Katie Rucke

Katie Rucke is a MintPress staff writer and investigative report specializing in the war on drugs, criminal justice, marijuana legislation, education and watchdog investigations as well as whistle-blowers. Her investigations related to the coverage of the 2010 Toyota recall scandal, and coverage of the trials of Anonymous hacker and proclaimed activist Jeremy Hammond as well as Bradley Manning have received international acclaim. Rucke has been recommended by the Wikileaks organization as a trusted journalist in 2013. Rucke has also written pieces for Yahoo! and various community magazines. Follow Katie on Twitter: @katierucke

Minnesota’s Medical Marijuana Battle Is Far From Over

Medical marijuana patients, advocates and supporters delivered flowers to Minn. Gov. Mark Dayton on Friday, protesting legislation they say falls far too short.

Katie Rucke
作者 Katie Rucke
A bag of medical marijuana

MINNEAPOLIS -- Medical marijuana patients and advocates delivered 33 flowers to Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton’s mansion in St. Paul on Friday to protest the severely limited medical marijuana legislation the governor signed into law on Thursday. The flower delivery and protest were organized by the medical marijuana advocacy group Minnesotans for

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Trained To Kill: The Policing Tactics The Public Isn’t Supposed To Know About

Despite the American public’s push for police reform, some law enforcement officers are attending classes emphasizing use of force — even if their departments don’t Ok it.

Katie Rucke
作者 Katie Rucke
Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS -- On May 28, 126 police officers in Seattle filed a lawsuit in federal court, arguing that restrictions placed on the department by a federal court in 2012 regarding officers’ ability to use excessive force was a violation of their constitutional rights as officers. Although the restrictions were put in place by the feds to curb the

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“Pink Slime” Suit Spotlights Constraints On Press Freedom

The South Dakota Supreme Court gives the go-ahead on a $1.2 billion defamation suit brought against ABC News for its reporting on an industrial beef byproduct.

Katie Rucke
作者 Katie Rucke
Pink Slime Lawsuit

ABC’s news anchor Diane Sawyer, two correspondents and others may soon find themselves deposed in a defamation lawsuit brought by a company that was the focus of a 2012 ABC News exposé of chemically-produced “lean finely textured beef” sold in the United States. Last week the South Dakota Supreme Court allowed a $1.2 billion defamation lawsuit

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Detroit Cuts Off Water To Thousands Unable To Pay Their Bills

In Detroit, residents struggle with a dwindling population, high unemployment and rising utilities prices. And now, thousands of the city’s poorest are also without water.

Katie Rucke
作者 Katie Rucke
Detroits Race Wall

Thousands of the some 700,000 people who call Detroit home are currently living without access to water after the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department turned off their water because they hadn’t paid their bills. As the shut-offs occur without warning from the department, residents don’t have time to fill buckets, sinks and tubs with water. This

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The Law Enforcement Lobby’s Heavy Hand In American Policy

“It seems like we take [law enforcement’s] opinion into pretty heavy consideration whenever we’re passing legislation,” one Minnesota lawmaker says.

Katie Rucke
作者 Katie Rucke
cops

MINNEAPOLIS --- The influence wielded in the U.S. political arena by the National Rifle Association, Monsanto and Koch brothers-controlled organizations is familiar to many Americans. But the average voter is likely unaware of a lesser-known lobby with a strong say in U.S. policy: law enforcement. Although police officers may lead the public to

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For British Army, Most New Recruits Are Child Soldiers

Like Iran and North Korea, the British Army actively recruits and enlists soldiers under the age of 18, even though they can’t legally be sent into combat.

Katie Rucke
作者 Katie Rucke
Britain

Officials in the United Kingdom continue to chastise leaders in nations such as Chad, Syria, India, Thailand and Myanmar, for their use of child soldiers, but the U.K.’s own Minister for Armed Forces Personnel allows people as young as 16 to enlist and serve in the British Army. Britons as young as 16 have served their country as recently as the

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NYPD Renews Push For Drones To Help Police The City

While unmanned aircraft could offer outstanding benefits to both the NYPD and the city’s fire department, these benefits may not outweigh the concerns of citizens and civil liberties groups.

Katie Rucke
作者 Katie Rucke
drones-nypd

In order to reduce crime in the city, New York Police Commissioner Bill Bratton said he is open to allowing the NYPD to use drones -- the unmanned aircrafts typically used in war zones -- especially in areas such as the city’s housing projects where shootings are reportedly up 32 percent this year. “Myself, I’m supportive of the concept of

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