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$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
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New Jersey first responders prohibited from taking crash scene photos
New Jersey lawmakers are currently considering a bill that would make it illegal for first responders to take pictures or videos of an accident and distribute them without the permission of the victim’s family; under the proposed law, any first responder who circulates an accident photo or video without permission could face as much as eighteen months in jail or a $10,000 fine
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Local police not required to detain illegals for ICE
Internal DHS documents reveal local law enforcement agencies are not required to hold undocumented immigrants when requested by the federal government; a coalition of groups against the controversial Secure Communities program obtained a total of three documents under a Freedom of Information request that clarified the policy of detainers for local law enforcement agencies
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Detroit police push for ShotSpotter
Detroit police chief Ralph Godbee is pushing the city to purchase a $2.6 million automated gun-shot detecting system that he believes will help reduce violent crime; last summer, Detroit was hit by one of its most violent periods in recent history with 254 shootings that left fifty-two people dead in two months
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New York police officers equipped and ready to detect dirty bombs
Law enforcement officials operating in the New York City region are trained and equipped to intercept dirty bomb threats
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Mexican senators to discuss immigration law with Georgia lawmakers
In an effort to curtail the passage of harsh state immigration laws, a group of Mexican senators announced on Tuesday their plans to meet with lawmakers from several states including Georgia, Alabama, and Arizona; the senators hope to convince state lawmakers that illegal immigrants are generally law-abiding individuals who contribute to the U.S. economy
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Texas county police buys drone that can carry weapons
The police in Montgomery County — and area north of Houston, Texas — is the first local police in the United States to deploy a drone that can carry weapons; the police says it will be used in chases of escaping criminals and tracking drug shipments
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"The Dragon" makes life difficult for first responders
For emergency personnel in Tennessee, responding to calls on “The Dragon,” an unforgiving 11.1 mile stretch of highway, is no easy task; the Dragon consists of 318 sharp curves through hilly terrain making it treacherous for drivers and a nightmare for first responders; each year there are several fatal crashes and since 2005 the desolate road has been the scene of at least forty injury crashes a year
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Dallas County homeland security director fired
Last week, in a sudden announcement, Dallas County’s homeland security director Lisa Chambers was fired; Chambers believes the decision may have been political, pointing to her refusal to conduct a sweep of Dapheny Fain’s home for surveillance devices following an FBI raid in June
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Army Reserve could soon take on homeland security missions
The House and the Senate are currently debating legislation that would allow the Army Reserve to be deployed for homeland security missions
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Colorado reorganizes homeland security
On Wednesday the state of Colorado announced that it was reorganizing its homeland security operations
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Also noted
Tennessee Becomes First State To Fight Terrorism Statewide | Scientists develop explosive disposal technology | Earthquakes in western U.S. May Raise Disaster Awareness | Insurance price surge in no-flood zones in Australia | MIT political scientist discusses border security | Some Cheer U.S.-Mexico Border Fence as Others Ponder the Cost | Plan to screen trucks may ease U.S.-Canada traffic
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New Jersey approves two Tasers under stricter safety regulations
Following the increasingly controversial use of Tasers in which several individuals died after being stunned, New Jersey has approved of two new Taser models that comply with new safety standards
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DC officials receive priority disaster phone access
During major disasters or a terrorist attack, phone lines quickly become inundated with traffic which makes it nearly impossible for residents to make calls or send texts; to ensure that local officials have the ability to communicate during disasters, DHS recently issued special calling cards to members of the Washington, D.C. City Council that allow their calls to take priority during moments of heavy phone traffic
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Michigan to launch cyber command center and defense teams
To help boost the state’s economy and its role in securing the nation’s data networks, Michigan recently announced that it plans to launch a cyber command center and cyber defense response teams
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More headlines
The long view
Researchers Calculate Cyberattack Risk for All 50 States
Local governments are common victims of cyberattack, with economic damage often extending to the state and federal levels. Scholars aggregate threats to thousands of county governments to draw conclusions.