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Milwaukee Police Department Ban on Facial Recognition Technology Undermined by Lingering Use in Criminal Justice System

Milwaukee Police Department Ban on Facial Recognition Technology Undermined by Lingering Use in Criminal Justice System

Despite the Milwaukee Police Department (MPD) implementing a ban on facial recognition technology in February, its use continues to surface in criminal prosecutions within Milwaukee County. This situation raises ongoing concerns among community members regarding the technology's potential for errors, particularly its disproportionate inaccuracy in identifying non-white individuals, as highlighted by Amanda Merkwae of the American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin. The MPD had previously used other agencies' licenses to access facial recognition search results for two to three years without a formal departmental policy. Although Chief Jeffrey Norman prohibited MPD members from using the technology and stated it would not be acquired until a policy is developed with the Fire and Police Commission, this moratorium does not retroactively eliminate its use from cases where it was already employed. Milwaukee County District Attorney Kent Lovern clarified that his office treats facial recognition as an investiga...
The Augusta ChronicleThe Augusta Chronicle
Aiken launches free Fall Hopelands Concert Series

Aiken launches free Fall Hopelands Concert Series

The City of Aiken is launching a free fall concert series at Hopelands Gardens featuring local musical performers.
The Augusta ChronicleThe Augusta Chronicle
Georgia Supreme Court upholds conviction in killing of Augusta DJ

Georgia Supreme Court upholds conviction in killing of Augusta DJ

Prosecutors said they had all the evidence they needed to convict, and a higher court agreed.
The Augusta ChronicleThe Augusta Chronicle
Serge Burack remembers 'the pile' and sacrifices after 9/11 | Exclusive

Serge Burack remembers 'the pile' and sacrifices after 9/11 | Exclusive

The memory of 9/11 remains etched in the memory of surviving families and colleagues
The Augusta ChronicleThe Augusta Chronicle
Inside Sheila's Baking Company with Augusta Eats | PHOTOS

Inside Sheila's Baking Company with Augusta Eats | PHOTOS

Augusta Eats stopped by Sheila's Baking Company for a look at the bakery's sweet creations. See photos from the visit.
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Vermont Department of Corrections Data Portal Offers Public Access to Incarceration Records

Vermont Department of Corrections Data Portal Offers Public Access to Incarceration Records

FYIVT has launched 'The Booking Log,' a public tool that provides real-time access to Vermont's Department of Corrections (DOC) data. This platform allows users to query 1.3 million charge records of individuals held, supervised, or booked into the state's corrections system since July 2016. The data is pulled directly from the State of Vermont's DOC Public Use File via its public API, ensuring that FYIVT does not store any personal names or create its own database. The tool clarifies that a charge is an accusation, not a conviction, and individuals marked 'Detained' are presumed innocent with pending cases. It also provides definitions for various status codes used by the DOC, such as 'Detained,' 'Sentenced,' 'Probation & Parole,' and 'Hold.' The system updates daily, reflecting the most current information available from the state.
The Commercial AppealThe Commercial Appeal
Shelby Co. leader sees tax fraud charges; Autopsies detail Task Force deaths

Shelby Co. leader sees tax fraud charges; Autopsies detail Task Force deaths

Also this week, the ACLU of Tennessee made more allegations of intimidation against the Memphis Safe Task Force.
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Florida Woman Arrested for Allegedly Assaulting Neighbor with Feces Over Suspected Affair

Florida Woman Arrested for Allegedly Assaulting Neighbor with Feces Over Suspected Affair

A Florida woman, Yirsi Machado Rivera, was arrested after allegedly throwing a bucket of human feces at her neighbor in a Miami-Dade mobile home park on Labor Day. Rivera reportedly forced her way into the victim's home and doused her with the waste. The suspect claimed she had a broken toilet and was attempting to dispose of the waste, but police believe the attack was premeditated. The incident stemmed from Rivera's accusation that her neighbor was having an affair with her husband. The case proceeded to bond court, where Judge Mindy Glazer noted the unusual nature of the allegations. The victim was not charged in the incident. Rivera, 50, faces charges of burglary and battery.
USA TodayUSA Today
Kim Zolciak's son KJ Biermann accused of shocking allegations: Report

Kim Zolciak's son KJ Biermann accused of shocking allegations: Report

Kim Zolciak and Kroy Biermann's son Kroy "KJ" Biermann Jr., 15, allegedly took videos having sex with a family member under the age of 12.
The Augusta ChronicleThe Augusta Chronicle
Pinnacle Club names Alex Brown as new chef de cuisine

Pinnacle Club names Alex Brown as new chef de cuisine

The Pinnacle Club in Augusta has hired Chef Alex Brown to lead its kitchen and revamp its dining experience.
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Mississippi Police Arrest Man in Homicide of Tasia Fortune

Mississippi Police Arrest Man in Homicide of Tasia Fortune

Mississippi police have arrested a man in connection with the death of Tasia Fortune, a Black woman whose body was discovered hanging from a tree last month in Jackson. Jackson Police Chief RaShall Brackney announced the arrest at a news conference, stating that police had secured search and arrest warrants for the individual and apprehended him on the street. The arrest followed a determination by the state medical examiner's office on Thursday evening that Fortune's death was a homicide, which allowed authorities to execute the pre-existing warrants. Chief Brackney emphasized that the investigation remains active, and additional arrests are pending. Christy Spivey, Fortune's mother, expressed gratitude to the police but noted that authorities did not disclose a motive or whether DNA evidence led to the arrest. Spivey also stated she did not know the arrested man and was seeking information from her daughter's friends.
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Hialeah Mother Charged with Aggravated Child Abuse After Daughter Reports Burns and Restraint

Hialeah Mother Charged with Aggravated Child Abuse After Daughter Reports Burns and Restraint

Gineth Ramirez, a 35-year-old mother from Hialeah, Florida, has been arrested and charged with aggravated child abuse causing great bodily harm. The charges stem from reports made by her 10-year-old daughter at school. The child alleged that her mother burned her on the arm and legs for misbehaving and would tie her hands behind her back with a rope or handcuffs while making her sit in a chair. A child protection investigator observed three abrasions on the girl, consistent with first-degree burn marks, located on her forearm, shin, and inner right upper thigh. When questioned, Ramirez claimed that one burn occurred when flan spilled on the child's leg while they were cooking, but she stated she did not know how the other two injuries occurred. She admitted to disciplining her daughter by making her sit in a chair facing the wall for misbehavior but denied ever tying her hands. Ramirez appeared in court, where she was assigned a public defender and denied bond. A restraining order has been issued, prohibit...