Child Welfare
The St. Petersburg Times editorial board credited Gov. Rick Scott (R) for asking his conservative colleagues in the legislature to accept child abuse prevention funding attached to the federal health care reform bill, even though Scott is usually in agreement with them on rejecting such funds.
Education/Jobs
Winnie Hu of the New York Times reports on a new law in New Jersey that allows students to anonymously report bullying to the police through the state’s Crimestoppers hotline.
A lack of workers trained to a middle-skill level is costing southern businesses money, reports Suzy Khimm of the Washington Post. President Obama is expected to support a renewed focus on job training programs in the push for job growth, Khimm reports.
Juvenile Justice
Tim Knauss of the Syracuse Post-Standard reports on a case that is sure to get some attention this week: a Syracuse teen was sentenced to two-to-six years in a juvenile facility, and received a permanent felony record, for a robbery. The teen, with an accomplice who pleaded guilty, brandished BB guns and punched an elderly man in the face before finding only pocket change. Judge William Walsh indicated that the young man would have gotten more leniency had he confessed to the crime.
Erin Cargile of KXAN reports on efforts by some Texas lawmakers and advocates to end the process of ticketing misbehaving students with misdemeanors.
Donna St. George of the Washington Post had an in-depth story about the Texas ticketing process last week.
On a recent episode of NPR‘s “Tell Me More,” host Michel Martin discusses the Jena 6 case on the fifth anniversary of it happening. The case involved six young black men who were charged with attempted murder after the beating of a white student, which occurred after nooses were hung on a tree at a Louisiana school.
