Justice Dept Launches National Strategy to Address Murdered Native Americans

WASHINGTON—Attorney General William P. Barr launched a national strategy last week to address missing and murdered Native Americans. The Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Initiative places MMIP coordinators in 11 U.S. Attorney’s offices including the District of Oregon who will develop protocols for a more coordinated law enforcement response to missing cases. The plan also calls for the deployment of the FBI’s most advanced response capabilities when needed, improved data collection and analysis, and training to support local response efforts.

“American Indian and Alaska Native people suffer from unacceptable and disproportionately high levels of violence, which can have lasting impacts on families and communities. Native American women face particularly high rates of violence, with at least half suffering sexual or intimate-partner violence in their lifetime. Too many of these families have experienced the loss of loved ones who went missing or were murdered,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “This important initiative will further strengthen the federal, state, and tribal law enforcement response to these continuing problems.”

“The FBI recognizes the violence that tribal communities face and is fully committed to working with our federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement partners to provide support to those impacted by these crimes,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “We are dedicated to delivering justice and to the FBI’s mission to protect all the people we serve. We reaffirm our focus on allocating resources to serve Native American needs.”

“I’m proud to join Attorney General Barr and Director Wray in announcing this new effort by the Justice Department to address the important and urgent issues attendant to missing and murdered indigenous people. These are real crime victims and their families who have been impacted by inadequate data collection and jurisdictional gaps,” said Billy J. Williams, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. “Pursuing justice on behalf of tribal communities in Oregon is a top priority for the U.S. Attorney’s Office. We have always been deeply committed to reducing violent crime in tribal communities, especially crimes against tribal women and children. Our Indian Country team works tirelessly to be good partners with tribal law enforcement and victim services.”

The strategy has three parts.

Establish MMIP coordinators

: The Department of Justice is investing an initial $1.5 million to hire 11 MMIP coordinators in 11 states to serve with all U.S. Attorney’s offices in those states, and others who request assistance. The states are Alaska, Arizona, Montana, Oklahoma, Michigan, Utah, Nevada, Minnesota, Oregon, New Mexico, and Washington state. MMIP coordinators will work closely with federal, tribal, state and local agencies to develop common protocols and procedure for responding to reports of missing or murdered indigenous people. The first MMIP coordinator is already on board in Montana.

Specialized FBI Rapid Deployment Teams

: The strategy will bring needed tools and resources to law enforcement. Upon request by a tribal, state, or local law enforcement agency the FBI will provide expert assistance based upon the circumstances of a missing indigenous persons case. FBI resources and personnel which may be activated to assist with cases include: Child Abduction Rapid Deployment (CARD) teams, Cellular Analysis Support Teams, Evidence Response Teams, Cyber Agents for timely analysis of digital evidence/social media, Victim Services Division Response Teams, and others. MMIP coordinators will assist in developing protocols.

Comprehensive Data Analysis

: The department will perform in-depth analysis of federally supported databases and analyze data collection practices to identify opportunities to improve missing persons data and share the results of this analysis with our partners in this effort.

More broadly, the MMIP Initiative will involve a coordinated effort by more than 50 U.S. Attorneys on the Attorney General’s Native American Issues Subcommittee (NAIS), the FBI, and the Office of Tribal Justice, with support from the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) and the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW).

Today’s announcement follows the August NAIS meeting in New Mexico and OVW listening session in Michigan, where Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons and violence against women in Indian country were prevalent topics of discussion by U.S. Attorneys, OVW officials, and tribal representatives.

PETS ARE THE BEST

November and December are filled with holiday merriment, but an unexpected trip to the veterinary hospital can instantly spoil the cheer. There are many seasonal dangers for pets, including consumption of toxic foods and decorations, that can devastate a Thanksgiving, Christmas or holiday celebration.

Peyton Cleary/CNBNews graphic

From chocolate and turkey bones to tinsel and toys, veterinarians at

BluePearl Specialty and Emergency Pet Hospital

have treated dozens of dogs and cats who have gotten into holiday-related food and items. In fact, BluePearl, which has more than 80 hospitals in 25 states across the U.S., sees an approximate 69 percent increase in chocolate-related emergency visits on Christmas Eve.

Follow these expert tips to ensure a smooth and safe holiday season for your pets—and your guests:

Keep the food away.

While chocolate is a big part of the holidays for many people, it is toxic to dogs and cats. Be sure to keep chocolate, along with any other sweets and baked goods containing chocolate, away from pets. Also, be mindful of table scraps, including turkey, turkey skin, gravy, and meat fat. Even in small doses, these foods can cause a life-threatening condition in pets called pancreatitis. While you may know that Fido cannot have Turkey bones, other house guests may not. Make sure guests are aware of the “cans” and “can’ts.\”

Be mindful of decorations (and carefully dispose of gift wrapping).

Christmas trees, electric lights, water additives, ornaments, candles, tinsel, and potpourris all pose a threat to pets’ health during the holidays. If an ornament, tinsel, or other holiday decoration is consumed, it can cause intestinal blockages that may require surgery. Electric lights and candles can cause fires, pet burns (if chewed), or worse. Never leave an animal alone with an exposed flame. Gift wrappings should also be cleared away, as sparkly ribbon or glittered bows can be tempting for your pet to play with or eat.

Designate a comfortable, quiet place inside for pets to retreat.

Pets can become emotionally distressed with the commotion that accompanies a holiday gathering, so make sure to designate a private room or crate somewhere quiet. If a room or crate is not available, be especially mindful of the front door. As friends and family come and go, it is easy for pets to make a break for it out the door and become lost. Consider getting your pets microchipped.

If traveling, pack for the pet.

Remember to bring pet food, fresh water, medications, copies of their medical records, their ID tag, veterinarian information, a crate, bed/blanket, and toys. If traveling in a vehicle, safely restrain your pet using a secure harness or a carrier, placed away from airbags. Never leave your pet alone in the car or transport your pet in the bed of a truck.

Plan ahead.

Scope out 24/7 emergency veterinary hospitals along your travel route before there’s an emergency. Keep a digital and hardcopy list of the numbers to these hospitals in case of emergencies. You want to include:

Your primary veterinarian’s phone number

24/7 emergency veterinary hospitals along the travel route—phone numbers and addresses

The phone number to the

ASPCA Poison Control Hotline:

1-888-426-4435 (fees may apply)

Gloucester\’s Game Lions – Rams OT

GLOUCESTER CITY NJ (Nov. 28, 2019)–The annual battle between our two neighborhood schools ended regulation tied a 6 – 6. After scoreless first quarter Gloucester Catholic High hit pay dirt first taking a 6 – 0 lead in 2nd but Gloucester High battled back to tie the game at 6 – 6 on a touchdown by Steven Burkhardt.

Lions put on a late first half surge hoping to take a lead before entering the locker room, but QB Gavin Callahan\’s pass intented for Steven Burkhardt as time ran out was intercepted in the endzone by Rams Ben Watkis.

Throughout the second half both teams were unable to provide a knockout punch as the game ended in regulation 6 – 6, after the Rams attempted a goal winning field goal which was blocked by Lions Gavin Callahan

In overtime were each team begins at the 25 yardline, the Lions surprised the crowd when they converted a 4th down 22 yd field goal to take a 9-6 lead. The Rams overtime opportunity resulted in a TD pass to Ben Watkis

Photo\’s courtesy Bruce Darrow

(www.Darrowphotos.com)

Gloucester High School

Gloucester Catholic

https://darrowphotos.com

Two and One-Half-Hours

The Renewal of GLOUCESTER\’S GAME

GHS Cheerleaders and Mascot

Gavin Callahan\’s Blocked FG

Winning Touchdown Ben Watkis

Ben Watkis interception

TD Run Steven Burkardt

Remembering Pearl Harbor

CAMDEN CITY, NJ–The Camden County Freeholder Board and Gloucester County Freeholder Board will mark the 78th anniversary of Pearl Harbor, December 7th 1941, on

Friday, December 6th at 10 AM

on the Battleship New Jersey. The event is free and open to the public. Free parking is available.

Delaware\’s Low-Digit Surf-Fishing Tag Auction starts Black Friday

Dover (Nov. 27, 2019) – DNREC’s Division of Parks & Recreation will auction Low-Digit Surf Fishing Tags starting Black Friday, Nov. 29 at

www.usgovbid.com

Between Nov. 29 and Dec. 11, bidders will have the option to bid on 10 tags, including tags 36, 63, 125 and 225, and on six “choice” categories, ranging from tags 51 to 9999. The highest bidder in each choice category can choose a number, if not already sold, within that category.

The minimum bid for a surf fishing tag is $250. By state law, surf-fishing tags numbered 1 through 200 are limited to vehicles registered in Delaware.

The auction of low-numbered plates was authorized by the Delaware General Assembly and allows DNREC’s Division of Parks & Recreation to auction low-digit tags to the highest bidder. All proceeds directly benefit Delaware State Parks, which is 65 percent self-funded.

For more information visit

www.destateparks.com/LowDigitTags

www.usgovbid.com

or by phone at 302-739-9200.

Coast Guard searches for missing kite surfer near Ocean City

OCEAN CITY, N.J.(Nov. 28, 2019)– —The Coast Guard is searching for a missing kite surfer near Ocean City, New Jersey, Thursday evening.

Coast Guard Station Atlantic City watchstanders received a call from 911, notifying them of a kite surfer, reportedly wearing all black, seen drifting out to sea after falling off a kiteboard approximately 500-yards off Corson Inlet, at around 3:20 p.m.

Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay launched an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter aircrew from Air Station Atlantic City, a Station Atlantic City 47-foot Motor Lifeboat crew, and a Station Cape May 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew to search for the missing person.

Anyone with additional information regarding this case can contact the Sector Delaware Bay command center at 215-271-4960.

PATCO RECEIVES CEREMONIAL LIBERTY BELL

IN RECOGNITION OF 50 YEARS OF PUBLIC TRANSIT SERVICE

Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney commemorated PATCO’s Golden Anniversary during Customer Appreciation Event at 15/16th & Locust Street Station

To commemorate PATCO’s 50 years of connecting people through public transit, Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney presented PATCO with a Ceremonial Liberty Bell on behalf of the City of Philadelphia last month.

On February 15, 1969, PATCO made its first trip from Lindenwold, New Jersey, to Center City Philadelphia.

“Congratulations to PATCO on its 50th Anniversary. It’s a real connection between Philadelphia and New Jersey,” said Kenney. “PATCO is really important. It brings thousands of passengers across the bridge into Philadelphia. It keeps cars off the highways, keeps emissions down and really does a good job for our environment.”

PATCO General Manager John D. Rink and DRPA Deputy CEO Maria J. Wing accepted the Ceremonial Liberty Bell on behalf of PATCO at its 15/16th & Locust Street Station.

“We have a saying at the DRPA and PATCO that we connect people. We connect people to their jobs. We connect people to their homes. We connect people to cross river events,” said Wing. “Currently more than 10.8 million people every year ride PATCO. We look forward to another 50 years of serving the region with the reopening of the Franklin Square Station in 2023.”

Kenney echoed the shared excitement for the reopening of Franklin Square.

“The opening of the PATCO Station at Franklin Square will be wonderful because people from New Jersey will be able to bring their kids over to Franklin Square and not have to bring their car and have a good time with their kids and enjoy Philadelphia,” added Kenney. “It makes us even closer states than we already are.”

After the Liberty Bell presentation, PATCO held a 50th Anniversary Customer Appreciation Event at the station. The event featured food, music, giveaways and a prize wheel where customers could win items such as a $50 FREEDOM Card and round-trip tickets.

“We are very proud to be part of the Philadelphia community,” said Rink. “Without our customers each and every day, we would not be here, so thank you.”

(L to R) Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney, DRPA Deputy CEO Maria J. Wing and PATCO General Manager John D. Rink.

European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS)

(olive-wolverine-471793.hostingersite.com)(Nov. 27, 2019)–With the expansion and debatable success of the European Union, the supranational state has become evident that it’s possible to successfully coordinate policies across multiple jurisdictions. Trade wars and tax competition has always eroded the notion of collective behavior, but the E.U. proves this is not the case. The European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS), though not strictly the E.U., is evidence that coordinated policy can work too.

On September 5th, 2018, The European Council passed a regulation that would better control European borders. This system was designed to mitigate security threats to European countries by making sure Europe as a collective can identify who, when visiting or moving, may pose as a security threat. If this is the case, they can deny such people the authorization to travel.

So, what does this mean for visitors?

The systems mean that all visa-exempt countries are required to go through ETIAS –

https://www.etias.info/

. For a small fee, you can apply online, meaning the application is processed quickly. This isn’t exactly like a visa, it’s separate – as well as being faster and cheaper. In fact, it\’s a visa waiver program. In this sense, the E.U. is being generous here, maintaining an accessible system as well as high-level security.

Who needs an ETIAS visa waiver?

All in all, there are 60 nationalities that need an ETIAS visa waiver. That’s good news, as 60 countries need not apply for a visa. For a quick example, 7 of these origin countries include:

Australia

Hong Kong

USA

Canada

Argentina

Singapore

UAB

The link above shares the remaining 53 origin countries. So, if you’re from one of those and are looking to visit a European ETIAS country, then your life just got easier with a 5-minute application. It’s important to note that not every country in Europe or the E.U. uses ETIAS. For example, Monaco, Sweden, and Vatican City all use ETIAS, along with most European Union States, but not the UK.

It is known as the Schengen Area – the area in which 26 countries are a part of the ETIAS program. This is 22 out of the 24 EU countries, along with the inclusion of four non-EU countries. The Schengen Agreement was signed over 30 years ago in 1985 (at that point it was just 10 countries).

The entire process is designed to be hassle-free, with no necessity to go to a consulate or embassy. You can visit 400 million KM^2 with very little friction. Of course, you will need a valid passport – ideally with at least 6 months left on it. These details will be required to fulfill the ETIAS application.

Europe is a hugely popular holiday destination, with an extremely rich history and interesting economic developments. Not only is a great holiday, but a great blueprint of how to work in unison towards common goals, such as national security, green energy and taxation. Now it’s not just EU citizens that get to freely move about without a visa, but much of the rest of the world too. It’s important to keep an eye on the eligible origin countries for the ETIAS, as the list will continue to grow.

Samaritan Healthcare & Hospice Hosted Special Educational Conference

on Moral Injury and Veteran-Centric Care with Local Experts

Marlton, NJ

–

Samaritan Healthcare & Hospice

, in collaboration with New Jersey Department of Military & Veterans Affairs, HeroCare Connect and the New Jersey Hospital Association (NJHA), recently hosted the

Moral Injury and Veteran-Centric Care Conference

at The Samaritan Center in Voorhees.

VetConference– Samaritan Healthcare & Hospice, in collaboration with New Jersey Department of Military & Veterans Affairs, HeroCare Connect and the New Jersey Hospital Association (NJHA), recently hosted the Moral Injury and Veteran-Centric Care Conference at The Samaritan Center in Voorhees. Pictured here, from left: Mary Ann Boccolini, President and CEO, Samaritan Healthcare & Hospice; Reverend Chris J. Antal, Staff Chaplain, Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center in Philadelphia and Keynote Speaker of the conference; and Kim Rumaker, Manager of Social Work, Spiritual Support & Center of Grief Support, Samaritan Healthcare & Hospice.

“The purpose of this conference was to bring together local experts in order to educate and, ultimately, improve quality care for our veterans across the healthcare continuum,” explained Mary Ann Boccolini, president and CEO of Samaritan Healthcare & Hospice. “Samaritan is proud to host a conference highlighting the unique needs of those who have served our country. By openly discussing topics such as moral injury and PTSD, we are breaking down barriers and raising awareness of how we can best serve our growing veteran population.”

The keynote address was delivered by Reverend Chris J. Antal, staff chaplain at the Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center in Philadelphia where he co-leads a group for veterans experiencing moral injury. Accompanied by fellow veterans who shared their own personal experiences, Reverend Antal, who served in the Army Chaplain Corps from 2008-2016 and is a veteran of the United States’ war in Afghanistan, presented the concept of moral injury and then led conference attendees through a series of exercises to bring the concept to life.

The conference also included presentations from local experts on a variety of topics pertaining to veteran-centric care:

The Importance of Veteran-Centric Care

Presented by Dr. Stephen Goldfine, Chief Medical Director of Samaritan Healthcare & Hospice

The Evolution of Caring for Our Military – A Case Study

Presented by Christine Carlson-Glazer, MPH, Government and Community Relations Liaison of Deborah Heart and Lung Center and HeroCare Connect™ and Louis Bezich, MPP, Senior Vice President, Strategic Alliances of Cooper University Hospital and HeroCare Connect™

Navigating Moral Injury – Stats and Stories

Presented by Dr. Mary Ditri, Vice President of Community Health of the New Jersey Hospital Association and Dr. Michael Mimms, Veteran Mental Health Care Navigator of the New Jersey Hospital Association

Connecting Veterans to Services in NJ

Presented by Christopher Wambach, State Supervisor of Veteran Service Offices of the New Jersey Department of Military and Veteran Affairs

Samaritan Healthcare & Hospice is a four-star provider of the

We Honor Veterans

and

Hospice Veterans Partnership (HVP) of New Jersey

We Honor Veterans

is a joint program of the Veterans Administration and the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization that focuses on respectful inquiry, compassionate listening and grateful recognition for those who served our country.

HVP of New Jersey

, an affiliate of the Homecare & Hospice Association of New Jersey, establishes a network of hospice and VA professionals in efforts to provide outstanding end-of-life care for New Jersey’s veterans and their families.

To learn more about the services Samaritan provides to members of the veteran community, visit

www.SamaritanNJ.org/hospice-care/veteran-hospice/

Pennsylvania Senator Wants to End Practice of Changing Clocks within the State

Pennsylvania senator calls for end to Daylight Saving Time

By Dave Fidlin |

The Center Square

Nov 25, 2019

Pennsylvania Sen. Scott Martin is on a quest to end the twice-annual practice of changing clocks – not just within the state, but across all of the U.S.

Martin, R-Lancaster, went before the Pennsylvania Senate State Government Committee recently and discussed why he was introducing

Senate Resolution 179

. At its core, the document calls on federal lawmakers to abolish the long-running practice of Daylight Saving Time.

“I think it’s a process that’s well past its time,” Martin said. “I think we can do better.”

In his recent remarks to the Senate panel, Martin described the practice of changing clocks back an hour in November and ahead in March as an “archaic tradition.” Many believe Daylight Saving Time began to help farmers, but this is a misconception,” Martin wrote in a

co-sponsorship memorandum

outlining the rationale for the resolution.

“The practice began temporarily during World War I as a fuel-saving measure and was reinstated briefly during World War II,” Martin said. “It was made a permanent fixture for most American states and territories in 1966 when President [Lyndon] Johnson signed the Uniform Time Act.”

Martin said there were other reasons he drafted the resolution and is asking his Senate colleagues to forward the call on to federal lawmakers for a vote.

“Some studies show that the twice-a-year change actually leads to an increase of car accidents, work-related injuries, risk of stroke and heart attacks and a loss of productivity, costing the United States economy over $400 million a year,” Martin wrote in the memo.

During his testimony before the Senate panel, Martin laid out other reasons he believes Daylight Saving Time should end, including concerns of student performance from time shifts and interference with family activities in the evening.

“I think, in general, from a family perspective – who wouldn\’t like to see a little more daylight?” Martin said.

The Senate State Government Committee voted unanimously in favor of forwarding Martin’s resolution on to the full legislative body.

“Thank you for bringing this forward,” said state Sen. Doug Mastriano, R-Greene Township, who serves on the panel. “It needs to go away.”

While most Americans routinely change their clocks twice annually, there are exceptions. Arizona, for example, has not recognized Daylight Saving Time since 1968. Hawaii is another state that currently maintains a standard time throughout the year

Pennsylvania lawmakers are not the only ones who have discussed ending Daylight Saving Time. Similar state-specific proposals have been considered in the past in Maine and Massachusetts.

Also, Florida lawmakers last year passed the so-called Sunshine Protection Act, which calls for an end to Daylight Saving Time in the state, though federal approval is required since the proposal also includes a call to shift time zones.

published here with permission