CHARLESTON, W.Va. - West Virginia social-justice groups are decrying a state delegate's participation in the shocking assault on the U.S. Capitol building Wednesday, while Mountain State lawmakers are calling for the delegate's removal from the Legislature.

Wearing a motorcycle helmet and shouting Trump's name, newly elected Del. Derrick Evans - R-Wayne County - recorded his participation with pro-Trump supporters who stormed the Capitol, gaining illegal entry and destroying property.

State House of Delegates Minority Leader Del. Doug Skaff - D-Kanawha County - said House leaders are investigating Evans' actions. He pointed out that wearing a helmet is one of many indicators that Evans was prepared to riot.

"I believe Derrick Evans presents a security issue, a safety issue and a problem within our members," said Skaff. "His conduct is just not to the standards of what a legislator, an elected official of the state of West Virginia, represents. And we will be pushing forward to move him as soon as possible from his position."

Evans posted on Twitter that he was in the nation's capital as "an independent member of the media." As of late yesterday, more than 33,000 people signed a Change.org petition asking the state Legislature to remove Evans from his seat for "going against the Constitution and the rule of law."

Rick Wilson, director of the West Virginia chapter of the American Friends Service Committee, agreed with Skaff that Evans' behavior is unacceptable for a state official. He said participants in the rampage represent the politics of division we've seen over the past four years.

"For years now, people in power have tried to inflame a sense of white grievance and to divide people to create a climate of hatred and scapegoating for their own power and profit," said Wilson. "And this creates a climate conducive to white supremacy and violence."

Evans was sworn into office last month to represent Wayne County. The West Virginia Legislature is set to reconvene for one day next Wednesday before the session starts on February 10.

In a debate in the race for Indiana's next Lieutenant Governor, the candidates clashed over the future of the state.

Micah Beckwith, the Republican candidate, who grew up on his family's dairy farm, emphasized agriculture's critical role in Indiana's economy, unveiling what he called the "Braun Beckwith initiative," aimed at reducing government restrictions on farming. He argued food security is national security, and stressed the need for minimal government interference to help farmers succeed.

"It is so important that Indiana begins to be that number one breadbasket," Beckwith stressed. "For the state, for the nation and for the world."

Terry Goodin, the Democratic candidate, focused on education and rural development, calling for reforms to ensure students graduate prepared for the workforce, military service or higher education.

Goodin, who grew up on a family farm, also pushed for economic revival in rural areas and proposed a fair tax plan to ease the burden on Hoosier families and farmers.

"Folks, we're going to start a revival in rural Indiana, an economic revival," Goodin asserted. "We're going to embark on a huge infrastructure program, where these communities will have the ability -- the revival -- of opportunity, hope and optimism."

Tonya Hudson, the Libertarian candidate, championed smaller government and lower taxes.

Hudson, a real estate broker, advocated for abolishing property taxes and reforming the tax code, highlighting the importance of personal freedom and free-market principles.

"I want to live in a free state," Hudson emphasized. "I want my family, my friends, fellow Hoosiers to have the same freedoms I long for. We need better government, not bigger."


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A Cole County judge ruled Tuesday Missouri voters will decide whether to ban ranked choice voting voting statewide, which could reshape the state's elections.

The means the contentious issue will be on the November ballot, tied to a proposed amendment stating only U.S. citizens can vote. Ranked choice voting is currently used only in the St. Louis area. It allows voters to rank candidates by preference, and ensures a majority winner by redistributing votes from eliminated candidates.

Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft supports the ban.

"I have a pretty sneaky feeling -- and I think I'm right -- that this change has been pushed, not because it's a quote, 'better,' unquote, way to vote, but because it's designed to change the outcome," Ashcroft contended.

Backers of ranked choice voting said people should be given the opportunity to try it. They pointed out it eliminates the need for costly runoff elections and promotes more civil campaigning among candidates.

Jean Dugan, executive director of the League of Women Voters of Missouri, is a proponent. She said there is a growing interest in ranked choice voting, not only in Missouri but around the country.

"The St. Louis League worked to get approval voting in the city of St. Louis, and it's working very well there," Dugan noted. "But other communities might want to try it, too."

Ranked choice voting is now used in more than 50 cities, in 14 states. Ashcroft maintained those who want to use it in Missouri have been unable to attain victory for their issue or their candidate and so have decided to "change the rules." Missouri voters will have the final say on Nov. 5.

Support for this reporting was provided by The Carnegie Corporation of New York.


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Native voting-rights advocates contend two Arizona laws have made it more difficult for Native American voters to be civically engaged, despite already existing structural barriers.

Patty Ferguson-Bohnee, director of the Indian Legal Clinic at Arizona State University, said House Bill 2492 and House Bill 2243 will unfairly impact native voters.

House Bill 2492 said voters must present evidence of a physical mailing address, which Ferguson-Bohnee pointed out will present problems for many native people who simply do not have one. House Bill 2243 requires county recorders to terminate a voter's registration if they suspect someone is not a U.S. citizen. The pieces of legislation are being challenged in court but Ferguson-Bohnee argued education and outreach are also key.

"Trying to translate to tribal people in their own terms, in their own communities, why it's important to participate in voting can already be a challenge when you're dealing with a legal infrastructure that has tried to deny your existence," Ferguson-Bohnee asserted.

Just last month the U.S. House of Representatives released a report examining barriers and providing policy solutions, including the Native American Voting Rights Act, which would establish "consistent standards" for voting throughout Indian Country.

Ferguson-Bohnee encouraged all voters to participate in elections. For native people experiencing difficulties registering to vote or having problems on Election Day, she urged them to call the Election Protection Hotline at 866-687-8683.

Ferguson-Bohnee emphasized when it comes to Native American voting, there have been steps forward and then backward. Despite President Joe Biden having selected Deb Haaland to serve as the U.S. Secretary of the Interior, many still feel voiceless and lack confidence in Washington D.C. leaders.

"There is some feeling within Indian Country and among some Native people is, 'Why should I be participating in this process?'" Ferguson-Bohnee observed. "But when you recognize that people who are elected actually have touch pointed in your everyday life, even if you're in a remote location, because of this federal trust relationship."

Ferguson-Bohnee added realities on reservations are often very different from off the reservation and contended it should be taken into account by elected officials when creating policy affecting the entire state of Arizona.


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