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Wednesday, August 06, 2014
21st Century Fox Withdraws TW Bid
Rupert Murdoch withdrew his bid to buy Time Warner Inc. on Tuesday, citing the company's refusal to engage in negotiations about an acquisition.
"We viewed a combination with Time Warner as a unique opportunity to bring together two great companies, each with celebrated content and brands," Murdoch, the chairman and CEO of 21st Century Fox, said in a statement. "Our proposal had significant strategic merit and compelling financial rationale and our approach had always been friendly."
"However, Time Warner management and its Board refused to engage with us to explore an offer which was highly compelling," Murdoch said. "Additionally, the reaction in our share price since our proposal was made undervalues our stock and makes the transaction unattractive to Fox shareholders. These factors, coupled with our commitment to be both disciplined in our approach to the combination and focused on delivering value for the Fox shareholders, has led us to withdraw our offer."
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"We viewed a combination with Time Warner as a unique opportunity to bring together two great companies, each with celebrated content and brands," Murdoch, the chairman and CEO of 21st Century Fox, said in a statement. "Our proposal had significant strategic merit and compelling financial rationale and our approach had always been friendly."
"However, Time Warner management and its Board refused to engage with us to explore an offer which was highly compelling," Murdoch said. "Additionally, the reaction in our share price since our proposal was made undervalues our stock and makes the transaction unattractive to Fox shareholders. These factors, coupled with our commitment to be both disciplined in our approach to the combination and focused on delivering value for the Fox shareholders, has led us to withdraw our offer."
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Medicare Cuts Payment for Hospital Admissions as Penalties Rise
Medicare, the U.S. program for the elderly and disabled, said payments for hospital admissions would fall $756 million next year as penalties stiffen for patients who return too early.
Payments for inpatient services at about 3,400 acute-care hospitals will be cut about 0.6 percent in 2015, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said in a regulatory filing, including reductions in funding for hospitals who provide care for many low-income patients, those with too many patients who contract infections while admitted and higher penalties for readmissions within 30 days.
The Obama administration has applauded reduced Medicare spending for hospital admissions, a trend encouraged by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that has added 13 years to the life of Medicare’s key trust fund. The program’s actuaries have warned the payment cuts may not be sustainable as hospitals struggle to improve their efficiency.
“Today’s policies further support our efforts to continue improving the care our Medicare beneficiaries receive while also cutting the growth of Medicare costs,” Marilyn Tavenner, the administrator of the Medicare agency, said in a statement.
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Payments for inpatient services at about 3,400 acute-care hospitals will be cut about 0.6 percent in 2015, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said in a regulatory filing, including reductions in funding for hospitals who provide care for many low-income patients, those with too many patients who contract infections while admitted and higher penalties for readmissions within 30 days.
The Obama administration has applauded reduced Medicare spending for hospital admissions, a trend encouraged by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that has added 13 years to the life of Medicare’s key trust fund. The program’s actuaries have warned the payment cuts may not be sustainable as hospitals struggle to improve their efficiency.
“Today’s policies further support our efforts to continue improving the care our Medicare beneficiaries receive while also cutting the growth of Medicare costs,” Marilyn Tavenner, the administrator of the Medicare agency, said in a statement.
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**UPDATE** Trooper Shot in Body Armor during Search Warrant Execution in Red Lion Chase
Bear - A Delaware State Trooper received minor injuries after being shot in his protective body armor during a search warrant execution at a residence in Red Lion Chase, Bear, late this morning.
Preliminary investigation has determined that the incident occurred on Wednesday, August 6, 2014 at approximately 11:19 a.m. as Troopers assigned to Delaware Gaming Enforcement assisted by members of the Delaware State Police Special Operations Response Team (SORT) were executing a search warrant at a residence located in the 1000 block of Powell Court in the development of Red Lion Chase, Bear.
The search warrant was connected to the New Jersey State Police ongoing investigation in locating a suspect identified as Nathaniel Greenlee-21 who resides at the Powell Court address. Greenlee has active warrants issued by New Jersey State Police in connection with the armed robbery of the Caesars Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey which occurred on July 21, 2014.
The incident occurred as members of the Delaware State Police Special Operations Response Team (SORT) knocked on the outside of the door of the single family home and announced several times that they were Delaware State Troopers with a search warrant, and received no response from inside of the residence.
As Troopers were making entry into the home through the front door, a male suspect later identified as John E. Greenlee-50 , the father of Nathaniel Greenlee, opened fire on the team from a second floor stairway, firing 2 rounds from a semiautomatic handgun. A Trooper assigned to the entry team was struck in the upper body as his protective body armor absorbed the impact of the bullet. SORT members were able to take the suspect into custody without incident, and without returning fire. The semiautomatic handgun was recovered at the scene.
Nathaniel Greenlee, the focus of the search warrant, was not located inside the residence. He was later located in Pennsylvania and taken into custody by Pennsylvania State Police this afternoon, without incident.
The Trooper is a 42 year old male, 19 year veteran of the Delaware State Police assigned to the Delaware State Police Special Operations Team. He was treated and released from the Christiana Hospital Trauma Center with minor injuries earlier this afternoon.
John E. Greenlee-50 was charged with Reckless Endangering First Degree and Possession of a Firearm during the Commission of a Felony. He was arraigned and released on $25,000 Unsecured Bond.
(booking photo not available at time of release)
State Police Detectives and the Delaware Attorney General’s Office continue to investigate this incident with any additional charges pending the conclusion of the investigation.
Additional information connected to Nathaniel Greenlee’s active warrants issued by the New Jersey State Police and his involvement in the Caesars Hotel and Casino armed robbery can be directed to the New Jersey State Police. Information related to the circumstance surrounding the Greenlee’s apprehension in Pennsylvania, can be directed to the Pennsylvania State Police.
Preliminary investigation has determined that the incident occurred on Wednesday, August 6, 2014 at approximately 11:19 a.m. as Troopers assigned to Delaware Gaming Enforcement assisted by members of the Delaware State Police Special Operations Response Team (SORT) were executing a search warrant at a residence located in the 1000 block of Powell Court in the development of Red Lion Chase, Bear.
The search warrant was connected to the New Jersey State Police ongoing investigation in locating a suspect identified as Nathaniel Greenlee-21 who resides at the Powell Court address. Greenlee has active warrants issued by New Jersey State Police in connection with the armed robbery of the Caesars Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey which occurred on July 21, 2014.
The incident occurred as members of the Delaware State Police Special Operations Response Team (SORT) knocked on the outside of the door of the single family home and announced several times that they were Delaware State Troopers with a search warrant, and received no response from inside of the residence.
As Troopers were making entry into the home through the front door, a male suspect later identified as John E. Greenlee-50 , the father of Nathaniel Greenlee, opened fire on the team from a second floor stairway, firing 2 rounds from a semiautomatic handgun. A Trooper assigned to the entry team was struck in the upper body as his protective body armor absorbed the impact of the bullet. SORT members were able to take the suspect into custody without incident, and without returning fire. The semiautomatic handgun was recovered at the scene.
Nathaniel Greenlee, the focus of the search warrant, was not located inside the residence. He was later located in Pennsylvania and taken into custody by Pennsylvania State Police this afternoon, without incident.
The Trooper is a 42 year old male, 19 year veteran of the Delaware State Police assigned to the Delaware State Police Special Operations Team. He was treated and released from the Christiana Hospital Trauma Center with minor injuries earlier this afternoon.
John E. Greenlee-50 was charged with Reckless Endangering First Degree and Possession of a Firearm during the Commission of a Felony. He was arraigned and released on $25,000 Unsecured Bond.
(booking photo not available at time of release)
State Police Detectives and the Delaware Attorney General’s Office continue to investigate this incident with any additional charges pending the conclusion of the investigation.
Additional information connected to Nathaniel Greenlee’s active warrants issued by the New Jersey State Police and his involvement in the Caesars Hotel and Casino armed robbery can be directed to the New Jersey State Police. Information related to the circumstance surrounding the Greenlee’s apprehension in Pennsylvania, can be directed to the Pennsylvania State Police.
OBAMA'S HALF-BROTHER CALLS HIM ALOOF, DISTANT
NEW YORK – Yet another Obama relative is about to surface in the United States to cause the president grief over the credibility of key aspects of the autobiography that helped propel him to the White House, “Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance.”
Mark Obama Ndesandjo, Barack Obama’s Kenyan half-brother, plans to release Sept. 16 his own autobiography, “An Obama’s Journey: My Odyssey of Self-Discovery across Three Cultures,” published by Globe Pequot Press.
WND reported in December Ndesandjo initially planned to self-publish the book.
In an advance copy of the 374-page memoir obtained by WND, Ndesandjo describes his relationship with his half-brother as distant and strained.
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Mark Obama Ndesandjo, Barack Obama’s Kenyan half-brother, plans to release Sept. 16 his own autobiography, “An Obama’s Journey: My Odyssey of Self-Discovery across Three Cultures,” published by Globe Pequot Press.
WND reported in December Ndesandjo initially planned to self-publish the book.
In an advance copy of the 374-page memoir obtained by WND, Ndesandjo describes his relationship with his half-brother as distant and strained.
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Baltimore Officer To Plead Guilty To Killing Puppy
BALTIMORE (AP) -- The lawyer for a Baltimore police officer charged with beating and choking his girlfriend's puppy and texting her a photo of the dog's body says his client will plead guilty in the case.
Twenty-eight-year-old Alec Eugene Taylor of Silver Spring will plead guilty to animal cruelty, a felony, in Montgomery County Circuit Court on Aug. 27, Warren Brown, his lawyer said Tuesday.
County police say Taylor's girlfriend reported that he had killed Rocko, a 7-month-old Jack Russell terrier, on Feb. 26.
Brown says Taylor is remorseful. He says the 5-year-old veteran of the department was under a lot of pressure and took his frustrations out on the dog.
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Twenty-eight-year-old Alec Eugene Taylor of Silver Spring will plead guilty to animal cruelty, a felony, in Montgomery County Circuit Court on Aug. 27, Warren Brown, his lawyer said Tuesday.
County police say Taylor's girlfriend reported that he had killed Rocko, a 7-month-old Jack Russell terrier, on Feb. 26.
Brown says Taylor is remorseful. He says the 5-year-old veteran of the department was under a lot of pressure and took his frustrations out on the dog.
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New York Courthouse Shuts Down After Being Overrun By Horde Of Fleas
A flea infestation forced a courthouse in western New York state to shut its doors for the second straight day on Tuesday, officials said.
The Orleans County Courthouse in Albion, about 34 miles northwest of Rochester, is airing out after being flea bombed in recent days, said county spokesman Chuck Nesbitt.
“There needs to be a period of ventilation prior to re-occupation,” Nisbett said.
It was unclear how the courthouse became overrun by fleas, Nisbett said. The problem was first reported late last week, according to local media.
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The Orleans County Courthouse in Albion, about 34 miles northwest of Rochester, is airing out after being flea bombed in recent days, said county spokesman Chuck Nesbitt.
“There needs to be a period of ventilation prior to re-occupation,” Nisbett said.
It was unclear how the courthouse became overrun by fleas, Nisbett said. The problem was first reported late last week, according to local media.
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Obama Mulls Ways To Force “Economic Patriotism” On Companies Looking To Bail On US Tax Rates
Obviously, he’s looking for positive ways to get companies to stay, right?
(NY Times) The Obama administration is weighing plans to circumvent Congress and act on its own to curtail tax benefits for United States companies that relocate overseas to lower their tax bills, seeking to stanch a recent wave of so-called corporate inversions, Treasury Secretary Jacob J. Lew said on Tuesday.
Treasury Department officials are rushing to assemble an array of options that would essentially wipe out the economic incentive for the deals, Mr. Lew said. No final decision has been made.
“The question is, Can we do enough that it will materially change the economics of inversions so that companies will make different decisions?” Mr. Lew said in an interview. “The things we are looking at look to me like they could very materially change the economics of inversions.”
The action comes in the face of a recent increase in United States companies reaching deals to reorganize overseas, creating an explosive political issue that Mr. Obama has called a lack of “economic patriotism.”
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(NY Times) The Obama administration is weighing plans to circumvent Congress and act on its own to curtail tax benefits for United States companies that relocate overseas to lower their tax bills, seeking to stanch a recent wave of so-called corporate inversions, Treasury Secretary Jacob J. Lew said on Tuesday.
Treasury Department officials are rushing to assemble an array of options that would essentially wipe out the economic incentive for the deals, Mr. Lew said. No final decision has been made.
“The question is, Can we do enough that it will materially change the economics of inversions so that companies will make different decisions?” Mr. Lew said in an interview. “The things we are looking at look to me like they could very materially change the economics of inversions.”
The action comes in the face of a recent increase in United States companies reaching deals to reorganize overseas, creating an explosive political issue that Mr. Obama has called a lack of “economic patriotism.”
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Women Ordered To Stop Praying Inside Mall
It’s not uncommon for shopping malls to have rules of conduct. Some places ban saggy pants. Others won’t let you ask people for money. But a mall in Georgia may have one of the most unusual rules -- they won’t let shoppers pray – not even over their meals.
Meet Tammy Brantley of Dublin, Ga. She’s a wife, a mom and an avid power walker. She’s also a person of deep faith in God.
Tammy is the co-founder of “Dublin Girls Run,” a group of local ladies that combines Southern fellowship with physical fitness.
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Meet Tammy Brantley of Dublin, Ga. She’s a wife, a mom and an avid power walker. She’s also a person of deep faith in God.
Tammy is the co-founder of “Dublin Girls Run,” a group of local ladies that combines Southern fellowship with physical fitness.
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Daniel Snyder: People who talk about the name ‘Redskins’ are missing the point
Chris Cooley, in his role as co-host of ESPN 980′s “The Drive,” was out at Redskins training camp this afternoon, and he had a chance to interview the owner of the team, Mr. Daniel Snyder himself. After some talk about the team, Cooley got down to business, asking Snyder for his thoughts on the team’s name.
You might have heard that the name is a bit of an issue these days, and Snyder, who didn’t seem surprised at all that Cooley would pose such a question, offered his most expansive comments to date. Snyder spoke at length about his many visits earlier in the year to Indian reservations, which informed his decision to create the Washington Redskins Original Americans Foundation.
Snyder talked about how moved he was by the “plight of Native Americans,” and repeatedly suggested that folks who were engaging in “chit-chat, cocktail talk” about the team’s name should focus their attention on poor conditions of reservations.
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You might have heard that the name is a bit of an issue these days, and Snyder, who didn’t seem surprised at all that Cooley would pose such a question, offered his most expansive comments to date. Snyder spoke at length about his many visits earlier in the year to Indian reservations, which informed his decision to create the Washington Redskins Original Americans Foundation.
Snyder talked about how moved he was by the “plight of Native Americans,” and repeatedly suggested that folks who were engaging in “chit-chat, cocktail talk” about the team’s name should focus their attention on poor conditions of reservations.
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North Carolina Sheriff’s Response to Explosion in Violent Crime Will Likely Infuriate One Side of the Gun Debate
Responding to an explosion in violent crime in Harnett County, North Carolina, Sheriff Larry Rollins told about 130 residents at a community meeting on Monday that they need to “be able to take care of business” until police arrive.
To put it bluntly, Rollins wants his residents to be armed and ready to protect themselves and their families.
“I do not go anywhere without a gun,” the sheriff told residents at Spring Hill Methodist Church in Lillington, North Carolina, on Monday.
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To put it bluntly, Rollins wants his residents to be armed and ready to protect themselves and their families.
“I do not go anywhere without a gun,” the sheriff told residents at Spring Hill Methodist Church in Lillington, North Carolina, on Monday.
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State Seeks Lawyers To Help Immigrant Children
Maryland officials have met with members of the legal community to discuss how to help unaccompanied children from Central America who have crossed the border.
Ted Dallas, the secretary of the Maryland Department of Human Resources, said officials met Tuesday with about 20 to 30 people, including representatives of the American Civil Liberties Union and attorneys.
Dallas says they discussed how to streamline the legal process due to the volume of cases that will go through Maryland. Dallas also says they discussed how to help families that are hosting the children to get legal services they need.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says Maryland has about 2,205 of the unaccompanied children that have come across the border between Jan. 1 and July 31.
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Ted Dallas, the secretary of the Maryland Department of Human Resources, said officials met Tuesday with about 20 to 30 people, including representatives of the American Civil Liberties Union and attorneys.
Dallas says they discussed how to streamline the legal process due to the volume of cases that will go through Maryland. Dallas also says they discussed how to help families that are hosting the children to get legal services they need.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says Maryland has about 2,205 of the unaccompanied children that have come across the border between Jan. 1 and July 31.
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At $140 A Day Per Person, Illegal Aliens Are Living Better Than Taxpayers Footin’ The Bill
There are so many tangled layers of problems involved in this illegal immigration crisis. We are hemorrhaging and nothing is being done to staunch the flow. Eventually this country will bleed out and we will have no one to blame but ourselves and the do-nothings that we continue to elect to Washington DC.
As being falsely reported in order to gather empathy and silence the criticism, this is not about “the children.” As even the ultra-liberal New York Times reported, there have been roughly 300,000 illegal aliens cross our border. Only 50,000 of them were “minors.” Out of those 50,000 minors, 90% of those are teenagers. Numerous of them sporting enough tattoos and facial hair to make a grown man envious. In fact, as I can’t imagine the populous would be carrying ID or birth certificates, I’m sure many are claiming to be teenagers or “unaccompanied minors” who are really grown men and women. We have been lied to. This is not about the children. It is about systematically and purposefully changing America.
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As being falsely reported in order to gather empathy and silence the criticism, this is not about “the children.” As even the ultra-liberal New York Times reported, there have been roughly 300,000 illegal aliens cross our border. Only 50,000 of them were “minors.” Out of those 50,000 minors, 90% of those are teenagers. Numerous of them sporting enough tattoos and facial hair to make a grown man envious. In fact, as I can’t imagine the populous would be carrying ID or birth certificates, I’m sure many are claiming to be teenagers or “unaccompanied minors” who are really grown men and women. We have been lied to. This is not about the children. It is about systematically and purposefully changing America.
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WATCH LIVE: President Obama holds press conference
President Obama will hold a press conference following a meeting with African leaders at the State Department. WATCH LIVE on Fox News and FoxNews.com at 5:00 p.m. ET.
Watch Live: http://video.foxnews.com/v/2553565094001/
Watch Live: http://video.foxnews.com/v/2553565094001/
Ebola: What Are The Symptoms?
Public fear of the Ebola virus has begun to spread far beyond West Africa, where it has taken the lives of at least 887 people. Medical institutions in the U.S. and beyond are on alert to identify and immediately isolate any patient who presents with symptoms that may be related to the illness.
What exactly are doctors looking for when they suspect a patient may have the Ebola virus?
Ebola, which has a mortality rate between 60 and 96 percent, is a systemic virus, meaning it impacts all organs that control various functions in the body. But before it attacks the gastrointestinal, respiratory, vascular, muscular, neurological and immune systems, Ebola starts off looking a lot like the flu.
At its onset, a patient may experience fatigue, fever, headache, sore throat and pain in the joints and muscles. The initial symptoms are so common that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says cases are often misdiagnosed.
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What exactly are doctors looking for when they suspect a patient may have the Ebola virus?
Ebola, which has a mortality rate between 60 and 96 percent, is a systemic virus, meaning it impacts all organs that control various functions in the body. But before it attacks the gastrointestinal, respiratory, vascular, muscular, neurological and immune systems, Ebola starts off looking a lot like the flu.
At its onset, a patient may experience fatigue, fever, headache, sore throat and pain in the joints and muscles. The initial symptoms are so common that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says cases are often misdiagnosed.
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Ebola Outbreak Can Lead to Gun Confiscations, Martial Law
The Obama administration is perpetrating the conditions required for a government-declared crisis
Gun confiscations and martial law are both plausible government responses to an Ebola outbreak in America considering recent policies by the Obama administration and the fact that the military has been preparing for domestic deployment for the past several years.
Back in 2009, CNN reported that U.S. Northern Command (Northcom) wanted to “establish regional teams of military personnel to assist civilian authorities” in the event of a severe outbreak in America.
“The plan calls for military task forces to work in conjunction with the Federal Emergency Management Agency,” wrote CNN correspondent Barbara Starr. “There is no final decision on how the military effort would be manned, but one source said it would likely include personnel from all branches of the military.”
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Gun confiscations and martial law are both plausible government responses to an Ebola outbreak in America considering recent policies by the Obama administration and the fact that the military has been preparing for domestic deployment for the past several years.
Back in 2009, CNN reported that U.S. Northern Command (Northcom) wanted to “establish regional teams of military personnel to assist civilian authorities” in the event of a severe outbreak in America.
“The plan calls for military task forces to work in conjunction with the Federal Emergency Management Agency,” wrote CNN correspondent Barbara Starr. “There is no final decision on how the military effort would be manned, but one source said it would likely include personnel from all branches of the military.”
More
Trooper Shot in Body Armor during Search Warrant Execution in Red Lion Chase
Bear - A Delaware State Trooper received minor injuries after being shot in his protective body armor during a search warrant execution at a residence in Red Lion Chase, Bear, late this morning.
Preliminary investigation has determined that the incident occurred on Wednesday, August 6, 2014 at approximately 11:19 a.m. as Delaware State Police Detectives assisted by members of the Delaware State Police Special Operations Response Team (SORT) were executing a search warrant at a residence located in the 1000 block of Powell Court in the development of Red Lion Chase, Bear.
A male subject inside of the residence opened fire as SORT members made entry into the house. A Trooper assigned to the entry team was struck in the upper body as his protective body armor absorbed the impact of the bullet. SORT members were able to take the subject into custody without incident and without returning fire. The Trooper was treated and released from the Christiana Hospital Trauma Center with minor injuries.
This is an active and ongoing investigation with Detectives continuing their investigation, evidence processing, and interviews. This investigation is in its early stages with further information including the nexus of the search warrant and related charges to be released as the investigation progresses.
Preliminary investigation has determined that the incident occurred on Wednesday, August 6, 2014 at approximately 11:19 a.m. as Delaware State Police Detectives assisted by members of the Delaware State Police Special Operations Response Team (SORT) were executing a search warrant at a residence located in the 1000 block of Powell Court in the development of Red Lion Chase, Bear.
A male subject inside of the residence opened fire as SORT members made entry into the house. A Trooper assigned to the entry team was struck in the upper body as his protective body armor absorbed the impact of the bullet. SORT members were able to take the subject into custody without incident and without returning fire. The Trooper was treated and released from the Christiana Hospital Trauma Center with minor injuries.
This is an active and ongoing investigation with Detectives continuing their investigation, evidence processing, and interviews. This investigation is in its early stages with further information including the nexus of the search warrant and related charges to be released as the investigation progresses.
Maryland Among Top 10 States With The Lowest Percentage Of 'Structurally Deficient' Bridges
A White House report estimates one in four bridges in the U.S. needs significant repairs or can't handle today's traffic.
President Barack Obama is expected to sign a temporary fix this week to keep money flowing to the Highway Trust Fund, which pays for road and bridge construction and maintenance throughout the country and here in Maryland.
In his 21 year career as an inspector with the Maryland State Highway Administration , Edward Swift has been above and below many of the Maryland's State Highway Administration's 2,500 bridges.
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President Barack Obama is expected to sign a temporary fix this week to keep money flowing to the Highway Trust Fund, which pays for road and bridge construction and maintenance throughout the country and here in Maryland.
In his 21 year career as an inspector with the Maryland State Highway Administration , Edward Swift has been above and below many of the Maryland's State Highway Administration's 2,500 bridges.
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Consumer Reports Pics Up Our Story, Sort Of...
FAA: Pilot Endangered People By Buzzing His House, The Mall At 500 Feet
Seeing your world down on Earth in miniature is something we humans have enjoyed ever since the first person got to the top of something tall, looked down and said “Oooh, that’s my cave all the way down there!” But the Federal Aviation Administration says one pilot flying a US Airways passenger flight should’ve resisted that urge when he reportedly buzzed his house and a local mall at an altitude of only 500 feet.
In a probe by the FAA into the incident, officials say the pilot-in-command of a flight carrying 24 passengers and two crew members purposely flew the US Airways flight dangerously low over his house and a local mall, which was open late during the holiday season in December 2012, reportsUSA Today.
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Seeing your world down on Earth in miniature is something we humans have enjoyed ever since the first person got to the top of something tall, looked down and said “Oooh, that’s my cave all the way down there!” But the Federal Aviation Administration says one pilot flying a US Airways passenger flight should’ve resisted that urge when he reportedly buzzed his house and a local mall at an altitude of only 500 feet.
In a probe by the FAA into the incident, officials say the pilot-in-command of a flight carrying 24 passengers and two crew members purposely flew the US Airways flight dangerously low over his house and a local mall, which was open late during the holiday season in December 2012, reportsUSA Today.
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Ebola outbreak could be much worse than thought
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa -- The worst outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus in history could actually be much worse than the official death toll reflects. Already, the World Health Organization says 887 people have died, but a top doctor working at the heart of the outbreak in West Africa says many cases are going unreported.
The senior doctor, who works for a leading medical organization in Liberia, explained to CBS News' Debora Patta that what has helped set this outbreak apart from previous ones is the virus' spread in urban areas.
One of the epicenters of the disease is the Liberian capital of Monrovia, home to about a million people, or almost a quarter of the country's population.
The doctor, who spoke to CBS News on condition of confidentiality, said the disease is spinning out of control in Africa partly because it is extremely difficult to contain it in a sprawling, congested city center.
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The senior doctor, who works for a leading medical organization in Liberia, explained to CBS News' Debora Patta that what has helped set this outbreak apart from previous ones is the virus' spread in urban areas.
One of the epicenters of the disease is the Liberian capital of Monrovia, home to about a million people, or almost a quarter of the country's population.
The doctor, who spoke to CBS News on condition of confidentiality, said the disease is spinning out of control in Africa partly because it is extremely difficult to contain it in a sprawling, congested city center.
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Baltimore Gang Member Who Killed Himself At Police Station Identified
BALTIMORE - A man in police custody fatally shot himself in a bathroom stall inside Baltimore's Southwest District Police Station, officials said.
The man, later identified as Tyree Woodson, 38, was arrested Tuesday afternoon, officials said during a press briefing. Deputy Police Commissioner Jerry Rodriguez described the man as a "very violent person" with "a propensity for guns, violence and had a criminal history with a local gang."
Woodson's most recent open criminal charges include concealing a weapon and drugs. Court records show Woodson had an extensive criminal record that included charges for weapons, assault and attempted murder.
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The man, later identified as Tyree Woodson, 38, was arrested Tuesday afternoon, officials said during a press briefing. Deputy Police Commissioner Jerry Rodriguez described the man as a "very violent person" with "a propensity for guns, violence and had a criminal history with a local gang."
Woodson's most recent open criminal charges include concealing a weapon and drugs. Court records show Woodson had an extensive criminal record that included charges for weapons, assault and attempted murder.
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They Help Immigrant Kids With The Baggage They Carry
ROCKVILLE, Md. -- While the debate over what to do about illegal immigration simmers, state and local agencies try to deal with the surge of unaccompanied minors crossing the border into the U.S.
On Monday, Ted Dallas, Maryland's secretary of human services; and Anne Sheridan, the executive director of the Governor's Office for Children, detailed the latest efforts at the state level to tackle the influx of children and teens coming to Maryland. The meeting included discussions on streamlining the legal process as immigrants from Central America look to the courts for help in gaining refugee or asylum status.
But while all that goes on, more than 2,200 children and teens who have made it to Maryland and have reunited with families are trying to adjust to their new settings. Families are enrolling children in area schools and trying to access health care and deal with trauma their children may have experienced along the way. That's where the Tree House comes in.
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On Monday, Ted Dallas, Maryland's secretary of human services; and Anne Sheridan, the executive director of the Governor's Office for Children, detailed the latest efforts at the state level to tackle the influx of children and teens coming to Maryland. The meeting included discussions on streamlining the legal process as immigrants from Central America look to the courts for help in gaining refugee or asylum status.
But while all that goes on, more than 2,200 children and teens who have made it to Maryland and have reunited with families are trying to adjust to their new settings. Families are enrolling children in area schools and trying to access health care and deal with trauma their children may have experienced along the way. That's where the Tree House comes in.
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WCSO Monthly Crime Statistics (July 2014)
Sector 1
Salisbury, Allen,
Deer Harbour, Fruitland,
Fox Chase
Sector 2
Parsonsburg, Delmar
Sector 3
Delmar, Reservation,
Booth/West Rd.
Sector 4
Nanticoke, Waterview,
White Haven, Tyaskin
Sector 5
Booth Street, Reservation
Sector 6
Hebron, Mardela Springs,
Sharptown
Sector 7
Pittsville, Willards,
Powellville
The Wicomico County Sheriff's Office Has A New Job Opening
The Wicomico County Sheriff's Office has a new job opening:
Chief Finance Specialist. Follow the link to apply.
Chief Finance Specialist. Follow the link to apply.
SFD Calls For Service 8-5-14
- Tuesday August, 5 2014 @ 15:49Nature: Medical EmergencyCity:Salisbury
- Tuesday August, 5 2014 @ 15:33 Nature: Vehicle Accident w/InjuriesAddress: E Lincoln Ave & Spring Ave Salisbury, MD 21801
- Tuesday August, 5 2014 @ 15:33 Nature: Vehicle Accident w/InjuriesAddress: E Lincoln Ave & Spring Ave Salisbury, MD 21801
- Tuesday August, 5 2014 @ 14:54Nature: Medical EmergencyCity:Salisbury
- Tuesday August, 5 2014 @ 13:10Nature: Medical EmergencyCity:Salisbury
O'Malley Making Another Trip To New Hampshire
Gov. Martin O'Malley is scheduled to make another trip to New Hampshire.
The Strafford County Democratic Party on Tuesday announced O'Malley's scheduled attendance at a picnic in Somersworth on Aug. 17.
The Maryland Democrat, who is considering running for president, was in the first-in-the-nation presidential primary state in June for a Democratic dinner in Manchester. In November, he was the keynote speaker at a New Hampshire Democratic dinner.
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The Strafford County Democratic Party on Tuesday announced O'Malley's scheduled attendance at a picnic in Somersworth on Aug. 17.
The Maryland Democrat, who is considering running for president, was in the first-in-the-nation presidential primary state in June for a Democratic dinner in Manchester. In November, he was the keynote speaker at a New Hampshire Democratic dinner.
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Rand Paul: Obama Can't Rule by 'Royal Edict' on Immigration
“Who does he think he is?” asked a bewildered Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) during a political event in Iowa, referring to President Obama’s efforts to act on his own on immigration reform.
Paul noted that even though he supported some kind of immigration reform, he was concerned about Obama acting unilaterally to solve the problem.
“You can’t do it by royal edict. We can’t have a king doing it,” he said, a video of the event shows.
He blamed President Obama for increasing the problems at the southern border, particularly with the current border crisis of unaccompanied minors claiming asylum.
“All throughout Central America, every child and family believes that he will not send them home, so they are all coming,” he warned.
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Paul noted that even though he supported some kind of immigration reform, he was concerned about Obama acting unilaterally to solve the problem.
“You can’t do it by royal edict. We can’t have a king doing it,” he said, a video of the event shows.
He blamed President Obama for increasing the problems at the southern border, particularly with the current border crisis of unaccompanied minors claiming asylum.
“All throughout Central America, every child and family believes that he will not send them home, so they are all coming,” he warned.
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Stories From The Battlefield: Hamas Tunnels Used To Target Israel’s Kindergartens
Multiple media outlets report that Hamas’s offensive tunnel network – now known to have been composed of over forty attack tunnels dug underneath Israel’s border with the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip – was set to be activated during the Jewish High Holidays (September 24th) as a mass terror attack.
The attack was meant to generate as many as ten thousand casualties, men, women and particularly children and hundreds of captives. Explosives were particularly placed underneath kindergartens to make certain that these “institutions” would be the first struck, even before any thing else.
The IDF recently published the below map showing that tunnels were created in pairs, to empty out on both sides of nearby communities. The known cost of the infrastructure – each tunnel costs upward of some $1 million – clearly shows that Hamas was planning a coordinated mega-attack. It must be understood that use of even one tunnel would inevitably trigger Israeli retaliation against the entire network.
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The attack was meant to generate as many as ten thousand casualties, men, women and particularly children and hundreds of captives. Explosives were particularly placed underneath kindergartens to make certain that these “institutions” would be the first struck, even before any thing else.
The IDF recently published the below map showing that tunnels were created in pairs, to empty out on both sides of nearby communities. The known cost of the infrastructure – each tunnel costs upward of some $1 million – clearly shows that Hamas was planning a coordinated mega-attack. It must be understood that use of even one tunnel would inevitably trigger Israeli retaliation against the entire network.
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Maryland Casinos Generate $76 Million In Revenue In July
Maryland casinos generated $76 million in revenue in July, an increase of 9.7 percent compared to the same period a year earlier, the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency said Tuesday.
Maryland Live! in Hanover, Md., the third largest commercial casino in the nation, led the state’s four casinos with revenues of $58.2 million.
But the biggest success story for the month may be Rocky Gap Casino Resort, which posted $4.2 million in revenue for July, a jump of 19.7 percent compared to July 2013.
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Maryland Live! in Hanover, Md., the third largest commercial casino in the nation, led the state’s four casinos with revenues of $58.2 million.
But the biggest success story for the month may be Rocky Gap Casino Resort, which posted $4.2 million in revenue for July, a jump of 19.7 percent compared to July 2013.
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Despite Campaign Promises, Casinos, Not Schools, Are Big Winners From Gaming Profits
By Megan Brockett
Capital News Service
Gov. Martin O’Malley looked into the camera in 2012 and told his audience that expanded casino gambling would mean “hundreds of millions of dollars for our schools.”
That 2012 referendum on gambling had propelled Maryland’s schools into the spotlight of a multimillion-dollar campaign where supporters touted the message that more gambling would be a win for education.
But the measure, approved by voters that fall, has actually worked to send more money to the casino companies in fiscal year 2014 than to the education fund that was established when the state first legalized casino gambling in 2008.
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Capital News Service
Gov. Martin O’Malley looked into the camera in 2012 and told his audience that expanded casino gambling would mean “hundreds of millions of dollars for our schools.”
That 2012 referendum on gambling had propelled Maryland’s schools into the spotlight of a multimillion-dollar campaign where supporters touted the message that more gambling would be a win for education.
But the measure, approved by voters that fall, has actually worked to send more money to the casino companies in fiscal year 2014 than to the education fund that was established when the state first legalized casino gambling in 2008.
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Gannett To Spinoff Newspaper Unit Into Independent Publishing Pure Play
Gannett Co. Inc said today that it will split its broadcasting business from its publishing unit into two independent publicly listed companies, to focus on its core business and drive higher growth
Gannett Co. Inc (GCI), the owner of USA Today, announced today that it plans to spin off its newspaper publishing unit into an independent publicly traded company, as it enhances focus on its Broadcasting and Digital business, amid challenges in the print and publishing industry. Both companies, which will be headquartered in McLean, Virginia, will retain the Gannett name, according to the media house.
This decision comes in the wake of stalling print subscriptions in the US, as preference turns increasingly toward the digital medium. Gannett said in a press release today that the move was made to provide both companies the “opportunity to grow organically across all business as well as pursue strategic acquisition”.
Gannett expects the publishing business to be debt-free after separation, with all debt remaining with the broadcasting and digital company, which would own around 46 TV stations and several online properties. The company expects to pay out an initial combined cash dividend of $0.20 per share every quarter, once the two companies are separated.
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Gannett Co. Inc (GCI), the owner of USA Today, announced today that it plans to spin off its newspaper publishing unit into an independent publicly traded company, as it enhances focus on its Broadcasting and Digital business, amid challenges in the print and publishing industry. Both companies, which will be headquartered in McLean, Virginia, will retain the Gannett name, according to the media house.
This decision comes in the wake of stalling print subscriptions in the US, as preference turns increasingly toward the digital medium. Gannett said in a press release today that the move was made to provide both companies the “opportunity to grow organically across all business as well as pursue strategic acquisition”.
Gannett expects the publishing business to be debt-free after separation, with all debt remaining with the broadcasting and digital company, which would own around 46 TV stations and several online properties. The company expects to pay out an initial combined cash dividend of $0.20 per share every quarter, once the two companies are separated.
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Shock U.S. Army admission: Obama freed Taliban ‘psychopath’ in Bergdahl trade
‘Petty tyrant’ lost stature after capture in early days of war in Afghanistan
In a pointed assessment, an Army colonel advising the National Security Council says one of the Taliban prisoners released in the Obama administration’s deal to free Army Sgt. Bowe Berghdal is a “psychopath” who poses a “danger to fellow Afghans.”
Army Col. Mark Mitchell, director for counterterrorism at the National Security Council, is a Green Beret who helped capture Mullah Mohammad Fazl in the early days of the war in Afghanistan.
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In a pointed assessment, an Army colonel advising the National Security Council says one of the Taliban prisoners released in the Obama administration’s deal to free Army Sgt. Bowe Berghdal is a “psychopath” who poses a “danger to fellow Afghans.”
Army Col. Mark Mitchell, director for counterterrorism at the National Security Council, is a Green Beret who helped capture Mullah Mohammad Fazl in the early days of the war in Afghanistan.
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See the Verbal Altercation That Ensued After Driver Followed Officer Allegedly Speeding Down Highway at 90 MPH: ‘You Must Be Above the Law, Right?’
A video posted online Tuesday appears to capture an exchange that followed after a man was pulled over when he shadowed an officer that he said was exceeding the speed limit on a highway.
Paul Brylinski, who uploaded video of the incident to YouTube, said he followed a state environmental conservation officer speeding down Interstate 81 in New York at about 90 mph.
“I followed her for about 10 miles,” he wrote. “She slowed to 62 (mph) and I passed her going the limit, 65 (mph).”
That’s when Brylinski said the officer pulled him over.
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Paul Brylinski, who uploaded video of the incident to YouTube, said he followed a state environmental conservation officer speeding down Interstate 81 in New York at about 90 mph.
“I followed her for about 10 miles,” he wrote. “She slowed to 62 (mph) and I passed her going the limit, 65 (mph).”
That’s when Brylinski said the officer pulled him over.
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Michigan township rebels after new chief beefs up police force
DELTON — Early morning May 10, Jack Nadwornik stepped behind Tujax Tavern, the bar and restaurant he has owned for 30 years in this small, western Michigan town.
Nadwornik, out drinking with friends for his 58th birthday, urinated in a corner of the empty parking lot because the bar was locked up.
Within seconds, two Barry Township police cars and three officers — two of them unpaid reserves — confronted him as he was zipping up his pants. What happened next is up for debate: Police said he resisted arrest. Nadwornick said he didn’t, and a waitress who was leaving work agreed.
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Nadwornik, out drinking with friends for his 58th birthday, urinated in a corner of the empty parking lot because the bar was locked up.
Within seconds, two Barry Township police cars and three officers — two of them unpaid reserves — confronted him as he was zipping up his pants. What happened next is up for debate: Police said he resisted arrest. Nadwornick said he didn’t, and a waitress who was leaving work agreed.
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Redskins' Owner: Talk About Team Name Is 'Cocktail, Chit-chat Talk,' Not Real Native American Problems
And Daniel Snyder is 100 percent right.
You know who is pretty knowledgeable about the plights of many Native Americans? Daniel Snyder. And in case you've forgotten (or never knew) who he is, he's the owner of the Washington Redskins - which according to today's liberal/media thinking makes him a racist because he won't change the name to the Washington Harry Reids or something.
Those demanding that the team change its name claim they are speaking on behalf of Native Americans and their sensitivities. Snyder has, in response, pledged to listen and learn about the real issues facing Native Americans. And he's backed that up with action. And you know what he's found? A football team's nickname is not one of the issues that matter to them:
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You know who is pretty knowledgeable about the plights of many Native Americans? Daniel Snyder. And in case you've forgotten (or never knew) who he is, he's the owner of the Washington Redskins - which according to today's liberal/media thinking makes him a racist because he won't change the name to the Washington Harry Reids or something.
Those demanding that the team change its name claim they are speaking on behalf of Native Americans and their sensitivities. Snyder has, in response, pledged to listen and learn about the real issues facing Native Americans. And he's backed that up with action. And you know what he's found? A football team's nickname is not one of the issues that matter to them:
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Homeownership for Those under 35 Steadily Falling
The Census Bureau reports that quarterly homeownership for Americans under 35 years of age has fallen below 36 percent, a number that constitutes a new low.
The Bureau reports that in the second quarter, homeownership for those under 35 dropped to its lowest number since quarterly reports were first compiled.
According to CNSNews, "The homeownership rate among householders under 35 was 35.9 percent in the second quarter of 2014. That number was not only lower than any quarterly rate going back to the fourth quarter of 1993 but was also lower than any of the annual homeownership rates for under 35s that the Census Bureau has published since 1982."
This 35.9 percent is down from the 2004 peak of 43.6 percent rate. The rate of under 35s owning homes has been slowly declining since the 2004 high.
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The Bureau reports that in the second quarter, homeownership for those under 35 dropped to its lowest number since quarterly reports were first compiled.
According to CNSNews, "The homeownership rate among householders under 35 was 35.9 percent in the second quarter of 2014. That number was not only lower than any quarterly rate going back to the fourth quarter of 1993 but was also lower than any of the annual homeownership rates for under 35s that the Census Bureau has published since 1982."
This 35.9 percent is down from the 2004 peak of 43.6 percent rate. The rate of under 35s owning homes has been slowly declining since the 2004 high.
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Another Obamacare rate hike: Individual plans to spike 13.2 percent
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Individual health insurance premiums will increase an average of 13.2 percent in 2015, according to the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation.
That’s on top of this year’s 37 percent combined increase for individual and small group plans.
The new rate data comes from health insurance providers jockeying to participate in Florida’s federally-run Affordable Care Act insurance “marketplace.” In all, 14 companies filed rate data. Of the 11 returning plans, eight have price increases ranging from 11-23 percent, while three decrease in price from 5-12 percent.
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That’s on top of this year’s 37 percent combined increase for individual and small group plans.
The new rate data comes from health insurance providers jockeying to participate in Florida’s federally-run Affordable Care Act insurance “marketplace.” In all, 14 companies filed rate data. Of the 11 returning plans, eight have price increases ranging from 11-23 percent, while three decrease in price from 5-12 percent.
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Talk to Andy Tomorrow Night
I'm hosting townhall meetings this week on the Shore and I hope you will be able to come out. It is a great time for me to hear from you about issues that are important to you.
Here are the details:
Easton Town Hall
Wednesday, August 6
6 – 7 p.m.
Easton Volunteer Fire Department
315 Aurora Park Drive
Easton, MD 21601
Salisbury Town Hall
Thursday, August 7
6:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Salisbury VFW Post 194
821 East William Street
Salisbury, MD 21804
Grasonville Town Hall
Monday, August 11
4:30 – 5:30 p.m.
Grasonville VFW
203 VFW Avenue
Grasonville, MD 21638
I am planning to hold a townhall in Bel Air later in the month.
Thanks,
Andy
Here are the details:
Easton Town Hall
Wednesday, August 6
6 – 7 p.m.
Easton Volunteer Fire Department
315 Aurora Park Drive
Easton, MD 21601
Salisbury Town Hall
Thursday, August 7
6:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Salisbury VFW Post 194
821 East William Street
Salisbury, MD 21804
Grasonville Town Hall
Monday, August 11
4:30 – 5:30 p.m.
Grasonville VFW
203 VFW Avenue
Grasonville, MD 21638
I am planning to hold a townhall in Bel Air later in the month.
Thanks,
Andy
Diaper duty for Calif. taxpayers? Bill would create new welfare program
California is weighing a first-of-its-kind welfare program that would subsidize diapers for needy families, though some lawmakers say the plan's a stinker.
Assembly Bill 1516, written by Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez, a Democrat from San Diego, would create the taxpayer-backed program within the state's existing welfare network, called CalWORKs (California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids). Families that qualify for CalWORKS could be eligible for $80 a month to buy diapers for children under the age of 2.
“When you have an identifiable problem preventing women from self-sufficiency and there is an identifiable barrier, shouldn’t we help that along when we can?” Gonzalez told FoxNews.com.
Gonzalez, a single mother herself, said she first learned that residents can’t buy diapers with food stamps from an Eminem song off the soundtrack to the 2002movie "8 Mile." Under those programs, diapers -- along with cigarettes, alcohol and pet food -- are prohibited purchases.
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Assembly Bill 1516, written by Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez, a Democrat from San Diego, would create the taxpayer-backed program within the state's existing welfare network, called CalWORKs (California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids). Families that qualify for CalWORKS could be eligible for $80 a month to buy diapers for children under the age of 2.
“When you have an identifiable problem preventing women from self-sufficiency and there is an identifiable barrier, shouldn’t we help that along when we can?” Gonzalez told FoxNews.com.
Gonzalez, a single mother herself, said she first learned that residents can’t buy diapers with food stamps from an Eminem song off the soundtrack to the 2002movie "8 Mile." Under those programs, diapers -- along with cigarettes, alcohol and pet food -- are prohibited purchases.
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Shore Breaks Send One Dozen to Hospitals in OCMD
A combination of Tropical Storm Bertha and high tide sent one dozen people to go to area hospitals.
Many of the injuries include broken collarbones and dislocated shoulders.
Shore breaks are to blame, according to Captain Butch Arbin of the Ocean City Beach Patrol.
"We have a higher surf today because of the tropical storm activity in the Atlantic Ocean and that combined with high tide cause this," he said. "The waves rather than breaking on the sandbar continue building until they reach the beach causing people to be hit from behind. It's like being struck in a rear-end collision."
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Many of the injuries include broken collarbones and dislocated shoulders.
Shore breaks are to blame, according to Captain Butch Arbin of the Ocean City Beach Patrol.
"We have a higher surf today because of the tropical storm activity in the Atlantic Ocean and that combined with high tide cause this," he said. "The waves rather than breaking on the sandbar continue building until they reach the beach causing people to be hit from behind. It's like being struck in a rear-end collision."
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4 Million Fewer Jobs: How The BLS Massively Overestimated US Job Creation
When it comes to the all-important monthly payrolls number which sets the tone for risk over the next month, one of the biggest variables in the BLS' "estimate" (because all jobs numbers are that: statistical estimates) of US jobs is the monthly birth-death adjustment. What this monthly fudge factor is, in a nutshell, is the BLS' estimation for how many new businesses are created over the period offset by older "dying" businesses, leading to incremental jobs that are only polled by the BLS with a substantial lag.
Here is how the BLS explains this adjustment:
To account for this net birth/death portion of total employment, BLS uses an estimation procedure with two components: the first component excludes employment losses due to business deaths from sample-based estimation in order to offset the missing employment gains from business births. This is incorporated into the sample-based estimate procedure by simply not reflecting sample units going out of business, but imputing to them the same trend as the other firms in the sample. This step accounts for most of the birth and death employment.
To be sure, in a normal, vibrant, growing and most importantly, entrepreneurial economy, incorporating business creation vs business deaths is a perfectly reasonable statistical adjustment to the actual number of underlying jobs via the BLS business sampling that takes place every month.
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Here is how the BLS explains this adjustment:
To account for this net birth/death portion of total employment, BLS uses an estimation procedure with two components: the first component excludes employment losses due to business deaths from sample-based estimation in order to offset the missing employment gains from business births. This is incorporated into the sample-based estimate procedure by simply not reflecting sample units going out of business, but imputing to them the same trend as the other firms in the sample. This step accounts for most of the birth and death employment.
To be sure, in a normal, vibrant, growing and most importantly, entrepreneurial economy, incorporating business creation vs business deaths is a perfectly reasonable statistical adjustment to the actual number of underlying jobs via the BLS business sampling that takes place every month.
More
Doctors Begin To Refuse Obamacare Patients
Many Obamacare sign-ups already face more limited choices for physicians and hospitals
Obamacare plans have shrunk payments to physicians so much that some doctors say they won’t be able to afford to accept Obamacare coverage, NPR reports.
Many of the eight million sign-ups in Obamacare exchanges nationwide already face more limited choices for physicians and hospitals than those in the private insurance market. But with low physician reimbursement rates, the problem could get even worse.
For a typical quick patient visit, Dr. Doug Gerard, a Connecticut internist, told NPR a private insurer would pay $100 while Medicare would pay around $80. But Obamacare plans are more likely to pay closer to $80, which Gerard says is unsustainable for his practice.
“I cannot accept a plan [in which] potentially commercial-type reimbursement rates were now going to be reimbursed at Medicare rates,” Dr. Gerard told NPR. ”You have to maintain a certain mix in private practice between the low reimbursers and the high reimbursers to be able to keep the lights on.”
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Obamacare plans have shrunk payments to physicians so much that some doctors say they won’t be able to afford to accept Obamacare coverage, NPR reports.
Many of the eight million sign-ups in Obamacare exchanges nationwide already face more limited choices for physicians and hospitals than those in the private insurance market. But with low physician reimbursement rates, the problem could get even worse.
For a typical quick patient visit, Dr. Doug Gerard, a Connecticut internist, told NPR a private insurer would pay $100 while Medicare would pay around $80. But Obamacare plans are more likely to pay closer to $80, which Gerard says is unsustainable for his practice.
“I cannot accept a plan [in which] potentially commercial-type reimbursement rates were now going to be reimbursed at Medicare rates,” Dr. Gerard told NPR. ”You have to maintain a certain mix in private practice between the low reimbursers and the high reimbursers to be able to keep the lights on.”
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Mortgage Closing Costs Soar More Than 20%
Homebuyers are still landing great rates on mortgages. But thanks to tighter lending regulations, they are paying a lot more when it comes time to close on the loan.
Nationwide, the average cost of closing on a $200,000 loan with a 20% down payment hit $2,539 in June, a 6% increase from a year earlier, according to Bankrate.com.
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Nationwide, the average cost of closing on a $200,000 loan with a 20% down payment hit $2,539 in June, a 6% increase from a year earlier, according to Bankrate.com.
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MSP Press Release 8-6-14 (Berlin Barrack)
DEPARTMENT OF MARYLAND STATE POLICE
BARRACK “V” BERLIN
9758 Ocean Gateway Berlin, Maryland 21811
(410) 641-3101 Fax (410) 641-3259
BARRACK “V” BERLIN
9758 Ocean Gateway Berlin, Maryland 21811
(410) 641-3101 Fax (410) 641-3259
Case #: 14-MSP-024641
Date: 8/04/2014
Time: 2212
hours
Location:
Ocean Downs Casino Berlin Maryland
Crime: public urination, disorderly conduct
Accused:
Maurice Earl Vason b/m 48 yoa Pittsburg Pennsylvania
Narrative:
On the above date and time, the Maryland State Police Berlin
Barracks “V” received a call from the Ocean Downs Casino security in reference
to a subject that they had in custody for urinating in public.
Troopers responded and subsequently viewed the surveillance
footage of the above individual Vason urinating in plain view in one of the
parking lots.
The footage also showed that a patron was walking by Vason
when he was urinating.
Vason was subsequently arrested for disorderly conduct,
taken to the Maryland State Police Barracks for processing and released on a
criminal citation pending a court hearing.
Disposition: released
on criminal citation for disorderly conduct
Investigating
Trooper(s): TPR RUIZ, 6312
Duty Officer: Sgt. A.J. Romano
Barrack Commander: Lt. E.W.
Starner
Assistant Commander: F/Sgt. Davala
Criminal Investigation Commander: D/Sgt Sharp
Russia troop increase at Ukraine border raises concerns
Donetsk, Ukraine (CNN) -- A new buildup of Russian troops along the Ukraine border raised concerns Tuesday that Moscow might be contemplating another intervention like the one that annexed Crimea earlier this year.
According to a NATO official, Russia now has about 20,000 troops stationed "in an area along the entire border with eastern Ukraine." The buildup nearly doubled the troop deployment in the last week by adding 8,000 more forces to 12,000 already there, the official said.
It comes a week after the United States and the European Union increased economic sanctions on Russia for supporting pro-Russian separatists fighting Ukraine government forces in the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, along the border with Russia.
In addition, Russia's Defense Ministry is staging a week of military exercises involving air troops and anti-missile defense forces. The exercises are taking place in Russia's southern Astrakhan region, roughly 500 miles from the border with Ukraine.
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According to a NATO official, Russia now has about 20,000 troops stationed "in an area along the entire border with eastern Ukraine." The buildup nearly doubled the troop deployment in the last week by adding 8,000 more forces to 12,000 already there, the official said.
It comes a week after the United States and the European Union increased economic sanctions on Russia for supporting pro-Russian separatists fighting Ukraine government forces in the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, along the border with Russia.
In addition, Russia's Defense Ministry is staging a week of military exercises involving air troops and anti-missile defense forces. The exercises are taking place in Russia's southern Astrakhan region, roughly 500 miles from the border with Ukraine.
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