Question
i litely covered new seeding with straw an have a pretty good stand of new grass.  it is now near end of Oct, should i remove the straw or wait until next spring?

Answer
Let the straw stay. it will decompose in place. You can rake in late spring after the grass has started to grow actively and you have mowed the lawn a couple of times. But it is not required to rake straw. You can leave it (good for the lawn).

Make sure you water regularly through late fall.