Why a Black mom drove 1,300 miles to give birth.

Biden's set to visit Israel. How to ID common bug bites. October 17, 2023 | [VIEW IN BROWSER]( This is TODAY September 6, 2023 | [VIEW IN BROWSER]( This is TODAY The border between Gaza and Egypt remains closed, holding up refugees and humanitarian aid amid the Israel-Hamas war. Plus, a Black mother explains why she drove 1,300 miles to another state to give birth, and deals on the hottest toys for kids this holiday season. The Latest   [The Gaza-Egypt border remains closed, while Biden is set to visit Israel tomorrow.]( The Rafah border between Gaza and Egypt [remained closed]( this morning despite promises from U.S. State Department officials that it would be open for the flow of refugees and humanitarian aid amid the Israel-Hamas war. Adding to the confusion, Major Gen. Fouad Abu Butihan, the head for border crossings in Gaza, has been killed, officials in Gaza said. "There is no safe haven in Gaza, there is no safe road in Gaza, there is no humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza," one Palestinian American at the border told NBC News. [President Joe Biden will visit Israel tomorrow]( in a show of solidarity as its military prepares for a ground offensive. In the U.S., an Illinois man has been [arrested and charged]( for allegedly stabbing a 6-year-old Palestinian boy to death after the man's wife said he became obsessed with the Israel-Hamas war. [Here's the latest](. [Suzanne Somers' husband, Alan Hamel, read her a touching letter the night before she died.]( Alan Hamel made sure to let Suzanne Somers know how "magical" their 55 years together were before she [died at 76 from breast cancer]( on Sunday. Hamel, 87, [read the "Three's Company" star a touching letter]( the night before she died, according to the actor's publicist. "I weep when I think about my feelings for you. Feelings ... That's getting close, but not all the way," he wrote. He closed the letter by writing "there are no words," "actions," "promises," or "declarations" sufficient to describe his feelings. "So I will call it, 'Us,'" he wrote. [Read the full letter here](. [Why a Black mother rented an RV and drove 1,300 miles to give birth in another state.]( After feeling rushed, neglected and ignored while giving birth to her first two children in Texas, Mimi Evans took a major detour when she learned she was pregnant with her third. She purchased a 32-foot RV and [drove 1,300 miles to live near a Virginia hospital until it was time to give birth](. “I was given so much choice, so much freedom and it was just such a much more pleasant experience,” she told TODAY.com. “I definitely felt like I made the right decision.” Black women are two to three times more likely to die as a result of pregnancy- or birth-related complications than white women, according to government data. "It was the kind of sacrifice I had to make," Evans said of her trek. [Continue reading](. [🎯 An expert shares the hottest holiday toys to shop at Target this year — starting at $15.]( Save money now and aggravation later by getting a jump on the holiday gifts for the little ones in your life. If you're stuck on what to get them, lifestyle expert Jenn Falik has a list of [Target's hottest holiday toys]( for kids of all ages. She shared [6 toys kids will love](, like a new release from the brand behind the viral Magic Mixies toy, as well as a friendship bracelet kit for the budding Swiftie in the family. We also have a list of the ["most coveted" toys at Macy's and Toys 'R' Us]( that are all on sale right now. Start TODAY   Achieve your life and health goals with easy tips. If you went for a hike this weekend and there's an [itchy cluster of red marks]( on your ankle, you might be wondering what type of critter bit you. Examining bite marks isn't an exact science, but there are telltale signs of common bites from mosquitoes, ticks, bedbugs, spiders and other insects that will indicate what's been nibbling on ya. We have [photos of 11 common bug bites](, plus other symptoms the bites may cause and how to treat them. [See the pics](. What's for dinner?   Allow us to do the meal-planning for you. Craving some takeout from your favorite Mexican food spot? Assemble the ultimate lunch at home (and save some cash) with these [copycat burrito bowls]( from food writer Casey Barber. Her version closely resembles the burrito bowls you can find at Chipotle, with spicy garlic and chipotle-marinated chicken breasts, cilantro-lime white rice and black beans. Top it all with a corn salsa made with red onion, jalapeño and a squeeze of lime juice. [Get the recipe](. Daily Delight   A little pick-me-up before you go. Normally, the average person can't really relate to a 6-foot-4, 300-pound NFL lineman. But New York Giants player Justin Pugh had everyone smiling and nodding along to his [funny intro on NBC's "Sunday Night Football."]( During the taped introductions, most players say where they went to college, but Pugh went another route. “Justin Pugh, [straight off the couch!](” he declared. Pugh had been signed to the Giants' practice squad only days earlier before being activated for the Sunday night game against the Buffalo Bills. "I have never vibed with a football player more," one person [commented](on X. "Relatable," another fan [wrote](. [See the moment here](.   Thanks for letting us in your inbox! See you again tomorrow morning. Written by Scott Stump | Edited by Philip Caulfield Want to refer a friend?[Subscribe here]( Send us Feedback Follow us on Facebook More TODAY Newsletters 30 Rockefeller Plaza New York, NY 10112 [Manage Subscriptions]( | [Unsubscribe](listvar=sub_today) | [Privacy]( | [Contact]( [MANAGE SUBSCRIPTION]( | [UNSUBSCRIBE](listvar=sub_today) | [PRIVACY]( | [CONTACT](