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Fast Forward: Debate Day, proposed changes for BRA

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Preparations were underway at Hofstra University Sunday for the first presidential debate.Drew Angerer

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Here's some news and information as you rev up for the day.

What's it like outside? Autumn visited this weekend and made me put on my long pants for the first time since April. Cool this morning, mid-60s most of the day, but humidity starts to climb tonight even as temps drop into the 40s. Don't give in yet.

While you were sleeping: Golf legend Arnold Palmer died in a hospital in Pittsburgh, where he was awaiting heart surgery. He was 87 ...

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Hey, sport: Be honest: Back when the Sox were going 10-16 in June, giving up 21 runs to LA July 2, and getting swept by Detroit at the end of July, don't tell me you saw this brilliant stretch coming . You were measuring Torey Lovullo for the manager's uniform. But it's all good: 11 in a row, untouchable pitching, record strikeouts, timely hitting, and Pedroia's Dancing with the Rays act at home plate. Oh, and three consecutive series sweeps that began Sept. 15 vs. the Yankees -- their next opponent starting tomorrow. Only six games left; magic number is 2. Playoffs start in eight days.

Sexy Rexy will be on the sidelines vs. the Patriots next Sunday since he kept his Buffalo job for at least one more week with a 33-18 dismantling of Arizona. Miami won; the Jets lost (Ryan Fitzpatrick had six interceptions). Interesting division, the AFC East it is.

On the campaign trail: It's Debate Day, and Dems are fretting that Trump will be declared the winner if he doesn't yell, criticize Gold Star families, trash prisoners of war, or stiff the stagehands. The GOP worries that Hillary will get softball questions because of the blowback from the perceived imbalance of the Matt Lauer interview. If you want to prep for the debate, here's a good reading list from the Globe. And former Globe medical reporter Larry Tye has his own list of health and science-related questions he'd ask the candidates if he could. Watch at 9 p.m., everywhere.

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Some questions being investigated today: Who stabbed seven men in their 20s in the Theater District early yesterday? Why did a 20-year-old guy in Washington state shoot up a shopping mall Friday, killing five people? (He's in court today, so we may get some answers to that one.)

The Boston Redevelopment Authority has to clean up its act, and a consultant that Mayor Marty Walsh hired in May will unveil how it plans to do just that to reporters at 10 a.m. today (with a big public reveal scheduled for 4 p.m. tomorrow at City Hall Plaza). The agency's been plagued by accusations of cronyism, favoritism toward insiders, poor record keeping, a confusing and secretive process, and not enough stalls in the women's room. (Just kidding about that last one, but really, that's a problem everywhere.)

The state's creating a license plate to benefit ALS research, and state officials, including Governor Charlie Baker and Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito, will celebrate the news on the Grand Staircase of the State House at 11 a.m. You'd think Polito would avoid license plate events, given that she reportedly got the Registry to hand out 68 of the first 100 low-numbered Red Sox license plates to her father, brother, husband, other relatives, and friends when she was a state rep She scored license number 2.

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Cranberries were cultivated for the first time in Dennis 200 years ago, and to celebrate, the Cape Cod Cranberry Growers' Association is taking people who registered on a visit today to a cranberry bog (where they can don waders and try their hand at a wet harvest), a helicopter ride showing interconnected waterways and bogs, a tour of a manufacturing facility, and more -- including cranberry food and drink. They guarantee the guests no UTIs for a year.

Things could get ugly at the T's fiscal control board meeting at noon today, as angry janitors say they will "storm into" the meeting to demand to know why jobs, hours, and benefits have been cut.

Speaking of getting ugly, the Bridgegate trial in New Jersey -- which resumes today -- is not going well for Governor Chris Christie, and he's not even on trial (two former aides are). Juicy testimony for the prosecution is painting a picture of a Port Authority run like Christie's personal fiefdom whose main goal was to help Christie get reelected in 2013. His toadies allegedly handed out jobs, goodies, and favors to local officials to secure their endorsement. One of those officials, Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich, said he believed the three-day lane closure on the N.J. end of the George Washington Bridge that wreaked havoc in his city was retaliation for his not endorsing Christie -- after having been showered with gifts.

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And New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has an administration scandal of his own: Nine associates have been charged with bribes, extortion, fraud, and conspiracy. Although there are no allegations about Cuomo, he's facing pressure this week to clean things up. Don't hold your breath; the last time there was a corruption scandal (in the state legislature), the ethics reforms were modest at best.

Finally, remember the heartbreaking photos of that elderly Canadian couple married for 62 years who were forced to live in separate nursing homes? Their visits inevitably ended in tears:

Wolfram and Anita Gottschalk of British Columbia had tearful farewells when they had to part and return to their separate nursing homes.

Yes, you're right, there's a happy ending. The wife's nursing home finally was able to accept the husband. And just in time: He's being treated for lymphoma and is starting to get dementia. Their reunion was joyous, and helps us forget about the political putzes of the world, if only for a moment. But what a lovely moment it is. "Look at me. Look at me," Anita Gottschalk said to her husband, Wolfram, as she cradled his face in her hands. "I love you."

Ain't love grand? Thanks for reading. Please follow me at @BostonTeresa. See you tomorrow.


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