Pa. county officials vote to certify midterm results after Republican-led delay

Pa. county officials vote to certify midterm results after Republican-led delay
Pa. county officials vote to certify midterm results after Republican-led delay
adamkaz/Getty Images

(WASHINGTON) — The Luzerne County Board of Elections in Pennsylvania on Wednesday voted to certify the county’s results from the 2022 midterm election — two days after an unusual delay caused by two Republicans and one Democrat on the board.

All three Democrats on the board voted to certify the result while the board’s two Republicans, Alyssa Fusaro and James Mangan, again voted against certifying.

Speaking at a special public meeting convened in order to hold a second certification vote, Daniel Schramm, the Democratic board member who initially abstained, said that there were no concrete numbers on how many people may have had difficulties voting in the midterm elections and did not try to come back.

“If you can’t make the effort, you must come back and extend your right that you want. It can’t be just — snap your fingers saying, ‘Well, I couldn’t do it, so therefore we have to do it all over.’ No, there isn’t [sic] do-overs,” Schramm said.

“It costs too much money, way too much money. So that is one of the justifications why I’ve changed my mind because I can find no reason why it should not be certified … there was no close calls on the race. People won by hundreds of votes, not two or three,” he said.

Before the vote at Wednesday’s meeting, area residents were able to give comment in person, by phone or via videoconference.

Many spoke out against certifying the results, citing issues with paper ballot shortages in Luzerne County on Election Night — a a judge had issued an order extending in-person voting hours at the polls — as well as other alleged incidents where voters faced difficulties.

“This last election was a repeat of previous elections where the people’s trust has been crushed,” Greg Griffin told the board during the comment period.

Others spoke in favor of certifying the results, arguing that while there may have been issues that should be investigated, it would be costlier and worse for voters to not certify or to try to do over the election.

“I would like to see our elections run as smoothly as possible without a hitch,” Claudia Glennan said. “I think people, though, are confusing their upset in how the elections are run with what is to take place during the certification process.”

While the proceedings remained mostly civil, one commenter was asked to leave when he would not share his municipality and claimed to be under the “jurisdiction of the press.” Another commenter claimed to be serving the board with affidavits.

According to ABC affiliate WNEP, the two Republican members of the board voted at a Monday meeting against certifying the results while two Democrats voted to certify and Schramm abstained, leading to the delay.

Local paper The Times Leader reported that the board members who voted not to certify cited paper ballot issues on Election Day, and many who attended the initial public meeting spoke against certifying the results.

On Election Day in Luzerne County, numerous polling places ran out of ballot paper. In-person voting hours were extended by the court.

“We went over everything meticulously as far as the reconciliations, that’s any anomalies were pretty much explained. And it was due to the confusion at the polls because of the paper shortage,” Democratic member Audrey Serniak said at Monday’s meeting.

Schramm initially told WNEP that “I wanted more information so I could make a sure decision on that it’s right to certify it.”

WNEP later reported that Schramm said Monday, after the vote to delay, that his concerns about the election had been addressed and he was ready to vote to certify.

According to The Times Leader, County Assistant Solicitor Paula Radick said at the Monday meeting that the state or candidates could take legal action against the county for not certifying the results.

The Pennsylvania Department of State told ABC News in a statement on Monday that it had contacted Luzerne County officials “to inquire about the board’s decision and their intended next steps.”

In Pennsylvania’s key statewide races, Republican candidate Mehmet Oz received more votes in Luzerne County in the Senate race, while Democratic candidate Josh Shapiro received more votes by a slimmer margin in Luzerne County in the gubernatorial race.

Shapiro went on to win statewide, defeating Republican Doug Mastriano; Oz lost to Democrat John Fetterman.

The delay in certifying the election results in Luzerne County comes at the same time that a county in Arizona, Cochise County, has also delayed certifying its results, prompting a lawsuit from the Arizona secretary of state.

In Cochise, two Republicans voted on Monday to delay certification over the objections over the board’s lone Democrat, who said in a statement that “the other board members accept[ed] unsubstantiated ideas and unverified claims as facts instead of relying on the Arizona State Elections Office.”

ABC News’ Tal Axelrod and Brittany Shepherd contributed to this report.

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Virgil Abloh’s wife reflects on late designer’s career, battle with cancer and more

Virgil Abloh’s wife reflects on late designer’s career, battle with cancer and more
Virgil Abloh’s wife reflects on late designer’s career, battle with cancer and more
Christian Vierig/Getty Images

Virgil Abloh‘s wife has broken her silence in time for the one-year anniversary of his death. Shannon Abloh spoke to The New York Times about the late designer’s battle with cancer, his legacy and more.

Virgil died November 28, 2021, from a rare form of cancer called cardiac angiosarcoma. Despite learning about his diagnosis in 2019, they kept mum to prevent his closest friends from consistently asking, “Are you OK?” Shannon says they were aware of the uphill battle, but had no clue it would end abruptly.

“It wasn’t like we knew that he was going to pass,” she said. “Even though we knew the challenge of what he was fighting, it went a lot faster than we thought it was going to.” Virgil’s sudden death, she added, came before they were able to have the “this is the legacy that I want you to work toward” discussion.

While reflecting on her last years with Virgil, Shannon says she’s grateful for the time they spent together during the COVID-19 lockdown.

“I know that COVID was an incredibly hard thing for so many people. But for us it was an amazing time because Virgil didn’t have to make excuses to get out of shows or DJ-ing,” she said. “No one could go anywhere. So we were able to have those last two and a half years.”

Shannon’s now focused on carrying on Virgil’s legacy, most recently launching a four-day festival at Miami Art Week intended to celebrate his life and ideas.

“I think that it’s important that my kids are able to see in 20 years what their dad was able to do and that Mom really stepped up,” she said. “ … through everything, through all the grief, she was able to pull it together and move forward.”

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Go back in time with The Cure with remastered version of ‘Play Out’ documentary

Go back in time with The Cure with remastered version of ‘Play Out’ documentary
Go back in time with The Cure with remastered version of ‘Play Out’ documentary
Shlomi Pinto/Getty Images

The Cure is taking you back in time with a remastered version of the band’s Play Out documentary.

Originally released in 1991 ahead of 1992’s Wish album, Play Out features a variety of backstage and live footage of Robert Smith and company on the precipice of releasing their highest-charting record.

You can watch Play Out in all of its HD glory streaming now on YouTube.

Meanwhile, The Cure just released a deluxe reissue of Wish in honor of its 30th anniversary. Along with remastered audio of the original album, which spawned the single “Friday I’m in Love,” the reissue includes the songs from the much sought-after Lost Wishes cassette tape.

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Idaho murders: Chief believes attack was targeted, school prepares for vigil

Idaho murders: Chief believes attack was targeted, school prepares for vigil
Idaho murders: Chief believes attack was targeted, school prepares for vigil
nazarethman/Getty Images

(MOSCOW, Idaho) — University of Idaho students, back on campus following Thanksgiving break, will gather Wednesday night for a vigil for their four classmates who were mysteriously stabbed to death this month.

Kaylee Goncalves, 21, her lifelong best friend, Madison Mogen, 21, another roommate Xana Kernodle, 20, and Kernodle’s boyfriend Ethan Chapin, 20, were killed in the girls’ off-campus house in the early hours of Nov. 13.

“You can’t imagine sending your girl to college and they come back … in an urn,” Goncalves’ father, Steve Goncalves, told ABC News this week. “You’re numb … you can’t absorb that amount of pain and agony.”

No suspects have been identified. Two other roommates in the house at the time survived the attacks, according to police. The surviving roommates are not considered suspects, police said.

Moscow Police Chief James Fry told ABC News on Wednesday that police still “believe this is a targeted attack,” but he won’t reveal why they think that. Fry would not say if a person or the house was a target.

“Everyone wants answers… we want to give those answers as soon as we can,” Fry said, adding that some details must be withheld.

Police initially said they believed there was “no imminent threat to the community,” but later walked that back. Fry told ABC News, “I own the messaging problem at the very beginning. We should’ve done a little better than that. … we needed to correct that.”

Goncalves said the only thing worse than losing his child is knowing that her killer is “having a great life out there — and you’re just left in shambles.”

He said the families deserve justice.

“We just have to come together as a community,” Goncalves said. “Submit all those pieces of evidence … and get this guy off the streets.”

Police urge anyone with information to upload digital media to fbi.gov/moscowidaho or contact the tip line at tipline@ci.moscow.id.us or 208-883-7180.

“Detectives are looking for context to the events and people involved in these murders,” Moscow police said. “Any odd or out-of-the-ordinary events that took place should be reported. Our focus is the investigation, not the activities. Your information, whether you believe it is significant or not, might be a piece of the puzzle.”

Wednesday’s candlelight vigil is at 8 p.m. ET.

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Fleetwood Mac’s Christine McVie dies at 79

Fleetwood Mac’s Christine McVie dies at 79
Fleetwood Mac’s Christine McVie dies at 79
Kevin Mazur/WireImage

The rock world has lost another legend. Fleetwood Mac’s Christine McVie died Wednesday at the age of 79. 

“On behalf of Christine McVie’s family, it is with a heavy heart we are informing you of Christine’s death,” read a statement from her family, noting she died “peacefully at hospital” after “a short illness.” The family asked for privacy and shared, “ … we would like everyone to keep Christine in their hearts and remember the life of an incredible human being, and revered musician who was loved universally.”

Fleetwood Mac also released a statement, saying, “There are no words to describe our sadness at the passing of Christine McVie. She was truly one-of-a-kind, special and talented beyond measure.” They also called her the “best musician anyone could have in their band and the best friend anyone could have in their life.” They note, “We were so lucky to have a life with her. Individually and together, we cherished Christine deeply and are thankful for the amazing memories we have. She will be so very missed.” 

Christine got her start as a member of the British band Chicken Shack. After marrying Fleetwood Mac bassist John McVie, she appeared on their 1968 album Mr. Wonderful and became a permanent member in 1971, lasting through the many lineup changes of the group. She wrote and sang some of the band’s biggest hits, including 1975’s “Over My Head” and “Say You Love Me,” as well as the Rumours tracks “Don’t Stop” and “You Make Loving Fun,” and such later tracks as “Hold Me” from Mirage and “Little Lies” from Tango in the Night. She also released three solo albums and one collaborative album with Fleetwood Mac’s Lindsey Buckingham.

As a member of Fleetwood Mac she won two Grammy awards and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1998.

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Four pilot whales euthanized after stranding event on Massachusetts beach

Four pilot whales euthanized after stranding event on Massachusetts beach
Four pilot whales euthanized after stranding event on Massachusetts beach
International Fund for Animal Welfare

(EASTHAM, Mass.) — Four pilot whales that had been stranded on a Massachusetts beach have been euthanized, according to conservationists.

The health of the whales had “greatly declined” after three days of being stranded, with the whales initially being lifted by the high tide but then getting stranded again, Stacey Hedman, communications director for the International Fund for Animal Welfare’s Marine Mammal Rescue and Research team, told ABC News. The weather and the exhausted state of the whales contributed to the grim outlook for the large mammals, Hedman said.

“The team made the difficult decision to euthanize these animals as we knew rescue efforts at this stage were no longer going to be possible,” Hedman said. “It’s the most humane decision to make in a circumstance like this.”

The whales “passed quickly,” Hedman said, adding that they are still searching for one remaining whale.

Six pilot whales were initially spotted swimming close to shore near Sunken Meadow Beach in Eastham, Massachusetts, on Monday afternoon, prompting stranding experts form the International Fund for Animal Welfare’s Marine Mammal Rescue and Research team to respond to the scene to check on their well-being, Hedman said.

By Tuesday morning, the whales had become stranded on the beach, and one — a calf — had died, Hedman said. After the whales were briefly examined, and two were given satellite tags, the conservationists hoped the high tide in the afternoon would help push the marine mammals back into the ocean.

The five remaining pilot whales were re-floated and released shortly after the tide came in, but by 6 p.m. Tuesday, four of the whales had turned back toward shore, and rescue efforts were temporarily put on hold, the organization said.

“The five pilot whales swam off well in one direction together, but the reality is that we cannot celebrate a success yet this evening,” Misty Niemeyer, stranding coordinator at IFAW, said in a statement. “One animal is now offshore, but the others did not follow.”

The conservationists monitored satellite tag hits overnight, and a field team was able to locate the majority of the animals about 2 miles north near the Mass Audubon Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary in Wellfleet, Massachusetts, Hedman said. One whale is now offshore, she added.

The team is evaluating the next steps, Niemeyer said, describing the rescuers as “exhausted” after their strenuous efforts Tuesday.

“Large animals can be quite dangerous to work around, and it’s for our health as well as tomorrow’s continued efforts that we need to call it a day today,” she said late Tuesday.

Teams of rescuers were responding in phases Tuesday to provide supportive care until the tides were more favorable, Hedman said.

Video taken on the scene showed crews digging up sand around the whales, some of which were covered in wet blankets to help them retain moisture. Some of the whales were also administered fluids via IV to help combat the stress and shock of stranding, Sharp said.

Dolphins and small whales can indeed live out of water for many hours when receiving proper supportive care and hydration, Hedman said.

While Cape Cod is considered a global hotspot for live cetacean stranding, historically, pilot whales do not strand there, Hedman added.

IFAW typically transports dolphins to deeper water using a custom-built rescue vehicle, but the whales are too big to transport, according to the organization.

But some of the animals are “very large,” with the largest estimated to weigh about 4,000 pounds — making them too heavy to transport, Brian Sharp, director of the research center, said in a recorded statement.

“This is tough on all of our responders,” Hedman said. “We were cautiously optimistic and put a tremendous amount of work into this effort. If you were there, you likely felt our hopefulness as the whales first swam off at the end of the day yesterday.”

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Elton John breaks record for the most months on top of ‘Billboard’ Top Tour char

Elton John breaks record for the most months on top of ‘Billboard’ Top Tour char
Elton John breaks record for the most months on top of ‘Billboard’ Top Tour char
Scott Dudelson/Getty Images

Elton John has scored a new Billboard chart record. Thanks to his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour, Elton is number one on the Top Tours chart this month, making it his record-setting fifth month on top. 

During the month of October, Elton brought in $49.6 million from only eight shows to top the monthly Boxscore report. That translates to $6.2 million per show. 

Elton was the first artist to land at number one on the Top Tour list when it launched in 2019 and held that spot three more times before touring was halted in 2020 due to the pandemic. He held the record for the most months at number one until last month, when Bad Bunny tied him — but Elton has surpassed him to hold the record once again. 

As of now, Elton’s Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour, which launched in 2018, has grossed more than $700 million; he is on track to surpass Ed Sheeran’s The Divide Tour as the top-grossing tour of all time. It brought in $776.4 million.

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‘Super Mario Bros. Movie’ official trailer introduces Princess Peach, Donkey Kong

‘Super Mario Bros. Movie’ official trailer introduces Princess Peach, Donkey Kong
‘Super Mario Bros. Movie’ official trailer introduces Princess Peach, Donkey Kong
Universal

The official trailer for The Super Mario Bros. Movie is finally here — and it’s filled with beloved characters and references to the video games.

In the trailer, released Tuesday during a Nintendo Direct presentation, fans were able to hear more of Chris Pratt as Mario, as well as meet Anya Taylor-Joy‘s Princess Peach, Seth Rogen‘s Donkey Kong and Charlie Day‘s Luigi, who was briefly introduced in the final moments of the teaser trailer.

The trailer shows Mario facing off against Donkey Kong; Jack Black‘s Bowser questioning Luigi; Peach rallying an army of Toads — with Keegan-Michael Key voicing the head Toad; a quick glimpse at a colorful herd of Yoshis and more.

We also see some very exciting — and unexpected — moments, including Mario in the Tanooki suit, Peach harnessing the power of the Fire Flower and some epic Mario Kart action on Rainbow Road.

The rest of the film’s voice cast includes Fred Armisen as Cranky Kong, Kevin Michael Richardson as Kamek and Sebastian Maniscalco as Spike. Charles Martinet, who has voiced Mario since the ’90s, will also be featured in “surprise cameos.”

The Super Mario Bros. Movie, from Nintendo and Illumination, warps into theaters on April 7, 2023.

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Darrell Brooks begins process to appeal conviction in Christmas parade attack

Darrell Brooks begins process to appeal conviction in Christmas parade attack
Darrell Brooks begins process to appeal conviction in Christmas parade attack
Jason Marz/Getty Images

(WAUKESHA, Wisc.) — Darrell Brooks is seeking to appeal his conviction for driving his SUV into a Christmas parade in Waukesha, Wisconsin, last year, killing six people and injuring dozens more.

Brooks was found guilty by a jury in the attack and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. He received a life sentence for each of the six counts of first-degree intentional homicide, to be served consecutively, along with hundreds of hours of confinement for dozens of other criminal charges.

Brooks, 40, filed a handwritten notice of intent on Tuesday to seek post-conviction relief in Waukesha County Circuit Court, initiating the appeal process.

“It is not my intention to bring any controversy before the court, but it is my intention to have this postconviction relief matter reviewed and heard as quickly as possible as there are clear issues of the law and the legal facts in this matter,” he wrote in the notice, which was signed from Dodge Correctional Institution in Waupun, Wisconsin.

Additionally, Brooks made a request to have assistance from the public defender’s office. He had represented himself during the trial and was temporarily removed multiple times by Judge Jennifer Dorow for disrupting the proceedings.

Court records show the notice of intent to seek post-conviction relief was sent to the state public defender.

Brooks needed to initiate an appeal within 20 days of the sentencing, starting with filing the notice of intent to pursue post-conviction relief. The appeal process could take months, according to Wisconsin Public Radio.

A jury found Brooks guilty in October on all 76 counts for barreling his SUV into a Christmas parade on Nov. 21, 2021.

Dorow sentenced Brooks two weeks ago during a two-day hearing that featured emotional statements from dozens of victims and the family members of those killed and injured.

Dorow acknowledged that the sentencing was “largely symbolic,” but told Brooks that “it needs to hold you accountable in a very real and tangible way.”

Waukesha’s Christmas parade is scheduled to return this Sunday for the first time since the deadly attack.

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Massachusetts couple killed in home in apparent targeted attack, suspect at large: DA

Massachusetts couple killed in home in apparent targeted attack, suspect at large: DA
Massachusetts couple killed in home in apparent targeted attack, suspect at large: DA
Massachusetts State Police

(MARSHFIELD, Mass.) — A manhunt is underway for a suspect accused of stabbing and bludgeoning an elderly couple to death in their Massachusetts home in an apparent targeted attack, officials said.

Police conducting a welfare check on the married couple Tuesday night found both dead with “obvious signs of trauma,” according to Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz.

“Both of the victims were stabbed and bludgeoned to death,” Cruz said during a press briefing Wednesday morning.

The incident occurred in Marshfield, a city located about 30 miles southeast of Boston in Plymouth County.

The victims were identified as the homeowners — Carl Mattson and his wife, Vicki Mattson, both 70. Vicki Mattson would have turned 71 on Wednesday, Cruz said. It is unclear when the deaths occurred, he said.

Investigators have named a suspect in the killings — 27-year-old Christopher Keeley, who was acquainted with the couple, according to Cruz. A possible motive is under investigation, he said.

“This does not appear to be a random act of violence,” Cruz said. “This appears to be a targeted attack.”

Keeley’s whereabouts are currently unknown, police said.

“We’re not sure how long he has been gone,” Cruz said.

A warrant for his arrest will be issued for homicide in Marshfield, Cruz said.

Keeley is “known to carry knives,” a law enforcement alert stated. He should be considered armed and dangerous, police said.

The suspect was last seen driving a black 2019 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited that was taken from the scene, Cruz said. The car was later located unoccupied in a parking lot in Avon, which is about 20 miles west of Marshfield, the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office said.

“We continue to seek Christopher Keeley,” Massachusetts State Police said on Twitter.

Keeley, who goes by the name Crispy, was described as being white with blonde hair and blue eyes, approximately 5-foot-7 and 140 pounds. He may have altered his appearance by dying his hair red, police said.

His last known address was in Weymouth, Massachusetts, police said.

Anyone who sees him or has information on his whereabouts is asked to contact Massachusetts State Police at 774-434-5999 or the Marshfield Police Department at 774-380-4289, or call 911.

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