Wednesday, August 16, 2023
The Mining Journal 5A
State/Nation
Georgia election indictment
highlights wider attempts to
illegally access voting equipment
UAW to vote
on strike
authorization
next week as
president says
talks with Detroit
3 moving slowly
By CHRISTINA
A. CASSIDY
Associated Press
they were absent from the
recent federal indictment
of Trump alleging interfer-
ATLANTA — A day ence in the 2020 election.
after the Jan. 6, 2021, at- The Georgia case is the first
tack on the U.S. Capitol, to argue that the breaches
as the country was still were part of a conspiracy
reeling from the violent at- by Trump and his allies to
tempt to halt the transfer of overturn the results.
DETROIT (AP)
—
About 146,000 members
of the United Auto Workers
union will vote next week
on authorizing their leaders
to call strikes against the
Detroit automakers.
Union President Shawn
Fain said in a statement
Tuesday that talks that start-
ed in mid-July are moving
slowly and have yet to get to
wages and other economic
issues.
The union’s contracts with
General Motors, Ford and
Stellantis expire in about a
month, at 11:59 p.m. Sept.
14.
The union did not name a
target company for a strike
in its statement. Fain is
scheduled to hold a Face-
book Live meeting with
workers later Tuesday.
presidential power, a local
Four people face six
Republican Party official counts related to the breach
greeted a group of comput- in Coffee County, includ-
er experts outside the elec- ing conspiracy to commit
tion office in a rural county election fraud, conspiracy
in south Georgia, where to commit computer theft
they were given access to and conspiracy to defraud
voting equipment.
the state. They are lawyer
Their intent was to copy and Trump ally Sidney
software and data from the Powell, former Coffee
election systems in an at- County elections director
tempt to prove claims by Misty Hampton, former
President Donald Trump Coffee County GOP Chair
and his allies that voting Cathy Latham, who also
machines had been rigged served as a false elector for
to flip the 2020 election to Trump, and Scott Graham
his challenger, Democrat Hall, an Atlanta-area bail
Joe Biden, according to a bondsman who prosecutors
wide-ranging indictment say is associated with long-
Linemen work on poles on Sunday in Lahaina, Hawaii, following a deadly wildfire that caused
heavy damage days earlier. Hawaiian Electric Co. faces criticism for not shutting off the power
amid high wind warnings and keeping it on even as dozens of poles began to topple. (AP photo)
Videos put scrutiny on downed power lines
as possible cause of deadly Maui wildfires
ByMICHAELBIESECKER, ly wind-driven wildfire risk, sial, and it’s not universally
BERNARD CONDON and needs to do it and needs to accepted,” she said.
issued late Monday. time Trump adviser David
Several of those involved Bossie.
Strike authorization votes
are a routine part of contract
talks and are often over-
whelmingly approved.
are among the 19 people,
A lawyer for Powell de-
including the former pres- clined comment, while
ident, charged with multi- messages seeking respons-
ple counts in what Georgia es from the others were not
prosecutors describe as immediately returned.
JENNIFER McDERMOTT
have a plan in place,” said Mi-
chael Wara, a wildfire expert Pelletier also expressed frus-
Awakened by howling who is director of the Climate tration at the news conference
Fain has set high expec- winds that tore through his and Energy Policy Program at that people were complain-
tations for the contract talks Maui neighborhood, Shane Stanford University. “In this ing both that power was not
and says the union will seek Treu went out at dawn and case, the utility did not.” cut off earlier and too many
more than 40% general pay saw a wooden power pole
“It may turn out that there people were unaccounted for
Maui Police Chief John
Messages were left seek-
ing comment from all three Associated Press
automakers.
a “conspiracy to unlaw-
fully change the outcome ues to promote his claims
of the election in favor of about the election, multi-
Trump.” ple reviews, audits and re-
Although Trump contin-
The charges related to the counts in the battleground
breach of election equip- states where he disputes his
ment in Coffee County loss — including in Geor-
highlight that the pressure gia, which counted the
campaign by the former presidential ballots three
president and his allies times — have confirmed
didn’t stop with state offi- Biden’s win. Trump’s
cials and lawmakers, but claims also were rejected
extended all the way down by dozens of judges, in-
to local government. Re- cluding several he appoint-
lying on Georgia’s rack- ed. His attorney general
eteering law, the type of and an exhaustive review
prosecution more typically by The Associated Press
associated with mobsters, found no evidence of wide-
the indictment alleges the spread fraud that could
events in Coffee County have changed the results.
raises over four years, resto- suddenly snap with a flash, are other causes of this fire, because of a lack of cell and
ration of pensions for newer its sparking, popping line and the utility lines are not the internet service.
hires, cost-of-living increas-
es, an end to wage tiers, and
other benefits. He has said
workers can make big gains
but must be ready to strike
to get them.
The union also wants
guarantees that it will rep-
resent workers at 10 U.S.
electric vehicle battery
plants proposed by the com-
panies. Most are joint ven-
tures with Korean battery
companies.
Fain has complained that
Stellantis is seeking conces-
sions in the contract when
the union wants gains. But
a union spokesman said sin-
gling out Stellantis doesn’t
mean the UAW has picked
a company as a strike target,
and it could choose all three.
Automakers say they are
facing billions of dollars in
development costs as the
industry shifts from com-
bustion engines to electric
vehicles.
In a letter to employees
last week, Stellantis Chief
Operating Officer Mark
Stewart accused Fain of
“theatrics and personal in-
sults” that Stewart said will
not help to reach a deal. He
wrote that the company
is committed to an agree-
ment based on “economic
realism” that supports the
viability of Stellantis’ op-
erations while rewarding
workers.
falling to the dry grass below main cause,” Wara said. “But
and quickly igniting a row of if they are, boy, this didn’t or do you want the power shut
flames. need to happen.” off?” he said. “You don’t get
He called 911 and then Hawaiian Electric declined it both ways.”
turned on Facebook video to to comment on the accusa- Mikal Watts, one of the
livestream his attempt to fight tions in the lawsuit or whether lawyers behind the lawsuit,
the blaze in Lahaina, includ- it has ever shut down power told the AP this week that
ing wetting down his property before due to high winds. But he was in Maui, interview-
“Do you want notifications
with a garden hose.
“I heard ‘buzz, buzz,’” the Kimura noted at a news con- contemporaneously filmed
49-year-old resort worker ference Monday that many videos.”
recounted to The Associat- factors go into that decision, “There is credible evidence,
President and CEO Shelee ing witnesses and “collecting
ed Press. “It was almost like including the possible effect captured on video, that at least
somebody lit a firework. It on people who rely on spe- one of the power line ignition
just ran straight up the hill to a cialized medical equipment sources occurred when trees
bigger pile of grass and then, and firefighters who need fell into a Hawaiian Electric
with that high wind, that fire power to pump water. power line,” said Watts, who
was blazing.” “Even in places where this confirmed he was referring to
were part of a wider effort
by Trump associates to ille- tion, Trump and Powell
gally access voting equip- pushed various conspiracy
ment in multiple states. theories about voting ma-
After the 2020 elec-
“The one thing that Cof- chines, specifically related
fee County shows, and to the Dominion Voting
these other counties as Systems equipment used
well, is that the effort be- in Georgia. Dominion
hind Jan. 6 didn’t stop on earlier this year reached a
Jan. 6,” said Lawrence $787 million settlement
Norden, an election securi- with Fox News over false
ty expert with the Brennan claims aired on the net-
Center for Justice at NYU’s work, including by Pow-
School of Law. “The ongo- ell.
Treu’s video and others has been used, it is controver- Treu’s footage.
captured the early moments
JOIN US FOR AN OPEN HOUSE
of what would become the
deadliest U.S. wildfire in
more than a century. Now the
footage has emerged as key
Tꢀꢁꢂ Tꢀꢃꢄꢂꢅꢆꢇꢈ Aꢃꢉꢃꢂꢊ ꢋꢌꢈ ꢍꢎꢌꢏꢐꢑ ꢒꢓꢔꢓ ꢆꢊ
ꢋꢕꢖꢑ Eꢗꢉꢔꢆꢗ Lꢆꢘꢙ Rꢚꢆꢅ ꢁꢗ ꢛꢘꢆꢗꢅꢁꢆꢓ
evidence pointing to fallen
utility lines as the possible
cause. Hawaiian Electric Co.
faces criticism for not shut-
ting off the power amid high
wind warnings and keeping
it on even as dozens of poles
began to topple.
This northwoods
style, country
home has two
ing effort to undermine and
sabotage elections has con- Georgia show Powell
tinued.” hired a forensic data firm
Court documents in
bedrooms plus
a loft flex space
that could be
The security breach in- on Dec. 6, 2020, to col-
side the election office in lect and analyze Dominion
Coffee County, about 200 equipment in Michigan
miles southeast of Atlanta, and elsewhere, and prose-
is among the first known cutors allege the breach of
attempts by Trump allies election equipment in Cof-
to access voting systems fee County was “subse-
as they sought evidence to quently performed under
back up their unsubstantiat- this agreement.”
a third bedroom area, 2 1/2 bathrooms and over 3400 of
living space on 10 acres of mature wooded land. A two
A class-action lawsuit has
already been filed seeking to
hold the company responsible
car garage, sauna, pool, patio and porch that wraps around
the house make this an amazing place to spend your time.
Stop by and take a look. If you’re not able to make the open
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for the deaths of at least 99
people. The suit cites the util-
ity’s own documents showing
it was aware that preemptive
power shutoffs such as those
used in California were an
effective strategy to prevent
wildfires but never adopted
them.
SALLY STEEN
REALTOR®
ed claims that such equip-
On Jan. 7, 2021, Hall
ment had manipulated the and employees of the data
presidential vote. It was firm traveled to the elec-
followed a short time later tion office to copy soft-
by breaches in three Mich- ware and data from vot-
igan counties involving ing equipment and were
some of the same people greeted outside by GOP
and again in a western Col- official Latham and then
orado county that Trump taken on a tour of the of-
ABR®, COR®, ACP®
RE/MAX 1st Realty
The company, he wrote,
wants to find solutions to
protect Stellantis from non-
union companies with low-
er costs and additional costs
from moving to electric
vehicles. “Mr. Fain’s de-
mands could endanger our
ability to make decisions in
the future that provide job
security for our employ-
ees,” the letter said.
“Nobody likes to turn the
power off — it’s inconvenient
— but any utility that has sig-
nificant wildfire risk, especial-
2854 Venture Drive | Marquette, MI 49855
906-361-7703 | SallySteen@yahoo.com
won handily.
fice by elections director
Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs
Bureau of Professional Licensing
While the county-level Hampton, according to
equipment breaches have the indictment and video
raised alarms about elec- surveillance obtained in an
tion data falling into the unrelated case about Geor-
wrong hands and prompt- gia’s electronic voting ma-
ed two other prosecutions, chines.
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
September 5, 2023
9:00 a.m.
Location: 611 W. Ottawa Street, UL-4
Lansing, Michigan
Mother pleads guilty to felony child neglect
after 6-year-old son used her gun to shoot teacher
By BEN FINLEY and DENISE LAVOIE told a reading specialist who restrained him:
Associated Press “I shot that (expletive) dead,” and “I got my
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — The mother of mom’s gun last night.”
The hearing is held to receive public comments on the following administrative rules:
Marriage and Family Therapy – General Rules (MOAHR #2022-037 LR)
Authority: MCL 333.16145, 333.16148, 333.16901, 333.16903, 333.16909, and 333.16913, and Executive
Reorganization Order Nos. 1991-9, 1996-2, 2003-1, and 2011-4, MCL 338.3501, 445.2001, 445.2011, and
445.2030.
a 6-year-old boy who shot his teacher in Vir-
Police said the student brought the gun to
Overview: The proposed revisions to the rules include: re-organization and grammatical revisions, updates to
educational standards, and clarification that an applicant must show proof of successfully passing the Marital and
Family Therapy National Examination conducted and scored by the Association of Marital and Family Therapy
Regulatory Boards during the 3-year period immediately preceding the date of the application for relicensure, as
a pathway for those applicants who have let the license lapse more than three years.
ginia pleaded guilty Tuesday to a charge of school in his backpack, but it had been un-
felony child neglect, seven months after her clear exactly how the 6-year-old got the gun.
son used her handgun to critically wound the
educator in a classroom full of students.
During Taylor’s plea hearing Tuesday,
prosecutor Joshua Jenkins said the boy told
Prosecutors agreed to drop a misdemean- authorities he got the gun by climbing onto
or charge of reckless storage of a firearm a drawer to reach the top of a dresser, where
against Deja Taylor. As part of the plea the gun was stored in his mother’s purse.
agreement, prosecutors said they will not Those details were contained in a “stipula-
seek a sentence that is longer than state sen- tion of facts,” a list of facts that both sides
tencing guidelines, which call for six months agree are true.
The rules will take effect immediately upon filing with the Secretary of State, unless specified otherwise in the
rules. Comments on the proposed rules may be presented in person at the public hearing. Written comments will
also be accepted from date of publication until 5:00 p.m. on September 5, 2023, at the following address or e-mail
address:
Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs
Bureau of Professional Licensing– Boards and Committees Section
P.O. Box 30670
in jail or prison.
When police arrived at the school that day,
The crime is punishable by up to five years they entered the classroom and saw the boy
in prison. A judge will have full discretion being restrained by the reading specialist,
when he ultimately decides the length of according to the stipulation of facts docu-
Taylor’s sentence. A sentencing hearing is ment Jenkins read aloud in court.
Lansing, MI 48909-8170
Attention: Departmental Specialist Email: BPL-BoardSupport@michigan.gov
A copy of the proposed rules may be obtained by contacting Board Support at (517) 241-7500 or the email address
noted above. Electronic copies also may be obtained at the following link:
scheduled for Oct. 27.
The boy used a profanity and said “I
The January shooting shocked the nation shot my teacher,” before breaking free and
and roiled this shipbuilding city near the punching the reading specialist in the face,
Chesapeake Bay. The case against Taylor is the document states.
Marriage and Family Therapy – General Rules
one of three legal efforts seeking account-
The gun was on the floor nearby. “My
ability, including the teacher’s $40 million mom had that. ....I stole it because I needed
lawsuit that accuses the school system of to shoot my teacher,” the boy said, accord-
gross negligence for failing to respond ag- ing to the document.
To allow for broad public attendance and participation, including for persons with disabilities, members of the pub-
lic may access this meeting by both web and phone and provide either oral or written comments. Closed captioning
will be provided, when available. Members of the public who are speech or hearing impaired may also attend and
participate in this meeting by dialing 7-1-1 and using the Michigan Relay service. More information about this
html.
gressively to multiple warnings the child
had brought a gun to school that day.
The document said the boy had been diag-
nosed with a defiance disorder. He had pre-
Police said the first grader intentionally viously taken his mother’s car keys from her
shot teacher Abby Zwerner as she sat at a purse, which prompted her to put her keys
reading table during a lesson. Zwerner, who in a lock box. But she continued to keep her
was hit in the hand and chest, spent nearly gun in her purse, the document states.
People with disabilities requiring additional accommodations (such as materials in alternative format) to participate
two weeks in the hospital and has endured
multiple surgeries.
The stipulation of facts also cited a report
from Child Protective Services, which indi-
Moments after the shooting, according to cated the child had played with a gun at his Please call (517) 241-7500 or email BPL-BoardSupport@michigan.gov with any questions related to the
hearing.
search warrants filed in the case, the child grandmother’s house last year.
