National News
Flock Safety tightens safeguards as states, cities question surveillance network
The ACLU says the changes, prompted by 50-plus canceled contracts and officers caught tracking exes, still fall short of real privacy protections.
Criminal Justice
Local
Ramaswamy family bodyguard pleads guilty to fentanyl trafficking after raid finds 132,000 lethal-dose equivalents
Campaign finance records show Ramaswamy's campaign kept paying ARK Protection $14,000 after the arrest, with a final payment clearing four days after cutting ties publicly.
Local
Ohio Supreme Court: Victim can’t file delayed appeal, despite initial legal confusion
The Cuyahoga County woman lost restitution for a 2017 break-in after dismissing her first appeal amid unclear Marsy's Law rules, the court ruled 30-day filing was required.
National News
States expand fight against organized retail crime, gift card fraud
More than a dozen states passed laws this year targeting hijacked freight, gift card tampering and fraud rings, as California reports $260 million recovered since 2023.
Local
More Ohio agencies deploy Flock AI cameras, including workers comp and the fire marshal
State agencies investigating workers’ compensation fraud, suspicious fires, and crimes in state prisons are all turning to Flock’s AI-powered, license plate reading cameras. Ohio’s cities, meanwhile, have considered pulling back amid concerns over privacy the cameras’ use in deportations.
National News
States split on whether juvenile justice should prioritize punishment or rehabilitation
Maryland prosecutors call the state's new rehabilitation-focused law a step backward, while Louisiana expands youth prison capacity after ending case-by-case adult charging.
National News
Immigration agents are still shooting people in cars
Video evidence has repeatedly contradicted ICE accounts of these shootings, yet federal agents are rarely investigated or named after using deadly force.
Local
We asked Ohio’s death row what they think of governor’s death penalty reversal
Sixteen condemned Ohio prisoners told The Marshall Project the death penalty never deterred them, while questioning why DeWine has commuted only one sentence.
National News
Changes to immigration program for domestic violence victims impede safety, advocates say
Trump administration tightened VAWA rules in December, requiring stricter proof of marriage and abuse, leaving survivors with limited documentation at risk.
National News
Police use of artificial intelligence grows as rules lag behind
Civil liberties advocates warn AI tools could amplify surveillance and introduce hidden biases, even as most states lack consistent regulations on police use of the technology.
National News
Women’s prison population, correctional costs projected to grow through 2035
Women prisoners cost 25-75% more to incarcerate than men, with national spending projected to jump from $23-26 billion to $30-34 billion by 2035.
Local
Ohio governor grants mercy to man on death row for first time
DeWine's first death row commutation in eight years came weeks before he called for abolishing capital punishment, citing the victim's family's faith and repeated execution delays.
