Judge rejects GOP effort to throw out 127,000 Houston votes

HOUSTON (AP) — A federal judge has rejected a last-ditch Republican effort to invalidate nearly 127,000 votes in Houston. U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen’s ruling Monday concerned ballots cast at drive-thru polling centers that were established during the pandemic. The lawsuit was brought by conservative Texas activists who have railed against expanded voting access in…

Missouri voter turnout forecast as highest in decades

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri election officials are predicting a strong turnout in Tuesday’s general election. Figures provides by the secretary of state’s office show that local election authorities are forecasting a statewide voter turnout of 75%. If that comes true, it would be the highest percentage turnout since 1992. About 828,000 people already…

As anger rises, Muslims protest French cartoons

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Tens of thousands of Muslims, from Pakistan to Lebanon to the Palestinian territories, are joining anti-France protests, as the French president’s vow to protect the right to caricature the Prophet Muhammad continues to roil the Muslim world. Protesters on Friday, largely organized by Islamists, torched French flags and burned…