5 things to know this weekend: Hurricane Michael, Women’s Marches, MLB playoffs

Hurricane Michael: Rescue efforts ongoing across affected regions

Florida emergency officials will resume their rescue efforts Saturday after Hurricane Michael wreaked devastating havoc in the state earlier this week. At its peak, Michael morphed into a Category 4 hurricane with wind speeds up to 155 miles per hour, making it the third-strongest hurricane to make landfall in the U.S. As of Friday morning, Michael killed at least 11 people and has left 1.5 million people across five states without power. Volunteers from the Salvation Army and Red Cross are working to feed thousands of the storm’s survivors, while emergency teams are prioritizing to bring back communications and transportation to affected areas.

Women’s Marches’ organizers to kick off ‘Marches on the Polls’

A series of marches are scheduled to take place leading up to the midterms, starting with Chicago and Massachusetts on Saturday. In an election season where the gender gap has become a chasm, an unprecedented number of women are running, with the topic of sexual assault and the #MeToo movement being a focal point, the political power of women has become parmount. “Women candidates, women voters and women issues are all together at the forefront, and that’s been true the whole cycle,” Democratic pollster Margie Omero said. The aftermath of Brett Kavanaugh’s dramatic nomination hearings and narrow confirmation has shown a spotlight the gender divide that has inflamed some voters since Donald Trump claimed the Republican presidential nomination two years ago. The demonstrations, dubbed “March to the Polls” are follow-ups to the Women’s March movement following President Trump’s election victory. Organizers said they want to use the moment to get women and their allies to the polls and bolster get-out-the-vote efforts in the final weeks of the campaign.

RELATED: Activists push for the polls with third Chicago Women’s March

U.S. pastor to visit Trump after being released from house arrest

American pastor Andrew Brunson will meet with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office Saturday after a Turkish court released the Christian missionary after more than two years of detention. Turkish state-run media reported that the court sentenced Brunson to more than three years in prison on terror-related charges, but released him from house arrest and lifted travel restrictions. “He suffered greatly,” Trump said on Friday, but was in “very good shape.” Brunson lived in Turkey for more than two decades and was arrested in 2016 and acIcused of plotting to overthrow the government of Turkey. He rejected the allegations. Trump had clashed with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan over Brunson’s case – going so far as to slap sanctions and tariffs on Turkey earlier this year.

MLB playoffs roll on with ALCS, NLCS action

The Houston Astros are looking to defend their World Series title, but they’ll need to go through the best team in baseball first. Managers Alex Cora and A.J. Hinch share a brotherly bond, but now oppose each other as the Boston Red Sox host the Astros for Game 1 of the American League Championship Series Saturday night. One of our writers thinks the Astros have an edge coming into the series, but don’t expect the Red Sox to be intimidated. Game 2 of the National League Championship Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers comes a bit earlier in the day after the Brewers held off a late rally by the Dodgers to take Game 1 of the NCLS on Friday. ALCS action continues Sunday night with Game 2.

Sears to file for bankruptcy?

Sears could announce as soon as Sunday that it will file for bankruptcy protection, with plans to push through the holiday season. It is leaning toward a Chapter 11 filing, which would provide it protection to restructure versus having to immediately liquidate. Sears is also facing a Monday deadline to pay off a $134 million debt. The 125-year-old company has been struggling to stay relevant as it fails to keep up with a changing shopping landscape now dominated by e-commerce and online retailers.