Cop Murdered With Own Gun by Unarmed Criminal… THIS Is Why Officer Wilson Shot

For all those who think that officer Darren Wilson used excessive force when defending himself against Michael Brown, let the tragic death of officer David W. Smith be a lesson to you.

Smith, an officer with the Johnson City, N.Y., Police Department, was fatally shot by a disturbed man who attacked him in his car and took away his gun, ending a law enforcement career of over 18 years.

Smith was attacked after he responded to a disturbance call at a hospital at about 7 a.m. on March 31 of this year.

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The Story Behind the Woman Who Raised Over $500,000 for Officer Darren Wilson Makes Perfect Sense

It’s been a fortunate week for Darren Wilson, considering what might have happened. First, the grand jury in Ferguson declined to pursue charges against him in the death of Michael Brown. Then, he and his new wife announced they are expecting a baby.

There’s still a tough road ahead for Wilson, though, with a federal investigation looming and a potential civil action against him by Brown’s family. He has to worry about (and pay for) his family’s safety and the possibility of financial costs in any legal proceedings.

Since the summer, an anonymous supporter has set up a pair of Facebook pages and sold hats and T-shirts to raise funds for Wilson – and to date has raised more than $500,000.

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Officer Wilson Is About to Get a VERY Big Present

Officer Darren Wilson has had an extremely stressful few months.

But now, the generosity of strangers will give him one less thing to worry about.

An anonymous woman has organized an online fund to support the Ferguson police officer, who has recently been targeted by rioting protesters in that Missouri city.

The fund’s balance is no small number, either: So far at least $500,000 has been raised for the officer.

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Holiday TV shows: A complete guide to this season's specials

November 30

9 a.m. (DISNEY) “Eloise at Christmastime”

10 a.m. (HALL) “A Very Merry Mix-Up”

10 a.m. (NICK) “Santa Hunters”

10:40 a.m. (DISNEY) “The Nightmare Before Christmas”

Noon (HALL) “Let It Snow”

Noon (TOON) “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer”

1 p.m. (LIFE) “An Accidental Christmas”

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40,000 Telecom Workers Don’t Want to Join Union but Must Pay Mandatory Dues

Communications Workers of America collects mandatory fees from more than 40,000 workers who don’t want to join the union.

Based on the union’s 2014 annual report to the U.S. Department of Labor, CWA had 623,020 members and 43,353 “agency fee payers” as of May 31. CWA takes mandatory fees from workers in private industry and in taxpayer-funded government jobs.

Many workers who decline union membership can be forced to pay agency fees of slightly less than CWA’s typical 1.3 percent dues rate. Unions can make agency fees a condition of employment for private-sector workers in 26 states and public-sector workers in 23 states.

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Photo Of Boy Hugging Officer At Portland's Ferguson Protest Goes Viral

A touching photo that captures a helmeted white police officer hugging a teary-eyed 12-year-old African-American boy at a Ferguson shooting protest in Oregon has gone viral on social media.

More than 150,000 Facebook users shared the image hours after The Oregonian newspaper posted it on its website.

Freelance photographer Johnny Nguyen snapped the picture when Portland Police Sgt. Bret Barnum and 12-year-old Devonte Hart embraced at a Nov. 25 rally protesting the decision of a Missouri grand jury not to indict Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson in the shooting death of teen Michael Brown.

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What If.........

SFD Calls For Service 11-29-14

• Saturday November, 29 2014 @ 23:49Nature: Medical EmergencyCity:Salisbury
• Saturday November, 29 2014 @ 22:34 Nature: Flood With Electrical HazardsAddress: 926 Snow Hill Rd Salisbury, MD 21801
• Saturday November, 29 2014 @ 21:45 Nature: Automatic AlarmAddress: 550 Riverside Dr Salisbury, MD 21801
• Saturday November, 29 2014 @ 20:26 Nature: Flood With Electrical HazardsAddress: 926 Snow Hill Rd Salisbury, MD 21801
• Saturday November, 29 2014 @ 20:25Nature: Medical EmergencyCity:Salisbury

Mike Brown's Mom Reacts: You Motherf*%ckers Think This is a Joke

LANGUAGE WARNING!

Matt Maciarello Calls for Police Oversight Boards

SALISBURY, MD – Wicomico County State’s Attorney Matt Maciarello proposed civilian oversight boards for both the Salisbury Police Department and the Wicomico County Sheriff’s office according to a report by Daily Times reporter Jeremy Cox.  Maciarello also proposed that both SPD officers and WCSO deputies wear body cameras.  Details of Maciarello’s proposal are not currently available.

As with all such proposals, the devil is in the details.  The Salisbury city council and mayor could easily pass legislation to institute a civilian oversight board and require officers to wear body cameras.  The wisdom of such proposals can be debated.  However, neither Maciarello nor the Wicomico County government have the authority to institute such proposals.  The county government funds the Sheriff’s office with local tax dollars.  It cannot dictate to Sheriff Mike Lewis how he chooses to operate his office.  Unless the state plans on passing such a law OR Wicomico County plans on creating a county police department, such proposals are nothing more than suggestions.
In the Daily Times’ account, the subheadline reads: 

Maciarello's push represents the most tangible action taken so far after a string of violent —sometimes fatal — interactions between police and citizens in Wicomico

This hardly represents “tangible” action as Maciarello lacks the authority to do anything but hold a press conference regarding this matter.

cross posted at DelMarVa Observer

Dozens Protest Commonwealth Attorney’s Decision On PETA Investigation

ACCOMACK COUNTY, Va. (WAVY) — Dozens of people gathered in Accomack County Monday morning to protest the Commonwealth Attorney’s decision not to prosecute two PETA workers accused of stealing and euthanizing a family’s dog.

Protesters said they will ask the Commonwealth’s Attorney to reconsider his decision not to prosecute PETA.

The investigation began last month when an Accomack County man claimed PETA workers stole and killed his pet chihuahua. Wilbur Cerate said home surveillance video shows a van with “PETA” on the side, enter his driveway. Two women are then seen getting out of the van, one walks up to his porch, picks up the dog and places it the van. Cerate said the two women returned three days later and told him his dog had been euthanized.

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NYT Reporter Who Published Darren Wilson Address Calling Cops Nonstop

The New York Times journalist who published Darren Wilson’s home address wants police protection and has been calling the police nonstop, Gotnews.com has learned.

Julie Bosman “keeps calling the 020th District station complaining about people harassing and threatening her,” our source told us. She’s also “complaining about numerous food deliveries being sent to her residence.”

Chicago police department sources alerted Gotnews.com about the glaring double standard on Friday.

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BREAKING NEWS: NFL player Ray Rice wins appeal against suspension

Former Baltimore Ravens NFL running back Ray Rice, who was suspended indefinitely after a video of him hitting his then-fiancee was released publicly, has won his appeal against the suspension, according to the player’s union.

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Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: White People Feel Targeted by the Ferguson Protests—Welcome to Our World

Abdul-Jabbar is a six-time NBA champion and league Most Valuable Player. He is also a celebrated author, filmmaker and education ambassador.

White Americans feel like they are being singled out because of the color of their skin rather than any actions they’ve taken. That's how black people feel. Every. Single. Day.

In 1971, a riot broke out at the Attica Correctional Facility in New York during which prisoners demanded more political rights and better living conditions. About 1,000 inmates out of 2,200 took control of the prison, holding 42 staff members hostage. 

Negotiations went on for days before state police stormed the prison, resulting in 43 deaths. Attica has since become a pop culture reference in movies, songs, and TV shows. Even children’s shows like SpongeBob Squarepants, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Sabrina: The Teenage Witch have referenced it. The word “Attica” is no longer about what happened in that prison 43 years ago, but is now simply a synonym for political oppression.

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Church attended by Michael Brown's family destroyed during Monday night's protests

The Missouri church attended by Michael Brown’s father and his family was one of a dozen or so buildings burned to the ground during Monday night’s protests in the wake of a grand jury’s decision not to indict Officer Darren Wilson.

While the majority of the buildings destroyed on Monday were in downtown Ferguson, the Flood Christian Church is located some three miles away from the protests in a remote section of Country Club Hills.

Pastor Carlton Lee, who has been a vocal advocate for the Browns since their son was shot in August, has said he believes that white supremacists rather than protesters were to blame for the destruction.

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Brown's mother: "How could your conscience be clear?"

Michael Brown's parents are expressing their frustration after Officer Darren Wilson spoke out about having a "clear conscience" following a grand jury decision not to charge Wilson for the Aug. 9 shooting of their son.

"His conscience is clear? How could your conscious be clear after killing somebody even if it was an accidental death?" mother Lesley McSpadden said Wednesday in an emotional interview on "CBS This Morning."

Wilson spoke to ABC News' George Stephanopoulos on Tuesday, saying, "I know I did my job right." In the interview, Wilson said he feared for his life as he tried to defend himself against the 18-year-old, who was allegedly throwing punches at him while Wilson was inside his police vehicle. The altercation then shifted outside the vehicle, where Wilson said Brown charged at him after initially running away. That's when the fatal shots were fired. While witness accounts heard by the grand jury differed, there were some that appeared to back up Wilson's version of events.

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Mass Protests In Baltimore Over Ferguson Grand Jury Decision

Demonstrators took to the streets of downtown Baltimore to protest the Ferguson grand jury's decision not to indict a white police officer in the shooting death of an unarmed black teenager.

Protesters gathered outside Baltimore Police Headquarters and City Hall and at McKeldin Square near the Inner Harbor, then began marching through the streets.

They chanted and denounced the grand jury for - in their view - denying justice to 18-year-old Michael Brown's family.

At one point, protesters walked along the JFX downtown, prompting police to temporarily close part of the span.

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14 Year Old Child Severely Beaten By Salisbury Police Officer Has Been Completely Exonerated

While I had critics out there saying I was nuts to believe a Salisbury Police Officer is "rogue", today we announce the first case involving that Officer is a victory for the VICTIM. 

The case is now about the victims. There has been no concern whatsoever about the victims, including the Mayor and States Attorney. Not a word. 

The boy was beaten severely and the officer admittedly testified he slammed his Aunts head "to the concrete".

The boy has been completely exonerated by a Circuit Court Judge- of any conduct that would warrant a beating. This is non-negotiable at this point. It is the law of the case, after a full day trial.

Obviously there will be more to come. If you'll recall, Mayor Ireton had stated on WMDT that he believed in the Officer's innocence based on the VIDEO he had seen of this incident. Then, (out of nowhere) the Salisbury Police claimed there was NO VIDEO due to technical errors. 

Our original story about this incident is HERE. Then there was this story, 

Ireton Calls Salisbury Attorney Who Sued the City a Liar and Legal Hustler

We have a mayor who would likely be on the front line of protests for Michael Brown (police conduct determined to be lawful) but when something happens on his watch (police conduct determined to be unlawful) he publicly attacks the boys character, then runs and hides after the court ruling.

What say you now Mayor Jim Ireton?

MIKULSKI STATEMENT ON FERGUSON GRAND JURY DECISION

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.) issued the following statement in response to the Ferguson grand jury decision in the Michael Brown shooting case:

“My thoughts and prayers are with the family of Michael Brown, the community of Ferguson and the entire nation during this difficult time.

“I join the Brown family and President Obama in calling for nonviolence. I absolutely support people in their desire and right to gather peacefully. Peaceful protests have been pivotal in expanding civil rights and equal protection under the law in our nation.

“It’s my hope that this national tragedy will inspire communities and law enforcement to end racial profiling and protect all citizens. It’s also an opportunity for Congress to set aside its party differences and put the people first by passing the End Racial Profiling Act. I also support the Justice Department’s civil rights investigation of the Ferguson Police Department and other Departments around the nation, including Baltimore’s.”

Let's See If YOU Can Find The Mistake From WBOC - It Happens

Sad Story From Ferguson Turns Into A Happy One

This is Natalie DuBose she has a cake store in Ferguson that was looted by the protesters. She sold cakes at flea markets to save up enough to open her own store.  In one night all her hard work was destroyed...........or so she thought.  Someone has set up a GOFUNDME account to help her get back on her feet. This is a busy time of year for a bakery.   The message that she posted on Gofundme is very touching.  CLICK HERE to read and see how much people have donated.

Montgomery Co. Considers Ban On E-Cigarettes

WASHINGTON - Vape. The word has become so prevalent that the Oxford English Dictionary included it among new entries this year.

To vape is to use an e-cigarette, which emits vapor, not smoke. And while you're free to say the word all you want, you may be banned from doing it in Montgomery County.

A proposal to ban vaping or using e-cigarettes in public has been introduced before the Montgomery County Council.

According to the bill submitted in a packet to the council on Tuesday, the bill would:

• prohibit the use of electronic cigarettes in public places where traditional tobacco smoking is prohibited
• restrict the sale of certain liquid nicotine or liquid nicotine containers in retail outlets unless the nicotine is in a container considered child-resistant packaging
• prohibit the sale of electronic cigarettes in any place that is accessible to buyers of the product without the intervention of the seller (similar to tobacco products)

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Justice for Mike Brown

Ms. Ball,

I am of the opinion that the grand jury examining the evidence and listening to testimony didn't refuse to indict, but reasoned that indictment was not warranted in the case. 

The phrase "refused to indict" indicates that somehow the grand jury acted contrary to an instruction toindict.  From where or whom did that instruction come, and what power would that entity feel it had to control the workings of a grand jury?

Is there some other firmly established evidence or information that you have that would sway my opinion?  If so, will you share with me?

Thank you.

On Tue, Nov 25, 2014 at 9:58 PM, Corinne Ball, MoveOn.org Civic Action <moveon-help@list.moveon.org>wrote:

Dear MoveOn member,

Last night, a St. Louis grand jury refused to indict Officer Darren Wilson for the brutal killing of 18-year-old Mike Brown.

Missouri's politicians and political system have failed to seek justice for Mike Brown. If the story ends here,the person responsible for Mike Brown's death, Officer Darren Wilson, may never be held accountable—and will never be tried in a court of law. 

But the U.S. Department of Justice is investigating Mike Brown's death, too, and has the power to arrest and prosecute Officer Darren Wilson under federal criminal charges. So our friends at the civil rights organization ColorOfChange.org have launched a petition calling for the Department of Justice to do exactly that.

President Obama and Attorney General Holder's actions in this moment will have a major impact—not just on Mike Brown's family, but for the broader cause of ending racial profiling, discriminatory policing, and police brutality in America. Will you sign ColorOfChange's petition demanding justice for Mike Brown now?

Click here to sign ColorOfChange's petition now.

–Corinne

---

Dear MoveOn member,

I'm Rashad Robinson, Executive Director of ColorOfChange.org, and I started a petition to President Barack Obama, Attorney General Eric Holder, and the United States Department of Justice, which says:  

A St. Louis grand jury has refused to indict Officer Darren Wilson, who targeted and killed 18-year-old Black teenager Mike Brown more than three months ago. I urge you to do everything in your power to secure justice for Mike Brown and the people of Missouri. I call on you to arrest and prosecute Officer Darren Wilson to the fullest extent of federal law, and to defend protesters' First Amendment right to free speech.

As president and U.S. attorney general, you have both the power and responsibility to secure justice for Mike Brown and systemic reforms to law enforcement. I urge you to take definitive action to indict Officer Darren Wilson and to overhaul the policies and practices that led to Mike Brown's death, as well as those that perpetuate the nationwide crisis of discriminatory policing.

Yesterday, a St. Louis grand jury refused to indict Mike Brown's killer—police officer Darren Wilson. On August 9, the nation was horrified to learn that Mike Brown was targeted and killed by police as he walked down the street with a friend.

Now his killer may never be held accountable—unless President Obama and U.S. Attorney General Holder take action. The Department of Justice has the power to arrest and prosecute Officer Wilson under federal criminal charges. Raise your voice today to ensure our national leaders secure justice for Mike Brown immediately.

Click here to add your name to this petition, and then pass it along to your friends.

Thank you. 

–Rashad Robinson

Miller, Mathias, & Money

“Senate Seats for Sale”

Recently the Salisbury Daily Times attempted to put campaign finances in perspective as they related to local races in the Maryland General Assembly.  The effort was shallow and did not truly reveal the money trail and the true cost of these races.  Here are some interesting details that folks on the Eastern Shore should find interesting and eye opening:

Candidate Total Expenses District 38 (Somerset/Wicomico/Worcester Senate Seat)

*This encompasses all campaign expenses during this election cycle beginning in January of 2011:

Mathias       $ 551,161.00

Mathias also received significant support from the Maryland Senatorial Committee Slate which is funded by Senate President Mike Miller. During this election cycle, Miller transferred $ 1.12 million dollars to support this fund. Out of this fund in direct support of Mathias came the following money:

Staff Salary for Brian Kemmet (Snow Hill)  $30,515.36

*Kemmet worked exclusively as a Mathias Staffer and received multiple payments as salary during the previous year. (None of these expenses are captured in Mathias spending total).

While Mathias also received direct transfers from the “Miller” Slate account of $ 30,000.00, he also received multiple transfers from other Democratic Senators accounts as well as from a separate account set up by the Democratic Senate Caucus.

Transfers from Senators from the Western Shore: $60,450.00

The “Miller” Slate money fueled all of the attack ads in support of the Mathias Campaign. Although a full disclosure breakdown is not published or publicly available, it is very easy to hide the actual amount of spending that was done in support of Mathias; but it can be estimated. The attack mailers (depicting a McDermott “300% Raise” which were shown to be false by the Daily Times and others) were not cheap. Their production costs coupled with a broad mailing directed at an estimated 35,000 households (it could be more) would cost between $ 20-30,000.

Six Attack Mailings @ $25,000 each is a total of $ 150,000.00

*(None of this is captured in the Mathias spending total)

The “Miller” Slate money also fueled all of the attack advertising broadcast on all of the cable and network television channels. Once again, it is difficult to estimate the production costs associated, but based upon the volume and timing (final 14-days of campaign) the cost can be estimated.

Television Attack Ads on Cable and Network Television could exceed $ 60,000.00

*(None of this is captured in the Mathias spending total)

Based upon spending totals reported by Mathias, it is estimated that he spent a minimum of $ 250,000.00 for television advertising from his own campaign funds.

To capture a true picture of the cost that Mathias and Miller paid to keep the District 38 Senate Seat in Democratic hands (or to keep McDermott out):

The total cost estimate on the Mathias Campaign:   

$ 791,676.00.00.

This would place the spending for the Mathias Campaign at $39.15 per vote received making it the most expensive per capita race in Maryland and one of the more expensive per capita races in the entire country.  You will never read about this in the local media as they will not take the time to simply review the Campaign Finance Reports that are readily available online with the Maryland State Board of Elections.  It is not often easy to navigate, but we use to call it “investigative reporting”.

Our next report will focus on those making the contributions. The special interest money is disturbing on many levels, and some of the individual donors give rise to the old adage of, “pay to play” when it comes to Maryland politics. We just did not expect as much from the Eastern Shore.

Brian Williams Laments Ferguson Grand Jury ‘Failed To Come Up With Charges’ Against Darren Wilson

On Monday night, a grand jury in Ferguson, Missouri found no probable cause to indict Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson for the shooting death of Michael Brown. Following the grand jury’s ruling, the “big three” (ABC, CBS, and NBC) all broke from their regular prime time programming to announce the decision. Unlike ABC and CBS, NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams failed to mention any of the actual facts of the case or legal rationale for the grand jury’s decision when he expressed his dissatisfaction with the case’s outcome. 

During NBC’s coverage, Brian Williams ignored all of the actual details of the case and even suggested that despite the violence in Ferguson “the bottom line is, this grand jury sitting 25 days, failed to come up with charges after 70 hours and 60 witnesses in all.”

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Michael Brown's Stepfather Urged Protesters To "Burn This Bitch Down" After Grand Jury Announcement

Michael Brown’s stepfather last night repeatedly urged protesters to “Burn this bitch down” after a prosecutor announced that no criminal charges would be filed against the Ferguson, Missouri police officer who killed the unarmed teenager.

Louis Head, an ex-con who is married to Brown’s mother, Lesley McSpadden, was with McSpadden outside the Ferguson Police Department headquarters Monday evening as prosecutor Robert McCulloch disclosed that a grand jury declined to vote an indictment against Officer Darren Wilson in the August 9 shooting.

After consoling a weeping McSpadden, the 38-year-old Head--who was standing atop a platform in the middle of the agitated crowd of several hundred protesters--began screaming “Burn this bitch down!" He did this at least ten times, and at one point yelled for a microphone so that he could broadcast his message beyond the range of his unamplified voice.

While trying to incite the crowd, Head (pictured above) was wearing a commemorative t-shirt with the words “I Am Mike Brown” and a beanie, both of which bore a silkscreened photo of Brown in his high school cap and gown.

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Never-Before-Seen Photos of Officer Darren Wilson’s Face After Ferguson Shooting Released as Part of Grand Jury Evidence

Officials released never-before-seen photos of Darren Wilson on Monday night, which appeared to show the Ferguson police officer following the fatal shooting of Michael Brown.

The photos were released as part of the evidence presented to a grand jury in Ferguson. The grand jury declined to indict Wilson in Brown’s death.

Within minutes of the grand jury decision announcement by St. Louis County’s top prosecutor, crowds began pouring into Ferguson streets to protest the decision. Some taunted police, shattered windows and vandalized cars. Several gunshots were also heard. Officers released smoke and pepper spray to disperse the gatherings.

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Sharpton: Grand Jury Announcement 'An Absolute Blow'

Appearing following the grand jury’s decision not to indict Officer Darren Wilson in the death of Michael Brown, civil rights activist Al Sharpton criticized Prosecutor Bob McCulloch’s handling of the case, while adding the decision was “expected,” yet a “blow” to many who wanted to “see a fair and open trial.”

“It was expected, but still an absolute blow to those of us that wanted to see a fair and open trial. I think that it is clear that even when you see a blow coming that you expected, it still hurts nonetheless,” said Sharpton. “We said from the beginning, we said we had little or no confidence in this prosecutor and called for federal intervention.”

Sharpton criticized McCulloch for not saying how many members of the grand jury voted for indictment, and how many did not, even though McCulloch made it known multiple times during the announcement that statute prohibits anyone from talking about the vote within the the grand jury.

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CNN: No Police in Sight As Ferguson Store Burns

CNN Correspondent Stephanie Elam reported that police officers were nowhere to be seen as looting and fires ravaged Ferguson during riots in the city on Monday.

Elam said that where she was, "we saw a good number of police officers leave the scene, take off in their cruisers, right after they left we watched a wireless store just looted."

She added that looters were "targeting different locations here." And "from where I'm standing, I don't see one police officer, it's completely just mayhem."

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21 States Push To Overturn Md. Gun-Control Law

HAGERSTOWN, Md. (AP) -- Twenty-one states are asking a federal appeals court to overturn provisions of Maryland's gun-control law that ban 45 assault weapons and limit gun magazines to 10 rounds.

West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey led the coalition in filing a friend-of-the-court brief in the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Virginia, last week.

The brief says the law violates the Second Amendment right to keep firearms in homes for self-protection.

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Breaking: Officer Shot; Photos Pouring In From Ferguson Protests

 In the aftermath of the grand jury decision, protesters in Ferguson predictably rioted in the small town. Here are some screenshots / video compiled from various live-streams documenting events on the ground, as well as some images documented from social media.

Amid the protests, there have been numerous reports of shots fired, including a report of a police officer who was shot, according to the local news source, KSDK. Little information was given, except that the officer “was taken to an area hospital.” Police are looking for a suspect. 
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BREAKING NEWS: Grand jury does not indict officer in Ferguson case

A St. Louis County grand jury does not indict Darren Wilson, the police officer who shot and killed 18-year-old Michael Brown in August.

Originally published at 9:30 PM

BREAKING NEWS: Salisbury City Council Approves New "Rain Tax"

By a 4-0 vote (Jack Heath was absent) the Council passed the ordinance over the request by the Chamber of Commerce to table it.

BREAKING NEWS: Grand Jury In Ferguson Has Reached A Decision

CBS News

JUST IN: Grand jury in Ferguson case has reached a decision; Michael Brown's family has been notified; announcement to come later today.

Michael Brown Sr., the teen's father, confirms a decision has been reached to CBS News: http://cbsn.ws/1r3PSr1

'Ground Zero': Tracking Heroin From Colombia to America's Streets

"Those beautiful flowers of Colombia absolutely wreak havoc on Maryland's Eastern Shore," said Sheriff Michael Lewis, of Wicomico County. "They've destroyed and decimated families all up and down the East Coast."

BOGOTA, Colombia — The peaks of the Andes broke through the mist and clouds as a Blackhawk helicopter carried the Colombian national police toward a remote, rugged area often patrolled by insurgent guerrillas.

The mission: Visit a colorful poppy field on a steep mountainside about 300 miles south of Bogota — the place where much of the white heroin flooding American cities along the Eastern Seaboard originates.
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SFD Calls For Service 11-22-14

• Saturday November, 22 2014 @ 23:31Nature: Medical EmergencyCity:Salisbury
• Saturday November, 22 2014 @ 22:24Nature: Medical EmergencyCity:Salisbury
• Saturday November, 22 2014 @ 20:17 Nature: Vehicle FireAddress: Hanover St & South Blvd Salisbury, MD 21801
• Saturday November, 22 2014 @ 17:15Nature: Medical EmergencyCity:Salisbury
• Saturday November, 22 2014 @ 17:00 Nature: Natural CoverAddress: Schumaker Ln & Foggy Bottom Dr Salisbury, MD 21801

Dover Downs Casino: On the brink

Dover Downs has serious problems:

• Regional casino competition has more than doubled in recent years.

• Banks demanded the casino's mortgage as collateral when executives recently refinanced $42 million in debt.

• Its stock price, which once stood at $19.64, closed at a record low of 72 cents this week, making it more difficult for casino leaders to raise capital.

• Its tax burden is the largest in the region at 43.5 percent.

After spending $283 million to build and later expand the casino over the past 18 years, its owners say they are fighting for their lives. And its fate has a direct impact on central Delaware and state taxpayers.

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