courthousenews--2020-10-21--In 2020 Campaign Debut, Obama Condemns Trump in Fiery Speech

PHILADELPHIA ( CN ) — Marking his first in-person campaign event of 2020 , former President Barack Obama pressed Philadelphians to vote at a drive-in car rally outside Lincoln Financial Field Wednesday night .
“ You guys delivered for me twice and I am back here tonight to ask you to deliver the White House to Joe Biden and Kamala Harris , ” he said , referencing how he had won Pennsylvania in his presidential races in both 2008 and 2012 .
A USA Today/Suffolk University poll released Wednesday placed Biden ahead of Trump by 6 points in the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ State against Hillary Clinton by less than a point in 2016 .
But Obama emphasized , Biden ’ s lead in the polls didn ’ t matter .
“ I don ’ t care about the polls , ” he said , recalling how 2016 Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton was predicted in many polls to take the presidency .
“ There were a whole bunch of polls last time .
Didn ’ t work out.
” Saying that the next 13 days leading up to the election are crucial , he pressed voters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ballot and push their family and friends to do so as well .
According to Joe Biden ’ s campaign , Obama ’ s speech was catered specifically to Black voters , with a focus on Black men .
Philadelphia is home to the state ’ s largest number of Black voters , who make up about 10 % of the state ’ s electorate .
Exit polls indicated that a significant number of Black men , 14 % , backed Trump , compared to 1 % of Black women .
Obama also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wherein he made a speech from the Constitution Center for Joe Biden ’ s Democratic nomination .
He reiterated that he ’ s sat in the Oval Office with both men running for president and only one realizes the weight of the position .
The former president had stayed out of the Democratic primary , but has recently stepped up his criticisms of the Trump administration .
Trump , he said , treats the presidency like a reality television show .
“ The thing is this is not a reality show .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have had to live with the consequences of him not taking the job seriously , ” he said , pointing to the more than 220,000 Covid-19 deaths that have happened under Trump ’ s watch and the business and jobs that have disappeared as a result of his poor handling of the pandemic .
“ We literally left this White House a pandemic playbook that literally showed them what to do before the pandemic hit our shores .
They probably used it to prop up a wobbly table somewhere , ” he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ challenging for any president , the idea that Trump “ has done anything but screw this up is simply not true , ” Obama continued .
He indicated that other countries have been more effective at preventing Covid-19 ’ s spread and that Trump has hurt the U.S. economy after inheriting it in good standing .
“ Presidents up for reelection usually ask if the country is better off than it was four years ago , ” Obama continued .
“ The only people better off than they were four years ago are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” He also pointed to some of Trump ’ s media recent scandals like the discovery that he has a secret Chinese bank account and that he paid just $ 750 in income taxes the year he ran for office .
“ Can you imagine if I had had a secret Chinese bank account ?
” he joked .
“ You think Fox News would have been a little concerned about that ?
They would have called me Beijing Barry.
” He also joked that he could have paid more in income taxes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ice cream .
By contrast , Obama said , Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are the obvious choice .
“ Joe ’ s no stranger .
He ’ s a native son .
Scrappy kid from Scranton .
You know him and you know he loves you , ” Obama said , emphasizing that Joe and Kamala would work for all Americans , not just the upper class .
They have concrete plans and policies , he said .
“ Joe is not gon na screw up testing .
He ’ s not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s not gon na host a super spreader event at the White House , ” Obama said .
“ They believe in a democracy .
the right to vote is sacred and that we shouldn ’ t be making people wait in line for ten hours to cast their vote .
We should be making it easier to vote .
Joe Biden and Kamala Harris believe that no one , especially the president , is above the law .
They believe that protest isn ’ t un-American .
That ’ s the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he added , pressing that Americans must turn out to vote “ like never before.
” “ Philadelphia , I ’ m asking you to remember what this country can be , ” he said .
“ What it ’ s like when we treat each other with respect and decency.
” Earlier Wednesday , Obama had a roundtable discussion with local Philadelphian leaders where he talked about increasing voter participation and the importance of instilling democratic values in young people .
Also vying for Pennsylvania voters , Trump visited Erie Tuesday hours @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to one of three counties that swung to him in 2016 but previously backed Obama .

Marking his first in-person campaign event of 2020, former President Barack Obama pressed Philadelphians to vote at a drive-in car rally outside Lincoln Financial Field Wednesday night.
PHILADELPHIA (CN) — Marking his first in-person campaign event of 2020, former President Barack Obama pressed Philadelphians to vote at a drive-in car rally outside Lincoln Financial Field Wednesday night.
“You guys delivered for me twice and I am back here tonight to ask you to deliver the White House to Joe Biden and Kamala Harris,” he said, referencing how he had won Pennsylvania in his presidential races in both 2008 and 2012.
A USA Today/Suffolk University poll released Wednesday placed Biden ahead of Trump by 6 points in the state. President Donald Trump won the Keystone State against Hillary Clinton by less than a point in 2016. But Obama emphasized, Biden’s lead in the polls didn’t matter.
“I don’t care about the polls,” he said, recalling how 2016 Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton was predicted in many polls to take the presidency. “There were a whole bunch of polls last time. Didn’t work out.”
Saying that the next 13 days leading up to the election are crucial, he pressed voters to vote early in-person or by mail-in ballot and push their family and friends to do so as well.
According to Joe Biden’s campaign, Obama’s speech was catered specifically to Black voters, with a focus on Black men. Philadelphia is home to the state’s largest number of Black voters, who make up about 10% of the state’s electorate.
Exit polls indicated that a significant number of Black men, 14%, backed Trump, compared to 1% of Black women.
Obama also drew upon his last visit to Philadelphia wherein he made a speech from the Constitution Center for Joe Biden’s Democratic nomination. He reiterated that he’s sat in the Oval Office with both men running for president and only one realizes the weight of the position.
The former president had stayed out of the Democratic primary, but has recently stepped up his criticisms of the Trump administration.
Trump, he said, treats the presidency like a reality television show.
“The thing is this is not a reality show. This is reality. The rest of us have had to live with the consequences of him not taking the job seriously,” he said, pointing to the more than 220,000 Covid-19 deaths that have happened under Trump’s watch and the business and jobs that have disappeared as a result of his poor handling of the pandemic.
“We literally left this White House a pandemic playbook that literally showed them what to do before the pandemic hit our shores. They probably used it to prop up a wobbly table somewhere,” he said.
While the pandemic would have been challenging for any president, the idea that Trump “has done anything but screw this up is simply not true,” Obama continued.
He indicated that other countries have been more effective at preventing Covid-19’s spread and that Trump has hurt the U.S. economy after inheriting it in good standing.
“Presidents up for reelection usually ask if the country is better off than it was four years ago,” Obama continued. “The only people better off than they were four years ago are the billionaires who got his tax cuts.”
He also pointed to some of Trump’s media recent scandals like the discovery that he has a secret Chinese bank account and that he paid just $750 in income taxes the year he ran for office.
“Can you imagine if I had had a secret Chinese bank account?” he joked. “You think Fox News would have been a little concerned about that? They would have called me Beijing Barry.”
He also joked that he could have paid more in income taxes off his first job at Baskin-Robbins dispensing ice cream.
By contrast, Obama said, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are the obvious choice.
“Joe’s no stranger. He’s a native son. Scrappy kid from Scranton. You know him and you know he loves you,” Obama said, emphasizing that Joe and Kamala would work for all Americans, not just the upper class. They have concrete plans and policies, he said.
“Joe is not gonna screw up testing. He’s not gonna call scientists idiots. He’s not gonna host a super spreader event at the White House,” Obama said.
“They believe in a democracy. the right to vote is sacred and that we shouldn't be making people wait in line for ten hours to cast their vote. We should be making it easier to vote. Joe Biden and Kamala Harris believe that no one, especially the president, is above the law. They believe that protest isn't un-American. That’s the way this country was founded,” he added, pressing that Americans must turn out to vote “like never before.”
“Philadelphia, I'm asking you to remember what this country can be,” he said. “What it's like when we treat each other with respect and decency.”
Earlier Wednesday, Obama had a roundtable discussion with local Philadelphian leaders where he talked about increasing voter participation and the importance of instilling democratic values in young people.
Also vying for Pennsylvania voters, Trump visited Erie Tuesday hours before Obama’s speech, speaking to one of three counties that swung to him in 2016 but previously backed Obama.


Honda Airbags

PHOENIX — The Arizona attorney general announced a $ 5 million settlement with Honda on allegations the automaker hid safety @ @ @ @ @ airbags installed in some of its vehicles .

The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.


courthousenews--2020-10-21--Most Registered Voters to Vote Straight Ticket, Poll Shows

( CN ) — The latest Pew Research Center survey released Wednesday on the U.S. election finds that an overwhelming majority of registered voters plan to vote only for Republicans or only for Democrats on Election Day .
The researchers report that only 4 % of those registered voters said they plan to vote a split ticket — a ballot cast for a mix of candidates from both parties — when they go to the polls ahead of the 2020 election .
That ’ s about as many as had said the same thing in advance of the 2016 election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ collected responses from 10,543 registered voters in states with a contested seat in the U.S. Senate .
Panelists answered the questions via an online survey .
A larger minority of the voting populace , 7 % , say they ’ ll vote for a third-party candidate .
This goes some way in explaining why states whose voters choose a Democrat senator typically also pick the Democratic presidential candidate , and vice versa for states that elect a Republican senator .
Straight-ticket voting was the norm within all the single demographics the Pew researchers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s gender , race , age generation and educational attainment , the voter was likely voting straight red or blue in the 2020 presidential election .
The closest group to upsetting this trend were among Asian American respondents , 9 % of whom said they ’ d vote a split ticket .
A notable 13 % of Gen Z respondents said they planned not to vote straight Republican or Democrat , but preferred another third-party candidate for president .
“ Voters who support minor-party candidates for president are about evenly divided in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( 29 % support the Democrat and 31 % support the Republican ) , ” the study ’ s authors write .
Only 22 % of registered Gen Z voters and 25 % of millennial voters plan to cast a straight Republican ballot , according to the poll .
Of registered voters who received just a high school diploma or did not complete high school , 35 % said they ’ d vote straight Democrat ; this number jumps to 54 % among voters who graduated with at least a bachelor ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % of high school-educated voters said they ’ ll vote straight Republican , while that number drops to only 29 % when only voters with a college degree are considered .
The Pew survey told respondents the names of the Senate candidates on the ballot in their districts as well as the candidates ’ party affiliation .
High-profile races in battleground states such as Colorado , Texas and Arizona could flip control of the Senate from red to blue come 2021 .
A meaningful 11 % of respondents indicated that they did not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state ’ s congressional elections .
The survey was conducted between Sept. 30 and Oct. 5 , concluding just more than one week prior to the onset of early voting .
A survey conducted over a similar timespan found that most U.S. voters believe this election is of historic importance , and found that most voters preferred Biden on the issues and in terms of his personality compared to Trump .
The survey ’ s respondents were pulled from Pew ’ s American Trends Panel , whose more than 13,000 active participants provide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. public opinion research , ” according to the organization .
Six respondents were removed from the results , as they straightlined their answers or refused to answer nearly all of the questions .

The latest Pew Research Center survey released Wednesday on the U.S. election finds that an overwhelming majority of registered voters plan to vote only for Republicans or only for Democrats on Election Day.
(CN) — The latest Pew Research Center survey released Wednesday on the U.S. election finds that an overwhelming majority of registered voters plan to vote only for Republicans or only for Democrats on Election Day.
The researchers report that only 4% of those registered voters said they plan to vote a split ticket — a ballot cast for a mix of candidates from both parties — when they go to the polls ahead of the 2020 election. That’s about as many as had said the same thing in advance of the 2016 election.
The nonprofit, nonpartisan polling group collected responses from 10,543 registered voters in states with a contested seat in the U.S. Senate. Panelists answered the questions via an online survey.
A larger minority of the voting populace, 7%, say they’ll vote for a third-party candidate.
This goes some way in explaining why states whose voters choose a Democrat senator typically also pick the Democratic presidential candidate, and vice versa for states that elect a Republican senator.
Straight-ticket voting was the norm within all the single demographics the Pew researchers asked about: regardless of a voter’s gender, race, age generation and educational attainment, the voter was likely voting straight red or blue in the 2020 presidential election.
The closest group to upsetting this trend were among Asian American respondents, 9% of whom said they’d vote a split ticket. A notable 13% of Gen Z respondents said they planned not to vote straight Republican or Democrat, but preferred another third-party candidate for president.
“Voters who support minor-party candidates for president are about evenly divided in their vote for the House of Representatives (29% support the Democrat and 31% support the Republican),” the study’s authors write.
Only 22% of registered Gen Z voters and 25% of millennial voters plan to cast a straight Republican ballot, according to the poll.
Of registered voters who received just a high school diploma or did not complete high school, 35% said they’d vote straight Democrat; this number jumps to 54% among voters who graduated with at least a bachelor’s degree.
On the reverse, 40% of high school-educated voters said they’ll vote straight Republican, while that number drops to only 29% when only voters with a college degree are considered.
The Pew survey told respondents the names of the Senate candidates on the ballot in their districts as well as the candidates’ party affiliation. High-profile races in battleground states such as Colorado, Texas and Arizona could flip control of the Senate from red to blue come 2021.
A meaningful 11% of respondents indicated that they did not know who they would support in their state’s congressional elections.
The survey was conducted between Sept. 30 and Oct. 5, concluding just more than one week prior to the onset of early voting.
A survey conducted over a similar timespan found that most U.S. voters believe this election is of historic importance, and found that most voters preferred Biden on the issues and in terms of his personality compared to Trump.
The survey’s respondents were pulled from Pew’s American Trends Panel, whose more than 13,000 active participants provide the “principal source of data for U.S. public opinion research,” according to the organization.
Six respondents were removed from the results, as they straightlined their answers or refused to answer nearly all of the questions.


Top Eight

Your Wednesday night briefing from the staff of Courthouse News Top eight CNS stories for today including the maker of OxyContin pleaded guilty to fraud and conspiracy and will pay more than $ 8 billion in fines ; New polling in Iowa shows Democrats taking narrow leads in the presidential and Senate races ; Conservatives rallying against the reelection of President Trump launched an ad campaign in Midwest battleground states that plays on an iconic Republican ad , and more .
Sign up for the CNS Top Eight , a roundup of the day ’ s top stories delivered directly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1 . )
The maker of OxyContin pleaded guilty on Wednesday to three charges of fraud and conspiracy and will pay more than $ 8 billion in fines .
2 . )
A group of conservatives rallying against the reelection of President Trump launched an ad campaign Wednesday in the battleground states of Iowa , Ohio and Pennsylvania that plays on an iconic Republican ad .
3 . )
From his encouragement of the Proud Boys to his slowing of down the mail , the president ’ s threats to Election Day peace @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Latino voters claim in a new lawsuit .
4 . )
The Trump administration ’ s failure to consider the Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion in a recent assessment of the harm offshore drilling could do to endangered species triggered a lawsuit from a slew of conservationists Wednesday .
5 . )
The defamation suit pitting President Donald Trump against a columnist he is accused of raping decades earlier hit a coronavirus-related snag Wednesday less than an hour before a court hearing .
6 . )
New polling in the battleground state of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the presidential and Senate races , suggesting a radical turnaround from President Donald Trump ’ s 9-point victory there in 2016 .
7 . )
Handing a loss to the Trump campaign , the full Fourth Circuit refused late Tuesday to roll back North Carolina ’ s extension to the deadline for tallying absentee ballots .
8 . )
The Trump administration ’ s rollback of environmental regulations has paved the way for a mining company to skirt federal permitting and commence a controversial project near Georgia ’ s Okefenokee Swamp .

Top eight CNS stories for today including the maker of OxyContin pleaded guilty to fraud and conspiracy and will pay more than $8 billion in fines; New polling in the battleground state of Iowa shows Democrats taking narrow leads in the presidential and Senate races; Conservatives rallying against the reelection of President Trump launched an ad campaign in Midwest battleground states that plays on an iconic Republican ad, and more.
Your Wednesday night briefing from the staff of Courthouse News
Top eight CNS stories for today including the maker of OxyContin pleaded guilty to fraud and conspiracy and will pay more than $8 billion in fines; New polling in Iowa shows Democrats taking narrow leads in the presidential and Senate races; Conservatives rallying against the reelection of President Trump launched an ad campaign in Midwest battleground states that plays on an iconic Republican ad, and more.
Sign up for the CNS Top Eight, a roundup of the day’s top stories delivered directly to your inbox Monday through Friday.
National
1.) The maker of OxyContin pleaded guilty on Wednesday to three charges of fraud and conspiracy and will pay more than $8 billion in fines.
FILE - This Tuesday, May 8, 2007, file photo shows the Purdue Pharma logo at its offices in Stamford, Conn. Arizona's attorney general is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to force the Sackler family, which owns OxyContin-maker Purdue Pharma, to return billions of dollars they took out of the company. The court filing on Wednesday, July 31, 2019, marks the first time the high court has been asked to weigh in directly on the nation's opioid crisis. (AP Photo/Douglas Healey, File)
2.) A group of conservatives rallying against the reelection of President Trump launched an ad campaign Wednesday in the battleground states of Iowa, Ohio and Pennsylvania that plays on an iconic Republican ad.
President Donald Trump talks with reporters at Andrews Air Force Base after attending a campaign rally in Latrobe, Pa., Thursday, Sept. 3, 2020, at Andrews Air Force Base, Md. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
3.) From his encouragement of the Proud Boys to his slowing of down the mail, the president’s threats to Election Day peace of mind are many and varied, Latino voters claim in a new lawsuit.
Residents in San Antonio wait in line at the Bexar County Elections Department on Oct. 5, 2020, hours before the close of voter registration in Texas for the 2020 presidential elections. (Courthouse News photo / Erik De La Garza)
4.) The Trump administration’s failure to consider the Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion in a recent assessment of the harm offshore drilling could do to endangered species triggered a lawsuit from a slew of conservationists Wednesday.
Weathered oil is seen on the water near the coast of Louisiana after the explosion and collapse of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig in 2010. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File)
5.) The defamation suit pitting President Donald Trump against a columnist he is accused of raping decades earlier hit a coronavirus-related snag Wednesday less than an hour before a court hearing.
FILE - In this March 4, 2020, E. Jean Carroll talks to reporters outside a courthouse in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)
Regional
6.) New polling in the battleground state of Iowa shows Democrats taking narrow leads in the presidential and Senate races, suggesting a radical turnaround from President Donald Trump’s 9-point victory there in 2016.
Former Vice President Joe Biden works the grill during the Polk County Democrats Steak Fry on Sept. 21, 2019, in Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
7.) Handing a loss to the Trump campaign, the full Fourth Circuit refused late Tuesday to roll back North Carolina’s extension to the deadline for tallying absentee ballots.
President Donald Trump reacts to the crowd as he arrives to speak at a campaign rally at Smith Reynolds Airport, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, in Winston-Salem, N.C. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
8.) The Trump administration’s rollback of environmental regulations has paved the way for a mining company to skirt federal permitting and commence a controversial project near Georgia’s Okefenokee Swamp.


courthousenews--2020-10-21--Poll Shows Biden Narrowly Leading Trump in Iowa

( CN ) — New polling in the battleground state of Iowa shows Democrats taking narrow leads in the presidential and Senate races , suggesting a radical turnaround from President Donald Trump ’ s 9-point victory there in 2016 .
Democrat Joe Biden now leads Trump in Iowa by 3 percentage points ( 50 % to 47 % ) among likely voters in a scenario with high voter turnout , and 4 points ( 51 % to 46 % ) with low voter turnout , according to a poll from New Jersey ’ s Monmouth University .
Incumbent Republican Senator @ @ @ @ @ @ @ challenge from Democrat Theresa Greenfield : the poll showed a 47 % toss-up among all registered voters , but likely voters supported Greenfield by a margin of 2 points in a high-turnout situation and 6 points in a low-turnout scenario .
Greenfield and Biden ’ s leads fall well within the poll ’ s 4.4-point margin of error , and pollsters warned that their likely voter models “ are not forecasts , ” but meant to present “ a range of reasonable outcomes based on voter intentions as of this moment.
” Polling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through Oct. 19. , and 501 registered voters were polled .
“ This tracks pretty well with what I ’ ve been seeing , both nationally and in Iowa , that it ’ s going to be a close election here , and that the state is pretty divided on both the presidential and the senate race , ” Iowa State University political scientist Dave Peterson said in an interview .
When it comes to discussing Iowa ’ s 99 counties individually , Peterson said , the poll ’ s sample size was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on most of them .
“ There ’ s no way they have enough people in those counties to talk reasonably about the percentage in some of those counties , ” he said .
As far as statewide results , Peterson said , 501 people is “ low , but not a terrible sample size.
” About 125 miles east-southeast at the University of Iowa , fellow political scientist Timothy Hagle agreed , adding that a 4.4 % margin of error was higher than he ’ d like .
“ If you get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ really pushing it , ” he said .
Peterson said the high and low turnout models appeared to be a response to Trump ’ s 2016 upset , in which pollsters theorized that Trump turned out unexpected numbers of voters considered unlikely to go to the polls .
“ We ’ re always fighting the last battle , ” he quipped .
Hagle expressed skepticism of the models , but understood their logic .
“ The key , really… .
I ’ ll get my Captain Obvious cap on – is turnout , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Times/Siena College poll also released Wednesday shows similar results .
Among 753 likely Iowa voters , 46 % support Biden compared to 43 % backing Trump .
The poll , which has a margin of error of 3.9 % , also shows Ernst and Greenfield in a tight race ( 45 % to 44 % ) .
A battleground state in the presidential race , Iowa has also been targeted by Democrats seeking to oust first-term incumbent Ernst , who won her seat in 2014 after the retirement of five-term Democratic Senator Tom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ polling aside , Biden appears to be handily outperforming Hillary Clinton , who in 2016 won only 41.7 % of votes in the Hawkeye State to Trump ’ s 51.2 % .
The Monmouth poll found that Biden holds a commanding lead among seniors– 54 % to Trump ’ s ’ 43 % with voters over the age of 65 .
That demographic , which the poll also found was highly concerned about the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic , is well-represented in Iowa and played a major part in Trump ’ s victory there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ six electoral votes are unlikely to be game-changers in the presidential election , both experts said .
The state is more important , however , in Democrats ’ push to take control of the Senate .
In the Senate race , the poll looks promising for Greenfield , who led Ernst among independent voters by a 15-point margin and captured slightly more Republican defectors than Ernst did Democrats .
That reinforced Hagle and Peterson ’ s analyses .
Both academics called the race a tight one , with Greenfield taking a boost from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to hit Ernst on her record .
“ Ernst is tied pretty closely to Trump , although she has asserted her independence on occasion , ” Hagle said .
“ It ’ s sort of surprised me that Greenfield hasn ’ t done more to tie her to Trump , ” especially since Ernst ’ s ads have often sought to tie Greenfield to Democratic Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi .
Both candidates , meanwhile , have a few more local issues impacting their campaigns .
Ernst , Hagle said , has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Grassley in visiting every county in Iowa once a year , and has knocked Greenfield for failing to do so .
Greenfield , meanwhile , had a strong moment in a recent debate when she was able to correctly tell a moderator about the price of corn , while Ernst choked on a similar question about soybeans .
“ [ Ernst ] came off as a ) not knowing the answer , and b ) a little petulant , even though she didn ’ t think the question was fair , ” said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Greenfield .
“ And all the Greenfield people have been playing it up.
” “ It ’ s one of the few times I ’ ve ever seen a Senate debate actually matter , ” he added .
Hagle was skeptical of that assessment , but agreed that economic issues were central to a 2018 Democratic resurgence in Iowa , especially when it came to independent voters .
“ They tend to care about the so-called kitchen table issues : jobs , the economy , health care , ” he said , adding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden in a blue-collar belt in the state ’ s northeastern corner .

New polling in the battleground state of Iowa shows Democrats taking narrow leads in the presidential and Senate races, suggesting a radical turnaround from President Donald Trump’s 9-point victory there in 2016.
(CN) — New polling in the battleground state of Iowa shows Democrats taking narrow leads in the presidential and Senate races, suggesting a radical turnaround from President Donald Trump’s 9-point victory there in 2016.
Democrat Joe Biden now leads Trump in Iowa by 3 percentage points (50% to 47%) among likely voters in a scenario with high voter turnout, and 4 points (51% to 46%) with low voter turnout, according to a poll from New Jersey’s Monmouth University.
Incumbent Republican Senator Joni Ernst is also facing a tough challenge from Democrat Theresa Greenfield: the poll showed a 47% toss-up among all registered voters, but likely voters supported Greenfield by a margin of 2 points in a high-turnout situation and 6 points in a low-turnout scenario.
Greenfield and Biden’s leads fall well within the poll’s 4.4-point margin of error, and pollsters warned that their likely voter models “are not forecasts,” but meant to present “a range of reasonable outcomes based on voter intentions as of this moment.” Polling was conducted by telephone from Oct. 15 through Oct. 19., and 501 registered voters were polled.
“This tracks pretty well with what I’ve been seeing, both nationally and in Iowa, that it’s going to be a close election here, and that the state is pretty divided on both the presidential and the senate race,” Iowa State University political scientist Dave Peterson said in an interview.
Former Vice President Joe Biden works the grill during the Polk County Democrats Steak Fry on Sept. 21, 2019, in Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
When it comes to discussing Iowa’s 99 counties individually, Peterson said, the poll’s sample size was simply too small to yield useful information on most of them.
“There’s no way they have enough people in those counties to talk reasonably about the percentage in some of those counties,” he said.
As far as statewide results, Peterson said, 501 people is “low, but not a terrible sample size.”
About 125 miles east-southeast at the University of Iowa, fellow political scientist Timothy Hagle agreed, adding that a 4.4% margin of error was higher than he’d like.
“If you get anywhere over three, that’s really pushing it,” he said.
Peterson said the high and low turnout models appeared to be a response to Trump’s 2016 upset, in which pollsters theorized that Trump turned out unexpected numbers of voters considered unlikely to go to the polls.
“We’re always fighting the last battle,” he quipped.
Hagle expressed skepticism of the models, but understood their logic.
“The key, really…. I’ll get my Captain Obvious cap on – is turnout,” he said.
A New York Times/Siena College poll also released Wednesday shows similar results. Among 753 likely Iowa voters, 46% support Biden compared to 43% backing Trump. The poll, which has a margin of error of 3.9%, also shows Ernst and Greenfield in a tight race (45% to 44%).
A battleground state in the presidential race, Iowa has also been targeted by Democrats seeking to oust first-term incumbent Ernst, who won her seat in 2014 after the retirement of five-term Democratic Senator Tom Harkin.
Peterson and Hagle agreed that polling aside, Biden appears to be handily outperforming Hillary Clinton, who in 2016 won only 41.7% of votes in the Hawkeye State to Trump’s 51.2%. The Monmouth poll found that Biden holds a commanding lead among seniors-- 54% to Trump’s’ 43% with voters over the age of 65. That demographic, which the poll also found was highly concerned about the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, is well-represented in Iowa and played a major part in Trump’s victory there, Peterson said.
Iowa’s six electoral votes are unlikely to be game-changers in the presidential election, both experts said. The state is more important, however, in Democrats’ push to take control of the Senate.
In the Senate race, the poll looks promising for Greenfield, who led Ernst among independent voters by a 15-point margin and captured slightly more Republican defectors than Ernst did Democrats. That reinforced Hagle and Peterson’s analyses. Both academics called the race a tight one, with Greenfield taking a boost from a 4-1 fundraising advantage and the ability to hit Ernst on her record.
“Ernst is tied pretty closely to Trump, although she has asserted her independence on occasion,” Hagle said. “It’s sort of surprised me that Greenfield hasn’t done more to tie her to Trump,” especially since Ernst’s ads have often sought to tie Greenfield to Democratic Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.
Both candidates, meanwhile, have a few more local issues impacting their campaigns. Ernst, Hagle said, has made a point of imitating colleague Chuck Grassley in visiting every county in Iowa once a year, and has knocked Greenfield for failing to do so. Greenfield, meanwhile, had a strong moment in a recent debate when she was able to correctly tell a moderator about the price of corn, while Ernst choked on a similar question about soybeans.
"[Ernst] came off as a) not knowing the answer, and b) a little petulant, even though she didn't think the question was fair,” said Peterson, who disclosed that he supports Greenfield. “And all the Greenfield people have been playing it up."
"It's one of the few times I've ever seen a Senate debate actually matter,” he added.
Hagle was skeptical of that assessment, but agreed that economic issues were central to a 2018 Democratic resurgence in Iowa, especially when it came to independent voters. “They tend to care about the so-called kitchen table issues: jobs, the economy, health care,” he said, adding that could lead to more success for Biden in a blue-collar belt in the state’s northeastern corner.


courthousenews--2020-10-21--Feds Accused of Ignoring 2010 Disaster in Oil Spill Analysis

GREENBELT , Md .
( CN ) — The Trump administration ’ s failure to consider the Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion in a recent assessment of the harm offshore drilling could do to endangered species triggered a lawsuit from a slew of conservationists Wednesday .
The Sierra Club and others allege in the 40-page complaint filed in Maryland federal court that the National Marine Fisheries Service arbitrarily omitted key information about the explosion – which dumped over 200 million gallons of crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico a decade ago – in its most recent evaluation for Outer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Gulf .
A 2007 biological opinion issued by the fisheries service said that oil and gas speculating , development or production in the region would not “ jeopardize any listed species or adversely modify critical habitat.
” “ Notably , NMFS predicted that oil spills from such activities would cause little harm , ” Earthjustice attorney Susan Stevens Miller wrote in Wednesday ’ s complaint .
“ NMFS and [ the ] Interior [ Department ] believed the largest spill possible would be at most 15,000 barrels , but that such a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ faulty well on the Deepwater Horizon rig blew out abruptly in 2010 and uprooted underwater cement casing , resulting in a massive explosion that killed 11 crew members instantly and sent over 100 people to the hospital .
Oil erupted in thick rust colored clouds underwater for 87 days , coating the surrounding shorelines with the toxic substance that clung to all it touched as it killed birds , fish and other wildlife – including some endangered species – in the process .
A study published in April by the conservation group Oceana @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday ’ s lawsuit , estimated that in the five years following the Deepwater Horizon explosion , over 75 % of pregnancies in the region ’ s dolphin population failed .
The Bryde ’ s whale , an endangered species , also saw a huge hit to its population following the spill : its numbers shrunk by 22 % overall .
“ The spill contaminated over 43,000 square miles of surface waters and over 1,300 miles of shoreline .
Recent research indicates that toxic concentrations of invisible oil spread through the water column @ @ @ @ @ @ @ past the Florida Keys and along the Atlantic Coast of Florida , ” the complaint notes .
“ Scientists estimate the spill killed or seriously harmed billions , if not trillions , of animals , including over 100,000 individuals of species listed as threatened or endangered.
” That damage could be seen from space , but environmentalists claim the NMFS “ irrationally excluded ” the massive oil spill from its assessment for prospective drilling published in March because it considered the probability of an extremely large spill happening again to be too low @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – including Center for Biological Diversity , Friends of the Earth and the Turtle Island Restoration Network – demand a new biological opinion that actually factors in the Deepwater Horizon spill within six months .
They claim the NMFS violated the Endangered Species Act and Administrative Procedure Act by omitting that analysis .
This time , the groups want the NMFS to update its methodology to examine not just visible oil spills on the surface but also “ far beyond what the naked eye can observe from one vantage point.
” “ Research @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be equally toxic as visible surface oil to ESA-listed species , their prey , and their habitats , ” the complaint states .
Beyond the potential for new spills , the groups claim the NMFS also failed to fully consider the impact of climate change .
Increased hurricane activity , for example , ups the likelihood of severe damage to oil and gas facilities .
A representative for the Interior Department did not immediately respond to request for comment Wednesday .
“ This administration is convinced that if they ignore something , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chris Eaton said in a statement Wednesday .
“ It ’ s not working for the climate crisis and it ’ s not going to work for oil spills .
Ten years after Deepwater Horizon , the Gulf is still healing , and protecting its biodiversity and communities should be paramount .
It ’ s ridiculous that we need to go back to federal court to force the federal government to even acknowledge that basic fact in its analysis .
”

The Trump administration’s failure to consider the Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion in a recent assessment of the potential harm offshore drilling could do to endangered species triggered a lawsuit from a slew of conservationists Wednesday.
GREENBELT, Md. (CN) — The Trump administration’s failure to consider the Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion in a recent assessment of the harm offshore drilling could do to endangered species triggered a lawsuit from a slew of conservationists Wednesday.
The Sierra Club and others allege in the 40-page complaint filed in Maryland federal court that the National Marine Fisheries Service arbitrarily omitted key information about the explosion – which dumped over 200 million gallons of crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico a decade ago – in its most recent evaluation for Outer Continental Shelf oil and gas programs in the Gulf.
A 2007 biological opinion issued by the fisheries service said that oil and gas speculating, development or production in the region would not “jeopardize any listed species or adversely modify critical habitat.”
“Notably, NMFS predicted that oil spills from such activities would cause little harm,” Earthjustice attorney Susan Stevens Miller wrote in Wednesday’s complaint. “NMFS and [the] Interior [Department] believed the largest spill possible would be at most 15,000 barrels, but that such a large spill was extremely unlikely.”
That report, the complaint states, “proved gravely wrong.”
A faulty well on the Deepwater Horizon rig blew out abruptly in 2010 and uprooted underwater cement casing, resulting in a massive explosion that killed 11 crew members instantly and sent over 100 people to the hospital.
Oil erupted in thick rust colored clouds underwater for 87 days, coating the surrounding shorelines with the toxic substance that clung to all it touched as it killed birds, fish and other wildlife – including some endangered species – in the process.
A study published in April by the conservation group Oceana, which is not a plaintiff in Wednesday’s lawsuit, estimated that in the five years following the Deepwater Horizon explosion, over 75% of pregnancies in the region’s dolphin population failed. The Bryde’s whale, an endangered species, also saw a huge hit to its population following the spill: its numbers shrunk by 22% overall.
“The spill contaminated over 43,000 square miles of surface waters and over 1,300 miles of shoreline. Recent research indicates that toxic concentrations of invisible oil spread through the water column across an even larger area, extending past the Florida Keys and along the Atlantic Coast of Florida,” the complaint notes. “Scientists estimate the spill killed or seriously harmed billions, if not trillions, of animals, including over 100,000 individuals of species listed as threatened or endangered.”
That damage could be seen from space, but environmentalists claim the NMFS “irrationally excluded” the massive oil spill from its assessment for prospective drilling published in March because it considered the probability of an extremely large spill happening again to be too low.
The Sierra Club and its co-plaintiffs – including Center for Biological Diversity, Friends of the Earth and the Turtle Island Restoration Network – demand a new biological opinion that actually factors in the Deepwater Horizon spill within six months. They claim the NMFS violated the Endangered Species Act and Administrative Procedure Act by omitting that analysis.
This time, the groups want the NMFS to update its methodology to examine not just visible oil spills on the surface but also “far beyond what the naked eye can observe from one vantage point.”
“Research shows that subsurface and invisible oil can be equally toxic as visible surface oil to ESA-listed species, their prey, and their habitats,” the complaint states.
Beyond the potential for new spills, the groups claim the NMFS also failed to fully consider the impact of climate change. Increased hurricane activity, for example, ups the likelihood of severe damage to oil and gas facilities.
A representative for the Interior Department did not immediately respond to request for comment Wednesday.
“This administration is convinced that if they ignore something, it will go away,” Earthjustice attorney Chris Eaton said in a statement Wednesday. “It’s not working for the climate crisis and it’s not going to work for oil spills. Ten years after Deepwater Horizon, the Gulf is still healing, and protecting its biodiversity and communities should be paramount. It’s ridiculous that we need to go back to federal court to force the federal government to even acknowledge that basic fact in its analysis.”


courthousenews--2020-10-22--California Man Pleads Guilty to Posing as Federal Agent

LOS ANGELES ( CN ) — A former security guard for an Orange County retirement center pleaded guilty Wednesday to a felony charge of pretending for years to be a U.S. Department of Homeland Security officer , a false title he used when meeting with and being briefed by real federal officers .
Donovan Pham Nguyen , 34 , of Orange , California began working for Village Management Services in 2015 .
While employed at the Laguna Woods facility , Nguyen told his employer and coworkers he was a special agent with Homeland Security Investigations , a branch of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prosecutors Nguyen kept a false DHS badge and tactical gear , including a ballistic shield inside his office and equipped his personal car with emergency lights and a police siren , according to a criminal complaint in the case .
Court documents show Nguyen handed out Homeland Security Investigations memorabilia , mugs and coins to his coworkers and appeared in an interview posted on YouTube where he discusses federal immigration policies .
Nguyen also used the false badge to purchase firearms and avoid taking firearm safety courses required by California law , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ previously employed Nguyen as a privately contracted security guard at one of its facilities .
But Nguyen left the position in 2015 after DHS launched an internal investigation stemming from allegations he printed fake Homeland Security Investigations identification materials .
He joined the retirement center the same year .
Nguyen unlawfully wielded the false title to conduct traffic stops of his coworkers and search their property , according to a 17-page plea agreement filed Oct. 13 in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California .
Under his private security role at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to conduct traffic stops .
According to the plea agreement , Nguyen posed as an HSI agent when U.S. Department of State Diplomatic Security Service officers were preparing to execute an arrest warrant at VMS in 2019 .
After attending a Diplomatic Security Service briefing on May 30 , 2019 , Nguyen was permitted to enter a private home at VMS while federal agents executed the warrant .
The plea agreement states Nguyen admitted to prosecutors he impersonated an HSI agent again in June 2020 when he met with a Riverside County District @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a potential joint investigation .
Nguyen is scheduled to appear before U.S. District Judge District Judge Dolly Gee on Feb. 3 , 2021 for sentencing .
He faces a maximum sentence of three years in federal prison , according to assistant U.S .
Attorneys John Balla and Jerry Yang , who are prosecuting the case .

A former security guard for an Orange County retirement center pleaded guilty Wednesday to a felony charge of pretending for years to be a U.S. Department of Homeland Security officer, a false title he used when meeting with and being briefed by real federal officers.
LOS ANGELES (CN) — A former security guard for an Orange County retirement center pleaded guilty Wednesday to a felony charge of pretending for years to be a U.S. Department of Homeland Security officer, a false title he used when meeting with and being briefed by real federal officers.
Donovan Pham Nguyen, 34, of Orange, California began working for Village Management Services in 2015.
While employed at the Laguna Woods facility, Nguyen told his employer and coworkers he was a special agent with Homeland Security Investigations, a branch of the Department of Homeland Security.
Coworkers told prosecutors Nguyen kept a false DHS badge and tactical gear, including a ballistic shield inside his office and equipped his personal car with emergency lights and a police siren, according to a criminal complaint in the case.
Donovan Pham Nguyen (Credit: Dept. of Justice)
Court documents show Nguyen handed out Homeland Security Investigations memorabilia, mugs and coins to his coworkers and appeared in an interview posted on YouTube where he discusses federal immigration policies.
Nguyen also used the false badge to purchase firearms and avoid taking firearm safety courses required by California law, the complaint said.
The federal agency had previously employed Nguyen as a privately contracted security guard at one of its facilities.
But Nguyen left the position in 2015 after DHS launched an internal investigation stemming from allegations he printed fake Homeland Security Investigations identification materials. He joined the retirement center the same year.
Nguyen unlawfully wielded the false title to conduct traffic stops of his coworkers and search their property, according to a 17-page plea agreement filed Oct. 13 in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.
Under his private security role at Village Management, Nguyen was not permitted to conduct traffic stops.
According to the plea agreement, Nguyen posed as an HSI agent when U.S. Department of State Diplomatic Security Service officers were preparing to execute an arrest warrant at VMS in 2019.
After attending a Diplomatic Security Service briefing on May 30, 2019, Nguyen was permitted to enter a private home at VMS while federal agents executed the warrant.
The plea agreement states Nguyen admitted to prosecutors he impersonated an HSI agent again in June 2020 when he met with a Riverside County District Attorney’s Office official to discuss a potential joint investigation.
Nguyen is scheduled to appear before U.S. District Judge District Judge Dolly Gee on Feb. 3, 2021 for sentencing.
He faces a maximum sentence of three years in federal prison, according to assistant U.S. Attorneys John Balla and Jerry Yang, who are prosecuting the case.


courthousenews--2020-10-22--Supreme Court Allows Alabama to Block Curbside Voting

( CN ) — In a 5-3 ruling Wednesday evening , the U.S. Supreme Court blocked a lower court ’ s directive that would have allowed curbside voting in Alabama , removing a voting option for Alabama voters that supporters of the measure say would have helped to make voting safer in the midst of the Covid-19 crisis .
As states and local governments around the country grapple with how to allow voters to safely cast their ballots in a nation gripped by a pandemic that has shown little sign of easing up , a fierce legal fight has raged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stance on curbside voting .
The dispute largely stemmed from the position of Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill , who contends that allowing voters to cast their ballots at curbside polling locations is prohibited in the state and potentially opens up the state to fraud .
These restrictions on curbside voting , however , did not go uncontested .
A series of organizations , including the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund and the American Civil Liberties Union , sought to challenge Merrill ’ s position , arguing that curbside voting would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vote safely and responsibly .
After a court battle , U.S. District Judge Abdul Kallon , an Obama appointee , ruled in favor of the challengers .
In a September ruling , Kallon struck down a trio of Alabama voting provisions , chief among them a ban on curbside voting and a law that would have forced Alabama voters casting ballots by mail to include a copy of their photo ID when applying for a ballot and then have either a notary or two witnesses sign absentee ballot affidavits .
“ As applied @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Provisions unduly burden the fundamental Constitutional rights of Alabama ’ s most vulnerable voters and violate federal laws designed to protect America ’ s most marginalized citizens , ” Kallon wrote .
After an appeal , the case ultimately ended up at the Supreme Court , where the high court granted a stay on the matter that essentially reversed Kallon ’ s ruling and reinstated the ban on curbside voting .
The Supreme Court decision came down 5-3 in favor of granting the stay , though with the order unsigned as is often @ @ @ @ @ @ @ justices voting in favor did not elaborate on their ruling .
The decision was also one vote shy of the typical nine vote total that makes up most Supreme Court decisions , given that the court is still short-handed following the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg in September .
Supreme Court Justices Sonia Sotomayor , Steven Breyer and Elena Kagan , did elaborate in their dissent against the decision , arguing that they believed the lower court ’ s ruling on the matter was well in line with the needs of American voters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not substitute the District Court ’ s reasonable , record-based findings of fact with our own intuitions about the risks of traditional in-person voting during this pandemic or the ability of willing local officials to implement adequate curbside voting procedures , ” Sotomayor wrote on behalf of the three more liberal justices on the court .
Wednesday ’ s ruling stands as a victory for Republicans in Alabama in their fight against expanding voting opportunities they claim could result in voter fraud , though such claims have frequently come under heavy criticism from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voter fraud are largely baseless .
The ruling also comes just days after a Supreme Court decision on Monday resulted in a 4-4 split that allowed Pennsylvania mail ballots to be counted as long as they are postmarked by Election Day and are received up to three days afterwards , a potentially crucial decision given that Pennsylvania is a swing state — unlike Alabama , which notably leans Republican .
Sotomayor noted that with the curbside voting now blocked in Alabama , voters who are potentially more at-risk from Covid-19 and who want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with one option .
“ If those vulnerable voters wish to vote in person , they must wait inside , for as long as it takes , in a crowd of fellow voters whom Alabama does not require to wear face coverings , ” Sotomayor wrote .

In a 5-3 ruling Wednesday evening, the U.S. Supreme Court blocked a lower court’s directive that would have allowed curbside voting in Alabama, removing a voting option for Alabama voters that supporters of the measure say would have helped to make voting safer in the midst of the Covid-19 crisis.
(CN) — In a 5-3 ruling Wednesday evening, the U.S. Supreme Court blocked a lower court’s directive that would have allowed curbside voting in Alabama, removing a voting option for Alabama voters that supporters of the measure say would have helped to make voting safer in the midst of the Covid-19 crisis.
As states and local governments around the country grapple with how to allow voters to safely cast their ballots in a nation gripped by a pandemic that has shown little sign of easing up, a fierce legal fight has raged in Alabama over the state’s stance on curbside voting.
The dispute largely stemmed from the position of Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill, who contends that allowing voters to cast their ballots at curbside polling locations is prohibited in the state and potentially opens up the state to fraud.
These restrictions on curbside voting, however, did not go uncontested. A series of organizations, including the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund and the American Civil Liberties Union, sought to challenge Merrill’s position, arguing that curbside voting would provide more vulnerable voters another option to vote safely and responsibly.
After a court battle, U.S. District Judge Abdul Kallon, an Obama appointee, ruled in favor of the challengers.
In a September ruling, Kallon struck down a trio of Alabama voting provisions, chief among them a ban on curbside voting and a law that would have forced Alabama voters casting ballots by mail to include a copy of their photo ID when applying for a ballot and then have either a notary or two witnesses sign absentee ballot affidavits.
“As applied during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Challenged Provisions unduly burden the fundamental Constitutional rights of Alabama’s most vulnerable voters and violate federal laws designed to protect America’s most marginalized citizens,” Kallon wrote.
After an appeal, the case ultimately ended up at the Supreme Court, where the high court granted a stay on the matter that essentially reversed Kallon’s ruling and reinstated the ban on curbside voting.
The Supreme Court decision came down 5-3 in favor of granting the stay, though with the order unsigned as is often the case with emergency petitions, the justices voting in favor did not elaborate on their ruling.
The decision was also one vote shy of the typical nine vote total that makes up most Supreme Court decisions, given that the court is still short-handed following the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg in September.
Supreme Court Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Steven Breyer and Elena Kagan, did elaborate in their dissent against the decision, arguing that they believed the lower court’s ruling on the matter was well in line with the needs of American voters during a pandemic.
“We should not substitute the District Court’s reasonable, record-based findings of fact with our own intuitions about the risks of traditional in-person voting during this pandemic or the ability of willing local officials to implement adequate curbside voting procedures," Sotomayor wrote on behalf of the three more liberal justices on the court.
Wednesday’s ruling stands as a victory for Republicans in Alabama in their fight against expanding voting opportunities they claim could result in voter fraud, though such claims have frequently come under heavy criticism from experts who assert that fears over widespread voter fraud are largely baseless.
The ruling also comes just days after a Supreme Court decision on Monday resulted in a 4-4 split that allowed Pennsylvania mail ballots to be counted as long as they are postmarked by Election Day and are received up to three days afterwards, a potentially crucial decision given that Pennsylvania is a swing state — unlike Alabama, which notably leans Republican.
Sotomayor noted that with the curbside voting now blocked in Alabama, voters who are potentially more at-risk from Covid-19 and who want to cast an in-person ballot are left with one option.
“If those vulnerable voters wish to vote in person, they must wait inside, for as long as it takes, in a crowd of fellow voters whom Alabama does not require to wear face coverings,” Sotomayor wrote.


courthousenews--2020-10-22--Trump Attacks Tech Companies and Media in North Carolina Rally

GASTONIA , N.C. ( CN ) — President Donald Trump held a Wednesday night rally in battleground state North Carolina in an effort to mobilize Republican voters the night before his final debate with Democratic candidate Joe Biden .
Thousands of supporters lined up hours in advance to catch Trump ’ s remarks during his latest “ Make America Great Again ” rally outside the Gastonia Municipal Airport on Wednesday night .
There , Trump bashed Democrats and touted his handling of the Covid-19 pandemic in a speech riddled with sporadic topic changes .
“ This election is a choice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ steep-depression , ” Trump told the large crowd during his seventh appearance in the Tarheel State since the Republican National Convention in late August .
With the Nov. 3 election less than two weeks away , the president continued to paint a nightmarish picture of the future if Biden is elected .
While the president said Biden would raise taxes , he did not mention that his rival ’ s proposed plan would only raise taxes on individuals making more than $ 400,000 a year .
During many recent campaign events , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ persuade audiences that an America run by Biden would end in utter disaster — providing strong language , but little or no evidence .
Trump claimed Wednesday that “ If Biden wins , the flag-burning demonstrators in the street will be running your federal government .
They will re-educate your children and be letting rioters and MS-13 killers roam free without masks.
” He attacked media outlets CNN and MSNBC , saying that the television networks were scaring people about the pandemic .
“ All you hear is Covid , Covid , Covid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Covid , Covid , Covid , Covid , Covid .
That ’ s all they put on , because they want to scare the hell out of everyone , ” he said .
Gastonia , a city on the outskirts of Charlotte , has a population of more than 77,000 .
It is the seat of Gaston County , which voted for Trump 64 % compared to the 32 % garnered by Hillary Clinton during the 2016 presidential election .
North Carolina , a major swing state with 15 electoral votes , has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which party takes control of Congress and who ends up in the Oval Office .
Polls show Biden has a narrow lead over Trump in the state , and both campaigns are doubling down as the election nears .
A record number of early voters have turned out to the polls in North Carolina with about 2 million residents having already cast their ballots , according data from the State Board of Elections .
Prior to the event on Wednesday , organizers said anywhere from 15,000 to 30,000 people were expected to attend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rally , including the former Vice President ’ s son Hunter Biden , “ tech giants , ” the news media and “ the really stupid dumb people , the never-Trumpers.
” Meanwhile , in Philadelphia , former President Barack Obama had just wrapped up a pro-Biden speech during which he slammed Trump ’ s handling of the coronavirus pandemic , among other things .
“ I never thought Donald Trump would embrace my vision or continue my policies , but I did hope for the sake of the country , that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ job seriously , ” Obama said during his first campaign appearance in 2020 .
“ But it hasn ’ t happened .
He hasn ’ t showed any interest in doing the work or helping anybody but himself and his friends.
” Trump on Wednesday night expressed a very different depiction of his actions , telling North Carolinians that America has seen the “ fastest recovery ” of any country .
More than 222,000 people have died of Covid-19 in the U.S. since the pandemic first hit , and about 8.35 million have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than a year .
North Carolina has suffered more than 4,000 of those Covid-19 deaths as of Wednesday .
Over the last seven days , Gaston County reported 598 new cases and many , including Biden ’ s campaign , expressed concern that the rally could act as a superspreader event .
Trump got local late into the rally , introducing North Carolina ’ s Republican Lt .
Governor Dan Forest , who was met with supportive chants of “ Run Forest , Run.
” Forest , a former businessman and ardent supporter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ North Carolina Democratic Governor Roy Cooper in November .
“ We have a couple things in common , ” Forest said , comparing himself with Trump .
“ Their job is to destroy , instead of build up , ” the gubernatorial candidate said of both his and Trump ’ s Democratic rivals before vowing to work with Trump to “ Make America Great Again.
” Both Forest and the president went after Cooper , a name met with jeers at the Republican-packed rally , for implementing coronavirus-related restrictions in the state .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ week .

President Donald Trump held a Wednesday night rally in battleground state North Carolina in an effort to mobilize Republican voters the night before his final debate with Democratic candidate Joe Biden.
GASTONIA, N.C. (CN) — President Donald Trump held a Wednesday night rally in battleground state North Carolina in an effort to mobilize Republican voters the night before his final debate with Democratic candidate Joe Biden.
Thousands of supporters lined up hours in advance to catch Trump’s remarks during his latest “Make America Great Again” rally outside the Gastonia Municipal Airport on Wednesday night.
There, Trump bashed Democrats and touted his handling of the Covid-19 pandemic in a speech riddled with sporadic topic changes.
“This election is a choice between a Trump super-recovery or a Biden steep-depression,” Trump told the large crowd during his seventh appearance in the Tarheel State since the Republican National Convention in late August.
With the Nov. 3 election less than two weeks away, the president continued to paint a nightmarish picture of the future if Biden is elected.
While the president said Biden would raise taxes, he did not mention that his rival’s proposed plan would only raise taxes on individuals making more than $400,000 a year.
During many recent campaign events, including this one, Trump has worked to persuade audiences that an America run by Biden would end in utter disaster — providing strong language, but little or no evidence.
Trump claimed Wednesday that “If Biden wins, the flag-burning demonstrators in the street will be running your federal government. They will re-educate your children and be letting rioters and MS-13 killers roam free without masks.”
He attacked media outlets CNN and MSNBC, saying that the television networks were scaring people about the pandemic.
“All you hear is Covid, Covid, Covid, Covid, Covid, Covid, Covid, Covid, Covid, Covid, Covid. That’s all they put on, because they want to scare the hell out of everyone,” he said.
Gastonia, a city on the outskirts of Charlotte, has a population of more than 77,000. It is the seat of Gaston County, which voted for Trump 64% compared to the 32% garnered by Hillary Clinton during the 2016 presidential election.
North Carolina, a major swing state with 15 electoral votes, has a critical role to play in deciding which party takes control of Congress and who ends up in the Oval Office.
Polls show Biden has a narrow lead over Trump in the state, and both campaigns are doubling down as the election nears.
A record number of early voters have turned out to the polls in North Carolina with about 2 million residents having already cast their ballots, according data from the State Board of Elections.
Prior to the event on Wednesday, organizers said anywhere from 15,000 to 30,000 people were expected to attend.
Trump slammed nearly everyone during the rally, including the former Vice President’s son Hunter Biden, “tech giants,” the news media and “the really stupid dumb people, the never-Trumpers.”
Meanwhile, in Philadelphia, former President Barack Obama had just wrapped up a pro-Biden speech during which he slammed Trump’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic, among other things.
"I never thought Donald Trump would embrace my vision or continue my policies, but I did hope for the sake of the country, that he might show some interest in taking the job seriously," Obama said during his first campaign appearance in 2020. "But it hasn't happened. He hasn't showed any interest in doing the work or helping anybody but himself and his friends."
Trump on Wednesday night expressed a very different depiction of his actions, telling North Carolinians that America has seen the “fastest recovery” of any country.
More than 222,000 people have died of Covid-19 in the U.S. since the pandemic first hit, and about 8.35 million have tested positive for the virus in less than a year.
North Carolina has suffered more than 4,000 of those Covid-19 deaths as of Wednesday.
Over the last seven days, Gaston County reported 598 new cases and many, including Biden’s campaign, expressed concern that the rally could act as a superspreader event.
Trump got local late into the rally, introducing North Carolina’s Republican Lt. Governor Dan Forest, who was met with supportive chants of “Run Forest, Run.”
Forest, a former businessman and ardent supporter of Trump, is vying to unseat North Carolina Democratic Governor Roy Cooper in November.
“We have a couple things in common,” Forest said, comparing himself with Trump.
“Their job is to destroy, instead of build up,” the gubernatorial candidate said of both his and Trump’s Democratic rivals before vowing to work with Trump to “Make America Great Again.”
Both Forest and the president went after Cooper, a name met with jeers at the Republican-packed rally, for implementing coronavirus-related restrictions in the state.
Early voting in the state began last week.


Zoo Embezzlement

SAN DIEGO — Matthew John Anderson , a former biologist at the San Diego Zoo , was sentenced in federal @ @ @ @ @ months in prison for embezzling more than $ 236,600 from the zoo .
Anderson had @ @ @ @ @ 17 years and defrauded it over the course of eight years .


courthousenews--2020-10-22--Iowa Supreme Court Upholds Absentee Voting Law

DES MOINES , Iowa ( CN ) — A divided Iowa Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that a new state law regulating absentee ballot request forms does not amount to an unconstitutional burden on the right to vote .
Wednesday ’ s decision in League of United Latin American Citizens of Iowa and Majority Forward v. Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate upheld an earlier ruling by a state district court judge , which was brought to the Supreme Court on an expedited request for interlocutory appeal granted Oct. 14 .
LULAC and Majority Forward sued Pate in his capacity as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in July .
The plaintiffs argued that an amendment passed by the Iowa Legislature in June placed an undue burden on the constitutional right to vote .
The amendment barred county election officials from using a statewide voter-ID database to fill in missing information on voters ’ absentee ballot request forms .
Instead , the law requires that they attempt to contact the voter by phone , email or regular mail to obtain the information .
The plaintiffs argued that if county election officials are unable to reach the voter to obtain the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out the requested absentee ballot .
That amounts to an unconstitutional burden on the right to vote by those who vote absentee , they argued , and violates the right to equal protection and procedural due process under the Iowa Constitution .
The Iowa Supreme Court , in an unsigned opinion for a four-member majority , disagreed , saying “ we are not persuaded the statute imposes a significant burden on absentee voters .
It is not a direct burden on voting itself.
” The per curiam opinion was joined by Justices Edward @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Matthew McDermott .
Three justices dissented , saying the plaintiffs have shown a likelihood of success on the merits of their constitutional challenge to the new law , especially in light of the continuing Covid-19 pandemic .
“ To read the majority opinion , one might forget we ’ re even in the midst of a historic global pandemic , ” Justice Dana Oxley wrote in the dissenting opinion joined by Chief Justice Susan Christensen and Justice Brent Appel .
The majority in the per curiam decision said that election laws “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” and “ requiring a voter wishing to vote absentee to provide a few items of personal information on an absentee ballot application is not much different than other burdens normally involved with voting , like the burden of going to a polling place or the burden of filling out a ballot correctly.
” Nor was the court persuaded by the argument that state legislators did not show evidence of fraud when enacting the statute on absentee ballot requests .
“ The plaintiffs argue that because the state has provided no prior examples @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state ’ s argument that [ the statute ] serves to prevent fraud carries no weight , ” the court said .
“ That the statute was not passed in response to evidence of actual fraud is a factor to consider , but it has little significance when , as here , the statute ’ s burdens are so minimal.
” Moreover , the court said it was not willing to alter election rules so close to an election .
“ We have an unprecedented amount of absentee ballot requests this general election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vote is secure , ” Pate said in the statement .
“ The overwhelming majority of Iowans have repeatedly said they support Voter ID , and this case was about having Voter ID for absentee ballots .
It ’ s legal , constitutional , and fair .
I thank the Iowa Supreme Court once again for reaffirming Iowa ’ s commitment to election integrity.
” An attorney in Iowa representing the plaintiffs did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday evening .
Donald J. Trump for President Inc. , the National @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Congressional Committee , and the Republican Party of Iowa were intervenors in the underlying lawsuit in support of the state ’ s position .
The American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa and the League of Women Voters of Iowa filed an amicus curiae brief in the appeal in support of the plaintiffs .

A divided Iowa Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that a new state law regulating absentee ballot request forms does not amount to an unconstitutional burden on the right to vote.
DES MOINES, Iowa (CN) — A divided Iowa Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that a new state law regulating absentee ballot request forms does not amount to an unconstitutional burden on the right to vote.
Wednesday’s decision in League of United Latin American Citizens of Iowa and Majority Forward v. Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate upheld an earlier ruling by a state district court judge, which was brought to the Supreme Court on an expedited request for interlocutory appeal granted Oct. 14.
LULAC and Majority Forward sued Pate in his capacity as the state’s chief elections officer in July. The plaintiffs argued that an amendment passed by the Iowa Legislature in June placed an undue burden on the constitutional right to vote.
The amendment barred county election officials from using a statewide voter-ID database to fill in missing information on voters’ absentee ballot request forms. Instead, the law requires that they attempt to contact the voter by phone, email or regular mail to obtain the information.
The plaintiffs argued that if county election officials are unable to reach the voter to obtain the missing information, they cannot send out the requested absentee ballot. That amounts to an unconstitutional burden on the right to vote by those who vote absentee, they argued, and violates the right to equal protection and procedural due process under the Iowa Constitution.
The Iowa Supreme Court, in an unsigned opinion for a four-member majority, disagreed, saying “we are not persuaded the statute imposes a significant burden on absentee voters. It is not a direct burden on voting itself.” The per curiam opinion was joined by Justices Edward Mansfield, Thomas Waterman, Christopher McDonald and Matthew McDermott.
Three justices dissented, saying the plaintiffs have shown a likelihood of success on the merits of their constitutional challenge to the new law, especially in light of the continuing Covid-19 pandemic.
“To read the majority opinion, one might forget we’re even in the midst of a historic global pandemic,” Justice Dana Oxley wrote in the dissenting opinion joined by Chief Justice Susan Christensen and Justice Brent Appel.
The majority in the per curiam decision said that election laws “naturally impose some burdens on voters,” and “requiring a voter wishing to vote absentee to provide a few items of personal information on an absentee ballot application is not much different than other burdens normally involved with voting, like the burden of going to a polling place or the burden of filling out a ballot correctly.”
Nor was the court persuaded by the argument that state legislators did not show evidence of fraud when enacting the statute on absentee ballot requests.
“The plaintiffs argue that because the state has provided no prior examples of fraud in absentee voting, the state’s argument that [the statute] serves to prevent fraud carries no weight,” the court said. “That the statute was not passed in response to evidence of actual fraud is a factor to consider, but it has little significance when, as here, the statute’s burdens are so minimal.”
Moreover, the court said it was not willing to alter election rules so close to an election.
Pate praised the ruling in a statement released Wednesday night:
“We have an unprecedented amount of absentee ballot requests this general election cycle and Iowans deserve to know their vote is secure,” Pate said in the statement. “The overwhelming majority of Iowans have repeatedly said they support Voter ID, and this case was about having Voter ID for absentee ballots. It’s legal, constitutional, and fair. I thank the Iowa Supreme Court once again for reaffirming Iowa’s commitment to election integrity.”
An attorney in Iowa representing the plaintiffs did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday evening.
Donald J. Trump for President Inc., the National Republican Senatorial Committee, the National Republican Congressional Committee, and the Republican Party of Iowa were intervenors in the underlying lawsuit in support of the state’s position.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa and the League of Women Voters of Iowa filed an amicus curiae brief in the appeal in support of the plaintiffs.


Voter Transportation

CINCINNATI — The Sixth Circuit granted the Michigan Legislature ’ s request to stay an injunction that prevents enforcement of @ @ @ @ @ prohibits hiring drivers to take people to polling places .


Facebook Page

AUSTIN , Texas — A federal judge in Texas recommended that a woman ’ s First Amendment and due process @ @ @ @ @ proceed against state Senator Lois Kolkhorst in her official capacity .
Kolkhorst blocked and deleted @ @ @ @ @ comments from her Facebook page .


Campaign Advertising

SAN FRANCISCO — The Ninth Circuit dismissed a ballot measure committee ’ s appeal of a lower court ’ s @ @ @ @ @ for an injunction to block San Francisco ’ s new campaign advertising disclosure law .
@ @ @ @ @ Prop B , did not show that it plans to engage in any political advertising @ @ @ @ @ so the controversy is moot .


Wiretap Order

RIVERSIDE , Calif. — A trial court must reevaluate its denial of a man ’ s request to inspect a @ @ @ @ @ , an appeals court in California ruled .
The man was targeted by a wiretap @ @ @ @ @ by a judge in Riverside County who signed 17 % of “ all the wiretaps @ @ @ @ @ and federal courts in the nation ” in 2014 .
In the years since his @ @ @ @ @ man was never charged with any crime relating to the wiretap .


courthousenews--2020-10-22--California GOP Prevails in First Round of Ballot-Box Fight

( CN ) — The California Republican Party won a significant legal victory Wednesday , winning the right to keep the location of ballot drop-off boxes secret after a state court judge declined to order the party to disclose details to state officials .
California Attorney General Xavier Becerra petitioned the court to intercede in the matter and allow state officials to conduct an immediate investigation into whether the ballot boxes were being used for their intended purposes or for more nefarious attempts at disenfranchisement .
Sacramento County Superior Court Judge David Brown issued a one-page form that said there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the state .
Becerra can still attempt to get the court to enforce a subpoena that demands the Republican Party divulge information about voters whose ballots have been collected about drop boxes around the state , but is not entitled to immediate redress .
“ Judge Brown found that the Attorney General provided no factual basis supporting the state ’ s demand that we identify the voters who have entrusted us with their ballots , ” said Hector Barajas , spokesman for the California Republican Party , in a written statement .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the drop-off boxes promoted by Democratic Congressman Harley Rouda as an example of the same kind of program implemented by the opposite party .
“ The California Republican Party will continue to help Californians vote safely and securely by continuing to gather ballots in trusted places , and deliver them promptly according to law , ” Barajas said .
Republicans and Democrats have long sparred over the mass collection of ballots via drop-off locations , although historically Republicans have derided the process by labeling it “ ballot-harvesting.
” But this year , rather @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the party has adopted it , establishing drop-off boxes at locations in communities throughout the entire state .
The party insists — as Democrats have in the past — that California law stipulates that a voter may “ designate a person ” to return their completed ballot to an election office .
Becerra said the drop-off boxes used by the Republican Party are intended to mimic official drop-off boxes installed by counties and sought information regarding the number and precise location of the boxes .
A spokesperson for his office said they are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re reviewing the matter and , following this morning ’ s procedural hearing , will continue to take steps — including in court where necessary — to ensure that every voter who casts their ballot will have their voices heard , ” the spokesperson said in an email .
The tussle over drop-off box locations transpires amid a backdrop of unprecedented voter interest in election integrity issues , as the coronavirus has dramatically increased the use of mail-in ballots , drop-off boxes and other strategies intended to reduce the need for people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has also led some detractors to decry the alternative ways to cast a ballot as subject to greater fraud , harming election integrity .
President Donald Trump has been the most notable and outspoken critic of mail-in ballots .
The Republican Party has also been behind most of the pre-election lawsuits attempting to dramatically curtail the use of absentee voting in various states .
Proponents of absentee voting point to a dearth of evidence that the practice is vulnerable to fraud and point to the many and various safeguards states use to ensure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ social security numbers and other methods of voter identification .
The parties have long fought over voting issues , with Republicans favoring ID laws and Democrats arguing they disenfranchise minorities and low-income voters who may be more prone to going without official identification .
In the current case , Becerra said the practice of using drop-off boxes raised serious concerns about the chain of custody for the completed ballots and argued the state should have oversight .
The state may eventually prevail in their argument , but for now , Judge Brown said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ California Republican Party ’ s ballot-collection program as to merit immediate court intervention .

The California Republican Party won a significant legal victory Wednesday, winning the right to keep the location of ballot drop-off boxes secret after a state court judge declined to order the party to disclose details to state officials.
(CN) — The California Republican Party won a significant legal victory Wednesday, winning the right to keep the location of ballot drop-off boxes secret after a state court judge declined to order the party to disclose details to state officials.
California Attorney General Xavier Becerra petitioned the court to intercede in the matter and allow state officials to conduct an immediate investigation into whether the ballot boxes were being used for their intended purposes or for more nefarious attempts at disenfranchisement.
Sacramento County Superior Court Judge David Brown issued a one-page form that said there was no immediate harm to voters or to the state.
Becerra can still attempt to get the court to enforce a subpoena that demands the Republican Party divulge information about voters whose ballots have been collected about drop boxes around the state, but is not entitled to immediate redress.
“Judge Brown found that the Attorney General provided no factual basis supporting the state’s demand that we identify the voters who have entrusted us with their ballots,” said Hector Barajas, spokesman for the California Republican Party, in a written statement.
The GOP spokesman noted that Brown mentioned the drop-off boxes promoted by Democratic Congressman Harley Rouda as an example of the same kind of program implemented by the opposite party.
"The California Republican Party will continue to help Californians vote safely and securely by continuing to gather ballots in trusted places, and deliver them promptly according to law,” Barajas said.
Republicans and Democrats have long sparred over the mass collection of ballots via drop-off locations, although historically Republicans have derided the process by labeling it “ballot-harvesting.”
But this year, rather than deriding Democrats for the practice, the party has adopted it, establishing drop-off boxes at locations in communities throughout the entire state. The party insists — as Democrats have in the past — that California law stipulates that a voter may “designate a person” to return their completed ballot to an election office.
Becerra said the drop-off boxes used by the Republican Party are intended to mimic official drop-off boxes installed by counties and sought information regarding the number and precise location of the boxes.
A spokesperson for his office said they are still examining the decision.
“We’re reviewing the matter and, following this morning's procedural hearing, will continue to take steps — including in court where necessary — to ensure that every voter who casts their ballot will have their voices heard,” the spokesperson said in an email.
The tussle over drop-off box locations transpires amid a backdrop of unprecedented voter interest in election integrity issues, as the coronavirus has dramatically increased the use of mail-in ballots, drop-off boxes and other strategies intended to reduce the need for people to vote in person.
This increase has also led some detractors to decry the alternative ways to cast a ballot as subject to greater fraud, harming election integrity. President Donald Trump has been the most notable and outspoken critic of mail-in ballots.
The Republican Party has also been behind most of the pre-election lawsuits attempting to dramatically curtail the use of absentee voting in various states.
Proponents of absentee voting point to a dearth of evidence that the practice is vulnerable to fraud and point to the many and various safeguards states use to ensure ballot integrity, including signature verification, social security numbers and other methods of voter identification.
The parties have long fought over voting issues, with Republicans favoring ID laws and Democrats arguing they disenfranchise minorities and low-income voters who may be more prone to going without official identification.
In the current case, Becerra said the practice of using drop-off boxes raised serious concerns about the chain of custody for the completed ballots and argued the state should have oversight.
The state may eventually prevail in their argument, but for now, Judge Brown said there is nothing so untoward about the California Republican Party’s ballot-collection program as to merit immediate court intervention.


courthousenews--2020-10-23--Texas Supreme Court Refuses to Shut Down Drive-Thru Voting

AUSTIN , Texas ( CN ) — More than 70,000 Houston-area voters have cast their ballots from their vehicles and thousands more will do so after the Texas Supreme Court on Thursday denied a bid from Republicans to shut down drive-thru voting .
In what critics said was a cynical attempt to suppress turnout in the Democratic stronghold of Harris County the day before the Oct. 13 start of early voting , the Republican Party of Texas filed a lawsuit trying to stop the county from giving all registered voters the option of casting their ballots curbside or in drive-thru @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Clerk Chris Hollins is getting rave reviews for his administration of early voting , in which over the first seven days about half as many ballots were cast as the whole turnout for the 2016 election .
That election cemented the status of the county , whose seat is Houston , as solidly Democratic , as Hillary Clinton beat Donald Trump by 160,000 votes and Democrats , including 17 Black women , swept incumbent Republican judges out of office .
After the Texas Secretary of State Ruth Hughs ’ staff in June gave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voting , the Harris County Commissioners Court , the county ’ s executive board , approved 10 drive-thru voting sites in August .
Two weeks later , Texas Elections Administrator Keith Ingram said of Harris County ’ s drive-thru voting plans “ it ’ s a creative approach that is probably okay legally ” in a court hearing for an unrelated case .
The Texas Republican Party claimed Hollins was using the coronavirus pandemic as an excuse to violate the Texas Election Code , though both Hughs and Ingram are Republicans .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the polls doesn ’ t qualify people to vote by mail , as the Texas Supreme Court ruled in May , it doesn ’ t qualify them for curbside or drive-through voting either .
The party claimed only sick or handicapped people or those for whom voting in the polling place “ would create a likelihood of injuring ( their ) health ” make the cut to vote from their cars .
Harris County , represented by Austin attorney Susan Hays , countered that the GOP was basing its arguments on the false @ @ @ @ @ @ @ curbside voting .
But she said drive-thru is no different from walking into a polling place to cast your ballot .
Republicans took issue with Harris County ushering drivers into temporary tent structures , where they are handed a voting tablet after poll workers check their IDs and tell them to turn off their cellphones .
In declarations filed for the county , three voters described their experiences with drive-thru voting in a parking garage at the Toyota Center , where the Houston Rockets play .
They said the process took 10 to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an option for future elections .
One of them raved , “ It was so easy !
” The Texas Republican Party appealed to the state Supreme Court after the 14th Court of Appeals in Houston found it had waited too long to challenge the county ’ s vote-from-your-car regime .
A similar petition brought by the Harris County Republican Party three days after in-person early voting started was also rejected by the 14th Court of Appeals and the Texas Supreme Court .
A majority of the high court ’ s justices rejected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ error .
Hollins praised the court on Twitter .
“ Once again , the law is on our side .
The Court ’ s decision to uphold the legality of Drive-Thru Voting as a safe and convenient way to vote underscores that this November , democracy is on the ballot , ” he wrote .
Justice John Devine filed a lone dissent in which he said Hollins exceeded his discretion in setting up drive-thru voting sites and he would grant a stay until the court decided if the Texas Election Code allows it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thursday rejected a petition from a Republican voter who claimed Harris County was registering voters without verifying their citizenship .

More than 70,000 Houston-area voters have cast their ballots from their vehicles and thousands more will do so after the Texas Supreme Court on Thursday denied a bid from Republicans to shut down drive-thru voting.
AUSTIN, Texas (CN) — More than 70,000 Houston-area voters have cast their ballots from their vehicles and thousands more will do so after the Texas Supreme Court on Thursday denied a bid from Republicans to shut down drive-thru voting.
In what critics said was a cynical attempt to suppress turnout in the Democratic stronghold of Harris County the day before the Oct. 13 start of early voting, the Republican Party of Texas filed a lawsuit trying to stop the county from giving all registered voters the option of casting their ballots curbside or in drive-thru booths.
Harris County’s 34-year-old Clerk Chris Hollins is getting rave reviews for his administration of early voting, in which over the first seven days about half as many ballots were cast as the whole turnout for the 2016 election.
That election cemented the status of the county, whose seat is Houston, as solidly Democratic, as Hillary Clinton beat Donald Trump by 160,000 votes and Democrats, including 17 Black women, swept incumbent Republican judges out of office.
After the Texas Secretary of State Ruth Hughs’ staff in June gave Harris County its blessing to offer drive-thru voting, the Harris County Commissioners Court, the county’s executive board, approved 10 drive-thru voting sites in August.
Two weeks later, Texas Elections Administrator Keith Ingram said of Harris County’s drive-thru voting plans “it’s a creative approach that is probably okay legally” in a court hearing for an unrelated case.
The Texas Republican Party claimed Hollins was using the coronavirus pandemic as an excuse to violate the Texas Election Code, though both Hughs and Ingram are Republicans.
It argued because fear of contracting Covid-19 at the polls doesn’t qualify people to vote by mail, as the Texas Supreme Court ruled in May, it doesn’t qualify them for curbside or drive-through voting either.
The party claimed only sick or handicapped people or those for whom voting in the polling place “would create a likelihood of injuring (their) health” make the cut to vote from their cars.
Harris County, represented by Austin attorney Susan Hays, countered that the GOP was basing its arguments on the false claim drive-thru voting is the same as curbside voting. But she said drive-thru is no different from walking into a polling place to cast your ballot.
Republicans took issue with Harris County ushering drivers into temporary tent structures, where they are handed a voting tablet after poll workers check their IDs and tell them to turn off their cellphones.
In declarations filed for the county, three voters described their experiences with drive-thru voting in a parking garage at the Toyota Center, where the Houston Rockets play.
They said the process took 10 to 20 minutes and they hope it is an option for future elections. One of them raved, “It was so easy!”
The Texas Republican Party appealed to the state Supreme Court after the 14th Court of Appeals in Houston found it had waited too long to challenge the county’s vote-from-your-car regime.
A similar petition brought by the Harris County Republican Party three days after in-person early voting started was also rejected by the 14th Court of Appeals and the Texas Supreme Court.
A majority of the high court’s justices rejected the challenges late Thursday without issuing an error.
Hollins praised the court on Twitter. “Once again, the law is on our side. The Court's decision to uphold the legality of Drive-Thru Voting as a safe and convenient way to vote underscores that this November, democracy is on the ballot,” he wrote.
Justice John Devine filed a lone dissent in which he said Hollins exceeded his discretion in setting up drive-thru voting sites and he would grant a stay until the court decided if the Texas Election Code allows it.
The Texas Supreme Court also on Thursday rejected a petition from a Republican voter who claimed Harris County was registering voters without verifying their citizenship.
Early voting ends Oct. 30 in Texas.