2024.12.21
Dana Ferguson and Clay Masters at MPR News are reporting a Democratic state lawmaker-elect, Curtis Johnson, is barred from taking the oath of office after Ramsey County District Judge Leonardo Castro ruled Friday that the candidate had failed to comply with state residency requirements, putting the 67-67 tie in the Minnesota House in peril and giving Republicans a line on a slim majority. MinnPost
https://www.mprnews.org/story/2024/12/20/minnesota-house-tie-in-peril-after-residency-ruling
Moral improvements? You decide! Callan Gray at KSTP reports the Minnesota Department of Corrections sent out a memo in October that limited book purchases by inmates to Hamilton Books, HarperCollins, and Penguin Random House. Amazon and Barnes & Noble purchases are not allowed. MinnPost
https://kstp.com/kstp-news/top-news/minnesota-doc-restricting-how-incarcerated-adults-in-the-state-can-purchase-books/
How us experts handle driving in snow: David Schuman and Stephen Swanson at WCCO News checked in with the Minnesota State Patrol following Thursday’s snowfall. Between midnight and 8:30 p.m., there were 453 crashes with 38 resulting in injuries and one fatality; 281 vehicles went off state roadways; 37 semis jackknifed and more than two dozen spinouts were reported. MinnPost
https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/next-drive-alert-twin-cities-snowstorm-december-19-2024/
Here a gift, there a gift, every where a gift grift. New ethics inquiry details more trips by Clarence Thomas paid for by wealthy benefactors
Investigation by Senate Democrats found that Thomas accepted gifts and travel worth more than $4.75m since 1991
Associated Press
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/dec/21/ethics-inquiry-supreme-court
Ittsa Quiz! Ittsa hard, hard, hard Quiz! Vance, video games and a very poor prediction: how well do you remember 2024? - quiz
Were you a newshound or a snooze-hound this year? Try our quiz to find out
Will Dean
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2024/dec/21/vance-video-games-and-a-very-poor-prediction-how-well-do-you-remember-2024-quiz
Shocked! I'm just shocked! - That it's that high! Only 35% of Americans trust the US judicial system. This is catastrophic
David Daley
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/dec/21/americans-trust-supreme-court
AOC may have shifted to the center, but the Democrats aren’t ready for change
Arwa Mahdawi
Gerry Connolly, 74, beat AOC’s bid to become lead Democrat on the House oversight committee thanks to Nancy Pelosi, then 85
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/dec/21/aoc-centrist-politics-democrats-change
Newly uncovered sites reveal true power of great Viking army in Britain
Previously unseen artefacts show invading forces included communities of men, women, children, craftworkers and merchants
Dalya Alberge
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2024/dec/21/newly-uncovered-sites-reveal-true-power-of-great-viking-army-in-britain
Buruli ulcer: flesh-eating bacteria spreads in Melbourne suburb amid warning about rise in cases
Increase in cases ‘linked to Ascot Vale’ leads health officials to warn the disease is ‘spreading geographically’
Cait Kelly
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/dec/21/buruli-ulcer-flesh-eating-bacteria-spreads-in-melbourne-suburb-amid-warning-about-rise-in-cases
Review
Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl review - the Aardman duo’s return is an absolute delight
Almost 20 years since their last outing, the cheese-loving inventor and his ever-dependable dog resume battle with a feathered fiend in this precision-tooled caper
Wendy Ide
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/dec/21/wallace-and-gromit-vengeance-most-fowl-review-aardman-nick-park-merlin-crossingham