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Looking back at Ashley All-Stars’ memorable run to 1967 national tournament

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NBC hits Luzerne County diner for feedback on Trump’s first six months

<p><strong>Renominate Obama pick for Third Circuit</strong></p><p>Last month, the Trump administration decided to stay the course and nominate another white man for the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, a seat soon to be vacated due to the retirement of former Pennsylvania first lady, Marjorie Rendell.</p><p>Even with Rendell on the bench, Pennsylvania has the second-worst gender imbalance of all the federal courts in the nation at 17 percent.</p><p>U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Zionsville, blocked former President Barack Obama&#8217;s nominee to replace Rendell, Rebecca Haywood, when Toomey refused to submit his home-state blue slip, allowing for a judicial hearing for Haywood.</p><p>For nearly a year, Haywood, an African-American and highly qualified assistant U.S. attorney from western Pennsylvania, waited for the opportunity to have a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. Under the guidance and obstruction of U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, several of Obama&#8217;s nominees were stalled. Haywood&#8217;s nomination ultimately expired in January 2017, and the court continues to lack gender diversity and the perspective of an African-American woman on its bench.</p><p>I&#8217;m sure Toomey will vote the party line and support the current nomination of the Heritage Foundation-approved nominee, University of Pennsylvania criminal law professor Stephanos Bibas, to fill the seat. And with Bibas&#8217; nomination, the Third Circuit in Pennsylvania will continue to rank among the worst gender-balanced courts of appeals in the nation. There&#8217;s still a second opening on the Third Circuit. Toomey and Casey should renominate Rebecca Haywood.</p><p><strong>Kadida Kenner</strong></p><p>Campaign Manager for Why Courts Matter &#8211; PA</p><p>Harrisburg</p><style>
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