Election, Fake News, Trump, Voting, Harris, ‘SNL,’ Climate Change, Hurricane, Apples, Quincy Jones, Taylor Swift, Football: Daily Briefing

With Election Day tomorrow, local officials are scrambling to combat vote counting problems. More Americans are leaving their homes permanently because of the risk of a climate change disaster. The apples you eat can be more than a year old.

I am Nicole Fallert, Daily Briefing author. RIP Peanut the Squirrel.

2024 election problems include fake videos and damaged ballots

Misinformation campaigns, problems with ballot processing and other issues are confronting Americans who vote with just one day left until Election Day.

But there’s no need to stress: Election officials have been preparing for these issues for months and say they trust existing safeguards for safe and fair elections.

A Pennsylvania court ordered the Erie County Board of Elections to provide new absentee ballots to the nearly 20,000 voters who did not receive them and to remain open for longer office hours until Election Day.
The mail moves slowly. Election officials and lawmakers are worried that U.S. Postal Service delays could prevent thousands of ballots from being counted this year in what could be an extremely close presidential contest.
The false claims were linked to Russia. US intelligence officials say several fake videos depicting voter fraud have been linked to a Russian disinformation campaign as Russia works to help Donald Trump defeat Vice President Kamala Harris in the election.

Don’t be fooled on Election Day: Here are 6 false voting claims to watch out for and REGISTER for USA TODAY’s Fact Check newsletter.

The number of climate refugees in the US is growing

“Will Florida be completely unlivable/destroyed in the next few years?” a Reddit user recently asked, following the devastation of Hurricanes Helene and Milton. As the threat has multiplied, new data suggests it’s safe to assume many parts of Florida have reached a “tipping point.” This is the point where moving up a few blocks isn’t enough and so many residents leave the area for good. This is where Americans are fleeing their homes in droves because of climate change.

More news to find out now

what’s the weather like today Check your local forecast here.

Got a full basket ready and waiting? You are not alone

Young adults are spending less on dining, memberships and entertainment because of “economic uncertainty,” understood to be related to the election, according to a survey exclusive to USA TODAY. Nearly a quarter of millennials (ages 28-44) and Gen Zers (18-27) surveyed also said they were putting off major purchases like homes and cars until after the election. Much of the spending pullback is likely related to fears that the presidential candidate they’re opposing could stoke inflation, experts say, and affect how people spend — or don’t spend — their cash on hand. Read more

Your fresh apples could be a year old

The apps on your counter could have been picked in 2023. As a quintessential American fruit captures our imaginations this fall with apple picking, apple cider donuts and apple pie, it also reveals major changes in the industry. Today, apples are picked, cleaned, and then placed for long periods of time in nitrogen-filled, controlled-atmosphere storage rooms where oxygen levels are typically 1% to 3%. These storage rooms typically hold 1,500 to 3,000 apple bins, each storing nearly 900 kilograms of fruit that could be sold over a year later. Read more surprising facts about the apples you eat.

Today’s speakers

Quincy Jones changed American music

Best known as the architect of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” and the man who made the stars collide for 1985’s “We Are the World,” Quincy Jones had a long career as a songwriter and trumpet player who broke racial boundaries in music and film. As an arranger and producer, his legacy intersected with that of Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington and Lesley Gore. Jones died on Sunday at the age of 91. Read more about his life.

Picture of the day: Rushing the field

A euphoric crowd of Gamecocks fans celebrated the 44-20 upset of the University of South Carolina beat Texas A&M on Saturday at Williams-Brice Stadium by rushing down the field.

Nicole Fallert is a newsletter writer at USA TODAY, sign up for email here. Want to send Nicole a note? Shoot him an email at [email protected].