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RandySF's JournalJuneau Assembly considers school and wastewater bonds, temporary tax for next election
The Juneau Assembly has some big financial decisions to make in the coming months. That’s because the city faces a multimillion-dollar budget hole that could result in cutting some city services in order to stay afloat.
Along with figuring out how to balance the city’s budget, the Juneau Assembly will need to decide in the coming months whether a temporary tax and two bond debt proposals will appear on October’s municipal ballot.
“I think at the end of the day why we put things on ballots are to give voters the choice. If they don’t want to fund these things then they won’t. We don’t lose anything because of that,” said Christine Woll, an Assembly member and finance committee chair.
At a finance committee meeting Wednesday night, the Assembly discussed whether to ask voters to renew a 3% temporary sales tax currently in place, along with putting two bond packages on the ballot to fund critical repairs and upgrades to Juneau schools and the city’s water and sewer systems, which proponents say are sorely needed.
https://www.ktoo.org/2026/02/05/juneau-assembly-considers-school-and-wastewater-bonds-temporary-tax-for-next-election/
Sharyland ISD approves $250M bond election slated for May 2026
MISSION, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The Sharyland Independent School District approved a motion to call for a $250 million bond election during a special meeting on Wednesday.
Board members voted 7-0 to approve the order, which calls for a bond election to be held in May 2026.
The $250 million proposed bond includes the following propositions:
- Proposition A is a $208.5 million bond proposal that will go toward campus renovations and safety and security improvements.
- Proposition B is a $6.5 million bond proposal that will fund classroom technology devices.
- Proposition C is a $35 million bond proposal used for the construction of a district aquatic center for multiple campuses and programs.
https://www.valleycentral.com/news/local-news/sharyland-isd-approves-250m-bond-election-slated-for-may-2026/
She's Upending Japanese Politics With Two Words: 'I'm Pregnant'
For weeks, Hikaru Fujita, a candidate in Japan’s parliamentary elections on Sunday, wrestled with a secret. She was pregnant with her first child — a joyous milestone for her and her husband.
But Ms. Fujita, 35, a Harvard-educated former diplomat, worried that publicizing her pregnancy could hurt her campaign. In late January, she set aside her fears, announcing on social media that she had been “blessed with new life.”
“I wanted to show that even pregnant women could run,” Ms. Fujita, from Nagano Prefecture, said in an interview. “I wanted to send a message to the younger generation.”
On social media, many people celebrated Ms. Fujita’s news, while others suggested that she should pursue a career as a housewife instead, and that a maternity leave would be a waste of taxpayers’ money.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/06/world/asia/japan-election-pregnant-candidate.html
Karoline Leavitt Refuses To Rule Out Using ICE In Elections
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has refused to rule out that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents will be at polling locations during November's midterm elections.
On Thursday, Leavitt was asked about recent comments made by Steve Bannon, a former adviser to President Donald Trump, who said that ICE would "surround the polls" in November in a bid to prevent the election from being "stolen."
Leavitt said it was not something she had heard Trump consider, but added: "I can't guarantee that an ICE agent won't be around a polling location in November."
Bannon made the comments after Trump said on Monday that Republicans should "take over" elections in as many 15 states, as he continued to claim that widespread fraud cost him re-election in 2020.
https://www.newsweek.com/karoline-leavitt-refuses-to-rule-out-using-ice-agents-midterm-elections-11474855
Four New Precincts Aim To Reduce Crowds And Shorten Lines On Election Day
Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) — Baldwin County voters will see changes at the polls this year as the Baldwin County Commission adds four new voting precincts before the 2026 statewide elections. The county is sending updated voter registration cards to residents in areas where precinct boundaries have been recently changed. These cards display new precinct assignments and polling locations for many voters. County officials say the aim is to make Election Day smoother and more efficient as the local population continues to grow.
The changes to the precincts and polling locations took effect on January 20. The announcement was issued on February 4, 2026, as residents began receiving updated cards in their mailboxes. County leaders want voters to pay close attention to the new information before they head to the polls later this year.
Four new precincts were added in January 2026 to help distribute voter traffic and reduce crowding at existing polling stations. By reallocating voters across more locations, officials aim to minimize long lines and wait times. They say that the new setup is meant to ensure an efficient voting process in one of Alabama’s fastest-growing counties.
Since the changes were approved, the Baldwin County Board of Registrars has mailed out more than 18,000 white voter registration cards. Each card acts as official proof of a person’s voter registration. The cards indicate the voter’s assigned precinct and polling place, which may differ from those in previous elections.
https://www.obawebsite.com/baldwin-county-adds-new-voting-precincts-ahead-of-2026-elections
Eric Holder Endorses Judge Chris Taylor(D) for the Wisconsin Supreme Court
Washington, D.C. – Today, Eric H. Holder, Jr., the 82nd Attorney General of the United States and Chairman of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee (NDRC), announced his endorsement of Judge Chris Taylor for the Wisconsin Supreme Court. This endorsement is part of the NDRC’s Democracy Defenders program, a campaign supporting candidates running for state-level offices critical to safeguarding and strengthening democracy.
Eric H. Holder, Jr., the 82nd Attorney General of the United States and Chairman of the NDRC, released the following statement endorsing Judge Chris Taylor for the Wisconsin Supreme Court:
“With a career dedicated to protecting the rights of the people, Judge Chris Taylor is exactly the kind of justice the Wisconsin Supreme Court needs at this critical moment for our democracy. As a judge, Taylor has demonstrated she will take a fair-minded, independent approach to evaluating cases before her and never waver in protecting the constitutional rights of citizens—an approach that is crucial to our system of checks and balances.
“In stark contrast, her opponent expressed extreme views in opposition to reproductive freedom, including support for a six-week abortion ban and the overturning of Roe v. Wade by the U.S. Supreme Court, and has a history of undermining the right to vote, including defending Scott Walker’s egregious 2011 gerrymanders as a lawyer and authoring an extreme decision as judge that allowed election conspiracists access to the personal information of Wisconsin voters. These archaic views and record of rolling back the rights of the people are extreme and far out of step with Wisconsinites.
https://democraticredistricting.com/eric-holder-endorses-judge-chris-taylor-for-the-wisconsin-supreme-court/
PA-08: Shapiro Backs Cognetti (D) in NEPA Congressional Race
It’s a good day to be Paige Cognetti.
The mayor of Scranton and likely Democratic candidate for the 8th Congressional District just received an endorsement for the position from the highest-elected official in the Commonwealth.
Gov. Josh Shapiro praised Cognetti as an independent-minded reformer in his announcement.
“Mayor Paige Cognetti has been a fighter for Scranton – taking on corruption, making government faster and more efficient, and bringing people together to get stuff done for hard working families,” said Shapiro. “Paige restored trust in city hall by working hard for the communities she serves – and I know that’s the approach to public service she will bring to Congress. I know Paige will continue to be my partner in getting stuff done for Pennsylvanians – and I’m proud to endorse her in this campaign to win and go to Congress to protect our freedoms and deliver for NEPA families.”
https://www.politicspa.com/pa-08-shapiro-backs-cognetti-in-nepa-congressional-race/145608/
Democratic Campaign Manager Charged In Chester County For Allegedly Filing Fake Signatures In 2024 Primary Race.
“Mariel Kornblith-Martin, 40, of Philadelphia, was charged for allegedly filing false nomination petitions and other offenses when serving as campaign manager for Mark Pinsley, the Lehigh County controller, as he sought to secure a place on the competitive Democratic primary ballot.”
https://www.inquirer.com/news/pennsylvania/mariel-kornblith-martin-fraud-signatures-chester-campaign-20260204.html
PA-01: Brian Fitzpatrick Has More Cash On Hand Than Any Other Swing District Republican Incumbent In The Country.
“The Bucks County lawmaker raised about $4.3 million in the most recent cycle, more than any other House candidate in the state and the 21st most of all the candidates running for the 435-member House in 2026.”
https://www.inquirer.com/politics/pennsylvania/brian-fitzpatrick-money-bob-harvie-election-20260205.html
PA-03: Fundraising Numbers Put Candidates Into Competitive Tiers
The race for the Democratic nomination for the 3rd Congressional District seat held by Rep. Dwight Evans is beginning to heat up with the release of the Q4 fundraising numbers.
The Q4 numbers are often a window at how successful (or not) candidates are at selling their message to donors. It could be measured in numbers of individual donors. It could be measured in terms of contributions from labor organizations or other political action committees. Either way, it has certainly separated the large field into competitive tiers entering February.
https://www.politicspa.com/pa-03-fundraising-numbers-put-candidates-into-competitive-tiers/145600/
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