Page 2 - Mark Puente News Today

Kentuckians continue to be charged, jailed and fined for cannabis-related offenses at high rates, despite dramatic shifts in public opinion, according to a new report. Kaylee Raymer, policy analyst at the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy, said many people might not view a cannabis misdemeanor as a big deal. But hundreds or thousands of dollars in criminal fines and fees along with a record appearing on background checks can affect people financially and make finding employment difficult. .....

By Mark Puente for The Marshall Project.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for Ohio News Connection reporting for the Marshall Project-Public News Service Collaboration Cuyahoga County Domestic Relations Judge Leslie Ann Celebrezze violated court rules when she steered a contentious but lucrative divorce case involving a longtime friend to her own docket, the Ohio Supreme Court has ruled. The ruling bars Celebrezze from overseeing the case, in which she has faced numerous bias allegations from...

A set of controversial reforms to Illinois cash bail system went into effect this week, changing a decades-old system of holding people in jail until their trial begins when they cant afford to pay bail. Backers of the change hope it will eliminate a hardship which has fallen primarily on marginalized communities. Social justice groups, some elected officials and others have hailed the Pretrial Fairness Act as a breakthrough. ...

Trexler comes to The Marshall Project - Cleveland with broadcast, digital and print journalism experience.

Despite Laguna Beach City Council's unanimous January decision to place a rainbow lifeguard tower at West Street Beach, some South Laguna residents have expressed uneasiness about the idea, saying the beach lacks the enforcement necessary to protect the tower from potential vandalism or arson. 

Last week, the normally quiet East Professional Center in Cleveland was buzzing with activity as 200 students thronged the halls, eagerly discussing what presentation they wanted to go to next. Was it hearing from The Marshall Project’s Mark Puente about his life journey from truck driver to investigative journalist? Or from Ideastream’s own Rachel Rood and Drew Masiaz about how to produce a live radio show?

Here's your AM rundown of people, politics and policy in the Sunshine State.

Consent decrees force cities to change abusive police tactics. But Cleveland still has work to do.

Cat-Converter Thefts Focus of New Claims Service Premiere Services, a provider of mobile aftermarket auto audio and entertainment systems and wheel

New executive editor Joe Kahn sees the value of the platform for journalists, but weighs in on when it can become problematic.