Alternative News

Banana Republics Have Nothing on New York City

"In a nation that incarcerates more people than any other, New York City hopes to jail a hefty proportion of its residents, too. The Daily News reports that the City now boasts more than a million 'open bench warrants' for such heinous 'crimes' as 'drinking a can of Pabst Blue Ribbon on a West Village stoop' and 'walking a dog without a leash.' The News lies somewhere to the left of Pravda, but even it marvels that an eighth of New Yorkers could languish in the pokey, which 'number of outlaws ... nearly matches the population of Dallas.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingBanana Republics Have Nothing on New York City

Apparently, Perjury Isn’t a Crime When Police Commit It

"Last October third, a Salt Lake City SWAT team, working with a federal Drug Task Force, kicked in the door of a 76-year-old woman. It turned out that the raiders had attacked the wrong home; the target was the house next door. An internal review learned that officer responsible for the raid, Detective Cooper Landvatter, falsified information in the affidavit filed to obtain the warrant. Police Chief Chris Burbank imposed a 20-hour suspension on Detective Landvatter. However, the officer faces no further disciplinary action or criminal charges for committing perjury and abetting a home invasion that terrorized an elderly woman." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingApparently, Perjury Isn’t a Crime When Police Commit It

Wash. state bill allows police to search students without parental consent

"A Washington state bill, S.B. 5618, that would allow police officers, or 'school resource officers,' to search students without probable cause or parental consent, passed the State Senate Monday, 30-19. The legislation would allow police to search a student's person, locker and possessions if they are believed to be violating the law or any school rule. Currently under Washington state law, if a school employee has a reasonable suspicion to search a student, they have the right, but a police officer serving as a school resource officer cannot search a student without probable cause." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWash. state bill allows police to search students without parental consent

The Truth Behind the Decline in Somali Piracy

"[P]rivate security forces thwarted Somalian piracy and not the mighty navies. It is interesting to note that while everyone from navies of different countries to 'the transitional administration in Somalia' becoming more successful are cited as causes of this, it notes that 'For many in the shipping industry, the fall in attacks is a vindication of the decision to massively ramp up the use of armed guards'. It also notes that 'So far, not a single ship with armed guards has been taken by pirates'. Looks like the risk/reward of being a pirate is not economical anymore. All due to private security. Walter Block would be happy." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingThe Truth Behind the Decline in Somali Piracy

Private Schools in India Serve the Poor, but Can They Survive Attacks by Government?

"I despise policies such as corporate subsidies, bailouts and minimum wage laws. So you’ll understand why I’m particularly upset that the government of India is now trying to undermine opportunity for the poor by shutting down private schools. Because the government schools do a terrible job, there are millions of poor families who are sacrificing to send their kids to private schools. Apparently embarrassed by the fact that so many millions of poor families would rather pay for good private schools than go to free state institutions, the government is trying to regulate the private schools out of existence." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPrivate Schools in India Serve the Poor, but Can They Survive Attacks by Government?

US DOT Blasts Mississippi For Diverting DUI Funds To Speeding Tickets

"Mississippi police agencies have been diverting federal grant funds intended to combat drunk driving into an expansion of the use of speed traps. The US Department of Transportation's inspector general chided the NHTSA for its lax administration of the 'Section 154' grant program that failed to prevent the misuse of taxpayer money. 2926 citations were issued by 127 state and local police officers using the DUI grant money. The analysis found 73 percent of the officers issued no drunk-driving related citations at all. There were only 147 DUI arrests or citations, and the rest were for speeding, seat belt use or other minor infractions." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingUS DOT Blasts Mississippi For Diverting DUI Funds To Speeding Tickets

Texas proposes one of nation’s “most sweeping” mobile privacy laws

"Privacy experts say that a pair of new mobile privacy bills recently introduced in Texas are among the 'most sweeping' ever seen. If passed, the new bills would establish a well-defined, probable-cause-driven warrant requirement for all location information. That's not just data from GPS, but potentially pen register, tap and trace, and tower location data as well. Such data would be disclosed to law enforcement 'if there is probable cause to believe the records disclosing location information will provide evidence in a criminal investigation.' Further, the bills would require an annual transparency report from mobile carriers to the public and to the state government." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingTexas proposes one of nation’s “most sweeping” mobile privacy laws

Air Force erases drone strike data amid criticisms

"Quietly and without much notice, the Air Force has reversed its policy of publishing statistics on drone strikes in Afghanistan as the debate about drone warfare hits a fever pitch in Washington. In addition, it has erased previously published drone strike statistics from its website." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingAir Force erases drone strike data amid criticisms