East, Southeast Asia had record methamphetamine seizures last year. Profits remain in the billions

BANGKOK (AP) — East and Southeast Asia are awash in record amounts of methamphetamine and other synthetic drugs, the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime said in a new report Tuesday. It traced their source largely to the cross-border region known as the Golden Triangle where Thailand, Myanmar and Laos meet. The region is historically […]

Last year’s deadly heat wave in metro Phoenix didn’t discriminate

PHOENIX (AP) — Priscilla Orr, 75, was living in her old white Kia in a supermarket parking lot last summer after telling her family she lost her money and home to a romance scam. But the car broke down, and the air conditioner stopped working, leaving her vulnerable to the dangerous desert heat. Orr collapsed […]

Portland DA’s defeat underscores challenges Democrats face on crime

The defeat of a progressive prosecutor in an Oregon district attorney’s race this week is underscoring the delicate dance Democrats face on the issues of crime and public safety ahead of November.  Prosecutor Mike Schmidt, who served in the Portland area, was ousted from his role after a primary challenge from one of his own […]

Divided Supreme Court rules no quick hearing required when police seize property

WASHINGTON (AP) — A divided Supreme Court ruled Thursday that authorities do not have to provide a quick hearing when they seize cars and other property used in drug crimes, even when the property belongs to so-called innocent owners. By a 6-3 vote, the justices rejected the claims of two Alabama women who had to […]

Here are the major ballot measures to watch in 2024

Voters across the country are set to weigh in this fall on a host of key issues, from abortion to primary systems, through ballot measures. Ballot measures have become a bigger election factor in recent years, especially as advocates work to push forward state-level abortion protections after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in […]