News
Increase in canine explosives detection training seen needed amid rise in passenger travel
Air passenger travel is steadily increasing, according to the Federal Aviation Administration, and with an influx of passengers comes the need for more highly trained canines to protect the public and support law enforcement, experts say. The FAA reports in an aerospace forecast that passenger... Read More »
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport offering automated TSA screening lanes
The Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) is now one of 10 airports in the country to offer automated security screening lanes in an effort to cut down on passenger processing time. The creation of four automated screening lanes in terminals A and D is a joint effort on behalf of the... Read More »
Chelsea bomber convicted for September 2016 bombing in New York City
A jury in Manhattan federal court returned a guilty verdict Monday against Ahmad Khan Rahimi on all eight counts of the indictment that charged him with offenses related to his execution and attempted execution of bombings in New York City on September 17, 2016. Rahimi faces a mandatory... Read More »
Congressional members request information on data security vetting for government contracts
A group of House Energy and Commerce Committee members sent a letter Monday to the General Services Administration (GSA) to request information on its data security vetting for awarding government contracts. The committee members also sent a letter recently to the Internal Revenue Service... Read More »
Nigerian health authorities launch 10-day immunization effort against yellow fever outbreak
The Government of Nigeria recently announced the launch of a 10-day campaign aimed at immunizing 873,837 people against yellow fever in the states of Kwara and Kogi. Beginning on Oct. 13, the effort mobilized more than 200 health workers and volunteers to immunize individuals between the ages of... Read More »
DARPA announces software defined radio UAV hacking event
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) recently announced a week-long event to challenge teams from academia, industry, and the software defined radio (SDR) enthusiast community through a series of hacking sessions called the DARPA Bay Area SDR Hackfest on Nov. 17. According to... Read More »
Rep. Donovan chairs hearing on first responder communication challenges during emergencies
A hearing of the House Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response and Communications recently examined the status of emergency communication networks for first responders. Chaired by U.S. Rep. Dan Donovan (R-NY), the committee reviewed communications issues observed in the wake of acts of... Read More »
University researchers claim discovery of antibiotic resistance genes in bacteria
A joint discovery by the Chalmers University of Technology and the University of Gothenburg, Sweden recently found elusive drug resistance genes in bacteria. Bacteria have been evolving in recent years, mutating to meet our own efforts against them. Even otherwise harmless bacteria can pass... Read More »
Sen. Nelson asks CDC to prioritize Zika prevention measures
U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) recently wrote a letter to the director of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), following the first case of locally transmitted Zika in 2017, asking the organization to prioritize Zika prevention efforts. "The Zika outbreak isn't over and continues... Read More »Homeland Security Department awards $750,000 for malware prediction research and development
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently announced a $750,000 Small Business Innovation Program (SBIR) Phase II contract awarded to BlueRISC, Inc. in Amherst, Massachusetts, for the development of a malware attack prediction and identification solution. “The growth in the frequency,... Read More »
Suspected pneumonic plague case identified by WHO in Seychelles
The Seychellois Ministry of Health recently notified the World Health Organization (WHO) of a probable case of pneumonic plague emanating from a man who visited Madagascar, which has been experiencing an outbreak of plague in its major cities and other non-endemic areas since August of this... Read More »CBP agents seize nearly 10 pounds of heroin at Santa Teresa Port of Entry
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office of Field Operations (OFO) officers stationed at the Santa Teresa Port of Entry in New Mexico recently made a seizure of 9.5 pounds of heroin in a single incident. The seizure occurred on Oct. 12 when a 28-year old male Mexican citizen driving a... Read More »
DHS, partners convene for government council on protecting election infrastructure
Officials with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently convened with representatives from state and federal agencies for the first Government Coordinating Council (GCC) for the Election Infrastructure Subsector. Joining DHS were representatives from the Election Assistance... Read More »
National Nuclear Security Administration launches initiative to reduce use of radioactive source-based devices in New York City
Several security and health organizations recently launched an initiative to reduce the use of risk-significant radioactive source-based devices in medical and research applications in order to reduce the risk of terrorists acquiring this material. Radioactive sources are used in various... Read More »
Pressing, multiplying biodefense issues plague U.S., experts say
The Blue Ribbon Study Panel on Biodefense, a privately funded group established in 2014 to ascertain the current biodefense capabilities of the United States and issue expert recommendations to encourage change, has grown increasingly worried about microbial forensics and biological... Read More »
House Homeland Security Committee releases October assessment of terror threats
House Homeland Security Committee Chair Michael McCaul (R-TX) recently released October’s Terror Threat Snapshot, a monthly assessment of terror threats and efforts to combat them. The report noted there have been at least 483 plots, attacks, and arrests linked to Islamist extremism targeting... Read More »
Cyber Command begins executing new limited acquisition authority for cybersecurity tools
Officials with U.S. Cyber Command (CYBERCOM) recently said they have begun executing a new limited acquisition authority to speed up its acquisitions processes for cyber-specific tools. The command awarded its first contract under its new authority of Sept. 29, which covers technology-related... Read More »
OPCW holds ceremony marking completion of destruction of Russia’s chemical weapons stockpiles
The Executive Council of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) recently participated in a ceremony marking the completion of the destruction of the Russian Federation’s remaining chemical weapons stockpiles under OPCW verification protocols. Held at the residence of... Read More »FirstNet faces challenges in implementing its public safety broadband network, GAO report says
The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) faces various challenges in implementing its public safety broadband network, according to a recent review conducted by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO). GAO was tasked by Congress to asses FirstNet’s efforts to establish the... Read More »Department of Homeland Security hosts training summit for flood preparation
The Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) gathered together first responders and public safety professionals earlier this month for a summit focused on flood resiliency. It was the third annual gathering of the National Geospatial Preparedness Summit (NGPS). It... Read More »
GAO reviews federal development efforts of biological threat awareness
In an effort to help federal agencies identify biodefense capabilities and identify priorities for spending, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a study Wednesday tracking national activities that contribute to biological threat awareness. Key players involved in the study... Read More »
Elusys delivers first shipment of inhalation Anthrax treatment to US stockpile
Elusys Therapeutics, Inc. announced Wednesday that it delivered the first doses of its treatment for inhalational anthrax, ANTHIM (obiltoxaximab) Injection, to the U.S. Strategic National Stockpile (SNS). The company is providing the treatment to the SNS, the U.S. government’s store of... Read More »
Representatives introduce bill to update reporting requirements of multiple long gun sales
Reps. Norma J. Torres (D-CA), Bradley S. Schneider (D-IL), and Eliot L. Engel (D-NY) introduced a bill Wednesday that would require federal firearms licensees to report the sale of two or more long guns within a five-day period. This requirement already exists for handguns, but long guns, such... Read More »
Two Ebola vaccines found to be safe, elicit immune responses in Liberian clinical trial
Two Ebola vaccine candidates pose no major safety concerns and can elicit immune responses by one month after initial vaccination, according to a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial conducted in Liberia The clinical trial was coordinated by researchers with the Partnership for... Read More »
Vermont Border Patrol agents thwart 15-person human smuggling attempt
The U.S. Border Patrol, in conjunction with the U.S. Attorney Office for the District of Vermont, recently announced criminal charges for three individuals connected to a 15-person human smuggling attempt in Derby, Vermont. Hector Ramon Perez-Alvarado, a 25-year old Honduran citizen, was charged... Read More »FirstNet, AT&T launch developer program for public safety apps
The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) and AT&T recently launched a developer program aimed at encouraging public safety innovation to equip first responders with state-of-the-art communication tools. FirstNet said the initiative would also bring public safety professionals closer to... Read More »
HHS partners with Novartis Pharmaceuticals to determine capabilities for treating radiation injury
Looking to a drug already on the market for treating thrombocytopenia, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has joined a private corporation in evaluating its use against radiation injuries. The drug in question is approved for use to treat low blood platelet counts resulting... Read More »
Upstate New York airports phasing in new security measures
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) recently began phasing in new security at airports through upstate New York, which requires passengers to place all electronics larger than a cell phone in bins for X-ray screening. “TSA constantly enhances its security procedures to stay ahead... Read More »
Latin America, Caribbean-based first responders attend OPCW chemical agent response training course in Spain
A group of Latin American and Caribbean first responders recently participated in an emergency response training event involving chemical warfare agents and toxic industrial chemicals held at the Spanish National NBC Defense School in Madrid, Spain. Developed by the Organization for the... Read More »
BARDA, Achaogen partner to develop antibiotic to combat infections from drug resistant bacteria
The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) recently entered into a nine-month, $12 million contract with Achaogen, Inc to develop an antibiotic called C-scape that could treat certain types of drug-resistant bacteria and infections caused by bacteria used in biowarfare.... Read More »
DNA-based Zika virus vaccine being evaluated in endemic regions of Central, South America
A research team at the George Washington University (GW) School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS) was recently awarded more than $2 million from Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc. to begin a Zika virus vaccine trial in Brazil. Led by David Diemert and Jeffrey Bethony, both professors of... Read More »
Charleston seaport agencies conduct training aboard cruise ship
U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Office of Field Operations at Charleston Seaport as well as local, state, federal law enforcement and emergency services agencies recently participated in a training session aboard the Carnival Ecstasy cruise ship. The training session, led by CBP,... Read More »
Rep. Pallone requests FCC review of wireless communications resiliency
Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) recently wrote to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai to ask for an evaluation of the resiliency of the United States’ wireless networks. Pallone requested that the commission review the... Read More »
WHO delivers nearly 1.2 million antibiotics in response to Madagascar plague outbreak
In response to reports that more than 230 cases of plague have appeared in Madagascar since August, the World Health Organization (WHO) recently sent a shipment of 1,190,000 doses of antibiotics and released $1.5 million in emergency funds in order to mitigate the spread of the disease. The... Read More »