Combating hate and blame: LGBTQ activists fight stigma around monkeypox
PHOENIX – LGBTQ activists in Arizona are stepping up efforts to fight stigma and intolerance amid a global outbreak of monkeypox – even as they work to get more people vaccinated against the viral disease.
To shore up dwindling ranks, police departments hire more civilian investigators
PHOENIX – Police departments – including Baltimore, Phoenix and Mesa – have hired more civilian investigators to “make sure crimes get hands-on attention” as departments face staffing shortfalls.
Some states use ‘integrity bulletins’ to provide limited police misconduct information to public
SALT LAKE CITY – About a dozen states provide what’s commonly known as “integrity bulletins,” which contain information about complaints against law enforcement and investigation outcomes, but typically don't include identifying information – such as the officer’s name.
In focus: Migrants languish in Mexico’s chaotic immigration system
TAPACHULA, Mexico - Migrants have gathered in the thousands in Tapachula, seeking to apply for asylum or humanitarian visas to stay in Mexico or continue their journeys north. Protests outside Mexico’s immigration office have become more frequent as applications bog down and migrants struggle with limited access to social services and basic needs.
Pretty in ink: Woman-owned LA studio making tattoos more accessible, inclusive
LOS ANGELES – Milla Press, 24, opened Girlxfriend LA, a tattoo studio with the goal of an unconventionally feminine atmosphere that makes a diverse set of clients feel welcome, included and supported.
Police-recording ban likely blocked, as Kavanagh fails to mount defense
WASHINGTON - The sponsor of a law that would have made it a crime to videotape police conceded Friday that it will not take effect, after he failed to meet a deadline to challenge a court's injunction of the law.
How a talking cat is shaping the fight against Asian hate crime in California
ROSEMEAD, Calif. – LA vs Hate hopes to raise awareness about hate crime by displaying its message through multiple media. One artist on board is cartoonist MariNaomi.
Downtown residents, business owners sue Phoenix over growing homeless encampment
PHOENIX – A group of residents and business owners just east of downtown Phoenix are seeking heavier law enforcement in an area where hundreds of unsheltered people have set up camp. The group has sued the city and wants the area declared a public nuisance.
Mesa mayor joins White House panel on hate in ‘horribly divided country’
WASHINGTON - Mesa Mayor John Giles joined local officials, Cabinet secretaries and community leaders at the White House Thursday - the 21st anniversary of the first post-9/11 hate crime, in Mesa - to call for renewed efforts to combat violent extremism and rising hate crimes.
Migrant deaths declined as encounters rose; advocates warn against relaxing
WASHINGTON - Migrant deaths in Arizona's deserts have fallen sharply so far this year, even as the number of immigrants caught trying to cross the state's border with Mexico has been soaring, but advocates cautioned against reading too much into the numbers.
Voice of change: ASU athletes promote social justice through Black Student Athlete Association
PHOENIX – Led by former sprinter Cortney Jones, Arizona State athletes formed the Black Student Athlete Association last January hoping to promote social justice. Now an official campus organization, the BSAA aims to provide support to athletes of color and bring social-justice changes.
Court: 292-year sentence in string of nonviolent burglaries is not excessive
WASHINGTON - A divided federal appeals court said a 292-year sentence for a string of nonviolent burglaries over three months in Bullhead City was not "grossly disproportionate" to the crime and did not violate the Eighth Amendment.
