Odds and Ends

“bullet” Don’t forget 60 Minutes tonight.
“bullet” Increase in secrecy in federal trials (mostly drug cases).

The number of criminal cases that have reached verdicts but still have most of their records sealed has more than doubled in the last three years.

As TalkLeft notes, there are often good reasons for cases to be sealed. However, it is disturbing to see the increased level of secrecy, particularly when entire cases are sealed. [thanks, Casey]
“bullet” thehim’s Drug War Roundup is outstanding as always.
“bullet” Libby’s got a ton of important stuff at Last One Speaks, including the BuzzFlash interview with Charles Bowden, a report on Steve Kubby’s failing health, Patriot Act passage, a nice post about Howard Woolridge, and a police chief complaining about (and getting pulled) Marijuana Policy Project PSA’s on the radio.
“bullet” Grits for Breakfast notes that an entire police department in Texas was shut down for tampering with evidence and stealing drugs.
“bullet” Hammer of Truth is looking to declare a war… on drug prohibition rhetoric.
“bullet” Loretta Nall’s been making an impact in her run for Governor of Alabama. There’s video available of her speech to the Black Mayors Conference (where she talked about racism and the drug war).
“bullet” Radley Balko continues to light up the web with his stories of botched drug raids and his updates on Cory Maye.