As the 2024 election cycle ramps up, at least 26 states have passed or are considering bills regulating the use of generative AI in election-related communications, a new analysis by Axios shows.

Why it matters: The review lays bare a messy patchwork of rules around the use of genAI in politics, as experts increasingly sound the alarm on the evolving technology's power to sway or disenfranchise voters. 

• There have already been instances of generative AI being "used to confuse — and even suppress — voters," Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) told Axios in an email.
• "I don't think genAI developers or platforms are taking the misuse potential serious enough," added Warner, chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee.

Catch up quick: In January, a spate of fake robocalls in New Hampshire used an AI-generated impersonation of Biden's voice to urge Democrats not to vote in the state's primary.

• In another high-profile incident, last July a super PAC backing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in the GOP primary used AI to imitate Trump's voice in an ad attacking him. The Trump campaign slammed the ad as a "desperate attempt" to "deceive the American public."

The big picture: There are few federal guardrails in place to regulate the use of AI — even President Biden's AI executive order is largely voluntary, with little enforcement power.

• Senators have introduced two bills to regulate genAI in election campaigns, but they've yet to pass — even as many Americans fear the technology will hurt elections.

• You can read more at: https://www.axios.com/2024/09/22/ai-regulation-election-laws-map

Miley Cyrus and Dolly Parton are some of the most prominent figures in pop culture, and the fact that Dolly is Miley's godmother is truly the gift that keeps giving. Case in point: Dolly's stint on Hannah Montana, Miley introducing Dolly's fan-favorite track "Jolene" to a whole new generation, and the pair joining forces to host a New Year's Eve special and perform "Wrecking Ball" in 2023. Oh, and of course, we can't forget that they both appeared on Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter earlier this year. TL;DR: Miley and Dolly are part of a legendary family—and aside from being an iconic godmother-goddaughter duo, they're actually related.

According to a new report from Ancestry.com, Miley and Dolly are seventh cousins, once removed, meaning their cowboy boots and southern roots go waaay back. Here's the breakdown: in the 1700s, Dolly's 6th great-grandfather and Miley's 7th great-grandfather, John Brickey, lived within a 20-mile radius from what we currently know and love as Dollywood in Tennessee's Smoky Mountains. Per the report, Brickey was born in Virginia and later moved to Blount County, Tennessee with his wife and children.

Details may be found at: https://tinyurl.com/44es7z9u.

Qiagen announced “that Bode Technology, the largest private U.S. forensics laboratory company with a growing presence in other regions, would become the exclusive global commercial partner for the GEDmatch PRO genealogy database, which is used to assist police and forensic teams with investigative comparisons of genetic data.” The multi-year agreement between QIAGEN’s subsidiary Verogen and Bode extends the long-standing partnership of two leading companies in forensic investigative genetic genealogy or FIGG, to further accelerate the use of GEDmatch PRO in law enforcement and identification of human remains. QIAGEN has been providing GEDmatch PRO to customers since the early 2023 acquisition of its subsidiary Verogen, a proven leader in equipping forensic science laboratories and criminal investigators to use next-generation sequencing,NGS, to gain deeper insights…As part of the partnership, Bode will manage all commercial transactions for GEDmatch PRO globally, while QIAGEN will continue to develop new features with input from Bode’s genealogy experts. Bode will maintain the highest level of data security as GEDmatch PRO users will continue to own their case data and no additional identifying information will be shared with Bode. QIAGEN’s subsidiary will continue to have sole responsibility and manage the separate GEDmatch consumer database and its free DNA comparison-and-analysis website, which are not affected by this partnership.

The following is a press release issued by the (U.S.) National Archives and Records Administration:

Archivist of the United States Dr. Colleen Shogan has announced that the National Archives will add the 19th Amendment - which removed restrictions for women to vote - to the permanent display of the Charters of Freedom in the Rotunda of the National Archives Building in Washington, DC, in March 2026. 

“The 19th Amendment enabled the largest enfranchisement in the history of the United States, removing voting restrictions for more than half of all Americans. We are adding it, and the Emancipation Proclamation, to the Charters of Freedom in the National Archives Rotunda to share a more complete story of our nation's ongoing pursuit of a more perfect union,” Shogan said. “I am thrilled we are adding these documents as we celebrate 250 years of the United States of America. I look forward to welcoming all Americans to experience first-hand this engaging history on display.” 

Enlarge

Joint Resolution of Congress proposing a constitutional amendment that "The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.” June 4, 1919. National Archives Identifier 596314.

View in National Archives Catalog

Passed by Congress on June 4, 1919; ratified on August 18, 1920; and certified on August 26, 1920, the 19th Amendment is celebrated as the culmination of over eight decades of advocacy by the woman suffrage movement. To learn more about this milestone document, visit the National Archives Catalog. Visit the National Archives DocsTeach site to read the transcript and find educational resources about the 19th Amendment.

New encasements will be added to the Rotunda of the National Archives Building to permanently house the 19th Amendment and the Emancipation Proclamation alongside the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States, and the Bill of Rights. Shogan previously announcedthat the Emancipation Proclamation will be added to the Rotunda in January 2026. 

The National Archives Foundation, the nonprofit partner of the National Archives, is generously supporting the creation of the new encasements and related programs to support the displays. Visit archivesfoundation.orgfor more information.

These additions to the Rotunda will be celebrated as part of the nation’s semiquincentennial on July 4, 2026. The National Archives is hosting a nationwide, multi-year celebration in honor of the United States’ 250th anniversary. Known as Declaration250, the celebration includes activities around the country and online. For more information on how you can join the celebration, go to Declaration250.gov.

The National Archives Building in Washington, DC, is located at 701 Constitution Avenue, NW. The Rotunda and exhibit spaces are open from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily with free admission. Metro: Yellow or Green lines, Archives/Navy Memorial station. Plan your visit at visit.archives.gov.

About the National Archives
The National Archives and Records Administration is an independent federal agency that serves American democracy by safeguarding and preserving the records of our government so people can discover, use, and learn from this documentary heritage. The National Archives ensures continuing access to the essential documentation of the rights of American citizens and the actions of their government. From the Declaration of Independence to accounts of ordinary Americans, the holdings of the National Archives directly touch the lives of millions of people. The agency supports democracy, promotes civic education, and facilitates historical understanding of our national experience. The National Archives carries out its mission through a nationwide network of archives, records centers, and Presidential Libraries and online at www.archives.gov. 

About the National Archives Foundation
The National Archives Foundation is an independent nonprofit that increases public awareness of the National Archives, inspires a deeper appreciation of our country’s heritage and encourages citizen engagement in our democracy. The foundation generates financial and creative support for National Archives exhibitions, public programs, and educational initiatives, introducing America’s records to people around the U.S. and the world. Learn more at www.archivesfoundation.org.

The National Archives has been in the news lately, not so much for what is in its collection, but for what was missing. After former President Donald Trump and then-Vice President Biden held on to records when they left office that should have been sent to the Archives… we wanted to know more… about the small federal agency in charge of safeguarding America's past.

After a few months inside, we came to appreciate that the Archives are the country's safety deposit box, reading room, and paper shredder rolled into one.

At the heart of the institution are the documents that have been at the heart of the nation, for nearly 250 years.

Colleen Shogan: (footsteps) There's 39 steps here that lead up to the entrance. And that's 39 framers who signed the Constitution.

Norah O'Donnell: Oh, wow. Look at this.

Colleen Shogan, the archivist of the United States, is responsible for America's records. The main attractions are in a building in Washington that was inspired by ancient Rome, and built to be a temple to history.

Each year, more than a million people make the trip to see these national treasures in person.

Norah O'Donnell: This building, the Rotunda, was built as a shrine for many of these documents. But they didn't arrive until later.

Colleen Shogan: That's correct. The building was completed in 1937. But the Declaration and the Constitution did not arrive till 1952. 

They were in the possession of the Library of Congress, which refused to turn them over, until President Truman got involved...and they were delivered from Capitol Hill by the U.S. military.

You can read a lot more in an article by Norah O’Donnell published in the 60 minutes web site at: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/national-archives-history-60-minutes-transcript/.

The National Archives has been in the news lately, not so much for what is in its collection, but for what was missing. After former President Donald Trump and then-Vice President Biden held on to records when they left office that should have been sent to the Archives… we wanted to know more… about the small federal agency in charge of safeguarding America's past.

After a few months inside, we came to appreciate that the Archives are the country's safety deposit box, reading room, and paper shredder rolled into one.

At the heart of the institution are the documents that have been at the heart of the nation, for nearly 250 years.

Colleen Shogan: (footsteps) There's 39 steps here that lead up to the entrance. And that's 39 framers who signed the Constitution.

Norah O'Donnell: Oh, wow. Look at this.

Colleen Shogan, the archivist of the United States, is responsible for America's records. The main attractions are in a building in Washington that was inspired by ancient Rome, and built to be a temple to history.

Each year, more than a million people make the trip to see these national treasures in person.

Norah O'Donnell: This building, the Rotunda, was built as a shrine for many of these documents. But they didn't arrive until later.

Colleen Shogan: That's correct. The building was completed in 1937. But the Declaration and the Constitution did not arrive till 1952. 

They were in the possession of the Library of Congress, which refused to turn them over, until President Truman got involved...and they were delivered from Capitol Hill by the U.S. military.

You can read a lot more in an article by Norah O’Donnell published in the 60 minutes web site at: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/national-archives-history-60-minutes-transcript/.

The Lower Cape Fear Historical Society, Inc. has shared over 50 years’ worth of their bulletins on DigitalNC. If you are a genealogist or historian interested in Wilmington and the surrounding area, these documents have many in-depth articles of interest. Many focus on particular individuals or families. There are also articles about historical events and the Society’s efforts at historic preservation of properties and houses. These publications are full-text searchable. 

You can learn more about the Society on their website or by visiting their location in the Latimer House in Wilmington.

Beginning Oct. 7, the public will have more opportunity to peruse the files of the Nebraska State Historical Society for research purposes.

Visiting hours at the James E. Potter Research Room are being expanded, with the room to open on weekdays, except Tuesdays, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Previously, the room had been open only one morning a week in a controversial move by former Historical Society Director Trevor Jones.

Restoring more access to the research room is among the stated goals of the recently named interim director, Cindy Drake.

In a press release, Drake said that while many of the society’s history and genealogy materials are online, “a very large portion is only available in person.”

“These new hours better serve researchers, students, and the public as a whole,” she said.

Books, maps and newspapers, as well as the Nebraska State Archives, which include unpublished manuscripts, photographs, film/audio and public records, are available at the research room. Trained staffers are available to direct researchers to materials.

For more information, visit https://history.nebraska.gov.

FourFourTwo magazine launched back in 1994 and over the ensuing three decades has brought readers exclusive interviews with big-name players and coaches, incredible stories from around the world and in-depth analysis from the world of football. 

Now, for the first time, readers can revisit past issues of the magazine online through the newly launched FourFourTwo Archive.

Want to know who was on the cover of the first-ever issue in 1994? Or find out what the big talking points were in the early 2000s? Or see what novel photo shoots were created over the years? Well, now you can.

Head to The Magazine Archive website to sign up

Whether you’re looking for a specific article – maybe the time you featured in the magazine – or researching a player/topic in rugby or simply want to take a step back in time to look at editions from decades gone by, the new archive is the place for you.

There is also a search function that allows you to put a name, phrase or word when looking at an issue, then the pages on which that appears will be highlighted to make it easier to find what you’re looking for.

You’ll find issues of FourFourTwo published from 1994 to 2012 on the website (those published post-2012 are already available in digital format), so it is a real treasure trove for football fans.

There are three packages available, depending on how much access you want/need. A day pass is £2.99 or if you sign up for an annual subscription, it’s £49.99, while active FourFourTwo magazine subscribers discount can access the archive for £12/per annum 

The following is a Plus Edition article written by and copyright by Dick Eastman. 

NOTE: This article has nothing to do with genealogy. If you are looking for genealogy-related articles, I suggest you skip this one. However, it answers a question that a newsletter reader asked and I suspect that many other readers have similar questions.

Several years ago, I added another hard drive to my collection of hard drives installed on my computer. The new drive is to be available to be shared amongst all the computers owned by family members. In addition, any of us can access our files from anywhere in the world, using an Internet connection and a user name and password. 

In addition, anyone with an in-home local network also can share the Internet connection with multiple game consoles, VoIP telephones, cell phones (using wi-fi), tablet computers, home security systems, modern Internet-connected thermostats, FAX machines, and other Internet-compatible devices.

A newsletter reader recently wrote, "How can I use that if I don't have a local network?"

I suspect the reader does have a local area network in her home but probably doesn't know it. The same may be true for you.

Most broadband Internet connections these days include local area networks. If you only use your Internet connection on one computer, the installer probably never mentioned the network capabilities to you. There are a few exceptions, but I am guessing that 90% or more of all recently-installed, in-home broadband Internet connections include a local area network. If your broadband connection does include this capability, you can connect multiple computers, printers, hard drives, and more to the network and share them amongst family members. Depending on the software installed, you might be able to securely access your files from places outside your home if you enable this capability. Most Internet providers do not charge extra for using additional computers on an in-home network.

How to Discover if You Already Have a Network

First, are you using a wireless wi-fi connection to connect your computer to the router installed in your home? If so, you already have an in-home network installed. You can connect more computers to the same network by using wi-fi. You may have to call your Internet provider to configure the additional devices. You will need to know the SSID (a network address), password, and possibly some other parameters. These will vary from one Internet provider to another.

If you are not using wi-fi or if you want to add a non-wi-fi device to a wi-fi router, look at the back of your router. If you see four or five network connectors, you already have a network. See the picture below for an example:

The above is a picture of a router installed in a home. The network connectors are commonly called RJ-45 connectors. They look like oversized versions of the connectors used by most telephones in North America. 

Your router might be a different brand, and the arrangement of the connectors may be a bit different. However, if you see four or more of those connectors, you already have a local area network installed in your home, even if you are only using one computer. You can add computers and other devices by simply running a network cable from the computer or other device to the back of the router.

The remainder of this article is reserved for Plus Edition subscribers only. If you have a Plus Edition subscription, you may read the full article at: https://eogn.com/(*)-Plus-Edition-News-Articles/13409160.  A Plus Edition password is required to access that article.)

If you are not yet a Plus Edition subscriber, you can learn more about such subscriptions and even upgrade to a Plus Edition subscription immediately at https://eogn.com/page-18077.