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Tussle in Texas over how elections are run could spread to other states

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 13:13:53 GMT

Matt Vasilogambros | Stateline.org (TNS)A move by Texas Republicans to abolish the position of Harris County elections administrator and hand new oversight powers to the governor-appointed secretary of state could provide a blueprint for GOP leaders in other states who want to tilt elections in their favor, Democratic lawmakers and independent election experts say.Republican lawmakers acted last month after arguing that Harris County — a Democratic stronghold that includes Houston and is the state’s largest and one of its most diverse counties — botched last year’s midterm election. Some precincts did not provide enough paper ballots or failed to open polling places on time, though the effects are unclear. Republicans claim the mistakes disenfranchised some voters.One of the bills the Republican-controlled Texas Legislature approved would eliminate the job of county election administrator, who is appointed by a five-member commission that includes the county judge, the tax assessor,...

Suspect wanted in Oakland shooting of 4-year-old turns himself in

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 13:13:53 GMT

(KRON) -- A suspect wanted in connection to the shooting of a 4-year-old girl in Oakland last week turned himself into authorities Sunday, according to the Oakland Police Department. Lamarion Griffin, 19, was wanted in connection to the shooting which occurred on May 31, just before 9 p.m. on the 3400 block of 68th Avenue in Oakland. Man who allegedly sold meth out of tent at San Rafael homeless camp arrested The victim in the shooting was taken to the hospital and was listed as being in stable condition.Griffin was identified as a suspect in the shooting on Friday. The Oakland Police Department and CrimeStoppers of Oakland were offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to Griffin's arrest."Thanks to our community and media partners, Lamarion Griffin is no longer wanted," Oakland PD said. "Griffin turned himself in Sunday to Oakland police officers."

Thunderstorms, rain possible for Bay Area Monday into Tuesday

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 13:13:53 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- There is the potential for rain and thunderstorms in the Bay Area Monday and Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service. The possibility for showers and thunderstorms begins late Monday morning in Monterey County and will spread into the Bay Area by evening, the NWS said. Pixar cutting 75 jobs, including ‘Lightyear’ execs: Report Monday night will see a 20-45% chance of showers and 15-30% chance of thunderstorms. The possibility of rain and thunderstorms continues overnight into Tuesday morning with a 20-45% chance of showers and a 15-30% chance of thunderstorms.Shower activity and the chance of thunderstorms should diminish during the late morning hours Tuesday. Tuesday night will see just a slight chance of lingering chances for isolated showers, the NWS said. By Wednesday, drier conditions should return. Although temperatures may still be five to 15 degrees below normal for this time of year.

Coco Gauff is back in the French Open quarterfinals; she gets a rematch against Iga Swiatek

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 13:13:53 GMT

PARIS (AP) — Coco Gauff put aside a bloody knee and a poor stretch of play in the first set to reach the French Open quarterfinals for the third consecutive year with a 7-5, 6-2 victory over Anna Karolina Schmiedlova on Monday.Next for Gauff will be a rematch against No. 1 Iga Swiatek, who beat the 19-year-old American in last year’s final at Roland Garros and is 6-0 overall in their head-to-head meetings.Swiatek advanced Monday when her opponent, Lesia Tsurenko, stopped playing because of trouble breathing while trailing 5-1 in the first set.Gauff grabbed a 5-2 lead against Schmiedlova, but then things got more interesting. Gauff got broken while serving for the set at 5-2 and again at 5-4.She helped the 100th-ranked Schmiedlova — who had never been past the third round at a major tournament — with a double-fault, then dumped a forehand into the net to end a 21-stroke exchange, making it 5-all. In the next game, Gauff stumbled on the slippery clay in sun-splashed but windy Court Ph...

NIL Summit generates predictions of more dramatic changes on college landscape

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 13:13:53 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) — Only days before a contingent of Southeastern Conference coaches and administrators will ask for federal help in regulating the expanding ability of college athletes to earn money while still in school, the second annual NIL Summit delivered predictions of more dramatic changes to the landscape of college sports.The Summit was held Saturday through Monday at the College Football Hall of Fame. Speakers at the Summit say athletes’ new-found ability to earn money off their name, image and likeness has the potential to create more dramatic change in all college sports.Max L. Forer is a partner in the Miller Nash law firm based in Portland, Oregon. The firm is active in the rapidly expanding NIL world, and Forer said Sunday he doesn’t expect federal action on the matter.Instead, Forer said he expects schools to follow state statutes on NIL regulations. State rules can make it possible for student-athletes to benefit financially as soon as they sign letters of intent,...

What happens at the Capitol when an aircraft flies into DC’s no-fly zone?

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 13:13:53 GMT

The U.S. Capitol complex was put on elevated alert when a plane strayed into D.C. airspace and jets were scrambled on Sunday, the latest incident in recent years that put security protocols to the test.Soon after the Cessna made its way through the D.C. region, U.S. Capitol Police announced that they were “working closely with our federal partners to monitor an unresponsive pilot.”Alarms could be heard going off inside the Capitol at the time the incident was developing on Sunday afternoon. Congress was not in session, no evacuation was ordered and Capitol Police noted that the elevated alert was brief.Capitol Police and federal officials have been constantly updating security and communications guidelines in connection with incidents related to D.C. airspace over the years.Last year, the Capitol was evacuated after a small plane was spotted circling nearby. It turned out that it was involved in a planned U.S. Army Golden Knights parachute jump over Nationals Park. The p...

¿Cómo serán los siguientes días de Joran van der Sloot en la prisión en Lima?

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 13:13:53 GMT

(CNN Español) — Joran van der Sloot, una de las últimas personas que vio con vida a la estadounidense Natalee Holloway, estuvo 22 horas fuera de una prisión en Perú. Ese fue el tiempo que le tomó al vehículo del Instituto Nacional Penitenciario recorrer las carreteras que unen el penal de Challapalca, en Tacna, con el de Ancón I, en Lima, donde estará recluido hasta que las autoridades de EE.UU. lo trasladen a ese país.Probablemente Van der Sloot solo guardará en su mente los rostros de quienes lo escoltaban, pues la camioneta blanca que lo trasladaba, como suele ocurrir en estos casos en los que se aplican estrictas medidas de seguridad, no tenía ventanillas que le permitieran ver el exterior.Van der Sloot partió de Challapalca el viernes, alrededor de las 11 p.m., hora local, y llegó a Ancón I pasadas las 9 p.m. del sábado. Su salida y su llegada, confirmadas por las autoridades, fueron registradas en exclusiva por las cámaras de CNN en Español.Joran van der Sloot será entre...

Hundreds of journalists strike to demand leadership change at biggest US newspaper chain

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 13:13:53 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Journalists at two dozen local newspapers across the U.S. walked off the job Monday to demand an end to painful cost-cutting measures and a change of leadership at Gannett, the country’s biggest newspaper chain.The strike involves hundreds of journalists at newspapers in at least seven states, including the Arizona Republic, the Austin American-Statesman, the Bergen Record, the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle, and the Palm Beach Post, according to the NewsGuild, which represents workers at more than 50 Gannett newsrooms. Gannett has said there would be no disruption to its news coverage during the strike, which will last for two days at two of the newspapers and one day for the rest.The walkouts coincided with Gannett’s annual shareholder meeting, during which the company’s board was duly elected despite the NewsGuild-CWA union urging shareholders to withhold their votes from CEO and board chairman Mike Reed as an expression of no confidence in his leadershi...

Denver metro housing prices rising towards last year's peak

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 13:13:53 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- The Denver metro housing market's expense is nosing back up to record levels after a year of cooling off, driven in large part by a consistent lack of inventory. The Denver Metro Association of Realtors released the May 2023 report on the 11-county region of the Front Range that makes up the Denver metro area. According to the release, the metro is still struggling to put as many homes on the market as it used to. Fort Collins flooding strands hotel guests, damages cars "While new listings rose 8.87 percent month-over-month to 5,180, the market is still down 23.94 percent from last year when it had 6,810 new listings," the report reads. "For perspective, throughout the previous 10 years, inventory this time of year tends to be in the mid-7,000s, with the height in May of 2019 of 8,796."DMAR reports buyers are moving more slowly due to the tight inventory and high interest rates, and sellers are making more concessions on prices. The Denver metro has the nation's ...

These are the highest-rated campgrounds near Denver, according to Yelp

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 13:13:53 GMT

(STACKER) -- Camping is a growing leisure activity with no signs of slowing down. According to KOA's 2022 North American Camping report, close to 57 million households in the U.S. and Canada took at least one camping trip in the last year, with tent camping being the most popular way to sleep outdoors.There are many factors to consider when planning a camping trip, including the amenities. Car camping usually means driving up to your campsite, which allows campers to haul a few more amenities to the campgrounds. These sites may offer electrical outlets, public restrooms (including showers), and a grill or fire pit for cooking. RV camping and cabin rentals may also have these amenities within their unit.On the other side, backcountry or primitive camping usually involves hiking into a campsite with few to no amenities. For example, at primitive sites, campers may need equipment light enough to carry to their campgrounds. They may also need to hang toiletries to keep wildlife away and...