The trouble that's been building with the truth-in-sentencing law over the past couple of years could have been avoided. The Legislature only has itself to blame for not taking care of this issue, for not finding some compromise, but it's the taxpayers who foot the bill in the end. The idea of banning parole for criminals through truth-in-sentencing may be popular with the public, but it will likely become very expensive unless lawmakers provide new sentencing guidelines. An Associated Press report has put the cost at $194 million over the next eight years without those guidelines. [continues 316 words]
VANDALIA -- Some people who knew Grover T. Crosslin said they were not surprised that he would defy police and federal agents and refuse to leave his property. Crosslin, 47, who owned a campground known for its advocacy of marijuana, was fatally shot by an FBI agent Monday night after a four-day standoff, authorities said. He was shot and killed about 5 p.m. after he exited a building on his southwest Michigan property with a rifle and pointed it at the agent, Cass County Sheriff Joseph Underwood Jr. said in a news release late Monday. He was facing felony drug and weapons charges. [continues 172 words]
Boyle Wants To Legalize Pot For Medical Purposes MADISON -- Rep. Frank Boyle, D-Superior, will join with fellow Democrat Mark Pocan of Madison to introduce a bill next week to allow Wisconsin doctors to prescribe marijuana. The legislation would be similar to that in the eight other states, which have legalized the drug for pain and appetite disorders. Boyle said that distribution would be tightly controlled and penalties would exist for abusing the law. The US Supreme Court heard arguments, last month in a case, which could determine whether measures legalizing marijuana for medicinal purposes can take effect. Currently, the federal government from actually putting them into practice has blocked the states, which have passed such laws. [continues 240 words]
