Ohio Voters Reject Attempt to Change Redistricting

Ohioans on Tuesday rejected a proposed constitutional amendment that would have replaced the current seven-member redistricting commission with a 15-member, nonpolitical commission to draw the state’s legislative districts.

Multiple news organizations reported that voters rejected Issue 1 54.5%-45.5%, with nearly 70% of the vote reported, following a months-long, expensive battle that saw Republicans pushing to keep the current system and Democrats arguing for change.

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Referenda: Noncitizen Voting Prohibitions Go 8-for-8 in Emphatic Approvals

Vote Here Sign

Voters across multiple states cast ballots on who should be allowed to join them in referenda directed at voting rights, including the issue of noncitizen voting.

There’s national divide, highlighted by recent conversations on election integrity and immigration. Tuesday’s ballot measures were no different, reflecting a battleground that could potentially shape policy in future elections.

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Floridians Reject Recreational Marijuana, Abortion Rights

Weed

Florida voters gave a victory to Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday by rejecting two ballot initiatives on recreational marijuana and abortion rights that the second-term Republican opposed.

Amendment 3, a proposed recreational cannabis program in the state, failed with 55.75% approving out of 10.35 million ballots cast and 44.25% opposed according to preliminary results from the Florida secretary of state’s office.

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Arizona Early Voting Declines: Republicans Gain, Democrats Lag Behind

Arizona Ballot

Arizona has seen a decline in early voting compared to recent years, with only 51.7% of registered voters voting early – about 300,000 less voters than in the 2020 general election, according to data compiled by Uplift from Arizona county recorder offices.

Most notable is the drop in registered Democrats voting early. In 2020, 36.5% of early voters were Democrats.

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‘Inspiring and Eye-Opening’: Gen Z’s Interest in Skilled Trades Rises

Blue Collar

Social media’s influence is causing Gen Z’s interest in skilled trades to rise, according to a report by Thumbtack – something a trade organization co-director said is “inspiring and eye-opening.”

“55% of Gen Zers are considering a skilled trade career (up 12% from last year) – including 72% of those with a college degree,” Thumbtack’s report stated.

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Majority of Pennsylvania’s Mail-in Ballots Returned

Voting

The majority of mail-in ballots requested in Pennsylvania have been returned as of 8 a.m. Monday.

Of the 2.2 million issued, the Department of State is in receipt of 1.8 million, or 81.4%, according to its daily report. By party, Democrats have mailed in 83.1% of the 1.2 million requested; Republicans 82.1% out of 715,287; and unaffiliated or other third parties at 72.7% out of 282,162.

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Helene: Recovery Loans Available to Virginia Farming, Forestry Small Businesses

Virginia agricultural and forestry small businesses impacted by Hurricane Helene now have another place to turn for help.

Individuals and state and local governments in federally designated disaster zones can already apply to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for assistance, as the president approved a Major Disaster Declaration for the commonwealth within a week of the storm.

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Poll Shows Trump, Scott Leading in Florida

Rick Scott and Donald Trump

A poll released by Florida Atlantic University shows former President Donald Trump with a big lead in the presidential race and also has good news for incumbent U.S. Sen. Rick Scott.

The poll of 913 registered voters by the Florida Atlantic University Political Communication and Public Opinion Research Lab and Mainstreet Research USA shows Trump with 53%, with 44% going for Vice President Kamala Harris and only 2% undecided.

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Texas Sees 51 Percent Drop in Border Apprehensions After Operation Lone Star Expands

Operation Loan Star

Border Patrol apprehensions of illegal border crossers in Texas dropped 51% in one year, according to federal data. The stark decline comes after Gov. Greg Abbott expanded Operation Lone Star border security efforts in the state.

In fiscal 2023, Border Patrol agents reported 1,045,655 apprehensions of illegal border crossers in five U.S. Customs and Border Protection sectors in Texas, excluding those apprehended in New Mexico which fall into one of these sectors, in fiscal 2023. In fiscal 2024, the number dropped to 534,333, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection data and exclusive data obtained by The Center Square.

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Wisconsin DMV Provides Free State ID Cards for Voting Purposes

People Voting

 U.S. citizens residing in Wisconsin who do not already have an approved photo ID or the necessary identification documents to obtain one can still apply for a temporary identification card for voting purposes, free of charge.

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation requests all Wisconsinites applying for the temporary free ID used for voting – this is not a Wisconsin Voter ID, which does not exist – bring proof of name and date of birth, proof of identity, proof of state residency and proof of U.S. citizenship.

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Nearly 565,000 Illegal Border Crossers in Arizona in Fiscal 2024

Illegal Immigrants

There were nearly 565,000 illegal border crossers reported in Arizona in fiscal 2024, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection data.

Arizona’s 378 miles of shared border with Mexico is staffed by CBP and Border Patrol agents in the CBP sectors of Tucson and Yuma. Tucson Sector’s 262-mile shared border with Mexico extends from the Yuma County line to the Arizona-New Mexico state line. Yuma Sector’s nearly 182,000 square miles of primarily desert terrain extends from Imperial Sand Dunes in California to the Yuma-Pima County line.

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Ohio School District Adopts Controversial ‘Grading for Equity’ Policies

Math Homework

A school district outside Cleveland, Ohio, will have staff read Joe Feldman’s controversial book “Grading for Equity.” 

According to a Lakewood City Schools presentation to the school board from earlier this month, the book will be required for teachers in all grade levels. Critics say the book promotes practices that lower students’ standards, while its proponents say it is more fair to students.

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Judge Seeks ‘Limited Protective Order’ in Trump Assassination Case

Ryan Routh

A judge overseeing the case against the man accused of trying to kill former President Donald Trump during a round of golf ordered prosecutors and defense attorneys back to the drawing board on a proposed protective order.

Prosecutors had sought a broad order that would prevent 58-year-old Hawaii resident Ryan Wesley Routh from having access to evidence in the case outside the presence of his attorneys unless authorized by prosecutors.

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Skrmetti: Federal Government’s Responsibility to Enforce Immigration Laws

Jonathan Skrmetti

The Tennessee General Assembly has been “unequivocally clear ” that illegal immigration is a high priority for them, but there’s only so much a state can do, the state’s attorney general said.

Jonathan Skrmetti told The Center Square in a telephone interview when he goes out and talks to people across Tennessee, he can’t think of a time when he hasn’t gotten questions about the subject.

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Prior to Ban, Ohio Ranked Among Top States for Minor Gender Reassignment Procedures

Before a ban on gender reassignment procedures on minors, Ohio was ranked among the top states in the nation for total procedures as well as the number of procedures performed per residents, according to newly released data from a nonprofit.

Earlier this year, the Ohio legislature enacted House Bill 68, which banned the prescription of hormone blockers and hormone replacement therapy, along with gender reassignment surgeries on youth such as mastectomies. The law was first vetoed by Gov. Mike DeWine – which was overridden – and then later upheld in court following a lawsuit by the American Civil Liberties Union.

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Over 3 Million Border Crossers from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela Have to America During Biden-Harris Administration

Illegal Immigrant

Of the 14 million illegal border crossers reported under the Biden-Harris administration, more than 3 million are from four countries whose citizens were granted expanded entry through a parole program created by U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas: Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela (CHNV).

At least 2,496,080 illegal border crossers from CHNV countries were reported under the Biden-Harris administration, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection data. The data represents fiscal years 2021-2024, excluding the first three months of fiscal 2021 under the previous administration. The federal fiscal year is from Oct. 1 through Sept. 30.

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Michigan Bill Would Increase Voter ID Requirements

Michigan Voter ID Bill

Michigan voters would need to provide extensive documentation when showing up to the polls in order for their vote to be immediately counted if a newly introduced state senate bill becomes law.

Senate Bill 1034, sponsored by state Sen. Jonathan Lindsey, R-Allen, would require Michiganders to present both proof of identity and proof of residency when signing an affidavit to receive a ballot at polling locations.

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Youngkin Issues Executive Order to Combat Gang Violence

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin issued his 41st executive order Thursday establishing a statewide gang and community violence prevention partnership and enforcement strategy to confront gang violence.

In addition to combating gang violence, the order will target drug and human trafficking and violence committed with firearms. The action also aims to provide support to communities and victims.

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Mayes Joins Partisan AG Coalition Pushing Favorable Abortion Verdict in Idaho

Kris Mayes

Attorney General Kris Mayes joined 24 other attorneys general in filing an amicus brief in support of legalizing “emergency abortion care” for Idahoans in the case U.S. v. Idaho. This brief is the most recent event in the two-year long litigation process.

The initial lawsuit stems from the reversal of Roe v. Wade resulting in a near-total abortion ban in Idaho allowing exceptions only for rape and incest, accompanied by a signed report, or the immediate death of the mother. The key difference between Idaho’s ban on abortion and federal statute occurs when a woman is facing a serious threat to her health but not an immediate risk of losing her life.

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Legislation Seeks to Expand Tonto Apache Tribal Land Rights

Mark Kelly and Krysten Sinema

Proposed legislation would transfer 3,060 acres of land from the United States Forest Service to the Tonto Apache Tribe in the Payon, Arizona, area in the form of a trust.

Arizona Sens. Kyrsten Sinema and Mark Kelly introduced the “Tonto Apache Land Transfer Act” would fulfill the tribe’s goal to expand its reservation and construct more housing. Roughly 100 people live on the reservation, according to the Inter Tribal Council of Arizona website.

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Report: Immigration Courts Broke Records in Fiscal 2024

The number of cases before federal immigration judges totaled nearly 1.8 million, a record, in fiscal 2024, according to the latest analysis by Syracuse University’s Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse, a nonpartisan, independent research organization.

Federal immigration courts fall under the Department of Justice and are located in 28 states, the Northern Mariana Islands and Puerto Rico. The DOJ’s fiscal 2024 year was Oct. 1, 2023, through Sept. 30, 2024.

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Texas Sues Administration for Not Verifying Voter Registration Citizenship Info

Vote Here Sign

Following Florida, Texas sued the Biden-Harris administration Tuesday after requesting citizenship status information about registered voters in Texas, and not receiving it from federal agencies as required by law.

Last week, a coalition of attorneys general, including from Florida and Texas, called on Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to provide the requested information. They made the requests as multiple states removed thousands of noncitizens from their voter rolls. After not receiving the information, Florida sued last week. Other states in the coalition are also expected to sue.

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Arizona Real Estate Authority Files Cease and Desist Against Developer over Concerns of Water Supply

Home Construction

The Arizona Department of Real Estate is asking a housing developer to stop subdividing land in Rio Verde Foothills as they say there is no assured water supply yet for the area they are working in.

The Arizona Department of Real Estate sent a cease and desist to Morning Vista Homes for allegedly not getting the proper “subdivision public support” that prompts a “certificate of assured water supply” or another guarantee that there will be water for the homes, according to a news release from Gov. Katie Hobbs’ office.

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Ohio Unemployment Remains Steady for Second Straight Month

Workers at Meeting

by J.D. Davidson   Ohio’s September labor statistics continued to lag the rest of the nation, but analysts see positive signs. According to figures released by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, the state’s unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.5% for the second consecutive month. However, the labor force participation rate rose slightly to 62.4% from 62.3%. Both of those numbers were below the national average. The national unemployment rate continues to fall, finishing September at 4.1%, while the labor force participation rate closed at 62.7%. “September’s report contained good news, with 9,500 new private-sector jobs erasing August’s job loss,” said Rea S. Hederman Jr., executive director of the Economic Research Center and vice president of policy at The Buckeye Institute. “Although private-sector job growth has continued throughout 2024, growth remains slow, with some down months slowing the overall upward trend.” The job growth has other analysts optimistic about the labor market’s concerns. “Strong job gains in September mirror national employment trends, which exceeded expectations last month,” said Molly Bryden, researcher with Policy Matters Ohio. “Recent growth alleviates broad concerns around a weakening labor market, and as the Fed continues to lower interest rates, Ohioans can remain hopeful…

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New Rule Proposed for No-Cost Over-the-Counter Birth Control

The Biden administration said Monday it wants to expand contraception access as women’s reproductive rights remain a focal issue in the 2024 election.

On Monday, Vice President Kamala Harris said the proposed changes would cover over-the-counter daily contraception without a prescription, emergency contraception, condoms and spermicide at no cost. Private insurance would also be required to inform women about no-cost contraception options and could no longer claim moral exemptions on religious grounds.

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Voters Overwhelmingly Say Schools Should Not Keep Student Gender Transitions Hidden

Kids in Class

The overwhelming majority of Americans do not believe schools should hide a student’s gender change at school from parents, according to a recent poll of over 2,200 likely voters.

The issue of parental notification regarding a student’s gender transition has been hotly contested in recent years, especially in California, where the state has sided against school districts that have passed policies to let parents know students are using different names or pronouns.

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