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ST. LOUIS NEWS TODAY - Sunday, December 24, 2006
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Blunt Announces Grants to Help Protect Children from Cyber Predators
JEFFERSON CITY, (SLFP.com), December 24, 2006 - Governor Matt Blunt has announced that the Internet Cyber Crime Grant program was awarded more than $242,000 to support law enforcement in investigating Internet crimes, including those that endanger Missouri's children.
"These grants help ensure our law enforcement officials have the tools and resources necessary to protect our children from cyber predators, child pornography and child exploitation," Blunt said. "By providing our law enforcement with the tools they need to go after the predators, we can make the Internet safer for Missouri children."
Blunt called for and signed tough sex offender legislation in Missouri. His leadership in enacting Missouri's version of Jessica's law ensured that our state has some of the strongest sex offender laws in the nation. One provision of the law gives the Department of Public Safety the authority to create the Internet Cyber Crime Grant program to assist law enforcement officials in investigating dangerous Internet crimes, especially sex crimes exploiting children.
The Internet Cyber Crime Grant Program distributes funding to support detectives' salaries, training and computer forensic personnel who focus on preventing and controlling Internet cyber crime ultimately improving public safety.
Grants awarded include: City of Maryland Heights will receive $9,000 for its Internet Predator Apprehension Program; City of Clayton will receive $15,995.48 to run their Internet Cyber Crime Grant Program.
Branson Travel Club to Pay Record $1.9 Million Penalty for Consumer Violations
ST. LOUIS, (SLFP.com), December 24, 2006 - A Branson travel business that continued to use deception and fraud in the selling of travel club memberships even after being ordered by the court to stop must now pay a record penalty of $1,950,000 after being found in contempt of court.
Attorney General Jay Nixon, who obtained the order against Vacation Travel LLC and its owners, said Friday's ruling by Taney County Circuit Judge James Eiffert sends a strong message that fraud in the travel industry won't be tolerated in Missouri.
"This is a record penalty for a travel-related consumer case in Missouri, and one of the largest consumer penalties ever obtained by the Attorney General's Office," Nixon said. "It serves notice that those who use deception and fraud in connection with travel clubs can face paying a heavy price."
In his order, the judge found that Vacation Travel LLC - which did business as Vacation Travel Outlet and sold Vacation Travel Club memberships - and owners Tom Wood, Denver Wood and David Large had violated Missouri consumer protection laws and earlier orders from the court at least 390 times. He ordered the defendants to pay a civil penalty of $5,000 for each of the 390 violations.
Judge Eiffert ruled that the defendants violated two earlier consent judgments obtained by Nixon that required them to provide consumers with certain information about their right to cancel contracts and their right to obtain refunds. The defendants also failed to comply with Missouri tax laws, as required by one of the earlier court orders.
The judge's order also prohibits the defendants from ever operating, owning, working for, investing in, profiting from or "otherwise directly participating in any way" in any business that is part of the "discount travel" industry or "discount travel membership clubs" industry. The defendants also were ordered to pay the state's costs associated with bringing the legal action.
Census Bureau Boston Office to Survey Nation's Spending Habits
ST. LOUIS, (SLFP.com), December 24, 2006 - In January 2007, information about how much Americans spend for health care, groceries, clothing, transportation, housing and other items will be collected by U.S. Census Bureau field representatives from a sample of households across the country.
The Consumer Expenditure Survey (CE) program consists of two separate surveys:
* The Interview Survey -- About 12,000 households will be interviewed
once every three months to obtain data on relatively large expenditures
and also for those expenditures that occur on a regular basis (such as
rent and utilities).
* The Diary Survey -- During the year, another 12,500 households will keep
two consecutive one-week diaries of all purchases -- including small,
frequently purchased items that are normally difficult for respondents
to recall later (such as a fast-food purchase at a drive-thru window; a
soda or candy bar from a vending machine; or a carton of eggs from the
supermarket).
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics then publishes integrated data from the two surveys -- providing a snapshot of our nation's economy and spending habits. Government economists use the survey results to update a "market basket" of goods and services for the Consumer Price Index, our nation's most widely used measure of inflation.
"The findings are invaluable to business owners and policymakers in our communities," said Kathleen Ludgate, director of the Census Bureau's Boston Regional Office. "They use the data to evaluate consumer needs and track changes in consumer spending."
Before the CE interviews begin, households receive a letter from Census Bureau Director Louis Kincannon informing them of their selection. Census Bureau field representatives conducting the interviews carry official photo identification. The law ensures survey respondents' personal information and answers are kept confidential.
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