Man arrested near Trump rally: A Las Vegas man was arrested Saturday outside of a campaign rally for former President Donald Trump in Coachella, California. Authorities stopped Vem Miller, 49, at a checkpoint outside the rally just one minute before it was scheduled to begin. Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco said Miller presented fake VIP and press passes at a checkpoint, and Miller’s black SUV contained a shotgun, a loaded handgun and high-capacity magazine. The vehicle also had a homemade license plate that Bianco says could connect Miller to the anti-government “Sovereign Citizen” extremist movement. The latest >
Trump ‘not in any danger’: Trump was not yet at the rally venue when authorities stopped Miller at the checkpoint. The U.S. attorney’s office in Los Angeles said, “Trump was not in any danger,” and the investigation into the incident is ongoing. Read more >
Sheriff praises deputies: Bianco said the incident was “probably” a third assassination attempt targeting Trump. “I probably did have deputies that stopped the third assassination attempt,” he told reporters. Neither the FBI nor United States Secret Service have classified Saturday’s arrest as an assassination attempt at this time. Details >
Suspect’s social media: Social media sites that appear to be Miller’s describe him as founder of The America Happens Network and a podcast host. His Instagram account is filled with pro-Trump and anti “woke” posts. Someone who identified as a friend of Miller’s posted that she believes Miller’s arrest is “100% some kind of set-up in retribution” for a recent video Miller produced alleging a “Deep State” cover-up involving the government. What to know >
Attempts on Trump’s life: The arrest comes as multiple attempts of violence against the former president have taken place during the election cycle. On July 13, Trump was grazed in the ear by a bullet coming from the gun of 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks. Crooks was shot and killed by a member of the Secret Service. Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, is currently being prosecuted on gun charges after he hid out Sept. 15 near a Florida golf course in an alleged attempt to have a clean shot at the former president. Read more >
Hurricane aftermath: Recovery efforts are continuing in Florida after communities were hit by hurricanes Helene and Milton. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said debris removal could take up to a year to complete. DeSantis said President Joe Biden, who surveyed damage Sunday, approved 100% federal reimbursement for debris cleanup efforts for 90 days. In the meantime, many residents are unable to return to their damaged homes and are making other arrangements. Despite the concerns Helene and Milton won’t be the last storms, some community members are coming together to tackle recovery efforts. Read more >
Israel: The U.S. plans to send a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense battery to Israel, along with troops to operate it, the Pentagon announced. Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, Pentagon spokesman, said the system will help bolster Israel’s air defense after Iran’s ballistic missile attacks on Israel in April and October. The move comes as Iran warned Washington to keep U.S. military forces out of Israel. Read the latest >
Debt: The U.S. currently carries nearly $35.7 trillion in federal debt, which is only expected to grow regardless of whether former President Donald Trump or Vice President Kamala Harris is elected next month, political analysts believe. A recent analysis found that the national debt could increase by $3.5 trillion over the next 10 years should Harris be elected or $7.5 trillion under Trump. Details >
TikTok Beyoncé meme: Several celebrities have recognized Beyoncé during their speeches at various awards shows, and now, TikTok users are thanking the superstar in a now-viral meme in which they give credit to her for their good fortune. Dozens of users have added “Thank you Beyoncé” to their bios. The memes come after Sean “Diddy” Combs was arrested on charges of sex trafficking, racketeering and more. Beyoncé and Jay-Z have been known to interact with the rapper and were once friends. Read more >
Trick-or-treat: Parents may be seeing less chocolate in their child’s trick-or-treat pails this Halloween. While Halloween remains America’s top holiday in terms of candy sales, fewer shoppers are choosing to buy chocolate since prices on the treat have spiked more than 40% since 2020, according to reports. Details >
Spooky season, spooky prices: Americans are expected to spend around $3.5 billion on candy for Halloween this year. Some bags of chocolate Halloween candy are retailing for as much as almost $20 at stores like Target. While non-chocolate offerings are also costing more, some retailers and shoppers are leaning toward more gummies and licorice. Read more >
The murder trial of a tech consultant in the stabbing death of Cash App founder Bob Lee is expected to begin Monday.
NEWS ACROSS AMERICA
Three people are in custody after a group of juveniles allegedly took over a section of an Arkansas hospital. Read more >
A new Sam’s Club is set to open in Texas, but according to CEO Chris Nicholas, there won’t be any checkout lanes. What we know >
At least one person was killed and nine others were injured in a shooting reported near Tennessee State University during its homecoming celebration. The latest >
A man with a sword in Wisconsin prompted an hourslong standoff with police over the weekend. Details >
The wife of a pilot who suffered a medical emergency managed to safely land a plane in California, authorities said. Read more >
A judge rejected a former U.S. Army soldier from Ohio’s sentencing request for trying to help the Islamic State group kill American troops, giving him 14 years behind bars. Latest from court >