donal brown

Omaha students sue after suspensions for wearing “R.I.P.” T-shirts to honor murdered fellow student

Students suspended for wearing a T-shirt reading “R.I.P.” to honor a fellow student killed for refusing to join a gang are suing their high school in federal court for violating their First Amendment rights. The school says they suspended the students for using gang slang, “R.I.P.”, on their T-shirts. -DB Courthouse News Service October 13, 2009 By Kelly Vangilder OMAHA, Neb. (CN) – Students say their high school unconstitutionally suspended them for wearing T-shirts with the message

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Los Angeles Times suing to discover identity of officer who shot 16-year-old boy to death

The Los Angeles Times has sued the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department seeking the name, rank and other employment information about the sheriff’s deputy who shot a 16-year-old Compton boy to death July 5. -DB Courthouse News Service October 13, 2009 LOS ANGELES (CN) – The Los Angeles Times sued the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department in Superior Court, demanding information on the fatal shooting of a 16-year-old boy in Compton. Avery Cody Jr. was shot to death

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California governor issues veto messages for free speech and open government bills

In vetoing SB218 Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said he was for openness and transparency but felt that defining private auxiliary organizations as public under state public records acts would cause the state to lose the support of the organizations when the higher educations institutions were suffering significant budget cuts. In regard to SB 242, the governor said no business could be expected to accommodate all customers speaking languages other than English and as a result businesses could be subject to frivolous

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Senate moves to back Obama in barring release of torture photos

A senate Committee voted to amend the Homeland Security Appropriations Bill to include language to allow the Secretary of Defense to withhold photos of detainees who had undergone torture. -DB The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press October 8, 2009 By Miranda Fleschert Barring the release of photos depicting abuse of detainees in U.S. custody was again the subject of a legislative amendment in the U.S. Senate this week when language that supports President

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Citizen complains Chico City Council violated Brown Act by not reporting salary perks out of closed meeting

When the Chico City Council approved the appointment of a new fire chief in a closed session August 25, they failed to include in a meeting agenda some perks added to the original contract. A citizen now wants the perks on the agenda in November so that the public could comment. -DB Chico Enterprise-Record October 8, 2009 By Mary Weston OROVILLE — A resident has complained that the Oroville City Council violated the Brown Act

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