Ukraine retakes key city in region Putin annexed

To ensure delivery to your inbox add email@mail.nbcnews.com to your contacts Today's Top Stories from NBC News MONDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2022 Good morning, NBC News readers.     Russia pulled troops from a city that it had been using as a key hub in Ukraine, a day after Putin said it would be annexed. Search and rescues are still underway in Florida and South Carolina as the death toll from Hurricane Ian is expected to continue to climb. And the end of universal free school lunches has left a growing number of families with financial difficulties.   Here's what we're watching this Monday morning. Ukraine retakes a key city Putin claimed to have annexed. Here's why it matters.  A Ukrainian tank on the way to Siversk in the Donetsk region on Oct. 1, 2022.  (Inna Varenytsia/AP)   Ukraine said it had retaken full control of a key city, handing the Kremlin another setback just days after Russian President Vladimir Putin proclaimed that the area would belong to his country forever.   The recapture of the city, Lyman, represents a strategic victory for Ukraine, which vowed its forces would push deeper into occupied territory after forcing Moscow's military into its latest bloody and humiliating retreat.    Lyman is located in the Donetsk region, which together with neighboring Luhansk makes up Ukraine's eastern industrial heartland of the Donbas. Putin illegally claimed the areas at a grand Kremlin ceremony last week that drew global condemnation.   Read the full story here.  Monday's Top Stories Historic search-and-rescue operation underway as Ian's death toll reaches 87 As federal emergency management officials launched their largest ever search-and-rescue effort from Hurricane Ian, the number of fatalities in Florida and South Carolina climbed to 87, according to a tally by state officials and an NBC News count. READ MORE National Archives says some records from Trump White House are still missing The National Archives and Records Administration has informed the House Oversight and Reform Committee that some records from the Trump White House have not been turned over in compliance with the Presidential Records Act. READ MORE Internet freedom activists scramble to help Iranians evade Tehran's digital crackdown Digital rights groups say they are sending circumvention tools and other technical advice to Iranians to help them sidestep the regime's internet restrictions. READ MORE How the CDC's communication failures during Covid tarnished the agency Communication failures, along with many more consequential errors, would continue throughout the pandemic, deeply tarnishing the CDC, long considered the gold standard of public health institutions.  READ MORE Editor's Pick School lunch is too costly for a growing number of families. Will a White House pledge help? The Biden administration laid out a strategy to expand free meals to 9 million more students by 2032. While many praised the proposal, they also said many families could not wait for help. "I've never had as many students say, 'Oh, I can't eat, I don't have money,'" one child nutrition director said. "As children, they shouldn't have to be bothered by that." READ MORE Also in the News Republicans abandon Obamacare repeal Bolsonaro, Lula headed to runoff after polarized Brazil presidential vote Nevada Democrats see signs of nightmare scenario: Latino voters staying home Consultant who cleared Dolphins' Tagovailoa to play after head blow is fired Mental health crisis teams aren't just for cities anymore Stampede triggered by tear gas leaves 125 dead after Indonesia soccer match Fort Myers chef feeds hungry hurricane survivors for free Select: Online shopping, simplified We consulted experts to help you navigate the many dog food options out there, from organic and natural to canned and grain-free. Thanks for reading the Morning Rundown. Today's newsletter was curated for you by Elizabeth Both.   If you have any comments — likes, dislikes — send us an email at: MorningRundown@nbcuni.com   If you're a fan, please forward it to your family and friends. They can sign-up here. Want to receive Breaking News & Special Alerts in your inbox? SIGN UP HERE Check out more NBC News newsletters. Download the NBC News Mobile App 30 Rockefeller Plaza New York, NY 10112 VIEW IN BROWSER | UNSUBSCRIBE | MANAGE SUBSCRIPTION | CONTACT | PRIVACY VIEW IN BROWSER | UNSUBSCRIBE | MANAGE SUBSCRIPTION | CONTACT | PRIVACY