NewsWatch: Public Safety -- Corrupt Public Officials May be Branded, More ...

Illegal Drugs in Surface Water Threat to Health and Wildlife
In a park (pictured) near Valencia, Spain, researchers have found heroin, cocaine, ecstasy, cannabis, amphetamines, codeine, and morphine residues from human urine in surface water at levels ranging between 0.06 and 78.78 nanograms/litre. "The health problems potentially caused by consuming these, added to the fact that these residues are still strongly pharmacologically active, may have consequences for land organisms and aquatic fauna", said Yolanda Picó, lead author of the study and a senior professor in the Department of Nutrition and Bromatology at the University of Valencia.  Expatica
RELATED ITEM
Rx Drug-Dumping Day is Saturday
On Saturday, thousands of sites near Philadelphia will be collecting old or unneeded prescription drugs, as part of a first-ever nationally coordinated campaign. Drop-off points include municipal buildings, pharmacies and police stations -- among them almost every police district in Philadelphia. To find a location by zip code or town name, go to  this website, which lists sites in New Jersey. Philadelphia Inquirer

Group Warns Cities, Counties Not to Oppose Pot Shops
Hinting at potential legal actions to come, an advocacy group for medical marijuana users is warning California cities and counties that they cannot ban pot stores on grounds that state and federal marijuana laws are in conflict. Sacramento Bee

Oregon Emergency Radio System in Trouble
The price of Oregon's plan to build a statewide emergency radio network has soared $107 million over budget because of mismanagement, missed deadlines and hidden costs. Internal state audits and reports released to The Oregonian Tuesday under the state's public records law show state officials also failed to include big-ticket items -- such as a $10 million operations center needed to help run the radio network -- in the cost estimates they gave to legislators. Oregonian

Russia May Brand Corrupt Public Officials
Russian Parliament, or State Duma, discussed an amendment to the Criminal Code that would introduce mandatory branding of those convicted for bribery. The amendment's introducers proposed to brand an indestructible letter K (the first letter of the word "corruption" in Russian) to the back of the left hand. People's Daily

County Jails Allowed to Strip Search any Inmate
A federal appeals court handed a victory to two county jails in New Jersey, granting them authority to strip search every inmate within their walls, including those arrested for outstanding traffic tickets, unpaid child support and other non-violent crimes. New Jersey Star-Ledger

City Refuses to Post Warning Signs to Enforce Ban on School-Zone Cellphones
Garland, Texas, is one of the few towns not to have put up warning signs, allowing enforcement of a state law prohibiting the use of handheld technology devices in active school zones. The law was passed by the last Legislature. But before police can enforce it, cities must put up signs around schools cautioning drivers about the prohibition. Dallas Morning News

Sheriff's Office Misspent Funds Says County
The Maricopa County, Ariz., Sheriff's Office misused at least $50 million from a fund for jail operations, and county supervisors may have to use the general fund to repay the money, top county officials say. Findings by the county's Office of Management and Budget show the Sheriff's Office tapped the money to pay for functions not allowed under jail-fund rules, such as salaries for deputies who worked on public-corruption investigations into county supervisors and judges. Arizona Republic