As we gather together for Thanksgiving, few of us reflect upon food safety, but perhaps we should! The FDA and the Department of Agriculture strive to make American food safe from production to distribution. Now that is something to celebrate!

The first Monday in October is the start of the U.S. Supreme Court's 2009 - 2010 term.  Cornell 's LII Bulletin provides a list of significant cases that will be heard this session. The ABA provides a selection case briefs.

Who has jurisdiction over the consequences of war?  In addition to regional bodies, the Geneva Conventions help to limit the cruelty of war and the International Court of Justice settles disputes and  hears evidence of human rights violations during armed conflict. The Avalon Project - Laws of War provides additional information on this topic.

The MN Office of Traffic Safety has information about Minnesota's new, primary seat belt law.  And before you travel, consult the Governors Highway Safety Association site for key driver /passenger regulations throughout the U.S. 

Building a deck or fence this summer?  Check your local municipal code before you start construction.  The lack of a building permit or a height variance could result in a citation or penalty, so play it safe and plan ahead!

Interested in the Supreme Court confirmation hearings?  Check out Supreme Court Nominations, Present -1789 to learn more about this fascinating process or review some of Sonia Sotomayor's Appeals Court opinions.

Ever wondered what legal concerns go into planning a pandemic response for local governments, public institutions, businesses and health care facilities?  Take a look at "Community Pan-Flu Preparedness: A checklist of Key Legal Issues for Health Care Providers"  for a 96 page overview of legal issues and concerns. 

The Minnesota Courts Self Help Law Centers have legal forms for use in Minnesota court proceedings.  Southdale, Brookdale and Ridgedale Libraries also have dedicated computer terminals for downloading legal forms from the Self Help Law Center. The Legal Forms from Thompson Gale database is appropriate for "transactional" legal issues, such as real estate, power of attorney and other matters.

Sandra Day O'Connor, retired Supreme Court Justice, has launched a project for teaching students about the three branches of government and of course her favorite topic, the Supreme Court. Students can send comments to O'Connor.

Find it at Minnesota Statutes, Laws, and Rules,  from the Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes.

Do you have a basic legal question?  Try the Minnesota District Court Self Help Center.
Hennepin County is the 4th Judicial District.

Follow President-elect Obama's preparations for office at change.gov

During the transition period of our government, the GAO (Government Accountability Office) provides insight into, and recommendations for addressing, the nation’s major issues, risks and challenges.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports on the Consumer Price Index every month.  September  actually saw a slight decrease of .01 %. October's figure will be reported on November 19. Has the BLS removed food or energy prices in its official measure of inflation?  No, according to their release "Common Misconceptions about the Consumer Price Index."

Attend October public meetings about Light Rail Transit for Eden Prairie, Minnetonka, Edina, Hopkins, St. Louis Park and downtown Minneapolis.

Find population facts & more about your city, county, state, country, and the world, at the U.S. Census Bureau.

USA.gov has information on special events commemorating this day in 2001.

The CPI for the Minneapolis-St.Paul area is calculated twice a year, in January and July, by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Prices were 3.2 % higher in the first half of 2008 compared with the second half of 2007.

From the Office of Management and Budget comes the Mid-Session Review.

Check out the Minnesota Long Term Care Partnership, a public/private arrangement to enable Minnesota residents to protect more of their assets.

Learn more about the votes on various bills before Congress by using the Browse votes by topic or date feature in the CQ Weekly database.  Print copies, of this weekly publication on the deliberations of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, are available at the Southdale Library.

Check this unofficial Hot List of bills and their current status.

Did you remember to celebrate Tax Freedom Day on April 23?  The Tax Foundation calculates this date every year when we have earned enough to pay all our taxes.  The foundation has a complete report and even a YouTube video for the event.

Read the 2008 Economic Report of the President  just released recently. A copy of the report is also available in the government publications collection at the Southdale Library.

Make sure you receive your economic stimulus payment, coming to more than 130 million households, starting in May.

AARP and Community Action Partnership of Suburban Hennepin (CAPSH) both offer sites at libraries and community centers.  Most sites will help you e-file.

For analysis of current issues, try House Research, nonpartisan arm of the MN House of Representatives.  Recent topics: property taxes, DWI's, salaries of elected officials.

The 2007 edition of "Understanding your Property Taxes", for taxes payable in 2008, has just been released by the Center for Public Finance Research.

Thanksgiving at the White House.

Vote for your favorite name for this year's National Thanksgiving Turkey on the  White House page.

Commemorate Veterans Day with resources from the Department of Veterans Affairs.