NEW YORK (AP) — Facebook is strengthening its security controls in an attempt to protect its 900 million users from spam and malicious content.

Facebook said Wednesday that it will work with Microsoft Corp. and with computer security firms Trend Micro Inc., Sophos, Symantec Corp. and Intel Corp.’s McAfee to provide safeguards on Facebook.

To do so, Facebook is expanding its blacklist system for blocking malicious Web links shared on the social network. And the security companies will offer free six-month trials of their antivirus software to Facebook users.

Facebook Inc. says less than 4 percent of the content shared through its social network is spam. That figure is much higher for email, though a lot of spam emails are filtered out even before they hit your spam folder.

To the North Plate Post Editor,

I’d like to ask all residents of North Platte to please review the Nebraska Drivers License manual… Too many times on a daily basis I see drivers doing things that can cause dangerous accidents. Not paying attention, texting while driving and a true story here, I actually saw a woman applying eye liner as she was driving down Jeffers on her way to her favorite coffee shop the other morning. My opinion is that she already had more than enough make up on but that’s her choice. Let’s do a short review

• Please understand the term RIGHT OF WAY. If you are in a lane that is not designated for turns, please do not turn left in front of me for any reason what so ever.

• If it’s dark outside, by all means turn your headlights on. If they are off I may not see you and we might have an accident.

• Now, look on the left hand side of your steering wheel. See that stick? It’s called a “Turn Signal”. You can use that device to indicate that you are turning in front of me. It could be helpful in most situations. Give it a shot.

[poll id=”29″]

Dear Editor,

I’ve been a resident of North Platte for quite some time now and I have noticed something during the spring and summer months that disturbs me. City and county workers doing various tasks without utilizing proper safety precautions or equipment. For example, I saw a small group of workers recently using a backhoe and a jackhammer to break up concrete and not one of them had on hardhats or eye protection. What if one of these boys were injured on the job? The city or county would have to pick up the medical tab, right? Right. You would think that this affects the amount of taxes that we have to pay each year. Taxes for homes are not what I would call cheap in this area in comparison to other places I have lived and I am curious, is this part of the problem? Sure it is. Why do the local government agencies allow this disregard for safety to happen? Do they not care about the amount of taxes that they have to pay? Do they not care enough about the community that they live in to do everything they can to help keep costs down?

Thank You for letting me vent on this topic

Anonymous
North Platte

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Maryland is poised to become the first state that bans employers from demanding applicants or workers hand over their log-in information for social media sites like Facebook.

The measure, which handily passed the legislature earlier this month, keeps companies from snooping on password-protected content, a practice advocates of the bill say violates privacy and intimidates job seekers and employees.

Robert Collins, a former corrections officer in Maryland, says he was asked for his Facebook account information last year while being recertified for his job following a leave of absence.

Advocates for the bill say his willingness to come forward is rare because many people don’t want to risk losing an employment opportunity or upsetting their employer.

[poll id=”28″]

NEW YORK (AP) — Eddie Van Halen puts some of the blame on his father for his long struggle with alcohol.

In the May issue of Esquire, the Van Halen guitarist said “the whole alcoholism thing” developed when he asked his dad how to combat his nerves when playing music in front of people.

His father gave him a shot of vodka and a cigarette to ease his nerves, and that started Van Halen on a near lifetime of drinking.

The 57-year-old Van Halen also talked about the struggle to get clean, pulling his son Wolfgang out of school at 15 to join the band, and his relationship with ex-wife Valerie Bertinelli.

The issue hits newsstands on April 24. The recently reunited Van Halen is now on tour.

[poll id=”27″]

NEW YORK (AP) – Correspondent Natalie Morales ended up in tears
when she put herself and her 8-year-old son through the same
parenting test that “Dateline NBC” is subjecting others to for a
series that starts Sunday.
Using hidden cameras and actors, the network set up scenarios to
see if children really follow their parents’ instructions to avoid
strangers, not get into a car with a drunk driver or not cheat.
The results will probably depress you.
Time and again, children gave their names and addresses to a
“stranger” who had taken their picture and talked about putting
them on TV. Promised free ice cream, they climbed into a van driven
by an actor who could easily close the door on them and speed away.
Parents watched it all on monitors nearby.

[poll id=”25″]

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) – The billboard says “Pot dealer ahead.”

Of course, it’s a joke. The ad is for Ritters Florist and Nursery,
in Spokane, Washington. And yes, they do deal in potted plants and
flower pots. Owner Ginger Wyman says most people chuckle at her ad.
But she tells a local paper (Spokesman-Review) they’ve gotten a few
complaints. One customer said the ad campaign is an affront to
family values. Another Ritters billboard says, “Let’s get dirty.”

[poll id=”24″]

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) – Are strippers employees or independent
contractors? That the issue before the Kansas Supreme Court. The
state contends Club Orleans needs to pay taxes for the strippers
unemployment benefits. But attorneys for the club argue the women
aren’t workers. They pay rent to use the stage and up to 50 bucks
for a half-hour in the private lap dance room. Lawyers say the club
makes most its money from food and booze, not the fees charged to
the dancers.

[poll id=”23″]

PRATTVILLE, Ala. (AP) – Authorities in central Alabama say a man
has been given a three-day jail sentence for contempt of court for
wearing so-called saggy pants.
Twenty-year-old LaMarcus D. Ramsey was in Autauga County Circuit
Court on Tuesday to enter a plea on a charge of receiving stolen
property.
Circuit Judge John Bush told Ramsey his blue jeans were sagging
too low and gave him the three-day stint. The judge told Ramsey to
buy pants that fit or a belt when he gets out of the county jail.
The judge says he finds it disrespectful and a disruption when
people wear pants below their waistline in his chambers
Calls to Ramsey’s public defender were not immediately returned.

[poll id=”22″]

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) – Neighborhood watch volunteer George
Zimmerman is being charged with second-degree murder in the
shooting of Trayvon Martin, the unarmed black teenager whose death
ignited nationwide protests.
Special prosecutor Angela Corey says that the 28-year-old
Zimmerman is in custody. She wouldn’t disclose Zimmerman’s
whereabouts for his safety, but said that he will be in court
within 24 hours.
Corey says that authorities did not come to the decision
lightly, nor was it based on public pressure.
The charge carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.
Second-degree murder is typically charged when there is a fight or
other confrontation that results in death and where there is no
premeditated plan to kill someone.
Zimmerman has asserted since the Feb. 26 killing in Sanford that
he shot the 17-year-old Martin in self-defense after the two
fought.