(Reuters) - If Moody's Investors Service strips the United States of its triple-A credit rating, a possibility the rating agency warned of on Tuesday, the ratings of three states and dozens of local governments could also be affected.
Moody's put federal officials on notice that unless they agree on a plan to tame the nation's debt load, the U.S.'s rating could be downgraded a notch to Aa1 next year.
A downgrade could negatively affect the Aaa ratings of states, cities, counties, school districts and other debt issuers that Moody's has identified as having substantial links to the U.S. government in terms of federal employment and procurement, and Medicaid, the state and federal funded healthcare program for the poor.
"If the U.S. rating is downgraded then we have to answer the question, 'which states and local governments have enough links to the U.S. government so that their ratings should not be higher,'" said Naomi Richman, a Moody's analyst.
A previous downgrade warning for the nation in 2011 triggered a review of a slew of municipal credits by Moody's, which in December finalized negative outlooks on the Aaa ratings for Maryland, New Mexico and Virginia, along with 36 local governments. The rating agency at that time noted those issuers would not likely retain their top ratings should the United States be downgraded.
But Moody's analysts said on Tuesday that downgrades would not be automatic and would instead occur on a case-by-case basis.
Most of the local governments are in Maryland and Virginia, which have large concentrations of federal workers and companies that do business with the U.S. government. Others are in Texas, Colorado, Alabama, Missouri, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Oklahoma and New Mexico.
Bob Kurtter, a Moody's analyst, said some muni ratings may be under pressure even if the United States retains its triple-A rating and slashes its budget. For example, deep federal defense spending cuts could negatively affect Maryland and Virginia, he said. On the other hand, federal officials could decide instead to drastically reduce spending on social programs, which would affect other muni credits.
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Publishers Notes: Could the school teachers pension attribute to such a dramatic downgrade?
Deficit predicted because feds 3.1 million set to expire. Then - we have the school teachers pension shift whereby it escalates dramatically from 2014 and forward.
http://www.wcboe.org/file/September42012-2207
It is not as though we did not try and warn our elected County officials about what was about to come down the 'pike'. The time has now arrived.
Look at Line Item 32 on Page B.2 in the attachment above.
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
‘WHITE PRIVILEGE’? PORTLAND PRINCIPAL CLAIMS PB&J SANDWICHES COULD HOLD RACIST CONNOTATIONS
Are peanut butter and jelly sandwiches racist? A bizarre question, to say the least, but one that at least one school administrator is asking out in Portland, Oregon. Verenice Gutierrez, principal at Harvey Scott K-8 School, seems to believe that there are racial connotations associated with the common lunch-time meal.
According to Gutierrez, using the example of a peanut butter sandwich in classroom lessons is technically a problematic and discriminatory move — one that was made by a teacher in her building last school year. While such a notion may bring out laughs among those who find it absurd, the principal explains her logic.
“What about Somali or Hispanic students, who might not eat sandwiches?,” she said. “Another way would be to say: ‘Americans eat peanut butter and jelly, do you have anything like that?’ Let them tell you. Maybe they eat torta. Or pita.”
US Embassy In Cairo Attacked, American Flags Burned
Eye witnesses say Egyptian protesters have scaled the wall of the US embassy in Cairo and burned the American flag, Reuters reports.
Around 2,000 protesters had gathered to protest against a film apparently made in America that desecrated the name of the Muslim Prophet Mohammad. Witnesses say a US flag was pulled down, torn into pieces, and then set alight. CNN reports that warning shots were fired to disperse the crowd.
Reuters notes that its not immediately clear what film the protest was focused on, but noted that Christian Pastor Terry Jones is due to stage something called "International Judge Mohammad Day" in Florida today, according to the website http://www.standupamerianow.org/ — Max Fisher has more details on that film over at the Atlantic.
UPDATE: A US consulate in Libya has also been attacked, reportedly due to the same film.
See photos and video of the attack >
Around 2,000 protesters had gathered to protest against a film apparently made in America that desecrated the name of the Muslim Prophet Mohammad. Witnesses say a US flag was pulled down, torn into pieces, and then set alight. CNN reports that warning shots were fired to disperse the crowd.
Reuters notes that its not immediately clear what film the protest was focused on, but noted that Christian Pastor Terry Jones is due to stage something called "International Judge Mohammad Day" in Florida today, according to the website http://www.standupamerianow.org/ — Max Fisher has more details on that film over at the Atlantic.
UPDATE: A US consulate in Libya has also been attacked, reportedly due to the same film.
See photos and video of the attack >
FACTS, HISTORY UNDERMINE MEDIA CON THAT OBAMA WIN IS INEVITABLE
Over the past ten days, what hasn't surprised me is how the corrupt media created its own pro-Obama reality coming out of the conventions. What does surprise me is how this coordinated psy-ops push is working to panic a lot of conservatives.
Saturday afternoon I signed off for the rest of the weekend feeling pretty good about where things were. Obama's convention speech was a dud, the latest jobs report was a catastrophe, and Romney had sharpened his message considerably.
Then I wake Monday morning to find conservatives who should know better screaming that the sky is falling.
Don't fall for it.
Let's start with what the media did to create their own reality around the conventions.
‘CRAZED’ OBAMA SUPPORTER SHOUTS DOWN PRO-LIFER: ‘IT’S BETWEEN A WOMAN & GOD!’
Supporters — and ideological opponents — of President Barack Obama assembled in West Palm Beach on Sunday to watch the Democratic leader’s motorcade pass by. Naturally, the two sides ended up clashing, with one woman issuing some intense rhetoric. In a screaming match with an Obama opponent, she wasted no time in passionately defending a woman’s right to choose whether to have an abortion.
“It’s between a woman and God!,” the woman, who was wearing an Obama “Forward” t-shirt, screamed in video footage that was captured by BizPac Review . ”If she wants to get rid of her baby — that’s her baby!”
SEE THE PICTURES FROM INSIDE THE RACY ‘GOGO FOR OBAMA’ EVENT AT A NYC GAY BAR
(CONTENT WARNING: INCLUDING USA FLAG THONG!)
A number of Obama supporters gathered in New York City over the weekend to fundraise for Obama in a rather unconventional fashion.
Congregating in what the Washington Post described as a “grungy gay bar” in Manhattan’s East Village, patrons paid a $100 cover charge before entering into a world of scantily clad dancers and Obama paraphernalia.
According to the New York Post, the bar is co-owned by Anderson Cooper’s boyfriend, but the CNN host did not make an appearance.
Troopers Investigate One Vehicle Crash West Of Laurel
Location: Little Hill Road, .3 miles north of Whaleys Road, Laurel
Date of Occurrence: Wednesday September 5, 2012 at approximately 5:50 p.m.
Resume:
Laurel, DE- Jerry E. Mitchell, 66 of Laurel has succumbed to the injuries he sustained in a single vehicle crash that occurred on Wednesday September 5, 2012.
Mitchell, who was not properly restrained, was removed from the scene by EMS and initially transported to Nanticoke Memorial Hospital before being flown to Baltimore Shock Trauma where he was listed in critical condition. He was pronounced dead on September 10, 2012 at 9:15 p.m.
The Delaware State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit is continuing their investigation into this incident.
Date of Occurrence: Wednesday September 5, 2012 at approximately 5:50 p.m.
Resume:
Laurel, DE- Jerry E. Mitchell, 66 of Laurel has succumbed to the injuries he sustained in a single vehicle crash that occurred on Wednesday September 5, 2012.
Mitchell, who was not properly restrained, was removed from the scene by EMS and initially transported to Nanticoke Memorial Hospital before being flown to Baltimore Shock Trauma where he was listed in critical condition. He was pronounced dead on September 10, 2012 at 9:15 p.m.
The Delaware State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit is continuing their investigation into this incident.
REPORT: OBAMA MISSES OVER HALF HIS INTELLIGENCE BRIEFINGS
White House Press Secretary Jay Carney calls a new Government Accountability Institute (GAI) report finding that President Obama has missed over half of his daily intelligence briefings “hilarious.”
“It’s revealing that Mr. Carney did not dispute the Government Accountability Institute’s actual numbers,” said Government Accountability Institute President Peter Schweizer in an interview with Breitbart News. “That’s probably because our findings are drawn directly from the White House’s own calendar.”
BREAKING NEWS: American Killed in Attack On US Consulate In Libya, Official Says
Libyan security official tells the Associated Press that one American was shot dead, another wounded in attack on U.S. consulate.
From Fox News
From Fox News
IRAN: MISSILES CAN REACH U.S. ASSETS, ISRAEL
A new Iranian cruise missile, with a range of 1,250 miles, can hit targets as far away as the vital American military base at Diego Garcia, described by the U.S. military as the “tip of the spear” for U.S. military operations in the Persian Gulf.
“The Meshkat cruise missile, which God willing will be unveiled soon, has a range of 2,000 kilometers (1,250 miles). It will be the upper hand of the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” the deputy defense minister, Brig. Gen. Mehdi Farahi, said.
Another Form Of Insider Trading?
When you look at Mayor Ireton's refusal to expose the more than $2,000,000.00 on returned surplus you have to wonder, was there some kind of insider trading going on at the time?
What I mean by that is, don't you find it interesting how all of a sudden out of nowhere the Police Chief comes forward with a massive request, yet she was told DON'T EVEN ASK during budget time?
Go back to the alleged phone spoof. Don't you find it extremely interesting how the dynamic trio, (Ireton, Duncan and Maciarello) filed criminal charges against me for filing a false police report, (yet I never filed a report or complaint) in order to access my cell phone records. Then they immediately dropped the charges!
Out of nowhere the States Attorney, Police Chief and Mayor come together to grandstand for financial support in a desperate attempt to make things look as if things could get really bad.
The FACT that NO CRIMINAL acts were done in the alleged phone spoof, the Police Chief and numerous detectives dropped everything they were doing to investigate a NON CRIMINAL activity.
I smell a rat. Some might call it a pay back. All I know is that every single department should be treated equally and this is NOT the case here. While I firmly agree, the Police should have been given the funding former Council Members agreed to years ago, ponying up more than $450,000.00 for the rest of the year and ignoring other departments is just plain wrong.
I also find it VERY interesting how the Mayor has not been present in ANY of the Work Sessions and Council Meetings on this matter. Perhaps he's too afraid I might stand up and challenge him like I'm doing right now.
Mayor Ireton knew there was extra funding in surplus but refused to let the Council know how much. This is just way too convenient to have me believe it was anything other than insider trading, (so to speak).
"It's not Joe Albero's election to lose, it's the citizens' election to lose."
THE STUNNING MOMENT A WILD BISON CHARGES A CHILD IN YELLOWSTONE!
Could this be one of the most naive adults you’ve ever seen?
A video taken in Yellowstone National Park in early August is stirring quite the debate after it shows what appears to be a parent encouraging children to approach a wild bison, and then that bison charges a child who barely escapes being trampled.
Obama’s Kids’ School: $34,268 a Year – Includes 'Hot Lunch'
While Chicago public school teachers are on strike and 350,000 children are temporarily school-less, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s kids are attending a private school that charges $26,520 a year and the children of his former boss, President Barack Obama, are attending a private school in the nation’s capital that charges $34,268 a year, which includes a "hot lunch."
Rahm Emanuel, former chief of staff to President Obama, has a son and two daughters: Zacharia, Ilana, and Leah. All three attend the elite Laboratory Schools at the University of Chicago in Hyde Park.
Coach Nettles Found Innocent
I just received an anonymous call telling me Coach Nettles was found innocent in Court today.
I stated back in my eartlier Post on this matter: "In my almost 50 years of life I have seen MANY Teachers charged and very few convicted. It seems easy these days to file charges against a Teacher and quite frankly I feel its important to let these things go to court, (if it ever goes that far) and report the outcome".
I stated back in my eartlier Post on this matter: "In my almost 50 years of life I have seen MANY Teachers charged and very few convicted. It seems easy these days to file charges against a Teacher and quite frankly I feel its important to let these things go to court, (if it ever goes that far) and report the outcome".
'SMOKING HEALTHIER THAN SAME-SEX MARRIAGE'
The head of the Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) Jim Wallace says smoking is healthier than the lifestyle that would be promoted by same-sex marriage.
Mr Wallace made the claim in a debate on marriage equality with Greens leader Christine Milne at the University of Tasmania today.
Answering a question from a student on the relevance of his views, he said health statistics among the gay community were worse than those for smokers.
Toys R Us unveils $150 tablet for kids
If the idea of handing a child your expensive iPad makes you nervous, Toys R Us is now selling a tablet that's built just for kids.
The Tabeo, which features a 7-inch screen and a Wi-Fi connection, will be available at Toys R Us stores starting October 21. The $149.99 tablet is also available for online pre-order starting Monday.
TEXAS MAN ALLEGEDLY KILLED TEEN HE PREVIOUSLY RAPED TO PREVENT HER FROM TESTIFYING AGAINST HIM
A Texas man accused of raping a 16-year-old girl used social media to lure her to a meeting, abduct her from her school and drive her to a river, where he killed her to keep her from testifying against him in a court of law, an arrest warrant said.
The man insisted in a jailhouse interview Monday that he only wanted to talk to the teen and prove his innocence but said he was overcome by “demons” once they were face-to-face.
Franklin B. Davis, 30, of the Dallas suburb of Irving, was charged with capital murder Sunday in the death of Shania Gray. Gray was last seen alive Thursday afternoon at Hebron High School in nearby Carrollton. Her body was found Saturday in a secluded area near the Trinity River.
Monthly Meeting Of Wicomico County Board Of Education, Board Of Education Auditorium
The September meeting of the Wicomico County Board of Education will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 13, in the Board of Education auditorium. The agenda will be posted at www.wcboe.org; click on the BoardDocs box (left side of home page) to view the agenda. 410-677-4561
NEW YORK POST AD EXPOSES OBAMA'S 'REAL FATHER'
Filmmaker Joel Gilbert makes the case in his full-length documentary“Dreams from My Real Father: A Story of Reds and Deception.”
The ad will run in the Post’s New York City, national and international editions Tuesday and Sunday.
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EPIC WORLDWIDE FAIL
Zeitgeist Failure
By James Howard Kunstler
In an age of gross zeitgeist dysfunction — when untruth, delusion, and deception rule – politics is mere advertising, which is to say surface shimmer playing on the public’s wish-fulfillment fantasies. The trouble at this moment in history is that the American public’s wishful fantasies are inconsistent with the circumstances that reality offers to us and the choices for action that they present.
President Obama’s historical role will be seen as a wish-fulfillment totem for late 20th century progressive liberalism – the first black president. The Democratic Party apotheosized the genial young lawyer with his appealing family in order to demonstrate the triumph of social justice, which was their great struggle of the era. Evidence of that is the striking divergence from the get-go between Mr. Obama’s Hope and Change advertising and his sedulous defense of pervasive racketeering at the highest levels of polity once in office. Otherwise, you must decide whether he was a tool of the giant banks, or a dupe-made-hostage to them, or simply too clueless to understand what was required in 2009 – namely the break-up and reorganization of the banks plus hearty prosecution of their executives for massive swindling (along with reinstatement of the Glass-Steagall Act). I voted for him in 2008, by the way, since the wish-fulfillment motif moved me, and also because of the horrifying McCain-Palin opposition.
In office, then, Mr. Obama quickly proved to be a different breed of porpoise than the voters bargained for. He let the Wall Street privateers run amuck another four years, aided with colossal infusions of conjured-out-of-nothing “money” from the Federal Reserve. He let loose the demons of a high-tech totalitarian “security” state with every sort of electronic surveillance, citizen data-mining, and drone spying that innovation allowed. He stood silent like a Banana Republic store mannequin after the supreme court decided that corporations could buy elections (he could have pushed loudly for legislation or even a constitutional amendment to redefine corporate “personhood”). And of course, he continued to prosecute the absurd war in Afghanistan where, after nine years, US forces are unable to accomplish the only aims of being there: to control the terrain and to moderate the behavior of the people who live there.
More
By James Howard Kunstler
In an age of gross zeitgeist dysfunction — when untruth, delusion, and deception rule – politics is mere advertising, which is to say surface shimmer playing on the public’s wish-fulfillment fantasies. The trouble at this moment in history is that the American public’s wishful fantasies are inconsistent with the circumstances that reality offers to us and the choices for action that they present.
President Obama’s historical role will be seen as a wish-fulfillment totem for late 20th century progressive liberalism – the first black president. The Democratic Party apotheosized the genial young lawyer with his appealing family in order to demonstrate the triumph of social justice, which was their great struggle of the era. Evidence of that is the striking divergence from the get-go between Mr. Obama’s Hope and Change advertising and his sedulous defense of pervasive racketeering at the highest levels of polity once in office. Otherwise, you must decide whether he was a tool of the giant banks, or a dupe-made-hostage to them, or simply too clueless to understand what was required in 2009 – namely the break-up and reorganization of the banks plus hearty prosecution of their executives for massive swindling (along with reinstatement of the Glass-Steagall Act). I voted for him in 2008, by the way, since the wish-fulfillment motif moved me, and also because of the horrifying McCain-Palin opposition.
In office, then, Mr. Obama quickly proved to be a different breed of porpoise than the voters bargained for. He let the Wall Street privateers run amuck another four years, aided with colossal infusions of conjured-out-of-nothing “money” from the Federal Reserve. He let loose the demons of a high-tech totalitarian “security” state with every sort of electronic surveillance, citizen data-mining, and drone spying that innovation allowed. He stood silent like a Banana Republic store mannequin after the supreme court decided that corporations could buy elections (he could have pushed loudly for legislation or even a constitutional amendment to redefine corporate “personhood”). And of course, he continued to prosecute the absurd war in Afghanistan where, after nine years, US forces are unable to accomplish the only aims of being there: to control the terrain and to moderate the behavior of the people who live there.
More
POLICE ARREST U.S. CITIZEN WITH ALLEGED HEZBOLLAH MEMBERS IN MEXICO
Rafic Mohammad Labboun Allaboun, an American citizen, was arrested Saturday night in the company of a number of suspected Hezbollah operatives, the Yucutan Times reports .
American authorities had already issued an international alert for the man, so after his arrest Allaboun was directly transported to Houston, Texas.
The two other suspected extremists, Justin Yasser Safa from Belize and George Abdalah Elders, remain in Mexican custody, the Times of Israel relates
16% RAISE NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR CHICAGO UNION DRONES
Government unions will destroy the finances of every State and municipality in this country unless they are stopped.
Chicago Teachers Vote to Strike; 350,000 Kids Affected; 16% Raise Over 4 Years Not Good Enough; Strike of Choice; Roadblock to Reform
The average teacher in Chicago makes $76,000 a year for nine months of work. They were offered 16% salary increase spread over four years. Given the system has a $665 million deficit this year and a bigger one next year, I am wondering why there should be a raise at all.
Nonetheless, the New York Times reports With No Contract Deal by Deadline in Chicago, Teachers Will Strike.
“We do not want a strike,” David J. Vitale, president of the Chicago Board of Education, said late Sunday as he left the negotiations, which he described as extraordinarily difficult and “perhaps the most unbelievable process that I’ve ever been through.”
Union leaders said they had hoped not to walk away from their jobs, but they said they were left with little choice.
“This is a difficult decision and one we hoped we could have avoided,” said Karen Lewis, president of the Chicago Teachers Union.
The political stakes now may be highest for Rahm Emanuel, the Democratic mayor in a city with deep union roots. He took office last year holding up the improvement of public schools as one of his top priorities, but now faces arduous political terrain certain to accompany Chicago’s first public schools strike in 25 years.
Late Sunday, Mr. Emanuel told reporters that school district officials had presented a strong offer to the union, including what some officials described as what would amount to a 16 percent raise for many teachers over four years — and that only two minor issues remained. “This is totally unnecessary, it’s avoidable and our kids do not deserve this,” Mr. Emanuel said, describing the decision as “a strike of choice.”
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Chicago Teachers Vote to Strike; 350,000 Kids Affected; 16% Raise Over 4 Years Not Good Enough; Strike of Choice; Roadblock to Reform
The average teacher in Chicago makes $76,000 a year for nine months of work. They were offered 16% salary increase spread over four years. Given the system has a $665 million deficit this year and a bigger one next year, I am wondering why there should be a raise at all.
Nonetheless, the New York Times reports With No Contract Deal by Deadline in Chicago, Teachers Will Strike.
“We do not want a strike,” David J. Vitale, president of the Chicago Board of Education, said late Sunday as he left the negotiations, which he described as extraordinarily difficult and “perhaps the most unbelievable process that I’ve ever been through.”
Union leaders said they had hoped not to walk away from their jobs, but they said they were left with little choice.
“This is a difficult decision and one we hoped we could have avoided,” said Karen Lewis, president of the Chicago Teachers Union.
The political stakes now may be highest for Rahm Emanuel, the Democratic mayor in a city with deep union roots. He took office last year holding up the improvement of public schools as one of his top priorities, but now faces arduous political terrain certain to accompany Chicago’s first public schools strike in 25 years.
Late Sunday, Mr. Emanuel told reporters that school district officials had presented a strong offer to the union, including what some officials described as what would amount to a 16 percent raise for many teachers over four years — and that only two minor issues remained. “This is totally unnecessary, it’s avoidable and our kids do not deserve this,” Mr. Emanuel said, describing the decision as “a strike of choice.”
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SECOND ANNUAL ‘SLUTWALK’ TAKES PLACE IN SAN FRANCISCO
Editor’s note: The following story contains explicit language and content that will offend some readers.
In case you were fortunate enough to miss it, the second annual “SlutWalk ” kicked off in San Francisco on Saturday as crowds of people marched through the streets demanding their right to… be sluts, apparently.
Anyhow, a Pajamas Media contributor, who goes by the name “Zombie ,” was on the scene this weekend and provides us with a first-hand account of the slut-filled mayhem in San Francisco:
The Bill Clinton Myth
Earlier this week, former U.S. president Bill Clinton gave the keynote address [24] to the Democractic National Convention in an effort to lend some of his popularity to Barack Obama. With the unemployment rate still stubbornly high at 8.1%, Obama has lost many of the enthused voters who put him into the Oval Office in 2008. Clinton was tapped to deliver the speech not only because of his image of a wonkish pragmatist but because of his presiding over the booming economy of the late 1990s. Like a prized mule, Clinton was dragged out to give Democrats someone to point to and say that his policies were the hallmark of smart governance.
What attracts the left, both politicians and media, to Slick Willy is the fact that he presided over a thriving economy even while raising taxes. This coincidence was championed as a justification for higher tax rates by Obama in his own speech [25] before the DNC.
I want to reform the tax code so that it’s simple, fair, and asks the wealthiest households to pay higher taxes on incomes over $250,000 – the same rate we had when Bill Clinton was president; the same rate we had when our economy created nearly 23 million new jobs, the biggest surplus in history, and a lot of millionaires to boot.
The Clinton-era tax hikes, it is alleged, provided the federal government the means to create a healthy middle class. Or at least that’s the only casual connection that can be gathered from such a philosophy. The left claims that economic growth is driven primarily by middle class spending. This spending needs to be subsidized in turn by government initiatives. As Nobel Prize winning economist and class warrior Joseph Stiglitz puts it:
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What attracts the left, both politicians and media, to Slick Willy is the fact that he presided over a thriving economy even while raising taxes. This coincidence was championed as a justification for higher tax rates by Obama in his own speech [25] before the DNC.
I want to reform the tax code so that it’s simple, fair, and asks the wealthiest households to pay higher taxes on incomes over $250,000 – the same rate we had when Bill Clinton was president; the same rate we had when our economy created nearly 23 million new jobs, the biggest surplus in history, and a lot of millionaires to boot.
The Clinton-era tax hikes, it is alleged, provided the federal government the means to create a healthy middle class. Or at least that’s the only casual connection that can be gathered from such a philosophy. The left claims that economic growth is driven primarily by middle class spending. This spending needs to be subsidized in turn by government initiatives. As Nobel Prize winning economist and class warrior Joseph Stiglitz puts it:
More
GoDaddy Outage: Hacker Claims To Take Down Millions of GoDaddy Sites
A hacker has claimed responsibility for taking down millions of sites hosted by GoDaddy , TechCrunch reports.
In a Tweet, GoDaddy officials say that they're aware of the problem and are working to fix it.
By around 5:43 p.m. EDT, the GoDaddy.com website was back up and service was restored for the bulk of its customers. GoDaddy spokeswoman Elizabeth Driscoll said there was no loss of sensitive customer information such as credit card data or passwords and that the company was investigating the cause.
Eavesdropping
The House is preparing to reauthorize a post Sept. 11 law that makes it easier for federal agents to eavesdrop on conversations. The FISA Amendments Act lets the government read emails and listen in on phone calls without a warrant. The White House has made it a top priority. But some Democrats say the program is cloaked in secrecy.The Director of National Intelligence recently admitted that agents had used the FISA Amendments Act to spy on law-abiding Americans and had violated their constitutional rights at least once.
Voters See Election As Choice, Not Obama Referendum
A clear majority – 61 percent – of likely voters consider the presidential election to be more of a choice between President Obama and Mitt Romney than a referendum on the president’s first term in office, according to a new poll for The Hill.
Just over one-third — 34 percent — of voters said they considered the election to be a judgment on Obama’s job performance in the White House.
The results offer a measure of good news for Democrats, who have sought to frame the Nov. 6 election primarily as a choice between two candidates with different visions for the country.
FBI Payoff
The FBI promised "martyrdom payments" of up to $1,000 a month to a terrorism suspect. Alexandria resident Amine El-Khalifi eventually said he would kill himself in a plot to bomb the Capitol. He pled guilty in June and will be sentenced Friday. It's just one of several FBI sting operations targeting so-called "homegrown terrorists." But the agency is not saying whether it promised martyrdom payments in any of the other cases. The defense lawyers say they do not believe the FBI actions constitute entrapment.(
Early Voting Costs Counties $2.6M, But Hasn’t Increased Turnout Yet
Overall, voter turnout has not increased, and one national study suggests early voting may have depressed turnout in several states, possibly because election day loses its stimulating effect on non-voters.
Since Maryland implemented early voting in 2010, a small percentage of the electorate has taken advantage of the six-day, pre-election period now afforded under law. Only 2.4% of eligible voters used early voting centers in the 2010 and 2012 primary elections and 6.3% in the 2010 general election, according to the State Board of Elections.
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Government Making Money From AIG Bailout
The Treasury Department says the government is making money from its bailout of the insurance company AIG. It expects to earn a profit of more than $12 billion after selling a big portion of its company shares, and becoming a minority shareholder for the first time. The government will own about one-fifth of the company's shares. The government's bailout of AIG was the biggest rescue of a Wall Street firm, pledging $182 billion to prop up the company.
Overall, the government has recovered about 80 percent of the money it spent through the Troubled Asset Relief Program, the best-known of recession-era financial bailout programs.
Overall, the government has recovered about 80 percent of the money it spent through the Troubled Asset Relief Program, the best-known of recession-era financial bailout programs.
Americans Cut Back On Borrowing For 1st Time In A Year
Americans cut back on borrowing in July for the first time in nearly a year. Credit card use fell for the second straight month, suggesting many consumers remain cautious in the face of high unemployment and slow growth.
Total consumer borrowing dipped $3.3 billion in July from June to a seasonally adjusted $2.705 trillion, the Federal Reserve said Monday. It was the first decline since August 2011. The drop in credit card debt offset a small rise in a measure of auto and student loans.
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Total consumer borrowing dipped $3.3 billion in July from June to a seasonally adjusted $2.705 trillion, the Federal Reserve said Monday. It was the first decline since August 2011. The drop in credit card debt offset a small rise in a measure of auto and student loans.
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Red Meat
The Agriculture Department once again is buying meat from a California slaughterhouse it had investigated for animal cruelty. The department says Central Valley Meat has made improvements after an undercover video showed workers kicking and shocking downed cows.
The Food Safety and Inspection Service says there's no evidence sick cattle made it into the food supply. However the agency plans quarterly audits at the facility for at least the next year. The Department buys meat to supply school lunch and other food programs.
Phelps, Maryland's Olympians Welcomed Home
Arriving aboard the Pride of Baltimore II and hailed by a cannon blast from the Constellation, Michael Phelps and Maryland's other Olympic athletes were celebrated in true local style Monday afternoon by elected officials and an Inner Harbor crowd.
"I hope that you cherish this honor as part of your memories of this summer, and as a reminder that you will always have a home — let me say that one more time, especially for Mr. Phelps — you will always have a home here in Baltimore," said Baltimore MayorStephanie Rawlings-Blake as she gave keys to the city to the famously Las Vegas-loving swimmer and the other Olympic athletes.
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"I hope that you cherish this honor as part of your memories of this summer, and as a reminder that you will always have a home — let me say that one more time, especially for Mr. Phelps — you will always have a home here in Baltimore," said Baltimore MayorStephanie Rawlings-Blake as she gave keys to the city to the famously Las Vegas-loving swimmer and the other Olympic athletes.
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Rep. Andy Harris Statement On The 11th Anniversary Of 9/11
Rep. Andy Harris (MD-01) released the following statement in observance of the 11th anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks:
“Today we remember how America was forever changed one fateful morning eleven years ago. I will never forget where I was when I first heard the horrific news or how I felt for all of the families and the nation affected by this unimaginable tragedy. I join my fellow Americans in prayer today in remembrance of those who lost their lives on that day. It is also important to remember all the brave men and women overseas defending our freedoms and liberties so that nothing like that horrible day in September ever occurs again.”
“Today we remember how America was forever changed one fateful morning eleven years ago. I will never forget where I was when I first heard the horrific news or how I felt for all of the families and the nation affected by this unimaginable tragedy. I join my fellow Americans in prayer today in remembrance of those who lost their lives on that day. It is also important to remember all the brave men and women overseas defending our freedoms and liberties so that nothing like that horrible day in September ever occurs again.”
Congress Faces Continuing Resolution, Sequestration And Postal Reform
Lawmakers returned to Washington, D.C., this week with a packed agenda. Topping the list of priorities is hammering out final details of a stopgap spending measure to keep the government running beyond the end of the fiscal year -- Sept. 30. Amid the election-year politicking, the list of unfinished business also includes legislation to restructure the financially ailing U.S. Postal Service and a cybersecurity bill that aims to safeguard the nation's critical infrastructure.
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Seaford & Laurel School Districts Closed Today For 9-11
Will 9-11 become a National Holiday? If parts of Delaware have anything to do with it, it just might. The school district is calling it an in service day. The Teachers are there but ALL Children have been excused.
New Windsor Farmers Start State’s First Sheep Dairy
Tucked on the outskirts of New Windsor, Shepherds Manor Creamery is the first sheep dairy in Maryland, making artisan cheeses and delicate soaps from their sheep’s milk, which they sell at special events such as The Maryland Wine Festival in Westminster Sept. 15 and 16.
Ten years ago, owners Colleen and Michael Histon couldn’t have guessed that the farm and cheese making business would be in their future. When their children were in 4-H, it was normal to have a few market lambs, of the meat variety, or a dairy heifer in their 2.5-acre back yard in Mount Airy. Once the kids got older and moved on, Colleen continued to raise a few lambs as a personal source of meat, and even got into showing them at the local fairs.
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Ten years ago, owners Colleen and Michael Histon couldn’t have guessed that the farm and cheese making business would be in their future. When their children were in 4-H, it was normal to have a few market lambs, of the meat variety, or a dairy heifer in their 2.5-acre back yard in Mount Airy. Once the kids got older and moved on, Colleen continued to raise a few lambs as a personal source of meat, and even got into showing them at the local fairs.
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WCSO Press Releases 9-11-12
Incident: Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol
Date of Incident: 8 September 2012
Location: Bateman Street at South Division Street, Salisbury, MD
Suspect: Trey Michael Davis, 23, Cambridge, MD
Narrative: On 8 September 2012 at 1:52 AM, a deputy from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office stopped a Ford F-250 that the deputy observed driving the wrong way on the one way section of Bateman Street as the F-250 approached South Division Street. The deputy stopped the F250 and detected a strong odor of alcohol emanating from within the passenger compartment. The driver, Trey Davis, exited the
truck for the purpose of sobriety testing. The deputy concluded after testing that Davis was operating his vehicle under the influence of alcohol and placed him under arrest.
The deputy transported Davis to the Sheriff’s Office for processing, during which Davis declined to take a breath test.
Davis was released upon the issuance of citations.
Charges: Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol.
Incident: Driving Under the Influence
Date of Incident: 9 September 2012
Location: 300 block of N. Camden Avenue, Salisbury, MD
Suspect: Steven Michael Carey, 61, Fruitland, MD
Narrative: On 9 September 2012 at 1:15 AM, a deputy from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office responded to a reported three car collision in the 300 block of N. Camden Avenue. Upon arrival, the deputy discovered that Steven Carey of Fruitland had been southbound on North Camden Avenue when Carey’s vehicle struck the rear end of a stopped van owned and operated by Salisbury University that was
stopped in the roadway for the purpose of picking up passengers. Investigation revealed that the four way flashers of the van were operating. After striking the rear of the van, Carey’s vehicle was then bounced into the path of a third vehicle that was travelling northbound causing that third vehicle to become involved in the collision.
Upon making contact with the Carey, the deputy detected a strong odor of alcohol and suspected that Carey was under the Influence. Upon being asked if he had been drinking, Carey replied that he had not.
At the conclusion of sobriety testing, the deputy placed Carey under arrest. The deputy also noted that Carey had trouble standing and had to assist Carey to the patrol vehicle.
Carey refused to take a breath test during processing. Carey was released upon the issuance of citations.
Charges: Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol
Negligent Driving
Too Fast For Conditions
Incident: Obstructing and Hindering
Date of Incident: 8 September 2012
Location: 1000 block of East Road, Salisbury, MD
Suspect: Brandon D. Sykes, 28, Salisbury, MD
Narrative: On 8 September 2012 at 8:45 PM, a deputy from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office responded to investigate a reported domestic dispute in the 1000 block of East Road. Upon arrival the deputy met with a female subject who resided there who stated she wanted a male subject to leave the residence. While the deputy attempted to investigate the event, the name of the male subject was requested by deputy. The male subject, who was very agitated by the presence of the deputy, replied “(Expletive) You, I don’t have to give you my name”. The female identified the male as Brandon Sykes, who then exclaimed “Don’t you tell him my name (expletive)”. When asked to confirm his identity, Sykes replied he did not have one. The refusal of Sykes to confirm his identity made it difficult for the deputy to complete and investigation.
The deputy placed Sykes under arrest for Hindering and Obstruction and transported Sykes to the Central Booking Unit. While en-route, the deputy obtained a photo of Sykes via his Mobile Date Terminal and confirmed Sykes identity. Sykes was processed at the Central Booking Unit and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner. After an initial appearance, the Commissioner detained Sykes in the Detention Center in lieu of $15,000.00 bond.
Charges: Obstructing and Hindering
Date of Incident: 8 September 2012
Location: Bateman Street at South Division Street, Salisbury, MD
Suspect: Trey Michael Davis, 23, Cambridge, MD
Narrative: On 8 September 2012 at 1:52 AM, a deputy from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office stopped a Ford F-250 that the deputy observed driving the wrong way on the one way section of Bateman Street as the F-250 approached South Division Street. The deputy stopped the F250 and detected a strong odor of alcohol emanating from within the passenger compartment. The driver, Trey Davis, exited the
truck for the purpose of sobriety testing. The deputy concluded after testing that Davis was operating his vehicle under the influence of alcohol and placed him under arrest.
The deputy transported Davis to the Sheriff’s Office for processing, during which Davis declined to take a breath test.
Davis was released upon the issuance of citations.
Charges: Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol.
Incident: Driving Under the Influence
Date of Incident: 9 September 2012
Location: 300 block of N. Camden Avenue, Salisbury, MD
Suspect: Steven Michael Carey, 61, Fruitland, MD
Narrative: On 9 September 2012 at 1:15 AM, a deputy from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office responded to a reported three car collision in the 300 block of N. Camden Avenue. Upon arrival, the deputy discovered that Steven Carey of Fruitland had been southbound on North Camden Avenue when Carey’s vehicle struck the rear end of a stopped van owned and operated by Salisbury University that was
stopped in the roadway for the purpose of picking up passengers. Investigation revealed that the four way flashers of the van were operating. After striking the rear of the van, Carey’s vehicle was then bounced into the path of a third vehicle that was travelling northbound causing that third vehicle to become involved in the collision.
Upon making contact with the Carey, the deputy detected a strong odor of alcohol and suspected that Carey was under the Influence. Upon being asked if he had been drinking, Carey replied that he had not.
At the conclusion of sobriety testing, the deputy placed Carey under arrest. The deputy also noted that Carey had trouble standing and had to assist Carey to the patrol vehicle.
Carey refused to take a breath test during processing. Carey was released upon the issuance of citations.
Charges: Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol
Negligent Driving
Too Fast For Conditions
Incident: Obstructing and Hindering
Date of Incident: 8 September 2012
Location: 1000 block of East Road, Salisbury, MD
Suspect: Brandon D. Sykes, 28, Salisbury, MD
Narrative: On 8 September 2012 at 8:45 PM, a deputy from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office responded to investigate a reported domestic dispute in the 1000 block of East Road. Upon arrival the deputy met with a female subject who resided there who stated she wanted a male subject to leave the residence. While the deputy attempted to investigate the event, the name of the male subject was requested by deputy. The male subject, who was very agitated by the presence of the deputy, replied “(Expletive) You, I don’t have to give you my name”. The female identified the male as Brandon Sykes, who then exclaimed “Don’t you tell him my name (expletive)”. When asked to confirm his identity, Sykes replied he did not have one. The refusal of Sykes to confirm his identity made it difficult for the deputy to complete and investigation.
The deputy placed Sykes under arrest for Hindering and Obstruction and transported Sykes to the Central Booking Unit. While en-route, the deputy obtained a photo of Sykes via his Mobile Date Terminal and confirmed Sykes identity. Sykes was processed at the Central Booking Unit and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner. After an initial appearance, the Commissioner detained Sykes in the Detention Center in lieu of $15,000.00 bond.
Charges: Obstructing and Hindering
SSO Offers 2012-13 Season Ticket Plan
The Salisbury Symphony Orchestra at Salisbury University (SSO) offers a season ticket package for 2012-13, good for four upcoming concerts in Holloway Hall Auditorium. Internationally renowned violist Roberto DÃaz inaugurates the season with a solo recital 7:30 p.m. Saturday, September 29. The for mer principal violist of the Philadelphia Orchestra, DÃaz is the president and CEO of that city’s acclaimed Curtis Institute of Music. He has performed with some of the nation’s most popular musicians and ensembles, including Yo-Yo Ma and the Boston Pops.
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Today's Fill In The Blank 9-11-12
After watching/hearing/reading about last nights Salisbury City Council Meeting, I think things went ______.Notes From The Wicomico County Board Of Education: Meeting At 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 11; Board Notes Posted From August Meeting
The Wicomico County Board of Education will hold its next monthly meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 11 at the Board of Education office in Salisbury. The agenda is posted online at BoardDocs, the school system’s new paperless online meeting system. Visit this link to view the agenda:
http://www.boarddocs.com/mabe/wcboe/Board.nsf/Public
Board Notes provide an unofficial summary of business conducted at recent meetings of the Wicomico County Board of Education. The Board of Education at its monthly meeting held on Aug. 14, 2012:
BoardDocs Pro
Began using BoardDocs Pro, a paperless online meeting system designed to deliver better public access to agendas and supporting materials, increased efficiency and significant cost savings in some areas. Robert Langan, Director of Technology, explained how the community can view meeting agendas and can virtually attend a meeting through following the BoardDocs scoreboard, which shows votes on agenda items. Other Boards have confirmed that BoardDocs is a useful tool for managing Board agendas, policies, minutes and other Board business. The Board will work toward making BoardDocs the repository of its policies so they are searchable locally and by other BoardDocs members. The Board anticipates saving paper and about $14,000 in distribution costs each year while offering improved access to information to the community.
BoardDocs for Wicomico County Public Schools is located at http://www.boarddocs.com/mabe/wcboe/Board.nsf/Public
The Scoreboard, for access during meetings, is at http://www.boarddocs.com/mabe/wcboe/Board.nsf/scoreboard.
Superintendent’s Report
Superintendent of Schools Dr. John E. Fredericksen shared with the Board that:
-He and other school system officials attended a meeting of the Wicomico County Chapter of the NAACP to participate in a discussion on the question, “Are black students disciplined more harshly than whites?” Preliminary findings appear to indicate that the answer is yes, and that disciplinary differences manifest in multiple, often subtle ways. Wicomico school officials will continue to discuss the issue with the NAACP and others in the community, and will explore ways of addressing the issue with families, staff and students.
-The Consistent Attire Program (CAP) pilot is ready to kick off in nine elementary schools: Beaver Run, Charles H. Chipman, Delmar, North Salisbury, Pemberton, Pinehurst, Prince Street, Wicomico Early Learning Center and West Salisbury. CAP dress requirements will be in effect with the start of the new school year Aug. 27, and schools will work with students and families to ensure full compliance. Some students from Title I schools who attended a summer camp for children in homeless circumstances received a flyer (not a voucher, as was erroneously stated) about CAP clothing; qualifying students could receive three sets of CAP outfits, purchased from a dedicated Title I fund for serving homeless students. Research has shown that consistent attire improves discipline, safety and learning, and results in savings for families.
-Applications for Free and Reduced Meals (FARMs) have already exceeded 6,000 for the new school year, with more expected in the coming weeks. Wicomico had 58% of its students eligible for free and reduced-price meals last year due to family income.
-The Summer Feeding Program run by Food Services was very successful, and will look to add even more faith-based partner locations next year.
-Wicomico is rolling out “Why Try!,” a Christian Moore program designed to help students succeed. Themes include relationships, relevancy and resilience, and understanding different styles of learning including seeing (visual), hearing (auditory) and feeling (kinesthetic). “Why Try!” is being tried out in a few schools first.
-Teams are continuing to make great progress on developing effective observation/evaluation tools for teachers, with professional development on the new tools done Aug. 13 and 14 for principals, supervisors and coordinators. Work continues on setting the criteria for measuring student growth for principal evaluations. A full work session was set for Sept. 4.
-About 130 principals and supervisors attended the 2012 Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) Educator Effectiveness Academy held in Cambridge this summer. Sixty people had training at North Salisbury Elementary on Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) flexibility, the new School Progress Index (which replaces Adequate Yearly Progress, or AYP), the new teacher evaluation system, and Year 3 action plan and budget for Race to the Top.
-The Comprehensive Master Plan will soon have its annual update, with some changes due to ESEA flexibility and new Master Plan requirements. Race to the Top is integrated into the Master Plan. Wicomico is awaiting guidance from MSDE for the update, which is due Oct. 15.
-Technology renovations are nearing completion to have a secure staff wireless network and an “EDUGUEST” network to provide access for guests during meetings and special events. The school system also had a new, higher-speed connection with Comcast at a lower cost than the previous contract. A cutover to the new Outlook system for email is planned for Sept. 28, and the school system is looking at shortening the current five-year length of time it keeps emails in its archive due to storage issues.
-Facility Services has taken care of building projects throughout the school system this summer, include the roof and parking area/access lane at Fruitland Intermediate, locker replacement at Pittsville Elementary and Middle, roof replacement at Charles H. Chipman Elementary, and auditorium upgrades at Parkside High and Wicomico High.
-The school system continues to work on adjustments to programming because of the non-renewal of the STARS I grant.
-The attendance policy review is continuing.
-The equipping of buses with Zonar GPS systems continues, with installations scheduled for Aug. 24. Three days of bus inspections will also take place in August to ensure that all buses meet safety requirements to transport Wicomico students.
-The first Superintendent’s Open Door of the 2012-13 school year will be held 4-6 p.m. Sept. 26 at the Board of Education Office. Anyone who wishes to share comments, concerns or questions with the Superintendent may come in that timeframe for a 15-minute meeting on a first-come, first-served basis.
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http://www.boarddocs.com/mabe/wcboe/Board.nsf/Public
Board Notes provide an unofficial summary of business conducted at recent meetings of the Wicomico County Board of Education. The Board of Education at its monthly meeting held on Aug. 14, 2012:
BoardDocs Pro
Began using BoardDocs Pro, a paperless online meeting system designed to deliver better public access to agendas and supporting materials, increased efficiency and significant cost savings in some areas. Robert Langan, Director of Technology, explained how the community can view meeting agendas and can virtually attend a meeting through following the BoardDocs scoreboard, which shows votes on agenda items. Other Boards have confirmed that BoardDocs is a useful tool for managing Board agendas, policies, minutes and other Board business. The Board will work toward making BoardDocs the repository of its policies so they are searchable locally and by other BoardDocs members. The Board anticipates saving paper and about $14,000 in distribution costs each year while offering improved access to information to the community.
BoardDocs for Wicomico County Public Schools is located at http://www.boarddocs.com/mabe/wcboe/Board.nsf/Public
The Scoreboard, for access during meetings, is at http://www.boarddocs.com/mabe/wcboe/Board.nsf/scoreboard.
Superintendent’s Report
Superintendent of Schools Dr. John E. Fredericksen shared with the Board that:
-He and other school system officials attended a meeting of the Wicomico County Chapter of the NAACP to participate in a discussion on the question, “Are black students disciplined more harshly than whites?” Preliminary findings appear to indicate that the answer is yes, and that disciplinary differences manifest in multiple, often subtle ways. Wicomico school officials will continue to discuss the issue with the NAACP and others in the community, and will explore ways of addressing the issue with families, staff and students.
-The Consistent Attire Program (CAP) pilot is ready to kick off in nine elementary schools: Beaver Run, Charles H. Chipman, Delmar, North Salisbury, Pemberton, Pinehurst, Prince Street, Wicomico Early Learning Center and West Salisbury. CAP dress requirements will be in effect with the start of the new school year Aug. 27, and schools will work with students and families to ensure full compliance. Some students from Title I schools who attended a summer camp for children in homeless circumstances received a flyer (not a voucher, as was erroneously stated) about CAP clothing; qualifying students could receive three sets of CAP outfits, purchased from a dedicated Title I fund for serving homeless students. Research has shown that consistent attire improves discipline, safety and learning, and results in savings for families.
-Applications for Free and Reduced Meals (FARMs) have already exceeded 6,000 for the new school year, with more expected in the coming weeks. Wicomico had 58% of its students eligible for free and reduced-price meals last year due to family income.
-The Summer Feeding Program run by Food Services was very successful, and will look to add even more faith-based partner locations next year.
-Wicomico is rolling out “Why Try!,” a Christian Moore program designed to help students succeed. Themes include relationships, relevancy and resilience, and understanding different styles of learning including seeing (visual), hearing (auditory) and feeling (kinesthetic). “Why Try!” is being tried out in a few schools first.
-Teams are continuing to make great progress on developing effective observation/evaluation tools for teachers, with professional development on the new tools done Aug. 13 and 14 for principals, supervisors and coordinators. Work continues on setting the criteria for measuring student growth for principal evaluations. A full work session was set for Sept. 4.
-About 130 principals and supervisors attended the 2012 Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) Educator Effectiveness Academy held in Cambridge this summer. Sixty people had training at North Salisbury Elementary on Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) flexibility, the new School Progress Index (which replaces Adequate Yearly Progress, or AYP), the new teacher evaluation system, and Year 3 action plan and budget for Race to the Top.
-The Comprehensive Master Plan will soon have its annual update, with some changes due to ESEA flexibility and new Master Plan requirements. Race to the Top is integrated into the Master Plan. Wicomico is awaiting guidance from MSDE for the update, which is due Oct. 15.
-Technology renovations are nearing completion to have a secure staff wireless network and an “EDUGUEST” network to provide access for guests during meetings and special events. The school system also had a new, higher-speed connection with Comcast at a lower cost than the previous contract. A cutover to the new Outlook system for email is planned for Sept. 28, and the school system is looking at shortening the current five-year length of time it keeps emails in its archive due to storage issues.
-Facility Services has taken care of building projects throughout the school system this summer, include the roof and parking area/access lane at Fruitland Intermediate, locker replacement at Pittsville Elementary and Middle, roof replacement at Charles H. Chipman Elementary, and auditorium upgrades at Parkside High and Wicomico High.
-The school system continues to work on adjustments to programming because of the non-renewal of the STARS I grant.
-The attendance policy review is continuing.
-The equipping of buses with Zonar GPS systems continues, with installations scheduled for Aug. 24. Three days of bus inspections will also take place in August to ensure that all buses meet safety requirements to transport Wicomico students.
-The first Superintendent’s Open Door of the 2012-13 school year will be held 4-6 p.m. Sept. 26 at the Board of Education Office. Anyone who wishes to share comments, concerns or questions with the Superintendent may come in that timeframe for a 15-minute meeting on a first-come, first-served basis.
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Giving Equal Air Time
Mr. McGee who wrote to you about the paper delivery yesterday is a liar. We have GPS and Cameras in the car.
He swerved at the car. Tailgated them and conducted an illegal traffic stop on them.
He cursed out the Honor Roll kids and local athletes and threaten 16year old for delivering a FREE paper. They never broke 51 yesterday and in his area the top speed posted is 31mph. I suspect he was more upset that we recorded the whole thing and that I called him back.
Mr. McGee was furious when I called him back - he wanted to know how I got his number - his company name MCGEE ELECTRIC is on the side of his van. Then the rocket scientist threatened me and said we have delivered to him for 14 weeks. Funny since this was our 5th paper and the first time we delivered to his area!
If you don't want a paper - no worries! This was our last week of delivering 5000+ to home in the area. We will only deliver 1000 to a different area each week as our subscription base has grown into a full time job.
This is supposed to be a community paper with community events, and community photos and community stories... and its free! We have had an overwhelming positive response.
Anyone wanting free home delivery we will soon have boxes for you for free as well. We will do our best not to deliver to people that are on the list of no home deliveries.
The paper cost over $1.25 per paper to produce - we don't want any wasted. AND IF WE DOUBLE DELIVERED or delivered one or two you don't want, then use them for crab paper but for goodness sake take a deep breath and don't act like the guy from McGee Electric! We want this to be a positive thing for our community. Take care and God Bless.
John D. Robinson, Sr.
Rep. Andy Harris Military Service Academy Nominations
Congressman Andy Harris is pleased to announce that the U.S. Military Service Academies nomination applications are now available for those wishing to join the class of 2017. Each year, Congressman Andy Harris will nominate some of the finest young men and women from the 1st Congressional District for appointments to the U.S. Military, Naval, Air Force, and Merchant Marine Academies. The Coast Guard Academy does not require a Congressional nomination. Those fortunate enough to gain admission to a U.S. Service Academy will receive one of the most respected college educational experiences in the nation.
Admission is based on SAT/ACT scores, class rank, physical aptitude scores, extracurricular activities, athletic abilities and medical examinations. Academies accept applications on a rolling admissions basis beginning in September. Final acceptance however is contingent upon also receiving a nomination from an authorized source such as one's congressman or senator. The deadline to apply for a nomination from Congressman Harris is November 1, 2012. Any resident of the 1st District between the ages of 17 and 23 is encouraged to apply. Interviews will be conducted in November, and the Service Academies will be notified of Congressman Harris' nominations by December 31.
Admission is based on SAT/ACT scores, class rank, physical aptitude scores, extracurricular activities, athletic abilities and medical examinations. Academies accept applications on a rolling admissions basis beginning in September. Final acceptance however is contingent upon also receiving a nomination from an authorized source such as one's congressman or senator. The deadline to apply for a nomination from Congressman Harris is November 1, 2012. Any resident of the 1st District between the ages of 17 and 23 is encouraged to apply. Interviews will be conducted in November, and the Service Academies will be notified of Congressman Harris' nominations by December 31.
Mitt Romney, President Obama Pause Political Ads on 9/11
It could be the only day before Nov. 6 without explicit partisan rancor.
Both President Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney plan to take down their negative ads in honor of the 11th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Neither planned to appear at overtly political events, although Election Day is never far from their agendas.
Obama has scheduled a moment of silence at the White House and a trip to the Pentagon, the target of one of four planes al-Qaida hijacked 11 years ago. Romney, meanwhile, is set to address the National Guard, whose members deployed as part of the U.S. response to the attacks.
MoreNFL Week One Recap
Things basically went according to plan in the NFL yesterday.
The favorites won big, mostly in blowouts, and the lone shocker was the Jets transforming into an unstoppable juggernaut on offense.
But while the results were boring, the action was not.
We had celebration fails, bone-crunching hits, and one spitting-mad coach.
We picked our 10 favorite GIFs from yesterday and ranked them.
Enjoy.
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The favorites won big, mostly in blowouts, and the lone shocker was the Jets transforming into an unstoppable juggernaut on offense.
But while the results were boring, the action was not.
We had celebration fails, bone-crunching hits, and one spitting-mad coach.
We picked our 10 favorite GIFs from yesterday and ranked them.
Enjoy.
More
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