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☆ Another man who threatened then-Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs sentenced to prison
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-25 | by ( Holmes Lybrand | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —A man who made threats against then-Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs in 2022 was sentenced to two and a half years in prison on Monday, Justice Department officials announced during a news conference on threats to state election workers. The announcement comes less than two weeks after a separate individual was sentenced to three and a half years for making a bomb threat against Hobbs in 2021. Hobbs, a Democrat, is now governor of Arizona. “The right to vote, which is the cornerstone of our democracy, relies on the ability of election workers and election officials to perform their duties without fearing for their lives. The Justice Department will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute those who threaten these public servants.”

Persons: Katie Hobbs, Joshua Russell, Hobbs, ”, John Keller, –, “, Arizona Gary Restaino, General Merrick Garland Organizations: CNN, Justice Department, Democrat, Force, ”, Department Locations: Arizona, Ohio

☆ Man who made bomb threat against Arizona election official gets 3.5 years in prison
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-13 | by ( Afia Barrie | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —A man who sent a bomb threat in 2021 to Katie Hobbs, then-Arizona’s secretary of state and now Democratic governor, has been sentenced to three and a half years in prison. James Clark of Falmouth, Massachusetts, pleaded guilty in August 2023 to one count of making a threatening interstate communication after being indicted the previous summer on three counts, including making a bomb threat, the Justice Department announced. “Those using illegal threats of violence to intimidate election workers should know that the Justice Department will find you and hold you accountable under the law,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement. Following Clark’s threats, law enforcement said they conducted partial evacuations and bomb sweeps of the Arizona secretary of state’s office as well as Hobbs’s home and car. The case was brought by the Justice Department’s election threats task force, which was established in June 2021 to address threats of violence against election workers.

Persons: Katie Hobbs, James Clark of, General Merrick Garland, Clark, ”, Hobbs Organizations: CNN, Democratic, Justice Department, DOJ, Boston Marathon Locations: James Clark of Falmouth , Massachusetts, Arizona

☆ Kari Lake airs election grievances as GOP leaders urge her to look forward
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-10 | by ( Melanie Zanona | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Watch CNN’s coverage of the US Senate race in Arizona on “Inside Politics Sunday with Manu Raju” at 11 a.m. GOP leaders have counseled Arizona Senate candidate Kari Lake to avoid airing grievances about past elections and instead center her campaign on a more forward-looking message. But what I’m trying to do is look forward,” she said in the interview, which will air on Sunday’s “Inside Politics” with Manu Raju. “I do continue to talk about it when I’m on the campaign trail in Arizona. “We had major problems in our election, and we’re really working to resolve those problems.

Persons: Manu Raju ”, Kari Lake, Ruben Gallego, Donald Trump’s, Lake, “, ”, …, Manu Raju, I’m, Republican –, ” Trump’s, Katie Hobbs, MAGA, –, Sen, Steve Daines, Daines, Lake’s, GOP Sen, John Barrasso of, we’re, Gallego, Hannah Goss, CNN’s Manu Raju Organizations: Senate, GOP, Democratic, CNN, Republican, Lake, ”, Capitol, Union Locations: Arizona, Montana, John Barrasso of Wyoming, Iraq

☆ 1 million Arizonans will have all their medical debt wiped out, joining other states' efforts to make sure the burden doesn't 'torpedo' Americans' lives, Arizona's governor says
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-05 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewNearly 1 million Arizona residents will soon see their medical debt balances turn to zero. AdvertisementA February analysis conducted by nonprofit health organization KFF, based on government data, estimated that about 20 million Americans owe at least $220 billion in medical debt, with 14 million people owing over $1,000 in medical debt and about 3 million people owing more than $10,000. Ned Lamont, who announced in early February that the state would cancel $650 million in medical debt for about 250,000 residents. Arizonans deserve a break, and they deserve a government that fights for them, helping ensure that medical debt is not going to torpedo their lives." Are you struggling to pay off medical debt?

Persons: —, Katie Hobbs, Joe Biden, Jeff Smedsrud, Hobbs, Smedsrud, Ned Lamont, Phil Murphy, Murphy, Arizonans, Jim Baker, Baker, I've, I'm Organizations: Service, Arizona Gov, American, Plan, Business, Arizonans, Connecticut Gov, New, New Jersey Gov Locations: Arizona, New Jersey, Phoenix

☆ Arizona Governor Vetoes Bill Allowing Police to Arrest Migrants
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-04 | by ( Jack Healy | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Katie Hobbs of Arizona vetoed a bill on Monday that would have authorized the state police to arrest undocumented immigrants. Her veto on highlights the election-year tensions over border security as border states and major cities grapple with a record number of migrants crossing the southern border. Ms. Hobbs has expressed frustration with the Biden administration’s handling of the border crisis, but said the Republican-backed measure was anti-immigrant and most likely unconstitutional. The bill, called the Arizona Border Invasion Act, would have made crossing the border without authorization a misdemeanor state crime, and a felony for migrants who crossed after being deported or ordered to leave. It would also have allowed state law enforcement officials to detain migrants, and Arizona judges to order deportations.

Persons: Katie Hobbs, Hobbs Organizations: Arizona’s Republican, Biden, Republican, Arizona Locations: Arizona

☆ ‘The Regime’ review: Kate Winslet’s streak of award-worthy miniseries fizzles with HBO’s political satire
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-01 | by ( Brian Lowry | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Alas, they’ve come a little too close to that with “The Regime,” a political satire that’s weird but not very good, other than savoring Winslet’s over-the-top antics as an autocratic leader. When the story begins, Vernham is already engaging in odd behavior that leaves her ministers (who assemble in “Dr. Matthias Shoenaerts and Kate Winslet in "Regime." Lustily sneering her dialogue in an exaggerated accent, Winslet throws her all into the character, but to what end? But after watching “The Regime,” consider this an offer they probably should have refused.

Persons: “ Mildred Pierce ”, Kate Winslet, they’ve, Will Tracy, Stephen Frears, Jessica Hobbs, ”, Winslet’s Chancellor Elena Vernham, Martha Plimpton, –, Vernham, Dr, Strangelove ”, Herbert Zubak, Matthias Schoenaerts, Herbert, Matthias Shoenaerts, Elena, Andrea Riseborough, Guillaume Gallienne, Herbert isn’t, clouding, Hugh Grant, can’t, Lustily, Winslet Organizations: CNN, HBO, lunacy, Warner Bros . Locations: “, Easttown, Central Europe, “ Amsterdam

☆ Kate Winslet is a blast in 'The Regime' — but critics say it's not the next 'Succession'
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Palmer Haasch | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

"The Regime'" is HBO's latest bet on Kate Winslet, who helped carry miniseries like "Mare of Easttown" to critical acclaim. But according to critics, the series doesn't entirely live up to Winslet's excellent performance. But while critics praised Winslet's acting, many noted that if you're looking for more "Succession," this isn't quite it. Matthias Schoenaerts and Kate Winslet in "The Regime." Miya Mizuno/HBOThe show's ensemble cast is underusedIn addition to Winslet and Schoenaerts, "The Regime" has an ensemble cast with several acclaimed actors.

Persons: —, Kate Winslet, Winslet, Elena Vernham, she's, — Vernham, Herbert Zubak, Matthias Schoenaerts, Will Tracy, Winslet's, Daniel Fienberg, Beast's Coleman Spilde, Gregory Lawrence, Miya Mizuno, Judy Berman, Marina Fang, Carly Lane, Lawrence, elucidations, Alexandre Desplat's, Fienberg, Stephen Frears, Jessica Hobbs, Alexandre Desplat, Caryn James, Oscar, Spilde, HuffPost's Fang, Andrea Riseborough, Schoenaerts, Agnes, Hugh Grant, Martha Plimpton, Judith Holt, Guillaume Gallienne, Danny Webb, David Bamber, Henry Goodman, Paste's Elijah Gonzalez, Andrea Riseborough's Organizations: Service, The, French Dispatch, Budapest Hotel, Daily, HBO, State Locations: Austria

☆ The Quiet Way Democrats Hope to Expand Their Power at the State Level
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-20 | by ( Nick Corasaniti | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Locked out of power on the Supreme Court and still playing catch-up against Republicans in the federal judiciary, Democrats are hoping to gain a political advantage on a less visible but still important playing field: the state courts. After flipping the Arizona governor’s seat from Republican to Democratic last year, Gov. In five years leading deeply red Kansas, the Democratic governor, Laura Kelly, has named two justices to the Court of Appeals and one to the State Supreme Court. Governors have the power to appoint judges in nearly every state. These responsibilities are set to take center stage in political campaigns this year, as the Democratic Governors Association begins a multimillion-dollar effort, called the Power to Appoint Fund, aimed at key governor’s races.

Persons: Katie Hobbs, Laura Kelly Organizations: Supreme, Republicans, Arizona, Republican, Democratic, Gov, Supreme Court, Governors, Democratic Governors Association Locations: Kansas, New Hampshire, North Carolina

Biden’s reelection campaign has repeatedly declined to commit to joining debates with Trump, his likely opponent in the November general election. Trump, meanwhile, has feuded with the Republican National Committee and refused to join its primary debates. In 2020, he objected to the rules of the nonpartisan commission that has hosted general election debates since 1976. Lowering his voice to a whisper, Coons said: “That was bad.”He then questioned whether a general election debate this year would be worth it. “But this is ultimately a judgment call for President Biden."

Persons: — Nikki Haley, Donald Trump, Trump, Joe Biden, Biden, Biden’s, There's, Sen, Chris Coons, Chris Wallace, Coons, ” Coons, Richard Nixon, John F, Kennedy, didn’t, Frank Fahrenkopf, it's, “, ”, it’s, There’s, Ro Khanna, ” Khanna, Haley, Ron DeSantis, ” Trump, Dan Bongino, Biden “, ” Biden, He’s, Quentin Fulks, ” Fulks, Fulks, ” Sen, Mitt Romney, Barack Obama, ” Romney, President Trump, Trump's, Katie Hobbs, Kari Lake, ” Hobbs, that's, Patrick Stewart, ” Stewart, Jacob Thompson, ” ____ Gomez Licon, Jonathan J, Cooper, Darlene Superville, Jill Colvin Organizations: WASHINGTON, Republican National Committee, Biden, Trump, RNC, League of Women Voters, Commission, ”, Republican, “ Trump, Florida Gov, CNN, Arizona Gov, University of Arkansas, “, Associated Press Locations: Chris Coons of Delaware, United States, Alabama, Iowa, Utah, United States of America, Arizona, Knoxville , Tennessee, Las Vegas, Miami, Phoenix, New York

With the 2024 presidential campaign shaping up as a likely rematch between Biden and Trump, immigration has moved to the forefront as one of the president's biggest potential liabilities. “If that bill were the law today, I’d shut down the border right now and fix it quickly,” Biden said last weekend. That was due in part to a lack of cooperation from many cities and states whose leaders opposed Trump’s immigration policies. Wayne Bowens, a 72-year-old retired real estate agent in Scottsdale, Arizona, said he's disgusted by both Biden and Trump's recent border moves. Most Republicans, 55%, say the government needs to focus on immigration in 2024, while 22% of Democrats listed immigration as a priority.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Donald Trump, I’d, ” Biden, Katie Hobbs, ” Hobbs, Washington “, Trump, ”, Corey Lewandowski, Trump’s, ” Trump, “, “ Nobody, it’s, Pope Francis, Barack Obama, Angelo Fernandez Hernandez, Mike Johnson, Johnson, Biden’s, ” Fernandez Hernandez, Wayne Bowens, he's, ’ ”, Bowens, It’s, Mike Madrid, Jill Colvin, Erin Hooley, Anita Snow Organizations: Biden, Trump, Democratic, Arizona Gov, Democrat, National Guard, Nine, Republicans, U.S ., White, GOP, “, Border Patrol, Republican, Associated Press Locations: SCOTTSDALE, Ariz, United States, New York, Chicago, Denver, Washington, States, Arizona , California , Colorado , Illinois, Maryland , Massachusetts , New Jersey , New York, New Mexico, Mexico, Las Vegas, U.S, Scottsdale , Arizona, “ Ukraine, Israel, California, Madrid, ” Madrid, Manchester , New Hampshire, Phoenix

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

☆ Some baby brands have a cult-like following. Kyte Baby’s went sour
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-27 | by ( Ramishah Maruf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Hobbs says she owns 120 pieces of bamboo fiber baby pajamas, which can run from $32 to $38 for brands such as Bums & Roses, Posh Peanut and Kyte Baby. Courtesy Emilee HobbsThere are a number of bamboo clothing brands. The swift backlash to Kyte Baby was just as strong as its fans’ devotion had been. One person filmed themselves flinging away a Kyte Baby onesie into the snow in protest to ’N Sync’s “Bye Bye Bye.” Others said they would be selling their Kyte Baby items. A “Sienna Woodland" footie from bamboo clothing brand Kyte Baby.

Persons: New York CNN — Emilee Hobbs, Hobbs, Kyte, “, ” Hobbs, ‘, ” Emilee Hobbs, ”, Emilee, Momfluencers, Kyte Baby, Ying Liu, onesie, isn’t, it’s, Jacqueline Babb, ” Babb, TikTok, Instagram, Son, she’s, ” Son, Sleepies, Brands, Babb, “ I’ve, It’s, CNN’s Eva Rothenberg Organizations: New, New York CNN, Northwestern University, Facebook, Inc, Business Locations: New York, Georgia, sienna, Arkansas, United States, Kyte

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — An effort to modernize state oversight of a thriving petroleum industry in the nation's No. 2 state for oil production advanced past its first committee vetting Thursday at the New Mexico Legislature. The bill also would give regulators greater authority over applications to transfer ownership of wells that often change hands when oil and natural gas output declines. The Democratic-led Legislature and governor are being sued over alleged failures to meet constitutional provisions for protecting against oil and gas pollution, as fed-up residents living near oil wells and environmental groups turn to the judiciary for relief. Voting against the bill, Republican state Rep. Larry Scott of Hobbs, said the initiative represents an existential threat to small-scale oil and natural gas producers, echoing concerns raised by several businesses.

Persons: Bill cosponsor Rep, Matthew McQueen, Galisteo, we’re, ”, “ We’ve, We’re, Gail Evans, Nathan Small, —, Ahtza Chavez, Lujan Grisham, “ They’ve, Chavez, Larry Scott, Hobbs, Scott Organizations: SANTA FE, New, New Mexico Legislature, Gas, Occidental Petroleum, EOG Resources, Land Office, Democratic, Center for Biological Diversity, Pueblo Action Alliance, Youth United, Las, Gov, Republican Locations: SANTA, New Mexico, Las Cruces, Albuquerque

☆ Kari Lake just successfully pushed out Arizona's top Republican Party official after he allegedly tried to bribe her to stay out of politics
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewThe chairman of the Arizona Republican Party resigned on Wednesday, alleging the GOP Senate candidate Kari Lake all but forced him into doing so. Lake, apparently recording the in-person interaction herself, can be heard repeatedly rejecting the entreaties, saying she wouldn't even do it for $1 billion. Lake later told NBC News in Hampshire — where she was attending the election night party for former President Donald Trump — that DeWit should resign. "I received an ultimatum from Lake's team: resign today or face the release of a new, more damaging recording," said DeWit. AdvertisementIn a statement to Business Insider, a spokesman for the Lake campaign denied DeWit's account, saying that "no one from the Kari Lake campaign threatened or blackmailed DeWit."

Persons: —, Kari Lake, Jeff DeWit, who's, Soo, DeWit, Sen, Kyrsten, Lake, Donald Trump, He's, 8tF4sodXf3, 4XBSzoVyYL — Vaughn Hillyard, Katie Hobbs —, Ruben Gallego Organizations: Service, Arizona Republican Party, GOP, Business, Daily Mail, Lake, Senate, NBC News, Republican Party, U.S . Senate, Arizona GOP, Democratic Gov, Democratic Locations: East, Hampshire —, Arizona

PARK CITY, Utah (AP) — Chiwetel Ejiofor had read Jeff Hobbs’ “The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace” years before Antoine Fuqua asked if he might consider writing and directing an adaptation. Some of the narratives chalked it up to the fact that he went back to where he came from. “I thought it was very special and very powerful,” Ejiofor told The Associated Press in a recent interview. “I never felt that it was a story about somebody who was able to play a role in different places,” Ejiofor said. Ejiofor wants audiences to have a sense of hope in Rob’s story as well as to feel enriched by knowing him.

Persons: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Jeff Hobbs ’, Robert Peace ”, Antoine Fuqua, Peace’s, “, Peace, Ejiofor, Hobbs, ” Ejiofor, hadn’t, Fuqua, Rebecca, ” Antoine Fuqua, Rob Peace ”, ”, Alex Kurtzman, Rob, Jay Will, Jay, He’s, Maisel ”, Taylor Sheridan’s “, Mary J, Blige, Jackie, Camila Cabello, Naya, Skeet, he’d, Kurtzman marveled, —, ” Kurtzman, He’d, Ksenia Sereda, you’re Organizations: Yale, St, Benedict’s Preparatory School, Associated Press, Sundance, Taylor Sheridan’s “ Tulsa Locations: CITY , Utah, East Orange , New Jersey, Newark, Malawi

☆ Everything we know about 'Crescent City' author Sarah J. Maas' next fantasy books
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-10 | by ( Samantha Grindell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Sarah J. Maas is releasing the third installment of the "Crescent City" series in January. This article contains spoilers for Sarah J. Maas' books. Her next release will continue the "Crescent City" series, though "A Court of Thorns and Roses" will have more installments too. BloomsburyThe "Crescent City" books follow Bryce Quinlan, a half-fae living on the planet of Midgard. However, she refused to confirm whether mates are the same in "Crescent City" as they are in the "ACOTAR" world.

Persons: Sarah J, Maas, —, Bryce Quinlan, Bryce, Rhysand, Rhys, Bryce's, Hunt Athalar, Ruhn, Hunt, Christina Lauren, Christina Hobbs, Lauren Billings, Danika Fendyr, Connor Holstrom, Katie Fraser, Noble, Ember Quinlan, Randall Silago, Danika, Lidia Cervos, Azriel, Eva Chen, Elain Archeron, Archeron, Cassian, Lucien Vanserra, It's, Galathynius, Feyre, Katherine Webber Organizations: Service, Court, The, Barnes, Walmart, Bloomsbury, Silver Flames, Crescent City Locations: Crescent, Prythian, Midgard, Nesta, United States, Ruhn, Billings, Hobbs, Kingdom

Lujan Grisham said she'll ask the Legislature to set aside $500 million to underwrite acquisition of treated water. “We're going to turn water — this waste, which is a problem — into a commodity,” Lujan Grisham said at the conference. The state's oil wells draw out far more water than oil, by several multiples, according to oil field regulators. “Creating a state reserve of treated water for renewable energy projects merits serious consideration in the upcoming session,” Wirth said. New Mexico state government is navigating an unprecedented financial windfall from record setting oil production centered in the Permian Basin that extends across southeastern New Mexico and portions of western Texas.

Persons: Michelle Lujan Grisham, Lujan Grisham, she'll, “ We're, ” Lujan Grisham, “, James Kenney, ” Kenney, Peter Wirth of, Peter Wirth of Santa Fe, ” Wirth, Larry Scott, Hobbs Organizations: SANTA FE, —, Democratic, Gov, Dubai, United Arab, Tax, Fund, U.S, Lawmakers, Democratic Party, Republican Locations: SANTA, — New Mexico, United Arab Emirates, Rio, New Mexico, Peter Wirth of Santa, Texas

KINGMAN, Ariz. (AP) — For the second time in nearly four months, officials in a northwestern Arizona county narrowly rejected a proposal to hand count all ballots in the 2024 election cycle rather than using electronic tabulating equipment. County election officials had said it would take 245 new workers and $1.1 million to count all ballots by hand. The Mohave County Republican Party said it had more than 300 volunteers willing to hand count ballots free of charge and Scottsdale attorney Bryan Blehm pledged to represent Mohave County in any related lawsuit. Ryan Esplin, a deputy county attorney who advises the board supervisors, told them no law specifically authorizes the proposed hand count. Prior to the 2022 general election, rural Cochise County in southeast Arizona pursued a hand count before it was stopped by a judge.

Persons: Kris Mayes, Travis Lingenfelter, Sen, Sonny Borrelli, Bryan Blehm, ”, Blehm, Kari Lake’s, Katie Hobbs, Borrelli, Ryan Esplin, I’m, I’ve, ” Esplin Organizations: Democratic, Republican, Mohave County Republican Party, Gov Locations: KINGMAN, Ariz, Arizona, Mohave County, Mohave, Lake Havasu City, Scottsdale, Cochise County, Nye County , Nevada

The Camden County Sheriff's Office hired him nine months later. His file shows Aldridge was disciplined for using unnecessary force in February 2014 and May 2017. The department fired Aldridge for his third infraction just three months later. “It's just not worth the risk.”Bessent and other advocates say it’s an example of Camden County Sheriff Jim Proctor tolerating unnecessary violence. After one car crashes, body and dash camera video shows Aldridge shouting expletives as he approaches with his gun drawn.

Persons: Buck Aldridge, Leonard Cure, Aldridge, ”, Timothy Bessent Sr, Neill Franklin, they’re, Franklin, “ It's, ” Bessent, Camden County Sheriff Jim Proctor, Proctor, Larry Bruce, Jarrett Hobbs, Hobbs, jailers, “ You’ve, Harry Daniels, Christine Newman, Newman, Robert Persse, Louis Dekmar, Dekmar, Mike Spiers, “ Buck Aldridge, Adrienne Browning, “, Cure, That's, Thaddeus Johnson, ” Johnson, expletives, Johnson Organizations: Camden County sheriff's, The Associated Press, Sheriff's Office, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Camden, Camden County’s NAACP, AP, U.S . Marine, Kingsland Police, Police, Maryland State Police, Baltimore Police Department, Camden County Sheriff, International Association of Chiefs, Georgia State University, Criminal Locations: Camden, Georgia, Florida, Camden County’s, Kingsland, Georgia's, Camden County, Hobbs, LaGrange , Georgia, Franklin, Memphis

The potential Georgia connection surfaced a day after authorities in Washington state said four county election offices had to be evacuated as election workers were processing ballots cast in Tuesday’s election, delaying vote-counting. Election offices in Seattle’s King County and ones in Skagit, Spokane and Pierce counties received envelopes containing suspicious powders. Political Cartoons View All 1237 ImagesTacoma Police spokesperson William Muse said a message inside the envelope received by Pierce County election workers said “something to the effect of stopping the election." It was not immediately clear how authorities came to suspect that a letter might have been sent to the Fulton County election office or whether similar ones went to election offices in other states. "Election officials should be free from fear and intimidation, which is why I’ve called on the General Assembly to increase penalties for election interference,” Raffensperger said.

Persons: William Muse, Muse, Steve Hobbs, ”, Brad Raffensperger, I’ve, ” Raffensperger, accidently, Gene Johnson, Lindsay Whitehurst Organizations: WASHINGTON, —, Georgia Emergency Management, Homeland Security Agency, The Associated Press, Tacoma Police, U.S . Department of Justice, FBI, U.S . Postal, Service, AP, Assembly, Associated Press Locations: Fulton County, Georgia, Atlanta, Washington, Seattle’s King County, Skagit , Spokane, Pierce, Kings, Spokane, Pierce County, United States, Seattle

SEATTLE (AP) — Four county elections offices in Washington state were evacuated Wednesday after they received envelopes containing suspicious powders — including two that field-tested positive for fentanyl — while workers were processing ballots from Tuesday’s election. Renton police detective Robert Onishi confirmed that an envelope received by workers at a King County elections office field-tested positive for fentanyl, while Spokane Police Department spokesperson Julie Humphreys said fentanyl was found in an envelope at the Spokane County Elections office, The Seattle Times reported. Political Cartoons View All 1237 ImagesThe envelope received by the Pierce County elections office in Tacoma contained baking soda, Tacoma police spokesperson William Muse told the paper. Halei Watkins, communications manager for King County Elections, told The Seattle Times the envelope opened by staffers in Renton on Wednesday morning was not a ballot. The Secretary of State's Office noted that elections officials in two counties — King and Okanogan — received suspicious substances in envelopes during the August primary.

Persons: Steve Hobbs, ”, Renton, Robert Onishi, Julie Humphreys, William Muse, ” Muse, Halei Watkins, King County, Watkins, Patrick Bell, Okanogan — Organizations: SEATTLE, Seattle —, State's, Spokane Police, Seattle Times, ” Voters, King County, Spokane County, Okanogan, United States Postal Inspection Service Locations: Washington, King County, Seattle, Skagit , Spokane, Pierce, King, Spokane County, Tacoma, Spokane, Renton, Okanogan

☆ How Democrats can win big in red states
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | Walt Hickey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Democrats are finding ways to advance their candidates and causes in traditionally red states. Tuesday's elections show that while the party may never reach its former heights in increasing red states, it can still notch victories that continue to claw back power. Some states have long elected Democrats at the local level while rejecting Republicans at the national level and vice-versa. AdvertisementAdvertisementHere are some of the ways Democrats are still winning:Keep it local. Issue 1's proponents, like other previous red state movements, couched some of their appeals in broader language that would welcome Republicans.

Persons: Roe, Wade, —, Andy Beshear, Laura Kelly, Raphael Warnock, Tip, Daniel Cameron, Katie Hobbs, Donald Trump's, Hobbs, Sen, Mark Kelly, John Bel Edwards, Kelly, Gabby Giffords, Gretchen Whitmer's, Beshear, it's, Steve Beshear, juiced, Nan Whaley, Sabato Crystal Ball, Perry Bacon Jr, Cameron, Reagan, Glenn Youngkin, Floridians Organizations: Service, GOP, Trump, Democratic Gov, Democratic, Gov, Democrats, Republicans, Louisiana Democrats, Michigan Gov, Ohio, Force, Midwesterners Locations: Ohio , Kentucky, Kansas, New York, Kentucky, In Kansas, Arizona, Louisiana, In Arizona, America, Ohio, Cleveland, Virginia

In some states, higher-income families can now use taxpayer money to cover private school tuition -- and more people than projected are taking the offer, which might force scrambles to shore up state budgets. It's especially an issue in states like Arizona and Iowa, where at least some families whose children were already in private school can now take advantage of public funding. Her state has a new education savings account program — which is paying for students from families of any income to switch from public to private school and for many already in private school to remain there. Opponents of the programs are bracing for lawmakers to attempt to make up for the higher costs by further cutting public school funding, even though lawmakers have not publicly threatened to do so. The plans are in doubt because of opposition from Democrats and some Republicans who live in rural areas where private schools are scarce and public schools are some of the most important institutions.

Persons: ”, Josh Cowen, it's, Ryan Cantrell, ” Aaron Galaz, “, Heather Stessman, Stessman, Beth Lewis, Katie Hobbs, Hobbs, Ben Toma, ” Toma, Greg Abbott, Matt Huffman, Hannah Fingerhut, Samantha Hendrickson, Isabella Volmert, Paul Weber Organizations: Michigan State University, American Federation for Children, Catholic, Our Schools, Arizona Gov, Republican, Republican Gov, Columbus Dispatch, Ohio, Associated Press, America Statehouse News Initiative, America Locations: Arizona, Iowa, — Arizona, Florida , Iowa, Ohio, Indiana, Arkansas, West, Phoenix, Waterloo , Iowa, Our Schools Arizona, Texas, Des Moines , Iowa, Columbus , Ohio, Indianapolis, Austin , Texas

Hobbs said he brought it up nonstop, even in front of others, which irked Youngkin. Should he decide to make the leap after next month's elections, a potential campaign would face significant logistical hurdles. Ron DeSantis’ presidential campaign, though Rexrode and others working for Youngkin's PAC have years of national political experience. Several other voters there said they were familiar with Youngkin and praised the job he’s done but said he shouldn’t run. In Virginia, Republican voters and legislators praised his performance as governor so far, but many said they want Youngkin to finish the job he signed up for.

Persons: — Glenn Youngkin, he’d, Brad Hobbs, Hobbs, irked, ’ ” Hobbs, Donald Trump, “, ” Eric Levine, Youngkin, he’s, Suzanne Youngkin, ”, Dave Rexrode, Rexrode, Trump, Ron DeSantis ’, Sen, Tim Scott of, Steven Cheung, Ron DeSantis, Renate Plitzko, “ It's, Margaret Garland, he's, overextended ”, “ Will, ” ___ Price, Matthew Barakat, Holly Ramer Organizations: White, Associated Press, Harvard, Republican, GOP, Trump, The Washington Post, Virginia PAC, Florida Gov, Youngkin's PAC, AP, New, New Hampshire Republican Party Locations: RICHMOND, Va, Virginia, Trump, New York, Virginia Beach, The Washington, Alabama, Arkansas, Tim Scott of South Carolina, Dover , New Hampshire, New Hampshire, Stafford County, Nashua , New Hampshire

☆ Kari Lake, previously a fire-breathing, hard-charging, far-right candidate for Arizona governor, may attempt to pivot to normie for her Senate bid
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-14 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Kari Lake on Tuesday launched her bid for the Republican Senate nomination in Arizona. But during her kickoff, Lake didn't focus on grievances and instead framed election integrity as a bipartisan issue. (The move likely dooms the prospects of Blake Masters, the unsuccessful 2022 Senate nominee who The Wall Street Journal previously reported had been set to jump into the 2024 Senate race.) AdvertisementAdvertisementLake defeated Karrin Taylor Robson in last year's Arizona Republican gubernatorial primary. In last year's gubernatorial election, Lake earned 49.6% of the vote, losing by about 17,000 votes out of nearly 2.6 million ballots cast.

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