Government Deadlines Loom But Trains Are Running On Time

1. The week gets off to a foggy start. Today will be partly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of rain and a high of 73 degrees. We could see gusty winds starting around noon and thunderstorms, possibly severe, starting at about 4 p.m. on into this evening, when temperatures are likely to drop to 52 degrees. 

2. The rest of the week is likely to be sunnier and drier, although temperatures will drop as a cold front moves into our area.Weather.com is predicting a high of 68 degrees tomorrow, dipping to 65 degrees Wednesday through Friday, with low temperatures in the mid-40s to low 50s through Friday. 

3. This week's commute promises to be better than last week. Amtrak says Acela and MetroNorth trains will back on a regular schedule again today following last week's disruptions in service caused by power problems with the line.  

4. The government shutdown enters its second week with no end in sight, although Congress has authorized the return to work of several hundred thousand defense department employees. That includes civilian military workers, including defense contract inspectors, which will mean United Technologies Corp. won't have to furlough employees as expected last week. 

5. Another deadline looming on the horizon will have dire consequences on the nation's economy if Congress can't get it together. Lawmakers have until October 17 to raise the country's debt ceiling. Failure to do so will mean the country will default on its loans for the first time in U.S. history, and that is likely to plunge the country into a recession far deeper than the one that sunk us in 2008.