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☆ Alaska Republican Censured for Asking If Child Abuse Benefits Society
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-24 | by ( Charles R. Davis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

An Alaska Republican has been censured by his colleagues for asking if fatal child abuse benefits society. At a hearing this week, Rep. David Eastman asked a witness if dead children save taxpayer money. ACT doesn't have a stance on abortion, per Alaska Public Media. On Wednesday, every one of his colleagues agreed to condemn him, voting 35-1 to censure him, according to Alaska Public Media. We cannot allow such atrocious, indefensible language to go undenounced," Alaska Democratic state Rep. Andrew Gray said, the outlet reported.

☆ Georgia special grand jury wants multiple indictments for Trump's efforts to overturn 2020 election: 'It's not rocket science'
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-21 | by ( Jacob Shamsian | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The Georgia special grand jury that probed efforts to overturn the 2020 election wanted criminal charges against multiple people. Its forewoman told The New York Times "it's not rocket science" when asked if Trump was on the list. Fulton County DA Fani Willis must now decide whether to bring criminal indictments to a regular grand jury. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis empaneled the special grand jury between May and January. The special grand jury did not have the power to bring criminal indictments but created a report with charging recommendations.

☆ Reuters wins George Polk Award for uncovering child labor in Hyundai supply chain
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Cheney OrrNew York, Feb 20 (Reuters) - A team of Reuters reporters on Monday won a George Polk Award for reports that revealed the widespread use of child labor among suppliers to Hyundai Motor Co in the U.S. state of Alabama. The Polk jury, awarding the prize in its "state reporting" category, said Reuters "sparked increased scrutiny from federal and state agencies and led Hyundai to demand more accountability from its suppliers." Also in February, Hyundai itself said it was in discussions with the Labor Department to resolve concerns about the child labor. After discovering that staffing agencies hired child workers for employment in Alabama poultry plants, they learned that migrant minors were also building parts for Hyundai and Kia (000270.KS). Both companies have said they don't tolerate child labor and are taking measures to ensure underage workers don't find their way back into their supply chains.

☆ If China allies with Russia there will be a new World War, Ukraine's President Zelenskyy warns
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-20 | by ( Joshua Zitser | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Monday that China allying with Russia would lead to another world war. The Ukrainian president expressed his hope that China backs Ukraine over Russia in the ongoing war. US officials have expressed concern that China could support Russia by providing lethal aid. But "if China allies itself with Russia, there will be a world war, and I do think that China is aware of that," he said. US Vice President Kamala Harris also warned China against providing support to Moscow during a speech at the Munich Security Conference.

☆ Rep. George Santos barricaded himself in his district office as angry constituents stood outside demanding his resignation: reports
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-16 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Rep. George Santos hid from constituents who tried to deliver a petition to him on Wednesday. A staffer told the group that Santos was in the building but added that he refused to meet with a "mob," according to the paper. Santos' office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Last week, they traveled to Capitol Hill to call for the expulsion of their congressman, according to The Jerusalem Post. In January, it emerged that constituents' calls to his office were being routed to another GOP congressman, as Newsday first reported.

☆ Wyoming Republicans are criticizing a child marriage bill that seeks to raise the legal age to 18. It's sponsored by one of their own party members.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-12 | by ( Lloyd Lee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

A new bill seeks to set a minimum age of 18 with an exception for 16 and 17-year-olds. The Wyoming Republican Party sent an email Thursday raising "concerns about constitutional rights." The bill is sponsored by Rep. Dan Zwonitzer, a Republican, and would raise the state's legal marriage age to 18 years old. The Wyoming Republican Party did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Rep. Mike Yin, a Democrat, tweeted a copy of the Wyoming Republican Party email on Thursday and accused the group of wanting children to get married "full stop."

☆ Florida governor gains control over Disney district board
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-10 | by ( Dawn Chmielewski | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/4] Sunlight breaks through clouds near Disney World in Orlando, Florida, U.S. September 8, 2017. REUTERS/Gregg Newton/File PhotoFeb 10 (Reuters) - Florida lawmakers on Friday granted Governor Ron DeSantis effective control of the board that oversees development in and around Walt Disney Co's (DIS.N) central Florida theme parks, escalating the Republican's battle with the company. DeSantis' spokesperson Bryan Griffin said the prior system, under which the Florida legislature in 1967 gave Disney sole control over the district, lacked accountability. Disney World is the largest employer in central Florida with close to 75,000 employees and drew 36.2 million visitors in 2021, according to the Themed Entertainment Association. The new bill preserves the Reedy Creek special district, though within two years it will be renamed Central Florida Tourism Oversight District.

☆ Florida legislators want to give DeSantis another $10 million to keep shipping migrants across the country
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Ron DeSantis $10 million to transport migrants across the US. DeSantis previously used a state program to fly asylum seekers from Texas to Martha's Vineyard in September. Ron DeSantis' program to transport migrants to so-called "sanctuary cities" across the country. The proposal, Senate bill 6-B, would create a new "Unauthorized Alien Transport Program" and provide $10 million to transport migrants. Two identical bills were introduced this month in the state Senate and House by State Sen. Blaise Ingoglia (R) and State Rep. John Snyder (R).

☆ Students who participated in a strike at Temple University are being told they will lose their tuition and health care benefits
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( Charles R. Davis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Temple University is eliminating free tuition for graduate students who participate in a strike. In a statement, Temple confirmed students will be denied tuition benefits "while they are on strike." On average, such workers make $19,500 a year, according to the Temple University Graduate Students' Association (TUGSA), a union that represents nearly 750 affected workers. Stephen Orbanek, director of communications at the university, told Insider that those who choose to participate in the grad-student strike will be denied not just their pay but their tuition benefits. Temple is not the first institution to cancel health benefits for striking employees.

☆ Romney tells embattled Republican George Santos he 'shouldn't be in Congress'
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) speaks with reporters at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., September 6, 2022. Senator Mitt Romney told embattled fellow Republican Representative George Santos on Tuesday that should not be in Congress and shouldn't have taken a central seat at President Joe Biden's State of the Union address. "He shouldn't be in Congress and they're going to go through the process and hopefully get him out," Romney told reporters after the speech. "But he shouldn't be there and if he had any shame at all he wouldn't be there." Romney said he had told Santos as much.

☆ Democrats win control of Pennsylvania House, end GOP rule in competitive swing state
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Reading, PA - May 10: Pennsylvania State Rep and Democratic Leader Joanna E. McClinton speaks in front of Reading City Hall. Democrats won control of the Pennsylvania House in special elections Tuesday, wresting partial power from Republicans for the first time in a dozen years in the competitive swing state. Three of those Democratic seats quickly became vacant, casting uncertainty over who actually controlled the chamber. Democrats had been expected to win Tuesday's special elections, because they had easily won the same seats last fall. That's because Republican Rep. Lynda Schlegel Culver won a special election Jan. 31 to fill a vacant state Senate seat.

☆ U.S. House Ethics panel has not yet launched probe of Rep. Santos -McCarthy aide
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] U.S. Representative George Santos (R-NY) departs his office to attend a House vote on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., January 12, 2023. "There’s no investigation, as the Ethics Committee hasn’t organized yet. Earlier in the day, McCarthy, asked by CNN if the freshman lawmaker is under investigation by the panel, McCarthy said, "Yes." "Ethics is moving through, and if Ethics finds something, we’ll take action," McCarthy told the cable news outlet. Later, McCarthy said he meant to say that Santos was the subject of Ethics Committee complaints.

☆ U.S. Rep. Santos facing House ethics probe - McCarthy
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON, Feb 7 (Reuters) - U.S. Representative George Santos, who has faced calls from fellow New York state Republicans to step down after fabricating much of his resume, is being investigated by the House Ethics Committee, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy confirmed to CNN on Tuesday. "Ethics is moving through, and if Ethics finds something, we’ll take action," McCarthy told the cable news outlet when asked about Santos' constituents calling on him to resign. Santos told fellow Republican lawmakers last week he would not serve on committees for now, lawmakers said. Santos has rebuffed calls for his resignation, saying he would vacate his seat only if he loses the next election. Santos is the first openly gay Republican to win a House seat in Congress as a non-incumbent, but has positioned himself as a staunch conservative on many social issues.

☆ U.S. Rep. Santos expected to face House ethics probe
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] U.S. Representative George Santos (R-NY) departs his office to attend a House vote on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., January 12, 2023. REUTERS/Elizabeth FrantzWASHINGTON, Feb 7 (Reuters) - U.S. Representative George Santos is expected to face a House Ethics Committee probe after admitting he fabricated much of his resume, but Speaker Kevin McCarthy gave conflicting responses on Tuesday about whether an investigation into his fellow Republican had begun. Asked by CNN if the freshman lawmaker is under investigation by the panel, McCarthy said, "Yes." "Ethics is moving through, and if Ethics finds something, we’ll take action," McCarthy told the cable news outlet. Later, McCarthy said he meant to say that Santos was the subject of Ethics Committee complaints.

☆ South Dakota lawmaker quotes MLK Jr. out of context during her vote to restrict health care for trans youth
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-03 | by ( Taiyler Simone Mitchell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

South Dakota is seeking to restrict gender-affirming care for trans youth. The portion Schaefbauer quoted is as follows: "It may be true that you can't legislate integration, but you can legislate desegregation. The bill, House Bill 1080, would prevent transgender youth from access to gender-affirming care. South Dakota is a notably conservative state. Last year, South Dakota limited the teaching of Critical Race Theory in schools by restricting "inherently divisive concepts" such as discussing how a person can be "racist, sexist or oppressive," CNN reported.

All U.S. winter wheat area is estimated at an eight-year high. Wheat health is better in key soft red winter wheat states like Illinois and Missouri, where GE this week covers 69% and 68% of the crop, respectively. But only 5% of the country’s winter wheat has been sown in these states. Winter wheat at the U.S. level was 34% GE and 26% PVP in the last assessment at the end of November. Hard red spring wheat accounted for 28%, soft white winter 20%, soft red winter 9%, and durum and other wheat accounted for 5% of inspections.

No matter how much Kevin McCarthy swears that won’t involve cuts to Social Security or Medicare, it’s almost impossible to imagine they aren’t on the table. If Congress cuts spending to balance the budget as some Republicans have suggested, it could mean big cuts to very popular programs like Social Security and Medicare. Bret: Other than trying to find ways to slow the rate of spending growth, I can’t imagine there would be cuts to either program. They’re popular with Republican voters, too, after all. For some reason, Social Security payroll taxation stops at about $160,000.

Rifts in the GOP between those who support Donald Trump’s false 2020 election fraud claims and those who want the party to move on from the former president have resurfaced in party leadership races in key states, with each side blaming the other for disappointing midterm results. In Arizona, the state Republican party—which for years has been at odds with former GOP Gov. Doug Ducey and more establishment Republicans—on Saturday elected Jeff DeWit as party chairman.

Towns said the lawmakers could have until early spring, otherwise, to develop and fine tune any proposals that emerge from Nichols' death. Share this -Link copiedMemphis police’s vaunted Scorpion unit is deactivated after Tyre Nichols' death Memphis police’s vaunted Scorpion unit has been permanently deactivated. Share this -Link copiedNFL calls for change after 'senseless death' of Tyre Nichols A day after the release of video showing the police beating of Tyre Nichols, the NFL on Saturday condemned the violence. Demonstrations continued Saturday in Atlanta, Boston and Charlotte following the release of video footage showing five former Memphis police officers beating Tyre Nichols, who died on Jan. 10. Attorney Blake Ballin’s comments follow the release of video footage showing the officers punching and kicking Tyre Nichols during a Jan. 7 traffic stop.

☆ Abuses Proliferate in Police Squads Like Memphis's Scorpion Unit
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-28 | by ( Katherine Long | Jack Newsham | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +27 min

Street Crime Unit. Jon Naso/NY Daily News Archive via Getty ImagesMemphis police chief Davis also has prior experience with special street crime units. Street crime squads are popular among politicians who say only aggressive policing will reduce violent crime. In the late 1990s, the Street Crime Unit tripled in size, amid a panic over a rising number of homicides. In a city grappling with violent crime, authorities touted the Street Crime Unit as a bright spot.

☆ 'Trump fatigue' in New Hampshire complicates 2024 White House bid
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-27 | by ( Tim Reid | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +9 min

"Donald Trump right now is a distraction for the Republican Party in trying to go forward. Yet the willingness of Republican party members to criticize Trump in conversations with Reuters is striking. She worked on his New Hampshire primary campaign, knocked on doors for him, urged anybody she met to vote for him. Despite signs of weariness with Trump, he will still be a formidable candidate in the New Hampshire primary, some party strategists said. His influence is still fairly significant," said Jim Merrill, a veteran New Hampshire Republican strategist.

☆ Nikole Hannah-Jones makes a case for reparations with ‘The 1619 Project’ series
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( Candice Williams | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +7 min

The fight for reparations has been going on for centuries in federal and state governments. “I don’t think there’s anything else that can be done besides a federal program, direct payments to Black American descendants of U.S. slavery,” Darity said. “Every time there is a local or state reparations bill that’s moving forward, it just further legitimizes the larger federal effort,” she said. “So I definitely am an advocate of both.”The subject of state reparations and the return of land are discussed in the series, along with the idea that reparations should be more than just a cash payout. If the federal government were to ever issue reparations, Darity surmised that Black Americans might begin to feel a sense of equality.

In 2016, New Hampshire Republicans lifted Donald Trump’s candidacy after he lost in Iowa, becoming the first state to embrace the future president. Chris SununuWhile Trump is considered the early favorite, the doubters, naysayers and haters in the New Hampshire Republican Party could steer him off course. “Just fill in the blanks.”Sununu argued that New Hampshire Republicans are tired of drama and are ready for a new face. New Hampshire Republicans are reeling from the losses in November. I do not think it’s a foregone conclusion,” said New Hampshire Republican Mike Dennehy, a onetime adviser to the late presidential candidate Sen. John McCain.

Six Republican members of the North Dakota Legislature introduced a bill Wednesday that would send a clear message to nonhuman-identified students: You’re not wanted in the Roughrider State. This section of the bill appears to be connected to an urban myth about litter boxes in U.S. schools that spread among conservative Republicans ahead of the November election. An NBC News report published in October found this myth — about schools providing accommodations, like litter boxes, for children who identify as cats — to be untrue. While the North Dakota bill does not mention litter boxes, one of the bill's sponsors, state Rep. Lori VanWinkle, told NBC News that her state does indeed have students who don't identify as human. Schools found to be in violation of the policy could be fined up to $500,000 in damages, the bill states.

☆ A Florida Democratic state lawmaker says the party must 'go back to the basics' in order to reverse recent statewide losses: 'We're very much at the bottom of the bottom'
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-22 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A Florida Democratic legislator told The Washington Post of the party's struggles in the state. A party operative told the paper that the GOP continues to organize in the state, while Democrats have "regressed." Bush carried Florida for the GOP, but in 1996 then-President Bill Clinton flipped the state into the Democratic column in his successful reelection bid. The GOP governor, last fall, won reelection in a 19-point landslide over his Democratic rival, former Gov. In a recent interview with The Washington Post, Democratic state Rep. Anna AskMen said that the party had to "go back to basics" and overhaul its door-knocking and get-out-the-vote operations.

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