• Unused DHS fund help Pasadena upgrade helos

    The city of Pasadena will use leftover funds from the 2008 Homeland Security Act to purchase a number of upgrades for its air operations unit; on 13 November the city council approved spending the remaining $650,000 of the original grant to purchase an array of high-tech devices, including an infrared camera, night-vision technology, and quiet technology tail rotor blades

  • New Jersey first responders to get universal IDs

    Starting next year, 12,000 first responders in New Jersey will receive special IDs to help enhance security and cut down on identity fraud during emergencies and natural disasters

  • Senate reaches deal on custody over terrorism suspects

    On Tuesday several Senators from the Armed Services Committee reached an agreement on the controversial handling and prosecution of suspected terrorists; the agreement, struck by Senator Carl Levin (D-Michigan) and Senator John McCain (R-Arizona) would allow the military custody of all suspected terrorists except when the administration makes “a national security determination” to keep the detainee in civilian custody

  • Texas man convicted of terrorism charges

    On Wednesday a Texas man, who had been in contact with the radical cleric Anwar al Awlaki, was convicted of attempting to provide material support to al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP); Barry Walter Bujol Jr. was arrested when he boarded a ship at the Port of Houston, which he was led to believe was bound for Algeria where he would stay at an al Qaeda safe haven before heading to Yemen

  • Alabama lawmakers backpedal on tough immigration law

    Republican senators in Alabama are currently working on a series of amendments that would ameliorate the tough immigration law that has sharply divided the state

  • Kentucky allowed to rely on God for homeland security

    The Kentucky Court of Appeals recently ruled to allow the state to continue relying on God for help in homeland security matters; a three-judge panel ruled two-to-one to reject a lower court decision to overturn state legislation to credit God with protecting the state

  • U.S. working closely with U.K. to secure 2012 Olympics

    Yesterday U.S. and U.K. officials met in Washington, D.C. to discuss security plans for the upcoming 2012 Olympic Games in London; the United States will have more than 500 federal agents on hand at the event and is working closely with British authorities

  • Internal e-mails reveal FBI confused by Secure Communities

    Recently released government e-mails indicate that the FBI had strong doubts about Secure Communities, a controversial DHS immigration program; officials worried that the misunderstanding over whether or not cities and states could actually opt out of the program would lead to a rift between local and federal law enforcement agencies

  • DHS warns terrorists targeting buses

    In a recent Transportation Security Administration (TSA) security bulletin, officials warned state and local authorities that terrorists are increasingly targeting bus networks; John Pistole, the head of the TSA, explained that bus networks are attractive targets for attacks because of their “accessibility” and their “open architecture”

  • Drones and privacy

    With civilian unmanned surveillance drones now capable of listening in on cell phone conversations, monitoring Wi-Fi traffic, seeing into backyards and windows not visible from the street, and tracking a person’s movement privacy advocates are concerned that the rapid advances in technology could violate privacy rights

  • Plan to protect Houston from the next big hurricane

    To protect Houston and Galveston from future hurricanes, experts recommends building a floodgate across the Houston Ship Channel, adding new levees to protect densely populated areas on Galveston Island and the developed west side of Galveston Bay; the team also recommends creating a 130-mile-long coastal recreation area to sustainably use wetlands that act as a natural flood barrier

  • DARPA to boost cyber research spending by 50 percent

    Last week, the head of the Department of Defense’s advanced research arm announced that the agency would increase cyber research spending by 50 percent over the next five years to develop both defensive and offensive capabilities

  • Budget cuts force Nevada to reconsider security priorities

    Next fiscal year Nevada will be forced to adapt to a 47 percent cut in DHS funding. To prepare for this new financial reality, Nevada governor Brian Sandoval has called for a reassessment of the state’s homeland security priorities

  • $4.1 Million in DHS grants awarded in Kentucky

    Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear announced last Thursday that 125 projects will receive approximately $4.1 million in grants courtesy of the Department of Homeland Security

  • FTC forces Facbook to change privacy policies

    It appears that it will not be too long before Facebook could be forced to get users’ consent every time it wants to make private data available to other members. This will be the result of an agreement Facebook has reached with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) over criticism of the social network’s questionable private data policies.