2020年11月5日星期四

Yahoo! News: Education News

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Yahoo! News: Education News


His hopes of winning growing dim, Trump looks to halt vote counting in Pennsylvania

Posted: 04 Nov 2020 01:29 PM PST

His hopes of winning growing dim, Trump looks to halt vote counting in PennsylvaniaAs President Trump's reelection prospects continued to dim on Wednesday, his campaign launched an aggressive yet questionable strategy to keep Joe Biden from winning the state of Pennsylvania.


‘A nightmare case.’ Florida man thought he shot an intruder, but it was his pregnant wife, sheriff says

Posted: 05 Nov 2020 03:04 PM PST

'A nightmare case.' Florida man thought he shot an intruder, but it was his pregnant wife, sheriff saysA Martin County man thought he heard someone outside his bedroom door in the middle of the night Wednesday. Thinking it was an intruder, the man shot at them. But it wasn't an intruder. It was his pregnant wife, reports say.


People want Amanda Knox to delete an 'insensitive' tweet saying that the next presidency can't be worse than her 4 years in Italy

Posted: 04 Nov 2020 08:54 AM PST

People want Amanda Knox to delete an 'insensitive' tweet saying that the next presidency can't be worse than her 4 years in Italy"Whatever happens, the next four years can't be as bad as that four-year study abroad I did in Italy, right?" Knox tweeted.


Black men drifted from Democrats toward Trump in record numbers, polls show

Posted: 04 Nov 2020 12:45 PM PST

Black men drifted from Democrats toward Trump in record numbers, polls showMost Black men supported Biden, but overall, Democrats have been losing Black male support since 2008, according to NBC exit poll data.


Georgia's most populous county stopped counting ballots at 10:30 p.m.

Posted: 03 Nov 2020 08:27 PM PST

Georgia's most populous county stopped counting ballots at 10:30 p.m.It's bedtime in Georgia! In Fulton County — the state's most populous county, which includes Atlanta — officials said they would stop counting mail-in ballots at 10:30 p.m., with the plan of resuming in the morning, NBC News reports. Hey, that's fine, it's not like we're in the middle of an incredibly contentious election or anything!The count in Fulton County had already been delayed earlier in the evening, after a pipe burst near a room where some of the ballots were being held. Because the region is home to a tenth of all Georgians, the further hold-up will affect when the whole state is able to report its final tally. Trump leads in the Peach State as of 11 p.m. ET with 63 percent reporting, although his margin is expected to narrow or potentially flip, since mail-in ballots are projected to skew blue, especially in Atlanta.Still, Georgian officials' decision to hit the hay could result in sleepless nights for a lot of other Americans, as it makes the chance of having a definitive call on the president by Tuesday night even slimmer.More stories from theweek.com COVID-19 keeps proving everyone wrong Is this the year the New South turns blue? Democrats' first priority


Mississippi's new magnolia flag starting to fly after vote

Posted: 04 Nov 2020 02:02 PM PST

Mississippi's new magnolia flag starting to fly after voteA new Mississippi flag without Confederate images was flying in parts of the state on Wednesday, one day after a majority voters approved the design that has a magnolia encircled by stars and the phrase "In God We Trust." Officials hoisted the flag outside Hattiesburg City Hall and on the campus of the University of Mississippi in Oxford. "Mississippi voters sent a message to the world that we are moving forward together," former Mississippi Supreme Court Justice Reuben Anderson said in a statement.


YouTube's algorithm change successfully curbed misinformation ahead of the election — and boosted Fox News at the same time, new research has found

Posted: 04 Nov 2020 04:48 AM PST

YouTube's algorithm change successfully curbed misinformation ahead of the election — and boosted Fox News at the same time, new research has foundResearchers speculated this is because the algorithm now favors channels designated as authoritative news sources.


Tired of blue state life, rural Oregon voters eye new border

Posted: 04 Nov 2020 03:30 PM PST

Tired of blue state life, rural Oregon voters eye new borderAs a hotly contested election highlights the United States's deep divisions, rural voters in liberal blue-state Oregon have approved a radical solution -- splitting off to join neighboring deep-red conservative Idaho.


Thom Tillis Declares Victory in North Carolina Senate Race

Posted: 04 Nov 2020 10:17 AM PST

Thom Tillis Declares Victory in North Carolina Senate RaceSenator Thom Tillis (R., N.C.) has declared victory in his reelection bid against Democrat Cal Cunningham.The North Carolina Senate race has not been called by the Associated Press as of Wednesday afternoon. However, Tillis currently holds 48.7 percent of the vote to Cunningham's 46.9 percent, with 93 percent of the total vote counted.Most North Carolina counties have already reported greater than 98 percent of their results, according to the New York Times. Several populous Democratic counties have reported about 90 percent of their results, indicating that Cunningham may be able to narrow Tillis's lead. However, Tillis decided to declare victory."Senator Thom Tillis won the most expensive United States Senate race in history," the Tillis campaign said in a statement. "Tillis' victory proved pollsters, pundits and the media wrong, as North Carolinians once again chose a problem solver who keeps his promises and delivers results."In a victory speech delivered to supporters on Tuesday night, Tillis thanked supporters and his family, calling the results of the race a "stunning victory."Polls consistently showed Tillis trailing Cunningham coming into Election Day. Polling numbers did not change significantly even after revelations that Cunningham, an army officer and married father of two, carried on an extramarital affair as recently as July.The race was simultaneously thrown into turmoil after Tillis revealed he had contracted coronavirus, and was forced to hold campaign events and interviews virtually until his recovery.


SCOTUS to hear dispute over Catholic organization’s refusal to allow LGBT parents to foster

Posted: 04 Nov 2020 05:48 AM PST

SCOTUS to hear dispute over Catholic organization's refusal to allow LGBT parents to fosterIn a case pitting LGBT rights against religious rights, the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday is set to hear arguments in a dispute over the city of Philadelphia's refusal to place children for foster care with a Catholic Church-affiliated agency that excludes same-sex couples from serving as foster parents.


Georgia voters ousted the district attorney who oversaw Ahmaud Arbery's case

Posted: 04 Nov 2020 10:03 AM PST

Georgia voters ousted the district attorney who oversaw Ahmaud Arbery's caseThe longtime Republican prosecutor had declined to investigate the death of Ahmaud Arbery, 25, who was followed, shot, and killed by a group of white men.


‘Even $15 an hour is a joke.’ Are Miami restaurants ready for the new minimum wage?

Posted: 05 Nov 2020 09:08 AM PST

'Even $15 an hour is a joke.' Are Miami restaurants ready for the new minimum wage?Zak Stern didn't flinch when he saw Floridians vote for a $15 minimum wage.


Fact check: Photo shows Philadelphia police officer helping toddler, who wasn't lost

Posted: 04 Nov 2020 04:24 PM PST

Fact check: Photo shows Philadelphia police officer helping toddler, who wasn't lostPro-law enforcement social media accounts posted a photo of an officer holding a toddler and claimed the child was "lost."


A senior TikTok executive admitted the company used to censor content critical of China, 'specifically with regard to the Uighur situation'

Posted: 05 Nov 2020 06:04 AM PST

A senior TikTok executive admitted the company used to censor content critical of China, 'specifically with regard to the Uighur situation'TikTok's UK director of public policy said Wednesday that the company had previously taken a "blunt instrument" approach to censorship.


Dems Burned Hundreds of Millions on Failed Senate Campaigns

Posted: 03 Nov 2020 09:41 PM PST

Dems Burned Hundreds of Millions on Failed Senate CampaignsHundreds of millions of dollars plowed into Democratic Senate campaigns this year went up in flames on Tuesday as some of the party's most lavishly funded challengers came up short.In South Carolina, Democrat Jaime Harrison fell to Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham despite breaking just about every Senate fundraising record with his $109 million cash haul. Kentucky state Senator Amy McGrath posted nearly as impressive fundraising numbers, bringing in about $90 million, but fell well short in her bid to unseat Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. And in Iowa, Theresa Greenfield failed to unseat Sen. Joni Ernst in spite of a $47 million war chest. In Texas, Democratic challenger M.J. Hegar, who raised nearly $25 million, was easily defeated by incumbent Sen. John Cornyn.Democrats stunned political observers with unheard-of fundraising numbers this year, boosted by huge grassroots financial support in an election year that the party hoped would culminate in a blue wave. But as results trickled in on Tuesday evening, with Democratic nominee Joe Biden falling short of expectations, a number of down-ballot Democrats also succumbed to a Republican showing far stronger than most late-cycle polling had suggested.For Harrison and McGrath in particular, the losses represented an historic squandering of a massive chunk of Democratic resources. Harrison alone had raised more money in a single election cycle than any senator of either party—with the sole exception of McConnell—had ever raised in his or her entire career. Those funds boosted what Democrats hoped would be a seismic shift in the U.S. Senate map, a victory in a state historically dominated by Republicans, and the vanquishment of a senator (Graham) who has emerged as one of President Donald Trump's closest congressional allies—and who recently shepherded Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett through her successful confirmation process.But the election was called for Graham at roughly 10 p.m. on Tuesday night. Half an hour later, as returns showed Graham leading by about 12 points, Harrison called Graham to concede.Despite raising nearly as impressive sums, McGrath fared even worse. As of about 11 p.m. on Tuesday, she trailed McConnell by more than 20 points, with 95 percent of the state's precincts reporting. Her $90 million campaign haul was supplemented by huge outside spending by Democratic groups determined to take out the face of the Senate GOP. According to data from the Center for Responsive Politics, super PACs and other independent groups dropped $23 million while attacking McConnell and supporting McGrath.Democrats in the race even took to more unorthodox tactics to try to unseat McConnell. One prominent pro-McGrath super PAC spent $1.5 million late in the race to boost Kentucky's Libertarian Senate candidate.Some of the party's most vulnerable incumbents, who also enjoyed substantial backing from Democratic donors, also came up short. In Alabama, Democratic Sen. Doug Jones raised about $26 million, far outpacing Republican challenger Tommy Tuberville, but failed to hold onto his seat in the deep red state.Few expected Jones to prevail in his re-election contest, his first since his upset 2017 victory against former Alabama Supreme Court judge Roy Moore. But the substantial sums donated to his campaign and spent on his behalf dwarfed the roughly $8 million that Tuberville raised for his race. Jones was nonetheless defeated handily; with about 63 percent of the vote in on Tuesday night, Tuberville led by more than 25 points.Election 2020: Live ResultsRead more at The Daily Beast.Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now!Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more.


Oregon becomes first US state to decriminalize hard drugs

Posted: 03 Nov 2020 11:25 PM PST

Oregon becomes first US state to decriminalize hard drugsOregon on Tuesday became the first US state to decriminalize hard drugs, including the possession of small amounts of heroin and cocaine, and to legalize access to "magic mushrooms" for therapeutic use.


Remains of missing Los Angeles firefighter found in Mexico

Posted: 04 Nov 2020 05:12 PM PST

The USPS can't account for 300,000 absentee ballots, but that's probably not as bad as it sounds

Posted: 05 Nov 2020 05:12 AM PST

The USPS can't account for 300,000 absentee ballots, but that's probably not as bad as it soundsU.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan was furious Wednesday that the U.S. Postal Service had defied his order to sweep postal processing facilities in 15 states Tuesday to find missing absentee ballots and deliver them on time. The USPS had said in a court document that 300,000 ballots had been scanned into facilities but not scanned out, suggesting they were misplaced.Instead of complying with Sullivan's order, the USPS kept to its own schedule, raising concerns that tens of thousands of ballots would not be delivered in time to be counted. "It just leaves a bad taste in everyone's mouth for the clock to run out — game's over — and then to find out there was no compliance with a very important court order," Sullivan said. He suggested he would demand a deposition from Postmaster General Louis DeJoy.Notably, there were 81,000 untraced ballots spread across postal districts in key swing states with a combined 151 electoral votes, The Washington Post reports, though, according to its analysis, the missing ballots "are unlikely to affect the outcome of the presidential race." In many cases, USPS said, the ballots had been hand-sorted and delivered without an exit scan. The USPS did not provide data to indicate how prevalent that practice has been, though it did disclose that 7 percent of ballots in its sorting facilities Tuesday were not delivered in time to be counted."Even in a worst-case scenario where all potentially misplaced ballots in a state are permanently lost, those ballots amount to just a fraction of both current two-party vote margins and estimates of the number of outstanding ballots yet to be tallied," the Post reports. In Georgia, for instance, the maximum 6,624 missing votes represent just 8 percent of the margin between President Trump and Democrat Joe Biden.In other states, though, the number of missing ballots is larger — more than 11,000 in Pennsylvania and 16,000 in Florida — and the untraced absentee votes in Arizona make up 24 percent of the outstanding margin between Biden and Trump, the Post reports. Also, its analysis that "misplaced mail ballots will not be a significant factor in final vote tallies" has the caveat that it might be a factor if "the final presidential vote margins shrink to low three- or four-digit numbers in the coming days." In some states, like Arizona and Georgia that's a distinct possibility.More stories from theweek.com Fox News brings Trump to his knees The left just got crushed Biden's potential Cabinet picks may be limited 'to those who Mitch McConnell can live with'


Australian bookmaker pays out $17 million on Biden victory ahead of official result

Posted: 04 Nov 2020 05:29 PM PST

Australian bookmaker pays out $17 million on Biden victory ahead of official resultAn Australian bookmaker said on Thursday it has paid out A$23 million ($16.5 million) to people that had bet on Joe Biden becoming the next U.S. president though the official result is still to be determined. Former Vice President Biden has said he is headed to victory, though President Donald Trump has claimed that he has won and is pursuing lawsuits and a recount. "We have supreme confidence that Biden will end up in the Oval Office," a spokesman for the Australian bookmaker said.


A man was banned from Yellowstone after trying to fry chicken in a hot spring

Posted: 05 Nov 2020 02:13 PM PST

A man was banned from Yellowstone after trying to fry chicken in a hot springPark Rangers found the man near Yellowstone's Shoshone Geyser Basin region with cooking pots and two chickens in a burlap sack.


Protests erupt as election count continues 

Posted: 05 Nov 2020 05:57 AM PST

Protests erupt as election count continues 

Protests erupted across the U.S. on Wednesday evening as ballots for the election continued to be counted. Trump supporters in Nevada chanted "Count every vote," meanwhile in Michigan, demonstrators shouted "Stop the count."


The ultimate guide to marijuana legalization

Posted: 05 Nov 2020 06:17 AM PST

The ultimate guide to marijuana legalizationFour states voted to legalize recreational cannabis, and Mississippi voted to allow medical marijuana.


New Mexico becomes the first state to elect all women of color to the House

Posted: 05 Nov 2020 12:31 PM PST

New Mexico becomes the first state to elect all women of color to the HouseThe state confirmed victories for Deb Haaland, Yvette Herrell, and Teresa Leger Fernandez in all three of New Mexico's Congressional districts.


Eta's second act: Florida now in storm's path after it made landfall in Nicaragua as Category 4

Posted: 04 Nov 2020 08:48 AM PST

Eta's second act: Florida now in storm's path after it made landfall in Nicaragua as Category 4While it's too soon to determine Eta's intensity, timing and impacts from wind and rainfall, Florida should pay attention to this system.


Mexico police arrest man over 2019 Mormon killings

Posted: 05 Nov 2020 07:08 AM PST

Mexico police arrest man over 2019 Mormon killingsThree women and six children from the US were killed, in a possible case of mistaken identity.


Pope shakes up running of Vatican funds after London property scandal

Posted: 05 Nov 2020 04:43 AM PST

Pope shakes up running of Vatican funds after London property scandalPope Francis has stripped the Vatican's Secretariat of State of control over its own funds, moving them to the supervision of its economic offices in an attempt to contain the fallout of a scandal over a luxury London property deal. The Secretariat of State is the most important department in the Vatican administration, overseeing the Holy See's diplomacy and general affairs inside the Vatican and has historically controlled its own funds, investments and real estate holdings. An investigation into the London deal, which involved several middlemen, led to the suspension last year of five Vatican employees, the resignation of its police chief and the exit of the former director of its Financial Information Authority.


Key West voters put limits on cruise ships — but a lawsuit is pending

Posted: 05 Nov 2020 04:00 AM PST

Key West voters put limits on cruise ships — but a lawsuit is pendingKey West voters on Tuesday changed the way the island will do business with the cruise industry.


North Korea bans smoking in public places - will it help Kim kick the habit?

Posted: 05 Nov 2020 03:17 AM PST

North Korea bans smoking in public places - will it help Kim kick the habit?North Korea has introduced smoking bans in some public places to provide citizens with "hygienic living environments," raising questions about whether the nation's chain-smoking supreme leader may kick the habit himself. The new law introduced on Wednesday by the governing Supreme People's Assembly aims to protect the lives and health of North Koreans by tightening the legal and social controls on the production and sale of cigarettes, state media KCNA reported. The law stipulates that smoking is banned in specific venues, such as political and ideological education centres, theatres and cinemas, and medical and public health facilities. KCNA added that the law indicates penalties for breaking rules. North Korea has notoriously high smoking rates. Some 46 per cent of men smoked tobacco as of 2017, according to a World Health Organization survey. Apparently, no women smoke. Kim Jong-un, the North Korean leader, is the nation's most famous smoker, and has been frequently seen on state media lighting up a cigarette.


Meet Adrian Tam, the Gay Man Who Beat a ‘Proud Boys’ Leader in Hawaii’s Election

Posted: 05 Nov 2020 01:34 AM PST

Meet Adrian Tam, the Gay Man Who Beat a 'Proud Boys' Leader in Hawaii's ElectionAdrian Tam was not worried for himself while out on the campaign trail in Hawaii, he said. Instead, he was concerned for the safety of his volunteers and supporters, wearing shirts and face masks bearing his name, because his opponent was Nick Ochs, the leader of a Hawaii chapter of the far-right paramilitary group the Proud Boys."Fortunately, nothing bad happened," Tam, 28, told The Daily Beast. "We were met with happiness and joy by people." Tam was ultimately victorious in his bid to represent District 22—covering Waikiki, Ala Moana, and Kakaako on Oahu—in the Hawaii House of Representatives. He won the seat with 63 percent of the vote, and is now the only out LGBTQ representative in the statehouse.The Demented Drama Behind a Chart-Topping Band Going Full Proud BoyOn Wednesday, Tam told The Daily Beast that he was happy there had been a record turnout in Hawaii. "As a first-time candidate, like many first-time candidates, there may have been a little anxiety going into it. I am just grateful that we won, the anxiety is lifted. Now the hard work begins today." The major issues he is focusing on are around homelessness, public safety, condominiums, coronavirus, the economy, and diversifying the regional economy away from tourism.The biggest challenge he faced was not Ochs, said Tam, but defeating longtime Democratic incumbent Tom Brower in the primary. "This was a 'change election,'" said Tam. "A lot of new candidates are younger, and won races or open primaries."He is also the only out LGBTQ member of the legislature. "It feels great," said Tam. "I always say representation matters. I am glad that I can bring that perspective to the legislature when it comes to making decisions. I always say a legislature should reflect what a state looks like. I am glad to be the only one, but I hope I am not the last one."LGBTQ issues did not come up with constituents, Tam said. "People were more concerned about the economy and their livelihoods. But I had a lot of people who are LGBTQ tell me that they were excited about our campaign. They really wanted us to win."Ochs' campaign had "thrown a lot of insults and attacks" at him, Tam said, "but we stayed on message, with the plans and ideas we had to move Hawaii forward. I'm really glad our message got through, and the community voted resoundingly to send me to the legislature. I am grateful for this opportunity that was given to me by the voters, and I promise I am going to work hard for them."It concerns Tam that the Proud Boys have a presence in Hawaii. "But I am happy and very hopeful that members of the community realized they didn't represent the values of Hawaii. Groups like these will always exist, but it's up to us to not only tune them out, but to get our message out there and change minds so more people don't join them."Tam muted Ochs on social media, although friends told him when his opponent attacked him online. In September, Facebook deleted Ochs' campaign page for violating terms of service and community standards, a move Ochs condemned. (The Daily Beast reached out to Ochs for comment via Hawaii's GOP, and received no response.)Local ABC news station KITV reported that the Democratic Party of Hawaii had denounced Ochs "for a history of offensive posts on social media about the Black, Jewish, and LGBT communities, as well as a video showing Ochs urinating into active lava fissure at the Kilauea volcano."At his first presidential debate with Joe Biden, President Trump infamously asked the Proud Boys to "stand by." In a 2018 interview with Hawaii Public Radio, Ochs said of the Proud Boys: "We are a social club, a fraternity. Proud Boys are what you'd call the 'new right' or, to make it simpler to understand, the 'alt lite.' The only thing you have to do to become a Proud Boy is declare yourself to be a proud Western chauvinist. It's just to say that we think Western culture is the best and we need make no apology for that."He said the Proud Boys believed America to be "the greatest country on Earth, Canada, Western Europe. Let's not overcomplicate this. What's today's big controversy? The president is in trouble for, I know you have polite listeners, calling certain parts of the world crap holes, specifically, Haiti… and Africa, sure. Objectively these countries don't have anywhere near the standard of living that countries in the West do. Everyone agrees that Haiti is a crap hole. I think speaking honestly is just speaking honestly, and the fact a controversy erupts from that is why we exist."Ochs, who was endorsed by Roger Stone, Donald Trump's former informal campaign adviser and longtime ally, told KITV that he was not a racist or white supremacist. "I'm happy to talk to anyone. And again, I am either the world's worst racist, or I'm not a racist. You have to acknowledge that a white supremacist does not marry a Black woman and have a mixed family, that is not what that word means and the people that are throwing it around are disingenuous."* * *"It was the biggest leap I had ever made in my life."Tam was born and raised in Honolulu; his mother and father, he writes on his website, "were hard-working immigrant parents from Hong Kong and Taiwan who fled with their families from hardships in their home countries in search for a better life in the United States." His father was an assistant to a draftsman, and his mother was a saleswoman at Maui Divers. His family went on to open Central Pacific Properties Inc., a local small real estate firm.Tam left Hawaii to attend Penn State University, where he studied history, thinking he might go to law school or do a master's degree. He returned to Hawaii—aged 23—to work at his family's real estate business. He felt he wasn't making enough money, and left after a year to take on an administrative job at the state legislature, "where I immediately fell in love with public service," he told The Daily Beast. In 2016, Tam served as a legislative aide, and in 2017 he was appointed to manage the office of Sen. Stanley Chang. The Victory Fund, which supported a number of successful LGBTQ candidates in election races including Tam, said that during his tenure Tam "has been instrumental in the passage of Hawaii's conversion therapy ban for minors, as well as working with stakeholders in passing a ban on gay panic defense."Tam told The Daily Beast that last year he decided he would run for public office himself. "I saw that our community and state were hurting, and needed new voices, new leadership, new ideas, and new innovations, and so I threw my hat into the ring. It was the biggest leap I had ever made in my life."Tam came out as gay while at college. He said he had "never faced many challenges in terms of employment. It's never been an issue for me really, but I understand it's important to have a seat at the table. As Elizabeth Warren once said, 'If you don't have a seat at the table, you're probably on the menu.'"His family—mom, dad, sister, and grandmother—"are my biggest supporters. They are ecstatic, over the moon, right now, and have been in this with me since the primary." Tam is single. Right now, he is focused on his new job, "and whatever happens happens in that part of my life."Tam believes the victories of young, first-time candidates shows Hawaii was "definitely in the mood for change this election cycle. I am also happy that when we join the legislature, long-time legislators will also be there. I truly believe we have lot to learn as new candidates, and I want to learn from the more experienced ones. We're not there to destroy everything and start from scratch. We want to build on what we have so far."Hawaii, said Tam, like the rest of America was extremely divided. He quoted Ruth Bader Ginsburg: "A great man once said that the true symbol of the United States is not the bald eagle. It is the pendulum. And when the pendulum swings too far in one direction it will go back." Tam hopes this election will prove to be once such moment."I believe there have been heated exchanges between family members, friends, peers, and colleagues in Hawaii. There are definitely a lot of people who voted for Biden and others who voted for Trump who do not see eye to eye. But in Hawaii we respect each other. We have this thing called the 'Aloha Spirit,' which means that at the end of the day, no matter what our beliefs are, we remain friends and cordial and respectful. We have not had riots or unrest here. There have been protests, but it hasn't escalated to what I've seen on the mainland."This reporter asked if Ochs had call Tam to concede, or if the the pair had spoken since Tam's victory."We have not spoken," Tam said. His tone suggested he didn't much mind about that, this reporter said."I am fine either way, said Tam. "I know it is not easy being a candidate, so I understand."Read more at The Daily Beast.Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now!Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more.


5 states just passed ballot measures to legalize marijuana, but policy experts say people already in prison on drug convictions have a hard path to freedom

Posted: 04 Nov 2020 07:34 PM PST

5 states just passed ballot measures to legalize marijuana, but policy experts say people already in prison on drug convictions have a hard path to freedomFive states — New Jersey, Mississippi, Arizona, Montana, and South Dakota — voted to legalize marijuana on Tuesday.


After judge's order, Postal Service sweep finds 13 ballots

Posted: 04 Nov 2020 01:34 PM PST

After judge's order, Postal Service sweep finds 13 ballotsU.S. Postal Service inspectors found just 13 ballots — all in Pennsylvania — during an Election Day sweep of mail processing centers ordered by a federal judge. The ballots were found in two separate mail processing facilities and were expedited for delivery to local election offices, according to court records filed Wednesday. U.S. District Judge Emmet G. Sullivan in Washington, D.C., had given the Postal Service until Tuesday afternoon to search 27 facilities in several battleground areas for outstanding ballots and immediately deliver any ballots discovered to election offices.


Voters across the country are waiting on Nevada's election results, and hilariously tweeting

Posted: 05 Nov 2020 08:37 AM PST

Voters across the country are waiting on Nevada's election results, and hilariously tweetingWaiting to see if Joe Biden or President Donald Trump wins in Nevada? These tweets will entertain you in the meantime.


Florida in the path of Eta and it could become a hurricane again

Posted: 04 Nov 2020 01:44 PM PST

Florida in the path of Eta and it could become a hurricane againAfter slamming into Central America, Eta may have South Florida in its sights.


CNN's Jake Tapper reacts to Trump's election rant: 'What a sad night for the United States of America'

Posted: 05 Nov 2020 04:38 PM PST

CNN's Jake Tapper reacts to Trump's election rant: 'What a sad night for the United States of America'On Thursday night, with his path to reelection narrowing, President Trump delivered a rambling diatribe in which he baselessly claimed widespread voter fraud and conspiracy against him.One by one, TV networks cut away from the speech by the incumbent commander-in-chief, with ABC News switching to airing Jeopardy!, and NBC News and CBS News likewise transitioning away. MSNBC cut from the speech within just 35 seconds: "Okay, here we are again, in the unusual position of not only interrupting the president of the United States, but correcting the president of the United States," the anchor, Brian Williams, said.On CNN, one of the few networks to air the whole speech uninterrupted, the election team tore into the president when he'd finished talking. "What a sad night for the United States of America to hear their president say that, to falsely accuse people of trying to steal the election, to try to attack democracy that way with his feast of falsehoods. Lie after lie after lie about the election being stolen," Jake Tapper said, adding, "It's time for some Republican lawmakers to find their spine and talk to the president about what he needs to do for the good of the country."> Tapper after Trump's speech (which CNN aired all of): What a sad night for the United States of America ... Trump says the vote is being stolen from him. It's not true, it's ugly. Frankly it's pathetic." pic.twitter.com/ktKG3HKNTO> > — Lis Power (@LisPower1) November 6, 2020Dana Bash, who was co-anchoring the network's election coverage, said, "I'm not an emotional person, but I'm having trouble keeping it together after listening to what the president said." Abby Phillip likewise added, "This president clearly knows this is not going to end well for him, and he's trying to take the rest of the country down with him."Even the usually Trump-friendly Fox News, the only other major network to air the whole speech, balked. "We have not seen the hard evidence" of Trump's claims, Fox anchor Bret Baier stressed to his viewers.More stories from theweek.com Fox News brings Trump to his knees The left just got crushed Biden's potential Cabinet picks may be limited 'to those who Mitch McConnell can live with'


'America is more than a one-man show,' says German foreign minister on U.S. vote

Posted: 05 Nov 2020 04:02 PM PST

'America is more than a one-man show,' says German foreign minister on U.S. voteGerman Foreign Minister Heiko Maas on Friday urged both sides in the U.S. election to show restraint until the results were available, adding it was irresponsible to aggravate tensions. Counting was continuing in the extremely close U.S. presidential election which hinges on razor-thin margins in a handful of states. Republican President Donald Trump has launched a flurry of lawsuits hoping to slow down his opponent, Democrat Joe Biden and tensions have risen in some places.


Judge accused of sexually abusing 12-year-old boy, PA attorney general says

Posted: 04 Nov 2020 09:47 AM PST

Judge accused of sexually abusing 12-year-old boy, PA attorney general says"We will hold the powerful and well-connected accountable to law just like everyone else."


College student found dead in dorm after testing positive for coronavirus

Posted: 04 Nov 2020 08:04 AM PST

College student found dead in dorm after testing positive for coronavirusBethany Nesbitt, 20, was found dead in a residence hall at Grace College in Indiana. The coroner said Covid-19 was a contributing factor while the cause of death was a pulmonary embolus.


California just passed a major privacy law that will make it harder for Facebook and Google to track people and gather data

Posted: 04 Nov 2020 10:34 AM PST

California just passed a major privacy law that will make it harder for Facebook and Google to track people and gather dataWhile Prop 24 will be active only in California, it will effectively apply to all of the US because of the state's huge influence on the tech industry.


Ice Cube on Trump backlash: ‘N—-s mad at me, have a nice life’

Posted: 05 Nov 2020 12:35 PM PST

Ice Cube on Trump backlash: 'N—-s mad at me, have a nice life'As the country and most of the world awaits the final tally from the 2020 presidential election, this week rapper Ice Cube took time out of his busy schedule to address all the people who have been dragging him for working with the Trump administration on the Platinum Plan. As theGrio previously reported, although he's never come out to directly endorse Trump, the rapper/actor/producer faced backlash on Wednesday (by association) after Katrina Pierson, senior advisor to the Trump campaign, thanked him on Twitter.


'It was a failure': Furious House Democrats unload as leadership promises answers after election losses

Posted: 05 Nov 2020 02:45 PM PST

'It was a failure': Furious House Democrats unload as leadership promises answers after election lossesHouse Democrats talked through the aftermath on a private caucus call Thursday afternoon, where lawmakers blamed the media, polling and one another for the losses.


Is it safe to stay in hotels during the pandemic?

Posted: 05 Nov 2020 12:01 AM PST

Is it safe to stay in hotels during the pandemic?In a recent travel update, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention makes it clear: Staying home is the best way to protect yourself against the coronavirus. Try to find a rental that guarantees a 72-hour buffer between guests, says Dr. Natascha Tuznik, an infectious disease expert at the University of California, Davis. Rentals might also have more access to fresh air than hotel rooms, Tuznik said.


Vienna gunman was caught trying to buy ammunition in July

Posted: 04 Nov 2020 07:10 AM PST

Vienna gunman was caught trying to buy ammunition in JulyThe Islamic State gunman who murdered four people and injured 22 in a terror attack in Vienna on Monday was caught trying to buy ammunition in the summer, officials have admitted. Kujtim Fejzulai was not under surveillance despite having been released from jail only last December for attempting to join Isil. He had succeeded in convincing the authorities that he had been deradicalised, according to Karl Nehammer, the Austrian interior minister. It has now emerged that police in neighbouring Slovakia notified the Austrian authorities that he had been caught trying to buy ammunition there in July. The disclosure came as one of Fejzulai's victims was identifed as Nexhip Vrenezi, 21, a Muslim originally from the same Albanian immigrant community in North Macedonia as Fejzulai. On the night of Fejzulai's rampage, he was shot four times as he left a pub to have a cigarette. There is no indication that the two men knew each other. Meanwhile the Austrian chancellor, Sebastian Kurz, said that he would use an EU summit next month to urge fellow European Union leaders to unite together against political Islam. His words echoed those of President Emmanuel Macron of France, who has said in the wake of recent terror attacks on French soil that Islamism was incompatible with French values. "I expect an end to the misconceived tolerance and for all the nations of Europe to finally realise how dangerous the ideology of political Islam is for our freedom and the European way of life," Mr Kurz told Die Welt, a German newspaper. Fejzulai's attempts to buy ammunition in Slovakia has highlighted its reputation as one of the easier places in Europe to buy weapons. Two of the gunmen who carried out the 2015 attack on the offices of Charlie Hebdo in Paris obtained assault rifles there. But the country has tightened gun controls since then and Fejzulai was refused ammunition because he did not have a valid gun license. He travelled there with another man in a car registered to the mother of another known Islamist. Mr Nehammer told a press conference the warning from Slovakia had been investigated by Austria's BVT domestic intelligence agency. He put the fact it was not acted on further down to a "failure of communication" and pledged to set up an independent inquiry.


Russia's coronavirus tests show false negatives up to 40% of time, official says

Posted: 04 Nov 2020 11:42 PM PST

Russia's coronavirus tests show false negatives up to 40% of time, official saysRussia's coronavirus tests give false negative results up to 40% of the time, a health official said on Thursday as new infections rose and Moscow's mayor warned of a worsening situation. Sergei Avdeev, the health ministry's lead external consultant on pulmonology, said coronavirus tests often showed false negatives, not because of a problem with the tests, but because the swabs were not taken properly.


Trump reportedly screamed at Rupert Murdoch over Fox News' early Arizona call

Posted: 04 Nov 2020 07:10 PM PST

Trump reportedly screamed at Rupert Murdoch over Fox News' early Arizona callAs of Wednesday night, Fox News had one of the most pessimistic maps for the Trump campaign, with the network being one of two outlets to call Arizona for Joe Biden. (The Associated Press is the other.) And you'll never guess who was rumored to be furious that it was his preferred news channel that happened to be the bearer of bad news."According to a source, [President] Trump phoned Fox owner Rupert Murdoch to scream about the call and demand a retraction" after Fox's ruling was made just before 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday night, Gabriel Sherman reports for Vanity Fair. "Murdoch refused, and the call stood."Biden is still ahead of Trump in Arizona, which has 11 electoral votes, meaning that if he wins the state, he'll be a mere six Electoral College votes away from the winning 270. But as more votes came in from Maricopa County on Wednesday night, Trump appeared to be slowly chipping away at his lead.Still, "Murdoch has been telling associates for months that Trump would lose the election," Vanity Fair reports. And the network's coverage isn't going over well with the Trump team, which is used to Fox being on their side. "Fox News committed news malpractice and voter suppression last night," former Trump adviser Sam Nunberg vented to Sherman. "There's got to be a change there or there will be major consequences. Chris Wallace wouldn't shut up the whole night! I switched to CNN anytime he came on."More stories from theweek.com Fox News brings Trump to his knees The left just got crushed Biden's potential Cabinet picks may be limited 'to those who Mitch McConnell can live with'


A 15-foot, 2,000-pound great white shark tracked off the Keys. She’s come a long way.

Posted: 05 Nov 2020 02:39 PM PST

A 15-foot, 2,000-pound great white shark tracked off the Keys. She's come a long way.Unama'ki, a 15-foot, 2,000-pound female great white shark is spending some time off the Florida Keys.


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