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Free cybersecurity training resources for veterans
Roy Phillips Law Enforcement, Defense & SecurityIn 2006, the VA experienced a data breach that included the personally identifiable information (PII) of more than 26 million vets. In 2015, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) experienced a data breach that exposed the PII of 21.5 million federal employees. My personal information was compromised by both data breaches. These incidents made me wonder what I could do to protect my PII, and they led me to the discovery that there are several organizations that offer free cybersecurity training to veterans.
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How higher education can shape the future of law enforcement
Bambi Majumdar Law Enforcement, Defense & SecurityThere has been a recent drive to improve college enrollment among law enforcement officers. To this effect, some states and colleges are introducing new curricula that match modern law enforcement training needs. Police shootings and reports of police brutality have hampered the image of law enforcement to such an extent that getting recruits for the force has become quite a challenge. In Kentucky, the state’s Department of Criminal Justice Training (DOCJT) recently announced an education initiative for law enforcement that will enable officers to get a college degree.
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Should your company have a political expression policy?
Terri Williams Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementPolitical discussions can turn heated in a heartbeat. At work, this may be energy that is better spent on work-related projects. On the other hand, political discourse can also lead to greater understanding and perhaps result in new friendships. Knowing that the former may be more likely than the latter, some companies are implementing political expression policies. But is this really necessary?
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Drone delivery is coming, but don’t get too excited yet
Linchi Kwok RetailWalgreens is now working with Google parent company Alphabet's Wing service to test drone deliveries. Beginning in October, Walgreens' pilot program will use drones to deliver on-demand food, beverages, and over-the-counter non-prescription medications to customers within minutes. Currently, Wing's drones can deliver packages of about three pounds and within a six-mile radius. Walgreens is not the only retailer who wants to use drones in delivery.
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California’s recent prison reforms require housing solutions
Michelle R. Matisons Law Enforcement, Defense & SecurityCriminalization of homeless and undocumented populations in California is integral to the state’s mass incarceration policies, which produced privatization as an initial solution to overcrowding. The state has been attempting its own carceral cleanup, as the Legislature recently passed AB 32, which bans new and renewed private correctional and detention facilities contracts by 2020 and seeks zero inmate presence in private facilities by 2028. A uniquely Californian hand-wringing reluctance accompanies prison privatization efforts.
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What you should know about Texas’ newest gun laws
John McAdams Law Enforcement, Defense & SecuritySept. 1 was the effective date for most of the new pieces of legislation passed by the Texas Legislature in its most recent session. Among other changes, hunters no longer need to possess a valid hunting license to shoot feral hogs on private property with landowner permission. But there are also several new gun laws that just went into effect that you need to be aware of. These include House Bill 1143, which allows people with a valid License to Carry a Handgun (LTC) to store a firearm or ammunition in their vehicle on school grounds.
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Will facial recognition be banned for law enforcement?
Bambi Majumdar Law Enforcement, Defense & SecurityCalifornia is on the verge of banning facial recognition technology on police body cameras. The Golden State is one of the first states to call for such a strict policy. Originally intended to be an outright ban, it has now been scaled back at Gov. Gavin Newsom’s request. The legislation passed by California lawmakers now states that police are barred from installing it on body-worn cameras for three years. The bill awaits the governor’s final nod. Once it is ratified, it will significantly rein in the use of facial recognition, which is rapidly evolving.
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Federal emergency management: All in the name of security?
Michelle R. Matisons Civil & GovernmentRegarding recent controversies concerning Hurricane Dorian, National Weather Service (NWS) leader Neil Jacobs stated: "What did I learn over the last week? From now on, the National Weather Service should be at the table with emergency managers and FEMA, at all briefings." But this proposed coordination is complicated by obscured budgets in a vast, bureaucratic web. While the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is tasked with tracking weather changes, FEMA is tasked with providing resources for hurricane-threatened and impacted areas, among other things.
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Cannabis-infused beer could be on tap in the future
Bambi Majumdar Food & BeverageUsually, if you told beer lovers that the next big trend would involve non-alcoholic beverages, you probably wouldn’t be very popular with them. But if you tell them that it is cannabis being added to beer and not just a sugary virgin cocktail, then you may just redeem yourself in their eyes. In that vein, cannabis beer seems to be the new craft beer on the horizon. However, cannabis-infused beer alternatives have been confusing even for CBD enthusiasts who are game to try anything.
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The patriotic law that almost everyone ignores
Roy Phillips Law Enforcement, Defense & SecurityFederal law is found in the United States Code (USC). Title 4, Chapter 1 of the USC pertains to the United States flag. While the law specifies the manner in which the flag is to be treated, there is no official penalty. Furthermore, the Supreme Court has ruled that defacing the flag is a form of free speech protected by the First Amendment in two cases. These two cases did not strike down Title 4, Chapter 1, but they did rule against the constitutionality of local and state flag protection laws. Why is protecting the flag important? It comes down to protecting the sovereignty of the United States.
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