Daily Briefing: Brittney Griner is 'very nervous'

A court hearing in Russia will consider an appeal against Brittney Griner's nine-year sentence. Also in the news: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis debated democratic challenger Charlie Crist last night amid swirling rhetoric about a presidential run for the Republican incumbent. Two people were killed and seven others injured in a shooting at a St. Louis high school.

🙋🏼‍♀️ I'm Nicole Fallert, Daily Briefing author. Want some Tuesday motivation? Here's 25 times teachers gave us the best advice.

OK, let's dive into Tuesday's top headlines.

Brittney Griner 'very nervous' ahead of drug charges appeal in Russia

Brittney Griner will have her appeal heard Tuesday in Russia. The two-time U.S. Olympian and Phoenix Mercury star is seeking a reduction of the nine-year sentence she received for drug charges in August. "She is prepared for the appeal and is very nervous," Griner's legal team said in a series of statements released by her representatives. Griner's lawyers filed the appeal in August after she had already been convicted of bringing vape cartridges that contained hashish oil into Russia. Read more

• The goal of an appeal: Griner is at the mercy of the Russian political system and will likely depend on a prisoner swap orchestrated by the United States government to return sooner – regardless of her appeal's outcome.

Ron DeSantis and Charlie Crist spar

Potential Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis repeatedly refused to commit to serving another four years as Florida governor if re-elected, and said during a debate Monday he is currently focused on defeating Democratic challenger Charlie Crist. Crist said the incumbent is more interested in running for president two years from now, and that he is doing it by promoting divisive social issues such as opposition to abortion and school regulations that target gay, lesbian and transgender students. Read more

One thing to know: Monday's face-off served as the only televised debate before election night, and Crist clearly knew it was likely his last chance to change the course of his flagging and out-financed campaign against DeSantis.

• DeSantis weaved around abortion: Crist has tried to make the governor’s race a referendum on abortion rights in Florida, but DeSantis for months has dodged questions about what further restrictions he wants (the state's 15-week ban went into effect in July).

• As Republicans grow in Florida, Palm Beach County, once deep blue, gets more purple.

• Gubernatorial races across the country are taking a prominent role in forming national policy on a number of important fronts. From Maine to California, gubernatorial elections will be held in 36 states this fall with most featuring incumbents running for reelection.

More news to know now

• 📰 Update on yesterday's top story: Rishi Sunak has been named Britain's new prime minister.

• 🗨 Up to 85% of Russia's killer drones have reportedly been shot down by Ukraine.

• 🌐 The U.S. is targeting the gold trade in possible sanctions on Ortega's Nicaragua.

• 📃 Midterm elections drive a bevy of lawsuits over ballots, voting in battleground states.

• 🔥 Biden fired back at states attempting to block his student loan forgiveness plan.

• ⚫ Leslie Jordan has died at 67: Mayim Bialik, Sean Hayes, George Takei, more celebrities react.

• 🎧 On today's 5 Things podcast, Columbia Journalism Review’s Kyle Pope looks at the push to change how we cover gun violence. You can listen to the podcast every day on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or on your smart speaker.

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

2 killed, 7 injured in shooting at St. Louis high school

Two people were killed and seven others injured after a former student opened fire Monday in a St. Louis high school before he was fatally shot by police, officials said. The gunman, identified as 19-year-old Orlando Harris, fatally shot a 61-year-old woman and 16-year-old girl at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School, St. Louis Police Department Commissioner Mike Sack said in a news briefing. The gunman graduated from the school last year and has no prior criminal history, Sack said. He had almost a dozen 30-round, high-capacity magazines on him, Sack added. Read more

• Michigan teenager pleads guilty to murder, terrorism charges in Oxford High School shooting.

• ''Pandemonium'': Weekend shooting in North Carolina leaves 6 injured, including toddler.

What happened at the third trial over the death of George Floyd?

Jury selection for the third and likely final trial over the death of George Floyd was canceled Monday after one of the defendants pleaded guilty and another waived his right to a jury trial. Former Minneapolis police officer J. Alexander Kueng pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter just before jury selection began Monday. Meanwhile, former officer Tou Thao waived his right to a jury trial and agreed to proceed with a trial by stipulated evidence, meaning Judge Peter Cahill will deliver a verdict. The joint trial of Thao and Kueng was the third over Floyd's death and likely the last. Both former officers are already serving time on federal convictions of violating Floyd’s civil rights. Read more

Just for subscribers:

• ✍ Voices: As Gen Z, we're told we will ''fix everything.'' Voting in the midterms is the first step.

• ⭕ In Arizona's top election contests, Republicans have formed coalitions to support Democrats.

• ✈ Play and Norse Atlantic: A head-to-head review of trans-Atlantic low-cost carriers.

• 🏈 Analysis: The Colts are stuck because they keep finding quarterbacks at a garage sale.

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Records reveal feds misled Tanzanian police after US citizen killed woman

After a Peace Corps employee in Tanzania went on a reckless drunk driving spree in 2019 that left one woman dead and another badly wounded, U.S. State Department officials acted fast to thwart efforts to hold John Peterson accountable, according to hundreds of pages of documents obtained by USA TODAY. State Department officials told police in Dar es Salaam that Peterson had diplomatic immunity. He didn't. Read more

• Q&A: What hundreds of records show — and don’t — about fatal Peace Corps crash.

• Five scandals that have put the Peace Corps in a negative light.

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📷 Photo of the day: Haunting Halloween decor around the US 📷

It's spooky season! From eyes on a house to daunting massive skeletons in front yards, it's the time of year to haunt up your decor. And if you're getting ready to welcome trick-or-treaters, click here to read our rundown of the most popular Halloween candies by state. Click here to see more spook-tacular home photos. 

One more thing

• 🗞 The People vs Harvey Weinstein, Part 2: Why is the disgraced movie mogul on trial again?

• 🌸 ''White Lotus'' Review: The Emmy-winning HBO series is back for season 2 and it's not a second too soon.

• 💄 Amazon's Beauty Haul sale is live — shop early Black Friday deals on Olaplex, Revlon, PMD and more.

• 🥪 McDonald's put McRib back on the menu again, suggests it's for the last time.

• ⭐ Diwali food traditions travel across the globe: Try these sweet and savory recipes at home.

• 👋 A jumping squirrel, a waving racoon: Voting is now open for which Comedy Wildlife photo finalist is the funniest.

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 or follow along with her musings on Twitter. Support journalism like this – subscribe to USA TODAY here.

Associated Press contributed reporting.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Brittney Griner, DeSantis, Crist, St. Louis, George Floyd: Daily Briefing