DNA databases are a boon to police — but a menace to privacy: critics – Raw Story

WASHINGTON — Nearly two years after the arrest of the suspected Golden State Killer revitalized DNA forensics, some state lawmakers around the country are pushing to stop or restrict police searches of genetic code databases.Other lawmakers, meanwhile, want to make it even easier for police to use the technique, known as investigative genetic genealogy, to catch criminals.Inspired by the capture of the alleged Golden State Killer, police across the United States are uploading crime-scene DNA to GEDmatch and other databases where purchasers of genetic testing kits from companies such as 23andMe…

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Top samba “schools” in Brazil’s Carnival capital Rio de Janeiro paraded for a second night on Monday, peppering the annual sizzling fusion of music, dance and costume with jabs at the country’s president, Jair Bolsonaro.

The last six of the city’s 13 top samba schools took to the “sambodromo”, or Sambadrome, with hundreds of colorfully dressed and some scantily clad dancers and musicians parading behind huge, elaborate floats designed around a broad theme.

Monday’s parades, which ran well into the early hours of Tuesday, touched on many themes, among them Bolsonaro, who has cut a controversial and divisive figure since being sworn into office in January last year.

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While Michael Bloomberg doesn’t appear to have grabbed the Democratic nomination, the Republican Party is already concerned about his impact on the race.

The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday that the GOP is going back to top donors begging for more cash out of fear.

“The president’s allies have reached out to supporters such as casino magnate Sheldon Adelson, who discussed Mr. Bloomberg’s spending during a dinner last week with Vice President Mike Pence, according to people familiar with the matter,” the Journal wrote. “Other billionaires Trump allies plan to target include Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison and Blackstone Group Inc. CEO Stephen Schwarzman.”

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Roger Stone’s motion for a new trial was put in jeopardy on Tuesday as defense attorneys admitted that they did not google a juror who they later claimed was biased against President Donald Trump.

At a hearing that was available to reporter as audio only, defense attorneys argued that Stone deserves a new trial because the juror had made disparaging social media posts about the president and his supporters.

Jackson said that she would permit the attorneys to question some of the jurors, but said that she would not rule on the request for a new trial immediately.

Jackson had ruled earlier in the day to restrict the hearing to audio only after the president and a Fox News host incited hatred against the juror.