EVERY DAY, TheJournal.ie brings you nine things you need to know with your morning cup of coffee.

1. #SANDY: At least 40 people have now died as the United States takes stock of superstorm Sandy which battered the east coast of the country yesterday. President Barack Obama is due to visit New Jersey later today as transport services continue to be affected and millions remain without power in their homes and businesses.

2. #HOGAN: There could be more trouble for Environment Minister Phil Hogan who, according to today’s Irish Daily Mail, made queries about a second Traveller family that was to be housed in his constituency. He is reported to have inquired about whether the family had horses and dogs. It follows the furore caused by his intervention in the case of another Traveller family in his constituency last month.

3. #ERIN: Gardaí have spoken to two teenage girls in connection with their investigation into the death of 13-year-old Erin Gallagher, who was subjected to cyber bullying. The Irish Independent reports that there are concerns for the safety of a number of teenagers as a result of the Donegal’s girl’s death with comments posted online allegedly targeting those who had been bullying Erin. Her funeral takes place later today.

4. #BANKS: Representatives from Irish Bank Resolution Corporation and AIB are due to appear before an Oireachtas committee today. The executives from the two State guaranteed banks will answer questions from TDs and Senators from the Oireachtas finance committee with questions about their functioning, staffing and lending likely to come up.

5. #DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: Four out of every five women seeking help from a domestic violence centre in Dublin were turned away because the service is already full according to new figures from Sonas Housing. Launching its annual review today the organisations says that Viva House refuge centre received almost 600 enquiries from women living in abusive situations last year but they could only take in 130.

6. #PORTUGAL: Massive tax hikes and spending cuts are expected to form Portugal’s budget for next year which will be voted on in parliament today. One of the three EU countries bailed out by the IMF, Portugal has struggled to close its budget deficit with this being the third attempt to try and push a budget through. Protests against austerity are planned, AFP reports.

7. #MASS DEFAULTS: In an interview to mark the launch of his latest book economist David McWilliams tells TheJournal.ie that there will be a “another wave of massive mortgage defaults” in “four or five years time” when interest rates rise again. He says austerity is not working and has compared it to being “diagnosed with heart disease and prescribing chemotherapy”.

8. #HALLOWEEN: Extra security measures are being put in place in an attempt combat anti-social behaviour during tonight’s Halloween celebrations. As thousands of people across the country will celebrate with trick or treating, bonfires and other activities fire services are expected to experience their busiest night of the year. The justice minister Alan Shatter has said that “appropriate policing measures” are in place to prevent the sale of illegal fireworks and underage drinking.

9. #STAR WARS: The news that a new Star Wars film is to be released in 2015 has both delighted and enraged people. With the deal involving Disney buying George Lucas’ Lucasfilm company Twitter has been abuzz with talk of whether or not Mickey Mouse will turn to the dark side while The Poke noticed some interesting early additions to the forthcoming Episode VII‘s Wikipedia entry.

The TERRIFYING Dredge: When good celebs go bad. Get all your latest celebrity dirt this Halloween on the Daily Edge >