By Erika Aguilar |Staff Writer| In light of recent police shootings, states across the country are pushing for the passing of the 'Blue Lives Matter' (BLM) bill. This bill will increase criminal penalties for crimes committed against officers to provide protection for law enforcement and prevent threats against them. Police believe they are being victimized by criminals and targeted as a hate group for the fact that they are the authority. The bill could possibly make an effort to reduce that amount by providing protection to officers, especially In states and cities such as San Bernardino, which have a high rate of homicides. Police would have more protection in regards to … [Read more...] about Blue Lives Matter Law
deaths
Deaths under police custody need accountability
By Rachel Rundengan |Staff Writer| A woman found dead in jail, a man suddenly immobilized shortly after his arrest, a man with a medical condition found on the floor of a jail due to negligence, a girl arrived at a juvenile detention only to be taken to a morgue the next day. Death, while in police custody, is needless to say, always very controversial. “A total of 4,446 inmate[s] died in 2013 – an increase of 131 deaths from 2012,” according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics Report on Arrest-Related Deaths (ARD). When ARD occur, many different reactions take place within law enforcement, medical community, and public. Though they might come up with various interesting … [Read more...] about Deaths under police custody need accountability
Environmental injustice: Low-income targets
By Marlyn Rodriguez |Managing Editor| People with lower economic status are exposed to different environmental surroundings that may be hazardous to their health. Cities surrounding the Interstate 710 freeway in Los Angeles are some of the most polluted cities in the nation with over a million residents who are low income minorities. Among the cities surrounding the I-710 lie the cities of Bell, Cudahy and Maywood, which are the most populated cities in Los Angeles County. These cities are also primarily made up of low-income Latino communities. There are about 2,000 deaths in the Los Angeles area as a result of high diesel emissions. The Natural Resources Defense Council … [Read more...] about Environmental injustice: Low-income targets
Prescription drugs No. 1 killer in US
By Marlyn Rodriguez |Opinions Editor| More than 100 people die every day from prescription drug addiction in the United States. Doctors write approximately 300 million drug prescriptions a year. In 2010, doctors prescribed enough pain medication to provide a dosage to all the adults in the U.S. every four hours for a month, according to The Los Angeles Times and The Daily Beast. Drug addiction claims more lives than gunshot wounds, car accidents or suicide, according to the The Daily Beast. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) states that in 2010 30,000 of the 38,000 deaths due to drug overdose were unintentional. The Huffington Post compares that number to the 34,000 deaths from … [Read more...] about Prescription drugs No. 1 killer in US