Conviction Of Princeton Gene Feaster For Distribution Of Heroin, Large Amount (161 Grams)

The Office of the State’s Attorney for Wicomico County is pleased to announce that on January 26, 2011, a Wicomico County Circuit Court jury returned guilty verdicts in the case of State of Maryland v. Princeton Gene Feaster, 28, of Salisbury, Maryland.

                Feaster was arrested on November 19^th, 2008, in a Salisbury, Maryland hotel room.  Upon their search of Feaster’s room, members of the Wicomico County Narcotics Task Force found a significant quantity of Heroin with an estimated street value of between $10,000.00 to $13,000.00, digital scales, packaging material, and over $3,000.00 in U.S. currency. Feaster was subsequently charged with the following:  Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin Large Amount (161 grams), Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin, Possession of Marijuana, and two (2) counts of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. 

               

                Wicomico County State’s Attorney, Matt Maciarello, lauded the efforts of the Wicomico County Narcotics Task Force and Assistant State’s Attorney, Patrizia Coletta, Esq., who prosecuted the case.  Feaster is facing a minimum incarceration of forty (40) years.  A Pre-Sentence investigation has been ordered and sentencing should occur within 30 days.

Medicare Official Doubts Health Care Law Savings

Two of the central promises of President Barack Obama's health care overhaul law are unlikely to be fulfilled, Medicare's independent economic expert told Congress on Wednesday.

The landmark legislation probably won't hold costs down, and it won't let everybody keep their current health insurance if they like it, Chief Actuary Richard Foster told the House Budget Committee. His office is responsible for independent long-range cost estimates.

Foster's assessment came a day after Obama in his State of the Union message told lawmakers that he's open to improvements in the law, but unwilling to rehash the health care debate of the past two years.  Republicans want to repeal the landmark legislation that provides coverage to more than 30 million people now uninsured, but lack the votes.

Foster was asked by Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Calif., for a simple true or false response on two of the main assertions made by supporters of the law: that it will bring down unsustainable medical costs and will let people keep their current health insurance if they like it.

On the costs issue, "I would say false, more so than true," Foster responded.

As for people getting to keep their coverage, "not true in all cases."

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CBO: This Year's Budget Deficit To Hit $1.5T

Washington – New budget estimates released Wednesday predict the government's deficit will hit almost $1.5 trillion this year, a new record.

The daunting numbers mean that the government will have to borrow 40 cents for every dollar it spends.

The new Congressional Budget Office estimates will add fuel to a raging debate over cutting spending and looming legislation that's required to allow the government to borrow more money as the national debt nears the $14.3 trillion cap set by law. Republicans controlling the House say there's no way they'll raise the limit without significant cuts in spending, starting with a government funding bill that will advance next month.

The CBO analysis predicts the economy will grow by 3.1 percent this year, but that joblessness will remain above 9 percent this year. Dauntingly for President Obama, the nonpartisan agency estimates a nationwide unemployment rate of 8.2 percent on Election Day in 2012.

The latest figures are up from previous estimates because of bipartisan legislation passed in December that extended Bush-era tax cuts, unemployment benefits for the long-term jobless and provided a 2 percent payroll tax cut this year.

That measure added almost $400 billion to this year's deficit, CBO says.

GO HERE to read more.

GOVERNOR MARTIN O’MALLEY TO PROVIDE BRIEFING ON STATEWIDE SNOW OPERATIONS AND PLANNING

ANNAPOLIS, MD (January 26, 2011) – Governor Martin O’Malley will visit the Statewide Operations Center in Hanover today where he will join public safety and transportation officials and provide a briefing to members of the media on statewide operations and planning for tonight’s snowfall.  Following a closed-door briefing, Governor O'Malley will hold a media availability at approximately 4:00 p.m.

WHAT:           Governor Martin O’Malley to hold media availability at Statewide Operations Center

WHEN:           TODAY, Wednesday, January 26, 2011 at 4:00 p.m.

                       

WHERE:         Statewide Operations Center

7491 Connelley Drive

Hanover, MD

GOVERNOR MARTIN O'MALLEY TO PARTICIPATE IN FALLEN HEROES REMEMBRANCE DAY TOMORROW

ANNAPOLIS, MD (January 26, 2011) – Governor Martin O’Malley will join veterans, military officials, and policy leaders tomorrow for Fallen Heroes Remembrance Day.  This annual event honors veterans who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty in the past year.  This year, ten soldiers will be honored and remembered.

WHAT:           Governor O’Malley to participate in Fallen Heroes Remembrance Day

WHEN:           TOMORROW, Thursday, January 27, 2011 at 10:30 a.m.

WHERE:         Maryland State House

House of Delegates Chambers

100 State Circle

Annapolis, MD

GOVERNOR O’MALLEY TO KICK OFF INVESTMARYLAND DAY IN ANNAPOLIS

ANNAPOLIS, MD (January 26, 2011) – Governor Martin O’Malley will join Maryland legislators, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists and business leaders to kick off InvestMaryland Day at the Miller Senate Office Building in Annapolis tomorrow morning. Expected to draw more than 300 attendees, InvestMaryland Day is a public private partnership of more than 20 groups and sponsors to communicate the program operation and benefits of Governor O’Malley’s signature economic legislation for the 2011 General Assembly session.

SB 180 – the InvestMaryland Program – seeks to create a public-private partnership to invest $100 million in Maryland’s innovative start-up companies. The morning session will feature remarks by Governor O’Malley, Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development Secretary Christian S. Johansson, and Martek CEO and Maryland Economic Development Commission Co-Chair Steve Dubin, as well as profiles of seven successful Maryland entrepreneurs and a panel discussion on ways to fund new economy ventures with industry experts in cyber security, biotech, clean tech and venture capital.

WHAT:           Governor O’Malley to kick off InvestMaryland Day

WHEN:           TOMORROW, Thursday, January 27, 2011

Gathering runs from 8 a.m. to noon

Governor arrives and delivers remarks at 9:15 a.m.  

           

WHERE:         Miller Senate Office Building

                        President’s Conference Center – West I and II

Annapolis, MD

NOTE:            Live streaming of InvestMaryland Day will be available beginning at 9 a.m. at http://www.livestream.com/choosemaryland

BREAKING NEWS

Judge makes rulling in Leggs case. All motions to have the death penalty removed have been denied. Death Penalty Stands!

Today's Survey Question

What Did YOU Think Of The State Of The Union Speech?

Stepping Away For A Good Part Of The Day

Today I will be traveling to Elkton for more motions hearings. I will check in from time to time so please be understanding and patient. Stay warm, stay dry and enjoy the fact that our children are back in school today. Well, in our part of the world anyway.

AFP-Maryland’s Statement On The State Budget – More Debt, Less Prosperity

Annapolis – On Friday Jan 21st, Gov. O’Malley unveiled his fiscal year 2012 budget. Since the elections, Governor O’Malley promised no new taxes in his budget and, instead, significant cuts to the State Budget.

Americans for Prosperity Maryland’s Political Director Nick Loffer issued the following statement:
"Maryland’s initial budget produced by Gov. O’Malley fails to meet his obligation of maintaining Maryland’s fiscal health. Maryland needs to pay off its debt and make real spending cuts rather than continue down the road of the same failed policies that add to the massive financial liabilities all Marylanders bear.

Continuing to borrow money and leaving financial gaps from raiding dedicated trust funds in order to "balance the budget" is not a solution that leads to prosperity. Gov. O’Malley has thus left the door open for another round of damaging taxes that businesses and families cannot afford.

Americans for Prosperity Maryland calls upon Governor O’Malley and Annapolis to make meaningful budgets cuts with all expenditures on the table, to remove any borrowing currently in place, and to refuse taxing their way out of Maryland’s fiscal mess.

JOHN STOSSEL: ENOUGH! Our Government Needs To Stop Trying To Protect Us

I feel so much safer now knowing that politicians like Jimmy Jeffress want to protect me!

Doctors ask about your family history because it’s one of the best predictors of what will bring your demise.

My family history? Being hit by public transportation while distracted. My grandfather was killed by a bus when he was crossing the street while reading. I was hit by a taxi when jaywalking.

Arkansas State Senator Jimmy Jeffress proposed to “make it illegal for you to wear headphones in both ears if you're working out or walking on or near a street.”

He’s not alone. New York City wants to ban texting while crossing the street.

I feel safer already.

GO HERE to read more.

The Patch

The other day I needed to go to the emergency room.  Not wanting to sit there for 4 hours, I put on my old Army fatigues and stuck a patch onto the front of my shirt that I had downloaded off the Internet.

When I went into the E.R., I noticed that 3/4 of the people got up and left.  I guess they decided that they weren't that sick after all.  Cut at least 3 hours off my waiting time.
Here's the patch.  Feel free to use it the next time you're in need of quicker emergency service.

It also works at the DMV. It saved me 5 hours.

Three minutes after entering the Laundromat, I had my choice of any machine, most still running.

Don't try it at McDonald's though....
The whole crew got up and left and l never got my order.

Rare Film Of Civil War Reunion

Help Us Fund Fruitland’s Recreational Park

Join us for breakfast at Uno's

Saturday, January 29, 2011

from 7 a.m. - 10 a.m.

Menu

Eggs, Sausage, Bacon, Hash Browns, Biscuits and Coffee, Tea or Juice.

Tickets are $6.00 each

Tickets can be purchased in advance at Uno’s and Fruitland City Hall

All proceeds to benefit the

Fruitland Recreational Park

For more info, call 410-548-2800

Farm And Home Show Cookbook

Everyone,

We are planning for our third Wicomico Farm and Home Show Cookbook in honor of the show's 75 Birthday this year. 

We need your recipes.  Please let your family and friends know and collect their recipes.

The deadline for all recipes in April 1st.

Please send to Iva Mae Gravenor, 168 Morris Mill Road, Salisbury, Maryland  21801.  410-742-5174
We hope to receive new recipes, that were not in our previous two books. 
Previously published similar recipes may not be published. 

Try to think of the good old home cooking, and even recipes from our deceased loved ones.

GOP Responds To Obama Speech — And Then Tea Party Weighs In

Ryan criticizes 'endless borrowing;' Bachmann says her speech wasn't competing with his

WASHINGTON — Barack Obama was blamed for plunging the country into deeper debt in the GOP response to his State of the Union address, but a separate Tea Party message given by Michele Bachmann hinted at the party's divisions.

While Bachmann's comments were similar to those made by House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, R-Wis., some Republican officials privately expressed anger at the unusual move.

Bachmann said her address wasn't intended to compete with Ryan's.

Ryan urged Obama to give up on new spending programs and "endless borrowing" by joining the GOP in a drive to wrestle the federal budget deficit under control.

"There is no doubt the president came into office facing a severe fiscal and economic situation," he said.

"Unfortunately, instead of restoring the fundamentals of economic growth, he engaged in a stimulus spending spree that not only failed to deliver on its promise to create jobs, but also plunged us even deeper into debt."

GO HERE to read more.

Survey: Citizen Satisfaction Plunges

It probably won't come as any surprise to federal employees that average citizens feel a little less kindly towards government than a year ago. Overall, satisfaction is down almost five percent in the Annual Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI).
 

The ACSI research scientist who co-authored the Federal Government report, Forrest Morgeson, told Federal News Radio that represents the largest single year decline since ACSI measurement began in 1994.

 

"What we're seeing," said Morgeson, "is that there are particularly large declines in a couple of areas that are important to satisfaction. One being the delivery of information, the other being the efficiency of processes."
 
The first part of that, the delivery, might be puzzling to fans of the dashboards that have been popping up on federal websites, but Morgeson explained, "there's certainly a difference between a large quantity of information and easily accessible and clear information. One of the things we have found in the past with federal government is that the amount of information is high. The clarity of that information, the accessibility of that information, the clarity of the language in which that information is delivered is often lacking with the federal government."
 
Morgeson said the role of the agency or department has a big influence on satisfaction as well. It may seem kind of obvious, but it's all about the bottom line for the citizen.

GO HERE to read more.

Republican Response To State Of The Union Address

Good evening. I'm Congressman Paul Ryan from Janesville, Wisconsin _ and chairman here at the House Budget Committee.

President Obama just addressed a congressional chamber filled with many new faces. One face we did not see tonight was that of our friend and colleague, Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona. We all miss Gabby and her cheerful spirit, and we are praying for her return to the House chamber.

Earlier this month, President Obama spoke movingly at a memorial event for the six people who died on that violent morning in Tucson. Still, there are no words that can lift the sorrow that now engulfs the families and friends of the fallen.

What we can do is assure them that the nation is praying for them; that, in the words of the Psalmist, the Lord heals the broken hearted and binds up their wounds, and that over time grace will replace grief.

As Gabby continues to make encouraging progress, we must keep her and the others in our thoughts as we attend to the work now before us.

Tonight, the president focused a lot of attention on our economy in general _ and on our deficit and debt in particular.

He was right to do so, and some of his words were reassuring. As chairman of the House Budget Committee, I assure you that we want to work with the president to restrain federal spending.

In one of our first acts in the new majority, House Republicans voted to cut Congress's own budget. And just today, the House voted to restore the spending discipline that Washington sorely needs.

GO HERE to read more.

Trade Agency Judge Shuts Down Kodak's Patent Claim

This digital photography fad isn't great for companies that built their empires on film, so Kodak seems to be grasping at legal straws to generate some revenue. The company filed a image-previewing patent claim to force smartphone makers such as Apple and BlackBerry maker Research In Motion Limited to pay it royalties. The United States International Trade Commission ruled that the phones don't violate the patent.

More »

Man Scores 100% Discount On Electronics By Making Fake Receipts At Home

Here's a story that should let you check off both the "receipt-checking" and "I make my own at home" boxes on your Consumerist bingo card. A man in New Mexico was recently arrested for allegedly forging receipts to steal goods from Sam's Club and other stores in his area.

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USPS Shutting Down 2,000 Locations

A year from now, you may be driving a little bit farther and waiting in longer lines to do your mail-related business. The USPS set a goal to shut down 2,000 branches and stations in 2011. No post offices are on the chopping block, but the new cuts are in addition to nearly 500 closures that are all ready in the works. The locations under threat of closure are smaller satellite offices that don't process mail and sometimes don't have mail carriers.

More »

Men Pay More Attention To "Sexier" News Anchors, But Remember Less

TV networks try to boost ratings by hiring comely female anchors and dressing them and shooting them in ways to accentuate their visual assets, but a study finds it actually reduces the amount of information recalled by male viewers. The "sexier" the female anchors, the more attention men pay, but the less they remember of what the news was about.

 

More »

 

Amazon Tries To Make Itself Exempt From Tenn. Sales Tax

Everything is negotiable when you're a company that's as big as powerful as Amazon. After landing a sweet incentive deal to build a distribution hub in Tennessee, the online sales giant is trying to get the state to excuse its customers from paying state sales tax on their purchases.

More »

Marylanders React To State Of The Union

Obama's 'Union': 'Move Together Or Not At All'

We asked you to complete this sentence, "The state of the union is ________"

  

Jesse A. Burke III wrote, "In shambles!!!"

Barbara Taylor wrote, "Worse than last year."

Carolyn Clayton Washington-Newman wrote, "... is on the upswing?"

Sallie K. Roberts wrote, "Way excellent."

Levonia Long wrote, "The state of the union is 'CAPABLE' so long as we stay on course. If education and infrastructure the #1 priority, so be it!"

We asked, "What would you cut from the federal budget?"

Barbara Parks replied, "NO raises for any member of congress until I'm making what they make."

Susan Melefsky replied, "I would cut all the big dinners and way over the top elegant functions. Trips that are unnecessary. That alone would show the people that YOU are willing to sacrifice, if you ask the US people to sacrifice.Cut spending. WE need a budget just like a family needs."

GO HERE to read more.

Officer Who Died In Crash Distracted By Film Crew

A Baltimore police officer who was killed in October when his cruiser slammed into the back of a fire engine was speeding at 71 mph and most likely was distracted by a film crew on the opposite side of a highway, the final investigative report concludes.

Officer Thomas Portz Jr., 32, did not suffer a medical problem, and officials found no mechanical defects in the police car, a 2009 Chevrolet Impala. The report says Portz, a 10-year veteran assigned to the Western District, was not wearing his seatbelt.

The report, obtained by The Baltimore Sun under the Public Information Act, concludes that the only likely cause of the crash was that Portz "had his attention diverted to the westbound side" of U.S. 40 "where a film crew was filming a movie."

GO HERE to read more

Parkville Man Sentenced To 15 Years For Child Pornography

A 28-year-old Parkville man was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison Monday for producing child pornography, the Maryland U.S. Attorney's Office announced.

In July 2006, Jeremy Guzewicz introduced himself online to a 12-year-old Massachusetts girl, and eventually exchanged sexually explicit photos with her, according to prosecutors. Guzewicz pleaded guilty in November to sexually exploiting a child to produce child pornography.
GO HERE to reaqd more.

Academy Expels 7 Midshipmen In 'Spice' Probe

Synthetic marijuana product hard to detect in drug tests

The U.S. Naval Academy has expelled seven midshipmen for the possession or use of "spice," a synthetic marijuana product that has been gaining popularity because it is hard to detect in drug testing and, until recently, was legal.

The seven midshipmen, all sophomores and juniors, were separated from the academy between December and yesterday as a result of an investigation that began at the beginning of this school year, academy spokesman Cmdr. Joe Carpenter said.

The investigation is ongoing and additional accusations will be investigated.

"Where allegations are substantiated, violators will be held accountable," Carpenter said.

GO HERE to read more.

Poll: Majority In State Back Gay Marriage

Results announced same day lawmakers offer bill to legalize same-sex marriage

On the same day lawmakers are set to introduce a bill legalizing same-sex marriage, a new poll shows a majority of Marylanders support extending rights for same-sex couples.

Advocates of gay marriage predict more success with the measure this year, thanks to a realignment of key committees that make it more likely there will be a vote on the Senate floor.

According to Annapolis-based pollster Gonzales Research, 51 percent of Maryland residents support gay marriage. Endorsements break down along party lines, with 65 percent of Democrats and 52 percent of independents favoring same-sex marriage, while only 24 percent of Republicans back the concept. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percent.

GO HERE to read more.

Snow: 'Biggest' Storm Of Year Arrives

Schools are closed in Maryland's Montgomery, Prince George's, Frederick and Howard counties. Schools are closed in Virginia's Fairfax, Fauquier, Loudoun and Prince William counties.

GO HERE to read more.