Voter's Guides

August 5th are Primary and Special Elections! Inform yourself by picking up a Voters Guide at any of our 12 branches. You can also access your local voters guide electronically by entering your zip cope on the League of Women Voters website here: http://www.lwvstl.org/

Uniform Crime Reports

Uniform Crime Reports is a service of the FBI, which provides information on the criminal justice system for academic and public consumption. Their database contains crime statistic estimates from 1960-2012.

This free government database is available through the web at http://www.ucrdatatool.gov/index.cfm

Using their Table Building Tool, you can build a table using one or multiple variables, narrowing by State, Type of Crime, Year, etc. For instance, if you want to know if the Aggravated Assault rates in Missouri in the 1960's, you can create a single-variable table that looks like this:

The Street Smart Senior: Preventing Identity Theft

Identity theft continues to be one of the fastest growing scams in today’s world, and it isn’t just a financial crime. Elders are at great risk for a variety of identity theft types, often with disastrous results. Nevertheless, you don’t have to be a victim! Join author and elder scam specialist Art Maines, LCSW for a lively and informative presentation about the kinds of identity theft you face, your personal risk factors, and how to prevent it before it starts. At the end of the talk you will have a personal Identity Theft To-Do List to use to upgrade your safety!

Tuesday, July 22th
10:00 am
Middendorf-Kredell Library
2750 Highway K
O'Fallon, MO 63368

Register today at www.youranswerplace.org or by calling 636-978-7997

Social Security- Changes in Service

Beginning in August, the Social Security Administration will no longer issue Social Security number printouts in their field offices. That means that individuals, who need proof of their Social Security number and cannot find their card, will need to apply for a replacement card. The form to apply for a card can be found here: 

www.socialsecurity.gov/ssnumber. There are supporting documents needed to complete the application. In most cases, the best way to present those is in person (they must be originals) at a local office.

The SSA will also stop providing benefit verification letters, except in emergencies. These are available online at www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount

Library card holders can access the Social Security Administration website (www.ssa.gov) at any of our twelve library branches. 

Discover the Forest

Learn about our National forests and find a forest near you! This interactive website from the United States Forest Service is perfect for parents and teachers to introduce kids 8-10 to ecosystems and conservation. Visit Discover the Forest today!

Holiday Shopping: Protect Yourself

From the Missouri Department of Insurance, Financial Institutions, and Professional Registration:

Missouri DIFP cautions consumers this holiday season

Use extra precautions when making online purchases

 

Jefferson City, Mo. - While the holiday season brings joy to Missourians shopping online for family and friends or donating to a charitable organization, it also brings out the scam artists.
"Unfortunately, there are a large number of fraudulent websites and scammers who prey upon innocent consumers this time of year," said John M. Huff, director of the Missouri Department of Insurance, Financial Institutions and Professional Registration. "We all need to pay special attention to safeguarding our personal and financial information."
The Missouri Division of Finance offers these tips for Missourians who shop online:

• Use your own computer or one from a trusted source, and make sure your security software is updated and running.
• Verify that the website is a known and trusted retailer or charity. Addresses that start with an "https" indicate a secure site.
• Look for reviews and ratings from the Better Business Bureau or on Google before dealing with retailers or charities.
• Never email your personal, bank or credit card information. Legitimate businesses may email you a receipt, but will never ask you to email information or call them.
• Keep all receipts and know a store's return policy before making a purchase.
• Be especially careful when purchasing gift cards. Many scammers use online auctions to sell gift cards that appear to be legitimate. Remember, if a deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
• Use a credit card instead of a debit card for purchases. If your card is fraudulently used, there is far less financial risk with a credit card.
• Review your credit card and bank account statements every month. Immediately notify the provider if you detect an error.

Following these tips will help ensure your financial identity is protected and your holidays will be joyous and happy. For more information, consumers may contact the Division of Finance.

About the Missouri Department of Insurance, Financial Institutions & Professional Registration
The Missouri Department of Insurance, Financial Institutions and Professional Registration (DIFP) is responsible for consumer protection through the regulation of financial industries and professionals. The department's seven divisions work to enforce state regulations both efficiently and effectively while encouraging a competitive environment for industries and professions to ensure consumers have access to quality products.
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Holiday Travel

As many of us prepare to make journeys to see our loved ones, you may want to keep these websites handy:

 

Air Traffic Control System Command Center
Real-Time Flight Delay Information

United States Bureau of Consular Affiars
International Travel Alerts

NOAA National Weather Service
Weather Alerts, Forecast Maps, and Radar