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Monday, August 30, 2010

Alex X. Arroyo-Flores Search Underway

UPDATE

Currently a search is underway for Alex in the Fruitland area. Friends and Family members are asking for help with the search and with supplies. If can give your time and or bottles of water please contact Joe Albero @ 410-430-5349.
Come Home Safe Alex.

UPDATE -
There are over 40 friends,coworkers,volunteers,and Family members currently searching for Alex. They are in the field behind the Fruitland Walmart. It is very hot out there!!

UPDATE
The search as ended for the evening. We want to thank all the volunteers that showed up to help. We believe no less than 75 people showed up to search for Alex. Also a special thanks for the people who brought water for the volunteers. At one point a private helicopter assisted with the search as well.


UPDATES TO FOLLOW AS MORE INFORMATION IS MADE AVAILABLE......

Salisbury Police Department Press Releases

On August 27, 2010 at approximately 4:48 am, Officers of the Salisbury Police Safe Streets Unit executed a search and seizure warrant at a residence on the three hundred (300) block of Pryor Avenue. A search of the residence, pursuant to the search warrant, resulted in the seizure of suspected marijuana and related paraphernalia.

During the execution of the search and seizure warrant, suspect # 1 was found to also be wanted on an outstanding arrest warrant charging him with assault and handgun violations. The warrant was the result of the investigation of the suspect pointing a handgun at a vehicle occupied by three (3) victims on August 8, 2010.

ARRESTED #1: Garrick Levin Wharton, Jr., 18 years of age Salisbury, Maryland

ARRESTED #2: Nicole Lynn Hoffman, 32 years of age Salisbury, Maryland

ARRESTED #3: Sierra Mone Mayers, 18 years of age Salisbury, Maryland

CHARGES (All): Possession of Marijuana
Possession of CDS/Paraphernalia
Addition Warrant (Suspect #1):
First degree assault (3 counts)
Second degree assault (3 counts)
Handgun in a vehicle
Use of a handgun in a felony crime
Possession of a deadly weapon
Handgun on a person

DISPOSITION: All released to Central Booking CC # 201000031394

On August 27, 2010 at approximately 11:00 pm, Officers of the Salisbury Police received a call to respond to a residence on Park View Court for the report of an assault with a machete. Upon arrival the officers met with a victim who advised that the below listed suspect had been involved with the victim in a domestic type argument. The argument escalated and resulted in the suspect retrieving a machete from the garage. The suspect then threatened the victim and her friends with the machete. There were no injuries and the machete was recovered by the officers.

ARRESTED: Clive Anthony Malcom, 44 years of age Salisbury, Maryland

CHARGES: First degree assault
Second degree assault
Reckless endangerment
Wearing and carrying a weapon

DISPOSITION: Released to Central Booking CC # 201000034184

On August 28, 2010 at approximately 1:37 am, Officers of the Salisbury Police received a call to respond to the parking lot of the Elks Club on Catherine Street for the report of a subject armed with a handgun. The suspect had left the area in a vehicle, but returned just prior to the arrival of the officers. The officers observed the suspect exiting his vehicle and stopped the suspect. Upon contact with the suspect, the officers observed that the suspect attempted to discard an unknown item from his hand by dropping the item on the ground. The officers recovered the item and found it to be a quantity of suspected crack/cocaine.

ARRESTED: Jeffery Andrew Dennis, 28 years of age Salisbury, Maryland

CHARGES: Possession of cocaine with int. to distribute
Possession of cocaine
Possession of CDS/paraphernalia (11 counts)

DISPOSITION: Released to Central Booking CC # 201000034997

DUI ENFORCEMENT FOCUS UNDERWAY

(Pikesville, MD) – State and local police did not wait for the Labor Day Weekend to increase DUI enforcement and as a result, hundreds of Maryland motorists who chose to drink and drive this past weekend found themselves under arrest.

Police officers across Maryland arrested 312 motorists for driving under the influence over the weekend. Of those, Maryland state troopers arrested 122 intoxicated drivers during a variety of road patrol, sobriety checkpoints, and saturation patrols throughout the state focused on identifying and apprehending those who were behind the wheel after drinking.

The arrests proved to those drivers the national anti-DUI campaign motto of “Drunk Driving – Over the Limit, Under Arrest” is much more than a slick slogan. In Maryland, it is a reality.

Maryland State Police have joined with county and municipal police in the national impaired driving enforcement effort underway which is identified in this region as Checkpoint Strikeforce. Every state trooper on road patrol, and not just those assigned to checkpoints or saturation patrols, is on heightened alert for drunk drivers, especially during the upcoming holiday weekend.

“Our commitment is to ensure the safety of motorists on Maryland highways and drunk drivers continue to jeopardize that safety,” Maryland State Police Superintendent Colonel Terrence B. Sheridan said. “There is no excuse for drunk driving. We will continue our increased efforts, in partnership with our allied law enforcement partners, to find and arrest those who threaten the safety of other motorists after making their conscious choice to drink and drive.”

Additional Maryland state troopers will be on patrol throughout the upcoming holiday weekend. Troopers from specialized units will be working road patrol. Federal and state grant funding for DUI enforcement will also provide for extra troopers on overtime who will supplement the normal patrol force.

Motorists planning to drink alcoholic beverages are reminded to choose a designated driver, or make other arrangements before they start drinking. This can include hiring a cab or staying overnight either at the party location or somewhere within walking distance.

ACLU Sues U.S. Government Over Targeted Assasination Of Citizens

Aug. 30 (Bloomberg) -- The American Civil Liberties Union sued the U.S. government over a policy of killing American citizens suspected of terrorism. The lawsuit, filed today in federal court in Washington, said that such targeted assasinations by the federal government are unconstitutional.

Source

Our Peace & Quiet Will End In Just A Few Short Minutes

If you're anything like me your peaceful day is about to come to an abrupt end.
That's right, the little rug rats are on the bus returning home.
The big question is, will they start them off with homework on the first day?
Or will they come running in the door desperate to change their clothes, jump in the pool, go fishing, play with friends or turn on the TV. One thing is for sure in this household, that TV isn't going on.
Oh well, it was nice while it lasted.

Still Missing

Click on image above to enlarge.

Salisbury News Continues To Grow

Many times in the past I have mentioned the growth of Salisbury News. One of the coolest parts about our growth is the absolute fact that our numbers NEVER decrease. Once people come to Salisbury News they continue to return.

Yesterday marked the biggest Sunday we have ever seen. in fact, the numbers were about 50% higher than any other Sunday we're used to. Today is yielding the same results. Some local Bloggers have always claimed that during an election cycle their numbers would rise but once it was over their numbers would drop dramatically. Again, that is not the case with Salisbury News.

With our numbers once again gaining yet another new spike, if you own a business, running a campaign or simply want others to remember that you're out there, consider running an ad with Salisbury News. With all the traffic we get on a daily basis and the fact that our ads only cost $100.00 a month, how could you go wrong.

Contact us at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com (410) 430-5349 and get started right away. Once you see the instant return on your investment you'll get instantly upset that you've been wasting so much money elsewhere.

Salisbury News Pays It Forward. A large portion of your advertising dollars will go to support local non profit organizations. So your not only getting a great advertising rate, your also investing back into your community. In the near future you'll see exactly what I'm talking about.

Thanks for all your support and visiting Salisbury News.

You Decide

Wicomico County Sheriff's Office Press Releases

Incident: First Degree Assault
Date of Incident: 27 August 2010
Location: 900 block of East Road, Salisbury, MD
Suspect: Kimberly M. Johnson, 39, Delmar, MD


Narrative: On 27 August 2010 at 4:13 PM, a deputy from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office investigated an altercation that occurred in the roadway in the 900 block of East Road in Salisbury. Upon arrival, the deputy met with a victim who advised that she was involved in a verbal altercation with Kimberly Johnson when Johnson allegedly got into a vehicle and intentionally backed up onto the sidewalk and struck the victim.

Johnson, who was still on scene having a verbal altercation with the victim upon the arrival of the deputy, was subsequently placed under arrest. The deputy transported her to the Central Booking Unit where she was processed and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner. After an initial appearance, the Commissioner detained Johnson in the Detention Center in lieu of $30,000.00 bond.

Charges: Assault 1st Degree
Assault 2nd Degree
Reckless Endangerment

Incident: Assault
Date of Incident: 27 August 2010
Location: 27000 block of Ocean Gateway, Hebron, MD
Suspect: Donna M. Moffitt, 48, Hebron, MD


Narrative: On 27 August 2010 at 9:18 PM, a deputy from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office responded to a reported altercation occurring at a residence in the 27000 block of Ocean Gateway in Hebron, MD. Upon arrival, the deputy met with a male subject who advised that his girlfriend and he became involved in a verbal altercation that allegedly turned physical. According to the victim, Moffitt struck him in the face and the deputy observed signs of injury that corroborated that account.

The deputy placed Moffitt under arrest and transported her to the Central Booking Unit where she was processed and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner. After an initial appearance, the Commissioner detained Moffitt in the Detention Center in lieu of $20,000.00 bond.

Charges: Assault 2nd Degree

Incident: Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol
Date of Incident: 29 August 2010
Location: College Avenue at Salisbury Blvd., Salisbury, MD
Suspect: Jefferson A. Dias, 34, Salisbury, MD


Narrative: On 29 August 2010 at 1:13 AM, a deputy from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office stopped a vehicle operated by Jefferson Dias of Salisbury for an equipment violation. Upon stopping the vehicle and making contact with Dias, the deputy detected a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage. Dias also told the Deputy that Dias did not have a driver’s license. When he exited from his vehicle, the deputy noticed that Dias stumbled when walking. After the administration of field sobriety tests, the deputy placed Dias under arrest for DUI.

Dias was transported to the Sheriff’s Office for processing, during which Dias declined to take a breath test. Dias was released up signing citations.

Charges: Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol
Driving on a Suspended License

Incident: Fugitive Arrest
Date of Incident: 27 August 2010
Location: 300 block of Clyde Avenue, Salisbury, MD
Suspect: James Ray Avery, 42, Fruitland, MD


Narrative: On 27 August 2010 deputies from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office responded to a residence in the 300 block of Clyde Avenue in Fruitland where they located James Ray Avery, a fugitive from the State of Oregon. Authorities there wanted Avery on the charges of First Degree Sexual Abuse, Unlawful Penetration and Sodomy.

Avery was transported to the Central Booking Unit where he was processed and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner as a Fugitive from Oregon. After an initial appearance, Avery was detained in the Detention Center without bond pending extradition back to Oregon.

Charges: Fugitive from Justice

Caption This Photo

As Hurricane Earl Approaches, The Salisbury Fire Department Urges You To Be Prepared!

Hurricane Earl may possibly affect those of us living on the Atlantic Seaboard this week. The intensity of hurricanes that will hit land is measured in terms of categories that relate wind speeds and potential damage. Even less intense storms can cause damage in areas that have not prepared in advance. Look over our reminders and prepare your family in advance. If you were not already prepared, there is still time to begin hurricane preparations for this week’s imminent storm.

Before
• Prepare your evacuation plan, including pets, transportation routes and destinations.
• Keep all trees and shrubs well trimmed; clear & loosen clogged rain gutters and downspouts.
• Determine how and where to secure your boat.
• Stay informed! Listen to a NOAA weather radio or check local forecasts and news reports regularly.
• Cover your home’s windows with pre-cut plywood or hurricane shutters. Tape does not prevent windows from breaking.
• Bring in all outside furniture, decorations, garbage cans, etc.
• Turn off utilities if instructed to do so.
• Turn off propane tanks.
• Avoid using the phone, except for serious emergencies.
• Fill the bathtub or buckets with water to use for cleaning and flushing toilets.
• Keep your gas tank at least 3/4 full at all times.
• Keep your emergency supplies kit, including water, and copies of important documents, in a waterproof, portable container, in an easily accessible location.

Evacuate under the following conditions:
• If local authorities tell you to evacuate, follow their directions.
• If you live in a mobile home or temporary structure, which are particularly hazardous no matter how well fastened to the ground.
• If you live in a high-rise building.
• If you live on the coast, on a floodplain, near a river, or on an inland waterway.
• If you feel you are in danger.
• If you live in an area below sea level.


During
• If you choose not to evacuate, stay indoors and away from windows and glass doors. Notify out-of-area contacts of your decision. Close all interior doors and secure and brace exterior doors. Keep curtains and blinds closed. Take refuge in a small interior room, closet, or hallway on the lowest level.
• Don’t be fooled by a lull in the storm—it could be the eye of the storm and winds could resume.

After
• Be aware of flooding and tornadoes.
• Stay out of flood waters, if possible.
• Stay away from downed power lines.
• If you evacuated, do not return to your home until local authorities say it is safe.

The Salisbury Fire Department encourages you to prepare now; make an emergency kit for your home in the event of a hurricane or any emergency. You can find an example of what should be in your emergency kit by going to HYPERLINK "http://www.ready.gov" www.ready.gov and looking under checklists.

JAMES IRETON, JR.
MAYOR

TOLERANCE AND THE MOSQUE

IF it is true that the mosque near Ground Zero is to promote tolerance;
I think that a gay nightclub should be opened next door to the mosque.

Two names suggested are;

"Turban Cowboy", or "You Mecca Me Hot".

On the other side they should open a butcher shop that only sells Pork.

And across the street a store that sells and displays bikinis or ladies lingerie featuring Live Nude Models.

Aren't we all for promoting tolerance?

Bob Ehrlich's Complete Statement Of Support For John Phoebus For House Of Delegates

Oh No He Di-Int!!!


Candidate Mike Brewington is getting bold. Not only did he NOT show up yesterday for a candidate meet & greet, he's now got signs placed on City property, near the bridge at the City Park.

Has anyone else seen any illegally placed signs? If so, do send them to Salisbury News, no matter who the candidate is. alberobutzo@wmconnect.com

Hurricane Earl Could Impact East Coast Beaches

It is the height of hurricane season for the Atlantic seaboard, and all eyes are currently on Hurricane Earl, which is currently spinning north of Puerto Rico and is on track to head up the East Coast.

While there is only a small chance of Earl making landfall in the U.S., it's still worth watching, according to NBC4 meteorologist Tom Kierein.

Earl was upgraded Monday morning to a Category 3 hurricane with winds of up to 120 mph.

Kierein said Earl should be east of Cape Hatteras on Thursday and could be east of our Atlantic beaches on the Eastern Shore on Friday. The current track has Earl staying off the East Coast, but it could bring more rip currents and heavier surf to beaches Friday and through the weekend.

And if you know of anyone on a cruise ship in the Atlantic, there's a good chance their route has been altered by the storm. Check out USAToday.com for more on this part of the story

GO HERE to read more.

Public Housing

The problem with public housing is that the residents are not the owners.

The people that live in the house did not earn the house, but were loaned the property from the true owners, the taxpayers. Because of this, the residents do not have the "pride of ownership" that comes with the hard work necessary. In fact, the opposite happens and the residents resent their benefactors because the very house is a constant reminder that they themselves did not earn the right to live in the house. They do not appreciate the value of the property and see no need to maintain or respect it in any way.

The result is the same whether you are talking about a studio apartment or a magnificent mansion full of priceless antiques. If the people who live there do not feel they earned the privilege, they will make this known through their actions. The picture below illustrates the point.



The Resolute Desk was built from the timbers of the HMS Resolute and was a gift from Queen Victoria to President Rutherford B. Hayes.

It is considered a national treasure and icon of the presidency.

Mr. Obama, with all due respect, get your feet off our desk!

ER Visits For Concussions Soar Among Kid Athletes

Emergency room visits for concussions have doubled in recent years for those 8- to 13-years old and tripled for teens ages 14 to 19, a new study says. The finding suggests the intensity of kids' sports has increased along with awareness of head injuries.

GO HERE to read more.

'I Can't Spendall My Time With My Birth Certificate Plastered To My Head'


In an exclusive interview with NBC's Brian Williams, the president discusses rumors about his birthplace and religion.


GO HERE to see more.

BREAKING NEWS:

NATO says 7 U.S. soldiers killed in 2 roadside bomb attacks in Afghanistan
More to come.

A Harmonica In Carnegie Hall

Took the Lone Ranger to bring them to their feet

All I can say about this is WOW. This guy is awesome! A standing ovation at Carnegie Hall playing a harmonica! WOW.

A harmonica in Carnegie Hall. [VIDEO]

Update On Alex


Joe,


Good morning to you. I am Alex's dad. I am writing to you on behalf of Alex's family. We are still looking for him.

I want to thank you for your immediate response and support.

I like to let your readers know that we appreciate all the kinds words about Alex and their prayers for his prompt and safe return home.

We also hope that any negative comments about what anyone could have done stop...these are not constructive...instead we should be commenting about what can be done now to find Alex.

We prepared flyers and began to distribute these around Salisbury and Fruitland.

There will be some copies at home for anyone that can find time to pick up some and help with distribution.

God bless you all and God bless our Alex.


Felipe Arroyo

Shore Stop Robbery In Pittsville

INCIDENT: Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon DATE: August 28, 2010 LOCATION: 7100 Block Friendship Road, Pittsville, Maryland 21850

NARRATIVE: On 8/28/10
at approximately 02:48 hours, Deputies from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office responded to the Shore Stop at the above address for a report of a Robbery involving the use of a firearm. Wicomico Bureau of Investigation personnel also responded. Information from the initial investigation showed that a black male suspect wearing dark in color pants, a purple in color long sleeve sweatshirt, tan in color footwear and a white bandana or handkerchief covering his lower face entered the business and demanded money from the clerk out of the cash register. This suspect brandished a rifle style firearm and struck the employee with the rifle butt causing injury to the employee. The suspect fled the store entering a vehicle believed to be occupied by at least two other persons.   Anyone with information is asked to call the Wicomico Bureau of Investigation.  

SUSPECTS*: (1) Black males, wearing dark colored clothing and masks
CHARGES: Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon
DISPOSITION: Under investigation

Its The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

The Rich Colburn Fundraiser In Cambridge Raised More Than $15,000.00











Senator Rich Colburn had a very successful evening Saturday as he raised more than $15,000.00 at an event that brought in none other than former Governor Bob Ehrlich, Andy Harris and many other dignitaries.

The Republican Club Crab Feast Part I






You'd have thought with the Beck thing going on in Washington, D.C., things would have been somewhat slow at this Crab Feast. However, it was busier than I've seen in many years. I'm NOT knocking the Democrat Club Crab Feast but let me assure you, the Republican turn out is far greater.

There's a lot of republican candidates running for office this year and very few democrats. It was a pleasure seeing everyone again at this event.

The Republican Club Crab Feast Part II













The Chris Lewis Show In Sharptown Was A Big Flop!



Originally Posted last night at 10:30 PM.
Unless you were a candidate, this had to be the biggest joke of a meet & greet ever put off in the history of politics.

Jonathan Taylor used his Blog to promote the event and because it was created by teabagger Chris Lewis, Salisbury News chose not to give it any real attention, knowing it would fall flat on its face.

The end result, less than a hand full of people actually showed up, other than candidates. What made me sick about the whole event in Sharptown was the fact that they created, (by pressure) an event that delivered THREE curious people, one of which was the only one that stated they were there to meet the at large candidates. She got up and spoke, asking those candidates where they stood on a couple issues concerning her interests.

Other than that, it was a complete waste of time. No different from the last Tea Party gathering, their numbers continue to dwindle. Chris Lewis was dressed like he was getting ready for a mud wrestling match after the event, but at least he showed. No holes in his pants, like some other candidates we'll not waste time mentioning.
Sharee Sample Hughes, Julie & Mike Brewington and Dr. Cowell, were NO SHOWS.
I had been asked by several candidates if they thought they should attend the event and I said, you're kidding me, right. If its only being promoted by Jonathan Taylor, no one will show. I was absolutely 100% right. Michael Swartz, (another local Blogger) was there as a candidate and between those two Blogs, one would think they'd at least have their friends show up.
While Wednesday night's forum at the MAC Center for the States Attorney's Office will only have three candidates attending, (not 30, like today) just wait and see how many people show up and attend that event promoted by Salisbury News. It should be noted, Matt and Davis did attend this event today. Has anyone even seen Seth Mitchell anywhere?
I've been covering political events for the past 6 years here on the Eastern Shore. I see many of the same faces, whether it be a Tea Party, fundraisers, forums, council meetings, AFP, it's usually many of the same faces. Every so often there will be some new faces with a glimpse of hope, like when the AFP & Tea Party started. Then some screwballs get their hands in it and the interest disappears. However, this event had to be the worst I have ever seen.
All that being said, I wish I had been wrong right from the very beginning. I wish the place had been completely packed with citizens interested in their local government and ALL of these candidates who took the time to travel to Sharptown on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. I wish for the sake of the other Bloggers that they had enough respect from their readers to drop what they were doing to meet those people truly wanting to make a difference for their community.
It mystifies me to no end that people in America today take these elections for granted and elect people who have more yard signs, or they look nice with blonde hair, or a family member has a big name in the community. Folks, please start using your heads when you put these events together. There was no real format for today's meeting. It was poorly organized from the very beginning. It was poorly advertised/promoted and today was living proof that no one takes those who did promote the event seriously. Salisbury News was NOT contacted with a Press Release for this event.
While I know some of you involved with the Tea Party or the AFP will be upset with some of what I've said in this Post. However, I not only tell it like it is, I'm not afraid to state the obvious. Like me or not, I've been doing this, (Blogging and covering events) long enough to see right through the junk others tend to spew. Chris Lewis, (and others) can no longer be taken seriously.
Sharptown deserves better! The American Legion has always done all they can to bring forth open government and educate their small community. Ralph Cordrey, Doug Gosnell and other leaders of Sharptown have always taken pride in servicing their community. This was unfortunate.

Von Siggers Holds Fundraiser Saturday





Say what you want about Von Siggers, (candidate for State Delegate) she leads the entire field of candidate interviews with 503 Views so far to date. Well, that's only partially true. My Julie Brewington interview has more than 2,000 views.

Rudy Cane has more to worry about then he ever thought. The Siggers supporters gathered in west Salisbury Saturday to show their support from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM and once again Salisbury News seems to be the only news outlet to cover the event.

BILL INFO-2010 Regular Session-SB 590

Joe:

FYI - in light the recently enacted State legislation it makes no sense for Wicomico County to have an elected school board.

The liberals in office at the State House took care of that with there recently enacted their new collective barganing tool . . . SB 590. Essentially this collective bargaining agreement puts the shaft to the average taxpayer and takes their 'voice' right out of the equation.

Yet another reason for Succession of the Lower Eastern Shore.


SENATE BILL 590
CHAPTER NUMBER: 324
File Code: State Government - Personnel
Crossfiled with: HOUSE BILL 243
Sponsored By:
Senators Raskin, Middleton, Conway, Exum, Frosh, Garagiola, Harrington, Jones, Kelley, King, Lenett, Madaleno, Peters, Pinsky, Pugh, Rosapepe, and Stone
Entitled:
Fairness in Negotiations Act

Synopsis:
Establishing as an independent unit of State government a Public School Labor Relations Board to assume specified duties previously held by the State Board of Education; requiring the Public School Labor Relations Board to hear specified controversies and disputes; establishing that specified decisions by the Public School Labor Relations Board are final; etc.
History by Legislative and Calendar DateLegislative date is used to record history occurring in the Chambers otherwise Calendar date is used.
Senate Action
2/5
First Reading Finance
2/16
Hearing 3/4 at 1:00 p.m.
3/22
Favorable Report by Finance
3/25
Favorable Report Adopted
Floor Amendment (Senator Jacobs)
Laid Over (Senator Jacobs) Adopted
3/26
Floor Amendment (Senator Jacobs) Adopted
Floor Amendment (Senator Brinkley)
Special Order later today (Senator Jacobs) Adopted
Floor Amendment (Senator Brinkley) Rejected (11-33)
Floor Amendment (Senator Jacobs) Rejected (11-34)
Floor Amendment (Senator Jacobs) Rejected (11-34)
Floor Amendment (Senator Jacobs) Rejected (11-34)
Floor Amendment (Senator Reilly) Rejected (12-33)
Second Reading Passed with Amendments
3/27
Third Reading Passed (35-12)
4/7
Senate Concur - House Amendments
Third Reading Passed (35-12)
Passed Enrolled
House Action
3/26
First Reading Ways and Means
3/30
Hearing 3/31 at 1:00 p.m.
4/9
Favorable with Amendments Report by Ways and Means
4/2
Favorable with Amendments Report Adopted
Special Order later today (Delegate Frank) Adopted
Second Reading Passed with Amendments
Motion Rules Suspended two readings same day (Delegate Hixson) Adopted (103-33)
Third Reading Passed with Amendments (103-35)
Action after passage in Senate and House
5/4
Approved by the Governor
- Chapter 324
Sponsored by:
Senator Jamie Raskin, District 20
Senator Joan Carter Conway, District 43
Senator Nathaniel Exum, District 24
Senator Brian E. Frosh, District 16
Senator Rob Garagiola, District 15
Senator David C. Harrington, District 47
Senator Verna L. Jones, District 44
Senator Delores G. Kelley, District 10
Senator Nancy J. King, District 39
Senator Mike Lenett, District 19
Senator Richard S. Madaleno, Jr., District 18
Senator Thomas M. Middleton, District 28
Senator Douglas J. J. Peters, District 23
Senator Paul G. Pinsky, District 22
Senator Catherine E. Pugh, District 40
Senator Jim Rosapepe, District 21
Senator Norman R. Stone, Jr., District 6

Beck's Rally: Political Ploy Or Religious Revival?

Glenn Beck's "Restoring Hope' rally drew a massive crowd of conservatives to the National Mall on the anniversary of Martin Luther King's 'I have a dream' speech.

Multisource political news, world news, and entertainment news analysis by Newsy.com

Yahoo, Summer Is Over?

Like many of you, this morning I walked my Grandson to the end of the driveway this morning to put him on the bus. That's right, school is finally back in and this Blogger will finally see some relief from the 24/7 responsibility of keeping tabs on the little guy.

Mind you, I had a great summer with my little buddy but just like 99% of you, YAHOO! If all goes well I won't get a call from the school Nurse and I'll have a day of freedom.

Questions Loom Over Drug Given To Sleepless Vets



WASHINGTON — Andrew White returned from a nine-month tour in Iraq beset with signs of post-traumatic stress disorder: insomnia, nightmares, constant restlessness. Doctors tried to ease his symptoms using three psychiatric drugs, including a potent anti-pyschotic called Seroquel.

Thousands of soldiers suffering from PTSD have received the same medication over the last nine years, helping to make Seroquel one of the Veteran Affairs Department's top drug expenditures and the No. 5 best-selling drug in the nation.

Several soldiers and veterans have died while taking the pills, raising concerns among some military families that the government is not being up front about the drug's risks. They want Congress to investigate.

In White's case, the nightmares persisted. So doctors recommended progressively larger doses of Seroquel. At one point, the 23-year-old Marine corporal was prescribed more than 1,600 milligrams per day — more than double the maximum dose recommended for schizophrenia patients.

A short time later, White died in his sleep.

"He was told if he had trouble sleeping he could take another (Seroquel) pill," said his father, Stan White, a retired high school principal.

An investigation by the Veterans Affairs Department concluded that White died from a rare drug interaction. He was also taking an antidepressant and an anti-anxiety pill, as well as a painkiller for which he did not have a prescription. Inspectors concluded he received the "standard of care" for his condition.

It's unclear how many soldiers have died while taking Seroquel, or if the drug definitely contributed to the deaths. White has confirmed at least a half-dozen deaths among soldiers on Seroquel, and he believes there may be many others.

Spending for Seroquel by the government's military medical systems has increased more than sevenfold since the start of the war in Afghanistan in 2001, according to documents obtained by The Associated Press under the Freedom of Information Act. That by far outpaces the growth in personnel who have gone through the system in that time.

Seroquel is approved to treat schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and depression, but it has not been endorsed by the Food and Drug Administration as a treatment for insomnia. However, psychiatrists are permitted to prescribe approved drugs for other uses in a common practice known as "off-label" prescribing.

But the drug's potential side effects, including diabetes, weight gain and uncontrollable muscle spasms, have resulted in thousands of lawsuits. While on Seroquel, White gained 40 pounds and experienced slurred speech, disorientation and tremors — all known side effects.

Last year, researchers at Vanderbilt University published a study suggesting a new risk: sudden heart failure.
MORE here.

Farmers' Almanac: 'Kinder And Gentler' Winter Ahead

New England, however, to get 'slap in the face' after missing last year's misery, 194-year-old publication says

LEWISTON, Maine — Good news, winter haters: After record snowfall in the mid-Atlantic and unusually cold weather down South, the Farmers' Almanac is predicting a "kinder and gentler" winter.

After eyeing the skies, tidal action and sunspots, the folks at the 194-year-old publication say in their 2011 edition going on sale Monday that it'll be cold but nothing like last winter, when 49 states saw snow and it got so cold in Florida that iguanas fell out of trees.

"Overall, it looks like it's going to be a kinder and gentler winter, especially in the areas that had a rough winter last year," said managing editor Sandi Duncan.

But don't put away your hat and gloves just yet.

It'll still be colder than normal for much of the country, the almanac says, and New England will get a "cold slap in the face" after missing last winter's misery. Finally, residents of the upper Midwest and Great Lakes are expected to get the piles of snow that'll be lacking elsewhere.

GO HERE to read more.

Analysis: Ehrlich, O’Malley Earn More Than 98% Of Maryland Residents


Now that we know that the two main candidates for governor make more than 98% of Maryland households, we can get on with the business of what they will do for the rest of us.

The tax returns released by ex-Gov. Bob Ehrlich and current Gov. Martin O’Malley over the weekend showed that Ehrlich was a man of his word, as the O’Malley radio ad portrayed: “We made money, for us, a lot of money.”

On the plus side, this was the first time that this has happened in a Maryland election campaign that anyone can recall. Good that we saw the returns, but bad that we couldn’t have the copies that would have made the reporting more accurate and allowed us to share the returns with the citizens and the tax professionals that could have analyzed them further.

GO HERE to read more.

Thieves Steal $10 Million, Pennies At A Time

These credit card thieves allegedly stole over $10 million by placing bogus charges on customers' credit cards for amounts between $10 and $.20. Each customer was stolen from only once, spreading the theft out over a million different cardholders. Check your statements, there's a decent chance you were one of them.

More »

Banks’ Self-Dealing Super-Charged Financial Crisis


As investors left the market in the run-up to the meltdown, Wall Street created fake demand, increasing their bonuses — and ultimately making the crisis worse.


New Internet LAW

Just wanted to let you know that the New Homeland Security Bill has passed. Things will be different now and Internet surfing as you know it will be tracked by what the FBI calls a 'nonintrusive method.' The FBI says you will hardly notice anything different.

For a demonstration, click on the link below:

Homeland Security

Why Is Obama Letting Non-Citizens Get Away With Voting?

As Matt Mayer vividly describes in a new Heritage Web Memo, the Obama administration is implementing a de facto amnesty that will allow the vast majority of illegal aliens to remain in the United States without being disturbed by the Department of Homeland Security or any attempts to deport them. We can now add one more general amnesty that the administration is apparently extending – no prosecution of illegal voting by noncitizens and a green light to becoming a citizen even if you have violated federal law.


FOX News is reporting that DHS was informed by the county elections administration in Putnam County, Tennessee, about an immigrant in the U.S. on a work visa who registered and voted in the 2004 election. This immigrant has now applied to become a citizen. The only interest that DHS seemed to have in this information from Putnam County was asking the immigrant to submit evidence that he has been removed from the voter rolls. The letter also asks the immigrant, in an amazing example of bureaucratic incompetence, to explain when he “discovered” that he was “not a United States Citizen.” This would be funny if it did not illustrate such a profound lack of common sense.

GO HERE to read more.

NRSC May Try to Steal Senate Race

We have learned that the NRSC (National Republican Senatorial Committee) has sent a team of lawyers and political hacks - including the NRSC's top lawyer - to Alaska to potentially manipulate the vote-counting process in the Alaska GOP Senate race.

Their apparent goal: to help Liberal Sen. Lisa Murkowski steal the election from Conservative Republican, Joe Miller, who currently leads in the vote count.

Joe Miller's campaign has discovered that operatives are even calling absentee voters and asking them how they voted, purportedly so that they can figure out which absentee ballots to throw out (Joe Miller voters) and which ones to keep (Lisa Murkowski voters).

We need to fight back against this attempt to manipulate the election process. We went through this with Al Franken in Minnesota when the Democrat Party pulled this stunt - we can't stand for it in Alaska with the Republican Party establishment.

Redneck Life Lessons

GENERAL:
1. Never take a beer to a job interview.
2. Always identify people in your yard before shooting at them.
3. It's considered tacky to take a cooler to church.
4. If you have to vacuum the bed, it is time to change the sheets.
5. Even if you're certain that you are included in the will, it is still rude to drive the U-Haul to the funeral home.

DINING OUT:
1. When decanting wine, make sure that you tilt the paper cup and pour slowly so as not to "bruise" the fruit of the vine.
2. If drinking directly from the bottle, always hold it with your hands

ENTERTAINING IN YOUR HOME:
1. A centerpiece for the table should never be anything prepared by a taxidermist.
2. Do not allow the dog to eat at the table, no matter how good his manners are.

PERSONAL HYGIENE:
1. While ears need to be cleaned regularly, this is a job that should be done in private using one's OWN truck keys.
2. Even if you live alone, deodorant is not a waste of good money.
3. Use of proper toiletries can only delay bathing for a few days.
4. Dirt and grease under the fingernails is a social no-no, as they tend to detract from a woman's jewelry and alter the taste of finger foods.

DATING (Outside the Family):
1. Always offer to bait your date's hook, especially on the first date.
2. Be assertive. Let her know you're interested: "I've been wanting to go out with you since I read that stuff on the bathroom wall two years ago."
3. Establish with her parents what time she is expected back. Some will say 10:00 PM. Others might say "Monday." If the latter is the answer, it is the man's responsibility to get her to school on time.

THEATRE ETIQUETTE:
1. Crying babies should be taken to the lobby and picked up immediately after the movie has ended.
2. Refrain from talking to characters on the screen. Tests have proven they can't hear you.

WEDDINGS:
1. Livestock is usually a poor choice for a wedding gift.
2. Kissing the bride for more than 5 seconds may get you shot.
3. For the groom, at least, rent a tux. A leisure suit with a cummerbund and a clean bowling shirt can create a tacky appearance.
4. Though uncomfortable, say "yes" to socks and shoes for this special occasion.

DRIVING ETIQUETTE:
1. Dim your headlights for approaching vehicles, even if the gun is loaded and the deer is in sight.
2. When approaching a four-way stop, the vehicle with the largest tires does not always have the right of way.
3. Never tow another car using panty hose and duct tape.
4. When sending your wife down the road with a gas can, it is impolite to ask her to bring back beer too.
5. Do not lay rubber while traveling in a funeral procession

MSP Press Release

DATE & TIME: 8/29/2010 0910AM
C C. CARD NUMBER: 1054-007795
LOCATION: Bethel Church Methodist Cemetery, 31810 Old Ocean City Rd, Salisbury, Wicomico Cnty, Md

BRIEF RESUME:
On 8/29/10 at 0826AM
, Cpl Grinnan responded to a motor vehicle accident at the Bethel Church Methodist Cemetery. Contact was made with John Oracio Simpson. He was identified as the driver of the vehicle (2010 Kia Sorento). Simpson was ultimately arrested for DUI/DWI as a result. Additionally, Cpl Grinnan observed marijuana in plain view inside Simpson’s vehicle. Simpson was transported to the Salisbury Barrack for processing and standard field sobriety tests. Simpson was transported to WCDC to go before a court commissioner.

Arrested:
John Oracio Simpson, W/M, 23YOA, Salisbury, MD
Charges:
Possession CDS Marijuana
Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol
Driving While Impaired by Alcohol

Meet Mary Byrne

First Dedicated Bikes Lanes Over The C & D Canal Cross St. Georges Bridge

Political leaders, DelDOT and Army Corps of Engineers celebrate new lanes by pedaling across canal

St. Georges
-- Governor Jack Markell and Transportation Secretary Carolann Wicks were joined today by Federal and state officials, and bicycle advocates at a ceremony to recognize the newly completed bike lanes on the St. Georges Bridge across the Chesapeake & Delaware Canal. Governor Markell led the excited group of cyclists on the 2.5 mile ride over the bridge and back.

Senator Thomas R. Carper, Congressman Michael N. Castle, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers District Commander, Lt. Philip Secrist, and Amy Wilburn, Chair of the Delaware Bicycle Council took part in the event on the grounds of the Commodore MacDonough School, where they discussed why it is so vital to provide infrastructure for more than just cars.

"These bike lanes are a testament to the power of the community to work together with state and federal government to find practical solutions," Governor Markell explained. "Enabling cyclists to cross this bridge safely helps promote public health, protect our environment, and improve quality of life to make Delaware more attractive to employers."

"Anyone who has renovated an old home knows too well the challenges of making changes to an existing structure," said Secretary Wicks. "Fortunately, this bridge has good bones. Like most of our roads and bridges they were designed and built well in the first place, so with a little coaxing, we can change them to serve the next century as well as they served the last century."

"Many Delawareans have no other option than to use their cars, trucks, and vans for every trip," said Senator Carper. "Today we are providing them with additional options. By adding bike lanes to the St. Georges Bridge - for recreational bikers or those looking for a way to commute back and forth to work -we are reducing congestion, improving our air quality, and giving people an opportunity to get some great exercise."

Congressman Castle also said the bike lanes are an opportunity for Delawareans. "I am proud to be a part of the bike ride to celebrate the new bicycle lanes on the St. Georges Bridge, which will unquestionably enable Delawareans to enjoy and explore the C & D Canal, Lums Pond and other recreational facilities in the area," he said. "Living an active lifestyle is the best way to promote health and I applaud Governor Markell and the Army Corps of Engineers for making this bike path a reality."

The Corps of Engineers owns the bridge and financed the recent repair project of the bridge. "This project is just another example of the great working relationship between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Philadelphia
District and the state of Delaware," said Lt. Col. Secrist, Together, we identified a need for bike lanes and made it a reality. It's truly a sign of the cooperativeness and hard work of our organizations employees."

Representing the bicycling community, which lobbied hard for these lanes, was Amy Wilburn, Chair of Delaware Bicycle Council. "A safe crossing over the C&D Canal has been one of the bicycling community's major goals for over twenty years," Wilburn said. "This is a great day for bicyclists in Delaware and a milestone along the road to making our state a green and bike friendly place to live."

Sixth Annual Imagine A Litter Free Delaware Clean Up To Be Held October 2, 2010

Dover -- The Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) announces that it will host it's Sixth Annual "Imagine A Litter-Free Delaware" Clean Up Day on Saturday, October 2. DelDOT has designated this as a statewide cleanup day when everyone is invited to come out to clean Delaware's roads, highways and community areas. This is also a perfect time for everyone to stop and consider what a litter-free Delaware would look like, and do what they can to make our state a cleaner and healthier place.

It's also a great day for Adopt-A-Highway volunteers and/or Adopt-A-Bike Path volunteers to do one of their annual clean ups. Businesses, citizens, and homeowners are also being asked to ensure that trash is well contained, to pick up debris blowing around their property and to step outside to sweep a sidewalk, pick up sticks, or rake up some leaves.

In addition, Secretary of Transportation Carolann Wicks is requesting that DelDOT maintenance forces pay special attention to cleaning Delaware's roadsides during the week of October 4-8, 2010. So you will see DelDOT crews out in force too!

If interested, register on our Web site, www.deldot.gov, under Hot Topics or by contacting the Office of Public Relations at 302-760-2080 or 1-800-652-5600. This year the deadline for registration has been extended to October 1, 2010. No telephone registrations please. There is no fee to participate, just a desire to have fun!

Of course, be sure to think "Safety First!" Anyone cleaning roadways should visit the nearest DelDOT district office to obtain safety information, safety vests and trash bags during the week of September 27-October 1, 2010. Following the cleanup, participants should either dispose of the trash themselves (i.e., via household trash pick up, landfill, etc.), or place it near a highway sign for DelDOT to pick up. If you need DelDOT to remove the trash bags, please call the nearest DelDOT district office to request DelDOT to remove them as soon as possible.

The rain date for the event will be Sunday, October 3, 2010.

Two Car Crash Kills Diver Near Bridgeville

Location: Redden Road, CR 40, and Chaplin’s Chapel Road, CR 42, east of Bridgeville, Sussex County, DE

Date of Occurrence: Sunday August 29, 2010 at 4:12 p.m.

Operators / Vehicles involved:

OP 1- Abigail J. Carmean, 26, Greenwood, DE
Veh 1- 2000 Ford Explorer
OP 2 - 58 year-old man, Georgetown, DE
Veh 2 – 2007 Mercury Millena

Resume:

Georgetown
- Delaware State Police are investigating a two car crash that killed a Georgetown man.

The crash happened just after 4 p.m. when Carmean was operating her Ford Explorer south on Chaplin’s Chapel Road when she entered the intersection of Redden Road and was struck by a Mercury Millena. The Mercury was heading eastbound on Redden Road at the time of the crash. After impact both vehicles burst into flames. Preliminary investigation indicates that Carmean failed to stop for a stop sign when she entered the intersection.

A Good Samaritan stopped and began pulling occupants out of the vehicles.
A 48 year-old woman was pulled from the Mercury, and flown to Christiana Hospital near Newark. She was admitted in critical condition with severe internal injuries. In addition a 20 year-old Lewes man was also pulled from the wreckage and he was taken to Baltimore Shock Trauma in critical condition with a closed head injury. He was flown by the Maryland State Police helicopter. The 58 year-old driver was pronounced dead at the scene after fire fighters were able to extinguish the flames and a medical crew could get to him.

Carmean and her two children were also pulled from the car by the Good Samaritan. Carmean was taken to Milford Memorial Hospital where she was admitted with a lacerated liver and a broken back. Her 8 month old daughter was transported to Milford Memorial where she was treated and released with minor cuts and contusions. Her 4 year-old son was flown to A. I. du Pont Hospital near Wilmington and admitted for head and left arm injury.

All occupants were wearing there seatbelts at the time of the crash and the 8 month old was properly secured in a child seat.

The investigation is still on going and the roadway was closed for 4 hours until the crash scene could be cleared.

The name of the 58 year-old driver is being withheld at this time pending notification of next of kin.