GOP candidate's security clearance becomes issue in SC
After losing a high-profile bid for a South Carolina congressional seat in 2018, Republican Katie Arrington took a job at the Defense Department, where she focused on securing military supply chains, ensuring thousands of companies that contract with the federal government were implementing cybersecurity protocols. Arrington's civil servant work as chief information officer for the Acquisition and Sustainment Office was in line with what she characterizes as her longtime passion for cybersecurity and defense. Freshman GOP Rep. Nancy Mace, whom Arrington hopes to defeat in South Carolina's June 14 primary, is calling on Arrington to take a lie detector test about why she lost access to classified information. A Mace-funded, anti-Arrington website, meanwhile, has sections labeled “Leaks Classified Information” and "Busted: Loses Her Security Clearance.”
news.yahoo.comUS sends home suspected '20th hijacker' from Guantanamo
A Saudi prisoner at the Guantanamo Bay detention center who was suspected of trying to join the 9/11 hijackers has been sent back to his home country for treatment for mental illness, the Department of Defense said Monday. Mohammad Ahmad al-Qahtani was flown back to Saudi Arabia, to a treatment facility, from the U.S. base in Cuba after a review board including military and intelligence officials concluded he could be safely released after 20 years in custody. The U.S. dropped plans to try him after a Bush administration legal official concluded he had been tortured at Guantanamo.
news.yahoo.comPentagon: Deadly Afghan airport attack was not preventable
The military investigation into the deadly attack during the Afghanistan evacuation has concluded that a suicide bomber, carrying 20 pounds of explosives packed with ball bearings, acted alone, and that the deaths of more than 170 Afghans and 13 U.S. service members were not preventable.
Department of Defense medical team stays 30 days longer than planned to help Beaumont Dearborn
As COVID cases increase, the number of healthcare workers getting COVID does as well. That has led healthcare workers with the Department of Defense to stay in Michigan a month later than planned to combat staffing shortages.
Pentagon to cut stateside cost-of-living stipend for thousands of troops in 2022
The Department of Defense (DoD) announced last week that troops in 15 metropolitan areas and 21 non-metropolitan counties in the continental United States will be cut off from a cost-of-living allowance starting Jan. 1.
news.yahoo.comPentagon to respond "appropriately" after Oklahoma National Guard says it won't follow COVID-19 vaccine mandate
The Department of Defense will respond "appropriately" to a decision this week by the Oklahoma National Guard to rescind the Pentagon's requirement for service members to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.Driving the news: "We are aware of the memo issued by the Oklahoma Adjutant General regarding COVID vaccination for Guardsmen and the governor’s letter requesting exemption. We will respond to the governor appropriately," Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told Axios in a statement.Stay on top of the lat
news.yahoo.comFormer Department of Defense Employee Charged with Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury Brought to the United States to Face Charge
A former civilian employee of the Department of Defense arrived in the United States Friday from Germany to face a charge for assaulting a U.S. military member in the Republic of Korea last year. According to court documents, Gerald Leon Ray III, 25, of Lathrop, California, intentionally struck an individual in the side of the head, causing the victim serious bodily injury. The alleged assault occurred on July 26, 2020, in the Republic of Korea, where Ray was employed by the Defense Commissary Agency, a component of the Department of Defense. On June 17, a grand jury in the Eastern District of California indicted Ray on one count of assault resulting in serious bodily injury. On Oct. 14, Judge Peterson ordered that Ray be removed from Germany to the United States pursuant to MEJA.
justice.govAP: Military units track guns using tech that could aid foes
Determined to keep track of their guns, some U.S. military units have turned to a technology that could let enemies detect troops on the battlefield, The Associated Press has found. The rollout on Army and Air Force bases continues even though the Department of Defense itself describes putting the technology in firearms as a “significant” security risk. The Marines have rejected radio frequency identification technology in weapons for that very reason, and the Navy said this week that it was halting its own dalliance.
news.yahoo.comU.S. military admits ‘horrible mistake’ in Kabul drone strike that killed 10 Afghans
Zamarai Ahmadi, a longtime aid worker for a U.S.-based group, was hauling water cans that military analysts mistook for explosives, according to officials and video obtained by The Washington Post and others.
washingtonpost.comUS woman left behind in Kabul with 130 rescue dogs thanks to DOD no-fly animal policy
A Tennessee woman who owns an animal rescue center in Kabul was not allowed passage home by the Department of Defense because she carried a disabled puppy in her arms — one of 130 animals she was ordered to leave behind in the final days of airlifts.
news.yahoo.comRet. Adm. James Winnefeld on Afghan attack, keeping troops safe during evacuation effort
President Biden said the airport attack in Afghanistan will not deter America from its evacuation mission. Ret. Adm. James Winnefeld talks to "CBS This Morning" about what must be done to keep U.S. troops safe as the drawdown continues, and what he's expecting as the August 31 deadline approaches.
news.yahoo.comUS airstrike targets Islamic State member in Afghanistan
The United States military struck back at the Islamic State in Afghanistan on Saturday, acting on President Joe Biden's vow to hit the extremists in retaliation for a suicide bombing claimed by IS that killed as many as 169 Afghans and 13 American service members at Kabul airport Thursday.
Separation mixes with hope and uncertainty in the U.S. base hosting Afghan evacuees
“The situation was super chaotic in Kabul. Our fundamental mission was to get people that we decided were vulnerable to somewhere that was safe,” the State Department official said. The Department of Homeland Security, State Department and Department of Defense now are working together to gather information on the circumstances of the individual evacuees, which will help determine who falls into categories allowed to travel on: citizens, green-card holders, those who qualify for Special Immigrant Visas because of their work with the U.S. military or other agencies, or those particularly at risk.
washingtonpost.comPentagon discusses 'deeply concerning' Taliban violence as the U.S. withdraws from Afghanistan
During a press briefing on Friday, Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby answered questions on the recent advancement of Taliban forces in Afghanistan ahead of the planned withdrawal of all U.S. military forces by Aug. 31.
news.yahoo.comAAR Corp. Agrees to Pay $11 Million to Settle False Claims Act Allegations on Aircraft Maintenance Contract and to Pay Penalties Assessed by the FAA
The allegations involve helicopters that Airlift owned and maintained for use in transporting Department of Defense (DoD) cargo and personnel in support of DoD missions in Afghanistan and Africa. The act permits private parties to sue for false claims on behalf of the United States and to share in any recovery. Mr. Harvey will receive $2,162,160 of the False Claims Act settlement. Attorneys Nathan D. Stump and Laura J. Barke of the Southern District of Illinois and Randy Harwell of the Middle District of Florida. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
justice.govTyson recalls 8 million pounds of chicken products after one person dies of listeria
Tyson Foods issued one of the largest recalls in the last five years, pulling 8,492,832 pounds of ready-to-eat chicken products that went to schools, restaurants, grocers, hospitals, nursing homes and Department of Defense facilities.
news.yahoo.comTyson recalls 8 million pounds of chicken products after one person dies of listeria
Tyson Foods issued one of the largest recalls in the last five years, pulling 8,492,832 pounds of ready-to-eat chicken products that went to schools, restaurants, grocers, hospitals, nursing homes and Department of Defense facilities.
news.yahoo.comTyson Foods Inc. recalls 8.5 million pounds of pre-cooked chicken products over possible listeria contamination
The projects subject to recall have the establishment number EST. P-7089 on the product back or inside the USDA mark of inspection. The items were shipped nationwide to retailers, hospitals, nursing facilities, restaurants, schools and Department of Defense locations.
Residents statewide can make COVID vaccination appointments at Michigan State University Pavilion clinic
Starting Monday, all Michigan residents are welcome to schedule an appointment to get vaccinated at the Michigan State University Pavilion clinic operated by the Ingham County Health Department in partnership with the college. The site is a drive-thru only clinic, and appointments are available as early as this week.
‘Labels matter’ -- Michigan lawmakers push for stronger federal terrorism laws
LANSING, Mich. – Michigan is once again taking the lead on domestic terrorism across the country. The Homeland Security subcommittee on terrorism -- led by former CIA analyst and Department of Defense official Michigan Rep. Elissa Slotkin -- argued the U.S. should shift its focus from foreign terrorism to domestic. “While external threats remain, the single greatest threat to our country right now is the threat of domestic terrorism and the tensions and polarization between us,” Slotkin said. AdSlotkin cited a new Homeland Security threat assessment that detailed that 2020 was a perfect storm for radical domestic groups. “Our government must send its own message back by labeling extremist violence as domestic terrorism.
US blacklists Xiaomi, CNOOC, Skyrizon, raising heat on China
The Department of Defense added nine companies to its list of Chinese companies with military links, including Xiaomi and state-owned plane manufacturer Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China (Comac). U.S. investors will have to divest their stakes in Chinese companies on the military list by November this year, according to an executive order signed by Trump last November. Xiaomi said in a statement that its products are for “civilian and commercial use" and said it is not owned, controlled or affiliated with the Chinese military. Xiaomi Corp. overtook Apple Inc. as the world’s No. “CNOOC acts as a bully for the People’s Liberation Army to intimidate China’s neighbors, and the Chinese military continues to benefit from government civil-military fusion policies for malign purposes,” Ross said.
Biden transition team criticizes cooperation from Pentagon
FILE - This March 27, 2008 file photo shows the Pentagon in Washington. – President-elect Joe Biden's transition team expressed frustration Friday with the level of cooperation they're getting from political appointees at the Department of Defense, saying there has been “an abrupt halt in the already limited cooperation there." Yohannes Abraham, executive director of the transition, told reporters that Biden agency review teams at DOD learned Thursday of meetings “being pulled down" and immediately reported it. Abraham made it clear that Biden's transition team was not satisfied with that decision. “There have been many agencies and departments that have facilitated the exchange of info and meetings over the past few weeks,” Abraham said.
Biden transition team criticizes cooperation from Pentagon
FILE - This March 27, 2008 file photo shows the Pentagon in Washington. – President-elect Joe Biden's transition team expressed frustration Friday with the level of cooperation they're getting from political appointees at the Department of Defense, saying there has been “an abrupt halt in the already limited cooperation there." Yohannes Abraham, executive director of the transition, told reporters that Biden agency review teams at DOD learned Thursday of meetings “being pulled down" and immediately reported it. Abraham made it clear that Biden's transition team was not satisfied with that decision. “There have been many agencies and departments that have facilitated the exchange of info and meetings over the past few weeks,” Abraham said.
Movement for Black Lives seeks sweeping legislative changes
Proposed federal legislation that would radically transform the nation's criminal justice system through such changes as eliminating agencies like the Drug Enforcement Administration and the use of federal surveillance technology is set to be unveiled Tuesday, July 7, by the Movement for Black Lives. Dubbed the BREATHE Act, the legislation is the culmination of a project led by the policy table of the Movement for Black Lives, a coalition of more than 150 organizations. The proposed changes are sweeping and likely to receive robust pushback from lawmakers who perceive the legislation as too radical. The polling found that the majority of Americans say the criminal justice system needs major changes, including many saying it needs a complete overhaul. We are a generation that wants to make sure that the needs of all Black people are met, Cullors said.
Watchdogs: Trump's Independence Day gala in 2019 cost $13M
All rights reserved)Government watchdogs say President Trumps Fourth of July gala in the nations capital last year cost taxpayers more than $13 million, twice as much as previous celebrations. Trumps desire to have Department of Defense military vehicles participate helped drive up the cost, according to the Government Accountability Office. Some other costs, such as for military flyovers of the National Mall, were not included in the estimate, the report said. Trumps military-focused Independence Day event went beyond the traditional concert and fireworks of years past. The GAO estimated that holiday celebrations from 2016 to 2018 cost from $6 million to $7 million annually.
University of Michigan physicist awarded $7.5M Department of Defense grant
ANN ARBOR The U.S. Office of Naval Research has awarded a $7.5 million grant to a team of researchers led by the University of Michigan to bring metamaterial to life. Metamaterials are unlike natural materials in that their properties are determined by how the material is structured. Led by physicist Xiaoming Mao, the five-year grant from the Department of Defenses 2020 Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative program will allow her put her theoretical work with metamaterial to practice. In other words, her metamaterials can change properties based on how they come into contact with certain objects by absorbing direct stress, shock and preventing damage. The research could have significant implications on the design of helmets and body armor that change properties upon direct collision impact.
Report shows National Guard has highest suicide rate among military components
FreeImages.com/Matthew WilliamsDETROIT - Data from the Department of Defense shows the National Guard had a higher suicide rate last year than active duty and reserve military components. The suicide rate among National Guard service members was 30.6 per 100,000, compared to 24.8 per active duty service members and 22.9 per 100,000 for reserve component service members. "This year's report indicates that suicide rates for active-component and reserve members are comparable to U.S. population rates after accounting for age and sex. But rates for the National Guard are higher than the U.S. population after similar adjustments," she said. The Michigan National Guard implemented new suicide-prevention training after three soldiers died by suicide in less than a month earlier this year.
Supreme Court allows use of Pentagon money for border wall
Copyright 2019 CNNWASHINGTON (CNN) - The Supreme Court cleared the way for the Trump administration to use $2.5 billion from the Department of Defense to construct parts of a wall along the southwestern border that the government argues is necessary to protect national security. The Supreme Court's order is a significant win for President Donald Trump, who is likely to use the construction of a wall as a major talking point on the campaign trail. This is a breaking story and will be updated. Distributed by LAKANA. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
House orders Pentagon to investigate whether ticks were once used as biological weapons
Pexels(CNN) - The US House of Representatives has ordered an investigation into whether the Department of Defense experimented with ticks and other insects as biological weapons. The most common disease spread by ticks is Lyme disease, which can cause multiple symptoms including fever, muscle aches, joint pain, rash and facial paralysis. Each year, nearly 30,000 cases of Lyme Disease are reported to the CDC, which also says that more than 300,000 people are diagnosed with the disease each year. In 2017, a total of 42,743 confirmed and probable cases of Lyme Disease were reported to the CDC, 17% more than in 2016, according to the agency. During the amendment's debate, Smith said Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases were "exploding" in the US and that "Americans have a right to know whether any of this is true."