Extra Extra
Extra Extra Monday: terrorism fears and chemical plants, mental health gaps, factory farm pollution
Terrorism fears have led government to cloak the danger of hazardous chemical plants | The Houston Chronicle“Around the country, hundreds of buildings like the one in West store some type of ammonium nitrate. They sit in quiet fields and by riverside docks, in business districts and around the corner from schools, hospitals and day care…
Read MoreTerrorism fears have led government to cloak the danger of hazardous chemical plants
The Houston Chronicle published the results of an Associated Press investigation that used public records to find hazardous chemicals stored in the U.S. “Around the country, hundreds of buildings like the one in West store some type of ammonium nitrate. They sit in quiet fields and by riverside docks, in business districts and around the…
Read MoreIn California, incarcerated students fall through gaps in special education laws
The Center for Investigative Reporting looks into who is responsible for educating students with disabilities in jail. “California and federal laws allow students with disabilities to receive special education until age 22. But the laws are vague enough that deciding who should provide that education is unclear.”
Read MoreNow, you can’t ban guns at the public pool
ProPublica reports possible changes to gun laws in Charleston, W.Va. “For 20 years, Charleston has been an island of modest gun restrictions in a very pro-gun rights state. But its gun laws — including a ban on guns in city parks, pools and recreation centers — are now likely to be rolled back, the latest…
Read MoreMinneapolis cops rarely disciplined in big-payout cases
The Star Tribune reports that Minneapolis police haven’t disciplined many of their officers accused of misconduct. “Despite nearly $14 million in payouts for alleged police misconduct over the past seven years, the Minneapolis Police Department rarely concluded that the officers involved did anything wrong, according to a Star Tribune analysis. Of 95 payouts from 2006…
Read MoreLaw to protect news sources could backfire in some cases, experts say
Legal experts say the proposed federal shield law could actually diminish the protections some federal courts have recognized, the St. Louis Beacon reports. “Contrary to conventional wisdom, the proposed federal shield law backed by the press and President Barack Obama wouldn’t help reporters protect their sources in big national security cases, such as the recent…
Read MoreSome traffic violators getting off with bribes in South Africa
According to the Road Traffic Management Corporation, 65% of fatal crashes that happen on weekends, in South Africa, are because of alcohol abuse by drivers and pedestrians. However, in a report filed by Kirsti Buick, a journalism student from Wits University in Johannesburg, South Africa, many drivers are getting off with paying a bribe, “some…
Read MoreSecurity lapse exposes some subsidized phone service customers to ID theft risk
“Tens of thousands of applicants to a federal program subsidizing phone service for the poor have been placed at heightened risk for identity theft. Through a simple Google search, Scripps News uncovered more than 170,000 Lifeline applications and supporting records — many containing full Social Security numbers, birth dates, drivers licenses numbers and food stamp…
Read MoreDead zone for police radios may have led to deputy’s death
The Times-Picayune reports that “as legal proceedings continue for a group accused of shooting four sheriff’s deputies in St. Johns and Baptist Parish testimony in a preliminary hearing has spotlighted something deputies in the parish have known for a long time: Throughout St. John, there are areas where emergency radios cannot snag a signal from…
Read MoreDespite mortgage schemes, real estate agents keep license
“Despite Minnesota’s crackdown on ‘deceptive and dishonest’ loan modification schemes, the state Commerce Department has allowed many of those involved to retain their real estate licenses a Star Tribune report has found.” “Since 2010, the department has taken enforcement action against 36 individuals for violating mortgage modification laws. Ten of them held some kind of…
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