Northeast
Maine Sec. of State says she's received 'threatening communications' after Trump move: 'Truly unacceptable'
Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows told CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins about “threatening communications” she has received in the hours after banning former President Trump from her state’s presidential primary ballot.
Bellows appeared on the network Friday evening to note how her work to bar Trump, which she claimed is fulfilling her “obligation to uphold the Constitution,” has prompted Trump supporters and other unruly individuals to send threats to her and her staff.
Despite these intimidating messages, Bellows vowed to hold Trump accountable for what she insisted was him orchestrating an “insurrection.”
TRUMP DECISION SPLITS COLORADO SUPREME COURT ALONG ELITE EAST COAST LAW SCHOOLS, DENVER LAW LINES
Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows tells CNN’s Kaitlan Collins about the “threatening” messages she has received from people outraged over her decision to bar Trump from the state’s primary ballot.
Bellows made the decision to ban Trump from the ballot on Thursday. Like the Colorado Supreme Court, the Secretary of State declared the former president “not qualified to hold the office of the President under Section Three of the 14th Amendment.”
Also like Colorado’s decision, Bellows’ was met with opposition from Trump supporters, the GOP, and even liberal media legal analysts like CNN’s senior legal analyst Elie Honig, who expressed that the move was founded on evidence that wouldn’t hold up in “normal court.”
Bellows spoke to Collins about the more extreme instances of this opposition after the anchor brought up Trump posting the lawmaker’s bio on Maine.gov on his Truth Social platform.
Collins stated “But you saw Trump himself sharing on social media ways to contact your office, the information to contact your office. I wonder, given the position that you’re in and the decision that you’ve made, if you have concerns for your safety since making this decision.”
“I was prepared for the possibility of threats,” she began, adding, “And I really appreciate law enforcement and the people around me who have been incredibly supportive of my safety and security. My safety and security is important, so is the safety and security of everyone who works with me.”
The Maine official confirmed her office “received threatening communications,” which she called “unacceptable.” Still, Bellows noted how she would not be deterred by such messages.
DEMOCRAT-APPOINTED COLORADO JUSTICE SAYS TRUMP BALLOT BAN UNDERMINES ‘BEDROCK’ OF AMERICA IN FIERY DISSENT
On two separate occasions this year – once in March and another time in June — Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows was invited to the White House, according to White House visitor logs. During one trip, she met President Biden. (AP Images)
“But regardless, my considerations in this proceeding is to adhere to the process. We are a nation of laws. Maine law required me to hold a hearing and issue a decision, and now it goes to the Superior Court and I will uphold the ruling of the courts. That is the process that we are due.”
Bellows proceeded to reiterate to the news network her belief that Trump committed an insurrection against the U.S. government.
“And again, looking at the evidence and the events of January 6, it was an insurrection because people attacked not only the Capitol, but also that process of the peaceful transfer of power,” he said.
Collins then asked how concerning Bellows has found the threats, to which the Democratic lawmaker repeated, “Those threatening communications are truly unacceptable, and I certainly worry about the safety of people that I love, people around me, and people who are charged with protecting me and working alongside me.”
She added, “That being said, we are a nation of laws and that’s what’s really important. And so I’ve been laser focused on that obligation to uphold the Constitution.”
According to Denver police, threats were made against the Colorado Supreme Court justices who barred Trump from their state ballot. A Denver PD spokesperson told Fox News Digital it is “currently investigating incidents directed at Colorado Supreme Court justices and will continue working with our local, state and federal law enforcement partners to thoroughly investigate any reports of threats or harassment.”
Fox News Digital reached out to Bellows’ office for further comment and is waiting on a response.
Fox News Digital’s Landon Mion contributed to this report.
Read the full article from Here
Boston, MA
Person of interest in Brown University shooting identified, sources say
Authorities have identified a person of interest in the Brown University mass shooting, three senior law enforcement officials briefed on the investigation told NBC News.
This comes after days of intense investigation and a manhunt for a gunman who opened fire inside the Barus and Holley engineering building on the Providence, Rhode Island, campus on Saturday. Two students were killed and nine other people injured.
Another person of interest was previously taken into custody, but that person was eventually released when investigators ruled them out as a suspect.
Michael Tabman, a retired FBI special agent in charge, joined NBC10 Boston on Thursday to discuss the possible connection being investigated between the shooting death of an MIT professor in Brookline, Massachusetts, and last weekend’s mass shooting on the Brown University campus.
Investigators released a series of surveillance videos and images of a person of interest, asking the public for help with the search.
The shooting has raised questions about safety and security on Brown’s campus and concerns about misinformation and AI-generated images circulated online due to the high-profile nature of the case.
Investigators are looking into whether the Brown shooting may be linked to the killing of an MIT professor at his Brookline, Massachusetts, home this week.
This is a breaking story. Check back for updates.
Pittsburg, PA
Pittsburgh natives Joe Manganiello and Caitlin O’Connor move to Mt. Lebanon
Pittsburgh-area natives Joe Manganiello and Caitlin O’Connor are returning to their roots.
Manganiello, from Mt. Lebanon, and O’Connor, from Uniontown, have bought a home in the South Hills after getting engaged this summer.
On Pittsburgh Today Live on Thursday, O’Connor talked about the couple’s move from Hollywood to Mt. Lebanon.
“It’s so nice to be home,” she said.
While Manganiello and O’Connor are happy to be back in southwestern Pennsylvania, O’Connor said it’ll be a bigger adjustment for the beloved chihuahua Bubbles. From the Pittsburgh Steelers fashion show to the gala celebrating the new airport terminal, the tiny dog is seemingly always in Manganiello’s arms.
“Bubbles is a California girl. She really doesn’t like the cold. We wrap her in a blanket and she has many, many puffy coats. I bought her a Steelers puffy to put in her stocking, so we’re going to see how she does over the next few months. But it’s not that long. It’s not forever. Winter will come and go,” O’Connor said.
And they all got quite the Pittsburgh welcome. O’Connor said it snowed when they were moving in, and Manganiello was outside shoveling for over two hours. She said she’s getting him a snowblower for Christmas.
The couple won’t be braving the Pittsburgh winter for too long. O’Connor said they’ll soon be off to South Africa, where Manganiello will film “One Piece” for Netflix. He’ll star as the villain Crocodile in the popular Japanese manga series.
“Bubbles will be in a better state,” O’Connor joked, saying it’s currently summer in South Africa. “I just bring Bubbles to set and hang out. It’s really the best job.”
Connecticut
Lamont Seeks $168M From Emergency Reserve To Offset Federal Cuts To Health, Housing And Food Aid
CONNECTICUT — Gov. Ned Lamont has submitted a plan to Connecticut legislative leaders to withdraw nearly $168 million from a newly created Emergency State Response Reserve to offset recent federal funding delays and reductions affecting health and human services programs.
The proposal, totaling $167.9 million, marks the first time Lamont has sought to access the reserve, which was established in November under Special Act 25-1. The fund contains $500 million in state surplus dollars and was created in anticipation of potential federal funding reductions.
According to the administration, the proposed expenditures would help reduce health insurance costs for more than 150,000 residents, provide food assistance to more than 35,000 people and help keep approximately 3,500 individuals housed.
The plan includes funding to bolster food banks and pantries affected by changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, replace expiring enhanced health insurance subsidies linked to the Affordable Care Act, and provide interim support for homelessness prevention programs facing federal grant delays. It also would cover lost federal reimbursements for services provided by Planned Parenthood of Southern New England and expand capacity at the state’s 2-1-1 information and referral system.
“We should be supporting programs that increase access to food, healthcare, and homelessness prevention and response,” Lamont said in a statement. “Here in Connecticut we will stand behind them and do what we can to ensure that this most basic assistance remains available.”
Office of Policy and Management Interim Secretary Joshua Wojcik said the funding would help close gaps created by federal actions while supporting vulnerable residents.
“This is a responsible use of taxpayer resources to support our most vulnerable residents,” Wojcik said, adding that the administration continues to assess additional needs.
Under the proposal, $24.6 million would go to community food banks and pantries through June 2027, while $64.1 million would replace expiring enhanced premium tax credits for residents enrolled in Covered Connecticut. Another $50.8 million would address the loss of enhanced federal health insurance subsidies for certain income groups.
Additional allocations include $6.9 million for expiring homelessness grants and supportive housing vouchers, $10.4 million to replace lost federal funding for Planned Parenthood services and Title X programs, $4.7 million to expand 2-1-1 call center capacity and community outreach, and $1.5 million for administrative costs at the Department of Social Services.
As required by law, bipartisan legislative leaders have 24 hours after receiving the plan to review it and, if they choose, disapprove the proposed expenditures before funds are transferred.
If approved, $332 million would remain in the Emergency State Response Reserve. The governor is authorized to make withdrawals from the fund through Feb. 4, 2026, the opening day of the next regular legislative session.
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