Practical Government Information Tips

New Civil Law Self Help Legal Center Opens

2009-12-09T13:22:00.001-08:00

FROM THE LAS VEGAS SUN:

By Jeff German (contact)
Monday, Nov. 30, 2009 2 a.m.
Regional Justice Center

In a period of economic misfortune, the opening next month of a civil law self-help center at the county courthouse is perfect timing.

The center, set to open its doors Dec. 7 on the well-traveled first floor of the Regional Justice Center, is designed to guide people representing themselves through the court system.
And from the looks of things, once the public becomes aware of its services, the center could become the most popular place in the 17-story courthouse.

“We’re really responding to the needs of the community,” says LaDeana Gamble, an assistant Clark County Court administrator. “What we’ve seen is an increase in evictions and homes in foreclosure and people not knowing the status of where they stand.”

More than 70 percent of the people going to Justice Court, for example, end up responding themselves to such things as evictions or legal actions taken against them by payday loan companies, Gamble says. Many of those people have never had to deal with civil litigation.
The center will help them learn how the system works so they can better deal with their legal problems without a lawyer, she says.

The County Commission approved a contract in August to use court fees to pay the nonprofit Legal Aid of Southern Nevada $273,830 a year to staff the center with a lawyer and four bilingual paralegals. A mediator also will be on hand to help people explore resolutions outside the courtroom.

Officials plan to display pamphlets and legal forms at the center and even offer advice on proper courtroom protocol — things people need to say and do when they go before a judge.
Computers and work stations will be set up for litigants to use to view and file electronic court documents. That’s important because District Court is switching to mandatory electronic filing in February.

Officials also plan to launch a self-help Web site to allow people to fill out legal forms over the Internet before they bring them to the Regional Justice Center for filing. The back room of the courthouse self-help center will be reserved for people to discuss their personal cases with paralegals. Eventually private attorneys will be asked to volunteer to go over cases brought to the center.

Gamble says the self-help concept is meant to provide average citizens with legal information as simply as possible, in a way they can understand.

It is not a new concept. It has been done in other cities and is patterned here after a center in Family Court that has been operating with success for several years. Gamble believes the courthouse center will bring relief to the overworked clerk’s office in Justice Court, which has been forced to deal with questions about civil litigation from the public beyond its regular filing duties. But the new center also should speed up due process in the court system for litigants, Gamble says. Showing people how to file documents correctly will reduce delays and bring faster resolutions to their cases. In the end, everyone wins.
Jeff German is the Sun’s senior investigative reporter.

CDC Swine Flu Website

2009-04-30T13:53:00.000-07:00

Breaking Swine Flu news at CDC's website:

http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/index.htm

Mortgage Fraud Update

2009-03-11T12:12:00.001-07:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: March 11, 2009
CONTACT: Edie Cartwright
(775) 684 1189

ATTORNEY GENERAL ANNOUNCES FORMER
LAS VEGAS RADIO TALK SHOW HOST ARRESTED
IN MORTGAGE RESCUE FRAUD SCHEME

Las Vegas, NV – Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto announced today that Jack Ferm, a former talk show host in Las Vegas, Nevada, has been arrested on two counts of felony theft and related charges in connection with the operation of U.S. Justice Foundation, a mortgage rescue scam.

“Mr. Ferm’s conduct warrants prosecution to the fullest extent of the law,” said Attorney General Masto. “These schemes will not be tolerated in our state.”

Ferm is the President and owner of U.S. Justice Foundation, a document preparation business which misled customers into believing his service would stop ongoing foreclosures on their homes without the need to retain an attorney. His company web site indicates he has a participated in successful litigation against numerous large corporations.

The Attorney General’s office has received numerous complaints about misrepresentations made by Ferm, including several clients who paid thousands of dollars to the U.S. Justice Foundation with no legal documents having been prepared or filed on their behalf. In many cases, Ferm required the victims to pay a monthly charge in addition to the original retainer for the duration of the litigation.

During a hearing in Federal Court last week, Ferm stated that the U.S. Justice Foundation has closed its doors and will not be accepting new clients.

Ferm was moderator of the show “Straight Talk” broadcast on the radio station KKVV 1060 from 1994 through 2003.

Anyone who has information regarding this case should contact the Attorney General’s Office at 486-3777 in Las Vegas or 684-1180 in Carson City.

The Steps to Mortgage Remodification

2009-02-05T08:55:00.001-08:00

I can count how many people have asked me about how to remodify existing crappy mortgages and negotiate with the banks for loans with better rates, but then I only have two hands to count on. Here's what I tell them.

The steps to loan re-modification:

1. Contact a non-profit HUD approved Housing Counseling agency by phone. These services are free, regardless of income. There should never be a charge for Govt. approved housing counseling. And there should never be a charge for loan remodification negotiations. You can do this process yourself without a 3rd party agency by following these steps. For a complete list of non-profits specializing in housing counseling visit the following link

2. Explain your mortgage situation over the phone to the scheduler at the counseling service. The agency will mail you paperwork that you must complete and mail back in order to make an appointment.

3. Once the paperwork is received, the agency will review the completed documents and contact you by telephone to schedule your appointment (generally one week later)

4. On the day of the appointment, bring all bank statements, mortgage papers, etc., and whatever else you are instructed to bring. (keep in mind that appointments are running about 30 days out.)

5. On the day of the appointment the Housing Counselor will look over your financials, explain your options for obtaining a better loan, and attempt to contact and speak with someone at your mortgage company. They will also ask the mortgage company which programs are available for refinancing and remodification, and will explain these to you.

6. Usually, the mortgage company will have you submit via fax some bank statements, paycheck stubs and a hardship letter, which basically explains what life experiences you are facing that will prevent you from continuing to make payments on your current mortgage.

7. Contact the mortgage company to make sure that they received the necessary paperwork to begin reviewing your application for a loan remodification.

8. When dealing with the mortgage company it is important to document everything that you are told in writing (email/letter) and over the phone. Include the time and date of the call, the name of the person you spoke with, what they said, and the issue that you called about. Keep this list somewhere handy by the telephone, along with your loan documents.

9. Keep in mind that it takes about 60 days for the mortgage company to review your paperwork and look over your re-modification application. They may try contacting you to question you about your financials, so be sure to give them every available contact number so that they can get in touch with you.

10. Beware of letters or phone calls by other companies offering remodification. These letters may appear to be from your mortgage company, but in fact are from other organizations seeking to remodify your existing mortgage for huge fees. These letters can be hard to discern. When reviewing any communication, it is important to call your mortgage company at the number given on your bill, or that you normally use, before responding to any communication or giving personal information on the phone. Remember, the mortgage company already has your personal information, but the amount that you borrowed on your original loan is public information and sometimes used to fool you into giving out personal information.

11. If for some reason, your mortgage company does not return your calls/letters/emails you may contact the following agencies and file complaints: Nevada Mortgage Lending Division, Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, Nevada Financial Institutions Division , Office of the Comptroller of Currency, United States Department of Treasury, and the Federal Trade Commission. It is always a good idea to mention RESPA (Real Estate Protection Act) in any contact that you have with the mortgage company. RESPA states that the mortgage company basically has several weeks to return your calls and resolve a particular issue. Be sure to include your log of attempts at contact with the mortgage company if they are giving you a hard time.

12. After about 90 days, your loan remodification will either be accepted or denied. If your remodification is accepted you will receive a packet (by FedEx or UPS). The packet will contain paperwork regarding the terms of your new loan. Read the paperwork carefully. If the remodification terms are acceptable, sign the paperwork and return the envelope with instructions given.

13. Continue to follow up with the mortgage company until you make your first payment under the terms of the new loan remodification. Follow up with every communication you receive from your mortgage company, including letters stating that your account may be overdue. Continue to document any communication regarding your mortgage to use in any future communications.

14. Attend local attorney Robert Massi's free lecture on Tuesday the 24th of February at 6 p.m. at the Paseo Verde Library where he will be speaking about this very topic. 280 S. Green Valley Parkway, Henderson. Call 870-2626 to register for this program.

Cha Ching! Government Bargains!

2008-12-08T10:05:00.000-08:00

Looking for a bargain? Check out USA.gov’s Government Sales and Auctions website, where you can find items for sale from Federal government Surplus and seized property sales, state and local surplus property sales, and items for sale in agency auctions. Here are some the categories of used government goods that you can bid on or purchase cars, trucks, real estate, houses, buildings, land, computers, furniture, tools, household goods, jewelry and much more!

ATTORNEY GENERAL ANNOUNCES ARRESTS

2008-11-04T10:20:00.001-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: November 4, 2008

ATTORNEY GENERAL ANNOUNCES ARRESTS
IN MORTGAGE LOAN SCAM AGAINST SENIOR CITIZEN

Las Vegas, NV— Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto, announced today the arrests of Roxanne Lynette McCoy and Shanease Renee Bauman, employees of Proserve Mortgage.

The arrests were made in connection with an alleged scheme involving the submission of forged loan application documents to a bank for a mortgage loan, after being informed by the victim, Jeri Cooper, age 69, that she could not afford the loan and did not want to complete the loan application process. A third suspect, Laticia Renee Carter, also a Proserve Mortgage employee, remains at large.

The State alleges the defendants forged the elderly victim’s signature on several loan application documents and fraudulently submitted the loan for funding to the lender in order to collect a commission on the loan. The victim had expressly told the defendants that she could not afford the monthly payments and did not wish to complete the loan application process after learning of the payment terms. The State alleges that, as a result, the elderly victim is being held responsible for payment of the loan and now faces possible foreclosure.

“Mortgage related crimes affect everyone in the community and we intend to prosecute these aggressively,” said Attorney General Masto. “In this particular case, the victim is a senior citizen. Protecting Nevada’s seniors is a priority for my administration.”

Defendants Carter, McCoy and Bauman are each charged with multiple felonies including: one (1) count of Forgery, one (1) count of Obtaining Signature by False Pretenses, one (1) count of Theft and one (1) count of Mortgage Lending Fraud. The initial appearance in Justice Court for Bauman and McCoy is set for December 3 at 7:45 am in Las Vegas Justice Court Department 10.

The case was filed by prosecutors assigned to the Attorney General’s Mortgage Fraud Task Force, which was created by Attorney General Masto in early 2008 to address mortgage fraud scams throughout Nevada. The task force combines the resources of several Attorney General Bureaus, including the Bureau of Criminal Justice and the Bureau of Consumer Protection. It works closely with other State agencies including the Mortgage Lending Division to investigate and prosecute mortgage fraud crimes in Nevada.

The charges against the named individuals are merely allegations. The Defendants are presumed innocent until or unless proven otherwise in a court of law.

Consumers who wish to report mortgage fraud are asked to contact the Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Protection in Las Vegas at (702) 486-3194 to obtain a complaint form. Consumers with internet access may also obtain a Consumer Complaint Form, as well as other consumer protection and contact information, on the Attorney General’s website at https://webmail.hdpl.org/owa/redir.aspx?C=a1aa0f3e6e184c33b19c73176561cf7e&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.ag.state.nv.us%2f.

ATTORNEY GENERAL SUPPORTS CRITICAL EFFORTS TO IMPROVE NEVADA HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION RATE

2008-10-29T16:27:00.000-07:00

Reno, NV- Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto today recognized the critical efforts of the statewide Ready for Life movement to increase the number of youth graduating from Nevada high schools with a strong and successful connection to the job market by the age of 25.

“Young people are the key to our future. Our community leaders should be commended for working collaboratively to develop a statewide action plan to improve Nevada's graduation rate and help ensure our youth are ‘ready for life!’”

Masto underscored the urgency of the movement with the following facts:

· Currently, only 62 percent of Nevada’s youth graduate high school on time, the worst graduation statistics in the U.S.
· Only 10% of youth entering high school graduate with a four year degree. This is a major concern for all Nevadans, with significant personal, economic, social, and community implications.
· Research finds that high school dropouts earn less, pay fewer taxes, and are more likely to collect welfare and turn to a life of crime than those who graduate from high school.
· High school dropouts are 3 ½ times more likely than high school graduates to be arrested and more than 8 times as likely to be incarcerated.
· Throughout the country, 68% of state prison inmates have not received a high school diploma. Yet, according to research, a 10% increase in graduation rates has historically been shown to reduce murder and assault rates by approximately 20%.

More information about Nevada Public Education Foundation’s Ready for Life movement is available at https://webmail.hdpl.org/owa/redir.aspx?C=57736f48940840f28b60ff9f958e57d1&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.readyforlifenv.org%2f.

A Message From Congressman Porter to the Citizens of Nevada -- 3rd District Nevada

2008-09-30T14:06:00.000-07:00

On Monday September 29, 2008 the House of Representatives voted on H.R. 3997, the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008. This legislation failed to pass the House by a vote of 205 to 228. I joined 204 of my colleagues in voting in favor of this important legislation intended to stem one of the greatest economic challenges our nation has ever faced. I understand that many of you are angry at Washington and Wall Street for this crisis. I also understand that many of you are fearful about your own economic security and are feeling the pain of this economic uncertainty. Please let me take this opportunity to explain how we got to this critical point and my reasons for supporting the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008. This crisis began with the bursting of the housing bubble and high default rates on subprime and adjustable rate mortgages, beginning in approximately 2005-2006. Once housing prices started to drop in 2006-2007, in many parts of the country, especially in Nevada, refinancing became difficult. Subsequently, defaults and foreclosure activity increased dramatically, during 2007 nearly 1.3 million American housing properties were subject to foreclosure, up over 75 percent from 2006. In Nevada, we are still experiencing the highest rate of foreclosures in the country. Clearly, Nevadans are hurting and need immediate relief. This housing crisis has in turn affected mortgage lenders that retained credit risk and other financial institutions. As of July 17, 2008, major banks and other financial institutions around the world have reported losses of over $435 billion. Corporate, individual and institutional investors holding mortgage backed securities and collateralized debt obligations have experienced significant losses as the value of the underlying mortgage assets declined. As various institutions default or lose the ability to function as independent economic actors, other sectors of the economy suffer, especially small businesses. As a matter of fact, I have a friend that just shared with me the pain her small business is facing. She went to her bank to make a deposit so she could pay her bills and the next day her bank closed its doors. She lost tens of thousands of dollars, more than half of her deposit in one day's time because of the bank failure. She is now struggling to make her payroll and pay her bills to keep her business thriving. Most recently, Bear Sterns, Lehman Brothers, Merrill Lynch, Washington Mutual, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and AIG have become casualties of this economic crisis. In situations like this, it is my duty and responsibility as a Congressman to take action. That is why I was elected to Congress. I was elected to represent my constituents in times of crisis and uncertainty and to make difficult votes like this. When I took the oath of office, I promised to do what I thought was best, especially on days like yesterday to protect Nevada and my country and that is exactly what I did. Beyond that, I believe it is my responsibility to find out what went wrong, when and then to hold those individuals responsible with criminal, civil or legislative actions.The economic indicators show that we are on the verge of a national and international financial collapse. I believe the time for leadership is now which is why I supported this legislation. I am convinced that this was the right thing to do for Nevada and our country. I voted to protect taxpayers and to stabilize our economy.I have received hundreds of calls in opposition to the original bill, which I also opposed. The original bill was irresponsible and a blank check to Treasury. I also fought hard to eliminate provisions the Democrats were insisting on such as creating a slush fund for ACORN and provisions allowing bankruptcy judges to reduce mortgage principal under the guise of helping those at risk of foreclosure. Although the final version was not perfect, this legislation protects taxpayers, eliminates golden parachutes, puts those responsible on the hook, and includes my legislation calling for an investigative commission. While my legislation would have gone further in providing recommendations designed to guard against future collapses within our financial markets, I believe that this is a good step in preventing future challenges like we face today. My legislation called for a Special Commission to investigate the collapse and recovery of our financial markets and related agencies. It would be an independent commission to explore circumstances surrounding these failures including the extent of regulatory preparedness for an immediate response to the situation and provide recommendations designed to guard against future collapses within our financial markets. I think it is morally reprehensible what the mismanagement and greed on Wall Street has done to the American people and to our economy. I am angry with Congress for allowing such drastic and continual cuts in regulation. History will show that Congress cut, cut, cut for year’s protections put in place after the Great Depression which were there to protect American's from another depression. I am angry with the Administration that their checks and balances did not act or catch this before we were headed to such a crisis. I also believe some families made poor decisions and got themselves into mortgages and loans they could not afford. All of these circumstances created a perfect storm.So, what's next? We need to roll up our sleeves and work together. Congress must return to work as soon as possible and lay aside the personal and the political attacks and differences. We must rise up together and come to a solution. I firmly believe that we can. I believe we can bring our country together and as American's come together in this time of need. The politics of blame and personality have gotten us here over the years – you can look back and blame Nixon, Carter, Clinton and Bush. We must lay these politics aside and find a solution.Let's stand up as Americans and work together on the business of healing our nation. Again, I believe that the right vote was a yes vote and a no vote was the easy vote. We need true leadership in these trying times and that is why I voted yes on this bill.

Money Market Investments To Be Insured by Fed

2008-09-20T13:29:00.000-07:00

Is your retirement savings in Money Market Mutual Funds? Does your investment company participate in the U.S. Treasury's program? Perhaps it is time to contact them and find out.

Some retirement plans are NOT insured by the FDIC. But the U.S. Treasury announced Friday it would insure up to $50 billion in money-market mutual fund investments at financial companies that pay a fee to participate in the program. The initiative, which lasts for a year, will guarantee that the funds' value does not fall below the standard $1 a share.

Money Market Funds (not to be confused with Money Market Bank Accounts) are a form of Mutual Fund Investment and are typically a safe retirement investment popular with American consumers and companies alike, but scared consumers have cashed out these investments and these redemptions has severely strained fund families and global financial markets.

To get more information about Money Market Mutual Funds and the bail out read Friday's article from the CNN Website:

http://money.cnn.com/2008/09/19/markets/money_markets/index.htm?eref=ib_topstories

Moving?

2008-09-09T16:28:00.000-07:00

Then get Your Move Packet From USA.gov! This trio of FREE brochures can help protect your possessions when you move. Know how to pick a reputable mover, find the right level of insurance, and use the handy checklist!

AND DON'T FORGET to check out the out the Department of Transportation's Protect Your Move website where you can view complaints against companies, get moving tips, and find state and local resources that will assist you with your move.

Convert Your Landscaping -- Get Money!!!

2008-08-23T14:17:00.000-07:00

The City of Henderson announced a pilot program to help City homeowners to convert grass yards to more water efficient landscaping. As a part of the SNWA Water Smart Landscapes Rebate Program, every square foot of turf that Henderson residents convert to water efficient landscaping, is now eligble for a $1.50 per square foot rebate, and a low interest loan is available to pay for the costs of a conversion.

For more information about the program and contacts visit the City of Henderson Press Release entitled City of Henderson Offers Turf Removal Loan Pilot Program

City of Henderson National Night Out

2008-07-26T12:46:00.000-07:00

What: National Night Out
When: Tuesday, 8/5/2008 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Where: Henderson Events Plaza

More info: National Night Out is an annual event held by police departments across the country. The City of Henderson’s Police Department and Community Relations Unit will be hosting this informative educational and fun community event. Learn about crime and even more important about prevention of crime and the importance of getting to know your neighbors. 2008 will mark The City of Henderson’s 15th year of participation in National Night Out.

There will be: Crime Prevention Information -- Henderson Fire Department Exhibits Henderson Police Units Demonstrations -- Live Entertainment by Sin City Surfers -- Kids Fun-Make & Take projects by Home Depot & Mad Science -- Free Vin Etching

Refreshments: Hot Dogs, Chips & Soda provided by the Eldorado Casino Additional refreshments provided by Dunkin Donuts and Unilivera -- Free Ice Cream!!!

Bring the entire family no one is too young or too old to learn, and still have fun. Admission is FREE! Henderson Events Plaza 200 South Water Street in the Water Street District 702.267.5100 for more information

American Recipes

2008-07-17T18:04:00.001-07:00

American Recipes

Try these classic recipes from USA.gov. American cooking reflects the great diversity of our country. Try some of these classic American recipes today. To see the full list USA.gov's recipe page

Here's some you might know:

Mamie Eisenhower's Million Dollar Fudge
White House Chef's Favorite Recipes
Senate Bean Soup Mrs. Truman's Mac & Cheese
George Washington's Cranberry Pudding
Laura Bush's Hot Chocolate
Senator McConnell's Kentucky Recipes
Senator Mikulski's Favorite Crab Cakes

FBI FRAUD ALERT!!!

2008-06-27T13:26:00.000-07:00

Are you about to cash a check from an item you sold on
the Internet, such as a car, boat, jewelry, etc?

􀂙 Is it the result of communicating with someone by email?
􀂙 Did it arrive via an overnight delivery service?
􀂙 Is it from a business or individual account that is different
from the person buying your item or product?
􀂙 Is the amount for more than the item’s selling price?

Are you sending money overseas?

􀂙 Did you win an international lottery you didn’t enter?
􀂙 Have you been asked to pay money to receive an
inheritance from another country?
􀂙 Are you receiving a commission for accepting money
transfers through your bank and/or PayPal account?
DON’T BE A VICTIM OF IDENTITY THEFT!
IF YOU ANSWER “YES” TO ANY OF THE
FOLLOWING QUESTIONS, YOU MAY BE GETTING
SCAMMED!

To report an online crime, go to:
http://www.ic3.gov/

Father's Day Facts from the Census Bureau

2008-06-06T11:25:00.001-07:00

Father's Day Facts from the U.S. Census Bureau
Facts for Features

Father’s Day: June 15, 2008
The idea of Father’s Day was conceived by Sonora Dodd of Spokane, Wash., while she listened to a Mother’s Day sermon in 1909. Dodd wanted a special day to honor her father, William Smart, a widowed Civil War veteran who was left to raise his six children on a farm. A day in June was chosen for the first Father’s Day celebration — June 19, 1910, proclaimed by Spokane’s mayor because it was the month of Smart’s birth. The first presidential proclamation honoring fathers was issued in 1966 when President Lyndon Johnson designated the third Sunday in June as Father’s Day. Father’s Day has been celebrated annually since 1972 when President Richard Nixon signed the public law that made it permanent.

Remembering Dad

64.3 million -- Estimated number of fathers across the nation. Source: unpublished data from the Survey of Income and Program Participation
A good place to buy dad a tie or a shirt might be one of 8,685 men’s clothing stores around the country (as of 2005). Source: County Business Patterns <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/county_business_patterns/010192.html>

Other items high on the list of Father’s Day gifts are tools such as hammers, wrenches and screwdrivers. You could buy some of these items for dad at one of the nation’s 14,257 hardware stores or 5,925 home centers (as of 2005). Source: County Business Patterns <http://www.census.gov/Press- Release/www/releases/archives/county_business_patterns/010192.html>

23,195 -- Number of sporting goods stores in 2005. These stores are good places to purchase traditional gifts for dad, such as fishing rods and golf clubs.Source: County Business Patterns <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/county_business_patterns/010192.html>

More than 74 million Americans participated in a barbecue in the last year — it’s probably safe to assume many of these barbecues took place on Father’s Day. Source: Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2008 <http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/tables/08s1213.xls>, Table 1213.

159,000 -- Estimated number of stay-at-home dads in 2006. These married fathers with children younger than 15 have remained out of the labor force for at least one year primarily so they can care for the family while their wives work outside the home. These fathers cared for 283,000 children. Among these stay-at-home dads, 60 percent had two or more children, and 40 percent had an annual family income of $50,000 or more. Source: America’s Families and Living Arrangements: 2006 <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/families_households/009842.html>

25%-- Among the nation’s 11.3 million preschoolers whose mothers are employed, the percentage who are regularly cared for by their father during their mother’s working hours. This amounted to 2.9 million children. Source: Who’s Minding the Kids? Child Care Arrangements: Spring 2005 <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/children/011574.html>

26.5 million -- Number of fathers who are part of married-couple families with children younger than 18 in 2006. 22 percent are raising three or more children younger than 18 (among married-couple family households only). 2 percent live in someone else’s home.
Source: America’s Families and Living Arrangements: 2006 <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/families_households/009842.html>

2.5 million -- Number of single fathers in 2006, up from 400,000 in 1970. Currently, among single parents living with their children, 19 percent are men. 8 percent are raising three or more children younger than 18. About 42 percent are divorced, 38 percent are never married, 16 percent are separated and 4 percent are widowed. (There is no significant difference between the percentages of single fathers who are divorced or never married.) 16 percent live in someone else’s home. 27 percent have an annual family income of $50,000 or more. Source: America’s Families and Living Arrangements: 2006 <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/families_households/009842.html>

85% -- Among the 30.2 million fathers living with children younger than 18, the percentage who lived with their biological children only. In addition, 11 percent lived with stepchildren, 4 percent with adopted children and fewer than 1 percent with foster children. Source: Living Arrangements of Children: 2004 <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/children/011507.html>

31% --Percentage of custodial fathers who were due child support. They numbered 678,000. Source: Custodial Mothers and Fathers and Their Child Support <http://www.census.gov/Press Release/www/releases/archives/children/010634.html>

$2.4 billion -- Amount of child support received by custodial fathers in 2005; they were due $3.3 billion. In contrast, custodial mothers received $22.4 billion of the $34.7 billion in support that was due. Source: Custodial Mothers and Fathers and Their Child Support <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/children/010634.html>

43% -- Percentage of custodial fathers who received all child support that was due, not significantly different from the corresponding percentage for custodial mothers. Fathers received an average of $6,210 in child support in 2005, compared with $5,981 for mothers. (These figures are not statistically different from one another.) Source: Custodial Mothers and Fathers and Their Child Support <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/children/010634.html>

36% -- Percentage of custodial fathers with child support agreements or awards. Source: Custodial Mothers and Fathers and Their Child Support <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/children/010634.html>

72% -- Percentage of custodial fathers receiving noncash support, such as gifts or coverage of expenses, on behalf of their children. The corresponding proportion for mothers was 59 percent. Source: Custodial Mothers and Fathers and Their Child Support <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/children/010634.html>

30% -- Percentage of children younger than 6 living with married parents in 2003 who ate breakfast with their fathers every day. The corresponding number for children living with unmarried fathers was 41 percent. Source: A Child’s Day <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/children/009412.html>

64% -- Percentage of children younger than 6 living with married parents who ate dinner with their fathers every day. The corresponding number for children living with unmarried fathers was 66 percent. Source: A Child’s Day <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/children/009412.html>

63% -- Percentage of children younger than 6 living with married parents who were praised three or more times a day by their fathers. The corresponding number for children living with unmarried fathers was 57 percent. Source: A Child’s Day <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/children/009412.html>

Editor’s note: The preceding data were collected from a variety of sources and may be subject to sampling variability and other sources of error. Facts for Features are customarily released about two months before an observance in order to accommodate magazine production timelines. Questions or comments should be directed to the Census Bureau’s Public Information Office: telephone: 301-763-3030; fax: 301-763-3762; or e-mail: <pio@census.gov>.
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CDC Releases Nevada Hep C Report

2008-05-16T13:10:00.000-07:00

CDC Report on Hep C Investigation Released
Click to Access Report
Channel 8 Eyewitness News -- May 16th, 2008

"Federal health officials have issued their report on the Nevada hepatitis C investigation. The CDC confirms unsafe practices were taking place at several clinics. The federal report is the latest news since the Southern Nevada Health District announced 77 people have tested positive for hepatitis C with no other risk factors aside from their treatments at the medical clinics in question. Dr. Cindy Lamerson is one of two physicians who investigated the endoscopy center for the state board of medical examiners. She says this new CDC report gives the committee ammunition to continue with its investigaton into Dr. Depak Desai and Dr. Eladio Carerra, who head up the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada. The CDC report also offered suggestions to avoid a repeat of this prolem including better surveillance, education and oversight."

Nevada Corrections Victim Services Unit

2008-05-08T12:45:00.000-07:00

The Victim Services Unit within the Nevada Department of Corrections (NDOC) serves as a point of contact within corrections that is sensitive to the needs of crime victims. Through this office, crime victims, their family members and interested or threatened parties can receive assistance with any of the following:

Registration of all crime victims for the notification of release of their offender from the custody of NDOC
Notification of an inmate’s escape from the custody of NDOC
Advocacy on behalf of victims concerning their particular needs in the correctional process, including but not limited to: situations involving harassment by inmates, compliance with court mandated conditions, unwanted contact, etc.
General information regarding the status of offenders in the custody of or under the supervision of NDOC, including parole eligibility date, projected expiration date and sentence structure
Referrals for crime victims to other state, federal and community based services Notification of execution dates along with preparation and orientation for victims who choose to be present at an execution
Attendance with victim to Parole Board hearings, Psychological Review Panel hearings, and executions
Notification to Crime Victims -- Only victims registered with the Victim Services Unit will be notified of offender information. A notification request form can be downloaded from this site and mailed to the Victim Services Unit. Victims registered to be notified of all release information can expect to receive written notification prior to the offender’s release. The Victim Services Unit will notify registered victims when any of the following occurs:

The inmate is released from prison having completed his sentence Escape and/or recapture of inmate
Death of the inmate
Public hearings conducted regarding the inmate
Legal name change of the inmate
Application of the inmate to participate in residential confinement programs

New County Recorder's Office in Henderson!

2008-04-30T15:46:00.000-07:00

New Services Available in Henderson and Northwest -- Clark County Recorder's Branch Offices Open!!! Here is the recent article from the Clark County Sandstone Online May Issue

Northwest Las Vegas and Henderson residents who need to record documents, obtain certified copies of marriage certificates, or research official records now have fast and convenient alternatives to take care of their business with the Clark County Recorder’s Office.

Clark County Recorder Debbie Conway announced the opening of two branch offices that are bringing her office’s services closer to residents. The branch office in Henderson opened April 7, and the northwest Las Vegas branch office is already open.

Locations: The offices are at the Dona Maria Plaza, 3211 N. Tenaya Way Suite 118 in Las Vegas, which is near the intersection of Cheyenne Avenue and Tenaya Way, and at the Stephanie Promenade, 245 Stephanie St. Suite B in Henderson, which is near the intersection of Stephanie Street and American Pacific Drive.

These branch offices are sharing space with the County Assessor’s Office, which already has staff at these locations. “We are always looking for ways to better serve our residents,” Conway said. “These offices will allow citizens to conveniently conduct their business within their community.”
“This is a great opportunity for us to share our resources to bring services closer to residents,” Clark County Assessor Mark Schofield said.

Hours: Both offices are open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday. The offices close from noon to 12:30 p.m. daily for lunch.

Services: At the Recorder’s Office branch offices residents will be able to record up to five documents per customer (no maps); research records or obtain certified copies of documents recorded from April 2004 to present; research marriage records from 1909 to present; and obtain certified copies of marriage certificates recorded from 1984 to present. (Records research sessions are limited to 15 minutes per customer if other customers are waiting.) For more information call the Recorder’s Office at 455-4336 or visit the Recorder’s Office Web site at www.accessclarkcounty.com/depts/recorder/pages/default.aspx.

All of the Assessor’s Office services available at the main downtown office are also available at the branch offices. Having both the Assessor’s and Recorder’s staffs together in the branch offices also means residents can complete some filings that involve both offices. For example, obtaining and recording Homestead forms and applying for veterans’ exemptions and recording military discharge papers.

June Volunteer Ops on Public Lands

2008-04-25T10:14:00.000-07:00

Upcoming June Events

Saturday, June 7, 2008 – National Trails Day – The U.S Forest Service will be hosting a restoration event in the Spring Mountains.

Volunteer Positions

Seed Collection Volunteers Needed --The National Park Service is looking for volunteers to collect native plant seeds at the Lake Mead National Recreation Area. Volunteers are needed to collect seeds for approximately 10 hours a week. For more information contact Nancy Bernard with Lake Mead National Recreation Area at 702-293-8714
Water Safety Volunteers Needed -- The National Park Service is looking for Water Safety Volunteers. Water Safety Volunteers provide assistance on Launch Ramp and serve as Deck Hands and Boat Operators. Volunteers will provide boating and water safety information, assist visitors with water safety issues, promote preventive accident and drowning message and provide park information to the public. Volunteers with appropriate training and certification, may operate a National Park Service (government owned) vessel and/or vehicle at Lake Mead National Recreation Area. For more information contact Nancy Bernard with Lake Mead National Recreation Area at 702-293-8714

Trainings

Trainings Volunteers who have attended any of our events or are currently operational volunteers can sign up for the First Aid/CPR/AED class that will be held Tuesday May 13, 2008. Registration for this class will close April, 29, 2008. For more information contact Amy Ansari at 702-895-5484 Registration will open for all June trainings the first week of May.

Doing Business with the Government

2008-04-19T15:56:00.000-07:00

Question: Where can I get lists of business both inside and outside the country that have done and are doing business with the United States Government?

Answer: Visit the Business Partner Network's Contractor Registration Central Search Engine! Search by industry, company name, city, state, country, postal code, etc. for active and inactive business (vendors) that have done contract work with Government Agencies. Find out what the business does, officer names and contact information.

Question: Where can I find opportunities to do business with the Government? (Like James Dean did with the beans in East of Eden)

Answer: Visit FedBizOpps website to find opportunities by agency or type of business or date posted.

Question: Who can help navigate the maze of doing business with the Government?

Answer: The Nevada Procurement Outreach Center! The Procurement Outreach Program (POP) is a Cooperative Agreement between the State of Nevada and the Federal Government assisting businesses statewide to initiate or expand marketing efforts of their products and services. POP is pleased to provide Nevada companies many services without charge (except for a one-time enrollment fee of $50 for initial set-up). Call 702-486-2716 in Las Vegas, or 775-687-1813 in Carson City and schedule an appointment.

May Volunteer Ops on Public Lands

2008-04-02T15:32:00.000-07:00

Upcoming Events in May 2008:

Saturday, May 3, 2008 –The Bureau of Land Management will be hosting a litter clean-up at the Sunrise Management Area near Henderson.

Friday, May 16, 2008 –The Interagency Volunteer Program would like to invite all active volunteers to our first annual public lands bus tour! Come take a bus tour of Lake Mead National Recreation Area and Red Rock Canyon Conservation Area. While on this tour participants will take a cruise on the Desert Princess in Lake Mead, visit historical sites in Red Rock Canyon, and learn about low-water issues and endangered species. Register for this event online.

Saturday, May 31, 2008 – The Friends of Nevada Wilderness and the U.S Forest Service are hosting restoration event at the Griffith Peak Trail Head in the Spring Mountains. To register please contact Friends of Nevada Wilderness at (775) 324-766

Volunteer Positions

Water Safety Volunteers Needed -- The National Park Service is looking for Water Safety Volunteers. Water Safety Volunteers provide assistance on Launch Ramp and serve as Deck Hands and Boat Operators. Volunteers will provide boating and water safety information, assist visitors with water safety issues, promote preventive accident and drowning message and provide park information to the public. Volunteers with appropriate training and certification, may operate a National Park Service (government owned) vessel and/or vehicle at Lake Mead National Recreation Area. For more information contact Nancy Bernard with Lake Mead National Recreation Area at 702-293-8714

Trainings

The spring training schedule is now posted online. All May trainings are now open. For more information contact Amy Ansari at 702-895-5484 Detailed information will be posted to the website as it becomes available. In the meantime, please mark your calendars and visit https://webmail.hdpl.org/owa/redir.aspx?C=0ab009071be14395a3c4e627f6887506&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.getoutdoorsnevada.org

Last Minute Tax Help

2008-04-02T13:58:00.000-07:00

The Paseo Verde and Green Valley Library AARP Free Tax Help Volunteers are officially booked through April 15th. No more appointments are being taken. The Economic Stimulus Package of 2008 has created a larger than anticipated crowd of people who need to file this year in order to qualify for the rebate. The IRS has provided an eight page instruction booklet for these folks found here. However, there are still many folks who still need assistance at this late hour. For these people, there is still hope. There is still free tax help available on a first come, first served basis if these last minute filers are willing to make a small drive into the city, and possibly wait in line. Here are the locations and times for AARP Volunteer Free Tax Help. These locations are:

MONDAY - FRIDAY 9 AM - 7 PM (WALK INS -- 1ST COME, 1ST SERVED)
Consumer Credit Counseling Service
(Jones and Sahara Location)
2650 S Jones Blvd
Phone: 702.364.0344

THURSDAYS 9:30 AM - 1:30 PM (WALK INS -- 1ST COME, 1ST SERVED)
Clark County Library
1401 E. Flamingo Road
702.507.3400
(East Flamingo and Maryland Parkway)

SATURDAY (HOURS VARY BY LOCATION -- WALK INS -1ST COME, 1ST SERVED)

Consumer Credit Counseling 10 AM - 2 PM
(Jones and Sahara location)
2650 S Jones Blvd
Phone: 702.364.0344

Whitney Library 10 AM - 2 PM
5175 E. Tropicana (just West of Boulder Highway)
702.507.4010

If there are other locations that still accept walkins that I have missed, please let me know, and I will update this list.

FLOODING!

2008-03-20T12:53:00.000-07:00

"Because we are in the middle of a bone dry desert -- there is really no chance of flooding in our area." -- WRONG! According to the Clark County Flood Control District website, Clark County has experienced at least 11 floods since 1960, costing more than a million dollars each. During this same period, 31 lives were lost in 21 separate flash flood events. While floods can occur here during any month of the year, the most damaging storms occur between July and September.

Today, March 20th, the NOAA released it's Spring Flood Outlook, which spurred me to post this. To see if your home is in a FEMA flood district visit FloodSmart.gov or FEMA's Flood Map Service Center where you can search by typing in your address to determine your Flood risk. If your own , you may be required by Federal law to carry the mandatory Flood insurance on your property (this is different than your regular personal property insurance). For instance, I live in a High Risk Flood area, determined by FEMA to have a 1% annual flood risk and a 26% risk of flooding over the life of a 30-year mortgage. So that means I have a 1 out 4 chance of having my property washed over every 30 years. Because of this, I must carry minimum FEMA insurance that will cover the cost of my home in the event of a flood. If you do carry flood insurance on your property, be sure to check to see if your personal property is covered in this policy ... In many cases, folks think their personal property is covered by their Flood Insurance Policy, when in reality only their building is covered. Unfortunately for these people, they find this out after the flood has washed everything away. Bottom line -- TALK TO YOUR INSURANCE AGENT -- KNOW YOUR INSURANCE COVERAGE, and keep in mind that it takes 30 days on average for a Flood policy to take effect.

If you have questions about your property and flooding visit FEMA's Flood Website and the County's Regional Flood Control District's Flood Threat Recognition System which collects hydrometeorologic data primarily for the purpose of detecting situations which could cause flooding. There are some really cool live interactive map tools on this website, which include up to date Rain, Water Level maps, and some other related things.

VOTE for your favorite Flood Awareness License Plate online at RFCD's License Plate Billboard Contest. The winning plate will be featured on Billboards around the area.

Keeping Families in their Homes -- A Message From Congressman Porter

2008-03-11T15:27:00.000-07:00

Here is a message I recently received from Congressman Jon Porter, regarding foreclosures in Nevada:

"I have introduced legislation to implement temporary mortgage financing assistance for those struggling to keep their homes out of foreclosure. Under current law, state and local governments can issue bonds to finance new mortgage loans for first-time homebuyers. My legislation will expand the use of this program to include refinancing of sub-prime loans, allowing states to issue up to $15 billion in additional bonds over the next three years."

On Saturday March 29th, John Porter will be hosting a mortgage counseling workshop at the University of Southern Nevada from 9:00AM to 12:00PM. Please feel free to contact his District Office for additional information at 387-4941.

Volunteer Ops on Public Lands

2008-03-07T13:26:00.000-08:00

JUST RELEASED!!! VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES ON PUBLIC LANDS!!!

Upcoming events in April 2008

Saturday, April 12, 2008- The National Park Service will be hosting a litter clean-up at the 33 Hole Overlook in Lake Mead National Park.

Friday, April 18, 2008- In celebration of Earth Day the U.S Forest Service will be hosting a restoration event in a lower elevation area of the Spring Mountains.

April 19, 2008- In celebration of Earth Day the Bureau of Land Management will be hosting a volunteer event. Projects include a litter clean-up and painting an old foundation in Ash Spring.

Volunteer Positions

Seed Collection Volunteers Needed -- The National Park Service is looking for volunteers to collect native plant seeds at the Lake Mead National Recreation Area. Volunteers are needed to collect seeds for approximately 10 hours a week. For more information contact Nancy Bernard with Lake Mead National Recreation Area at 702-293-8714

Water Safety Volunteers Needed -- The National Park Service is looking for Water Safety Volunteers. Water Safety Volunteers provide assistance on Launch Ramp and serve as Deck Hands and Boat Operators. Volunteers will provide boating and water safety information, assist visitors with water safety issues, promote preventive accident and drowning message and provide park information to the public. Volunteers with appropriate training and certification, may operate a National Park Service (government owned) vessel and/or vehicle at Lake Mead National Recreation Area. For more information contact Nancy Bernard with Lake Mead National Recreation Area at 702-293-8714

Campground Host Volunteers Needed -- The National Park Service is looking for VIP Campground Host Volunteers. VIP Campground Hosts greet visitors and answer questions about the campground, the national park, and the surrounding areas in an informed and courteous manner. In addition, the Hosts check for payment stubs for nightly stays. While VIP Campground Hosts may perform other duties, including radio dispatch, minor emergency services, light maintenance grounds grooming and restocking of supplies in the restrooms, these responsibilities constitute only 20% of the volunteer time. The majority of the volunteer time (80%+) will be spent greeting, visiting, disseminate information to visitors and checking for proper payment of campground fees. For more information contact Nancy Bernard with Lake Mead National Recreation Area at 702-293-8714

Trainings Volunteers who have attended any of our events or are currently operational volunteers can sign up for the First Aid/CPR/AED class that will be held Tuesday, April 1, 2008. Registration for this class will close Tuesday, March 18, 2008. For more information contact Amy Ansari at 702-895-5484Detailed information will be posted to the website as it becomes available.

In the meantime, please mark your calendars and visit http://www.getoutdoorsnevada.org.

DTV (Digital Television)

2008-02-19T15:54:00.000-08:00

February 17th, 2009. The date your analog TV will become obsolete, and unless you enjoy watching fuzz scramble across the screen you will need to take steps ... or else lay out a fat wad of cash for a new television. Here's what you can do according to: http://www.dtv.gov/

Analog Owners Between Jan. 1, 2008, and March 31, 2009, all U.S. households will be eligible to request up to two coupons, worth $40 each, to be used toward the purchase of up to two, digital-to-analog converter boxes. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has responsibility for administering the coupon program. More information can be found at http://www.dtv2009.gov/.

Cable subscribers may need new DTV equipment to view DTV programming in digital format. You should ask your cable provider what you will need and when. View local cable options at: http://www.cox.com/support/cable/transition_main.asp

Satellite subscribers may need new DTV equipment to receive and view high definition digital programming. You should ask your satellite company what you will need and when.

Research at the FBI's Freedom of Information Website

2008-02-02T13:43:00.000-08:00

FBI's Freedom of Information Website

Did you know? Under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) you can request information found in the FBI’s Central Records System. What kind of information? ... Information about an organization, business, investigation, historical event, or incident. ... Information about a third party. ... Information about a deceased person. ... Information about yourself.

If your request is for information concerning an organization, business, investigation, historical event, or incident, you may submit your request directly to the FBI online. Get more information at FBI FOIA instructions.

If you are requesting information from the FBI about yourself or someone else you must mail or fax your request to the FBI. If you are requesting information about someone else you must have that person complete and notorize a Privacy Waiver and Certification of Identity ... This way identities are protected.

There's also some other cool stuff from the FBI. Visit the FBI's FOIA Electronic Reading Room Where the FBI has converted many previously classified documents into an electronic file (PDF) and they may be viewed by clicking on the cooresponding letter of the alphabet. Find files on the Beatles, Ma Barker, Machine Gun Kelly, even Alcoholics Anonymous. Granted some of the information is blacked out, but still these files are filled with snippets of biographical and intelligence information that makes great material for school assignments or just plain interesting reading!

Foreclosure Help for Consumers

2008-01-22T16:13:00.000-08:00

It's a fact. Nevada has held the lead during the past year for the highest number of real estate foreclosures. A number of resources are available for those homeowners facing foreclosure due to the sheer amount of subprime loans and predatory lending that are now affecting our economy so adversly.

1. Information from the White House about Hope Now a plan to help those on the brink of foreclosure keep their homes.

2. Foreclosure Resource Page for consumers from the Federal Government.

3. Nevada Department of Business of Industry Foreclosure Page has listed clear steps for those who are worried. These steps outline simply what options are available. Also includes information on how to avoid foreclosure recovery scams.

4. Local Area Housing Counselors list from HUD. (Such as Consumer Credit Counseling Services that give free housing and debt counseling for all incomes).

5. Local non-profits such as Housing for Nevada and Nevada Fair Housing Center who offer free counseling to those applying for loans or are facing foreclosure regardless of income.

Missing Mail

2008-01-12T11:19:00.000-08:00

The Cause in Nevada?

Mail theft is one of the ways that meth abusers acquire another person's personal information and identification documents. The draw for this type of crime is the ability to generate cash to fuel the habit. In fact, the State of Arizona stated that in 2006 that 90-95% of all reported mail thefts in Tucson had a nexus in meth.

In a recent 2007 declassified Intelligence Bulletin the Department of Justice suggests that there is a direct coorrelation between meth use and identity theft. So it is assumed that the higher the meth use in a certain area -- the higher the percentage of ID theft. While the Southwest continues to remain the hotspot for this type of drug abuse and criminal activity, the bulletin goes on to suggest that soon other areas of the country, such as the Great Lakes, the Southeast, and the Mid-Atlantic region will inevitably see an increase in this type of crime as drug use trends shift.

The Process

Mail theft all happens as part of an organized operation where each member knows a part and and plays a vital function in a system that operates somewhere near you. Collectors acquire personal information by breaking into mailboxes and taking mail. The collectors pass or sell the stolen information to the Converters, who use the information to establish fraudulent bank and credit accounts and to obtain fraudulent checks and monetary instruments. The Passers then use the fraudulent accounts and instruments to purchase expensive consumer items in person or to cash fraudulent checks.

Statistics

There aren't a whole lot of official statistics readily available on mail theft as a specific crime, save the US Postal Inspector's Annual Report which lists 5,060 arrests and 4,625 convictions of the crime in 2006. (In fact, one of these big busts took place on January 4th, 2006, at the Texas Station Hotel and Casino, where over 200 pieces of stolen mail with Las Vegas addresses were recovered -- A rather proud day for the Postal Inspection Service, I'm sure.)

Other random Internet blurbs have suggested the following, and while unverified provide statistics that are perhaps a sign of the times.

One in three cases involving identity theft occurs via the mail.

Parcel Packages are at their most vulnerable when left unattended on your doorstep.

With Internet shoppers increasing daily, more and more parcel packages never find their rightful owner due to thieves who follow these trucks and grab packages left unattended.

Police and the US Postal Service say that "deterring mail thieves is as easy as locking outside mailboxes and warns to never leave bills in mailboxes for postal workers to pick up. Postal Inspectors term this "Red Flagging" and recommend that you always take outgoing mail to a Postal drop box or US Post Office.

A mail thief can get up to $1,000 per box for a box of reissued and/or new checks you receive through the mail.

Mail theft has become so common that some states are considering legislation for stiffer penalties since current laws consider it only a misdemeanor theft.

How To Prevent Mail Theft

The United States Postal Inspection Service has the following tips so that you don't become a victim:

Use the letter slots at your post office to mail letters, or give them to a letter carrier.

CHECK YOUR MAIL DAILY. Pick up your mail promptly after delivery. Don’t leave it in your mailbox overnight.

Don’t send cash in the mail.

Ask your bank for “secure” checks that can’t be altered.

Tell your post office when you’ll be out of town, so they can hold your mail until you return.

Report all mail theft to a Postal Inspector.

Deposit mail in U.S. Postal Service collection boxes.

Consider starting a neighborhood watch program. By exchanging work and vacation schedules with trusted friends and neighbors, you can watch each other's mailboxes (as well as homes).

And Some Other Thoughts:

Use a PO Box.

Install a locking mail box.

Request Delivery Confirmation on Packages sent via U.S. Mail.

Destroy all mail containing personal information before discarding.

How To Report Mail Theft

Be Vigilant! If you observe a mail thief at work, call the local police immediately, and then your nearest Postal Inspector (877-876-2455) The United States Postal Inspection Service offers up to a $10,000 Reward for information and services leading to the arrest and conviction of any person for Mail Theft. Theft of mail, or even possession of stolen mail, is a Federal Felony and upon conviction each offense may be punishable by a fine up to $250,000 and imprisonment up to five years. (Title 18, United States Code, Section 1708)

Report! Report any and all incidents of Mail Theft, Vandalism, Mail Tampering, and False Change of Address. Visit the Investigations Page to find out more about each type of crime. For mail theft you may use the online form, or you may print the hard copy.

Tax Talk Gives Small Businesses a Head Start on the Upcoming Filing Season

2008-01-03T18:32:00.000-08:00

The Internal Revenue Service is kicking off its new year by sponsoring a Tax Talk Today program titled "Getting Ready for the Filing Season 2008" The program takes place on Tuesday, January 8th 2008 at 2 p.m. ET. The program will feature a panel of experts discussing several key topics:

Business tax return issues for small businesses and self-employed taxpayers,

Recent tax law changes and updates for the 2007 tax year,

IRS regulations, business credits, and common errors; and

Processing issues which affect filing business returns for the 2007 tax year.

Tax Talk Today is a free, live, interactive webcast aimed at educating tax professionals and their business clients on contemporary and complex tax issues. Programs are available for webcast for one year after their original date. To access the Tax Talk Today webcast at no charge, viewers can register online at http://www.taxtalktoday.tv/.

Health Care Headache

2007-12-29T13:34:00.000-08:00

Affordable Medical Care is a really big issue in this country. According to the latest 2006 Census Bureau figures, 15% of America does not have Health Insurance. 11% of America's children do not have health insurance. These numbers are on the rise. While they may seem like small percentages, even those with health insurance are finding that rates are rising far in excess of inflation. According to a recent Kaiser Family Fund and Health Research Survey health insurance premiums have risen at double-digit rates since 2000, and have increased by 73% in the last five years, and health care spending reached 16% of GDP, the highest level in our nation’s history. According to a December 2nd, 2007 press release, the CDC summarizes the findings of "Health, United States, 2007" by stating that nearly one in five Americans say they can’t afford needed health care.

In Nevada alone, 451,000 people are without some form of Medical Insurance (about 18% of the population) This, you will note, is higher than the average State's unisured rate, in fact 35 states do a better job of getting affordable health insurance to their citizens. According to the Health Insurance Resource Center which sites a United Health Foundation Survey, Nevada:

Is only the 38th healthiest state to live in

Has the worst childhood immunization program in the country.

Ranks 45th in the nation for quality of prenatal care.

Is 17th in the nation for infant mortality.
Has the highest meth use of people 12 and older.

From time to time people inquire about free or low cost Medical Clinics in the area. There are a few, and the Southern Nevada Health District has an excellent list of them including contact information found here. Be sure to bookmark this site! These treament facilities specifically exist for the unisured or the underinsured, and there are a number of services available including Children's Services, Dental Drug Treatment, Family Planning General Medical Care, Health Education, HIV/AIDS Homeless ServicesHospitals, Immunizations, Medical Equipment, Medicare Services Mental Health, Pediatric Services, Rape Counseling, Referral Services, Senior Services, Sexually Transmitted Disease Treatment, Social Services Transportation Assistance, and Women's Health.

Many states also have programs for children. A complete list can be found on the Health and Human Services Insure Kids Now Website. Nevada's State Program for Children is called Nevada Check Up. Visit this site or call 1 (877) 543-7669 to find out eligibility requirements.

For the Injured Nevada Worker there is the Governor's Office for Consumer Health Assistance Bureau for Hospital Patients that is established to provide a single point of contact for consumers and injured workers to assist them in understanding their rights and resonsibilities under Nevada law and health care plans, including industrial insurance policies.

For those looking for affordable prescriptions, RXHELP4NV.org which is a program that connects qualified, low-income people with discount prescription drugs, direct from the pharmaceutical manufacturer.

Last, but not least, if you are unsure where to turn, you can always use the Nevada Help Line a free referral service for all Nevada residents. Access it by dialing 211.

Please feel free to add anything I've missed.

Behind Bars

2007-12-22T08:43:00.000-08:00

Inmate Locator

Did you know the Federal Bureau of Prisons has an inmate locator? Visit The Bureau of Prison's Inmate Locator to find a searchable database of Federal Inmates. Additionally, you can also view population statistics, locate prisons, get visiting and mailing information right from the same website found at The Bureau of Prison's Website.

For a list of searchable State and Local inmate databases visit USA.gov. Many states now have a database that you can search by name to find out information about inmates, offenses, sentences, etc. Nevada has a seachable database as well. Visit the Nevada Department of Corrections to get access.

Nevada Caucus Info

2007-12-18T09:31:00.000-08:00

The Caucus begins January 19th 9am -- Locations Depend upon your Party Affiliation

Republicans

1. All registrated Republicans will be getting something in the mail 1st week of January that gives them the location.
2. Sometime later this week 12/16/07 an online sign up will be available for Register Republicans at: http://www.nvgopcaucus.com/ Registrants can type in their address and get the location.
3. Or they can call the Republican Party HQ at (702) 258-9182 and get the location if they are registered Republicans.

Democrats

If you are a registered Democrat and wondering where you are supposed to> go for the caucus on January 19 you can find it at www.nvdemscaucus.com> just click on "Find Your Caucus Location" button on the left hand side> and follow the directions. Or they can call the Democratic Party HQ at (702) 737-8683 and get the location if they are registered Democrats.

Finding the Dead

2007-12-15T13:24:00.000-08:00

Department of Veteran's Affairs

National Gravesite Locator

A cool Government database that let's you search for burial locations of veterans and their family members in VA National Cemeteries, state veterans cemeteries, various other military and Department of Interior cemeteries, and for veterans buried in private cemeteries when the grave is marked with a government grave marker. Search by cemetery, veteran name, birth date, or death date. Find veteran's burial place including contact info of cemetery, map of plot if available, veteran information including wars fought, birth and death date, rank and military branch. Click here to search.

Find a Grave is another site to visit for finding the interred. While not a government site it allows the user to search for both famous and non-famous persons buried throughout the United States. If you are trying to locate a cemetery use Epodunk's Cemetery Seach , another non-government site that allows you to pinpoint cemeteries within any given vicinity. Or if you are really lucky, you might even be able to view a picture of the actual marker using Genealogy.com's Virtual Cemetery Search.

Updated Colorado River Interim Draft Guidelines

2007-12-14T08:53:00.000-08:00

The Draft Colorado River Interim Guidelines for Lower Basin Shortages and Coordinated Operations for Lake Powell and Lake Mead have been updated again and are posted on the United States Bureau of Reclamation's website found here.

Free Postal Pickup Service

2007-12-08T08:19:00.000-08:00

Did you know? Your local postal carrier can pick up an unlimited number of packages from your home at no cost to you. Just make sure you properly seal the packages and have the correct postage affixed. You can schedule a pick-up for tomorrow or a date up to 3 months in the future.Visit United States Post Office Carrier Pickup to schedule your pickup.

Holiday Shopping Online

2007-12-01T13:34:00.000-08:00

Here are some tips from the FBI and National White Collar Crime Center's Internet Crime Complaint Center The Center accepts complaints crossing the spectrum of cyber crime matters, including online fraud in its many forms such as Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) matters, Computer Intrusions (hacking), Economic Espionage (Theft of Trade Secrets), Online Extortion, International Money Laundering, Identity Theft, and a growing list of other Internet facilitated crimes.

Online Shopping Tips

Ensure a site is secure and reputable before providing your credit card number online.

Don't trust a site just because it claims to be secure.

If purchasing merchandise, ensure it is from a reputable source.

Promptly reconcile credit card statements to avoid unauthorized charges.

Do your research to ensure legitimacy of the individual or company.

Beware of providing credit card information when requested through unsolicited emails.

Beware of individuals using the DHL or UPS logo in any email communication.

Be suspicious when payment is requested by money transfer before the goods will be delivered.

Remember that DHL and UPS do not generally get involved in directly collecting payment from customers.

Fees associated with DHL or UPS transactions are only for shipping costs and never for other costs associated with online transactions.

Contact DHL or UPS to confirm the authenticity of email communications received.

If you are using an online auction, contact the seller with any questions you have and review the seller's feedback.

Ensure you understand refund, return, and warranty policies.

Determine the shipping charges before you buy.

Be wary if the seller only accepts wire transfers or cash.

If an escrow service is used, ensure it is legitimate.

Consider insuring your item.

Be cautious of unsolicited offers.

Federal Toll Free Phone Numbers

2007-11-17T16:39:00.000-08:00

Visit the National Contact Center that lists 1-800's for Federal Agencies and many Government Hotlines where one can get some great info (such as the meat and poultry hotline which always busy this time of year) Check it out! It it beats digging around on a website for the number. Brought to you by the Federal Citizen Information Center.

Nursing Home Compare

2007-11-10T15:38:00.000-08:00

Here's a neat tool from The United States Department of Health and Human Services -- it's called Medicare's Nursing Home Compare

The primary purpose of this tool is to provide detailed information about the past performance of every Medicare and Medicaid certified nursing home in the country.

What Can You Use it For?

1. Find out What's Where -- Locate Nursing Homes by Name, City, State, County, Zip, or Proximity
2. Contact information -- Get Contact info for Every Nursing Home in your search.
3. Detailed Information -- Like number of certified beds, ownership info, and much more.
4. Compare Homes Side by Side -- Find out who has safety and fire deficiencies (A finding as a result of the annual health inspection or a complaint inspection, that a nursing home did not meet a federal or state health statute or regulation based upon observation of the nursing home’s performance, practices or conditions in the facility.)
5. Quantity of Care -- CNA and Nursing Staff hours per patient per day.

Protect Your Vehicle -- Prevent Vehicle Theft

2007-11-10T15:11:00.000-08:00

What area of the United States has the highest rate of vehicle theft per capita? Why the Las Vegas area of course. It recently moved up to #1 National Insurance Crime Bureau's stolen vehicle hot spot top ten list, despite the fact that auto theft rates in the nation are on the decline. Every month LV Metro still handles around 1400 cases of vehicle theft. In fact, Clark County had 22,441 vehicles stolen in 2006. That's one vehicle theft for every 80 people in the County. Naturally auto insurance rates in Nevada are among the highest in the nation for this very reason. Auto theft just doesn't affect the immediate victims, it affects all Nevada residents. Auto theft rates in Las Vegas add between $200 and $400 a year to our insurance rates, according to the Nevada Insurance Council. Thegood news is, is that 80% of the vehicles stolen are recovered accordingto Metro police -- the majority being used for joy rides and for temporary transportation. Organized car theft rings only represent about a quarterof the thefts. Vehicle theft in Nevada is considered a B Felony and is punishable by 1 to 10 years in prison. With this sort of penalty, why would Las Vegas have such a high rate ofthis sort of crime? There appear to be a number of factors.

1. Many parking lots and parking garages.
2. Lack of police manpower -- Not enough officers to handle this sort of crime and conduct sting
operations.
3. Hot climate -- Owners leave windows cracked and give thieves access.
4. Lack of Education -- Vehicle owners must be educated about protecting personal property.To date little has been done.

So, what can you do to protect yourself if you can't afford a locator system like Onstar or LoJack, a sophisticated alarm system, own a personal garage, or a large angry dog?

1. Buy a Steering Wheel Lock -- Use the steering wheel lock at night when thieves are most likely to be active or when your car is left unattended in lonely parking lots.
2. Understand Your Insurance Coverage -- Talk to your auto insurance agent. Ask them about your deductable in the event your car is stolen. What will you be responsible for paying in the event your car is stolen and returned damaged or with your personal property missing? Also find out if your insurance company covers car rental fees in the event you are without transportation while your car is being recovered and repaired. Ask for a discount on your insurance if you have an anti theft device.
3. Clean Out Your Car -- Make sure your car is free from any clothing, music, books, and boxes that are in plain view. Thieves often break into cars to get at your stuff. Make sure that there is nothing left in your car that you wouldn't want to lose.
4. Heed Tips and Advice -- Metro Police has a page dedicated to vehicle theft. Look it over.http://www.lvmpd.com/crime/autotheft.html
5. Partner with the Police -- Register Your Vehicle for the "Watch Your Car Program" with Henderson PD and LV METRO --http://www.lvmpd.com/pdfs/watchyourcar.pdfBring your vehicle, proof of ownership (title, registration) and a list ofauthorized drivers to complete the registration to a local police station. (calling ahead is a good idea) When you register for the “Watch Your Car” program, you are allow law enforcement officials to stop your vehicle between the hours of 1:00 A.M.and 5:00 A.M. and when your vehicle is in close proximity to any border,no matter when the hours may be. In these instances, police action willinclude the necessary precautions generally taken to protect officers when approaching a potentially stolen vehicle.
6. Write Your State Representative -- If you are victim, let your representatives know. Ask them to keep you in mind the next time legislation comes up relating to vehicle theft and Nevada. To find out who your representatives are visit: http://www.co.clark.nv.us/ELECTION/lookup.asp