Gov. Greg Abbott wants the Texas Legislature to rein in investors behind large-scale home purchases
So-called institutional homebuyers noticeably ramped up home purchases during the COVID-19 pandemic. But housing experts point out investors have retreated amid high interest rates.
Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Election Commission to announce poll dates today
Having concluded its extensive national survey of poll preparedness across all States, the ECI concluded its assessment with a comprehensive tour of Jammu and Kashmir this week.
Feds select large stretch of New England coast for offshore wind development
The federal government on Friday designated a large area off the New England coast for offshore wind production development, setting the stage for a possible lease sale within the Gulf of Maine. The U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management said in a statement that the New England zone, which renewable energy advocates have identified as crucial for the growth of wind power, “avoids important areas for lobster fishing, North Atlantic right whale habitat, and other important fishing areas and habitats.” Democratic Maine Gov. Janet Mills, and three Maine lawmakers — Republican Sen. Susan Collins, independent Sen. Angus King and Democratic Rep. Chellie Pingree — also issued a joint statement saying the designated area “preserves vital fishing grounds and seeks to minimize potential environmental and ecological impacts to the Gulf of Maine.” US’S FIRST LARGE OFFSHORE WIND FARM OFFICIALLY OPENS IN NEW YORK, WITH MORE TO COME The move came a day after the country’s first commercial-scale offshore wind farm opened off Montauk Point, New York. Environmental groups cheered the announcement, but some members of the commercial fishing industry, which has opposed wind development in areas where they trap lobsters, said they still have concerns about locating offshore wind in the area. “There are still too many unanswered questions about the impacts of offshore wind on the marine environment, commercial fishermen and our fishing heritage,” said Kevin Kelley, a spokesperson for the Maine Lobstermen’s Association, a large fishing trade group. Kelley said the organization appreciates that the wind energy area removes some of the most critical fishing groups, but still believes no part of the Gulf of Maine should be “industrialized with offshore wind.” Several environmental and labor groups came out in favor of the proposal on Friday. “For the most part, this designation has carved out the most sensitive areas and excluded them from wind turbine construction,” said Kate Sinding Daly, senior vice president of law and policy at Conservation Law Foundation. The wind energy area consists of about 2 million acres off Maine, Massachusetts and New Hampshire that are 23 miles to 92 miles off the coast depending on the location, the BOEM said. The agency said development of the area could potentially surpass state goals for offshore wind energy in the Gulf of Maine. BOEM is expected in a few days to announce its intent to prepare an environmental assessment of potential impacts of offshore wind leasing activities in the area.
Alaska Gov. Dunleavy vetoes Legislature-backed education package
Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy late Thursday vetoed an education funding package overwhelming passed by lawmakers and urged action on teacher bonuses and charter school provisions that have been divisive among legislators. Dunleavy, a Republican and former educator, announced his decision hours ahead of a deadline he faced to sign the bill, veto it or let it become law without his signature. School districts have struggled with teacher shortages and, in some cases, multimillion-dollar deficits, and education leaders had urged the governor to let the package become law. In late February, Dunleavy threatened to veto the measure, complaining it lacked provisions he favors, including a three-year program offering annual bonuses of up to $15,000 as a way to attract and keep teachers and changes to the application process for charter schools aimed at promoting such schools. He cited those again in the veto message he sent legislative leaders. AFTER FIERCE DEBATE, ALASKA GOVERNOR THREATENS TO VETO EDUCATION PACKAGE Both provisions struggled to gain traction with lawmakers. During a recent Senate Education Committee hearing, questions were raised about the effectiveness of such bonuses, and members of the Senate’s bipartisan majority have also raised concerns with the estimated cost of around $55 million a year. Senate leaders also cited reservations with allowing the state education board — whose members are appointed by the governor — to directly approve charters, casting it as an erosion of local control, and said broader issues around charter schools, such as facility and transportation issues, need to be analyzed further. Still, lawmakers said they’d had discussions with Dunleavy following his veto threat aimed at trying to reach an agreement. The Republican-led House Education Committee even introduced a bill Thursday that would allow for board authorization of charters. But no agreement was reached. Lawmakers were planning a veto override session for Monday. To be successful, 40 of the Legislature’s 60 members must vote in favor of an override. House Speaker Cathy Tilton, a Republican, said earlier Thursday that if there is a veto override session, members would “have to vote their conscience and whatever they feel is best for their district.” House Minority Leader Calvin Schrage, an independent, said members of his coalition — which includes largely Democrats but also independents and a Republican — “stand ready to override this veto.” The education package, which passed last month 38-2 in the House and 18-1 in the Senate, was billed as a compromise, reached after an at-times bitter fight in the House. The measure included a $175-million increase in aid to districts through a school funding formula; language encouraging districts to use some of the extra funding for teacher salary and retention bonuses; a state education department position dedicated to supporting charter schools and additional funding for K-3 students who need reading help. The funding was far less than what school officials sought to counter the impacts of inflation and high energy and insurance costs, but education leaders saw passage of the bill as a positive step. Margo Bellamy, president of the Anchorage School Board, and Jharrett Bryantt, superintendent of the Anchorage school district, Alaska’s largest, said the veto “undermines a bipartisan effort to make a historic investment in our children’s education.” “In an already tenuous environment for public education in Alaska, the uncertainty and chaos this veto will have on districts’ progress to improve student outcomes cannot be understated,” they said in a joint statement urging a veto override.
Longtime Democratic lawmaker challenges his North Carolina primary result
A veteran North Carolina legislator filed protests Friday in his primary election in which he slightly trails, alleging that ballot distribution and counting mistakes along with unlawful voting-site campaigning cast doubt on the results. Democratic Rep. Michael Wray, who joined the state House in 2005, filed the protests with elections boards in Halifax, Northampton and Warren counties, which are northeast of Raleigh and compose the 27th House District. As of Friday afternoon, Rodney Pierce, a Halifax County teacher, led Wray by 35 votes from close to 12,000 ballots cast in last week’s primary. The winner faces no Republican opposition in the fall. AG GARLAND PLEDGES TO FIGHT VOTER ID LAWS, ELECTION INTEGRITY MEASURES Wray has been criticized by outside groups and other Democrats for aligning himself at times with leaders in the Republican-controlled House, where he’s been made one of the senior chairmen of the powerful finance committee. Pierce called on Wray to concede, saying he “seems to want to change the rules more than a week after the contest ended, just because he lost.” And several groups favoring Pierce’s election put out news releases calling the accusations “bogus” and “dirty tricks.” Wray challenges what happened with more than a dozen voters, several of whom received a ballot for the wrong primary, the protests say. He also alleges that a Democratic poll observer at a Halifax County precinct instructed voters to choose Pierce, violating laws against electioneering and coercion. “We are not challenging any votes that were cast and counted. We are simply asking the county boards to ensure that they did not improperly reject any ballots,” Wray said in a news release. “We simply want to ensure that all valid ballots are counted.” The boards in each county within the 27th District will meet to determine whether to dismiss each protest or call for a hearing in which evidence is received. The Warren and Halifax boards planned meetings for Tuesday to consider Wray’s protest. The current vote margin between Pierce and Wray also would allow Wray to seek a recount — a decision that Wray said Friday would wait until race results are certified. The protests were filed on the same day elections board in all 100 counties were scheduled to complete the final tabulations of ballot choices from the March 5 primaries. The Warren board delayed the completion of its canvass given the protest, elections director Debbie Formyduval said. Leading up to Friday’s canvass, the county board examined details related to more than 11,000 provisional absentee or in-person ballots to determine whether they would be added to the initial counts. The State Board of Elections canvass is March 26. Separate from Wray’s potential defeat, three other General Assembly incumbents lost their primary elections: Democratic Sen. Mike Woodard of Durham County and Republican Reps. George Cleveland of Onslow County and Kevin Crutchfield of Cabarrus County.
Massachusetts GOP leader says right to shelter law should be revisited after arrest of migrant accused of rape
The leader of the Massachusetts Republican Party said lawmakers should revisit and amend the right to shelter laws for housing migrants. Cory Alvarez, 26, was arrested Thursday by Rockland, Mass., authorities and has pleaded not guilty to a single count of aggravated rape of a child. He has been ordered held without bail, the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office said Friday. Alvarez’s accuser said he sexually assaulted her at a Comfort Inn that is part of a state and federal program to house migrants. He lived at the hotel, prosecutors said. Massachusetts, like other states, has received an influx of migrants from the southern border, which has strained services and housing resources. MAYORKAS CALLS POLICY TO LET 30K MIGRANTS FLY IN EACH MONTH A ‘KEY ELEMENT’ OF BORDER PLAN AFTER LEGAL WIN MassGOP Chairwoman Amy Carnevale said the arrest of Alvarez exemplifies the state’s struggle with how to manage the migrant crisis. “It is imperative to discern between appropriate and inappropriate methods of addressing this endeavor, she said in a Thursday statement. “The recent incident exemplifies our state’s struggle to effectively manage the migrant crisis, and the influx of additional migrants may exacerbate the likelihood of such distressing occurrences. There is a pressing need to revisit and amend the legislation pertaining to the right to shelter.” Fox News Digital has reached out to the Massachusetts Republican Party. State Rep. David DeCoste, a Republican who represents the Rockland area, said he was troubled by the alleged rape incident. “As it illuminates the genuine public safety ramifications for both residents and migrants themselves, stemming from the enduring migrant crisis,” he said. “I am absolutely appalled by the incident that took place in Rockland. Above all, my heartfelt sympathies extend to the young girl who has reportedly been subjected to abuse. The Commonwealth has failed this young girl.” DHS WARNS HAITIAN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ARRIVING BY BOAT FACE ‘IMMEDIATE REPATRIATION’ Alvarez lawfully entered the United States on June 26, 2023 through New York City, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement told Fox News. He entered the U.S. via the Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan and Venezuelan (CHNV) parole processes, Department of Homeland Security sources told Fox News. The policy was initially announced for Venezuelans in October 2022, which allowed a limited number to fly directly into the U.S. as long as they had not entered illegally, had a sponsor in the U.S. already and passed certain checks. In January 2023, the Biden administration announced that the program was expanding to include Haitians, Nicaraguans and Cubans and that the program would allow up to 30,000 people per month into the U.S. On Friday, Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, a Democrat, called the alleged rape a “terrible incident.” “It’s a horrible situation. It’s a horrible allegation. My thoughts are with the victim and her family,” she said. When asked by Boston 25 if the vetting process was adequate, Healey said: “I think we have the right systems in place.” DeCoste disagreed. “This is tragic and unfortunately not uncommon,” he told the news outlet. “And to be able to say honestly that you are truly vetting anyone I think is dishonest.” ICE has lodged a detainer request for Alvarez with Plymouth County authorities. He is scheduled to appear in court on March 22.
Comer tells Hunter Biden’s attorney House hearing will proceed ‘with or without’ him after refusal to attend
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., told Hunter Biden’s attorney, Abbe D. Lowell, on Friday, that a House Oversight Committee hearing on alleged influence peddling and the Biden family’s business dealings “will proceed forward — with or without Mr. Biden” next week, after Lowell said the president’s son would not attend. Comer had invited Biden and business associates Tony Bobulinski, Devon Archer and Jason Galanis to testify at a public hearing at 10 a.m. on March 20. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP All four individuals have already testified behind closed doors as part of the impeachment inquiry, but Comer said the public hearing would, “examine inconsistencies among the witnesses’ testimonies in order to get the truth for the American people.”
Ship carrying aid arrives off the coast of Gaza
NewsFeed A ship carrying 200 tonnes of food aid has arrived off the coast of Gaza. There are plans to distribute the aid in the north of Gaza, which has been mostly cut off from receiving aid by Israel, since October. Published On 15 Mar 202415 Mar 2024 Adblock test (Why?)
Will President Vladimir Putin extend his mandate?
The Russian leader is running for a fifth term in the presidential election. Russians are heading to the polls to elect a president for the next six years. If Vladimir Putin wins, as is widely expected, it will be his fifth term in office. Critics describe him as a ruthless dictator, while supporters say he’s the resilient leader Russia needs. However, his policies are shifting alliances and altering Moscow’s ties with Europe and the United States. There’s the invasion of Ukraine, nuclear threats and a changing world order. So, will Putin define Russia’s future for years to come? And is his political vision aligned with the country’s long-term interests? Presenter: James Bays Guests: Dmitry Babich – Russian journalist with more than 30 years of experience and has covered eight Russian elections Anatol Lieven – Director of the Eurasia Programme at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft and author of several books about Russia and its neighbours Alexander Clackson – Founder of Global Political Insight, a London-based think tank, whose research specialises in Russia and former Soviet states Adblock test (Why?)
Bolsonaro presented plan to reverse election after 2022 loss: Court records
Top military leaders reported plan to police, said they would arrest Bolsonaro if he moved forward, documents show. Top military leaders in Brazil have alleged that former President Jair Bolsonaro presented them with a plan to reverse the results of the 2022 presidential election, according to court documents. The filings, released on Friday, offer some of the first evidence that Bolsonaro was directly involved in an effort to subvert the vote, which he narrowly lost to left-wing candidate Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. The documents contain testimony from the former commanders of the country’s army and air force, both of whom said they refused to accept the right-wing president’s plan. Instead, they alleged they warned Bolsonaro that any attempt to overturn the election results could lead to his arrest. The allegations emerge as part of several probes Bolsonaro faces before Brazil’s Supreme Court, including an investigation that seeks to determine his involvement in a 2023 attack on key government buildings, shortly after Lula’s inauguration. Friday’s court filings contain a federal police report, in which former army commander Marco Antonio Freire Gomes described Bolsonaro holding several unscheduled meetings at the presidential palace after the second round of voting in 2022. Gomes told federal police that, in one of the gatherings, Bolsonaro told the three commanders of his military, as well as then-Defence Secretary Paulo Sergio Nogueira, that he wanted to create a commission to “investigate the confirmation and the legality of the electoral process”. He added other tools could be used to look into the elections, including a decree calling for a state of siege. Gomes said he repeatedly told Bolsonaro that “under the conditions at the time, there was no possibility to reverse the result of the elections from a military standpoint”. Former Air Force commander Brigadier Carlos de Almeida Baptista Junior also told federal police he rejected Bolsonaro’s efforts. He said that he believed that Gomes’s rebuke was key to stopping Bolsonaro from seeking to reverse the election results. “General Freire Gomes said that, if such move was attempted, he would have to arrest the president,” the court filings read. Confiscated passport The release has come as prosecutors have continued to pursue an investigation into whether Bolsonaro and his inner circle sought to overturn the election through a military coup. In February, police confiscated Bolsonaro’s passport amid a series of raids. At the time, a court order by Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes said that Bolsonaro had received a draft decree in November 2022, prepared by his aides, that would have overturned the election results. It would have also issued arrest warrants for Moraes, as well as fellow Supreme Court Justice Gilmar Mendes and Senate leader Rodrigo Pacheco. The court order said that Bolsonaro had requested some changes to the draft decree, but his edited version continued to call for the arrest of Moraes and for a new presidential election. Bolsonaro has already been ruled ineligible to run for office until 2030 after Brazil’s Superior Electoral Court determined in June that he had spread false claims about the election and misused public funds to do so. Investigators are also continuing to search for links between Bolsonaro and the riots on January 8, 2023, which trashed government buildings in the capital Brasilia. Bolsonaro refused to publicly concede defeat following his election loss, and he and his allies have suggested the result was the result of voter fraud. Adblock test (Why?)