AltWeeklies Wire
In California, Advocates Push for Reform of Parole Process to Ease Prison Strainnew
California's Board of Parole Hearings grants parole to less than one percent of eligible lifers. Now, as the state's prison system is packed to 200 percent capacity, some are arguing for reform to the parole system that's keeping lifers doing life.
Good Times Santa Cruz |
Curtis Cartier |
08-20-2009 |
Crime & Justice
New England Plays Catch-Up in the Green Energy Racenew
New England may be used to being the birthplace of revolutions, but in the case of wind power, that ship has sailed. States out West are far outproducing us, and will likely continue to. That said, we still could be a player in the nascent wind industry; we've just got some catching up to do.
Boston Phoenix |
Mike Miliard |
08-19-2009 |
Environment
Why Wind Power Blowsnew
Those who want to run straight for the first ridgetop and put up a turbine might want to slow down a second. In addition to its distinct advantages, wind power has real drawbacks that must be addressed before it is hailed as our global-warming savior.
Boston Phoenix |
Deirdre Fulton |
08-19-2009 |
Environment
Are Party Girls Starting to Catch Up With the Boys When it Comes to Meth Use?new
In the early 2000s, crystal meth abuse became so rampant in San Francisco that city officials formed the Crystal Methamphetamine Task Force in 2005, which focused on the gay men's party circuit. But while the boys got the attention, the drug appears to now be taking an increased toll on women. Has focusing on men meant that women users aren't getting enough information on reducing harm?
San Francisco Bay Guardian |
C. Nellie Nelson |
08-19-2009 |
Drugs
Happy New Year, Peggy Rebernew
I was a few days shy of 11 when in February 1970 a jury in my hometown of Lebanon, Pa., acquitted 27-year-old Art Root of the torture slaying of teenager Margaret Lynn "Peggy" Reber. Not long after that, Root moved away and the case has since been on ice. But no one, including me, ever forgot that time.
Pasadena Weekly |
Kevin Uhrich |
08-19-2009 |
Crime & Justice
Peggy Reber: Cold Casenew
A grand jury looks for a killer but only finds more villains in the 1968 Peggy Reber murder.
Philadelphia Weekly |
Kevin Uhrich and Martha Shaak |
08-19-2009 |
Crime & Justice
Tags: Peggy Reber, cold cases
A Small Town Revisits the Grisly Torture and Slaying Case of a Teenage Girlnew
Cliff Roland, who was chief of detectives with the Lebanon Police Department in 1968, believes Morris Purcell may have been involved in the Peggy Reber slaying. But if he was involved, Roland says, he wasn't the only one.
Philadelphia Weekly |
Martha Shaak and Kevin Uhrich |
08-19-2009 |
Crime & Justice
Your Guide to the Protests at Portland's Whole Foods Marketsnew
Whole Foods has protesters outside its local stores and on the Web over everything from charges of union busting to a tin ear by its CEO on the need for healthcare reform. Here's a guide to the latest gripes.
Willamette Week |
Allison Ferre |
08-19-2009 |
Business & Labor
What Happens to a Reporter's Twitter Identity After a Job Move?new
In Minnesota, a reporter leaving the Pioneer Press for the Star Tribune won't be able to take her blog or Twitter along with her.
City Pages (Twin Cities) |
Hart Van Denburg and Kevin Hoffman |
08-19-2009 |
Media
Marijuana Decriminalization Moves Forward on Several Fronts in Californianew
Reform advocates are making an intriguing argument: if state or local governments legalize and tax even a fraction of marijuana sales, the state could see billions of dollars in new annual revenue and reduced enforcement costs.
San Francisco Bay Guardian |
Sarah Phelan |
08-19-2009 |
Drugs
Animated Cartoon: Terror Yokelsnew
Lampooning the new trend in radical Islamist terror: rural cells of wannabe jihadis in the sticks.
Tags: War on terror, terrorism
Two Men Convicted of Murder in Connecticut Fight for a New Trialnew
There was no murder weapon found and no physical evidence to link Ron Taylor and George Gould to the murder. There was only circumstantial evidence and witness testimony. The two witnesses who put them away recanted their stories last week.
New Haven Advocate |
Betsy Yagla |
08-18-2009 |
Crime & Justice
Canada's Harmonized Sales Tax Will Hurt Alternative Healthnew
Peter Wood, a practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine, is just one of many B.C. health professionals who are going to have to start charging the 12-percent harmonized sales tax when it comes into effect next July.
The Georgia Straight |
Gail Johnson |
08-18-2009 |
Science
Wisconsin State Employee Union Says the Governor's Furlough Math is Faultynew
When Gov. Jim Doyle announced that all state employees would have to take mandatory 16-day furloughs to help balance the state budget, Diane Tieman was a little confused. The state doesn't pay her salary, so her forced vacation won't save Wisconsin taxpayers a dime
Isthmus |
Joe Tarr |
08-18-2009 |
Business & Labor
The Recession is Ending, but Only for Banks and Investors ... The Rest of Us Are Still Screwednew
It's over. The depression, recession, whatever you want to call it -- it's over. The corporate media told me so.
