In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the U.S. sent in the National Guard to help local residents' safety in the face of disaster. Now, with the murder rate in some areas of Louisiana 10 times the national average, some residents (and one state lawmaker) consider the murder rate so high as to merit bringing them back.
Louisiana lawmakers face issue of parole eligibility for juvenile offenders
Louisiana was one of 37 states affected by a 2010 U.S. Supreme Court decision which said that juveniles convicted of crimes not involving murder cannot be imprisoned for life. According to that decision, such inmates are not guaranteed release, but must be offered a meaningful opportunity for release.
High court issues pro-privacy rights decision
The United States Supreme Court unanimously ruled on Monday that police officers must obtain a search warrant before attaching a GPS tracker device to the vehicle of a suspect. The decision, which is celebrated by advocates of privacy rights, is said to be one of the first major cases determining how constitutional privacy rights flesh out in an age of digital technology.
Singer Bruno Mars cleared of cocaine charge
Our readers may or may not be aware of the music of 26-year-old Bruno Mars, whose real name is Peter Hernandez. The pop singer and Grammy award winner was cleared of a felony drug charge on Wednesday in Law Vegas after his successful completion of court-ordered drug education classes and community service.
Pentagon addressing widespread problem of sexual assault in military
Sexual assault is not only a problem in society at large, but also in the military. That should not come as too much of a surprise, since those in the armed services are made of flesh and blood like the rest of us. What may come as a surprise is the extent of the problem.
Judge declares missing Alabama woman legally dead
Our readers may have heard of the case of Natalee Holloway, a young woman from Alabama disappeared on a high school graduation trip in Aruba back in 2005. On Thursday, an Alabama judge declared Holloway legally dead. The declaration was reportedly given at the request of Holloway's father, who is divorced from her mother. He had apparently requested the court to allow him to cease payments on her medical insurance and allow him to use her $2,000 college fund to assist her younger brother.
5 plead guilty in fraud scam involving clinics in Jefferson Parish
On Wednesday, five individuals pleaded guilty in connection with participation in health care fraud scheme run out of clinic in Jefferson Parish. The scheme apparently involved claims submitted to Medicare and Medicaid.
Prescription drug abuse a growing problem among Americans, P.2
In our previous post, we began discussing the growing problem of prescription drug abuse in the United States. Along with the increase in prescription drug abuse has been an increase in armed robbery of pharmacies. As we noted, the number of such incidents rose 51 percent between 2006 and 2010.
Prescription drug abuse a growing problem among Americans, P.1
According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, armed robberies of pharmacies for prescription drugs are on the increase. Between 2006 and 2010, the number of such incidents rose from 385 to 698, or 51 percent. Just in the past week, armed robberies have occurred at drugstores in Massachusetts, Arizona, North Carolina and elsewhere.
Ignition interlock devices get a good word from MADD
According to a recent Fox Business article, Mothers Against Drunk Driving is pushing state lawmakers to enact measures mandating the use of ignition interlock devices for first time offenders.
