Lack of funding shutters Fargo DNA lab

MPR News
The failure of Congress to pass an omnibus spending bill late last year is forcing a DNA lab in Fargo to shut down. The lab is one of many across the nation working to reduce a backlog of DNA for criminal investigations.

Prosecutors Using Touch DNA in Waldo Rape Case

Fox4KC Missouri
Bernard Jackson, xx, was already in jail after DNA evidence linked him to several unsolved rapes from the 1980′s. Jackson did not speak in court on Thursday, but prosecutors say that they hope that the evidence, small traces of DNA at the crime scene called ‘touch DNA,’ will do all the talking when the case goes to trial in March.

Governor testifies for DNA sampling bill

Cibola Beacon New Mexico
It took Gov. Susana Martinez six weeks to top her predecessor in at least one statistic: Appearances before a legislative committee to lobby for a bill.
On Tuesday, Martinez showed up at the Senate Public Affairs Committee to urge state lawmakers to expand on “Katie’s Law,” surprising legislators as well as throngs of lobbyists, media and others milling around on the Capitol’s third floor.

Can This DNA Sleuth Help Catch Criminals?

Science News
Forensic geneticist Manfred Kayser’s group made headlines around the world last year with a paper showing how the DNA in a blood sample can give away someone’s age—albeit with a margin of error of at least 9 years. His group has developed a DNA test to predict someone’s eye color; work on hair color, skin color, and other traits is in progress.

Mobile Police get results back a year and a half after a rape case.

WKRG Alabama
MOBILE, Alabama – There are disturbing developments involving a rape and sodomy case in Mobile.
A Mobile man was arrested Thursday for a rape that happened in June of 2009.
But, police said they just received DNA results in the case to make an arrest.
That’s more than a year and a half later.

State crime lab reports more than 4,000 untested rape kits

Courrant Illinois
The Illinois crime lab has identified more than 4,000 cases of unexamined sex crime evidence statewide, and plans to test all of them by 2015, state officials said.

Chemistry Department Adopts Own Guidelines-Chemist

Bernama Malaysia
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 18 (Bernama) — A chemist who carried out detailed DNA profiling on samples collected from Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan told the High Court here today that the Chemistry Department has its own set of guidelines in carrying out its analyses.

Poor Stacked In Mass Graves At Ill.Cemetery

KOCO Illinois
…Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart called for a review of the cemetery’s contract at a news conference in which he criticized the operation for haphazard practices and restated his belief that the state needs legislation requiring DNA collection on all unidentified bodies…