Georgia begins hand tally of presidential race votes
On Nov. 13, Georgia’s 159 counties began recounting presidential race votes. A law gave the state the option of having a hand tally recount if the margin by which the winning candidate leads by is too slim. Georgia will have at least two ballot auditors check each vote and read the name of the selected candidate out loud before handing it to the second auditor, who does the same process. The results of the recount are expected to be announced when the full tally is finished and the new results will be the certified numbers for the election.
Tropical storm Eta causes isolated flash floods
Tropical storm Eta made landfall in the Florida Keys on Nov. 12. After briefly becoming a hurricane-strength storm, Eta has remained as a tropical storm. Eta made landfall with 50 mph winds in the Florida Keys and dropped rain across the Florida coasts until it continued up the coast and into the eastern United States. Flash flooding has occurred throughout South Florida and the Keys and more isolated flash flooding is expected to occur as the storm loops back around. The flooding caused by Eta was so severe in North Carolina that it resulted in the death of five people.
Schools move online before the holidays
In Tippecanoe County, IN, schools are switching to remote education before Thanksgiving break due to concerns about traveling and gathering for the holidays. The school system in Indiana is not the only system doing so. Many schools, especially higher level institutions, are making the switch to online learning to reduce the spread of COVID-19. School administrators are hoping that having students stay home instead of traveling back and forth for classes between Thanksgiving and winter break will reduce the likelihood of the virus spreading throughout the student population.
Legal action taken against the Great Lakes oil pipeline
The governor of Michigan, Gretchen Whitmer, filed legal action on Nov. 13 to shut down an oil pipeline that ran beneath a channel that connected to two of the Great Lakes. The revocation of an easement granted to the Canadian oil company, Enbridge Inc., was cited to explain that the pipeline put not only the lakes’ ecosystem at risk, but the thousands of people who depend on the clean drinking water and job availability they provide. Whitmer expressed that she believes the pipeline could lead to a catastrophic oil spill, while Enbridge Inc. stands in the position that the pipeline remains safe and legally regulated. The pipeline itself carries approximately 23 million gallons of oil between Superior, Wisconsin and Sarnia, Ontario while also passing through northern Michigan.
Washington D.C. sees protests from Trump supporters
Thousands of people have gathered in support of President Donald Trump on Nov. 14 as Joe Biden remained the projected winner of the 2020 presidential election. Over two dozen Trump supporters were arrested as they clashed with counter-protestors. This mass demonstration came after repeated tweets and statements made by Trump and other federal Republicans, implying that Trump had won the election and would be remaining president for a second term.
