Health records revamped
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Defense Department Wednesday awarded a team led by Leidos Holdings Inc. a contract valued at up to $4.34 billion to build a new electronic health record system for 9.6 million current and retired military service members. The Defense Healthcare Management System Modernization contract runs for 10 years and includes extension options.
The Pentagon's chief arms buyer, Frank Kendall, said the contract was worth under $9 billion over the next 18 years. The system will replace 50 older records systems now in use at more than 1,000 sites, Mr. Kendall said. He said the department hoped to fully implement the system by 2022, if not sooner.
Boehner ouster sought
WASHINGTON — Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., Tuesday evening filed a request to oust House Speaker John A. Boehner, R-Ohio, which, if successful, would force the election of a new speaker. The resolution accuses Mr. Boehner of using “the power of the office to punish Members who vote according to their conscience instead of the will of the Speaker,” among other offenses.
A motion to vacate would be likely to succeed only if Democrats joined, but Democratic leaders have suggested that they would be unwilling to back the effort. Nevertheless, the move could set up a vote of no confidence in Mr. Boehner.
United Airlines hacked
The hackers who stole data on tens of millions of U.S. insurance holders and government employees in recent months breached United Airlines at the same time. Investigators have linked the attack to a group of China-backed hackers behind several other heists, including the theft of security-clearance records from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management and medical data from health insurer Anthem Inc.
Files stolen from the federal personnel office by this group could allow the hackers to identify Americans who work in defense and intelligence, including those on the payrolls of contractors.
Windows 10 released
Microsoft rolled out Windows 10 on Wednesday. Windows Vista or Windows XP users will have to buy the new system for $119. Windows users who are already running Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 will be able to download the new system for free from their desktop.
Microsoft is rolling out the upgrade in phases, since having everyone download a system at the same time could be overwhelming. After Windows 10, the company is going to change the way it updates its operating system, making smaller, more frequent updates rather than letting a couple of years go by between major releases.
Also in the nation...
A 15-year-old boy has been charged as an adult with murder in the death of 8-year-old Madyson “Maddy” Middleton in Santa Cruz, Calif., the district attorney said Wednesday. ... Coast Guard and state officials visited the Florida home of one of two missing teenage boaters Wednesday, and a spokesman said the search for the boys is still “active and open.”