Mail ballot rejections surge in Texas, with signs of a race gap
More than 18,000 voters in Texas’ most populous counties had their mail-in ballots rejected in the state’s primary election this month, according to a review of election data, a surge in thrown-out votes that revealed the effect of new voting regulations passed by Republicans last year. In Harris County, areas with large Black populations were 44% more likely to have ballots rejected than heavily white areas, according to a review of census survey data and election results by the county election administrator’s office. The rejection rate in the state’s most populous counties was roughly 15%. During the 2020 general election, the rejection rate was roughly 1%.
Justice Department to expand training offered to local law enforcement
Attorney General Merrick Garland said Friday that the Justice Department would increase the training and other services it offered to local law enforcement agencies seeking to address policing problems, such as the use of excessive force, officer-involved shootings and police bias. The revamped program is called the Collaborative Reform Initiative for Technical Assistance. Garland unveiled the revised program after bipartisan negotiations over policing overhaul legislation collapsed in Congress, leaving the White House to work on an executive order on the issue. The agency is investigating police departments in cities such as Minneapolis and Louisville, Kentucky.
Fatal Texas wildfire forces evacuations and destroys 50 homes
At least one person was killed, 50 homes were destroyed and nearly 500 others evacuated in central Texas after a wildfire burned more than 45,000 acres Thursday and Friday, according to authorities. The wildfire, a set of several blazes collectively called the Eastland Complex fire, began Thursday evening. A deputy with the Eastland County Sheriff’s Office, Barbara Fenley, died in the blaze while helping others, authorities said. On Friday evening, Gov. Greg Abbott signed a disaster declaration that would allow the state to better help 11 counties affected by the fire. On Friday afternoon, about 10% of the fire was contained, the Texas A&M Forest Service said.
Trump campaign owes $300,000 in legal fees after another failed NDA case
Donald Trump’s presidential campaign has been ordered to pay more than $300,000 in legal fees and expenses to a former employee who the campaign’s lawyers said had violated the terms of a nondisclosure agreement when she accused Trump of forcibly kissing her in 2016. The award, the culmination of an arbitration claim that was dismissed in November, represents the latest instance of Trump’s failure to use a nondisclosure agreement successfully against an ex-worker. Victor E. Bianchini, a retired federal judge, ruled in favor of Alva Johnson, a former campaign worker who in 2019 unsuccessfully sued Trump.
Cities move to sever ‘sister city’ ties with Russian governments
At the height of the Cold War, pairs of cities across both the United States and the Soviet Union embraced an idealistic mission: to form cultural and political bonds as “sister cities.” Now, with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in its fourth bloody week, those ties appear to be fraying as never before. Across the United States, governments in cities including Chicago, Dallas and Des Moines have moved to suspend decadeslong relationships with Russian sister cities as a statement of condemnation of Russia’s attack. In a letter to its members in late February, Sister Cities International pleaded with city leaders to maintain ties to their Russian counterparts.
Brazil blocks Telegram over disinformation concerns
Brazil’s Supreme Court banned messaging app Telegram in the country Friday, showing that the court plans to aggressively fight disinformation before this year’s presidential elections. Alexandre de Moraes, a Supreme Court judge, said he was blocking Telegram because the app had not fully responded to previous orders to remove the accounts of a prominent supporter of President Jair Bolsonaro. That supporter is being investigated for spreading disinformation and threatening Supreme Court judges. De Moraes ordered internet and cell service providers to make Telegram unusable in the country and directed Apple and Google to remove the app from their app stores.
Pope deplores the war in Ukraine but not the aggressor
The day after Russia invaded Ukraine, Pope Francis broke protocol and went directly to the Russian Embassy in the Holy See to appeal for peace. The next day he spoke to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine, offering him spiritual support. But the pope has avoided naming President Vladimir Putin of Russia, or even Russia itself, as the aggressor. Francis’ motivation stems from his walking a fine line between global conscience, real-world diplomatic player and religious leader responsible for his flock’s safety. Nevertheless, some of his own bishops and other supporters within the Roman Catholic Church want him to name names.
Hong Kong leaders fumble virus response
As infections barreled through the city, residents in Hong Kong watched the government’s coronavirus policies change. First, officials said they did not have plans for social distancing in January, then shut down bars and gyms and banned flights from eight countries. In February, officials vowed to test every resident, then appeared to abandon those plans this month. And Thursday, public beaches were closed three days after Carrie Lam, the city’s leader, raised the possibility of relaxing COVID-19 restrictions. Residents say the government’s seesawing virus policies have created confusion and chaos.
China’s state media softens its tone on the war
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began, China has mostly tried to publicly distance itself from the war’s carnage without criticizing Russian President Vladimir Putin. Although that is still broadly true, observers have noticed in recent days that their country’s state-run news media juggernaut — like the government itself — appears to be subtly shifting its tone on the war. There is slightly less focus on Russia’s military might, observers say, and slightly more on peace talks and the civilian toll of Russian strikes. Russian state propaganda has also fallen in popularity on Weibo, a tightly censored Chinese social media network.
Rep. Don Young, longtime Alaska congressman, dies at 88
Don Young, a blunt-speaking Republican who was the longest-serving current member of Congress, has died. He was 88. His office announced Young’s death in a statement Friday night. A cause of death was not provided. Young’s office said details about plans for a celebration of Young’s life were expected in the coming days.Young, who was first elected to the U.S. House in 1973, was known for his brusque style. In his later years in office, his off-color comments and gaffes sometimes overshadowed his work. During his 2014 reelection bid, he described himself as intense and less-than-perfect but said he wouldn’t stop fighting for Alaska. Alaska has just one House member.
By wire sources