10 things you need to know today: October 16, 2014

1. Ebola patient's flight triggers new precautions

The news that the second Dallas nurse diagnosed with Ebola had been allowed to board a commercial flight despite a low fever triggered new precautions on Wednesday. Health officials began tracking down all 132 people on Monday's Cleveland-to-Dallas flight with the patient, Amber Vinson, who was being monitored after treating the first Ebola victim on U.S. soil, Thomas Duncan. Frontier Airlines put the crew on paid leave, and two school districts in Ohio and Texas closed schools Thursday because a teacher and students had been on Vinson's flight.

The Washington Post

2. Arkansas high court blocks the state's voter ID law

Another voter ID law was struck down on Wednesday — this time in Arkansas. The state's Supreme Court upheld a lower court ruling that declared the law unconstitutional because it restricted voting. The law took effect on Jan. 1 after the state's GOP-controlled legislature overrode Democratic Gov. Mike Beebe's veto. The constitutionality of such laws, passed by Republicans in several states, remains unresolved. The U.S. Supreme Court recently let North Carolina start enforcing its ID law, but blocked a similar rule in Wisconsin.

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The Associated Press

3. Leung offers to talk with Hong Kong protesters as tensions rise

Hong Kong police used pepper spray against pro-democracy demonstrators who were trying to block a major road near the office of the Chinese-controlled city's embattled chief executive, Leung Chun-ying, early Thursday. The clash came as public anger was high following the appearance of a viral video showing police beating a protester this week. Leung sought to defuse tensions by renewing an offer to open talks with protesters next week.

Reuters Australian Broadcasting Corp.

4. Stock volatility rises

Disappointing economic news sent U.S. stocks plummeting on Wednesday — with the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropping as much as 460 points — before regaining some ground. The Dow closed down 173.45 points, or 1.1 percent. The S&P 500 briefly lost the last of its gains for 2014, and U.S. Treasury yields sank to their lowest point in 16 months as investors sought safe investments. "A lot of people, even the most experienced guys, are dazed by this," said one equities researcher.

Reuters

5. Obama orders more aggressive Ebola response after meeting with health officials

President Obama said after a White House meeting with health officials on Wednesday that he had ordered the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to send out a rapid-response team within 24 hours of any new Ebola case. Obama likened the responders to a medical "SWAT team," saying it was part of a "much more aggressive" effort to handle the threat of Ebola after two nurses in Texas contracted the virus after treating the first person to be diagnosed with it in the U.S. — Thomas Duncan, who died last week in Texas.

ABC News

6. HBO prepares to offer its video-streaming service as a stand-alone product

HBO plans next year to sell its popular HBO Go video streaming service as a separate product from its cable channels. The change comes as cable channels adapt to changing viewing habits, with more and more consumers ditching satellite and cable TV and watching their favorite shows online or on mobile devices. Industry analysts said the move would "force a change" in the cable industry, although the impact of HBO's gamble depends on how prices for video streamers compare to those for cable viewers.

The Associated Press

7. Himalayas storm kills 20

At least 20 people were killed in a blizzard and avalanche in Nepal’s Himalayas climbing region, officials in the area said Wednesday. Dozens more climbers were missing. The death toll surpassed that of the last major climbing disaster in the storied mountain range — 16 Sherpas were killed six months ago in the deadliest incident ever on Mount Everest. Authorities believe as many as 200 climbers were climbing in the area when it was hit by the blizzard.

The New York Times

8. Court lets work resume on California's high-speed rail project

California's highest court cleared the way for work to resume on building the nation's first bullet train on Wednesday, declining to hear an appeal by opponents of the controversial $68-billion project. California High Speed Rail Authority officials said the decision would allow them to move ahead with work on the first 130-mile section of track in the state's Central Valley, although they face other legal and financial obstacles.

Los Angeles Times

9. Neil Patrick Harris reportedly picked to host the Academy Awards

Neil Patrick Harris has been chosen as the host of the next Oscars ceremony, which is scheduled for Feb. 22, Variety reported Wednesday. Harris has received glowing reviews for past hosting jobs, including last year's Tony Awards and the Emmy awards in 2009 and 2013. He also has performed in past Academy Awards presentations, but this will be his first appearance as host. Harris also has appeared on the shows as a winner, taking home five Emmys and, this year, a Tony for the lead role in the musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch.

Variety

10. Kansas City Royals advance to the World Series

The Kansas City Royals capped a sweep of the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday to win a spot in the World Series for the first time in 29 years. The Royals clinched the American League championship on two runs they scored in the first inning. Then the Royals, who got into the playoffs as a wild card, relied on their bullpen to hold the Orioles to just one run, sealing the sweep with a 2-1 win. The Royals will host the first two games of the World Series next week against the winner of the National League championship between the Giants and the Cardinals.

Fox Sports