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Durbin Meets With U.S. Sentencing Commission Chair As Commission Considers New Amendments To Sentencing Guidelines

2 years 3 months ago
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today met with Judge Carlton Reeves, Chair of the U.S. Sentencing Commission, to discuss policy priorities for the upcoming sentencing guideline amendment cycle. During their meeting, Durbin encouraged the Commission to consider an amendment to the Guidelines Manual that would prohibit the use of acquitted conduct in applying sentencing guidelines. This potential amendment would align with Durbin’s bipartisan Prohibiting Punishment for Acquitted Conduct Act , which would preclude any federal court from considering acquitted conduct at sentencing, except for the purposes of mitigation. Durbin and Judge Reeves also discussed reframing provisions used for sentencing youth, including by strengthening the existing downward departure at sentencing on the basis of an individual’s age at the time of the offense. “The U.S. Sentencing Commission is tasked with the

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St. Louis County Library Is Bringing RuPaul Here — to Talk Books

2 years 3 months ago
The most famous drag star in the U.S. is set to come to St. Louis — to talk literature. The St. Louis County Library Foundation will be hosting RuPaul on the book tour for his new memoir The House of Hidden Meanings, in which the drag queen discusses his rise to fame and growing up "Black, poor, and queer in a broken home to discovering the power of performance, found family, and self acceptance." He also shares the philosophy he's developed that allowed him to succeed over difficult circumstances.
Jessica Rogen

Granite City Police Department Celebrates Significant Drop in Crime Rates  

2 years 3 months ago
GRANITE CITY – The Granite City Police Department has something to express pride about today as it announces a remarkable 15-percent decrease in overall crime rates. Granite City Chief of Police Nick Novacich said this positive trend is a testament to the dedicated efforts of law enforcement officers and collaborative initiatives within the community. The latest statistics reveal a substantial decline in various categories of criminal activity, reflecting the commitment of the police force to ensuring the safety and well-being of our residents. Specifically, crimes such as Burglary are down over 27%, Larceny and other theft-related offenses are down over 23%, and Drug/Narcotic violations saw a decline of over 23% this past year. During this same time frame, arrests for Weapons Violations and Animal Cruelty have increased, which is a direct correlation to the commitment of this department to reduce violent crimes and crimes against animals. The concerted efforts of officers, communit

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Cookies' Cookies Flower Is Stale But Its Red Light Preroll Has Crunch

2 years 3 months ago
As 2024 is getting started, there is a renewed sense of anticipation, and it's exciting to think about the year ahead reviewing weed for you, dear reader. It makes sense to start with a company that has evaded my review radar, unintentionally, so it's a great time to kick off the new Gregorian calendar with a visit to the big blue machine: Cookies.
Graham Toker

After Chiefs win, Kansas Citians fire guns in the air. A lawmaker wants the team to speak out

2 years 3 months ago

Every year — on New Year’s Eve, July 4, when a sports team wins a championship — police and politicians practically beg people not to fire their guns into the air in celebration. In Kansas City, reports of shots fired go up when the NFL playoffs roll around. Meanwhile, a proposal to slightly strengthen the […]

The post After Chiefs win, Kansas Citians fire guns in the air. A lawmaker wants the team to speak out appeared first on Missouri Independent.

Meg Cunningham

In Origin, Ava DuVernay Turns Nonfiction Into a Gripping Feature Film

2 years 3 months ago
Watching Origin, the mind-stirring new film from writer-director Ava DuVernay, I found myself leaning forward, the way you do when a friend you haven’t seen in a long time relates an intensely personal tale of loss or love or both. University students no doubt do the same when Isabel Wilkerson, the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and historian portrayed in the film by Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, stands before them, lecturing.
Chuck Wilson

Godfrey Seeking Bids For Phase 1 Of Widman Trail Project 

2 years 3 months ago
GODFREY - Phase 1 of the F.E. Widman bike/pedestrian trail project in Godfrey is officially moving forward after the Village Board at their meeting this week unanimously approved advertising the project for bids. Juneau Associates Inc., the village’s project consultant, has finally received formal direction on tree removal/mitigation for the project after waiting for a Natural Resources Review for nearly three years, according to a memorandum from the Village Engineering Department. Now, the next step is for the village to seek bids for the project. The estimated construction cost for the F.E. Widman Trail Project is approximately $1.3 Million. Approximately 46% of the construction costs will be reimbursed by various grants, saving the village $600,000 and lowering the final cost to the village to $700,000. According to the village’s invitation for bids , “the scope of work for this project involves construction of a bike trail on a new alignment including

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