public safety

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Convicted Murderer Is Now a Public Safety Board Member

Local DA, others condemn convicted murderer Kyle Hedquist's appointments in Salem, Oregon

(Newser) - An Oregon city's decision to give a convicted murderer a seat at the table on public safety oversight has triggered a sharp backlash. Kyle Hedquist, who was convicted in the 1995 killing of a 19-year-old and later freed after a sentence commutation, has been appointed to Salem's Community...

Democrats Flip on Releasing 2024 Campaign Assessment

Only donors and top allies have been told of the findings

(Newser) - The Democratic National Committee has finished dissecting its rough 2024 cycle—but it's keeping the postmortem under wraps despite earlier saying the assessment would be made public. Chair Ken Martin, who said in February that the report "of course" would be released, is now opting for secrecy as...

NWS Scrambles to Replace Staff Cut by DOGE

Staffing shortages slow forecasts, threaten accuracy of winter storm warnings

(Newser) - The National Weather Service is scrambling to rebuild its workforce after steep staffing cuts but progress has been sluggish, raising concerns about the agency's ability to deliver timely and accurate forecasts during critical storm seasons. Despite receiving authorization in July to hire 450 new staff—after roughly 550 positions...

Houston Bans Riding E-Scooters at Night

People who violate the curfew could be fined $500

(Newser) - Houston's city council has voted unanimously to impose a curfew on e-scooters and similar devices, effective immediately, making it illegal to rent or ride them between 8pm and 4am within city limits. The new rule, passed 13-0 with four members absent, covers not just e-scooters but also ATVs, hoverboards,...

Terror Charge Filed in Horrific Chicago Train Attack

Victim was doused with gasoline and set alight

(Newser) - A man accused of setting a woman on fire aboard a Blue Line L train in downtown Chicago on Monday is facing a federal terrorism charge. Prosecutors say Lawrence Reed, 50, doused the victim with gasoline and set her alight in a shocking attack captured on surveillance video. Initial reports...

Illegal BASE Jumpers Head to El Capitan During Shutdown

Ranger furloughs leave visitors free to risk themselves, first responders

(Newser) - With the federal government shuttered, Yosemite National Park's usual restrictions have loosened in practice, giving thrill-seekers new opportunities. On the first day of the shutdown, climber Charles Winstead, perched on El Capitan, saw several BASE jumpers parachuting from the iconic, 3,000-foot cliff—a rare sight given the usual...

Trump Calls Off Deployment to San Francisco

President spoke with the mayor, as well as 'friends' in the city

(Newser) - President Trump has reversed course on a planned federal deployment to San Francisco this weekend. Both Trump and the city's Democratic mayor, Daniel Lurie, confirmed the shift on Thursday. "I spoke to Mayor Lurie last night and he asked, very nicely, that I give him a chance to...

Trump Declares Gun Regulators 'Essential' Amid Shutdown

Gun lobby pressure opens door for sales of restricted firearms like vintage machine guns

(Newser) - During one of the longest government shutdowns in US history, a pause on sales of some of the nation's most tightly regulated firearms has ended, thanks to relentless lobbying from the gun industry and Republican lawmakers. The Trump administration has now classified federal firearms examiners as "essential" workers,...

All 55M Foreign Visa Holders Will Now Be Scrutinized

Visa holders face new social media checks and possible revocations under Trump administration

(Newser) - The Trump administration is rolling out a sweeping plan to re-examine all 55 million active US visa holders, broadening its crackdown on both illegal and legal immigration, the Washington Post reports. According to a State Department statement, the new "continuous vetting" process will allow officials to revoke visas...

Trump Asks West Virginia for National Guard Troops

Governor says his state 'is proud to stand' with the president in ordering deployment to DC

(Newser) - West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced Saturday he's sending 300 to 400 state National Guard members to Washington, DC, at the president's request to support federal efforts at policing the nation's capital. "West Virginia is proud to stand with President Trump in his effort to...

Illinois Is Latest to Balk at AI Therapy 'Horror Stories'

New law in Illinois targets unlicensed chatbot therapy, marketing of services

(Newser) - Illinois has enacted a new law barring the use of artificial intelligence in mental health therapy, making it the latest state to place restrictions on AI-powered chatbots in this space. The legislation , which took effect last week, prohibits licensed therapists from using AI to make treatment decisions or communicate...

Ex-Boeing Employees: Don't Fly on the Max

Safety expert says concerns that arose 5 years ago are 'still there'

(Newser) - Boeing sells merchandise with the phrase, "If it's not Boeing, I'm not going." It's a nod to the company's reputation of old, when it was "known for building the safest, most advanced planes in the sky," per CNN . That reputation has dissolved...

SCOTUS Gives White House a Big Win on Immigration

Justices say GOP-led states lacked standing to sue over who should get deported

(Newser) - The Supreme Court on Friday rejected a Republican-led challenge to a Biden administration policy that prioritizes the deportation of immigrants who are deemed to pose the greatest risk to public safety. The justices voted 8-1 to allow the long-blocked policy to take effect, recognizing there is not enough money or...

These Are the Safest States Amid the Pandemic
10 Safest, Least Safe
States in US
Oct 26, 2021 11:27 AM CDT

10 Safest, Least Safe States in US

Vermont is No. 1 and Louisiana is last

(Newser) - WalletHub usually considers a wide range of factors in determining the safest states in America, including the number of assaults, mass shootings, and terrorist attacks. This year, with the coronavirus pandemic still in play, it's also considering the percentage of residents who are fully vaccinated. That's one...

This Is the Safest City in the Whole Country

WalletHub ranked 182 US cities based on community, financial safety

(Newser) - If you have a deep fear of natural disasters, avoid Oklahoma City , which was ranked the worst US city for such disasters in a new report by WalletHub . On the natural-disaster front, Dover, Delaware, emerged as the safest, but not the safest overall. WalletHub used data from the Census Bureau,...

Residents Won't Fund Cops. Now, Untrained Volunteers

Oregon town to be policed by locals without training, who can ID criminals by 'way they dress'

(Newser) - A small town in Oregon plans to have a volunteer watch group monitor security cameras for criminals since residents refuse to raise taxes to fund a police force. Sheriff's deputies patrol Cave Junction, a town of 2,000 along US 199, during regular work hours Monday to Friday. At...

One US City Will Now Scan Its Subway Commuters

Devices in LA Metro will 'quickly and unobtrusively screen individuals for concealed threats'

(Newser) - All humans emit body waves, but if they're concealing an object under their clothes, that object blocks the waves—exactly what the Transportation Security Administration is banking on with the installation of the country's first body scanners in a transit agency. The subway system getting the first crack...

Scientists Warn of Chemicals in Pizza Boxes, Carpet Care

Common 'PFAS' come under new scrutiny

(Newser) - A group of environmental scientists issued a warning Friday about commonly used chemicals known as PFASs. The chemicals, which go by the longer names of polyfluoroalkyl and perfluoroalkyl, are found in everything from pizza boxes to carpet treatments, reports the New York Times . "If you got a pastry with...

'Don't Jerk and Drive' Ad Too Racy for South Dakota

Critics thought safety ad's use of 'jerk' was too close to masturbation term

(Newser) - "Hilarious," "provocative," even "genius" is how some are describing South Dakota's latest public safety campaign, but they can now add "gone" to that list. The state pulled its "Don't Jerk and Drive" initiative—meant to remind drivers not to abruptly pull...

Struggling US Cities Turn Off the Lights

Towns nationwide get a little darker

(Newser) - For a number of cities across the US, troubled local economies have led to dark times—literally. From Oregon to Illinois to California, struggling towns have found themselves forced to turn off, and often completely remove, local streetlights. And with winter shortening daylight hours, citizens are none too pleased by...

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