What Is Back Pain? Fast Facts

What Is Back Pain? Fast Facts: "Fast Facts: An Easy-to-Read Series of Publications for the Public"

PandemicFlu.gov: Interim Guidance on Planning for the Use of Surgical Masks and Respirators in Health Care Settings during an Influenza Pandemic

PandemicFlu.gov: Interim Guidance on Planning for the Use of Surgical Masks and Respirators in Health Care Settings during an Influenza Pandemic: "the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has received numerous comments and inquiries regarding infection control recommendations that relate to surgical mask and respirator use (e.g., N-95 respirator"

Department of State to Introduce Passport Card

Department of State to Introduce Passport Card: "To meet the documentary requirements of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), the Department of State, in consultation with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), today announced and submitted for public comment a federal rule proposing the development of a card-format passport for international travel by U.S. citizens through land and sea ports of entry between the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda."

Sony Computer Entertainment America Announces Extensive Line Up Of Game Titles For Playstation®3

Sony Computer Entertainment America Announces Extensive Line Up Of Game Titles For Playstation®3: "Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) today announced its debut game titles and unveiled the online strategy for its highly anticipated PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3™) system, the company’s groundbreaking computer entertainment system which will be available in North America on November 17, 2006."

ATTENTION - FRAUDULENT EMAIL PURPORTED TO BE REPRESENTING CONGRESSIONAL INTERESTS

ATTENTION - FRAUDULENT EMAIL PURPORTED TO BE REPRESENTING CONGRESSIONAL INTERESTS The author advises the recipient of the email is to receive refund money from outstanding bills as sited by the U.S. Senate. The bills are based on loans and disbursement agreements signed between the U.S. government and governments of various debtor United Nation countries.

Drug Abuse:State Estimates of Past Year Methamphetamine Use

In the United States, methamphetamine abuse and trafficking have been spreading eastward over the past decade, and the number of methamphetamine laboratories seized by U.S. law enforcement agencies increased 25 percent between 2001 and 2004

Social Security Announces 3.3 Percent Benefit Increase

Monthly Social Security and Supplemental Security Income benefits for more than 53 million Americans will increase 3.3 percent in 2007, the Social Security Administration announced today.

Grant Notice: Crime Scene Tools, Forensic Techniques, and Technologies Grant Opportunity

The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) is the research, development, and evaluation agency of the U.S. Department of Justice and a component of the Office of Justice Programs (OJP). NIJ provides objective, independent, evidence-based knowledge and tools to enhance the administration of justice and public safety

Grant Notice: Crime Scene Tools, Forensic Techniques, and Technologies Grant Opportunity

The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) is the research, development, and evaluation agency of the U.S. Department of Justice and a component of the Office of Justice Programs (OJP). NIJ provides objective, independent, evidence-based knowledge and tools to enhance the administration of justice and public safety

White Collar Crime: Operation Targets Bankruptcy Fraud

As part of an ongoing effort to maintain the continued integrity of the U.S. bankruptcy system, the FBI and other federal agencies announced on Wednesday that 78 defendants had been named in bankruptcy fraud cases across the nation in the past two months.

CDC Urges Hospitals and Healthcare Facilities to Increase Efforts to Reduce Drug-Resistant Infections

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) today released new guidelines outlining strategies to prevent the spread of drug-resistant infections in healthcare settings. The new guidelines seek to halt the rising rates of drug-resistant infections by calling on hospitals and other healthcare facilities to make comprehensive infection control programs a priority and to take aggressive steps to reduces rates of drug resistance.

FAA Safety Organization Takes Off With ISO 9001

On October 16, the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Aviation Safety organization was recognized as the first federal agency to achieve certification to the prestigious International Organization for Standardization “ISO 9001:2000” quality management standard of a single corporate management system that covers multiple services, including national and international sites encompassing 6,462 employees.

FirstGov.gov Adds Two New Search Capabilities

FirstGov.gov Adds Two New Search Capabilities: "Two key features designed to allow citizens to locate news and images across federal government sources are now on FirstGov.gov, the government's official web portal, the U.S. General Services Administration today announced. "

New Federal Publication: Interest-Only Mortgage Payments and Payment-Option ARMs — Are They for You?

New Federal Publication: Interest-Only Mortgage Payments and Payment-Option ARMs — Are They for You?: "The federal bank, thrift, and credit union regulatory agencies today announced the publication of a new resource that can help consumers make more informed choices when considering nontraditional mortgage loans. Interest-Only Mortgage Payments and Payment-Option ARMs — Are They for You? features a glossary of lending terms, a mortgage shopping worksheet, and a list of additional information sources. This information can help consumers, whether buying a house or refinancing a mortgage, decide if an interest-only mortgage (an I-O mortgage) or an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) with the option to make a minimum payment (a payment-option ARM) is right for them. "

Workers' Compensation Premium Fraud: California Arrests of Four Suspects in Alleged $39 Million Workers' Compensation Premium Fraud Case

Workers' Compensation Premium Fraud: California Arrests of Four Suspects in Alleged $39 Million Workers' Compensation Premium Fraud Case: "Investigation exposed what is likely the largest amount of fraud committed against an insurance company in California; one suspect still at large"

Los Angeles Area Real Estate Scam: California Announces Felony Arrests...

Los Angeles Area Real Estate Scam:Attorney General Lockyer Announces Felony Arrests in Los Angeles Area Real Estate Scam That Takes Homes from Elderly, Infirm: "Attorney General Bill Lockyer today announced the felony arrests of two Monterey Park residents in connection with a “squatter” scam in which the defendants victimized elderly and other homeowners by unlawfully taking possession of roughly 100 houses, and subsequently renting out the property and keeping the income for themselves. "

IRS Formalizes Appeals Arbitration Process

IRS Formalizes Appeals Arbitration Process: "The Internal Revenue Service announced today that the Appeals arbitration process is no longer a pilot program but part of business as usual at the IRS. In arbitration the IRS and the taxpayer agree to have a third party make a decision about a factual issue that will be binding on both of them."

Scam Alert:: FEMA Urges Residents to Beware of Scam Artists

Scam Alert:: FEMA Urges Residents to Beware of Scam Artists: "State and federal disaster officials warn that every disaster has its share of con artists trying to take advantage of disaster victims, so residents of Lake and Vanderburgh counties should be careful who they let into their homes or hire to make repairs. "

HUD Awards $47 Million In Grants To Help Families Across The U.S. Get Job-Training And Employment

HUD Awards $47 Million In Grants To Help Families Across The U.S. Get Job-Training And Employment: "U.S. Housing and Urban Development Deputy Secretary Roy A. Bernardi announced today that public housing agencies in 48 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico will receive $47,494,003 in funding to help low-income people get job training, employment and homeownership counseling. "

Reverse Mortgages: New Ginnie Mae Mortgage-Backed Security Could Help Lower Costs of Reverse Mortgages for Older Americans

Reverse Mortgages: New Ginnie Mae Mortgage-Backed Security Could Help Lower Costs of Reverse Mortgages for Older Americans: "Ginnie Mae today announced it is creating a Home Equity Conversion Mortgage Mortgage-Backed Security (HECM MBS). The HECM MBS will allow approved issuers to securitize and sell their Federal Housing Administration (FHA) insured home equity conversion mortgage loans in the form of a Ginnie Mae MBS. HECMs are commonly referred to as reverse mortgages, and are designed to allow older homeowners to convert the equity in their homes to monthly streams of income or lines of credit"

Reverse Mortgages: New Ginnie Mae Mortgage-Backed Security Could Help Lower Costs of Reverse Mortgages for Older Americans

Reverse Mortgages: New Ginnie Mae Mortgage-Backed Security Could Help Lower Costs of Reverse Mortgages for Older Americans: "Ginnie Mae today announced it is creating a Home Equity Conversion Mortgage Mortgage-Backed Security (HECM MBS). The HECM MBS will allow approved issuers to securitize and sell their Federal Housing Administration (FHA) insured home equity conversion mortgage loans in the form of a Ginnie Mae MBS. HECMs are commonly referred to as reverse mortgages, and are designed to allow older homeowners to convert the equity in their homes to monthly streams of income or lines of credit"

Reverse Mortgages: New Ginnie Mae Mortgage-Backed Security Could Help Lower Costs of Reverse Mortgages for Older Americans

Reverse Mortgages: New Ginnie Mae Mortgage-Backed Security Could Help Lower Costs of Reverse Mortgages for Older Americans: "Ginnie Mae today announced it is creating a Home Equity Conversion Mortgage Mortgage-Backed Security (HECM MBS). The HECM MBS will allow approved issuers to securitize and sell their Federal Housing Administration (FHA) insured home equity conversion mortgage loans in the form of a Ginnie Mae MBS. HECMs are commonly referred to as reverse mortgages, and are designed to allow older homeowners to convert the equity in their homes to monthly streams of income or lines of credit"

Reverse Mortgages: New Ginnie Mae Mortgage-Backed Security Could Help Lower Costs of Reverse Mortgages for Older Americans

Reverse Mortgages: New Ginnie Mae Mortgage-Backed Security Could Help Lower Costs of Reverse Mortgages for Older Americans: "Ginnie Mae today announced it is creating a Home Equity Conversion Mortgage Mortgage-Backed Security (HECM MBS). The HECM MBS will allow approved issuers to securitize and sell their Federal Housing Administration (FHA) insured home equity conversion mortgage loans in the form of a Ginnie Mae MBS. HECMs are commonly referred to as reverse mortgages, and are designed to allow older homeowners to convert the equity in their homes to monthly streams of income or lines of credit"

Fannie Mae Announces Fourth Quarter Common and Preferred Stock Dividends

Fannie Mae Announces Fourth Quarter Common and Preferred Stock Dividends; Company Maintains Common Stock Dividend of Twenty-Six Cents Per Share: "The Board of Directors of Fannie Mae (FNM/NYSE) today declared a fourth quarter dividend on the company's common stock of twenty-six cents ($0.26) per share, unchanged from the third quarter of 2006. The Board also declared dividends on the company's preferred stock in accordance with the terms of the preferred stock. "

DEA Helps Teachers Help Students to “Think Twice” About Drugs

DEA Helps Teachers Help Students to “Think Twice” About Drugs: "The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is providing a new tool to educators to help their students “just think twice” about the dangers of drugs. A new teachers’ guide based on DEA’s teen anti-drug website www.justthinktwice.com, has been published by DEA and is available to teachers for classroom use. The guide contains lesson plans and recommended activities for middle and high school students and covers a wide array of topics related to the consequences of drugs. The curriculum was previewed and vetted by educators who felt that it was a dynamic, hands-on approach which would help teach America’s youth about the dangers of drugs."

Earnings of Second-generation Americans

Earnings of Second-generation Americans: "In 2004, about 4.5 million second-generation workers aged 25 to 54 years and 60.8 million third-and-higher-generation workers in the same age group were employed full-time, year-round. "

Earnings of Second-generation Americans

Earnings of Second-generation Americans: "In 2004, about 4.5 million second-generation workers aged 25 to 54 years and 60.8 million third-and-higher-generation workers in the same age group were employed full-time, year-round. "

Science-Based Substance Abuse Prevention Planning System

Science-Based Substance Abuse Prevention Planning System: "The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) today announced the availability of Communities That Care (CTC) -- a science-based substance abuse prevention planning system for use by States and communities to help prevent drug and alcohol abuse before it starts. "

Adoption: Deadline to Apply for Accreditation or Approval Under the Hague Adoption Convention Set For November 17, 2006

Adoption: Deadline to Apply for Accreditation or Approval Under the Hague Adoption Convention Set For November 17, 2006: "Today's Federal Register announces the establishment of the transitional application deadline (TAD) for November 17, 2006. The TAD is the date by which adoption service providers in the United States need to submit an application if they wish to be accredited, temporarily accredited, or approved to handle Hague Convention adoptions when the Convention enters into force for the United States. The State Department's website at www.travel.state.gov links to the TAD notice in the Federal Register . "

IRS Announces Online Payment Agreement Application

IRS Announces Online Payment Agreement Application -Many individuals who owe delinquent federal income taxes will now be able to apply online for a payment agreement, the IRS announced today. The Online Payment Agreement (OPA) application, now available on IRS.gov, provides an easy way to voluntarily resolve tax liabilities.

IRS Grants Limited Tax Relief for Victims of Snowstorm in New York

IRS Grants Limited Tax Relief for Victims of Snowstorm in New York: "The Internal Revenue Service today announced limited tax relief for taxpayers in four New York counties that were struck by snowstorms beginning Oct. 12, 2006."

Drug-Free Work Week - Oct. 16 through 22

Drug-Free Work Week - Oct. 16 through 22: "U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao today launched the first Drug-Free Work Week, Oct. 16 through 22, and renewed a collaborative effort between the Department of Labor and members of its Drug-Free Workplace Alliance. "

Job Fair Scheduled for November 9 in Virginia - National Veterans Employment Summit

Job Fair Scheduled for November 9 in Virginia - National Veterans Employment Summit: "Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao today invited employers and hiring executives from across the country to participate in the first-ever National Veterans Employment Summit to be held Nov. 9 at the Scope Arena in Norfolk, Va."

Grant Opportunity: Lebanon Education Assistance for Development

Grant Opportunity: Lebanon Education Assistance for Development: "The United States Agency for International Development’s Mission to Lebanon (USAID/Lebanon) invites applications for a Cooperative Agreement to address the strengthening of public education systems in areas of greatest need in the: (1) North Lebanon Governorate, (2) Beqaa, Mount Lebanon and Beirut Governorates, and (3) South Lebanon and Nabatiyeh Governorates. "

New Love and Kisses Stamps Debut in 2007 - Seal Love Letters With a Kiss

New Love and Kisses Stamps Debut in 2007 - Seal Love Letters With a Kiss: "Love and the sweet smell of chocolate filled the air today during an exclusive event at Hershey's Chicago. The U.S. Postal Service unveiled the 2007 With Love and Kisses stamp, to be released next January."

California Announces Final Decision to Expand Low Cost Automobile Insurance Program to Monterey, Sonoma, Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties

California Announces Final Decision to Expand Low Cost Automobile Insurance Program to Monterey, Sonoma, and Ventura Counties: "Insurance Commissioner Garamendi today announced his decision to expand the California Low Cost Automobile Insurance program to Monterey, Sonoma, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. The announcement follows his final determination that the program, which provides eligible low income good drivers with state-required liability insurance for under $400 a year, is necessary and desirable in those counties. Rates are set in each county so that premiums are sufficient to cover losses and expenses incurred in each county. "

How can I get rid of SPAM mail?

How can I get rid of SPAM mail?: "In the fight against spam, Attorney General Lockyer filed the first consumer protection lawsuit on behalf of the state against a California company and two owners/operators for sending unsolicited, commercial emails in violation of state law.
Since 1998, California has prohibited individuals and companies from sending commercial email to those who have neither requested nor consented to receive the email, or with whom they do not have an existing business or personal relationship, unless: The sender has either established a toll-free telephone number that recipients can call to stop future emails or included a valid email address that recipients can contact to stop future emails; and The subject line of the email begins with the four characters 'ADV:' designating it as commercial communication, or 'ADV:ADLT' designating it as sexual, adult material.
"

President Declares Emergency Federal Aid For New York

President Declares Emergency Federal Aid For New York: "WASHINGTON - The head of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today announced that federal aid to has been made available to supplement state and local response efforts in the area struck by a lake effect snowstorm on October 12, 2006, and continuing."

FBI Releases its 2005 Statistics on Hate Crime

FBI Releases its 2005 Statistics on Hate Crime: "Washington, D.C.—According to statistics released today by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, 7,163 criminal incidents involving 8,380 offenses were reported in 2005 as a result of bias toward a particular race, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity/national origin, or physical or mental disability. Hate Crime Statistics, 2005, published by the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting Program, includes data from hate crime reports submitted by city, county, state, tribal, and federal law enforcement agencies throughout the Nation."