Local News: March 15, 2024

- Ann Coulter to return to Cornell April 16 -

Ann Coulter will speak at Cornell on April 16. Coulter is a controversial right-wing personality and Cornell graduate.  The Cornell Daily Sun reports Coulter has “a long history of making bigoted remarks against minority groups including South Asians, Jews, Muslims and immigrants.” The paper reported earlier this week that the administration invited Coulter to return. In 2021 she came to campus but was taunted off the stage before she could finish her speech. In a separate statement in paper, Provost Michael Kotlikoff said, “there could be few more powerful demonstrations of Cornell’s commitment to free expression than to have Ms. Coulter return to campus and present her views.” The University has declared this year’s theme, “Freedom of Expression.” 

- Federal judge rules Tompkins County sheriff deputy guilty of excessive force in 2019 case -

A Tompkins County deputy sheriff has been found guilty of using excessive force in the wrongful 2019 arrest of a Lansing man. The Ithaca Voice reports a federal judge issued a ruling this week awarding the man $50,000. All charges against the man were dropped in 2019.

- A conservative watchdog group accuses group of illegal donations to Josh Riley and other Democratic candidates -

A conservative watchdog group is accusing an organization of making illegal contributions to seven former Democratic congressional candidates among them is Josh Riley. Riley is running against Republican Marc Molinaro for the 19th congressional seat. The Albany Times Union reports Riley included the $30,000 on his financial disclosure form. He and the six other Democratic candidates are accused of receiving funds after they lost elections in 2022. The Federal Election Commission complaint was filed against The American Mainstream Policy Leadership Institute not the individual candidates. The conservative Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust alleges the funds should have been considered a campaign contribution according to federal election law. Riley did not have an active campaign to contribute to at the time he received the payment.