Bear 128 Jr. is a Fat Bear Week contender.

Happy Friday Jr.! I'm Nicole Fallert. Take a moment of appreciation for pancakes.

Skim Thursday's news:

  • One detainee is dead and two critically wounded following a shooting at a Texas ICE facility.
  • President Donald Trump pulled out of an expected meeting with top Democrats.
  • Some families told USA TODAY they don't want an autism cure.

What we know about the ICE shooting in Dallas

Law enforcement officials said a deadly shooting Wednesday at an U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Dallas, Texas, is being investigated as a "targeted" attack.

The takeaway: The incident was the second shooting at an ICE facility in Texas in recent weeks and comes amid what authorities describe as a rise in assaults on the agency's employees.

  • What happened: Officials say a gunman opened fire from a nearby rooftop and shot three detainees on the morning of Sept. 24. The shooter, whose identity has not been confirmed by authorities, was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
  • Is there a motive? FBI Director Kash Patel said there was evidence of an "ideological motive" at the scene and posted an image on X showing an unspent shell casing inscribed with the words "ANTI-ICE" in blue writing.
  • The bigger picture: Officials called for an end to political violence and partly blamed the shooting on rhetoric "demonizing" law enforcement agents carrying out immigration enforcement.

Trump opts out of talks with Democrats

Trump will no longer meet with Democrats on Thursday to discuss routes to avoid a government shutdown, calling their demands "unserious and ridiculous." Last week, members of Congress failed to advance any short-term funding extensions before a holiday break. Government funding lapses at midnight Sept. 30. The major sticking points are related to health care: Democrats have said they won't vote to fund the government unless Republicans address rising health care costs, including by reversing recent Medicaid cuts and extending Obamacare premium subsidies. The Democratic leaders spared no criticism of the president after he bailed on them.

  • Congress could shut down the government over Obamacare tax credits. Meet the Americans who get them.

More news to know now

  • Gavin Newsom fears there won’t be a 2028 presidential election.
  • Why are people boycotting Chobani?
  • U.S. measles cases surpassed 1,500 as outbreaks grow in parts of Utah and Arizona.
  • Hurricane forecasters are watching for a rare, chaotic Fujiwhara effect.

What's the weather today? Check your local forecast here.

Numbers speak for Kimmel's return

ABC revealed that 6.26 million viewers watched Jimmy Kimmel's return Sept. 23 to his studio in Los Angeles after the station pulled his show from the air last week. The number, based on Nielsen's preliminary figures, does not reflect streaming views. The Disney-owned broadcaster said the episode earned a 0.87 rating among adults 18 to 49 years old, which makes it "the show’s highest regularly scheduled episode in over 10 years — since 3/12/15," per the news release. Kimmel managed the sharp increase in viewers despite his show not airing on any affiliates owned by Nexstar Media or Sinclair Broadcast Group.

  • Here's how Trump Jr., Ben Stiller and more reacted to Kimmel's monologue.

A cure for autism isn't what these families say they need

This week, the Trump administration announced it had found the source of autism. But some people with autism and family members of those with autism told USA TODAY that finding a cause or cure for autism is not necessarily what they're looking for — and maybe not even helpful. Instead of trying to eradicate autism, they'd rather have more support in place to pursue early interventions and make life more comfortable for those with autism. And older adults with autism told USA TODAY there's "next to nothing out there" to support them.

Today's talkers

  • Welcome Rihanna and A$AP Rocky's new daughter, Rocki Irish Mayers!
  • The Rapture didn't happen. But the internet had fun.
  • She just retired at 106.
  • Scientists propose nuking an asteriod before it could hit the moon.
  • Emma Watson addressed her relationship with J.K. Rowling.

'Prenups are hot'

'I actually think it is one of the highest forms of love because after we have this prenup and get married, both of us will never be in a situation where we feel stuck. Both of us staying in the marriage means both of us are 100% choosing to be there.'

~ TikTok creator Chloe Elise of her and her fiancé's decision to get a prenuptial agreement. The rising interest in prenups comes at a time when Americans are getting married later in life, the student debt crisis is compounding, and younger generations are placing increased importance on financial transparency. USA TODAY broke down how to get a prenup and how they look different today.

Photo of the day: Choose your chonky bear!

From bulky cuties to thick teddies, brown bears from Brooks River in Katmai National Park and Preserve in Alaska spent all summer chomping down on salmon to compete in this year's annual Fat Bear Week. But which fat bear will you crown as the 2025 king or queen?

Nicole Fallert is a newsletter writer at USA TODAY, sign up for the email here. Want to send Nicole a note? Shoot her an email at NFallert@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Daily Briefing: 'Targeted' ICE facility attack

Reporting by Nicole Fallert, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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