Greece’s Parliament gave embattled Prime Minister George Papandreou a vote of confidence – a key milestone in convincing European authorities to approve an emergency bailout.
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
BREAKING NEWS: Panetta Confirmed As Defense Secretary
Senate confirms CIA Director Leon Panetta to replace Robert Gates as secretary of defense in 100-0 vote.
Revenue Still Down, Gannett Lays Off 700 Employees
Gannett said it would let go 700 people in its Community Publishing division, or 3 percent of its employees across newspapers like The Courier-Journal of Louisville, The Cincinnati Enquirer and The Indianapolis Star.
The company’s flagship paper, USA Today, just went through a round of cuts last summer and will not be affected by the layoffs. Employees who lost their jobs were notified on Tuesday.
Robert J. Dickey, president of the Community Publishing division, said that as the company looked at its disappointing mid-year advertising figures, it was left with little choice.
“As we reach the mid-point of the year, the economic recovery is not happening as quickly or favorably as we had hoped and continues to impact our U.S. community media organizations,” Mr. Dickey wrote in a memo to Gannett employees. “With many of our local advertisers reducing their overall budgets, we need to take further steps to align our costs with the current revenue trends.”
Many of the advertising categories that collapsed during the recession continued to lag at Gannett papers. Real estate, help wanted and even auto ads, which had rebounded somewhat, remain depressed.
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One In 30 Marylanders Has Gambling Problem, State Study Finds
About 150,000 Maryland adults — or 1 in 30 — have a gambling problem, a state-mandated study by the University of Maryland Baltimore County found. The study by the university's Institute for Policy Analysis and Research predicted that the numbers would likely rise in the near term.
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Why Summer Begins Tuesday
The steamy temperatures would make it seem summer had already begun, but according to the astronomical calendar summer officially begins Tuesday.
The summer solstice occurs at 1:16 p.m. EDT (17:16 UTC), when the sun will be as high in the sky as possible, and it will be up a fraction of a second longer than the day prior or the day after. Though it's the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, the length of the full day, including night, doesn't change, of course.
Here's how it works: Earth is tilted on its axis 23.5 degrees, so it leans one way as it spins around its axis while orbiting the sun. On June 21 this year (some years it's June 20), the North Pole is pointing toward the sun as much as is possible. (The winter solstice occurs when the top half of our planet, everything north of the equator, faces directly away from the sun, leaving the North Pole in complete darkness.)
Tuesday may mark the sun's peak, but it doesn't typically mark summer's peak heat. That's because the oceans take time to heat up (or cool down). By mid-June the oceans of the Northern Hemisphere are still cool from winter's chill, delaying the peak air temperatures by a month and a half, according to NASA. [Image Gallery: Sunrise and Sunsets]
Earth is actually farther away from the sun during the summer than it is during the winter months, because our planet's orbit is elliptical, a squished circle of sorts. The difference is about 3 million miles (5 million kilometers), and it makes a difference in radiant heat received by the entire Earth of nearly 7 percent. But the difference is more than made up for by the longer days in the Northern Hemisphere summer with the sun higher in the sky.
Congressional Reform Act of 2011
It is time. If you agree send it to 20 people good and true. If you disagree, please delete it. Thanks.
The 26th amendment (granting the right to vote for 18 year-olds) took only 3 months & 8 days to be ratified! Why? Simple! The people demanded it. That was in 1971...before computers, before e-mail, before cell phones, etc.
Of the 27 amendments to the Constitution, seven (7) took 1 year or less to become the law of the land...all because of public pressure..
I'm asking each addressee to forward this email to a minimum of twenty people on their address list; in turn ask each of those to do likewise.
In three days, most people in The United States of America will have the message. This is one idea that really should be passed around.
Congressional Reform Act of 2011
1. Term Limits.
12 years only, one of the possible options below..
A. Two Six-year Senate terms
B. Six Two-year House terms
C. One Six-year Senate term and three Two-Year House terms
2. No Tenure / No Pension.
A Congressman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when they are out of office.
3. Congress (past, present & future) participates in Social Security.
All funds in the Congressional retirement fund move to the Social Security system immediately. All future funds flow into the Social Security system, and Congress participates with the American people.
4. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan, just as all Americans do.
5. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.
6. Congress loses their current health care system and participates in the same health care system as the American people.
7. Congress must equally abide by all laws they impose on the American people.
8. All contracts with past and present Congressmen are void effective 1/1/12.
The American people did not make this contract with Congressmen. Congressmen made all these contracts for themselves.
Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, so ours should serve their term(s), then go home and back to work.
How To Take A Bone From A Dog
Most people, provided they have a minimum of experience, know that taking a bone from a dog is a risky proposition. In terms of political power, few dogs are bigger than the American voting public. Taking away, or even threatening to take away, the major entitlements to which they have become accustomed could expose politicians to a mauling at election time. As the American leadership begins to grapple with very large issues of entitlement reform in "sacred" programs such as Medicare and Social Security, many may recoil from the task once the fangs begin flashing.
According to polls, 77% of Americans feel the U.S. Government must cut spending. But when it comes to specifics, the support melts away very fast. Until recently, the strongly Republican 26th District of upstate New York had elected only three Democrats since the Civil War. But in a special election held this month (to replace the resigned Republican Chris Lee) the district fell to the Democratic column for the fourth time in 150 years. Many have theorized that the political upset was based on fears that the budget plan put forward by House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan would restrict entitlements, particularly Medicare.
If there is any truth to this, it shows how difficult the process may be for politicians who want to seriously trim the Federal budget. But any glance at the enormity of the problem should provide the necessary courage. This assumes, of course, that there is any courage at all left in Washington.
Currently the U.S. Treasury has public debts of some $14.3 trillion and is pleading, and in fact coercing, Congress for a debt limit increase. But given are already abysmal situation, additional debts should not be considered.
According to the U.S. National Debt Clock, unfunded obligations such as Social Security and Medicare etc., total some $114 trillion – or more than eight times the size of the annual Gross Domestic Product of the entire nation. Divide this figure by the number of households, approximately 115 million, and you come to the startling realization that each American household is liable for nearly $1 million. Add in another $54.9 trillion, which is the total debt held by all levels of government in addition to all business and household debt, and you begin to get an idea of why the future looks bleak.
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According to polls, 77% of Americans feel the U.S. Government must cut spending. But when it comes to specifics, the support melts away very fast. Until recently, the strongly Republican 26th District of upstate New York had elected only three Democrats since the Civil War. But in a special election held this month (to replace the resigned Republican Chris Lee) the district fell to the Democratic column for the fourth time in 150 years. Many have theorized that the political upset was based on fears that the budget plan put forward by House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan would restrict entitlements, particularly Medicare.
If there is any truth to this, it shows how difficult the process may be for politicians who want to seriously trim the Federal budget. But any glance at the enormity of the problem should provide the necessary courage. This assumes, of course, that there is any courage at all left in Washington.
Currently the U.S. Treasury has public debts of some $14.3 trillion and is pleading, and in fact coercing, Congress for a debt limit increase. But given are already abysmal situation, additional debts should not be considered.
According to the U.S. National Debt Clock, unfunded obligations such as Social Security and Medicare etc., total some $114 trillion – or more than eight times the size of the annual Gross Domestic Product of the entire nation. Divide this figure by the number of households, approximately 115 million, and you come to the startling realization that each American household is liable for nearly $1 million. Add in another $54.9 trillion, which is the total debt held by all levels of government in addition to all business and household debt, and you begin to get an idea of why the future looks bleak.
More
The Chinese Government Is Buying Up Economic Assets And Huge Tracts Of Land All Over The United States
In 2011, America is for sale and the communist Chinese are eager buyers. The Chinese government is using sovereign wealth funds and Chinese state-owned enterprises to buy up economic assets and huge tracts of land all over the United States. Many of our politicians hail all of this "foreign investment" as something that is "good for America", while many others see something much more sinister going on here. In any event, this is a trend that is rapidly accelerating and that is causing great concern among patriotic Americans.
In my recent article entitled "China Wants To Construct A 50 Square Mile Self-Sustaining City South Of Boise, Idaho", I examined a potential deal that Sinomach (a company controlled by the Chinese government) wants to do with the government of Idaho. There will be more on this deal in a minute.
But first it is important to note that this is a phenomenon that is happening all across the United States.
For example, a Chinese investment group is buying up a very large chunk of real estate in Toledo, Ohio. The following is a brief excerpt from an article in the Toledo Blade on May 26th, 2011....
More
In my recent article entitled "China Wants To Construct A 50 Square Mile Self-Sustaining City South Of Boise, Idaho", I examined a potential deal that Sinomach (a company controlled by the Chinese government) wants to do with the government of Idaho. There will be more on this deal in a minute.
But first it is important to note that this is a phenomenon that is happening all across the United States.
For example, a Chinese investment group is buying up a very large chunk of real estate in Toledo, Ohio. The following is a brief excerpt from an article in the Toledo Blade on May 26th, 2011....
More
Science Of The Silver Fox: Why Hair Goes Gray
Scientists may have found the root cause of what makes hair go gray. For the first time, researchers have identified the signaling protein that coordinates the process between hair follicle stem cells, which produce hair, and color-supplying stem cells, or melanocytes.
"We have shown that one specific molecular pathway is necessary in the regulation of melanocyte stem cells -- the Wnt pathway," says Mayumi Ito, PhD, an assistant professor of dermatology at the New York University Langone Medical Center in New York, and the study's lead researcher.
As Ito explains it, when the Wnt pathway is activated, melanocytes can produce pigments that color hair. When inactivate, melanocytes lose the ability to produce color, resulting in gray hair.
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Presenting Obama's Latest $50,000 Non-Recourse, Interest-Free Gift To "Troubled" Homeowners
Today the Obama administration launched its latest $1 billion "stimulus" in the form of the Emergency Homeowner's Loan Program (EHLP), certainly not to be confused with Homeowner Emergency something something, which would be abbreviated HELP (and would be way too cute). The formal reason for the program is to provide emergency loans to 'homeowners' facing foreclosure, or basically all of them, to help tide them over "a temporary financial crisis", the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has announced. The informal reason is to provide thousands of Americans with a $50,000 recourse and interest-free loan for up to two years (money which will go down to paying down equity an underwater mortgage, and will thus never be repaid), so that earned income, instead of being used to make mortgage payments, will be rerouted into such far more critical capital needs as the latest iPad or buying share ot LNKD at $122. But don't think for a moment that everyone will be able to access this money: "the program is available to homeowners who have seen their incomes fall and who could lose their homes to foreclosure due to circumstances beyond their control, including involuntary unemployment, underemployment, economic conditions or an illness" which, actually in retrospect, is all of them. Well, the effort of getting off one's couch and actually picking up the forms may be unavoidable. Of course, that process in itself may well limit 80% of the eligible participants.
More on this latest centrally-planned expansion [1]into Obamanism:
The program is a counterpart to the $7.6 billion Hardest Hit Fund and is available only to homeowners in states not covered by that program. The Hardest Hit Fund provides foreclosure avoidance assistance to homeowners in states that have been most seriously affected by the declining housing market and economic downturn.
The new initiative is expected to provide assistance to up to 30,000 homeowners, with loans averaging $35,000 each. Loans may be used to pay a portion of monthly mortgage bills, including missed mortgage payments or past due charges including principal, interest, taxes, insurances, and attorney fees.
Homeowners seeking assistance must complete a pre-application screening workshop by July 22 in order to be considered for the program. As demand is expected to exceed the amount of funding available, qualifying homeowners will be chosen at random to complete the application process.
States served by the program are Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Hawaii, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. EHLP is also offered in Puerto Rico.
So what about all those who lived within their means and actually do not need yet another bailout? They get the privilege of funding all of the above.
Source
More on this latest centrally-planned expansion [1]into Obamanism:
The program is a counterpart to the $7.6 billion Hardest Hit Fund and is available only to homeowners in states not covered by that program. The Hardest Hit Fund provides foreclosure avoidance assistance to homeowners in states that have been most seriously affected by the declining housing market and economic downturn.
The new initiative is expected to provide assistance to up to 30,000 homeowners, with loans averaging $35,000 each. Loans may be used to pay a portion of monthly mortgage bills, including missed mortgage payments or past due charges including principal, interest, taxes, insurances, and attorney fees.
Homeowners seeking assistance must complete a pre-application screening workshop by July 22 in order to be considered for the program. As demand is expected to exceed the amount of funding available, qualifying homeowners will be chosen at random to complete the application process.
States served by the program are Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Hawaii, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. EHLP is also offered in Puerto Rico.
So what about all those who lived within their means and actually do not need yet another bailout? They get the privilege of funding all of the above.
Source
PROMISES, PROMISES: White House Solar Panels Are No-Shows
Spring has come and gone, and the promised panels have yet to see the light of day.
Administration officials blame the complexities of the contracting process, and say the solar project is still an active one. But they can't say when it'll be complete.
Environmental groups say the symbolism is telling _ and disappointing.
"On we'll go," sighed Bill McKibben, founder of the climate activist group 350.org. "One more summer of beautiful, strong sunlight going to waste, just bouncing off the White House roof."
McKibben and other environmentalists say the failure to meet its own deadline reflects an administration that's been long on green rhetoric but sometimes disappointingly short on practical accomplishments.
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Navy Stealth Ship Headed To Scrap Heap
A super stealth, James-bond style Navy ship is headed to the scrap heap. The Sea Shadow was built in 1985 by DARPA and Lockheed Martin. It was the Navy's first experimental stealth ship. The Navy had planned to salvage the ship by selling it or putting it on display, but after five years and millions of dollars spent there weren't any viable takers. It's now slated for dismatling and recycling, reports Yahoo!News. The ship was the inspiration for the stealth ship in the 1997 James Bond film, "Tomorrow Never Dies."
The Director Of The Bureau Of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms And Explosives To Resign
The acting director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is expected to resign, reports CNN. Kenneth Melson has come under fire recently because of a mishandled weapons operation. Three ATF agents blew the whistle on the program, called "Fast and Furious." They told a Congressional committee hearing last week that ATF tracked the purchase of weapons and then let them "walk" across the U.S. border into Mexico. It was meant to follow weapons traffickers, but two of those weapons were used in the murder of border patrol agent Brian Terry last year. Melson may resign in the next day or two.
Prince George's Begins Fireworks Amnesty Program
UPPER MARLBORO, Md. (WUSA) -- The Prince George's County Fire/EMS Department is reminding county residents that possession of any kind of fireworks is illegal in the county. However, it's giving you a way to get rid of those fireworks without facing any legal penalties.
The Fire/EMS Department launched its annual fireworks amnesty program Monday. It runs through July 20.
Anyone who wants to turn in illegal fireworks may call the Fire/EMS Operations Center at 301-583-2200.
A member of the department will come to your home or business to take the fireworks. You will not face any kind of citation, fine, or arrest.
The phone number may also be used to report the illegal use of fireworks anywhere within Prince George's County.
Penalties for possession and use of illegal fireworks in the county include a fine of up to $1,000 and/or up to six months in jail.
Source
Publishers Notes: So why is it allowed in some Counties and not in others?
The Fire/EMS Department launched its annual fireworks amnesty program Monday. It runs through July 20.
Anyone who wants to turn in illegal fireworks may call the Fire/EMS Operations Center at 301-583-2200.
A member of the department will come to your home or business to take the fireworks. You will not face any kind of citation, fine, or arrest.
The phone number may also be used to report the illegal use of fireworks anywhere within Prince George's County.
Penalties for possession and use of illegal fireworks in the county include a fine of up to $1,000 and/or up to six months in jail.
Source
Publishers Notes: So why is it allowed in some Counties and not in others?
STOP In The Name Of The Taxpayers!
Many of the projects presented to the taxpayers by former Mayor Barrie Tilghman may be coming to an end. Well, it was a nice thought for a second there, wasn't it.
Oh, I haven't forgotten about the $1.2 million dollar lift station at Marley Manor. You'll never see your money back on that. Then there's Sassafras Meadows sewer line that cost us taxpayers more than $2 million dollars. Oh, wait, how about the Old Mall TIF and the Aydelotte Farm TIF for the N.E. Collector Road. I almost forgot the Robins Ave Lift Station.
The taxpayers have been through quite a bit and finally sensible Council Members have finally been able to fight back for the taxpayers and do the right thing by dumping the Bricks project.
If you think you're out of danger, you're not! While its only a rumor, former Council President Mike Dunn sold his home in the County and has purchased another home in the City and has already relocated to that new home. The rumor is that Mike Dunn will try to run against Mayor Jim Ireton and try to make a Dream Team comeback.
The ball is in the taxpayers court now. The big question I'd like answered right here and now is;
WOULD YOU GIVE MIKE DUNN YOUR VOTE FOR MAYOR OF SALISBURY?
Americans Gave $291 Billion To Charity In 2010
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. donations to charity rose to $291 billion last year, a study found on Monday, but it was still more than 6 percent below a 2007 record as the nation struggles to recover from its worst recession in decades.
Americans gave nearly 4 percent more in 2010 compared to 2009, the Giving USA Foundation and the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University said, perking up after the recession sparked the biggest giving slump in four decades.
Revised estimates by the study, which started in 1956, showed that during the financial crisis giving fell more than $10 billion in 2008 to $299.8 billion and then dropped more than 6 percent in 2009 to $280.3 billion.
Patrick Rooney, executive director of the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University, said that giving in 2010 grew by 2.1 percent after adjusting for inflation.
"But the sobering reality is that many nonprofits are still hurting, and if giving continues to grow at that rate, it will take five to six more years just to return to the level of giving we saw before the Great Recession," he said.
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Americans gave nearly 4 percent more in 2010 compared to 2009, the Giving USA Foundation and the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University said, perking up after the recession sparked the biggest giving slump in four decades.
Revised estimates by the study, which started in 1956, showed that during the financial crisis giving fell more than $10 billion in 2008 to $299.8 billion and then dropped more than 6 percent in 2009 to $280.3 billion.
Patrick Rooney, executive director of the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University, said that giving in 2010 grew by 2.1 percent after adjusting for inflation.
"But the sobering reality is that many nonprofits are still hurting, and if giving continues to grow at that rate, it will take five to six more years just to return to the level of giving we saw before the Great Recession," he said.
More
Supreme Court Blocks Wal-Mart Class Action Suit
The Supreme Court has unanimously ruled that a group representing as many as 1.5 million women cannot proceed with a class action sex discrimination lawsuit against Walmart. The decision, which overturns an earlier ruling in favor of the class action, means the women will have to file individual claims against Walmart.
While the Court was divided on other issues at stake in the case, including the level of "common elements" required to bring a class-action suit against an employer, the Justices were united in their decision that this case wasn't eligible for class-action status:
New Broadband System Coming To Maryland
Leasing office space in this economy can be a challenge, especially in older buildings, but Taylor Fields is working on getting an edge: a super-fast fiber-optic broadband connection.
"One of the first things [prospective tenants] ask is what kind of Internet service we have," said Fields, a Timonium-based commercial leasing agent for the James F. Knott Realty Corp. "They all want fast Internet."
As work begins on a fiber-optic broadband network that will connect every Maryland school, hospital, police station — and even more public buildings — businesses also want to get involved. Knott is working with a contractor in the $158 million project, and hopes to be among the first corporate users when the work is complete in two to three years.
The idea is to link more than 2,000 miles of existing broadband cable in counties and cities, creating a central electronic infrastructure that would guarantee secure communications in emergencies, as well as service in rural areas where commercial Internet providers are reluctant to go. The system also is designed to save governments millions in commercial fees now paid to telecom firms.
The high-capacity lines are expected to have a broad effect on fields including public safety, education and health care. Officials say private business will benefit, too, in the same way that development often occurs along major transportation corridors. Companies can negotiate private contracts to connect to the system, and even expand it.
Jon Johnson, who lives in a rural portion of western Howard County, wants to use the system too, so he can eliminate the two-hour morning commute to his office in Arlington, Va.
"If the broadband were there, I would be eligible to work from home," he said. Gas alone costs him $350 a month, and commercial Internet providers won't bring a high-speed computer connection to his door.
So he has to rely on a wireless "air card" that uses signals from towers just as a cell phone does. That's fine for such services as online banking, he said, but not good enough for working at home.
More
"One of the first things [prospective tenants] ask is what kind of Internet service we have," said Fields, a Timonium-based commercial leasing agent for the James F. Knott Realty Corp. "They all want fast Internet."
As work begins on a fiber-optic broadband network that will connect every Maryland school, hospital, police station — and even more public buildings — businesses also want to get involved. Knott is working with a contractor in the $158 million project, and hopes to be among the first corporate users when the work is complete in two to three years.
The idea is to link more than 2,000 miles of existing broadband cable in counties and cities, creating a central electronic infrastructure that would guarantee secure communications in emergencies, as well as service in rural areas where commercial Internet providers are reluctant to go. The system also is designed to save governments millions in commercial fees now paid to telecom firms.
The high-capacity lines are expected to have a broad effect on fields including public safety, education and health care. Officials say private business will benefit, too, in the same way that development often occurs along major transportation corridors. Companies can negotiate private contracts to connect to the system, and even expand it.
Jon Johnson, who lives in a rural portion of western Howard County, wants to use the system too, so he can eliminate the two-hour morning commute to his office in Arlington, Va.
"If the broadband were there, I would be eligible to work from home," he said. Gas alone costs him $350 a month, and commercial Internet providers won't bring a high-speed computer connection to his door.
So he has to rely on a wireless "air card" that uses signals from towers just as a cell phone does. That's fine for such services as online banking, he said, but not good enough for working at home.
More
"The Bricks" Crumbles
This morning the Salisbury City Council met in special session to decide the fate of “The Bricks” project. By a The project, designed to be affordable housing in the Church Street area of the city has been fraught with conflict since the city took possession of the property in 2007.
Councilwoman Shanie Shields started the debate by citing her campaign slogan, “Build Partnerships for Positive Change”. She then cited multiple examples of the city accepting grants.
Councilwoman Laura Mitchell attempted to trace the chronology of the project. She argues that since the city acquired the property, not going forward with the project is tantamount to backing out of a contract. However, as she admitted, the council had never passed legislation approving the deal.
Mitchell cited a contract signed by former council president Louise Smith and notes that Smith was not bound to get council approval because of the dollar amount. This was true. What Mitchell neglected to note was that Smith signed the contract attesting that it WAS “Approved by Council”.
Mitchell also claimed that council approved the project of other occasions. This is not entirely accurate. While Mitchell stated that the “council voted” to approve the project, in reality the council never did take such votes. Discussion in work sessions do not constitute “votes”. If they did, councilwoman Shields would be listed as an “aye” vote for the budget as she stated on multiple occasions, in work session, that she supported the budget and would support any override vote.
Councilwoman Debbie Campbell noted that former council president Smith did not have the authority to sign a contract as “Approved by Council”.
After debate, the council voted 3 – 2 to not move forward with the project. Voting to move forward were councilwomen Laura Mitchell and Shanie Shields. Voting against moving forward were councilmembers Debbie Campbell, Terry Cohen, and Spies.
After meeting, councilman Time Spies explained his vote:
The project doesn’t adequately address security for the residents or for the surrounding neighborhood. Talking to neighborhood residents I am not hearing support for this project. The residents want single family homes because that is what the Church Street neighborhood is designed to be. …… For all that Mrs. Shields talks about affordable housing, she has been very supportive of the city’s landlords. I think that Mrs. Shields should be talking to the city’s landlords about working in partnership with the city to provide affordable housing.
No comment has been received from the Mayor’s office at the time of this post.
Gingrich Finance Team Steps Down
This isn’t it.
The Associated Press reports another round of resignations from the campaign, this time from the Republican presidential hopeful’s campaign finance team. A spokesman for Gingrich confirms to the AP that fundraising director Jody Thomas and fundraising consultant Mary Heitman have stepped down.
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Hit Up Big Attractions On Your Road Trip And Still Save Cash
Taking a vacation via your vehicle is already one way to save some money, instead of flying your entire family to a destination that will add even more costs. But just because you're saving by driving, there are even more ways you can stretch a buck on a roadtrip and still see the big attractions.
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African Americans Suffer High Unemployment
The unemployment rate for African Americans is now at Depression-era levels and the government is having to deal with the poor job showing.
One of the issues troubling Washington is unemployment among blacks, with the percentage of jobless at 16.2 percent higher than in the general population.
In isolation, African American males fare even worse.
The most recent figures show African American joblessness at 16.2 percent.
For black males, it's at 17.5 percent.
For black teens, it's nearly 41 percent.
In New York, it has been estimated that 34 percent of the city's young black men age 19 to 24 are not working.
Source
One of the issues troubling Washington is unemployment among blacks, with the percentage of jobless at 16.2 percent higher than in the general population.
In isolation, African American males fare even worse.
The most recent figures show African American joblessness at 16.2 percent.
For black males, it's at 17.5 percent.
For black teens, it's nearly 41 percent.
In New York, it has been estimated that 34 percent of the city's young black men age 19 to 24 are not working.
Source
Will Take NY 62 Years to Get Through All The Foreclosures
At their current pace, it will take New York State lenders 62 years to repossess all the houses currently in foreclosure or severe default, NYT reports. That's good news for some homeowners looking to get a break while they try to get out from behind the eight-ball with their debts. Some of them could even be dead by the time the house repo man comes to collect.
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The American Spring
It's on the way
Well, we know where Ron got his money – from tens of thousands of small contributions coming in from all over the country in the famous Ron Paul “money bombs” that have wowed political professionals across the spectrum. But what about Huntsman’s cash? It came from “HPAC,” the political action committee Huntsman launched soon after resigning his ambassadorship: and where did that money come from? Well, since Huntsman has yet to actually declare, he doesn’t have to disclose that information, but what I want to know is did he pay for those RLC votes in dollars or yuan?
I’m only half-kidding about that, but the main point is that the lamestreamers – and their neocon bag men – are determined to rob the only consistent anti-interventionist in the race of his victories, no matter how many he chalks up. This is pretty much par for the course, but what’s really absurd about this dismissive attitude is the media’s unwillingness to recognize the enormous intellectual influence of Paul’s views – and especially his foreign policy views – have had on the GOP, and not just on the activist base, but the wider Republican electorate. Take a look at this recent Pew Poll, the results of which are summed up in their headline: “In Shift From Bush Era, More Conservatives Say ‘Come Home America.’”
“In their first major presidential debate June 13, the Republican candidates sketched out a cautious approach to U.S. global engagement that would represent a departure from the policies of the Bush administration. Yet their ideas are very much in tune with the evolving views of the GOP base.
“In the Pew Research Center’s political typology survey, released May 4, majorities in every partisan group –including 55% of conservative Republicans – said the U.S. ‘should pay less attention to problems overseas and concentrate on problems here at home.’
“In December 2004, conservative Republicans had been the only group in which a majority had expressed the opposing view – 58% said ‘it is best for the future of our country to be active in world affairs.’ The proportion of conservative Republicans supporting U.S. activism in world affairs has fallen by 19 points to 39%. Since 2004, liberal Democrats and independents also have become less supportive of U.S. global engagement, but the change has been most dramatic among conservatives.”
Even more definitively, more Republicans (45%) than Democrats (43%) now say “the U.S. should mind its own business internationally.” In previous surveys, the MYOB faction of the GOP was half as large.
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BREAKING NEWS: “The Bricks” Voted Down
In a 3 – 2 vote, the Salisbury City Council voted to not move forward with the proposed renovation of “The Bricks” for affordable housing.
Voting to end the $179,000 / unit project were councilmembers Debbie Campbell, Terry Cohen, and Tim Spies. Voting to move forward were councilwomen Laura Mitchell and Shanie Shields.
Man Holds Up Bank For $1 And Free Prison Medical Care
A 59-year-old man recently walked into a bank in Gastonia, NC, intent on robbing one dollar — no more or less — from the financial institution. Was it because he was aiming low for his first foray into bank robbery? No, he says it was because he needs medical care and the only way he could think to afford it was by going to prison.
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Maryland Man Sues Over Manicure
Taking the issue of gender discrimination to new heights, an American man has sued a Maryland nail salon for 200,000 dollars for being charged 1 dollar more than women for a manicure.
Justices Have Been Forced To Resign For Doing What Clarence Thomas Has Done
Justice Clarence Thomas is an ethics problem in a black robe. Just eight months after ThinkProgress broke the story of Thomas’ attendance at a Koch-sponsored political fundraiser, we learn that Thomas doesn’t just do unethical favors for wealthy right-wing donors — they also do expensive favors for him.
Leading conservative donor Harlan Crow, whose company often litigates in federal court, donated $500,000 to allow Thomas’s wife to start a Tea Party group and he once gave Thomas a $19,000 Bible that belonged to Frederick Douglass. The American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank which frequently files briefs in Thomas’ Court, also gave Thomas a $15,000 gift.
If this sounds familiar, it’s because America has seen this movie before. Indeed, the Thomas scandal is little more than a remake of the forty year-old gifting scandal that brought down Justice Abe Fortas. Like Thomas, Fortas liked to associate with wealthy individuals with potential business before his Court. And like Thomas, Fortas took inappropriate gifts from his wealthy benefactors.
Fortas’ questionable gifts first came out when President Johnson nominated him for a promotion to Chief Justice of the United States in 1968. Fortas had accepted $15,000 to lead seminars at American University — far more than the university normally paid for such services — and the payments were bankrolled by the leaders of frequent corporate litigants including the vice president of Phillip Morris. Fortas survived this revelation, although his nomination for the Chief Justiceship was filibustered into oblivion.
Just a year later, the country learned that Fortas took another highly questionable gift. In 1966, one year after Fortas joined the Court, stock speculator Louis E. Wolfson’s foundation began paying Fortas an annual retainer of $20,000 per year for consulting services. Fortas’ actions were legal, and he eventually returned the money after Wolfson was convicted of securities violations and recused himself from Wolfson’s case, but the damage to Fortas — and the potential harm to the Supreme Court’s reputation — were too great. Fortas resigned in disgrace.
Virginia Has World Record Catfish
The first fishing memories Nick Anderson has are from Kerr Reservoir, the nearly 50,000-acre impoundment on the Virginia-North Carolina border. On Saturday evening, he made his most indelible fishing memory there.
The 29-year-old Greenville, N.C., resident, fishing with his father, Rick Anderson, and his stepbrother,Jeramie Mullis, hauled a 143-pound blue catfish from the reservoir, also known as Buggs Island Lake. Pending certification _ and Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries biologists say everything about the entry seems legitimate _ the fish will shatter both state and world records for the species.
Anderson's catch was 57 inches long, with a girth of 43.5 inches. It would be Virginia's only all-tackle freshwater world record.
In March on Buggs Island Lake, Tony Milam set the current Virginia record with a 109-pound blue cat. Greg Bernal, of Flourisant, Mo., netted the world record, a 130-pound behemoth, at the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers less than a year ago.
Fatal Motorcycle Crash, Middletown
Location:
- Choptank Road (SR#15) south of Bohemia Mill Road, Middletown, DE
Date of Occurrence:
- Tuesday, June 21, 2011 at 3:32 a.m.
Operators/Vehicles:
- 50 year old Delaware man
- Name currently being withheld pending next of kin notification
- 2005 Suzuki C50 Motorcycle
Resume
Middletown-The Delaware State Police Crash Reconstruction Unit is investigating a fatal motorcycle crash that occurred early this morning on Choptank (SR#15) just south of Bohemia Mill Road, Middletown, Delaware.
The crash was reported on Tuesday, June 21, 2011 at approximately 3:32 a.m. this morning. The investigation revealed that the male operator of the motorcycle was travelling northbound on Choptank Road approaching the intersection of Bohemia Mill Road. The male operator failed to negotiate a curve in the roadway and travelled off of the east edge of the roadway, striking two brick pillars before being ejected from his motorcycle.
The male operator was pronounced dead at the scene. His body was turned over to the Delaware Medical Examiner’s Office where an autopsy will be performed to determine the exact cause of death. Preliminary information indicates that the male operator was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.
The crash remains under investigation.
AMA – Health Insurers Still Making Mistakes on About 20% of Claims
The AMA's National Health Insurer Report Card aims to inform both the public and the health care industry about the timeliness and accuracy of claims processing.
As insurance companies continue to jack up rates on customers in order to cover growing costs, the AMA report says insurers are wasting billions by not having a better system for processing claims.
Wicomico County Sheriff's Office Press Releases
Warrant Arrest 18 June 2011
Location:
Priscilla Street, Salisbury, MD Suspect:
Narrative
Alexandria Joy Rittenhouse of Salisbury. Rittenhouse was being sought on four separate District Court
bench warrants for Failure to Obey the Conditions of Drug Court. Rittenhouse had been accepted into that
program in reference to four criminal cases where she had been charged.
Upon being taken into custody, Rittenhouse was transported to the Central Booking Unit where she was
processed and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner. After an initial appearance, Rittenhouse
was detained without bond in the Detention Center.Theft Arrest Date of Incident:
19 June 2011 Location:
28000 block of Nanticoke Road, Salisbury, MD Suspect:
Narrative
investigation into the theft of a digital camera from a residence in Salisbury. At the time of the theft, the
victim identified Christopher Henry as a suspect, but Henry repeatedly denied knowing anything about
the theft of the camera or its current whereabouts. The victim offered Henry pills if Henry could somehow
return the camera and he took the bait, reporting to the victim that he had just located her camera. Upon
the victim learning that Henry was on the way to her house with the camera on 19 June, she contacted the
Sheriff’s Office and a deputy stopped Henry just before he got back to the victim’s residence. On the
front seat hidden in a plastic bag was the victim’s camera.
The deputy placed Henry 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 detained Henry in the Detention Center in lieu of $25,000.00 bond.Driving Revoked Date of Incident:
19 June 2011 Location:
West Road, Salisbury, MD Suspect:
Narrative
a vehicle after the deputy queried the license plate on his in car Mobile Date Terminal and discovered the
license plate was registered to a 1996 Saturn. The deputy observed that the plate he ran was displayed on
a Pontiac. Upon stopping the vehicle, the operator provided her name to the deputy, which the deputy
would shortly discover to be false. Upon delving further into the situation once the deputy discovered the
operator’s true identity of Connie Chambers, the deputy learned that Chambers’ privilege to drive a
vehicle in Maryland was both suspended and revoked. Additionally, the deputy concluded that the vehicle
that Chambers operated was both unregistered and uninsured.
The deputy placed Chambers 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 Chambers in the Detention Center in lieu of $20,000.00 bond.Assault Date of Incident:
19 June 2011 Location:
8000 block of Arden Drive, Salisbury, MD Suspect:
Assault
Date of Incident:
19 June 2011 Location:
8000 block of Arden Drive, Salisbury, MD Suspect:
Narrative
investigated an altercation that occurred at a residence in the 8000 block of Arden Drive in Salisbury. The deputy met with a juvenile female victim who advised that she became involved in a verbal argument with her grandfather over wanting to go out when he allegedly assaulted her. The victim stated that Steve Mixter punched her in the face, tried to choke her and pushed her off the stairs which in turn pushed her into a wall.
The deputy observed signs of physical injury that corroborated this account.
The deputy placed Mixter 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 detained Mixter in the Detention Center in lieu of $25,000.00 bond.
Incident:
Incident:
Incident:
Incident:
Date of Incident:
Student Suit Against Virginia Western Community College Goes to Trial
A lawsuit claiming Virginia Western Community College defrauded nursing students is going to trial.
The Roanoke Times reports that the first trial in the case is scheduled to begin today in Roanoke County Circuit Court.
Fifty-nine current and former students sued the school and the state in December 2007. The lawsuit claims the school failed to tell the students that its nursing program had lost its national accreditation in 2006.
The lawsuit seeks about $23 million in damages. It contends that some employers wouldn't hire the students and some advanced degree programs wouldn't admit them because of the loss of accreditation.
The state denies the charges.
The first trial involves 16 students. The remaining plaintiffs have been divided into three other groups. Their trials are scheduled for 2012.
Online Anonymity: Painful And Priceless
The storm over a bogus blogger has inspired calls to ban anonymous commentary and even inspired reliance on Facebook as an identity-enforcer. Democracy and freedom are worth some annoyance
The old joke had it that when you're online, "no one knows you're a dog." The idea of online anonymity has been taking a beating recently, in part because of such celebrated cases of fraud as the Gay Girl in Damascus blog, which turned out to have been written by a 40-year-old man in Scotland. Alicia Shepard, former ombudsman for National Public Radio, came out swinging in a piece for the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University against the anonymity of commenters, which she calls "an exercise in faux democracy."
Allowing people to be anonymous isn't the problem. It has real value for society that shouldn't be dismissed so quickly.
The fact that someone might want to set up a blog and pretend to be a lesbian in Damascus (as Bobbie Johnson described it in that recent post) is definitely somewhat disturbing—in part because it was revealed that the creator of the blog had perpetrated the fraud for several years, taking in several knowledgeable writers on the Middle East (including Global Voices Online staffer Jillian York, who wrote about her experiences in a blog post).
Still, as online media veteran Dan Gillmor pointed out in a piece for The Guardian on the "Amina" affair, the fact that someone can pretend to be a gay blogger in the Middle East without being discovered also means that real lesbians and other persecuted people in Damascus or anywhere else can post their thoughts online, which can be a powerful force for democracy and human rights. Should anonymity (or what is actually pseudonymity) only be allowed for those who can prove that they really are political dissidents?
Along the same lines, there has been a lot of discussion recently about how online activity of all kinds—including blog comments—would be better if anonymity were outlawed or restricted in some way. Shepard, the former NPR ombudsman, says there would be "more honest, kinder, civil exchanges if people used their real names."
This is something we feel pretty strongly about at GigaOM. It's something I felt strongly about in my previous job managing the online community of a major national newspaper that got tens of thousands of comments a day. Did we get a lot of hateful comments? We sure did. We used a Winnipeg-based company called ICUC Moderation Services to handle the worst, which NPR also uses. The ability for people to speak their minds about important topics without having the words attached to their real names is important. I think one of the main reasons media sites have such terrible comments is that their writers rarely, if ever, engage with readers.
More
The old joke had it that when you're online, "no one knows you're a dog." The idea of online anonymity has been taking a beating recently, in part because of such celebrated cases of fraud as the Gay Girl in Damascus blog, which turned out to have been written by a 40-year-old man in Scotland. Alicia Shepard, former ombudsman for National Public Radio, came out swinging in a piece for the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University against the anonymity of commenters, which she calls "an exercise in faux democracy."
Allowing people to be anonymous isn't the problem. It has real value for society that shouldn't be dismissed so quickly.
The fact that someone might want to set up a blog and pretend to be a lesbian in Damascus (as Bobbie Johnson described it in that recent post) is definitely somewhat disturbing—in part because it was revealed that the creator of the blog had perpetrated the fraud for several years, taking in several knowledgeable writers on the Middle East (including Global Voices Online staffer Jillian York, who wrote about her experiences in a blog post).
Still, as online media veteran Dan Gillmor pointed out in a piece for The Guardian on the "Amina" affair, the fact that someone can pretend to be a gay blogger in the Middle East without being discovered also means that real lesbians and other persecuted people in Damascus or anywhere else can post their thoughts online, which can be a powerful force for democracy and human rights. Should anonymity (or what is actually pseudonymity) only be allowed for those who can prove that they really are political dissidents?
"Laws Disallowing Anonymous Speech?"
If so, who would do the proving? Says Gillmor: "What we should all fear is what too many in power want to see: the end of anonymity entirely. Governments, in particular, absolutely loathe the idea that people can speak without being identified … I fear there will soon be widespread laws disallowing anonymous speech, even in America."Along the same lines, there has been a lot of discussion recently about how online activity of all kinds—including blog comments—would be better if anonymity were outlawed or restricted in some way. Shepard, the former NPR ombudsman, says there would be "more honest, kinder, civil exchanges if people used their real names."
This is something we feel pretty strongly about at GigaOM. It's something I felt strongly about in my previous job managing the online community of a major national newspaper that got tens of thousands of comments a day. Did we get a lot of hateful comments? We sure did. We used a Winnipeg-based company called ICUC Moderation Services to handle the worst, which NPR also uses. The ability for people to speak their minds about important topics without having the words attached to their real names is important. I think one of the main reasons media sites have such terrible comments is that their writers rarely, if ever, engage with readers.
More
Baltimore Approves $1.3 Billion Budget
The Baltimore City Council voted Monday to approve a $1.3 billion operating budget for next year, in spite of last-minute protests by residents and a city councilman who wanted to restore funding to a summer youth employment program.
Council members voted 14-1 to approve the budget proposed by Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake for the fiscal year that begins July 1, with only Councilman Carl Stokes voting against it.
Stokes, who says he will be running for mayor but has yet to file, made a last-ditch effort before the vote to add more summer jobs for youth by cutting the Baltimore Police Department budget by $7 million. The measure was lauded, but ultimately rejected, by council members. The city will offer 4,000 fewer youth jobs than in past years.
Dollar Weakens Before Federal Reserve Meeting As Stocks Advance
The dollar fell against the majority of its most-traded counterparts as the Federal Reserve prepared to begin a two-day meeting amid signs the U.S. economy is slowing, and stocks and commodities rose.
The greenback weakened to the lowest level versus the euro in almost a week. The 17-nation currency advanced as European leaders said a Greek default can be avoided and Prime Minister George Papandreou faces a confidence vote at 5 p.m. New York time. Treasuries declined, sending yields up.
“Some of the fears of broader global, economic and financial disruption as a result of a Greek default are priced out a little bit, and market participants are tiptoeing back into risk,” said Stephen Gallo, head of market analysis at Schneider Foreign Exchange in London. “Bond yields are up, equities are doing relatively well and commodities are generally higher, so that has been weighing on the dollar broadly.”
The dollar depreciated 0.4 percent to $1.4365 per euro at 9:31 a.m. in New York after reaching $1.4388, the weakest since June 15. The U.S. currency slipped 0.1 percent to 80.17 yen, from 80.25 yesterday. The euro was 0.3 percent stronger at 115.14 yen.
“The play leading into the confidence vote has been to buy euros; the yes vote is priced in now,” Gallo said.
All 87 economists in a Bloomberg News survey forecast the Federal Open Market Committee will keep the benchmark interest rate at zero to 0.25 percent, where it’s been since December 2008. Futures on the Chicago Board of Trade show the likelihood the central bank will increase its target rate by March 2012 dropped to 21 percent from 30 percent a month ago.
Watkins Announces Re-Election Bid
State Sen. John Watkins, R-Powhatan, is seeking re-election to another four-year term in the Virginia Senate. The Powhatan businessman has represented the 10th District since 1998.
The district has been refigured this year to include Powhatan County and parts of Richmond and Chesterfield County. Previously, the 10th included all of Amelia and Powhatan counties and parts of Goochland,Cumberland, Chesterfield and Henrico counties and a smaller part of Richmond.
Watkins is expected to have Democratic opposition. Watkins, 64, said he will continue to focus on building relationships among the jurisdictions in the Richmond area and promoting higher education.
Comcast To Slash Wait Times For Cable Service Calls
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Used Car Prices To Rise
Why? It's yet one more thing to blame on the crisis that hit the auto industry and overall economy in 2008.
A key supply of late model used cars -- vehicles coming off of three-year leases -- is about to be choked off due to the crisis in the financial markets and the auto industry that summer that cut deeply into new leases.
"Leasing fell off across the board in 2008, so there's just not going to be as many of those late model, good quality cars coming into the market," said Belinda Aborts, director of automotive credit for auto research firm Experian.
Car leasing plunged in the summer of 2008, tumbling by 58% between June and November of that year, according to research firm R.R. Polk & Co.
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The Endgame On The Debt Ceiling
As we know, President Obama and his team do not appear to be very effective negotiators when it comes to dealing with the Republicans in Congress. Last December, the Republicans forced the president to renew the Bush tax cuts for the rich. More recently, they got him to make $38 billion in cuts to the 2011 budget even though all his economists know that the economy actually needs more stimulus, which more means spending.
Since the president is having so much trouble dealing with the Republicans, the rest of us should lend him a hand. One way we can do this is by etching out what the end game looks like in the battle over raising the debt ceiling.
As it stands now, we are being told that the Republicans are insisting that there will be no increase in the debt ceiling without large cuts to the budget. Since the Republicans won't go along with any major cuts to the military budget, this means big cuts to the rest of the budget.
GOVERNOR O’MALLEY NAMES MEMBERS OF TASK FORCE TO STUDY SEPTIC POLLUTION
Representatives from agriculture, science, environmental advocacy, and government to report by December 1st
ANNAPOLIS, MD (June 21, 2011) - Governor O’Malley today named a broad cross-section of representatives from business, agriculture, science, environmental advocacy and government from throughout Maryland to study the issue of the use of on-site sewage disposal systems, commonly known as septic systems. The Executive Order creating the Task Force on Sustainable Growth and Wastewater Disposal followed a vigorous debate on the issue during the 2011 legislative session over the Sustainable Growth and Agricultural Preservation Act (SB 846 and HB 1107).
“I am charging this task force with examining this issue in greater depth and we look forward to its conclusions,” said Governor O’Malley. “We must continue the progress we are making toward restoring the Chesapeake Bay and other waterways. This effort is not about stopping growth - it is about stemming the tide of major housing developments built on septic systems to generate clean water and protect our environment and public health.”
Delegate Maggie McIntosh, Chair of the House Environmental Matters Committee, will lead the Task Force on Sustainable Growth and Wastewater Disposal. Jon Laria, partner in the law firm of Ballard Spahr and Chair of the Maryland Sustainable Growth Commission, will serve as vice chair.
Other members are Erik Fisher, land use planner with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation; Fred Tutman, executive director of the Patuxent Riverkeepers and a member of the Patuxent River Commission; Robert Mitchell, administrator of the Environmental Programs Division of Worcester County; C.R. Bailey, vice president of Marrick Properties; Worcester County Commissioner Madison “Jimmy” Bunting, Jr.; Rob Etgen, executive director of the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy; Pat Langenfelder, president of the Maryland Farm Bureau; Talbot County farmer Richard Hutchinson; Jim Rapp, executive director of Delmarva Low-Impact Tourism Experiences; Robert Sheesley, owner of Eco-Sense Inc. environmental consultancy; Dr. Kelton (Kelly) Clark, director of the Morgan State University Estuarine Research Center in St. Leonard and chair of the Patuxent River Commission; attorney Brian Hammock of Venable LLC; and Robin Truiett-Theodorson, member and former president of the Abell Improvement Association.
Additional members, as specified in the Executive Order, are State Senator Paul G. Pinsky of Prince George’s County, lead sponsor of SB 846; Senator David R. Brinkley of Frederick County; Delegate Maggie McIntosh of Baltimore City; Delegate Steve Lafferty of Baltimore County, lead sponsor of HB 1107; Secretary of Planning Richard Eberhart Hall; Secretary of the Environment Robert M. Summers; Secretary of Agriculture Earl (Buddy) Hance; Secretary of Natural Resources John Griffin; Margaret McHale, chair of the Critical Area Commission; Bel Air Mayor David Carey and Frederick Planning Director Joe Adkins (both representing the Maryland Municipal League); Caroline County Planning Director Katheleen Freeman and Anne Arundel County Councilman Chris Trumbauer (both representing the Maryland Association of Counties), and Russ Brinsfield, executive director of the Harry R. Hughes Center for Agro-Ecology in Queenstown.
During the next 25 years, new Maryland residential developments relying on septic systems are expected to account for 26 percent of new households, but 76 percent of new nitrogen pollution. Nitrogen is the most damaging pollutant in the Chesapeake Bay and Maryland’s waterways. To comply with the Bay “pollution diet” set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Maryland must reduce nitrogen pollution 21 percent by 2020. Development on septic systems also fragments vital agricultural and forest lands and fuels dispersed land consumption, resulting in increased public costs and the need for additional roads, schools and other public services beyond the State’s growth areas. The Task Force is to report its findings by December 1, 2011 to the Governor, the Speaker of the House, the President of the Senate, and the House Environmental Matters Committee and the Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee.
New Broadband System Coming to Maryland
Leasing office space in this economy can be a challenge, especially in older buildings, but Taylor Fields is working on getting an edge: a super-fast fiber-optic broadband connection.
"One of the first things [prospective tenants] ask is what kind of Internet service we have," said Fields, aTimonium-based commercial leasing agent for the James F. Knott Realty Corp. "They all want fast Internet."
As work begins on a fiber-optic broadband network that will connect every Maryland school, hospital, police station — and even more public buildings — businesses also want to get involved. Knott is working with a contractor in the $158 million project, and hopes to be among the first corporate users when the work is complete in two to three years.
The idea is to link more than 2,000 miles of existing broadband cable in counties and cities, creating a central electronic infrastructure that would guarantee secure communications in emergencies, as well as service in rural areas where commercial Internet providers are reluctant to go. The system also is designed to save governments millions in commercial fees now paid to telecom firms.
Bridge Project On Old Kennett Road Extended
Unexpected Rock Formations Require Design Alterations
Centerville
This project began in November 2010 to avoid restrictions under the Federal Endangered Species Act, and Title 7 of the annotated Delaware Code, related to the presence of the bog turtle habitat. The bog turtle is a rare, threatened, and endangered species that is in danger of extinction. Additional issues related to cold weather at stages when construction was weather sensitive, the demolition of the former bridge, and the current discovery of additional underground rock formations have led to the project going beyond its original completion schedule of April 2011.
This important rehabilitation project involves the removal of the old concrete-slab bridge that rested on stone abutments, and then replacing it with a precast concrete box culvert structure. Additional improvements include the widening and reconstruction of the road approaches, placement of guardrail, and the addition of riprap for scour protection in the stream bed. Motorists will continue to use Center Mill Road and Ashland School Road as a detour route.
Virginia Exports Rise 8 Percent
Exports of goods and services in Virginia are growing and having a large impact on the state's economy.
Virginia exports increased 8 percent in 2010 to $29 billion, ranking it as the 22nd-largest exporting state in the U.S., according to recent data from the Virginia Economic Development Partnership's international trade office.
"The weak dollar is a tremendous boost and a tremendous reason why U.S. exports are gaining ground in other markets," said Paul H. Grossman Jr., director of the partnership's international trade and investment. "As a foreign buyer, they can now buy U.S. products with U.S. quality at anywhere from a 20 to 40 percent discount."
Grossman added that Virginia has received funding for programs to help companies expand exports to emerging nations that have a surging middle class by putting them face-to-face with foreign buyers.
BREAKING NEWS: Existing Home Sales Slide To Six-Month Low
The National Association of Realtors reports existing home sales fell 3.8% in May to a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 4.81 million homes, the weakest rate since November. Wall Street had expected a steeper 5.9% decline.
BREAKING NEWS: Huntsman Announces White House Bid
Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman officially declares his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination.
Two Women Arrested in Dead Baby Funeral Scam
They stood on the corner of busy intersections holding a hand-scrawled black marker on yellow paper sign that said "Funeral Donations." In the center of the poster was a picture of baby boy with a name underneath and his supposed days of birth of death. They said they were collecting money for his funeral arrangements. But after police responded to calls that the women were blocking intersections, it turned out to all be a sham.
The women, 27 and 20, initially told officers that their 6-month old son had died of a heart condition in the hospital while they were on vacation. But when pressed for details like where the child died, the name of the doctor or the child's city of birth, they were evasive.
Further questioning revealed the baby's picture had been downloaded off the internet.