November 29, 2020 News Summary
US Politics and Economics
Two more elections in the key state of Georgia are the focus for the US Senate, as the party who will control the upper chamber of Congress remains unclear. Currently, out of the 100 seats, Democrats have control of 48 after flipping two seats, one in Colorado and one in Arizona, and Republicans have control of 50, after flipping one of Alabama’s Senate seats. With 33 of the 35 senate elections this year having been called, two remain, both of which concern the two Republican Incumbent Senators in Georgia who will face off in runoff elections against two Democratic challengers. Republican David Perdue, who’s been serving in the Senate since 2015, went against Jon Ossoff in the 2020 senate election in Georgia but fell short of the 50% threshold needed to be reelected. Republican Kelly Loffler, who’s been serving in the Senate since this year, is going against Raphael Warnock. The Democrats need to topple both Incumbent Senators to reach 50 senate seats, which will be enough to take control of the Senate assuming that Biden becomes president because the Vice President can cast a tie-breaking vote.
Hon. Timothy Batton, a federal judge presiding over a major election lawsuit in George earlier issued an order demanding that the state freeze Dominion election machines out of concerns for possible forensic evidence inside the machines that may lead to proof of alleged voter fraud. However, that order was reversed today by the same judge, offering his explanation of his decision that the defendants were not in possession of the machines, and that county election officials currently had the voting equipment. This earned a reaction from Lin Wood, attorney associate of the Trump campaign. He pointed out on Twitter that voting machines are really owned by the state, and it is the Georgia Secretary of State’s job to administer elections, also adding on his post, “Why are GA officials determined to wipe these machines clean by resetting them?”. As of now, election machines are scheduled to be wiped on Monday, Nov. 30, before a full recount commences. Some remain unsure about whether valuable data could be lost pertaining to alleged voter fraud.
Texas Politics
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials have shut down the McAllen Central Processing Center and redesign it “to provide detained migrants with more humane conditions.” The facility was first opened in 2014 by the Obama administration as a big facility for migration surges in South Texas. However, chain-link fencing enclosures eventually came to symbolize the treatment of migrants. It will reopen in 2022.
Health
According to, CDC’s COVID Data Tracker, as of November 29, 2020, 12:32 PM, there are 13.14 million cases nationwide and 265k deaths. Currently, Texas leads with 1.23 million cases, while California follows with 1.18 million cases.
(CNBC) Dr. Anthony Fauci, one of the best infectious diseases experts, states that “as we go for the next couple of weeks into December… we might see a surge superimposed on the surge we are already in.” He urges us to be careful as we return from our Thanksgiving holiday travel and wear masks to prevent the spread of the virus. More than 9 million people traveled in airports in the week following the holiday.
Southeast US Weather
(Atlantic) There is a disturbance located off of the coast of East Africa with a 40% chance of forming. This non-tropical low-pressure system is likely to gather some subtropical characteristics, but conditions will become unfavorable in the following week. It will likely bring heavy rainstorms to the Madeira Islands through Monday or Tuesday.
(Pacific) There are no tropical storms expected in the Pacific for the next 48 hours.
(Local) The temperature has dropped 54 degrees Fahrenheit but is expected to gather warmth through the week to 70 degrees. Chances of rain remain at zero until Wednesday, which will have a 60% chance of rainfall.
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Writers:
US Politics and Economics: Dylan, Miranda, Caleb, and Annabelle
Texas Politics: Stephanie, Vicki, and Megan
Health: Matthew, David, and Owen
Southeast US Weather: Simon
Editor: VIA
(All writers and editors are in middle to high school)