US Domestic News Round-up: 'Racist' photo of Obama, Hurricane Michael, Pop star Taylor Swift

The nonprofit site, which helps people register online, reported more than 250,000 new registrations since Swift posted a message on Instagram endorsing two Democratic candidates in her home state of Tennessee and urging people to register.

Acting EPA head liked 'racist' photo of Obamas: report

The acting head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency liked a controversial Facebook photo five years ago of then-President Barack Obama that a civil rights group called racist, the Huffington Post reported on Tuesday. Andrew Wheeler, a longtime Washington insider, has kept a low profile compared to Scott Pruitt, who was forced to resign as head of the EPA in July under a cloud of ethics allegations including that he made staff search hotels for special skin lotion.

New Jersey Transit in crisis, needs strategic plan: audit

An audit of New Jersey Transit released on Tuesday found that operations at the state's passenger rail system were "inefficient" and "unsustainable," and recommended that the state urgently implement strategic planning, recruit more personnel and invest in technology. "This audit is what will allow us to begin rebuilding New Jersey Transit and restore faith in its operations," New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy said on Tuesday. "This is fixable and within our grasp."

Hurricane Michael chases Floridians to higher ground

Hurricane Michael howled closer to Florida's Gulf shore on Tuesday as a major Category 3 storm, with half a million coastal residents strongly urged to seek higher ground on the eve of a landfall forecast to bring towering waves and roof-shredding winds. Michael is projected to plough into Florida's panhandle at midday on Wednesday, unleashing potentially devastating waves of seawater as high as 13 feet (4 meters) that could rush inland for miles around the storm's centre, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) warned.

Harvard Diving coach resigns after sexual misconduct allegations

Harvard University's Athletic Department said on Tuesday that its head diving coach, Chris Heaton, had stepped down, amid accusations of sexual misconduct. Heaton, who was hired to lead Harvard's diving program in August, was placed on leave on Oct. 3. In an abbreviated statement on Tuesday, Harvard said that Heaton had resigned and that it had appointed an interim coach.

U.S. Agriculture's Perdue says farmer aid could be less than first estimated

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's $12 billion packages to offset farmers losses from the imposition of tariffs American exports could end up shrinking after an agreement to update NAFTA was struck, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said on Tuesday. "We will be recalculating along as we go," Perdue said in a phone interview with Reuters, regarding the second tranche of the planned compensation, estimated at about $6 billion, which was first announced in July after U.S. and China imposed trade tariffs on each other's imports.

Pop star Taylor Swift uses social media muscle to boost voter sign-ups

Pop music luminary Taylor Swift's decision to wade into electoral politics for the first time on Sunday has driven a spike in online voter registration, particularly among young people, according to the website Vote.org. The nonprofit site, which helps people register online, reported more than 250,000 new registrations since Swift posted a message on Instagram endorsing two Democratic candidates in her home state of Tennessee and urging people to register.

New York City creates gender-neutral 'X' option for birth certificates

People who were born in New York City and do not identify as male or female can now opt for a third gender category of X on their birth certificates. Mayor Bill de Blasio signed the provision into a law on Tuesday, making New York City the fifth place to do so after California, Oregon, Washington state and New Jersey. Three states and Washington, D.C., also allow gender-neutral driver licenses.

Finger pointing begins in search for the cause of New York limo crash

Lawyers for the family of a limousine driver who died along with 19 others in an upstate New York accident and the owner of the vehicle are clashing over the cause of the deadliest U.S. transport accident in nearly a decade. New York State police said the driver, 53-year-old Scott Lisinicchia, did not have the proper license to operate the 2001 Ford Excursion limousine that crashed in Schoharie, New York, on Saturday night and that the vehicle had failed inspection last month.

For Kavanaugh, a collegial start to Supreme Court career

Brett Kavanaugh spent a collegial first day on the bench as a U.S. Supreme Court justice on Tuesday that contrasted sharply with the venom of his confirmation process, taking an active role in arguments alongside his eight new colleagues. Kavanaugh, a veteran of such proceedings after 12 years on an influential U.S. appeals court, looked at ease as he asked several questions during two hours of lively oral arguments involving a federal sentencing law for repeat offenders.

Harrison: A transgender man's journey

For Harrison Massie, transitioning from female to male was never about trading one gender for another. Seven years ago, Harrison, now 29, started his journey "to feel more like myself."