Texas Deputy Indicted On Animal Cruelty After Shooting Of Dog

RAINS COUNTY — A grand jury has indicted a former Rains County deputy on an animal cruelty charge over the controversial shooting of a family’s dog last month.

Jerrod Dooley, 32, has been charged with a state jail felony, punishable by up to two years behind bars. Dooley was fired last month within days of the shooting that sparked a national furor after the dog’s owner went public with his story.

"This is clearly a political knee jerk reaction by the DA in Rains County and there’s no chance that this case will stand up in court," said Pete Schulte, Dooleys' attorney. "It’s a legal impossibility because he was acting within the scope of his employment as a public servant. We look forward to our day in court.”
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Marines For Maryland Fundraiser

Please join us on May 24th for a 2A fundraiser to benefit both my re-election and a fellow Marine and candidate for House of Delegates Ray Givens in Western Maryland.

Please mail your checks made out to: Marines For Maryland to 136 East Main Street, Elkton MD 21921

We do need a headcount so mail those checks ASAP, please!

Invitation for Marines For Maryland Event

I Hope You've Been Good

Obama Administration: Boko Haram Has 'Legitimate Concerns'

For reasons that only Barack Obama can answer, the State Department took far too long to designate the savage Muslim group, Boko Haram, a terrorist organization. When State Department officials finally did designate it a foreign terrorist organization, they did so while never mentioning that the people being terrorized were Christians who are being targeted for their beliefs. The media doesn’t mention it, but the kidnapped schoolgirls who have finally brought this evil group to international attention are Christians.

But the State Department implied that the group had other motivations. “These designations are an important and appropriate step,” the State Department said, “but only one tool in what must be a comprehensive approach by the Nigerian government to counter these groups through a combination of law enforcement, political, and development efforts, as well as military engagement, to help root out violent extremism while also addressing the legitimate concerns of the people of northern Nigeria.”

Boko Haram originated in northern Nigeria, where there is strong support for the imposition of Islamic law – which is also Boko Haram’s goal.

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Hero Police Officer Gives Incredibly Generous Gifts So Needy Teen Will Have A Proper Home To Go To

What an outstanding instance of police charity.

A few weeks ago, a Sumter, S.C. police officer, Gaetano Acerra, responded to call from an upset 13-year-old Cameron Simmons, who told the cop that he didn’t want to live with his family anymore. Simmons just had a fight with his mom, the local Fox affiliate reports.

“I said, ‘You have it good, you have a roof over your head,’ I told him I would try to help him out, and here we are now,” Acerra told Fox 12.

When Acerra brought Simmons home, he discovered that the boy didn’t have a bed, or really anything that you’d expect to find in a standard bedroom.

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So True

Democrat Candidate for Governor Hulsey Confronted by Black Republican for Calling GOP Racist

State Representative and Democrat candidate for Governor Brett Hulsey told reporters last week that he was going to hand out KKK hoods at the Republican State Convention, which took place last weekend. After major backlash, he instead decided to wear a homemade confederate uniform and talk to GOP members about what he called their racist agenda. This new video shows Hulsey's interaction with one convention attendee.

Baby Names: Noah Ends Jacob's 14-year Run At Top

Noah sailed past Jacob to become the most popular baby name for boys in 2013, ending Jacob's 14-year run at the top. Sophia was the most popular baby name for girls for the third straight year.

The Social Security Administration announced the most popular baby names Friday. Noah was followed by Liam, Jacob, Mason and William. Sophia was followed by Emma, Olivia, Isabella and Ava.

The rise of Noah and Liam highlights a trend toward more smooth-sounding baby names, said Laura Wattenberg, creator of Babynamewizard.com.

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Spring Game Evo Beer Dinner

Greetings! It is almost time for our next EVO BEER DINNER!   Monday, May 19th at 6:30pm! Chef David Wells has planned a delicious SPRING GAME MENU! FIVE COURSE DINNER w/ EVO BEER PAIRINGS... Only $55 per person! Space is limited!  Call today for reservations! 443-260-2337(BEER) www.evolutioncraftbrewing.com

201 East Vine Street Salisbury, Maryland 21804

Help Us Help Our Heroes

https://www.facebook.com/VSCOA?fref=photo

Connolly not running for AG

WILMINGTON – Former U.S. Attorney Colm F. Connolly will not be running for Delaware Attorney General, further clearing the way for Lt. Gov. Matt Denn to take the office in November.

Connolly, a Republican, was seen by many as the party's best hope to capture the statewide office and potentially stop Denn from coasting to an easy election victory.

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Something Magical Happened When a Woman at an Airport Asked a Pastor and His Friends What They Do

Post by Donnette Williams Koertge.

A spontaneous performance of the popular Christian song ”Jesus Messiah” outside an airport terminal was apparently so captivating that it attracted attention from onlookers and airline personnel alike.

Days later, video of the spectacle is going viral on Facebook, pleasantly surprising Pastor Stacy Perkins of Harmony Hill Baptist Church in Lufkin, Texas, one of the people in the clip.

“We were on a three-hour layover at the Atlanta airport waiting on our flight to Shreveport, and we were just messing around, chit-chatting with the people around us and having fun,” Perkins told KTRE-TV.
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The Check Is In The Mail!

The Justice Department has accused 11 federal employees of making false workers' compensation claims. The Manhattan U.S. attorney says some of these employees exaggerated injuries they incurred on the job. Some failed to report other income while collecting disability payments. All but one of the accused works for the Postal Service. U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara says all of the defendants "showed remarkable strength and vigor," considering they were thought to have debilitating injuries. In one case, a postal service employee who claimed to have severe Carpal Tunnel Syndrome was seen at a gym lifting free weights and boxing.

Study Looks At Native Bees On Md.'s Eastern Shore

BETHESDA, Md. (AP) -- Scientists from the University of Delaware and the U.S. Geological Survey are conducting a census of native bees in Maryland and Delaware.

They're collecting bees from scores of sites, including more than a dozen owned by The Nature Conservancy, to check them for health and diversity.

Nature Conservancy spokeswoman Lindsay Mayer says that while much has been written about dwindling numbers of non-native honeybees, researchers are also interested in the health and diversity of native bees.

Mayer says the study will also help determine the health of bee habitat.

Source 

World War II Vet Sentenced to Prison

A World War II Vet from Indiana whose age, white hair, and folksy style helped conceal his role as a drug courier was sentenced Wednesday on his 90th birthday to three years in federal prison. He was hauling more than a ton of cocaine to Michigan.

"All I can tell you, your honor, is I'm really heartbroken I did what I did," Leo Sharp told a judge. "But it's done."

Sharp admitted that he drove lots of cocaine into Michigan and partnered with a Mexican drug organization. He is one of 19 people charged in the case. Prosecutors said he was paid more than $1 million for his part in the drug haul.

"I don't doubt it will be difficult," Edmunds told Sharp of prison, "but respect for the law requires there be some custody."

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On Energy, Conservatives Have Ideas

This week, Capitol Hill’s attention has been focused on debates over two important energy issues: the approval of the Keystone XL pipeline, favored by most in the conservative movement, and the Shaheen-Portman Senate energy efficiency bill, which Heritage Action has key voted “No.” Both issues have been percolating in Washington for years, so it’s no surprise they’re receiving so much attention now.

That said, because these two issues have so dominated energy news in recent days, it’s easy to lose sight of the broader array of energy policies under consideration in Washington. That’s unfortunate, as Republicans have distinguished themselves of late on energy policy, developing innovative solutions that promise to create and secure jobs while reducing everyday costs for all Americans – but only if they are given a chance by President Obama.

Four of these bills are especially impressive, and serve as a stark contrast to the comprehensive energy bills passed by Congress in 2006 and 2007.
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K9 Ike - LODD Memorial Service

K9 Ike - LODD Memorial Service from Rob Korb on Vimeo.

McDonald's Tests Seasoned Fries, Burger King Adds Breakfast Burgers

Fast-food rivals McDonald’s and Burger King are rolling out new offerings in the ongoing battle for customers.

McDonald's confirmed to CNBC Thursday it will be testing out new seasonings for its fries in select locations, while Burger King said it is adding burgers to its breakfast menu.

McDonald's patrons in Stockton, California, and St. Louis can order Garlic Parmesan, Zesty Ranch and Spicy Buffalo fries. The new fries require some assembly and come with step-by-step instructions for customers to sprinkle their fries with seasonings.

McDonald's spokeswoman Lisa McComb confirmed the tests, which Foodbeast.com first reported.

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Call the Cops at Your Peril

“Live free or die” is the motto of the state of New Hampshire. I hope the residents are prepared to die, because living free is not what they do.

NH is merely a cog within the Amerikan Stasi State, but I am referring to what goes on within NH itself, not the police state existence imposed by Washington. On May 5 attorney William Baer was arrested at a school board meeting at which he went over a 2-minute speaking rule while trying to get some explanation from the Gilford, NH, school board for assigning sexually explicit reading material to his 14-year old daughter’s English class. The evasiveness of the school board angered Mr. Baer, and he spoke out again in support of another parents protests, and was promptly arrested by a goon thug cop.http://www.dailypaul.com/318393/fox-news-to-interview-william-baer-father-arrested-in-new-hampshire-for-going-over-two-minute-rule-in-school-board-meetin
The school board chairman, Sue Allen, who has no legislative power nevertheless managed to create a law backed by police violence. After all if Bush and Obama can create laws by edict, why not a school board chairman? Under Allen’s edict, if a parent violates the 2-minute rule that Allen imposed, she has the parent arrested. The goon thug cop wasn’t embarrassed to arrest a parent for making a legitimate complaint during the public comment period of a school board meeting.

Remember, we “freedom and democracy” ‘mericans have free speech and protest rights. Actually, don’t remember that, because you no longer have any such rights.These rights are dangerous. They enable terrorists and extremists such as those dangerous people who don’t believe The Government.

This is Amerika today. Mr Baer offered no resistance, but nevertheless was lucky that the goon thug cop did not taser him, pepper spray him, and call for a backup SWAT team to beat him senseless or even murder him.

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Redskins

GOVERNOR O’MALLEY AND LT. GOVERNOR BROWN ANNOUNCE MARYLAND TRAFFIC FATALITIES DROP TO 52-YEAR LOW

2013 Figures Lowest Since 1961

Annapolis, Md. – Governor Martin O’Malley and Lt. Governor Anthony G. Brown announced the number of traffic fatalities on Maryland roadways in 2013 was the lowest in more than five decades. The 2013 preliminary figure of 466 traffic fatalities in Maryland was the lowest since 1961 when 461 highway deaths were reported. The current 2013 figure is a decrease from the 2012 figure of 511.

“From laws to combat distracted driving, like Jake’s Law, to our efforts to pass life-saving seat belt legislation, our Administration has aggressively worked to lower the senseless and preventable loss of life on our roadways,” said Governor O’Malley. “While these lower numbers indicate we’ve made progress, we must continue to work together to enhance traffic safety for Maryland motorists.”

Thanks to the collaborative work with Federal, State and local partners, and with strong support from members of our General Assembly, Maryland has implemented comprehensive and aggressive initiatives to enhance highway safety. To combat distracted driving, Maryland passed Jake’s Law this year, a bill that elevated the penalty for texting while driving to a criminal offense. Last year, Maryland passed a new seat belt law for all seated positions in a vehicle, made it a primary offense to talk on handheld cell phones while driving and increased the penalties for texting while driving.

“Maryland law enforcement and highway safety partners are actively working toward a goal of zero deaths on our roadways,” said Lt. Governor Brown. “We are encouraged by the drop in traffic-related fatalities, but there is still work to be done and we remain committed to working together to make Maryland roads safer for all residents and travelers.”

Somerset County Sheriff's Office Recent Arrests 5-10-14

This report is very long please click the READ MORE button at the bottom to see the entire report.

 

Somerset County Sheriff's Office reports recent arrests:

• Dale Trent Webster of Princess Anne, arrested 3-25-14 for possession of suspected marijuana, and drug paraphernalia. Deputies patrolling the area of the Mt. Vernon Harbor investigated a van parked after hours. When deputies approached the van, Webster allegedly tried to hide suspected marijuana between the seats. Deputies later recovered three small baggies of suspected marijuana. Webster was later released on citations pending court actions.

• Royce William Layfield Jr. of Delmar, arrested 4-17-14 on a warrant for violation of probation. Layfield was held on a $5,000 bond.

• Mark Anthony Torres of Crisfield, arrested 4-21-14 on a warrant for failing to appear in court. Torres was released on personal recognizance.

Memorial Dedication Announced

Construction Progress Update on the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial

Continued progress at the site of the future American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial has been solid, setting the stage for a magnificent dedication on Oct. 5.

“A dream is soon to be realized, presenting a place of honor to those sacrificing long after hanging up their uniforms,” said National Adjutant Marc Burgess. “This memorial will be a neverending reminder to all of the cost of human conflict.”

During the past few months, much of the work on site has been on the infrastructure. The glass walls, the ceremonial flame, the bronze sculptures and the granite benches have been completed and will be installed in August. Fabrication of the elements of the memorial’s design began more than a year ago to maximize the efficiency of on-site construction.

The dedication is scheduled to take place Oct. 5 at 11 a.m. at the memorial site, 150 Washington Ave. S.W., Washington, D.C.

Senior dignitaries have been invited to join the memorial’s national spokesman, Gary Sinise, on stage.

A block of rooms is available at a special rate of $99 per night (single/double) at the Renaissance Washington, DC Downtown Hotel at 999 Ninth St. N.W., Washington, D.C. Complimentary shuttle bus transportation will be available to and from the hotel to the dedication ceremony. Hotel reservations and dedication tickets are available atwww.avdlm.org/dedication.

Source

'Grumpy' Nancy Pelosi Not Happy With Democrats Who Supported Benghazi Panel

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi was not pleased with Democrats who suggested that Democrats work with Republicans on the select Benghazi committee, according to a report from Politico’s Jake Sherman and Lauren French.

During her caucus meeting on Friday, Pelosi sarcastically told members of her party, “Thanks a lot for giving me leverage over the last couple of days.”

Pelosi was likely referring to a number of rank-and-file Democrats who signaled support for participating in the Benghazi committee - and even some Democrats who voted with Republicans to create the committee.

Pelosi was in Los Angeles this week for a series of fundraisers with President Obama.

According to Politico sources, Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) joked that Pelosi “just flew to L.A. and back in two days and that can make you a little grumpy.”

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Distracted Driving Citations On The Rise

State troopers are increasingly writing tickets for distracted driving offenses, according to Maryland State Police data.

Moreover, toughening Maryland's ban on cellphone use while driving appears to have increased such citations.

Before October, police could ticket a driver for using a mobile device only if that driver had also committed another violation. Since then, authorities have been able to pull over drivers for that reason alone.
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7 Things About the Inevitability of Hillary Clinton You Probably Haven't Thought About

In December 2007, just as the 2008 presidential primaries were beginning to heat up, and with Hillary Clinton 26 points ahead in national polling of Democrats, I wrotean article for AlterNet arguing that she was beatable, that she had vulnerabilities the other candidates did not have, that she had historically high “unfavorables,” that she polled poorly against Republicans and that Democrats should rethink the “inevitability” of her candidacy. Apparently, they did and we know how that turned out.

Once again, Clinton is riding high in polling of Democrats; once again, her supporters are claiming she is “inevitable;” and once again, she has vulnerabilities other candidates lack, including extremely high “unfavorables,” as well as additional liabilities in 2016 she didn’t have in 2008 — some of her own making, some not.

1. Worrisome Polling

Hillary Clinton has maintained consistently high “unfavorable” ratings since at least 2007 (ranging from 40 to 52 percent). In December 2007, they were running 45 percent and are still hovering in the 45 percent range today. In 2007, I wrote that her unfavorable” ratings “currently are running 45 percent — far higher than any other Democratic or Republican presidential hopeful and higher than any presidential candidate at this stage in polling history. Hillary may be the most well-known, recognizable candidate, but that is proving to be as much of a burden as a benefit.” That still seems to be true.

Before Chris Christie melted down in the Bridge-Gate scandal, Quinnipiac, a well-respected poll, had him running ahead of Hillary Clinton 43-42 percent. That doesn’t, in my opinion, mean Christie is a strong candidate — people hardly know who he is — but it suggests Clinton is a weak, or at least vulnerable, candidate. She is someone who has been on the national scene prominently for 20-plus years, people know her, yet a relatively unknown Republican runs even with her? Not a sign of strength.

In an April 24, 2014 Quinnipiac poll in Colorado, a state with two Democratic senators and a Democratic governor, Rand Paul is out-polling Clinton 45-40 percent and she is running 42-42 percent against the scandal-ridden Christie. Colorado is a blue state Democrats need to win in 2016 and having a well-known Democrat running behind a virtual unknown Republican is not good news.

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A Timely Quote

"The power of accurate observation is frequently called cynicism by those who don't have it."
-- George Bernard Shaw

How Home Ownership Keeps Blacks Poorer Than Whites

This article is by Dorothy Brown, a professor of tax law at Emory University Law School.

The racial wealth gap has hit an all-time high whileBarack Obama has been president. The median net worth of white households is now 20 times that of black households. Why?

Some argue that the gap is a current manifestation of a historical problem. Others say blacks are to blame. While I can’t eliminate the lingering effects of slavery and Jim Crow, or change stereotypes, I can highlight one area where blacks may be inadvertently contributing to the racial wealth gap: When most black people buy homes, we hurt ourselves economically.

Home ownership has been an important vehicle in creating a solid white middle class, but it has not done the same for most black homeowners, because blacks and whites buy homes in very different neighborhoods. Research shows that homes in majority black neighborhoods do not appreciate as much as homes in overwhelmingly white neighborhoods. This appreciation gap begins whenever a neighborhood is more than 10% black, and it increases right along with the percentage of black homeowners. Yet most blacks decide to live in majority minority neighborhoods, while most whites live in overwhelmingly white neighborhoods.

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Which Cities Have the Biggest Police Presence?

Police staffing levels vary greatly across U.S. cities, averaging about 17 officers per 10,000 residents. View and compare employment data for each jurisdiction.

For every 10,000 District of Columbia residents, there are about 61 Metropolitan Police Department officers. A similar number of officers serve nearby Baltimore given the city’s size. But in many other larger jurisdictions, police departments employ fewer than half as many officers per capita.

Police presence varies greatly across U.S. cities, driven by call volumes, municipal budgets and a range of other factors.

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Local Officials React To Supreme Court Ruling On Meeting Prayer

BERLIN — The U.S. Supreme Court this week upheld the right of local governments to open meetings with a prayer, ruling it does not violate the Constitution. It was a decision lauded in some communities around the Lower Shore that have long established the practice.

The Supreme Court on Monday voted 5-4 to uphold the right to open local government meetings with some form of prayer or recognition of a higher power after the practice was challenged in an upstate New York town and other places around the country including neighboring Sussex County, Del.

The case before the Supreme Court was specific to the town of Greece, N.Y., which was sued seven years ago for its practice of opening town meetings with prayer. The complainants alleged the opening prayers in general violated the separation of church and state spelled out in the Constitution, and more specifically the prayers offered before meetings were largely Christian.
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Investment Advice LOL

If you had purchased $1,000 of shares in Delta Airlines 5 years ago, you would have $49.00 today!

If you had purchased $1,000 of shares in AIG 5 years ago, you would have $33.00 today.

If you had purchased $1,000 of shares in Lehman Brothers 5 years ago, you would have $0.00 today.

But, if you had purchased $1,000 worth of beer one year ago, drank all the beer, then turned in the aluminum cans for the recycling refund, you would have received $214.00.

Based on the above, the best current investment plan is to drink heavily & recycle. It is called the 401-Keg.

And as a bonus...

A recent study found that the average American walks about 900 miles a year. Another study found that on average Americans drink 22 gallons of alcohol a year. That means that the average American gets about 41 miles to the gallon!

New Restaurant Seeking To Fill Indian Food Void In Salisbury

SALISBURY – Tariq Jilani’s dream came to fruition when he opened Taj Mahal Restaurant and Tea House in Salisbury in October of 2013, bringing authentic Indian/Pakistani cuisine to the area.

T.J. left Pakistan in 1974 when he moved to London. In 1977, he moved to the U.S. and attended Long Island University in New York. He landed himself a job in the accounting department of the Rainbow Room in the Rockefeller Plaza in New York City.

“My inclination was always in the kitchen,” he said. “My job was controlling the costs of the kitchen, so I had a lot of interaction with the chefs and the kitchen staff, which fascinated me about this business.”

Following the Rainbow Room, Jilani assisted in opening and operating La Camelia in NYC.
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News Briefing with Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-SC)

Congressman Trey Gowdy (R-SC) turned the tables on the media and asked them questions about Benghazi. The silence was deafening.

Best video clip I’ve seen in months. I hope you watch it ~ it’s only 3.5 minutes.
The Media should be embarrassed by Congressman Trey Gowdy’s questions.

The burden falls on the media to question and investigate...

Have you seen this video yet?
Click Here

After viewing this 3.5 minute video, I urge you to forward it to your sphere of influence. Please forward.

Council of Islamic Ideology declares women’s existence anti-Islamic

Islamabad - Sharia Correspondent: The Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) concluded their 192nd meeting on Thursday with the ruling that women are un-Islamic and that their mere existence contradicted Sharia and the will of Allah. As the meeting concluded CII Chairman Maulana Muhammad Khan Shirani noted that women by existing defied the laws of nature, and to protect Islam and the Sharia women should be forced to stop existing as soon as possible. The announcement comes a couple of days after CII’s 191st meeting where they dubbed laws related to minimum marriage age to be un-Islamic.

After declaring women to be un-Islamic, Shirani explained that there were actually two kinds of women – haraam and makrooh. “We can divide all women in the world into two distinct categories: those who are haraam and those who are makrooh. Now the difference between haraam and makrooh is that the former is categorically forbidden while the latter is really really disliked,” Shirani said.

He further went on to explain how the women around the world can ensure that they get promoted to being makrooh, from just being downright haraam. “Any woman that exercises her will is haraam, absolutely haraam, and is conspiring against Islam and the Ummah,whereas those women who are totally subservient can reach the status of being makrooh. Such is the generosity of our ideology and such is the endeavour of Muslim men like us who are the true torchbearers of gender equality,” the CII chairman added.

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Switzerland Takes the Minimum Wage a Step Further

Should everyone have a guaranteed minimum income even if they don’t have a job? It’s a radical idea on the Swiss ballot that also has some support in the United States.

There’s been a great deal of talk this spring about the American minimum wage, with President Obama and some local leaders pushing to raise the national base pay, while other lawmakers contend it’s sufficient at the current level or should be done away with altogether.

So what about a minimum income? That’s what’s being debated right now in Switzerland. At some point in the near future, Swiss citizens will vote on a ballot initiative that would guarantee a base pay -- with no work requirement -- equal to about $2,800 a month, more than double what the current federal minimum wage pays in the United States.

More than 100,000 people signed a petition last year to place the minimum-income measure on the ballot. If a majority of voters and cantons -- the Swiss version of states -- support the proposal, it would become part of the country’s constitution. (A November 2013 survey commissioned by two Swiss trade unions found that 74 percent of respondents supported instituting a national minimum wage of roughly $25 per hour, a related proposal that is scheduled for a vote in May.)

The cost to implement a universal income would be astoundingly expensive, about $220 billion a year, or one-third of Switzerland’s gross domestic product. Advocates of the initiative say that $75 billion will come from replacing existing safety net programs, such as unemployment insurance, disability payments and welfare. The remaining two-thirds of funding would likely come from some kind of tax or fee increase.

Even the more modest proposal to guarantee a minimum wage for workers has attracted its share of detractors among the highest echelons of Swiss government. “It would be wrong for the state to impose a nationwide wage,” the country’s Economy Minister Johann Schneider-Ammann said at a press conference in February. He argued that a national minimum wage would lead to job cuts and the closure of small businesses.

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Local Solar Power News

Joe,

Walmart has announced a commitment to double the number of on-site solar energy projects at its U.S. stores. Ten stores throughout Maryland are among those to utilize solar power to reduce their environmental impact and reduce energy costs. SolarCity is partnering on the solar projects at each of the Maryland stores, which are located in:

California, Severn, Laurel, Fallston, Hagerstown, Cockeysville, Arbutus, Severn, Berlin and Salisbury

Today, Walmart is the No. 1 commercial solar energy user, according to the Solar Energy Industry Association, and is recognized as the largest on-site renewable energy user in America by the EPA's Green Power Partnership. Further details on the initiative announced today are included in the following news release.

Walmart Puts Price of Solar Power on Rollback Commits to Doubling On-site Solar Projects in the United States by 2020

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., — At an event with President Barack Obama, Walmart today announced that it will double the number of on-site solar energy projects at its U.S. stores, Sam’s Clubs and distribution centers by 2020. The commitment is part of Walmart’s global initiative to drive the production or procurement of 7 billion kWh of renewable energy by the end of 2020.

Route 90 Marriott clears OC Planning Commission

After nearly two hours of presentation and review, the city’s planning commission cleared the design of the Marriott Residence Inn proposed for Sea Bay Lane, adjacent to the Route 90 Bridge, with only minor aesthetic changes.

Representatives from the neighboring Trader’s Cove townhouses, as well as members of the commission themselves, continued to voice concern over parking, traffic flow, and pedestrian safety – but ultimately found that the current design was the best building that it could be given the awkwardly positioned site.

“You have to understand that traffic is going to happen whatever goes there,” said Commission Chair Pam Buckley.

“Obviously something is going to be built there – it’s a prime piece of property,” said Commissioner Chris Shanahan.
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MARYLAND ’S “WASTEWATER SYSTEM OF THE YEAR”

Maryland Rural Water Association and the State of Maryland have named the Town of Snow Hill Wastewater Treatment Plant : Wastewater System of the Year. The plant now has a capacity of 0.5 million gallons per day, and is considered to be among the 66 “major” treatment plants in the State of Maryland, as identified by the Maryland Department of the Environment. As such, the BNR/ENR Upgrade Project was a primary goal for the State of Maryland and EPA and should serve the needs of the town for the next twenty years.

In order to support Chesapeake Bay Restoration efforts, the Town of Snow Hill considered a wastewater treatment plant upgrade for two decades. The Town of Snow Hill continuously attempted to secure funding to make the upgrade affordable. Finally, in September of 2010 the funding possibilities were improving and the project was becoming viable. The Town contracted with David, Bowen, & Friedel, Inc. for the completion of the planning, design, contract administration and inspection. The $12 million project construction was completed by Howard Robson, Inc. in 2013.

The Mayor and Town Council considered this plant upgrade as one of the Town priorities. Kelly Brewington, Town Manager; Frank Daniels, Plant Superintendent; and other Town staff members took great interest in the project and worked closely with Davis, Bowen & Friedel as the project design progressed. This high level of interest and attention remained throughout the construction of the facility upgrade. Frank Daniels is to be commended for keeping the existing operations functional throughout the period of construction. As a result of this impressive effort, the upgrade project was fully operational on schedule and below budget. The upgraded treatment facility is far exceeding the difficult ENR treatment level required by MDE. In fact, the quality of effluent from the Snow Hill plant is about half of what the permit requires.

All funding agency staff members went above and beyond the call of duty for the project. Funding agencies that made this upgrade possible include the Maryland Department of the Environment, United States Department of Agriculture - Rural Development and the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Block Grant Program.

INSURANCE EXECS: MILLIONS OF HEALTH PLANS TO BE CANCELED

Congress told Obamacare demanded Americans' coverage be slashed

Millions of American families still must face the catastrophic loss of their health insurance policies because of Obamacare, members of Congress learned at a hearing with insurance company executives this week.

They will join the millions of families who lost their policies over the last six months, also because of Obamacare, the company executives confirmed.

It was at a hearing of the Energy & Commerce Committee that Rep. Cory Gardner, R-Colo., grilled a half-dozen insurance company executives appearing before the committee on who was responsible for the previous round of policy cancellations, and who should face blame for the next round.

A statement on Gardner’s website said, “The witnesses confirmed that these [previous] cancellation notices were sent out due to the president’s healthcare law. It was also disclosed that millions more Americans will see their plans canceled when the president’s healthcare law is fully enforced.”

The conflict arose over Barack Obama’s publicly and repeatedly stated promise: “If you like your health-care plan, you can keep it.”

But estimates are that about six million policies were canceled as the new law started applying its requirements and consumers’ old policies no longer were “compliant” with Obamacare, that is, they didn’t include some demand of the new law, such as coverage for abortifacients.

The policies were canceled, and consumers were told they were required to find new insurance.

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Maryland approves new school discipline regulations

Maryland education leaders on Tuesday approved the most sweeping changes in decades to state discipline policies, culminating a four-year effort to find a more constructive approach to student punishment, end racial disparities in suspensions and keep students who are punished in school.

The new regulations allow principals to suspend students but establish a more rehabilitative philosophy and reserve the harshest penalties for the most severe offenses. They also create a new timeline for appeals and add educational services for suspended students.

The Maryland State Board of Education’s action comes three weeks after Obama administration officials called for a similar rethinking of student discipline nationwideand issued the first set of federal disciplineguidelines. It also follows several cases in and near the Washington region that got the attention of Maryland officials, including the suicide of a Virginia football player who had faced harsh punishment and the discipline of two Maryland lacrosse players over equipment they carried to fix their gear.

Local school boards in Maryland will have until the beginning of the next school year to revise their discipline policies. They may choose their own approaches, but the state plans to monitor the impact of discipline on minorities and special education students, and individual ­cases could end up with the board on appeal. State officials also have encouraged Maryland’s 24 districts to evaluate discipline on a case-by-case basis and to abandon zero-tolerance practices.

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HISTORICAL COMMENTS BY GEORGE CHEVALLIER 5-10-14

Salisbury Streets

When doing any Salisbury history, knowledge of former street names is essential. References to Bridge Street might bring about some undue consternation. Actually, Bridge Street was the former name of Main Street. The name was appropriate since it went down to the only bridge in Salisbury across the Wicomico River. An earlier map of 1817 lists it as Bridge Street, but it was named Main Street by 1885. The same holds true for Division Street. It was originally named Dividing Street because it was the dividing line betweenSomerset and Worcester Counties. The street to the south of Main Street was named Back Street. This has become Camden Avenue. The street that connected Back Street to Bridge Street was named Dock Street because of its location near the river and the adjacent docks. We now know it as Market Street.

The only two streets that have retained their original names are High Street andChurch Street. These two names go back to at least 1817.

In the area of East Salisbury, there are two names that have been changed over the years. One is Truitt Street. The block encircled by Church Street, HollandAvenue, Isabella Street and Truitt Street was at one time the Fairgrounds. There are still some of the maple trees that were planted around the area but few are left. There were many of them left when I grew up on the corner of Church and Truitt in the 1940’s. In the 1870’s, when the Fair was held there, the road that ran alongside it was known as Fairground Road. That road is now Truitt Street.

The other street in East Salisbury that changed was Naylor Street. The original name of the street was Williams Row. The street name was changed because Dr. Robert Naylor moved into town and built what has become the Hotel Esther. The farm he bought encompassed all the land east to Truitt Street. His heirs sold off the house and land, and new streets cropped up in the names ofBenny Street and Coles Circle.

A bane to anyone giving directions is the name change on the same stretch of road. The most recent example of this is College Avenue. At Snow Hill Road, it becomesBeaglin Park Drive. Another is Mt. Hermon Road. What was originally Williams Street Extended took on a life of its own at Main Street and took on the name of its destination about four miles out of town.

Of course the building of a major highway will disrupt the flow of a city street’s original configuration. The original Wailes and Cemetery Streets were greatly affected by both the construction of Route 50 in 1961 and the building of the new high school in 1932. Cemetery Street was to eventually become Commerce Street, and Sharp Energy has their offices and plant there now. The easterly extension of Cemetery Street would beGlen Avenue. Wailes Street now ends at Route 50.

Berlin To Host Wedding Show Next Friday

BERLIN — The Atlantic Hotel in Berlin will host the 2014 Berlin SAY I DO Wedding Show on Friday, May 16 from 5 to 8 p.m. on Main Street.

This year’s show will feature 30 wedding vendors featuring beauty, apparel, flowers, music, jewelry, gift registry, catering, photography, reception venues, cakes and confections, wedding planners, tents and many more wedding-related items such as stationery, invitations, accessories and personal services.

The secret of Berlin’s wedding success is the large number of talented and professional wedding services that can assist you in creating and customizing that one-of-a-kind wedding to meet your every expectation. You can be assured you will discover exclusive wedding related products, accessories, gifts and services when you visit this year’s show.

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Obama backs race-based school discipline policies

President Barack Obama is backing a controversial campaign by progressives to regulate schools’ disciplinary actions so that members of major racial and ethnic groups are penalized at equal rates, regardless of individuals’ behavior.

His July 26 executive order established a government panel to promote “a positive school climate that does not rely on methods that result in disparate use of disciplinary tools.”

“African Americans lack equal access to highly effective teachers and principals, safe schools, and challenging college-preparatory classes, and they disproportionately experience school discipline,” said the order, titled “White House Initiative On Educational Excellence.”

Because of those causes, the report suggests, “over a third of African American students do not graduate from high school on time with a regular high school diploma, and only four percent of African American high school graduates interested in college are college-ready across a range of subjects.”

“What this means is that whites and Asians will get suspended for things that blacks don’t get suspended for,” because school officials will try to level punishments despite groups’ different infraction rates, predicted Hans Bader, a counsel at the Competitive Enterprise Institute. Bader is a former official in the Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights, and has sued and represented school districts and colleges in civil-rights cases.

“It is too bad that the president has chosen to set up a new bureaucracy with a focus on one particular racial group, to the exclusion of all others,” said Roger Clegg, the president of the Center for Equal Opportunity.

“A disproportionate share of crimes are committed by African Americans, and they are disproportionately likely to misbehave in school… [because] more than 7 out of 10 African Americans (72.5 percent) are born out of wedlock… versus fewer than 3 out of 10 whites,” he said in a statement to The Daily Caller. Although ” you won’t see it mentioned in the Executive Order… there is an obvious connection between these [marriage] numbers and how each group is doing educationally, economically, criminally,” he said.

The order created a “President’s Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for African Americans.” It will include senior officials from several federal agencies — including the Departments of Education, Justice and Labor — which have gained increased power over state education policies since 2009.

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You Will See Some New, But Possibly Familiar, Faces On The Boardwalk!

 What a great program!! Thanks to all of our military men and women!!

The Town of Ocean City Military Banner Program was created for the community of Ocean City to honor and recognize active duty military personnel that reside in Worcester County, MD. The Banners will display the official military photo of the service person, as well as their name, rank and branch of the US Armed Forces. This is such an amazing way to honor our local heros but only a small token of our thanks to all of our past, present and future service men and women!!

Debt Judgment May Trigger Bankruptcy

Among the choices for dealing with a debt judgment, declaring bankruptcy is the nuclear option.

Bankruptcy is a powerful weapon for wiping out debt, but comes with serious consequences for the debtor who pushes the button. For help finding a bankruptcy lawyer check the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys website.

On the plus side, filing for bankruptcy halts collection action. AChapter 7 proceeding generally wipes out unsecured debts, including debt judgments, while selling off your property that is not protected under state and federal exemptions. Under a Chapter 13proceeding, debtors enter a repayment plan to wipe out a portion of their debts over three to five years.

"Having assets and income to protect are an important hallmark of a need to file bankruptcy," said Robert Lawless, law professor at the University of Illinois and member of the National Bankruptcy Conference. The average Chapter 7 consumer bankruptcy case filed in 2012 had nearly $116,000 in total assets and median monthly income of $2,764, according to the Office of U.S. Courts. For the ins and outs of consumer bankruptcies, check the U.S. Bankruptcy Court's "Bankruptcy Basics."

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WCSO Most Wanted 5-10-14

Marcio Fernandes De Carvalho
Hispanic Male 5’08” 160 lbs
DOB 11/09/1973 40 years of age
Black hair, Brown eyes
Carvalho’s last known address was Fruitland MD
Carvalho is wanted by the Sheriff’s Office on a Circuit Court Bench Warrant issued for Failure to Appear in August 2010 for an Initial Appearance on the charge of Assault 1st
And on a District Court Bench Warrant issued for Failure to Appear in September 2010 for a Violation of Probation hearing on the charge of Assault 2nd and Failure to obey Lawful Order
The total preset bond is $35,000
Carvalho should be APPROACHED WITH CAUTION
 

Constance Yolanda Marine
Black Female, 5’07” 175 lbs
DOB 12/09/1972 41 years of age
Black hair, Brown eyes
Marine’s last known address was Cambridge MD
Marine is wanted by the Sheriff's Office on a Circuit Court Bench Warrant issued for Failure to Appear in September 2013 for a Violation of Probation hearing on the charge of Felony Theft
There is no preset bond, he must be brought before the court 

Clinton Lee Kelley
• White Male 6’00” 139 lbs
• DOB 08/29/1977 36 years of age
• Blonde hair, Brown eyes
• Kelley’s last known address was Hurlock or Crownsville MD
• Kelley is wanted by the Sheriff's Office on a Circuit Court Bench Warrant issued for Violation of Probation in August 2012 on the charges of Assault 2nd and Dangerous Weapon Carry with Intent
• And on two District Court Bench Warrants issued for Violation of Probation in August 2012 both for Assault, Motor Vehicle Unlawful taking, Theft $1000 to $10000, and MDOP over $500
• There is no preset bond, he must be brought before the court
• Kelley should be considered ARMED and may RESIST ARREST
• The state will extradite him from all states on the East Coast of the US

David Wade Holbrook
Black Male 5’06” 130 lbs
DOB 03/17/1960 54 years of age
Black hair, Brown eyes
Holbrook’s last known address was Salisbury MD
Holbrook is wanted by the Sheriff's Office on a District Court Bench Warrant issued for Failure to Appear on the charge of CDS Possess Not Marijuana and Paraphernalia, Trespass on Posted Property, and Littering
The preset bond is $15,000
Holbrook has history of DRUG ABUSE

 Bradley Aaron Hill
White Male 5’11” 195 lbs
DOB 08/01/1984 29 years of age
Brown hair, Brown eyes
Hill’s last known address was Salisbury MD
Hill is wanted by the Sheriff's Office on a Circuit Court Bench Warrant issued for Failure to Appear in February 2014 on the charge of CDS Possess with Intent Distribute Narcotics
There is no preset bond, he must be brought before the court
The state will extradite him from DE and VA
Hill has history of DRUG ABUSE

Judge Strikes Blow to Voter-ID Laws in Two States

Kansas and Arizona residents can continue to register to vote for now using a federal form without having to provide proof of citizenship, a federal appeals court ruled Thursday.

The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals temporarily stayed a ruling from U.S. District Judge Eric Melgren that orders the U.S. Election Assistance Commission to modify its federal voter registration form to add special instructions for Arizona and Kansas residents about those states' proof-of-citizenship requirements.

Circuit Judges Carlos Lucero and Jerome Holmes granted the emergency stay sought Thursday by the commission and voting rights groups, a day after Melgren rejected a similar request to suspend his ruling during the appeal. Melgren had ordered the commission on Wednesday to carry out "without further delay" his March 19 directive.

The temporary halt is in effect until further order from the appeals court. The 10th Circuit judges gave Kansas and Arizona until Tuesday to respond to the commission's request to suspend the ruling during the appeal.

In addition to the stay, the commission also asked the court Thursday to consider its appeal of the decision itself on an expedited basis, preferably in a special session this summer.

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Thousands of Obamacare Sign-Ups In Maryland Incorrectly Diverted onto Free Medicaid Rolls

BALTIMORE —Maryland state officials are reviewing how many people may have gotten Medicaid by mistake, the WBAL-TV 11 News I-Team has learned.

State Health Secretary Joshua Sharfstein confirmed late Friday afternoon that the state is contacting potentially thousands of people who were enrolled in Medicaid to determine whether they really belong on the government health insurance program for people living on lower incomes.

Janice Bond was a perfect candidate for the Affordable Care Act, exactly the reason supporters pushed for the law.

"I didn't have health insurance. I was uninsured," Bond said.
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Mitt Romney: 'I'm Not Running' in 2016

Two-time presidential candidate Mitt Romney told MSNBC's "Morning Joe" Friday, "I'm not running," when asked about his prospects for making a third bid for the White House in 2016.

Romney said he thought the best chance Republicans had to win the next presidential race would be "with someone who has not run twice before, as I have."

"I'm not running for president in 2016. I'm going to be supporting someone who represents the practical conservatives that I think we need," the former Massachusetts governor said.

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Piers Morgan: Larry King's a 'Poisonous Twerp'

The battle of the CNN has-beens became more vicious Thursday with fired host Piers Morgan calling his predecessor Larry King a "poisonous twerp."

The war of words came after King attackedMorgan during an appearance on Howard Stern's Sirius radio show.

On the show King bashed both the network's coverage of the missing Malaysia Airlines plane and Morgan, who took over for him in 2011 before Morgan was let go in March of this year for poor ratings.

"I thought that he made himself too much part of the show," King said of Morgan. "I always said, if you turn on an interview show on television, 95 percent of the time you should see the guest. If 95 percent of the time you see the host, there’s something wrong with that."

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Al-Qaida Denounces Abduction of Nigerian Schoolgirls

Even al-Qaida is outraged by the kidnapping of hundreds of Nigerian schoolgirls, 276 of whom are still missing and who were expected to be auctioned off as slaves in the name of Islam.

"Such news is spread to taint the image of the Mujahedeen," said one post on a website used by Islamic militants, The New York Times reports.

"There is news that they attacked a girls' school!" wrote another angry writer.

Various Islamic and jihad groups are distancing themselves from Boko Haram, the group that carried out the kidnapping, with even hard-line militants praying that God would reach out to the kidnappers and "hold them steady to the path" of Islam.

In the locally-spoken language of Hausa in northern Nigeria, Boko Haram means "Western education is sinful."

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Pomp and Decorum: Colleges Say No to Graduation 'Selfies'

Ellen DeGeneres snapped "selfies" at the Oscars and President Barack Obama posed for one at Nelson Mandela's funeral, but some U.S. colleges have asked students to keep their cell phones tucked away during graduation season this month when they walk on stage for their diplomas.

Officials at Bryant University in Smithfield, Rhode Island, one of several colleges trying to limit the spontaneous self-portraits that proliferate social media sites, said they asked graduates to preserve decorum at its May 17 commencement.

A handful of students drew laughs - and caught administrators by surprise - when they whipped out their smartphones for selfies on stage at last year's graduation, said university relations director Elizabeth O'Neil.

With 758 students due to graduate this month, the school decided to take action before things got carried away.

"We didn't want the ceremony to become longer than the 3 -1/2 hours it already is by having students pause to take photos," O'Neil said.

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The Fed's Three Heresies According To Jim Grant

In three concisely-worded, precisely-defined, factually-correct minutes, Jim Grant not only deconstructs Janet Yellen's mumblings this morning but explains how each of the Fed's three beholden doctrines...

1. We believe in price control
2. We believe in market manipulation
3. We believe in the Phillips Curve

...have been discredited as heresies over time; and, as Grant so poetically notes, Yellen "did not touch on the moral quandary that low interest rates introduce into our country - grandmothers, grandfathers, savers are figuratively on their hand and knees and rooting around in bushes and between sofa seats for lose change on which to sustain themselves."

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