Convicted justiceresigns in W.Va.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The resignation of a West Virginia Supreme Court justice recently convicted of federal charges prompted the governor on Sunday to cancel a special legislative session that was to consider the justice's removal.
Republican Gov. Jim Justice's office said late Saturday that he had received a letter from Justice Allen Loughry and had accepted his resignation effective at the close of business today.
Loughry was convicted last month of federal fraud charges stemming from his personal use of state cars and fuel cards. He has requested a new trial.
Justice had called the special session for Tuesday, saying in a proclamation that the Legislature would consider removing Loughry from his post. A proclamation issued Sunday canceled the special session in light of Loughry's resignation.
Loughry couldn't be reached for comment. His attorney, John A. Carr, said in an email he would have no comment.
Rohrabacher lagsin California count
HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. -- Republican Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, a one-time speechwriter for President Ronald Reagan who later became Russia's leading defender on Capitol Hill, is losing ground as the votes are counted in his race against Democrat Harley Rouda, returns show.
The count as of Saturday night showed Rouda with 52 percent of the vote and about 8,500 more votes than Rohrabacher. Rohrabacher's campaign said in a statement that tens of thousands of ballots remain uncounted, and the campaign will have a statement once the vote count is complete.
The Associated Press on Saturday night projected Rouda as the winner.
Rouda, 56, is a Republican-turned-Democrat who pilloried the congressman for his skepticism over climate change and depicted him as out of touch.
The prospect of Rohrabacher's ouster from his seat in Orange County has historical and symbolic significance. The county southeast of Los Angeles was home to President Richard Nixon and was long considered a foundational block in the modern conservative movement.
This year's race reflects the dramatic shift of fortunes in Orange County, as Rohrabacher was re-elected by nearly 17 points just two years ago.
Pabst-Miller suit coming to a head
MILWAUKEE -- Pabst Brewing Company and MillerCoors are going to trial, with Pabst contending that MillerCoors wants to put it out of business by ending a longstanding partnership.
The trial in Milwaukee County Circuit Court begins today and is scheduled to run through Nov. 30.
The case has high stakes for Pabst, whose lawyers argue that the company's existence relies on the partnership with Chicago-based MillerCoors, which produces, packages and ships nearly all of its products.
Pabst's attorneys have said in court documents and hearings that MillerCoors LLC is lying about its brewing capacity to break away from Pabst and capture its share of the cheap beer market by disrupting Pabst's ability to compete.
The 1999 agreement between MillerCoors and Pabst expires in 2020 but provides for two five-year extensions. The companies dispute how the extensions should be negotiated: MillerCoors argues that it has sole discretion to determine whether it can continue brewing for Pabst, whereas Pabst says the companies must work "in good faith" to find a solution if Pabst wants to extend the agreement but MillerCoors lacks the capacity.
-- Compiled by Democrat-Gazette staff from wire reports
A Section on 11/12/2018