News Wrap: Coal mine explosion kills 41 in Turkey

Geoff Bennett:

Good evening. It's good to be with you. With the midterm elections just weeks away, tonight we begin in Georgia where Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock and Republican Herschel Walker met in their first and likely only debate last night. The candidates clashed on abortion amid allegations that Walker who opposes abortion paid for a woman to have one years ago. Walker again denied the accusations.

Early voting in Georgia begins on Monday, and we'll have a more in depth look at the Georgia midterm races later in the program.

Meantime, a coal mine explosion in Turkey on Friday has killed at least 41 people according to officials, there. Rescuers worked through the night to reach survivors, his family and friends waited for news of loved ones, 110 people were working in the mine on Friday when the explosion occurred, 11 were injured while, 58 managed to get out on their own or were rescued unharmed. Initial reports indicate the explosion was likely caused by flammable gases found in coal mines.

And Russia's Defense Ministry says that two attackers fired on a group of volunteer soldiers at a training ground near the Ukrainian border before being killed themselves. At least 11 are dead and more than a dozen are wounded. The Russians are calling it an act of terror. That's unfolding as President Vladimir Putin says that Russia should finish its massive mobilization of reservists in two weeks.

Putin also said that Russia has no plans "for now for more massive airstrikes like the ones that killed dozens this past week."

Overnight, the U.S. announced it will send an additional $725 million in military aid to Ukraine.

And a massive blaze has erupted at an Iranian prison known for keeping political prisoners and anti-government protesters. Online video shows large plumes of smoke clouding the skies over Tehran with gunshots ringing out and loud alarms heard from prison grounds. It's unclear what prompted the fire. That's happening as protests across Iran enter their fifth week. Hundreds of protesters have been killed since the anti-government demonstrations started.

And back in this country for the first time ever, the State of Alaska says it needs to cancel its snow crab fishing season due to plummeting populations. The crabbing industry is a major contributor to the state's economy and the pause in production could threaten the livelihoods of many Alaskan fishermen.

Alaska is the fastest warming state in the country, and just losing billions of tons of ice each year critical for crabs that need cold water to survive.

And still to come on "PBS News Weekend," a new report highlights rising pregnancy related deaths in the nation's maternity care deserts. And why hospitals are cutting pediatric health services too.