The U.S. Department of Justice has announced a funding opportunity aimed at increasing the prosecution of violent cold case crimes in the United States where suspect DNA has already been identified.

With an anticipated budget of $6.5 million, this program seeks to help law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies resolve cases that have remained unsolved for years, bringing justice to victims and their families.

The funding supports investigative and prosecutorial activities, along with advanced forensic and crime analysis that can directly contribute to the successful prosecution of violent cold cases. Eligible uses include traditional law enforcement work, the formation and sustainment of multidisciplinary case review teams, advanced DNA testing, forensic genetic genealogy, and other specialized analyses. It also provides resources for prosecutors, including training, expert witness support, and trauma-informed services for victims and families.

By focusing on cases with existing DNA profiles, the initiative leverages scientific evidence to move stalled investigations forward. Forensic techniques such as genetic genealogy, mitochondrial DNA analysis, and digital evidence analysis are expected to play a key role. These tools, combined with enhanced investigative approaches, create opportunities to connect the evidence to suspects and resolve complex cases.

The program makes up to sixteen awards, with each award capped at $500,000. The period of performance will extend for up to three years, beginning October 1, 2025. Applicants are encouraged to propose budgets that are realistic and aligned with their project goals while ensuring they have the capacity to manage funds responsibly.

Eligibility extends to a wide range of applicants, including state, county, city, and township governments, federally recognized and non-recognized Tribal governments, prosecuting agencies, and law enforcement agencies. U.S. territories such as Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands are also eligible.

Priority consideration will be given to projects that demonstrate a strong commitment to advancing public safety, protecting children, supporting victims of violent crime and trafficking, and aligning local efforts with federal law enforcement initiatives. The program’s design reflects an effort not only to solve cold cases but also to strengthen trust in the justice system by holding offenders accountable.

This opportunity provides law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and their partners with vital resources to revive unsolved cases. It emphasizes the importance of combining advanced forensic science with investigative and prosecutorial expertise, offering hope to families who have long awaited justice and closure.

For more information, visit Grants.gov.

Reuters has just published an article written by Echo Wang which will be of interest to many genealogists. It seems that Blackstone is weighing strategic options, including an initial public offering or a sale, for Ancestry.com.

If you are interested, "Exclusive: Blackstone weighs options for Ancestry.com, including sale or IPO, sources say" my be found at: https://tinyurl.com/38s42spw.

It's faster, smarter, and packed with new search features to help researchers and family historians uncover history like never before.

The new Elephind has already indexed over 13 million pages, with another 15 million being added next month and 15 million more before the end of the year. Beyond that, another 150+ million pages are queued for inclusion.

Augusta Genealogical Society 

Augusta, Georgia 

October 18, 2025 Virtual Genealogical Program

DNA Basics: Getting Started with Genetic Genealogy

Presented by Dr. Adina Newman, EdD

Have you just taken a DNA test? Can't make sense of your results? Still considering taking the plunge? This presentation is for you! Learn about the different types of DNA testing, how the testing process works, what to expect from your results, and best practices to incorporate DNA into your traditional research.

Dr. Adina Newman, EdD, the creator of My Family Genie, is a professional genealogist and educator. Her specialties include Jewish genealogy, genetic genealogy, social media, and New England, and she presents on these topics in a variety of venues, from major genealogy conferences to local genealogy societies. Her findings have received international media attention, such as mentions in The Daily Mail, Washington Post, AP News, TODAY, Us Weekly, People, and The Times of Israel, and she has made appearances on several news outlets, such as NPR and I24NEWS. She co-founded the Holocaust Reunion Project, a program to raise awareness about the potential of DNA testing within the Holocaust survivor community and provide survivors and their children with free commercial DNA tests and consultations. She volunteers as a Team Lead for the DNA Doe Project, which uses investigative genetic genealogy to identify unidentified deceased persons, and as a moderator for a popular Jewish genetic genealogy Facebook group. She was also a 2020 recipient of the AncestryProGenealogists scholarship.

When:  Saturday, October 18, 2025

Where:  Online 

Price:   FREE to AGS members and $10 for nonmembers

The registration deadline is Thursday, October 16.

AGS October Program - Augusta Genealogical Society

Click the above link to register

Limited seating is available to view the virtual presentation at the Adamson Library in Augusta, Georgia.  ​To reserve a seat, please call (706) 722-4073.

JOIN AGS NOW and enjoy the benefits of programs that are free to members.  

The Augusta Genealogical Society is a non-profit organization founded in Augusta, Georgia , in September 1979.

The following is a press release written by the folks at the (U.S.) National Archives and Records Administration:

Lincoln issues the Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation (1862) On September 22, 1862, after the Union’s victory at the Battle of Antietam, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation. This proclamation formally alerted the Confederacy of his intention to free all persons held as enslaved people within the rebellious states. One hundred days later President Lincoln issued the final Emancipation Proclamation. Lincoln recognized that the Emancipation Proclamation needed to be followed by a constitutional amendment to guarantee the abolition of slavery. This resulted in the passage and ratification of the 13th Amendment in 1865. The National Archives Museum in Washington, DC, has all 27 amendments, including the 13th Amendment bearing Lincoln's original signature, on display until October 1, 2025. Plan your visit to see the full U.S. Constitution.  Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, page 1, September 22, 1862. NAID: 350916735 Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, January 31, 1865. NAID: 1408764 Burma Launches America250 with Support from the National Archives Burmese students interact with a 10-ft replica of the U.S. Constitution, created using high-resolution scans of the original document from the National Archives, with Burmese translations, at the U.S. Embassy in Yangon to celebrate U.S. Constitution Day, September 17, 2025. On September 17, 2025, the U.S. Embassy in Yangon hosted over 500 participants at the American Center Yangon (ACY) to celebrate U.S. Constitution Day and launch the year-long America250 campaign. The event featured a 10-foot replica of the U.S. Constitution, created using high-resolution scans of the original document from the National Archives, with Burmese translations. This event showcased the international celebration of America 250, and emphasizes the important role of the National Archives in making records available to the public.  Public Interest Declassification Board Announces October 2025 Public Meeting The Public Interest Declassification Board (PIDB) is pleased to announce its fall public meeting, which will take place on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m ET. The PIDB public meeting will be held in the Senate Visitor Center, located within the Capitol Visitor Center in Washington, DC. Additional details about in-person and virtual attendance at the PIDB Public Meeting are available via PIDB’s Transforming Classification blog and by following the PIDB on X. About the Public Interest Declassification Board: Established by Congress, the PIDB is an independent advisory board that advises the President and executive branch on the identification, review, and release of historically significant records, with a mission to advance transparency while safeguarding national security.

The Placer County Genealogical Society is holding its general meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 25, at the LDS Church, 1255 Bell Road in Auburn: What do I do with all this STUFF?

Are you the collector or keeper (willing or unwilling) of all your family's treasures? Do your kids tell you they don't want any of your stuff? Get some ideas on how to organize, preserve and maybe (gasp!) dispose of some of that stuff, along with ideas on how to preserve it for future generations, whether our kids want it or not

Betty Lemley has loved genealogy and family history since her grandmother introduced her to it when she was a teenager. Lemley has a certificate from BYU-Idaho in Family History Research and thoroughly enjoys helping others discover their roots and preserve their family stories. Her favorite thing about family history is collecting stories and memories and then sharing them with her eight children and 20 grandchildren. She also enjoys teaching and attending Family History classes.

Everyone is welcome to attend in person or by Zoom. Refreshments provided. Please enter from the back of the main building.

For further information on the society, meeting location, or to obtain Zoom access information for any meetings, check the society's website at www.placergenealogy.org.

DNA testing web site Ancestry has begun legal action to access millions of family records held by National Records of Scotland (NRS).

The Scottish government body has refused to enter into a financial agreement to provide access to more than 400 years of birth, death and marriage records.

Ancestry - the world's largest commercial genealogy website - operates on a subscription model, while NRS records are publicly available for a small fee.

At a hearing held in London, NRS said granting Ancestry access would cost £3.7m a year in lost income and be "catastrophic" for its finances.

The NRS archive includes about 25 million images and 98 million index entries.

According to a report in The Times, the Information Commissioner withheld the release of records under legislation covering the re-use of public sector information.

Ancestry's appeal against the Information Commissioner's notice was partly upheld at a tribunal.

But it was told a further hearing would be required to decide on whether the records could be released.

'Severe impact'

Janet Egdell, former interim chief executive of NRS, told the tribunal: "Allowing re-use would result in additional cost both in financial and human resources for NRS.

"This was expected to have a severe impact on the income stream of NRS and its ongoing ability to carry out its public function."

The NRS holds Scottish records spanning the 12th to the 21st centuries and is responsible for the registration of life events such as births, deaths and marriages, as well as the country's census.

It also regularly provides reports on the Scotland's population, as well as drug deaths and other significant moments affecting the country and its residents.

Ancestry's request excludes birth records after 1921 and deaths after 1971.

It said this would "protect the privacy of individuals whose personal data is contained in any of the categories".

In a statement Ancestry said: "We are reviewing the tribunal's ruling carefully and will determine our next steps in due course."

NRS said it would be "inappropriate" to comment on live legal action.

A genealogy profile has been obtained for a woman whose remains were found in Mount Laurel in 2004, potentially providing a crucial clue to identify her.

The so-called Burlington County Jane Doe is likely of the Turkic ethnic group and is possibly from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, or another country in central Eurasia, according to the Ramapo College Investigative Genetic Genealogy Center.

The genealogy center said the breakthrough came following many attempts by Astrea Forensics to obtain the woman’s DNA profile.

She was estimated to be 25 to 35 years old when she was found Oct. 26, 2004 in a wooded area off Fellowship Road, authorities said.

She was wearing a leopard print scarf, Tommy Hilfiger jean shorts or skirt and white Nike youth sneakers size 5.5. A black purse or black pocketbook containing Kleenex pack and nail file was found near her remains, the genealogy center said.

While clearing the site of the former Malibu Grand Prix entertainment center, an excavation crew discovered the woman’s remains. The remains were located close to the back property line, near the Interstate 295 overpass,behind the Doubletree Guest Suites.

State Police estimated the woman died around Jan. 1, 2003. She was about 5-foot-1, and weighed 100-125 pounds. The woman had black hair and black or brown eyes, according to investigators.

“Getting her face and the details of her case out to the public, especially groups where people from her community may see her, will be the key to bringing Burlington County Jane Doe ‘home’ to her loved ones,” the center said Monday.

The Ramapo College Investigative Genetic Genealogy Center says is works to resolve cases involving violent crime, unidentified human remains, and wrongful convictions

The following is a press release written by the folks at Findmypast;

By popular demand, Findmypast announces an extension to their major sale offering up to 50% off subscriptions, now ending 30 September

• Delve deeper into your British & Irish roots than ever before for less with 50% off 12-month Everything subscriptions on Findmypast, down to just £8.34 per month, a saving of £99 per year

• Plus, get 25% off history's headlines with an offer on British Newspaper Archive subscriptions

Leading UK & Irish family history website Findmypast has extended its major subscription sale, giving family historians even more time to explore their past in unprecedented depth for half the usual price.

Now running until 30 September, researchers can enjoy 50% off a 12-month Everything subscription – a saving of £99 per year – giving them unlimited access to Findmypast’s entire collection of exclusive records, rich historical newspapers, and easy-to-use family tree tools – all designed to unlock stories that can’t be found anywhere else.

As the specialist in British & Irish family history, Findmypast is uniquely placed to help trace the lives of ancestors across the UK and beyond, offering a deeper understanding of the moments that shaped their lives and the world in which they lived.

At a reduced rate of just £8.34 per month or £99.99 annually, the Everything subscription offers an access-all-areas pass to:

• Billions of records spanning centuries you won’t find anywhere else, including unique parish registers, military, travel and crime records, extensive non-conformist collections, and the most detailed 1939 Census data available anywhere online.

• Exclusive newspaper archives dating back to the 1700s. Thanks to major partnerships with the likes of the British Library, you can deep dive into over 95 million pages for rich details and emotional discoveries. Clip and connect these to your tree and share with family and friends.

• Powerful research features to uncover, visualise, connect, and share your family story like never before, including the new Workspaces feature, allowing you to compile and organise your research projects in one place. Build your tree quickly with the simple tree builder, and use the helpful hints and storytelling features to understand more about your ancestors’ lives and the world around them.

For those wishing to concentrate their research within historical newspaper pages, Findmypast’s sister website, the British Newspaper Archive, is offering a 25% discount on subscriptions. From salacious scandal to family folklore and local legend, discover the past's most colourful stories within millions of newspaper pages.

Updated offer details:

• 50% off 12-month Everything subscription on Findmypast now ends 30 September. Code automatically applied at checkout.

• 25% off all British Newspaper Archive subscriptions now ends 30 September. Use code: SEPT2525 at checkout to claim your discount.

• Ts & Cs apply.

Friday, Oct. 9th, 2025 is a red letter day for Norwegian-Americans in North Iowa and elsewhere.  To the very day, it is the 200th anniversary of the arrival of the first boatload of Norwegians to the United States.  It is the bicentennial of the start of one of the greatest mass migrations in history.  It is how North Iowa was settled.  It is why there are so many Norwegian Lutheran churches and communities stretching from Lake Michigan to the Pacific Northwest.

On July 4, 1825, the schooner Restauration left Stavanger, Norway with 52 passengers on a one way trip to the Port of New York.   The wind-powered vessel reached New York on Oct. 9, 1825.  One newborn was added on route.  No one died on route.  Over the next one hundred years, almost 900,000 of their countrymen followed and thousands and thousands found their way to Iowa.

This bicentennial has already been celebrated with coffee parties in Belmond, a Kumla feed in Thor, a gala banquet in Lake Mills, parades in Decorah and Spring Grove and scores of events nationwide.   Indeed Crown Prince Haakon of Norway will be in Decorah to celebrate the anniversary in October.

A re-enactment of the 1825 voyage is underway.   A re-created schooner left Norway on July 4, 2025.  It will dock in New York on Oct. 9, 2025.    The arrival will be celebrated to say the least.

This bicentennial is an opportunity for parents to share some family history.   After all, not all immigrants came on the Mayflower.  Share some stories.  Dust off that old family photo album.  Family heritage is worth sharing and celebrating.