Supply Chain Issues Gobble Up Thanksgiving Turkeys; Election Day

Good morning! It’s Tuesday, Nov. 2 — Election Day in many parts of the country. One of the most closely watched contests is in Virginia, where former Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe and Republican Glenn Youngkin are in a virtual tie going into the gubernatorial election.

Here are some of the other stories we’re following:

• If you can find a turkey in your grocer’s freezer, you may want to snag it.
• The police chief in North Port, Florida, defended officers charged with keeping tabs on Brian Laundrie in the investigation into the disappearance of Gabby Petito.
• An Illinois woman convicted of killing her two daughters 30 years ago has been released on parole.

Plenty Of Turkeys, But …

U.S. turkey farmers say they have plenty of birds, but getting them to Americans’ tables this Thanksgiving is challenging with a knotted supply chain and labor shortages.

Some other traditional side dishes — for example, those made with cranberries and sweet potatoes — could also be in short supply or eat away at the holiday budget. » Thanksgiving Turkeys, Side Dishes Could Cost More — If You Can Find Them, via Across America Patch

GOP Eyes Virginia Comeback

A Republican hasn’t won statewide office in Virginia since 2009, and President Joe Biden won the state by a comfortable margin of 10 points in the 2020 presidential election.

But former Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s bid to return to the governor’s mansion is far from certain as he and Republican Glenn Youngkin, a former business executive with ties to former President Donald Trump, are in a statistical dead heat going into Tuesday’s election. » McAuliffe, Youngkin Virtually Tied In Virginia Governor’s Race, via Falls Church, Virginia, Patch

Mistakes Made In Laundrie Probe

North Port, Florida, Police Chief Todd Garrison said Monday he stands by his officers, despite mistakes made as they kept tabs on Brian Laundrie in the early days of the Gabby Petito missing person investigation.

Laundrie, a person of interest, likely took his life, authorities said Monday. » The Latest: Police Chief Defends Officers In Laundrie Probe, via Sarasota, Florida, Patch

30 Days Of Gratitude

As we continue our 30 Days Of Gratitude series, it’s your turn: Write a letter of thanks to a person or for something in your community. » Tell Someone You’re Grateful For Them, via Across America Patch

Also, if you missed the series launch, you can find it here: » Opera Singer ‘Died,’ Lives As Pianist: 30 Days Of Gratitude, via Across America Patch

Mom Who Killed Kids Paroled

Paula Sims, who was convicted more than 30 years ago of killing her two infant daughters, has been released from prison. Sims’ 13-day-old daughter died in 1986, and her remains were found in the back yard of Sims’ home in Illinois. The remains of 6-week-old daughter were found in a trash can in 1989. Sims had claimed that both girls had been kidnapped. » Paula Sims, Convicted Of Killing Daughters, Paroled, via Decatur, Illinois, Patch

Around ‘The Patch’

• Man ‘Shocked’ By Breast Cancer Diagnosis, via West Orange, New Jersey, Patch
• School Official Threatened After Field Trip To Gay Bar: Report, via Miami Patch
• Kids Attacked, Candy Stolen On Halloween: Report, via Newtown, Pennsylvania, Patch
• Photos: Key Figures In Kyle Rittenhouse Trial, via Across Wisconsin Patch

National Headlines

Go to Across America Patch every day to keep up on national and political news.

• Manchin Rebuffs Progressives, Wavers On Biden’s Domestic Package
• Biden Cites Overwhelming Obligations On U.S. Climate
• Supreme Court Takes Up Texas Abortion Law
• Pfizer Has Kids' Vaccine Packed And Ready To Go

Today In History

In one of the greatest upsets in presidential election history, Democratic President Harry S. Truman won his re-election bid on Nov. 2, 1948. His Republican challenger, New York Gov. Thomas E. Dewey, was widely expected to win, resulting in the infamous banner headline on the early edition of The Chicago Tribune claiming “DEWEY DEFEATS TRUMAN,” via History.com

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