Researchers explore how dynamic environmental control in indoor farms could help us feed a growing population with nutritious, high-quality, locally grown fruit and vegetables. Vertical farming promises to revolutionize how we produce food in urban and extreme environments by optimizing plant growth through dynamic environmental control…
Read More
Feeding the Future: How Vertical Farming Could Transform Food Production
Heightened security measures are in place for Trump’s return to Butler
Pennsylvania Supreme Court to decide whether voters must be notified if their ballots are rejected
Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court said today it will decide whether election officials have to notify voters whose mail-in ballots are disqualified, allowing them to challenge the decision or vote provisionally on Election Day.
The court will review a lower court’s decision that said officials must notify voters of paperwork errors. The Republican National Committee and the Republican Party of Pennsylvania appealed the ruling.
Pennsylvania’s Washington County Board of Elections passed a policy before the April primary saying officials did not have to inform voters if their ballots were not counted. Voting rights groups challenged the policy before a Washington County judge who granted an injunction on the policy. An appellate court upheld the injunction.
With only one month until Election Day, the state’s high court must rule swiftly and requested petitioners to file a brief by Wednesday, Oct. 9.
Tim Walz to appear on ‘Fox News Sunday’
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is slated to appear on “Fox News Sunday” tomorrow, the show announced this afternoon.
It will be the governor’s first Sunday show appearance since he became the Democratic vice presidential nominee in August.
Vance says his criticism of Hurricane Helene response is targeted at the Biden administration
Vance told reporters after today’s Butler rally that his criticisms of the federal response to Hurricane Helene were not jabs at FEMA workers on the ground, but rather criticisms of the administration’s planning ahead of the storm.
Several Republican governors have praised the federal response to the storm.
“I actually agree with the governors that in the way that, look, the governors have said the FEMA response, the people they’ve been dealing with at the ground level of FEMA, have been responsive to their concerns. But look, there were not enough resources that were pre-stationed, especially in western North Carolina,” Vance said.
Vance also responded to a question about voters casting ballots based on candidates’ positions on abortion.
“I think that for those of us who want to protect the vulnerable, what we have to do is create more options for young people, for young families to choose life to begin with,” he said.
Vance added, “We have to understand as Republicans that we have lost a lot of people’s trust on this issue.”
Trump recalls violent images from assassination attempt
Trump throughout today’s rally recalled the July assassination attempt, sometimes using metaphors of the day’s violence to the political landscape.
“Right here in Pennsylvania, we have bled together,” he said.
He connected the assassination attempt to his pitch for the presidency, saying, “I will never quit. I will never bend. I will never break. I will never yield, not even in the face of death itself.”
Trump also ran through a brief history of Pennsylvania’s role of American politics, connecting it to the Butler shooting.
“From Gettysburg to Germantown and Philadelphia to Barren Hill, and from Brandywine to right here in Butler, this is the place where Pennsylvania patriots poured out their blood with the love of their country,” he said.
Elon Musk says Democrats are trying to take away people’s right to vote
During brief remarks at the Butler rally, Elon Musk said Democrats “want to take away your right to vote.”
“And I think this, this, this election, I think it’s the most important election of our lifetime. This is, this is no ordinary election. The other side wants to take away your freedom of speech. They want to take away your right to bear arms that they want to … they want to take away your right to vote,” he said.
Harris thanks volunteers helping with N.C. disaster relief
Harris visited North Carolina today to survey damage from Hurricane Helene. She thanked private citizens affected by the storm who volunteered their efforts to help others affected in the state.
“I have always found in my life and career that some of the people who are most generous have the least to give and give everything they can to take care of each other, and so we are saying the heroes among us, and I’m very grateful for all the folks who are doing this work on the ground,” Harris said.
The vice president helped pack donations, putting deodorants into Ziploc bags and passing them down the line. Harris spoke to a volunteer organizing the efforts, asking how her family was doing and saying “all hands [were] on deck” to help those affected.
Harris pledged that she and President Joe Biden were in it for the long haul, promising to aid recovery and rebuilding efforts for as long as necessary.
Elon Musk takes the stage
Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and owner of X, has taken the stage at the Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Musk previously backed Democratic candidates but endorsed Trump this cycle.
Trump pauses remarks as first responders tend to apparent medical incident in the crowd
Trump paused his speech and called for a doctor to attend to an apparent medical incident in the crowd. Details of the incident are unclear.
“You doing okay?” Trump said in the direction of the incident. “Take your time.”
He turned to the crowd: “We’ve got to protect our people, right?”
Moments later, the crowd began singing the national anthem. Trump then resumed his remarks.
Trump leads moment of silence at 6:11 p.m., marking the moment the shooting started at the prior Butler rally
Trump asked for his supporters to hold a moment of silence at 6:11 p.m., marking the time that the July shooting began.
The sound of a bell chimed, and an opera singer performed “Ave Maria.”
Trump says Butler rally site is now a monument to first responders
Trump called the field of the rally, the same one where he got shot in July, a “monument to the valor of our first responders” and to Corey Comperatore, the firefighter killed by a bullet while he attended the former president’s rally.
The crowd exploded into chants of “Corey! Corey! Corey!”
Trump: ‘As I was saying…’
Trump kicked off his remarks with a joke about his previous speech in Butler being abruptly cut short amid gunshots during the assassination attempt.
“As I was saying…” Trump said as the crowd applauded.
He reiterated that he loved the chart, referring to a chart depicting migration statistics which he was looking at when the gunman opened fire in July. Trump has credited his decision to turn his head to look at the chart with saving his life.
Trump takes the stage in Butler
Trump takes the stage in front of a large crowd in Butler, Pennsylvania.
The last time Trump was behind this podium, he narrowly avoided an assassination attempt. Now he takes the stage again — this time behind bulletproof glass.
Steve Witkoff recalls second apparent assassination attempt
At the Butler rally, Trump’s friend Steve Witkoff recalled being 10 feet away from the former president when the second apparent assassination attempt took place.
Witkoff, who has spoken about his experience that day in Palm Beach, Florida, before, called Trump “the toughest fighter I know” and said that Trump “chose strength.”
Vance says ‘what happened in Butler is a metaphor’ for the U.S.
During his remarks at Trump’s rally, his running mate compared the Butler community to the nation, telling attendees, “what happened right here at Butler is a metaphor for the United States of America. In this land, we may get knocked down, but we get right back up and we keep fighting, because in America, hope is never lost.”
Vance added that, “on this field at this exact spot, nearly three months ago, we thought President Trump was going to lose his life. But God still has a plan for him, just like he still has a plan for the United States of America.”
Butler County commissioners honor Corey Comperatore
Butler County commissioners Kimberly Geyer and Leslie Osche addressed the rally to honor Corey Comperatore, the volunteer fire chief who died in the shooting at Trump’s July 13th rally.
“Today, we stand like Corey with the courage of quiet resilience to defend our community and our country against forces that seek to divide us, forces that seek to turn us against one another,” Osche said in her remarks.
Trump’s return to Butler, Pennsylvania features flyover from his campaign plane
Trump’s rally in Butler is underway and featured what appeared to be his campaign plane flying over the rally.
Heightened security measures are in place for Trump’s return to Butler
Trump’s rally in Butler today seeks to “honor” Corey Comperatore and others
Ahead of Trump’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, the site of a July assassination attempt against him, a campaign official told NBC News that the tone of today’s event will be “honor.”
The rally will “honor the life of Corey [Comperatore]. Honor those who were injured. Honor the town that is moving forward. Honor those in the crowd and across the country who won’t let this terrorize them,” the campaign official added.
Comperatore, a volunteer fire chief, died while attending the July rally.
In the days after the shooting, there was much speculation about whether and how this near-death experience might change Trump. The first night of the Republican National Convention, which was just days after the assassination attempt, the former president seemed more somber and reflective as he sat in the audience, but by the time he gave his speech that later that week, he sounded more like usual campaign rallies.
As he returns to the exact location of that assassination attempt — will we see more of the same or might this feel different?
Elon Musk and family of slain rallygoer expected at Butler rally
Among those expected to attend the rally are the widow and children of Corey Comperatore, the rallygoer who was killed in the assassination attempt, and billionaire Elon Musk, the Trump campaign said.
In addition to members of the Comperatore family, others who were injured in the shooting and rallygoers who acted as first responders are also expected to attend the rally at the site where Trump “took a bullet for democracy,” the campaign said.
Trump’s son Eric Trump and his wife, RNC head Lara Trump, will also attend, as well as Trump running mate JD Vance. Other Republican politicians are expected as well, including Texas U.S. Rep. Ronny Jackson, the former White House physician who tended to Trump in the days after shooting, and Dave McCormick, who’s running for U.S. Senate in the battleground state.
Vance shares meme accusing Harris and Liz Cheney of wanting ‘nuclear war’
In a post on X Saturday morning, Vance urged people under 30 to fear Harris and former Wyoming GOP Rep. Liz Cheney, who has endorsed Harris and campaigned with her earlier this week.
“If you’re under the age of 30 it should scare the hell out of you that Liz Cheney is lining up behind Kamala Harris,” Vance tweeted, alongside a meme that alleged the “best [Cheney and Harris] can do is nuclear war” for young people who just want “a decent job and affordable rent.”
Spokespeople for Harris and Cheney did not immediately respond to request for comment.
In response to a request for comment from NBC News, William Martin, a spokesperson for Vance, blasted Harris for “hitting the campaign trail with the warmongering Cheney family.” He also blasted Walz, suggesting, “Perhaps Kamala Harris and the Cheney’s have shipped Tim Walz off to Guantanamo Bay in a bid to drop that dead weight off the Democratic ticket, but it won’t work.”
Vance’s tweet comes two days after Harris and Cheney rallied together in Ripon, Wisconsin, on Thursday, a city commonly called the birthplace of the Republican Party.
At the campaign event, Cheney told attendees that she has never voted for a Democrat but is “proudly” casting her ballot for Harris this year.
Massive increase in security for Trump’s Butler return
Trump’s rally in Butler is expected to be larger in scale than the one he held in July, with a massive increase in security for the event.
Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said in a statement that since July 13 assassination attempt, the agency has “made comprehensive changes and enhancements to our communications capabilities, resourcing, and protective operations, and Trump is “receiving heightened protection.”
His statement did not go into details, but said area residents “should expect traffic delays and an increased presence of state, local, and federal law enforcement as part of our efforts to ensure a safe and secure event.”
Officials told NBC News the law-enforcement presence at the event will be highly visible, and will include drones and additional counter sniper teams. The stage itself will be fortified and will include ballistic glass, the officials said.
Harris to survey storm damage in North Carolina today
Harris will travel to North Carolina today to survey the damage left behind by Hurricane Helene.
The vice president will receive a briefing about the ongoing recovery efforts across North Carolina, and she will share how the federal government is supporting emergency response efforts across the Southeast, Harris’ office said in a news release.
Since the hurricane made landfall in Florida on Sept. 26, more than 220 people died and hundreds more are missing as a result of the hurricane. North Carolina has had the most hurricane-related deaths out of any state, and over 200,000 customers are still without power as the state suffers lasting damage from the storm.
Harris previously received briefings at FEMA’s headquarters and visited another affected state, Georgia.
Trump holds Pennsylvania rally at same venue of first assassination attempt, joined by Musk, Vance
Tesla CEO and X owner Elon Musk speaks as Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. president Donald Trump reacts during a rally at the site of the July assassination attempt against Trump, in Butler, Pennsylvania, U.S., October 5, 2024.
Carlos Barria | Reuters
Former President Donald Trump‘s return to Butler, Pennsylvania, the site of his July 13 assassination attempt, quickly evolved from a commemoration for the tragic shooting into his standard rally format.
Within 20 minutes of his roughly 90-minute speech, Trump turned to attacking Vice President Kamala Harris and calling on allies like Tesla CEO Elon Musk to help make his case for reelection.
“Twelve weeks ago, we all took a bullet for America,” the Republican presidential nominee said at the same venue as the July shooting. “We can’t take another four years like this. We won’t have a country left.”
The Trump campaign billed the event as a way to honor Corey Comperatore, the former firefighter who was killed at the July rally, and the city of Butler, which has been catapulted into national attention since the shooting.
Comperatore’s family attended as featured guests, along with David Dutch, one of the rally attendees who was shot and injured. Ahead of Trump’s headlining remarks, several local Butler officials took the stage to recount their July 13 experiences.
But the Butler rally was not just a ceremony for remembrance.
After roughly 20 minutes of honoring Butler and the rally’s victims, Trump turned to his more standard stump speech.
“Who’s Harris? We can’t find out who she is, because if we do, our country is going to be in big trouble,” Trump said.
With roughly four weeks until the Nov. 5 election, the Butler event marked one of Trump’s last high-profile campaign opportunities to make his case for reelection — in a key swing state with 19 electoral votes no less.
Trump also used the rally to put a spotlight on several new members of his entourage.
Midway through Trump’s speech, Elon Musk came up on stage to laud the former president.
“The true test of someone’s character is how they behave under fire,” Musk said, sporting a black MAGA baseball cap, black blazer and “Occupy Mars” t-shirt.
“As you can see, I’m not just MAGA, I’m Dark MAGA,” the tech billionaire said.
“This is no ordinary election,” he continued. “President Trump must win to preserve the Constitution. He must win to preserve democracy in America.”
Trump is charged with crimes related to his alleged effort to overturn his loss to President Joe Biden in the 2020 election.
Musk publicly endorsed Trump hours after the Butler assassination attempt, but has contributed to Republican candidates and causes for years. Since then, their alliance has grown stronger as Musk helps fundraise for the Trump campaign. Trump has also said he would create a government efficiency commission to audit and cut waste throughout the entire federal government, an idea Musk suggested.
Ohio Sen. JD Vance, who was named Trump’s running mate several days after the Butler shooting, also spoke at the rally.
“What happened right here in Butler is a metaphor for the United States of America,” Vance said. “There is…no defeat we cannot turn into victory.”
Other close Trump allies also gave short introductory speeches including real estate magnate Steve Witkoff, Trump’s son Eric Trump and Republican National Committee co-chair and Trump’s daughter-in-law Lara Trump.
Tesla CEO and X owner Elon Musk speaks during a rally for Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. president Donald Trump, at the site of the July assassination attempt against Trump, in Butler, Pennsylvania, U.S., October 5, 2024.
Carlos Barria | Reuters
Trump returned to Butler in a very different presidential race compared to his last visit.
On July 13, Trump was still reveling in the disastrous performance of Biden at their June 27 debate, which spurred Democrats’ growing doubt about their candidate’s ability to win a second term.
Since then, Biden has dropped out of the race, Harris has taken the helm of the Democratic ticket and she has begun to erode Trump’s edge.
Trump first announced his plan to return to Butler in July, 13 days after the rally shooting.
Going into Saturday’s rally, the Secret Service said it beefed up its security plan after facing intense scrutiny following the July rally shooting and another assassination attempt against Trump in September.
On Friday, the Secret Service pledged that it had “made comprehensive changes and enhancements” to its communications abilities and resources.
“The former President is receiving heightened protection and we take the responsibility to ensure his safety and security very seriously,” spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said in a statement.
Read more CNBC politics coverage
Kitchener Road murder: 4 men to be charged for filming, taunting police, Singapore News
SINGAPORE – Four men, aged between 32 and 44, will be charged on Sept 25 for allegedly causing public nuisance and using abusive language against police officers. In a statement on Sept 24, the police said officers were preserving a murder scene in Sam Leong Road on Sept 22 at about 5.10am when the four
Read More
Dozens of bodies found on boat along migrant route off the coast of Senegal’s capital
At least 30 bodies have been found on a boat along a migrant route off the coast of Senegal, the country’s military has said. Many of those leaving the country are seeking to escape poverty and a lack of jobs. Most try to make their way to the Canary Islands…
Read More
$6.8bn Debt: NNPC Admission Sparks Integrity Concerns
$6.8bn Debt: NNPC Admission Sparks Integrity Concerns The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) recently shocked many Nigerians when it admitted owing petrol suppliers. The masses were not surprised that the company was in debt; rather, they found it difficult to believe that after months of denial…
Read More
Get Ready: A YouTube Premium Price Hike Incoming for Subscribers Outside the US
YouTube Premium is getting a price hike for international subscribers—with the hike determined by region. The price hikes differ per region, with some regions seeing between 30% and 50% increases in the price of YouTube Premium. YouTube has raised its prices several times since 2020. The last major YouTube Premium price hike in the United [……
Read More
Arsenal lack of striker will ‘bite them on the backside’ this season
As the dust settles on the weekend, we ask whether Man Utd expectations should be lower and Arsenal can win anything without a top-class striker. Send your views on all subjects to [email protected] Man Utd expectations should be top four I’ve thought this for a long time…
Read More
Astronauts Touch Down on Soyuz MS-25 After Journey of a Lifetime – 78 Million Miles
After 184 days orbiting Earth, NASA astronaut Tracy C. Dyson and two crewmates successfully returned, landing in Kazakhstan. The mission, involving multiple international astronauts, covered millions of miles and thousands of orbits, contributing significantly to space exploration. Notably, Cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko set a record with over 1,111 days in space across five missions…
Read More