It's Monday, September 15th. I'm Jane Koston, and this is what a day.

The show saluting Pudge the cat, the unofficial mascot of Bowling Green's college football team.

The three-year-old person's short hair hangs out in the locker room and even visits a sideline on occasion.

According to Bowling Green player George Carlson, Pudge's owner, Pudge is pretty into the whole thing, since it usually comes with lots of pets.

On today's show, new details emerge

about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

And President Donald Trump sets his sights on Memphis, saying it's National Guards next stop.

But let's start with the potential for a government shutdown.

Yes.

Again.

Federal government funding will run out on September 30th, and without legislation to keep the lights on, the government will shut down on October 1st.

Now, you might be thinking, didn't we do this?

Like, a few months ago? And yeah, we did. Back in March, the Senate approved a short-term spending

bill with the help of 10 Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. And if Republicans

want to keep the government open, their tiny majority in both chambers of Congress ensures that they'll need Democrats to sign on to a deal. But Democrats aren't so inclined to

avoid a shutdown this time. And if they're going to agree to a short-term spending bill, they

want something in return. Namely, the extension of Affordable Care Act tax credits which are due to

expire at the end of this year. Without an extension, the

nonpartisan research group KFF estimates that the cost of premiums for folks enrolled in an

ACA health care plan, an estimated 25 million people, could rise 75%. Republicans, on the other hand,

don't seem inclined to reach across the aisle, even if it means the government goes dark,

particularly since Senate Minority Leader Schumer balked on a shutdown last time.

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