TexasTowelie
TexasTowelie's JournalFrustrated Kansas legislators eager to junk software system for handling amendments, bills
TOPEKA — Leadership of the Kansas Legislature unsuccessfully pleaded with Propylon to create a software system allowing lawmakers to efficiently handle hundreds of bills each session and deliver transparency to taxpayers monitoring political work at the Capitol.
Now, after years of cajoling, they’ve set the stage for a software rebellion. There’s consensus on the Legislative Coordinating Council, comprised of the seven top legislative leaders, to seek alternatives to Propylon. Perhaps one of the company’s competitors can bring an end to House and Senate members sitting idle for hours waiting for bill amendments to be processed.
Rep. Blaine Finch, an Ottawa Republican, was unanimously joined Wednesday by Democrats and Republicans on the LCC to extend for six months a $90,000 maintenance contract with Propylon, which has an office in Lawrence. LCC members acted before expiration of a contract Thursday, but rejected a proposal to earmark $200,000 for new Propylon software upgrades through July 1.
The vote reflected widespread frustration with Propylon’s record of performance. It also highlighted alarm with an estimate from Alan Weis, the Legislature’s chief information technology officer, that it would take nearly 5 1/2 years to replace software used to conduct legislative business in Kansas.
Read more: https://kansasreflector.com/2020/12/31/frustrated-kansas-legislators-eager-to-junk-software-system-for-handling-amendments-bills/
Louisiana election to replace Congressman-elect Letlow expected to be held March 20
Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards intends to call a special election for Louisiana’s 5th Congressional District on March 20, with a runoff election scheduled for April 24, if necessary. The seat needs to be filled because of Congressman-elect Luke Letlow’s unexpected death from COVID-19 complications Tuesday.
The governor’s office said Edwards intends to schedule the general and runoff elections for Louisiana’s expected 2nd Congressional District vacancy on the same dates. U.S. Rep. Cedric Richmond, D-New Orleans, announced weeks ago that he was leaving the 2nd District seat to join President-elect Joe Biden’s administration.
Candidates for both congressional races will be expected to qualify to run on Jan. 20-22, according to Louisiana’s Secretary of State’s Office.
Louisiana already has municipal elections scheduled for March 20 and April 24. Holding the special elections on the same day as those that are already planned should save the state money, according to the Secretary of State’s office.
Read more: https://lailluminator.com/2020/12/30/louisiana-election-to-replace-congressman-elect-letlow-expected-to-be-held-march-20/
State minimum wage climbs to $11 an hour
Effective today, Arkansans making the state minimum wage will receive a $1 per hour pay increase under an initiated act passed in 2018.
Arkansas businesses must now pay employees no less than $11 an hour, marking the final step of a three-year phase-in that began in 2019. Before then, the state's minimum wage was $8.50 per hour.
The wage increase amounts to a $40 per week raise, before any taxes or other deductions, for employees who work 40 hours a week at minimum wage. Minimum-wage earners in Arkansas will make up to $440 a week.
The change comes in the midst of economic uncertainty brought on by the worst pandemic in 100 years. Supporters say the $1 increase comes at the perfect time, when many families are struggling to make ends meet.
Read more: https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2021/jan/01/state-minimum-wage-climbs-to-11-an-hour/?news-arkansas
8th Circuit denies state appeal of decision in South Arkansas school transfer case
In a 2-1 decision today, the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld federal Judge Susan Hickey’s order that four South Arkansas school districts could not be compelled to approve interdistrict student transfers because they operate under desegregation rulings.
The state has gradually made school district transfers all but automatic and has eliminated segregation impact as a reason to deny transfers unless a district is under a federal court order. The state Board of Education went to court to force Hope, Lafayette County, Camden Fairview and Junction City districts to allow interdistrict transfers. They are among a handful of districts still operating under past desegregation rulings, but the state argued their orders didn’t specifically prohibit transfers and said it would allow them. The districts went back to court for protection from forced transfers, which statewide have been sought mainly by white families moving students to districts with smaller minority enrollments.
The state was refused in its effort to have Hickey’s order stayed this school year, so those districts continue to deny transfers. About 60 students had sought transfers this year.
The state has 45 days to ask for a review of the decision by the entire 8th Circuit. I’m seeking comment from the attorney general’s office. I’ve also asked for comment from state Education Secretary Johnny Key, whose department reviews school transfer appeals.
Read more: https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2020/12/31/8th-circuit-denies-state-appeal-of-decision-in-south-arkansas-school-transfer-case
Food stamp applicants struggle to get through Missouri call center line
In normal times, the Missouri Bootheel has the highest rates of hunger in the state.
“But when the pandemic hit, it made an already bad situation much worse,” said Lisa Church, chief advancement officer of the Southeast Missouri Food Bank.
The organization’s pantries and mobile food distribution were seeing as many as three times more people coming for food assistance in the initial months.
The 16 counties that the food bank serves — located in the southeastern corner of the state — have also seen the highest rates of food-stamp applicants these past months, according to the Missouri Department of Social Services’ dashboard on social impact.
But in November, about half of those applications were rejected — a sharp increase from the months prior.
Read more: https://missouriindependent.com/2020/12/28/food-stamp-applicants-struggle-to-get-through-missouri-call-center-line/
Laura Loomer "Cannot Provide Any Facts" About Twitter Ban Conspiracy
Anyone who regularly trawls through court records knows that reading legal documents is typically kind of a slog. But every now and then, an indignant lawyer or exasperated judge blesses us with page-turning material that's basically a hilariously formal clapback.
That's certainly the case in the latest filing in a lawsuit brought forth by Laura Loomer, a far-right, anti-immigrant conspiracy theorist known for making Islamophobic remarks. After Loomer was banned from Twitter in 2018, she and her company, Illoominate Media, filed a court case against Florida's chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), claiming the Muslim advocacy organization conspired with Twitter to have her removed from the site.
A federal judge dismissed the case last year, finding Loomer offered no proof of those allegations. Now, the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has tossed her appeal, too.
The court's decision is essentially a 12-page rejection of everything Loomer has said about CAIR and Twitter.
Read more: https://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/laura-loomer-loses-lawsuit-appeal-against-cair-and-twitter-11788420
Florida Supreme Court delivers the 'Holy Grail of lawsuit reform' in Thursday ruling
TALLAHASSEE -- The Florida Supreme Court on Thursday revamped a key legal standard as its conservative majority continued to show a willingness to undo previous decisions that have guided the state’s courts.
Justices, in a 6-1 ruling, decided to scrap a state standard for determining whether lower-court judges should grant summary judgment in civil lawsuits. The Supreme Court said Florida should align with a federal summary-judgment standard — an approach backed by business groups that have pushed for ways to cut down on litigation.
“This is the Holy Grail of lawsuit reform in Florida,” William Large, president of the business-backed Florida Justice Reform Institute, said in a prepared statement after the Supreme Court issued the ruling.
Summary judgment generally involves judges being able to decide lawsuits before they go to jury trials. The issue in Thursday’s ruling dealt with the standards that judges should use in determining whether to grant summary judgment.
Read more: https://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article248209085.html
Freshman Miami congresswoman-elect to miss D.C. swearing-in ceremony due to COVID-19
Miami Congresswoman-elect María Elvira Salazar will be unable to attend a Sunday ceremony in Washington to swear in members of the new Congress after learning she has COVID-19 during an emergency trip to the hospital, her office announced Thursday morning.
Salazar, a Republican who last month defeated Democratic U.S. Rep. Donna Shalala in perhaps the most surprising congressional upset in the country, discovered she had contracted the coronavirus after she was admitted to Doctors Hospital with a heart arrhythmia on Dec. 23, according to a press release issued Thursday.
Salazar was “admitted overnight,” treated over the course of 24 hours, and then released, according to her office. Salazar says she is quarantining at home for at least 14 days on the advice of doctors, which will force her to miss a Jan. 3 ceremony in Washington to swear in members of the 117th Congress.
“I am incredibly thankful to the tireless front-line medical workers in our community, who help so many people combating the COVID-19 pandemic,” Salazar, 59, said in a statement. “I am in quarantine at home and getting better each day. I look forward to hitting the ground running for my community, once it is medically permissible.”
Read more: https://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/article248194000.html
Fred Piccolo out as Gov. DeSantis spokesperson
Fred Piccolo, Communications Director for Gov. Ron DeSantis, is resigning his position, senior sources with the Governor’s Office inform Florida Politics.
Piccolo will become the Executive Vice-Chancellor of the Florida College System on Jan. 6, where he will reunite with former boss Richard Corcoran. Piccolo served as Communications Director for Corcoran during his tenure as House Speaker.
“We’re thrilled to have Fred Piccolo joining the Department of Education family,” said Corcoran in a statement to Florida Politics. “He brings a wealth of knowledge, skill, and years of experience to the department and will provide strategic leadership in developing cross-divisional education strategies for postsecondary and career and adult education to ensure Florida postsecondary students can continue to receive a world-class education.”
While Piccolo is not officially leaving office until he begins his new job, his responsibilities will be handed off to other staff members.
Read more: http://floridapolitics.com/archives/391435-fred-piccolo-out-as-gov-desantis-spokesperson
Mar-A-Lago New Year's party goes on without President Trump
The party goes on, even without the usual guest of honor.
President Trump and first lady Melania Trump decided to head back to Washington, D.C. on Thursday, hours before he was slated to host Mar-A-Lago's annual New Year's Eve party.
Other members of Trump's family -- including son Donald Trump Jr. -- are expected to attend tonight's event.
More than 500 people are expected to make their way to the historic Palm Beach club tonight, and many will post their party pictures on social media.
Read more: https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/news/trump/2020/12/31/mar-lago-new-years-eve-party-goes-without-president-trump/4105465001/
(Daytona Beach News-Journal)
Lots of photos of people not wearing masks or physical distancing. Looks like another spreader event.
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