Latest news with #Timmons
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Republicans choose replacement for North Dakota legislator who resigned
State Rep. Kelby Timmons. (Photo provided by the North Dakota Legislative Assembly) A former North Dakota legislator will take over the seat of Rep. Jeremy Olson, who resigned abruptly after the 2025 session amid a harassment complaint. The District 26 Republicans on Saturday picked Kelby Timmons of Watford City to replace Olson. Timmons served with Olson in the 2023 legislative session after winning a two-year seat in the 2022 election. He lost by 13 votes in the 2024 Republican primary to Roger Maki of Watford City. Olson was the top vote-getter for the two District 26 House seats. Timmons will serve alongside Maki in the 2027 session. The District 26 seats will be up for election again in 2028. Patsy Levang, chair of the District 26 Republicans, said Timmons has a strong track record from his first legislative term. 'He believes in local control and has a strong conservative view,' Levang said. Olson, of Arnegard, resigned May 5. A harassment complaint had been filed against Olson but it was withdrawn after he resigned. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
12-05-2025
- Politics
Defendants in Georgia 'Cop City' case say they are in limbo as trial delays continue
ATLANTA -- Single mother Priscilla Grim lost her job. Aspiring writer Julia Dupuis frequently stares at the bedroom ceiling, numb. Geography and environmental studies researcher Hannah Kass is worried about her career prospects after she graduates from her Ph.D. program. The three are among 61 defendants accused by Republican Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr of participating in a yearslong racketeering conspiracy to halt the construction of a police and firefighter training facility just outside Atlanta that critics pejoratively call 'Cop City.' Their cases are at a standstill, 20 months after being indicted under Georgia's Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations law, or RICO, which is likely the largest criminal racketeering case ever filed against protesters in U.S. history, experts say. Trial for five of the defendants was supposed to start last year but got bogged down in procedural issues. The judge overseeing the case then moved to another court. A new judge has set a status hearing for Wednesday. The delays have left people in limbo, facing charges carrying up to 20 years behind bars for what they maintain was legitimate protest, not domestic terrorism. The case also has suppressed a movement that brought together hundreds of activists to protect a wooded patch of land that ultimately was razed for the recently completed $118 million, 85-acre (34-hectare) project. Officials say the project is sorely needed to replace outdated facilities and boost officers' morale. Opponents say it will be a training ground for a militarized police force and its construction has worsened environmental damage in a poor, majority-Black area. Protests escalated after the fatal 2023 shooting of Manuel Esteban Paez Terán, known as Tortuguita, who was camping near the site when authorities launched a clearing operation. Officials said they killed Tortuguita, 26, after the activist shot and wounded a trooper from inside a tent. A family-commissioned autopsy concluded Tortuguita was killed with their hands in the air, but a prosecutor found the officers' use of force was ' objectively reasonable.' Chris Timmons, a former Georgia prosecutor who has handled numerous RICO cases, said it's understandable such a large case would take a long time to be scheduled. But Timmons said he is surprised prosecutors don't seem to be aggressively pushing for a trial date. 'Cases age like milk, not like wine,' Timmons said. 'The longer we go, memories fade, witnesses become unavailable. If I were in the prosecutors' shoes, I'd want this case tried as soon as possible.' The attorney general's office did not respond to requests for comment. Michael Mears, a professor at Atlanta's John Marshall Law School who studies RICO cases, said prosecutors 'boxed themselves in by charging so many people at one time instead of going after the leadership.' Prosecutors' decision last year to drop money laundering charges against three of the movement's alleged leaders was a sign of the case's weakness. And with the movement having faded from the public consciousness, there is less political appetite for cracking down on the protesters, he said. 'Prosecutors can't just walk away from it, but I think you'll probably see it die a slow death,' Mears said, predicting charges would slowly be dismissed. That is cold comfort for those who say their lives are on hold. 'I think most of our lives are just completely frozen in one way or another,' said Dupuis, 26, who lives in Massachusetts. Dupuis was charged with felony intimidation of an officer in 2023 for distributing anti-police flyers near the home of one of the troopers who killed Tortuguita, Dupuis' friend. The trooper called authorities after learning the flyers, which called him a 'murderer,' were placed on his neighbors' mailboxes. Now banned from Georgia, Dupuis struggles to find the motivation to complete freelance copywriting projects that pay for their $650 rent. 'There's a lot I want to do, a lot of hopes and dreams that I feel like are just kind of stuck,' said Dupuis, who dreams of joining New York City's creative writing scene. But most of all, Dupuis misses the activist community that once thrived in the South River Forest. 'The charges have ripped me away from my community and the people that I love so much. That's what I've been longing for every single day: to be back with my people," Dupuis said. Grim, 51, is tired of waiting and recently filed for a speedy trial. It's unclear whether her motion will be granted, since the speedy trial deadline passed long ago. 'Let's get this over with," Grim said. "If you think you have something on me, let's do it — which you don't.' Grim, who lives in New York City, is one of many 'Stop Cop City' defendants who post on social media for financial support to help pay for food and rent. Health insurance is out of the question, despite chronic pain in her knee from a prior accident. Besides the couple hundred dollars she gets each month from donors she doesn't know, Grim cobbles together funds through freelance work for activist-oriented causes and is focused on helping her daughter get through college. 'I've never had such a hard time finding employment,' said Grim, who previously held marketing jobs. 'I do really well until the final interview and then everybody goes ghost on me. I think it's because that's when they look my name up.' Prosecutors say Grim was among a throng of black-clad activists in March 2023 who left a music festival, walked through the woods and overtook the construction site, torching equipment and throwing rocks at retreating officers before returning to blend in with festivalgoers. Grim said she was in her tent, having woken up from a nap, when officers arrived at the festival and began making arrests. Grim said she began to run before falling due to her knee injury. 'I heard men screaming at me," Grim said, describing what prompted her to run. "That's scary as a woman. They didn't say they were police or anything.' Authorities, however, said Grim ran upon spotting the officers and tried to hide. After her arrest, Grim lost an email marketing contract with Fordham University, which had been about to give her a full-time position. 'People know me, and when they hear I'm a 'domestic terrorist' they're like, 'What? No! What?!' Grim said. 'I'm not just talking about activist friends saying this — these are friends from parent circles.' On May 12, 2022, a group of protesters gathered in suburban Atlanta outside the offices of Brasfield & Gorrie, the training center's primary contractor. Some set off fireworks as others broke windows and spray-painted 'Trees not cops,' causing an estimated $30,000 in damage, authorities said. Kass, 32, attended the protest but said she never vandalized anything and was engaging in a research method called 'participant observation,' which involves immersing oneself in the community being studied. 'I was there as both a scholar and an activist,' said Kass, a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Wisconsin-Madison who studies land struggles and teaches environmental social sciences to undergraduates. Authorities arrested her on charges of felony criminal property damage and felony terroristic threats, saying surveillance video shows she helped set off Roman candles. Kass underwent a university disciplinary hearing but said the school has supported her. She worries potential employers might not be as understanding. Like many of her codefendants, Kass rejected prosecutors' plea deal at her RICO arraignment that would have included serving three years in prison. 'I have absolutely nothing to plead guilty for," she said. "I should have every right to protest and believe what I want to believe and associate with whatever political tendencies I wish to associate with.'
Winnipeg Free Press
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Defendants in Georgia ‘Cop City' case say they are in limbo as trial delays continue
ATLANTA (AP) — Single mother Priscilla Grim lost her job. Aspiring writer Julia Dupuis frequently stares at the bedroom ceiling, numb. Geography and environmental studies researcher Hannah Kass is worried about her career prospects after she graduates from her Ph.D. program. The three are among 61 defendants accused by Republican Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr of participating in a yearslong racketeering conspiracy to halt the construction of a police and firefighter training facility just outside Atlanta that critics pejoratively call 'Cop City.' Their cases are at a standstill, 20 months after being indicted under Georgia's Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations law, or RICO, which is likely the largest criminal racketeering case ever filed against protesters in U.S. history, experts say. Trial for five of the defendants was supposed to start last year but got bogged down in procedural issues. The judge overseeing the case then moved to another court. A new judge has set a status hearing for Wednesday. The delays have left people in limbo, facing charges carrying up to 20 years behind bars for what they maintain was legitimate protest, not domestic terrorism. The case also has suppressed a movement that brought together hundreds of activists to protect a wooded patch of land that ultimately was razed for the recently completed $118 million, 85-acre (34-hectare) project. Officials say the project is sorely needed to replace outdated facilities and boost officers' morale. Opponents say it will be a training ground for a militarized police force and its construction has worsened environmental damage in a poor, majority-Black area. Protests escalated after the fatal 2023 shooting of Manuel Esteban Paez Terán, known as Tortuguita, who was camping near the site when authorities launched a clearing operation. Officials said they killed Tortuguita, 26, after the activist shot and wounded a trooper from inside a tent. A family-commissioned autopsy concluded Tortuguita was killed with their hands in the air, but a prosecutor found the officers' use of force was ' objectively reasonable.' The challenges of a 61-person indictment Chris Timmons, a former Georgia prosecutor who has handled numerous RICO cases, said it's understandable such a large case would take a long time to be scheduled. But Timmons said he is surprised prosecutors don't seem to be aggressively pushing for a trial date. 'Cases age like milk, not like wine,' Timmons said. 'The longer we go, memories fade, witnesses become unavailable. If I were in the prosecutors' shoes, I'd want this case tried as soon as possible.' The attorney general's office did not respond to requests for comment. Michael Mears, a professor at Atlanta's John Marshall Law School who studies RICO cases, said prosecutors 'boxed themselves in by charging so many people at one time instead of going after the leadership.' Prosecutors' decision last year to drop money laundering charges against three of the movement's alleged leaders was a sign of the case's weakness. And with the movement having faded from the public consciousness, there is less political appetite for cracking down on the protesters, he said. 'Prosecutors can't just walk away from it, but I think you'll probably see it die a slow death,' Mears said, predicting charges would slowly be dismissed. That is cold comfort for those who say their lives are on hold. Julia Dupuis 'I think most of our lives are just completely frozen in one way or another,' said Dupuis, 26, who lives in Massachusetts. Dupuis was charged with felony intimidation of an officer in 2023 for distributing anti-police flyers near the home of one of the troopers who killed Tortuguita, Dupuis' friend. The trooper called authorities after learning the flyers, which called him a 'murderer,' were placed on his neighbors' mailboxes. Now banned from Georgia, Dupuis struggles to find the motivation to complete freelance copywriting projects that pay for their $650 rent. 'There's a lot I want to do, a lot of hopes and dreams that I feel like are just kind of stuck,' said Dupuis, who dreams of joining New York City's creative writing scene. But most of all, Dupuis misses the activist community that once thrived in the South River Forest. 'The charges have ripped me away from my community and the people that I love so much. That's what I've been longing for every single day: to be back with my people,' Dupuis said. Priscilla Grim Grim, 51, is tired of waiting and recently filed for a speedy trial. It's unclear whether her motion will be granted, since the speedy trial deadline passed long ago. 'Let's get this over with,' Grim said. 'If you think you have something on me, let's do it — which you don't.' Grim, who lives in New York City, is one of many 'Stop Cop City' defendants who post on social media for financial support to help pay for food and rent. Health insurance is out of the question, despite chronic pain in her knee from a prior accident. Besides the couple hundred dollars she gets each month from donors she doesn't know, Grim cobbles together funds through freelance work for activist-oriented causes and is focused on helping her daughter get through college. 'I've never had such a hard time finding employment,' said Grim, who previously held marketing jobs. 'I do really well until the final interview and then everybody goes ghost on me. I think it's because that's when they look my name up.' Prosecutors say Grim was among a throng of black-clad activists in March 2023 who left a music festival, walked through the woods and overtook the construction site, torching equipment and throwing rocks at retreating officers before returning to blend in with festivalgoers. Grim said she was in her tent, having woken up from a nap, when officers arrived at the festival and began making arrests. Grim said she began to run before falling due to her knee injury. 'I heard men screaming at me,' Grim said, describing what prompted her to run. 'That's scary as a woman. They didn't say they were police or anything.' Authorities, however, said Grim ran upon spotting the officers and tried to hide. After her arrest, Grim lost an email marketing contract with Fordham University, which had been about to give her a full-time position. 'People know me, and when they hear I'm a 'domestic terrorist' they're like, 'What? No! What?!' Grim said. 'I'm not just talking about activist friends saying this — these are friends from parent circles.' Hannah Kass On May 12, 2022, a group of protesters gathered in suburban Atlanta outside the offices of Brasfield & Gorrie, the training center's primary contractor. Some set off fireworks as others broke windows and spray-painted 'Trees not cops,' causing an estimated $30,000 in damage, authorities said. Kass, 32, attended the protest but said she never vandalized anything and was engaging in a research method called 'participant observation,' which involves immersing oneself in the community being studied. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. 'I was there as both a scholar and an activist,' said Kass, a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Wisconsin-Madison who studies land struggles and teaches environmental social sciences to undergraduates. Authorities arrested her on charges of felony criminal property damage and felony terroristic threats, saying surveillance video shows she helped set off Roman candles. Kass underwent a university disciplinary hearing but said the school has supported her. She worries potential employers might not be as understanding. Like many of her codefendants, Kass rejected prosecutors' plea deal at her RICO arraignment that would have included serving three years in prison. 'I have absolutely nothing to plead guilty for,' she said. 'I should have every right to protest and believe what I want to believe and associate with whatever political tendencies I wish to associate with.'
Time of India
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
China, Iran exploited jurisdictional chaos for drone activities? Luna drops bombshell at UFO hearing
Subcommittee on Military and Foreign Affairs Chairman William Timmons (R-S.C.) delivered opening remarks at 'Securing the Skies: Addressing Unauthorized Drone Activity Over Military Installations.' In his opening statement, Chairman Timmons brought to attention hostile adversaries' many coordinated attempts to use unauthorized drones to collect intelligence and surveil sensitive U.S. military equipment. He called out the Biden Administration's lack of leadership and mitigation of the issue and praised President Trump for taking action to protect military installations from exposure. Chairman Timmons concluded that full accountability, expedited technological upgrades, and enhanced oversight are needed to further reform military readiness and protect U.S. sovereignty. Show more Show less
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
After much demand, U.S. Rep. William Timmons to host telephone town hall
SOUTH CAROLINA, S.C. (WSPA) — U.S. Representative William Timmons (R-SC 4th District) is set to host a telephone town hall on Tuesday night. The event comes less than one week after the congressman referred to town halls as a product of the South Carolina Democratic Party.'These so-called 'town halls' orchestrated by the SCDP are nothing more than staged political pep rallies for their left-wing agenda,' Timmons said. 'I am focused on delivering President Trump's America First agenda, not performative gatherings.' Rep. Timmons announced his plans to host a telephone town hall on Monday night, following President Donald Trump's first 100 days in office. 'Looking forward to speaking with you and answering your questions,' Timmons said on social media. According to Merriam-Webster, a town hall is defined as an event where a 'public official or political candidate addresses an audience by answering questions posed by individual members.' U.S. Rep. Sheri Biggs hosts virtual town hall A recent billboard in Greenville claimed the last in-person town hall held by Timmons was more than three years ago. Greenville City Council At-Large Representative Russell Stall said that while he is not affiliated with the group behind the display; he is concerned. 'Our biggest responsibility and our biggest privilege is listening to the voice of the people,' Stall said. 'I am very concerned that we are not seeing that here.' The advertisement directed readers to a website that criticizes Timmons' decisions and alleged lack of involvement with his constituents. On April 22, U.S. Representative Jim Clyburn (D-SC 6th District) held an in-person town hall at Wofford College. People travelled from across the region to hear answers they feel they have not gotten from Congressman Timmons, who represents the district. Clyburn even criticized Timmons for not holding an in-person town hall. The town hall is slated to start at 5:45 p.m. Constituents interested in speaking with Rep. Timmons can sign up online. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
