WASHINGTON, Aug. 2 -- Rep. John M. McHugh, R-N.Y. (23rd CD), issued the following news release: U.S. Congressman John M. McHugh (R-NY) today announced that the House of Representatives voted, 381 - 40, to pass the Water Resources Development Act of 2007. The legislation authorizes Congressman McHugh's request of $5 million in federal funding for wastewater infrastructure in the Hamlet of Essex, New York. The funding would help finance construction of a wastewater treatment plant. Currently, t  more

FORWARD OPERATING BASE MEHTAR LAM, Afghanistan, Aug. 2 -- The U.S. Army Combined Forces Command - Afghanistan issued the following news release: By Army Pfc. Daniel M. Rangel 22nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment Taliban and al-Qaida insurgents manufacturing IEDs in the caves and compounds of the Alishang Valley are being hunted day and night by infantrymen of the 1st Battalion, 158th Infantry Regiment, an Arizona National Guard unit. The 1-158th, has been conducting regular patrols,  more

SALINAS, Calif., Aug. 1 -- Monterey County issued the following press release: It is West Nile Virus season and human cases have been reported in the State of California. There have not been any reported cases Monterey County this year. However, individuals are still encouraged to protect themselves and their families from possible West Nile Virus exposure. West Nile Virus is transmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito. Mosquitoes get the virus when they feed on infected birds. West Ni  more

SACRAMENTO, Calif., Aug. 1 -- The California Attorney General issued the following news release: Charging that the auto industry is working to "sabotage California's landmark greenhouse gas law," California Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. today attacked a proposed energy bill amendment and called upon the House to reject any effort to block state authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. Attorney General Brown joined 13 states and the City of New York in sending a letter to Hous  more

ALBANY, N.Y., Aug. 2 -- The New York State Attorney General issued the following news release: Attorney General Andrew Cuomo today filed suit against a Niagara Falls man who attempted to defraud investors through an eBay house-flipping scheme that involved properties in Western New York. "This individual tried to pull a modern-day bait-and-switch scheme over the Internet," said Attorney General Cuomo. "He's a con artist with a computer, trying to lure investors into what was a massive patt  more

SPOKANE, Wash., Aug. 2 -- The Washington state Attorney General issued the following news release: Attorney General Rob McKenna today urged consumers to check the tires on their SUV, pickup or van in case they are among those being recalled. Attorneys General in 24 states issued consumer alerts and have formed a working group to look into concerns that an estimated 270,000 tires brought into the U.S. from China may be potentially unsafe. The tires were imported by Foreign Tire Sales, of Ne  more

TOPEKA, Kan., Aug. 1 -- Washburn University issued the following news release: An insider's view of the Kansas City Chiefs and a presentation on the effects of high technology are among the topics of Washburn alumni scheduled as speakers in the 2007-08 Wake Up with Washburn Breakfast Lecture Series. The events begin at 7:30 a.m. at the Bradbury Thompson Alumni Center, Washburn University. Kicking off the series on Aug. 30 will be Gwen Ritter, New York City, who will present "The Role Hedge  more

ORLANDO, Fla., Aug. 1 -- The Florida Department of Education issued the following news release: New York Times bestselling author Sharon Draper will address more than 4,600 superintendents, principals, reading coaches and district staff in the opening general session of the sixth annual Just Read, Florida! K-12 Leadership Conference at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort in Orlando. Sharon M. Draper, a four-time winner of the Coretta Scott King Literary Award, is a professional educator and has be  more

NEW YORK, Aug. 2 -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety & Health Administration issued the following press release: Following a whistleblower investigation by the U.S. Labor Department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the town of Cazenovia, N.Y., has paid nearly $100,000 in damages and back wages to an employee who was injured during a retaliatory work assignment and suffered other retaliatory actions after he raised concerns protected under federal envir  more

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 3 -- Geoffrey M. Gelman and Dean P. Alderucci, both of Stamford, Conn., Jay S. Walker of Ridgefield, Conn., Andrew S. Van Luchene of New York, and Deirdre O'Shea of Orinda, Calif., have developed a method for determination of posting payment amount. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "Products and processes are provided in which information is received about a post for an item to be sold. The information may include, e.g., the class and type of item being s  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 1 -- The U.S. Department of Defense's American Forces Information Service issued the following press release: By Fred W. Baker III American Forces Press Service While Army nurse Linnie Leckrone was patching up wounded soldiers in France on the front lines of World War I, she most likely wasn't thinking that her actions one day would merit the military's third-highest award for valor in the face of the enemy. Leckrone probably didn't even consider the history she was m  more

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, Aug. 2 -- The Environmental Protection Agency Region 2 office issued the following news release: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will hold a public meeting in Santa Isabel, Puerto Rico, on Friday, August 3, 2007, to hear what people have to say about the terms of the Agency's proposed order on consent with the municipality and landfill operators to close the municipality's existing landfill. "The fact is that the Commonwealth has a serious solid waste  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 2 -- The U.S. Department of Energy's Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued the text of the following delegated order: In Reply Refer To: OEP/DG2E/Gas 2 Millennium Pipeline Company L.LC. Docket No. CP98-150-006 Richard H. Leehr, President Millennium Pipeline Company, LLC One Blue Hill Plaza, 7th Floor P.O. Box 1565 Pearl River, NY 10965 Re: Authorization of Modified Construction Procedure Dear Mr. Leehr: In compliance with environmental condition 1 of   more

NEW YORK, Aug. 1 -- The New York City Department of Finance issued the following press release: The New York City Department of Finance (DOF) and Office of Emergency Management (OEM) announced today that they are extending tax filing and payment deadlines for businesses affected by closures within the "Frozen Zone" due to the July 18, 2007 steam pipe explosion. Affected taxpayers who are required to file returns or to make estimated payments for the General Corporation Tax, Unincorporated   more

FORT GILLEM, Ga., Aug. 2 -- The U.S. Army issued the following news release: By Steve Lambert First Army Public Affairs As the United States approaches its sixth year in the war on terrorism, America's Army Reserve Components continue to play a historic, unprecedented and vital role in the conflict. That trend continues as First Army gears up to prepare five National Guard Brigade Combat Teams for deployment in the coming months. As part of that preparation, First Army hosted a proact  more

SLIDELL, La., Aug. 1 -- The city of Slidell issued the following news release: The Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on America - seared forever into the national psyche as 9-11 - took the lives of more than 2,800 people, shocked the civilized world and led to the U.S. war on terror that continues to this day. The vast majority of the deaths occurred at New York's World Trade Center, which was destroyed when two jet planes commandeered by Islamic extremists crashed into it. Few, if any, Am  more

ALBANY, N.Y., Aug. 2 -- Gov. Eliot Spitzer, D-N.Y., has issued the following news release: Governor Eliot Spitzer today announced that he has signed legislation that will ensure airline passengers on severely delayed flights operating out of New York airports are provided with basic customer protections. This legislation was proposed in response to several incidents of severe airline delays due to inclement weather at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport, where passengers waited f  more

ALBANY, N.Y., Aug. 2 -- Gov. Eliot Spitzer, D-N.Y., has issued the following news release: Governor Eliot Spitzer and Mayor Michael Bloomberg today announced that Governor Spitzer has signed into law New York City's first-ever local Child Care Tax Credit. The tax credit is designed to assist low-income families with the cost of child care for children under the age of 4, and it is estimated that up to 49,000 New York City families will qualify for this benefit. "Access to quality childcar  more

NEW YORK, Aug. 3 -- The U.S. General Services Administration has awarded a $222,167 contract to Iceweb Inc., Herndon, Va., for network and internet web portal security appliances and software. The contract was awarded by GSA's Federal Technology Service, New York.  more

MARKSVILLE, La., Aug. 1 -- The Paragon Casino Resort, owned by the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe, issued the following news release: Officials at Paragon Casino Resort, Louisiana's first land based casino, announced the performance of Johnny Rivers in the new Mari Convention and Entertainment Center on Saturday, August 11 at 9 p.m. Tickets are $25.00 and may be purchased at Paragon's Gift Shop or any Ticketmaster outlet. Born John Henry Ramistella on November 7, 1942, Rivers is an American rock an  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 2 -- Rep. Michael H. Michaud, D-Maine (2nd CD), issued the following news release: Today, Congressman Mike Michaud and his colleagues on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee voted to approve the Regional Economic and Infrastructure Development Act of 2007. This legislation contains the bill that Michaud authored creating a Northern Border Economic Development Commission. "Today's hearing represents a very important step forward for the creation of a Northe  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 2 -- The Library of Congress issued the following news release: Librarian of Congress James H. Billington has announced the appointment of Charles Simic to be the Library's 15th Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry. Simic will take up his duties in the fall, opening the Library's annual literary series on Oct. 17 with a reading of his work. He also will be a featured speaker at the Library of Congress National Book Festival in the Poetry pavilion on Saturday, Sept. 29, on th  more

NEW YORK, Aug. 1 -- The office of the New York City Mayor issued the following press release: Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today teamed up with Yankees Manager Joe Torre and President of the Roberto Clemente Foundation, Roberto Clemente, Jr. to kick-off the second annual Gracie Mansion Tee-Ball Tournament. Dozens of Little Leaguers from all five boroughs ages five and six played a series of tee-ball games on the Gracie Mansion lawn. The tournament, started in 2006 to celebrate and promote commu  more

NEW YORK, Aug. 1 -- The office of the New York City Mayor issued the following press release: Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today unveiled the design for the upcoming restoration of Brooklyn's Dreier-Offerman Park. The $40 million project is a part of the Mayor's PlaNYC initiative in which eight parks in all five boroughs will be transformed into attractive regional destinations. The redesign and improvements announced today will be completed by 2011, and are part of more than $1.2 billion in ca  more

NEW YORK, Aug. 2 -- The office of the New York City Mayor issued the following press release: Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Governor Eliot Spitzer today announced that the Governor has signed into law a local Child Care Tax Credit-a key recommendation of the Mayor's Poverty Commission. The tax credit is designed to assist low-income and underemployed families with the cost of child care for children under the age of four, and it is estimated that up to 49,000 New York City families will qualify  more

NEW YORK, Aug. 2 -- The New York State Metropolitan Transportation Authority issued the following news release: The MTA Long Island Rail Road will replace a major switch along with track work in the Queens Village area during three weekends in August requiring Hempstead Branch customers to use buses instead of trains for at least part of their trips during the three weekends, August 4-5, August 11-12 and part of August 18-19. * August 4-5 & August 11-12 From 10:21 PM, Friday, August 3 t  more

NEW YORK, Aug. 2 -- The New York State Metropolitan Transportation Authority issued the following news release: The MTA Long Island Rail Road intends to develop an application for a waiver from the Federal Railroad Administration's minimum train horn decibel requirement. The move to seek the waiver was announced following a test of a modified electric train horn at the Cedarhurst Station today. While the test results demonstrated lower decibel levels, the LIRR recognizes that train horns are   more

NEW YORK, Aug. 2 -- The New York State Metropolitan Transportation Authority issued the following news release: During the intervening months since the tragic deaths of track workers Daniel Boggs and Marvin Franklin, MTA New York City Transit has worked closely with TWU Local 100 to create a series of measures meant to ensure the safety of all of our employees as they perform their duties along the subway right-of-way. Also, the Boards of Inquiry into the two accidents have been completed.   more

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 3 -- William C. Stumphauzer II of South Lyon, Mich., has developed a personalized broadcasts receiving method. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A system and method automatically plays programming selections corresponding to the user's preferences as specified in a playlist. The user can create a playlist and transfer the playlist to a receiver." An abstract of the invention, released by the Patent Office, said: "The receiver scans the content in all o  more

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 3 -- Ralph J. Johnson of Bedford, N.H., and Paul R. Lyman of Scriba, N.Y., have developed a led lamp bulb assembly. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A reflector lamp assembly may be formed with a reflector housing having a reflector with a prescribed reflective surface; the reflector formed with a wall defining a through passage. A lamp bulb assembly having an axially extending stem supports a head extending transverse to the axis, the head having a firs  more

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 3 -- Bing Chen of Westfield, N.J., and Wallace F. Smith, Jr. of Sea Girt, N.J., have developed a method of echo cancellation in communication networks. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, the invention relates to a "method of measuring echo path delay in a circuit having echo cancellers after enabling an echo signal to pass through the echo cancellers. The known time for a given echo canceller to disable is subtracted from the overall test signal duration. T  more

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 3 -- Deepak Dube of Marlboro, N.J., and Michael Fornatore of Middleton, N.J., have developed a packet switching network. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, the invention relates to "automated methods and systems for determining and setting router quality-of-service (QoS) adjustments to control the service level of voice over Internet protocol (VoIP)voice communications in a packet switching network supporting both voice and data communications. Network topo  more

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 3 -- Eric Cheung and Xiaotao Wu, both of New York, Gregory W. Bond of Hoboken, N.J., Kermit Hal Purdy of Bernardsville, N.J., and Pamela Zave of Chatham, N.J., have developed a method in communication services. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "An implementation of a voice-over-Internet protocol (VoIP) system for accomplishing two-way, three-way and conference calling between two or more parties is disclosed, in which new call features are readily adapted  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 1 -- Rep. Charles B. Rangel, D-N.Y. (15th CD), issued the following news release: A bill to designate the Federal building under construction at 799 First Avenue in New York in honor of the late Commerce Secretary Ron Brown was passed by the House of Representatives this week. The legislation now awaits passage by the Senate. The 26-story building, which is expected to be ready for occupancy in 2009, will house the U.S. Mission to the United Nations and be called the Rona  more

ALBANY, N.Y., Aug. 1 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture's New York Agricultural Statistics office issued the following press release: The 2005 Agricultural Resource Management Survey collected detailed information about the production practices and costs on dairy farms in 24 States, which represent more than 90 percent of national milk production. As part of the survey, a subsample of organic dairy operations were selected allowing for estimates of milk costs and returns for 2005 by State   more

CAMP SUMMIT, Greenland, Aug. 2 -- The U.S. Air Force Air Mobility Command issued the following press release: By Tech. Sgt. Mike R. Smith National Guard Bureau The gray and orange LC-130 Hercules, one of the world's largest cargo aircraft with skis, touched down 10,600 feet above sea level onto the frozen ice sheet here July 24 to continue an airlift mission that serves as the only supply line for some of the world's leading scientists studying our planet. After circling the Arctic ou  more

NEW YORK, Aug. 1 -- The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene issued the following press release: The Health Department is reminding parents that all children must receive certain vaccinations before they begin or return to school or day care this fall. Childhood vaccinations required for school entry protect against potentially life-threatening diseases including diphtheria, tetanus, measles, mumps, rubella, polio, hepatitis B, pertussis (whooping cough) and chicken pox. All   more

NEW YORK, Aug. 2 -- The Federal Reserve Bank of New York issued the following press release: The Federal Reserve Bank of New York is strongly considering discontinuing the publication of foreign exchange rates at the end of 2008, given the availability of alternative market-based sources for these rates. The New York Fed currently publishes foreign exchange rates at 10 am and noon each business day on its website. A final decision will be announced in September 2007. If you have further qu  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 1 -- The U.S. Department of Defense's American Forces Information Service issued the following press release: By Jim Garamone American Forces Press Service New York National Guardsmen will start deploying to Afghanistan late this year, Defense Department officials said today. About 1,700 Guardsmen of the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team will relieve South Carolina National Guardsmen of the 218th Brigade Combat Team as the primary trainers of the Afghan National Army.  more

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 3 -- Mark L. Cortegiano of Middle Village, N.Y., has developed an method for displaying advertising on digital cellular telephones. An abstract of the invention, released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, said: "The present invention relates to a method for displaying messages, such as advertisements, consumer promotions, and customer service announcements, on digital wireless communication devices, such as digital cellular telephones. The method comprising the step  more

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 3 -- Anthony J. Allis of Bronx, N.Y., has developed an aquarium with an improved filtration system. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, the invention relates to an "aquarium which includes a tank having a pump and an under gravel filter disposed in the tank below the pump. The under gravel filter includes a hollow bubble dispersing base plate having a perforated top surface and an overlying substrate. An air conduit is provided for introducing air into the   more

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 3 -- William J. Cultrara of Victor, N.Y., has developed a boat camper vessel. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A boat camper vessel has a pair of pontoons joined by a bridge that provides the deck of the vessel. A main canopy stores in the bow when not is use. The raised canopy is supported by ribs and it extends from the bow to a stern bulkhead. Two stern bulkheads define a stern compartment has holds a toilet, shower and water heater. An auxiliary can  more

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 3 -- Wen-Tien Chen of Stony Brook, N.Y., has developed methods for inhibition of cancer invasion. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "The invention provides antibodies that specifically bind a membrane protease complex, the complex consisting of two homodimers of seprase and dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPPIV), obtained from mammalian, preferably human cell membranes. The antibodies specifically bind the DPPIV protease of the seprase-DPPIV complex. This membran  more

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 3 -- Jermaine C Roberson of Bronx, N.Y., has developed an apparatus for a nonskid absorbent pad for animals. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "Apparatus for a pet, training pad having a plurality of material layers to retain fluids and solid material; while preventing passage therethrough. The top layer serves as the absorbent material with the bottom layer 18 forming a fluid impermeable layer to prevent passage of liquids. The impermeable layer extends o  more

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 3 -- Vincent Decaprio of Elmsford, N.Y., has developed a open end ratchet wrench. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A ratchet wrench includes a generally open head member and a handle connected thereto. A pair of generally C-shaped collars are hingedly connected to the head member for selectively closing and opening it and a locking tab provided for selectively locking the collars in a position for closing the head member." An abstract of the invention  more

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 3 -- Nicholas Paul Shields of Fairport, N.Y., has developed a phase locked loop (PLL) frequency synthesizer. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "The PLL frequency synthesizer includes a phase detector receiving a reference signal, a controlled oscillator (e.g. a voltage controlled oscillator) connected to the phase detector and generating a synthesized frequency output signal based upon the reference signal, a mixer (e.g. an in-phase and quadrature-phase mo  more

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 3 -- Gerasimos Potamianos and Etienne Marcheret, both of White Plains, N.Y., Jonathan H. Connell of Cortlandt Manor, N.Y., Norman Haas of Mount Kisco, N.Y., and Chalapathy Venkata Neti of Yorktown Heights, N.Y., have developed an audio-visual speech recognition system. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, the invention relates to "techniques for performing audio-visual speech recognition, with improved recognition performance, in a degraded visual environment  more

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 2 -- David Angelo Tomasso and James David Shaw, both of Rochester, N.Y., Raymond Francis Jakubowicz of Rush, N.Y., and Michael W. LaCourt of Spencerport, N.Y., have developed a clinical analyzer system. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A clinical analyzer for determining the presence or amount of an analyte in a sample includes at least one reagent supply and at least one reaction containment device for containing a volume of sample and a volume of said  more

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 2 -- Richard D Kessler of Northport, N.Y., and Paul Abbatepaolo of St. James, N.Y., have developed a container for cosmetic products. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, the invention relates to a "container for receiving an element forming spatula having one end provided with a part in relief, the container including: a stopper having a peripheral skirt having a screwing surface and a lower end; a bottom wall; a side wall having a first end opposite the bot  more

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 3 -- Maria Rene Ebling of White Plains, N.Y., and Guerney Douglass Holloway Hunt of Yorktown Heights, N.Y., have developed an apparatus for providing dynamic user alert. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, the invention relates to "techniques for providing a dynamic alert indication to a user of a signal receiving device. One technique includes the steps of processing a signal transmitted from a signal transmitting device to determine at least one mode to be  more

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 3 -- Frank W.Wise, Fatih Omer Ilday and Hyungsik Lim, all from Ithaca, N.Y., have developed short-pulse fiber lasers. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A photonic-crystal fiber provides dispersion compensation in a soliton fiber laser. The anomalous dispersion provided by the photonic-crystal fiber permits construction of a femtosecond fiber laser at one micrometer (mum) wavelength without prisms or diffraction gratings. The laser produces about 100-full  more

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 2 -- William L. Luken of Yorktown Heights, N.Y., has developed a Moving Picture Experts Group layer four (MPEG-4) textual representation method. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A method, system, and computer program product for converting a binary MPEG-4 binary file into an Extensible Moving Picture Experts Group-4 Textual (XMT) file. The invention includes generating at least one intermediary structured document representing the mp4 binary file. A tran  more

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 3 -- Carlos Encarnacion, Lyudmila Gavurina and Aaron Nirshberg, all from Brooklyn, N.Y., have developed a pop-up bag stuffer. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, the invention relates to a "bag stuffer for placement in a bag, comprising a first panel, a second panel, and an articulated support beam connected between the first and second panels. The articulated beam has a collapsed storage position with the first and second panels substantially adjacent each   more

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 3 -- Sudhir M. Desai, Dean A. St. Pier and Anne-Marie L. Sweetland, all from Wappingers Falls, N.Y., James A. O'Connor of Ulster Park, N.Y., and Theodore V. Purvin Jr. of Kingston, N.Y., have developed a method for minimizing the use of product parts. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "Use of parts in products is managed to minimize the use of parts that will reach their end of life prior to the products for which those parts are usable. To manage use of a  more

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 3 -- Ira S. Lerner and James F. Pilat Jr., both of New York, have developed an adjustable tensioning system for rimless eyewear. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "Rimless eyewear features a wire that encircles a lens. Systems are provided for selectively increasing or decreasing a tensile load on the wire to facilitate assembly and maintenance of the eyewear. An adjusting screw, different wire securement positions, and/or adjustment shims provide easy ten  more

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 2 -- Christopher D. Martin and Richard H. Hinkson, both of Plainview, N.Y., Narine Boodoosingh of Ozone Park, N.Y., and Kevin G. Piel of Ronkonkoma, N.Y., have developed a method for automatically updating security control panel parameters. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, the invention relates to a "method and system for automatically uploading the configuration of a security system to a central station automation system via telephonic lines, long-range   more

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 3 -- Laura A. Weller-Brophy of Pittsford, N.Y., Jayson J. Nelson of Webster, N.Y., Marek W. Kowarz of Henrietta, N.Y., John C. Brazas of Hilton, N.Y., and James G. Phalen of Rochester, N.Y., have developed a an unpolished optical element with periodic surface roughness. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "An optical sub-system has an optical element having a curved surface featured with a plurality of recurring surface tooling marks. The depth of any surfac  more

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., Aug. 2 -- The New York Power Authority issued the following news release: The New York Power Authority (NYPA) has earned national recognition in the 2007 APEX Awards for Publications Excellence. The award recognizes the efforts of NYPA staff for graphic arts materials they produced related to the Power Authority's 75th Anniversary celebration in 2006. This is the tenth APEX award NYPA has earned since 1999. For the past 19 years APEX, an international competition for co  more

ALBANY, N.Y., Aug. 2 -- The New York State Office of Science, Technology and Academic Research issued the following news release: Edward Reinfurt, Acting Executive Director of the New York State Foundation for Science, Technology and Innovation (NYSTAR), today announced $1.05 million in funding for the New York State Science and Technology Law Center at Syracuse University. The funding is a testament to NYSTAR's commitment to the innovation economy and will enable the STLC to receive $350,000  more

ALBANY, N.Y., Aug. 2 -- The New York State Department of Health issued the following news release: State Health Commissioner Richard F. Daines, M.D., today reminded New Yorkers to swim safely this summer to avoid injury and drowning. The number of drownings in New York continues to decrease each year, with 151 drownings reported at state regulated pools and beaches during the last 20 years, while the number of people seeking water recreation each summer has increased. "Drowning is a leadin  more

ALBANY, N.Y., Aug. 2 -- The New York State Thruway Authority issued the following news release: The New York State Thruway Authority is working with its transportation partners - the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT), the New York State Bridge Authority and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority - to identify and inspect ongoing construction projects on bridges in New York State similar to that along I-35W in Minneapolis to continue to ensure that the integrity of the st  more

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 3 -- David L. Thomas of Endicott, N.Y., and Charles G. Woychik of San Jose, Calif., have developed an electronic package making method. An abstract of the invention, released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, said: "A method of making an electronic package is described, wherein a substrate is provided with a pattern of conductive pads and a portion of solder positioned on selected ones of the pattern of copper pads. The solder is then reflowed to form partial hemisp  more

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 3 -- Benoit Maison of White Plains, N.Y., and Geoffrey G. Zweig of Greenwich, Conn., have developed a method of database access in text or speech recognition. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, the invention relates to "methods and arrangements for facilitating database access in speech recognition. A plurality of possible subsequences corresponding to a database entry are ascertained, a record of such subsequences and their correspondence to database entri  more

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 3 -- Jack L Chen of Astoria, N.Y., Reza Jalili of Bronxville, N.Y., Babak Rezvani of St. Petersburg, Fla., and Edward B Kalin of Easton, Conn., have developed methods for the automatic registration of devices. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, the invention relates to "systems and methods for providing registration at a remote site that may include, for example, a monitoring module that may communicate with a remote site. A registration protocol may be use  more

CAMP SUMMIT, Greenland, Aug. 2 -- The National Guard issued the following news release: By Tech. Sgt. Mike R. Smith National Guard Bureau The gray and orange LC-130 Hercules, one of the world's largest cargo aircraft with skis, touched down 10,600 feet above sea level onto the frozen ice sheet here July 24 to continue an airlift mission that serves as the only supply line for some of the world's leading scientists studying our planet. After circling the Arctic outpost to view the airfi  more

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 3 -- Stewart S. Taylor of Beaverton, Ore., Georgios Palaskas of Portland, Ore., and Ian A. Rippke of Ithaca, N.Y., have developed methods for modulating and amplifying communications signals. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "An apparatus and a system, as well as a method and an article, may include detecting an indication of an amplifier output signal amplitude and responsively adjusting the amplifier input signal phase to reduce a change in the phase of  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 2 -- The White House released the following press release: President George W. Bush today announced his intention to nominate twelve individuals, appoint one individual, and designate four individuals to serve in his Administration. The President intends to nominate A. Paul Anderson, of Florida, to be a Commissioner of the Federal Maritime Commission, for the remainder of a five-year term expiring 06/30/12, and to designate him Chairman. Mr. Anderson currently serves as a  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 1 -- The office of Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., issued the following news release: With staggering backlogs at passport processing centers that serve communities across Upstate New York and the country, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced that President George W. Bush has signed into law Schumer's bill (S. 966) to break the passport log-jam. The bill was unanimously approved by both the Senate and the House of Representatives. Schumer's legislation gives the D  more

BROOKLYN, N.Y., Aug. 2 -- The Brooklyn Borough President issued the following press release: 4:00 P.M. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8 BROOKLYN BOROUGH HALL COMMUNITY ROOM 209 JORALEMON STREET BETWEEN COURT & ADAMS STREETS DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN Borough President Marty Markowitz will be holding public hearings on the following ULURP applications in the Community Room, Brooklyn Borough Hall, 209 Joralemon Street, Brooklyn, New York 11201, commencing at 4:00 P.M. on August 8, 2007. Calendar Item 1  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 1 -- Rep. Gary L. Ackerman, D-N.Y. (5th CD), issued the following news release: Legislation championed by U.S. Congressman Gary Ackerman (D-NY) to extend the federal government's terrorism insurance program by 15 years--a measure critical to rebuilding Ground Zero--was passed late today by the House Financial Services Committee. The measure was approved despite fierce opposition from Members of Congress who had instead argued for a shorter extension. The 15-year renewal of th  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 1 -- Rep. Michael Arcuri, D-N.Y. (24th CD), has issued the following news release: U.S. Representative Michael A. Arcuri (D-Utica) voted tonight for legislation to provide health care to 11 million children nationwide, including 396,042 children enrolled in New York's SCHIP program. "As a father, I know the worry parents face when a child gets sick and how critical health insurance is to ensure preventative care," said Arcuri. "The CHAMP Act will help hard-working American  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 2 -- Rep. Eliot L. Engel, D-N.Y. (17th CD), issued the following news release: Congressman Eliot Engel (D-NY), Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) introduced legislation Thursday to give states the option to extend Medicaid coverage to low income individuals with the HIV virus before it advances to full-blown AIDS. Currently, most lower-income persons must first become disabled by AIDS before they can receive Medicaid provided care and tre  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 2 -- Rep. Eliot L. Engel, D-N.Y. (17th CD), issued the following news release: The House, with Rep. Eliot Engel as a co-sponsor and voting yes, approved the Children's Health and Medicare Protection (CHAMP) Act, renewing medical insurance for 6 million low-income kids and funding it to cover an additional 5 million more. Rep. Engel said, "It simply makes economic sense to cover the uninsured. When we fail to provide our children with primary and preventive care, routine he  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 2 -- Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y. (20th CD), has issued the following news release: Last night, local Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand voted in favor of H.R. 3162, the Children's Health and Medicare Protection Act of 2007 (CHAMP Act) to improve healthcare for seniors and children. The CHAMP Act- the paramount health care initiative passed in the Congress so far this year- will provide additional benefits to Medicare beneficiaries and provide health care coverage to 11 mill  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 2 -- Rep. Maurice Hinchey, D-N.Y. (22nd CD), issued the following news release: Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) last night helped the House pass the Children's Health and Medicare Protection (CHAMP) Act, which will provide health care to 11 million low-income children and strengthen Medicare for seniors. The measure also includes Hinchey-requested provisions that will dramatically increase the reimbursements paid by Medicare to Benedictine, Kingston and St. Luke's-Cornwall  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 2 -- Rep. Darlene Hooley, D-Ore. (5th CD), issued the following news release: Addressing the largest military readiness crisis since the Vietnam War, Congresswoman Darlene Hooley (OR-5) joined her colleagues in the US House of Representatives today in passing legislation that would mandate troop rest times between deployments for soldiers serving in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. By a vote of 229 to 194, the House passed the Ensuring Military Readiness through  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 2 -- Rep. Nick Lampson, D-Texas (22nd CD), has issued the following news release: Congressman Nick Lampson (D-Stafford) today voted for landmark legislation to provide America's seniors and children with timely and affordable access to quality medical care. H.R. 3162, the Children's Health and Medicare Protection Act of 2007 ("CHAMP" Act), passed in the House by 225 to 204. This legislation provides critical protections to seniors receiving Medicare benefits, reauthorizes the  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 2 -- Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y. (8th CD), issued the following press release: Congressman Jerrold Nadler (NY-08), who represents parts of Manhattan and Brooklyn, announced today that the Water Resources Development Act Conference Report passed by Congress includes an authorization of $10 million in funding for the Hudson River Park Trust. The bill will authorize funds for critical work on the park, including restoration of marine habitat, safety improvements, and rehabilitat  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 1 -- Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., D-N.J. (8th CD), issued the following news release: Working to restore and improve the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) before its expiration on September 30, 2007, U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-08) today voted in the House of Representatives to provide health insurance for eleven million low and moderate income American children. "The renewed and strengthened health care program approved in the House represents an opport  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 2 -- Rep. David G. Reichert, R-Wash. (8th CD), issued the following news release: The House of Representatives' Committee on Homeland Security approved legislation on Wednesday drafted by Congressman Dave Reichert (WA-08) and Congresswoman Jane Harman (D-CA) that addresses radicalization and homegrown terrorism. H.R. 1955, the Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007, unanimously passed the committee. "To truly combat an enemy, you must underst  more

NORTH BEND, Ore., July 31 -- The Mill Casino Hotel, owned by the Coquille Tribe, issued the following news release: Known for such chart-topping hits as "Two Tickets to Paradise," "Walk on Water," and "I Wanna Go Back," multi-platinum recording artist Eddie Money will be performing at The Mill Casino • Hotel on Friday, Oct. 5. Tickets for his 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. shows will go on sale starting at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, August 7 at Ko-Kwel Gifts. Tickets are $39 per person for the general public  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 1 -- The office of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., issued the following news release: Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton today spoke on the floor of the Senate, urging passage of legislation to cover more children under the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). She also called on her colleagues to support bipartisan legislation, cosponsored by Senators Dole, Mikulski, Graham, Kennedy and Brown, that she has introduced as an amendment to the SCHIP bill that would  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 1 -- The office of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., issued the following news release: Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) today announced that she has introduced the "TCE Reduction Act" to require the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to set tougher regulations to protect the public from exposure to the carcinogenic chemical Trichloroethylene (TCE). Today's announcement follows earlier efforts by Senator Clinton to urge the EPA to address the growing TCE co  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 1 -- The office of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., issued the following news release: Responding to concerns expressed by Westchester County Executive Andy Spano and local residents, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton and Congresswoman Nita Lowey are urging the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to hold additional hearings regarding the proposed New York/New Jersey/Philadelphia Airspace Redesign Project. In a letter sent to Marion C. Blakey, Administrator of the FAA, Clin  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 2 -- The office of Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., issued the following news release: Senators Edward M. Kennedy, Ken Salazar and Bob Casey joined Reverend Bill Calhoun of the Montview Presbyterian Church, Rabbi David Saperstein of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, and Pastor Derrick Harkins of the 19th Street Baptist Church in support of the Children's Health Insurance Program. They discussed the need to renew this legislation, which would address the need to p  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 2 -- The office of Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., released the text of the following speech: KENNEDY ON THE NOMINATION OF LESLIE SOUTHWICK: Mr. Chairman, I strongly oppose the nomination of Leslie Southwick to a lifetime position on the Fifth Circuit. The New York Times has published an editorial on this nomination entitled, "An Unacceptable Nominee," and that says it all. The editorial stated Judge Southwick has "a disturbing history of insensitivity to blacks and other  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 2 -- The office of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., issued the following statement: U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ) today spoke on the floor of the U.S. Senate regarding the ethics and lobbying reform bill. The remarks as prepared for delivery are below. "Mr. President, over the past 20 years, I have often found myself in a somewhat lonely fight against earmarks and wasteful pork barrel spending. Year after year I have come to the floor and read list after list of the ridiculous  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 2 -- The U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs issued the following Consular Information Sheet: COUNTRY DESCRIPTION: Kazakhstan is a constitutional republic with a strong presidency and a market economy. Kazakhstan's tourist facilities are not highly developed; the availability of goods and services is better than in most neighboring countries, but not up to the standards found in North America and Western Europe. Internal travel and travel to neighboring coun  more

BOSTON, Mass., Aug. 2 -- The Massachusetts Department of State Police issued the following news release: On Wednesday, August 1, 2007 at approximately 1:00 p.m., Troopers assigned to the State Police Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section along with investigators from the United States Marshals Service and the New York City Police Department culminated a joint investigation by arresting 22 year-old Ermal Qoshja of 9 Bellingham Avenue, Revere. Qoshja was sought by the New York City Police D  more

ALBANY, N.Y., Aug. 2 -- The New York State Thruway Authority issued the following news release: The New York State Thruway Authority today announced that the southbound Taconic Parkway ramp to I-84 westbound will be closed for repairs on Monday, August 6, 2007, weather permitting. The ramp closure will be in place beginning at 10 a.m. through noon on Monday, August 6, weather permitting. This closure is necessary in order to mill two asphalt bumps on the ramp. Motorists are advised that  more

ALBANY, N.Y., Aug. 2 -- The New York State Thruway Authority issued the following news release: The New York State Thruway Authority has announced that an ongoing full-depth pavement repair project between Interchange 34A (East Syracuse, Collamer, Rte 481) and Interchange 34 (Canastota, Rte. 13) could cause moderate to severe delays eastbound throughout today, Thursday, August 2. The eastbound driving lane at milepost 268.0 will be closed throughout the day for full-depth repairs and motor  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 2 -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Employment & Training Administration issued the following press release: SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending July 28, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 307,000, an increase of 4,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 303,000. The 4-week moving average was 305,500, a decrease of 3,500 from the previous week's revised average of 309,000. The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rat  more

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 3 -- Vaughn Lee Mower and Ryan Clark Beard, both of Bountiful, Utah, Roy Fletcher Lunsford of Syracuse, Utah, and Jeffrey Craig Wright of Woods Cross, Utah, have developed a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) estimation method. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A method estimates a SNR of a received direct sequence spread spectrum signal. Using the estimated SNR, a control signal is determined that is suitable for modifying a position of a directional antenna. T  more

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 2 -- David L. Hansen of Ivins, Utah, and Dennis W. Super of Vestal, N.Y., have developed an apparatus for servicing landfill conduits. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "Systems, methods, and apparatus for servicing landfill conduits are disclosed. These systems, methods, and apparatus employ structures which facilitate access to and the servicing of buried landfill conduits, for example, one or more buried landfill laterals. In one aspect, the systems in  more

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 3 -- Toshiharu Furukawa, William Robert Tonti, and Richard Quimby Williams, all from Essex Junction, Vt., and Carl John Radens of LaGrangeville, N.Y., have developed enhanced silicon-on-insulator (SOI) transistors. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "Enhanced SOI transistors and methods are provided for implementing enhanced silicon-on-insulator transistors. The enhanced SOI transistors include a thin buried oxide layer under a device channel and a thick se  more

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 3 -- Toshiharu Furukawa and David V. Horak, both of Essex Junction, Vt., Mark C. Hakey of Fairfax, Vt., Peter H. Mitchell of Jericho, Vt., Larry A. Nesbit of Williston, Vt., Steven J. Holmes of Guilderland, N.Y., and Charles W. Koburger III of Delmar, N.Y., have developed transistors formation method. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, the invention relates to a "method for forming transistors with mutually-aligned double gates. The method includes the step  more

NEW YORK, Aug. 2 -- The Voice of America issued the following story: By Suzanne Presto The Republic of Congo has assumed the rotating presidency of the United Nations Security Council. VOA's Suzanne Presto in New York reports that Congo indicated that African issues will be high priorities this month. In a briefing at the United Nations Thursday, Congolese envoy Pascal Gayama said the Security Council's workload in August will likely be light, as the U.N. prepares for the General Assem  more

SEOUL, South Korea, Aug. 1 -- The Voice of America issued the following story: By Kurt Achin South Koreans have begun appealing for U.S. help in freeing 21 Korean hostages facing death threats in Afghanistan. Families of the hostages and Korean government officials are urging Washington to adjust its policy against negotiating with the Taleban, but U.S. officials say that will not happen. VOA's Kurt Achin reports from the South Korean capital. Another deadline passed Wednesday with no   more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 2 -- The Voice of America issued the following story: By Deborah Tate U.S. Senate Democrats have introduced legislation calling on the Pentagon to keep Congress informed on contingency planning for U.S. troop redeployments from Iraq. VOA's Deborah Tate reports from Capitol Hill. The chief sponsor of the bill is Senator Hillary Clinton, a New York Democrat who is seeking her party's nomination for president next year. "We must not redeploy out of Iraq with the same c  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 2 -- Rep. John M. McHugh, R-N.Y. (23rd CD), issued the following news release: U.S. Congressman John M. McHugh (R-NY) today announced that the House of Representatives voted, 381 - 40, to pass the Water Resources Development Act of 2007. The legislation authorizes Congressman McHugh's request of $5 million in federal funding for wastewater infrastructure in the Hamlet of Essex, New York. The funding would help finance construction of a wastewater treatment plant. Currently, t  more

FORWARD OPERATING BASE MEHTAR LAM, Afghanistan, Aug. 2 -- The U.S. Army Combined Forces Command - Afghanistan issued the following news release: By Army Pfc. Daniel M. Rangel 22nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment Taliban and al-Qaida insurgents manufacturing IEDs in the caves and compounds of the Alishang Valley are being hunted day and night by infantrymen of the 1st Battalion, 158th Infantry Regiment, an Arizona National Guard unit. The 1-158th, has been conducting regular patrols,  more

SALINAS, Calif., Aug. 1 -- Monterey County issued the following press release: It is West Nile Virus season and human cases have been reported in the State of California. There have not been any reported cases Monterey County this year. However, individuals are still encouraged to protect themselves and their families from possible West Nile Virus exposure. West Nile Virus is transmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito. Mosquitoes get the virus when they feed on infected birds. West Ni  more

SACRAMENTO, Calif., Aug. 1 -- The California Attorney General issued the following news release: Charging that the auto industry is working to "sabotage California's landmark greenhouse gas law," California Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. today attacked a proposed energy bill amendment and called upon the House to reject any effort to block state authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. Attorney General Brown joined 13 states and the City of New York in sending a letter to Hous  more

ALBANY, N.Y., Aug. 2 -- The New York State Attorney General issued the following news release: Attorney General Andrew Cuomo today filed suit against a Niagara Falls man who attempted to defraud investors through an eBay house-flipping scheme that involved properties in Western New York. "This individual tried to pull a modern-day bait-and-switch scheme over the Internet," said Attorney General Cuomo. "He's a con artist with a computer, trying to lure investors into what was a massive patt  more

SPOKANE, Wash., Aug. 2 -- The Washington state Attorney General issued the following news release: Attorney General Rob McKenna today urged consumers to check the tires on their SUV, pickup or van in case they are among those being recalled. Attorneys General in 24 states issued consumer alerts and have formed a working group to look into concerns that an estimated 270,000 tires brought into the U.S. from China may be potentially unsafe. The tires were imported by Foreign Tire Sales, of Ne  more

TOPEKA, Kan., Aug. 1 -- Washburn University issued the following news release: An insider's view of the Kansas City Chiefs and a presentation on the effects of high technology are among the topics of Washburn alumni scheduled as speakers in the 2007-08 Wake Up with Washburn Breakfast Lecture Series. The events begin at 7:30 a.m. at the Bradbury Thompson Alumni Center, Washburn University. Kicking off the series on Aug. 30 will be Gwen Ritter, New York City, who will present "The Role Hedge  more

ORLANDO, Fla., Aug. 1 -- The Florida Department of Education issued the following news release: New York Times bestselling author Sharon Draper will address more than 4,600 superintendents, principals, reading coaches and district staff in the opening general session of the sixth annual Just Read, Florida! K-12 Leadership Conference at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort in Orlando. Sharon M. Draper, a four-time winner of the Coretta Scott King Literary Award, is a professional educator and has be  more

NEW YORK, Aug. 2 -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety & Health Administration issued the following press release: Following a whistleblower investigation by the U.S. Labor Department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the town of Cazenovia, N.Y., has paid nearly $100,000 in damages and back wages to an employee who was injured during a retaliatory work assignment and suffered other retaliatory actions after he raised concerns protected under federal envir  more

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 3 -- Geoffrey M. Gelman and Dean P. Alderucci, both of Stamford, Conn., Jay S. Walker of Ridgefield, Conn., Andrew S. Van Luchene of New York, and Deirdre O'Shea of Orinda, Calif., have developed a method for determination of posting payment amount. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "Products and processes are provided in which information is received about a post for an item to be sold. The information may include, e.g., the class and type of item being s  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 1 -- The U.S. Department of Defense's American Forces Information Service issued the following press release: By Fred W. Baker III American Forces Press Service While Army nurse Linnie Leckrone was patching up wounded soldiers in France on the front lines of World War I, she most likely wasn't thinking that her actions one day would merit the military's third-highest award for valor in the face of the enemy. Leckrone probably didn't even consider the history she was m  more

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, Aug. 2 -- The Environmental Protection Agency Region 2 office issued the following news release: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will hold a public meeting in Santa Isabel, Puerto Rico, on Friday, August 3, 2007, to hear what people have to say about the terms of the Agency's proposed order on consent with the municipality and landfill operators to close the municipality's existing landfill. "The fact is that the Commonwealth has a serious solid waste  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 2 -- The U.S. Department of Energy's Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued the text of the following delegated order: In Reply Refer To: OEP/DG2E/Gas 2 Millennium Pipeline Company L.LC. Docket No. CP98-150-006 Richard H. Leehr, President Millennium Pipeline Company, LLC One Blue Hill Plaza, 7th Floor P.O. Box 1565 Pearl River, NY 10965 Re: Authorization of Modified Construction Procedure Dear Mr. Leehr: In compliance with environmental condition 1 of   more

NEW YORK, Aug. 1 -- The New York City Department of Finance issued the following press release: The New York City Department of Finance (DOF) and Office of Emergency Management (OEM) announced today that they are extending tax filing and payment deadlines for businesses affected by closures within the "Frozen Zone" due to the July 18, 2007 steam pipe explosion. Affected taxpayers who are required to file returns or to make estimated payments for the General Corporation Tax, Unincorporated   more

FORT GILLEM, Ga., Aug. 2 -- The U.S. Army issued the following news release: By Steve Lambert First Army Public Affairs As the United States approaches its sixth year in the war on terrorism, America's Army Reserve Components continue to play a historic, unprecedented and vital role in the conflict. That trend continues as First Army gears up to prepare five National Guard Brigade Combat Teams for deployment in the coming months. As part of that preparation, First Army hosted a proact  more

SLIDELL, La., Aug. 1 -- The city of Slidell issued the following news release: The Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on America - seared forever into the national psyche as 9-11 - took the lives of more than 2,800 people, shocked the civilized world and led to the U.S. war on terror that continues to this day. The vast majority of the deaths occurred at New York's World Trade Center, which was destroyed when two jet planes commandeered by Islamic extremists crashed into it. Few, if any, Am  more

ALBANY, N.Y., Aug. 2 -- Gov. Eliot Spitzer, D-N.Y., has issued the following news release: Governor Eliot Spitzer today announced that he has signed legislation that will ensure airline passengers on severely delayed flights operating out of New York airports are provided with basic customer protections. This legislation was proposed in response to several incidents of severe airline delays due to inclement weather at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport, where passengers waited f  more

ALBANY, N.Y., Aug. 2 -- Gov. Eliot Spitzer, D-N.Y., has issued the following news release: Governor Eliot Spitzer and Mayor Michael Bloomberg today announced that Governor Spitzer has signed into law New York City's first-ever local Child Care Tax Credit. The tax credit is designed to assist low-income families with the cost of child care for children under the age of 4, and it is estimated that up to 49,000 New York City families will qualify for this benefit. "Access to quality childcar  more

NEW YORK, Aug. 3 -- The U.S. General Services Administration has awarded a $222,167 contract to Iceweb Inc., Herndon, Va., for network and internet web portal security appliances and software. The contract was awarded by GSA's Federal Technology Service, New York.  more

MARKSVILLE, La., Aug. 1 -- The Paragon Casino Resort, owned by the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe, issued the following news release: Officials at Paragon Casino Resort, Louisiana's first land based casino, announced the performance of Johnny Rivers in the new Mari Convention and Entertainment Center on Saturday, August 11 at 9 p.m. Tickets are $25.00 and may be purchased at Paragon's Gift Shop or any Ticketmaster outlet. Born John Henry Ramistella on November 7, 1942, Rivers is an American rock an  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 2 -- Rep. Michael H. Michaud, D-Maine (2nd CD), issued the following news release: Today, Congressman Mike Michaud and his colleagues on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee voted to approve the Regional Economic and Infrastructure Development Act of 2007. This legislation contains the bill that Michaud authored creating a Northern Border Economic Development Commission. "Today's hearing represents a very important step forward for the creation of a Northe  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 2 -- The Library of Congress issued the following news release: Librarian of Congress James H. Billington has announced the appointment of Charles Simic to be the Library's 15th Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry. Simic will take up his duties in the fall, opening the Library's annual literary series on Oct. 17 with a reading of his work. He also will be a featured speaker at the Library of Congress National Book Festival in the Poetry pavilion on Saturday, Sept. 29, on th  more

NEW YORK, Aug. 1 -- The office of the New York City Mayor issued the following press release: Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today teamed up with Yankees Manager Joe Torre and President of the Roberto Clemente Foundation, Roberto Clemente, Jr. to kick-off the second annual Gracie Mansion Tee-Ball Tournament. Dozens of Little Leaguers from all five boroughs ages five and six played a series of tee-ball games on the Gracie Mansion lawn. The tournament, started in 2006 to celebrate and promote commu  more

NEW YORK, Aug. 1 -- The office of the New York City Mayor issued the following press release: Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today unveiled the design for the upcoming restoration of Brooklyn's Dreier-Offerman Park. The $40 million project is a part of the Mayor's PlaNYC initiative in which eight parks in all five boroughs will be transformed into attractive regional destinations. The redesign and improvements announced today will be completed by 2011, and are part of more than $1.2 billion in ca  more

NEW YORK, Aug. 2 -- The office of the New York City Mayor issued the following press release: Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Governor Eliot Spitzer today announced that the Governor has signed into law a local Child Care Tax Credit-a key recommendation of the Mayor's Poverty Commission. The tax credit is designed to assist low-income and underemployed families with the cost of child care for children under the age of four, and it is estimated that up to 49,000 New York City families will qualify  more

NEW YORK, Aug. 2 -- The New York State Metropolitan Transportation Authority issued the following news release: The MTA Long Island Rail Road will replace a major switch along with track work in the Queens Village area during three weekends in August requiring Hempstead Branch customers to use buses instead of trains for at least part of their trips during the three weekends, August 4-5, August 11-12 and part of August 18-19. * August 4-5 & August 11-12 From 10:21 PM, Friday, August 3 t  more

NEW YORK, Aug. 2 -- The New York State Metropolitan Transportation Authority issued the following news release: The MTA Long Island Rail Road intends to develop an application for a waiver from the Federal Railroad Administration's minimum train horn decibel requirement. The move to seek the waiver was announced following a test of a modified electric train horn at the Cedarhurst Station today. While the test results demonstrated lower decibel levels, the LIRR recognizes that train horns are   more

NEW YORK, Aug. 2 -- The New York State Metropolitan Transportation Authority issued the following news release: During the intervening months since the tragic deaths of track workers Daniel Boggs and Marvin Franklin, MTA New York City Transit has worked closely with TWU Local 100 to create a series of measures meant to ensure the safety of all of our employees as they perform their duties along the subway right-of-way. Also, the Boards of Inquiry into the two accidents have been completed.   more

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 3 -- William C. Stumphauzer II of South Lyon, Mich., has developed a personalized broadcasts receiving method. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A system and method automatically plays programming selections corresponding to the user's preferences as specified in a playlist. The user can create a playlist and transfer the playlist to a receiver." An abstract of the invention, released by the Patent Office, said: "The receiver scans the content in all o  more

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 3 -- Ralph J. Johnson of Bedford, N.H., and Paul R. Lyman of Scriba, N.Y., have developed a led lamp bulb assembly. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A reflector lamp assembly may be formed with a reflector housing having a reflector with a prescribed reflective surface; the reflector formed with a wall defining a through passage. A lamp bulb assembly having an axially extending stem supports a head extending transverse to the axis, the head having a firs  more

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 3 -- Bing Chen of Westfield, N.J., and Wallace F. Smith, Jr. of Sea Girt, N.J., have developed a method of echo cancellation in communication networks. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, the invention relates to a "method of measuring echo path delay in a circuit having echo cancellers after enabling an echo signal to pass through the echo cancellers. The known time for a given echo canceller to disable is subtracted from the overall test signal duration. T  more

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 3 -- Deepak Dube of Marlboro, N.J., and Michael Fornatore of Middleton, N.J., have developed a packet switching network. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, the invention relates to "automated methods and systems for determining and setting router quality-of-service (QoS) adjustments to control the service level of voice over Internet protocol (VoIP)voice communications in a packet switching network supporting both voice and data communications. Network topo  more

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 3 -- Eric Cheung and Xiaotao Wu, both of New York, Gregory W. Bond of Hoboken, N.J., Kermit Hal Purdy of Bernardsville, N.J., and Pamela Zave of Chatham, N.J., have developed a method in communication services. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "An implementation of a voice-over-Internet protocol (VoIP) system for accomplishing two-way, three-way and conference calling between two or more parties is disclosed, in which new call features are readily adapted  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 1 -- Rep. Charles B. Rangel, D-N.Y. (15th CD), issued the following news release: A bill to designate the Federal building under construction at 799 First Avenue in New York in honor of the late Commerce Secretary Ron Brown was passed by the House of Representatives this week. The legislation now awaits passage by the Senate. The 26-story building, which is expected to be ready for occupancy in 2009, will house the U.S. Mission to the United Nations and be called the Rona  more

ALBANY, N.Y., Aug. 1 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture's New York Agricultural Statistics office issued the following press release: The 2005 Agricultural Resource Management Survey collected detailed information about the production practices and costs on dairy farms in 24 States, which represent more than 90 percent of national milk production. As part of the survey, a subsample of organic dairy operations were selected allowing for estimates of milk costs and returns for 2005 by State   more

CAMP SUMMIT, Greenland, Aug. 2 -- The U.S. Air Force Air Mobility Command issued the following press release: By Tech. Sgt. Mike R. Smith National Guard Bureau The gray and orange LC-130 Hercules, one of the world's largest cargo aircraft with skis, touched down 10,600 feet above sea level onto the frozen ice sheet here July 24 to continue an airlift mission that serves as the only supply line for some of the world's leading scientists studying our planet. After circling the Arctic ou  more

NEW YORK, Aug. 1 -- The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene issued the following press release: The Health Department is reminding parents that all children must receive certain vaccinations before they begin or return to school or day care this fall. Childhood vaccinations required for school entry protect against potentially life-threatening diseases including diphtheria, tetanus, measles, mumps, rubella, polio, hepatitis B, pertussis (whooping cough) and chicken pox. All   more

NEW YORK, Aug. 2 -- The Federal Reserve Bank of New York issued the following press release: The Federal Reserve Bank of New York is strongly considering discontinuing the publication of foreign exchange rates at the end of 2008, given the availability of alternative market-based sources for these rates. The New York Fed currently publishes foreign exchange rates at 10 am and noon each business day on its website. A final decision will be announced in September 2007. If you have further qu  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 1 -- The U.S. Department of Defense's American Forces Information Service issued the following press release: By Jim Garamone American Forces Press Service New York National Guardsmen will start deploying to Afghanistan late this year, Defense Department officials said today. About 1,700 Guardsmen of the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team will relieve South Carolina National Guardsmen of the 218th Brigade Combat Team as the primary trainers of the Afghan National Army.  more

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 3 -- Mark L. Cortegiano of Middle Village, N.Y., has developed an method for displaying advertising on digital cellular telephones. An abstract of the invention, released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, said: "The present invention relates to a method for displaying messages, such as advertisements, consumer promotions, and customer service announcements, on digital wireless communication devices, such as digital cellular telephones. The method comprising the step  more

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 3 -- Anthony J. Allis of Bronx, N.Y., has developed an aquarium with an improved filtration system. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, the invention relates to an "aquarium which includes a tank having a pump and an under gravel filter disposed in the tank below the pump. The under gravel filter includes a hollow bubble dispersing base plate having a perforated top surface and an overlying substrate. An air conduit is provided for introducing air into the   more

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 3 -- William J. Cultrara of Victor, N.Y., has developed a boat camper vessel. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A boat camper vessel has a pair of pontoons joined by a bridge that provides the deck of the vessel. A main canopy stores in the bow when not is use. The raised canopy is supported by ribs and it extends from the bow to a stern bulkhead. Two stern bulkheads define a stern compartment has holds a toilet, shower and water heater. An auxiliary can  more

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 3 -- Wen-Tien Chen of Stony Brook, N.Y., has developed methods for inhibition of cancer invasion. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "The invention provides antibodies that specifically bind a membrane protease complex, the complex consisting of two homodimers of seprase and dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPPIV), obtained from mammalian, preferably human cell membranes. The antibodies specifically bind the DPPIV protease of the seprase-DPPIV complex. This membran  more

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 3 -- Jermaine C Roberson of Bronx, N.Y., has developed an apparatus for a nonskid absorbent pad for animals. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "Apparatus for a pet, training pad having a plurality of material layers to retain fluids and solid material; while preventing passage therethrough. The top layer serves as the absorbent material with the bottom layer 18 forming a fluid impermeable layer to prevent passage of liquids. The impermeable layer extends o  more

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 3 -- Vincent Decaprio of Elmsford, N.Y., has developed a open end ratchet wrench. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A ratchet wrench includes a generally open head member and a handle connected thereto. A pair of generally C-shaped collars are hingedly connected to the head member for selectively closing and opening it and a locking tab provided for selectively locking the collars in a position for closing the head member." An abstract of the invention  more

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 3 -- Nicholas Paul Shields of Fairport, N.Y., has developed a phase locked loop (PLL) frequency synthesizer. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "The PLL frequency synthesizer includes a phase detector receiving a reference signal, a controlled oscillator (e.g. a voltage controlled oscillator) connected to the phase detector and generating a synthesized frequency output signal based upon the reference signal, a mixer (e.g. an in-phase and quadrature-phase mo  more

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 3 -- Gerasimos Potamianos and Etienne Marcheret, both of White Plains, N.Y., Jonathan H. Connell of Cortlandt Manor, N.Y., Norman Haas of Mount Kisco, N.Y., and Chalapathy Venkata Neti of Yorktown Heights, N.Y., have developed an audio-visual speech recognition system. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, the invention relates to "techniques for performing audio-visual speech recognition, with improved recognition performance, in a degraded visual environment  more

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 2 -- David Angelo Tomasso and James David Shaw, both of Rochester, N.Y., Raymond Francis Jakubowicz of Rush, N.Y., and Michael W. LaCourt of Spencerport, N.Y., have developed a clinical analyzer system. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A clinical analyzer for determining the presence or amount of an analyte in a sample includes at least one reagent supply and at least one reaction containment device for containing a volume of sample and a volume of said  more

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 2 -- Richard D Kessler of Northport, N.Y., and Paul Abbatepaolo of St. James, N.Y., have developed a container for cosmetic products. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, the invention relates to a "container for receiving an element forming spatula having one end provided with a part in relief, the container including: a stopper having a peripheral skirt having a screwing surface and a lower end; a bottom wall; a side wall having a first end opposite the bot  more

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 3 -- Maria Rene Ebling of White Plains, N.Y., and Guerney Douglass Holloway Hunt of Yorktown Heights, N.Y., have developed an apparatus for providing dynamic user alert. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, the invention relates to "techniques for providing a dynamic alert indication to a user of a signal receiving device. One technique includes the steps of processing a signal transmitted from a signal transmitting device to determine at least one mode to be  more

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 3 -- Frank W.Wise, Fatih Omer Ilday and Hyungsik Lim, all from Ithaca, N.Y., have developed short-pulse fiber lasers. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A photonic-crystal fiber provides dispersion compensation in a soliton fiber laser. The anomalous dispersion provided by the photonic-crystal fiber permits construction of a femtosecond fiber laser at one micrometer (mum) wavelength without prisms or diffraction gratings. The laser produces about 100-full  more

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 2 -- William L. Luken of Yorktown Heights, N.Y., has developed a Moving Picture Experts Group layer four (MPEG-4) textual representation method. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A method, system, and computer program product for converting a binary MPEG-4 binary file into an Extensible Moving Picture Experts Group-4 Textual (XMT) file. The invention includes generating at least one intermediary structured document representing the mp4 binary file. A tran  more

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 3 -- Carlos Encarnacion, Lyudmila Gavurina and Aaron Nirshberg, all from Brooklyn, N.Y., have developed a pop-up bag stuffer. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, the invention relates to a "bag stuffer for placement in a bag, comprising a first panel, a second panel, and an articulated support beam connected between the first and second panels. The articulated beam has a collapsed storage position with the first and second panels substantially adjacent each   more

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 3 -- Sudhir M. Desai, Dean A. St. Pier and Anne-Marie L. Sweetland, all from Wappingers Falls, N.Y., James A. O'Connor of Ulster Park, N.Y., and Theodore V. Purvin Jr. of Kingston, N.Y., have developed a method for minimizing the use of product parts. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "Use of parts in products is managed to minimize the use of parts that will reach their end of life prior to the products for which those parts are usable. To manage use of a  more

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 3 -- Ira S. Lerner and James F. Pilat Jr., both of New York, have developed an adjustable tensioning system for rimless eyewear. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "Rimless eyewear features a wire that encircles a lens. Systems are provided for selectively increasing or decreasing a tensile load on the wire to facilitate assembly and maintenance of the eyewear. An adjusting screw, different wire securement positions, and/or adjustment shims provide easy ten  more

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 2 -- Christopher D. Martin and Richard H. Hinkson, both of Plainview, N.Y., Narine Boodoosingh of Ozone Park, N.Y., and Kevin G. Piel of Ronkonkoma, N.Y., have developed a method for automatically updating security control panel parameters. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, the invention relates to a "method and system for automatically uploading the configuration of a security system to a central station automation system via telephonic lines, long-range   more

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 3 -- Laura A. Weller-Brophy of Pittsford, N.Y., Jayson J. Nelson of Webster, N.Y., Marek W. Kowarz of Henrietta, N.Y., John C. Brazas of Hilton, N.Y., and James G. Phalen of Rochester, N.Y., have developed a an unpolished optical element with periodic surface roughness. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "An optical sub-system has an optical element having a curved surface featured with a plurality of recurring surface tooling marks. The depth of any surfac  more

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., Aug. 2 -- The New York Power Authority issued the following news release: The New York Power Authority (NYPA) has earned national recognition in the 2007 APEX Awards for Publications Excellence. The award recognizes the efforts of NYPA staff for graphic arts materials they produced related to the Power Authority's 75th Anniversary celebration in 2006. This is the tenth APEX award NYPA has earned since 1999. For the past 19 years APEX, an international competition for co  more

ALBANY, N.Y., Aug. 2 -- The New York State Office of Science, Technology and Academic Research issued the following news release: Edward Reinfurt, Acting Executive Director of the New York State Foundation for Science, Technology and Innovation (NYSTAR), today announced $1.05 million in funding for the New York State Science and Technology Law Center at Syracuse University. The funding is a testament to NYSTAR's commitment to the innovation economy and will enable the STLC to receive $350,000  more

ALBANY, N.Y., Aug. 2 -- The New York State Department of Health issued the following news release: State Health Commissioner Richard F. Daines, M.D., today reminded New Yorkers to swim safely this summer to avoid injury and drowning. The number of drownings in New York continues to decrease each year, with 151 drownings reported at state regulated pools and beaches during the last 20 years, while the number of people seeking water recreation each summer has increased. "Drowning is a leadin  more

ALBANY, N.Y., Aug. 2 -- The New York State Thruway Authority issued the following news release: The New York State Thruway Authority is working with its transportation partners - the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT), the New York State Bridge Authority and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority - to identify and inspect ongoing construction projects on bridges in New York State similar to that along I-35W in Minneapolis to continue to ensure that the integrity of the st  more

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 3 -- David L. Thomas of Endicott, N.Y., and Charles G. Woychik of San Jose, Calif., have developed an electronic package making method. An abstract of the invention, released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, said: "A method of making an electronic package is described, wherein a substrate is provided with a pattern of conductive pads and a portion of solder positioned on selected ones of the pattern of copper pads. The solder is then reflowed to form partial hemisp  more

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 3 -- Benoit Maison of White Plains, N.Y., and Geoffrey G. Zweig of Greenwich, Conn., have developed a method of database access in text or speech recognition. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, the invention relates to "methods and arrangements for facilitating database access in speech recognition. A plurality of possible subsequences corresponding to a database entry are ascertained, a record of such subsequences and their correspondence to database entri  more

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 3 -- Jack L Chen of Astoria, N.Y., Reza Jalili of Bronxville, N.Y., Babak Rezvani of St. Petersburg, Fla., and Edward B Kalin of Easton, Conn., have developed methods for the automatic registration of devices. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, the invention relates to "systems and methods for providing registration at a remote site that may include, for example, a monitoring module that may communicate with a remote site. A registration protocol may be use  more

CAMP SUMMIT, Greenland, Aug. 2 -- The National Guard issued the following news release: By Tech. Sgt. Mike R. Smith National Guard Bureau The gray and orange LC-130 Hercules, one of the world's largest cargo aircraft with skis, touched down 10,600 feet above sea level onto the frozen ice sheet here July 24 to continue an airlift mission that serves as the only supply line for some of the world's leading scientists studying our planet. After circling the Arctic outpost to view the airfi  more

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 3 -- Stewart S. Taylor of Beaverton, Ore., Georgios Palaskas of Portland, Ore., and Ian A. Rippke of Ithaca, N.Y., have developed methods for modulating and amplifying communications signals. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "An apparatus and a system, as well as a method and an article, may include detecting an indication of an amplifier output signal amplitude and responsively adjusting the amplifier input signal phase to reduce a change in the phase of  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 2 -- The White House released the following press release: President George W. Bush today announced his intention to nominate twelve individuals, appoint one individual, and designate four individuals to serve in his Administration. The President intends to nominate A. Paul Anderson, of Florida, to be a Commissioner of the Federal Maritime Commission, for the remainder of a five-year term expiring 06/30/12, and to designate him Chairman. Mr. Anderson currently serves as a  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 1 -- The office of Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., issued the following news release: With staggering backlogs at passport processing centers that serve communities across Upstate New York and the country, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced that President George W. Bush has signed into law Schumer's bill (S. 966) to break the passport log-jam. The bill was unanimously approved by both the Senate and the House of Representatives. Schumer's legislation gives the D  more

BROOKLYN, N.Y., Aug. 2 -- The Brooklyn Borough President issued the following press release: 4:00 P.M. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8 BROOKLYN BOROUGH HALL COMMUNITY ROOM 209 JORALEMON STREET BETWEEN COURT & ADAMS STREETS DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN Borough President Marty Markowitz will be holding public hearings on the following ULURP applications in the Community Room, Brooklyn Borough Hall, 209 Joralemon Street, Brooklyn, New York 11201, commencing at 4:00 P.M. on August 8, 2007. Calendar Item 1  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 1 -- Rep. Gary L. Ackerman, D-N.Y. (5th CD), issued the following news release: Legislation championed by U.S. Congressman Gary Ackerman (D-NY) to extend the federal government's terrorism insurance program by 15 years--a measure critical to rebuilding Ground Zero--was passed late today by the House Financial Services Committee. The measure was approved despite fierce opposition from Members of Congress who had instead argued for a shorter extension. The 15-year renewal of th  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 1 -- Rep. Michael Arcuri, D-N.Y. (24th CD), has issued the following news release: U.S. Representative Michael A. Arcuri (D-Utica) voted tonight for legislation to provide health care to 11 million children nationwide, including 396,042 children enrolled in New York's SCHIP program. "As a father, I know the worry parents face when a child gets sick and how critical health insurance is to ensure preventative care," said Arcuri. "The CHAMP Act will help hard-working American  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 2 -- Rep. Eliot L. Engel, D-N.Y. (17th CD), issued the following news release: Congressman Eliot Engel (D-NY), Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) introduced legislation Thursday to give states the option to extend Medicaid coverage to low income individuals with the HIV virus before it advances to full-blown AIDS. Currently, most lower-income persons must first become disabled by AIDS before they can receive Medicaid provided care and tre  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 2 -- Rep. Eliot L. Engel, D-N.Y. (17th CD), issued the following news release: The House, with Rep. Eliot Engel as a co-sponsor and voting yes, approved the Children's Health and Medicare Protection (CHAMP) Act, renewing medical insurance for 6 million low-income kids and funding it to cover an additional 5 million more. Rep. Engel said, "It simply makes economic sense to cover the uninsured. When we fail to provide our children with primary and preventive care, routine he  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 2 -- Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y. (20th CD), has issued the following news release: Last night, local Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand voted in favor of H.R. 3162, the Children's Health and Medicare Protection Act of 2007 (CHAMP Act) to improve healthcare for seniors and children. The CHAMP Act- the paramount health care initiative passed in the Congress so far this year- will provide additional benefits to Medicare beneficiaries and provide health care coverage to 11 mill  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 2 -- Rep. Maurice Hinchey, D-N.Y. (22nd CD), issued the following news release: Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) last night helped the House pass the Children's Health and Medicare Protection (CHAMP) Act, which will provide health care to 11 million low-income children and strengthen Medicare for seniors. The measure also includes Hinchey-requested provisions that will dramatically increase the reimbursements paid by Medicare to Benedictine, Kingston and St. Luke's-Cornwall  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 2 -- Rep. Darlene Hooley, D-Ore. (5th CD), issued the following news release: Addressing the largest military readiness crisis since the Vietnam War, Congresswoman Darlene Hooley (OR-5) joined her colleagues in the US House of Representatives today in passing legislation that would mandate troop rest times between deployments for soldiers serving in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. By a vote of 229 to 194, the House passed the Ensuring Military Readiness through  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 2 -- Rep. Nick Lampson, D-Texas (22nd CD), has issued the following news release: Congressman Nick Lampson (D-Stafford) today voted for landmark legislation to provide America's seniors and children with timely and affordable access to quality medical care. H.R. 3162, the Children's Health and Medicare Protection Act of 2007 ("CHAMP" Act), passed in the House by 225 to 204. This legislation provides critical protections to seniors receiving Medicare benefits, reauthorizes the  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 2 -- Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y. (8th CD), issued the following press release: Congressman Jerrold Nadler (NY-08), who represents parts of Manhattan and Brooklyn, announced today that the Water Resources Development Act Conference Report passed by Congress includes an authorization of $10 million in funding for the Hudson River Park Trust. The bill will authorize funds for critical work on the park, including restoration of marine habitat, safety improvements, and rehabilitat  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 1 -- Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., D-N.J. (8th CD), issued the following news release: Working to restore and improve the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) before its expiration on September 30, 2007, U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-08) today voted in the House of Representatives to provide health insurance for eleven million low and moderate income American children. "The renewed and strengthened health care program approved in the House represents an opport  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 2 -- Rep. David G. Reichert, R-Wash. (8th CD), issued the following news release: The House of Representatives' Committee on Homeland Security approved legislation on Wednesday drafted by Congressman Dave Reichert (WA-08) and Congresswoman Jane Harman (D-CA) that addresses radicalization and homegrown terrorism. H.R. 1955, the Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007, unanimously passed the committee. "To truly combat an enemy, you must underst  more

NORTH BEND, Ore., July 31 -- The Mill Casino Hotel, owned by the Coquille Tribe, issued the following news release: Known for such chart-topping hits as "Two Tickets to Paradise," "Walk on Water," and "I Wanna Go Back," multi-platinum recording artist Eddie Money will be performing at The Mill Casino • Hotel on Friday, Oct. 5. Tickets for his 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. shows will go on sale starting at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, August 7 at Ko-Kwel Gifts. Tickets are $39 per person for the general public  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 1 -- The office of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., issued the following news release: Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton today spoke on the floor of the Senate, urging passage of legislation to cover more children under the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). She also called on her colleagues to support bipartisan legislation, cosponsored by Senators Dole, Mikulski, Graham, Kennedy and Brown, that she has introduced as an amendment to the SCHIP bill that would  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 1 -- The office of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., issued the following news release: Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) today announced that she has introduced the "TCE Reduction Act" to require the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to set tougher regulations to protect the public from exposure to the carcinogenic chemical Trichloroethylene (TCE). Today's announcement follows earlier efforts by Senator Clinton to urge the EPA to address the growing TCE co  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 1 -- The office of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., issued the following news release: Responding to concerns expressed by Westchester County Executive Andy Spano and local residents, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton and Congresswoman Nita Lowey are urging the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to hold additional hearings regarding the proposed New York/New Jersey/Philadelphia Airspace Redesign Project. In a letter sent to Marion C. Blakey, Administrator of the FAA, Clin  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 2 -- The office of Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., issued the following news release: Senators Edward M. Kennedy, Ken Salazar and Bob Casey joined Reverend Bill Calhoun of the Montview Presbyterian Church, Rabbi David Saperstein of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, and Pastor Derrick Harkins of the 19th Street Baptist Church in support of the Children's Health Insurance Program. They discussed the need to renew this legislation, which would address the need to p  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 2 -- The office of Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., released the text of the following speech: KENNEDY ON THE NOMINATION OF LESLIE SOUTHWICK: Mr. Chairman, I strongly oppose the nomination of Leslie Southwick to a lifetime position on the Fifth Circuit. The New York Times has published an editorial on this nomination entitled, "An Unacceptable Nominee," and that says it all. The editorial stated Judge Southwick has "a disturbing history of insensitivity to blacks and other  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 2 -- The office of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., issued the following statement: U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ) today spoke on the floor of the U.S. Senate regarding the ethics and lobbying reform bill. The remarks as prepared for delivery are below. "Mr. President, over the past 20 years, I have often found myself in a somewhat lonely fight against earmarks and wasteful pork barrel spending. Year after year I have come to the floor and read list after list of the ridiculous  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 2 -- The U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs issued the following Consular Information Sheet: COUNTRY DESCRIPTION: Kazakhstan is a constitutional republic with a strong presidency and a market economy. Kazakhstan's tourist facilities are not highly developed; the availability of goods and services is better than in most neighboring countries, but not up to the standards found in North America and Western Europe. Internal travel and travel to neighboring coun  more

BOSTON, Mass., Aug. 2 -- The Massachusetts Department of State Police issued the following news release: On Wednesday, August 1, 2007 at approximately 1:00 p.m., Troopers assigned to the State Police Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section along with investigators from the United States Marshals Service and the New York City Police Department culminated a joint investigation by arresting 22 year-old Ermal Qoshja of 9 Bellingham Avenue, Revere. Qoshja was sought by the New York City Police D  more

ALBANY, N.Y., Aug. 2 -- The New York State Thruway Authority issued the following news release: The New York State Thruway Authority today announced that the southbound Taconic Parkway ramp to I-84 westbound will be closed for repairs on Monday, August 6, 2007, weather permitting. The ramp closure will be in place beginning at 10 a.m. through noon on Monday, August 6, weather permitting. This closure is necessary in order to mill two asphalt bumps on the ramp. Motorists are advised that  more

ALBANY, N.Y., Aug. 2 -- The New York State Thruway Authority issued the following news release: The New York State Thruway Authority has announced that an ongoing full-depth pavement repair project between Interchange 34A (East Syracuse, Collamer, Rte 481) and Interchange 34 (Canastota, Rte. 13) could cause moderate to severe delays eastbound throughout today, Thursday, August 2. The eastbound driving lane at milepost 268.0 will be closed throughout the day for full-depth repairs and motor  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 2 -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Employment & Training Administration issued the following press release: SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending July 28, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 307,000, an increase of 4,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 303,000. The 4-week moving average was 305,500, a decrease of 3,500 from the previous week's revised average of 309,000. The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rat  more

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 3 -- Vaughn Lee Mower and Ryan Clark Beard, both of Bountiful, Utah, Roy Fletcher Lunsford of Syracuse, Utah, and Jeffrey Craig Wright of Woods Cross, Utah, have developed a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) estimation method. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A method estimates a SNR of a received direct sequence spread spectrum signal. Using the estimated SNR, a control signal is determined that is suitable for modifying a position of a directional antenna. T  more

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 2 -- David L. Hansen of Ivins, Utah, and Dennis W. Super of Vestal, N.Y., have developed an apparatus for servicing landfill conduits. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "Systems, methods, and apparatus for servicing landfill conduits are disclosed. These systems, methods, and apparatus employ structures which facilitate access to and the servicing of buried landfill conduits, for example, one or more buried landfill laterals. In one aspect, the systems in  more

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 3 -- Toshiharu Furukawa, William Robert Tonti, and Richard Quimby Williams, all from Essex Junction, Vt., and Carl John Radens of LaGrangeville, N.Y., have developed enhanced silicon-on-insulator (SOI) transistors. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "Enhanced SOI transistors and methods are provided for implementing enhanced silicon-on-insulator transistors. The enhanced SOI transistors include a thin buried oxide layer under a device channel and a thick se  more

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 3 -- Toshiharu Furukawa and David V. Horak, both of Essex Junction, Vt., Mark C. Hakey of Fairfax, Vt., Peter H. Mitchell of Jericho, Vt., Larry A. Nesbit of Williston, Vt., Steven J. Holmes of Guilderland, N.Y., and Charles W. Koburger III of Delmar, N.Y., have developed transistors formation method. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, the invention relates to a "method for forming transistors with mutually-aligned double gates. The method includes the step  more

NEW YORK, Aug. 2 -- The Voice of America issued the following story: By Suzanne Presto The Republic of Congo has assumed the rotating presidency of the United Nations Security Council. VOA's Suzanne Presto in New York reports that Congo indicated that African issues will be high priorities this month. In a briefing at the United Nations Thursday, Congolese envoy Pascal Gayama said the Security Council's workload in August will likely be light, as the U.N. prepares for the General Assem  more

SEOUL, South Korea, Aug. 1 -- The Voice of America issued the following story: By Kurt Achin South Koreans have begun appealing for U.S. help in freeing 21 Korean hostages facing death threats in Afghanistan. Families of the hostages and Korean government officials are urging Washington to adjust its policy against negotiating with the Taleban, but U.S. officials say that will not happen. VOA's Kurt Achin reports from the South Korean capital. Another deadline passed Wednesday with no   more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 2 -- The Voice of America issued the following story: By Deborah Tate U.S. Senate Democrats have introduced legislation calling on the Pentagon to keep Congress informed on contingency planning for U.S. troop redeployments from Iraq. VOA's Deborah Tate reports from Capitol Hill. The chief sponsor of the bill is Senator Hillary Clinton, a New York Democrat who is seeking her party's nomination for president next year. "We must not redeploy out of Iraq with the same c  more