washingtontimes--2020-11-20--3 chicken plants hit in 2019 raids agree to pay back wages

JACKSON , Miss .
( AP ) - Three Mississippi chicken processing plants among those targeted in one of the largest workplace immigration raids in the U.S. in the past decade have agreed to pay back wages after federal officials found they failed to pay minimum wage and overtime to their workers .
The U.S. Department of Labor announced Friday that three plants have paid $ 45,719 in back wages to 129 employees .
The plants targeted in the investigation were a Canton complex owned by Peco Foods of Tuscaloosa , Alabama ; a Morton complex owned by Koch Foods @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pearl River Foods of Carthage , a company headquartered in Gainesville , Georgia .
The Labor Department ’ s Wage and House Division found the employers failed to issue final paychecks to multiple workers .
Officials also found that Pearl River Foods deducted so much money for uniforms that employees were illegally paid less than minimum wage .
Investigators also determined Koch failed to include production bonuses when calculating overtime , another legal violation .
The Labor Department assessed a civil fine of $ 1,693 against Koch for employing a 15-year-old to work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aren ’ t allowed to do that work under federal law .
It ’ s unclear if the investigation was related to the August 2019 raids .
Officials also raided A & B ; in Pelahatchie , PH Food in Morton and additional Peco Foods plant in Bay Springs and Sebastapol in the August 2019 raids , which led to the arrests of 680 workers accused of being in the country illegally or using forged documents to gain work .
The raids brought an outcry from critics who said some children had their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unfairly targeted without going after the companies that employ them .
In August , on the anniversary of the raids , officials said more than 125 people had been indicted on criminal charges .
An unknown number of additional people have been deported in administrative proceedings without facing criminal charges .
Also indicted are four executives from two plants who federal officials said had harbored people in the U.S. illegally and assisted them with obtaining false documents to enable employment or making false statements about hiring workers without proper documents .
Salvador Delgado-Nieves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ B ; , while Carolyn Johnson and Aubrey “ Bart ” Willis worked for Pearl River Foods .
All have pleaded not guilty and are scheduled for trial next year .
Federal officials have said the raids were justified because people in the country illegally steal Social Security numbers to gain work .
Mike Hurst , the U.S. Attorney in southern Mississippi , also argued that people in the country illegally take jobs from American citizens and depress their wages .

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - Three Mississippi chicken processing plants among those targeted in one of the largest workplace immigration raids in the U.S. in the past decade have agreed to pay back wages after federal officials found they failed to pay minimum wage and overtime to their workers.
The U.S. Department of Labor announced Nov. 20 that three plants have paid $45,719 in back wages to 129 employees.
The plants targeted in the investigation were a Canton complex owned by Peco Foods of Tuscaloosa, Alabama; a Morton complex owned by Koch Foods of Park Ridge, Illinois; and Pearl River Foods of Carthage, a company headquartered in Gainesville, Georgia.
The Labor Department’s Wage and House Division found the employers failed to issue final paychecks to multiple workers.
Peco denied violating minimum wage laws. It said 15 workers detained in the August 2019 raids failed to retrieve paychecks worth a cumulative $6,215.97. The company said it gave the money to federal officials so they could look for and pay the workers. The Labor Department said failing to pay the workers was a violation.
Officials also found that Pearl River Foods deducted so much money for uniforms that employees were illegally paid less than minimum wage. Investigators also determined Koch failed to include production bonuses when calculating overtime, another legal violation.
The Labor Department assessed a civil fine of $1,693 against Koch for employing a 15-year-old to work in meat processing. Children under 18 aren’t allowed to do that work under federal law.
Officials also raided A&B in Pelahatchie, PH Food in Morton and additional Peco Foods plant in Bay Springs and Sebastapol in the August 2019 raids, which led to the arrests of 680 workers accused of being in the country illegally or using forged documents to gain work.
The raids brought an outcry from critics who said some children had their parents swept up and that workers were unfairly targeted without going after the companies that employ them. In August, on the anniversary of the raids, officials said more than 125 people had been indicted on criminal charges. An unknown number of additional people have been deported in administrative proceedings without facing criminal charges.
Also indicted are four executives from two plants who federal officials said had harbored people in the U.S. illegally and assisted them with obtaining false documents to enable employment or making false statements about hiring workers without proper documents.
Salvador Delgado-Nieves and Iris Villalon worked at A&B, while Carolyn Johnson and Aubrey “Bart” Willis worked for Pearl River Foods. All have pleaded not guilty and are scheduled for trial next year.
Federal officials have said the raids were justified because people in the country illegally steal Social Security numbers to gain work. Mike Hurst, the U.S. Attorney in southern Mississippi, also argued that people in the country illegally take jobs from American citizens and depress their wages.


washingtontimes--2020-11-20--$11B budget package passes Pennsylvania Legislature

HARRISBURG , Pa. ( AP ) - An $ 11 billion no-new-taxes spending package won passage in a lame-duck Friday night session in Pennsylvania ’ s Legislature , as lawmakers sought to plug a multibillion-dollar deficit brought on by the pandemic and carry state government operations through the rest of the fiscal year .
Lawmakers voted as they rushed to wrap up their two-year session .
A coronavirus outbreak in the House of Representatives caused hours of delay Friday before the main spending bill passed the chamber , 104-97 , and the Senate , 31-18 .
Gov .
Tom Wolf @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , his office said .
“ COVID-19 has left Pennsylvania in a difficult financial situation , and this budget protects against furloughs and deep cuts to critical programs , ” his office said in a statement .
Billions in federal aid helped paper over the state ’ s yawning deficits , while the state draws hundreds of millions of dollars from a bank line-of-credit to prop up cash flow .
Most Democrats opposed the budget package , reflecting unhappiness with using federal coronavirus relief aid to underwrite state government costs , rather than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to aid universities , hospitals , schools , restaurants and businesses and institutions suffering during the pandemic .
“ We should take no pleasure in MacGyvering a state budget by stealing funds that were meant for coronavirus relief , ” said state Sen. Tim Kearney , D-Delaware .
Democrats criticized the use of environmental program money to balance the budget , and warned that hundreds of transportation projects would stall , inflicting layoffs on construction crews .
State Sen. John Blake , D-Lackawanna , warned that using more than $ 4 billion in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make the next budget more difficult when the current fiscal year ends June 30 .
Leaders of the Republican-controlled Legislature lauded the package , saying it exercises fiscal restraint .
“ Just as Pennsylvanians have worked to live within their budgets , we too focused on finalizing a budget that would continue to serve our residents without asking them for more of their hard-earned dollars , ” state Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman , R-Centre , said in a statement .
Public schools , universities and many programs and state agencies will have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ funding .
That had been clear since May , when the Legislature approved a piecemeal , no-new-taxes $ 25.8 billion budget , while they waited to see how economic damage from the coronavirus would unfold and whether the federal government would deliver more budget aid .
At the time , budgetmakers projected a $ 6 billion deficit , primarily due to the economic effects of the coronavirus .
Since then , revenue collections have exceeded expectations , prompting the Wolf administration to raise its full-year revenue projection by $ 2 billion .
All @ @ @ @ @ @ @ roughly $ 11 billion in new spending , bringing the current year ’ s operating budget to $ 36.5 billion , about 4 % above last year ’ s approved spending .
The higher spending is driven primarily by medical care for the poor , elderly and disabled .
To close the rest of the gap , lawmakers are using more than $ 3.3 billion in federal pandemic aid and transferring more than $ 500 million from off-budget state accounts .
Of those accounts , more than $ 150 million comes from environmental @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one state lawmaker that the transfers may be illegal .
“ This is not the way we ought to be funding state government , ” said state Rep. Greg Vitali , D-Delaware .
Another $ 185 million is coming from a fund financed by premiums on workers ’ compensation insurance policies that ensures claims are paid if an insurer becomes insolvent .
Using the federal aid lowers the reliance on state tax dollars from $ 36.5 billion to $ 33.1 billion .
Last year ’ s approved budget was $ 34 billion , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal coronavirus aid that helped underwrite Medicaid costs .
The federal aid includes $ 1.3 billion left over from last March ’ s federal CARES Act .
Democrats wanted to distribute the money as grants to a wide variety of institutions and businesses , but did not say how they would have otherwise financed the state ’ s operating costs .
Meanwhile , Wolf ’ s Department of Transportation warned lawmakers that tax collections struggling through the pandemic means it can not pay contractors and must stop hundreds of construction projects on Dec. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ borrow against highway funds .

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - An $11 billion no-new-taxes spending package won passage in a lame-duck Friday night session in Pennsylvania’s Legislature, as lawmakers sought to plug a multibillion-dollar deficit brought on by the pandemic and carry state government operations through the rest of the fiscal year.
Lawmakers voted as they rushed to wrap up their two-year session. A coronavirus outbreak in the House of Representatives caused hours of delay Friday before the main spending bill passed the chamber, 104-97, and the Senate, 31-18.
Gov. Tom Wolf, a Democrat, will sign it, his office said.
“COVID-19 has left Pennsylvania in a difficult financial situation, and this budget protects against furloughs and deep cuts to critical programs,” his office said in a statement.
Billions in federal aid helped paper over the state’s yawning deficits, while the state draws hundreds of millions of dollars from a bank line-of-credit to prop up cash flow.
Most Democrats opposed the budget package, reflecting unhappiness with using federal coronavirus relief aid to underwrite state government costs, rather than provide hazard pay to frontline workers and to aid universities, hospitals, schools, restaurants and businesses and institutions suffering during the pandemic.
“We should take no pleasure in MacGyvering a state budget by stealing funds that were meant for coronavirus relief,” said state Sen. Tim Kearney, D-Delaware.
Democrats criticized the use of environmental program money to balance the budget, and warned that hundreds of transportation projects would stall, inflicting layoffs on construction crews.
State Sen. John Blake, D-Lackawanna, warned that using more than $4 billion in one-time cash to balance the budget will make the next budget more difficult when the current fiscal year ends June 30.
Leaders of the Republican-controlled Legislature lauded the package, saying it exercises fiscal restraint.
“Just as Pennsylvanians have worked to live within their budgets, we too focused on finalizing a budget that would continue to serve our residents without asking them for more of their hard-earned dollars,” state Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman, R-Centre, said in a statement.
Public schools, universities and many programs and state agencies will have to get by without an increase in funding.
That had been clear since May, when the Legislature approved a piecemeal, no-new-taxes $25.8 billion budget, while they waited to see how economic damage from the coronavirus would unfold and whether the federal government would deliver more budget aid.
At the time, budgetmakers projected a $6 billion deficit, primarily due to the economic effects of the coronavirus. Since then, revenue collections have exceeded expectations, prompting the Wolf administration to raise its full-year revenue projection by $2 billion.
All told, the package approved Friday authorizes roughly $11 billion in new spending, bringing the current year’s operating budget to $36.5 billion, about 4% above last year’s approved spending. The higher spending is driven primarily by medical care for the poor, elderly and disabled.
To close the rest of the gap, lawmakers are using more than $3.3 billion in federal pandemic aid and transferring more than $500 million from off-budget state accounts.
Of those accounts, more than $150 million comes from environmental improvement funds, prompting a warning from one state lawmaker that the transfers may be illegal.
“This is not the way we ought to be funding state government,” said state Rep. Greg Vitali, D-Delaware.
Another $185 million is coming from a fund financed by premiums on workers’ compensation insurance policies that ensures claims are paid if an insurer becomes insolvent.
Using the federal aid lowers the reliance on state tax dollars from $36.5 billion to $33.1 billion. Last year’s approved budget was $34 billion, not counting another $1 billion in federal coronavirus aid that helped underwrite Medicaid costs.
The federal aid includes $1.3 billion left over from last March’s federal CARES Act. Democrats wanted to distribute the money as grants to a wide variety of institutions and businesses, but did not say how they would have otherwise financed the state’s operating costs.
Meanwhile, Wolf’s Department of Transportation warned lawmakers that tax collections struggling through the pandemic means it cannot pay contractors and must stop hundreds of construction projects on Dec. 1 after lawmakers rejected its proposal to borrow against highway funds.
___
Follow Marc Levy on Twitter at https://www.twitter.com/timelywriter


washingtontimes--2020-11-20--California restricts overnight outings to essential errands

SACRAMENTO , Calif. ( AP ) - California health officials are restricting overnight activities starting Saturday night , though there are plenty of exceptions .
They ’ re calling it a limited stay-at-home order designed to stem the rapidly spreading coronavirus by discouraging social gatherings .
- Applies to people who are not on essential errands .
- Requires people to stay home from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. starting Saturday night .
- Applies to 41 of the state ’ s 58 counties that are in the “ purple ” tier , the most restrictive of four tiers allowing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 41 counties encompass 94 % of the most populous state ’ s nearly 40 million people .
- For other counties moving into the most restrictive tier , the curfew will start on the third night after the rollback is announced .
- Is effective through Dec. 21 .
But it could be extended if disease trends don ’ t improve .
- Is less restrictive than California ’ s first-in-the-nation , around-the-clock lockdown in March .
- Does not apply to anyone who is homeless .
- Does not bar activities people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immediate household , like walking the dog .
- Does not prohibit individuals or members of the same household from going outside , as long as they don ’ t mix with other households .
- Does not restrict commuting to or from work .
- Restaurants can stay open for takeout and delivery after 10 p.m. - People can still get groceries , fill prescriptions or get gasoline .
- Does not apply to what the state defines as “ essential workforce and critical infrastructure , ” including health care and emergency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in food and agriculture , water and sewage , transportation , energy , communications , government , manufacturing , and financial services .
- Violators could face fines or be charged with a misdemeanor .
Businesses could have their business license revoked .
But many county and city law enforcement officials have said they won ’ t enforce the curfew , and state officials say it ’ s “ a new tool ” that local officials can use “ should they need it .
”

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - California health officials are restricting overnight activities starting Saturday night, though there are plenty of exceptions. They’re calling it a limited stay-at-home order designed to stem the rapidly spreading coronavirus by discouraging social gatherings.
The curfew:
- Applies to people who are not on essential errands.
- Requires people to stay home from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. starting Saturday night.
- Applies to 41 of the state’s 58 counties that are in the “purple” tier, the most restrictive of four tiers allowing various stages of economic reopening. Those 41 counties encompass 94% of the most populous state’s nearly 40 million people.
- For other counties moving into the most restrictive tier, the curfew will start on the third night after the rollback is announced.
- Is effective through Dec. 21. But it could be extended if disease trends don’t improve.
- Is less restrictive than California’s first-in-the-nation, around-the-clock lockdown in March.
- Does not apply to anyone who is homeless.
- Does not bar activities people do alone or with members of their immediate household, like walking the dog.
- Does not prohibit individuals or members of the same household from going outside, as long as they don’t mix with other households.
- Does not restrict commuting to or from work.
- Restaurants can stay open for takeout and delivery after 10 p.m.
- People can still get groceries, fill prescriptions or get gasoline.
- Does not apply to what the state defines as “ essential workforce and critical infrastructure,” including health care and emergency workers, and various people who work in food and agriculture, water and sewage, transportation, energy, communications, government, manufacturing, and financial services.
- Violators could face fines or be charged with a misdemeanor. Businesses could have their business license revoked. But many county and city law enforcement officials have said they won’t enforce the curfew, and state officials say it’s “a new tool” that local officials can use “should they need it.”


washingtontimes--2020-11-20--Mississippi casino sues insurer that won't pay COVID-19 loss

GULFPORT , Miss .
( AP ) - A Mississippi Gulf Coast casino has become one of many businesses nationwide to sue its insurer for refusing to cover business losses because of the coronavirus pandemic .
Island View Casino Resort in Gulfport contends in the federal lawsuit that its insurer owes it $ 10 million for business losses caused by a 65-day COVID-19 shutdown in the spring .
Gulfside Casino Partnership , Island View ’ s owner , is also demanding $ 90 million in punitive damages , attorney ’ s fees and interest .
The Sun Herald reports Island @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in revenue when it was closed from March 16 until May 21 under orders from the Mississippi Gaming Commission .
However , its policy only covers up to $ 10 million .
The lawsuit alleges breach of contract and negligence against Georgia-based Westchester Surplus Lines Insurance Co. , which parceled out shares of the risk to nine other insurers .
Gulfport attorney Joe Sam Owen , who represents the partnership , said legal disputes over COVID-19 insurance claims generally have boiled down to the definition of “ physical damage.
” Insurance companies argue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as it would in a hurricane , to recover losses under their policies .
But the casino says its policy specifically covers losses caused by canceled bookings , or the inability to accept bookings , caused by “ a contagious or infectious disease at an insured location , as determined by a public or civil authority , ” and that the loss is covered “ whether or not physical damage occurs to the property.
” The cancellation coverage costs Island View an annual premium of $ 408,268 .
An insurance adjusting firm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Technical Services , wrote in a July letter to Island View : “ As a general matter , the policies afford coverage only when there has been direct physical loss , damage or destruction .
In the absence of such damage , there is not coverage.
” Pollutants and contaminants , including viruses , are listed in an underlying policy as being excluded from coverage , the letter said .
It also said other policy language states that “ communicable disease ” is not covered .
Follow AP ’ s coverage of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : //apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak .

GULFPORT, Miss. (AP) - A Mississippi Gulf Coast casino has become one of many businesses nationwide to sue its insurer for refusing to cover business losses because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Island View Casino Resort in Gulfport contends in the federal lawsuit that its insurer owes it $10 million for business losses caused by a 65-day COVID-19 shutdown in the spring.
Gulfside Casino Partnership, Island View’s owner, is also demanding $90 million in punitive damages, attorney’s fees and interest.
The Sun Herald reports Island View says it lost $46.2 million in revenue when it was closed from March 16 until May 21 under orders from the Mississippi Gaming Commission. However, its policy only covers up to $10 million.
The lawsuit alleges breach of contract and negligence against Georgia-based Westchester Surplus Lines Insurance Co., which parceled out shares of the risk to nine other insurers.
Gulfport attorney Joe Sam Owen, who represents the partnership, said legal disputes over COVID-19 insurance claims generally have boiled down to the definition of “physical damage.”
Insurance companies argue the property must suffer actual physical damage, as it would in a hurricane, to recover losses under their policies.
But the casino says its policy specifically covers losses caused by canceled bookings, or the inability to accept bookings, caused by “a contagious or infectious disease at an insured location, as determined by a public or civil authority,” and that the loss is covered “whether or not physical damage occurs to the property.”
The cancellation coverage costs Island View an annual premium of $408,268.
An insurance adjusting firm assigned to the claim, Crawford Global Technical Services, wrote in a July letter to Island View: “As a general matter, the policies afford coverage only when there has been direct physical loss, damage or destruction. In the absence of such damage, there is not coverage.”
Pollutants and contaminants, including viruses, are listed in an underlying policy as being excluded from coverage, the letter said. It also said other policy language states that “communicable disease” is not covered.
___
Follow AP’s coverage of the pandemic at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak.


washingtontimes--2020-11-20--California attorney general drops lawsuit against state GOP

SACRAMENTO , Calif. ( AP ) - California ’ s attorney general has dropped a lawsuit seeking the names and contact information of every person who used one of the state Republican Party ’ s unofficial ballot drop boxes .
The party used the boxes to collect ballots in some counties with closely contested U.S. House races .
It ’ s legal in California to collect completed ballots and turn them in on behalf of voters .
But state law says only county election officials are allowed to deploy ballot drop boxes .
State Attorney General Xavier Becerra and Secretary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ party to remove the boxes .
But they relented once the party made changes , including not labeling the boxes as “ official.
” Still , Becerra vowed to keep investigating to make sure all of the ballots were counted .
He asked the California Republican Party to turn over the location of each box plus the names and contact information for every voter who used one .
Becerra sued when party officials refused to comply .
Friday , the attorney general ’ s office announced it was dropping the lawsuit because it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ballots were counted .
In a written statement , the office said it relied on investigative efforts , cooperation with state and local election officials and a response to its questions by the party .
“ We are confident that this election was safe and secure in California - as it was across the country , ” the attorney general ’ s press office wrote in an email to reporters .
California Republicans have denounced Becerra ’ s investigation , saying they were following the law .
“ As we said all along @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the Attorney General and the Secretary of State – and they lost , ” California Republican Party spokesman Hector Barajas said .

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - California’s attorney general has dropped a lawsuit seeking the names and contact information of every person who used one of the state Republican Party’s unofficial ballot drop boxes.
The party used the boxes to collect ballots in some counties with closely contested U.S. House races. It’s legal in California to collect completed ballots and turn them in on behalf of voters. But state law says only county election officials are allowed to deploy ballot drop boxes.
State Attorney General Xavier Becerra and Secretary of State Alex Padilla initially ordered the party to remove the boxes. But they relented once the party made changes, including not labeling the boxes as “official.”
Still, Becerra vowed to keep investigating to make sure all of the ballots were counted. He asked the California Republican Party to turn over the location of each box plus the names and contact information for every voter who used one. Becerra sued when party officials refused to comply.
Friday, the attorney general’s office announced it was dropping the lawsuit because it was able to ensure that voters’ ballots were counted. In a written statement, the office said it relied on investigative efforts, cooperation with state and local election officials and a response to its questions by the party.
“We are confident that this election was safe and secure in California - as it was across the country,” the attorney general’s press office wrote in an email to reporters.
California Republicans have denounced Becerra’s investigation, saying they were following the law.
“As we said all along, this was just a political ploy by the Attorney General and the Secretary of State – and they lost,” California Republican Party spokesman Hector Barajas said.


washingtontimes--2020-11-20--Former deputy coroner bails out of jail after murder charge

CONWAY , S.C. ( AP ) - A former deputy coroner charged with murder in a missing man ’ s death has been released from a South Carolina jail .
Horry County jail records show Chris Dontell was released to “ home detention ” after a judge set bail at $ 125,000 during a Thursday hearing .
Meagan Jackson , who along with Dontell is charged with murder and conspiracy in the death of Gregory Rice , remained jailed Friday after a judge set bail for her at $ 100,000 .
Thursday ’ s hearing revealed new details in Rice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ report .
Rice , 46 , was found Nov. 8 near the Little Pee Dee River in Horry County , more than a month after he was reported missing by Jackson .
Prosecutors said Thursday that surveillance footage showed Dontell , 37 , pushing a shopping cart with cement blocks , zip ties and a tarp .
Chief Deputy Solicitor Scott Hixson said Rice ’ s body was found in the same tarp .
Dontell ’ s lawyer suggested that video footage might show Dontell is an accessory to murder , rather than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jackson , 35 , was the mother to four of Rice ’ s children .
The two ended their relationship about a year ago , but continued to speak to each other because they shared custody of the children .
The victim ’ s oldest son asked Judge Steven John to deny bail and keep the two behind bars as they await trial .
“ Given the allegedly brutal and remediated nature of my father ’ s murder , I believe both Meagan Jackson and Chris Dontell present an ongoing risk to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He is not Jackson ’ s son , but Rice ’ s child from an earlier relationship .
Dontell had been a Horry County deputy coroner , but was fired when he became a suspect .
Hixson said the two suspects became romantically involved in part because Jackson worked as a subcontractor for the coroner ’ s office .
Hixson said officers went to Jackson ’ s home on Thursday with a search warrant .
He said they found evidence of child abuse and the state plans to file additional criminal charges , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dontell is to have no contact with the victim ’ s family or the co-defendant and to remain on home detention .
The judge said he set bail because he didn ’ t consider Dontell a flight risk or a danger to the community because he lacked a criminal record .

CONWAY, S.C. (AP) - A former deputy coroner charged with murder in a missing man’s death has been released from a South Carolina jail.
Horry County jail records show Chris Dontell was released to “home detention” after a judge set bail at $125,000 during a Thursday hearing.
Meagan Jackson, who along with Dontell is charged with murder and conspiracy in the death of Gregory Rice, remained jailed Friday after a judge set bail for her at $100,000.
Thursday’s hearing revealed new details in Rice’s death, local news outlets report. Rice, 46, was found Nov. 8 near the Little Pee Dee River in Horry County, more than a month after he was reported missing by Jackson.
Prosecutors said Thursday that surveillance footage showed Dontell, 37, pushing a shopping cart with cement blocks, zip ties and a tarp. Chief Deputy Solicitor Scott Hixson said Rice’s body was found in the same tarp.
Dontell’s lawyer suggested that video footage might show Dontell is an accessory to murder, rather than Rice’s killer.
Hixson said Jackson, 35, was the mother to four of Rice’s children. The two ended their relationship about a year ago, but continued to speak to each other because they shared custody of the children.
The victim’s oldest son asked Judge Steven John to deny bail and keep the two behind bars as they await trial.
“Given the allegedly brutal and remediated nature of my father’s murder, I believe both Meagan Jackson and Chris Dontell present an ongoing risk to the community,” Zachary Rice said. He is not Jackson’s son, but Rice’s child from an earlier relationship.
Dontell had been a Horry County deputy coroner, but was fired when he became a suspect. Hixson said the two suspects became romantically involved in part because Jackson worked as a subcontractor for the coroner’s office.
Hixson said officers went to Jackson’s home on Thursday with a search warrant. He said they found evidence of child abuse and the state plans to file additional criminal charges, providing no further details.
John stated Dontell is to have no contact with the victim’s family or the co-defendant and to remain on home detention.
The judge said he set bail because he didn’t consider Dontell a flight risk or a danger to the community because he lacked a criminal record.


washingtontimes--2020-11-20--Undersheriff indicted in concealed-gun permit probe

SAN JOSE , Calif. ( AP ) - Santa Clara County ’ s undersheriff has been indicted by a grand jury for his alleged role in a scheme to trade concealed weapons permits for donations to the sheriff ’ s 2018 re-election campaign .
Undersheriff Rick Sung , a fierce supporter of Sheriff Laurie Smith , is the fifth person and second commander in the agency to be indicted in what has become the biggest political scandal in recent Santa Clara County history , the Mercury News reported Friday .
Sung ’ s attorney , Chuck Smith , said Friday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ district attorney ’ s office .
“ I don ’ t know what the counts are or what the charges are , ” he said .
“ I don ’ t really understand what ’ s going on , other than that there was an indictment.
” Smith , who has the sole statutory authority in her office to issue the concealed-carry weapons permits , has not been charged , and along with Sung invoked her Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination to a criminal grand jury in August .
Details about the indictments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whether Sung and other sheriff ’ s officials and staff were called to testify to the latest grand jury .
Transcripts for the proceedings , if not sealed , could be available in a few weeks .
In its statement Friday , the sheriff ’ s office acknowledged the indictment .
“ Undersheriff Sung has been placed on administrative leave and we continue to cooperate with the District Attorney ’ s Office , ” the statement reads .
The indictment also included an additional charge against key defendant Capt .
James Jensen , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the alleged conspiracy .
Sung and Jensen operated as de facto campaign staff when Smith was up for re-election .
They both rapidly climbed to the upper ranks of the sheriff ’ s office , with Sung being named undersheriff and Jensen rising from sergeant to lieutenant to captain in just over two years .
The original August conspiracy and bribery indictment alleges that Jensen , attorney and political fundraiser Christopher Schumb , attorney Harpaul Nahal and local gun-maker Michael Nichols arranged to get up to a dozen concealed-carry weapons permits to agents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In exchange , the firm gave $ 90,000 in donations to groups that supported Smith in a contentious 2018 re-election campaign , the newspaper reported .
Jensen , Schumb , Nahal and Nichols pleaded not guilty and invoked their right to a speedy trial .
But the case has been halted while the Sixth District Court of Appeal considers a defense petition seeking to oust District Attorney Jeff Rosen and his office from the case because of his past friendship with and fundraising support from Schumb .
State law gives sheriffs and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ permits are issued .
Smith has long been dogged by criticism alleging her office has issued the permits to political donors , prominent officials and other VIP types .

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) - Santa Clara County’s undersheriff has been indicted by a grand jury for his alleged role in a scheme to trade concealed weapons permits for donations to the sheriff’s 2018 re-election campaign.
Undersheriff Rick Sung, a fierce supporter of Sheriff Laurie Smith, is the fifth person and second commander in the agency to be indicted in what has become the biggest political scandal in recent Santa Clara County history, the Mercury News reported Friday.
Sung’s attorney, Chuck Smith, said Friday that he was seeking information from the district attorney’s office.
“I don’t know what the counts are or what the charges are,” he said. “I don’t really understand what’s going on, other than that there was an indictment.”
Smith, who has the sole statutory authority in her office to issue the concealed-carry weapons permits, has not been charged, and along with Sung invoked her Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination to a criminal grand jury in August.
Details about the indictments were not readily available Friday, including whether Sung and other sheriff’s officials and staff were called to testify to the latest grand jury. Transcripts for the proceedings, if not sealed, could be available in a few weeks.
In its statement Friday, the sheriff’s office acknowledged the indictment. “Undersheriff Sung has been placed on administrative leave and we continue to cooperate with the District Attorney’s Office,” the statement reads.
The indictment also included an additional charge against key defendant Capt. James Jensen, who investigators describe as a linchpin in the alleged conspiracy.
Sung and Jensen operated as de facto campaign staff when Smith was up for re-election. They both rapidly climbed to the upper ranks of the sheriff’s office, with Sung being named undersheriff and Jensen rising from sergeant to lieutenant to captain in just over two years.
The original August conspiracy and bribery indictment alleges that Jensen, attorney and political fundraiser Christopher Schumb, attorney Harpaul Nahal and local gun-maker Michael Nichols arranged to get up to a dozen concealed-carry weapons permits to agents with the executive security firm AS Solution. In exchange, the firm gave $90,000 in donations to groups that supported Smith in a contentious 2018 re-election campaign, the newspaper reported.
Jensen, Schumb, Nahal and Nichols pleaded not guilty and invoked their right to a speedy trial. But the case has been halted while the Sixth District Court of Appeal considers a defense petition seeking to oust District Attorney Jeff Rosen and his office from the case because of his past friendship with and fundraising support from Schumb.
State law gives sheriffs and police chiefs sole discretion on how the permits are issued.
Smith has long been dogged by criticism alleging her office has issued the permits to political donors, prominent officials and other VIP types.
office.


washingtontimes--2020-11-20--Mike Shirkey and Lee Chatfield, Michigan GOP leaders, vow to 'follow the law' after Trump meeting

Michigan ’ s top Republican state legislators said Friday they will “ follow the normal process ” in certifying the presidential election results , after meeting with President Trump at the White House .
“ As legislative leaders , we will follow the law and follow the normal process regarding Michigan ’ s electors , just as we have said throughout this election , ” said state Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey state House Speaker Lee Chatfield in a joint statement .
They also said , “ Michigan ’ s certification process should be a deliberate process free from threats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should be taken seriously , thoroughly investigated , and if proven , prosecuted to the full extent of the law .
And the candidates who win the most votes win elections and Michigan ’ s 16 electoral votes .
These are simple truths that should provide confidence in our elections.
” The president had invited the Michigan officials as some on his legal team expressed hope that allegations of election fraud would delay certification and leave the decision of choosing presidential electors up to the Republican-controlled legislature .
But Democratic Gov .
Gretchen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state ’ s 16 electoral votes will go to presumptive President-elect Joseph R. Biden , who gained about 150,000 more votes than Mr. Trump statewide .
Mr. Chatfield and Mr. Shirkey didn ’ t say that Mr. Biden has won the state .

Michigan’s top Republican state legislators said Friday they will “follow the normal process” in certifying the presidential election results, after meeting with President Trump at the White House.
“As legislative leaders, we will follow the law and follow the normal process regarding Michigan’s electors, just as we have said throughout this election,” said state Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey state House Speaker Lee Chatfield in a joint statement.
They also said, “Michigan’s certification process should be a deliberate process free from threats and intimidation. Allegations of fraudulent behavior should be taken seriously, thoroughly investigated, and if proven, prosecuted to the full extent of the law. And the candidates who win the most votes win elections and Michigan’s 16 electoral votes. These are simple truths that should provide confidence in our elections.”
The president had invited the Michigan officials as some on his legal team expressed hope that allegations of election fraud would delay certification and leave the decision of choosing presidential electors up to the Republican-controlled legislature. But Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and others have vowed that the state’s 16 electoral votes will go to presumptive President-elect Joseph R. Biden, who gained about 150,000 more votes than Mr. Trump statewide.
Mr. Chatfield and Mr. Shirkey didn’t say that Mr. Biden has won the state.
• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-11-20--Justice Dept. plans 3 more executions in lame-duck period

WASHINGTON ( AP ) - The Justice Department has scheduled three more federal executions during the lame-duck period before President-elect Joe Biden takes office , including two just days before his inauguration .
The announcement comes a day after the federal Bureau of Prisons carried out the eighth federal execution this year after a 17-year hiatus , and it is likely to increase pressure on Biden to take a public stance on whether his administration would continue to schedule executions once he is sworn in .
Advocacy groups have called on the Trump administration to pause all executions until Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transition team did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday night .
In a court filing Friday night , the Justice Department said it was scheduling the executions of Alfred Bourgeois for Dec. 11 and Cory Johnson and Dustin Higgs for Jan. 14 and 15 .
Two other executions had already been scheduled for this year , including the first woman scheduled to be executed by the federal government in about six decades - though on Thursday , a federal judge ruled that execution could not proceed before the end of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , sexually molested , and then beat his two-and-a-half-year-old daughter to death .
Court records say Bourgeois repeatedly beat the young girl and punched her in the face , whipped her with an electrical cord and beat her with a belt so hard that it broke .
He also allegedly burned her feet with a cigarette lighter and hit her in the head with a baseball bat until her head swelled .
Johnson was one of three crack cocaine dealers convicted in a string of murders .
Prosecutors said he killed seven people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ territory of a Richmond , Virginia , gang and silence informants .
His co-defendants James H. Roane Jr. and Richard Tipton , members of same drug gang , are also on death row .
Johnson ’ s lawyers argue their client is intellectually disabled , and thus it would be unconstitutional to put him to death .
The Supreme Court has held that it is unlawful to execute a person who is of such a low intelligence that they can ’ t function in society .
But they argue that “ no jury @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evidence at a hearing to decide if he has intellectual disability.
” “ We are not aware of any other federal death penalty prisoner who has never had a single evidentiary hearing at which he could present his intellectual disability evidence .
The government should not proceed with Mr. Johnson ’ s execution in the absence of a thorough and fair opportunity for him to present this evidence , ” the lawyers , Ronald J. Tabak and Donald P. Salzman , said in a statement .
Higgs was convicted of ordering the 1996 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Mishann Chinn and Tanji Jackson , at a federal wildlife center near Beltsville , Maryland .
Prosecutors say Higgs and two others abducted the women after Higgs became enraged because one of the women rebuffed his advances at party .
Higgs ’ attorney , Sean Nolan , said his client didn ’ t kill anyone , had ineffective attorneys and didn ’ t deserve the death penalty .
Higgs ’ co-defendant , who prosecutors said carried out the killings , was not sentenced to death and Nolan said it is “ arbitrary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ severely than the person who committed the murders.
” “ Mr .
Higgs deserves clemency because of the unfair sentencing disparity … and because , despite the tragedy and hardship of his early life , he has been a model prisoner and is an active parent who is essential to the well-being of his son , ” Nolan said .

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Justice Department has scheduled three more federal executions during the lame-duck period before President-elect Joe Biden takes office, including two just days before his inauguration.
The announcement comes a day after the federal Bureau of Prisons carried out the eighth federal execution this year after a 17-year hiatus, and it is likely to increase pressure on Biden to take a public stance on whether his administration would continue to schedule executions once he is sworn in. Advocacy groups have called on the Trump administration to pause all executions until Biden takes office.
Representatives for the Biden transition team did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday night.
In a court filing Friday night, the Justice Department said it was scheduling the executions of Alfred Bourgeois for Dec. 11 and Cory Johnson and Dustin Higgs for Jan. 14 and 15. Two other executions had already been scheduled for this year, including the first woman scheduled to be executed by the federal government in about six decades - though on Thursday, a federal judge ruled that execution could not proceed before the end of the year.
Prosecutors say Bourgeois tortured, sexually molested, and then beat his two-and-a-half-year-old daughter to death. Court records say Bourgeois repeatedly beat the young girl and punched her in the face, whipped her with an electrical cord and beat her with a belt so hard that it broke. He also allegedly burned her feet with a cigarette lighter and hit her in the head with a baseball bat until her head swelled.
Johnson was one of three crack cocaine dealers convicted in a string of murders. Prosecutors said he killed seven people in in an attempt to expand the territory of a Richmond, Virginia, gang and silence informants. His co-defendants James H. Roane Jr. and Richard Tipton, members of same drug gang, are also on death row.
Johnson’s lawyers argue their client is intellectually disabled, and thus it would be unconstitutional to put him to death. The Supreme Court has held that it is unlawful to execute a person who is of such a low intelligence that they can’t function in society.
But they argue that “no jury or court has ever listened to the evidence at a hearing to decide if he has intellectual disability.”
“We are not aware of any other federal death penalty prisoner who has never had a single evidentiary hearing at which he could present his intellectual disability evidence. The government should not proceed with Mr. Johnson’s execution in the absence of a thorough and fair opportunity for him to present this evidence,” the lawyers, Ronald J. Tabak and Donald P. Salzman, said in a statement.
Higgs was convicted of ordering the 1996 murders of three women, Tamika Black, Mishann Chinn and Tanji Jackson, at a federal wildlife center near Beltsville, Maryland. Prosecutors say Higgs and two others abducted the women after Higgs became enraged because one of the women rebuffed his advances at party.
Higgs’ attorney, Sean Nolan, said his client didn’t kill anyone, had ineffective attorneys and didn’t deserve the death penalty. Higgs’ co-defendant, who prosecutors said carried out the killings, was not sentenced to death and Nolan said it is “arbitrary and inequitable to punish Mr. Higgs more severely than the person who committed the murders.”
“Mr. Higgs deserves clemency because of the unfair sentencing disparity … and because, despite the tragedy and hardship of his early life, he has been a model prisoner and is an active parent who is essential to the well-being of his son,” Nolan said.


washingtontimes--2020-11-20--Japanese woman killed in Brazil died from blow to the head

RIO DE JANEIRO ( AP ) - The Japanese woman whose body was found next to a waterfall in Brazil ’ s Goiás state died as a result of a blow to the head , probably from a blunt rock , according to the detective leading the investigation .
The 18-year-old Brazilian man who confessed to killing Hitomi Akamatsu claimed in his first interrogation that he had used her blouse to strangle her , detective Isabella Joy told The Associated Press by phone .
A forensic report from Goiás state ’ s crime lab that came back on Friday indicated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ death .
The man , who local press has identified as Rafael Lima da Costa , is under preventative arrest for homicide resulting from a robbery and for hiding a cadaver .
Akamatsu moved to the city of Abadiania to seek treatment for her skin cancer after she survived a nuclear accident in Japan , Joy said .
She remained there after the arrest of the spiritual healer known as João de Deus , or John of God , who drew people from all over the world to his small city two hours @ @ @ @ @ @ @ promises he could treat everything from depression to cancer .
Last year , he was found guilty of committing multiple rapes .
Akamatsu ’ s body was found in a ditch beside the waterfall after her friend reported her missing , which prompted authorities to send out a search party with tracker dogs .
Security camera footage showed da Costa following Akamatsu , and later returning with his blouse over his shoulder , Joy said .
While the woman ’ s blouse hasn ’ t been located , other clothes of hers as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ burned inside an abandoned home near the waterfall .
Her underwear was also found in the woods , and has been sent for forensic analysis .
Almost one week had passed between Akamatsu ’ s death and the day her body was found .
The time elapsed combined with the humid environment caused fast decomposition and made it impossible to confirm whether she had been raped , which da Costa hasn ’ t confessed to having done , Joy said .
Da Costa said he had intended to rob somebody to pay off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had passed him by .
Another interrogation is expected next week .
The man doesn ’ t have a lawyer and will most likely be appointed a public defender , Joy said .
The AP was unable to reach him to seek comment .

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) - The Japanese woman whose body was found next to a waterfall in Brazil’s Goiás state died as a result of a blow to the head, probably from a blunt rock, according to the detective leading the investigation.
The 18-year-old Brazilian man who confessed to killing Hitomi Akamatsu claimed in his first interrogation that he had used her blouse to strangle her, detective Isabella Joy told The Associated Press by phone. A forensic report from Goiás state’s crime lab that came back on Friday indicated cranial trauma was the actual cause of death.
The man, who local press has identified as Rafael Lima da Costa, is under preventative arrest for homicide resulting from a robbery and for hiding a cadaver.
Akamatsu moved to the city of Abadiania to seek treatment for her skin cancer after she survived a nuclear accident in Japan, Joy said. She remained there after the arrest of the spiritual healer known as João de Deus, or John of God, who drew people from all over the world to his small city two hours west of Brazil’s capital with promises he could treat everything from depression to cancer. Last year, he was found guilty of committing multiple rapes.
Akamatsu’s body was found in a ditch beside the waterfall after her friend reported her missing, which prompted authorities to send out a search party with tracker dogs.
Security camera footage showed da Costa following Akamatsu, and later returning with his blouse over his shoulder, Joy said. While the woman’s blouse hasn’t been located, other clothes of hers as well as an exercise mat were found burned inside an abandoned home near the waterfall. Her underwear was also found in the woods, and has been sent for forensic analysis.
Almost one week had passed between Akamatsu’s death and the day her body was found. The time elapsed combined with the humid environment caused fast decomposition and made it impossible to confirm whether she had been raped, which da Costa hasn’t confessed to having done, Joy said.
Da Costa said he had intended to rob somebody to pay off a drug debt, and that she had passed him by. Another interrogation is expected next week.
The man doesn’t have a lawyer and will most likely be appointed a public defender, Joy said. The AP was unable to reach him to seek comment.


washingtontimes--2020-11-20--Seattle City Council rejects effort to block police hiring

SEATTLE ( AP ) - The Seattle City Council has rejected a proposal intended to block more than 100 police officers from being hired in 2021 , siding with Mayor Jenny Durkan and others who say new recruits are needed .
The measure was promoted by a coalition of local organizations , including the King County Equity Now group that emerged as a leader during Black Lives Matter demonstrations , The Seattle Times reported .
In July , during the nationwide protests where many called for cities to “ defund ” the police , most council members agreed the Police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 50 % , with the money shifted to other needs .
But council President M. Lorena González and council member Lisa Herbold objected to a hiring freeze Thursday , arguing it would shrink the force too fast when combined with accelerating attrition .
They said other transfers and cuts that will reduce the police budget by up to 17 % are significant and sensible .
“ To be successful in the long term … shifting to community safety and away from traditional policing , we have to move methodically , ” Herbold said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Council members Kshama Sawant and Tammy Morales voted to remove the department ’ s $ 9 million recruitment allotment , request the hiring freeze and redirect the funds to “ community-led ” alternatives .
A $ 151 million cut that Sawant said would meet the 50 % defunding demand also died .
The action came during a committee meeting as council members moved forward with changes to a 2021 budget plan .
Final votes on the changes are set for a full council meeting Monday , capping months of heated talks .
Even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are poised to make significant changes to public safety operations .
They ’ re going to transfer 911 call-takers , parking enforcement officers and mental-health workers out of the Police Department .
They ’ re also going to cut funding for vacant officer positions and try to lay off officers with misconduct records , while allocating tens of millions of dollars to community solutions .
The police budget will drop after growing steadily for years .
“ I believe this budget is offering a new paradigm , ” council member Teresa Mosqueda said @ @

SEATTLE (AP) - The Seattle City Council has rejected a proposal intended to block more than 100 police officers from being hired in 2021, siding with Mayor Jenny Durkan and others who say new recruits are needed.
The measure was promoted by a coalition of local organizations, including the King County Equity Now group that emerged as a leader during Black Lives Matter demonstrations, The Seattle Times reported. In July, during the nationwide protests where many called for cities to “defund” the police, most council members agreed the Police Department should have its funding reduced by 50%, with the money shifted to other needs.
But council President M. Lorena González and council member Lisa Herbold objected to a hiring freeze Thursday, arguing it would shrink the force too fast when combined with accelerating attrition. They said other transfers and cuts that will reduce the police budget by up to 17% are significant and sensible.
“To be successful in the long term … shifting to community safety and away from traditional policing, we have to move methodically,” Herbold said.
The proposal failed, 7-2. Council members Kshama Sawant and Tammy Morales voted to remove the department’s $9 million recruitment allotment, request the hiring freeze and redirect the funds to “community-led” alternatives.
A $151 million cut that Sawant said would meet the 50% defunding demand also died.
The action came during a committee meeting as council members moved forward with changes to a 2021 budget plan. Final votes on the changes are set for a full council meeting Monday, capping months of heated talks.
Even without a hiring freeze, Seattle leaders are poised to make significant changes to public safety operations. They’re going to transfer 911 call-takers, parking enforcement officers and mental-health workers out of the Police Department.
They’re also going to cut funding for vacant officer positions and try to lay off officers with misconduct records, while allocating tens of millions of dollars to community solutions. The police budget will drop after growing steadily for years.
“I believe this budget is offering a new paradigm,” council member Teresa Mosqueda said Thursday.


washingtontimes--2020-11-20--Court: Tennessee can enforce Down syndrome abortion ban

NASHVILLE , Tenn. ( AP ) - A federal appeals court ruled Friday that Tennessee can begin outlawing abortions because of a prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome , as well as prohibit the procedure if it ’ s based on the race or gender of the fetus .
Tennessee Republican Gov .
Bill Lee enacted the so-called “ reason bans ” earlier this year as part of a sweeping anti-abortion measure .
The law gained national attention because it banned abortion as early as six weeks - making it one of the strictest in the country - but it included @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was immediately blocked by a lower federal court just hours after Lee signed it into law .
However , the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals ’ decision will allow the state to enforce the reason bans while abortion rights groups continue their court battle against that law .
The plaintiffs , which include Tennessee abortion providers being represented by reproductive rights groups , had argued the ban was improperly vague , but the court disagreed .
Currently , more than a dozen states have similar reason bans in place .
“ These bans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attempting to limit the constitutional right to abortion care and to create stigma , ” said Nancy Northup , president and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights , in a statement .
“ Decisions about whether and when to continue or to end a pregnancy are best made by the individual and their family.
” The Attorney General ’ s office said in a statement that they “ appreciate the Sixth Circuit lifting the lower court ’ s injunction ” and looked forward to continuing defending the statute .
“ Our law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gender , or diagnosis of Down syndrome of the child and the court ’ s decision will save lives , ” Lee said in a statement .
“ Protecting our most vulnerable Tennesseans is worth the fight.
” Immediately following the appeals court ruling , the plaintiffs ’ attorneys filed a request in lower federal court for a temporary restraining order to block the reason bans once again , but this time argued the law illegally prohibits a patient from “ obtaining constitutionally protected pre-viability abortion care.
” “ ( The ) Sixth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and explicitly declined to issue any ruling with respect to plaintiffs ’ claims that the Reason Bans violate patients ’ constitutional right to pre-viability abortion , ” the attorneys wrote .
The court had not issued a ruling on that as of Friday evening .
Down syndrome is a genetic abnormality that causes developmental delays and medical conditions such as heart defects and respiratory and hearing problems .
According to the National Down Syndrome Society , about one in every 700 babies in the United States - or about 6,000 a year - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ results from a chromosomal irregularity .
The rarity of the condition has prompted abortion rights groups to paint the Down syndrome bans as part of yet another thinly veiled effort by lawmakers to continue chipping away at a patient ’ s right to an abortion .

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - A federal appeals court ruled Friday that Tennessee can begin outlawing abortions because of a prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome, as well as prohibit the procedure if it’s based on the race or gender of the fetus.
Tennessee Republican Gov. Bill Lee enacted the so-called “reason bans” earlier this year as part of a sweeping anti-abortion measure. The law gained national attention because it banned abortion as early as six weeks - making it one of the strictest in the country - but it included several other anti-abortion components.
The law was immediately blocked by a lower federal court just hours after Lee signed it into law.
However, the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision will allow the state to enforce the reason bans while abortion rights groups continue their court battle against that law.
The plaintiffs, which include Tennessee abortion providers being represented by reproductive rights groups, had argued the ban was improperly vague, but the court disagreed.
Currently, more than a dozen states have similar reason bans in place.
“These bans are just another way anti-abortion politicians are attempting to limit the constitutional right to abortion care and to create stigma,” said Nancy Northup, president and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights, in a statement. “Decisions about whether and when to continue or to end a pregnancy are best made by the individual and their family.”
The Attorney General’s office said in a statement that they “appreciate the Sixth Circuit lifting the lower court’s injunction” and looked forward to continuing defending the statute.
“Our law prohibits abortion based on the race, gender, or diagnosis of Down syndrome of the child and the court’s decision will save lives,” Lee said in a statement. “Protecting our most vulnerable Tennesseans is worth the fight.”
Immediately following the appeals court ruling, the plaintiffs’ attorneys filed a request in lower federal court for a temporary restraining order to block the reason bans once again, but this time argued the law illegally prohibits a patient from “obtaining constitutionally protected pre-viability abortion care.”
“(The) Sixth Circuit only addressed plaintiffs’ vagueness claims and explicitly declined to issue any ruling with respect to plaintiffs’ claims that the Reason Bans violate patients’ constitutional right to pre-viability abortion,” the attorneys wrote.
The court had not issued a ruling on that as of Friday evening.
Down syndrome is a genetic abnormality that causes developmental delays and medical conditions such as heart defects and respiratory and hearing problems.
According to the National Down Syndrome Society, about one in every 700 babies in the United States - or about 6,000 a year - is born with the condition, which results from a chromosomal irregularity.
The rarity of the condition has prompted abortion rights groups to paint the Down syndrome bans as part of yet another thinly veiled effort by lawmakers to continue chipping away at a patient’s right to an abortion.


washingtontimes--2020-11-20--Idaho doesn't count jobless on federal unemployment programs

BOISE , Idaho ( AP ) - Idaho has not included claims from jobless residents on federal unemployment programs in its weekly unemployment reports , according to reporting from Boise State Public Radio .
The radio station reports that anyone who files a claim for the first time is counted as an initial claim .
But Idaho residents who only qualify for federal benefits have not been counted in the state ’ s weekly report of continued claims , the radio station reported .
“ These programs have allowed people who otherwise would have been running back and trying to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to remain unemployed but not ( be ) searching for work , ” said Michael Farren , a research fellow at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University .
“ It ’ s probably helped avoid spreading the virus even more , ” he added .
The Idaho Department of Labor said in a statement to the radio station that its focus was on processing claims and paying unemployment benefits to those who need it .
The statement said that other states had the ability to set up a new , separate system @ @ @ @ @ @ @ programs , one that Idaho did not partake in .
“ I don ’ t necessarily fault Idaho for only releasing the number of people on the state program , ” Farren said .
“ But it would be good if the department had been able to provide a little bit more nuance to the data .
”

BOISE, Idaho (AP) - Idaho has not included claims from jobless residents on federal unemployment programs in its weekly unemployment reports, according to reporting from Boise State Public Radio.
The radio station reports that anyone who files a claim for the first time is counted as an initial claim. But Idaho residents who only qualify for federal benefits have not been counted in the state’s weekly report of continued claims, the radio station reported.
“These programs have allowed people who otherwise would have been running back and trying to find whatever jobs that are available, to remain unemployed but not (be) searching for work,” said Michael Farren, a research fellow at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. “It’s probably helped avoid spreading the virus even more,” he added.
The Idaho Department of Labor said in a statement to the radio station that its focus was on processing claims and paying unemployment benefits to those who need it. The statement said that other states had the ability to set up a new, separate system to handle unemployment claims for the federal programs, one that Idaho did not partake in.
“I don’t necessarily fault Idaho for only releasing the number of people on the state program,” Farren said. “But it would be good if the department had been able to provide a little bit more nuance to the data.”


washingtontimes--2020-11-20--2 dead, 2 injured in shooting at house in northern Michigan

ELBERTA , Mich. ( AP ) - Two people were killed and two more were critically injured in a shooting @ @ @ @ @ northern Michigan ’ s Benzie County , police said .
A mother and her adult @ @ @ @ @ father and another son were rushed to a hospital , Undersheriff Gregory Hubers said .
@ @ @ @ @ , a village tucked between Lake Michigan and Betsie Lake .
“ We don ’ @ @ @ @ @ suspects at large .
All of the gunshots occurred … from people within the residence @ @ @ @ @

ELBERTA, Mich. (AP) - Two people were killed and two more were critically injured in a shooting Friday at a house in northern Michigan’s Benzie County, police said.
A mother and her adult son died, while the father and another son were rushed to a hospital, Undersheriff Gregory Hubers said.
The shooting occurred in Elberta, a village tucked between Lake Michigan and Betsie Lake.
“We don’t believe there are any suspects at large. All of the gunshots occurred … from people within the residence,” Hubers said.


washingtontimes--2020-11-20--Justice Department schedules three more federal executions

The Justice Department late Friday scheduled three more federal executions , including two inmates set to die just days before presumptive President-elect Joseph R. Biden takes over in January .
Since the Trump administration resumed the use of capital punishment after a 17-year hiatus , eight inmates have been put to death .
An additional two more inmates are scheduled to die before the end of the year .
If all remaining executions take place , the Trump administration will have killed 13 federal inmates in under a year , the most in U.S. history .
Democrats and advocacy groups @ @ @ @ @ @ @ executions during the transition period before Mr. Biden takes office .
However , Friday night ’ s announcement shows the Trump administration has ignored such calls .
“ President Trump is already the most-executing president since the 1950s , so he ’ s got his record as the biggest and the best .
Perhaps President Trump is now gunning to beat President Roosevelt , who oversaw 17 federal executions , and those were during World War II , ” said Abraham Bonowitz , president of Death Penalty Action , a group that opposes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ further executions are necessary .
We call upon President Trump and Attorney General Barr to stop them all .
Just stop.
” Mr. Biden has expressed opposition to the death penalty but has not formally stated if federal executions would continue under his administration .
On Friday , the Justice Department said it has scheduled the executions of Alfred Bourgeois for December 11 and Cory Johnson and Dustin Higgs for January 14 and 15 .
All three executions are scheduled to occur at the federal prison complex in Terre Haute , Indiana .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the inmates committed “ staggeringly brutal murders.
” Bourgeois was convicted of sexually molesting and then torturing and beating his two-and-a-half-year-old daughter to death .
Prosecutors said Bourgeois punched his daughter in the face , whipped her with an electrical cord , and burned the bottom of her foot with a cigarette lighter .
Johnson , a crack dealer , was convicted of murdering seven people who posed a threat to his Richmond , Virginia-based drug business .
His co-defendants in the case are also on death row .
Higgs was convicted of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at a federal wildlife center near Beltsville , Maryland .
Prosecutors say Higgs gave a gun to one of his friends to kill the girls because they rebuffed his advances at a party .
Attorneys for Bourgeois and Johnson said their clients have intellectual disabilities .
Ronald J. Tabak and Donald P. Salzman said Johnson ’ s intellectual disability should prohibit his execution from being carried out .
“ Despite compelling evidence demonstrating his intellectual disability , no jury or court has ever listened to the evidence at a hearing to decide if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they said in a statement .
“ We are not aware of any other federal death penalty prisoner who has never had a single evidentiary hearing at which he could present his intellectual disability evidence .
The government should not proceed with Mr. Johnson ’ s execution in the absence of a thorough and fair opportunity for him to present this evidence.
” Vic Abreu , who is representing Bourgeois , said his client had ineffective attorneys who failed to present evidence of his intellectual disability .
“ Mr .
Bourgeois is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Constitution and the plain language of the Federal Death Penalty Act bar his execution , ” Mr. Abreu said .
“ The jury that sentenced Mr. Bourgeois to death never learned that he was a person with intellectual disability because his trial lawyers did not present the evidence that was available to them .
”

The Justice Department has scheduled three more federal executions, including two inmates set to die just days before presumptive President-elect Joseph R. Biden takes over in January.
Since the Trump administration resumed the use of capital punishment after a 17-year hiatus, eight inmates have been put to death. Two more inmates are scheduled to die before the end of the year.
If all the scheduled death sentences are carried out, the Trump administration will have executed 13 federal inmates in under a year, the most in U.S. history.
Democrats and advocacy groups have demanded the Trump administration halt federal executions during the transition period before Mr. Biden takes office. However, the Friday night announcement shows the Trump administration is ignoring such calls.
“President Trump is already the most-executing president since the 1950s, so he’s got his record as the biggest and the best. Perhaps President Trump is now gunning to beat President Roosevelt, who oversaw 17 federal executions, and those were during World War II,” said Abraham Bonowitz, president of Death Penalty Action, a group that opposes capital punishment.
“Seriously, no further executions are necessary. We call upon President Trump and Attorney General Barr to stop them all. Just stop,” he said.
Mr. Biden has expressed opposition to the death penalty but has not formally stated whether federal executions would continue under his administration.
The Justice Department said it has scheduled the executions of Alfred Bourgeois for Dec. 11 and Cory Johnson and Dustin Higgs for Jan. 14 and 15, all three at the federal prison complex in Terre Haute, Indiana.
In the announcement, the department said the inmates committed “staggeringly brutal murders.”
Bourgeois was convicted of sexually molesting and then torturing and beating to death his two-and-a-half-year-old daughter. Prosecutors said Bourgeois punched his daughter in the face, whipped her with an electrical cord, and burned the bottom of her foot with a cigarette lighter.
Johnson, a crack dealer, was convicted of murdering seven people who posed a threat to his Virginia-based drug business. His co-defendants are also on death row.
Higgs was convicted of ordering the 1996 murder of three women at a federal wildlife center near Beltsville. Prosecutors say Higgs gave a gun to one of his friends to kill the girls because they rebuffed his advances at a party.
Attorneys for Bourgeois and Johnson said their clients have intellectual disabilities.
Ronald J. Tabak and Donald P. Salzman said Johnson’s intellectual disability should prohibit his execution from being carried out.
“Despite compelling evidence demonstrating his intellectual disability, no jury or court has ever listened to the evidence at a hearing to decide if he has an intellectual disability,” they said in a statement. “We are not aware of any other federal death penalty prisoner who has never had a single evidentiary hearing at which he could present his intellectual disability evidence. The government should not proceed with Mr. Johnson’s execution in the absence of a thorough and fair opportunity for him to present this evidence.”
Vic Abreu, who is representing Bourgeois, said his client had ineffective attorneys who failed to present evidence of his intellectual disability.
“Mr. Bourgeois is a person with intellectual disability, and both the Constitution and the plain language of the Federal Death Penalty Act bar his execution,” Mr. Abreu said. “The jury that sentenced Mr. Bourgeois to death never learned that he was a person with intellectual disability because his trial lawyers did not present the evidence that was available to them.”
• Jeff Mordock can be reached at jmordock@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-11-21--Chief Afghan peace envoy says US troops pulling out too soon

ANKARA , Turkey ( AP ) - Afghanistan ’ s chief peace envoy Abdullah Abdullah said Saturday that the U.S. decision to begin withdrawing troops from Afghanistan has come too soon , as his country is still struggling to attain peace and security amid an ongoing conflict .
In an interview with The Associated Press , Abdullah also described as “ shocking ” an Australian military report that found evidence that elite Australian troops unlawfully killed 39 Afghan prisoners .
He welcomed a decision by Australian authorities to pursue the perpetrators .
Abdullah spoke in Ankara where he sought Turkey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Afghan government and the Taliban that are taking place in Qatar to find an end to decades of war .
The talks have made little progress so far .
“ This is the decision of the U.S administration and we respect it , ” Abdullah said of the U.S. decision this week to reduce troops levels in Afghanistan from more than 4,500 to 2,500 .
“ Our preference would have been that with the conditions improving , this should have taken place.
” Acting U.S. Defense Secretary Christopher Miller announced that Washington would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by mid-January , in line with President Donald Trump ’ s pledge to bring U.S. forces home .
Afghan officials have expressed concerns that a rapid reduction in American troops could strengthen the negotiating hand of the Taliban , while the militants are still waging a full-fledged insurgency against government forces .
“ It ’ s not like things will go as we wish , ” Abdullah said , adding however , that he welcomed the fact 2,500 troops will remain and that NATO will also retain its presence .
The chief negotiator @ @ @ @ @ @ @ States will continue to support peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban during President-elect Joe Biden ’ s administration .
“ What form or what shape it will take that remains to be seen but they will certainly push for a peaceful settlement , ” Abdullah said .
Abdullah , who shared power in Afghanistan ’ s last government as chief executive and before that as foreign minister , cautioned that “ a comprehensive settlement will come as a result of the negotiation between the Afghan government and the Taliban , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the new U.S. administration .
Washington signed a deal with the Taliban in February to pave the way for the Doha talks and American forces ’ eventual withdrawal .
The Americans championed the deal as Afghanistan ’ s best chance at a lasting peace .
Abdullah ’ s meetings with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and other Turkish officials came days after Australia revealed a report into war crimes that found evidence that elite Australian troops unlawfully killed 39 Afghan prisoners , farmers and civilians .
“ It was shocking , ” Abdullah @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fact that Australia had “ come clear about it .
” He added : “ there is the promise , the prospect of prosecution for those who have committed these heinous crimes that will count .
This will help preventing these types of crimes.
” The top Afghan official also said he had asked Turkey to “ reenergize ” its efforts in support of the peace process , and suggested that Turkey appoint a “ special envoy ” to support the negotiations .

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) - Afghanistan’s chief peace envoy Abdullah Abdullah said Saturday that the U.S. decision to begin withdrawing troops from Afghanistan has come too soon, as his country is still struggling to attain peace and security amid an ongoing conflict.
In an interview with The Associated Press, Abdullah also described as “shocking” an Australian military report that found evidence that elite Australian troops unlawfully killed 39 Afghan prisoners. He welcomed a decision by Australian authorities to pursue the perpetrators.
Abdullah spoke in Ankara where he sought Turkey’s support for negotiations between the Afghan government and the Taliban that are taking place in Qatar to find an end to decades of war. The talks have made little progress so far.
“This is the decision of the U.S administration and we respect it,” Abdullah said of the U.S. decision this week to reduce troops levels in Afghanistan from more than 4,500 to 2,500. “Our preference would have been that with the conditions improving, this should have taken place.”
Acting U.S. Defense Secretary Christopher Miller announced that Washington would reduce troop levels in Iraq and Afghanistan by mid-January, in line with President Donald Trump’s pledge to bring U.S. forces home.
Afghan officials have expressed concerns that a rapid reduction in American troops could strengthen the negotiating hand of the Taliban, while the militants are still waging a full-fledged insurgency against government forces.
“It’s not like things will go as we wish,” Abdullah said, adding however, that he welcomed the fact 2,500 troops will remain and that NATO will also retain its presence.
The chief negotiator said he was confident that the United States will continue to support peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban during President-elect Joe Biden’s administration.
“What form or what shape it will take that remains to be seen but they will certainly push for a peaceful settlement,” Abdullah said.
Abdullah, who shared power in Afghanistan’s last government as chief executive and before that as foreign minister, cautioned that “a comprehensive settlement will come as a result of the negotiation between the Afghan government and the Taliban,” regardless of any possible new input by the new U.S. administration.
Washington signed a deal with the Taliban in February to pave the way for the Doha talks and American forces’ eventual withdrawal. The Americans championed the deal as Afghanistan’s best chance at a lasting peace.
Abdullah’s meetings with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and other Turkish officials came days after Australia revealed a report into war crimes that found evidence that elite Australian troops unlawfully killed 39 Afghan prisoners, farmers and civilians.
“It was shocking,” Abdullah said of the report, but welcomed the fact that Australia had “come clear about it. ”
He added: “there is the promise, the prospect of prosecution for those who have committed these heinous crimes that will count. This will help preventing these types of crimes.”
The top Afghan official also said he had asked Turkey to “reenergize” its efforts in support of the peace process, and suggested that Turkey appoint a “special envoy” to support the negotiations.


washingtontimes--2020-11-21--Trump turnout helps N. Carolina GOP block Democratic advance

North Carolina Democrats were hoping this November they would break the backs of Republicans , who after dominating state politics for much of the past decade saw their power erode in the 2016 and 2018 elections .
Instead , state Democrats had little to tout after Election Day beyond Gov .
Roy Cooper ’ s close yet expected reelection , a narrow victory for Attorney General Josh Stein , and picking up two U.S. House seats largely handed to them by redistricting in 2019 .
President Donald Trump , although defeated nationally , again won North Carolina ’ s 15 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ earned a second term over Democratic challenger Cal Cunningham , whose acknowledgement in the campaign ’ s final weeks of an extramarital affair derailed a potential upset .
Republicans retained eight congressional seats and six Council of State positions .
They will sweep all eight state appeals court races should Paul Newby stay ahead of Chief Justice Cheri Beasley following a recount and legal protests .
And the Democrats ’ multimillion-dollar effort to take control of the state legislature before the next round of redistricting begins in 2021 failed , with the GOP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ overall .
“ It was a great day to be a Republican here in North Carolina , ” state GOP Chairman Michael Whatley said .
Democrats are largely blaming the flame-out on tremendous turnout by Republicans committed to Trump , who beat Joe Biden by just 1.3 percentage points .
While statewide turnout exceeded 75 % , a record for recent North Carolina history , Republicans up and down the ballot won handily in all but one of the 13 counties whose turnout surpassed 80 % , according to State Board of Elections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democratic advantages that ran up in urban counties and by mail-in balloting .
“ Ultimately , it is Trump ’ s ability to motivate rural North Carolina to turn out and vote in record numbers , ” said Morgan Jackson , a consultant for Cooper and Cunningham ’ s campaigns .
Jackson said Cunningham ’ s “ personal issues ” in the final month contributed to changing the trajectory of that race .
And he said Democrats were not able to run robust traditional get-out-the-vote operations because party members were less willing to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 pandemic .
GOP activists , meanwhile , knocked on 3 million doors , according to Whatley .
They were complemented by outside advocacy groups like Americans for Prosperity , whose campaign arm worked on behalf of certain Republican candidates by using data to pinpoint voters they believed supported conservative views on the economy , COVID-19 relief and health care access .
“ We surgically targeted voters based on where we thought they ’ d come down on policy issues , ” said Chris McCoy , the group ’ s state director .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ on 126,000 doors in the Triangle and Charlotte .
Whatley said Trump ’ s mass rallies to North Carolina in the campaign ’ s final weeks , along with visits by Vice President Mike Pence and Trump family members , also contributed to GOP enthusiasm with early in-person voting and on Election Day .
Biden , meanwhile , did not visit North Carolina in the campaign ’ s final 16 days .
State Democratic Party Chair Wayne Goodwin believes his party ’ s candidates did the responsible thing by not holding large events @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in contrast to Trump .
“ We all would ’ ve preferred campaigning in the style of which we ’ re accustomed in a presidential year and I think that certainly could have had an impact , ” Goodwin said .
“ But at the end of the day , if we became hypocrites and wound up having super-spreader events , then I don ’ t think anyone would ever sleep well at night.
” Some Republicans , particularly legislative leaders , attributed electoral success to their legislative agenda of the past @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opportunities for school choice for K-12 students and increased education funding .
“ Those are policies that are broadly popular , even among groups that traditionally don ’ t support Republicans , ” Senate leader Phil Berger said .
Democrats in key legislative races attempted to make the GOP ’ s opposition to expanding Medicaid the pivotal issue in their campaigns , repeating a successful strategy from 2018 .
Democrats see a silver lining with increased margins for their candidates compared to 2016 in urban counties already dominated by their party , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suburban counties like Gaston , Union and Johnston .
Population shifts likely will mean more legislative and congressional seats get created in areas that favor Democrats in 2021 redistricting .
“ The ( 2020 ’ s ) are gon na be a decade of trench warfare , ” veteran Democratic consultant Gary Pearce said .
“ Neither party is really able to get total control of government.
” Democratic strategists also hope GOP turnout diminishes when Trump is not on the ballot .
“ Trump supporters are rabid for him , ” said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worked with congressional candidate Patricia Timmons-Goodson .
“ I don ’ t think they ’ re Republicans .
I think they ’ re gon na find out that in four years , in two years , those people are not gon na show up.
” It will in part be up to local Republican leaders to keep first-time and sporadic voters involved in future elections .
In GOP-dominated Alexander County , 65 miles ( 105 kilometers ) north of Charlotte , party Chairman Jack Simms said 137 people came to the party headquarters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time ever or switch their party affiliation , often from Democratic .
In previous elections , the county GOP might get 25 such registrations .
“ I don ’ t think we ’ ll ever see a more energetic election like we ’ ve just witnessed , ” Simms said .
Can it be repeated ?
He replied : “ It depends on who runs in the future.
” Follow Robertson on Twitter at https : //twitter.com/garydrobertson and Anderson at https : //twitter.com/bryanranderson .
Anderson is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues .

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) -
North Carolina Democrats were hoping this November they would break the backs of Republicans, who after dominating state politics for much of the past decade saw their power erode in the 2016 and 2018 elections.
Instead, state Democrats had little to tout after Election Day beyond Gov. Roy Cooper’s close yet expected reelection, a narrow victory for Attorney General Josh Stein, and picking up two U.S. House seats largely handed to them by redistricting in 2019.
President Donald Trump, although defeated nationally, again won North Carolina’s 15 electoral votes. U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis earned a second term over Democratic challenger Cal Cunningham, whose acknowledgement in the campaign’s final weeks of an extramarital affair derailed a potential upset. Republicans retained eight congressional seats and six Council of State positions. They will sweep all eight state appeals court races should Paul Newby stay ahead of Chief Justice Cheri Beasley following a recount and legal protests.
And the Democrats’ multimillion-dollar effort to take control of the state legislature before the next round of redistricting begins in 2021 failed, with the GOP actually picking up more General Assembly seats overall.
“It was a great day to be a Republican here in North Carolina,” state GOP Chairman Michael Whatley said.
Democrats are largely blaming the flame-out on tremendous turnout by Republicans committed to Trump, who beat Joe Biden by just 1.3 percentage points.
While statewide turnout exceeded 75%, a record for recent North Carolina history, Republicans up and down the ballot won handily in all but one of the 13 counties whose turnout surpassed 80%, according to State Board of Elections data. That helped the GOP counter Democratic advantages that ran up in urban counties and by mail-in balloting.
“Ultimately, it is Trump’s ability to motivate rural North Carolina to turn out and vote in record numbers,” said Morgan Jackson, a consultant for Cooper and Cunningham’s campaigns. Jackson said Cunningham’s “personal issues” in the final month contributed to changing the trajectory of that race. And he said Democrats were not able to run robust traditional get-out-the-vote operations because party members were less willing to knock on doors for fear of the COVID-19 pandemic.
GOP activists, meanwhile, knocked on 3 million doors, according to Whatley. They were complemented by outside advocacy groups like Americans for Prosperity, whose campaign arm worked on behalf of certain Republican candidates by using data to pinpoint voters they believed supported conservative views on the economy, COVID-19 relief and health care access.
“We surgically targeted voters based on where we thought they’d come down on policy issues,” said Chris McCoy, the group’s state director. Americans for Prosperity staff and volunteers knocked on 126,000 doors in the Triangle and Charlotte.
Whatley said Trump’s mass rallies to North Carolina in the campaign’s final weeks, along with visits by Vice President Mike Pence and Trump family members, also contributed to GOP enthusiasm with early in-person voting and on Election Day. Biden, meanwhile, did not visit North Carolina in the campaign’s final 16 days. State Democratic Party Chair Wayne Goodwin believes his party’s candidates did the responsible thing by not holding large events that threatened the spread of the coronavirus, in contrast to Trump.
“We all would’ve preferred campaigning in the style of which we’re accustomed in a presidential year and I think that certainly could have had an impact,” Goodwin said. “But at the end of the day, if we became hypocrites and wound up having super-spreader events, then I don’t think anyone would ever sleep well at night.”
Some Republicans, particularly legislative leaders, attributed electoral success to their legislative agenda of the past decade, including lower taxes, expanded opportunities for school choice for K-12 students and increased education funding.
“Those are policies that are broadly popular, even among groups that traditionally don’t support Republicans,” Senate leader Phil Berger said. Democrats in key legislative races attempted to make the GOP’s opposition to expanding Medicaid the pivotal issue in their campaigns, repeating a successful strategy from 2018.
Democrats see a silver lining with increased margins for their candidates compared to 2016 in urban counties already dominated by their party, as well as narrowed GOP vote advantages in suburban counties like Gaston, Union and Johnston. Population shifts likely will mean more legislative and congressional seats get created in areas that favor Democrats in 2021 redistricting.
“The (2020’s) are gonna be a decade of trench warfare,” veteran Democratic consultant Gary Pearce said. “Neither party is really able to get total control of government.”
Democratic strategists also hope GOP turnout diminishes when Trump is not on the ballot.
“Trump supporters are rabid for him,” said Thomas Mills, a Democratic consultant who worked with congressional candidate Patricia Timmons-Goodson. “I don’t think they’re Republicans. I think they’re gonna find out that in four years, in two years, those people are not gonna show up.”
It will in part be up to local Republican leaders to keep first-time and sporadic voters involved in future elections. In GOP-dominated Alexander County, 65 miles (105 kilometers) north of Charlotte, party Chairman Jack Simms said 137 people came to the party headquarters to register to vote for the first time ever or switch their party affiliation, often from Democratic. In previous elections, the county GOP might get 25 such registrations.
“I don’t think we’ll ever see a more energetic election like we’ve just witnessed,” Simms said. Can it be repeated? He replied: “It depends on who runs in the future.”
___
Follow Robertson on Twitter at https://twitter.com/garydrobertson and Anderson at https://twitter.com/bryanranderson.
___
Anderson is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.