NPR News Now - NPR News: 11-04-2024 7AM EST

Episode Date: November 4, 2024

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Support for this podcast and the following message come from Autograph Collection Hotels, with over 300 independent hotels around the world, each exactly like nothing else. Autograph Collection is part of the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio of hotel brands. Find the unforgettable at autographcollection.com. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Corva Coleman. This weekend was the final one for campaigning before tomorrow's election. Both presidential candidates stumped in swing states.

Vice President Kamala Harris spent yesterday in Michigan. NPR's Deepa Sivaram says she addressed a crowd on the campus of Michigan State University in East Lansing. Deepa Sivaram, NPR News, Michigan State University, NPR News, Michigan State University, NPR News Harris spoke directly to students in the crowd, telling them not just to vote, but to knock on doors and send out texts during these last two days of her campaign. She also spoke directly to the issue of Israel's war in Gaza and Lebanon, an issue that's been a major focus in Michigan. This year has been difficult

given the scale of death and destruction in Gaza and given the civilian casualties and displacement in Lebanon. it is devastating. Harris said that she would do everything she can as president to end the war in Gaza while also ensuring Israel's security. Harris next heads to Pennsylvania for a slew of rallies across the state. Deepa Sivaram, NPR News, Detroit. Former President Donald Trump was in Pennsylvania over the weekend, but he is also spending time in North Carolina.

Trump won North Carolina in 2016 and by a very close margin in 2020. But the state is still in play in 2024. Yesterday, Trump told supporters in a rural part of North Carolina that it is vital that they get out and vote to help him win the White House. For the sake of your family, for the sake of your country, for your freedom, you have to get out and vote. Trump has another North Carolina rally planned for today. He'll hold two more in Pennsylvania and then a final one

in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Harris will spend the day barnstorming for votes in Pennsylvania. Republicans have filed several lawsuits trying to stop counties in Georgia from accepting hand-delivered absentee ballots. A Georgia state judge has already rejected these claims. But NPR's Stephen Fowler reports another such lawsuit is on the way. The Republican National Committee and the Georgia GOP say they're filing a federal lawsuit

that asks the court to block any mail-in ballots from being returned by hand until election day. The suit makes several false claims about the voting process, including the allegation that accepting ballots in person illegally extends the in-person early voting period. Saturday, a state judge rejected a similar lawsuit filed by the same attorney ruling that Georgia state law is clear. by the same attorney, ruling that Georgia state law is clear. Mail-in voting is different from in-person voting, and voters can hand-deliver absentee ballots to election offices until polls close at 7 p.m. Tuesday. Stephen Fowler, NPR News, Atlanta.

The FBI is warning voters of two fake election videos that are being seen online. They spread rumors about ballot fraud, and another about the husband of Vice President Harris. These videos claim to be from the FBI and include the FBI logo. The FBI emphasizes that these are faults. The agency says it's working with state and local partners to respond. This is NPR.

Animals eat overripe fruit in the wild, and fermentation gives that fruit a bit of a kick. NPR's Regina Barber reports on how our animal ancestors' behavior may have affected human evolution. Regina Barber Human interest in alcohol may have been due to the abundance of alcohol, especially ethanol, from all of the naturally fermenting fruit in the wild. A team of biologists published a review paper in the journal Trends in Ecology and Evolution this week, claiming that animals consuming ethanol through eating overripe fruit is common

in the wild and may be unavoidable. It's likely that primate ancestors had to adapt to alcohol consumption because being intoxicated would have left them too vulnerable. The paper claims it was an evolutionary advantage to have enzymes break down alcohol, which may have led to many human civilizations consuming it today. Regina Barber, NPR News. Suspected tornado struck parts of Oklahoma yesterday. At least 11 people were injured in the storms.

Dozens of homes have been damaged. About 12,000 people in central Oklahoma still don't have electricity back. Much of Oklahoma remains under a flood watch today, and an area near Oklahoma City is under a severe thunderstorm this morning. The National Hurricane Center is tracking a new tropical disturbance in the Caribbean Sea. It could turn into Tropical Storm Rafael. The storm is about 200 miles south of Jamaica, where a tropical storm warning is posted. But this could strengthen into a hurricane as it moves north toward the Cayman Islands.

Forecasters warn the storm could bring heavy rain to Florida and the southeast later this week. This is NPR.