The two cases illustrate the urgent need for bail and parole reform LOS ANGELES — Calvin Lane was out of custody on reduced bail when he absconded before closing arguments last week at his trial for sex trafficking a young woman and a teenage girl in Los Angeles and Long Beach. Dijon O’Neal, a convicted...Read More

Thomas James Coleman, owner of Beaverdale Confections, was arrested and faces charges linked to an online child predator investigation, according to Newton police. NEWTON, Iowa — The owner of a Des Moines candy store was arrested this week amid an online child predator investigation, Newton police said Thursday. Officials said 60-year-old Thomas James Coleman of Des...Read More

A former Texas police officer will spend his life behind bars after he was ensnared by what prosecutors described as a “civilian predator catcher group” aimed at taking down child sex offenders.  Daniel Joseph Bates was found guilty Sept. 2 of online solicitation of a minor and possession of child pornography after he was discovered...Read More

DOWNTOWN: Unrivaled journalism worthy of reader support ​ A decade ago we assembled a small but experienced and passionate group of publishing professionals all committed to producing an independent newsmagazine befitting the Birmingham/Bloomfield area that, as we like to say, has long defined the best of Oakland County.    We provide a quality monthly news...Read More

The Alarming State of Child Safety in Bangladesh: Nearly 16,000 Children Reported Missing in Seven Months A Human Rights Report and Recommendations to the Government The safety and security of children in Bangladesh have become a matter of serious national concern. According to information from the Police Headquarters, a total of 15,917 children were reported...Read More

SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — Bullying in Utah schools is leaving some families with lifelong grief and raising questions about whether schools have enough resources and accountability to protect students before it’s too late. Samie Hardman said her 12-year-old son, Drayke Hardman, died by suicide after being bullied for almost a year. “Bullying is causing...Read More

LANDER — Last year, Laramie County District Court Judge Peter Froelicher ruled that the state of Wyoming had chronically and unconstitutionally underfunded key aspects of public education. One area that stood out as not receiving enough funding was school safety. But when the Wyoming Legislature undertook school finance recalibration this past spring, it significantly altered...Read More

Meta‘s landmark settlement in its child safety trial will precipitate the most significant change to its social media platforms for teen users ever. The social media giant’s settlement with more than 40 states plus the District of Columbia and multiple territories, includes up to $17 billion in payments over 10 years, changes to the apps...Read More

HIGHLANDS COUNTY, Fla. — Five people have been sentenced to prison and several others have been arrested as part of recent investigations by the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) Special Victims Unit, according to the sheriff’s office. HCSO said recent cases resulted in prison sentences for multiple offenders, including Fernando Garcia, who was sentenced to...Read More

Pop-up messages that warn of the harms of social media — such as mental health consequences — have potential to reduce young people’s social media use, a new Stanford Medicine study has found. The online experiment of about 1,000 teens and young adults found that warnings also boosted people’s knowledge of the risks of social...Read More