Undecided Voters Key to Georgia Governor Race
By KAYLA GOGGIN
Early, in-person voting began Monday in Georgia where Republican Brian Kemp, currently Georgia’s secretary of state, and Democrat Stacey Abrams are vying to succeed Nathan Deal as the next governor.
Century-Old Direct Democracy Now a 'Pay-to-Play' System in Calif.
By NICK CAHILL
Ahead of Election Day, airwaves and mailboxes across California overflow with expensive campaign advertisements. On top of choosing elected officials, California voters – not lawmakers – will once again decide things like constitutional amendments, $50 billion tax hikes and obscure labor union disputes.
Accused Russian Spy Presses Feds for Arrest Docs, Other Records
By TIM RYAN
Accused Russian spy Maria Butina on Sunday filed a letter requesting the government turn over criminal records, arrest reports and details on witnesses prosecutors might use to build their case against her.
‘Treason’ Allegation Marks Debate in Arizona US Senate Race
By BRAD POOLE
Republican candidate Martha McSally called her Democratic rival Kyrsten Sinema a supporter of “treason” Monday night in the only debate between the two for Arizona’s open U.S. Senate seat.
Defrauded Students Win Class Certification in Lawsuit Against Devos
By NICHOLAS IOVINO
More than 100,000 students defrauded by Corinthian Colleges can team up to sue Education Secretary Betsy DeVos for rolling back Obama-era rules that provided full debt forgiveness, a federal judge ruled Monday.
Can the Center Hold? Bavarian Elections Leave EU Politics Even More Uncertain
By CAIN BURDEAU
Bavarian voters did what they were expected to do Sunday: They dealt German’s ruling “grand coalition” of conservatives and Social Democrats a resounding defeat at the polls. It’s a defeat that casts doubt on the leadership of Chancellor Angela Merkel, Europe’s political lodestar.
Italy Targets Town That Welcomes Asylum-Seekers
OPINION
Excessive Fines
By MILT POLICZER
So what exactly is an excessive fine? Is it an exact amount or does it differ depending on who has to pay it? The Eighth Amendment to the Constitution says excessive fines shall not be imposed. What does that mean?
Climate Change Could Put Crimp in Global Beer Supply
By JULIE ST. LOUIS
The global supply of beer could be the next victim of climate change, according to a study published Monday in Nature Plants.
DeLorean Barred From 'Back to the Future' Money
By NICK RUMMELL
A federal judge on Friday dismissed a royalties lawsuit brought by the widow of the inventor of the DeLorean, the car made famous as the time machine in the “Back to the Future” movies, finding her claims are barred by a 2015 settlement agreement.
Read the Nightly Brief
Affirmative Action on Trial in Harvard Admissions Case
By ZACK HUFFMAN
An affirmative action case against Harvard University finally went to trial Monday, four years after a lawsuit was filed claiming the nation’s oldest college discriminates against prospective Asian-American students by considering race in the admissions process.
Judge Dumps Stormy-Trump Defamation Suit
By MARTIN MACIAS JR.
A federal judge on Monday tossed adult film star Stormy Daniels’ defamation lawsuit against President Donald Trump, and also awarded the president attorney’s fees.
Athletes' Quest for NCAA Pay Stumbles on Appeal
By HELEN CHRISTOPHI
A Ninth Circuit panel hinted Monday it won’t revive a proposed class action on claims the NCAA has an employment relationship with college football players and must pay them for time spent on the field.
Americans Fear Influence of Social Media Bots: Poll
By MARTIN MACIAS JR.
If you’ve participated in elections in the last two years and stayed engaged politically through social media, you’ve likely come across a pesky automation tool that two-thirds of Americans believe is maliciously used to generate political influence.
More Top News
Briefings
LAW
Justices Reject Appeal on Lead Paint Abatement Rules
DAN MCCUE
Senate Intelligence Staffer Pleads Guilty to Lying to FBI
BRITAIN EAKIN
Former Senate intelligence Staffer James Wolfe pleaded guilty Monday to one count of lying to the FBI about his contacts with reporters during a classified leak investigation.
Florida Justices Nix Outgoing Governor's Bid to Pick Judges
DAN MCCUE
The Florida Supreme Court ruled Monday that the state’s next governor and not current Republican incumbent Gov. Rick Scott will get to pick three new justices to the state Supreme Court.
High Court Takes Up Cable Show Free-Speech Case
DAN MCCUE
The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to review a Second Circuit ruling involving the application of the First Amendment to the private operator of a public-access television channel.
NATIONAL
Sears Declares Bankruptcy, Store Closures
LORRAINE BAILEY
Judge Frees Ex-Trump Aide Gates From GPS Monitoring
BRITAIN EAKIN
A federal judge agreed Monday to free former Trump campaign aide Rick Gates from GPS monitoring and a nightly curfew.
Retail Sales Up Tepid 0.1 Percent in September
DAN MCCUE
Consumer spending rose by a weak 0.1 percent in September, following an equally tepid 0.1 percent increase in August, the Commerce Department said Monday.
High Winds Across California Spur Power Outages, Fire Fears
NATHAN SOLIS
Strong Santa Ana winds knocked out electricity for about 80,000 residents in Southern California on Monday, while high winds in the north part of the state forced utilities to pre-emptively shut off power to prevent possible wildfires.
'El Chapo' Lawyer Scolded Over Text Message About Witness
AMANDA OTTAWAY
Just weeks before the trial of Mexican drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, the presiding judge issued a warning to his lawyer Friday for sending a text message to the attorney for a cooperating witness in the case.
INTERNATIONAL
Reports: Saudis Say Dissident Journalist Was Killed by Accident
COURTHOUSE NEWS
Flash Floods Kill at Least 13 People in Southwest France
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Flash floods tore through towns in southwest France, turning waterways into raging torrents that killed at least 13 people, nine of them in just one town, authorities said Monday. People had to be helicoptered to safety from the roofs of their homes as overnight storms dumped the equivalent of several months of rain in just a few hours.
Hopes for Brexit Deal Foiled
by Irish Border Issue
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Days ahead of a summit once seen as the moment Britain and the European Union would have to reach a Brexit deal, both sides are still staring at each other over the question of the Irish border, refusing to blink.
Ecuador Tells Assange to Curb Speech, Look After His Cat
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Ecuador has formally ordered Julian Assange to steer clear of topics that could harm its diplomatic interests if he wants to be reconnected to the internet, according to a memo published in a local media outlet Monday.
Romanian Govt Move Against Prosecutors Draws Criticism
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Romania’s government passed an emergency ordinance Monday requiring prosecutors in key agencies to have a greater number of years of professional activity — a move that prosecutors say would hamper current investigations and force some anti-corruption prosecutors from their jobs.
In Brief
Walt Girdner was born in central Iowa in 1922. He was one of five children. His father took a job as a pastor in Alameda where the family moved and relocated to the Bay Area of California in 1925. Growing up during the Great Depression in the Bay Area was difficult. Walt struggled to make extra money to help out the family by taking on many different jobs. Such jobs varied from working the corn fields and selling corn, to bucking hay bales and pulling double shifts at the cannery.
As a young man, he developed an interest in art and imagery. He had faith that imagery was a powerful way to communicate and believed that young people are better at interpreting imagery than adults for their imaginations are more agile and unencumbered.