Salisbury News: 04/10/12

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Salisbury City Councilwoman Laura Mitchell Abuses Her Power

While it would be very easy for me to file a lawsuit against the City of Salisbury and Councilwoman Laura Mitchell, I have chosen to, instead, expose this information to the "Court of Public Opinion". You see, it's not about any financial gain because I'm confident I would win this case hands down in court. However, why punish the taxpayers for her abuse.

Recently, Laura Mitchell confronted at least TWO of my advertisers and challenged them as to why they advertise with Salisbury News. She went on to say/threaten, you do realize that will hurt your business.

Because the companies that do in fact advertise with Salisbury News SEE the immediate return on their investments, statements like that from Laura Mitchell only make her come off looking like the Idiot that she is. It's been a LONG time since I've used those words but quite frankly she reminds me of John Robinson constantly contacting my advertisers stating he'll never do business with them if they continue to advertise with us.

Yeah, people are going to stop getting a major return on their investment because they're going to lose business from Laura Mitchell or John Robinson, NOT!

What I think is more important is the fact that Laura Mitchell is an ELECTED OFFICIAL and has absolutely no right to interfere with contractual agreements. It's not only against the law for an individual to do so, it's much worse when an elected official attempts to use their power to strong arm someone into stopping people from doing business.

Now, if Laura or John want to stop coming to Salisbury News, that's their right. However, to attempt to destroy someone doing business in the community AND a business who has PROVEN to "Pay It Forward" back into the community, that's a whole different thing.

I think it is VERY important that all of our readers know and understand this information is absolutely factual. We wonder as a community why there are so many For Rent and For Sale Signs everywhere you turn, this is exactly the reason why. Laura Mitchell isn't interested in making this community better. She has absolutely no respect for our freedom of speech.

Just because an elected official doesn't like what I/We have to say doesn't mean they can interfere in contractual agreements, it's against the law. So, as I stated earlier. I will use the Court of Public Opinion to expose her actions. I will also use this platform to warn her, (and the City Taxpayers) that IF she ever attempts to pull this again I will retain a lawyer and sue to defend our rights and laws.

If you have been confronted by Mrs. Mitchell about this same matter please contact me and let me know. alberobutzo@wmconnect.com.

New Posts to fall below.

Most Americans Think Government Employees Have It Pretty Good

That finding was suggested by a new Rasmussen Reports survey. GovExec reported that nearly half of the participating government workers agreed. They also said the government offered greater job security. But just 35 percent of government employees surveyed said the average government worker earned more than his or her private-sector counterpart. The polling group surveyed 1,000 people.

The Next Big Idea

The White House is hosting a "Grand Challenge" conference to highlight the government's dedication to finding the next big idea. The July event will showcase new commitments by federal agencies and others. The Office of Science and Technology Policy said challenges can serve as "north stars" for collaborations between the public and private sectors. The Energy Department is leading the way with programs to make solar energy and electric vehicles more attractive options. USAID also is using challenges to find ways to improve health care access for women and newborns in developing countries.

GSA Places Deputy PBS Commissioner Foley On Leave

David Foley, the deputy Public Buildings Service commissioner, has become the fourth senior executive at headquarters to feel the aftershocks of a scathing inspector general's report on excessive spending and waste. GSA's decision to put Foley on leave comes as several members of Congress are teeing up hearings about an $822,000 regional conference that led to the resignation of GSA Administrator Martha Johnson.

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Does Your Farmer's Market Have Local Products?

An increasing number of Americans now patronize their local farmer’s markets or stores that carry local produce as a way to help boost their local economies and keep jobs, profits, and tax revenues closer to home.

It’s a great way to be patriotic with your purchases if “buy local” and “buy American” strategies are important to you.

Gold Alert Subject:

Michael T. Petz, 33, Millsboro, DE
6'01” tall, 130 lbs, brown hair, brown eyes

Location Last Seen:

20000 block of Harbeson Road, Millsboro, DE

Date and Time Last Seen:

Tuesday April 10, 2012 at 9:00 a.m.

Resume:
Millsboro, DE- The Delaware State Police have issued a Gold Alert for a missing Millsboro man.

The Delaware State Police are currently searching for Michael T. Petz, 33, of Millsboro, DE. Petz was last seen leaving his place of work at 9:00 a.m. Tuesday April 10th. Petz may be in the Millsboro area of DE. He is described as a white male, 6'01” tall and 130 lbs with brown hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a grey hooded sweatshirt with the word "Hellens" across the front, blue jeans, sneakers and possibly a baseball cap.

Michael Petz medical condition is such that there is a real concern for his safety.

Troopers are asking anyone who may have any information as to the whereabouts of Michael T. Petz to contact Troop 7 at 302-644-5020. 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.

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Withdraws Support From ALEC

Following Kraft, Pepsi, Coca-Cola, and Intuit, another influential sponsor of ALEC has withdrawn its support from the right-wing corporate front group. Roll Call reports:

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation today became the latest backer to withdraw financial support for the American Legislative Exchange Council.

A foundation spokesman told Roll Call that it does not plan to make future grants to the conservative nonprofit, which has come under fire from progressive activists for its support of voter identification laws and other contentious measures.

The Gates Foundation said it supported ALEC on issues regarding “teacher effectiveness and school finance.” Lee Fang reports the funding could potentially have benefited “Microsoft as privatized charters adopt more technology in the classroom.”

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Twenty-Six Major Corporations Paid No Corporate Income Tax for the Last Four Years, Despite Making Billions In Profits

Last year, Citizens for Tax Justice found that 30 major corporations had made billions of dollars in profits whilepaying no federal income tax between 2008 and 2010. Today, CTJ updated that report to reflect the 2011 tax bill of those 30 companies, and 26 of them have still managed to pay absolutely nothing over that four year period:

– 26 of the 30 companies continued to enjoy negative federal income tax rates. That means they still made more money after tax than before tax over the four years!

– Of the remaining four companies, three paid four year effective tax rates of less than 4 percent
(specifically, 0.2%, 2.0% and 3.8%). One company paid a 2008-11 tax rate of 10.9 percent.

– In total, 2008-11 federal income taxes for the 30 companies remained negative, despite $205 billion in pretax U.S. profits. Overall, they enjoyed an average effective federal income tax rate of –3.1 percent over the four years.

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How Does Our Government Surveil Us? Let's Count the Ways

Privacy is eroding fast as technology offers government increasing ways to track and spy on citizens. The Washington Post reported there are 3,984 federal, state and local organizations working on domestic counterterrorism. Most collect information on people in the US. Here are thirteen examples of how some of the biggest government agencies and programs are tracking people.

One. The National Security Agency (NSA) collects hundreds of millions of emails, texts and phone calls every day and has the ability to collect and sift through billions more. WIRED just reported NSA is building an immense new data center, which will intercept, analyze and store even more electronic communications from satellites and cables across the nation and the world. Though NSA is not supposed to focus on US citizens, it far too often does.

Two. The Federal Bureau of Investigation National Security Branch Analysis Center (NSAC) has more than 1.5 billion government and private-sector records about US citizens collected from commercial databases, government information and criminal probes which it uses in its investigations.

Three. The American Civil Liberties Union and The New York Times recently reported that cellphones of private individuals in the US are being tracked without warrants by state and local law enforcement all across the country. With more than 300 million cellphones in the US connected to more than 200,000 cell phone towers, cellphone tracking software can pinpoint the location of a phone and document the places the cellphone goes over the course of a day, week, month or longer. See in Re US for Historical Cell Site Data 747F Supp 2d 827 9SD Texas 2010) October 29, 2010.

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Are Iran’s Actions Setting the Groundwork for the Fulfillment of Biblical Armageddon?

Should we be worried that Iran is about to tip the entire world into World War III? Are some folks reading far too much into all of today’s saber-rattling? Are they drawing wild conclusions from popular interpretations of Bible prophecy flying around the Internet?

Or is history’s final battle just around the corner?

Many Christians grew up hearing that the Bible foretells of one final war between Israel and many of the nations of the world. Popular interpretations of Old Testament prophecies leave little doubt that Israel – as “God’s chosen people” – will win.

Food Stamps Helped Reduce Poverty Rate, Study Finds

Washington - A new study by the Agriculture Department has found that food stamps, one of the country's largest social safety net programs, reduced the poverty rate substantially during the recent recession. The food stamp program, formally known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, reduced the poverty rate by nearly 8 percent in 2009, the most recent year included in the study, a significant impact for a social program whose effects often go unnoticed by policy makers.

The food stamp program is one of the largest antipoverty efforts in the country, serving more than 46 million people. But the extra income it provides is not counted in the government's formal poverty measure, an omission that makes it difficult for officials to see the effects of the policy and get an accurate figure for the number of people beneath the poverty threshold, which was about $22,000 for a family of four in 2009.

"SNAP plays a crucial, but often underappreciated, role in alleviating poverty," said Stacy Dean, an expert on the program with the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, a Washington-based research group that focuses on social programs and budget policy.

Enrollment in the food stamp program grew substantially during the recession and immediately after, rising by 45 percent from January of 2009 to January of this year, according to monthly figures on the U.S.D.A. Web site. The stimulus package pushed by President Obama and enacted by Congress significantly boosted funding for the program as a temporary relief for families who had fallen on hard times in the recession.

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Sic 'em, Scalia! Poll Shows Voters Cheering Supreme Court's Challenge of Obamacare

Americans got a taste of some feisty questions leveled against Obamacare by Supreme Court justices last month, and apparently, they liked what they saw.

According to a new Rasmussen Reports poll, approval ratings for the court leaped from all-time record lows right before the constitutionality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act – commonly called Obamacare – went on trial to their highest levels in two-and-a-half years only two weeks later.

Maryland Senate Still MIA On Offshore Wind Bill

ANNAPOLIS — As the clock ticks down on the final day of Maryland’s legislative session, neither the Maryland Senate Finance Committee nor the full Senate has acted on the Maryland Offshore Wind Energy Act of 2012 (SB 237/ HB 441), a bill championed by Governor Martin O’Malley. The hold-up persists even as the bill has already passed the House of Delegates with a vote of 88–47, has received strong majority support in numerous statewide polls, and has been supported by a number of grassroots organizations, business and faith groups, and minority businesses across the state.

“The climate isn’t waiting for Maryland to act. Other states aren’t waiting. They’re not waiting to create offshore wind power jobs, to save lives and stem the tide of dangerous, costly extreme weather events in their states. For the sake of our children and grandchildren—and for our own sake today—Maryland should not throw away this opportunity at such a critical time,” said Tommy Landers, Director of Environment Maryland, speaking on behalf of the Marylanders for Offshore Wind coalition.

“Let’s remember that this bill has been carefully crafted to protect Maryland consumers as much as possible, to promote Maryland businesses as much as possible, and to provide real opportunities and significant resources to minority-owned businesses in our state. That’s why this bill passed handily out of the House, with near-unanimous support from the Legislative Black Caucus. That’s why civic leaders and grassroots groups throughout the state want this bill so badly,” said Mike Tidwell, Director of Chesapeake Climate Action Network, another coalition member.

“We commend the leadership of Gov. O’Malley, Chairman Dereck Davis and Chairman Mac Middleton, as well as leaders like Sen. Paul Pinsky and Del. Tom Hucker. And we applaud everyone in the House of Delegates who voted for this landmark bill. There’s still time for this legislation to cross the goal line, and we’d be severely disappointed if the Maryland Senate couldn’t make that happen today,” said Jen Brock-Cancellieri of the Maryland League of Conservation Voters, another member of the coalition.

In terms of minority business groups, the bill has the support of the NAACP MD State Conference, the Prince George's County Branch of the NAACP, the Prince George’s Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Baltimore Black Chamber of Commerce, the Economic Development and Training Institute, the Maryland Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and the Southern Maryland Consortium of African American Community Organizations.

In addition, over 30 potential supply-chain businesses in Maryland support the Business Coalition for Maryland Offshore Wind including minority owned businesses like D & T Welding Company in Baltimore and large manufacturers like Cambridge International on the Eastern Shore.

Over the past few months, 132 business, civic, faith and minority leaders in Prince George’s County have declared their support for Maryland offshore wind power. That includes a dozen groups like the NAACP’s county chapter and the Economic Development and Training Institute, 79 small businesses and 41 faith leaders and ministers.

The bill has seen a flurry of action from supporters in the weeks leading up to these votes. Last Friday, April 7, business leaders from across the state gathered in front of the State House to declare strong support for the legislation, citing the jobs they expect to see from the construction of offshore wind turbine parts in Maryland.

“We believe in the importance of renewable energy. It’s healthier for us, and it’s better for our environment. But we are thrilled about the limitless opportunities that offshore wind energy production can bring to women-owned and minority-owned businesses and to the entire state,” said Lance Lucas, President of the Greater Baltimore Black Chamber of Commerce, as well as Board Member of LITSOM -- Legislation In The State Of Maryland (LITSOM).

On Monday, April 2, approximately 500 Marylanders joined hands to form a "circle of support" around the Maryland State House in support of the offshore wind power legislation. And the week before, supporters released a pair of studies touting the many benefits of offshore wind power for the state.

One study, a report entitled “What Offshore Wind Means for Maryland Environmental, Economic and Public Health Benefits Across the State” by Environment Maryland Research & Policy Center, showed region-specific benefits throughout the state. For instance, the entire ecosystem of the Chesapeake Bay will benefit as offshore wind’s clean power helps to reduce global warming pollution, stabilizing water temperatures that determine whether rockfish, oysters and crabs can survive in the bay.

A second study, an analysis by IHS Global Insight, was hailed by the Maryland State Conference of the NAACP and minority business community leaders. The analysis found that a robust offshore wind industry in Maryland will contribute over $2.25 billion to the state’s Gross State Product and create 21,000 jobs in the state.

The Maryland Offshore Wind Energy Act of 2012 incentivizes the construction of ocean-based wind turbines ten miles or more off the coast of Ocean City, Maryland. The legislation includes multiple provisions to protect consumers and to stimulate Maryland’s economy. The bill requires that offshore wind power developers demonstrate that their projects will produce a positive net economic and environmental benefit for the state. The bill is modeled on an approach already adopted by New Jersey’s state legislature with bipartisan support.

The Marylanders for Offshore Wind Coalition includes the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, the Sierra Club Maryland Chapter, Environment Maryland, the National Wildlife Federation, the Maryland League of Conservation Voters, the League of Women Voters, the Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry, and Greater Washington Interfaith Power & Light.

Conn. Boy, 5, Brings Heroin For Show and Tell

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (AP) - Police say a 5-year-old boy brought 50 packets of heroin to school for show and tell, and his stepfather has been arrested.

The student went to kindergarten Monday with his stepfather's jacket and pulled out the drugs in 10 small plastic bags when it came time for his presentation to the class, Bridgeport police told the Connecticut Post ( http://bit.ly/HYhtzj). The teacher grabbed the bags away from the boy, and the principal called police.

Ten Minutes After The Titanic Struck The Iceberg

We are like passengers on the Titanic ten minutes after its fatal encounter with the iceberg: the idea that the ship will sink is beyond belief.

As we all know, the "unsinkable" Titanic suffered a glancing collision with an iceberg on the night of April 14, 1912. Ten minutes after the iceberg had opened six of the ship's 16 watertight compartments, it was not at all apparent that the mighty vessel had been fatally wounded, as there was no evidence of damage topside. Indeed, some eyewitnesses reported that passengers playfully scattered the ice left on the foredeck by the encounter.

But some rudimentary calculations soon revealed the truth to the officers: the ship was designed to survive four watertight compartments being compromised, and could likely stay afloat if five were opened to the sea, but not if six compartments were flooded. Water would inevitably spill over into adjacent compartments in a domino-like fashion until the ship sank.

We can sympathize with the disbelief of the officers, and with their confused reaction, simultaneously reassuring passengers and attempting to goad them into the lifeboats. With the interior still warm and bright with lights, it seemed far more dangerous to clamber into an open lifeboat and drift off into the cold Atlantic than it did to stay onboard.

As a result, the first lifeboats left the ship only partially full. Only when it became undeniable that the ship was doomed did people attempt to "make other arangements," but by then it was too late.

The tragedy was a cruel mix of human error (entering an ice field at nearly top speed, 23-25 knots), hubris-soaked planning (only enough lifeboats for half the passengers and crew) and design flaws: the high-sulfur iron hull plating did not bend when struck by the ice, it shattered like china.

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Zimmerman's Lawyers Withdraw From Shooting Case

SANFORD, Fla. (AP) - Two attorneys for the Florida neighborhood watch volunteer who fatally shot 17-year-old Trayvon Martin said Tuesday that they have withdrawn as his counsel because they haven't heard from him in days and he is taking actions related to the case without consulting them.

Attorney Craig Sonner and Hal Uhrig said at a news conference they haven't heard from George Zimmerman since Sunday. They said that against their advice, Zimmerman contacted the special prosecutor who will decide if he should face charges. A spokeswoman for Angela Corey's office didn't immediately respond to an email and two phone calls.

Obama Healthcare Law Could Sharply Worsen U.S. Deficits: Study

(Reuters) - President Barack Obama's healthcare law could sharply exceed its cost-savings targets and add up to $530 billion to the federal budget deficit, a leading authority on U.S. government benefit programs said on Tuesday.

A study by Charles Blahous, a George Mason University research fellow and the Republican trustee for the Medicare and Social Security entitlement programs for the elderly, challenges the administration's contention that the 2010 law would better keep healthcare costs in line.

Known as the "Affordable Care Act," or "Obamacare," the measure to expand health insurance for millions of Americans is considered Obama's signature domestic policy achievement.

Bras For A Cause

Women Supporting Women to Host a Unique Show at The Centre at Salisbury

Businesses, groups, and individuals are needed to decorate a themed bra, title it, and enter a fun competition to help Women Supporting Women, a grass-roots local non-profit breast cancer support organization. Registration and submissions are due April 20, 2012, and the Grand Revealing will be an event in the JC Penney court at The Centre at Salisbury on May 1 at 5:00 PM. The public will be allowed to view all entries, and vote for their favorites with a dollar donation to Women Supporting Women through May 30. Awards and trophies will be presented to winners of several categories at an event on May 31 at 6:00 PM. For more information or to register, please contact Women Supporting Women at 410-548-7880.

Women Supporting Women is a local, grass-roots non-profit organization dedicated to providing awareness, education and support to all those who are affected by breast cancer. With no national ties or funding, we rely completely on our community to help us provide free services to our neighbors, friends and families right here on Delmarva. To learn more about WSW, visit www.womensupportingwomen.org or www.facebook.com/womensupportingwomen/delmarva , or stop by our Salisbury office located at 1320 Belmont Avenue, next to the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore.

George Zimmerman Pleads for Money to Pay for His Defense on the Web

George Zimmerman, by now one of the most well-known neighborhood watchmen since Batman, and certainly the most controversial, apparently believes an arrest is imminent in the case of his well-publicized shooting of teenager Trayvon Martin. Or at least, he’s preparing for the eventuality, since a website recently surfaced – started by Zimmerman himself – which asks for donations to help pay for legal fees associated with the case. The front page of the website contains a short, three-paragraph plea copied below:

On Sunday February 26^th, I was involved in a life altering event which led me to become the subject of intense media coverage. As a result of the incident and subsequent media coverage, I have been forced to leave my home, my school, my employer, my family and ultimately, my entire life. This website’s sole purpose is to ensure my supporters they are receiving my full attention without any intermediaries.

O'Keefe Voter Fraud Investigation: Young Man Offered Holder's Ballot

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder has declared that there is no proof that in-person voter fraud is a problem. He's about to see proof that even he can't deny.
In a new video (below) provided to Breitbart.com, James O’Keefe’s Project Veritas demonstrates why Holder should stop attacking voter ID laws--by walking into Holder’s voting precinct and showing the world that anyone can obtain Eric Holder’s primary ballot. Literally.

The video shows a young man entering a Washington, DC polling place at 3401 Nebraska Avenue, NW, on primary day of this year--April 3, 2012--and giving Holder’s name and address. The poll worker promptly offers the young man Holder’s ballot to vote.

The young man then suggests that he should show his ID; the poll worker, in compliance with DC law, states: “You don’t need it. It’s all right. As long as you’re in here, you’re on our list, and that’s who you say you are, you’re okay.”

The young man replies: “I would feel more comfortable if I just had my ID. Is it alright if I go get it?" The poll worker agrees.

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Why Is Alleged 17-Year-Old Rape Victim Being Held Behind Bars Before Trial?

An alleged 17-year-old rape victim is behind bars. She’s being held in juvenile custody and a judge is keeping her locked up to make sure she appears for the trial of her accused rapist, Frank William Rackley, who has a 20-year criminal history and who prosecutors believe may be a serial rapist.

Criminal Defense Attorney Chip Merlin said that while the DA needs this teen’s testimony, “the problem here is the way they are going about it. The prosecutor is making the victim of a criminal case, a juvenile, a victim again, a second time, by placing her in jail while the accused is going scot free right now.” Merlin suggested that there are other ways the prosecutor could have made sure that the victim showed up at the trial, including the use of an ankle bracelet.

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The American Spring Comes To UCLA

It is only the first week of April, but the American Spring is in full bloom.

You could feel it in the energy of the 7000+ people who gathered at a stadium on the UCLA campus a few nights ago to see a candidate for president who offers a radical, yet timeless vision of a society based on peaceful, voluntary interaction, rather than coercion and force. At 76, Ron Paul has become a hero to a generation of college students, and at rallies like this one you can almost see his ideas rushing forward – like his vast crowd of supporters pouring in through the stadium doors – to a philosophical tipping point that might be closer than we realize.

Not that you would know it from the Republican/Democrat establishment or the dinosaurs of the old network and cable media. Lately, their voices have been united in a call for the primary race to wrap up so we can get down to making the crucial choice between Obamacare and Romneycare. Whose version of the individual mandate will win? Can anyone really tell the difference anyway?

While most of the old media stayed away from the UCLA rally, there was at least one exception. Wandering through the crowd, perhaps bewildered by scenes that didn't fit his network's narrative of the American political climate, an unassuming man carried an oversized camera with a Fox News logo towards a cluster of trees. Suddenly, it became clear that well over a thousand people remained outside the stadium, unable to enter the 5,800 seat venue that was filled to capacity. Dozens of them had climbed into the trees with hopes of catching a glimpse of their hero, barely discernible in the distance. Clearly, this contradicted the Fox News story from the same day that declared "the Ron Paul 'revolution' has suddenly gotten very quiet."

Far from becoming "very quiet," Ron Paul has spoken before larger and larger crowds in recent weeks. The night before his UCLA appearance, he drew over 6,000 people to Cal State Chico. In Los Angeles, volunteers pack the LA Liberty Headquarters on Abbot Kinney Boulevard every day, making hundreds of calls each to potential voters. Reports are trickling out of caucus states, where battles for delegates continue to rage long after CNN and Fox went home; large numbers of Ron Paul supporters are winning election to delegate slates, putting them in position to be a powerful force in Tampa if there is a brokered convention this August.

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House Committee Passes Expanded Gambling Bill

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - The House of Delegates is set to consider a bill that could bring table games and sixth casino to Maryland.

Members of the Ways and Means Committee voted Monday to approve a stripped-down version of a Senate bill.

The measure, which would require statewide voter approval, would prohibit the state tax on slot machines from exceeding 60 percent and require the state hire a consultant to study the impact of gaming in Prince George's on existing slots parlors.

FRIENDS OF RAM FOOTBALL BINGO

FRIENDS OF RAM FOOTBALL
Present
Longaberger, Vera Bradley & Pampered Chef Bingo
Benefits Parkside High School Football Team

Saturday, April 14, 2012
Salisbury Moose Lodge
Snow Hill Road

Our Sponsors:
Absolute Transport, Inc.
Hales Farms, Inc.
Wilfre Co. Inc.

Doors open at 4:30 pm. Games begin at 6:00 pm.
$20 Advance tickets/ $25 at the Door

All items are filled! Door Prizes! Chinese Auction!
Food will be available for purchase.

Phone 443-880-0688 or 410-726-9180
For tickets or more information!

Friends of Ram Football is in no way affiliated with Longaberger®, Vera Bradley© or
Pampered Chef®

Dallas Homeowner Shoots, Kills 14-Year-Old Intruder

DALLAS — Two teenagers are in custody and a third is dead after an attempted break-in in southeast Dallas on Monday morning.

Police said the suspects were betting on entering an empty house — not facing an armed homeowner.

Investigators said the three young people rang the front doorbell of Lee Cobler's home in the 7300 block of Vallejo Drive. When no one answered, they went around the back and started trying to kick the door in.

But Cobler, 51, was at home with an adult son. The son was on the phone with 911 when police said Cobler opened fire on the intruders, killing 14-year-old Luis Avila, a student at Hood Middle School.

PEDESTRIAN STRUCK ON COASTAL HIGHWAY

On April 7, 2012, at approximately 5:45 p.m., Ocean City police responded to the area of 81st Street and Coastal Highway for a vehicle collision involving a pedestrian. The pedestrian, a 47-year-old man from Lititz, PA, was attempting to cross Coastal Highway from east to west, when he was struck by a northbound vehicle.

The pedestrian, who was not in a crosswalk at the time of the collision, was taken by Maryland State Police helicopter to Peninsula Regional Medical Center for non-life threatening injuries. The driver of the vehicle, who police learned was driving with a suspended and revoked license, was identified as John Edward Cropper, 47, of Ocean City.

Cropper was arrested and charged with operating a motor vehicle on a revoked license. He was seen by an Ocean City District Court Commissioner and released on his own personal recognizance. Currently no charges have been filed against the pedestrian; however, the investigation is on-going.

The Ocean City Police Department is reminding citizens to use marked crosswalks while crossing the street. Pedestrians should not take unnecessary risks crossing busy streets against traffic lights. In addition, pedestrians are encouraged to make eye contact with drivers and continue to watch for traffic the entire time you are in the crosswalk. Motorists should also be extremely vigilant while driving, keeping constantly aware of pedestrians, bicycles, mopeds and scooters.

FIRST LADY KATIE O’MALLEY TO HOST “BULLY” FILM PREMIERE

First Lady to join U.S. Department of Education, renowned author and bullying expert Rosalind Wiseman, students, parents, educators and administrators for premiere screening and town hall discussion

ANNAPOLIS, MD (April 10, 2012) –On Thursday, April 12th, at 7:00 p.m., Governor and First Lady O’Malley will join Acting Director of the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Safe and Healthy Students David Esquith, renowned author and bullying expert Rosalind Wiseman, students, parents, educators and administrators for a premiere screening of the film “Bully” followed by a town hall discussion on the effects of bullying in Maryland’s schools and communities.

Though Maryland is the seventh state to enact an anti-bullying law that protects all students, there are still many instances of bullying throughout our communities and schools, and too many of them go unreported. The Administration is committed to improving reporting systems, and educating Marylanders about the effects of bullying.

Every year, the First Lady partners with the Maryland State Department of Education to declare Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week in May to encourage schools across the State to engage students in events to stress non-tolerance towards bullying. The Governor and First Lady have partnered with Facebook and Time Warner’s Cartoon Network to encourage Maryland to speak up about bullying. The First Lady also recorded a video for the It Gets Better campaign to give hope to LGBT youth and other young people facing bullying and harassment.

Rt 50 Truck Fire - Parsonsburg

A pick up truck fire along route 50 eastbound lane near Parsonsburg. Today at around 2:30pm. From Lee Cannon - Fenwick Island, DE

Can't Come Soon Enough

Warren Buffett, in a recent interview with CNBC, offers one of the best quotes about the debt ceiling:

"I could end the deficit in 5 minutes," he told CNBC. "You just pass a law that says that anytime there is a deficit of more than 3% of GDP, all sitting members of Congress are ineligible for re-election.

Race Wars Part II: Beck Explains How the Left is Co-Opting Martin Luther King While Fanning the Flames of Racism

Earlier on Monday, The Blaze uncovered the shocking statistics about black-on-black crime, revealing that more African Americans are killed every year at the hands of other African Americans than U.S. military personnel have died in a decade of armed conflict in Iraq and Afghanistan.

I wrote that a 2005 special report released by the Department of Justice Statistics Bureau, reveals that approximately 8,000 – 9,000 African Americans are murdered annually in the United States. This chilling figure is accompanied by another equally sobering fact, that 93% of these murders are in fact perpetrated by other blacks. The analysis, supported by FBI records, finds that in 2005 alone, for example, African Americans accounted for 49% of all homicide victims in the US — again, almost exclusively at the hands of other African Americans.

To put these number in perspective, recall that over 6,400 U.S. service men and women have been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan combined over the course of a decade-long war fought in those nations. During the Vietnam War, which lasted nearly 13 years, some 58,000 Americans were killed — nearly 13 percent of whom were African American.

Something Wicked This Way Comes

Perhaps it's like shouting an alarm, unheard above the engine noise of two trains on a collision course. Or, screaming helplessly as a car slips its brakes and rolls toward a toddler playing at the bottom of the driveway.

It is gruesome imagery and I apologize for invoking it. But if anything, it may be inadequate to the prospect before us.

One only has to ask, "What is heading our way?"

Headline:

The Department Of Homeland Security Is Buying 450 Million New Bullets

And don't kid yourself; they're not for target practice. It's .40 caliber ammunition, hollow point rounds that promise "optimum penetration for terminal performance." The department also has a bid out for up to 175 million rounds of .223 caliber ammunition.

This isn't the flipping army, you know. This is an internal national police force, a department that didn't even exist 10 years ago.

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It Is Absolutely Time To Recall Two Council Members

Look, I'm not kidding around when I make the statement, these two need to be recalled. We have two City Council Members who are not only clueless, they are living off the dole of the taxpayers and being led around by the Mayor doing exactly what he instructs them to do.

In the mean time, Laura Mitchell is spending the majority of her time, (believe it or not) in Annapolis. Now, this woman can recite ALL of the bills being passed in Annapolis but comes back to Salisbury stating she hasn't had enough time for this or that. Well no crap, Laura. Start spending time where you belong and STOP pestering people in the general assembly or the MML where members, (quite frankly) are sick and tired of her presence, especially since she doesn't even belong there.

The citizens of Salisbury are sick and tired of nothing getting done because these two clueless puppets refuse to do what they are paid to do and quite frankly they need to be recalled and two productive members need to replace them.

Let's take the most recent attorney funding issue from last night as an example of why these two need to be recalled.

If you take the AVERAGE attorney expenses over the past SEVEN years it comes to $236,000.00. The Council purposely under budgeted this year, knowing they would have to meet again to discuss legal fees during the year. Last night the Administration brought forth a budget amendment ordinance for consideration of passage by the Council. That amendment represented (around $70,000.00) to bring them to a TOTAL for the year of $240,000.00. Mind you, this is a $4,000.00 increase above the average but some years are higher and some years are lower.

In order to get through the current fiscal year they need the $70,000.00 and a majority council vote to do so. Because Laura Mitchell and Shanie Shields seem to be CLUELESS they only agreed to move forward with $30,000.00, which only gets them through February and March, not even enough to make them CURRENT! At first they voted down the amendment and left the City with NO legal funding at all.

Now, you cannot run a City without an attorney, that's a fact. However, because the Mayor, Laura Mitchell and Shanie Shields are so pissed off that the City changed legal council, this is their way to retaliate. It has to be the most childish behavior I have ever seen. BUSINESS MUST GET DONE, yet these three will act like babies out of spite and do everything to harm others along the way.

I have sat back and listened to both sides of the City's business and quite frankly I have to be very honest with you, both sides can be ridiculous at times. Call it passion, call it retaliation, call it ignorance or even immature, I am personally sick and tired of the ridiculous behavior of a special group of individuals stirring the pot because they're not getting their way ALL the time.

For far too many years we have watched the former Mayor Barrie Tilghman claim she was running to get rid of the good old boys in Salisbury, all of which was a complete load of crap. That administration ran on making claims they wanted the bickering to end, yet they created more fights and arguments than ever before.

Today it is the current Mayor Ireton who quite frankly acts like a 12 year old child not getting HER way. It would also seem that Laura Mitchell has picked up the torch in the bickering department. I have been asked many times to please come up with positive things for Salisbury. While I'd love to agree, come on now Folks, enough is enough! The City needs $70,000.00 to finish its legal business for the year. STOP playing games, STOP grandstanding and START spending some time OUTSIDE of Annapolis and do what you're being paid to do.

I find it absolutely amazing that three council members understand 100% of what is going on in the City. I find it amazing that all of this is discussed in Work Sessions well before the formal Council Meeting, yet two council members always seem to be clueless on a regular basis.

Do your damn homework and do what we are paying you to do or simply step down and let others who care about the City's business do what you are clearly not capable of doing. To Laura and Shanie, they are more interested in an Obama Re-Election than they are anything that is currently going on in the City.

If it wasn't clear before, it's certainly clear now, the two of them are doing everything in their powers to stop the City's business from getting done. These two need to go, along with the Mayor.

New Posts to fall below.

Department of Justice Must Prosecute Palestinian 'Oprah'

Meet the Hamas version of Oprah. Her name is Ahlam Tamimi, and she is the terrorist responsible for the 2001 suicide bomber attack at the Sbarro restaurant in Jerusalem that killed 15 people and injured another 132. Among the American victims of this despicable act – Judith Greenbaum and Malka Roth, who were both killed; and David Danzig, Matthew Gordon, Joanne Nachenberg, and Sara Nachenberg, all of whom were injured. Malka Roth was only fifteen years old, one of eight children killed in the bombing.

Tamimi didn’t realize, at the time, that she had killed eight children until after she was imprisoned in an Israeli jail; when an interviewer told her the true body count, she couldn’t wipe the smile off of her face.

Rep. Morgan Griffith Says Virginia Did Not Hold The First Colonial Witch Trial

U.S. Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-9th, was among a handful of Virginia congressmen who voted against a resolution earlier this month that proclaimed Salem, Mass., as the birthplace of the National Guard.

Griffith insisted Virginia organized a militia in 1624 -- five years before Massachusetts. He noted Virginia was the first English settlement in North America and, in an interview with The Washington Times, good-naturedly accused Massachusetts of having "first colony envy." Then, in a TV interview, he rekindled a deadly flame in the history of Salem, Mass.

"On most things except witch trials, Virginia will always have been first," Griffith, told WSLS-TV10 in Roanoke on April 3.

We’re sorry to say that we can’t resolve which state is the birthplace of the National Guard. Florida also lays claim to that title, saying an organized militia was created a few years after St. Augustine was settled in 1565.

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‘Race Wars’ Part 1: The Shocking Data on Black-on-Black Crime

Black-on-black crime is a sensitive subject in this increasingly polarized nation. While covered in academia and occasionally addressed by talking heads on television, some believe it rarely, if ever, receives the type and depth of attention it deserves. Instead, critics argue that this national tragedy is usually swept under the rug by powerful interest groups and individuals more concerned with elevating their own racially-driven agendas than addressing the real issues at hand. The Trayvon Martin case is only the most recent example of this grim hypocrisy.

Indeed, statistics support a very different narrative than the one usually offered by “race hustlers,” as Pastor C.L. Bryant calls them, who routinely portray an America where members of the black community are selectively targeted and brutalized by white racists.

A 2007 special report released by the Bureau of Justice Statistics, reveals that approximately 8,000 — and, in certain years, as many as 9,000 African Americans are murdered annually in the United States. This chilling figure is accompanied by another equally sobering fact, that 93% of these murders are in fact perpetrated by other blacks. The analysis, supported by FBI records, finds that in 2005 alone, for example, African Americans accounted for 49% of all homicide victims in the US — again, almost exclusively at the hands of other African Americans.

BREAKING NEWS: Santorum Suspends Campaign

Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum is suspending his campaign, Fox News confirms. Watch Santorum press conference at 2 p.m. ET.

DUVAFILES REDUX - PART 2

We recently ran one of Bill Duvall's memorable "Firehouse Follies" comments, posted on his blog during the summer of 2004, dealing with "the efforts of the Firehouse No. 2 volunteers to force the City of Salisbury to cede control of [their] operations." In that episode he put the spotlight on the shenanigan being orchestrated by Harold "the Blade" Scott, John "Dr. Doorag" Bartkovich and Norman Conway. The comment covered a meeting of the City Council, which shortly thereafter reached a compromise deal with the rebels at Station 2 that resulted in this comment in the "Transchoptankia Gazette," a/k/a Duvafiles:

AUGUST 11, 2004
FIREHOUSE FOLLIES CH. V

Yesterday's story concerning the Salisbury City Council's approval of amendments to the City Fire Code is full of hints concerning what the real issue is between the secessionist members of the Doorag Sandbox and the Czarina; i.e. money.

The secessionists are accustomed to receiving no questions asked handouts from the County Council. Like other Volunteer Fire Companies in the County, they are not required to account for the handling of these funds, to provide the most elementary level of assurances that the funds have been expended for public purposes, or otherwise adhere to basic accounting and public finance standards.

The new City Code requirements mandate, among other things, that safeguards be instituted to assure that public funds allocated for fire and emergency services actually be used for those purposes. When a non secessionist Volunteer is quoted as saying "It's not their money, it's the taxpayers. You are not supposed to be out there spending that money on fancy new barbecue grills, lawsuits or other personal gains", reasonable people perk up, and ask "Hey, what is going on here?" We know about the lawsuits, the financing of which does indeed appear to be improper. Does the problem run deeper?

The most scandalous aspect of this whole bizarre situation is the County Council's absolute refusal to even contemplate audits of volunteer fire companies. Usually, the most effective way to get local government off dead center is to point out that someone else is already doing what is being proposed. In this case, that doesn't work. Other Counties routinely require volunteer fire company audits.

The secessionists apparently calculate that they can find sanctuary in the County, where they seek creation of a new fire district for themselves. Given the fact that they only have six actual volunteer firefighters ( as opposed to old geezers), in a rational world it would be unfathomable that they would get that authority. However, a prudent man, knowing what the public knows ( to say nothing of the rest of it), would not bet against them.

If the County thinks it has a big lawsuit on its hands over its mismanagement of the Detention Center, wait for the fallout over this developing fiasco. Suffice it to say that if I were a member of this County Council, my calculation would be that there is not enough governmental immunity under God's sun to make continued service tolerable, and my resignation would be hand delivered to the Chauffeur In Chief, copy to Svengali, in front of at least two independent witnesses of impeccable veracity, before sundown.

WGD

The "Doorag sandbox" is a jibe at Bartkovich's notorious headgear at PRMC; "the Czarina" is Barrie Tilghman. The "Chauffeur-in-Chief" is then Assistant County Administrator, Ted Shea, whose boss at that time, Matthew Creamer, is "Svengali." Duvall's use of codenames to lampoon local "leaders" was brilliant – his moniker for Mike Dunn ("Howdy Doody," strings pulled by the Czarina, of course) is priceless.

As Bill often reminded his readers about the events and matters he reported: "I didn't make this up."

GOP Lawmaker Calls for Change to How Government Measures Unemployment

A Republican lawmaker is intensifying his push for legislation that would change how the government measures the unemployment rate.

Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.) intends to press GOP leaders to move his bill to include the number of individuals who gave up looking for work in the percentage of jobless claims.

WCSO Press Releases 4-10-12

Incident: Stolen Registration Plates / Resisting Arrest
Date of Incident: 7 April 2012
Location: Salisbury Blvd. at College Avenue, Salisbury, MD
Suspect: Alexander M. Jones, 19, Aberdeen, MD

Narrative: On 7 April 2012 at 2:21 AM, a deputy from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office stopped a vehicle operated by Alexander Jones for an equipment violation. During the traffic stop, Jones informed the deputy that Jones did not have the registration card for his vehicle. The deputy soon discovered that the tags on the vehicle that Jones was driving had been reported stolen in Harford County, MD. The
deputy attempted to arrest Jones for the stolen tags; instead Jones pulled away from the deputy and attempted to flee on foot. The deputy chased Jones and a struggle ensued to take Jones into custody, during which Jones had to be physically subdued.

The deputy transported Jones to the Central Booking Unit where he was processed and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner. After an initial appearance, Jones was detained by the Commissioner in lieu of $40,000.00 bond.

Charges: Theft
Resisting Arrest
Assault 2nd Degree
Disorderly Conduct
Hinder and Obstruct

Incident: Weapon
Date of Incident: 8 April 2012
Location: 700 block of Richmond Ave., Salisbury, MD
Suspect: Tahir Thomas, 25, Salisbury, MD

Narrative: On 8 April 2012 at 3:44 AM, a deputy from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office stopped a vehicle on West Road for a registration violation. Upon approach to the vehicle, the deputy saw the operator, later identified as Tahir Thomas, crouched in a position between the seats. The deputy observed what he recognized as a rifle through the window and managed to safely exit Thomas from the vehicle.

The deputy recovered the rifle and found it to be a loaded .22 with a chambered round in the firing position. The deputy also observed that the serial number on the rifle had been partially obliterated in an attempt to make it unidentifiable.

The deputy arrested Thomas and transported him to the Central Booking Unit where he was processed and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner. After an initial appearance, the Commissioner detained Thomas in the Detention Center in lieu of $25,000.00 bond.

Charges: Concealed Weapon
Deface Manufacturer Serial Number on a firearm

Incident: DUI
Date of Incident: 7 April 2012
Location: South Salisbury Blvd. Salisbury, MD
Suspect: Victoria E. Clayton, 18, Sharptown, MD

Narrative: On 7 April 2012 at about 1:12 AM a deputy from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle for exceeding the posted speed limit. The driver of the vehicle was identified as Victoria E. Clayton. During the investigation, the deputy detected an odor of alcohol on Clayton’s breath. Field sobriety tests were conducted which led to Clayton being placed under arrest.

Clayton declined a breath test. Clayton was later released with the issuance of citations.

Charges: Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol

Incident: DUI
Date of Incident: 8 April 2012
Location: South Salisbury Blvd. Salisbury, MD
Suspect: Pierre A. Justice, 31, Temperanceville, VA

Narrative: On 8 April 2012 at about 2:47 AM a deputy from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle for crossing the center line. The driver of the vehicle was identified as Pierre A. Justice. During the investigation, the deputy detected an odor of alcohol on Justice’s breath.

Field sobriety tests were conducted which led to Justice being placed under arrest. Justice declined a breath test. Justice was later released with the issuance of citations.

Charges: Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol

Incident: Possession of CDS
Date of Incident: 7 April 2012
Location: Powellville Road Willards, MD
Suspect: Daniel R. Shea, 21, Chance, MD

Narrative: On 7 April 2012 a deputy from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle for an equipment and traffic violation. Upon approaching the vehicle the deputy detected a strong odor of marihuana emanating from the vehicles interior. During the ensuing investigation, the deputy located a small baggie containing suspected cocaine in the pants pocket of the suspect, Daniel Shea. Shea was placed under arrest.

The deputy transported Shea to the Central Booking Unit where he was processed and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner. After an initial appearance, the Commissioner released Shea on his own recognizance.

Charges: Possession of Cocaine

See the Luxury Doomsday Prepper Shelters Being Built Into an Abandoned KS Missile Silo

As uncertainty has gripped global economic and political structures, “preppers” have tasked themselves with bracing for potential calamity and chaos. We’ve already told you about these individuals who are stocking up on food, guns, water and other items. Now, in Kansas, preppers are also building super-protective luxury condos into the shaft of an abandoned missile silo.

According to AFP, four buyers have already put a total of $7 million down for these emergency homes that will protect them if and when disaster hits. The developer, Larry Hall, plans to create even more housing in other Cold War-era storage units when this first prepper haven fills up.

Bill Cosby Breaks Silence On Trayvon Martin

Bill Cosby has weighed in on the Trayvon Martin case.

The famed comedian told the Washington Times that neighborhood watch volunteers like George Zimmerman, who shot and killed the unarmed black teenager, should not be allowed to carry guns.

"We've got to get the gun out of the hands of people who are supposed to be on neighborhood watch," Cosby said in his first public remarks about the case, published today.

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It's In The Numbers, But Who Do You Trust?

President Obama promised in 2009 that 'I will not sign a plan that adds one dime to our deficits' — but a new study being criticized by the White House says that's exactly what ObamaCare will do.

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March Notes From The Wicomico County Board Of Education

These Board Notes provide an informal summary of business conducted at recent meetings of the Wicomico County Board of Education. Notes are provided for the March 13 Board meeting first, followed by summaries of the Board work sessions held March 6 and 27.

The Board of Education at its March 13 monthly meeting:

Fiscal Year 2012-13 Proposed Consolidated Current Expense Budget

Approved the proposed Fiscal Year 2012-2013 Consolidated Current Expense Budget, for delivery to the County Executive by March 15. The approved proposed budget is posted at www.wcboe.org; click on the Budget box.

A number of budget hearings, input sessions and work sessions will occur in the coming months, prior to the adoption of a final budget by June 30 for the fiscal year that will begin on July 1. The County Executive has scheduled community forums on the county’s FY 2013 economic outlook for March 28, Wicomico Youth & Civic Center Midway Room; March 29, Hebron Volunteer Fire Department; and April 2, Pittsville Volunteer Fire Department, all at 7 p.m. The Board will have its second public budget hearing on May 24.

On March 13, the Board approved the Proposed Consolidated Current Expense Budget of $172,568,018. The unrestricted portion of the budget, referred to as the general fund operating budget, totals $160,199,120. The Board has requested an additional two (2%) percent in general fund operating aid from the County. The additional 2% equals $723,938 above last year’s appropriation of $36.2 million. This additional amount will more than cover the maintenance of effort (MOE) amount of $206,108 required under state law.

The proposed FY 2012-13 general fund operating budget revenues are projected to increase by $4,425,287. This increase is the result of netting:

-a 2% increase requested from the county, $723,938
-an increase in other local revenue of $164,280, which includes new revenue enhancements
-an increase of $4.9 million in state aid as recommended in the governor’s budget submitted to the legislature in January. This large increase in state aid is driven by our modest increase in student enrollment and a decrease in our county’s wealth; both variables are key drivers of the Thornton state aid to education formulas. The governor’s budget reflects a 1% increase in the “target per pupil foundation amount,” an increase that has not been funded since FY 2008. It is important to note that much is undecided about state’s budget. With discussions ongoing about the pension pushback, MOE requirements and other legislation, the governor’s proposed budget is likely to be modified.

-a loss of one-time funds, which used to balance our FY 2011-12 budget and will no longer be available. This includes $1 million from the School Construction Savings Fund and a $4 million fund balance.

-$3.3 million in one-time federal dollars from the Education Jobs Fund, which must be fully obligated by Sept. 30, 2012. This $3.3 million can only be used by the Board (according to federal law) to pay school based salaries and fringe benefits.}

The Board is projecting $6,104,660 of additional costs to operate existing programs and facilities for FY 2012-13:

-the lion’s share of this increase ($2.4 million) is attributable to fixed charges such as health insurance, workers compensation insurance and property and liability insurance
-$1.6 million for recruitment and retention of a highly qualified workforce. The Board is engaged in ongoing negotiations with its employee bargaining units.
-$770,200 is attributable to assuming costs previously funded by federal grant funds that are no longer available
-$571,000 increase as part of our tuition exchange contract with the Delmar (DE) School District
-$155,000 in operation and maintenance costs
-$97,000 for emergency environmental cleanup costs
-$170,000 for additional costs related to our bus transportation program including escalating fuel costs

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Consumer Bureau Plans Overhaul of Mortgage Industry

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is looking to overhaul the mortgage servicing industry, arguing that the problem-plagued sector is unaccountable and opaque.

The CFPB announced Monday that it was mulling rules to reform that industry, which has been hotly criticized because as foreclosures mounted, so too did evidence of shoddy business practices.

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National Prescription Drug Take Back Day

April 28, 2012
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has scheduled another National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day which will take place on Saturday, April 28, 2012, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. This is a great opportunity for those who missed the previous events, or who have subsequently accumulated unwanted, unused prescription drugs, to safely dispose of those medications.

Americans that participated in the DEA’s third National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on October 29, 2011, turned in more than 377,086 pounds (188.5 tons) of unwanted or expired medications for safe and proper disposal at the 5,327 take-back sites that were available in all 50 states and U.S. territories. When the results of the three prior Take-Back Days are combined, the DEA, and its state, local, and tribal law-enforcement and community partners have removed 995,185 pounds (498.5 tons) of medication from circulation in the past 13 months.

“The amount of prescription drugs turned in by the American public during the past three Take-Back Day events speaks volumes about the need to develop a convenient way to rid homes of unwanted or expired prescription drugs,” said DEA Administrator Michele M. Leonhart. “DEA remains hard at work to establish just such a drug disposal process, and will continue to offer take-back opportunities until the proper regulations are in place.”

“With the continued support and hard work of our more than 3,945 state, local, and tribal law enforcement and community partners, these three events have dramatically reduced the risk of prescription drug diversion and abuse, and increased awareness of this critical public health issue,” said Leonhart.

FRUITLAND POLICE DEPARTMENT

APPLE PHARMACY
OUTSIDE THE STORE 404 N. FRUITLAND BLVD. SALISBURY MD, 21801

WICOMICO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE WICOMICO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE 401 NAYLOR MILL ROAD SALISBURY MD, 21801

SALISBURY POLICE DEPARTMENT SALISBURY POLICE DEPARTMENT 699 WEST SALISBURY PARKWAY SALISBURY MD, 21801

WICOMICO COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
SALISBURY FESTIVAL NORTH DIVSION STREET AND EAST MAIN STREET SALISBURY MD, 21801

Car Chase Ends In Capitol Pool

Police in D.C. saw something quite unusual at 3:30 in the morning.

A car crashed into the Reflecting Pool near the Capitol.

Officers tried to pull the car over, but the driver sped off.

The officers lost sight of the car for a short while, but soon found it in the pool in Lower Senate Park.

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Newborn Girl Rescued From Toilet Pit In China

A newborn girl who fell into a toilet pit when her mother gave birth in a public bathroom is in good condition, according to media reports in China.

Cai Qulin, 36, went into labor early on Saturday afternoon, nine days ahead of her due date, and said she urgently needed to use the bathroom before going to the hospital in Beijing, the English-language China Daily reported.

Unexpectedly, the child was born as Qulin squatted at the public toilet, and the infant girl fell into the pit, it said.

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Today's Fill In The Blank 4-10-12

The best politician to ever serve the public was ____.

Baywater Animal Rescue Hosts Community Baby Shower

No one attending this baby shower needs to worry about constructing frilly bouquets from used ribbons or whether their gift is the absolute cutest. This baby shower is for puppies and kittens, so all eyes will be on the irresistible fur balls, and the cuteness quotient will already be through the roof.

The Baby Shower takes place Saturday April 21, from 1-3 PM at Baywater Animal Rescue’s shelter - 4930 Bucktown Rd. Cambridge. People are asked to stop in during the event. No appointments or reservations are needed.

Litters full of puppies and kittens have already started arriving at Baywater Animal Rescue (formerly Dorchester Humane Society). Baywater has its hands full and needs the public’s help to make sure it’s prepared for all of its babies’ needs. They are asking people to attend its baby shower or volunteer to be a foster home. Refreshments will be served and door prizes given out.

Attendees are asked to bring a gift for a puppy or kitten. Wrapping is not necessary. Besides foster homes, the youngsters need canned kitten and puppy food, kitten milk replacer, toys, towels and blankets. Baywater also needs paper towels, bleach, and dishwashing detergent. Donations will also be gladly accepted. Please make checks payable to Baywater Animal Rescue or donate on-line www.baywateranimalrescue.org.

Each year, about 25 million puppies and kittens are born in the U.S., far exceeding the number of available homes and overcrowding our nation’s shelter system, according to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. Baywater encourages everyone to spay/neuter their pets.

Today's Advertiser Of The Day 4-10-12

GOVERNOR O’MALLEY, SENATE PRESIDENT MILLER, SPEAKER BUSCH HOLD FIRST BILL SIGNING OF 2012 LEGISLATIVE SESSION

Governor Signs Maintenance Of Effort bill To Protect Public Education, Health Disparities Legislation To Improve Quality Of Life

ANNAPOLIS, MD (April 10, 2012) – Governor Martin O’Malley today joined Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr., House Speaker Michael E. Busch, and Lieutenant Governor Anthony G. Brown to sign legislation to protect public education and improve Marylanders’ quality of life. The Governor signed into law the Maintenance of Effort (MOE) bill and the Maryland Health Improvement and Disparities Reduction Act of 2012.

“Today, we’re here to focus on a number of areas where we were able to make significant progress for job creation, education and our quality of life,” said Governor O’Malley. “Together, we are strengthening our commitment to public education because to move forward, we must create jobs and expand opportunity – and education is the best tool we have. Progress is a choice, job creation is a choice, better schools are a choice; and in our One Maryland we should choose to move forward together.”

With a balanced approach to create jobs, improve public education, and protect Marylanders’ quality of life, the Administration proposed $800 million in cuts to bring the six-year total to $7.5 billion- the largest amount cut in Maryland’s history. These cuts, balanced with modern investments, would create jobs and move Maryland forward. The Administration’s capital budget will create, support and leverage approximately 50,000 jobs building and re-building modern schools, modern roads, modern transit, and modern clean water infrastructure.

The legislation passed by the General Assembly and signed today works to reform the MOE system to protect investments in public education.

Since taking office, the O’Malley-Brown Administration has continued its commitment to quality public education, making strategic and record investments in K-12 education even in tough times. This year’s $373 million investment in school construction dollars to build, renovate and "green" Maryland's schools brings the Administration’s six-year total to $2 billion and supports an estimated 11,000 jobs for Maryland families. For four years in a row, Maryland’s public schools have been certified as number-one in the nation by Education Week magazine. Maryland has also led the nation in the percentage of graduating seniors that had taken and passed an AP exam according to the College Board, now for four years in a row. The Administration also froze tuition at public colleges and universities for four consecutive years, and has held tuition increases to just three percent, making the dream of a college education more affordable for more families. The Administration has set a strategic goal to Improve Student Achievement and School, College, and Career Readiness in Maryland by 25 percent by the end of 2015.

Under the leadership of Lt. Governor Brown, the Maryland Health Improvement and Disparities Reduction Act of 2012 will create a series of geographically based Health Enterprise Zones (HEZs) in underserved communities impacted by health disparities. Within a designated zone, incentives would be provided to eligible primary care practitioners and community-based organizations or local health departments to expand and improve access to care, improve health, and reduce disparities.

"With the signing of our Health Improvement and Disparities Reductions Act, Maryland is once again leading the way by putting into place an innovative approach for improving health in our most vulnerable communities,” said Lt. Governor Brown. “Our Health Enterprise Zones program will help saturate underserved communities with primary care providers and health care services in order to ensure that every Marylander, of every race, ethnicity and nationality, in every part of our State, has the opportunity to live a healthy, productive life."

Lt. Governor Brown leads the O’Malley-Brown Administration’s efforts to reduce costs, expand access, and improve the quality of health care for all Marylanders. Under the leadership of Governor O’Malley and Lt. Governor Brown, Maryland has implemented reforms that have expanded health coverage to over 310,000 Marylanders (half of them children) and put the State in position to maximize the federal Affordable Care Act (ACA).

The US Recorded Its Warmest March In History And All We Got Was This Timelapse Video

NOAA just released confirmation that the first quarter of 2012 was the warmest on record. The fact that we rely on 'seasonal adjustments' in macro data that are so critical in our seeming belief in the recovery of the US economy (and its extrapolation into how many iPads will be bought next month) when the temperature is 20% hotter than average is simply incredible.

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Police: Public Sex Act in Pentagon City Mall, Suspects Flee

WASHINGTON - Police were called to a bathroom at the Pentagon City mall Thursday morning after a man was reportedly masturbating in public view.

A security manager of a department store called police after he says he saw a 5 foot 9 inch black man in his late 20s performing the sex act in a third floor bathroom while looking at another man in a bathroom stall, Arlington Now reports.

There were three men total in the restroom at the time, and police tell Arlington Now they met deliberately for sexual purposes.

Prosecutors Defend Search In Earl Bradley Case

WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) -- Prosecutors are defending a police search that led to the conviction of a former Delaware pediatrician on multiple counts of raping young patients.

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Today's Survey Question 4-10-12

Is George Zimmerman innocent or guilty of murder?

General Assembly Members On An Unsettled Finish

Duane Keenan talked to Speaker of the House Mike Busch and different members of the legislature about the abrupt ending of this year's legislative session and what may come next.

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O'Malley Defeated on Gas Tax, Wind Energy

ANNAPOLIS -- Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley lost two of his biggest legislative battles this year -- his push for a gas tax and a bill to require more investment in wind energy -- and the General Assembly watered down other bills.

O'Malley's proposal to add a 6 percent sales tax to the cost of gas never made it out of committee to either the House or Senate for debate. The tax would have added roughly 18-cents-per-gallon to the cost of gas once fully implemented.

The legislature also rejected, for the second year in a row, O'Malley's proposal that would require utility companies to buy more wind energy. The bill passed 88-47 in the House of Delegates but stalled in the Senate Finance Committee.

General Assembly Adjourns, Passing ‘Doomsday’ Budget Without Tax Hikes

The members of the General Assembly passed a $35.6 billion balanced budget as they were required to do by midnight Monday. But without the income tax hike they failed to enact, it is the doomsday budget that contains $512 million in additional cuts, much of it to education.

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REPORT: U.S., U.K. Selling Spy Gear to Iran and Syria, Among Other Countries

The U.S. and U.K. are reportedly selling high-tech spy gear to repressive regimes like Iran and Syria. According the U.K. publication ‘The Guardian,’ this gear can monitor phone calls, text messages, the internet and can gain control of the microphones inside cell phones.

Fox News Senior Judicial Analyst Andrew Napolitano weighed in on this report on Studio B. “This is software that is illegal in the United States for private companies to use. This is software that is illegal for the government to use, any government – state, local or federal – without a search warrant. This is going to countries to which we can’t sell corn, but we can sell software that would let them monitor or shut off the internet.”

Acme In Easton Evacuated

The Acme store in Easton has been evacuated due to a hazardous material incident.

General Assembly Approves Stormwater Fee For Nine Counties

Despite a Republican filibuster attempt in the Senate, the General Assembly successfully passed legislation that would implement a stormwater pollution fee to raise revenue to cleanup the Chesapeake Bay. Continue Reading...

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Boy, 6, Dies in Accidental Fatal Shooting in Md.

WASHINGTON - A 6-year-old boy shot and killed himself Monday after finding a loaded revolver inside his home, say Prince George's County Police.

Police say the shooting, which occurred around 2:40 p.m., appeared to be accidental.

The boy found the gun inside a bookbag belonging to a 20-year-old man who lives in the home. The man is not related to the boy, police say.

Slow down or you too will become a victim of the new speed cameras throughout Salisbury and soon Wicomico County.

The SPD doesn't seem too happy with these numbers as they have declined and people are abiding by the speed limit, DUH!

So, have you been a repeat offender, or has that simply been left over for local law enforcement and the Superintendent of school?

New Program to Offer Low-Interest Car Loans

WASHINGTON (AP) - Washington-area residents will soon be able to take advantage of a program that offers low-interest loans to working families to buy or repair used cars.

The goal of the Ways to Work program is to give poor people access to transportation that will improve their job prospects. Those who want to participate must have past credit problems and must take a financial literacy class.

WCSO Press Releases 4-10-12

Incident: DUI
Date of Incident: 6 April 2012
Location: South Salisbury Blvd. Salisbury, MD
Suspect: Sarah M. Pfundstein, 21, Crofton, MD

Narrative: On 6 April 2012 at about 3:18 AM a deputy from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle for crossing the center line and nearly causing a collision. The driver of the vehicle was identified as Sarah M. Pfundstein. During the investigation, the deputy detected an odor of alcohol on Pfundstein’s breath. Field sobriety tests were conducted which led to Pfundstein being
placed under arrest. Pfundstein declined a breath test. Pfundstein was later released with the issuance of citations.

Charges: Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol

Incident: DUI
Date of Incident: 6 April 2012
Location: East Church Street Salisbury, MD
Suspect: Darryl D. Corbin, 24, Salisbury, MD

Narrative: On 6 April 2012 at about 2:13 AM a deputy from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle which was operating without the headlights activated. The driver of the vehicle was identified as Darryl D. Corbin. During the investigation, the deputy detected an odor of alcohol on Corbin’s breath. Field sobriety tests were conducted which led to Corbin being placed under arrest.

Corbin declined a breath test. Corbin was later released with the issuance of citations.
Charges: Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol

Incident: Trespass/Theft/CDS
Date of Incident: 6 April 2012
Location: Mineola Avenue Salisbury, MD
Suspect: Briece A. Joynes, 30, Westover, MD

Narrative: On 6 April 2012, a deputy from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office responded to a reported trespassing complaint. The victim reported that the suspect, Briece A. Joynes, had entered their residence without permission. Joynes reportedly departed the residence upon request, but in doing so, stole $50.00 in cash, a plate of food and a pot containing other food. Joynes was located by deputies in the area and the plate, pot and a portion of the food was located, along with the cash. Joynes was placed under arrest. A search of Joynes incident to his arrest revealed a piece of suspected crack cocaine in his pocket.

The deputy transported Joynes to the Central Booking Unit where he was processed and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner. After an initial appearance, the Commissioner placed a $3,000 bond on Joynes.

Charges: Trespassing
Theft
Possession of CDS

Off-Duty Officer Shoots Self After Stop, Pursuit

EASTON, Md. - Maryland State Police say an off-duty Montgomery County police officer fatally shot himself after a trooper stopped him for speeding and suspicion of driving under the influence

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DelDOT Dashboard Debuts on Agency Website

Public Can Now Track Key Measures of Agency Performance Online

Dover -- Citizens interested in knowing more about the performance of the Department of Transportation (DelDOT) can now scan an online dashboard on the agency's website that measures a variety of key service indicators.

The new dashboard - accessible from the agency's home page (www.deldot.gov)- is part of Secretary Shailen Bhatt's ongoing effort to make DelDOT more understandable and transparent to those who use and pay for the state's transportation system.

The DelDOT dashboard displays statistics that measure agency success in four general areas. They are condition, customer service, performance and safety. Within each of the measurement areas are various gauges showing agency performance statewide, by agency division, by county or by mode of transportation.

"One of my goals as Secretary is to cultivate a culture at DelDOT that sets clear performance targets, shares them publically and measures our success in serving taxpayers," Bhatt said. "Creating a dashboard on our website with up-to-date information on how well we are doing as an agency is one of the ways we can be more focused in our approach to serving citizens, saving money and becoming more accountable for the job we do each day."

Examples of information to be found on the DelDOT dashboard include the following:

* As of December 2011, the percentage of bridges statewide rated in good or fair condition was 89 percent.
* 91 percent of road users felt the state's transportation system met their needs, as measured in a 2009 customer satisfaction study.
* As of March 2012, the statewide overall wait time for DMV offices was 14 minutes.
* There have been 16 traffic fatalities on Delaware roads as of March 27 of this year.

BREAKING NEWS: 3 Claim Maryland Mega Million Prize

Three Maryland office workers claim $105-million Mega Millions jackpot and ask to remain anonymous, ending mystery that involved a McDonald's worker who claimed she had winning ticket.

From Fox News

Md. Winner Claims Share of $656M Jackpot

BALTIMORE (AP) - The holder of a winning Mega Millions ticket sold in Maryland claimed a share of the record-breaking $656 million prize on Monday, but will remain anonymous, state lottery officials announced.

The winner claimed the prize at lottery headquarters with a ticket matching all six numbers: 2-4-23-38-46 and the Mega Ball, 23, said Maryland Lottery spokeswoman Carole Everett. The winner will remain anonymous, but officials will share some details at a news conference Tuesday morning, she said. Maryland does not require lottery winners to be identified.

Attention

Tuesday, April 10, 2012