Censorship on the rise

For the past several months, while America has been at war to preserve freedoms abroad, many school-sponsored publications have been losing some of their most fundamental freedoms at home.

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Censorship is alive and well in high schools around the country, with administrators routinely silencing the free expression of student journalists in a variety of ways and for myriad reasons.

Ky. amends reporting law for college fires

KENTUCKY

-- Gov. Paul Patton signed legislation in April establishing a statewide college and university fire safety education fund and clarifying guidelines for reporting fires.

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The "Michael Minger/Priddy fire prevention fund," was named for Michael Minger, who died in a September 1998 arson fire at Murray State University, and Michael Priddy, whom the fire seriously injured.

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The new law clarifies guidelines in the current Minger Act on reporting fires to the state fire marshal, defining "immediately" as within two hours of the discovery of a fire or fire threat.

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The law sets a fine of $1,000 to $2,000 for each day a reporting violation occurs.

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