ACLU Sues Defense Secretary Hagel, Others Over Chelsea Manning’s Gender Treatment

The American Civil Liberties Union filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of Chelsea Manning Tuesday against Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel and other Department of Defense officials over the military’s improper medical treatment for her gender dysphoria.

Manning, who is transgender, has alleged that she’s only been given lip-service in response to her requests to receive medical treatment, such as hormone therapy, for her condition while she serves a 35-year prison sentence at the United States Disciplinary Barracks at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas.

The suit alleges that such medical care has been withheld from Manning even though military doctors themselves diagnosed her with the condition, which attorneys say is a constitutional violation.

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Caroline County Sheriff's Office Pays Tribute To Sgt. Charles Strong

                                                                                    

Caroline County Sheriff's Office
Sheriff's Office pays tribute to Sgt. Charles Strong

On 9/23/14 Marine Corps Sgt. Charles Strong who was killed in action while serving in Herat Province, Afghanistan was escorted from Dover Air Force Base by law enforcement and military officials to his final destination in Stafford Virginia. The procession passed through Caroline County, Maryland where members of Caroline County public safety paid tribute to the fallen hero. Learn more about Sgt. Charles Strong here:http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2014/092014/09232014/858920/index_html?page=1

Click 'Read More' below to see additional pictures

MOORE: The enduring myth of FDR and the New Deal

Rather than end the Great Depression, his policies prolonged it

My seventh-grade son recently wrote a U.S. History paper extolling the virtues of President Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal. “It ended the Great Depression,” he wrote with great certainty. He’s only 12 and parroting what the history texts and his teachers told him.

That’s his excuse. What’s Ken Burns’?

Mr. Burns’ docudrama on the Roosevelts — for those who weren’t bored to tears — repeats nearly all the worn-out fairy tales of the FDR presidency, including what I call the most enduring myth of the 20th century, which is that FDR’s avalanche of alphabet-soup government programs ended the Great Depression. Shouldn’t there be a statute of limitations on such lies?

Ask nearly anyone over the age of 80, and they will say that FDR cared about the working man and “gave the country hope,” a point that Mr. Burns emphasizes. Roosevelt exuded empathy, which isn’t a bad thing — remember Bill Clinton’s memorable line “I feel your pain”? — but caring doesn’t create jobs or lift gross domestic product.

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The OCBP Is Off Duty

Ocean City Beach Patrol

Fall has arrived and our 2014 season has officially ended. Since we are "off-duty" until the spring of 2015, we will not be posting as often on our social media sites, but encourage you to follow our co-workers (who we have tagged in this photo) to stay informed! We will do our best to update this page throughout the winter and will be back with our weekly posts by spring! Thank you for a great season and please remember to Keep Your Feet in the Sand, Until a Lifeguard's in the Stand!

Obama administration confirms American ISIS fighters have returned and 'the FBI is looking at them' after terror army calls for attacks on the US

A senior Obama administration official told reporters on Monday that American citizens who have fought alongside the ISIS terror army have managed to come back into the country and are under active surveillance by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The stunning revelation came ten days after a Democratic New York congressman spilled the beans with a public but little-noticed claim that there were 40 such 'foreign fighter' jihadis back on U.S. soil.

In a gathering with selected journalists, the administration official acknowledged that it's true.

The National Counterterrorism Center's latest determination, the official said, 'includes those who've gone, those who've tried to go, some who've come back and are under active – the FBI is looking at them.'

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Bear suspected of killing hiker in New Jersey

NEW JERSEY (MYFOXNY.COM) - Authorities say a black bear attacked and killed a hiker in a northern New Jersey nature preserve.

West Milford police say five friends from Edison were hiking in the Apshawa Preserve when they encountered the bear on Sunday. Police say the group became frightened and ran in different directions. They noticed one member was missing when they regrouped.

A search team located the body of Darsh Patel, 22 at about 5:54 p.m. Police say Patel had bit marks and claw marks on his body. It is believed to be the first recorded fatal bear attack in New Jersey.

A bear was found about 30 yards from his body and was euthanized.

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Berlin’s 44th Christmas Parade

Berlin’s 44th Annual Christmas Parade will be held Thursday, December 4, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. The inclement weather date is December 11, 2014. This year’s parade theme is “Berlin’s Coolest Small Town Christmas”. The parade is sponsored by the Berlin Main Street Program, in cooperation with the merchants of the town. Due to the increased costs, most categories will be asked to pay a small entry fee of $10. Commercial entries will cost $25.

Indivduals or organizations wishing to enter the parade must submit entry forms no later than Friday, November 21, 2014. Anyone wishing further information about partipating in the parade should contact Megan Houston at 410-973-2051, Joann Unger at 410-641-3858 or Sharon Timmons at 410-629-1716.

Troopers Charge Tour Bus Operator in Fatal Crash

Newark - The Delaware State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) has charged the 56 year old male tour bus operator in connection with the death of 2 female passengers, after a single vehicle tour bus crash on Sunday.

Troopers have charged Jinli Zhao-56 of Flushing, New York with the Operation of a Vehicle Causing Death of Another Person (2 counts) in connection with the September 21st bus crash that killed passengers Hua’y Chen-54 year old female from New York City, New York and Idil Bahsi-30 year old female from Istanbul, Turkey.

Preliminary investigation has determined that the crash occurred on Sunday, September 21, 2014 at approximately 4:20 p.m. as a 1996 Setra Touring Coach Bus with 49 passengers onboard, operated by Jinli Zhao-56 year old male from Flushing, New York was traveling SR1 southbound exiting onto the off ramp to US 13 northbound, New Castle. Zhao lost control of the bus as he attempted to negotiate a moderate curve on the ramp at an unsafe speed. The bus exited the roadway and overturned onto its roof. The bus continued to slide on its roof traveling down a slight grass embankment, rotating onto its left side where it came to rest.

Hua’y Chen-54 year old female from New York City, New York was a passenger on the bus. She sustained multiple traumatic injuries after being partially ejected and pinned under the bus. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Idil Bahsi-30 year old female from Istanbul, Turkey was a passenger on the bus. She sustained multiple traumatic injuries and was transported to the Christiana Hospital Trauma Center where she was pronounced dead on Sunday, September 21, 2014 at 10:45 p.m.

Through continued investigation and interviews, CRU Detectives were able to determine that Zhao was operating the tour bus at an unsafe speed as it entered the curve of the off ramp. The unsafe speed was determined to be a contributing factor which caused the bus to travel off of the roadway and overturn, causing the death of the 2 female passengers.

Jinli Zhao-56 year old male operator of the tour bus was treated and admitted to the Saint Francis Hospital, Wilmington with non-life threatening injuries.
He was released on Tuesday, September 23, 2014 at approximately 4:00 p.m. into the custody of Troopers. He was transported to Delaware State Police Troop 2 in Newark, where he was formally charged and arraigned.

Jinli Zhao was charged with the Operation of a Vehicle Causing Death of Another Person (2 counts). He was arraigned and committed to Howard R. Young Correctional Institution on $5000.00 Secured Bond. (No booking photo available at time of this release)

The Delaware State Police Collison Reconstruction Unit (CRU) along with the Delaware State Police Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program Unit (MCSAP), continue to conduct a thorough and comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding this crash and the identification of any other contributing factors which led to this crash. Preliminary investigation has determined that drugs and alcohol is NOT considered a contributing factor. Additional charges are likely to be filed at the investigation progresses.

NTSB continues to conduct an independent investigation. All inquiries in reference to their ongoing investigation can be directed to the NTSB

No further investigative updates are available at this time. Further information will be released as the investigation progresses.

Lose Weight With Chocolate by Choosing the Right Kind

If you're craving chocolate and feeling guilty, drop the guilt and pick up the chocolate. Over the past few decades, chocolate has gone from being the bane of healthy diets to being hailed as a help for major health problems, such as obesity, heart disease, and diabetes.

Scientists believe that inflammation is at the heart of many diseases, and numerous studies show that dark chocolate is a rich source of antioxidants and has anti-inflammatory properties. Still, scientists didn't understand the mechanism. Finally, a study at Louisiana State University earlier this year unraveled the mystery: "Good" bacteria in the human gut breaks down chocolate and ferments it to produce powerful anti-inflammatory compounds.

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This One Policy Switch Could Make Gas Way Cheaper

For nearly 40 years, there’s a been a ban on exporting crude oil from the United States to other nations in the world.

Now, a just-released study from a liberal think tank says lifting the ban could boost the U.S. economy between $600 billion to $1.8 trillion and save motorists up to 12 cents a gallon at the pump.

Researchers for the Energy Security Initiative of the Brookings Institution called the ban “an anachronism that has long outlived its utility and now threatens to impair, rather than protect, U.S. energy, economic, and national security” and cites modeling that predicts broad-based economic benefits that include more jobs, better wages and higher gross domestic product if the ban was ended.

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Princess Anne Police Department Press Release 9-23-14

 

On 9-21-14, the Princess Anne Police Department responded to 30411 Spruce Street in reference to a disturbance.  Investigation revealed that two subjects were involved in an argument which turned into an assault.  Both parties were referred to the District Court Commissioners Office for charges.

On 9-21-14, the Princess Anne Police Department responded to 12366 Somerset Avenue in reference to a disturbance.  Investigation revealed that a group of subjects were involved in an argument when an assault occurred.  All parties were referred to the District Court Commissioners Office for charges.

On 9-20-14, the Princess Anne Police Department served Kimberly Gale Grant, 54, of Amarillo, Texas with a Criminal Summons that charged Grant with assault 2^nd degree and reckless endangerment.  The charges stemmed from an assault investigation that occurred earlier on 9-20-14 at 30491 Prince William Street. 

On 9-20-14, the Princess Anne Police Department arrested William Patrick King, 31, of Columbia Maryland for assault second degree.  The arrest stemmed from a disturbance complaint on Somerset Avenue near the Manokin Park.  King was charged with two counts assault second degree, fail to obey a reasonable and lawful order, disturbing the peace, and disorderly conduct.  King was seen by a District Court Commissioner who issued a $200,000 bond.  King was released into the custody of the Somerset County Detention Center.

On 9-19-14, the Princess Anne Police Department arrested Woodland Warren James, 63, of Princess Anne, Maryland for possession of a controlled dangerous substance.  The arrest stemmed from James being stopped for having an outstanding District Court Bench Warrant for failure to appear.  A search incident to arrest revealed James was in possession of a controlled dangerous substance.  James was seen by a District Court Commissioner who issued a $5,000.00 bond on the controlled dangerous substance charge and $10,000.00 on the outstanding warrant case.  James was released into the custody of the Somerset County Detention Center.

On 9-19-14, the Princess Anne Police Department arrested Christopher Lee Simpson, 25, of Princess Anne Maryland for an outstanding District Court Arrest Warrant.  Simpson was seen by a District Court Commissioner who issued a $135.00 bond.  Simpson was released into the custody of the Somerset County Detention Center.

  

On 9-19-14, the Princess Anne Police Department responded to the area of Mt. Vernon Road and Route 13 for a motor vehicle crash.  Investigation revealed that as a vehicle was merging onto Mt. Vernon Road from Route 13 it collided with another vehicle that was traveling on Mt. Vernon Road.  The crash caused minor damage and no injuries were reported.

On 9-19-14, the Princess Anne Police Department took a report of theft that occurred at 30384 Daphne Lane.  Investigation revealed that property was stolen from the residence sometime between the dates of 9-14-14 and 9-19-14.  Incident remains under investigations.

On 9-18-14, the Princess Anne Police Department took a report of theft that occurred at 12364 Somerset Avenue.  Investigation revealed that items were stolen from the residence sometime between 9-6-14 and 9-18-14.  Incident remains under investigation.

On 9-17-14, the Princess Anne Police Department arrested John Samuel Nelson, 29, of no fixed address for armed robbery.  The incident stemmed from an armed robbery investigation that occurred earlier on 9-17-14 in an alley near 11793 Somerset Avenue.  Nelson was charged with two counts each of armed robbery, assault 1^st degree, assault 2^nd degree, reckless endangerment, theft less than $1,000.00, and one count of use of a firearm in a violent crime and having a handgun on person.  Nelson was seen by a District Court Commissioner who issued a $200,000.00 bond.  Nelson was released into the custody of the Somerset County Detention Center.

On 9-17-14, the Princess Anne Police Department charged Alison Renae Abbott, 35, of Deal Island, Maryland with theft less than $100.00.  The charge stemmed from a theft complaint at the Family Dollar store located at 12175 Elm Street.  Abbot was released from custody upon being issued a criminal citation.

Troopers Charge Tour Bus Operator in Fatal Crash

Newark-The Delaware State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) has charged the 56 year old male tour bus operator in connection with the death of 2 female passengers, after a single vehicle tour bus crash on Sunday.

Troopers have charged Jinli Zhao-56 of Flushing, New York with the Operation of a Vehicle Causing Death of Another Person (2 counts) in connection with the September 21st bus crash that killed passengers Hua’y Chen-54 year old female from New York City, New York and Idil Bahsi-30 year old female from Istanbul, Turkey.

Preliminary investigation has determined that the crash occurred on Sunday, September 21, 2014 at approximately 4:20 p.m. as a 1996 Setra Touring Coach Bus with 49 passengers onboard, operated by Jinli Zhao-56 year old male from Flushing, New York was traveling SR1 southbound exiting onto the off ramp to US 13 northbound, New Castle. Zhao lost control of the bus as he attempted to negotiate a moderate curve on the ramp at an unsafe speed. The bus exited the roadway and overturned onto its roof. The bus continued to slide on its roof traveling down a slight grass embankment, rotating onto its left side where it came to rest.

Study links changing winds to warming in Pacific

A new study released Monday found that warming temperatures in Pacific Ocean waters off the coast of North America over the past century closely followed natural changes in the wind, not increases in greenhouse gases related to global warming.

The study compared ocean surface temperatures from 1900 to 2012 to surface air pressure, a stand-in for wind measurements, and found a close match.

"What we found was the somewhat surprising degree to which the winds can explain all the wiggles in the temperature curve," said lead author Jim Johnstone, who did the work while a climatologist at the Joint Institute for the Study of the Atmosphere and Ocean at the University of Washington.

"So clearly, there are other factors stronger than the greenhouse forcing that is affecting those temperatures," he added.

The study released by the online edition of the peer-reviewed journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences does not question global warming, but argues there is evidence that in at least one place, local winds are a more important factor explaining ocean warming than greenhouse gases.

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Worcester County General Health Fair

Sorry to break it to everyone but the woman who claims to have surgically implanted third breast is a self-proclaimed HOAXER

Jasmine Tridevil's 'three breasts' have gotten their 15 minutes of fame, but they've finally been exposed as a sham after all.

Florida station 10 News has now outed Tridevil third breast as fake after obtaining a luggage theft report filed earlier this month by the 21-year-old at Tampa International Airport.

In the report, Tridevil (going by her real name Alisha Hessler) lists the contents of a bag which was stolen off the American Airlines conveyor belt, including a $5,000 '3 breast prosthesis' inside.

Cops eventually tracked down the thieves using surveillance footage, and returned Hessler's black nylon bag - but not before taking an official inventory.

Earlier Tuesday, Tridevil's story began to fall apart when internet-rumor site Snopes connected the young woman to a Tampa, Florida massage therapist named Alisha Hessler.

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Washington Redskins fan calls the police after producers of The Daily Show set up group of supporters in tense encounter with Native American activists

A Washington Redskins fan called the police after producers of The Daily Show set up a tense encounter between a group of the team's supporters and Native Americans activists.

Kelli O'Dell, 56, ran out of the room in tears after the heated confrontation that took place during filming of the yet-to-air episode at the Dupont Circle Hotel in Washington D.C.

The former teacher described how she was accused of 'psychologically damaging' Native American children and claims was 'cut off' every time she tried to speak.

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Islamic State To John Kerry: You’re An ‘Old Uncircumcised Geezer’

Islamic State terrorists have released a new video calling on lone wolf attacks in the United States — and taking potshots at America’s leaders, characterizing President Obama as the “mule of the Jews” and labeling Secretary of State John Kerry as out-of-touch and ineffective.

Specifically, Islamic State spokesman Abu Mohammad al-Adnani labels Mr. Kerry in the video as an “old uncircumcised geezer,” the Daily Mail reported. He then slings the phrase of “mule of the Jews” at Mr. Obama, before calling on those of Muslim faith to take action and wage war on those who of non-Islam belief.

“If you can, kill a disbelieving American or European — especially the spiteful and filthy French — or an Australian or a Canadian, or any other disbeliever from the disbelievers waging war, including the citizens of the countries that entered into a coalition against the Islamic State … kill him in any manner or way, however that may be,” Al-Adnani said, the Daily Mail reported.

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The “State Sponsors” of ISIS, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey: Why are they No Subject to Sanctions?

As the US and Europe prepare another round of sanctions against Russia over the ongoing Ukrainian conflict, the third round of such sanctions since the conflict began shortly after the Euromaidan unrest resulted in the installation of a NATO-backed regime in Kiev, a curious and inexplicable oversight appears to have been made.

While wild accusations have been leveled against Russia over its involvement over the violence in Ukraine, claims ranging from covert support up to and including unsubstantiated claims of a “full scale invasion,” prominent media organizations across the Western World have for years reported a flow of cash, weapons, equipment and fighters from America’s allies in the Persian Gulf as well as from nations like NATO member Turkey, and into the conflict raging within Syria’s borders.

While baseless claims leveled against Russia have served as ample justification for the West to continue leveling sanctions against Moscow, no sanctions have as of yet been leveled against the overt sponsors of militancy and, in fact, terrorism in Syria. So widespread has state-sponsored terrorism become in the Middle East that what began as a limited proxy war against Syria has transformed into an immense regional army with tens of thousands of paid soldiers requiring millions of dollars a day to operate across multiple borders and confounding the forces of Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon combined.

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Illegals On Obamacare? Feds Set To Bounce 115,000 From Program Who Can’t Prove Citizenship

The Obama administration has dragged its feet on revoking Obamacare coverage for people who can’t prove U.S. citizenship or legal residency, allowing some of the estimated 11 million illegal immigrants in the U.S. to continue enjoying taxpayer-funded benefits, a Republican senator charged Monday.

“The Obama administration is bending over backwards to give Obamacare to illegal immigrants but won’t protect hardworking American citizens who are losing their health care coverage,” said Sen. David Vitter, Louisiana Republican and an outspoken critic of President Obama’s health care law.

“The Obama administration has been granting deadline extensions, making excuses and turning a blind eye to falsified documents by illegal immigrants,” he said. “Enough is enough, and they need to provide answers to why they think illegal immigrants should be eligible for Obamacare.”

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RECTOR: The War on Poverty: 50 years of failure

This year marks the 50th anniversary of President Lyndon Johnson’s launch of the War on Poverty. In January 1964, Johnson declared “unconditional war on poverty in America.” Since then, the taxpayers have spent $22 trillion on Johnson’s war. Adjusted for inflation, that’s three times the cost of all military wars since the American Revolution.

Last year, government spent $943 billion providing cash, food, housing and medical care to poor and low-income Americans. (That figure doesn’t include Social Security or Medicare.) More than 100 million people, or one third of Americans, received some type of welfare aid, at an average cost of $9,000 per recipient. If converted into cash, this spending was five times what was needed to eliminate all poverty in the United States.

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SU’s Homecoming & Family Weekend

From reunions, to fun activities for parents and students, to a groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate a new $19 million Sea Gull Stadium, Salisbury University’s 2014 Homecoming and Family Weekend is packed with excitement.

Events begin Thursday, October 16, with the annual faculty emeriti and retired staff luncheon from noon-2 p.m. in the Wicomico Room of the Guerrieri University Center. (Admission to the luncheon is by invitation only.)

Activities continue Friday, October 17, with the Maroon & Gold Club’s annual golf tournament, co-sponsored by Chick-fil-A, at 10 a.m. at Nutters Crossing Golf Course. Entry fee is $65 per player, $240 per team. Pre-registration is required.

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Here’s What Obama Critic Dinesh D’Souza Was Just Sentenced to for Breaking Campaign Finance Law

Conservative author and Obama critic Dinesh D’Souza has been sentenced to eight months in a community confinement center, five years probation, one day of community service a week during that probation and ordered to pay $30,000 for breaking campaign finance law during the 2012 election.

D’Souza pleaded guilty in May to charges he arranged for straw donors to contribute to New York Republican Wendy Long’s failed U.S. Senate bid.

“It was a crazy idea, it was a bad idea,” D’Souza told Judge Richard Berman in Manhattan before sentencing, according to Reuters. “I regret breaking the law.”

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Worcester County Sheriff's Office Press Release 9-23-14

On September 21, 2014 at approximately 2055 hours a Deputy of the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office observed a red Ford pick-up truck bearing Virginia registration 7745HV fail to stop at the stop sign turning right off of East Market Street onto Route 113 South, Snow Hill, Worcester County, Maryland.
A traffic stop was conducted and the Deputy made contact with the driver, identified as Glen Andrew Payne, age 39, of Atlantic Virginia. While speaking to Payne the Deputy detected the odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from Payne’s breath and person. Payne agreed to submit to a series of field sobriety tests. Payne failed the field sobriety tests and was placed under arrest for Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol. Payne refused to take a breath test.
Payne was issued Maryland Traffic Citations for failing to stop at the stop sign and driving under the influence of alcohol. Payne was released on citations pending a trial.

Ron Paul Blasts Congress 'More War' Vote, "They Come Over Here, Because We Are Over There"

Last week, the House and Senate voted to rubber stamp President Obama’s war plans for the Middle East. Both bodies, on a bipartisan basis, authorized the US to begin openly training and arming the rebels who have been fighting for three years to overthrow the Assad government in Syria.

Although the Syrian government has also been fighting ISIS and related extremist groups for three years, the US refuses to speak to the Syrians and has warned Assad not to interfere with the coming US attack on sovereign Syrian territory

President Obama promised that airstrikes alone would “degrade and destroy” ISIS, telling the US military in a speech last week that:

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Friends Of Wicomico Public Library To Host Zombie Event

Contact: Monique Snyder

Title: Communications Manager

Phone: 410.749.3612 ext. 155

Email: msnyder@wicomico.org

friends of wicomico public library to host zombie event

The Friends of Wicomico Public Library will host “A Night in the Stacks” Dawn of the Unread on Friday, October 17^th from 6:30 – 9 pm at the Downtown Library.

General admission tickets are $15 and will include a live DJ and light show by New Beginnings Productions, thriller dance off, ghoulish grub, a horror cinema room, photo studio, professional monster makeup artist, cash bar & more. Enter the Best Zombie Horde contest and win a gruesome group prize, entry tickets are $20 per group. The event will be emceed by local comic book creators Mathew Shockley, Josh Shockley & James Dufendach of PLB Comics.

Become a V.I.Z (Very Important Zombie) and enjoy the perks of a well-prepped shelter. Accommodations will include 1 ticket to the V.I.Z reception at 6 pm, general admission to the event, 1 commemorative t-shirt, a signature cocktail, hors d’oeuvres catered by Black Diamond, live entertainment from local band The Wilderness & a swag bag. V.I.Z. passes are $50.

Tickets can be purchased at any Wicomico Public Library branch or through online registration. Sponsorships for this event are also still available. Additional event details can be found at anightinthestacks.org.

Wicomico Public Library has locations in Downtown Salisbury, the Centre at Salisbury, in Pittsville, and the Library Bookmobile. Not only does Wicomico Public Library offer numerous resources such as free Internet access, a variety of classes and events, and an online virtual library with eBooks, but it engages with the community by supporting learning, building community, and enriching lives. You Belong @ Wicomico Public Library!

Tour Bus Accident In Berlin

The Dispatch
Tour Bus Accident In Berlin
Shawn J. Soper
News Editor
BERLIN -- A little mid-afternoon drama unfolded on Tuesday afternoon in September in Berlin when a large tour bus attempting to pull into the municipal parking lot off Main Street struck a building overhang or canopy, blowing out two of the vehicle’s large windows.
Around 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, a large Star Travel and Tours bus attempted to make a right turn into the municipal parking lot on Main Street when the vehicle struck an overhanging canopy on the red brick building adjacent to the lot. The collision caused two of the bus’s large windows to blow out, showering small cubes of broken glass onto the sidewalk and roadway and inside the vehicle. No injuries were reported.
With the bus wedged halfway into the parking lot, the Berlin Fire Department and Police Department closed a portion of Main Street for about a half an hour. The occupants of the bus, which had New York license tags, crowded in the municipal parking lot while fire department officials and police along with the bus driver decided on the best course of action to remove the damaged bus.
The tourists were advised to go out and around and enjoy all Berlin has to offer while an alternative option could be decided upon. A few minutes later, dozens of the bus’s occupants were seen streaming into Rayne’s Reef restaurant, likely causing an immediate rush on an otherwise quiet Tuesday afternoon.
Berlin Fire Department officials broke out some of the larger pieces of jagged glass from the broken bus windows and a short time later, the driver was able to back the vehicle out onto Main Street. Once the bus was free of the overhanging canopy, it continued down Main Street to the Berlin Fire Company headquarters parking lot. Again, no injuries were reported, but it is uncertain whether the windows would be repaired or an alternative means of transportation would be provided for the dozens of tourists.

Bicyclists Are a Deadly Menace. Ban Bikes

In the New York Post, Nicole Gelinas warns us that arrogant bikers are a public health menace:

But in the past month, one man has died and one woman is near death because of something the city hasn’t seen in half a decade: deathly injury by a reckless bicyclist. …

Tarlov is reportedly near death because, one of the park’s racing cyclists allegedly hit her as she crossed the street.

A witness told The Post that cyclist Jason Marshall was “speeding. It didn’t look like he tried to stop. He was yelling for her to get out of the way.”

Last month, Irving Schacter (a cyclist himself) died in a similar fashion, also in the park. Either a 17-year-old cyclist or a pedicab driver, or both, failed to realize that sometimes the safe speed is zero.

I’ve noted this before, but it’s worth repeating: speed doesn’t kill, speed differential kills. Which is to say, bicycles are, by their very nature, dangerous. They’re too slow for streets and too fast for sidewalks, causing frustration (and inspiring risky lane changes/tailgating) in drivers and turning bicycles into two-wheeled death machines for pedestrians. The physics of bicycling (the difficulty of stopping/starting, the effort needed to go an extra block in order to obey one-way signs) inspires risky, illegal behavior (blowing through stop lights and signs, going the wrong way down one-way streets, etc.) that the riders then justify to themselves and others because, hey, they’re saving the world or something.

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SFD Calls For Service 9-22-14

• Monday September, 22 2014 @ 23:32Nature: Medical EmergencyCity:Salisbury
• Monday September, 22 2014 @ 21:57Nature: Medical EmergencyCity:Salisbury
• Monday September, 22 2014 @ 20:10Nature: Medical EmergencyCity:Salisbury
• Monday September, 22 2014 @ 19:16Nature: Medical EmergencyCity:Salisbury
• Monday September, 22 2014 @ 18:53Nature: Medical EmergencyCity:Salisbury

Where The Housing "Recovery" Is, In One Chart

Janet, we have a problem. The Fed's main policy transmission channel, since stock ownership is not widespread enough to affect the real economy's expectations, is via home equity wealth creation and animal spirit exuberance-based borrowing and leverage. As the following chart shows, the much-touted "housing recovery" pillar of the economy - that is set to take off and lift growth to escape velocity - is only evident in one place...

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'Seven deadly sins' of NJ pensions add up to $104 billion debt

The fiscal future of New Jersey and Gov. Chris Christie’s presidential ambitions hang in the balance as Trenton finally faces the $104 billion deficit in the state’s retirement system.

“We need to fix this system or it will eat us alive,” the governor warns in a mock movie trailer that opened his “No Pain, No Gain” town hall meetings across the state.

One key is whether Christie and the Legislature can agree to plug costly loopholes and stop blatant abuses of public pensions. If not, many public officials will continue to gorge themselves at the public trough while others make sacrifices.

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TROOPER STRUCK DURING VEHICLE SEARCH FURTHER DEMONSTRATING IMPORTANCE OF THE MOVE OVER LAW

(GREENBELT, MD) – A Maryland State Trooper is recovering from injuries sustained after he was struck early this morning while searching a vehicle, on the shoulder of the road, in Prince George’s County, Maryland 

The trooper is identified as Corporal Brian Hirsch, 30, an 11 year veteran currently assigned to the College Park Barrack. Corporal Hirsch was transported by Prince George’s County emergency medical personnel to Prince George’s County Hospital due to injuries sustained when struck. 

The driver of the 2005 Chevrolet Equinox is identified as Franklin Hernandez, 42 of the 5300 block of Greenway Drive, Hyattsville, Maryland. Hernandez failed to stop after the collision and refused medical treatment. He was charged on traffic citation with violations of the move over law as well as driving under the influence, failing to stop after a collision involving injury, and negligent driving. 

The preliminary investigation indicates that just after 2:00 a.m., Cpl. Hirsch along with another trooper were conducting a vehicle search on I-495 in the area of the Greenbelt Metro Station. Both Maryland State Police patrol units were stopped with their emergency equipment activated on the right road shoulder. While conducting a search, a 2005 Chevrolet failed to obey the move over law, and struck Cpl. Hirsch while standing on the right shoulder. The vehicle was stopped a short distance later. 

Once the driver of the Chevrolet was identified, Hernandez demonstrated signs indicating he may have been operating the vehicle under the influence of alcohol. Further investigation was conducted and he was arrested for DUI. 

This incident reinforces the importance on the move over law and the need for motorists to comply. The law is intended to provide an extra barrier of safety for police, fire and emergency rescue personnel, and on October 1, 2014, tow truck drivers. Motorists are required when approaching an emergency vehicle or a tow truck from the rear with its lights activated, to change into an available lane not next to the emergency vehicle or tow truck, when safe to do so. 
If there is no lane available, the motorists must slow down to a reasonable and prudent speed as they pass the emergency scene. 

JUST IN: 3 dead, Including Gunman, In shooting At Alabama UPS Facility, Police Say

Three people were killed Tuesday morning, including the suspected gunman, in a shooting at a UPS facility in Birmingham, Ala., MyFoxAL.com reported.

The identities of the victims and the shooter were not immediately clear. Lt. Sean Edwards from the Birmingham police, said one employee in uniform is confirmed dead.

The Birmingham News reported that the gunman is dead. The paper described the man as a white male in his 40s. Edwards says the gunman was an employee of the company.

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ISIS urges Muslims to 'kill disbelievers' and calls Secretary of State John Kerry an 'old uncircumcised geezer' in latest audio release

ISIS is once again urging Muslims to 'kill disbelievers' and attacking Secretary of State John Kerry and President Barack Obama for recent statements they have made about the terrorist group in a new audio recording.

Islamic State spokesman Abu Mohammad al-Adnani refers to Sec. of State Kerry as 'the old uncircumcised geezer' and calls Pres. Obama 'the mule of the Jews' on the recording, which is roughly 42-minutes long.

He then asks Muslims to do whatever they can to kill those who do not share their faith.

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White House: Some Islamic State fighters have returned to U.S.

White House officials on Monday acknowledged for the first time that Americans who’ve fought alongside the Islamic State terrorist group in Syria and Iraq have returned to the U.S., raising concerns about an attack on the homeland as President Obama prepares to urge the United Nations to confront the threat overseas.

Counterterrorism experts believe at least 100 Americans have traveled to the Middle East to join the terrorist group, and a senior administration official said the total includes “those who’ve gone, those who’ve tried to go, some who’ve come back and are under active [investigation] — the FBI is looking at them.”

In a little-noticed speech last week, one lawmaker said as many as 40 radicalized Americans have returned to the U.S. after fighting with the Islamic State.

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WCSO Most Wanted Subject 9-23-14

Incident: “Most Wanted” subject

Date of Incident: 23 September 2014

Location: Wicomico County

Suspect: Michael McKinley Mann, 54, LKA Salisbury, MD

Narrative: The Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s help in finding one of our “Most Wanted” fugitives. Michael Mann, a CONVICTED SEX OFFENDER, is the subject of an active arrest warrant that was issued after he failed to check in with the Sex Offender Registry Unit. SBYNEWS
 
Michael Mann, who is currently listed as “homeless” and is required to register for the rest of his life as a sex offender, last checked in at the Sheriff’s Office on 9 September 2014. Due to his status as homeless, he is required to check in once a week.

If anyone has any information about the current whereabouts of Mann, please contact the Sheriff’s Office at 410-548-4890. You may also anonymously report his location to Crime Solvers at 410-548-1776. Information reported to Crime Solvers that leads to Mann’s apprehension will lead to a cash reward.

Charges: Failure to Register as a Sex Offender

Releasing Authority: Lt. Tim Robinson Date: 23 September 2014

Hillary’s $100 Million Hollywood Makeover

The First Secretary of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia described the reforms which resulted in the Prague Spring as “socialism with a human face.” The New York Times calls Madam Secretary, CBS’s extremely expensive prime time contribution to the Hillary campaign, “Hillary with a human face.”

A network series can cost between $3 and $4 million an episode. Assuming that Madam Secretary runs even one season, instead of being canceled ignominiously like Commander in Chief, the 2005 attempt at giving Hillary a human face, it will cost somewhere in the neighborhood of $100 million.

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Worcester County Health Department Offers Rabies Clinics To Protect Pets

Worcester County Health Department offers rabies clinics to protect pets
Snow Hill, Md. - Worcester County Health Department has reported two rabid cats found in different areas of the county this week. To assist citizens in keeping their cats and dogs protected, Worcester County Health Department and Animal Control are holding two fall rabies clinics. The clinics will be:
• Stockton Fire Hall, Wednesday October 1, 2014, 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
• Showell Fire Hall, Thursday October 2, 2014, 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

The cost per pet is $5 for Worcester County residents and $10 per pet for non residents. Please bring proof of residency. Dogs must be on leashes and under the control of an adult. Cats and ferrets must be in carriers with air holes. If this is not your pet's first vaccination, please bring proof of previous vaccination. Maryland and Worcester County laws require rabies vaccinations for all cats, dogs and ferrets four months and older.
Outdoor animals or pets are at risk for rabies transmission when they encounter rabid wildlife at or near outdoor feeding areas, are free-roaming and sustain wounds without explanation, are not vaccinated against rabies or the vaccination is not current.

In order to reduce the risk of exposure to this deadly disease, health officials recommend the following:
1. Vaccinate all dogs, cats and ferrets, in accordance with Maryland law, and keep those vaccinations current.
2. Do not allow animals to roam freely.
3. Contact Animal Control at 410-632-1340 so that strays can be removed from the community.
4. Report abnormally behaving or aggressive wildlife or stray animals to local law enforcement and report all contact between pets and wild animals or feral cats so that the animal may be obtained for possible rabies testing and appropriate management of the pet can be determined.
5. Do not feed pets outdoors. If this is not possible, do not leave food (or spillage) out on the ground, decks, porches, etc. Feed and remove the bowls.
6. Secure trash cans and other areas where animals may be attracted to food.
For more information about rabies, please visit our website at http://www.worcesterhealth.org. For general questions about rabies, please call 410-632-4321.

Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan performs her first same-sex wedding for former law clerk and his partner

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan has performed her first same-sex wedding, it was today revealed.

The 54-year-old justice presided over the wedding of former law clerk Mitchell Reich and his partner Patrick Pearsall in the Washington suburb of Chevy Chase, Maryland, yesterday.

It was the first ceremony for a gay or lesbian couple at which Kagan officiated, Supreme Court spokesman Kathy Arberg confirmed.

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Obama administration confirms American ISIS fighters have returned and 'the FBI is looking at them' after terror army calls for attacks on the US

A senior Obama administration official told reporters on Monday that American citizens who have fought alongside the ISIS terror army have managed to come back into the country and are under active surveillance by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The stunning revelation came ten days after a Democratic New York congressman spilled the beans with a public but little-noticed claim that there were 40 such 'foreign fighter' jihadis back on U.S. soil.

In a gathering with selected journalists, the administration official acknowledged that it's true.

The National Counterterrorism Center's latest determination, the official said, 'includes those who've gone, those who've tried to go, some who've come back and are under active – the FBI is looking at them.'

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Scam Alert: Hospitals All Over America Are Wildly Inflating Medical Bills

The next time you visit a hospital, it is your wallet that may end up hurting the most

All over the United States, it has become common practice for hospitals to wildly inflate medical bills. For example, it has been reported that some hospitals are charging up to 30 dollars for a single aspirin pill. And as you will see below, some victims report being billed tens of thousands of dollars for a non-surgical hospital visit that lasts only a few hours. When something is seriously wrong with us, most of us never stop to ask our health professionals how much it will cost to actually treat us. In that moment, we are desperate and we just want someone to help us. Many doctors and hospitals take full advantage of this by billing their “customers” as much as they feel they can possible get away with. It is a legal scam that is bilking ordinary Americans out of billions of dollars every single year.

Over the weekend, the New York Times reported on one case that is a perfect example of the outrageous medical billing that I am talking about…

Before his three-hour neck surgery for herniated disks in December, Peter Drier, 37, signed a pile of consent forms. A bank technology manager who had researched his insurance coverage, Mr. Drier was prepared when the bills started arriving: $56,000 from Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan, $4,300 from the anesthesiologist and even $133,000 from his orthopedist, who he knew would accept a fraction of that fee.

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Obama's Rage

In September 2001 my daughter was a graduate student at Harvard. On the 11thday of that month, she spent some time sitting on a bench on campus, holding hands with one of her professors, while the two of them wept. Like many of her professors, this man was a renowned scholar. But unlike most, he came from a tough neighborhood in the Bronx. When phone service was restored to the West Coast, my daughter called. She said, “Mom, I'm so glad I was with my professor, because the people here at Harvard, they don't get it. It's like it wasn't their country that was attacked.”

It wasn't. Decades ago, the self-amazed, academic staccato-talkers at places like Harvard constructed an edifice of convenient untruths about the United States. America was reframed as an intolerant, aggressive, and morally backward nation. This dogma enabled the elites to claim the advantages of being American while exempting themselves from any form of military service, or gratitude for the military, which provides their national security. Most of such types at Harvard consider themselves American, but special, enlightened ones; it was the greedy, intolerant, patriotic folks who were attacked on 9/11.

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Salisbury Zoo Gets 2 Endangered Marmosets

SALISBURY, Md. (AP) -- The Salisbury Zoo in Maryland's Eastern Shore just got two new endangered primates.

Two white-fronted marmosets are now on display at the zoo. One is a 7-year-old female from the Brandywine Zoo in Wilmington, Delaware, and the other is a 3-year-old from the El Paso Zoo. Both are on loan from the Brazilian government.

The 8-inch-long primates are considered endangered.

Zoo officials say they hope the pair breeds to help the species rebound.

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The Hillary Letters

Hillary Clinton, Saul Alinsky correspondence revealed

NOTE: READ THE HILLARY CLINTON-SAUL ALINSKY LETTERS HERE.

Previously unpublished correspondence between Hillary Clinton and the late left-wing organizer Saul Alinsky reveals new details about her relationship with the controversial Chicago activist and shed light on her early ideological development.

Clinton met with Alinsky several times in 1968 while writing a Wellesley college thesis about his theory of community organizing.

Clinton’s relationship with Alinsky, and her support for his philosophy, continued for several years after she entered Yale law school in 1969, two letters obtained by the Washington Free Beaconshow.

The letters obtained by the Free Beacon are part of the archives for the Industrial Areas Foundation, a training center for community organizers founded by Alinsky, which are housed at the University of Texas at Austin.

The letters also suggest that Alinsky, who died in 1972, had a deeper influence on Clinton’s early political views than previously known.

A 23-year-old Hillary Clinton was living in Berkeley, California, in the summer of 1971. She was interning at the left-wing law firm Treuhaft, Walker and Burnstein, known for its radical politics and a client roster that included Black Panthers and other militants.

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The Cause of Black Violence in Ferguson Schools

The Post-Dispatch finally figured out who is responsible for the relentless violence and mayhem in black schools in Ferguson, MO: The white teachers.

This is basically the same story the paper ran last year about St. Louis, with the same explanations: White teachers cannot handle the constant chaos in black classrooms. So they quit, many on the first day.

This week, the mayhem reached such epic levels in Ferguson that two schools were forced to suspend 20 percent of their student bodies. All black.

“Many new teachers are white and previously taught in more affluent suburban schools,” explained the paper. “Some are struggling to connect with their students, most of whom are black and come from impoverished backgrounds.”

One of these schools removing students from the classroom at bulk rates is Normandy High, which produced America’s latest and greatest poster child for the war on black people, Michael Brown, the gentle giant of Ferguson.

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