local politics

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Endeavour Hits Political Turbulence on Final Journey

Los Angeles science center makes amends for 400 trees felled

(Newser) - Forget technical difficulties: It's politics that have posed a problem in Endeavour's last journey. The space shuttle has been soaring across the US in celebration of its 20 years and 122,883,151 miles. But the last 12 miles of its journey—through south Los Angeles on a...

Tennessee Town Elects Dead Mayor

'If he were to run again next week I'd vote for him again'

(Newser) - Carl Geary's campaign to become mayor of Tracy City, Tennessee, wasn't derailed when he dropped dead of heart attack in the middle of it. Geary, a councilman known for his straight-talking style, beat his rival in the small town by a margin of over 3 to 1, the Telegraph reports....

Tea Partiers Attempt GOP Takeover From the Inside
 Tea Partiers 
 Attempt GOP 
 Takeover From 
 the Inside 


TROJAN HORSE DEPT.
Feb 16, 2010 11:54 AM CST

Tea Partiers Attempt GOP Takeover From the Inside

Activists fill local posts that set policy, choose candidates

(Newser) - If you thought tea partiers weren’t joiners, think again, as conservative activists across the country fill vacant local Republican Party positions in an effort to change the GOP from the inside. Precinct representatives have a hand in electing county leaders, who determine the platform and even which candidates to...

Few Voters Go to Polls in Primary for Kennedy's Seat

Martha Coakley favored in less-than-energetic race

(Newser) - A handful of voters have been trickling into polls around Massachusetts today for the special election that will almost certainly determine Ted Kennedy’s successor. As few as 300,000 to 500,000 may vote in the Democratic primary, the winner of which is expected to trounce Republican Scott Brown....

Florida Mayor's Dad Threatens Her at Gunpoint

She'd endorsed his opponent in another mayoral race

(Newser) - Local politics took a bizarre turn in Florida’s Broward County Tuesday night, when Mayor Stacy Ritter’s father—an 84-year-old World War II veteran—showed up at her home with a gun and threatened her. After a brief struggle, Ritter convinced her dad, Edward Portner, to let her go...

Towns, Counties Create Own Stimulus Plans

Economists see mixed results, but local boost can be psychological

(Newser) - Across the US, cities, states, and counties aren’t waiting for Uncle Sam to jumpstart the economy, the Wall Street Journal reports. Many have devised their own, often creative, methods of stimulating local economies. One Texas town, for example, has used its budget surplus to create 250 temporary, low-paying jobs,...

States Fret as Road Salt Grows Scarce, Pricey

Last year's winter depleted reserves

(Newser) - Road salt is stressing state and municipal budgets as shortages drive prices up well past what local governments have paid in the past, USA Today reports. A harsh winter last year left many states with no salt reserves to carry over, meaning they have to fully restock at inflated prices....

As Mayor, Palin Helped Herself to Perks

(Newser) - Sarah Palin vows to battle political boys' clubs, but her mayoral record shows that girls' clubs can be useful too, the AP reports. While mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, Palin accepted gifts from merchants—even thanking one for an "awesome" facial—and argued for rulings that favored her family. Other...

Chafing Under Term Limits, Local Pols Act

Elected officials nationwide push for more time in office

(Newser) - Local politicians across the country are mounting campaigns against the term-limits laws that threaten to force them from office, reports the New York Times. More than 20 governments—including New York City's—are considering repealing term limits, with term-limited politicians spearheading the challenges. "We do a lot of churning...

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