Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf Buried at West Point

Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf, the no-nonsense Desert Storm commander famously nicknamed "Stormin' Norman," graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, soaking up its values: "Duty, Honor, Country."

He married here. He taught here. And on Thursday he was buried here.

His family and friends joined Kuwaiti officials, former Secretary of State Colin Powell, former Vice President Dick Cheney, gray clad cadets and a detail of New Jersey state troopers for a memorial service in the academy's gothic chapel Thursday afternoon. His remains were buried afterward at the cemetery on the grounds of the storied military institution.

"Norman Schwarzkopf, Class of '56, has come home," Powell said during the service.
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BP Put Profits Ahead Of Safety

That's what Justice Department Attorney Mike Underhill argued yesterday, in the first phase of the trial that could force the oil giant to pay tens of billions more in damages for the 2010 Gulf oil disaster. According to the Associated Press, BP has already racked up $24 billion in spill-related expenses and $4 billion in criminal penalties, but could face up to $18 billion more under the Clean Water Act, and additional fines if found grossly negligent in the high-stakes civil trial. The libility of the rig owner Transocean and cement contractor Haliburton are also at issue in the tiral's first phase. During opening arguments yesterday, the three companies pointed fingers at each other in a triangle of blame, but BP received the brunt of accusations, from its partners and other plaintiffs in the case. The Justice Department's Mike Underhill piled on, saying, "Despite BP's attempts to shift the blame to other parties, by far the primary fault for the disaster belongs to BP." This first phase of trial is designed to determine what caused the blowout and determine responsibility of each of the three companies. This phase could last as long as three months, as the case involves hundreds of attorneys, 90 million pages of documents, and more than 300 depositions from witnesses. Once this phase is complete, the second phase of trial will determine how much crude oil actually spilled into the Gulf. This trial is one of the most complex and costly civil cases our nation has ever seen, and it will be months before we see an outcome. Although no amount of money can ever fully repair the damage done to the Gulf, or bring back the 11 people who died on the rig, at least we'll finally see BP, Transocean, and Haliburton have to answer for the largest environmental disaster in our nation's history.

Trial Date Set For Accused Fort Hood Shooter Case

The accused Fort Hood shooter trial has been scheduled to start on July 1, 2013.

It has been nearly four years since the shooting happened on post. Maj. Nidal Hasan is accused of opening fire on Fort Hood in November 2009.

Thirteen people were killed and 32 others wounded in the incident.

A pretrial hearing was held on post today where a change of venue request was one of the issues discussed.
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We're Sick Of It

Americans may be sick of sequestration and it hasn't even happened yet. A new Pew Research Center poll shows 3 in 4 Americans aren't paying close attention to the federal budget crisis. That's fewer than the number who closely followed the fiscal cliff crisis in December. Pollsters say Americans may have crisis fatigue. Congress remains deadlocked over a deal to avoid the sequester, just two days before it is supposed to begin. Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) will propose a solution today. But he is a Democrat in the GOP-controlled House and he has no co-sponsors.

WOODWARD ISN’T ALONE: FORMER CLINTON AIDE (AND OBAMA SUPPORTER) CLAIMS WHITE HOUSE THREATENED OVER HIS ARTICLES, TOO

Journalist Bob Woodward’s war with the White House has been surprising to say the least. But now, just one day after the scandal broke, another person is coming forward with claims that an Obama administration official also issued threats over his editorial work.

Lanny Davis, formerly special counsel to President Bill Clinton, announced in a radio interview with WMAL this morning, that his critical articles led to a warning that was eerily similar to the one given to Woodward. This is particularly surprising, because Davis is apparently a supporter of President Barack Obama.

According to the former Clinton administration official, a column he wrote for The Washington Times attracted the administration’s attention and led to a threatening phone call with his former editor, John Solomon.
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Gun Control Works

Well now...something completely different.

 Gun Control Works

Lawmakers, Vet Groups Panning Pentagon's New Medal

The military's new medal for cyber warriors should get a demotion, according to veterans groups and lawmakers who say it shouldn't outrank such revered honors as the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart.

The Distinguished Warfare Medal, announced by the Defense Department two weeks ago, is a sign of the changing nature of war, in which attacks conducted remotely have played an increasingly important role in gathering intelligence and killing enemy fighters and terrorists. It will recognize extraordinary achievement related to a military operation occurring after Sept. 11, 2001.

But the Veterans of Foreign War and other groups say that ranking it ahead of the Bronze Star and Purple Heart is an injustice to those who served on the front-lines.
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Twenty-Eight Wicomico Teachers Named Semifinalists For Wicomico Teacher Of The Year

Twenty-eight educators from throughout Wicomico County Public Schools have been named semifinalists for 2013-14 Wicomico Teacher of the Year. The semifinalists will meet this week with a blue ribbon panel of judges and will find out on Thursday, March 21 who will be named the new Wicomico Teacher of the Year.The annual Wicomico Teacher of the Year banquet, with more than 200 guests including dozens of outstanding teachers, will be held at The Commons at Salisbury University beginning at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 21. The banquet will also feature student musicians and the honoring of a new Friend of Education.
Congratulations to all of these semifinalists for 2013-14 Wicomico Teacher of the Year:
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County And Municipal Organizations Would Have To Follow Lobbying Rules Under Proposed Bill

The staff of the Maryland Association of Counties (MACo) and the Maryland Municipal League (MML), which represent local governments at the State House, would have to file as registered lobbyists and follow lobbying laws under a bill being considered in the House of Delegates.

Del. Tom Hucker, a Montgomery County Democrat, sponsored the legislation to close what he considers a lobbying loophole for MACo and MML, which both oppose the bill.

“They’re among the most powerful interest groups in Annapolis, and that’s exactly why it would serve the public interest and strengthen public confidence in our ethics law and the General Assembly itself if they played by the same set of rules as any other lobbyist in Annapolis,” Hucker told the House Environmental Matters Committee at a hearing on Tuesday.
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Peek A Boo

Air Show Will Go On Even Without Blue Angels, Military Teams, Promoter Reports

OCEAN CITY – The organizer of the OC Air Show assured the Mayor and Council this week the show will go on in June, despite the possible grounding of headlining military acts, such as the U.S. Navy Blue Angels, due to the looming possibility of sequestration.

The Blue Angels are scheduled to make their inaugural appearance in Ocean City as they headline this year’s OC Air Show on June 8-9.

This week Bryan Lilley of Ocean City Air Show LLC came before the Mayor and City Council to announce additional acts in this summer’s show. Besides the Blue Angels, military performers will be USN F-18 Hornet Demo, the 101st Airborne Screaming Eagles, and the F-22 Raptor Demo Team. So far civilian acts will be the Red Bull Helicopter, Mike Wiskus and the Lucas Oil Pitts, and the Geico Skytypers.
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WICOMICO COUNTY EXECUTIVE POLLITT’S BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE TAKES NEXT STEP

Salisbury, MD – Wicomico County Executive Rick Pollitt’s economic development initiative to decouple the Personal Property Tax, takes an important step tomorrow, Tuesday February 27th as it goes before the Senate’s Budget and Taxation Committee in Annapolis. As president of the Maryland Association of Counties (MACo), Pollitt collaborated with his colleagues around the state and persuaded them to adopt his proposal as a 2013 legislative priority. Pollitt will testify beginning at 2pm in support of this legislation introduced to spur growth and job creation.

County Executive Pollitt first introduced his economic growth plan to expand and diversify the county’s business base by focusing on economic development during the annual State of the County Address in December 2012. This plan, which also includes phasing out the county’s Inventory Tax over 5 years and making the manufacturing tax exemption automatic, constitutes the first phase of a constructive framework that will transform Wicomico County into a growth-promoting business environment.

Pollitt commented, "My initiative to give county governments the flexibility to consider property tax rates separately from personal property, or business, tax rates, is gaining momentum in the General Assembly as a MACo priority. We expect a favorable outcome with this effort to further our goal of aggressive economic development policies that support my bridge to our business community."

Among Executive Pollitt’s goals for implementation include improving the county’s competitive position, attracting new businesses to the county, encouraging entrepreneurship, investing in infrastructure and encouraging businesses to thrive.

Mandated Paid Sick Leaves Draws Support, Opposition

Armed with statistics and touching personal stories, dozens of witnesses stepped forward Wednesday to endorse and oppose the Maryland Earned Sick and Safe Leave Act, which would mandate all Maryland employers give full-time employees up to seven days of paid sick leave.

On one side, individuals and labor coalitions demanded fair business standards and rights for workers. On the other, small business owners and business groups projected dire economic consequences.

The bill, in conjunction with a proposal to raise the state minimum wage, put workers’ rights center stage at the House Economic Matters hearing.
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Words Of Wisdom

Obamacare Will Force State Government To Spend Millions On Health Care For Contract Employees

State budget officials do not know how many state employees will qualify for medical coverage under the federal Affordable Care Act, or how much it will cost to comply with provisions beginning Jan. 1.

That number could be as high as $88 million for Maryland government, according to an analysis presented Tuesday by the Department of Legislative Services. The analysis showed the cost could dip to $20 million or lower if the state decides to pay a penalty instead of subsidizing coverage.

But in any case it is extremely unlikely the number would be as high as $88 million, said Anne Timmons, director of employee benefits for the Department of Budget & Management.
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Trust Me, This Time Is Different

By 1789, a lot of French people were starving. Their economy had long since deteriorated into a weak, pitiful shell. Decades of unsustainable spending had left the French treasury depleted. The currency was being rapidly debased. Food was scarce, and expensive.

Perhaps most famously, though, the French monarchy was dangerously out of touch with reality, historically enshrined with the quip, “Let them eat cake.”

The Bourbon monarchy paid the price for it, eventually losing their heads in a 1793 execution. But it took the French economy decades to finally recover.

Along the way, the government tried an experiment: issuing a form of paper money. It didn’t matter to the French politicians that every previous experiment with paper money in history had been an absolute disaster.

As French Assemblyman M. Matrineau put it in 1790, “Paper money under a despotism is dangerous. It favors corruption. But in a nation constitutionally governed, which itself takes care in the emission of its notes [and] determines their number and use, that danger no longer exists.”

Translation: This time is different. We’re different. We’re smarter. We won’t suffer the same fate. TRUST US.

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Delmarva Public Radio Gets Offer Of Support

Salisbury University’s president is offering Delmarva Public Radio a new home and continued financial support if organizations not affiliated with the school help support stations WSCL-FM and WSDL-FM.

News of the university’s offer came following a Feb. 14 meeting of Salisbury University Foundation’s public radio advisory committee.

The foundation owns licenses for both stations, but under the proposal from University President Janet Dudley-Eshbach, that would change. She is asking the foundation to transfer license ownership to the university. The transfer could take 60 to 90 days to complete.

“This would give campus leadership day-to-day responsibility for DPR operations and, in turn, provide the stations access to more resources and expertise in areas such as management, budgeting and marketing,” Dudley-Eshbach said in a Feb. 14 press release.
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Fracking More Risky Than It’s Worth, Says Environment Maryland

Annapolis—As a state senate committee held hearings on a number of bills related to “hydraulic fracturing,” or “fracking,” Environment Maryland Director Tommy Landers issued this statement:

“We have already seen the many dangers of fracking in other states, especially nearby Pennsylvania. We think it’s important to look at the evidence before us, and we believe the evidence available today compels us to ban fracking in Maryland. This dirty drilling practice is simply more risky than it’s worth for our state.

We are at a critical fork in the road. As the state spends money on future energy infrastructure, we can either invest in more fossil fuel equipment that will only lead to more costly damage to our environment and public health, or we can invest in energy efficiency and truly clean, renewable energy that will help stabilize our energy costs over time, stabilize our climate, and clean up our air and water. We cannot afford to continue investing in dirty energy. Marylanders have said they agree with that. In a recent poll, 73% of Marylanders said they’d want any new power plant to use renewable energy, not more fossil fuels.

It’s important to look at the many costs that fracking would likely incur to the citizens of Maryland. Over the course of the entire fracking process, these are some of the many costs to society of fracking:

Drinking Water Contamination – In rural areas where fracking occurs, most residents rely on groundwater for household and agricultural use. If this water source is contaminated, it can take years, decades, or even centuries to clean naturally. It can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to remove toxic contaminants from groundwater, so residents must use costly methods of water replacement such as potable water delivery, which, for example, cost an estimated $350,000 in Colorado. Surface water contamination can also cause a need for expensive extra water treatment by local facilities.

Health Problems – In Texas, Colorado, and Pennsylvania, residents living near fracking sites have experienced health problems such as rashes, blisters, headaches, nausea, eye irritation, and respiratory problems. These health impacts lead to economic costs of treatment, prescription drugs, workplace absenteeism, and reduced productivity. It is also a dangerous job for oil and gas workers, who are at risk for accidents resulting in death and long-term health problems such as silicosis.

Damage to Natural Resources – Fracking can lead to more runoff pollution due to clearing forested land for well sites. Especially in western Maryland, scenic and economically valuable natural places like Deep Creek Lake could be threatened. Also, the Chesapeake Bay could be harmed by spills of fracking wastewater.

Impacts on Public Infrastructure and Services – The process of delivering water to a single well site causes as much damage to roads as nearly 3.5 million car trips, which means local governments will have to pay to repave roads more often. Fracking can also lead to increased demand for water, emergency response services, and affordable housing.

Broader Economic Impacts – When people come into a rural area to drill, they create “boomtowns” that end up worse off in the long run. It can also harm the value of residents’ homes and damage their agricultural livelihood due to livestock exposure to wastewater.

Oil and gas companies rarely cover the economic, health, and environmental costs of fracking, and taxpayers are ultimately the ones who must bear this burden. The risk of allowing fracking in our state is too high for the taxpayers to bear.”

Debbie Campbell Has Sealed Her Spot In The District 2 General Election

Absentee Ballots are in and while 60 remain uncounted for District 2, Debbie Campbell has sealed her second place finish with around 90 additional votes over Jack Heath and only 60 left to count. 

GET THIS, in District 1, Shanie now has 69 votes all together and are you ready, Cynthia Polk now has 52 votes and April Jackson has 51 votes. They are still only ONE vote apart. 

It Was September 1966

WASHINGTON - At 5 years old, I made history in my hometown of Vauxhall, N.J. My siblings and I were among the first black children to enter the all-white Franklin Elementary School. I was one of the first black kindergarteners to enter the school. There were no National Guard troops there to escort us into the school, no angry whites shouting racial epithets, just me and Momma walking hand in hand into the red brick building.

It was September 1966. The country was in the grips of the civil rights movement. But the movement was just beginning to spread in other directions. Dr. Martin Luther King began speaking out about the Vietnam War. Black youth began taking a more militant stance. And the summer had been ablaze with riots in Chicago, Omaha, Cleveland and Dayton.

My father was taking a stand of his own by insisting his children enroll in Franklin Elementary School opposed to Jefferson Elementary where most of the black children in our community attended school. It was no secret that Jefferson was run down, and the school books were inferior. While black community leaders wanted to wait for the government to help enforce integration laws, Pops refused to wait any longer. He said the time was now.
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Faith Filled Women Host Second Annual Conference March 23

Faith filled women announces second annual conference

Glow 2013

Salisbury, MD – Faith Filled Women will host their second annual one-day “Glow” conference for all Christian women who want to connect and live their lives with faith and purpose. The conference takes place Saturday, March 23, 2012 at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center in Salisbury from 10:00 AM until 5:00 PM.

Women are invited to come together for a day of live worship, breakout sessions, buffet luncheon and fellowship. This year’s conference will be emceed by Delmarva Life host Lisa Bryant and headlined by Dr. Tammy Smith, PhD, licensed professional counselor and author of “Soul Connection.”

Tickets cost $45.00 and cover the conference, materials and catered luncheon. Tickets are available for purchase online, and attendees are encouraged to purchase early as seating is limited to the first five hundred guests.

The event is sponsored by Faith Filled Women, a nonprofit 501c3 organization that seeks to encourage women to live out their faith and purpose. If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Faith Filled Women by visiting www.faithfilledwomen.com or email at info@faithfilledwomen.com.

Firearm Safety Act of 2013

SB281
Click HERE to view the 30 pages of this bill.  

Maryland general fund to increase revenues by $7.2 million in FY 2014 from handgun qualification licensing fees and voluntary registration of other firearms

UPDATE: Maryland Senate passes gun-control measure 28 to 19

Suits: More Water, Less Buzz In Bud, Michelob Beer

PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Beer lovers across the U.S. have accused Anheuser-Busch of watering down its Budweiser, Michelob and other brands, in class-action suits seeking millions in damages.

The suits, filed in Pennsylvania, California and other states, claim consumers have been cheated out of the alcohol content stated on labels. Budweiser and Michelob each boast of being 5 percent alcohol, while some "light" versions are said to be just over 4 percent.

The lawsuits are based on information from former employees at the company's 13 U.S. breweries, some in high-level plant positions, according to lead lawyer Josh Boxer of San Rafael, Calif.
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Boehner Could Face Revolt From Republicans If He Caves On Taxes

Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson: ‘I think he’d lose his speakership.’
The showdown over looming automatic spending cuts could doom House Speaker John Boehner if he caves to President Obama's demands for more taxes, says a fellow Republican.

"I don't quite honestly believe that Speaker Boehner would be speaker if that happens," Wisconsin Republican Sen. Ron Johnson said on Fox News Monday when asked about the fallout from a possible deal on revenues....

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STATEMENT FROM GOVERNOR O’MALLEY AND LT. GOVERNOR BROWN HONORING BLACK HISTORY MONTH

ANNAPOLIS, MD Governor Martin O’Malley and Lt. Governor Anthony G. Brown will host a reception at Government House to honor Black History Month. To recognize the great accomplishments that African Americans have made in Maryland and across the nation, the Governor and Lt. Governor have issued the following joint statement: 

“Our parents and grandparents and the brave men and women that marched on Washington 50 years ago understood a powerful truth at the heart of the American dream: the stronger we make our country, the more she gives back to us, to our children, and to our grandchildren.

“Together, as One Maryland, we have a responsibility to share with our children the experiences, the struggles, and the triumphs of our past. We have a responsibility to show them that the arc of history does, in fact, bend towards justice, as Dr. King said, and to remember all of those who came together 50 years ago at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial to remind people of what it means to be an American Citizen.

“As we draw closer to the end of Black History Month, we must all remember that for all of the diversity in our State, for all of the things that distinguish us from one another, at the end of the day, there is a lot more that unites us than divides us.”

Teenage Beauty Queen Surrenders Crown After Release Of Porn Video

Melissa King, a young woman from Delaware who in November was crowned Miss Delaware Teen USA (a paragon of respect for womanhood owned by Donald Trump), resigned her sash and crown Tuesday after a porn site published a short sex video purporting to feature her, the (Delaware) News Journal reported. The five-minute film, apparently produced last year, shows a young woman who looks like Bethany Beach 18-year-old, sounds like her, has her birthday and competes in pageants. (King has denied she made the video, but her digital doppelganger seems to pass the ‘duck test‘). The day the video was posted, King’s lawyer, J. Gregory Hannigan, sent a letter to the pageant saying that his client was relinquishing the crown.

Whether the duckleganger is King, or a different young lady with whom she shares similarities, the unfettered exhibitionism of fresh-faced ambitious women today seems a bit bold to me (a veteran of the 1960s notion of ‘free love’). However, I’ve seen enough episodes of “Girls” to understand that uninhibited sexual experimentation is not so uncommon in schoolgirls today, and tolerating humiliation is a healthy sign of an independent spirit.
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Congressman Harris Joins First Appropriations Hearing Of 113th Congress

It was revealed at the hearing that executive branch agencies that contract with the GPO have not done their due diligence to inform them of the effect of President Obama’s sequester. The GPO does $48 million in business with Maryland vendors, so informing those vendors of the impact of possible cuts would have allowed them to plan ahead. This lack of planning by executive branch agencies is troubling since the sequester has been law for a year and a half. To protect Maryland businesses and jobs, Congressman Harris will be following up with the GPO regarding this concern.

“It is troubling that executive branch agencies have not informed the Government Printing Office about how the sequester would be impacting them,” said Congressman Harris. “Taxpayer dollars and Maryland jobs are at stake. It is inexcusable that these agencies have not planned ahead.”

Cape Cod Community Considers Taking Down Wind Turbines After Illness, Noise

Two wind turbines towering above the Cape Cod community of Falmouth, Mass., were intended to produce green energy and savings -- but they've created angst and division, and may now be removed at a high cost as neighbors complain of noise and illness.

"It gets to be jet-engine loud," said Falmouth resident Neil Andersen. He and his wife Betsy live just a quarter mile from one of the turbines. They say the impact on their health has been devastating. They're suffering headaches, dizziness and sleep deprivation and often seek to escape the property where they've lived for more than 20 years.

"Every time the blade has a downward motion it gives off a tremendous energy, gives off a pulse," said Andersen. "And that pulse, it gets into your tubular organs, chest cavity, mimics a heartbeat, gives you headaches. It's extremely disturbing and it gets to the point where you have to leave."

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Missing Dog 2-28-13: UPDATE

Chocolate lab 1 yr old puppy, Diesel. Missing from the Delmar area, extremely friendly with no collar. Family is heartbroken!! Please contact if seen. 443-359-0697

Gun Control Bill Headed Towards Final Vote

The Maryland Senate is expected to begin its final debate, and possibly take a final vote Thursday on a gun control bill backed by Governor Martin O'Malley.

Senators debated the bill for nearly eleven hours today, debating and rejecting most of the amendments sponsored by opponents of the bill.

The bill did receive its first full approval in the Senate this morning.

The Senate approved the bill with 19 of 20 amendments that were approved in the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee last week.
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Become A Certified Family Leader

The Family Empowerment INITIATIVE’S CERTIFIED family leader training

Become a force for change in your community! The Family Empowerment Initiative is hosting a Certified Family Leader Training, April 19th & 20th, 2013 at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center. This training is designed to create a team of Certified Family Leaders who make a difference in children’s lives in the community and at home. The Family Leader Training will focus on effectively teaching parenting skills by using the evidence-based Active Parenting curriculum (www.activeparenting.com). Upon certification, trained Family Leaders will be able to hold workshops in the community so they can help families strengthen their relationships.

If you have the willingness to learn the tools to support family leadership and share them with others by volunteering to facilitate two workshops in twenty-four months, contact Lisa deSimon at (410) 546-5400 ext. 13 or at LDESIMON@WICOMICOCOUNTY.ORG. Applications must be postmarked by March 25, 2013.

This project is funded through the Wicomico Partnership for Families and Children, the Local Management Board for Wicomico County, with funding from the Governor’s Office for Children.

Lawmakers Consider Minimum Wage Boost

Lawmakers in Annapolis are considering raising the minimum wage in Maryland. which is now $7.25 an hour.

A bill before the House of Delegates and the Maryland Senate would boost the wage in three stages to $10 an hour by July, 2015, and it would then tie the wage to the cost of living.

Additionally, workers who receive tips would get a 20% increase in their wages.
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85% Of Marylanders Support Handgun Licensing Requirement

A new Washington Post poll out today confirms that an overwhelming majority of Marylanders support Governor O'Malley's commonsense reforms to reduce gun violence. In fact, a full 85% back the Governor's proposal to require individuals to get a license before purchasing a handgun -- including fingerprinting. 

Read the full poll here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/page/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2013/02/26/National-Politics/Polling/release_207.xml?uuid=UrMnkIAzEeKmcQMHOS3o3g 

You may view the latest post at http://www.governor.maryland.gov/blog/?p=8352

Wicomico County States Attorneys Office Fails To Update Website For 3 Months

If your not in the loop, States Attorney Matt Maciarello won't recognize you as "Press" and just to make sure some of us are kept out of the loop their office has refused to update their Website for 3 months now. 

Mr. Maciarello being an elected official, even if I were to take the taxpayer/resident approach to this Post, no matter what is said the public is not made aware of just what is and or isn't getting done in Wicomico County. So much for open government.

It's no wonder so many of us are challenging the alleged reduction in crime.

UPDATE: I have held a conversation with Matt Maciarello today referencing this matter and he has informed me the States Attorneys Office changed their policy referencing information on their Website.

Rather than updating the Website they have now chosen to send out Press Releases on those cases they feel are important to the community. That being said, let me stress that their Press Releases are the very cases they would have put up on their Website.

The States Attorneys Office does not publish all 5,000+ cases a year. I was invited and informed to visit their Office and or the Court Rooms daily if I wanted to be a part of knowing everything that is going on. While that would not be possible for me to personally do, it is as fair as it gets, since no one else is in the Press hand fed information.

I'd like to thank Mr. Maciarello for taking his time to fully explain their new process at this point and we, (or at least I) have a much better understanding of how things now work. My apologies to anyone in the States Attorneys Office, I was not aware that your Office was no longer publishing on your Website. In closing, perhaps you should mention that on the Site for those people visiting and wondering why  information hasn't been published since December of 2012. 

Accused School Trespasser Released On House Arrest

Authorities say a former National Guardsman who was charged with trespassing inside an Anne Arundel County high school has been released on house arrest.

According to officials, Justin Matthew Beaumont, who raised police concerns after a large stash of weapons was found inside his home, was released from custody Wednesday.


However, officials say Beaumont will have to surrender all firearms not already seized by the police and must not go on or near any school property. 
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THE ENTITLEMENT OF SUCCESS

Corruption, facilitated by the credibility trap, is the biggest problem facing us today. That is the real entitlement. It is the belief of the elite that the power of their office is an achievement that gives them the right to lie, cheat and steal both for themselves and their friends.
Although it is important to understand that they would be shocked and insulted if you used those words to describe what they are doing.

Through a long indoctrination that starts sometimes in their families, but is most often affirmed in their schools and with their circle of friends, they learn to rationalize this sort of selective moral behaviour not as immoral but as ‘the entitlement of success.’ There are one set of rules for themselves and their friends, and another set of rules for the rest.

This is what Glenn Greenwald calls ‘justice for some.’ Or even earlier what George Orwell captured in the slogan, ‘Some animals are more equal than others.

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The U.S. Supreme Court: Architects Of The American Police State

“The unspoken power dynamics in a police/civilian encounter will generally favor the police, unless the civilian is a local sports hero, the mayor, or a giant who is impervious to bullets.” ~ Journalist Justin Peters

From time to time throughout history, individuals have been subjected to charges (and eventual punishment) by accusers whose testimony was treated as infallible and inerrant. Once again, we find ourselves repeating history, only this time, it’s the police whose testimony is too often considered beyond reproach and whose accusations have the power to render one’s life over.

In the police state being erected around us, the police can probe, poke, pinch, taser, search, seize, strip and generally manhandle anyone they see fit in almost any circumstance, all with the general blessing of the courts. Making matters worse, however, police dogs – cute, furry, tail-wagging mascots with a badge – have now been elevated to the ranks of inerrant, infallible sanctimonious accusers with the power of the state behind them. This is largely due to the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent ruling in Florida v. Harris, in which a unanimous Court declared roadside stops to be Constitution-free zones where police may search our vehicles based upon a hunch and the presence of a frisky canine.

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Smyrna Man Arrested For Rape

Location: 100 block of Fields Drive, Smyrna, DE

Date of Occurrence: January 1, 2013

Victim:
16 year old female

Defendant, Charges, and Bail Information:
George Curtis, 21, Smyrna, DE (Photo Attached)
Rape 2nd (2 counts)
Possession of a Controlled Substance
Sexual Solicitation of a Child Under 18
Sexual Harassment
Providing Alcohol to a Minor

Arraigned at JP2 and committed to James T. Vaughn Correctional Center on $45,000.00 secured bail.

Resume:
Smyrna, DE- Delaware State Police detectives have arrested a Smyrna man in connection with allegedly raping a 16 year old female.

On Monday February 18, 2013, detectives at Troop 3 in Dover began a rape investigation after a 16 year old girl disclosed to a family member that she had been sexually assaulted by George Curtis, 21 of Smyrna. The investigation revealed, Curtis was at the 16 year old female victim’s house on January 1, 2013 and left the residence in a vehicle with the victim, driving to a nearby liquor store where he purchased alcohol. He then drove to his residence located in the 100 block of Fields Drive near Smyrna where he forced the victim to drink the liquor as well as take an Oxycodone pill before he sexually assaulted her. Curtis then drove the victim home where he dropped her off and continued to harass and solicit sex from the victim on a regular basis until she and her mother responded to Troop 3 on Monday to report the crimes.

On Wednesday February 27th, detectives along with State Police Special Operations Response Team (SORT) executed a search warrant in the 100 block of Fields Drive where Curtis resides. He was taken into custody without incident and transported back to Troop 3 where he was processed and arraigned on the above listed charges. He was committed to JTVCC on $45,000.00 secured bond.

Because of the sensitivity of this case, and in consideration of the victim, only limited information will be released.

SEPTIC BILL HEARING - WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON

I recently attended the public hearing on the Septic Bill at the Civic Center. There were approximately one hundred and fifty citizens in attendance plus the entire County Council. Four environmentalists spoke during the public input session. It appeared that they were concerned about saving the bay and saving farmlands from the farmers. Apparently they don't feel that the farmers are capable of making wise decisions about their land on their own. To me it seemed like they were saying that it's best to leave these types of decisions up to the experts in the General Assembly. During the course of the meeting it was evident that many citizens, myself include, believe that these land decisions are best handled by local government. I think it's wise that governing decisions that are made the closest to the citizens are better for the citizens. One thing that I personally picked up on myself was this underlying mistrust in this bill. Someone said they though there was much more to this bill hidden in fine print. They thought that something was hidden that would take away more of their land rights. I believe they have good reason to think this way. After all, look how our general assembly has been hitting the farmers with regulations. The surrounding states haven't been doing this but Maryland is steadily piling it on. More regulations, more fees. Why? This mistrust feeling was further brought out when a farmer asked the attending environmentalists if any of them owned over an acre of land that would cause them to be affected by this bill. No hands went up. I thought ,"oh no, here we go again". People who are putting no meat in the soup pot are telling the providers what they should eat. Not to get off track but doesn't this remind you of the fifty percent of the people who are not paying a dime to the federal government but who are telling the others who have worked hard to be successful that it's not fair because they have so much and that they should give more back to them? The people make a good case for not trusting their government and I believe this feeling is growing. Perhaps Joe Collins was right when he said at the meeting that the people who had voted for this bill and would adopt this tier map are enemies of freedom.

I would like to make something clear. I am not picking on environmentalists. They have a noble cause of wanting to protect our environment and I applaud them for that. But as someone said at this meeting there comes a time when common sense has to be used. There is one thing that I see that I'm wondering if anyone else has picked up on. I believe that many environmentalists are being used by a very clever person. This person has taken millions of dollars out of the Chesapeake Bay Fund and transferred them to the general fund and then used them for his special project. He also send environmentalists out to meetings not prepared to prove and defend their cause. Just look at this meeting. Not one documented case or proven study to show the citizens what they want us to take as gospel. When you tell me that my septic system out in the middle of nowhere is one of the main culprits in polluting the bay then damn it you'd better be prepared to back it up with proven facts. Here is what I would like to see happen just as a little experiment. I would like to see Daily Times reporter Jennifer Shutt and Karen Lukas, Executive Director of the Wicomico Environmental Trust, team up and gather some information for a formal presentation to the people about the bay. Here is what would be include: find out what agency, department maintains the list of fines paid for polluting the bay. Go back ten years and get the names of the company or individuals, what the infraction was, what the resolution was, how much was the fine and where did he money go. Check to see if there are companies that pay a fine each year instead of fixing the problem because it's cheaper. Then I would like to see these two take a boat trip starting at the western shore by the Bay Bridge and going around the entire upper bay area including the Curtis Bay area, shipyards, ship unloading facilities and back down to the eastern shore side of the bay. To top this trip off they could do a night visit to the ship anchorage just south of the Bay bridge where hundreds and hundreds of large ships often spend days at anchorage waiting for a dock to tie up to offload and load cargo.  Do you really believe that they are pumping their sewage and bilges into holding tanks or into the bay. Also, along the way please note the areas around the sewage treatment plants that empty into the bay and pay particular attention to any damns that might be polluting the bay.( Hint, hint, Nassawango.) Just out of curiosity why aren't the environmentalists tackling these problems before they get to my septic tank in the middle of nowhere? What I just mentioned would make a fantastic presentation to the people and I just bet some unspoken things would be brought up. Big question here that I would like an answer to: Jennifer Shutt, Karen Lukas are you up to doing something really important for the environment or do you just want to talk about it.

As I stood in back of the meeting I was constantly taking notes and referring back to them. There was a note about something Dr. Belcher had brushed on just real quickly. I believe he said that he thought that this bill had nothing to do with cleaning up the bay. And do you know what. I believe he is right. This bill and others similar to it have just one goal. That is to separate you from your hard earned money and get it into the hands of the government. You see I believe this all just might be about a "Legacy" and a "Dream". It's not a secret that our governor wants to be the next President of the United States. This is his Dream and he has been planning it for a long time. In order for him to obtain this Dream he needs a Legacy that he can have bragging rights on to lead him to the Dream. That Legacy is the Rapid Rail System that is to run from Baltimore City through Baltimore County, Howard County and Montgomery County and end up in Fairfax Virginia. Notice the high profile counties that this system runs through. If you control the votes in just these areas then you control what goes on in Maryland. This project has already cost billions of your tax dollars and it's all being spent in the high vote area with high paying union jobs. it gets jobs in that area and it gets votes. So how does this affect you? After all it's way on the other side of the bridge. Perhaps I can just point out a few things. At one time we use to get about six million dollars of gas taxes back to maintain our roads. The last few years that's been cut to just a little over a quarter million dollars. That's not enough to fill potholes and spread salt when needed. Where did the money go? Teachers and state workers, why are you being so quiet on these events. Your pension funds have been decimated. So much so that no more could be taken from them because the credit rating agencies are going to clobber Maryland's credit ratings. Then to top it off the responsibility for these funds have now been passed down to the county level and if you don't think that's not going to have some devastating consequences in the future I feel sorry for you. Just a little side note here, if there are members of our government that believe the credit rating agencies don't know what's going on here in Maryland they might just want to start finding ways of helping the people instead of taxing them to death.

Big question you might be asking yourself right now is what has all this got to do with the Septic Bill. That's easy - look at the census figures for the last ten years. It appears that people have been bailing out of the cities and into the rural areas. Baltimore seems to be down almost a third of it's population. If that keeps up not only will Baltimore be broke in ten years it will be a ghost town. So where does the governor get revenues to complete this Legacy program. Raise taxes, raise fees, create new taxes, create new fees. Has anyone heard mention of a well tax yet? Look out. The Septic Bill helps the governor's cause greatly' It will force people back into the cities where once again taxes will be available for transfer to the general fund and then onto the Legacy.

So you can see this is not about saving the Bay or protecting farmland. It's really about your tax dollars and a Dream. I did a final check of my notes and found where someone had said they thought the Environmentalists and Farmers could work together on this problem. I believe that. Common sense prevailing though. I also believe that Republicans and Democrats could work together on these problems also. Again, common sense prevailing of course.

John Palmer, Delmar, Md.

Bob Woodward Says He Was Threatened By White House

Veteran journalist Bob Woodward said Wednesday he was threatened by a senior Obama administration official following his reporting on the White House's handling of the forced federal spending cuts set to take effect on Friday.

"They're not happy at all," he said on CNN's "The Situation Room," adding that an e-mail from a senior administration official - who he would not name - communicated a message which caused him great concern.

"It was said very clearly, you will regret doing this," he said. 
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Son Shoots Home Invader, Saves Parents

The 21-year-old son of eastern European parents in Houston, Texas opened fire on three gunmen after they forced their way into the family’s home, killing one intruder and saving his parents in the process Friday night.

Around 8 o’clock the doorbell rang at the family’s home in Harris County. While the mother was baking a cake, the father went to get the door. He peered through the peephole and saw three young men on the other side. Thinking they were friends with his son, he opened the door. As he cracked the door just a little bit, one of the young men pushed his way inside and shoved a pistol in the father’s face, Harris County Sheriff’s deputy Sgt. Greg Pinkins told local media.

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Miles-Traveled Tax And Associated Mandated GPS Devices

The information below may sound like an internet urban legend, but it is real! I am testifying tomorrow to the Maryland House Ways and Means committee in favor of HB 682 to prohibit the state of Maryland from creating a fee or tax on every vehicle for miles driven in the state. They would require a GPS device to be installed in every vehicle to measure the miles to assess the tax! HB682 is an attempt to preempt the state from what I consider a huge invasion of privacy.

The state does not want to raise the gasoline tax, so they want to do this instead. They also keep tapping into the gasoline tax fund and use over 50% of it for non-road purposes.

Oh, they want to create this program to "clean the environment," because people will drive less if they are paying per mile!

I urge you to determine (from the attached document) if your delegate is on the Ways & Means committee and if so, contact him or her to vote FOR HB682.

Starting in 2020, Big Brother, in the form of the state of Maryland, could be riding along with you!

Jim Donohue

The state of Maryland is considering a requirement of a GPS device in all vehicles and then imposing a tax per mile traveled in Maryland. This is in the interest of “clean air” because MD citizens will then travel less. There does not appear to have been a legislative bill. (How that can be is unexplainable). The law would go into effect in 2020. (There are already some states in the N.W. US that are testing such a program).
To preempt such an executive order from taking place, a bill has been introduced in the Maryland House to prohibit a miles-traveled tax and the installation of a GPS device to track in-state mileage. The bill is now before the House Ways and Means Committee. The bill is HB682 – Prohibition of Miles-Traveled Tax and Associated Mandated Devices.
If you feel strongly about preventing a miles-traveled tax and the installation of a GPS device to track those miles, you are asked to contact your Maryland state delegate if they are on the House Ways and Means Committee and urge them to vote FOR the bill. The first hearing on this legislation will be held on February 28th.
2013 Maryland House of Delegates - Ways and Means Committee
District County
Chair: Sheila E. Hixson 20 Montgomery 
Vice Chair: Frank Turner 13 Howard 
Kathryn L. Afzali 4A Frederick
Jolene Ivey 47 Prince Georges 
Kumar P. Barve 17 Montgomery
Anne R. Kaiser 14 Montgomery
Joseph C. Boteler III 8 Baltimore County 
Eric G. Luedtke 14 Montgomery 
Talmadge Branch 45 Baltimore City
Aruna Miller 15 Montgomery 
Jon S. Cardin 11 Baltimore County
LeRoy E. Myers, Jr. 1C Allegheny and Washington 
Don Dwyer, Jr. 31 Anne Arundel 
Andrew Serafini 2A Washington
Mark N. Fisher 27B Calvert
Melvin L. Stukes 44 Baltimore City 
C. William Frick 16 Montgomery 
Michael Summers 47 Prince Georges
Ron George 30 Anne Arundel 
Jay Walker 26 Prince Georges 
Carolyn J. B. Howard 24 Prince Georges
Alonzo T. Washington 22 Prince Georges
You can easily find and contact your delegate on the internet.

http://mgaleg.maryland.gov

Click LEGISLATORS icon

On the right side of the page, click “Who represents me?”

Enter your address or zip code and your delegates name will appear.

You can then send him or her a message on-the-spot regarding the legislation.

OCEAN CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT REMINDING CITIZENS TO EXPECT DELAYS ON ST. PATTY’S PARADE DAY

The Ocean City Police Department is reminding citizens to expect traffic delaysthis St. Patrick’s Day, as the Delmarva Irish-American Club host their 32^ndAnnual Parade and Festival. The tradition, which has become one of the largest St. Patrick’s Day Parades in the state, will take place on Saturday, March 16, 2013, and begins at 12 noon at 58^th Street and marches south on Coastal Highway to the 45^th Street Shopping Center.

In order to offer an ample amount of space for the parade’s participating floats, bands and motorized units, southbound traffic with be reduced to two lanes from 62nd Street to 43^rd Street. Northbound traffic will remain open, however, no left turns or u-turns will be allowed along the parade route from the northbound lane including 62^nd Street.

Residents and visitors are likely to see traffic delays on southbound Coastal Highway as early as 9 a.m. and should expect congestion until 2 p.m. To avoid traffic delays, viewers are urged to arrive before 10:30 a.m. and to view the parade from 58^thStreet south to 45^thStreet. Ocean City Police are highly recommending motorists entering the Town of Ocean City to use Maryland Route 50, as traffic is not expected to be as heavy.

In addition, heavy pedestrian traffic is also expected along the parade route and in surrounding areas. Pedestrians are encouraged to use the crosswalk and cross with caution.

Obama Is Making You Pay To Put Immigrants On Food Stamps!

Grassfire has learned that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is reaching across our borders to quell the fears of immigrants who are worried that getting on America's taxpayer-funded Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) "will harm their chances of becoming U.S. citizens."

• According to a report from The Daily Caller, the USDA is actively distributing brochures to Mexican consulates as part of its "partnership" with the Mexican government to teach non-citizens and their family members how to get on the food-stamp program -- at the expense of American taxpayers!

• Since 2004, the USDA has met with the Mexican government "more than 150 times" to promote American nutrition-assistance programs.

• But most shocking is the fact that "heads of households born in Mexico are the most likely nationality to be on some form of food assistance, with 45.3 percent reporting use of food assistance."

• By comparison, 13.9 percent of native-born Americans are on food stamps.
In short, your tax dollars are being used to advertise, educate and feed immigrants and their families! This is simply another outrageous insult to tax-paying Americans who are being used by the Obama administration to fund their radical agenda and, potentially, to "buy" future votes.

The report did suggest that the USDA was working "in partnership with the Mexican government." Partnership would suggest that we (U.S. citizens) are getting something in return ...

But the only return on this "investment" that we can see is a bulging and dangerous culture of dependency among immigrants who come to expect government handouts and taxpayer-supported benefits as a way of life in the U.S.

Hard-working Americans are being fleeced by an administration looking to swell their ranks -- while you foot the bill!

This is why Grassfire launched our national petition to "Stop The Food Stamp Madness." In just a few days, more than 20,000 citizens responded to our call to action.

Please take a moment to go here and sign our petition. Join with tens of thousands of grassroots patriots who are demanding Congress pressure the Obama administration into pursuing meaningful SNAP reform.

www.grassfire.com/982/petition.asp

AT&T Wireless Scam

I have 2 cell phones on a plan with AT&T. Recently, it seemed as if my monthly bill was creeping up. I did not notice anything on the bill looking at the primary number on the account and assumed some taxes or fees had increased. This morning, I took a closer look at the entire bill and noticed, under my wife's number, a $9.99 RENEWAL Fee for something called MobileTunezClub. I didn't request this service nor did my wife (at least knowingly). If you look at the website listed under the subject of this message, you will find that MobileTunezClub charge is beginning to pop up with a number of AT&T WIreless customers. Reportedly, someone sends you a TEXT message stating you will be signed up for the service unless you REPLY otherwise. Since this went to my wife's phone and she doesn't even know how to TEXT a reply back much less read them, we became unknown subscribers. MobileTunezClub seems to be a legitimate business but whoever is signing up new customers appears to be operating under the radar. 

The solution is to go to AT&T and report this an an unauthorized charge. They told me they would refund any charges by MobileTunezClub and sent me information about a free service they offer to prevent anyone else doing this again without being able to provide a PIN.

See http://www.callercenter.com/97841.html for details

DHS Official Retires After Immigrants Are Freed

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The senior Homeland Security Department official in charge of arresting and deporting illegal immigrants announced his retirement the same day the agency said that hundreds of people facing deportation had been released from immigration jails due to looming budget cuts, according to a letter obtained Wednesday by The Associated Press. The government said he had told his bosses weeks ago that he planned to retire.

Gary Mead, executive associate director over enforcement and removal operations at Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, disclosed his departure in an email to his staff Tuesday afternoon. The announcement of the release of the illegal immigrants had come earlier in the day.

President Barack Obama's spokesman, Jay Carney, said Wednesday that the decision to release the immigrants was made without any input from the White House. He described the immigrants as "low-risk, non-criminal detainees."
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Missing Dog: UPDATE

Joe,

Our 3 1/2 year old beagle got loose we live in Hebron in Websters Estates. Here is a picture of Bernie. Please call us at 443-880-4337 thanks.

Worcester County Sheriff’s Office Press Release

January 19th through the 22nd 11 Worcester County Sheriff’s Deputies had the honor in assisting the Washington Metropolitan Police Department in securing the parade route for the 57thPresidential Inauguration.

The 11 Deputies endure cold temperatures and long hours while posted along the Inauguration Parade Route. The Worcester County Sheriff’s Office and the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office worked together in securing a city block during the parade.

“It was great to be a part of history.” One Deputy stated.

The Worcester County Sheriff’s Office looks forward to participating again for the 58th Inaugural Parade.

'Fat Letters' Sent Home To Students Cause A Stir

NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – Schools in North Andover are trying help students dealing with obesity issues, but some families say the schools are going too far.

Cameron Watson, 10, isn't just a strong athlete; he's also a tough fourth grader who didn't let a “fat letter” sent to his home get him down.

“I know I’m not obese so I didn’t really care about the letter. I just crumpled it up,” Cam Watson said.

The letters were sent to plenty of homes throughout the Commonwealth.
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Newspapers

"People everywhere confuse,
What they read in newspapers with news."
-- A. J. Liebling
[Abbott Joseph Liebling] (1904-1963) Journalist, author
"In the United States there is no phenomenon more threatening to
popular government than the unwillingness of newspapers to give
the facts to their readers."
-- Nelson Antrim Crawford
(1888-1963) American writer, editor, author

Rare Superbug Emerging In U.S. Elicits Advisory Warning From CDC

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is alerting clinicians of an emerging untreatable multidrug-resistant organism in the United States.

There are many forms of Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE), but of the 37 forms reported in the U.S., 15 have been reported in less than a year.

The CDC said the increase in CRE means health care providers need to “act aggressively to prevent the emergence and spread of these unusual CRE organisms.”
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Chris Matthews Offers To Help Hillary’s 2016 Campaign: ‘We’ll Get You In There’

According to TV critic David Zurawik, MSNBC's hiring of ex-Obama officials David Axelrod and Robert Gibbs makes the so-callend news network almost "a bona fide organ of state propaganda."

Hours after this was published Monday, Hardball's Chris Matthews offered his services to Hillary Clinton - along with those of MSNBC contributors Howard Fineman and Joan Walsh - in order to get her elected president in 2016 (video follows with transcribed highlights and commentary):

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Audit: Day Care Facilities Not Inspected, Criminal Background Checks Skipped

The Maryland State Department of Education did not perform legally required inspections and criminal background checks at numerous private day care centers and preschools across the state, according to a state audit released Tuesday.

More than a third of the child care facilities checked were missing at least one of their required inspections between July 2008 and June 2011, according to a review of inspection reports of 60 facilities throughout the state.


Of the 180 inspections that should have been performed, 31 were missing, including 14 at facilities in Prince George's County. Another six inspections were late at child care facilities in Baltimore City and Baltimore County.
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Charity Fundraiser

What: A Bit of Grace Horsemanship ProgramWhen: Sunday, March 10th 2013 (1-4 PM)
Where: 27585 Little Lane
Salisbury MD
Info: Ladies and Gentlemen, it is time to put on your best boots and saddle up for a fun Sunday afternoon to support an up and coming program on the outskirts of Salisbury. The Bit of Grace Horsemanship Program is designed to provide a safe and nurturing environment for physical, cognitive, and emotional growth among people of all ages through therapeutic horseback riding. There will be hamburgers, hotdogs, and drinks for sale throughout the event. We will have live music provided by Steven Rumney, Mike Truitt, and others. There will be face painting, and arts and crafts station, a horse grooming station, and pony rides for the little ones. Joining the festivities will also be a few vendors such as:

31 Hand Bags

Pampered Chef

Scentsy (candles)

Art By Heart (Airbrushed artwork)

Suicide Skateboards

T’s Beads (hand-crafted glass beaded jewelry)

& a photographer will be on site doing Easter photos for everyone.

This event is definitely something special and the proprietors need all the help they can to get this program up and running full speed.

Donations are greatly appreciated and the program can be contacted through their Facebook page or by calling Caitlyn Beauchamp-Taylor at (443) 783-1083. With your help we can surely build this program into an amazing addition to the Salisbury area. Hope to see you there!!!

Lawmakers Push Reform For Maryland Clean Water Fund

Local lawmakers continued their push to require water pollution fines to pay for environmental projects, even as the Maryland Department of the Environment remains opposed.

On Tuesday state Sen. Bryan Simonaire, R-Pasadena, pitched his bill to modify the Maryland Clean Water Fund so revenue generated from fines is used for water cleanup.

The bill is a response to a report in The Capital last summer that found more than half of the money in the Maryland Clean Water Fund is used for salaries and administrative expenses at the MDE.

"This is not how government is supposed to be run and this is not the intended purpose of the fund," Simonaire told his fellow lawmakers on the Senate Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee.
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A Letter To The Editor 2-27-13

Hi Joe,
Do you subscribe to spot crime? Up until about 2 weeks ago the crime calls in the area of 2 miles from my house I would get a report of crimes in a 2 mile radius of my home. They are listed alphabetically. I would receive these at least 4 times a week and there were not enough letters in the alphabet to cover the number of calls. In the past week or so the number has dropped to fewer than 10 calls. They must be cooking the numbers.

'You're a Broken Record!' Congressman Melts Down on 'Hannity' over Sequester

Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN) exploded at Fox News host Sean Hannity Tuesday night in a discussion of President Barack Obama's rhetoric regarding the impending sequester.

"You are the worst excuse for a journalist I've ever seen," Ellison declared in his opening statement. "What you just displayed what not journalism; it was yellow journalism. It wasn't anything close to try to tell the American people what's really going on," he continued.

The resulting exchange, in short, was full of crosstalk.

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