Motivational Quote
 

Police Have a New Mouth-Swab Test to Check if Drivers Are Under the Influence of Marijuana or Other Drugs

Police departments in more than a dozen states are already using a mouth-swab device to confirm the presence of marijuana or other drugs in impaired drivers, and with the legalization of marijuana, more departments are expected to make use of the device.

The Los Angeles Times reports that two $6,000 Dräger DrugTest 5000 machines were donated to the San Diego Police Department by the San Diego Police Foundation last week, and the department planned to debut the machines Friday night at a St. Patrick’s Day DUI checkpoint in downtown San Diego.

The machine, which is about the size of a mini bookshelf stereo system, is able to test for the presence of marijuana, cocaine, opiates, methamphetamine, amphetamine, methadone and benzodiazepines, according to the Times. But although the machine can test for the presence of those seven drugs, it does not have the ability to read the level of intoxication, so drivers would still have to take a blood test for that information.

At a press conference Thursday, San Diego Police Chief Shelley Zimmerman said, “It’s a huge concern of ours with the legalization of marijuana that we’re going to see an increase in impaired drugged driving.”

California voters passed Proposition 64 in November, which legalizes the use and cultivation of recreational marijuana.

From the Times:

To prepare for the effects of the law, a team of San Diego narcotics officers went to Denver to learn how Colorado has fared since recreational marijuana was legalized there and found that the region has seen an uptick in drugged driving, Zimmerman said. The numbers have been growing in California as well.

In 2014, 38% of drivers who were killed in motor vehicle crashes in California tested positive for drugs, whether legal or illegal, according to the state Office of Highway Safety. That’s up from 32% the year before.

Drivers cannot be forced to submit to a field drug test, but if they refuse and there is ample suspicion of drug use, the officer can force the person to submit to a blood test.

According to the Times, the machine only looks for the active THC that is responsible for the high, and not the inactive THC compounds that can stay in a person’s system for weeks. This means that someone who legally smoked marijuana a few days prior would have nothing to worry about.

In California, there is currently no legal threshold for the amount of drugs in a person’s system when it comes to driving.

New Mobile Computer Lab provides web access to children in Fifth, Second Wards

Comcast has partnered with the YMCA of Greater Houston to open a new mobile computer lab dedicated to providing technology and Internet access at various YMCA sites that offer after-school activities to students and their parents. The lab will celebrate its grand opening at the YMCA’s International Services location on Wednesday, March 22 at 10 a.m.

The mobile lab will travel to several locations, providing access to technology to families through the YMCA, including the Willow Creek Community Center, 7575 Office City Dr., the Denver Harbor Community Center, 6402 Market St., Clayton Homes Apartment Community Center, 1919 Runnels St., and the Kelly Village Apartment Community Center, 3118 Green St.

“We are very grateful for this partnership with Comcast, as it enables the Y to bring laptops to students and their parents who otherwise would not have regular access to this technology,” said Paul McEntire, president and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Houston. “This mobile computer lab will allow children to complete homework assignments and do research related to their studies. It will also be available to their parents for preparing resumes, searching for jobs and finding the necessary resources for caring for their families.”

Comcast and YMCA of the USA recently announced a comprehensive $15.3 million partnership that combines the Y’s commitment to strengthening communities and improving the lives of children and families and the transformative potential of Comcast’s Internet Essentials, the nation’s largest and most comprehensive internet adoption program, to help prepare the next generation for the future.

The multi-year partnership is anchored by Comcast’s commitment to increasing the public’s understanding of the important and impactful work of the Y in communities through the visibility of the Y’s For a better us® English and Spanish PSAs. Additionally, Comcast provided grants to further support digital literacy and academic achievement programs at Ys nationwide. To mark the recent partnership launch in Houston, Comcast donated a total of $30,000 to the YMCA of Greater Houston.

“Internet Essentials is designed to help level the playing field for low-income families by providing the opportunity to apply for low-cost home internet, one of the most important resources in today’s digital world,” said Ralph Martinez, Senior Vice President for Comcast’s Houston Region. “We are proud to work together with the YMCA in the communities we mutually serve and help connect even more people to the resources they need to achieve their dreams.”

WHEN: Wednesday, March 22 at 10 a.m. 

WHERE: YMCA of Greater Houston

6300 Westpark Dr.

Houston, TX 77057

WHO: Lori Rumfield, District Executive Director for the YMCA

Joe Saceric, Director of Community Relations for YMCA International Services

Ray Purser, Vice President of External Affairs, Comcast Houston

Nicolas Jimenez, Senior Manager, Outreach & Partnerships, Comcast Corporation

Melinda Little, Director of Government Affairs, Comcast Houston

 
The PINNACLE Center is free* for use to Fort Bend and City of Houston residents that are ages 50 and above.
Location Hours

5525#C Hobby Road, Houston, Texas 77053
Phone: 832-471-2760 or 832-471-2765

Monday – Friday 7:30 AM - 7:30 PM

Saturday 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM
The PINNACLE Center includes:
  • Wi-Fi Internet Café
  • Fitness Center
  • Outdoor Walking Trail
  • Fitness Classes – Self Defense, Weight Training, Zumba, Flexibility, Aerobics, and Chair Fitness
  • Ping Pong
  • Dance Classes – Line Dancing, Two Stepping and Swing Out
  • Veterans Assistance & Social Service Assistance
  • Financial Planning  
  • Knowledge is POWER DAY
  • Computer Classes
  • Table Games - Bingo, Dominos and various Card Games
  • Marketplace Monday - Vendors welcome on the 1st Monday of each month

 

Colin Kaepernick Jumps Into Campaign to Get Food to Somalis on Brink of Starvation

Even without a team, Colin Kaepernick continues to put these athletes to shame with his good deeds.
The former QB for the San Francisco 49ers jumped feet first into an ongoing campaign to get food and water to the African nation of Somalia, which is facing a famine that could affect more than 6.2 million Somalis. Nearly 3 million are in desperate need of help immediately.

Though there are reports of Somalis abroad helping their people through technology, celebrities and others have heeded the humanitarian call. French social media star Jerome Jarre started the campaign, “Turkish Airlines Help Somalia” with Ben Stiller and others.

Hours after that went up, an afroed Kaepernick made a video on Instagram, saying he was all in, with the words, “Mainstream media is not covering this! Make a video in your own language and help us get aid to the many people in Somalia who need it! Use the hashtag #TurkishAirlinesHelpSomalia and @TurkishAirlines . We can be the difference!”

 

Texas House passes statewide ban on texting while driving

The Texas House on Wednesday passed a statewide ban on texting while driving.

Members voted 113-32 to tentatively approve the legislation, which will get a final vote in the House before it can proceed to the Senate. A Senate committee has passed a similar measure.

Texas is one of four states that do not have a statewide ban on texting and driving.

Under the measure passed by the House, offenders would be charged with a misdemeanor and be fined $25 to $99. Repeat offenders would have to pay between $100 and $200 in fines.

For years, the bill’s author, state Rep. Tom Craddick, R-Midland, has pushed legislation that would penalize drivers who use their phones on the road.

In 2015 and 2013, Craddick’s proposal passed the House but died in the Senate. In 2011, it traveled through both chambers only to be vetoed by Gov. Rick Perry, who said it would “micromanage the behavior of adults.”

About three dozen Texas cities already have a texting-and-driving ban in place. Cities would still be allowed to implement ordinances that are stricter than the proposed state law.

In a tweet, House Speaker Joe Straus congratulated Craddick on what he called “common-sense” legislation.

Opponents of the bill raised concerns about how a police officer could tell that a person was texting, especially because the legislation said officers could not take and inspect the phone.

“I find it absolutely incredulous, except for Superman, who can tell what you are doing on your phone,” said Rep. Harold Dutton Jr., a Houston Democrat, who noted law enforcement may not be able to distinguish between someone who is texting or using GPS.

In response, Craddick said that law enforcement have said they can consistently tell if people are texting.

Rep. Eric Johnson, D-Dallas, tacked an amendment onto the bill that says police officers cannot arrest people for texting while driving.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that every day in the United States, more than eight people are killed in crashes that involve a distracted driver.

Craddick noted Wednesday that more and more families lose loved ones to distracted driving and no Texas laws target the offense.

“That’s the sad part because those families have somehow been affected by some type of accident or death that’s happened because of no texting while driving [ban],” Craddick said.