October 30, 2024 5:18 pm
(AP_) – PepsiCo says it plans to close four U.S. bottling plants and lay off nearly 400 workers as part of its efforts to streamline its operations. The company said the closures will impact 136 workers in Cincinnati; 131 in Chicago; 127 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; and fewer than 50 in Atlanta. The Chicago plant is the only one that will fully close. Sales, delivery and warehouse functions will continue at the other three locations. Earlier this month, PepsiCo said its North American beverage sales fell 3% in the third quarter as consumers pulled back on buying its drinks and snacks.
October 30, 2024 10:14 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is reacting to a comic calling Puerto Rico a “floating island of garbage” at a Donald Trump rally by saying, “The only garbage I see floating out there is his supporters.” For some, it recalled then-Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton dismissing Trump supporters in 2016 by evoking a “basket of deplorables.” It was also a departure from Trump’s opponent, Kamala Harris, who has been careful not to insult his supporters and has worked to woo crossover Republicans. Biden later posted on social media that he was referring to the “hateful rhetoric about Puerto Rico.”
October 30, 2024 10:12 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. economy grew at a healthy 2.8% annual rate from July through September, with consumers helping drive growth despite the weight of still-high interest rates. The gross domestic product — the economy’s total output of goods and services — did slow slightly from its 3% growth rate in the April-June quarter. But the latest figures still reflect surprising durability just as Americans assess the state of the economy in the final stretch of the presidential race. Consumer spending, which accounts for about 70% of U.S. economic activity, accelerated to a 3.7% annual pace last quarter, up from 2.8% in the April-June period. Exports also contributed to the third quarter’s growth, increasing at an 8.9% rate.
October 30, 2024 4:59 am
UTIEL, Spain (AP) — Authorities say flash floods in Spain turned village streets into rivers, ruined homes, disrupted transportation and killed at least 95 people. Emergency services in Valencia said Wednesday that at least 92 people have died in the eastern region due to the floods. Another two casualties were reported in neighboring Castilla La Mancha. One death occurred in Andalusia, in the south. Floods of muddy water tumbled vehicles down streets at high speeds. Police and rescue services used helicopters to lift people from their homes and rubber boats to rescue drivers stranded atop their cars.
October 30, 2024 4:58 am
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Gaza’s Health Ministry says two Israeli strikes in the northern Gaza Strip killed at least 88 people. The ministry said a five-story building was hit in one of the strikes Tuesday, killing at least 60 people, more than half of them women and children. Israel has escalated airstrikes in northern Gaza in recent weeks, saying it is focused on rooting out Hamas militants who have regrouped after more than a year of war. The intense fighting is raising alarm about the worsening humanitarian conditions for hundreds of thousands of Palestinians. Also on Tuesday, Lebanon’s militant group Hezbollah said it has chosen Sheikh Naim Kassem as its new leader following the killing of Hassan Nasrallah in an Israeli airstrike last month.
October 30, 2024 4:58 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Kamala Harris is urging voters to reject Donald Trump’s efforts to sow division and fear, declaring, “It doesn’t have to be this way.” She stood before an overflowing crowd near the White House on Tuesday and promised Americans she would fight for them every day. One week out from Election Day, the vice president tried to drive home the contrast with Trump by delivering her closing argument from the same spot on the grassy Ellipse where the Republican former president had fomented the Capitol insurrection in 2021. Harris pledged she would work to improve people’s lives while arguing that her Republican opponent is only in it for himself.
October 30, 2024 4:50 am
(AP) – Pennsylvania is often the subject of election-related misinformation. Social media users have, for instance, falsely suggested that large numbers of migrants are illegally registering to vote in the crucial swing state, and made baseless claims about foul play involving deceased voters. While voter fraud does occur, experts say it’s rare. Noncitizen voting is already illegal in federal elections, and there’s no indication it’s happening anywhere in significant numbers. Pennsylvania also prohibits noncitizens from registering to vote. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, Pennsylvania also is among nine states with statutes that prohibit counting absentee ballots that were submitted by voters who die before Election Day.
October 30, 2024 4:45 am
FALLOWFIELD TOWNSHIP, Pa. – One person is dead and five others were hurt after a crash in Fallowfield Township Tuesday night. Emergency crews were called to the 600 block of Old 71 at 8:50 p.m., a 911 supervisor confirms. The Washington County Coroner’s Office says the person killed was a front-seat passenger in the vehicle traveling east when an oncoming vehicle traveling west crossed the center line and the vehicles collided head-on. The individual killed was not wearing a seat belt. The identity of that person has not been released pending notification of next of kin. Four people were airlifted to hospitals while one person was taken to a local hospital in an ambulance. State Police are investigating. No further details have been released.
October 30, 2024 4:43 am
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A Philadelphia judge is set to hold a hearing in the city prosecutor’s bid to shut down Elon Musk’s $1 million-a-day sweepstakes in battleground states. The giveaways come from Musk’s political organization, which aims to boost Donald Trump’s presidential campaign through Election Day. Democratic District Attorney Larry Krasner hopes to stop the America PAC sweepstakes. Judge Angelo Foglietta will hear motions Thursday on the issue in a City Hall courtroom. Lawyer Matthew Haverstick wouldn’t say late Wednesday if Musk will attend the hearing.
October 30, 2024 2:56 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A divided Pennsylvania appeals court says the envelopes voters use to send in mail ballots don’t need to have been accurately hand-dated. The Commonwealth Court’s 3-2 decision Wednesday comes after the state Supreme Court sidestepped the issue. The latest decision upholds a Philadelphia judge’s ruling that 69 mail ballots should be counted in a pair of single-candidate state House of Representatives special elections held in September. Republican groups who lost the case say they plan an appeal in the coming days. (Photo: AP)
