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Time of India
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Trump orders Alcatraz to reopen: Notorious criminals locked up before its closure
FILE - Fog lingers behind Alcatraz Island, July 1, 2015, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg, File) US President Donald Trump has ordered the reopening and expansion of Alcatraz prison. The prison, which lies near San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge, was shut down in 1963 and is currently a tourist site. "Today, I am directing the Bureau of Prisons, together with the Department of Justice, FBI, and Homeland Security, to reopen a substantially enlarged and rebuilt ALCATRAZ," Trump wrote on his Truth Social site BBC reported. The prison would "house America's most ruthless and violent Offenders," he said. Why was Alcatraz closed? Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary was closed in 1963 primarily due to its high operational costs and deteriorating infrastructure. Located on an isolated island in San Francisco Bay, the prison required constant maintenance, and all supplies—including water and food—had to be transported by boat, making it far more expensive than mainland prisons. Additionally, the buildings were aging and corroding from salt exposure, and modernizing the facility was deemed too costly. With increasing public scrutiny over its harsh conditions and expenses, the federal government decided to shut it down and transfer inmates to more cost-effective, secure institutions. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like How can a 3-month-old get cancer? Please help! Give Hope India Donate Now Undo During its operation, Alcatraz held several notorious criminals like: Alphonse "Al" Capone Also known as "Scarface," he was one of the most notorious gangsters of the 1920s and 1930s. Convicted of tax evasion in 1931, he was transferred to Alcatraz in 1934 to serve an 11-year sentence. At Alcatraz, Capone's influence waned; he was assigned menial tasks like working in the prison laundry. Suffering from neurosyphilis, his health deteriorated, leading to his transfer to Terminal Island in 1938. He was released in 1939 and died in 1947. George "Machine Gun" Kelly George Kelly Barnes, dubbed "Machine Gun Kelly," was infamous for his involvement in bootlegging and kidnapping during the Prohibition era. Convicted for the 1933 kidnapping of oil tycoon Charles F. Urschel, he was sentenced to life imprisonment and transferred to Alcatraz in 1934. At Alcatraz, Kelly was considered a model inmate, working in the laundry and maintaining a low profile until his transfer in 1951. Robert Stroud Robert Franklin Stroud, known as the "Birdman of Alcatraz," was convicted of manslaughter in 1909 and later murdered a prison guard, leading to a death sentence commuted to life imprisonment. While at Leavenworth Prison, he became an expert on birds, authoring books on canary diseases. Transferred to Alcatraz in 1942, he was not permitted to keep birds but continued his research. Stroud spent 17 years in solitary confinement and died in 1963. Alvin "Creepy" Karpis Alvin Francis Karpis, nicknamed "Creepy" for his sinister smile, was a leading figure in the Barker-Karpis gang, responsible for numerous crimes during the 1930s. Captured in 1936, he was the only "Public Enemy No. 1" apprehended alive. Karpis served the longest sentence at Alcatraz—26 years—working in the bakery and often clashing with fellow inmates. Transferred in 1962, he was paroled in 1969 and died in 1979. Arthur "Doc" Barker Arthur "Doc" Barker, son of the infamous Ma Barker, was part of the Barker-Karpis gang. Convicted of kidnapping, he was sent to Alcatraz in 1935. In 1939, Barker attempted an escape with fellow inmates but was shot and killed during the attempt. Henri Young Henri Young was convicted of bank robbery and murder. Transferred to Alcatraz in 1935, he attempted an escape in 1939 with Arthur Barker. After the failed attempt, Young murdered fellow inmate Rufus McCain. His trial highlighted the harsh conditions at Alcatraz, leading to public scrutiny. Frank Morris and the Anglin Brothers Frank Morris, along with brothers John and Clarence Anglin, orchestrated one of the most daring escapes in 1962. Using makeshift tools, they tunneled through their cells and escaped the island on a raft made of raincoats. Despite extensive searches, they were never found, leading to speculation about their fate. Bumpy Johnson Ellsworth Raymond "Bumpy" Johnson was a prominent figure in Harlem's underworld. Convicted of drug conspiracy, he was sent to Alcatraz in 1954. Known for his intelligence and demeanor, Johnson was released in 1963 and returned to Harlem, where he died in 1968. Mickey Cohen Meyer Harris "Mickey" Cohen was a Los Angeles mobster involved in illegal gambling and racketeering. Convicted of tax evasion, he was incarcerated at Alcatraz from 1961 until its closure in 1963. Transferred to Atlanta Penitentiary, he was attacked by a fellow inmate, leading to partial paralysis. Released in 1972, Cohen died in 1976. A site of several blockbuster movies, Alcatraz was originally a naval defence fort that was rebuilt as a military prison. Movies like Birdman of Alcatraz, starring Burt Lancaster; The Rock, starring Sean Connery and Nicolas Cage were shot here.
Newsweek
26-04-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
Uber Could Be Halted For Millions of Americans
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Uber is threatening to cease operations in Colorado over a new bill passed by the state's House of Representatives. Why It Matters Millions of people could lose access to Uber if the company follows through on its latest threat to pull out of Colorado. The situation highlights the growing tension between lawmakers aiming to impose new protections for gig workers and companies that rely heavily on flexible business models. A man leaves the headquarters of Uber in San Francisco in this file photo taken on December 16, 2015. A man leaves the headquarters of Uber in San Francisco in this file photo taken on December 16, 2015. Eric Risberg/AP What To Know Uber warned this week that it may cease operations in Colorado entirely if a new rideshare bill becomes law. The bill, HB25-1291, passed the Colorado House of Representatives in a bipartisan 59–6 vote on April 16. It includes new requirements such as criminal background checks for drivers every six months and mandatory audio and video recording of trips. It would also prohibit drivers from offering passengers drinks and snacks. The legislation, described as aiming to "increase protections for persons engaged with transportation network companies," has since moved through the Senate Committee on Business, Labor, & Technology and will face a full Senate vote on Friday. It was spearheaded by state Representative Jenny Willford. Willford introduced the bill into the legislature in January 2025 after she filed a lawsuit against Lyft alleging she was sexually assaulted by a man pretending to be a rideshare driver in February 2024, according to reporting from KMGH-TV. "This legislation has been very personal to me," Willford told KMGH-TV. "I decided to use my own pain and the platform that I have to hold a company that has ignored survivors for far too long accountable, and what we saw today — them announcing that they're going to leave — is them feeling that accountability for the first time in a very long time." Uber's major concerns, according to the Colorado Sun, center around new liabilities—such as drivers potentially being sued for offering passengers food or drinks—and the financial burden of reimbursing drivers for recording equipment. In a statement Wednesday, Uber said it would have "no choice" but to leave the state if the bill is signed into law. Willford called Uber threatening to leave Colorado a "cynical and disheartening move by a multi-billion dollar company to turn their back on survivors rather than implement real safety measures" in a statement posted to her Instagram account Thursday. Uber has made similar threats in the past. Notably, in 2024, Uber and Lyft warned they would leave Minneapolis after the city council passed a minimum wage increase for drivers. However, both companies ultimately remained after a statewide compromise on driver pay was reached. What People Are Saying An Uber spokesperson said in a statement to KKTV11: "HB25-1291 is a deeply flawed proposal, which if implemented could leave us no choice but [to] cease operations in Colorado. "It threatens user privacy by requiring every trip to be recorded, imposes major technical and financial burdens, and offers no clear safety benefit in return. We support real, evidence-based safety policy – not legislation that checks a box but fails to deliver. As written, this bill not only misses the mark, it risks doing more harm than good." Representative Jenny Willford said in a statement posted to her Instagram: "The bottom line is one sexual assault is too many, but for Uber, 8,900 aren't enough to take action. This is a cynical and disheartening move by a multi-billion dollar company to turn their back on survivors rather than implement real safety measures. We have worked with Uber in good faith for months and accepted many of their amendment requests - including a full rewrite of the bill. "For years, Uber has checked the box on safety, but time after time failed to deliver for victims. It's clear Uber won't stand up for safety so they can continue to maximize profits rather than address the horrible incidents that change the lives of riders and drivers forever." What Happens Next The Colorado Senate is expected to review HB25-1291 on Friday. If it passes, it would move to the governor's desk for a signature.
