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Voter records put under microscope in Missouri sports betting amendment trial

1 year 10 months ago
A Cole County Circuit Court judge must soon decide whether Missouri voters will be able to  enshrine sports betting in the state’s constitution. A lawsuit brought by two political strategists questions the validity of the signature verification process used by the Secretary of State’s Office. The proposal was certified for the November ballot after being […]
Annelise Hanshaw

Missouri judge says abortion-rights measure summary penned by GOP official is misleading

1 year 10 months ago
COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri judge ruled Thursday that an anti-abortion GOP official used misleading language to summarize a ballot question designed to restore abortion rights in the state. Cole County Circuit Judge Cotton Walker threw out a description of the amendment as written by the office of Republican Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, [...]
SUMMER BALLENTINE, Associated Press

Alton Expo Kicks Off the Weekend at the Amphitheater

1 year 10 months ago
ALTON - The Alton Expo opens this weekend with carnival rides, fair food, live music and vendors. Starting on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, community members can enjoy the event all weekend at the Alton Amphitheater. Admission to the Alton Expo is free. “When that Ferris wheel goes up, people know it’s the Expo,” said Dan Herkert, Amphitheater Commission Chair. “It’s an event that anybody can come to, and there’s something for everybody between the rides, the food, the beverages and the different musical options. We’re really hoping that we have another good crowd again this year. The community has really supported this event since it came back.” The Expo is open from 5–10 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024. Polly and the Pocket, which Herkert describes as “a high-energy, female-fronted alternative rock band,” will play at 7 p.m. On Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, you can check out the Expo from 5–11 p.m. with music

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Unintended consequence of the day: Bats and infant mortality

1 year 10 months ago
Vox points me today to a new paper suggesting the following sequence of events: In 2006, a fungal disease called white nose syndrome starts killing off bats. Bats fail to eat insects. Farmers have to use more pesticide. Pesticides kill babies. Infant mortality goes up. Here's the inevitable chart: The researcher, Eyal Frank, found that ...continue reading "Unintended consequence of the day: Bats and infant mortality"
Kevin Drum

The AI Copyright Hype: Legal Claims That Didn’t Hold Up

1 year 10 months ago
Over the past year, two dozen AI-related lawsuits and their myriad infringement claims have been winding their way through the court system. None have yet reached a jury trial. While we all anxiously await court rulings that can inform our future interaction with generative AI models, in the past few weeks we have suddenly been […]
Mike Masnick

Mississippi Earthtones Festival Returns With New Attractions To Alton Amphitheater On 9/21

1 year 10 months ago
ALTON - The Mississippi Earthtones Festival, presented by Alton Main Street and the Sierra Club, is a celebration of our river through art, music, and conservation. The 18th annual event will be held at the Alton Amphitheater on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024 from 12 p.m. until 10 p.m. There is no charge for admission. Each year, MEF introduces a fresh theme along with an exciting array of new components. This year's theme, "Emerge and Be Heard," reflects the festival's coming of age at 18—a pivotal time filled with important decisions. Additionally, it honors the simultaneous emergence of the 13-year Brood alongside the 17-year Brood, symbolizing a powerful moment of growth and connection. Local artists have been commissioned to build large installations to enhance the festival grounds. The Riverbend Yarn Bombers are knitting & crocheting a colorful textile cottage and garden, cultivating a space for the community in a fantasy environment that inspires growth and stewardship of th

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