Democrats still critical of Republican redistricting proposals despite increased transparency

Democrats still critical of Republican redistricting proposals despite increased transparency

RALEIGH — A decade ago, North Carolina Republicans redrew their legislative districts to help their party in a way that a federal court ruled illegally deprived black voters of their right to political representation. A partisan state court later struck down Republican-drawn maps as based on pure partisanship.  As the once-a-decade redistricting process kicks into high gear, North Carolina is one of at least three states where Republicans say they are drawing maps without looking at racial and party data. Democrats are incredulous, noting that veteran lawmakers don’t need a spreadsheet to know where voters of various races and different…
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HUDSON: Americans shouldn’t accept the status quo

HUDSON: Americans shouldn’t accept the status quo

On Feb. 2, 1977, President Jimmy Carter addressed the nation from the White House. He had been in office for two weeks and inflation was already beginning to impact American families. Famously wearing a cardigan sweater, he said energy shortages would be permanent while urging Americans to lower their thermostats to 55 degrees and make sacrifices. This address was followed by several years of hyperinflation, gas lines, and as President Carter called it, “a crisis of confidence.” By 1980, America was fed up and sent an eternal optimist and problem solver to the White House. President Ronald Reagan didn’t accept…
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Amazon to end testing for COVID-19 at warehouses this month

Amazon to end testing for COVID-19 at warehouses this month

Amazon will stop testing workers for COVID-19 at its warehouses at the end of this month, citing the availability of vaccines and free testing. The company began testing warehouse workers last year when tests were more difficult to secure. Warehouse workers, who were considered essential, packed and shipped orders throughout the pandemic. Amazon disclosed in October that nearly 20,000 workers, or about 1.4% of its total workforce, had been infected with COVID-19 by that point in 2020. Vaccines began to roll out about two months later and in May, employees who uploaded a picture of their vaccine cards to an…
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Judge questions treatment of suspended horse trainer Baffert

Judge questions treatment of suspended horse trainer Baffert

NEW YORK — A New York judge was sympathetic Monday to horse trainer Bob Baffert’s claims that his May suspension by the New York Racing Association — after Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit failed a postrace drug test — was unconstitutional. U.S. District Judge Carol Bagley Amon at a Brooklyn hearing repeatedly pressed a lawyer for the racing association to explain why the suspension was issued before Baffert was given a chance to defend himself. Henry Greenberg, arguing on behalf of the racing association, said Baffert will get a hearing after the association announces the length of his suspension by…
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Paul carries Suns past Giannis, Bucks in NBA Finals opener

Paul carries Suns past Giannis, Bucks in NBA Finals opener

PHOENIX — Chris Paul waited 16 years to get to the NBA Finals, bringing with him a team starving for its first championship. The setting was entirely new. The performance was same ol’ Chris Paul. “Just knew he’s ready,” Phoenix forward Mikal Bridges said. “He’s prepared his whole life for this moment and it shows out there on the court.” Paul had 32 points and nine assists in an NBA Finals debut that was well worth the wait, Devin Booker scored 27 points and the Suns beat the returning Giannis Antetokounmpo and his Milwaukee Bucks 118-105 on Tuesday night in…
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Tropical Storm Elsa expected to hit NC

Tropical Storm Elsa expected to hit NC

RALEIGH – Tropical Storm Elsa could bring rain, wind, and tornadoes to North Carolina on Wednesday night and into Thursday, according to the National Hurricane Center. State emergency management officials are advising residents in eastern and central North Carolina to be prepared for significant rains and possible flooding. “Residents and visitors to North Carolina should keep a close watch on the forecast for this storm,” said Gov. Roy Cooper. The State Emergency Operations Center in Raleigh activated Tuesday to monitor the storm. The State Emergency Response Team is preparing to support local governments with any storm-related needs.
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Over 6 million EU citizens apply to settle in post-Brexit UK

Over 6 million EU citizens apply to settle in post-Brexit UK

LONDON — More than 6 million European Union citizens applied to settle in the U.K. before the end-June deadline that the British government had imposed as part of the country’s departure from the bloc. In a statement Friday, Britain’s Home Office said of the 6.02 million people who had applied, 400,000 applications were made in the final month before the end of the EU Settlement Scheme. “Having more than 6 million applications to the scheme is an unprecedented achievement and I am delighted that we have secured the rights of so many EU citizens — our friends, neighbors and family…
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Watch what you like on streaming — assuming you can find it

Watch what you like on streaming — assuming you can find it

Content is king — if you can find it. As streaming services proliferate, it’s becoming more of a challenge to track down your favorite TV shows and blockbuster movies when streaming services can change up their offerings every month. That’s complicating life for those who know what they want to watch, but just don’t know where to locate it. Some hits are practically itinerants. “Batman Begins” and “The Dark Knight,” for instance, bounced around four different services between March 2020 and March 2021 — Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max and Peacock. Some of these services hosted the movies twice in that…
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Twitter restricts account of expert who mocked China leader

Twitter restricts account of expert who mocked China leader

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — A New Zealand academic says Twitter temporarily restricted her account after she mocked Chinese President Xi Jinping. University of Canterbury Professor Anne-Marie Brady is an expert on China’s attempts to exert political influence around the world and has been an outspoken critic of its ruling Communist Party. Last week, she sent tweets poking fun at the party’s 100th anniversary celebrations. She said two of those tweets were temporarily marked “unavailable” by Twitter and her account was temporarily restricted over the weekend, before it was restored on Monday. Twitter did not say what prompted its actions. Edward…
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