Page 15 - Immigrant Issues News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

Community members continue to voice concerns about gunshot-detecting technology being considered in Portland. At a recent Inter-Faith Peace and Action Collaborative meeting, opponents of the technology known as ShotSpotter pointed out its weaknesses. Jonathan Manes, attorney at the MacArthur Justice Center in Chicago, where the ShotSpotter surveillance system has been implemented, said there are no published studies about how the technology responds to loud noises, and notes every time it is triggered, police are expecting to find someone armed and potentially dangerous. ...

January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month and Iowa is working to address the problem by educating businesses about the potential signs and dangers. Although officials say it is hard to pinpoint exact numbers, the frequency of reported trafficking cases is on the rise. Half of the calls to a human trafficking hotline are reports from minors asking for help. ...

Some Nebraska judges are failing to follow state laws related to cash bail, court fees and court fines, according to a two-year study in Douglas and Lancaster counties. The report by the ACLU of Nebraska found defendants are not always being asked about their ability to pay bail and court costs, nor are they being informed of alternatives if lacking the funds. Sam Petto, communications director for the ACLU of Nebraska, said they noticed issues in about 40% of the cases they observed. ...

A tax rebate program approved during the Idaho special session this year has sparked an idea: why not send more rebates to families? In September, state lawmakers approved a program that sent $300 to individuals and $600 to joint tax filers, in order to spend down the state's record budget surplus. A collaboration between the Idaho Center for Fiscal Policy and PODER of Idaho, the Elevate Idaho Families Coalition, is exploring how that rebate impacted households. Estefania Mondragon is the executive director of PODER of Idaho. ...

As Americans make end-of-year donations to their favorite causes, those that help children with cancer and their families say these households need support in difficult situations. A Minnesota-based group says inflation underscores the need. The Pinky Swear Foundation has grown into a national philanthropic organization that will soon celebrate its 20th anniversary. ...