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Midwest

People with disabilities sue in Wisconsin over lack of electronic absentee ballots

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People with disabilities sue in Wisconsin over lack of electronic absentee ballots

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin voters with disabilities should be able to cast their ballots electronically and failure to provide that option for the upcoming Aug. 13 primary and November presidential election is discriminatory and unconstitutional, a lawsuit filed Tuesday in the battleground state alleges.

The lawsuit seeks to require that electronic absentee voting be an option for people with disabilities, just as it is for military and overseas voters. Under current Wisconsin law, people with disabilities are “treated unequally and face real and considerable hurdles to participating in absentee voting,” the lawsuit argues.

WI ELECTIONS COMMISSION APPROVES GUIDANCE, VOTERS WITH DISABILITIES CAN RECEIVE HELP WITH ABSENTEE BALLOTS

Absentee ballots, including who can return them and where, have been a political flashpoint in swing state Wisconsin, where four of the past six presidential elections have been decided by less than a percentage point. The Wisconsin Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments next month in a case seeking to overturn a previous ruling banning absentee ballot drop boxes.

Poll workers sort out ballots at the Kenosha Municipal building on Election Day, Nov. 3, 2020, in Kenosha, Wis. A lawsuit in Wisconsin argues that voters with disabilities should be able to cast their ballots electronically and that failing to provide that option for the upcoming Tuesday, Aug. 13, primary and November 2024 presidential election is discriminatory and unconstitutional. The lawsuit filed Tuesday, April 16, seeks to require that electronic absentee voting be an option for people with disabilities in Wisconsin, just as it is for military and overseas voters.  (Wong Maye-E/AP Photo)

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A federal court sided with disability rights activists in 2022 and said the Voting Rights Act applies to Wisconsin voters who require assistance with mailing or delivering their absentee ballot because of a disability. The ruling overturned a Wisconsin Supreme Court ruling that said only the voter can return their ballot in person or place it in the mail.

The new case was filed against the Wisconsin Elections Commission in Dane County Circuit Court by four voters, Disability Rights Wisconsin and the League of Women Voters. Riley Vetterkind, a spokesperson for the elections commission, declined to comment on the lawsuit.

Voters with disabilities must have the ability to vote electronically in order for Wisconsin to comply with a variety of state and federal laws related to accommodation and equal-access, the lawsuit argues. Electronic voting will also ensure that people with disabilities are treated the same as other voters, the lawsuit contends.

The lawsuit states that because absentee voting for most in Wisconsin is by paper ballot, many people with disabilities are unable to cast their votes without assistance. They could vote in private if electronic voting were an option, the lawsuit argues.

“This unconstitutional defect in Wisconsin’s absentee ballot system is well-known yet remains unaddressed,” the lawsuit alleges.

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The individuals who brought the lawsuit are Donald Natzke, of Shorewood, and Michael Christopher, of Madison, both of whom are blind; Stacy Ellingen, of Oshkosh, who has cerebral palsy; and Tyler Engel, of Madison, who has spinal muscular atrophy. All four of them are unable to vote absentee privately and independently, the lawsuit argues.

The lawsuit alleges that not providing electronic absentee voting for people with disabilities violates the state and federal constitutions, the Americans with Disabilities Act and the federal Rehabilitation Act, which prohibits all organizations that receive federal financial assistance from discriminating on the basis of disability.

People with disabilities make up about one-fourth of the U.S. adult population, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. They have been ensnared in battles over access to the polls as many Republican-led states have passed restrictive voting laws in recent years, including over limits on what assistance a voter can receive and whether someone else can return a voter’s mailed ballot.

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Nebraska

"They've Built This": Nebraska commit Barrett Kitrell carries on family football legacy

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"They've Built This": Nebraska commit Barrett Kitrell carries on family football legacy


Nebraska commit Barrett Kitrell grew up watching his four older brothers and his father play at the Division I level. Now, the Ashland-Greenwood standout is preparing to write the next chapter of his family’s remarkable football legacy.



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North Dakota

Today in History, 1930: North Dakota marks 8 bank robberies in a year, stealing a total of $13,555

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Today in History, 1930: North Dakota marks 8 bank robberies in a year, stealing a total of ,555


On this day in 1930, North Dakota bankers reported that nine bank robbers had been sent to prison after a year of holdups and burglaries across the state.

Here is the complete story as it appeared in the paper that day:

Bandits Loot North Dakota Banks of $13,555 in Year

NINE ROBBERS ARE IN TOILS

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Six Daylight Holdups, Two Night Jobs In Macfadden Report

The bank bandit business in North Dakota since July 1, 1929, has paid out about $13,555.08 to its tradesmen, but has sent nine of them away for long visits at the state penitentiary in Bismarck.

From July 1, 1929 to June 15, 1930, close of the fiscal year for the North Dakota Bankers association, there were six daylight holdups and two night burglaries in the state, the annual report of W. C. Macfadden, Fargo, secretary, shows. Mr. Macfadden released his report for publication Saturday.

See more history at Newspapers.com

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Up to June 15, the holdups had resulted in a total money loss of $12,356.08, but Friday two men held up the Commercial State bank at Sarles and escaped with about $1,200, bringing the grand total to $13,556.08.

The total loss resulting from daylight holdups in 1929 was $5,619.50 exclusive of damage losses. Attempts to obtain money in two night burglary attacks failed. So far in 1930 the loss amounted to $6,735.58, taken from the Citizens National bank at Wahpeton, May 29, plus $1,200 lifted at Sarles Friday.

Everyone Loses At Denhoff

The first bank case in the 1929 fiscal year of the association was at the First State bank of Denhoff Aug. 2, when $800 in currency was burned and the vault damaged beyond repair in a night time attack. Nobody profited by that deal—not even the bandits, for though they escaped, they couldn’t take the charred money with them.

Then came the Gwinner affair when four men broke into the Gwinner State bank under cover of night, cut open the vault, and then were forced to flee down a road ahead of an impromptu, but indignant posse which sprinkled them liberally with shot. All four of the bandits were captured and all of the money recovered. The four men, Thomas Kerwin, John Mitchell, George Smith and John Grant, each of whom won a plentiful aliases were sent away to Bismarck and will be there for some time to come.

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Sept. 10, 1929, the First State bank of Alamo lost $4,000 in a daylight holdup. Oct. 2, the Security National bank of Taylor was visited, and robbed of $1,619.50. None of the money has ever been recovered.

Three men held up the bank of Garske Oct. 7, 1929, were chased by townsfolk and ended up in Bismarck. The three convicted were Nicholas Schneider, Jimmy Russell and Louise Vivier.

John Peters was the next man to be sent away on a bank bandit charge. He entered the penitentiary convicted of having held up the Douglas State bank on Nov. 22. The full amount of money was recovered from Peters as it was from the Garske bandit trio.

March 19, 1930, Nicholas Mead shot and killed the cashier of the First National bank of Courtenay and for several days was in possession of illicit funds obtained by the process. Mead, however, was caught, convicted, and sent away for life on a first degree murder charge.

The Citizens National bank of Wahpeton is still loser by $6,735.58, the result of a daring daylight attack May 29 when three young men held up the bank employees, the board of directors and certain patrons, scooped up the money, walked out the door and to their car, escaping across the South Dakota border.

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The two recent bank attacks, neither of which is included in Mr. Macfadden’s report because they will fall in next year’s tally, are the Hurdsfield affair and the attack at Sarles Saturday. Ernest Swandlow, youthful bandit, who attempted to hold up the Farmers and Merchants bank at Hurdsfield last week, was caught the same day, has confessed.

Ads featured in The Forum on June 29, 1930. Newspapers.com

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Kate Almquist

Kate Almquist is the social media manager for InForum. After working as an intern, she joined The Forum full time starting in January 2022. Readers can reach her at kalmquist@forumcomm.com.





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Ohio

Good news: Summer has arrived in north central Ohio. Bad news: It brought a flamethrower

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Good news: Summer has arrived in north central Ohio. Bad news: It brought a flamethrower


You wanted summer weather?

You got it.

For everyone who spent spring and early summer wondering if the sun had permanently relocated to Florida, congratulations.

Your reward is a week that may have you questioning every life decision involving long pants.

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The National Weather Service in Cleveland said Sunday that north central Ohio is headed for a prolonged stretch of hot, humid weather, with temperatures climbing into the middle 90s by midweek and heat indices pushing toward the triple digits.

The area includes Richland, Ashland and Knox counties.

After a perfectly reasonable Sunday with highs in the low 80s and a mix of clouds and sunshine, Mother Nature will likely turn the thermostat to “Ohio sauna” as residents head back to work.

Monday reaches the upper 80s before the real heat arrives. Forecast highs climb to 94 degrees Tuesday and peak around 96 degrees Wednesday, flirting with daily record highs. Thursday won’t provide much relief, with temperatures expected to remain in the lower 90s.

The NWS has issued a heat advisory in effect from Tuesday at noon to Thursday at 8 p.m.

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Even overnight temperatures won’t offer much comfort. Lows will struggle to fall below the mid-70s. That means air conditioners across north central Ohio are about to earn every penny of our rapidly climbing electric bills.

The NWS warns the combination of heat and humidity could create dangerous conditions for anyone spending extended periods outdoors.

You remember the advice from last summer, right?

Drink plenty of water. Take frequent breaks in air conditioning or at least a cooling fan. Avoid strenuous afternoon activities unless sweating through every article of clothing is part of the plan.

Complete outdoor chores during the morning hours. Wear lightweight clothing and check on elderly neighbors and others who may not have access to air conditioning.

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Never leave children or pets inside parked vehicles. When in doubt, always check when you leave your vehicle.

Please.

The first half of the week should stay mostly dry as a large dome of high pressure parks over the Great Lakes. By Friday, however, the atmosphere may finally decide enough is enough.

Scattered afternoon and evening thunderstorms are expected to return Friday and continue into the Independence Day weekend, adding potential natural fireworks to the evening skies.

The storms could briefly interrupt backyard cookouts and fireworks preparations, but they’ll also offer at least a chance to knock temperatures down a few degrees.

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Even so, highs are expected to remain around 85 to 90 degrees through next weekend, keeping conditions well above normal for early July.

If you’re looking for one positive takeaway, remember this: six months ago people in north central Ohio were complaining about scraping ice off windshields, shoveling snow and wondering if spring had been canceled.

This week, nobody will be asking where summer went.





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