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Meg Anderson Meg Anderson is a reporter on NPR's National Desk.
Meg Anderson - 2019
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Meg Anderson

Thursday

A person wears a shirt in support of Amendment 3, a ballot initiative that would legalize the recreational use of marijuana in Florida. North and South Dakota are also voting on whether to legalize the drug.

A person wears a shirt in support of Amendment 3, a ballot initiative that would legalize the recreational use of marijuana in Florida. North and South Dakota are also voting on whether to legalize the drug. Rebecca Blackwell/AP hide caption

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Rebecca Blackwell/AP

National

Three takeaways from crime ballot measures around the country

Voters will decide on a slew of criminal justice ballot measures this election. Legalizing some drugs, increasing penalties for others and boosting police pay are among the proposed changes.

What’s on the ballot? Drugs, police funding and getting tough on crime

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Wednesday

Tuesday

Thursday

Lillian Risser, left, and Sophia Loveland, right, approach an encampment in Humboldt Park on Sept. 23 in Chicago. Risser and Loveland are outreach workers for Thresholds, a mental health care provider in Illinois that works to move people out of encampments into more permanent housing.

Lillian Risser, left, and Sophia Loveland, right, approach an encampment in Humboldt Park on Sept. 23 in Chicago. Risser and Loveland are outreach workers for Thresholds, a mental health care provider in Illinois that works to move people out of encampments into more permanent housing. Jamie Kelter Davis for NPR hide caption

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Jamie Kelter Davis for NPR

National

Politicians often link crime and homelessness. The reality is more complex

As the homelessness crisis grows, it’s common for the public and politicians to conflate homeless encampments and criminal activity. But how much do these camps really affect crime in cities?

The reality of the link between crime and homelessness is complex

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Wednesday

Kamala Harris speaks at a watch party after the presidential debate on Tuesday night.

Kamala Harris speaks at a watch party after the presidential debate on Tuesday night. Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images

Elections

Kamala Harris is a gun owner — but she's still a proponent of stricter gun laws

Vice President Harris cited the fact she was a gun owner in Tuesday night's presidential debate, in a move designed to shut down suggestions from former President Donald Trump that she wants to “confiscate your guns.”

Saturday

Law

Georgia officials charge 14-year-old alleged school shooter as an adult

The school shooting this week in Georgia raises many questions about how the criminal justice system handles cases where minors commit capital crimes.

Georgia officials charge 14-year-old alleged school shooter as an adult

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Thursday

The Legal Rights Center in Minneapolis.

The Legal Rights Center in Minneapolis holds trainings to teach young people how to assert their rights in police custody. Jaida Grey Eagle for NPR hide caption

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Jaida Grey Eagle for NPR

Law

Should police be able to interrogate kids alone? A growing number of states say no

In most states, children and teenagers can waive their right to a lawyer during police questioning. Some states are now requiring that they speak to an attorney first.

Should police be able to interrogate kids alone? A growing number of states say no

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Saturday

A makeshift memorial for Michael Brown stands in the street on Sept. 11, 2015, in Ferguson, Mo. Brown's death prompted nationwide protests and a White House report on American policing.

A makeshift memorial for Michael Brown stands in the street on Sept. 11, 2015, in Ferguson, Mo. Brown's death prompted nationwide protests and a White House report on American policing. Michael B. Thomas/Getty Images hide caption

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Michael B. Thomas/Getty Images

National

10 years after Michael Brown's death, police killings are not going down

Ten years ago, a white police officer killed Michael Brown, a Black teen in Ferguson, Mo. His death prompted nationwide protests and a White House report on American policing. How much has changed since his death?

Ten years after Michael Brown's death, police killings are not going down

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Friday

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara speaks to the press after a multi-person shooting in the city on Feb. 27. O'Hara says the police department is staffed 40% below what it was in 2020.

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara speaks to the press after a multi-person shooting in the city on Feb. 27. O'Hara says the police department is staffed 40% below what it was in 2020. Alex Kormann/Star Tribune via Getty Images hide caption

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Alex Kormann/Star Tribune via Getty Images

National

Police departments are offering big raises. Does it work?

Police officers in many U.S. cities have recently gotten large pay boosts. Departments are offering these raises to combat understaffing, but some say the money won't help.

Police departments are offering big raises. Does it work?

Listen · 6:00
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Wednesday

Politics

GOP vows to make America safe again. Statistics contradict their growing crime claims

At the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee Tuesday night, Republicans promised to “make America safe once again.” They say crime is up nationwide. Is it?

GOP vows to make America safe again. Statistics contradict their growing crime claims

Listen · 7:06
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Sunday

Corey Comperatore poses in a photo from a GoFundMe page dedicated to his daughter Allyson in the aftermath of his death. The GoFundMe has raised more than $400,000 so far.

Corey Comperatore poses in a photo from a GoFundMe page dedicated to his daughter Allyson in the aftermath of his death. The GoFundMe has raised more than $400,000 so far. Screenshot/GoFundMe hide caption

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Screenshot/GoFundMe

National

The man killed in the assassination attempt on Trump died shielding his family

Who was Corey Comperatore, the man killed in the assassination attempt at this weekend's Trump rally in Pennsylvania?

SHOOTING VICTIM PROFILE

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Thursday

National

Study shows incarcerated women experience different conditions than men

One in three convicted women are held in jail rather than prison, compared to about 1 in 10 of all convicted people. But compared to prisons, jails tend to have fewer resources and support systems.

Women In Jails

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Wednesday

Shiloh Jordan, right, who was among the people receiving a pardon for a misdemeanor marijuana conviction years ago, greets Maryland Gov. Wes Moore at a news conference in Annapolis, Md., on June 17 when Moore announced more than 175,000 pardons. Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown is center.

Shiloh Jordan, right, who was among the people receiving a pardon for a misdemeanor marijuana conviction years ago, greets Maryland Gov. Wes Moore at a news conference in Annapolis, Md., on June 17 when Moore announced more than 175,000 pardons. Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown is center. Brian Witte/AP hide caption

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Brian Witte/AP

National

Some say Maryland’s mass marijuana pardons don’t go far enough

This week Maryland Gov. Wes Moore pardoned 175,000 people with marijuana convictions. But some advocates say pardons might not be enough to remove the barriers faced by people with a criminal record.

Some say Maryland’s mass marijuana pardons don’t go far enough

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Wednesday

Previous issues of the Prison Mirror sit on display in the Minnesota Correctional Facility - Stillwater.

Previous issues of the Prison Mirror, which has been publishing since 1887, sit on display in the Minnesota Correctional Facility - Stillwater. Kerem Yücel/MPR News hide caption

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Kerem Yücel/MPR News

National

This prison newspaper has been publishing for more than a century

A newspaper in a Minnesota prison began publishing more than a century ago. The paper covers prison life and gives its writers purpose. It’s one of around two dozen similar publications nationwide.

Prison Newspaper

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Friday

Jeffery Christian, right, speaks at a press conference in Chicago, on May 7. Christian and dozens of others claim they were sexually abused as children while incarcerated at Illinois juvenile detention centers, as part of a lawsuit recounting decades of allegations of systemic child abuse.

Jeffery Christian, right, speaks at a press conference in Chicago, on May 7. Christian and dozens of others claim they were sexually abused as children while incarcerated at Illinois juvenile detention centers, as part of a lawsuit recounting decades of allegations of systemic child abuse. Teresa Crawford/AP hide caption

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Teresa Crawford/AP

National

Youth detention facilities face increased scrutiny amid a wave of abuse lawsuits

A new lawsuit alleges widespread sexual abuse of juveniles took place over decades at Illinois youth detention facilities. Similar lawsuits have been filed this year in other states.

Youth detention facilities face increased scrutiny amid a wave of abuse lawsuits

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