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Tennessee now requires court order or proof of pardon to restore felon voting rights

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 12:38:23 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee has begun requiring felons who want their voting rights back to first get their full citizenship rights restored by a judge or show they were pardoned. Election officials say the step is required after a June court ruling. But attorneys representing the state’s disenfranchised felons accuse officials of searching for ways to suppress Black voters.On Friday, Tennessee Elections Coordinator Mark Goins sent a memo to local elections officials informing them of the new requirement. The secretary of state’s website was updated as well.Tennessee previously had set up a process under a 2006 law for felons to petition for the restoration of their voting rights. It allows them to seek restoration if they can show they have served their sentences and do not owe any outstanding court costs or child support. The Campaign Legal Center is already suing Tennessee in federal court over the way it implements that law. They argue, among other things, that...

Alabama lawmakers refuse to create 2nd majority-Black congressional district

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 12:38:23 GMT

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Alabama lawmakers on Friday refused to create a second majority-Black congressional district, a move that could defy a recent order from the U.S. Supreme Court to give minority voters a greater voice in elections and trigger a renewed battle over the state’s political map.The legislation now goes to Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey, who is expected to sign it.Lawmakers in the Republican-dominated House and Senate instead passed a plan that would increase the percentage of Black voters from about 31% to 40% in the state’s 2nd District. A conference committee proposed the map as a compromise between plans that had percentages of 42% and 38%, respectively, for the southeast Alabama district.State lawmakers faced a deadline to adopt new lines after the Supreme Court in June upheld a three-judge panel’s finding that the current state map — with one majority-Black district out of seven in a state that is 27% Black — likely violates the federal Voting Rights Act.Voting r...

Cubs get a boost from unlikely source in win over Cardinals

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 12:38:23 GMT

CHICAGO — Of all the players in the Cubs' lineup that would be expected to use his power to provide a spark, the team's starting third baseman on Friday was probably not the choice.After all, Miles Mastrobuoni had yet to take a pitch out of the ballpark in the first 45 games of his Major League Baseball career. But the infielder would find some power to kick off a big inning for the Cubs at Wrigley Field against the Cardinals on a matinee against their division rivals - and that surge was enough for a victory.Mastrobuoni's first career home sparked a four-run third inning for the hosts, who would hold onto that advantage the rest of the way to beat St. Louis 4-3 on Friday afternoon. It's the Cubs' first win of the four-game series as they improve to 46-51 on the year.Down by a run entering the third inning, Mastrobuoni worked the count against Jack Flaherty to 3-1 before taking a pitch 411 feet to right-center for the first homer of his career. This came in his 46th game of his MLB ...

AARP, Texas Consumer Association petition for moratorium on power shutoffs, but PUCT says one already exists

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 12:38:23 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- AARP Texas and the Texas Consumer Association sent an emergency petition to the Public Utilities Commission of Texas (PUCT) on Thursday, asking for a moratorium on "all electric service disconnections of residential premises for bill arrearages or lack of payment until on or after September 15, 2023, as a public safety matter," citing concerns about heat-related illness and death. Related: Dangerous prison heat conditions on display at Texas Capitol The groups write that "extended heat wave conditions," combined with Texans' energy insecurity, creates the possibility of heat-related illness and death. "During a hot Texas summer and heat wave, living in low-quality, inefficient housing with no airconditioning or refrigeration for food and medicine could be a death sentence for seniors, young children, medically vulnerable citizens, and others," the petition reads, "Many households face the risk of disconnection month after month, so an electricity disconnection mor...

HVAC repairs underway in AISD as temperatures rise, but more work needs to be done

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 12:38:23 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – For years, air conditioner issues have plagued campuses around Austin ISD, school officials said."We have to go to rental equipment, use emergency funds, some of those pieces of equipment are $10,000 a month," said Michael Mann, AISD's executive director of construction management.Last November, voters approved a historic $2.44 billion bond package. The money will go towards modernizing schools, adding new technology and addressing HVAC issues -- which is a high priority."Over the summer we have about 15 schools…16 schools that have HVAC repairs that will be completed," said Mann.These fixes come as Austin is seeing record temperatures, but not all the work will be done by the time school starts."We have another five (schools) that are in the bidding process," Mann said. "We have plans for another 15 or so for next summer." HVAC fixes could begin ‘as soon as this summer’ for some Austin ISD campuses Those schools will still rely on rental equipment when the summer ...

DA finds officers justified in fatal shooting of off-duty Stillwater corrections officer outside his WI home

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 12:38:23 GMT

No charges will be filed against the two law enforcement officers who shot and killed a Minnesota corrections officer after an investigation determined their lethal use of force was justified and done in self defense.Tyler Abel, 42, was shot outside his western Wisconsin home June 3 after his wife called 911 shortly before 11 p.m. to report he was “out of control” and “threatening to bring his AR out,” apparently referring to a rifle.New Richmond police officers and St. Croix County sheriff’s deputies responded to the home in the 1900 block of County Trunk Highway CC in Star Prairie Township, Wis, in St. Croix County. Abel worked at the Stillwater prison.More details about the shooting were revealed in the findings of St. Croix County District Attorney Karl E. Anderson in a letter he sent to Polk County Sheriff Brent Waak this week. Anderson wrote he believed he would be impartial, but asked Polk County District Attorney Jeffrey Kemp to also review the shooting out of “an abun...

Justin Thomas highlights 3M Open field

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 12:38:23 GMT

For a tournament scheduled for the week after a major championship is played in England, the 3M Open features a relatively strong field for a non-elevated PGA Tour event.Eleven of the top 45 players in the Official World Golf Rankings are set to tee it up in Blaine next week, though players can withdraw at any point. That number is a big spike from a year ago, when just five top-50 players competed in Minnesota.Included in that group of top players is Justin Thomas, one of golf’s preeminent superstars, who will make his first-ever trek to TPC Twin Cities.The two-time major champion and No. 20 player in the world committed to the event after shooting a disappointing 82 in the first round of The Open on Thursday. Thomas went on to miss the 36-hole cut in the major championship, and needs to secure points in at least one of the final two PGA Tour events of the regular season this summer to climb from his current FedExCup position of 75 and into the top 70 to reach the playoffs.Th...

Discovering Saratoga: Saratoga County teen soaring into aviation career

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 12:38:23 GMT

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. (NEWS10) - The sky is the limit for Kira Davenport who is proving anything is possible with a little hardwork and determination. The Saratoga County teenager graduated from high school, graduated from the P-Tech program at HVCC and earned her pilot license all before turning 18.

Charges filed, disturbing details revealed in deadly St. Louis County assault

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 12:38:23 GMT

ST. LOUIS - A St. Louis County man faces criminal charges in a domestic assault that turned deadly earlier this week and allegedly violated an order of protection. **WARNING - Viewers may find some details of this story disturbing**Prosecutors have charged Ralph Beck, 22, with first-degree domestic assault and violation of an order of protection in the case. Police say Chala Thompson, 23, was hurt in the assault and later died from her injuries. According to court documents obtained by FOX 2, Thompson was previously in a romantic relationship with Beck, though ex parte order of protection was issued in May. Before court orders, Thompson said she was sexually assaulted and beaten multiple times. Protests over Francis Howell plan to allow anti-racism resolution to expire Police learned Thompson had been assaulted early Thursday morning. Around 11:30 a.m. Thursday, a witness observed Beck walk out of a home carrying a woman who was naked. The woman was later identified as Thompson, p...

Fields Foods store in Pagedale closes less than 6 months after opening

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 12:38:23 GMT

PAGEDALE, Mo. - Less than six months after opening, the Fields Foods store in Pagedale is closed. Signs on the doors say, “The grocery store will reopen under new ownership and management."“Yeah. Big surprise. They just opened," said Leonard Fields.Leonard was stopping for lunch Friday when he learned of the closure.“Is it frustrating? Of course it is," said Chris Krehmeyer, president and CEO of Beyond Housing, a non-profit community development organization.The organization owned the building that Fields Foods occupied on Page.“I don’t know the behind-the-scenes of Fields and what happened," Krehmeyer said. "All I know is the shelves weren’t being stocked the way they were from the grand opening, which was wonderful and marvelous and full of energy. Something happened that changed.” Missouri & Illinois players win $1M in record Powerball jackpot Fields Foods owner Chris Goodson said he is negotiating the sale of all the company’s locations to an employee ownership group. He s...