usatoday--2020-11-28--Holiday TV specials and more

Holiday TV specials and more

It 's beginning to look a lot like Christmas as TV networks and streaming services roll out a colorfully wrapped array of holiday specials from now until the end of the year .
There 's a festive mix of new ( a Dolly Parton special ) and traditional ( You 're a mean one , Mr. Grinch ) arriving for the holiday season , which may feature more at-home viewing than usual because of the COVID-19 pandemic .
Besides Dolly , TV 's holiday firmament features bright stars such as Mariah Carey , Carrie Underwood , Thomas Rhett , Garth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Before diving into a sleighful of Christmas specials , fan-favorite cartoons and holiday-themed series episodes , let 's note a couple of upcoming Turkey Day specials : NBC 's `` A Saturday Night Live Thanksgiving Special '' ( Wednesday , 9 EST/PST ) , featuring Thanksgiving-themed sketches from the comedy show 's 46 seasons , and `` The 94th Annual Macy ’ s Thanksgiving Day Parade '' ( Thursday , 9 a.m. EST/PST ) , which NBC touts as `` a reimagined celebration '' for these pandemic times .
More holiday viewing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ show LGBTQ love in leading roles : 'It fits in' Apple TV+ subscribers can watch `` A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving , ” and others can watch it for free Wednesday through Friday .
Keeping holiday tradition : After outcry and viral petition , Charlie Brown holiday specials get broadcast airing on PBS But Thanksgiving is only an appetizer when it comes to holiday programming .
Here 's the menu of upcoming treats : 'Tis the season for huge brand names , and Disney+ makes sure the seasonal Force is with you with `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( now streaming ) .
Traditionalists will relish the return of the legendary 1966 cartoon , `` How the Grinch Stole Christmas ! ''
( NBC , Friday , 8 EST/PST ; TBS , Dec. 6 , 7 EST/PST ; also streaming on Amazon ) , but those curious to see an update can catch NBC 's `` Dr. Seuss ' The Grinch Musical ! ''
( Dec. 9 , 8 EST/PST ) from the Troubadour Theatre in London , with Matthew Morrison ( `` Glee '' ) as the tiny-hearted title character @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to find dates during the holidays as HBO Max introduces `` 12 Dates of Christmas '' ( streaming Thursday ) , an eight-episode series that features `` three hopefully romantic singles ( searching for ) someone to bring home for the holidays . ''
Sounds like `` Love Actually '' as a reality competition .
The popular Minions movie characters get into the holiday TV game with “ Illumination Presents Minions Holiday Special ” on NBC Friday ( 8:30 EST/PST ) .
It will be available the next day on NBCUniversal ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take center stage to help viewers celebrate the holidays .
Country music star Thomas Rhett and his wife , author Lauren Akins , make their TV hosting debut on the 11th annual edition of ABC 's `` CMA Country Christmas '' ( Monday , 9 EST/PST ) .
PBS celebrates the holiday with different musical styles .
The 17th annual `` Christmas with the Tabernacle Choir , '' featuring actors Kelli O'Hara and Richard Thomas , premieres Dec. 14 ( 9 EST/PST , check local listings ) , with `` Ella Wishes you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' a celebration of classic holiday tunes from Ella Fitzgerald , arriving Dec. 15 ( 8 EST/PST , check local listings ) .
In HBO Max 's `` My Gift : A Christmas Special From Carrie Underwood ” ( streaming Dec. 3 ) , the Grammy-winning singer combines traditional holiday favorites with original material from her first full-length Christmas album , `` My Gift , '' which was released this fall .
John Legend joins Underwood for a duet .
Apple TV+ unwraps “ Mariah Carey ’ s Magical Christmas Special ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , long associated with the holiday , will be joined by Tiffany Haddish , Billy Eichner , Ariana Grande , Jennifer Hudson , Snoop Dogg and Misty Copeland .
If that 's not enough superstar power , Dolly Parton has a new CBS special , `` A Holly Dolly Christmas '' ( Dec. 6 , 8:30 EST/8 PST ) .
And Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood return to CBS for a new one-hour concert special , `` Garth & Trisha Live !
A Holiday Concert Event '' Dec. 20 ( 8:30 EST/8 PST @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both on CBS All Access .
These returning shows are trying to cement a permanent place in the holiday TV pantheon .
Two movie-franchise spinoffs , “ Olaf ’ s Frozen Adventure ” and `` Toy Story That Time Forgot , '' appear back to back on ABC on Thursday ( 8 EST/PST ) .
That 's followed by the fifth edition of “ The Wonderful World of Disney : Magical Holiday Celebration ” on ABC ( 9 EST/PST ) .
ABS also offers a third edition of `` The Disney Holiday Singalong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ The Great Christmas Light Fight , ” ABC 's popular decorating competition , returns for its eighth season on Dec. 9 ( 8 EST/PST ) .
As part of its annual `` Nickmas '' rollout of more than 100 hours of seasonal content , Nickelodeon presents classics including `` Rugrats Chanukah '' ( Dec. 10 and 17 , 10 EST/PST ) .
Remember all those wonderful gifts from bygone days ?
Well , even if you received a lump of coal , you 'll always have these hardy seasonal perennials .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ couple of cold ones – the non-alcoholic kind – as CBS offers `` Frosty the Snowman '' and `` Frosty Returns , '' back-to-back on Friday ( 8 EST/PST ) .
ABC offers another animated gem , 1970 's `` Santa Claus Is Comin ' to Town , '' on Friday ( 8 EST/PST ) , too .
And perhaps the most famous animated Christmas tale of all , `` Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer , '' makes its perennial appearance Dec. 1 on CBS ( 8 EST/PST ) .
The main competition for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Charlie Brown Christmas , '' is available to Apple TV+ subscribers starting Dec. 4 , with free viewing Dec. 11 to 13 , along with a PBS broadcast Dec. 13 ( 7:30 EST/PST , check local listings ) .
The Christmas tree gets its own night to shine on NBC 's `` Christmas in Rockefeller Center '' ( Dec. 2 , 8 EST/PST ) , the 88th edition of the famed New York tree-lighting ceremony .
If that 's not a big enough bite of the Big Apple , stay tuned afterward for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Radio City Christmas Spectacular '' ( 10 EST/PST ) .
Viewers can revisit the bygone days of young Ralphie Parker and his dream of a Red Ryder air rifle when `` A Christmas Story '' arrives on TBS Dec. 4 ( 8 EST/PST ) and Dec. 5 ( 6 EST/PST ) .
If you miss the leg lamp or Flick getting his tongue stuck to the frozen pole , do n't worry .
The annual 24-hour marathon returns Dec. 24 on TBS ( 8 EST/PST ) and TNT ( 9 EST/PST ) .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ annual Edelweiss fix when ABC broadcasts the incomparable Julie Andrews in 1965 's `` The Sound of Music '' ( Dec. 20 , 7 EST/PST ) Finally , NBC continues a Christmas Eve tradition with a Jimmy Stewart film that 's synonymous with the holiday , `` It 's a Wonderful Life '' ( Dec. 24 , 8 EST/PST ) .

Rudolph, Snoopy and Mariah Carey help celebrate the holidays: What's on TV and when?
Show Caption Hide Caption Google predicts 7 gifts to expect this holiday season These are a few gifts that Google predicts your loved ones will want to find under the tree on Christmas morning. USA TODAY
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas as TV networks and streaming services roll out a colorfully wrapped array of holiday specials from now until the end of the year.
TV's holiday firmament features bright stars such as Mariah Carey, Carrie Underwood, Thomas Rhett, Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood and Matthew Morrison, along with "Stars Wars" Lego characters, Minions, Rugrats, and plenty of music.
Also look for perennial holiday classics like "It's A Wonderful Life," "A Christmas Story and "The Sound of Music" along with animated specials.
More holiday viewing: Hallmark, Lifetime Christmas movies finally show LGBTQ love in leading roles: 'It fits in'
Keeping holiday tradition: After outcry and viral petition, Charlie Brown holiday specials get broadcast airing on PBS
Here's the menu of upcoming treats:
New gifts
'Tis the season for huge brand names, and Disney+ makes sure the seasonal Force is with you with "The Lego Star Wars Holiday Special” (now streaming).
Traditionalists will relish the return of the legendary 1966 cartoon, "How the Grinch Stole Christmas!" (streaming on Amazon), but those curious to see an update can catch NBC's "Dr. Seuss' The Grinch Musical!" (Dec. 9, 8 EST/PST) from the Troubadour Theatre in London, with Matthew Morrison ("Glee") as the tiny-hearted title character.
Fruitcake isn't the only place to find dates during the holidays as HBO Max introduces "12 Dates of Christmas" (now streaming), an eight-episode series that features "three hopefully romantic singles (searching for) someone to bring home for the holidays." Sounds like "Love Actually" as a reality competition.
The popular Minions movie characters get into the holiday TV game with “Illumination Presents Minions Holiday Special,” available on NBCUniversal’s streaming service, Peacock.
Musical merriment
Singing stars take center stage to help viewers celebrate the holidays.
PBS celebrates the holiday with different musical styles. The 17th annual "Christmas with the Tabernacle Choir," featuring actors Kelli O'Hara and Richard Thomas, premieres Dec. 14 (9 EST/PST, check local listings), with "Ella Wishes you a Swingin' Christmas with Vanessa Williams," a celebration of classic holiday tunes from Ella Fitzgerald, arriving Dec. 15 (8 EST/PST, check local listings).
In HBO Max's "My Gift: A Christmas Special From Carrie Underwood” (now streaming), the Grammy-winning singer combines traditional holiday favorites with original material from her first full-length Christmas album, "My Gift," which was released this fall. John Legend joins Underwood for a duet.
Apple TV+ unwrapped “Mariah Carey’s Magical Christmas Special” on Dec. 4. The music superstar, long associated with the holiday, is joined by Tiffany Haddish, Billy Eichner, Ariana Grande, Jennifer Hudson, Snoop Dogg and Misty Copeland.
If that's not enough superstar power, Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood return to CBS for a new one-hour concert special, "Garth & Trisha Live! A Holiday Concert Event" Dec. 20 (8:30 EST/8 PST delayed). Fans also can stream both on CBS All Access.
Classics in waiting
These returning shows are trying to cement a permanent place in the holiday TV pantheon.
“The Great Christmas Light Fight,” ABC's popular decorating competition, returns for its eighth season on Dec. 9 (8 EST/PST).
As part of its annual "Nickmas" rollout of more than 100 hours of seasonal content, Nickelodeon presents classics including "Rugrats Chanukah" (Dec. 10 and 17, 10 EST/PST).
"A Charlie Brown Christmas," is available to Apple TV+ subscribers, with free viewing Dec. 11 to 13, along with a PBS broadcast Dec. 13 (7:30 EST/PST, check local listings).
"A Christmas Story" arrives for its annual 24-hour marathon Dec. 24 on TBS (8 EST/PST) and TNT (9 EST/PST).
Need more holiday classics? Get your annual Edelweiss fix when ABC broadcasts the incomparable Julie Andrews in 1965's "The Sound of Music" (Dec. 20, 7 EST/PST)
Finally, NBC continues a Christmas Eve tradition with a Jimmy Stewart film that's synonymous with the holiday, "It's a Wonderful Life" (8 EST/PST).


usatoday--2020-11-29--Colorado Gov. Jared Polis tests positive for COVID-19

FORT COLLINS , Colo. – Colorado Gov .
Jared Polis and first gentleman Marlon Reis have tested positive for COVID-19 .
Polis had been in quarantine since Wednesday evening after finding out he was exposed to someone who tested positive .
A test he took Wednesday came back negative .
In a statement released Saturday night , Polis said he and Reis were asymptomatic and will isolate at home .
`` Marlon and I are feeling well so far , and are in good spirits , '' Polis said .
`` No person or family is immune to this virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public interactions , to wear a mask in public , stay 6 feet from others and wash hands .
In the nearly nine months since the pandemic began , Polis has held news conferences , at times daily , to implore Colorado residents to take precautions to slow the spread of the virus .
In July , he issued an order requiring masks in public indoor places after spending the previous months encouraging residents to adopt a culture of mask wearing .
Earlier this month , Polis called for a special session of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relief for businesses and residents affected by the pandemic .
The session begins Monday .

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis tests positive for COVID-19
Show Caption Hide Caption Flu vs. COVID-19: What are the differences? The flu and COVID-19 have many of the same symptoms. But there are differences. Holly Engelman/The Coloradoan, Wochit
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Colorado Gov. Jared Polis and first gentleman Marlon Reis have tested positive for COVID-19.
Polis had been in quarantine since Wednesday evening after finding out he was exposed to someone who tested positive. A test he took Wednesday came back negative.
In a statement released Saturday night, Polis said he and Reis were asymptomatic and will isolate at home.
"Marlon and I are feeling well so far, and are in good spirits," Polis said. "No person or family is immune to this virus."
He urged Coloradans to limit public interactions, to wear a mask in public, stay 6 feet from others and wash hands.
Emotional photo: Texas doctor embracing 'lonely' COVID-19 patient on Thanksgiving
In the nearly nine months since the pandemic began, Polis has held news conferences, at times daily, to implore Colorado residents to take precautions to slow the spread of the virus.
In July, he issued an order requiring masks in public indoor places after spending the previous months encouraging residents to adopt a culture of mask wearing.
Earlier this month, Polis called for a special session of the Colorado General Assembly to work on relief for businesses and residents affected by the pandemic. The session begins Monday.


usatoday--2020-11-29--'They're trying to take our votes away': Trump's effort would throw out ballots from 238,000 Wiscons

'They're trying to take our votes away': Trump's effort would throw out ballots from 238,000 Wisconsin voters

MILWAUKEE – In an election decided in Wisconsin by about 20,000 votes , President Donald Trump wants to throw out more than 200,000 ballots .
The Trump campaign is seeking to disqualify 238,420 ballots cast during the Nov. 3 election between Dane and Milwaukee counties , according to a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel analysis – an effort that has been unsuccessful so far as part of recounts in both counties but could end up in court .
Milwaukee County 's recount concluded Friday , with Democrat Joe Biden increasing his net margin of victory over Trump by 132 votes out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recount is expected to conclude Sunday .
The ballots Trump is seeking to disqualify affect voters who cast absentee ballots in person , known as early voting , and residents who identify themselves as `` indefinitely confined , '' allowing them to vote absentee without meeting the state photo ID requirements .
The Trump campaign argues voters who cast absentee ballots in person should be disqualified because the ballots did not include separate applications and that many more people claimed to be indefinitely confined than exist .
Now , the affected voters face @ @ @ @ @ @ @ following state guidance that was promoted widely , including by the president who at an Oct. 17 rally in Janesville told the crowd `` early voting begins on Tuesday so get out and vote . ''
`` I think they ’ re trying to take our votes away , '' said Mose Fuller , a pastor at St. Timothy Community Baptist Church on Milwaukee 's north side .
`` I personally think they are destroying the whole concept of what democracy is all about .
It ’ s an unpatriotic and un-American thing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Fuller , 69 , cast an absentee ballot in person at Milwaukee 's Midtown polling location , a voting center located among predominantly Black neighborhoods .
`` I made a conscious decision to vote early .
I want my vote to count , period , '' Fuller said .
`` I ’ ve been following the recount and I don ’ t agree with it .
It ’ s another way of people who are in power to just simply try to overturn the vote . ''
Rivera , who sits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Party of Milwaukee County , said he had no confidence in how the election was conducted in Wisconsin and believed Trump had won .
Rivera said he wanted to see large numbers of ballots thrown out — including his own .
“ As far as I ’ m concerned , as long as they take away all the ones that were done early and are mail-ins , then , yes , mine can go in the garbage too , ” Rivera said .
Wisconsin has long conducted early and mail-in voting the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ built by Republicans who controlled all of state government for eight years .
The Trump campaign is not challenging ballots cast in the very same way in other , more Republican counties , which threatens to create an uneven system where mainly Democrats are penalized for following the rules as they were instructed to do .
Cordelia Robinson , a retired Briggs & Stratton worker in her 60s , said Trump ca n't accept the defeat .
Robinson lives on Milwaukee 's north side and normally votes on Election Day .
But facing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ early at the Midtown polling location .
`` I had to go vote early otherwise I wouldn ’ t have been able to go and vote because of the surgery , '' Robinson said .
`` It didn ’ t take long .
It was very organized , very organized .
I think that ’ s why there was such a big turnout because of the early voting .
It was more convenient for everybody .
`` It 's just crazy , '' she said of the possibility that her ballot would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voters are spread evenly throughout the county , according to the Journal Sentinel analysis .
In Dane County , most of the ballots that would be tossed are concentrated in the city of Madison .
If successful , the Trump campaign would toss out votes from his own supporters like Rivera and other Republicans , including state Sen. Alberta Darling of River Hills and Rep. Jessie Rodriguez of Oak Creek , who both voted early .
Jacob Johnson , 32 , of Wauwatosa , also voted early on Oct. 23 with his wife @ @ @ @ @ @ @ convenience of the experience , `` I 'd be shocked if this is n't much more popular going forward . ''
He anticipated that if filed , the lawsuits would fail .
`` I think the individuals filing those lawsuits are grasping at straws at this point , '' he said .
`` I think it ’ s a last-ditch attempt to hold on to what little power they still have . ''
Trump limited his recount request to the state ’ s two most Democratic counties .
The counties ’ boards of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s sweeping requests to toss thousands of ballots , but the campaign could use those decisions to file a lawsuit and make Trump 's case to a judge .
The recount is expected to be finished by Sunday and the state Elections Commission plans to certify Wisconsin ’ s results on Tuesday .
The Trump campaign has focused on in-person absentee voters but also has repeatedly argued to toss votes from those who marked themselves indefinitely confined , like Tee Gee Levy and her husband , Alan Levy , of the north shore @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beyond senior .
We 're really old .
My husband just turned 80 and I 'm 78 .
So there was no way we were going to vote in person , '' Tee Gee Levy said .
`` It 's not justified at all .
I 'm surprised there are attorneys still going after it .
I wish more people would speak out . ''
Greg Lewis , executive director of voter outreach group Souls to the Polls and assistant pastor at St. Gabriel Church of God and Christ , said the Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ options in an effort to stay safe during the coronavirus pandemic .
Lewis and Souls to the Polls were part of a large group that sued the state ahead of the April election for state Supreme Court .
That lawsuit resulted in loosening some voting rules for that election because of the coronavirus pandemic , but the usual voting policies were put back in place for the November election .
`` Someone needs to make sense here , '' said Lewis , a Biden supporter .
`` We certainly had to be careful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s why the goal was to make it safe and simple for people to get out to vote . ''
`` That would be quite a reach to just blatantly discount people who came in to cast their votes early , '' he said .
`` It ’ s dumb , it ’ s stupid , it ’ s ignorant .
It doesn ’ t even make sense . ''

Molly Beck, Bill Glauber, Andrew Mollica and Patrick Marley, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

'They’re trying to take our votes away': Trump's effort would throw out ballots from 238,000 Wisconsin voters
Show Caption Hide Caption Trump says finally he will take part in peaceful transfer of power President Trump acknowledged for the first time that he would leave the White House when the Electoral College casts its formal vote for Joe Biden. USA TODAY, Associated Press
MILWAUKEE – In an election decided in Wisconsin by about 20,000 votes, President Donald Trump wants to throw out more than 200,000 ballots.
The Trump campaign is seeking to disqualify 238,420 ballots cast during the Nov. 3 election between Dane and Milwaukee counties, according to a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel analysis – an effort that has been unsuccessful so far as part of recounts in both counties but could end up in court.
Milwaukee County's recount concluded Friday, with Democrat Joe Biden increasing his net margin of victory over Trump by 132 votes out of nearly 460,000 cast. The Dane County recount is expected to conclude Sunday.
The ballots Trump is seeking to disqualify affect voters who cast absentee ballots in person, known as early voting, and residents who identify themselves as "indefinitely confined," allowing them to vote absentee without meeting the state photo ID requirements.
The Trump campaign argues voters who cast absentee ballots in person should be disqualified because the ballots did not include separate applications and that many more people claimed to be indefinitely confined than exist.
Now, the affected voters face losing their voice in the election after following state guidance that was promoted widely, including by the president who at an Oct. 17 rally in Janesville told the crowd "early voting begins on Tuesday so get out and vote."
"I think they’re trying to take our votes away," said Mose Fuller, a pastor at St. Timothy Community Baptist Church on Milwaukee's north side. "I personally think they are destroying the whole concept of what democracy is all about. It’s an unpatriotic and un-American thing that they’re trying to do."
Fuller, 69, cast an absentee ballot in person at Milwaukee's Midtown polling location, a voting center located among predominantly Black neighborhoods.
"I made a conscious decision to vote early. I want my vote to count, period," Fuller said. "I’ve been following the recount and I don’t agree with it. It’s another way of people who are in power to just simply try to overturn the vote."
But fellow early voter Perfecto Rivera disagrees.
Rivera, who sits on the executive board of the Republican Party of Milwaukee County, said he had no confidence in how the election was conducted in Wisconsin and believed Trump had won. Rivera said he wanted to see large numbers of ballots thrown out — including his own.
“As far as I’m concerned, as long as they take away all the ones that were done early and are mail-ins, then, yes, mine can go in the garbage too,” Rivera said.
Wisconsin has long conducted early and mail-in voting the same way under an election system that was built by Republicans who controlled all of state government for eight years.
The Trump campaign is not challenging ballots cast in the very same way in other, more Republican counties, which threatens to create an uneven system where mainly Democrats are penalized for following the rules as they were instructed to do.
Cordelia Robinson, a retired Briggs & Stratton worker in her 60s, said Trump can't accept the defeat.
Robinson lives on Milwaukee's north side and normally votes on Election Day. But facing knee surgery, she decided to vote early at the Midtown polling location.
"I had to go vote early otherwise I wouldn’t have been able to go and vote because of the surgery," Robinson said. "It didn’t take long. It was very organized, very organized. I think that’s why there was such a big turnout because of the early voting. It was more convenient for everybody.
"It's just crazy," she said of the possibility that her ballot would be tossed.
In Milwaukee County, affected voters are spread evenly throughout the county, according to the Journal Sentinel analysis. In Dane County, most of the ballots that would be tossed are concentrated in the city of Madison.
If successful, the Trump campaign would toss out votes from his own supporters like Rivera and other Republicans, including state Sen. Alberta Darling of River Hills and Rep. Jessie Rodriguez of Oak Creek, who both voted early.
Jacob Johnson, 32, of Wauwatosa, also voted early on Oct. 23 with his wife, Kaitlyn. He said given the convenience of the experience, "I'd be shocked if this isn't much more popular going forward."
He anticipated that if filed, the lawsuits would fail.
"I think the individuals filing those lawsuits are grasping at straws at this point," he said. "I think it’s a last-ditch attempt to hold on to what little power they still have."
Trump limited his recount request to the state’s two most Democratic counties. The counties’ boards of canvassers have rejected the Trump campaign’s sweeping requests to toss thousands of ballots, but the campaign could use those decisions to file a lawsuit and make Trump's case to a judge.
The recount is expected to be finished by Sunday and the state Elections Commission plans to certify Wisconsin’s results on Tuesday.
The Trump campaign has focused on in-person absentee voters but also has repeatedly argued to toss votes from those who marked themselves indefinitely confined, like Tee Gee Levy and her husband, Alan Levy, of the north shore village of Bayside.
"We're beyond senior. We're really old. My husband just turned 80 and I'm 78. So there was no way we were going to vote in person," Tee Gee Levy said. "It's not justified at all. I'm surprised there are attorneys still going after it. I wish more people would speak out."
Greg Lewis, executive director of voter outreach group Souls to the Polls and assistant pastor at St. Gabriel Church of God and Christ, said the Trump campaign is targeting voters who utilized long-standing options in an effort to stay safe during the coronavirus pandemic.
Lewis and Souls to the Polls were part of a large group that sued the state ahead of the April election for state Supreme Court.
That lawsuit resulted in loosening some voting rules for that election because of the coronavirus pandemic, but the usual voting policies were put back in place for the November election.
"Someone needs to make sense here," said Lewis, a Biden supporter. "We certainly had to be careful with connecting with other people. That’s why the goal was to make it safe and simple for people to get out to vote."
"That would be quite a reach to just blatantly discount people who came in to cast their votes early," he said. "It’s dumb, it’s stupid, it’s ignorant. It doesn’t even make sense."
Follow Molly Beck on Twitter at @MollyBeck.


usatoday--2020-11-28--Ex-Trump campaign adviser Carter Page sues FBI, Comey, McCabe and others for $75M over Russia probe

Former Trump campaign associate Carter Page filed a $ 75 million federal lawsuit against the Department of Justice and the FBI in Washinton on Friday .
The lawsuit seeks relief for `` multiple violations '' of Page ’ s `` Constitutional and other legal rights in connection with unlawful surveillance and investigation of him by the United States Government . ''
Page claims to have been targeted by the FBI because of his work with President Donald Trump ’ s 2016 campaign .
The complaints made in the lawsuit refers to four warrant applications by the FBI to electronically survey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ false and misleading.
” Earlier this year , the Justice Department recognized that it had “ insufficient ” cause to continue their wiretaps of Page , which was a part of their investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election .
The department also found that at least two of the four warrants used to survey Page lacked `` probable cause '' to support the allegation that Page was working as a Russian agent .
Last year , a report released by Michael Horowitz , the Justice Department inspector general , found inaccuracies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ justification for monitoring Page .
Despite the identified inaccuracies , Horowitz determined that the FBI was justified in launching its investigation into the Kremlin 's interference effort .
'Certinaly I will ' : Trump says he would be part of a peaceful transfer of power More : DOJ set to execute more federal prisoners before Inauguration Day Page also accuses the FBI of extensively relying on information and documents from Christopher Steele , a former British spy .
The lawsuit states that the FBI relied on Steele while knowing he `` had been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hillary Clinton presidential campaign to perform 'political opposition research ' and dig up dirt on a connection between the Trump campaign and Russia in order to divert attention from the investigation of Clinton ’ s email practices while she was Secretary of State . ''
And Page ’ s complaint accuses the FBI of denying his relationship with the CIA in order to get the warrants .
Page was an `` operational contact '' between 2008 and 2013 , assisting the CIA in “ combatting intelligence-related activities pursued by Russia and other foreign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' according to the lawsuit .
In August , former FBI lawyer Kevin Clinesmith pleaded guilty to falsifying a government email , saying that Page hadn ’ t been a CIA source .
In addition to the FBI and the Department of Justice , Page ’ s lawsuit also names former FBI Director James Comey , former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe , Clinesmith and other officials as defendants .

Ex-Trump campaign adviser Carter Page sues FBI, Comey, McCabe and others for $75M over Russia probe surveillance
Show Caption Hide Caption Trump says finally he will take part in peaceful transfer of power President Trump acknowledged for the first time that he would leave the White House when the Electoral College casts its formal vote for Joe Biden. USA TODAY, Associated Press
Former Trump campaign associate Carter Page filed a $75 million federal lawsuit against the Department of Justice and the FBI in Washinton on Friday.
The lawsuit seeks relief for "multiple violations" of Page’s "Constitutional and other legal rights in connection with unlawful surveillance and investigation of him by the United States Government."
Page claims to have been targeted by the FBI because of his work with President Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign.
The complaints made in the lawsuit refers to four warrant applications by the FBI to electronically survey Page, which the document calls “false and misleading.”
Earlier this year, the Justice Department recognized that it had “insufficient” cause to continue their wiretaps of Page, which was a part of their investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election. The department also found that at least two of the four warrants used to survey Page lacked "probable cause" to support the allegation that Page was working as a Russian agent.
Last year, a report released by Michael Horowitz, the Justice Department inspector general, found inaccuracies in multiple surveillance applications, exaggerating the justification for monitoring Page. Despite the identified inaccuracies, Horowitz determined that the FBI was justified in launching its investigation into the Kremlin's interference effort.
'Certinaly I will': Trump says he would be part of a peaceful transfer of power
More: DOJ set to execute more federal prisoners before Inauguration Day
Page also accuses the FBI of extensively relying on information and documents from Christopher Steele, a former British spy.
The lawsuit states that the FBI relied on Steele while knowing he "had been paid by the Democratic Party and/or the Hillary Clinton presidential campaign to perform 'political opposition research' and dig up dirt on a connection between the Trump campaign and Russia in order to divert attention from the investigation of Clinton’s email practices while she was Secretary of State."
And Page’s complaint accuses the FBI of denying his relationship with the CIA in order to get the warrants.
Page was an "operational contact" between 2008 and 2013, assisting the CIA in “combatting intelligence-related activities pursued by Russia and other foreign countries against the United States’ interest," according to the lawsuit.
In August, former FBI lawyer Kevin Clinesmith pleaded guilty to falsifying a government email, saying that Page hadn’t been a CIA source.
In addition to the FBI and the Department of Justice, Page’s lawsuit also names former FBI Director James Comey, former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, Clinesmith and other officials as defendants.
More: President Trump pardons ex-national security adviser Michael Flynn; ends three-year legal odyssey
Contributing: The Associated Press


usatoday--2020-11-29--College football winners and losers from Week 13: Michigan, Notre Dame and Texas

Penn State beat Michigan 27-17 for its first win of the season , snapping the worst start in program history and dropping the hapless Wolverines to 2-4 amid questions over coach Jim Harbaugh 's immediate future .
Those questions may not have any basis in reality : Harbaugh 's contract does not expire after next season , leaving plenty of time for both parties to reconvene and recommit to a longer partnership .
The better question asks whether Michigan and Harbaugh believe there is reason to maintain the relationship long into the future given this year 's slide into irrelevancy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feels like the lowest point of this already lost season , which had already surfed through a series of low moments — losing to Michigan State , getting blown out by Wisconsin , even needing overtime to rally back and beat Rutgers a week ago .
Barring a miraculous upset win against Ohio State next month , should that game be played as scheduled , Michigan will finish with a losing record for the first time since 2009 and just the fourth time since 1968 .
As a program , Michigan has ceded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have lapped the field , and fallen behind several others in the Big Ten .
Is there one missing ingredient that would vault the Wolverines back into the College Football Playoff in 2021 ?
Is the strangeness of this offseason and regular season to blame for the Wolverines ' plummet ?
HISTORY MADE : Vanderbilt 's Sarah Fuller is first female player in Power Five Here are the rest of the winners and losers from Week 13 , including the games played Friday : The Bulls are the class of the MAC and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beating Kent State 70-41 in a battle of the league 's two best offenses .
The win moves Buffalo to 22-9 since the start of the 2018 season under coach Lance Leipold , who will be in the running for Power Five job openings .
The biggest star of the day : Buffalo running back Jaret Patterson tied the Bowl Subdivision single-game record with eight rushing touchdowns and ran for 409 yards , 18 shy of the FBS record .
Patterson scored more touchdowns Saturday alone than 10 teams have scored this entire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Auburn 42-13 to win this year 's Iron Bowl without coach Nick Saban , who missed Saturday after testing positive for COVID-19 .
While contributing to a more conservative approach , Saban 's absence did n't seemed to play a huge role in the bottom line : Alabama racked up 445 yards of offense , quarterback Mac Jones completed just under 70 % of his throws with five touchdowns ( two to star receiver DeVonta Smith ) and the defense forced two turnovers and held Auburn to 2.9 yards per carry , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made Alabama the team to beat in the SEC and in the race for the national championship .
IRON BOWL : No .
1 Alabama needs no magic or Nick Saban to rout Auburn After more than a month on the sidelines , Lawrence had 403 passing yards in leading Clemson to a 52-17 win against Pittsburgh .
It was over early : Lawrence threw for 208 yards and a pair of touchdowns as the Tigers took a 31-0 lead at the end of the first quarter .
While the Panthers doomed themselves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Clemson would rebound from a loss to Notre Dame earlier this month and round back into form heading into December is not surprising in the least .
The Egg Bowl took on two new coaches — Lane Kiffin at Ole Miss , Mike Leach at Mississippi State — but stayed pretty wacky , as the two teams combined for more than 1,000 yards of offense , 99 pass attempts and 47 first downs in the Rebels ' 31-24 win .
MSU drove to the Ole Miss 36-yard line and had time for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which fell incomplete .
After exploding onto the SEC scene with a win against LSU in Leach 's debut , the Bulldogs have dropped six of seven but played better in their last three games .
After a fast-paced first quarter , Notre Dame slowed the tempo into its comfort zone against North Carolina and pulled away in the second half to beat the North Carolina 31-17 and remain on track for the College Football Playoff .
Another very solid performance on defense — the Irish held UNC to under 300 yards of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in check — was joined by the latest strong showing from Ian Book , who threw for 279 yards and added another 48 yards on the ground .
Here are the two latest achievements for the Cyclones under Matt Campbell , who for all his recent accomplishments might remain the most underrated coach in college football .
The first : Iowa State has now beat Texas twice in a row for the first time in program history .
Like last year 's 23-21 win , which came via a field goal as time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sealed late in the fourth quarter on running back Breece Hall 's short touchdown run and the Cyclones ' ensuing defensive stand .
And the second likely achievement : Campbell will have Iowa State in the Big 12 championship game , playing for the program 's first conference title of any kind since 1912 .
Northwestern 's unbeaten start ended with a thud , as Michigan State took a 17-0 lead , weathered the Wildcats ' comeback and notched the game-winning score with more than three minutes left to win 29-20 .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tucker 's first season , joining an earlier win against Rutgers .
For Northwestern , the loss eliminates the odds of a winner-take-all Big Ten championship game against Ohio State with immense playoff stakes , even if the Wildcats remain in firm control of the West division .
NEW LOOK : Michigan State shakes up Big Ten race by beating Northwestern More than a few could 've pulled the trigger on the former and current Rutgers coach , who now has the Scarlet Knights at 2-4 and ahead of Penn State and Michigan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Purdue 37-30 .
With those two Big Ten victories , Schiano has in six games notched half as many league wins as Rutgers compiled from 2015-19 .
A poor second half in a loss to Tulsa on Nov. 14 carried over to the first half of a surprising 52-38 loss to East Carolina , putting SMU into too deep a hole to pull of a ferocious comeback .
Down 45-7 after 30 minutes , the Mustangs scored on five of their first six drives to open the second half to draw within 14 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A pair of interceptions allowed ECU to hold on , dropping SMU to 7-3 and into the bottom half of the American standings .
Syracuse football in a nutshell : Down 36-29 to North Carolina State but inside the red zone , facing a fourth down with seconds left but with time enough to run one more play , the Orange ... spiked the ball .
Game over .
N.C. State wins .
Syracuse is now 1-9 .
Yikes .
That 10-3 season in 2018 seems like a long time ago .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tom Herman after Friday 's loss shattered the Longhorns ' hopes of reaching the Big 12 championship game .
Herman is now 30-18 overall and 21-13 in league play since his debut in 2017 with increasingly diminishing returns since a 10-4 finish in 2018 , which was viewed in some corners as the beginning of the program 's return to national prominence .
Texas should rebound to beat Kansas State and Kansas to finish the year 7-3 and might even sneak into the Amway Coaches Poll , but the 2020 season feels like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now lost six straight to rival Iowa , the last three by single digits .
Nebraska had a shot in the fourth quarter of Friday 's 26-20 loss but failed to capitalize on two scoring opportunities , the first by fumbling away a punt return and the second via an interception .
This has become the painful expectation : Scott Frost 's teams will surround bursts of energy with long stretches of sloppiness .
With as many as three games left to play this season , Nebraska 's 19 losses since the start @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most over a three-year span since 1957-59 .

College football winners and losers from Week 13: Michigan, Notre Dame and Texas
Show Caption Hide Caption What the committee got right, and wrong, in first CFP rankings SportsPulse: Dan Wolken details what the College Football Playoff committee got right and wrong in the first ranking of the season. SportsPulse, USA TODAY
Penn State beat Michigan 27-17 for its first win of the season, snapping the worst start in program history and dropping the hapless Wolverines to 2-4 amid questions over coach Jim Harbaugh's immediate future.
Those questions may not have any basis in reality: Harbaugh's contract does not expire untilafter next season, leaving plenty of time for both parties to reconvene and recommit to a longer partnership.
The better question asks whether Michigan and Harbaugh believe there is reason to maintain the relationship long into the future given this year's slide into irrelevancy.
Losing to previously winless Penn State feels like the lowest point of this already lost season, which had already surfed through a series of low moments — losing to Michigan State, getting blown out by Wisconsin, even needing overtime to rally back and beat Rutgers a week ago.
Barring a miraculous upset win against Ohio State next month, should that game be played as scheduled, Michigan will finish with a losing record for the first time since 2009 and just the fourth time since 1968.
As a program, Michigan has ceded enormous ground to the Buckeyes, which have lapped the field, and fallen behind several others in the Big Ten. Is there one missing ingredient that would vault the Wolverines back into the College Football Playoff in 2021? Is the strangeness of this offseason and regular season to blame for the Wolverines' plummet?
HISTORY MADE: Vanderbilt's Sarah Fuller is first female player in Power Five
COSTLY WIN: No. 12 Indiana beats Maryland, but loses quarterback Penix
Here are the rest of the winners and losers from Week 13, including the games played Friday:
Winners
Buffalo
The Bulls are the class of the MAC and a contender for the Top 25 after beating Kent State 70-41 in a battle of the league's two best offenses. The win moves Buffalo to 22-9 since the start of the 2018 season under coach Lance Leipold, who will be in the running for Power Five job openings. The biggest star of the day: Buffalo running back Jaret Patterson tied the Bowl Subdivision single-game record with eight rushing touchdowns and ran for 409 yards, 18 shy of the FBS record. Patterson scored more touchdowns Saturday alone than 10 teams have scored this entire season.
Alabama
The Crimson Tide sailed past Auburn 42-13 to win this year's Iron Bowl without coach Nick Saban, who missed Saturday after testing positive for COVID-19. While contributing to a more conservative approach, Saban's absence didn't seemed to play a huge role in the bottom line: Alabama racked up 445 yards of offense, quarterback Mac Jones completed just under 70% of his throws with five touchdowns (two to star receiver DeVonta Smith) and the defense forced two turnovers and held Auburn to 2.9 yards per carry, in the sort of all-around effort that has made Alabama the team to beat in the SEC and in the race for the national championship.
IRON BOWL: No. 1 Alabama needs no magic or Nick Saban to rout Auburn
Trevor Lawrence
After more than a month on the sidelines, Lawrence had 403 passing yards in leading Clemson to a 52-17 win against Pittsburgh. It was over early: Lawrence threw for 208 yards and a pair of touchdowns as the Tigers took a 31-0 lead at the end of the first quarter. While the Panthers doomed themselves with sloppy play and five turnovers, that Clemson would rebound from a loss to Notre Dame earlier this month and round back into form heading into December is not surprising in the least.
Mississippi
The Egg Bowl took on two new coaches — Lane Kiffin at Ole Miss, Mike Leach at Mississippi State — but stayed pretty wacky, as the two teams combined for more than 1,000 yards of offense, 99 pass attempts and 47 first downs in the Rebels' 31-24 win. MSU drove to the Ole Miss 36-yard line and had time for one shot at the end zone, which fell incomplete. After exploding onto the SEC scene with a win against LSU in Leach's debut, the Bulldogs have dropped six of seven but played better in their last three games.
Washington
The Huskies reversed a 21-0 halftime deficit and beat Utah 24-21 on a late touchdown pass by quarterback Dylan Morris, who overcame a shaky first half to keep UW unbeaten through three games. Morris completed six passes for 71 yards on the game-winning drive, which spanned 88 yards on 12 plays, and finished with 272 passing yards and two scores. The Huskies' 21-point comeback was the program's first since doing so against California in 1988.
Texas A&M
One year after losing 50-7 to LSU, the Aggies flipped the script and suffocated the Tigers in a 20-7 win. The switch illustrates the changed fortunes of these two programs since the end of last season: A&M has soared into the playoff chase as one of the top contenders for the top four while LSU has fallen from 15-0 to 3-4 and, with Alabama and Florida ahead, the strong possibility of a losing finish. The Aggies are sitting at 6-1 with games against Auburn and Tennessee to end the regular season.
Notre Dame
After a fast-paced first quarter, Notre Dame slowed the tempo into its comfort zone against North Carolina and pulled away in the second half to beat the North Carolina 31-17 and remain on track for the College Football Playoff. Another very solid performance on defense — the Irish held UNC to under 300 yards of total offense and held quarterback Sam Howell in check — was joined by the latest strong showing from Ian Book, who threw for 279 yards and added another 48 yards on the ground.
Iowa State
Here are the two latest achievements for the Cyclones under Matt Campbell, who for all his recent accomplishments might remain the most underrated coach in college football. The first: Iowa State has now beat Texas twice in a row for the first time in program history. Like last year's 23-21 win, which came via a field goal as time expired, Friday's 23-20 victory was sealed late in the fourth quarter on running back Breece Hall's short touchdown run and the Cyclones' ensuing defensive stand. And the second likely achievement: Campbell will have Iowa State in the Big 12 championship game, playing for the program's first conference title of any kind since 1912.
Losers
Northwestern
Northwestern's unbeaten start ended with a thud, as Michigan State took a 17-0 lead, weathered the Wildcats' comeback and notched the game-winning score with more than three minutes left to win 29-20. This is the second significant upset of Mel Tucker's first season, joining an earlier win against Rutgers. For Northwestern, the loss eliminates the odds of a winner-take-all Big Ten championship game against Ohio State with immense playoff stakes, even if the Wildcats remain in firm control of the West division.
NEW LOOK: Michigan State shakes up Big Ten race by beating Northwestern
Schools that could've hired Greg Schiano
More than a few could've pulled the trigger on the former and current Rutgers coach, who now has the Scarlet Knights at 2-4 and ahead of Penn State and Michigan in the Big Ten East after beating Purdue 37-30. With those two Big Ten victories, Schiano has in six games notched half as many league wins as Rutgers compiled from 2015-19.
SMU
A poor second half in a loss to Tulsa on Nov. 14 carried over to the first half of a surprising 52-38 loss to East Carolina, putting SMU into too deep a hole to pull of a ferocious comeback. Down 45-7 after 30 minutes, the Mustangs scored on five of their first six drives to open the second half to draw within 14 points midway through the fourth quarter. A pair of interceptions allowed ECU to hold on, dropping SMU to 7-3 and into the bottom half of the American standings.
Syracuse
Syracuse football in a nutshell: Down 36-29 to North Carolina State but inside the red zone, facing a fourth down with seconds left but with time enough to run one more play, the Orange ... spiked the ball. Game over. N.C. State wins. Syracuse is now 1-9. Yikes. That 10-3 season in 2018 seems like a long time ago.
Texas
The pressure is higher than ever on coach Tom Herman after Friday's loss shattered the Longhorns' hopes of reaching the Big 12 championship game. Herman is now 30-18 overall and 21-13 in league play since his debut in 2017 with increasingly diminishing returns since a 10-4 finish in 2018, which was viewed in some corners as the beginning of the program's return to national prominence. Texas should rebound to beat Kansas State and Kansas to finish the year 7-3 and might even sneak into the Amway Coaches Poll, but the 2020 season feels like another missed opportunity.
Nebraska
The Cornhuskers have now lost six straight to rival Iowa, the last three by single digits. Nebraska had a shot in the fourth quarter of Friday's 26-20 loss but failed to capitalize on two scoring opportunities, the first by fumbling away a punt return and the second via an interception. This has become the painful expectation: Scott Frost's teams will surround bursts of energy with long stretches of sloppiness. With as many as three games left to play this season, Nebraska's 19 losses since the start of 2018 tie for the program's most over a three-year span since 1957-59.


usatoday--2020-11-28--Not a hearing: Arizona legislators, Trump lawyers plan public meeting on election at Phoenix hotel M

PHOENIX — Arizona legislators and lawyers for President Donald Trump will hold a meeting at a downtown hotel on Monday to discuss the election as they continue to dispute his defeat earlier this month despite there being no evidence of widespread fraud .
The gathering may rally Trump supporters and provide counter-programming on the same morning Arizona 's secretary of state is scheduled to certify President-elect Joe Biden ’ s victory in the state , but it is unclear how legislators could do much of anything about the outcome of the race .
While the Trump campaign andstateRepublican Party have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they have not put forward evidence of fraud and judges have so far tossed out the cases .
Republic Gov .
Doug Ducey said earlier this week that he trusts the state 's election system after he had held off acknowledging Biden had won the state , citing the court cases that were ongoing .
`` I 've said several times : Arizona is a good government state , '' Ducey said Tuesday .
`` I trust our election system .
There 's integrity in our election system .
Joe Biden did win @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he would chair Monday 's meeting , Rep. Mark Finchem , R-Oro Valley , said his `` worst fears have come to light '' after `` examining potential fraud pathways and illegal actions through which our 2020 election could have been tainted . ''
Trump $ 3M Wisconsin recount : Milwaukee County presidential recount wraps up with Biden adding to his margin over Trump 'Goals might not be met ' : Donor to pro-Trump group sues to get his money back after dropped election lawsuits The meeting at the Hyatt Regency in downtown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Legislature as Finchem and Trump campaign 's legal team have cast it .
The state Legislature is not in session .
The speaker of the House of Representatives and the president of the Senate can call for committee meetings in between sessions but they have not authorized the event .
Finchem said he requested approval a few weeks ago for a meeting of the House Federal Relations Committee , which he chairs , but has not received authorization from House leadership .
`` After a review of the statistical anomalies , and there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] , affidavits of improper actions and community outrage that has grown out of what appears to voters to be an attempt to throw the election through a number of fraudulent efforts , we decided as Members of the Legislature , and not as members of any specific committee , that we should move forward with a public hearing , ” Finchem wrote in a press release .
Jenna Ellis , a lawyer for the president , wrote Friday that she would be present along with Rudy Giuliani , the most prominent figure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ efforts .
But the invitation said the president ’ s legal team would be “ present from DC , '' suggesting at least some of the participants may appear via videoconference .
The event is scheduled to last from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. MST , with an hour-long break for lunch at noon .
Attendance has been limited due to COVID-19 and tickets for the public were entirely booked as of Friday afternoon .
Finchem 's press release said the event would be streamed online .
'No merit ' : Appeals court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden 's win in Pennsylvania More : Disinformation fears came true for election officials .
What does that mean for future elections ?
Aim is to convene special legislative session , but what then ?
A public invitation for the Phoenix event said the “ goal will be to gather the evidence that justifies calling a special session to contemplate what happened and take immediate action accordingly . ''
It remains unclear what legislators could do about the presidential election .
It 's also unclear that they could convince Ducey to call a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats to muster the supermajority needed to call a special session without the governor ’ s approval .
The U.S. Constitution gives the Legislature the job of deciding how the state 's presidential electors will be chosen .
But the Arizona Legislature has tasked voters with choosing those electors on Election Day .
A `` faithless elector '' provision in state law , and backed by Republicans , requires the electors to cast their votes for the presidential candidate who wins the most votes in the state .
Senate Republicans asked lawyers at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opinion on the issue .
The response : The Legislature would have to change these laws to change how presidential electors are appointed .
Even then , the opinion said , the changes could not apply to this election because voters have already chosen the electors at the ballot box .
Fact check : False claim that electronic voting software companies Dominion and Smartmatic have closed 'Do n't talk to me that way ' : Trump lashes out at White House reporter over election question

Not a hearing: Arizona legislators, Trump lawyers plan public meeting on election at Phoenix hotel Monday
PHOENIX — Arizona legislators and lawyers for President Donald Trump will hold a meeting at a downtown hotel on Monday to discuss the election as they continue to dispute his defeat earlier this month despite there being no evidence of widespread fraud.
The gathering may rally Trump supporters and provide counter-programming on the same morning Arizona's secretary of state is scheduled to certify President-elect Joe Biden’s victory in the state, but it is unclear how legislators could do much of anything about the outcome of the race.
While the Trump campaign and state Republican Party have filed election lawsuits in Maricopa County, they have not put forward evidence of fraud and judges have so far tossed out the cases.
Republic Gov. Doug Ducey said earlier this week that he trusts the state's election system after he had held off acknowledging Biden had won the state, citing the court cases that were ongoing.
"I've said several times: Arizona is a good government state," Ducey said Tuesday. "I trust our election system. There's integrity in our election system. Joe Biden did win Arizona."
Nevertheless, in announcing he would chair Monday's meeting, Rep. Mark Finchem, R-Oro Valley, said his "worst fears have come to light" after "examining potential fraud pathways and illegal actions through which our 2020 election could have been tainted."
Trump $3M Wisconsin recount: Milwaukee County presidential recount wraps up with Biden adding to his margin over Trump
'Goals might not be met': Donor to pro-Trump group sues to get his money back after dropped election lawsuits
Not a legislative hearing
The meeting at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Phoenix is not a hearing of the Legislature as Finchem and Trump campaign's legal team have cast it.
The state Legislature is not in session. The speaker of the House of Representatives and the president of the Senate can call for committee meetings in between sessions but they have not authorized the event.
Finchem said he requested approval a few weeks ago for a meeting of the House Federal Relations Committee, which he chairs, but has not received authorization from House leadership.
"After a review of the statistical anomalies, and there are to numbers to count [sic], affidavits of improper actions and community outrage that has grown out of what appears to voters to be an attempt to throw the election through a number of fraudulent efforts, we decided as Members of the Legislature, and not as members of any specific committee, that we should move forward with a public hearing,” Finchem wrote in a press release.
Jenna Ellis, a lawyer for the president, wrote Friday that she would be present along with Rudy Giuliani, the most prominent figure in the Trump campaign’s legal efforts. But the invitation said the president’s legal team would be “present from DC," suggesting at least some of the participants may appear via videoconference.
The event is scheduled to last from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. MST, with an hour-long break for lunch at noon. Attendance has been limited due to COVID-19 and tickets for the public were entirely booked as of Friday afternoon. Finchem's press release said the event would be streamed online.
'No merit': Appeals court denies Trump campaign's effort to overturn Biden's win in Pennsylvania
More: Disinformation fears came true for election officials. What does that mean for future elections?
Aim is to convene special legislative session, but what then?
A public invitation for the Phoenix event said the “goal will be to gather the evidence that justifies calling a special session to contemplate what happened and take immediate action accordingly."
It remains unclear what legislators could do about the presidential election. It's also unclear that they could convince Ducey to call a special session or somehow bring on board Democrats to muster the supermajority needed to call a special session without the governor’s approval.
The U.S. Constitution gives the Legislature the job of deciding how the state's presidential electors will be chosen. But the Arizona Legislature has tasked voters with choosing those electors on Election Day.
A "faithless elector" provision in state law, and backed by Republicans, requires the electors to cast their votes for the presidential candidate who wins the most votes in the state.
Senate Republicans asked lawyers at the Legislature this month to issue an opinion on the issue. The response: The Legislature would have to change these laws to change how presidential electors are appointed.
Even then, the opinion said, the changes could not apply to this election because voters have already chosen the electors at the ballot box.
Follow Andrew Oxford on Twitter at @andrewboxford.
Fact check: False claim that electronic voting software companies Dominion and Smartmatic have closed
'Don't talk to me that way': Trump lashes out at White House reporter over election question


usatoday--2020-11-28--Detroit Lions fire coach Matt Patricia, general manager Bob Quinn after disastrous tenure

The Detroit Lions put an end to the Quinn-tricia era Saturday , firing general manager Bob Quinn and head coach Matt Patricia two days after their team ’ s 41-25 Thanksgiving loss to the Houston Texans .
A four-time Super Bowl champion with the New England Patriots , Quinn replaced Martin Mayhew as general manager in January 2016 and two years later brought his friend , Patricia , to Detroit .
The two were tasked with elevating the Lions from their perpetual state of mediocrity to a perennial playoff contender , and instead brought more despair to a franchise that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1992 .
The Lions went 13-29-1 with Quinn and Patricia in charge and are in the midst of their third consecutive losing season at 4-7 .
Patricia ’ s .314 winning percentage was far below that of the man he replaced .
Jim Caldwell , who Quinn fired after going 9-7 in 2017 , won 54.5 % of his games , best among full-time Lions coaches in the expansion era .
RB ON A ROLL : Nick Chubb 's return a great omen for Browns chances to end playoff drought Mired in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of their last five games by double digits and facing widespread fan acrimony , the Lions , in their first major move of Sheila Ford Hamp 's tenure as owner , made the rare decision to fire their chief football leaders in-season .
In 2015 , Hamp ’ s mother , Martha Firestone Ford , fired Mayhew and president Tom Lewand after a 1-7 start in a move that led to Quinn ’ s eventual hire .
In 2005 , Lions GM Matt Millen dismissed Steve Mariucci as head coach on Thanksgiving weekend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lions into Super Bowl contenders , Patricia ’ s time as coach instead was marred by embarrassing moments and unacceptable defeats .
Months after Patricia was hired , it was revealed he was indicted on a sexual-assault charge as a college student at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1996 .
Patricia denied the claim and the case never went to trial , but the accusation marred the rest of his tenure in Detroit .
He alienated large portions of the locker room his first two seasons with an overbearing approach that many Caldwell holdovers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — his area of expertise as an assistant — ranked among the worst in the NFL .
The Lions lost nine games in which they held double-digit leads under Patricia , most in the league , and suffered 11 straight losses during the 2019-20 seasons .
This year , they squandered leads of 17 , 11 and 14 points against the Chicago Bears , Green Bay Packers and New Orleans Saints , and were wholly uncompetitive for long stretches of two of those games .
They entered their October bye week 1-3 and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ North , then failed to take advantage of a favorable schedule coming out of the bye that included six games against sub-.500 teams in seven weeks .
After beating the Atlanta Falcons and Jacksonville Jaguars after the bye , the Lions lost four of their next five games , all by double digits .
Patricia tried to defend his late-game coaching acumen after the Bears loss by pointing to a defensive stop the Patriots made in Super Bowl XLIX , when he was defensive coordinator , saying , `` I think I did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ angered former players a few weeks later by casually referring to the size of the rebuild he inherited with the Lions , saying , “ Certainly , I think when I came to Detroit there was a lot of work to do.
” The Lions won nine games in each of the two seasons before Patricia arrived in Detroit , and made the playoffs as a wildcard in 2016 .
In Patricia ’ s first season as head coach in 2018 , the Lions stumbled to 6-10 and lost to rookie quarterbacks Sam @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Lions went 3-12-1 , their worst record since 2010 , as quarterback Matthew Stafford missed half the season with a back injury .
Stafford played at an MVP level early in the year , but has not had the same success this fall .
At 32 , Stafford ’ s future , like that of many in the organization , is in doubt as the Lions embark on hiring their fourth coach in 12 years .
Over that period , which spans Stafford ’ s entire career , the Lions have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ playoff appearances and won zero postseason games .
Two years ago , Quinn interviewed five candidates in addition to Patricia for the job , though Patricia was the runaway favorite : Mike Vrabel , now the coach of the Tennessee Titans ; Pat Shurmur , who was fired last season as Giants head coach ; Winston Moss , who last worked as a general manager in the XFL ; and former Lions coordinators Jim Bob Cooter and Teryl Austin , who were considered token interviews at the time since they remained under contract @ @ @ @ @ @ @ job .
This year ’ s pool of top coaching candidates still is sorting itself out , but Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy and San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh are considered rising stars .
Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll , a former Patriots assistant who previously worked with Quinn and has helped the Bills become an AFC power , and Titans offensive coordinator Arthur Smith are other top candidates .
In the college ranks , Oklahoma ’ s Lincoln Riley and Stanford 's David Shaw have long been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s unlikely the Lions have the cache to lure either to the NFL .
Former Ohio State coach Urban Meyer acknowledged last year he is open to a return to the sidelines , and Iowa State 's Matt Campbell will be of interest to teams looking for previous head coaching experience .
The Lions are one of three teams currently with a head-coaching vacancy , though as many as five more jobs could open by the end of the year .
The Texans fired Bill O ’ Brien , another ex-Patriots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ start , and the Falcons fired Dan Quinn and general manager Thomas Dimitroff a week later after starting 0-5 .
Both teams are looking for new head coaches and GMs .
Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett @ freepress.com .
Follow him on Twitter @ davebirkett .

Detroit Lions fire coach Matt Patricia, general manager Bob Quinn after disastrous tenure
The Detroit Lions put an end to the Quinn-tricia era Saturday, firing general manager Bob Quinn and head coach Matt Patricia two days after their team’s 41-25 Thanksgiving loss to the Houston Texans.
A four-time Super Bowl champion with the New England Patriots, Quinn replaced Martin Mayhew as general manager in January 2016 and two years later brought his friend, Patricia, to Detroit.
The two were tasked with elevating the Lions from their perpetual state of mediocrity to a perennial playoff contender, and instead brought more despair to a franchise that has not won a playoff game since 1992.
The Lions went 13-29-1 with Quinn and Patricia in charge and are in the midst of their third consecutive losing season at 4-7. Patricia’s .314 winning percentage was far below that of the man he replaced. Jim Caldwell, who Quinn fired after going 9-7 in 2017, won 54.5% of his games, best among full-time Lions coaches in the expansion era.
RB ON A ROLL: Nick Chubb's return a great omen for Browns chances to end playoff drought
Mired in a two-game losing streak, having lost four of their last five games by double digits and facing widespread fan acrimony, the Lions, in their first major move of Sheila Ford Hamp's tenure as owner, made the rare decision to fire their chief football leaders in-season.
In 2015, Hamp’s mother, Martha Firestone Ford, fired Mayhew and president Tom Lewand after a 1-7 start in a move that led to Quinn’s eventual hire. In 2005, Lions GM Matt Millen dismissed Steve Mariucci as head coach on Thanksgiving weekend.
Hand-picked by Quinn to turn the Lions into Super Bowl contenders, Patricia’s time as coach instead was marred by embarrassing moments and unacceptable defeats.
Months after Patricia was hired, it was revealed he was indicted on a sexual-assault charge as a college student at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1996. Patricia denied the claim and the case never went to trial, but the accusation marred the rest of his tenure in Detroit.
He alienated large portions of the locker room his first two seasons with an overbearing approach that many Caldwell holdovers despised, and this year his defense — his area of expertise as an assistant — ranked among the worst in the NFL.
The Lions lost nine games in which they held double-digit leads under Patricia, most in the league, and suffered 11 straight losses during the 2019-20 seasons.
This year, they squandered leads of 17, 11 and 14 points against the Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers and New Orleans Saints, and were wholly uncompetitive for long stretches of two of those games.
They entered their October bye week 1-3 and tied for last place in the NFC North, then failed to take advantage of a favorable schedule coming out of the bye that included six games against sub-.500 teams in seven weeks. After beating the Atlanta Falcons and Jacksonville Jaguars after the bye, the Lions lost four of their next five games, all by double digits.
Patricia tried to defend his late-game coaching acumen after the Bears loss by pointing to a defensive stop the Patriots made in Super Bowl XLIX, when he was defensive coordinator, saying, "I think I did pretty good job." And he angered former players a few weeks later by casually referring to the size of the rebuild he inherited with the Lions, saying, “Certainly, I think when I came to Detroit there was a lot of work to do.”
The Lions won nine games in each of the two seasons before Patricia arrived in Detroit, and made the playoffs as a wildcard in 2016. In Patricia’s first season as head coach in 2018, the Lions stumbled to 6-10 and lost to rookie quarterbacks Sam Darnold and Josh Allen.
Last year, the Lions went 3-12-1, their worst record since 2010, as quarterback Matthew Stafford missed half the season with a back injury. Stafford played at an MVP level early in the year, but has not had the same success this fall.
At 32, Stafford’s future, like that of many in the organization, is in doubt as the Lions embark on hiring their fourth coach in 12 years. Over that period, which spans Stafford’s entire career, the Lions have had four winning seasons, made three playoff appearances and won zero postseason games.
Two years ago, Quinn interviewed five candidates in addition to Patricia for the job, though Patricia was the runaway favorite: Mike Vrabel, now the coach of the Tennessee Titans; Pat Shurmur, who was fired last season as Giants head coach; Winston Moss, who last worked as a general manager in the XFL; and former Lions coordinators Jim Bob Cooter and Teryl Austin, who were considered token interviews at the time since they remained under contract and had little chance of getting the job.
This year’s pool of top coaching candidates still is sorting itself out, but Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy and San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh are considered rising stars. Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, a former Patriots assistant who previously worked with Quinn and has helped the Bills become an AFC power, and Titans offensive coordinator Arthur Smith are other top candidates.
In the college ranks, Oklahoma’s Lincoln Riley and Stanford's David Shaw have long been sought after by NFL teams, though it’s unlikely the Lions have the cache to lure either to the NFL. Former Ohio State coach Urban Meyer acknowledged last year he is open to a return to the sidelines, and Iowa State's Matt Campbell will be of interest to teams looking for previous head coaching experience.
The Lions are one of three teams currently with a head-coaching vacancy, though as many as five more jobs could open by the end of the year.
The Texans fired Bill O’Brien, another ex-Patriots assistant, in October after an 0-4 start, and the Falcons fired Dan Quinn and general manager Thomas Dimitroff a week later after starting 0-5.
Both teams are looking for new head coaches and GMs.
Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.


usatoday--2020-11-29--Two teenagers dead after Black Friday mall shooting in California

Two teenagers died after being shot in a Sacramento mall during Black Friday shopping , officials said .
A 19-year-old man was found dead at the Arden Fair Mall in Sacramento , and a 17-year-old was taken to the hospital where he later died , according to a statement from city police .
The victims have not been identified publicly .
The shooting took place at around 6 p.m. Friday , forcing Black Friday shoppers and retail employees to evacuate during one of the year ’ s busiest retail shopping days .
“ We can confirm at this point that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ incident and not the result of an active shooter , ” Sacramento police spokesperson Karl Chan said late Friday at a news conference .
Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg on Twitter expressed concern over the increase in the city ’ s gun violence .
Gun assaults and homicides have surged in the California capital , where around 40 homicides have been reported this year , the Associated Press reported .
“ We are deeply concerned by the increase in gun violence in Sacramento and other cities during the pandemic , and have supported increasing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ risk , ” Steinberg wrote in a tweet Friday night .
“ A gun is never the answer.
” The suspect has not yet been identified by police , who believe it was an isolated incident .

Two teenagers dead after Black Friday mall shooting in California
Show Caption Hide Caption Two teenagers dead after Black Friday mall shooting in Sacramento, California Two teenagers died after being shot in a Sacramento mall during Black Friday shopping, officials said. Storyful
Two teenagers died after being shot in a Sacramento mall during Black Friday shopping, officials said.
A 19-year-old man was found dead at the Arden Fair Mall in Sacramento, and a 17-year-old was taken to the hospital where he later died, according to a statement from city police.
The victims have not been identified publicly.
The shooting took place at around 6 p.m. Friday, forcing Black Friday shoppers and retail employees to evacuate during one of the year’s busiest retail shopping days.
“We can confirm at this point that this does appear to be an isolated incident and not the result of an active shooter,” Sacramento police spokesperson Karl Chan said late Friday at a news conference.
Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg on Twitter expressed concern over the increase in the city’s gun violence.
Gun assaults and homicides have surged in the California capital, where around 40 homicides have been reported this year, the Associated Press reported.
“We are deeply concerned by the increase in gun violence in Sacramento and other cities during the pandemic, and have supported increasing our efforts to reach young people at risk,” Steinberg wrote in a tweet Friday night. “A gun is never the answer.”
The suspect has not yet been identified by police, who believe it was an isolated incident.
Contributing: Associated Press. Follow Joshua Bote on Twitter: @joshua_bote.


usatoday--2020-11-28--Tony Hsieh, former Zappos CEO, dies at 46 after being injured in house fire

LAS VEGAS – Tony Hsieh , the retired CEO of online shoe retailer Zappos.com , has died after being injured in a house fire .
He was 46 .
Megan Fazio , spokeswoman for Hsieh ’ s DTP Companies , confirmed in a statement that he died peacefully Friday surrounded by family .
Puoy Premsrirut , Hsieh ’ s lawyer , said in an email he `` sustained injuries from a house fire '' while visiting Connecticut .
The cause of death is still under investigation , Premsrirut said .
She did not provide details about the fire .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the lives of everyone around him , and forever brightened the world , ” DTP Companies said in a statement .
“ Delivering happiness was always his mantra , so instead of mourning his transition , we ask you to join us in celebrating his life.
” A Harvard University graduate , Hsieh joined the online shoe company then called ShoeSite.com in 1999 .
Five years after moving from San Francisco to Henderson , Zappos was sold in 2009 to Amazon for $ 1.2 billion .
But Hsieh stayed with the company and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to downtown Las Vegas .
In 2010 , he bought the vacant City Hall building and announced Zappos would relocate there with more than 1,000 employees .
What followed was a $ 350 million makeover campaign called the Downtown Project that aimed to transform Las Vegas ’ struggling downtown corridor into a center of commerce and culture .
Hsieh 's vision included the development of the popular Container Park with its fire-breathing praying mantis art sculpture at the entrance .
Author of a New York Times best-seller , “ Delivering Happiness : A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Purpose , ” Hsieh often appeared at speaking events , where he boiled down the success of Zappos to a philosophy he called the `` Three C 's '' – collisions , co-learning and connectedness .
Hsieh 's Downtown Project was known for a close-knit inner circle that met regularly at their official residence and headquarters – the Ogden apartments .
There , they often studied colored Post-it notes on the wall of Hsieh 's apartment – `` Jazz fest , '' `` beer garden , '' `` dog park '' and `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deemed necessary to build the ideal neighborhood .
After years of influencing downtown as he lived there , Hsieh retired in August .
`` On behalf of all DTP Companies employees and staff , we would like to express our deepest condolences to Tony ’ s family and friends who have all lost Tony as a cherished loved one , visionary and friend , '' the DTP Companies statement added .
`` Tony was highly regarded by all of his fellow friends and colleagues in the tight-knit family at DTP Companies , so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many involved . ''
News of Hsieh 's death rattled those in the Las Vegas community and beyond .
“ Tony Hsieh might be the most original thinker I ’ ve ever been friends with , ” former venture investor Chris Sacca tweeted .
“ He questioned every assumption and shared everything he learned along the way .
He genuinely delighted in making anyone and everyone happy.
” Skateboarder and entrepreneur Tony Hawk called Hsieh `` a visionary '' who was `` generous with his time and willing to share his invaluable expertise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ miss him greatly , rest in peace , '' said downtown casino mogul Derek Stevens .
`` I will miss him greatly . ''

Tony Hsieh, former Zappos CEO, dies at 46 after being injured in house fire
Show Caption Hide Caption Retired Zappos.com CEO Tony Hsieh has passed away at 46-years-old While visiting Connecticut Tony Hsieh suffered injuries in a house fire. His friends and business partners said, he wanted to make everyone happy. USA TODAY, Wochit
LAS VEGAS – Tony Hsieh, the retired CEO of online shoe retailer Zappos.com, has died after being injured in a house fire. He was 46.
Megan Fazio, spokeswoman for Hsieh’s DTP Companies, confirmed in a statement that he died peacefully Friday surrounded by family.
Puoy Premsrirut, Hsieh’s lawyer, said in an email he "sustained injuries from a house fire" while visiting Connecticut.
The cause of death is still under investigation, Premsrirut said. She did not provide details about the fire.
“Tony’s kindness and generosity touched the lives of everyone around him, and forever brightened the world,” DTP Companies said in a statement. “Delivering happiness was always his mantra, so instead of mourning his transition, we ask you to join us in celebrating his life.”
It is with very heavy hearts that we are sharing some very sad news, as we have learned that Tony passed away earlier today (11-27-20). The world has lost a tremendous visionary and an incredible human being. We recognize that...https://t.co/RUMNOFrItZ pic.twitter.com/NSAFGW8p4L — Zappos.com (@Zappos) November 28, 2020
A Harvard University graduate, Hsieh joined the online shoe company then called ShoeSite.com in 1999. Five years after moving from San Francisco to Henderson, Zappos was sold in 2009 to Amazon for $1.2 billion.
But Hsieh stayed with the company and soon turned the world’s attention to downtown Las Vegas. In 2010, he bought the vacant City Hall building and announced Zappos would relocate there with more than 1,000 employees.
What followed was a $350 million makeover campaign called the Downtown Project that aimed to transform Las Vegas’ struggling downtown corridor into a center of commerce and culture.
Hsieh's vision included the development of the popular Container Park with its fire-breathing praying mantis art sculpture at the entrance.
Author of a New York Times best-seller, “Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits, Passion, and Purpose,” Hsieh often appeared at speaking events, where he boiled down the success of Zappos to a philosophy he called the "Three C's" – collisions, co-learning and connectedness.
Hsieh's Downtown Project was known for a close-knit inner circle that met regularly at their official residence and headquarters – the Ogden apartments.
There, they often studied colored Post-it notes on the wall of Hsieh's apartment – "Jazz fest," "beer garden," "dog park" and "Yoga!" among the ideas they deemed necessary to build the ideal neighborhood.
After years of influencing downtown as he lived there, Hsieh retired in August.
"On behalf of all DTP Companies employees and staff, we would like to express our deepest condolences to Tony’s family and friends who have all lost Tony as a cherished loved one, visionary and friend," the DTP Companies statement added. "Tony was highly regarded by all of his fellow friends and colleagues in the tight-knit family at DTP Companies, so this heartbreaking tragedy is one that affects many involved."
News of Hsieh's death rattled those in the Las Vegas community and beyond.
“Tony Hsieh might be the most original thinker I’ve ever been friends with,” former venture investor Chris Sacca tweeted. “He questioned every assumption and shared everything he learned along the way. He genuinely delighted in making anyone and everyone happy.”
Skateboarder and entrepreneur Tony Hawk called Hsieh "a visionary" who was "generous with his time and willing to share his invaluable expertise with anyone.”
Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak tweeted that "Hsieh played a pivotal role in helping transform Downtown Las Vegas."
"Our community will miss him greatly, rest in peace," said downtown casino mogul Derek Stevens. "I will miss him greatly."
Contributing: USA TODAY, Associated Press


usatoday--2020-11-24--Daughter stunned when firefighter dad comes home

Joshua Padròn was called to the frontlines of the Complex Fires in California .
When he came home 40 days @ @ @ @ @ n't help but run straight into his arms .

Daughter stunned when firefighter dad comes home
Joshua Padròn was called to the frontlines of the Complex Fires in California. When he came home 40 days later, his daughter couldn't help but run straight into his arms.
Humankind, USA TODAY


usatoday--2020-11-29--Republican candidate leads congressional race in Iowa by 6 votes, recount finds

IOWA CITY , Iowa – Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks remains atop Iowa 's 2nd District congressional race despite a Saturday recount in Clinton County that eroded her already single-digit lead to just six votes .
The Clinton County tally concluded a recount in the 24-county southeast Iowa district .
The vote will go to a state canvassing board Monday to be certified , which would make Miller-Meeks the official winner .
In a statement , Democrat Rita Hart 's campaign manager , Zach Meunier , did not say whether the campaign will file a legal challenge in the race , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That would trigger a review by a judicial panel and cast continued uncertainty over the outcome .
`` When we began this recount Rita Hart was down by 47 votes , '' Meunier said .
`` As more ballots have been counted , the margin has narrowed dramatically and is now down to a mere 6 votes — making this the closest Congressional race in recent history , and one of the very closest in the last hundred years .
`` Unfortunately , as this process continues , the Miller-Meeks campaign has sought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — pushing to disqualify and limit the number of Iowans whose votes are counted , '' he said .
“ We will closely review what the county and state boards do on Monday with an eye toward making sure all Iowa voices are fully and fairly heard.
” 'Calling an election unfair does not make it so ' : Appeals court denies Trump campaign 's effort to overturn Biden 's win in Pennsylvania Nov. 27 : Milwaukee County presidential recount wraps up with Biden adding to his margin over Trump In her own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staffs and volunteers who conducted the election and recount , saying “ they personify the words 'public servant ’ and ‘ engaged citizenship.
’ “ “ While the race is extraordinarily close , I am proud to have won this contest and look forward to being certified as the winner ... on Monday , ” Miller-Meeks said .
“ It is the honor of a lifetime to be elected to serve the people of eastern and southern Iowa .
Iowans are tenacious , optimistic and hard-working , and I will take those same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their behalf.
” Pending the outcome of any legal challenge , Miller-Meeks will replace retiring seven-term U.S. Rep. Dave Loebsack , a Democrat .
Depending on the results of any legal action , Democrats , who held three of Iowa 's four congressional seats going into the 2020 race , will fall to just one when the new Congress is seated in January .
The narrow outcome of the race between Hart and Miller-Meeks gained national attention after Democrats saw their hold on the U.S. House unexpectedly narrowed in the 2020 vote .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Republicans claimed at least nine House seats formerly held by Democrats .
Saturday 's count took place around folding tables in a secured room of the Clinton County administration building .
Despite the high stakes , Clinton Auditor Eric Van Lancker said the room Saturday was “ very quiet.
” The recount board met at 8:30 a.m. under the fluorescent lights to count the final few boxes of the county ’ s more than 16,000 absentee ballots .
A handful of staffers from both campaigns were present to watch the proceedings in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ temporary handicap “ reserved parking ” signs and red traffic cones .
Van Lancker said the recount considered three more ballots than were tabulated on election night .
He said that was likely due to some ballots in Dewitt being placed with other ballots and not being run through the vote tabulator .

Zachary Oren Smith, Iowa City Press-Citizen

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