News
Providence Fire Department receives $1 mln grant for safety, training
The Providence Fire Department in Rhode Island recently received a nearly $1 million federal grant award earmarked for the department’s safety and training, according to an announcement made by state and federal lawmakers last week. Sens. Jack Reed (D-RI) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) joined... Read More »
Chagas disease spreading beyond Latin America
Over the last 40 years, the parasite-driven disease Chagas has breached the borders of what was once its traditional territory, spreading from Latin America into the United States and Europe, according to a new report from the American Heart Association (AHA). There are an estimated 300,000... Read More »
FirstNet buildout progresses with AT&T active deployment of Band 14 spectrum
AT&T has been actively deploying Band 14 spectrum as part of the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) build, bringing a much-needed technology upgrade to the public safety network. Band 14 is nationwide, high-quality spectrum set aside by the federal government for FirstNet that will... Read More »
DARPA’s Robotic Servicing of Geosynchronous Satellites on track
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (DARPA) review of its Robotic Servicing of Geosynchronous Satellites (RSGS) program showed that it is on track to fulfill its mission of servicing at least 20 commercial and government spacecraft in geosynchronous orbit (GEO). There are... Read More »
Boeing to acquire Millennium Space Systems
Boeing announced last week that it will acquire Millenium Space Systems as a means of expanding its satellite and space portfolio, talent, and capabilities. Boeing said the El Segundo, California-based provider of flight-proven small-satellite solutions had developed high-performance satellites... Read More »
CBP intercepts cans of baby formula filled with prohibited pork at Dulles Airport
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agriculture specialists at Washington Dulles International Airport recently discovered pork sausage links concealed in an El Salvadoran woman’s baby formula cans. Swine meat from El Salvador is not allowed to enter the United States because of the... Read More »
NIAID begin combined Zika-Dengue vaccine trial
A new trial underway from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, is currently working towards a universal vaccine that would target both Zika and Dengue viruses. The trial will consist of 28 non-pregnant adults between 18... Read More »
More than $100,000 in federal assistance directed to firefighters in New York
Funding from the Department of Homeland Security’s Assistance in Firefighters Grant (AFG) program is bringing more than $100,000 to fire departments in two New York counties. The Richville Volunteer Fire Department in St. Lawrence County and the Whitesboro Fire Department in Oneida County... Read More »
Defense contractor to develop a business travel prototype
The Department of Defense (DoD) recently selected defense contractor SAP Concur to develop a business travel system prototype to replace the aging Defense Travel System. Annually, the DoD spends $9 billion on travel. Approximately 70 percent of all department travel vouchers is temporary duty... Read More »
Johns Hopkins hosts pandemic simulation exercise for congressional staffers
The Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, Global Health Council, NTI Bio, and PATH hosted a simulation exercise for congressional staffers to demonstrate the need for congressional support and action to prevent infectious disease threats. The exercise, called Clade X: A Global Health... Read More »
CEPI awards $36 million Lassa virus vaccine contract to Profectus BioSciences, Emergent BioSolutions
Profectus BioSciences, Inc. and Emergent BioSolutions Inc. acquired a contract for up to $36 million from the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) this week to drive the creation of a Lassa virus vaccine. The three parties are operating under a Framework Partnering Agreement... Read More »
Aerial transport aids border security effort
Tucson Sector Border Patrol personnel recently touted the benefits of UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters toward the effort to bolster border security. Officials said the detail was deployed last month to assist in Operation Guardian Support, aiding transport capabilities in remote areas of southern... Read More »
Department of Homeland Security holds three-day exercise covering election security
With concerns over security for the midterms persisting, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) hosted a three-day exercise meant to help various agencies identify ways to improve cybersecurity, preparedness, identification, response, and recovery during elections. The program, called... Read More »
NTI, Georgetown global health center stress importance of emergency readiness, response
Experts in the fields of biological weapons and related security, along with government officials from around the world, gathered in Geneva, Switzerland, this week for the 2018 Biological Weapons Convention Meeting of Experts. Their attentions were focused on evolving global preparedness and... Read More »
Small-business cybersecurity bill becomes law
President Donald Trump recently signed into law the NIST Small Business Cybersecurity Act, which requires the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to develop and provide resources to protect small businesses’ digital assets from cybersecurity threats. According to the bill,... Read More »
Rep. Denham hosts meeting to fight human trafficking
U.S. Rep. Jeff Denham (R-CA) hosted Wednesday a roundtable with local community leaders, law enforcement officials, and the leaders of Uber, among others, to discuss how to combat human trafficking. The meeting, held at the Modesto Police Department in California, gave attendees an opportunity... Read More »
Proposed law changes target drone use
Last month the Uniform Law Commission (ULC) considered a proposed nationwide law change reflecting the impact of unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones. A ULC committee considered the Tort Law Relating to Drones Act for adoption by state governments. The effort, which provoked controversy across... Read More »
Researchers discover effects of mutation linked to TB drug resistance
Tuberculosis (TB) is becoming more resistant to antibiotics over time through genetic changes, but researchers at Colorado State University have discovered that a single mutation may affect strains of TB bacteria in different ways. Specifically, this applies to isoniazid, one of the first-line... Read More »
GAO report determines most visas denied in 2017 not due to executive action
Though President Donald Trump signed an executive order in 2017 to restrict the issuance of visas and instigate changes to nonimmigrant visa (NIV) screening and vetting, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently found that 90 percent of visas remained unaffected by this change. Of the... Read More »
FirstNet board approves $84 million budget
The First Responder Network Authority’s board of directors, an independent authority within the U.S. Department of Commerce, recently approved an $81 million budget for operations in fiscal year 2019. The budget will be used for the focus on the deployment of the nationwide public safety... Read More »New technology can detect hidden explosives in transit areas
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) recently began testing technology that can detect weapon and explosive device security threats, including suicide vests. The portable technology, called a stand-off explosive detection unit, connects to a laptop and works by identifying objects... Read More »
DHS develops software tool to help fight human smuggling
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate has developed new technology that will assist federal agents in investigating human smuggling. The data analytics software program, called Igloo, is already in use by select units of U.S. Immigration and Customs... Read More »
Ebola-linked deaths reach 38 in Democratic Republic of the Congo
As the latest Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo continues to spread, with a total of 48 cases, including 38 killed, as of Aug. 9, the World Health Organization (WHO) is now calling for greater access to affected populations. This outbreak marks the country’s 10th, but it... Read More »
Lockheed Martin to develop hypersonic weapon prototype for US Air Force
The U.S. Air Force awarded this week a contract to Lockheed Martin Missiles & Fire Control for the development of a second hypersonic weapon prototype. The weapon’s review, testing, and production readiness support will all be provided by Lockheed Martin, as part of the Air Force’s... Read More »
StratCom commander emphasizes need for advanced information, intelligence
Gen. John Hyten, commander of U.S. Strategic Command (StratCom), recently spoke at the 2018 Department of Defense Intelligence Information System Worldwide Conference on integrated command relationships and the role of information and intelligence to combatant commands. Without intelligence... Read More »
ICE arrests 45 illegal immigrants in Houston area
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) arrested 45 illegal aliens in the Houston area for violating U.S. immigration laws. The arrests took place over a five-day period, which ended last Friday. At-large criminal aliens, many of whom had fled... Read More »
National defense funding measure signed into law
A group of lawmakers recently gathered at a military installation to witness President Trump sign the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2019 into law. The bill supports $716 billion in funding for national defense for fiscal year 2019, per officials, and provides service... Read More »
Domestic terrorism suspected captured after 12 years on the run
Federal law enforcement officials said an accused domestic terrorist who spent 12 years on the run is now in custody and slated to face charges in three states. Officials said Joseph Mahmoud Dibee, 50, of Seattle, Washington, was recently apprehended after authorities learned he was traveling... Read More »
Checkpoint scanner instated at Washington Dulles International Airport for improved explosives detection
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) recently deployed a 3-D imaging scanner at a security checkpoint in Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) to combat explosives smuggling. “TSA is committed in getting the best technology to enhance security and improve the screening... Read More »
Ebola research consortium analyzes vaccine development progress
In an article published in The Lancet, experts from an international Ebola research consortium known as the Partnership for Research on Ebola Vaccination (PREVAC) have assessed the current Ebola vaccine candidates across the world, and what remains to be achieved for viability. PREVAC is... Read More »
Marines conduct recovery exercise
Marine Wing Support Detachment 31, aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, conducted an aircraft recovery convoy exercise earlier this month as part of a Marine Corps Combat Readiness Evaluation. The purpose of the exercise is to evaluate if the Marines are adequately trained to recover... Read More »
Air Force provides progress update on modernization initiative
The U.S. Air Force recently provided an update on Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein’s initiative to revitalize squadrons. A task force, comprised of Total Force Airmen from diverse backgrounds, conducted an Air Force-wide review of survey data and gathered feedback from nearly... Read More »
Sweden to purchase Raytheon’s Patriot missile defense system
The Swedish government signed an agreement last week to purchase Raytheon's Patriot air and missile defense system from the U.S. Army. Raytheon's Global Patriot Solutions system is a missile defense system that consists of radars and command-and-control technology. The system also includes... Read More »
DHS’s Nielsen meets with Sen. Hoeven and UAS industry leaders in ND
U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen toured the Grand Sky Technology Park in North Dakota last week and participated in a roundtable discussion with unmanned aerial systems (UAS) industry leaders. Grand Sky Technology Park, located at Grand Forks Air Force Base,... Read More »