Scott Walker drops out. The Pope drops in. And things are heating up on the Southern border.
It’s Tuesday, and here are five things to know for your new day.
CAMPAIGN 2016
Out: Governors were touted as the strongest part of the GOP field this election cycle, yet for the second time in two weeks, a governor drops out of the race. Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker ended his campaign yesterday. Back in July he was the frontrunner in Iowa, but his promising start was dashed after poor debate performances discouraged donors. Walker encouraged other candidates to get out too, so that there would be clear, “conservative alternative” to current frontrunner Donald Trump.
POPE FRANCIS
In: After a couple of days in Cuba, Pope Francis heads to the U.S. today. His first stop is Washington, where he’ll go to the White House and — in a papal first — address a joint session of Congress. On Thursday, the Pope moves on to New York, where he’ll address the U.N. General Assembly, visit the 9/11 memorial and hold Mass at Madison Square Garden. He’ll end his trip this weekend in Philadelphia at the World Meeting of Families.
SALMONELLA OUTBREAK
Sentenced: A former food company executive got what’s essentially a life sentence yesterday for knowingly shipping out deadly food. Stewart Parnell got a 28-year prison sentence, the toughest penalty ever for a corporate executive in a food poisoning outbreak. This all dates back to a deadly salmonella outbreak in 2008. Tainted peanut butter paste manufactured by Parnell’s company, Peanut Corporation of America, killed nine people and sickened more than 700 others. Parnell is 61 and unless he wins an appeal, he’ll have to serve out most of his sentence.
BABY DOE
Heartbreaking: Was Boston’s Baby Doe, now identified as Bella Bond, killed because her mother’s boyfriend thought she was possessed? That’s what prosecutors alleged yesterday in the sad case during a bail hearing for the mother and boyfriend. The boyfriend — who reportedly said Bella was a “demon” and that it “was her time to die” — was held without bail. The mother’s bail was set at $1 million. Also at the hearing: Joe Amoroso, Bella’s biological father, who never met the girl in person.
BORDER CROSSINGS
Spike: There’s been a recent uptick in the number of unaccompanied minors and families crossing the U.S.-Mexico border, but authorities say it’s nothing like what they saw last year. And the increase came in August, which is unusual because the number of undocumented immigrants attempting to cross tends to drop because of the danger from hot temperatures. So why the spike now? Authorities aren’t certain, but here’s one theory: Widespread coverage of the migrant crisis in Europe coupled with U.S. plans to accept more Syrian refugees may be encouraging more immigrants to take the arduous journey north.