Lake County News,California – Gov. Newsom activates National Guard to bolster state’s COVID-19 testing capacity

Betty Q. Hixson

California National Guard have been activated to assist communities with test sites as the Omicron variant of COVID-19 continues to spread. California National Guard personnel are shown here arriving at Antioch Community Center testing site on Friday, January 7, 2022. Photo courtesy of the Governor’s Office. Gov. Gavin Newsom on […]

Ocean County NJ police prohibited from using legal marijuana

Betty Q. Hixson

TOMS RIVER — Ocean County sheriff’s officers are prohibited from using marijuana when off duty, despite a memo from acting New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin asserting that they can.  Sheriff Michael G. Mastronardy has informed his police unions that there will be “ramifications” if an officer is discovered to have […]

Spokane County shifts course on criminal justice reform program, despite concerns from Prosecutor’s Office

Betty Q. Hixson

Spokane County appears to be shifting course on a significant, but stalled, criminal justice reform program. On Tuesday, the commissioners gave Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich permission to find a third-party vendor to run a supported release pilot program in Spokane County District Court. The decision followed a Spokesman-Review report published less […]

Monroe County voters to elect new sheriff

Betty Q. Hixson

This year’s election season has kicked off, with candidates for some local, state and national offices filing  paperwork last week to get their names on ballots for the May primary. While midterm elections do not include voting for president or governor, 2022 will feature some high-profile races, including for Congress, the Indiana […]

County denounces ‘pure political move’

Betty Q. Hixson

EDWARDSVILLE – Legal action against a new state law creating judicial subdistricts in Madison County could be filed within a week, according to Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Haine. At a special meeting Thursday the county board voted overwhelmingly to condemn the state law signed Jan. 7 by Gov. J.B. […]