Latest news with #state
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
NC elections board launches program to gather missing data for 103K registered voters
The state Board of Elections has undertaken an effort to collect driver's license numbers or partial social security numbers for roughly 103,000 voters whose information is missing from the state's voter rolls. "The Registration Repair Project aims to ensure that North Carolina's voter rolls are as accurate and complete as possible, bring them into compliance with recent state court rulings, and settle a pending lawsuit with the U.S. Department of Justice," a news release July 18 said. The Department of Justice alleges that North Carolina violated the Help America Vote Act by using a voter registration form that didn't require applicants to provide a driver's license number or the last four digits of their Social Security number when registering. Under federal and state law, when a person registers to vote, they must provide that information, which is then used to verify the person's identity. "However, faulty instructions on a voter registration form used in North Carolina for about a decade led some voters to register without providing either number," the release said. "The voter registration form was corrected in January 2024 to make it clear that one of those numbers is required." The state Board of Elections noted that some have inaccurately suggested the effort would remove eligible voters from the rolls. "Instead," Sam Hayes, executive director of the elections board, said in the release, 'it will result in cleaner, more complete voter rolls and full compliance with state and federal laws. He said the office has undergone "great lengths" to streamline and make the process transparent. He said BOE expects the list of voters for which the information is needed "will decrease quickly." The list of voters — including 100 who live in Cumberland County — is available on the NCBOE website at Users can click the Registration Repair button on the home page and search the database by name, street address, voter registration number or county. Voters on the Registration Repair list have three options If you find you're among the 1.3% of N.C. voters whose records need to be updated, you have three options, according to the NCBOE. • Submit an updated voter registration form through the DMV's website at Click 'Continue as Guest' when asked to log into myNCDMV. There is no fee for this service. Click 'Yes' when asked to update your voter information. • Visit your county board of elections office, and they can help you ensure your registration is complete. You will need to have your driver's license number or Social Security number with you. The Cumberland County Board of Elections is located in the E. Newton Smith Center at 227 Fountainhead Lane, Suite 101, in Fayetteville. Office hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit the Cumberland County Board of Elections online at or call 910-678-7733. The Board of Elections will not request your personal information over the phone. • In August, the State Board of Elections will mail letters to individuals who remain on the list at the time the mailing is sent. You can fill out the letter and mail it to the county board of elections in the pre-addressed return envelope enclosed with the letter. Postage is provided on the envelope. The Cumberland County Board of Elections mailing address is 227 Fountainhead Lane, Suite 101, Fayetteville, NC 28301. The NCBOE said that in future elections, if in-person voters are on the list and have not provided the information, they will be required to cast a provisional ballot and provide the information when they vote. This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: NC election board launches Registration Repair Project for voter records Solve the daily Crossword
The Herald
a day ago
- The Herald
I'm being framed for my son's murder, Tiffany Meek tells court
The state has charged her with: murder; crimen injuria; attempting to defeat or obstruct the course of justice; and defeating or obstructing the administration of justice. It is alleged that the grade 6 pupil died of a blunt-force head injury sustained in the Fleurhof flat in which he lived with his mother. He had been dropped off by scholar transport on the afternoon of May 13 and found deceased the next morning on the stairwell outside their flat. The state alleges an attempt was made to clean up the blood trail inside the flat, but this was unsuccessful. Forensics showed blood on his bed and one of his schoolbooks. Meek said in her affidavit she intended to rebut all the state's assertions to prove her innocence. 'If the state persists with the charges against me, I want to stand trial,' she said. 'I do not have the means nor the support to flee this country, hence I am not a flight risk.' She disclosed she earns R17,500 a month in a clerical position she started in October 2023. She is the sole breadwinner for her family and supports her mother and brother. Meek has offered to pay R5,000 for bail. Despite her plea, Meek will remain behind bars over the weekend, as the state requested a postponement to respond to the affidavit she submitted on Friday morning. The matter has been postponed to Monday for continuation of bail proceedings. TimesLIVE
ABC News
a day ago
- Business
- ABC News
What we know about WA's problem-plagued state election, and what's to come
Six months before a state election which went so wrong it triggered a special inquiry to find answers, the man in charge gave a warning. "Electoral bodies find they only attract attention when things go wrong," Robert Kennedy told a parliamentary committee. "As long as everything is sailing along fine, no one is particularly interested in any issues you might be identifying." Just as he had predicted, no one paid much attention at the time. Few noticed Electoral Commissioner Kennedy cautioning there were "additional cost pressures and service improvements that … remain unfunded". But, he said: "If we can confirm our funding … I expect that we will be able to meet our goal and our promise of a better electoral experience in 2025." As the conduct of election showed — with reports of long wait times at polling booths, inexperienced staff and shortages of staff and ballot papers — that isn't what happened. The ABC revealed on Tuesday the decision to outsource recruitment of the temporary election workforce was largely motivated by two factors. First, a sense the running of the 2021 election had damaged the commission's reputation. Few involved in that poll — which Mark McGowan won in a post-COVID landslide — seemed to share the commission's concerns. "There were a few issues that I was aware of here and there, but nothing like the collapse that we saw in 2025," was shadow electoral affairs spokesperson Shane Love's recollection. "I think we got off lightly because of the result," Commissioner Kennedy had told parliament, referring to Labor's huge win. Another issue, he said, was "a lack of resources and internal procedures and processes to properly support our large temporary workforce". That lack of resources was also noted in the commission's decision to outsource recruitment. But the $86 million outsourcing contract was not mentioned at the committee hearing, despite being signed nearly a year prior. Instead, the commissioner warned multiple times funding the election was the biggest issue on his mind at that point, although he acknowledged some increased funding provided "so far". Asked this week if the government had adequately resourced the commission, Premier Roger Cook was clear. "There is nothing we do which would give the Electoral Commission any cause for concern in relation to their finances," he said on Tuesday. "Obviously, we want to know how the money is spent, but that's a conversation which predominantly takes place between treasury themselves and the WA Electoral Commission. "And as has been the custom after every election, when the Electoral Commission has required extra resources, they've been topped up." Budget papers show while the 2017 election came in pretty much on budget, the commission needed its total election year budget increased by 24 per cent (or about $8 million) compared to earlier plans. Last month's budget included a 55 per cent increase — more than $20 million — on earlier predictions. That took the commission's budget to around $57.5 million, with between $19 or $20 million paid under the contract. But a state government spokesperson did not answer questions about whether that money included what the commissioner was concerned about getting in late 2024. "The resourcing of the 2025 state election was a matter included in the terms of reference for the Special Inquiry into the Planning and Delivery of the 2025 WA State General Election," they said in a statement. "The inquirer's report will be tabled in parliament next month." The electoral commissioner's comments to the committee — and particularly his warning that few paid attention to issues raised when things were going fine — could suggest he did feel some level of concern around finances. Understanding whether that was the case will be a critical question for the special inquiry to answer, if it is to have even the chance of avoiding a similarly problematic election in the future. Of course, that's not to say other, more direct changes, won't help. "A new acting commissioner and acting deputy commissioner have been appointed, both of whom are already reviewing the current practices, processes and culture of the WA Electoral Commission," was the assurance provided by Electoral Affairs Minister David Michael during the week. "The government will formally respond to recommendations within the special inquiry report when it is tabled in parliament and publicly released." That is not expected to be until mid-August at the earliest when parliament next sits. Later in the year, after local government elections have been run in October, the acting commissioner Dennis O'Reilly has also indicated the recruitment contract could be reconsidered. "As good contract managers, we will be sitting down to see what is working and what is not. Part of that process will also involve looking at what the future looks like with PERSOLKELLY," he told parliament. "I would not want to pre-empt anything, but as a good contract manager, I think it is important to sit down and have those discussions." Whatever changes eventuate, they are unlikely to have much of an impact on the culture of the commission, which could be an even more important factor. Any issues within the organisation clearly must be addressed before the next state election in 2029. But that focus cannot allow the state government to be let of the hook if there is found to be any undue external pressure on the commission. Nobody expects any part of government to be given a blank cheque. But it would be hard to justify fiscal restraint, for one of the agencies responsible for such a fundamental part of democracy to be deprived of a fraction of the state's $2.4 billion surplus last year.
Medscape
2 days ago
- Health
- Medscape
On Retiring From the Practice of Medicine
Last week, I retired from practicing medicine. My medical work stopped 3 years ago, but now retirement is official. To retire, all I had to do was submit a one-page form to my state medical licensing board: name, address, email, and two boxes to check. One said that my patient records would remain accessible. The other affirmed, 'I am not aware of any open or reasonably anticipated complaints to the Board against me.' (Complaints about any physician can be submitted by email, so the most a doctor can promise is that nothing is 'reasonably anticipated.') I had decided not to renew my license this year, to avoid fees and continuing education requirements. My first medical license was issued over 50 years ago, when I was an intern. For 42 of those years, I practiced medicine in my own office. The end of my office work was sudden. I had already cut back working hours when COVID struck. On Friday, March 13, 2020, I left my office and never came back. At first, I stayed in touch with staff by phone and saw patients online a few hours a week. That was frustrating and almost useless. Remote technology back then was poor, and the visits achieved little. Some professionals who retire wonder whether doing so will cause them to lose their identity. I have found that what identity I had seems to still be there. Practicing medicine was a great privilege. Being able to help, guide, or reassure people in their times of need struck me then, and strikes me now, as a most worthy way to spend one's working life. I regret none of it. I just don't want to do it anymore. Consulting with patients, I met many people I would never have otherwise come across. They hailed from towns nearby and from countries around the world. Many shared stories I had never heard, some of which I could not have imagined. In this way, I got to know my patients, at least a bit. Over time, I grew to know some of their children, even their grandchildren. There were times when getting to know them, what they did, how they thought, had a direct impact on managing their medical condition. Most often it did not. Still, it always seemed to me that caring for people is better done if you know them, at least to some extent. Through the years, nothing changed my mind about this. Throughout, I remained grateful for the efforts patients had to make to see me. They fought traffic, scrounged parking, struggled with officialdom over referrals, sat in my waiting room, all for the honor of hearing what I had to say. To the end, I never stopped wondering whether what I had to offer was worth their effort. I would like to think that, at least for many, it was. Looking back, the practice of dermatology, and of medicine in general, has of course changed a great deal. The big change in dermatology has been the emphasis on cosmetic work, which was not part of what dermatologists did when I started out. Lasers and cosmetics have lent our profession more glamour, and for many who practice it, a different emphasis. Cosmetic clients ask different questions and have different expectations from patients with purely medical concerns. I got involved a bit with cosmetic dermatology before I really understood what it entailed, but my heart was never in it. Cosmetics remained a small part of what I did. The big change in medical practice in general is the ubiquity of electronic medical records (EMRs). The advantage these offer dermatology is the ease with which photographs and other visual records can be incorporated into visit notes. These offer much-needed precision in identifying and following lesions that was unavailable in the old days of scribbled paper charts. EMRs have of course also changed the texture of practice life, demanding hours of record-keeping drudgery, much of it in the service of recording data of dubious significance. The third change worth mentioning is the acceptance, by the medical profession and the public, of mid-level providers, nurse practitioners and physician assistants (PAs). I worked with PAs for 20 years. Their competence, and interest in traditional medical dermatology, was a source of much professional satisfaction for me and of great value to my patients. Retirees I met, among my friends and patients, sometimes told me they were unhappy, not because they missed their work but because they missed the people they had worked with. In medicine, those are staff and colleagues. They share an intimate knowledge of the small charms and frustrations that fill working days: the cranky gent who sends the staff flowers; the insurer who will not cooperate; the regular patient who cannot manage to show up on time, or at all. As I mentioned, many of my own colleagues were PAs whom I trained myself and worked alongside for years or decades. All were capable; one was extraordinary. At times, she and I shared a heart-to-heart about the work we did together and how we felt about it, what it was like to live with a sense of unending responsibility, challenged at times by spasms of self-doubt. What if we had not offered advice in a way the patient could accept? What if well-laid plans did not turn out well, or if our suggestions seemed on reflection to be ill-advised or just wrong? Life offers few chances to have fully honest talks like those, with someone who truly understands, on matters that cut to the core of the soul. I will cherish with gratitude the memory of those discussions. Some people who think about retiring worry about needing to endure going-away parties. Along with food and drink and perhaps a parting gift or memento come speeches and sentiment, which may spill over into sentimentality. If such are the rites of passage for leaving an office, what must they be like for leaving a profession? While recall is fresh, I can share my own experience. The acceptance of my application for retirement status came by email:
National Post
3 days ago
- Business
- National Post
AECOM selected to design major track improvements for England's busiest passenger railway corridors
Article content All statements in this communication other than statements of historical fact are 'forward-looking statements' for purposes of federal and state securities laws, including any statements of the plans, strategies and objectives for future operations, profitability, strategic value creation, capital allocation strategy including stock repurchases, risk profile and investment strategies, and any statements regarding future economic conditions or performance, and the expected financial and operational results of AECOM. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in our forward-looking statements are reasonable, actual results could differ materially from those projected or assumed in any of our forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause our actual results, performance and achievements, or industry results to differ materially from estimates or projections contained in our forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the following: our business is cyclical and vulnerable to economic downturns and client spending reductions; potential government shutdowns, changes in administration or other funding directives and circumstances that may cause governmental agencies to modify, curtail or terminate our contracts; losses under fixed-price contracts; limited control over operations that run through our joint venture entities; liability for misconduct by our employees or consultants; changes in government laws, regulations and policies, including failure to comply with laws or regulations applicable to our business; maintaining adequate surety and financial capacity; potential high leverage and inability to service our debt and guarantees; ability to continue payment of dividends; exposure to political and economic risks in different countries, including tariffs and trade policies, geopolitical events, and conflicts; inflation, currency exchange rates and interest rate fluctuations; changes in capital markets and stock market volatility; retaining and recruiting key technical and management personnel; legal claims and litigation; inadequate insurance coverage; environmental law compliance and adequate nuclear indemnification; unexpected adjustments and cancellations related to our backlog; partners and third parties who may fail to satisfy their legal obligations; managing pension costs; AECOM Capital real estate development projects; cybersecurity issues, IT outages and data privacy; risks associated with the benefits and costs of the sale of our Management Services and self-perform at-risk civil infrastructure, power construction and oil and gas businesses, including the risk that any purchase adjustments from those transactions could be unfavorable and result in any future proceeds owed to us as part of the transactions could be lower than we expect; as well as other additional risks and factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our forward-looking statements set forth in our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof. We do not intend, and undertake no obligation, to update any forward-looking statement.
