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Post-presidential debate poll shows a shift in WI; Teamsters won't endorse in presidential race after releasing internal polling showing most members support Trump; IL energy jobs growth is strong but lacks female workers; Pregnant, Black Coloradans twice as likely to die than the overall population.

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The Teamsters choose not to endorse a presidential candidate, county officials in Texas fight back against state moves to limit voter registration efforts, and the FBI investigate suspicious packages sent to elections offices in at least 17 states.

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A USDA report shows a widening gap in rural versus urban health, a North Carolina county remains divided over a LGBTQ library display, and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz' policies are spotlighted after his elevation to the Democratic presidential ticket.

Communities of Color Push Back on WA Voting Map

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Monday, January 3, 2022   

Challenges linger over the Washington State Redistricting Commission's recently approved legislative map.

Redistricting Justice for Washington represents communities of color and other under-represented groups. It is raising concerns over how the 14th and 15th Districts were split in Yakima County.

Andrew Hong, statewide coordinator for the group, said the line splits the Yakama reservation from the 15th District, where the majority of Yakima County's Latino population is located.

"There's been overwhelming community testimony throughout this process explicitly naming that the Yakama Nation should be kept intact with the Yakima Valley, given their long history of shared organizing, interests, political priorities, economy, agriculture," Hong explained.

Commissioners noted the district lines were particularly hard to draw because of the competing issues at hand. Earlier this month, the Washington state Supreme Court approved the commission's maps despite the fact it missed a Nov. 15 deadline, with members making some last-minute decisions behind closed doors.

Hong acknowledged his group approves of other voting map decisions, such as those in South Seattle. He noted their priority is to have majority-minority population districts, so communities of color are ensured representation in the Legislature.

"We wanted to maximize the number of districts where people of color are the majority of eligible voters; so majority minority by citizen voting-age population districts," Hong stated. "And we were happy to see that the commission did use that figure."

But Hong noted district lines in the Yakima region remain a thorny subject. He pointed out Redistricting Justice for Washington could take legal action based on the Voting Rights Act to challenge the legislative map.

"The Legislature has the authority to alter the commission's maps by up to 2% before approving them," Hong emphasized. "We want to see how that plays out."

Two-thirds of lawmakers have to approve any alterations made to the maps. The Legislature will have 30 days to approve the commission's legislative and congressional plans once they are submitted.


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