Iran Says Warships Headed Close to U.S. Borders

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iranian warships dispatched to the Atlantic Ocean will travel close to U.S. maritime borders for the first time, a senior Iranian naval commander said Saturday.

The commander of Iran’s Northern Navy Fleet, Admiral Afshin Rezayee Haddad, said the vessels have already entered the Atlantic Ocean via waters near South Africa, the official IRNA news agency reported.

IRNA quoted Haddad as saying the fleet is approaching U.S. maritime borders for the first time. The Islamic Republic considers the move as a response to U.S. naval deployments near its own coastlines.

The voyage comes amid an ongoing push by Iran to demonstrate its ability to project power across the Middle East and beyond.
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Russian Official To Hotel Critics: We Have Surveillance Videos Of You In The Bathroom

What’s that, Olympic Games attendee? You’ve got a dirty hotel room with beers under the bed in Sochi? Your room has no hot water, or no water at all? Well, your complaints are aimed at trying to sabotage Sochi’s shining moment, said one official in response to Western critics.

The Wall Street Journal happened to be in the right place at the right time while on a tour of the new media center in Sochi this morning with Dmitry Kozak, the deputy prime minister responsible for the Olympic preparations. He seems to share the view of many in Russia who think such criticism come from a Western bias against the country.

“We have surveillance video from the hotels that shows people turn on the shower, direct the nozzle at the wall and then leave the room for the whole day,” he said. An aide then pulled a reporter away before Mr. Kozak could be questioned further on surveillance in hotel rooms. “We’re doing a tour of the media center,” the aide said.

When asked again about the problems circulating in the media with ill-prepared hotel rooms, the WSJ says Kozak was dismissive.

“We’ve put 100,000 guests in rooms and only gotten 103 registered complaints and every one of those is being taken care of,” he said.

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No Injuries After Air Force Jet Loses Pressurization

 BEDFORD — An Air Force Lockheed C-5 Galaxy transport jet flying to Delaware from Ramstein Air Force Base in Germany lost pressurization over the Atlantic this morning, forcing the massive plane to divert to the Westover Air Reserve Base in Chicopee.

Lieutenant Colonel James G. Bishop, the base’s chief of public affairs, said it was unclear what caused the plane to lose pressure. The 10 crew members and 15 passengers on board were able to breathe using oxygen masks while the jet descended to a lower altitude, Bishop said.

The plane landed safely at Westover at 2:29 p.m., Bishop said. Medical crews were standing by, but passengers and crew reported no injuries.
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Brew River Crabby Nachos

Worcester County Sheriff’s Office Press Release 2-8-14

On January 27, 2014, members of the Worcester County Criminal Enforcement Team concluded a month long heroin and prescription pill distribution investigation. On that date the Criminal Enforcement Team conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle that was destined to the Berlin area from Delaware for purpose of distributing a quantity of heroin to an undercover detective. During the course of this traffic stop, an individual identified as Edwin D. Horner, Age 45, of Milton, Delaware and a Juvenile, Age 17, were found to be in possession of 50 individually wrapped bags of heroin. These same two individuals are also involved in the distribution of Oxycodone to an undercover detective of the Worcester County Criminal Enforcement Team earlier in this investigation. The individuals were charged with the following offenses:

Edwin D. Horner III, Age 45, of Milton, Delawae

·         Conspiracy - Distribution of Oxycodone

·         Conspiracy - Possession with intent to distribute Oxycodone

·         Conspiracy - Possession of Oxycodone

·         Conspiracy - Possession of Heroin

·         Conspiracy - Distribution of Heroin

·         Conspiracy - Possession with intent to distribute Heroin

·         Possession of Heroin

Juvenile, Age 17

·         Possession of Oxycodone

·         Possession of Heroin

·         Possession with intent to distribute Oxycodone

·         Possession with intent to distribute Heroin

·         Distribution of Oxycodone

·         Conspiracy - Distribution of Heroin

Edwin D. Horner III was subsequently committed to the Worcester County Jail on a $25,000.00 bond. This juvenile was referred to the Department of Juvenile Justice. 

Maryland Internet Crimes Against Children Statewide Operation

Members of the Maryland Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) conducted a two day statewide proactive initiative combating those distributing child pornography on the Internet.

            For the past several months Investigators from the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force have been conducting investigations and identifying computers on the Internet that are offering pornographic videos of children for others to download.  Investigators were able to trace this information to numerous computers throughout the state.

            As a result of this operation twelve search and seizure warrants were executed throughout the state.  The participating agencies are as follows: Maryland State Police, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore field office, Federal Bureau of Investigations, Anne Arundel County Police Department, Baltimore County Police Department, Baltimore City Police, Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, Frederick County Sheriff’s Office, Harford County Sheriff’s Office, Howard County Police Department, Montgomery County Police Department,Worcester County Sheriff’s Office, and Army Criminal Investigation Division.

           

            Due to search and seizure warrants numerous items or digital media were seized and several individuals were identified that have a sexual interest in children, several charges are pending.  All digital items have been turned over to the respective agencies Computer Forensic Labs for analysis.

The Maryland Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force is comprised of police agencies from around the state.  Its primary mission is to protect children from computer-facilitated sexual exploitation.  The Task Force works cooperatively with law enforcement agencies and prosecutors to provide resources to combat these crimes.  Additionally, the Task Force provides community awareness campaigns helping to prevent the spread of these crimes through education.

High Cost Of Common Core Has States Rethinking The National Education Standards

States are learning the cost of Common Core is uncommonly high.

The federally-backed standards initiative, first proposed by the nation's governors and an educators' association, seeks to impose a national standard for achievement among K-12 students. So far, 45 states plus the District of Columbia have signed on, with some implementing curriculum designed for the Common Core Standards Initiative during the current school year and the rest set to take part in the next school year. But several states are reconsidering their participation, and one big reason is the cost.

States will spend up to an estimated $10 billion up front, then as much as $800 million per year for the first seven years that the controversial program is up and running. Much of the cost is on new, Common Core-aligned textbooks and curriculum, but the added expenses also include teacher training, technology upgrades, testing and assessment. The figures are taking states by surprise.

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Makes Sense To Me

Spanish Computer

A Spanish language teacher was explaining to her class that in Spanish, unlike English, nouns are designated as either masculine or feminine. "House" for instance, is feminine:     "la casa." "Pencil," however, is masculine:       "el lapiz."  A student asked, "What gender is 'Computer'?"     Instead of giving the answer, the teacher divided the class into two groups, Male and Female, and asked them to decide for themselves whether "Computer" should be a masculine or a feminine noun. Each group was asked to give four reasons for its recommendation. The men's group decided that  "Computer" should definitely be of the feminine gender ("la computadora"),  because:     1. No one but their creator understands their internal logic;     2. The native language they use to communicate with other computers is incomprehensible to everyone  else;     3. Even the smallest mistakes are stored in long term memory for possible later retrieval; and     4. As soon as you make a commitment to one, you find yourself spending half your paycheck to buy accessories for it.     (THIS GETS  BETTER!)  The women's group, however,  concluded that computers should be masculine ("el computador"),  because:  1. In order to do anything with them, you have to turn them on; 2. They have a lot of data but still can't think for themselves; 3. They are supposed to help you solve problems,  but half the time they ARE the problem; and  4. As soon as you commit to one,  you realize that if you had waited a little longer, you could have gotten a better model. The women won. Send this to all the smart women you know......And to all the men that have a sense of humor.

How Does Someone Do This For 20 Years And No One Noticed Til Now? My Heart Shattered.

For the past 20 years, a man named Roque “Rocky” Abalsamo did something every day that is simply heartbreaking. In 1993, his wife of 35 years, Julia “Julita” Echeverria Abalsamo, passed away. Ever since that day, he diligently sat by her grave in St. Joseph Cemetery in Boston, MA. He didn’t eat. He didn’t drink. All Rocky did was brave the heat, rain, cold and snow to be by his wife’s side.

Rocky had been with Julita since 1937, and he never wanted to experience day without her.

The couple met in the 1930s in their native Buenos Aires. Rocky simply heard Julita talking to her friends and realized that he needed to know the person he heard, a woman full of so much love and goodness. Basically, since that moment, the two had been together. They lived a happy life together, marrying the spring after they had met. They had two children, who they eventually followed to the United States.
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Court Plaza Continues To Have Issues

The Imperial Lounge needs to go into the glass business if this keeps up. Every time they replace the glass, someone comes back and shoots it out again. It's just a matter of time Ladies & Gentlemen.

Warning: Read This Before Doing Taxes In Windows XP

PHOENIX, Ariz. - Ralph asks: I know Windows XP is about to be retired, but is it safe enough for me to do my taxes or should I upgrade it first?

Your mindset to upgrade your operating system before you start preparing your tax return is a pretty smart approach, given the recent warning from Microsoft that Windows XP is 6 times more likely to be hacked.

Since Windows XP is really old - it was introduced in 2001 - and after April 8 this year will no longer get security updates, you may as well put yourself in a more secure position for something you're going to have to do anyway.
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Liberals

ACIDIC CHESAPEAKE BAY WATER COULD THREATEN OYSTERS

COLLEGE PARK – As the world’s oceans get more acidic, Chesapeake Bay oysters could be at risk.

A more acidic bay could make it more difficult for mollusks, such as oysters, to build their shells through a process called calcification. But it could help crustaceans, such as blue crabs, build their shells more quickly, said Justin Ries, a professor at the Marine Science Center at Northeastern University in Boston.

This could disrupt the evolutionary balance of the two, Ries said, because blue crabs prey on oysters.
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Power Is Out At The Salisbury Airport

Reports are just coming in, the power is out at the Salisbury Airport. More to come...

Toyota Still Considered Most Popular Brand: Consumer Reports

In its impactful annual survey, Consumer Reports measured public perception in seven car categories and Toyota, Ford came out on top despite recalls.

People love Toyota but think Land Rover stinks, according to Consumer Reports' 2014 Car-Brand Perception Survey. The magazine quantified Toyota's brand image to an indexed score of 145, which put it ahead of second-place Ford (120 points), third-place Honda (109) and Chevrolet (105). On the flip side, Land Rover's 4-point index score placed it last; sister brand Jaguar scored just 9 points.

Consumer Reports said brand perception reflects how consumers view auto brands across seven categories: quality, safety, performance, value, fuel economy, design/style and technology/innovation. Myriad factors, from marketing and recalls to actual hands-on experience and awards, influence the scores. And it's those categories — in that order of importance — that consumers find most important in cars, the magazine said.

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Md. Bills To Ban Bulk Purchases Of Concert, Sports Tickets

WASHINGTON - Maryland lawmakers are trying to even the playing field for sports fans and concertgoers by banning automatic purchases of large blocks of tickets, which drives up the price for consumers.

The House passed a version of the bill Friday, which outlaws automated ticket buying software. This software is used to purchase blocks of tickets automatically and repetitively.

The computer-driven traffic often pushes out individuals trying to buy a few tickets to an event.

The Maryland Consumer Rights Coalition applauded lawmakers' work.
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Conservative Activist Claims Rep. Cummings Tried To 'Intimidate' Her, Files Complaint

A conservative activist targeted by the IRS and other agencies claimed Thursday that Democratic Rep. Elijah Cummings also tried to intimidate her, filing a formal complaint with the Office of Congressional Ethics alleging an "abuse of power."

Catherine Engelbrecht, founder of True the Vote and the King Street Patriots, aired the allegations during a hearing hosted by the committee on which Cummings sits. An attorney working with her also questioned whether Cummings might have encouraged the IRS and other agencies to target her groups.

Cummings, though, adamantly denied wrongdoing and said he can "assure" Engelbrecht that he did not direct anyone at the IRS to scrutinize her.

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Answers For Trivia Posted At 11:30AM Today

Answers

(1) E. None of the above. Statement was made by Hillary Clinton
6/29/2004

(2) E. None of the above. Statement was made by Hillary Clinton
5/29/2007

(3) E. None of the above. Statement was made by Hillary Clinton
6/4/2007

(4) E. None of the above. Statement was made by Hillary Clinton
6/4/2007

(5) E. None of the above. Statement was made by Hillary Clinton
6/4/2007
 
(6) E. None of the above. Statement was made by Hillary Clinton
9/2/2005


Want to know something scary? She may be the next president if you don't forward this to everyone that you know.

House Oversight Committee Hearing Exposes Political Influence Peddling, Wasted Tax Funds In Obamacare Co-Ops

It's an Obamacare-inspired program that cost "only" $2 billion and has mostly escaped media attention, but that may be changing now, thanks to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

The "it" here is the Consumer Operated and Oriented Plan program, which used $2 billion in federally guaranteed loans to fund creation of 24 state-level health insurance co-ops to provide competition to private sector companies.

Washington Examiner watchdog senior investigative reporter Richard Pollock first began reporting the serious problems in the Obamacare co-op program last year.

$25 million improperly diverted

As Pollock and watchdog reporter Kelly Cohen reported, a contentious joint hearing Wednesday of two oversight panel subcommittees focused on a pair of "case studies of political influence peddling and millions of taxpayer dollars wasted."

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This Is The Most Beautiful Thing You Will Ever See..

CNN Airs Video Where Hillary Appears To Be Laughing At Dead Vets & Children

Fenwick Seeks State Funding For Study On Sea Level Rise

FENWICK ISLAND – Town officials voted last month to apply for state funding to conduct a sea level rise study to help prepare Fenwick for impacts in the future.

Town Manager Merritt Burke announced to the Town Council on Jan. 23 the opportunity to apply for a Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) Coastal Programs Grant to assess the town’s sea level rise.

“In September of 2010, DNREC convened a Delaware Sea Level Rise Advisory Committee and out of that committee three years later the opportunity for municipalities to apply for grant funds … essentially assistance to combat and mitigate sea level rise,” Burke said.
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Know Your Rights

Intel Officials Stumped By Question About When Benghazi Terrorists...

Kentucky All State Choir - National Anthem - Hyatt Louisville 2013

Every night of the All State Choir conference at about 11pm, everyone comes out to the balconies of the 18 story Hyatt hotel to sing the National Anthem

Alaska Primed To Become Third State To Legalize Retail Marijuana

Alaska is poised to become the third state to legalize retail marijuana after pro-pot advocates this week cleared the signature hurdle to place an initiative on the August ballot.

The Committee to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol in Alaska hit 31,593 valid signatures Tuesday, well above the 30,169 signatures required to place the measure before voters. The initiative is expected to appear on the Aug. 19 primary ballot once a final count is certified by the state.

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War On Women Update

NAACP pleads case of Massachusetts Democrat facing expulsion after conviction for punching his girlfriend

A Democratic state representative in Massachusetts is currently in jail for assaulting his then-girlfriend for refusing to have sex with him, but the National Association for the Advancement of Colored Peopledoesn't think he should be expelled from the legislature for that.

Rep. Carlos Henriquez, a member of the Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus, was convicted Jan. 15 of assault and battery for punching and choking 25-year-old Katherine Gonzalves. Despite being sentenced to six months in jail for the alleged attack, the NAACP thinks Henriquez should continue to legislate.

“The NAACP, New England Area Conference, respectfully requests that the Massachusetts House of Representatives abstain from voting in the matter of the expulsion of Rep. Carlos Henriquez, expected to come before the House today,” the NAACP said. “In the alternative, members of the House are asked to vote against the expulsion of their colleague.”

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Trivia Time

Six trivia questions to see how much history you really know. Be honest, it's kinda fun and revealing. If you don't know the answer make your best guess. Answer all the questions (no cheating) before looking at the answers. And no, the answers to these questions aren’t all Barack Obama?

Who said it?

1) "We're going to take things away from you on behalf of the common good."
A. Karl Marx 
B. Adolph Hitler 
C. Joseph Stalin 
D. Barack Obama 
E. None of the above

2) "It's time for a new beginning, for an end to government of the few, by the few, and for the few...... And to replace it with shared responsibility, for shared prosperity."
A. Lenin 
B. Mussolini 
C. Idi Amin 
D. Barack Obama 
 E. None of the above
 
 3) "(We).....can't just let business as usual go on, and that means something has to be taken away from some people."
A. Nikita Khrushev 
B. Josef Goebbels 
C. Boris Yeltsin 
D. Barack Obama 
E. None of the above

4) "We have to build a political consensus and that requires people to give up a little bit of their own ... in order to create this common ground."
A. Mao Tse Dung 
B. Hugo Chavez 
C. Kim Jong Il 
D. Barack Obama 
E. None of the above

5) "I certainly think the free-market has failed."
A. Karl Marx 
B. Lenin 
C. Molotov 
D. Barack Obama 
E. None of the above

6) "I think it's time to send a clear message to what has become the most profitable sector in (the) entire economy that they are being watched."
A. Pinochet 
B. Milosevic 
C. Saddam Hussein 
D. Barack Obama 
E. None of the above 

Answers will be given at 3:30pm today

Obama: 'Religion Is Under Threat' While Catholics Sue Administration

In a speech during Thursday morning’s National Prayer Breakfast, President Barack Obama acknowledged, “It’s also clear that around the world, freedom of religion is under threat.”

“No society can truly succeed unless it guarantees the rights of all its people, including religious minorities,” he added later.

The Obama administration has been harshly criticized by the Catholic church and civil liberties organizations concerned that Obamacare mandates that organizations provide their employees free access to contraceptives through their health care plans, even if their religious faith calls contraception a sin.

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Democrats Attack Sen. Rand Paul For Defending Gun Rights

Senate OKs guns near, but not in, post offices

A Senate committee unanimously passed a measure Thursday to allow people to carry guns on postal service property, but killed a broader push to let gun owners carry their firearms into actual post office buildings.

The measure from Sen. Mark Begich, Alaska Democrat, to a broader Postal Reform bill is meant to head off situations where a person could be charged with a crime if they run into the post office after hunting or shooting, for example, and leave their gun in the parking lot.

“In my state, a rural state, we have folks who are going out to the post office [with] a gun in their car,” Mr. Begich said Thursday at a meeting of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. “[You] park and you go in and you may not realize that even though you stored your gun in that parking lot … this solves this problem once and for all.”

The committee approved the amendment 15-0, but Sen. Rand Paul, Kentucky Republican, felt it didn’t go far enough; he introduced an amendment that would also allow gun owners to carry guns into physical post office buildings.

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Dad's Will

A man was telling his buddy, "You won't believe what happened last night... My daughter walked into the living room and said, ‘Dad, cancel my allowance immediately, forget my college tuition loan, rent my room out, throw all my clothes out the window; take my TV, and my laptop. Please take any of my jewelry to the Salvation Army or Cash Converters. Then, sell my car, take my front door key away from me and throw me out of the house. Then, disown me and never talk to me again. And don't forget to write me out of your will and leave my share to any charity you choose.’ "

"Holy Smokes," replied the friend, "she actually said that?"

"Well, she didn't put it quite like that, she actually said... 'Dad, meet my new boyfriend - Mohammed. We're going to work together on Hillary's election campaign!' "

Harvesting Patient Records

Growing numbers of GPs are joining a rebellion against an NHS scheme to harvest millions of medical records.

Unless patients object, officials will start to extract confidential data from their files next month.

The information will be used to improve care and assist research work, health chiefs say. But some family doctors fear the data will be misused by insurers and businesses.

At least four GPs – with thousands of patients between them – are defying orders to hand over their patients’ records. Many more are known to share their concerns.

Gordon Gancz, who has a practice in Oxford, had been told by NHS officials his decision not to co-operate may cost him his job.

In an article in today’s Mail, he compares these ‘bullying’ tactics to those used by camp guards in Stalinist Russia.

‘What I am vehemently opposed to is that the medical records of every man, woman and child in the country will be passed on automatically,’ he says.

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City Council Meeting 2-10-14

 

Meeting Materials for Monday’s Council Meeting are available at the link below on the City Website.

http://www.ci.salisbury.md.us/?page_id=3147

Democrats Have 11 Videos Ready To Slam Christie On Bridge-Gate

Democratic Party strategists are focusing on a systematic strategy to undermine New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's national image by capitalizing on the backlash from the George Washington bridge scandal.

According to The New York Times, Democratic operatives reaching up to the highest levels of the party are using every opportunity to define Christie as a corrupt bully as they aim to sabotaging his chances of mounting a successful run for the White House.

Democrats have already created 11 different videos to capitalize on Christie's links to the bridge-gate scandal. They are also organizing protests and news conferences in different parts of the country to dog Christie during his travels in his role as chairman of the Republican Governors Association.

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HISTORICAL COMMENTS BY GEORGE CHEVALLIER 2-8-14

Postcards

The annual Post Card Show will be held on Sunday, February 9 at the WicomicoCivic Center in Salisbury. This is a good opportunity to get out those old post cards and see if they have any value. Generally, local view post cards are the most desired in any area. So, post cards with views of the towns of the Eastern Shore are more highly prized than ones from out of the area. Even if they are not postmarked, someone at the show can date them just by looking at them.

The very best to any collector are “real photo” postcards because there are fewer of them. These are views taken by a photographer who then might write on the negative. The ensuing postcard will have the writing come out white. Many families from 1900 to about 1925 had photos taken by a photographer and had some of them made into postcards to send to relatives and distant acquaintances. If anyone finds one of these in the family album or among loose pictures in an old shoe box, be sure to write the name on the back (pencil preferably). So many pictures that should be family treasures end up in a box in some antique store labeled “instant relatives” and sell for about $.50 each. I know I value the real photo post cards of my family much higher than would anyone else. The card pictured above is of my mother taken at her First Communion in 1918 when she was six years old. I have several real photo cards of some of my relatives and treasure them greatly.

It seems like anymore the only post cards in our mailbox are for advertising. Gone are the days of summer vacation and the standard “Wish you were here” cards from places as close as Ocean City. Today it is much easier, and cheaper, to just use a cell phone and call someone to let them envy your vacation. There is nothing like holding something in your hand that is a tangible reminder of another person. The same holds true for the handwritten letter. Who takes the time and effort to sit down and put their thoughts on paper to send to another person when the same information can be transmitted via cell phone in the time it would take you to find paper, pen and stamp?

Post cards can be a visual picture of the past. Places that are no longer here can be revisited through a post card of that long-gone establishment. There are books that show many of the post cards of the past along with a slight descriptive passage under each picture that really takes you back to an era of long ago. I hope to see you there at the Post Card Show.

SFD Calls For Service 2-7-14

• Friday February, 7 2014 @ 23:59:06Nature: Non BreathingAddress: 612 Hammond St Salisbury, MD 21801
• Friday February, 7 2014 @ 23:26:01Nature: Smoke / Co DetectorAddress: 128 Troopers Way Salisbury, MD 21801
• Friday February, 7 2014 @ 23:09:51Nature: Sick SubjectCity: Salisbury
• Friday February, 7 2014 @ 22:08:09Nature: Abdominal PainCity: Salisbury
• Friday February, 7 2014 @ 21:49:35Nature: StrokeCity: Salisbury
• Friday February, 7 2014 @ 21:24:24Nature: Pro Qa EmsCity: Salisbury
• Friday February, 7 2014 @ 21:04:23Nature: Medical AssistAddress: 704 E William St Salisbury, MD 21801
• Friday February, 7 2014 @ 19:08:03Nature: Sick SubjectCity: Salisbury
• Friday February, 7 2014 @ 18:55:23Nature: Sick SubjectCity: Salisbury
• Friday February, 7 2014 @ 17:33:59Nature: Difficulty BreathingCity: Salisbury
• Friday February, 7 2014 @ 16:56:06Nature: Sick SubjectCity: Salisbury
• Friday February, 7 2014 @ 16:43:23Nature: Medical AssistAddress: 298 Tilghman Rd Salisbury, MD 21801
• Friday February, 7 2014 @ 16:37:53Nature: Difficulty BreathingCity: Salisbury
• Friday February, 7 2014 @ 15:43:02Nature: HemorrhagingCity: Salisbury
• Friday February, 7 2014 @ 12:43:35Nature: Medical AlarmCity: Salisbury
• Friday February, 7 2014 @ 11:46:48Nature: Abdominal PainCity: Salisbury
• Friday February, 7 2014 @ 11:21:23Nature: Emergency UnknownCity: Salisbury
• Friday February, 7 2014 @ 11:12:59Nature: Difficulty BreathingCity: Salisbury
• Friday February, 7 2014 @ 11:03:37Nature: Sick SubjectCity: Salisbury
• Friday February, 7 2014 @ 10:38:28Nature: Sick SubjectCity: Salisbury
• Friday February, 7 2014 @ 07:56:53Nature: Subject FallenCity: Salisbury
• Friday February, 7 2014 @ 07:12:09Nature: Diabetic DifficultyCity: Salisbury
• Friday February, 7 2014 @ 05:04:51Nature: Structure FireAddress: 413 Patrick Ave Salisbury, MD 21801
• Friday February, 7 2014 @ 05:04:50Nature: Structure FireCity: Salisbury
• Friday February, 7 2014 @ 05:04:47Nature: Structure FireAddress: 413 Patrick Ave Salisbury, MD 21801
• Friday February, 7 2014 @ 03:54:57Nature: Chest PainCity: Salisbury
• Friday February, 7 2014 @ 01:33:14Nature: Subject FallenCity: Salisbury
• Friday February, 7 2014 @ 01:24:49Nature: Emergency UnknownCity: Salisbury

1957 Chevy Pickup Leaves Virginia Beach Headed To Delmar, The Beginning Of A New Journey

Cabinet Secretaries & State Senators VIP Groundbreaking Ceremony

Conservatism Is Not Freedom

Reagan's true legacy: The Tea Party ... Tea Party Challenging the status quo is the correct condition of American conservatism. At the end of the American Revolution, Benjamin Rush, who had signed the Declaration of Independence, vowed that though the war with Great Britain was over, the Revolution would go on. The stirrings of original American conservatism were found in such sentiments. For the proper state of American conservatism — from Thomas Paine to Thomas Jefferson to Abraham Lincoln — is to be in a perpetual struggle for intellectual revolution. Ronald Reagan, whose 103rd birthday would have been Thursday, exemplified this. No surprise the Gipper regularly quoted all three men. Reagan never saw himself as part of the Washington establishment — even after his two terms as president. – Reuters 

Dominant Social Theme: The GOP is a big tent that can accommodate the changing scene. 

Free-Market Analysis: This Reuters editorial makes many points that we've made in the recent past about the Tea Party. We've argued, in fact, that the Tea Party in its more inchoate form is a force to be reckoned with not just for the Republicans but for the Democrats as well.

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GOVERNOR MARTIN O’MALLEY HOSTS MARYLAND MAYORS ASSOCIATION RECEPTION

Highlights partnerships and strategic actions with municipalities as key parts of the State’s success

ANNAPOLIS, MD Governor O’Malley invited mayors from across Maryland to kick off the Maryland Mayor’s Association’s Legislative Conference at Government House in Annapolis. More than 50 municipal executives joined the Governor for a reception in the Governor’s residence to highlight better choices for stronger Maryland communities.

“We've faced some pretty tough times over the last seven years. Together, we've made the choice to move our State forward, not back,” said Governor Martin O'Malley. “In spite of of these challenges, our mayors have stepped up and pitched in, partnering on a number of initiatives with our agencies and ensuring that our State is stronger than it was before the recession."

“Maryland is a great state because of the work we do together to strengthen our communities and expand opportunity,” said Lt. Governor Anthony Brown. “We've made great progress, but our success would not have been possible without the partnership and hard work of our Mayors leading at the local level. Whether it's supporting local businesses or ensuring residents have access to public services, Mayors in cities and towns across our state make Maryland a better place to live, work and raise a family.”

Over the last seven years, the O'Malley-Brown administration has worked in partnership with mayors on numerous projects in local jurisdictions all over the State. The Community Legacy program has provided nearly $17 million in funds for over 200 projects in municipalities. Additionally, the State's Main Street program has facilitated the creation of nearly 1,200 new businesses and 4,190 new jobs in 26 cities and towns across Maryland.

“On behalf of the MMA, I would like to thank Governor O'Malley for once again hosting our yearly reception at the Government House. This event affords the Mayors of our great State the opportunity to voice our concerns to the Governor and lobby for ourselves and our municipalities here in Annapolis. We appreciate the Governor providing us the venue to do so,” said Mayor Randy McClement of Frederick.

“The O'Malley-Brown administration has supported progressive smart growth strategies over the last seven years.  For Capitol Heights this has meant the acceleration of our TOD strategy utilizing Community Legacy funds.  We are proud to announce the Town is in the process of selecting a developer for a mixed-use, sustainable development at the Capitol Heights Metro station.  Governor O'Malley has been a tremendous partner in our overall revitalization efforts,” added Mayor Kito James of Capitol Heights.

The O'Malley-Brown Administration continues to foster partnerships with municipal law enforcement agencies to drive down violent crime. Working together, state and local law enforcement agencies have driven down violent crime to 30-year lows. The FY15 budget includes an increase of $16 million in funding for transportation for municipalities and an additional $68 million in police aid. The Governor's Safe Streets initiative has driven drive down crime by promoting community partnerships, strategic action and investments in needed equipment for law enforcement personnel.

“Under the leadership of Governor O'Malley, the Safe Streets initiative, and $1.2 million in investment, the City of Salisbury has seen an almost 50 percent drop in violent crime over the last seven years. Without the commitment of the Governor, and his willingness to see this through, our strong partnership to fight crime would be non-existent, and we would not see the successes that we have seen to date,” said Mayor Jim Ireton of Salisbury.

The Governor's FY15 budget builds on seven years of record investments in education to the tune of $6.1 billion since FY2008. Also, the O’Malley-Brown Administration has bolstered efforts to reduce the number of temporary learning shacks around the State, investing $2.7 billion in school construction funding over the last seven years. These better choices have led to better results, propelling Maryland to the head of the class in national school rankings and AP scores, while also sparking historic graduation rates for Maryland high schoolers.

Cumberland Mayor Brian K. Grim added, “Governor O’Malley is a model leader for working together with local government to make necessary projects come to fruition.  If not for our Governor, Cumberland would still be struggling to band-aid together the oldest functioning high school in Maryland. But thanks to the Governor, funding is in place and our community is building a new, state-of-the-art educational facility in Cumberland.  That speaks to Martin O’Malley’s dedication to education and it speaks to his desire to work with local leaders to solve problems.”

“From education to public safety, and through the toughest of times, Governor O’Malley has supported our efforts to build stronger communities for our neighbors. Mayors are on the frontlines of public service and having a strong partner in the State House ensures that we better serve our neighbors and create thriving communities to live, work and play,” Mayor Jeffrey Slavin of Somerset said.

I Cannot Tell A Lie

Tennessee Governor Proposes FREE Community College To Every High School Senior

The governor of Tennessee wants everyone to go to college. Governor Bill Haslam – a Republican – has introduced a proposal to guarantee every high school senior can go to a community college or technical school for free. This proposal is part of Governor Haslam's "Drive to 55" campaign, which is a plan to ensure that 55 percent of Tennessee residents have some sort of advanced degree. In his State of the State address on Monday, Governor Haslam said, "We are committed to making a clear statement to families that education beyond high school is a priority in the state of Tennessee." Governor Haslam is setting an important example, and hopefully more states will follow his lead.

Money Has Corrupted Our Political System

There's new legislation aimed at putting government back in the hands of the people. On Wednesday, Democratic Representative John Sarbanes introduced the Government By the People Act, and it's already been endorsed by at least 30 progressive organizations. According to Demos, this legislation would increase "the power of small contributions that ordinary citizens can afford to give." The new bill has four key provisions, including creating the Freedom from Influence Fund to match small contributions 6-to-1, and providing a $25 dollar tax credit for individuals who make donations. The Government by the People Act would also increase matching funds in the last two months of a general election to counter outside spending groups, and it would create People PACs to join the voices and power of ordinary citizens. Karen Flynn of Common Cause said, "The Government by the People Act is a shot of powerful medicine for the cancer of big money growing within our body politic." We should not give up on the fight to overturn the Citizens United ruling, and our nation must proclaim that money is not speech. But, this act can help restore the political power of real Americans. Corporations and billionaires do not deserve more speech than the rest of us, and our politicians should answer to all voters – not just their big-money donors. The Government by the People Act will help make this possible, and we can call on our lawmakers to make this bill a reality.

Valentine's Day At Market Street Inn