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EPA Says ‘All Clear’ After Phoenix High School Mercury Spill Posted: 27 Feb 2009 10:55 PM PST The Environmental Protection Agency has completed its emergency response following a mercury spill at Agua Fria High School in Phoenix. An EPA news release Friday said mercury contamination has been cleaned up at the school and at homes that were affected. The EPA’s Emergency Response program was mobilized on February 13 after being notified of the spill. Over the past 11 days, the belongings of approximately 450 students and staff were screened for mercury. Mercury screenings were also conducted at 66 homes of students and staff whose belongings were found to be contaminated with mercury. Six of the inspected homes had moderate levels of mercury contamination and three of the homes required more extensive decontamination with two families temporarily relocating. The families displaced by the decontamination returned to their homes February 24. The EPA said, at the school, mercury contamination in all classrooms, locker rooms, outside areas and buses impacted by the spill has been cleaned up. However, restoration of these areas is not complete. The Avondale Police Department is leading the ongoing investigation in the February 12th spill. Federal law allows the EPA three years to investigate the cause of the spill and recover costs. Source This story comes to us via Homeland Security - National Terror Alert. National Terror Alert is America's trusted source for homeland security news and information. Share this post

Prepared Citizens - Prepared Communities Posted: 27 Feb 2009 05:21 PM PST The Homeland Security Response Network will launch next week. As part of the NTARC’s “Prepared Communities” Initiative this network was created to promote emergency preparedness through awareness, education, community involvement and partnerships between individuals, groups and organizations. Although the site has not yet launched, registration is open and over 900 people have registered. We look forward to working with each of you and your groups as we begin building a vibrant, prepared online community. Register today! Visit Homeland Security Response Network This story comes to us via Homeland Security - National Terror Alert. National Terror Alert is America's trusted source for homeland security news and information. Share this post

Man Arrested for Allegedly Targeting President, Others With HIV-Infected Blood Posted: 27 Feb 2009 09:59 AM PST A man from President Obama’s hometown of Chicago has been arrested for allegedly sending Obama and his staff envelopes containing HIV-infected blood, in the hopes of killing or harming them. It’s only the second time ever that HIV-infected blood has been sent with malicious intent through the U.S. mail system, a spokesman for the U.S. Postal Inspection Service said. In the weeks leading up to Obama’s inauguration, Saad Hussein, an Ethiopian refugee in his late 20’s, sent an envelope addressed to “Barack Obama” to offices of the Illinois government in Springfield, Ill., according to court documents. The envelope contained a series of unusual items, including a letter with reddish stains and an admission ticket for Obama’s election-night celebration in Chicago’s Grant Park. Court documents said Hussein, who takes drugs to treat a mental illness, later told FBI agents he is “very sick with HIV” and cut his fingers with a razor so he could bleed on the letter. Hazmat teams were called in after the envelope was opened, and offices of the Illinois Department on Aging and the Department of Revenue were locked down for nearly two hours, locking 300 staffers in their offices, court documents said. Hussein, with his brother acting as an interpreter, told FBI agents he was actually "an admirer” of Obama and was “seeking help from the government,” according to court documents. He also told them he was hoping to obtain tickets to the inaugural ceremonies in Washington, the documents said. Days after sending the letter to Obama, Hussein allegedly placed two more letters in the mail, one addressed to “Emanuel,” an apparent reference to Obama’s current chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel. The two letters contained what appeared to be dried blood, the court documents said. via Chicago Man Arrested for Allegedly Targeting Obama With HIV-Infected Blood - First 100 Days of Presidency - Politics FOXNews.com. This story comes to us via Homeland Security - National Terror Alert. National Terror Alert is America's trusted source for homeland security news and information. Share this post