Flashback – September 27, 2000-2002

[B][U]Sept. 27, 2000[/U][/B] [B]PCB level in Tanapag water, food almost nil[/B]

Food and water in Tanapag village were found safe from polychlorinated biphenyl contamination, except the land crabs, according to preliminary results of the laboratory testing conducted in the U.S. mainland. Food items such as taro, yam, clams, chicken eggs and fish did not yield any PCB level during the testing. However, the eight land crabs taken within the area of the cemetery showed detectable PCB limits, said Norman Lovelace, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 9 manager. Likewise, laboratory results of 18 samples of groundwater taken from Tanapag and the Lower Base yielded “non-detect” PCB levels.

DDC gathers close to 1,000 signatures for IDEA campaign

The Governor’s Developmental Disabilities Council transmitted yesterday close to a thousand signatures gathered from various CNMI agencies in support of a petition to fully fund the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The nationwide campaign to secure more federal share for the benefit of students with disabilities led by the National Campaign to Fully Fund the IDEA aims to raise annual IDEA allotment to 40 percent from the current 13 percent. According to NCFFI, the 13 percent federal share falls short of the funds needed to assist states and territories in providing special education and related services to students with disabilities.

[B][U]Sept. 27, 2001[/U][/B] [B]PSS: Travel vouchers not missing[/B]

The Public School System yesterday produced records indicating that it has managed to recoup large portions of its travel advances, significantly reducing an outstanding travel balance that has reached close to $500,000 over the last ten years. Education officials said it has been steadfast in enforcing stricter collection policies to finally rid the system of the long-standing accumulated balance, which incumbent PSS officials inherited from past administrations. Dispelling earlier reports that thousands of dollars worth of travel vouchers are missing from PSS, Acting Education Commissioner Louise Concepcion explained that in the past, individuals who traveled under PSS’ tab just failed to turn over the necessary documents to the fiscal office, where it is accounted for.

[B]Democrat’s House bets take drug test[/B]

Leading the way for the other electoral candidates, the two congressional bets of the Democrat Party for Precinct 4 submitted themselves to a laboratory drug test to prove to their constituents that they are drug-free. Reelectionist Rep. Dino M. Jones and Justo S. Quitogua submitted urine samples to the Diagnotic Laboratory in Gualo Rai on Tuesday to be tested for the presence of prohibited and controlled substances. “The results of the laboratory examinations will be known in two weeks since the samples will still have to be flown off-island for testing as the local laboratories here do not have the equipment for this type of test,” said Jones.

[B][U]Sept. 27, 2002[/U][/B] [B]DD Council gets $50K in US demonstration grant[/B]

The CNMI Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities yesterday announced that it received a grant award of $50,000 from a sub-agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services. The good news was relayed to the Council by Catherine Alvarez, grants management specialist of the USDHHS. “It’s a pleasure to inform you that your proposal for your state Family Support project has been approved for funding under the Administration on Developmental Disabilities Family Support Program,” said Alvarez in her Sept. 11 letter to Thomas J. Camacho, executive director of the DD Council.

[B]Microloan reaches $91K in second quarter[/B]

The Commonwealth Development Authority has approved the release of some $91,500 worth of Microloans in the second quarter of 2002, down by half the total amount registered during the same period in 2001. However, the reduction in the amount of approved loans during the April-June period doesn’t necessarily mirror a slowdown in CDA’s issuance of loans under its Microloan Program, but actually reflects the level of funds available for the purpose. The Microloan Program, a partnership between the CDA and the U.S. Small Business Administration, is funded under a loan package extended by the SBA to the development authority. The CDA can only loan out from the SBA’s specific funding for the program.