The White House has said nothing about the guest list or about how many people are expected or about who's providing the entertainment.
But word has spread that President Barack Obama has told guests to come prepared to dance.
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DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Saturday, January 18, 2014
First Lady Will Celebrate Turning 50 at White House Dance Party
The White House has said nothing about the guest list or about how many people are expected or about who's providing the entertainment.
But word has spread that President Barack Obama has told guests to come prepared to dance.
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Johns Hopkins: Hearing Problems Lead To Dementia
Seniors who suffer hearing loss are at a higher risk of developing dementia, according to new research by Frank Lin, M.D., an otolaryngologist and epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore.
“Compared to individuals with normal hearing, people with mild, moderate, and severe hearing loss, respectively, had a two-three- and five- fold increased risk of developing dementia,” he told Newsmax Health.
And aside from the greater dementia risk, he found that those with hearing problems lost their cognitive skills faster than others – about 35 percent faster. The worse the hearing loss, the faster the rate of cognitive decline, Dr. Lin found.
“Compared to individuals with normal hearing, people with mild, moderate, and severe hearing loss, respectively, had a two-three- and five- fold increased risk of developing dementia,” he told Newsmax Health.
And aside from the greater dementia risk, he found that those with hearing problems lost their cognitive skills faster than others – about 35 percent faster. The worse the hearing loss, the faster the rate of cognitive decline, Dr. Lin found.
Power Play: Federal Ruling Forbids States From Checking Voters’ Citizenship
A federal commission rejected three states’ requests to ask voters for proof of citizenship, issuing a complex decision Friday that said it’s up to the national government, not the states, to decide what to include on registration forms.
Under the motor-voter law, federal officials distribute voter-registration forms in all of the states. Arizona, Kansas and Georgia all asked that those forms request proof of citizenship, but the federal Election Assistance Commission rejected that in a 46-page ruling.
The EAC said states can check driver’s license databases or ask federal immigration authorities for information, but they cannot tell the federal government what to include on federal forms.
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Under the motor-voter law, federal officials distribute voter-registration forms in all of the states. Arizona, Kansas and Georgia all asked that those forms request proof of citizenship, but the federal Election Assistance Commission rejected that in a 46-page ruling.
The EAC said states can check driver’s license databases or ask federal immigration authorities for information, but they cannot tell the federal government what to include on federal forms.
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Federal Reserve Overstepped Bounds With Monetary Policy
If you think about it, the President has checks and balances, the Supreme Court has checks and balances, and even the two houses of Congress have checks and balances. However as we have seen with the last 5 years of Fed policy that there is no actual checks and balances for what the Federal Reserve can and cannot do with regard to monetary policy, and there should be.
It might not be so apparent now, but it sure will be five years from now when all is evaluated. The big takeaway will be how in the heck did we let the Federal Reserve conduct all of these ad-hoc policy initiatives with some obvious detrimental effects and unintended consequences for financial markets and the US economy?
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It might not be so apparent now, but it sure will be five years from now when all is evaluated. The big takeaway will be how in the heck did we let the Federal Reserve conduct all of these ad-hoc policy initiatives with some obvious detrimental effects and unintended consequences for financial markets and the US economy?
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2 Women Charged In Stabbing Death Of Germantown Children
Montgomery County Police charged 21-year-old Monifa Denise Sanford and 28-year-old Zakieya Latrice Avery with murder in the deaths of two of Avery's children, a 1-year-old and a 2-year-old. The women are also facing attempted murder charges for injuring the children's siblings, ages 5 and 8.
Police say the two younger children who died suffered multiple stab wounds.
On Friday, Avery was charged with killing two of her children and trying to kill two more after police found a bloody scene at the home in Germantown.
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Judge Strikes Down Photo ID Requirement For Pennsylvania Voters
"Voting laws are designed to assure a free and fair election; the Voter ID Law does not further this goal," state Commonwealth Court Judge Bernard L. McGinley wrote in a decision that set the stage for a potential courtroom showdown before the state's highest court.
McGinley, a Democrat, said the law is not constitutional because it does not require that a valid photo ID be convenient and available to voters.
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US Attorney: Baltimore Grocers Defrauded $1.5 Million From Food Stamp Scheme
Abdulmalik Abdulla, 37, and Ahmed Mohssen, 53, were arrested Friday on federal charges of conspiracy to commit food stamp and wire fraud, according to a release from the Office of U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland.
"Retailers who trade food stamp credits for cash are on notice that federal authorities are on their trail," U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein said in a release. "Taxpayers fund the program to provide food for needy recipients, not to turn retail store cash registers into ATM machines."
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Imaginary Arrow
In response to pressure from The Rutherford Institute, school officials have agreed to rescind their suspension of a 10-year-old boy who was penalized under a school zero tolerance policy for shooting an imaginary “arrow” at a fellow classmate, using nothing more than his hands and his imagination. School officials at South Eastern School District agreed to remove the suspension of Johnny Jones, a fifth grader at South Eastern Middle School, after a face-to-face meeting with his mother arranged by attorneys on both sides. In coming to Johnny Jones’ defense, Rutherford Institute attorneys pointed out the absurdity of threatening a child with expulsion for using an “imaginary” weapon and urged school officials to exercise restraint and common sense in their efforts to secure the schools against potential dangers. “The Rutherford Institute has been called on to intervene in hundreds of cases like this involving young people who were suspended, expelled, and even arrested for conduct no matter how minor or non-threatening the so-called infraction may have been,” said John W. Whitehead, president of The Rutherford Institute and author of "A Government of Wolves: The Emerging American Police State." “We are gratified that the District recognized that allowing the suspension to remain on this student’s record was a senseless targeting of imaginary horseplay.”
Good Citizen Award Given To Hudson Family
“I was shocked,” Alan Hudson said Monday. “Shocked and amazed. It was the last thing I expected. They surprised me. I can’t thank them enough.”
The Citizenship Award is given in recognition of outstanding service through leadership, responsibility, character and commitment that has produced a positive effect on Worcester, Wicomico and Somerset counties.
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Illinois: "A State With No Republicans!"
Some interesting data on the 'state' of Illinois ... There are more people on welfare in Illinois than there are people working. Chicago pays the highest wages to teachers than anywhere else in the U.S. averaging $110,000/year. Their pensions average 80-90% of their income. Wow, are Illinois and Chicago great or what? Be sure to read till the end. I've never heard it explained better. Perhaps the U.S. should pull out of Chicago ? Body count: In the last six months, 292 killed (murdered) in Chicago . 221 killed in Iraq ; AND Chicago has one of the strictest gun laws in the entire US.
Here's the Chicago chain of command: President: Barack Hussein Obama · Senator: Dick Durbin · House Representative: Jesse Jackson Jr. · Governor: Pat Quinn · House leader: Mike Madigan · Atty. Gen.: Lisa Madigan (daughter of Mike) · Mayor: Rahm Emanuel · The leadership in Illinois - all Democrats. · Thank you for the combat zone in Chicago . · Of course, they're all blaming each other. · Can't blame Republicans; there aren't any!
Let us get ALL the facts out while we are at it:
Chicago school system rated one of the worst in the country. Can't blame Republicans; there aren't any!
State pension fund $78 Billion in debt, worst in country. Can't blame Republicans; there aren't any!
Cook County ( Chicago ) sales tax 10.25% highest in country. Can't blame Republicans; there aren't any!
This is the political culture that Obama comes from in Illinois . And he is going to 'fix' Washington politics for us?
George Ryan is no longer Governor, he is in prison.
He was replaced by Rob Blagojevich who is, that's right, also in prison.
And Representative Jesse Jackson Jr. resigned, .. and that's right, he and his wife both are in prison also.
The Land of Lincoln , where our Governors and Representatives make our license plates. What?
As long as they keep providing entitlements to the population of Chicago , nothing is going to change, except the state will go broke before the country does.
"Anybody who thinks he can be happy and prosperous by letting the Government take care of him better take a closer look at the American Indian."
Don’t forget Detroit , another great example of a Democratic empire…
Here's the Chicago chain of command: President: Barack Hussein Obama · Senator: Dick Durbin · House Representative: Jesse Jackson Jr. · Governor: Pat Quinn · House leader: Mike Madigan · Atty. Gen.: Lisa Madigan (daughter of Mike) · Mayor: Rahm Emanuel · The leadership in Illinois - all Democrats. · Thank you for the combat zone in Chicago . · Of course, they're all blaming each other. · Can't blame Republicans; there aren't any!
Let us get ALL the facts out while we are at it:
Chicago school system rated one of the worst in the country. Can't blame Republicans; there aren't any!
State pension fund $78 Billion in debt, worst in country. Can't blame Republicans; there aren't any!
Cook County ( Chicago ) sales tax 10.25% highest in country. Can't blame Republicans; there aren't any!
This is the political culture that Obama comes from in Illinois . And he is going to 'fix' Washington politics for us?
George Ryan is no longer Governor, he is in prison.
He was replaced by Rob Blagojevich who is, that's right, also in prison.
And Representative Jesse Jackson Jr. resigned, .. and that's right, he and his wife both are in prison also.
The Land of Lincoln , where our Governors and Representatives make our license plates. What?
As long as they keep providing entitlements to the population of Chicago , nothing is going to change, except the state will go broke before the country does.
"Anybody who thinks he can be happy and prosperous by letting the Government take care of him better take a closer look at the American Indian."
Don’t forget Detroit , another great example of a Democratic empire…
Former D.C. Official Indicted, Used Grant Money For 2009 Inaugural Celebration
"This is really hurtful to the citizens," said Kathy Henderson with the D.C. Advisory Neighborhood Commission. Henders knows Neil Rodgers, and added: "Neil is likable, he can be funny. We've worked with him over the years. It's really sad to see that he is involved in this. Really disheartening"
Rodgers, a top aide to former D.C. Council member Harry Thomas Jr., is the latest public official tied to Thomas’ criminal activities.
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LIFESTYLE BALANCE PROGRAM OFFERED IN SALISBURY
Learn How to Eat Healthy and Become More Active
(Salisbury, Maryland) If you are concerned about getting diabetes in the future and would like to learn how to prevent it, join our Lifestyle Balance program starting February 24, 2014. The Wicomico County Health Department is offering this 16-week interactive program on Monday evenings from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at MAC Inc., 909 Progress Circle, Salisbury, Maryland.
Certified Lifestyle Coaches will lead weekly educational sessions on healthy eating and physical activity, monitor participants’ weight loss, and provide individual support and coaching. There is no cost for the program, but participants must meet certain criteria.
“I encourage adults at risk of developing type 2 diabetes to sign up.” says Lori Brewster, county Health Officer. “This program gives people the tools to change their behavior with a focus on good nutrition and increased activity. Many people will lose weight, but more importantly, they will reduce their risk of serious disease,” states Brewster.
Lifestyle Balance is a Center for Disease Control National Diabetes Prevention Program and is partially funded through a grant from the Community Health Resources Commission.
To find out if you qualify to participate in the program, call the health department at
(410) 334-3480. Space is limited, so call today!
(Salisbury, Maryland) If you are concerned about getting diabetes in the future and would like to learn how to prevent it, join our Lifestyle Balance program starting February 24, 2014. The Wicomico County Health Department is offering this 16-week interactive program on Monday evenings from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at MAC Inc., 909 Progress Circle, Salisbury, Maryland.
Certified Lifestyle Coaches will lead weekly educational sessions on healthy eating and physical activity, monitor participants’ weight loss, and provide individual support and coaching. There is no cost for the program, but participants must meet certain criteria.
“I encourage adults at risk of developing type 2 diabetes to sign up.” says Lori Brewster, county Health Officer. “This program gives people the tools to change their behavior with a focus on good nutrition and increased activity. Many people will lose weight, but more importantly, they will reduce their risk of serious disease,” states Brewster.
Lifestyle Balance is a Center for Disease Control National Diabetes Prevention Program and is partially funded through a grant from the Community Health Resources Commission.
To find out if you qualify to participate in the program, call the health department at
(410) 334-3480. Space is limited, so call today!
Towns Using Casino Impact Grants To Fund Area Projects
Ocean City used its money on streets, Berlin used its money to retire debt on a property purchase, Ocean Pines used its money to pave roads and Worcester County used its money to pave roads, purchase vehicles and pay debt on Worcester Technical High School.
The money was a share of proceeds from the Casino at Ocean Downs.
Known as local impact grants, the funds were part of Senate Bill 3 in the 2007 special session of the Maryland General Assembly, and approved by state voters in the 2008 general election. According to that legislation, the local impact grants must be used in the communities in immediate proximity to the video lottery facilities and may be used for infrastructure improvements, facilities, public safety, sanitation, economic and community development, including housing, and other public service and improvements.
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The money was a share of proceeds from the Casino at Ocean Downs.
Known as local impact grants, the funds were part of Senate Bill 3 in the 2007 special session of the Maryland General Assembly, and approved by state voters in the 2008 general election. According to that legislation, the local impact grants must be used in the communities in immediate proximity to the video lottery facilities and may be used for infrastructure improvements, facilities, public safety, sanitation, economic and community development, including housing, and other public service and improvements.
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Humane Society Working Through Financial Issues
Nearly two months after the controversial ouster of its former boarad president, the Worcester County Humane Society’s current leadership says it is trying to bail out the organization from the financial and administrative quagmire it is in.
Recently revealed financial information indicates that the shelter had experienced a long period of fiscal chaos, resulting in a deficit of over $338,000 on its last available tax cycle.
Who exactly is responsible for that hole has been a back-and-forth matter since the departure of the group’s former headwoman, Kenille Davies, who resigned under threat of legal action pertaining to misuse of funds.
Regardless, the shelter’s remaining leadership is saying that they will forge ahead with trying to raise money and return the WCHS to solvency.
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Recently revealed financial information indicates that the shelter had experienced a long period of fiscal chaos, resulting in a deficit of over $338,000 on its last available tax cycle.
Who exactly is responsible for that hole has been a back-and-forth matter since the departure of the group’s former headwoman, Kenille Davies, who resigned under threat of legal action pertaining to misuse of funds.
Regardless, the shelter’s remaining leadership is saying that they will forge ahead with trying to raise money and return the WCHS to solvency.
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DNREC Sued Over Carbon Emission Reduction
GEORGETOWN — A Delaware think tank and several businesses are taking DNREC to court, alleging the agency is illegally increasing permit fees.
The plaintiffs say Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Secretary Colin O’Mara illegally lowered caps on carbon emissions and unlawfully raised fees for companies that pay the department an allowance to produce carbon emissions as part of daily operations. The allowance allows a company to produce a ton of carbon.
O’Mara says the increase in the cost of the allowance was legal and necessary to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
In December 2005, Delaware and several surrounding states announced an agreement to implement the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, aimed at reducing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere by capping emissions and over time lowering the cap. The agreement called for a review of the program in 2012.
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The plaintiffs say Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Secretary Colin O’Mara illegally lowered caps on carbon emissions and unlawfully raised fees for companies that pay the department an allowance to produce carbon emissions as part of daily operations. The allowance allows a company to produce a ton of carbon.
O’Mara says the increase in the cost of the allowance was legal and necessary to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
In December 2005, Delaware and several surrounding states announced an agreement to implement the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, aimed at reducing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere by capping emissions and over time lowering the cap. The agreement called for a review of the program in 2012.
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COUNTY DRUG TASK FORCES NOW LED BY LOCAL POLICE, NOT TROOPERS
ANNAPOLIS – Maryland State Police have transferred the administration of county-wide drug task forces to local police, but some lawmakers are concerned about the impact on local law enforcement.
Maryland State Police representatives discussed the change Friday with members of the Eastern Shore delegation and Caroline County officials.
The reorganization, implemented in March 2013, allows the state police to operate on a regional level in order to pursue drug suppliers that are located across county lines.
The decision was department-wide and divided the state into five regions of operation. It was implemented in an attempt to create more effective task forces, said Maryland State Police spokeswoman Elena Russo.
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Maryland State Police representatives discussed the change Friday with members of the Eastern Shore delegation and Caroline County officials.
The reorganization, implemented in March 2013, allows the state police to operate on a regional level in order to pursue drug suppliers that are located across county lines.
The decision was department-wide and divided the state into five regions of operation. It was implemented in an attempt to create more effective task forces, said Maryland State Police spokeswoman Elena Russo.
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Why Banks Aren’t Lending To Homebuyers
“Despite the confluence of promising signs,” write Peter Eavis and Jessica Silver-Greenberg today, “little in the vast system that provides Americans with mortgages has returned to normal since the 2008 financial crisis, leaving a large swath of people virtually shut out of the market.”
This is absolutely true, and it’s a significant problem. To get a feel for just how sluggish the mortgage market is, my favorite chart comes from the Mortgage Bankers Association. Every month, the MBA releases its Mortgage Credit Availability Index, which makes it easy to concentrate on minuscule differences: in December, for instance, the index rose to 100.9, from 110.2 in November. But in order to see the big picture you need to zoom out and look at what credit availability was like before the financial crisis. And if you do that, the chart looks something likethis:
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This is absolutely true, and it’s a significant problem. To get a feel for just how sluggish the mortgage market is, my favorite chart comes from the Mortgage Bankers Association. Every month, the MBA releases its Mortgage Credit Availability Index, which makes it easy to concentrate on minuscule differences: in December, for instance, the index rose to 100.9, from 110.2 in November. But in order to see the big picture you need to zoom out and look at what credit availability was like before the financial crisis. And if you do that, the chart looks something likethis:
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Common Core Rally
We will be organizing carpools to attend. We should leave Berlin at 1:30 pm, Salisbury at 2:30 pm. PLEASE JOIN US! Contact me at freedomisfragile@verizon.net to attend!
STOP COMMON CORE RALLY
TUESDAY, JANUARY 28TH
4:30-5:30 PM
Hearing will follow rally in the Joint Hearing Room in the Legislative Services Building at 6 pm..
Comptroller Supports Changing Estate Tax
Comptroller Peter Franchot is expressing support for Maryland to recouple its estate tax with the federal government.
Franchot voiced support for the change on Thursday at the Salisbury Chamber of Commerce's annual economic forecast event.
Maryland's presiding officers of the Legislature also have expressed support for the change.
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Franchot voiced support for the change on Thursday at the Salisbury Chamber of Commerce's annual economic forecast event.
Maryland's presiding officers of the Legislature also have expressed support for the change.
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Vast Stretches Of Impoverished Appalachia Look Like They Have Been Through A War
If you want to get an idea of where the rest of America is heading, just take a trip through the western half of West Virginia and the eastern half of Kentucky some time. Once you leave the main highways, you will rapidly encounter poverty on a level that is absolutely staggering.
Overall, about 15 percent of the entire nation is under the poverty line, but in some areas of eastern Kentucky, more than 40 percent of the population is living in poverty. Most of the people would work if they could. Over the past couple of decades, locals have witnessed businesses and industries leave the region at a steady pace. When another factory or business shuts down, many of the unemployed do not even realize that their jobs have been shipped overseas. Coal mining still produces jobs that pay a decent wage, but Barack Obama is doing his very best to kill off that entire industry. After decades of decline, vast stretches of impoverished Appalachia look like they have been through a war. Those living in the area know that things are not good, but they just try to do the best that they can with what they have.
In previous articles about areas of the country that are economically depressed, I have typically focused on large cities such as Detroit or Camden, New Jersey. But the economic suffering that is taking place in rural communities in the heartland of America is just as tragic. We just don’t hear about it as much.
Most of those that live in the heart of Appalachia are really good “salt of the earth” people that just want to work hard and do what is right for their families. But after decades of increasing poverty, the entire region has been transformed into an economic nightmare that never seems to end. The following is a description of what life is like in Appalachia today that comes from a recent article by Kevin D. Williamson…
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Overall, about 15 percent of the entire nation is under the poverty line, but in some areas of eastern Kentucky, more than 40 percent of the population is living in poverty. Most of the people would work if they could. Over the past couple of decades, locals have witnessed businesses and industries leave the region at a steady pace. When another factory or business shuts down, many of the unemployed do not even realize that their jobs have been shipped overseas. Coal mining still produces jobs that pay a decent wage, but Barack Obama is doing his very best to kill off that entire industry. After decades of decline, vast stretches of impoverished Appalachia look like they have been through a war. Those living in the area know that things are not good, but they just try to do the best that they can with what they have.
In previous articles about areas of the country that are economically depressed, I have typically focused on large cities such as Detroit or Camden, New Jersey. But the economic suffering that is taking place in rural communities in the heartland of America is just as tragic. We just don’t hear about it as much.
Most of those that live in the heart of Appalachia are really good “salt of the earth” people that just want to work hard and do what is right for their families. But after decades of increasing poverty, the entire region has been transformed into an economic nightmare that never seems to end. The following is a description of what life is like in Appalachia today that comes from a recent article by Kevin D. Williamson…
More
FCC Checking With Hotels To See If Reaching Help With 9-1-1 Is As Easy As It Should Be
If you were to pick up the phone in a hotel room and dial 9-1-1, what would you get? You probably wouldn’t be in the state of mind to dial 9 first, but that shouldn’t stop you from getting in contact with emergency services as fast as possible, which is why one member of the Federal Communications Commission is looking into how it works at different hotel chains across the country.
The move by FCC member Ajit Pai to send letters to 10 hotel chains in the United States asking whether guests dialing 9-1-1 are immediately connected to an emergency call center or an employee started after a 9-year-old tried to call for help when her mother was stabbed to death, the Associated Press reports.
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The move by FCC member Ajit Pai to send letters to 10 hotel chains in the United States asking whether guests dialing 9-1-1 are immediately connected to an emergency call center or an employee started after a 9-year-old tried to call for help when her mother was stabbed to death, the Associated Press reports.
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This Grandma’s Friends Laughed At Her Idea. But What She Did In Her Shed Is Awesome.
This may be the coolest grandmother ever.
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SUSPECTED DUI DRIVER FROM DE KILLED IN MD CRASH
(MILLINGTON, MD) – An erratic driver who refused to stop for police in Delaware was killed early this morning when he apparently lost control of his vehicle and crashed into a vacant house in Kent County, MD.
The man is identified as Adam M. Hughes, 25, of Clayton, Delaware. He was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, which occurred near the intersection of Rt. 291 and Crane Street, in Millington. His body will be taken to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore for an autopsy.
Shortly after 2:00 a.m. today, Maryland State Police at the Centreville Barrack were notified by Kent County central dispatch of a single vehicle crash that occurred in Millington. Responding troopers found Delaware police already on the scene where a 2004 Saturn SUV had crashed into a vacant house. The driver, later identified as Hughes, was the only occupant of the vehicle.
Maryland State Police learned the driver had been seen driving erratically in Delaware. An officer from the Clayton (DE) Police Department had attempted to stop the vehicle, believing the driver may have been operating under the influence. The driver refused to stop. Police followed the vehicle into Maryland on Rt. 291, attempting to stop it.
When the suspect vehicle neared Crane Street, the preliminary investigation indicates the driver ran off the right side of the road and struck a curb. The vehicle then crossed back over the centerline, rotated 180 degrees and ran off the left side of the roadway. The vehicle struck a utility pole and then ran into the vacant house.
The Maryland State Police Crash Team responded to conduct a detailed crash investigation. The investigation is continuing.
The man is identified as Adam M. Hughes, 25, of Clayton, Delaware. He was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, which occurred near the intersection of Rt. 291 and Crane Street, in Millington. His body will be taken to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore for an autopsy.
Shortly after 2:00 a.m. today, Maryland State Police at the Centreville Barrack were notified by Kent County central dispatch of a single vehicle crash that occurred in Millington. Responding troopers found Delaware police already on the scene where a 2004 Saturn SUV had crashed into a vacant house. The driver, later identified as Hughes, was the only occupant of the vehicle.
Maryland State Police learned the driver had been seen driving erratically in Delaware. An officer from the Clayton (DE) Police Department had attempted to stop the vehicle, believing the driver may have been operating under the influence. The driver refused to stop. Police followed the vehicle into Maryland on Rt. 291, attempting to stop it.
When the suspect vehicle neared Crane Street, the preliminary investigation indicates the driver ran off the right side of the road and struck a curb. The vehicle then crossed back over the centerline, rotated 180 degrees and ran off the left side of the roadway. The vehicle struck a utility pole and then ran into the vacant house.
The Maryland State Police Crash Team responded to conduct a detailed crash investigation. The investigation is continuing.
Letter To The Daily Times
Joe, Please find attached my letter to the Daily Rag regarding the latest increase. These people have gone out of their minds, your Blog Site is a whole lot better and I don't know what I would do with out it.
January 18, 2014
To Whom It May Concern:
I have been a very long subscriber to the Daily Times and to say the least I was shocked to look at the current invoice. The monthly increase from $17.84 from the previous statement to $24.43 to the current one is more than reasonable. This is a 36.9% increase and rather than me paying for six months I have enclosed my check for the $24.43 until I decide if I really need this paper based on the excessive hike in cost. There are a whole lot of local papers that are free that come out weekly that I may look to for future local news. You folks at Corporate ought to rethink this hike as many of my friends are contemplating dropping the Daily Times due to this ridiculous increase.
January 18, 2014
To Whom It May Concern:
I have been a very long subscriber to the Daily Times and to say the least I was shocked to look at the current invoice. The monthly increase from $17.84 from the previous statement to $24.43 to the current one is more than reasonable. This is a 36.9% increase and rather than me paying for six months I have enclosed my check for the $24.43 until I decide if I really need this paper based on the excessive hike in cost. There are a whole lot of local papers that are free that come out weekly that I may look to for future local news. You folks at Corporate ought to rethink this hike as many of my friends are contemplating dropping the Daily Times due to this ridiculous increase.
A Letter To The Editor 1-18-14
Joe - I thought you might find this interesting - today The Daily Times released an article on the rank of Maryland in the foreclosure market.
SBYnews - broke this story more than 4 days ago - and it is only now being picked up by The Daily Times.
What-a-shame.
SBYnews - broke this story more than 4 days ago - and it is only now being picked up by The Daily Times.
What-a-shame.
Millions In Farm Subsidies Flow Freely To DC Residents Who Don't Actually Farm
Washington, D.C., doesn't have many farms, or farmers. Yet thousands of residents in and around the nation's capital receive millions of dollars every year in federal farm subsidies, including working-class residents in Southeast, wealthy lobbyists on K Street and well-connected lawmakers on Capitol Hill.
In neighboring Chevy Chase, Md., one of the nation's wealthiest communities, lawyers, lobbyists and at least one psychologist collected nearly $342,000 in taxpayer farm subsidies between 2008 and 2011, according to the watchdog group Open the Books.
Taxpayer subsidies were also paid out to Gerald Cassidy, the founder of one of Washington's most powerful lobbying firms, Cassidy & Associates; Charlie Stenholm, a former congressman; and Chuck Grassley, a Republican senator from Iowa. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack continues to receive subsides even though he has overseen the agency that pays them since 2009.
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In neighboring Chevy Chase, Md., one of the nation's wealthiest communities, lawyers, lobbyists and at least one psychologist collected nearly $342,000 in taxpayer farm subsidies between 2008 and 2011, according to the watchdog group Open the Books.
Taxpayer subsidies were also paid out to Gerald Cassidy, the founder of one of Washington's most powerful lobbying firms, Cassidy & Associates; Charlie Stenholm, a former congressman; and Chuck Grassley, a Republican senator from Iowa. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack continues to receive subsides even though he has overseen the agency that pays them since 2009.
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Seals Beginning To Show Up On Ocean City Beaches
National Aquarium Marine Animal Rescue Program Stranding Coordinator Jenn Dittmar confirmed this week there had been four sightings on the beaches in Ocean City since Monday, signaling the annual appearance of the popular seals each winter.
“We’ve seen at least four individual seals since Monday and all of them thus far have been harbor seals,” Dittmar said this week. “All have been reported on the Atlantic side beaches and all of them have been in good body condition.”
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Troubles In The Air Force Nuclear Command Are Spreading
34 officers who oversee Minuteman missiles have been pulled off the job for involvement in a test cheating ring. The alleged cheating came to light while officers were under investigation for illegal drug possession. All work at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont. It's home to one-third of the country's intercontinental ballistic missiles. The duty officers are charged with texting answers to tests for proficiency in how to handle emergency war orders. It's the latest in a series of problems discovered over the past year by the Associated Press. Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James says she'll travel to all three nuke sites for inspections.
Who Are The Top Holders Of US Treasurys
Yesterday, when the Treasury released its TIC data early by mistake, the update that China's holdings rose to a record $1.317 trillion caused a stir. This was confusing, since while China, which as we reported yesterday, now has a record $3.8 trillion in reserves having grown by $500 billion in 2013, has barely invested in US paper, and in fact going back to 2010, its holdings were a solid $1.2 trillion. In other words, its Treasury holdings have increased by a modest $100 billion in three years. Hardly anything to write home about. And certainly nothing to write home about when one considers the soaring Treasury held by the largest holder of US paper... everyone knows who that is. For those few who don't, and for everyone else too, here is the most recent breakdown of the top holders of US paper.
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Maryland Ranks Among Worst States For Fiscal Health In George Mason Study
Maryland ranks in the bottom 10 — 44th to be exact — of states in terms of overall fiscal condition, according to a study by the Mercatus Center at George Mason University.
States at the bottom of the list, including Maryland, can attribute that to years of poor financial management decisions, bad economic conditions, or a combination of both.
The study uses financial reporting data from 2012 to rank each state based on four solvency measures. Those measures include: cash solvency, budget solvency, long-run solvency and service-level solvency. Maryland ranked 40th or worse in three of the four measurable areas.
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SU Students Fund Clean Water Well In Ethiopia
A student-led initiative that began with a rock concert at Salisbury University is providing clean drinking water for a village of about 250 in Ethiopia. In 2012, James Townsend of Abingdon, MD, founded the SU Student Activism Club as a way to combat student apathy and raise awareness of global issues. The organization planned Gullstock, a campus music festival, to help raise funds to build a clean water well for the African community through the philanthropic organization Charity: Water. The concert raised some $800, starting the club on its way toward reaching the $5,000 needed for the well.
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HISTORICAL COMMENTS BY GEORGE CHEVALLIER 1-18-14
The Hotel Esther
The origins of what is now known as the Hotel Esther go back to Dr. Robert Naylor, a prominent English physician. He had graduated from Oxford cum laude with a medical degree and started his practice in Manchester, the city of his birth in 1830. Early on, his success as a physician had provided him with sufficient money to pursue his interest in the world of economics. His success was such that he became a “man of means” before he had reached the age of 30.
One of his enterprises was the purchase of the GREAT EASTERN, the famous cable-laying ship that had laid the original Atlantic telegraph cable in 1886
In the early 1880’s, he accepted a commission from the Victorian government to come to the United States and visit the coal mines of West Virginia to assess the working conditions and see how improvements could be made back home in the coal mines of Wales and other British mining operations.
When Dr. Naylor looked for a suitable place to set up residence in the United States, he saw an advertisement in a newspaper for a farm just north of Salisbury,Maryland. When he saw it, he immediately moved his whole family down here. The property was then known as Ruark’s Mill.
Dr. Naylor had intended to retire here but his reputation as a healer with the latest methods and medicines soon thwarted his plans. The farm that he turned “into a marvel of beauty” was the destination for people from all over the Eastern Shore. He even built a depot at the nearby Williams Switch for the many patients that would come to see him.
Whether it was because of the dire need for more modern care or whether it was a matter of a more convenient location, Dr. Naylor chose a small farm on the fringe of East Salisbury and in 1895 began construction of a 20-room facility. Using his own plans and supervising all the details of construction, he completed the mansion in a year. There is only conjecture that Dr. Naylor intended to make a hospital out of the main house, but there are reasons to believe that he did. The wide halls and doorways and the plan of the room layout could easily have accommodated patients. He died, however, in 1899, only three years after he moved there.
The Naylor heirs apparently decided to dispose of the mansion shortly after Dr. Naylor’s death. The residue of the acreage around the home was subdivided into lots alongTruitt St., Benny St. and Cole’s Circle.
It initially became a home for underprivileged children and shortly after was the first John B. Parsons Home for the Aged. Later, when the Parsons home was moved to its present location, the Naylor property was acquired by the Primitive Baptist Church and used for their members who were “were aged and dependent”.
The house was finally sold during the 2nd World War to accommodate the existing housing shortage. The owner turned it into rooms and apartments, and since his wife was named Esther, the name of Hotel Esther came into being and the dwelling is known by that name to this day.
SFD Calls For Service 1-17-14
- Friday January, 17 2014 @ 23:25:46Nature: Difficulty BreathingCity: Salisbury
- Friday January, 17 2014 @ 23:22:14Nature: Pro Qa FireAddress: 316 Martin St Salisbury, MD 21801
- Friday January, 17 2014 @ 20:46:45Nature: Abdominal PainCity: Salisbury
- Friday January, 17 2014 @ 20:03:26Nature: Flood With Electrical HazardsAddress: 1004 N Schumaker Dr Salisbury, MD 21801
- Friday January, 17 2014 @ 20:03:23Nature: Allergic ReactionCity: Salisbury
- Friday January, 17 2014 @ 18:16:28Nature: Pi AccidentCity: Salisbury
- Friday January, 17 2014 @ 18:09:50Nature: Pi AccidentAddress: E Church St and naylor St Salisbury, MD 21802
- Friday January, 17 2014 @ 16:37:37Nature: Subject Locked In CarAddress: 712 N Salisbury Blvd Salisbury, MD 21801
- Friday January, 17 2014 @ 16:19:11Nature: Pi AccidentAddress: Old Ocean City Rd and beaglin Park Dr Salisbury, MD 21801
- Friday January, 17 2014 @ 16:04:28Nature: Chest PainCity: Salisbury
- Friday January, 17 2014 @ 15:05:04Nature: Sick SubjectCity: Salisbury
- Friday January, 17 2014 @ 14:06:52Nature: Sick SubjectCity: Salisbury
- Friday January, 17 2014 @ 12:59:30Nature: Pro Qa EmsCity: Salisbury
- Friday January, 17 2014 @ 11:22:22Nature: Delayed AmbulanceAddress: 200 Civic Ave Salisbury, MD 21801
- Friday January, 17 2014 @ 11:20:35Nature: Difficulty BreathingCity: Salisbury
- Friday January, 17 2014 @ 10:54:22Nature: Unconscious SubjectCity: Salisbury
- Friday January, 17 2014 @ 10:19:35Nature: Pro Qa EmsCity: Salisbury
- Friday January, 17 2014 @ 09:08:41Nature: Subject FallenCity: Salisbury
- Friday January, 17 2014 @ 08:30:12Nature: Subject FallenCity: Salisbury
- Friday January, 17 2014 @ 07:44:55Nature: Unconscious SubjectCity: Salisbury
- Friday January, 17 2014 @ 07:33:06Nature: Sick SubjectCity: Salisbury
- Friday January, 17 2014 @ 06:22:59Nature: Diabetic DifficultyCity: Salisbury
- Friday January, 17 2014 @ 02:42:10Nature: Chest PainCity: Salisbury
- Friday January, 17 2014 @ 01:25:38Nature: Sick SubjectCity: Salisbury
- Friday January, 17 2014 @ 01:23:53Nature: Chest PainCity: Salisbury
The Obama Administration’s Mandated Racism
Its new school-discipline guidelines encourage discrimination.
The Departments of Education and Justice have teamed up to make the lives of students in tough neighborhoods even tougher. Framed as a measure to combat discrimination against black and Hispanic children, the guidelines issued by the Obama administration about school discipline will actually encourage racial discrimination, undermine the learning environments of classrooms, and contribute to an unjust race-consciousness in meting out discipline.
Claiming that African-American and Hispanic students are more harshly disciplined than whites for the same infractions, the Obama administration now advises that any disciplinary rule that results in a “disparate impact” on those groups will be challenged by the government.
“Disparate impact” analysis, as we’ve seen in employment law, does not require any intentional discrimination. It means, for example, that if an employer asks job seekers to take a test, and a larger percentage of one ethnic group fails the test than another, the test is de facto discriminatory because it has a “disparate impact.”
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The Departments of Education and Justice have teamed up to make the lives of students in tough neighborhoods even tougher. Framed as a measure to combat discrimination against black and Hispanic children, the guidelines issued by the Obama administration about school discipline will actually encourage racial discrimination, undermine the learning environments of classrooms, and contribute to an unjust race-consciousness in meting out discipline.
Claiming that African-American and Hispanic students are more harshly disciplined than whites for the same infractions, the Obama administration now advises that any disciplinary rule that results in a “disparate impact” on those groups will be challenged by the government.
“Disparate impact” analysis, as we’ve seen in employment law, does not require any intentional discrimination. It means, for example, that if an employer asks job seekers to take a test, and a larger percentage of one ethnic group fails the test than another, the test is de facto discriminatory because it has a “disparate impact.”
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Why Are Dozens Of High Ranking Officers Being Purged From The U.S. Military?
Since Barack Obama has been in the White House, high ranking military officers have been removed from their positions at a rate that is absolutely unprecedented. Things have gotten so bad that a number of retired generals are publicly speaking out about the “purge” of the U.S. military that they believe is taking place.
As you will see below, dozens of highly decorated military leaders have been dismissed from their positions over the past few years. So why is this happening? When I was growing up, my father was an officer in the U.S. Navy. And what is going on right now is absolutely crazy – especially during a time of peace. Is there a deliberate attempt to “reshape” the military and remove those that don’t adhere to the proper “viewpoints”? Does someone out there feel a need to get officers that won’t “cooperate” out of the way? Throughout world history, whatever comes next after a “military purge” is never good. If this continues, what is the U.S. military going to look like in a few years?
Perhaps you are reading this and you think that “purge” is too strong a word for what is taking place. Well, just consider the following quotes from some very highly decorated retired officers…
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As you will see below, dozens of highly decorated military leaders have been dismissed from their positions over the past few years. So why is this happening? When I was growing up, my father was an officer in the U.S. Navy. And what is going on right now is absolutely crazy – especially during a time of peace. Is there a deliberate attempt to “reshape” the military and remove those that don’t adhere to the proper “viewpoints”? Does someone out there feel a need to get officers that won’t “cooperate” out of the way? Throughout world history, whatever comes next after a “military purge” is never good. If this continues, what is the U.S. military going to look like in a few years?
Perhaps you are reading this and you think that “purge” is too strong a word for what is taking place. Well, just consider the following quotes from some very highly decorated retired officers…
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Think Tank: “Extraordinary Crisis” Needed To Preserve “New World Order”
Author of ‘shock and awe’ doctrine says elite threatened by non-state actors like Edward Snowden
Writing for the Atlantic Council, a prominent think tank based in Washington DC, Harlan K. Ullman warns that an “extraordinary crisis” is needed to preserve the “new world order,” which is under threat of being derailed by non-state actors like Edward Snowden.
The Atlantic Council is considered to be a highly influential organization with close ties to major policy makers across the world. It’s headed up by Gen. Brent Scowcroft, former United States National Security Advisor under U.S. Presidents Gerald Ford and George H. W. Bush. Snowcroft has also advised President Barack Obama.
Harlan K. Ullman was the principal author of the “shock and awe” doctrine and is now Chairman of the Killowen Group which advises government leaders.
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Writing for the Atlantic Council, a prominent think tank based in Washington DC, Harlan K. Ullman warns that an “extraordinary crisis” is needed to preserve the “new world order,” which is under threat of being derailed by non-state actors like Edward Snowden.
The Atlantic Council is considered to be a highly influential organization with close ties to major policy makers across the world. It’s headed up by Gen. Brent Scowcroft, former United States National Security Advisor under U.S. Presidents Gerald Ford and George H. W. Bush. Snowcroft has also advised President Barack Obama.
Harlan K. Ullman was the principal author of the “shock and awe” doctrine and is now Chairman of the Killowen Group which advises government leaders.
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REPORT: STATE DEPT IGNORED HUNDREDS OF WARNINGS OF BENGHAZI ATTACK
The Senate Intelligence Committee revealed that the State Department received "hundreds" of intelligence reports in the months before the Sept. 11, 2012 Benghazi attack warning that terrorist groups would strike U.S. facilities in Libya.
The report, released on Wednesday, excoriated the state department for failing to protect the compound and for ignoring repeated admonitions to increase security. Furthermore, the report indicates that the state department had failed to react to the warnings, including alerts that had led the CIA to augment security at its Benghazi base near the diplomatic compound.
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The report, released on Wednesday, excoriated the state department for failing to protect the compound and for ignoring repeated admonitions to increase security. Furthermore, the report indicates that the state department had failed to react to the warnings, including alerts that had led the CIA to augment security at its Benghazi base near the diplomatic compound.
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USEC Snags More Funds In Spending Bill
WASHINGTON — The massive federal spending bill passed by the House on Wednesday includes $118 million for the uranium enrichment project in Piketon run by USEC, even though the viability of the project and the company
are in doubt.
USEC, a Maryland-based global energy company, is about to file for bankruptcy. With enriched uranium prices at rock bottom, the commercial application of USEC’s American Centrifuge Project is in question.
And the money included in the fiscal year 2014 spending bill would go to fund a project that USEC says has essentially been completed — a two-year research, development and demonstration initiative done in concert with the Department of Energy.
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are in doubt.USEC, a Maryland-based global energy company, is about to file for bankruptcy. With enriched uranium prices
at rock bottom, the commercial application of USEC’s American Centrifuge Project is in question.And the money included in the fiscal year 2014 spending bill would go to fund
a project that USEC says has essentially been completed — a two-year research, development and demonstration initiative done in concert with the Department of Energy.More
Why Texas Is Growing (and Illinois Isn’t)
States’ population trends reflect their reliance on — or independence from — government.
The Census Bureau’s holiday treat is its release of annual state-population estimates, to be digested slowly in the new year.
The headline from this year’s release is that population growth from July 2012 to July 2013 was 0.72 percent, lower than in the two preceding years and the lowest since the Great Depression 1930s. This reflects continuing low, below-replacement-rate birth rates and lower immigration than in 1982–2007. Net immigration from Mexico evidently continues to be zero.
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The Census Bureau’s holiday treat is its release of annual state-population estimates, to be digested slowly in the new year.
The headline from this year’s release is that population growth from July 2012 to July 2013 was 0.72 percent, lower than in the two preceding years and the lowest since the Great Depression 1930s. This reflects continuing low, below-replacement-rate birth rates and lower immigration than in 1982–2007. Net immigration from Mexico evidently continues to be zero.
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Rebuking The ‘New' New Deal
Obama’s poll numbers give Democrats the midterm blues.
It wasn’t supposed to be like this.
At the end of 2013, the Washington Post’s electoral number-crunchers calculated that the Democrats had a 1 percent chance to win back the House of Representatives. Barely into 2014, that already seems pretty optimistic. In the last week, several Democratic representatives saw the writing on the wall and voted with their feet — or with their seat — and announced they will be retiring.
Even a popular president can usually expect disappointing midterm results for his party. What makes things particularly dire for Democrats is that a president’s approval rating has a significant impact on his party’s prospects. Obama’s approval rating is in the low 40s, and, while things can change, few would bet it will improve all that much between now and November.
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It wasn’t supposed to be like this.
At the end of 2013, the Washington Post’s electoral number-crunchers calculated that the Democrats had a 1 percent chance to win back the House of Representatives. Barely into 2014, that already seems pretty optimistic. In the last week, several Democratic representatives saw the writing on the wall and voted with their feet — or with their seat — and announced they will be retiring.
Even a popular president can usually expect disappointing midterm results for his party. What makes things particularly dire for Democrats is that a president’s approval rating has a significant impact on his party’s prospects. Obama’s approval rating is in the low 40s, and, while things can change, few would bet it will improve all that much between now and November.
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Perdue Closings Cost 650 Jobs In Pa.
FREDERICKSBURG, Pa. (AP) - Poultry giant Perdue Farms Inc. says it's closing a chicken-processing plant and vacating a distribution center in southeastern Pennsylvania, costing the state about 650 jobs.
Employees at the Fredericksburg plant and Denver distribution center were told of the decision Wednesday.
Perdue spokeswoman Julie DeYoung says the company is moving the work to newer facilities in other states that are underutilized. The company says it decided against investing in a smaller, older plant that is insufficient for what Perdue needs. The plant will close around March 14.
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Employees at the Fredericksburg plant and Denver distribution center were told of the decision Wednesday.
Perdue spokeswoman Julie DeYoung says the company is moving the work to newer facilities in other states that are underutilized. The company says it decided against investing in a smaller, older plant that is insufficient for what Perdue needs. The plant will close around March 14.
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