VATICAN CITY (AP) — Judges and prosecutors from around the world pledged Friday to crack down on human trafficking and help victims of modern-day slavery in the latest Vatican initiative to draw attention to the problem and rally resources to fight it.
At a Vatican summit of judges, prosecutors and other public officials, Pope Francis signed a declaration declaring human trafficking, forced labor, prostitution and the trafficking of organs as a "crime against humanity" that should be prosecuted and punished as such.
BOSTON — Gov. Charlie Baker signed into law the first major overhaul of state public records statutes in more than 4o years, predicting that it will motivate public officials to "up" their performance.
Along with requiring state agencies, cities and towns designate records officers to field requests, the new law requires public agencies to provide requested public records within 10 business days, while allowing for extensions beyond that deadline capped at five business days from the original request for a state agency and 15 for a municipality.
