5 States Likely to Take Up Marijuana Legalization in 2016

For many advocates of marijuana legalization, 2014 was a banner year. With initiatives passing in Oregon, Alaska, and in Washington D.C., it seems that the United States may be just a few short years away from complete federal legalization. Now that advocates can point to the relative successes of marijuana legalization in Washington and Colorado, the nation could see an increase in ballot measures in 2016.

Here are the 5 states most likely to explore full legalization next:

4 Key Areas of the American Political System Need Fixed to Improve Government

We are all incredulous spectators to the dismal theatrics playing year after year in Washington D.C., sowing more are more mistrust and disgust in the minds of the American people. But where is the backlash? The public sector of this nation has become an abject failure (in sharp contrast with the private sector, which time and again bails out the global economy, when the rest of the world sputters or regresses). Do we need any proof?

Resolution Condemning Russia Shows Absence of Real Foreign Policy Debate in Washington

Late last week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed resolution HR 758, which largely condemns Russia. However, it may also provide impetus for further confrontation between the United States and the world's largest country.

Passing the House 411-10, the resolution condemns many of Russia's actions in recent years, including but not limited to the annexations of Crimea, South Ossetia, and Abkhazia.

Republican Bill Cassidy Wins La. Senate Race with Less Than 25% of Electorate

It was an election that didn't surprise anyone. Even before the votes were counted in Saturday's runoff election between Louisiana U.S. Senator 

Mary Landrieu (D) and Republican U.S. Representative Bill Cassidy, all indicators pointed to a landslide victory for Cassidy. The Republican kept a low profile leading up to the election and national Democrats backed out of the race completely.

Study: Use-of-Force Incidents Drop Dramatically When Police Use Body-Worn Cameras

Law enforcement has more than 30 years of experience with recording interactions with the public via in-car cameras, but has much less practical experience with the newer concept of body-worn cameras.

Some European law enforcement agencies have embraced almost every imaginable form of video surveillance and recording for many years, while few municipalities within the United States have enough experience from which to draw conclusions.

500 Deadly Encounters With Police Officers Stir National Debate

The announcement this week that the officer who killed Eric Garner would not be tried for homicide has further fueled public debate as to the appropriate level of force police officers use while in perceived danger. In 2014 alone, over 496 individuals have died in incidents with law enforcement officers, some of whom did not posses a weapon.

3 Key Takeaways from Facebook’s Privacy Update

Facebook has announced, yet again, that it will be updating its privacy terms effective January 1, 2015.

The good news? Facebook's new policy is 70 percent shorter than the old one. The bad news? Not a whole lot will change to protect your privacy online.

Here are 3 key takeaways from Facebook’s updated privacy terms: