• Another foreign executive arrested in Alabama on immigration charges

    For the second time in recent weeks, Alabama law enforcement officials arrested a foreign car manufacturing executive under the state’s strict new immigration law

  • Supreme Court to hear Arizona immigration law

    On Monday the Supreme Court announced that it would weigh in on the controversial debate surrounding Arizona’s hotly contested immigration law

  • Spending cuts force contractors to alter strategy

    Projected federal spending cuts are upsetting the status quo in the world of government contracting, forcing firms to reevaluate their business strategies or determine whether they can do business at all

  • Terrorists using sophisticated uni-directional bombs

    Terrorists have learned to develop increasingly sophisticated explosives as evidenced by the uni-directional bombs detonated last week in Karachi, Pakistan that killed three Pakistan Rangers and injured several others

  • Minnesota banks to stop money transfers to Somalia

    In an effort to cut off funds to Somali terrorists, banks in Minnesota will no longer support money transfers via local businesses called “hawalas”; Minnesota has the largest concentration of Somalis in the United States and officials fear that money sent from relatives living in the United States could be funding terrorist groups like al Shabaab

  • Grant helps Kentucky dive team operate without sight

    Rescue and recovery divers often struggle to perform their duties in murky, muddy waters, but thanks to a $21,000 grant from Kentucky’s Homeland Security department, the city of Grayson was able to purchase a side-scan sonar and an underwater metal detector to help rescue divers complete their mission in low visibility conditions

  • Officials say D.C. prepared for disasters following earthquake and snowstorm

    This year a massive snowstorm and earthquake left D.C. residents stuck in traffic for hours as they attempted to leave the city, but emergency officials say they are better prepared for future disasters because of those incidents

  • White House offers details of plans to fight homegrown terrorism

    The White House yesterday unveiled a broad, new strategy to battle homegrown terrorism in the United States. The program empowers communities by teaching local officials to recognize violent extremism and see the threat as a public safety issue, like the battle against gangs and drugs. The 20-page White House strategy, entitled “Strategic Implementation Plan for Empowering Local Partners to Prevent Violent Extremism in the United States,” adds details to the outline the administration released four months ago.

  • EU wants tech firm to stop selling surveillance gear to despots

    Following the revelations in the Wikileaks “Spy Files” last week, the EU digital agenda commissioner Neelie Kroes will urge European technology firms to develop a strategy to avoid “selling despots the tools of their repression,” a practice she describes as “to say the least, bad PR.”

  • Congressional transportation security caucus formed

    On Thursday members of the House Homeland Security Committee announced that they were starting a “Transportation Security Caucus”

  • Concern over DHS move to create giant information databank

    In an effort to enhance DHS’ information sharing capabilities, the department is looking to construct an integrated database known as the “Federated Information Sharing System,” a move which has raised concerns from the American Civil Liberties Union

  • GAO reports problems in cybersecurity hiring strategy

    An audit by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) has found that some government agencies have failed to effectively develop or implement cybersecurity workforce planning strategies; agencies also reported problems in filling some cybersecurity positions, particularly those requiring specialized skills

  • The threat to military communities inside the United States

    The Majority Staff of the House Committee on Homeland Security has released a report on threats to the security of military communities in the United States; the report says that 70 percent of the plots against military targets occurred since mid-2009 — including the two successful homeland attacks since 9/11

  • Yellow Dot gets medical info to first responders fast

    Emergency officials in Alabama recently introduced a new program aimed at quickly providing first responders with critical information during accidents; in the event of a car accident, first responders will be able immediately to find vital medical information on victims by simply looking in their glove compartment

  • Interface could help Facebook members limit security leaks

    Researchers develop a sign-up interface for Facebook apps could help members prevent personal information — and their friends’ information — from leaking out through third-party games and apps to hackers and identity thieves