News Story
New Orleans Police Reach Far-Reaching Deal with Justice Department
Steve Neavling ticklethewire.com The New Orleans Police Department reached a landmark deal with the U.S. Department of Justice to overhaul the city’s scandal-plagued police force, the New York Times reports. The aim of the 122-page consent decree is to improve safety in the city and end corruption and abuse. “Effective policing and constitutional policing go…
Study: Bath Salts Similar to Cocaine in Brain
Steve Neavling ticklethewire.com Commonly abused bath salts act like cocaine in the brain, U.S. researchers have found, UPI reports. Mephedrone, which is in so-called bath salts, activate reward centers of the brain, leading to addiction, said Dr. C.J. Malanga, an associate professor of neurology, pediatrics and psychology at the University of North Carolina School of…
FBI Probes Link Between Trenton City Hall, Towing Business
Steve Neavling ticklethewire.com FBI agents investigating bribery, fraud, extortion and money laundering at Trenton City Hall are probing the owner of a scrap auto and towing business, the New Jersey Times reports. Feds investigating Mayor Tony Mack’s administration are examining business dealings the city had with Nedal Abuhumoud, owner of Acres Auto in Hamilton and…
Justice Department Defends Suit Against Apple, Publishers
Steve Neavling ticklethewire.com The Department of Justice defended its suit against Apple and book publishers, saying they colluded to raise e-book prices, the New York Times reports. The government sued Apple and five publishers and reached settlement with the Hachette Book Group, Simon & Schuster and HarperCollins in an attempt to reduce e-book prices. But Apple…
FBI Sued for Documents Related to Muslim-American Groups and Agent Training
Steve Neavling ticklethewire.com A government watchdog group is suing the FBI to force the release details of its contacts with American-Muslim groups that urged the the bureau to stop using certain counter-terrorism materials for agents that they deemed offensive, the Washington Examiner reports. At issue is a Feb. 8, 2012, meeting between Muslim organizations FBI…
Some Inmates Would Be Released Early Under Justice Department Plan
Steve Neavling ticklethewire.com The Justice Department is endorsing a plan that would speed up the release dates for well-behaved prisoners in a plan aimed at saving on detention costs, NPR reports. Strapped for cash, the Justice Department is looking for ways to handle the overcrowded federal prison system that handles 218,000 inmates. Under the plan,…
Holder to Announce Major Reforms for New Orleans Police Department
Steve Neavling ticklethewire.com U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder will announce an array of reforms in the New Orleans Police Department on Tuesday as part of the most far-reaching consent decree of its kind, the New Orleans Times-Picayune reports. A monitor and federal judge will direct the mandated oversight spelled out in a 125-page agreement for…
ICE Investigates Human Smuggling After Deadly Crash
Steve Neavling ticklethewire.com Immigration and Custom Enforcement agents are investigating human smuggling after a truck packed with illegal immigrants crashed in rural southern Texas, killing 17 and injuring nine, the Associated Press reports. Of the those killed, 11 were male and three female. At least two were children. They came from Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras,…