At the end of the jury selection process in former President Donald Trump’s first criminal trial in New York City, Judge Juan Merchan proclaimed “We have our jury!” But the question remains: can Trump get a fair trial in NYC? We all know that this prosecution, over the alleged fraudulent classification of “hush money” payments to former porn star Stormy Daniels as campaign expenses, is politically motivated. After all, the District Attorney who filed the charges campaigned on a platform of targeting Trump, even after his predecessor had refused to bring similar charges because he did not feel ..read more

Welcome to the Thursday, April 25, Daily Brew by Mercedes Yanora: Two congressional incumbents defeat challengers in Pennsylvania’s statewide primary. Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: Two congressional incumbents defeat challengers in Pennsylvania’s statewide primary Thirty-six candidates are running for nine spots on the Lansing Charter Commission on May 7 Sixteen candidates are running in the Democratic primary in Maryland’s 6th Congressional District Grab your coffee and get caught up with the Brew. The post Ballotpedia’s Daily Brew for Thursday, April 25, 2024 f ..read more

Welcome to the Wednesday, April 24, Daily Brew by Ethan Sorell: A look at mayoral elections in 2024. Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: Forty-one of the 100 largest U.S. cities by population and 50 state capitals are holding mayoral elections this year. Today marks 68 years since Alaska voters approved statehood Upcoming voter participation deadlines Grab your coffee and get caught up with the Brew. The post Ballotpedia’s Daily Brew for Wednesday, April 24, 2024 first appeared on Bearing Drift ..read more

Obviously, someone convinced Lavar Stoney that he had no chance of being elected Governor of Virginia based on his truly dismal record as Mayor of Richmond: Stoney drops out of governor’s race to run for lieutenant governor (Richmond Times-Dispatch). This leaves Rep. Abigail Spanberger as the apparent nominee of the Democratic party in 2025. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Spanberger is an outstanding candidate, and none of the prospective Republican candidates will be able to compete with her. If the GOP wants to be competitive in 2025 they must find someone other that Jason Miyare ..read more

Welcome to the Tuesday, April 23, Daily Brew by Ethan Rice: California ballot initiative could change drug and theft penalties. Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: California ballot initiative could change drug and theft penalties Kentucky lawmakers override Gov. Andy Beshear’s (D) veto of bill removing the governor’s authority to fill U.S. Senate vacancies A look at the Pennsylvania primary elections taking place today Grab your coffee and get caught up with the Brew. The post Ballotpedia’s Daily Brew for Tuesday, April 23, 2024 first appeared on Bearing Drift ..read more

Spring is a trickster in western Virginia – air conditioning running one day, heat running the next. We’ve had snow days deep into April, and even though our safe frost date in the Shenandoah Valley is May 15, there was one year in the almost-30 that I’ve lived here when we had frost on May 16. In other words, don’t ever let your guard down. There were some very nice warm days last week and now we are facing freeze warnings for outdoor plants – at my house west of Staunton it’s 30 degrees this morning. My potted plants are snug indoors for the next several nights. After a six-month delay, Spea ..read more

Welcome to the Monday, April 22, Daily Brew by Briana Ryan: ESSER funds expire in September—what that means for school districts. Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: Here’s what to know about expiring COVID-19 education relief Five candidates are running in the Democratic primary for New Jersey’s 3rd Congressional District Update on 2024 ballot measure certifications Grab your coffee and get caught up with the Brew. The post Ballotpedia’s Daily Brew for Monday, April 22, 2024 first appeared on Bearing Drift ..read more

I agree with the sentiments expressed in this article, although I don’t endorse calling people names: Marjorie Taylor Greene is an idiot. She is trying to wreck the GOP (Fox News). Majorie Taylor Greene and those like her (of which there are many) are a cancer on the Republican Party. What is even more amazing is that they keep getting elected, which says much about the constituencies they represent. The post Bolling: Marjory Taylor Greene is a Cancer on Republican Party first appeared on Bearing Drift ..read more

It was a Tuesday morning in the Denver suburb of Littleton, Colorado, on this day 25 years ago when two high school students opened fire on their fellow students (History): On April 20, 1999, two teenage gunmen kill 13 people in a shooting spree at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado, south of Denver. At approximately 11:19 a.m., Dylan Klebold, 17, and Eric Harris, 18, dressed in trench coats, began shooting students outside the school before moving inside to continue their rampage. By 11:35 a.m., Klebold and Harris had killed 12 fellow students and a teacher and wounded an ..read more

Welcome to the Friday, April 19, Daily Brew by Mercedes Yanora: Alameda County to hold first ever recall election for district attorney. Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: Alameda County to hold first ever recall election for district attorney Voters in Irvine, California, add council members and change elections from at-large to by-district #FridayTrivia: How many state legislators have switched parties since 1994? Grab your coffee and get caught up with the Brew. The post Ballotpedia’s Daily Brew for Friday, April 19, 2024 first appeared on Bearing Drift ..read more