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FBI Raids Memphis Truck Driving Schools
Memphis, TN - Federal and state agents raided two Mid-South truck driving schools and a Memphis driver's license center on February 25, 2008. Both schools, one on Brooks Road in Memphis, and the other on Veterans Parkway in Millington, are operated by Swift Transportation. The state run license center on Shelby Drive in Whitehaven was also targeted in the investigation.
The FBI confirms that documents were seized during the raids but a spokesperson says no arrests were made. Sources say the feds are looking for information about truck drivers who illegally obtained their commercial drivers licenses. While the investigation continues, the Tennessee Department of Safety announced that the licensing centers inside the schools and the one on Shelby Drive aren't allowed to issue any new Commercial Driver’s Licenses.
"That's messed up," says Memphian Dewayne Matlock, who was stunned when troopers with the Tennessee Highway Patrol turned him and dozens of others away from the licensing station on Shelby Drive. When told why Memphis drivers couldn't take care of their business at that drivers license station Monday, February 25, 2008, Matlock responded, "If that's what it takes to keep us safe, it's worth it." David Turner, whose beer distribution company employs truckers, says if the investigation revolves around the issuing of fraudulent commercial drivers licenses, that means there are truck drivers on the road who don't have the training needed to drive safely.
"That's very scary," says Turner. "I hope that's not what's going on. But that's part of what the Department of Transportation's job is and part of the FBI's job. That's why they're here. So there must be problems." At the West Memphis Pilot truck stop, long-haul trucker Daimond Blackmon says inexperienced drivers give the trucking industry a bad name when it's already getting criticized. "I mean, this is real serious," says Blackmon.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, large trucks make up just 4-percent of all registered vehicles in the U.S. Yet big rigs are involved in 11-percent of all fatal crashes. And when a tractor trailer collides with a car, statistics provided by RoadSafeAmerica.org, say 98-percent of deaths occur in the car.
That's why Daimond Blackmon says a poorly trained trucker doesn't belong on the road. "Oh, Lord no," says Blackmon. "With a fraudulent license you don't get to learn what it really takes to drive." Blackmon says the government should definitely put the brakes on phony CDL's. "I think the U.S. needs to come down on that and do something to prevent that from happening," says Blackmon. "Because if they don't, there's going to be a lot more accidents out here with truckers."
Swift Transportation employs 21,000 drivers in more than 40 locations around the country. A company spokesperson says Swift is cooperating fully with law enforcement and that they have been advised Swift is not the target of the investigation. The raids were headed by the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force. Other agencies include the Tennessee Highway Patrol, the A-T-F, the United States Secret Service and federal immigration officials.
Rome - For the first time in Italy's history, almost all party lists will contain at least one Muslim candidate in the mid-April elections, reflecting the growing influence of immigrants in politics.
Souad Sbai, the Moroccan Women's Association president is among prominent Muslim figures who Italy's various parties hope will run for office on their ticket. Sbai is also a member of Italy's Consulta Islamica, a government-appointed consultative body for Muslims in Italy.
Italy's political right has been especially courting Sbai. Over the weekend, Maurizio Gasparri, MP for the conservative National Alliance party, said he had approached Sbai, and hoped she would join its electoral list.
Excerpted
http://www.adnkronos.com/AKI/English/Politics/?id=1.0.1915105896
UPDATE to Memphis, Tennessee by Oorang.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1963607/posts?page=1222#1222
Both schools, one on Brooks Road in Memphis, and the other on Veterans Parkway in Millington, are operated by Swift Transportation.
David police seek 2 men in theft of $11,000 worth of cell phones
Davie - Police need help identifying two masked men seen stealing $11,000 worth of cell phones at a closed business, an agency spokesman said Tuesday.
The burglary happened at early Monday at Mobile Media, 6403 Stirling Road, police spokesman Lt. Wayne Boulier said. About 6:25 a.m., three people arrived at the store, pried open a back entrance and knocked out a surveillance camera near that wall.
Two men entered the store and loaded plastic trash bags with cell phones while a third person stood outside and handed them more trash bags, Boulier said.
In less than 20 minutes, they took 50 to 60 cell phones valued at $11,000. The trio then took off in an unknown vehicle, Boulier said. "They targeted the store." Boulier said.
Thanks for the updates.
It sure makes you wonder who is driving the big rig in front of you and the one in back of you!