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May 11, 2004
Ground Zero Renewal Features Green Building, Open Space
GovPro Newsletter
Tuesday, May 11, 2004 Volume 3, Issue 18
The weekly GovPro Newsletter is produced by the editors of Government Product News and Government Procurement Journal.
Visit: http://www.govpro.coma news-, product-, and issue-driven site for all levels of government.
Sponsored by Denios
This Week Green Building for Ground Zero Rural Classes Plug In State Stages Bio Event Officials to Spot Bogus Degrees No Tax ID, No Federal Contract Police Use of GPS Questioned News of The Weird
Features
Ground Zero Renewal Features Green Building, Open Space
Plans for the rebirth of the World Trade Center site will move from "paper to steel" on Independence Day July 4th when ground will be broken on the Freedom Tower, New York Governor George Pataki announced. The governor detailed plans for more open spaces to revitalize Lower Manhattan, and a multi-million dollar advertising campaign to change the image of the area from tragedy to vitality. Speaking at an Association for a Better New York luncheon at the Ritz Carlton in Battery Park City, the governor said, "On July 4th, as we celebrate the birth of our democracy, we also celebrate the rebirth of our city."
Designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, Freedom Tower will be the world's tallest building. It will incorporate state-of-the-art life safety systems such as biological and chemical filters in the air supply system, extra strong fireproofing, and areas of refuge located on each floor. Enhanced emergency communication cables together with a dedicated stair and elevator are provided for use by firefighters, and the lobby will be clad in blast-resistant glazing.
The project team is committed to achieving green building certification. Wind turbines located atop the building are proposed to provide 20 percent of the energy for the 70 floors of office, mechanical, and functional space. A viewing platform would be located at the top of the building and above that would be a broadcast tower at 1,776 feet.
The building's orientation is optimized for wind harvesting as the building ascends and the form is designed to minimize pedestrian wind impact below. Freedom Tower will consume less energy than comparable buildings, and far less energy than the original WTC Twin Towers, the designers say.
For full text, visit: http://list.pentonmedia.com/cgi-bin3/DM/y/efo80D8eaH0JQA0BH2P0Ac
Denios
DENIOS manufactures the broadest selection of Spill Containment, Chemical Storage and related equipment available. Systems provide safe, compliant, and efficient storage of flammables, corrosives and other hazardous chemicals or materials. Visit: http://list.pentonmedia.com/cgi-bin3/DM/y/efo80D8eaH0JQA0BH2Q0Ad
Rural States Plug Into Classroom Technology
South Dakota and Oklahoma lead the way in providing students with computer and Internet access, according to a new national survey. But the survey is bad news in one regard: it shows that the United States lags far behind other developed nations in using technology to enrich education.
The state-by-state survey, Technology Counts, was conducted by the weekly trade paper Education Week and released Thursday (March 6).
For full text, visit: http://list.pentonmedia.com/cgi-bin3/DM/y/efo80D8eaH0JQA0BH2R0Ae
News
State Practices Bioterrorism Event
For the first time anywhere in the country a multi-agency field exercise to practice responses to bioterrorism takes place in southeastern Pennsylvania.
The two-day exercise, held May 10 and 11, started the way a real incident might begin - people playing the role of victims were situated at area hospitals. During the exercise, the FBI will interview 65 to 70 victims showing varying levels of symptoms related to exposure to a biological agent at 13 hospitals throughout the five southeastern Pennsylvania counties.
The results of these joint interviews should lead to field responses in at least two locations - a large public facility in Montgomery County at 10:00 pm May 10 and a large public facility in Philadelphia May 11.
This exercise is the culmination of a year long training series focusing on preparedness for a bioterrorism event that has included seminars, presentations and a variety of tabletop exercises, all of which are part of a multi-layered strategy to assist in enhancing the region's readiness to deal with weapons of mass destruction.
The field exercise, which was developed by the Philadelphia Division of the FBI with the assistance of the United States Attorney's Office, will follow up on the general scenario that began at an October 24, 2003 tabletop exercise at the Montgomery County Fire Academy.
Law enforcement, emergency management and public health agencies, fire departments, emergency responders, hospitals, private industry, and others will all participate in this multi-county training event with the ultimate goal of assessing and improving the region's ability to coordinate joint operations in mobilizing a response to these hazards.
Agencies that have participated in prior training sessions will have the opportunity to test their mobilization efforts and response protocols in the field during this staged event.
Source: Environmental News Service (ENS).
HR Officials Train to Identify Bogus College Degrees
The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) hosted a seminar during which approximately 200 hiring and program managers were educated on techniques they can use to identify bogus academic degrees presented by individuals to gain employment or promotion, and which have the potential to hinder public safety.
OPM Director Kay Coles James called the seminar an "important meeting for frontline officials" whose decisions on personnel affect all Americans, as well as the legitimacy of the federal civil service. The seminar was repeated on for another 200 individuals.
Tax Cheats Federal Contracts
Senator Norm Coleman (R-MN), Chairman of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, introduced bipartisan legislation with ranking member Senator Carl Levin (D-MI) that would require federal contractors to provide valid taxpayer identification numbers before they could be eligible to receive a federal contract.
The bill establishes the Central Contractor Registry within the Department of Defense. As part of the registration process, individuals and companies will be required to provide a taxpayer identification number and their consent to validate that number with the Internal Revenue Service and to provide their correct number if possible. In the past, the Department of Defense has not been able to comprehensively check the validity of the taxpayer identification numbers that all contractors provided.
"For too long tax cheats at the Department of Defense have used fake taxpayer identification numbers that could not be verified," says Coleman. "This legislation would close a $3 billion loophole."
Follow That Car?
A court in Nassau County, NY, is currently mulling a case in which a Nassau police officer installed a global positioning system (GPS) tracking device onto a car in 2002 and used it to gather information about the driver's whereabouts for nearly a month.
The car was driven by Richard D. Lacey, accused of six thefts, but the tracking device was installed without a court order. Lacey's attorney Bruce A. Barket requested that data obtained from the GPS device be disallowed as evidence on grounds that Lacey's privacy rights were infringed upon. Nassau prosecutors assert that a court order was unnecessary because Lacey's car was parked on a public street.
Nationwide, only a few cases of this nature are being considered; in 2003, the Washington state high court ruled that police officers in that state would need to obtain a warrant before they could place a GPS tracking device in a car. In February, a California judge ruled that prosecutors could use information obtained through GPS in the Scott Peterson murder case. Civil rights advocates such as Jared Feuer of the Suffolk chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union are alarmed about "the constant threat of surveillance," adding that there is currently nothing to prevent police from placing a GPS device on anyone's vehicle. Det. Edward Goller of the Nassau Electronics Bureau said at a hearing it took him about six minutes to affix a cigarette pack-sized GPS device to the car Lacey drove.
Source: The National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center (NLECTC).
News of the Weird: Bizarre but true stories about real people. http://list.pentonmedia.com/cgi-bin3/DM/y/efo80D8eaH0JQA0BH2S0Af
Links
Custom-designed Meyer snow plows fit exact vehicle frame and weight specifications for exceptional performance in all applications. Visit: http://list.pentonmedia.com/cgi-bin3/DM/y/efo80D8eaH0JQA0BH2T0Ag
Fargo Electronics - The World's Leader in Card Identity Solutions. Visit: http://list.pentonmedia.com/cgi-bin3/DM/y/efo80D8eaH0JQA0BH2U0Ah
Spacesaver offers cost-effective, space-efficient, value-added solutions for all your storage needs -- files, tools, equipment, weapons and more. Visit: http: www.spacesaver.com. (program link to go to this url: http://list.pentonmedia.com/cgi-bin3/DM/y/efo80D8eaH0JQA0BH2V0Ai
You may qualify for a FREE Magazine Subscription
Complimentary subscriptions to Government Product News, a product-driven resource, and Government PROcurement, editorial targeting the public sector purchasing professional are available to those who qualify.
To subscribe to Government Product News visit: http://r.pm0.net/s/c?ij.75qj.15.1jf8.5c17
To subscribe to Government Procurement visit: http://r.pm0.net/s/c?ij.75qj.16.1jf9.5c17
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GovPro Newsletter, 1300 E. 9th St., Cleveland, OH 44114-1503
Copyright 2004 Penton Media, Inc.
Tuesday, May 11, 2004 Volume 3, Issue 18
The weekly GovPro Newsletter is produced by the editors of Government Product News and Government Procurement Journal.
Visit: http://www.govpro.coma news-, product-, and issue-driven site for all levels of government.
Sponsored by Denios
This Week Green Building for Ground Zero Rural Classes Plug In State Stages Bio Event Officials to Spot Bogus Degrees No Tax ID, No Federal Contract Police Use of GPS Questioned News of The Weird
Features
Ground Zero Renewal Features Green Building, Open Space
Plans for the rebirth of the World Trade Center site will move from "paper to steel" on Independence Day July 4th when ground will be broken on the Freedom Tower, New York Governor George Pataki announced. The governor detailed plans for more open spaces to revitalize Lower Manhattan, and a multi-million dollar advertising campaign to change the image of the area from tragedy to vitality. Speaking at an Association for a Better New York luncheon at the Ritz Carlton in Battery Park City, the governor said, "On July 4th, as we celebrate the birth of our democracy, we also celebrate the rebirth of our city."
Designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, Freedom Tower will be the world's tallest building. It will incorporate state-of-the-art life safety systems such as biological and chemical filters in the air supply system, extra strong fireproofing, and areas of refuge located on each floor. Enhanced emergency communication cables together with a dedicated stair and elevator are provided for use by firefighters, and the lobby will be clad in blast-resistant glazing.
The project team is committed to achieving green building certification. Wind turbines located atop the building are proposed to provide 20 percent of the energy for the 70 floors of office, mechanical, and functional space. A viewing platform would be located at the top of the building and above that would be a broadcast tower at 1,776 feet.
The building's orientation is optimized for wind harvesting as the building ascends and the form is designed to minimize pedestrian wind impact below. Freedom Tower will consume less energy than comparable buildings, and far less energy than the original WTC Twin Towers, the designers say.
For full text, visit: http://list.pentonmedia.com/cgi-bin3/DM/y/efo80D8eaH0JQA0BH2P0Ac
Denios
DENIOS manufactures the broadest selection of Spill Containment, Chemical Storage and related equipment available. Systems provide safe, compliant, and efficient storage of flammables, corrosives and other hazardous chemicals or materials. Visit: http://list.pentonmedia.com/cgi-bin3/DM/y/efo80D8eaH0JQA0BH2Q0Ad
Rural States Plug Into Classroom Technology
South Dakota and Oklahoma lead the way in providing students with computer and Internet access, according to a new national survey. But the survey is bad news in one regard: it shows that the United States lags far behind other developed nations in using technology to enrich education.
The state-by-state survey, Technology Counts, was conducted by the weekly trade paper Education Week and released Thursday (March 6).
For full text, visit: http://list.pentonmedia.com/cgi-bin3/DM/y/efo80D8eaH0JQA0BH2R0Ae
News
State Practices Bioterrorism Event
For the first time anywhere in the country a multi-agency field exercise to practice responses to bioterrorism takes place in southeastern Pennsylvania.
The two-day exercise, held May 10 and 11, started the way a real incident might begin - people playing the role of victims were situated at area hospitals. During the exercise, the FBI will interview 65 to 70 victims showing varying levels of symptoms related to exposure to a biological agent at 13 hospitals throughout the five southeastern Pennsylvania counties.
The results of these joint interviews should lead to field responses in at least two locations - a large public facility in Montgomery County at 10:00 pm May 10 and a large public facility in Philadelphia May 11.
This exercise is the culmination of a year long training series focusing on preparedness for a bioterrorism event that has included seminars, presentations and a variety of tabletop exercises, all of which are part of a multi-layered strategy to assist in enhancing the region's readiness to deal with weapons of mass destruction.
The field exercise, which was developed by the Philadelphia Division of the FBI with the assistance of the United States Attorney's Office, will follow up on the general scenario that began at an October 24, 2003 tabletop exercise at the Montgomery County Fire Academy.
Law enforcement, emergency management and public health agencies, fire departments, emergency responders, hospitals, private industry, and others will all participate in this multi-county training event with the ultimate goal of assessing and improving the region's ability to coordinate joint operations in mobilizing a response to these hazards.
Agencies that have participated in prior training sessions will have the opportunity to test their mobilization efforts and response protocols in the field during this staged event.
Source: Environmental News Service (ENS).
HR Officials Train to Identify Bogus College Degrees
The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) hosted a seminar during which approximately 200 hiring and program managers were educated on techniques they can use to identify bogus academic degrees presented by individuals to gain employment or promotion, and which have the potential to hinder public safety.
OPM Director Kay Coles James called the seminar an "important meeting for frontline officials" whose decisions on personnel affect all Americans, as well as the legitimacy of the federal civil service. The seminar was repeated on for another 200 individuals.
Tax Cheats Federal Contracts
Senator Norm Coleman (R-MN), Chairman of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, introduced bipartisan legislation with ranking member Senator Carl Levin (D-MI) that would require federal contractors to provide valid taxpayer identification numbers before they could be eligible to receive a federal contract.
The bill establishes the Central Contractor Registry within the Department of Defense. As part of the registration process, individuals and companies will be required to provide a taxpayer identification number and their consent to validate that number with the Internal Revenue Service and to provide their correct number if possible. In the past, the Department of Defense has not been able to comprehensively check the validity of the taxpayer identification numbers that all contractors provided.
"For too long tax cheats at the Department of Defense have used fake taxpayer identification numbers that could not be verified," says Coleman. "This legislation would close a $3 billion loophole."
Follow That Car?
A court in Nassau County, NY, is currently mulling a case in which a Nassau police officer installed a global positioning system (GPS) tracking device onto a car in 2002 and used it to gather information about the driver's whereabouts for nearly a month.
The car was driven by Richard D. Lacey, accused of six thefts, but the tracking device was installed without a court order. Lacey's attorney Bruce A. Barket requested that data obtained from the GPS device be disallowed as evidence on grounds that Lacey's privacy rights were infringed upon. Nassau prosecutors assert that a court order was unnecessary because Lacey's car was parked on a public street.
Nationwide, only a few cases of this nature are being considered; in 2003, the Washington state high court ruled that police officers in that state would need to obtain a warrant before they could place a GPS tracking device in a car. In February, a California judge ruled that prosecutors could use information obtained through GPS in the Scott Peterson murder case. Civil rights advocates such as Jared Feuer of the Suffolk chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union are alarmed about "the constant threat of surveillance," adding that there is currently nothing to prevent police from placing a GPS device on anyone's vehicle. Det. Edward Goller of the Nassau Electronics Bureau said at a hearing it took him about six minutes to affix a cigarette pack-sized GPS device to the car Lacey drove.
Source: The National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center (NLECTC).
News of the Weird: Bizarre but true stories about real people. http://list.pentonmedia.com/cgi-bin3/DM/y/efo80D8eaH0JQA0BH2S0Af
Links
Custom-designed Meyer snow plows fit exact vehicle frame and weight specifications for exceptional performance in all applications. Visit: http://list.pentonmedia.com/cgi-bin3/DM/y/efo80D8eaH0JQA0BH2T0Ag
Fargo Electronics - The World's Leader in Card Identity Solutions. Visit: http://list.pentonmedia.com/cgi-bin3/DM/y/efo80D8eaH0JQA0BH2U0Ah
Spacesaver offers cost-effective, space-efficient, value-added solutions for all your storage needs -- files, tools, equipment, weapons and more. Visit: http: www.spacesaver.com. (program link to go to this url: http://list.pentonmedia.com/cgi-bin3/DM/y/efo80D8eaH0JQA0BH2V0Ai
You may qualify for a FREE Magazine Subscription
Complimentary subscriptions to Government Product News, a product-driven resource, and Government PROcurement, editorial targeting the public sector purchasing professional are available to those who qualify.
To subscribe to Government Product News visit: http://r.pm0.net/s/c?ij.75qj.15.1jf8.5c17
To subscribe to Government Procurement visit: http://r.pm0.net/s/c?ij.75qj.16.1jf9.5c17
******************************************************
If you would like to subscribe to this weekly newsletter for government professionals send a blank email to: mailto:GovPro_Subscribe@list.pentonmedia.com
If you would like to unsubscribe to the GovPro newsletter send a blank email to: mailto:GovPro_Unsubscribe@list.pentonmedia.com
GovPro Newsletter, 1300 E. 9th St., Cleveland, OH 44114-1503
Copyright 2004 Penton Media, Inc.
