Battleground states’ polling hours and how long it might take to get results
Voters will be closely watching the seven particular battleground states on election night. Those states have 93 electoral votes in play.
Georgia
In Georgia, the polls open at 7 a.m. Eastern Time and close at 7 p.m. In 2020, the first results were announced at 7:20 p.m.
However, it took 16 days for The Associated Press to declare Joe Biden the winner by about 11,700 votes.
North Carolina
In North Carolina, polls open at 6:30 a.m. and close at 7:30 p.m.
In 2020, the first results were made public at 7:42 p.m, but it was 10 days later when the AP announced that Donald Trump had won.
Pennsylvania
In Pennsylvania, polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. The first results in 2020 were announced just minutes later at 8:09 p.m.
The Associated Press proclaimed Joe Biden the winner of Pennsylvania on Saturday, Nov. 7. Later, the national news networks began declaring Biden the winner of the election and calling him the president-elect.
Michigan
In Michigan, polls open at 7 a.m. Eastern Time. Some polls close at 8 p.m., others at 9 p.m.
In 2020, the AP began releasing results in Michigan at 8:08 p.m., eight minutes after polls closed in some locations. It took an extra day for the AP to declare Biden the winner.
Wisconsin
In Wisconsin, polls open at 7 a.m. Central Time and close at 8 p.m. In 2020, the AP began announcing results seven minutes after the polls closed. It declared Biden the winner on the afternoon of Wednesday Nov. 4.
Arizona
Out west in Arizona, polls open at 6 a.m. local time and close at 7 p.m. in the state. According to PBS, Arizona doesn’t release votes until all the precincts have reported or one hour after the polls close.
In 2020, the AP reported the first results about one hour after the polls closed and declared Biden the winner early the next day.
Nevada
In Nevada, polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. local time. Back in 2020, the first results came out about two hours after the polls had closed. It took until Saturday, Nov. 7, to announce Biden as the winner.
The bottom line is, in almost all of the battleground states it took lots of time, days even, to declare a winner. With this election seemingly very tight as well, Americans might not know who won for quite some time.
Trump brings trash truck to rally as Harris distances from Biden’s comment
Former President Donald Trump donned an orange vest and took a ride on a trash truck after President Joe Biden’s recent comments. And Subway is being sued over what some customers say is not in their sandwiches. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024.
Trump brings trash truck to rally as Harris distances from Biden’s comment
With the presidential election just now five days away, the candidates are visiting as many states as possible to reach undecided voters and make sure their supporters get out to vote.
On Wednesday, Oct. 30, Republican nominee Former President Donald Trump canvassed North Carolina and Wisconsin while Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris hit those two states as well as Pennsylvania.
However, it was the words of President Joe Biden that had both campaigns reacting throughout the day. During a virtual call with Voto Latino on Tuesday, Oct. 29, President Biden said, “Just the other day, a speaker at his [Trump’s] rally called Puerto Rico a ‘floating island of garbage.’ The only garbage I see floating out there is his supporters.”
“That’s like ‘deplorable’ for Hillary. This is the ‘deplorable’ for Hillary and I think this is worse, actually. For Joe Biden to make that statement, it’s really a disgrace.,” Trump said during an impromptu press conference. “This is in honor of Kamala and Joe Biden.”
Trump then continued to wear his orange safety vest while addressing the crowd in Green Bay during a rally that featured former Packers quarterback Brett Favre.
“I have to begin by saying 250 million Americans are not garbage,” Trump said.
Earlier in the day, the White House press secretary looked to explain Biden’s comments beyond a statement released by the president. Karine Jean-Pierre said President Biden was responding to remarks made by a comedian about Puerto Rico during Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally on Sunday, Oct. 27.
“Just to clarify, he was not calling Trump supporters garbage,” Jean-Pierre said, “which is why he wanted to make sure that we put out a statement that clarified what he meant and what he was trying to say.”
She added, ”[The president] does not view Trump supporters or anybody who supports Trump as garbage. That is not what he views.”
On her way to her campaign events Wednesday, Vice President Harris was asked about where she stands on the matter.
“Listen, I think, first of all, he clarified his comments but let me be clear: I strongly disagree with any criticism of people based on who they vote for,” she told reporters. “You heard my speech last night and continuously throughout my career I believe that the work that I do is about representing all the people whether they support me or not.”
Thursday, former President Trump is set to hold a rally in New Mexico, then head to Nevada and Arizona, while Vice President Harris will hold a rally in Las Vegas with entertainer Jennifer Lopez.
As of Wednesday night, about 59 million Americans had cast their 2024 ballots, with 31 million voting early in-person and nearly 28 million returning their mail-in ballot.
Elon Musk to attend court in Philadelphia over $1M voter lottery lawsuit
Pig tests positive for H1N5 bird flu for first time in U.S.
For the first time in the U.S., a pig has tested positive for the H5N1 bird flu, according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The USDA also said it’s awaiting results for two other pigs from the same farm in Oregon, while another two tested negative.
Officials said the pig that tested positive did not show any signs of illness. They added the five pigs were tested for H5N1 out of an abundance of caution after other animals from the same farm had tested positive for the virus.
Officials said while there are no concerns about the safety of the U.S. pork supply, the positive test is concerning because pigs can get bird flu and human viruses at the same time, which might create strains of the virus that infect humans more easily.
A class-action lawsuit filed Monday, Oct. 28, claims the restaurant chain’s ads show customers getting at least three times more meat than they do. It argues the commercials lead customers to buy the food when they would not have if they’d expected to get less meat than shown.
The lawsuit specifically mentions Subway’s steak and cheese sandwiches, saying the company’s ads make it appear the sandwich “contains at least 200% more meat than the actual sandwiches that customers receive.”
Grammys moving to ABC in 2027 after 50+ years on CBS
After five decades on CBS, the Recording Academy announced Wednesday, Oct. 30, it signed a 10-year deal with Disney. The new deal also means the awards show will be streamed on Hulu and Disney+.
With this addition, ABC will now host three major television events in 2027: the Grammys, the Oscars, and the Super Bowl.
Dodgers win World Series in Game 5 comeback victory over Yankees
Trailing at one point 5-0, LA scored five runs in the fifth and then took the lead for good in the eighth defeating the New York Yankees 7-6. First baseman Freddie Freeman, who homered in each of the first four games, was named World Series MVP.
This is the second championship for Dave Roberts as a manager — he also won as a player — and the first for baseball superstar Shohei Ohtani. The Dodgers’ last championship came during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.
Harris campaign cancels ad buy in NC in final week before election
In a big development in a key swing state, the advertisement tracking company AdImpact is reporting that Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign canceled $2.7 million in ad buys in North Carolina. The surprising move comes in the final week of the presidential campaign.
North Carolina is considered by most political experts to be one of seven battleground states, with 16 electoral votes. Former President Donald Trump won the state in 2020 and 2016. However, Kamala Harris has made multiple campaign appearances in the state in hopes of flipping it.
Trump is slated to make a campaign stop in North Carolina on Wednesday, Oct. 30.
The Carolina Journal reports the race for North Carolina is still in a dead heat with the candidates tied at 47% each. However, the Journal also says Trump leads Harris from Charlotte to western North Carolina by 12 points and leads Harris by 9 points in the coastal area.
The same poll shows Harris is ahead in the Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill area by 15 points. Harris is slated to make a campaign appearance in Raleigh on Wednesday.
Presidential candidates’ path to 270 electoral votes runs through swing states
In one week, the presidential election results will come rolling in, and both the Trump and Harris campaigns will begin doing the math. They’ll determine if their nominee has won enough states to get 270 electoral college votes and become the next president-elect.
Most political experts agree the election will come down to the outcome in seven battleground states: Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Arizona and Nevada. There are a total of 93 electoral votes up for grabs in those states.
Pundits believe former President Donald Trump needs to garner 51 of those electoral votes to win. His largest lead in the polls is in Georgia and Arizona which together have 27 electoral votes.
If he nabs those two, he would need to find 24 more to win. If Trump wins Nevada and Pennsylvania, that gives him 25. He could also lock down two of North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin to win.
For Vice President Kamala Harris to win, many experts believe she needs to win 44 of the available 93 electoral votes in the battleground states. If Harris were to win the Democrat’s so-called blue wall of Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, that’s exactly 44 and she likely makes it to 270.
Harris also could lose either Michigan or Wisconsin and make up the difference by winning in North Carolina.
Either way, the one common denominator of importance for both candidates appears to be Pennsylvania and its 19 electoral votes.
Elon Musk sued by Philadelphia DA over $1M sweepstakes
Philadelphia’s district attorney sued Elon Musk over his $1 million voter sweepstakes, accusing Musk and his political action committee of running an “illegal lottery scheme.” DA Larry Krasner filed the lawsuit Monday, Oct. 28. He said the sweepstakes is a violation of state lottery and consumer protection laws.
Krasner said Pennsylvania law requires that all lotteries be conducted by the state and that Musk’s sweepstakes doesn’t meet those guidelines. The lawsuit comes after Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, D, also called for an investigation.
Musk and his pro-Trump America PAC are offering the daily $1 million prize to registered voters in swing states who sign a petition supporting the First and Second Amendments.
In addition to Pennsylvania, the swing states eligible for Musk’s sweepstakes include Arizona, Michigan, Georgia, Nevada, North Carolina and Wisconsin.
The Justice Department had already warned Musk that the giveaway may violate federal election laws. Despite that warning, Musk has continued with the sweepstakes.
North Carolina needs $53B to recover from Helene, ‘redneck air force’ steps in
New numbers revealed the cost of destruction to North Carolina after Hurricane Helene. The state needs at least a record $53 billion to recover.
That number includes damages and potential investments to prevent similar destruction in future storms.
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, D, said the state’s previous record for storm damage was $17 billion from Hurricane Florence in 2018.
Helene caused 1,400 landslides in western North Carolina and damaged or destroyed around 126,000 homes. More than 1,000 bridges and at least 6,000 miles of roads were also damaged.
Nearly 40 of the state’s 100 counties are within the federally declared disaster area.
Critics say the government didn’t act fast enough following the storm, which led to private citizens forming their own homegrown rescue and supply operation known as the “redneck air force.”
The group, created by Savage Freedoms, includes current and former soldiers, special operations pilots and helicopter tour guides.
The group is using its own aircraft to fly doctors, medicine, generators, fuel and food to isolated residents, relying on donations to fund the project.
FEMA said it has shipped over 9 million meals and more than 11 million liters of water.
Lawmakers plan to meet for a one-day session on Thursday, Oct. 24, to advance additional hurricane recovery legislation for North Carolina. They already approved a $273 million package.
Early voting is underway in many states nationwide as the 2024 campaign is now in its final two weeks. Both parties are watching the trends closely.
As of early Oct. 23, more than 18.8 million voters nationwide have already cast their ballots, according to tracker TargetEarly by TargetSmart. Voters cast votes either with early or absentee ballots, depending on their home state’s rules.
Of those early voters, 9.3 million are registered Democrats, 7.9 million are registered Republicans and about 1.5 million identify as something else. The gender breakdown is about 10 million women to 8 million men, or 53% to 45%.
Pundits on both sides are watching the numbers closely, especially in the seven battleground states where the presidential election is likely to be decided.
In swing state Nevada, registered Republicans had cast about 38% of early votes and Democrats had cast 36% as of late Monday, Oct. 21. It’s a state where Democrats have outpaced Republicans in early voting in every election dating back to 2008.
The 18.8 million votes cast nationally so far this year are lagging behind the 2020 election. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, more than 94 million Americans voted early, or by mail.
Still, early voting saw record numbers on day one in key states such as North Carolina and Georgia.
Harris, Trump look for votes in battlegrounds with 2 weeks to go
With exactly two weeks to go until Election Day, both candidates for president are blitzing the battleground states. And we’ve learned how long student loan repayments for about eight million Americans will remain on hold. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024.
Harris, Trump look for more votes in battlegrounds with 2 weeks to go
With two weeks to go until Election Day, the presidential candidates are crisscrossing the country trying to pick up any undecided voters that remain.
.@Liz_Cheney: Vice President Harris is going to defend our Constitution. We're not always gonna agree, but I know Vice President Harris will always do what she believes is right for this country. She has a sincere heart, and that's why I'm honored to support her pic.twitter.com/lcFD6MGDSF
“So, I think that we are facing a choice in this election; it’s not about party, it’s about right and wrong,” Cheney said. “And I certainly have many Republicans who will say to me, ‘I can’t be public.’ They do worry about a whole range of things including violence, but they’ll do the right thing.”
In Wisconsin, Harris described her opponent former President Donald Trump as “unstable,” referencing comments made by former Trump cabinet members.
“I think it’s very important that we acknowledge — and I have said publicly that Donald Trump is an unserious man,” Harris said, “and the consequences of him ever being President of United States again are brutally serious. Brutally serious.”
Former President Trump visited North Carolina on Monday where he surveyed the damage created by Hurricane Helene and continued his criticism of the Biden administration’s relief efforts.
“The power of nature, nothing you can do about it, but you got to get a little bit better crew and to do a better job than has been done by the White House,” Trump said. “It’s been not good. Not good. I’m here today in western North Carolina to express a simple message to the incredible people of the state: I’m with you and the American people are with you all the way. We’re going to continue to be with you. We’ll see what happens with the election. And we’re, on January 20th, you’re going to have, I think, a new crew coming in to do it properly and help you in a proper manner.”
Trump made two more stops while in North Carolina Monday, holding a rally and speaking at a faith leaders’ event.
On Tuesday, Oct. 22, former President Trump will continue campaigning in North Carolina with a rally in Greensboro, and Vice President Harris will sit down for an interview with NBC News in Washington, D.C.
Blinken in Israel to revive Gaza cease-fire talks after Sinwar death
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in Israel once again — his 11th visit to the region since war broke out between Israel and Hamas a little more than a year ago.
On my way to Israel and other stops in the Middle East for intensive discussions about the importance of ending the war in Gaza, returning the hostages to their families, and alleviating the suffering of the Palestinian people. pic.twitter.com/lIaRUo7Ea2
This visit is the first stop on a wider tour of the Middle East in which Blinken is expected to revive talks for a cease-fire in Gaza in the wake of the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.
Blinken’s weeklong trip comes as the Middle East braces for Israel’s response to an Iranian missile attack on Tel Aviv earlier this month.
Teen arrested after 2 adults, 3 children killed in shooting at Washington home
Officials with the King County Sheriff’s Office said another teenager who had been injured went to a Seattle hospital. They said that teenager and the teen in custody both live at the home where the shooting happened, but did not know the relationships between those teens and the five people killed.
“I just don’t know the relationships, so I’m going to withhold confirming any relationships, but it does appear to be that this is a family incident,” Deputy Mike Mellis told reporters Monday. “Clearly, a domestic violence incident that involves not only a young man — who’s now in significant trouble — and it involves firearms. Young men and firearms.”
Reports say he has chronic myeloid leukemia, a form of bone marrow cancer, and he’s undergoing treatment at Rikers Island prison in New York where he’s serving a 16-year sentence.
This is just the latest health issue Weinstein has faced behind bars. Last month, he had emergency heart surgery to alleviate a significant amount of fluid in his lungs and heart, and he was hospitalized in July with COVID-19 and double pneumonia.
Student loan payments pause extended for 8 million SAVE plan borrowers
Eight million Americans will be able to continue holding off paying back their student loans for at least another six months, the Department of Education confirmed on Monday.
The Education Department said save enrollees will be placed in an interest-free general forbearance for at least six months pending the outcome of legal challenges to the plan.
Cheapest World Series tickets costing at least $1,000 on secondary market
The Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees have each punched their ticket to the World Series and now if you want a ticket, you’ll need at least $1,000. According to SeatGeek, the cheapest single seat for the Game 1 in LA on Friday, Oct. 25, will cost $1,034.
For Game 2 on Saturday, Oct. 26, also at Dodger Stadium, the least expensive ticket is $1,209.
Games 3 and 4 on Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 28 and 29, head back to the East Coast, with the cheapest tickets for Yankees Stadium costing $1,385 and $1,110, respectively. A possible Game 5 is showing the same as Game 4.
And “if necessary,” Games 6 and 7 would be back in LA, with the cheapest tickets going for around $1,300 or more.
As for the good seats behind home plate at Dodger Stadium, those tickets are going for $1,500 or more.
Israel has launched a new set of attacks on Hezbollah’s financial operations in Lebanon. And we’re learning more about a catastrophic failure on a dock at what was supposed to be an evening to celebrate culture. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Monday, Oct. 21, 2024.
Israeli officials said the organization held funds used to directly finance Hezbollah’s activities.
The National News Agency in Lebanon reported at least 11 strikes in southern Beirut targeting al-Qard al-Hassan. There were no immediate reports of casualties.
⭕Overnight, the IAF conducted a series of targeted, intelligence-based strikes against dozens of facilities and sites used by the Hezbollah terrorist organization to finance its terrorist activities against the State of Israel. The strikes were conducted in the areas of Beirut,…
Meanwhile, United States Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the THAAD missile defense system the U.S. recently sent to Israel is now in place and ready for use when needed. This comes as Israel prepares its response to an Iranian missile attack earlier this month. U.S. officials are investigating the apparent leak of two top-secret documents that show American spy agencies tracking possible Israeli preparations for that attack.
Trump works at PA McDonald’s; Harris spends birthday at GA churches
With just 15 days to go until Election Day, the campaign trail involved stops over the weekend at a Pennsylvania McDonald’s and Georgia churches.
Republican nominee former President Donald Trump donned an apron Sunday, Oct. 20, joining McDonald’s workers at a location in suburban Pennsylvania near Philadelphia. Trump chose McDonald’s as a campaign stop as he questions Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris’ account of working at a McDonald’s as a summer job during her college years.
Trump was on the fry station before heading over to the drive-thru window where he ended up holding an impromptu press conference with reporters.
Later, Trump held a town hall in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where he spoke about his plans for the economy and called out Vice President Harris’ changing stances on fracking — but took time to wish her a happy birthday.
“By the way, it’s her 60th birthday, so I want to wish her a happy 60th birthday,” Trump said. “Happy birthday and many more. Happy birthday. I mean it. And I do mean it, actually.”
Trump then headed to Pittsburgh to attend the Steelers football game.
As for the vice president, Kamala Harris spent her 60th birthday visiting two churches in the Atlanta, Georgia area where she was joined by Rock and Roll Hall of Fame musician Stevie Wonder. Harris called on churchgoers to get out to vote.
Vice President Harris: Faith is a verb. It is something that manifests itself in our actions, our deeds, and our service. Our strength is not based on who we beat down. It is based on who we lift up. That's not what we see from the other side in this election pic.twitter.com/zM3yjXpJ1r
“I say as we move forward, let us look at where we are and understand the lesson of the gospel of Luke,” Harris said. “Because right now, each of us has an opportunity to make a difference. In this moment, our country is at a crossroads, and where we go from here is up to us as Americans and as people of faith. And now we ask a question, we face this question: what kind of country do we want to live in?”
On Monday, former President Trump will tour Hurricane Helene damage in North Carolina and Vice President Harris will hold a rally in Pennsylvania.
Navy confirms deaths of 2 crew members after jet crashes in Washington
U.S. Navy officials have confirmed searchers found the remains of two crew members of a jet that crashed near Mount Rainier in Washington last week. They said the crew members will not be identified until 24 hours after their families have been notified.
The jet carrying the two crew members went down during what the Navy said was a routine training flight last Tuesday, Oct. 15. The cause of the crash is still under investigation.
7 people killed in gangway collapse on Georgia barrier island
Authorities in Georgia are investigating after seven people were killed when a gangway collapsed on one of the state’s barrier islands Saturday, Oct. 19. They were among hundreds of people on Sapelo Island for a celebration of Gullah Geechee history and its unique blend of African culture and American life.
The aluminum gangway suffered structural failure as historic Sapelo Island hosted an event celebrating its Gullah Geechee history and culture. https://t.co/4CW2GRYcvH
The coroner said the victims were all in their 70s, except for one woman in her 90s. Authorities said as many as 40 people were on the gangway and about 20 people fell into the water when it collapsed shortly before 4 p.m. Saturday.
A team of engineers and construction specialists is now investigating why it failed.
Millions of Cubans in the dark amid power grid collapse
As Cuba deals with major issues with its power grid, Hurricane Oscar made landfall Sunday before being downgraded to a tropical storm. Oscar is expected to bring heavy rain and damaging storm surge to parts of the country as millions are still without access to power and attempts to restore much of the nation’s electric grid have failed.
On Sunday afternoon, the Cuban electrical union said power had been restored to neighborhoods where more than 216,000 people live in the capital city of Havana, which is home to about 2 million people. However, by Sunday night, the power grid had collapsed again — the fourth time since Friday, Oct. 18.
Some Cubans have taken to the streets to protest the ongoing blackouts, many banging pots and pans and disrupting traffic.
Officials had initially said power would be restored by Monday or Tuesday, Oct. 22, but it’s likely the latest setback will delay that timeline.
It took five games and a 67-62 overtime win over the Minnesota Lynx for the Liberty to walk away with the title. Jonquel Jones was named the Finals MVP.
The Liberty had been only the original WNBA franchise without a championship, until now.
The big win also came on the same night we found out it would be the Los Angeles Dodgers taking on the New York Yankees in the World Series to decide the best in baseball. Game 1 is set for Friday, Oct. 25.
Biden, Netanyahu react after Israel says it killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar
President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu react after Israel says it killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. And billionaires Mark Cuban and Elon Musk speak to voters in battleground states. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Friday, Oct. 18, 2024.
Israel says it killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in Gaza
Israeli forces have killed the man they say was the chief architect of the Hamas attacks on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, which started the ongoing war in Gaza. They had been trying to get Yahya Sinwar for a year, describing him as a “dead man walking” in the days after Hamas’ first attack.
However, it appears that while Israeli forces had been tipped off Sinwar was in the Rafah area, troops just happened to come across him unknowingly during battle. It was not until later they realized they had killed Israel’s most wanted man.
The IDF released drone video of what appears to be Sinwar’s final moments, showing a man with a wounded hand, who they say is Sinwar, sitting down in a destroyed building and throwing a piece of wood at the drone. They say Sinwar’s body was found with a bulletproof vest, grenades, and 40,000 Israeli shekels.
“Since the beginning of this war that Sinwar started on October 7 — we’ve said: Our war is with Hamas, not the people of Gaza. We mean it.”
IDF Spokesperson RAdm. Daniel Hagari on the elimination of Yahya Sinwar and our operational goals in Gaza: pic.twitter.com/OgkgUc5Bhi
Israeli leaders celebrated his killing as a settling of scores and said it could be a turning point in the war.
“While this is not the end of the war in Gaza, it’s the beginning of the end,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said. “To the people of Gaza, I have a simple message: this war can end tomorrow. It can end if Hamas lays down its arms and returns our hostages.”
U.S. officials are hoping with Sinwar out of the picture, a cease-fire can finally be reached between Israel and Hamas. President Joe Biden, who has already tried to broker cease-fire deals, seemed to have renewed hope when speaking to reporters Thursday, Oct. 17.
“Now’s the time to move on,” he said. “Move on, move toward a ceasefire in Gaza, make sure that we move in a direction that we’re able to make things better for the whole world. It’s time for this war to end and bring these hostages home.”
President Biden said he’s sending Secretary of State Antony Blinken to Israel to help figure out what’s next. Netanyahu has said Israel will keep fighting until all the hostages taken on Oct. 7 are free, and that it will keep control over Gaza long enough to ensure Hamas does not rearm.
While Sinwar’s death has sparked optimism the war in Gaza will soon end, it won’t be the end of fighting in the Middle East.
Just this month, Israel opened a new front against the militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon after a year of trading cross-border fire. Hezbollah had been striking Israel as a show of solidarity with Hamas.
In the wake of Sinwar’s death, Hezbollah announced a “transition to a new and escalating phase in the confrontation with Israel.”
Musk, Cuban talk election as candidates take part in charity event
As the 2024 presidential campaign inches closer to its final two weeks, the candidates each garnered the support of two billionaire representatives to spread their message to voters on Thursday.
SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who has appeared alongside Republican candidate former President Donald Trump at recent events, held a town hall at a Pennsylvania high school near Philadelphia. Musk called on Pennsylvanians to register to vote and described the importance of the battleground state to this election.
“You show what matters by your actions, not your words, and my actions are I’m here,” Musk said. “I’m in Pennsylvania, and I’m here for a very important reason, which, yeah, which is, I can’t emphasize, I can’t emphasize enough that Pennsylvania is, I think, the linchpin in this election. And this election, I think is going to decide the fate of America, and along with the fate of America, the fate of Western civilization.”
Meanwhile Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris called on NBA team owner and “Shark Tank” star Mark Cuban to reach voters during a rally at a college campus in Wisconsin. In his address to the crowd, Cuban took aim at Trump’s trade policies.
“I mean back in the 90s, in the early 2000s, he was a little bit coherent when he talked about trade policy, and he actually made a little bit of sense,” Cuban said, “but I don’t know what happened to him. The way he’s been thinking about tariffs and trade now, something’s a little bit lost. And now his trade policies, particularly with tariffs, are basically just gibberish.”
As for the candidates themselves, they both made an appearance at Thursday night’s Al Smith charity dinner in New York City, which raises millions of dollars for Catholic charities and is a traditional stop for both parties toward the end of the election cycle. However, breaking from tradition, Vice President Harris did not appear in person.
Instead, she sent in a video in which she appeared alongside former Saturday Night Live star Molly Shannon, who reprised her famous character Mary Katherine Gallagher.
“It is a very important dinner, and it’s an important tradition. And I’m so proud to be a part of,” Harris said.
In his speech, former President Trump criticized Harris for not showing up to the event in person. Harris is the first presidential candidate to do that since 1984.
“It’s been a long tradition for both Democrat and Republican candidates for President of the United States to attend this dinner,” Trump said. “You know, it is a rule; you got to go to the dinner. You got to do it. Otherwise bad things are going to happen to you from up there. You can’t do what I just saw on that screen. But my opponent feels like she does not have to be here, which is deeply disrespectful to the event and, in particular, to our great Catholic community. Very disrespectful.”
In a statement regarding her absence, the Harris campaign said the vice president was campaigning Thursday and “the campaign wants to maximize her time in battlegrounds this close to the election.”
Texas execution of man in shaken baby case halted
The Texas Supreme Court halted the execution of a man sentenced to death for the 2002 murder of his 2-year-old daughter.
A jury convicted Robert Roberson of killing the toddler in a case of “shaken baby syndrome,” which his attorneys, as well as Texas lawmakers and medical experts, now say was based on faulty and outdated scientific evidence related to the diagnosis.
The last-minute stay came just over one-hour before Roberson’s death warrant was set to expire. However, a legal battle is still ongoing, and a new execution date could be set after Roberson’s potential testimony before Texas lawmakers next week. A House committee subpoenaed him on Wednesday, Oct. 16, as it reconsiders the lawfulness of his conviction.
Liam Payne’s preliminary autopsy report released; One Direction statement
A preliminary autopsy report from the Argentinian Public Prosecutor’s Office said pop singer Liam Payne died of “multiple traumas” and “internal and external bleeding.” The 31-year-old died Wednesday after falling from a third-floor hotel balcony in Buenos Aires.
The autopsy found a total of 25 injuries on the singer’s body, suffered from the fall. The prosecutor’s office has requested additional studies to help in the investigation.
On social media, Payne’s One Direction bandmates paid tribute to their friend in a joint statement Thursday, saying, “We’re completely devastated by the news of Liam’s passing. In time, and when everyone is able to, there will be more to say. But for now, we will take some time to grieve and process the loss of our brother, who we loved dearly. The memories we shared with him will be treasured forever. For now, our thoughts are with his family, his friends, and the fans who loved him alongside us. We will miss him terribly. We love you Liam.”
Phoenix ends 21-day streak of record hot temperatures
The city of Phoenix, Arizona is getting its first feel of fall, relatively speaking, after 21 straight days of record-breaking hot temperatures.
From Sept. 24 to this past Monday, Oct. 14, the Weather Service recorded 19 new all-time highs and two days tied previous records; all temperatures well into the triple digits.
Parts of Arizona, Nevada and New Mexico have been gripped by the recent heat wave, with unseasonably warm temperatures 10 to 20 degrees higher than normal for this time of year.
A cold front is expected to move in this weekend and cool things down.
Rare copy of US Constitution sells for $9 million
You don’t have to be in a Nicholas Cage movie to get your hands on an important document from American history — but you do need millions of dollars. A rare copy of the U.S. Constitution sold at auction Thursday evening in North Carolina for $9 million.
The document was printed 237 years ago and is the only copy of its type believed to be privately owned. The copy of the Constitution was found two years ago when a property in North Carolina was being cleared out.
The property was once owned by Samuel Johnston, the state’s governor in the 1780s. The document also came with a letter from George Washington asking for the Constitution to be ratified.
