May 1, 2018

Seven people treated at Mahnomen hospital after cash used at store burns clerk

MAHNOMEN, Minn. – At least seven people were treated at the Mahnomen Health Center after money used to pay for an item at a local gas station and convenience store injured an employee Monday, April 30, according to the Mahnomen County Sheriff’s Office.

Emergency workers, including a hazardous materials team from Moorhead, descended on the Community Co-op Cenex store at U.S. 59 and Minnesota 200 after a clerk felt a burning on her hand after accepting cash from a customer paying for an item, the sheriff’s office said in a news release.

About 12:24 p.m., an unknown person entered the store and paid cash for an item. In handling the money, the clerk came into contact with a substance on the bill that made her hand burn, the sheriff’s office said. The store was then closed and sealed.

It’s unclear what substance was on the bill and how it got there. The conditions of the clerk and the other people treated at the hospital were unknown. Law enforcement officials did not return phone messages seeking further information Monday.

Read more: http://www.inforum.com/news/accidents/4439018-seven-people-treated-mahnomen-hospital-after-cash-used-store-burns-clerk

May 1, 2018

South Dakota a 'standout' in limiting voters' ability to bring issues to the ballot

The 2016 election was the tipping point.

South Dakota voters passed a sweeping campaign finance and ethics law, and legislators quickly struck it down.

They have been chipping away at voters' ability to bring issues to the ballot ever since.

A year after Initiated Measure 22's demise, the Legislature passed a dozen bills tightening the reins on the initiative and referendum process.

Some changes are small, like requiring a uniform font size for ballot measure petitions. But all told, the onslaught of bills puts South Dakota in a league of its own in terms of restricting direct democracy.

Read more: https://www.argusleader.com/story/news/politics/2018/04/06/south-dakota-standout-limiting-voters-ability-bring-issues-ballot/477786002/

May 1, 2018

Five takeaways from Democrats' McGovern Day Dinner

South Dakota Democrats on Saturday night huddled in Sioux Falls to talk about their message and strategy heading into the general election. They called for candidates and volunteers to set up a "blue wave" in the state and welcomed a mayoral candidate during the dinner event. Here's a look at five things that stuck out about the gathering:

1. Democrats are counting on a "blue wave"

After watching Democrats succeed in special elections across the country, South Dakota Democrats said they're ready to put in the work to bring a similar wave of support for their candidates this year.

While the state might not see quite as dark blue a wave as other states, Party Chair Ann Tornberg said she was confident Democrats could usher in at least a "muddy" blue wave in the general election.

2. The DNC is ready to help pay the bill

In a recorded video message, Democratic National Committee Chair Tom Perez told attendees that the candidates could expect some financial help from them. The DNC in March announced that it would grant $50,000 to the state party aimed at improving voter turnout and outreach on Native American reservations in the state.

Read more: https://www.argusleader.com/story/news/politics/2018/04/28/five-takeaways-democrats-mcgovern-day-dinner/553332002/

May 1, 2018

SPLC Says TenHaken-Endorsing Family Heritage Alliance Stokes Anti-Muslim Hate

The Family Heritage Alliance, the conservative “Christian” organization endorsing Paul TenHaken for Sioux Falls mayor, has earned the attention of the Southern Poverty Law Center’s Hatewatch for its radical anti-Muslim activities in South Dakota:

Hatewatch identified several blog entries that praised and/or promoted anti-Muslim speakers or anti-Islam content on its website. Posted under tags such as “Islam,” “homeland security,” “Act for America” and “FHA Leadership,” most of the blogs were dedicated to promoting and summarizing events featuring known anti-Muslim figures including Phil Haney, John Guandolo, Chris Gaubatz, Shahram Hadian, Tom Wallace, ACT for America founder Brigitte Gabriel and Lt. Gen. (ret.) WilliamG. “Jerry” Boykin.

…Ed Randazzo, FHA’s director of political operations, expressed similar sentiments. In a public Facebook post on his personal profile, he voiced his support for Aynaz “Anni” Cyrus, an anti-Muslim figure, who travels the country spreading anti-Muslim hate at public speaking engagements. In his post, Randazzo characterized Islam as “this ideology described as a religion,” “an aberrant ideology already on our shores,” “evil,” and “an ideology that is antithetical to freedom and your well being” [].

SPLC’s Hatewatch documents six hate rallies that FHA promoted in South Dakota in 2017. SPLC also documents bills that FHA has pushed in the South Dakota Legislature that may appear reasonable but are actually copied from bills pushed in other states by hate groups trying to stir up anti-Muslim sentiment.

Read more: http://dakotafreepress.com/2018/04/30/splc-says-tenhaken-endorsing-family-heritage-alliance-stokes-anti-muslim-hate/

May 1, 2018

State Sen. Lynne Walz chosen as Democrat Bob Krist's running mate in gubernatorial race

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bob Krist has tapped first-term State Sen. Lynne Walz as his running mate.

Walz, of Fremont, has a background in education and real estate. She is a mother and grandmother.

If the Krist-Walz team is elected, Nebraska would have its first woman in the executive branch in nearly 20 years. In the 1990s, the state had a female Democratic lieutenant governor in Kim Robak, and in the late 1980s, the state elected its first and only female governor, Kay Orr, who served for one term.

Walz was most recently in the news when Gov. Pete Ricketts vetoed her bill to increase mental health services in schools. The bill sponsored by Walz would have used private donations to match troubled children and their families with local services.

Read more: http://www.omaha.com/news/politics/elections/state-sen-lynne-walz-chosen-as-democrat-bob-krist-s/article_227d8f0d-c285-5856-8a86-7b0fb668eaa8.html

May 1, 2018

Kansas House adopts budget bill, rejects trigger tied to school finance ruling

The House on Friday voted to advance a budget bill after stripping a provision that would have lapsed most of the scheduled funding increases in the event of an unfavorable court ruling over school finance.

Representatives return Saturday morning with plans to tackle a tax bill and fix an $80 million error in public school legislation passed earlier this month.

Lawmakers remain wary of the political ramifications of a special session that will be needed if the Kansas Supreme Court decides the new school funding law is unconstitutional. The Legislature responded to the high court’s mandate to provide adequate and equitable funding by passing a plan to phase in about $525 million in increases over the next five years.

If the court isn’t satisfied, lawmakers may need to offset additional funding with a tax increase or budget cuts. Rep. Brenda Landwehr, R-Wichita, inserted the budget trigger as a way of framing any adjustments during a special session as enhancements. Her idea was to start over on the budget, dividing leftover cash after the dust settles on litigation.

Read more: http://www.cjonline.com/news/20180427/kansas-house-adopts-budget-bill-rejects-trigger-tied-to-school-finance-ruling

May 1, 2018

South Texas judge charge with bribery resigns

EDINBURG, Texas -- A South Texas state district judge says he's resigning in the wake of federal charges that he accepted bribes for several years in return for favorable rulings.

Judge Rodolfo "Rudy" Delgado has pleaded not guilty in McAllen to three federal bribery charges and three of violating a federal travel statute. At a news conference in his Edinburg courtroom, the 64-year-old judge said he was resigning to concentrate on his defense and avoid disrupting court operations.

A criminal complaint said the FBI had investigated Delgado since 2016 and used as an informant an attorney who argued criminal cases before the judge.

The complaint says Delgado as recently as Jan. 17 accepted a bribe of $5,500, and alleges he accepted bribes as far back as 2008.

Read more here: http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/national-politics/article210188579.html

May 1, 2018

Kobach's office: Stopping him from paying contempt fine with state money 'illegal'

TOPEKA -- Kris Kobach’s office says a House effort to stop him from using state money to pay fines for being found in contempt of court is illegal.

A top lawyer in the secretary of state’s office condemned the Republican-controlled House’s decision to put the prohibition in its most recent budget. In a letter to legislative leaders obtained by McClatchy, senior counsel Sue Becker raised potential problems with the budget requirement.

“(The) proviso is illegal and would require the State to expend significant resources in any futile attempt to defend it,” the letter says.

The budget move was offered by Rep. Russ Jennings, R-Lakin. He said last week the stipulation would prohibit using any state money for defense or penalties involved in a finding of a contempt of court by statewide elected officials. That would include the governor and the secretary of state.

Read more here: http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article210176889.html

May 1, 2018

Feeling shaky? It's not you. Earthquakes are on the rise again in Kansas

If you feel like the ground's been moving around a little more than usual, it's not your imagination.

April has brought a spate of small earthquakes to rattle your china as an underground pressure wave slowly creeps northward from the Oklahoma border region toward Hutchinson.

In fact, the U.S. and Kansas geological surveys have recorded more felt earthquakes in Kansas this month than in the first three months of the year put together.

The USGS picks up quakes from about 2.5 magnitude on up, roughly the threshold where people at ground level notice the shaking. A more comprehensive catalog of April's quakes will be available from the Kansas Geological Survey by about mid-May after a data review.

Read more here: http://www.kansas.com/news/state/article209830529.html

May 1, 2018

Teachers walkout fallout: Impeachment effort underway against OEA leaders

Some teachers are working to oust two high-ranking Oklahoma Education Association leaders over their strategic handling of the Oklahoma teacher walkout, which ended two weeks ago.

Teachers began to circulate a petition through social media Friday to initiate impeachment proceedings against OEA President Alicia Priest and Vice President Katherine Bishop. The post circulated a petition that needs the signatures of 15 percent of OEA delegates, according to the group’s bylaws. An OEA spokesman refused to provide a copy of the bylaws, saying it was not a public document, but a copy was provided to the Tulsa World by an OEA member.

Another OEA member said 15 percent means about 40 signatures. If the threshold is reached, it would trigger impeachment proceedings before the OEA Review Board, which is made up of retired members, according to a member.

The impeachment effort is underway while the OEA delegates assembly takes place Friday and Saturday in Norman.

Read more: http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/teacherwalkout/teachers-walkout-fallout-impeachment-effort-underway-against-oea-leaders/article_b726da5a-92eb-5794-8aa9-7b637ca4e7ca.html