Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Tom Ridge urged mayors attending the U.S. Conference of Mayors on Wednesday, January 19, to push for changes at the state level to get federal funds to local emergency responders faster. At issue is $4.6 billion that Ridge said has yet to be spent because of funding rules that force state and local governments to pay for homeland security costs upfront; and then wait to be reimbursed by the federal government. Full Story