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Posted on Aug 28 2008
[B]August 29, 2000
Landowners to get full rebate[/B]
Landowners whose lands were bought by the government in cash are expected to be rebated the full amount of the tax they paid in the transaction following the signing of a new law by Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio.
The move came amid lawmakers’ concerns over potential unfair dealing when the government acquires a private land for right-of-way and other public use.
Under the normal practice, landowners who opt for land exchange do not have to pay taxes in connection with the transaction, while those who agree on cash compensation are taxed.
[B]Jones wants Corrections, Fire Divisions out of DPS[/B]The Committee on Judicial and Governmental Operations is looking at the possibility of passing a legislation that will remove the Divisions of Corrections and Fire under the Department of Public Safety.
Rep. Dino Jones, chair of the committee, said the proposed measure will adopt the system in Guam where the Fire and Corrections were elevated to department level.
Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio has nixed a proposal widening the scope of those entitled to a state funeral under an existing law, citing the need to keep the “rare honor” given to few exceptional individuals in the island community.
A bill had sought inclusion of a long list of government officials who would be entitled to such ceremony, aside from those already in the list when the State Funeral Law was enacted last year.
Tanapag’s PCB issue may reach UN Court[/B]
If the US government fails to immediately clear the areas in the Commonwealth that have been contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyl, Rep. Egredino M. Jones said that he will be forced to elevate the issue to the United Nations’ International Court of Justice.
During an interview yesterday, Jones said that he will be writing a letter to the United States government and the US Congress to urge them to acknowledge the PCB problem and initiate action to resolve the issue.
[B]First graders’ reading literacy gauged[/B]Public schools across the CNMI are expected to turn over next week results of the Reading diagnostic test which was administered to first grade students at the start of the school year.
Public School System officials are closely watching out for the outcome, expecting the results to paint a clearer picture of first graders’ reading literacy.
Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio has expressed his willingness to deliver a State of the Commonwealth address, should the Legislature decide to hold a joint session expressly for this purpose.
“I leave it up to the Legislature. If they decide whether they want me to deliver my State of the Commonwealth report,” Tenorio said. “Whatever the Legislature wants, I am ready and I will prepare the transmittal to the Legislature.”
FDM bombings end today[/B]
This month’s military exercises at the Farallon de Mendinilla Island end today with no advisory yet from the U.S. Navy headquarters on Guam whether the bombing exercises would be extended or a new schedule would be arranged.
Emergency Management Office deputy director Mark Pangelinan, disclosed this in a telephone interview yesterday.
This month’s exercises comprised the first batch of trainings months after the military temporarily halted them due to an injunction by a federal court. The exercises began last August 4.
A fireman who apparently failed to put out his own “fire’ and a marine sports crewman were arrested by authorities Tuesday on allegations of child sexual abuse.
The fireman and the crewman, who were separately accused of sexually molesting a minor in the first degree, were apprehended pursuant to the arrest warrant issued by Superior Court Judge David Wiseman.
Firefighter Norman Lawrence Tenorio, 35, and marine sports crewman Rex Rosokow Jose, 30, both from Tanapag village, were taken into police custody.
The FTE numbers do not really matter because, one, it does not automatically mean that lawmakers will be hiring the maximum number of employees they are allowed to hire, and two, the system will be self-regulating.
House Committee on Ways and Means Chair Rep. Stanley T. Torres stressed these points, as he sought to debunk a report that the Legislature is jacking up the number of its employees in the next Fiscal Year.
