Suspense continues over Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi’s candidatures from Raebareli and Amethi, final decision today
The Congress has kept the suspense going for Amethi and Raebareli constituencies, not naming candidates for them in the latest list of names for the Lok Sabha elections released on Tuesday.
The White House has a new curator. Donna Hayashi Smith is the first Asian American to hold the post
The White House has a new curator and Donna Hayashi Smith is the first Asian American to hold the post. The White House announced her appointment Wednesday, the start of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. WHITE HOUSE DENIES SECRET PLOT TO OUST KARINE JEAN-PIERRE AS BIDEN FACES MORE BAD NEWS Originally from Wahiawa, Hawaii, Hayashi Smith joined the White House curator’s office in 1995 and has now served under five presidents. She had been serving in an acting capacity since last year after the retirement of her predecessor, Lydia Tederick. As curator, Hayashi Smith will oversee the care of thousands of artifacts in the White House collection, cataloguing and preserving everything from presidential portraits to furniture and more. Hayashi Smith led the curator’s office through a process in 2022 to ensure that the White House continues to be recognized nationally as an accredited museum. First lady Jill Biden cited Hayashi Smith’s service under five presidential administrations and said she looked forward to working with her to preserve the White House’s “living history.”
Georgia Gov. Kemp signs law requiring jails to check immigration status of inmates
Georgia’s governor gave the final approval on Wednesday for a bill requiring jailers across the state to check the immigration status of inmates and work with federal immigration officials instead of sheltering people who are in the U.S. illegally. Gov. Brian Kemp signed the bill into law at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center in Forsyth, making most of the provisions effective immediately. Kemp also signed a separate law requiring cash bail for an additional 30 crimes, while also restricting people and charitable bail funds from posting cash bonds for more than three people per year unless they meet requirements to become a bail company, according to The Associated Press. The bail law goes into effect on July 1. The Republican governor said the immigration bill, “became one of our top priorities following the senseless death of Laken Riley at the hands of someone in this country illegally who had already been arrested even after crossing the border.” GEORGIA IMMIGRATION BILL THAT WOULD COMPEL LAW ENFORCEMENT TO WORK WITH FEDERAL OFFICIALS GOES TO GOV. KEMP Jose Ibarra was arrested in February on murder and assault charges in the death of 22-year-old Laken Riley, a nursing student at the University of Georgia. Ibarra, 26, unlawfully crossed into the United States in 2022, immigration officials said. It is not clear whether the suspect applied for asylum or not. “If you enter our country illegally and proceed to commit further crimes in our communities, we will not allow your crimes to go unanswered,” Kemp said. GEORGIA AG FILES SUIT AGAINST BIDEN ADMINISTRATION FOR TITLE IX REVISION: ‘DESTROYING WOMEN’S SPORTS’ As the bill moved through the state legislature, Democrats expressed concerns it would turn law enforcement officials into immigration police, resulting in communities becoming less willing to work with police and report crime. Opponents also pointed to studies suggesting immigrants are less likely than native-born Americans to commit crimes. Under the law, local governments will be denied state funding if they fail to cooperate. ANTI-TRUMP DA BAILED ON DEBATE TO ‘SCHMOOZE’ WITH CELEBS, IS CHALLENGED TO A REMATCH Jails are also required to apply for an agreement with U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to allow local jailers to help enforce immigration law. Even though local jailers can assist with enforcement, they are unable to make immigration-specific arrests outside of jails. As for the changes to cash bail, the Republican-backed bill requires criminals to be held on bail to keep them locked up. The bill also takes away from efforts championed by former Republican Gov. Nathan Deal in 2018, allowing judges to release most people accused of misdemeanors without bail. Supporters said judges would still have the discretion to set exceptionally low bails. A separate part of the 2018 reform requiring judges to consider someone’s ability to pay would still remain law. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
2 West Virginia county commissioners removed after arrests for skipping public meetings
A three-judge panel ordered Wednesday that two county commissioners in West Virginia’s Eastern Panhandle be removed from office over a month after they were arrested for purposefully jilting their duties by skipping public meetings. Circuit Court Judges Joseph K. Reeder of Putnam County, Jason A. Wharton of Wirt and Wood Counties and Perri Jo DeChristopher of Monongalia County wrote in a written decision that Jefferson County Commissioners Jennifer Krouse and Tricia Jackson “engaged in a pattern of conducted that amounted to the deliberate, willful and intentional refusal to perform their duties.” Krouse and Jackson — who is also a Republican candidate for state auditor — were arrested in March and arraigned in Jefferson County Magistrate Court on 42 misdemeanor charges ranging from failure to perform official duties to conspiracy to commit a crime against the state. The petition to remove the two women from office was filed in November by the Jefferson County prosecutor’s office, and the three-judge panel heard the case in late March. LONGTIME OHIO GOP CAMPAIGN TREASURER CHARGED WITH DEFRAUDING CLIENTS OF NEARLY $1 MILLION Neither Krouse or Jackson responded to emails from The Associated Press requesting comment. In a public Facebook post, Jackson said she is working with an attorney to appeal the decision and that she is still running for state auditor. “An election has been overturned and the will of the people has been subverted,” Jackson wrote. “I have no intention of surrendering and plan to challenge this unjust decision every step of the way.” The matter stems from seven missed meetings in late 2023, which State Police asserted in court documents related to the criminal case that Krouse and Jackson skipped to protest candidates selected to replace a commissioner who resigned. They felt the candidates were not “actual conservatives,” among other grievances, according to a criminal complaint. The complaint asserted that between Sept. 21 and Nov. 16, 2023, Krouse and Jackson’s absences prevented the commission from conducting regular business, leaving it unable to fill 911 dispatch positions, approve a $150,000 grant for victim advocates in the prosecuting attorney’s office and a $50,000 grant for court house renovations. The county lost out on the court house improvement grant because the commission needs to approve expenses over $5,000. Both Jackson and Krouse continued to receive benefits and paychecks despite the missed meetings. They began returning after a Jefferson County Circuit Court order. Krouse took office in January 2023, and Jackson in 2021.
Former Ohio GOP Senate candidate Josh Mandel threatened with jail time in divorce case
A Republican who spent years as one of Ohio’s highest profile politicians has been threatened with jail time for violating the terms of his 2020 divorce agreement. Josh Mandel, a former two-term state treasurer who ran three times for U.S. Senate, was sentenced to seven days behind bars, as was his ex-wife, Ilana Mandel, after an Ashland County court magistrate found them in contempt of court for violating elements of the deal. The two have an opportunity to avoid the sentence, issued April 25 and first reported by The PlainDealer/cleveland.com, by complying with certain conditions over the next four months. MAGA-ENDORSED BERNIE MORENO SET TO SQUARE OFF AGAINST INCUMBENT SHERROD BROWN IN CRITICAL OHIO SENATE RACE Common Pleas Magisrate Paul Lange found the Mandels each entered the other’s home without permission and refused to pay bills related to their three children, as well as that Ilana Mandel once failed to take a child to soccer practice. He decided against contempt on several other disputed items, including telephone time with the children and the handling of their 529 college savings account. To avoid jail, Josh Mandel will have to provide his former spouse with regular updates on the 529 account and Ilana Mandel will have to pay for a sports program for one of their children, minus an amount her ex-husband must pay her for one child’s medical expenses. Messages seeking comment were left with Josh Mandel and with attorneys for both parties. It’s the latest twist in a divorce case that’s drawn consistent attention over the years — due to Mandel’s notability and his ex-wife’s position in one of Cleveland’s wealthiest and most prominent families, as well as the way the case was handled. The pair filed for divorce in a county far from populous Cuyahoga, where they lived, and under seal. When Mandel last ran for Senate, he offered news organizations, including The Associated Press, a chance to review redacted copies of the files — but full public access was denied. The reason he gave for the secrecy at the time was that he was protecting his children’s privacy and safety. The Cincinnati Enquirer disagreed that the file deserved to be shielded from public view and sued. The Ohio Supreme Court ruled in the newpaper’s favor in October 2022, finding the Ashland County judge had shielded the Mandels’ case improperly and ordering him to lift the seal. Mandel previously ran for Senate against Democrat Sherrod Brown in 2012 and sought to face him again in 2018 before dropping out. He came in second in a crowded GOP primary in 2022.
$15 minimum wage inches closer to appearing on Missouri ballot
Missouri voters on Wednesday got a step closer to getting to decide whether to raise the state’s minimum wage to $15 an hour, after a group behind the effort said it turned in nearly double the required number of signatures. The ballot measure backed by Missouri Jobs with Justice would raise the minimum wage from its current $12.30 an hour to $13.75 an hour next year and then to $15 an hour in 2026. Citizen-driven amendments to Missouri law require more than 100,000 voter signatures to get on the ballot, and Missouri Jobs with Justice said it submitted about 210,000. Republican Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft’s office must next determine if at least 115,000 or so are valid. MISSOURI LAWMAKERS VOTE TO EXPAND TAX CREDIT-BACKED PRIVATE SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIPS “We feel confident that voters will have an opportunity to pass this important initiative this fall,” Caitlyn Adams, executive director of Missouri Jobs with Justice Voter Action, said in a statement. Missouri voters historically have supported minimum wage hikes. After the Republican-led Legislature in 2017 blocked St. Louis and Kansas City from raising wages in those cities, voters in 2018 approved a statewide minimum wage hike. Under that plan, the wage floor — then $7.85 an hour — rose by 85 cents per year until it hit $12 in 2023. Pay rose again this year because of automatic increases tied to inflation. The latest proposal also includes a requirement that workers get paid sick leave. Employees currently not guaranteed sick days would earn an hour of paid leave for every 30 hours worked under the measure. Businesses with fewer employees would be required to allow a minimum of five paid sick days per year, and larger companies would be required to offer at least seven paid sick days.
Decayed power pole sparked the largest wildfire in state history, Texas House committee confirms
A lack of air support and ineffective coordination hurt efforts to contain this year’s Panhandle fires, the committee said.
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators arrested at UT-Dallas as police break up encampment
UT-Dallas is the second campus in Texas where Department of Public Safety troopers have made arrests while breaking up protests.
‘Disqualifying’: RFK Jr. faces backlash over ‘unhinged’ claims about red states in resurfaced video
Republicans are hammering independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over a resurfaced video where he says individuals in red states are more likely to commit heinous crimes and “murder you.” In a resurfaced video, posted by former President Donald Trump’s MAGA War Room X account Wednesday, RFK Jr. is seen making the disparaging comments about Republicans at a 2005 IdeaCity speech. “Red state people are more likely to murder you, to impregnate your teenage daughter, to commit a violent crime against you, to commit a nonviolent crime against you, to watch Desperate Housewives on TV, to buy pornography, to buy degenerate video games like ‘Grand Theft Auto,’” RFK Jr. told a crowd. Social media users, including several Republican members of congress, immediately hit back at what they called “divisive attacks.” RFK, JR REVEALS PATH TO PRESIDENCY AS BIDEN, TRUMP CAMPAIGNS TARGET RACE ‘SPOILER’ “I’m proud to be from the most conservative state in America and represent the best of our country. RFK Jr.’s divisive attacks are disqualifying,” Sen. John Barasso, R-Wyo., wrote in a post in X. “I’m proud to represent one of the reddest districts in Texas. RFK Jr.’s attacks on red state America are not backed up by facts or reality. He is unhinged and further left than Bernie Sanders! Texans won’t forget!” Rep. Lance Gooden, R-Texas, said. “The Hoosier state is as red as they come,” Rep. Jim Banks, R-Ind., who is running for the Senate, posted on X. “Far-left RFK Jr’s baseless, unhinged attacks on the values of Red State America will be remembered in November.” “RFK is no friend to conservative red states like West Virginia!” Riley Moore, a GOP congressional candidate in West Virginia, said. “Stop pretending this guy is a moderate.” RFK JR. CHALLENGES TRUMP TO DEBATE AFTER ‘DEMOCRAT PLANT’ ACCUSATION During his remarks, RFK Jr. blasted the Saturday morning media pundits as “gas bags” and claimed their commentary about former President George W. Bush winning because red states were ‘morally robust” compared to “degenerate” blue states was “not true.” RFK Jr. went on to claim that he looked at red states and blue states to determine which was “more moral” using criteria “that most of us use to judge morality” “I found the lowest divorce rate in America was Massachusetts, a blue state. The highest divorce rate was Texas, a red state. The lowest teen pregnancy rate was Massachusetts. The highest was Texas,” RFK Jr. added. MAGA War Room posted the video just days after RFK Jr. challenged GOP nominee Trump to a presidential debate, after the former president called the independent a “Democrat plant.” RFK Jr. on Wednesday argued that he, rather than Biden, is the only candidate who can defeat Trump in November — and showcased a new internal poll conducted by his campaign to make his point — as he announced a “no-spoiler pledge.” “This is a no-spoiler pledge that we’re announcing today. This is a pledge that I offer to take if President Biden also takes it,” Kennedy said at a news conference where the candidate took no questions from reporters. Fox News Digital reached out to RFK Jr’s presidential campaign. Fox News’ Paul Steinhauser contributed reporting.
Voicemail threats to Montana Sen. Tester land constituent in prison
A Montana man who pleaded guilty to leaving voicemail messages threatening to kill Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Tester and his family was sentenced Wednesday to 2 1/2 years in prison, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. Anthony James Cross, 30, of Billings pleaded guilty in January to making threats to injure and murder a U.S. senator. MILLIONS OF DOLLARS POUR INTO CRUCIAL SENATE RACE AS DEMS TRY TO DERAIL GOP CAMPAIGN: ‘RELENTLESS ASSAULT’ U.S. District Court Judge Susan Watters accepted a plea agreement that called for dismissing a charge that Cross made threats against President Joe Biden. Tester’s office did not immediately respond to an emailed request seeking comment. His office has declined to comment for previous stories about the case. Threats against public officials in the U.S. have been steadily climbing in recent years, including against members of Congress and their spouses, election workers and local elected officials. Another Montana man, Kevin Patrick Smith of Kalispell, was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison in August 2023 for threatening to kill Tester in voicemails left at the senator’s office in Kalispell.