Crime Rise Puts LAPD In Difficult Position:  Los Angeles Chief of Police wants to send more than 200 officers from the highly trained, "elite" Metro Division to combat the city's first major crime increase in over ten years.  Kate Mather, Richard Winton and Cindy Chang of the LA Times report that the new data-driven, predictive policing strategy will transition from utilizing beat cops focused on building community relations to Metro officers employing their specialized tactical and weapons training.  Law enforcement officials have admitted that although the change is not ideal, something must be done to reverse the 26% increase in violent crime and 11% increase in property crime.

NE Bill Removing Mandatory Minimums Clears Senate:  Nebraska's proposed sentencing reform measure, which would limit the use of mandatory minimum sentences to reduce prison overcrowding, passed the state senate yesterday with a 28-9 vote.  Grant Schulte of the AP reports that the bill would eliminate mandatory minimum sentences for certain felonies such a robbery and assault on a police officer, and would limit use of the "habitual criminal" enhancement.  Nebraska's Attorney General and some conservative senators criticize the bill for removing tools essential for prosecutors to do their jobs.  Supporters claim the law would not affect a judge's ability to impose long sentences for heinous crimes.

Tulane Body Camera Footage Will Not Be Public Record:  The footage obtained from body cameras of the Tulane University Police Department in Louisiana will not be made available to the public, according to the Office of General Counsel.  Brandi Doyal of the Hullabaloo reports that it is not a requirement for TUPD to release footage because "it is not a public body under the provisions of the Louisiana Public Records Act."  General Counsel states that the decision protects the rights of victims and perpetrators, but opponents of the policy feel that the public has the right to view the tapes.

Half The States Consider Right-To-Die Legislation:  Half of US states are considering medically assisted suicide legislation this year, which would "allow mentally fit, terminally ill patients age 18 and over, whose doctors say they have six months to live, to request lethal drugs."  Malak Monir of USA Today reports that Oregon, in 1997, was the first state to have "right-to-die" legislation written into law, and its practice has led to benefits in improving the quality of life for terminally ill patients in the state.  Opponents argue that the potential for mistakes and abuse offset any benefits.

Parolee Speeding To Make Curfew Kills Passenger:  A felon on parole was hurrying home on his motorcycle to comply with his curfew requirements when he crashed on Highway 99, killing his female passenger.  Bill Lindelof of the Sacramento Bee reports that witnesses told CHP officers that the driver was traveling at a high rate of speed and weaving through traffic.  He  was later found to be under the influence of alcohol and arrested for gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, driving without a license, and violating parole.  The victim was 21-year-old.