"Health & Medical News"

Four states passed laws mandating the use of ignition-interlock devices for convicted drunk drivers in the past year, and 30 more are considering similar legislation, according to a progress report from Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD).

“In order to keep those first-time offenders from becoming the repeat offenders, ignition interlocks must be implemented in every state nationwide,” said Glynn Birch, national president of MADD. The devices prevent cars from being started by drivers with any detectable level of alcohol in their system.

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Washington — The nation’s public health system is much better positioned to respond to emergencies than it was five years ago, say local administrators. But they fear recent federal funding cuts will undermine their gains.

Officials point to funding increases that arrived in the post-9/11 era as a big reason for the improvements. Events in the fall of 2001 served to highlight the role public health plays in defending the United States, but departments nationwide struggled to meet the challenge and resorted to such tactics as shifting personnel from disease control to contend with anthrax-tainted letters.

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