©  Greg Nash, The Hill

It’s debate season! The first Republican primary debate of the 2024 presidential cycle has arrived.

Eight candidates are preparing to go toe-to-toe on stage in Milwaukee starting at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT. (Who is in)

Frontrunner former President Trump won’t be at the Fox News-hosted event — he has his own counter-programming ready — but it’s sure to offer its share of fireworks. (How to watch)

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, the current runner-up, will appear in the middle of the stage alongside biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, who has been rapidly rising in polls. (What they all need to do)

The Hill has you covered: 

• Follow our live coverage at TheHill.com throughout the night and on social media as we track every development.
  
  
• Political reporter Rafael Bernal, national political correspondent Julia Manchester and congressional reporter Mychael Schnell will be on hand at 9 a.m. ET on Thursday to talk it all through. Tune in here.
  
  

❌ B-I-N-G-O: If you want to take tonight’s debate up a notch, try out our GOP Debate Bingo. To take part, click on the link, fill out your card as you watch the debate and email us if you get BINGO!

Welcome to Evening Report! I’m Elizabeth Crisp, catching you up from the afternoon and what’s coming tomorrow. Not on the list? Subscribe here.

• People who disobeyed road closures during the Maui fires survived the disaster, but many who heeded warnings ultimately perished in cars and homes with no way out, The Associated Press reported.
  
  

• An Oregon city wants the Supreme Court to decide if it’s OK to ticket people without housing when they are found sleeping on public property.
  
  

• President Biden will host Costa Rica’s president at the White House next week to discuss migration and other issues.

©  AP

Wagner Group chief Yevgeny Prigozhin has been listed as among the passengers on a plane that crashed in Russia, according to state media reports.

The Hill has not independently confirmed the reports. 

The crash comes just months after Prigozhin’s “March of Justice” against Moscow as Russia continues its war against Ukraine. 

President Biden told reporters he is monitoring the situation.

(The Hill)

©  Getty Images

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is telling people not to kiss their pet turtles — even though they are cute — because you are likely to get salmonella.

In an alert this week, the CDC said that 26 people in 11 states have gotten salmonella in recent weeks because of their interactions with small turtles. Nine of the 26 patients were hospitalized. 

“Don’t kiss or snuggle your turtle, and don’t eat or drink around it,” the CDC said in its alert. “This can spread salmonella germs to your mouth and make you sick.”

(The Hill)

It may be time to head out for vacation: International trips and cruises for Labor Day weekend are way up, according to AAA. (The Hill)

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) retweeted a hoax photo after Tropical Storm Hilary slammed California — and then he later said it was a joke.

The joke: It was a well-known hoax photo purportedly showing a shark swimming down a highway. It has circulated for years.

The senator tweeted saying “Holy crap” as he shared the fake photo. 

‘Oppenheimer’ fan? It’s no joke in New Mexico — Lyndon Haviland, distinguished scholar at the CUNY School of Public Health and Health Policy.  (Read here)

UFOs have been in the news and there is more attention to be paid to them — an analysis from Sheldon Jacobson, professor of computer science at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. (Read here)

It’s HERE: GOP presidential debate is tonight.
145 days until the Iowa caucuses.
327 days until the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wis.
362 days until the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
439 days until Election Day.

The House and Senate are out on the August break.

President Biden and Vice President Harris have nothing on their public schedules.

The president had a surprise trip to a shopping center called The Crossings at Tahoe Valley this morning.

There a story you think should be getting more attention? Something people should be talking about? Drop me a line: ecrisp@digital-release.digital-release.thehill.com

You’re all caught up! Stay with TheHill.com for the latest and recommend this newsletter to others: TheHill.com/Evening. See you tomorrow.