courthousenews--2020-10-10--Inside Track: What to Look Out for as Barrett Nomination Reaches Senate

WASHINGTON ( CN ) — Confirmation hearings for the judge nominated and all but certain to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the U.S. Supreme Court , Amy Coney Barrett , will kick off Monday .
A former law clerk of Justice Antonin Scalia , who like her was Catholic , Barrett graduated with honors from Notre Dame Law School in 1997 .
She taught there for over a decade before President Donald Trump made her a judge on the Seventh Circuit in 2017 .
Trump foreshadowed his plans for Barrett the next year , quoted as saying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ replace Ginsburg if he had the opportunity to nominate Ginsburg ’ s replacement .
As the Senate Judiciary Committee considers the nomination this week , Barrett ’ s faith is expected to be a central focus .
The 48-year-old mother of seven is also member of the conservative legal advocacy group the Federalist Society .
The hearings kick off after committee Democrats complained this week about missing information from a questionnaire Barrett completed as part of the nomination process .
As first reported by the Guardian , Barret did not disclose that in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which the anti-abortion group St. Joseph County Right to Life called for an end “ to the barbaric legacy of Roe v. Wade.
” “ The failure to disclose the 2006 letter leads to additional questions about other potentially missing materials , ” Democrats told the Justice Department on Tuesday , questioning if any other materials had been withheld .
“ The omission also raises concerns that the process of collecting materials responsive to the [ Senate Judiciary Questionnaire ] , like the nomination process itself , has been rushed , for no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Barrett ’ s listing of only three cases under a section of the questionnaire that asked her to describe the “ 10 most significant litigated matters which you personally handled , ” omitting her time spent defending a Pittsburgh steel company that aided the bankruptcy of a major Pennsylvania hospital system .
During 2017 Senate confirmation hearings , Democrats characterized Barrett as extremely conservative after studying her published works from 15 years in academia .
In a 2017 article “ Countering the Majoritarian Difficulty ” reacting to the Supreme Court ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Barrett wrote that the holdings NFIB v. Sebelius and King v. Burwell had distorted the Constitution .
Chief Justice John Roberts had pushed the law “ beyond its plausible meaning to save the statute , ” she wrote .
Barrett also reflected that year about why Catholic judges shouldn ’ t be expected to recuse themselves from death-penalty cases .
“ Judges can not — nor should they try to — align our legal system with the Church ’ s moral teaching whenever the two diverge , ” she wrote in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , however , conform their own behavior to the Church ’ s standard.
” Judiciary Committee members will begin their opening statements Monday , then question Barrett for the first time on Tuesday , according to a schedule released by Chairman Lindsey Graham .
The following days will consist of testimony from “ those who know Judge Barrett the best and legal experts , ” according to the release .
Senate Democrats spent the week leading up to Monday ’ s hearing hosting conference calls that dug into Barrett ’ s judicial record @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including workers ’ rights issues , gun ownership issues and Roe v. Wade .
“ As we debate Amy Coney Barrett ’ s nomination to the highest court in the land , it ’ s clear that women ’ s reproductive rights are in grave danger — including , potentially the right to start families with Assisted Reproductive technology like IVF , ” Senator Tammy Duckwoth , an Illinois Democrat , said in a Tuesday call centered on Roe v. Wade .
“ So , I urge each of my Republican colleagues , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when I brought my little Mallie Pearl to the Senate floor , to look within themselves , think about the message it would send to families like mine if Judge Barrett were promoted to the highest court in the land and decided whether women like me should have the right to start families or whether we should be considered criminals.
” According to a New York Times and Siena College poll released shortly after Barrett ’ s nomination , the majority of American voters would rather stave off confirming another justice until ballots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ majority of poll participants also noted they supported abortion and the federal health care law , and that they felt Joe Biden would be more up to the task to pick a judge to replace Ginsburg .
Republicans stonewalled in 2016 when then-President Barack Obama nominated Judge Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court after the death of Justice Antonin Scalia , months before Trump ’ s election .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said 10 days after Scalia ’ s death that the nomination would be wielded as an “ election cudgel , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another bitter and unavoidable struggle.
” Though Graham has outlined one of the fastest nomination process for a justice in U.S. history with Barrett , in 2016 he insisted that the blackballing of Garland ’ s nomination was nonpartisan .
“ I want you to use my words against me , ” Graham said .
“ If there ’ s a Republican president in 2016 and a vacancy occurs in the last year of the first term , you can say , Lindsey Graham said , ‘ Let ’ s let the next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make the nomination , ’ and you could use my words against me and you ’ d be absolutely right .
”

Confirmation hearings for the judge nominated and all but certain to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the U.S. Supreme Court, Amy Coney Barrett, will kick off Monday.
WASHINGTON (CN) — Confirmation hearings for the judge nominated and all but certain to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the U.S. Supreme Court, Amy Coney Barrett, will kick off Monday.
A former law clerk of Justice Antonin Scalia, who like her was Catholic, Barrett graduated with honors from Notre Dame Law School in 1997. She taught there for over a decade before President Donald Trump made her a judge on the Seventh Circuit in 2017. Trump foreshadowed his plans for Barrett the next year, quoted as saying he was “saving” her to replace Ginsburg if he had the opportunity to nominate Ginsburg’s replacement.
As the Senate Judiciary Committee considers the nomination this week, Barrett’s faith is expected to be a central focus. The 48-year-old mother of seven is also member of the conservative legal advocacy group the Federalist Society.
The hearings kick off after committee Democrats complained this week about missing information from a questionnaire Barrett completed as part of the nomination process. As first reported by the Guardian, Barret did not disclose that in 2006 she had signed an advertisement in which the anti-abortion group St. Joseph County Right to Life called for an end “to the barbaric legacy of Roe v. Wade.”
“The failure to disclose the 2006 letter leads to additional questions about other potentially missing materials,” Democrats told the Justice Department on Tuesday, questioning if any other materials had been withheld. “The omission also raises concerns that the process of collecting materials responsive to the [Senate Judiciary Questionnaire], like the nomination process itself, has been rushed, for no legitimate reason.”
Democrats have also balked at Barrett’s listing of only three cases under a section of the questionnaire that asked her to describe the “10 most significant litigated matters which you personally handled,” omitting her time spent defending a Pittsburgh steel company that aided the bankruptcy of a major Pennsylvania hospital system.
During 2017 Senate confirmation hearings, Democrats characterized Barrett as extremely conservative after studying her published works from 15 years in academia.
In a 2017 article “Countering the Majoritarian Difficulty” reacting to the Supreme Court’s backing of the federal health care law, Barrett wrote that the holdings NFIB v. Sebelius and King v. Burwell had distorted the Constitution. Chief Justice John Roberts had pushed the law “beyond its plausible meaning to save the statute,” she wrote.
Barrett also reflected that year about why Catholic judges shouldn’t be expected to recuse themselves from death-penalty cases. “Judges cannot — nor should they try to — align our legal system with the Church’s moral teaching whenever the two diverge,” she wrote in the Marquette Law Review. “They should, however, conform their own behavior to the Church’s standard.”
Judiciary Committee members will begin their opening statements Monday, then question Barrett for the first time on Tuesday, according to a schedule released by Chairman Lindsey Graham. The following days will consist of testimony from “those who know Judge Barrett the best and legal experts,” according to the release.
Senate Democrats spent the week leading up to Monday’s hearing hosting conference calls that dug into Barrett’s judicial record. Conversations focused on varying issues, including workers’ rights issues, gun ownership issues and Roe v. Wade.
“As we debate Amy Coney Barrett’s nomination to the highest court in the land, it’s clear that women’s reproductive rights are in grave danger — including, potentially the right to start families with Assisted Reproductive technology like IVF,” Senator Tammy Duckwoth, an Illinois Democrat, said in a Tuesday call centered on Roe v. Wade. “So, I urge each of my Republican colleagues, many of whom stood up and cheered when I brought my little Mallie Pearl to the Senate floor, to look within themselves, think about the message it would send to families like mine if Judge Barrett were promoted to the highest court in the land and decided whether women like me should have the right to start families or whether we should be considered criminals.”
According to a New York Times and Siena College poll released shortly after Barrett’s nomination, the majority of American voters would rather stave off confirming another justice until ballots are counted on Election Day. The majority of poll participants also noted they supported abortion and the federal health care law, and that they felt Joe Biden would be more up to the task to pick a judge to replace Ginsburg.
Republicans stonewalled in 2016 when then-President Barack Obama nominated Judge Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court after the death of Justice Antonin Scalia, months before Trump’s election. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said 10 days after Scalia’s death that the nomination would be wielded as an “election cudgel,” and “plunge our nation into another bitter and unavoidable struggle.”
Though Graham has outlined one of the fastest nomination process for a justice in U.S. history with Barrett, in 2016 he insisted that the blackballing of Garland’s nomination was nonpartisan.
“I want you to use my words against me,” Graham said. “If there’s a Republican president in 2016 and a vacancy occurs in the last year of the first term, you can say, Lindsey Graham said, ‘Let’s let the next president, whoever it might be, make the nomination,’ and you could use my words against me and you’d be absolutely right.”


courthousenews--2020-10-11--Scientists Discover ‘Ticking Time Bomb’ Star

( CN ) — Researchers revealed Sunday they have discovered a new star system that belongs to one of the rarest star types in the known universe , but experts say it is unlike anything they have seen before .
Of all the numerous and wide-ranging types of stars astronomers and astrophysicists have discovered throughout history , perhaps one of the rarest is a star type known as the Wolf-Rayet .
First discovered by Charles Wolf and Georges Rayet in the late 1860s , Wolf-Rayet stars are intensely bright and hot stars that , due to their unique makeup , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a supernova explosion that will leave behind nothing but a dark void .
This violent and explosive death for the star type sets it somewhat apart from other forms of star decay , such as white dwarfs that experience a more drawn out and protracted death .
The stars are so unique , in fact , that among the cosmos only one in a hundred million stars are classified as a Wolf-Rayet .
While these types of systems are rare enough in their own right , there exists a small and elite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rarer .
These are binary pairs of Wolf-Rayet stars that can produce massive amounts of carbon-based dust that are whipped about by stellar winds , and as the binary Wolf-Rayet stars orbit around one another , the cosmic dust forms a glowing and luminous tail that wraps around the two sister stars .
This intensely rare and beautiful phenomena can only be made possible under the most precise and astronomically unlike conditions , explaining why only a small handful of them have ever been discovered .
Two years ago , this exclusive club @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a star system roughly 8000 light years from Earth that met this qualification , but after further examination , new research shows that it behaves in a way that is unlike any other Wolf-Rayet system experts have ever come across .
In a study published Sunday in the scientific journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society , researchers reveal that they have studied the newly discovered star system , dubbed Apep after the snake-like Egyptian god of chaos , using advanced imaging techniques at the European Southern Observatory ’ s Very Large @ @ @ @ @ @ @ findings suggest that the Wolf-Rayet is aptly named .
This is due to the fact that like all binary pairs of Wolf-Rayet stars , Apep comes equipped with a swirling spiral of dust that surrounds it , but unlike other Wolf-Rayet systems the dust seems to have a mind of its own .
Rather than swirl with the speed of stellar winds that push it along , the cosmic dust around Apep floats along at a remarkably slower speed than the surrounding winds should dictate — an astrological anomaly .
Researchers made this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that could replicate Apep ’ s complex spiral structure for the first time , a feat that allowed scientists to study its beautiful but unheard-of behaviors .
Yinuo Han , University of Sydney honors student and lead author of the study who completed the paper while on Covid-19 lockdown , said that the behavior of the newly discovered star left researchers mystified .
“ Aside from the stunning image , the most remarkable things about this star system is the way the expansion of its beautiful dust spiral left us totally stumped , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the study .
While this difference between the speed of the dust spiral and the speed of the surrounding winds is scientifically baffling , it is also extremely noticeable .
Using the newly created model , researchers calculate that the speed of the dust is around four times slower than the speeds of the stellar winds , a significant discrepancy that has never been observed in a star system until now .
A closer look at Apep ’ s makeup further solidifies the accuracy of its namesake .
The two stars that make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 15 times larger than the Sun , not to mention more than 100,000 times brighter .
The stellar winds themselves are also highly extreme in nature , with experts saying they are coming off Apep at around 12 million kilometers an hour , roughly 1 % the speed of light .
Researchers suggest that it is perhaps the wind speed and the speed at which the stars rotate that could potentially explain the confusing dust movement .
“ It likely means that stellar winds are launched in different directions at different speeds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dust expansion we are measuring is driven by slower winds launched near the star ’ s equator.
” Researchers are also speculating on what the future of Apep may hold — a future that is likely to be quite destructive .
Data shows that on top of carrying all of the typically extreme characteristics of a Wolf-Rayet , Apep ’ s main star seems to rotate at remarkable speed , potentially giving it the ability to detonate a long gamma-ray explosion when the system ultimately goes supernova .
This potential future could prove @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gamma-ray bursts are some of the most energetic natural events in the known universe .
These bursts are so potentially deadly that if such a burst were to ever strike Earth , the force from the blast could destroy the ozone layer around our planet that acts as a protective shield from the radiation of the Sun .
Researchers say , however , that there is no reason for anyone to fear Apep ’ s explosive potential .
Due to the star system ’ s axis of rotation , any future blasts would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Researchers revealed Sunday they have discovered a new star system that belongs to one of the rarest star types in the known universe, but experts say it is unlike anything they have seen before.
(CN) — Researchers revealed Sunday they have discovered a new star system that belongs to one of the rarest star types in the known universe, but experts say it is unlike anything they have seen before.
Of all the numerous and wide-ranging types of stars astronomers and astrophysicists have discovered throughout history, perhaps one of the rarest is a star type known as the Wolf-Rayet.
First discovered by Charles Wolf and Georges Rayet in the late 1860s, Wolf-Rayet stars are intensely bright and hot stars that, due to their unique makeup, are destined to ultimately collapse on themselves in a supernova explosion that will leave behind nothing but a dark void.
This violent and explosive death for the star type sets it somewhat apart from other forms of star decay, such as white dwarfs that experience a more drawn out and protracted death. The stars are so unique, in fact, that among the cosmos only one in a hundred million stars are classified as a Wolf-Rayet.
While these types of systems are rare enough in their own right, there exists a small and elite group among Wolf-Rayet stars that are even rarer.
These are binary pairs of Wolf-Rayet stars that can produce massive amounts of carbon-based dust that are whipped about by stellar winds, and as the binary Wolf-Rayet stars orbit around one another, the cosmic dust forms a glowing and luminous tail that wraps around the two sister stars.
This intensely rare and beautiful phenomena can only be made possible under the most precise and astronomically unlike conditions, explaining why only a small handful of them have ever been discovered.
Two years ago, this exclusive club welcomed a new member when researchers discovered a star system roughly 8000 light years from Earth that met this qualification, but after further examination, new research shows that it behaves in a way that is unlike any other Wolf-Rayet system experts have ever come across.
In a study published Sunday in the scientific journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, researchers reveal that they have studied the newly discovered star system, dubbed Apep after the snake-like Egyptian god of chaos, using advanced imaging techniques at the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope at Paranal in Chile.
Their findings suggest that the Wolf-Rayet is aptly named.
This is due to the fact that like all binary pairs of Wolf-Rayet stars, Apep comes equipped with a swirling spiral of dust that surrounds it, but unlike other Wolf-Rayet systems the dust seems to have a mind of its own.
Rather than swirl with the speed of stellar winds that push it along, the cosmic dust around Apep floats along at a remarkably slower speed than the surrounding winds should dictate — an astrological anomaly.
Researchers made this perplexing discovery by constructing a detailed model that could replicate Apep’s complex spiral structure for the first time, a feat that allowed scientists to study its beautiful but unheard-of behaviors.
Yinuo Han, University of Sydney honors student and lead author of the study who completed the paper while on Covid-19 lockdown, said that the behavior of the newly discovered star left researchers mystified.
"Aside from the stunning image, the most remarkable things about this star system is the way the expansion of its beautiful dust spiral left us totally stumped," Han said with the release of the study.
While this difference between the speed of the dust spiral and the speed of the surrounding winds is scientifically baffling, it is also extremely noticeable.
Using the newly created model, researchers calculate that the speed of the dust is around four times slower than the speeds of the stellar winds, a significant discrepancy that has never been observed in a star system until now.
A closer look at Apep’s makeup further solidifies the accuracy of its namesake. The two stars that make up the Wolf-Rayet system are around 10 to 15 times larger than the Sun, not to mention more than 100,000 times brighter.
The stellar winds themselves are also highly extreme in nature, with experts saying they are coming off Apep at around 12 million kilometers an hour, roughly 1% the speed of light.
Researchers suggest that it is perhaps the wind speed and the speed at which the stars rotate that could potentially explain the confusing dust movement.
“It likely means that stellar winds are launched in different directions at different speeds,” Han said. “The dust expansion we are measuring is driven by slower winds launched near the star's equator.”
Researchers are also speculating on what the future of Apep may hold — a future that is likely to be quite destructive.
Data shows that on top of carrying all of the typically extreme characteristics of a Wolf-Rayet, Apep’s main star seems to rotate at remarkable speed, potentially giving it the ability to detonate a long gamma-ray explosion when the system ultimately goes supernova.
This potential future could prove disastrous for nearby systems, given that gamma-ray bursts are some of the most energetic natural events in the known universe.
These bursts are so potentially deadly that if such a burst were to ever strike Earth, the force from the blast could destroy the ozone layer around our planet that acts as a protective shield from the radiation of the Sun.
Researchers say, however, that there is no reason for anyone to fear Apep’s explosive potential. Due to the star system’s axis of rotation, any future blasts would not come within striking distance of Earth.


courthousenews--2020-10-11--Polls Show Tightening Races as Both Parties Battle for Texas

SAN ANTONIO ( CN ) — On the last day to register to vote in Texas for next month ’ s elections , not far from where former Democratic presidential candidate Julian Castro announced his 2020 bid on San Antonio ’ s south side , an old bank-turned-law firm became the latest indicator that the country ’ s largest red state may be on the verge of becoming competitive for Democrats for the first time in the modern era .
Billed as a “ 2020 drive-thru ” where supporters could scoop up yard signs and other campaign swag being offered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rare in-person campaign event in a year upended by the Covid-19 pandemic brought out a few hundred vehicles , masked candidates and an appearance by lawyer Doug Emhoff , the husband of Democratic Vice Presidential nominee Senator Kamala Harris .
“ He made a surprise guest appearance , ” said Robert Vargas III , a senior adviser to the Bexar County Victory 2020 Campaign who helped organize the event .
“ Democrats see Texas as a battleground state and they have decided to invest quite a bit of money in media buys @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gentleman of the United States made his way into Bexar County and it was a pleasant surprise.
” It ’ s a long shot scenario in an unconventional year , but the tumultuous presidency of Donald Trump and a surge of new voter registrations in Texas has left open the real possibility that the once-reliable reddest of red states could also be the unlikeliest of battlegrounds .
Such a scenario would spell consequences beyond the high-stakes battle for the White House , potentially disrupting political norms for congressional candidates in the roughly dozen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats and Republicans , and could affect which party gains control of the Texas House of Representatives .
Democrats are just nine seats away from winning a majority of the 150-seat Texas House after having picked up 12 seats in 2018 when enthusiasm for former Congressman Beto O ’ Rourke ’ s blockbuster Senate run fueled higher than normal turnout .
O ’ Rourke ’ s showing on Election Day , he came within 2.5 percentage points of defeating Senator Ted Cruz , set Texas Democrats on a two-year crusade to convince voters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ close the curtain on the GOP ’ s statewide winning streak dating back to 1996 .
Mark .
P. Jones , a political science fellow at Rice University ’ s James A. Baker III Institute of Public Policy , said this year ’ s election is the first since 2002 where a real doubt exists about who would be winning statewide , “ in large part due to Donald Trump.
” “ Absent Donald Trump ’ s presence in the Oval Office , Texas would not be competitive this cycle , ” Jones @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Donald Trump is president of the United States and his presence at the top of the ticket is pulling almost all of the Republicans in Texas down , from John Cornyn in the Senate , to the two dozen Republican Texas House candidates in competitive races.
” Democrats were encouraged this week by a Public Policy Polling survey that put Biden ahead of Trump by one percentage point for the first time this year , 49 % to 48 % .
The poll was a contrast to a University of Texas/Texas Tribune poll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by five points in the state .
“ Texas has added at least 1.5 million new voters to the voting rolls since 2016 , ” said Texas Democratic Party Executive Director Manny Garcia .
“ Texas is changing right before our very own eyes , becoming younger and more diverse , and Joe Biden , Kamala Harris , and the rest of the Texas Democratic ticket are responding to the needs and demands of all Texans.
” Massive voter registration drives by both parties brought the total of registered Texan voters to 16.6 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Texas Secretary of State ’ s office .
That number will rise once officials release numbers through the Oct. 5 voter registration cutoff , a spokesman said .
But Republicans won ’ t let the Lone Star State go without a fight , nor will they concede the idea that the state and its 38 electoral votes are in play .
GOP party officials say they ’ re seeing successes with their biggest voter outreach effort in decades and expressed confidence that Trump would at least maintain his 9-point lead he achieved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ used Twitter to predict a victory in Texas .
“ Biden is against Oil , Guns and Religion , a very bad combination to be fighting in the Great State of Texas , ” Trump tweeted .
“ We are Winning Big in the Real Polls , all over the Country !
!
!
November 3rd .
VOTE !
!
!
” The political divide in Texas is no more evident than the battle brewing between Democrat Gina Ortiz Jones and Republican Tony Gonzales in the open district being vacated by Congressman Will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to opt out of reelection in 2020 .
“ My opponent is a liberal , left Democrat , ” Gonzales said during a debate on Thursday .
“ Her first vote in office is going to be to elect Nancy Pelosi as the next Speaker of the House , that ’ s her first vote.
” Jones , a former Air Force intelligence officer , and Gonzales , a Navy veteran and career cryptologist , are both products of San Antonio who spent the better part of their careers serving in the military @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s about all they have in common in a race shaped by border security , health care and coronavirus .
“ You want to talk about being out of touch with the district , people need quality affordable healthcare , ” Jones said .
“ My opponent supports eliminating the ACA and its protections for people with pre-existing conditions like Covid-19.
” A first-generation Filipina-American who served as an intelligence analyst in the Obama administration , Jones came just 926 votes short of defeating Hurd in the 2018 midterms .
It was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that has remained one of the state ’ s few swing districts since its lines were drawn in 2006 .
With the district already trending Democratic , The Cook Political Report rates it as “ lean Democratic.
” Jones has outraised Gonzales in each fundraising cycle , making her better-positioned to flip the sprawling district now than she was two years ago when facing a better-funded incumbent .
She won endorsements from national progressive groups as well as Biden and former President Barack Obama .
But the Trump-backed Gonzales , who is also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including Hurd , has blasted Jones as being “ too liberal for Texas.
” He has repeatedly accused her of being a Washington D.C. resident , a claim Jones has rejected as “ baseless attacks and lies ” that has also been roundly discredited by multiple independent reports as untrue .
“ My opponent has been lying about this and it ’ s unfortunately because I know that there is somebody at home right now that ’ s lost somebody to Covid-19 , ” Jones said , adding that she lives in her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ west side .
Freshman Congressman Chip Roy is also locked in a close race for Texas ’ 21st Congressional District with former state Senator Wendy Davis , the Democratic Party ’ s 2014 nominee for governor who rose to prominence when she famously spent 11 straight hours filibustering against a Republican-led anti-abortion bill in the Texas Senate .
Roy ’ s district has been in Democratic crosshairs since he narrowly won re-election by about 2.5 points two years ago .
The race is one of about a dozen congressional districts targeted by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they hope to pick up from Republicans .
Polls also show Democratic Senate nominee MJ Hegar catching up to Cornyn , a former state Supreme Court justice who is seeking a fourth term .
A recent Daily Kos/Civiqs poll Wednesday found Hegar , who served three tours in Afghanistan as a helicopter pilot , trailing by one point .
While the race hasn ’ t attracted as much national attention as the Cruz/O ’ Rourke match-up of 2018 , Cornyn is still facing what political watchers are calling his toughest reelection match since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senator Phil Gramm retired .
“ I don ’ t believe we need to make Texas like Chuck Schumer ’ s New York or Nancy Pelosi ’ s California , which is the policies embraced by my opponent .
We need to make the rest of the country more like Texas , ” Cornyn said Friday at their first and only scheduled debate .
“ Hi , I ’ m MJ Hegar , ” she said quickly , turning to face Cornyn directly at one of the more testier exchanges of the night @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Heart combat veteran and working mom of two and I am your opponent .
I ’ m the person you ’ re running against as inconvenient as that is for you.
” Over a dozen legal challenges in Texas surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic and its effect on the 2020 elections have been filed since March , according to an analysis of cases in Texas courts covered by Courthouse News .
Late Friday , a federal judge blocked Republican Governor Greg Abbott ’ s Oct. 1 executive order limiting absentee ballot drop-off sites to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ criticized move that ignited immediate furor and litigation from voting rights advocates as a last-minute voter suppression tactic .
“ By limiting to one location per county where tens of thousands of ballots would need to be dropped off , an unreasonable burden would be created especially in large metropolitan areas like Harris County , ” said Luis Roberto Vera Jr , general counsel for the League of United Latin American Citizens which brought the lawsuit .
“ The judge agreed with us and the injunction he issued prevents Governor Abbott from doing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals , which issued a stay of the order .
Other lawsuits include a challenge that forced Texas to abide by the federal “ motor voter ” law by making online voter registration available to residents renewing or applying for a driver ’ s license or change-of-address , while others continue to work their way through the courts .
As the three-week early voting period opens Tuesday in Texas , and polls show closer-than-usual races from the presidential match-up , to state house and congressional races , Democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make major investments at levels not seen in over two decades .
The latest came in the form of a Biden campaign $ 6 million ad buy earlier this week , a major increase from the spending Hillary Clinton ’ s 2016 presidential campaign made in Texas , the second most expensive state in the country to campaign in with 20 media markets .
But on Monday , Texas Democrats will receive an assist from some of the biggest stars in the Democratic Party .
Oprah Winfrey , Willie Nelson , Senator Bernie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ O ’ Rourke and his political action committee , Powered By People , to help run a massive phone bank operation being touted as the “ largest single-day voter contact effort in Texas history.
” It is , perhaps , yet another sign that all eyes are on Texas .

On the last day to register to vote in Texas for next month’s elections, not far from where former Democratic presidential candidate Julian Castro announced his 2020 bid on San Antonio’s south side, an old bank-turned-law firm became the latest indicator that the country’s largest red state may be on the verge of becoming competitive for Democrats for the first time in the modern era.
SAN ANTONIO (CN) — On the last day to register to vote in Texas for next month’s elections, not far from where former Democratic presidential candidate Julian Castro announced his 2020 bid on San Antonio’s south side, an old bank-turned-law firm became the latest indicator that the country’s largest red state may be on the verge of becoming competitive for Democrats for the first time in the modern era.
Billed as a “2020 drive-thru” where supporters could scoop up yard signs and other campaign swag being offered by the Bexar County Democratic Party, the rare in-person campaign event in a year upended by the Covid-19 pandemic brought out a few hundred vehicles, masked candidates and an appearance by lawyer Doug Emhoff, the husband of Democratic Vice Presidential nominee Senator Kamala Harris.
“He made a surprise guest appearance,” said Robert Vargas III, a senior adviser to the Bexar County Victory 2020 Campaign who helped organize the event. “Democrats see Texas as a battleground state and they have decided to invest quite a bit of money in media buys within Texas and so the soon-to-be second gentleman of the United States made his way into Bexar County and it was a pleasant surprise.”
It’s a long shot scenario in an unconventional year, but the tumultuous presidency of Donald Trump and a surge of new voter registrations in Texas has left open the real possibility that the once-reliable reddest of red states could also be the unlikeliest of battlegrounds.
Such a scenario would spell consequences beyond the high-stakes battle for the White House, potentially disrupting political norms for congressional candidates in the roughly dozen races across the state targeted by both Democrats and Republicans, and could affect which party gains control of the Texas House of Representatives.
Democrats are just nine seats away from winning a majority of the 150-seat Texas House after having picked up 12 seats in 2018 when enthusiasm for former Congressman Beto O’Rourke’s blockbuster Senate run fueled higher than normal turnout.
O’Rourke’s showing on Election Day, he came within 2.5 percentage points of defeating Senator Ted Cruz, set Texas Democrats on a two-year crusade to convince voters and national party leaders that they can close the curtain on the GOP’s statewide winning streak dating back to 1996.
Mark. P. Jones, a political science fellow at Rice University’s James A. Baker III Institute of Public Policy, said this year’s election is the first since 2002 where a real doubt exists about who would be winning statewide, “in large part due to Donald Trump.”
“Absent Donald Trump’s presence in the Oval Office, Texas would not be competitive this cycle,” Jones said. “But the reality is Donald Trump is president of the United States and his presence at the top of the ticket is pulling almost all of the Republicans in Texas down, from John Cornyn in the Senate, to the two dozen Republican Texas House candidates in competitive races.”
Democrats were encouraged this week by a Public Policy Polling survey that put Biden ahead of Trump by one percentage point for the first time this year, 49% to 48%. The poll was a contrast to a University of Texas/Texas Tribune poll released Friday that showed Trump leading Biden by five points in the state.
“Texas has added at least 1.5 million new voters to the voting rolls since 2016,” said Texas Democratic Party Executive Director Manny Garcia. “Texas is changing right before our very own eyes, becoming younger and more diverse, and Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, and the rest of the Texas Democratic ticket are responding to the needs and demands of all Texans.”


courthousenews--2020-10-11--Covid Ravaged Arizona’s Tourism Industry. But There Are Signs of Life

TUCSON , Ariz. ( CN ) — Carmen and Roberto Doran , a retired couple from Scottsdale , Arizona , haven ’ t spent as much time on the road this year as they usually do .
The pandemic put a halt to most of their travel plans .
But they have found ways to escape the soaring heat of the Phoenix valley .
They rented a house in the mountain retreat Flagstaff this summer with their kids , and they recently spent a few days at a lodge near Madera Canyon , a tiny niche of Coronado National Forest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a little hesitant about traveling during the pandemic , ” said Carmen , 70 , a retired teacher .
“ My daughter , especially , was hesitant.
” The key according to Roberto , who retired in 2010 after a career in public health , is to travel by car and bring food and drinks along to stay as self-contained as possible .
“ Like a little bubble , ” he said Wednesday in a patch of shade outside the San Xavier Mission on the Tohono O ’ odham Nation .
The Dorans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , executive director of the Arizona Office of Tourism .
Most travelers now are road-tripping in cars , so a lot coming to Arizona from nearby states — California , New Mexico , Texas , and Utah — or are in-state “ staycationers , ” Johnson said .
She expects that road traffic to rise as temperatures in southern and central Arizona dip from the record 100+ degree heat of the summer months .
But out-of-state visitors are returning slowly to Arizona , where 47 million travelers spent $ 26 billion in 2019 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was down by $ 966 million from 2019 , and from January-August they spent $ 9 billion less than last year — which was Arizona ’ s fourth consecutive year of record visitation , the tourism office reported .
The office created a Covid-19 website to help tourists plan .
It includes a list of hundreds of cancellations , closures and restrictions .
Nixed events this year include Major League Baseball ’ s spring training , which brought $ 644 million in economic impact in 2018 , according to an Arizona State University @ @ @ @ @ @ @ teams that train in Arizona poured $ 213 million across the economy despite playing half the planned 239 games , the ASU study showed .
Other cancellations include all events at Phoenix Convention Center and NCAA sports .
Dozens of museums are shuttered , including the State Museum in Tucson , Bisbee Mining and Historical Museum , Children ’ s Museum of Phoenix , and Navajo Nation Museum .
Old Tucson , a movie studio and theme park , closed indefinitely over the summer after 89 years of operation , first as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ destination with live shows , music , and food .
The operators of the park stepped aside , leaving Pima County — which owns the land — to decide the fate of the attraction .
Hotel occupancy is down 49 % statewide from 2019 , with just 47 % occupancy in August .
A Sheraton planned for downtown Phoenix and a Biltmore planned for Scottsdale have been postponed .
But several new hotels have opened across the state , including a Hilton Canopy and Hyatt in Tempe .
In Tucson , a niche @ @ @ @ @ @ @ locally owned Marriott Bonvoy hotel , opened in July .
Though Sunny Patel and his partner had been planning their opening for a while , after the pandemic hit , they paused and took stock .
They identified risk areas and revamped the physical design , eliminating communal tables and some group seating , adding hundreds of signs reminding guests about masks and social distancing , and scaled back the restaurant to fewer items and disposable packaging .
“ And everything from getting a beverage or food to your room or at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that can be done on your phone , so if you choose not to interact with our staff or other guests , you can do that seamlessly , ” Patel said .
They had planned a heavy rotation of arts , music , outdoor yoga , meditation , and other activities .
That aspect of the plan was scaled back before opening to avoid crowds .
“ We did try to start with a few events , but at the end of the day , we decided that we care about the safety @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , so those things will come when it ’ s the right time , ” Patel said .
The Tuxon , which is next to Interstate 10 in Tucson ’ s center , is tapping into the staycation and business travel market , as well as overnight visitors on their way to and from New Mexico and California , Patel said .
Arizona has long been a destination for business travel .
Hotels are often packed with sales conventions , company annual gatherings , conventions and trade shows from around the globe .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , smaller businesses or more frugal ones traditionally take advantage .
“ We are just not seeing that type of business return yet , and for some of our hotel properties , that can be up to 70 % of their business , ” Johnson said .
Although many of the conventions her office attends to promote Arizona globally and within the U.S. have been canceled or gone virtual this year , Johnson ’ s office has changed gears and is now marketing the state to car travelers in San Diego , Albuquerque @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and El Paso , she said .
Despite the contraction in Arizona ’ s tourism industry , there is one major attraction that remains open and tops the list of reasons people visit — the state itself .
About 60 % of the state is public land , including Grand Canyon , Saguaro , and Petrified Forest national parks , six national forests , and dozens of smaller state , county , and local outdoor spaces .
Arizona has millions of acres of open space to explore , including scores of lakes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We are very lucky to have a lot of wide-open spaces , beautiful weather , and outdoor activities that really are what people are craving right now , ” Johnson said .

The coronavirus pandemic has ravaged Arizona's $26 billion tourism industry and kept 47 million annual visitors away. But things are starting to look up.
TUCSON, Ariz. (CN) — Carmen and Roberto Doran, a retired couple from Scottsdale, Arizona, haven’t spent as much time on the road this year as they usually do. The pandemic put a halt to most of their travel plans.
But they have found ways to escape the soaring heat of the Phoenix valley. They rented a house in the mountain retreat Flagstaff this summer with their kids, and they recently spent a few days at a lodge near Madera Canyon, a tiny niche of Coronado National Forest south of Tucson.
“We were a little hesitant about traveling during the pandemic,” said Carmen, 70, a retired teacher. “My daughter, especially, was hesitant.”
The key according to Roberto, who retired in 2010 after a career in public health, is to travel by car and bring food and drinks along to stay as self-contained as possible.
“Like a little bubble,” he said Wednesday in a patch of shade outside the San Xavier Mission on the Tohono O’odham Nation.
Roberto and Carmen Doran of Scottsdale, Ariz., are seen here visiting San Xavier Mission south of Tucson. The retired couple scaled back their travel this year, but they have made several trips within the state this year. (Courthouse News photo / Brad Poole)
The Dorans are not alone, said Debbie Johnson, executive director of the Arizona Office of Tourism.
Most travelers now are road-tripping in cars, so a lot coming to Arizona from nearby states — California, New Mexico, Texas, and Utah — or are in-state “staycationers,” Johnson said.
She expects that road traffic to rise as temperatures in southern and central Arizona dip from the record 100+ degree heat of the summer months.
But out-of-state visitors are returning slowly to Arizona, where 47 million travelers spent $26 billion in 2019. In August alone, visitor spending was down by $966 million from 2019, and from January-August they spent $9 billion less than last year — which was Arizona’s fourth consecutive year of record visitation, the tourism office reported.
The office created a Covid-19 website to help tourists plan. It includes a list of hundreds of cancellations, closures and restrictions. Nixed events this year include Major League Baseball’s spring training, which brought $644 million in economic impact in 2018, according to an Arizona State University analysis.
This year, the 15 teams that train in Arizona poured $213 million across the economy despite playing half the planned 239 games, the ASU study showed.
Other cancellations include all events at Phoenix Convention Center and NCAA sports. Dozens of museums are shuttered, including the State Museum in Tucson, Bisbee Mining and Historical Museum, Children’s Museum of Phoenix, and Navajo Nation Museum.
Old Tucson, a movie studio and theme park, closed indefinitely over the summer after 89 years of operation, first as a Hollywood western set then as a public destination with live shows, music, and food. The operators of the park stepped aside, leaving Pima County — which owns the land — to decide the fate of the attraction.
Hotel occupancy is down 49% statewide from 2019, with just 47% occupancy in August. A Sheraton planned for downtown Phoenix and a Biltmore planned for Scottsdale have been postponed.
But several new hotels have opened across the state, including a Hilton Canopy and Hyatt in Tempe. In Tucson, a niche boutique hotel called the Tuxon, a locally owned Marriott Bonvoy hotel, opened in July.
Though Sunny Patel and his partner had been planning their opening for a while, after the pandemic hit, they paused and took stock. They identified risk areas and revamped the physical design, eliminating communal tables and some group seating, adding hundreds of signs reminding guests about masks and social distancing, and scaled back the restaurant to fewer items and disposable packaging.
“And everything from getting a beverage or food to your room or at the bar to checking in — all of that can be done on your phone, so if you choose not to interact with our staff or other guests, you can do that seamlessly,” Patel said.
They had planned a heavy rotation of arts, music, outdoor yoga, meditation, and other activities. That aspect of the plan was scaled back before opening to avoid crowds.
“We did try to start with a few events, but at the end of the day, we decided that we care about the safety and care of people first and foremost, so those things will come when it’s the right time,” Patel said.
The Tuxon, which is next to Interstate 10 in Tucson’s center, is tapping into the staycation and business travel market, as well as overnight visitors on their way to and from New Mexico and California, Patel said.
The Tuxon, a locally owned boutique hotel affiliated with Marriott Bonvoy, opened in Tucson in July despite a tourism industry ravaged by the coronavirus pandemic. (Courthouse News photo / Brad Poole)
Arizona has long been a destination for business travel. Hotels are often packed with sales conventions, company annual gatherings, conventions and trade shows from around the globe. In summer, when rates are lower, smaller businesses or more frugal ones traditionally take advantage.
“We are just not seeing that type of business return yet, and for some of our hotel properties, that can be up to 70% of their business,” Johnson said.
Although many of the conventions her office attends to promote Arizona globally and within the U.S. have been canceled or gone virtual this year, Johnson’s office has changed gears and is now marketing the state to car travelers in San Diego, Albuquerque, Los Angeles, Denver, Dallas, and El Paso, she said.
Despite the contraction in Arizona’s tourism industry, there is one major attraction that remains open and tops the list of reasons people visit — the state itself.
About 60% of the state is public land, including Grand Canyon, Saguaro, and Petrified Forest national parks, six national forests, and dozens of smaller state, county, and local outdoor spaces. Arizona has millions of acres of open space to explore, including scores of lakes and more than 200 mountain ranges.
“We are very lucky to have a lot of wide-open spaces, beautiful weather, and outdoor activities that really are what people are craving right now,” Johnson said.
“That helps Arizona.”


courthousenews--2020-10-13--Michigan High Court Strikes Down Governor’s Covid Emergency Orders

LANSING , Mich. ( CN ) — A deeply divided Michigan Supreme Court on Monday voided emergency health orders issued by Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic .
The 4-3 order by the high court comes in response to a lawsuit filed by the Republican-controlled Michigan Legislature that sought to clarify the legality of Whitmer ’ s actions taken under the Emergency Powers of Governor Act of 1945 to combat the Covid-19 pandemic .
The Justices overturned a recent 2-1 decision by the Court of Claims finding the act gave Whitmer the power to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s ruling comes after the high court found on Oct. 2 that found the 75-year-old emergency powers act is incompatible with the Michigan Constitution because it unlawfully delegated legislative power to the executive branch .
The court also responded to a certified question from the federal court to confirm Whitmer did not have authority past April 30th to make any restrictive orders related to the Covid-19 pandemic without the approval of the legislative branch .
“ Executive orders issued under that act are of no continuing legal effect .
This order is effective @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Monday ’ s 2-page order The Oct. 2 ruling — an answer to questions from the federal judge overseeing a separate challenge to Whitmer ’ s orders — held Whitmer had the authority to declare a state of emergency only once .
Extensions of the state of emergency had to be approved by the Legislature , the majority found .
“ The Governor only possessed the authority or obligation to declare a state of emergency or state of disaster once and then had to terminate that declaration when the Legislature did not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no authority to redeclare the same state of emergency or state of disaster , ” the order said .
Both rulings fell along party lines .
In her dissent Monday , Chief Justice Bridget McCormack said Whitmer ’ s orders were valid if they were “ reasonable , ” “ necessary , ” meant to “ protect life and property ” or bring the emergency situation under control .
Fellow Democratic Justice Megan Cavanaugh joined McCormack ’ s dissent .
Democrat Richard Bernstein wrote his own , saying he labored over the decision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should challenge Whitmer if they see fit .
“ I would leave to the people of Michigan the right to mount challenges to individual orders issued , ” he wrote .
The justices struck a hopeful tone in the order that a compromise could be found .
“ It should again be emphasized that our decision today leaves open many avenues for our governor and Legislature to work together in a cooperative spirit and constitutional manner to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic.
” The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services recently announced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gatherings , require face masks in public spaces and child care facilities , limit capacity in businesses and create safer workplaces .

A deeply divided Michigan Supreme Court on Monday voided emergency health orders issued by Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic.
LANSING, Mich. (CN) — A deeply divided Michigan Supreme Court on Monday voided emergency health orders issued by Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic.
The 4-3 order by the high court comes in response to a lawsuit filed by the Republican-controlled Michigan Legislature that sought to clarify the legality of Whitmer’s actions taken under the Emergency Powers of Governor Act of 1945 to combat the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Justices overturned a recent 2-1 decision by the Court of Claims finding the act gave Whitmer the power to issue her emergency orders. Monday’s ruling comes after the high court found on Oct. 2 that found the 75-year-old emergency powers act is incompatible with the Michigan Constitution because it unlawfully delegated legislative power to the executive branch. The court also responded to a certified question from the federal court to confirm Whitmer did not have authority past April 30th to make any restrictive orders related to the Covid-19 pandemic without the approval of the legislative branch.
“Executive orders issued under that act are of no continuing legal effect. This order is effective upon entry,” the majority wrote in Monday’s 2-page order
The Oct. 2 ruling — an answer to questions from the federal judge overseeing a separate challenge to Whitmer’s orders — held Whitmer had the authority to declare a state of emergency only once. Extensions of the state of emergency had to be approved by the Legislature, the majority found.
“The Governor only possessed the authority or obligation to declare a state of emergency or state of disaster once and then had to terminate that declaration when the Legislature did not authorize an extension; the Governor possessed no authority to redeclare the same state of emergency or state of disaster,” the order said.
Both rulings fell along party lines. In her dissent Monday, Chief Justice Bridget McCormack said Whitmer’s orders were valid if they were “reasonable,” “necessary,” meant to “protect life and property” or bring the emergency situation under control.
Fellow Democratic Justice Megan Cavanaugh joined McCormack’s dissent. Democrat Richard Bernstein wrote his own, saying he labored over the decision but ultimately believes the people of Michigan should challenge Whitmer if they see fit.
“I would leave to the people of Michigan the right to mount challenges to individual orders issued,” he wrote.
The justices struck a hopeful tone in the order that a compromise could be found.
“It should again be emphasized that our decision today leaves open many avenues for our governor and Legislature to work together in a cooperative spirit and constitutional manner to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic.”
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services recently announced new orders to restrict the size of gatherings, require face masks in public spaces and child care facilities, limit capacity in businesses and create safer workplaces.


courthousenews--2020-10-12--Voters Pull Away From Trump in Midwest Battlegrounds: Poll

( CN ) — Onetime Donald Trump voters in the upper Midwest ’ s battleground states are swinging hard to Joe Biden in 2020 , according to new polling from The New York Times .
The polling data , published on the Times ’ Upshot blog Monday afternoon , shows a surge in support for Biden among white voters in northern battleground states , particularly in Wisconsin and Michigan , which Trump won by narrow margins in 2016 .
Biden leads Trump by 8 points in Michigan and 10 in Wisconsin among likely voters , the poll shows .
Those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ independent voters and white voters without a college education , alongside a slight boost from voters who supported third-party candidates in 2016 .
The poll surveyed 5,556 voters in Minnesota , Wisconsin , Michigan , Ohio and Pennsylvania , all of which swung to the right in 2016 .
Minnesota was the only one of the six that voted for Hillary Clinton , but her 1.5 % margin was the smallest of any Democratic presidential candidate since Minnesota was the sole blue holdout against Ronald Reagan in 1984 .
Pollsters also focused on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they planned to switch their vote from 2016 , a huge majority of whom were moving into the Democratic camp .
Biden held a 43-point lead among those voters , who were clustered heavily in suburban Minnesota , all over Wisconsin and in eastern Pennsylvania .
The Times noted that those side-swapping voters “ effectively pack twice the punch of other voters , as they have both deducted a vote from their former preferred candidate and added one to the candidate they now support.
” On their own , Times blogger Nate Cohn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be enough to comfortably clinch the Midwest for Biden .
A fair chunk of those voters are white and without a college degree , a demographic that drew abundant media attention as a driving force for Trump ’ s 2016 win .
Biden seized a commanding lead – 8 points – among white voters in Wisconsin and followed Trump by only 1 percentage point among white voters in Michigan .
Political scientist Thomas Holbrook , a professor at the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee , said that chipping away at Trump ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ white men without college degrees , is another serious asset to Biden ’ s coalition .
“ You can slice that group any number of ways .
White working-class voters have been voting Republican in the last several elections , they just sort of broke for Trump more heavily in the last election , ” Holbrook said .
“ You don ’ t have to win your opponent ’ s strongest supporters .
You just have to cut into your opponent ’ s lead among that group .
Similarly , Trump doesn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but if he cuts into his opponent ’ s lead with those voters , that ’ s helpful.
” The Times poll also shows Biden with a strong lead among voters who turned to third parties in 2016 , capturing 59 % of voters who voted for the Green Party ’ s Jill Stein and 38 % of those who supported Libertarian Gary Johnson .
Trump garnered only 9 % of the former Green voters and 14 % of Johnson ’ s support base .
Only 29 % of Johnson voters said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s Libertarian nominee , Jo Jorgensen .
Holbrook said that while those shifts are good for Biden , they don ’ t necessarily translate to a shift toward Democrats more generally .
Many of those voters , along with those who sat out the 2016 election , may have been protest votes against 2016 nominee Hillary Clinton .
“ At some level , those were generally votes who weren ’ t comfortable voting for Trump , but also didn ’ t want to vote for Clinton , ” he said .
“ Back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people who may have voted third party thought that Clinton was going to win… so those may have been sort of naturally democratic votes to begin with.
” In its analysis , the Times estimated Biden ’ s overall lead in the six states at 6 points , noting that it could go as high as 7 points if turnout is high enough among voters who sat out 2016 .
Biden holds a 14-point lead among those voters , according to the polling .
Trump ’ s win in 2016 was an upset @ @ @ @ @ @ @ predicted a narrow Clinton win .
Holbrook said that with new poll weighting and a commanding margin for Biden , he ’ s not concerned about a repeat .
“ I think there ’ s probably a greater chance that they slightly overestimate Trump support rather than Biden support because they ’ re trying to correct for underestimating last time , ” he said .
“ If that ’ s the case now , and nationally , Biden is up by 8 points , boy , it ’ s going to be hard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of these states we ’ re talking about .
”

Onetime Donald Trump voters in the upper Midwest’s battleground states are swinging hard to Joe Biden in 2020, according to new polling from The New York Times.
(CN) — Onetime Donald Trump voters in the upper Midwest’s battleground states are swinging hard to Joe Biden in 2020, according to new polling from The New York Times.
The polling data, published on the Times’ Upshot blog Monday afternoon, shows a surge in support for Biden among white voters in northern battleground states, particularly in Wisconsin and Michigan, which Trump won by narrow margins in 2016.
Biden leads Trump by 8 points in Michigan and 10 in Wisconsin among likely voters, the poll shows. Those leads rely heavily on a surge with independent voters and white voters without a college education, alongside a slight boost from voters who supported third-party candidates in 2016.
The poll surveyed 5,556 voters in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania, all of which swung to the right in 2016. Minnesota was the only one of the six that voted for Hillary Clinton, but her 1.5% margin was the smallest of any Democratic presidential candidate since Minnesota was the sole blue holdout against Ronald Reagan in 1984.
Pollsters also focused on the 4% of voters who said they planned to switch their vote from 2016, a huge majority of whom were moving into the Democratic camp. Biden held a 43-point lead among those voters, who were clustered heavily in suburban Minnesota, all over Wisconsin and in eastern Pennsylvania.
The Times noted that those side-swapping voters “effectively pack twice the punch of other voters, as they have both deducted a vote from their former preferred candidate and added one to the candidate they now support.” On their own, Times blogger Nate Cohn noted, that high margin alone would be enough to comfortably clinch the Midwest for Biden.
President Donald Trump boards Air Force One for a campaign rally in Sanford, Fla., Monday, Oct. 12, 2020, in Andrews Air Force Base, Md. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
A fair chunk of those voters are white and without a college degree, a demographic that drew abundant media attention as a driving force for Trump’s 2016 win. Biden seized a commanding lead – 8 points – among white voters in Wisconsin and followed Trump by only 1 percentage point among white voters in Michigan.
Political scientist Thomas Holbrook, a professor at the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee, said that chipping away at Trump’s support among white people, and especially white men without college degrees, is another serious asset to Biden’s coalition.
“You can slice that group any number of ways. White working-class voters have been voting Republican in the last several elections, they just sort of broke for Trump more heavily in the last election,” Holbrook said. “You don’t have to win your opponent’s strongest supporters. You just have to cut into your opponent’s lead among that group. Similarly, Trump doesn’t have to win among Latino votes, but if he cuts into his opponent’s lead with those voters, that’s helpful.”
The Times poll also shows Biden with a strong lead among voters who turned to third parties in 2016, capturing 59% of voters who voted for the Green Party’s Jill Stein and 38% of those who supported Libertarian Gary Johnson. Trump garnered only 9% of the former Green voters and 14% of Johnson’s support base. Only 29% of Johnson voters said they planned to support this year’s Libertarian nominee, Jo Jorgensen.
Holbrook said that while those shifts are good for Biden, they don’t necessarily translate to a shift toward Democrats more generally. Many of those voters, along with those who sat out the 2016 election, may have been protest votes against 2016 nominee Hillary Clinton.
“At some level, those were generally votes who weren’t comfortable voting for Trump, but also didn’t want to vote for Clinton,” he said. “Back in 2016, maybe a lot of people who may have voted third party thought that Clinton was going to win… so those may have been sort of naturally democratic votes to begin with.”
In its analysis, the Times estimated Biden’s overall lead in the six states at 6 points, noting that it could go as high as 7 points if turnout is high enough among voters who sat out 2016. Biden holds a 14-point lead among those voters, according to the polling.
Trump’s win in 2016 was an upset for pollsters, most of whom had predicted a narrow Clinton win. Holbrook said that with new poll weighting and a commanding margin for Biden, he’s not concerned about a repeat.
“I think there’s probably a greater chance that they slightly overestimate Trump support rather than Biden support because they’re trying to correct for underestimating last time,” he said. “If that’s the case now, and nationally, Biden is up by 8 points, boy, it’s going to be hard for [Trump] to win any of these states we’re talking about.”


Top Eight

Your Monday night briefing from the staff of Courthouse News Top eight CNS stories for today including the Senate held a partially virtual confirmation hearing for Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett ; A federal judge in Washington became the latest to issue a nationwide injunction against policy shifts at the U.S .
Postal Service ; The coronavirus pandemic could wind up costing the U.S. over $ 16 trillion , and more .
Sign up for CNS Top Eight , a roundup of the day ’ s top stories delivered directly to your email Monday through Friday .
1 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ this week ’ s presidential debate , calling the virtual format a “ waste of time , ” but the Senate ’ s fervid work to confirm his Supreme Court pick , Judge Amy Coney Barrett , pushed forward Monday in a partially virtual hearing .
2 . )
Just over three weeks out from Election Day , a federal judge in Washington became the latest to issue a nationwide injunction against policy shifts at the U.S .
Postal Service that have caused mail delays since July .
3 . )
The coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than $ 16 trillion , a toll that would be costlier than all the wars the nation has fought since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and on par with expected long-term losses from global climate change , Harvard University researchers said in an analysis released Monday .
4 . )
Elections officials in California have launched an investigation into unofficial ballot drop boxes that popped up across the state , saying they do not comply with state law and may in fact constitute a felony .
5 . )
A federal judge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sunday night , denying Republicans ’ request for an injunction disqualifying mail-in ballots received after Election Day .
6 . )
A federal judge on Sunday again rejected voting integrity activists ’ efforts to force Georgia election officials to abandon the state ’ s new touchscreen voting machines in favor of hand-marked paper ballots for the November election in light of security concerns .
7 . )
A Wisconsin judge left the state ’ s mask mandate in place Monday , ruling against conservatives who claimed the Democratic governor had violated state law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the coronavirus pandemic .
8 . )
Belarus is again being rocked by violence , with masked black-clad security forces attacking peaceful protesters on Sunday with truncheons , rubber bullets , tear gas and water cannons .

Top eight CNS stories for today including the Senate held a partially virtual confirmation hearing for Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett; A federal judge in Washington became the latest to issue a nationwide injunction against policy shifts at the U.S. Postal Service; The coronavirus pandemic could wind up costing the U.S. over $16 trillion, and more.
Your Monday night briefing from the staff of Courthouse News
Top eight CNS stories for today including the Senate held a partially virtual confirmation hearing for Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett; A federal judge in Washington became the latest to issue a nationwide injunction against policy shifts at the U.S. Postal Service; The coronavirus pandemic could wind up costing the U.S. over $16 trillion, and more.
Sign up for CNS Top Eight, a roundup of the day’s top stories delivered directly to your email Monday through Friday.
National
1.) President Donald Trump opted out of this week’s presidential debate, calling the virtual format a “waste of time,” but the Senate’s fervid work to confirm his Supreme Court pick, Judge Amy Coney Barrett, pushed forward Monday in a partially virtual hearing.
Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett arrives to her Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, Monday, Oct. 12, 2020. (Erin Schaff/The New York Times via AP, Pool)
2.) Just over three weeks out from Election Day, a federal judge in Washington became the latest to issue a nationwide injunction against policy shifts at the U.S. Postal Service that have caused mail delays since July.
FILE - In this April 2, 2020 file photo, a United States Postal Service worker makes a delivery with gloves and a mask in Warren, Mich. A group of states suing over service cuts at the U.S. Postal Service is asking a federal judge to immediately undo some of them, saying the integrity of the upcoming election is at stake.(AP Photo/Paul Sancya,File)
3.) The coronavirus pandemic could wind up costing the U.S. more than $16 trillion, a toll that would be costlier than all the wars the nation has fought since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and on par with expected long-term losses from global climate change, Harvard University researchers said in an analysis released Monday.
People wearing protective masks during the coronavirus pandemic exit the Kew Gardens subway station Monday, Oct. 5, 2020, in the Kew Gardens neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Regional
4.) Elections officials in California have launched an investigation into unofficial ballot drop boxes that popped up across the state, saying they do not comply with state law and may in fact constitute a felony.
A worker processes mail-in ballots at the Bucks County Board of Elections office in Doylestown, Pa., on May 27, 2020, prior to the primary election. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File)
5.) A federal judge upheld Minnesota’s extended vote-counting timeline Sunday night, denying Republicans’ request for an injunction disqualifying mail-in ballots received after Election Day.
FILE - In this July 29, 2020, file photo, Lisa Finander, right, checks that each ballot has the voter's name on the ballot and mailing envelope and Laurie Mattila, left, checked that it was correct at Minneapolis Elections & Voter Services in Minneapolis. A federal judge has upheld a state court agreement that extends Minnesota's deadline for counting absentee ballots by seven days. Republicans had asked U.S. District Judge Nancy Brasel to block the seven-day extension that Democratic Secretary of State Steve Simon agreed to in state court after a citizens’ rights group cited concerns about voter safety due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But Brasel ruled late Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020, that the plaintiffs in the case — a pair of Republicans serving as electors in the presidential election — don't have standing and denied their motion for a preliminary injunction.(Glen Stubbe/Star Tribune via AP, File)
6.) A federal judge on Sunday again rejected voting integrity activists’ efforts to force Georgia election officials to abandon the state’s new touchscreen voting machines in favor of hand-marked paper ballots for the November election in light of security concerns.
Voters make their selections as early voting starts in Decatur, Ga., Monday, Oct. 12, 2020. (Ben Gray/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)
7.) A Wisconsin judge left the state’s mask mandate in place Monday, ruling against conservatives who claimed the Democratic governor had violated state law by declaring another public health emergency due to the coronavirus pandemic.
City of Milwaukee Election Commission workers process absentee ballots Tuesday, April 7, 2020 in downtown Milwaukee, Wis. As of Tuesday, more than 860,000 absentee ballots have already been returned to Wisconsin election clerks. MARK HOFFMAN/MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL
International
8.) Belarus is again being rocked by violence, with masked black-clad security forces attacking peaceful protesters on Sunday with truncheons, rubber bullets, tear gas and water cannons.


courthousenews--2020-10-12--California Courts Covid Update

California Courts Covid Update

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Early Voting

TUCSON , Ariz. — Voting-rights advocates sued Pima County ’ s elections chief in Arizona federal court Monday , challenging @ @ @ @ @ only early-voting site on the Pascua Yaqui Pueblo reservation despite calls from local and even @ @ @ @ @ .


courthousenews--2020-10-12--Texas Governor Sends Help to El Paso as Virus Spikes in Border City

( CN ) — Texas Governor Greg Abbott is sending more than 70 health workers to the border city of El Paso as a resurgence of the coronavirus has officials warning of “ virus fatigue ” and urging residents to take precautions .
Abbott said Monday the surge of state resources includes nurses and respiratory therapists , among other medical personnel , along with a stockpile of personal protective equipment .
He said 169 health workers were previously deployed to the city .
“ It is vital that Texas communities seeing an uptick in hospitalizations have the resources they need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a statement .
El Paso on Friday reported 546 new virus cases , its highest daily count since the pandemic began and a drastic reversal from just a month ago , when new case counts had significantly dropped after a previous summer spike .
Local officials have sounded the alarm and urged residents to step up their precautions , saying the new surge in cases is likely tied to a general feeling of pandemic “ fatigue ” in the community .
Officials on Saturday cited an increase in virus cases particularly among @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saying they had contracted the virus “ while out in public ” and because they were not taking safety precautions like wearing a mask and practicing social distancing .
“ As we continue to experience community spread and Covid fatigue , the number of positive cases and hospitalizations will continue to rise by record numbers unless each and every one of us take full responsibility for our actions and promote change as we have been appealing , mandating and begging , ” Hector Ocaranza , the local health authority for El Paso and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement over the weekend .
Angela Mora , the city ’ s newly appointed public health director , urged people infected with the virus to cooperate with contact tracing efforts .
“ Non-adherence to isolation and quarantine orders will lead to drastic measures such as issuance of court-ordered restrictions to limit an individual ’ s movement , ” she warned .
El Paso Matters , a local nonprofit news outlet , described the situation as a “ second wave ” where “ prevention measures appear to have broken down.
” Local hospitalizations of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in El Paso over just the past few days , jumping from 207 on Friday to 313 as of Monday , according to reports from the city .
Meanwhile , the number of new deaths from the virus remained lower than during the previous surge over the summer , though the city has cautioned that more than 100 deaths are still “ under investigation ” for possibly being caused by Covid-19 .
The outbreak in El Paso comes as the West Texas city of Lubbock also deals with a resurgence of the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Covid-19 hospitalizations over the weekend , the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal reported .
Last week , Abbott announced that bars in Texas could reopen at limited capacity after being closed for months , though county-level officials have to opt-in to the reopening plan and some in most of the state ’ s largest counties have reportedly declined to do so .
For Texas as a whole , new daily virus numbers have mostly plateaued in recent weeks , with the state ’ s seven-day average of hospitalizations and new cases and hovering between 3,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Hospitalizations have been on a slight upward trend over the past week , state data show .
“ Opening bars does not mean that Covid-19 is no longer a threat , and most Texans are still susceptible to the virus , ” Abbott said in announcing the latest reopening move last week .
“ As bars and similar businesses begin to open , we all must remain vigilant and show personal responsibility to protect ourselves and our loved ones .
”

Texas Governor Greg Abbott is sending more than 70 health workers to the border city of El Paso as a resurgence of the coronavirus has officials warning of “virus fatigue” and urging residents to take precautions.
(CN) — Texas Governor Greg Abbott is sending more than 70 health workers to the border city of El Paso as a resurgence of the coronavirus has officials warning of “virus fatigue” and urging residents to take precautions.
Abbott said Monday the surge of state resources includes nurses and respiratory therapists, among other medical personnel, along with a stockpile of personal protective equipment. He said 169 health workers were previously deployed to the city.
"It is vital that Texas communities seeing an uptick in hospitalizations have the resources they need to combat Covid-19," Abbott said in a statement.
El Paso on Friday reported 546 new virus cases, its highest daily count since the pandemic began and a drastic reversal from just a month ago, when new case counts had significantly dropped after a previous summer spike.
Local officials have sounded the alarm and urged residents to step up their precautions, saying the new surge in cases is likely tied to a general feeling of pandemic “fatigue” in the community. Officials on Saturday cited an increase in virus cases particularly among people in their 20s and 30s, saying they had contracted the virus “while out in public” and because they were not taking safety precautions like wearing a mask and practicing social distancing.
“As we continue to experience community spread and Covid fatigue, the number of positive cases and hospitalizations will continue to rise by record numbers unless each and every one of us take full responsibility for our actions and promote change as we have been appealing, mandating and begging,” Hector Ocaranza, the local health authority for El Paso and its surrounding county, said in a statement over the weekend.
Angela Mora, the city’s newly appointed public health director, urged people infected with the virus to cooperate with contact tracing efforts.
“Non-adherence to isolation and quarantine orders will lead to drastic measures such as issuance of court-ordered restrictions to limit an individual’s movement,” she warned.
El Paso Matters, a local nonprofit news outlet, described the situation as a “second wave” where “prevention measures appear to have broken down.”
Local hospitalizations of people sick with Covid-19 have shot up in El Paso over just the past few days, jumping from 207 on Friday to 313 as of Monday, according to reports from the city. Meanwhile, the number of new deaths from the virus remained lower than during the previous surge over the summer, though the city has cautioned that more than 100 deaths are still “under investigation” for possibly being caused by Covid-19.
The outbreak in El Paso comes as the West Texas city of Lubbock also deals with a resurgence of the virus. That city hit a new record for Covid-19 hospitalizations over the weekend, the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal reported.
Last week, Abbott announced that bars in Texas could reopen at limited capacity after being closed for months, though county-level officials have to opt-in to the reopening plan and some in most of the state’s largest counties have reportedly declined to do so.
For Texas as a whole, new daily virus numbers have mostly plateaued in recent weeks, with the state’s seven-day average of hospitalizations and new cases and hovering between 3,000 and 4,000 since the beginning of September. Hospitalizations have been on a slight upward trend over the past week, state data show.
“Opening bars does not mean that Covid-19 is no longer a threat, and most Texans are still susceptible to the virus,” Abbott said in announcing the latest reopening move last week. “As bars and similar businesses begin to open, we all must remain vigilant and show personal responsibility to protect ourselves and our loved ones.”


courthousenews--2020-10-12--Roberta McCain, John McCain’s Mother, Dies at 108

PHOENIX ( AP ) — Roberta Wright McCain , the mother of Sen. John McCain who used her feisty spirit to help convince voters during his 2008 presidential campaign , has died .
She was 108 .
A spokesperson for daughter-in-law Cindy McCain says Roberta McCain died Monday .
A cause of death was not immediately released .
At 96 , Roberta McCain became the Republican senator ’ s secret weapon at campaign stops as evidence that voters need not worry about her son ’ s age — past 70 — as he sought the presidency .
She remained energetic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ often with her identical twin sister Rowena , who died at age 99 .
She attended the 2008 Republican National Convention , where her son credited “ her love of life , her deep interest in the world , her strength , and her belief we are all meant to use our opportunities to make ourselves useful to our country .
I wouldn ’ t be here tonight but for the strength of her character.
” It was 1933 when a 20-year-old Roberta Wright defied her family and eloped with John McCain Jr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a young ensign , John Jr. got into trouble when the couple decided to marry and he left his ship without permission .
“ I got married young , ” she told The Muskogee Phoenix in her native Oklahoma in 2008 .
“ I was 20 years old , and it was the best decision I ever made.
” She married into a storied military family — her husband retired in 1972 with the rank of four-star admiral , the same rank held by his father , John S. “ Slew ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ held as a prisoner-of-war in Vietnam even as his father was commander in chief of Pacific forces by the late 1960s .
Roberta McCain also was a young mother when her three children were born , later telling the Oklahoma paper that she was “ too young and irresponsible to know you were supposed to worry about them .
I just let them go .
I got a kick out of watching them.
” The senator , who died in 2018 , said in 2008 that his “ father was often at sea @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brother , sister and me would fall to my mother alone.
” Her other son , Joe , told The Associated Press in 2007 that the family had endless dinner-table discussions about history , politics and legislation led by their mother .
“ We were all basically on the same side of the fence , ” Joe McCain said .
“ But it was like Talmudic scholars arguing about a single word or an adjective in the Testament.
” When Sen. John McCain wrote a memoir about his experience as a POW for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prison , he described times when he swore in English at his Vietnamese guards , who didn ’ t understand .
His mother later told him : “ Johnny , I ’ m going to come over there and wash your mouth out with soap.
” Her granddaughter , Meghan McCain , recalled her strong will and sense of duty in a 2012 column for The Daily Beast website , writing that Roberta McCain did not have “ a lot of patience for excuses , especially from my father when he was growing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ once hit him over the head with a thermos in the back of a car because he was acting up so badly on a road trip , ” wrote Meghan McCain .
The McCain matriarch ’ s spunky personality became the stuff of stories for the family — and among those in their circle of Washington society .
“ Last Christmas , she wanted to drive around France .
So she flew to Paris and tried to rent a car , ” the senator once joked .
“ They said she was too @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drove around France.
” Roberta Wright was born Feb. 7 , 1912 , in Muskogee , Oklahoma , where her father was a businessman whose varied , colorful enterprises included bootlegging and oil wildcatting .
The family moved to Los Angeles in the mid-1920s .
Her husband commanded submarines in World War II and was second in command of the cruiser St. Paul during the Korean War .
He later held key posts including the Navy ’ s chief of congressional liaison , and died in 1981 .
In 1934 , when a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ future admiral wrote : “ My wife doesn ’ t know how to cook , and my meals are very irregular.
” This story contains biographical material compiled by former AP reporter Polly Anderson .

Roberta Wright McCain, the mother of Sen. John McCain who used her feisty spirit to help convince voters during his 2008 presidential campaign, has died. She was 108.
PHOENIX (AP) — Roberta Wright McCain, the mother of Sen. John McCain who used her feisty spirit to help convince voters during his 2008 presidential campaign, has died. She was 108.
A spokesperson for daughter-in-law Cindy McCain says Roberta McCain died Monday. A cause of death was not immediately released.
At 96, Roberta McCain became the Republican senator's secret weapon at campaign stops as evidence that voters need not worry about her son's age — past 70 — as he sought the presidency.
She remained energetic and active into her 90s, traveling often with her identical twin sister Rowena, who died at age 99. She attended the 2008 Republican National Convention, where her son credited "her love of life, her deep interest in the world, her strength, and her belief we are all meant to use our opportunities to make ourselves useful to our country. I wouldn't be here tonight but for the strength of her character."
It was 1933 when a 20-year-old Roberta Wright defied her family and eloped with John McCain Jr. Documents released in 2008 showed that as a young ensign, John Jr. got into trouble when the couple decided to marry and he left his ship without permission.
"I got married young," she told The Muskogee Phoenix in her native Oklahoma in 2008. "I was 20 years old, and it was the best decision I ever made."
She married into a storied military family — her husband retired in 1972 with the rank of four-star admiral, the same rank held by his father, John S. "Slew" McCain Sr. Her son was later held as a prisoner-of-war in Vietnam even as his father was commander in chief of Pacific forces by the late 1960s.
Roberta McCain also was a young mother when her three children were born, later telling the Oklahoma paper that she was "too young and irresponsible to know you were supposed to worry about them. I just let them go. I got a kick out of watching them."
The senator, who died in 2018, said in 2008 that his "father was often at sea, and the job of raising my brother, sister and me would fall to my mother alone."
Her other son, Joe, told The Associated Press in 2007 that the family had endless dinner-table discussions about history, politics and legislation led by their mother.
"We were all basically on the same side of the fence," Joe McCain said. "But it was like Talmudic scholars arguing about a single word or an adjective in the Testament."
When Sen. John McCain wrote a memoir about his experience as a POW for nearly six years in a north Vietnamese prison, he described times when he swore in English at his Vietnamese guards, who didn't understand.
His mother later told him: "Johnny, I'm going to come over there and wash your mouth out with soap."
Her granddaughter, Meghan McCain, recalled her strong will and sense of duty in a 2012 column for The Daily Beast website, writing that Roberta McCain did not have "a lot of patience for excuses, especially from my father when he was growing up and acting out."
"She once hit him over the head with a thermos in the back of a car because he was acting up so badly on a road trip," wrote Meghan McCain.
The McCain matriarch's spunky personality became the stuff of stories for the family — and among those in their circle of Washington society.
"Last Christmas, she wanted to drive around France. So she flew to Paris and tried to rent a car," the senator once joked. "They said she was too old, so she bought one and drove around France."
Roberta Wright was born Feb. 7, 1912, in Muskogee, Oklahoma, where her father was a businessman whose varied, colorful enterprises included bootlegging and oil wildcatting. The family moved to Los Angeles in the mid-1920s.
Her husband commanded submarines in World War II and was second in command of the cruiser St. Paul during the Korean War. He later held key posts including the Navy's chief of congressional liaison, and died in 1981.
In 1934, when a fitness report deemed him underweight, the future admiral wrote: "My wife doesn't know how to cook, and my meals are very irregular."
This story contains biographical material compiled by former AP reporter Polly Anderson.


Plastic Surgery

HOUSTON — A Texas woman claims in a $ 10 million lawsuit that a doctor who stars in the plastic @ @ @ @ @ Botched ” negligently performed a thigh lift and the sutures ripped , causing swelling and @ @ @ @