Mayor Jim Ireton Gets Served Lawsuit, Throws Hissy Fit

Mayor Jim Ireton got served paperwork today and even after getting served he called me a "Delaware Blogger" in his radio interview with Bryan Russo.

Ireton throws a fit saying, do the taxpayers really have to foot the bill for this!

So much for his worries about it costing the taxpayers.

Could The Postal Service Become A Bank?

The cash-strapped Postal Service could turn a profit if it became a bank. Outside the United States, postal services get 22 percent of their revenues from personal banking services such as credit cards. But the practice ended decades ago in the U.S. Still, one professor who's studied the USPS financial problems thinks management should consider the idea. Sheldon Garon of Princeton tells Federal News Radio, the Postal Service ought to sell mutual funds and even small loans. But a Postal spokesman said the United States has enough banks already.

Obama Booed During Own Fundraiser: ‘I Understand, My Mistake’ (Updated with White House Spin)

One thing about Boston: the city loves its Red Sox baseball. The president learned that the hard way on Monday during a fundraiser.

While trying to connect with the crowd, Obama thanked the city for recently dealing one of its beloved stars — Kevin Youkilis — to his hometown Chicago White Sox. It didn’t go over well:

“Finally Boston, I just want to say, thank you for Youkalis.” The crowd booed.

“I’m just saying, he’s going to have to change the color of his socks,” the president said laughing.

“I didn’t think I was going to get any boos out here,” he said. “I should not have brought up baseball, I understand, my mistake, my mistake, you got to know your crowd.”

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ACLU to represent KKK in Ga. litter program fight

The American Civil Liberties Union will champion a Ku Klux Klan outfit's right to "adopt" a section of highway in Union County, an ACLU official said Tuesday — on the same day that key members of the KKK group acknowledged they live in a neighboring county.

Two weeks ago, the Georgia Department of Transportation rejected an application filed May 21 by Harley Hanson, who calls himself the exalted cyclops of the Georgia Realm of the International Keystone Knights of the KKK, and his wife.

In the application, Hanson said he could deliver at least six volunteers for road cleanup. He listed the group's address as a post office box in Blairsville. He didn't list any other names and has refused repeated requests by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution to say how many are in the group.

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Putting An Unfortunate Event To Rest

Bryan Russo from Coastal Connections 88.3 FM Radio has completed his rounds of interviews and will air this special segment this Friday at 12:00 noon and 8:00 PM.

It should be one hell of a show.

Jury Awards Family $55M in Medical Malpractice Suit Against Hopkins

BALTIMORE -
A Baltimore City Circuit Court jury has awarded the family of a severely brain damaged 2-year-old boy $55 million in a lawsuit that alleged Johns Hopkins Hospital violated its standards by waiting too long to give the boy's mother an emergency caesarean section.

The verdict, announced Monday, settles a lawsuit filed in February 2011 by Rebecca Fielding and Enso Martinez. The couple filed the lawsuit after their son was born in March 2010 with severe disabilities.

Enzo is just a little more than 2 years old, but because of his disabilities, his mother says, it's like caring for a 4-month-old.

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Credit Card Hackers Accused In FBI International 'Carding' Crackdown

They went by online nicknames like "Cubby," "404myth," and "JoshTheGod."

One had details of more than 50,000 stolen credit cards, authorities said. Another sold malicious software that could record victims' computer keystrokes to siphon banking information. A third sold stolen credit card data in exchange for iPads, a camera and $250.

They were among two dozen alleged hackers who shared the latest techniques in cybercrime with each other in an online forum. And for the past two years, they also shared that information with the FBI, which created the forum as part of an undercover operation dubbed "Operation Card Shop."

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Is It OK to Stop Someone From Spanking Their Kids in Public? One Minn. Man Was Nearly Run-Over For Trying

A Minnesota man allegedly came close to being run-over after trying to stop a public spanking that he thought was over the line.

“When he hit [his son] in the butt his feet were pretty much parallel to his head and they came back and hit the ground. That’s not a spanking in my book…That’s too much,” the father of three explained.

“I just assumed he would have stopped and left. I didn’t know it would escalate to anything like that at all,” Jamie Godlewski said in retrospect.

Instead, 30-year-old Justin Watson reportedly told him, “What are you going to do about it?” before running back to his car with his two sons, flooring the gas, and starting to chase Godlewski around the parking lot of a local bowling alley.

“I mean he was going so fast his tires were smoking,” Godlewski recalled.

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New Disability Regs Limit Slope of Mini Golf Holes, Require Businesses to Admit Mini Horses as Guide Animals

Although the Justice Department has extended the deadline for America’s hotels to comply with regulations regarding handicap access to swimming pools, new Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines are already being applied at miniature golf courses, driving ranges, amusement parks, shooting ranges and saunas.

Among the provisions in the "Revised ADA Standards for Accessible Design," which went into effect on March 15, is one requiring businesses to allow miniature horses on their premises as guide animals for the disabled. Another limits the height of slopes on miniature golf holes.

“The new standards, for the first time, include requirements for judicial facilities, detention and correctional facilities, and recreational facilities,” Assistant Attorney General Thomas E. Perez said during a conference in Baltimore on June 7.

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Big Brother Goes on Spanking Binge

Swatting little Johnny on the bottom to make sure he doesn’t try again to put a fork in an electrical socket soon could make mom or dad a criminal subject to the penalties of child-abuse laws in Delaware.

And an international family rights organization says it not only opposes the idea, it will be working with state organizations to try to defeat the plan.

At issue is Delaware’s Senate Bill 234, which has been approved by the Senate and now is working its way through the House.

“Senate Bill 234, sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Patricia Blevins (District 7), creates a definition of the term ‘physical injury’ in the child abuse and neglect laws to include ‘pain,’” according to a new report from the Home School Legal Defense Association.

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Obama Prepping Thousands of Lawyers For Election

President Barack Obama's campaign has recruited a legion of lawyers to be on standby for this year's election as legal disputes surrounding the voting process escalate.

Thousands of attorneys and support staffers have agreed to aid in the effort, providing a mass of legal support that appears to be unrivaled by Republicans or precedent. Obama's campaign says it is particularly concerned about the implementation of new voter ID laws across the country, the possibility of anti-fraud activists challenging legitimate voters and the handling of voter registrations in the most competitive states.

Republicans are building their own legal teams for the election. They say they're focused on preventing fraud - making sure people don't vote unless they're eligible - rather than turning away qualified voters.

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Bipartisanship: Some Democrats Will Support Contempt Charges Against Eric Holder

Now that the politically potent National Rifle Association is keeping score, some Democrats may join House Republicans if there’s a vote to hold Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt of Congress in a dispute over documents related to a the botched gun-tracking operation “Fast and Furious.”

The chief Democratic House head counter, Rep. Steny Hoyer of Maryland, declined to tell reporters how many defections he expected, but acknowledged that some in his party would consider heeding the NRA’s call for a “yes” vote.

One of those Democrats, Rep. Jim Matheson of Utah, said, “Sadly, it seems that it will take holding the attorney general in contempt to communicate that evasiveness is unacceptable. It is a vote I will support.”

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GAO: $1 Billion in Tax Credits Went to Cheats

Tax cheats were given $1.4 billion in government-backed mortgage loans under President Obama’s economic stimulus, and the government doled out at least an additional $27 million in tax credits to delinquents who took the first-time-homebuyer tax break, according to a government audit released Tuesday.

Under government rules, delinquent taxpayers are supposed to be ineligible for the mortgage insurance program unless they have reached a repayment agreement with the Internal Revenue Service. But the Federal Housing Administration didn’t have the right controls to weed out bad applications, said the Government Accountability Office, Congress‘ chief investigative arm.

That meant FHA insured $1.4 billion in mortgages for 6,327 borrowers who collectively owed $77.6 million in unpaid taxes, or an average of more than $12,000 each.

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Restaurants Showcase 'Baytriotism' to Celebrate Old Bay

Restaurants across Baltimore and Annapolis are showing their love for local favorite Old Bay this week.

The Taste of Baytriotism promotion runs through Saturday and is a way to celebrate the signature spice of Baltimore.
Find participating restaurants 
Take the Baytriotism quiz 

Participating restaurants will feature Old Bay menus that have special food items and beverages made with the spice.

The restaurant with the most innovative menu will win 70 pounds of Old Bay in honor of the more than 70 years the seasoning has been around. A panel of experts has been put together to judge the menus.

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Oreo Cookies Go Gay on Facebook

This image was posted yesterday on Facebook to the Oreo fan page, apparently by representatives of the company that makes the “world’s favorite cookie.” While the cookie depicted is not available for consumption, this decision by representatives of such an iconic snack to support gay pride has prompted (perhaps unsurprisingly) quite a high level of controversy. The Guardian reports:

While most commenters were in support of the multi-coloured equal rights cookie, others disagreed with Oreo’s tolerant stance, some even threatening a biscuit-boycott.

“This is absolutely disgusting,” opined Desean Washington. “Your attempt to ‘normalize’ the behaviour of homosexuals has cost you a customer.”

Steven Osoria was another to express displeasure with the post, which provoked such a violent response that he had decided he was “never eating an oreo ever again”.

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Should Citizens Warn Drivers?

Should volunteers stand up against these speed cameras and warn drivers so law enforcement will get a clue that citizens really don't want them?

This is becoming a growing trend across America. Citizens are finding ways of fighting back by volunteering their time. Things that make you go, hmmmmm.

The Other Executive Privilege--and Why It Doesn't Protect Eric Holder

Some Republican leaders have made the mistake of saying that President Obama’s invocation of executive privilege over Attorney General Eric Holder is an admission that the White House has been involved in Operation Fast and Furious. The reality is that there is a form of executive privilege that a president can invoke even when he is not at all involved in a situation. But that privilege will not protect Holder, so the truth will eventually come out, and Obama will pay the price.

The reason even many Washington insiders and lawyers are unaware of this second form of privilege is that it has been clearly articulated only by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, not the Supreme Court. That’s because most executive privilege fights tend to change after each election, so most battles don’t last long enough to reach the Supreme Court. But most executive privilege lawsuits are filed in D.C., so the D.C. Circuit’s decisions on this suvbject are every bit as binding as Supreme Court decisions, unless or until the Supreme Court chooses to take up this matter. 

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QUOTE OF THE DAY 6-27-12

“The Banks must be restrained, and the financial system reformed, with balance restored to the economy, before there can be any sustained growth and recovery. If the suffering becomes great enough, change will inevitably come, but it may not be orderly or as controllable as the moneyed interests often like to think.” – Jesse

Fmr. Arizona Sen. Russell Pearce: ‘9/11 Would‘ve Been Averted’ if Federal Government Enforced Immigration Law

Former Arizona State Senator Russell Pearce, who was instrumental in getting Arizona’s controversial immigration law passed, appeared on CNN’s “Starting Point” on Tuesday and told Soledad O’Brien that “9/11 would’ve been averted” if the federal government had enforced immigration law.

Pearce was reacting to the Supreme Court’s ruling on SB-1070, which resulted in three out of four provisions being declared unconstitutional but left one key component in place, the so-called “show me your papers” provision. He said he is “disappointed” the Court did not uphold all of the immigration law but reaffirmed that Arizona will continue enforcing section 2b, which allows police officers with “reasonable suspicion” to check on a person’s immigration status.

Condescendingly, O’Brien asked Pearce how police in Arizona would implement the remaining portion of the bill. “How is it going to be enforced? How’s it going to work? What does it look like? Someone’s driving in a car and they are stopped with a broken taillight – what happens?”

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STUDY: Switching To Natural Gas Adds $26 Billion To The US Economy

Replacing 1 million bbls per day of crude oil with the 6 billion cubic feet (bcf) equivalent of natural gas would generate approximately $25.6 billion of consumer surplus for the US economy over one year.

So concludes a group of energy analysts calling themselves the Yale Graduates in Energy Study Group in a recent paper.

This is how they got there (don't worry, it's pretty basic arithmetic):

Gas wellhead price of $5/mcf, multiplied by 6 to get a per bbl of oil equivalent (“boe”) of $30 of cost, the savings is $70/bbl ($100/bbl - $30/boe).
Current US consumption of crude oil is approximately 15.0 million bbls per day.
If you replace 1 million bbls per day of crude oil with the 6 billion cubic feet equivalent of natural gas annually ($70/bbl X 1 million bbls X 365 days), you get $25.6 billion.
This isn't necessarily the best news for producers. But for consumers, it doesn't get much better.

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CDC Trying Out Free AIDS Tests at Drugstores

Getting an AIDS test at the drugstore could become as common as a flu shot or blood pressure check, if a new pilot program takes off.

The $1.2 million program will offer the free rapid HIV tests at pharmacies and in-store clinics in 24 cities and rural communities, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Tuesday.

"We believe we can reach more people by making testing more accessible and reduce the stigma associated with HIV," Dr. Kevin Fenton, who oversees the agency's HIV prevention programs, said in a statement.

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So You Think You’re The Victim Of Identity Theft… Now What?

With so many purchases being made online these days -- and with more people using credit cards to buy things at retail locations -- it's surprising we don't hear about massive data breaches every day. But alas, ID theft is an all-too-frequent occurrence, so it couldn't hurt to know in advance the steps to take to minimize the damage.

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Residents Protest Cursing Ban With Profanity-Laced Rally to Prove That ‘Gov’t Is a Bully’

Some detractors in Middleborough, Massachusetts, are protesting a new law that bans public profanity — and they’re taking an interesting avenue in doing so. Rather than calmly petitioning politicians or taking other, less flagrant approaches, several dozen residents came together on Monday to host a profanity-laden protest against the new ordinance. The bylaw, which passed overwhelmingly just two weeks ago, will allow $20 tickets to be handed out for public cursing.

While some of the protesters shouted expletives during the rally, others carried posters that advertised offensive language — the same language that is likely soon-to-be-banned. The spectacle, which also attracted individuals who support the law, took place on the lawn in front of the Middleborough Town Hall.

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Banned McDonald’s Customer: I Didn’t Even Hit Employee With The Chicken Sandwich I Threw At Her

We've certainly read our fair share of stories about impromptu food fights brought on by angry customers and/or irritable employees, but usually the parties involved are somewhat contrite afterward. However, one woman in Ohio is outraged that she was banned from her area McDonald's eateries after she tossed her sandwich at a store staffer.

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The Moment an Entire Wedding Party Falls Into a Lake After Dock Collapses While Taking Pics

Weddings are meant for lasting memories, and this will certainly be one of those.

On Saturday, Eric Walber and Maegan McKee were tying the knot in Michigan. They decided to get some wedding pictures on a dock jetting out into a local lake. But as the wedding party stood there, the dock started to tilt. And that’s when it gave way:

The photographer who captured the video offers more details:

The day started out great…beautiful sunshine, gorgeous wedding party, pictures, details, everything in place. Then we headed off to the reception at Bay Pointe Inn on Gun Lake. We had a lovely dinner and were ready for dancing. But just before dancing, the bride and groom wanted a picture taken with their entire bridal party out on the dock. It was a beautiful setting for it! That is until the dock came loose! And the entire bridal party plunged into Gun Lake! The best part was that even though dresses, tuxes and cell phones might have been ruined, everyone’s spirits were not. They were all able to laugh it off and have a fantastic time. The bride changed into her rehearsal dress for the remainder of the evening

More including video HERE

Caption This Photo 6-27-12

Either You Were Involved in ‘Fast & Furious’ or You Are Asserting a Presidential Power That You Know to be Unjustified: Rep. Issa’s Scathing Letter to President Obama

Rep. Darrel Issa (R-CA), the chairman of the House oversight committee investigating the Justice Department’s ill-conceived “Fast and Furious” program responsible for the 2010 murder of U.S. Border Patrol agent Brian Terry, appears to have lost his patience with the Obama administration.

In a letter to President Barack Obama, Rep. Issa harshly criticizes the White House’s decision to assert executive privileges in order to withhold subpoenaed documents from the Government Reform and Oversight Committee.

Rep. Issa’s letter says the decision to withhold certain documents raises two very serious issues:

Either you or your most senior advisers were involved in managing Operation Fast & Furious and the fallout from it … or, you are asserting a Presidential power that you know to be unjustified solely for the purpose of further obstructing a congressional investigation.
To date, the White House has steadfastly maintained that it has not had any role in advising the Department with respect to the congressional investigation. The surprising assertion of executive privilege raised the question of whether that is still the case.

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Firefighters Reprimanded Over Facebook Comments Lose Appeals

Crew members complained about Sonic restaurant online

BALTIMORE - Four volunteer firefighters in Bel Air who were reprimanded for improper posts they put on Facebook last month have lost appeals they had made countering the disciplinary action.

WBAL-TV 11 News reported in May that a member of the Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company posted a complaint about a Sonic restaurant that was offering discounts to military members and police officers but not firefighters.

The post said, "Even when myself and a full engine crew are in turnout gear at Sonic for lunch, the manager still says, 'Only police and military get discounts.' Cool, thanks. We appreciate the support."

That was followed by a chain of comments from fellow firefighters, including some heated comments insinuating they wouldn't respond to future fire calls at the restaurant.

Fire company Chief Eddie Hopkins said the volunteers involved were either suspended, demoted or both, and all of those punishments have been upheld.

A fifth firefighter's appeal is still pending.

Source

Racism is Hot-Wired into Human Brain, US Study Indicates

The human brain is predisposed to racism because areas that detect ethnicity and those controlling emotion are tightly connected, with fear often the overwhelming thought.

The finding comes from researchers in the US who pulled together results from 17 brain-imaging studies designed to tease out the brain circuitry of race, emotion and decision-making.

Writing in the journal Nature Neuroscience, the team, led by psychologist and neuroscientist Elizabeth Phelps of New York University, claims the findings suggest it might be possible to help people manage unconscious racist behavior.

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Wicomico County States Attorney Press Releases

ANTHONY MILLS CONVICTED OF SEX ABUSE OF A MINOR AND RELATED SEX OFFENSES BY WICOMICO COUNTY JURY

On June 19, 2012, Anthony Mills, age 19, of Salisbury, Maryland was convicted of two counts of sex abuse of a minor and related sex offense charges by a Wicomico County jury. The charges against Anthony Mills arose from disclosures of sexual abuse made by two victims, ages 8 and 11, that occurred on Fairground Drive in Salisbury, Maryland. Anthony Mills faces a maximum penalty of 25 years for each count of sexual abuse of a minor, and is facing an additional period of incarceration for the other related charges. Sentencing is expected to occur within the next sixty days.

Wicomico County State’s Attorney Matthew A. Maciarello commended the Child Advocacy Center, including Child Protective Services’ Investigators and the Detective Merritt and Officer Dubas of the Salisbury City Police Department for their work in the investigation and prosecution of this case. Mr. Maciarello also thanked the citizens of Wicomico County

BEAU LAWRENCE LAYTON SENTENCED TO 8 ½ YEARS D.O.C. FOR VIOLATING HIS PROBATION

On May 5, 1998, Beau Lawrence Layton was sentenced to ten years in the custody of the Department of Corrections (D.O.C.) --with all but eighteen months suspended--for Distribution of L.S.D. On March 5, 2000, while Layton was on probation, a search warrant was executed on Layton’s residence and he was ultimately charged with Manufacturing Psilocybin (Mushrooms) and Possession of Marijuana, among other drug related charges. Layton absconded from Wicomico County in April of 2000 to the U.S. Virgin Islands. Layton lived in the Virgin Islands as a fugitive from justice until 2012.

Layton was apprehended in April of 2012 as he attempted to return to the U.S. for a family funeral. On June 26, 2012, Layton pleaded guilty to Possession of Marijuana, which, in addition to the fact that he absconded, violated his probation. The State dismissed the Manufacturing Psilocybin charges because the suspected hallucinogenic mushrooms did not test positive for the presence of a controlled dangerous substance when analyzed by the forensic chemist. Matt Maciarello asked for the Court to sentence the Defendant to the 8 ½ years that was suspended by the Judge in 1998 explaining that “probation is a privilege.” The Circuit Court judge ultimately sentenced Layton to serve 8 ½ years in the custody of the D.O.C. for Violating his Probation.

Wicomico County State’s Attorney Matthew A. Maciarello commended the Wicomico County Narcotics Task Force for their work in the investigation and prosecution of this case. Maciarello also commended Worcester County State’s Attorney Beau Oglesby who prosecuted the original L.S.D Distribution case in 1998, and who served as a resource to the office in the prosecution of this matter.

Paul Andrew Dowling Guilty of Kidnapping

On June 26, 2012, Paul Andrew Dowling, age 31, of Salisbury, Maryland, was found guilty of Kidnapping. On December 15, 2011, Dowling kidnapped a fifteen year old juvenile in the Carrolton Ave area of Salisbury, Wicomico County, Maryland. As part of the plea agreement Dowling will have to register as a tier III sex offender for life. Sentencing in this matter has been deferred pending the completion of a pre sentence investigation.

Wicomico County State’s Attorney Matthew A. Maciarello commended the Salisbury City Police and the detectives of Salisbury City Police Criminal Investigative Division, Det. Fissel and Det. Barnes for their work in the investigation and prosecution of this case. Mr. Maciarello also thanked ASA Kristen Schultz who prosecuted this case.

KAROND ANTHONY JOHNSON SENTENCED TO 8 YEARS FOR ASSAULTING SALISBURY POLICE OFFICER

On June 26, 2012, Karond Anthony Johnson, age 29, of Salisbury, Maryland, was convicted of two counts of assault in the second degree for assaulting Salisbury Police Officer Brandon Caton during the course of two separate arrests, one occurring December 9, 2011 and the other occurring on February 24, 2012. A Wicomico County Circuit Court judge sentenced Johnson to serve two consecutive 4 year sentences in the Maryland Division of Corrections.

At the time of both assaults, Officer Caton was attempting to place Johnson under arrest for serious traffic violations when the Johnson resisted the arrest by force. Officer Caton did not suffer any injuries during the course of either assault.
Wicomico County State’s Attorney Matthew A. Maciarello commended Officer Brandon Caton and his colleagues at the Salisbury Police Department for their work in the investigation and prosecution of this case. Mr. Maciarello also thanked James L. Britt who prosecuted these cases.

Protesters Show Up to Rally Against Karl Rove — But Can’t Really Say Who Karl Rove Is

Organized protesters set out to counter the issue of money in politics while marching over a mile through Washington DC last week.  The heat index was a blistering 90 degrees, which seemed to add to the marchers’ aggression for their target, former Bush Administration Senior Adviser and Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove.  While Rove has been out of the White House for over five years, he has remained active in fundraising for and promotion of conservative causes, particularly through his non-profit, Crossroads GPS.

Many of the protesters took issue with the success of Rove’s 501c4, stating it should be “illegal” even though they were themselves proud representatives of 501c4s.  This conflation begs the question: Do these organized protesters even know why they are marching? Or do they even know who they are marching against?

Video HERE

Commercial Waterman Arrested For Clamming In Polluted Area

DEWEY BEACH – DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife Enforcement agents on June 24 arrested a commercial waterman on multiple charges including clamming in a polluted area.

Dirk A. Moore, age 51, of Lewes, was arrested and charged with clamming in a prohibited area. He was also cited for resisting arrest and failure to comply with a command from a police officer. Moore was arraigned in Justice of the Peace Court 2 in Rehoboth Beach and released on $700 unsecured bond pending a later court date.

“Ensuring that commercial watermen do not obtain their catch in areas known to be polluted is a matter of public health and safety, which is why they’re prohibited. We take this very seriously,” said Sgt. Gregory Rhodes of Fish and Wildlife Enforcement.

The DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife’s Enforcement Section is charged with achieving public compliance through education and enforcement actions that help conserve Delaware’s fish and wildlife resources and ensure safe boating and public safety.

Citizens are encouraged to report fish and wildlife and boating violations to the Delaware Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Section at 302-739-4580.

Health Department to Continue Providing Services to Schools During Summer

The Washington County Health Department is expected to continue to provide health services for Washington County Public Schools for the remainder of the summer school session, but an unknown number of health department employees are expected to be laid off when the new fiscal year starts July 1, officials said Monday.

Who will provide school health services during the new school year also remains in limbo.

If someone other than the health department ends up providing the school year services, the resulting layoffs could have a ripple effect throughout the health department and other state agencies because some year-round health department employees have “bumping” privileges, health department spokesman Rod MacRae said.

Schools Superintendent Clayton Wilcox said he and County Health Officer Earl Stoner on Friday reached an agreement in principle for the health department to continue providing health services for summer school.

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NORTH CAROLINA MURDER FUGITIVE FOUND ON NORTHBOUND BUS

(LAUREL, MD) – An allied law enforcement fugitive team, working with North Carolina law enforcement authorities, located and arrested a suspect wanted for murder who was on a bus headed into the region.

The accused is identified as Darius J. Smotherson, 19, of Kannapolis, North Carolina. He is wanted by the Kannapolis Police Department on a warrant for a murder that occurred on May 21, 2012 in that city.

Members of the Maryland State Police State Apprehension Team were contacted late yesterday by Kannapolis Police Department detectives who said their investigation indicated Smotherson may have taken a bus from Georgia and was possibly headed to the Baltimore area. The State Police State Apprehension Team enlisted the assistance of the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force, the Baltimore City Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Marshals Service, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Secret Service, State Police Drug Enforcement Division and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Fugitive investigators conducted surveillances at locations in Laurel and Baltimore where the bus might possibly stop.

At about 7:30 a.m. today, a passenger bus from Atlanta arrived at the northbound welcome center on I-95 near Rt. 32 in Laurel. Smotherson was observed getting off the bus with other passengers. He was taken into custody without incident.

Smotherson has been taken to the Maryland State Police Waterloo Barrack where he is being held on a fugitive warrant. Detectives from the Kannapolis Police Department are on their way to the barrack at this time to further their investigation and to initiate extradition proceedings.

Ordering A Pizza In 2015

If Obama and the Democrats have their way: (Just click on the underlined below )

Ordering a Pizza in 2015

Oh My

BEWARE OF NEW SPEED CAMERA

You should know the Sheriff's Department has a new speed camera at the Salisbury School. It's a gold colored car, not a SUV. You've been warned, SHHHHHHHH!

Today's Fill In The Blank 6-27-12

My favorite choice of weapon is ____.

Romney Launches Appeal To White Voters

Osprey -- The Ultimate Fisher

Summer Playground Program Offers Free Activities For Youth

Salisbury, MD – Wicomico Recreation, Parks & Tourism’s Summer Playground Program offers free drop-in locations for area youth ages five to fourteen. Daytime and evening locations are offered at several playgrounds now through August 10th.

Daytime locations include Indian Village, Emerson Holloway and Doverdale Playgrounds. These locations are in operation from 9:30am to 4:30pm Monday through Friday and include lunch. Evening locations are open Monday through Thursday and include Doverdale Playground from 5:30pm to 8:30pm, Billy Gene Jackson from 6:00pm to 9:00pm and Lake Street Playground from 6:00pm until 9:30pm.

New to the program this year, is a partnership with the Wicomico County Library in which a ‘Summer Reading Program’ will be available at select dates during the summer at both day and evening locations. The program will offer each participating child the opportunity to take home a free book.

The Summer Playground Program provides recreational games, sports and activities over an eight to ten week period in a safe, fun environment. To learn more, visit www.WicomicoRecandParks.org or call 410.548.4900 ext. 109 for more information.

Today's Advertiser Of The Day 6-27-12

The World Isn’t Buying Europe’s Nonsense

As European leaders meet this week in an attempt to once again shoo reality away from the continent’s respirator, countries outside the European Union are making it increasingly clear that they’ll have no role in prolonging the charade.

Cyprus has just asked for a bailout from the EU’s ATM, joining Greece, Ireland, Portugal and, most recently, Spain. So what’s the excuse this time? Apparently Cyprus’ intimate exposure to the Greek economy was more than enough economic Ebola.

So another beggar’s cup starts rattling just in time for yet another summit of European leaders. Are they still actually hoping to find a solution to this fiasco? Are we to presume that it’s going to come from someone who has been living in outer space for the past several years? Because that’s about the only being who might actually have a solution that hasn’t yet been tried.

Despite Europe’s woes, the European climate is favoring an increased entitlement culture, if you can believe it. For example, the Court of Justice of the European Union in Luxembourg has ruled that employers — often meaning the taxpayer, since we’re talking about civil-service-heavy Europe here — need to give workers another vacation in the event that they happen to fall sick during their annual four-to-six-week paid vacation. Apparently sick time and vacation time are two separate things and ought to be kept that way at all costs, even if the European economy is on the verge of keeling over completely. That’s because all of Europe is now officially just a life-support system for some civil servant’s entitlement package.

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Food Stamp President Wants Even More People On Food Stamps

What he wants is more people dependent on the Central Government, owing their allegiance to Obama and the Democrats, as opposed to finding ways to get the economy moving so that people have the money to purchase food on their own with government help

(CNN Money) More than one in seven Americans are on food stamps, but the federal government wants even more people to sign up for the safety net program.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has been running radio ads for the past four months encouraging those eligible to enroll. The campaign is targeted at the elderly, working poor, the unemployed and Hispanics.

The department is spending between $2.5 million and $3 million on paid spots, and free public service announcements are also airing. The campaign can be heard in California, Texas, North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio, and the New York metro area.

“Research has shown that many people — particularly underserved seniors, working poor, and legal immigrants — do not understand the requirements of the program,” said Kevin Concannon, a USDA under secretary.

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Team Obama’s Brother Sharpton Moment

Attorney General Eric Holder’s people have no shame. After months of stonewalling, misinformation and petulant disregard for the victims of the Fast and Furious gunwalking scandal, President Obama’s Justice Department is hiding behind the most despicable race-card demagogues on the planet. “Post-racial” America never looked so bitter, clingy and cowardly.

At a Tuesday press conference in Washington, D.C., human shield Al Sharpton condemned the upcoming House vote on a contempt motion against Holder as “reckless” and “morally reprehensible.” Yes, the infamous hate-crimes hoaxer, cop-basher and riot incitement specialist is now the self-appointed sheriff of Capitol Hill morality. A Huffington Post report hyping Sharpton’s protection racket decried the contempt citation as an “assault on minority rights.” In typical race-baiting style, Sharpton told the leftwing website: “I’m not saying that this is because Holder is black, and I’m not calling (Republicans) racists. I’m saying what they’re doing has a racial effect.”

Of course Sharpton’s accusing Republicans of racism — and by extension, he’s smearing every American demanding truth and justice in Obama’s bloodiest scandal. That includes the family of murdered Border Patrol agent Brian Terry, whose December 2011 death came at the hands of a Mexican thug wielding a Fast and Furious weapon. What about the Mexican government officials left in the dark about the deadly operation? And the hundreds of families of Mexican victims of Fast and Furious-enabled bloodshed? Yes, yes, they are all racists and minority vote suppression advocates, too.

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Rescue Crews Dismantle Mall to Get At Victims

ELLIOT LAKE, Ontario (AP) - Rescue crews began dismantling a partially collapsed mall late Tuesday night in this northern Ontario city in an effort to rescue victims despite fading hopes of finding anyone alive.

Officials used heavy equipment to clear a path from outside the building to resume rescue efforts stalled over fears the unstable structure could further collapse, leaving rescuers trapped inside the mall.

Rescuers detected breathing inside the rubble early Monday, but authorities enraged local residents when they called off work later that day. One death was confirmed after part of the mall's roof collapsed Saturday

afternoon, and another person is known to be still inside.

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Julian Assange Still Holed Up In Ecuadorian Embassy

Wikileaks founder Julian Assange is still holed up in the Ecuadorian Embassy – where he’s been for nearly a week now seeking political asylum. But now Assange is suggesting he may be willing to go to Sweden to face questions over sexual abuse allegations – but only if he gets some guarantees. Speaking to the Sydney Morning Herald – Assange said he is prepared to go to Sweden, but only if he receives diplomatic guarantees that he will not be handed over to the United States to face charges of treason and espionage – crimes punishable by death. There are numerous reports that the United States is building a case against Assange – and will attempt to extradite Assange to the states once he arrives in Sweden. Keep an eye on this story as it develops – the United States may soon be claiming yet another political prisoner.

Is Obama Creating A Pro-Gay Boy Scouts Of America?

A Boy Scouts of America national board member, James Turley, who is also global chairman and CEO of the accounting firm Ernst & Young, recently said he “will work from within to seek a change” to overturn the BSA policy that bans gay Scouts and leaders. But is Turley working on his own initiative, or has the White House prodded him with perks and favors?

Is it a coincidence that Turley came out swinging against the BSA’s century-old policy to ban gays from leadership and that he has such close affiliations with the pro-gay Obama administration?

Is it a coincidence that Turley and his wife, Lynne, were just guests at a state dinner hosted by President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama in honor of British Prime Minister David Cameron at the White House on March 14?

Is it a coincidence that Turley was nominated to President Obama’s Export Council in 2010?

Is it a coincidence Turley was granted a seat on an investment advisory panel that met with none other than Vladimir Putin in Moscow in October?

Is it a coincidence that Turley has been a global cheerleader for Obama’s economic strategies and an economic ambassador of sorts to other mogul business leaders, as is clearly seen in his Bloomberg interview from the 2011 economic summit in Davos, Switzerland?

Is it a coincidence that Michael Mundaca, who was the assistant secretary of the treasury for tax policy from 2009 to 2011 and advised Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner on all matters relating to taxation, recently joined the team of Ernst & Young?

Is it a coincidence that, as the White House website explained, “Ernst & Young LLP will honor (the Obama administration’s Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship’s) youth entrepreneurs at regional Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year Award galas across the country, bringing important attention to the next generation of young entrepreneurs”?

Is it a coincidence that a couple of months ago, Obama reversed his position on marriage, extending the union to gay couples, and that Turley just came out of the closet in his position against the BSA’s position?

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GOVERNOR MARTIN O’MALLEY ANNOUNCES OPENING OF VORBECK MANUFACTURING FACILITY IN POCOMOKE

Company will create up to 50 new jobs
Governor also announces designation of Pocomoke-Worcester County Enterprise Zone

POCOMOKE CITY, MD (June 27, 2012) – During his speech to the Maryland Municipal League last evening, Governor Martin O’Malley announced that Vorbeck Materials Corp., a Howard County-based high technology company, has plans to purchase a State-owned building in Pocomoke City for their new manufacturing facility. The company, which is headquartered in Jessup and is considered a leader in developing graphene nanomaterials, also announced plans to create up to 50 new jobs at the new 42,000 square-foot Pocomoke facility within three years.

“It is exciting to see a cutting-edge, innovative company like Vorbeck creating high-quality manufacturing jobs on the Eastern Shore,” said Governor O’Malley. “The U.S. Chamber of Commerce recently ranked Maryland number one for Entrepreneurship and Innovation because of our commitment to high-tech industries and our willingness to invest in the talents, skills, education and innovation of our people. We are pleased that Vorbeck has chosen to expand in Maryland – a reflection of our State’s support for this growing high-tech industry and affirmation that we are a leader in the nation’s innovation economy.”

“Maryland has been a terrific location for us to start and grow our business,” said Vorbeck Materials CEO John Lettow. “We are excited by this opportunity in Pocomoke City. Along with our headquarters in Howard County, we look forward to continued expansion and to creating new jobs in innovation and manufacturing in Maryland.”

“The addition of this innovative company – and make no mistake, they are garnering national and international attention for their technological advances - is a key component in strengthening our community by securing skilled jobs for our workforce in the STEM field, making Worcester County, the State of Maryland and the nation overall viable entities on the world stage,” said Worcester County Commission President James C. “Bud” Church said.

As part of the agreement, the State will provide incentive-based financing for the building that includes deferred payments and interest forgiveness if the company achieves the employment conditions. The company may also be eligible for other State assistance, including the One Maryland Tax Credit and the Job Creation Tax Credit, as well as county incentives. To date, Vorbeck has received $650,000 in Enterprise equity investments and commitments from DBED.

The Governor also announced today that the Pocomoke-Worcester County Enterprise Zone has been designated. The designation will include an 845-acre zone that includes downtown Pocomoke, the Pocomoke Industrial Park, the riverfront industrial area and other parcels. Several existing local companies, including Hardwire LLC, H&H Furniture Company, Aurora and Bel-Art, were attracted to the area because of the Enterprise Zone benefits. The designation is an important tool in attracting and retaining job, particularly in rural areas. Enterprise Zones enable jurisdictions to provide businesses located within the zones with income tax and property tax credits to help create and retain jobs. The latest data by the State Department of Assessment and Taxation shows that businesses in the State’s Enterprise Zones received property tax credits totaling $38.1 million in FY 2012, based on real property investments made by those businesses totaling more than $3 billion.

The Department of Business and Economic Development approves the State’s Enterprise Zones while local governments are responsible for their administration. Businesses operating within an Enterprise Zone may be eligible for a tax credit towards their state income tax filings based upon the number of new jobs created, and a tax credit on their local real property taxes based upon their overall capital investment into a property.

Founded in 2006, Vorbeck has exclusive license on patented graphene technology from Princeton University and developed the world’s first commercial graphene product Vor-inktm. Earlier this year, Vorbeck was named as one of “America’s Next Top Energy Innovators” by the U.S. Department of Energy and this month, the company was recognized by R&D Magazine for developing one of the 100 most significant scientific and technological products or advances of the year – the commercialization of graphene technology which enables greater use of electric vehicles and faster charging consumer electronics.

Lawmakers Got Inside Information From Bush Administration Officials During The 2008 Financial Crisis

It pays to be a Member of Congress during a financial crisis

The Washington Post reports today that 34 lawmakers – including Speaker of the House John Boehner – got inside information from high-ranking Bush Administration officials during the 2008 financial crisis – and immediately changed their investment portfolios. As the Post uncovered – lawmakers changed their investment portfolios 166 different times within two days after speaking with Secretary Treasury Hank Paulsen, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, and incoming Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner. Speaker Boehner reportedly moved as much as $100,000 out of a risky mutual fund following the briefing. The most shocking part of this is that none of it is illegal, even after Congress passed the watered-down STOCK Act earlier this year to prevent insider trading. Becoming a lawmaker used to be about representing your constituents and having a sense of duty; today it’s about helping the rich, and getting rich yourself.

Today's Survey Question 6-27-12

What's your favorite chair at work or home?

Veterans Forced To Attend Anti-Union Meetings On Army Base

Jason Croic is a Marine combat veteran who served 28 months in Iraq. When he came home, he found a job working for $18 an hour as a mechanic on Stryker vehicles for General Dynamics Land Systems in Fort Lewis, Washington. Croic now has a new combatant, as his employer is attempting to stop him and his fellow contractors from joining Local 286 of the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE).

For the last six months, Croic and 120 of his co-workers, nearly half of whom are veterans, have been forced to attend anti-union meetings, in which General Dynamics managers make them watch films about why unions are bad. General Dynamics has routinely told workers that if they vote to join union that it will likely lead to General Dynamics losing their contract with the U.S. Army. On several occasions, General Dynamics has even flown some of their top corporate officials out on Lear jets from their corporate headquarters in Sterling Heights, Michigan, to explain to the workers why they shouldn't join a union.

"We have had these meetings where they provided one side of the story," says Croic. "The message is we won't be as employable to the Army as we are now because we won't be as versatile. Being non-union, they say we are more attractive to the Army because we can be moved around easier."

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DelDOT Urges Drivers To Allow Extra Time To Reach Your Destination For July 4th

Dover -- The Department of Transportation (DelDOT) announces it will suspend all construction on major state highways beginning at noon on Tuesday, July 3 until 6 a.m. on Thursday, July 5, to maximize roadway capacity during the July 4th holiday.

Heavy traffic volumes are expected and to help make your trip to the First State easier, DelDOT offers motorists real-time travel information in multiple formats. For web enabled telephones use DelDOT Mobile or on your computer visit DelDOT Travelers can also tune to WTMC 1380 AM.

Drivers are encouraged to call the following number to report any travel or traffic related issues at the following numbers: Dial #77 from any cell phone; (302) 659-4600 or 1-800-324-8379. For emergencies, please dial 911.

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More Women Are Breadwinners, But They Still Can’t Get Out Of The Kitchen

Women are a growing part of the American workforce. In the last 25 years, the number of working women has grown by 44.2 percent, while 59.4 percent of working-age women are currently in the labor force. Sixty percent of women are the primary or co-bread winner for their household.

But despite those historic numbers, most women are still left doing the majority of the house work.

A new report out from the Bureau of Labor Statistics details how both men and women spend their days, and it comes as no surprise that women do a larger portion of the cooking, cleaning, laundry, and other chores:

On an average day, 83 percent of women and 65 percent of men spent some time doing household activities such as housework, cooking, lawn care, or financial and other household management.

On the days that they did household activities, women spent an average of 2.6 hours on such activities, while men spent 2.1 hours.

On an average day, 19 percent of men did housework–such as cleaning or doing laundry–compared with 48 percent of women. Forty percent of men did food preparation or cleanup, compared with 66 percent of women.

The numbers can be in part explained by the women who don’t work or who have part-time jobs. But the disproportionate burden of housework on women shows that a “second shift” still exists for those who work. While women have earned more rights in the office place (though they still aren’t fairly paid for their work), there is still the burden for them to be the primary housekeepers and caretakers.

Originally published on ThinkProgress

No Jail Time Sought in Md. Neighborhood Watch Case

Maryland prosecutors are not seeking jail time for a former member of an Orthodox Jewish neighborhood watch group convicted in the beating of a black teenager.

Twenty-four-year-old Eliyahu Werdesheim faces sentencing Wednesday for second-degree assault and false imprisonment. His 22-year-old brother, Avi, was acquitted. The case drew comparisons to the fatal shooting of Florida teen Trayvon Martin.

Eliyahu Werdesheim faces up to 10 years on the assault count, but prosecutors are requesting a three-year suspended sentence, probation and community service.

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A Bunch Of Bernie Madoff’s Ponzi Scheme Victims To Get $405 Million In Settlement

A recent settlement will see a group of Bernie Madoff's victims in his Ponzi scheme receive $405 million. Clients of hedge fund manager J. Ezra Merkin, including New York Law School, Bard College, Harlem Children's Zone, Homes for the Homeless and the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty are included in the settlement. New York state will also get $5 million to cover the legal costs of the settlement.

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Woman Refunded Half Her Airfare After Being Forced To Sit Next To A Corpse For 10 Hours

A Swedish woman was in a bit of a troubling situation, after her rowmate died shortly after take off on a Kenya Airways flight. She flew from Europe to Tanzania and because there were no other seats available, she was stuck next to him. In response to the unfortunate circumstance, the airline has refunded half of her airfare.

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NEW Urgent Warning To All Cell Phone Users

If you think the jury's still out on whether cell phones can be dangerous to your health, then you might want to take the time to listen to this video. Dr. Devra Davis, author of the book, "The Secret History of the War on Cancer," has been researching the safety hazards of radiation emanating from your cell phone.

Like many people, Dr. Davis just didn't believe the possibility of cell phones being dangerous―until she studied it. And now, with the toxicological and epidemiological evidence to back up her claims, she's trying to get the word out that cell phone radiation is not only dangerous, but can be downright lethal.

In her lecture, Dr. Davis explains how the biological impact of your cell phone is not related to its power, which is quite weak, but rather to the erratic nature of its signal and its ability to disrupt resonance and interfere with DNA repair. This is now believed to be the most plausible theory for understanding the wide array of health impacts discovered, which includes cancer...

Can Your Cell Phone Cause Cancer?

One interesting case that can serve as an illustrative warning of the cancer-causing potential of cell phones is that of a young woman with no other predisposing risk factors for cancer who came down with multi-focal breast cancer. The case was revealed in the May issue of the Environmental Health Trust's newsletteri. As it turns out, the young lady had the curious habit of tucking her cell phone into her bra...

Two cancer specialists, Robert Nagourney and John West, concluded there was only one other possibility that might have directly contributed to her breast cancer. "We connected the dots," the patient said. And the dots―quite literally the pattern of the cancer, and distribution of the cancerous cells―lined up perfectly with the shape of her cell phone.

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How Clean is Beachwater Where You Vacation?

Beachwater doesn't get any better than in Dewey Beach, Rehoboth and Bethany Beach, according to an environmental group's annual assessment of surf at the nation's beaches.

Delaware ranked No. 1 in beachwater quality in the study by the Natural Resources Defense Council, which maps more than 6,000 beaches nationwide.

The NRDC's ratings show Middle Atlantic beaches as the cleanest in the country.

Dewey Beach and Ocean City, Md.'s beach near 136th Street ranked as five-star beaches, the top rating given by the group. Only 12 beaches nationwide made that elite list.

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Gas Retailers Say ‘Swipe Fees’ Fuel Higher Prices, Siphon Their Profits

Although Maryland’s retail gas prices were lower than the national average in 2011, consumers are still getting hit at the pump -- for paying with plastic rather than cash. A growing practice is to offer cash and credit card prices to combat increasing numbers of credit card users, rising gas prices and high “swipe fees,” transaction fees set by credit card networks for banks.

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How Do You Feel About This?

The Justice Department has set up a hotline telephone number and e-mail box for the public in the aftermath of a Supreme Court decision. Citizens can use the hotlines to report potential civil rights violations in Arizona. The court ruled that police may legally check the immigration status of people they stop for other reasons. But the court said the law should be enforced in a way that avoids long detentions. And, that the police couldn't stop people only for the purpose of checking immigration status.

Diversity

Despite lots of talk about making the federal workforce more reflective of the nation's diversity, it looks pretty much the same as it's been. The latest report from the Office of Personnel Management shows women and minorities made modest gains, but some are calling those numbers "grim." Advocates note Latino representation has inched up 0.1 percent in four years to 8.1 percent of the federal workforce. Councils, tiger-teams and executive orders have all tried to encourage agencies to hire and retain more Latinos in hopes of catching up to the private sector. But this report is based on statistics that came out several months before agencies created diversity strategies.

Gay Rights Icon Arrested on Child Porn Charges

Larry Brinkin, the gay activist who led the fight to get San Francisco to recognize domestic partnerships, was arrested for child pornography today. Items seized from his home included computers, videos, tapes, and discs.  He had been a long-time employee of the Human Rights Commission, and a central figure in the gay rights movement. The San Francisco board of supervisors actually gave a “Larry Brinkin Week” in February 2010 upon his retirement.

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Hillary Clinton In The Record Books

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will make the record books this week with her visit to eastern Europe. USA Today reported her Thursday visit to Latvia will mark the 100th country she has traveled to during her tenure. That breaks former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright's previous record of 96 countries and surpasses her immediate predecessor, Condoleezza Rice, who went to only 88 countries. But, while former Secretary Rice visited fewer countries, she traveled more, logging more than 1 million miles as the nation's top diplomat. Clinton has yet to reach 800,000. Secretary Clinton credits good stamina and interesting work with helping her recover from jet lag.

From Vets To Cops

The government is paying crime-ridden communities to hire veterans and turn them into police officers. The Justice Department handed out more than $111 million to public safety agencies as part of its Vets-to-Cops grant program. It says the money will save or create about 800 positions. Only veterans who have served since Sept. 11, 2001, can apply. One in eight of them is unemployed. The grants are targeted toward communities with financial problems and high crime rates. Grantees include Boston, Chicago, Atlanta and Akron, Ohio.

Abolish The Bar Exam

Every year in July, thousands of anxious men and women, in different states across America, take a bar exam in hopes that they will become licensed attorneys. Having memorized hundreds if not thousands of rules and counter-rules – also known as black letter law – these men and women come to the exam equipped with their pens, laptops, and government-issued forms of identification. Nothing is more remote from their minds than that the ideological currents that brought about this horrifying ritual were fundamentally statist and unquestionably bad for the American economy.

The bar exam is a barrier to entry, as are all forms of professional licensure. Today the federal government regulates thousands of occupations and excludes millions of capable workers from the workforce by means of expensive tests and certifications; likewise various state governments restrict upward mobility and economic progress by mandating that workers obtain costly degrees and undergo routinized assessments that have little to do with the practical, everyday dealings of the professional world.

As a practicing attorney, I can say with confidence that many paralegals I know can do the job of an attorney better than some attorneys, and that is because the practice of law is perfected not by abstract education but lived experience.

So why does our society require bar exams that bear little relation to the ability of a person to understand legal technicalities, manage case loads, and satisfy clients? The answer harkens back to the Progressive Era when elites used government strings and influence to prevent hardworking and entrepreneurial individuals from climbing the social ladder.

Lawyers were part of two important groups that Murray Rothbard blamed for spreading statism during the Progressive Era: the first was "a growing legion of educated (and often overeducated) intellectuals, technocrats, and the ‘helping professions’ who sought power, prestige, subsidies, contracts, cushy jobs from the welfare state, and restrictions of entry into their field via forms of licensing," and the second was "groups of businessmen who, after failing to achieve monopoly power on the free market, turned to government – local, state, and federal – to gain it for them."

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Report: Zimmerman Didn't ID Self As Watch Leader

Murder defendant George Zimmerman could have defused the deadly confrontation with Trayvon Martin if he would have identified himself as a member of neighborhood watch and he passed two lie detector tests when questioned by investigators, according to a report released Tuesday.

More documents in the second-degree murder case against the 28-year-old were released that included investigators' accounts of the night of Feb. 26, when Zimmerman killed Martin after following the unarmed teenager through a gated community in Sanford. He has pleaded not guilty and has said from the night of the fight that he feared for his life because Martin was beating him up before Zimmerman grabbed his gun in his holster and shot the 17-year-old.

Sanford detective Christopher Serino said in the report that Zimmerman at first verbally confronted Martin from his car and that the defendant and witnesses said he was too afraid of Martin to get out. Later in the encounter, Zimmerman got out of his SUV and followed Martin.

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City At Vanguard Of Housing Crash Could File Bankruptcy This Week

Back in August 2007, when many of us were still taking out adjustable-rate loans to pay for the water slide on our new champagne-filled jacuzzis, reports of impending doom were coming Stockton, Calif., a city that had suddenly jumped to the head of the foreclosure pack, with 1-in-27 homes being taken back by the bank. Now, five years on, it looks like Stockton could be due for another ignominious honor, as it stands to become the largest U.S. city to declare bankruptcy.

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Md. Women Plead to Role in Hanging Animal in Noose

A Maryland woman and her daughter have admitted to their roles in hanging a dead raccoon from a noose on the porch of an African family's home.

Dena Whedbee and her daughter, Brittany, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to federal charges of conspiracy and violating the Fair Housing Act.

The Whedbees admitted conspiring with three other people in April 2010 to hang the raccoon from the family's home in Middle River in an effort to scare them. Two of the other men, Billy Pratt and Joshua Wall, have already pleaded guilty.

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Jimmy Carter the Latest to Bury Obama - Who's Next?

Powerful and courageous Op-Ed in the NY Times by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter. Although he doesn’t mention Obama by name the implication is clear. I really think the only way anyone with more than two brain cells to rub together can still support our bankster Puppet in Chief and murderer of American citizens, Barack Obama, is due to an incapacity to mentally accept that he is as bad as if not worse than George W. Bush (at least he was a thug to your face).

Key quotes:
Recent legislation has made legal the president’s right to detain a person indefinitely on suspicion of affiliation with terrorist organizations or “associated forces,” a broad, vague power that can be abused without meaningful oversight from the courts or Congress (the law is currently being blocked by a federal judge). This law violates the right to freedom of expression and to be presumed innocent until proved guilty, two other rights enshrined in the declaration.

In addition to American citizens’ being targeted for assassination or indefinite detention, recent laws have canceled the restraints in the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 to allow unprecedented violations of our rights to privacy through warrantless wiretapping and government mining of our electronic communications. Popular state laws permit detaining individuals because of their appearance, where they worship or with whom they associate.

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Possible Outcomes in Pending Health Care Law Case

Saving its biggest case for last, the Supreme Court is expected to announce its verdict Thursday on President Barack Obama's health care law. The outcome is likely to be a factor in the presidential campaign and help define John Roberts' legacy as chief justice. But the court's ruling almost certainly will not be the last word on America's tangled efforts to address health care woes. The problems of high medical costs, widespread waste and tens of millions of people without insurance will require Congress and the president to keep looking for answers, whether or not the Affordable Care Act passes the test of constitutionality.
A look at potential outcomes:
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Q: What if the Supreme Court upholds the law and finds Congress was within its authority to require most people to have health insurance or pay a penalty?
A: That would settle the legal argument, but not the political battle.

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Dog Found: UPDATE

Joe,

We had a dog show up at work who looks to be lost. He seems to be well mannered with no collar. Attached is a photo of him. Our workplace is Lewis Steel Products @112 West Gordy Road, Salisbury, MDYou have great luck with finding lost dogs owner and we hope you can help.

Lost Dog 6-27-12 UPDATE

My dog got loose this morning around Foxfield apartments by Choptank Electric. He is about 8yrs old 55lbs and answers to Logan or Lolo. He is a lab mix. I would really appreciate it if you could help me out.

Thanks!

BREAKING NEWS: Stockton Set To Declare Bankruptcy

Stockton, Calif., is set to become the largest U.S. city to declare bankruptcy as officials say mediation failed.

From Fox News

Opponents Of Same-Sex Marriage File Final Signatures

A group trying to repeal Maryland's new same-sex marriage law said they submitted 39,743 additional signatures to the state Monday, bringing to 162,241the number of people who asked to put the law on the November ballot.

The amount far surpasses the nearly 57,000 needed to trigger a referendum and exceeds a self-imposed goal of reaching 150,000 signatures made by the Maryland Marriage Alliance, a group spearheading the repeal effort.

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