10 things you need to know today: October 27, 2014

1. New York eases Ebola quarantine rule after White House intervenes

Under pressure from the White House and health experts, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) on Sunday relaxed his state's strict policy of quarantining medical workers returning from caring for Ebola patients in West Africa. Administration officials and medical experts argued that the rules, announced Friday in New York and New Jersey, would discourage doctors and nurses from joining the Ebola fight. Cuomo, then New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, said Sunday that those showing no symptoms could be quarantined at home.

The New York Times

2. Second Washington state school shooting victim dies

A second victim — Gia Soriano, 14 — died Sunday night from wounds she sustained in a school shooting in Washington state. "We are devastated by this senseless tragedy," her family said in a statement. "Gia is our beautiful daughter, and words cannot express how much we will miss her." Another girl was killed Friday when a fellow student opened fire at Marysville-Pilchuck High School, north of Seattle. The alleged shooter, Jaylen Fryberg, died of a self-inflicted wound. Three other victims remain hospitalized, two in critical condition.

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Los Angeles Times

3. Hong Kong protesters cancel vote

The students leading Hong Kong's pro-democracy protests on Sunday canceled an electronic poll that was to help determine the next step for the demonstrations, which began nearly a month ago. The main groups behind the movement issued a joint statement and said there was too much disagreement and too little planning for the poll to go forward. "We admit we did not have enough discussion with the people before deciding to go ahead with the vote," the statement said. "We apologize to the people."

Voice of America

4. Pro-Europe politicians dominate Ukraine elections

Pro-Western parties swept Ukraine's parliamentary elections, according to Sunday exit polls. President Petro Poroshenko's party is expected to put together a coalition with other parties in favor of strengthening economic ties with Europe, and shedding the longtime influence of Russia. Poroshenko, who still faces an armed uprising by pro-Russian separatists, thanked voters for supporting his call for "a democratic, reformist, pro-Ukrainian, and pro-European majority."

The Wall Street Journal

5. Jeb Bush is mulling a presidential bid, his son confirms

Former Florida governor Jeb Bush's eldest son, George P. Bush, said his father is "more than likely" seriously considering running for president in 2016. Jeb Bush's brother, former president George W. Bush, has urged him to run, as has his father, former president George H.W. Bush. "The family will be behind him 100 percent if he decides to do it," said George P. Bush, who is a candidate for his first political office — Texas land commissioner — in November.

CNN

6. Brazil's Rousseff wins a second term as president

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff won reelection on Sunday, beating center-right challenger Aecio Neves 51.6 percent to 48.4 percent. Rousseff campaigned for a second term promising that her left-wing Workers' Party would deliver expanded social programs, which helped her seal the support of poor Brazilians. After facing protests last year against corruption and inadequate services, Rousseff promised in her acceptance speech to be "a much better president than I have been until now."

Globe and Mail BBC News

7. Welcome Back, Kotter actress Marcia Strassman dies

Actress Marcia Strassman, best known for playing Gabe Kaplan's wife in the '70s sitcom Welcome Back, Kotter, has died after a long fight with breast cancer, her sister, Julie, confirmed Sunday. She was 66. Strassman played a nurse in the first season of MASH before landing the Kotter role. She also co-starred with Rick Moranis in the 1989 Disney movie Honey I Shrunk the Kids and 1992 sequel Honey I Blew Up the Kid.

Variety

8. Tunisia's secularists out-do Islamists in historic balloting

Tunisia's leading secular party, Nidaa Tounes, appeared to have won more seats in the country's new parliament than the rival Islamist party Ennahda, a Nidaa Tounes party source said Monday. The official, citing a preliminary ballot count, said Nidaa Tounes had won 80-plus votes, to Ennahda's 67. Election officials are expected to release their results later in the day. The vote brought full democracy to the country nearly four years after its uprising, which launched the Arab Spring.

Reuters

9. Cardinals' Oscar Taveras dies in car wreck

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Oscar Taveras was killed in a car accident in his native Dominican Republic, Dominican police said Sunday. He was 22. His girlfriend, identified as Edilia Ardelo, 18, also died. Taveras had been ranked as one of the top minor league prospects in baseball for the last few years. He played his first season for the Cardinals this year, playing in 80 games. He was expected to compete for a starting spot next season. "Oscar was an amazing talent with a bright future," Cardinals Chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. said in a statement.

USA Today

10. Giants pull ahead in the World Series

The San Francisco Giants beat the Kansas City Royals on Sunday to take a 3-2 lead in the World Series. The Giants' Madison Bumgarner pitched a four-hit shutout in a 5-0 victory that put his team within one game of taking the best-of-seven Major League Baseball championship — its third in five years. The Series will return from San Francisco to Kansas City for Game 6 on Tuesday night, giving the Royals a chance to avoid elimination with the support of a home crowd.

The Associated Press