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Get the Newsletter - It's FREE Election Tools Election Tips Official Success Fighting Crime Offbeat Newsletter Archives     Election Websites Election Bookstore Official Blunders Border Security Archives Send this page to a friend   Archive Pages     Navigation Search this site powered by FreeFind Front Page   Topic Sections Fighting Crime Offbeat Doing Things Right Official Blunders Taxes, Jobs, and the Economy America's Foreclosure Epidemic Hottest Campaign Tips Voter & Election Issues Border Security and Illegal Aliens Technology Environmental Issues Campaign Tools & Tips Guest Articles & Press Releases Fraud Alerts Letters to the Editor Archives NFPO Archives Newsletter Back Issues Featured Articles America's Loneliest Counties America's Most Wanted Aliens How Criminals Use Online County Records Terrorist Access to County Records America's 99 Fastest Growing Counties Courthouse for Sale - Cheap America's Online Land Auctions Satellite Technology Boosts Tax Revenue Suits, Charges Plague Government Tech Vendors County Security Breaches Aiding  Criminals Search News for Public Officials                               Newly Discovered Free Tools For Election Campaigns   Free US or UK Phone & Fax Numbers   Free Campaign Literature  Free satellite and street level images and maps of your district     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         Get a virtual campaign call center from CallWave™ You'll never miss an important call and you'll get faxes in your email. Try it risk-FREE for 30 days.           Campaign Tips, Tricks,  and Strategies In the News           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     States face multiple lawsuits over vendor's  ad inserts September 25, 2006   Harvey 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     Think Your ID Is Secure? We Found It Online. You'll never guess who put it there. All across America, county offices are succumbing to the demands of title companies, major financial institutions and data brokers to sell their stash of community identities at wholesale prices. Using the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), they take county registries of deeds and recorder offices to court - and often win. Or, they simply hand over enough cash to satiate your local registrar and walk away with your life history. . . continue reading       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 In the News     Advertisement     The Campaign Tool Chest   Tips, Tricks, Techniques Campaign Websites Campaign Books Custom Literature Campaign Newsletters Campaign Faxes Campaign Studies Royalty Free Fundraising Letters Unlock the secrets to a winning campaign   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   Free Campaign Literature Greeting Cards, Postcards, Brochures    Full Color Brochures Act Now - Offer ends soon Click Here     Courthouse for Sale - Cheap This may be the cheapest price ever paid by a private company for the bulk purchase of document images held by a government agency.   Our readers write . . . To all the County Clerks in Texas Lisa Ramsey, Paralegal Making a List . . . "Enough is enough!" North Carolina Paralegal NFPO articles introduced to MI legislature Saginaw County Recorder of Deeds Ongoing Problem Tuscola County Michigan Register of Deeds E-Records… The Dilemma and the Spoon-Feeding of Criminals. Jason C. Sheppard, Title Professional and Identity Theft Victim National Title Association issues warning National Association of Land Title Examiners and Abstractors         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 ...       Today's Top Ten Best Deals for Election Campaigns TV Advertising    Banners Campaign Web Sites Be a 7Search.com Advertiser! Custom T-Shirts Campaign Loans Yard Signs Voter Mailing Lists Flags   How can you be sure your name is in front of voters every time they use their computer? - ANSWER   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   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 The $100 Home 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 Supreme Court Set to Debate Washington's Gun Ban 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   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 Theft Sandra 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 Scott Perry - Active Rain 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 Texas Town for Sale on eBay 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...     Fighting Crime Governor Wants to Seize Sheriff's $7 Million Reserve Fund The Governor of Massachusetts wants to take control of the Nantucket sheriff's $7 million reserve fund . . .   America's Foreclosure Epidemic   Foreclosure Victims Turn Tables on Lenders   Just two months ago, Outreach Housing LLC officially unveiled its groundbreaking initiative - a loss-mitigation organization specializing in assisting victims of the self-enriching lending industry. . .   America's Foreclosure Epidemic Homeowners Hanging Upside-down by Robert Franco March 03, 2008   I heard this on CNN over the weekend: "More than 30 percent of U.S. homeowners who bought in the last two years owe more on their mortgage than their house is currently worth." I found that figure staggering, so I did a little research. . .   Offbeat, Shocking, Bizarre or Just Plain Interesting Trouble for Nude Texting Teens? Officials in central Virginia say they plan to prosecute teens who snap pictures of themselves nude and email the shots to friends. . .Video   Forensic Software Developer Offers Free Program to Police   A West Virginia software developer that specializes in instant message monitoring and control software for home users, businesses, and police agencies is providing special versions of their products to law enforcement agencies for free to help catch online predators. . .   Campaign Tips Blog Your Way to Election Success No matter what kind of campaign you’re running a blog allows you to quickly and easily create a place on the web where voters can find you, learn about you, interact with you and contribute to your success. . .     25 Homes You Can Buy Online for $1Million or More What will a million dollars buy in a home? From Hawaii to Maine and all places between, Here's 25 homes you can buy online today for a million or more.   Offbeat, Fun, Bizarre or Just Plain Interesting The $2500 Car Watch out, Detroit! The country that brought you cheap title searches has announced the world's cheapest car - at $2,500! Of course, the car is plastic and held together with glue.... really!   Mexico's President Tours U.S. Lobbying for Weak Immigration Policies There's another political campaign taking place across the United States this year, as Mexico’s President Calderon and Mexican Consulates in cities across America attempt to influence U.S. Immigration Policy... read more   Voter Issues Register to Vote with Your Cell Phone Now you can register to vote with a text message thanks to a new service from The National Youth Political Action Coalition ... Learn how   Fraud Alerts Scammers Taking Advantage Of New Federal Economic Stimulus Package Texas Attorney General Greg Abbot is warning everyone to be aware of a scam that has emerged in connection with the proposed federal economic stimulus package.   Crime Mistrial In Micro-waved Baby Trial A judge in Ohio has declared a mistrial in the case of a woman accused of killing her one-month-old daughter by burning her to death in a microwave. The mother claimed she was too drunk to remember...Video report   County Stats and Stories America's Best Rural Counties For Quality Living Many Americans has a growing interest in escaping urban sprawl and the hectic pace of big city life for the clean air and wide open spaces of rural counties. But which county offers a better life so many Americans long for?   Illinois County Offers ID Theft / Public Records Monitoring Service   The McHenry County Recorder's office recently entered into a contract with Fidlar Technologies that will allow the county's residents to receive an alert when their personal information is viewed in the public records database. For an annual fee...   How Candidate's Emotions Win and Lose Elections U.S. News and World Report highlights lessons from the past and present about public displays of emotion . . . Watch Video   Cities / Counties Leading the Way to Alternative Energy Ralph Cavanaugh of the Natural Resources Defense Council talks about which cities and counties are doing the most to switch  to alternative fuels and how that helps the environment and saves taxpayer's money. Watch the Wall Street Journal Video   The First Time Since The Great Depression by Robert Franco Jan-25-07 Those of us in the title industry certainly know that things have been slow. Well know we now just how bad things are...   Is "Big Title" Outsourcing YOUR Security? Most of us think of outsourcing in terms of manufacturing jobs lost to low-wage workers in places like Mexico or China.  You may be surprised to find out, however, that the latest corporate trend in outsourcing isn't taking place at companies like Wal-Mart or Microsoft...   Great Comebacks from American Patriots In a world where too many people think it's cool to bash America, these responses from American patriots will leave many in the hate America crowd speechless...   HIPAA Enforcement Heats Up In 2008 CMS Audits, Court Rulings & New Regulations Up The Risks   Since the enactment of the HIPAA Privacy rule over 5 years ago and the enactment of the Security rule  over 3 years ago, a great deal of discussion has focused on the topic of "HIPAA enforcement".  In fact, the amount of discussion has far outpaced the level of enforcement....   Whose Side Are You On? National Title Associations  and County Government square off over bulk sale of your records Ten years ago, when most county records were only available in hard-copy by physically visiting the court house no one complained that the records were not "publicly available." And, that has not changed. ... Read more   It's Time to Stop Identity Theft At The Source   Would you give your sister's address to a stalker or your brother's bank account number to strangers on the Internet? Would you post your neighbor's Social Security number on the Web or tell thousands of sex offenders the age of your children and where they live? Well someone is, and you're paying for this "public service"... Learn more   The best of News for Public Officials in 2007 From vital investigative reports that made you think, to offbeat articles that made you smile and hi-tech tools that helped you win your campaign and work more effectively as an elected official, News for Public Officials published thousands of files in 2007. Here are the reports and videos most often viewed and the tools and tips you most often used in 2007.   Allegations of Official Mistakes, Misconduct and Corruption County Web Site Helped Thieves Steal Identities of Victims in Five States Police in Worthington Ohio say hundreds of people in five states are the latest victims of identity theft that has resulted from county officials publishing sensitive information about their citizens over the Internet. They've asked the U.S. Secret Service to investigate the link between the county Web site and online identity theft...   Technology Satellite Imagery Puts Government Agents In Your Back Yard at the Touch of  a Button As more neighborhoods embrace the privacy and protection that gated communities provide, officials find themselves faced with more obstacles in evaluating the values of homes in both the United States and abroad. But, due to a handy program developed by the folks at Google, authorities are finding a way to slip through those pesky gates.   Fraud Alert The Certified Copy Racket You may have heard of National Deed Service. They are the outfit that sends very official looking letters to homeowners offering to provide them with a certified copy of their deed for around $70. A copy which is available from the county for just a few dollars...   Official Mistakes, Misconduct and Corruption County Clerk Indicted on Multiple Felony Charges Following a six-month investigation by the Illinois Attorney General’s office, a county clerk has been indicted on multiple felony charges stemming from the purchase of a mobile voting trailer by the clerk's office...   Technology   Standing Up To Cyber Smears Businesses, political candidates, public figures and private individuals have become victims of so-called cybersmears, online defamation, flamers and cyber bullies. Here are resources to stop the bullies in their tracks.   Environmental Issues Hundreds Protest Plan to Pump Well Water Into Rio Grande River A plan to pump up to 17 billion gallons of water a year from the San Agustin aquifer has drawn fire from hundreds of Catron and Socorro County residents who say the plan to dump the underground aquifer into the Rio Grande River is ludicrous... Full story   Cook County Poised to Shut Down Cabela's Superstore Over Gun Law Just weeks after its gala grand opening, the Cabela's superstore in Hoffman Estates, IL is facing closure by the Cook County (IL) Board...   Jailhouse Fashion Goes Retro Another California county has opted for a more retro fashion look for its jail inmates. Nearly 1,200 male and female prisoners in Santa Clara County's Elmwood Correctional Facility in Milpitas are now wearing old-fashioned black-and-white striped uniforms...   Muslim sues county for head scarf removal A Muslim woman is suing San Bernardino County in California alleging her religious rights were violated when she was forced to remove her head scarf...   Border Security and Illegal Aliens New Tech for Policing Immigrants A new homeland security program equips police and sheriff departments with the ability to detect illegal immigrants... NBC Video report   Technology Survey: Quarter of US Workers Commute Via Web – 62% Wish They Could  “Web Commuters” Can Take Their Online Jobs with Them Wherever They Go   Take My Health Data “Off the Market” Did you know?  Your prescription data -- including your name, address, date of birth and drug regimen is FOR SALE...   Fighting Crime Computer Security Consultant Infected PC’s Nationwide with ID Theft Botnets In the first prosecution of its kind in the nation, a well-known member of the “botnet underground” was charged today with using “botnets” – armies of compromised computers – to steal the identities of victims ...   Government Officials Doing Things Right Sheriff Joe Arpaio's Animal Protection Shelter Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Maricopa County, Arizona, famous for doing things like constructing a "tent city" jail in the middle of the Arizona desert and making his prisoners wear pink underwear, has turned his attention to animals held in his custody and arrested a fellow lawman for animal cruelty....   Security Freezes Now Available Nationwide According to Privacy Rights Clearing House, beginning this month, the three credit bureaus -- Equifax, Experian and TransUnion – are providing security freezes nationwide. A security freeze is stronger and more effective...   The Real Cost of Immigration  (Washington, D.C.) --    The PBS program, To The Contrary has announced it will offer, free of charge, DVD copies of its three-part series on immigration’s impact on various aspects of US life...This educational product is distributed free of charge to those looking to learn more about the true impact of immigration, as it is rarely covered elsewhere by US media....Learn more and get your free copy of this important video   Fighting Crime Deputies Nab "Courthouse Bandit" Most criminals will do everything they can to avoid going to trial, but authorities in Allegheny County Pennsylvania say they have caught a woman who posed as a student to rob people attending a murder trial.... Video report   Fighting Crime 911 call may keep tipster from getting reward in deputy's shooting FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - He helped catch a suspected killer, but one of the men who alerted authorities to Michael Mazza's location Wednesday afternoon may not see any reward money - because he called the wrong number... Full report   Offbeat, Shocking, Bizarre or Just Plain Interesting   Fast Food Crackdown Fast food restaurants are part of the American landscape, but in a community that is inundated with them, the city council is trying to change that....Video report   Inmate meals fattened sheriff's pay Although the breakfast service at the Hubbard County jail had captive customers and big profits before it ended, the  Sheriff's attorney says this isn't a case of "scam and eggs"...   HS Principal, Dressed in Drag, Charged With Prostitution Loitering A male High School principal was caught on tape wearing women's clothes complete with  fishnet stockings and phony breasts in a high-crime area claimed he was on his way to a Halloween party but the officer didn't buy it.... Dash cam video   Border Fence Will Leave Some Texans On Wrong Side The U.S. government plans to start construction on a 700 mile fence between the U.S. and Mexico borders in the spring. Some Texas residents say the fence will cut them off from the rest of the U.S. Others will lose access to their riverfront property....Video report   US Immigrants Ripped Off by Phone Cards Many immigrants are being ripped off to the tune of millions of dollars a year when they call home ....Video report   Border Security and Illegal Aliens Border Security Funding Stripped In Conference Committee Wednesday, the conference committee on the Department of Defense Appropriations bill (H.R. 3222) stripped two critical provisions aimed at securing the border...   Mortgage Reform and Anti-Predatory Lending Act of 2007 Not surprisingly, there are some provisions in the bill that have stirred up some controversy - mainly with mortgage brokers. But, there is no doubt that this is an extremely consumer friendly bill....   Texas Officials Caught With Fake Degrees,  Illegal Diplomas It sounds incredible: trusted Texas officials with phony, even illegal diplomas. But it is true... KHOU investigative video report     Technology Will Online Meetings Be Part of Your Future? In many companies, government agencies and election campaigns, employees and volunteers work together, but they aren’t in the same building or even in the same city. How do they keep workers connected?  More and more, the answer is online meetings, according to Investor’s Business Daily. Video Report   Fighting Crime Who Is Baby Grace? Ray Tuttoilmondo of the Galveston county sheriff's office in Texas speaks with Hannah Storm about the investigation into the body of a little girl, which was found in a floating crate by fishermen.... Video   Illegal Immigration / Border Security Drug Smugglers Use Fake Government Trucks   By U.S. Rep. Ted Poe (R-TX) The drug smugglers have gotten smarter. They now disguise vehicles they are using to smuggle drugs into America to look exactly like Texas State transportation trucks...   Allegations of Official Misconduct Former Court Clerk Indicted for Theft of Drug Evidence Following a 17-month investigation by the State Bureau of Investigation, former court clerk Lisa Austin Brickhouse has been indicted for allegedly stealing drugs from the Dare County North Carolina evidence vault.   Illegal Immigration Commissioner Wants Ban On Services For Aliens A Carroll County Maryland commissioner is hoping to pass a bill barring illegal immigrants from receiving county services...Video report   Illegal Immigration New Report: More than 13 Million Illegal Aliens Reside in the U.S. 2007 Figures Represent an 88 Percent Increase Since 2000 (Washington, D.C.) According to a new report from the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), How Many Illegal Aliens?, the illegal immigrant population of the United States now exceeds 13 million...   Offbeat, Fun, Bizarre or Just Plain Interesting Nebraska's Answer to the Face on Mars While gathering space images for The 100 Loneliest Counties in America, we were surprised to find a gigantic cowboy staring back at our satellite cameras from the twelfth least populated county in America... Take a look     Online Records Could Become Less Reliable by Robert Franco Oct-26-07 Can you imagine trying to search a title when only the property owner's initials appear in the online index? ...   Military Service Members and Other Overseas Voters Face Hurdles to Casting Ballots New Web Site to Provide Crucial Assistance in Registering to Vote WASHINGTON, Oct. 25  -- The Pew Charitable Trusts and Overseas Vote Foundation (OVF) announced new Web-based voter services to help the more than six million Americans ...   Google Earth provides bird's eye view of Israeli reactor JERUSALEM - When Google Earth™ first came along, the company went to some lengths to address the security concerns and restrictions in various countries, including Israel, where images of this nation were often blurry and you couldn't zoom in to find your house in Jerusalem. Well, good-bye to all t... Read the full report   Offbeat, Shocking, Bizarre or Just Plain Interesting Website Offers Fake Doctor Notes Feeling like playing hooky, but nervous about getting caught? The Excused Absence Network has got your back. For about $25, students and employees can buy excuse notes that appear to come from doctors or hospitals...Video     Constable Busted for Cuffing Man over $10 Parking Ticket  A judge in Montgomery County Pennsylvania has stripped a deputy constable of power after the officer was caught on tape holding a man in handcuffs for 40 minutes over an alleged $10 parking violation... Video report   County Real Estate Website will Remove Names of Private Citizens Two years ago, a Judge's Family was murdered in their Chicago home resulting in 100 judges in Allegheny County demanding their  their own names be removed from the county website. Now private citizens will have the same protection ... Video Report   Rolling Up The Welcome Mat on Illegal Immigration Prince William County in Virginia is the latest government entity to cut off benefits to those who aren't citizens or legal residents...Full Article   County Clerks protecting our borders by Diana West Reprinted with permission October 23, 2007 ... with illegal immigration out of control and our border a shambles — the very baseline of the interplay of nations — it is our neighbors, our local representatives, who are increasingly taking charge of this crucial chunk of national policy. City Hall, the local planning commission and the county clerk’s office are where the action is... Get the full article   Illegal Immigration Driver’s Licenses for Illegal Aliens Compromises Homeland Security Washington DC — In testimony submitted to the Standing Committee on Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs and the Standing Committee on Transportation...   America's First Wind Powered County Officials in Montgomery County Penn. announced last month the county will power all county facilities with 100 percent wind energy. Equal to the electric consumption of 2,700 typical homes ...   Fraud Alert Jury Duty Scam Just Another ID Theft Trick Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott - Oct-22-07 The FBI and other law enforcement agencies around the country have reported the resurgence of an old trick known as the jury duty scam...   Officials Stopped Short By Red Light Camera Lawsuits   Officials in Cleveland and Dayton Tennessee have joined a growing list of officials to stop short of red light camera contracts after petitions objected to them and lawsuits popped up around the country...   ID Thief Takes Vet's Place in Grave Annie Hayes was still mourning the death of her son when a veteran's cemetery told her another man with her son's name, social security number and military credentials had been in her son's grave since 2003... Video report   County Clerk Promises to Defy Governor, Report Illegal Aliens Oct-10-07 Standing firmly with other New York County Clerks in their rebellion against Governor Spitzer’s directive, Cortland County Clerk Elizabeth Larkin says she will not only disobey Spitzer’s order, she will report applications from illegal immigrants to the sheriff...   America's 100 Most Foreclosure-Prone Counties Driven by risky, sub prime mortgages, 'creative' lending, and adjustable rate mortgages that can suddenly cripple a homeowner's ability to pay, America is facing an epidemic of mortgage foreclosures. These counties lead the nation for highest ratio of households facing foreclosure... Learn more Kentucky Counties Sue Makers of "Hillbilly Heroin" Several Kentucky counties filed suit on Thursday against the makers of the potent painkilling drug OxyContin, charging that abusers of "hillbilly heroin" have filled state jails and treatment centers. Full Reuters report   Illegal Immigration and Homeland Security NY County Clerks Rebel Against Governor's Plan to License Illegals New York's County Clerks say they will not cooperate with Governor Spitzer's plan to issue driver's licenses to illegal aliens and will not issue the licenses from their offices... Video Report   Judge Finds County Recorder in Contempt Jarrod A. Clabaugh, Source of Title Reprinted with permission Nearly a year after the issuance of a mandamus order requiring her office to comply with Pennsylvania law, Judge Keith Quigley of Perry County, Pennsylvania, found Ellie Antoine, the recorder for Berks County, in contempt of court and ordered her to pay... Learn More   Ex-Cop Arrested on 30 Identity Fraud Charges   Michael Daubert of Sandy Hook, Connecticut was arrested on September 28, 2007 on a warrant charging him with identity theft in the first degree, larceny in the first degree, 28 counts of forgery in the second degree, and one count of criminal impersonation....   Degrees of Deceit: Officials Could Face Charges Adding unearned titles like "Dr." or "PhD" to your name is deceptive and unethical at the least but for two county officials in Texas it may also have been criminal....full report   Protecting the Texas Pledge of Allegiance By Greg Abbott Attorney General of Texas Oct-02-07 ... Full Article   Foreclosure! Ten Ways to Save Your Home   Federal Bribery Sting Nets State and Local Officials NEW JERSEY -- Sept-13-07   Atascosa County Clerk's Body Found In Ditch The Atascosa County Clerk has been found dead, in a ditch. Fayette County Sheriff's Department announced Monday that Laquita Hayden's body was discovered by deputies near Highway 95 more than 100 miles from her home...