Route 50 has been shut down in BOTH directions. A vehicle struck a telephone poll that stretched wires completely across Rt. 50. Rt. 50 has been indefinitely been shut down at Athel Rd. and Rt. 54 in Mardela. Power crews are now on the scene.
More to come.....
UPDATE: Rt. 50 is still completely closed down at 9:42 PM. I have been informed that they expect it to remain closed for another hour, or so. Also, the traffic from pork in the Park is just unbelievable. They a redirecting everyone around this area.
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Thursday, April 14, 2011
SALISBURY -- NO PROPERTY TAX INCREASE BUT SEWER RATES SOARING IN FY2012!
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Thank You!
Good morning Joe!
Just wanted to THANK YOU for placing our "Help Wanted" ad in your Blog. It is nice to have that added fringe benefit as an advertiser on SbyNews! Each time we place an ad with SbyNews it has brought us an abundance of qualified applicants. We don't need to advertise any place else. Thank you, again!
Cathy-Jo Williams
Cathy's Pet Salon, Spa & Doggie Daycare
1005 Mt. Hermon Rd, Salis, MD 21804
We Treat Every Pet Like a Champion!
Holistic Pet Food Life's Abundance also found here!
Mayor To Deliver FY 2012 Budget TODAY
Ireton Cites Law Enforcement, EMS, Infrastructure and Neighborhood Integrity as City Priorities
Salisbury Mayor James Ireton, Jr., invites the public to his Fiscal Year 2012 Budget Presentation Press Conference today, Thursday, April 14, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. in room 301 of the Government Office Building. During this time, the Mayor will unveil and discuss his proposed City Budget for fiscal year 2012.
GOVERNOR O’MALLEY, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION RELEASE FIVE-YEAR PLAN TO POSITION STATE FOR GROWTH IN THE NEW ECONOMY
Governor announces new life sciences, retail tenants at Science +Technology Park at Johns Hopkins
ANNAPOLIS, MD (April 14, 2011) – Following the passage this week by the Maryland General Assembly of several key economic development initiatives, including InvestMaryland, Governor Martin O’Malley today joined the Maryland Economic Development Commission (MEDC), Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, elected officials and emerging life sciences companies for the release of the Commission’s five-year strategic economic development plan, Charting Maryland’s Economic Path: Discovery, Diversity & Opportunity. The Commission, which was re-launched by the Governor in 2009 after being inactive for several years, developed the plan over 18 months with input from more than 250 business owners and four regional roundtable discussions around the State. Focused on four core strategies, the plan outlines a framework to position Maryland for growth; build on the State’s leading economic drivers, like life sciences, cyber security and federal and military operations; embrace regional and economic diversity in tourism, manufacturing and agriculture; and make it easier to do business in the State.
“I want to thank the Commission for many months of hard work in developing this plan, which charts a clear path for accelerating our mission of creating and retaining jobs and positioning Maryland as a leader in the new economy,” said Governor O’Malley. “While these targeted strategies will help guide our economic development efforts for the next five years and beyond, we have already laid the groundwork with bold initiatives, like InvestMaryland, that give Maryland a unique competitive advantage to be able to fight for and win the jobs of tomorrow.”
The plan is organized into four major themes:
Position Maryland for growth, through accelerating efforts to sustain a knowledge-dependent, global, entrepreneurial economy, driven by innovation.
Build on, and protect, leading drivers of economic growth, such as life sciences, information technology, and federal and military-related economic activity.
Embrace regional and economic diversity, by investing in and transforming Maryland’s traditional sectors of agriculture, manufacturing and tourism.
Make it easy to do business and live in Maryland (State, local and Federal), through transparency, predictability and automation.
“The strategic plan released today took stock of Maryland’s strengths and weaknesses in the current competitive environment to create the optimum conditions to attract, retain and support the creation of businesses and jobs,” said Steve Dubin, co-chair of the MEDC and CEO of Martek Biosciences Corp. “As a life sciences executive in Maryland, I know firsthand the advantages of doing business here and the importance of building on our strengths, like workforce and diversity, and investing in economic drivers, like health and discovery. In the coming months, the Commission will be focused on implementing key strategies of the plan to create the next generation of innovative and successful companies.”
As part of today’s strategic plan release at the Science +Technology Park at Johns Hopkins, Governor O’Malley announced new tenants at the John G. Rangos Building, a hub of life sciences companies and research institutes in the East Baltimore complex. In addition to welcoming the Lieber Institute for Brain Development next month, new life sciences tenants will include Personal Genome Diagnostics, a cancer diagnostics company focused on personalized medicine; and Inostics, a German diagnostics company focused on improving cancer drug development, pushing the building to more than 80 percent occupancy. New retail tenants will include Teavolve, a minority-owned café offering gourmet tea and lite fare; and Cuban Revolution, a Cuban fusion eatery slated to open in April 2012.
“I am pleased to be here with business leaders from around the State as we join together to move Maryland forward and create the kinds of jobs that will sustain Maryland’s economy for years to come,” said Mayor Rawlings-Blake. “It is particularly fitting to be here at the Science + Technology Park at Johns Hopkins, a place on the cutting edge of discovery which is continuing to attract new health sciences companies and will soon be a retail center.”
Earlier this week, the General Assembly passed InvestMaryland, Governor O’Malley’s key economic development initiative that will invest at least $70 million in start up and early stage companies in Maryland, creating thousands of new jobs with the potential to spur billions in follow-on capital. The funding for InvestMaryland, which will come from the auction of premium tax credits to insurance companies, will be invested by private venture capital firms selected by an independent third party and the Maryland Venture Fund, the State’s 15-year venture capital fund.
Maryland has an outstanding infrastructure to support an Innovation Economy. In January, the Milken Institute again ranked Maryland #2 in the nation for technology and science assets. According to study results, while Maryland received high rankings in human capital investment, research and development inputs, technology and science workforce, and technology concentration and dynamism, it lagged behind other states in risk capital and entrepreneurial infrastructure, demonstrating the need for Governor O’Malley’s InvestMaryland. The Index provides measurements of the technology and science assets for states, ranking them on their ability to foster and sustain a technology sector, which research has shown is a crucial factor in determining a region's future economic success. The previous study was conducted in 2008.
Somerset County Sheriff's Office Press Release
Joshua Lee Hankerson of Princess Anne, criminal summons served 4-7-11 regarding fail to stop after accident involving damage, and negligent driving.
Ronnie Lenwood Washington of Temperanceville Virginia, arrested 4-8-11 on a warrant regarding failing to appear in court. Washington was later released on personal recognizance.
Terrell Patrick Conway of Fruitland, criminal summons served 4-8-11 regarding 1st. degree burglary, trespassing on posted property, and theft over $ 500.00
Phillip Wayne Wells of Princess Anne, arrested 4-8-11 on a warrant regarding violation of probation and failing to pay fines. Wells was later released on personal recognizance.
Darrell Scott Travis of Princess Anne, arrested 4-8-11 regarding driving on a suspended drivers license, and speeding. Travis was later released after signing citations.
Theodore Roosevelt Turner Sr. of Westover arrested 4-11-11 on a warrant regarding violation of probation. Turner was later held on a $ 10,000 bond.
Thomas Stanford Harrison Jr. of Princess Anne, arrested 4-12-11 on a warrant regarding violation of probation. Harrison was later held on a $ 50,000 bond.
Audra Katherine Catlin of Crisfield, arrested 4-12-11 on a warrant regarding failing to appear in court. Catlin was later released back to the Somerset County Detention Center.
Jacki Lynn Crocket of Crisfield, criminal summons served 4-12-11 regarding driving on a suspended drivers license.
Donald Ernest Atkins of Millsboro Delaware, arrested 4-12-11 on a warrant regarding failing to appear in court. Atkins was later held on a $ 5,000 bond.
Crystal Lynn Milliner of Crisfield, arrested 4-13-11 on a body attachment. Millner was later released after posting $ 500.00 bond.
Ashlea Elizabeth Norfolk of Princess Anne, arrested 4-13-11 on warrants regarding electronic mail harassment, telephone misuse, harassment, and fail to comply with peace order. Norfolk was later released on a $ 10,000 unsecured bond.
Shawn Eugene Beazley Sr. of Marion, arrested 4-13-11 on a warrant regarding harassment, electronic mail harassment, telephone misuse, and fail to comply with peace order. Beazley was later released on a $ 30,000 un secured bond.
Aaron Terrell Binghman of Crisfield, arrested 4-13-11 on a warrant regarding failing to appear in court. Bingham was later released after posting $ 500.00 bond.
Woodland Warren James of Princess Anne, arrested 4-13-11 on warrants regarding violation of probation, and failing to appear in court. James was later held on a $ 13,000 bond.
Weekly Unemployment Rate Shoots Up
An unexpected jolt in people applying for unemployment benefits last week raised the number of applications to a seasonally adjusted 412,000.
It was the first increase in three weeks, and could be a sign that people who stopped looking for work are coming back, but the 27,000 additional requests for assistance for the week ending April 9 put the jobless aid figure at its highest point since mid-February.
Shortage Of ADHD Drugs Gives Parents The Jitters
Manufacturing delays, heavy demand spark scramble for Adderall, Ritalin
Nationwide shortages of popular drugs used to treat ADD and ADHD are sending parents scrambling, with some combing multiple pharmacies for the Adderall and Ritalin that keep their kids calm.
Molly Taylor, 46, of Worcester, Mass., was turned away empty-handed this week when she went to pick up prescriptions of Adderall XR for herself and her 16-year-old son, Luke.
“They don’t have them,” an incredulous Taylor told msnbc.com. “You could be waiting several days, which would have a HUGE impact. If you can’t get it that day, it’s very, very difficult.”
Ford To Announce Recall Of 1.2 Million F-150 Trucks
Problem related to airbags inadvertently deploying because of wiring problem
Ford and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration are set to announce the recall of 1.2 million Ford F-150 pickup trucks due to a problem related to airbags inadvertently deploying because of a wiring problem, CNBC reported Thursday.
The recall relates to trucks built between 2004 and 2006. Some 269 incidents with airbags have been reported, CNBC said.
Earlier this week, Ford said supply disruptions stemming from the earthquake in Japan could hurt earnings. The disclosure came in a securities filing with U.S. regulators Monday.
The U.S. automaker, which has no auto plants in Japan but uses suppliers based there, said it was looking for alternate sources of auto parts as necessary.
White House For Sale...In McLean
MCLEAN, Va. (WUSA) -- The White House is for sale for $4,650,000. Not the famous one, but a live-in replica in McLean. It's on Towlston Road off of Georgetown Pike.
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Academy Expels 13th Midshipman In Synthetic Marijuana Investigation
The U.S. Naval Academy has expelled another midshipman in an ongoing investigation into the use or possession of synthetic marijuana.
Cmdr. Joe Carpenter said Wednesday that a male student was expelled last week. The expulsion brings to 13 the number of midshipmen who have been expelled as a result of the investigation, which began last fall.
Synthetic marijuana is sold in drug paraphernalia shops and on the Internet. The products contain organic leaves coated with chemicals that provide a marijuana-like high when smoked.
It is banned by the Defense Department and the Navy.
More
Cmdr. Joe Carpenter said Wednesday that a male student was expelled last week. The expulsion brings to 13 the number of midshipmen who have been expelled as a result of the investigation, which began last fall.
Synthetic marijuana is sold in drug paraphernalia shops and on the Internet. The products contain organic leaves coated with chemicals that provide a marijuana-like high when smoked.
It is banned by the Defense Department and the Navy.
More
WSJ: 'Blistering Partisanship; Multiple Distortions-- Dishonest'
Did someone move the 2012 election to June 1? We ask because President Obama's extraordinary response to Paul Ryan's budget yesterday—with its blistering partisanship and multiple distortions—was the kind Presidents usually outsource to some junior lieutenant. Mr. Obama's fundamentally political document would have been unusual even for a Vice President in the fervor of a campaign.
The immediate political goal was to inoculate the White House from criticism that it is not serious about the fiscal crisis, after ignoring its own deficit commission last year and tossing off a $3.73 trillion budget in February that increased spending amid a record deficit of $1.65 trillion. Mr. Obama was chased to George Washington University yesterday because Mr. Ryan and the Republicans outflanked him on fiscal discipline and are now setting the national political agenda.
Mr. Obama did not deign to propose an alternative to rival Mr. Ryan's plan, even as he categorically rejected all its reform ideas, repeatedly vilifying them as essentially un-American. "Their vision is less about reducing the deficit than it is about changing the basic social compact in America," he said, supposedly pitting "children with autism or Down's syndrome" against "every millionaire and billionaire in our society." The President was not attempting to join the debate Mr. Ryan has started, but to close it off just as it begins and banish House GOP ideas to political Siberia.
Mr. Obama then packaged his poison in the rhetoric of bipartisanship—which "starts," he said, "by being honest about what's causing our deficit." The speech he chose to deliver was dishonest even by modern political standards.
Read more here
The immediate political goal was to inoculate the White House from criticism that it is not serious about the fiscal crisis, after ignoring its own deficit commission last year and tossing off a $3.73 trillion budget in February that increased spending amid a record deficit of $1.65 trillion. Mr. Obama was chased to George Washington University yesterday because Mr. Ryan and the Republicans outflanked him on fiscal discipline and are now setting the national political agenda.
Mr. Obama did not deign to propose an alternative to rival Mr. Ryan's plan, even as he categorically rejected all its reform ideas, repeatedly vilifying them as essentially un-American. "Their vision is less about reducing the deficit than it is about changing the basic social compact in America," he said, supposedly pitting "children with autism or Down's syndrome" against "every millionaire and billionaire in our society." The President was not attempting to join the debate Mr. Ryan has started, but to close it off just as it begins and banish House GOP ideas to political Siberia.
Mr. Obama then packaged his poison in the rhetoric of bipartisanship—which "starts," he said, "by being honest about what's causing our deficit." The speech he chose to deliver was dishonest even by modern political standards.
Read more here
Senate Panel Findings: Goldman Sachs Misled Investors, Congress
A Senate investigatory panel claims Goldman Sachs misled investors and Congress in its dealings before the financial crisis and has referred its findings to the Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.), who chaired the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, said Goldman Sachs executives engaged in "disgraceful" tactics to profit themselves at the expense of some clients and then misrepresented their actions when called to testify before Congress. He stopped short of saying anything illegal occurred, instead referring that matter to federal investigators.
"In my judgment, Goldman clearly misled their clients and they misled the Congress," he said. "Whether or not that constitutes perjury … is for someone else to decide ... It needs to be decided by an appropriate authority."
But when asked for his thoughts about the fact that no major Wall Street players have gone to prison over the financial crisis, he responded: "There's still time. Hope springs eternal."
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Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.), who chaired the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, said Goldman Sachs executives engaged in "disgraceful" tactics to profit themselves at the expense of some clients and then misrepresented their actions when called to testify before Congress. He stopped short of saying anything illegal occurred, instead referring that matter to federal investigators.
"In my judgment, Goldman clearly misled their clients and they misled the Congress," he said. "Whether or not that constitutes perjury … is for someone else to decide ... It needs to be decided by an appropriate authority."
But when asked for his thoughts about the fact that no major Wall Street players have gone to prison over the financial crisis, he responded: "There's still time. Hope springs eternal."
More
White House Protects Abortion Provider, Allows Cuts To Community Health Centers
The American Principles Project (APP) Wednesday criticized the Obama administration for allowing the elimination of $600 million for Community Health Centers while protecting funding for Planned Parenthood as part of last week’s budget deal agreed to by Congress and the White House.
Touting Planned Parenthood as a key women’s health-care provider, Democrats held firm to their promise not to allow cuts to the nation’s largest abortion provider. Community Health Centers, which do not perform abortions, provide health services to the needy — including mammograms and pre- and post-natal care.
According to the American Principles Project last year Community Health Centers performed 320,000 mammograms while Planned Parenthood did none.
“Coating its ideology in flowery language about women’s health and alleged Republican mean-spiritedness, liberal Democrats refused to cut one dime out of Planned Parenthood’s plump federal purse during the budget debate,” said the president of APP, Frank Cannon. “All the while a sharp knife was being taken to community health centers that actually perform full-scale exams for the needy. These health centers offer prenatal care to women and their babies – 480,000 times in 2009 alone.
Planned Parenthood? Their 850 clinics average less than one prenatal visit a month, in other words, it’s not their line of work,” he said.
Read more
Touting Planned Parenthood as a key women’s health-care provider, Democrats held firm to their promise not to allow cuts to the nation’s largest abortion provider. Community Health Centers, which do not perform abortions, provide health services to the needy — including mammograms and pre- and post-natal care.
According to the American Principles Project last year Community Health Centers performed 320,000 mammograms while Planned Parenthood did none.
“Coating its ideology in flowery language about women’s health and alleged Republican mean-spiritedness, liberal Democrats refused to cut one dime out of Planned Parenthood’s plump federal purse during the budget debate,” said the president of APP, Frank Cannon. “All the while a sharp knife was being taken to community health centers that actually perform full-scale exams for the needy. These health centers offer prenatal care to women and their babies – 480,000 times in 2009 alone.
Planned Parenthood? Their 850 clinics average less than one prenatal visit a month, in other words, it’s not their line of work,” he said.
Read more
Philadelphia Condom Campaign Targets Kids As Young As 11
A new campaign by Philadelphia officials to reduce sexually transmitted diseases allows children as young as 11 to receive free condoms via mail order, outraging some parents who believe that's too early to start getting physical.
The program, offered by the city's Department of Health, features a website that includes facts on diseases like Chlamydia, gonorrhea and HIV/AIDS, as well as detailed -- and playful -- instructions for young girls on how to use female condoms.
Scarborough: Obama's 'Moment Of Truth' Has Arrived
President Barack Obama has reached his ‘moment of truth’ over the spiraling national debt and is running out of time to demonstrate strong leadership on critical issues, MSNBC Morning Joe host Joe Scarborough tells Newsmax.
Republicans have voiced increasing criticism of President Obama’s decisiveness and executive leadership, ever since his State of the Union address.
When Wisconsin GOP Rep. Paul Ryan recently laid out an elaborate entitlement reform to slash some $6 trillion from federal spending, the White House appeared to be caught off guard.
The White House blasted Ryan’s plan for failing the test of fairness. But the media widely credited Ryan for presenting a framework to address the nation’s growing fiscal crisis.
As pressure grew for a Democratic response, the White House announced that President Obama would unveil his own budget reform recommendations, which he did to mixed reviews in a speech Wednesday afternoon.
In an exclusive interview, Scarborough, the popular former GOP congressman from Florida, told Newsmax that even the president’s closest supporters have told him not to expect Obama’s leadership style to change.
“Put ideology aside,” Scarborough told Newsmax. “If he were a Republican president who was a small-government conservative like me, I would still say he’s one of the weakest leaders to sit in the Oval Office in my lifetime.”
Scarborough said that Obama has repeatedly “allows himself to be shaped by events,” and contrasted him with President Ronald Reagan, who at the outset of his administration stated his goal was to cut taxes and strengthen national defense to defeat the Soviet Union – and then proceeded to do precisely that.
Scarborough, who was part of the 1994 GOP takeover of Congress that ultimately worked with President Bill Clinton to balance the budget, said in the interview conducted last week that even the oft-criticized President Jimmy Carter has been more decisive than President Obama.
“Jimmy Carter did things, I didn’t agree with his decisions, but at least he would step out and make decisions,” Scarborough told Newsmax. “Barack Obama doesn’t do that. And once again on the deficit we have him deferring and letting events shape him.”
Scarborough, a small-government conservative, noted that in the first week of his presidency Obama said the single most important issue facing the United States was the need to shore up Social Security.
“So after he passed the largest spending bill in the history of the United States,” Scarborough told Newsmax, “he decided it would be good politics to have a fiscal responsibility conference at the White House, which was a laughable concept after the stimulus package.
“He calls Democrats and Republicans over, but Nancy Pelosi tells him before hand that Social Security has to be off the table, and he’s not allowed to talk about it at the conference. So guess what? Barack Obama doesn’t talk about it at the conference.”
Scarborough cited other worrisome signs that could indicate Obama has leadership issues:
• The president’s “closest friends out of Chicago” who helped Obama win the presidency have been “wringing their hands.” Scarborough said they privately have told him: “‘This is a guy, after all, who voted present a hundred times when he was in the state legislature, even on issues like abortion."
Read more on Newsmax
Republicans have voiced increasing criticism of President Obama’s decisiveness and executive leadership, ever since his State of the Union address.
When Wisconsin GOP Rep. Paul Ryan recently laid out an elaborate entitlement reform to slash some $6 trillion from federal spending, the White House appeared to be caught off guard.
The White House blasted Ryan’s plan for failing the test of fairness. But the media widely credited Ryan for presenting a framework to address the nation’s growing fiscal crisis.
As pressure grew for a Democratic response, the White House announced that President Obama would unveil his own budget reform recommendations, which he did to mixed reviews in a speech Wednesday afternoon.
In an exclusive interview, Scarborough, the popular former GOP congressman from Florida, told Newsmax that even the president’s closest supporters have told him not to expect Obama’s leadership style to change.
“Put ideology aside,” Scarborough told Newsmax. “If he were a Republican president who was a small-government conservative like me, I would still say he’s one of the weakest leaders to sit in the Oval Office in my lifetime.”
Scarborough said that Obama has repeatedly “allows himself to be shaped by events,” and contrasted him with President Ronald Reagan, who at the outset of his administration stated his goal was to cut taxes and strengthen national defense to defeat the Soviet Union – and then proceeded to do precisely that.
Scarborough, who was part of the 1994 GOP takeover of Congress that ultimately worked with President Bill Clinton to balance the budget, said in the interview conducted last week that even the oft-criticized President Jimmy Carter has been more decisive than President Obama.
“Jimmy Carter did things, I didn’t agree with his decisions, but at least he would step out and make decisions,” Scarborough told Newsmax. “Barack Obama doesn’t do that. And once again on the deficit we have him deferring and letting events shape him.”
Scarborough, a small-government conservative, noted that in the first week of his presidency Obama said the single most important issue facing the United States was the need to shore up Social Security.
“So after he passed the largest spending bill in the history of the United States,” Scarborough told Newsmax, “he decided it would be good politics to have a fiscal responsibility conference at the White House, which was a laughable concept after the stimulus package.
“He calls Democrats and Republicans over, but Nancy Pelosi tells him before hand that Social Security has to be off the table, and he’s not allowed to talk about it at the conference. So guess what? Barack Obama doesn’t talk about it at the conference.”
Scarborough cited other worrisome signs that could indicate Obama has leadership issues:
• The president’s “closest friends out of Chicago” who helped Obama win the presidency have been “wringing their hands.” Scarborough said they privately have told him: “‘This is a guy, after all, who voted present a hundred times when he was in the state legislature, even on issues like abortion."
Read more on Newsmax
Budget Chairman Paul Ryan On Obama's Speech
“I was excited when we got invited to attend his speech today,” Ryan, who authored the Republican budget proposal unveiled last week, said just hours after returning from George Washington University where he was given a front row seat for Obama’s address.
“I thought the president’s invitation…was an olive branch. Instead, what we got was a speech that was excessively partisan, dramatically inaccurate, and hopelessly inadequate to address our countries fiscal challenges.”
“What we heard today was a political broadside from our campaigner in chief,” Ryan said.”This is very sad and very unfortunate. Rather than building bridges, he’s poisoning wells.”
Read more
“I thought the president’s invitation…was an olive branch. Instead, what we got was a speech that was excessively partisan, dramatically inaccurate, and hopelessly inadequate to address our countries fiscal challenges.”
“What we heard today was a political broadside from our campaigner in chief,” Ryan said.”This is very sad and very unfortunate. Rather than building bridges, he’s poisoning wells.”
Read more
Krauthammer Skewers Obama Speech
First, Wisconsin Republican Rep. Paul Ryan lashed out at Obama and shared his disappointment in a press conference earlier in the day. However, Fox News contributor and syndicated columnist Charles Krauthammer took it to the next step on Wednesday’s broadcast of “Special Report” and criticized the speech as being focused on politics and not policy.
“I thought it was a disgrace,” he said. “I've rarely heard a speech by a president so shallow, so hyper-partisan and so intellectually dishonest, outside the last couple of weeks of a presidential election where you are allowed to call your opponent anything short of a traitor. But, we’re a year-and-a-half away from Election Day and it was supposed to be a speech about policy. He didn’t even get to his own alternative until more than halfway through the speech. And when he did, he threw out numbers suspended in mid-air with nothing under them with all kinds of goals and guidelines and triggers that mean nothing. The speech was really about and entirely an attack on the [Rep. Paul] Ryan plan.”
More here
“I thought it was a disgrace,” he said. “I've rarely heard a speech by a president so shallow, so hyper-partisan and so intellectually dishonest, outside the last couple of weeks of a presidential election where you are allowed to call your opponent anything short of a traitor. But, we’re a year-and-a-half away from Election Day and it was supposed to be a speech about policy. He didn’t even get to his own alternative until more than halfway through the speech. And when he did, he threw out numbers suspended in mid-air with nothing under them with all kinds of goals and guidelines and triggers that mean nothing. The speech was really about and entirely an attack on the [Rep. Paul] Ryan plan.”
More here
FAA Adds Overnight Staffing
The FAA adds overnight staffing to airport control towers. The move follows a spike in reports of sleeping controllers. The latest incident involved an ambulance flight whose pilot couldn't obtain landing permission at a Nevada airport. Now, overnight operations will be staffed by two controllers, not one. The FAA also suspends four air traffic controllers for dozing off in front of their screens. Administrator Randy Babbit said the agency will review the professionalism of its 15,000 controllers.
President Wants To Reduce Budget By $4 Trillion
The President has outlined his plan to reduce the deficit by $4 trillion over the next 12 years. In the half-hour speech, he didn't directly talk about federal pay and benefits. Obama proposed both spending cuts and higher taxes, saying are essential to his bringing down the deficit. He promised to end to Bush-era tax cuts. While preserving Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security as they are structured now. The president calls his approach more balanced than the one proposed last week by Republican House Budget Committee chairman Paul Ryan. The president says his plan borrows from recommendations of his own deficit-reduction commission.
Superfresh To Close 22 Stores In Maryland
The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company, Inc. (A&P, OTC: GAPTQ) today announced that it is filing a motion seeking court approval of bidding procedures to market and sell 25 Superfresh stores in two southern states and the District of Columbia, as the Company continues to fully implement its comprehensive financial and operational restructuring.
The 25 Superfresh locations to be put up for sale under the proposed bidding process include 22 in Maryland, two in Delaware and one in the District of Columbia. Any sales resulting from the proposed bidding process are expected to be completed by mid-June, subject to court approval.
A&P President and Chief Executive Officer Sam Martin said, “The Company has been working hard to implement our turnaround strategy since last year. As part of our ongoing review of our store footprint, we determined that these 25 Superfresh locations are outside A&P’s core market. While the decision to put these non-core stores up for sale will unfortunately impact some of our customers, partners, communities and Associates, this is a necessary step in our efforts to restore the Company to long-term financial health.”
The Company will encourage loyal customers to continue shopping at these locations during the marketing and sales process.
Mr. Martin continued, “A&P will actively market these locations and is encouraging our dedicated Associates to remain focused on serving our customers and to help show prospective buyers the true potential of these stores. We are continuing to focus on delivering exceptional service to our Superfresh customers in these locations throughout the sale process.”
The Company’s Superfresh locations in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and the Maryland/Delaware shore area are not being put up for sale as part of the proposed bidding process. These stores will continue to operate normally with fully stocked shelves and the excellent service A&P customers expect.
About A&P
Founded in 1859, A&P is one of the nation’s first supermarket chains. The Company operates 395 stores in eight states and the District of Columbia under the following names: A&P, Waldbaum’s, Pathmark, Best
Cellars, The Food Emporium, Superfresh and Food Basics.
EDITOR NOTES: A&P the parent company of Super Fresh told 25 stores Wednesday they are now up for sale until June. That includes Salisbury, Cambridge, Milford, Dover, Chestertown here on the shore. The two Ocean City and Rehoboth stores are not included. If the stores do no sell by June, they will reevaluate each store. We know what that may mean as they are trying to sell to pay off creditors in the Chapter 11.
The 25 Superfresh locations to be put up for sale under the proposed bidding process include 22 in Maryland, two in Delaware and one in the District of Columbia. Any sales resulting from the proposed bidding process are expected to be completed by mid-June, subject to court approval.
A&P President and Chief Executive Officer Sam Martin said, “The Company has been working hard to implement our turnaround strategy since last year. As part of our ongoing review of our store footprint, we determined that these 25 Superfresh locations are outside A&P’s core market. While the decision to put these non-core stores up for sale will unfortunately impact some of our customers, partners, communities and Associates, this is a necessary step in our efforts to restore the Company to long-term financial health.”
The Company will encourage loyal customers to continue shopping at these locations during the marketing and sales process.
Mr. Martin continued, “A&P will actively market these locations and is encouraging our dedicated Associates to remain focused on serving our customers and to help show prospective buyers the true potential of these stores. We are continuing to focus on delivering exceptional service to our Superfresh customers in these locations throughout the sale process.”
The Company’s Superfresh locations in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and the Maryland/Delaware shore area are not being put up for sale as part of the proposed bidding process. These stores will continue to operate normally with fully stocked shelves and the excellent service A&P customers expect.
About A&P
Founded in 1859, A&P is one of the nation’s first supermarket chains. The Company operates 395 stores in eight states and the District of Columbia under the following names: A&P, Waldbaum’s, Pathmark, Best
Cellars, The Food Emporium, Superfresh and Food Basics.
EDITOR NOTES: A&P the parent company of Super Fresh told 25 stores Wednesday they are now up for sale until June. That includes Salisbury, Cambridge, Milford, Dover, Chestertown here on the shore. The two Ocean City and Rehoboth stores are not included. If the stores do no sell by June, they will reevaluate each store. We know what that may mean as they are trying to sell to pay off creditors in the Chapter 11.
Westboro Baptist Protests 'Brute-Beast' Ft. Meade Students
WASHINGTON -- Five members of the Westboro Baptist Church, infamous for anti-homosexual slurs and protests at military funerals, demonstrated outside an area school Thursday morning.
The church planned to congregate at what it calls the "pervert-run" Meade High School in Ft. George Meade, Md. to protest what it says are "violent, freakish, worthless, brute-beast children" corrupted by "brutish teachers and hateful parents," according to a church release.
"These are children of military families largely, they're entitled to know they've been taught wrong," said church member Shirley Phelps Roper at the protest. "Their destruction on 'doomed America' is eminent."
Around 300 counter protesters also showed up, supported by roughly two dozen motorcyclists revving their engines and circling the crowd.
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Texas Considers Upping Speed Limit To 85 MPH
Being that Texas is a giant state with wide expanses of dull spaces, you can't blame people for wanting to rush through it faster. Lawmakers are considering upping the speed limit to 85 miles per hour on some stretches of highway. Currently, Texas has 500 miles of roads with a speed limit of 80.
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T-Mobile Announces $80 Unlimited Voice, Text & Data Plan For Smartphones
T-Mobile has announced a new unlimited plan for cellphone customers. For $80 per month, subscribers can sign up for an Even More two-year contract that offers unlimited voice, text, and data for any smartphone in its stable. But there is one slight catch.
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‘Spillionaires’: Profiteering And Mismanagement In The Wake Of The BP Oil Spill
The oil spill that was once expected to bring economic ruin to the Gulf Coast appears to have delivered something entirely different: a gusher of money.
Some people profiteered from the spill by charging BP outrageous rates for cleanup. Others profited from BP claims money, handed out in arbitrary ways. So many people cashed in that they earned nicknames—“spillionaires” or “BP rich.” Meanwhile, others hurt by the spill ended up getting comparatively little.
In the end, BP’s attempt to make things right—spending more than $16 billion so far, mostly on claims of damage and cleanup—created new divisions and even new wrongs.
Read more »
Some people profiteered from the spill by charging BP outrageous rates for cleanup. Others profited from BP claims money, handed out in arbitrary ways. So many people cashed in that they earned nicknames—“spillionaires” or “BP rich.” Meanwhile, others hurt by the spill ended up getting comparatively little.
In the end, BP’s attempt to make things right—spending more than $16 billion so far, mostly on claims of damage and cleanup—created new divisions and even new wrongs.
Read more »
Six-Year-Old Pat Down Sparks Questions Of TSA Policy
Video of a six year old getting a pat down has parents outraged and TSA questioning policy.
Unmanned U.S. Aircraft Kills Two U.S. Soldiers
Last week, two U.S. soldiers were killed by a U.S. predator drone. They were mistaken for enemies by troops monitoring the aircraft.
SALISBURY CITY COUNCIL AGENDA
APRIL 19, 2011
1:30 P.M.
CONFERENCE ROOM 306
GOVERNMENT OFFICE BUILDING
Closed Session
- Pending litigation/consult with legal counsel as permitted under the Annotated Code of Maryland Sections 10-508(7)(8)
Work Session
- Committee appointments (City Council representative)
- Further discussion on the Towing Ordinance – Barbara Duncan
Changes to the Health Insurance Consortium Agreement – John Pick
- General discussion/upcoming agendas
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA 4-18-11 6:00 PM
- CONVENE – LORD’S PRAYER – PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
- ADOPTION OF AGENDA
- APPROVAL OF APRIL 11, 2011 MINUTES
- COUNCIL / COUNCIL PRESIDENT COMMENTS
- PRESENTATION – Mayor James Ireton, Jr./City Clerk Brenda Colegrove
- ADMINISTERING OATH OF OFFICE – Mark Bowen, Clerk of Circuit Court
- ORGANIZATION OF CITY COUNCIL
- Election of City Council President
- Election of City Council Vice President
- ADJOURN
Mayor To Deliver FY 2012 Budget Ireton Cites Law Enforcement, EMS, Infrastructure And Neighborhood Integrity As City Priorities
Salisbury Mayor James Ireton, Jr., invites the public to his Fiscal Year 2012 Budget Presentation Press Conference tomorrow, Thursday, April 14, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. in room 301 of the Government Office Building. During this time, the Mayor will unveil and discuss his proposed City Budget for fiscal year 2012.
Easter Egg Hunt In Delmar
Happy Harry's/Walgreens of Delmar will be hosting an Easter Egg Hunt on Sunday, April 17th @ 2pm at the State Street park in Delmar. (Rain date 4/20 @ 6pm). This event is completely free and will include pictures with the Easter Bunny, games, face painting, and refreshments. For questions, please call (302)907-1010.
Study: Employment, Not Taxes, Drives Families’ Decisions To Move Across State Lines
If states raise taxes, do residents flee for other states? Policymakers in New England and around the country face this question any time they consider new sources of revenue. In new research from the Political Economy Research Institute at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Jeffrey Thompson adds new analysis to the body of research laying this concern to rest. In The Impact of Taxes on Migration in New England , Thompson analyzes new data, and finds that the impact of taxes on cross-state migration is very weak. Other factors—primarily employment and family concerns—provide the main reasons that families move.
Amherst - As the New England states continue to struggle with serious budget shortfalls, policymakers face pressure to turn to increased taxes to replenish the coffers. Opponents raise the specter of families fleeing for lower-tax states in response. But in this new study from Jeffrey Thompson of thePolitical Economy Research Instituteat the University of Massachusetts, that concern is laid to rest. InThe Impact of Taxes on Migration in New England, Thompson analyzes new data, and finds that the impact of taxes on cross-state migration is very weak. Other factors—primarily employment and family concerns—provide the main reasons that families move. And family ties, comfort with their community, jobs, the costs of moving, and valuing the public services in their state are why families stay put, regardless of their state's tax rates.
Bahraini Blogger Dies While In Detention
Bahraini blogger Zakariya Rashid Hassan al-Ashiri died Saturday while in government custody, Read Write Webreports. Al-Ashiri, who wrote for a news web site in his home village of al-Dair, was arrested on April 2 "on charges of inciting hatred against the regime and the promotion of sectarian." After al-Ashiri's death, Bahraini authorities stated that he had succumbed to sickle-cell anemia, a claim which his family denied. The AhlulBayt News Agency released a series of photos of al-Ashiri after his death indicating that he had been fatally beaten.
More Black Men Now In Prison System Than Were Enslaved In 1850
More African-American men are either in prison or on probation or parole than were enslaved before the start of the Civil War, LA Progressive writes. Michelle Alexander, a law professor at Ohio Sate University who wrote a book on the topic, said that increasing numbers of black and Hispanic men caught in America's prison system does not reflect the country's decreasing rate of crime. The main reason for the skyrocketing incarceration rate, Alexander said, is "due to the War on Drugs, a war waged almost exclusively in poor communities of color," despite studies that show that whites use and sell illegal drugs at rates equal to or above blacks. Black men released from prison on drug charges will often have trouble obtaining housing, jobs and educational opportunities due to their records. The prison-industrial complex also poses difficult challenges to the reformation of America's justice system, as incarceration becomes a privatized industry with millions of employees.
President Obama's Budget Plan
Washington, D.C.- Dean Baker, Co-Director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR) released the following statement on the President's deficit-reduction plan:
President Obama’s statement was about as encouraging as could have been hoped for in the context of an agenda committed to deficit reduction. He rightly stressed that the wealthy, who have been the big winners in the economy over the last three decades, can afford to pay more in taxes. He also correctly pointed out that Social Security is an essential program for the nation’s retirees and workers, and that it does not contribute to the deficit. He also pointed out that the way to fix Medicare and Medicaid is to fix the private health care system, not to privatize Medicare as the Republicans in Congress have proposed.
O'Malley Starts Signing The Bills
Less than 12 hours after the confetti dropped on Maryland's 2011 legislative session, Gov. Martin O'Malley signed legislation Tuesday morning to limit access to credit reports, allow police to use wiretaps to investigate human trafficking and to prepare the state for the federal health care overhaul.
Community Connections Day Saturday, April 16
Join us for the spring Community Connection Day on Saturday, April 16. HALO Ministry and the Wicomico County Board of Education are working together to help connect families and children in transition to needed services.
April 13, 2011
Documents
James M. Bennett High Celebrates Best Of Bennett Day Saturday, Rededication Monday
The next few days will be even busier than usual at James M. Bennett High School in Salisbury, which will host the “Best of Bennett Day” Saturday and a rededication ceremony Monday.
The annual “Best of Bennett Day” will be held from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday, April 16 at James M. Bennett High School. This event is free and open to the public.
The special celebration will showcase students’ musical, educational and athletic talents. There will be food, entertainment and a 5K run in memory of Mike Orr, the late James M. Bennett track coach. Attendees will also be able to tour the new high school, which was opened to students and faculty last August. JMB alumni are encouraged to come and tour the new school. There will be an alumni softball game at 2 p.m.
“I encourage area residents to visit our high school on ‘Best of Bennett Day’ to see first-hand the wonderful activities in which our students and faculty are involved,” said Steve Grudis, principal of James M. Bennett High School. “This year’s event is shaping up to be even bigger and better than those held in previous years.”
For more information on “Best of Bennett Day,” call 410-677-5141.
On Monday, the rededication ceremony for the new James M. Bennett High School will be held at 10 a.m., for invited guests. State, local and education officials who will attend the event include Maryland Superintendent of Schools Dr. Nancy Grasmick, Dr. David Lever of the Interagency Committee on Public School Construction, Maryland Del. Norman Conway, Wicomico County Executive Rick Pollitt, and many others. JMB’s Symphonic Band and Concert Choir will perform. The program will include the ceremonial handing over of the school keys.
Tours of the new JMB for guests will precede the ceremony, at 9 a.m.
The annual “Best of Bennett Day” will be held from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday, April 16 at James M. Bennett High School. This event is free and open to the public.
The special celebration will showcase students’ musical, educational and athletic talents. There will be food, entertainment and a 5K run in memory of Mike Orr, the late James M. Bennett track coach. Attendees will also be able to tour the new high school, which was opened to students and faculty last August. JMB alumni are encouraged to come and tour the new school. There will be an alumni softball game at 2 p.m.
“I encourage area residents to visit our high school on ‘Best of Bennett Day’ to see first-hand the wonderful activities in which our students and faculty are involved,” said Steve Grudis, principal of James M. Bennett High School. “This year’s event is shaping up to be even bigger and better than those held in previous years.”
For more information on “Best of Bennett Day,” call 410-677-5141.
On Monday, the rededication ceremony for the new James M. Bennett High School will be held at 10 a.m., for invited guests. State, local and education officials who will attend the event include Maryland Superintendent of Schools Dr. Nancy Grasmick, Dr. David Lever of the Interagency Committee on Public School Construction, Maryland Del. Norman Conway, Wicomico County Executive Rick Pollitt, and many others. JMB’s Symphonic Band and Concert Choir will perform. The program will include the ceremonial handing over of the school keys.
Tours of the new JMB for guests will precede the ceremony, at 9 a.m.
Think Summer: Plan Ahead Thursday At The Summer Camp Expo At Prince Street School
The annual Summer Camp Expo for students of Wicomico County Public Schools and throughout the community will be held at Prince Street Elementary School from 5:30-7 p.m. Thursday, April 14. The event is free and open to all.
Come out to learn more about the summer camps and programs offered by:
The Salisbury Zoo
The Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art
Camp Odyssey
Kumon
Sylvan
Mitchell's Martial Arts
Kickers
Wor-Wic Community College (day camp and Summer Scholars)
Crown Sports Center
Wicomico County Public Library
D'Ann Danse
Wicomico County Parks & Recreation
Salvation Army
YMCA
The Art Institute & Gallery
Girl Scouts
Boy Scouts
Feet of Fire
Dancenter Salisbury
Sherman Wood Youth Football Camp
Marine Science Consortium
NASA Space Camp
Information on many summer camps is also available online courtesy of The Daily Times:
http://www.delmarvanow.com/article/20110408/ENTERTAINMENT04/110407033/1040/ENTERTAINMENT
A customized listing for Wicomico families will be posted at www.wcboe.org following the Summer Camp Expo.
Come out to learn more about the summer camps and programs offered by:
The Salisbury Zoo
The Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art
Camp Odyssey
Kumon
Sylvan
Mitchell's Martial Arts
Kickers
Wor-Wic Community College (day camp and Summer Scholars)
Crown Sports Center
Wicomico County Public Library
D'Ann Danse
Wicomico County Parks & Recreation
Salvation Army
YMCA
The Art Institute & Gallery
Girl Scouts
Boy Scouts
Feet of Fire
Dancenter Salisbury
Sherman Wood Youth Football Camp
Marine Science Consortium
NASA Space Camp
Information on many summer camps is also available online courtesy of The Daily Times:
http://www.delmarvanow.com/article/20110408/ENTERTAINMENT04/110407033/1040/ENTERTAINMENT
A customized listing for Wicomico families will be posted at www.wcboe.org following the Summer Camp Expo.