Detectives Probe Bank Robbery

Location: PNC Bank, 5325 Limestone Road, Wilmington, DE

 

Date of Occurrence: Wednesday, July 06, 2011 at 9:15 a.m.

 

Suspect:  White male, 30-40 years of age, 6’00”-6’02” tall, 210-230 lbs, with a muscular build. He was last seen wearing a black baseball cap, sunglasses, a black Philadelphia Phillies t-shirt, jeans, and work boots. He was also wearing a fake mustache and beard and was armed with a handgun.

 

Victims:

 

-52 year old female employee

-55 year old female employee

-35 year old female employee

-55 year old female customer

-59 year old female customer

-31 year old female customer

 

Resume:  

Pike Creek- Delaware State Police detectives are currently investigating the armed robbery of a Pike Creek area bank that occurred this morning.

 

The incident occurred at approximately 9:15 a.m. this morning as a male suspect entered the PNC Bank Branch located in the 5300 block of Limestone Road. The suspect, who was armed with a handgun, then ordered several bank employees as well as customers to the ground. He then approached several bank tellers and demanded cash from their drawers. The tellers complied and turned over an undisclosed amount of cash to the suspect. The suspect then fled and was last seen heading to the rear of the bank. There were no injuries.

 

The Delaware State Police are asking anyone who may have any information in reference to this incident to contact robbery detectives at Troop 2 at 302-834-2630 ext. 6 or ext. 214.  Citizens may also provide a tip by texting keyword “DSP” plus your message to 274637 (CRIMES).  Tipsters may also provide information through lines maintained by Delaware Crime Stoppers at (800) TIP-3333. Callers can also submit information via the internet at www.tipsubmit.com.

The Changing Face Of America's Youth

(CNN) -- The United States is walking a path to greater diversity. And younger people are leading the way.

For the first time in national history, the majority of young people in two states -- California and New Mexico -- now identify as Hispanic, according to census data released this year.

In eight additional states -- Nevada, Arizona, Texas, Mississippi, Georgia, Florida, Maryland and Hawaii -- white children are in the minority compared with peers from other racial and ethnic groups combined, according to data analyzed by William Frey at the Brookings Institution.

The number of white children in the United States actually shrank by 4.3 million kids from 2000 to 2010, according to the analysis.

Meanwhile, the number of Hispanic and Asian children grew by a total of 5.5 million. Hispanics made up the bulk of this growth.

"Were it not for Hispanics, the nation's child population would have declined," Frey writes in his report, titled "America's Diverse Future."

The trend is expected to continue, with changes first hitting people younger than 18, then spreading as generations age.

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UPDATE RE: SEARCH FOR ARMED MAN ON BW PARKWAY

(HANOVER, MD) – The search is continuing this evening for an armed man who vandalized a speed camera vehicle parked along the Baltimore Washington Parkway in Anne Arundel County late this morning.

The suspect is described as a white male, aged 60-65 years, approximately 5’8” tall and 150 lbs, with gray hair. He is said to have been wearing a red and blue plaid shirt, possibly flannel, with blue jeans.

The male victim is not being identified at this time. He was not physically injured in the incident. He is an employee of the company contracted by the State Highway Administration to conduct speed camera enforcement in construction zones on Maryland interstates.

Shortly before 11:30 a/m. today, the victim was parked in his white Jeep SUV, with cameras mounted on the hood, along the southbound shoulder of the BW Parkway, just north of the Rt. 195 exit. The victim said the suspect walked out of a wooded area to his right and was armed with a shotgun and a hammer.

The suspect tapped on the rear window of the Jeep with his shotgun. Alarmed, the victim began blowing his horn. The suspect then walked to the front of the Jeep and struck the windshield repeatedly, leaving large spider web type breaks in the glass.

In fear for his safety, the victim jumped out of his vehicle and crouched near the guardrail. He said the suspect was yelling, but it sounded incoherent and he could not understand what the man was saying.

Moments later, the victim said the man walked back into the woods the same way he came, still carrying the shotgun and hammer. No shots were fired.

Troopers from the Maryland State Police and officers from the Anne Arundel County Police responded quickly and established a perimeter around the area. SWAT teams from both departments responded, as did support units that included K-9 teams and State Police helicopters. Due to the proximity of an armed suspect to the BW Parkway, troopers closed the road both north and southbound for the safety of motorists. State Highway Administration personnel responded and diverted traffic at I-695 to the north and Rt. 100 to the south. Maryland Transportation Authority Police officers also assisted with the search and in securing the area perimeter.

The immediate search of the area did not lead to the location of the suspect. The BW Parkway was reopened to traffic at about 2:45 p.m. today.

The search is continuing in the area tonight. Anyone who thinks they may have seen the suspect or know him, is urged to contact 911 immediately, or the Maryland State Police at the Glen Burnie Barracks, at 410-761-5130.

Appeals Court Orders Immediate Halt To Gay Military Ban

Ruling comes after Obama administration says 'don't ask, don't tell' policy is unconstitutional

SAN FRANCISCO — A federal appeals court ordered the U.S. government on Wednesday to immediately cease enforcing the ban on openly gay members of the military, a move that could speed the repeal of the 17-year-old rule.

A three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco said the "don't ask, don't tell" policy must be lifted now that the Obama administration has concluded it's unconstitutional to treat gay Americans differently under the law. The appeals court noted that Congress repealed the policy in December and that the Pentagon is preparing to certify that it is ready to welcome gay military personnel.

Court order on gay military ban (PDF)

Pentagon officials said Wednesday that they will comply with the court order and are taking immediate steps to inform commanders in the field. Col. Dave Lapan, Pentagon spokesman, said the department is studying the ruling.

Gay rights advocates said without an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court — which seems unlikely since the Pentagon already is committed to repealing the rule — the government now is barred from discharging gay or lesbian servicemembers anywhere in the world.

“The ruling...removes all uncertainty — American service members are no longer under threat of discharge as the repeal implementation process goes forward,” R. Clarke Cooper, executive director of the Log Cabin Republicans, said in a statement to msnbc.com. Cooper is a captain in the Army Reserve.

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Government Office Building Heat Issue

Hi,

I have friends in the  Government Office Building and they told me temperatures reached over 100 degrees in their office yesterday afternoon.   They are afraid of retaliation for sending to the media - but I am sending it in because I believe we are working with a very dangerous situation and the only way to improve things is to expose this via media.  The Wico Co Health Dept,  Daily Times, and TV stations have all visited the office and taken temperatures in the morning when temperatures are much lower.  The situation has been frequently dismissed by many as under control, but it is far from the case. 

It is now approaching two weeks with no A/C.  Employees are not allowed to work from home and if they choose to go home, they must use vacation time.   To me, this is beyond unreasonable and inhumane.   There is no timeline for getting the unit fixed or replaced, and no one seems to care.  The decision makers (executives) are upstairs enjoying full air conditioning since their A/C system is working properly.    The outcome would likely be very different if they were suffering through the heat like their lower-rank employees.

Obviously, the city/county officials are so concerned with saving money by not fixing/replacing the A/C unit ..they are not thinking about lost productivity (who can focus on desk work in 100+ degree heat?) as well as cost of probable lawsuits if someone gets very sick or dies. 

Thank you.

Publishers Notes: It should be noted that the freon arrived at the GOB today. IF that does not work they will be making arrangements to RENT an A/C System until the City/County can afford a completely new unit. THAT IS A FACT.

PUBLIC NOTICE

RESCHEDULED CITY COUNCILWORK SESSION

The City Council work session that was originally scheduled for July 5, 2011 has been rescheduled for Thursday, July 7, 2011, at 4:30 p.m.


The work session will be held in the Fire Station #16 Training Room located at 325 Cypress Street.

Md. foreclosure prevention program falls short

WASHINGTON -- Foreclosing on a home is never pleasant. The state of Maryland is attempting to ease the burden by offering mediation programs that let homeowners meet with an arbitrator and their mortgage company to help modify loans and come up with a deal.

Maryland's program is now one year old and has not been as popular or as successful as was originally thought. State officials were expecting about 5,000 claims to be filed, but less than 1,000 have been heard.

The Washington Post reports that only 100 homeowners have received a loan modification. Of the 829 closed cases, about 150 people have been allowed to remain in their houses until a final resolution is made. Roughly 120 cases have ended in defaults because homeowners missed their hearings, and 50 people were declared ineligible for the program.

A judge involved with the program tells The Washington Post not enough people know about it, while others don't realize how helpful it can be even if they are already late on payments.

Source

There Are No Ugly Women-----Just Fixeruppers

Look carefully, they're in the same order. Their makeover pictures are below their regular pictures.

It's just amazing what money can do. Also read below the picture. 

They had every possible beauty treatment available to them over a period of 12 hours before the contest. 

Look at the before and after photos. Conclusion - there are no ugly women only poor women.

The woman 2nd from the left won the contest

This photo above was taken at a competition in June 2008 involving 9 women for best makeover.

Catholic Church Pledges Support For Maryland DREAM Act

The Maryland Catholic Conference -- the legislative lobbying arm of the state's bishops -- has urged for parishioner support of the Maryland DREAM Act amid a petition-drive to suspend the the newly minted law and force it to a state-wide referendum.

The MCC on Thursday announced the creation of an Interdiocesan Immigration Task Force meant to gather support for the DREAM Act among Maryland parishioners. On Friday, it became clear that the bill will likely be put on the 2012 ballot for referendem.

MCC Communications Director Kathy Dempsey, MCC said in an interview with The Catholic Review earlier this week that the new organization was looking beyond the June 30 deadline “in anticipation of the referendum for next year."

“We want to engage parishioners and Catholics on this issue over the next 16 months,” she said.

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It’s Now Okay To Criticize Sussex Council Members

GEORGETOWN — Sussex County Council has modified its public participation policy following a complaint from the American Civil Liberties Union that part of the policy was unconstitutional.

At its June 28 meeting, council voted 5-0 to eliminate the section barring criticism of county officials by members of the public who sign up to speak at the end of council meetings.

In addition, council’s president can stop comments if a speaker digresses from time restrictions, if the subject is not deemed county business or if the speaker becomes disruptive.

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Fed Releases Details On Secret $855 Billion Single-Tranche OMO Bailout Program: Just Another Foreign Bank Rescue Operation

A month ago [1]we reported about Bob Ivry's discovery that the Fed had been conducting a secretive bailout operation between March and December 2008, under which banks borrowed as much as $855 billion over the time frame for a rate as low as 0.01%. As the Fed itself explains following a just disclosed launch of a page dedicated to this Saint OMO [2], "The Federal Reserve System conducted a series of single-tranche term repurchase agreements from March 2008 to December 2008 with the intention of mitigating heightened stress in funding markets. These operations were conducted by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York with primary dealers as counterparties through an auction process under the standard legal authority for conducting temporary open market operations. In these transactions, primary dealers could deliver any of the types of securities--Treasuries, agency debt, or agency MBS--that are accepted in regular open market operations. By providing term funding to primary dealers, this program helped to address liquidity pressures evident across a number of financing markets and supported the flow of credit to U.S. households and business." Well, not really. As the chart below shows the banks, pardon primary dealers, that benefited the most from this secret iteration of Fed generosity were once again foreign banks, with the Top 5 borrowers being Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank, BNP Paribas, RBS and Barclays.
Together these five accounted for $593 billion of total borrowings, or 70% of the total. So perhaps the Fed should rephrase the last sentence to "supported the flow of credit to U.S. European households and business" which is to be expected. After all, as we have demonstrated before, the European banking system's liabilities are orders of magnitude greater than the US. So in order to preserve the global Ponzi (a main reason why Greece must never be allowed to fail), the biggest weakness that has to be addressed constantly is and will be in Europe.

Below is a summary of who borrowed how much in total from the Fed's ST-OMO program.

And lest someone thinks that Goldman did not somehow benefit, the firm was i) the single biggest US-based borrower under the program; ii) it was the single biggest one time borrower for $15 billion on December 10, 2008, and iii), it received the smallest borrowing rate affored to anyone at the laughable 0.01% on December 30, 2008.

The full excel breakdown [4]can be found here.

Source

Drunk Puppy Buying Banned

You've heard of drunk dialing and drunk Facebooking, but drunk puppy buying?

Inebriated passers-by are falling in love with playful pooches frolicking in the window of a West Village pet store, and the problem has become so bad the owner has banned them from taking the pets home.

"I feel like they always come in drunk," said Fernanda Moritz, the manager of Le Petite Puppy at 18 Christopher St. which has implemented a policy against letting customers buy -- or even hold -- animals if they've been drinking.

The shop is surrounded by bars, and Moritz said many of her would-be customers stop in after happy hour around 6 p.m.

"They come from there and say 'let's stop by to see the puppies,'" said Moritz.

Amazingly the store, which has supplied puppies to celebrities including Sarah Jessica Parker and Hugh Jackman, isn't the only one in the neighborhood forced to implement the ban.

Christopher Street's Citipups also forbids intoxicated customers from purchasing puppies after watching too many booze-fueled purchases go bad.

from Weird News

ANNUAL BERLIN BATHTUB RACES

THAT'S RIGHT! The Berlin Chamber of Commerce is hosting the ANNUAL BERLIN BATHTUB RACES THIS FRIDAY, July 8, 2011 as part of Berlin's 2nd Friday Celebration!

Local businesses construct a "Rolling Bathtub"

One Person Pushes, One Person is the passenger

Businesses compete one on one in heats....until there is a winner!

ONLY IN BERLIN!

A MUST SEE EVENT

An Apology to Our Readers

We wish to offer our sincere apologies. While we pride ourselves on being the most up to date news source on DelMarVa, we were ashamed to find out that we did not notify our readers about the Upper Ferry being out this past weekend.

While we are happy to admit our responsibility, we should also note that, according to the County Roads Department, the ferry went out of service on Thursday or Friday. Unfortunately, we weren’t notified by the County government.

To quote SBYnews publisher Joe Albero, “I thought that’s what Public Information Officers are for.”

Corn Crop Needs Steady Rain

Sporadic rain showers in June left many Mid-Shore farmers with dry fields and in need of steady rain over the next two weeks to salvage their corn crop this year.

Talbot County Agriculture and Education Center President Hank Spies said some areas of Talbot County received a lot of rain in June, while others remain dry after a sparse month of rainfall.

"Areas near St. Michaels and Claiborne received about 3.5 inches of rain in June, but parts east of Route 50 near Cordova, Easton and Trappe got less than an inch of rain in June," Spies said. "It's really dry and pretty bad east of Route 50. They need rain in the next week or so or it could be a lost season."

"Corn got off to the fast start with a great spring," he said. "The problem has been storms have missed a lot of areas and we have not got a good soaking rain for about a month."

READ MORE …

Environment Maryland Outlines Roadmap To Get Off Oil

REPORT ONLINE: Getting Off Oil: A 50-State Roadmap for Curbing Our Dependence on Petroleum

Baltimore – A comprehensive strategy to get off oil can reduce oil dependence in Maryland by one billion gallons, equal to over twice the amount currently imported from the Middle East, according to a new report released today by Environment Maryland.

“It is time to declare our independence from oil,” said Foster Hardiman, Clean Cars Organizer at Environment Maryland. 

“The cost of our oil dependence has grown out of control, from the outrageous price we pay at the pump, to the pollution of the air that we breathe, to catastrophic accidents like the Gulf Oil Spill and our contribution to global warming.  Today’s report shows how we can get Maryland closer to the day when we will no longer fear the impact of Big Oil on our paychecks, our environment, and public health,” added Hardiman.

The policies recommended in the report include setting fuel efficiency standards that make 60-mpg cars the norm by 2025, doubling access to public transportation, and enacting policies to encourage telecommuting, smart growth, and biking and walking. 

“A hundred years of energy and transportation policies that favor Big Oil companies have made our country deeply dependent on their dirty and dangerous product,” said Hardiman.  “Breaking their grip over our country is going to take time and the sustained commitment of policymakers and advocates, which is why we need to start now. 

State legislators and small business leaders echoed Environment Maryland’s call to action to reduce oil consumption.

Delegate Dana Stein, representing Maryland’s 11th state legislative district in the Maryland House of Delegates, said, “It is essential - for national security, environmental, and financial reasons - that we reduce our dependence on oil. Two key ways we can do this are to increase fuel economy standards for cars and promote the use of electric vehicles.”

Environment Maryland called on leaders at both the state and federal level to enact comprehensive plans to reduce oil consumption.  Last week, U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley from Oregon led a group of Senators in introducing the “Oil Independence for a Stronger America Act.”

Hardiman concluded the release saying, “Across the political spectrum, Maryland residents understand the importance of getting the state off oil.  Working together, we can put this country on the path to independence from oil and create a country that is cleaner, stronger, and healthier than ever before.”

Iceland Mulls Selling Cigarettes By Prescription Only

Icelanders hoping to light up may soon need a note from their doctor.

Siv Fridleifsdottir, the country's former health minister, has proposed a radical bill in parliament that would make cigarettes a prescription-only product, the U.K.'s Guardian reports. The bill would ban the sale of cigarettes in regular shops, allowing only pharmacies to dispense them. Initially sales would be limited to those 20 years and older, and later to smokers with a valid medical certificate.

If the measure passes, it would encourage smokers to try to quit, by working with doctors and addiction treatment and education programs. If those efforts fail, doctors would be able to prescribe cigarettes.

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STATE POLICE HOLIDAY WEEKEND ENFORCEMENT STATISTICS

(PIKESVILLE, MD) -- Maryland State Police troopers were busy throughout the holiday weekend working a variety of traffic and public safety initiatives that resulted in scores of criminal and drunk driving arrests and thousands of traffic citations and warnings.

Statewide, troopers issued more than 12,000 traffic citations and warnings (6,613 citations, 5,400 warnings) and arrested 68 drunk drivers. Troopers made 78 on-site criminal arrests and arrested another 28 people on warrants. Four guns were recovered by troopers during traffic stops.

Troopers in the Washington Metro Troop conducted Operation Centipede, a traffic enforcement initiative that put additional personnel on patrol on I-495. During the initiative, troopers issued 144 traffic citations, 175 warnings, and 28 safety equipment repair orders for defective equipment. Troopers made three drunk driving arrests, six drug arrests, one arrest for a stolen vehicle and apprehended a criminal fugitive. Troopers from the same troop also worked with Prince George’s County Police in support of a summer crime reduction initiative in that county.

Troopers from the Eastern Troop focused on Rt. 50 and other major roads leading to resort areas during the weekend. During their criminal and traffic enforcement effort named Operation Gauntlet, they issued almost 500 traffic citations and more than 150 warnings. They arrested three drunk drivers and made three drug arrests.

State troopers investigated one traffic fatality, which involved a 55-year-old Baltimore man who was in Carroll County riding a motor scooter early on the morning of July 2. For unknown reasons, the scooter left the roadway on Rt. 75 and collided with a wire fence. The preliminary investigation indicates the use of alcohol and drugs may have been involved. Complete information regarding traffic fatalities investigated by other police departments has not been compiled at this time.

Maryland State Police Aviation Command crews were in full-service throughout the holiday weekend. State Police helicopter crews performed 46 medevacs, as well as 15 search and rescue missions and six law enforcement support flights. On July 2nd, Trooper 3 from Frederick located a lost person on the Monocacy River near Buckeystown. The crew landed and transported the person to a safe area.

Also on July 2nd, Trooper 6 from Easton was returning from a medevac flight to Salisbury when the crew monitored a lookout from the Easton Barrack for a suspect vehicle in a hit and run crash. The crew of Trooper 6 located the suspect vehicle from the air and directed troopers to its location, where an arrest was made.

On July 3rd, Trooper 3 searched for 10 people who were overdue from a tubing trip on the Potomac River. The crew of Trooper 3 located the group near Brunswick and directed rescue boats to them.

Troopers also assisted officers from the Baltimore Police Department with traffic and security at the Inner Harbor during the July 4th events held there. Troopers from the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division monitored a lookout for a vehicle stolen in a carjacking. Troopers located the vehicle and directed Baltimore PD officers to it.

Boost Your Beauty IQ: Take Our Quiz!

Take This Quiz to get the best tips and tricks to unleash your inner beauty !

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Gay and Lesbian History Lessons May Be Mandatory in California

If Gov. Jerry Brown signs a new California bill, the history of homosexuality might soon make its way into state textbooks. It would also be the first time a state has made gay education compulsory.

The bill, SB 48, would require California public schools to acknowledge the accomplishments of gays, lesbians and transgender Americans to be included in its teaching materials. Approved by the state Senate, it passed the California State Assembly yesterday with a 49-25 vote.

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Talbot MSA Scores Up

Overall Maryland School Assessment (MSA) math and reading scores continue to climb toward the 100 percent proficiency mark for elementary and middle school students in Talbot County Public Schools in 2011.

The Maryland State Department of Education released the 2011 MSA math and reading scores on Wednesday, and Talbot County Public Schools placed at or ahead of the state averages in all overall categories. All third- through eighth-grade students in the state are tested annually in reading and math as required by the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) federal law. Each year, passing standards are raised because NCLB requires 100 percent of children to score at the proficient or advanced level by 2014.

According to MSDE, more than 80 percent of all elementary and middle school students in Talbot County earned a proficient or advanced score in reading and math in 2011. The TCPS elementary reading average is about 90 percent at the proficient/advanced level while the state elementary school average is 88 percent.

TCPS middle school reading scores are at 83 percent at the proficient/advanced level with the state middle school average at 83 percent.

READ MORE …

Quote Of The Day

You think it's as dark as it can get and then you realize there's someone out there who can make it darker.

Build Your Own Burger At Boonies Tonight: 1/2 Price

Sex Doll Prank Gone Wrong

When 18-year-old Tyell Morton put a blow-up sex doll in a bathroom stall on the last day of school, he didn't expect school officials to call a bomb squad or that he'd be facing up to eight years in prison and a possible felony record.

The senior prank gone awry has raised questions of race, prosecutorial zeal and the post-Columbine mindset in a small Indiana town and around the country, The Indianapolis Star reported in its Tuesday editions.

Legal experts question the appropriateness of the charges against Morton, and law professor Jonathan Turley at George Washington University posed a wider question about Morton's case on his legal blog.

READ MORE …

Nanticoke Riverfest Events July 7th - 9th

This event is the cornerstone of the annual Nanticoke Riverfest. It is a tradition for some so you are encouraged to come out and make it yours too. This year's float will launch at Benz Urology on Riverside Drive adjacent to southbound Route 13 across from Seaford Ice Plant.
Floaters are encouraged to park downtown and take advantage of the pre-float shuttle service.

All floaters under the age of 16 must wear a life jacket. The Seaford Volunteer Fire Department and Blades Volunteer Fire Company will have divers and boats in the water for safety.

A limited number of tubes and lifejackets will be on sale the day of the float-in.

Read More...

Missing Girl Returns Home

The Cambridge Police Department said 15-year-old Breyana Ambra Herndon, who went missing around 4:13 p.m. Wednesday, was found Saturday and returned home, according to Capt. Wayne Bromwell.

from the Star-Democrat

Police Search For Armed Man Near Parkway In Maryland

DEVELOPING: Maryland State Police and Anne Arundel County police are searching for an armed man along the Baltimore-Washington Parkway, but say no one has been injured.

Police received calls late Wednesday morning reporting a man with a shotgun or rifle along the highway near Interstate 195 in Linthicum, about two miles from the Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport.

Police spokesman Greg Shipley says initially police received reports of shots fired, but they have not been able to confirm that. He says the man may have used a hammer to break out windows of a vehicle parked nearby.

State Highway spokesman Charlie Gischlar says the highway remains closed in both directions while the incident is being investigated.

Gov. Martin O'Malley was briefed on the situation after a Board of Public Works meeting.

Source

Chevrolet Impala Owners File Class-Action Lawsuit Against General Motors Over Defect

DETROIT –  A lawsuit claims General Motors Co. treated the police better than it did average citizens when taking care of a defective part in 2007 and 2008 Chevrolet Impalas.

The lawsuit alleges that Impalas from the two model years have defective spindle rods, which connect the suspension to the rear wheels. The defect causes the wheels to misalign, which makes the tires wear out faster. The tires could also wear out unevenly, increasing the risk of a blowout.

GM fixed the part on police versions of the Impala three years ago but didn't correct the same problem in hundreds of thousands of other Impalas, according to the lawsuit filed last week in Detroit.

Donna Trusky of Blakely, Pa., who bought a new Impala with Goodyear tires in February 2008, claims that before she reached 6,000 miles, the tread on her rear tires was so worn she had to replace them. Typically, tires should last for 30,000 miles or more. Her lawyers are asking the judge to certify her lawsuit as a class action.

According to the lawsuit, GM sent a bulletin to dealers in June 2008 telling them to replace the spindle rods and tires on affected police vehicles. It also authorized dealers to reimburse police who had purchased replacement tires as long as the reimbursement request was made before July 31, 2009.

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The Fed As A Reverse Robin Hood

In today's edition of Bloomberg Brief, the firm's economist Richard Yamarone looks at one of the more unpleasant consequences of Federal monetary policy: the increasing schism in wealth distribution between the wealthiest percentile and everyone else. While the Fed's third mandate is by now all too clear: push the Russell 2000 to the highest possible level, one can now suggest that the 4th mandate is one that would make Robin Hood spin in his grave: "To the extent that Federal Reserve policy is driving equity prices higher, it is also likely widening the gap between the haves and the have-nots....The disparity between the net worth of those on the top rung of the income ladder and those on lower rungs has been growing. According to the latest data from the Federal Reserve’s Survey of Consumer Finances, the total wealth of the top 10 percent income bracket is larger in 2009 than it was in 1995. Those further down have on average barely made any gains. It is likely that data for 2010 and 2011 will reveal an even higher percentage going to the top earners, given recent increases in stocks." Alas, this is nothing new, and merely confirms speculation that the Fed is arguably the most efficient wealth redistibution, or rather focusing, mechanism available to the status quo. This is best summarized in the chart below comparing net worth by income distribution for various percentiles among the population, based on the Fed's own data. In short: the richest 20% have gotten richer in the past 14 years, entirely at the expense of everyone else.

Another indication of the increasing polarity of US society is the disparity among consumer confidence cohorts by income as shown below, and summarized as follows: "The increase in equity prices has raised consumer spirits, particularly among higher-income consumers. The Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence index for all income levels bottomed in February/March of 2009. The recovery since then has been notable across the board, but nowhere as much as for those making $50,000 or more."

Lastly, nowhere is the schism more evident, at least in market terms, than in the performance of retail stocks:

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Man Drives Through Building While Texting

A man who was texting while driving has driven his vehicle through a Richmond business days after an Indiana law banning the practice went into effect.

The Palladium-Item reports 21-year-old Lucas Harrison of Connersville told police he was texting and driving at the time of the crash Tuesday afternoon.

Harrison's vehicle went over a curb and narrowly missed a sign post before driving through Grandview Medical Equipment and coming out the other side of the building.

No one was injured.

Richmond police said Harrison would be issued a traffic ticket for illegal use of a telecommunications device.

An Indiana ban on texting while driving went into effect Friday.

from FOXNews / AP

Companies Get Tougher With Employees Who Smoke

For an employer, they cost 18 percent more than a nonsmoker, one consultant

Many companies use quiet incentives to encourage desired employee behavior, such as losing weight. Not Macy’s. Beginning on July 1, workers at the department store chain who admit to using tobacco will be surcharged $35 a month, or $420 a year, for health coverage. The extra cost will be deferred only if smokers enroll in a free quit-smoking class. Their progress will then be reviewed after six months.

Instead of using carrots to encourage smokers to kick the habit, businesses increasingly are wielding sticks. At PepsiCo, smokers pay an annual $600 insurance surcharge, while publisher Gannett charges $60 a month. Some go even further: Union Pacific and Scotts Miracle-Gro refuse to hire smokers.

Between medical spending and productivity losses, smoking costs the U.S. more than $193 billion a year, says the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Tobacco use is responsible for one in five U.S. deaths. For employers, a smoker is 18 percent more expensive than a nonsmoker, says Cathy Tripp, a consultant at Aon Hewitt.

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Nevada Court Rules Against “Battle Royale”

Nevada state party leaders can choose their candidates in the Sept. 13 special election for the 2nd district, the state Supreme Court ruled late Tuesday.

At issue was how many candidates could run under a major party label. Because the state does not call for a primary in a special election, the inclusion of multiple Republicans on the ballot could have weakened the party’s attempt to retain the seat in the GOP-leaning district. Republicans successfully argued in a lower court that without a primary, the parties’ central committees should have the power to nominate a single candidate.

The state of Nevada and the state Democratic Party appealed that ruling to the state Supreme Court, arguing that state law gives no such authority and that candidates may run under whatever party they please.

The state Supreme Court’s decision came the day before the deadline set by Secretary of State Ross Miller (D) for finalizing candidates. Miller said the candidates would need to be decided by Wednesday so the state’s vendors could begin printing ballots.

READ MORE …

Ending Minimum Wage Likely Wouldn't Dent Jobless Rate

Most research points to small jobs gains, if any, despite what politicians

Republican Presidential candidate Michele Bachmann has soft-pedaled her opposition to the minimum wage law considerably since 2005, when she was quoted as saying, at a Minnesota State Senate hearing, “Literally, if we took away the minimum wage — if conceivably it was gone — we could potentially virtually wipe out unemployment completely because we would be able to offer jobs at whatever level.” Appearing on CBS’ "Face the Nation" on June 26, Bachmann would say only that eliminating the minimum wage is “something that obviously Congress would have to look at” as a solution to high unemployment.

Campaign trail positioning aside, would repealing the minimum wage really make a dent in the U.S. jobless rate, which was 9.1 percent in May? While economists don’t all agree, the bulk of research points to only small potential job gains — if any — from a suspension of the minimum wage. In a 2000 survey of 308 academic economists, just under half agreed fully that the minimum wage increases unemployment among “young and unskilled workers.” The rest agreed with that statement with provisos or not at all. 

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Doomsday Preacher’s Radio Show to Be Replaced

The California radio preacher who predicted the world's end on May 21 has been moved to a nursing home, where he is recovering from a stroke he suffered last month.

Harold Camping's daughter confirms her father recently moved from an area hospital to a skilled nursing facility. He is undergoing rehabilitation there to regain his strength following the June 9 stroke.

Camping's Family Radio network is working to replace the 89-year-old's show, Open Forum, with interim programming. The station has been playing repeats since his stroke.

It's unclear if the show will return.

Camping predicted Judgment Day would occur, first in 1994 and again in May. His media empire spent millions of dollars, some culled from followers' donations, over seven years on billboards and other publicity for his 2011 predictions about the spiritual Rapture in May and the end of the world in October.

from Weird News

Mother Charged In Toddler's Hot Car Death

A Bristow, Va., mother faces felony charges in the death of her 2-year-old son.

Court documents show Karen Murphy left her son, Ryan, in the family's minivan for more than seven hours on June 17, which caused his death.

This was not the first time she had forgotten her son in the vehicle. According to a search warrant, Murphy left her son unattended in the minivan outside work for about 20 minutes, but she got Ryan out after someone from the Kindercare day-care center Ryan attended called Murphy to report he was absent.

Murphy is expected to turn herself in tomorrow and appear in court. She's charged with felony murder and felony child neglect.

Source

“Progressive Maryland” Launches Online Campaign to Hike MD Minimum Wage

Advocates for a higher minimum wage hope to use the power of the Internet to garner support for raising the pay floor in Maryland, an effort that fell flat in this year’s legislative session.

Progressive Maryland, the chief organization behind the effort to raise hourly salary rates, launched the online Raise Maryland campaign this week. It calls on citizens to sign a petition to lift the minimum wage from $7.25 to $10 per hour over the next three years.

The current rate the lowest allowed by federal law is not enough to support an individual or raise a family, advocates said. Eighteen states and Washington, D.C., have minimum wage levels above the $7.25 federal level, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

“It’s disgraceful and shortsighted,” said a Progressive Maryland news release about the campaign’s launch. The group estimates that the state has 300,000 minimum wage workers.

Democratic legislators proposed increasing the lowest hourly payment to $8.25 in 2011, $9 in 2012 and $9.75 in 2013, with future changes tied to the Consumer Price Index.

Activists pointed to research that showed doing so would pump $1 billion into the state economy.

READ MORE …

White House To Lift Ban On Military Suicide Condolences

(CNN) -- The Obama administration has reversed a White House policy of not sending condolence letters to the next-of-kin of service members who commit suicide, a senior administration official confirmed in a statement to CNN.

The move comes nearly six weeks after a group of senators -- 10 Democrats and one Republican -- asked President Barack Obama to change what they called an "insensitive" policy that dates back several administrations and has been the subject of protest by some military families.

In the statement Tuesday, the White House official said a review had been completed, and the president will send condolence letters to families of service members who commit suicide while deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan and other combat operations.

"The president feels strongly that we need to destigmatize the mental health costs of war to prevent these tragic deaths, and changing this policy is part of that process," the official's statement said.

"Unfortunately, perpetuating a policy that denies condolence letters to families of service members who die by suicide only serves to reinforce this stigma by overshadowing the contributions of an individual's life with the unfortunate nature of his or her death. It is simply unacceptable for the United States to be sending the message to these families that somehow their loved ones' sacrifices are less important."

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What Can Be Done Regarding the Wicomico County Humane Society

This post is not meant to be a comprehensive critique of the Humane Society.  I’m not qualified to offer one.  This post is in response to a comment we receive on this morning’s post Wicomico County Council to Tackle Humane Society:

I think we are going to be OK here. Last year Joe said that he was going to build a facility that would directly compete with the Humane Society and eventually make them obsolete. Mr. Harrison could you provide the readers with an update on the status of that facility?

SBYnews publisher Joe Albero did make a proposal to the county government.  I think that is where the commenter misunderstands thing.  To be frank, the premise of the question is false.  However, assuming that the commenter is sincere, I will attempt to explain.

As previously stated, Albero DID make a proposal to the county government.  The key points of that proposal were:

• Albero would construct a facility (of sufficient size and with the appropriate amenities) on a 37 acre parcel he owns near Willards.
  
• Wicomico County would appropriate $300,000 per year (at the time of the proposal, the annual appropriation to the Humane Society) for the purposes of Animal Control.
  
• Albero would build a facility (of sufficient size and with the appropriate amenities) on the donated property.
  
• At the END of five years, no more funding from the county taxpayer would be expected.  Future revenues would come from fundraising.

The simple answer to the commenter’s question is – nothing has been done.  Why?  Because the Wicomico County government never accepted Albero’s offer.

Was Albero supposed to build a facility on spec in the “hopes” that Pollitt and the county council would act?  I wouldn’t.

Man Tries to Abduct 11 Year Old in Cambridge

Cambridge Police are investigating a Tuesday afternoon attempted abduction where a man tried to persuade an 11-year-old girl to get into his pickup truck.

An officer was flagged down at 12:40 p.m. by a man and his daughter, police said. The girl said she was walking in the 1700-block of Race Street at about 12:15 p.m. when a large black truck pulled out of the Snow's Turn parking lot at 1801 Race St. and drove toward her with the window rolled down.

A white man, about 70 years old with a grey beard, drove up next to the girl and tried to persuade her to get in his truck by telling her he needed help looking for his dog, police said.

The girl told the man she was not going to help him and walked away, but the man "kept insisting" for her to get in his truck, police said. The girl ran away to a nearby business where they called her parents.

The pickup truck was black with an extended cab, a toolbox in the back and step bars on the side, police said.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Cambridge Police Criminal Investigation Division at 410-228-3333.

from the Star-Democrat

NYC Wants $600 Million Back

The Washington Business Journal says Mayor Michael Bloomberg is demanding SAIC reimburse the city for a software project called CityTime, which was supposed to overhaul the city's payroll system. The Journal quotes Network World, saying that Science Applications International Corp. was supposed to upgrade the software for its CityTime project within a reasonable time and within budget. Bloomberg said it didn't do that. Now, two people with SAIC who are connected with the CityTime project, are under indictment for kickbacks, wire fraud, and money laundering

Today's Wildlife Photo

Changing Gun Serial Numbers 'Not A Crime,' Md. Appeals Court Rules

Maryland's highest court has overturned a state law banning the removal or alteration of serial numbers from firearms, a decision prompting public safety concerns among gun control advocates who say the tool is crucial to tracking crimes involving weapons.

When state lawmakers amended Maryland's firearms law in 2003, they failed to outline the penalty for changing or removing a gun's serial number, the Court of Appeals of Maryland ruled in a newly released opinion -- a clerical error, that according to the court, means such an action is "not a crime."

"When an individual is convicted pursuant to a charge that does not constitute a crime, that conviction must be reversed and the sentence vacated," the judges said.

And now some analysts are concerned how the ruling will affect weapons investigations across Maryland.
"Part of the reason [serial numbers] are so important is that it is extremely difficult to trace guns," said Daniel Vice, senior attorney for the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence. "It's not like on TV where it's easy to trace it back to the owner. This could make it more difficult for prosecutors at the state level."

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Worcester County Sheriff’s Office Press Release

Worcester County Sheriff’s Office seeks two for violations of sex offender laws

The Worcester County Sheriff’s Office has arrest warrants for two men for violations of Maryland’s sex offender laws.

The Worcester County Sheriff’s office is seeking 20 year old, Delmar James Cubbage, of Bishopville. He is wanted for failing to re-register as a sex offender within three days of moving to a new location.

Police are also seeking 28 year old Edward Lee Robbins, Jr., of Ocean City. Robbins is wanted for failing to re-register as a sex offender within three days of moving to a new location.

If anyone has information regarding these two subjects please contact the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office at 410-632-1111. Tipsters may also call Maryland Crime Solvers at 410-548-1776.

What To Do If Your Child Is Being Bullied

You know your kids and you can tell if they are going through a rough time. But sometimes finding out the root of the problem can be very difficult. Talking with your child while doing something together, like playing outdoors, eating dinner, or shopping can often allow him to talk openly and honestly about what’s going on in his life. By paying special attention to mentions of interactions with other kids at school, you can begin to get a better picture of how well your kid is doing with others. If she mentions that other kids have threatened her, caused harm, or spread rumors about her in school then your child may be the victim of bullying. Don’t blame your kid for being bullied or being put in harmful situations. Let him know that you are there, as always, to support him, and that you will do your best to help.

Plus: Study Links Frequent School Nurse Visits to Bullying

Here’s how to help:

READ MORE …

Worcester County Sheriff's Office Press Release

On 7/2/2011 at approximately 1600 hours A Worcester County Sheriff’s Office Deputy stopped a vehicle east bound Rt. 50 east of 113. for an equipment violation. Upon contact with the occupants the driver, advised he was suspended. A K-9 scan of the vehicle was conducted with a positive alert. A search of the vehicle was conducted and a large quantity of oxycodone was located in the vehicle where the passenger was sitting. The passenger, Ashley Nichole Lewis 22 years of age of Berlin Md., Was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute. Ms. Lewis was held on a $7500 bond.

On July 3, 2011 at 22:50 Hrs., Worcester County Sheriff’s Office Deputies stopped a vehicle on Route 113 near Route 589 for speeding. During the course of the stop, a K-9 scan was conducted by a Worcester County K-9 unit, which indicated the presence of controlled dangerous substances. Based on the alert, a search was conducted and Deputies located suspected marijuana inside the trunk area of the car. The driver, Nicholas Bennett Chanconas 18 years of age 18 of Olney Md. was charged with possession of marijuana. Mr. Chanconas was taken before a judicial officer and released pending trial.

Son Charged in Stabbing Death of Father

A Great Falls man has been charged with homicide in the stabbing death of his 62-year-old father.

Fairfax County police charged 25-year-old Casey Emmer with fatally stabbing his father Lawrence Emmer in the home they shared in Great Falls.

Police say Emmer's death is the sixth homicide this year in Fairfax County.

Police spokesman Bud Walker said that Casey Emmer called police Monday night to report a purported break-in and stabbing. After police arrived, though, they determined that there was no break-in and charged the son with homicide.

from WTOP / AP

Wicomico School System Hosts 4th Annual School Readiness Fair Friday, July 15

Families with children ages 0-5 can learn more about early childhood education and expectations Friday, July 15 at the 4th Annual School Readiness Fair, put on by the Wicomico County Judy Center Partnership and the Wicomico County Public Schools.

The School Readiness Fair, a cooperative effort by the Wicomico County Board of Education and the Judy Center Partnership, will take place from 4-7 p.m. Friday, July 15, at Pemberton Elementary School. This free event for young children and their families will showcase the many aspects of early childhood education and services available in the community, and will help parents and guardians ensure that their child is ready to get a good start on school. Hundreds of young children and their families are expected to take advantage of this midsummer opportunity to get a great start to their school careers.

"You can't wait anymore for children to enter prekindergarten or kindergarten to begin the schooling process. Preparation for school and life must begin early, and parents and other caregivers have to help children to have all the skills and information they need to ensure a successful beginning," said Sandra Drummond, supervisor of early childhood programs for Wicomico County Public Schools.

Children will have the opportunity to meet Buster the School Bus, who will guide them through the basics of school bus safety. They'll also get to board a school bus and talk with the driver. Inside the School Readiness Fair, they'll be able to meet principals and assistant principals from Wicomico elementary schools, and pick up free learning materials to take home.

Parents will be able to visit exhibit tables to receive information on area child care centers, family child care providers, the Lower Shore Child Care Resource Center, Head Start, the Judy Center (serving children in the Beaver Run and Pemberton school districts), Wicomico County Library and the Wicomico County Health Department, which will have information on programs and immunizations. There will be great door prizes and fun activities for children. Dinner will be provided.

Families who have not registered for prekindergarten or kindergarten will have the chance to do so at the School Readiness Fair. To register, families will need to bring in the child’s birth certificate, proof of immunization, Social Security number and proof of residency. (Proof of residency may be a lease agreement, mortgage statement or utility bill for the address noted.)

Community agencies that would like to participate in the event should contact Sandra Drummond to register at 410-677-4580. To ensure that materials are in adequate supply, families wishing to attend the event should also contact Ms.Drummond at this number to sign up.

Stop the Violence Kick-Off

Drop in to the Calloway Street Gym – 507 Calloway Street in Salisbury – and help kick-off this worthwhile project.

The Kick-Off event will begin at 6:00 PM on Thursday.

A Proposal for Salisbury’s Downtown – Who Do You Market To?

Last week we gave an overview of our proposal for downtown Salisbury.  Once thing we noted is that there are NO silver bullets.  Doing just one or two things is not going to revive Salisbury’s downtown.  However, if there is any one thing that comes close to being a silver bullet it is - WHO DO WE MARKET DOWNTOWN TO.

Two Parts to a Single Question

There are two parts to this question:

• Who do we market to regarding investment?
• Who do we market to as consumers?

Downtown has been compared to a ghost town.  That’s not wholly inaccurate.  At 5 o’clock the proverbial streets are rolled up.  There is plenty of office space.  There is plenty of residential space.  There simply isn’t much retail space and no compelling reason to come downtown even if there was.

We need investors who are willing to take a long term view and who are creative enough to develop businesses that people want to come downtown to visit and patronize.  Such businesses will act as anchors that then encourage people to visit other businesses in the same general area.

Obviously, no business, no matter how unique or interesting, will succeed without paying customers.  We need to identify those customers and market to them.

Yuppies and Students

Let’s reverse things for a moment.  We’ll discuss the potential investors in a bit.  For now, let’s look at who we should market to as potential consumers.

Salisbury is a college town.  I realize that many citizens want to treat Salisbury University as the red-headed step child, but the fact remains that SU is one of the three or four primary drivers of our local economy (SU, PRMC, Perdue, other Agri-Business).

College students are a ready made market for downtown.  They simply need a reason to come down there.  Transportation shouldn’t be an issue.  I’m willing to bet that SU would add downtown to its own bus route for students that can’t (or don’t want to) drive.

We here a lot about “young professionals”.  This is a key market as well.  Once people start having families, going out isn’t something that can be done often, or on a regular basis.  When you get old, like me, going out often just isn’t something that you do that often either.  Sure, you go out to eat, but you don’t go out for three or four hours a night multiple times a week.

We don’t need another bar!  That is the response you get from many people.  I would disagree.  Bars are not de facto bad things.  I would also argue that you need MORE than a bar or two to attract AND RETAIN a steady stream of college students and people under 30.  You need some kind of destination – a reason to come downtown IN ADDITION TO a couple of bars and a few restaurants.

The Gay Community

That’s right.  I said it.  The GAY community!  Now I’m not talking about the gay community as a primary market – although this particular demographic would certainly fit many of the criteria that make college students and people (in general) under 30 a prize market.  No – I’m talking about marketing to the gay community as your investor class.

The gay community has a long and successful history of being urban pioneers.  They tend to have access to capital, a higher than average disposable income, and don’t have the financial responsibility of raising a family unless they choose to adopt or go the surrogacy route.  Let’s face it; if you’re gay, there are no unplanned pregnancies.

Look around.  Many of the people responsible for the re-birth of Cape Charles, VA (hardly San Francisco East) are gay.  Go to the Ghent section of Norfolk.  Now a thriving part of the city, Ghent as a slum when I was a kid.  What changed?  A small group of gay urban pioneers who were willing to put their capital at risk and then worked hard to make their dreams a reality.  There are countless examples all across the country.

I am not proposing that we attempt to turn Salisbury’s downtown into the Castro.  My experience has been that our friends and neighbors are pretty much the rest of us.  They just happen to make different sleeping arrangements.  They don’t flout their sexual orientation and simply expect to be treated as you would treat anyone else.

That said, gays are a distinct demographic group.  Some of the things that I’ve mentioned above make them ideal candidates to lead the revitaliztion of Salisbury’s downtown.

If we were serious about promoting Salisbury, we’d be doing in the Washington Blade and Philadelphia Gay News.

G. A. Harrison is the Managing Editor of “Salisbury News”. Delmarva Dealings appears each Wednesday and Sunday at SbyNEWS.com.

Pani Pit Pizza Specials

Charity Golf Tournament – Saturday, July 9, 2011

The Captain’s Cove Golf and Yacht Club in Greenbackville, VA will cosponsor with the Breast Health & Healing Foundation a Cancer Tournament on Saturday, July 9th at 9:00 AM.

Dr. Kathleen Ruddy will be here to support the event. Dr. Ruddy is working with Dr. Tuohy of the Cleveland Clinic in the development of a vaccine to eliminate Breast Cancer.

The first trial has been 100% effective in mice. The proceeds of this tournament will go directly towards the next trial.

The Tournament will be an 18 hole Florida Scramble with lots of prizes to win and a hat for everyone.  $20 for members and $25 for non-members.  The public is invited.

Call 757-824-3465

BREAKING NEWS: Fort Hood Suspect To Face Death Penalty

Maj. Nidal Hassan, Army psychiatrist charged in Fort Hood massacre that left 13 dead, will be court-martialed and face the death penalty.
From Fox News

War Fever Subsides In Washington

On the Mend?
America Comes to Its Senses


At periodic intervals, the American body politic has shown a marked susceptibility to messianic fevers.  


Whenever an especially acute attack occurs, a sort of delirium ensues, manifesting itself in delusions of grandeur and demented behavior. 


By the time the condition passes and a semblance of health is restored, recollection of what occurred during the illness tends to be hazy.  What happened?  How'd we get here?  Most Americans prefer not to know.  No sense dwelling on what's behind us.  Feeling much better now!  Thanks!


Gripped by such a fever in 1898, Americans evinced an irrepressible impulse to liberate oppressed Cubans.  


By the time they'd returned to their senses, having acquired various parcels of real estate between Puerto Rico and the Philippines, no one could quite explain what had happened or why.  (The Cubans meanwhile had merely exchanged one set of overseers for another.)


In 1917, the fever suddenly returned.  Amid wild ravings about waging a war to end war, Americans lurched off to France.  This time the affliction passed quickly, although the course of treatment proved painful: confinement to the charnel house of the Western Front, followed by bitter medicine administered at Versailles.


The 1960s brought another bout (and so yet more disappointment).  An overwhelming urge to pay any price, bear any burden landed Americans in Vietnam.  The fall of Saigon in 1975 seemed, for a brief interval, to inoculate the body politic against any further recurrence.  Yet the salutary effects of this "Vietnam syndrome" proved fleeting.  By the time the Cold War ended, Americans were running another temperature, their self-regard reaching impressive new heights.  Out of Washington came all sorts of embarrassing gibberish about permanent global supremacy and history's purpose finding fulfillment in the American way of life.


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