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Pluribus AM: Warning signs on Wall St; America’s most rat-infested city; and new Midwestern polls

Good morning, it’s Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022. In today’s edition, Wall Street profits fall; the most rat-infested city in America; and new polls in Wis., Mich., Pa. and Iowa:

Top Stories

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: State and local governments are offering billions in incentives and tax breaks to win new electric vehicle and EV battery manufacturing plants. Since the onset of the pandemic, states have announced at least 59 deals — including five worth more than $1 billion. (Pluribus News)

REDISTRICTING: A three-judge panel dismissed part of a federal lawsuit challenging Arkansas’s congressional district lines for lack of “smoking gun” evidence that the lines were drawn with the intent to discriminate against Black voters. Plaintiffs have 30 days to submit new arguments. (Arkansas Times) A Utah judge allowed a lawsuit over congressional district lines to move forward, denying motions to dismiss filed by the state legislature. (KSL)

COLORADO: Legislators are working on a bill to make all auto thefts a felony, regardless of the value of the car. The state’s elected district attorneys support the move, and Gov. Jared Polis (D) said he would introduce legislation if the Colorado Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice did not act. Under current law, stealing a car worth less than $2,000 is classified as a misdemeanor. (Colorado Public Radio)

GEORGIA: A Fulton County judge has begun hearing arguments over the constitutionality of a new abortion ban that took effect earlier this year. Judge Robert McBurney told attorneys he would not issue a ruling before the midterm elections. In July, the 11th Circuit allowed the ban to be enforced. (Atlanta Journal Constitution)

NEW YORK: Profits on Wall Street were down 56% to $13.5 billion over the first half of the year, Comptroller Tom DiNapoli’s (D) office said Tuesday. Wall Street accounts for about 22% of New York’s state tax collection, a worrying sign for revenues ahead. (State of Politics) Attorney General Letitia James (D) said the state would spend $4.6 million hiring lawyers to represent the state in red flag lawsuits to take firearms away from those who pose a danger to themselves or others. (Journal News)

PENNSYLVANIA: A state House committee has released an interim report on a move to impeach Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner (D) over rising crime rates in the city. Committee chair John Lawrence (R) said they would continue its investigation and present a final report by the end of session. (Philadelphia Inquirer)

WASHINGTON: Attorney General Bob Ferguson (D) on Monday announced a $10.5 million settlement with Tyson Foods, the nation’s largest chicken producer, over allegations it fixed prices and rigged contracts in coordination with major competitors. Ferguson sued 19 chicken producers last year over price-fixing claims. Tyson admits no wrongdoing as part of the settlement. (Seattle Times)

MARYLAND: The state is building the Maryland Mesonet, a network of automated weather-observing equipment meant to provide early warnings of storms and floods in the face of rising extreme weather events. The project follows the lead of there mesoscale networks in Midwestern states that warn of tornadoes. (Maryland Matters)

ARIZONA: Cochise County supervisors voted Monday to require a full hand recount of ballots cast in the midterm elections, in spite of warnings from the state and their own county attorney that such an order would bring a lawsuit and the potential loss of state funding. (Arizona Republic) Cochise County has about 75,000 registered voters, according to state data.

SOUTH CAROLINA: The state’s elections website crashed on Monday, the first day of early voting, because of a rush of traffic. The website issues have no impact on a voter’s ability to cast a ballot. (The State)

In Politics

WISCONSIN: Gov. Tony Evers (D) leads businessman Tim Michels (R) 50%-48% among likely voters in a new CNN poll. Secretary of State Doug La Follette (D) leads state Rep. Amy Loudenbeck (R) 49%-48%. La Follette, 82, has been in office since 1983, after serving a term from 1975-1979.

MICHIGAN: Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) leads online show host Tudor Dixon (R) 52%-46% among likely voters, according to a new CNN poll. Whitmer is up 55%-41% among registered voters. Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson (D) leads activist Kristina Karamo (R) 51%-47%, and a ballot measure establishing the right to an abortion is ahead 54%-45%. 

PENNSYLVANIA: Attorney General Josh Shapiro (D) leads state Sen. Doug Mastriano (R) 56%-41% among likely voters in the last CNN poll of the morning. Shapiro’s favorable ratings stand at 56%, while Mastriano’s unfavorable ratings are at 53%.

NEW HAMPSHIRE: Gov. Chris Sununu (R) maintains a healthy lead over state Sen. Tom Sherman, 52%-40%, in a new Emerson College poll. Emerson found Sununu up 52%-37% in mid-September.

CONNECTICUT: A new Quinnipiac University poll finds Gov. Ned Lamont (D) leading businessman Bob Stafanowski (R) 56%-41%. (Hartford Courant) Lamont beat Stefanowski four years ago by three points.

IOWA: Attorney General Tom Miller (D) leads Guthrie County Attorney Brenna Bird (R) 49%-33% in a new Des Moines Register poll conducted by Ann Selzer. Miller, serving his 10th term in office, is the longest-tenured attorney general in America.

SECOND TERMS: In his only debate with ex-Rep. Charlie Crist (D), Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) refused to commit to serving a full four-year term. (Associated Press) California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) committed to a full four-year term. (Sacramento Bee) We’re old enough to remember when a freshman senator named Obama pledged to serve out a full term, too.

By The Numbers

$200,000: The amount of money Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) has raised from donors this year. He’s contributed the other $132.1 million in his campaign account. (NewsNation)

Off The Wall

Anyone who’s covered California has heard their politicians brag about having the world’s fifth-largest economy. Well, update those talking points — California now has the world’s fourth-largest economy, surpassing Germany, according to Bloomberg News columnist Matthew Winkler. (Sacramento Bee)

Chicago is the most rat-infested city in America, according to a new survey by the pest control company Orkin. New York City runs in second, while Los Angeles sits in third and Washington, D.C. places fourth — to which we can attest from unfortunately personal experience. (USA Today)

Quote of the Day

“We used to think the problem gambler was the little old lady at the slot machine, now it’s the 20-something male who’s sports betting.”

Diana Goode, executive director of the Connecticut Council of Problem Gambling, which has seen a 134% spike in calls and texts in the year since sports betting and online gaming was made legal. (Middletown Press)