Oregon State

Colorado State

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David Heitz

A bill quietly introduced this spring in the Colorado legislature to decriminalize the possession of drug paraphernalia obtained by harm reductionists has become law. As low-key as the legislation was introduced, the bill was signed into law without fanfare June 6. It garnered little to no media attention.

Colorado legalizes needles, pipes for meth and crack if obtained by harm reduction group

Salem, OH

Northern Kentucky Tribune

Every day, 8-year-old Emma sits in a small garden outside her grandmother’s home in Salem, Ohio, writing letters to her mom and sometimes singing songs her mother used to sing to her.

Thousands of parents die of overdoses; advocates say their kids need more help

Georgia State

Crisp County, GA

Daily Coffee Press

On Wednesday, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation announced the arrest of 24 individuals following Operation Shyne Down. The GBI and other agencies served a total of 120 warrants on the suspects involved in the investigation, which targeted the criminal street gang G-Shyne Bloods and their involvement in criminal activities in Crisp County, Georgia.

Operation Results in More than 20 Charged with Gang Offenses, RICO, and more

Denver, CO

In addition to collecting more than 8,000 used needles in the past year from Denver drug users, the Harm Reduction Action Center passed out 10,000 meth pipes and “snort kits,” according to a newsletter sent to its supporters Thursday. They also connected about 1,700 people to medical, mental health and substance abuse treatment.

Denver group hands out 10K meth pipes, ‘snort kits,’ connects 1,700 to treatment annually

Florida State

Jacksonville, FL

Jacksonville Today

Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters said he will consider more DUI patrols if voters legalize recreational marijuana use in Florida. Voters will consider Amendment 3 in November. It would allow adults 21 or older to possess, purchase or use marijuana products and marijuana accessories for non-medical purposes.

More DUI patrols possible if marijuana issue passes

A historic marker could be erected to honor the victims of the racist mass shooting at the Dollar General store in Jacksonville’s New Town neighborhood nearly a year ago. If approved by the Jacksonville City Council, a marker would be installed at Kings Road and Canal Street on Aug. 25, a day before the first anniversary of the shooting, when a white gunman took the lives of three Black people.

Memorial considered to honor Dollar General victims

Ohio State

The Lantern

On Tuesday, licensed Ohio dispensaries began legally selling non-medical marijuana to consumers; however, the drug’s possession, growth and/or usage are still prohibited on Ohio State’s campus. Credit: Jefferee Woo/Tampa Bay Times/TNS [Original caption: Four citizen-led petitions with proposals to update Dallas’ charter hit the 20,000 valid signature threshold to make it on the Nov. 5 election ballot, including one that would ban police officers from arresting or citing people carrying less than four ounces of marijuana.] As of Tuesday, students 21 and older can now legally purchase marijuana in Ohio.

Dispensary sales of recreational marijuana began Tuesday; possession and usage still prohibited on Ohio State’s campus

Virginia State

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community_voice

Kentucky Vibes.net

Disclaimer: This article was written with the help of A.I. software. On July 28, 2024, a TikTok video posted by Erica W., known as @tasteofmelanin on the platform, garnered significant attention after she exposed disturbing racist decorations in an Airbnb rental. The incident occurred in a rental property that Erica had booked, although the exact location remains unspecified. The video has since gone viral, prompting widespread concern and leading to the removal of the listing from Airbnb's platform.

Airbnb Listing Taken Down After Black Woman Finds Hanging Monkeys and Cotton Used As Decor

Uncovering Florida

With hurricane season posing a consistent threat six months out of the year, who would not like a little help getting their home ready for the harsh weather to come? Senate Bill 7028: My Safe Florida Home Program, approved by Governor DeSantis on April 24, 2024, and effective as of July 1, appropriates a one-time total of $200 million from 2024 to 2025 for the purpose of funding hurricane mitigation grants and inspections, as well as outreach and administration costs, to support homeowners in Florida.

DeSantis Signs New Bill Giving $200 Million To Homeowners

More dangerous substances are entering the Denver drug supply, Harm Reduction Action Center warned in a newsletter this week. “The Iron Law of Prohibition posits that as law enforcement becomes more intense, the potency of prohibited substances increases,” HRAC Executive Director Lisa Raville wrote in the newsletter. That is exactly what is happening, she said.

Dangerous substances entering Denver drug supply

South Carolina State

Colleton County, SC

Explore Beaufort SC

Some beachgoers were in for a surprise this week when a bizarre looking prehistoric fish washed ashore in Colleton County along Edisto Beach at Edisto Beach State Park. It turned out to be an atlantic sturgeon.

Rare Atlantic sturgeon washes ashore on South Carolina beach

Newark, NJ

Morristown Minute

NEWARK, N.J. – An Essex County man has been charged with numerous offenses related to narcotics distribution and firearms trafficking. Kyrell Domnie, 39, of Irvington, known by the alias "Fly Ky," was charged by complaint and appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Cathy L. Waldor in Newark federal court on July 17, 2024. He remains detained following the hearing.

Convicted Felon Faces Multiple Narcotics and Firearms Charges

New Jersey State

New Brunswick, NJ

NEWARK, N.J. -A Middlesex County man, Kenneth Strickland, 57Kenneth Strickland, 57, from New Brunswick, has been convicted of his involvement in a large-scale conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and heroin. U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced that Strickland was found guilty on July 29, 2024, of all six counts in a superseding indictment.

NJ Man Convicted in Large-Scale Fentanyl & Heroin Trafficking

The Denver City Council accepted Monday two grants totaling $24.5 million from the state of Colorado to pay for the homeless navigation campus it opened last year. One council member wants answers as to why wraparound services at the campus aren't up and running.

Denver homeless hotel wins $24.5 million grant, experiences wraparound services delay

Most people are guilty of doing it at least once in their lives, many people do it by accident, some do it because they find it fun, and others do it for reasons like honoring loved ones. Regardless of the situation, just about everyone has released a balloon. The difference is that intentionally releasing balloons is now illegal by House Bill 321’s standards.

Law Signed By DeSantis Makes It Illegal To Release Balloons In Florida

Appling County, GA

A 40-year-old man from Appling County, Christopher Eric Stone, with a significant criminal history, was recently sentenced to over five years in prison after pleading guilty to possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, according to officials from the Department of Justice.

Georgia Man Sentenced to Over 5 Years for in Federal Prison for Meth Distribution

West Windsor Township, NJ

Princeton Junction resident faces severe penalties after being found guilty of evading $1.25 million in taxes over four years. Princeton Junction, N.J. - A Mercer County man has been found guilty of evading federal income taxes and filing false tax returns, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced Friday, August 16, 2024. Gordian A. Ndubizu, 69, of Princeton Junction, New Jersey, was convicted on August 15, 2024, on all eight counts of an indictment that included four counts of tax evasion and four counts of filing false tax returns for the tax years 2014 through 2017.

NJ Professor Guilty of Tax Evasion: $1.25M Fraud

Floyd County, GA

According to officials with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), three former officers from the Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC), one GDC investigator, and a former Floyd County deputy have been charged for the aggravated assault of an inmate at the Floyd County Jail.

Five Former Georgia Law Enforcement Officers Charged With Aggravated Assault Against Inmate

On the night in January 2023 when volunteers counted people experiencing homelessness in Denver, no shelter beds were available for individuals or families, according to data provided by the National Alliance to End Homelessness. More than 2,500 individuals and 181 families slept outside, the data showed.

State of homelessness in Denver: Full shelters, surge in older adults

Montana State

Wyoming State

WyoFile

To increase the genetic diversity of an island population of grizzly bears , Wyoming and Montana wildlife managers recently worked together to import fresh bloodlines into the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.

Two Montana grizzly bears trucked to Wyoming to bolster genetic diversity, help states’ delisting case

NewsBreak

Oregon insiders: Who's who in and around state government

The Oregon Youth Authority filled two key positions. Jamie Pang, who is OYA’s government relations and public policy manager, previously was senior environmental health program director...

Oregon insiders: Who's who in and around state government

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