Council passes ordinances on housing and motels
The Woodbridge Township Council unanimously voted in favor of three ordinances on Dec. 16. In an effort to relieve the burden on housing inspectors in the township, the administration has revised the Building and Housing ordinance.

Houston Council Members Want to Crack Down on 'Hot Sheet' Motels
Two Houston city council members are going after a type of business they say only hurt communities like the Fifth Ward.

State aims to put housing agency in charge of homeless shelters
With the housing crisis forcing more families into shelters and state-funded motels, the Patrick administration wants the state's housing agency to take over the emergency...

Officials aim to address crime at motels
EL MONTE - Stacy Fimbrez, 29, just moved into what she calls "the murder room" at the Gibson Inn on Garvey Avenue. ?Photo Gallery: El Monte Motels

Police use GPS, Google Maps to locate missing girl
Navigation system and Google mapping tool helps authorities find Massachusetts 9-year-old allegedly kidnapped by her grandmother.

Don't bring valuables to Black Nazarene procession, police advise devotees
MANILA, Philippines - Expecting criminal elements to take advantage of the confusion during the traditional Black Nazarene procession, Manila police on Thursday discouraged devotees from bringing cell phones, jewelry and other valuables to the venue.

Australian tourist accommodations decline in Q3
(RTTNews) - In Australia, the total accommodation takings in hotels, motels and serviced apartments by tourists fell a seasonally adjusted 2.7% in the September quarter, compared with June quarter, a report by the Australian Bureau of Statistics said Tuesday.

Black Nazarene devotees start crowding Quiapo
MANILA, Philippines - Traffic started to build up in Manila's Quiapo district early Thursday as devotees started arriving for the two-day Feast of the Black Nazarene.

No vacancy for hotel, motel tax in North Attleboro
NORTH ATTLEBORO - There will be no new taxes for visitors of the town's hotels and motels after Representative Town Meeting members rejected for the third time a proposal to institute a room occupancy tax.

Google Maps Street View Helps Find Kidnapped Child
You've probably read stories about the police using YouTube to catch criminals. One guy even accidentally ratted himself out for mentioning his own YouTube videos. Now, Google is sharing a story in which the cops used Google Maps Street View to help find a kidnapped child from Massachusetts all the way in Virginia. read more

City expands TOT application
The Portola City Council voted to introduce a revised transient occupancy tax ordinance at its last meeting, which is scheduled for adoption at its Jan. 14 meeting and would take effect 30 days after that.

Helena businesses benefit from legislative session
The Convention & Visitors Bureau in Helena reports that occupancy in hotels and motels runs 5% to 15% higher during the biennial legislative sessions.

City stops bedbug inspections
Cincinnati's health department has stopped inspecting for bed bugs, despite a 10-fold increase last year in requests for help with the problem.

Fees would affect businesses, parolees
By Bob Mercer, American News Correspondent...

NORTH MISSISSIPPI & NORTHWEST ALABAMA
TUPELO, Miss. - If you ask someone where the King of Rock and Roll is from it's likely they may say Memphis. But a true fan knows, Elvis Presley was actually born about a hundred miles down the road.

Douglas Dispatch
BISBEE ? Cochise County Militia, a local group, will hold a border watch event in February that is open to the members of the group as well as members of the public.

State proposes reorganization of agencies to aid homeless faster
Confronted with a growing number of homeless families across Massachusetts, state officials have proposed a reorganization of key state agencies that will help find homes faster so that the root causes of the problem can be addressed.

Douglas Dispatch
Disgraced evangelical leader Ted Haggard has agreed to help promote a new documentary following his life in exile after a 2006 sex scandal ? no longer bound by an agreement with his former church that prohibited him from talking publicly about the events that led to his downfall.

N.Ky. Homeless To Be Counted
Everyone should have a safe place to live and sleep. And the Northern Kentucky Housing and Homeless Coalition in partnership with Kentucky Housing Corporation, service providers, local Northern Kentucky governments and other partners are committed to making a difference for those who need a home.

Phases and Stages
A flawed but beloved North Texas promoter left his stamp on Texas Music, for those wise enough to see.