a ruling last week by the U.S. Supreme Court returned the start state to Oct. 7.
5. Spanish authorities investigate nurse who contracted Ebola
Spanish authorities Tuesday were investigating how a nurse who cared for two Spanish priests who died from Ebola herself came to be infected. The female assistant nurse was part of a medical team that treated Manuel Garcia Viejo, a 69-year-old Spanish priest who died Sept. 25 at Madrid's Carlos III hospital after contracting Ebola in Sierra Leone.
And, the essentials:
Weather: Much of the nation will enjoy a tranquil Tuesday, though a few showers are possible in portions of the eastern USA and the Southwest.
Stocks: U.S. stock futures declined.
TV Tonight: Wondering what to watch tonight? TV critic Robert Bianco looks at the Family Guy/Simpsons redo, NCIS and Supernatural.
If you missed Monday's news, we've got you covered here.
You can also get the day's top news each weekday in your inbox. Subscribe.