Month: February 2019

The Latest: New election ordered in undecided US House race

The Latest: New election ordered in undecided US House race

Published by skeptic

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The Latest on a hearing outlining a ballot fraud investigation in an undeclared North Carolina congressional race for which a winner hasn’t been finalized (all times local): 4:05 p.m. North Carolina’s elections board has ordered a new election in the nation’s last undecided congressional race after reviewing evidence that it was tainted by absentee ballot fraud. The North Carolina State Board of Elections voted 5-0 on Thursday to hold a new election in the 9th Congressional District. The board did not immediately set a schedule. Following last November’s election, Republican Mark Harris had held a slim lead over Democrat Dan McCready in unofficial results from the district running from Charlotte through several counties to the east. But the state refused to certify the win because of absentee-ballot irregularities. Harris said Thursday during the hearing that he thought a new election should be called. ___ 2:55 p.m. The Republican in the country’s last undecided congressional race is ending his bid to be declared a winner and calling for a new election. Mark …

Defying Fear: Secular Rescue Story

Defying Fear: Secular Rescue Story

Published by Sam

Secular Rescue is a program of the Center for Inquiry that identifies those writers, activists, and everyday citizens in countries such as Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Iraq who live under the threat of violence and death and provides financial and diplomatic assistance to help these them escape to safety. Nur E Emroz Alam “Tonoy” is known in Bangladesh for his columns at major news outlets such as the Dhaka Tribune, where he has taken on controversial issues, championed equality and free inquiry, and aimed a critical eye at extremist religious beliefs and political ideologies. But as has become sadly predictable in Bangladesh, his work has made him a target for those very extremists. Overwhelmed by threats to his life, Tonoy fled Bangladesh and began to seek the help he needed to keep himself alive and to keep writing. Tonoy reached out to Secular Rescue and told us in no uncertain terms, “I’ll certainly be killed if returned to Bangladesh.” He feared murder at the hands of Islamist militants, such as those who slaughtered Avijit Roy and several …