Biggest scoop of the month! Drone Encounters Increasing Another Federal Spy-plane Fleet Is Tech Outpacing Our Laws? Pages 1 & 3 Page 8 Propaganda Watch Inside NSP The Power of Wording Our Promise to Readers Page 6 Page 2 NStarPost.com Issue 1 Oct 2015 North Star Post Ad altiora tendo Independent Investigative Journalism DEA Warrantless Domestic & Foreign Surveillance Program Exposed Local News Hennepin Co. Sheriff’s Claims on Race & Crime Stats... Page 3 Local Defense Industry Series... Page 7 U.S. News “FBI Sky Spies” Flew Over I10 Shooter Suspect’s Home in AZ... Page 4 World News U.S. Funding Priorities in Response to Syrian Turmoil... Page 5 U.S. Committed to Funding Ukrainian Military... Page 4 Sports The Gopher Quarterback Controversy... Page 4 Follow Sam on Twitter - @MinneapoliSam The United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is operating a fleet of surveillance aircraft over locations within the United States as well as “foreign environments,” according to Jeffrey Stramm special agent in charge of DEA aviation division. The Administration does not “get warrants for public space surveillance,” Stramm said in a phone call with The Post. He went on to say that this surveillance program is in accordance with Title 21 United States Code. While Stramm wouldn’t confirm the number of aircraft that make up the fleet, our investigation identified 92 aircraft (as of 2011), much like those belonging to the FBI surveillance fleet. An Office of the Inspector General (OIG) report indicated that the FY2010 budget for DEA aviation operations was $47.6 million. The report also stated that DEA employed 108 Special Agent Pilots as of June 2011. The DEA surveillance fleet “engage[s] in daily activities,” said Stramm, and “all aviation support requests are initiated by field office supervisors,” according to the OIG report. The DEA registered 30 aircraft of their fleet to a post office box in Houston, Texas under the corporate name of “Silver Creek Aviation Services,” a company that does not exist beyond registering these aircraft. Another non existent company used for the sake of registering aircraft is “Lindsey Aviation Services,” which houses an additional 10 surveillance aircraft. Continued on Page 3... Join our team! NSP is currently looking for intrepid reporters, photojournalists and more. Visit NStarPost.com for more info. We offer the least expensive advertising rates in town! $12 / Column inch Great deals inside for new partners & we’ll keep that low rate forever! Get the best deals now before prices go up. @NStarPost North Star Post Email - Info@NStarPost.com © North Star Post LLC - 2015 Inside the North Star Post Each print edition is limited in space and thus we can not feature all of the talented journalists, investigators, correspondents and photojournalists. For that reason we will be showcasing information about some of those whose content made it into each print edition. Please get to know our entire team who works hard everyday to bring you the important news. More staff biographical information is on NStarPost.com Sam Richards Founder / Editor in Chief Sam@NStarPost.com Twitter @MinneapoliSam Sam has witnessed the power of new media technologies and citizen journalism, and the impact they can have on shaping the national dialogue. A firm belief of his is that the American people, when presented with non-ideologically driven information, generally make wise choices. That is part of what he hopes to bring to the North Star Post, to disseminate truly vital information to the People and do so as objectively as possible, without ideological or other spin. His first story as an independent journalist was the exposure of the entire fleet of domestic surveillance aircraft the so-called “FBI Sky Spies.” Sam’s latest scoop involves warrantless aerial surveillance by the Drug Enforcement Administration. Read that story on page 1. Our Principles & Promise to the Readers Independent media is often at the forefront of the fight to bring the truth out and inform the public about critical issues. Voices independent of government, corporate or other influences have been sorely absent during this crucial time period in our collective history. The North Star Post will be one such organization, free from ideological or other lenses which cause distortion, and will never shy away from a relevant story for fear of reprisal. We seek to become a trusted pillar within the fourth estate, one worthy of your readership and support. That being said, we will pay special attention to the realm of civil liberties and justice. America is, and has been, at a crossroads for some time now. It seems every other week we learn of activities of our government and the powerful that have a tremendous impact on the world, our Constitution, the environment, the economy, and the future itself. We take the responsibility of disseminating information to our readers very seriously and for that reason have laid out the core principles that make up the heart and soul of the North Star Post. 1 ) The Post will remain non partisan and even non ideological as to not distort the facts we publish. We will follow the code of ethics laid out by the Society of Professional Journalists and use that code as the basis for all of our reporting. 2 ) The use of anonymous sources will be only under extreme conditions and verification of the authenticity of those sources will be clearly communicated in our publications. The motivations of sources as well as relevant background information will also be strenuously tested for merit and accuracy. 3 ) Not only will we present the entirety of the issues, events, and news we discuss, we will always aim to publish material in terms of how it fits in to the larger context. For example, many news organizations present two commentators with diametrically opposed viewpoints and treat those circumstances as though they reflect reality when in fact, there is much nuance and other facets of those issues. This type of simplification has proven to be hazardous to our democracy and intellect in general. 4 ) When you read that someone quoted in the Post is an expert, you can be sure that they are genuinely a certifiable master of that topic. Looseness with the label of expert is another hallmark of modern mainstream journalism. Often times, newspapers will publish extremely biased or even incorrect information and attribute it to an expert when in fact that person is merely the member of a well established group with an agenda. 5 ) The actual facts written and broadcast by this newspaper will be checked. Unfortunately this is something that needs to be expressed as fact checking has become a secondary tenet of many news outlets. 6 ) Jurisprudence will lead our reporting on issues involving the legal system. We will avoid commenting in a way that will influence active proceedings of the judicial system, and will not use our influence to cast individuals in any way shape or form other than that which the facts dictate. The Post believes everyone has the right to a fair trial and that the media has a duty to report on certain matters of the judiciary but not interfere with those matters except in cases of corruption. 7 ) When we glean information from others we will diligently attribute their efforts. 8 ) Issues of pop culture and non-news will be avoided as if it were contagious. Our goal is not to generate a large readership through sacrificing coverage of truly important news items. Journalism, not entertainment is what drives our efforts. 9 ) Our relationship with our advertisers and commercial partners will be well known and we will never favorably report on anything due to those relationships. Alongside that ethic, if our readers vocalize concerns about a particular business relationship we have, their grievances will be listened to intently. Parent companies of major media organizations are spared from investigations and their misdeeds largely go unknown. 10 ) Similarly, we will not shy away from decrying the practices of fellow news outlets should those practices be deemed unethical. 11 ) The Post will always acknowledge and correct our mistakes and will operate with an open policy towards readers that find something wrong with what we have done. We aim to become well respected and foster a voice of civility. Listening to those who dissent against us for whatever reason will be key to that effort, and is key to a healthy democracy overall. 12 ) Our organization will never yield in its quest for independence. This includes seeking to oppose control and censorship of our organization in all forms within reason. ADVERTISING SPACE FOR SALE! Locking in our first business partners for lifetime low rates starting at $12 / column inch. Most inexpensive advertising in town! Email Info@NStarPost.com today to ensure you get in while the prices are this low. Visit NStarPost.com for more info & deals. We can design your ads for just $5. Discounts for repeat customers Purchase two ads and receive 10% off the total price purchase three ads for 12.5% off and purchase four ads for 15% off our already low prices! DEA continued from Page 1... This tactic is popular among federal agencies. The FBI registered surveillance aircraft to fake companies such as “FVX Research.” Silver Creek Aviation Services does not appear in Texas public registries or have a web presence beyond aviation registration websites. Stramm explained that registering air assets in this way provides “a level of protection,” against “the bad guys.” Most of the images of these aircraft show oversized windows which would lend credence to the claim that they are primarily using binoculars and other traditional methods of surveillance and observation. However, while the DEA denies using technology such as the advanced imaging surveillance technology as well as cellphone surveillance technology like StingRay, which is employed by the FBI fleet, photographs of DEA aircraft available online show the same equipment attached to the belly of both agencies aircraft. This advanced imaging technology is capable of monitoring all moving activity, such as cars and pedestrians, within 36 square miles. The DEA aviation division, unlike that of the FBI, does not allow their aircraft information to be tracked by websites like Flightradar24.com which is used by The Post to ascertain the activities of the FBI fleet and which partially led to the initial discovery in May of this year. By simply requesting either through the Federal Aviation Administration or these public tracking websites themselves, an aircraft owner can block their aircraft from open tracking, as the DEA appears to have done. The tip that lead to this investigation was from John Wiseman a technologist that, through some techno-sleuthing, tracked a plane registered to Silver Creek Aviation Services despite it’s absence from open flight tracking websites. “I’m picking up mode S/ADS-B pings these aircraft broadcast.” Through this type of tracking Wiseman is usually able to determine aircraft identification, altitude, transpon- information as well as location. “I store all the pings in a database so I can go back and ‘hit rewind’ if I learn some new piece of interesting information,” he said. The Post will continue to work with Wiseman on these issues in the future. One of these aircraft crashed in Westminster, Colorado in January of this year. Local media was intrigued as to why local police rushed out to conceal the tail number of the downed aircraft. It was later made clear that law enforcement and DEA were partners in the mission that ended when the engine of the aircraft failed. Furthermore, it appears at least one of these aircraft changed hands from U.S. Border Patrol to the DEA. Aircraft N6187Y was deregistered from Border Patrol in 1994 and later registered with DEA. Shifting resources from other national priorities to the War on Drugs is not uncommon. When asked whether or not these aircraft are used to monitor state sanctioned marijuana activities, the DEA aviation press relations office replied, “not by this office.” This leaves the door open to whether or not surveillance of these activities by field offices is being done with DEA aircraft. Sheriff Stanek Blames Racial Diversification for Rise in Suburban Crime responses were provided to our repeat efforts and which as is due diligence to the process of reporting, warranted an in-person attempt. Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek, in a report by the Star Tribune from early September, claimed that the recent 27% increase in violent crime in the County’s suburbs was due to racial diversification of the nations population. Luckily, upon arrival to the HCSO a civilian public information officer (PIO) was a few paces behind and a conversation ensued. This PIO insisted that racial information is not collected. When asked how the Sheriff arrived at the claim that crime jumped up significantly due to demographic changes especially race, the PIO was unable to corroborate his assertions and instructed the Post to direct further questions to the man himself. by Sam Richards @MinneapoliSam That comment was not scrutinized through records request by the Star Tribune, and that’s where the North Star Post enters the scene. The Post submitted a government data practices act request, similar to a Freedom of Information Act request but within the realm of state and local government. The request simply asked for the criminal data that the Sheriff used to back up his claim that the jump in crime was due to immigration and racial demographic shifts within the metro area. Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) personnel responded with information which is absent of any information on the offenders, or victims race, and any information on the demographics involved. As this could have been a simple oversight, since many records requests are filed and processed daily, we followed up twice over email for clarification. No further We will continue trying to get the Sheriff to either back his claims up with statistical evidence or hold the office accountable for false statements that can be perceived to have a distasteful and racist tone. Rent this space for $12! GET THE WORD OUT! U.S. Committed to Ukraine, Already Provided $224 Million in Military Aid, DoD Says by Jerod MacDonald-Evoy @JerodMacEvoy WASHINGTON — The Department of Defense reiterated Thursday its commitment to Ukraine during a meeting with the Ukrainian Defense Minister at the Pentagon, according to a DoD press release. Ukrainian Defense Minister Col. Gen. Stepan Poltorak and Defense Secretary Ash Carter spoke to the press shortly after Poltorak visited the Pentagon, a first for the minister. Earlier this month United States Deputy Defense Secretary Bob Work met with NATO allies and urged for a “whole” Ukraine while discussing new strategies in the region. “[It’s a] very fluid security environment that they face, from Russian activities in the High North to the crisis of displaced persons in the south,” Work said. Just $12 to Place Your Ad Here! Contact NSP Now! FBI Surveillance Plane Circled Arizona I10 Shooting Suspect’s Apartment by Sam Richards & Jerod MacDonald Evoy National Aircraft Leasing Corporation is one of the 13 fake compaA plane belonging to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) aerial nies utilized by the FBI to register surveillance fleet circled I-10 shoot- the aircraft with the FAA, and provide a degree of protection to ing suspect Leslie Allen Merritt pilots and others involved in the Jr.’s apartment the day before his aerial surveillance program. arrest. Tail number N496WW registered to the National Aircraft Leasing Corporation, an FBI front company, was found to circle an area near Merritt Jr.’s apartment on September 17 and also flew over a section of Arizona I-10 freeway. The Arizona DPS acknowledged that the FBI has been assisting the Department with analysis of evidence but would not elaborate or confirm that the FBI’s aerial surveillance program assisted in their investigative efforts or what type of evidence was being analyzed, according to DPS spokesman Bart Graves. Russian aggression seemed to be the main topic of discussion as Carter stated the United States is “adjusting its posture and investments to deter Russian aggression, and working with NATO and other security partners to do the same.” Currently the United States and Russia are engaging in talks to determine tactics to fight the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in Syria where “mutual interests overlap,” according to Carter. However, Carter went on to state these talks do not take away from U.S. condemnation of Russia’s aggressive stance in Ukraine and sanctions would remain in place. The Gopher Quarterback Dilemma Carter stated the U.S. has proved more than $244 million in equipment and training to the nation. Humvees, counter-mortar radar, night vision gear, body armor, medical equipment and training of 900 Ukrainian national guardsmen account for the expenditures. After barely squeaking out non-conference wins against Colorado State and Kent State in consecutive weeks, it looks as thought the Minnesota Gophers football team could be preparing to go a different direction at the quarterback position. The Ukrainian minister thanked Carter and other nations who have been supporting Ukraine and called the relationship between the two countries as “good as ever before.” Poltorak continued to state his thankfulness for support, adding “together we will win.” by Joseph Rush @JawzRush03 True freshman quarterback Demry Croft has been splitting first team reps with Mitch Leidner this week and has been the more polished of the two players, according to a source with knowledge of team activity. The flashes Croft has been showing in practice, coupled with the excruciating incompetence of the offense thus far, makes pulling his redshirt a Saturday, despite it being a move that Jerry Kill has been trying to avoid. Croft earned high praise from his coaches during training camp and has a big arm despite his slender frame. At 6’5” and 200 lbs., he may not quite pass the eye test, however, the athletic ability and arm talent he brings to the table might be enough to turn things around for a pitiful Gophers offense. In three games Minnesota has mustered just 50 points, good for 241st in major college football. The low point came last Saturday against Kent State, however, as the Mitch Leidner led attack was only able to put up ten points at home against the same team Illinois beat 52-3 just two weeks prior. Continued on next page... The North Star Post has been tracking the entire FBI aerial surveillance fleet and posting weekly updates on targeted cities and other locations. This is the first clearly documented instance of a state and federal collaboration in use of surveillance aircraft in order to assist investigations. Merritt Jr. was arrested on September 18 after ballistic evidence connected a gun owned by him to four shootings targeting motorists and vehicles on the I10 freeway. Check NStarPost.com for updates on the whereabouts of the FBI aerial surveillance fleet and much more reporting on civil liberties as well as social justice and many more topics. www.NStarPost.com & @NStarPost The US Has Spent Twice as Much on War in Syria as it Has on Humanitarian Aid by Paul Gottinger - On Twitter as @PaulGottinger For four and a half years Syria’s civil war has remained a tragedy mostly unfolding out of view for Americans. The slaughter has been kept off the front pages and out of our minds, except when ISIS engages in a new or particularly brutal act of savagery. Now as hundreds of thousands of refugees from Syria’s burned out cities and scorched countryside attempt the perilous journey to Europe, with over 2,500 dying along the way just this year, the West has been forced to confront the immense humanitarian crisis unfolding on its doorstep. Here in the US, the uproar over horrifying images of drowned children washing up on Greek Islands has put the US’s response to this, the largest humanitarian crisis since World War II, under the microscope. As the US purports itself to be the major provider of assistance to Syria’s refugees, it has, in actuality, done far too little in the way of humanitarian support, and instead done far too much to exacerbate the violence through military aid, weapons shipments, and direct participation in Syria’s war. As of 2015, the Pentagon has appropriated $6.2 billion to the war on ISIS, engaging in 2,400 air strikes in Syria and over 3,000 in Iraq over the last year. The number of civilians killed in these airstrikes may number at least 450 according to a study by the organization Airwars. The CIA also has its own secret billion dollar a year program to train and arm rebels to fight Assad, which was implemented in 2012. The CIA also ran a separate program airlifting 3,500 tons of arms into Syria for use by rebels. This year, Obama is asking for an additional $5.3 billion from Congress to continue the war on ISIS, and the Pentagon wants to train a larger number of troops to send into Syria. This despite the fact that the last batch of US-trained rebels, which cost us $500 million, handed their weapons over to Syria’s Al Qaeda affiliate shortly after crossing into the continued from previous page... As inefficient as the passing game has been, it is not the only question mark for Minnesota. Injuries on the offensive line and the inability to replace David Cobb has caused a once intimidating run game to fall to 96th in the nation. The lack of run production emphasized Leidner’s vulnerability in the pocket and took away a play-action passing attack that accounted for several big plays last season. Croft’s aptitude for mobility and his capability to make a variety of throws should pay dividends for the running attack as well as the passing game. The absence of potent offense has yet to bury the Gophers in the standings, as they are still above the .500 mark. However, winning consistently in the Big 10 will require a much higher level of offensive prowess. Although a final decision may not come until game day, a change at the quarterback position may be the jolt that this team needs to accomplish their goals of winning the Big Ten West Division. Look for Mitch Leidner to be on a short leash against the Ohio Bobcats. Least Expensive Advertising Deals in town! Contact us today. Up to 15% off for repeat ads! The billions spent on the war on ISIS follows the $817 billion the US spent on the war in Iraq. A war, which played a major roll in destabilizing Syria and allowing ISIS to gain a foothold in the chaos of war. The $4.5 billion the US has contributed in humanitarian aid pales in comparison to the billions upon billions the US has poured into the wars in Iraq and Syria. Moreover, the 1,700 refugees the US has accepted in the 4 years of Syria’s civil war is shamefully low. Compare this number with the almost two million taken in by Turkey, the one million taken by Lebanon, and the 600,000 now in Jordan. With four million Syrian refugees, many of them living in camps with deteriorating conditions, and with UN relief agencies on the verge of bankruptcy due to the scale of the crisis, it’s time that the US steps up and provides additional funding so that health care and full food rations can continue to be supplied to those who have fled the bloodshed. If more funding isn’t provided for the camps, hundreds of thousands more refugees will be forced to attempt the dangerous journey to Europe, and thousands more will likely die along the way. The US must also work with all countries involved in the war in an attempt to bring about a reduction in the violence. It is often said that there is no military solution to Syria’s civil war and it couldn’t be truer. It is only through diplomacy that a real international effort can be made to stop ISIS and end the war, thus solving the refugee crisis. The funneling of more weapons and warriors into the country will only continue the cycle of violence. The US has played a major role in ripping Syria apart through war, and now if it is to be seen as a country concerned with human rights, it must lead he world by providing the people of Syria the support to reconstruct their shattered lives. Paul is a staff reporter for Reader Supported News and covers foreign policy for the North Star Post. Propaganda Watch A recurring column (online with gif images) featuring bad habits, spin, lies and straight-up propaganda from mainstream media and others. One is not an expert simply because they are a member of an ideologically driven institution with an agenda. This trend is not new, and it is a familiar problem to many journalists, critical thinkers and those fearing that our society has drifted down a frightening Orwellian path. The heaviness of the word “expert,” especially in fields most Americans are not well versed in themselves, is dangerous to throw around. People flock to publications like The Hill and other D.C. based outfits of journalism, as they should believe is wise, in order to understand and defer to the real experts on issues of legislation, politics, and the like. What we have above is a solitary example of a systematic problem within mainstream media in the Follow @NStarPost and visit NStarPost.com for more graphics, gifs, videos and explanation of how US and mass media in general is manipulated to suit the needs of the powerful. United States. Is it really ethical to say that this person is an expert on foreign policy, and broadcast their message to millions? Where was the counter-balance to the claims posited by the “expert?” Readers, who are busy with their lives and not keen to every single nuance of mass media, would react (just as the American Foreign Policy Institute would like) with disgust to hear that their elected representatives are pursuing a deal with Iran. The Hill ensures this by quoting the Institute’s claim that Iran has a “budget to support terrorism.” Buy this ad, and grow your business! _____ That claim itself is out of balance with the larger geopolitical situation, but not the focus of this piece. When well established publications such as The Hill post articles like this, they are lowering themselves from journalists to practitioners of public relations. New business partners will have the low rate of $12 / column inch LOCKED IN FOR LIFE! _____ Your customers will love that you support independent investigative journalism. _____ Mention this ad in an email to Info@NStarPost.com & get this size ad for just $20! _____ Further information on NStarPost.com In addition to our low prices for advertising space in our print editions, your business can take advantage of our loyal and dedicated online readership _____ Banners are for sale for as low as $30 / month. _____ We offer the same recurring discounts for online and print edtion ads: _____ 10% off for 2 ads 12.5% off for 3 ads 15% off for 4 ads BAE Systems Building “Future Weapons” in Minneapolis by Sam Richards @MinneapoliSam This is Part I of the North Star Post series on the local military industrial complex. BAE Systems Inc. an international defense contractor is building what can only be described as future-weapons for the United States military. Components for these advanced weapons platforms are being designed, developed, and manufactured right here in Minneapolis. Just what is being created here? The BAE website calls them an, “entirely new gun that will change the Navy forever.” The “gun” is more like a cannon, and the cannon is more like something you’d see in a science fiction flick. The proper name for the advanced weapons platform, soon to be tested and fielded by the US Navy, is an ‘Electromagnetic Railgun’ or EMRG for short, and it works right in accordance with it’s name. Instead of conventional cannons or missiles which use chemical propellants, the railgun uses electromagnetism to accelerate munitions down a tube and at a target. Since the round will be fired out of the railgun at such a tremendous velocity, there is no need for the round to carry explosives, and thus they are dubbed kinetic rounds. The capabilities and specifics of this new era weapons platform are truly jaw dropping. The kinetic round, typically weighing 10kg, could potentially reach speeds of mach 10, or over 7,600 miles per hour. BAE representatives speaking publicly previously stated their prototype to fire around mach 7, which is still immensely faster than so-called conventional weapons systems such as artillery or missiles. This power enables the railgun to reach targets “in excess of 100 nautical miles” away, penetrate the defenses of those targets at Mach 5, according to the EMRG datasheet, and costs far less “per The components being worked on at the facility in Minneapolis, that the North Star Post can confirm, involve the Guided User Interface - the control system, and some high energy aspects of the project, most likely dealing with capacitors or energy-banks, which are immense for a railgun. This information can be found by visiting the BAE System’s website as the “Railgun is an extremely sensitive program” according to spokesperson Sarah Chadwick of BAE Systems, following instructions by their US Navy partners to deny a media inquiry from the Post. Another question in the media inquiry, denied by the Navy, was “Why doesn’t the ‘Control Systems Engineer’ require a security clearance?” Given that relatively basic questions about the project were left unanswered by the Navy, it is unusual that an engineer on this project wouldn’t require at least a secret clearance. Some of these engineers may be aboard Naval vessels or at military facilities during the field testing phase. The railgun is expected to be tested in 2016 and eventually phased into the Naval Fleet sometime after that. This project, like similar advancements in weaponry from other branches of the US military are so far ahead of anything our potential enemies could wield people are asking questions about the need for such a weapon and the development costs. Twin Cities radio personality Joey Vincent of the progressive radio station AM950 and notable anti-war commentator had this to say, “There will never be anything close to peace as long as there is so much profit in war... That’s why we don’t ‘win’ wars anymore. Once you win, production stops.” YOUR MESSAGE HERE - for - $12! info@NStarPost.com BAE Awarded $130 Million Contract by Sam Richards @MinneapoliSam This is Part II of the North Star Post series on the local military industrial complex. BAE Systems was awarded an $80 million defense contract from the US Navy on August 11th. The total cumulative contract may stretch to $130 million for the refurbishment and upgrade of MK 45 weapon systems for the Navy’s destroyer class vessels. $80 million tax dollars to deliver and upgrade a total of six of these large caliber guns (cannons), and the option of $130 million for four additional MK 45 Mod 4 systems. The Navy, every couple of years, upgrades these and other large weapon systems for various reasons. The Mod 4 upgrades will alter the control systems, reduce the overall signature of the weapons, and augment the capabilities and potentially increase the range of the MK 45. BAE Systems boasts four decades of work on MK 45 weapons platforms, and final delivery for this contract is expected in 2020. Much of the work on this contract will be done in Louisville, Kentucky, “with support from Minneapolis,” according to a press release from BAE. The arms manufacturer did not have to contend with other contractors as, according to Defense. gov, BAE offers “unique supplies available from only one source,” meaning the MK 45. These types of arrangements are common within the military industrial complex. In the interest of thoroughness and also for curiosity’s sake, this author decided to examine what could be bought for $130 million for the benefit of the residents of Minneapolis. This comparative analysis provides context for how much a single (relatively small) defense contract actually costs in societal terms. The for decades, and this serves as an homage and more detailed examination of that thesis in today’s terms. All figures cited come directly from the City of Minneapolis budget for 2015. For the low price of just ten MK 45 guns, the City of Minneapolis could pay for all of the following: Full investment of redesign of Nicollet Mall - $3.5 million. Body-cameras for Minneapolis Police - $1.14 million. City Attorneys Dept. budget $16.6 million. Elections and voter services $1.23 million. Office of the City Clerk - $2.9 million. City Council - $4.89 million. Department of City Coordinators $3.3 million. includes the Office of Sustainability; Arts, Culture & Creative Economy initiatives; and the Office of Equitable Outcomes (aimed at diversifying government offices, etc). Minneapolis 311 services - $3.68 million. City 911 Department - $9.6 million. Office of Emergency Management - $1.9 million. Communications Department $2.39 million. Target Center operating subsidy $6.76 million. City Human Resources Department - $9.1 million. Civil Rights Department - $3.7 million. includes the Office of Police Conduct Review, among other services. Minneapolis Police Department Emergency Response Services $6.88 million. Minneapolis Police Department Special Crimes Investigations $12.4 million. Minneapolis Police Department Community Engagement - $1.57 million. Garbage Collection - $15 million. Bridge allocation - $2.995 million. includes maintenance and repair of 600 vehicular and other bridges as well as water rescue support and bridge / storm-related Continued on Page 8... Continued from Page 7... emergency response. Animal Control - $3 million. Fire Inspection - $2.4 million. Street Maintenance and Repair $9.65 million. Senior Services - $271,000. Youth Violence Prevention $657,000. Sidewalk maintenance, plowing, etc. - $728,000. Bicycle System Maintenance and Enhancement - $191,000. ...and still have roughly $3.6 million left unspent! Drone Close Encounters Have “Increased Dramatically” by Sam Richards @MinneapoliSam Pilot close encounters with unmanned drones “have increased dramatically over the past year, from a total of 238 sightings in all of 2014, to more than 650 by August 9 of this year,” according to a Federal Aviation Administration press release. The proliferation of drone technology is a growing concern for many, not just the FAA. Recently, fire fighting operations in the western United States have faced operational delays and were forced to ground their aircraft due to safety concerns poised by unmanned aircraft. In the same press release, the FAA threatened to continue with civil penalties and stated they have “dozens of open enforcement cases.” As drone technology starts to become less expensive and more commonplace, the FAA will assuredly be very busy tracking down unmanned offenders. That being said, this is a perfect example of technological advancements outpacing our legal system and, in some cases, our ability to sort out the ethical ramifications brought about by drone flights. This is particularly true when it comes to the surveillance capabilities and consequences of this technology. Numerous accounts from local and other news outlets from across the nation of people taking matters into their own hands, so to speak, when drones have overflown or even lingered above their property. Perhaps most famously with the small town of Deer Trail, Colorado. justified. Most found he was justified since we, as a nation (and even most states) have not yet defined proper use of drones in civilian airspace. This debate is only going to continue until there are concrete rules in place that respect the privacy, safety and property rights of land owners and drone operators as well. Thanks to everyone who participated in our spontaneous public opinion survey. Ars Technica reported recently about one William Merideth, who sees that “it’s pretty clear-cut: a drone flying over his backyard was a well-defined invasion of privacy, analogous to a physical trespassing.” Merideth was arrested for criminal mischief and wanton endangerment despite the fact that he fired on the drone above his property and chose to do so with birdshot, in order to mitigate any potential collateral damage. He cited privacy concerns since the drone wasn’t simply flying over, it was hovering above his property. The local police did not give much credence to Merideth’s property or privacy rights. When we asked on Twitter, what people thought of his choice to shoot the drone down before calling police, and given the fact that he told local news that his daughter was in their backyard pool, most people thought his ac- Email - Info@NStarPost.com Twitter.com/NStarPost © North Star Post LLC - 2015