Top Eight

Your Monday night briefing from the staff of Courthouse News Top eight CNS stories for today including the conversation is only just beginning on what President Trump ’ s reign meant for the country and the future of his party ; The Pennsylvania Supreme Court agreed to take up a case claiming election observers in Philadelphia weren ’ t allowed to watch ballot counting from a close enough distance ; The election of Joe Biden is bringing a wave of relief to a Europe eager to see an end to the disorienting and disruptive Trump era , and more .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a roundup of the day ’ s top stories delivered directly to your inbox Monday through Friday .
1 . )
It may be goodbye to Trump now , but the conversation is only just beginning on what his reign meant for the country and the future of his party .
2 . )
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell declined to acknowledge President-elect Joe Biden ’ s victory in a speech Monday , instead throwing his support behind President Donald Trump ’ s legal efforts to contest his election loss .
3 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ team of 13 health experts on Monday to advise him on combating coronavirus , taking action on his promise to lead the country ’ s pandemic response guided by science .
4 . )
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court agreed Monday to take up a case brought by President Trump ’ s campaign claiming election observers in Philadelphia weren ’ t allowed to watch ballot counting from a close enough distance .
5 . )
Iowa is seeing an alarming rise in positive Covid-19 cases , with the third-highest infection rate in the nation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staff .
6 . )
A surge of coronavirus cases continues to overwhelm the Texas border city of El Paso , with local officials moving to set up additional morgues to handle a rise in deaths .
7 . )
The election of Joe Biden to the White House is bringing a wave of relief to a Europe eager to see an end to the disorienting and disruptive era of Donald Trump and marks a potential shift away from Trump ’ s inward-looking “ America First ” stance on the world stage .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ president appeared before a special war crimes court in the Netherlands on Monday , pleading not guilty to six counts including murder and torture .

Top eight CNS stories for today including the conversation is only just beginning on what President Trump’s reign meant for the country and the future of his party; The Pennsylvania Supreme Court agreed to take up a case claiming election observers in Philadelphia weren’t allowed to watch ballot counting from a close enough distance; The election of Joe Biden is bringing a wave of relief to a Europe eager to see an end to the disorienting and disruptive Trump era, and more.
Your Monday night briefing from the staff of Courthouse News
Top eight CNS stories for today including the conversation is only just beginning on what President Trump’s reign meant for the country and the future of his party; The Pennsylvania Supreme Court agreed to take up a case claiming election observers in Philadelphia weren’t allowed to watch ballot counting from a close enough distance; The election of Joe Biden is bringing a wave of relief to a Europe eager to see an end to the disorienting and disruptive Trump era, 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.) It may be goodbye to Trump now, but the conversation is only just beginning on what his reign meant for the country and the future of his party.
President Donald Trump leaves the podium after speaking at the White House, Thursday, Nov. 5, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
2.) Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell declined to acknowledge President-elect Joe Biden’s victory in a speech Monday, instead throwing his support behind President Donald Trump’s legal efforts to contest his election loss.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky., talks with reporters after he spoke on the Senate floor Monday, Nov. 9, 2020, at the Capitol in Washington. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
3.) President-elect Joe Biden announced a team of 13 health experts on Monday to advise him on combating coronavirus, taking action on his promise to lead the country’s pandemic response guided by science.
President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris listen during a meeting with Biden's COVID-19 advisory council, Monday, Nov. 9, 2020, at The Queen theater in Wilmington, Del. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Regional
4.) The Pennsylvania Supreme Court agreed Monday to take up a case brought by President Trump’s campaign claiming election observers in Philadelphia weren’t allowed to watch ballot counting from a close enough distance.
A worker scans mail-in ballots through a counting machine before they are counted, Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2020, at the convention center in Lancaster, Pa., following Tuesday's election. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
5.) Iowa is seeing an alarming rise in positive Covid-19 cases, with the third-highest infection rate in the nation putting increasing strain on hospitals and medical staff.
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds speaks during a news conference in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in August 2020. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, File)
6.) A surge of coronavirus cases continues to overwhelm the Texas border city of El Paso, with local officials moving to set up additional morgues to handle a rise in deaths.
Pat Austin takes Covid-19 swabs in for testing at the state drive-thru testing location at the University of Texas at El Paso on Oct. 26, 2020. (Briana Sanchez/The El Paso Times via AP)
International
7.) The election of Joe Biden to the White House is bringing a wave of relief to a Europe eager to see an end to the disorienting and disruptive era of Donald Trump and marks a potential shift away from Trump’s inward-looking “America First” stance on the world stage.
Residents read a copy of their local paper in the town of Ballina, North West of Ireland, the ancestral home of President elect Joe Biden, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020. Biden was elected Saturday as the 46th president of the United States, defeating President Donald Trump in an election that played out against the backdrop of a pandemic, its economic fallout and a national reckoning on racism. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)
8.) Kosovo’s former president appeared before a special war crimes court in the Netherlands on Monday, pleading not guilty to six counts including murder and torture.


courthousenews--2020-11-09--Covid Cases Spike Across Much of California

California has seen coronavirus cases rise nearly 30 % , with officials placing blame on Halloween parties and family gatherings .
( CN ) — Spurred by a spate of individual outbreaks raging from coast to coast , the United States on Monday secured another loathsome pandemic milestone by surpassing 10 million total coronavirus cases .
The jarring figure comes after a weekend in which the U.S. set a new daily record with 128,000 infections and saw its cumulative death toll climb to 237,000 .
Faced with dwindling resources and the prospect of overcrowding , cities have been forced to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus surges once again in the world ’ s richest nation .
Seeing a 28 % increase in Covid-19 hospitalizations and other key indicators climbing steadily , California officials are casting cast major blame for the state ’ s emerging outburst on Halloween parties and family functions .
Nearly 500 more Californians are hospitalized due to the virus then at the end of October , while the state ’ s 7-day test positivity rate — a key indicator of community spread — is up from 2.9 % to 3.7 % .
After @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Golden State that allowed most counties to reopen their shuttered economies , Governor Gavin Newsom on Monday urged residents to keep up their guard even with news of a potential vaccine breakthrough .
He said it would be foolhardy for the state ’ s 40 million residents to drop their masks and rely on a vaccine still months from fruition .
“ I ’ m concerned , truthfully , that we may get over-exuberant because now we believe we have a safe and effective vaccine that is available , ” Newsom told reporters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ upon you more what a mistake it would be to read these headlines and then walk away from all the extraordinary progress you and others have made to keep yourself and loved ones safe.
” Newsom was referring to an announcement by pharmaceutical heavyweight Pfizer that a vaccine under development is proving to be 90 % effective at protecting against Covid-19 .
The claim sent U.S. markets soaring , but Newsom said the state and nation should remain guarded in their pandemic fight .
“ I ’ m just trying to be honest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of maintaining our vigilance through this very challenging time as we enter into the winter/cold months , ” the Democratic governor said , noting a potential vaccine likely won ’ t be available for everyone until at least April .
California ’ s rising totals fall in line with a troubling overarching nationwide trend : Not only has the U.S. set new daily case records routinely over the last week , according to Johns Hopkins University over 40 states have experienced at least a 10 % spike in new cases .
Furthermore , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ daily new infections over the last week .
Although California ’ s rate of spread hasn ’ t been as alarming as states like Iowa , Utah or Vermont , Newsom acknowledged the state will force some counties to slow their reopening efforts as early as Tuesday .
California officials are scheduled to update the state ’ s tiered coronavirus watchlist Tuesday afternoon .
Counties reported over 7,000 new infections Monday and the state ’ s rolling 7-day average is now 5,889 new cases .
Meanwhile over 3,000 Californians are hospitalized , up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tracing done across the state has revealed infections are being driven by Halloween parties and in-home family gatherings , Newsom said .
Like the rest of the country , Los Angeles County is in the middle of a surge with no sign of letting up .
LA County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said the numbers for the week of Nov. 2 were “ horrific , ” with confirmed cases topping 2,000 for four days in a row .
“ We are definitely seeing a surge of cases .
I couldn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — this isn ’ t a blip any longer , ” Ferrer said during a press conference Monday .
Ferrer said last week ’ s data points to “ a definitive and alarming surge ” that paints an obvious picture for residents and health officials .
“ It ’ s crystal clear on what the strategies are that are in front of us , ” said Ferrer , meaning large gatherings of people who don ’ t live together should not be occurring .
In addition to Angelenos who took to the streets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Dodgers and Lakers , Ferrer noted large crowds gathered this past weekend to either protest or celebrate the results of the presidential election .
She urged everyone involved to get tested .
“ If you ’ re going out into these large crowds and you ’ re singing , shouting and celebrating or protesting ” there are high risks , said Ferrer .
People need to be more responsible to avoid the spread of the virus or that could mean “ troubling times for the winter ahead , ” she added .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 5 new deaths on Monday , bringing the total cases to 323,625 and the death toll to 7,177 since the pandemic began .
The county languishes in the most restrictive tier under the state health guideline and is unlikely to leave it any time soon if the recent data is any indication , Ferrer said .
One bright spot , according to Newsom : The state is well positioned with over 20,000 ventilators and 7,600 hospital beds available , to go along with a stockpile of over 500 million masks .
Newsom also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hear that California was well represented on the Transition Covid-19 Advisory Board introduced earlier Monday by President-elect Joe Biden .
The board includes several members from the University of California , San Francisco .
“ We talk in terms of abundance here in the state of California .
It ’ s a treasure trove of talent and human capital , birthplace of biotech and life sciences , ” Newsom boasted .
“ We couldn ’ t be more prideful and more proud of that extraordinary institution .
”

California has seen coronavirus cases rise nearly 30%, with officials placing blame on Halloween parties and family gatherings.
(CN) — Spurred by a spate of individual outbreaks raging from coast to coast, the United States on Monday secured another loathsome pandemic milestone by surpassing 10 million total coronavirus cases.
The jarring figure comes after a weekend in which the U.S. set a new daily record with 128,000 infections and saw its cumulative death toll climb to 237,000. Faced with dwindling resources and the prospect of overcrowding, cities have been forced to build pop-up hospitals and even morgues as the virus surges once again in the world’s richest nation.
Seeing a 28% increase in Covid-19 hospitalizations and other key indicators climbing steadily, California officials are casting cast major blame for the state’s emerging outburst on Halloween parties and family functions.
Nearly 500 more Californians are hospitalized due to the virus then at the end of October, while the state’s 7-day test positivity rate — a key indicator of community spread — is up from 2.9% to 3.7%.
After an extended stretch of success in the Golden State that allowed most counties to reopen their shuttered economies, Governor Gavin Newsom on Monday urged residents to keep up their guard even with news of a potential vaccine breakthrough. He said it would be foolhardy for the state’s 40 million residents to drop their masks and rely on a vaccine still months from fruition.
“I’m concerned, truthfully, that we may get over-exuberant because now we believe we have a safe and effective vaccine that is available,” Newsom told reporters. “I can’t impress upon you more what a mistake it would be to read these headlines and then walk away from all the extraordinary progress you and others have made to keep yourself and loved ones safe.”
Newsom was referring to an announcement by pharmaceutical heavyweight Pfizer that a vaccine under development is proving to be 90% effective at protecting against Covid-19. The claim sent U.S. markets soaring, but Newsom said the state and nation should remain guarded in their pandemic fight.
“I’m just trying to be honest with you and forthright around the importance of maintaining our vigilance through this very challenging time as we enter into the winter/cold months,” the Democratic governor said, noting a potential vaccine likely won’t be available for everyone until at least April.
California’s rising totals fall in line with a troubling overarching nationwide trend: Not only has the U.S. set new daily case records routinely over the last week, according to Johns Hopkins University over 40 states have experienced at least a 10% spike in new cases. Furthermore, the country is averaging a record 108,000 daily new infections over the last week.
Although California’s rate of spread hasn’t been as alarming as states like Iowa, Utah or Vermont, Newsom acknowledged the state will force some counties to slow their reopening efforts as early as Tuesday. California officials are scheduled to update the state’s tiered coronavirus watchlist Tuesday afternoon.
Counties reported over 7,000 new infections Monday and the state’s rolling 7-day average is now 5,889 new cases. Meanwhile over 3,000 Californians are hospitalized, up from 2,537 on Nov. 1.
Contact tracing done across the state has revealed infections are being driven by Halloween parties and in-home family gatherings, Newsom said.
Like the rest of the country, Los Angeles County is in the middle of a surge with no sign of letting up.
LA County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said the numbers for the week of Nov. 2 were “horrific,” with confirmed cases topping 2,000 for four days in a row.
“We are definitely seeing a surge of cases. I couldn’t look at this data any other way — this isn’t a blip any longer,” Ferrer said during a press conference Monday.
Ferrer said last week’s data points to “a definitive and alarming surge” that paints an obvious picture for residents and health officials.
“It’s crystal clear on what the strategies are that are in front of us,” said Ferrer, meaning large gatherings of people who don’t live together should not be occurring.
In addition to Angelenos who took to the streets last month to celebrate world championships by the Dodgers and Lakers, Ferrer noted large crowds gathered this past weekend to either protest or celebrate the results of the presidential election. She urged everyone involved to get tested.
“If you’re going out into these large crowds and you’re singing, shouting and celebrating or protesting” there are high risks, said Ferrer. People need to be more responsible to avoid the spread of the virus or that could mean “troubling times for the winter ahead,” she added.
LA County reported 1,413 new cases and 5 new deaths on Monday, bringing the total cases to 323,625 and the death toll to 7,177 since the pandemic began. The county languishes in the most restrictive tier under the state health guideline and is unlikely to leave it any time soon if the recent data is any indication, Ferrer said.
One bright spot, according to Newsom: The state is well positioned with over 20,000 ventilators and 7,600 hospital beds available, to go along with a stockpile of over 500 million masks.
Newsom also said he wasn’t surprised to hear that California was well represented on the Transition Covid-19 Advisory Board introduced earlier Monday by President-elect Joe Biden. The board includes several members from the University of California, San Francisco.
“We talk in terms of abundance here in the state of California. It’s a treasure trove of talent and human capital, birthplace of biotech and life sciences,” Newsom boasted. “We couldn’t be more prideful and more proud of that extraordinary institution.”


courthousenews--2020-11-09--Georgia GOP Senators Call for Republican Election Official to Resign

ATLANTA ( CN ) — Georgia ’ s two GOP senators issued a joint statement Monday calling for the resignation of Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger , a fellow Republican , over what they call election mismanagement and a lack of transparency .
Without offering proof or specifics concerning their claims of voting irregularities , Senators David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler said the state ’ s management of elections has become “ an embarrassment.
” The two senators are currently at the center of a battle for control of the U.S. Senate .
The results of a Jan. 5 runoff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and another between Loeffler and Democrat Raphael Warnock could tip the balance in the GOP-controlled chamber .
“ There have been too many failures in Georgia elections this year and the most recent election has shined a national light on the problems , ” the incumbent senators ’ statement said .
“ Honest elections are paramount to the foundation of our democracy .
The Secretary of State has failed to deliver honest and transparent elections .
He has failed the people of Georgia , and he should step down immediately.
” In a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ afternoon , Raffensperger said , “ That is not going to happen.
” “ The voters of Georgia hired me , and the voters will be the one to fire me , ” the state ’ s top election official said .
“ As a Republican , I am concerned about Republicans keeping the U.S. Senate .
I recommend that Senators Loeffler and Perdue start focusing on that.
” The call for Raffensperger ’ s resignation comes hours after the state ’ s election system manager , Gabriel Sterling , debunked conspiracy theories @ @ @ @ @ @ @ briefing .
Sterling denied that ballots were harvested or that results were inaccurate .
In a CNN interview Monday , Georgia ’ s Republican Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan also said his office has no evidence of widespread voter fraud of irregularities .
Noting low average wait times at polling precincts and record high turnout , Raffensperger said Monday that the election was “ a resounding success ” from “ an election administration perspective.
” He called the process of reporting election results “ orderly ” and said his office has dispatched investigators wherever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voting .
“ And as far as lack of transparency…we were literally putting releases of results up at a minimum hourly .
I and my office have been holding daily or twice-daily briefings for the press to walk them through all the numbers .
So that particular charge is laughable , ” Raffensperger said .
A recount of the presidential race in Georgia is likely .
Under Georgia law , candidates who lose their race by less than half a percentage point have the right to request a recount .
As of Monday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lead in Georgia over President Trump by over 11,500 votes .
The state is likely to flip to the Democratic nominee for the first time since 1992 .
The Trump campaign announced Sunday that Congressman Doug Collins , who finished third in the Georgia Senate special election and conceded the race to Loeffler , will head up the recount effort .
Without providing evidence , Collins said he feels “ confident ” his team will discover “ improperly harvested ballots and other irregularities that will prove that President Trump won Georgia fairly again @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” A lawsuit filed by the Trump campaign alleging that late mail-in ballots were being counted in Chatham County was swiftly dismissed by a judge last Thursday for lack of evidence .
Georgia officials have until Nov. 20 to certify the election results .

Georgia’s two GOP senators issued a joint statement Monday calling for the resignation of Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, a fellow Republican, over what they call election mismanagement and a lack of transparency.
ATLANTA (CN) — Georgia’s two GOP senators issued a joint statement Monday calling for the resignation of Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, a fellow Republican, over what they call election mismanagement and a lack of transparency.
Without offering proof or specifics concerning their claims of voting irregularities, Senators David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler said the state’s management of elections has become “an embarrassment.”
The two senators are currently at the center of a battle for control of the U.S. Senate. The results of a Jan. 5 runoff election between Democrat Jon Ossoff and Perdue and another between Loeffler and Democrat Raphael Warnock could tip the balance in the GOP-controlled chamber.
“There have been too many failures in Georgia elections this year and the most recent election has shined a national light on the problems,” the incumbent senators’ statement said. “Honest elections are paramount to the foundation of our democracy. The Secretary of State has failed to deliver honest and transparent elections. He has failed the people of Georgia, and he should step down immediately.”
In a statement provided to Courthouse News on Monday afternoon, Raffensperger said, “That is not going to happen.”
“The voters of Georgia hired me, and the voters will be the one to fire me,” the state’s top election official said. “As a Republican, I am concerned about Republicans keeping the U.S. Senate. I recommend that Senators Loeffler and Perdue start focusing on that.”
The call for Raffensperger’s resignation comes hours after the state’s election system manager, Gabriel Sterling, debunked conspiracy theories about missing ballots during a Monday press briefing. Sterling denied that ballots were harvested or that results were inaccurate.
In a CNN interview Monday, Georgia’s Republican Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan also said his office has no evidence of widespread voter fraud of irregularities.
Noting low average wait times at polling precincts and record high turnout, Raffensperger said Monday that the election was “a resounding success” from “an election administration perspective.”
He called the process of reporting election results “orderly” and said his office has dispatched investigators wherever there have been specific allegations of illegal voting.
“And as far as lack of transparency…we were literally putting releases of results up at a minimum hourly. I and my office have been holding daily or twice-daily briefings for the press to walk them through all the numbers. So that particular charge is laughable,” Raffensperger said.
A recount of the presidential race in Georgia is likely. Under Georgia law, candidates who lose their race by less than half a percentage point have the right to request a recount.
As of Monday evening, President-elect Joe Biden has the lead in Georgia over President Trump by over 11,500 votes. The state is likely to flip to the Democratic nominee for the first time since 1992.
The Trump campaign announced Sunday that Congressman Doug Collins, who finished third in the Georgia Senate special election and conceded the race to Loeffler, will head up the recount effort.
Without providing evidence, Collins said he feels “confident” his team will discover “improperly harvested ballots and other irregularities that will prove that President Trump won Georgia fairly again on his way to re-election as president.”
A lawsuit filed by the Trump campaign alleging that late mail-in ballots were being counted in Chatham County was swiftly dismissed by a judge last Thursday for lack of evidence.
Georgia officials have until Nov. 20 to certify the election results.


courthousenews--2020-11-09--Backing Trump, McConnell Refuses to Recognize Biden Win

WASHINGTON ( CN ) — Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell declined to acknowledge President-elect Joe Biden ’ s victory in a speech Monday , instead throwing his support behind President Donald Trump ’ s legal efforts to contest his election loss .
In the Kentucky Republican ’ s first remarks from the Senate floor after winning his reelection with more than 57 % of the Bluegrass State ’ s vote , McConnell said no states have certified their presidential election results yet .
Recounts in place like Georgia , where Biden leads Trump by 11,000 votes , and Wisconsin , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ votes , are likely , he noted .
“ In the United States of America , all legal ballots must be counted .
Any illegal ballots must not be .
The process should be transparent or observable by all sides and the courts are here to work through concerns , ” McConnell said .
Evidence so far has shown that both Democrats and Republicans have had adequate access to ballot counting processes .
In a hearing before U.S. District Judge Paul S. Diamond last Friday , Trump campaign attorneys conceded that Republicans had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ watching ballots be counted in Philadelphia .
“ I ’ m sorry , then what ’ s your problem ?
” asked Diamond , before approving a deal for 60 observers from each party to watch the counting process .
McConnell said Monday that Trump ’ s legal challenges will reaffirm confidence in the integrity of America ’ s electoral system .
“ If any major irregularities occurred this time , of a magnitude that would affect the outcome , then every single American should want them to be brought to light , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats feel confident they have not occurred , they should have no reason to fear any extra scrutiny.
” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer acknowledged some vote tabulations are not yet complete and two runoffs in Georgia are still yet to determine control of the Senate .
But the New York Democrat said come January , the country will turn the page on “ one of the most divisive and chaotic chapters in our nation ’ s history ” with Biden ’ s inauguration .
Rhetoric that Biden had stolen the election or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is poisonous to American democracy , Schumer said .
While Trump has a legal right to file challenges in Nevada , Arizona , Pennsylvania and other states , he said those challenges need to be based in fact .
“ Make no mistake , there has been no evidence of any significant or widespread voter fraud , ” Schumer said .
“ Joe Biden won this election fair and square.
” Noting former President George W. Bush has congratulated Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris on their victory , Schumer said current Republican @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Republican leaders must unequivocally condemn the president ’ s rhetoric and work to ensure the peaceful transition of power on Jan. 20 , ” he said .
“ I have been heartened to see a few of my Republican colleagues – it ’ s three , I believe – congratulate the winning ticket .
But too many , including the Republican leader , have been silent or sympathetic to the president ’ s fantasies.
” McConnell also claimed during his floor speech that the Trump administration and Republican-controlled Senate had “ spent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election authorities on the front lines.
” However , the issue of bolstering security measures for the 2020 election was a sticking point between the parties during Covid-19 relief negotiations this summer , with Republicans pushing back on extra funding for state and local governments .
The GOP leader also said the presidential race was free of foreign interference .
“ There is no suggestion that our foreign adversaries were allowed to undermine the integrity of this process , ” McConnell said .

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell declined to acknowledge President-elect Joe Biden’s victory in a speech Monday, instead throwing his support behind President Donald Trump’s legal efforts to contest his election loss.
WASHINGTON (CN) — Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell declined to acknowledge President-elect Joe Biden’s victory in a speech Monday, instead throwing his support behind President Donald Trump’s legal efforts to contest his election loss.
In the Kentucky Republican’s first remarks from the Senate floor after winning his reelection with more than 57% of the Bluegrass State’s vote, McConnell said no states have certified their presidential election results yet. Recounts in place like Georgia, where Biden leads Trump by 11,000 votes, and Wisconsin, where Biden won by more than 20,000 votes, are likely, he noted.
“In the United States of America, all legal ballots must be counted. Any illegal ballots must not be. The process should be transparent or observable by all sides and the courts are here to work through concerns,” McConnell said.
Evidence so far has shown that both Democrats and Republicans have had adequate access to ballot counting processes. In a hearing before U.S. District Judge Paul S. Diamond last Friday, Trump campaign attorneys conceded that Republicans had “a nonzero number” of people watching ballots be counted in Philadelphia.
“I’m sorry, then what’s your problem?” asked Diamond, before approving a deal for 60 observers from each party to watch the counting process.
McConnell said Monday that Trump’s legal challenges will reaffirm confidence in the integrity of America’s electoral system.
“If any major irregularities occurred this time, of a magnitude that would affect the outcome, then every single American should want them to be brought to light,” he said. “And if Democrats feel confident they have not occurred, they should have no reason to fear any extra scrutiny.”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer acknowledged some vote tabulations are not yet complete and two runoffs in Georgia are still yet to determine control of the Senate. But the New York Democrat said come January, the country will turn the page on “one of the most divisive and chaotic chapters in our nation’s history” with Biden’s inauguration.
Rhetoric that Biden had stolen the election or there were instances of widespread voter fraud is poisonous to American democracy, Schumer said. While Trump has a legal right to file challenges in Nevada, Arizona, Pennsylvania and other states, he said those challenges need to be based in fact.
“Make no mistake, there has been no evidence of any significant or widespread voter fraud,” Schumer said. “Joe Biden won this election fair and square.”
Noting former President George W. Bush has congratulated Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris on their victory, Schumer said current Republican leaders in Congress should follow suit.
“Republican leaders must unequivocally condemn the president’s rhetoric and work to ensure the peaceful transition of power on Jan. 20,” he said. “I have been heartened to see a few of my Republican colleagues – it’s three, I believe – congratulate the winning ticket. But too many, including the Republican leader, have been silent or sympathetic to the president’s fantasies.”
McConnell also claimed during his floor speech that the Trump administration and Republican-controlled Senate had “spent four years supporting the state and local election authorities on the front lines.” However, the issue of bolstering security measures for the 2020 election was a sticking point between the parties during Covid-19 relief negotiations this summer, with Republicans pushing back on extra funding for state and local governments.
The GOP leader also said the presidential race was free of foreign interference.
“There is no suggestion that our foreign adversaries were allowed to undermine the integrity of this process,” McConnell said.


courthousenews--2020-11-09--Federal Judge Hears Challenge to Massive Multistate Power Line

Environmentalists argued that transmission companies are set to rake in millions of dollars for a massive power line corridor that will run through wildlife refuges and is not needed to keep the lights on in small-town Wisconsin .
MADISON , Wis. ( CN ) — Issues surrounding a multistate power line corridor approved by a Wisconsin public service agency were argued in Madison federal court Monday by parties ranging from the agency to the transmission companies building the corridor and environmental advocates fighting its construction .
The Driftless Area Land Conservancy and Wisconsin Wildlife Federation sued the Public Service Commission @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last December over the PSC ’ s approval of a 345 kilovolt , 17-story-high transmission line that will run more than 100 miles through Wisconsin , cutting through several protected wildlife refuges .
Construction of the $ 492 million Cardinal-Hickory Creek transmission line would also entail the condemnation and taking of private property in rural Dane , Grant and Iowa counties in the Badger State .
The counties are in what is known as the Driftless Area , a rugged swath of forested ridges unaffected by glaciation that once spread across parts of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The environmental groups ’ lawsuit condemns the PSC for failing to force two of its commissioners to recuse themselves from the approval process due to entanglements with the private transmission entities pushing for the project , which the plaintiffs say will cost Midwest ratepayers more than $ 2.2 billion over the next 40 years and could have catastrophic environmental impacts .
The two PSC commissioners particularly at issue in the lawsuit are current commissioner Rebecca Valcq and Michael Huebsch , a former state lawmaker who served 16 years in the Wisconsin Assembly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ PSC in January .
Huebsch also served as secretary of Wisconsin ’ s Department of Administration under former Governor Scott Walker , a Republican .
Valcq , the environmentalists say , had conflicts of interest due to her connections with WEC Energy Group , a large Midwest energy firm that owns a 60 % interest in the American Transmission Company , or ATC , a private energy company headquartered in Pewaukee , Wisconsin , and one of the transmission companies attached to the project .
Valcq was regulatory counsel for We Energies for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ utility company with nationwide firm Quarles & Brady before being appointed to the PSC in 2019 .
Huebsch had conflicts of interest as a member of the advisory committee of the Midcontinent Independent System Operator , another private entity owned by public utilities and transmission companies involved with the Cardinal-Hickory Creek line .
The three private entities awarded permits for the corridor—ATC , ITC Midwest and Dairyland Power Cooperative—were denied an opportunity to intervene in the environmentalists ’ lawsuit in February by U.S. District Judge William Conley , who presided over Monday ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their interests were well represented by the PSC and that allowing each of them to intervene would delay , complicate and prejudice the litigation moving forward .
The Chicago-based Seventh Circuit reversed Conley ’ s decision in August , finding that the transmission companies could not be excluded from the case because their interests may not be adequately represented by the PSC .
Monday ’ s hearing tackled the PSC and intervening transmission companies ’ motions to dismiss the environmental groups ’ lawsuit , which wants the PSC ’ s approval for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ due process violations and for the court to enjoin the acquisition of private land for the corridor via eminent domain .
On the topic of the taking of lands for the project , Conley pressed the environmental groups to refute the notion that the commissioners approved the project and therefore the taking of private lands on the basis that it is beneficial to the public good , saying “ I don ’ t know how I don ’ t find [ the corridor ] related to a conceivable public purpose.
” Howard Learner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Environmental Law & Policy Center ’ s Chicago branch , argued that “ the commission did find there were public benefits but that isn ’ t the end of the story , ” pointing to the millions or potentially billions of dollars raked in by the transmission companies as outweighing the comparatively modest amount of public benefit from the corridor , particularly since the power lines are not necessary to keep the lights on in small-town Wisconsin .
PSC attorney Christianne Whiting resisted such a qualification of the public benefit of the corridor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there is not public use , they just don ’ t like the public use , ” Whiting said .
Brian Potts , an attorney for ATC with the Madison office of international firm Perkins Coie , noted Monday that his client is not actually going to use the transmission line and is only building it for a rate of return over the next 40 years , comparing the situation to entities that build and operate highways for public use .
Learner nevertheless argued that the Fifth Amendment property-taking issues are still relevant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a privately owned transmission line moving electrons by private parties and you look at public benefits and private , if the private is disproportionate to the public…then that raises the Fifth Amendment problem , ” Learner said .
At the outset of discussion on the due process claims implying the commissioners ’ bias , Conley told the plaintiffs that “ I know you ’ ve got smoke ” in the form of long-term relationships between Valcq and Huebsch and the transmission companies , but was skeptical of any provable , substantial monetary return @ @ @ @ @ @ @ influenced their approval of the corridor .
Stephen Hurley , a partner with Madison-based firm Hurley , Burish & Stanton speaking on behalf of the environmental groups , reminded the court that the groups only needed to prove the appearance of and potential for impartiality or bias , not direct pecuniary interest , arguing that both commissioners should have recused themselves from the corridor approval process due to possible conflicts of interest .
When the transmission companies ’ attorneys questioned what direct interest the commissioners would have had in approving the corridor project @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re concerned about is the possible temptation not to be fair , ” which was triggered by Valcq spending almost her entire career advocating for an entity that owns a majority of one of the applicants on the project and Huebsch essentially advising one of the intervening energy concerns during the application process .
Conley still wondered whether those past professional connections were sufficient to prove enough bias to void the PSC ’ s decision , comparing the situation to a court having judges on the bench who are formerly members of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to stay discovery in the environmentalists ’ lawsuit , but Conley said near the close of Monday ’ s 100-minute arguments that he is not inclined to grant them such a stay .
The Barack Obama appointee did not offer a timeline for his decision on the motions to dismiss on Monday , but said he will endeavor to get a decision out quickly and set an amended schedule for summary judgment hearings and a trial .

Issues surrounding a multistate power line corridor approved by a Wisconsin public service agency were argued in Madison federal court Monday by parties ranging from the agency to the transmission companies building the corridor and environmental advocates fighting its construction.
MADISON, Wis. (CN) — Issues surrounding a multistate power line corridor approved by a Wisconsin public service agency were argued in Madison federal court Monday by parties ranging from the agency to the transmission companies building the corridor and environmental advocates fighting its construction.
The Driftless Area Land Conservancy and Wisconsin Wildlife Federation sued the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin and three of its commissioners last December over the PSC’s approval of a 345 kilovolt, 17-story-high transmission line that will run more than 100 miles through Wisconsin, cutting through several protected wildlife refuges.
Construction of the $492 million Cardinal-Hickory Creek transmission line would also entail the condemnation and taking of private property in rural Dane, Grant and Iowa counties in the Badger State. The counties are in what is known as the Driftless Area, a rugged swath of forested ridges unaffected by glaciation that once spread across parts of Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and Illinois.
The environmental groups’ lawsuit condemns the PSC for failing to force two of its commissioners to recuse themselves from the approval process due to entanglements with the private transmission entities pushing for the project, which the plaintiffs say will cost Midwest ratepayers more than $2.2 billion over the next 40 years and could have catastrophic environmental impacts.
The two PSC commissioners particularly at issue in the lawsuit are current commissioner Rebecca Valcq and Michael Huebsch, a former state lawmaker who served 16 years in the Wisconsin Assembly as a Republican and resigned from the PSC in January. Huebsch also served as secretary of Wisconsin’s Department of Administration under former Governor Scott Walker, a Republican.
Valcq, the environmentalists say, had conflicts of interest due to her connections with WEC Energy Group, a large Midwest energy firm that owns a 60% interest in the American Transmission Company, or ATC, a private energy company headquartered in Pewaukee, Wisconsin, and one of the transmission companies attached to the project. Valcq was regulatory counsel for We Energies for nearly 15 years, then represented the utility company with nationwide firm Quarles & Brady before being appointed to the PSC in 2019.
Those bringing the lawsuit say Huebsch had conflicts as a member of the advisory committee of the Midcontinent Independent System Operator, a nonprofit grid operator partnered with public utilities and transmission companies involved with the Cardinal-Hickory Creek line.
The three private entities awarded permits for the corridor—ATC, ITC Midwest and Dairyland Power Cooperative—were denied an opportunity to intervene in the environmentalists’ lawsuit in February by U.S. District Judge William Conley, who presided over Monday’s arguments, on the basis that their interests were well represented by the PSC and that allowing each of them to intervene would delay, complicate and prejudice the litigation moving forward.
The Chicago-based Seventh Circuit reversed Conley’s decision in August, finding that the transmission companies could not be excluded from the case because their interests may not be adequately represented by the PSC.
Monday’s hearing tackled the PSC and intervening transmission companies’ motions to dismiss the environmental groups’ lawsuit, which wants the PSC’s approval for the corridor voided based on the commissioners’ due process violations and for the court to enjoin the acquisition of private land for the corridor via eminent domain.
On the topic of the taking of lands for the project, Conley pressed the environmental groups to refute the notion that the commissioners approved the project and therefore the taking of private lands on the basis that it is beneficial to the public good, saying “I don’t know how I don’t find [the corridor] related to a conceivable public purpose.”
Howard Learner, the environmentalists’ counsel with the Environmental Law & Policy Center’s Chicago branch, argued that “the commission did find there were public benefits but that isn’t the end of the story,” pointing to the millions or potentially billions of dollars raked in by the transmission companies as outweighing the comparatively modest amount of public benefit from the corridor, particularly since the power lines are not necessary to keep the lights on in small-town Wisconsin.
PSC attorney Christianne Whiting resisted such a qualification of the public benefit of the corridor.
“The complaint never says that there is not public use, they just don’t like the public use,” Whiting said.
Brian Potts, an attorney for ATC with the Madison office of international firm Perkins Coie, noted Monday that his client is not actually going to use the transmission line and is only building it for a rate of return over the next 40 years, comparing the situation to entities that build and operate highways for public use.
Learner nevertheless argued that the Fifth Amendment property-taking issues are still relevant.
“When you are dealing with a privately owned transmission line moving electrons by private parties and you look at public benefits and private, if the private is disproportionate to the public…then that raises the Fifth Amendment problem,” Learner said.
At the outset of discussion on the due process claims implying the commissioners’ bias, Conley told the plaintiffs that “I know you’ve got smoke” in the form of long-term relationships between Valcq and Huebsch and the transmission companies, but was skeptical of any provable, substantial monetary return to the two commissioners that would have influenced their approval of the corridor.
Stephen Hurley, a partner with Madison-based firm Hurley, Burish & Stanton speaking on behalf of the environmental groups, reminded the court that the groups only needed to prove the appearance of and potential for impartiality or bias, not direct pecuniary interest, arguing that both commissioners should have recused themselves from the corridor approval process due to possible conflicts of interest.
When the transmission companies’ attorneys questioned what direct interest the commissioners would have had in approving the corridor project, Hurley said “what we’re concerned about is the possible temptation not to be fair,” which was triggered by Valcq spending almost her entire career advocating for an entity that owns a majority of one of the applicants on the project and Huebsch essentially advising one of the intervening energy concerns during the application process.
Conley still wondered whether those past professional connections were sufficient to prove enough bias to void the PSC’s decision, comparing the situation to a court having judges on the bench who are formerly members of the Federalist Society.
The defendants have attempted to stay discovery in the environmentalists’ lawsuit, but Conley said near the close of Monday’s 100-minute arguments that he is not inclined to grant them such a stay.
The Barack Obama appointee did not offer a timeline for his decision on the motions to dismiss on Monday, but said he will endeavor to get a decision out quickly and set an amended schedule for summary judgment hearings and a trial.


courthousenews--2020-11-09--States Say Trump Let Energy-Efficiency Standards Get Way Out of Date

MANHATTAN ( CN ) — Counting dozens of outdated energy efficiency standards , 14 states plus New York City and Washington , D.C. , accused the U.S. Department of Energy in a federal complaint Monday of frustrating their efforts to realize their climate change policy goals .
The complaint flags some 25 of the 60 appliance categories that the agency oversees , saying the trend has continued through every year of the Trump administration .
Those categories cover home appliances like microwaves , dishwashers , air conditioners , and washers and dryers , as well as commercial refrigerators , freezers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New York City and the District of Columbia , the 58-page complaint filed Monday in New York ’ s Southern District is led by the states New York , California , Colorado , Connecticut , Illinois , Maine , Maryland , Massachusetts , Minnesota , New Jersey , Oregon , Vermont and Washington .
Just over a week earlier , environmental groups including the Natural Resources Defense Council and Sierra Club brought identical claims in the same district .
New York Attorney General Letitia James said Monday that the government ’ s failure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to emit harmful air pollutants , some of which contribute to climate change .
“ This lawsuit seeks to enforce the law and compel prompt action to strengthen these critically important and impactful energy-saving measures , ” James said in a statement .
“ My office will continue to force the Trump administration to fully meet its legal responsibilities to protect the health , environment , and well-being of all Americans.
” Expending unnecessary energy costs consumers billions of dollars , the complaint argues .
The DOE itself has estimated that , by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adopted through 2016 will save a year ’ s worth of energy use and slash consumer utility bills by $ 2 trillion .
The advocates who filed the October suit meanwhile noted that low-income communities suffer the most from regulatory delays in this sector , as they pay a greater percentage of their earnings toward energy .
“ This is needlessly costing people billions of dollars , including low-income households already suffering a high energy burden , while significantly increasing the carbon and other pollution dirtying our air , ” said Noah Horowitz @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Energy Efficiency Standards , in a statement .
“ We won ’ t let this stand.
” The Energy Policy and Conservation Act sets initial minimum energy efficiency standards for more than 60 types of appliances .
Together , those categories account for about 90 % of home energy use , 60 % of commercial building energy use , and 30 % of energy used in industry , according to the complaint .
Saying that energy officials have a statutory duty to periodically update efficiency guidelines , the states say that reviews @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of establishing standards for a consumer product .
Among other factors , regulators are supposed to weigh the latest technological possibilities against what products are affordable for households and businesses .
Years have passed without a review in many of the categories , according to the complaint , which says that an update on water heaters was due in 2016 .
Meeting the government ’ s own statutory deadlines and updating standards would save more than $ 580 billion in energy costs , and significantly reduce emissions of carbon dioxide , an important @ @ @ @ @ @ @ argue .
Monday ’ s lawsuit follows an intent-to-sue letter mailed three months ago to DOE Secretary Dan Brouillette .
“ For the better part of four years , the Trump administration has utilized a playbook of delay and deception to block energy efficiency standards that make household appliances like refrigerators and washing machines cheaper to run , ” California Attorney General Xavier Becerra said in a statement .
“ The Trump administration is required by law to strengthen these standards — it shouldn ’ t need to be forced to do what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” And while the administration of President-elect Joe Biden will soon take the reins , environmental advocates say that filing these suits now is important , no matter who holds the office of president .
“ The Trump administration ’ s abject failures on energy efficiency policy do not disappear when President-elect Biden is sworn in , ” said attorney Jared Knicley with the Natural Resources Defense Council .
“ The consumer , economic , and environmental benefits of updated standards will not be realized until the Biden Department of Energy completes those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make sure that happens as soon as possible .
”

Counting dozens of outdated energy efficiency standards, 14 states plus New York City and Washington, D.C., accused the U.S. Department of Energy in a federal complaint Monday of frustrating their efforts to realize their climate change policy goals.
MANHATTAN (CN) — Counting dozens of outdated energy efficiency standards, 14 states plus New York City and Washington, D.C., accused the U.S. Department of Energy in a federal complaint Monday of frustrating their efforts to realize their climate change policy goals.
The complaint flags some 25 of the 60 appliance categories that the agency oversees, saying the trend has continued through every year of the Trump administration.
Those categories cover home appliances like microwaves, dishwashers, air conditioners, and washers and dryers, as well as commercial refrigerators, freezers and water heaters.
In addition to New York City and the District of Columbia, the 58-page complaint filed Monday in New York’s Southern District is led by the states New York, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, Oregon, Vermont and Washington.
Just over a week earlier, environmental groups including the Natural Resources Defense Council and Sierra Club brought identical claims in the same district.
New York Attorney General Letitia James said Monday that the government’s failure to update energy standards means appliances continue to emit harmful air pollutants, some of which contribute to climate change.
“This lawsuit seeks to enforce the law and compel prompt action to strengthen these critically important and impactful energy-saving measures,” James said in a statement. “My office will continue to force the Trump administration to fully meet its legal responsibilities to protect the health, environment, and well-being of all Americans.”
Expending unnecessary energy costs consumers billions of dollars, the complaint argues. The DOE itself has estimated that, by the year 2030, energy efficiency standards adopted through 2016 will save a year’s worth of energy use and slash consumer utility bills by $2 trillion.
The advocates who filed the October suit meanwhile noted that low-income communities suffer the most from regulatory delays in this sector, as they pay a greater percentage of their earnings toward energy.
“This is needlessly costing people billions of dollars, including low-income households already suffering a high energy burden, while significantly increasing the carbon and other pollution dirtying our air,” said Noah Horowitz, director of NRDC’s Center for Energy Efficiency Standards, in a statement. “We won’t let this stand.”
The Energy Policy and Conservation Act sets initial minimum energy efficiency standards for more than 60 types of appliances. Together, those categories account for about 90% of home energy use, 60% of commercial building energy use, and 30% of energy used in industry, according to the complaint.
Saying that energy officials have a statutory duty to periodically update efficiency guidelines, the states say that reviews are supposed to happen within six years of establishing standards for a consumer product.
Among other factors, regulators are supposed to weigh the latest technological possibilities against what products are affordable for households and businesses.
Years have passed without a review in many of the categories, according to the complaint, which says that an update on water heaters was due in 2016.
Meeting the government’s own statutory deadlines and updating standards would save more than $580 billion in energy costs, and significantly reduce emissions of carbon dioxide, an important force driving climate change, the states argue.
Monday’s lawsuit follows an intent-to-sue letter mailed three months ago to DOE Secretary Dan Brouillette.
“For the better part of four years, the Trump administration has utilized a playbook of delay and deception to block energy efficiency standards that make household appliances like refrigerators and washing machines cheaper to run,” California Attorney General Xavier Becerra said in a statement. “The Trump administration is required by law to strengthen these standards — it shouldn’t need to be forced to do what’s best for the American people.”
And while the administration of President-elect Joe Biden will soon take the reins, environmental advocates say that filing these suits now is important, no matter who holds the office of president.
“The Trump administration’s abject failures on energy efficiency policy do not disappear when President-elect Biden is sworn in,” said attorney Jared Knicley with the Natural Resources Defense Council. “The consumer, economic, and environmental benefits of updated standards will not be realized until the Biden Department of Energy completes those updates. Our lawsuit still intends to make sure that happens as soon as possible.”


Jail Medical Care

LOS ANGELES — A federal court in California dismissed , with leave to amend , a man ’ s suit @ @ @ @ @ to the jail ’ s failure to provide him prescribed treatment for his eye injury @ @ @ @ @ jail ’ s actions resulted in his blindness .

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.


Sign Language Interpretation

TAMPA , Fla. — A federal court in Florida dismissed part of a a suit brought by a deaf mother @ @ @ @ @ the police department and state attorney alleging they failed to provide her a sign language @ @ @ @ @ , meetings and services relating to her daughter ’ s killing .
The woman ’ @ @ @ @ @ , was killed by the “ Seminole Heights Killer .
”


Gun Shirts

MILWAUKEE — Two Wisconsin middle schoolers can continue with their First Amendment claims against their school , which would not @ @ @ @ @ with images of firearms and pro-gun rights text , a federal court in Wisconsin ruled @ @ @ @ @ “ plausibly ” amounts to constitutionally protected speech .


Curriculum Kerfuffle

CHARLOTTE , N.C. — A federal court in North Carolina denied parents ’ request for a restraining order to prevent @ @ @ @ @ from including the novel “ The Poet X ” in its ninth grade language arts @ @ @ @ @ the book promotes hostility towards Catholicism .
Questioning traditional religion is one of the topics @ @ @ @ @ yet the same might be said of celebrated authors such as Chaucer , Voltaire , @ @ @ @ @ Sinclair Lewis , ” the court wrote .


Gym Shooting

LOS ANGELES — A federal court in California denied a Los Angeles police officer ’ s motion for summary judgment @ @ @ @ @ alleging unreasonable use of deadly force during an altercation in a gym locker room that @ @ @ @ @ a man multiple times .
There ’ s a genuine question as to whether the @ @ @ @ @ justify such a response .


courthousenews--2020-11-10--Barr Tells DOJ to Probe Election Fraud Claims if They Exist

WASHINGTON ( AP ) — Attorney General William Barr has authorized federal prosecutors across the U.S. to pursue “ substantial allegations ” of voting irregularities , if they exist , before the 2020 presidential election is certified , despite no evidence of widespread fraud .
Barr ’ s action comes days after Democrat Joe Biden defeated President Donald Trump and raises the prospect that Trump will use the Justice Department to try to challenge the outcome .
It gives prosecutors the ability to go around longstanding Justice Department policy that normally would prohibit such overt actions before the election is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election and is instead claiming without evidence that there has been a widespread , multi-state conspiracy by Democrats to skew the vote tally in Biden ’ s favor .
Biden holds a sizable lead in multiple battleground states and there has been no indication of enough improperly counted or illegally cast votes that would shift the outcome .
In fact , election officials from both political parties have publicly stated the election went well , though there have been minor issues that are typical in elections , including voting machines breaking and ballots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a memo to U.S. attorneys , obtained by The Associated Press , Barr wrote that investigations “ may be conducted if there are clear and apparently-credible allegations of irregularities that , if true , could potentially impact the outcome of a federal election in an individual State.
” He said any allegations that would “ clearly not impact the outcome of a federal election ” should be delayed until after those elections are certified and prosecutors should likely open so-called preliminary inquiries , which would allow investigators and prosecutors to see if there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take further investigative measures .
Barr does not identify any specific instances of purported fraud in the memo .
“ While it is imperative that credible allegations be addressed in a timely and effective manner , it is equally imperative that Department personnel exercise appropriate caution and maintain the Department ’ s absolute commitment to fairness , neutrality and non-partisanship , ” Barr wrote .
States have until Dec. 8 to resolve election disputes , including recounts and court contests over the results .
Members of the Electoral College meet Dec. 14 to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Justice Department ’ s top prosecutor for election crimes , Richard Pilger , said he would step down from that post in response to the attorney general ’ s memo , according to an email he sent to colleagues and obtained by the AP .
He is still expected to remain as an attorney within the Justice Department ’ s criminal division .
Barr , a loyal ally of President Donald Trump , helped broadcast Trump ’ s claims of voter fraud before the election , attacking mail-in voting as prone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ multiple studies debunking the notion of pervasive voter fraud in general and in the vote-by-mail process .
Generally , Justice Department policy is “ not to conduct overt investigations , including interviews with individual voters , until after the outcome of the election allegedly affected by the fraud is certified.
” But Barr argues in the memo that concerns such acts could inadvertently impact an election are minimized once voting has concluded and that , in some cases , investigations could not be delayed until the election is certified .
A Justice Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Trump , anyone else at the White House or any lawmakers to issue the memo .
The official could not discuss the matter publicly and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity .
Barr was in Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ’ s office on Capitol Hill on Monday afternoon and refused to answer questions from reporters when he left .
Earlier Monday , McConnell threw his support behind Trump after a period of post-election silence .
Biden campaign attorney Bob Bauer said in a statement that it is “ deeply @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issue a memorandum that will only fuel the ‘ specious , speculative , fanciful or far-fetched claims ’ he professes to guard against.
” “ Those are the very kind of claims that the president and his lawyers are making unsuccessfully every day , as their lawsuits are laughed out of one court after another , ” Bauer said .
“ But , in the end , American democracy is stronger than any clumsy and cynical partisan political scheme .
”

Attorney General William Barr has authorized federal prosecutors across the U.S. to pursue “substantial allegations” of voting irregularities, if they exist, before the 2020 presidential election is certified, despite no evidence of widespread fraud.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Attorney General William Barr has authorized federal prosecutors across the U.S. to pursue “substantial allegations” of voting irregularities, if they exist, before the 2020 presidential election is certified, despite no evidence of widespread fraud.
Barr’s action comes days after Democrat Joe Biden defeated President Donald Trump and raises the prospect that Trump will use the Justice Department to try to challenge the outcome. It gives prosecutors the ability to go around longstanding Justice Department policy that normally would prohibit such overt actions before the election is certified.
Trump has not conceded the election and is instead claiming without evidence that there has been a widespread, multi-state conspiracy by Democrats to skew the vote tally in Biden’s favor.
Biden holds a sizable lead in multiple battleground states and there has been no indication of enough improperly counted or illegally cast votes that would shift the outcome. In fact, election officials from both political parties have publicly stated the election went well, though there have been minor issues that are typical in elections, including voting machines breaking and ballots that were miscast and lost.
In a memo to U.S. attorneys, obtained by The Associated Press, Barr wrote that investigations “may be conducted if there are clear and apparently-credible allegations of irregularities that, if true, could potentially impact the outcome of a federal election in an individual State.”
He said any allegations that would “clearly not impact the outcome of a federal election” should be delayed until after those elections are certified and prosecutors should likely open so-called preliminary inquiries, which would allow investigators and prosecutors to see if there is evidence that would allow them to take further investigative measures.
Barr does not identify any specific instances of purported fraud in the memo.
“While it is imperative that credible allegations be addressed in a timely and effective manner, it is equally imperative that Department personnel exercise appropriate caution and maintain the Department’s absolute commitment to fairness, neutrality and non-partisanship,” Barr wrote.
States have until Dec. 8 to resolve election disputes, including recounts and court contests over the results. Members of the Electoral College meet Dec. 14 to finalize the outcome.
On Monday night, the Justice Department’s top prosecutor for election crimes, Richard Pilger, said he would step down from that post in response to the attorney general’s memo, according to an email he sent to colleagues and obtained by the AP. He is still expected to remain as an attorney within the Justice Department’s criminal division.
Barr, a loyal ally of President Donald Trump, helped broadcast Trump’s claims of voter fraud before the election, attacking mail-in voting as prone to undue influence and coercion, despite multiple studies debunking the notion of pervasive voter fraud in general and in the vote-by-mail process.
Generally, Justice Department policy is “not to conduct overt investigations, including interviews with individual voters, until after the outcome of the election allegedly affected by the fraud is certified.”
But Barr argues in the memo that concerns such acts could inadvertently impact an election are minimized once voting has concluded and that, in some cases, investigations could not be delayed until the election is certified.
A Justice Department official said Barr had not been asked by Trump, anyone else at the White House or any lawmakers to issue the memo. The official could not discuss the matter publicly and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.
Barr was in Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s office on Capitol Hill on Monday afternoon and refused to answer questions from reporters when he left. Earlier Monday, McConnell threw his support behind Trump after a period of post-election silence.
Biden campaign attorney Bob Bauer said in a statement that it is “deeply unfortunate that Attorney General Barr chose to issue a memorandum that will only fuel the ‘specious, speculative, fanciful or far-fetched claims’ he professes to guard against.”
“Those are the very kind of claims that the president and his lawyers are making unsuccessfully every day, as their lawsuits are laughed out of one court after another,” Bauer said. “But, in the end, American democracy is stronger than any clumsy and cynical partisan political scheme.”
By MICHAEL BALSAMO Associated Press


courthousenews--2020-11-10--LA County Health Officials Lay Out Road Map for Reopening Schools

LOS ANGELES ( CN ) — The Covid-19 pandemic forced students into virtual classrooms at breakneck speeds but Los Angeles County health officials reported Monday that 32,000 children under the age of 18 caught the virus anyway .
This sobering figure was relayed during a virtual town hall as health officials discussed how classrooms would be different when schools reopen in LA County .
Children will have to wear masks , keep far away from their classmates and refrain from touching just any toy laying on the floor , the officials said .
“ Children are very good at understanding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them why , ” said LA County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer .
“ We all do a lot of better when we ’ re told why it ’ s so important .
That ’ s one thing we ’ d like parents to help us with.
” Parents will need to relay to their children why their classrooms are so much smaller , why they will need to wear their masks all day except for lunch time and why students will need to avoid playing with children outside of their designated groups @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restrictive tier under the state ’ s health grading system and the county saw a surge in cases in the first week of November .
Since the onset of the pandemic , LA County has reported over 320,000 cases .
Statewide health guidelines break down re-openings by each county .
Since LA County is in the most restrictive tier , schools can not yet fully reopen .
But over 1,500 schools in LA County have either reopened or are reopening for a limited number of students .
Students are already in their school @ @ @ @ @ @ @ therapies , assessments and some lessons .
Around 75,000 students in the county are receiving some limited in-person classroom instruction and 210 schools in the county have applied with the county ’ s health department for waivers to open for in-person learning for transitional kindergarten to second grade classes .
Waiver applications are evaluated and approved by county health officials to create a safe environment to ensure that students are going back to a safe setting .
“ As many of you know , the people in your school community do not necessarily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ferrer .
She added that a student sports team went against the county health order and traveled to Arizona to play a baseball game in a trip not approved by the school .
When those students returned to LA County , nine confirmed cases were reported at their school .
“ All it took was one baseball team to go to Arizona … and it ’ s really setting us back in that school , ” Ferrer said .
Health officials were peppered with questions by parents and what-if scenarios during the virtual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ student gets the flu ?
Will students and teachers need to provide a negative test result if they test positive to return to school ?
Will students be forced to go back to school when in-person lessons resume ?
Superintendent Debra Duardo with the regional education agency LA County Office of Education ( LACOE ) said parents will have options .
“ Schools will be offering some form of continued distance learning , ” said Duardo .
That might be some relief to parents who are afraid of sending their children back to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ LA .
The largest school district in the county serves about 600,000 students and LACOE provides resources to 80 school districts and serves roughly 2 million students .
Students will need to stay home for 10 days if they test positive , Dr .
Dawn Terashita said .
They can return to school if their fever and symptoms go away but even if someone tests positive and doesn ’ t show any symptoms , they still have to stay home for the full 10 days .
“ Testing will never protect us entirely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
She cited outbreaks at the White House and among the LA Dodgers , which occurred despite daily tests .
Face masks , washing hands and social distancing are still going to be the go-tos to slow the spread of the virus .
“ We learnt , especially after that huge surge in July where we saw 3,000 cases in a day , that every single one of us has steps we can take that actually lower the rate of transmission , ” Ferrer said .
“ We know what we need to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials said parents should keep their kids at home if they experience flu-like symptoms .
On the off-chance a student with such symptoms makes it through the screening process at their school ’ s entrance , Ferrer said , all the students and teachers in that classroom would be sent home until it is determined if the student has the flu or Covid-19 .
“ This is not the time to give your child some Tylenol or Advil in the morning in the morning and send them off to school , ” Ferrer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ please leave them home so they can fully recover.
” Terashita said that a child who tests negative for Covid-19 will still have to stay home for 72 hours after that test .

The Covid-19 pandemic forced students into virtual classrooms at breakneck speeds but Los Angeles County health officials reported Monday that 32,000 children under the age of 18 caught the virus anyway.
LOS ANGELES (CN) — The Covid-19 pandemic forced students into virtual classrooms at breakneck speeds but Los Angeles County health officials reported Monday that 32,000 children under the age of 18 caught the virus anyway.
This sobering figure was relayed during a virtual town hall as health officials discussed how classrooms would be different when schools reopen in LA County.
Children will have to wear masks, keep far away from their classmates and refrain from touching just any toy laying on the floor, the officials said.
“Children are very good at understanding if we give them time and tell them why,” said LA County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer. “We all do a lot of better when we’re told why it’s so important. That’s one thing we’d like parents to help us with.”
Parents will need to relay to their children why their classrooms are so much smaller, why they will need to wear their masks all day except for lunch time and why students will need to avoid playing with children outside of their designated groups.
LA County is in the most restrictive tier under the state’s health grading system and the county saw a surge in cases in the first week of November. Since the onset of the pandemic, LA County has reported over 320,000 cases. Statewide health guidelines break down re-openings by each county. Since LA County is in the most restrictive tier, schools cannot yet fully reopen.
But over 1,500 schools in LA County have either reopened or are reopening for a limited number of students. Students are already in their school buildings for special services, like one-on-one therapies, assessments and some lessons.
Around 75,000 students in the county are receiving some limited in-person classroom instruction and 210 schools in the county have applied with the county’s health department for waivers to open for in-person learning for transitional kindergarten to second grade classes.
Waiver applications are evaluated and approved by county health officials to create a safe environment to ensure that students are going back to a safe setting.
“As many of you know, the people in your school community do not necessarily live in the neighborhood,” said Ferrer.
She added that a student sports team went against the county health order and traveled to Arizona to play a baseball game in a trip not approved by the school. When those students returned to LA County, nine confirmed cases were reported at their school.
“All it took was one baseball team to go to Arizona … and it’s really setting us back in that school,” Ferrer said.
Health officials were peppered with questions by parents and what-if scenarios during the virtual town hall Monday. What if a student gets the flu? Will students and teachers need to provide a negative test result if they test positive to return to school? Will students be forced to go back to school when in-person lessons resume?
Superintendent Debra Duardo with the regional education agency LA County Office of Education (LACOE) said parents will have options.
“Schools will be offering some form of continued distance learning,” said Duardo.
That might be some relief to parents who are afraid of sending their children back to school in a county as large as LA. The largest school district in the county serves about 600,000 students and LACOE provides resources to 80 school districts and serves roughly 2 million students.
Students will need to stay home for 10 days if they test positive, Dr. Dawn Terashita said. They can return to school if their fever and symptoms go away but even if someone tests positive and doesn’t show any symptoms, they still have to stay home for the full 10 days.
“Testing will never protect us entirely from the virus,” Ferrer said. She cited outbreaks at the White House and among the LA Dodgers, which occurred despite daily tests.
Face masks, washing hands and social distancing are still going to be the go-tos to slow the spread of the virus.
“We learnt, especially after that huge surge in July where we saw 3,000 cases in a day, that every single one of us has steps we can take that actually lower the rate of transmission,” Ferrer said. “We know what we need to do to protect each other.”
Health officials said parents should keep their kids at home if they experience flu-like symptoms. On the off-chance a student with such symptoms makes it through the screening process at their school’s entrance, Ferrer said, all the students and teachers in that classroom would be sent home until it is determined if the student has the flu or Covid-19.
“This is not the time to give your child some Tylenol or Advil in the morning in the morning and send them off to school,” Ferrer said. “Please, please, please leave them home so they can fully recover.”
Terashita said that a child who tests negative for Covid-19 will still have to stay home for 72 hours after that test.


courthousenews--2020-11-10--Columbus, Dayton Sue Ohio AG Over ‘Broken’ Background Check System

COLUMBUS , Ohio — Two of Ohio ’ s largest cities claim in a suit against a division of the state attorney general ’ s office that it failed to report criminal conviction information into state and federal background check databases , leaving them “ dangerously deficient.
” Ohio ’ s capital city , Columbus , the city of Dayton , and a volunteer with Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense claim in their suit against Republican Attorney General Dave Yost ’ s office and Ohio ’ s Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation that the bureau ’ s failure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could have deadly consequences .
If the databases are incomplete , the plaintiffs say , so are the background checks run by gun shops , which means a gun could end up in the hands of someone with a disqualifying conviction .
The complaint , filed in Franklin County court Monday , cites news and government reports that found that a minimum of 27 % of Ohio felony convictions in 2015 were not reported to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System .
Between 2015 to 2018 , at least 90 courts had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any crimes that would prohibit someone from owning a gun , according to a Cincinnati Enquirer investigation referenced in the complaint .
Despite the reports and a working group ordered by then-Governor John Kasich to study the issue , the problems continued .
In 2019 , according to the complaint , the Ohio state auditor sent a letter to the governor , the state ’ s Supreme Court and the legislature declaring the state ’ s background check reporting system broken and in need of immediate attention .
The result of the unreported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ massive gaps in the national background check system and Ohio ’ s own database , which is used for concealed-carry permits .
Clerks of court across the state are required by state law to send a weekly summary of each case involving a felony , but the complaint said that only a portion of that data ever makes the full trip to the database .
Some of it is never entered by court clerks , the plaintiffs said , while other information has been lost through technological snafus .
The complaint alleges the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clerks , rather than obtaining information on qualifying crimes “ from wherever procurable.
” Gaps in the state database may have become public knowledge after local news reports exposed them in 2015 , the complaint said , but bureau employees described it as a “ widespread issue ” as early as 2012 .
The bureau launched a project that was supposed to fix a part of the problem , according to the complaint , but it was canceled in 2014 .
A working group formed in 2013 to evaluate the issue advised that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for submitting data on changes to firearm eligibility to state and federal databases .
According to the complaint , deficiencies in the system reduce the efficacy of background checks conducted on would-be gun purchasers and concealed-carry permit holders , and also affect pre-employment and pre-license background checks for teachers , police officers , firefighters , child care providers and foster parents .
The plaintiffs cited examples ranging from a rape committed by a home health care worker with a prior felony assault conviction and an Ohio State University employee ’ s murder of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possible by faulty background checks .
The plaintiffs are asking for declaratory and injunctive relief , or a writ of mandamus , finding that the bureau is “ in default of its obligations ” and directing the bureau and its superintendent to “ promptly fulfill their mandatory , nondiscretionary legal obligations to procure disqualifying criminal history and other relevant information pertaining to all persons convicted of relevant crimes.
” The complaint noted that gun sales have “ skyrocketed ” since the Covid-19 pandemic hit America in late February .
Between March and September @ @ @ @ @ @ @ background checks were conducted of would-be firearms purchases in Ohio , which is a 70 % increase from the same period last year , the plaintiffs say .
“ The country has seen a spike in violence , and Columbus has not been immune , ” Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther said in a press statement released by Moms Demand Action .
“ We should all be deeply concerned that background checks may be failing to keep firearms out of the hands of violent offenders , putting our residents in a dangerous position.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same press statement that citizens have been “ falsely lulled into feeling secure with Ohio ’ s and the federal background check system.
” “ Victims of domestic violence , schools and local employers rely on these systems to be accurate and to keep dangerous individuals unarmed and out of certain situations , ” Klein said .
“ The system is failing our residents — particularly those who are most at-risk .
Republicans and Democrats have all acknowledged our broken system , but those in charge have failed to do anything about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us to step in and try to make this right for everyone ’ s safety and security.
” Bethany McCorkle , Yost ’ s communication director , said the attorney general ’ s office was investing millions of dollars to improve the system and is working to try to fix the problem .
“ BCI is working with the court system and law enforcement agencies to ensure information is more quickly and accurately fed into the background check system as required .
We can not force them to provide the information .
BCI @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is faster and the information is accurately verified .
The problematic link in this chain is not BCI , as the complaint notes , ” McCorkle said in a statement .
“ This complaint has high drama , low substance , and no solutions .
The best evidence of that is how we learned of it … through a press conference , ” she added .
“ The utter lack of communication smacks of bad faith and is a poor mechanism to fix any problem .
”

Two of Ohio’s largest cities claim in a suit against a division of the state attorney general’s office that it failed to report criminal conviction information into state and federal background check databases, leaving them “dangerously deficient.”
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Two of Ohio’s largest cities claim in a suit against a division of the state attorney general’s office that it failed to report criminal conviction information into state and federal background check databases, leaving them “dangerously deficient.”
Ohio’s capital city, Columbus, the city of Dayton, and a volunteer with Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense claim in their suit against Republican Attorney General Dave Yost’s office and Ohio’s Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation that the bureau’s failure to collect and maintain criminal history data could have deadly consequences. If the databases are incomplete, the plaintiffs say, so are the background checks run by gun shops, which means a gun could end up in the hands of someone with a disqualifying conviction.
The complaint, filed in Franklin County court Monday, cites news and government reports that found that a minimum of 27% of Ohio felony convictions in 2015 were not reported to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System. Between 2015 to 2018, at least 90 courts had gone months at a time without reporting any crimes that would prohibit someone from owning a gun, according to a Cincinnati Enquirer investigation referenced in the complaint.
Despite the reports and a working group ordered by then-Governor John Kasich to study the issue, the problems continued. In 2019, according to the complaint, the Ohio state auditor sent a letter to the governor, the state’s Supreme Court and the legislature declaring the state’s background check reporting system broken and in need of immediate attention.
The result of the unreported data, the complaint said, are massive gaps in the national background check system and Ohio’s own database, which is used for concealed-carry permits.
Clerks of court across the state are required by state law to send a weekly summary of each case involving a felony, but the complaint said that only a portion of that data ever makes the full trip to the database. Some of it is never entered by court clerks, the plaintiffs said, while other information has been lost through technological snafus. The complaint alleges the bureau focused entirely on issues with court clerks, rather than obtaining information on qualifying crimes “from wherever procurable.”
Gaps in the state database may have become public knowledge after local news reports exposed them in 2015, the complaint said, but bureau employees described it as a “widespread issue” as early as 2012. The bureau launched a project that was supposed to fix a part of the problem, according to the complaint, but it was canceled in 2014. A working group formed in 2013 to evaluate the issue advised that officials provide local courts with better mechanisms for submitting data on changes to firearm eligibility to state and federal databases.
According to the complaint, deficiencies in the system reduce the efficacy of background checks conducted on would-be gun purchasers and concealed-carry permit holders, and also affect pre-employment and pre-license background checks for teachers, police officers, firefighters, child care providers and foster parents. The plaintiffs cited examples ranging from a rape committed by a home health care worker with a prior felony assault conviction and an Ohio State University employee’s murder of a colleague as examples of crimes made possible by faulty background checks.
The plaintiffs are asking for declaratory and injunctive relief, or a writ of mandamus, finding that the bureau is “in default of its obligations” and directing the bureau and its superintendent to “promptly fulfill their mandatory, nondiscretionary legal obligations to procure disqualifying criminal history and other relevant information pertaining to all persons convicted of relevant crimes.”
The complaint noted that gun sales have “skyrocketed” since the Covid-19 pandemic hit America in late February. Between March and September of this year, more than 590,000 background checks were conducted of would-be firearms purchases in Ohio, which is a 70% increase from the same period last year, the plaintiffs say.
“The country has seen a spike in violence, and Columbus has not been immune,” Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther said in a press statement released by Moms Demand Action. “We should all be deeply concerned that background checks may be failing to keep firearms out of the hands of violent offenders, putting our residents in a dangerous position.”
Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein said in the same press statement that citizens have been “falsely lulled into feeling secure with Ohio’s and the federal background check system.”
“Victims of domestic violence, schools and local employers rely on these systems to be accurate and to keep dangerous individuals unarmed and out of certain situations,” Klein said. “The system is failing our residents — particularly those who are most at-risk. Republicans and Democrats have all acknowledged our broken system, but those in charge have failed to do anything about it. It’s up to us to step in and try to make this right for everyone’s safety and security.”
Bethany McCorkle, Yost’s communication director, said the attorney general's office was investing millions of dollars to improve the system and is working to try to fix the problem.
“BCI is working with the court system and law enforcement agencies to ensure information is more quickly and accurately fed into the background check system as required. We cannot force them to provide the information. BCI is working toward having a process that is faster and the information is accurately verified. The problematic link in this chain is not BCI, as the complaint notes,” McCorkle said in a statement.
“This complaint has high drama, low substance, and no solutions. The best evidence of that is how we learned of it … through a press conference,” she added. “The utter lack of communication smacks of bad faith and is a poor mechanism to fix any problem.”


courthousenews--2020-11-10--Recreational Weed Now Legal in Arizona, but Shops Can’t Stock it Immediately

TUCSON , Ariz. ( CN ) — Cannabis users in Arizona will only have to wait a couple weeks to smoke out legally under a new law passed Nov. 3 , but they shouldn ’ t hold their breath for shops .
Those are several months away .
Proposition 207 , the Smart and Safe Arizona Act , which passed by a 60 % –40 % margin in last week ’ s election , will allow adults to travel with up to an ounce and grow six plants at home .
It will create a recreational market managed by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ penalties for illegal possession , reduce penalties for minors , and channel an estimated $ 166 million annually into public health , safety and education .
Although possession and home cultivation will be legal the day the election is certified — no later than Nov. 30 by state law — retail shops are still months away .
“ I ’ m not putting too much time into the application process yet , ” said Mohit Asnani , co-owner of Tucson ’ s Downtown Dispensary , where medical patients have been buying cannabis products @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s 123 medical shops will get first crack at recreational sales , but they won ’ t even be able to apply for licenses until January , after the Department of Health Services writes the rules .
Asnani opened Downtown in 2013 , when there were about 35,000 registered patients among the state ’ s 7.3 million residents .
Since then , the medical market has increased to 280,000 patients statewide , according to the state health department .
Adding the recreational customers won ’ t be a sea change , Asnani said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an incremental change for us , ” he said .
Although the 17-page law creates a framework for recreational sales , it doesn ’ t include many details , which will be added by DHS in coming months .
Some rules , such as building security , logging and tracking of products , and transportation , are expected to mirror the medical program .
And some of the rules — such as a 10mg per dose limit on recreational edibles — will differ from the medical program .
In addition to state rules @ @ @ @ @ @ @ create local ordinances .
Some places , like the Tucson suburb Sahuarita , where 30,000 residents live about 15 miles outside the city , have already banned new recreational shops , but the new law prevents them from banning sales at existing medical dispensaries .
Tucson has not announced a framework for recreational sales .
Ryan Hurley , attorney for commercial grower Copperstate Farms , helped write the new law , although he wasn ’ t the main author .
Hurley also helped pass the state ’ s medical law in 2010 and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I ’ ve been working pretty hard for this day for 10 years , ” he said .
Copperstate claims their 40-acre farm — a former vegetable greenhouse complex in Snowflake , Ariz. — is the largest indoor cultivation in the nation .
The 80-acre property produces about 1,000 pounds of cannabis per week for 50-60 dispensaries , Hurley said .
Copperstate is ready for expansion .
Hurley expects the cannabis market to double in the first year then eventually triple or quadruple .
Asnani , who sells Copperstate cannabis , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a medical patient in Tucson .
Although he will continue to buy medical cannabis for his back pain , because he will avoid the 16 % recreational excise tax , he supported the recreational law .
He has long supported recreational cannabis and likes that the new law takes away penalties for minor possession , which can be a felony in Arizona for any amount .
“ I ’ ve been voting for it every time , forever , ” Soto said Friday .

Cannabis users in Arizona will only have to wait a couple weeks to smoke out legally under a new law passed Nov. 3, but they shouldn’t hold their breath for shops.
TUCSON, Ariz. (CN) — Cannabis users in Arizona will only have to wait a couple weeks to smoke out legally under a new law passed Nov. 3, but they shouldn’t hold their breath for shops.
Those are several months away.
Proposition 207, the Smart and Safe Arizona Act, which passed by a 60%–40% margin in last week’s election, will allow adults to travel with up to an ounce and grow six plants at home. It will create a recreational market managed by the state Department of Health Services, revamp penalties for illegal possession, reduce penalties for minors, and channel an estimated $166 million annually into public health, safety and education.
Although possession and home cultivation will be legal the day the election is certified — no later than Nov. 30 by state law — retail shops are still months away.
“I’m not putting too much time into the application process yet,” said Mohit Asnani, co-owner of Tucson’s Downtown Dispensary, where medical patients have been buying cannabis products for seven years.
The state’s 123 medical shops will get first crack at recreational sales, but they won’t even be able to apply for licenses until January, after the Department of Health Services writes the rules.
Asnani opened Downtown in 2013, when there were about 35,000 registered patients among the state’s 7.3 million residents. Since then, the medical market has increased to 280,000 patients statewide, according to the state health department.
Adding the recreational customers won’t be a sea change, Asnani said.
“I think it will be an incremental change for us,” he said.
Although the 17-page law creates a framework for recreational sales, it doesn’t include many details, which will be added by DHS in coming months. Some rules, such as building security, logging and tracking of products, and transportation, are expected to mirror the medical program.
And some of the rules — such as a 10mg per dose limit on recreational edibles — will differ from the medical program.
In addition to state rules, cities and counties will have to create local ordinances. Some places, like the Tucson suburb Sahuarita, where 30,000 residents live about 15 miles outside the city, have already banned new recreational shops, but the new law prevents them from banning sales at existing medical dispensaries. Tucson has not announced a framework for recreational sales.
Ryan Hurley, attorney for commercial grower Copperstate Farms, helped write the new law, although he wasn’t the main author. Hurley also helped pass the state’s medical law in 2010 and worked toward a failed 2016 recreational law.
“I’ve been working pretty hard for this day for 10 years,” he said.
Copperstate claims their 40-acre farm — a former vegetable greenhouse complex in Snowflake, Ariz. — is the largest indoor cultivation in the nation. The 80-acre property produces about 1,000 pounds of cannabis per week for 50-60 dispensaries, Hurley said.
Copperstate is ready for expansion. Hurley expects the cannabis market to double in the first year then eventually triple or quadruple. Asnani, who sells Copperstate cannabis, agrees.
“I think that’s a fair assessment,” Asnani said.
Manuel Soto, 66, is a medical patient in Tucson. Although he will continue to buy medical cannabis for his back pain, because he will avoid the 16% recreational excise tax, he supported the recreational law.
He has long supported recreational cannabis and likes that the new law takes away penalties for minor possession, which can be a felony in Arizona for any amount.
“I’ve been voting for it every time, forever,” Soto said Friday.
“I think it’s long overdue.”