I don't know if this can really be considered News, but below is a copy of one of the pics in the US Patent Office 2007 Performance and Accountability Report
With the caption:
Helping the Next Generation — Patent Commissioner John Doll and Deputy Patent Commissioner Peggy Focarino confer with William Dondero, patent examiner and mentor for the Hayfield Robotics Team, at a “For Inspiration and
Recognition of Science and Technology,” (or FIRST) regional competition. The USPTO works with FIRST and many other nonprofit organizations to encourage young people to become interested in math, science, and innovation.
Can anyone identify the team?
The section can be found at (for those of you really interested in patent statistics and quality, which I'm sur eis a limited number)
http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/com...sg1perfrm.html