Trump vs Biden, realtor fees, and Thanksgiving pizza.

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US News, Politics, & Government

Trump has edge over Biden in key battleground states, polling indicates

New polling data from the New York Times and Siena College indicates that former President Donald Trump is leading President Joe Biden in five key battleground states: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, and Pennsylvania. However, Biden is ahead in Wisconsin. When combining data from all six states, Trump leads Biden by 48% to 44%. Biden's numbers improve slightly when considering likely voters, but Trump remains ahead in most states except Wisconsin and Michigan. Notably, a majority of voters in each state believe the nation is headed in the wrong direction. Among independent voters, Biden holds a slight edge over Trump. (More)

Phoenix finishes clearing downtown homeless encampment after finding shelter for more than 500

Phoenix successfully cleared a massive downtown homeless encampment before Saturday’s court-ordered deadline, helping over 500 people find beds in shelters and motels. The city began the process in the spring, offering street dwellers indoor sleeping options, including emergency shelters, motels, and transitional housing. City officials report that 80% of those offered assistance accepted it. They've also opened a designated city parking lot complete with restrooms and showers for safe, controlled tent pitching. Business owners and residents have reported that crime in the area has already decreased. (More)

Stanford Arab Muslim student hurt in hit-and-run, hate crime investigation underway

A hit-and-run incident at Stanford University involving an Arab Muslim student has prompted a hate crime investigation by the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office. The victim reported that the driver made eye contact, deliberately struck him, and shouted a derogatory remark before fleeing. Officials said the victim’s injuries are non-life-threatening. Stanford's President and Provost condemned the hate-based violence. Authorities are seeking information on the suspect, described as a white man in his mid-20s driving a black Toyota 4Runner. (More)

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World

Israel has detailed plan for allowing fuel into Gaza if more hospitals run out

Israel has informed the US about a contingency plan to supply fuel to southern Gaza under international monitoring in case hospitals run out. The decision comes as a response to calls from humanitarian groups, which have said for week that hospitals in the area need fuel in order to continue to operate. After a Hamas attack on October 7, Israel imposed a "complete siege" on Gaza, which led to shortages of electricity, fuel, food, and medical supplies. Israel has begun to allow aid supplies into the strip but hasn’t permitted fuel to enter because they fear Hamas will take it. Gaza’s Ministry of Health said 16 hospitals and 51 primary health care centers are "out of service due to conflict or the lack of fuel." (More)

Hamburg airport hostage standoff over, suspect arrested

A hostage standoff at Hamburg airport ended with police arresting a man and rescuing a child involved in a custody dispute. The man had driven a vehicle through the airport gates, and was suspected of carrying a gun and possibly explosives. The 35-year-old was taken into custody without resistance, and the child appeared unharmed. The airport aimed to resume operations swiftly, with 286 flights and 34,500 passengers scheduled for the day. The incident raised security concerns at the airport less than four months after climate activists got onto the runway and blocked planes. (More)

Afghan farmers lose income of more than $1 billion after the Taliban banned poppy cultivation

The Taliban's ban on poppy cultivation in Afghanistan has resulted in a loss of over $1 billion in income for farmers who relied on opium sales. The country was once the world's largest opium producers and a major source of heroin for Europe and Asia. However, opium farming has fallen by 95% after the ban, causing a major economic impact because opium exports made up 9-14% of the country's GDP. Afghans need urgent humanitarian assistance to meet their immediate needs and transition people away from opium-based livelihoods. Experts also warn that the decline in opium income may lead to an increase in illegal activities, such as arms and drug trafficking. (More)

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Business & Economy

Daily stock market update

US stock markets closed higher on Friday (S&P +0.94%, Nasdaq +1.38%, Dow +0.66%) ~ The US added less jobs than expected in October driving bond yields lower and pushing stocks higher. All three major averages had their best week of 2023. (More)

The $1.8 billion verdict that could lower home prices

A Kansas City jury has found the National Association of Realtors conspired with major national brokerages to keep home sales commissions high. Currently, US homebuyers spend around 100 billion on these brokers fees. Defendants now face $1.8 billion in damages, and could also face treble damages, which would triple the amount of the penalty. Commissions paid to agents on home sales are currently around 5%-6%, but the verdict could lead to reduced fees. Longer-term, this may lower home prices, although critics argue it could hurt buyers, particularly lower-income ones because they will have to pay their agents directly out-of-pocket. (More)

Free returns disappearing from retailers

The era of free returns in online shopping is coming to an end as retailers face mounting costs. During the pandemic, return rates surged from 10.6% in 2020 to 16.5% in 2022, costing over $800 billion. The expenses related to returns, including packaging, freight, and labor, can amount to a third of the item's price. More than 40% of retailers now charge return fees, including major brands like H&M, J. Crew, Zara, and even Amazon. Tiered returns, offering free returns to loyal customers and charging others, may become more common. (More)

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Sports & Entertainment

Pelicans' CJ McCollum suffers collapse in right lung

New Orleans Pelicans' guard CJ McCollum has been diagnosed with a small pneumothorax in his right lung. This is the second occurrence in his career, with the first incident happening in December 2021 while he was with the Portland Trail Blazers. McCollum will undergo further examination in the next 48 hours to assess the healing process. The Pelicans will miss his production as the team is already dealing with injuries to three other players. (More)

Tola sets NYC Marathon course record to win men’s race; Hellen Obiri of Kenya takes women’s title

Ethiopian Tamirat Tola set a course record, winning the men's New York City Marathon in 2:04:58, besting Geoffrey Mutai's 2011 record. Tola pulled ahead of Jemel Yimer near mile 20 and never looked back. In the women's race, Hellen Obiri of Kenya won in 2:27:23, outpacing Letesenbet Gidey of Ethiopia by 6 seconds. The women's race was closely contested until the final stretch in Central Park, with the lead shifting between Obiri, Gidey, and Sharon Lokedi. (More)

Ryan Blaney secures first career NASCAR Cup championship

Ryan Blaney secured his first NASCAR championship by passing Kyle Larson in the final laps at Phoenix Raceway. This victory marked the first time an Ohio-born driver won the Cup title, and it gave Team Penske consecutive titles, following Joey Logano's win a year earlier. Ford Performance struggled throughout the season, but Blaney's late-season surge and two playoff wins sealed the title. (More)

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Science, Health, & Tech

Tens of thousands of ancient coins have been found off Sardinia.

A diver off the coast of Sardinia discovered tens of thousands of ancient bronze coins, which date back to the first half of the fourth century. Italy's culture ministry dispatched divers from an art protection squad and the undersea archaeology department to investigate. The exact number of coins is still uncertain, with estimates ranging from 30,000 to 50,000. These well-preserved coins are considered a significant discovery and will provide insights into the region's archaeological heritage. The ministry believes that there might be a shipwreck nearby due to the coins' location on the seabed. (More)

Elon Musk's AI project is launching. He says it's the 'best that currently exists'.

Elon Musk provided a sneak peek into his artificial intelligence startup, xAI, unveiling a bot named Grok with a sarcastic sense of humor. Grok will have access to information through X, the social media platform Musk owns, and undergo limited testing before becoming available to Premium+ subscribers. This is the first look into Musk's xAI project aimed at rivaling OpenAI’s ChatGPT. Musk remains intrigued by AI's potential and its risks, emphasizing the importance of mitigating potential downsides. (More)

These are some of the strange objects that get stuck in people's bodies, according to CDC data

In 2021, a wide variety of objects found their way into people's bodies, leading to unintentional injuries and emergency room visits. Data from the US Consumer Product Safety Commission and the CDC revealed that foreign objects lodged in the body ranked as the ninth leading cause of ER visits. Notable objects included cufflinks, lollipops, magnets, and even a steak knife. (More)

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