Legally Weird

The early 2000's crime and politics drama "The Wire" arguably was the first to expose the public to the concept of what "legalizing" drugs would look like when put into practice. Now, real-life New York City is the first city in the U.S. to open a supervised drug-use site. Announced by outgoing-Mayor Bill de Blasio, the program is part of the city's "harm reduction" strategy that is attempting to reverse the alarming upward trend in overdose deaths.

The Justice Department announced a grand jury indictment yesterday against Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, R-Neb., on charges of lying to federal investigators and concealing the source of illegal campaign contributions. Ho-hum. Another corrupt politician getting caught. On to the next one. Except that the details of Fortenberry's case provide lessons for the rest of us. It shouldn't be such an obvious lesson, but here we are.

The U.S. House Select Committee is just starting to dive into its investigation of what happened on Jan. 6, when a mob of angry Donald Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol building. The committee is probing what Trump and others close to him knew about the rioters' plans that day. So far, people in Trump's orbit are mostly refusing to play ball by ignoring subpoenas issued by the committee to give depositions. Eager to send a message, committee members are promising to hold a vote this week to hold Steve Bannon, a former adviser to Trump, in contempt.

The attempted assassination of then-President Ronald Reagan, only a few months into his first term in 1981, shocked the nation. Reagan's would-be assassin, John Hinckley Jr., was found not guilty by reason of insanity, which led to widespread criticism, dismay, and anger. Now 66 and the subject of decades of treatment, Hinckley is set to be completely free next summer, after a federal judge recently ordered his unconditional release.

"Nevermind" featured one of the most iconic album covers of all time. In the midst of the great moral panic over music poisoning the minds of our youths, there was 4-month-old Spencer Elden, as naked as the day he came into this world, swimming underwater after a dollar bill attached to a fishhook. Now 30 years old, Elden seems to have some regrets over his role in music history.

Demetra Street knew something was fishy after her husband's funeral. But after the service, when Demetra asked to receive her husband's ashes, the funeral home refused to produce them.