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Rhode Island convention plans opposed by unions, women's health groups
(The Center Square) — A coalition of unions, civil liberties and reproductive rights groups are pushing back against Rhode Island's plans to hold a constitutional convention, even though it's unclear what would be taken up at the once-in-a-decade meeting. At a legislative hearing on Wednesday, lawmakers met to hammer out final plans for a ballot question in the November elections asking voters if the state should hold a constitutional convention. ...
House democratic women rally around Kamala Harris, show support for Biden
(The Center Square) – Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other House Democratic lawmakers endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for president Thursday as the presumed Democratic presidential candidate. Following President Joe Biden’s recent decision to step back from running for reelection, many Democrats are mustering up support for Harris as the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee. House Minority Whip Katherine Clark, D-Mass., praised Biden during her opening remarks, citing his “selfless...
Pritzker would consider VP nomination, but some unhappy with party leadership
(The Center Square) – As the Illinois governor weighs in on a potential vice presidential nomination, a socialist alderman from Chicago is expressing frustration with the Democratic Party. Gov. J.B. Pritzker told CNN he’d be reluctant to give up his post as governor of Illinois, but the possibility of being vice president would be appealing. “It’d be hard to resist a call and consideration if the nominee called me to...
FBI director doesn't know if Trump was struck by bullet or not
(The Center Square) – Twelve days after a shooter opened fire at a campaign rally for former President Donald Trump, basic questions remain unanswered despite congressional hearings and political pressure from both sides of the aisle. One key example: Was Trump shot? Video from the July 13 rally in Butler County, Pennsylvania, clearly shows something struck Trump's ear minutes after he took to the stage. However, it remains unclear what...
FACT CHECK: Harris was Biden’s second 'border czar,' despite recent media claims
(The Center Square) – As Vice President Kamala Harris began campaigning to become the next Democratic presidential nominee, media outlets started claiming she was never President Joe Biden’s border czar. The claims are verifiably false. “Kamala Harris Was Never Biden’s ‘Border Czar,’” TIME Magazine claimed. A USA Today "fact check" headline said, "Harris' border work was on 'root causes' of migration; she wasn't in charge." Axios wrote, “The Trump campaign...
Biden: I have ‘passed the torch’ to Harris, but will finish term
(The Center Square) – President Joe Biden said in an address to the nation Wednesday night that he would finish his term in office but "pass the torch" to the next generation, namely Vice President Kamala Harris. Biden said he set his personal ambition aside to "save our Democracy." “So I have decided the best way forward is to pass the torch to a new generation,” Biden said in the...
Another judge issues a preliminary injunction against Title IX rule
(The Center Square) — A federal judge in Missouri issued another preliminary injunction on Wednesday halting enforcement of the Biden administration's Title IX rule. The rule issued by the Department of Education changed the word "sex" to "gender identity" and banned single-sex bathrooms and locker rooms. A minor from Arkansas and the states of Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota and North Dakota asked the court for an injunction in a...
Spokane Valley relocates tenants to demolish home for affordable housing project
(The Center Square) – Spokane Valley is gearing up to spend $2 million on affordable housing this fall, but first, it needs to tear down a home and decide what type to start building. Over the past two years, the Valley has allocated at least $6 million in federal relief toward land acquisitions and affordable housing, of which, $4 million was spent on several projects. However, with $2 million still...
Kentwood, Kentlake high schools losing SROs due to sheriff's office staffing shortage
(The Center Square) – Due to staffing shortages at the King County Sheriff's Office, a pair of Kent School District high schools will not have school resource officers for the 2024-25 school year. The two schools impacted are Kentwood and Kentlake high schools. Kentwood is located in the city of Covington, and Kentlake is located in unincorporated Pierce County. ...
Majors trimmed at two UNC System schools
(The Center Square) – Eighteen academic programs at two University of North Carolina System institutions have been eliminated because of budget shortfalls and enrollment declines. The decision was rendered Wednesday by the Board of Governors, slashing 14 at UNC Greensboro and four at UNC Asheville. “The chancellors at UNC Asheville and UNC Greensboro have been consulting with academic officers and faculty and determined that certain academic programs should be curtailed,”...
Reckoning at Hampton VA hospital after 'widespread failures and deficiencies'
(The Center Square) — The executive director, chief of staff and chief of surgery at the Hampton VA Medical Center are all leaving after investigations revealed substandard care and potentially willful negligence. Their exodus stems from congressional investigations and a Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General report. The OIG began its latest probe into the hospital (there have been others) after learning of six instances of substandard care by the hospital’s assistant chief of surgery and spotting implications of a lack of internal...
Oregon study says numbers make people care more about climate change
(The Center Square) – Climate scientists may be overlooking an effective way to educate the public about climate change, according to study from the University of Oregon funded by the National Science Foundation. University of Oregon, Michigan State University, and Ohio State University researchers found that people are more likely to trust and share social media posts that contain numbers more than those without, the study found. The researchers looked...
Seattle mayor’s proposed jail pilot program would cost up to $3M a year
(The Center Square) – Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell on Wednesday announced a proposal for a pilot program that would see some misdemeanor offenders spending time at the South Correctional Facility, or SCORE, as part of a plan to be more consistent in responding to misdemeanors. The pilot program is meant to be an alternative to jailing repeat offenders, which Harrell said is not meeting the moment. The program would include...
Pennsylvania delegation gives Netanyahu warm reception, mostly
(The Center Square) – Some of Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation welcomed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the chamber floor Wednesday. The rest weren’t even there – an act of protest seemingly mirrored by Vice President Kamala Harris, who chose to campaign in Indiana instead as she chases down the party’s presidential nomination. “When Putin commits war crimes, we condemn him,” said Rep. Summer Lee, D-Pa. “When Netanyahu commits war crimes,...
Public safety on Illinois mass transit is highlighted during Senate hearing
(The Center Square) – In a series of hearings on Illinois mass transit, public safety was in the spotlight Wednesday. The Senate Transportation Committee is holding hearings around the state to focus on several aspects of mass transit, with the latest hearing dealing with the state of transit and its accessibility and equitability. At the public hearings, mass transit users are encouraged to speak up about accessibility, safety and cost....
Professor points to policy errors as Chicago braces for non-budgeted migrant surge
(The Center Square) – Chicago may have thousands of additional migrants arriving before the end of summer, but government officials have not budgeted for a major surge. At the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee last week, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott promised that his state would continue busing migrants to sanctuary cities until the U.S. border is secure. Chicago Budget Director Annette Guzman told the City Council Committee on Immigrant and...
Washington energy choice initiative officially qualifies for the November ballot
(The Center Square) – Initiative 2066 to protect energy choices like natural gas has officially qualified for the November ballot, according to the Washington Secretary of State's Office. Backers of the initiative turned in more than 546,000 signatures earlier this month, essentially guaranteeing the measure would have more than enough valid signatures to get on the ballot. State law required the submission of 324,516 valid signatures from registered Washington voters...
Turnpike toll booth savings plan won't stop fares from rising
(The Center Square) — The future of the Pennsylvania Turnpike is booth-less. As parts of the eastern side of the state have seen, a $600 million plan will convert the entire length to open road tolling, making all fares payable via E-ZPass or mail. Starting in January 2025, the turnpike east of Reading and on the northeast extension will be fully open road tolling. Toll booth plazas will be replaced...
Green fundraising outpaces Morrow in superintendent race
(The Center Square) – Democrat Mo Green is raking in the donations in North Carolina’s election race for superintendent of public instruction. Green raised more than six times the amount of Republican opponent Michele Morrow in the second fundraising quarter. “Mo has made history in North Carolina: No other candidate for state Superintendent of Public Instruction has raised even close to this much before,” said Misti Williams, Green’s campaign manager,...
Illinois quick hits: Low-income families to get full child support amount
Low-income families to get full child support amount The Department of Healthcare and Family Services has announced that all child support collected on behalf of Illinois’ low-income families with children who are current or former Temporary Assistance for Needy Families recipients will be passed through to the family and will no longer be retained by the state. As of July 1, any amount of child support that was collected and...
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