Palisade was a small town that, in the 1870s, became known as “the most violent place west of Chicago” thanks to an elaborate, years-long hoax. Whenever trains would pull up into the Palisade station for lunch, shootouts and robberies commenced. But it wasn’t real; it was all a show. Why did the Palisade residents do it? Some say it was primarily to attract tourists, but others speculate it was because the residents were simply bored and wanted to spice up the sleepy town. Read full article here
Societal Issues
To curb drug deaths, communities turn to Reddit, texts and wastewater
With drug overdose deaths on the rise, authorities are attempting to curb the epidemic by tracking and sharing information in real time. In one unique effort, a nonprofit in New York City is using drug-testing equipment and stamping or marking habits of dealers to identify drug batches that may endanger users. Other approaches are also being used, such as monitoring drug-related chatter on Reddit and analyzing local wastewater for opioid and other drug levels. With the combination of these efforts, researchers hope to put a dent in the opioid crisis and reduce overdose deaths. Read full article here
Merv
June 1, 2023
