WASHINGTON GAS

Joe --same scam is running again the Washington Gas People are going door to door trying to get everyone to sign a waiver and want a copy of your latest electric bill, also telling you all your neighbors were interested.   Watch out this time they are wearing tan jump suits with Washington Gas printed on them, last time was white dress shirts and ties.   Please read on line about their scams and how people have been stuck before you sign anything.

Dozens Of US Cities Line Up To Contest 2010 Census

WASHINGTON (AP) - With jobs and federal aid at stake, U.S. cities are lining up to contest their 2010 census counts as too low.

A decade ago, there were 1,200 challenges filed by cities, towns and counties. The U.S. Conference of Mayors is predicting a big jump in that number, due in part to tighter budgets that make local officials more sensitive to potential drop-offs in federal money for Medicaid and other programs.

Nearly $450 billion in federal aid is distributed to states based on population each year, or roughly $1,500 per person.

Cities have two years to contest their counts under the Census Bureau's appeals process, which began this month.

"Along with federal funds, there's a psychological impact when a city loses population, because people and businesses want to be in a vibrant region where things are growing and happening," Cincinnati mayor Mark Mallory, who chairs the U.S. mayors' task force on the census, said in an interview.

"There will be a dramatic increase in the number of city challenges, I guarantee it," he said.

Doubts about the government's numbers are cropping up everywhere.

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More Drones Strikes To Fight War On Terror

The global war on terror will feature fewer land battles and more surgical drone strikes. The Obama administration's new counterterrorism strategy also calls for more frequent use of special forces. The doctrine has taken two years to hatch. It got a boost after Navy Seals killed al-Qaida chief Osama bin Laden in May.

Last week, President Barack Obama said U.S. troops will begin leaving Afghanistan this summer. White House counterterrorism chief John Brennan said the reworked doctrine acknowledges the growing threat of terrorism at home, including al-Qaida attempts to recruit and attack inside the United States.

Worcester County Bureau of Investigation Press Release

DATE & TIME: Thursday June 30, 2011
CBI Case # 11-0152
LOCATION: 10000BLK Racetrack Road (Route 589)
Berlin, Worcester County, Maryland
CRIME: Death Investigation
VICTIM: Brian Paul WICKES, male age 62 Worcester County, MD

ACCUSED: N/A
CHARGES: N/A

NARRATIVE:

On June 30, 2011 a positive identification has been made. The remains have been positively identified as those of Brian Paul WICKES.

There is no indications that there is a criminal element involved here and that the death will likely be related to a medical related illness.

(Original Press Release)

At approximately 2:15AM the Ocean Pines Fire Department was dispatched to a vehicle fire with entrapment located in the 10000BLK of Racetrack Road, Berlin, Worcester County, Maryland.

Upon the arrival of fire units, the vehicle was completely involved in flames and there was an exposure problem to a nearby structure.

The fire was quickly extinguished by members of the Ocean Pines Fire Department and the structure only suffered minor damage.

Further investigation revealed the remains of a single male occupant in the vehicle.

Investigators from the Worcester County Bureau of Investigations and the MD State Fire Marshall Office and the MD State Police Crime lab, responded to the scene reference conducting an investigation.

As a result of the fire, a positive identification was unable to be made and the body was transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore for autopsy.

This incident is still under investigation and anyone that might have information is asked to contact Corporal Robert Trautman (WCBI) at (410) 352-3476 extension 124.

Senate Cuts Its Own Power

The Senate took the rare step of curbing its own power Wednesday, voting to no longer require Senate confirmation for 169 high-level federal jobs filled through presidential appointments. Most of those jobs are second-tier Cabinet positions such as assistant secretaries and deputy directors that typically don't inspire partisan wrangling. The Senate hopes this will curb the number of nominees that often hang in limbo for months because their confirmations get drawn into other fights. The bill passed 79-20.

Worcester County Sheriff’s Office Press Release

On Friday June 17^th the 66^th entry level Law Enforcement class graduated from the Easter Shore Criminal Justice Academy. The Worcester County Sheriff’s Office proudly announces that three of the graduating recruits are from the Worcester County Sheriff’s office. They are Christopher Barrs, Shane Musgrave, and Mark Powell. Deputies Barr Musgrave, and Powell, took top honors in Academics, Firearms, and Physical Fitness. The New Deputies will be assigned to patrol functions as soon as they finish their field training.

Attached is a photo. In the photo are the new Deputies wearing white gloves, Sheriff Mason, Chief Smack Col. Dods, Lt. McGee, Lt. Holloway, and other members of the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office.

Selling Federal Buildings Could Cost Money, Not Save It

The Obama administration's plan to sell off unneeded federal buildings will end up costing money, not saving it. A Congressional Budget Office analysis estimated the plan would cost $420 million from 2012-2016.

CBO is also skeptical of the administration's claim that sales would net $16 billion in new money. It said that's because many of the properties would have been sold anyway in the normal course of business. CBO sent its analysis in a letter to Congressman Darrell Issa (R-CA), chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

How Much Would It Cost To Buy Congress Back From Special Interests?

Here's a thought: let's buy our Congress back from the special interests who now own it.
We all know special interests own the U.S. Congress and the Federal machinery of governance (i.e. regulatory capture). How much would it cost the American citizenry to buy back their Congress? The goal in buying our Congress back from the banking cartel et al. would not be to compete with the special interests for congressional favors--it would be to elect a Congress which would eradicate their power and influence altogether.

A tall order, perhaps, but certainly not impossible, if we're willing to spend the money to not just match special interest contributions to campaigns but steamroll them.

A seat in the U.S. Senate is a pricey little lever of power, so we better be ready to spend $50 million per seat. Seats in smaller states will be less, but seats in the big states will cost more, but this is a pretty good average.

That's $5 billion to buy the Senate.

A seat in the House of Representatives is a lot cheaper to buy: $10 million is still considered a lot of money in this playground of power. But the special interests-- you know the usual suspects, the banks, Wall Street, Big Pharma, Big Insurance, Big Tobacco, the military-industrial complex, Big Ag, public unions, the educrat complex, trial lawyers, foreign governments, and so on--will fight tooth and nail to maintain their control of the Federal machinery, so we better double that to $20 million per seat. Let's see, $20 million times 435....

That's $8.7 billion to buy the House of Representatives.

It seems we're stuck with the corporate toadies on the Supreme Court, but the President could scotch the people's plans to regain control of their government, so we better buy the office of the President, too.

It seems Obama's purchase price was about $100 million, but the special interests will be desperate to have "their man or woman" with the veto power, so we better triple this to $300 million.

Add these up and it looks like we could buy back our government for the paltry sum of $14 billion. This is roughly .0037% of the Federal budget of $3.8 trillion, i.e. one-third of one percent. That is incredible leverage: $1 in campaign bribes controls $300 in annual spending--and a global empire.

Once we bought back our government, what would be the first items on the agenda? The first item would be to eradicate private bribes, a.k.a. private campaign contributions and lobbying.
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Government Checks Out Los Alamos Nuclear Lab

The government has sent a plane equipped with radiation monitors over the Los Alamos nuclear laboratory. A 125-square-mile wildfire is burning close to the lab. Flames have forced closure of the facility and put scientific experiments on hold. Lab authorities described the monitoring as a precaution. They said they're confident the blaze won't scatter radioactive material. Lab Director Charles McMillan said nuclear materials are all accounted for and safely put away. Los Alamos is protected by a 10-mile fire break line. One spot fire jumped the line and started burning on lab property but it was quickly extinguished.

BREAKING NEWS: NBA Locks Out Players

NBA owners lock out their players after talks fail on new collective bargaining agreement.

From Fox News

While Criminal US Bankers Receive Golden Parachutes, Barbarian Afghanistan Has Just Arrested Executives Of Failed Kabul Bank

Sometimes it is good to put things in perspective when comparing developed democracies like America and barbaric despotic dictatorships like Afghanistan. In one country, radioactively orange criminal heads of imploded mortgage lenders, who are responsible for billions in losses at rescued companies that will soon require more taxpayer bailouts, received multi million dollar golden parachute severance packages and slips on the write from the country's "regulators." In the other, former executives of a major failed bank have been arrested over huge fraud that led to its near collapse, while the head of its central bank flees to the first country on fears of prosecutions. Take a wild guess which country is which...
From the BBC [1]:

Deputy Attorney General Rahmatullah Nazari said the bank's founder and its former chairman Sherkhan Farnood and ex-CEO Khalilullah Ferozi were being held on embezzlement charges.

He told Reuters news agency both men would go on trial within a month.

Revelations of fraud, bad loans and mismanagement prompted a run on the bank last September.

It was bailed out by the central bank as part of efforts to prevent it from collapsing.

In April, it was split into a "good" and "bad" bank, and President Hamid Karzai vowed to take action against those responsible for the crisis.

Mr Farnood and Mr Ferozi, who both owned large stakes in the bank, were placed under house arrest at the time trouble hit, though they were reportedly able to move freely around Kabul nonetheless.

"We had to make arrests because Haji Khalil [Ferozi] and Sherkhan are the kind of people who can easily slip away from the country," Mr Nazari said, Reuters reported.

"Both are responsible for millions of dollars of losses in Kabul Bank and they must appear in court before they go too far from our hands," he said.

Another person who as we reported [2], and who is implicated in the massive fraud, is none other than the head of the former central bank head: Fitrat.

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Census Jobs On The Line

Hundreds of Census Bureau workers could change or lose their jobs. That's because Census plans to close six of 12 regional offices as a cost-cutting measure. The closures will affect 330 employees, about five percent of Census' field workforce. But agency leaders are expecting a net loss of only 130 jobs as some employees will be able to take jobs at remaining regional offices or at headquarters. Over the next 18 months, the bureau will close offices in Boston; Dallas; Detroit; Charlotte, North Carolina; Kansas City, Missouri; and Seattle. Employees not receiving preference hiring with other federal agencies will get help with resume preparation and job searches. (Federal News Radio)

The Other Kind Of Inflation

In addition to being one of the most picturesque places on the planet, Andorra is a textbook example of what happens to an economy when a limited government sets up a liberal tax regime.

Like conjuring money out of thin air, taxation is just another form of inflation that either directly or indirectly sticks the end-user consumer with a higher price.

Think about it– when businesses get taxed on their payrolls and profits, it’s consumers who end up paying for it at the cash register. When governments decide to pass sales taxes or increase VAT rates, it’s consumers who end up paying more.

This is theft, plain and simple… a robbery from everyday, hardworking people perpetrated by unproductive bureaucrats. Governments around the world collect trillions of dollars each year by sticking consumers with higher prices, only to go waste it all trying to centrally plan their economies.

In his recent book Daemon, author Daniel Suarez summed this up when he wrote, “Anyone who has ever tried to share pizza with roommates knows that [central planning] cannot ever work. If Lenin and Marx had just shared an apartment, perhaps a hundred million lives might have been spared…”

The major fallacy in politicians’ logic is that if governments can collect enough tax revenue, they will be able to dump it all back into the economy, creating jobs and stimulating growth.

It sounds great in theory, but in practice, government spending is prone to massive misallocations and value distortions… let alone corruption and bribery. This is how we end up with bridges to nowhere, empty cities, expensive wars, and millions of dollars of stimulus money spent on giant signs bragging about how much stimulus money has been spent.

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State Parks Could Reach Capacity Early As Day-Trippers Seek Water, Sun

State parks reach capacity when parking lots fill up, so visitors are advised to plan in advance

With sandy beaches, cooling waters and shady picnic areas, Maryland's state parks have become the go-to destination for more than 6 million day-trippers between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

But if the weather matches the July 4^th weekend forecast, park managers know there likely will be thousands of folks left on the outside, looking in.

Last year, parks filled to capacity, when every parking space is taken, 54 times. Sandy Point, just north of the Bay Bridge, was at capacity six days, three of them coming during the long Independence Day weekend. Manager Ken Hartman anticipates a repeat performance.

"We have people waiting at the gates at 6 a.m. Regulars know what picnic tables they want and what grill they want and they stake them out," Hartman says. "When our lots are full, we have 7,000 to 8,000 people in the park and that's our limit."

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DMV Announces New Help For Veterans

Division Launches Program to Provide Replacement Veteran IDs
Dover -- This weekend we will celebrate Independence Day, the day that the original 13 colonies, who later formed the United States of America, stood up to the might of Great Britain and made their Declaration of Independence. Since that time, our veterans have reminded us of the sacrifice that has been necessary to preserve our nation and the Department of Transportation's (DelDOT) Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is pleased to announce a new program aimed at helping veterans. Beginning July 5th, the DMV will begin to provide free replacement veteran identification cards to those service members who have lost, damaged, or misplaced them. These cards will not only be available to veterans who are retired or disabled, but to any veteran.

"Our veterans have made so many sacrifices for us, we are pleased to be providing this service to them," said DMV Director Jennifer Cohan. "By providing these replacement cards, we are helping veterans who have lost or damaged their cards to gain access to the services that they are entitled to because of their service."

The process for receiving these new cards is similar to getting a license or identification card, veterans who need a replacement card can make an appointment at the Dover or Wilmington DMV locations to get one. When going to the DMV they will need to bring their discharge papers or similar documentation, as well as their Delaware driver license or identification card. The card is similar in size to a driver license and features a photo of the cardholder. The replacement card is intended to give the user access to the same services offered to other veteran military personnel who possess their original veteran identification card.

The creation of the program was a collaborative effort between the DMV and State Senator Karen Peterson. Senator Peterson had begun looking into the creation of the program after being contacted by a veteran who was having trouble getting a replacement identification card.

"I am grateful to veteran Sam Mento for bringing this issue to my attention and to DMV Director Jennifer Cohan for her immediate and positive response to the request for Military IDs," said Senator Peterson. "This is a way of saying 'thank you' to Delaware's veterans who have given so much to protect our freedoms."

For an appointment in Dover please call (302) 744-2515 or for an appointment in Wilmington please call (302) 423-3203. For more information about the many services that are offered by the DMV or to share your ideas or concerns, please visit dmv.de.gov.

Man Sentenced To 7 Years In Death Of Girlfriend

ELKTON, Md. (AP) — A man whose girlfriend died three days after he punched her in the side during an argument has been sentenced to seven years in prison.

Twenty-four-year-old David Allen Barton of North East, who pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in April, must also pay more than $11,000 in restitution to the family of 23-year-old Tracey Weichert.

Barton was sentenced on Monday. ...

Read the full story at WJZ 13

HADPRO Moving Headquarters From Maryland To Virginia

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — A company that provides kitchen exhaust cleaning services to restaurants, government entities and large organizations is moving its headquarters from Maryland to Virginia.

Gov. Bob McDonnell said Thursday in a news release that HADPRO plans to invest $375,000 in its new headquarters in Alexandria.

Fifty-three jobs will be created.

HADPRO’s existing headquarters is in Rockville, Md.

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BREAKING NEWS: Senate Confirms Petraeus As CIA Director

Senate confirms Gen. David Petraeus to replace Leon Panetta as CIA director.

From Fox News

Dogs Can Join Owners Outside Restaurants July 1

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WUSA) -- Starting in July, you can bring your dog with you to Maryland restaurants with outdoor dining as long restaurant owners give their approval and provide written notice to the local health department.

The Dining Out Growth Act of 2011 passed the Maryland House in March and the Maryland Senate voted in April for the bill.

READ THE BILL: DINING OUT GROWTH ACT OF 2011

The new law takes effect July 1. Dogs must be on a leash, must be with an adult and cannot be left unattended.

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Maryland Arsonist Gets 24 Life Sentences

WASHINGTON (AP) — A Maryland man convicted of setting fire to a Montgomery County building in order to kill a police detective will spend life in prison.

Raven Masters was given 24 life sentences on Wednesday. The 32-year-old was convicted of setting on fire an apartment building that was home to two dozen residents. Prosecutors said he doused hallways and stairways with gasoline and shut off the sprinkler system and emergency lighting before setting the fire. They said he was attempting to kill a police detective who was set to testify against him in court on a burglary charge.

Firefighters managed to rescue all of the residents.

Source

Successful Rocket Launch At Wallops After Delay

After a one day delay due to the weather, and another brief delay Wednesday night, the ORS-1 satellite was launched into orbit from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at Virginia's Wallops Island.

The Air Force launched the battlefield imaging satellite atop a four-stage, solid-fuel 70-foot-tall Minotaur 1 rocket, the largest ever launched from the Delmarva peninsula. The launch, which happened shortly after 11 p.m., was expected to be visible across the Mid-Atlantic region, with past launches seen as far away as New York, South Carolina and West Virginia.
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Convicted Maryland Killer Settles Civil Suit For $500K

FREDERICK, Md. (AP) -- A Frederick man convicted last year of murdering his wife is agreeing to pay $500,000 in damages to her estate.

The Frederick News-Post reported Thursday that the settlement averted a trial next week on a civil claim filed against Marshall Metz.

Metz's attorney says the agreement brings an end to the wrongful-death case filed in December by the estate of Ann Sue Metz.

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BREAKING NEWS: Justice Dept. To Investigate CIA Interrogation Deaths

Justice Department moving forward with criminal investigations into CIA interrogations of two detainees who died while in custody.

From Fox News

Science Confirms In-N-Out Burger Is The Best And McDonald's The Worst

Almost a year ago, our survey-loving siblings at Consumer Reports asked several thousand readers to rate burgers from 18 burger chains and to no one's surprise, McDonald's came in dead last. Not satisfied with merely finding the best and worst beef-on-a-bun, CR decided to go for the super-sized option, rating 53 restaurants in five categories to find which ones provide the best food, service and value to customers.

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P.G. Councilwoman Johnson Pleads Guilty To Conspiracy

The wife of former Prince George's County Executive Jack Johnson entered a guilty plea Thursday for her role in what prosecutors have described as a sweeping corruption scheme in the Washington suburb.

Leslie Johnson, a member of the county Council, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit witness and evidence tampering. She was arrested last November after prosecutors say she flushed an illicit $100,000 check down the toilet and stashed nearly $80,000 in cash in her undergarments as FBI agents knocked on the door.

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Maryland Energy Assistance Payments To Decline Next Year

Payments that help low-income Marylanders cover their electric bills will decrease next year, according to the operating plan for the state's Electric Universal Service program. The cuts are the result of declining revenues and increased demand for help, according to the plan proposed by state officials.

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BREAKING NEWS: Defense Rests in Casey Anthony Trial

Defense team rests in murder trial of Casey Anthony, accused of killing her 2-year-old daughter Caylee, without her testifying.

STATE POLICE TRAFFIC PATROLS SET FOR HOLIDAY WEEKEND

(PIKESVILLE, MD) – Colonel Terrence B. Sheridan, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police, is implementing statewide traffic patrol resources as troopers prepare for a holiday weekend that brings increased traffic and increased potential for highway tragedies.

Maryland State Police troopers at each of the 22 barracks across the state will be focused on keeping highways safe and traffic moving smoothly during the July 4th holiday weekend. The regular on-duty patrol force will be supplemented by more than 75 extra troopers who will be on state and federally-funded highway safety overtime throughout the weekend.

On interstates and state roads, troopers will concentrate on enforcing speed limits and stopping aggressive drivers. Drunk driving enforcement will also be a priority. Each barrack will deploy at least one saturation patrol during the weekend. A saturation patrol is a team of troopers who patrol a specific area known for a high number of DUI arrests or crashes. Those troopers are focused only on identifying and arresting drunk drivers.

“Again this July 4th weekend, our focus is on keeping our highways safe,” Colonel Sheridan said. “Obeying speed limits, not drinking and driving, and ensuring everyone in the vehicle is properly restrained in seat belts or child safety seats when traveling will help to ensure your holiday is a safe and happy one. State troopers will be doing all they can to keep traffic moving and keep motorists safe as our citizens enjoy another great holiday weekend in Maryland.”

State troopers will again be assisting the Baltimore Police Department with July 4th events at the Inner Harbor. More than two dozen troopers will assist with traffic direction, commercial vehicle enforcement and other security initiatives. State Police helicopters will provide aerial support in the area when returning from medevacs to Baltimore hospitals.

To receive State Highway Administration updates on highway conditions and to check traffic cameras, visit www.roads.maryland.gov and click on CHART. Up to the minute traffic advisories will also be listed there.

Last year during the July 4th holiday period, Maryland state troopers arrested 163 drunk drivers. They wrote more than 12,600 traffic citations and warnings and made 129 criminal arrests. Seven people died in traffic crashes during the 2010 holiday weekend.

TRAFFIC ALERT - Daytime Lane Restrictions In Sussex County For Surface Treatment

Millsboro -- The Department of Transportation (DelDOT) announces that DelDOT's maintenance crews will do surface treatment repairs, commonly known as "tar and chip", for the following roads throughout Sussex County:

Phillips Ditch Road from Phillips Hill Road to Lakeview Road
Godwin School Road (Road 410) from Godwin School Road (Road 328A) to Hardscrabble Road
Careys Camp Road from Route 24 to Conaway Road
Substation Road from Laurel Road to English Road
Samuel Hill Road from Laurel Road to East Trap Pond Road
Womach Road from Samuel Hill Road to Phillip Hill Road
Little Hill Road from Shell Station Road to East Trap Pond Road
Gordy Road from Kings Crossing Road to Whitesville Road
Little Lane from Whaleys Road to end
Line Church Road from Line Road to Whitesville Road
Baker Road from Pepperbox Road to Brittingham Road
Brittingham Road from Russell Road to Whitesville Road
Smith Mill Church Road from Oak Branch Road to Whitesville Road
East Snake Road from Route 13 to Old Stage Road
Blackwater Branch Road from North Springfield Road to Delmar Road
East Cross Road from Columbia Road to the Maryland State Line

The surface work operations began on Monday, June 27. The anticipated completion date is Friday, July 15, weather permitting. The lane restrictions will be from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. No work on Fourth of July, in observance of Independence Day.

2011 Maryland School Assessment (MSA) Results Show Outstanding Progress By Wicomico Students

The 2011 Maryland School Assessment (MSA) results released June 29th show that Wicomico students are making outstanding progress toward meeting the proficiency levels mandated by No Child Left Behind, though challenges still remain to having all students proficient by 2014.

“Wicomico County has done a fabulous job,” said Dr. Margo Handy, Assistant Superintendent for Instruction and Student Services. “The challenge for us as educators is that we must continue and even double our efforts to help lift every student to a higher level of expectations and a higher level of performance. Our teaching staff demonstrates this commitment every day in the classroom by crafting creative lessons and projects, extending learning with guest speakers and field trips, and expanding their own knowledge and skills through professional development that supports student success.”

The MSA was given in March to all Maryland students in grades 3 through 8. The 2011 MSA results are available online at www.mdreportcard.org. Home reports showing each student’s performance on the MSA will be mailed to parents/guardians on Thursday, June 30.

MSA Successes and Challenges

Schools must achieve progress on MSA results in 21 different categories, including overall performance on the Math and Reading MSAs, subgroup performance, participation and attendance. Wicomico achieved good results in many of these areas, including:

• Wicomico students made gains overall in the percent proficient/advanced on the Reading MSA for grades 3 through 8, with significant increases for grades 7 and 8. They also made gains overall in the percent proficient/advanced on the Math MSA for grades 3 through 8, with significant increases for grades 3, 6 and 7.
• The African American subgroup made significant gains on the Reading MSA for grades 3, 4, 5, 7 and 8, and Math MSA gains for grades 3 through 7, with significant Math increases for grades 3, 6 and 7.
• The subgroup of students receiving special education services made gains on the Reading MSA for grades 3 through 8, with significant increases in grades 3, 5 and 7. On the Math MSA, this subgroup had gains for grades 3 through 7, with significant increases for grades 3, 5, 6 and 7. The percentage of students receiving Special Education services who scored proficient/advanced on the Reading MSA grew by 20.6 percent in grade 7, and by 18.2 percent on the grade 3 Math MSA.
• The FARMs (Free and Reduced Meal) subgroup made gains on the Reading MSA for grades 3 through 8, with significant increases in grades 4, 5, 7 and 8. On the Math MSA, the subgroup made gains for grades 3 through 8, with significant increases in grades 3, 6 and 7.

Challenges remain, however, to meeting the NCLB goal of having 100 percent of students proficient or advanced by the end of the 2013-14 school year, and of reaching the state’s yearly target – Annual Measurable Objective (AMO) – for achieving that goal.

“The target goes up every year, so even though we are making these great gains, the target keeps going up and we have to keep increasing student performance to meet it,” Dr. Handy said.

Among these challenges are:
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A Message For Israel And Evangelicals: Genesis Isn’t A Policy Guide

With a dogmatic loyalty to Israel born out of a literal interpretation of the Bible, is the American Christian Right the new Jewish lobby in US politics? Mixing religion and statecraft isn’t just dangerous and unwise. It’s sacrilegious.

I recently passed a local evangelical church here in rural New England with a sign that read: “We Love You Israel. Hold God’s Land.”

The sign is part of a wider phenomenon: the American Christian right’s dogmatic support for Israel and the Jewish state’s claim to the “Holy Land.” It’s a loyalty born out of a literal interpretation of the Bible and its apocalyptic narrative and a view that ascribes divinity to a physical place. And this reflexive support for Israel has spread to the broader conservative base and American political scene in general. Look no further than Glenn Beck’s “Restore Courage” trip to Jerusalem planned for this August, which at least one GOP presidential contender has noted he will attend.

Such religious attachment isn’t an isolated theological agenda. It’s at the heart and history of the conflict in the Middle East.

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Worcester County Sheriff’s Office Press Release

Members of the Worcester County K-9 unit and the Worcester County Vocational School have teamed up and created a T shirt that may be purchased to support the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office K-9 unit.

The Worcester County Sheriff’s Office currently has two K-9 units in service and there is a third handler in training now with another K-9 that was purchased to replace the dog that had to be retired.

Currently the Sheriff’s Office has K9 Dino and K9 Jonka as active dogs.  K9 Reagan is in training with handler Dfc. Dennis in North Carolina.  Soon the Sheriff’s Office will get a dogs for handlers Dfc. Larmore and Dfc. Trotter.  Retired K9's are K9 Denny, K9 Luger and K9 Toby.

Budget cuts have stressed all offices throughout the County Government. The Worcester County Sheriff’s Office K-9 unit not only has to maintain the current group of  dogs and equipment that are in service now, but also the dogs that have had to be retired from the job.

The K-9 Unit asked the Worcester County Vocational School to design a T shirt for production. The Students jumped at the chance to assist the Sheriff’s office. In designing a T shirt the students receive real world training and experience designing a product and then pitching their design in hopes it is picked to go into production.

Mr. Clay Reister and Ella Topping are the teachers of the graphic arts class. Mr. Reister and Ms. Topping guided the students in their design and help pick the winning design that was put into production. Attached is a photo of the T shirt that the students designed.   Below is the list of students in the Graphic arts class who designed the T shirt. 

Allen, Rhylessa Shyrice (not pictured)

Alpern, Alexa Jacalyn

Bradford, Jeremy Allan

Collins, Ta'Shawn Michael Lee

Dodson, Danielle Nichole

Elliott, Jack Austin (not pictured)

Hall, Paige Alexandria

Hardy, Alford Hilton

Hill, Jacob Elijah

Jacobson, Jeffrey Russell

Kelpy, Jessica Jean

McCabe, Jacob Gunnar

Shermer, Virginia Margaret

Shoop, Andrew Jacob

The T shirts are available through the Worcester County Sheriff’s office K-9 unit. All proceeds will go to the care and maintenance of the K-9 dogs and the Equipment needed to keep the unit operational.

For further information please contact Cpl. Edgar or Cpl. Ramey of the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office to purchase at T shirt or donate in any way. 410-632-1111

Attached are photos of the T shirt and the Graphic Arts class, along with Cpl. Edgar and Cpl. Ramey with their K-9 partners.  

A Viewer Writes...

Why in the world does Ollies not have A/C. It is so miserably hot in there. Plus they sell food, you would think anything chocolate would MELT.

$495 Million Award From Exxon In Baltimore Co. Gas Spill Could Grow

Jury returned sealed verdict on damages Tuesday, discussing punitive award

A Baltimore County jury has ordered Exxon Mobil Corp. to pay more than $495 million to compensate a group of Jacksonville families and businesses for claims of lost property value, emotional distress and medical monitoring resulting from a 2006 underground gasoline leak — and damages could continue to grow.

The Circuit Court jury was scheduled to continue working Thursday to decide an amount to award the 160 families and businesses in punitive damages, which could be several times higher. The six-member civil jury began deliberations Wednesday afternoon on a financial award to punish the company for what its verdict described as "fraud," including misleading state and county officials and Jacksonville community members about the equipment at the gas station, the reason why the station initially closed, and about efforts to clean up the spill.

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When And Where To Celebrate 4th of July

July 3, 2011

Willards Elementary

Shorebirds

St. Michaels - The Strand

Crisfield - Summer Cove

July 4, 2011

Hebron - Carnival Grounds

Chincoteague - Carnival Grounds

Chestertown

Solomoms Island

Ocean City - 125th St. or the Inlet Downtown

Queenstown - Aspen Wye Institute

Very Well Said

"A recent poll showed that nearly half the American public believes that the government should redistribute wealth. That so many people are so willing to blithely put such an enormous and dangerous arbitrary power in the hands of politicians -- risking their own freedom, in hopes of getting what someone else has -- is a painful sign of how far many citizens and voters fall short of what is needed to preserve a democratic republic." --economist Thomas Sowell

Ireton’s Interns

Did you know that Salisbury Mayor Jim Ireton has an intern? Well, he actually has 1 1/2 interns.

How can you have 1 1/2 interns? He shares one with councilwoman Laura Mitchell. In fact, sources in the Mayor’s office state that all of that “brilliant analysis” Mitchell was claiming credit for during the budget process was actually done by her intern.

There’s certainly nothing wrong with the Mayor having one or more interns. All he needs to do is call the Institute for Public Affairs and Civic Engagement (PACE) over at SU. They’ll hook him right up.

What surprised me was that Mitchell received an intern. Sure, her husband is on the faculty and she knows people I’m sure. However, to “”share” an intern with the Mayor while also claiming to be totally independent of him doesn’t exactly ring true. Besides, I wonder if Ireton or Mitchell asked council members Debbie Campbell, Terry Cohen, Shanie Shields, or Tim Spies if any of them wanted an intern.

Shanie would have probably jumped at the chance. She probably would have used an intern to fetch drinks or change the channel while she watched her “progams” or hold her purse while she played the slots.

Nonprofits Could Lose Tax-Exempt Status

More than 30 Sussex County nonprofits are slated to lose their tax-exempt status unless proper paperwork is filled out. In Delaware, the list includes more than 850 organizations.

American Legion Post 20 in Milton was one of the organizations recently informed its tax-exempt status had been revoked.

Robert Moore, spokesman for Post 20, said he heard June 17 through friends that Post 20 was on the revoked list.

“It came as a complete shock,” said Moore. “I open all the mail we receive, and I never got anything from the IRS about this.”

Gregg Semanick, spokesman for the Internal Revenue Service, said tax-exempt organizations other than churches and church-related organizations are required to file annual notices with the IRS. If they fail to file the paperwork for three straight years, they automatically lose tax-exempt status.

Moore made several phone calls to the IRS to find out what he had to do to regain Post 20’s status. He said he found out Post 20 had been revoked since May 2010. He said if that’s true, the Post did not file the proper taxes for 2010; the post would be subject to corporate taxes if its tax-exempt status was revoked.

Moore said he became very upset and called Sen. Tom Carper’s office in Wilmington to express his concerns. He is now working with Carper’s office on letters to send to the IRS on Post 20’s behalf.

In order to appeal the revoked status, the IRS requires organizations to pay $100; the regular filing fee is $400. In addition to filing paperwork and paying the fee, organizations have to show what safeguards they will put in place to prevent future status revocations.

“I feel like I’ve cost my Post $100, and we just don’t have that kind of money,” Moore said. “We are veterans that have served, and we really don’t need this.”

Once the organization’s status is revoked, the group must apply to have its status reinstated. The proper forms must be filed and a fee paid to the IRS.

“There is no way for the IRS to determine if an organization is defunct or is simply not filing returns as required,” said Semanick. “This is one objective of this law, to screen out those organizations that no longer are in operation and to require organizations that are in existence to file in order to keep the IRS records current.”

Semanick said once the IRS approves the application, the status will be reinstated, going back to the date when it was revoked. If the organization is not reinstated, then it is responsible for paying federal income taxes.

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Milton Celebrates Park Smoking Ban

Milton — Just when Milton officials began to abandon the idea of implementing a smoking ban in town parks, the American Lung Association came in to rescue them.

Thanks to a mini-grant worth about $5,500, the town as able to pass a smoking ban ordinance and install necessary equipment at three town parks.

“I just want to thank the American Lung Association for their contribution to the park for all the equipment,” Mayor Cliff Newlands said. “I think it’s a great accomplishment for the town.”

The grant allowed the town to purchase snuffers — public ashtrays — as well as signs and banners relaying the anti-smoking initiative’s message at Memorial and Mill parks and the town's Rail to Trail area.

Deborah Brown, CEO of American Lung Association of the Mid-Atlantic, said Milton was the first town in the state to apply for the mini-grant.

“We’re very pleased that Milton is leading the way and is really setting the bar high for other communities,” she said. “This is not only from a health standpoint but from a safety perspective as well.”

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BREAKING NEWS ON SALISBURY WWTP

What was expected to happen this morning at the Circuit Court on the Salisbury Waste Water Treatment Plant, (WWTP) ended within minutes.

The honorable Judge Simpson stated he was a resident of Salisbury and wanted both sides to decide if this was a conflict of interest.

While attorneys on both sides argued, Judge Simpson asked them to think about it and get back with him on their decision.

Anther hearing/court date will be decided.

Online Cheaters Still Prefer Real-World Infidelity

Anthony Weiner, take note: according to a new study about cyberinfidelity, sexting with people you meet online is a really poor substitute for sex. New research shows that the majority of people who first cheat online end up cheating with their Internet lovers in real life.

Evolving technology means that people find paramours in very different ways than they used to. In fact, the popularity of the Internet and the anonymity it affords has catapulted it to No. 1 on the list of top places to go looking for love. Assuming you don't commit a Wiener-like flub and send a mass tweet of your jersey-clad groin to all your Twitter followers, digital romance has the potential to be quite discreet. Just ask the nearly 10 million anonymous members of Ashley Madison, which bills itself as the world's leading married dating service. Its tagline? "Life is short. Have an affair."

Researchers at the University of Nebraska at Kearney and Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas, got permission from Ashley Madison to offer users the opportunity to participate in a survey as they were about to log off the dating site. In three months, researchers got 8,800 hits. Of those, they zeroed in on 5,187 adults who answered questions about Internet use, sexual behaviors and attitudes about online sexual behaviors, with a focus on cheating.

Here's what they learned: women are more likely than men to sext. More than two-thirds of the participants had cheated online while committed to someone else; more than three-quarters had cheated in real life. More than 66% said they had met someone in real life for a hook-up after first meeting them online; this finding applied to 83% of the women, according to the research, which is published online in the journal Sexuality & Culture.

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GOVERNOR MARTIN O’MALLEY ANNOUNCES FASTTRACK AS PART OF MARYLAND MADE EASY

New tool for business and development owners to streamline and expedite state permit review process for projects in priority development areas

ANNAPOLIS, MD (June 30, 2011) – Governor Martin O’Malley today joined Lt. Governor Anthony G. Brown, members of the Executive Cabinet, Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz, and other state and local leaders at Bakery Express, Inc. in Halethorpe to officially launch FastTrack  as part of the Maryland Made Easy initiative. FastTrack is a new tool for business owners and developers to streamline and expedite the review of state permits for projects in priority development areas.

“One of the ways in which we can create jobs, expand opportunity, and do it now, is by cutting the bureaucratic red tape,” said Governor O’Malley.  “We’re doing that with Maryland Made Easy, simplifying and streamlining the business licensing and permitting process – not just in specific agencies, but across our entire State government.  One of Maryland Made Easy’s key strategies is the ‘FastTrack’ initiative, designed to streamline the kind of business expansion our State is looking for.  This is the FastTrack to expanding businesses in our State.  This is the FastTrack to jobs and opportunity, not in ‘a few years from now,’ but now.”

As part of today’s announcement, Governor O’Malley signed the Executive Order establishing FastTrack and appointed Lt. Governor Brown as Chair of the initiative.      

“Governor O’Malley and I believe that state government has a responsibility to lay the foundation for job creation and economic growth in Maryland, and making it easier for companies to do business in our state is a key part of that effort,” said Lt. Governor Brown. “Our new FastTrack initiative will help expedite the business development process while maintaining standards for smart growth and environmental protection. I am honored to lead this effort on behalf of Governor O’Malley and I look forward to working closely with Maryland’s business community to make the FastTrack program a success.”

The Governor also announced the launch of the Maryland Made Easy web site, which will host information about the FastTrack process as well as the application. The site also features a GIS interactive map that will help users determine eligibility to apply for FastTrack. All projects in FastTrack will be monitored to ensure timeliness and adherence to specified timelines and a yearly report will be presented to the Governor on the system’s progress.

In January, Governor O’Malley announced Maryland Made Easy as part of the Administration’s ongoing efforts to improve the conditions that allow businesses to grow and create jobs. Maryland Made Easy encompasses strategies to streamline procedures, simplify regulations and improve communications.

In addition to FastTrack, the Maryland Made Easy initiative includes State Highway Administration Permits, an ongoing initiative to facilitate permitting for development projects and will include Central Business Licensing, an online one-stop shop for completing and submitting licenses related to starting a business in Maryland. 

Today’s Survey Question

What do you think is a fair price for a bushel of crabs?

Fruitland Police Department Press Releases

DATE & TIME: Wednesday, June 22, 2011 @ 10:30 a.m.

INCIDENT: Possession of CDS

LOCATION: East Main St. and N. Fruitland Blvd
Fruitland, Md.

CASE NO.: 2011-668
PERSON CHARGED: PEOPLES, RONALD M/B

AGE: 58
ADDRESS: Pine Street, Fruitland, Md.

CHARGES: Possession of CDS


DISPOSITION: Released to custody of WCDC

PERSON CHARGED: ROZZELL, JOYCE ELLEN F/B
AGE: 61
ADDRESS: Pine Street, Fruitland, Md.
CHARGES: Possession of CDS
DISPOSITION: Released to custody of WCDC
PERSON CHARGED: DASHIELL JR., THOMAS M/B
AGE: 52
ADDRESS: Texas Road, Bivalve, Md.
CHARGES: Possession of CDS
DISPOSITION: Released to custody of WCDC


Resume’
On the above date and time Fruitland officers conducted a traffic stop on a red GMC Jimmy with Alabama registration. Subsequent contact with subjects revealed the presence of CDS resulting in their arrest.



DATE & TIME: Friday, June 24, 2011 @ 3:50 p.m.
INCIDENT Possession of CDS

LOCATION: ST. Lukes Road, Fruitland, Md.
CASE NO.: 2011-684
PERSON CHARGED: JOHNSON, CHARLES TIMOTHY M/W

AGE: 33
ADDRESS: Unionville Road, Pocomoke, Md.

CHARGES: Possession of CDS-not Marihuana
Possession of CDS-not Marihuana
Possession of CDS Paraphernalia
DISPOSITION: Released to Custody of WCDC

Resume’
On the above date and time officers conducted a traffic stop on a 2003 Chevrolet SUV in which the above subject was a passenger. Subsequent contact revealed the presence of CDS which resulted in the subject’s arrest.

DATE & TIME: Saturday, June 25, 2011 @ 1:37 p.m.
INCIDENT: Possession of CDS
LOCATION: N. Division St. and Hunters Way, Fruitland, Md.
CASE NO: 2011-689
PERSON CHARGED: TRUITT, TYLER DOWNS M/W
AGE: 26
ADDRESS: 146th Street, Ocean City, Md.
CHARGES: Possession of CDS-not Marihuana w/intent to distribute
Possession of CDS-not Marihuana
Possession of CDS paraphernalia X 5
Numerous Traffic Citations
DISPOSITION: Released to Custody of WCDC
PERSON CHARGED: DAVIS, DANA MARIE F/W
AGE: 24
ADDRESS: Glen Avenue, Salisbury, Md.
CHARGES: Possession of CDS-not Marihuana w/intent to distribute
Possession of CDS-not Marihuana
Possession of CDS paraphernalia X 4
DISPOSITION: Released to custody of WCDC

Resume’
On the above time and date officers conducted a traffic stop on a 2000 Honda Civic for exceeding the posted speed limit. Subsequent contact with the occupants of the vehicle revealed the presence of CDS resulting in theirarrest.

DATE & TIME: Saturday, June 25, 2011 @ 5:32 p.m.
INCIDENT: Possession of CDS
LOCATION: N. Fruitland Blvd and Pollitt Drive, Fruitland, Md.
CASE NO: 2011-690
PERSON CHARGED: POLLOCK JR., DAVID GERALD M/W
AGE: 22
ADDRESS: Siloam Road, Salisbury, Md.
CHARGES: Possession of CDS
Possession of CDS paraphernalia
DISPOSITION: Released to custody of WCDC

Resume’
On the above time and date officers conducted a traffic stop on a white 2001 Chevrolet Cavalier. Upon contact with the occupant, the distinct odor of Marihuana was detected. A subsequent search revealed the presence of CDS resulting in the subject’s arrest.


DATE & TIME: Sunday, June 26, 2011 @ 11:40 p.m.
INCIDENT: Possession of CDS
LOCATION: S. Division Street and Center Street, Fruitland, Md.
CASE NO: 2011-696
PERSON CHARGED: JORDEN, MICHAEL JOSEPH M/W
AGE: 19
ADDRESS: Egret Lane, Hebron, Md.
CHARGES: Possession of CDS
Possession of CDS paraphernalia
Alcohol Citation
DISPOSITION: Released to custody of WCDC

Resume’
On the above date and time officers conducted a traffic stop on a 1992 Chevrolet truck for a missing license plate. Contact with the occupants revealed the truck belonged to neither the operator nor the passenger. The above subject advised that the vehicle belonged to a relative. A consent search of the vehicle was requested and granted whereupon an open container of alcohol was discovered as well as CDS. The above subject was arrested and transported to WCDC where he was released into the custody of Central Booking.


DATE & TIME: Monday, June 27, 2011 @ 1:20 a.m.
INCIDENT: Possession of CDS
LOCATION: Tall Timber Lane, Fruitland, Md.
CASE NO: 2011-697
PERSON CHARGED: HANNA, DONALD LEONARD M/W
AGE: 39
ADDRESS: Tall Timber Lane, Fruitland, Md.
CHARGES: Possession of CDS
Possession of CDS paraphernalia
DISPOSITION: Released to custody of WCDC

Resume’
On the above time and date officers responded to a reported domestic in progress. Upon arrival it was related to the officers that the above named subject had been ingesting CDS and using family finances to purchase it. The location of the CDS was pointed out to the officers by the above named subject and upon examining the area, CDS and paraphernalia was discovered. The subject was subsequently arrested and transported to WCDC where he was released into the custody of Central Booking.

DATE & TIME: Monday, June 27, 2011 @ 2:00 p.m.
INCIDENT: Burglary
LOCATION: Nina Lane, Fruitland, Md.
CASE NO: 2011-698
PERSON CHARGED: LEWIS, DEON LAMONT M/B
AGE: 18
ADDRESS: 28th Avenue, Temple Hills, Md.
CHARGES: Burglary w/intent to commit theft
Theft
Conspiracy to commit theft
DISPOSITION: Released to custody of WCDC

PERSON CHARGED: DUREN, GEORGE WILLIE M/B
AGE: 18
ADDRESS: Locksely Road, Fort Washington, Md.
CHARGES: Burglary w/intent to commit theft
Theft
Conspiracy to commit theft
DISPOSITION: Released to custody of WCDC

Resume’
On the above date and time officers responded to a reported theft of a bicycle which had just occurred. Several witnessess provided discriptions of the two subjects that had taken the bicycle, the clothing they were wearing and the direction they headed. A broadcast was put out and within moments another Fruitland officer advised he had the subjects in sight. They were apprehended in possession of the stolen property. They were arrested, charged and transported to WCDC where they were remanded into the custody of Central Booking.

DATE & TIME: Tuesday, June 28, 2011 @ 8:57 p.m.
INCIDENT: Assault/ Disorderly Conduct
LOCATION: W. Main Street & Camden Avenue, Fruitland, Md.
CASE NO: 2011-701
PERSON CHARGED: WARD, AARON PHILLIP M/W
AGE: 30
ADDRESS: Flower Hill Church Road, Eden, Md.
CHARGES: Disorderly Conduct
Disturbing the Peace
Assault
Failure to Obey Lawful Order
Resisting Arrest
DISPOSITION: Released to custody of WCDC

PERSON CHARGED: JUSTIS, MEGAN LYNN F/W
AGE: 21
ADDRESS: Clyde Avenue, Fruitland, Md.
CHARGE: Disorderly Conduct
DISPOSITION: Released to custody of WCDC

Resume’
On the above date and time officers responded to a report of two subjects fighting in the street. Upon arrival the above named subjects were observed in the street loudly yelling profanities at one another. Witnesses advised that subject Ward had grabbed subject Justis by the neck. Subject Justis had struck subject Ward in the face. Both subjects were placed under arrest. Ward resisted attempts to be placed in a patrol unit and continued to behave in a disorderly manner throughout the transport and detention process. Both subjects were transported and remanded into the custody of Central Booking.

An FBI Guide To Possible Crimes At Arlington National Cemetery

The FBI is conducting a criminal inquiry into Arlington National Cemetery. The burial mixups there have made big news. Was any of it against the law? Probably. Here are a few reasons to think so.

Reserving graves:

It's against the law to reserve grave locations at Arlington. The previous Superintendent, Jack Metzler, did it anyways. Anybody who strolls the rounds of Arlington will notice how generals and other powerful people seem to be buried up on hills overlooking Washington in plots that are easily accessible to visitors, while a private ends up in some back corner of the cemetery. A year ago, I explained how Metzler kept a separate set of books to reserve graves for important people and that the new director of the cemetery, Kathryn Condon, found out about it when she started last summer.

Army officials confirm that in her new post, Condon has reviewed cemetery burial paperwork. That review "raised questions as to whether Mr. Metzler pre-assigned grave sites," according to (Gary) Tallman, the spokesman.

Condon confronted Metzler. "Mr. Metzler stated he had identified sections (for the burial of certain people) but did not assign specific grave sites," according to Tallman.

That story also contained this sentence: "When asked on Tuesday if this seemed to violate the law, Army spokesman Gary Tallman responded, 'Yes, it would.'"

The Army says this practice stopped immediately when Metzler was pushed out and Condon took over the cemetery on June 8, 2010. Nearly three weeks later the husband of Supreme Court Judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Martin Ginsburg, died of cancer. Arlington buried Ginsburg in the prestigious section 5 of the cemetery, along with a handful of Supreme Court judges.

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A World Overwhelmed By Western Hypocrisy

Western institutions have become caricatures of hypocrisy.

The International Monetary Fund and the European Central Bank are violating their charters in order to bail out French, German, and Dutch private banks. The IMF is only empowered to make balance of payments loans, but is lending to the Greek government for prohibited budgetary reasons in order that the Greek government can pay the banks. The ECB is prohibited from bailing out member country governments, but is doing so anyway in order that the banks can be paid. The German parliament approved the bailout, which violates provisions of the European Treaty and Germany’s own Basic Law. The case is in the German Constitutional Court, a fact unreported in the US media.

US president George W. Bush appointed an immigrant, who is not impressed with the US Constitution and the separation of powers, to the Justice (sic) Department in order to get a ruling that the president has "unitary powers" that elevate him above statutory US law, treaties, and international law. According to this immigrant’s legal decisions, the "unitary executive" can violate with impunity the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which prevents spying on Americans without warrants obtained from the FISA Court. The immigrant also ruled that Bush could violate with impunity the statutory US laws against torture as well as the Geneva Conventions. In other words, the fictional "unitary powers" make the president into a Caesar.

Constitutional protections, such as habeas corpus, which prohibit government from holding people indefinitely without presenting charges and evidence to a court, and which prohibit government from denying detained people due process of law and access to an attorney, were thrown out the window by the US Department of Justice (sic), and the federal courts went along with most of it.

As did Congress, "the people’s representatives." Congress even enacted the Military Tribunals Commissions Act of 2006, signed by the White House Brownshirt on October 17.

This act allows anyone alleged to be an "unlawful enemy combatant" to be sentenced to death on the basis of secret and hearsay evidence not presented in the kangaroo military court placed out of reach of US federal courts. The crazed nazis in Congress who supported this total destruction of Anglo-American law masqueraded as "patriots in the war against terrorism."

The act designates anyone accused by the US, without evidence being presented, as being part of the Taliban, al-Qaeda, or "associated forces" to be an "unlawful enemy combatant," which strips the person of the protection of law. Not even George Orwell could have conceived of such a formulation.

The Taliban consists of indigenous Afghan peoples, who, prior to the US military intervention, were fighting to unify the country. The Taliban are Islamist, and the US government fears another Islamist government, like the one in Iran that was blowback from US intervention in Iran’s internal affairs. The "freedom and democracy" Americans overthrew an elected Iranian leader and imposed a tyrant. American-Iranian relations have never recovered from the tyranny that Washington imposed on Iranians.

Washington is opposed to any government whose leaders cannot be purchased to perform as Washington’s puppets. This is why George W. Bush’s regime invaded Afghanistan, why Washington overthrew Saddam Hussein, and why Washington wants to overthrow Libya, Syria, and Iran.

America’s First Black (or half white) President inherited the Afghan war, which has lasted longer than World War II with no victory in sight. Instead of keeping with his election promises and ending the fruitless war, Obama intensified it with a "surge."

The war is now ten years old, and the Taliban control more of the country than does the US and its NATO puppets. Frustrated by their failure, the Americans and their NATO puppets increasingly murder women, children, village elders, Afghan police, and aid workers.

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Man Fatally Shot In W. Baltimore

Killing marks 100 murder victims in city this year

A 24-year-old man died after he was shot in the back in what may have been a robbery in West Baltimore late Tuesday night, police said.

Christopher Russell Samuel, of the 1300 block of Pennsylvania Ave., became the 100^th person killed in Baltimore this year, two more than this time last year.

Police said the shooting was reported at 11:52 p.m. in the 500 block of Mosher Street, in the Upton community. Samuels was shot in the back, and witnesses said he may have run to the spot where he was found after being robbed and shot, police said. He did not appear to have a criminal record.

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City Officer Retires After 50 Years Of Service

Western District veteran served under 13 Baltimore police commissioners

When John McAndrew Sr. joined the city Police Department, the 10 tallest buildings that now stand in Baltimore had not been constructed, and most of the people who now work on the force had not been born.

The 72-year-old patrol officer retired Wednesday, joined at a ceremony by dozens of co-workers, friends and family members, ending 50 years of service.

McAndrew began his service on June 1, 1961. He has served as an officer in the Western District since Aug. 24 of that year, a district that has historically been among the city's most dangerous.

"The role of this man in Baltimore has changed people's lives," Police Commissioner Frederick H. Bealefeld III told the crowd Wednesday in the atrium at the police headquarters building.

McAndrew's wife of 47 years, Rebecca, said that her husband's dedication and love of his work has been the most important part of their life together.

"It's been the center of our life, the nucleus of our existence," she said.

This devotion to the police force has always been a part of McAndrew. He said that he "wanted to be a police officer my whole life."

He had no idea that he would carry this passion for 50 years of service. Asked how many police commissioners he had served under, McAndrew smiled, and said: Everyone. The answer is 13.

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Republican-Appointed Judges Uphold Health Reform

The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals just upheld a district court decision ruling that the Affordable Care Act is constitutional. One of the jurists on the three-judge panel was appointed by Jimmy Carter. The other two were appointed by Republican presidents – one by Ronald Reagan and one by George W. Bush – but the former included a partial dissent in his opinion. (More on this later.) The bottom line, however, is that this is one more victory point in the Obama Administration column, and a particularly significant one because of the mixed makeup of the appeals court panel.

Here is the full ruling. See page 54 for the partial dissent from Judge James L. Graham.

Source

Rt. 50 Draw Bridge Very Busy Over The Past 24 hours

If your anywhere near the Rt. 50 Draw Bridge you can hear the horns and bells going off. However, over the past 24 hours I have heard these sounds more often than I have ever heard in the past. Fortunately no fire sirens have been going off at the same time.

This morning at 9:00 AM the Bridge went up and then again at 9:20. Yesterday was no exception. At least at 9:00 this morning there was a barge traveling under the Bridge.

So if you have an employee who said they were late because the Bridge was up and they were supposed to be at work at 9:00, well, they wouldn't have made it to work by 9:00 anyway because it went off right at 9:00 on the dot.

Which Government Asks Google To Remove The Most Info From The Internet?

The British Government doesn't like people being able to find certain things on the internet. What other conclusion could anyone come to after seeing Google's transparency report of requests from government agencies to remove content and/or hand over user data for the last half of 2010, when the U.K.'s items requested for removal is almost three times as many as the next most hush-hush governing body? That would be South Korea, by the way.

The British Government doesn't like people being able to find certain things on the internet. What other conclusion could anyone come to after seeing Google's transparency report of requests from government agencies to remove content and/or hand over user data for the last half of 2010, when the U.K.'s items requested for removal is almost three times as many as the next most hush-hush governing body? That would be South Korea, by the way.

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Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office Cracking Down On Drunk Drivers

Wicomico County MD— July 4th celebrations often include cook-outs, picnics, boating, time spent with family and friends and, of course, fireworks. But for too many Americans, the nation’s annual celebration is filled with tragedy, as it is one of the deadliest holidays of the year when it comes to alcohol-impaired traffic fatalities.

That’s why the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office will be out in force during the Fourth of July holiday weekend, cracking down on impaired drivers with aggressive Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest enforcement.

Statistics gathered from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration over the past 25 years show that, on average, nearly half of all deadly traffic crashes over each year’s July 4th holiday involved some level of alcohol.

In fact, 410 people were killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes nationally during the Fourth of July weekend in 2009. Of that number, 40 percent involved drivers with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 grams per deciliter or higher.

“The Fourth of July is a time most Americans spend celebrating with family and friends, but it is also one of the year’s deadliest times on our roadways. So we will be out in force cracking down on drunk driving. If you are caught driving impaired, you will be arrested,” said Sheriff Mike Lewis.

“We want people to be careful all weekend, but particularly at night,” said Sheriff Lewis “The rate of alcohol impairment among drivers involved in fatal crashes in 2009 was four times higher at night than during the day.”

Why Getting Paid Increases Your Risk of Death

Everyone looks forward to payday. Whether it's a paycheck from your employer or benefits from the government, the influx of cash to your bank account is always a good thing, right? Not according to the latest research.

Researchers report that getting paid may be associated with a higher risk of death. Among Social Security beneficiaries, military personnel and people receiving tax refunds or state dividend payments, the risk of dying in a given month was highest on payday and for several days afterward.

Previous studies have linked spikes in monthly death rates to the first of the month, when many employees are paid. These spikes also occur soon after those on federal-assistance programs such as welfare or disability receive their benefits; researchers have speculated that much of the increase in mortality is attributable to substance abuse in this population (more money means more access to substances).

But in the current study, published in the Journal of Public Economics, lead author William Evans, an economist at the University of Notre Dame, says that the correlation "is much broader than substance abuse, and extends to accidents and heart attacks and also affects not just people on federal-transfer programs but people in higher-income groups as well."

But isn't having money supposed to help lead to long life? A steady paycheck should relieve stress and anxiety about finances and allow people to take better care of themselves, to access health care and to lower their risk of dying prematurely. Except that getting paid also draws people out of the house and into activities they may be less able to afford otherwise — that in itself can be hazardous, says Evans.

"Once people get paid, they go out and spend," he says. "It's definitely the case that there is a big increase in consumption around the first of the month, when people receive income checks. People go to the store more often then, they buy more lottery tickets at that time of the month, and they go to movies more during the beginning of the month. And since activity is related to mortality, we though that the mortality pattern would correlate with pay times, and that what we found."

For instance, if people are out driving more and looking for ways to spend their income after getting paid, Evans says, they're more likely to get into accidents. And if they are engaging in more activities because they have the security of money, such as playing sports or shopping or meeting up friends, then they are also more likely to trigger heart attacks or other health problems that increase their risk of dying.

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IEA Already Considering Extending Oil Release Period, Fireselling More Crude To China

Following the abysmal decision by the Obama administration, presented in IEA letterhead, to release crude stockpiles, the resulting lower prices lasted less than one week, and in the case of gasoline [1], the price has actually surged way above the decision day fixing. So what is an administration with no credibility to do? Why double down of course, and sell even more crude at firesale prices to the Chinese. Per Reuters: "The International Energy Agency could decide by mid-July whether the release of strategic oil reserves needs to be extended for a month or two, an official said." And there is that transitory word again: "Richard Jones, deputy executive director of the IEA, said he believed the release would be temporary since demand would likely drop in the fourth quarter." Well demand may drop, but the last time demand was actually relevant in price discovery was sometime in the 20th century. Welcome to the era of oil prices defined by monetary policy.

From Reuters [2]:

"We do believe it could be temporary but we have to see how the market evolves. There could be other disruptions, for example, we are compensating for the losses in Libya," Jones said at an event in Mexico City.

A decision on whether to extend the release could be made around the third week of July, he said.

"It will be up to our member countries, they could decide to continue it for a month or two. I don't see that we'll need to continue it for very long because we see demand declining in the fourth quarter, so we think it's a temporary measure."

Sure, blame Libya. And if possible please keep antagonizing an already irrational OPEC sans Saudi, which can't wait to receive even loss for the oil it exports, and may take a few weeks to realize that a several day export embargo will generate a far greater return in the long run that continuing to kowtow and retreat, for the time being, in the latest war of attrition with the IEA.
Source

Aspartame and Soda May Be Making You Fat

Maybe drop that diet soda and reach for some water, as two new studies presented at the American Diabetes Association's Scientific Sessions in San Diego say you're not doing yourself a favor with diet soft drinks.

According to Science Daily, one study from the School of Medicine at The University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio showed data that drinking diet sodas is associated with increased weight circumference. The other says aspartame raises blood sugar in diabetes-prone mice.

READ MORE …

QUOTES OF THE DAY

“Propaganda is a soft weapon; hold it in your hands too long, and it will move about like a snake, and strike the other way.”
—Jean Anouilh, L’Alouette, 1952

“One of the most horrible features of war is that all the war-propaganda, all the screaming and lies and hatred, comes invariably from people who are not fighting.”
—George Orwell, Homage to Catalonia, 1938

“Only the mob and the elite can be attracted by the momentum of totalitarianism itself. The masses have to be won by propaganda.”
—Hannah Arendt, The Origins of Totalitarianism, 1951

“Propaganda is to a democracy what the bludgeon is to a totalitarian state.”
—Noam Chomsky, Media Control: The Spectacular Achievements of Propaganda, 1997

“Men, it has been well said, think in herds; it will be seen that they go mad in herds, while they only recover their senses slowly, and one by one.”
—Charles Mackay, Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds, 1841

“He who wants to persuade should put his trust not in the right argument, but in the right word. The power of sound has always been greater than the power of sense.”
—Joseph Conrad, Lord Jim, 1900

“It is worthy of remark that a belief constantly inculcated during the early years of life, whilst the brain is impressible, appears to acquire almost the nature of an instinct; and the very essence of an instinct is that it is followed independently of reason.”
—Charles Darwin, The Descent of Man, 1871

 

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FEC Splits 3-3 on O’Donnell

Federal officials were divided on whether to dismiss a Delaware Republican Party complaint against former GOP Senate candidate Christine O’Donnell, according to documents released this week.

O’Donnell celebrated the complaint’s dismissal earlier this month as a vindication. But documents released by the Federal Election Commission show the agency deadlocked 3-3 along party lines over whether she violated federal law, with Republican commissioners voting to dismiss the complaint.

The September complaint from the Delaware Republican Party alleged the California-based Tea Party Express group illegally helped O’Donnell in her 2010 Senate primary bid against former Rep. Mike Castle, who lost.

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Somerset County Sheriff's Office Press Release

Cody Hunter Elliott of Ocean City, arrested 6-23-11 on a warrant regarding violation of probation. Elliott was released on a $5,000 unsecured bond.

Jerome Anthony London of Virginia Beach Virginia, arrested 6-27-11 on a warrant regarding failing to appear in court. London was released on a $1,000 unsecured bond.

Levin Johnson of Pocomoke, arrested 6-27-11 on a body attachment warrant. Johnson was later released pending trial.

Ryan Lanear Johnson of Crisfield, arrested 6-27-11 on a warrant regarding failing to appear in court. Johnson was held without bond.

Aleesha Martina Edwards of Princess Anne, arrested 6-28-11 on a warrant regarding failing to pay fines. Edwards was held on a $1,500 cash bond.

Diet Soda Linked To Weight Gain

Diet soda might not help you stay trim after all, new research suggests.

A study presented at a American Diabetes Association meeting this week shows that drinking diet soda is associated with a wider waist in humans. And a second study shows that aspartame -- an artificial sweetener in diet soda -- actually raises blood sugar in mice prone to diabetes.

"Data from this and other prospective studies suggest that the promotion of diet sodas and artificial sweeteners as healthy alternatives may be ill-advised," study researcher Helen P. Hazuda, Ph.D., a professor and chief of clinical epidemiology at the University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio's School of Medicine, said in a statement. "They may be free of calories but not of consequences."

In the first study, researchers collected height, weight, waist circumference and diet soda intake data from 474 elderly people who participated in the San Antonio Longitudinal Study of Aging. They were followed up an average of 9.5 years later, according to the research.

Researchers found that the diet soda drinkers had waist circumferences 70 percent greater than those who non-diet soda drinkers. And people who drank diet soda the most frequently -- at least two diet sodas a day -- had waist circumferences that were 500 percent greater than people who didn't drink any diet soda, the study said.

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