JD Vance dismisses bipartisan outrage over racist and offensive Young Republican group chat
The public release of a Young Republican group chat that included racist language, jokes about rape and flippant commentary on gas chambers has prompted bipartisan calls for those involved to be removed from or resign their positions. Vice President JD Vance, meanwhile, has criticized the backlash, labeling it "pearl clutching." Vance compared the dustup to past violent comments by a Democratic candidate In Virginia, arguing that Jay Jones' remarks concerning political violence were worse. Other Republicans, like Vermont's Gov. Phil Scott, are demanding resignations, calling the comments "unacceptable." Democrats, including California Gov. Gavin Newsom, have urged investigations, condemning the messages as discriminatory.
Firefighters rescue stranded pup from rising floodwaters in Southern California
OXNARD, Calif. (AP) — A firefighter has rescued a stranded pup from rising floodwaters in Southern California. Video captured the Ventura County firefighter climbing down a ladder to reach the dog during Tuesday's rare October storm. The pup was stuck on reeds on the edge of a flood channel northwest of Los Angeles. Officials said the 19-pound female pug or French bulldog mix was cold but otherwise unharmed. She did not have a tag or microchip. According to the Ventura County Animal Services' website, the dog is staying at the Camarillo Animal Shelter. She could be adopted as soon as Saturday if her owners are not identified.
Smucker sues Trader Joe's, saying its new PB&J sandwiches are too similar to Uncrustables
J.M. Smucker is suing Trader Joe’s, saying its new frozen peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are too similar to Smucker’s Uncrustables in their design and packaging. In the lawsuit, which was filed Monday in federal court in Ohio, Smucker said Trader Joe’s round, crustless sandwiches have the same pie-like crimp markings on their edges that Uncrustables do. Smucker also alleged that the boxes Trader Joe’s sandwiches come in are the same blue color that Smucker uses for its “Uncrustables” lettering. A message seeking comment was left Tuesday with Trader Joe's.
Hegseth's plane diverted to UK due to cracked windshield on flight from Brussels to US
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon says Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s plane made an unscheduled landing in the United Kingdom because a windshield cracked on a flight back to the U.S. from a NATO meeting and all aboard are safe. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a post on X that the plane landed “based on standard procedures." After Hegseth left Brussels, open source flight trackers spotted his plane lose altitude and begin broadcasting an emergency signal. In February, an Air Force plane carrying Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee was similarly forced to return to Washington after an issue with the cockpit windshield.
LeBron James, Chris Paul and Kyle Lowry enter season as the NBA's largest 20-year club
LeBron James, Chris Paul, and Kyle Lowry are making history as they enter their 20th NBA seasons or more. This marks the first time the league has three players in the 20-season club simultaneously. James will soon become the first to play 23 seasons. Despite their age, they continue to contribute significantly, thanks to rigorous personal training programs. Paul recently re-joined the Los Angeles Clippers, while Lowry is balancing his playing career in Philadelphia with a new analyst role at Amazon Prime. Other players say their dedication and longevity is inspiring.
Australia's highest court rejects Candace Owens' visa challenge
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Australia’s highest court has rejected U.S. conservative commentator Candace Owens’ attempt to overturn a decision barring her from visiting the country. Three judges on Wednesday unanimously upheld Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke’s refusal to grant Owens a visa on character grounds. Burke had denied the visa last year, citing Owens' potential to incite discord in the community. Owens’ lawyers argued the decision infringed on political communication freedoms, but the court disagreed. Owens had planned to tour Australia and New Zealand. Her visa denial in Australia initially led to a similar decision in New Zealand, which was later overturned.
Indonesia's Lewotobi Laki Laki volcano unleashes new burst of hot ash
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki, one of Indonesia’s most active volcanoes, is erupting for a second straight day, spewing towering columns of hot ash 6 miles high. Ash and debris blanketed villages, but no casualties were immediately reported. Indonesia’s Geology Agency said the volcano had two eruptions Wednesday after erupting three times Tuesday. One lit up the night sky with glowing lava and bolts of lightning. Officials warned residents to be vigilant about heavy rainfall that could trigger lava flows in rivers originating from the volcano. The volcano has been at the highest alert level since June and an exclusion zone was widened as eruptions became more frequent.
D’Angelo, Grammy-winning R&B singer who became an icon with ‘Untitled (How Does It Feel),’ dies
D’Angelo, the Grammy-winning R&B singer recognized by his raspy yet smooth voice and for garnering mainstream attention with the shirtless “Untitled (How Does It Feel)” music video, has died. He was 51. The singer's family says in a statement that D'Angelo died Tuesday after a long bout with cancer. His family called him a “shining star of our family and has dimmed his light for us in this life.” D’Angelo's music blended hip-hop grit, emphatic soul and gospel-rooted emotion into a sound that helped spearhead the neo-soul movement of the 1990s. Jamie Foxx was among the stars mourning his loss Tuesday.
Some airports refuse to play Noem video on shutdown impact, saying it's political
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Airports around the country are saying they won’t play a video with a message from Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in which she blames Democrats for the federal government shutdown and its impacts on operations to screen travelers. Airports in Las Vegas, Charlotte, Phoenix and Westchester County say the video goes against their airport policy because of its political content. The shutdown has halted routine operations and left airports scrambling with flight disruptions. Various government agencies, in emails to workers and on websites, have adopted language that blames Democrats for the shutdown.
