Aug 19
Aung San Suu Kyi Visits China, Justice Dept. Ends Use of Private Prisons, Fixing California’s Gang Database, and More Picks
PICKS are stories from many sources, selected by our editors or recommended by our readers because they are important, surprising, troubling, enlightening, inspiring, or amusing. They appear on our site and in our daily newsletter. Please send suggested articles, videos, podcasts, etc. to picks@whowhatwhy.org.
Myanmar Independence Leader Aung San Suu Kyi Visits Beijing (Dan)
The visit is viewed as a mild snub in Washington, as the Obama administration claims progress in Myanmar – formerly Burma – as a foreign policy success.
Irony Alert: Preacher Who Says Disasters Will Penalize Gays…is Penalized (Russ)
He claimed that God would impose natural disasters to punish gays. Instead, Louisiana floods destroyed his home.
Baltimore PD’s Racial Bias Goes Deeper Than Expected (Milicent)
An article detailing how ‘Stringray’, a cell phone tracking device, is intertwined with the Baltimore police department’s history of racial bias.
Justice Department to End Its Use of Private Prisons (Trevin)
The directive only applies to 13 facilities, but it is still a “huge deal” according to an ACLU director.
Fixing ‘CalGang’ (Dan)
“CalGang” is a gang database that, according to a recent investigation by California’s State Auditor, lacks oversight, violates privacy rights, and diminishes the chances of fighting crime.
