CO Abortion Ban Fails To Qualify For Ballot

In Colorado, On the same day, an Abortion Rights Initiative Submitted nearly Double the Signatures needed for the November Election.

An Initiative seeking to Ban Abortion will Not appear on Colorado's Ballot in November, after that Campaign Failed to Collect enough Legitimate Signatures to Qualify.

The Campaign behind Initiative 81: Protections for a Living Child, says it collected "tens of thousands of signatures" but fell Short of the 124,238 it needed to turn in by April 18th.

If Approved by Voters, the Ballot Measure would have Banned Abortion at any point after Conception, classifying it as Homicide.

"God gave us a choice between life and death for our state," Faye Barnhart, who Co-led the Campaign, said in a Statement.

"Many didn’t have the faith or vision to see this amazing window of opportunity to lead our state to choose life. We mourn the loss of these children’s lives because we didn’t do everything we could to save them."

The Anti-Abortion Measure's failure, comes on the same day that a Pro-Abortion-Rights Campaign, says it turned in nearly 240,000 Signatures in Support of Ballot Measure, Initiative 89: Right to Abortion.

That Proposal asks Voters to enshrine the Right to Abortion in the State Constitution, and also allow State Funds, including Medicaid and State Employee Health Insurance, to be used to Pay for Abortions.









NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker

NATO Working On More Air Defense Systems For Ukraine

NATO Members are discussing sending some of their Air Defense systems to Ukraine, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in a Press Conference, after the Group of Seven (G7) Foreign Ministers Meeting.

The Event was held amid the upcoming NATO-Ukraine Council Meeting on April 19th. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky, requested the gathering as Russia intensified its Aerial Attacks on Ukrainian Cities, and the Air Defense sSortage became tangible.

Stoltenberg said that NATO is currently working on providing Air Defense systems, including Patriot, SAMP/T, NASAMS, AMRAAM, RST systems.

"The Patriot batteries are critical because they are the most advanced," Stoltenberg stressed, adding that NATO is currently discussing with "some specific countries" the potential supply of this equipment. He added that Allies that do Not provide Ukraine with Air Defense systems will be asked to provide Financial Support.

"Ninety-nine percent of the NATO support has come from NATO allies, but there is a need to do more," Stoltenberg said.

NATO also needs a "more institutionalized and stable" Framework for Assistance to Ukraine, to make it more Organized and Coordinated, He said.

"In the long run, of course, we cannot continue to be in a situation where Russia is outgunning Ukraine in the way they do now. The Russians are shooting and shooting, and Ukrainians have limited resources to shoot back," Stoltenberg said. "So, Ukrainians need more."

According to Zelensky, Ukraine needs 25 Patriots to Protect the Country from Russian Attacks.

As Kyiv ramped up the Calls on Allies to receive more Air Defense systems, Germany announced on April 13th that it would provide Ukraine with an additional Patriot system.

Russia's recent strikes against Ukraine's Energy Infrastructure, destroyed several Thermal Power Plants across the Country, including the Trypillia Plant, the Main Electricity Supplier to Kyiv, Zhytomyr, and Cherkasy Oblasts.









NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker

Trump Faces More Legal Troubles Over Jan. 6

A Federal Judge on Thursday, Denied Trump’s Bid to Pause Three consolidated Civil Cases, stemming from the Jan. 6 Capitol Insurrection, adding to Trump's Legal battles as his New York Criminal Trial starts.

The Lawsuits, brought by a Group of Democrats in Congress and Capitol Police Officers, may Advance, Federal District Court Judge Amit Mehta ruled, Rejecting Trump’s Request for a Stay in the Cases, Pending the Result of a Criminal Election Interference Case, against Him in Washington, D.C.

Plaintiffs in those Suits are seeking to hold Trump Liable for the Jan. 6 Capitol Riots in 2021, and while Trump had previously attempted to have those Cases Thrown-Out, that Bid was also Rejected by a Federal Appeals Court in December, 2023, and again by Mehta in February, 2024, with Mehta Ruling Trump’s Claim of Presidential Immunity was “misleading and wrong as a matter of law.”









NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker

Ukraine Begin Bilateral Security Agreement Negotiations

Ukraine and the Czech Republic, have begun Negotiations on a Draft Bilateral Security Agreement, the Presidential Office said on April 18th.

While waiting for NATO Membership, Kyiv is seeking to Sign similar Agreements with as many of its Western Allies as possible, as it Fights Russia’s full-scale Invasion.

So far, Nine have been Signed with: Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Netherlands, and the U.K.

"The Czech Republic demonstrates continued leadership in supporting Ukraine and encourages other partners to implement bold and important initiatives, including the supply of ammunition to our country," Deputy Head of the Presidential Office Ihor Zhovkva said.

"We also feel the Czech Republic's strong support on the path to Ukraine's future membership in the EU and NATO."

Negotiations with the Czech Republic are being Conducted by a Ukrainian Delegation headed by the Head of the Presidential Office, Andriy Yermak.

The Czech Delegation is Headed by the Director General for Security and Multilateral Issues of the Czech Foreign Ministry, David Konecky.

While the Details of the Agreement with the Czech Republic have yet to be Negotiated, those already Signed are 10-year Deals pledging Billions of Euros in Military Aid and Support.

France, for example, committed to Deliver more Munitions and provide up to $3.2 billion in Military Aid to Ukraine in 2024.

The Czech Republic has become an increasingly Supportive Ally of Ukraine, most recently Initiating a drive for Critically needed Artillery Shells.

Czech President Petr Pavel announced in February, that the Czech Republic had identified 500,000 155mm Shells and 300,000 122mm Shells, outside of Europe that could be Bought and sent to Ukraine, after the necessary Funds were Allocated.

Since then, a Number of Countries, including: Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, and Others, have Contributed Funds to the Initiative.









NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker

NV Supreme Court Ruling On Ghost Guns

Nevada's Supreme Court Upheld a State Ban on Ghost Guns Thursday, overturning a Lower Court's Ruling, that sided with a Gun Manufacturer's Argument that the 2021 Law regulating Firearm Components with No Serial Numbers was too Broad and Unconstitutionally Vague.

The Gun Law had previously been Struck Down by Lyon County District Judge John Schlegelmilch, who Ruled in favor of a Legal Challenge by Nevada-based Gun Manufacturer Polymer80 Inc. that said the Statute was too Vague.

Among other things, Polymer80 argued, Terms such as “Blank,” “Casting,” and “Machined Body” were Not defined, while “Unfinished Frame or Receiver” Failed to specify what a “Finished” Frame or Receiver is.

In upholding the Statute, the Supreme Court said in a Unanimous Decision, that the Language that Lawmakers Approved and then-Gov. Steve Sisolak (D) Signed was “readily” understandable through Ordinary usage and Common understanding.

“The statutes here only regulate conduct involving an object that is intended to ultimately become a firearm,” Chief Justice Lydia Stiglich wrote in the Ruling. “They prohibit acts involving such not-yet-complete firearms that have not been imprinted with a serial number.”

She noted in the Ruling that Polymer80's “own Legal Counsel had written Letters to the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) that included the words ‘Blank,’ ‘Casting,’ and ‘Machined’ in reference to its own products, showing that these terms are commonly understood.”

The fact that the Terms were “generic and broad” does Not make them vague, Stiglich added.

Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford (D), Filed the Appeal on the State's behalf in December 2021, said the Ruling “is a win for public safety and creates sensible, practical measures to protect Nevadans from violent crime.”

“The ban on ‘ghost guns’ is one of the most impactful pieces of legislation that we have seen come through Carson City,” He said in a Statement.









NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker

Senior White House Official Will Serve As European Ambassador

President Biden is tapping a Senior White House Official, to serve as U.S. Ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), a Key Body amid the Ongoing War in Ukraine, and at a time when the U.S. is seeking to Project Confidence about its Support for Ukraine, according to an Announcement from the White House.

Curtis Ried, a Longtime Career Foreign Service Officer, who has served under Two Presidents at the White House, who currently serves as Chief-of-Staff and Counselor of the White House National Security Council.

Ried played a Key Role in Resettling Afghans who Worked for the Federal Government in the U.S, following the Withdrawal from Afghanistan, and was Involved in the Administration’s Strategy related to Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine, and most recently, has taken the Lead in Shoring-Up Humanitarian Aid into Gaza.

Ried also has an Extensive Background in Multilateral Diplomacy, holding positions at the United Nations, among other Diplomatic Assignments.

As Congress grapples with Next Steps on Ukraine Aid, Biden Administration Officials have Warned of the consequences, if Ukraine doesn’t receive billions in additional Funding, citing Losses on the Battlefield and ceding ground to Russia.

In a Wall Street Journal Op-Ed this week, Biden called it a “pivotal moment,” adding that Israel and Ukraine “depend on American assistance, including weaponry” to Defend themselves.

The OSCE is the World’s largest Regional Security Organization, and is made up of 57 Members, including Russia.

Months after Russia invaded Ukraine, an Expert Report from the Organization found “clear patterns” of Violations of International Humanitarian Law by Russian Forces in Ukraine, and detailed numerous Incidents that it says could Constitute War Crimes. Then U.S. Ambassador Michael Carpenter said at the time, the Report documented “the sheer scope of the Russian government’s cruelty.”

Carpenter, who stepped down from the Post earlier this year, now serves as the Senior Director for Europe at the National Security Council.

The move to Nominate Ried comes as the U.S. seeks to Reaffirm Leadership on the World Stage, amid Political wrangling in Washington that’s Stalled Aid to Ukraine.

CIA Director Bill Burns on Thursday, warned that unless the U.S. sends more Military Support, Ukraine could “lose” the War against Russia by the End of the year. But what about All the Support other Countries are giving Unkraine?

It’s unclear, however, when Ried would assume the Post, as the Nomination still needs to work its way through the Senate. He’s expected to Remain in His current Post for now.









NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker

Canada's New Additional Ukraine Support Package

Yuliia Kovaliv, Ukraine’s Ambassador to Canada, has announced an Additional Package of Support for Ukraine from Canada’s Budget for 2024. "We have an additional package of support from Canada in the presented budget for 2024."

Details:

- Budget support in the Amount of about $1.7 billion, of which $1.4 billion has already been Transferred through the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Special Account, with an additional $289 million to be disbursed in the coming months.

- $1.15 billion under a New Five-year Military Assistance Program, in accordance with the Security Agreement Signed in Kyiv on February 24th, 2024.

- $157 million through the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development, to Finance Reconstruction Projects in Ukraine.

- $55 million to Finance Projects under the Program to support Peace and Security in Ukraine, including Humanitarian Mine Clearance.

In addition, Kovaliv said, the Budget states that Canada plans to Cooperate with International Partners and the G7 Countries to bring Russia to Justice, including through the Confiscation of Russian Sovereign Assets.









NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker