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☆ Scotland’s new hate crime law was meant to protect against prejudice. It ended up sowing further division
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( Amy Cassidy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Scotland’s Hate Crime and Public Order Act came into force last week, a contentious law that expands existing legislation to include transgender identity as a protected characteristic from hate crimes. In the first week of the law’s enactment, a feminist group, “Let Women Speak,” organized a rally against the legislation in Scotland’s capital on Saturday. Another major concern for those who oppose the Hate Crime Act is the supposed lack of clarity on what type of behavior could constitute an offense under the new law. But 25-year-old Scottish trans student Lucy (who asked not to be identified by her real name due to concerns about continued online abuse), said the new law does not reassure her. Scotland’s proposed reforms would have allowed transgender people to self-identify, without the need for a medical diagnosis or certificate.

Persons: –, – Humza Yousaf, ”, JK Rowling, Elon Musk, Joe Rogan, Jane Barlow, ’, Susan Smith, “, ’ ” Smith, Siobhan Brown, Rowling, Harry Potter, Yousaf, J, Rowling waded, Angela Weiss, ” Vic Valentine, Lucy, Scotland’s, hadn’t, Musk, Ian Miles Cheong Organizations: CNN, ” Scottish, Reuters, Scottish, Women Scotland, Community Safety, Police Scotland, BBC, Getty, Scottish Trans, Public Affairs, Equality Network, Scottish Police Federation, ” Police, Courier, PA Media, Police Locations: Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom, British, Scottish, Malaysian

The situation was so dire last year at one Walgreens store in San Francisco, employees resorted to padlocking frozen foods. The effort to undo some aspects of Prop 47 comes amid a broader check on some other liberal crime enforcement policies in America. Police data shows that larceny theft, which includes retail theft and car break-ins, is down 37% from this time last year. On Tuesday, San Francisco voters approved two ballot measures spearheaded by Breed. Last September, the state announced it would be sending $267 million to law enforcement agencies throughout the state to tackle organized retail theft.

Persons: Gavin Newsom, It’s, ”, Jason Henry, “, Marlene Harden’s, Harden, Chloe, …, ” Harden, Marlene Harden's, Thanh Tran, Tran, Ella Baker, CNN Lenore Anderson, ” Anderson, Richard Bailey of Coronado, Breed, Tayfun, –, Miracle, don’t, We’re, Newsom, He’s Organizations: San Francisco CNN —, Republican, Democratic, Democratic Gov, CNN, Public, Institute of California, state’s Department of Justice, Walgreens, Walmart, ” Walmart, Westfield San Francisco Centre, New York Times, “ Walgreens, ”, National Retail Federation, Target, Ella Baker Center for Human, Attorneys, San Francisco Mayor London, San Francisco Mayor London Breed, Anadolu Agency, San Francisco Chronicle, Police, “, San Francisco, Breed Locations: San, California, San Francisco, America, Oregon’s, San Diego County, Francisco, Texas, South Carolina

CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago won't renew its ShotSpotter contract and plans to stop using the controversial gunshot detection system later this year, Mayor Brandon Johnson’s office announced Tuesday. The system, which relies on an artificial intelligence algorithm and network of microphones to identify gunshots, has been criticized for inaccuracy, racial bias and law enforcement misuse. Chicago's $49 million contract with SoundThinking, a public safety technology company, expires Friday. The city plans to wind down use of ShotSpotter technology by late September, according to city officials. The Stop ShotSpotter Coalition praised the announcement but said Chicago should end the use of the technology sooner.

Persons: Brandon Johnson’s, ”, didn't, Johnson, Larry Snelling Organizations: CHICAGO, Associated Press, SoundThinking, “, ”, AP, Chicago, ShotSpotter Coalition Locations: Chicago

☆ Rising crime risks turning Oakland into a ‘ghost town.’ Newsom is sending in reinforcements
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

The aim: to crack down on crime, including vehicle theft, retail theft and violent crime. The Oakland NAACP branch demanded elected leaders take action to ensure public safety, especially in predominately Black neighborhoods. Denny’s is shuttering its only location in Oakland after more than 54 years, citing public safety concerns. Motor vehicle theft increased by 29% and, since 2019, motor vehicle theft has shot upward by 105%, the study found. This variation “suggests local factors are becoming more significant.”There’s no easy answer to explaining why crime has increased in Oakland.

Persons: Gavin Newsom, ” Newsom, Nigel Jones isn’t, Jones, restauranter, there’s, ”, Shari Godinez, it’ll, ” It’s, Justin Sullivan, Kaiser Permenente, Kaiser, Clorox, Adam Gelb, Cindy Varela, “, she’s, Sheng Thao, Nigel Jones, “ I’m, Veronica Miracle, Jack Hannah, Kevin Flower, Jeffrey Kopp, Elizabeth Joseph Organizations: New, New York CNN, Oakland, San, Patrol, Kingston, Oakland NAACP, CNN, Criminal, Police, Zona Latina, . Solutions Police, Business Locations: New York, America’s, Oakland, San Francisco Chronicle, California, United States, Jamaica, Calabash, ”, Black, downtowns, Koreatown Northgate, American, “

☆ Wealthy Silicon Valley county becomes first to declare loneliness a public health emergency
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-04 | by ( Alia Shoaib | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A Silicon Valley county declared loneliness to be a public health emergency. San Mateo County found that 45% of its residents said they were suffering from loneliness. AdvertisementA wealthy Silicon Valley county in California has become the first in the US to declare loneliness a public health emergency. Stephen Lam/Getty ImagesIn San Mateo County, Canepa has proposed several ideas to combat the problem, including making neighborhoods more walkable. San Mateo County, with over 700,000 residents, in the San Francisco Bay Area, includes part of Silicon Valley.

Persons: —, David Canepa, Vivek Murthy, Murthy, Stephen Lam, Canepa, Jennifer Steele Organizations: Facebook, YouTube, Electronic Arts, Service, Supervisors, NBC News, San Mateo, NBC, San Locations: San Mateo County, Silicon, California, California's San Mateo County, Japan, New York, San Mateo's, San Francisco Bay, Francisco, Silicon Valley

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Several elected leaders in Oregon declared a state of emergency on Tuesday for downtown Portland over the public health and public safety crisis fueled by fentanyl. The declaration is a recommendation from a governor-established task force that met for several months last year to determine ways to rejuvenate downtown Portland. The effort also extends the Portland Police Bureau’s partnership with Oregon State Police to jointly patrol downtown streets for fentanyl sales. At the state level, Oregon lawmakers have introduced a new bill that would undo a key part of the state’s drug decriminalization law. Public opinion has soured on it as public drug use has become more visible because of growing homelessness.

Persons: Tina Kotek, Ted Wheeler, Jessica Vega Pederson, ” Kotek, Mike Myers, Nathan Reynolds, Kotek, Joe Biden, Xi Jinping Organizations: Oregon Gov, Staff, Portland, Portland’s Community Safety Division, state’s, Resilience, Emergency Management, Portland Police, Oregon State Police Locations: PORTLAND, Oregon, Portland, Multnomah, Portland’s, Narcan, China, America, Mexico, U.S

☆ She says she gave birth to a child after a Lyft driver raped her in 2019. Now she’s suing
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Clare Duffy | Jennifer Korn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

Orlando, Florida CNN —A Florida woman sued Lyft earlier this month, alleging that she was raped by her Lyft driver in 2019 and that the assault resulted in the birth of her third child. Separately, at least a handful of Lyft drivers accused of sexual assault have been convicted in criminal cases. Genetic testing later confirmed with “99.9999999998%” certainty that the Lyft driver is the child’s father, according to the complaint. The Lyft driver rolled down the passenger side window, and Plaintiff confirmed the Lyft driver was there for her,” the complaint states. Lyft’s continuous criminal record monitoring began in April 2019, the month of Means’ alleged rape.

Persons: Lyft, Tabatha Means, “, Uber —, Uber, ” Lyft, ” Means, Means, she’d, ” Tabatha, John General, Deborah Brunswick, ” Rachel Abrams, Peiffer Wolf, ” Abrams, wouldn’t, … I’ve, ”, Abrams, ’ Organizations: Florida CNN, CNN, Court, ADT, Social, US, Department, RAINN Locations: Orlando, Florida, California

☆ A 27-year-old Berkeley city council member wanted to build more affordable housing. Relentless harassment from 'left NIMBYs' pushed him to resign.
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-27 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | Eliza Relman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Read previewWhen Rigel Robinson was elected to the Berkeley City Council in 2018 — just months after graduating from UC Berkeley — he was determined to tackle the city's housing crisis as its youngest-ever council member. As an undergrad serving on Berkeley's student government, Robinson grew passionate about building more affordable student housing in the notoriously expensive city. Meanwhile, the university is facing a severe student housing shortage amid a broader affordability crisis. But Robinson's advocacy for housing in People's Park was met with a wave of harassment from residents who wanted to keep the park as is. Earlier this month, the conflict escalated as hundreds of police officers arrested dozens of protesters and cleared tents at People's Park.

Persons: —, Rigel Robinson, Robinson, Gavin Newsom, it's, hasn't, Terry Taplin, he'll, what's Organizations: Service, Berkeley City Council, UC Berkeley —, Business, Economic, Gov, Berkeley, City of Locations: Berkeley, People's, Berkeley's, West Coast, YIMBYs, City, City of Berkeley

☆ How T-Mobile is taking a leading role in the 5G revolution
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Sponsor Post | Created Insider Studios With T-Mobile | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

T-Mobile's nationwide standalone 5G network helps power these efforts. The common thread of these varied scenarios might surprise you: 5G, the "fifth generation" of wireless network technology. T-Mobile is the only provider of a standalone nationwide 5G network, putting it in a prime position to shake up that paradigm in the US. Uses for all industriesT-Mobile's 5G technology can be applied across all industries, for an ever-expanding number of use cases. Find out more about how T-Mobile's 5G technology is powering change across industries.

Persons: —, Parvin Mahajan, Mahajan, Heather Nelson, Rod Laver, Will Townsend, Organizations: Mobile, Children, Boston Children's Hospital, Drivers, Infosys, Rod Laver Arena, Insider Studios Locations: Bellevue , Washington

☆ Authorities investigating online threats of violence against Jewish students at Cornell University, school’s president says
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-29 | by ( Elizabeth Wolfe | Artemis Moshtaghian | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —Cornell University police are investigating a series of antisemitic threats made against the school’s Jewish community in online posts over the weekend, its president announced. “The FBI is aware of the threats made to Cornell University’s Jewish community,” the agency said in a statement. “The virulence and destructiveness of antisemitism is real and deeply impacting our Jewish students, faculty and staff, as well as the entire Cornell community. This cannot be what defines us at Cornell.”Cornell senior Zoe Bernstein, who is Jewish, told CNN she was heartbroken to read the antisemitic posts, which she said have spread fear and distress throughout the campus’ Jewish community. “It’s really, really hard to focus on anything other than all of this,” she said.

Persons: —, Martha E, Pollack, Kathy Hochul, ”, Hochul, David Bauder, ” Hochul, Biden, Cornell, “, Cornell’s Jewish Hillel, Letitia James, ” Pollack, ” Cornell, Zoe Bernstein, … It’s, Bernstein, “ It’s Organizations: CNN — Cornell University, Center for Jewish, Cornell, Cornell Daily Sun, Harvard, University of Pennsylvania, Defamation League, New York State, New York Gov, Cornell’s Center, Jewish, New York State Police Department, Cornell University's Center, FBI, Cornell’s Jewish, ” Cornell University Police Department, New York, CNN Locations: Israel, Ithaca, Cornell, Ithaca , New York, Syracuse

☆ Which U.S. Cities Are the Safest?
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Michael Kolomatsky | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

To find the most and least safe places in the United States, a new study by WalletHub scored 182 cities (including at least two of the largest in each state) across three categories of metrics. The “home and community safety” category examined crime statistics, police and rescue workers per capita, traffic and pedestrian safety, among other data. “Financial safety” scored each city on employment, job security, credit ratings, savings rates and the like. For natural disasters, the capital city of Dover, Del. Two cities in “Tornado Alley,” Oklahoma City and Wichita, Kan., had the highest risks for natural disasters, followed by six cities in California.

Persons: WalletHub, ” Organizations: Memphis, “, Oklahoma City, Wichita Locations: United States, Irvine, Calif, Louis, Detroit, Birmingham, Ala, , Kansas City, Mo, Dover, Del, —, Wichita, Kan, California

☆ Nashua, New Hampshire is the safest city in America, new study says—here's the full top 10 list
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( Celia Fernandez | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

In October, WalletHub released its annual ranking of the safest cities in the United States. Nashua, New Hampshire is the safest city in AmericaNashua ranked as the No. Nashua, New Hampshire ranked as the safesty city in the U.S., according to WalletHub. Columbia, Maryland, is in Howard County, which has seen a decline in violent and property crimes since 2018. Columbia, Maryland ranked as the second safest city in the U.S., according to WalletHub.

Persons: WalletHub, Ariz Organizations: U.S . Census Bureau, of Labor Statistics, FBI, America Nashua, Nashua , New Hampshire, Gilbert, U.S, The, Maryland ., Columbia, Istock, Getty Locations: U.S, United States, Nashua , New Hampshire, America, Hillsborough County , New Hampshire, Nashua, America . Nashua, Massachusetts, Boston, Concord , New Hampshire, Nashua , New, America Nashua, N.H . Columbia, Md, South Burlington , Vt, Warwick, R.I . Portland , Maine Casper, Wyo, Yonkers, N.Y, Burlington , Vt, Scottsdale, Ariz, Columbia , Maryland, The Maryland, Baltimore, Columbia, Maryland, Maryland . Columbia , Maryland, Howard County

☆ Biden says the gun safety movement has reached a ‘tipping point’ as he marks one year since passage of major legislation
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( Priscilla Alvarez Sam Fossum Donald Judd | Priscilla Alvarez | Sam Fossum | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

The administration has also implemented two dozen executive actions to try to reduce gun violence. But in the absence of congressional action, the White House has turned its focus to state action to try to reduce gun violence. Ten years later, gun violence remains a challenging issue for the White House. But since the law was signed last year, further action on gun violence has stalled in Congress. But gun violence rates more broadly in our cities are going down this year for the first time in a long time,” Murphy told CNN.

Persons: Joe Biden, ” Biden, Biden, –, Barack Obama, “ You’ve, we’ve, he’s, Democratic Sen, Chris Murphy, “ I’m, Sen, Chuck, Schumer, ”, Murphy, Richard Blumenthal, Mark Barden, Sandy, “, Everytown, Giffords, it’s, ” Murphy, Miguel Cardona, Xavier Becerra Organizations: CNN, National Safer Communities, Safer, White, University of Hartford, Sandy Hook Elementary, Capitol, Democratic, Republicans, Democrats, Elementary, Federal Emergency Management, Department of Health, Human Services, Department, Education, of, Mental Health, HHS Locations: Connecticut, United States, Newton , Connecticut, Nashville, Buffalo , New York, Uvalde , Texas, Friday’s

☆ Fledgling social media sites are competing to be the next Twitter as users abandon the legacy platform. These are the frontrunners.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Gabor Cselle, co-founder & CEO is a former Group Product Manager at Twitter. Funding: T2 has raised $1.1 million from angel investors, Cselle told Insider. "I was like, 'maybe now's the time,'" Cselle told Insider, who reached out and partnered with Oh on their new build. "Usually the safety has come after something bad happens," Oh told Insider. The T2 website name will change so as not to evoke Terminator associations, Cselle told Insider.

☆ Casino hub Macau heads toward business as usual after COVID tests find no new infections
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] Gaming machines are seen at the casino of MGM Cotai in Macau, China February 13, 2018. REUTERS/Bobby YipHONG KONG, Nov 7 (Reuters) - Authorities in Macau said the world's biggest casino hub, blighted by a COVID-19 outbreak, is on track to return to relative normality after two rounds of mass COVID-19 tests last week found no new infections. The Chinese territory had been observing COVID-19 safety measures without any strict lockdowns until it found an imported coronavirus case on Oct. 26. "The current round of the epidemic has been effectively controlled... Community safety of Macao has been safeguarded," the government said. People crossing the border still require testing for the virus, and all international arrivals are subject to seven days' hotel quarantine.

But unbeknownst to this good Samaritan, he was being watched by an Amazon Ring doorbell camera on the front porch, reported The Washington Post. Surveillance proponents will claim this act of violence had nothing to do with Ring and other networked doorbell cameras. Surveillance proponents will claim this act of violence had nothing to do with Ring and other networked doorbell cameras. But we have to face reality: Blanketing our neighborhoods in surveillance devices that promote a culture of suspicion makes all of us less safe. It even went so far as to launch an actual TV show, “Ring Nation,” on Amazon-owned MGM, featuring viral video from Ring cameras and other surveillance devices.

☆ 40 justice organizations and media watchdog groups call on top Twitter advertisers to demand Elon Musk adhere to brand-protecting community safety rules or stop advertising on the platform altogether
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-02 | by ( Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

40 nonprofits and advocacy groups sent a letter to top Twitter advertisers in light of Musk's takeover. The groups said brands like HBO and Amazon should push Musk to embrace content moderation or suspend their ads. Musk has expressed contempt for both ads and moderation and said he aims to decrease Twitter's reliance on ad revenue. Tesla competitors Ford and GM have already suspended ads on the platform since Musk's takeover. Musk has previously expressed contempt for both ads and content moderation and, in promises to investors, said he aims to decrease Twitter's reliance on ad revenue.

☆ Asian American groups criticize Seattle's anti-Asian hate budget reduction in new proposal
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-28 | by ( Brahmjot Kaur | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

Asian American organizations are calling out the 2023 budget put forth by Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell, who proposed reducing the city’s fund to combat anti-Asian hate by nearly half. The budget proposal, announced last month, would reduce the city’s hate crime funding from $400,000 in the 2022 adopted budget to $167,000 in the 2023 budget. Manjusha Kulkarni, co-founder of Stop AAPI Hate, said cities cutting funding for Asian American communities is concerning. Anti-Asian hate crimes rose exponentially since the beginning of the pandemic, increasing 339% in 2021, according to data from the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism. “Anti-Asian hate crimes, which surged in the past two years due to the COVID pandemic, still continue and appear in national news.

☆ In one North Carolina community, mental health workers respond to 911 calls
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-07 | by ( Nadia Kounang | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

As one recent caller to the 911 center in Durham, North Carolina, said: “I feel kind of dangerous to myself. It’s often linked to someone who is unhoused and dealing with substance use and mental health problems. The most significant concern: a lack of training and awareness from police on how to deal with mental health issues. The KFF CNN Mental Health Survey was conducted by SSRS from July 28 through August 9 among a random national sample of 2,004 adults. Mental health already carries a stigma, and the presence of law enforcement officers in marked cars can add to that.

☆ A sentence that never ends: How probation kept a Pennsylvania man locked up through the pandemic — even after his release date
▼ + stars: | 2022-02-04 | by ( Charles R. Davis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +39 min

He was still a teenager when, a year after his school went under, he graduated to a new form of state supervision. Inmates walk the hallways during a media tour of the Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, August 7, 2015. And such violations have bloated the probation system, with roughly 250,000 people now subject to restrictions on their freedom. Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner listens during a press conference announcing Danielle Outlaw as the new Police Commissioner on December 30, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania State Senator Katie Muth was elected in the 2018 "blue wave," defeating the incumbent Republican.

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