UPDATE: Donald Trump was officially named as the winner of the 2024 presidential election at the certification in Congress.
The count went smoothly and was finished in less than an hour.
ORIGINAL:
Congress is set to convene this afternoon to count electoral votes and formally cement President-elect Donald Trump as the winner of the 2024 presidential election.
Proceedings are scheduled to take place at 1 p.m. Eastern time.
Vice President Kamala Harris, who lost to Trump in November, will preside over the joint session of Congress in her role as president of the Senate.
Harris will open certificates of electoral votes from each state in alphabetical order and hand papers to tellers to be read aloud. After the certificates are read, Harris will call for any objections. An objection must be made in writing and be signed by at least one-fifth of the House and Senate and list the grounds for objection. They would have to be sustained by both chambers. No Democrats have said they plan to object.
Congress will then count the votes, and Harris will announce the result to be entered into the Journal of the House and Senate.
Harris joins a short list of other vice presidents to oversee the confirmation of their opposing candidate’s presidential win.
Richard Nixon did it after losing to John F. Kennedy in 1960. Al Gore followed suit when the U.S. Supreme Court tipped the 2000 election to George W. Bush.
A huge winter storm is battering the country with heavy snowfall, possibly impeding some lawmakers’ ability to reach the capital in time for the certification. Five inches of snow was dumped on D.C., and government offices are closed, but the certification is set to continue.
Ruben Ortiz was last seen on January 1 outside his residence, near the 1200 block of Fairlane Drive in Dothan. He was last seen wearing glasses, a blue hoodie, blue jeans and gray tennis shoes. He has a speech impediment and a learning disability.
If you’ve seen him, or you have information on his whereabouts, call the Dothan Police Department at 334-793-0215 or 334-615-3632.
UPDATE: Stewart has been located.
Dierra Chantel Stewart was last seen on January 3 at 280 Crossing Lane in Dothan. She left the apartment complex with an unknown black male around 8:30 p.m. and has not been seen since. She does not have any known method of transportation. She is 29 years old, 5’5 and around 205 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. It’s unknown what she was wearing when she went missing.
Some big changes are coming to the weather in the next 24 hours.
Sunday night will see rain, then at midnight temperatures will drop 30 degrees before noon Monday.
Expect several nights of freezing temperatures this week from the mid-20s to the 30s with some wind gusts, and wind chills may make it feel like it’s below 20 degrees.
The National Weather Service says Wednesday could see a Hard Freeze Warning.
Ahead of cold weather, remember to prepare by protecting the 4 P’s: people, pets, pipes, and plants.
Have blankets and warm clothing ready. Make sure to dress children going to school this week in warm clothing. Check on neighbors who may not have good heating systems. If you use space heaters, plug them directly into a wall, not into an extension cord. Do not leave them on overnight.
Bring outdoor pets inside. You can also create shelters for outdoor pets.
Remember to drip faucets. Moving water helps protect pipes from freezing.
Bring plants which could be killed by low temperatures inside, or use tarps or another covering to protect plants which can’t be moved. Use extra mulch to protect the roots.
How Linda Stewart spoke from the grave, reminding friends and family she loved them
Her heart raced as she opened the Christmas card.
It was Dec. 23, 2024, when Janice Miller recognized the return address. “I broke down,” Janice told me. “Linda had been gone for eight months, but she found a way to speak to me from the grave.
GORDON: 9:53 PM Houston County 911 dispatched a structure fire at 2991 S. Springhill Road in Gordon.
At the time of dispatch Houston County 911 reported the structure is fully involved in fire.
Dispatched to the scene, Ashford Rescue, Gordon Volunteer Fire, Lucy Volunteer Fire, Pansey Volunteer Fire, Ashford Volunteer Fire and Cottonwood Volunteer Fire.
The closest fire hyrdrant to this location is 3 miles from the scene. So water will be an issue in fighting this structure fire when at the time of dispatch was advised “fully involved”.
10:01 PM Houston County 911 advised responding fire units “no fire hydrants in the area”. Former D2 Houston County Commissioner Doug Sinquefield and former Dothan – Houston County Emergency Management Director Chris Judah did their best in attempting to get some fire hyrdrants in the area but was unsuccessful. The current Houston County Commissioners has done NOTHING to attempt to get fire hydrants in this area.
10:03 PM Lucy Volunteer Fireman is on the scene and reports the structure is completely on the ground at this time. Lucy cancelled Ashford Volunteer Fire and Cottonwood Volunteer Fire because the structure is completely gone on arrival of the scene.
Houston County Sheriff Deputies responded to the structure fire.
10:08 PM Gordon Volunteer Fire Engine and Chief Justin McAllister is on the scene.
