Jon Schuppe writes—How Anthony Graves Went from Death Row to Overseeing the Houston Crime Lab:
A few weeks ago, Anthony Graves began hearing rumors that he was under consideration for a spot on the Houston Forensic Science Center's board of directors — a post that would put him in a position to help the city prevent wrongful convictions.
Wrongful convictions like the one that put him on death row.
The simple fact that he was being considered for the job was another form of vindication for Graves, who was exonerated in the murders of six people and released from a Texas prison five years ago. [...]
Graves spent 18 years in prison and was twice given an execution date. The state wanted to retry him, but the case fell apart, and in 2010 Graves was released—a free man at long last.
At the same time, the Houston Crime lab was reeling from revelations of systemic malfeasance. In 2013, Parker and the city council created the Houston Forensic Science Center, overseen by an independent board of directors, to take over the $24 million-a-year lab's operations.
Blast from the Past. At Daily Kos on this date in 2003—Let's talk about the war:
It's often hard to make your points when you get sucked into a backyard debate over Bush and the War. Usually, the loudest yahoo wins the day. So, here are some useful tips if you get trapped into a debate with some Rush/Fox loving clown justifying the war:
*Saddam had WMD
There is no evidence that he had any weapons to use. It's like saying that you have a dog house when all you have are some nails. You may eventually make a dog house, but without wood and paint, all you have is a potential dog house. Now, you can claim nails meant you wanted to build a dog house, that you might have even downloaded the plans to make a dog house. But until fluffy is wagging his tail from a dog house, you don't have one.
*Saddam killed his own people
Yes, Saddam killed his own people. He killed and tortured thousands of them. But that doesn't mean that he's alone. There are 70 countries with murderous dictators. How many of your neighbors kids should die to overthrow them? [...]
*The war is over
Well, that's what the White House says and politicians never lie, right? Seriously, every day you turn on the news, it's another dead kid. You know most of them are about 20 years old? The war is far from over. Look, if Iraqis invaded here and decided to install the Baath Party in charge, would you accept that? So what makes you think Iraqis are that different from you. [...]
Tweet of the Day
On
today's Kagro in the Morning show, it's the 6/30/14 episode.
Greg Dworkin sets the mood with
The Onion on Hobby Lobby. Justice Stevens: RFRA itself is a violation of the First Amendment. James Risen's Blackwater blockbuster. Facebook's crazy experiment. And the intriguing backstory to a Hawaii political drama. For the 5th time in 3 1/2 years, GunFAIL accidents at more than one gun show on the same day. OK Republican says Rep. Frank Lucas was actually executed 3 years ago & is now either a body double or a robot. But hey, both sides do it. You know? More on Blackwater, and a time out to talk to
Armando as news came in from the Supreme Court on
Hobby Lobby and
Harris.
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