Douglas Ernst

FBI investigates alleged kidnapping of Border Patrol agent by Mexican drug cartel

A Texas police department near the border received a phone call on Friday claiming a U.S. Border Patrol agent was kidnapped by a Mexican drug cartel.

December 26, 2014

Federal agencies ill-prepared for catastrophes: GAO

More than a decade after the Sept. 11 attacks and a deadly tsunami that ravaged Southeast Asia, federal agencies remain woefully lacking in disaster preparedness and don't even have coordination plans to close the gap, Congress’ chief watchdog warns in a new report.

December 26, 2014

NSA releases privacy-violation documents on Christmas Eve

The National Security Agency released on Wednesday heavily redacted accounts of unlawful or improper surveillance conducted since Sept. 11, 2001, in response to a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit by the American Civil Liberties Union.

December 26, 2014

Military technology on tap for 2015: Precision mortars, improved M40, IED detectors

The Pentagon has a full slate of weapons ready to test in 2015, some of which may see action on the battlefield before the end of the year.

December 26, 2014

Shaquille O’Neal crashes into Christmas tree after Kenny Smith shove: ‘This means war’

Shaquille O'Neal spent a part of Christmas dishing out punishment — on a Christmas tree.

December 26, 2014

Baby Jesus stolen from Nativity scene near Washington state capitol for third year in a row

The third baby Jesus statue in three years was stolen from a Nativity scene near the Washington state Capitol grounds.

December 26, 2014

Eric Garner’s daughter tweets address of NYPD’s Justin D’Amico on Christmas Day

The personal address of NYPD's Officer Justin D'Amico was tweeted by one of the daughters of Eric Garner on Christmas.

December 26, 2014

Islamic State group turning Christian churches into torture chambers: report

The Islamic State group is reportedly turning churches in Syria and Iraq into torture chambers, particularly in the northern town of Qaraqosh, where Iraq's largest Christian community once resided.

December 25, 2014

Wal-Mart’s higher-skilled employees pinched to ‘absorb’ cost of minimum wage hikes

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. will raise its base salaries at 1,434 stores to comply with minimum wage hikes that will go into effect in 21 states beginning Jan. 1, 2015.

December 25, 2014

American Airlines boots man from plane after ‘Merry Christmas’ prompts meltdown

A passenger was booted from his flight out of La Guardia Airport on Tuesday after the holiday greeting "Merry Christmas" caused him to have a meltdown.

December 25, 2014

Neil deGrasse Tyson Twitter trolls Christians on Christmas

Scientist and "Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey" host Neil deGrasse Tyson decided that Christmas was the perfect day to troll Christians on Twitter.

December 25, 2014

Vladimir Putin pulls plug on New Year’s holiday for government ministers over economic crisis

Russian President Vladimir Putin told government ministers on Thursday that there would be no extended holiday for them due to the nation's economic crisis.

December 25, 2014

Obama breaks head gear rule for Girl Scouts, agrees to don tiara

The Girl Scouts succeeded in 2014 where the U.S. Navy failed — at getting President Obama to break his rule against wearing head gear.

December 25, 2014

Navy’s USS Ranger aircraft carrier featured in ‘Top Gun’ to be scrapped for one cent

The USS Ranger, which was featured in the hit movie "Top Gun," will be scrapped by The Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) for a single penny.

December 24, 2014

JetBlue offers to fly police to NYPD funerals for Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos

JetBlue is offering police departments around the nation the opportunity to send personnel to the funerals of New York City Police Officers Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos — free of charge.

December 24, 2014

Illegal immigrants tracked with GPS-enabled ankle bracelets by Homeland Security

Immigration and Customs Enforcement launched a program this month to use GPS-enabled ankle bracelets to track illegal immigrant families released from custody.

December 24, 2014

Sydney conducts counterterrorism raid; two arrested

A counterterrorism raid in Sydney, Australia on Tuesday resulted in two arrests.

December 23, 2014

Islamic State’s Garden State jihadi: Journalist finds ‘guy from Jersey’ in terror ranks

The Islamic State has successfully recruited from the Garden State.

December 23, 2014

U.S. offers $5M reward for Ibrahim al-Rubaysh, al Qaeda leader released from Gitmo in 2006

A Guantanamo Bay detainee who was released to Saudi Arabia in 2006 on the condition that he would take part in a "rehabilitation" program now has a $5 million reward on his head by the U.S. government.

December 23, 2014

De Blasio has ‘blood on the hands’ after NYPD shooting, says Pat Lynch, police union president

New York police union president Pat Lynch said Friday night that Mayor Bill de Blasio has blood on his hands for the execution-style shooting of police officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu.

December 21, 2014