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Local Connection: Rules for police chases, regulations for home businesses, and pandemic's effect on arts education 

After two bystanders in Brighton, Colorado, were killed by a driver who was being chased by police, questions have been raised about the circumstances in which officers should get involved in a high-speed pursuit, The Denver Post reports. While the police chief of the Denver suburb says there are detailed policies related to high-speed chases, others are concerned that a pursuit that lasted only two minutes could result in the deaths of two people.

Many state and local governments have eased up on enforcement of laws governing home-based businesses as the pandemic has turned many residents into entrepreneurs, Stateline news service reports. In some places, elected officials are considering changing laws that some consider too stringent and outdated. Supporters argue that many of the regulations are the most burdensome for women and people of color, who head a large portion of the single-person enterprises. But some neighboring homeowners, existing companies and public health professionals have voiced concerns.

Although the 2001 federal No Child Left Behind Act designated the arts as a core subject, opportunities for music and art classes have varied drastically from school district to school district and school to school, The Conversation reports. As schools turned to remote learning during the pandemic, hands-on arts classes and music activities were often set aside because they did not translate well to online communication platforms. As schools have reopened, arts have remained a lesser priority, with some schools seeing the playing of wind instruments and singing as ways to spread Covid-19. Some educators are concerned that the learning loss in the arts may not be recovered.

PLUS: A pro tip from Shashank Bengali, senior editor for live news at The New York Times.

🤗 Making the connection 🤗

Please send us links to your stories that used this info so we can include them in future issues of this newsletter! Send an email to info@centerforcooperativemedia.org.

THE STORY: DEADLY BRIGHTON POLICE CHASE RAISES QUESTIONS: WHEN SHOULD POLICE ENGAGE IN VEHICLE PURSUITS?

After two bystanders in Brighton, Colorado, were killed by a driver who was being chased by police, questions have been raised about the circumstances in which officers should get involved in a high-speed pursuit, The Denver Post reports. While the police chief of the Denver suburb says there are detailed policies related to high-speed chases, others are concerned that a pursuit that lasted only two minutes could result in the deaths of two people.

LOCALIZE IT: Take a look at the policies governing police pursuits for the law enforcement agencies that cover your community. That could include local police, county sheriff's offices and state police. 

Here are some questions to ask:

  • What policies, rules or laws cover police chases for your agency?
  • When were they established? How often are they reviewed and revised?
  • Who oversees the enforcement of these policies, rules or laws?
  • What kind of statistics or records are kept on police chases?
  • In the last year, have the number of chases increased, decreased or stayed the same? What are the reasons for this?
  • What are the negative outcomes that can occur from a police chase?
  • What are the positive outcomes that can occur from a police chase? Examples?
  • When was the last time there was a death associated with a police chase?
  • When was the last time there was an injury or injuries associated with a police chase?
  • When was the last time there was property damage associated with a police chase?
  • Are specific police chases reviewed afterward? Who is responsible for that?
  • Have any officers been disciplined or fired because of inappropriate police chases?
  • What should bystanders on uninvolved drivers do when they see a police chase unfolding?

✍️ PRO TIP:
WHAT YOU DO IS IMPORTANT

We saw during the pandemic just how important more than ever journalism was. We are seeing as people get back to their lives, which is a great thing, people will not be consuming as much media. ... We do know that there's going to be a dropoff in the audience this year, compared to last year. ... We hope we're finding different ways of bringing people in because it's still really important.

— Shashank Bengali, senior editor for live news at The New York Times. Twitter: @SBengali

THE STORY: PANDEMIC PROMPTS OFFICIALS TO RELAX RULES ON HOME BUSINESSES

Many state and local governments have eased up on enforcement of laws governing home-based businesses as the pandemic has turned many residents into entrepreneurs, Stateline news service reports. In some places, elected officials are considering changing laws that some consider too stringent and outdated. Supporters argue that many of the regulations are the most burdensome for women and people of color, who head a large portion of the single-person enterprises. But some neighboring homeowners, existing companies and public health professionals have voiced concerns.

LOCALIZE IT: Check with the local offices that issue business licenses and that inspect home-based food businesses. Have they seen changes? Have their jobs changed? Also talk to people who run home-based businesses. Include longtime business operators as well as new ones. (NOTE: The Stateline news service article is available for republication at no cost if you follow these terms and conditions.)

Here are some questions to ask:

  • What are the requirements for people who want to operate businesses from their homes?
  • Are there general rules that cover everyone? Are there specific rules that cover specific businesses, like food preparation?
  • How much does a business license cost for a home-based business?
  • How many business licenses have been issued this year? How does that compare to previous years?
  • What are the penalties for operating a business without a license?
  • Are there zoning rules that limit businesses in residential areas?
  • Who enforces the business regulations?
  • How many people have faced penalties for running home businesses?
  • Has enforcement been eased up during the pandemic?
  • Is there any plan to revise zoning ordinances or business regulations in light of the pandemic?

⭐ CHECK OUT SREE'S #SunTimesReadalong ⭐
BRINGING OBITUARIES TO LIFE


On Oct. 31, Sree Sreenivasan (@sree) and Neil Parekh (@neilparekh) interviewed Maureen O'Donnell (@suntimesobits), obituary writer for the Chicago Sun-Times and past president of the Society of Professional Obituary Writers. They talked about how obituaries can be much more than death notices for both writers and readers.     

Click here to watch the New York Times Readalong.

Next week's guest is Ozier Muhammad (@ozmuha), Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist who has worked for The New York Times, Newsday, Ebony and Jet. He is the grandson of Elijah Muhammad, former leader of the Nation of Islam. The New York Times Readalong is livestreamed Sundays at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.

THE STORY: COVID-19 THREATENS THE ALREADY SHAKY STATUS OF ARTS EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS

Although the 2001 federal No Child Left Behind Act designated the arts as a core subject, opportunities for music and art classes have varied drastically from school district to school district and school to school, The Conversation reports. As schools turned to remote learning during the pandemic, hands-on arts classes and music activities were often set aside because they did not translate well to online communication platforms. As schools have reopened, arts have remained a lesser priority, with some schools seeing the playing of wind instruments and singing as ways to spread Covid-19. Some educators are concerned that the learning loss in the arts may not be recovered.

LOCALIZE IT: Take a look at the political offices and government entities in your area. Determine if there is a gender gap in your area. Then talk to politicians and residents about why they think there is or isn't a gender gap. Also check with local schools and colleges. Is there a gender imbalance in student government positions? (NOTE: The Conversation article is available for republication at no cost if you follow these terms and conditions.)

Here are some questions to ask:

  • How many women hold political office in your area? How many men?
  • Is there an imbalance in how many men and women hold office? 
  • Are there any political bodies that have an equal number of men and women or more women than men?
  • Look at how long political office holders have been in place. Do men have longer tenures than women?
  • Why does there seem to be an imbalance?
  • Is there concern that women and girls are not interested in politics?
  • Ask female politicians how and when they got interested in holding office?
  • Ask male politicians how and when they got interested in holding office?
  • Are any politicians doing anything to encourage girls and young women to get involved in politics? Why or why not?

YOUR LOCAL CONNECTOR:
Carla Baranauckas (@cabara)

Carla is a journalist with experience at The New York Times, HuffPost, NorthJersey.com, NextAvenue.org, TheStreet.com, 24/7 Wall St., AOL, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Grand Forks Herald, the Edwardsville Intelligencer, the Texarkana Gazette and the Pampa News. She has a master's degree from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism and taught there for 15 years.
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