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Rupert Murdoch: Media mogul reportedly loses court battle to change family trust and hand Lachlan control
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Two weeks before Election Day, activists from across the country gathered for an online rally heralding the historic number of state ballot initiatives seeking to change the way people vote. Hopes were high that voters would ditch traditional partisan primaries and embrace ballots with more candidate choices. Instead, the election reform movement lost almost everywhere it appeared on a statewide ballot. “It turns out, in retrospect, we weren’t yet ready for prime time,” said John Opdycke, president of the advocacy group Open Primaries, which organized the rally. In Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, Oregon and South Dakota — a mixture of red, blue and purple states — voters rejected either ranked choice voting, open primaries or a combination of both. The open primary proposals sought to place candidates of all parties on the same ballot, with a certain number of top finishers advancing to the general election. Under ranked choice voting, people can vote for multiple candidates in order of preference. If no one receives a majority of first place votes, then candidates who receive the fewest votes are eliminated and their votes redistributed to people’s next choices. Election reform advocates raised about $110 million for the statewide ballot measures, vastly outpacing their opponents, according to an Associated Press analysis of campaign finance figures that could grow even larger as post-election reports are filed. Still, their promotional push wasn’t enough to persuade most voters. “While Americans are frustrated with politics, I think most Americans are just fine with the traditional way of voting,” said Trent England, executive director of Save Our States, which opposes ranked choice voting. Advocates for alternative election methods had thought momentum was on their side after Alaska voters narrowly approved a combination of open primaries and ranked choice voting in 2020. Then voters in Nevada — where initiatives proposing constitutional amendments require approval in two consecutive elections — gave first-round approval to a similar measure in 2022. But Nevada voters reversed course this year. In Alaska, an attempt this year to repeal open primaries and ranked choice voting appears to have fallen just short of passing, garnering 49.9% support in results released Wednesday. Final results are expected to be certified Nov. 30. In addition to Alaska, versions of ranked choice voting already exist in Maine ‘s federal elections and about 50 counties or cities. Voters in Washington, D.C., and the Chicago suburb of Oak Park, Illinois, both approved ranked choice voting this November. And voters in the Minneapolis suburb of Bloomington, Minnesota, reaffirmed their use of it. Data suggests that ranked choice voting rarely results in different outcomes than traditional elections won by candidates receiving a plurality, but not majority, of support. The AP analyzed nearly 150 races this fall in 16 jurisdictions where ranked choice voting is authorized, ranging from the Board of Assessors elections in the Village of Arden, Delaware, to the presidential elections in Alaska and Maine. The ranking system was needed in just 30% of those cases, because the rest were won by candidates receiving a majority of the initial votes. Nationwide, just three candidates who initially trailed in first-place votes ended up winning after ranked vote tabulations — one for Portland City Council and two for the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. In San Francisco, two progressive candidates campaigned together, encouraging voters to rank them No. 1 and 2. Initially, they fell behind a moderate candidate who would have won a traditional election. But after six rounds of rankings, one of the progressive candidates emerged the victor when the other was eliminated and his supporters’ votes were redistributed to her. Supporters of ranked choice voting point to that as a success, because it avoided two similar candidates splitting the vote and both losing. “It’s kind of like a pressure valve – you don’t always need it, but when you do, you really do,” said Deb Otis, director of research and policy at FairVote, which advocates for ranked choice voting. In Portland, Oregon, voters used ranked choice voting for the first time this November in their mayoral and City Council elections, even as Oregon voters simultaneously rejected a measure to implement it for federal and statewide offices. Political outsider Keith Wilson, who led Portland’s 19-person mayoral field with about one-third of the initial vote, ultimately won election after 19 rounds of ranked tabulations. One City Council seat took at least 30 rounds to decide. But not everyone participated in the new voting method. About one-fifth of Portland voters skipped the council races, and about one-in-seven voters left the mayoral election blank. Opponents of ranked choice voting contend that some people find it confusing and don’t vote in ranked races. Academic research also has cast doubt on the benefits of ranked choice voting, said Larry Jacobs, a professor of politics at the University of Minnesota. Fewer Black voters tend to rank candidates than white voters, he said, and there is little evidence that ranked choice voting reduces political polarization or negative campaigning. “I think the tide for ranked choice voting is turning away from it,” Jacobs said. Groups that heavily financed this year’s election reform initiatives aren’t giving up, but may retool their approach. Supporters are considering whether to separate the efforts to end partisan primaries from those to adopt ranked choice voting, and whether to focus more on incremental changes that state legislatures can make instead of on high-stakes initiatives to amend state constitutions. Opdycke said some of this year’s initiatives may have launched prematurely, counting on ads to persuade voters without first cultivating enough grassroots support. “I think there’s a deeper appreciation for the kind of brick work, foundation-building, conversation creation that has to go on as a precursor of launching a formal campaign,” he said. Unite America, which spent around $70 million this year in its effort to end partisan primaries, is analyzing voter surveys and focus group results to help reshape its approach. “The question is not if we should continue that effort,” Unite America Executive Director Nick Troiano said, “but how are we ultimately going to succeed at it?”Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis slated to make season debut on Monday night vs LA Clippers
Talk about tough ways to lose for the Commanders. Washington managed to score a late fourth-quarter touchdown with less than a minute on the clock to pull within one point of the Cowboys. But Austin Seibert shanked the extra point after a bad snap and rushed hold. Dallas returned an onside kick on the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown to cap a crushing 34-26 loss for Washington at Northwest Stadium on Sunday. Commanders’ quarterback Jayden Daniels connected with wide receiver Terry McLaurin for an 86-yard touchdown pass with 21 seconds left on the clock, setting up Seibert with what should have been an easy extra point kick. Instead, a low snap was a precursor for the shanked kick that went wide left leaving the Commanders still trailing 27-26. Washington attempted the onside kick and it bounced right to Juanyeh Thomas, who took the ball right through a hole in the Commanders’ line for the 43-yard return to the end zone. The touchdown all but ended the Commanders’ hopes of staging another comeback attempt. The Cowboys’ win snapped a five-game losing streak and stunned plenty of prognosticators who had expected the Commanders, who have been chasing the NFC East lead, to come away with their eighth win of the year. The game had already been a bit of a bizarre afternoon for the Cowboys and Commanders, who had scored a combined 19 points through the first three-quarters of the game. Seibert had a forgettable day trying to kick, as he missed a field goal attempt earlier and missed on two extra point attempts. The missed extra point at the end drew plenty of reactions, including from former NFL star Shannon Sharpe. “You’ve got 2 be f-king kidding me. Commanders kicker f-king shanked a PAT,” he wrote on X. To make matters worse, Austin Ekeler was injured on a kick return in the game’s final seconds after taking a monster hit. We eventually was able to get up and walk off the field.Fred Harris, a former U.S. senator from Oklahoma who later moved to New Mexico, has died. Born in 1930, Harris was a Democrat who was elected in 1964 to finish the term of Sen. Robert Kerr, who died. He was elected to a full term in 1966 and served through 1972, when he didn't run for reelection. Other career highlights include chairing the Democratic National Committee in 1969 and 1970 and running for president unsuccessfully in 1976. He later moved to New Mexico, where he became a political science professor at the University of New Mexico. "A passionate champion of Native American rights, Sen. Harris sponsored legislation signed into law by President Richard Nixon that restored land to Taos Pueblo seized by President Theodore Roosevelt and designated as the Carson National Forest early in the 20th century," Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said in a statement Saturday. "Later, though his work in academia, Sen. Harris shaped the lives of countless University of New Mexico students who learned firsthand from a political legend about the importance of democracy, good governance, and civil political discourse," she continued. "The Fred Harris Congressional Internship program provided UNM students with opportunities to work on Capitol Hill and learn about the inner workings of Congress and the federal government." New Mexico Sen. Ben Ray Luján said Harris' "life and career in public service was dedicated to lifting others up and working toward the greater good. He fought tirelessly for civil rights, working families, and Native communities. “I am sending my love and prayers to Marg, Senator Harris’ children, and to all who had the privilege of knowing one of the last great statesmen," Luján said. In a statement Saturday, U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury hailed his advocacy for Native Americans and civil rights and his support for passing President Lyndon Johnson's Great Society programs. "As a dear friend, colleague, and hero, he will be deeply missed and leave a hole in our community that can never be replaced," she said. "His legacy will live on in all of the young people that he inspired and mentored on their way to becoming leaders in the ongoing fight for justice." This is a developing story and will be updated.
WINNIPEG - Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew offered condolences Monday to the families affected by two fatal police shootings in the province and spoke to the challenge faced by officers on the front lines. Read this article for free: Already have an account? As we navigate through unprecedented times, our journalists are working harder than ever to bring you the latest local updates to keep you safe and informed. Now, more than ever, we need your support. Starting at $14.99 plus taxes every four weeks you can access your Brandon Sun online and full access to all content as it appears on our website. or call circulation directly at (204) 727-0527. Your pledge helps to ensure we provide the news that matters most to your community! WINNIPEG - Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew offered condolences Monday to the families affected by two fatal police shootings in the province and spoke to the challenge faced by officers on the front lines. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? WINNIPEG – Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew offered condolences Monday to the families affected by two fatal police shootings in the province and spoke to the challenge faced by officers on the front lines. “I want to take the opportunity to thank police officers across this province who go to work and keep us safe each and every day,” Kinew said while at the convention for the Association of Manitoba Municipalities. The night before, a street standoff involving police left one man dead and an officer recovering from a stab wound to the throat. Kinew told reporters no one wants to see a person die after an altercation with police but officers are often tasked with responding to high-risk situations. “Police officers have a difficult job to do, that’s at the best of times, so I support law enforcement,” he said. “When we’re thinking about the holidays and people going to the malls and people going to the shopping areas around the province, people have got to be safe.” Police were called early Sunday evening to the Unicity shopping area in the city’s far west about an officer who had been stabbed in the throat and a suspect who had been shot. Acting police Chief Art Stannard later told reporters that officers had been in the area as part of a retail theft initiative, which sees police work in hot spots in the city that have seen a rise in retail theft and violent crime. Police said the man who was shot was given CPR at the scene before he was taken to hospital, where he was pronounced dead. They said the injured officer was also transported to hospital and treated for his injury. Police declined to provide more details about what happened, including the age or identity of the man killed, noting the case is being reviewed by the police watchdog agency — the Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba. The agency confirmed it’s investigating the death of the man but did not provide any other details. Videos circulating on social media appear to show a man being shot outside a bus shelter. In a 24-second clip, two police officers tell a person “to put it down” and “to drop it.” The man appears to advance toward the officers and at least one officer begins shooting. It’s not clear in the video whether the man who was shot was holding a weapon. Stannard told reporters Sunday he’s aware of the video and asked the public to avoid rushing to judgment. Coun. Markus Chambers, chair of the Winnipeg Police Board, said Sunday’s incident is tragic for all involved and noted it could renew calls for the board to implement body cameras. “Body-worn cameras likely wouldn’t have resulted in this not happening, but it is a mechanism of looking at the accountability around what happened,” Chambers said. The councillor said the board would be monitoring the rollout of body cameras in RCMP detachments across the province to see if they’re effective. It was the second fatal police shooting in three days. A 17-year-old boy from Norway House Cree Nation was shot and killed by an RCMP officer on Friday. Mounties said they received a report that a man was agitated and armed with an edged weapon in a home on the First Nation, north of Winnipeg. RCMP said the teen was outside with the weapon when officers arrived and, despite numerous orders to drop it, he moved toward them and was shot. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 25, 2024. Advertisement AdvertisementNFL Fans Call For The League To Cut Ties With Jay-Z Amid Bombshell Allegations
PENN ST. (6-0) Hicks 6-9 1-1 16, Konan Niederhauser 4-6 4-7 12, Baldwin 2-8 8-8 12, Dilione 3-6 0-2 6, P.Johnson 5-8 3-4 15, Kern 9-12 2-5 20, Nzeh 1-2 1-1 3, Dunn 0-4 0-0 0, Carter 0-2 0-2 0, Stewart 0-0 1-2 1. Totals 30-57 20-32 85.
Despite ongoing efforts in Missouri to expand voting rights for people with felony convictions, the presidential election spotlighted obstacles to their civic participation. Missouri is one of fifteen states where individuals incarcerated for felonies are not eligible to vote until they complete their sentence and parole. Those jailed but not convicted can vote. For this year’s presidential election, less than ten of the individuals incarcerated in Boone County Jail voted. Sheriff Bryan Leer said that the jail typically houses about 190 people, with 70-80 others sent to other county jails throughout the state. A recent report by the Sentencing Project estimates that about 79,000 people, or 1.7% of Missouri’s eligible voters, are unable to vote due to a felony conviction and state restrictions that they complete parole after being released before being eligible to vote. Individuals convicted of a misdemeanor cannot vote while imprisoned. Boone County Clerk Brianna Lennon reported a relatively small number of requests for absentee ballots in Boone County Jail this year. Sen. Curtis Trent, R-Springfield, proposed a bill during the 2024 legislative session that would have allowed individuals with felony convictions to vote immediately after release from prison instead of after completing their parole. The bill, SB1199 , passed out of committee by a vote of 3-1 but advanced no further. Trent could not be reached for comment on whether he will reintroduce the bill during the next legislative session. Similar bills were introduced by House members, including HB1603 , HB1927 and HB2201 . All of these bills propose allowing people with felony convictions to vote before completing probation and parole. Marilyn McLeod, the president of the League of Women Voters of Missouri, testified on behalf of the bill in February. She said that extending the right to vote to people with felony convictions would be a positive step. "This would restore voting rights to people that are in our community now, that served their time," McLeod said. "They're working, they're paying taxes and the best thing would be for them to participate in the voting process as citizens." Marcel Hagens, the policy coordinator for Action St. Louis, also testified in support of the Senate bill. "One of (Action St. Louis') primary focuses is building Black political power in the city of St. Louis," Hagens said. "We have a lot of people ... who want to vote, who engage in direct action, but can't actually go into the ballot box to cast a vote because they are still on probation or parole." "When I went out to testify I acted kind of like a representative for our community and our base of people who are saying, 'we want to engage civically,'" he said. Mataka Askari, 53, voted in his first presidential election this year. As he puts it, he has been “ensnared” in the criminal justice system since he was 10 years old. Askari became eligible to vote three years ago after completing his parole, and despite recognizing the significance of this milestone, he said he seriously considered not voting for either presidential candidate. The Marshall Project, a nonprofit news organization specializing in criminal justice, conducted a survey of about 54,000 people incarcerated in prisons and jails to determine their political affiliations. In Missouri and nationwide, the people surveyed showed a preference toward Donald Trump. In Missouri, Joe Biden received 11% of respondents’ votes when he was the Democratic candidate, while Kamala Harris received a third of the respondents’ votes when she replaced him. Additionally, 33% of the respondents in Missouri identified as independent, which aligns with the national rate of 35%. According to The Marshall Project, this survey disproves the “commonly held notions that people behind bars would support Democrats.” Askari said he feels no obligation to the Democratic Party either as a Black man or someone who has been incarcerated for a felony. “It's like we've had blind allegiance to the Democratic Party when more prisons have sprang up under the Democratic Party (and) more laws incarcerated Black men have sprang up under the Democratic Party," Askari said. “And so that idea is so deeply entrenched in the psyche of American politics.” While Askari said that he had voted twice in local elections, he was not impressed by what either presidential candidate stood for. Askari said Trump’s history of racist comments makes him unappealing, while he resents Biden's and Harris’ perceived entitlement to his vote. “One thing you're not gonna do is try to make me feel obligated to somebody because they're Black,” Askari said, referring to Harris. “That's not gonna work. We are informed, we are knowledgeable and we are not going to buy into anybody’s ideas or rhetoric that guilt trips us into believing that we owe our allegiance to the Democratic party.” Askari ended up choosing a presidential candidate, which he would not reveal, but said he feels he made the right choice. The Chicago Tribune reported that Chicago's Cook County Jail was a stronghold for Trump on Election Day . In 2020, the jail became the first in the country to offer in-person voting.PENN STATE 85, FORDHAM 66