News Information and Media Site: Nightly Rundown: Random NYC stabbing spree; Trump confirms mass deportation plan; Deadly E. coli outbreak linked to carrots

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By Dan Donahue

Monday, November 18, 2024

Good Monday afternoon. Two people are dead after a series of "unprovoked" stabbings in New York City, President-elect Donald Trump confirmed his plan to order the military to carry out mass deportations, and a deadly E. coli outbreak has been linked to carrots.

Here is what's in our Nightly Rundown.

Man arrested after random stabbing spree in NYC leaves two dead

A suspect is in custody after three people were stabbed, two of them fatally, in apparently random attacks across Manhattan, authorities said.

The suspect, a 51-year-old man who is apparently homeless, was found covered in blood and carrying two kitchen knives, according to police.

Officials said two men were killed and a woman was critically injured in broad-daylight attacks at three separate locations over more than two hours. The attacker never said a word to his victims, officials said.

Mayor Eric Adams called the attacks "unprovoked" and said the violence has "left us searching for answers on how something like this could happen," at a news conference.

Adams said the suspect has "severe mental health issues," and was sentenced in a criminal case just a few months ago, but the mayor did not give further detail. Adams said the mental health system continues to "fail New Yorkers."

Trump to declare immigration emergency, use military for mass deportations

President-elect Donald Trump confirmed today that he will declare a national emergency and use the military to carry out mass deportations of migrants who are in the U.S. illegally.

Trump reposted a social media post from a conservative activist citing reports that he's "prepared to declare a national emergency and will use military assets to reverse the Biden invasion through a mass deportation program," and added a one-word comment: "TRUE!!!"

Trump has faced questions over how he will pay for the mass deportation of hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of people. He told NBC News shortly after the election that "there is no price tag" for the program.

Also today, some of the president-elect's picks for his new administration are facing new fallout.

On Wednesday, the House Ethics Committee plans to meet to discuss its report into former Rep. Matt Gaetz, Trump's pick for attorney general, a source familiar with the meeting has confirmed.

Trump's transition team also said he is standing by his defense secretary pick Pete Hegseth, the now-former Fox News host who was investigated for sexual assault in 2017, but not charged.

Hegseth's lawyer confirmed that he paid his accuser an undisclosed amount in a settlement and "maintains his innocence," calling it a consensual encounter.

Biden allows Ukraine to use long-range U.S. missiles to strike Russia

In a major policy change, President Joe Biden has authorized Ukraine to carry out the first long-range strikes into Russia using missiles from the United States, according to two U.S. officials.

The decision, which Kyiv has sought for months, comes just as Russia launched its largest missile and drone attack in months in northern Ukraine.

It also comes as North Korean troops are joining Moscow's forces on the battlefield in an effort to retake the Kursk border region of Russia.

The Kremlin accused the Biden administration of pouring "oil on the fire," two months before President-elect Trump takes office.

Deadly E. coli outbreak linked to carrots sold at Trader Joe's, Whole Foods

We're following another deadly E. Coli outbreak, this time linked to organic carrots sold at several supermarket chains.

The producer, Grimmway Farms, said in a news release that some of its organic whole and baby carrots sold at stores like Trader Joe's, Wegmans, Whole Foods and Target, may have been contaminated with the harmful bacteria.

So far, there have been 39 cases, 15 hospitalizations, and one death across 18 states linked to the outbreak, according to the CDC.

Grimmway Farms voluntarily recalled the carrots after the CDC found they may be associated with the outbreak.

What else we're watching:

Spirit Airlines announced it has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after struggling with losses, growing debt, and a failed merger with JetBlue.

Police are searching for a gunman after a Southwest Airlines plane was hit by a bullet on a runway in Dallas on Friday, authorities said.

The White House and Ohio's governor have condemned a neo-Nazi march through the streets of Columbus on Saturday.

More than 150 homes have been evacuated in New York as firefighters battle the Jennings Creek wildfire amid historic drought conditions.

Thanksgiving travel is forecast to break records, with almost 80 million people expected to drive or fly this year, surpassing pre-pandemic levels, the AAA predicts.

Burglars broke into the grounds Windsor Castle, the primary residence of Prince William, Princess Kate and their family, and stole two vehicles, police said. No arrests have been made.

The digital games platform Roblox has announced new parental controls and new restrictions on direct messaging for children younger than 13.

Watch us this evening at 6:30 p.m. ET / 5:30 p.m. CT on NBC, or check your local NBC station listing. After the broadcast, access Nightly News video on NBCNightlyNews.com or the NBC News app.