August 30, 2008 by Tim McDowell.

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August 29, 2008 by Tim McDowell.

The Republican National Convention will take place in Saint Paul, Minnesota, from 1 to 4 September 2008. The convention will be held at the Xcel Energy Center in downtown St. Paul. The Department of Homeland Security has designated the convention as a National Security Special Event, which heightens the security measures that will be in place. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will restrict airspace over the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area. More than 3,500 state and local police officers and 2,100 National Guard troops will be deployed. Authorities will maintain a robust security presence around the Xcel Center. Authorities will close two interstate ramps in downtown St. Paul beginning at 1800 local time on 29 August 2008.

City officials expect more than 50,000 protesters to converge on the city. The RNC Welcoming Committee, an anarchist group, has threatened to “blockade” downtown St. Paul and disrupt transportation on bridges. Anti-war activist groups plan to march from the Capitol building in St. Paul to the Xcel Center beginning at 1100 local time on 1 September.

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August 29, 2008 by Tim McDowell.

 As of 1200 UTC on 29 August 2008 Tropical Storm Gustav was located approximately 100 mi/160 km west-northwest of Kingston, Jamaica, and 200 mi/320 km east-southeast of Grand Cayman. The storm has maximum sustained winds of 65 mph/56 kt and is moving west-northwest at 8 mph/7 kt. A hurricane watch is in effect for the provinces of Isla de Juventud, Pinar del Rio, La Habana and Ciudad de la Habana in western Cuba. Grand Cayman is expected to experience tropical storm force winds between 1900 and 2000 local time on 29 August. Owen Roberts International Airport (MWCR/GCM) is reportedly streamlining the check-in process at tents outside the facility to expedite the check-in process for departing flights. Most flights in the afternoon and evening on 29 August and all day on 30 August have been canceled. The airport has warned travelers to anticipate traffic congestion along Owen Roberts Drive near the airport.

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August 28, 2008 by Tim McDowell.

Release Date: August 28, 2008

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
Contact:

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff will travel today to Baton Rouge where he will visit the Joint Field Office and meet with Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal on Tropical Storm Gustav preparations. Yesterday, Secretary Chertoff spoke with Governor Jindal, U.S. Northern Command General Victor Renuart and American Red Cross President and CEO Gail McGovern on federal activity in support of local efforts as Tropic Storm Gustav approaches the Gulf Coast.

The Secretary will also travel this afternoon to New Orleans, where he and Governor Jindal will visit the emergency operations center and discuss coordination and preparations with Mayor Ray Nagin. FEMA Administrator David Paulison is already in the region and will join the Secretary and local officials in Baton Rouge and New Orleans. Additional details on times and locations for media availabilities are forthcoming.

We continue to remind Gulf Coast residents about the importance of taking precautionary measures to prepare for an emergency situation or evacuation before Gustav approaches our shores. The department’s Ready Campaign encourages citizens to get an emergency supply kit, make an emergency plan, and to be informed about what to do if Tropical Storm Gustav gains strength, turns into a hurricane, and heads in their direction. Please visit www.ready.gov for resources and information on personal and business emergency preparedness.

http://www.dhs.gov/xnews/releases/pr_1219937675312.shtm

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August 28, 2008 by Tim McDowell.

As we prepare for the expected Congressional battles over immigration numbers this fall, it’s a good time to take stock of the urgency of our cause and the tools we have available to help fight for lower immigration numbers.

This video captures the essence of NumbersUSA and is a must-see for anyone who wants to fully understand the basic information behind our work.

Or, you can cut and paste this link into your browser:
http://www.numbersusa.com/content/resources/video/recommended/immigration-numbers.html
 

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August 28, 2008 by Tim McDowell.

(ABC News, 8/20/08)

The case also involves a former University of Tennessee professor, Reece Roth, who was indicted in May 2008 for allegedly exporting sensitive military data to China. Roth’s 18-count indictment also alleged conspiracy to defraud the U.S. Air Force, wire fraud and violating the Arms Export Control Act. His trial is expected to begin this week in Knoxville, Tenn.

http://www.abcnews.go.com/print?id=5620939

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August 28, 2008 by Tim McDowell.

are fast becoming popular replacements for hard drives, especially in laptops, but experts caution that SSDs aren’t as secure as commonly thought. SSDs may offer better data security than traditional hard drives, but they do not completely erase data and are vulnerable to physical hacks from light sources like an ultraviolet laser, experts say.

Despite their relatively high cost and concerns about durability, SSDs are gaining popularity, particularly for use in laptops, because they consume less power and access data more quickly. Securing data on SSDs could become a larger issue when the technology becomes more widely used and reaches other portable devices like smart phones, experts said.

http://www.infoworld.com/article/08/08/22/SSDs_are_hot_but_not_without_security_risks_1.html

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August 28, 2008 by Tim McDowell.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has paid nearly $3 billion in hotel bills and rental assistance for the victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita — by far the costliest emergency housing effort in the nation’s history, according to government statistics. On the cusp of the storms’ three-year anniversaries more than 14,000 families remain in FEMA-funded apartments across the Gulf Coast and as far away as Alaska. The spending continues today because three years of labor and planning across the Gulf Coast has not replaced enough of the homes and apartments the storms destroyed. The price tag far outdistances housing costs after any other U.S. disaster, FEMA statistics show. The agency spent less than $250 million on housing for the previous six hurricanes combined, according to the U.S. Government Accountability Office. Source: http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2008-08-25-katrina_N.htm

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August 28, 2008 by Tim McDowell.

The Kentucky Consular Center in Williamsburg shut down its loading dock Tuesday and called the regional hazmat team after a package was found containing an unknown white powder. The box containing the powder came from the U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem, Israel, and was in a “diplomatic pouch,” said the Consular director. From Jerusalem, the package arrived at Washington D.C. and was then shipped to the consular office in Williamsburg. Testing by the Kentucky Post 11 Hazardous Materials team did not determine the nature of the substance, but did rule out the possibility of it being harmful. Source: http://www.thetimestribune.com/local/local_story_240084731.html

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August 28, 2008 by Tim McDowell.

 A white powder spilled on a light rail car in Douglas County, Colorado, posed no risk to the commuters onboard, the Regional Transportation District (RTD) said. RTD shut down train service at the Lincoln Light Rail Station in Lone tree at 7 p.m., while local hazardous materials crews assessed the situation. The station was reopened at 10 p.m. An RTD spokesman said he did not know how much powder was spilled, or what the powder turned out to be, other than non-hazardous. He said an investigation is under way to determine if it was a hoax. Authorities across the metro region are moving quickly on suspicious packages and substances while the Democratic National Convention is going on in Denver. Earlier in the day, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security scooped up a bag left at the light rail park-N-Ride in Greenwood Village, which turned out to be just a forgotten bag that posed no risk, officials

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