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FBI Hoovering Up DNA at a Pace That Rivals China, Holds 21 Million Samples and Counting

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 13:01:59 GMT

The FBI has amassed 21.7 million DNA profiles — equivalent to about 7 percent of the U.S. population — according to Bureau data reviewed by The Intercept.The FBI aims to nearly double its current $56.7 million budget for dealing with its DNA catalog with an additional $53.1 million, according to its budget request for fiscal year 2024. “The requested resources will allow the FBI to process the rapidly increasing number of DNA samples collected by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security,” the appeal for an increase says.“When we’re talking about rapid expansion like this, it’s getting us ever closer to a universal DNA database.”In an April 2023 statement submitted to Congress to explain the budget request, FBI Director Christopher Wray cited several factors that had “significantly expanded the DNA processing requirements of the FBI.” He said the FBI collected around 90,000 samples a month — “over 10 times the historical sample volume” — and expected that number to swell to about 120...

Irish kickers using foot skills honed for generations to target football scholarships at US colleges

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 13:01:59 GMT

DUBLIN (AP) — College football already has Aussie punters. Tadhg Leader hopes Irish kickers are next.The former rugby player from Galway saw enough potential that he quit his job at JP Morgan Chase to focus full-time on finding and developing Irish “leg talent” for American football.Leader, whose first name is pronounced “TIE-guh,” launched his program a year ago and some early returns are promising. He brought two Irishmen on a summer tour of kicking camps in the United States, and both came away with scholarships to Championship Subdivision schools.Then there’s prized pupil Andy Quinn, who dropped rugby to enter Leader’s kicking competition and ended up winning it in a finale held at halftime of the Nebraska-Northwestern game at Aviva Stadium in Dublin a year ago.The NFL Academy in Britain took note and signed the 18-year-old Quinn on scholarship as a kicker and punter. He repeated as Ireland’s “kicking king” last Friday by belting a 57-yard field goal at Donnybr...

NAACP says Arlington jail inmates are ‘dying at an alarming rate’

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 13:01:59 GMT

Eight people have died in the Arlington County, Virginia, jail over the past eight years, leading to new concerns from community activists.The latest person to die while in custody was Abonesh Woldegeorges, 73, who was found unresponsive in her cell on Sunday morning.Woldegeorges was arrested and taken to jail earlier this month, accused of trespassing at Reagan National Airport.“Our primary concern is around Arlington County criminalizing homelessness and Arlington County’s inability to care for those that need help the most,” said Michael Hemminger, president of the Arlington branch of the NAACP.Woldegeorges, who was experiencing homelessness, had been warned repeatedly by police in recent years about hanging out in area airports and living there.“We have people that are unhoused living in Arlington, and they’re being arrested on trespassing charges,” said Hemminger. “They have nowhere to go, so almost anywhere that they go is going to be ...

Romelu Lukaku lands in Italy to sign loan deal with Roma and reunite with Jose Mourinho

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 13:01:59 GMT

Romelu Lukaku ended his standoff with Chelsea by arriving in the Italian capital on Tuesday with the aim of joining Italian club Roma on a season-long loan deal that would see the Belgium striker look to revive his career in a third spell under coach Jose Mourinho.Throngs of yellow-and-red clad Roma fans were awaiting Lukaku at the Ciampino airport as he descended from a plane flown by Roma’s American owner Dan Friedkin.Lukaku was undergoing a medical with Roma immediately after his arrival and then can sign with the Giallorossi.The cost of the loan for the 30-year-old Lukaku is reportedly 8 million pounds ($10 million), taking the cumulative transfer fees spent on the former Manchester United, Everton and Inter Milan center forward to nearly 300 million pounds (around $375 million) — second only to Neymar in soccer history.Chelsea certainly hasn’t got its money’s worth out of Lukaku since he joined from Inter Milan for a club-record fee of $135 million in August 2...

Chiefs get DT Neil Farrell Jr from division-rival Raiders for draft pick, AP source says

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 13:01:59 GMT

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs acquired defensive tackle Neil Farrell Jr. from the Las Vegas Raiders for a sixth-round pick in a rare trade among division rivals, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press on Tuesday.The person, speaking just hours before the deadline for teams to reach the 53-man roster limit, spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because Farrell still must pass a physical. That is not expected to be a problem after the Raiders’ fourth-round pick in the 2022 draft appeared in all of their preseason games.The trade for help along the defensive line could be a sign that the Chiefs do not expect All-Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones to report in the near future. Jones has been holding out in the hopes of earning a lucrative long-term contract, racking up millions in fines for missing the Chiefs’ mandatory minicamp, their entire training camp and three preseason games.In a back-and-forth with fans on social media, Jones ind...

‘No hazardous materials’ found after National Zoo evacuated over bomb threat

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 13:01:59 GMT

Entrance to the National Zoo (WTOP/Dennis Foley) Entrance to the National Zoo (WTOP/Dennis Foley) After the National Zoo was evacuated Tuesday over a reported bomb threat, D.C. police said a “precautionary sweep” of the area turned up no “hazardous materials.”Police gave the all-clear shortly before 1:45 p.m. Tuesday, more than two hours after the zoo was evacuated.Police said the Smithsonian National Zoo in Northwest D.C. received the bomb threat at 10:42 a.m. Police got the call about the threat at 11:09 a.m., and visitors and staff were evacuated out of an abundance of caution.During the sweep, roads around the zoo were closed.A stretch of Connecticut Avenue Northwest directly in front o...

AGCO to ban athletes in Ontario’s igaming advertising to protect minors

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 13:01:59 GMT

TORONTO, Aug. 29, 2023 – The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has updated the Registrar’s Standards for Internet Gaming to prohibit the use of athletes in internet gaming (igaming) advertising and marketing in Ontario. The standards have also been strengthened to restrict the use of celebrities who would likely be expected to appeal to minors. These new restrictions will come into effect on February 28, 2024.Following the first year of Ontario’s open, regulated igaming market, the AGCO identified advertising and marketing approaches that use athletes, as well as celebrities with an appeal to minors, as a potential harm to those under the legal gaming age and is taking this step to reduce the risk. In April 2023, the AGCO held consultations on its proposal to ban such ads and received submissions from a broad range of stakeholders including mental health and public health organizations, responsible gambling experts, gaming operators, broadcast and marketing group...

Will Denver skies be clear for the rare blue supermoon?

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 13:01:59 GMT

(NewsNation) — People will get a glimpse of an extremely rare blue "supermoon" next week, with outlets reporting it is set to be the "biggest and brightest moon" this year.This blue supermoon can be seen on the night of Aug. 30. InTheSky.org predicts the supermoon will rise just after 7 p.m. and set around 5:30 a.m. on Aug. 31 in Colorado. The sun will set around 7:30 p.m. Videos capture bright meteor falling above Colorado Observers on the ground may notice a slightly larger moon, but only by about 7% bigger, Space.com writes. Saturn will also be especially bright on Wednesday, as the gas giant will be at the point where it lies directly opposite the sun as it is seen from Earth. Skygazers across the U.S. can see Saturn in the constellation Aquarius, which is above and to the right of the moon, while those in the Southern Hemisphere can see the planet right below the moon."Warm summer nights are the ideal time to watch the full moon rise in the eastern sky within minutes of sunse...

Is voter texting legit or a scam?

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 13:01:59 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- If you received a text Tuesday about verifying voter information for the next election, it's not a scam, the Secretary of State's Office confirmed.A FOX31 viewer received a text message from the Secretary of State asking to confirm voter information. Despite some skepticism regarding the validity of the text, the Secretary of State's office confirmed for the Problem Solvers that the message was real and sent via BallotTrax. Scam alert: Can you stop those fake texts? The message was asking to update information so the ballot could be sent to the right address. While the link to the Secretary of State's office is different, COSOS.gov is the short hyperlink used by the Department, according to the SOS. A similar email was also sent to voters.While you may be thinking, "I didn't sign up for this," it's likely you did. An email sent by the Colorado Secretary of State's Office asking voters to update their registration information. (Credit: KDVR)During the 2022 general ...

This Colorado mountain town hotel spa is one of the best in US

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 13:01:59 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — If you drive west from Denver for about an hour on Interstate 70, you will hit a small mountain town known for its casinos and hotels. Now, one of those hotel spas has been named among the best in the U.S.USA Today’s 10Best combines a list of 20 nominees for contests that cover food, lodging and travel. Then, readers get to make the final decision and vote for their favorite picks. Recently, USA Today made a list of the 10 best hotel spas where guests can indulge in luxury, wellness and serenity. Colorado hot spring voted one of the best in US Colorado's very own Spa Monarch at Monarch Casino Resort Spa was picked as the fourth best in the whole country.According to USA Today expert Ava Roxanne Stritt, Spa Monarch is "one of the most complete luxury spas in the USA."According to the resort's website, the spa offers an indoor infinity pool, jetted spas, aqua spas, respiration and light therapy, herbal steam rooms and their Laconium Lounge. The Laconium Lounge c...