Almone: China needs to listen to Hong Kong amid unrest

MAVOCKE -- In her first major world crisis as Foreign Secretary, newly-appointed Donna Almone is taking on the Chinese government over unrest in Hong Kong.

A semi-autonomous island territory of China formerly governed by the British, Hong Kongers have long enjoyed more rights than their mainland Chinese counterparts.

But in recent months, the Communist Chinese government has aimed to curtail liberties in the former British colony.

This has led to unrest, with pro-democracy protesters taking to the streets and clashing with pro-national government forces in violent exchanges.

Many Western governments have called on China to find a peaceful resolution, but the Chinese government has dug in its heels and refused to negotiate with dissidents.

"This has been going on for months now, it's beyond time for the Chinese government to listen to Hong Kong citizens and negotiate a compromise in good faith," said Secretary Almone in her first official statement since taking over the state department last month.

Asked about the situation last week, Grassadellian President Jim McCaren agreed with his foreign secretary.

"The Chinese government is finding out that it's very hard to maintain peace and order when you take away peoples' rights," McCaren said.

"Now is the time for the Chinese Communist government to end its crackdown and to begin negotiations so that a peaceful ending can be had in this situation," said McCaren.

China's Ambassador to Grassadellia, Lee Hyung Chi, issued a written statement following Almone and McCaren's comments.

"The China-Hong Kong issue is an internal matter for the Chinese government," said Chi. "This is an issue that does not require outside intervention or commentary from uninvolved parties."

China's government has previously rebuked the Grassadellian government for its criticisms of the Chinese leadership.

Grassadellia's Ambassador to China, William Reel, said Grassadellia is not attempting to intervene in the situation, but is concerned.

"This is a matter for the Chinese government to resolve, and Grassadellia does not want to interfere. But Grassadellia does have a vested interest in peace in Hong Kong, and because of that, we will speak out when we have concerns."

Before she became Foreign Secretary, while running for president, Almone called China's government a group of "bullies" and a "roomful of old men" who have little concern for democratic reform.

Her comments earned strong scorn from China's government, with the state media calling her "a vile woman."

China's government has frequent diplomatic clashes with Western countries, despite being a significant trade partner.

Right now, the Chinese government is in a stand-off with US President Donald Trump over tariffs and trade deficits.

BREAKING: 19 killed at Damoign Comic-Con event

GRASSADELLIA CITY -- The state of Damoign is reeling after a gunman opened fire at the Grassadellia Comic-Con event in Grassadellia City, Saturday evening.

Gun shots suddenly rang out at the nation's largest Comic-Con gathering at 6:01 pm in the Sequester Lane neighborhood in Middleboro, about five miles south-southwest of the city's Central Business District (CBD).

Initial reports from Grassadellia City Metropolitan Police (GCMP) put the death toll at 19, with an unknown number of injured.

GCMP Commissioner Barry Whitemore said the lone suspect was shot and killed by police.

The shooting lasted only about three minutes, with multiple officers firing their weapons at the gunman.

"I can tell you we are confident there was only one suspect, a male, and he was taken down by multiple officers," Whitemore said at a hastily-arranged press conference.

"Active shooter situation in Sequester Lane -- avoid if you can, if in area, stay inside buildings & lock doors," tweeted GCMP as the event unfolded.

The shooting took place outside on Cayhill Street and in street-front businesses, where people rushed inside to take cover, police said.

The Comic-Con event was being held at the Deely Arts Centre, with most festivities taking place inside the building. However, there were many attendees and Comic-Con-related activities taking place out on the street.

"Most of the Comic-Con-goers were not outside on the street, but we're still talking about hundreds or thousands of people walking outside near the entrance, as well as customers of neighboring businesses," Whitemore said.

Nineteen deaths have been confirmed, but that number is likely to rise, Whitemore cautioned.

It's unknown exactly how many people were injured, because Whitemore said police were focused on eliminating the threat.

"In the chaos that unfolded, there were a lot of people injured and GCMP was not able to ascertain an exact number, but we are working on that," said the chief.

No information on the gunman's identity has been released yet, all Whitemore would disclose is the gunman was a male.

Witnesses who survived the shooting described the shooter as a young, white male who did not attempt to hide his identity with a mask or hat.

"He just walked down the street firing his guns," said one woman, who ducked inside a nearby stairwell and prayed for her life.

GCMP confirmed the gunman had more than one gun, but he declined to release more details.

"Right now, we are focused on responding to the victims and containing the scene. Once that has been finished, then we will move on to analysis and getting more details out to the media."

With 19 casualties, it's by far the worst shooting in decades in Grassadellian history.

In 1956, a gunman opened up at an overseas Grassadellian military base, killing 22 people.

It appears this shooting may become the worst on domestic Grassadellian soil.

Grassadellia City Mayor Kellan Kastol was in Tolston at the time of the shooting, over an hour away. He rushed back to attend the press conference.

"Our heart is breaking right now, collectively, as a city," Kastol said, with tears in his eyes.

"This isn't who we are, it isn't fair, and the pain is just very raw right now," he added.

Damoign Governor Jenna Duvan was at the state capitol in Mattinow and flew by helicopter to Middleboro for the press conference.

"'Horrific' -- that is the only way I can describe what happened earlier this evening. Just horrific," she said.

President Jim McCaren held a televised news conference at Collester in Mavocke, thanking the first responders and pledging to act on gun violence.

"This attack happened in Grassadellia City, the heart of our nation. And while Grassadellia Citians feel the pain most directly, the shock and pain reverberates across this country."

"We are so deeply grieved by this heinous attack, and to everyone who is struggling, to every person who was at the Comic-Con or who was in the vicinity, and to every person who lost a loved one, we will do whatever we can to make sure this is the one and only time this horrible violence happens in our country," said McCaren.

Damoign's four senators joined McCaren at the press conference, and all spoke with emotion.

"How many shootings will it take before Conservative lawmakers get a clue and take action on gun violence?" asked Senate Majority Leader Debbie Madronas (N-Damoign).

Senator Deborah Kay, one of the most outspoken anti-gun senators, said she was "appalled" at the scope of the violence.

"I couldn't even bring myself to look at the screen," she said, about watching news coverage of the shooting on her iPhone.

Senator Roman Chatskovy, the only Conservative in Damoign's senate delegation, said he shared in the grief.

"This is our city, it's where many of us grew up, where we went to college, where we started our lives as young adults, hoping to strike it big and make a name for ourselves, and it's a city where millions of people live and work and call home."

"We can't have this in our city. We can't have this in our country. We have to do better," he said, pledging to act on gun control legislation.

Finally, Senator Jean Chaveau, who at age 77 is the dean of Damoign's Senate delegation, saved her harshest words for the gunman.

"I don't even know his name yet, I don't want to know it. Whoever he is, or was, he was a coward, he was filled with hate, he was a low-life scum bag. And he won't be remembered for what he did, he will be remembered for spurring the Congress to finally act on gun legislation," said Chaveau.

Other prominent Damoign politicians and celebrities, many of whom attended the Comic-Con event earlier this weekend, spoke out on the shooting.

"Angry and in shock at what happened in #SequesterLane today," wrote former Grassadellia City Mayor and Damoign Governor Sid Hoffa.

"Please know, to the people of Sequester Lane and GC, we are one city, and no attack can ever defeat us," he added.

"Was just at GC Comic-Con yesterday with my 11 yo son," wrote actor Sean Tweed on Twitter. "Horrified. Simply horrified. Love to all."

Actress April McCabe also attended the Comic-Con on the preceding day.

"My heart is breaking right now," she wrote on her Twitter account. "Literally was just there, so many happy people."

"To see it shattered by something so awful and evil as this just makes me sick to my stomach."

Politicians outside Damoign have widely condemned the shooting, but Conservative lawmakers mostly offered support, thoughts and prayers.

NAT lawmakers were much more vocal about gun control legislation.

"What happened tonight in Middleboro at the Comic-Con is despicable and vile, and Conservative Senators universally condemn this act of terror," wrote Ansleigha Senator Jon Ralston, the Conservative Senate Minority Leader.

Many political leaders labeled the shooting an act of terror, but GCMP Chief Barry Whitemore said it's too early to know if there is a connection to international terrorism or domestic terrorism.

"Did it cause terror? Of course. So in that sense, yes it was definitely an act of terrorism. But does it officially meet the technical definitions that law enforcement uses to classify these events? It's too early for me to speak to that," said Whitemore.

A candlelight vigil is scheduled to be held on Wednesday, August 28 near the crime scene. It is open to the public, and President Jim McCaren will be speaking.

A spokesman for the president said McCaren could visit the city sooner, but has chosen to wait until the public vigil so as not to get in the way of the investigation.

"Frankly, having the president there right after a traumatic event can really be more of a distraction than a help," said spokesman Jared Franks.

An area of about eight square blocks was initially cordoned off by police as they searched the streets near the shooting sight.

Most areas have been re-opened, but Cayhill Street remains closed for one block, as does Underhill Street for two blocks.

The Deely Arts Centre will remain closed until Tuesday, a spokesperson said.

Businesses near the crime scene will remain closed but police have said they will re-open the area as quickly as possible to allow business to return to normal.

Greg Kelley will not run for Damoign governor in 2020

SEXTON, Damoign -- An outspoken liberal politician has announced he will not seek the Damoign governorship in the 2020 election.

State Senator Greg Kelley, a prominent left-wing leader in Damoign politics, was previously considering running for governor in 2020, challenging incumbent NAT Governor Jenna Duvan.

On Tuesday, Kelley said he would ultimately back Duvan in her 2020 bid for re-election.

"Running for governor would not be helpful for the Damoign NAT party. It would create division and it would ultimately help the Conservative party," said Kelley.

"I have some real disagreements with Jenna Duvan, but I would much rather have her as my governor than Sid Hoffa or any Conservative," he added.

Kelley, from Sexton, has been a champion of the working class.

He has been a rarely vocal critic of the governor from her own party.

"I wish Governor Duvan would cut her ties with the big corporations," Kelley said back in May 2019. "We need a governor who is empathetic to low-income and middle-class Damoignites, not the wealthy businesspeople who are wallowing in money."

Kelley's decision to stay out of the governor's race is surely to be good news for the Duvan campaign, which is hoping to avoid a tense primary and intra-party fight before the 2020 election.

The Duvan campaign did not comment on Kelley's announcement, but an advisor to Duvan -- who asked to remain anonymous because they were not permitted to speak about internal campaign rumblings -- said Kelley's decision to back Duvan is welcomed news.

"We need Greg Kelley's endorsement, or at least not his opposition," said the source.

Kelley added that he will push Duvan over the coming months to adopt more progressive positions favored by the party's left-wing.

"I'm still going to lean on her to embrace more progressive policy positions, I'm definitely going to tell her what I think and what policies will be best for Damoignites."

Brumley’s comments about Duvan 'sexist and misogynist,' say Duvan allies

TAMPICO, Damoign -- Allies of Damoign Governor Jenna Duvan are reacting with strong criticism to comments about the governor they say are "sexist."

The brouhaha started when Mattinow businessman John Brumley made a veiled swipe at Duvan in an interview with a local television station.

Duvan, a Nationalist, is running for re-election in 2020. Brumley, also a Nationalist, is considering challenging the governor in the NAT primary election, scheduled for May.

Brumley was asked by Mattinow's 3GBC what qualities Damoign's next governor should have.

"I think we need less vanity," he said of the next governor. "We need someone who isn't so concerned with image and celebrity and someone who is focused on solving problems and governing."

Immediately, Brumley’s comments came under intense scrutiny.

Allies of Duvan, a 39-year-old former model who is known for her sexy fashion choices and her close relationships with celebrities, said the comments were "sexist and misogynist."

"John Brumley is essentially saying the next governor of Damoign needs to be a man," said NAT political activist Evan Buyer, a close friend and associate of Duvan.

"It's unthinkable that in 2019, a candidate for governor in the state of Damoign would make comments so stunningly sexist and anti-woman," said Elena Candela, an advisor to Duvan's campaign on women's reproductive health.

Members of the media chimed in on the controversy also.

Betty MacGlover, a well-known news anchor for the local GBC TV station in Grassadellia City, called Brumley’s remarks "asinine." 

"I find it ironic and sad that in this day and age, women politicians are criticized because they wear fashionable dresses and nice shoes. Somehow that makes them unfit to be elected officials," MacGlover said.

A spokesman for Brumley said the Mattinow businessman was not referring to Duvan's wardrobe when he spoke.

"The line they keep quoting, it was totally taken out of context," said Brumley spokesman Josh Evans. "John was alluding to Governor Duvan's penchant for publicity and fame, not her actual clothing choices."

"It's clear from following the governor's media strategy and her public appearances and social media activism that she is more concerned with projecting a celebrity image. She's more concerned with being popular that being governor. It has nothing to do with what clothing she wears, it has everything to do with persona, attitude and priorities."

Brumley later said, in an off-hand comment to a reporter outside a Mattinow restaurant Tuesday night, that Duvan "can wear whatever she wants."

"If she wants to wear leopard print or tie-dye or whatever, she can wear whatever she wants," said Brumley.

Duvan herself has not commented on Brumley’s criticism.

The governor is widely-known for her stylish clothing.

She frequently dons expensive stiletto shoes and chic, designer-label outfits, including some with low neck lines and skirts above the knees.

Many of her outfits are personally made for her by top-name fashion designers. She is personal friends with many in the fashion industry.

Brumley previously ran against Duvan in the NAT gubernatorial primary in 2016.

After losing to Duvan in the primary, Mr. Brumley endorsed Duvan in her general election race against Conservative Mercer Diego.

"By and large, I think Jenna Duvan has done a great job as governor," Brumley said back in a January 2020 radio interview.

But in recent months, the Mattinow businessman, who made his fortune in the paper pulp industry, has stepped up his criticism of Damoign's first female governor.

In June, he took issue with what he called Duvan's "habit" of picking fights with Conservatives over highly-charged social issues like abortion and immigration.

"In my view, it's better for a governor to focus on economic issues and infrastructure and creating jobs," said Brumley in another radio interview.

Brumley’s more centrist views are often at odds with Duvan's more mainstream NAT positions, and the two have opposite approaches to politics.

Where Ms. Duvan is not afraid of confrontation, Mr. Brumley shies away from it.

But ultimately, Brumley’s more moderate views would be a tough sell to an NAT party base that leans increasingly to the left.

Duvan herself is facing pressure from the party's left wing, with several potential left wing candidates also considering challenging the governor in the 2020 NAT primary.

No polls have conducted yet on the NAT primary election for Damoign governor. But recent polling from The Grassadellia City Times and Dulkalow University have found Duvan leading nearly all potential big-name Conservative rivals.

Only Damoign Assemblywoman Pat Leemore, a moderate Conservative from Arnelleson, tops Duvan in a hypothetical general election match-up.

Leemore ran unsuccessfully for governor in the 2016 Conservative gubernatorial primary election, taking third place.

Ms. Leemore has not said whether she is considering running in 2020, but said she would announce her candidacy by spring if she decides to run.

Other potential Conservative candidates include former Grassadellia City Mayor Sid Hoffa, Assemblyman John DeGallio of Tolston, former National Security Director Robert Austin, and Assemblyman Ron Wilder of Kentwick.

McCaren to nominate Kiesling for Education Secretary

MAVOCKE -- Another former senator may be returning to Mavocke as a member of the president's cabinet.

President Jim McCaren is poised to nominate former POG Sen. Max Kiesling to be his next Education Secretary.

Kiesling, a moderate Nationalist, left the Senate in 2018 to run for POG governor. He lost in the NAT primary to then-POG Attorney General and now-POG Governor Ramon Ramos.

While in the Senate, Kiesling made a reputation for being a consensus builder.

He was well-liked by his colleagues from both parties, and his affable, southern charm won him many friends in the capitol.

But his more conservative positions on certain issues upset liberals.

Kiesling has a mixed record on abortion rights, voting to allow abortion but with restrictions. He also said he is personally opposed to abortion due to his religious faith.

On immigration, he was accepting of refugees but voted for more vetting of immigrants.

And on taxes and business issues, he frequently sided with his CNS colleagues, favoring business-friendly legislation, which earned him many foes in the labor sector.

But his congenial attitude did a lot for him.

The first-term senator negotiated a compromise between the two parties on school funding.

He also secured legislative victories on disability rights and hospital construction.

And he led a Senate delegation and represented Grassadellia's governments to various countries during the breakout of the Syrian Civil War.

But it's education that makes Kiesling an attractive candidate for Education Secretary.

Before he was elected to the Senate, Kiesling served as POG's Secretary of State. He used his office to increase civics education and English language classes for immigrant kids, something no secretary of state had previously done.

Sources inside Collester say President McCaren has a strong relationship with Kiesling and believes the veteran POG politician is well-suited for the job.

He has yet to be formally nominated, but when asked about rumors Kiesling was on the cusp of being nominated, a Collester spokesman declined to deny the rumors.

His prospective nomination has strong support among his former Senate colleagues, however, some have expressed concerns about President McCaren choosing prominent POG politicians to hold high-ranking positions in his cabinet.

Just last month, McCaren nominated former POG Governor Donna Almone to be Foreign Secretary.

POG is the second-most populous state in the nation, and many are concerned its large population and corresponding political clout may be outstripping influence of other states.

"There is a concern when a president only nominates cabinet secretaries from the largest states," said Jeni Onato, President of Grassadellians for Accountability, a Mavocke-based think-tank. "How can people in East Deschire or New Portsmouth feel represented when all of the president's cabinet members are from POG and Damoign, the two largest and most influential states?"

A spokesperson for Collester denied cabinet members have been chosen solely from large, populous states.

"If you look at all of this administration's cabinet members and advisors and appointees, you will see people from all over the country represented. There is no active plan to pack the cabinet with only people from POG," said spokesman Kevin Ranker.

A representative for Kiesling would not comment on the matter.

Since leaving the Senate in 2018, Kiesling has spent most of his time back in Lansdale, but he retains a home in suburban Mavocke, where he stays part-time.

Swollen reservoir forces evacuations in western Veroche

PENDLETON, Veroche -- Authorities in rural western Veroche have evacuated hundreds of people after heavy rains have raised water levels and caused concerns about the stability of an earthen dam.

The Billy Budd Reservoir, southwest of the city of Pendleton, is at dangerously high levels following six inches of rain that fell over the past three days in the region.

The area near the reservoir is rural, but there are still hundreds of homes in the direct vicinity downstream.

The Ebley County Department of Emergency Management and the Veroche Department of Public Lands has evacuated almost 300 people in the area, and Veroche Governor Tom Harper has asked the Civil Guard to bring in sandbags and other reinforcements for the earthen dam.

"Very concerned about the situation in Ebley Co. and other western Veroche communities," Harper tweeted Sunday night. "I've asked @CivilGuard to assist, and will continue to monitor."

However, local officials have criticized Harper for what they call a sluggish response.

"We called the governor's office three days ago and asked for his help, and he only finally called the Civil Guard today," said Ebley County Commissioner Harlan Thomasson.

Harper's office refuted that claim, saying the governor "has been engaged since before the storm hit."

Ebley County is a deeply conservative county, and many residents are not fond of Harper, a Nationalist. Some have suggested the dispute between Harper's office and local officials is politically-motivated.

"He isn't the most popular guy around here, no," said Thomasson. "But the safety of our residents shouldn't be hung up or delayed because he's a liberal and the people here are conservative."

While the political battle continues, residents with homes along the reservoir and the Swan River, which forms the reservoir, are on high alert.

The National Weather Observancy Bureau (NWOB) says it expects the water levels to drop over the next week.

"Every day without rain is good, but the earthen dams are especially vulnerable," NWOB Meteorologist Chad Covington told the GBC.

No rain is forecasted until Saturday.

Long-shot candidates consider primary challenge to Duvan

GRASSADELLIA CITY -- She's widely popular with her party, but Damoign Governor Jenna Duvan (N) may have a primary election on her hands next year, as she runs for re-election.

Earlier this year, Damoignites voted to amend the state's constitution and allow sitting governors to run for re-election. For the last thirty years, governors were barred from running for re-election consecutively.

With the constitutional change in effect, incumbent Governor Duvan is permitted to run for re-election. She announced her intention to run for re-election before the constitutional amendment even passed.

A strong liberal, Duvan is largely popular within her own party. She's strongly pro-choice, has taken a tough-on-crime approach first as attorney general and now as governor, and she has made LGBTQ and immigration issues signature pieces of her agenda.

However, some Nationalists, especially far-left, liberal members of the party, are displeased with the governor.

They feel she is compromised by campaign donations from big corporations. Additionally, Duvan is friends with many prominent celebrities and businesspeople in Damoign and across the country.

These cozy relationships, particularly with business leaders, concern many on the far left, who consider Duvan to be too close with corporate leaders.

Because of this distrust, there have been calls from more progressive Nationalists for someone to challenge Duvan in the 2020 governor's primary election.

Several potential candidates have arisen, though none have officially decided to run.

The most prominent and well-known person is progressive state Senator Greg Kelley of Sexton.

Mr. Kelley has frequently been critical of Duvan for being too weak and timid when dealing with Conservatives.

Over the past week, two other candidates have emerged. Billionaire businessman Bill Bondi, who has donated millions of dollars over the years to progressive candidates and organizations, has expressed interest.

Bondi is founder and owner of Presidio Corp., a conglomeration of numerous successful companies, mostly in real estate. The corporation also includes the upscale Taylor & Kimmitch Furniture company, which has franchises across the country.

Sources close to Bondi say he has uttered frustration with Duvan's "slow-moving" agenda.

Former Tolston Mayor Marty Rafferty, a less wealthy but well-known champion of workers rights, is also interested in running, sources within the state NAT party say.

And businessman John Brumley, who is considerably more moderate and more business-friendly, is also considering running to the right of Duvan and any potential far-left candidates.

There's also former senator Brian Altamont, a Conservative-turned-Nationalist-turned-Independent, who lost re-election by a dismal margin in 2012.

Altamont began as a moderate in the Senate, but over the years, his policy stances became more liberal.

But friends of the former senator say he has his eye on running for mayor of Grassadellia City instead.

The flood of potential challengers from her own party has to be disappointing to the Duvan campaign, but not unexpected.

"Jenna Duvan knew when she announced she was running for re-election, the first governor in 30 years to do so, she knew that would draw challengers from her own party, especially because of how divisive the constitutional amendment process was," Dr. Jordan Gallagher, a political science professor at Dulkalow University, told the GBC.

But out of the rumored challengers thus far, only Bondi is considered a viable candidate, because of his excessive wealth.

And with left-wing voters unhappy with Duvan for being too close to wealthy corporations, Bondi probably wouldn't be a better alternative. In fact, he'd probably be less desirable for those voters.

If Duvan does face a primary challenge from members of her party, she will be the odds-on favorite.

Experts say it's more worthwhile to look at potential Conservative challengers to Duvan.

Recent polling by The Grassadellia City Times and Dulkalow University found that only one hypothetical Conservative candidate would defeat Duvan in a head-to-head match-up.

That candidate is Assemblywoman Pat Leemore, from downstate Damoign.

Leemore is a moderate, and receives strong backing from independent voters and even some Nationalists.

Conservative state Representative Andrew Liang, who is relatively unknown outside his east Grassadellia City district, comes within one percentage point of Duvan, when matched head-to-head.

But other high-profile candidates, including former Governor Sid Hoffa and Assemblymen Ron Wilder and John DeGallio, trail Duvan by seven to eight points.

Dr. Gallagher, the political science professor at Dulkalow, says Duvan has the edge heading into the 2020 elections.

"Right now, she has the advantage. Most of the potential Conservative candidates who are thinking about running against her don't come close to beating her," said Gallagher.

But Duvan's advantage could disappear if an unexpected Conservative or Independent candidate decides to challenge her.

The one person everyone is wondering about is Grassadellia City Mayor Kellan Kastol, who is officially an Independent but could challenge Duvan either as an Independent or a Nationalist.

Kastol is popular and is believed to have set his eyes on higher office. However, the young, handsome mayor previously dated Duvan several years ago, and the two remain (in public) good friends, so it's difficult to imagine the mayor challenging his ex-lover and political ally.

Gallagher says above all, it's way too early to predict which candidate will win the election.

"So much can happen in 15 months. Candidates come, they go, they drop out, scandals happen, sometimes they die, you just never know what will happen."

Senator Brooke Burnstein: 'It's possible to be compassionate and uphold the rules' on immigration

TRIETON, Monomi -- Saying a "voice of reason" was desperately needed in the ongoing and increasingly hostile immigration debate, Monomi Senator Brooke Burnstein spoke out on the hot-button issue in a radio interview over the weekend.

Speaking to Grassadellian Public Radio (GPR), Burnstein said a compromise on immigration is attainable.

"There are a lot of voices drowning out the debate on this topic, but I'm here to tell you, it's possible to be compassionate and uphold the rules," said the freshman Conservative senator.

Burnstein addressed the recent controversy in his home state, in which liberals like Trieton Mayor Felipe De Orondes and Monomi Attorney General John Liu are pushing for looser immigration laws and regulations.

Meanwhile, Monomi's Conservative Governor, Will Huxton, is doing the opposite, vowing to pass stricter regulations.

Burnstein, who was elected to the Senate in 2018 but previously served in the National Assembly for more than a decade.

A notable moderate Conservative senator, he is known to work with Nationalists to achieve compromise legislation.

While generally popular among Monomians, the centrist lawmaker has struggled to win over the far-right party base of the CNS.

However, he defeated right-wing Assemblyman Pete Doonan in the 2018 primary election, and went on to defeat sitting senator Brad Fiodora in the general election.

Immigration was a major issue in his 2018 Senate race, and Burnstein blames national media most for the impasse on immigration reform.

"The media, the national media, not just those in Monomi...the national media have made this issue much more controversial than it ever was or than it ever should be," said Burnstein.

"If we stop arguing and cut the emotional manipulation of the matter out of the equation, if we just look at the facts and at common sense, it's very clear that we can treat people with compassion and kindness but also still have an orderly system that works."

The senator pointed to refugees coming to Grassadellia from war-torn and impoverished countries.

"People that are really desperate...our hearts go out to them. My heart goes out to them. That must be a very terrible position to be in, to be desperate for your family, for your safety and economic livelihood. I get that," he said.

"But at the same time, we have to have rules. We can't have a chaotic system with no rules, or with rules that aren't enforced. We need rules for our national security, we need rules for the logistics of the system, to make sure we have efficiency, and we need rules because we have a lot of people who have followed the system and done the process the way they were supposed to, and they shouldn't be punished for that, they should be rewarded for following the rules."

Asked for specifics, Burnstein said those who are detained at the border for coming illegally or without documentation should be treated with dignity, given adequate housing and food and medical care.

"What we want to avoid is what we've seen in Hungary or now in the United States, where refugees are treated with disdain, and they're put in fenced-off cages, not given adequate food or medical. We don't want that. We need quality housing, good, healthy food and enough to go around, and doctors on sight and social workers. We need to have all the provisions necessary for processing these people and doing a good job."

As for those already in the country illegally?

"I believe they should be offered a path to citizenship if they haven't committed any crimes, or broken any major laws. If they've paid their taxes, if they have a job, if they're contributing to our country and to our community, then yes, I believe they should be allowed to stay. Whether they pay a fine or have some other form of civil penalty, that's up for debate. But we need to make a path forward for these people because there are a lot of them and it's not feasible or humane to round them up and deport them."

Burnstein was emphatic, however, that he supports deporting violent and serious criminals.

"Absolutely. No question. If you are a violent criminal, if you're in a gang, if you commit a serious offense, even if it's not violent, if it's white collar crime. If it's serious, then yes, those people should be deported and prevented from coming back."

The senator's interview with host Bob Engalls was widely publicized across social media and on traditional media outlets.

Already, his pro-compromise stance has attracted stinging criticism from members of the far-right.

"If you rob a bank, the judge doesn't say, 'Well this person was desperate for money, they were really in tough financial straits, so no problem, it's okay, you don't have to go to prison,'" Biereland Senator Brad Bearns (C) said on GNN Monday night, in a mocking criticism of Burnstein's proposals.

"We have laws for a reason. And we expect people to follow them. If you can't follow them, then you don't deserve to be here," Bearns added.

Burnstein's comments received praise from some Nationalists, with Roddenshire Senator Jill Airn (N) calling it "an interesting proposal."

But other Nationalists saw the Monomi senator's ideas as incomplete.

"He said a few good things but he shouldn't have stopped where he did," said Damoign Senator Jean Chaveau. "His plan doesn't go far enough to protect people who came here through no fault of their own. His plan is still punitive and it doesn't do enough to ensure that people are treated fairly and with dignity."

Among his home-state colleagues, Burnstein's comments were greeted by a mixed reception.

Senator Cathy De Beers, a typically party-line Conservative, said Burnstein's ideas were "a good start," while Senator Rill Stevens, a more moderate Conservative, said he "likes the direction Brooke is going" with his proposals.

Monomi's fourth senator, Kerry Paul, made a neutral statement.

"This is a complex issue that needs to be evaluated further and I appreciate my colleague Senator Burnstein's contributions to this discussion."

Immigration divides Monomi's politicians

TRIETON, Mon. -- The mayor of one of the nation's largest cities has instructed his police force not to check immigration status of people detained by police.

Felipe De Orondes, a Nationalist elected in 2017, issued the directive Monday morning.

In a press conference with Trieton Police Chief Gary Rudling, Orondes said immigration status is something local officials should not be concerned with.

"Our local police have far more important things to deal with on a daily basis than checking to see if someone overstayed a VISA or not," De Orondes said.

Another factor that led to the new policy is concern that undocumented residents may feel threatened and targeted by police, and thus less likely to cooperate with police in investigations.

"Very often, police are investigating a murder or a serious crime, and there are people who know information, who would ordinarily come forward, but they're too scared to speak with police because of their immigration status," said De Orondes.

"This leads to a culture of fear and Trietoners don't want our city to be clouded by fear and suspicion," he added.

Rudling said his department would implement the new policy immediately.

"We want all residents of our city, and visitors, to feel safe, to feel comfortable coming to police. Our police department's mission is to protect our community, and if we have certain groups of people who don't feel safe, that's a problem for us," said Rudling.

The controversial policy is not without its critics.

Trieton City Councilman Troy Keeble, an outspoken conservative, ranted against the idea at last week's city council meeting.

"When did it become OK to break the rules and not get punished for it?" Keeble said. "Police are here to enforce the rules, to get the people who break the law off the streets. And now you (Mayor De Orondes) are undermining the ability of our local police to do their job, and you're putting our community at risk."

De Orondes said fears about the new policy are overblown.

"There is a lot of politics going on here with this, and I realize that a lot of people are pushing back. But it comes down to what kind of city do you want to have. Do you want to have a city where people feel safe, where they trust police, where they don't live in the shadows? Or do you want the opposite. Obviously Councilman Keeble wants the opposite. I don't," said the mayor.

In response, Monomi Governor Will Huxton, another hard-line Conservative who has taken a tough stance on illegal immigration, directed the Monomi State Police to continue to check for immigration status when pulling people over for traffic infractions.

"It is imperative that Monomians know that they're government and they're policemen and women are doing their job and protecting our state from people who don't belong here," said Huxton.

Under Huxton's directive, police will not necessarily check immigration status, but they will check drivers license information and identification databases to confirm someone is allowed to be in the country.

If someone is found to have overstayed their foreign VISA, or to have come to the country illegally, Monomi State Police are instructed to inform federal border agents.

A spokesperson for the Monomi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) called Huxton's policy "disgusting."

The MHRC is among several groups who have vowed to fight the new policy in court.

Monomi Attorney General John Liu, also a Nationalist, said his office will join the lawsuit.

Monomi's four senators -- all Conservatives -- have yet to officially comment on the issue, but Senator Kerry Paul said in a statement that "local police should be empowered to do their jobs without larger, over-arching political and culture wars interfering with their work."

Other cities across the country have been considering issuing similar proclamations but Trieton is the first, and most notable, as it the largest Grassadellian city most near the southern border with Tundra.

Data from independent studies, the Royal Guard of the Realm and Department of National Security have shown that nearly 40% of people who enter the country illegally each year do so through the state of Monomi.

The state is ground zero in the illegal immigration debate, with many poor migrants from Tundra and other countries attempting to cross the border in the rural Monomi Desert.

In response to the growing controversy, President Jim McCaren in April asked Congress for funding for 3,000 additional border agents nation-wide, but Congress has not yet acted.

8 year old boy killed after ran over by tractor

HARRISTOWN, March. -- A young boy is dead and a community in mourning after a tragic farming accident Monday in east-central Marchenay.

Cameron Stivens, age 8, was helping his grandfather, Earl Stivens, work in the family's alfalfa fields Monday afternoon when Cameron was somehow ran over by a tractor.

It's unclear exactly what happened, and investigators with the Marchenay Agriculture Safety Commission are investigating, as are local police.

LaGundy County Sheriff Corby Elmo told local media it appears Earl Stivens hopped off the tractor, which was running, to check his baling mechanism. While the tractor was briefly left unattended, somehow it became re-engaged and ran over Cameron, who was standing in the grass in front of the tractor.

"At this point, it appears to be just a terrible accident," Sheriff Elmo said. "We are treating this as an accident, not as a crime scene. Mr. Stivens is devastated and feels awful bad about what happened."

A medevac helicopter was dispatched to the open field where the accident occurred, and Cameron was rushed to Marchenay Children's Hospital in Madagen where he later succumbed to his injuries.

Earl Stivens, age 76, was also taken to the hospital for chest pains and shock.

"This is a well-known family in the local community, they've been farming for generations, and they're just good people. Cameron was an amazing kid, and we would ask people to keep this family in your prayers right now," said Elmo.

Gina Kepsley, a family member, posted a statement from the family on Facebook.

"Cameron was the light of our family, he was a wonderful big brother, a sweet son and a great kid with so much potential. We are so heart-broken and we ask that you pray for Cameron's parents and for Earl also, who feels so guilty and so terrible for what happened," Kepsley said.

A GoFundMe campaign has been created by Kepsley to help pay for funeral costs and medical expenses for Cameron's family.

Almone confirmed for Foreign Secretary by 52-44 vote

MAVOCKE -- The Federal Senate is not normally in session on a late Friday evening.

However, Senate Majority Leader Debbie Madronas (N-Damoign) called a special session of the chamber to vote on President Jim McCaren's nominee for Foreign Secretary.

Two weeks ago, McCaren made waves when he announced former POG Governor Donna Almone as his choice for Foreign Secretary, also called Secretary of State (the two terms are used interchangeably).

Almone is a Conservative, and was McCaren's chief rival in the 2016 presidential election.

McCaren's nomination of Almone was seen as a sort of extension of an olive branch to Almone and her Conservative supporters.

The former governor has strong credentials, but liberal senators opposed her nomination because she is too hawkish in their view.

Meanwhile, hardline Conservatives also opposed Almone, saying she is too weak and passive.

Both liberals and disaffected Conservatives joined in opposition to the former governor but it wasn't enough.

Ms. Almone passed by a vote of 52 to 44, with the tally being confirmed around 9:30 pm Eastern Time.

Collester immediately posted a tweet on the president's official Twitter account, thanking the senators for confirming Almone.

"Big thank you to Senate tonight for confirming a truly qualified & honorable candidate for Foreign Sec., Donna Almone," the tweet said.

Almone is expected to make an official media appearance with President Jim McCaren on Monday. Before that, she will spend much of the weekend at the president's official residence at Collester briefing he and his team on pressing diplomatic situations.

There were mixed feelings among the Senate's ranks following the confirmation.

"This is a solid pick, a solid choice," Sen. Chuck Danbury (C-Armana) told the Mavocke Capitol newspaper.

Onakiah NAT senator Deacon Busby, a leading liberal critic, expressed concern at Almone's confirmation.

"A lot of us are concerned that the president has added a Reagan-like, Thatcher-like conservative hawk to lead foreign policy team. People are wondering, 'Will this lead to another foreign policy blunder? Will it lead to another Iraq, another Vietnam?'"

Far-right Conservative opponents of Almone were equally vocal.

"As far as I'm concerned, this is the end of Donna Almone's career in the Conservative Party," said radio talk show host Bruce Gollum Friday evening following the vote.

The right-wing Conservative senators who voted against Almone included: Brad Bearns and Driscoll Sherber (Bie.), Nancy Lindselli (E. Desch.), Mark Eisinger (Remm.) and Bob Mellon (Wilk.).

Nationalists who crossed over to vote for her included: Ann Kocheni and Dan Sallovich (Carova), Donna Rae Cobb (E. Desch.), Parnell Scott (Kens.), Elizabeth Graham (N. Ceona), Jill Airn (Rodd.), Vic Chambers (S. Ceona), and Jan Van Ness (Wilk.).

Of the four senators from Almone's home state of POG, two voted for here (Conservative Dick Trau and moderate Nationalist George Mercott). The other two, Diane Coke (N) and John Paul Liffrey (N) voted against her confirmation.

Politician admits to soliciting prostitutes, colleague says it's OK if he paid 'living wage'

ELMBROOK, Damoign -- A Grassadellia City councilman has admitted to patronizing prostitutes but won't step down, his office confirmed Tuesday.

Councilman Donald Gibbons, a Nationalist from Elmbrook, a neighborhood in southwest Sexton, admitted in a press conference Tuesday that he has patronized prostitutes in Grassadellia City "on occasion" for "a number of years," though he didn't specify exactly how many.

The admission came after the local alternative newspaper City Underground first reported the allegations last week.

But on Tuesday, Gibbons admitted the allegations were true.

"It's not something I'm proud of. I knew it was wrong, I knew it was illegal, but I did it anyway, I take full responsibility for what I did, and I am coming clean now because I want the public to know that I am taking responsibility and I am making an effort to change," said Gibbons.

Most of Grassadellia City's politicians steered away from the scandal, with many refusing to comment.

However, one of Gibbons' colleagues on the city council, Councilwoman Leann Cormuth of Bennington, Eastholm, defended Gibbons.

"I don't have a problem with it, honestly," Cormuth told Local4 News.

The councilwoman, who is known for her left-wing views, has defended prostitution in the past, saying it's a "business enterprise that women freely enter" and it should not be illegal.

"Why should women be penalized if they are knowingly, willingly, and with full consent, agreeing to a sexual encounter for money. It's just a form of business. It's just a way to make money. If it's done properly, I don't see the harm in it," Cormuth said.

As for Gibbons, Cormuth admitted his illicit activities were "not very smart" for a politician and reflected on the city council poorly.

But she insisted she didn't take issue with men using prostitutes, with two conditions.

"As long as he respected them and paid them a fair, living wage, I'm OK with it. Let's move on to a real problem facing our city other than one man's consensual sexual activities."

Asked how much money would be considered a "living wage," Cormuth said $15 an hour or more.

"Personally, you'd have to pay me a hell of a lot more than $15 an hour to do anything of that nature with that man," she said, causing the small audience of reporters to chuckle.

"But as long as he paid them fairly and treated them with respect, then no big deal."

Grassadellia City Mayor Kellan Kastol was asked about Gibbons' admission during his weekly news conference.

"I think it's disappointing that a member of our city council would engage in this type of activity," Kastol said. "However, I'm not one to judge other people's personal lives, and I know people make mistakes, and I think there needs to be room for forgiveness and growth. But ultimately, I think this is a personal issue between Councilman Gibbons and his family and also his constituents."

Kastol declined to call for his resignation, but said he would resign under similar circumstances.

"If I was the one who had been confirmed visiting prostitutes, I, personally would resign. But that's just me," said the mayor.

Gibbons said he has no plans to step down.

"This is a learning experience, and an opportunity for personal growth and overcoming some personal issues in my life, and I intend to serve out my full term and continue to serve the great people of Sexton and Elmbrook, and also continue to grow personally."

Junes Charmagne tries to lure Damoign businesses north to Lial

CLOTHEN, Lial -- Together, they account for more than 20% of the country's population.

The states of Damoign and Lial are population and economic powerhouses, accounting for a significant chunk of Grassadellia's GDP and economic vitality.

But the two states are now competing openly over business.

On Monday, Junes Charmagne, governor of Lial, launched a marketing campaign aimed at businesses and companies in Damoign.

The $4.1 million ad campaign, which includes television and radio commercials as well as social media ads and traditional advertising, seeks to lure Damoign business owners north to Lial.

In one commercial, Charmagne himself appears in the ad.

"There's a reason people are moving to Lial," says Charmagne. "Maybe it's because of our beautiful four-seasons weather. Maybe it's because we have large cities but plenty of forests, deserts, agriculture and countryside. Maybe it's because we have a more business-friendly tax environment that rewards hard work and innovation."

Another TV advertisement shows a woman squished inside a crowded subway car in Grassadellia City.

"Tired of this?" says a narrator. "Maybe you should move to Lial. It's less crowded, has better air quality, and a better quality of life."

A spokesperson for Charmagne said the ad campaign was the governor's idea.

"Governor Charmagne wants to make Lial more business-friendly with a better tax environment," said spokeswoman Joanna McGable. "This ad campaign is meant to remind business owners and entrepreneurs and companies in Damoign that there are other places you can move your business to. Why not start your business in Monvaille instead? Or in Clothen?"

McGable pointed out Lial is home to many beautiful cities, and at more than twice the land area of Damoign, Lial has more nature and sparsely-populated territory than the nation's most-populous state.

However, Damoign state officials are not happy.

David Heydan, Damoign's secretary of commerce, said the ad campaign is "childish and misleading."

"First of all, really?" Heydan said in an interview with the nation-wide Grass Daily newspaper.

"I mean, this reeks of grammar school playground tactics," Heydan said.

And secondly, he added, the ad campaign doesn't reveal all the facts.

"Yes, Lial is larger in territory and has less people than Damoign, so of course it's going to be less-crowded and have a lower population density than Damoign. But we have nature here too. We have forests and rivers and parks and fields and agriculture too. Lial doesn't have a monopoly on those things. We are blessed with a lot of that here in Damoign."

Furthermore, Heydan and other critics, even in Lial, pointed out that Lial's largest city, Monvaille, doesn't have great air quality either, and is notoriously crowded.

"I hate to tell Junes Charmagne and the folks in Lial, but I've been to Monvaille. Their air isn't crystal-clean there. And their traffic jams are right on-par with what we have here in Damoign. So, I'm not sure they're being completely forthcoming with their clever little ad campaign."

Charmagne's office responded, saying the ad campaign is meant to be "light-hearted."

"We love our friends in Damoign," said McGable. "But we want business owners to know that there are other options. You don't have to be stuck in the Merryton Basin. There are many great places all over this beautiful country to start or expand your business."

Taxes have historically been relatively high in Lial, similar to tax rates in Damoign. But since Charmagne took office in January 2019, he has successfully lowered taxes and created new incentives for business.

"Our message to corporations and business owners is very simple," Charmagne said last month in a speech to the Lial Press Club in Clothen.

"This state has long closed its doors to business. Lial has for too long been a difficult place to start a business. But that's changed. We are open for business now. 'Out' with the old regulations and burdensome taxes, and 'in' with the new tax breaks, incentives and rebates."

"The state of Lial is officially a business-friendly state again," said Charmagne.

His counterpart in Damoign, Nationalist Governor Jenna Duvan, was less than pleased.

"This tax rebate, tax break stuff is just a gimmick," said Duvan during a regular press appearance at her office in Rodditch.

"As governors, we shouldn't be trying to poach businesses from one state to another. We should be supporting companies all over the country."

It's unclear how many businesses have been persuaded to relocate or open up in Lial since the soft launch of the ad campaign back in May.

Liberal senator compares Trump to Hitler

RODDITCH, Damoign -- Once again, US President Donald Trump has come under fire for remarks that have been deemed racist by his opponents and even some allies.

Referring to four minority, Democratic congresswomen who have vocal critics of he and his administration, Trump said they should "go back" to the "crime-infested" countries where they "originally came from" and fix those countries before criticizing the US government.

The comments were aimed at Representatives Rashia Tlaib of Michigan, Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York.

Despite Trump implying the women are immigrants, Tlaib, Pressley and Ocasio-Cortez were all born in the United States. Only Omar is foreign-born, however, after emigrating to the US from Somalia, she became a naturalized citizen.

The comments were assailed by Democrats and even some Republicans.

Allies of the four women, who Trump calls "the squad," have rallied around the women in support.

The women have received support from outside the US as well, with German Chancellor Angela Merkel saying she stood in "solidarity" with them.

And now, a leading Grassadellian politician is jumping in to the controversy.

At a pro-immigration rally in east Middleboro Tuesday, Damoign Senator Deborah Kay, a Nationalist, was asked what she thought of Trump's attack on the women.

The senator, who is known as an outspoken champion of liberal ideals, unleashed on Donald Trump.

"I absolutely stand with them [the congresswomen]," Kay said.

"A lot of people say, 'Well, this happened in the US, so why should we care? It doesn't affect us.' But the truth is, yes, it does matter. It may not be our country, but this is the most influential man in the world, he leads a country that is one of our closest allies, and what he says matters. It reflects on the countries who are partners and allies of the US. And we have to speak out when racism is invoked."

Kay added that the world confronted Nazi Germany in World War II.

"This is no different, except that he hasn't started a war yet. But he has created internment camps, he has deported people with no justification, he has targeted people because of their race, and now he is openly speaking in overtly racist terms. When Hitler did these things, the world confronted him and took him down. And now Trump is doing these things but many people are silent."

"I refuse to be silent. We refuse to be silent," she said, pointing to the crowd. "We have a moral responsibility, even if it's not happening in our own country, we have a moral responsibility to defend the dignity and humanity of every person who is being persecuted by Donald Trump," said Kay.

Kay's remarks took off quickly on social media, with liberal supporters applauding her for her boldness and conservative opponents lambasting her for exaggerating and mischaracterizing.

"I have never been more proud of @SenDeborahKay," said Inzi Ibar, a liberal Pakistani-Grassadellian woman who represents Eastholm on the Grassadellia City Council.

"Deborah Kay is a complete dumb f--k," was one obscene comment from a Conservative commenter on social media.

Conservative Senate Minority Leader Jon Ralston of Ansleigha also criticized Kay's speech at the rally.

"I've come to expect this sort of behavior and extreme, leftist talk from Deborah Kay," Ralston told Radio 1. "Deborah Kay routinely says inflammatory stuff, she regularly inserts herself into political fights that don't concern her."

Conservative radio talk show host Bruce Gollum said "Deborah Kay just loves to hear herself talk."

"She's so desperate for attention, so desperate for publicity, that she will do or say anything to get a headline," said Gollum during his Tuesday afternoon radio broadcast.

Kay responded to her Conservative antagonists.

"If standing up for human rights makes me 'desperate,' then yes, I am 'desperate'," she tweeted Tuesday evening, with the hashtag #SorryNotSorry.

Trump makes America look bad, Brenton Menuhaeo says in newspaper editorial

GRASSADELLIA CITY -- Former Grassadellian President Brenton Menuhaeo is speaking increasingly publicly about his disdain for US President Donald Trump.

Menuhaeo, who left office in 2017 after serving two terms, took to the nation's largest newspaper Tuesday, penning an editorial lambasting Trump.

"There are few world leaders, certainly not in Western, democratic countries, who command such animosity and deserve it," Menuhaeo said in his editorial in The Grassadellia City Times.

Trump "makes America look bad," said Menuhaeo, but most Americans are "wonderful people who believe in equality, tolerance, and diversity."

Menuhaeo left office right as Trump was taking office in Washington, D.C.

The two men never worked together directly, but Menuhaeo's office did work with Trump's briefly after the US election, to ensure a continuation of strong bilateral relations during the transition period.

"My only interaction with him has been observing all of his egregious behavior and comments, like the rest of the world has been subjected to," said Menuhaeo.

The former Grassadellian president continued, accusing Trump of "appealing to the lowest form of politics" and "fanning the flames of fear."

Menuhaeo applauded his successor, Jim McCaren, for taking firm stances against Trump's controversial and temperamental policies.

"Grassadellia should be thankful that we have a president in Collester now who is standing strong on the world stage, who is representing our country with honor and decency. You may not agree with Jim McCaren or his policies, but no one can attack him for the way he represents our country. He does so with honor, integrity and a subtle humility."

McCaren rarely talks about Trump, usually only when he is forced to respond to one of Trump's tweet storms or provocative remarks.

"He basically avoids Donald Trump as much as possible," one Collester aide, who asked to remain anonymous because of media restrictions in the workplace, told the Times.

Collester released an official statement re-affirming US-Grass relations Tuesday, following the publication of Menuhaeo's op-ed.

"President Menuhaeo is entitled to his opinions and expressing them. But President Jim McCaren remains committed to a strong relationship between Grassadellia and our valued ally, the United States of America," the statement read.

In bipartisan gesture, McCaren nominates Almone to be next Foreign Secretary

MAVOCKE -- It's being compared to when US President Barack Obama chose Hillary Clinton to be his Secretary of State back in 2009.

Grassadellian President Jim McCaren has nominated his former Conservative rival, former POG Governor Donna Almone, to be his next Foreign Secretary.

The nomination had been rumored for months, but Collester made a formal announcement yesterday.

Almone narrowly lost to Jim McCaren in the 2016 presidential election, but despite the close race, the former POG governor has remained publicly supportive of McCaren's foreign policy.

"Donna and I have had our differences. We don't always see eye to eye. But she is a good person. She has a heart to serve this country. She's extremely intelligent and capable. I know she will serve our country well," said McCaren at a press conference with Almone.

Almone said she has not always agreed with McCaren's actions.

"But President McCaren won the trust of the Grassadellian people, and he has restored our country's position of influence and leadership in the world. I am excited to be a part of this administration, I'm honored to work for this president, and I'm excited to get to work," said Almone.

She then turned to the president in an unscripted moment and publicly made amends.

"I just want to say Mr. President, there is no animosity over the election. The past is the past, and we're both focused on the future, and I look forward to working for you to accomplish a safer, more peaceful and prosperous world."

Almone now faces confirmation in the Federal Senate, where she is expected to be confirmed, but it could be close.

The moderate Conservative politician, who is somewhat hawkish on foreign policy, is being strongly opposed by far-left liberal senators, who called her a "war monger" for supporting Grassadellian intervention in defeating ISIS in Syria.

"I'm disappointed that President McCaren has nominated someone who is openly advocating warfare to be our next Foreign Secretary," said Trinton Sen. Grace Kemp, upon hearing the announcement of Almone's nomination.

"We expect a progressive president to nominate a progressive Foreign Secretary," said Kalnier Senator Paul LeBouse. "This nomination will receive a strong opposition from the Peace Caucus."

The Peace Caucus is the group of strongly-liberal senators who oppose military intervention of any kind.

Almone enjoys strong support from mainstream Conservatives and centrist Nationalists from conservative states.

"I'm pleased with his pick," South Ceona Sen. Vic Chambers told the National Press Federation (NPF). "Donna Almone is a Conservative, but it doesn't matter what party you're from. If you believe in a strong foreign policy, if you believe that Grassadellia should be one of the leading nations on the international stage, if you believe that Grassadellia shouldn't be bullied by Iranian dictators or North Korean dictators or Venezuelan dictators, then you deserve my support. Donna has mine," Chambers said.

Chambers is a centrist Nationalist who frequently votes with Conservatives on issues pertaining to the military and national security.

However, Almone is also being opposed vehemently by some far-right Conservatives, such as Remmington Senator Mark Eisinger, who says Almone is too liberal.

"She's no different than a liberal Nationalist, in my book," Eisinger told reporters outside his Mavocke office earlier this week.

"We need a strong leader who will stand up to terrorists, who will stand up to Iran and North Korea. We need a strong Foreign Secretary who will stand firmly with Donald Trump and Mike Pompeo," said Biereland Sen. Driscoll Sherber (C), referring to US Secretary of State Pompeo.

There have been rumors that Senate Minority Leader Jon Ralston, a Conservative from Ansleigha, might even vote against Almone.

Ralston is a staunch Conservative who has advocated frequent military intervention across the globe in recent years.

But his office announced Tuesday he would back Almone.

"Is he thrilled with Donna Almone? No, not really. He has disagreed with her sharply over the years," said Ralston's chief of staff Josh Watkins. "But Donna Almone cares about our country, she's very smart, intelligent, and she's a hell of a lot better than some of the Nationalists the president could have picked."

The decision was between Almone and interim Secretary Harold Kasahn, who has served since former Secretary Dawnelle Hunter-Garrett, who was nominated by former President Brenton Menuhaeo, stepped down last year.

Almone has indicated that she will ask Kasahn to stay on, if he's willing.

"I think Interim Secretary Kasahn has done a good job, and I think his skills and experience would continue to be beneficial for the Grassadellian Foreign Office. But he may have other career plans or want to move on, and if so, that's completely understandable and fine. He needs to do what he feels is best for him and his family. But I think he has served our country well and I would see no reason to dismiss him."

The next step in Almone's confirmation process will come next week, when she will testify before the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, chaired by Marchenay Senator Joseph Milhaughly.

If confirmed, Almone will become the second woman to hold the Foreign Affairs Secretary position. The first was Hunter-Garrett, who held the job from 2014-2018.

New Deschire law requires employers to reveal salary or wage in job postings

NORTHBRIDGE, Deschire -- A common frustration job hunters express is employers offering jobs but not disclosing the salary or wage of the position.

Many employers post job openings on websites with a job description, requirements of applicants, and information about their company. But often, the wage or salary of the position is not included in the job posting.

That's soon to change in the state of Deschire, after Governor Jay Burns signed Joint Bill 247 into law Tuesday at the state capitol building in Northbridge.

The Wage Disclosure Act, as JB 247 is officially titled, will require employers who post jobs in the state of Deschire to disclose the salary or wage for every job.

It passed in the Deschire House of Representatives 53-47 and in the Deschire Senate 29-22.

"It's not fair when people who are looking for a job find a job posting on a job board online, but they have no idea how much money the job comes with," Burns said in a press conference after the signing. "Many job applications take an hour or more to fill out. It's not fair to job applicants to ask them to spend an hour or two of their life to apply for a job only to find out the job pays minimum wage or slightly more. That's just not fair."

The bill was created by Nationalist state Senator Naheyna Cohn from Delafield and Conservative Sen. John Raymond from Airfield Downs.

"This is really about fairness to job hunters. People deserve to have as much information as possible when applying for a job. The job market is just that - a market. And job applicants have a right to know what they're applying for," Raymond told the media.

"It's an issue of transparency and consumer rights," Cohn said.

The change will go into effect on January 1, 2020.

There are some exemptions, however.

Many employers pay wage or salary "Depending on Experience," or "DOE."

For those jobs, employers will not have to offer an exact wage or salary, but they will have to offer an income range.

For example, a television station that's hiring a news anchor can still say "salary DOE," but they will have to post a notice that says, "the income range will be between $55,000 to $110,000."

The new law will only apply to disclosing wages or salary. It will not require employers to identify themselves.

Many companies, especially for high-paying jobs, post job announcements online, but they do not reveal the name of their company.

Anonymous job postings are still permitted.

It's not just job postings on the internet either. All job postings, electronic or otherwise, are covered by the new law.

The Deschire Chamber of Commerce, the largest business group in the state, strongly opposed the bill, calling it "an assault on employers' rights." 

Assemblyman Ron Wilder: Donald Trump is 'an idiot,' but shrewd

GRASSADELLIA CITY -- Grassadellian politicians often try to steer away from politics in other countries, so as to avoid causing a diplomatic row.

But at a recent academic forum in Daintree, Damoign, just outside Grassadellia City, Assemblyman Ron Wilder (C) was very frank about his feelings about US President Donald Trump.

"He's an idiot," Wilder said to laughter and applause from the crowd.

"I'd add more descriptive words, but I don't think I'm allowed to say them," he added, to more laughs.

Wilder said he personally "can't stand the man."

But the veteran assemblyman, who is considering a run for Damoign governor in 2020, told the audience that despite Trump's "repulsive personality," the US president should be commended for his shrewdness.

"I don't like him, but whether or not you like him, an objective observer, if we're being really objective and unbiased and we look at what he's done and how he does it, you have to admit, the man is very strategic. He's much smarter than the media and the Democrats give him credit for. He's dumb, but smart, if that makes sense. He's not very bright in some ways, but I think he's much smarter than people think. He's very shrewd.

"He is very good at riling up his base supporters on the right issues at the right times. He's very good at one-liners, very good at attacking and belittling his opponents. He's a very simple communicator, but he's very effective.

"Sometimes, I think career politicians from both parties, they get so used to speaking in political correctness, and they think that if they speak with lots of intellectual words, it will make them sound smarter and people will respond better. But, Trump has demonstrated, that speaking in simplistic terms, specifically avoiding intellectual words, it actually is a better and more effective communications strategy," said Wilder.

Wilder went on to say he disagrees with Trump on many issues in foreign policy, but he appreciates some of Trump's ideas.

"I think he's way too close with Saudi Arabia, I think he's way too close with Russia. I think he's offended so many of America's allies, and relations with many countries are at all-time lows. But, I don't agree with everything he's done with North Korea, but I will say this, he is at least making an effort. Previous presidents, in the USA and here in Grassadellia, have just ignored North Korea, but Trump is actually addressing the issue, so even if you disagree with him, I think you have to give him credit for having the balls to confront something that so many other Western leaders have been too scared to confront."

While he may dislike Donald Trump, Ron Wilder has something in common with The Donald: both men have been the subject of lurid sexual affairs and scandals.

Back in 2010, a one-time extra-marital lover of Wilder's came out publicly with her story of a scandalous affair with the Congressman.

He survived the scandal, however, and continued his career in the National Assembly. He remains married to his wife Cherrie, though Wilder admitted the two were separated for a year.

Wilder was speaking at the Grassadellian Economic Forum at Kinslow University.

Pete Deetch looking at comeback in North Ceona after racist, sexist comments

PARKINS, N. Ceona -- Recent polling shows former Senator and Parkins Mayor Pete Deetch (C) has stagnant popularity in his home state.

Deetch lost re-election to the Federal Senate in 2018, losing to Nationalist political novice Alexis Stotter by a 47%-50% margin.

However, the Conservative firebrand is rumored to be considering a political comeback, either by running for governor in 2020, or by challenging fellow Senators Anthony Campanelli (N) or Ken Estall, who are up for re-election.

It will be a tall order for the 79-year-old Deetch, who was widely condemned after he was recorded making racist and sexist comments to fellow senators and staff members.

One audio recording caught Deetch speaking about a fellow senator's chief of staff, whose name he couldn't remember.

"Oh what's her name? You know the gal I'm talking about. That brown girl with the African hair," Deetch said to one of his colleagues, during a discussion in the Deetch's office.

Deetch was referring to Adani Krishna, who is the chief of staff for Senator Tim Blakewell (N-Trinton).

Krishna has Indian heritage, not African.

And in another incident, Deetch reportedly complained to fellow Senator Allison Sweeten, a Nationalist from East Deschire, that "you god-damn women can't make up your mind," referring to Sweeten and the other female NAT senators, who were undecided on supporting one of Deetch's bills.

In yet another incident, Deetch went on a car ride to the other side of Mavocke with Senator Luke Gymbal (C-Ansleigha). The two senators and one of Gymbal's staff members stopped at a 7-11. Deetch was heard making derogatory comments about the owners of the convenience store.

"Oh they're all (7-11 stores) owned by god-damned Indians and Pakistanis these days, that's not how it used to be when I was a kid," Deetch said.

A Senate ethics investigation found Deetch in violation of Senate decorum, and ruled his behavior was "reprehensible, ignorant and unbecoming of a senator." He was not formally censured, though, or penalized.

Senate Minority Leader Jon Ralston (C-Ans.) said Deetch's "heart-felt apology" was punishment enough.

"Pete said some bad things. We confronted him about it. We told him it's not acceptable from any member of our caucus, he apologized to us, he apologized to those involved, and he promised it wouldn't happen again. The issue is closed as far as I'm concerned," Ralston said, when asked by reporters what internal party consequences Deetch faced.

Senators from both parties condemned Deetch's comments at the time. Debbie Madronas (N-DMG), the top Nationalist in the Senate, said they were "disgusting and embarrassing for the Senate."

Fellow North Ceona Senator Anthony Campanelli (N) said Deetch's words "are despicable, ignorant and elitist," while Elizabeth Graham, also a Nationalist from North Ceona, said she was "deeply disappointed" in Deetch's behavior.

Ken Estall, a fellow Conservative from North Ceona, said Deetch's words "reflect very poorly on North Ceona, and are in stark contrast to the values of acceptance, diversity and tolerance that North Ceonans champion."

But defenders of Deetch, including Nationalist Senator Vic Chambers (S. Ceona), who at 73, is closer in age to Deetch than many of the Senate's younger members, pointed out that Deetch apologized personally to those he insulted.

"I'm not saying what he said was okay, but he met privately with Adani Krishna and apologized. He met with our lady colleagues here in the Senate and apologized to them. And he even drove back to that 7-11 and apologized in person, in public, right in the middle of the store in front of customers and employees, and he apologized to the owners and the employees he offended," said Chambers.

"I think he made a clear effort to make things right and to fix his behavior. People make mistakes, we all say stupid and ignorant things from time to time. Doesn't make it okay, but the important thing is to learn from your mistakes and most importantly to make it right, and Pete did that, so I think we need to give him some credit for that," said Chambers.

During the 2018 campaign, Alexis Stotter and the state's NAT Party hammered Deetch, calling him "xenophobic" and "an old-fashioned racist and misogynist."

"How embarrassing is it for our state, that the dean of our state's Senate delegation, the most prominent person representing our state, a man who is a grandfather and who has many beautiful women and little granddaughters in his family, and who has many colleagues who are wonderful people of color...how embarrassing is it that this is what people see on the news about our state. He's making North Ceona look like a backwards, racist garbage dump. Our state is not that. We are better than that. Pete Deetch should be better than that. We can do better, we must do better," said Stotter during a televised debate.

Deetch apologized to voters during the televised debate, and asked for forgiveness.

"You know, back in my day, people said a lot of things, they used a lot of terms and phrases that now we consider offensive. And they are offensive. I should never have said those things. I said some really stupid things. Sometimes I put my foot in my mouth. Sometimes I speak before I think. Sometimes I let old school thoughts and words come out of my mouth. And I'm very sorry about that. It's not okay. There's no excuse for what I did. It was wrong and I am very sorry to all the people I offended with my words. All I can do is ask for forgiveness and promise to do better, and I have done that many, many times, and I will continue to pledge to improve and be a better person," said Deetch.

His many apologies weren't enough to save him from electoral defeat in the 2018 elections.

But now, the veteran Conservative politician is hoping to make a comeback.

Sources close to Deetch say he has quietly been reaching out to high-ranking Conservatives in the state's CNS Party.

The sources, who asked to remain anonymous because they were not permitted to speak to the media, told GNN that Deetch would prefer to be back in the Senate.

"He loves it there. He loves debating, he loves fighting for North Ceona and opposing the national government. But he also loves the camaraderie and the bipartisan friendships that he made," said one source. "Pete is very conservative. But some of his best friends are Nationalists who are quite liberal. He is set in his ways, he is very opinionated. He'll never convert to the other side. But he has a good heart, despite his rough exterior. And I think people of both parties see that in Mavocke, and he's hoping the people of North Ceona will give him another chance and will look past his flaws and vote him back into the Senate."

The Senate may be his first choice, but Deetch is also considering a run for governor, the sources said.

Current Governor Tom Cozier (C) will step down in 2020 due to term limits, creating an open governors seat.

However, recent poll by the Opinion Research on a hypothetical match up in the 2020 governor's race found Deetch trailing Elizabeth Graham 44% - 54%, and Deetch trailing former state attorney general John Ennis 44% - 53%, respectively.

Opinion Research is currently conducting polling on potential 2020 Senate races, with results expected in the next few weeks.

A spokesman for the former senator declined to comment on Deetch's future plans.

Damoign Nationalists won fight over constitutional amendment, but they lost the messaging war, says top NAT lawmaker

UPTON, Damoign -- The recent, controversial fight over re-election rules for governors has deeply divided the state of Damoign.

Nationalists prevailed in ending a decades-old ban on governors running for re-election consecutively.

Voters approved the NAT-backed measure with 56 percent on Saturday.

But while Nationalists won the battle over term limits, a top Nationalist state lawmaker says his party lost the messaging war on the issue.

"We won, we got what we wanted, but in terms of messaging and public relations, the Conservative Party was more effective than we were. They made their case better. They made stronger arguments. And now they have a potent issue to batter the Nationalists with in the next election," said state Sen. Harold Lambe, who represents northwest Grassadellia City in the state Senate.

Lambe, a moderate Nationalist, said he supported changing the constitution to allow governors to seek consecutive terms. But the way the Nationalist Party went about it was "a public relations nightmare."

"Most people support their position. Most people agree with the Nationalists on this issue. But the way they went about it was not optically very good," Lambe told Michael Micardi on GNN's Awakening A Nation Sunday.

"The NAT won, but people are mad about the way they did it. They went around the rules. They used obscure procedural rules to get what they want. Rather than wait a sufficient amount of time before holding another referendum, they rushed it through, because they knew the longer they waited, the less likely voters would be sympathetic to their arguments. Rather than reach a compromise with Conservatives, they just decided to do what they wanted, even if it was not very popular with the voters. This at-all-costs tactic could very well backfire on us in 2020," said Lambe.

But NAT state chairman Tom Parry disputed Lambe's remarks.

"Our side won with 56 percent of the vote. So, I'm confused why Senator Lambe thinks we lost the messaging war. If we had lost the messaging war, we wouldn't have won with 56 percent. You can't lost the messaging war but win an election, that makes absolutely no sense," Parry told reporters Sunday outside a campaign fundraiser for Damoign Governor Jenna Duvan Sunday in east Middleboro.

Regardless of who won the messaging war, the contentious issue and that NAT's circumvention of conventional legislative rules is bound to come up on the 2020 campaign trail.

In fact, it already has. Immediately after Jenna Duvan spoke at the "Yes" campaign's victory rally in Middleboro Saturday night, several prominent Conservatives, many who are rumored to be considering a challenge to Duvan, posted criticism on social media.

"The Nationalists will have to account for this at the next election," Assemblyman Brandon O'Malley, a Conservative from Oscarville, tweeted.

"I'm disappointed tonight, not so much by the result, but more so by the unfair and shady way the Nationalist Party went about doing it," Assemblyman John DeGallio, C-Columbus, told Grassadellia City news channel TV1.

And Kim Camden, who served as Deputy Secretary of The Treasury in the Dan Byelle Administration, posted on her Facebook page, "This kind of maneuvering and side-stepping by Jenna Duvan is exactly when people hate the Nationalist Party in Damoign."

There was one prominent Conservative voice, however, who voiced approval at the results of Saturday's referendum.

Former Governor Sid Hoffa said changing the law is "common sense," and the issue has been needlessly politicized.

"It's unfortunate that the politics in our state have devolved so much in the past few years, to the point where people are so politicized, so bitterly partisan, that they refuse to evaluate issues objectively. They always look at everything through a partisan point of view, and that's adding to the enmity in our political process," Hoffa said. "It's very sad and unfair to the people of Damoign."