Manchin, key Senate swing vote, boosts West Virginia's hopes
Scott Applewhite, File)CHARLESTON, W.Va. โ West Virginia has long proclaimed itself โAlmost Heaven,โ a nod to a song and soaring mountaintop vistas. But Manchin, who grew up in the mountain town of Farmington, has emerged as a key swing vote in a divided Senate. Not since Robert Byrdโs death in 2010 has a senator from West Virginia wielded this much influence. With his centrist instincts in such a red state, Manchin has occasionally been the subject of rumors he'll switch parties. โWe're hoping Senator Manchin remembers that he represents some of the poorest people in this country,โ Kerner said.
The Latest: Lexington police probe slurs at online meeting
___LEXINGTON, Ky. A virtual city council meeting in Kentucky was interrupted Wednesday night by people making racial and homophobic slurs. The Zoom meeting with the Lexington-Fayette Urban County council members was an open forum for the public to discuss police reform. Lexington Vice Mayor Steve Kay said the council was unable to screen the calls Wednesday. The initial complaint alleges Derek Chauvin had his knee on Mr. Floyds neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds in total. Little Rock is banning police from using neck restraints following nationwide protests over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Mayor Frank Scott said Wednesday.