Daily Briefing: Your bananas on the picket line

Americans could face higher prices and product shortages if port workers fail to reach a labor agreement on Monday. North Carolina is facing devastating flood levels following Helene. It's a fight for a National League wildcard spot in the MLB playoffs.

🙋🏼‍♀️ I'm Nicole Fallert , Daily Briefing author. Have an expensive vet appointment lately ?

East Coast port workers on verge of strike for first time in 47 years

The International Longshoremen's Association is gearing up for what could be the East Coast's first major port strike since 1977, when the United States' Atlantic ports were clotted up for seven weeks.

If no contract is signed with the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) by the end of Monday, every major U.S. port from Maine to the Texas Gulf Coast may shut down as more than 45,000 union workers take up pickets – at ports that handle around half the goods that reach America by sea.

• Port operators blame the union for the standoff and have filed a complaint over what they allege is a bad-faith break in negotiations. The union is demanding fair wages and answers to the existential threat to jobs posed by artificial intelligence and automation.
• Grocery aisles could be bare within a matter of weeks if a strike commences. Bananas, clothes, cars, seafood and electronics are among the products that may be squeezed in a port strike.
• No matter what, the story ends with higher prices . Even if a strike comes, prices of goods will go up. But without a strike, a new agreement with the union will likely result in higher labor costs.

North Carolina residents watched floods lift cars, buildings

As Helene battered western North Carolina, residents in Asheville were heartbroken after seeing floodwaters lift cars, trucks, billboards, and homes. Around 4 p.m. Friday, the Swannanoa River hit its peak at 26.1 feet, according to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. That's five feet above the record set during the 1916 floods, which killed numerous people and demolished most of Asheville. Read more

More news to know now on Monday

• Biden says a Hezbollah leader's death is a "measure of justice."
• Do food dyes make ADHD worse ?
• This map shows the 19 states affected by listeria outbreak tied to Boar's Head deli meat .
• Trump delivered a "dark" campaign address in Wisconsin .
• Subscriber exclusive: Parents opt for homeschooling in the aftermath of mass shootings .

What's the weather today? Check your local forecast here .

Veep debate is a battle of the Midwesterners

Democrat Tim Walz and Republican JD Vance are serving up one of the most consequential vice presidential debates in U.S. history this week. Tuesday's contest in New York is likely the final debate of the 2024 campaign and marks one of the last chances for either campaign to score a decisive blow against the other. Both Walz and Vance have presented themselves as the everyman who better represents Midwestern values and spotlighted their rural, working-class roots in an attempt to win over undecided voters. Read more

Have you checked your voter registration?

Voting is already underway in several states, as early voting started up to 45 days ahead of the election in places including Virginia, South Dakota and Minneapolis. But the first wave of deadlines for new voters to register is coming up at the 30-day countdown until the election. Federal law limits the earliest voter registration deadline to 30 days ahead of the election, which is Oct. 6. Check out your state's requirement.

Keep scrolling

• Here are 32 things we learned in NFL Week 4 .
• National parks are more than just places .
• Tony Hawk's Pro Skater has a lasting legacy .
• Can I see Earth's mini-moon ?
• "Saturday Night Live" jabbed the presidential campaign in its season premiere .

MLB's playoff race continues

While the six division races are all decided along with the American League wild-card field, the National League wild-card race is still jumbled. The San Diego Padres clinched the top wild-card berth and home-field advantage in the wild-card round with their 5-3 victory Friday night over the Arizona Diamondbacks leaving three teams vying for the final two spots. The New York Mets (87-71), Atlanta (87-71) and the Arizona Diamondbacks (88-72), after 184 days of the regular season, are tied up with two days left. Read more

Photo of the day: Goodbye to a Hollywood leading man

Singer-songwriter Kris Kristofferson, whose poignant lyrics made him a country music legend and whose rugged good looks led to 1970s Hollywood movie star fame, has died. He was 88. Here's a look at his life and legacy .

Nicole Fallert is a newsletter writer at USA TODAY, sign up for the email here . Want to send Nicole a note? Shoot her an email at NFallert@usatoday.com .

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Daily Briefing: Your bananas on the picket line