The Hurricane Headed for Ohio, World Space Week, and More

Thursday, October 8th, 2026

Good morning! Welcome to The Tradesman, a 5-minute newsletter tailored just for America’s tradesmen.

To listen to this newsletter, click “Listen Online” in the top right corner of this email.

Guess what, Tradesmen? We’re giving away yet another $50 gas card!

Click here to enter for a chance to win! (NOTE: Only one entry per person will be accepted)

Come back on Tuesday to find out if you’ve won.

Brace yourselves: We could be in for a very rainy weekend.

Tropical Storm Isaias has formed in the Gulf of America, formerly known as the Gulf of Mexico, and is expected to strengthen into a Category 1 hurricane today.

By the time Isaias makes landfall along the coasts of Mississippi, Alabama and the Florida Panhandle at 1 a.m. Saturday, it is expected to reach Category 2.

From there, models show Isaias traveling north toward Indiana, with some predicting it will curve toward Tennessee and pass over Kentucky, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

The good news is that by the time the storm reaches us, Isaias will be no more than a tropical depression, the weakest type of tropical cyclone, with sustained winds of 38 mph or less. That's far less powerful than a tropical storm or hurricane, though it can still bring heavy rain.

If you've used Google this week, you may have noticed that the logo has changed to look like different pictures from space.

It's in celebration of World Space Week, which commemorates the launch of Sputnik 1, the first human-made Earth satellite, on Oct. 4, 1957, and the Outer Space Treaty, which took effect Oct. 10, 1967.

The week is an opportunity to reflect on humanity's amazing achievements in space and a chance to learn more about what many consider "the final frontier."

In the spirit of the week, click here for some out-of-this-world space facts we bet you've never heard before.

Enough about space. Today is National Fluffernutter Day, and that, we think, is a holiday really worth celebrating.

First off: If you read that headline and thought to yourself, "What is a fluffernutter?" we are both heartbroken for you and ecstatic to introduce you to one of the best sandwiches ever invented.

The fluffernutter was first created in 1918 and is the perfect marriage of marshmallow creme, often known by the brand name Fluff, and peanut butter between two slices of bread, creating a combination of sweet and salty.

In honor of this sacred holiday, we've compiled the essential ingredients, so you too can partake in this delectable treat.

When people talk about situational awareness, they usually mean the skill the person who stopped dead in the middle of the hallway is missing.

Fair enough. But it is more than basic walking manners. It is a skill that can sharpen your decisions, improve your day, and, most importantly, keep you safer.

Situational awareness is simply the habit of noticing what is happening around you, figuring out what it means, and thinking a step ahead about what might happen next.

That sounds easy until your phone or earbuds take over, especially in places you know so well that you stop paying attention. Familiar does not mean risk-free. A quick check of your surroundings can make a real difference.

Click here to see how you can improve your situational awareness.

Should the federal government suspend its gas tax as well?