FORD JUST REPORTED A 375% INCREASE IN THE SALE OF THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE

U.S. automakers performed remarkably well in May, with Chrysler reporting an 11 percent increase in sales. But the award for most impressive statistic goes to Ford Motor Company for selling nearly 37,000 hybrid vehicles during the January-May period, an increase of roughly 375 percent from this time last year.

“We’re working tirelessly to get as many hybrids to the market as we can right now to meet this unprecedented customer demand for our electrified vehicles,” said Erich Merkle, Ford U.S. sales analyst. “The success we are experiencing with hybrids is energizing the whole company.”

Hybrid sales in 2013 have been driven by the automaker’s electrified vehicle lineup including the Ford C-MAX Hybrid, the Ford C-MAX Energi, the Ford Fusion Hybrid and the FordFusion Energi, and the Lincoln MKZ Hybrid.
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The IRS Has A New Potential Scandal On Its Hands

An inspector general report to be released today shows the agency spent $50 million on 220 conferences over a three-year period. The report comes as three Congressional committees are investigating charges of politically motivated enforcement. At one conference in California, some of the 2,600 attendees received baseball tickets and stayed in fancy suites worth more than a $1,000 per night. The agency spent $135,000 on more than a dozen outside speakers. Acting Commissioner Danny Werfel calls the spending an unfortunate vestige from a prior era.

City Of Salisbury Press Release 6-3-13

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Don't Mow The Lawn

That's a relatively painless way to save money and one of the Navy's tactics for dealing with sequestration. Hampton Roads installations in southeast Virginia are letting the grass grow a foot tall before it's trimmed. The move is expected to save the Navy nearly $2 million this year. The Virginian-Pilot reports: there's a downside — an unsightly front yard. It reports thigh-high weeds at Oceana Naval Air Station in Virginia Beach. The Navy is facing a $4 billion spending cut because of sequestration.

STATEMENT FROM GOVERNOR MARTIN O’MALLEY ON U.S. SUPREME COURT RULING ON STATE’S DNA CASE

ANNAPOLIS, MD (June 3, 2013) – Governor Martin O’Malley released the following statement on the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling today on the State’s DNA case, Maryland v. King - upholding the constitutionality of the Maryland DNA Collection Act, a key piece of the O'Malley-Brown Administration’s public safety agendain 2008. The Governor recently signed a bill passed this session that repeals the sunset of the DNA law in Maryland:

“Working together with our law enforcement partners, we have driven down violent crime in Maryland to 30-year lows. Today’s Supreme Court ruling is important because it confirms an important weapon in our arsenal to fight violent crime in our State.

“DNA collection has been a very effective new tool in our efforts to save lives by reducing violent crime and resolving open investigations. I’d like to thank Attorney General Doug Gansler, Deputy Attorney General Kay Winfree, and the capable appellate attorneys of the Attorney General’s Office of Maryland. Together, we will continue employing innovative and meaningful strategies to reduce crime, including using DNA, so that we can take violent offenders off the streets and protect our families and children.”

U.S. SUPREME COURT REVERSES MARYLAND COURT OF APPEALS IN MARYLAND RAPE CASE

June 3, 2013, Salisbury MD – In a 5 to 4 decision released June 3, 2013 the U.S. Supreme Court reversed the decision of the Maryland Court of Appeals that had ruled Maryland’s DNA Statute was unconstitutional. The Supreme Court decision, in effect, reinstates the conviction of Alonzo King, age 30, formerly of Delmar Maryland.

In 2003, a rape occurred in Salisbury, Maryland. The police had no suspect at that time, but they recovered and submitted DNA to the DNA bank as part of their investigation. In 2009, King was arrested for an unrelated felony assault. Pursuant to Maryland law, a buccal swab sample of his DNA was taken and submitted to the DNA bank. Police were informed later that King’s DNA matched the DNA submitted following the rape in 2003. This evidence resulted in the July 27, 2010 conviction of King for rape in the first degree. King received the sentence of life imprisonment on October 7, 2010.

Following his conviction, King made an appeal. The Maryland Court of Appeals ruled that the DNA collection statute was an unreasonable search and seizure in violation of King’s Constitutional rights. State’s Attorney Matthew A. Maciarello solicited the assistance of Maryland Attorney General Douglas Gansler who agreed to request an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. The Supreme Court agreed to hear the case and it was argued before them in February of this year.

In the decision written by Justice Anthony Kennedy, the Supreme Court found that the collection of DNA from an arrestee was a reasonable part of the routine booking procedures of law enforcement. The Court pointed out that DNA testing provided identification with near certainty. Justice Kennedy compared the collection of DNA from a suspect to the collection of a suspect’s fingerprints. There are, according to the decision, a number of reasons for these collections with the primary difference being the superior accuracy of DNA. Additionally, the Court ruled that while there was a bit more of an intrusion into a suspect’s privacy with DNA collection, that difference is insignificant and outweighed by the more accurate results.

This ruling was shared with the victim in the case who is very happy with the results.

Matthew A. Maciarello wishes to thank the Salisbury Police Department and Barry Tucker who was the lead investigator for this case for their hard work in gaining this conviction originally. He further wishes to thank the Maryland Attorney General Douglas Gansler and his staff for their exhaustive efforts in presenting this case to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Obama's New Press Secretary

Newland Park Landfill Selected

2013 Pesticide Container Recycling Collection Dates Announced

June 3, 2013, Salisbury, MD – The Wicomico County Department of Public Works, Solid Waste Division is pleased to announce that the Newland Park Landfill, located on Brick Kiln Road in Salisbury, will serve as the Maryland Department of Agriculture’s (MDA) 2013 Pesticide Container Recycling Center for Wicomico, Worcester, Somerset, and Dorchester Counties. This is the only pesticide container collection site on the Lower Eastern Shore.

The collection dates, all of which run between the hours of 9 am to 3 pm, are as follows: June 28, July 26, August 23 and September 27.

Please adhere to the following recycling guidelines:

All containers must be made from high density polyethylene (HPDE). The container must have held an Environmental Protection Agency-registered pesticide or adjuvant, crop oil, etc. Any size container will be accepted. However, containers over 30 gallons must be cut prior to recycling. Contact MDA Pesticide Regulations at 410-841-5710 for cutting instructions:

Pesticide containers must be properly pressure-rinsed or triple-rinsed.
Caps and other non-HDPE parts, such as metal handles and rubber linings, cannot be recycled.
Stained containers are acceptable, provided no material can be smeared or removed when touched by a rubber glove.
Please remove lids and label booklets prior to recycling.

For more information please contact Mark Whitelock, Superintendent, Wicomico Solid Waste Division at 410-548-4935.

PR Baywater Hosts Dogs For Dads Adoption Promotion

Cambridge, MD -- Thinking about adding a new dog to your family? Baywater Animal Rescue is excited to announce an adoption promotion during the month of June - Dogs For Dads. Adoption fees will be waived for any Dad adopting a large dog. Not a Dad? No worries, you will receive a reduced adoption fee of $50 for any large dog. Many of the dogs are already house-trained and every dog is screened for heartworms, spayed or neutered, and vaccinated. “There are so many awesome dogs in the shelter right now in need of homes, and this is a great opportunity to adopt a shelter pet,” states Suzette Stitely, Executive Director of the rescue. “Our staff does an excellent job of learning each dogs‘ temperament so we can suggest the perfect companion for your family.” Adoption hours are Tuesdays & Thursdays 1-7 pm, Wednesdays & Fridays 1-5 pm and Saturdays 11am-4pm.

Bring Dad and the entire family to Baywater Animal Rescue to meet the wonderful large dogs looking for homes.

Baywater Animal Rescue is the Mid-Shore’s Premiere No Kill shelter providing adoption, spay/neuter and pet retention services. Learn more about them at www.baywateranimalrescue.org.   

EDITORIAL: Gov. O’Malley’s ‘miracle’

Economic success in Maryland is only an illusion

Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley is a miracle worker. At least, that’s what he told the crowd gathered Thursday in Washington at the left-leaning Center for American Progress.

“We have cut more spending than ever before in our state’s history,” the Democratic chief executive told the fawning crowd. “And we have also invested more in public education, innovation and infrastructure than ever before.”

That’s quite a trick. Mr. O'Malley claims he has cut more spending while at the same time investing (i.e., spending) more than ever. Actual budget numbers show spending assertion is certainly true. At $9 billion, outlays in Annapolis rose 30 percent on the former Baltimore mayor’s watch.

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The Dirty Side Of Wheat

Editor’s Note: Although wheat is a great choice for adding to your preparedness supply, there is a downside to this food source. The GMO wheat that is prevalent in many of the store bought products we purchase in this country has been genetically altered to increase carbohydrates thus leading to increased health issues such as high blood sugar levels.

To ensure your bread choices are the healthiest, make sure you look at the ingredient listings. If the first ingredient is whole grains, then that is a good bread choice option. If you are not allergic to wheat, I would advocate having some whole wheat in your diet as there is nutrition in this grain, but there are alternatives available. Some healthy options are: amaranth, barley, buckwheat, millet, quinoa, rice, rye, and sorghum.

A month or so back, I went to a local spa to have a back massage; my left shoulder was bothering me. The therapist, Don, and I talked a bit and he asked what medications I was on; I told him. I told him that one of my goals was to get off those medicines by diet but I was having a difficult time with it. He spoke of a book written by Dr. William Davis, Wheat Belly. Don explained that Dr. Davis, a cardiologist, had found that eliminating wheat from one’s diet could reverse many of today’s medical problems. He has well over 2,000 patients as proof.

So I bought a copy of the book and read it immediately. I could not believe what I was reading; I had the solution in my hand. So I implemented the wheat-free diet about a month ago and can state that this works; I have dropped my blood sugar count by 19 points, some 17% in one month. I have taken myself off the Metformin that my doctor had prescribed; my blood sugars are now well within the normal ranges.

So how does this work?

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Odd Fish On Assateague

Hey Joe,
My husband and I went to Assateague on Sunday, and saw this on the beach. Do any of our visitors know what it is, or can they help us identify it? Definitely STRANGE! Also heard that a whale washed up as well, but I can't find any pictures or story yet.

The Lois Lerner State

The faceless shock troops of the bureaucracy march on and on and on.

It is appropriate that the worst scandal of the Obama administration — the Internal Revenue Service’s targeting of conservatives — is a scandal of administrators and bureaucrats, of otherwise faceless people endowed with immense power over their fellow citizens and running free of serious oversight from elected officials.

They are the shock troops of the vast bureaucratic apparatus of the federal government. President Barack Obama has greatly enhanced their influence and reach by augmenting the power of regulatory agencies that are an inherent offense against self-government, even when they aren’t enforcing the law in a biased way.

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Troopers Investigate Large Cash Theft From Claymont Church

Location:
Holy Rosary Church, 3200 Philadelphia Pike, Claymont, DE

Date of Occurrence:
Saturday, June 1, 2013

Suspect:
No suspect information available.
No video surveillance available for release.

Resume:
Claymont – Troopers are investigating a felony theft of cash that occurred at the Holy Rosary Church, 3200 Philadelphia Pike, this weekend.

The theft occurred sometime on Saturday, June 1. Money earned on Friday from the church's carnival had been placed in a safe within the church. When a carnival volunteer opened the safe late Saturday afternoon, he found that a large amount of the cash was missing.

Investigating Troopers found no signs of forced entry into the church or the safe. This investigation is ongoing, and Troopers are asking for the public to come forward with information about the theft.

If anyone has any information in reference to this incident, they are asked to contact the Troop 1 at 302-761-6677 extension 328, or by utilizing the Delaware State Police Mobile Crime Tip Application available to download at:http://www.delaware.gov/apps/. Information may also be provided by calling Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333, via the internet at www.tipsubmit.com, or by sending an anonymous tip by text to 274637 (CRIMES) using the keyword "DSP."

Political Dimensions of Jim Smith’s New Job

BY CHOOSING former Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith as Maryland’s new transportation secretary, Gov. Martin O’Malley solved multiple problems, especially for his governor-in-waiting, Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown.

O’Malley left the top MDOT post vacant for nearly a year. Smith, apparently, had been the governor’s choice but never accepted until after the governor did the heavy lifting in pushing a multi-year gas tax increase through the General Assembly, After all, what fun would it be to serve as MDOT secretary without $$ to upgrade Maryland’s transportation network?

Smith has modest experience dealing with state legislative issues outside of Baltimore County delegation matters. He has minimal background in the inner workings of the statewide transportation program and its political underpinnings. He would have been of little use to O’Malley in lining up votes for a hefty gas tax increase.
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Flooding In Salisbury

Delmar Police Department Press Release

Criminal Mischief

On Monday, May 27, 2013 at approximately7:00 p.m. the Delmar Police Department responded to the area of Second St. in Delmar, De in reference to a broken automobile window. The investigation revealed that someone had shot the window out of the vehicle with a BB gun or similar type weapon. Subsequent investigation revealed that a total of 10 automobiles had windows shot out in the area immediately surrounding the first. Investigation is continuing. Anyone with information relating to these incidents should contact the Delmar Police Department at (410) 896-3132.

On Tuesday, May 28, 2013 at approximately 12:05 p.m. the Delmar Police Department responded to Bi-State Blvd in Delmar, De in reference to a broken store front window. The investigation revealed that someone had shot the front window out of a retail establishment with a shotgun. Investigation is continuing. . Anyone with information relating to this incident should contact the Delmar Police Department at (410) 896-3132.

Gas Prices Going Down in Va., Up in Md., DC

As it stands, gasoline in the District costs about 10 cents more than the national average. Gas in Maryland and Virginia, meanwhile, costs about 15 and 26 cents less than the national average, respectively.

But AAA Mid-Atlantic spokesman John Townsend says that is all going to change soon.

In May, Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley signed the state’s first gas excise tax increase in 20 years into law. The legislation levies a sales tax on gasoline on top of the state’s 23.5-cents per gallon tax. It will take effect July 1, and add about 4 cents to a gallon of gas. The price will jump another 8 cents by July 2015. The tax could rise another 8 cents by July 2016.
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WOULD YOU BELIEVE WIFE OF FORMER IRS HEAD IS AN EXEC AT LEFT-WING POLITICAL ACTION GROUP?

Former Internal Revenue Service commissioner Douglas H. Shulman, a frequent White House visitor when the IRS was targeting conservative nonprofits, is married to an executive with Public Campaign, an unabashed left-wing organization “dedicated to sweeping campaign reform that aims to dramatically reduce the role of big special interest money in American politics.”

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BILL CLINTON’S HALF-MILLION DOLLAR SPEECH IS DRAWING OUTRAGE IN ISRAEL

Senior Israeli media figures are voicing outrage at a revelation this weekend that former U.S. President Bill Clinton received $500,000 for a gala speech later this month in honor of Israeli President Shimon Peres’s 90th birthday.

The commissioned speech at the Peres Academic Center in Rehovot is expected to last 45 minutes, meaning each minute is costing sponsors $11,111.

According to Israeli news accounts, the large sum will go to the William J. Clinton Foundation which focuses its efforts on a range of causes including economic, health, leadership and environmental.
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Baltimore police officer arrested on drug charges

FBI: Officer was in uniform during alleged drug deal
Federal prosecutors announced a criminal complaint against 25-year-old Ashley Roane, of Pikesville, on Friday. The complaint accuses her of attempted possession with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin and possession of a firearm in the furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

According to the complaint, on April 30, Roane arranged with an informant to stand watch while the informant made a supposed drug deal at a west Baltimore shopping center. The complaint alleges that Roane was on duty, in uniform and armed, and that she watched the transaction from a marked police vehicle.

A spokeswoman for the U.S. attorney's office said Roane has been arrested.

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Saving Your Pet With CPR

Ocean City Parking Meters

TONIGHT 6PM, JUNE 3RD @ CITY HALL IS THE FINAL VOTE ON PARKING METERS!!!!!

SHOW UP TONIGHT AND TELL THEM WE DON'T WANT MORE METERS. THEY CAN BE STOPPED!!!! 

The Town of Ocean City is planning to install parking meters for the first time in Ocean City history on the North end of town, Ocean and Bayside. 

THEY CLAIM IT'S NEEDED TO CLOSE BUDGET GAPS. 

OCEAN CITY DOESN'T HAVE A REVENUE PROBLEM THEY HAVE A SPENDING PROBLEM. IF YOU THINK IT STOPS WITH THESE METERS THINK AGAIN. JUST TAKE A LOOK AT THE TOP SALARIES AND YOU WILL UNDERSTAND THAT IT WILL NOT STOP WITH JUST THESE METERS.

IRS ACTUALLY FEARS MAN WHO DOESN'T FILE TAXES

'Would blow them out of the water if this became public knowledge'
Amid an unusual spotlight on IRS conduct, a Colorado businessman contends his case is one the government particularly wants to keep hidden, because it could cause the whole federal agency to self-destruct.

Jeff Maehr, a Colorado chiropractor who has engaged in a number of business ventures, including PureHealthSystems.com, admits he has refused to file federal income tax returns since 2002, but he says the IRS is afraid to press criminal charges against him.

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Seriously?

Feds Suggest Anti-Muslim Speech Can Be Punished

A U.S. attorney in Tennessee is reportedly vowing to use federal civil rights statutes to clamp down on offensive and inflammatory speech about Islam.

Bill Killian, U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Tennessee, was quoted by the Tullahoma News this week suggesting that some inflammatory material on Islam might run afoul of federal civil rights laws.

"We need to educate people about Muslims and their civil rights, and as long as we’re here, they’re going to be protected," Killian told the newspaper.

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Twins

House Panel: Report Finds $50M For IRS Conferences

 

A government watchdog has found that the Internal Revenue Service spent about $50 million to hold about 220 conferences for employees between 2010 and 2012, according to a House committee.

That total included $4 million for an August 2010 conference in Anaheim, Calif., for which the agency did not negotiate lower room rates, even though that is standard government practice, according to a statement by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

Instead, some of the 2,600 attendees received benefits, including staying in expensive presidential suites. In addition, 15 outside speakers were paid a total of $135,000 in fees, with one paid $17,000 to talk about "leadership through art," the House committee said.

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Wow! Even Ariana Huffington Is Calling For Holder’s Resignation

Liberals don’t care people, they don’t care about the country and they don’t care about right and wrong, but they do care about protecting liberalism. As long as they think you’re helping the cause, you can do no wrong, but the moment you become a hindrance, it’s under the bus you go.
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UK Shopkeeper Forced To Remove “Obey Our Laws” T-Shirts Or Face Arrest

A NEWPORT shopkeeper has been forced by police to remove a T-shirt from his shop window because they felt it “could be seen to be inciting racial hatred.”

Matthew Taylor, 35, the owner of Taylor’s clothes store on Emlyn Walk in the city, printed up and displayed the T-shirt with the slogan: “Obey our laws, respect our beliefs or get out of our country” after Drummer Lee Rigby, 25, was killed in near Woolwich barracks in London last week.

But following a complaint from a member of the public, police came to his store and threatened to arrest him unless he removed the Tshirt from sight…

…A spokeswoman for Gwent police confirmed: “ We did have a call from a member of the public. We visited the shop and asked him to remove it (the T-shirt) as it could be seen to be inciting racial hatred.”

Source

White House Directly Ordered IRS Attacks On Tea Party

The IRS agents in Cincinnati who were involved in the targeting of conservative groups were “being directly ordered from Washington,” Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., said Sunday.

Issa, who is heading the House investigation into the affair, accused the White House of lying about the involvement of IRS headquarter officials in the scandal.

He also called White House Press Secretary Jay Carney a “paid liar.”

“The administration is still – their paid liar, their spokesperson, picture behind – he’s (Carney) still making up things about what happens and calling this local rogue,” Issa said on CNN’s “State of the Union.”

“The reason that Lois Lerner tried to take the Fifth [Amendment when called to testify before Congress] is not because there’s a rogue in Cincinnati,” Issa added. “It’s because this is a problem that was coordinated in all likelihood right out of Washington headquarters And we’re getting to proving it.

“The administration is still trying to say there’s a few rogue agents in Cincinnati, when in fact the indication is they were directly being ordered from Washington,” he said.

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Meeting Materials - 6/3/13 - Council Special Meeting

4: 00 p.m. CALL TO ORDER4: 01 p. m. WELCOME/ANNOUNCEMENTS
4:03 p.m. ADOPTION OF AGENDA

0 p.m. ORDINANCES —presented by Internal Services Director Keith Cordre Ordinance no. 2253 — 1st reading - approving an amendment of the FY 2013

General Fund Budget to appropriate funds for attome} fees

Ordinance No. 2254— lst reading - approving an amendment of the FY 2013

General Fund Budget to appropriate funds for transfers to the Health Care Reserve Fund

4:15 p. m. ADJOURNMENT
To: John R. Pick, City Administrator

From Keith Cordrey, Director of Internal Services

Date: May 17, 2013

Re: Ordinance—Request lo increase Appropriation forAttomey Fees

The Salisbury Finance Department respectfully requests to increase by $26,000 the amount budgeted for the" City Attorney (17004-513301) account by increasing the Current Year Surplus.

Unless you or the Mayor has further questions, please forward this Ordinance to the Salisbury City Council.

McCormick Closes $147M Acquisition of Chinese Bouillon Maker

McCormick & Co. Inc. has closed on its $147 million purchase of Chinese bouillon maker Wuhan Asia-Pacific Condiments Co. Ltd.

The deal gives Sparks-based McCormick (NYSE: MKC) a bigger piece of the fast-growing Asian market. Wuhan makes DaQiao and ChuShiLe bouillon brands which are popular in central China.

The deal, first announced in August, is part of McCormick’s international expansion plans. The flavor giant also bought a spice company in Poland and launched a joint venture with an Indian maker of basmati rice.
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Government: "A Seedy Circus... Perpetually In Debt"

Larsen E. Whipsnade, aka W. C. Fields

As a card-carrying curmudgeon, I have always been a fan of W. C. Fields. His pessimistic view of the human race and its foibles rivalled that of H. L. Mencken, another favorite. In 1939 W. C. Fields wrote and starred in “You Can’t Cheat An Honest Man.” Wikipedia describes the plot:
Fields plays “Larsen E. Whipsnade”, the owner of a shady carnival that is constantly on the run from the law. The whimsical title comes from a line spoken by Fields about ten minutes into the film. Whipsnade says that his grandfather Litvak’s last words, spoken “just before they sprung the trap”, were: “You can’t cheat an honest man; never give a sucker an even break, or smarten up a chump.” … The character name is obviously a play on “larceny“, a point which Fields reinforces at one point when someone calls him “Larceny Whipsnake”.

Another website, IMBd, described the storyline in this fashion: ”Larson E. Whipsnade runs a seedy circus which is perpetually in debt.” [Note, it is unclear whether the first name coined by Fields was spelled Larsen or Larson. Both appear in various places.]

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Welcome To Our World

A new litter of Yorkie Puppies have arrived at the Albero Ranch. Two females and one male. 

Heroes For The Homeland: Maryland First Responders Help Oklahoma Tornado Victims

Volunteers with the Maryland-based organization, Heroes For The Homeland, are on their way to Oklahoma to bring needed supplies and provide assistance to first responders helping tornado victims.

At last count, 13 people were killed in the powerful tornadoes that struck Friday night near Oklahoma City.

The volunteers gathered at the Fraternal Order of Police 89 parking lot in Upper Marlboro Sunday morning and loaded up four trucks with about 15 thousand pounds of supplies. The supplies were collected over the past few days.

The trucks are traveling about 1,300 miles and after 20 hours on the road, they expect to arrive in Oklahoma on Monday morning.

Read more

US Attorney Bill Killian: Posting Something Mean About Muslims On Social Media Might Be A Criminal Action Under Federal Civil Rights Laws

The First Amendment served us well for a time, but now it'soutdated.

Remember reading that England had arrested a guy for anti-Muslim Twitter postings in the aftermath of the Woolrich slaughter? And remember thinking, "Well, this is America, that can't happen here"?
Oh yes it can. Obama's Attorney for the Eastern district of Tennessee wants you to know that if you say something untoward about Muslims, the Federal government may imprison you.
Killian and Moore will provide input on how civil rights can be violated by those who post inflammatory documents targeted at Muslims on social media. “This is an educational effort with civil rights laws as they play into freedom of religion and exercising freedom of religion,” Killian told The News Monday. “This is also to inform the public what federal laws are in effect and what the consequences are.” ... Killian said Internet postings that violate civil rights are subject to federal jurisdiction.

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Putting The Culture Back In Agriculture: Reviving Native Food And Farming Traditions

“At one point ‘agriculture’ was about the culture of food. Losing that culture, in favor of an American cultural monocrop, joined with an agricultural monocrop, puts us in a perilous state…” says food and Native activist Winona LaDuke.

Her lament is an agribusiness executive’s dream. The CEO of the H.J. Heinz Company said, “Once television is there, people, whatever shade, culture, or origin, want roughly the same things.” The same things are based on the same technology, same media sources, same global economy, and same food.

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David Craig Announces Run For Maryland Governor

Havre de Grace - Harford County Executive David R. Craig announced his bid for Governor today emphasizing an inclusive message with wide appeal to Marylanders that goes beyond party affiliation. Following the morning announcement, the campaign will make stops later today in Baltimore and Hagerstown. On Tuesday, it's on to Silver Spring, Prince Frederick and Annapolis. The three-day tour concludes Wednesday in Salisbury and Easton.

"Let’s make Maryland work for you" is expected to be a recurring theme throughout the campaign and marks a sharp departure from the policies of the last several years. As a gubernatorial candidate, Craig will champion policies that advance economic prosperity in Maryland with which to balance budgets and reduce taxes while realigning state government priorities to address personal rights, freedoms and fiscal responsibility. 

"If we have learned one thing in the history of human events it is this: a government that promises too much to others is one that is failing you," Craig said.

Rejecting a national political strategy that has come into vogue over the last several years, and one virtually adopted in its entirety in Maryland, Craig said political leaders have lost focus and government initiatives have devolved into appeasing various groups with which to attempt to splice together numerical advantages at the polls.

"We have lost focus," he said."Politicians of late seem to be more like rock stars and celebrities. The best leaders do not seek fame on a stage, they advance ideas that fit the times in which we live. At this very moment, our government spends more and it takes more from you. It creates more and more programs and divides us into groups."

The county executive highlighted areas where years of political monopoly has created inertia to the point where state government essentially now "works for itself ," at the expense of everyday Marylanders. With over 30 years of experience in local and state elected office, Craig said counties and cities are getting left behind as well. Punishing tax increases, foundational cracks in the state's much-vaunted public education system and removal of funds intended for local roads are conspiring to create conditions that are driving generations of Marylanders to other states, according to the county executive. 

A widely publicized study of Internal Revenue Service data shows over 30,000 Marylanders moved away since 2007, the highest net-exodus rate among surrounding states. 

Craig is a tenth-generation Marylander who is married with three children and eight grandchildren. He will be seeking the Republican nomination for Governor leading up to the June 2014 primary. Currently the Harford county executive, Craig's experience include teaching and administrative positions in the public school system and serving as city councilman and mayor of Havre de Grace and as state delegate and senator. 

Craig said he looks forward to giving Marylanders a real choice and a true debate on the issues.

The New Farm Bill Shows What's Wrong With US Food

Thomas Jefferson believed that the U.S. ought to be a nation of small farmers, each owning his own land, independent and self-sufficient. But the new farm bill is all about what’s wrong with food production in the U.S. now. A quick review of the $1 trillion 2013 farm bill — it’s actually the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2012; Congress didn’t get around to passing it last year — not only makes it clear how small farmers are second-class citizens, but also pushes for chemical sugar substitutes and GMO food and fails to take provisions to prepare American agriculture for climate change.

If that’s not enough, the bill also cuts food stamps to the poor by about $20.5 billion.

Cuts to Food Stamp Program

It is the case that food stamp usage is up by at least 70 percent since the financial crisis in 2008. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is spending an estimated $70 billion on the program this year.

The new farm bill, which every Republican on the House Agriculture Committee hasapproved, will cut some $20 billion in food stamps over the next decade. That means nearly two million people, mostly from low-income working families with kids and older Americans, will be hungry and that as many as 210,000 children could lose access to free school lunches and breakfasts due to their eligibility for these being linked to their family’s food stamp benefits.

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ART SHELL CELEBRITY GOLF CLASSIC & JUNIOR TOURNAMENT READY TO TEE OFF

 PRINCESS ANNE, Md. - The 2013 version of the Art Shell UMES Celebrity Golf Classic & Junior Tournament will be held June 11-12 at Great Hope Golf Course in Westover, Md. The annual event benefits the University of Maryland Eastern Shore's (UMES) Professional Golf Management Program and Division of Athletics.

NFL, UMES and CIAA Hall of Famer Art Shell returns to host the tournament and bring with him a bevy of friends and colleagues from professional sports and UMES Athletic lore. The celebrities will partner with foursomes on the course to enjoy a full round of fundraising golf.

Among those returning is Redskin Great and Super Bowl MVP Doug Williams who attended his first event last year.

As it did when it debuted in 2010, the Art Shell UMES Junior Tournament will feature an 18-hole tournament on June 11 for golfers ages 11-to-18.
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40 O'Malley-Brown Tax Hikes Will Cost $20 Billion By 2018

Change Maryland released today stunning new figures on the tax impact that is accruing to Marylanders since 2007. In two separate reports released today, Change Maryland documents the cumulative impact to 2014 and the one projected to 2018, the latest year for which there are official government estimates.

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Behind-The-Scenes Video

I stopped by the Center for American Progress yesterday morning to talk about the choices we've made as a state to create jobs and strengthen Maryland's middle class.

The speech highlighted the balanced approach we took in Maryland that has enabled us to make record investments in schools, jobs, and infrastructure while simultaneously taking steps that have put us on the verge of eliminating the $1.7 billion structural deficit we inherited in 2007.

We recorded a video that shares a few highlights from the speech, but also gives a behind-the-scenes look at what happens before events like this. I hope you'll watch it.
While Republican governors were laying off police officers and fire fighters, cutting public education, and hiking college tuition, we invested in education, infrastructure, and innovation while cutting spending and focusing government to operate more efficiently.

We also made better choices that go beyond dollars and cents. We passed a state-level DREAM Act, enacted civil marriage equality, and made it easier for citizens to vote.

I don't want to spoil the end of the video for you, but as a result of our choices, we achieved better results: we are #1 in America for starting a business, #1 in women-owned businesses, #1 in median income, and for the fifth year in a row, Education Week Magazine ranked Maryland #1 in public education.

I hope you'll watch the video from my speech at the Center for American Progress and share it with your friends. You can do that here:

http://action.martinomalley.com/better-choices

Thanks for taking the time to read this message. I'll be in touch soon.

All the best,

Martin O'Malley

More Job Losses For Maryland

Maryland lost 6,200 jobs in April according to the latest available numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Maryland is the only state in the region to experience significant job losses last month while many parts of the country have begun a path towards economic recovery.

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CONSUMERS ALWAYS REDUCE THEIR SPENDING WHEN THEY ARE CONFIDENT. RIGHT?

It sure is getting tougher for the MSM mouthpieces of the status quo to spin horrible economic data into gold. They keep trying and the facts keep getting in the way. I’ve perused the personal income report and have a few pithy observations and questions:

If consumer confidence is at a 5 year high, why are consumers reducing their spending? Are they just conducting their surveys in Manhattan and the Hamptons?

If we are having a jobs recovery ( the unemployment rate keeps going down) why is national wage income at the same level as last November?

If consumer spending makes up 71% of GDP and is declining, how can GDP be a positive 2.5%?

Five years ago in 2008, national personal income was $12.6 trillion.

Today it is $13.7 trillion, an 8.7% increase in five freaking years. Even the BLS manipulated CPI is up 9.5% over this time frame. On top of that, $600 billion of the $1.1 trillion increase is totally due to increases in government transfers from the productive members of society to the non-productive members of society. You have to love the Orwellian definition of personal income.

Prior to the Wall Street created financial collapse, government transfers accounted for 14.2% of personal income. Today they account for a record 17.7% of personal income. But don’t you worry. Ben Bernanke took $450 billion from senior citizen savers annually andcontinues to give it to the Wall Street bankers.

How have we had a four year recovery without personal spending recovering? We didn’t. If you fake the inflation rate, you can miraculously report a positive GDP.

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The 2013 TELL Maryland Survey: Data That Our Schools Can Us

Maryland has the nation’s top-rated public schools, but we know we can do better. We’re already making record investments in Maryland public schools. To further improve, we need advice and feedback from the very group most responsible for our ranking: Maryland educators. The 2013 TELL Maryland Survey was designed for that very purpose.

This year’s survey, conducted in February, was the third in a series developed in collaboration with the New Teacher Center. With the great support of Governor O’Malley—and working with the Maryland State Education Association, the Baltimore Teachers Union, local school system superintendents, and other partners—educators responded to this year’s survey in record numbers. More than 50,000 educators completed this survey, an increase of nearly 8,000 from the first survey in 2009 and more than 3,000 over the 2011 numbers.

The 2013 TELL Maryland Survey Results are now available. The survey asked Maryland public school teachers and administrators their thoughts about school leadership, student conduct, and other factors key to building stronger classrooms. Data compiled through the survey will help guide school improvement work over the next two years.

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