TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2026
Tuesday morning, coffee in hand — here is everything that mattered yesterday in one place. Monday, October 12 brought a beloved TV actor’s death at 34, a Nobel Prize for the economists who rebuilt how central banks think, a ceasefire announcement that was disputed within hours, a hurricane on Mexico’s coast, a pope heading into surgery, and a very big week in games. This Tuesday wrap runs down the ten biggest stories of the day, tight.
1. RJ Mitte, Breaking Bad’s Walter White Jr., Dies at 34
RJ Mitte, who played Walter “Flynn” White Jr. across all five seasons of Breaking Bad, died Monday at 34, USA TODAY reported, with his representative confirming the death in Texas. Deadline also reported the confirmation from his representatives. Mitte, who lived with cerebral palsy, drew on his own experience in the role and spent his career advocating for disability representation, work USA TODAY noted included roles with United Cerebral Palsy and Shriners Children’s. Our full RJ Mitte obituary and the tributes from Aaron Paul, Dean Norris and the Breaking Bad family are both updating.
2. Ukraine Says Russia Already Violated the Announced Energy Ceasefire
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Russia struck Ukrainian energy targets after President Trump announced an energy ceasefire over the weekend, Reuters reported, and CNN reported Kyiv said it had not been told of the announcement in advance. Reuters reported the European Union approved new sanctions targeting Russia’s military-industrial complex the same day, while Moscow had not commented on the ceasefire claim in Reuters’ reporting. Our ceasefire report follows what was struck and what remains unconfirmed.
3. Nobel Economics Prize Goes to Hall and Woodford for the Foundations of Stabilization
Robert Hall of Stanford and Michael Woodford of Columbia won the 2026 Nobel economics prize on Monday, Reuters reported, for building macroeconomic models from the real decisions of households and businesses. Le Monde reported the two will share 12 million Swedish kronor and were honored for providing microeconomic foundations for macroeconomic stabilization — the framework central banks now use against inflation and recessions. Our Nobel report explains why their work mattered in the financial crisis and after.
4. Hurricane Simon Pounds Mexico’s Coast as Southwest Flood Risk From Rachel Eases
Hurricane Simon lashed Mexico’s Pacific coast on Monday, the Associated Press reported via Previously’s newsroom reporting, with five deaths in Mexico attributed to the weekend’s tropical systems. As Simon worked the coast, flood advisories were mostly lifted across the U.S. Southwest after Rachel’s rains moved through. Our Simon and Rachel update has the latest advisories for both countries.
5. Pope Leo Enters Rome Hospital Tuesday for Lung Surgery
Pope Leo XIV, 71, will be hospitalized at Rome’s Gemelli hospital on Tuesday for surgery to remove a small, early-detected growth on one lung, according to Previously’s newsroom reporting on the Vatican’s announcement. It is the first major health issue of his tenure, and the pope disclosed it himself to the Angelus crowd on Sunday. Our Pope Leo report tracks the surgery day and what the Vatican has said about recovery.
6. Pennsylvania Reports a Sixth Measles-Associated Death as the Outbreak Passes 1,100 Cases
The Franklin County coroner reported Monday the death of a 39-year-old Chambersburg woman with a recent measles diagnosis, according to Previously’s newsroom reporting — the state’s sixth measles-associated death of 2026. Confirmed cases in the outbreak reached 1,136 as of October, making Pennsylvania the center of the year’s largest U.S. measles story. Our measles outbreak report has the county details.
7. Erie Coroner Names the Victims of the Perry Street Shooting
Coroner Lyell Cook on Monday identified the adult victims of Friday’s shooting at 722 Perry Street in Erie, according to Previously’s newsroom reporting, as families began to put names to a weekend that stunned the city. The accused, Matthew Stone Sr., faces the case as investigators continue their work. Our Erie victims report carries the identifications and the community response.
8. Other Mommy Tops the Box Office as The Social Reckoning Stalls at No. 5
Horror won the October weekend again: Other Mommy topped the box office at $27.5 million, according to Previously’s box-office reporting, while Aaron Sorkin’s The Social Reckoning opened in fifth place. The split — a mid-budget horror title outdrawing a prestige sequel — was the weekend’s clearest signal about what audiences are actually buying tickets for this fall. Our box-office report breaks down the full top five.
9. Tinashe Finally Has a Top 10 Album: ‘Popstar’ Debuts at No. 6
Tinashe’s Popstar debuted at No. 6 on the Billboard 200, according to Previously’s music desk reporting — her first top 10 album, twelve years after Aquarius peaked at No. 17. It is a slow-burn success story built over two years of singles finally landing as an album moment. Our Tinashe chart report charts the long road to No. 6, and Disney fans also got news Monday as the first Hexed trailer arrived with Hailee Steinfeld and Rashida Jones leading a mother-daughter witch adventure opening November 25.
10. Games: Gears of War: E-Day Tops the Xbox Chart, and Modern Warfare 4 Early Access Starts Friday
Gears of War: E-Day topped the Xbox chart in the UK despite launching day one on Game Pass, according to Previously’s games desk reporting on the UK charts, in a week when seven new releases crowded the retail top 10. TrueAchievements reported E-Day also became the second-biggest Xbox launch of 2026 by player count. The next big date is Friday, October 16, when Modern Warfare 4 campaign early access opens for pre-orders ahead of the full October 23 launch. Our Gears chart report has the full UK top 10.
That is Monday in full — a day that started with a Nobel, ended with tributes to an actor gone far too young, and packed a hurricane, a disputed ceasefire and a pope’s surgery in between. Tuesday brings Pope Leo’s operation, Game 2 of the ALCS, and whatever the day decides to do next. We will be here for all of it.
