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Smart Talk: Drone regs; Social media out of school?

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What to look for on Smart Talk Monday, May 16, 2016:

It wasn’t very long ago that the only time we heard about unmanned flying aircraft or drones was when they were being used in warfare.  Today, we’re much more likely to see video or photography that has been shot from a drone here in the United States.

Drones have become a lot less expensive and as a result, almost anyone is able to afford one and can fly them as a hobby or for other purposes.

Today’s news stories involving drones often are about drones near airports, flying in restricted airspace or flying over someone’s house.

Government has taken notice and are studying whether regulations are in order.

Leading the charge in Pennsylvania is Republican State senator Mike Folmer of Lebanon County, who is a guest on Monday’s Smart Talk.

In October, 2013, after a bomb threat was made at Central York High School and nothing was found.  Later a student posted on Facebook “the bomb isn’t found and goes off tomorrow.” 

The student was suspended for 23 days.  The student’s parents filed a federal lawsuit saying their son’s first amendment rights of free speech were violated.  A judge ruled the school’s safety concerns outweighed the student’s first amendment rights. 

But it brought up a point – a school’s authority to punish students for something that occurred outside of school.   

To discuss that issue on Monday’s program is Mark Cheramie Walz, a former deputy district attorney and education law attorney who specializes in technology issues.

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