Biereland Supreme Court ruling changes election process

BROOKINGS--In a stunning ruling Tuesday, the Biereland Supreme Court overturned a key law that governs the election of the state's governor and lieutenant governor.

In a 5-4 ruling, the court said a key statute in the state's constitution had been misinterpreted by the legislature and the Secretary of State's office.

The constitutional clause in question states "the governor and lieutenant governor shall be dually elected to separate and independent offices by the people of Biereland for a term of precisely four years, beginning on the last Monday of the month of January of the succeeding year."

Over the years, state legislators and elections officials have interpreted the law to mean that the governor and lieutenant governor should be elected separately and independently of each other.

Under that system, the governor and lieutenant governor could hail from separate parties, as was the case from 2008-2010, when Gov. Jenny Duschowitz (C) and Lt. Gov. Ashton Downs (N) served together.

But in Tuesday's ruling, the court said the law has been misinterpreted, and that the phrase "dually elected" requires that the governor and lieutenant governor be elected on the same ticket, meaning a vote for one candidate would be a vote for both.

"The clause in question is vague, but we hold that the governor and lieutenant governor should, according to the Constitution of the State of Biereland, be elected together, on the same ticket. The two candidates for the respective offices shall campaign together and be elected jointly."

The court's ruling also mandates that the changes to the election law be in effect in time for the 2014 statewide election.

But the court also handed back the issue to the state legislature for clarification.

"This clause is unreasonably vague, and clarification by the legislature is necessary," Chief Justice Bill Wilkerson wrote for the majority.

Specifically, the legislature must clarify how the lieutenant governor shall be chosen.

One option is to let each party's gubernatorial nominee choose a running mate to run with them in the general election. That means the candidates for lieutenant governor would essentially be selected by each parties' candidate for governor.

Another option is to allow voters to choose a lieutenant governor candidate in a primary election, and then have the gubernatorial nominee and the lieutenant governor nominee run on the same ticket. This option would allow primary voters to have a say in the lieutenant governor choices.

A third method would allow voters to select a nominee for governor, and then have party activists elect a candidate for lieutenant governor during a closed-voting session at each political party's state conventions.

The court remanded the issue back to the legislature, and set a deadline for September 31, 2013.

The justices also suggested the legislature put the issue to a popular vote in the 2014 elections.

"It might be wise of the legislature to submit this issue to the voters in the coming mid-term election, to allow them to have a say in how they elect their governor and lieutenant governor," Wilkerson wrote.

The court's ruling means Biereland will become the tenth "ticket state," where governors and lieutenant governors are elected on the same ticket.

Many opposed the court's decision, however.

In dissent, Justice Sophia Warren-Diaz said the current system is more favorable because it gives voters choice.

"The system in place allows voters to cross-vote, or split their ticket among the parties,"  wrote Warren-Diaz. "Under the current system, a voter might vote for the Conservative candidate for governor, and vote for the Nationalist candidate for lieutenant governor, or vice-versa. This gives voters more freedom in their vote, and fosters bipartisanship."

"The system the court set in place today restricts the ability of the voter to choose in good faith the candidates they best see fit for each separate office," Warren-Diaz said.

The political parties were largely indifferent to the court's ruling. However, both strongly oppose a system where voters could nominate candidates for both offices in a primary election.

"That type of system places too much power in the hands of the voters," Steven Saul, a Conservative party strategist told the Greene Mountain Press (GMP).

"That system would be disastrous for the political parties, because the voters in the primary election could nominate a more mainstream candidate for governor and also simultaneously nominate a controversial candidate for lieutenant governor, and then the two candidates would be hand-cuffed together and have to run in the general election as a team," said Saul.

Lawyers for the NAT agree.

"We do not support a system where the lieutenant governor and governor are nominated separately and then forced to run together," Paul Kirk, senior counsel for the Biereland NAT party, told the GMP.

Gov. San Bartholomew praised the decision, saying electing a governor and lieutenant governor from the same party would reduce gridlock in the capital.

"The court made a courageous decision today. This decision means that the likelihood of gridlock in Brookings between the governor and lieutenant governor is reduced. Today's ruling reinforces the governor-lieutenant governor relationship that is key to the leadership of our state," Bartholomew said.

The two Conservatives challenging Bartholomew in the 2014 election, Attorney General Ben Jordan and former Federal Senator Bob Kozzy, had mixed opinions.

Jordan said the ruling would create a "stronger relationship" between the governor and lieutenant governor, but said he favored a constitutional amendment initiated by the legislature instead of the court making the decision.

"I support the idea but I don't believe the courts are the proper venue for this issue to be decided," Jordan said.

Kozzy said the issue should be decided by the people, not the courts.

"What we saw today was judicial tyranny," Kozzy said at an evening press conference.

"We saw our state Supreme Court overrule the will of the people, without any consent or input from the voters."

The controversial ruling also throws a wrench into the plans of candidates who were already planning on running for lieutenant governor.

So far, there are two candidates who have already filed papers with the Secretary of State's office to run for lieutenant governor in the 2014 election.

Among them is current Lt. Gov. Gabriel Sanchez (N), who was appointed to the position by Gov. San Bartholomew when former Lt. Gov. Ashton Downs (N) resigned in February.

Sanchez declared soon after assuming the office that he would run for the position in 2014, and it's likely that Gov. San Bartholomew would select Sanchez as his running mate if the legislature amends the law in favor of a running mate scenario.

However, the other candidates, who are already planning on running, may have to halt their campaigns if the legislature formats the law in the running mate style, which is expected.

State Sen. Louise Suthers (N) from Brookings has also filed papers to run for lieutenant governor. But if the law is changed to allow the governor to select a running mate, she will most certainly not be chosen by San Bartholomew, since she is challenging Bartholomew's appointee in the NAT primary.

"If they re-do the law and switch it to a running mate format, then I will definitely not be chosen," Suthers said.

She will continue with her campaign until the issue is settled, however.

All three candidates for governor--Bartholomew and Conservatives Jordan and Kozzy--agree that the question of how Bierelanders elect their governor and lieutenant governor should be handed to the people for a popular vote statewide referendum.

"I do believe the people should have a say in this, and it should be on the ballot in 2014," Bartholomew told reporters during a Tuesday afternoon press conference.

Jordan told the GMP "the voters have a right to weigh in on this issue."

And Kozzy was adamant that the "voice of the people should be sought and heard."

"The courts have no place in this decision. This should be placed before the voters."

In the meantime, the court's decision means the forthcoming 2014 election will use the ticket-style method in electing the governor and lieutenant governor. The specifics of that method will be worked out by the legislature, subject to court approval in September 2013.

And then the issue will likely be put to the voters in 2014, who will either affirm the court's ruling and the legislature's re-tooling, or will strike it down, in which case the matter will then go back to the legislature for further review.

Menuhaeo honors Ramadan at Mavocke ceremony

MAVOCKE--He may be a devout Lutheran, but President Brenton Menuhaeo on Thursday marked the beginning of the Muslim holy month Ramadan in an inner-faith ceremony in the nation's capital.

Speaking before a crowd of predominantly Muslims, but also containing Christians, Jews and members of other faiths, Mr. Menuhaeo offered his thoughts on Ramadan, the holy month celebrated in the Islamic faith.

"Ramadan is a time when Muslim families come together to celebrate their faith, to express their devotion to their faith and to each other, and to strengthen their inner beliefs," Menuhaeo said.

"For non-Muslims, we must remember that Ramadan is a sacred time for our Muslim brothers and sisters. Muslims are our fellow Grassadellians. They are our neighbors, our family members, our friends, coworkers, teachers, doctors, scientists, musicians, writers. All around this country, and beyond our borders, there are hundreds of millions of Muslims who celebrate this sacred time.

"That is the power of our democracy. Though as Grassadellians, we are of many faiths, we have the right and the privilege, as free citizens of this great country, to practice, celebrate, and recognize our faith in the way that we see fit, without oppression or opposition from the state or from our fellow countrymen. Democracy strives in the midst of diversity, and the practice of peaceful Islam has strengthened our country."

The president went on to give his personal wishes to Muslims.

"To all Muslim-Grassadellians who are celebrating Ramadan, I offer my sincere thanks for your contributions to our country, and wish you a month of happiness, refreshing, and a strengthening of your faith and family ties."

The inner-faith ceremony the president spoke at was proof, Menuhaeo said, that different religious communities can thrive in a democracy.

"All of you being here today--this underscores that where there is freedom, faith flourishes. We may all come from different backgrounds and belief systems. But we are united in our belief that all humankind has the unequivocal right to freedom of religion. And we affirm today that though we may come from different walks of life, all faiths are valued in this country, and our nation is better off because of the contributions of all faiths," said Menuhaeo.

Also attending the inner-faith ceremony, which was held at the Kareem Al-Sheik Mosque in central Mavocke, were Bishop Marcus Heydham of the Mavocke Diocese of the Catholic Church, and Rabbi Elkon Kabarki of Mavocke's Shalom Temple.

Islamic leaders from around the country were also in attendance, including Imam Ali Sukar-Mahadi of the Mavocke Islamic Center and Dr. Mohammad Zukar Khalid of the Center for Grassadellian Islamic Studies.

Ramadan began on Monday, July 8, and lasts until August 7.

Golden enters Wellington governor's race

STARKSMIN, Wellington--Another Conservative has thrown his hat into the ring in Wellington's governor's race.

Patent attorney and Royal Air Force veteran Russell E. Golden, 54, will file candidacy papers with the Wellington Secretary of State's office, according to a source close to Mr. Golden.

Golden will join state Sen. Liz McKinn, of Hollam, on the Conservative side.

McKinn announced her candidacy back in April, after her former running mate, Craig Thoyer, declined to run a second time.

McKinn ran for lieutenant governor with Thoyer in 2010. The duo lost to incumbents Pierre Carten and Joe Carlin by a 51%-49% margin.

Unlike McKinn, who has been involved in Wellington politics for years, Golden is a political newcomer. He has never sought public office, and even leading political pundits and top party strategists admit they'd never heard of him until now.

"This guy came out of nowhere. We don't know much about him at this point," Chris Bonnell, a Conservative party consultant, told the Starksmin Frontiersman.

Golden's lack of name recognition means McKinn will have a big edge in the Conservative primary.

However, financial documents obtained by the Frontiersman show Golden has won millions in financial settlements and lawsuits over the years, meaning he could have a large personal fortune to draw upon for campaign funds.

Golden also owns an extensive amount of property, most of it in rural Notting County, about 60 miles southwest of Starksmin. He is also registered to vote in the small town of Bivanna (pop. 2,400), which is also in Notting County.

Little else is known about Golden. The Frontiersman did confirm through legal records searches that he is married and has four grown children. A political donations search also found that he has contributed to Conservative candidates in the past.

The McKinn campaign had no comment when contacted by the Frontiersman.

But party strategist Chris Bonnell says for now, the race is heavily in Liz McKinn's favor.

"She is well-known, well-liked in the party, she has the ability to raise funds, she knows all the donors and party bigwigs. I think she has it sewn up."

Ritonio edges DeSalle in new poll

LAMBERTH, Kalnier--First-term Kalnier Gov. Karen DeSalle (N) finds herself in an unfavorable position going into the 2014 elections.

DeSalle is up for re-election in 2014, and a recent poll published Friday by the University of Kalnier  (UK) shows the freshman governor trailing Conservative businessman Tony Ritonio slightly, with DeSalle receiving 34% to Ritonio's 35%.

The poll found 30% of respondents were undecided.

In a head-to-head match up, both candidates received 50%.

The poll can't be good news for DeSalle, who has seen a steady drop in approval ratings since taking office in 2011.

Despite Kalnier's decisive liberal bent, Conservatives have enjoyed some success in recent years, most notably with the election of Samuel Tracey and Shannon McCann to the Federal Senate.

The off-year election also gives Conservatives an advantage, as the minority party typically is more successful in non-presidential year elections, when voter turn-out is lower.

Additionally, the poll confirms Ritonio is a credible candidate. He is relatively well-known throughout the state, after a losing Senate bid in 2008, when he fell to Nationalist Eli Dundree.

Ritonio declined to run again in 2010, when Conservatives fared better. Both Tracey and McCann were elected that year, although incumbent Gov. Joe Gramma (C) was defeated by DeSalle in a modest 53%-46% finish.

In 2012, Ritonio again declined to run for the state's only Senate seat up for grabs. His decision to stand down allowed Conservative tax attorney Steve Mickelson to run unopposed for the CNS nomination.

Mickelson lost in the general election to the far-left and polarizing incumbent Paul LeBouse. However, the race was very close, with LeBouse inching by with 51% of the vote to Mickelson's 49%.

Since his failed Senate campaign in 2008, Ritonio, who became a self-made millionaire after founding his own franchise of pizza restaurants, has stayed in the shadows but has remained influential in the Kalnier Conservative Party.

Ritonio lost by a 57%-43% margin in 2008, and Nationalists largely brushed him off after his defeat.

But 2008 was a strong NAT year, and 2014 will be more in the CNS' favor.

Furthermore, Ritonio has a lengthy business resume, which lends itself to a managerial position such as the governorship more so than a legislative position. And the 50-year-old businessman is more experienced than he was six years ago.

All of those factors, combined with his populist views and his working-class roots, having grown up in inner-city Lamberth, make him a credible threat to Karen DeSalle's re-election hopes.

Ritonio is not officially running for governor just yet, though he did tell the Lamberth Regent in May he is "seriously considering" a run for the state's highest job.

The only other Conservative that is considering running is Hulton Corp. founder and CEO Bill Broadbent, who announced last week he is also considering mounting a challenge to DeSalle.

DeSalle has done some fundraising, and currently has a modest $1.1 million campaign war chest.

She has also begun to reach out to liberal donors and activists, and has been talking with Gov. Christine Gabler (N-Marchenay), who chairs the Governors Board, and East Deschire Gov. Lynn DeMont, who heads the Nationalist Governors Association (NATGA), which is the Nationalist Party organization charged with raising money for NAT governors.

DeSalle's campaign had no comment on the UK poll. A spokesman for Ritonio also had no comment.

The Conservative Governors Association (CGA), the CNS counterpart to NATGA, did tell the Regent in an email that the poll is "encouraging news" for Conservatives.

"Kalnier is a crucial state for the Conservative Party, as we look to rebuild and re-gain governor's seats in the coming elections," a spokesman said via email.

Crown Police: Carnival workers sold cocaine, ecstasy

BRIMSDEN, Veroche--A traveling carnival has had to close down after more than half its crew was arrested during a raid by federal police Friday.

Federal agents descended on the Country Faire Carnival Friday morning in the small town of Brimsden in northeast Veroche, where it was set to hold a three-day event.

Crown Police raided the carnival after a months-long investigation into a multi-state drug-selling operation.

Authorities say they arrested 22 people--all carnival workers--in connection with the drug growing and selling operation, which the suspects allegedly operated out of camping and semi-truck trailers.

Among those arrested were the manager and assistant manager of the carnival, which is owned by the Wilkonshire-based Jolly-Lasso Entertainment Company.

Police say the carnival employees were growing marijuana in trailers, and selling it at carnival events across the country.

They also were transporting and selling cocaine and ecstasy, according to police.

Customers were often referred to various booths at the carnival, and used code words to indicate they were interested in purchasing, officials say.

Agents had been monitoring the carnival workers for more than six months, and have video and audio recordings of drug sales, according to Agent Sean Smith with the CP.

"This was a very thorough investigation that we had been working on for some time, and we believe we have enough evidence now to shut down this drug operation and get these drugs off the streets," Smith said.

Authorities are most concerned children may have been exposed to the illegal drugs.

"What makes this worse is that it involves children. Kids love the carnival. And parents take their kids to the carnival hoping to have a fun, safe experience. And we have reason to believe that children have been exposed, and possibly have even been sold illegal drugs at carnival events," said Smith.

Police swooped in on the carnival early Friday morning, before it had opened for the day, effectively shutting it down before it began.

Marijuana and other drugs were seized from carnival property, though investigators would not disclose the quantity.

Jolly-Lasso has brought in a separate crew to disassemble the carnival rides.

The company it is conducting its own investigation into the matter, and employees that were not arrested but have been affected by the closure of the carnival will be reassigned to other events.

"The allegations against several of our employees are very troubling and disconcerting. Jolly-Lasso prides itself on providing a fun, family-friendly environment, and we will not tolerate any employee breaking the law, endangering our customers or the general public. We take this matter very seriously and ask for patience as we carry out our own internal investigation into this matter," a statement from the company read.

Warner-Patterson will retire in 2014

MAVOCKE--The oldest and longest-serving senator in the Federal Senate chamber will retire in 2014 rather than seek re-election.

John Warner-Patterson, a Nationalist from Wilkonshire, announced Monday that he will step down after serving more than 42 years in the Senate.

At 87, Warner-Patterson is the oldest current member of the Senate. He was first elected in 1962 at the age of 37, representing POG until the late 2000's, when he was elected to represent Wilkonshire.

In a press conference Monday morning, Warner-Patterson said he has "enjoyed the ride" of his roller coaster-like career.

"I've enjoyed the good times and the bad, the times of wealth and peace in this country and the times of downturn and conflict. I've enjoyed the battles in the Senate I've fought and the many times bipartisanship has won over party interests," said the senator.

"It has been a joy and a privilege to serve. I thank the people of POG and Wilkonshire for sending me back time and again to represent them."

After serving two terms, Warner-Patterson quit his Senate seat in 1974 to work as Secretary of Veterans Affairs and later chair InterLink, the agency that oversees Grassadellia's intelligence agencies.

He was re-elected to the Senate in 1982, and most recently was re-elected in a 2008 special election, winning with a modest 54% of the vote.

Warner-Patterson has long been seen as an affable person with an optimistic spirit. In recent years, he has received high marks from Nationalists and Conservatives alike.

His retirement leaves an open seat in a battleground state.

While Wilkonshire leans to the NAT, Conservatives have won in recent elections.

In other races, the NAT candidates won the election but just narrowly.

There's no indication from either party which candidates might run for the open seat, although party strategists on both sides say there is a healthy list of possible candidates.

Maas to challenge Byelle in Carova

LORENZI, Carova--Nationalists have their first major candidate to challenge incumbent Carova Governor Sam Byelle (C) in the 2014 midterm election.

Anna Madde-Maas (pronounced "Mod-day - Moss"), the current Mayor of Lorenzi, the state's second-largest city, is expected to challenge the first-term Byelle, who is up for re-election in 2014.

Sources close to Madde-Maas, who usually goes by just Anna Maas, say the mayor will announce a run by the end of the month.

Maas has been the mayor of Lorenzi since 2006, and is known for her progressive views.

Lorenzi is more liberal than the rest of the state, and Maas' liberal record could hurt her statewide with the more conservative voters outside the state's southwest corner.

However, despite its conservative bent, Carova has trended more blue in recent elections, and Nationalists, even staunch liberals like Federal Senator Karen Coriano and Attorney General Dan McGregor, have enjoyed success at the ballot box.

Supporters of Maas say the mayor has a strong record to run on, and will face a weakened incumbent in Byelle, who has seen his poll numbers dip considerably since taking office in 2011.

The fact that Maas is a woman may also play well with women voters, who may be enthused by her candidacy and the prospect of electing the state's first female governor.

It's unclear if any other NAT candidates will join the primary race. McGregor was said to be considering a run but has since decided to seek re-election to the attorney general's post, according to sources close to the situation.

Federal Senator Dan Sallovich was also mulling a bid, but will likely stay in the Senate, sources tell GNN.

Mega-church pastor: Islam 'breeds' violence

PARKINS, North Ceona--The senior pastor of one of the nation's largest Evangelical mega-churches is coming under fire for comments he made that some have called anti-Islam.

Rev. Ahmad Hassan, who pastors the 8,000-member-strong Church of the Saviour in suburban Parkins, said in an interview with Forefront magazine that Islam "breeds violence," and that political correctness is "hampering the fight" against Islamic terrorists.

"It breeds violence and contempt for non-Muslims, particularly Westerners, Christians, Jews, etc., and even for other Muslims of different sects. And it's not just a religion, it's a culture and way of life that preaches hatred and preaches overcoming or overtaking one's enemies at any cost, including death," Hassan said.

Hassan added that Western media and politicians have "caved" to political correctness when dealing with Islamic terrorists.

"The media doesn't hesitate to identify right-wing Christian groups that espouse violence and carry out violent attacks. They don't hesitate to criticize Christian leaders for discrimination and bigotry and wrongdoing. But when it comes to the Muslim faith, the media and our politicians are very timid. They don't want to offend, they don't want to seem culturally insensitive, they're very careful not to step on any toes. They're very slow to criticize and pronounce judgment. But with Christians, it's very different. This kind of timidity does not do our country any favors. It only allows terrorists and people with ill-will against the Western culture to thrive, because everyone in the media and the government is too afraid to stand up to them and call them out for their atrocities," said Hassan.

"When some right-wing, anti-government, anarchist, end-of-the-world militia group commits an act of violence, it's splashed all over the news, in all the newspapers and all over online. But when it comes to radical Muslims, the media is very cowardly about calling it like it is."

Hassan's comments were quickly condemned by pro-Muslim groups.

"This kind of hate-speech is typical from the conservative, far-right of the political spectrum, and it should be denounced for what it is: falsehoods," Mohammed Al-Suyair of Muslims United said in an interview with the GBC.

"Ahmad Hassan is a convert, he changed his religious views, something he's allowed to do. But he should not go around trashing the Muslim faith and calling it violent and anti-Western and anti-Christian. The vast majority of Muslims in this country, and every country, are law-abiding, peaceful people that do not hate others that are different from them. Ahmad Hassan should denounce his words and apologize to all Muslims," Al-Suyair said.

Hassan is a former Muslim who converted to Christianity.

Born into an affluent family in Saudi Arabia in 1969, the future Evangelical pastor lived there until emigrating to Italy at the age of 26. He then moved to Grassadellia in 1997.

At the age of 28, while a student at the prestigious Grigsby School of Technology at Mayton Stansbury University in Madagen, Hassan was befriended by a group of young Christians, and began attending weekly church services on campus. After nine months of prayer, he finally decided to officially convert to Christianity, despite being disowned by his family.

Hassan graduated from the Grigsby School of Technology, earning a Masters in Physics. While at Mayton Stansbury, he met his future-wife Nareha, who is also a former Muslim from Oman.

In 2003, the Hassans founded Church of the Saviour in the suburb of Rose Acre, northeast of Parkins. The church started with only 30 people, and met weekly in an elementary school cafeteria. But the congregation quickly grew to more than 900 people in just two years, and has been growing ever since.

Since their conversions, Ahmad and Nareha Hassan have become leading voices of the Grassadellian Evangelical community. They speak frequently around the country and across the globe at Evangelical events.

But his prominent standing in the conservative Christian community is another reason critics are displeased with Ahmad Hassan's recent anti-Islam comments.

"He's entitled to his beliefs, but as someone who is so prominent and has such a large standing in the Evangelical movement in this country, his voice resonates and carries weight. And when you say these sorts of ignorant, misguided statements, it really does no favors in smoothing over tensions between different religious groups," Tanya Arington, Director of the National Coalition for Diversity (NCD) told the Grassadellia City Times.

Hassan did point out in the interview that he does not hate Muslims.

"I don't hate Muslims. On the contrary, I love my fellow Muslims. I understand them a lot better than most Christians and most Christian leaders do. I know Muslims are good people but they are very often indoctrinated with hate from an early age. Hate for America, hate for Israel, hate for the West in general. It's not that they're inherently bad people, but they are taught this from an early age and that seed of hate that is planted in one's youth, it begins to fester and take hold in a person's heart, and eventually in a nation and a pan-national culture. And that's why we have people blowing up buildings today and wanting to harm other people. Because an uninformed, unfounded and immoral hatred is taking root in the Muslim world."

The Grassadellian Union of Evangelical Churches (GUEC), of which Hassan is a high-profile member, would not comment on the matter.

POG governor swims with dolphins for charity

KINGHAM, Province of Grassadellia--Governor Donna Almone took a dunk in the pool, but it was for a good cause.

The governor made a pledge with the state's K-6 school children, that if they raised more than $1 million in donations for the week-long I-Heart-the-Ocean environmental awareness campaign, she would swim with dolphins and "arm-wrestle a crab."

And Almone made good on that promise Friday.

POG K-6 students raised a whopping over $1.7 million for the campaign, more than $700,000 the target amount.

"I'm blown away by the generosity of our kids in POG. They raised more than $1.7 million dollars to help protect our oceans and the animals in the oceans. That tells me that we have some very sharing, caring, and generous young people that care about the environment and care about protecting nature," Almone said in a pre-pool interview.

The governor then spoke directly to school children during a live state-wide telecast. She thanked them for their generous donations.

"I want to thank all you children, each and every one of you, for giving your pennies and dimes and nickels and quarters, and dollars to this project. And I want to thank your teachers and your moms and dads and grandmas and grandpas and any other family members or grown ups in your lives that helped you too. Because of your generosity and the money you gave, we will be able to help protect the ocean and its animals for the future, so that when you grow up someday, your children will be able to enjoy the ocean and all the wonderful animals that depend upon it too," said Almone.

Minutes later, donning a wet suit, the governor slipped into a pool with three adolescent dolphins, named Nellie, Periwinkle, and Junior.

"Aren't these little guys cute?" she laughed. "They're so friendly."

Hundreds of elementary students were on-hand to watch in person, and children that attended the event got to pet dolphins and other wildlife as well.

The Royal Quay Aquarium and aquariums across the province are also offering discount tickets to primary schools as part of the promotion.

Almone called the event "the most fun I've had in years," and joked that she was relieved "no one had to see me in my bathing suit."

The governor's office says it hopes to do a similar promotion about forest health and protecting animals that live in the forests of the province.

"The ocean is a big part of the ecosystem, but we realize not every child in POG lives close to the coast. Every part of the ecosystem is important, and we hope to highlight the importance of the forests and grasslands as well in the future, to help make it more relevant for children from all parts of the province," said Jalie Kohana, a spokeswoman for the governor.

During the event, the governor also gave awards to several teachers from across the province. The fundraising event was optional, and about 60% of POG's elementary schools, public and private, participated.

Gymbal offers praise for Pergich

Sauvienne, Lial--Nationalist Governor Todd Pergich (Lial) won some rare praise today--from his predecessor, former Gov. Gavin Gymbal, a prominent Conservative.

Speaking to the Collester Press Corps during a meeting with President Brenton Menuhaeo, Gymbal, who served as governor from 2006-2010 and subsequently was re-elected to his former Assembly seat of Mansill in southwestern Lial, told reporters Pergich is "doing relatively well" as governor.

"I'm really actually quite impressed with the job Todd Pergich is doing. He has governed, thus far, with an even-handed, common sense approach. He's been fiscally responsible and he has made public safety a top priority. The economy, I think, is still struggling in Lial, and I think there's a lot of improvement that could be made in that aspect, but overall, I think Todd Pergich is doing a reasonable job as governor, and I think Conservatives find him easier to work with than some of the former NAT governors we've had," said Gymbal.

Gymbal's flattering comments are rare for a state that is known for its bitter relations and fierce political battles between the two major parties. And his comments contrast sharply with his reputation as a fierce partisan.

"My vision of government and governance is not one of bitter feuds between the parties and a nasty rivalry. In my earlier days, I took pleasure in castigating the other side and engaging in political warfare with the opposition. But my time as governor really re-shaped my thinking. It challenged me to reach across the aisle, and I met many Nationalists in Clothen that were open-minded, independent-minded people, who love their state and embrace the common good rather than sticking to their party's agenda. That was a fundamental change in my thinking," Gymbal said.

"I've softened over the years," Gymbal said, laughing.

The assemblyman was meeting with President Menuhaeo to discuss agriculture, national security, and environmental issues. And though Gymbal was striking a bipartisan tone, he was not afraid to voice his differences with the NAT.

"The President and I have very different views on these issues. We do not see eye-to-eye on a lot of issues. But that doesn't prevent us from sitting down over a cup of tea and discussing the issues that are facing my constituents and the Grassadellian people," said Gymbal.

The President concurred with Gymbal's assessment.

"Over the years, Gavin and I have butted heads, frequently. But during that time, I think we've found some common ground and we've found that we can still be friends and have different view points. The people of Mansill are lucky to have Gavin Gymbal as their assemblyman," said Menuhaeo.

Pergich's office did not return calls or emails seeking comment on the matter.

But Gymbal's affectionate words for his successor cannot be helping the CNS, as it seeks to attack and undermine Pergich's standing with voters, as the incumbent governor is up for re-election in 2014.

Despite his praise for the incumbent, Gymbal stopped short of endorsing Pergich.

"I'm not endorsing anyone at this point. I'm simply saying, I think the governor is doing a good job on a number of issues. There are some areas where I think he could be doing better, primarily economic issues. I think I would be handling that differently. But he deserves to be recognized for the good work he is doing."

The Conservative party has yet to find a top-tier candidate to challenge Pergich, and party insiders say the race will likely be written off and resources devoted to races where Conservatives have a better chance of winning.

12 state Attorneys General target sexual performance drug makers

DEROSA, East Deschire--In a multi-state joint lawsuit, 12 state attorneys general are suing the makers of several sexual performance drugs.

The lawsuit claims the makers of eight sexual performance or enhancement drugs, for men and women, use false advertising. The suit also alleges some drugs being sold online have not been approved by the Pharmaceutical Safety Administration (PSA).

"A lot of these drug makers are using false promises to lure in customers. They're promising performance enhancement guarantees that just aren't factually true, and we've found several drugs that are being sold primarily on the internet, that are not even approved by the PSA, which presents a real danger to consumers," East Deschire Attorney General Rocky Morin told Vanguard News.

Morin is leading the lawsuit and concurrent investigation.

Many of the unknowing consumers who purchase these misleading or illegal drugs are senior citizens or teenagers, both age groups that may be at particular risk.

"Many senior citizens may be purchasing these drugs, unaware that these medications are not approved by the PSA. And these drug-makers know that senior citizens may be more vulnerable, so they target them," South Ceona Attorney General Patty Volston told the Lanakis Daily News.

"Teenagers and minors may be also at risk, because they may try to purchase they drugs without mom or dad knowing. And purchasing something online is not very difficult to do for a young person. That's especially dangerous because young people are unaware of what they're consuming as far as medication goes. They may be unaware of the risks and the dangers of consuming medication without doctor's orders," Volston continued.

The suit has not named the companies being sued, but eight legitimate companies are named in the suit, and at least a dozen non-approved medications are being targeted as well, according to Morin.

Federal police are also getting involved in the investigation, per the request of the 12 attorneys general.

In Grassadellia, more than 25,000 people are treated annually at emergency rooms and local clinics for side-effects from sexual enhancement/performance drugs.

More people may be suffering from side-effects and may not seek medical attention out of fear or embarrassment, according to the Grassadellian Medical Association (GMA).

In addition, a few thousand children (18 years and younger) are treated each year for using sexual performance drugs incorrectly or improperly, the GMA says.

4 men arrested on terrorism charges in Monvaille

MONVAILLE, Lial--Four men were arrested Friday morning in south Monvaille in connection with a terrorism plot, Crown Police confirmed.

Few details are being released at this hour, but Crown Police confirmed to national media outlets that four men, between the ages of 19 and 32, have been arrested after a months-long investigation by federal police.

The names of the suspects have not yet been released, but the CP says the suspects had been monitored by police for some time.

The plot allegedly involved detonating bombs on Monvaille's passenger rail system.

Crown Police Agent Dan Strawthers, who heads the CP's Monvaille Regional Office, told local media the men had purchased materials and explosives from undercover agents.

"This was a long, thought-out plan they were attempting to carry out. We intervened before their plan became reality," said Strawthers.

The men are being held in a federal detention center in the Monvaille area.

Today's unfolding events are eerily similar to those of August 2011, when a terrorist plot in Grassadellia City that was foiled by Crown Police. In that plot, six foreign-born men were arrested after planning to explode bombs on passenger trains and transit buses.

Officials have not confirmed if the men were acting in connection with an international terrorist organization, such as Al Qaeda, but Agent Strawthers said there is "a real possibility" that Al Qaeda or a similar group was involved.

"This could be something that is connected to a militant organization, or it could also just be a home-grown terrorism issue. We don't know yet for certain, but we are equally open to the possibility of either scenario," Strawthers said.

Monvaille's Mayor, Edgar Moreau, briefed reporters Friday afternoon, heralding law enforcement for preventing an attack.

"These men and women (in law enforcement) are the reason we can go about our daily lives and not live in fear, or worry about an attack. They are working 24 hours a day, seven days a week to ensure our safety and freedom," said Moreau.

Lial Governor Todd Pergich also issued a statement, lauding the work of the Crown Police.

"Today is yet another reminder that we live in an unpredictable world, filled with people that do not share our values of life and liberty. I am relieved that this attack was not carried out, and I join all Lialans in thanking the brave members of law enforcement who helped stop this plot in its tracks before it was too late," the governor said.

Collester responded Friday afternoon, saying President Brenton Menuhaeo was "bewildered" by the terrorism plot, but thankful the attack never occurred.

"Once again, Grassadellians stand together against terrorism and violence, and we emphatically declare that we value life and liberty and freedom in this country. We will not live in fear or be silenced by the threat of violence and intimidation," the statement from Collester read.

It's unclear when the suspects will make their first appearance in court, and the Justice Department must first decide if the suspects should be tried in civilian courts or in a military jurisdiction, which is usually used to prosecute "enemies of the state," or terrorists with international ties.

Bartholomew trails likely CNS opponents in polls

BROOKINGS, Biereland--A new poll released Monday cannot be good news for freshman Biereland Governor San Bartholomew (N), who is seeking re-election in 2014.

The Opinion Research poll shows Bartholomew trailing Attorney General Ben Jordan 44% to 56% in a hypothetical match-up.

Brookings Mayor Rich DeFrancesco, who has publicly said he would not run but is said to still be considering a bid, also tops Bartholomew, 45% to 54 percent.

And former Conservative Senator Bob Kozzy of Kensington, who leans more libertarian on many issues, narrowly leads Bartholomew, 49% to 51 percent.

Stuart Goodman, the veteran pollster who conducted the survey for Opinion Research, notes the numbers aren't good for Bartholomew, but it's still early.

"When you're an incumbent and you're running for re-election, you never want to see your numbers dip below 50 percent," said Goodman. "That being said, San Bartholomew still has time to turn around those numbers. We have eighteen months before the next election, and that is an eternity three times over in politics. The tables could very quickly turn in Bartholomew's favor in that long of a time period."

Bartholomew has been struggling in the polls mainly due to the poor economy in Biereland. He campaigned on a theme of fixing the economy and investing in state government after massive cuts during the administration of former Governor Jenny Duschowitz (C), whom Bartholomew defeated in 2010.

The incumbent governor has restored funding to many state agencies, but the economy has yet to make significant improvements. The state's unemployment rate stands at 8% and housing prices have yet to make marked gains.

Bartholomew also picked a fight with the timber and mining industries when he attempted to push strong environmental restrictions through the state legislature. His bill was passed narrowly, but only after being significantly pared down from its original version.

In the process of taking on the timber and mining sectors, Bartholomew not only alienated industry leaders but also took heat from local leaders and citizens in timber counties, particularly in the Upscotch Mountains region along the Biereland-Wellington state border, where timber is the life-blood for local economies.

The first-term Nationalist has focused on other issues too. In July 2011, he delivered on his campaign promise to legalize medical marijuana, something Conservatives bitterly opposed.

Following that legislative victory, Bartholomew recently endorsed a new effort to legalize marijuana for recreational use. Supporters of marijuana reform have drafted a referendum that will appear on the 2014 ballot, if they obtain enough signatures. The proposed law would make the possession of one ounce of marijuana legal for persons 21 and over.

Bartholomew has already thrown his support behind the measure, which would make Biereland the first state in the nation to legalize marijuana, if passed.

Conservatives see Bartholomew as vulnerable, however. With a struggling economy, a contentious social issue (marijuana legalization), and environmental restrictions they say hurt industry and prevent job growth, they believe Bartholomew is beatable in 2014, especially considering Biereland's more conservative political tilt.

Bartholomew won in 2010 in part due to a national anti-CNS mood among voters, but also because he attacked his opponent for presiding over a down-and-out economy--a strategy Conservatives hope to employ to defeat him in 2014.

And they have no shortage of potential candidates.

Front-runner Attorney General Ben Jordan is a hero among the party's base. He has taken a hard-line opposing the federal government and reinforcing state sovereignty. And he has targeted gambling and radical environmentalists in his first term as AG, something that has endeared him to the far-right.

He's been careful not to get too extreme, however. Something the party leadership appreciates, especially in light of Biereland voters' history of electing moderates.

But Jordan is facing strong opposition from former Federal Senator Bob Kozzy, who was defeated in his re-election bid in 2008.

A moderate, Kozzy favors lower taxes, less environmental restrictions, and a stream-lining of state government.

He does agree with Bartholomew on social issues, however. Most notably, he supports the legalization of recreational marijuana and is pro-choice.

The former senator has made his criticism of Ben Jordan loud and clear.

"Ben Jordan is an extreme right-wing, hyper-partisan figure. He's also an establishment figure. He campaigns on the idea of reforming state government and changing Brookings, but he's an insider. He's been in Brookings for years. Do we really think he's going to change the culture of Brookings?" Kozzy said to reporters last week.

Jordan and Kozzy are the only two declared Conservative candidates in the race thus far. Most political observers see Jordan as the more viable candidate, both among CNS primary voters and in the general election.

And then there's Brookings Mayor Rich DeFrancesco, who said back in January he would not run for governor in 2014, but is reportedly reconsidering, according to sources close to him.

Former Governor Jenny Duschowitz, who Bartholomew ousted in 2010, has also publicly declined to run for her old position.

Other prominent Biereland Conservatives, like Dick Klondis, CEO of the Klondis Beer Company; Driscoll Sherber, the former senator who lost re-election in 2010 amid a personal scandal and extramarital affair; and Pete Kolotano, the businessman and brother of former Federal Senator Steve Kolotano (N), could all enter the race, although a run by any of them seems unlikely.

One thing is clear though: San Bartholomew faces a difficult fight for re-election in 2014, no matter which Conservative opponent he faces in the general election.

Party infighting in the Conservative ranks, particularly between the campaigns of Ben Jordan and Bob Kozzy, will only help Bartholomew and damage his opponents. But the incumbent governor has work to do to repair his image with dissatisfied Bierelanders.

"It's not too late for San Bartholomew, not at all," pollster Stuart Goodman says. "But he needs to be at a 55% approval rating at the very minimum to get re-elected. Right now his approval rating is at 37%, and he's trailing all of his likely opponents. That does not bode well for an incumbent."

Mattinow Symphony cellist arrested for fellow musician's murder

MATTINOW, Damoign--The close-knit arts community in Mattinow is mourning the loss of a gifted musician.

Celia Anderson, 62, who played viola in the Mattinow Symphony, was found murdered over the weekend in her suburban Mattinow home.

Police in Randstable, an affluent suburb 10 miles southeast of Mattinow, were called to the home, which lies in a gated community, at 11:57 am Eastern time on Sunday.

A friend became concerned when Anderson did not respond to repeated calls and text messages.

That same friend then drove to Anderson's home and found the victim lying deceased on the dining room floor.

Police are tentatively saying the cause of death was multiple stab wounds, although blunt force trauma and strangulation may have also occurred.

A medical examiner will determine the exact cause of death Wednesday.

Initially, investigators were at a loss identifying possible suspects, as the victim was a beloved musician and upstanding citizen in Mattinow, and had no known enemies.

But upon examining the victim's cell phone and computer, investigators learned that Celia Anderson was actively socializing with men on the dating website eharmony.com.

And police noticed Anderson was also having a relationship with fellow symphony musician, 59-year-old cellist Anthony Zarcoti.

According to police, Anderson and Zarcoti had been dating on-and-off for over two years, and maintained a serious but often strained relationship.

Authorities immediately brought Zarcoti in for questioning. During an eight-hour-long interrogation session, Zarcoti admitted having a romantic relationship with the victim. He also confirmed their relationship was fraught with fighting and arguments, and that the two often "took a break" from seeing each other.

Most shockingly, Zarcoti told police he was at Anderson's home Saturday night before her death.

The two were sharing an "intimate evening" at Anderson's house, he said, which included watching TV, dinner and wine, and sex.

But toward the end of the night, Zarcoti said he and Celia Anderson got in an argument. Money was the subject that triggered the fight, he told police, but the conversation quickly turned to Celia's dating of other men.

Police believe the victim told Zarcoti she was dating other men, which enraged him. They believe he then used a kitchen knife to inflict multiple stab wounds on the victim.

"Anthony Zarcoti has acknowledged that he was at the victim's home on Saturday night. So logically, he is our prime suspect," Randstable Police Chief Ken Emerill told local media at a Tuesday afternoon press conference.

"Furthermore, he has acknowledged that the two of them engaged in a heated argument. That presents a very clear motive and likely was what set Mr Zarcoti off and what triggered him to attack the victim," said Emerill.

Zarcoti has already hired a defense lawyer, Tom Raben, who told the Mattinow Aurora newspaper his client did engage in a verbal argument with the victim the night before she was found murdered, but the argument never turned violent.

"Anthony has been very forthright and forthcoming with the police. He told them openly and honestly that he went over to Celia's house on Saturday night. They had a romantic dinner, some wine, watched television, and had intimate relations with each other. They then began talking and money came up, which started an argument. The subject of Celia's dating life did come up also, which no doubt made Anthony uncomfortable and brought up a lot of emotions for him, and the two had a long discussion about it.

"At no point did this conversation turn violent. Anthony already knew Celia was dating other men. They'd already talked about it, so this was no news to him. But it was a sore subject that he didn't like to talk about. He didn't like hearing about her talking to other men. So he became upset, Celia became upset. And he decided to leave to cool off and diffuse the situation. So he left her house and drove home.

"When he left the home Saturday night, Celia Anderson was alive and well. End of story," said Raben. "She may have been upset emotionally, but she was not physically harmed or ill."

Zarcoti has told investigators he left Celia Anderson's home around 9:30 pm Saturday night.

Police have interviewed neighbors and are examining footage from security cameras to validate Mr Zarcoti's claims, although they believe he is responsible for her death.

"It's very hard for us to imagine another suspect, when we have a man that was having an ongoing, serious relationship with the victim. He was there the night of the murder, he acknowledges getting in a heated argument with the victim. We know he was there, we know he had motive, and we know this was a very violent crime. This was not the type of crime we see in a break-in or home invasion. This was a crime of passion, that happened in the heat of the moment. The person who did this had very serious feelings about the victim and that's very evident in the severity of the wounds the victim suffered," said Chief Emerill.

When asked if police overlooked other possible suspects, the chief gave an emphatic 'no.'

"We approached this with an open mind, objectively, like we always do for any homicide. We know there are a variety of potential suspects, and we looked into those leads. But in this case, the trail has very conclusively led to Mr. Zarcoti. It has happened very quickly, yes I will admit that. But we are extremely confident we have our guy. The evidence is pretty mounting," said Emerill.

Zarcoti was initially released after questioning by police, but he was arrested late Tuesday evening at his Mattinow home without incident.

He is no longer speaking to police, according to his lawyer.

Zarcoti will face a judge Thursday morning.

Everingham County Deputy District Attorney Eric Watson says Zarcoti will be charged with second-degree murder and possibly mutilation, because of the severity of the wounds inflicted on the victim.

Watson told the Aurora in a phone interview Tuesday night that second-degree murder charges are being pursued because police do not believe Zarcoti planned the murder. They believe it was a spontaneous crime committed in-the-heat-of-the-moment rather than a pre-meditated plot.

The victim's family has not spoken to the media and has asked for privacy.

Zarcoti's family has also declined to speak to the media.

Meanwhile, the Mattinow Symphony has released a statement on its Facebook page and website, calling Anderson's death "unimaginably tragic."

"We here at the Mattinow Symphony are so deeply grieved by the loss of our dear friend and colleague Celia Anderson. Celia was a gifted musician and wonderful person, whose warmth, kindness, intelligence, talent and love for others could be seen in everything she did."

The statement went on to say, "We are at a loss for words at the violent manner of her death. We are shocked and hurt beyond belief to learn another one of our employees may be responsible for Celia's death. We will never understand why this happened, but we join the community in seeking answers and finding justice for Celia."

In light of the tragedy, the symphony has cancelled events that were scheduled for this upcoming weekend.

The conductor of the symphony, Ma Hong Hun, told the Aurora the symphony will reconvene its regular schedule next week.

Reflection, rebuilding, and unity major themes at 2013 CAL Conference

BLOMENBURY, Roddenclanshire--It is perhaps the most important weekend of the year in Conservative politics, a sort of star-studded event for the party leaders who seek to shape the future of the CNS.

It's the Conservative Action League's (CAL) annual conference, or often shortened to simply the CAL Conference.

This year's gathering is being held at the Ocean State Convention Center in Blomenbury, Roddenclanshire.

But instead of celebrating an election victory this year, Conservatives gathered Thursday at the start of the three-day event, to reflect on a major defeat in the 2012 elections. The official theme of this year's event is: rebuilding.

The conference opened this morning with National Conservative Party Chairman Paul Ott openly addressing the elephant in the room: the whooping the party took in the last election.

"I'm not going to stand up here and pretend everything is perfect and speak in rosey terms. The fact is, we got trampled in the last election. We got kicked and we took a beating last November," Ott said.

"But we're still alive. We're not dead. We're still in the game. We have a lot of work to do to get back a Conservative majority in Mavocke and in our governorships and statehouses, but we have the strength and fortitude and determination to do it."

At least two dozen Conservative governors, senators, assemblymen, and former candidates will be speaking at varying times over the weekend.

Among the first speakers Thursday afternoon was Ansleigha Senator Jon Ralston, who led the Conservative Senate Campaign Committee during the 2010-2012 term.

Ralston is blamed by many party elites for the drubbing the CNS took in the 2012 Senate elections.

"I know we under-performed in the last election, and I'm here today to take accountability for that, and to seek a new direction for the next election and the elections beyond," Ralston said.

While Ralston never officially apologized or showed regret for the lackluster campaigning conducted under his leadership, he did take responsibility for the party's Senate losses--something his counterpart at the Conservative Governors Association (CGA), former Damoign Governor Sid Hoffa, did not do.

In a rarely-seen display of "tough love," the former Damoign governor said he empathized with those that felt defeated, but had some strong words for those that wanted someone to blame.

"Was this last election disappointing? Yes. Of course it was," said Hoffa.

"But this conference isn't about pointing the finger at one person or a group of people and blaming them for why we lost. We lost for a number of reasons. There wasn't just one reason, there were a variety of factors. There was a perfect storm, of sorts."

Among them, Hoffa argued, were well-funded NAT candidates, an anti-Conservative mood that "infiltrated" the nation, and top-tier candidates that were unwilling to run when approached by Hoffa and other leaders.

Hoffa also suggest that new states that were participating in federal elections for the first time, and newly-drawn electorate boundaries and the new Senate seats and governorships that came along with them, contributed to the strong NAT majority in the Senate and governorships.

There's plenty of blame to go around, Hoffa insisted.

"But this conference is not about pinning the blame on someone. [It's] about identifying why we lost, in an objective, informed and respectful manner, and then identifying, 'how can we avoid these mistakes or these pitfalls or these oversights next time around?' This election is about looking to the future, and not dwelling in the past.

"Because we, the greater Conservative Party, are a team. And if you want to sit on the bench and mope and pout that we got our clocks cleaned last time, then go ahead. If that's your attitude, then you might as well walk out now, because this weekend isn't about moping and pouting. This weekend is about winning the future."

Hoffa received a standing ovation for his lengthy admonition, but many in the CNS still hold him responsible for the party's loss of governors seats, something that will be more of an issue at the upcoming Liberty Conference, to be held in June, which is sponsored by the more far-right Grassadellian Conservative Union.

While many are still lamenting the 2012 defeat, many of the attendees are optimistic about the future.

That was clear as Ansleigha Governor Dale Lindstrom and George Garesby, newly-elected governor of Harvannah, spoke Thursday evening to the general session.

"We are two governors that won in Nationalist states. People keep talking about the Conservative party being dead. It's not dead in Ansleigha or Harvannah," Garesby said to cheers.

Lindstrom said the promise of the Conservative party is in the future generations.

"Young people today are trending more liberal and therefore identify more with the NAT. But young people still believe in Conservative principles of government. I don't believe the youth vote has left the CNS because young people can't identify with our policies. I believe the youth vote has gone to the NAT by default, because the Conservative party has not done a good job of reaching out to youth, talking about issues that are important to them, or shaping our messaging in a way that they can identify with," Lindstrom said.

"We need to give them an option. And we need to show that we are a party of loving, compassionate people that want to embrace diversity and people of other faiths, ethnicities and life backgrounds. We need to re-invent our public image and become the party of 'yes we can' instead of the party of 'no you can't,' which is how young people see us today, said Lindstrom.

And ending party struggles would help bring unity, Veroche Senator Niles Gilcrest told the audience.

"I watched it happen in my very own state. Someone didn't like some of my positions and my votes. And rather than taking it up with me in person and telling me they didn't like what I was doing, they began to tear me down in the media. A full onslaught of demonizing my character and my Conservative credentials," Gilcrest recalled.

"Don't get me wrong, democracy is great and people should have the opportunity to freely contest elections and oppose an incumbent if they disagree with them. But we can disagree without tearing each other down and causing all-out-war in our party. We can have a primary election that is conducted with civility and mutual respect in the midst of differing opinions. And that civility has been lacking lately in intra-party battles across the country. And like Sid Hoffa said, we need to come together as a family. As the Conservative family, and start treating each other with respect, even when we don't agree," Gilcrest said.

"Otherwise, we're only helping the Nationalists win."

The first day of the conference is unlikely to move the more far-right wing of the CNS party, however, as social and libertarian conservatives have largely boycotted the CAL Conference, believing it to be a gimmick of the party establishment.

"The CAL Conference is not about preserving conservative values or standing up for conservatism in this country anymore. It's become more of a circus for the "embrace diversity, embrace progress" faction of the CNS party, and Grassadellians don't want another liberal, progressive, wishy-washy political party. We already have the NAT for that," Assemblyman Tanner Zannie, who represents the seat of Black Forest in Onakiah, told the National Press Federation (NPF).

But those attending the conference were not bothered by right-wing skepticism.

"This isn't about moderate or conservative. It's about coming together and standing for the core principles the Conservative party was founded on," Alisha Johnson, a 48-year-old stay-at-home mom from Lacksburg, Trinton told the NPF. "We do best as a party, as a movement, when we are unified. In order to take back the Assembly and the Senate and the governors seats, we're going to have to be united."

Police apprehend man who shot at school bus

BLIXWELL, Damoign--A downstate Damoign community is breathing a sigh of relief and praising local law enforcement, after police apprehended a man who allegedly shot at a school bus.

The Georgia County Sheriff's Department says a local man was arrested after firing a hunting rifle repeatedly at a school bus that was filled with children.

Emergency dispatchers received a frightened call from the bus driver at 4:11 pm ET, saying an unidentified man had just fired several rounds at the school bus, which had about 15 students on board at the time.

The shooting occurred in a rural wooded area, and the suspect fled the scene after firing at the bus.

The bus driver was able to provide police with a license plate number and a description of the suspect's vehicle, however.

Multiple law enforcement officers immediately swarmed the area, with units from the local sheriff's department and neighbouring communities joining in the search for the suspect.

About a half hour later, police located the suspect's truck, which was empty.

A K-9 unit was called in and tracked the suspect down in a wooded area not far from the vehicle.

Police exercised extreme caution, as the suspect was thought to still be armed.

The man was quickly located by the police dogs, and despite attempts to negotiate a peaceful ending, the man refused to surrender to police. Authorities then released several dogs, who chased the suspect into a seven-foot-deep swamp.

The suspect was then removed from the swamp and taken into custody without incident.

Incredibly, none of the 15 children on-board the bus at the time of the shooting were injured.

"They were clearly shaken up and very upset about what happened, but no one was struck by bullets or debris, and we are very thankful for that," Captain Greg Markey of the Georgia County Sheriff's Department said.

The children were taken to a local hospital for evaluation as a precaution.

The Wood Dale Township School District announced counselors will be on-hand tomorrow at school to help students the students that were involved, and their parents.

The district also applauded the bus driver and the students for their bravery and staying calm.

"The bus driver is a hero for defending the students on board, and of course the kids should be commended for their bravery and for staying calm and collected during what was, no doubt, a very scary situation," Darcy Kaplen, spokeswoman for the district told local media.

Police arrested 22-year-old James Hyman. It's unclear why the man allegedly opened fire, but police alcohol was a factor.

"We're still not exactly sure why the suspect decided to do this, but we do know he was heavily intoxicated and alcohol certainly played a role," Captain Markey said.

Police do believe the man acted alone, and don't believe there is a threat to public safety any longer.

Hyman was booked into the Georgia County Jail on charges of felony aggravated attempted assault, endangering the welfare of a child, intimidation, misuse of a firearm, eluding police and destruction of property.

Hyman will face a judge Thursday morning.

Schueler: Maclan will be 'primary target' in 2014 election

MAVOCKE--After announcing earlier this week that he was switching parties, Conservative-turned-Nationalist Senator Robert Maclan of Armana has left a crowd of angry CNS colleagues in his wake.

And speaking on the STAR network's This Week program, Biereland Senator Jhana Schueler, who is co-chairing the Conservative Senate Campaign Committee (CSCC) for the 2014 cycle, told host Ian Hemming that the CSCC will now make Maclan's seat a "primary target" in the upcoming elections.

Maclan is up for re-election in 2014, and until his party-switching announcement last Tuesday, he was gearing up for re-election as a Conservative.

"We were planning on supporting him fully, financially and with endorsements and resources. But obviously, now, the situation has changed and he has opted to join the other team, and that means we will have to field a candidate of our own and go after that seat just like we would for any other seat we think we can win," Schueler said.

Though his announcement took many by surprise, it's clear Maclan had been planning on switching parties for some time.

The first-term senator, who before entering the Senate, spent decades in the National Assembly as a moderate Conservative, had been mulling a change for some time, he said.

"I've been thinking about this for months, but I finally feel now is the right time," Maclan said at his Tuesday morning press conference.

He switched parties because the "Conservative Party has lost its way on so many issues," he said in part.

"The party has gone so far to the right on social issues, and become so vitriolic toward the president and the other side. Part of that is politics and it does work both ways. But I just feel the party has evolved beyond my comfort level and has moved to a place that I'm just not comfortable with, as far as my beliefs go," he said.

Maclan had been a member of the moderate Conservative group the Sideliners Club since 1994.

There had been speculation in recent months he may switch parties. Last week, that speculation only increased after the Armana senator met three times with Senate Majority Leader John Morandi (N-Lial).

Maclan's announcement angered some, most notably his fellow Armana Conservatives.

"I think it's really, sort of a slap in the face to me and Dana," Armana's senior senator, Chuck Danbury, said, referring to Armana's other Conservative senator, Dana Glow.

Danbury had worked hard to get Maclan elected back in 2008, and he and Glow had worked recently to secure support from party leaders for Maclan's re-election bid.

"We put ourselves out there for Bob [Maclan], and it's just sort of frustrating to see this happen. It's disappointing. But ultimately, it is his choice which party he wants to align with, and Dana [Glow] and I believe in working together with our NAT colleagues, especially those from our state. We believe that our state delegation needs to be firmly united and needs to work together, despite our party differences. We need to put the state of Armana first," Danbury said.

Danbury himself is a member of the Sideliners Club as well. Glow is not a member of the group, but has a moderate voting record in a state that leans nationalist, despite recent victories for Conservatives at the statewide level.

Glow's office released a written statement from the senator, saying he was "surprised" by Maclan's announcement, but that he respects his decision.

"He is within his rights to change parties, and partisan politics should not come before the welfare of the people of Armana or the Grassadellian people," Glow's statement read.

Armana Governor Dale Fulbright (C), who previously served in the Senate, would not comment on the matter.

And most of Armana's congressional delegation remained silent on Maclan's announcement, with the exception of Conservative Assemblyman Jerry Topahane of Lowmist, who told Westernmyer's 930 am NewsTalk program Friday he was "disgusted" by Maclan's decision.

"Quite frankly, to see someone change parties and go to the other side, it really feels like treason. It does happen, but it's never pleasant to watch one of your colleagues, who you've trusted over the years and worked with over the years to accomplish your party's goals, it's never fun to see that person pack their bags, move to the other side, and then trash-talk their former party," said Topahane.

Maclan told the National Press Federation over the weekend that he meant to cause no ill-feelings.

"This was not an act of 'treason,' as some have said. It's not a vindictive move. I'm not trying to rub it in their faces. I just truly believed that I was with the wrong party and I believe the NAT will provide a better home for me," Maclan said in a phone interview.

"As far as what Chuck Danbury says, I think we can still work in a bipartisan fashion for the good of our state. I want to maintain that mutual professionalism and mutual respect and the cohesion we have in Armana's delegation. I want to continue to work with Senator Danbury and Senator Glow and all of the members of Armana's National Assembly delegation. I think our state should come first, not parties or political battles," said Maclan.

Various other Conservatives have voiced their displeasure with Maclan's switch. Deschire Senator Jay Burns, who is the leader of the Senate Conservatives, told the STAR network on Wednesday that he was "disappointed, to say the least."

"Of course I'm disappointed. You never want to lose a member of your team. And you never want to see the other side use a defection as ammunition against you, and I'm sure the NAT will go down that route and try to spin Senator Maclan's defection to their side as some sort of indication the CNS is not strong and is divided and troubled. And that's unfortunate, but it is what it is, and we will move on, and the Senate Conservatives remain a united, strong, resolute group," Burns said.

Maclan's defection to the Nationalist party does not change the balance of power in the Senate, however, since Independent Senator Niles Gilcrest of Veroche re-joined the Conservative party three weeks ago, after switching his affiliation to Independent during the 2010 election, when he lost the CNS primary to a more far-right challenger.

Gilcrest was officially welcomed back into the party at a ceremony on April 10, with Minority Leader Jay Burns officiating.

Gilcrest made the switch back to the Conservative party because he had "always been a Conservative" and just wanted to "feel back at home."

"I didn't change my party wilfully," Gilcrest told the Lanakis Daily News. "I was forced out by a primary challenger. But my heart never left the Conservative party."

Burns welcomed Gilcrest back to the Conservative caucus, and said his leadership, even in the midst of his difficult re-election campaign, was inspiring.

"Thank you for not leaving our party, and leaving your ideals and values during all of that," Burns said to Gilcrest.

The balance of power in the Senate remains firmly in the NAT's favor, with 53 Nationalists and 36 Conservatives. Ansleigha Democratic-Reformist Paul Ludtke and Independent George Reedsworth of Trinton round out the last two seats.

Both Ludtke and Reedsworth are also former Conservatives.

Ludtke left the CNS because of the party's move to the right on social issues, and also condemned the Nationalist party as "nanny-state liberals."

Reedsworth changed his affiliation to Independent after losing the 2010 Senate CNS primary to far-right challenger Randy Kalamaza. Reedsworth ended up winning a three-way race between he, Kalamaza and incumbent Grace Kemp.

After his surprising win in the 2010 race, Reedsworth angered Conservatives by aligning with the NAT instead of the CNS caucus.

Reedsworth made the move after Nationalists offered him a valuable seat on the Senate Defense Committee.

On Friday, Senate Majority Leader John Morandi told The Voice that recent defections from the Conservative party to the NAT are a sign of a "pattern."

"We've had three senators switch parties in the last few years. And all of them said it was because the Conservative party has moved too far to the right on social issues. There is part of a pattern that is emerging in the CNS, and that is a pattern of far-right extremism that is pushing moderate and centrist members out of the fold," Morandi said.

As for Maclan, Morandi is pleased to have him aboard.

"We are very happy to have Senator Maclan join our side. We believe he will make a great NAT senator for the state of Armana."

Wynmyer will not seek Carova governorship

PORT BAY, Carova -- She says she's "honored and humbled" to be considered a candidate in the 2014 Carova governor's race, but former Democratic-Reformist Sen. Julie Wynmyer will not run for the state's top job, she announced Wednesday.

In an interview with the Carova Statesman, Wynmyer said she is flattered that people have asked and urged her to challenge Conservative Gov. Sam Byelle, but she is not interested in the position.

"It's very flattering, but this is not the right time or the right position for me," Wynmyer told reporter Peter Mahern.

"Right now, I'm enjoying spending time with my family and my grandchildren, and I'm finding other ways to serve the people of Carova," Wynmyer said.

Some of Wynmyer's recent activities include being elected President of the Carova Plant Society and gaining a seat on the governing committee of the Folman Group, an advocacy group that seeks to end homelessness in Carova.

Wynmyer even buried the hatchet with former Senate opponent, Nationalist Becki Salmon--whom she ran against in the 2012 election--and Wynmyer is now serving on the board of the pro-environment group Carova Wildscape, which Salmon co-founded.

"We sat down and talked and realized that we don't agree on everything, but we do agree on a lot, and that's something we can unite on and find common ground. We had a great discussion over lunch and she invited me to be apart of her group," Wynmyer said of Salmon.

"I'm very busy, but I'm very happy at this point in my life," Wynmyer told the Statesman. "I'm not going to close the door on politics altogether, but I don't believe the 2014 gubernatorial race is one that I'm interested in."

Wynmyer's pass at the governor's race is good news for both Sam Byelle and the state Nationalist party, as a Wynmer Democratic-Reformist candidacy would have likely resulted in a three-way race, which would expectedly have siphoned votes from both the CNS and the NAT candidates.

But Nationalists still have an uphill climb against Byelle. The first-term governor has healthy approval ratings hovering around 60%, and his populist message resonates with the common-sense voters of the Northern Frontier.

However, some prominent Nationalists are said to be considering a challenge to Byelle. Most notably: Sen. Dan Sallovich, who has openly expressed interest in the governorship.

Lorenzi Mayor Anna Madde-Maas and freshman Attorney General Dan McGregor are also said to be mulling a run.

Former lieutenant governor Carson Latzo, who made a political comeback last year when he was elected to the National Assembly after a 2008 drunken-driving scandal, was considering running for governor, but decided against it.

Latzo is now expected to announce his candidacy for mayor of Carlingford in the November 2013 election.

Last week, uncertainty about Byelle's future reached a climax, after an unnamed source within the governor's office told the Statesman Byelle was going to retire instead of running for a second term.

But Byelle cleared up all doubt over the weekend, when he announced he will seek re-election in the 2014 election.

Three stabbed outside Treeton-area movie theater

HUDSON HEIGHTS, Monomi--Police have a suspect in custody after he reportedly stabbed three people outside a Treeton-area cinema Sunday evening.

It happened at the Carlisle Cinemas in the Dominick's Shopping Centre in Hudson Heights, northeast of Treeton.

Dispatch received the first 911 call at 7:55 pm Western time. A group of bystanders detained the man until police arrived.

One of the victims was seriously wounded and taken to St. Anthony's Medical Center, but is expected to be okay.

The other two victims were taken to the hospital but released.

Police say no motive has been established, but they believe the suspect is mentally ill and not was not taking medication at the time of the attack.

Six Grassadellians injured in Boston Marathon bombing

BOSTON, Massachusetts--The Grassadellian Office of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that six Grassadellian citizens were injured in the bombing terrorist attack at the Boston Marathon on Monday.

The bombing killed three people, and injured more than 180 others, including the six Grassadellians, three of whom were participating in the marathon.

"We have confirmed that six Grassadellians were injured in the blast," Foreign Affairs spokesman Derek Gleason told the National Press Federation (NPF). "One remains in hospital at this point, the other five citizens have been released. None of the Grassadellian victims have life-threatening injuries."

The victims have been identified via social media, after family members and some of the victims themselves posted about the ordeal on Facebook.

"I have been released from the hospital, and am so thankful to be alive, thankful that I was spared," Marc Ganton, 44, of Oak Valley, Wilkonshire wrote on his Facebook page.

Ganton was running the race with close friends Vlad Peeling, 41, of Sun Harbor, Monomi, and Joe Standich, 47, of Lyle Circle, POG.

Ganton suffered a broken leg, after falling in a crowd of panicked onlookers.

Peeling was treated for a fractured wrist, and Standich was treated for minor cuts and bruises.

The other three Grassadellians injured were all treated and released, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). They have not been officially identified by government officials, but the DFA has confirmed the other three victims were not participating in the race.

In all, 53 Grassadellian citizens participated in the marathon, and several hundred attended the event.

"Obviously this is a very tragic situation, that unfolded in Boston, and our hearts go out to all the victims and the families of those killed. But it especially hits home for Grassadellia as well, as many citizens were there participating in this event and were endangered. We're quite fortunate that no Grassadellian citizens were seriously injured," Deputy Secretary of Foreign Affairs Dawnelle Hunter-Garrett told STAR-TV.

President Brenton Menuhaeo condemned the bombings Tuesday morning at a press conference, calling them "an act of cowardice."

"This attack can only be described as an act of cowardice, and Grassadellians are saddened by what happened yesterday in Boston, and we, once again, in the face of tragedy, stand with our American allies and condemn this sort of violence," Menuhaeo said.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Jim McCaren was en route to Israel yesterday, but spoke with reporters when he got off the plane.

"I am bewildered by what happened in Boston, and of course, grieved. Whenever innocent lives are taken in such a horrific way, for no reason, it is unsettling and heart-breaking. And it's important that we support our American friends and show them that Grassadellians are thinking of them at this difficult time," said McCaren.

Senate Majority Leader John Morandi (N-Lial) and Assembly Speaker Charlie O'Neale (C-Lial) issued a joint statement, saying in part, "we strongly condemn violent attacks that target innocent lives," and Grassadellia "stands with the United States to seek and find those responsible, and for justice to be served."