Salem-News.com Homeland Security articles

2000 Attend `Children`s Inaugural Ball` Saturday to Welcome Obama

The Every Child Matters Education Fund (ECMEF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, non-partisan organization focused on making the needs of children and youth a national political priority.

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Two thousand children and family members attended the Every Child Matters Education Fund (ECMEF) "Children's Inaugural Ball" taking place Saturday at the Historical Society of Washington, 801 K Street, NW at Mount Vernon Square, Washington, D.C.

The child-focused event is the only family-friendly, free national event of its kind to welcome President-Elect Obama and his family to the White House.

Keizer Police Arrest Man for Stabbing His Brother

The victim was transported to the Salem Hospital Emergency Room in serious condition. ‏

(KEIZER, Ore.) - Keizer Police arrested a man for stabbing his brother in the stomach early this morning. Capt. Jeff Kuhns with Keizer PD says that around 12:41 AM, officers were dispatched to a report of a "Late Assault" where the victim was reportedly bleeding from his stomach on Plymouth Drive NE.

The father of both the victim and suspect called 911. Kuhns says that while units were responding information was being obtained by the 911 call taker that two brothers had been involved in a fight approximately 60 minutes prior and one of them was bleeding from his stomach.

Oregon Civil Air Patrol Assists in Washington Homeland Security Training

Oregon Civil Air Patrol Assists Washington CAP in Homeland Security Exercise.

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - An Oregon Civil Air Patrol aircraft and crew from Portland is participating in an aerial digital photography assignment in support of the Washington CAP's Homeland Security Training exercise this weekend.

The exercise, which will be officially monitored by an Air Force evaluation team, will task the Washington CAP's capability to respond to numerous realistic assignments in Homeland Security, natural emergencies and search and rescue operations.

Oregon to Participate in Dirty Bomb Response Drill

Under the computer-generated scenario that will begin Thursday several “dirty bombs,” known as radiological dispersal devices, are detonated in eastern Oregon.

(SALEM, Ore. ) - The Oregon Public Health Division will participate next week with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Idaho Bureau of Laboratories in a full-scale public health preparedness exercise to evaluate the region’s response should an actual terrorism event occur.

Four eastern Oregon counties – Baker, Malheur, Union and Wallowa – will be involved in the drill along with Oregon State Public Health Laboratory in Portland and Holy Rosary Medical Center in Ontario.

Other states involved in the test include Idaho, Washington, Alaska, Florida, Arizona, Hawaii, California, Mississippi and Montana.

Nation Comes Out of the Red

Homeland Security adjusts threat level from Red to Orange for in-bound flights from the UK.

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Effective immediately, the Department of Homeland Security announced an adjustment in the aviation threat level from RED to ORANGE for flights from the United Kingdom to the United States.

There will not be any operational changes for domestic flights in the United States. Thus, the U.S. threat level remains at ORANGE, or ‘High,’ for all domestic and international flights. The ban on liquids and gels in carry on baggage remains in full effect.

U.S. Raises Airline Threat Level After British Break-Up Terror Plot

Travelers should anticipate additional security measures within the airport and at screening checkpoints. All hair gels, lotions, and liquids have been banned from carry-on luggage.

(WASHINGTON D.C.) - The Department of Homeland Security is taking immediate steps to increase security measures in the aviation sector in coordination with heightened security precautions in the United Kingdom.

Over the last few hours, British authorities have arrested 21 extremists engaged in a substantial plot to destroy multiple passenger aircraft flying from the United Kingdom to the United States.

The airlines targeted included United Airlines, American Airlines and Continental Airlines Inc., two counterterrorism officials said Thursday, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation.

Agencies Test Post Office Biohazard Detection System

25 postal employees learned what it would be like to experience a real emergency involving biohazards.

(SALEM) - Biohazard detection equipment and procedures at Salem's main post office were put to the test today, during an exercise that focused on the proper response to a biological threat such as Anthrax.

Several public safety agencies including Salem Fire, Oregon State Police, and the Marion County Health Division conducted the joint exercise with the United States Postal Service.

During the exercise, an alrm was activated and postal employees evacuated the facility to a safe location, established a command post, whil initiating a call to 9-1-1 and completing other emergency notification procedures.

Coast Guard Establishes Controlled Access Area During Rose Festival Fleet Week

The controlled access area will be located on the Willamette River between the Steel and Morrison Bridges throughout the fleet's visit -- June 7-12th.

(PORTLAND) - The face of our nation has changed making it necessary to enforce and maintain a controlled access area on the Willamette River, while Navy vessels are tied up at the seawall, during Rose Festival's Fleet Week.

As U.S. Naval vessels transit the river system, please be aware of the restricted 100-yard naval vessel protection zone. If you need to pass within a 100 yards you must contact the Coast Guard security escort vessel on VHF-FM channel 16.

Commercial vessels have developed special transit requirements with the Captain of the Port, Portland, Oregon prior to this year's Fleet Week.