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From the Los Angeles Times

Officials remind U.S. public that the military doesn't charge for joining

After the arrest last week of a man who allegedly charged immigrants money to join a fake army, U.S. military officials spread the word that that's not how it works

by Ching-Ching Ni, Los Angeles Times

April 19, 2011

You cannot buy your way into the U.S. military, Army officials reminded the public Monday, trying to clear up confusion in the Chinese American community after an El Monte man was arrested last week in connection with charging immigrants to join what authorities said was a phony military force.

"No legitimate U.S. Army recruiter will ever ask an applicant for money in order to serve in the military," said Capt. Patrick Caukin, commander of a U.S. Army recruiting office based in West Covina.

"No one will ever ask you for money for ranks or promotions," Caukin said. "That's something you earn through hard work."

David Deng, who called himself the Supreme Commander of the U.S. Army Military Special Forces Reserve Unit, charged recruits as much as $450 in initiation fees that included uniforms and fake military identification cards, prosecutors said.

Deng charged recruits an additional $120 a year to renew memberships. Among the services the group provided was marching in parades and attending various community functions, sometimes for a fee.

"Everything we do is free of charge; that's part of our duty, giving back to the community," said Manuel A. Perales, sergeant first class at the Army recruiting station in El Monte.

Deng allegedly told recruits that joining his group would improve their chances of getting U.S. citizenship.

Army officials said that although the military wants to build a diverse force, it also has strict requirements, including age limits, proficiency in the English language and a high school diploma. Recruits also must be green-card holders.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-0419-fake-army-20110419,0,5869543,print.story

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Air traffic controller suspended for watching movie at work

The incident follows at least five cases of controllers who fell asleep on the job.

by the Associated Press

April 19, 2011

WASHINGTON

An air traffic controller has been suspended for watching a movie when he was supposed to be monitoring aircraft, deepening the Federal Aviation Administration's embarrassment following at least five cases of controllers sleeping on the job.

In the latest incident, the controller was watching a movie on a DVD player early Sunday morning while on duty at a regional radar center in Oberlin, Ohio, near Cleveland that handles high-altitude air traffic, the FAA said in a statement Monday.

The controller's microphone was inadvertently activated, transmitting the audio of the movie - the 2007 crime thriller "Cleaner," starring Samuel L. Jackson - for more than three minutes to all the planes in the airspace that the controller was supposed to be monitoring, the agency said.

The controller's microphone became stuck in the transmit position, preventing him from hearing incoming radio calls or issuing instructions to planes during the incident, the agency said.

The controller was alerted to the mishap when he was contacted by a military pilot.

Besides the controller, the FAA also has suspended a manager at the Oberlin center.

In all, the FAA has suspended eight controllers and supervisors since late March.

In five of the cases the controllers allegedly fell asleep. In another case, the FAA is investigating why two controllers in Lubbock, Texas, were unresponsive to radio calls.

Nearly all the incidents occurred during overnight shifts when traffic is light and people naturally have trouble staying awake.

The incidents have shaken FAA officials, made air traffic controllers the butt of late-night comedians and raised public jitters about the safety of air travel.

FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt said early Monday, before the agency had disclosed the incident near Cleveland, that he was "infuriated" that air traffic controllers have been caught snoozing on the job.

"None of us in this business can ... tolerate any of this," Babbitt said. "It absolutely has to stop."

Babbitt was at a regional radar center near Atlanta with Paul Rinaldi, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, the union that represents controllers. The pair met with about 50 controllers and other FAA employees as they kicked off a nationwide tour of air traffic facilities aimed at sending a message as much to the public as to controllers that unprofessional behavior won't be tolerated.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood underscored the same message in a series of television interviews over the past several days. Even President Barack Obama joined the chorus, telling ABC News last week, "We've got it under control."

But every time administration officials say they've moved decisively to contain the problem, another controller steps over the line.

The day before the Cleveland incident a controller fell asleep while working an overnight shift at busy regional radar facility in Miami that handles high-altitude traffic for Florida, parts of the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean.

The incidents have raised concerns about work schedules that don't allow controllers realistic opportunities for sleep.

The FAA forbids controllers from sleeping on the job, even during the 20-minute to 30-minute breaks they receive every few hours. Babbitt stood by that position Monday.

Instead, the agency said it will require controllers to have an extra hour off between shifts - a minimum of nine hours instead of eight - to get more sleep.

Babbitt said at the meeting that the scandal caused by sleeping controllers has harmed the agency's credibility. He said passengers should never have to worry about whether a flight crew is rested, a plane is properly maintained or air traffic controllers are on the job.

"That should never be a thought for anybody getting in an airplane in this country," he said. "And it hasn't been a thought. But unfortunately, we have raised that concern."

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-naw-air-traffic-controller-20110419,0,106867,print.story

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From Google News

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Duke lacrosse accuser Crystal Mangum charged with murder

Woman who falsely accused Duke University lacrosse players of raping her charged with murder after stabbed boyfriend dies

The woman who falsely accused three Duke University lacrosse players of raping her in 2006 has been charged with murder over the death of her boyfriend.

Crystal Mangum, 32, was indicted on Monday on a charge of first-degree murder and two counts of theft. She has been in jail since 3 April, when police charged her with assault in the stabbing of 46-year-old Reginald Daye. He died in hospital nearly two weeks later.

Mangum had accused the lacrosse players of raping her at a party, for which she was hired to perform as a stripper. The case heightened long-standing tensions in Durham about race, class and the privileged status of college athletes. Prosecutors declined to press charges over her claims.

Last year she was convicted for starting a fire that nearly destroyed her home with her three children inside. She told officers she set was arguing with her boyfriend at the time – not Daye – and burned his clothes, smashed his car windshield and threatened to stab him.

Friends said Mangum has never recovered from the stigma of the lacrosse case and has been involved in a string of questionable relationships in an attempt to provide stability for her three children.

Vincent Clark, a friend who co-authored Mangum's self-published memoir, said he hoped people would not rush to judge her. He said Mangum realises she has mental health problems: "I'm sad for her. I hope people realise how difficult it is being her," he added.

A federal judge recently ruled that the three players accused of attacking Mangum – Reade Seligmann, Collin Finnerty and Dave Evans – could pursue a lawsuit against the detectives and the district attorney at the time, Mike Nifong, over their handling of case. The players have not sued Mangum.

A lawyer for Mangum did not return a call seeking comment. The district attorney's office declined to discuss the case.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/apr/19/duke-lacrosse-crystal-mangum-charged-murder/print

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From the White House

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Giving Back to our Military Families

It seems sacrifice is on the minds of most everyone these days. In homes across the country working families are cutting back and learning how to do more with less. Military families are making the ultimate sacrifice – that of a loved one – to keep the rest of us safe. On top of trying to pay bills, put food on the table and raise children, many military spouses have to go at it alone, worried about the safety of their loved one abroad.

My older brother served in the army and was stationed in Korea. I remember what it was like not having him around, sending letters, photos, care packages and such. It was hard on my mom because he wasn't home. Not having him around much and having been raised by working parents, I learned early on what it was like to do more with less. In my family, sacrifice was something my parents practiced on a daily basis to give me and my siblings a better life.

Today, countless military families continue to do the same. In many ways, they have to work twice as hard. While I wasn't raised by military parents, I did have a loved one who served abroad, and I do know about sacrifice. And I also know how important it is to give back.

President Obama and this administration know that, too. Its why, just a few days ago, I joined Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden Ohio to launch a new campaign called Joining Forces. Together, we're joining forces with businesses all across the country, calling on them to recruit and hire veterans and military spouses. We're calling on them to make their workplaces more military-spouse friendly, and more Guard and Reserves-friendly, with things like flexible work schedules and portable jobs.

The fact is, many employers simply aren't aware of all that our veterans and military spouses have to offer. Members of our military master some of the most advanced technologies, run some of the most complex operations, and have extensive experience managing hundreds of their colleagues. And, on average, their spouses have higher high school graduation rates than the general population. More than 80 percent of military spouses have some college education.

Many of them harness the skills and experiences that come from managing a military lifestyle – qualifications not necessarily learned at a school or university. It's time that we finally tap this potential.

The Department of Labor is doing its part to help. We are helping to both support military families and help them transition from the military, into careers when their loved one returns. We continue to work with businesses in creating a direct pipeline to veterans and spouses looking for work. Last year, my Veterans and Employment Training division served over 1.6 million veterans in 2010 with over 473,000 of them entering into employment.

The division is also redesigning the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) to include an aggressive, hands-on, tailored workforce readiness program for separating service members and their spouses.

Additionally, we are leveraging partnerships with national employer organizations such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce (USCC) and the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) to increase employment opportunities for Veterans, separating Service Members and their spouses.

And there's more. We want to ensure that a military spouse, or a son, daughter, or parent of the military member, can continue to take unpaid leave to take care of family matters, such as the need to make financial arrangements or attend military briefings, to care for a service member or certain Veterans with a serious injury or illness incurred in the line of duty. That's why we are protecting the rights of service members and their families under the Family Medical Leave Act – specifically those provisions that benefit military families.

There's no question: service members and their spouses make incredible sacrifices for all of us. Supporting their families and harnessing their talent is not only the right thing to do in their lives, it's the smart thing to do for the prosperity of our businesses and the economic security of our country.

That's how we win the future of our nation. That's how we honor their sacrifice. For our men and women in uniform, and for their families, that's how we give back.

Hilda Solis is Secretary of Labor.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/04/18/giving-back-our-military-families

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From the Department of Homeland Security

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Aftermath of Severe Southern Storms – Supporting our State and Local Partners

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