As Election Day nears, Vice President Kamala Harris brought out some big names, including Bruce Springsteen, to back her campaign while former President Donald Trump talked border control in two key swing states. And McDonald’s officials say they’ve identified the source of the deadly E. coli outbreak linked to its Quarter Pounders. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Friday, Oct. 25, 2024.
Springsteen rallies for Harris; Trump targets voters in southwest
With more than 30 million votes already cast, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are now just 11 days away from America deciding who will be the U.S.’ next leader.
Thursday night, Oct. 24, it was another kind of boss who called to get out the vote and showed his support for the Democratic nominee. Bruce Springsteen performed at a rally for Vice President Harris outside Atlanta.
In between songs, Springsteen addressed the crowd, describing former President Trump as a tyrant and sharing why he is supporting Harris.
“I want a president who reveres the Constitution, who does not threaten but wants to protect and guide our great democracy, who believes in the rule of law and the peaceful transfer of power, who will fight for a woman’s right to choose, and who wants to create a middle-class economy that will serve all our citizens,” Springsteen said. “There is only one candidate in this election who holds those principles dear: Kamala Harris.”
Bruce @Springsteen: Donald Trump wants to be a tyrant. He does not know what it means to be deeply American. I am urging all who believe in the American way to join me in voting for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz pic.twitter.com/HSkwKKXOmz
— Kamala HQ (@KamalaHQ) October 24, 2024
The vice president echoed those sentiments when she took the mic during the rally — which also included former President Barack Obama and Hollywood stars Samuel L. Jackson, Spike Lee and Tyler Perry.
“We have an opportunity before us to turn the page on the fear and divisiveness that have characterized our politics for a decade because of Donald Trump,” Harris said. “We have the opportunity to chart a new way and joyful way forward.”
Meanwhile, Trump spoke at two rallies Thursday; one in Arizona and another in Nevada.
On the campus of Arizona State University, Trump focused his attention on the border and the immigration crisis, putting the blame squarely on Vice President Harris.
“She has eradicated our sovereign border, and she has unleashed an army of migrant gangs who are waging a campaign of violence and terror against our citizens.” Trump said, “And my message today is very simple: Kamala’s migrant invasion, given to us through gross incompetence, disqualifies her from even thinking about being president. We can’t let that happen.”
Then, while in Las Vegas, the former president reached out to voters from all walks of life.
“Under the Trump administration, we’re going to build an economy that lifts up all Americans,” Trump said, “including African Americans, Hispanic Americans and also members of our great Asian American and Pacific Islander community, many of whom are here today.”
I was in Las Vegas this evening with a message of hope for all Americans—With your vote in this election, I WILL END INFLATION, I WILL STOP THE INVASION, and I WILL BRING BACK THE AMERICAN DREAM! Together, WE will MAGA!!! Thank you, NEVADA! pic.twitter.com/cgt8lb0lIi
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 25, 2024
Friday, Oct. 25, all eyes are on Texas. Former President Trump will speak to reporters in Austin and plans to sit down for an interview on Joe Rogan’s podcast, according to multiple outlets. Vice President Harris’ team has confirmed there were talks for her to also be a future guest on the podcast, but schedules did not align.
Friday night, Harris will hold a rally in Houston where she will reportedly be joined by music superstar Beyoncé.
Ohio abortion ban ruled unconstitutional by county judge
An Ohio judge has ruled the state’s ban on most abortions is unconstitutional. Thursday, a county judge said Ohio’s so-called “heartbeat law” violates a voter-approved amendment to the state constitution.
That amendment enshrined the right of Ohioans to make decisions about abortion, contraception, fertility treatment, miscarriage care and pregnancy.
The heartbeat law banned most abortions once a heartbeat is detected, which could be as early as six weeks — before many women even know they are pregnant. It passed in 2019 and took effect in 2022 when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.
Last year, Ohioans voted 56% in favor of a constitutional amendment effectively rendering that law null. After it passed, Ohio’s Republican attorney general requested to leave all but the abortion part of the law in place.
The AG’s office said it’s reviewing the judge’s order and will decide within 30 days whether to appeal.
DA recommends Menendez brothers be resentenced for parents’ murders
Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón announced he’s recommending the Menendez brothers be resentenced for the 1989 murders of their parents. In 1996, a judge sentenced Erik and Lyle Menendez to life in prison for the killings.
The brothers claimed they had been sexually abused by their father, but prosecutors argued inheriting the family’s money was their motive. The sexual abuse claims recently resurfaced with some Menendez relatives saying the abuse was, in fact, true.
Now, the LA County DA is recommending they be resentenced to 50 years to life, which would make them both immediately eligible for parole under California law because they were younger than 26 at the time of the murders.
"Throughout his disastrous tenure as DA, Gascón has consistently prioritized celebrity cases over the rights of crime victims, showing more interest in being in the spotlight than in upholding justice," Michele Hanisee ADDA President @GeneMaddaus Read: https://t.co/biSSkmv2Sz
— LAADDA (@LACountyADDA) October 24, 2024
“There is no excuse for murder,” Gascón said, “and I will never imply that what we’re doing here is to excuse that behavior — because even if you get abused, the right path is to call the police, seek help — but I understand also how sometimes people get desperate.”
He added, “I believe that they have paid their debt to society.”
Gascón said there was never any question the brothers murdered their parents, but to what degree they should be held accountable was in question.
DOJ reaches $100M settlement in deadly Baltimore bridge collapse
The Department of Justice has reached a settlement in connection with the deadly Baltimore bridge collapse in March. The DOJ said the two companies that owned the cargo ship, which crashed into Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, have agreed to pay more than $100 million to resolve a civil claim.
That claim alleged the disaster was caused by the companies’ cost-cutting measures and neglecting the ship’s maintenance.
Six workers, who were on the bridge patching potholes, were killed when the 213-million-pound vessel lost power and crashed into the bridge, sending it crumbling into the water. The DOJ said the settlement money will cover the costs of the months-long efforts to remove the wreckage and get the Port of Baltimore back open.
The City of Baltimore has filed its own claim against the two companies and families of three of the victims have also said they intend to sue. The FBI has also opened a criminal investigation into whether the ship’s crew failed to report an earlier issue that delayed their departure.
McDonald’s links California produce company to deadly E. coli outbreak
McDonald’s now says a California-based produce company was the source of the fresh onions linked to a recent deadly E. coli outbreak.
According to McDonald’s, Taylor Farms sent onions to one distribution facility, which led the fast-food chain to temporarily remove its Quarter Pounder from the menu in several states affected by the outbreak.
McDonald’s did not say which facility the onions were sent to, but at least 49 people in 10 states were sickened and one person has died from the outbreak. Most of the infections were reported in Colorado and Nebraska.
The outbreak led to other fast-food chains like Taco Bell, Burger King and Pizza Hut pulling onions from some of their restaurants.
Goldfish changes name to Chilean sea bass to reach adult snackers
One of the most popular brands in snack foods has undergone a major name change. Goldfish, the snack that smiles back, has temporarily changed its name to Chilean Sea Bass.
Its parent company, Campbell’s, said it’s a move to appeal to adult snackers.
Here’s the catch though: the Chilean Sea Bass limited edition crackers are not sold in stores. They’re only available online with a price of $7.38 for two bags.
The snacks are available through Oct. 30 here, but once they sell out for the day, you’ll have to wait until your next chance to reel in the deal.