Preserving the past & saving the future. 10/31/19

The Craft of Making Wigs for the
British Courts

If a barrister or a judge walked into a London courtroom without wearing a wig, well, everyone would wig out. It's a tradition to wear a legal wig in England. Ede & Ravenscroft, the oldest tailor in London, has been making these head coverings for over three centuries. They are still handcrafted—out of horsehair—in the store's basement. What does it feel like to wear one of these wigs? When barrister Andrew Eborn puts his on, he feels like a knight going into battle in the courtroom.

This Great Big Story was inspired by Genesis.

The Carbon-Eating Concrete That's Reducing Emissions By 70%

Concrete accounts for 8% of the world's carbon emissions but that's all about to change, all thanks to a new type of cement. This carbon-eating miracle could reduce the footprint by 70% - and it was invented in a bar.

This Great Big Story is by BP.

Relive Your Childhood Weekends With These '90s Nostalgia Pieces

From crafting Creepy Crawlers to forgetting to feed our Tamagotchis (...were we the only ones?) relive a truly '90s weekend with some of our favorite throwbacks.

Check out the complete guide here.

*Guides lead you to awesome discoveries in food, travel, experiences, and more. If you purchase any of the products we recommend in a Guide, Great Big Story may receive revenue. Listed prices are reflective of the time of publish.*

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The Short List

Thursday, October 31

The impeachment inquiry stage is set

The House voted for an impeachment inquiry. A quarter of all pigs could die. It's Thursday's news.

Pigs are doomed. The impeachment inquiry just got real. A security company is being sketchy. It's all in today's news. But if you prefer to skip to the good stuff, scroll down for Short List dogs in Halloween costumes.

It's Ashley. Here's the news to know Thursday.

But first, what's your sign? Here are the scariest movies based on your horror scope (you know, astrological sign).

The Short List newsletter is a snappy USA TODAY news roundup. Subscribe here!

The process of impeachment has begun

Setting the stage for the public phase of the inquiry, the House adopted rules Thursday for the impeachment investigation into President Donald Trump, a process Republicans have argued was secretive and unfair to this point. The vote, almost entirely along party lines, marked only the fourth time the full House authorized an impeachment inquiry. Oh, and there was a touch of drama (*sips tea*): The House erupted into brief chaos as Republicans shouted "OBJECTION!" as the resolution passed. The resolution sets rules for how the congressional committees leading the impeachment inquiry will hold public hearings and eventually funnel their findings to the House Judiciary Committee for the potential drafting of articles of impeachment.

•	Now what? Here's what will happen next in the impeachment inquiry.
•	Also, today: National Security Council official Timothy Morrison testified before congressional committees.

House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy discusses the vote to formalize the impeachment inquiry on Oct. 31, 2019.

Win McNamee/Getty Images

Cheap guards. A history of violence. How one company built its empire

A security empire deployed guards with violent pasts across the U.S. Some went on to rape, assault or kill, according to a USA TODAY investigation. Our reporters spent more than a year investigating G4S, the largest private security company in the world, and found it has given power, authority and weapons to individuals who represent the very threat they are meant to guard against. Documents show the company's American subsidiaries have hired or retained at least 300 employees with questionable records, including criminal convictions, allegations of violence and prior law enforcement careers that ended in disgrace.

Show of Force

Kyle Slagle/USA TODAY Network

What everyone's talking about

•	Why are Gen Z and millennials calling out Boomers? "OK, boomer," explained.
•	James Corden called out Ivanka Trump to her face: "You can do something."
•	Your Hawaiian vacation awaits: Southwest is adding more flights to the islands with $129 one-way fares.
•	The hero dog wounded in Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi raid? We finally know his name: Conan.
•	What weird item did TSA find this time? A gun-shaped toilet paper holder.

25% of all pigs could die from swine fever

Pigs are in big trouble. At least a quarter of the world's pig population could die as a mass outbreak of African swine fever spreads, a global animal health organization says. The die-off would spark global pig shortages and spike pork prices, said Mark Schipp, president of the World Organization for Animal Health, calling the fever outbreak on Thursday "the biggest threat to any commercial livestock of our generation." The disease poses no threat of infection to humans.

Back to school, Chicago kids

The Chicago teachers strike ended Thursday with one last detail agreed on: teachers and students will have to make up five of the 11 days lost to the historic strike, the longest for teachers in the city since 1987. Negotiations came to a dramatic head Wednesday night at a raucous meeting where Chicago Teachers Union delegates voted to continue striking Thursday until the mayor agreed to make up lost instructional time – essentially, as the mayor put it, paying them for the days they were striking.

In this Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2019, Chicago Teachers Union President Jesse Sharkey and vice-president Stacy Davis Gates share a hug after speaking to the media following a CTU House of Delegates meeting at the Chicago Teachers Union Center in Chicago. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune via AP)

Chris Sweda, AP

Real quick

•	New York is considering banning tackle football for kids under 12.
•	The Islamic State group has announced its new leader.
•	More than 350,000 are still without power in wildfire-weary California.
•	Rep. Katie Hill gave her final speech in Congress: "I'm leaving now because of a double standard."
•	ICYMI: Most of the Deadspin staff resigned in protest last night, signaling the end of the site as we know it.

'Dream came true': The Nats really did it

The Washington Nationals' Cinderella story has ended with the team hauling the World Series trophy back to the nation's capital for the first time since 1924. The Nationals, with a stunning 6-2 victory over the Houston Astros on Wednesday, pulled off one of the most dramatic turnarounds in baseball history to win the title. In the World Series, the Nationals lost all three games at home, won all four games on the road and went 5-0 in playoff elimination games, including the final Game 7 win.

HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 30: Juan Soto #22 of the Washington Nationals celebrates in the locker room after defeating the Houston Astros in Game Seven to win the 2019 World Series at Minute Maid Park on October 30, 2019 in Houston, Texas. The Washington Nationals defeated the Houston Astros with a score of 6 to 2. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 775425081 ORIG FILE ID: 1184550629

Getty Images

Happy Halloween from dogs of the Short List! 🎃 👻 🍫

Some love Halloween for the candy. Some love it for the costumes. I just love it because it's a great excuse for me to solicit pictures of Short List dogs. I'll get to those, but real quick: Here are a few fun stories to get you all into the spooky season spirit:

•	Celebs know how to celebrate! Check out Justin Timberlake, Jason Momoa, and more A-list Halloween costumes.
•	It's settled: "The Nightmare Before Christmas" is indeed a Halloween movie.
•	Go easy on the black licorice tonight. You know, if you're into that nasty candy.

Now, for the moment you've been waiting all year for. Say "boo!" to a few (of the many!) dogs of The Short List, Halloween edition:

Doodle the rescue Pug mix takes pride in barking at the mail man every day, so her parents thought this costume was absolute perfection. Bonus: The mail man is a big fan of the outfit.

Frances Hankins

We're not sure if these are Ewoks or Shih Tzu? Regardless, Cooper and Lucy deserve tons of Halloween candy (dog treats?) for these costumes.

Teri Stevenson

Bear is a 3-year-old Cockapoo who is unBEARably cute this Halloween.

Michelle Baumgard

Super heroes Samuel and his big sister Sydney are here to save the day, Short Listers.

Denise Rocawich

Thank you to everyone who sent in pictures of your adorable dogs in costume! A special Halloween shoutout to: Tillie the Mystery Machine. Boomer the University of Oklahoma fan. Chanel the cowgirl Morkie. Piper the lobster. And, of course, Happy the lion.

One more thing before you go: USA TODAY's editor-in-chief Nicole Carroll has launched a new newsletter, The Backstory. If you care about the news — and the stories behind the news — we recommend you sign up here. Expect it in your inboxes every Friday.

This is a compilation of stories from across the USA TODAY Network.

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