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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.
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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New task force helps protect Port of Virginia
A new border security task force has been launched to help secure the Port of Virginia; the task force is comprised of ten officers and agents from a total of ten local, state, and federal agencies that will be responsible for securing the Port of Virginia against a variety of criminal acts including trade fraud, cargo theft, and the illegal smuggling of drugs, persons, currency, and weapons
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Dallas launches regional nuke detectors
The Dallas police will soon be participating in a regional radiological nuclear detection program that will help law enforcement officials detect any anomalies and help protect against any nuclear or radiological attacks
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Anthrax exposure prompts FBI investigation
Government health officials are currently investigating a case of anthrax exposure in Minnesota after tests confirmed that an individual hospitalized there had been infected with the dangerous bacteria; due to the deadly nature of anthrax and its use as a biological weapon, the FBI joined Minnesota health officials in investigating the matter
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San Francisco to install real-time surveillance on buses
Thanks to a $6 million DHS grant San Francisco’s MUNI buses will soon be equipped with a network of sophisticated high-tech video cameras that will allow the transit agency to view footage in real-time
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Emergency alerts for cell phones
Residents living near Austin, Texas can now receive important emergency notifications on their cell phones for free; with more and more individuals switching to cell phones and abandoning their land lines, emergency responders and government officials have been forced to adapt emergency warning systems to connect to cell phones instead
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DHS set to expand Secure Communities over local objections
To help put an end to state and local authorities’ objections over the controversial Secure Communities program, the director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced on Friday that the agency would end its memorandum of agreements with state governors “to avoid further confusion”; the move is designed to ease DHS’s efforts to expand the immigration program across the nation, despite the increasing criticism that the program has received
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The long view
More States Restrict 3D-Printed Firearms
For decades, making an untraceable firearm required specialized tools, technical expertise and hours of work. Today, it can start with a downloaded file and a consumer-grade 3D printer. At least six states this year have outlawed or imposed regulations on such guns.