By Steve Neavling

Houston is no stranger to bank robberies. But two heists within 30 minutes of each other Monday?

The FBI is investigating the twin robberies, which don’t appear to be connected for now.

The first happened at 9:25 a.m. at Comerica Bank when three men flashed their guns and demanded cash before fleeing, the Houston Chronicles reported. About a half hour later, a man claiming he had a bomb got away with a zippered bag from Bank of America.

No injuries were reported.

By Steve Neavling

An FBI bulletin about ISIS encouraging attacks on law enforcement prompted the New York City Police Department to take extra steps to protect its officers, Fox News reports. 

“Strike their police, security and intelligence members, as well as their treacherous agents,” the video, released on Twitter by ISIS spokesman Abu Mohammad Al-Adnani, urged, naming the U.S., France, Australia and Canada as targets.

It was the second time Isis released the video, but after last week’s deadly attack in Paris, authorities are taking no risks.

NYPD officers were warned in an internal memo over the weekend to “remain alert and consider tactics at all times while on patrol.”

“NYPD learned yesterday of the re-issuance of a previously posted video threat, believed to have been issued by ISIL in September,” NYPD Deputy Commissioner Stephen Davis said. “Based on this new posting, which calls for the killing of civilians, soldiers, intelligence officers and police in certain countries, including France, Australia, Canada and the U.S., the NYPD sent out a message to officers reminding them to remain vigilant on patrol.”

It’s unclear how many other police departments also are taking extra measures to remain vigilant.

Reporter James Risen

James Risen, the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist who pledged to go to jail before revealing a government source, won’t be called to testify in the case of the former CIA officer suspected of being the leak, the Washington Post reports.

Since the ex-CIA officer Jeffrey Sterling was charged with leaking the information to Risen, the New York Times reporter was the star witness.

It’s unclear whether enough evidence exists to convict Sterling without Risen’s testimony.

The 2010 case has stalled for years as Risen fought efforts to subpoena him.

The information gathered from the source was used in Risen’s 2006 book, “State of War,” which documented what Risen depicted as a heavily flawed effort to sabotage Iran’s nuclear weapon.

Prosecutors announced their decision not to pursue Risen’s testimony in a court filing Monday.

By Steve Neavling

The terrorist attacks in Paris have prompted Homeland Security officials to ramp up security at federal buildings and airports, the USA Today reports. 

Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said the move was “precautionary.”

“We have no specific, credible intelligence of an attack of the kind in Paris last week being planned by terrorist organizations in this country,” he said in a statement.

Johnson declined to provide specifics and said that the Federal Protective Service would “enhance its presence and security at various U.S. Government buildings.”

Security also tightened after a shooting at the Canadian Parliament building.

Scene following Boston Marathon Explosions

A friend of the Boston Marathon bombing suspects is expected to plead guilty soon to charges of lying to the FBI and deleting information from his computer, the Associated Press reports.

It wasn’t immediately clear whether Khairullozhon Matanov plans to enter guilty pleas as part of a plea agreement with prosecutors to testify against the only surviving suspect, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev.

Jury selection has already begun in the trial.

Prosecutors declined to comment.

Other Stories of Interest

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• FBI Contributes $25,000 to Reward in Burned Teen’s Murder
• Border Patrol Agent Recovering After Hit-And-Run Accident
• Former DEA Official Becomes Director of Arkansas State Police
• Congressman Calls for DOJ Investigation of Gov. Christie