Former US Attorney Catherine Hanaway appointed as Missouri's next attorney general
Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe announced Hanaway's appointment just a day after Attorney General Andrew Bailey said he was stepping down to join President Donald Trump's administration as the FBI's co-deputy director. The change in Missouri's top law enforcement job will take effect Sept. 8.
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4 minutes ago
- Yahoo
As partisan redistricting battles flare, Maine constitutional officers weigh in
Voters cast their ballots at the Quimby School gymnasium in Bingham, Maine on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. (Photo by Michael G. Seamans/ Maine Morning Star) Since President Donald Trump asked Texas to redraw its congressional maps to find five more Republican seats ahead of next year's elections, some Democratic states are considering redistricting to counter the effort. Maine is not, at least according to Gov. Janet Mills, though an anonymous group tried to encourage the Pine Tree State to intervene earlier this month by flying planes over Augusta with banners that read 'Mess with Texas.' The state's constitutional officers, Attorney General Aaron Frey and Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, both Democrats, condemned Texas' move, and Trump instigating it, as a blatant abuse of power. But, they said Democratic states exploring the avenues legally available to them to redistrict outside the regular schedule is understandable. Bellows refrained from any judgement of those counter efforts, while Frey was more critical, particularly due to what he sees as a likely snowball effect. 'I am lamenting what this might mean for how our politics will continue, in terms of people trying to do the one-upsmanship,' Frey said in a sit-down with Maine Morning Star. 'As much as it probably sounds like it's a critique, it really is more of a concern about this being the evolution of where the politics is going.' The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, the official party committee dedicated to electing Democrats to statehouses, called on Democrats on Aug. 4 to pursue redistricting opportunities to respond to possible changes to Texas' congressional map. Last week, California was the first state to release a proposal to that aim. Such ideas have also been floated by officials in New York, Maryland, and Illinois — whose governor has already waded into the redistricting battle by welcoming Texas Democrats who fled the state to block a vote on the Republican proposal. They've since returned. But, Republicans control more state legislatures than Democrats and Vice President JD Vance is touring those states to encourage more gerrymandering. Several, including Missouri, Florida and Indiana, are now considering redrawing their maps to counter the Democrats' countering. 'It should be a concern for all of us about what this means for the next time that the next majority is in power,' Frey said. 'I am hoping that I would have just as much concern if California would have been the first state to say that they were going to do this as I have about Texas saying that they're going to do this, even though it may be perfectly appropriate legally.' Redistricting procedures vary state by state but largely happen every ten years following new census data. Under the Maine Constitution, the state Legislature must establish a bipartisan advisory commission to draw its congressional and legislative districts every ten years. These maps are then sent to the Legislature for approval, though lawmakers aren't bound to those recommendations. Approval requires a two-thirds vote, and because neither party has held a supermajority in the last decade, this has typically required bipartisan support. The map is then subject to the governor's approval. Maine last went through this process in 2021. Mills did not respond to multiple requests for comment about whether she supports the actions other Democratic states are considering to redraw their maps in response to Texas Republicans' attempts. A spokesperson told the Portland Press Herald in early August that she was not considering any actions related to redistricting in Maine. If the Legislature is unable to reach the two-thirds threshold, the Maine Supreme Court would draw the maps instead. 'It's understandable that other states are seeking to fight fire with fire,' Bellows said, echoing California Gov. Gavin Newsom, 'but none of what's happening outside of Maine would change unless the Legislature and the people of Maine decided to pursue a constitutional amendment.' A constitutional amendment in Maine requires a two-thirds vote, plus approval by the voters, so such a change, especially before the 2026 midterms, is not likely. When asked if Maine should get involved in the nationwide redistricting fight, Frey said, 'No, not at this point.' As the officer representing the state on legal matters, Frey said he doesn't see an opportunity for legal recourse given that other states drawing congressional districts is a state-level process pertaining to their residents and it doesn't have a direct harm to Maine. However, how these maps ultimately shape Congress will inevitably impact Maine, he said, looking at a list on his desk of lawsuits Maine has filed or joined against the Trump administration. Particularly if Trump gets his way in Texas, Frey said it could result in a continuation of a Congress that doesn't serve as an adequate check to the executive branch. Some politicians are seeking to choose their voters instead of their voters choosing them. – Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows Like other Democrats across the country, Frey and Bellows walked a line to frame their party's use of redistricting differently than Republicans'. 'The Trump administration is trampling all over the norms in our democracy, and it is really important that people stand strong for our values in this moment,' Bellows said. 'What's concerning about what Texas is trying to do is they are basically trying to cheat their way into electoral success in 2026 and 2028, so it's understandable that some of the larger states that are blue states are thinking about how they might respond.' Of those clear political aims, Frey similarly said, 'There's no mask to it,' arguing it would be different if Texas had come to a conclusion that redistricting mid-cycle was needed because its districts were no longer representative due to population shifts or another clear reason. 'Let's say this was Joe Biden who in 2023 was like, 'California, Gavin Newsom, you like us, California does a lot of stuff that supports the administration, I need you to go redistrict and get me five more seats in Congress,'' Frey said. 'What would people say?' But while Frey said Democratic states may be legally within their right to explore counter measures, he doesn't see it as a productive way to resolve political discord nor address the priority issues of everyday Americans, such as the cost of living. 'If anything, it's creating a system that is going to be more unable to meet what it is that, I think, Mainers and the American people are asking for,' Frey said. As Trump eyes election changes, Secretary Bellows warns of fallout Earlier this month Bellows officially responded to the U.S. Department of Justice's request for sweeping voter data, questioning the federal agency's intentions and asking that the request be withdrawn. She sees a throughline with that effort, Trump's executive orders and his push for Texas Republicans to redistrict. 'Some politicians are seeking to choose their voters instead of their voters choosing them,' Bellows said. 'Many of these initiatives seem designed to shrink the population of people who are participating in elections, to spread fear and deter people from participating, or to create artificial barriers to participation.' Frey also sees connections. The day before speaking with Maine Morning Star, Frey had returned from a trip to Washington, D.C., where he saw National Guard troops and FBI agents gathered on the mall. 'They are pushing boundaries to see how far they can get,' Frey said of the administration. Pulling up the president's post on Truth Social ordering the U.S. Commerce Department to start working on a new U.S. Census that does not count people in the country illegally, Frey asked, 'What's the end?' He sees all of these moves as a test of the democratic foundation of the country, the U.S. Constitution. 'If enough citizens out there who are protected by this contract decide that they are unwilling to hold the president to the limitations that the constitution places on government action, I mean, at a certain point that contract by both parties is just going to dissolve,' Frey said. The book 'The Storm Before the Calm' sat on his desk as he added a hopeful nod, explaining the current moment could provide an opportunity to be reminded of the importance of those protections. The book, by geopolitical forecaster George Friedman, views American history through cycles, enduring upheaval and conflict but, ultimately, increasing in strength and stability. With 2026 on the horizon — when Maine's governorship, U.S. Senate seat, two U.S. House seats and Legislature are all up for reelection — Frey said, 'Maybe there will be an opportunity for renewal.' Time will tell how redistricting may play a part in that. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
4 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Jupiter police chief Michael Barbera to retire after nearly 30 years of work for the town
JUPITER — Police Chief Michael Barbera is retiring on Oct. 3 after serving 29 years with the town and hitting a mandatory retirement stipulation. Barbera announced his retirement on Aug. 14. Jupiter will detail plans for its new police chief closer to the time of Barbera's retirement, according to a statement released by the town. The town's charter gives its town manager the authority to choose the police department's leader, as opposed to the Town Council. 'I am extremely grateful for all of the opportunities the Town of Jupiter has provided me and my family since I joined the Jupiter Police Department in 1996,' wrote Barbera in a prepared statement. 'It has been an honor to serve Jupiter's residents and represent one of the most prestigious law enforcement agencies in Florida.' Barbera has been the town's police chief since October 2024, when he stepped into the role after serving as deputy chief for three years before that. Why is it mandatory that Jupiter's police chief retires? Barbera had to retire because he enrolled in the Florida Retirement System's Deferred Retirement Option Program — known as DROP — before he became chief, according to a town spokesperson. The program requires participants to retire after a certain number of years pass from when they enroll. Barbera hit the threshold for retirement this year. All town employees have the option to enter into the program, which has financial benefits for participants. Employees are eligible for it based on their years of service or age. In this case, Barbera was eligible based on his years of service. Jupiter's police chief to retire after almost three decades of work in the field Barbera started work at the Jupiter police department as a police officer in 1996. Before joining the police department, he served four years in the U.S. Marine Corps. He spent three years as a major and was the operations support commander, where he led the criminal investigations and special operations divisions, before becoming deputy chief. Barbera has been a patrol officer, a field training officer, an honor guard commander, supervisor of the K-9 unit and special response team and a district commander. He also has been a member of the department's hostage negotiation team. He spent six years as a detective in the criminal investigations division and two years working with the street crimes unit. Barbera made the rank of sergeant in 2009. Six years later, he became a captain and then major in 2018. Barbera graduated from the FBI's National Academy, the FBI's Florida Executive Development Seminar and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement's Leadership Academy. He holds a bachelor's degree in public administration from Barry University and a master's degree in criminology from Florida State University. Barbera is the town's fourth police chief since 2005. Frank Kitzerow, the town's former chief who stepped down in 2018 and is now its town manager, said Barbera 'has been a dynamic leader throughout his career.' 'He dedicated much of his life to serving our Town and has excelled in every step of his career,' wrote Kitzerow in a prepared statement. Maya Washburn covers northern Palm Beach County for The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida-Network. Reach her at mwashburn@ Support local journalism: Subscribe today. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Jupiter police chief to retire because of Florida DROP retirement plan Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
4 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Memphis repeats as city with worst drivers in the U.S. though another Tennessee city is competing for the top spot
Memphis ranked as the city with the worst drivers for the third consecutive year, but another Tennessee city came in second. ConsumerAffairs, a customer review and news service that collects and analyzes data to assess various aspects of American life, ranked Memphis as the worst city for the third consecutive year. The organization analyzes crash data from the U.S. Department of Transportation. This ranking uses the most recent data available for 2024. According to the report, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimated that in 2024, 39,345 people died in traffic crashes in the U.S. This figure marks the first time since 2020 that the number of fatal traffic crashes was below 40,000. Here's which city in Tennessee has joined Memphis at the top of the list of worst drivers in America. Does Tennessee have good drivers? While Tennessee is not the worst state for drivers, it is certainly not the best. Of the six Volunteer State cities included in the ranking, only two saw improvements in their ranking in 2025. Memphis ranked No. 1 as the city with the worst drivers, the same rank it had in 2024. It had 17.96 crashes related to bad driving, 38.79 total fatalities, 2.23 fatalities involving DUI, 8.58 fatalities involving speeding and 9.22 fatalities involving positive blood alcohol content per 100,000 people. The only categories to decrease from 2024 to 2025 were the number of fatalities involving DUIs and positive blood alcohol content. Knoxville ranked second, up from No. 25 in 2024. The city had 13.94 crashes related to bad driving, 31.49 total fatalities, 3.61 fatalities involving DUI, 9.29 fatalities involving speeding and 4.65 fatalities involving positive blood alcohol content per 100,000 people. Chattanooga placed 16th, up from No. 34 in 2024. It had 9.30 crashes related to bad driving, 20.24 total fatalities, 2.73 fatalities involving DUI, 5.47 fatalities involving speeding and 4.92 fatalities involving positive blood alcohol content per 100,000 people. Clarksville ranked 29th, up from No. 93 in 2024. It had 8.14 crashes related to bad driving, 18.03 total fatalities, 1.16 fatalities involving DUI, 6.40 fatalities involving speeding and 4.07 fatalities involving positive blood alcohol content per 100,000 people. Nashville ranked 55th, an small improvement from No. 53 in 2024. It had 6.0 crashes related to bad driving, 16.4 total fatalities, 2.8 fatalities involving DUI, 3.4 fatalities involving speeding and 6.0 fatalities involving positive blood alcohol content per 100,000 people. Murfreesboro was the safest city in Tennessee, ranking No. 191 with a crash score of 16.9. It had 2.6 crashes related to bad driving, 7.2 total fatalities, 2.0 fatalities involving DUI, 1.3 fatalities involving speeding and 3.9 fatalities involving positive blood alcohol content per 100,000 people. In 2024, Murfreesboro ranked 185th. Cities with the worst drivers in 2025 Memphis has been ranked as the city with the worst drivers for the third consecutive year. Memphis had the most crash fatalities and fatalities involving a driver with a positive blood alcohol content in the country. Memphis, Tennessee Knoxville, Tennessee Waterbury, Connecticut Aurora, Colorado Tucson, Arizona Kansas City, Missouri San Bernardino, California Billings, Montana Miami Gardens, Florida Charleston, South Carolina Cities with the best drivers in 2025 Frisco, Texas, was the city with the best drivers in 2025. The city had zero crashes related to bad driving, fatalities involving DUI, fatalities involving speeding, or fatalities involving a positive blood alcohol content. The total fatalities per 100,000 people was 0.48. Frisco, Texas Fargo, North Dakota Santa Rosa, California Lehigh Acres, Florida Alexandria, Virginia Bellevue, Washington Torrance, California Lowell, Massachusetts Quincy, Massachusetts Pasadena, California Jordan Green covers trending news for The Commercial Appeal. She can be reached at This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis repeats as city with worst drivers followed by another TN city Solve the daily Crossword
