10-15: California GOP says it won’t remove unofficial ballot boxes; U.S. College Enrollment in Steep Decline; community colleges particularly worrisome

Lily Elsie (1886-1962)

✅County Political Parties as Money Laundering Vehicles for Politicians 

—Voice of OC 

     A new money laundering investigation in Orange County is highlighting a statewide pattern of county political parties acting as money conduits to candidates, in ways that have led to multiple fines for concealing the true source of money and evading contribution limits. 

     Earlier this month, state authorities launched a probe into Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do and the Orange County Republican Party, focusing on whether they illegally steered over $22,000 last month to Do’s campaign through the Orange County Republican Party without disclosing the true source. 

. . . 

     Political parties aren’t subject to the contribution limits that candidates are, and they generally can donate unlimited amounts directly to the campaign of a state candidate. But they can’t be used to launder specific contributions – known as earmarking – while hiding the original source of money. 

     That’s where county-level parties have gotten in trouble. 

. . . 

     “It’s nothing new to try to avoid limits by earmarking money…by laundering it through another committee,” said Jessica Levinson, a professor at Loyola Law School who specializes in election law. 

     “I think what it comes down to is it’s an illegal end run around limitations. And the limitations are there to prevent actual corruption, the appearance of corruption, and to provide the public with the information about the funds used to support candidates, so that they can make an informed decision,” she added. 

     “I think it’s a really tempting way for actors to try and essentially wash money through the system and get it to the [candidate] that they really want to support.” 

     It’s not a subject party officials are eager to talk about. The chairs of Orange County’s Republican and Democratic parties didn’t return phone messages seeking comment, nor did the state-level parties…. 

✅California GOP: Ballot box strategy is bigger than previously reported 

Republicans have removed "official" labels from boxes but say they'll continue using them, even as a state-mandated deadline to stop approaches. 

—OC Reg 

✅Even in places where most voters use mail ballots, Democrats are already voting more heavily

—WashPo

✅More than 1 million California ballots already cast, shattering records -- Election day is more than two weeks away, but more than 1 million Californians have already returned their mail-in ballots, according to the state, an amount that marks the most ballots collected by mail at this point in any state election. Matt Stiles in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/15/20 

✅Napa County sheriff’s video shows deputy fatally shoot unarmed man during traffic stop -- Authorities in Napa County released video on Wednesday showing a deputy fatally shoot a man who was unarmed — but whom authorities said ignored commands and “aggressively” approached the sheriff’s deputy with his arm behind his back. Michael Williams in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 10/15/20 

✅Up to 1 million California students may still lack connectivity during distance learning -- Nearly two months into the school year, hundreds of thousands of California students are still without internet access at home needed to connect to teachers and peers during distance learning. Sydney Johnson EdSource -- 10/15/20 

✅Famed Navy SEAL pushes back after Trump amplifies baseless bin Laden conspiracy theory -- The former Navy SEAL known for his role in the operation that killed Osama bin Laden is pushing back after President Donald Trump amplified conspiracy theories that the terrorist leader's death was a hoax. Connor O'Brien Politico -- 10/15/20 

✅Millions of workers face jobless benefits cliff with lifeline set to expire -- A failure by Congress to enact a new economic relief package would prolong the pain of the coronavirus crisis for many Americans, but those without jobs face a special threat — millions could run out of unemployment benefits altogether by the end of the year. Eleanor Mueller and Rebecca Rainey Politico -- 10/15/20 

✅Report: Enrollment Continues to Trend Downward 

Several concerning enrollment trends are holding strong as the latest, and more comprehensive, data show. Experts and advocates are particularly worried about community colleges. 

—Inside Higher Ed 

✅Ithaca Announces Sweeping Faculty Cuts 

Saying the coronavirus accelerated an ongoing need to rightsize its faculty, college plans to eliminate 130 full-time teaching jobs 

—Inside Higher Ed 

✅ACT and SAT Scores Drop 

Declines come in a year in which it has become difficult to take either test. Gaps grow for minority groups except Asians. 

—Inside Higher Ed 

✅Occidental College Discontinues Football Team 

Occidental College, a liberal arts college in Los Angeles, will discontinue its football program due to ongoing funding and recruitment problems and financial pressures created by the coronavirus pandemic, college officials announced this week. 

—Inside Higher Ed 

✅What’s at Stake for Higher Ed in the Election? 

—CHE 

✅U.S. College Enrollment in Steep Decline, Survey Shows 

Freshman enrollment has dropped 16 percent at colleges 

—NYT

✅OC Covid numbers: 31 new dead reported