WLKM - Update – U.S. Passports

From my archive of press clippings:

WLKM


Update – U.S. Passports


February 24, 2010 by WLKM


St. Joseph County Clerk Pattie Bender reports that passport fees are expected to increase.
In a new release on the subject, Bender said, “We were notified on February 22, 2010 by the U.S. Passport Office that fees will be increasing. There is no firm date set yet as they have to have a 30 day comment period first. That time period began on February 9, 2010.”

Read the whole article here.

Snippet(s):

"(A) “Cost of Service” study was conducted in June of 2009 and the results indicated that the fees should increase. The last fee increase was four years ago."

&

"According to Bender, the notice also indicated that passport fees are used not only to cover the costs of producing a passport book or card, but they are used to cover the costs of providing emergency services for American citizens overseas in crisis situations; along with helping Americans who have been the victims of crime while traveling or living abroad; and providing support to the families of American citizens who have died overseas."

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If you have any questions, call the County Clerk’s office weekdays between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. at (269) 467-5603.

JO - No rescue plan. ODPEM wants to set up rescue action plan this year.

From my archive of press clippings:

Jamaica Observer

No rescue plan

ODPEM wants to set up rescue action plan this year


BY INGRID BROWN Sunday Observer senior reporter browni@jamaicaobserver.com


Sunday, January 25, 2009


Jamaica does not have a specific response plan if a commercial jet should go down in our waters, or even on land outside of the two international airports. Neither has there ever been a simulation exercise to test the ability of emergency services to deal with any such accident, according to the country's disaster management agency, fire and airport officials.

Read the whole article here.