Why Fewer Young American Jews Share Their Parents' View of Israel

"I'm trembling," my mother says, when I tell her I'm working on an article about how younger and older American Jews are reacting differently to the Palestinians' bid for statehood at the United Nations. I understand the frustrations of the Palestinians dealing with ongoing settlements construction and sympathize with their decision to approach the U.N., but my mom supports President Obama's promise to wield the U.S. veto, sharing his view that a two-state solution can be achieved only through negotiations with Israel.

"This is so emotional," she says as we cautiously discuss our difference of opinion. "It makes me feel absolutely terrible when you stridently voice criticisms of Israel."

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NYC Transit Union Joins Occupy Wall Street

After receiving some serious celebrity support this week, Occupy Wall Street protesters will now be backed by two massive labor unions.

According to the progressive blog Daily Kos, members of The New York Transit Workers Union voted Wednesday evening to support protestors who as of Thursday, are in their thirteenth day of demonstrations. Business Insider says union members will be joining the crowds on Friday at 4PM.

The Local 100 New York chapter consists of 38,000 members actively working and 26,000 retirees. Whether or not Friday will bring out the Union's thousands of members remains to be seen. However if successful, the results could be the real push needed to regain momentum. Although hundreds still occupy Zucotti Park, numbers have dwindled and protestors are still struggling to define clear goals and demands.

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Retired Justice John Paul Stevens on His ‘Wrong’ Vote on Texas Death Penalty Case

Retired Justice John Paul Stevens is a man of few regrets from his nearly 35 years on the Supreme Court, except one – his 1976 vote to reinstate the death penalty.

“I really think that I’ve thought over a lot of cases I’ve written over the years. And I really wouldn’t want to do any one of them over…With one exception,” he told me.

“My vote in the Texas death case. And I think I do mention that in that case, I think that I came out wrong on that,” Stevens said.

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Bank of America Hits Debit Card Users With $5 Fee

Bank of America will slap a $5 monthly fee on some customers who use their debit cards to make purchases, reports Dow Jones Newswires.

“The economics of offering a debit card have changed with recent regulations,” a spokeswoman told Dow Jones. (Customers that only use debit cards at an ATM machine may avoid the monthly fee.)

In October, the Dodd-Frank financial reform law will lower “interchange fees,” which is the amount banks can charge retailers for debit transactions. Fees for retailers will shrink from 44 cents to a cap of 24 cents, which has led some debit card issuers to seek other ways to make up that revenue.

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'The Playboy Club' Loses Advertisers, PTC Calls for Immediate Cancellation

Will it soon be time to bid farewell to 'The Playboy Club?' Yes, if the members of The Parents Television Council (PTC) have their way. The PTC has been campaigning against NBC's new drama series for months, urging advertisers and NBC affiliates to drop it. Now the PTC claims that seven advertisers have already withdrawn from 'The Playboy Club' and is calling for the series -- which the pressure group says "objectifies and degrades women" -- to be cancelled immediately.

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Student's Deportation Fight In National Spotlight

(CBS/AP)

NEW YORK - About 100 supporters, some holding signs and chanting "education, not deportation," rallied outside a federal building in Manhattan on Thursday as a New York state university student and her mother attended a hearing to fight deportation to their native Bangladesh.

Unless granted a reprieve by immigration officials, Nadia Habib will leave behind her husband and their three American-born children, reports WCBS-TV in New York.

"At this point, it would be a miracle right now," Habib, a Stony Brook University psychology and biology student who previously attended the prestigious Bronx High School of Science, told reporters. "Anything could happen when we go upstairs. ... I can't say I'm confident in anything."

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The Miracle Dress that Comes With A $1,595 Price Tag

WASHINGTON - It's being called the "miracle dress."

And, with a $1,595 price tag, it should come with a little spiritual intervention.

It's the Stella McCartney Bicolour Octavia dress, and it's turning heads for what it does to a woman's body.

"It's like retouching your body with a frock," celebrity stylist June Ambrose told the New York Post.

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VISA And Mastercard Plan To Hike Debit Card Fees On Small Items For Merchants

VISA and Mastercard are planning to sharply raise the debit card transaction fees for small purchases for merchants, according to an analyst note. A $2 cup of coffee incurs about an 8 cent fee currently, but under the new policy, the fee will hike to 23 cents.

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680 lb Man Fired For Being Obese

Ronald at one point weighed 680 lbs, a fact that never interfered with his ability to do his job. He received high marks in his performance reviews. Despite this, he was fired for his weight.

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Car Seat Check

Witness Testimony and the Death Penalty: After Troy Davis, a Push for Eyewitness Reform

Nearly a week after the state of Georgia executed Troy Davis, the emotions surrounding his case have calmed. Protestors and reporters have long since dispersed from their vigil outside the prison. The Twitter hashtag #toomuchdoubt — as well as its Wednesday night successor #RIPTroyDavis — is no longer trending.

That's not to say, however, that the case won't continue to have an outsized effect on the criminal justice system in the U.S. While his execution alone — no matter how passionate his supporters — won't bring the death penalty to an end, there is one area where activists are hoping to use Davis' death as an ongoing and emotional rallying cry for reform: eyewitness identification.

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Today's Top Stories 9-29-11

BLOOMBERG

Florida will likely defy national party rules and set its presidential primary for Jan. 31, 2012, state House Speaker Dean Cannon said yesterday, a move that would trigger an acceleration of the Republican nominating race.

Republican presidential candidate Rick Perry retreated from his debate statement last week that those who oppose in-state tuition for illegal immigrants don’t “have a heart.”

International investors expect the world economy to relapse into a recession, with more than one in three forecasting a global economic meltdown within the next year.

German lawmakers’ approval of an expansion of the euro-area rescue fund’s firepower handed Chancellor Merkel a victory that paves the way for steps to stem the European debt crisis.

The U.S. economy grew at a 1.3 percent pace in the second quarter, faster than estimated last month and helped by exports and spending on services.

Claims for U.S. unemployment benefits fell by 37,000 in the week ended Sept. 24 to 391,000, more than forecast last week as an atypical calendar alignment made it more difficult for the government to adjust the data for seasonal changes.

The price of options to protect against losses on equities from China to India and Brazil has surged to its highest since 2009 relative to U.S. contracts.

Consumer confidence in the U.S. slumped last week to minus 53, the second-lowest level on record, as Americans grew more concerned with their financial situation and the buying climate worsened. Similar readings were reached three times in the first half of 2009 and surpassed only by all-time lows of minus 54 plumbed in November 2008 and again in January 2009.

China launched its first space laboratory module today in a step toward a manned station orbiting Earth, two months after the final shuttle mission halted the U.S.’s ability to put people into orbit.

Ford Chief Executive Officer reiterated the automaker’s plan to add 7,000 jobs over the next two years in the U.S. as it expects the world’s largest economy to avoid another recession.

Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. creditors holding more than $140 billion in claims support the company’s latest payout plan, up from $100 billion in July, the defunct firm said.

Rare-earth prices are set to extend their decline from records this year as buyers including Toyota and General Electric scale back using the materials in their cars and windmills.

AP Top Stories

The United States must stop blaming Islamabad for regional instability, Pakistan's prime minister told a gathering of the country's political leaders.

The arrest of a Massachusetts man that the FBI alleges wanted to fly remote-controlled airplanes filled with C-4 explosives into the Pentagon and U.S. Capitol, gives a rare glimpse into how the government has been focusing on the threat of lone wolves and homegrown terrorists.

Freddie Mac says the average on a 30-year fixed mortgage fell to 4.01 percent this week. That's the lowest rate since 1951. The average on a 15-year fixed mortgage ticked down to 3.28 percent. Economists say that's the lowest rate ever.

The number of Americans who signed contracts to buy homes fell 1.2 percent in August, after a weaker-than-expected peak buying season.

Source

Mother of Shark Attack Victim Says PETA Campaign Is 'Over the Top'

A Florida mother whose 21-year-old son survived a shark attack last week says a planned PETA campaign in response to the incident is "over the top."

But Ella Wickersham, of Longboat Key, Fla., told FoxNews.com she will not give the proposed billboard by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals -- "Payback Is Hell, Go Vegan" -- any thought since her focus is on the recovery of her 21-year-old son, C.J. Wickersham, who remains in stable condition after being bitten by a bull shark on Saturday while spear-fishing near Florida's Anna Marie Island.

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Survey: Top CEOs Foresee Less Hiring

(AP)

WASHINGTON - Only about one-third of chief executives of the largest U.S. companies expect to hire or spend more in the next six months, down sharply from about half who said so three months ago.

The Business Roundtable said Thursday that rising oil prices earlier this year, fears surrounding Europe's debt crisis and political wrangling over the U.S. borrowing limit have made the business and economic environment more uncertain.

Only 32 percent of the CEOs surveyed said they expect to spend more on long-lasting equipment, such as machinery and computers. That's down from 61 percent who said so three months earlier.

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Grains Then Grapes: Two Festivals, Back To Back Weekends, One Location

Good Beer and Autumn Wine Festivals on the Horizon

Salisbury, MD - Summer has finally come to a close and the cool, crisp, autumn season is falling upon us.  The leaves are beginning to change creating the perfect atmosphere for fall festivals.  First on the horizon is the Good Beer Festival.  Delmarva’s largest craft beer event is on tap for Saturday, October 8^th and Sunday, October 9^th from 12:30pm-6:30pm each day. Just one week later, the Autumn Wine Festival ages into its ninth year and uncorks Saturday, October 15th from 11:00am to 6:00pm and Sunday, October 16th from 12:30pm to 6:00pm.  Both festivals will be held at Salisbury’s Pemberton Historical Park.

The Good Beer festival features over 50 craft beers including local favorites EVO, 16 Mile, Burley Oak, Dogfish Head, and Eastern Shore Brewery along with many other unique, American craft beers. Adult admission includes a Good Beer Festival pint glass and unlimited samples.  Guests can also purchase full pints of their favorite craft brews as they stroll around.  The festival features two stages showcasing twelve different artists, including the nationally recognized Honor By August (presented by Ocean 98).  Sport fans need not worry about missing their favorite team play, as the Sports Zone will show the weekend’s big games.  This year, a VIP Meet the Brewer’s Package, which includes a meet and greet with brew-masters on Saturday is available.  For Sunday, folks can sign-up for the Hangover 5K.  Tickets must be purchased before 5pm on Friday, October 7^th for both the VIP package and Hangover 5K.  Advanced festival tickets are available for $20 per day or $35 for a two-day pass. Tickets purchased at the gate will be $30. Youth and Designated Driver tickets are also available for $5.  Learn more at http://www.goodbeerfestival.org/

The Autumn Wine Festival is produced in conjunction and sanctioned by the Maryland Wineries Association and is the only one of its kind in the Salisbury area. This event offers wine tastings (unlimited samples included with admission), wine by the glass and bottle purchases from the many Maryland wineries. Tickets include all day admission, a wine glass for sampling, all live entertainment and a free tour of Pemberton Hall.  Guests can indulge in their favorite wines while listening to a variety of live musical performances and visiting the many craft and tasty regional cuisine wares.  A unique, one of a kind, musical experience will conclude this fall festival on Sunday. Only performing 1:30-4pm, Howl at the Moon features two dueling pianos, centered around audience participation, and a variety of music from the 70’s, 80’s, 90’s, and today. Learn more at http://www.autumnwinefestival.org/

Autumn Wine Festival advanced tickets are available for $20 per day or $30 for a two-day pass. Tickets purchased at the gate will be $25. Youth and Designated Drivers are also available for $5. All children under the age of 5 are free!

Both festivals will take place at the beautiful Pemberton Historical Park located in Salisbury, Maryland. This historic nature park hosts the 18th Century Pemberton Hall (open for free tours) as well as miles of hiking trails, water views and historic buildings. 

Proceeds from The Good Beer Festival will benefit Wicomico County’s Recreation and Parks Division and be used to help offset rising program costs.  Visit http://www.goodbeerfestival.org/ and http://www.autumnwinefestival.org/  for a complete festival schedule or to purchase tickets.

Meltdown Part 1: "The Men Who Crashed The World"

When it comes to financial collapse documentaries, the public canon has one well-deserving Oscar Winner, "Inside Job", and one straight to HBO exercise in ass kissing and name dropping which shall remain nameless. Ironically, just like during the Arab Spring, it is that "dubious" Al Jazeera that shows US media how coverage of various matters, either geopolitical or financial, is done. Herein we present the first episode of Meltdown, in which we hear about four men who brought down the global economy: a billionaire mortgage-seller who fooled millions; a high-rolling banker with a fatal weakness; a ferocious Wall Street predator; and the power behind the throne. Considering we are about to experience the next Great Financial Crash, since nothing has changed at all since 2008, this should serve as a prominent reminder of all that happened, and a flashback to the future, of all that is certain to occur all over again.

From Al Jazeera:

The crash of September 2008 brought the largest bankruptcies in world history, pushing more than 30 million people into unemployment and bringing many countries to the edge of insolvency. Wall Street turned back the clock to 1929.

But how did it all go so wrong?

Lack of government regulation; easy lending in the US housing market meant anyone could qualify for a home loan with no government regulations in place.

Also, London was competing with New York as the banking capital of the world. Gordon Brown, the British finance minister at the time, introduced 'light touch regulation' - giving bankers a free hand in the marketplace.

All this, and with key players making the wrong financial decisions, saw the world's biggest financial collapse.



Source

GOVERNOR O’MALLEY VISITS LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS IN PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY

Governor attends monthly crime meeting and announces details of the County’s successful warrant initiative

PALMER PARK, MD (September 29, 2011) - Governor Martin O’Malley today got a first-hand look at public safety accomplishments in Prince George’s County. At a monthly meeting of county law enforcement, local officials reviewed their successful programs to fight crime, and discussed ways to strengthen the existing partnerships linking county and state law enforcement. State officials attending the meeting included Colonel Marcus Brown, superintendent of the Maryland State Police; Gary Maynard, secretary of the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services; Sam Abed, secretary of the Department of Juvenile Services; and Kristen Mahoney, executive director of the Governor’s Office of Crime Control & Prevention.

Following the county’s law enforcement monthly meeting, Governor O’Malley announced the results of a recent warrant initiative in Prince George’s County. From August 2^nd through August 27^th, 719 offenders were arrested or kept behind bars, charged with crimes including attempted murder, rape and sexual assault, child abuse and drug distribution. Those arrests resulted in the closing of 818 warrants. The warrant initiative is part of intensified crime fighting efforts in the county and was led by the Prince George’s County Sheriff’s Office, with the participation of the Maryland Division of Parole and Probation, the Maryland State Police, the Prince George’s County Police Department and the U.S. Marshals Service. Thirty–nine law enforcement officers organized into nine teams took part in the initiative.

“Working with our partners in law enforcement, we are removing violent offenders off the streets and putting them behind bars,” said Governor O’Malley. “Even in tough times, we’ve protected our investments in public safety, maintaining our commitment to protecting Maryland neighborhoods and families. Thanks to these efforts, together, we’ve driven violent crime, property crime and total crime to historically low rates.”

The initiative was funded by the Governor’s Office of Crime Control & Prevention (GOCCP) with $250,000 from the federal Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (BJAG) Program. Governor O’Malley thanked all the members of the Maryland Congressional delegation for supporting Maryland’s public safety efforts, and he singled out the important contribution made by Senator Barbara Mikulski. Senator Mikulski is chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, and Science which funds the BJAG program.

“Today’s announcement demonstrates Governor Martin O’Malley’s commitment to making Prince George’s County safer for all our residents,” said Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker, III. “I thank the Governor, Lt. Governor Brown, the Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention, and Senator Mikulski for their partnership in this effort to improve public safety in the County. I also want to thank and acknowledge the great work of Sheriff High and the Prince George’s County Sheriff’s Department. We are truly blessed to have Sheriff High’s experience, leadership, and wisdom back in Prince George’s County.”

The Sheriff’s Office has responsibility for warrant service in Prince George’s County and took the lead in this coordinated operation.

“The support from the Governor and the County Executive for the Warrant Task Force was a tremendous boost for law enforcement in the county,” said Prince George’s County Sheriff Melvin C. High. “These resources were well-spent to protect public safety by getting violent offenders off the streets.”

Prince George’s County law enforcement has worked to bring crime to record lows. Last year, violent crime in the County was down 6.3% and down to the lowest rate since 1978. Property crime was down 3.3% to the lowest rate since 1975, and total crimes declined 3.8%, also the lowest rate since 1975.

Detectives Searching For Copper Theft Suspects

Location: Two DP&L Power Sub-Stations, Kent Avenue, south of Bethany Beach, DE

 

Date of Occurrence: Wednesday, September 28, 2011 at 2:15 p.m.

 

Resume: 

Bethany Beach, DE- Delaware State Police detectives are looking for the suspects who scaled the fences of two power sub-stations and proceeded to remove copper wire resulting in significant damage and a loss of power to thousands.

 

The incident occurred at approximately 2:15 p.m. yesterday (9/28) after troopers were called to respond to two DP&L power sub-stations located on both the east and west sides of Kent Avenue just south of Bethany Beach, DE. It was discovered that someone had scaled the fence of the sub-station located on the west side of the road, and once inside, cut the copper grounding wires to several poles as well as two large transformers. The suspects then entered the sub-station located on the east side of the road in the same manner and also cut the grounding wires to several poles. The suspects then fled with 250 feet of copper wire valued at approximately $1,000.00. They also caused an estimated $100,000.00 in damage to the sub-stations and left 30,000 customers from Bethany, DE to west Ocean City, MD without power for a period of time. 

 

Detectives are asking anyone who may have any information in reference to this incident to contact the Troop 4 Property Crimes Unit at 302-856-5850. 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.

Salisbury Police Chief Duncan Holds Press Conference

At 3:10 PM today Chief Barbara Duncan held a Press Conference referencing the barricade/hostage situation last night.

Yes, I said hostage situation. We learned several new details from last night that never made it to their press release.

#1, there were two people held hostage, (as we originally expressed in our first Post) in a bedroom. They knocked on the door to get their belongings and were greeted at the door by a gun and forced to come inside and go into a bedroom. Ultimately they were able to leave and just walk out.

#2, THERE WERE TWO SHOTS FIRED. One was fired outside when a neighbor came to the door, an argument started and Turner fired off one round. The Chief mentioned in the Press Conference that they found 5 live rounds and two spent rounds. I immediately went after the "spent rounds" and asked why there were two, yet they had only mentioned ONE shot being fired. Chief Duncan then stated there was another round fire off INSIDE while he was holding the two people hostage.

At 8:30 PM last night they gave Turner a breath test and he blew a .16. They did NOT give him a drug test, even though they found cocaine inside after getting a search warrant.

Mayor Ireton spoke and quite frankly I enjoyed what he had to say. He talked about ALL of the local law enforcement working together, unlike we were experiencing only 2 years ago.

When you have all those leaders and officers working together, the wisdom can never be matched and good outcomes are inevitable.

Turner has quite a record, (as we also mentioned in our very first Post) and is on probation for numerous charges until 2015, before this event happened.

I did mentioned my earlier Post today about working together to create a location in which the community could gather. Chief Duncan stated if it had gone on much longer she would have called in the Red Cross.

New Posts to fall below this one.

EU Crisis Is Real

Frau Merkel, it really is a euro crisis ... Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor, told German industry today that we are not facing "a euro crisis, but a debt crisis." She is wrong. – Ambrose Evans-Pritchard/UK Telegraph

Yemen's Tricky Ali Saleh

Yemen president accused of tricking Saudis ...Yemen's president appears to have tricked his Saudi hosts when he unexpectedly returned home last week, exacerbating the stand-off between his regime and the country's pro-democracy protest movement. According to a senior US official, Ali Abdullah Saleh, who had been undergoing medical treatment in Saudi Arabia, "bolted the kingdom under the pretence of going to the airport for something else." Neither the US nor the Saudis were aware of his planned departure, said the official, calling it a "clever, canny" trick by the president. – Financial Times

Is Obama On The Way Out?

A depressed president hooked on Google "vanity searches" ... The mirror is disgusting ... WMR has learned from government sources with close contacts inside the White House that media reports that The New York Times is developing a story on President Obama suffering from clinical depression are correct and that Obama is fixated on how the media, including certain web sites, view his presidency. WMR has previously reported on Obama's narcissistic personality and how it has adversely affected his leadership capabilities as president. – Wayne Madsen

Tom Miller Stop Gap Federal Budget Press Release

To the American People,

 

Congress has just passed its latest legislative stop gap measure to keep our government operating for another 60 days. For more than 900 days now our elected officials have been utilizing these temporary measures in order to avoid being held accountable and responsible for the passage of a binding annual Federal budget as the law requires. I am the only Presidential candidate who is willing to make the commitment that they are either unable or unwilling to make and go on the record with a detailed and balanced Federal budget proposal.

 

Thomas J. Miller

Declared Republican Presidential Candidate

Are Baby Boomers To Blame For Broken Government?

(CNN) -- Could it be that the reason our government is broken is because of which generation is running things?

Authors Morley Winograd and Michael Hais think so, insisting that the problem is that power is now firmly in the hands of self-righteous baby boomers who have spent their entire lives convinced that anyone who disagrees with them is morally inferior. Boomers won't negotiate anything, Winograd and Hais say, because they think every position they hold is rooted in something no less sacred than their values, and they're understandably reluctant to negotiate their values.

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If Your Kids Don't Want to Eat, Don't Sweat It

Kiss the clean-plate club goodbye. Not only is it bad form, in light of rising childhood obesity rates, to nag your kids to finish their food, but new research shows it's also bound to backfire and create the dreaded Picky Eater.

Researchers in the United Kingdom asked 104 British mothers of children ages 3 to 6 about how they interacted with their kids about food. They found that moms with fussy, slow or problem eaters tended to be those who hounded their kids more to eat — hardly a prudent move.

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Cockatoo Found At Delmar Car Wash

A Cockatoo bird was found in Delmar on Bi State Blvd today. The bird is grey with red cheeks. If you are missing a Cockatoo, contact me for now at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com and we'll publish another phone number later this evening.

The Human Cost Of Chocolate

It may be unthinkable that the chocolate we enjoy could come from the hands of children working as slaves. In Ivory Coast and other cocoa-producing countries, there are an estimated 100,000 children working the fields, many against their will, to create the chocolate delicacies enjoyed by Western countries.

Ten years ago, two U.S. lawmakers took action to put a stop to child labor in the cocoa industry. Despite pushback from the industry, the Harkin-Engel Protocol, also known as the Cocoa Protocol, was signed into law on September 19, 2001.

On the 10th anniversary of the legislation, CNN takes a look at what effect this protocol has had on the cocoa industry. Here's a primer on some of the major issues surrounding the issue of slave labor in the cocoa industry:

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Did You See The Blimp Yesterday

This 90 Percent Successful Vaccine May Be Our Best Chance To Eradicate AIDS

Spanish researchers have completed the first human trial of a new vaccine against HIV. It has been successful in 90% of the HIV-free volunteers during phase I testing. This vaccine brings great hope to eradicate this plague forever.

The team lead by Dr Mariano Esteban, a researcher at the Spanish National Research Council's Biotechnology National Centre, has been working on this method since 1999. They are using an attenuated virus called the MVA-B, a variation of the Modified Ankara Vaccinia, which was previously used to eradicate smallpox. The Modified Ankara Vaccinia also forms the base of other vaccines. The B refers to the HIV-B, the most common HIV subtype in Europe.

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How Teen Drinking Is Influenced by Romantic Partner's Pals

Like so many other socially "contagious" traits that have been studied before it — among them, happiness, loneliness, generosity, obesity, disordered eating and quitting smoking — teenagers' drinking behavior may be influenced by their social networks, a new study finds.

But in a twist, the study found that some second-degree relationships were more influential than close friends and romantic partners. Specifically, the authors report, teenagers with a new dating partner were more likely to adopt the drinking habits of their boyfriend's or girlfriend's friends, rather than those of the partners themselves.

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Fla. Man Executed Amid Injection Controversy

(CBS/AP)

STARKE, Fla. - A Florida man convicted of killing a police officer during a traffic stop 33 years ago has been executed at the Florida State Prison.

The governor's office said Manuel Valle was pronounced dead at 7:14 p.m. Wednesday. He was the first Florida prisoner to be executed with a new mix of lethal drugs.

Valle fatally shot Coral Gables officer Louis Pena in 1978. He also shot fellow officer Gary Spell, who was saved by his bulletproof vest.

There was some controversy over the drugs used in the lethal injection used to carry out the execution.

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Reebok to Pay $25M over Toning Claims

(WASHINGTON) — Reebok International Ltd. will pay $25 million to customers to settle charges by the Federal Trade Commission that it made deceptive claims in ads that its toning shoes would measurably strengthen the legs and buttocks of those who wear them.

Reebok, based in Canton, Mass., has centered much of its business on toning shoes, which include its EasyTone walking shoes, RunTone running shoes and EasyTone flip flops.
The company claims the shoes, which have a rounded, slightly unstable sole, encourage strength by engaging more of a wearer's muscles.

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One Year Ago Today

Two Years Ago Today

Federal Spending In Maryland Declines

Federal spending in Maryland dropped by nearly $1.4 billion last year — a setback for a state economy built largely on Washington dollars and a likely omen, analysts say, of further austerity to come.

The pullback, which was revealed in census figures released Tuesday, came largely in government contracting and individual assistance such as unemployment benefits and Medicare payments. State officials attributed the decrease to the tapering off of funds from stimulus programs as well as for construction at recently expanded Maryland military bases.

Federal funds flowing to Maryland dropped 1.4 percent during the 12 months that ended last September, accounting for inflation. That's the steepest decrease since 1996 and could be the start of a long slide as Washington focuses its attention on reining in budget deficits.

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Drop of $1.4 billion last fiscal year is likely just the beginning, economists say

Husband Of Missing Utah Mom Susan Powell Not Getting Kids Back

Josh Powell's lack of cooperation with police 'leads the state to believe that he is responsible for her disappearance'

TACOMA, Wash. — The husband of a missing Utah woman is temporarily losing the right to care for his children after officials questioned Wednesday whether he is responsible for his wife's disappearance.

Judge Kathryn Nelson said there is reasonable cause to believe the two boys cannot be safely returned to the home of Josh Powell, so she ordered that the kids will temporarily stay with Susan Powell's parents, Chuck and Judy Cox. Josh Powell will have visitation rights.

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BREAKING NEWS: Stocks Make U-Turn: Nasdaq Tumbles, Dow Sheds Gains

After kicking off the trading session with big gains, the markets changed course in afternoon trading as consumer-discretionary, materials and Internet shares were pummeled.  With less than two hours until the closing bell, the Dow was up 2 points, the S&P 500 fell 0.64% and the Nasdaq slid 2%, while Treasury yields fell to session lows.

From Fox News

If Inflation Droops, Federal Reserve May Pump It Up

It's tough for consumers to rationalize how inflation could be a good thing, especially if they haven't received pay increases in years, but increasing costs are believed by many to be a sign of a healthy economy. That's why Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke said Wednesday that the central bank will keep a close eye on inflation levels and may altar monetary policy to maintain the phenomenon if prices start to level off.

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Have Your Heating System Checked Before You Need It

Strong To Severe?

A solar storm that had been rated 'strong-to-severe' delivered only a glancing blow to Earth, according to Reuters. Scientists at NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center said the solar storm came from a monster sunspot that was so big, it could be seen from Earth with the naked eye (although it's dangerous to look directly at the sun). Solar storms can interfere with satellites, power grids and navigation systems. But scientists said while some people in extreme northern latitudes might see heightened auroras, there won't be damage this time. Sunspot activity is expected to peak in 2013. (Reuters)

What Would YOU Do?

First, note the school bus in the background in the third picture.

Yesterday's standoff in the Prince Street School District brings up some serious questions and deserves the proper attention.

In the second picture, (taken from the East end of Washington Street) citizens were gathering within 30 yards of the home the suspect was barricaded in.

As I was standing there taking pictures, I was even closer. Mind you, I didn't want to stand behind the crowd and take pictures and I was not asked to get back further. However, I have been to enough of these scenes in which I knew we were probably too close. That being said, we actually chose to get in our vehicle and leave.

In the mean time there were several adults and children attempting to use the sidewalk directly across the street from the suspects home and it created quite a bit of confusion. More importantly, there were children everywhere. Again, it should be noted that even though there were, (in my opinion) too many children too close to the scene immediately after they were let out of school, HOW SHOULD LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE BOE HANDLE SUCH CASES.

Police got the call at 2:29 PM about the shooting. School let out at 2:30 PM. I do know for a fact that the SPD did make contact with the BOE immediately but clearly it was too late. Several people criticized through comments that the BOE didn't react quick enough and I disagree. You can't point a finger at the BOE with only one minute to spare. I just learned that the BOE received a call from the SPD at 2:58 PM.

HOWEVER, IMHO, IF you have a gunshot situation, you must make sure those areas are immediately blocked off so kids, (and adults) cannot get so close to the scene. The images we produced in our first post were images no other source of media had because they didn't even know about it until they themselves read it on SBYNews.com.

It wasn't until we came back to the office, published our information, THEN the MSM knew it was serious and they headed to the scene but were made to stay back a few hundred yards. In fact, the Media wasn't even allowed to the east end of the scene at all.

Now, getting back to the third picture, which concerns me. Why were school buses continuing to operate KNOWING this area was dealing with a crime scene and a gunman was still at bay. I felt it was important to put out the time line on how things went down. Last nights comments were valid but now that the SPD put out their press release letting every one know the call came in at 2:29 PM, we're talking a whole different situation that may have to be looked into in the future. The timing was just freak. A call comes in to SPD at 2:29 and school let out at 2:30.

Something else that should be considered. MANY people were removed from their homes and or not let back to their homes. During the day it was quite warm but as the sun started to set, many people didn't have the proper clothing to stay warm, yet they were not allowed to go back to their homes. In the third picture you see a woman with a cane, (blue shirt) standing there. This woman was forced to stand for at least two hours before Mr. Tyler was kind enough to recognize her, run to a neighboring home and borrow a chair off their front porch so she could sit down. Again, another resident NOT allowed to return to their property.

All that being said, perhaps, (in situations like this) the County/City can consider setting up a staging area, (like Prince Street Elementary) for kids to regroup, those displaced from their homes can have a place to sit and or stay warm/cool.

It takes situations like this to learn from. I look forward to every one's opinion/ideas on this matter.

Maryland Goes Slow On Mandating HPV Vaccine

Gov. Rick Perry has taken a lot of heat for requiring Texas schoolgirls to be vaccinated against human papilloma virus, which causes cervical cancer. Maryland has taken a wait-and-see approach to requiring the shots, with a governor’s task force deciding the vaccine was too new to mandate. The public did not know enough about the vaccine and access was too limited, a subcommittee determined.

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Carrie Underwood With Vince Gill How Great Thou Art

Educators And Financial Literacy Advocates Respond To Growing Student Debt

With student loan debt approaching a national crisis, Maryland educators and financial literacy advocates are moving to address the issue – some mandated to do so and others voluntarily. “The situation is getting worse quickly because students are racking up more debt than in the past. Colleges are dishing out more aid because the economy is so bad,” said Deanne Booker, communications manager of the Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Maryland and Delaware, a nonprofit community organization.

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'Is My Son Gay?' App Called Foolish And Dangerous

WASHINGTON - A new app for Android smartphones purports to provide an answer to the question "Is my son gay?" in 20 questions or less.
 
"After this test you'll have the proven answer to a question you might have since maybe a long time," reads the app page on the Android Market.
 
Reaction to the app has been mixed, with reviewers calling it everything from "highly offensive" to "genius." It received 3.5 stars.
 
Texas-based licensed therapist Melody Brooke calls the app both foolish and dangerous.
 
"It's not by any means any kind of standardized test that's going to give you any real results. It's not based on any scientific data. It's just somebody's stereotypical view of what it means to be gay," she says.
 
Sample questions posed by the app include: "Does he like to dress well: is he very careful when choosing his outfits and selecting brands?" And, "Does he like football?"

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Cantaloupe Illnesses And Deaths Expected To Rise

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Federal health officials said Wednesday more illnesses and possibly more deaths may be linked to an outbreak of listeria in cantaloupe in coming weeks.

So far, the outbreak has caused at least 72 illnesses -- including up to 16 deaths -- in 18 states, making it the deadliest food outbreak in the United States in more than a decade.

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Andy Rooney Represents The 'Golden Age' Of Journalism

"60 Minutes" veteran commentator Andy Rooney is stepping down after more than 30 years on the show. Sunday will be his final broadcast.

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Walter Reed Closes, Businesses Bust

Walter Reed Army Medical Center was not only a bustling hospital, it apparently helped keep many nearby businesses booming. But without the hospital things are getting ugly.

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The Obama Tax Plan: A Test For America

Can democracy, one top political scientist asked last week, 'function effectively in a society marked by vast economic inequality'? The fate of the modest new White House bid to tax our rich may tell the tale.

Most Presidents of the United States end up with a catchphrase attached to their tenure, a memorable line that defines them. The buck stops here. Ask not what your country can do for you. Tear down this wall! President Obama last week may have muttered his.

“This is not class warfare,” the President declared last Monday as he unveiled a new set of proposals for hiking taxes on wealthy taxpayers. “It’s math.”

GOP leaders on Capitol Hill appear to have done the math — on what the White House proposals would mean for them personally — and they don’t much like what they see.

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Caption This Photo 9-29-11