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Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.norad.mil/newsroom/news_releases/2007/010407_a.htm

*UPDATE* Rocket Re-entry over Colorado and Wyoming *UPDATE*

Jan. 4, 2007

Peterson Air Force Base, Colo. - NORAD and U.S. Northern Command are aware that a Russian SL-4 spacecraft launch stage from a commercial satellie launch re-entered the atmosphere over Wyoming through Colorado earlier this morning. The 1st Space Control Squadron, located at Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station in Colorado Springs, Colorado tracked this re-entry from a launch that occurred 27 December 2006.

As is typical during re-entry, objects like this break up and burn up. However, it is possible that small pieces could reach the ground. The most likely area for these pieces to be located are southwestern Colo., and northwestern N.M. Currently, no damage has been reported and the debris is not believed to be hazardous.

It’s important for everyone to understand that the re-entry of pieces from this rocket is complete. We encourage anyone who believes that they may know the location of a piece from this rocket exercise caution and inform their local authorities immediately for potential recovery operations.

While the re-entry of space debris occurs almost daily, it is statistically unusual for the object to land in populated areas.

The NORAD-USNORTHCOM Command Center informed the National Guard Bureau and Department of Homeland Security of this event so that local authorities and first responders would be aware.

NORAD-USNORTHCOM continues to monitor the situation.

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Previously...

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.norad.mil/newsroom/news_releases/2007/010407.htm

Rocket Re-entry over Colorado and Wyoming

Jan. 4, 2007

NORAD and U.S. Northern Command are aware that an SL-4 rocket body re-entered the atmosphere over Colorado and Wyoming earlier this morning. It is possible that pieces of the object broke off during reentry over states neighboring Colorado. We are also aware of a initial report that a piece landed in Riverton, Wyo., near highway 28, around 6:13 a.m., today. Currently, no damage has been reported and the debris is not believed to be hazardous. NORAD-USNORTHCOM continues to monitor the situation and more information will be provided as it becomes available.

Government Revises Grants To Urban Areas Seeking More Equitable Funding To Protect Sensitive Sites

(CBS/AP) Four U.S. cities will get a fresh infusion of federal anti-terror grant money, and four others will be cut off from such grants, under a new government list of urban areas considered at serious risk of attacks.

The Department of Homeland Security expects to provide $1.7 billion in state and local grants in 2007 to help fund counter-terrorism programs and protect critical infrastructure — that’s less than the amount allocated last year.

According to CBS News correspondent Bob Orr, DHS will funnel almost $900 million to states, with an additional $747 million to be earmarked for cities — with six large urban areas getting the lion's share.

The lists of 45 metropolitan areas eligible from DHS grants differs slightly from last year’s. Four cities not eligible last year were added and will receive grants for the first time: El Paso, Tex., and Tucson, Ariz. (due to their proximity to the Mexican border); Norfolk, Va. (close to sensitive military installations); and Providence, R.I.

Four cities, however, were dropped from the list: Toledo, Ohio; Baton Rouge, La.; Louisville, Ky.; and Omaha, Neb.

The agency spared several other cities that were warned in 2006 that they might be cut off. Those spared cities were Las Vegas, Nev.; Buffalo, N.Y.; Oklahoma City; Tampa, Fla.; San Diego, Calif.; Sacramento, Calif.; and Phoenix, Ariz.

Thought you'd like to know...

DEP worker accused of tampering with NYC's water

DEP worker accused of tampering with NYC's waterEyewitness News
Exclusive
By Jim Hoffer http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?
section=local&id=4910139
(New York - WABC, January 5, 2007) - A worker with the New York
Department of Environmental Protection is under investigation for
allegedly tampering with equipment that chlorinates a reservoir
serving more than eight million New Yorkers.

Police sources tell us that the city's Department of Investigation
used a surveillance camera to catch the DEP worker. He was initially
suspended for a month, but now he's back at a desk job pending the
outcome of an internal investigation. Some officers who protect the
city's water supply say that's an outrage.
There is no more important reservoir in New York because it provides
water to nearly 9 million city residents. And it's inside the
reservoir's water treatment building that DEP police sources tell us
a worker was caught tampering with chlorination equipment.

"The brass of the DEP police were looking to squash it and not have
it really be known," a DEP officer said.

And the public may have never known if not for these DEP officers,
who asked that we not reveal their identities for fear of being
fired.

These officers claim a serious security breach occurred several
months ago when they say a disgruntled worker tampered with the
water chlorinating equipment. Their claim is backed up by an
internal e-mail from the DEP police chief alerting certain officers
of "incidents of suspected tampering of the chlorine cylinders."

"Chlorine on its own is a deadly gas, it is one of the deadliest
gases out there, so just in terms of chlorine leak would be a danger
to residents, chlorine is also used to purify New York's water
supply," a DEP officer said.

The DEP in a statement to Eyewitness News says, "The employee in
question was immediately removed from any contact with water supply
facilities, suspended for 30 days, and assigned to administrative
duties pending completion of an internal investigation."

State Senator Jeffrey Klein (D-The Bronx): "I feel that person
should be fired immediately."

This state senator led the push for tougher water security measures.
He says if what the DEP police sources say is true, then the law has
been broken.

Hoffer: "Is that a crime?"
Sen. Klein: "Absolutely, this is someone who clearly through their
job had access to chlorine and things that treat our water and that
person breached their public trust."

The DEP is currently on probation for past environmental crimes. A
court-appointed monitor has federal oversight to ensure no other
laws are broken, perhaps a reason for the agency to down play this
alleged tampering incident.

"I hope for their sake this is not something that breaches their
agreement with the EPA through the federal mandate but at the same
time this is a signal that they have to do a better job," State
Senator Klein said.

The Department of Investigation shared their findings with federal
prosecutors, but that office has declined to comment.

The DEP says it is continuing its investigation into the incident
and when completed will determine any disciplinary action.

(Copyright 2006 WABC-TV)