Doug Jones Certified as Winner of U.S. Senate Election
Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill on Thursday certified the election results from the Dec. 12 special U.S. Senate election, naming Democrat Doug Jones the winner over Republican Roy Moore.
Jones defeated Moore by more than 21,000 votes, or 1.6 percentage points. Moore had refused to concede. On Wednesday, he sued to block the certification of Jones as the winner, claiming voter fraud on election day. Moore called for an investigation and another special election. Alabama Circuit Judge Johnny Hardwick on Thursday refused to delay certification, however.
Moore maintained his claims of voter fraud after the certification. “Election fraud experts across the country have agreed that this was a fraudulent election,” he said in a statement.
Merrill said his office reviewed more than 100 reports of voter fraud and had adjudicated more than 60. NPR fact-checked Moore’s claims of voter fraud and found many of them to be false.
Moore’s lawsuit to stop the certification included an affidavit that he took a polygraph test determining allegations of sexual misconduct against him were false. During the campaign, several women accused Moore of inappropriate sexual behavior when they were teens and he was in his 30s.
Jones in a statement following the certification said he is looking forward to getting to work in the new year. “As I said on election night, our victory marks a new chapter for our state and the nation,” he said. “I will be an independent voice and work to find common ground with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to get Washington back on track and fight to make our country a better place for all.”
Jones will be sworn in Jan. 3.
Is all this talk of recession indicators a sign a recession is coming?
For generations, people have looked for small, informal signs that a recession is coming or already here. This phenomenon recently exploded on social media, often in joke form.
Why knowing your neighbors can be an important climate solution
Earthaven Ecovillage fared remarkably well after Hurricane Helene. The community had backup power and water systems, as well as food supplies, but members also knew how to work together in a crisis.
5 dark tales hit shelves this week
Sometimes all it takes to make your day a little brighter is to remind yourself just how dark life can get. Here are four dark novels and a true crime tale.
By removing invasive bullfrogs, scientists help Yosemite’s native turtles recover
The huge amphibians "will literally just feed on anything that fits into their mouth" — including turtle hatchlings. Clearing thousands of frogs from ponds helped other species stage a comeback.
K-pop group BTS set to reunite as two more members complete military service
BTS has been on a break since June 2022 to focus on solo projects and serve in the South Korean military. All of the group's members are scheduled to finish mandatory enlistment by the end of June.
‘Day of the Jackal’ author Frederick Forsyth dies at 86
Born in 1938, Forsyth served as a Royal Air Force pilot before becoming a journalist. He covered the attempted assassination of French President Charles de Gaulle, which inspired The Day of the Jackal.