WASHINGTON—The battle over occasion management of each chambers of Congress was razor-tight on Saturday as extra ballots have been counted and the main focus turned to races within the Western U.S. that may decide the agenda in Washington for the subsequent two years.
Arizona Democratic Sen.
Mark Kelly
gained a hard-fought re-election bid towards Republican challenger
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Blake Masters,
in keeping with the Related Press name on Friday night time, boosting Democrats’ prospects of sustaining their Senate majority.
With the Arizona race known as, Democrats have 49 seats and must win certainly one of two excellent Senate races in Nevada and Georgia to maintain their majority, whereas Republicans with 49 seats should win each races to take management of the chamber, as a result of the Democratic Get together controls the White Home and the vp casts a tiebreaking vote.
Nevada Democratic Sen.
Catherine Cortez Masto
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trailed GOP challenger
Adam Laxalt
by fewer than a thousand votes Saturday because the state continued counting ballots and periodically releasing up to date outcomes.
The Georgia race between Democratic Sen.
Raphael Warnock
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and Republican
Herschel Walker,
in the meantime, will likely be determined in a Dec. 6 runoff.
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Republican Adam Laxalt was forward in Nevada’s Senate race by fewer than a thousand votes Saturday.
Photograph:
Mario Tama/Getty Pictures
Nevada Democratic Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto awaited the outcomes of the race because the state continued counting ballots Saturday.
Photograph:
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Pictures
Within the Home of Representatives, the GOP remained on observe towards successful a slim majority, exterior analysts mentioned, however the ultimate consequence hinged on races that have been too near name as of Friday, and each events have been girding for outcomes which may not be identified for days. Democrats clung to the opportunity of preserving the bulk.
A number of races in Arizona remained too near name, together with the gubernatorial race between Republican
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Kari Lake
and Democrat
Katie Hobbs.
Ms. Hobbs was forward Saturday morning by over 1 share level, with hundreds extra ballots anticipated to be counted. A number of Home races have been additionally nonetheless being tallied within the state.
In Nevada, Republican
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Joe Lombardo
gained the gubernatorial race. Three incumbent Home Democrats—Reps.
Dina Titus,
Susie Lee
and
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Steven Horsford
—beat their Republican rivals in Nevada contests that have been extremely aggressive, in keeping with Related Press race calls. Republicans had spent closely in Nevada, hoping to win these seats that turned extra favorable to them in redistricting.
Republicans formally have 211 seats and Democrats have 201, in keeping with Related Press calls. Democrats are anticipated to prevail in a number of extra seats, however the odds seem slim that they will maintain on to the 218 wanted for almost all.
Dave Wasserman
of the nonpartisan Prepare dinner Political Report mentioned Saturday he noticed about six real tossup Home races the place the anticipated winner was unclear. Democrats must win all of these, in addition to a number of races the place he sees them having a bonus to maintain the bulk. Republicans may find yourself near Democrats’ present margin within the Home, which stands at 220-212, with three absences.
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Mr. Wasserman recognized 11 seats in California that have been unresolved. Of these, Prepare dinner Political Report rated the GOP as favored in 4, Democrats favored in three, and 4 as tossups.
Democrats have picked up extra seats this yr in midterm once they have been anticipated to do poorly. Democrats are at present forward in an Arizona seat the place
Jevin Hodge
is main Rep.
David Schweikert,
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who has served in Congress since 2011. In Washington state, Democrat
Marie Gluesenkamp Perez
is forward of Republican
Joe Kent
in a race that turned extra aggressive when the incumbent GOP Rep.
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Jaime Herrera Beutler
was defeated in her main, partially for voting to question former President
Donald Trump.
In Oregon, former Pleased Valley, Ore., Mayor
Lori Chavez-DeRemer,
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a Republican, is forward of Democrat
Jamie McLeod-Skinner
in a seat Democrats have held for years after the incumbent there, Rep.
Kurt Schrader,
was defeated in a main.
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Republican Joe Lombardo gained a race for Nevada’s highest put up, in what polls indicated was one of many closest gubernatorial races within the nation.
Photograph:
Mario Tama/Getty Pictures
Over the previous two years, the slim Home majority and evenly divided Senate made it troublesome for Democrats to cross elements of President Biden’s agenda, however not unimaginable. In a Republican Home or Senate, it could be much more difficult. Home Republicans have promised to repeal elements of payments that Democrats handed up to now two years, and will use the bulk to push for their very own priorities on taxes, spending and immigration, amongst different points.
Even with out management of the chambers known as, bold lawmakers are already jockeying for management spots or weighing in on who would possibly lead their convention.
Republicans annoyed by the occasion’s weaker-than-expected efficiency within the midterm elections have been crucial of their management. Home Minority Chief
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Kevin McCarthy
(R., Calif.) declared his intent to run for Home speaker, earlier than the bulk was known as for his occasion, and a few conservative members of his convention have voiced concern about whether or not he’s the appropriate individual to maintain main the GOP convention.
Home Republicans plan to carry management elections subsequent Tuesday and newly elected Home members from each events will come to orientation in Washington, D.C. If their races aren’t but known as, the candidates are sometimes invited to return anyway.
Within the Senate, a bunch of Republicans are asking for a delay in Senate GOP management elections which are anticipated to happen subsequent week, saying that “we’re all dissatisfied {that a} Crimson Wave didn’t materialize” and “must have critical discussions inside our convention as to why and what we are able to do to enhance our probabilities in 2024.”
The lawmakers wished the election delayed till after the Georgia runoff. Senate Minority Chief
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Mitch McConnell
(R., Ky.), the longest-serving Republican Senate chief, has up to now been authorised because the chief on a routine foundation, with the inner elections occurring shortly after Election Day.
Amongst Democrats, Sen.
Chuck Schumer
(D., N.Y.), the present majority chief, is predicted to carry his place as chief of his occasion within the majority or minority. Home Speaker
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Nancy Pelosi
(D., Calif.) hasn’t introduced her plans for the longer term, and several other Democrats have declared plans to run for lower-leadership positions akin to caucus chair and vice-caucus chair.
Write to Natalie Andrews at Natalie.Andrews@wsj.com
GLENNVILLE, Ga. — An inmate used a gun to kill a kitchen worker at a Georgia prison early Sunday before fatally shooting himself, state officials said.
The Georgia Department of Corrections in a statement said it’s investigating the deaths at Smith State Prison in rural southeast Georgia. The agency provided few immediate details, including how the inmate obtained a firearm.
The agency’s statement said inmate Jaydrekus Hart fatally shot a food service worker in the prison’s kitchen at about 4:30 a.m. Sunday, then used the gun to kill himself.
“The weapon is in GDC custody at this time, and a complete and thorough investigation of what led up to this tragic incident will be carried out,” the statement said.
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Agency spokeswoman Lori Benoit provided no further information when reached by phone. She said further details would be released when they become available.
The name of the slain kitchen worker, an employee of the food service company Aramark, was not immediately released.
“We are heartbroken over the loss of our colleague and our hearts and prayers go out to her family,” Aramark spokesperson Debbie Albert said in an emailed statement. “This is a tragedy for all of us.”
Albert said the company was assisting Georgia prison officials in their investigation.
It’s the second killing of a staff member at Smith State Prison in less than a year. Correctional officer Robert Clark, 42, died last October after an inmate he was escorting attacked him from behind with a homemade weapon.
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A state investigation into a sprawling contraband scheme inside the prison resulted in the arrest and firing of the prison’s warden, Brian Adams, in February 2023. He was charged with racketeering, bribery, making or writing false statements and violating his oath as a public officer.
Hart had been imprisoned since 2015 after being convicted in Carroll County of voluntary manslaughter and aggravated battery, according to online prison records. His earliest potential release date would have been in 2043.
Smith State Prison, which has capacity for 1,500 inmates, is a close-security prison that houses offenders considered violent or an escape risk.
Georgia Tech had a great weekend recruiting last weekend and they have got the ball rolling again tonight with the commitment of Carrington Coombs, a three-star edge who plays at Hebron Christian Academy in Georgia. Coombs is now the 13th commitment in the 2025 class for Georgia Tech.
Georgia Tech’s class now ranks 22nd in the country and 4th in the ACC, behind only Clemson, Syracuse and Stanford. The Yellow Jackets average recruit rank is an 87.44, higher than either Syracuse and Stanford and only trails Clemson, Florida State, Miami, North Carolina, and SMU.
According to the 247Sports Composite, Coombs is a three-star player, the No. 625 player in the country, the No. 68 linebacker in the country, and the No. 69 player in the state of Georgia.
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Other offers that Coombs held were Boston College, Kansas State, Liberty, Virginia, Oklahoma State, USF, and App State, among others. Here are some other news and noteworthy stats about Coombs courtesy of 247Sports:
Also plays basketball.
2023: Two-way snaps for Dacula (Ga.) Hebron Christian Academy, helping lead the Lions to a 6-5 record and first round berth in the GHSA 3A playoffs. Totaled 41 tackles, four sacks, and a forced fumble as a junior along with two catches for 23 yards on offense.
Georgia Tech is off to a really good start to the month and they should only be getting better. Brent Key has done a great job of getting guys on campus and being able to land them.
There are new additions to Reef JY off St. Catherines Island, Reef SAV near Tybee Island, and Reef HLHA east of Little Cumberland Island. These aim to enhance marine habitats and support local biodiversity.
The Coastal Resources Division (CRD) of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources recently completed three significant additions to Georgia’s offshore artificial reefs.
CRD’s Habitat Enhancement and Restoration Unit conducted these deployments to enhance marine habitats and support local biodiversity. All materials were thoroughly cleaned and inspected by the U.S. Coast Guard prior to deployment.
The 62-foot tug Sarah Katlin was deployed to Reef JY on May 31, situated 17 nautical miles east of St. Catherines Island. This deployment aims to create new habitats for marine life and support the local fishing community. The vessel sank in 68 feet of water at 31.60667°N, 80.79922°W (31°36.400’N, 80°47.953’W).
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Following this, on June 5, approximately 63 tons of concrete blocks previously used by the U.S. Coast Guard to anchor aids to navigation were added to Reef SAV about 6 nautical miles east of Tybee Island. These materials provide essential structure for various marine species, promoting ecological diversity and sustainability. The blocks were placed by the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Willow (WLB-202), a seagoing buoy tender, in 41 feet of water at 31.92138°N, 80.78621°W (31°55.283’N, 80°47.173’W).
The final deployment occurred June 6, when the 50-foot tug G.A. Franklin was added to Reef HLHA, 23 miles east of Little Cumberland Island. This addition further expands the available habitats for fish and other marine organisms, contributing to the overall health of Georgia’s coastal ecosystems. The Franklin went down in 76 feet of water at 30.98958°N, 80.95315°W (30°59.375’N, 80°57.189’W).
The Savannah ABC affiliate WJCL-TV joined CRD for the deployment of the G.A. Franklin. The station aired an informative story highlighting the meticulous process of cleaning and preparing reef materials for deployment, ensuring environmental safety and effectiveness.
“We are very happy with the success of these reef deployments,” said Paul Medders, CRD’s Habitat Enhancement and Restoration Unit lead. “Artificial reefs play a crucial role in enhancing marine habitats, supporting fish populations, and boosting recreational fishing opportunities. These additions will provide long-term benefits for our coastal environment and community. While the reef materials are man-made, the organisms that will find a home here are totally natural.”
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The Coastal Conservation Association Georgia, a CRD partner, provided financial support to make the reef deployments possible. Members of the public can also show their support for artificial reef creation by purchasing the “Support Fish Habitat” license plate (Code “NR”) at their local tag office. This eye-catching tag features the state saltwater fish, the red drum, and costs just $25 more annually than a standard tag.
The CRD remains committed to conserving and enhancing Georgia’s coastal resources for present and future generations. For more information about the artificial reef program and other conservation initiatives, please visit CoastalGaDNR.org/HERU.
About the Coastal Resources Division
The mission of the Coastal Resources Division is to balance coastal development and protection of the coast’s natural assets, socio-cultural heritage and recreational resources for the benefit of present and future generations.
The Coastal Conservation Association Georgia, a CRD partner, provided financial support to make the reef deployments possible. Members of the public can also show their support for artificial reef creation by purchasing the “Support Fish Habitat” license plate (Code “NR”) at their local tag office. This eye-catching tag features the state saltwater fish, the red drum, and costs just $25 more annually than a standard tag.
