Weirdly Beautiful

That is weirdly beautiful. Why would anyone want to go south and miss a sight like this? 

St Joseph Lighthouse, Lake Michigan 1/2014 after storm 

This is the St. Joseph Lighthouse on Lake Michigan. Today, it is encased in ice

as the Midwest was hit with wind chills that reached -50 degrees.

 

 

 

 What it normally looks like

Great Caesar’s Ghost

On the nauseating spectacle that is the State of the Union address

The annual State of the Union pageant is a hideous, dispiriting, ugly, monotonous, un-American, un-republican, anti-democratic, dreary, backward, monarchical, retch-inducing, depressing, shameful, crypto-imperial display of official self-aggrandizement and piteous toadying, a black Mass during which every unholy order of teacup totalitarian and cringing courtier gathers under the towering dome of a faux-Roman temple to listen to a speech with no content given by a man with no content, to rise and to be seated as is called for by the order of worship — it is a wonder they have not started genuflecting — with one wretched representative of their number squirreled away in some well-upholstered Washington hidey-hole in order to preserve the illusion that those gathered constitute a special class of humanity without whom we could not live.

It’s the most nauseating display in American public life — and I write that as someone who has just returned from a pornographers’ convention.

It’s worse than the Oscars.

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Pool Hall Expert: How To Get Hustled

Many of the world's top pool sharks will be "smashing the rack" this weekend at one of America's premiere billiard tournaments: the Derby City Classic.

Held at Horseshoe Southern Indiana casino — not far from the site of Louisville's Kentucky Derby — the event promises thousands of dollars in prizes to masters of games such as bank pool, one-pocket and nine ball.

"Watching serious pool players compete for high stakes is something to behold," says R.A. "Jake" Dyer, billiard aficionado and author of "The Hustler & The Champ." "It's quite entertaining and just as exciting as any sport."
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State Commissioner: EPA Regulations Could Threaten ND Power Grid

Oil train derailments and a Canadian pipeline explosion that left North Dakota's Red River Valley without power in the midst of subzero temperatures has energy infrastructure in the headlines. But one state official says the Environmental Protection Agency is "threatening" North Dakota's power system with new emission regulations, which, he says, are impossible to comply with.

"This is not an attempt to close down power plants," EPA Region 8 administrator Shaun McGrath said during the event, according to the Bismarck Tribune. "Coal needs to be part of our energy future." But Public Service Commissioner Randy Christmann says proposed emissions regulations for new power plants tell a different story, one that could mean a bottleneck for power in a growing state.

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Sniffer and Tinni, The Story of Friendship Between A Fox and A Dog

It may sound like a fairy tale, but Sniffer the red fox and Tinni the dog are the best of friends despite the overwhelming odds of becoming enemies due to what they are. Both animals live on the same property as photographer Torgeir Berge, who quickly noticed that foxes and dogs are more alike than not. This realization caused Torgeir to openly oppose and speak out against the Norwegian fox fur trade. 

This video shows a dog and a wild fox who has been best friends for a long time and are enjoying what nature has to offer. Both are in need of freedom and joy. Foxes are, like other animals, dependent on the freedom to explore, live and play over large areas. Instead , they are born into a meaningless life in a cramped wire cages, with no opportunity to live a natural life. What excuse do we have for causing such great suffering of approximately one million animals each year, only for an unnecessary and pretentious product?

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To see more photos click HERE

SnakeBite Causes $89,000 Hospital Bill For North Carolina Couple

The couple visited the emergency room in August to receive treatment. The sticker shock comes as Americans continue to battle high health care costs following the introduction of the American Care Act

A couple in North Carolina is speaking out against hospital pricing after receiving a bill for an 18-hour emergency-room stay which they say cost them a whopping $89,000. The Charlotte Observer reports that Eric Ferguson visited a hospital near his home in Mooresville, N.C. over the summer after being bitten by a snake.

The four vials of anti-venom medication Ferguson received reportedly cost about $20,000 each. Ferguson and his wife Laura researched the price of the medicine and found its retail price was between $750 and $12,000 per vial. Medicare, they reportedly found, would have paid about $9,460 for the total treatment

Though their Blue Cross Blue Shield Insurance reduced the bill to a little over $20,000, according to the Charlotte Observer, and they only ended up paying about $5,400 to cover their deductible and co-pay, the couple said they were shocked by the price of treatment.

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Yahoo Email Account Passwords Stolen

NEW YORK (AP) -- Usernames and passwords of some of Yahoo's email customers have been stolen and used to gather personal information about people those Yahoo mail users have recently corresponded with, the company said Thursday.

Yahoo didn't say how many accounts have been affected. Yahoo is the second-largest email service worldwide, after Google's Gmail, according to the research firm comScore. There are 273 million Yahoo mail accounts worldwide, including 81 million in the U.S.

It's the latest in a string of security breaches that have allowed hackers to nab personal information using software that analysts say is ever more sophisticated. Up to 70 million customers of Target stores had their personal information and credit and debit card numbers compromised late last year, and Neiman Marcus was the victim of a similar breach in December.
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Forget Metadata … The NSA Is Spying On EVERYTHING

The NSA’s spying on everyone’s metadata can tell them just about everything about us … and it violates our Constitutional right to freedom of association.

But people are getting distracted from the big picture by focusing on metadata.

As security expert Bruce Schneier wrote yesterday:

What frustrates me about all of this — [the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board] report, the president’s speech, and so many other things — is that they focus on the bulk collection of cell phone call records. There’s so much more bulk collection going on —phone calls, e-mails, address books, buddy lists, text messages, cell phone location data,financial documents, calendars, [smartphone apps] etc. — and we really need legislation and court opinions on it all. But because cell phone call records were the first disclosure, they’re what gets the attention.

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District Apologizes After Taking Student Lunches

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Erica Lukes and other Utah parents were outraged when their children had their deep dish pizzas and other food taken and thrown away at their elementary school after a cashier said they owed money on their lunch accounts.

Lukes said taking the $2 meals from about 30 students was "humiliating and demoralizing."

"People are upset, obviously, by the way this has been handled because it's really needless and quite mean," she said. "Regardless if it's $2, $5, you don't go about rectifying a situation with a balance by having a child go through that."

The Salt Lake City School District apologized on Thursday and said it was investigating what happened at Uintah (Yoo-IN-tah) Elementary and working to make sure it doesn't happen again.
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Want To See Hillary In White House For 8 Years?

GOP positioned to advance Obama 'fast track' trade scheme

WASHINGTON – A nationwide, bipartisan survey released Wednesday measuring voters’ attitudes about the “fast-`track” authority the Obama administration is seeking to push the Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade agreement through Congress indicates Republican lawmakers who vote for the measure are risking their careers and could help put Hillary Clinton in the White House.

The survey results are especially bad news for House Speaker John Boehner and leading Republican House members such as Eric Cantor and Paul Ryan. Republican voters in general and conservatives in particular have concluded the GOP House leaders are capitulating to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and the big business interests attempting to rush the bill though Congress.

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Possibly The Best Soldier-Dog Reunion Video Ever

Should California’s Crowded Prisons Look To San Francisco’s Shrinking Jails?

In the 1980s, San Francisco faced a court order similar to the one the state is facing now to reduce overcrowding. Rather than simply throwing the book at people, the city now often treats jail as a last resort and focuses on reintegrating ex-offenders back into society.

When Paul Henderson graduated from law school, he says, “Nobody clapped.” That’s because his family was wary of his goal of becoming a prosecutor. Henderson grew up in the San Francisco housing projects, where law enforcement was often seen as an adversary, and his career decision didn’t sit well with his mother, a public defender, or his grandmother, a community activist. But Henderson rejected the notion that as a black man from a poor neighborhood, he was destined to represent criminal defendants. In the world where he was raised, racial minorities were disproportionately charged with crime—but also disproportionately victims of it. He chose a career in the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office because he wanted victims and witnesses to be able to speak with someone who shared their background. But he also believed he could change the criminal justice system from within.

Henderson, who is 46, spent nearly 20 years as a prosecutor. Now he is deputy chief of staff and public safety director for San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee. But he remains an activist on criminal justice reform. And he is well versed in the challenges facing a state whose tough-on-crime approach hasn’t done much to improve public safety, best illustrated by the much-criticized “three strikes” laws. “People do bad things, and they absolutely should be arrested, and there absolutely should be justice,” says Henderson. “But what that justice can look like has to be a broader discussion than ‘more jail—end of discussion.’”

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The "One Ring" Scam Could Prove Costly If It Finds Its Way To Your Phone

Your cell phone rings. But just once.

Then you see a missed call from an area code you don't recognize, like 268, that turns out to be from the Caribbean.

So you're curious and you decide to call it back.

That call back can prove costly.

It's being called the "One Ring" scam and it's shown up on phones of Marylanders and folks across the U.S.
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Runaway Bay Apartments

Obamacare's Unpopularity Rises Among Uninsured

As the deadline for 2014 enrollment nears, Obamacare is increasingly growing unpopular, especially among the uninsured. A new Kaiser Family Foundation survey finds that about twice as many uninsured people have an unfavorable view of the health-care law than have a favorable one.

Among the uninsured, 47 percent view Obamacare in a negative light versus the 24 percent who view it favorably. That’s a change from 43 percent who viewed it unfavorably last month, and 36 percent who viewed it favorably. Overall, half of Americans view Obamacare unfavorably, while just over one-third have a positive take on the law. ​

More of the uninsured also said Obamacare made them worse off (39 percent) than improved their situation (26 percent), according to the poll.

Source

SFD Calls For Service 1-30-14

• Thursday January, 30 2014 @ 23:50:03Nature: Sick SubjectCity: Salisbury
• Thursday January, 30 2014 @ 19:13:17Nature: Automatic AlarmAddress: 101 Long Ave Salisbury, MD 21801
• Thursday January, 30 2014 @ 16:45:36Nature: Medical AssistAddress: 30451 Zion Rd Salisbury, MD 21801
• Thursday January, 30 2014 @ 15:31:30Nature: Difficulty BreathingCity: Salisbury
• Thursday January, 30 2014 @ 14:02:06Nature: Chest PainCity: Salisbury
• Thursday January, 30 2014 @ 13:17:42Nature: Pi AccidentCity: Salisbury
• Thursday January, 30 2014 @ 13:10:45Nature: Pi AccidentAddress: 812 Boundary St Salisbury, MD 21801
• Thursday January, 30 2014 @ 13:10:39Nature: Pi AccidentCity: Salisbury
• Thursday January, 30 2014 @ 12:53:22Nature: Pi AccidentCity: Salisbury
• Thursday January, 30 2014 @ 12:44:42Nature: Pi AccidentCity: Salisbury
• Thursday January, 30 2014 @ 11:59:00Nature: SeizureCity: Salisbury
• Thursday January, 30 2014 @ 11:20:17Nature: Subject FallenCity: Parsonsburg
• Thursday January, 30 2014 @ 10:25:32Nature: Difficulty BreathingCity: Salisbury
• Thursday January, 30 2014 @ 09:56:57Nature: Pi AccidentCity: Salisbury
• Thursday January, 30 2014 @ 08:16:26Nature: Difficulty BreathingCity: Salisbury
• Thursday January, 30 2014 @ 08:06:47Nature: Subject FallenCity: Salisbury
• Thursday January, 30 2014 @ 08:06:20Nature: Sick SubjectCity: Salisbury
• Thursday January, 30 2014 @ 08:01:27Nature: Sick SubjectCity: Salisbury
• Thursday January, 30 2014 @ 07:36:26Nature: Pi AccidentCity: Salisbury
• Thursday January, 30 2014 @ 07:35:02Nature: Subject FallenCity: Salisbury
• Thursday January, 30 2014 @ 05:58:13Nature: Smoke / Co DetectorAddress: 1002 Limestone Ct Salisbury, MD 21801
• Thursday January, 30 2014 @ 02:04:14Nature: InjuryCity: Salisbury
• Thursday January, 30 2014 @ 00:21:45Nature: ChokingCity: Salisbury

BREAKING NEWS: Keystone Pipeline Clears Key Hurdle

State Department review raises no major environmental objections to Keystone XL project, in a major boost for supporters of the Canada-to-Texas pipeline.

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Bankruptcy In The USSA: Detroit Bondholders About To Be GM'ed In Favor Of Pensioners

First, the Obama administration showed during the course of the GM and Chrysler bankruptcy proceedings, that when it comes to Most Preferred Voter classes, some unsecured creditors - namely labor unions, and the millions of votes they bring - are more equal than other unsecured creditors - namely bondholders, and the zero votes they bring. Five years later we are about to get a stark reminder that under the superpriority rule of a community organizer for whom "fairness" trumps contract law any day, it is now Detroit's turn to make a mockery of the recovery waterfall. As it turns out, bankrupt Detroit is proposing to favor pension funds at roughly double the rate of bondholders to resolve an estimated $18 billion in long-term obligations, according to a draft of a debt-cutting plan reviewed by The Wall Street Journal.

The breakdown to unsecured stakeholders would be as follows: 40% recovery for pension funds, 20% for unsecured bondholders - all this to the same pari class of unsecured creditors. Because just like in Europe when cashing out on CDS in insolvent nations is prohibited as it would suggest that the entire Eurozone experiment is one epic farce, regardless of how much "political capital" Goldman Sachs has invested in it, so in the US municipal creditors are realizing that in the worst case scenario, they will be layered first and foremost by all those whose votes are critical in keeping this crony administration in power.

According to the WSJ  the plan calls for recovery to be divided among the unsecureds amounting to $4.2 billion, more than the originally planned $2 billion to settle claims which included about $11 billion in unsecured debt, including $6 billion in health and other benefits for retirees; $3.5 billion for retiree pensions; and about $530 million in general-obligation bonds.

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Bad Accident Just Happened Moments Ago On Bypass

There's been a bad accident on the Bypass past the Mall heading towards Fruitland, (so to speak). A vehicle has overturned and they are down to one lane. 

Smaller Wind Turbine Collecting Data In Berlin In Advance Of Larger One

BERLIN — Town residents may have been surprised to see a much smaller than expected wind turbine turning silently in Berlin this week, but the sight is temporary, as it’s only being used to collect wind data and will be replaced this summer by a much larger construct.

Installed last week, the current, 7kw turbine sits on the former Rayne’s Sand and Gravel property on Old Ocean City Boulevard. The machine is collecting data on wind speed and direction that will be taken into account when the larger, 50kw turbine is installed. The smaller, 21-foot tall device with four-foot blades is also serving as a test run in construction for its 65-foot tall, 19-foot bladed big brother.

“The 7KW wind turbine is collecting data regarding wind direction and speed to be used to build a 50kW gearless wind turbine,” said Laura Allen, town administrator for Berlin. “Once that process is complete in the next three to four months, the smaller wind turbine will be removed and replaced by the 50kw wind turbine.”
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Mexico Just Legalized Vigilantism And Then Captured A Huge Cartel Leader

Mexico essentially legalized the country’s growing “self-defense” groups Monday, while also announcing that security forces had captured one of the four top leaders of the Knights Templar drug cartel, which the vigilante groups have been fighting for the last year.

The government said it had reached an agreement with vigilante leaders to incorporate the armed civilian groups into old and largely forgotten quasi-military units called the Rural Defense Corps. Vigilante groups estimate their numbers at 20,000 men under arms.

The twin announcements may help the administration of President Enrique Pena Nieto find a way out of an embarrassing situation in the western state of Michoacan, where vigilantes began rising up last February against the Knights Templar reign of terror and extortion after police and troops failed to stop the abuses.

Read more

DEVELOPING: Suspicious Powder Mailed To Hotels Near Super Bowl

CARLSTADT, N.J. — The FBI and other law enforcement are investigating a suspicious white powder that was mailed to at least five New Jersey hotels near the site of Sunday's Super Bowl.

Carlstadt Police Det. John Cleary says someone at an Econo Lodge found the substance in an envelope on Friday.

Cleary says similar mailings arrived at the Homestead Inn in East Rutherford and a Renaissance Inn in Rutherford.
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Solar Provides 0.2% Of Electric Supply--Up From 0.02% Before Obama

(CNSNews.com) - Solar power, which President Barack Obama promoted in his State of the Union Address, accounted for 0.2 percent of the U.S. electricity supply in the first nine months of 2013, according to data published by the U.S. government's Energy Information Administration.

That is up from the 0.02 percent of the total electricity supply that solar power sources provided in 2008, the last calendar year before Obama took office.

“Now, one of the biggest factors in bringing more jobs back is our commitment to American energy,” Obama said in the State of the Union. “The all-of-the-above energy strategy I announced a few years ago is working, and today, America is closer to energy independence than we've been in decades.”

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Connecticut Gun Owners Revolt; Refuse To Register Firearms & Magazines

Just 38,000 of 2.4 million magazines registered after passage of new law

Gun owners in Connecticut have revolted against a new gun control law, with just 38,000 out of 2.4 million high capacity magazines being registered with authorities.

Following the Sandy Hook shooting in December 2012, Connecticut passed a law which banned ammunition magazines capable of carrying more than 10 rounds. Residents who had acquired such magazines before the law came into effect were mandated to register them with state police by January 1, 2014. The law also banned assault rifles manufactured after 1994, requiring them to be declared to authorities.

Weeks after the deadline expired, authorities revealed that 50,016 assault weapons and 38,290 ammunition magazines had been registered.

CT News Junkie reported that it is, “unclear how many gun owners own the banned weapons and magazines, but chose not to comply with the registration requirement.”

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Watch: Employees In Pennsylvania Company Learn Of Increased Health Costs Due To Obamacare

A local news station brings viewers inside one Pennsylvania company as the employees there learn about their new health care plans under Obamacare:

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WCSO MOST WANTED 1-31-14

Garry Lionel Ayers
Black Male, 5’09” 180 lbs
DOB 09/18/1967 46 years of age
Black hair, Brown eyes
Ayers’ last known address was Fruitland MD
Ayers is wanted by the Sheriff's Office on a Circuit Court Bench Warrant issued for Failure to Appear in November 2007 on the charge of Theft over $500
The preset bond is $15,000
We will extradite Ayers from the states surrounding Maryland

 Reginald Edward Quailes
• Black Male, 5’09” 160 lbs
• DOB 10/28/1968 45 years of age
• Black hair, Brown eyes
• Quailes’ last known address was Salisbury MD
• Quailes uses the nicknames Fube or Fubi and Bube as well as the alias Charles Ray Jr
• Quailes is wanted by the Sheriff’s Office on a District Court Bench Warrant issued for Failure to Appear in June 2013 for a Violation of Probation hearing on the charge of Theft $1000 to $10,000
• Quailes should be APPROACHED WITH CAUTION, he has a history of RESIST ARREST, ASSAULT POLICE, and DRUG ABUSE, he should be considered DANGEROUS

Mary Ann Dent
• Black Female, 5’08” 185 lbs
• DOB 07/19/1982 31 years of age
• Black hair, Brown eyes
• Dent’s last known address was Fruitland, MD
• Dent has tattoos on both arms and her back
• Dent is wanted by the Sheriff’s Office on a Circuit Court Bench Warrant issued for Failure to Appear in May 2007 for a Violation of Probation hearing on the charge of CDS Possession Not Marijuana & Marijuana
• There is no preset bond, she must be brought before the court
• Dent has a history of being a DRUG USER SELLER

Blaise Delma
• Black Male, 5’09” 190 lbs
• DOB 05/04/1960 53 years of age
• Black hair, Brown eyes
• Delma’s last known address was Hurlock MD
• Delma is wanted by the Sheriff’s Office on a District Court Bench Warrant issued in December 2012 for Violation of Probation on the charges of Forgery, Issue False Document, and Theft under $1000
• The preset bond is $10,000

Christian Clayton Clark
White Male, 5’07” 190 lbs
DOB 02/01/1990 23 years of age
Brown hair, Blue eyes
Clarks’ last known address was Cambridge, MD
Clark is wanted by the Sheriff’s Office on a District Court Bench Warrant issued for Failure to Appear in December 2011 for a Violation of Probation hearing on the charge of Theft scheme over $500
The preset bond is $10,000

Angelina Faye Ballard
Black Female, 6’00” 300 lbs
DOB 09/02/1978 35 years of age
Black hair, Brown eyes
Ballard’s last known address was Philadelphia
Ballard also uses the name Katrina Faye Bey or Naibi Brown
Ballard is wanted by the Sheriff's Office on a Circuit Court Bench Warrant issued for Violation of Probation in November 2007 on the charge of Assault 2nd
The preset bond is $50,000

William Michael Watson
White Male, 5’11” 145 lbs
DOB 06/14/1984 29 years of age
Brown hair Blue eyes
Watson’s last known address is Salisbury MD
Watson is wanted by the Sheriff's Office on a Circuit Court Arrest Warrant issued in September 2009 for Handgun on Person, Handgun in Vehicle, and multiple traffic charges
The preset bond is $1000
Watson should be considered ARMED

Julia Lin Wagner
White Female, 5’05” 170 lbs
DOB 07/12/1991 22 years of age
Brown hair, Green eyes
Wagner’s last known address is Delmar MD
Wagner is wanted by the Sheriff's Office on a Circuit Court Bench Warrant issued in May 2013 for Violation of Probation on the charge of CDS Possess with Intent Distribute
We will extradite Wagner from all states East of the Mississippi
There is no preset bond, she must be brought before the court
Wagner has a history of being a DRUG USER SELLER

Travis Lamar Duffy
Black Male, 5’11” 220 lbs
DOB 06/23/1984 29 years of age
Black hair, Brown eyes
Duffy’s last known address was Princess Anne MD
Duffy is wanted by the Sheriff's Office on a District Court Bench Warrant issued for Failure to Appear in December 2009 for Assault 2nd, False Imprisonment, and Motor Vehicle Theft
The preset bond is $20,000
Duffy has a history of DRUG ABUSE

 Franklin James Donaway
• White Male, 5’11” 210 lbs
• DOB 09/09/1978 35 years of age
• Black hair, Blue eyes
• Donaway’s last known address was Salisbury MD
• Donaway has multiple tattoos including on his neck and arms
• Donaway is wanted by the Sheriff’s Office on a District Court Arrest Warrant issued in September 2013 for Unlawful Taking of a Motor Vehicle, Driving without a License, and other traffic charges
• And on a District Court Bench Warrant issued for Violation of Probation in September 2013 on Theft charges
• And on a District Court Bench Warrant issued for Failure to Appear in November 2013 on Animal Cruelty charges
• The total preset bond is $30,000
• We will extradite Donaway from Delaware and Virginia
• Donaway has history of DRUG ABUSE 

Please Call Crime Solvers of the Lower Eastern Shore at 410-548-1776 with any tips on these subjects whereabouts. 

Watchdog: Afghan Ministries Cannot Properly Account For How US Dollars Are Spent

The U.S. government is keeping tens of millions of dollars flowing to Afghanistan despite a pair of private audits that found Afghan ministries could not properly account for the funds, according to a pointed watchdog report released on Thursday.

The lengthy study from the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction revealed the audits produced 696 recommendations, with 41 percent labeled as "critical" or "high risk." The U.S. agency administering the funds, USAID, worked to address some of these -- but despite concluding it would not approve direct aid "under normal circumstances," the money continued to flow.

According to the report, USAID has committed just more than $1 billion to Afghanistan.

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Wicomico Seeking $545K For Watershed Work

SALISBURY – Wicomico County is looking to state grant funds as a means to help it fulfill requirements of a watershed implementation plan.

Last week the County Council held a public hearing on a resolution authorizing the County Executive to submit a grant application and accept a grant award from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund Capital Improvement Grant in an amount up to $545,000.

According to the resolution, the DNR Trust Fund provides capital improvement grant funding to organizations having demonstrated ability to implement non-point source pollution control projects to improve the Chesapeake Bay water quality.
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Dem Strategists And Donors: We Can’t Win The House So Let’s Save The Senate

Far be it from us to give the Democrats any advice that might work to their benefit, but it seems premature to throw in the towel a full 9 months before the midterm elections.

Yet, that is precisely what some top Democratic party strategists and donors are recommending. They think that there’s no way that the Democrats will recapture the House this fall, so why not allocate all resources to keeping the Senate?

They’re going to need those financial resources if they want to take the Senate. One resource that a lot of Democratic Senate candidates won’t have available to them is the President of the United States.

Of course, the reason that those Democratic Senate candidates won’t have the President available to them is because they don’t want the President available to them. They’d rather not campaign with him at all because he’s now considered a political liability.

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House GOP To Wage War Against Obama Executive Orders

President Barack Obama made it clear in his State of the Union address that he would make greater use of executive orders to achieve what he wasn't getting from Congress, but House Republicans warned they will be on guard against such White House actions.

"President Obama has decided to try to bypass Congress and go it alone, using executive orders in an attempt to put into effect policies he cannot achieve in the legislative process," GOP Rep. Candice Miller of Michigan, who chairs the House Committee on Administration, told Newsmax. "This is troubling not only because it shows a lack of leadership, but also because such authority is not found in our Constitution."

Miller is a co-sponsor of the STOP Resolution, which she said "would require the House to take legal action against the president for not faithfully executing the law as required by the Constitution."

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Super Bowl Sunday Specials!

Super Bowl Party

Obama’s ‘NSA Watchdog’ Funded Research Targeting Reporters

Campaign included de facto enemies list, investigations of news personalities

Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker, who recently was named to a new presidential panel to review the government’s handling of “big data” stored at National Security Agency databases, has a history with investigating people.

That’s because she is a primary funder of the radical Media Matters for America activist group, which previously declared “war”on Fox News and reportedly sought to look into the personal lives of journalists.

In 2012, Media Matters found itself in hot water after the Daily Caller exposed the group’s purported illicit tactics, including compiling a de facto enemies list and reportedly seeking to investigate reporters and news personalities.

The Daily Caller reported it obtained internal memos from Media Matters that revealed the group employed an “opposition research team” to “target its political enemies.”

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DAVID SUIRE SENTENCED FOR CONTERFEITING AND THEFT

On January 30, 2014 David M. Suire, age 42 of Salisbury was sentenced to 20 years incarceration for two counts of counterfeiting and one count of theft that occurred in March, 2013. The Honorable Kathleen L. Beckstead was the sentencing judge. Bryant had been convicted of these offenses by a jury on October 1, 2013.

Facts introduced at trial indicated that Suire had been hired by a 92-year-old man in Wicomico County to perform some home improvement work at his home. During the course of Suire’s employment, he obtained at least two checks from the victim, wrote them out to himself, and cashed them at a check cashing business in Salisbury.

Suire had a major criminal record and was on parole at the time of these offenses.

Wicomico County State’s Attorney Matthew A. Maciarello stated as follows: “The State vigorously prosecutes individuals who decide to exploit the trust of vulnerable adults. If you think someone is financially exploiting a vulnerable adult in our community, please report it to the police or Adult Protective Services. The number for Adult Protective Services is (410) 713-3900.” Maciarello further commended the Wicomico Bureau of Investigation and Cpl. Durbin Hamilton of the Maryland State Police for their work in the investigation of this case.

POLL: SARAH PALIN HAS HIGHEST FAVORABILITY RATING AMONG GOP PRIMARY VOTERS

Though former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin was not included in a Public Policy Polling survey of potential 2016 Republican presidential contenders, she was still overwhelmingly the most liked person among Republican primary voters.

According to Public Policy Polling:

The best liked person we tested on this poll with Republican primary voters is actually Sarah Palin who has a 70/20 favorability rating. She's followed by Huckabee at 64/18, Ryan at 58/18, Paul at 58/21, Bush at 56/18, Cruz at 45/20, and Christie at 40/38. Most of those numbers are similar to what they were a month ago but Christie's seen a substantial drop from +18 at 47/29 a month ago to his new +2 net favorability.

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WCSO Press Release 1-31-14

Incident: Theft

Date of Incident: 30 January 2014

Location: 2000 block of Turner Lane, Nanticoke, MD

Suspect: Crystal Lynn Brunke, 31, Nanticoke, MD

                                 

Narrative: On 30 January 2014 at 11:30 a deputy arrested Crystal Brunke in connection with a theft she allegedly perpetrated. Brunke stands accused of taking blank checks from another individual’s check book and cashing a little over $1,500.00 worth without permission.

Upon arrest Brunke was transported to the Central Booking Unit where she was processed and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner. After an initial appearance, the Commissioner detained Brunke on a bond of $10,000.00 in the Detention Center.

Charges: Theft $1,000.00 to$10,000.00

Brunke, Crystal

Incident: DUI

Date of Incident: 31 January 2014

Location: Main Street at Salisbury Parkway, Salisbury, MD

Suspect: Kevin Christopher Betskoff, 25, Reistertown, MD

                                 

Narrative: On 31 January 2014 at 1:17 AM a deputy stopped a vehicle operated by Kevin Betskoff after observing Betskoff speeding and driving erratically. Upon contacting Betskoff, the deputy detected a strong odor of alcohol. During the ensuing encounter, the deputy observed that Betskoff had trouble standing up or maintaining balance. The deputy would ultimately place Betskoff under arrest for driving under the influence of alcohol.

During processing Betskoff refused to submit to a breath test.

Betskoff was transported to the Central Booking Unit where he was processed and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner. After an initial appearance, the Commissioner detained Betskoff in the Detention Center in lieu of $5,000.00 bond.

Charges: Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol

Betskoff, Kevin

Incident: WCSO Activity 30/31 Jan 2014

Location: Wicomico County

• On 30 Jan 2014 at 1:45 PM a deputy arrested Terrell Daronte Williams on an outstanding District Court Bench Warrant. The warrant was issued after Williams violated the terms of his probation following a conviction in a CDS case. Williams was detained in the Detention Center on a bond of $20,000.00. 

• On 31 Jan 2014 at 2:00 AM a deputy arrested Michael Tyrone Ward on an outstanding Circuit Court Bench Warrant. The warrant was issued after Ward violated the terms of his probation following a conviction in an armed robbery case. Ward was detained in the Detention Center without bond.

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Releasing Authority: Lt. Tim Robinson        Date: 31 January 2014

New Seats Released For Justin Moore’s Salisbury Show

Salisbury, MD –Great new seats close to the stage have been released for Justin Moore’s Off the Beaten Path Tour in Salisbury, MD. Justin Moore hits the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center Friday, February 7th along with Randy Houser and opening act Josh Thompson. Tickets are on sale now and available at www.wicomicociviccenter.org, by phone at 410-548-4911, or in person at the Box Office, open Monday through Friday.

World Risks Deflationary Shock As BRICS Puncture Credit Bubbles

As matters stand, the next recession will push the Western economic system over the edge into deflation

Half the world economy is one accident away from a deflation trap. The International Monetary Fund says the probability may now be as high as 20pc.

It is a remarkable state of affairs that the G2 monetary superpowers - the US and China - should both be tightening into such a 20pc risk, though no doubt they have concluded that asset bubbles are becoming an even bigger danger.

"We need to be extremely vigilant," said the IMF's Christine Lagarde in Davos. "The deflation risk is what would occur if there was a shock to those economies now at low inflation rates, way below target. I don't think anyone can dispute that in the eurozone, inflation is way below target."

It is not hard to imagine what that shock might be. It is already before us as Turkey, India and South Africa all slam on the brakes, forced to defend their currencies as global liquidity drains away.

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Duo Arrested In Multiple Burglaries In Sussex County

Location: Various locations throughout Bethany Beach, Fenwick Island, Ocean View and Selbyville

Date of Occurrence: September 2013 to November 2013

Defendant, Charges and Bond Information:

William K. Freeman II, 28, Berlin, MD (Photo Attached, blue and white checkered shirt)
247 charges including Burglary, Theft, Conspiracy, and Criminal Mischief

Arraigned at JP3 and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution on $629,500.00 cash bond.

Bradford J. Hall, 27, Bishopville, MD (Photo Attached, black shirt)
247 charges including Burglary, Theft, Conspiracy, and Criminal Mischief

Arraigned at JP3 and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution on $629,500 cash bond.

Resume:
Sussex County, DE- Delaware State Police Detectives have arrested two people in connection with numerous burglaries and thefts that occurred in eastern and southern Sussex County.

Detectives from Troop 4 Property Crimes began their investigation in November of 2013 after numerous seasonal homes in southeastern Sussex County were broken into and had televisions, electronic devices, and equipment removed. On November 13, 2013, Bradford J. Hall was arrested after he was located during a burglary in progress in the Clearwater Development south of Ocean View, DE. He was released from the Department of Corrections two days later after he was able to post bail.

Detectives continued to examine the burglaries and further investigation revealed Hall was involved in numerous other burglaries along with an accomplice named William K. Freeman. On December 20, 2013, Freeman was apprehended in Laurel on a traffic stop for warrants that were obtained for his arrested in burglaries he conspired to do in the Bethany Beach area. He was committed to SCI on a secured bond where remained until January 10, 2014 when detectives arrested Freeman on an additional 247 charges ranging from Burglary, Theft, Conspiracy, and Criminal Mischief. He remains incarcerated in lieu of $629, 500.00 cash bond.

On January 24, 2014, Bradford Hall was arrested in Maryland by the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office and was jailed until his extradition back to Delaware on January 29th. He was then formally arrested by Delaware State Police detectives on 247 charges ranging from Burglary, Theft, Conspiracy, and Criminal Mischief. He was committed to SCI on $629,500.00 cash bond.

Detectives at Troop 4 were able to clear a total of 88 burglaries that were committed by the two subjects.

The State Of The Authoritarian Union

What if the state of the union is a mess? What if the government spies on all of us all of the time and recognizes no limits to its spying? What if its appetite for acquiring personal knowledge about all Americans is insatiable? What if the government uses the microchips in our cellphones to follow us and listen to us as we move about?

What if the Constitution expressly prohibits the government from doing this? What if the government has written laws that are interpreted in secret by judges who meet in secret and are applied by federal agents who operate in secret and their secret behavior doesn’t even resemble what the laws say they can do?

What if the feds have seized the content of every text message, email, mobile and landline telephone call, utility bill, credit card bill and bank statement of everyone in America for the past four years? What if no law has authorized them to capture this? What if when asked by members of Congress, in public and under oath, high-ranking officials, at least one with ribbons on his chest and stars on his shoulders, lied about what the government is doing?

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'Populist' Obama Pushes Corporatist Policies

Democrats this week are trying to claim the populist ground for the 2014 elections, with President Obama's State of the Union Address as the centerpiece of this effort.

Meanwhile, Obama and his party are showering corporate welfare on the likes of Boeing, Aetna, and possibly billionaire Obama fundraiserWarren Buffett.

The Democrats’ populist posturing is mostly a cynical election-year play to distract from the corporatism that defines Obamanomics.

In a State of the Union preview in the Washington Post, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Steve Israel was quoted as saying, “This campaign is going to be about who's on your side. On that issue, the contrast between Democrats and Republicans in Congress could not be clearer.”

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Meet & Greet Carl Anderton

Carl Anderton Jr.
This Saturday I'll be holding a meet & greet at Main Roots Coffee House on the Salisbury Plaza from 11a until 1p. No entry fee, but contributions are welcome.

Come out, support a great local business and let's talk about district 38B.

No Charges Filed Against Cop Who Shot 72-Year-Old On His Own Driveway

Officer arrived at wrong address and shot homeowner seven times because he “felt threatened”

Yesterday a grand jury declined to charge a Ft. Worth, Texas police officer who killed a 72-year-old man on his own driveway after arriving at the wrong address to investigate a burglary alarm.

The jury’s decision not to indict R.A. “Alex” Hoepper for the May 28 shooting death of Jerry Waller came after prosecutors presented 25 hours of testimony over four days, according to the Ft. Worth Star-Telegram.

Waller died after Hoepper shot him seven times as the officer and his partner arrived at Waller’s house, mistakenly thinking that the burglary alarm going off across the street came from his residence.

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Saturday Is Another 24 Hours News Day

We will provide yet another 24 hour news cycle tomorrow. I have to admit, even I am amazed we're able to make Saturday's so filled up with news and information. Nevertheless, we can and from the past three weeks in doing so we can tell from the traffic people like it a LOT. 

Have a great weekend.

All The President’s Women

It is not a coincidence that most of the Obama administration scandals happened under the leadership of women. The Obama administration chooses to surround itself with “yes men” and “yes women,” but liberal “yes women” have an advantage: it is hard to criticize and grill them when a scandal happens without being accused of sexism and being a bigoted woman-hater.

In our current political environment, liberal politicians in general, men and women, get away with a lot more than conservative politicians because of media liberal bias. But liberal female politicians can get away with a lot more than their male counterparts, and that explains why almost all the Obama scandals have female faces behind them. Under ordinary conditions, men or women should end up becoming fall guys or gals, but many of the women behind the Obama scandals end up rewarded, sometimes even with a better position.

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Senators Try To Sack NFL's Non-Profit Status

Sens. Tom Coburn, Oklahoma Republican, and Angus King, Maine Independent, have started a push to end the not-for-profit status for the National Football League, saying it’s only fair to taxpayers.

“This is a directed tax cut that [went] to the league office, which means every other American pays a little bit more every year because we give the NFL league office a tax break and call them a non-profit,” Mr. Coburn said on CNN’s “New Day.” “In fact, they’re not.”

Mr. King said on the program the bill only taxes the money that goes to the league office.

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GOP CRAFTS PLAN TO WRECK COUNTRY, LOSE VOTERS

As House Republicans prepare to sell out the country on immigration this week, Phyllis Schlafly has produced a stunning report on how immigration is changing the country. The report is still embargoed, but someone slipped me a copy, and it’s too important to wait.

Leave aside the harm cheap labor being dumped on the country does to the millions of unemployed Americans. What does it mean for the Republican Party?

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Chief Of Police Harassed By Feds, Placed On Leave After Signing Pledge To Uphold Constitution

Sheriff orders Shane Harger to disband entire police department due to “political affiliations”

A police chief was detained and harassed by federal agents while traveling to a constitutional convention before returning home to be told he was being placed on administrative leave and ordered to disband his police department after signing a pledge to uphold the bill of rights.

Police Chief Shane Harger of the Jemez Springs, NM Police Department was flying out of Albuquerque Airport last week on his way to a Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association (CSPOA) convention taking place in Las Vegas. CSPOA is an organization headed up by Sheriff Richard Mack under which law enforcement officers gather to re-affirm their commitment to uphold and defend the Constitution.

Before passing security, Harger was approached by a TSA agent who asked the police chief to show his credentials. Moments later, a man claiming to be a “federal agent” also asked to see Harger’s credentials before telling him he was a “person of interest.” The federal agent then demanded to know where Harger was traveling to and why.

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SAFE STREETS TOP 25 James “Dollar” Grady Sentenced To 8 Years D.O.C.

January 30, 2014, the following case resolved in the Circuit Court for Wicomico County:

James Grady K-13-0342:

James Grady a.k.a. “Dollar” was found guilty of Possession with the Intent to Distribute Crack Cocaine. Assistant State’s Attorney and Safe Streets Prosecutor Rich Brueckner, prosecuted the case resulting in the Guilty verdict and eight years of incarceration for Mr. Grady.

On April 4, 2013 Safe Streets officers from the Maryland State Police and Salisbury Police Department observed James Grady, who is known on the street as “Dollar”, “dipping” in and out of cars on the corner of Sandy’s One Stop. Based on these observations, officers made contact with Grady and conducted a weapons safety pat down of Grady’s person. Immediately, the officer felt a baggie of suspected crack cocaine protruding from Grady’s buttocks.

The Court found that based on the amount of Cocaine, the denominations of money found on Grady, the manner in which the cocaine was being hidden, and the lack of any drug use paraphernalia – James Grady possessed the crack cocaine for distribution.

“Dollar” was on the Safe Streets Top Prosecution list.

BLACK GORILLA FAMILY’s (BGF) KEENAN J. VICTOR SENTENCED FOR FIRST DEGREE MURDER AND OTHER RELATED CHARGES

On January 30, 2014, Keenan Jaquan Victor, age 22, of Wicomico County, Maryland was sentenced to 55 years at the Division of Corrections for the First Degree Murder of Arnold Fagans. The charges against Victor arose out of a BGF gang affiliated shooting and death that occurred on January 12, 2012 in the parking lot of the West Road Apartment Complex on East Road in Salisbury, Maryland.

A Circuit Court Judge sentenced Victor to Life, suspend all but 55 years for the First Degree Murder of Fagans and 20 years, suspend all but 5 years, for the Use of a Handgun in the Commission of a Crime of Violence. The sentence for Use of a Handgun is to be served concurrently with the sentence imposed for First Degree Murder.

Wicomico County State’s Attorney Matthew A. Maciarello commended the Maryland State Police Homicide Unit, the Wicomico Bureau of Investigation, the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office, the Maryland State Police and the Salisbury City Police for their work in the investigation and prosecution of this case. Mr. Maciarello also thanked Ella Disharoon, Deputy State’s Attorney, who prosecuted this case.

Senator Colburn Reports From Annapolis (Next Week)

ANNAPOLIS – Senator Richard F. Colburn (R. Eastern Shore) reported on events that are taking place in Annapolis. Senator Colburn stated, “February 7th will mark the one-third mark, 30th day of the 2014 Session of the Maryland General Assembly. Thus far, nearly 1,200 bills have been introduced (about 600 Senate Bills and over 600 House bills).

Here is an update on some of my bills:

Senate Bill 73 (Talbot County – Chesapeake Bay Critical Area – Prosecution or Civil Suit for Certain Violations) passed the Senate 45 – 0. This bill will require a criminal prosecution or a suit for a civil penalty for a violation of local laws relating to environmental protection or natural resource conservation occurring in the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area in Talbot County to be brought within 3 years after the Critical Area Commission for the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays or the local authorities in fact knew or reasonably should have known of the violation.

Senate Bill 442 (Vehicle Laws – Law Enforcement Vehicles – Tinted Windows) will be heard in the Senate Judicial Proceeding Committee (JPR) on February 18 at 1:00. It would exempt a vehicle used by a law enforcement agency from a prohibition against affixing specified tinting materials to a vehicle’s windows.

Senate Bill 443 (Vehicle Laws – Hidden Compartments – Prohibition and Penalties) will be heard in the Senate JPR on February 18 at 1:00. This bill prohibits a person from knowingly creating, building, or installing a hidden compartment, or knowingly owning or operating a motor vehicle that contains a hidden compartment. The intent to use an enclosure to hide a person or contraband may be inferred by the discovery in the enclosure of a person or contraband, or evidence of the earlier presence of a person or contraband. A violation of the bill is a misdemeanor and carries a penalty of up to $10,000 and/or up to two years imprisonment.

Senate Bill 445 (Alcoholic Beverages – Micro-Breweries – Annual Production Limit) will be heard in the Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee (EHEA) on February 21 at 1:00. This bill would increase to 60,000 the limit on the number of barrels of malt beverages that a micro-brewery may collectively brew, bottle, or contract for in a calendar year. This bill would enable Salisbury’s Evolution Brewery (EVO’s) to grow their business and meet their business plan.

Senate Bill 476 (Criminal Procedure – Seeking Medical Assistance for Another who Ingested Alcohol or Drugs – Minors) will be heard in the Senate JPR Committee on February 25 at 1:00. This bill would provide that a minor who, in good faith, seeks medical assistance for another person who is experiencing a medical emergency after ingesting alcohol or drugs may not be charged with or prosecuted for drug possession or underage possession of alcohol. This bill can be compared to a law that grants immunity to mothers who give their babies away without any criminal charges.

Senate Bill 477 (Education – Talbot County Board of Education – Lease of Public School Facility) will be held on February 12 at 1:00. This bill would authorize the Talbot County Board of Education to lease a public school facility to an organization that operates a community-based educational and recreational program. This would help facilitate the Talbot County YMCAs expansion in St. Michaels.

Postal Service Opts For Stamp Hike Over Deeper Spending Cuts

Postal Service slow to cut costs, quick to raise price
Lawmakers may force cuts

The struggling U.S. Postal Service began asking customers to pay an extra 3 cents for every stamp they buy this week even as it fell short on some promised cost savings and failed to more aggressively cut spending identified by Congress as excessive.

Postal workers continue to get fringe benefits that are more generous than those afforded to government workers in general. Last week, the mail service announced that it had postponed indefinitely a plan to close mail processing centers it identified in 2011 as redundant and unnecessary.

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GOVERNOR O'MALLEY ISSUES STATEMENT ON THE PASSING OF DR. ROY H. BROWN

ANNAPOLIS, MD (January 31, 2014) -- Governor O'Malley issued the following statement today on the passing of Lieutenant Governor Anthony Brown's father, Dr. Roy H. Brown:

“I want to express my deep sorrow and extend my family's sympathies to Lieutenant Governor Anthony Brown and his entire family on the passing of Dr. Roy H. Brown. Dr. Brown spent his life in medicine serving the most vulnerable members of his community -- honoring their individual dignity with compassionate and professional care.

Our family, along with the people throughout Maryland offer our thoughts, prayers and support to Anthony and the Brown family during this difficult time.”

Thank God Its Friday 1-31-14

What will you be doing this weekend?

Transgender Candidate To Challenge Gay Senator In Maryland

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — A transgender candidate has announced she will run against an openly gay state senator in Montgomery County in the Democratic primary.

Dana Beyer, who is the executive director of Gender Rights Maryland, made the announcement Thursday.

Beyer says Maryland residents have waited too long for economic fairness and equal opportunity.

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Chick-fil-A Gives Free Food To Motorists Stranded In Southern Snowstorm

A snowstorm in the South is about as rare as a glass of unsweetened tea at a church supper. Folks around Birmingham, Ala. weren’t all that worried though. The storm was only supposed to dust the city – not even enough powder for a Southern snowman.

So when the first snowflakes began to fall, no one paid all that much attention. But then, the flakes kept falling. Before too long folks in places like Hoover and Inverness realized it was much more than a dusting. By that point, it was too late for anyone to do anything.

Icy interstates and highways soon became clogged with cars and trucks. Thousands of motorists soon found themselves stranded with nowhere to go – including many stuck on Highway 280.

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Allen & Marshall Auctions 8th Annual Firearm & Men's Night Out Auction

Allen & Marshall Auctions 8th Annual Firearm & Men's Night Out Auction

8000 Esham Road, Parsonsburg, MD 21849

 Friday Night, January 31st, 2014 at 5 PM

*Over 325 Firearms *Live DE 282 and 178 Tags *Ammunition  *Equipment

410-835-0384    www.amauctions.com

State Elections Board Revises Fundraising Guidelines In Governor’s Race

New fundraising guidelines affecting Maryland’s gubernatorial primary election appear to make it almost impossible for Howard County Executive Ken Ulman, the running mate of Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown, to raise money during the legislative session.

The new guidelines appear to show that Elections Administrator Linda Lamone is taking a step back from a highly controversial ruling she made in December, which triggered a lawsuit and was made without the knowledge or consent of her board. A Feb. 26 trial date has been set for the suit.

“The guidelines that were introduced yesterday speak to the very bad interpretation that had been offered by Linda Lamone,” said Todd Eberly, a political science professor at St. Mary’s College. “As an observer, it’s almost impossible for me to believe that Linda Lamone didn’t make a politically motivated decision.”
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WCSO Press Release 1-31-14

Incident: Child Support Warrants

Date of Incident: 30 Jan 2014

Location: Salisbury, MD

                                

Narrative: Between 25-29 Jan 2014, deputies from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office arrested the following individuals on Circuit Court Body Attachments that had been issued in connection with Child Support Cases:

1.       Jose R. Alicea, 29, Hurlock, MD

Jose Alicea

2.       Steven Douglas Lewis, 43, Fruitland, MD

Steven Lewis

All subjects were detained on bond in the Detention Center pending an initial appearance in front of a Circuit Court Judge.

 

Charges:Child Support Non-Compliance

                                                                                          

Releasing Authority: Lt. Tim Robinson        Date: 30 Jan 2014