The Associated Press
A bill that would have allowed certain inmates to earn time toward early release died Tuesday in the Senate.
The House bill’s original intent was to give the state Parole Board discretion on the revocation of certain convicts’ parole. But Senate Corrections Committee Chairman Willie Simmons, a Democrat from Cleveland, said his committee inserted the early release language.
Simmons said changing the law would save Mississippi about $3 million because fewer inmates would be in state-funded correctional facilities.
Simmons said certain inmates wouldn’t be eligible, including sex offenders and habitual offenders.
Sen. Joey Fillingane, a Republican from Sumrall, spoke against the bill because he said it would also let drug dealers earn time for early release.
“If you want to be on record as letting drug dealers out early, vote for the bill,” Fillingane said.
Several senators who had voted for the bill changed their votes after it was clear the bill would fail. The same proposal died earlier in the House.
Showing posts with label Public Safety. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Public Safety. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
WLBT-Bentonia father's fight to keep his daughter in Mississippi
A father in Bentonia is desperately trying to keep his daughter in Mississippi, but a bitter court battle with the child's mother is set to change that. He feared the toddler will end up with a stepfather who has abused her before.
A judge in Utah has ordered 3 year old Kinlee return to that state to live with her mother immediately. It is the latest chapter in a ongoing placement battle.
"My father has done so much for his granddaughter where it has come to the point that he's maxed out his credit cards on attorneys. He took out another $10,000 loan on our land for attorneys. We've done everything in our powers to keep her here," said the father Curtis Foster.
WLBT
A judge in Utah has ordered 3 year old Kinlee return to that state to live with her mother immediately. It is the latest chapter in a ongoing placement battle.
"My father has done so much for his granddaughter where it has come to the point that he's maxed out his credit cards on attorneys. He took out another $10,000 loan on our land for attorneys. We've done everything in our powers to keep her here," said the father Curtis Foster.
WLBT
Pennsylvania Woman Tied to Plot on Cartoonist
By CHARLIE SAVAGE
A Pennsylvania woman who called herself JihadJane was tied Tuesday to an alleged assassination plot against a Swedish cartoonist who depicted the prophet Muhammad atop the body of a dog.
In an indictment unsealed Tuesday, federal prosecutors accused Colleen R. LaRose, an American from the Philadelphia suburbs, of linking up through the Internet with militants overseas and plotting to carry out a murder.
Ms. LaRose, 46, was arrested in Philadelphia in October, but her case was kept under seal. Although the indictment does not identify the target, a law enforcement official said her case was linked to the arrests Tuesday of seven Muslims in Ireland in connection with a scheme to kill the cartoonist, Lars Vilks. A group linked to Al Qaeda had put a $100,000 bounty on his head for the cartoon, which the group perceived as an insult to Islam.
European news reports said Irish police, who arrested the four men and three women, had coordinated the operation with the United States.
A police statement issued Wednesday in Dublin said the Irish arrests followed a joint investigation by police in Ireland, the United States and “a number of European countries,” and that the suspects were being held at four police stations in an area about 100 miles south of Dublin, under a law that allowed for them to be held for up to seven days for questioning.
The New York Times
A Pennsylvania woman who called herself JihadJane was tied Tuesday to an alleged assassination plot against a Swedish cartoonist who depicted the prophet Muhammad atop the body of a dog.
In an indictment unsealed Tuesday, federal prosecutors accused Colleen R. LaRose, an American from the Philadelphia suburbs, of linking up through the Internet with militants overseas and plotting to carry out a murder.
Ms. LaRose, 46, was arrested in Philadelphia in October, but her case was kept under seal. Although the indictment does not identify the target, a law enforcement official said her case was linked to the arrests Tuesday of seven Muslims in Ireland in connection with a scheme to kill the cartoonist, Lars Vilks. A group linked to Al Qaeda had put a $100,000 bounty on his head for the cartoon, which the group perceived as an insult to Islam.
European news reports said Irish police, who arrested the four men and three women, had coordinated the operation with the United States.
A police statement issued Wednesday in Dublin said the Irish arrests followed a joint investigation by police in Ireland, the United States and “a number of European countries,” and that the suspects were being held at four police stations in an area about 100 miles south of Dublin, under a law that allowed for them to be held for up to seven days for questioning.
The New York Times
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Bike Safety Bill Awaits Governor's Signature
Mississippi's House of Representatives has passed a bill that could help save the lives of bicyclists, promote wellness, and spur tourism growth. MPB's Carl Gibson reports.
Senate Bill 3014, also known as the John Paul Frerer Bicycle Safety Act, is named after an 18-year-old man killed by a vehicle the day before he started his senior year of high school. Bruce Alt, an advocate for the bill, says Frerer's case is one of many.
"In 2009, there were two fatalities just on the Mississippoi portion of the Natchez Trace Parkway. A federal, low-speed, controlled-access roadway that's designed for recreational use. Still we have fatalities."
The bill mandates drivers to give cyclists at least three feet of room, and that cyclists use hand signals when riding on state roads. It would also penalize drivers who harass cyclists on the road. Representative Toby Barker of Hattiesburg says the bill could encourage a healthier lifestyle.
"This bill provides a safe environment for people who feel like they can get on the roads and cycle and do it safely."
House Transportation Chairman Warner McBride believes an emphasis on bike safety will also bring in more revenue through tourism.
"I think it sends the message that Mississippi is a biker-friendly state. And that we would like for you and your cycle group to come to our state and enjoy our beauty, and that we have a safe place for you to ride."
If the bill is signed, new laws will go into effect in July.
Mississippi Public Broadcasting
Senate Bill 3014, also known as the John Paul Frerer Bicycle Safety Act, is named after an 18-year-old man killed by a vehicle the day before he started his senior year of high school. Bruce Alt, an advocate for the bill, says Frerer's case is one of many.
"In 2009, there were two fatalities just on the Mississippoi portion of the Natchez Trace Parkway. A federal, low-speed, controlled-access roadway that's designed for recreational use. Still we have fatalities."
The bill mandates drivers to give cyclists at least three feet of room, and that cyclists use hand signals when riding on state roads. It would also penalize drivers who harass cyclists on the road. Representative Toby Barker of Hattiesburg says the bill could encourage a healthier lifestyle.
"This bill provides a safe environment for people who feel like they can get on the roads and cycle and do it safely."
House Transportation Chairman Warner McBride believes an emphasis on bike safety will also bring in more revenue through tourism.
"I think it sends the message that Mississippi is a biker-friendly state. And that we would like for you and your cycle group to come to our state and enjoy our beauty, and that we have a safe place for you to ride."
If the bill is signed, new laws will go into effect in July.
Mississippi Public Broadcasting
Friday, March 5, 2010
Obama advisers set to recommend military tribunals for alleged 9/11 plotters
Move seen as a precursor to closing Guantanamo Bay Military Prison and move detainees to U.S. soil
By Anne E. Kornblut and Peter Finn
President Obama's advisers are nearing a recommendation that Khalid Sheik Mohammed, the self-proclaimed mastermind of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, be prosecuted in a military tribunal, administration officials said, a step that would reverse Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr.'s plan to try him in civilian court in New York City.
The president's advisers feel increasingly hemmed in by bipartisan opposition to a federal trial in New York and demands, mainly from Republicans, that Mohammed and his accused co-conspirators remain under military jurisdiction, officials said. While Obama has favored trying some terrorism suspects in civilian courts as a symbol of U.S. commitment to the rule of law, critics have said military tribunals are the appropriate venue for those accused of attacking the United States.
If Obama accepts the likely recommendation of his advisers, the White House may be able to secure from Congress the funding and legal authority it needs to close the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and replace it with a facility within the United States. The administration has failed to meet a self-imposed one-year deadline to close Guantanamo.
The administration officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations, said the president's legal advisers are finalizing their review of the cases of Mohammed and four alleged co-conspirators. Asked about the process, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said that "no decisions have been made."
Washington Post
By Anne E. Kornblut and Peter Finn
The president's advisers feel increasingly hemmed in by bipartisan opposition to a federal trial in New York and demands, mainly from Republicans, that Mohammed and his accused co-conspirators remain under military jurisdiction, officials said. While Obama has favored trying some terrorism suspects in civilian courts as a symbol of U.S. commitment to the rule of law, critics have said military tribunals are the appropriate venue for those accused of attacking the United States.
If Obama accepts the likely recommendation of his advisers, the White House may be able to secure from Congress the funding and legal authority it needs to close the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and replace it with a facility within the United States. The administration has failed to meet a self-imposed one-year deadline to close Guantanamo.
The administration officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations, said the president's legal advisers are finalizing their review of the cases of Mohammed and four alleged co-conspirators. Asked about the process, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said that "no decisions have been made."
Washington Post
Safety Is Issue as Budget Cuts Free Prisoners
By MONICA DAVEY
In the rush to save money in grim budgetary times, states nationwide have trimmed their prison populations by expanding parole programs and early releases. But the result — more convicted felons on the streets, not behind bars — has unleashed a backlash, and state officials now find themselves trying to maneuver between saving money and maintaining the public’s sense of safety.
Jessica R. Cooper, a Michigan prosecutor, urges a more careful approach to releasing prisoners.
In February, lawmakers in Oregon temporarily suspended a program they had expanded last year to let prisoners, for good behavior, shorten their sentences (and to save $6 million) after an anticrime group aired radio advertisements portraying the outcomes in alarming tones. “A woman’s asleep in her own apartment,” a narrator said. “Suddenly, she’s attacked by a registered sex offender and convicted burglar.”
In Illinois, Gov. Patrick J. Quinn, a Democrat, described as “a big mistake” an early release program that sent some convicts who had committed violent crimes home from prison in a matter of weeks. Of more than 1,700 prisoners released over three months, more than 50 were soon accused of new violations.
An early release program in Colorado meant to save $19 million has scaled back its ambitions by $14 million after officials found far fewer prisoners than anticipated to be wise release risks. In more than five months, only 264 prisoners were released, though the program was designed to shrink the prison population by 2,600 over two years.
The New York Times
In the rush to save money in grim budgetary times, states nationwide have trimmed their prison populations by expanding parole programs and early releases. But the result — more convicted felons on the streets, not behind bars — has unleashed a backlash, and state officials now find themselves trying to maneuver between saving money and maintaining the public’s sense of safety.
Jessica R. Cooper, a Michigan prosecutor, urges a more careful approach to releasing prisoners.
In February, lawmakers in Oregon temporarily suspended a program they had expanded last year to let prisoners, for good behavior, shorten their sentences (and to save $6 million) after an anticrime group aired radio advertisements portraying the outcomes in alarming tones. “A woman’s asleep in her own apartment,” a narrator said. “Suddenly, she’s attacked by a registered sex offender and convicted burglar.”
In Illinois, Gov. Patrick J. Quinn, a Democrat, described as “a big mistake” an early release program that sent some convicts who had committed violent crimes home from prison in a matter of weeks. Of more than 1,700 prisoners released over three months, more than 50 were soon accused of new violations.
An early release program in Colorado meant to save $19 million has scaled back its ambitions by $14 million after officials found far fewer prisoners than anticipated to be wise release risks. In more than five months, only 264 prisoners were released, though the program was designed to shrink the prison population by 2,600 over two years.
The New York Times
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Pentagon on lockdown after shooting
Metro officials have reported a shooting outside the Pentagon station, near the entrance to the military facility. The shooting has put the Pentagon on lockdown and has closed the station. Three people reportedly were shot.
Chris Layman, a spokesman for the Pentagon Force Protection Agency, said that two of the people shot are Pentagon Force Protection Agency police officers. He was not certain of their condition. He said they have one person in custody, according to The Washington Post.
The Pentagon Metro Station has been closed and trains are being diverted to the Pentagon City station.
Washington Examiner
Chris Layman, a spokesman for the Pentagon Force Protection Agency, said that two of the people shot are Pentagon Force Protection Agency police officers. He was not certain of their condition. He said they have one person in custody, according to The Washington Post.
The Pentagon Metro Station has been closed and trains are being diverted to the Pentagon City station.
Washington Examiner
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
The EPA, Keeping Chemicals Secret Since 1976
The Environmental Working Group, always on its green toes, has released a report showing that nearly 20 percent of the 84,000 chemicals used commercially in the U.S. have been kept secret from the public. Both the names and physical properties of these chemicals are kept confidential even from state officials and within the EPA because an exemption was written into the 1976 Toxic Substances Control Act to protect industry trade secrets: public disclosure of information about a chemical is not required if it would affect a company's bottom line. It's a loophole the Environmental Working Group calls, "a regulatory black hole, a place where information goes in - but much never comes out."
The number of secret chemicals now totals about 17,000, many of which are found in everyday consumer products—apparel, plastic products, furniture. At least 10 of the 151 confidential high-volume chemicals (more than 1 million tons produced a year) are used in products targeted specifically to children.
Industry representatives defend the practice of secrecy, saying the spread of information jeopardizes competition within the industry, and it is true that many of the chemicals are harmless. But as the Washington Post notes, 65 "substantial risk" reports were filed with the EPA in March, and over half of those involved secret chemicals.
Planet Green
The number of secret chemicals now totals about 17,000, many of which are found in everyday consumer products—apparel, plastic products, furniture. At least 10 of the 151 confidential high-volume chemicals (more than 1 million tons produced a year) are used in products targeted specifically to children.
Industry representatives defend the practice of secrecy, saying the spread of information jeopardizes competition within the industry, and it is true that many of the chemicals are harmless. But as the Washington Post notes, 65 "substantial risk" reports were filed with the EPA in March, and over half of those involved secret chemicals.
Planet Green
ATF seizes 30 toy guns in Oregon, infuriating local business owner
CORNELIUS, Ore. - A local business owner is flabbergasted after a shipment of 30 toy guns for his store was confiscated by ATF agents in Tacoma.
Brad Martin and his son, Ben, sell the Airsoft BB guns from their store in Cornelius where they’ve been in business for seven years.
The Martins said they buy their stock from Taiwan because the merchandise is less expensive. But the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives seized a shipment of 30 in October. That shipment is worth around $12,000 and the ATF is promising to destroy the entire shipment.
Special Agent Kelvin Crenshaw said the toys can be easily retro-fitted into dangerous weapons.
"With minimal work it could be converted to a machine gun," Crenshaw said.
Brad Martin is furious about the loss of money, for sure, but also in what he now thinks as a loss of his time and the use of government agents to seize toy guns.
"All this manpower, all this time, all this taxpayer money, [it is] wasting my time and my profitability,” Martin said. “[Just] to seize 30 toy guns!"
Ben Martin disagrees that the toy guns could ever be considered dangerous.
"To say these are readily convertible to machine guns is absolutely preposterous,” he said. “The round wouldn't go into the firing chamber and even if the firing pin did strike the primer the gun would basically blow up in your face.”
ATF said it also seized the toys because they are missing the blaze orange tips required on all imported toy guns.
The Martins said they've received shipments before from Taiwan that were missing the orange tips and were simply asked by customs agents to drive up to Tacoma and paint the tips orange themselves. They are wondering why it is an issue now.
KOIN Local 6
Brad Martin and his son, Ben, sell the Airsoft BB guns from their store in Cornelius where they’ve been in business for seven years.
The Martins said they buy their stock from Taiwan because the merchandise is less expensive. But the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives seized a shipment of 30 in October. That shipment is worth around $12,000 and the ATF is promising to destroy the entire shipment.
Special Agent Kelvin Crenshaw said the toys can be easily retro-fitted into dangerous weapons.
"With minimal work it could be converted to a machine gun," Crenshaw said.
Brad Martin is furious about the loss of money, for sure, but also in what he now thinks as a loss of his time and the use of government agents to seize toy guns.
"All this manpower, all this time, all this taxpayer money, [it is] wasting my time and my profitability,” Martin said. “[Just] to seize 30 toy guns!"
Ben Martin disagrees that the toy guns could ever be considered dangerous.
"To say these are readily convertible to machine guns is absolutely preposterous,” he said. “The round wouldn't go into the firing chamber and even if the firing pin did strike the primer the gun would basically blow up in your face.”
ATF said it also seized the toys because they are missing the blaze orange tips required on all imported toy guns.
The Martins said they've received shipments before from Taiwan that were missing the orange tips and were simply asked by customs agents to drive up to Tacoma and paint the tips orange themselves. They are wondering why it is an issue now.
KOIN Local 6
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Four 'shake and bake' meth labs discovered in Ridgeland
A search warrant Madison County deputies and Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics agents served at a Ridgeland man’s residence last Thursdaym turned up four “shake and bake” methamphetamine labs, according to MBN Director Marshall Fisher.
Madison County Herald
Madison County Herald
Friday, February 26, 2010
MADISON COUNTY JOURNAL-'Trail Rangers' to patrol Ridgeland multi-use trails
RIDGELAND - City officials are calling for volunteers to patrol its multi-use trails in an effort to cut down on crime.
The "Trail Rangers" program is looking for cyclists, runners, walkers, bird watchers, photographers or anyone else who uses the trail, to volunteer.
Rangers will wear identifying apparel such as a certain colored vest or bib with the Trail Rangers logo and they will carry a cell phone. If any suspicious persons or activity are seen on or near the trail, the Ranger will call the Ridgeland Police immediately.
Madison County Page
The "Trail Rangers" program is looking for cyclists, runners, walkers, bird watchers, photographers or anyone else who uses the trail, to volunteer.
Rangers will wear identifying apparel such as a certain colored vest or bib with the Trail Rangers logo and they will carry a cell phone. If any suspicious persons or activity are seen on or near the trail, the Ranger will call the Ridgeland Police immediately.
Madison County Page
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