'Personal and operational risks': Pentagon warns military members against using DNA kits

The Pentagon is cautioning military members not to use DNA kits.

“Exposing sensitive genetic information to outside parties poses personal and operational risks to Service members,” said a Dec. 20 memo.

The memo, obtained by Yahoo News, was signed by Joseph D. Kernan, the undersecretary of defense for intelligence, and James N. Stewart, the assistant secretary of defense for manpower.

DNA kits sold by companies such as 23andMe and Ancestry have become popular in determining information on ancestry, medical risks, and revealing unknown family members. But the kits have also raised legal and ethical concerns because some companies have shared the data with law enforcement or sold it to third parties.

“These [direct-to-consumer] genetic tests are largely unregulated and could expose personal and genetic information, and potentially create unintended security consequences and increased risk to the joint force and mission,” the memo, which appears to have been widely circulated in the Defense Department, said.

The memo did not give details on how the DNA testing could pose a security risk except noting that possible “inaccuracies” in health information could be a risk to military personnel, who are required to report medical issues.

The involvement of the Pentagon’s intelligence chief suggests there could be concerns about spies and soldiers being exposed by other countries.

A former senior intelligence official said the increase in DNA swab tests at some international airports has played a role in the decrease of CIA personnel using aliases when traveling outside the United States.

“It’s not hard to imagine a world where people are blithely sharing information online without realizing their third cousin is a Navy SEAL or an operative of the CIA,” said Erin Murphy, a professor at New York University’s School of Law.

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/pentagon-warns-military-members-against-using-dna-kits

Virginia pastors give over $17,000 to pay student meal debts

Three pastors in Virginia have given an early Christmas gift to schools in two districts, effectively wiping clean the outstanding lunch debt incurred by some students from low-income families.

The Associated Press reported Monday that the three leaders of the Mount Ararat Baptist Church donated more than $17,000 to clear the lunch debts of two school districts in Stafford and Spotsylvania counties.

“It seemed like a good idea, [but] we didn’t know if there was a need because no one ever seems to talk about this,” said the Rev. Jerry Williams, one of the three. “So we called the school systems. And gosh, wow, was there a need.”

“This is not a churchy thing,” he continued. “This — helping children and families — this is a thing that anyone can do.”

The principal of one elementary school that received a donation from the pastors told the AP that she was "overwhelmed" by their generosity. Typically, the debt is paid down by parent-teacher groups and members of the faculty out of pocket.

Numerous school systems in the U.S. have fallen into controversy in recent months after outstanding student lunch debts resulted in officials denying hot meals or throwing away prepared meals in front of hungry children.

https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/475775-virginia-pastors-give-over-17000-to-pay-student-meal-debts

This is a great thing to see!

How about we use all foreign aid for next year to pay medical debt of those in need in AMERICA?!

Former Hawaii Democratic governor calls on Gabbard to resign

Former Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie on Monday called on Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard to resign from Congress, citing her "present" vote on impeaching President Trump and absence from Capitol Hill due to her presidential campaign.

“I feel very strongly the 2nd District of Hawaii must be fully represented,” Abercrombie, a Democrat who previously served in the House for nearly two decades, said at a press conference, according to the Honolulu Civil Beat.

Abercrombie said that Gabbard should step down and allow a special election to fill her seat. Gabbard, who has served in the House since 2013, has already said that she will not seek reelection to focus on her presidential campaign.

Abercrombie served as Hawaii governor from 2010 to 2014.

According to the website govtrack.us, Gabbard has missed about 86 percent of House votes in the last three months.

Gabbard has faced backlash from her party for voting "present" on the two articles of impeachment against Trump last week which alleged abuse of power and obstruction of Congress for his efforts to pressure the Ukrainian government to investigate his political opponents and stall Democrats' inquiry.

Gabbard is considered a long shot to win the Democratic presidential nomination and did not qualify for last week's debate. She is currently polling at less than 2 percent nationally, according to a polling average from RealClearPolitics.

Gabbard justified her decision to vote "present" on the articles of impeachment by arguing that she was "standing in the center" and called for a vote on her resolution to censure Trump instead.

"I could not in good conscience vote against impeachment because I believe President Trump is guilty of wrongdoing," Gabbard said in a lengthy statement last week. "I also could not in good conscience vote for impeachment because removal of a sitting President must not be the culmination of a partisan process, fueled by tribal animosities that have so gravely divided our country."

https://thehill.com/homenews/house/475777-former-hawaii-democratic-governor-calls-on-gabbard-to-resign

Abercrombie is a corrupt POS…

Officials Warn Of Measles Cases At Five US Airports ‘Capable of Quickly Producing Epidemics’

This month, travelers with confirmed measles cases passed through five U.S. airports and, now, health officials are warning the public, according to an ABC News report. The disease is easily spread from person to person through the air.

Cases were reported in Chicago, IL., Richmond, VA., Austin, TX., Denver, CO., and Los Angeles, CA. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), there were 1,276 reported measles cases this year. In 2018, the number was nearly 30 percent less with 375 reported cases.

“Measles is an acute, highly contagious viral disease,” Dr. Mark Escott, medical director for Austin Public Health, said in a statement. “A small number of cases are capable of quickly producing epidemics.”

The CDC recommends that children receive their first MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine between age 12-15 months and the second between age 4-6 years. The two doses are 97 percent effective, according to the CDC.

https://saraacarter.com/officials-warn-of-measles-at-us-airports-capable-of-quickly-producing-epidemics/

Full story here → https://abcnews.go.com/Health/health-officials-warn-measles-exposure-us-airports/story?id=67893505&cid=social_twitter_abcn