Alternative News

Colorado: Court Endorses Handcuffing of Innocent Motorists During Robbery Search

"Police in Aurora, Colorado did nothing wrong when they handcuffed dozens of motorists and held them at gunpoint for an hour and forty-five minutes, according to a ruling issued last month. US District Court Judge William J. Martinez refused to play the role of a Monday morning quarterback in deciding whether the controversial mass detention violated the Fourth Amendment rights of drivers who had been going about their business on a Saturday afternoon." Continue reading →

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Tasered for Suffering a Seizure, Man Says

"In response to a 911 call because plaintiff Scott Sheeley was suffering a seizure, City of Austin Police Officers and Gold Cross Ambulance Service paramedics went to Sheeley's home on a 'Sick Cared For' assignment. Instead of providing medical care, police officers, with the assistance of ambulance paramedics, violently restrained Sheeley, depressing his ability to breathe, and repeatedly shocked him with a Taser gun. Ambulance paramedics then administered drugs to Sheeley that further depressed his ability to breathe, sending him into respiratory arrest and cardiac arrest. As a result, Sheeley suffered physical and emotional injuries, including permanent brain damage." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingTasered for Suffering a Seizure, Man Says

Utah Undercover Cops Kill Woman Heroin User

"Undercover police officers in West Valley, Utah, shot and killed a relapsed heroin user in the parking lot of an apartment building last Friday afternoon. Police have yet to confirm that it was a drug investigation, but all signs point to it. Danielle Misha Willard, 21, becomes the 56th person to die in US domestic drug law enforcement operations so far this year." Continue reading →

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British Columbia Public Supports Marijuana Legalization

"In Canada's westernmost province, which has been a hotbed of marijuana cultivation and culture for several decades now, only 14% of those polled believe possession of a joint should lead to a criminal record, down six points from last year, and 74% would be comfortable living in a society where adult cannabis consumption was taxed and legally regulated under a public health framework, an increase of four percentage points from last year. Strikingly, support for full legalization was higher than support for the half-measure of decriminalization. While 75% supported legalization, only 62% wanted decriminalization." Continue reading →

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Obama Bombs Yemen Hours After Winning Reelection

"Not even a full day had passed before newly reelected President Obama ordered another drone strike in Yemen. 'A U.S. drone strike targeted a group of al-Qaida militants on the outskirts of the Yemeni capital Sanaa on Wednesday night, killing at least three terrorists, government officials said.' The drone war violates both domestic and international law, and the Obama administration’s vehement disdain for transparency in government is the only thing keeping it from public and legal scrutiny. Beyond the law, it’s terrorism." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingObama Bombs Yemen Hours After Winning Reelection

DEA Responds to Legal Weed in Colorado and Washington: “Enforcement of the Controlled Substances Act remains unchanged”

"Despite the passage of ballot initiatives in Washington and Colorado legalizing recreational marijuana, 'the Drug Enforcement Administration’s enforcement of the Controlled Substances Act remains unchanged,' a DEA spokesperson told Reason this morning. 'In enacting the Controlled Substances Act, Congress determined that marijuana is a Schedule I controlled substance. The Department of Justice is reviewing the ballot initiatives and we have no additional comment at this time.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingDEA Responds to Legal Weed in Colorado and Washington: “Enforcement of the Controlled Substances Act remains unchanged”

Puerto Ricans push for U.S. statehood in referendum vote

"For the first time, a majority of Puerto Rican voters expressed support for changing their homeland’s status from a U.S. commonwealth to full statehood Tuesday night. According to CNN, the non-binding referendum on the issue was split into two questions. Residents voted against remaining a territory by a margin of 54 percent to 46 percent in the first part of the referendum, while 61 percent supported statehood in the second part. President Barack Obama expressed support for the referendum. Puerto Rican Secretary of State Kenneth McClintock said economic factors weighed heavily in statehood winning majority support." Continue reading →

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Intrade Was Right: Obama, Senate, House

"I never doubted Intrade's results after the Senate fell from 53-47 for the Republicans to 20-80 against. There was no 'margin of error' worth talking about in any of the three betting markets: President, Senate, or House. There comes a time to face up to reality. The reality is this: the polls are no match for the accuracy of betting sites when a large number of people are betting. All of the money spent on polling was wasted. All of the emotion spent on assessing the polls was wasted." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingIntrade Was Right: Obama, Senate, House

Stewart: 2 years and $3 billion later, U.S. in ‘same place we were’ before election

"Jon Stewart pointed out that for all of the fuss and expense of the 2012 election, the U.S. has ended up in virtually the exact same political situation as it was two years ago. After announcing Democratic victories in Massachusetts and Missouri, as well as the results of the presidential race, Stewart said, 'Once again, just let me very quickly announce this: House of Representatives, Republican. In the Senate, Democrats, the presidency, Barack Obama, let’s see. Two years, $3 billion and we are clearly in the same place we were when it started.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingStewart: 2 years and $3 billion later, U.S. in ‘same place we were’ before election