The Iran war is sending diesel costs higher as many school districts are already grappling with bus driver shortages, Axios' Josephine Walker reports.

• That's a double whammy leading to missed breakfasts, late classes and fewer school activities.

The big picture: Districts are consolidating routes and cutting trips to save money and manage shortages.

• A May survey of 188 school officials found that 40% had adjusted routes, 25% cut routes and 20% limited optional trips.

⛽️ Zoom in: Cherry Creek Public Schools, in the Denver metro area, budgeted $1.5 million for fuel this year.

• It now expects to spend roughly $2 million–$2.3 million.

The district is also short about 40 drivers, transportation director Mark Ingram tells Axios.

• "Every morning and afternoon, we're looking at running some routes 10–15 minutes late ... we just don't have the people to cover the routes."
• For some students, that can mean missing school-provided breakfast or arriving late to first period.

👩‍🏫 Peter Mannella, of the National Association for Pupil Transportation, tells Axios that districts would rather protect spending on teachers, aides and special education.

• "The inclination is always going to be: 'Let's see what we can cut out of transportation costs because we don't want to affect the school library.'"

Go deeper.

Alexander Ovechkin, the "Great 8," is calling it a career after this season, Axios D.C.'s Mark Selig reports.

🥅 The NHL's all-time leading goal-scorer has been the face of hockey's Washington Capitals for more than two decades, transforming them into one of D.C.'s most consistently relevant pro teams.

• He delivered the Caps' first Stanley Cup in 2018, rewrote the NHL record book and became one of the most recognizable athletes in Washington sports history.

Ovechkin told teammates today: "This is going to be my last year."

• "It's hard, but let's enjoy it and let's do some special things this year."

🇷🇺 Between the lines: Ovechkin's announcement comes amid controversy over his outspoken support for Russian President Vladimir Putin.

• Keep reading.

1. 🦠 Russian authorities quarantined a hospital and are monitoring contacts of a Siberian plague research institute employee who contracted pneumonia from an "unknown" cause. Local state TV said the woman died last week. What to know.
2. 🧠 The Nobel Prize in medicine was awarded to three scientists whose work led to a tool that uses light to help unravel how the brain works. Two are German and one, Dr. Karl Deisseroth, 54, is a Stanford professor. Read the announcement.
3. ✈️ The White House is barring Politico from boarding Air Force One today, CNN reports — the latest in an ongoing battle between the press and the Trump administration. Go deeper.
4. 🗳️ House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) is scaling back expectations and zeroing in on a narrowed battlefield as Republicans' prospects of keeping their majority look increasingly bleak. More from Axios' Kate Santaliz.
5. 🏛️ Dennis Hastert — the longest-serving Republican speaker of the House, who later admitted to sexually abusing teenage wrestlers and was imprisoned on charges tied to hush-money payments — died Saturday at 84 at his home in Plano, Ill., under hospice care. N.Y. Times obit.

New York's legendary Katz's Delicatessen has landed in Chicago — but don't expect pastrami sandwiches, Axios Chicago's Carrie Shepherd reports.

🍦 Clothing store and ice cream cafe Kith teamed up with Katz's for three limited-time treats.

• The Latke, The Egg Cream Deluxe and The Reuben are on the menu until Oct. 10.

The Reuben features vanilla ice cream mixed with Cheez-Its, rye croutons, and beetroot powder.

• It's topped with black sanding sugar, a dehydrated Swiss cheese chip, Maldon salt and a Katz's pickle.

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