Outbreak: With states establishing what amounts to a patchwork quilt of regulations to deal with the Ebola virus, the federal government has established new guidelines. Medical workers exposed to Ebola, or people who’ve had contact with patients in West Africa, would be required to submit to a checkup and questioning, under the guidelines.

But the trouble is that federal guidelines are voluntary and it’s still up to the states to decide what they do. At least seven states have set their own rules and the army plans to isolate troops returning from the Ebola zone.

In New Jersey, Gov. Chris Christie has learned that you don’t talk back to a nurse. After Kaci Hickox said her New Jersey quarantine violated her civil rights, Christie backed off and allowed to her go home to Maine. Hickox was the first medical worker quarantined under Christie’s new policy to fight Ebola.

Christie claims he didn’t reverse his decision. He said, “There was no reason to keep her. The reason she was put into the hospital in the first place was because she was running a high fever and was symptomatic.” Hickox, in fact, never had a fever and never had Ebola symptoms.

Ukraine: Russia says it will recognize the results of elections to be held in rebel-controlled territory in eastern Ukraine. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said elections “will be important to legitimize the authorities there.” The rebel areas were not allowed to vote in national elections earlier this week. Russia’s declaration threatens to carve off yet another piece of Ukraine, which has already lost Crimea.

World: South Africa’s national soccer team captain Senzo Meyiwa was murdered in a home invasion robbery at his girlfriend’s house. Meyiwa, 27, had also played goalie for the Orlando Pirates. Police said Meyiwa may have died trying to protect his girlfriend Kelly Khumalo, a South African singer.

The Series: The World Series resumes with game six tonight in Kansas City. With a 3-2 lead, the San Francisco Giants have a chance to put it away, but it’s the home field advantage for the Royals.

The Obit Page: Marcia Strassman, who played Gabe Kaplan’s wife on the 1970s sitcom “Welcome Back, Kotter,” has died at age 66. She had fought breast cancer for seven years. Strassman was a steadily working actress since the 1960s. She had a part in the first season of “M.A.S.H.” and was Rick Moranis’s wife in the movie, “Honey I Shrunk the Kids.” Despite her cancer, she was still working this year.

Lava: Hawaiians are watching a lava flow from Kilauea that threatens to incinerate the little village of Pahoa south of Hilo near the eastern tip of Hawaii. The post office is in danger and the potential loss off the primary entry road could force residents to make a two-hour detour in and out of town. Our Big Island stringer Patti Kam tells us “It’s an amazing thing.. it just creeps along.”

Politically Incorrect: Students at UC Berkeley have collected 2,000 signatures on a petition to disinvite host/comedian Bill Maher from being the December graduation speaker because of unflattering things he’s said about Islam. Maher said on his HBO show that Islam is “the only religion that acts like the Mafia, that will fucking kill you if you say the wrong thing, draw the wrong picture or write the wrong book.” Berkeley, some might remember, was the home of the 1964 Berkeley Free Speech Movement. 

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