5 Things to Know Today, Friday, Oct. 12

Crash Intersections: The intersection of Route 16 and Winthrop Street, as well as Main Street and Salem Street in Medford Square rank among the top 200 high crash sites in the state, according to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. Route 16 at Winthrop Steet ranks 120 on the DOT's recently released interactive map. Main Street at Salem Street comes in at 153.

Weather: There's a 30 percent chance of rain today with highs in the mid 50s, according to the National Weather Service. A morning frost is likely Saturday, followed by sunny skies and highs in the 50s. Temperatures could reach 70 degrees Sunday.

Brown/Warren: Vital issues core to this race for the U.S. Senate—taxes, healthcare, soaring higher education costs, abortion, insurance coverage of contraception—were the focus of last night's debate between Sen. Scott Brown and challenger Elizabeth Warren. And, of course, there were different views of which candidate accomplished the most in this penultimate debate. The final debate between them is scheduled for Oct. 30. Who do you think 'won' last night's debate?

Breast Cancer Awareness Month: There are several local stores participating in fundraisers for breast cancer awareness and research. Find them here.

October Is National Adopt a Shelter Dog Month: The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) has designated October as National Adopt a Shelter Dog Month. More than three million dogs are currently in shelters across the United States and are in need of a good home. The month-long observance encourages animal lovers across the nation to raise awareness about the positive aspects of adopting a pet from a local shelter. Medford's own Kitty Connection might have a cat-like name, but it shelters dogs, too. There's also the Animal Rescue League of Boston and Wakefield-based PAWS.