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RandySF's JournalLawsuit seeks to block law banning LGBTQ materials, explicit books in Iowa schools
The American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa and Lambda Legal filed a lawsuit in federal court Tuesday seeking to block enforcement of parts of an Iowa law that restricts schools from teaching topics involving gender and sexuality and prohibits books involving sex acts.
The legal organizations are acting on behalf of seven Iowa students and families, as well as Iowa Safe Schools, a nonprofit group advocating for LGBTQ students. The lawsuit claims that Senate File 496 violates Iowa students’ First and 14th Amendment rights to equal protection, free speech, free association and due process, as well as leading to discrimination and higher safety risks for LGBTQ students.
Thomas Story, an ACLU of Iowa attorney, said at a news conference Tuesday that the law is a “clear violation” of students’ rights to speak, read and learn freely.
“The First Amendment does not allow our state or our schools to remove books or issue blanket bans on discussion and material simply because a group of politicians or parents find them offensive,” Story said.
https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2023/11/28/lawsuit-seeks-to-block-law-banning-lgbtq-materials-explicit-books-in-iowa-schools/
Nevada Abortion Rights Advocates Vow to Fight Ruling Against Ballot Measure
Abortion rights advocates said this week that they would appeal a decision by a Nevada judge to reject a 2024 ballot initiative to enshrine reproductive rights in the state constitution.
Carson City District Court Judge James Russell sided Tuesday with the Coalition for Parents and Children PAC, which last month filed a lawsuit claiming the ballot measure—which would guarantee the “fundamental right to reproductive freedom”—violates Nevada law by covering more than one subject. The petition mentions abortion, birth control, prenatal care, and post-partum care, which advocates note all fall under the umbrella of “reproductive freedom.”
However, Russell said that “it is clear to me this is probably the clearest case I have seen that I think there is a violation of the single-subject rule.”
“We are optimistic about the ballot initiative as a whole, and you know, we plan to appeal this.”
https://alaska-native-news.com/nevada-abortion-rights-advocates-vow-to-fight-ruling-against-ballot-measure/71082/
Official who posted 'ballot selfie' in Wisconsin has felony charge dismissed
PORT WASHINGTON, Wis. — A local official who posted a photo of his marked ballot on Facebook during the April 2022 election had felony charges against him dropped Monday.
Paul Buzzell, 52, of Mequon, had faced maximum penalties of 31/2 years behind bars and $10,000 in fines. Buzzell, a member of the Mequon-Thiensville School Board, would have also been barred from holding elected office if convicted.
Ozaukee County Judge Paul Malloy dismissed the charges against Buzzell in a hearing Monday, saying a state law prohibiting voters from showing their marked ballots to anyone else is in violation of the constitutional right to freedom of speech.
“This case was about more than just a Facebook post; it was about protecting the fundamental right to freedom of expression,” Michael Chernin, Buzzell’s attorney, said in a statement.
https://www.telegraphherald.com/ap/national/article_7bdf190e-f22e-5182-9465-ae089037c11d.html
Bavaria's premier calls for early election as budget crisis roils German politics
Bavarian Premier Markus Söder called today for an early German federal election, arguing that voters have lost faith in the country’s ruling three-party coalition following a constitutional court ruling that has plunged Germany into a budget crisis.
“The whole traffic light system [i.e. coalition] is not working,” Söder, the conservative leader of the Christian Social Union (CSU), said in a post on X, formerly Twitter. “That’s why a fundamental change is needed.” Early elections, he added, “would be the right way forward.”
Söder’s call for an early election comes as the government grapples with the political fallout of a major budgetary crisis. Earlier this month, the country’s top court ruled it had been unconstitutional to repurpose €60 billion left over from an emergency COVID-19 fund for climate projects. More broadly, the ruling also limits the government’s ability to draw from a variety of special funds created to circumvent the country’s constitutionally enshrined debt brake, which restricts the federal deficit to 0.35 percent of GDP except in times of emergency.
As the government struggles to manage the practical ramifications of the ruling, Finance Minister Christian Lindner, leader of the economically liberal Free Democrats (FDP), signaled last week that he will seek to suspend the debt brake for 2023 by retroactively declaring an emergency. On Monday, Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s cabinet approved a supplementary budget for 2023 to be submitted to the Bundestag for approval.
https://www.politico.eu/article/bavaria-premier-markus-soder-calls-for-early-election-as-budget-crisis-roils-german-politics/
Russian election hopeful wants to end Ukraine war
STORY: Yekaterina Duntsova wants to end Vladimir Putin’s reign and in turn the conflict in Ukraine.
The former regional TV journalist hopes to be Russia's next president.
"I expect that we will negotiate in the future. Any conflict, including an armed one comes to an end, sooner or later. I do wish it was over as soon as possible."
The 40-year-old announced her desire to run in next year’s elections this month.
https://news.yahoo.com/russian-election-hopeful-wants-end-163620240.html
Whitmer's special election dates labeled 'accelerated and unnecessary' by Michigan Republicans
LANSING, Mich. (FOX 2) - Special elections to fill two vacant seats in the Michigan state House have been scheduled for April 2024.
In a letter sent to the secretary of state, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer called for special primary elections and special elections in seats that include Warren in Macomb County and Westland in Wayne County.
Both seats were held by Democrats and gave them a slim majority in the chamber this term. After both won their subsequent races for mayor in the previous election held in November, it ended the party's majority. Democrats ended the legislative term a month early this year, a move decried by Republicans who claimed was about "maintaining power."
The special primary election will be held on Jan. 30, 2024 and the special election is scheduled for April 16. The final date for candidates to file to run is Nov. 27.
https://www.fox2detroit.com/news/whitmers-special-election-dates-labeled-accelerated-and-unnecessary-by-michigan-republicans
Voting starts this week in Virginia Beach City Council special election
Residents of Virginia Beach’s District 1 can start casting ballots to fill the district’s City Council seat for the next year.
Virginia Beach Sheriff Rocky Holcomb previously held the seat. When he was appointed Sheriff, he had to vacate it.
In-person early voting starts Wednesday and extends through Jan. 6, 2024. The election itself is scheduled for Jan. 9.
Retired city fire chief David Hutcheson, attorney John Napier and entrepreneur Teresa Gladley are all vying to finish out the term.
https://www.vpm.org/news/2023-11-27/virginia-beach-city-council-special-election-early-voting
TX: Harris County officials: Early voting for December runoff elections off to slow start
Early voting began Monday for Houston's runoff elections on December 9. Voters will choose half of Houston's government elected officials, which include the next Houston mayor, city controller, and seven city council seats.
Harris County opened 41 early voting locations at 7 a.m. and there haven't been any hiccups so far compared to previous elections. But, the Harris County Clerk's Office said the turnout has been low.
"It's kind of a slow start but I think people are still trying to digest turkey and all the things they had during Thanksgiving," said Harris County Clerk Teneshia Hudspeth.
As of Monday morning, over 2,100 ballots have been cast. During the November 7 early voting elections period, Harris County officials saw a 50% increase in early voting turnout compared to the 2015 mayoral elections.
https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/voting/2023/11/27/470662/harris-county-officials-early-voting-for-runoff-elections-off-to-slow-start/
Audit dings Oklahoma Republican Party PAC for misreporting finances, election spending
OKLAHOMA CITY — A federal audit uncovered millions in misreported income and expenses for a political action committee associated with the Oklahoma Republican Party.
A Federal Election Commission draft audit found the Oklahoma Leadership Council’s bank records did not match its federal campaign finance reports by nearly $2 million.
The council is a federal PAC that the state Republican Party uses to back GOP candidates and fund independent expenditures against their opponents.
According to the audit, the PAC underreported its receipts by $829,858 and its expenditures by over $1 million over a two-year period that ended Dec. 31, 2020. The committee also failed to report $230,595 in debts.
https://www.muskogeephoenix.com/news/audit-dings-oklahoma-republican-party-pac-for-misreporting-finances-election-spending/article_60db5466-8d72-11ee-b7bf-ebade40d5494.html
OH: Former Miami County elections official pleads guilty in invoice forgery
TROY — Miami County’s former deputy elections director pleaded guilty Monday to a felony charge of forgery involving an invoice for election supplies that was altered.
Ian Ridgeway, 30, of West Milton, was placed on paid administrative leave by the elections board in early August after election leaders were notified an investigation was being initiated in response to a complaint of questionable procurement practices in the elections office. Ridgeway handled that function.
He was employed by the office as deputy director from fall 2018 until late October when he and the board of elections signed a separation agreement that included Ridgeway’s resignation effective Oct. 13.
He was in Miami County Common Pleas Court on Monday afternoon with attorney Jeremy Tomb. Ridgeway waived a grand jury’s consideration of allegations against him and pleaded to a fifth-degree felony.
https://www.daytondailynews.com/local/former-miami-county-elections-official-pleads-guilty-in-invoice-forgery/QR6DNFOLZJGFPJNT4BJ4RA7D5I/
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Gender: MaleHometown: Detroit Area, MI
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Current location: San Francisco, CA
Member since: Wed Oct 29, 2008, 02:53 PM
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