This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareTurbulent and in some cases violent protests erupted around the country Thursday night over the death of George Floyd while in the custody of Minneapolis police officers. Demonstrators damaged buildings, blocked traffic and demanded justice for Floyd and other victims of police violence.At the center of the fury was Minneapolis, , set fire to the building and launched fireworks toward police, forcing all officers to evacuate the precinct. The unrest multiplied from Phoenix to Columbus, Ohio, as hundreds of people...…This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareTurbulent and in some cases violent protests erupted around the country Thursday night over the death of George Floyd while in the custody of Minneapolis police officers. Demonstrators damaged buildings, blocked traffic and demanded justice for Floyd and other victims of police violence.At the center of the fury was Minneapolis, , set fire to the building and launched fireworks toward police, forcing all officers to evacuate the precinct. The unrest multiplied from Phoenix to Columbus, Ohio, as hundreds of people...WW…

This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareVoters stood in line for up to four hours in the Northern Virginia suburbs on Friday to cast ballots in a bitterly contested presidential election, turning out in force on the first day of early voting to take advantage of a new state law making it easier to cast absentee ballots.In heavily Democratic Fairfax County, the state’s largest jurisdiction, the wait had stretched to four hours — and hundreds of voters — by midday, officials said.Although early voting will continue thorough Oct. 31, with additional locations...…This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareVoters stood in line for up to four hours in the Northern Virginia suburbs on Friday to cast ballots in a bitterly contested presidential election, turning out in force on the first day of early voting to take advantage of a new state law making it easier to cast absentee ballots.In heavily Democratic Fairfax County, the state’s largest jurisdiction, the wait had stretched to four hours — and hundreds of voters — by midday, officials said.Although early voting will continue thorough Oct. 31, with additional locations...WW…

This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareThe prosecutor investigating the St. Louis couple who aimed guns at protesters says she has received racist attacks and death threats that have worsened as President Trump has thrown his support behind the couple.“This is a modern-day night ride, and everybody knows it,” St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner (D) said in an interview with The Washington Post, referring to the terroristic forays of the Ku Klux Klan into African American neighborhoods in the 19th and 20th centuries. “And for a president to participate in...…This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareThe prosecutor investigating the St. Louis couple who aimed guns at protesters says she has received racist attacks and death threats that have worsened as President Trump has thrown his support behind the couple.“This is a modern-day night ride, and everybody knows it,” St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner (D) said in an interview with The Washington Post, referring to the terroristic forays of the Ku Klux Klan into African American neighborhoods in the 19th and 20th centuries. “And for a president to participate in...WW…

This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareGeorgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) on Thursday sued to stop Atlanta from enforcing some of its coronavirus-related rules, including its mandate to wear a face covering in public, even as the state experiences a sharp rise in coronavirus cases. alleges that Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms (D) lacked the authority to implement a mask requirement and that she must obey Kemp’s executive orders, including one signed Wednesday that explicitly bans municipalities from enacting their own face-covering ordinances.Kemp’s lawsuit also asks the...…This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareGeorgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) on Thursday sued to stop Atlanta from enforcing some of its coronavirus-related rules, including its mandate to wear a face covering in public, even as the state experiences a sharp rise in coronavirus cases. alleges that Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms (D) lacked the authority to implement a mask requirement and that she must obey Kemp’s executive orders, including one signed Wednesday that explicitly bans municipalities from enacting their own face-covering ordinances.Kemp’s lawsuit also asks the...WW…

This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareAt his factory just off the Delaware River, in the far southeastern corner of Pennsylvania, Joe Boyce clocked in on March 23 for the longest shift of his life.In his office, an air mattress replaced his desk chair. He brought a toothbrush and shaving kit, moving into the Braskem petrochemical plant in Marcus Hook, Pa., as if it were a makeshift college dormitory. The casual office kitchen became a mess hall for him and his 42 co-workers turned roommates. The factory’s emergency operations center became their new lounge...…This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareAt his factory just off the Delaware River, in the far southeastern corner of Pennsylvania, Joe Boyce clocked in on March 23 for the longest shift of his life.In his office, an air mattress replaced his desk chair. He brought a toothbrush and shaving kit, moving into the Braskem petrochemical plant in Marcus Hook, Pa., as if it were a makeshift college dormitory. The casual office kitchen became a mess hall for him and his 42 co-workers turned roommates. The factory’s emergency operations center became their new lounge...WW…

This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareOn Wednesday night in the heart of downtown Platteville, Wis., just hours after the Wisconsin Supreme Court , Nick’s on 2nd was packed wall to wall, standing room only.It was sometime after 10 p.m. when “Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress” by the Hollies came over the sound system and a bartender took out his camera. In a Twitter broadcast, he surveyed the room of maskless patrons crammed together, partying like it was 2019. A few were pounding on the bar to the beat. Some were clapping their hands in the air and some were...…This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareOn Wednesday night in the heart of downtown Platteville, Wis., just hours after the Wisconsin Supreme Court , Nick’s on 2nd was packed wall to wall, standing room only.It was sometime after 10 p.m. when “Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress” by the Hollies came over the sound system and a bartender took out his camera. In a Twitter broadcast, he surveyed the room of maskless patrons crammed together, partying like it was 2019. A few were pounding on the bar to the beat. Some were clapping their hands in the air and some were...WW…

This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareThe offhand comment by Wisconsin Supreme Court Chief Justice Patience Roggensack was about to take on a life of its own.In the middle of , an attorney for Gov. Tony Evers (D) had just pointed to Brown County, Wis., as an example of how fast the novel coronavirus can spread. The county, home to the JBS Packerland meatpacking plant, had its coronavirus cases surge more than tenfold, from about 60 cases to almost 800, in just two weeks, the lawyer said.That’s when Roggensack interjected.“These were due to the meatpacking,...…This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareThe offhand comment by Wisconsin Supreme Court Chief Justice Patience Roggensack was about to take on a life of its own.In the middle of , an attorney for Gov. Tony Evers (D) had just pointed to Brown County, Wis., as an example of how fast the novel coronavirus can spread. The county, home to the JBS Packerland meatpacking plant, had its coronavirus cases surge more than tenfold, from about 60 cases to almost 800, in just two weeks, the lawyer said.That’s when Roggensack interjected.“These were due to the meatpacking,...WW…

This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareIf all roads in Michigan lead to the state capitol, conservative protesters on Wednesday made sure they were closed.For miles, thousands of drivers clogged the streets to demand Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) ease restrictions and allow them to go back to work. They drowned downtown Lansing, Mich., in a cacophony of honking. They blared patriotic songs from car radios, waving all sorts of flags from the windows — President Trump flags, American flags and the occasional Confederate flag.But in the massive demonstration...…This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareIf all roads in Michigan lead to the state capitol, conservative protesters on Wednesday made sure they were closed.For miles, thousands of drivers clogged the streets to demand Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) ease restrictions and allow them to go back to work. They drowned downtown Lansing, Mich., in a cacophony of honking. They blared patriotic songs from car radios, waving all sorts of flags from the windows — President Trump flags, American flags and the occasional Confederate flag.But in the massive demonstration...WW…

This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareWhen President Trump was asked during what authority he has to reopen the country, he didn’t hesitate to answer. “I have the ultimate authority,” the president responded, cutting off the reporter who was speaking.Trump later clarified his position further, telling reporters, “When somebody is the president of the United States, the authority is total and that’s the way it’s got to be. … It’s total. The governors know that.”The local leaders, Trump said, “can’t do anything without the approval of the president of the...…This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareWhen President Trump was asked during what authority he has to reopen the country, he didn’t hesitate to answer. “I have the ultimate authority,” the president responded, cutting off the reporter who was speaking.Trump later clarified his position further, telling reporters, “When somebody is the president of the United States, the authority is total and that’s the way it’s got to be. … It’s total. The governors know that.”The local leaders, Trump said, “can’t do anything without the approval of the president of the...WW…

This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareA pandemic couldn’t cancel America’s most crowded parties this Memorial Day weekend, even as the novel coronavirus took at least 2,000 more American lives.At a flashy club in Houston, dozens splashed around the pool and sipped on drinks on the patio. In rural North Carolina, shoulder to shoulder at Ace Speedway on its opening night, where face masks were the exception. And in Daytona Beach, Fla., even after an event called “Orlando Invades Daytona” was canceled, hundreds still danced in the street and on top of cars near...…This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareA pandemic couldn’t cancel America’s most crowded parties this Memorial Day weekend, even as the novel coronavirus took at least 2,000 more American lives.At a flashy club in Houston, dozens splashed around the pool and sipped on drinks on the patio. In rural North Carolina, shoulder to shoulder at Ace Speedway on its opening night, where face masks were the exception. And in Daytona Beach, Fla., even after an event called “Orlando Invades Daytona” was canceled, hundreds still danced in the street and on top of cars near...WW…