Mainstream News

Cherokee County teen shot by police sniper, parents speak out

"Lisa and Nick Messina said their son was killed at the hands of the officers they called for help. According to his parents, Andrew Messina had a bad day at school and the pressure was so overwhelming, he grabbed a gun and threatened to kill himself. Lisa Messina called the cops in desperation, hoping an officer would come talk to him. But what arrived was an army of deputies, an armored tank and a sniper. Andrew Messina had begged negotiators several times to speak with his father. 'They brought an army to take out a 16-year-old boy. To kill a 16-year-old boy,' Nick Messina said." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCherokee County teen shot by police sniper, parents speak out

Former North Chicago police chief accused of stealing seized drug money

"Former Chief Michael Newsome was accused of using the money to buy a new car and do home repairs on his kitchen, among other personal expenditures, Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Steve Scheller said. Newsome, who left office in February amid a public uproar over alleged police brutality within the department, was charged with an ongoing theft of more than $140,000 from April of 2011 through March 31 of this year, Scheller said." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFormer North Chicago police chief accused of stealing seized drug money

Member of U.S. Secret Service arrested for sexual abuse in Woodbridge

"Police say the victim was a 14-year-old girl and was sexually assaulted by her family member between August and October this year. U.S. Secret Service spokesman Brian Leary would not confirm any details about where Cuellar worked or his role. But Commonwealth’s Attorney Paul B. Ebert said that Cuellar has been part of President Obama’s detail." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMember of U.S. Secret Service arrested for sexual abuse in Woodbridge

TSA opens museum to inspire its mission

"In 2010, armed with a master's degree in history and experience working at several museums, Smith was hired for the newly created position of TSA historian. Since then he's been filming oral histories of current and past TSA employees, creating exhibits and organizing a growing cache of objects related to the agency's history. In 2011, to mark the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy, the TSA gave the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History several artifacts relating to TSA history. Among those items are images, oral histories, internal planning documents, a uniform and other objects relating to the first airport to get TSA screeners." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingTSA opens museum to inspire its mission

Army Suicides This Year Exceed 2012 Combat Deaths in Afghanistan

"The number of suicides among U.S. Army active duty and reserve personnel in 2012 is higher than the total combined military fatalities from Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan over the same timeframe. In 2012, there have been a total of 247 suspected suicides among Army active and reserve duty personnel. Of those, 158 have been confirmed as suicides and 89 remain under investigation. An additional 40 military fatalities were the result of 'non-hostile causes,' which means they were fatalities not caused by the Taliban, insurgency forces or Afghan forces – so-called 'green-on-blue' attacks." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingArmy Suicides This Year Exceed 2012 Combat Deaths in Afghanistan

NATO kills four children in Afghan East: Karzai

"Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Tuesday condemned a NATO operation that he said killed four children in the country's east, a claim the coalition said was possible. The operation took place in the Baraki Barak district of Logar province on Saturday, a statement released by Karzai's office said, adding: 'It resulted in the killing of four innocent children' who were tending to livestock." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingNATO kills four children in Afghan East: Karzai

Hospitals bribed by NHS to put patients on pathway to death

"Hospitals are paid millions to hit targets for the number of patients who die on the Liverpool Care Pathway. The incentives have been paid to hospitals that ensure a set percentage of patients who die on their wards have been put on the controversial regime. In some cases, hospitals have been set targets that between a third and two thirds of all the deaths should be on the LCP, which critics say is a way of hastening the deaths of terminally ill patients. At least £30million in extra money from taxpayers is estimated to have been handed to hospitals over the past three years to achieve these goals." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingHospitals bribed by NHS to put patients on pathway to death

CIA operators were denied request for help during Benghazi attack

"Former Navy SEAL Tyrone Woods was part of a small team who was at the CIA annex about a mile from the U.S. consulate where Ambassador Chris Stevens and his team came under attack. When he and others heard the shots fired, they informed their higher-ups at the annex to tell them what they were hearing and requested permission to go to the consulate and help out. They were told to 'stand down,' according to sources familiar with the exchange. Soon after, they were again told to 'stand down.' CIA spokeswoman Jennifer Youngblood, though, denied the claims that requests for support were turned down." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCIA operators were denied request for help during Benghazi attack

Security experts say new electronic voting machines can be hacked

"The 2010 discovery of the Stuxnet cyberweapon, which used a thumb drive to attack Iran's nuclear facilities and spread among its computers, illustrated how one type of attack could work. Most at risk are paperless e-voting machines, which don’t print out any record of votes, meaning the electronically stored results could be altered without anyone knowing they had been changed. In a tight election, the result could be the difference between winning and losing. A Monitor analysis shows that four swing states – Pennsylvania, Virginia, Colorado, and Florida – rely to varying degrees on paperless machines." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSecurity experts say new electronic voting machines can be hacked

U.S. and Canada launch joint cybersecurity plan

"The action plan, under the auspices of the US Department of Homeland Security and Public Safety Canada, aims to better protect critical digital infrastructure and improve the response to cyber incidents. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said the plan 'reinforces the robust relationship' between their two agencies. Through the plan, Washington and Ottawa hope to improve collaboration on managing cyber incidents between their respective cyber security operation centers, enhance information sharing and engagement with the private sector and pursue US-Canadian collaboration to promote cyber security awareness to the public." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingU.S. and Canada launch joint cybersecurity plan