March 6, 2008 - The U.S. Postal Service approves more than 10,000 requests from U.S. law enforcement each year to record names, addresses and other information from the outside of packages, according to information released through a Freedom of Information Act request.

The warrantless surveillance mail program - as it is known - requires only the approval of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Director, and not a judge.

Since 1998, the inspector has approved more than 97% of requests during criminal inquiries, new documents show. According to USA Today, which filed the request, "In 2004, 2005 and 2006, the most recent year provided, officials granted at least 99.5% of requests."

"The idea of the government tracking that amount of mail is quite alarming," Director of the American Civil Liberties Union's national security project Jameel Jaffer told the paper. "When you realize that (the figure) does not include national security matters, the numbers are even more alarming."

Officials would not disclose how much mail was monitored in national security or "terror"-related investigations. Under the USA PATRIOT Act, those who received letters notifying them that they were being investigated often were gagged from even reporting their being targeted.

Responding to a USA Today request for the national security-related data, "inspection service counsel Anthony Alverno wrote that even revealing the frequency of the surveillance would undermine its effectiveness "to the detriment of the government's national security interests."

Authorities to Gain Fast and Expansive Access to Records

March 6, 2008 - Several thousand law enforcement agencies are creating the foundation of a domestic intelligence system through computer networks that analyze vast amounts of police information to fight crime and root out terror plots.

NEW YORK - February 28, 2008 - For the first time in history, more than one in every 100 American adults is in jail or prison, according to a new report tracking the surge in inmate population and urging states to rein in corrections costs with alternative sentencing programs.

The report, released today by the Pew Center on the States, said the 50 states spent more than $49 billion on corrections last year, up from less than $11 billion 20 years earlier. The rate of increase for prison costs was six times greater than for higher education spending, the report said.

Using updated state-by-state data, the report said 2,319,258 adults were held in U.S. prisons or jails at the start of 2008 - one out of every 99.1 adults, and more than any other country in the world.

Ed. Note:  Could it be that we have more prisoners because our government has passed more ridiculous and unconstitutional "laws" than any other country on the face of the earth?  If you create enough "crimes" then you establish a nation of "criminals".

When is enough, enough?!

February 28, 2008 - The parents of a student in Pennsylvania's South Middleton School District are warning other parents after their workout-oriented son was suspended for 10 days and half the soccer season for taking vitamins at school.

Calling it a zero tolerance policy run amok, Joseph Figueiredo told WND it was like, "Alice in Wonderland does the Twilight Zone."

The controversy began when his son, Andrew, put himself on a physical training regimen that included taking several vitamins and supplements.

Andrew was aware of school rules regarding prescription medications, so before he launched the program he checked the student handbook.

"He took it upon himself to look in the student manual and read the drug policy and medication policy," he said. "But he did not see vitamins or dietary supplements and in his mind thought it was okay."

School officials, however, thought otherwise. Somebody reported he was taking the vitamins, and Andrew was called into Principal Joe Mancuso's office where he was told he was being suspended for violating the drug policy.

WND previously reported a student was threatened with a three-day suspension for simply having a pen in class that had a gun company logo, another case in which a college student was suspended for advocating for gun rights and yet another in which a student who drew a sketch of a gun was suspended.

ENGLAND - February 27, 2008 - They are devoted foster parents with an unblemished record of caring for almost 20 vulnerable children.

But Eunice and Owen Johns have been forced to abandon their good work because they refuse to tell children as young as ten that homosexuality is an acceptable lifestyle.

To do so, they say, would go against their Christian beliefs.

The devastated couple withdrew an application to their council to continue as foster carers after being told they must condone homosexuality to adhere to gay rights laws.

The Equality Act (Sexual Orientation), which came into force last April, makes it illegal for any business or organization providing a public service to discriminate against anyone because of their sexuality.

February 25, 2008 - Montana officials are warning that if the Supreme Court rules in the D.C. gun ban case that the right to keep and bear arms protects only state-run militias like the National Guard, then the federal government will have breached Montana's statehood contract.

STUART, Florida - February 25, 2008 - Police arrested a 28-year-old man Sunday on a cruelty to animals charge after he yelled an obscenity at a police dog in a patrol vehicle, according to an arrest affidavit.