Public Safety
Covering topics such as corrections, criminal justice, emergency management, gun control and police/fire/EMS.
The state’s House Democrats tried, unsuccessfully, to force a vote on an assault weapons ban on May 25, following the Texas school shooting. Republicans say they are already proactive with school safety and mental health programs.
The city’s Community Police Commission recommended this week that the city have a policy and community discussion prior to using any kind of surveillance equipment to prevent invading residents’ civil rights.
The state has been under total Democratic control for four years, but a tumultuous two years with law enforcement, workforce development and the pandemic has some predicting that Republicans could regain control in November.
City councilors and members of the public have expressed concern that the purchase of a drone could negatively impact the homeless population. The city manager holds the purchasing power over the police drone.
Four cities in the region have proposed using millions of pandemic relief funds for surveillance cameras to aid law enforcement and increase public safety. But there are concerns about the privacy risks.
More than a dozen lawyers reported that the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center in South Carolina has made visiting and providing legal information to clients extremely difficult or impossible.
Two lawsuits, one wrongful death and the other emotional distress, have been filed against Amazon for the company’s actions before and after a tornado hit one of its warehouses in Edwardsville, Ill., in December, killing six.
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas is expecting a high demand for energy this weekend as weather forecasts predict potentially record-breaking temperatures this weekend in regions across the state.
AI can map fire perimeters in minutes, rather than hours, and can predict a wildfire’s speed and direction. But emphasis on preventative instead of reactive efforts would be more impactful, say fire experts.
The House approved a bill that will speed up juvenile arraignments, extend hold times for youths and allow GPS monitoring for repeat offenders. But some worry the tough-on-crime approach is ineffective.
A bipartisan group of lawmakers rejected two of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s nominees to the state’s Prisoner Review Board last month, highlighting how crime and politics have changed over the last several years.
The Louisiana city’s police department wants to deploy nine license plate readers to help identify stolen cars and drivers with outstanding warrants. But critics worry about the tech’s infringement on privacy rights.
Advocates are pushing for “clean slate” legislation, which would expunge criminal records for people with low-level or non-violent crimes. But until reform happens, these groups are helping to secure second chances.
Failing to invest in the emergency response communication workforce and infrastructure is taking a toll. One important way to bolster call center employee morale and retention is to reclassify these professionals as first responders.
New Jersey became the 14th state to legalize recreational marijuana use on Thursday, though public smoking is still banned. Now local police, who will provide security for the dispensaries, must adjust for the new law.
The Twin Cities have always been alike in some ways, very different in others. Their mayors reflect the differences and similar monumental challenges.
