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Online Reputation Management Service Protects and Defends Politicians
For those engaging in political races, the open structure of the Internet poses a particularly precarious challenge as blogs and other web-based postings are frequently used to smear reputations . . . Now politicians can fight back with a network of bloggers.
Tax Revolt! City May Secede From County
A suburban community is considering a radical protest of the sales tax increase in Cook County Illinois. Palatine is looking into the possibility of breaking away from Cook County entirely and forming its own county or joining another county . . . Watch Two CBS Video reports
Offbeat, Shocking, Bizarre or Just Plain Interesting
$50,000 Reward for "Peppy" the Minnesota Sea Monster
A Minnesota businessman is offering a $50,000 reward for anyone who provides photographic or scientific evidence of a monster creature that legend says has prowled the depths of Lake Peppin since the 1800's.
Columbian Drug Cartels Using Fiberglass Subs
Manufactured in the jungles of Columbia, the 100 foot long submarines are made out of fiberglass and designed to carry approximately $300 million worth of cocaine and a crew of five to the US coast. . .
Campaign Tips
10 Mistakes to avoid when campaign marketing with postcards
Whether you are running for president or the local school board, postcard marketing is a cost effective way to create positive name recognition and generate votes for your election campaign IF you avoid these ten common mistakes made by campaign managers and small business.
America’s Amazing Border Sheriffs by U.S. Congressman Ted Poe
The United States is intending to send $1.4 billion in taxpayer money to Mexico to fight the cartel drug criminals on the border. The money would be better spent on this side of the border by giving our amazing border lawmen the tools they need to protect America.
Allegations of Official Misconduct Bogus-Degreed County Clerk Clashes with Judge over Web Site
A Texas County Clerk who has exposed tens of thousands of local citizens to possible identity theft via her Web site while obscuring her own identity behind a bogus degree faces a challenge to the legality of her authority to expose citizens to possible harm . . .
The Dark side of the Sunshine Law We become mere road kill on the information superhighway.
BY JOHN M. CARBONE
BERGEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY County Clerk Kathleen Donovan initially thought it was an innocuous Open Public Records Act request: "Provide copies of all institutional liens for the last 22 years." . . .
Fighting Crime
Home Theft Scams Rampant In Philadelphia
Councilman proposes mandatory background checks on sellers.
You wouldn’t think something as big as a house would be easy to steal, but Philadelphia City Councilman William Greenlee says 124 homes were stolen in that city alone in 2006. The city now sees that many reports of stolen homes in a single month . . .
Allegations of Official Misconduct
Sheriff Accused of Running Sex-Slave Operation from Jail
Mike Burgess, the Sheriff of Custer County Oklahoma resigned shortly before state prosecutors filed 35 felony charges against him for running a sex-slave operation out of the county jail . .
10 Ways To Delegate More Effectively
By Ramona Creel
Delegation can be a tricky business. You don't want to simply "dump" distasteful work on someone else -- but you need to make sure the job gets done, and it doesn't need to be done by you . . .
Offbeat, Shocking, Bizarre or Just Plain Interesting
Club Where 12-Year-Old Found Stripping Protested
(Dallas) Members of the New Black Panthers, Hip-Hop Government and others protest a club that allowed a 12-year-old to dance nude. . .Video
Offbeat, Shocking, Bizarre or Just Plain Interesting
Teacher Tells Students To Beat-up Tardy Classmate
School officials say a young teacher has resigned and is now facing child abuse charges after he instructed classmates to beat a tardy classmate ...
Feds Reverse Position on Mortgage Guarantee Swaps
In an unprecedented move the President Bush, Treasury Secretary Paulson and the Federal Reserve have reversed their position on helping homeowners at risk . . .
Border Security and Illegal Aliens FAIR Says Southern Poverty Law Center Manipulated Hate Crime Data
On March 10, the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) issued a misleading release announcing a significant increase in the number of hate groups and hate crimes over the last few years, according to a press release by the Federation for American Immigration Reform . . .
Fighting Crime Texas Sex Offender Web Site Will Include Offender’s Employer
In an effort to better inform communities of the whereabouts of resident sex offenders, Texas will add information about the offender’s employment to the Department of Public Safety Web Site . . .
Border Security and Illegal Aliens Index
Terrorist's Training Camps Along Texas / Mexico Border
Mexican drug cartels have established military-style training camps in at least six locations along the Texas border to train new recruits ranging from Mexican army deserters to American teen-agers - who then carry out killings and other acts of terror on both sides of the border . . .
Tracking Crimes Through Cell Phones
These days there is hardly a crime that is not somehow connected to a cell phone. Law enforcement is solving crimes ranging from drug deals to murder to teenagers sending nude pictures of themselves or others . . Video report
Border Security and Illegal Aliens Index INS Agent Accused Of Demanding Sex For Green Card
Did a U.S. Immigration agent trade sex for a chance at citizenship? The agent appeared in court on felony charges Wednesday. He says he's not guilty, but as CBS 2 HD has learned, his accuser has proof and some of it is revealed in this video. Watch Video
Eminent Domain Insurance
by Robert Franco
Reprinted with permission March 27, 2008
I read an article today about a company that is offering an insurance property to protect property owners against losses incurred as a result of the state's power of eminent domain. I had to check my calendar to see if it was April Fool's Day . . .
Border Security and Illegal Aliens
Republicans Introducing Stricter Immigration Rules
Assembly Republicans have introduced a package of laws that would crack down on illegal immigrants in California. . . CBS Video Report
America's Foreclosure Epidemic
Foreclosure's Furry Victims
Much has been said about the thousands of homeowners forced into foreclosure, but what about the tiniest victims of the foreclosure epidemic . . . CBS video
Offbeat, Shocking, Bizarre or Just Plain Interesting
Kansas Woman Sat on Toilet for 2 Years
Authorities are considering charges in the bizarre case of a woman who sat on her boyfriend's toilet for two years, so long that her body was stuck to the seat by the time the man finally called police . . . Video
Hillary Blames Sleepiness For Bosnia Blunder
Exclusive CBS News video contradicts Hillary Clinton's account of her 1996 visit to Bosnia. Senator Clinton admitted she "made a mistake," because she was "sleep deprived" - but it wasn't the only one. Latest Video Report
Camera Sees Through Clothes From 80 Feet Away
Developed to see through interstellar dust, a camera capable of seeing through clothes from up to 80 feet away is now being considered for airport and military security. Video
McCain Addresses Housing Crisis Options
Republican John McCain said Tuesday that government isn't in the business of saving and rewarding banks or small borrowers who behave irresponsibly . . Video
A Common Misconception - Criminals Don't Use the Internet? "It is a common misconception that easy access to public records has facilitated other types of fraud, identity theft, or land fraud."
That's the assertion set forth in a white paper authored by members of the Property Records Industry Association . . . Really?
$10,000 Cowboy Hat
People in Lincoln County New Mexico take their cowboy hats and constitutional rights seriously and they don’t take it lightly when local officials try to remove either one.
Fighting Crime Man Who Micro-waved Baby Faces Jury
Defense attorneys say mental illness is probably the only way to explain why a 20 year old father put his infant daughter in a motel microwave and turned it on. . . Video report
America's Foreclosure Epidemic Imagine buying a home for just a hundred dollars. It just happened in Washington County Maryland. CBS Video
Political Ads -- Parodies, Fakes and Funnies Political satire has been used throughout history as a tool for political change and the electronic age is no exception. Today it's the video ads of candidates and their supporters that deliver either chuckles or outrage.
America's Foreclosure Epidemic Getting Out Of A Toxic Mortgage
Lori Nicholson didn't know she was sold one of the most "toxic" subprime mortgages and now faces foreclosure. . . . Video Report
Fighting Crime The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments in a challenge to District of Columbia's controversial ban on hand guns. The case is likely to produce the most important firearms ruling in decades and could have repercussions for gun control laws nationwide. Video report
America's Foreclosure Epidemic
Lender to Michael Jackson: Pay up or Beat It!
For the second time in less than a month, the housing bubble has burst on a rich and famous homeowners palatial estate . .
Indiana County Recorder Takes Plea Deal In Stalking Case
Mar-10-08
Former Terre Haute Police Chief and current Vigo County Recorder Ray Watts pleaded guilty this morning . . .America's Foreclosure Epidemic
Government's Poor Judgment Making Things Worse
by Robert A. Franco
There is an interesting New York Times article, Bush and Fed Step Toward a Mortgage Rescue, that describes what appears to me to be a series of bad moves that will threaten the viability of Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, and the FHA . . .
Allegations of Official Mistakes, Misconduct and Corruption
Oregon City Recorder Arrested for Alleged TheftSandra Wodarczak, who has acted as the city recorder and treasurer for Yamhill for the last eight years, was arrested by Yamhill's sheriff's department . . .
Allegations of Official Mistakes, Misconduct and Corruption
Practical Obscurity and Public Records
It used to be that if you wanted to obtain a copy of the deed to your house, you had to make a trip to your local courthouse . . . However, the advent of the Internet and the availability of public records for worldwide consumption have changed all that . . .
Understanding Eminent Domain: Texas Landholder’s Bill of Rights
By Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott
Mar-03-08
Since Stephen F. Austin first helped settlers establish new roots west of the Sabine River, Texas has always been a place that respects private property rights. With three times more privately owned land than any other state, Texas leads the nation in private property ownership. From the Panhandle to the Piney Woods, Texas is a place where citizens – not the government – own the land. . .
America's Foreclosure Epidemic
Southern California Foreclosures Up 250 Percent
The word recession has been all over the news for the past few weeks and it is vibrating off the mountains in several California counties . . .
Fighting Crime 6 Dead In Council Rampage Over Parking Tickets
Enraged over parking tickets and fines, a lone gunman opened fire on a city council meeting near St. Louis Mo. When the rampage was over, six were dead...Video report
Border Security and Illegal Aliens
Local Governments Can Stop Businesses from Hiring Illegals
In a landmark decision, U.S. District Judge E. Richard Webber issued a summary judgment in favor of the City of Valley Park Missouri. The ruling clears the path for cities and states nationwide to pass laws designed to discourage illegal immigration...
Offbeat, Shocking, Bizarre or Just Plain Interesting It’s amazing what you can buy on eBay. Some lucky bidder is about to own the entire town of Albert Texas. The whole town is being auctioned off...
Newly Discovered Free Tools For Election Campaigns Remote Control Your PC From Anywhere For Free You’re out of town on business; your meeting starts in fifteen minutes, and you realize you’ve forgotten a critical file. No need to panic. You’re invited to try a new remote-access telework solution that CNET says could “change your life.” .. Learn how
Campaign Tips, Tricks, and Strategies
Candidates Duel Over Online Records
News for Public Officials
Oct-11-06
In a time of rampant identity theft, what candidates are telling you about themselves may be less important to voters than what incumbents are telling the rest of the world about their constituents. . . Read Candidates Duel
September 25, 2006Harvey Ressler of Kansas City, Missouri believes the state broke federal law when they partnered with a marketing service company to deliver unwanted ads in his mail. He intends to hold the state and their partner responsible for breaching Federal privacy protection.
Motorists in New York, Ohio, Florida and Minnesota have filed similar suits. . . Read full Article
County level security breaches aiding ID thieves, stalkers and terrorists
David Bloys - News for Public Officials
August 28, 2006
County Websites across the country contain millions of searchable records brimming with all the ingredients identity thieves, stalkers, and terrorists need to steal your identity, stalk your children, or target American infrastructure.
The problem pits county officials, their constituents, and companies hoping to profit from the digitized records against each other. . . . Continue reading
Campaign Tips, Tricks, and Strategies
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Suits, Charges Plague State Technology Vendors The accusations include bribery, computer piracy, improper access by foreign entities, privacy breaches, inadequate customer service, questionable business practices, unjust enrichment, stock option backdating, and foreign ownership.
For a list of the accused companies and the charges they face. Click Here
Build a Professional Campaign Website for Under $25 In Three Simple Steps
A recent study by the Institute for Politics, Democracy & the Internet found that almost half of small online donors ...
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