> A confidential source contacted the newspaper, [with] evidence that Newell had been convicted of drunken driving and continued to [drive without a] license. [That] could jeopardize her efforts to obtain a liquor license[…].
> [The claim was confirmed but the paper] suspected the source was […] Newell’s husband, who had filed for divorce. [The reporter didn’t publish that and] alerted police to the situation.
> Police notified Newell, who then complained […] that the newspaper had illegally obtained and disseminated sensitive documents, which isn’t true.
Wow. No kidding it’s a small town. Restaurant owner acts poorly, pissed off future ex(?) leaks damaging info to the paper, she runs to the cops to say the paper did something illegal despite not publishing it, and the entire department raided the little paper?
Yeesh.
Your comment brought back memories of growing up in India.
The idea of a "Panchayat" was taught in schools as both an ancient form of local/self governance and a modern answer to effective governance in post partition India. Even Gandhi promoted it as a pillar of India's self-rule.
Basically, village "elders" land up passing judgement on disputes. Most of these people were "respected" but uneducated. Their world views were very narrow.
As can be expected, it wasn't uncommon for their biases to result in "justice" that would be totally unacceptable when viewed through a broader lens.
After decades in the US, to discover that something like this can happen in 21st century USA is really unsettling. I'm having trouble explaining (even to myself) the anguish I feel.