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RFK Jr. threatens to sue Nevada over ballot access
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is threatening legal action against Nevada over his petition to appear on the ballot as an independent candidate, his campaign said Monday, after CBS News reported that the signatures he had gathered could be invalid because his petition did not include a vice presidential candidate.
The Kennedy campaign claimed that the Democratic Party invented a new rule to invalidate his Nevada signatures. But Nevada’s requirement for a vice presidential candidate to be named in an independent candidate’s petition has been on the books since 1993.
“After successfully collecting all of the signatures we need in Nevada, the DNC Goon Squad and their lackeys in the Nevada Secretary of State’s office are outright inventing a new requirement for the petition with zero legal basis,” said Kennedy ballot access attorney Paul Rossi. “The Nevada statute does not require the VP on the petition. The petition does not even have a field for a VP on it.”
“This corrupt attempt by the Nevada Secretary of State must be enjoined by a federal judge,” Rossi said. “The Kennedy campaign intends to depose the Secretary of State to find out exactly which White House or DNC official concocted this scheme.”
Rossi also linked to an email exchange on Nov. 14 between the campaign and the secretary of state’s office in which the office erroneously said the petition did not require a named running mate.
“Does the vice presidential candidate have to be listed on the petition forms,” a Kennedy ballot access manager asked in the email. “No,” the office staffer replied, referring the campaign to the petition format on page 5 of the state’s petition guide. Rossi also linked to Jan. 9 correspondence from the secretary of state’s office approving Kennedy’s petition.
This differs from Nevada statutes, which say that in an independent candidate’s petition of candidacy, “the person must also designate a nominee for Vice President.”
Documents requested from the Nevada office revealed that Kennedy only named himself, without a running mate, on his candidate petition, in violation of the rules, potentially making the signatures collected in the state void.
The secretary of state’s office acknowledged its staff had misinformed Kennedy.
“Earlier today it was brought to the attention of our office that a Secretary of State employee had provided inaccurate guidance to an independent presidential campaign. This was an error, and will be handled appropriately. In no way was the initial error or subsequent statutory guidance made with intent to benefit or harm any political party or candidate for office,” the office said in a statement to CBS News.
But the office also said that despite the error, it was up to Kennedy’s campaign to follow the statute.
“When a government agency communicates with a member of the public and gives an unclear or incorrect answer to a question, Nevada courts have been clear that the agency is not permitted to honor the employee’s statements if following those statement[s] would be in conflict with the law,” the office said.
Kennedy is so far on the ballot only in Utah, although his campaign says it has collected enough signatures to qualify for the ballot in several other states. Kennedy plans to name his running mate Tuesday, in Oakland.
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Williams Sonoma
If you’re seeking restaurant-style nugget ice or just a way to make ice quickly for parties, a countertop ice maker may be right for you and your kitchen. They’re a great option if your refrigerator doesn’t have a built-in ice maker.
When shopping for a countertop ice maker, consider how much ice it can make per day, plus what types of ice it makes. When it comes to technology, some ice makers keep it simple, while others can be controlled through your smartphone. And consider how you would like to refill your ice maker. Some ice makers must be manually refilled while others come with an inlet hose.
Ahead we’ve rounded up the best countertop ice makers from GE, Frigidaire, Igloo and more brands. Say goodbye to smelly, freezer-burned ice from your ice cube tray with one of the appliances ahead. They make fresh ice much faster than your standard ice tray in the freezer.
Best ice makers of 2024
All of the options below have a 4.0 or higher review score.
Most popular ice maker: Silonn countertop ice maker
Amazon
This No. 1 bestseller on Amazon takes just six minutes to make nine bullet-shaped ice cubes and can make 26 pounds of fresh ice in just 24 hours. The Silonn countertop ice maker has more than 27,000 reviews and a 4.4-star rating.
This countertop ice maker is self-cleaning and comes with an ice scoop. It can make two sizes of bullet ice. Find the Silonn countertop ice maker in eight colors at varying prices.
This 4.4-star-rated ice maker is currently on sale at Amazon with an instant coupon.
Best splurge ice maker: GE Profile Opal 2.0 nugget ice maker with Wi-Fi
Williams Sonoma
There’s ice and then there’s nugget ice. Nugget ice is the soft, easy-to-crunch ice that’s used in some of your favorite fast food drinks. Because there’s trapped air, nugget ice lasts longer in drinks. Its softer texture, meanwhile, makes it ideal for use in summery blended drinks.
This splurge-worthy ice maker from GE is available in two colors, with the more budget-friendly option being stainless steel. You can request fresh ice from your smartphone, Alexa or Google Assistant and have it ready in 20 minutes. It makes up to 24 pounds of ice a day and comes with a scoop.
It’s rated 4.3 stars and currently on sale for $480 at Williams Somnoma.
Best budget ice maker: Countertop ice maker
Amazon
This bullet ice maker with a handle is your most affordable option and still makes up to 26 pounds of ice in 24 hours. It can make nine ice cubes in as little as six minutes. This budget-friendly ice maker has won the hearts of many reviewers, with a 4.5-star rating on Amazon.
We like that this model is self-cleaning. It comes with an ice scoop. Choose between five color options.
This 4.5-star-rated ice maker is currently on sale for $80 with an instant coupon.
Best value ice maker: Frigidaire ice maker
Amazon
This more affordable Frigidaire ice maker makes two sizes of ice. It can produce up to 26 pounds of ice per day, with the first batch ready in as little as six minutes.
“It’s cool because if you just need some ice for a small party, you can make enough within about 20 minutes,” an Amazon reviewer says. “[This machine is] also very beautiful.”
Find this ice maker in four colors. It comes with a scoop and is rated 4.5 stars.
Best ice maker for bullet ice: Kissair countertop ice maker
Walmart
This affordable ice maker with a handle makes up to 26 pounds of bullet-shaped ice. It can have nine bullet-shaped ice cubes ready in as little as six minutes.
This portable ice maker is self-cleaning and comes with an ice scoop. Its handle makes it easy to transport. It’s rated 4.5 stars, comes in five colors and is currently discounted $72 at Walmart.
Most stylish ice maker: Igloo automatic ice maker
Amazon
This Igloo ice maker comes in fun colors, as well as classic colors like white and stainless steel. It makes up to 26 pounds of ice in 24 hours or nine ice cubes in as little as seven minutes.
This ice maker produces two ice cube sizes and is equipped with a self-cleaning feature. It also includes a convenient ice scoop and has received a 4.1-star rating.
Starting next week, the price of a “Forever” stamp will increase by a nickel to 73 cents, the second time the United States Postal Service has raised the cost of postage this year.
The price of a Forever stamp has steadily climbed since they cost 41 cents when the USPS introduced them in 2007, most recently in January when the agency raised the price from 66 cents to 68 cents.
Other postage rates are also set to jump. Mailing a postcard domestically will cost 56 cents, a 3-cent increase, while the price of mailing postcards and letters internationally are both rising by a dime to $1.65. Overall, postage costs are rising 7.8% increase, USPS said in a statement in April.
“These price adjustments are needed to achieve the financial stability sought by the organization’s Delivering for America 10-year plan,” the agency said at the time.
The new postage rates take effect on July 14.
By contrast, the price of renting a Post Office Box is not going up, and USPS will reduce the cost of postal insurance 10% when mailing an item, according to the agency.
Postage prices may be rising, but customers also have more Forever options to choose from. USPS in June began offering two new Forever stamps — one that depicts baseball legend Hank Aaron and another that pays homage to Canadian-American game show host Alex Trebek.
Aaron held professional baseball’s home-run record for three decades until it was broken in 2007, while Trebek hosted Jeopardy until he died of pancreatic cancer in November 2020.
The USPS this year has also launched Forever stamps honoring former First Lady Betty Ford, University of California Los Angeles men’s basketball coach John Wooden and some of the conductors of the Underground Railroad.
Still, the postage increases are hurting mail volume as well as the USPS’ bottom line, some critics says. The agency in November reported a $6.5 billion loss for fiscal 2023 and is projecting a $6.3 billion deficit in 2024, according to Keep US Posted, a nonprofit advocacy group.
