Flashback October 16, 2000-2002

House OKs hiring for crucial govt jobs[/B]

The House of Representatives on Friday passed two measures aimed at addressing what it said as shortage in key personnel in government offices due to insufficient local labor pool with the required skills and training. Both legislation, authored by Health and Welfare Committee chair Rep. Malua T. Peter, will provide the government badly-needed staff such as teachers, doctors and engineers if signed into law by the governor.
[B] Democrats name Borja as standard bearer in 2001 polls[/B]

Former Lt. Gov. Jesse C. Borja has pledged to provide a better future for the people of the Commonwealth as the Democratic Party declared him their official candidate for the gubernatorial elections in November 2001. However, the committee to elect Borja has withheld the announcement of his running mate until after the Republican Party’s primary on Nov. 4.

The House of Representatives adopted a resolution Friday asking the federal government to relocate residents of Tanapag village since a number of areas are still contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyl. This developed as Cemetery 2 in Tanapag opens today after it was declared off-limits to the public almost a year ago due to high PCB contamination. However, there are still areas in the cemetery which remain closed to the public as excavation is expected to continue within the next few weeks.

USPS on alert against anthrax-laced mail[/B]

US Postal Service employees over the weekend participated in a stand-up session that dwelled on safety procedures, including ways to spot suspicious-looking mail, following threats of anthrax allegedly being transmitted through the post. The agency conducted routine learning programs for its employees on safe and secure mail handling procedures to beef up efforts against the possible spread of the deadly bacteria, which has reportedly affected 12 persons in the US as of Monday.
[B] $20M golf course eyed for Tinian[/B]

A proposed 18-hole golf course amounting to $20 million is now being eyed for Tinian, after the Bougainville Resort Corp. submitted a proposal for such a project at the Board of Public Lands. Sen. Joaquin G. Adriano said officials of the Bougainville Resort Corp. and the Tinian Mayor’s Office met with Office of Public Lands Executive Director Bertha DeLeon Guerrero on Tuesday last week, where the proposal to build the luxurious facility was presented.

The controlling behavior of men, their involvement with alcohol and drugs and their jealous nature are listed as major reasons why abuse and domestic violence occur. Reports prepared by the Family Violence Task Force revealed that cultural breakdown, rapid changes, addiction, gambling and cultural clashes are some of the principal causes of family violence in the Northern Marianas.

Saipan airport alert level up [/B]

Asian nationals, particularly from Malaysia, Philippines, and Indonesia, are included in the high-risk list provided by the Federal Aviation Administration to the Commonwealth Ports Authority on its alert measure issued to all airports across the United States. According to CPA Executive Director Carlos H. Salas, all CNMI airports are at maximum-security status, particularly after the Bali bombing incident and the approval of the U.S. Congress to proceed with its war against Iraq.
[B] DoF: No rebate checks out this month[/B]

The Department of Finance still has to release some $6 to $7 million in tax refunds, which means the timely release of rebate checks remains a remote possibility-at least at any time soon. This was confirmed yesterday by Finance Secretary Frank Villanueva, who reiterated his previous statement that the department will not be able to meet the October deadline for the release of the rebate checks.