The law and the jungle

Why do we crazy libertarians get all jazzed up over things like Los Angeles imposing a one-year moratorium on the construction of fast-food restaurants? asks Ezra Klein:

The Department of Homeland Security is getting a little overzealous:

There are police-cruiser videotapes of police officer James Arnold shooting and killing Jose B. Lemus-Rodriguez. Those tapes have been seen by Fort Wayne Police, Indiana State Police, Allen County Prosecutor Karen Richards and now Robert H. Black, a consultant hired by the city. And everybody says the evidence, including those tapes, supports Arnold's contention that the shooting was justified. But the tapes aren't being released:

How nice -- a family that still does things together:

A woman was arrested earlier this week in connection with two hotel robberies, one of which was committed while her children sat unattended in her vehicle, police said. 

Amber N. Kuhn was arrested on two counts each of armed robbery, child neglect and theft.

Let's cut the woman some slcak, OK? It's so hard to get babysitters these days, and the federaql government is no help at all.

Only "up to 18 months"? I'd throw away the key:

A Muncie man faces up to 18 months behind bars after pleading guilty Thursday to three felonies stemming from the torture killing of his family's cat.

Danield John Collins, 39, was arrested March 13 after he was accused of forcing his seven-year-old daughter to stab Boots, the family's eight-month-old feline.

Just a little collateral damage in the War on Drugs:

A police SWAT team raided the home of the mayor in the Prince George's County town of Berwyn Heights on Tuesday, shooting and killing his two dogs, after he brought in a 32-pound package of marijuana that had been delivered to his doorstep, police said.

Remember the phony impersonating wrestler Steve Austin in Greensburg? The story's gotten even better:

 former police officer faces theft and official misconduct charges for allegedly pocketing money while investigating a scam that sold fake autographs of action film actor "Stone Cold" Steve Austin.

It's been widely discussed that how a poll question is worded can affect the outcome of the poll. Apparently, that's true for ballot initiatives as well:

Supporters of Proposition 8, the proposed state constitutional amendment that would ban gay marriage, said they would file suit today to block a change made by California Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown to the language of the measure's ballot title and summary.

You can have enough medicine to feel good, but, you know, not enough to feel good:

A medical marijuana cardholder who deputies said had too many plants was arrested Friday morning.

 Detectives with the Marion County Sheriff's Office Street Crimes Unit served a search warrant at the home of Marc Kauffman, 56, just before 10 a.m. and found that he had 35 mature marijuana plants and eight immature marijuana plants in his house, deputies said.

Indiana residents' use of seat belts has reached the highest percentage ever -- 91.2, up from the 2007 record of 88.4 percent -- and officials remind us to keep up the good work:

"Motorists should remember that wearing a seat belt is not only their best defense against death or injury in a crash - it's the law," said Indiana State Police Superintendent, Paul Whitesell.