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Montgomery County Residents Demand 'Plan C' for Waste Management Amid Incinerator Debate

Montgomery County Residents Demand 'Plan C' for Waste Management Amid Incinerator Debate

Residents around the Shady Grove Transfer Station in Montgomery County, Maryland, are advocating for an alternative waste management strategy, dubbed 'Plan C,' as county officials consider the future of the Dickerson incinerator. County Executive Marc Elrich has proposed shifting from incineration to advanced waste processing, which would involve trucking waste out of the county if the incinerator closes before a new facility is built. This proposal has raised concerns among residents about increased odors, truck traffic, and potential hazardous material incidents at the Shady Grove Transfer Station. A study indicated that long-hauling waste would result in an additional 40 trash trucks daily through the transfer station. Council President Natali Fani-González rejected Elrich’s approach, leading the council to adopt a budget that maintains funding for incinerator operations through June 2027. The Dickerson incinerator, operational since 1995, processes approximately 600,000 tons of waste annually, converti...

Maryland Was Ranked the 5th-Easiest State for Voting in a 2020 Study

Maryland Was Ranked the 5th-Easiest State for Voting in a 2020 Study

Maryland, a state with a rich political history, conducts a variety of elections at federal, state, and local levels. These electoral processes are...

Federal Judge Denies Recount for 'Safer Portland' Ballot Initiative Aiming to Redirect Climate Funds to Police

Federal Judge Denies Recount for 'Safer Portland' Ballot Initiative Aiming to Redirect Climate Funds to Police

U.S. District Judge Michael Simon has denied requests for an emergency recount of signatures for the 'Safer Portland' ballot initiative. This initiative sought to reallocate 25% of new funds from the Portland Clean Energy Fund (PCEF) to hire more police officers. Safer Portland alleged that election officials improperly discarded thousands of signatures, preventing the initiative from qualifying for the November ballot. However, Judge Simon concluded that election officials followed the law in good faith when examining the signatures. He noted inconsistencies on the petition sheets, including mismatched signatures, and stated that petitioners submitted signatures on the final day, leaving no time to correct discrepancies. The lawsuit involved city, county, and state election offices after Safer Portland declined to accept the initial results. The Portland auditor's office affirmed the court's decision, stating that the plaintiffs had the opportunity to present evidence in federal court, and the court denie...

Justice Kavanaugh Denies Emergency Request for Michigan Citizen Voting Proposal

Justice Kavanaugh Denies Emergency Request for Michigan Citizen Voting Proposal

Justice Brett Kavanaugh of the U.S. Supreme Court has denied an emergency request from a group seeking to place a proposal on the Michigan ballot that would require voters to prove their citizenship status. The proposal, put forth by Americans for Citizen Voting (ACV), aimed to clarify that only U.S. citizens can vote in Michigan elections, mandate photo identification for voters, require the Secretary of State to verify citizenship, and implement systematic reviews of voter rolls. The legal challenge arose after the Michigan Board of State Canvassers reached an impasse, with its two Republican and two Democratic members unable to agree on the validity of the submitted signatures. ACV claimed there was sufficient evidence to qualify the proposal, but the board could not certify it. Following Justice Kavanaugh's denial, the Michigan Supreme Court also rejected ACV's request, stating that the Board of State Canvassers acted within its rights. This decision makes it unlikely the proposal will appear on the No...

Federal Judge Denies Immediate Recount for Portland Police Ballot Initiative

Federal Judge Denies Immediate Recount for Portland Police Ballot Initiative

A federal judge in Oregon has denied an immediate recount for a ballot measure that aimed to divert money from Portland's climate fund to local police. The initiative, led by the 'Safer Portland' campaign, failed to meet the 40,437-signature minimum required to qualify for the November ballot, as ruled by Portland elections officials on August 4. Safer Portland subsequently sued, alleging discrimination and requesting an emergency recount of the signatures. However, U.S. District Judge Michael Simon denied these requests, stating that the initiative's supporters lacked evidence that Portland elections workers deviated from state election laws. Deborah Scroggin, who manages Portland's elections division, viewed the decision as a vindication, asserting that Portland City Elections followed the law and accurately reported the result.

Federal Judge Denies Preliminary Injunction Sought by 'Safer Portland' Backers in Ballot Initiative Dispute

Federal Judge Denies Preliminary Injunction Sought by 'Safer Portland' Backers in Ballot Initiative Dispute

U.S. District Judge Michael Simon has denied a preliminary injunction sought by backers of the 'Safer Portland' initiative, effectively ending their effort to place a measure on the November 2026 ballot. The initiative aimed to divert funds from Portland's climate fund to hire more police officers. 'Safer Portland' alleged that election officials improperly discarded thousands of signatures. However, Judge Simon stated in his opinion that there were several inconsistencies on the petition sheets, including signatures that did not match. He noted that petitioners submitted the signatures on July 6, the final day for submission, which left no time to correct any discrepancies. Judge Simon concluded that election officials applied state and local election laws, rules, and standards in good faith and in a politically neutral manner, finding no likelihood of success on the merits for the petitioners' claims.

Justice Kavanaugh Denies Emergency Injunction on Michigan Proof-of-Citizenship Voting Amendment

Justice Kavanaugh Denies Emergency Injunction on Michigan Proof-of-Citizenship Voting Amendment

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh has denied an emergency injunction request against a Michigan state canvassers' decision regarding a proposed proof-of-citizenship voting amendment. This decision effectively halts the amendment's path to the November ballot through the judicial system. The proposed amendment to the Michigan Constitution would have required proof of citizenship to register to vote and mandated photo identification at the polls or within six days of an election for a ballot to be counted. The Americans for Citizen Voting Michigan campaign had appealed to both the Michigan Supreme Court and then the U.S. Supreme Court after the Michigan Board of State Canvassers deadlocked on whether enough valid petition signatures were submitted. Justice Kavanaugh, who handles emergency filings for the region including Michigan, reviewed briefs from both parties before issuing his denial. The campaign expressed deep disappointment, citing the nearly 710,000 Michigan citizens who signed the petitio...

Washington State Faces Surge in Uncounted Late Ballots Amidst Federal Mail-in Ballot Disputes

Washington State Faces Surge in Uncounted Late Ballots Amidst Federal Mail-in Ballot Disputes

Washington State experienced a significant increase in uncounted late ballots during its recent primary election, with over 20,000 ballots rejected due to late arrival, a 32% jump from 2024. This issue is attributed to changes in U.S. Postal Service (USPS) policies, including a rule stating that a mailpiece's postmark date does not necessarily align with the date of acceptance. Election officials, including Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs and U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell, have raised concerns that reduced service and distant processing centers are causing delays, particularly impacting rural counties where ballot drop box access is limited. These officials are urging voters to use drop boxes or mail ballots at least a week before Election Day. The state is also engaged in litigation with the Trump administration over its mail-in ballot system, with the administration seeking tighter federal control through the Postal Service. A federal judge has temporarily blocked these federal moves, but the cas...

Federal Judge Considers Extending Ban on U.S. Postal Service Mail Voting Changes

Federal Judge Considers Extending Ban on U.S. Postal Service Mail Voting Changes

U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani is deliberating whether to extend her prohibition on the U.S. Postal Service's (USPS) proposed regulation of mail ballots. This effort stems from an executive order by President Trump. The hearing occurred just before the first state began sending mail ballots to voters for the midterm elections. Judge Talwani expressed concern that the USPS had not provided clear information on how it would implement the plan, stating, 'I have nothing from the USPS about how this will happen.' The administration's plan requires states to upload voter lists to an online portal and adhere to a uniform envelope style, with the USPS potentially refusing to deliver ballots that do not comply. Election officials have stated that complying with these directives would necessitate a complete overhaul of their operations, and the online portal was not active this week.

Explainer-Will Trump's restrictions on mail-in ballots be in place for the midterms?

Explainer-Will Trump's restrictions on mail-in ballots be in place for the midterms?

By Luc Cohen Sept 4 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump's administration on Thursday asked the U.S. Supreme Court to allow it to enforce a new U.S.

Philadelphia Eagles Running Back Saquon Barkley's Home Targeted in Attempted Burglary; Suspect Arrested

Philadelphia Eagles Running Back Saquon Barkley's Home Targeted in Attempted Burglary; Suspect Arrested

Philadelphia Eagles Running Back Saquon Barkley's Home Targeted in Attempted Burglary; Suspect Arrested

ACLJ Files Amicus Brief at Supreme Court to Defend Arizona's Voter ID and Citizenship Verification Laws

ACLJ Files Amicus Brief at Supreme Court to Defend Arizona's Voter ID and Citizenship Verification Laws

The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) has filed an amicus brief with the Supreme Court, urging it to reverse a Ninth Circuit ruling that impacts Arizona's voter registration requirements. The case, Republican National Committee v. Mi Familia Vota, centers on Arizona's mandate for voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship and its process for confirming and canceling registrations of self-identified noncitizens. The Ninth Circuit previously ruled that the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) preempts these Arizona requirements. The ACLJ argues that this ruling undermines Arizona's ability to maintain accurate voter rolls and ensure election integrity by making it harder to verify voter eligibility. The organization asserts that confirming a voter's citizenship is a fundamental check for trustworthy elections and that the NVRA was intended to facilitate voter registration while allowing states to keep their rolls secure, not to force states to accept registrations without reliable eligibil...