Sample Independent Agency Releases - by Targeted News Service

DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE, CIA DIRECTOR ANNOUNCE ESTABLISHMENT OF DNI OPEN SOURCE CENTER

Copyright © HT Media Ltd. 2005

WASHINGTON, Nov. 8 -- The CIA issued the following press release:

The Director of National Intelligence, John D. Negroponte, and the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, Porter J. Goss, today announced the creation of the DNI Open Source Center (OSC) based at CIA, effective 1 November 2005.

DCIA Porter Goss, who will administer the Center on behalf of the DNI, said, "The DNI Open Source Center represents a major strategic initiative and commitment to the value we place on openly available information."

The Center will build on the established expertise of the CIA's Foreign Broadcast Information Service (FBIS) -- an organization that enjoys a long history of providing the US government highly valued open source products and services. The Center's functions will include collection, analysis and research, training, and information technology management to facilitate government-wide access and use.

The Center's director will be Douglas J. Naquin, a senior CIA manager with extensive experience in the open source and information technology fields. Mr. Naquin most recently served as the Director of FBIS. He will be assisted by two deputies: one will focus on the Center's day-to-day operations; the other will be responsible for Community Integration. The Center's director will report directly to the CIA Deputy Director in executing strategy, policy, and program guidance established by the DNI through his Assistant Deputy Director for Intelligence for Open Source.

INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION STATUS REPORT: SS05-061

Copyright © HT Media Ltd. 2005

WASHINGTON, Dec. 30 -- NASA issued the following press release:

The crew onboard the International Space Station are looking forward to celebrating New Year's Day after spending a quiet Christmas 225 miles above the Earth.

On Sunday, Expedition 12 Commander Bill McArthur and Flight Engineer Valery Tokarev spoke with their families, friends and co-workers. They also feasted on a meal including Russian soup, bread and fish.

They opened gifts, including a Russian Santa Claus matryoshka doll, and chocolates. The gifts arrived last Friday in a recent cargo shipment. The crew took Monday off in observance of Christmas and will take next Monday off for New Year's. They plan to ring in 2006 with another Russian meal.

This week, the crew unloaded almost three tons of equipment and supplies from the Progress. The crew also logged their food intake and collected urine samples as part of a medical study to understand ways to prevent kidney stones in weightlessness.

There were no problems with station operations. The Elektron oxygen generation system was intentionally shut down to deplete the oxygen in the Progress supply ship that arrived in September. The crew had several special audio/visual linkups in observance of the holidays. They had a news conference with Russian media and a conversation with Grandfather Frost, Russia's version of Santa Claus who delivers presents to children on New Year's.

The Expedition 12 crew is halfway through a six-month mission. For information about crew activities, future launch dates and station sighting opportunities on the Web, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/station

SBA HURRICANE LOAN APPROVALS IN LOUISIANA SURPASS $1 BILLION

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WASHINGTON, Dec. 27 -- The Small Business Administration issued the following press release:

More than $1 billion in U.S. Small Business Administration disaster assistance loans have been approved for almost 14,800 residents and business owners in Louisiana that were affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Loan approvals in Louisiana are averaging more than $20 million per day in December.

"Our efforts to provide rebuilding loans to the people of Louisiana are beginning to pay off," said SBA Administrator Hector V. Barreto. "The steps we have taken thus far to enhance our loan processing capabilities are allowing us to approve disaster loans at a near-record pace. Our people in the Gulf Coast region are working urgently and compassionately to help those who have been affected by this terrible disaster."

In Louisiana, through Dec. 26, the SBA has approved 14,798 disaster loans for $1.018 billion. Of that, 12,917 loans worth $877 million have gone to homeowners and renters and 1,881 loans worth $141.5 million have gone to businesses.

Disbursements have been made in Louisiana on nearly 28 percent of the approved loans. Disbursements are made when approved borrowers are ready to close on their loans.

The total of disaster loans approved in Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida from Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma have now exceeded $1.82 billion.