Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Letitia A. Long became director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency on Monday, becoming the first female director of a major intelligence agency in US history.

Long has been in government service for over three decades, and her former positions include second in command at the Defense Intelligence Agency, deputy undersecretary of defense for intelligence, and deputy director of Naval Intelligence. Long was sworn in at the NGA’s under-construction Springfield, Virginia campus, where she hailed the recently created NGA’s accomplishments. She also said that “I have never seen an agency as young as the NGA do so much in so little time.” The NGA was created in 1996 and collects and analyzes overhead imagery and geospatial information. The agency’s motto is “Know the Earth, Show the Way.”

Senator Dianne Feinstein, chairwoman of the Intelligence Committee, said that a woman director at a major intelligence agency was a key milestone, and she also said that “this is an important appointment, and I hope that she will bring a new and determined management ability to this agency.” Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) director Leon Panetta said that Long’s appointment was an “outstanding choice” and that “having served in so many important roles over the course of her distinguished career, she will undoubtedly exercise strong leadership at NGA and help identify new ways to meet those challenges.”

Though women have served in as second in charge in the National Security Agency, the National Reconnaissance Office and at the NGA, they have not served in the No. 2 position at the CIA.

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

With many venues reporting sell-out shows, the 68th year of the Edinburgh Festival attracted visitors from around the globe. Wikinews’ Brian McNeil roamed the city for the four weeks of the event, capturing the colour, spectacle, and comedy, in photos.

Tuesday, April 30, 2019

Wikinews attended the sixth annual Mini Maker Faire in Tyler, Texas, United States on Saturday. Similar to a giant science fair, the event featured a variety of science, engineering and technology projects and items.

An array of technologies were on hand including 3D printers, drones, and various other physics devices. The owner of the Make Crate subscription service stated her company’s products place a strong emphasis on teaching young people about technology and coding. A traditional blacksmith was also on hand displaying metal working techniques.

Numerous Maker Clubs from an array of local schools were on hand, displaying a broad swathe of tech projects. A group of amateur hobbyists diplayed a model of the deck of the aircraft carrier, the USS Ronald Reagan with a solenoid device hooked up to launch paper airplanes.

• A volunteer hangs signage in preparation for the Mini Maker Faire in Tyler, Texas (April 2019) Image: Paul Budd.

• A parking sign showing the Discover Science Place logo. Image: Paul Budd.

• A banner for the event. Image: Paul Budd.

• A large 3D printer, installed in a portable trailer from LaTorneau College. Image: Paul Budd.

• 3D printed objects on display. Image: Paul Budd.

• The Make Crate company’s banner. Image: Paul Budd.

• Maker Club for All Saints, a local school in Tyler. Image: Paul Budd.

• Disclaimer poster. Image: Paul Budd.

• An interactive display, featuring bird songs, built by students from All Saints school in Tyler. Image: Paul Budd.

• A remote controlled police and medical drone on display. Image: Paul Budd.

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Sunday, August 19, 2012

52,000 acres of land in Dallas county were sprayed aerially Thursday evening, in an effort to kill mosquitoes and reduce the spread of the sometimes-deadly West Nile Virus. More planes were slated to treat again on Friday. The state as a whole has seen more than 400 confirmed instances of the illness already this year.

Both the city’s mayor, David Rawlings, and the county’s Judge have executed a state of emergency. Each has rendered his support for the aerial action. The mayor told media, “I cannot have any more deaths on my conscience because we did not take action”. However, Rawlings is reserving his statement about the treatments’ effectiveness until a later time, to allow opportunity to assess the outcomes of the treatments. Some individuals have voiced fears over whether or not the chemicals might be harmful. One Dallas man told reporters he made no efforts to leave his home on Friday, and turned off his home’s air conditioner, in an attempt to safeguard possible chemical threat to his family. Dr. Roger Nasci of the Centers for Disease Control told reporters, “It’s something new there that has not been used in quite a number of years.” He further stated, “Anything novel comes with that unknown factor.”

Due to the scope of the problem, the Texas Health Department is intervening to supervise the action and to offset costs. The state’s Health Commissioner told media, “This year is totally different from the experience Texas has had in the past”. “If it’s nuisance mosquitoes, we ask the city or county to pay part of that. But in the midst of this disease outbreak, it’s easier for us to go ahead and do it”. Several Beechcraft King Air twin-engine planes sprayed on Thursday evening. The chemical used is synthetic pyrethroid; a specialist participating in the action told media the planes are normally loaded with chemicals just before take off, to minimize light exposure. One application costs approximately US$1 million.

Pilots were informed of certain exclusion zones, such as one containing the Preston Hollow home of former US President George W. Bush, and their flight plans factored in such information. The commissioner for the state’s department of health services is encouraging citizens to continue applying insect spray repellant while outdoors. The state has had seventeen West Nile-related deaths this year.

Reports from Friday morning indicated no county residents had been medically treated for reactions. The county’s judge told media he hadn’t expected any medical reactions to the chemicals used. East Dallas residents were reported that morning in ordinary outdoor exercise activities.