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Is a national DNA database to fight crime in our future?
Bambi Majumdar Law Enforcement, Defense & SecurityAre we heading towards a de facto national DNA database to solve crimes? Will our future include a federal law requiring all U.S. residents to provide law enforcement with their DNA profile or volunteer genetic profiles to solve a crime? That future may not be too far away, because some agencies have used DNA information from third-party sites since April 2018. Since that time, DNA searches in consumer genetics databases have allowed law enforcement to make three dozen arrests. These arrests were made with the help of genetic matches between crime scene DNA samples and the genetic profiles shared on consumer platforms.
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National bail reform includes controversial measures of judicial discretion
Michelle R. Matisons Law Enforcement, Defense & SecurityIn late December, President Trump signed the First Step Act, which reforms aspects of the federal prison system and U.S. corrections culture. The legislation came after a prisoner’s strike earlier in 2018 urgently echoed ongoing reform efforts, including felony voting and measures to prevent harmful overcrowding. One way to avoid overcrowded facilities is cash bail reform. New York City and other large and racially diverse urban centers, like Houston, Atlanta, and Chicago, are involved in experimental bail reform efforts that ameliorate some of the worst aspects of the system, while retaining powerful, and potentially subjective, judicial influence.
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Small-business owners lukewarm — or worse — on new tax law
Seth Sandronsky Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementAt best, some owners of small firms are lukewarm about the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA) that Congress passed and President Trump signed. We turn to an April 10 public opinion poll from Businesses for Responsible Tax Reform. Among 501 small-business owners who were polled March 26-27 across the U.S. who have filed their taxes or are yet to finish their filing, nearly half, or 48%, reported that the new tax law did not make their profits or firms grow. About a quarter, or 24%, said the law caused them harm.
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Gunfight anatomy: The Richard Mendoza incident
Eric Lamberson Law Enforcement, Defense & SecurityWith only nine months left on probation, Richard Mendoza was not going back to prison. When the female officer told him to get out of the car, he knew the police would discover his pistol. Mendoza also knew that surprise was on his side, so he decided to take the chance. The Los Angeles Police Department released video of the officer-involved shooting that left the suspect, Mendoza, dead and one officer wounded in the leg. The shooting happened during a traffic stop in the North Hills area of Los Angeles on the night of July 27, 2018.
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Great new approaches to teaching — until they’re not
Patrick Gleeson EducationSocial science and technology research offer teachers many promising new ways of educating but not always with a lot of certainty about how well these new approaches work. New teaching methods are generally welcomed, but "innovative" past teaching practices have not always ended well. This is not intended to be a survey of all the teaching methods that didn't work out — that would be more like a book. Ample documentation of failure already abounds, such the federal government’s own 2018 study of 67 federally funded teaching innovations that shows that only 18 percent of them had a measurable positive impact.
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Exploring regulatory measures for CBD-infused products
Bambi Majumdar Food & BeverageCompanies selling CBD-infused food and beverages are currently lobbying for Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations. The legalization of hemp products by Congress is forcing the FDA to rewrite rules for most CBD products. There is a cloud of uncertainty over the emerging industry as regulations have shifted from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to the FDA. President Trump signed the Farm Bill, which removed hemp as a Schedule I controlled substance, into law in December, but the FDA still doesn't recognize the products as safe.
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Ending US involvement in Yemen: A current update on ceasing operations
Miranda Y. Brumbaugh Law Enforcement, Defense & SecurityThe U.S. military is one step closer to removing itself from the Yemeni Civil War. This conflict started in 2015 in the Arab country as a few weeks of civil unrest and fighting. Four years later, the war continues. Learn more about how this war began and where the monumental crisis stands today. Also find out if, in fact, the U.S. military will be withdrawing from activity in this devastating conflict.
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Tips for minimizing and avoiding bullying in the workplace
D. Albert Brannen Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementA few states are beginning to consider and/or pass anti-bullying laws to address inappropriate conduct in the workplace. Increasingly, plaintiffs' lawyers and courts are trying to advance novel theories to punish employers for failing to stop bullying or to create liability for employers. For example, even absent a specific anti-bullying law, employers could be liable under anti-discrimination laws and OSHA or similar state laws that impose on employers a "general duty" to maintain a safe workplace. With these trends emerging, employers need to develop programs and systems to prevent and avoid claims of bullying. Here are some steps employers should take to reduce bullying and resulting liability.
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What’s next for plane manufacturing after Boeing 737 Max 8 fallout?
Michelle R. Matisons ManufacturingOn March 10, a Boeing 737 Max 8 plane crashed in Ethiopia, killing 157 people. This happened only months after the same type of plane went down in Indonesia, killing 189 people. This leaves much cause for discussion regarding Boeing and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) complicity in the accidents. Was the 737 Max 8 rushed to market, resulting in hundreds of deaths? Crash victims’ families are filing lawsuits while the Justice Department probes the 737’s FAA certification, given the model’s deadly faults.
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The trends that will power the energy industry in 2019
Terri Williams Facilities & Grounds2019 promises to be a busy year for the energy sector. With the expansion of renewables, we can expect a plural energy future. However, many energy policies are in limbo. MultiBriefs spoke with several energy experts to find out some of the biggest energy trends for 2019.
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