Judge Throws Out Child Porn Found By TSA Nov 18, 2009
"It's putting down a guideline for TSA agents and what they can and cannot do in a search of people's luggage," Harrison said. McCarty has been in custody for the 15 months since his arrest. (Honolulu Star-Bulletin)
Judge: TSA violated Rastafarian screener's rights Nov 18, 2009
TSA spokeswoman Ann Davis said she could not comment on pending litigation. ADVERTISEMENT. (Anchorage Daily News)
Immigration proposals go to Cabinet Nov 18, 2009
TSA loses in Logan worker s bias case The Transportation Security Administration discriminated against a Rastafarian man who worked as a baggage screener at Logan International Airport when it sent him a warning letter and a reprimand for not cutting his waist-length dreadlocks, according to Erin M. Stilp, an administrative law judge at the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ... The TSA also failed to show it had made a good faith effort to reasonably accommodate Brissot s religious... (Boston Globe)
PROMISES, PROMISES: 6 Years and Still No Rules Nov 18, 2009
Concerned that terrorists might use a repair station to sabotage airliners, Congress in 2003 passed a law ordering the Transportation Security Administration to come up with security requirements for repair facilities, and gave the agency eight months to do it. In 2007, after no rule had materialized, Congress again passed a law ordering TSA to put security requirements in place within one year. (ABC News -- Wire)
CVG to dedicate screening system Nov 17, 2009
Also, within the 10 existing lanes, continuous improvements will be made the Transportation Security Administration in early 2010 will install newer screening technology, for instance, and the queuing area can be tailored, based on traffic patterns, to quicken the flow. In the next phase of the project, the former nine screening lanes will be converted to a wider passenger exit lane, with improved areas for greeters. (Cincinnati Business Courier, OH)
CISOs reveal what scares them Nov 15, 2009
Patricia Titus, chief information security officer, Unisys Federal Systems, and former CISO at the Transportation Security Administration. Patrick Howard, chief information security officer, Nuclear Regulatory Commission. (FCW.com)
US laboratory dreams up bombs and ways to thwart them Nov 15, 2009
The TSA will deploy 150 backscatter imaging machines at checkpoints in major airports. The devices use a low-level X-ray beam that produces a three-dimensional image of each passenger, including every bump, bulge, and private body part. (Boston Globe)
Falcons ready to get on the bus; help Smitty pay the fine Nov 14, 2009
The three and half hour drive turns into a six to seven hour trip when they drive about an hour to the Airport, unload the buses, go through TSA security, fly to Charlotte, unload again and take buses to the hotel. HELP SMITTY PAY THE FINE: The fans raising money to help Coach Smith pay his $15,000 fine have raised $1,999. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Sports)
Police Analyze TV Interview With Suspected Killer Nov 14, 2009
Basically, if he re-enters the United States, TSA will keep him locked up until detectives arrive to question Bagley. Copyright 2009 by. (KIRO TV, WA)
Travel travails? Social media are your friend Nov 13, 2009
woman blogged and tweeted about being separated from her child while undergoing a search at a Transportation Security Administration checkpoint in Atlanta. Early the following morning, the TSA tweeted the news that it had posted a video of the incident on its own blog that, the TSA said, "clearly shows (the) individual was never separated from her baby.". (USA Today)
Keep yourluggage safe Nov 13, 2009
Perry Cooper, a spokesperson for Seattle-Tacoma International, suggests travelers file claims with an airline, TSA and airport police when bags go missing. Outsmart the bad guysHere are few tips travelers can follow to make sure they are reunited with their bags at the end of their journey. (MSNBC -- Travel)
Read Hannity's America Nov 13, 2009
This time it is the president's nominee to head the Transportation Security Administration Erroll Southers. The Washington Post reports that in 1988, Southers was censured by the FBI for asking law enforcement officials to conduct a background check on his ex-wife's boyfriend. (Fox News)
No comments posted. Nov 12, 2009
ACLU drops lawsuit against TSA in cash case ... The ACLU dropped its suit Tuesday, saying the TSA has now made it clear agents can conduct searches related to flight safety, not engage in general law enforcement ... TSA spokesman Greg Soule said the TSA was pleased with the lawsuit's outcome. (Jefferson City News Tribune, MO)
Suspected Drunk UA Pilot to Be Tried in London Nov 12, 2009
In 2002, the pilots on an American West flight were pulled off a plane after U.S. Transportation Security Administration screeners smelled alcohol on their breath. In March 1990, , ferrying 91 passengers from Fargo, N.D., to Minneapolis, Minn. (ABC News)
ACLU drops lawsuit against TSA in cash case Nov 12, 2009
The ACLU dropped its suit Tuesday, saying the TSA has now made it clear agents can conduct searches related to flight safety, not engage in general law enforcement ... TSA spokesman Greg Soule said the TSA was pleased with the lawsuit's outcome ... "Currency alone is not a threat, and TSA does not restrict the amount of currency a traveler may carry through the checkpoint," he said. (Jefferson City News Tribune, MO)
Suit accusing TSA of wrongful detention dropped Nov 11, 2009
Although it serves as a deterrent, the TSA really isn t very effective ... Also, TSA regulations apply only to aircraft that carry 30 passengers or more ... While I applaud SeaPort s efforts and support other commuter lines in doing the same, it is way past time to demand that TSA airport screening start being downsized to pre-911 levels for all air travelers. (Fresno Bee -- Nation)
How new legislation will affect air safety Nov 10, 2009
Of all the things government can and should be doing to improve commercial air safety -- from overhauling the lunacy of the Transportation Security Administration to dealing with the very real dangers of lithium-ion batteries carried as cargo -- for any lawmaker to spend even five minutes on a proposal like this is shameful ... Mom also made , discussing the dangers of frozen tomato sauce with a Transportation Security Administration guard. (Salon)
Airline safety: I say Obama, you say O’Bama Nov 5, 2009
Whether it s at T.F. Green or Chicago O Hare or General Edward Lawrence Logan International Airport, the Transportation Security Administration will soon be matching the fine print on passengers boarding passes to their IDs - down to the hyphens, initials, and apostrophes. That means that Barack Obama won t be able to board a plane with a college ID calling him Barry Obama. (Boston Globe)
KPD wins national TSA award Nov 5, 2009
Sharlene Mata, U.S. federal security director for the TSA on Kaua i, nominated KPD for the award, and we were selected as a national winner, Perry said at the October meeting of the Kaua i County Police Commission in the council chambers of the Historic County Building. In her congratulatory letter informing Perry that KPD won the 2009 National TSA Honorary Award Program s Partnership Award, Mata writes that KPD has been able to provide world-class law enforcement services to the TSA, airport... (Lihue Garden Island, HA)
All your questions about in-flight horrors Nov 4, 2009
Mom also made , discussing the dangers of frozen tomato sauce with a Transportation Security Administration guard. She was the one who broke the news to me about last week's Northwest fiasco with a phone call, about an hour before she collapsed. (Salon)
How thoughtful! Nov 3, 2009
What do I like about this overnight carry-on bag, other than that you dont have to remove your laptop at the TSA checkpoint. Everything is in the right place, from the ticket holder to the pocket for my PC.. (MSNBC -- Travel)
Report Says TSA Violated Privacy Law Nov 2, 2009
The report on Secure Flight says that "the disparity between what TSA proposed to do and what it actually did in the testing program resulted in significant privacy concerns being raised. . . . Privacy missteps such as these undercut an agency's effort to implement a program effectively, even one that promises to improve security." ... The report notes that TSA eventually revised its public notice about the program to reflect more closely the program itself ... TSA Administrator Kip Hawley said... (Yahoo News -- Privacy Issues)
After 11 years of renovation air terminal opens Nov 2, 2009
The shift will also free up space for new restaurants and waiting areas in the locations now occupied by Transportation Security Administration screeners and their devices. Plans call for a restaurant to replace the left checkpoint and either a restaurant or a waiting area to take up the one to the right, Parrott said. (Anchorage Daily News)
NASA probe hits moon's south pole looking for water Nov 1, 2009
Last month, you might remember, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA is a branch of DHS) got a media scolding after it came to light that TSA airport screeners had failed to detect up to 75 percent of phony bomb components smuggled through terminal checkpoints during tests. I don't normally rush to the defense of TSA, but am I the only one who finds this revelation overblown and irrelevant. (Salon)
Ask the pilot Nov 1, 2009
Mom also made , discussing the dangers of frozen tomato sauce with a Transportation Security Administration guard ... Has anybody at the Transportation Security Administration bothered to peruse the air crimes annals of the past 50 years. (Salon)
Electronic Privacy Information Center: Privacy Nov 1, 2009
Plans were announced by the Transportation Security Administration to propose the trial use of backscatter x-ray for passenger screening at several U.S. airports. Information about biometric technologies and privacy implications. (Yahoo News -- Online Privacy)
Wellesley Townsman police log: Oct. 29 Oct 31, 2009
Officer Farwell contacted the Transportation Security Administration and was advised the woman needs a police report, another photo ID and her itinerary from her flight from California to Boston. Even with those things, it isn t guaranteed the woman will be able to get on her returning flight. (Wellesley Townsman, MA)
A bid for protest sanity Oct 31, 2009
The latest case of a bid protest against a multibillion-dollar award the highly prized information technology infrastructure contract at the Transportation Security Administration prompted our colleague Nick Wakeman to ask a simple but pertinent question: What gives. Wakeman, writing in , was not criticizing the decision of Unisys and General Dynamics to protest TSAs award to Computer Sciences Corp. He just wanted to know why such protests are becoming more frequent than ever after... (FCW.com)
Audit: Airport screening needs more risk study Oct 30, 2009
The auditors said the Transportation Security Administration has not completed this full assessment of threat, vulnerability and consequences together. As a result, TSA cannot get a complete picture of the potential risk from any particular threat and it cannot be sure that its investments in screening devices address the greatest risks to aviation, the auditors said. (MSNBC -- Travel)
UPDATE: FAA Reacted Slowly to Errant Jet... Oct 30, 2009
Although there may have been earlier contact with the Transportation Security Administration, the DEN notification is considered critical during any potential emergency, officials said Wednesday. One official suggested the time lag was substantially longer than 40 minutes. (The Drudge Report)
McCaffery up for 2nd U.S. Marshall stint Oct 30, 2009
It is a post McCaffrey held from 1994 through 2002 before moving on to serve as Federal Security Director at the s Transportation Security Administration in Ithaca and Rochester. Schumer, in his role as a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, submitted McCaffrey s name to President Barack Obama today for consideration. (Buffalo Business First, NY)
Unnecessary hassle Oct 29, 2009
Establishing the Transportation Security Administration was one of President Bushs biggest mistakes. It not only consolidated several smaller agencies Immigration and Customs but making the screeners government employees was a huge expansion of the federal government. (Fresno Bee -- Opinion)
Sheridan woman pleads guilty to bomb threat at Butte airport Oct 28, 2009
Agents with the FBI, Transportation Security Administration and Butte-Silver Bow Sheriff's Department were dispatched to the airport to investigate that claim. The investigation determined the bomb threat to be false After being interviewed by the FBI, investigators determined Pasold was never at the airport and didn't overhear a bomb threat. (Montana Standard, MT)
How to pack smarter Oct 27, 2009
While the nightmare of waiting at baggage claim as the empty carousel spins and spins is enough to send most business travelers straight to a carry-on-only policy, consider this: A 2008 report from the Transportation Security Administration reveals that in a three-year period nearly 42,000 travelers have reported items as lost from their luggage at an estimated value of more than $31 million. Common items reported missing includes medicine, laptops, clothing and jewelry. (MSNBC -- Travel)
Carry-on space scarce due to fees Oct 26, 2009
The Transportation Security Administration and carriers don't track carry-ons, Caldwell says, "but many more people are flying on the average flight, and the bins are filling up faster than before.". The problem has become so pressing since major airlines began charging for the first checked bag on domestic flights in mid-2008 that Congress is considering legislation to limit and standardize carry-on size and ensure enforcement at TSA airport checkpoints. (Honolulu Advertiser)
Bills amendment takes aim at port checks Oct 24, 2009
Earlier this year the House of Representatives approved Castor s amendment in the Transportation Security Administration Authorization Act, but that bill is stalled in the Senate, the release said. Castor, D-Tampa, then added the amendment to the Coast Guard Authorization Act, which on Friday passed in the House and will soon be taken up in the Senate, the release said. (Tampa Bay Business Journal, FL)
For travelers on packed planes, 'fight for the overheads' is on Oct 24, 2009
The Transportation Security Administration and carriers don't track carry-ons, Caldwell says, "but many more people are flying on the average flight, and the bins are filling up faster than before.". The problem has become so pressing since major airlines began imposing fees for the first checked bag on domestic flights in mid-2008 that Congress is considering legislation to limit and standardize carry-on size and ensure enforcement at TSA airport checkpoints. (ABC News)
Airport gets $5M for security cameras Oct 24, 2009
International Airport gets $5M from TSA for more security cameras - Philadelphia Business Journal ... International Airport gets $5M from TSA for more security cameras. (Philadelphia Business Journal, PA)
Exit system for foreign travelers stands at a crossroads Oct 23, 2009
In response to a request from lawmakers, the US-VISIT office recently tested scenarios in which the Transportation Security Administration and Customs and Border Protection agency collected fingerprints from noncitizens departing from U.S. airports. were conducted last summer at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport at a cost of $5 million. (FCW.com)
The spy who lost his thumb drives Oct 23, 2009
Nozette allegedly flew to "Country A" in January, but only after a US Transportation Security Administration screener at a Washington airport was astute enough to log his airline departure along with two computer thumb drives which did not make the return trip. By September, the FBI came calling. (Asia Times Online)
New way to 'stop' premature birth Oct 23, 2009
Trichostatin A (TSA) is known to promote the death of cancer cells ... They exposed the muscle to TSA and measured the effects on both spontaneous contractions and those induced by the labour drug, oxytocin ... The researchers showed that TSA increased the levels of a protein sub-unit of PKA.. (BBC News -- UK)
TSA Apprehends Airline Employee At Dulles Airport Oct 21, 2009
Officials say a TSA inspector who was doing random employee screening, noticed the employee didn't have a badge on in a location inside the airport past the security screening area, and as they tried to question him further about how he had been screened, he ran off. After a brief foot chase, and with the assistance of airport police, TSA officials took the man into custody and are questioning him ... In a statement released by TSA, officials said a TSA inspector noticed an airlines employee in... (W-USA News, DC)
Kahului Airport to conduct emergency-response exercise Oct 21, 2009
Participating agencies will include Kahului Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting teams, the Maui County Police, Maui Fire Department, Emergency Medical Services, Maui Civil Defense, Hawaii Air National Guard, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Transportation Security Administration, Federal Aviation Administration, American Red Cross, Hawaiian Airlines, Maui Visitors Bureau, Maui Community College, Maui High School and other state agencies. All flight operations will continue as normal during the... (Honolulu Advertiser)
Philly airport screener admits stealing laptops Oct 21, 2009
Troy Davis was an officer with the Transportation Security Administration at Philadelphia International Airport. "> Curious? Search ScoutPA. lect> Your online website and business directory. Daily American Archive Search Search for an Event Search our Classifieds Philly airport screener admits stealing laptops Rating: 0 Tuesday, October 20, 2009 2:09 PM EDT PHILADELPHIA (AP) Authorities say a former airport screener has admitted stealing laptop computers and a video-game system from passengers... (Somerset Daily American, PA)
Kokua Line: Learn the fundamentals before flying with fruit Oct 21, 2009
The (Transportation Security Administration) guy told me that mango was only allowed out if it was frozen ... The (Transportation Security Administration) guy told me that mango was only allowed out if it was frozen. (Honolulu Star-Bulletin)
Our view: TSA moves too fast Oct 20, 2009
A TSA screener reviews an image from a whole-body scanner at Miami International Airport in 2008 ... The TSA's enthusiasm for the devices reverses its own policy, which until this year reserved whole-body image scanners for cases where additional screening was required for some reason ... But TSA isn't waiting for the people's elected representatives to set the rules. (Anchorage Daily News)
Robo-scanning at airports may be near Oct 20, 2009
Two years ago in this column, I wrote that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) was deploying Behavior Detection Officers (BDOs) at Americas airports to watch for suspicious behavior exhibited by people at those facilities. The program purported to teach undercover TSA employees to scan people at airports not just passengers waiting to pass through security, but everyone for tell-tale signs of nervousness, which could then lead to their being interrogated and... (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Opinion)
Checkpoint friendly Oct 20, 2009
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is aware that theres room for improvement, but theyre not in a hurry to make your life easier. The TSA cares about security, says Bruce Schneier, security expert and author of Schneier on Security, but if you want to make security faster, there need to be more lines. (MSNBC -- Travel)
I was the victem of identity theft, but when the thief found out how bad my credit was, he gave it back to me.... Oct 20, 2009
TSA, you gave me the OK to leave my bag with a TSA approved lock. I expected to have the same lock on my bag when I got to my destination. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Metro)
Airport inspector admits thefts Oct 20, 2009
The case was investigated by the Transportation Security Administration, Office of Inspection and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Arlene Fisk. 94. (NJ.com -- Times)
What readers said: Gov has right to travel privacy Oct 18, 2009
Then he better disclose and prove who he is, have the "proper traveling papers," where he's going, why and what's the deal with all that money in his pocket to any TSA agents, border patrol or the cops who ask. I believe the governor should be able to go some places without everyone knowing where he is. (Montana Standard, MT)
Commissioners approve grant to improve airport security Oct 16, 2009
This is a grant we re seeking because we have a heightened awareness from the TSA, Border Patrol, DEA and U.S. Customs over the last couple of months, Lyssy said. It s a security system where these agencies can log in at any time to view activity at the airport after hours. (Port Lavaca Wave, TX)
Wronged travelers to get new system for filing complaints Oct 15, 2009
The support system is an existing system of the Transportation Security Administration. The system was expanded and modified to form the backbone of the multiagency TRIP created in 2007 to deal with travelers complaints about errors in watch list databases, document information and other problems. (FCW.com)
Tourette's trauma Oct 15, 2009
TOURETTE SYNDROME Named after French neurologist Dr George Gilles de la Tourette Often inherited although its cause is not yet known Could involve abnormal processing of brain chemicals including dopamine It is estimated about 300,000 people have the condition in the UK Believed to affect up to one in every 100 schoolchildren The symptoms usually emerge between the ages of five and 18 Fewer than 15% of people with the syndrome display the obscene language tic Sources: TSA and Tourettes Action... (BBC News -- Health)
Airport renovations to boost safety Oct 15, 2009
Terminal, baggage area, TSA. Long, crowded waits for luggage should be shorter and less crowded once terminal improvements are done, scheduled for Oct. 1, 2010. (Juneau Empire)
T&D Sports: Quick Hits Oct 14, 2009
Kelsey Decker 6-3, 6-2; Sidney Long (TSA) def. Rebecca Cantley 6-4, 6-2. (Orangeburg Times and Democrat, SC)
ISRO eyes satellite launches from Europe Oct 14, 2009
In addition, Nair said ISRO expects more launch opportunities from the US and Europe following the recent technology safeguards agreement (TSA) with America ... Before TSA with the US getting a clearance of this kind was very laborious and time-consuming, he said, adding that with this agreement, it "will be easier for the countries to come to us. So that may improve our launch frequency and launch contracts for outside users" ... Following the TSA, ISRO has now lined up for launch a satellite... (India Times)
Carbon footprint smoke and mirrors Oct 13, 2009
Perhaps Wal-Marts researchers should consult with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), whose threat level color code has proved so instrumental in protecting our nation from terrorist attacks over the past eight years ... consult the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), whose threat level color code has proved so instrumental in protecting our nation from terrorist attacks over the past eight years. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Opinion)
' + dsq_num_posts + ' Comment' + (dsq_num_posts != 1 ? 's' : '') + ' Oct 13, 2009
Officers and detectives from the Port of Seattle Police Department, in cooperation with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), arrested three individuals and seized 11 kilograms of cocaine last week as part of the largest drug seizure ever at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, according to a port press release. Three suspects were taken into custody immediately and were indicted Thursday by the U.S. Attorneys Office. (Enumclaw Courier Herald, WA)
Q: Why do I have to go through full security when I’m just going back home after an international flight at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport? Oct 12, 2009
A: Currently all international passengers arriving on International Concourse E at Hartsfield-Jackson exit into the sterile, domestic areas of the airport and, therefore, need to recheck their bags and undergo security screening by the Transportation Security Administration to meet U.S. security requirements, airport spokesman John Kennedy said. This applies to both Atlanta-bound passengers and those connecting to domestic flights. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Metro)
Airport tops for self check-in Oct 10, 2009
Delta is among carriers that offer electronic boarding passes in some locations through a Transportation Security Administration project. Mobile check-in, which made up only 4. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Business)
DHS Web sites vulnerable to hackers, IG says Oct 10, 2009
The nine sites including sites for DHS agencies that include U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Coast Guard, and the Transportation Security Administration had recommended security settings and controls in addition to strong password and access controls, but had weaknesses in other areas, Skinner wrote. Several components scored better on security. (FCW.com)
Con Air: Convicted Drug Kingpin, Arms Smugglers Keep Licenses to Fly in the U.S. Oct 10, 2009
The cases call into question the ability of the FAA and the (TSA) to detect and purge high risk individuals from the list of approved pilots. After 9/11, the TSA was charged with alerting the FAA of individuals posing a threat to "transportation and national security.". (ABC News)
Pilot whose gun discharged on plane is rehired Oct 10, 2009
A 2002 federal law allowed pilots to carry handguns on board if they took part in a program run by the Transportation Security Administration, which includes a week of weapons training. Langenhahn's gun fired shortly before landing on a March 2008 flight from Denver to Charlotte, North Carolina. (MSNBC -- Travel)
Liquid misery to stay Oct 9, 2009
In the United States, some 875 X-ray machines are at work in 78 airports, according to the Transportation Security Administration, but officials admit that alarms still go off far too often when innocuous liquids pass through. And even with huge research funding, developers reckon at least another 12-18 months of work is required on the complex algorithms needed to distinguish reliably between, say, nail varnish and nitroglycerine. (iAfrica.com)
