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Tuesday, March 01, 2011

Salisbury Police Department Call

Salisbury PD on call to 301 Buena Vista Ave.   Man with a shotgun.

Salisbury City Council Election Results Are In.......

The winners from the Salisbury City Council Primary Election are as follows----

Terry Cohen with 18.11% with 532 votes,

Tim Spies with 18.38% 540 votes,

Muir Boda with 13.92% with 409 votes,

Laura Mitchell with 15.35% with 451 votes,

Bruce Ford with 9.43% with 277 votes,

Orville Dryden with 10.35% with 304 votes.

County Council Scrubs Bennett Middle School

The Wicomico County Council just voted to drop the proposal to build a brand new Bennett Middle School until next year. My God, I do believe we are seeing some kind of light at the end of the tunnel!

Bob Caldwell and Sharee Sample Hughes voted for the project. BOO!

Rape Suspect Located In Maryland And Awaiting Extradition To Delaware

Location
  • Check Road Georgetown, De
  • Flowering Plum Road Lincoln, De
 
DATE and TIME:  
  • Between July 2008 and May 2010
 
Victim(s):
  • 14 years of age when incident 1st began (Female) Sussex County
 
Suspect(s):
  • Lorne F. Kennedy-38 (current age)
 
Last Known Address:
  • Ties to Sussex County Delaware and Federalsburg Maryland
 
Active Arrest Warrants:
  • 64 counts of Rape Fourth Degree
  • Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child
  • Endangering the Welfare of a Child
 
 
Resume:
 
Delaware State Police Detectives were notified that Lorne F. Kennedy was taken into custody on Monday, February 28, 2011, by the Caroline County Sheriff’s Department, Maryland.  Kennedy turned himself in to Caroline County Sheriff’s and is currently incarcerated in Maryland.  He will be arrested by Delaware State Police on the listed charges upon his extradition back to Delaware. 

County Council Meeting Tonight, Standing Room Only

It looks like the County Council Meeting and the Board of Education topic has brought in all the troops. Bring your own chair if you want to attend or turn on PAC14.

As for the City elections, only 6.2% of the voters had voted by 3:30 PM tonight. The numbers are slowly rising but as I stated the other day, this could be the lowest voting turn out in the history of the City of Salisbury elections.

Exclusive News On Gay Marriage In Maryland

The vote on Gay Marriage has run into a roadblock in the Judiciary Committee. It seems there are some holdouts and democrats who have backed away. It could go down in defeat today...the outcome remains in question, when Friday it appeared certain.

Job Killing Gas Tax Hikes Being Prepared In Annapolis

 
Higher costs at the pump mean more out of businesses bottom lines and potential job losses.
 
Truckers fearful of lost revenue and job losses protested in Annapolis today. About 40 trucks have rolled by the Maryland State House to protest a proposed gas tax increase. Beltway Companies in Baltimore, says the propose 10-cent increase to Maryland’s 23.5-cent gas tax would hurt the state because truck drivers would avoid buying gas in Maryland. A proposed increase in the state’s vehicle titling tax could drive trucking companies from Maryland.  (“Truck Drivers Protest Proposed Gas Tax Increase” Associated Press, ,” 2/1611)
 
Higher costs to ship goods mean less revenue for businesses. That means the extra costs that come from driving the store's delivery van 70,000 miles a year come from only one place: "right out of the bottom line." (Jonathan Fhey and Sandy Shore,  “High pump prices rattle drivers and businesses,” Associated Press,  2/28/11)
 
Less revenue for businesses means higher costs for consumers. Elkridge-based Kane Co., whose businesses include Office Movers, Office Shredding and Office Installers, operates a fleet of more than 100 moving trucks as well as 25 tractor-trailers, according to Chief Operating Officer Ron Meliker. “If the price of fuel continues to rise, rates would go up as well, he said. (Gus G. Sentementes and Liz F. Kay  “Revolt in Libya, surge at the gas pump,” Baltimore Sun, 2/23/11)
 
Gas tax will hit families’ bottom lines too
 
Marylanders are already struggling with high fuel prices and a poor economy – Maryland Democrats’ gas tax would make it worse. High fuel prices are putting the squeeze on drivers’ wallets just as they are starting to feel better about the economy. (Jonathan Fhey and Sandy Shore,  “High pump prices rattle drivers and businesses,” Associated Press,  2/28/11)
 
Maryland drivers are already outraged over high costs. “I think the gas is already high enough as it is. People are having problems with the economy finding jobs,” said Siren Davis a Maryland driver. ““Transportation is already bad enough, why should we have to pay another tax on top of taxes.” (Kai Jackson, “Gas Prices On The Rise Again” WJZ News Baltimore, ,” 2/1611)
 
Increases in oil prices due to Middle East turmoil show no signs of slowing down.
 
Already high gasoline prices are going higher today with new turmoil in the Middle East.  Oil prices climbed Tuesday as Iran clamped down on anti-government protesters and unrest in the Middle East threatened to keep energy prices high for months to come. (Chris Kahn  “Oil prices climb as Iran tensions escalate,” Associated Press, 3/1/11)
 
 
MDGOP launches http://link.sc.states.gop.com/?65-1320-2856-125-11585 to inform Marylanders about negative gas tax impacts and to provide the tools to stop any increases. “If we don’t stop them, everything from driving to work, taking your kid to school, to running a business is about to get more expensive – all because Democrats think they know how to spend our money better than we do,” said MDGOP Chairman Alex X Mooney.

Wicomico County Sheriff's Department Press Releases

Incident: Assault First Degree
Date of Incident: 28 February 2011
Location: 100 block of West Fairfield Drive, Salisbury, MD
Suspects: Teresa A. Cornish, 49, Salisbury, MD


Narrative: On 28 February 2011 at 6:10 PM, a deputy from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office investigated an altercation at a residence in the 100 block of West Fairfield Drive. Upon arrival, the deputy learned that Cornish was involved in a verbal altercation with her 18 year old son and 16 year old daughter when Cornish allegedly pulled out a knife, approached her son and threatened to kill him. During the investigation the deputy was shown the knife that was used according to the victims.

The deputy placed Cornish 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 Cornish in the Detention Center in lieu of $25,000.00 bond.

Charges: Assault 1st Degree

Incident: Hindering
Date of Incident: 27 February 2011
Location: 200 block of S. Pennsylvania Avenue, Delmar, MD
Suspects: Amy R. Bott, 40, Delmar, MD


Narrative: On 27 February 2011 at 1:50 AM, a deputy from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office was investigating an assault that had just occurred on Waller Road outside of Delmar, when a vehicle alleged to be carrying the suspect in the assault drove by. The deputy attempted to locate the vehicle again and soon found it as it pulled up in front of a residence in the 200 block of S. Pennsylvania Avenue in Delmar.

During the investigation, deputies had received information that the suspect was picked up by this vehicle nearby where the assault occurred. Upon stopping it and speaking with the operator, Amy Bott, she repeatedly denied knowing who the suspect was and denied picking anyone up. The deputies subsequently learned the suspect was supposedly Bott’s boyfriend and that she had dropped him off in another location to avoid contact with the police.

Because of the overt actions of Bott and her attempts to keep the investigating deputy from locating the suspect in this case, Bott was arrested. Bott was transported to the Central Booking Unit where she was processed and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner. After an initial appearance, the Commissioner released Bott on Personal Recognizance.

Charges: Obstruct and Hinder
False Statement

Incident: Assault
Date of Incident: 27 February 2011
Location: 200 block of S. Saratoga Street, Salisbury, MD
Suspects: Michael A. Patterson, 23, Salisbury, MD


Narrative: On 27 February 2011 at 3:34 AM, a deputy from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office investigated an altercation that occurred in the 200 block of S. Saratoga Street in Salisbury. Upon arrival, the deputy met with a female victim who advised that she returned home after an evening out with friends and she became embroiled in a verbal altercation with her live in boyfriend, Michael Patterson. During the argument, Patterson allegedly slapped her in the face with an open hand. The investigating deputy saw that the female had an injury that was caused during this incident that corroborated her account.

Patterson was placed under arrest and transported to the Central Booking Unit where he was processed and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner. After an initial appearance, the Commissioner released Patterson on Personal Recognizance.

Charges: Assault 2nd Degree

Incident: Possession of Marijuana
Date of Incident: 27 February 2011
Location: Naylor Mill Road, Salisbury, MD
Suspects: Andre D. Richards, 30, Seaford, DE


Narrative: On 27 February 2011 at 5:07 AM, a deputy from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office stopped a vehicle because the deputy could not see a license plate displayed. While speaking with the driver, the deputy detected the odor of marijuana emanating from within the vehicle. The deputy began speaking with both the driver and a passenger, Andre Richards, outside of the vehicle and eventually discovered that Richards was concealing marijuana in the pocket of his sweatshirt.

The deputy placed Richards under arrest and transported him to the Central Booking Unit where he was processed and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner. After an initial appearance, the Commissioner released Richards on Personal Recognizance.

Charges: Possession of Marijuana

Mayor To Vote In City Primary Election

Mayor James Ireton, Jr. will vote today in his precinct polling location, Wicomico Presbyterian Church at 1:30 PM. See below for details of today’s election. The mayor encourages all City of Salisbury voters to go to the polls today.

CANDIDATES:
Muir W. Boda
Timothy K. Spies
Terry E. Cohen
Bruce A. Ford
Laura Mitchell
Joel H. Dixon
Orville G. Dryden, Jr.
Michael Steven Taylor

City Elections are non-partisan.

Polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Election Day at the following locations:

119 South Boulevard
Harvest Baptist Church
Precincts 08001.32, 08002.32, 08003.32, 13001.32, 13002.32, 13003.32, 16002.32

129 Broad Street
Wicomico Presbyterian Church
Precincts 05002.32, 05003.32, 05004.32, 05006.32, 09001.32, 09002.32, 09003.32, 09004.32, 11002.32

The American Red Cross Lower Shore Press Release

Lopez Lane, Delmar, MD House Fire
1 March 2011

The American Red Cross Lower Shore Chapter Disaster Action Team #3 responded to assist a family displaced by a house fire on Lopez Lane, Delmar, MD early this morning.    

Your E-mails WikiLeaked? The Day May Not Be Far Off

Imagine having every e-mail you've written published by hackers for the entire world to see. You don't have to stretch your imagination very far — it's already happening to some folks.

Salisbury City Council Helps Federal Government Go Into Deeper Debt

GOD BLESS AMERICA, RIGHT?

You're already on welfare, living in section 8 housing, collecting food stamps and even though the Federal Government is looking at the threat of a shut down, (partially caused by the City of Salisbury) I know, let's go order a $1,000,000.00 Fire Boat.

Its wet pants liberals like Mayor Jim Ireton who feel things like this are FREE and IF we don't take advantage of it first, someone else will. Why democrats are still in ANY Office is beyond me.

They say municipal elections are non partisan politics and to me that too is simply a load of crap. Mind you,  there are some democrats like Debbie Campbell and Terry Cohen who are fiscally responsible but it only takes a select few like Ireton and others to screw this Country so deep into debt we'll never get out of it.

Oh, don't get me wrong. There are some republicans, (or so they claim) out there like Louise Smith who are nothing short of puppets on a string for the establishment of special interests. We, as Americans, need to look at other events happening around the World and force our so called elected officials to act/vote accordingly.

This community overwhelmingly rejected even the thought of such a Fire Boat. Should we put ALL items like this up for referendum? I mean, look back at the Health Care Bill. Town Hall Meetings were held all over the state and we the people said NO. Our own government is NOT listening. We're going broke and we're passing the debt off to our children and even gandchildren.

Salisbury does not need a Fire Boat. Ireton needs to go and YOU need to get out and vote today!  

Ed Nelson, Repulican Club Member Of The Year

Yesterday we brought you the Adams Family, today we bring you the Nelson's. All kidding aside, Ed Nelson is a very good man who works very hard for the Republican Club.

It should be noted, (by me, anyway) that this had to be a pretty difficult decision for the Club to make. The reason being, there are at least three people that I know in that Club who worked just as hard and Ed would firmly agree.

We're not attempting to take anything away from Ed. We simply want to thank ALL of the Volunteers that helped deliver a majority County Council, a new republican Congressman and so many new Candidates.

Middle School At Stake?

Sans question mark, that is the title of an op-ed in today’s Daily Times.  Unfortunately, the title is as disingenuous as the rest of the piece.

A concerted effort by the Wicomico County Board of Education, with the aid of the Daily Times, would have us believe:

… that tonight's vote is not about committing the county to any specific amount of spending. Tonight's vote is about keeping the project alive while board members and county officials work together to find adjustments that will make the project more affordable. To stop now will have financial ramifications, but more importantly, will add years to the process.

Nothing could be further from the truth.  Tonight’s vote is PRECISELY about committing our county government to more debt; debt that will have to be paid off at some point with our (probably higher) tax dollars.

As we noted yesterday, there is little argument that we need a new Bennett Middle School.  There is also no argument from me that the WCBOE did present the proposal for a new Bennett High School as a “package deal”; replacing both the high school AND middle school.  There is also little question in my mind that the county council will, and should, move forward with the BMS proposal once certain conditions are met:

  1. How will we pay for it?
  2. When will the BOE present a realistic plan that makes WISE use of the taxpayers’ money, rather than the current white elephant that is more monument than school.

That said, the argument that this is not about committing the county to funding the project this year is, at best, a HALF TRUTH.  There is no doubt that the county’s financial situation will not improve between now and August – when the annual bond bill will come before council for a vote  (the assessments for the next budget are in).  If the council approves this measure tonight, refusing to borrow $16 million (we’re now hearing the BOE wants $21 million) in August simply puts the project in the same position that it would be in if the council strips a new BMS from the CIP tonight.

So … what angle is being worked by the BOE and the Daily Times?  If the vote tonight were to borrow the money, it would fail.  This gives them 5+ months to lobby council members to be fiscally reckless.  They already have the County Executive firmly in their pocket – look no farther than his refusal to allow citizens to vote on an elected school board.  If this measure passes tonight, expect lots of talk about “private sources of funds”.

One thing you can take to the bank – it will all be smoke and mirrors.  Conning our elected officials into betting on the come has become a registered trademark of the Wicomico County Board of Education.

GAO Details Billions In Federal Waste

GAO to release report today on federal spending that one senator says 'will make us all look like jackasses.'

E. Coli Found On 50 Percent Of Shopping Carts

Researchers who swabbed shopping cart handles in four states looking for bacterial contamination found that half of the carts they studied were tainted with E. coli.

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Wis. Governor: Ax $900 Million From Education

Amid protests over union rights, Republican is set to release his two-year spending plan

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker's explosive proposal to take nearly all collective bargaining rights away from most public workers represents just one piece of his vision for the Midwestern state's future.
Now he's ready to reveal the rest.

With the union rights proposal stuck in a legislative stalemate thanks to the state Senate's runaway Democrats, the Republican governor planned to forge ahead with the Tuesday release of his two-year spending plan that will include major cuts to schools and local governments to help close a projected $3.6 billion budget shortfall.

Walker has confirmed he will propose cutting education aid by about $900 million, or 9 percent statewide.

Walker's proposal has sparked two weeks of massive protests. A sit-in in the Capitol began Feb. 15 and hit its peak Saturday, when more than 70,000 people descended on the Capitol grounds for a rally.

Police on Monday blocked public entry to the Wisconsin Capitol.

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Not All Lost Dog Posts On Salisbury News Have Happy Endings

Mr. Albero,

Thank you for your assistance. Sadly it is confirmed that the dog hit on RT. 50 was my dog. Unfortunately she did not survive the accident.

This is devastating news to me and my family but we do take some comfort in knowing what happened and can now have closure.

It was suggested by several people that I post my lost dog info on this site. It is certain they were correct in suggesting your blog.

Out of all the places I posted about my missing dog, you and your community on this site got me the answers I needed almost instantly.

Thank you to you sir and to the people who helped get this awful news to my family and I.

Labor Secretary Steps Out In Wisconsin Union Fight

President Obama is staying mostly quiet about the union battle going on in Wisconsin.

His labor secretary, Hilda Solis, is not.

"The fight is on!" Solis told a cheering crowd at the Democratic National Committee's winter meeting over the weekend in Washington. Giving her support to "our brothers and sisters in public employee unions,"

Solis pledged aid to unionized workers who are "under assault" in Wisconsin and elsewhere.

"Admittedly, I am a little biased," she told the DNC, "because ... I come from a union household."

But is it the role of the secretary of labor to take sides in a fight that pits public employee union members against workers and taxpayers who support Walker's reforms? After all, the Labor Department mission statement says its purpose is "to foster, promote, and develop the welfare of the wage earners, job seekers, and retirees of the United States." It doesn't say anything about unionized wage earners, job seekers, and retirees.

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New GAO Report Details BILLIONS In Federal Waste

As members of Congress fight over what to cut in the current federal budget to avert a government shutdown, lawmakers are about to receive a blockbuster report that could provide a roadmap to potentially hundreds of billions of dollars in waste.

The nonpartisan General Accounting Office (GAO) is poised to release a report Tuesday that one senator said “will make us all look like jackasses.”

“Go study that (report). It will show why we’re $14 trillion in debt,” said Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla.

“Anybody that says we don’t look like fools up here hasn’t read the report.”

Read more

Prostitute-Patronizing Dem Wisconsin State Rep To Female GOP Rep: ‘You Are F **ing Dead’

Keep calm and carry on, right?

Only if you’re on the right and are a member of the Tea Party movement. Otherwise, there’s a whole other set of rules to play by.

On Monday, Milwaukee AM 620 WTMJ radio host Charlie Sykes detailed an encounter between Democratic State Rep. Gordon Hintz, who had previously been busted in a prostitution sting, and Republican State Rep. Michelle Litjens, in which the rules of civility were completely ignored after a vote to “engross” a state budget repair bill.

“After the vote to engross, he turns to a female conservative Republican, who is also from the Oshkosh area, looks at her and says, ‘You are f—ing dead,’” Sykes said. “He didn’t say ‘f—ing,’ he said the whole thing. He says to a female colleague, ‘You are f—ing dead.’”

According to Sykes, Litjens confirmed the encounter and explained she felt that she had allowed him to “intimidate her.” However, Sykes called on the media to look into the encounter as tensions are high in the state due to a union-collective bargaining showdown in the state government.

Media Make Wisconsin Protesters Look Like Sai

The cadre of reporters that descended on Madison, Wis., during the past couple weeks steered attention away from the union demonstrators’ negativity — or, at the very least, failed to call attention it. The public sector union protesters have exhibited violence against Fox News reporters and have carried signs comparing Republican Gov. Scott Walker to recently deposed Egyptian dictator Hosni Mubarak and Adolf Hitler.

NBC News anchor Brian Williams likened union members’ actions to the populist revolts in the Middle East. “From the Mideast to the American Midwest tonight, people are rising up,” Williams said in his Feb. 18 opening segment. “Citizen uprisings are changing the world.” Williams went on to say Wisconsin’s capitol, Madison, “has been taken over by the people.” NBC News did not return requests for comment.

ABC News’ Diane Sawyer opened her Feb. 17 show in a similar manner, but went a step further. “Today, we saw America’s money trouble meet a reality, a human reality, as teachers, nurses, tens of thousands of state workers took to the streets in this country, protesting cuts by the governors, saying to these governors, a promise is a promise,” Sawyer said. “One lawmaker looked out at the crowds gathered in the Wisconsin capital today said it’s like Cairo moved to Madison.” ABC News would not comment for this story.

No major network anchor mentioned the signs comparing Walker to Mubarak or Hitler on air, according to a study from the Media Research Center (MRC). And there was little online or print coverage of the signs or of the violence. The Huffington Post didn’t publish any, nor did the Washington Post. The New York Times did mention comparisons protesters made between Mubarak and Walker.

The Huffington Post, by contrast, published a slew of signs from Tea Party rallies

Washington Post columnist Dana Milbank also ripped on the Tea Party movement’s behavior during the House vote on Obamacare.

Brent Baker at the MRC told TheDC the television networks “treated the Wisconsin protests far more nicely than the Tea Party protests.”

“They used anything that could be construed as violence and claims of racism to tar the entire Tea Party movement,” Baker said in a phone interview. “Whereas, in Wisconsin, they’ve basically ignored all things that would make the union guys look bad. It’s all been about the governor’s policy and what they’re doing and how they’re fighting back against an attempt to ‘bust the union.’ They ignore the signs showing Gov. Scott Walker as a Nazi and they ignore the signs showing him in crosshairs.”

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Report: Iran Opposition Leaders Jailed

Iranian authorities have taken senior opposition leaders Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mahdi Karroubi to a prison in Tehran, a reformist website reported Monday.

Kaleme.com said Mousavi, his wife Zahra Rahnavard, as well as Karroubi and his wife, Fatemeh Karroubi, were transferred to Heshmatieh prison in the Iranian capital. The men had been under house arrest for more than two weeks. The report said it was not immediately clear when they were transferred to the prison.

The semiofficial Fars news agency, which is close to the powerful Revolutionary Guard, denied that Mousavi and Karroubi had been jailed.

Read more

China's Holdings Of US Debt Larger Than Reported

China's holdings of US bonds reached $1.16 trillion at the end of December, almost $270 billion more than previously estimated, new data showed Monday.

Beijing, which has converted much of a huge trade surplus with the United States over the past two decades into buying up US treasuries and other securities, held 26.1 percent of the total of $4.44 trillion held by foreigners, the Treasury said.

More here

Wisconsin's Governor To Absent Democrats: 24 Hours To Return

Wisconsin's Republican Gov. Scott Walker said on Monday that absent senate Democrats have 24 hours to return and vote on a measure to reduce the power of public sector unions or the state will miss out on opportunity to refinance its debt.

"Now they have one day to return to work before the state loses out on the chance to refinance debt, saving taxpayers $165 million this fiscal year," Walker's spokesman Cullen Werwie said in a statement.

Under Walker's proposal, Wisconsin's general obligation bonds would be restructured and that would push debt service payments due by March 15 into future years to save the current state budget $165 million. The deadline is because it takes a couple of weeks for the state to prepare to go to the bond market and implement the refinancing before the payment is due on March 15.

"Failure to return to work and cast their votes will lead to more painful and aggressive spending cuts in the very near future," the statement said.

More here

Today's Survey Question

When going to the gas pumps, do you trust the equipment being accurate or do you believe some retailers are inaccurate?

GOP “Tough Medicine” On Budget Might Be Too Much For Democrats To Take

Republican delegates Tuesday will be offering their annual dose of “tough medicine” in the form of perhaps $1 billion in budget cuts, but it is unlikely that Democrats are any more willing to swallow the bitter pills than they were in past years. Trotting out charts showing the steady uphill climb of state spending, House Minority Leader Tony O’Donnell said, “it’s always going up… it’s always growing … it never stops, it never gets cut.”

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Slots Revenues Fall Short Of Projections

In their first few months of operation, revenues at slots casinos in Perryville and Ocean Downs have fallen short of projections, but Maryland State Lottery Director Stephen Martino said that there are reasons, including the fact that the projections might not be accurate anymore.

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Supreme Court Tells Parents They Can't Sue Vaccine Makers Over Harm To Children

A Supreme Court ruling protects vaccine makers from lawsuits filed by parents who believe vaccines have hurt their children.

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Color-Coded Plastic Ties Tell You Day Your Bread Was Baked

Turns out that the plastic tags and twists on loafs of bread aren't just for looking pretty, they are coded to indicate what day the bread was baked on, writes Wise Bread. The most commonly-used code for 5-day a week delivery is is blue for Monday, green for Tuesday, red for Thursday, white for Friday, and yellow for Saturday. It's a nifty "and now you know" factoid, though it probably won't save you from getting a stale loaf, because the shelf stockers for whom the code was designed are already doing that for you.

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Block Unwanted Calls And Texts With PrivacyStar

It's always puzzled me why smartphones are smart enough that I can toss virtual birds at virtual pigs, but they're somehow too stupid to let me block unwanted calls or texts. Well now there's PrivacyStar, an app for Android and Blackberry that lets you do just that.

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Connecticut Governor Wants Coupon Users To Pay Tax On Full Price Of Purchase

Got a coupon for 30% a Blu-Ray player? If the Connecticut governor gets his way, you'd still be paying sales tax on that player's full price.

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Get Your Grubby Hands On Two Chipotle Burritos For The Price Of One

Oh hey burrito lovers, get off your salsa-loving butts and get on over to Chipotle before March 7 for a buy-one-get-one deal. All you have to do is sit through an ad for a TV show beforehand and you're golden.

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National Institutes Of Health Studies Crude Oil Exposure To Humans

We're learning more about a health study on the effects of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico from the National Institutes of Health. NIH is launching the study to follow 55,000 cleanup workers and volunteers over the next ten years. It is called the GuLF Study, which stands for Gulf Long-term Follow Up Study. It is the largest health study of its kind, and will make up one part of the federal response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The goal is to find out if exposure to crude oil and dispersants affect physical and mental health.

Redundant Federal Programs

The Government Accountability Office issues a report today detailing billions of dollars in redundant federal programs. The report was obtained by the Wall Street Journal. It could serve as a template for both Congress and the administration as they try to rein in spending. The Journal writes, the GAO report shows 15 agencies overseeing food-safety laws. It cites 20 separate programs to help the homeless, and 80 programs for economic development. Sen. Tom Coburn (R., Okla.) commissioned the report. He estimates it identifies up to $200 billion in savings.

Social Security Administration Offering Early Retirement

The Social Security Administration reportedly is encouraging its eligible employees, to retire early. In an announcement obtained by Federal Times, SSA is offering the early retirement option to employees who are at least 50 years and have 20 years of credible service, or employees of any age with 25 years of service. The agency is working under a partial hiring freeze imposed by the budget stalemate that has left most funding at last years level. Those wanting to take advantage of the deal must let supervisors know by April 29 and be out the door by June 3rd.

Right To Work: Representation Without Taxation

Part of Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker's union-busting agenda is including a "right to work" rule for public-sector employees. Several other Republican governors are considering similar measures for both the public and private sectors. Insofar as they succeed, these right-to-work measures will seriously weaken the bargaining power of workers.

"Right to work" is a great name from the standpoint of proponents, just like the term "death tax" is effective for opponents of the estate tax, but it has nothing to do with the issue at hand. It is widely believed that in the absence of right-to-work laws workers can be forced to join a union. This is not true. Workers at any workplace always have the option as to whether or not to join a union.

Right-to-work laws prohibit contracts that require that all the workers who benefit from union representation to pay for union representation. In states without right-to-work laws, unions often sign contracts that require that all the workers in a bargaining unit pay a representation fee to the union that represents the bargaining unit.

The logic is straightforward. When a union is recognized as representing a bargaining unit, it legally must represent every worker in that unit, whether or not a worker opts to join the union.

This means not only that nonmembers get the same wages and benefits that the union negotiates with the employer, but the union is also obligated to represent any nonmember individually if that worker gets in a dispute with the employer over an issue covered in the contract. For example, if a nonunion member is threatened with a discipline action or firing, the union must defend this worker's rights just the same as if they were in the union.
Right-to-work laws prohibit workers from being required to pay for this union representation. What right-to-work laws actually guarantee is the ability for a worker to benefit from union representation without having to pay for union representation.

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If you'd like to see positive results in a bad economy, contact me at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com and we can discuss rates. Our ads are only $100.00 a month with no strings and no monthly contracts.

Congress Will Likely Avoid Government Shutdown

According to McClatchy Newspapers, Congress is not likely to shut down this week despite difficulties compromising on how to continue funding the government for two weeks beyond Friday, March 4. The House of Representatives returned Monday morning to vote on an expedited measure that contains $4 billion in new spending cuts, several of which were already outlined in President Obama's 2012 budget proposal. If approved, the measure would end arguments between the Republican-run House and the Democrat-run Senate, and avoid a federal shutdown that could cause widespread damage to government-funded programs. In 1996, a 21-day shutdown caused 475,000 employees to work without pay, while more than 600 toxic waste sites stopped clean-up, tourism and airlines industries suffered as passports ceased processing and 368 National Park Service sites closed.

Nebraska Reintroduces "Justifiable Homicide" Abortion Bill

A new, more expansive version of South Dakota's "justifiable homicide" bill, which reproductive rights supporters believed would legalize the killing of abortion providers, has been reintroduced in Nebraska's state legislature, Mother Jones reports. Introduced by state Sen. Mark Christensen, the bill reaches beyond South Dakota's proposal of allowing a woman, her husband, or her family to commit "justifiable homicide" in defense of a fetus, and instead would apply those same protections to any third party. "LB 232 is really nothing more than an attempt to make sure a pregnant woman is not unnecessarily charged with a crime for using force to protect her unborn child from someone who means to bring harm to her unborn children," Christensen said. ACLU lobbyist Alan Peterson said, "If they wanted it that narrow, they should have drafted it that way, and they did not. I have reasonable suspicion that the intent was at least to create a possible broad defense for attacks on abortion providers."

Opposition Leader Returns To Bahrain

Democracy Now! reports that Bahrain's protests continued today as Shiite opposition leader Hassan Mushaima returned from exile to the capital city on Manama. Mushaima received a royal pardon from the Bahraini monarchy after protests grew larger and larger. "Promising is not enough, we have to see something on the ground, just by talking - because different times, they promised before but they did not do anything for the nation of Bahrain," Mushaima said upon his return.

The Daily Times Finally Gets On Board With Our HB1107 Post

GO HERE to see today's article on the Daily Times referencing this very important issue. My hat is tipped to them for doing so.

Md. House Panel Ready To Vote On Gay Marriage Bill

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) -- Maryland's House Judiciary Committee is on the verge of approving same-sex marriage, although supporters are still looking for more help.

The panel is set to vote Tuesday on the bill, House Judiciary Chairman Joseph Vallario said. If the committee -- where bill sponsors hold a one-seat majority -- passes the measure, it could come up for a final vote in the House as early as Thursday, he said.

Gov. Martin O'Malley has said he would sign the bill if it reaches his desk. If approved, Maryland would become the sixth state to legalize gay marriage.

Supporters said Monday night that they were still working to secure the 71 votes needed for passage. The Senate voted 25-21 Thursday to approve the bill after adding in protections for religious groups and institutions.

Source

State Workers, Companies Brace For Possible Federal Shutdown

Stakes are high in Maryland, with an outsized share of government work

A compromise brewing in Congress could delay a possible government shutdown until mid-March, but anxiety remains high among federal workers and contractors in Maryland — one of the states most dependent on federal spending.

Because Congress has not yet agreed on a budget for the fiscal year that started five months ago, the government is operating on temporary spending authority — and that runs out on Friday.

Republicans worked on Monday to persuade Democrats to accept a proposal to trim $4 billion over the next two weeks by eliminating programs that President Barack Obama also has targeted. The compromise could postpone a possible shutdown of many government services from Friday to March 18.
More

Baltimore Loses Federal Lead-Paint Funding

Unable to fix up enough homes, city ruled ineligible for new grant

Baltimore, where thousands of buildings contain lead-based paint that can poison young children, has lost federal funding for abatement programs due to mismanagement of its most recent grant, officials said Monday.

Department of Housing and Urban Development officials told The Baltimore Sun that the city health department failed to fix up enough homes under the latest $4 million grant, which expired in January, and as a result the city was deemed a "high-risk" grantee ineligible to receive more funds.

HUD officials also said they are investigating the way the city managed its last grant, including "administrative" issues, and seeking documentation showing that all the money was spent appropriately. Several homes the city had paid to replace windows did not have lead paint on them, according to a December HUD monitoring report. Also, the report said, the city failed to document that all the homes treated had housed families poor enough to qualify for aid or that children under 6 lived or visited there.
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Killer Attended Victim's Funeral

Woman sentenced to 10 years after confession tossed

Fraternal Order Of Eagles

Troopers Investigate Greenwood Home Invasion

Location:

·         Woodyard Road, Greenwood, DE

Date of Occurrence:   

·         Sunday, February 27, 2011 @ 9:15 p.m.

Victim:

·         Female victim

Suspect(s):  

·         2 white males, approximately 30 years of age, both wearing masks (No further description available)

Resume:   
Greenwood-Delaware State Police Detectives are investigating a home invasion that occurred on Sunday night in Greenwood, Delaware.

On Sunday, February 27, 2011 9:15 p.m. Troopers responded to a residence on Woodyard Road, Greenwood, for a reported home invasion.  Upon arrival at the residence, Troopers discovered the front door forced open and a female victim bound with rope inside the residence.

Investigation revealed that the female victim was asleep at the time of the burglary and was confronted by the 2 male suspects who proceeded to bind her legs with rope and demand money.  The victim complied and turned over an undisclosed amount of money.  The suspects then fled the residence.
  
If anyone has any information in reference to this incident, they are asked to contact Detectives at Troop 3 at 302-697-4454 or Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333.  Information may also be provided via the internet at www.tipsubmit.com  

Send an anonymous tip by text to 274637 (CRIMES) using the keyword "DSP."

Salisbury Police Department Press Releases

On February 26, 2011 at approximately 8:17 am, Officers of the Salisbury Police were on routine patrol in the five hundred (500) block of East Church Street and observed that a vacant dwelling had been entered through a rear window. The officers checked the residence and located the below listed suspects sleeping in one of the bedrooms. The suspects were taken into custody without incident.

ARRESTED #1: Robert Sean Butler, 40 years of age Salisbury, Maryland

ARRESTED #2: Rebecca Ann Kern, 36 years of age Salisbury, Maryland

CHARGES (Both): Fourth degree burglary

DISPOSITION: Released to Central Booking CC # 201100007226

On February 27, 2011 at approximately 3:08 am, Officers of the Salisbury Police received a call to respond to a residence on the four hundred (400) block of Camden Court for the report of a domestic disturbance. Upon arrival the officers met with an adult female victim who advised that she had been assaulted during a domestic argument with the below listed suspect. During the assault the suspect pushed the victim down, then struck her in the facial area with his fist. During the assault, the victim attempted to leave the residence but was prohibited from leaving by the suspect. The victim transported herself to the Peninsula Regional Medical Center for the treatment of her injuries.

ARRESTED: Deshawn Walter Tingle, Sr., 28 years of age Salisbury, Maryland

CHARGES:
Second degree assault
False imprisonment

DISPOSITION: Released to Central Booking CC # 201100007343

On February 27, 2011 at approximately 12:49 pm, Officers of the Salisbury Police received a call to respond to a residence on the two hundred (200) block of Walston Avenue for the report of an assault with a knife. Upon arrival the officers met with an adult male victim and witnesses who advised that the victim had been assaulted at a residence on the nine hundred (900) block of East Church Street. The victim advised that he and the below listed suspect were involved in a domestic type argument which led to the suspect obtaining a serrated kitchen knife and lunging at the victim. The victim moved to avoid the knife however was cut on the right hand. The officers relocated to the residence on East Church Street and located both the suspect and the knife. The suspect was taken into custody, without incident, and the knife was collected for evidentiary purposes. The victim did not respond for medical treatment.

ARRESTED: Shirell Peggy Fyall, 41 years of age Salisbury, Maryland

CHARGES:
Attempted second degree murder
First degree assault
Second degree assault
Reckless endangerment
Intoxicated endangerment

DISPOSITION: Released to Central Booking CC # 201100007373

Wicomico County Sheriff's Office Press Releases

Incident: Hindering
Date of Incident: 26 February 2011
Location: Civic Avenue at Salisbury Parkway, Salisbury, MD
Suspects: Allan D. Purnell, 30, Salisbury, MD

Narrative: On 12:52 AM, a deputy from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office stopped a Toyota Camry operated by Allan Purnell for speeding. During the deputy’s encounter with Purnell, the deputy observed indicators that led him to believe that Purnell was involved in some sort of illicit activity. Instead of complying with further requests made by the deputy, Purnell instead locked himself in his vehicle and refused to exit. After Purnell refused repeated requests to unlock the door, the deputy informed Purnell that he was under arrest. Purnell still refused to unlock his door and only did so after the deputy gave indications that he was about to use an alternate method of opening the door.

Upon his exit from the vehicle, Purnell was placed under arrest and was found to be concealing marijuana on his person.

Purnell was transported to the Central Booking Unit where he was processed and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner. After an initial appearance, the Commissioner detained Purnell in the Detention Center in lieu of $25,000.00 bond.

Charges: Possession of Marijuana
Obstruct and Hinder
Failure to Obey a Lawful Order of a Law Enforcement Officer

Incident: Assault 1st Degree
Date of Incident: 25 February 2011
Location: 700 block of East College Avenue, Salisbury, MD
Suspects: Tiffany Caldwell, 24, Salisbury, MD

Narrative: On 25 February at 12:59 PM, a deputy from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office investigated an altercation that had occurred in the 700 block of East College Avenue. Upon arrival, the deputy met with a male victim who advised that he was involved in a verbal altercation with his girlfriend, Tiffany Caldwell, when Caldwell allegedly sliced him on his face with a knife.

Caldwell was gone from the residence upon the initial arrival of the deputy. During the investigation, the deputy located the knife reportedly used and also saw an injury to the victim’s face that corroborated the account. The deputy met with Caldwell on a nearby street where she was taken into custody.

Caldwell was transported to the Central Booking Unit where she was processed and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner. After an initial appearance, Caldwell was detained in the Detention Center by the Commissioner in lieu of $75,000.00 bond.

Charges: Assault 1st Degree

Incident: False Statement
Date of Incident: 25 February 2011
Location: Ocean Gateway at Stanton Avenue, Salisbury, MD
Suspects: Jerrell Savage, 20, Salisbury, MD

Narrative: On 25 February at 9:14 PM, a deputy from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office stopped a vehicle for failure to stop for a stop sign. Upon making contact with the operator, he attempted to identify himself as his brother. Unfortunately for the driver, the deputy knew the driver’s brother and knew the individual he had stopped was not him. Upon further investigation, the deputy discovered the operator’s true identity was Jerrell Savage and discovered an open warrant for his arrest.

The deputy placed Savage under arrest for providing a false name and the outstanding warrant. Savage was then taken to the Central Booking Unit where he was processed and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner. After an initial appearance, the Commissioner detained Savage in the Detention Center on $10,000.00 bond.

The outstanding arrest warrant was a Failure to Appear bench warrant on the charge of Hindering and held Savage in the Detention Center on an additional $25,000.00 bond.

Charges: False Statement
Hindering

Please Get Out And Vote Today

If you live in the City of Salisbury, please take the time today to get out and vote. Clearly this is your final chance to make a difference. Salisbury News, (so far) supports Cohen, Spies and Boda.