Michigan court upholds mass mailing of absentee ballot applications

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A Michigan state appeals court on Wednesday upheld the right of Michigan’s top election official to send unsolicited absentee ballot applications to all of the state’s registered voters.The …

Mass deaths of migratory birds reported in New Mexico | RNZ News

The number of birds that have died may now be in the “millions”, she said.

Scientists have reported North American bird populations have declined massively in recent years.

State biologists have asked people to report sightings of dead birds for further research to be conducted.

Some birds – including migratory warblers, swallows and bluebirds – were seen acting strangely before their deaths, according to witnesses.

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Photo: Facebook

“It’s devastating. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything this horrible in my life,” Desmond, who works for the university’s department of fish, wildlife, and conservation ecology, told KRQE-TV.

“When you’re there, you know, picking them up off the ground and seeing the extent of it and then looking at all these carcasses come in,” she continued.

Source: Mass deaths of migratory birds reported in New Mexico | RNZ News

Debunking Sheriff Villanueva’s False Or Misleading Claims About The Arrest Of KPCC/LAist’s Josie Huang: LAist

News anchors Frank Buckley and Jessica Holmes then pressed Villanueva on the details of Huang’s arrest. In response, Villanueva made numerous false or misleading statements, several of which he reiterated in an afternoon press conference. The sheriff’s comments come at a time when law enforcement agencies are under scrutiny, not just for the behavior of their personnel, but for the way they shape narratives, and in turn sway public opinion. Relying on video footage from the scene, witness accounts, and Huang’s account of the arrest (including her own video footage), we’re correcting and clarifying five incorrect or misleading statements Villanueva made about the arrest.

while documenting the arrest of a protester, Huang herself was arrested. Multiple videos show that she clearly identified herself as a reporter. She did so even as deputies tossed her against a car, and then to the ground — shouting “I’m a reporter!”

While on the ground, Huang then yelled out her affiliation with KPCC at least seven times, according to video from the scene.

At least one deputy clearly heard Huang’s statement, responding in the video: “Do what you’re told if you’re a reporter.”

Source: Debunking Sheriff Villanueva’s False Or Misleading Claims About The Arrest Of KPCC/LAist’s Josie Huang: LAist

Monday Notes: Since George Floyd’s Death… | K E Garland

I decided to lean into hard conversations centered on race. Part of this includes speaking up when I feel someone has made a statement that seems to fit in the covert or overt racist category. For example, when an IG acquaintance posted about how her church fed police as a way to demonstrate “unity” during global protest focused on how police were killing Black men, I asked her a simple question: Has your church supported the BLM movement? Her answer was a disappointing no that she wholeheartedly stands by, but I feel better having broached the subject, as opposed to ignoring it altogether. And I don’t have to assume where she is on the subject. It’s quite clear.

Source: Monday Notes: Since George Floyd’s Death… | K E Garland

White House Staff Members Reportedly Test Positive For COVID-19 Less Than 24 Hours After President Donald Trump Visited Philadelphia – CBS Philly

White House staff members have reportedly tested positive for COVID-19 less than 24 hours after President Donald Trump visited Philadelphia. Globo News reporter Raquel Krahenbuhl says she was informed of the positive COVID-19 cases Wednesday, but Chief of Staff Mark Meadows says he is not releasing any further information. Source: White House Staff Members Reportedly Test Positive For COVID-19 Less Than 24 Hours After President Donald Trump Visited Philadelphia – CBS Philly

‘Democrat Voters Against Joe Biden’ Group Has Trump Fanatics, a Psychic, but No Actual Dems

A new advocacy group ostensibly comprised of Democrats opposed to the election of Joe Biden appears to have the backing of few, if any, actual Democrats.  Those involved, however, do include a Republican operative whose group illicitly funneled millions into political contests, a longtime Trump fan whose son works for the president’s campaign, and a self-described celebrity psychic who’s taught best practices for exorcisms.

Source: ‘Democrat Voters Against Joe Biden’ Group Has Trump Fanatics, a Psychic, but No Actual Dems

Miami Herald Editor Apologizes for ‘Racist and Anti-Semitic’ Insert – The New York Times

Libre’s publisher is Demetrio Perez Jr., a former member of the Miami-Dade school board. In 2001, The Sun Sentinel reported that he had been sentenced to six months house arrest and given 18 months probation after he was indicted on charges that he defrauded the federal housing program. A personal website for Mr. Perez Jr. identifies him as a Cuban-American educator and activist based in Miami. A New York Times search of earlier issues of Libre found a number of false, racist, sexist, anti-Semitic and homophobic statements in columns by Mr. Luque-Escalona. His targets have included Michelle Obama, the former first lady; the Democratic vice-presidential candidate Kamala Harris; and the basketball star LeBron James.