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NEWS:
Volume 2, Number 229
January 15, 2008
January 15, 2008
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Special weather information
provided by:
Wendell L. Malone,
Area Skywarn Coordinator
Eddy & Culberson counties
provided by:
Wendell L. Malone,
Area Skywarn Coordinator
Eddy & Culberson counties
| THE WEATHER BOX www.ke5wlm-eddycountyskywarn.blogspot.com Today: Sunny, with a high near 58. South wind 5 to 10 mph increasing to between 15 and 20 mph. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph. Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 27. North wind between 10 and 20 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 49. North wind between 5 and 10 mph. Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 24. North wind between 5 and 10 mph. Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 38. North wind around 5 mph. Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 18. Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 47. Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 22. Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 51. Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 26. Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 60. Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 30. M.L.King Day: Mostly sunny, with a high near 60. |
| The United States government's national threat level is Elevated, or Yellow. The U.S. threat level is High, or Orange, for all domestic and international flights. Only small amounts of liquids, aerosols and gels are allowed in carry-on baggage. See the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) website for up-to-date information on items permitted and prohibited on airlines. |
MySpace to Boost Social Networking Safety for Children
AG King OK’s Nationwide Agreement
ALBUQUERQUE - New Mexico Attorney General Gary King joined AGs in at
least 45 other states Monday to announce that MySpace has agreed to
significant steps to better protect children on its web site, including creation
of a broad-based task force to explore and develop age and identity
verification technology.
The attorneys general advocate age and identity verification, calling it vital
to better protecting children using social networking sites from on-line
sexual predators and inappropriate material.
Attorney General Kings says, “We have been pushing MySpace to make
these changes because of our concern that sex predators were repeatedly
using the site to victimize children.” The agreement culminates nearly two
years of discussions between MySpace and the attorneys general.
Other specific changes and policies that MySpace agreed to develop
include: allowing parents to submit their children’s emails so MySpace can
prevent anyone using those emails from setting up profiles, making the
default setting “private” for profiles of 16- and 17-year-olds, promising to
respond within 72 hours to inappropriate content complaints and committing
more staff and/or resources to review and classify photographs and
discussion groups.
Under the agreement, MySpace, with support from the attorneys general,
will create and lead an Internet Safety Technical Task Force to explore and
develop age and identity verification tools for social networking web sites.
The task force will report back to the attorneys general every three months
and issue a formal report with findings and recommendations at the end of
2008. In the agreement, the Attorneys General commend MySpace for its
efforts to address social networking safety issues.
MySpace also will hire a contractor to compile a registry of email addresses
provided by parents who want to restrict their child’s access to the site.
MySpace will bar anyone using submitted email addresses from signing in
or creating a profile.
MySpace also agreed to:
· Strengthen software identifying underage users;
· Retain a contractor to better identify and expunge inappropriate
images;
· Obtain and constantly update a list of pornographic web sites and
regularly sever any links between them and MySpace;
· Implement changes making it harder for adults to contact children;
· Dedicate meaningful resources to educating children and parents
about on-line safety.
· Review its icon to report abuse to determine whether it should be
modified or replaced;
· Create a closed “high school” section for users under 18.
Solar jobs coming to NM
SANTA FE - Governor Bill Richardson Monday announced SCHOTT AG, of
Germany, will build a solar products manufacturing plant at Mesa Del Sol,
just south of Albuquerque. The $500 million complex is expected to open in
early 2009 and will create as many as 1,500 jobs at peak production.
SCHOTT will manufacture solar photovoltaic (PV) modules and receiver
tubes for concentrated solar plants at the new facility, and will be one of the
company’s largest operations in the United States.
“I am committed to making New Mexico a clean energy state,” said
Governor Richardson. “I am pleased SCHOTT is opening a factory and
bringing more alternative clean energy development to the state.”
SCHOTT is one of the largest solar manufacturers in the world. The
company operates in 41 countries with 16,800 employees worldwide. It has
been in operation for more than 150 years.
“According to both industry analysts and our projections, the market for
solar energy will double over the next five years,” said Dr. Udo Ungeheuer,
Chairman of SCHOTT’s Board of Management. “With this new plant,
SCHOTT Solar, the State of New Mexico, the City of Albuquerque, and
Bernalillo County are taking a lead in answering the growing demand for
renewable energy in the United States.”
Construction of the facility will begin in early 2008, with the plant expected
to be operational in 2009, initially bringing approximately $100 million of
foreign direct investment to New Mexico. This will result in 350 jobs by year
one and a total of 700 jobs by year four. Approximately 80 percent of the
jobs will be production-based; the remaining 20 percent of jobs will be
engineering and management positions.
“The future of New Mexico, the country and the world depends on clean
alternative energy,” said Economic Development Department Cabinet
Secretary Designate Fred Mondragón, “and our economy is going to be
increasingly dependent on foreign direct investment. What we have with
SCHOTT coming to New Mexico is the best of those two worlds.”
For more information visit www.us.schott.com/solar.
Agents seize drugs, bologna & live birds
El Paso - U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers performing
anti-terror inspections at ports of entry in El Paso, West Texas and New
Mexico made 36 drug seizures this week, confiscating 6,486 pounds of
marijuana in 35 busts and 14.5 pounds of cocaine in one additional bust.
The largest seizure of the week occurred yesterday at the commercial
cargo facility at the Ysleta port of entry when CBP officers seized 2,796
pounds of marijuana. The drugs were concealed in a false compartment in
a tractor-trailer that entered the port from Mexico. CBP officers at the cargo
facility were inspecting a truck carrying a shipment of Styrofoam cups when
they noticed an anomaly in the appearance of the conveyance. CBP drug
sniffing dog "Basty" alerted to the front of the trailer. CBP officers removed
a false front wall and discovered 281 marijuana-filled bundles inside. No
arrests were made in the case.
In addition to substantial drug seizure activity, area CBP officers made 36
seizures of prohibited food and agricultural items this week, resulting in
$8,800 in fines being assessed. Prohibited items seized this week included
pork, pork wieners, bologna, chorizo, raw chicken, avocados, oranges,
tangerines, pears, plums, kiwi, sugar cane, guavas, potatoes, apples,
mamay, guanabana, honey (w/ honeycomb containing bee larvae and
pollen) and live plants. Dozens of other prohibited agricultural and food
items were abandoned at the port of entry by border crossers who correctly
declared their goods and avoided penalties of up to $300 for first time
violations.
CBP officers working at area ports of entry stopped a total of 96 people
who were violating U.S. immigration laws while attempting to enter the
country. CBP officers identified a total of 67 intended immigrant cases
(people with legitimate entry documents intending to live/work illegally in the
U.S.), 16 imposters (people using a legitimate document not assigned to
the person presenting the document) four false claims for U.S. citizenship
by non U.S. citizens, six people attempting to enter the U.S. with counterfeit,
fraudulent, or altered entry documents, and three people who attempted to
enter the U.S. without inspection.
CBP officers this week also seized 9 live birds (4 roosters, 3 chickens, 2
dwarf hens), ammunition, and undeclared alcohol (11 liters/$435 penalty).
While anti-terrorism is the primary mission of U.S. Customs and Border
Protection, the inspection process at the ports of entry associated with this
mission results in impressive numbers of enforcement actions in all
categories
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the
Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control
and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of
entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of
the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.
Make this the Year You Become a Blood Donor
Since 1970, January has been recognized as National Blood Donor Month
(NBDM). To help ensure an adequate blood supply, the United Blood
Services has joined with AABB (formerly known as the American
Association of Blood Banks) to stress the importance of donating blood.
The need for blood is constant, and volunteer blood donors contribute to
nearly all the blood used for patient care in the United States. If all who are
eligible to donate would do so on a regular basis (three to four times per
year), blood needs could be met and shortages could become a thing of
the past.
Everyone, whether it is realized or not, depends on blood. Every two
seconds, someone needs blood. Each day, patients across the country
receive approximately 39,000 units of this lifesaving resource. This year
alone, as many as five million patients will require blood transfusions, as
accident victims, people undergoing surgery, and patients receiving
treatment for leukemia, cancer and other diseases.
People who are interested in becoming blood donors should contact United
Blood Services to schedule an appointment to donate, or in Roswell visit
United Blood Services at #3 Grand Avenue Plaza, Roswell, NM 88201 or
call 1-888-676-LIFE (5433) or 575-625-9743.
DHS RELEASES REAL ID REGULATION
Core 9/11 Commission Finding to Secure Drivers’ Licenses Nationwide
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
announced today a final rule establishing minimum security standards for
state-issued drivers’ licenses and identification cards. The rule sets
uniform standards that enhance the integrity and reliability of drivers’
licenses and identification cards, strengthen issuance capabilities, and
increase security at drivers’ license and identification card production
facilities. The final rule also dramatically reduces state implementation costs
by roughly 73 percent.
“The American public’s desire for greater identity protection is undeniable,”
said Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. “Americans understand
today that the 9/11 hijackers obtained 30 drivers licenses and ID’s, and
used 364 aliases. For an extra $8 per license, REAL ID will give law
enforcement and security officials a powerful advantage against falsified
documents, and it will bring some peace of mind to citizens wanting to
protect their identity from theft by a criminal or illegal alien.”
The problems that Americans face from document fraud are diverse and
growing. A Public Opinion Strategies poll taken last year shows that more
than 80 percent of the American public favors secure identification to
prevent terrorism and identity theft. Identity theft has increased by nearly
800 percent from 2000 to 2006, according to the Federal Trade
Commission. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement made 863 criminal
arrests during various worksite enforcement operations in fiscal year 2007 -
more than 500 were charged with crimes relating to federal and state
document fraud - and their Identity and Benefit Fraud Units made 1,211
criminal arrests for document fraud related charges. The U.S. Secret
Service made 4,348 arrests last year for identity theft or financial fraud
crimes, accounting for approximately $690 million in actual fraud loss to
individuals and financial institutions. In a sampling of Secret Service
identify theft cases from 2000 to 2006, fraudulent drivers’ licenses were
used 35 percent of the time.
REAL ID will address document fraud by setting specific requirements that
states must adopt for compliance, to include: (1) information and security
features that must be incorporated into each card; (2) proof of the identity
and U.S. citizenship or legal status of an applicant; (3) verification of the
source documents provided by an applicant; and (4) security standards for
the offices that issue licenses and identification cards.
The first deadline for compliance with REAL ID is Dec. 31, 2009. By then,
states must upgrade the security of their license systems, to include a
check for lawful status of all applicants, to ensure that illegal aliens cannot
obtain REAL ID licenses. Some states are expected to be compliant well
before that time. Compliance will be needed for access into a federal
facility, boarding commercial aircraft, and entering nuclear power plants.
Federal agencies will continue to accept licenses for official purposes from
residents of states that comply with the law.
DHS is making approximately $360 million available to assist states with
REAL ID implementation - $80 million in dedicated REAL ID grants and
another $280 million in general funding as part of the Homeland Security
Grant Program.
The 73 percent cost reduction – from an original estimate of $14.6 billion to
approximately $3.9 billion – was achieved mainly by giving states greater
flexibility in issuing licenses to older Americans. Enrollment will be
completed for all individuals under 50 years of age by Dec. 1, 2014. For all
others, enrollment may be extended three additional years to Dec. 1, 2017.
At that time, all state-issued drivers’ licenses and identification cards
intended for official federal purposes must be REAL ID compliant.
REAL ID was a core 9/11 Commission finding and mandated by Congress
in the REAL ID Act of 2005. This final rule follows a Notice of Proposed
Rule Making published in the Federal Register on March 9, 2007. Based
on comments received from various stakeholders, DHS drafted the final rule
to substantially reduce costs and account for investments that many states
have already made to improve the security of their drivers’ licenses.
AG King OK’s Nationwide Agreement
ALBUQUERQUE - New Mexico Attorney General Gary King joined AGs in at
least 45 other states Monday to announce that MySpace has agreed to
significant steps to better protect children on its web site, including creation
of a broad-based task force to explore and develop age and identity
verification technology.
The attorneys general advocate age and identity verification, calling it vital
to better protecting children using social networking sites from on-line
sexual predators and inappropriate material.
Attorney General Kings says, “We have been pushing MySpace to make
these changes because of our concern that sex predators were repeatedly
using the site to victimize children.” The agreement culminates nearly two
years of discussions between MySpace and the attorneys general.
Other specific changes and policies that MySpace agreed to develop
include: allowing parents to submit their children’s emails so MySpace can
prevent anyone using those emails from setting up profiles, making the
default setting “private” for profiles of 16- and 17-year-olds, promising to
respond within 72 hours to inappropriate content complaints and committing
more staff and/or resources to review and classify photographs and
discussion groups.
Under the agreement, MySpace, with support from the attorneys general,
will create and lead an Internet Safety Technical Task Force to explore and
develop age and identity verification tools for social networking web sites.
The task force will report back to the attorneys general every three months
and issue a formal report with findings and recommendations at the end of
2008. In the agreement, the Attorneys General commend MySpace for its
efforts to address social networking safety issues.
MySpace also will hire a contractor to compile a registry of email addresses
provided by parents who want to restrict their child’s access to the site.
MySpace will bar anyone using submitted email addresses from signing in
or creating a profile.
MySpace also agreed to:
· Strengthen software identifying underage users;
· Retain a contractor to better identify and expunge inappropriate
images;
· Obtain and constantly update a list of pornographic web sites and
regularly sever any links between them and MySpace;
· Implement changes making it harder for adults to contact children;
· Dedicate meaningful resources to educating children and parents
about on-line safety.
· Review its icon to report abuse to determine whether it should be
modified or replaced;
· Create a closed “high school” section for users under 18.
Solar jobs coming to NM
SANTA FE - Governor Bill Richardson Monday announced SCHOTT AG, of
Germany, will build a solar products manufacturing plant at Mesa Del Sol,
just south of Albuquerque. The $500 million complex is expected to open in
early 2009 and will create as many as 1,500 jobs at peak production.
SCHOTT will manufacture solar photovoltaic (PV) modules and receiver
tubes for concentrated solar plants at the new facility, and will be one of the
company’s largest operations in the United States.
“I am committed to making New Mexico a clean energy state,” said
Governor Richardson. “I am pleased SCHOTT is opening a factory and
bringing more alternative clean energy development to the state.”
SCHOTT is one of the largest solar manufacturers in the world. The
company operates in 41 countries with 16,800 employees worldwide. It has
been in operation for more than 150 years.
“According to both industry analysts and our projections, the market for
solar energy will double over the next five years,” said Dr. Udo Ungeheuer,
Chairman of SCHOTT’s Board of Management. “With this new plant,
SCHOTT Solar, the State of New Mexico, the City of Albuquerque, and
Bernalillo County are taking a lead in answering the growing demand for
renewable energy in the United States.”
Construction of the facility will begin in early 2008, with the plant expected
to be operational in 2009, initially bringing approximately $100 million of
foreign direct investment to New Mexico. This will result in 350 jobs by year
one and a total of 700 jobs by year four. Approximately 80 percent of the
jobs will be production-based; the remaining 20 percent of jobs will be
engineering and management positions.
“The future of New Mexico, the country and the world depends on clean
alternative energy,” said Economic Development Department Cabinet
Secretary Designate Fred Mondragón, “and our economy is going to be
increasingly dependent on foreign direct investment. What we have with
SCHOTT coming to New Mexico is the best of those two worlds.”
For more information visit www.us.schott.com/solar.
Agents seize drugs, bologna & live birds
El Paso - U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers performing
anti-terror inspections at ports of entry in El Paso, West Texas and New
Mexico made 36 drug seizures this week, confiscating 6,486 pounds of
marijuana in 35 busts and 14.5 pounds of cocaine in one additional bust.
The largest seizure of the week occurred yesterday at the commercial
cargo facility at the Ysleta port of entry when CBP officers seized 2,796
pounds of marijuana. The drugs were concealed in a false compartment in
a tractor-trailer that entered the port from Mexico. CBP officers at the cargo
facility were inspecting a truck carrying a shipment of Styrofoam cups when
they noticed an anomaly in the appearance of the conveyance. CBP drug
sniffing dog "Basty" alerted to the front of the trailer. CBP officers removed
a false front wall and discovered 281 marijuana-filled bundles inside. No
arrests were made in the case.
In addition to substantial drug seizure activity, area CBP officers made 36
seizures of prohibited food and agricultural items this week, resulting in
$8,800 in fines being assessed. Prohibited items seized this week included
pork, pork wieners, bologna, chorizo, raw chicken, avocados, oranges,
tangerines, pears, plums, kiwi, sugar cane, guavas, potatoes, apples,
mamay, guanabana, honey (w/ honeycomb containing bee larvae and
pollen) and live plants. Dozens of other prohibited agricultural and food
items were abandoned at the port of entry by border crossers who correctly
declared their goods and avoided penalties of up to $300 for first time
violations.
CBP officers working at area ports of entry stopped a total of 96 people
who were violating U.S. immigration laws while attempting to enter the
country. CBP officers identified a total of 67 intended immigrant cases
(people with legitimate entry documents intending to live/work illegally in the
U.S.), 16 imposters (people using a legitimate document not assigned to
the person presenting the document) four false claims for U.S. citizenship
by non U.S. citizens, six people attempting to enter the U.S. with counterfeit,
fraudulent, or altered entry documents, and three people who attempted to
enter the U.S. without inspection.
CBP officers this week also seized 9 live birds (4 roosters, 3 chickens, 2
dwarf hens), ammunition, and undeclared alcohol (11 liters/$435 penalty).
While anti-terrorism is the primary mission of U.S. Customs and Border
Protection, the inspection process at the ports of entry associated with this
mission results in impressive numbers of enforcement actions in all
categories
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the
Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control
and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of
entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of
the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.
Make this the Year You Become a Blood Donor
Since 1970, January has been recognized as National Blood Donor Month
(NBDM). To help ensure an adequate blood supply, the United Blood
Services has joined with AABB (formerly known as the American
Association of Blood Banks) to stress the importance of donating blood.
The need for blood is constant, and volunteer blood donors contribute to
nearly all the blood used for patient care in the United States. If all who are
eligible to donate would do so on a regular basis (three to four times per
year), blood needs could be met and shortages could become a thing of
the past.
Everyone, whether it is realized or not, depends on blood. Every two
seconds, someone needs blood. Each day, patients across the country
receive approximately 39,000 units of this lifesaving resource. This year
alone, as many as five million patients will require blood transfusions, as
accident victims, people undergoing surgery, and patients receiving
treatment for leukemia, cancer and other diseases.
People who are interested in becoming blood donors should contact United
Blood Services to schedule an appointment to donate, or in Roswell visit
United Blood Services at #3 Grand Avenue Plaza, Roswell, NM 88201 or
call 1-888-676-LIFE (5433) or 575-625-9743.
DHS RELEASES REAL ID REGULATION
Core 9/11 Commission Finding to Secure Drivers’ Licenses Nationwide
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
announced today a final rule establishing minimum security standards for
state-issued drivers’ licenses and identification cards. The rule sets
uniform standards that enhance the integrity and reliability of drivers’
licenses and identification cards, strengthen issuance capabilities, and
increase security at drivers’ license and identification card production
facilities. The final rule also dramatically reduces state implementation costs
by roughly 73 percent.
“The American public’s desire for greater identity protection is undeniable,”
said Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. “Americans understand
today that the 9/11 hijackers obtained 30 drivers licenses and ID’s, and
used 364 aliases. For an extra $8 per license, REAL ID will give law
enforcement and security officials a powerful advantage against falsified
documents, and it will bring some peace of mind to citizens wanting to
protect their identity from theft by a criminal or illegal alien.”
The problems that Americans face from document fraud are diverse and
growing. A Public Opinion Strategies poll taken last year shows that more
than 80 percent of the American public favors secure identification to
prevent terrorism and identity theft. Identity theft has increased by nearly
800 percent from 2000 to 2006, according to the Federal Trade
Commission. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement made 863 criminal
arrests during various worksite enforcement operations in fiscal year 2007 -
more than 500 were charged with crimes relating to federal and state
document fraud - and their Identity and Benefit Fraud Units made 1,211
criminal arrests for document fraud related charges. The U.S. Secret
Service made 4,348 arrests last year for identity theft or financial fraud
crimes, accounting for approximately $690 million in actual fraud loss to
individuals and financial institutions. In a sampling of Secret Service
identify theft cases from 2000 to 2006, fraudulent drivers’ licenses were
used 35 percent of the time.
REAL ID will address document fraud by setting specific requirements that
states must adopt for compliance, to include: (1) information and security
features that must be incorporated into each card; (2) proof of the identity
and U.S. citizenship or legal status of an applicant; (3) verification of the
source documents provided by an applicant; and (4) security standards for
the offices that issue licenses and identification cards.
The first deadline for compliance with REAL ID is Dec. 31, 2009. By then,
states must upgrade the security of their license systems, to include a
check for lawful status of all applicants, to ensure that illegal aliens cannot
obtain REAL ID licenses. Some states are expected to be compliant well
before that time. Compliance will be needed for access into a federal
facility, boarding commercial aircraft, and entering nuclear power plants.
Federal agencies will continue to accept licenses for official purposes from
residents of states that comply with the law.
DHS is making approximately $360 million available to assist states with
REAL ID implementation - $80 million in dedicated REAL ID grants and
another $280 million in general funding as part of the Homeland Security
Grant Program.
The 73 percent cost reduction – from an original estimate of $14.6 billion to
approximately $3.9 billion – was achieved mainly by giving states greater
flexibility in issuing licenses to older Americans. Enrollment will be
completed for all individuals under 50 years of age by Dec. 1, 2014. For all
others, enrollment may be extended three additional years to Dec. 1, 2017.
At that time, all state-issued drivers’ licenses and identification cards
intended for official federal purposes must be REAL ID compliant.
REAL ID was a core 9/11 Commission finding and mandated by Congress
in the REAL ID Act of 2005. This final rule follows a Notice of Proposed
Rule Making published in the Federal Register on March 9, 2007. Based
on comments received from various stakeholders, DHS drafted the final rule
to substantially reduce costs and account for investments that many states
have already made to improve the security of their drivers’ licenses.
Precinct workers needed for election
ARTESIA - Precinct workers are needed for the
March 4th Municipal Election. The polls will be
open from 7:00 am to 7:00 p.m.
To be eligible to work as a precinct worker, you
must be a registered voter, living in the City of
Artesia, and you cannot be related to any of the
candidates running for office.
Anyone interested in applying as a precinct
worker should contact Lisa C. Johnston,
Assistant City Clerk, at City Hall, 748-8290 by
Wednesday, January 16, 2008.
Bush proclaims Religious Freedom Day
"Thomas Jefferson counted the freedom of
worship as one of America's greatest blessings.
He said it was "a liberty deemed in other
countries incompatible with good government,
and yet proved by our experience to be its best
support." On Religious Freedom Day, we
celebrate the 1786 passage of the Virginia
Statute for Religious Freedom.
"The freedom to worship according to one's
conscience is one of our Nation's most
cherished values. It is the first protection offered
in the Bill of Rights: that "Congress shall make
no law respecting an establishment of religion,
or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." In
America, people of different faiths can live
together united in peace, tolerance, and
humility. We are committed to the proposition
that as equal citizens of the United States of
America, all are free to worship as they choose.
"In an era during which an unprecedented
number of nations have embraced individual
freedom, we have also witnessed the stubborn
endurance of religious repression. Religious
freedom belongs not to any one nation, but to
the world, and my Administration continues to
support freedom of worship at home and
abroad. On Religious Freedom Day and
throughout the year, we recognize the
importance of religious freedom and the vital
role it plays in spreading liberty and ensuring
human dignity.
"NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH,
President of the United States of America, by
virtue of the authority vested in me by the
Constitution and laws of the United States, do
hereby proclaim January 16, 2008, as Religious
Freedom Day. I call on all Americans to reflect
on the great blessing of religious liberty,
endeavor to preserve this freedom for future
generations, and commemorate this day with
appropriate events and activities.
"IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set
my hand this fourteenth day of January, in the
year of our Lord two thousand eight, and of the
Independence of the United States of America
the two hundred and thirty-second."
GEORGE W. BUSH
AMBER Alert Awareness Day
On January 13, communities across the country
observed National AMBER Alert Awareness Day
– a day to recognize the collaborative efforts
and successes of the AMBER Alert program to
assist in the recovery of abducted children. To
honor this program as vital to the safety of
children, NCMEC encourages all wireless
subscribers to sign up for Wireless AMBER
Alerts.
The AMBER Alert Program, created after the
1996 abduction and murder of 9-year-old
Amber Hagerman, is a voluntary partnership
between law-enforcement agencies,
broadcasters, and transportation agencies. The
program activates an urgent bulletin in the most
serious child-abduction cases.
A description of the abducted child and the
suspected abductor is broadcast to millions of
media listeners and viewers. The public
becomes the eyes and ears of law enforcement.
The AMBER Alert program is coordinated on a
national level by the U.S. Department of Justice.
For more information about the National AMBER
Alert Initiative, please visit www.amberalert.gov.
Nationwide there are 119 AMBER Alert Plans,
including 28 regional, 38 local, and statewide
plans in all 50 states, the District of Columbia,
Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
NM ID enhancements on the horizon
DHS has announced a regulation to enhance
security of driver licenses across the country,
with a timeline to December 31, 2009. New
Mexico is ahead of the curve in bringing
enhanced security to the process and is
expected to go into effect this spring.
According to the website, www.nmid.us, "The
key element of IDNM is secure issuance of
driver licenses (DLs) and identification cards
(IDs) at a central location. With central
issuance, MVD customers will no longer leave
the MVD office with their new permanent DL or
ID cards. Instead, each customer will be given
an official temporary DL or ID and will receive
the permanent DL card or ID card by mail,
usually within two weeks. Twenty-seven states
currently utilize a central issuance process for
DLs and IDs."
The changes are designed to help thwart
potential black marketeering and identity theft.
More information will be provided as it becomes
available. Visit the website for additional
information and FAQs.
ARTESIA - Precinct workers are needed for the
March 4th Municipal Election. The polls will be
open from 7:00 am to 7:00 p.m.
To be eligible to work as a precinct worker, you
must be a registered voter, living in the City of
Artesia, and you cannot be related to any of the
candidates running for office.
Anyone interested in applying as a precinct
worker should contact Lisa C. Johnston,
Assistant City Clerk, at City Hall, 748-8290 by
Wednesday, January 16, 2008.
Bush proclaims Religious Freedom Day
"Thomas Jefferson counted the freedom of
worship as one of America's greatest blessings.
He said it was "a liberty deemed in other
countries incompatible with good government,
and yet proved by our experience to be its best
support." On Religious Freedom Day, we
celebrate the 1786 passage of the Virginia
Statute for Religious Freedom.
"The freedom to worship according to one's
conscience is one of our Nation's most
cherished values. It is the first protection offered
in the Bill of Rights: that "Congress shall make
no law respecting an establishment of religion,
or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." In
America, people of different faiths can live
together united in peace, tolerance, and
humility. We are committed to the proposition
that as equal citizens of the United States of
America, all are free to worship as they choose.
"In an era during which an unprecedented
number of nations have embraced individual
freedom, we have also witnessed the stubborn
endurance of religious repression. Religious
freedom belongs not to any one nation, but to
the world, and my Administration continues to
support freedom of worship at home and
abroad. On Religious Freedom Day and
throughout the year, we recognize the
importance of religious freedom and the vital
role it plays in spreading liberty and ensuring
human dignity.
"NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH,
President of the United States of America, by
virtue of the authority vested in me by the
Constitution and laws of the United States, do
hereby proclaim January 16, 2008, as Religious
Freedom Day. I call on all Americans to reflect
on the great blessing of religious liberty,
endeavor to preserve this freedom for future
generations, and commemorate this day with
appropriate events and activities.
"IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set
my hand this fourteenth day of January, in the
year of our Lord two thousand eight, and of the
Independence of the United States of America
the two hundred and thirty-second."
GEORGE W. BUSH
AMBER Alert Awareness Day
On January 13, communities across the country
observed National AMBER Alert Awareness Day
– a day to recognize the collaborative efforts
and successes of the AMBER Alert program to
assist in the recovery of abducted children. To
honor this program as vital to the safety of
children, NCMEC encourages all wireless
subscribers to sign up for Wireless AMBER
Alerts.
The AMBER Alert Program, created after the
1996 abduction and murder of 9-year-old
Amber Hagerman, is a voluntary partnership
between law-enforcement agencies,
broadcasters, and transportation agencies. The
program activates an urgent bulletin in the most
serious child-abduction cases.
A description of the abducted child and the
suspected abductor is broadcast to millions of
media listeners and viewers. The public
becomes the eyes and ears of law enforcement.
The AMBER Alert program is coordinated on a
national level by the U.S. Department of Justice.
For more information about the National AMBER
Alert Initiative, please visit www.amberalert.gov.
Nationwide there are 119 AMBER Alert Plans,
including 28 regional, 38 local, and statewide
plans in all 50 states, the District of Columbia,
Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
NM ID enhancements on the horizon
DHS has announced a regulation to enhance
security of driver licenses across the country,
with a timeline to December 31, 2009. New
Mexico is ahead of the curve in bringing
enhanced security to the process and is
expected to go into effect this spring.
According to the website, www.nmid.us, "The
key element of IDNM is secure issuance of
driver licenses (DLs) and identification cards
(IDs) at a central location. With central
issuance, MVD customers will no longer leave
the MVD office with their new permanent DL or
ID cards. Instead, each customer will be given
an official temporary DL or ID and will receive
the permanent DL card or ID card by mail,
usually within two weeks. Twenty-seven states
currently utilize a central issuance process for
DLs and IDs."
The changes are designed to help thwart
potential black marketeering and identity theft.
More information will be provided as it becomes
available. Visit the website for additional
information and FAQs.