DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Tuesday, July 22, 2014
Watch How Jackson Police React When a Man Starts Dismantling a Pro-Life Display: ‘Are You Gonna Allow Someone to Just Walk Away With Our Property?’
A video posted online late last week appears to show police in Jackson, Mississippi stand by as a protester steals multiple signs from a graphic pro-life display.
The footage, uploaded to YouTube by the organization behind the presentation, shows multiple officers appear to ignore complaints from the group as a man takes down their signs. The signs appeared to depict very graphic images showing the aftermath of abortion.
“We got a guy taking our signs and walking with them right now,” an individual can be seen telling officers in the video.
The officer does not appear to respond.
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Tenured Partisans
The promise of employment for life has bred corruption in the civil service and should be eliminated.
Something has gone wrong in our civil service. Consider some recent developments. The IRS was forced to pay the National Organization for Marriage $50,000 for leaking the group’s donor list. Tea-party organizations and donors were much more likely than others to be audited by the IRS. This misbehavior was not the work of a few rogue employees in Cincinnati. In general, the IRS stalled tea-party applications for status as 501(c)(4) groups.
Meanwhile, April Sands, an employee of the FEC, recently pleaded guilty to violating the Hatch Act, which prohibits federal employees from campaigning at the office. Ms. Sands, who worked in the office charged with enforcing our election laws, recently said, “I just don’t understand how anyone but straight white men can vote Republican.” What business does such a person have in that office in the first place? Somehow the FEC managed to wipe her computer clean, weakening the case against her. Perhaps that answers our question. These cases reflect a larger pattern. Our civil service is putting a thumb on the scale of justice.
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Something has gone wrong in our civil service. Consider some recent developments. The IRS was forced to pay the National Organization for Marriage $50,000 for leaking the group’s donor list. Tea-party organizations and donors were much more likely than others to be audited by the IRS. This misbehavior was not the work of a few rogue employees in Cincinnati. In general, the IRS stalled tea-party applications for status as 501(c)(4) groups.
Meanwhile, April Sands, an employee of the FEC, recently pleaded guilty to violating the Hatch Act, which prohibits federal employees from campaigning at the office. Ms. Sands, who worked in the office charged with enforcing our election laws, recently said, “I just don’t understand how anyone but straight white men can vote Republican.” What business does such a person have in that office in the first place? Somehow the FEC managed to wipe her computer clean, weakening the case against her. Perhaps that answers our question. These cases reflect a larger pattern. Our civil service is putting a thumb on the scale of justice.
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Mississippi pension fund heads for final 'Jeopardy'
We’ll take pension reform for a thousand.
Make no mistake, Mississippi is playing “Jeopardy” with its public employee retirement fund.
Failing to take steps toward reform might prove disastrous for retirees who depend on their benefits from the Public Employees’ Retirement System and the state’s budget. Mississippi, it’s becoming apparent, is making promises about its pension fund it surely can’t keep, according to a new study by the Competitive Enterprise Institute,
Let’s make it a true “Double Jeopardy, Alex.”
The state’s unfunded liability with PERS as a percentage of the state’s gross domestic product was third worst behind New Mexico and Illinois, according to the study by Robert Sarvis. The state’s unfunded liability is more than $15 billion, the state’s most recent report — in 2013 — says.
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Make no mistake, Mississippi is playing “Jeopardy” with its public employee retirement fund.
Failing to take steps toward reform might prove disastrous for retirees who depend on their benefits from the Public Employees’ Retirement System and the state’s budget. Mississippi, it’s becoming apparent, is making promises about its pension fund it surely can’t keep, according to a new study by the Competitive Enterprise Institute,
Let’s make it a true “Double Jeopardy, Alex.”
The state’s unfunded liability with PERS as a percentage of the state’s gross domestic product was third worst behind New Mexico and Illinois, according to the study by Robert Sarvis. The state’s unfunded liability is more than $15 billion, the state’s most recent report — in 2013 — says.
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Obama: 'What Exactly Are They Trying To Hide?'
"We have to make sure the truth is out and accountability exists," Obama said Monday from the South Lawn of the White House.
Obama accused the separatists of removing evidence and bodies from the site, actions that he said raise the question of "what exactly are they trying to hide?"
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No Longer Just
In the 1966 film A Man For All Seasons, which depicts Sir Thomas More’s steadfast disapproval of King Henry VIII’s marital infidelities, More stirringly defends the rule of law. Rebutting his son-in-law, who says he would hypothetically “cut down every law in England” to find the devil, More asks, “And when the last law was down, and the Devil turned ’round on you, where would you hide, Roper, the laws all being flat?”
More argues that abandoning equal enforcement of the law imperils all citizens. Unfortunately for today’s United States, this is exactly what John Fund and Hans von Spakovsky say the Department of Justice is doing under Attorney General Eric Holder. To this enterprise, Fund brings tireless reporting, and Spakovsky brings his own experience in the Justice Department (as counsel to the assistant attorney for civil rights) and contacts therein.
Together, they have assembled a brief yet persuasive argument that, as one former career lawyer put it, “Holder is the worst person to hold the position of attorney general since the disgraced John Mitchell, who went to jail as a result of the Watergate scandal.” The authors guide us through Holder’s unique judicial malpractice: his Department’s long Supreme Court losing streak; his convenient memory lapses, lack of knowledge, and outright lies about what he knew and when he knew it; and his becoming the first-ever attorney general to be held in contempt by the House of Representatives.
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More argues that abandoning equal enforcement of the law imperils all citizens. Unfortunately for today’s United States, this is exactly what John Fund and Hans von Spakovsky say the Department of Justice is doing under Attorney General Eric Holder. To this enterprise, Fund brings tireless reporting, and Spakovsky brings his own experience in the Justice Department (as counsel to the assistant attorney for civil rights) and contacts therein.
Together, they have assembled a brief yet persuasive argument that, as one former career lawyer put it, “Holder is the worst person to hold the position of attorney general since the disgraced John Mitchell, who went to jail as a result of the Watergate scandal.” The authors guide us through Holder’s unique judicial malpractice: his Department’s long Supreme Court losing streak; his convenient memory lapses, lack of knowledge, and outright lies about what he knew and when he knew it; and his becoming the first-ever attorney general to be held in contempt by the House of Representatives.
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Goldman Sachs Managing Director Nicholas Valtz Found Dead
Nicholas Valtz, a managing director in cross-asset sales at Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (GS) in New York, was found dead yesterday by family members who went searching for him after he didn’t return from a kiteboarding outing.
Valtz, 39, was found in Napeague Harbor near the eastern end of Long Island, according to the East Hampton, New York, police. He was a “novice kiteboarder” and was found floating in the water secured to his kite, police said in a statement released yesterday. Other kite gear was found in a grassy area of the harbor, police said.
“We’re deeply saddened by this tragedy and our thoughts are with Nick’s family,” Michael DuVally, a spokesman for Manhattan-based Goldman Sachs, said in an e-mailed statement.
Valtz, who joined the firm in 2000, was promoted to managing director in 2010. As a cross-asset sales executive, he helped manage orders for trading clients and pitch them products and ideas among different types of securities. His wife, Sashi Valtz, also works at Goldman Sachs as head of global third-party research sales, according to her LinkedIn profile.
Nicholas Andrew Valtz was born in September 1974 and received a bachelor’s degree from Harvard University in 1996, according to New York voting records and Harvard’s website. The school lists him as earning letters in fencing for three years.
Police are still investigating the death, according to the statement.
Source
Valtz, 39, was found in Napeague Harbor near the eastern end of Long Island, according to the East Hampton, New York, police. He was a “novice kiteboarder” and was found floating in the water secured to his kite, police said in a statement released yesterday. Other kite gear was found in a grassy area of the harbor, police said.
“We’re deeply saddened by this tragedy and our thoughts are with Nick’s family,” Michael DuVally, a spokesman for Manhattan-based Goldman Sachs, said in an e-mailed statement.
Valtz, who joined the firm in 2000, was promoted to managing director in 2010. As a cross-asset sales executive, he helped manage orders for trading clients and pitch them products and ideas among different types of securities. His wife, Sashi Valtz, also works at Goldman Sachs as head of global third-party research sales, according to her LinkedIn profile.
Nicholas Andrew Valtz was born in September 1974 and received a bachelor’s degree from Harvard University in 1996, according to New York voting records and Harvard’s website. The school lists him as earning letters in fencing for three years.
Police are still investigating the death, according to the statement.
Source
Things Get Seriously Tense When Two U.S. Marines Notice Something Is Off About ‘Sergeant Major’
In the video, the Marines are friendly at first as they ask the man where he served as well as other details about his military service. The man identifies himself as a “sergeant major,” a military policeman, and a special forces operator.
However, the Marines grew very suspicious with his answers and eventually called the guy out.
“You know that’s called false valor? It is a federal crime for you to be wearing that uniform,” one of the Marines tells the alleged impersonator.
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Larry Hogan statement on loss of Maryland's Beretta factory jobs to Tennessee
ANNAPOLIS, MD – July 22, 2014 – Gubernatorial candidate Larry Hogan this evening offered the following statement on Beretta’s announced closing of its Accokeek, Md. manufacturing plant.
“I am saddened to learn that the hard working women and men I met at Beretta’s factory in Accokeek in May will now lose their jobs as a direct result of the O’Malley-Brown administration’s high taxes and punitive regulations.
The dedicated workers at Beretta’s Accokeek factory proudly manufactured the primary sidearm carried by our nation’s servicemen and women around the world. The loss of these several hundred jobs will tear through the local community, as millions of dollars in economic activity and tax revenue evaporate and numerous small businesses that supported this factory and its employees also suffer.
Under O’Malley and Brown, Maryland has lost 8,000 businesses and unemployment has nearly doubled. In fact, 26 percent of our manufacturing base, and with it 25,000 jobs, has disappeared; today, Maryland is dead last in the nation in manufacturing. (Bureau of Economic Analysis http://www.nam.org/~/media/6A62983CF6AD4AC09F2648B1007816DB/MFG_employment_20140606.pdf)
Maryland’s working families can’t afford a third term of O’Malley-Brown; it’s time to bring integrity and common sense fiscal restraint to Annapolis so we can restore Maryland’s once strong economy.”
Salisbury Fire Department Invites Public to Annual Open House
“We encourage residents to get an up-close look at their neighborhood fire stations,” says Fire Chief Richard A. Hoppes with the SFD. “We are a staple in the community, and this is a good way to connect City of Salisbury and Wicomico County residents with their local firefighters and emergency medical technicians.”
At the open houses, the public is invited to come out and talk with members of their fire department, meet Sparky the Fire Dog, get a Station Tour, receive a free blood pressure check, face painting, moon bounce, see a fire prevention trailer, and a dunking booth will be on site. Refreshments will be provided by the Ladies Auxiliary at Station 16.
There will be interactive events every hour on the hour from 10am to 4pm including; Auto Rescue, High Rise Demo, Fire Extinguisher class, Rappelling Demo, Cut the Roof, and a Layperson CPR class.
If you’re interested in becoming a volunteer firefighter or EMS associate, stop by and let us know who you are. The public is encouraged to go to the Salisbury Fire Department’s website, www.salisburyfd.com for more information or contact the SFD at 410-548-3120.
Phony IRS Phone Calls to Wicomico Citizens
Today the Wicomico County State’s Attorney’s Office, with the assistance of the F.B.I., verified a complaint from a Salisbury, Maryland man that someone had attempted to defraud him during a phone call using a sophisticated phone scam that targets taxpayers throughout the country.
Victims are told that they owe money to the IRS and the debt must be paid promptly through a pre-loaded debit card or wire transfer. If the victim refuses to cooperate, they are then threatened with arrest, deportation or suspension of a business or driver’s license. In many cases, the caller becomes hostile and insulting. The Salisbury man who complained to the Office of the State’s Attorney was instructed to go to a local drug store and get money orders totaling $1786.24 to pay back income taxes. During monitoring of the call, the target of the scam was cautioned not to tell the drug store that the money orders were for the Internal Revenue Service. The Salisbury man had been called on his cellular telephone and was instructed by the caller to not disconnect from the call before or during his travel to the drug store or else a warrant would be immediately issued for his arrest.
Victims are told that they owe money to the IRS and the debt must be paid promptly through a pre-loaded debit card or wire transfer. If the victim refuses to cooperate, they are then threatened with arrest, deportation or suspension of a business or driver’s license. In many cases, the caller becomes hostile and insulting. The Salisbury man who complained to the Office of the State’s Attorney was instructed to go to a local drug store and get money orders totaling $1786.24 to pay back income taxes. During monitoring of the call, the target of the scam was cautioned not to tell the drug store that the money orders were for the Internal Revenue Service. The Salisbury man had been called on his cellular telephone and was instructed by the caller to not disconnect from the call before or during his travel to the drug store or else a warrant would be immediately issued for his arrest.
Because of this recent verified attempt to scam a Wicomico County citizen, the State’s Attorney’s Office wanted to remind the public of the warnings issued by the IRS on its website a few years ago relating to this particular fraud scheme. “This scam has hit taxpayers in nearly every state in the country. We want to educate taxpayers so they can help protect themselves. Rest assured, we do not and will not ask for credit card numbers over the phone, nor request a pre-paid debit card or wire transfer,” says IRS Acting Commissioner Danny Werfel. “If someone unexpectedly calls claiming to be from the IRS and threatens police arrest, deportation or license revocation if you don’t pay immediately, that is a sign that it really isn’t the IRS calling.” Werfel noted that the first IRS contact with taxpayers on a tax issue is likely to occur via mail
Other characteristics of this scam include:
· Scammers use fake names and IRS badge numbers. They generally use common names and surnames to identify themselves.
· Scammers may be able to recite the last four digits of a victim’s Social Security Number.
· Scammers spoof the IRS toll-free number on caller ID to make it appear that it’s the IRS calling.
· Scammers sometimes send bogus IRS emails to some victims to support their bogus calls.
· Victims hear background noise of other calls being conducted to mimic a call site.
· After threatening victims with jail time or driver’s license revocation, scammers hang up and others soon call back pretending to be from the local police or DMV, and the caller ID supports their claim.
If you get a phone call from someone claiming to be from the IRS, here’s what you should do:
· If you know you owe taxes or you think you might owe taxes, call the IRS at 1.800.829.1040. The IRS employees at that line can help you with a payment issue – if there really is such an issue.
· If you know you don’t owe taxes or have no reason to think that you owe any taxes (for example, you’ve never received a bill or the caller made some bogus threats as described above), then call and report the incident to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration at 1.800.366.4484.
· If you’ve been targeted by this scam, you should also contact the Federal Trade Commission and use their “FTC Complaint Assistant” at FTC.gov. Please add "IRS Telephone Scam" to the comments of your complaint.
Taxpayers should be aware that there are other unrelated scams (such as a lottery sweepstakes) and solicitations (such as debt relief) that fraudulently claim to be from the IRS.
The IRS encourages taxpayers to be vigilant against phone and email scams that use the IRS as a lure. The IRS does not initiate contact with taxpayers by email to request personal or financial information. This includes any type of electronic communication, such as text messages and social media channels. The IRS also does not ask for PINs, passwords or similar confidential access information for credit card, bank or other financial accounts. Recipients should not open any attachments or click on any links contained in the message. Instead, forward the e-mail to phishing@irs.gov.
More information on how to report phishing scams involving the IRS is available on the genuine IRS website,www.IRS.gov.
More information on how to report phishing scams involving the IRS is available on the genuine IRS website,www.IRS.gov.
MICROSOFT ANNOUNCES 18,000 LAYOFFS - CUTS STAFF BY 14 PERCENT
Politicians on both sides of the pond are not impressed. EU High Commissioner Laszlo Andor, "I deeply regret the significant job losses announced by Microsoft today because of the impact these will have on so many individuals, their families and the local communities they live and work in" and US Senator Jeff Sessions is irked that MSFT is firing thousands of staff yet continues to press for relaxed Visa rules: "That is a significant action. Indeed, Microsoft employs about 125,000 people, and they are laying off 18,000. The company laid off 5,000 in 2009. Yet their founder and former leader, Mr. Gates, says we have to have more and more people come into our country to take those kinds of jobs."
Microsoft's financials look terrific of late. The share price is up 40 percent in nine months, market cap is now $370b, sales are $83b and profits over $22billion - so why all the layoffs?
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From Coast-To-Coast, Police Abuse Must End
Every time I comfort a grieving family member who has lost a loved one to police brutality, I hope and pray that it will be the last time. But deep down, I know it won't be.
Saturday morning, I was joined at National Action Network's (NAN) weekly rally by relatives of the late Eric Garner, a father of six who died as police officers in Staten Island placed him in an illegal chokehold. At our rally, Garner's widow was so overcome with grief that she collapsed on stage right near me as several of us then rushed to assist her. NAN also held a march in Staten Island over the weekend after family members came to us for help, and I preached at Riverside Church in Manhattan yesterday to call for a restoration of humanity. As Garner's children have to face the harsh reality of living without their father for the rest of their lives, we must demand that they receive justice. At the same time, NAN's Los Angeles chapter has rallied with others for Marlene Pinnock, a 51-year-old grandmother, who wasrepeatedly pummeled in the face reportedly by a California Highway Patrol officer. Both outrageous incidents were caught on videotape, and both cases demand swift action. But after watching continuous acts of police abuse and brutality from coast-to-coast, perhaps the real question is, have we reached a point where federal authorities need to step in?
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Saturday morning, I was joined at National Action Network's (NAN) weekly rally by relatives of the late Eric Garner, a father of six who died as police officers in Staten Island placed him in an illegal chokehold. At our rally, Garner's widow was so overcome with grief that she collapsed on stage right near me as several of us then rushed to assist her. NAN also held a march in Staten Island over the weekend after family members came to us for help, and I preached at Riverside Church in Manhattan yesterday to call for a restoration of humanity. As Garner's children have to face the harsh reality of living without their father for the rest of their lives, we must demand that they receive justice. At the same time, NAN's Los Angeles chapter has rallied with others for Marlene Pinnock, a 51-year-old grandmother, who wasrepeatedly pummeled in the face reportedly by a California Highway Patrol officer. Both outrageous incidents were caught on videotape, and both cases demand swift action. But after watching continuous acts of police abuse and brutality from coast-to-coast, perhaps the real question is, have we reached a point where federal authorities need to step in?
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WCSO Press Releases - July 22, 2014
Incident: WCSO Activity
Date of Incident: 17-18 July 2014
Location: Wicomico County
Daniel Alexander Monroe, 50, of Glen Burnie, MD; arrested 17 July 2014 on an outstanding Circuit Court Bench Warrant that was issued after Monroe failed to appear for a burglary trial. Monroe was held in the Detention Center without bond.
Daniel Monroe
Seth Austin Wheatley, 22, of Seaford, DE; arrested 17 July 2014 on an outstanding District Court Bench Warrant that was issued after Wheatley failed to appear for a theft and burglary trial. Wheatley was held in the Detention Center in lieu of $25,000.00 bond.
Seth Wheatley
Glenn Charles Robinson, 54, of Boothwyn, PA; arrested 17 July 2014 on an outstanding District Court Bench Warrant that was issued after Robinson failed to appear for a DUI trial. Robinson was detained in the Detention Center in lieu of $5,000.00 bond.
Glenn Robinson
Jason Eugene Metz, 37, of Fruitland, MD; arrested 18 July 2014 on an outstanding District Court Bench Warrant that was issued after Metz violated the terms of his probation following a conviction for Assault 2nd Degree and Reckless Endangerment. Metz was detained on a bond of $20,000.00 in the Detention Center.
Jason Metz
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Incident: Possession of CDS
Date of Incident: 18 July 2014
Location: U.S. 13
Suspect: Derrick Lemonte Moore, 32, Baltimore, MD
Derrick Moore
Narrative: On 18 July 2014 at 12:24 PM, Derrick Moore of Baltimore, MD was stopped for speeding on U.S. 13 in the area of Johnson Road in Salisbury. During the encounter, Moore gave indication that he was concealing an object in his waist area which led to a pat down. During this, it was discovered that Moore was concealing two baggies of what would be identified as cocaine. The amount contained in the two baggies was consistent with more that what would be considered for personal use which indicated intent at distribution.
Moore was placed under arrest and transported to the Central Booking Unit where he was processed and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner. After an initial appearance, the Commissioner detained Moore in the Detention Center in lieu of $90,000.00 bond.
Charges: Possession of Cocaine
Possession of Cocaine with the Intent to Distribute
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Incident: Assault
Date of Incident: 19 July 2014
Location: 29000 block of Santa Fe Drive, Salisbury, MD
Suspect: Persell L. Beckett, 35, Salisbury, MD
No photo available at this time
Narrative: On 19 July 2014 at 5:11 AM a deputy responded to a residence in the 29000 block of Santa Fe Drive for a reported domestic related disturbance. Upon arrival, the deputy heard a male yelling and observed a crying female with a bloody hand. According to the female, the male subject, Persell Beckett, had assaulted her during an argument by throwing a fan at her. According to the female, that is what inflicted the injury to her hand.
The deputy placed Beckett, who would be identified as the female’s boyfriend, under arrest. Beckett was transported to the Central Booking Unit where he was processed and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner. After an initial appearance, the Commissioner detained Beckett in the Detention Center in lieu of $10,000.00 bond.
Charges: Assault 2nd Degree
Releasing Authority: Lt. Tim Robinson Date: 22 July 2014
White House 'Quietly' Exempts 4.5 Million People In 5 "Territories" From Obamacare
As WSJ reports, last week's geopolitical chaos and distraction was ideal for a news dump, and the White House didn't disappoint: On no legal basis, all 4.5 million residents of the five U.S. territories were quietly released from ObamaCare. It seems the costs of healthcare soared in these five territories due to uneconomic mandates - which woul dhave been a disaster PR-wise for the administration and so, under cover of catastrophe,WSJ reports all of a sudden last week HHS discovered new powers after "a careful review of this situation and the relevant statutory language," that enabled them to 'selectively exempt' American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, Northern Mariana Islands, and Virgin Islands from Obamacare. And all while vacationing...
As WSJ reports,
The original House and Senate bills that became the Affordable Care Act included funding for insurance exchanges in these territories, as President Obama promised when as a Senator he campaigned in Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and other 2008 Democratic primaries. But the $14.5 billion in subsidies for the territories were dumped in 2010 as ballast when Democrats needed to claim the law reduced the deficit.
As a consolation, Democrats opened several public-health programs to the territories and bestowed most of ObamaCare's insurance regulations, which liberals euphemize as "consumer protections," such as requiring insurers to accept all comers and charge the same premiums regardless of patient health.
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As WSJ reports,
The original House and Senate bills that became the Affordable Care Act included funding for insurance exchanges in these territories, as President Obama promised when as a Senator he campaigned in Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and other 2008 Democratic primaries. But the $14.5 billion in subsidies for the territories were dumped in 2010 as ballast when Democrats needed to claim the law reduced the deficit.
As a consolation, Democrats opened several public-health programs to the territories and bestowed most of ObamaCare's insurance regulations, which liberals euphemize as "consumer protections," such as requiring insurers to accept all comers and charge the same premiums regardless of patient health.
More
Police Investigate Robbery At Atlantic City Casino
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J., (CBS) – New Jersey State Police are investigating a robbery at a casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
State Police say it happened Monday morning at Caesars Atlantic City located in the 2100 block of Pacific Avenue.
According to State Police, an undisclosed amount of money was taken during the robbery.
A source familiar with the investigation tells CBS 3 robbers got away with about $181,000.
State Police are not saying how many people were involved in this robbery or how it happened. They are handling the investigation and are not releasing any further information at this time.
The investigation continues.
Source
State Police say it happened Monday morning at Caesars Atlantic City located in the 2100 block of Pacific Avenue.
According to State Police, an undisclosed amount of money was taken during the robbery.
A source familiar with the investigation tells CBS 3 robbers got away with about $181,000.
State Police are not saying how many people were involved in this robbery or how it happened. They are handling the investigation and are not releasing any further information at this time.
The investigation continues.
Source
Settlement With Patients of Gynecologist Who Secretly Photographed And Videotaped Women In Examining Room
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Authorities say Dr. Nikita Levy used a pen-like camera he wore around his neck. He committed suicide a year and a half ago while under investigation and was never charged.
Authorities say there is no evidence he shared the roughly 1,200 videos and 140 photographs with anyone.
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Property and Peace
The irreplaceable basis for a prosperous and decent society is property.
There is not very much good to say about the life and career of Vladimir Lenin, but give the pickled old monster this much: He cut through more than two centuries’ worth of bull and straight to the heart of all politics with his simple question: “Who? Whom?” Which is to say: Who acts? Who is acted upon? Even here in the land of the free, meditating upon that question can be an uncomfortable exercise.
The foundation of classical liberalism, and of the American order, is not the rule of law, a written constitution, freedom of speech and worship, one-man/one-vote democracy, or the Christian moral tradition — necessary as those things are. The irreplaceable basis for a prosperous, decent, liberal, stable society is property. Forget Thomas Jefferson’s epicurean flourish — John Locke and the First Continental Congress had it right on the first go-round: “Life, liberty, and property.” Despite the presence of the serial commas in that formulation, these are not really three different things: Perhaps we should render the concept “lifelibertyproperty” the way the physicists write about “spacetime.”
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There is not very much good to say about the life and career of Vladimir Lenin, but give the pickled old monster this much: He cut through more than two centuries’ worth of bull and straight to the heart of all politics with his simple question: “Who? Whom?” Which is to say: Who acts? Who is acted upon? Even here in the land of the free, meditating upon that question can be an uncomfortable exercise.
The foundation of classical liberalism, and of the American order, is not the rule of law, a written constitution, freedom of speech and worship, one-man/one-vote democracy, or the Christian moral tradition — necessary as those things are. The irreplaceable basis for a prosperous, decent, liberal, stable society is property. Forget Thomas Jefferson’s epicurean flourish — John Locke and the First Continental Congress had it right on the first go-round: “Life, liberty, and property.” Despite the presence of the serial commas in that formulation, these are not really three different things: Perhaps we should render the concept “lifelibertyproperty” the way the physicists write about “spacetime.”
More
SFD Calls For Service 7-21-14
- Monday July, 21 2014 @ 22:58Nature: Medical EmergencyCity:Salisbury
- Monday July, 21 2014 @ 20:09Nature: Medical EmergencyCity:Salisbury
- Monday July, 21 2014 @ 19:51Nature: Medical EmergencyCity:Salisbury
- Monday July, 21 2014 @ 19:44Nature: Medical EmergencyCity:Salisbury
- Monday July, 21 2014 @ 19:44 Nature: Vehicle FireAddress: 1500 N Salisbury Blvd Salisbury, MD 21801
No Arrests 4 Dead Out of 40 Shot in Violent Chicago Weekend
The mother of an 11-year-old Chicago girl who was killed by a stray bullet fired into her friend's home during a slumber party didn't allow the girl or her twin brother to play outside because she was so afraid of the city's street violence, the girl's great-grandmother said Sunday.
Lourene Miller said that if her great-granddaughter, Shamiya Adams, was going to hang out with friends, she had to remain indoors.
"My granddaughter (the girl's mother, Shaneetha Goodloe) would cry every time she'd see a child killed on the news (and) Shamiya was never just out."
A police spokeswoman, Janel Sedevic, said Sunday afternoon that nobody has been arrested in Friday's shooting. He declined to say if there were any suspects. Investigators believe the person who fired the fatal shot was apparently aiming at a rival in a gang dispute, but missed. The bullet went through an open window of the house, pierced a wall and struck Shamiya in the back of the head.
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Lourene Miller said that if her great-granddaughter, Shamiya Adams, was going to hang out with friends, she had to remain indoors.
"My granddaughter (the girl's mother, Shaneetha Goodloe) would cry every time she'd see a child killed on the news (and) Shamiya was never just out."
A police spokeswoman, Janel Sedevic, said Sunday afternoon that nobody has been arrested in Friday's shooting. He declined to say if there were any suspects. Investigators believe the person who fired the fatal shot was apparently aiming at a rival in a gang dispute, but missed. The bullet went through an open window of the house, pierced a wall and struck Shamiya in the back of the head.
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Never Waste a Crisis: Illegal Immigration Edition
President Obama’s fundamental governing philosophy seems to be “Never let a crisis go to waste.” That was Rahm Emmanuel’s statement in the first year of Obama’s presidency and it seems the President has never wavered from that concept.
Have you noticed, for the last six years everything is a crisis. Especially after 2010 when Republicans took the House, and the only way President Obama could jam his agenda down the throats implement his agenda was by “Executive Order.” Illegal immigration is our latest “crisis.”
As it happens, illegal immigration really is a crisis.
The problem, however, is twofold. First, the crisis is for our nation, not for the illegal aliens who are flooding over our southern border.
Second, the crisis has been, and is being, manufactured by the Obama administration.
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Have you noticed, for the last six years everything is a crisis. Especially after 2010 when Republicans took the House, and the only way President Obama could jam his agenda down the throats implement his agenda was by “Executive Order.” Illegal immigration is our latest “crisis.”
As it happens, illegal immigration really is a crisis.
The problem, however, is twofold. First, the crisis is for our nation, not for the illegal aliens who are flooding over our southern border.
Second, the crisis has been, and is being, manufactured by the Obama administration.
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Bill’s secret mistress, the ‘Energizer’
Bill Clinton reportedly has a buxom blond mistress who visits so often when Hillary Clinton isn’t home in Chappaqua that the former president’s Secret Service detail have given her an unofficial code name: Energizer.
This is according to Ronald Kessler in “The First Family Detail: Secret Service Agents Reveal the Hidden Lives of Presidents,” due Aug. 5 from Crown Forum.
Kessler is no stranger to the controversies surrounding the Secret Service.
He broke the story that Secret Service agents protecting President Obama in Cartagena, Colombia, hired prostitutes, and put the president in jeopardy.
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This is according to Ronald Kessler in “The First Family Detail: Secret Service Agents Reveal the Hidden Lives of Presidents,” due Aug. 5 from Crown Forum.
Kessler is no stranger to the controversies surrounding the Secret Service.
He broke the story that Secret Service agents protecting President Obama in Cartagena, Colombia, hired prostitutes, and put the president in jeopardy.
More
University of Wisconsin Faculty Votes to Apportion Grades by Race
Earlier this year, the University of Wisconsin–Madison faculty senate adopted a new Framework for Diversity and Inclusive Excellence, which, according to the campus’s Board of Regents, “places the mission of diversity at the center of institutional life so that it becomes a core organizing principle.” Nothing new under the sun there.
But UW economics professor W. Lee Hansen notes something profoundly disturbing in the framework, which apparently went unnoticed by the faculty and the administration:
To achieve the plan’s vague aims, the Ad Hoc Diversity Planning Committee formulated five goals and thirty detailed recommendations. Unbeknownst to faculty senators, these goals and recommendations are based on the “Inclusive Excellence” framework adopted earlier by the Board of Regents. (See Agenda Item II.6 for the March 5, 2009, meeting of the University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents.)
That framework includes eight essential “working definitions,” among them the already-discussed diversity, as well as others: “compositional diversity,” “critical mass,” “inclusion,” “equity mindedness,” “deficit-mindedness,” “representational equity,” and “excellence.”
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But UW economics professor W. Lee Hansen notes something profoundly disturbing in the framework, which apparently went unnoticed by the faculty and the administration:
To achieve the plan’s vague aims, the Ad Hoc Diversity Planning Committee formulated five goals and thirty detailed recommendations. Unbeknownst to faculty senators, these goals and recommendations are based on the “Inclusive Excellence” framework adopted earlier by the Board of Regents. (See Agenda Item II.6 for the March 5, 2009, meeting of the University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents.)
That framework includes eight essential “working definitions,” among them the already-discussed diversity, as well as others: “compositional diversity,” “critical mass,” “inclusion,” “equity mindedness,” “deficit-mindedness,” “representational equity,” and “excellence.”
More
Law Changed to Help Give Delaware Veterans Fair Access to Jobs
Governor signs bill to end unnecessary requirements for receiving professional licenses
Dover, DE – Eliminating an unnecessary obstacle for Delawareans who serve our country to pursue economic opportunities at home, Governor Markell joined members of the General Assembly and veterans at the Air Mobility Command Museum at Dover Air Force Base to sign legislation that allows veterans to more fairly compete for jobs.
House Bill 296, sponsored by Rep. Earl Jaques (D-Glasgow) and Sens. Brian Bushweller (D-Dover) and Bruce Ennis (D-Smyrna), allows professional licensing boards to recognize military education, training, and experience when reviewing credentials and issuing licenses. This change will assist service personnel in obtaining and/or renewing professional licenses when transitioning from active duty.
The Governor noted that, before today, medical personnel returning from treating members of the armed forces overseas were told they must complete an entire educational program because they didn’t have the right training or experience to obtain a nursing license in Delaware. Similar circumstances affected veterans in a variety of professions.
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Dover, DE – Eliminating an unnecessary obstacle for Delawareans who serve our country to pursue economic opportunities at home, Governor Markell joined members of the General Assembly and veterans at the Air Mobility Command Museum at Dover Air Force Base to sign legislation that allows veterans to more fairly compete for jobs.House Bill 296, sponsored by Rep. Earl Jaques (D-Glasgow) and Sens. Brian Bushweller (D-Dover) and Bruce Ennis (D-Smyrna), allows professional licensing boards to recognize military education, training, and experience when reviewing credentials and issuing licenses. This change will assist service personnel in obtaining and/or renewing professional licenses when transitioning from active duty.
The Governor noted that, before today, medical personnel returning from treating members of the armed forces overseas were told they must complete an entire educational program because they didn’t have the right training or experience to obtain a nursing license in Delaware. Similar circumstances affected veterans in a variety of professions.
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Md. health officials monitoring for mosquito-borne chikungunya virus after Fla. case reported
State begins annual monitoring for West Nile, urges precautions against winged backyard pests
State health officials are urging Marylanders to be wary of mosquito-borne diseases like West Nile virus and, now, the dengue-like virus chikungunya — raising concerns after it was reported in a Florida man Thursday.
The chikungunya case is believed to be the first that was contracted in the U.S.; other cases had been reported in people who had recently traveled to areas where the virus is prevalent.
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State health officials are urging Marylanders to be wary of mosquito-borne diseases like West Nile virus and, now, the dengue-like virus chikungunya — raising concerns after it was reported in a Florida man Thursday.
The chikungunya case is believed to be the first that was contracted in the U.S.; other cases had been reported in people who had recently traveled to areas where the virus is prevalent.
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Jolly Jack Show at WBOC-TV
I worked at WBOC-TV for 16 years. Johnny Rae to the best of my memory was the first Jolly Jack followed by Carroll Long and I followed Carroll.
The show was sponsored by White & Leonard of Downtown Salisbury. Kids along with parents loved Jolly as he brought new suggestions for Christmas lists.
These items Jolly presented could be viewed at White & Leonard downtown.
Harry Naugle - Delmar
The show was sponsored by White & Leonard of Downtown Salisbury. Kids along with parents loved Jolly as he brought new suggestions for Christmas lists.
These items Jolly presented could be viewed at White & Leonard downtown.
Harry Naugle - Delmar
Only In Delmar Delaware
Spring Hill Church On Fire
Sussex County wins 12th award for excellence in financial reporting
The Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada, based in Chicago, earlier this month awarded the County its Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for the 2013 comprehensive annual financial report (CAFR). The award is among the highest forms of recognition for governmental accounting and financial reporting.
The CAFR was judged by an impartial panel to meet the high standards of the association’s program.
The award is an acknowledgment of Sussex County’s comprehensive annual financial report, or CAFR. The document includes the County’s annual audit, showing assets, liabilities, equity, revenues and expenses. It also contains information about county demographics and the local economy. That information helps those reviewing the report – such as investors – to better gauge the County’s financial condition.
“Sussex County prides itself on being able to win this prestigious award each year,” said County Finance Director Gina A. Jennings. “This is a great accomplishment, and we believe this speaks tremendous volumes about the strong fiscal management of County government.”
JUST IN: Surrender, Brooklyn: Mysterious White Flags Top Brooklyn Bridge
One passerby, Rick Bruner, says, "I ride my bike over most every morning and the normal flags are not faded, so this is definitely something different. I didn’t know if it was for a protest or a movie?"
A DOT spokesperson referred us to the NYPD. An NYPD spokesperson says, "We're looking into some possible incident with the flag that's on the bridge. We don't know yet, we're waiting for information from units that responded." Jasper Johns better have an airtight alibi.
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MSP Press Release 7-22-14
DEPARTMENT OF MARYLAND STATE POLICE
BARRACK “V” BERLIN
9758 Ocean Gateway Berlin, Maryland 21811
(410) 641-3101 Fax (410) 641-3259
Time: July21, 2014 @ 1821 hours
Case #: 14-MSP-022829
Location: W/BMD Route 90 W/O US Route 113, Berlin, Worcester County
Vehicle: 2005Hyundai Elantra, NY Registration GPA3761
Suspect #1: Rachael Larane Wilson, 29 YOA, Laurel, MD (Driver)
Suspect #2: Steven Jesse Erby, 43 YOA, Seat Pleasant, MD (Passenger)
On July 21, 2014, at approximately 1821 hrs, troopers stopped a 2005 Hyundai Elantra after it was determined the vehicle was stolen. The vehicle passed through a mobile automated license plate reader system prompting the warning the vehicle was stolen. Shortly thereafter, it was confirmed the vehicle was stolen from Plattsburgh, New York, on July 17, 2014. Troopers located and stopped the vehicle in the area of W/B MD Route 90 west of US Route 113 in Worcester County.
Through the investigation it was determined the suspects were also wanted on several outstanding warrants. Wilson was wanted in Howard County for failing to appear in court regarding unauthorized removal of property. Erby was wanted in Howard County and Charles County; the charges in Howard County related to failing to appear in court for theft and giving a false statement to a police officer, and the charges in Charles County related to failing to appear in court for theft charges. In addition, Erby was charged with various counts of identity theft stemming from the investigation surrounding the traffic stop and investigation into the stolen vehicle.
Both suspects were charged and taken before a District Court Commissioner. They were both ordered to be held on $3,000 at the Worcester County Detention Center.
BARRACK “V” BERLIN
9758 Ocean Gateway Berlin, Maryland 21811
(410) 641-3101 Fax (410) 641-3259
Time: July21, 2014 @ 1821 hours
Case #: 14-MSP-022829
Location: W/BMD Route 90 W/O US Route 113, Berlin, Worcester County
Vehicle: 2005Hyundai Elantra, NY Registration GPA3761
Suspect #1: Rachael Larane Wilson, 29 YOA, Laurel, MD (Driver)
Suspect #2: Steven Jesse Erby, 43 YOA, Seat Pleasant, MD (Passenger)
On July 21, 2014, at approximately 1821 hrs, troopers stopped a 2005 Hyundai Elantra after it was determined the vehicle was stolen. The vehicle passed through a mobile automated license plate reader system prompting the warning the vehicle was stolen. Shortly thereafter, it was confirmed the vehicle was stolen from Plattsburgh, New York, on July 17, 2014. Troopers located and stopped the vehicle in the area of W/B MD Route 90 west of US Route 113 in Worcester County.
Through the investigation it was determined the suspects were also wanted on several outstanding warrants. Wilson was wanted in Howard County for failing to appear in court regarding unauthorized removal of property. Erby was wanted in Howard County and Charles County; the charges in Howard County related to failing to appear in court for theft and giving a false statement to a police officer, and the charges in Charles County related to failing to appear in court for theft charges. In addition, Erby was charged with various counts of identity theft stemming from the investigation surrounding the traffic stop and investigation into the stolen vehicle.
Both suspects were charged and taken before a District Court Commissioner. They were both ordered to be held on $3,000 at the Worcester County Detention Center.
BREAKING NEWS: FEDERAL APPEALS COURT DEALS BLOW TO HEALTH LAW
If upheld, the decision could mean premium increases for more than half of the 8 million Americans who purchased taxpayer-subsidized insurance under the law.
It affects consumers who purchased their coverage through the federal insurance marketplace - or exchange- that serves 36 states.
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PUBLIC NOTICE
“COFFEE WITH YOUR COUNCIL” EVENT TO BE RESCHEDULED
The Salisbury City Council’s “Coffee with Your Council” Event, originally scheduled for Wednesday, July 23, 2014, has been rescheduled for Wednesday, August 20, 2014 at 6:00 p.m.
The Salisbury City Council’s “Coffee with Your Council” Event, originally scheduled for Wednesday, July 23, 2014, has been rescheduled for Wednesday, August 20, 2014 at 6:00 p.m.
The Event will still be held at Parker Place Building located at 232 West Main Street in Salisbury.
All interested citizens are invited to attend.
All interested citizens are invited to attend.
Publishers Notes: WHY ARE THEY PIMPING FORMER SALISBURY MAYOR AND HUSBAND BARRIE TILGHMAN'S BUILDING? There is NO air conditioning in that building and it is always extremely hot.
Handicaps in Hillary's way
Contrary to conventional wisdom, she’s probably finished
Hillary Clinton isn’t likely ever to become president of the United States. In fact, there is a greater possibility than is generally recognized by the Washington cognoscenti that she won’t even run. If she does, though, the barriers she faces will prove overwhelming. Her 2008 campaign was her last good shot for the office, and she failed. Since then, numerous developments have conspired steadily to diminish her prospects. Those prospects are now near zero.
This analytical framework holds absolutely no credulity in Washington, where thinking rarely extends beyond the conventional. The conventional wisdom, of course, is that Mrs. Clinton’s nomination is nearly inevitable and her subsequent election highly likely. It’s true that she is smart, tested, universally known, a whiz at fundraising and generally respected. The long-ago scandals that got her labeled by one prominent columnist as a “congenital liar” have long since receded into the netherworld of the national consciousness. On paper, she looks nearly unbeatable.
Presidential elections don’t take place on paper, though. They take place in the real world, where politics is always about the future. Mrs. Clinton is a product of the past.
More
Hillary Clinton isn’t likely ever to become president of the United States. In fact, there is a greater possibility than is generally recognized by the Washington cognoscenti that she won’t even run. If she does, though, the barriers she faces will prove overwhelming. Her 2008 campaign was her last good shot for the office, and she failed. Since then, numerous developments have conspired steadily to diminish her prospects. Those prospects are now near zero.
This analytical framework holds absolutely no credulity in Washington, where thinking rarely extends beyond the conventional. The conventional wisdom, of course, is that Mrs. Clinton’s nomination is nearly inevitable and her subsequent election highly likely. It’s true that she is smart, tested, universally known, a whiz at fundraising and generally respected. The long-ago scandals that got her labeled by one prominent columnist as a “congenital liar” have long since receded into the netherworld of the national consciousness. On paper, she looks nearly unbeatable.
Presidential elections don’t take place on paper, though. They take place in the real world, where politics is always about the future. Mrs. Clinton is a product of the past.
More
Clinton Earns $12 Million After State, Undermining 2016 Message
Hillary Clinton has earned at least $12 million in 16 months since leaving the State Department, a windfall at odds with her party’s call to shrink the gap between the rich and the poor.
Clinton’s income since her resignation as secretary of state in February 2013 is derived mostly from her latest memoir, speeches and paid appearances at corporate retreats, according to an analysis of data compiled by Bloomberg.
At least 12 organizations that previously booked President Bill Clinton -- who has been paid almost $106 million in speaking fees alone since he left the White House -- also hired his wife. Among them: Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and the National Association of Realtors.
With a prospective 2016 presidential candidacy in her future, she keeps tight control over her events. In one university contract, Clinton retained the right to approve her introducer, program, moderator and the set, and she limited to 50 the number of pictures taken on a rope line.
Her earnings represent a fraction of the Clinton family’s total income and yet were large enough to rank her not only in the top 1 percent of the nation’s earners but in the top one- hundredth of the 1 percent.
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Clinton’s income since her resignation as secretary of state in February 2013 is derived mostly from her latest memoir, speeches and paid appearances at corporate retreats, according to an analysis of data compiled by Bloomberg.
At least 12 organizations that previously booked President Bill Clinton -- who has been paid almost $106 million in speaking fees alone since he left the White House -- also hired his wife. Among them: Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and the National Association of Realtors.
With a prospective 2016 presidential candidacy in her future, she keeps tight control over her events. In one university contract, Clinton retained the right to approve her introducer, program, moderator and the set, and she limited to 50 the number of pictures taken on a rope line.
Her earnings represent a fraction of the Clinton family’s total income and yet were large enough to rank her not only in the top 1 percent of the nation’s earners but in the top one- hundredth of the 1 percent.
More
A Desperate Cry from Iraq's Christians
Iraq’s Christian leaders have just made a desperate cry for help. Patriarch Louis Raphael I Sako, head of Iraq’s Catholic church, has issued an appeal “to all who have a living conscience in Iraq and all the world.”
The situation for Iraq’s Christians has been steadily deteriorating ever since the 2003 invasion, in part because the U.S. never acknowledged that Christians were being targeted by Islamists and did not prioritize protection of Christians or other minorities.
But with the recent sweep through Mosul and other Iraqi cities by the jihadi group ISIS, Iraq’s Christians look to be on the verge of genocide.
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The situation for Iraq’s Christians has been steadily deteriorating ever since the 2003 invasion, in part because the U.S. never acknowledged that Christians were being targeted by Islamists and did not prioritize protection of Christians or other minorities.
But with the recent sweep through Mosul and other Iraqi cities by the jihadi group ISIS, Iraq’s Christians look to be on the verge of genocide.
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Worcester County Bureau of Investigation Press Release 7-22-14
Worcester County Bureau of Investigation 1 W. Market Street
Room 1001
Snow Hill, Maryland 21863
(410) 632-1111
DATE & TIME: Monday, July 21, 2014
Case # 14-0097
LOCATION: Pocomoke City, Worcester County, Maryland
CRIME: Possession of Obscene Matter with Intent to Distribute / Distribution of Obscene Matter
ACCUSED: Darrell Lee Richardson
CHARGES: (1) Count of Possession of Obscene Matter with Intent to Distribute, (1) Count of Distribution of Obscene Matter
NARRATIVE: On Wednesday, June 11, 2014 members of the Worcester County Bureau of Investigation, Worcester County Sheriff’s Office, Maryland State Police, Worcester County Office of the States Attorney and the Pocomoke City Police Department responded to an address within Pocomoke City, Maryland, the residence of Darrell Richardson. Richardson had been identified through prior investigation as being involved in downloading and sharing illegal “obscene matter” via a peer to peer file sharing network.
Once inside, an interview of the residents revealed that Darrell Lee Richardson was responsible for sharing and downloading the images.
Richardson was subsequently charged with one count of Possession of Obscene Matter with Intent to Distribute, and one Count of Distribution of Obscene Matter.
Richardson was issued a criminal summons and is awaiting trial.
INVESTIGATING DETECTIVE: Detective Corporal Alex KaganSUPERVISING INVESTIGATOR: Detective Sgt. Mike Lupiwok
Being In New Verizon Wireless Rewards Program Means Giving It Your Phone’s Location, Web Browsing Info
There’s no such thing as a free lunch, so it comes as no surprise that companies want a little something in return when they reward customers for staying loyal. Thus, the tradeoff at the center of Verizon Wireless’ new Verizon Smart Rewards system: Customers opt in to the company’s location-tracking/marketing program, Verizon Selects, and then earn points toward discounts on “brand-name” merchandise and deals at local restaurants, stores and offers on travel.
The program launches on Thursday, Verizon announced on its website, and customers “may be required to enroll in Verizon Selects, part of Precision Market Insights from Verizon, as part of the Smart Rewards registration process and will receive 2,500 bonus points for being part of Verizon Selects and 500 Rewards points per participating line each month.”
That “may” might be that you’d have to enroll if you haven’t already — it seems it would be a likely requirement, as it enables Verizon to offer deals it thinks will interest customers based on their “location, web browsing and mobile application usage data, as well as other information including customer demographic and interest data,” as explained on its info page about Verizon Selects.
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The program launches on Thursday, Verizon announced on its website, and customers “may be required to enroll in Verizon Selects, part of Precision Market Insights from Verizon, as part of the Smart Rewards registration process and will receive 2,500 bonus points for being part of Verizon Selects and 500 Rewards points per participating line each month.”
That “may” might be that you’d have to enroll if you haven’t already — it seems it would be a likely requirement, as it enables Verizon to offer deals it thinks will interest customers based on their “location, web browsing and mobile application usage data, as well as other information including customer demographic and interest data,” as explained on its info page about Verizon Selects.
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Plan to Divide Large State Into 6 States
A plan to divide California into six separate states is no longer just a fantasy. It has now moved into the realm of real politics.
A Silicon Valley venture capitalist, Tim Draper, has spent $5.2 million to push the plan. He's gathered enough signatures to put it before California voters in November 2016.
Draper says dividing California into 6 states would bring prosperity, more responsive local governments, and more local control to deliver jobs, education and services in his six dream states. Says Draper, "We need to do something structural, something fresh. If we don’t try, we’re failing in our complacency."
Of course it is being met with resistance. Critics say the plan is short-sighted and would mostly benefit flag makers, elected officials, lawyers, and Draper himself.
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A Silicon Valley venture capitalist, Tim Draper, has spent $5.2 million to push the plan. He's gathered enough signatures to put it before California voters in November 2016.
Draper says dividing California into 6 states would bring prosperity, more responsive local governments, and more local control to deliver jobs, education and services in his six dream states. Says Draper, "We need to do something structural, something fresh. If we don’t try, we’re failing in our complacency."
Of course it is being met with resistance. Critics say the plan is short-sighted and would mostly benefit flag makers, elected officials, lawyers, and Draper himself.
More
Yeah, We Need This Training, NOT
Air Force officials are close to a decision on whether to expand a northern plains bomber training area.
If they go ahead, the Air Force would have airspace covering 28,000 square miles. It would be used for B-52 training from Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota and B-1 bomber training from Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota.
The zone also includes parts of Wyoming and Montana. The Air Force says the space is needed to keep bomber crews ready. They say it would save money, because planes wouldn't have to fly Utah or Nevada for training.
Locals have opposed the expansion, calling it a federal aid space grab. A final decision could come within a month.