Ballot drop boxes in Vancouver, Washington, and Portland, Oregon, that were set on fire early Monday morning, were found with incendiary devices inside that were marked “Free Gaza” at both locations. In Vancouver, the blaze may have damaged hundreds of ballots before it was extinguished. Similarly, Portland authorities reported arson at a ballot drop box the same night. Investigators are connecting these attacks to a previous incident on October 8 in Vancouver, where officials removed an incendiary device marked with “Free Gaza” and “Free Palestine” from a ballot box. Although that device caused no damage, the repeated targeting and political messaging have prompted the FBI to investigate whether the markings were meant to convey a message or to distract from other possible motives.

With less than a week before Election Day, the race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump is incredibly close in Pennsylvania, a key battleground state with 19 electoral votes at stake. According to three new polls, both candidates are locked in a virtual tie as they campaign intensively in a state that played a decisive role in recent elections. A Quinnipiac University poll conducted from October 24-28 shows Trump holding a narrow one-point lead over Harris, with 47% support compared to her 46%. A CNN poll indicates an exact tie, with each candidate at 48% support among likely voters.

A high-speed car chase through Williamsburg on Tuesday nearly ended in disaster as a driver, pursued by officers from the NYPD’s 94th Precinct, sped onto the sidewalk, narrowly missing several bystanders. The pursuit began when officers attempted to pull over the suspect vehicle, but the driver refused to stop, leading police through the neighborhood at dangerous speeds. The chase took a harrowing turn on Wythe Avenue, where the driver veered onto the sidewalk at South 8th Street, coming perilously close to chassidish bochurim on the sidewalk. Thankfully, they were able to jump out of the way just in time, avoiding injury.

In an obvious sign of waning confidence, several of America’s largest and traditionally liberal-leaning newspapers have declined to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris in her presidential run, suggesting that even mainstream media is bracing for a strong showing by Republican frontrunner Donald Trump. The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, and now USA Today—the nation’s fourth-largest newspaper—have all withheld their endorsements, an unusual and telling move for outlets that have historically backed Democratic candidates. The Washington Post’s decision not to endorse Harris has led to a sharp backlash from its liberal readership, with the paper seeing a tidal wave of subscription cancellations.

With barely a week to go until the 2024 presidential election, new poll averages from Decision Desk HQ/The Hill reveal former President Donald Trump holding a narrow lead over Vice President Kamala Harris in every key battleground state. The data, which includes averages from dozens of recent polls, shows Trump gaining ground in states critical to securing an Electoral College victory. In Florida, where 26 polls were analyzed, Trump leads Harris with 51.7% to her 45.1%, a margin of 6.6 points. This represents a significant shift in Trump’s favor, with a 2.0-point increase since last month. Nevada also shows a close race, with Trump narrowly leading Harris 48.1% to 47.2% based on 43 polls.

The IDF has announced that four reservist soldiers from the 8207th Battalion, 228th Brigade (Alon), were killed during combat operations in southern Lebanon. Just last night, YWN published that 13 soldiers were killed over the second days of Sukkos. The fallen soldiers were engaged in clashes with Hezbollah forces when they sustained fatal injuries. At least 14 others were wounded. The soldiers killed in action are: – Captain (res.) Rabbi Avraham Yosef Goldberg, 43, from Jerusalem, who served as the Battalion Rabbi. – Master Sergeant (res.) Gilad Elmaliach, 30, from Jerusalem, a soldier in the 8207th Battalion. – Captain (res.) Amit Chayut, 29, from Haifa, who was a Platoon Commander. – Major (res.) Eliav Amram Abitbol, 36, from Eitan, the Company Deputy Commander.

President Isaac Herzog commends everyone involved in last night’s strikes on Iran, including members of the security establishment and the political leadership. “Our capabilities that were demonstrated and the goals that were achieved were very important for establishing the security of the State of Israel and the defense of its citizens,” Herzog states. He also expresses gratitude to the United States for its “overt and covert” cooperation.

Any agreement to release hostages will require an end to the war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, an official on Israel’s negotiation team told the families of captives, according to Channel 12. The official informed the families that Mossad Director David Barnea’s trip to Doha tomorrow, aimed at restarting mediated talks, will only yield results if the government grants him a sufficiently broad mandate, which has not yet been provided. This assessment from the negotiator comes despite Israel’s expectation that Hamas’s demands for a deal might lessen following the killing of its leader, Yahya Sinwar.

Two people were killed and seven others wounded on Friday when rockets fired by Hezbollah struck the northern Arab town of Majd al-Krum, part of a larger barrage aimed at northern Israel from Lebanon. The victims, Arjwan Manaa, 19, and Hassan Suad, 21, died from critical injuries sustained when a rocket hit near a local minimarket. Manaa was working as a cashier, while Suad was a customer shopping for produce at the time of the attack. Television footage from the scene revealed a blood-stained floor near the cash register, with bags of fruits and vegetables left on the counter. Hezbollah claimed responsibility for the assault, stating that its intended target was the nearby city of Karmiel.

The IDF Home Front Command announces it is easing restrictions in several areas in northern Israel following a recent assessment. These changes come despite last night’s strike on Iran. Under the adjustments, the Home Front Command has modified the activity scale for northern frontier communities, the Upper Galilee, the Golan Heights, and certain communities in the Haifa Bay area (Kiryat Ata, Kiryat Bialik, Kiryat Yam, and Kiryat Motzkin) from “limited activity” to “partial activity.” This update allows gatherings of up to 100 people outdoors and 350 people indoors, with schools and workplaces permitted to operate if they have quick access to adequate bomb shelters.