Criminal law, Society

Valor Stolen: Burglar Steals Deceased SEAL’s Medals From Father’s Home

By Darren Smith, Weekend Contributor

jeffrey-lucas
Jeff Lucas

bronze-star-v-deviceThere truly is no honor among thieves, and this was definitively demonstrated in Corbett, Oregon the evening of September Seventh when a burglar broke into the residence of a deceased Navy SEAL’s father and stole several medals and challenge coins, including his Bronze Star and Purple Heart.

Jeff Lucas was killed in combat operations in Afghanistan on June 28th, 2005. He died along with several of his fellow SEALS during a helicopter operation during a heavy firefight. He was laid to rest in Arlington Cemetery. A stadium was constructed in his honor at the high school he attended–Corbett High School.

With the loss of his son, now his father lost to thieves a few of the honors he earned.

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Criminal law, International

Hungary Reportedly Considering Public Nuisance Charges Against Camera Woman Seen Kicking Immigrants

Screen Shot 2015-09-08 at 9.30.05 PMHungarian camerawoman Petra Laszlo has publicly apologized for kicking migrants but insisted that she was acting out of fear for her own safety. The government is reportedly considering a public nuisance claim against her though it would seem a simple case of assault. We previously discussed her controversy.

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Bizarre, Criminal law, Religion, Society

Police Arrest Notorious Islamic State Supporter and Bomb Adviser . . . Only To Discover That He Is A Jewish Guy Living With His Parents In Florida

1441941996245There is a truly bizarre case out of Australia where a 20-year-old has been arrested after posting bomb making instructions and encouraging fellow Islamic State supporters to engage in terrorism. Unfortunately, there is nothing particularly new about that story except that the “Australi Witness” is Joshua Ryne Goldberg, a Jewish man living with his parents in Florida.

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Academia, Politics, Religion, Society

Hasidic Schools Accused Of Sub-Standard Educational Standards

220px-NYC_DOE_Logo_City Council member Daniel Dromm, chairman of the education committee, will reportedly push an investigation into Jewish schools after reports of shockingly sub-standard educations at the 39 hasidic yeshivas in the city. The schools have been accused of spending little relative time on basic education in favor of religious studies — to the point that they have produced graduates who cannot read or write English or do basic math.

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Bizarre, Media, Politics

iPresser: Siri Answers Question In White House Press Conference

220px-Josh_Earnest_2011Siri_iOS_7There was a wonderfully ironic moment in the White House as reporters spared with Press Secretary Josh Earnest who has been often criticized for less than forthcoming statements to the media. Now “Siri” is getting in the act as she was heard in the midst of the press conference saying “Sorry, I’m not sure what you want me to change.” It seemed for a moment like Earnest had developed a second persona.

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Criminal law, Lawyering, Politics, Uncategorized

North Carolina Prosecutor Charged After Allegedly Offering $20,000 For Opponent Not To Run For Court Seat

55f0e026b667a.imageWendy Joyce Terry, 43, the longtime prosecutor in Davidson County, North Carolina, was indicted this week in a bizarre case where she is accused of texting an offer to pay $20,000 to get an opponent to drop out of an election for a superior court seat. Putting aside the wisdom on texting bribes or payoffs, Terry is accused of texting the offer to district court Judge April Wood.

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Academia, Environment

French Scientists Publish Plan To “Wake Up” 30,000 Year Old Giant Virus Found In The Russian Permafrost

virus_1Curiosity may not have killed the cat but Mollivirus siberium might have . . . and might still. Scientists are about to “wake up” a 30,000-year-old virus found in the melting permafrost. They published their plan in in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) journal. What could possible go wrong, right? Just the plot of a dozen horror films.

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Lawyering, Society

Human Rights Lawyer Publicly Denounces Lawyer As Misogynist For Referring To Her LinkedIn Photo As “Stunning”

310752-438c2652-5710-11e5-ade8-2efb76e8d469308251-4a0d9678-5710-11e5-ade8-2efb76e8d469There is a controversy in the United Kingdom where Alexander Carter-Silk, 57, the head of Brown Rudnick’s intellectual property group in Europe, has been accused from scores of critics of being a sexist, misogynistic monster. His offense? Carter-Silk had received a LinkedIn contact for Charlotte Proudman, 27. He responded by writing that he thought her photo was “stunning.” That led Proudman, a human-rights lawyer, to denounce his “unacceptable and misogynistic behavior” for complimenting the picture.

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Criminal law, Society

Obama Administration Cracks Down On Nebraska Company For Requiring Proof Of Lawful Status From Non-U.S. Citizens

US-DeptOfJustice-Seal_svgThe Obama Administration has secured a settlement with Nebraska Beef Ltd., a Nebraska-based meat packing company, over discriminatory practices. However, the company’s improper actions involved a requirement for employees to show proof of legal status for employment. The company was targeted because it did not also require proof of legal status from U.S. citizens.

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Bizarre, Criminal law

TSA Officer Arrested After Allegedly Stealing $7,500 Wristwatch and Then Destroying It

TSA screener Margo Lauree-Grant, 41, is the latest TSA employee to be arrested for theft or other crimes at an airport security area. Lauren-Grant is accused of stealing a $7,500 Diamond Master watch from a Canadian traveler after he placed it in a plastic bin. To make matters worse, Lauree-Grant is accused of then destroying the watch when security officials began to investigate.

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International, Media

Hungarian Camerawoman Fired After Shown Tripping Refugee Father Carrying His Child

Screen Shot 2015-09-08 at 9.30.05 PMOne of the leading Hungarian broadcasters has fired a camerawoman after she was shown tripping a fleeing refugee man who was carrying his young son in his arms. The broadcaster and many Hungarian news outlets have been accused of highly negative coverage of the influx of refugees. The camerawoman has been identified as Petra László of N1TV.

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Bizarre, Society, Torts

Ohio Woman Loses Lawsuit Against Sperm Bank That Mistakenly Impregnated Her With African American Sperm

2BFE786500000578-3224650-image-a-52_1441586131983There is a fascinating case out of Illinois where DuPage County judge Ronald Sutter has tossed out a lawsuit by Jennifer Cramblett, who sued after a sperm bank mistakenly impregnated her with sperm from an African-American rather than the white donor she selected. The result was a mixed-race baby. The response from the sperm bank was astonishing. They apologized and reportedly refunded only part of the cost to Cramblett and her partner Amanda Zinkon.

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Criminal law, Society

Teen Couple Exchange Explicit Photos With Each Other . . . North Carolina Prosecutors Charge Them Criminally As Adults

2BFFCF1B00000578-3223533-image-a-43_1441472934882I have previously been critical of the blind application laws on sending sexually explicit photos and other laws to teenagers. While purpose of these laws is laudable, we have seen various cases of teenagers facing ruinous charges over consensual exchanges. A case in point is Cormega Copening, 17, and his girlfriend, Brianna Denson, who were charged as adults in February for sending “sexually explicit” photos of minors. However, they are the minors. They were 16. However, in some twisted logic, prosecutors have charged them as adults . . . for sending minors these photos . . . when the minors are themselves and they are being charged as a adults.

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Society, Torts

Chubby Chipotle Campaign Funded By Food Industry Lobbyist

2BFC395500000578-0-image-a-46_1441420177325Chipotle has been hit by a national campaign featuring a grossly overweight young man and attacking the chain for high fat food. The ad tells readers that by eating two “all natural” Chipotle burritos a week, consumers could gain 40 pounds in a year. What is most notable however is the source for the campaign: an industry lobbyist named Richard Berman who appears miffed by the restaurant’s support of GMO-free, antibiotic-free food.

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