Consumers all over the world have, almost overnight, become universal bearers of the debit card. A plastic card, usually with a magnetic stripe (and a smart chip in many parts of the world) is used like a credit card; but instead of paying the bill off at the end of every month, the money is drawn straight from the cardholder's bank account. This secure, easy way to pay for almost everything has made the debit payment card system wildly popular.

While it's pretty much a given that student IDs on college campuses will serve a variety of functions beyond identification - for instance paying for meals, checking out library books, making photocopies, etc - elementary school ID programs are typically more simple. But with advanced ID card technology becoming more readily available, and affordable, many schools are re-evaluating their ID card programs, looking for ways to increase security and card functionality. One such school is Tatum Ridge Elementary in Sarasota, Fla. Tatum Ridge is one of a handful of schools in Sarasota County testing out new student ID cards that the district hopes to push countywide beginning in 2009.

67-year old Constable Michael Solow just can't stay away from work. After being suspended from duty while facing charges of oppression and coercion, the West Conshohocken man was taken off-duty.

Recent security breaches, including a well-publicized incident involving ID fraud at the O'Hare Airport, have caused Congress, airports, and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to push for biometric identification for airport employees nationwide. While airports have issued employee ID badges for years, the focus is now shifting towards biometrics, and the inclusion of fingerprints and iris recognition in all airport worker credentials.

One of the most unique entry-level ID card printers is getting a minor face lift. Evolis has announced that the Tattoo2, their newest and most innovative card printer solution, has added a new module with improved print quality to produce high quality cards for a wide range of small-scale needs, including loyalty cards, gift cards, and more.

After a slew of scams involving thieves impersonating city employees, Crown Point, Indiana has launched a new employee identification card program. This month, all city employees will receive ID cards which they must carry during working hours. Public works employees, and those who deal directly with the public, will be required to keep their badges visibly displayed.

It was a shock to many Hawaiians when Aloha Airlines suddenly shut down. Tourists and island hoppers were stuck at the airports and at the moment, many Aloha employees were wondering what they were supposed to do. Even turning in their Aloha Airlines ID badge was hard - their last connection to the employer they lovingly served.

City employees in Abilene, Texas will soon be required to carry ID badges to enter and move through city buildings. Abilene is in the process of setting up a card-based access control system that will secure all city buildings. Phase 1 of the project, which involves issuing employee ID cards, is now underway.