Gov't limos increased by 73% under Obama
President Barack Obama steps out of the presidential limousine as he prepares to board Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, Thursday, April 1, 2010. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
/ APThe number of limousines owned by the U.S. government increased by 73 percent during the first two years of the Obama administration, according to a new report by iWatch news.
Continue »Local investigation round-up
Ignoring Patients' Right to Know
Miami (WFOR): Nearly eight years after voters demanded change in the way bad things are tracked and reported at hospitals throughout Florida, the CBS4 I-Team has discovered that little has changed and that hurts your ability to make choices when it comes to health care.
Sons of LA Housing Commissioner Getting Preferential Treatment
Los Angeles (KCBS): A CBS2 News investigation has uncovered the sons of an L.A. City Housing commissioner living in an apartment complex that hundreds of low-income families are waiting to get into.
Are Murder Statistics Being Watered Down?Chicago (WBBM): Chicago police claim the city's murder rate went down more than 5 percent last year. But did it really? But 2 Investigators found there's unfinished business: dozens of so-called "uncleared death investigations," yet to be classified as non-criminal cases or homicides.
Muslim community may be target of hate crimes
By Chris Zawistowski, CBS Investigates Intern
Tensions stemming from the death of Osama Bin Laden and uprisings throughout the Middle East may result in attacks on Muslim-based groups in the United States, according to an advisory from the New Jersey Regional Operations Intelligence Center.
The New Jersey Regional Operations Intelligence Center wrote in the advisory that it has no specific information regarding a credible threat against religious organizations or facilities at this time.
Continue »Approx. 100 guns stolen from Pennsylvania home
About 100 firearms were stolen from a home in a Philadelphia suburb last Friday according to a document obtained by CBS News.
The victim, a resident of Chester, PA, told police that approximately 100 guns including various calibers of semiautomatic pistols, revolvers, shotguns, and rifles were taken during the burglary, according to a Delaware County officer safety advisory.
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CBS affiliates in Los Angeles and Sacramento use hidden cameras to uncover thousands of expired elevator permits and a gift receipt scam at Walmart.
Thousands of Elevators Running With Expired Permits
Los Angeles (KCBS)- With a hidden camera at South Coast Plaza Los Angeles affiliate KCBS found an elevator inspection permit that had expired two years ago in 2009. At County-USC Medical Center they found an elevator permit that had expired more than a year ago. And that was just the tip of the iceberg---KCBS found thousands of elevators with expired inspection permits around the Los Angeles area.
Sacramento (KOVR)- Walmart tops the list of Fortune 500 companies, bringing in the most revenue. But a hidden camera investigation by Sacramento affiliate KOVR uncovered a practice that may be adding to those profits. They caught Walmart shortchanging customers coast to coast when they return items using gift receipts, a practice that has some customers and consumer advocates outraged.
2.7 terabytes of data seized in bin Laden raid
CBS
Intelligence officials have not said how they are analyzing the data, but a DOD computer forensic analyst who works on computers captured on the battlefield tells CBS News forensic analysts are most likely using search indexing tools and software to rapidly analyze seized electronic devices to locate information of interest to the intelligence committee.
Continue »Local investigation round up: Airport security and safety
Here's a look at a few interesting investigations into airport security and safety from our CBS affiliates from around the country:
Paper: Fatigue Factored Into 14 Air Crashes Since 1993
Miami (WFOR) - WFOR in Miami has obtained a confidential internal white paper produced by the FAA and the National Air Traffic Controllers Association which dates back more than 2 years. According to the white paper: "14 accidents with 263 fatalities since 1993 with fatigue as a casual or contributing factor..." For more on the impact of worker fatigue in critical jobs, watch CBS Investigates' report from earlier this month: Key workers falling asleep worries safety experts
Delta Drug Ring Busted At Detroit Airport
Detroit (WWJ) - Apparently several Delta Airlines baggage handlers were moving more than just luggage. Federal authorities say they've arrested 8 former or current airport employees in a drug-smuggling investigation at Detroit Metro Airport.
Parking security issues found at Charlotte airport
Charlotte (WBTV) - Several vehicles parked in the hourly and daily lots have been sitting for not only months, but years at Charlotte airport, raising security questions.
Ohio State Coach Tressel Suspended For 2 Games
Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel was suspended two games Tuesday for violating an NCAA rule.
/ Getty ImagesAs Yahoo! Sports has reported, Tressel was aware that two of his players had sold memorabilia to the owner of a tattoo parlor more than eight months before Ohio State authorities were informed of the improper transactions.
In an interview for the CBS News/Sports Illustrated investigation into the criminal records of college football players, Tressel told Chief Investigative Correspondent Armen Keteyian his school does not conduct background checks on incoming players.
"We really don't go into anything outside the school system," Tressel told Keteyian, "and hopefully through the school system, we can find out what we need."
College Football Crime Report Gets Reaction From Schools
For the past six months, CBS News and Sports Illustrated have investigated the criminal backgrounds of college football players.
/ CBS/AP/Sports IllustratedYesterday CBS News released the results of our six-month investigation in partnership with Sports Illustrated on crime and college football, a study that found 7 percent of players in Sports Illustrated's 2010 pre-season Top 25 had either been arrested or cited for a crime. The results also found that only two of the Top 25 schools-Oklahoma and Texas Christian University-did any sort of background checks on their recruits.
The University of Pittsburgh, with 22 incidents had the highest crime rate of the 25 schools in the report . The University's Athletic Director Steve Pederson and new football coach Todd Graham told CBS affiliate KDKA they would work to improve these numbers by placing a new emphasis on fielding a crime-free team.
FDA Warns of Extortion Scam by Fake Agents
CBS/istock.com
Extortionists posing as FDA agents are targeting customers of online and over-the-phone pharmacies, demanding victims pay cash fines or else face law enforcement action, the FDA warned today.
To perpetrate the ongoing international scam, the criminals call victims and tell them they are being fined for illegally purchasing drugs over the internet or over the phone. Unless the victim pays a fine ranging from $100 to $250,000, the scammers say, legal action will be pursued.
Victims are ordered to immediately wire money to a certain location, often in the Dominican Republic. If they refuse to pay up, they are threatened with "search of their property, arrest, deportation, physical harm and/or incarceration", according to the FDA press release.
The FDA told CBS News they don't yet know how many people have been targeted by the scam, but said they are pursuing multiple domestic and international criminal investigations.
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