Author

Amanda Hernández

Amanda Hernández

Amanda Hernández is a staff writer for Stateline. She has reported for national and local outlets, including ABC News, USA Today and NBC4 Washington.

forensic analyst removes a pair of underwear from an evidence bag for testing in a sexual assault case

Sexual assault survivors can now track their rape kits in most states

By: - September 11, 2023

It can take hours for a sexual assault victim to undergo the multiple swabs, hair samples, blood and urine collections, and other invasive procedures of a sexual assault examination. And then it can take months, sometimes years, for investigators to process that evidence kit. But now, responding to demands from survivors and their advocates, more […]

Customers wait outside Chesapeake Apothecary in Maryland

As more states legalize pot, their uneven safety rules can pose a risk

By: - July 10, 2023

Amid the growing acceptance and legalization of cannabis use across the country, a concerning reality has emerged: The state-by-state patchwork of safety regulations can leave marijuana consumers wandering through a haze of uncertainty, exposing them to potential risks. Under federal law, marijuana is illegal — period. So, it’s up to individual states to determine their […]