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In 2002, the AMBER Alert Network was created to aid law enforcement in the safe return of child abduction victims. Currently the system includes messages that interrupt broadcast programs, roadside signs by major highways and streamlined notification of law enforcement agencies to be on the lookout.
Last week, through a partnership with the wireless telephone industry, the California Highway Patrol announced that cell phone users can “opt in” to receive AMBER notifications via text message on their cell phones. The service is free and available to nearly all cell phone users in California. The instructions are now also available on-line in Spanish for the first time.
“California’s AMBER Alert Program is the role model for successful partnerships between government, law enforcement, the media and the general public,” said Business, Transportation and Housing Agency Secretary Dale Bonner.
“This will add thousands of eyes to look for victims and suspects in AMBER Alert cases during those first critical hours of an abduction,” said CHP Deputy Commissioner Skip Carter.
Most wireless subscribers can enroll by sending the word “AMBER” followed by a space and their 5-digit ZIP code in a text message to 26237. More than 30 wireless carriers, which serve 96 percent of all U.S. subscribers, offer the Wireless AMBER Alerts program. Cell phone users can also register on-line.
“We believe this is a compelling way to raise awareness about a vitally important child safety tool,” said David S. Diggs, Executive Director of The Wireless Foundation, a nonprofit organization formed by members of the cellular telephone industry. “We hope everyone signs up for this free service and helps play a crucial role in the safe recovery of an abducted child.”
Since it was formed nearly six years ago, the AMBER Alert program in California is credited with the safe recovery of 148 children.
“It is critical to get the word out within the first three hours of an abduction to have a successful outcome,” said Pasadena Police Chief Bernard Melekian, representing the California Police Chief’s Association.
“Sending AMBER Alerts to people’s cell phones is another valuable tool in law enforcement’s arsenal to save abducted children,” stated Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department Commander Rick Adams, representing the California State Sheriff’s Association.
The free service is the result of a partnership between the Wireless Foundation, CHP, The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, The U.S. Department of Justice and the Advertising Council.
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Her measure, Senate Bill 1460, requires the California Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to create a program (by July 1, 2010) to address the barriers preventing apartment building owners and residents of multi-unit apartments from participating in the California Solar Initiative (CSI).
In her testimony Tuesday afternoon, Wiggins said her bill “requires the PUC to create a program to provide incentives and rebates to apartment building owners and their tenants to participate in energy efficiency improvements and solar energy projects.
“This bill encourages the use of solar power in apartment buildings where solar power has been excluded, in spite of the fact that all ratepayers – including landlords and tenants – pay to fund the California Solar Initiative program,” Wiggins added.
“The bill has no impact on the State’s General Fund given that the funding for the State’s solar program is paid for entirely by ratepayers on their monthly electric utility bills,” she said.
Currently, all customers and ratepayers of electrical services pay a fee on their monthly utility bill to provide funding to the state’s CSI program, which is funded entirely funded by ratepayers and provides up to $3.3 billion over 10 years to subsidize homeowners and businesses that install solar photovoltaic (PV) systems.
Among the barriers preventing owners and residents of multi-unit residential buildings from participating in the CSI program:
Solar PV installations for one apartment or multi-unit dwelling must be connected to one meter as a matter of state policy. This has created problems in multi-unit, multi-metered buildings. State Law requires individual meters, with inverters (which convert solar to electricity, or DC to AC) for all dwelling units constructed after 1982 in multi-unit buildings. As a result, the upfront cost to install solar, combined with the additional cost of the inverters, is a disincentive for a building owner – even with a 40 percent state and federal rebate;
The landlord/owner has to pay for the solar system but benefits very little from the solar power because it largely serves his or her tenants, even if the landlord resides at the apartment complex and/or the solar power offsets the electrical costs in common areas;
The PUC requires “reasonable and cost-effective energy efficiency improvements” in existing buildings before an apartment building owner can apply for the CSI solar rebate program. The upfront costs of improvements – including installation of dual-paned windows, additional insulation, etc. – can serve as a disincentive for a building owner, who does not benefit from the efficiencies.
“These barriers hinder a major portion of the state’s ratepayers who contribute to the CSI Program from putting solar power on the power grid during peak energy demand days,” Wiggins said.
Tuesday’s approval by the Senate means that SB 1460 now moves to the Assembly for consideration.
For more information on SB 1460 or other bills authored by Wiggins, please visit her Web site, http://dist02.casen.govoffice.com/.
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The show can be found on 88.1 FM.
From 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., Voices of Lake County will replay the District 1 candidates debate recently aired on KPFZ on The Law Show with host Herb Gura.
From 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., the show will replace the recent District 5 candidates debate conducted in the Board of Supervisors Chambers on May 7 and moderated by Elizabeth Larson of Lake County News.
Due to the length of the programs, there will be no call-ins to discuss the debates.
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The Diamonds will be playing in the gazebo from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and TNT's On The Lake will serve dinner for $18/person, from 6 p.m. to 7:30pm.
Some of the early arrivals of classic cars participating in the 17th Annual Roundup Car Show will be parked at Library Park that evening as they check in for early registration. Bring your lawn chairs and enjoy and evening of entertainment.
On Saturday, May 31, two huge events will take place at Library Park – Wood and Glory and the annual Car Roundup.
The 10th annual Wood and Glory Classic Boat Show will showcase beautifully restored wooden boats, on display from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The public will be invited to vote for their favorite wooden boat and by doing so will have an opportunity to win a framed copy of this years' Wood & Glory X poster.
A barbecue catered by Lakeview Market will be served at noon. The cost is $18/person, with only a limited number of barbecue meals available to the public.
Jim Williams and Ranch House will be playing in the gazebo from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for everyone's listening pleasure.
The 17th annual Car Roundup car show will have 200 beautiful classic cars on display through 3 p.m.
There will be vendors with a variety of art, crafts, women's unique clothing, jewelry, free tokens for ice cream, auto- and motorcycle-related items, and the Plein Air Artists will have a display in the park.
For further information, contact the Lakeport Regional Chamber of Commerce at 263-5092.
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