From the Trenches World Report

Miami New Times

Florida law prohibits police departments from using drones to surveil citizens. So Miami Beach cops instead got a small blimp.

On December 28, MBPD flew a tiny, helium-filled dirigible, or “tethered aerostat,” over an Orange Bowl-related party called the Capital One Beach Bash. A camera attached to the balloon monitored the moves of 15,000 patrons, according to a letter City Manager Jimmy Morales sent to the city’s commission on January 3.   Continue reading “Miami Beach Police Using Surveillance Blimp in Possible Violation of Florida’s Police-Drone Ban”

Free Beacon – by Elizabeth Harrington

The State Department is planning to spend $18,000 on an LGBT film festival in Mumbai to “promote gender inclusiveness.”

The department is seeking a nonprofit group to facilitate the “LGBT Pride Month Film Festival” in June 2019, according to a grant announcement released on the final day before the partial government shutdown.   Continue reading “Feds Spending $18,000 for LGBT Pride Film Festival in Mumbai”

The website this article comes from is C.O.P.S., defined as Concerns of Police Survivors.

The acronym COP is supposed to stand for Constable On Patrol.  A constable is a peace officer elected locally for the common law jurisdiction for the people and for the common law court.    Continue reading “Today is National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day (L.E.A.D.)”

Breitbart – by Bob Price

A Texas sheriff’s deputy and his K-9 partner stopped $1.5 million in cocaine from reaching its final destination during a traffic stop on Monday.

Fayette County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant Randy Thuman stopped a Ford F-150 for a traffic violation on Interstate 10 between San Antonio and Houston. Following an interview with the driver and his passenger, the sergeant became suspicious that the pair could be smuggling drugs, according to a statement provided to Breitbart News by Fayette County Sheriff’s Office Lt. David Beyer.   Continue reading “Texas Deputy, K-9 Seize $1.5M in Cocaine During Traffic Stop”

AZ Family – by Catherine Mejia

PHOENIX (3TV/CBS 5) — Phoenix police investigators are testing DNA samples from men who work at a Phoenix nursing facility in response to a vegetative patient giving birth there last week.

Hacienda HealthCare confirmed the search warrant for DNA samples Tuesday evening.  Continue reading “Phoenix PD obtain DNA samples from Hacienda HealthCare staff week after vegetative patient gives birth”

IONTB – by Steven Hirschfield

A patrol deputy has resigned after he admittedly mailed a toy bomb to a Sheriff’s Office lieutenant as a joke causing an evacuation at the Sheriff’s Administration Building.

The incident occurred at about 3 p.m. on Tuesday, January 8, 2019 at the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office Administration Building located at 10750 Ulmerton Road.   Continue reading “Pinellas Deputy Resigned After Mailing A Toy Bomb To Agency Lieutenant”

The Organic Prepper – by Meadow Clark

Something is happening to oranges. The solution may be worse than the problem and there’s about to be a lot more solution.

Oranges are cast as the pinnacle of American wholesomeness. Orange juice is a marketing empire in its own right. The “OJ” industry has successfully made its product synonymous with life-giving vitamin C and a complete breakfast. But is that really the case?  Continue reading “You Don’t Want to Know What They Do to Oranges (And It’s About to Get Even Worse)”

Daily Mail

These are the first pictures of the wealthy Russian businessman reported to have been held by the FBI in a case that has been linked to a US-British security expert detained in Moscow.

Dmitry Makarenko was detained in the Northern Mariana Islands, a US commonwealth in the Pacific Ocean, the day after American Paul Nicholas Whelan was arrested by the Russians.   Continue reading “First pictures of wealthy Russian businessman who was held by the FBI”

Journal & Courier – by Lindsay Moore

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — A Lafayette police officer was shot accidentally after fleeing an aggressive dog during an investigation at a North Ninth Street apartment.

Officer Lane Butler entered the apartment with two other officers while investigating a criminal mischief complaint at an apartment at 813 N. Ninth St., between Salem and Union streets, at 10:45 a.m. Tuesday.   Continue reading “Lafayette police officer shot in back by another officer fleeing from aggressive dog”

ARS Technica – by David Kravets

We’ve been covering a recent First Amendment lawsuit targeting President Donald Trump—a novel legal argument in which Twitter users claim their constitutional rights were violated because the commander-in-chief blocked them from his personal @realDonaldTrump Twitter handle.

To be sure, it’s a digital-age-based constitutional theory about social media rights in a day and age when politicians, from the president on down, are using their private accounts to discuss public affairs.   Continue reading “Politicians’ social media pages can be 1st Amendment forums, judge says”

ABC News

Members of the Crow Tribe hunt elk to feed their families.

The state of Wyoming says they can’t kill the animals on federal forest land without a permit.

The Supreme Court will now decide whether an 1868 treaty protects the Native Americans’ right to hunt.   Continue reading “Native American tribe member who killed elk to feed family asks Supreme Court to throw out poaching conviction”

Zero Hedge – by Tyler Durden

For the second time in 18 months, a dead body has been found at the home of Ed Buck, a prominent LA-based Democratic donor who once ran for the West Hollywood City Council, according to reports from a local TV station.

KTLA reported that the body of a man in his 50s was found by police shortly after 1 am on Monday. Buck’s attorney said the deceased was an old friend of Buck’s who died of an overdose after ingesting drugs at another location.  Continue reading “Second Dead Body Found At LA Home Of Wealthy Democratic Donor”

ABC News

Eight years to the day that former Rep. Gabby Giffords was shot at a constituent meeting in Tuscon, Arizona, House Democrats said they’re planning to unveil a universal background check bill they hope to pass within the first 100 days of the new Congress.

The measure, which will be introduced today at an event with Giffords and gun control advocates, would require background checks on the sale of any firearm and expand existing background checks to cover anyone attempting to buy firearms online, commercially or at gun shows, while providing exceptions for law enforcement and the transfer of guns between friends and family members.   Continue reading “House Democrats to unveil universal background check bill on anniversary of Gabby Giffords shooting”