NewsWatch: Cities and Counties -- Hackers Make Online Voting System Play Song, More ...

Rahm Emanuel Hit by Residency Claims
Just two days into his listening tour of Chicago residents, Rahm Emanuel is having to answer whether he is actually one of them. Emanuel's potential opponents in the race for Chicago mayor are seizing on a requirement in the Chicago Board of Elections rules that requires any candidate for mayor to be a resident at least one year before election day. Christian Science Monitor

The Cost of Crime
Murder takes an obvious toll on society in terms of the loss of human life, but what does it actually cost each time there's a murder? It's about $17.25 million according a recent Iowa State University study. They calculated the costs of five crimes -- murder, rape, armed robbery, aggravated assault and burglary -- in terms of the victim costs, criminal justice system costs, lost productivity estimates for both the victim and the criminal, and estimates on the public's resulting willingness to pay to prevent future violence. Iowa State University

Hacker Infiltration Ends D.C. Online Voting Trial
Last week, the D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics opened a new Internet-based voting system for a weeklong test period, inviting computer experts from all corners to prod its vulnerabilities in the spirit of "give it your best shot." Well, the hackers gave it their best shot -- and midday Friday, the trial period was suspended, with the board citing "usability issues brought to our attention." Here's one of those issues: After casting a vote, according to test observers, the Web site played "Hail to the Victors" -- the University of Michigan fight song. Washington Post
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Turnpike Studies All Electronic Toll Collection
The Pennsylvania Turnpike will consider doing away with toll booths, toll collectors, and drivers' fumbling for bills and coins. The turnpike has advertised for a consultant to study conversion to all-electronic collection, a method already used on toll roads and bridges in several states and fast gaining in popularity. "In our industry, it's pretty much accepted that this is the wave of the future," turnpike spokesman Carl DeFebo said. Pittsburg Post-Gazette

County Jumps Time Zones
The Department of Transportation has moved the Central Standard Time Zone line to include all of Mercer County, North Dakota. Mercer County had been in the Mountain Time zone. Courthouse News Service

Mosquito Noisemaker Silenced
The Mosquito -- a controversial noisemaker aimed at young people loitering at Gallery Place -- buzzes no more. The device, which emits a high-pitched sound that can be heard only by youthful ears, was installed after police and business owners received a rash of complaints about large groups of young people loitering along Seventh Street NW, sometimes getting into fights. But the noisemaker was silenced after a youth rights activist complained of age discrimination, an allegation the D.C. Office of Human Rights is investigating. Washington Post

Fire Fighters Condemn South Fulton’s Decision to Let Home Burn
International Association of Fire Fighters General President Harold Schaitberger today issued the following statement on the September 29 fire in Obion County, Tennessee: “We condemn South Fulton’s ill-advised, unsafe policy. Professional, career fire fighters shouldn’t be forced to check a list before running out the door to see which homeowners have paid up. They get in their trucks and go.”  International Assn of Fire Fighters
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