NEWS OF THE DAY
Lame-duck law: Democratic Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers joined a coalition of labor unions in asking a judge to suspend a lame-duck law passed by the Republicandominated Legislature that limits his powers, filing an affidavit in Madison this week calling for an injunction to block the measure. He contends in the document that the law violates separation of powers principles, hampers his ability to control litigation on the state’s behalf and could force state agencies to take down tens of thousands of documents explaining how they interpret state statutes. Republican lawmakers passed statutes in a December extraordinary session that limit the powers of the governor and the attorney general.
Gag order: A federal judge issued a broad gag order forbidding Roger Stone to discuss his criminal case with anyone and gave him a stinging reprimand Thursday over the longtime Trump confidant’s posting of a photo of the judge with what appeared to be crosshairs of a gun. U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson promised to throw him behind bars if he violates the court order in any way. Stone has pleaded not guilty to charges he lied to Congress, engaged in witness tampering and obstructed a congressional investigation into possible coordination between Russia and Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign.
Sex dolls: The Kentucky state Senate has passed a bill to make possessing a “child sex doll” illegal. The Courier Journal reports Senate Bill 102 would prohibit owning anatomically correct dolls or robots that resemble minors and are meant for sexual purposes. The bill passed Wednesday at the request of Kenton County Commonwealth Attorney Rob Sanders, who was unable to prosecute a man who ordered sex dolls resembling an infant and a 6- to 8-year-old girl last year. A judge dropped the charge, saying there was no actual child involved. The bill now goes to the House. New election: North Carolina’s elections board Thursday ordered a new election in the nation’s last undecided congressional race after the Republican candidate conceded his lead was tainted by evidence of ballot-tampering by political operatives working for him. The State Board of Elections voted 5-0 in favor of a do-over. The board action came after GOP candidate Mark Harris, in a surprising turn, dropped his bid to be declared the winner and instead called for a new election. Brewing controversy: A bottle of ale from a 133-year-old shipwreck has uncorked conflict between craft brewers in New York state. Bill Felter of Serious Brewing in Howes Cave hoped to develop a new brew from ale salvaged from the SS Oregon. But a scuba-diving Long Island brewer has scuttled those plans, saying he owns the shipwreck yeast and has used it to produce ale he’s releasing next month. Jamie Adams of Saint James Brewery says he salvaged bottles from the shipwreck off Long Island in 2017 for the purpose of making a new brew.