Brickbats
Brickbat: Hard at Work
A federal judge sentenced former Baltimore City Schools Police Officer Lawrence Smith to one year and one day in jail. Smith admitted stealing $215,000 in overtime pay and pleaded guilty to wire fraud and tax evasion.…
Brickbat: Lightening the Mood
Mike Forbess, a 911 dispatcher in Watauga, Texas, was formally reprimanded after making an inappropriate joke during an emergency call. A mother called for help because her daughters were fighting and one had kicked a hole in…
Brickbat: Won't You Stay
In Germany, officials stress that military service remains voluntary. But an update to its military service law, which quietly took effect in January, bars men between ages 17 and 45 from leaving the country for more than…
Brickbat: Coming Back Clean
A local TV news investigation found that hundreds of people in Georgia who were arrested for DUI in 2025 were later shown to be sober, based on blood tests from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. The records show that 701…
Brickbat: Home Is Where the Heart Is
San Diego voters will decide in June whether to approve a tax on empty homes. The $8,000 tax would affect homes that are unoccupied more than 182 days a year. The tax is projected to cover 5,000 homes and expected to bring in…
Brickbat: Cash Is King
The Russian government caused a major disruption to the country's online financial services while attempting to tighten internet censorship. In an effort to stop citizens from using VPNs to access blocked platforms like…
Brickbat: Taking Pictures
Former Pennsylvania State Police Corporal Stephen Kamnik pleaded guilty to crimes including unlawful use of a computer and wiretapping. Investigators found he had used official police databases, including driver's…
Brickbat: Too Fast for Conditions
A jury sentenced former Missouri City, Texas, police officer Blademir Viveros to 15 years in prison for causing a deadly crash while on duty in 2024. Prosecutors said he was driving 107 miles per hour without using his lights…
Brickbat: Hong Kong Crackdown
Hong Kong police can now demand access to people's phones, computers, and other devices if they are suspected of breaking the China-imposed national security law. Individuals may be required to hand over passwords or…
Brickbat: Cutting Care
The United Kingdom's National Health Service (NHS) plans to cut hospital waiting lists by making it harder to admit patients. Under new guidance, in at least 25 percent of cases, general practitioners must first get…
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