State / Local

Survey finds U.S. Muslims happy, despite perceived discrimination
A new poll shows that a majority of Muslim-Americans feel singled out by U.S. anti-terrorism policies and many say they have increasingly been the victim of threats and harassment by airport security, law enforcement officers, and others; despite feeling singled out by the government Muslim-Americans are satisfied with life in the United States and have no sense of rising alienation or anger
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Report finds poor management cause of San Bruno natural gas explosion
An investigation into the cause of a natural gas pipeline explosion that killed eight people and destroyed dozens of homes in San Bruno, California, placed the blame squarely on fifty-four years of bad management by Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) and the failure of state and federal regulators to notice the problem
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D.C. continues to struggle with orderly evacuations
Last week’s earthquake that struck less than ninety miles outside of Washington, D.C. exposed the city’s continuing difficulties in effectively evacuating its residents; after the 5.9 magnitude earthquake struck the region, commuters were left stranded for hours as road traffic ground to a halt and trains became overcrowded and delayed due to speed restrictions because of the quake
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DHS announces 2011 grants, $800 million less than 2010
Last week DHS announced that it would begin distributing more than $2.1 billion in grant money to state and local agencies for fiscal year 2011, nearly $800 million less than last year; the reduction in grant money comes as a reflection of the U.S. government’s attempts to cut spending and find cost savings
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Texas bills government $349 million for illegal immigrants
Earlier this month in a letter to DHS secretary Janet Napolitano, Texas governor Rick Perry blamed the federal government for failing to secure the border and requested $349 million to help cover the costs of detaining illegal immigrants; when she was governor of Arizona, Napolitano would also regularly send the Department of Justice invoices seeking reimbursements for illegal immigration-related expenses by the state of Arizona
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San Jose halts gang violence, ends ICE partnership
Two months after it began its alliance with immigration officials to crack down on gang violence, the San Jose Police Department in California announced that it was ending its partnership with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency; on 24 June, two ICE agents stepped in to help San Jose which was struggling to contain its highest murder rate in twenty years
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North Dakota receives $10 million for border security
To help secure the U.S.— Canada border, North Dakota will receive more than $9.6 million in DHS grants; the funds are aimed at helping local law enforcement agencies prevent a terrorist attack, secure the border, and bolster emergency preparedness
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Obama administration seeks hold on tough Alabama immigration law
The Obama administration has requested a federal judge to temporarily block a tough new immigration law set to take effect in Alabama on 1 September
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Detroit police to stop responding to unverified burglar alarms
As of Monday, 22 August, the Detroit police department will no longer respond to burglar alarms unless security companies can verify the need for an officer; the policy is aimed at reducing the number of false alarms and allowing officers more time to focus on critical duties; more than 98 percent of all burglar alarms are false alarms; critics of the new policy fear that it will exacerbate safety conditions in a city already plagued by crime and slow police response times
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"Cop shops" in Texas help fight apartment crime
Residents in Texas apartment complexes have begun dedicating entire units to police officers so they have a place to rest, take a break, and fill out reports; the cop shops help minimize crime by keeping officers in parts of town where their presence is needed
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Sector Report for Friday, 19 August 2011: State / Local
This report contains the following stories.
* Law enforcement budget cuts strain California gang, drug task forces

* Maine counties to combine emergency dispatch services

* New Jersey police mergers will take time

* Gloucester, Mass. to set up emergency management department

* Police smartphones to tap into iris scan dataebase

* Police demonstrate newest law enforcement simulator

* Law enforcement Youth Academy inspires "next generation of leaders"

* Purdue helps Chicago prepare for disasters
Plus 5 additional stories
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Purdue helps Chicago prepare for disasters
To be better prepared for a major natural disaster or a terrorist attack, seventeen counties near Chicago, Illinois have banded together to create a disaster preparedness plan with the help of Purdue University and the University of Illinois, Chicago
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Phoenix police banned from sporting tattoos
In an effort to present a more professional image, an increasing number of police departments across the United States are requiring officers to cover up their tattoos; the Phoenix police department recently began requiring its officers to cover its tattoos, a move that has generated criticism due to the intense Arizona heat
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Arkansas farmers and ranchers crippled by natural disasters
This year’s series of natural disasters have crippled Arkansas’ farming and ranching sectors; the barrage of natural disasters including floods, droughts, and fires have resulted in more than half a billion dollars in losses for farmers in Arkansas
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Mississippi schools consider fingerprint scanners
A school district in Mississippi is considering installing biometric fingerprint scanners at its cafeterias to identify students; Tupelo School District officials are currently debating a proposal to use biometrics instead of the existing system which relies on student ID numbers for meals; one official argues that the new system would make lines flow more quickly and ultimately contribute to increased student performance
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