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So you have a family recipe for moonshine, which your hipster friends find superb. Your people have passed down the secrets of distillation for generations, and you are proud of this tradition, especially when you see how popular your homemade spirits are with pals. They insist you should go into business and are even willing to invest. Can you legally distill alcohol at home, or have you been breaking the law all along (which, considering the colorful history of moonshine in ths country, kind of fits the liquor)?...

Minor crimes happen around us all the time: jaywalking, failing to stop at stop signs, drinking in public … Chances are, you won’t even think twice about ignoring these infractions. But what if you witness a serious crime involving loss of property or harm to others? Witnessing a crime can be a frightening experience, but it can also be a chance to do the right thing. Here’s what you should do if you witness a crime:...

John Hughes – no, not that John Hughes – wondered what it would be like to be in a high-speed police chase. The 55-year-old led police on a car chase through Butte, Montana early Thursday morning, hitting speeds of over 100 mph. He wasn’t drunk, on drugs, or wanted for a crime. When confused officers asked about his motives, he told them, “I just always wanted to do that.” He did it for fun – a bucket list police chase, if you will....

A Minnesota teen participating in the “Cold Water Challenge” was arrested and charged with a misdemeanor after jumping off a bridge last week. Joseph Mark Sanislo, 19, of Coon Rapids, was charged with disorderly conduct after jumping off a bridge in Brooklyn Park, near Minneapolis, as a friend recorded it on video, reports the Minneapolis Star Tribune. A witness called authorities, and rescuers responded to the scene. Sanislo apparently took the plunge as part of the “Cold Water Challenge” – a social-media stunt increasingly popular among teenagers....

The lowest level of DUI is a misdemeanor, and most first-time DUIs are charged that way. However, there are certain circumstances that can turn a misdemeanor DUI into a felony. Whether you get charged with a misdemeanor or felony can greatly affect your punishment. Felonies are considered much more serious crimes and can result in more than a year in prison and hefty fines. On the other hand, misdemeanors usually result in less than a year in jail and potentially lesser fines....

Amway has agreed to settle a suit by some of its “independent business owners” (IBOs) alleging that the direct sales giant operated as a pyramid scheme. On November 3, the company announced it would pay $34 million in cash and provide $22 million worth of products to settle the class action suit which began in 2007. The Amway lawsuit was actually filed against Quixtar, the name formerly used by Amway, by IBOs who claimed the company used unfair and illegal business practices and mislead them about their ability to make money and how much it would cost to be part of the business, reports The Grand Rapids Press....

With Congress-backed approval and a preliminary acceptance by a federal judge, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has begun notifying potential class members of their rights under the $1.25 billion black farmer settlement agreement arranged last year. If approved by the judge in September 2011, class members, their heirs, or legal representatives will likely have until February 28, 2012 to file claims for up to $50,000 each, and may also be able to take part in the USDA’s loan forgiveness program....

The city of Cleveland has agreed to pay $6 million to the family of Tamir Rice, a 12-year-old shot and killed by police officer Timothy Loehmann in 2014. Rice was in a park playing with a toy gun when he was shot. It is the latest in a series of million-dollar settlements following deadly police shootings, and the latest chapter in Cleveland’s own history of police violence and lawsuits. Civil Settlement Over Criminal Charges Rice was by himself in a park when someone dialed 911 and reported a male, “probably a juvenile,” with a weapon, “probably fake....

Whether it’s a mass shooting or police shooting a suspect, reports of injuries or deaths because of guns seem to be in the news almost every day. Considering the damage that guns can cause, it’s no surprise that there are various gun laws both on the federal and state level. Firearm Locking Devices There are currently eleven states that have gun storage laws related to firearm locking devices. Preventing Children From Accessing Guns Twenty-seven states also have gun storage laws that are designed to protect children from accessing guns....

On Thursday, a judge in Polk County, Iowa issued a decision striking down an Iowa state law which declares that “only a marriage between a male and a female is valid,” effectively opening the door for same-sex couples in the county to wed. On Friday, the Associated Press reported that “about 20 gay couples had finished applying for marriage licenses when Recorder Julie Haggerty announced she could no longer accept applications,” because Judge Robert Hanson had formally stayed his ruling, meaning that no more same-sex marriage applications could be submitted until the Iowa Supreme Court rules on the county’s appeal of Judge Hanson’s Thursday decision....

If slow DSL is the bane of your existence, according to a new study conducted by the Federal Communications Commission, you are not alone. To help consumers make an informed decision when choosing a broadband internet provider, the Commission conducted the first nationwide performance study of residential broadband services, focusing on the 13 largest providers. The results are not exactly that surprising. On average, during peak usage periods, DSL services only provided 82% of advertised download speeds, with cable internet services delivering 93%, and fiber services boasting 114% of advertised speeds....

In a ruling that skirts the bigger issues, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of former Attorney General John Ashcroft, dismissing a lawsuit that sought damages on behalf of Abdullah al-Kidd, who alleges that he was improperly held for 16 days on a material witness warrant. Though the decision on the Ashcroft lawsuit leaves open important legal questions about the use of the federal material witness statute, it indicates that judges should more closely scrutinize government evidence before issuing a warrant....

A federal judge has refused to block Kansas’ abortion insurance law, which went into effect this past July. The law bans private insurers from providing abortion coverage unless it is necessary for the mother’s health. Women will have to purchase a separate policy if they wish to maintain abortion coverage. The ACLU challenged the law’s constitutionality, but failed to provide sufficient evidence for a preliminary injunction. Typically, legislation is invalid “if it has the purpose or effect of placing a substantial obstacle in the path of a woman seeking an abortion....

Kraft recalled some 377,000 packages of its Kraft Singles cheese after reports of plastic sticking to the cheese. The announcement is a stunning assertion that there’s a difference between the company’s pasteurized prepared cheese product and the wrapper. So what products were affected, and what should you do if you bought some bad cheese? Singular Danger Kraft recalled packages of Kraft Singles American and White American cheese. According to the LA Times:...

The Michigan Supreme Court recently dealt a blow to the state’s medical cannabis industry when it ruled that prosecutors can shut down medical marijuana dispensaries as public nuisances. Friday’s 4-1 decision held that the transfer of marijuana from patient to patient, which is how marijuana transactions took place in many of Michigan’s pot clubs, was not legal under the state’s medical marijuana law, Yahoo! News reports. Under Michigan’s public nuisance laws, a place is a nuisance if it involves danger, annoyance or injury to the public in general....

Underage drinking is nothing new. But if you don’t want to do the time, don’t do the crime. If you do the crime anyway, heed the following tips. After all, in all 50 states, it is illegal to drink if you are under 21, absent a few exceptions. The first thing that any MIP lawyer would tell you is that if you ever find yourself in a situation where you might receive an MIP, or minor in possession, is to exercise your constitutional rights....

Just seventeen months after Blue Bell Creameries was forced to recall all of its ice cream products due to listeria contamination concerns, there’s more trouble brewing for one of the nation’s best selling ice cream brands. Blue Bell is recalling products from its Alabama factory containing chocolate chip cookie dough after learning they potentially contain listeria monocytogenes. It’s the latest blow to a company that was already reeling from recalls and a deadly listeria outbreak last year....

Japanese carmaker Nissan has issued a worldwide recall for 470,000 cars and SUVs that may be affected by a fuel leak problem. The recall includes both Nissan and Infiniti vehicles, reports The Associated Press, including about 134,000 vehicles in the United States and more than 230,000 in Japan. Model years affected by the recall range from 2012 to 2015. Defective Fuel Pressure Sensor Installation The recall was issued after it was discovered that fuel pressure sensors may not have been installed properly when the vehicles were manufactured....

If you asked anyone what would land Shepard Fairey in jail, they would probably point to his graffiti. But alas, it isn’t so. The street artist, who gained popularity with his red, white and blue Obama “Hope” poster, has pleaded guilty to criminal contempt. The conviction, which carries up to 6 months in jail, is likely to earn him a short stint behind bars. Fairey admitted to deleting evidence and lying to the court in a civil lawsuit he had brought against the Associated Press....

Did a pastor really break into a parishioner’s home using a ladder? The alleged pastor burglary took place in Dallas, Texas when a pastor reportedly broke into the house using a ladder on Christmas Eve. The bizarre pastor break in, allegedly by Sandy McGriff, 52, had the pastor taking up to $10,000 worth of loot, including: fur coats, purses and laptop equipment. Before the break-in, MGriff called to confirm that his parishioner was out of his house....