Supreme Court to Decide on Gun Owners’ Rights to Carry Concealed Guns Outside
This week, the Supreme Court agreed to review whether the Second Amendment protects the right to carry a gun outside of the home without a license. This marks the first time in over a decade that the Court will weigh in on the Second Amendment.
Border-State Senators and Representatives Introduce Legislation to Address Migrant Influx
Last week, a bipartisan group of Senators and House members unveiled The Bipartisan Border Solutions Act intended to “respond to the surge in migrants coming across our southern border.” The bill comes after Customs and Border Protection (CBP) apprehended more than 170,000 people at the U.S.-Mexico border in March, the highest number in at least 15 years.
North Carolina Man Pleads Guilty to Production of Child Pornography
According to a Department of Justice press release from April 28, 2021, a North Carolina man pleaded guilty to production of child pornography. Raul Ayala Jr., 72, admitted to molesting minors going as far back as the 1970s. Following this admission, police executed a warrant to search Ayala’s home, where they found child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on multiple digital devices.
5 Self Defense moves everyone should know | Master Wong
Learn ways to protect yourself if you ever find yourself in a difficult situation.
Honoring our Fallen Heroes
According to Survivors of Suicide Loss Task Force, when someone takes their own life, “It is estimated over 115 people are impacted, with 1 in 5 reporting this experience had a devasting impact or caused a major life interruption.” The impact will be felt throughout the entire agency, community, and the family. For these reasons, having an established policy on navigating the aftermath of a suicide is essential. Agencies often struggle with supporting the families and co-workers after suffering a suicide.
Seventh Circuit: Independent Grounds Needed to Prolong a Pretextual Stop
On June 25, 2018, Illinois State Trooper Clayton Chapman was on highway patrol duties and received a message from Deputy Sheriff Derek Suttles about a hatchback with a California license plate on Interstate 72. Deputy Suttles reported to Trooper Chapman that the vehicle was going approximately 20 mph under the speed limit, and found it suspicious.
U.S. Capitol Police Inspector General Testifies on Events Leading Up to Attack on Capitol
U.S. Capitol Police Inspector General Michael Bolton testified before the House Administration Committee on the IG’s 104 page report, “Review of the Events Surrounding the January 6, 2021, Takeover of the U.S. Capitol.”
PSRW is from May 2-8, 2021: An Opportunity to Thank Public Service Employees
Public Service Recognition Week (PSRW) is coming up from May 2 to 8, 2021. The theme is #GovPossible to highlight the work of public servants across all levels of government.
OPM Releases Flexibilities Related to FSAFEDS
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is making changes to the Federal Flexible Spending Account Program (FSAFEDS) based on provisions in the FY 2021 Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) and the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), as well as Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Notice 2021-15.
Couple Sentenced for Conspiring to Steal Medical Secrets to Sell to China
According to a Department of Justice press release dated April 20, 2021, a 51-year old man from Dublin, Ohio, Yu Zhou, was sentenced to 33 months in prison after pleading guilty to stealing scientific trade secrets related to exosomes and exosome isolation from Nationwide Children’s Hospital’s Research Institute for personal financial gain and conspiring to commit wire fraud.
U.S. Secret Service Remembers Personnel Lost in Oklahoma City Bombing
26 years after the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, the U.S. Secret Service commemorates the lives of those agents and employees who were lost during the attack.
Line-of-duty Deaths on the Rise
Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.) has grown from serving 35,000 survivors to over 55,000 in less than a decade. Statistics have shown an average of 140-160 officers dying in the line of duty each year, which, multiplied by their surviving family members and co-workers, explains why the membership has grown so fast. However, in the past two years, that average is changing, and it’s not in the declining direction, unfortunately.
Distance or Disconnect? Coming Together When Your Team is Apart
Please join us on April 27th for a unique event open to all federal employees and those working in the federal space. The Senior Executives Association and the Treasury Executive Institute have partnered with the Arbinger Institute to provide an insightful 90-minute discussion around leading virtually through the lens of an outward mindset.
Biden Administration Releases Budget Proposal
On April 9, 2021, President Joe Biden released his administration’s FY 2022 budget proposal, which included the smallest funding increases for the Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of Justice.
President Biden Nominates Leaders for DHS Components
On April 12, 2021, President Joe Biden announced his nominations to fill top posts in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The administration has also made changes to the DHS advisory board as pressure builds to handle the influx of migrants to the southern border.
Man Indicted for Fraudulent Online Sales of Counterfeit Native American-Made Goods
According to a Department of Justice (DOJ) press release dated April 12, 2021, a San Antonio man, 58-year-old Kevin Charles Kowalis, was charged with four counts of mail fraud and four counts of misrepresentation of Indian goods under the Indian Arts and Crafts Act.
Officer Who Used Suspect as ‘Human Shield’ Entitled to Qualified Immunity, Seventh Circuit Holds
An officer who held his gun to a suspect’s head, while using the suspect as a “human shield,” was entitled to qualified immunity because the officer’s conduct did not violate clearly established law, the Seventh Circuit recently held.
5 Ways To Protect Your Money
Protecting your money is just as important as saving it or spending it. Learn five different ways to keep the money you make safe while making the most out of it.
HSI Recruiting Women Special Agents
WIFLE will host a career fair in support of the Homeland Security Investigations Women Only Announcement for Special Agents on Saturday May 1, 2021 at 4:00-5:30 PM. This event is in anticipation of the hiring announcement scheduled for early May 2021.
Prioritizing Federal Personnel: Policy Priorities for the Executive and Legislature
On the latest episode of the FEDtalk podcast, panelists discussed elevating the importance of human capital management in the federal government.