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Although the heaviest snow has ended, several more inches of snow are expected across large swaths of Maine and New Hampshire, according to the National Weather Service. “Low pressure in the Gulf of Maine will continue to bring accumulating snow through this evening along with gusty northeast winds,” the National Weather Service said. “Winds will also remain gusty and may result in additional downed branches and limbs due to the weight of freshly fallen snow,” the weather service added. Winter storm warnings and advisories have been extended for parts of New England through Friday morning, according to the National Weather Service. “Frost and freeze conditions will kill crops and other sensitive vegetation and possibly damage unprotected outdoor plumbing,” the weather service notes.

Persons: nor’easter, Janet Mills, “, Thursday’s, ”, Ed Warren, “ Frost Organizations: CNN, ”, National Weather Service, Westbrook School Department, Gorham School, WMUR, East, East Kingston Fire Department, Southern and, Storm Prediction, Colorado ., Storm Prediction Center Locations: Maine, New Hampshire, ” Maine, New England, Moretown , Vermont, Shapleigh , Maine, Gulf, Gulf of Maine, York County, State, Gorham, East Kingston , New Hampshire, East Kingston, East Coast, Vermont, New York, Central Plains , Ohio, Central Plains, Ohio, Missouri, Jefferson City , Columbia, Hannibal, Kansas, Arkansas, Springfield, Branson, Indiana, Kentucky, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Louisville, Southern, Central, Southern and Central High Plains, Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Colorado . Cities, Denver, Amarillo, Roswell

☆ Emails show how a right-wing group steers GOP leaders on major policy issues
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-17 | by ( Bob Ortega | Daniel Medina | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +18 min

Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft speaks with reporters on Jan. 23 in Jefferson City, Missouri. In Wyoming, a GOP state senator forwarded an FGA draft bill to Secretary of State Chuck Gray that would prohibit sending out unsolicited absentee ballot request forms. Emails show the group strategized with the secretary of state’s office for weeks leading up to Ashcroft proposing his own such rule last January. FGA notches wins with weakened child labor lawsFGA’s lobbying group, The Opportunity Solutions Project, spearheads its efforts at the state level. Chip Somodevilla/Getty ImagesFGA also continues its push at the state level across the country to enact its policy priorities.

Persons: State Jay Ashcroft, “, Ashcroft, Kacen Bayless, FGA, –, Chuck Gray, ” Gray, Gray, ”, Joe Biden’s, Jay, Daniel Garrett, Garrett, “ It’s, Missouri’s, Scott Fitzpatrick, BlackRock, ” Fitzpatrick, Mark Felix, Fitzpatrick, ALEC, Andy Puzder, Carls Jr, ” Puzder, Kristina Shelton, Puzder, ” Kristina Shelton, they’ve, Tarren Bragdon, Rebecca Burkes, It’s, Tyson, ’, Bragdon, Sarah Bryner, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Paul Renner, Donald Trump, Chip Somodevilla, Shelton, ” Shelton Organizations: CNN, State, Republican, Foundation, Government, Missouri, Kansas City Star, Tribune, Service, GOP, Ashcroft, Conservative, Missouri Chamber of Commerce, National, University of Pennsylvania, Brookings Institution, Exxon, BlackRock, ” BlackRock, Energy, ExxonMobil, Washington Post, American Legislative Exchange Council, Heritage Foundation, Heritage, Boston, Wisconsin Democratic, FGA, Solutions, Tyson Foods Inc, George’s Inc, US Department of Labor, Solutions Project, Daily, The Heritage Foundation, Alliance, Trump, Florida Governor, Bragdon, Florida House, House, FBI, Justice Department, Department of Education, Center, Pleaides Locations: Missouri, Texas, Jefferson City , Missouri, Wyoming, Kansas , Indiana, BlackRock, Florida, ExxonMobil Baytown, Baytown , Texas, Washington, ” Wisconsin, Wisconsin, Arkansas, Iowa, Park City , Utah, DeSantis, Rome , Georgia

Another threat to election officialsAt least four swatting incidents have been aimed at the homes of senior officials who oversee or work to secure elections since December. Separately, a Department of Justice taskforce launched in 2021 has reviewed more than 2,000 allegations of hostility, harassment, abuse, or threats to election officials and staffers, a department spokesperson said. Swatting was featured in a tabletop exercise for election officials in New Jersey last month, a spokesperson for the secretary of state told CNN. Such incidents have prompted The Elections Group, a consulting group led by former election officials, to begin sharing resources on swatting with election workers and incorporating the topic into trainings. A wave of election officials have departed their roles since November 2020, when false claims of a stolen election proliferated.

Persons: Jay Ashcroft, ” Ashcroft, State Jay Ashcroft, Kacen Bayless, ”, Ashcroft, Gabriel Sterling, “, we’ll, Sterling, Justin Bieber, Ashton Kutcher, swatting, ” Jennifer Doebler, Alan Winston Filion, Filion “, Filion, Jennifer Doebler, Lauren R, Shapiro, Republican Sen, Rick Scott of, Scott’s, Sen, Rick Scott swatting, “ Sir, there’s, “ It’s, Swatting, State Shenna Bellows, Bellows, Donald Trump, Trump, Ashcroft’s, Joe Biden, Tina Barton, ” Barton Organizations: CNN, Missouri’s, Republican, State, Kansas City Star, TNS, Getty, FBI, of Justice, Local, Sandy, John Jay College of Criminal, swatting, ”, Naples Police, “, Trump, Elections, Commission Locations: Jefferson City , Missouri, Missouri, Maine , Georgia, Virginia, Sterling, Britain, Sandy Springs, Kansas, Tennessee, California, Rick Scott of Florida, Naples , Florida, Naples, New Jersey, Georgia, Maine

(AP) — A divided Missouri Supreme Court upheld voting districts drawn for the state Senate on Wednesday, rejecting a legal challenge that claimed mapmakers should have placed a greater emphasis on keeping communities intact. The high court's 5-2 decision means the districts, first used in the 2022 elections, will remain in place both for this year's elections and ensuing ones. While a Republican Senate committee supported the Senate map enacted in 2022 by a panel of appeals court judges, a GOP House committee sided with Democratic-aligned voters suing for the districts to be overturned. The third prioritizes “contiguous” and “compact” districts, and the fourth requires communities to be kept whole in districts if possible under the equal population guidelines. The Supreme Court said a trial judge correctly decided that the constitution makes “compact” districts a higher priority than keeping communities intact.

Persons: Judge Kelly Broniec, Mike Parson's, Judge W, Brent Powell, Judge Paul Wilson, ” Powell, Chuck Hatfield, ” Hatfield, I’m, Pro Tem Caleb Rowden, ” Organizations: JEFFERSON CITY, Republicans, Republican, GOP, Democratic, Republican Gov, Pro Locations: Mo, Missouri, Buchanan, Louis, Hazelwood, ”

(AP) — The Missouri Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected the latest attempt by Republican state officials to block taxpayer dollars from going to Planned Parenthood, citing a failure in the state's legal appeal. The high court's decision upholds a ruling by a trial judge, who found that a 2022 funding bill violated the state constitution. The Supreme Court said Republican Attorney General Andrew Bailey's office failed to appeal the equal protection claim and it thus must stand. Missouri's Republican-led Legislature has tried for years to block any health care funding from going to Planned Parenthood because of its association with abortion. Lawmakers have been trying since then to reinstate a ban on funding for Planned Parenthood.

Persons: Andrew Bailey's, Yamelsie Rodriguez, Emily Wales Organizations: JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri Supreme, Republican, Missouri's Republican, U.S, Supreme, Lawmakers, Democratic Locations: Mo, Missouri, Louis Region, Southwest Missouri, Missouri's

Some bills would bar financial institutions from discriminating against those who refuse to participate in DEI programs. Meanwhile, Democrats have filed about two dozen bills in 11 states that would require or promote DEI initiatives. The Supreme Court’s June decision ending affirmative action at universities has created a new legal landscape around diversity programs in the workplace and civil society. Rob Standridge, who has authored four bills aiming to hollow out DEI programs in the state, said it has become a salient campaign theme. In a 2023 report, White said Mississippi’s public universities are spending millions on DEI programs instead of student scholarships.

Persons: JACKSON, Republican Oklahoma Sen, Rob Standridge, Standridge, “, Trump, ” Mike Gonzalez, Josiah Magnuson, ” Magnuson, Kevin Stitt, it’s, Sen, Marko Liias, Liias, Ron DeSantis, ”, Shad, White, Becky Currie, Currie, Spencer Cox, Cox, Robin Vos, Jonathan Butcher, ” Butcher, Fentrice, ” Driskell, Trisha Ahmed, David Lieb, Hannah Schoenbaum, Todd Richmond, ___ Michael Goldberg Organizations: Republican, Associated, Democratic, Republican Oklahoma, Heritage Foundation, Rep, Republican Gov, Oklahoma State Regents, Higher Education, ”, Washington, Utah Gov, The Heritage Foundation, Democratic House, Associated Press, America Statehouse News Initiative, America Locations: Miss, Washington, South Carolina, Oklahoma, Florida, Texas, Mississippi, Wisconsin, Minneapolis, Jefferson City , Missouri, Salt Lake City, Madison , Wisconsin

(AP) — Missouri senators on Wednesday voted against amending the state's strict law against abortions to allow exceptions in cases of rape and incest. The state banned almost all abortions after the U.S. Supreme Court in 2022 overturned Roe v. Wade. “What we’re saying is, ‘We don’t care,’” McCreery said of the state's current abortion ban. St. Louis resident Jamie Corley is leading a campaign to amend the state constitution to allow abortions for any reason up to 12 weeks into pregnancy. If Corley's amendment is enacted, abortions would also be allowed in cases of rape, incest and fatal fetal abnormalities until viability, which typically is around 24 weeks.

Persons: Roe, Wade, Sen, Tracy McCreery, ’ ” McCreery, “ We’re, ” McCreery, GOP Sen, Rick Brattin, let’s, ” Brattin, Republican Sen, Mike Moon, Louis, Jamie Corley Organizations: JEFFERSON CITY, —, U.S, Supreme, Democratic, Republican, GOP Locations: Mo, — Missouri, Missouri

(AP) — Missouri's high court entertained arguments Thursday on whether to force changes to the state's Senate districts in a case that has divided majority-party Republicans over how to apply new voter-approved redistricting criteria. The lawsuit brought by voters contends that Senate districts in suburban St. Louis and western Missouri's Buchanan County violate the state constitution by needlessly splitting cities or counties into multiple districts. The outcome of the case won't affect immediate control of the Senate, where Republicans hold a 24-10 majority over Democrats. Deputy Solicitor General Maria Lanahan told judges that various other Senate districts — though not challenged by plaintiffs — also split counties while not following political subdivision lines. "Compact, contiguous territory is the first and most powerful line of defense against political and racial gerrymanders,” Senate Republicans wrote in a brief filed by attorney Eddie Greim.

Persons: Chuck Hatfield, Hatfield, Maria Lanahan, —, ”, Eddie Greim Organizations: JEFFERSON CITY, Republicans, Republican, GOP, Democratic, Senate, Democrats, Missouri House Republican, ” Locations: Mo, St, Louis, Missouri's Buchanan, Missouri, Buchanan, Hazelwood

And Rowden penalized prominent Freedom Caucus members by stripping them of their committee chairmanships and prime Capitol parking spots. Political Cartoons View All 253 ImagesAn outgrowth of the group, the State Freedom Caucus Network, launched in 2021 in Georgia. Like in Missouri, Idaho's top Republican senator removed certain Freedom Caucus members from committee leadership posts last November and denounced their disparaging rhetoric against other senators. For a year now in South Carolina, Freedom Caucus members have been excluded from the House Republican caucus — since they refused to go along with party rules that bar them from campaigning against other Republican members. Meanwhile in Georgia, the Senate Republican caucus booted an outspoken Freedom Caucus member who tried to pressure colleagues into impeaching a Democratic prosecutor for indicting Trump.

Persons: Pro Tem Caleb Rowden, —, Donald Trump, Kevin McCarthy —, it's, “ We’re, ”, Sen, Bill Eigel, Rowden, indicting Trump, Colton Moore, Moore, Fani Willis, Trump, Andrew Roth, they’re, Roth, Katie Hobbs, Adam Morgan, ” Morgan, Micah Caskey, Caskey, ” Caskey, James Pollard, Pollard Organizations: JEFFERSON CITY, Pro, Washington , D.C, Caucus, Republican, U.S, U.S . House, State Freedom Caucus Network, Freedom Caucus, National Guard, GOP, Democratic, The, State Freedom Caucus, Democratic Arizona Gov, Department of Health Services, Republicans, South Carolina Freedom Caucus, Republican governor’s, Associated Press, America Statehouse News Initiative, America Locations: Mo, Washington ,, U.S, Georgia, Missouri, Texas, Mexico, South Carolina, The Georgia, Fulton County, Wyoming, Montana, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, Illinois, South Dakota, Republican governor’s State, Columbia , South Carolina

Missouri Republicans have been trying for years to make it harder to amend the constitution. State Sen. Bill Eigel, a member of the Freedom Caucus, said the hope is for Republican Gov. The standoff ended Tuesday morning, with Freedom Caucus members allowing a confirmation vote on several gubernatorial appointees they had been blocking. Senate leaders said the disruptions by the Freedom Caucus only delayed action on the very policies those members support. Speaking to hundreds of allies who gathered in the Capitol halls to show their support, Freedom Caucus members lauded the end of the filibuster as a win.

Persons: State Sen, Bill Eigel, Mike Parson, ” Eigel, Eigel, Sen, Mary Elizabeth Coleman's, Pro Tem Caleb Rowden, ” Rowden, Denise Lieberman, ” Organizations: JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri Senate, Republicans, Caucus, Missouri Republicans, State, Freedom Caucus, Republican Gov, Republican, Ohio Republicans, Missouri, Legislature, Pro, ”, ” Missouri Voter Protection Locations: Mo, Missouri, Ohio, ” Missouri

“This is an extremely undemocratic way to harm access to reproductive health care," said Sofia Tomov, operations coordinator with Access Reproductive Care Southeast, a member of the Mississippi Abortion Access Coalition. The proposal comes days after a Missouri abortion-rights campaign launched its ballot measure effort aiming to enshrine abortion rights into the state constitution. Missouri abortion rights groups also have criticized Republican Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, saying he is attempting to impede the initiative by manipulating the measure's ballot summary. Ohio abortion rights advocates have said last year’s statewide vote to enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution was as much about abortion as it was a referendum on democracy itself. After Ohio voters approved the abortion protections last year, Republican lawmakers pledged to block the amendment from reversing the state's restrictions.

Persons: “ They’re, Laurie Bertram Roberts, we’ve, Mississippi, Cheikh Taylor, “, ” Taylor, Fred Shanks, Roe, Wade, ”, Jason White, Sofia Tomov, State Jay Ashcroft, Ed Lewis, Sam Lee, John Rizzo, Joe Adams, Deirdre Schifeling, ‘ Will, Summer Ballentine, Emily Wagster Pettus Organizations: CHICAGO, —, U.S, Supreme, Mississippi House, Democratic Rep, Republican Party, Republican, Republicans, Mississippi, Reproductive, Coalition, State, GOP, Democratic, Ohio Republicans, Ohio, ACLU, Press, Associated Press, AP Locations: Missouri, Mississippi, Ohio, . Mississippi, ”, ” In Missouri, Nevada, Jefferson City , Missouri, Jackson , Mississippi

☆ Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley targeted in swatting incident
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-27 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

"It was determined to be a hoax ... Nikki Haley is not on the island and her son is with her." Law enforcement agencies have not publicly identified a suspect in the Haley case or in other high-profile swatting cases. Reuters has documented at least 27 swatting incidents of politicians, prosecutors, election officials and judges since November 2023, ranging from Georgia Republican state officials to hoaxes this month against Democrat Joe Biden's residence at the White House. Senator Rick Scott on Dec. 27, weeks after he endorsed Trump, according to records from the Naples Police Department. A caller identifying himself as "Jamal" also targeted Georgia Republican state senator John Albers on Dec. 26, according to an incident report from the Roswell Police Department.

Persons: Nikki Haley, Donald Trump, Trump, State Shenna Bellows, Marjorie Taylor Greene, swatting, Haley, Craig Harris, Kiawah, Harris, Joe Biden's, Jamal, Rick Scott, Scott wasn't, John Albers, State Jay Ashcroft, Ashcroft, Scott, Albers, Gabriel Sterling, Sterling Organizations: Grappone, Authorities, South, Republican, Reuters, State, Trump, Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, Georgia Republican, White, Republican U.S, Naples Police Department, Police Department, Roswell Police Department, Missouri, Jefferson City Police Department, Atlanta Locations: Concord , New Hampshire, South Carolina, U.S, Maine, Kiawah, South Carolina's, Iowa, New Hampshire, Georgia, Florida, Naples, Missouri

The Freedom Caucus is trying to force more rapid consideration of a proposed constitutional amendment that would make it harder to pass citizen-led ballot initiatives such as one backing abortion rights. Earlier this week, Senate Republican leaders stripped four Freedom Caucus members of their committee chairmanships and prime parking spots. "It’s just gotten worse and worse and worse. The internal Republican spat has prevented Senate approval of GOP Gov. Mike Parson's appointments to state departments, university governing boards and the state highways commission.

Persons: Cindy O'Laughlin, Sen, Bill Eigel, “, that’s, O'Laughlin, It’s, ”, Mike Parson's, Parson, It's, John Rizzo, Eigel, Republicans bloviating, ” Rizzo, Summer Ballentine Organizations: JEFFERSON CITY, Republican, Missouri Senate, Republicans, Caucus, Missouri Press Association, Freedom Caucus, GOP Gov, Associated Press Locations: Mo, Missouri, O'Laughlin

(AP) — Many students at a historically Black college in Missouri returned from Christmas break this week dressed in black, mourning the suicide of a beloved administrator who had alleged bullying and racism by the school's white president. Today, a white president at an HBCU is a rarity, she said. Just 30 miles (50 kilometers) from Lincoln University, anti-racism protests erupted at the University of Missouri’s Columbia campus in 2015, forcing that school’s president to resign. One Black student at the overwhelmingly white campus went on a weeklong hunger strike. Friends of Candia-Bailey said Moseley was never a good fit to lead the historically Black university.

Persons: Antoinette Bonnie Candia, John Moseley, Moseley, ”, Xoe Binford, Victor Pasley, Monica Graham, Bailey, Graham, ” Candia, ” Moseley, Marybeth Gasman, of, Eric Malone, “, wasn’t, ” Kendra Perry, ” Perry, Candia, Pasley, ” Pasley, Cierra Tillman, ” Tillman, Perry, Bonnie, ” ___ Hollingsworth Organizations: JEFFERSON CITY, Lincoln University, University, Rutgers University, Bluefield, Harvard University, U.S, Supreme, University of Missouri’s Columbia, Lincoln, ”, Associated Press Locations: Mo, Missouri, Jefferson City, Lincoln, Candia, Black, Bluefield State, West Virginia, Mission , Kansas

(AP) — A Missouri abortion-rights campaign announced Thursday that it's throwing support behind an amendment that would enshrine access to the procedure in the state constitution while allowing restrictions in later stages of pregnancy. Supporters include the ACLU of Missouri, local Planned Parenthood affiliates and Abortion Action Missouri. Political Cartoons View All 253 ImagesAnd Missourians for Constitutional Freedom has funding difficulties, ending 2023 with no money in the bank. Missourians for Constitutional Freedom's announcement comes as abortion activists nationwide are divided over whether to support constitutional amendments that allow any regulation of abortion after viability. Current Missouri law includes an exception for medical emergencies, but not in cases of rape and incest.

Persons: Freedom, “, ”, Iman Alsaden, State Jay Ashcroft, Roe, Wade Organizations: JEFFERSON CITY, —, Missouri, Constitutional, Republican, State, Freedom, American College of Obstetricians Locations: Mo, Missouri

Political Cartoons View All 253 ImagesUnder so-called linked-deposit programs, states deposit money in banks at below-market interest rates. Banks then leverage those funds to provide short-term, low-interest loans to particular borrowers, often in agriculture or small business. The programs can save thousands of dollars for borrowers by reducing their interest rates by an average 2-3 percentage points. Illinois has nearly $950 million of deposits linked to low-interest loans for farmers, businesses and individuals. In 2015, Frerichs said, the state's agricultural investment program had just two low-interest loans.

Persons: Vivek Malek, Malek, ” Malek, Banks, Michael Frerichs, Frerichs, Rafael Salaberrios, ” Salaberrios, Brian Zimmerschied, Doug Fish, Jason Bernard, ” Bernard, Mike Hopkins, “, Hopkins, Jordan Harvey, Sid Miller, hadn't, Miller, ” Organizations: JEFFERSON CITY, Federal Reserve, National Association of State, State Development, “, OakStar Bank, FCS, FCS Financial, BTC Bank, Montana Board of Investments, Republican, AP Locations: Mo, Missouri, New York, Illinois, Montana, “, National Association of State Treasurers . Illinois, Bethany , Missouri, Bethany, Iowa , Kansas, Ohio, Kansas, In Ohio, Texas

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Restrictions on medical care for transgender minors are up for debate in the South Carolina House on Wednesday, as a slew of like-minded proposals receive discussion in a Missouri legislative committee. The measures' consideration highlights the continued interest among conservative lawmakers in targeting issues impacting transgender residents after last year's wave of high-profile bills. South Carolina is one of the few Southern states without a ban on gender-affirming care for minors. At least 22 states have enacted laws restricting or banning gender-affirming medical care for transgender minors, and many of those states face lawsuits. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.

Persons: Mike DeWine’s, ___ Ballentine, Mo . Pollard Organizations: COLUMBIA, South Carolina House, Republican, Ohio Senate, American Medical Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, Associated Press, America Statehouse News Initiative, America Locations: South, Missouri, South Carolina, Jefferson City, Mo

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The liberal-controlled Wisconsin Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments Tuesday in a redistricting case that Democrats hope will result in new, more favorable legislative maps for elections in 2024 that will help them chip away at the large Republican majority. The Wisconsin Supreme Court is controlled 4-3 by liberal justices, following the April election victory by Justice Janet Protasiewicz. Democrats want the court to strike down the legislative maps, draw new ones, and order elections under those maps for all 132 state lawmakers in 2024. If the court were to rule that way, the case would certainly be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court and it's unclear whether there would be a ruling in time for the 2024 election. Those seeking new maps contend that the Supreme Court violated the separation of powers doctrine when it adopted the Republican-drawn map that Democratic Gov.

Persons: unsalvageable, Janet Protasiewicz, Robin Vos, Tony Evers, “, they’ve, Evers, Protasiewicz, David Lieb, Harm Organizations: Republican, Republicans, Democratic, Legislature, U.S, Supreme, . House, Democrats, Democratic Gov, Associated, Associated Press Locations: MADISON, Wis, Wisconsin, New York, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Wisconsin’s, Associated Press, Jefferson City , Missouri, Madison

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Only a week into the job, the North Dakota Republican Party's executive director has resigned after a media outlet publicized some of his social media posts that were demeaning toward women and dismissed concerns raised by Black people about racism. The party announced the resignation Monday of Dave Roetman, who previously worked for the South Dakota GOP. But they also included crass comments, such as replying “she seems nice” to several posts of women in revealing clothing, and responding unfavorably to a woman in a plus-sized swimsuit. She said the search committee “looked at everything,” and that the disparaging posts were "kind of buried.”Sanford said Roetman resigned after they talked about his posts following the Forum article. Roetman had succeeded Samantha Holly, who resigned in September as executive director, citing “several obstacles that have made it difficult for me to continue working here” in her resignation letter.

Persons: Dave Roetman, “, Roetman, ” Roetman, I’m, Sandi Sanford, ” Sanford, Sanford, Samantha Holly, Summer Ballentine Organizations: N.D, North Dakota Republican, South Dakota GOP, News Service, Twitter, Associated Press Locations: BISMARCK, U.S, Jefferson City , Missouri

(AP) — After being in office for over a decade, Mississippi state Sen. Dean Kirby got challenged in the Republican primary. More than four-fifths of Mississippi's legislative candidates will have no major-party opposition in the Nov. 7 general election. And more than half of this year's winners will have faced no other Republicans or Democrats in either the primary or the general election. Though Mississippi represents an extreme example, it highlights a national decline in competition for state legislative seats. The DLCC is spending a few thousand dollars this year on several legislative races in the largely uncompetitive Republican-leaning states of Mississippi and Louisiana.

Persons: JACKSON, Sen, Dean Kirby, Kirby, Jackson, “, ” Kirby, ”, Steven Rogers, ” Rogers, Rogers, Joe Biden, Abhi Rahman, ” Rahman, Barbara Blackmon, Ed Blackmon, Bradford Blackmon, Lawrence Blackmon, . Sen, Robert Jackson’s, Reginald Jackson, Andy Berry, Berry, he's, ” Berry, ___ Lieb Organizations: Republican, Democratic, Saint Louis University, The Associated Press, Ballotpedia, State Legislatures, Republicans, Democratic Legislative, ”, Three Democratic, Senate, Bradford, Mississippi Cattlemen’s Association, Mississippi Beef Council Locations: Miss, Mississippi, Though Mississippi, In Mississippi, State, Louisiana, New Jersey, Virginia, Jackson, Jefferson City , Missouri

Northrup is a subsidiary of Syngenta Seeds, which is owned by China National Chemical Company, or ChemChina, a Chinese state-owned company. Concern has been growing in many states about foreign ownership of farmland. Prior to this year, 14 states had laws prohibiting or restricting foreign ownership and investments in private farmland. Under the Arkansas law, if a company doesn’t divest of the land, the state can take action in court. The surge in state laws targeting land ownership by certain foreigners represents a “a political flashpoint” that Brown says stems from some highly publicized cases of Chinese-connected entities purchasing land near military bases in North Dakota and Texas.

Persons: Tim Griffin, Northrup King, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Northrup, ” Sanders, Griffin, Syngenta, Micah Brown, ”, Brown, David Lieb Organizations: —, Northrup King Seed, Republican, GOP Gov, Syngenta, China National Chemical Company, National Agriculture Law Center, University of Arkansas, U.S . Department of Agriculture, Associated Locations: — Arkansas, Craighead County, Arkansas, China, Iran, North Korea, Russia, North Dakota, Texas, Jefferson City , Missouri

☆ Armed with a heavyweight torpedo made to 'break ships in half,' Taiwan's first homemade submarine represents a new threat to China's navy
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

The vessel's ability to carry a powerful heavyweight torpedo capable of defeating ships and submarines — the US-made Mark 48, or Mk-48 — is a real eye-catching feature. The vessel — its English name "Narwhal" and Mandarin name "Hai Kun" — is the first sub of the island's Indigenous Defense Submarine program, a top priority in Taipei. AdvertisementAdvertisementTaiwan President Tsai Ing-wen receiving a submarine model in front of Taiwan's first locally built submarine, "Narwhal," during the vessel's unveiling ceremony at the CSBC Corporation shipbuilding company in Kaohsiung in September. US Navy/MC1 Michael B ZingaroOriginally designed in the late 1960s and deployed in the late 1980s, the Mk-48 torpedo was intended to counter advances in Soviet submarine technology. These considerations make the Mk-48 torpedo key.

Persons: —, Tom Shugart, who's, they're, Tsai Ing, Bryan Clark, Clark, Donald Trump, Michael B, It's, Shugart, MCSN Jaimar Carson, Huang Shu, kuang, they've, Philip Davidson, Michael B Zingaro, it's, Huang, wouldn't Organizations: China, Service, US, Center, New, New American Security, Indigenous Defense, CSBC Corporation, SAM, Getty, US Navy, Hudson Institute, Army, Pacific Command, Tomahawk, Maritime Locations: Taiwan, bulking, New American, Kaohsiung, Taipei, AFP, Los Angeles, Columbia, Soviet, Jefferson City, Beijing, China, Ukraine

☆ Armed with a heavyweight torpedo made to 'break ships in half,' Taiwan's first homemade submarine will represent a new threat to China's navy
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

During the coronavirus pandemic, states were prohibited from removing people from Medicaid in exchange for receiving enhanced federal funding. States have 14 months to finish their backlog of eligibility reviews, according to guidelines from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Like in most states, many of those who lost Medicaid coverage in Arkansas were removed for procedural reasons, such as not returning renewal forms needed to verify their eligibility. People removed from Medicaid can regain coverage retroactively if they provide information proving their eligibility within 90 days. Arkansas' percentage decline in children covered by Medicaid ranks among the largest in the nation, Alker said.

Persons: ”, Joan Alker, Kristi Putnam, ” Putnam, Sarah Huckabee Sanders ’, Grant Tennille, “ It’s, ” Tennille, Tippi McCullough, ” McCullough, Joe Biden's, Alker, ___ Lieb Organizations: Republican, Georgetown University Center for Children, Medicare, Services, Arkansas Department of Human, Republican Gov, Arkansas Democratic, Medicaid, District of Columbia, Arkansas Locations: Arkansas, Jefferson City , Missouri

☆ Insider Today: The fight for remote jobs
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( Dan Defrancesco | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Remote workers are doing anything but work in the afternoons. Elena Noviello/Getty ImagesThere are few topics in corporate America as polarizing as remote work. AdvertisementAdvertisementLengthy, expensive office leases might also discourage companies from embracing remote work. As Aki's story points out, that type of rationale from larger companies has created an opportunity for those willing to support remote work. A company's commitment to remote work might not be forever, even if employees view it that way.

Persons: —, Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce, we've, I'm, Chelsea Jia Feng, Insider's Aki Ito, Aki, What's, Elena Noviello, Goldman Sachs, Leonardo Munoz, Rebecca Szkutak, Dominic, Madori Davis, Snyder, Mark Reinertson, Anthropic, Lindsey Nicholson, Jacob Boomsma, Dan DeFrancesco, Naga Siu, Hallam Bullock, Lisa Ryan Organizations: Service, NFL, nab, TechCrunch, Thistle Technologies, Getty, Employees, Costco, Google, Netflix, Cintas Corp Locations: America, Amazon's, Sioux Falls , South Dakota, Jefferson City , Missouri, New York City, San Diego, London, New York

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