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Maine considers ranked choice voting for governor races

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:06 GMT

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Maine is advancing a proposal that would make it the second state to elect its governor using ranked choice voting, and it is expected for a vote in the state Legislature in the coming weeks after receiving a key committee approval.Maine and Alaska both use the ranked voting format for congressional and presidential elections, and cities in many other states are embracing it for mayoral and other elections. Alaska uses a version of it for governor.Proponents of ranked voting say it prevents “spoiler” candidates and promotes cooperation, civility and political moderates.In Maine, proponents have long pushed for the format to be used in governor and state legislative races, but that would require an amendment to the Maine Constitution.The Maine Legislature’s legal affairs committee approved a proposal in May to do that. The next step is for a vote by the full Legislature, with two-thirds majority approval to pass, which is currently in session and could en...

Mexico’s top diplomat resigns to enter primary race for 2024 presidential election

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:06 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico’s top diplomat resigned his post Monday to enter the primary race for the country’s 2024 presidential election, and Mexico City’s mayor said she would resign Friday to do the same.Foreign Relations Secretary Marcelo Ebrard said he resigned at noon and pledged to start a nationwide campaign tour. Both Ebrard and Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum belong to President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s Morena party, which will use polling to choose among four presidential contenders. The two other hopefuls — Sen. Ricardo Monreal and Interior Secretary Adán López, who is not related to the president — are expected to resign or ask for leaves by the Friday deadline set by the Morena party. That is meant to prevent primary candidates from using their posts to gain an unfair advantage. Each can campaign throughout the summer.Morena has come to dominate Mexican politics since López Obrador was elected in 2018. But the president cannot run for re-election and has ...

No concerns raised at time of Beijing-linked donation: former Trudeau Foundation head

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:06 GMT

OTTAWA — The former head of the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation, Morris Rosenberg, says concerns were never raised to him about a large donation to the charity from two Chinese businessmen connected to Beijing.His successor Pascale Fournier told a parliamentary committee that people connected to the donors were communicating with foundation employees about omitting information on a tax receipt related to the $140,000 gift from billionaire Zhang Bin and another man. Rosenberg, who was in charge at the time, said he was unaware of such emails and trusted his employees to properly administer donations, adding that the issue was not raised in the foundation’s own audits or by the Canada Revenue Agency.“I don’t recall there ever being a red flag about that,” he said.Rosenberg, a former public servant who also authored a report on Canada’s handling of foreign interference in the 2021 election, was speaking to a parliamentary committee Monday.He said he beli...

NASCAR's Chicago race will feature a partnership with Special Olympics Illinois

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:06 GMT

CHICAGO — Less than three weeks before the drivers take to the course, NASCAR is adding another partnership for their upcoming Chicago Street Race. This time, however, it's to help out an organization in the State of Illinois. .@NASCARChicago has announced a partnership with @SpecialOlympics Illinois for the upcoming street race..That organization will be the beneficiary of the event’s 50/50 raffle..@WGNNews pic.twitter.com/98LQ7Y9cPJ— Larry Hawley (@HawleySports) June 12, 2023NASCAR announced that the event has entered into a multi-year partnership with Special Olympics Illinois as part of the event on July 1 and 2 downtown. There are a few parts of the agreement that will aid the organization, most notably being the beneficiary of the 50/50 raffle that will take place during the Xfinity and Cup Series race. A Guide to NASCAR’s Chicago Street Race Representatives and athletes will attend the event while the organization will have an advertising presence within the 2.2-mile...

Trump to appear in federal court after classified document indictment

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:06 GMT

WASHINGTON (Nexstar) – Former President Trump has been indicted on 37 felony counts related to the classified documents investigation and is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday.Over the weekend, former president and leading Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump addressed the 37 felony charges he's facing -- arguing that the case against him is a political one.“They've launched witch hunt after witch hunt,” Trump said. “They want to do anything they can to thwart the will of the American people. It's called ‘election interference.’”Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, another Republican White House hopeful, also questioned the charges against Trump, asking why other politicians like Hillary Clinton didn't face charges for having classified documents.“Is there a different standard for a Democrat secretary of state versus a former Republican president? I think there needs to be one standard of justice in this country,” Gov. DeSantis said.The special counsel leading the case agai...

Garth Brooks speaks about decision to sell Bud Light at his Nashville bar

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:06 GMT

(KTLA) – Garth Brooks will not be pulling Bud Light off the beer list at his new Nashville bar, the country star says.In a recent interview at Billboard Country Live, the Brooks revealed his Friends in Low Places & Honky Tonk bar is set to open soon in Nashville's South Broadway District. “I know this sounds corny,” he told the crowd, “I want it to be the Chick-fil-A of honky-tonks … I want it to be a place you feel safe in, I want it to be a place where you feel like there are manners and people like one another."When it comes to the beers on tap, they'll all be there. Even Bud Light. "Yes, we’re going to serve every brand of beer. We just are. It’s not our decision to make. Our thing is this if you [are let] into this house, love one another. If you’re an a--hole, there are plenty of other places on lower Broadway," he said of the decision. Brooks' comments come as Bud Light and Anheuser Busch have faced controversy over their decision to partner with transgender influencer Dy...

One dead after tour boat capsizes inside New York cave

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:06 GMT

LOCKPORT, N.Y. (WIVB) -- A man is dead after a tour boat capsized Monday while inside New York's Lockport Cave, according to local police.There were 28 adults and an employee aboard the boat when it became unbalanced and capsized around 11:20 a.m. Monday, officials said during a press conference. “The boat did a 180-degree turn, so the bottom of the boat was upright in the water,” Lockport Fire Chief Luca Quagliano said at a news conference. “A number of victims were on top of that boat initially when rescuers got to them."Authorities have not yet identified the man who was killed, but say they believe he became trapped under the boat. His wife, who was also aboard the boat, has been hospitalized. In total, 11 people were taken to hospitals with what officials called relatively minor injuries. Patricia Brandt, a spokeswoman for Eastern Niagara Hospital, said eight passengers were in the ER but none had critical injuries. "They're all stable and some have already been released,” she ...

How long will the April 2024 total eclipse last in Texas?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:06 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The total solar eclipse will be visible for millions of Texas in April, but which areas will be in the dark for the longest?KXAN has created a map, using data from Eclipse2024.org to show where 'totality' will be the longest in various Texas cities. Texas Hill Country prepares for thousands of visitors ahead of total solar eclipse If you're planning on heading to one of the cities, it's a good idea to book soon. Hotels in some cities are already fully booked.Here's a look at where totality will last the longest. The darker the color on the map, the longer totality will last in that city. If a city does not appear on the map, it will not see a total solar eclipse. Many more areas will see a partial eclipse, though.The small community of Radar Base, just north of Eagle Pass in Maverick County, will experience the longest totality in Texas: 4 minutes and 26.8 seconds of darkness.If that's too far to travel, a total of 176 cities will have totality lasting at least 4 m...

Tornado Watch in effect for northern Hill Country tonight

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:06 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A Tornado Watch is in effect until 10 p.m. for San Saba and Lampasas counties for the potential of isolated severe thunderstorms capable of producing softball size hail and tornadoes.Tornado Watch for potential tornadoes until 10 p.m. Monday for San Saba, Lampasas countiesHigh-resolution forecasts are showing that severe thunderstorms may fire in the northern Hill Country between approximately 8-11 p.m. this evening along a stationary front parked well north of Austin.Storms will be capable of very large, damaging hail and tornadoes. Damaging wind is also possible.Evening storms could go severe in the northern Hill CountryExcessive heat expected for the next week or moreWhile a few severe thunderstorms are possible in the northern Hill Country again Tuesday evening, the main forecast concern is an excessive June heat wave building over the next week or more.Forecast high temperatures Tuesday afternoonHigh temperatures are expected to reach or exceed 100 degrees ever...

Travis County voters could weigh in on $495M roads, parks bond this November

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:06 GMT

TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- Travis County voters could have a say at the ballot box this November on nearly $500 million's worth of improvements to county-operated roads and parks. PAST COVERAGE: Travis County eyes $450M roads, parks bond package The Travis County Citizens Bond Advisory Committee released its final recommendations list, featuring more than a dozen projects and earmarked at a price around $494.7 million. The Travis County Commissioners Court will vote to decide on if the bond package will be included on the November ballot.Which projects are included?Projects included in the final recommendation are as follows:Blake Manor Road: $16.8 millionMulti-modal connection options to Travis County East Metro Park; continues improvements to Blake Manor Road already in the works west of Taylor Lane with goal of connecting eastward to Burleson Manor RoadTxDOT right-of-way: $30 millionTravis County is responsible for providing funds for ROW needs on TxDOT construction project...