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Microsoft Helps Washington ID Spammer
by Chloe Albanesius
The high-tech unit for Washington state's attorney general on Tuesday sued a business for sending marketing e-mails with misleading subject headers.
A Plus Imaging and its officer, Abbott Antin, were sued for sending e-mails with headers including messages such as "thanks a bunch" or familiar names like "Anthony" or "Melissa," but when opened, the messages were advertisements for printer supplies.
"When e-mail spam is misleading and deceptive, it's more than just annoying," Attorney General Christine Gregoire said in a release. "In Washington, it's illegal."
Washington officials obtained more information on the spammers via a public-private partnership with Microsoft. The software company provided investigative information about the defendants and information about e-mails sent through its Hotmail system.
"The filing of this case shows that the partnership of business, government and consumers is effective," Gregoire said. "Spammers should be prepared to defend themselves in court, overcome increasingly effective anti-spam technology and face better educated consumers."
Gregoire's office requested a court order against A Plus Imaging and Antin to permanently ban further deceptive e-mails and impose fines of up to $2,000 per message.
Petitioning Online For A Redress On Drugs
Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich last week put online a petition seeking support for letting the state purchase prescription drugs from Canada, where the prices are cheaper and the orders can be filled quickly online.
"The [Food and Drug Administration] can ignore our letters. They can ignore our calls," Blagojevich said in a release. "But they can't ignore the people forever. And so today, I'm launching an electronic petition drive so that people can be heard on this issue."
The petition is part of a Web site launched by Blagojevich's office to give citizens information on the differences between American and Canadian drug prices. Blagojevich last month requested that the state's special advocate study the pros and cons of purchasing drugs from Canada for the state's 240,000 employees. The FDA has opposed the move for safety reasons.
In addition to the online effort, hard copies of the petition will be available at senior-citizen facilities or by telephone.
Steering Technology Business To Michigan
Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm on Monday signed an executive order creating a steering committee for the state's Technology Tri-Corridor that will be charged with charting the strategic direction of Michigan's newest economic development initiative.
"The steering committee ... will serve as a catalyst for building on our high-tech automotive heritage while continuing to diversify our state's economy," she said in a release. "... The new Technology Tri-Corridor will create a magnet to attract even more technology-oriented business."
The committee will include 19 members from the life sciences, homeland security and emerging automotive industries.
Also in Michigan, Lt. Gov. John Cherry on Monday unveiled a Web site designed to help residents learn about the federal earned-income tax credit and whether they qualify to receive it.
Missouri To Revamp Alerts About Child Abductions
Missouri's system for notifying the public about child abductions will be reviewed and revised by an oversight committee, Gov. Bob Holden announced on Tuesday.
The current system, Alert Missouri, was signed into law a year ago and uses a network of radio and television broadcasts, electronic signs, and the communications devices of private entities to alert the public when children are kidnapped. Alert notifications are made locally, but the revised system will allow the Missouri State Highway Patrol to serve as a contact and expand notification to larger areas of the state when necessary.
In addition, SBC Communications has implemented an internal system to alert the company's 3,000 technicians about abductions to widen the search parameters. CenturyTel also will use its voice-mail dispatch system to notify its 500 technicians after alerts are distributed.
Here's To Your Health Program
The National Governors Association (NGA) is reviewing applications from seven states that want to participate in a demonstration of new data tools designed to streamline healthcare systems.
More specifically, the tools will organize the "safety net" providers of the chosen states. Those providers currently help people who cannot afford healthcare services, but because they are usually a loose patchwork of various institutions or clinics, organization is difficult. NGA will announce the three winners on Nov. 5. Arizona, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Oregon and Virginia applied for the aid.
"We expected to receive only three to four applications, so to have received seven was a nice surprise," said Robert Burns, an NGA analyst for health policy.
Ohio Governor Recognizes Tech Achievers
Ohio Gov. Bob Taft on Tuesday gave emerging-technology awards to eight small state businesses during a ceremony at the U.S. Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio. The companies were honored for their progress in advancing existing technologies, as well as pursuing new and emerging ones.
The companies honored included: Brain Actuated Technologies; Copernicus Therapeutics; Cornerstone Research Group; The Edgington Company; Gene Express; GeneBact Biotechnologies; Mound Laser & Phototonics Center; and SOFCo-EFS Holdings.
The Dayton-based database firm LexisNexis also earned the 2003 Thomas Edison Award, which goes to an organization that uses technology to impact its operation and the community.
Sony To Move Workers To California
In the face of intense competition, Sony Electronics will move hundreds of the 1,600 employees in its northern New Jersey offices to California in an effort to consolidate several units.
Newsday reports that Sony is expected to cut 20,000 of its 160,000 global workforce by March 2006, due in part to the difficulties of staying ahead in the market for digital videodiscs. Sony management in Japan will hold a strategy meeting on Tuesday to discuss plans to improve growth, a spokesman said.
Also in business, Virginia Gov. Mark Warner on Wednesday announced that Lockheed Martin will build and operate a computer-based modeling, simulation and integration center in Suffolk, Va. The $30 million investment is expected to create 50 high-paying jobs over three years.
And the Georgia Public Service Commission on Tuesday ruled that BellSouth engaged in anti-competitive action by withholding high-speed Internet service to customers that chose competing companies for their telephone service. The BellSouth move also violated an interconnection agreement with MCI, the commission concluded.
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