SAN NARCISO, Calif. (Bennington Vale Evening Transcript) -- In a rare display of restraint and solidarity, police officers around the nation refrained from gunning down unarmed black children, teens and adults in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which was observed Monday. Based on data compiled from the Fatal Encounters project, approximately 673 African Americans were killed in a hail of police gunfire between 2013 and 2014. But even that figure remains a conservative estimate, as nobody knows precisely how many Americans are slaughtered by frightened patrolmen each year. Criminal justice experts point out that while the federal government and national research groups track mortality figures for unprovoked shark attacks, no reliable data exist to calculate the exact number of people butchered by aggressive police officers each year. With the release of newly obtained footage of Bridgeton, N.J., officers shooting yet another unarmed black man attempting to comply with their orders, peacekeeping agencies around the country assured the public that they will resume their race-based killing sprees soon.

SAN NARCISO COUNTY PUBLIC SAFETY ANNOUNCEMENT -- The San Narciso Police Department is reminding residents to observe today’s commemoration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. safely and in the spirit of unity that Dr. King represented before his untimely demise. With the exception of Walmart, shopping malls, gas stations, grocery stores and restaurants, the majority of San Narciso County’s businesses are closed to observe the holiday. All federal offices and schools will also be closed. Traditionally, county schools remained open on MLK Day, but with the budget cuts and furloughs, today seemed like as good a day as any to give the students and teachers a break. Details can be found on the Community Events calendar.