 | |
| |
TechnologyDaily Mobile
Laptops From Maine To New Mexico
by Chloe AlbanesiusGovernors who gave their State of the State addresses in the past week pledged to improve their state's education systems.
Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney pushed his "Legacy of Learning" program Friday, promising to devote $3 million "to train, recruit and reward teachers who specialize in math and science." The program also will provide scholarships to state universities and colleges. The Republican governor also touted his state's business successes, pointing to companies such as 3Com, Cisco Systems and Fuji that opened facilities in Massachusetts in the past year.
On Tuesday, Maine Gov. John Baldacci called for extending into high schools a program that provides laptop computers to seventh- and eighth-graders in his state. "We will also extend the use of those laptops to their parents," the Democrat said. "The departments of Labor and Education will create worker-training programs that adults can access at home on computers."
New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson also pushed a school laptop program. "More than 700 students and 80 teachers will receive laptop computers in the first phase of this initiative," Richardson, also a Democrat, said on Tuesday. "Eventually I want every seventh-grader to have one. Every teacher in every discipline ... will be trained in how to make use of the computer and the Internet directly in their subject areas."
Meanwhile, Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich on Friday reiterated his support for importing cheaper prescription drugs from Canada, promising to continue the push for legal ways to do so for the benefit of state employees.
Los Angeles Takes Stand Against PATRIOT Act
The Los Angeles City Council on Wednesday adopted a resolution urging that the powers authorized under the 2001 anti-terrorism law known as the USA PATRIOT Act be curtailed. The 9-2 vote made the city the 237th legislative body to adopt such a resolution, including state legislators in Alaska, Hawaii and Vermont.
The measure calls for "support of any legislation which would repeal provisions ... that violate the Constitution." Certain provisions in the act that allow increased surveillance and monitoring by the federal government are set to expire soon, although President Bush used his State of the Union address on Tuesday to ask Congress to renew such provisions.
"Today's resolution sends a clear message to those who assume that Americans will tolerate the erosion of our basic constitutional rights," said Ramona Ripston, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California.
Ohio Governor Approves Network Overhaul
Ohio Gov. Bob Taft on Tuesday approved a plan to revamp the state's network. Officials now must procure software for the Ohio Administrative Knowledge System (OAKS), a $158 million project intended to streamline government functions.
The move comes after a working group designated by the governor documented current inefficiencies with the system and designed a blueprint for its overhaul. They noted that because many administrative functions are handled at the agency level, unnecessary and costly duplication often occurs. In addition, they said antiquated systems fail more often and at higher costs.
The OAKS system aims to streamline business practices, implement Internet-based programs available to public and state employees, and replace outdated record systems. The cost will be financed over 10 years via fees charged back to state agencies after the system is functional.
Taft expects full implementation by 2007.
South Dakota's Search For Scientific Gold
Physicists from around the country were in Pierre, S.D., on Tuesday to encourage the state legislature to approve a measure that would transform a former gold mine into the home of a new research facility some 8,000 feet underground.
Republican Gov. Mike Rounds announced on Jan. 12 that the state agreed in principle with the Homestake Mining Company to relinquish control of the mine in Lead to the state of South Dakota. It "is the first critical step in making a deep underground science and engineering lab a reality," he said in a release.
Rounds hosted "Homestake Day" at the Riggs School Fine Arts Center on Tuesday to inform legislators, students and the public about the center. Physicists from the University of Minnesota and University of Pennsylvania made presentations to explain the need for the facility, which will study the roles of neutrinos and other fundamental particles of the universe.
Also this week, the Institute of Museum and Library Science on Thursday presented its $10,000 national awards for outstanding achievement in 2003. Among the recipients was Pittsburgh's Carnegie Science Center for its efforts to revitalize the community through science education. The city has almost 6,600 high-tech companies, and the center's goal is to use education to achieve industrial and economic growth.
Kansan Charged With Deception For Online Auctions
A Kansas man on Wednesday was charged with defrauding people of thousands of dollars over the Internet, Attorney General Phill Kline announced.
Greg Jackson was charged with 10 counts of theft by deception and eight counts of computer crimes. He allegedly sold tractors via an online auction site and collected payment but never delivered the goods.
Jackson could face from five to 17 months in jail or fines of up to $100,000 per violation for the computer crimes, and seven to 23 months and additional $100,000 fines for deception.
Georgia Governor Examines Local Security Efforts
Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue on Wednesday traveled to four cities within the state to inform residents of local homeland security initiatives and to showcase newly funded equipment that "first responders" to emergencies will be receiving.
The towns of Dallas, Calhoun, Thomasville and Savannah have received thousands of dollars in security grants for equipment to protect against the effects of hazardous materials. Dallas has received about $350,000, with which it purchased protective gear and defibrillators, while Calhoun has used some of its $283,000 for a hazardous-materials trailer and suits. Thomasville and Savannah are now equipped with robot-powered bomb-response units thanks to their $61,775 and $536,000 grants.
"Georgia is directing these federal homeland security resources to make sure we are prepared for any future crisis," Perdue said in a release.
NEW FEATURE
-Advertisement-
-Advertisement-
-Advertisement-
