Plainfield to install digital license plate readers
The Plainfield Police Department has announced that they will be partnering with a company called Flock Safety to install automated license plate reading cameras around Plainfield. The cameras are soon expected to be operational for a 2-month trial period in which the department will then have photographs automatically uploaded to the cloud for a computer analysis. Stolen vehicles, or owners of vehicles which are wanted can be determined in real time, with a notification being sent to the Plainfield Police. Although the Plainfield Police claim this technology will not be used for traffic violations, other unintended consequences have not been addressed by the Department, including potential rights violations and how these photographs may or may not be used in the court system. The program is designed to only store the photographed data for 30 days before being deleted, assuming an individual picture has not been identified and sent to Police as a potential suspect.
Attorney General Rokita takes further action to stop Biden Administration’s immigration policy
As part of a 16-state coalition, Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita is taking new steps to stop the Biden administration’s “interim guidance” on “civil immigration enforcement and removal priorities.” The Biden policy drastically and intentionally curtails enforcement of immigration laws.
President Biden’s interim guidance dramatically halts nearly all deportations and immigration-related arrests, including for those convicted of dangerous aggravated felonies. The coalition is asking the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals to deny the Biden Administration’s request for a stay pending appeal so that President Biden’s illegal refusal to enforce immigration laws will be halted while the administration’s appeal is ongoing. The interim guidance has also resulted in ICE lifting detainers on criminals who have completed their sentences. Instead of being deported, as required by law, they are released into communities, without any warning to the public, and put on community supervision funded by taxpayers. In Arizona, the crimes for which the Biden administration will no longer seek to deport violators include arson, armed robbery, misconduct involving weapons, and aggravated DUI.
Earlier this summer, Attorney General Rokita led a 15-state coalition that successfully argued that President Biden acted unlawfully when he revoked the Trump administration’s successful policy requiring migrants coming across the southern border to remain in Mexico while awaiting U.S. asylum hearings.
Monore County still asked to refrain from feeding birds
The Indiana Department of Natural Resources announced that Hoosiers in 76 counties across the state can resume feeding birds, but asks that residents of Allen, Hamilton, Hendricks, Johnson, Lake, Marion, Monroe, Porter, and St. Joseph. keep their feeders down while the investigation into what is killing songbirds continues.
Residents of other counties may again put out their feeders. Seed and suet feeders should be cleaned at least once every two weeks by scrubbing feeders with soap and water, followed by a short soak in a 10% bleach solution. Feeders should be thoroughly rinsed and dried before being filled with birdseed. Hummingbird feeders should be cleaned at least one a week with a 10% bleach solution and rinsed thoroughly.
DNR recommended a statewide moratorium on bird feeding on June 25 to slow the spread of a still-undetermined illness that is killing birds across the state. Hoosiers answered the call, removing feeders, cleaning birdbaths, and submitting more than 3,400 reports of sick or dead birds. DNR biologists believe there to be more than 500 cases in 72 counties that involve a very specific set of clinical signs (crusty eyes, eye discharge, and/or neurological issues). If you see a sick or dead bird with the above symptoms, report it at on.IN.gov/sickwildlife. Reports help DNR staff continue to track this outbreak.