News
Carper discusses security operations at Philadelphia International Airport
U.S. Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE) on Friday met with federal and local partners to discuss security operations and procedures at the Philadelphia International Airport. During his trip, Carper toured the airport’s checkpoint areas that screen approximately 31 million passengers per year. In... Read More »CBP agents seize approximately $5 million of methamphetamine
U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents stationed at the Pharr International Bridge cargo facility seized approximately $5 million in two separate, unrelated incidents last week. The first incident occurred on June 30 when officers encountered a tractor trailer hauling a commercial shipment... Read More »
European Commission signs agreement for public-private cybersecurity partnership
The European Commission launched a new public-private partnership on cybersecurity on Tuesday that is expected to trigger $1.9 billion of investment by 2020. The partnership is part of a series of a new initiatives to better equip Europe against cyber attacks and to strengthen the... Read More »Johnson applauds efforts by Congress, TSA personnel on busy holiday weekend
U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson released a statement on Tuesday regarding Transportation Security Administration (TSA) wait times and security procedures going forward. “From Wednesday, June 30 through Monday, July 4, TSA screened 10.7 million travelers. June 30 and... Read More »TSA, American Airlines jointly testing new innovative airport security technology
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and American Airlines (AA) will install new screening technology at select American Airlines hubs nationwide this fall. The new technology includes automated security screening lanes and computed tomography (CT) scanners. The automated lanes... Read More »BioCryst receives additional funding to advance potential hemorrhagic fever virus treatment
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) provided BioCryst Pharmaceuticals with additional funding on Monday for efficacy studies of BCX4430 in non-human primates to further assist effective dose regimens. BCX4430 is a broad-spectrum antiviral that is advancing toward... Read More »
Border encounter leads to arrest of wanted child predator in Canada
A vehicle stop by the U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) and subsequent investigation helped the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) locate a wanted fugitive in Ottawa, Canada, on Friday. CBSA arrested Adrien C. Peters of South Beloit, Illinois, at an Ottawa hotel. Peters was wanted for fleeing child... Read More »Independent report highlights need for improvement of public health response techniques
An independent panel of public health, emergency response and communication experts issued a report on Friday on the Ebola epidemic of 2014, identifying recommendations to improve the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) response to urgent public health threats. Concerns... Read More »
Treatment trial for men with persistent Ebola viral RNA in semen opens in Liberia
The Partnership for Research on Ebola virus in Liberia (PREVAIL) on Monday opened PREVAIL IV, a treatment trial for men who have survived Ebola virus disease (EVD) but continue to have evidence of Ebola virus genetic material - RNA - in their semen. The trial is sponsored by the National... Read More »
Rhode Island first responders to receive more than $8 million to enhance emergency preparedness
A coalition of Rhode Island lawmakers said on Friday that the state would receive more than $8 million in federal funds to assist first responders in response to a range of security challenges and crises. The coalition included U.S. Sens. Jack Reed (D-RI) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), along... Read More »
Warner, Kaine push VA on pilot program to improve access for veterans healthcare
U.S. Sens. Mark Warner (D-VA) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) pushed the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) on Friday for an update on a local pilot program designed to improve the quality and accessibility of healthcare for veterans. The senators sent a letter to VA Secretary Robert A. McDonald... Read More »
FirstNet prepares for deployment of nationwide public safety broadband network
The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) moved forward on Friday with its preparations for a public-private partnership to deploy and operate a nationwide public safety broadband network. During their meeting in Chicago, the FirstNet board of directors provided strategic guidance for... Read More »DHS announces grant allocations for FY2016
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) allocated $275 million on Wednesday for six FY2016 DHS competitive preparedness and grant programs to support state, local, tribal and territorial partners. The grant program funds come in addition to the more than $1.3 billion in non-competitive... Read More »FLIR Systems acquires Armasight for $41 million
FLIR Systems acquired Armasight, Inc., a leading developer of precision sporting, hunting and military optics products, for approximately $41 million on Wednesday. "The addition of Armasight to our existing scopes and sights business provides us with meaningful additional scale and injects... Read More »Miller applauds DHS grant awards for Michigan counties
U.S. Rep. Candice Miller (R-MI) applauded the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Wednesday for its intentions to award Operation Stonegarden grants to Macomb, St. Clair and Sanilac counties. The awards include port security grants for Macomb County, the St. Clair Sheriff’s... Read More »New study shows how some survive Ebola virus
A coalition of research institutions published a report in the Clinical Infectious Disease Journal on Wednesday that analyzed the immune responses of Ebola patients treated in the United States. The coalition includes the U.S. Centers for Disease and Control (CDC), the Emory University School... Read More »
Donovan calls for smarter rules on cyberdefense, seizing terrorist funds
With the goal of improving U.S. threat preparedness, U.S. Rep. Daniel Donovan (R-NY), who serves on the House Homeland Security Committee, recently introduced legislation to help fight potential terror attacks in urban areas and in cyberspace. Donovan recently introduced the Terrorist Asset... Read More »
GAO: DoD has made progress incorporating HRFs into CBRN response enterprise
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report on Tuesday that found that the National Guard, part of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), has made progress incorporating the Homeland Response Force (HRF) into the chemical, biological radiological and nuclear (CBRN) response... Read More »Heinrich blocks attempt to expand warrantless government surveillance
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) placed a hold on Tuesday on the 2017 Intelligence Authorization Act due to a provision in the bill that seeks a massive expansion of government surveillance into Americans’ email, web browser history and communications through social media without judicial... Read More »NIAID: Two Zika vaccines protect mice from infection
The National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) released a report on Tuesday detailing how a single dose of either of two experimental Zika vaccines protected mice infected with the virus for four to eight weeks after receiving the inoculations. NIAID said that this... Read More »Lockheed Martin’s Q-53 radar demonstrates counter-UAS capabilities
Lockheed Martin’s Q-53 counter fire radar last week demonstrated its ability to identify and track unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and pass that information to a command and control node. Lockheed said that this capability will assist forces in a crowded battle space with emerging air threats.... Read More »New study reveals global variations in malaria parasites
Researchers at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) presented data on Monday regarding gene sequences and the global variations in malaria parasites. NIAID researchers determined the genomes of approximately 200 P. vivax strains that recently infected people in... Read More »ECDC preparing for Zika virus in the EU
The European Center for Disease Control and Prevention (ECDC) produced a policy briefing on Monday highlighting preparedness measures to minimize the risk of Zika virus spreading in continental Europe. The briefing is primarily to protect pregnant women and those who wish to become pregnant,... Read More »Katko, House members denied access to Cuba by Cuban government
U.S. Rep. John Katko (R-NY), along with other House members, was blocked by the Cuban government last week from entering the country to assess security risks associated with resuming air travel between the United States and Cuba. The Cuban government signed an accord on Feb. 16 that will allow... Read More »Emergent BioSolutions receives BARDA order to develop, manufacture Zika vaccine
Emergent BioSolutions, Inc.’s Center for Innovation in Advanced Development and Manufacturing (CIADM) received a task order on Monday valued at up to $21.9 million from the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) to develop and manufacture a Zika vaccine. Three cGMP lots... Read More »Subcommittee hearing examines FirstNet’s progress
The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation and the Internet held a hearing on Tuesday to examine the progress of FirstNet, the first nationwide, high-speed network dedicated to public safety. Chairman of the Subcommittee... Read More »