After he helped create the state’s voting maps, a redistricting commissioner quietly worked with national Republican figures to bring a lawsuit against his own work.

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The Big Story
Wed. Feb 28, 2024

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Republicans Hatched a Secret Assault on the Voting Rights Act in Washington State <[link removed]> After he helped create the state’s voting maps, a redistricting commissioner quietly worked with national Republican figures to bring a lawsuit against his own work. by Marilyn W. Thompson

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More on Election Maps

Wisconsin’s Republicans Went to Extremes in Gerrymandering. Now They’re Scrambling to Protect That Power. <[link removed]> Heavily redrawn election districts in the battleground state gave Republicans firm control of the legislature — and the leeway to move aggressively against officials and judges they perceive as threats. by Megan O’Matz <[link removed]>

The GOP’s Secret to Protecting Gerrymandered Electoral Maps? Claim Privilege. <[link removed]> Through new and expansive assertions of privilege, Republican legislatures around the country are shielding their work on allegedly discriminatory voting maps to prevent the public from finding out how and why they made their decisions. by Marilyn W. Thompson <[link removed]>

The Failed Promise of Independent Election Mapmaking <[link removed]> In Washington and other states, independent redistricting commissions have fallen prey to partisanship, just like the legislative bodies they were meant to replace. by Marilyn W. Thompson <[link removed]>

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Immigrant Dairy Workers Often Endure Substandard Housing Conditions. The Law Doesn’t Protect Them. <[link removed]> Minnesota’s attorney general exposed conditions at one dairy farm where workers lacked heat and plumbing and dealt with mold in their homes. Housing like this is common on dairy farms, since dairy workers are excluded from many protections. by Melissa Sanchez and Maryam Jameel <[link removed]>

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Iditarod Disqualifies Former Champion After Sexual Assault Allegations <[link removed]> The Iditarod board voted unanimously on Thursday to disqualify former champion Brent Sass after allegations made in November and recent questions from Alaska Public Media, the Anchorage Daily News and ProPublica. Sass has denied the claims. by Kyle Hopkins, Anchorage Daily News, and Casey Grove, Alaska Public Media <[link removed]>

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No Questions, Multiple Denials: This Mississippi Court Appoints Lawyers for Just 1 in 5 Defendants Before Indictment <[link removed]> Mississippi has long been known as one of the worst states for providing a lawyer to any defendant who can’t afford one. In one rural county, most defendants in a lower court went without any lawyer before their cases were sent to a grand jury. by Caleb Bedillion, The Marshall Project <[link removed]>

The Rising Cost of the Oil Industry’s Slow Death <[link removed]> Unplugged oil and gas wells accelerate climate change, threaten public health and risk hitting taxpayers’ pocketbooks. ProPublica and Capital & Main found that the money set aside to fix the problem falls woefully short of the impending cost. by Mark Olalde, ProPublica, and Nick Bowlin, Capital & Main <[link removed]>

Some Museums Scrambled to Remove Native American Items From Display. These Museums Didn’t Need to. <[link removed]> Under new repatriation rules, museums must gain consent from Native American tribes before displaying their cultural items. Some museums rushed to comply, but others, such as the Museum of Us and History Colorado, were prepared to meet the moment. by Mary Hudetz and Logan Jaffe <[link removed]>

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