State leaders want in on Russia loop
WASHINGTON— More than 15 months after a general election that was stained by covert Russian interference, the chief election officials of some states say they are still not getting the information they need from federal intelligence and security experts to safeguard the vote.
They say the federal government is not sharing specifics with them about threats to their registered voter databases, voting machines, communication networks and other systems that could be vulnerable to hacking and manipulation.
In some cases, they say they are being inadvertently left out of an information loop that includes other state officials. But in others, election officials have no legal access to the information: After a year of effort, only 21 state election officers have received clearance to review classified federal information on election threats.
Top federal officials have promised to be more forthcoming, but some state leaders worry that it will not happen in time for them to protect the integrity of the midterm election season, which will kick off in some states in the next few weeks.
Trump backs Romney
President Donald Trump on Monday night threw his full support behind Mitt Romney’s bid to be the next U.S. senator from Utah, writing on Twitter that he would be a “worthy successor” to retiring Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah.
The endorsement is significant because Mr. Trump had previously encouraged Hatch to seek another term, and Mr. Romney had been among the most vocal Republican critics of Mr. Trump’s presidential aspirations, once calling him “a phony” and “a fraud.”
“MittRomney … will make a great Senator and worthy successor to @OrrinHatch, and has my full support and endorsement!” Mr. Trump tweeted Monday night.
Mr. Romney then wrote on Twitter: “Thank you Mr. President for the support.”
Cartoon-autism study
WASHINGTON— There is no Harvard study that says a British children’s television cartoon causes autism, despite what a social media post claims. In fact, there’s at least one peerreviewed study that hints that a children’s TV show may help autistic kids.
The post on the newsely site, and others that have circulated in recent months, claims that a group of Harvard experts did a study that revealed “Peppa Pig” is one of the main causes of autism among children. The piece describes other complaints about the British animated series and does not name the authors of the so-called study or where it was published.
That’s because it doesn’t exist, autism experts said.
Also in the nation...
A federal judge on Monday approved a $300 million loan for Puerto Rico’s power company that officials say will help keep the troubled agency operating until late March. ... Michael Rohana, 24, of Bear, Del., was charged with stealing a terra-cotta warrior’s thumb during a party at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia in December.