RandySF
RandySF's JournalBerman family officially submits bid to restore Charlotte Sting franchise
In a significant move for women's professional basketball, the Berman family has officially submitted a WNBA expansion bid to revive the Charlotte Sting. The bid represents a potential return of one of the league's original franchises to the Queen City after a nearly two-decade absence.
The bid process, comes at unprecedented growth for women's basketball.
The bid process for us started in September 2022," said potential team owner Erica Berman. "We saw the value and importance of womens sports and the trajectory of womens basketball. Our family has a deep love for the game and the sport, and we want to restore the Sting for its past, the citys present, and its future.
The initiative has garnered substantial local support, including backing from current Charlotte Hornets ownership. Majority owners Rick Schnall and Gabe Plotkin, along with minority owner Damian Mills, have joined forces with the Bermans to strengthen the bid. This collaboration signals a unified front in Charlotte's sports community.
https://www.si.com/nba/hornets/news/berman-family-officially-submits-bid-to-restore-charlotte-sting-franchise
Top 10 finalists of the Nancy Lieberman Point Guard of the Year award feat. Paige Bueckers, Hailey Van Lith and more
- Paige Bueckers (UConn Huskies)
- Olivia Miles (Notre Dame Fighting Irish)
- Hailey Van Lith (TCU Horned Frogs)
- Te-Hina Paopao (South Carolina Gamecocks)
- Rori Harmon (Texas Longhorns)
- Kiki Rice (UCLA Bruins)
- Katie Dinnebier (Drake Bulldogs)
- Harmoni Turner (Harvard Crimson)
- Serena Sundell (Kansas State Wildcats)
- Georgia Amoore (Kentucky Wildcats)
https://www.sportskeeda.com/college-basketball/news-top-10-finalists-nancy-lieberman-point-guard-year-award-feat-paige-bueckers-hailey-van-lith
US Postal Service suspends incoming parcels from China and Hong Kong
Hong Kong CNN The US Postal Service says it has temporarily suspended the acceptance of incoming international parcels from China and Hong Kong until further notice.
It did not provide a reason for the suspension, but said in a statement Tuesday the flow of letters will not be affected. The Postal Service did not provide any additional information on the suspension when contacted by CNN.
The announcement comes just days after US President Donald Trump signed an executive order that terminated the de minimis exemption, a long-standing rule that allowed anyone, including exporters, to ship packages worth less than $800 to the United States without duties or needing to undergo inspections.
The new rule is likely to affect e-commerce sites like Shein and Temu, which have built their gargantuan business models around this exemption. The relaxed restrictions and tax exemptions on cheap products have allowed more than a billion packages to pour into the US at low prices for consumers looking for deals on clothing to household goods.
https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/04/business/us-postal-service-suspends-parcels-china-intl-hnk/index.html
MS-SD18: Special election set to fill Senate seat left open by Jenifer Branning (R)
With former Republican state Sen. Jenifer Branning recently being sworn in to her new post as justice on the Mississippi Supreme Court, a special election date has been set to fill her seat at the state capitol.
Gov. Tate Reeves announced Tuesday that April 15 will be the day voters in Senate District 18 head to the polls. The district encompasses Leake, Neshoba, and Winston counties and was won by Branning three consecutive times before her campaign launch for the states highest bench.
Branning defeated incumbent Justice Jim Kitchens in a November runoff to become the only female on the Supreme Court.
https://www.supertalk.fm/special-election-set-to-fill-senate-seat-left-open-by-jenifer-branning/
Upper Darby council president will not run for re-election
Another Upper Darby council member is calling it quits.
Council President Hafiz Tunis Jr. announced Tuesday he is not running for re-election.
After much thought and consideration, I have decided not to seek re-election to Upper Darby Township Council, Tunis said in a post on social media. As my term comes to an end, I am choosing to focus on my family, professional career, and the next chapter of my life:
Tunis joins fellow Democrat Andrew Hayman and Republicans Meaghan Wagner and Brian Andruszko, to decide not to run for re-election.
https://www.delcotimes.com/2025/02/04/upper-darby-council-president-will-not-run-for-re-election/
4th Circuit Rejects Right-Wing Challenge to Maryland Election Administration
The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals today upheld the dismissal of a lawsuit challenging the Maryland State Board of Elections (MDSBE) administration of voter rolls and voting machines.
Radical right-wing groups Maryland Election Integrity and United Sovereign Americans first brought the suit in March. In their complaint, they accused the MDSBE of maintaining inaccurate voter rolls, using voting machines with higher than allowable error rates and unreviewed software code, and failing to provide requested records. The plaintiffs asked the court to halt the administration and certification of elections until all voters are provably a U.S. citizen, the tabulation of votes is provably secure and the entire election process is fully auditable.
The state moved to dismiss the lawsuit for lacking standing and failing to show how the plaintiffs were harmed. The court agreed, writing that the plaintiffs alleged only generalized grievances.
On May 15, 2024, the plaintiffs appealed the decision to the 4th Circuit. In their opinion today the three-judge panel wrote that because the plaintiffs failed to show any concrete way they were harmed or would be harmed in the future by current processes, the judges upheld the lower courts decision. Voter roll maintenance and election administration processes in Maryland will remain unchanged.
https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/right-wing-groups-appeal-maryland-election-administration-decision-to-4th-circuit/
Fourth Circuit allows North Carolina Supreme Court election dispute to stay in state court
RICHMOND, Va. (CN) A Fourth Circuit panel decided Tuesday that state court is the place for North Carolina Court of Appeals Judge Jefferson Griffins challenge to the election results for his state Supreme Court associate justice race, although that may change in the future.
In an unpublished opinion, the panel of judges remanded the case back to a Raleigh court and partially affirmed a lower federal courts decision to abstain from finding on the issues of the case.
Issues over North Carolina election law could be resolved through state court without needing to address federal constitutional issues, they said. The panel added that if the North Carolina board of elections is successful in Raleigh court where they've asked the court to deny Griffin judicial review it may not be necessary to hear arguments over federal issues.
Federal courts have discretion to refrain from resolving a case pending in federal court that involves state law claims and potential federal constitutional issues if the resolution of those unsettled questions of state law could obviate the need to address the federal issues, the panel unanimously found.
https://www.courthousenews.com/fourth-circuit-allows-north-carolina-supreme-court-election-dispute-to-stay-in-state-court/
Minnesota Republican Party launches recall election effort targeting all House Democrats boycotting the legislative sess
ST. PAUL, Minn. The Minnesota Republican Party launched a recall election effort this week targeting all House Democrats who are continuing to boycott session, which is now in its fourth week.
The Minnesota Constitution paves the way for recall elections. In a news conference Tuesday, party officials said they've already begun collecting the requisite number of signatures in half of the 66 DFL-held districts to kick-start what is a long, laborious process. They intend to launch petitions in the remaining districts so they can submit all the documents to the secretary of state's office next week.
"We were hopeful that common sense would prevail and that these lawmakers would realize the gravity of their actions and that this recall wouldn't be necessary. But here we are," said Alex Plechash, chairman of the GOP. "Minnesota is in crisis."
State law requires 25 voters to sign on to the proposed recall petition before it is submitted and the process begins. In some districts, the number of voters has far exceeded that, said Jennifer DeJournett, executive director of the party.
https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/minnesota-republican-party-recall-efforts-house-democrats/
NY-21: Democrats choose farmer Blake Gendebien for NY-21 special election
The Democratic chairs in New York's 21st Congressional District have chosen their candidate to run in the anticipated special election to replace Rep. Elise Stefanik in Congress.
The group of 15 representatives from NY-21s 15 counties unanimously chose Blake Gendebien, a dairy farmer from St. Lawrence County, as the presumptive Democratic nominee.
Thats according to a statement released on Tuesday that endorsed Gendebien, calling him an outsider to the political arena who embodies the voice and grit that distinguishes this district.
Gendebien is the owner and President of Twin Mill Farms in Lisbon, NY. He also serves as the Vice-Chairman of Agri-Mark Dairy Cooperative, which includes New York and New England.
https://www.wrvo.org/2025-02-04/democrats-choose-farmer-blake-gendebien-for-ny-21-special-election
Republicans raise questions about proposed election observer rules
Republican state lawmakers raised questions Tuesday about a 12-page rule proposal aimed at clarifying what Wisconsin election observers can and cant do at polling places.
The Wisconsin Elections Commission, which drafted the rule, says the package is needed because state law is vague on questions ranging from how close observers can stand to what documents they can look at.
Election observers are individuals who oversee voters and local officials during the election process at polling places and central count locations in large cities where absentee ballots are processed.
While conservatives at the state and national level have called for more access since President Donald Trumps 2020 loss, liberals and some local election officials have raised concerns about potential voter intimidation.
https://www.wpr.org/news/republicans-questions-proposed-election-observer-rules
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