ACLU attorneys are suing two California law enforcement agencies for failing to disclose how they use cellphone surveillance. Also, the next big entry into the realm of powdered drink mix? Alcohol. Then, the number of unmarried, cohabiting parents in the US is at a record high. What are the economic and sociological implications?
Stingray case: Debating cellphone surveillance boundaries for Calif. police
Civil liberties attorneys are suing two California law enforcement agencies for failing to disclose how they use Stingrays - suitcase-size devices that trick cellphones in any given region into transmitting phone data to police instead of phone service providers.
The American Civil Liberties Union of California claims the Anaheim Police Department and Sacramento Co. Sheriff's Department are using Stingrays (also known as IMSI catchers) to track private information of bystanders and suspects "with little or no oversight by the public, legislative agencies, or courts...." Joseph Cassilly, past president of the National District Attorney's Association, defends the use of Stingrays by police empowered with arrest warrants to hunt fugitives. As current State's Attorney for Harford Co., Maryland, Cassilly says his office has no use for the private information of bystanders ensnared by Stingrays.
How are judges dealing with criminal charges linked to Stingray data? Would judges grant warrants for Stingrays if police sought warrants? How much does the public deserve to know about police use of Stingrays?
Guests:
Jessica Price, Staff Attorney, American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California
Joseph Cassily, past President of the National District Attorneys Association (NDAA); current State's Attorney for Harford County, Maryland
Exploring implications for the alcohol industry as powdered booze wins US approval
The next big entry into the realm of powdered drink mix? Alcohol. Yes, powdered booze could be hitting store shelves as early as this summer after the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau approved labels on Tuesday for Lipsmark LLC, the Arizona-based manufacturer of the powdered alcoholic mix, called “Palcohol."
The products approved include a powdered rum, vodka, margarita, and cosmopolitan.
The FDA did a scientific review of the product and didn’t find any concerns with its ingredients nor any legal reason to ban it. Some states (South Carolina, Vermont, and Louisiana) have adopted pre-emptive bans against the product. California, however, has no laws banning its sale.
Concerns about Palcohol include abuse by minors, potential for the powder to be snorted, and whether the powder would make it easier to spike drinks or sneak into public events. Lipsmark founder and Palcohol creator Mark Phillips says his product is safe and that he created it because he hikes and backpacks frequently, and enjoys a drink when he gets where he’s going.
What, if any, concerns do you have about the approval of powdered alcohol? Would you buy it?
Guest:
Robert Lehrman, founding attorney at Lehrman Beverage Law, a law firm specializing in the regulation of a wide array of beverages. His blog, BevLog, reviews thousands of beer, wine, and spirit labels approved by the TTB each year.
Expert on the criminally insane shares stories of working in LA County’s crisis center
In the second part of our look at how local law enforcement deals with mentally ill individuals, we’re joined by a psychiatrist and former UCLA professor who worked in L.A. County’s crisis center for years.
Dr. Stephen Seager, who now works with the criminally insane at a California hospital, says interactions between police and individuals in crisis is “reactive,” and that policies (and funding) need to take a proactive approach in handling the population with mental illness - to help prevent harm. Dr. Seager will share his experiences working in this arena and explain how challenging it is to diagnose individuals in crisis.
Guest:
Dr. Stephen Seager, M.D., board-certified psychiatrist, a former assistant professor of psychiatry at UCLA School of Medicine and author most recently of "Behind the Gates of Gomorrah: A Year with the Criminally Insane" (Simon & Schuster, September 2014)
Prime Healthcare explains pass on Daughters of Charity deal
Prime Healthcare Services walked away from buying six Daughters of Charity Health System hospitals in California, citing the “onerous and unprecedented conditions” set by California Attorney General Kamala Harris as the reason.
How long Prime should keep all acute care services going was the main sticking point to the deal. Harris wanted a promise of 10 years from Prime, but the Ontario-based healthcare company said it could only do five.
Read the full story here
Guests:
Mike Sarian, President, Prime Healthcare
Jamie Court, President of the Santa Monica-based nonprofit group, Consumer Watchdog
Federal data shows number of unmarried parents at all time high
The number of unmarried, cohabiting parents in the US is at a record high, according to recently-released data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the years.
One out of four births to women between 15 to 44 years old in the last five years were to unmarried couples living together, according to the data, a twofold increase from a decade ago.
What are the economic and sociological implications? What accounts for the surge?
Guest:
Wendy Manning, Director of the Center for Family and Demographic Research and Co-Director for the National Center for Family & Marriage Research at Bowling Green State University in Ohio