Here are the headlines you Need2Know for Friday, October 30, 2020:
N2K PSA: Clocks "fall" back early Sunday morning, don't forget!
THE FINAL WEEKEND
The two campaigns are fanning out across swing states in the final push before Election Day. Joe Biden will be joined by his former boss, President Obama, on the trail in Michigan this weekend, while Kamala Harris is being dispatched to Texas today, a sign that the campaign thinks it has a real chance of flipping the Lone Star State this cycle. President Trump will make a last swing through Pennsylvania after he hits Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin today. THE HILL
COVID-19: LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
The U.S. recorded more than 90,000 new cases on Thursday, a new record, as the country surpasses nine million total cases since the start of the pandemic. What began as a surge in the Upper Midwest has spread as far as New Mexico and Texas, with 41 states now seeing a rise in infections and 13 states setting new highs in hospitalizations as calls grow for a nationwide mask mandate. CNN
FRANCE TERROR
French police say a 21-year-old Tunisian national who came into the country through Italy is responsible for brutally murdering three worshippers at a cathedral in Nice. One of the victims, a 70-year-old woman, was reportedly decapitated. President Emmanuel Macron says the country is “under attack” and is urging unity and resolve. This is the second terrorist attack in France in less than two weeks. Separately, a guard was stabbed at a French consulate in Saudi Arabia. FRANCE24
ZETA AFTERMATH
More than two million homes and businesses are without power across seven states in the wake of Tropical Storm Zeta. At least six people have died, mostly from trees falling on their homes. Louisiana’s Jefferson Parish sustained “catastrophic” damage, according to the governor, and search and rescue operations are still underway there. Some Georgia counties had to delay the opening of early voting. The remnants of the storm will push out over the Northeast today, leaving the first snow of the season for some areas of NY and New England. AP
RECORD GROWTH, BUT...
The U.S. economy grew at its sharpest pace on record in the third-quarter, with GDP rising 7.4 percent in the July through September period. The data shows that consumer spending on “stuff” -- like cars, fitness gear and appliances -- is doing quite well, while consumer spending on “services” -- like hotel stays, plane tickets, and restaurants -- has plummeted. One of the problems is that the decline in “service” spending is bigger than the gain in “stuff” spending. The economy is still 3.5 percent smaller than it was pre-COVID. NY TIMES
NETFLIX HIKES PRICES
The price of a standard Netflix subscription in the U.S. is going from $13 to $14 a month effective whenever your next billing cycle renews. The premium plan is going up $2, to $18, and the basic plan will stay at $9. THE VERGE
STAR QB TESTS POS
Clemson Tigers quarterback Trevor Lawrence, a frontrunner for the Heisman Trophy, has tested positive for COVID and will miss this weekend’s game against Boston College. Lawrence has not missed a start since he took over as QB for the Tigers in 2018. Due to ACC COVID protocols, Lawrence is also at risk of missing Clemson’s showdown against Notre Dame next weekend. ESPN
SPOTTED...
...Kylie Jenner as a sexy cheetah, Katherine Schwarzenegger as an essential worker and more celebs showing off their Halloween costumes: SLIDESHOW
JOST MARRIED
Scarlett Johansson and SNL’s Colin Jost got hitched in a small ceremony in New York last weekend. The couple broke the news through Meals on Wheels America, encouraging fans to contribute to the charity in their honor. US WEEKLY
LEFTOVERS: BALLOT SELFIES
What’s even the point of voting if you can’t take a selfie with your ballot and put it on Instagram to show that you’ve done the bare minimum of your civic duty? Believe it or not, “ballot selfies” are still technically illegal in more than a dozen states, a vestige of state laws meant to stop voter coercion. It’s a fine punishable by 30 days in prison in a few states, like Illinois, though there’s no records of that ever being enforced. Still, best to be careful. Here’s where each state stands on laws against the growing social media phenomenon: SEE MAP
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