DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Friday, March 13, 2015
AP Sues For Hillary Clinton Records
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Associated Press filed a lawsuit Wednesday against the State Department to force the release of email correspondence and government documents from Hillary Rodham Clinton’s tenure as secretary of state.
The legal action comes after repeated requests filed under the U.S. Freedom of Information Act have gone unfulfilled. They include one request AP made five years ago and others pending since the summer of 2013.
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The legal action comes after repeated requests filed under the U.S. Freedom of Information Act have gone unfulfilled. They include one request AP made five years ago and others pending since the summer of 2013.
More
Mutating Bird Flu May Pose Pandemic Threat
A wave of H7N9 bird flu in China that has spread into people may have the potential to emerge as a pandemic strain in humans, scientists said on Wednesday.
The H7N9 virus, one of several strains of bird flu known to be able to infect humans, has persisted, diversified and spread in chickens across China, the researchers said, fuelling a resurgence of infections in people and posing a wider threat.
"The expansion of genetic diversity and geographical spread indicates that, unless effective control measures are in place, H7N9 could be expected to persist and spread beyond the region," they said in a study published in the journal Nature.
The H7N9 bird flu virus emerged in humans in March 2013 and has since then infected at least 571 people in China, Taipei, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Canada, killing 212 of them, according to February data from the World Health Organization (WHO).
More here
The H7N9 virus, one of several strains of bird flu known to be able to infect humans, has persisted, diversified and spread in chickens across China, the researchers said, fuelling a resurgence of infections in people and posing a wider threat.
"The expansion of genetic diversity and geographical spread indicates that, unless effective control measures are in place, H7N9 could be expected to persist and spread beyond the region," they said in a study published in the journal Nature.
The H7N9 bird flu virus emerged in humans in March 2013 and has since then infected at least 571 people in China, Taipei, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Canada, killing 212 of them, according to February data from the World Health Organization (WHO).
More here
Vets affairs officer sent email mocking returning vets' mental health
A manager at a medical center from veterans in Indianapolis has been removed from her $80,000 position over an email that mocked the mental health of returning combat veterans.
Robin Paul, a manager at the Roudebush Veterans Affairs Medical Center, sent the email making light of mental health issues and patient's suffering to her staff on December 18.
It featured a series of photos of a Christmas elf posing as one of the hospital's patients, pleading for Xanax and hanging itself with an electrical cord.
Paul oversees a staff of more than 30 health care professionals in the Seamless Transition Integrated Care Clinic, which is responsible for assisting new veterans with their VA benefits, services and programs, to include mental health.
The email was forward to The Indianapolis Star, who reported it on Monday and the next day Paul was placed on paid administrative leave pending further investigation.
Paul's boss Tom Mattice described the email as 'completely and totally unacceptable.'
'It in no way reflects the attitudes of our staff toward our patients. We take great pride in the quality of care and the empathetic outreach we provide to the veterans we have the honor of serving,' he said.
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Robin Paul, a manager at the Roudebush Veterans Affairs Medical Center, sent the email making light of mental health issues and patient's suffering to her staff on December 18.
It featured a series of photos of a Christmas elf posing as one of the hospital's patients, pleading for Xanax and hanging itself with an electrical cord.
Paul oversees a staff of more than 30 health care professionals in the Seamless Transition Integrated Care Clinic, which is responsible for assisting new veterans with their VA benefits, services and programs, to include mental health.
The email was forward to The Indianapolis Star, who reported it on Monday and the next day Paul was placed on paid administrative leave pending further investigation.
Paul's boss Tom Mattice described the email as 'completely and totally unacceptable.'
'It in no way reflects the attitudes of our staff toward our patients. We take great pride in the quality of care and the empathetic outreach we provide to the veterans we have the honor of serving,' he said.
More
Hillary Clinton Could Face Jail Time
The Obama administration will soon find itself in court having to explain to federal judges why it never told anyone former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton used a secret email address, potentially spoiling dozens of open records requests, experts said Wednesday.
And Mrs. Clinton could face up to three years in prison per message if she is found to have broken her word and handled classified information on the secret account, one open records expert told The Washington Times.
The legal challenges have already begun, with The Associated Press filing a federal lawsuit saying the State Department has foiled five years’ worth of requests for Mrs. Clinton’s emails, but never told them or the court that she kept her own server — meaning that her emails weren’t being searched.
Meanwhile, the White House tried to keep Mrs. Clinton at arm’s length, insisting she alone can answer questions about what she did, and saying that none of Mr. Obama’s aides were involved in helping her decide which emails to turn over to the State Department and which to delete.
Mrs. Clinton’s office remained silent a day after the former first lady and potential 2016 presidential candidate held a press conference admitting she kept a private email server out of “convenience,” belatedly went through and found public records among her emails and then deleted nearly 32,000 emails she and her lawyers deemed private.
There's lots more here
And Mrs. Clinton could face up to three years in prison per message if she is found to have broken her word and handled classified information on the secret account, one open records expert told The Washington Times.
The legal challenges have already begun, with The Associated Press filing a federal lawsuit saying the State Department has foiled five years’ worth of requests for Mrs. Clinton’s emails, but never told them or the court that she kept her own server — meaning that her emails weren’t being searched.
Meanwhile, the White House tried to keep Mrs. Clinton at arm’s length, insisting she alone can answer questions about what she did, and saying that none of Mr. Obama’s aides were involved in helping her decide which emails to turn over to the State Department and which to delete.
Mrs. Clinton’s office remained silent a day after the former first lady and potential 2016 presidential candidate held a press conference admitting she kept a private email server out of “convenience,” belatedly went through and found public records among her emails and then deleted nearly 32,000 emails she and her lawyers deemed private.
There's lots more here
It Takes At Least 170 Days to Fire a Government Employee
A minimum of 170 days is required to fire a federal employee for poor performance, if a government agency properly follows the required dismissal process.
The government firing process is so lengthy that departments often keep bad employees to avoid it, according to a report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO).
“The time and resource commitment needed to remove a poor performing permanent employee can be substantial,” the GAO said. “It can take six months to a year (and sometimes longer) to dismiss an employee.”
In order to fire a government worker federal managers can consult a 12-step flow chart, which the GAO provided in the report released Monday. The report examined the “long-standing personnel issue” of the government’s inability to fire bad employees.
Federal agencies have two procedural options when faced with firing a poor worker: chapters 43 and 75 of title 5 of the United States Code, and Office of Personnel Management (OPM) implementing regulations.
There's more..
The government firing process is so lengthy that departments often keep bad employees to avoid it, according to a report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO).
“The time and resource commitment needed to remove a poor performing permanent employee can be substantial,” the GAO said. “It can take six months to a year (and sometimes longer) to dismiss an employee.”
In order to fire a government worker federal managers can consult a 12-step flow chart, which the GAO provided in the report released Monday. The report examined the “long-standing personnel issue” of the government’s inability to fire bad employees.
Federal agencies have two procedural options when faced with firing a poor worker: chapters 43 and 75 of title 5 of the United States Code, and Office of Personnel Management (OPM) implementing regulations.
There's more..
PayPal Purchases Israeli Cybersecurity
The terms of the deal were not announced, but some reports this week said PayPal, which is being spun off by online giant eBay, was paying $60 million for CyActive, reports AFP.
"Our goal is to extend our global security leadership, and bolster our efforts in predictive threat detection and prevention," said PayPal chief technology officer James Barrese in a blog post.
"The acquisition of CyActive will bring great talent and immediately add 'future-proof' technology to PayPal's world-class security platform. With CyActive, we'll have even more ways to proactively predict and prevent security threats from ever affecting our customers."
CyActive, which launched in 2013, specializes in "predictive cybersecurity," or heading off online attacks before they happen.
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Henry Hudson drivers dodge $40M at cashless toll
Drivers continue to evade tolls at the cashless span, but the MTA deems it a success and it's headed for other bridges and highways including the State Thruway
Unpaid tolls and related debt at the Henry Hudson Bridge have now topped $40 million, according to the latest figures provided by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
Between November 2012 — when the crossing switched to completely cashless tolling — through September 2014, drivers without E-ZPass failed to pay $4 million in toll bills mailed to them. In addition, those motorists accumulated an estimated $40 million in late fees and violation charges.
That's double the debt since a year ago, when drivers logged $2.2 million in owed tolls and $21.4 million in related charges from November 2012 through March 2014.
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Unpaid tolls and related debt at the Henry Hudson Bridge have now topped $40 million, according to the latest figures provided by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
Between November 2012 — when the crossing switched to completely cashless tolling — through September 2014, drivers without E-ZPass failed to pay $4 million in toll bills mailed to them. In addition, those motorists accumulated an estimated $40 million in late fees and violation charges.
That's double the debt since a year ago, when drivers logged $2.2 million in owed tolls and $21.4 million in related charges from November 2012 through March 2014.
More
Kessler: The Real Hillary Clinton
If you want to know why Hillary Clinton thought she could get away with violating federal regulations in order to conceal her emails when she was secretary of state, take a look behind the facade.
Mrs. Clinton pretends to be a compassionate woman who cares about the little people and will champion the middle class if elected president. The reality is that behind the scenes, she is abusive to those same people.
As detailed in my book “The First Family Detail,” Mrs. Clinton is so nasty to Secret Service agents who would lay down their lives for her that being assigned to her detail is considered a form of punishment and the worst assignment in the Secret Service.
Agents say Hillary’s nastiness and contempt for them, and disdain for law enforcement and the military in general, has continued, both when she was secretary of state and now that she is protected as a former first lady, earning her the distinction of being considered the Secret Service’s most detested protectee.
As if that’s not bad enough, an FBI investigation for independent counsel Ken Starr into the suicide of Hillary’s friend and mentor Vince Foster, who was President Clinton’s deputy White House counsel, found that Hillary’s humiliation of Foster in front of White House colleagues triggered his suicide a week later.
When she disagreed with him over a legal interpretation, “Hillary put him [Foster] down really, really bad in a pretty good-size meeting,” former FBI agent Coy Copeland says. “She told him he didn’t get the picture, and he would always be a little hick town lawyer who was obviously not ready for the big time.”
Based on what “dozens” of others who had contact with Foster after that meeting told the agents, “The put-down that she gave him in that big meeting just pushed him over the edge,” Mr. Copeland says. “It was the final straw that broke the camel’s back.”
More here
Mrs. Clinton pretends to be a compassionate woman who cares about the little people and will champion the middle class if elected president. The reality is that behind the scenes, she is abusive to those same people.
As detailed in my book “The First Family Detail,” Mrs. Clinton is so nasty to Secret Service agents who would lay down their lives for her that being assigned to her detail is considered a form of punishment and the worst assignment in the Secret Service.
Agents say Hillary’s nastiness and contempt for them, and disdain for law enforcement and the military in general, has continued, both when she was secretary of state and now that she is protected as a former first lady, earning her the distinction of being considered the Secret Service’s most detested protectee.
As if that’s not bad enough, an FBI investigation for independent counsel Ken Starr into the suicide of Hillary’s friend and mentor Vince Foster, who was President Clinton’s deputy White House counsel, found that Hillary’s humiliation of Foster in front of White House colleagues triggered his suicide a week later.
When she disagreed with him over a legal interpretation, “Hillary put him [Foster] down really, really bad in a pretty good-size meeting,” former FBI agent Coy Copeland says. “She told him he didn’t get the picture, and he would always be a little hick town lawyer who was obviously not ready for the big time.”
Based on what “dozens” of others who had contact with Foster after that meeting told the agents, “The put-down that she gave him in that big meeting just pushed him over the edge,” Mr. Copeland says. “It was the final straw that broke the camel’s back.”
More here
Ron Paul Lambastes Foes of Fed Audit
Likely presidential candidate Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., has taken a lot of flak in recent weeks for his "Audit the Fed" bill.
But his father, former presidential candidate and former Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, is having none of the criticism.
"The Federal Reserve and its apologists in Congress and the media have launched numerous attacks on the Audit the Fed legislation," the father, now chairman of the Ron Paul Institute for Peace and Prosperity, writes in a commentary for CNBC.
"These attacks amount to nothing more than distortions about the effects and intent of the audit bill."
When it comes to the argument that the bill will limit the Fed's independence, "neither Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen nor any other opponent of the audit bill has ever been able to identify any provision of the bill giving Congress power to dictate monetary policy," Paul writes.
"This argument is also flawed since the Federal Reserve has never been independent from political pressure," he notes.
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But his father, former presidential candidate and former Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, is having none of the criticism.
"The Federal Reserve and its apologists in Congress and the media have launched numerous attacks on the Audit the Fed legislation," the father, now chairman of the Ron Paul Institute for Peace and Prosperity, writes in a commentary for CNBC.
"These attacks amount to nothing more than distortions about the effects and intent of the audit bill."
When it comes to the argument that the bill will limit the Fed's independence, "neither Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen nor any other opponent of the audit bill has ever been able to identify any provision of the bill giving Congress power to dictate monetary policy," Paul writes.
"This argument is also flawed since the Federal Reserve has never been independent from political pressure," he notes.
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Jeb Bush Calls Obamacare a Federal 'Monstrosity'
Republican presidential contender Jeb Bush said that the Affordable Care Act was a "monstrosity" that consolidated power in Washington and should be repealed once President Barack Obama leaves the White House, Politico reported.
Bush made the remarks Friday at a fundraiser for Iowa Rep. David Young in which he also touted his conservative credentials as Florida governor.
Referring to the Obama administration, Bush said, "The thrill is gone. I want to win. I want our party to win," The Daily Iowan reported.
Bush said he favored a "consumer-directed" healthcare plan that restores the patient-doctor relationship. This would give patients more choices and, "if there were to be subsidies," these would be administered by the state.
He said he was against "coercive exchanges," employer mandates, employee mandates, and "requirements of services provided that are extraordinary," according to Politico.
He saw a role for government in providing Americans with catastrophic medical coverage. "The rest of it ought to be shifted back where individuals are empowered to make more decisions themselves," Bush said.
More here
Bush made the remarks Friday at a fundraiser for Iowa Rep. David Young in which he also touted his conservative credentials as Florida governor.
Referring to the Obama administration, Bush said, "The thrill is gone. I want to win. I want our party to win," The Daily Iowan reported.
Bush said he favored a "consumer-directed" healthcare plan that restores the patient-doctor relationship. This would give patients more choices and, "if there were to be subsidies," these would be administered by the state.
He said he was against "coercive exchanges," employer mandates, employee mandates, and "requirements of services provided that are extraordinary," according to Politico.
He saw a role for government in providing Americans with catastrophic medical coverage. "The rest of it ought to be shifted back where individuals are empowered to make more decisions themselves," Bush said.
More here
WSJ: CIA Worked With Marshals to Spy on US Cellphones
The CIA helped provide airborne surveillance technology to the U.S. Marshals Service that can identify the location of any cellphone in the country.
The existence of the technology was first reported last year but the collaboration between the CIA — which helped develop the $100 million technology that tricks phones into revealing their registration data — and the Marshals has only now come to light, The Wall Street Journal reported.
The CIA is legally prohibited from hunting terrorists inside the U.S. while the Marshals are charged with tracking down criminal suspects in the homeland.
The technology, dubbed "dirtbox," is operated from small fixed-wing planes flying over the country vacuuming up cellphone signals by mimicking cellphone towers, and tricks cellphones into revealing their unique registration. Telephone data that is not suspect is "let go," officials say, as the system concentrates on "sought after" numbers.
The technology is capable of pinpointing the location of a phone authorities are searching for within a couple of yards, according to the Journal.
The high-tech collaboration between the CIA, which is barred from conducting most types of operations on U.S. soil, and domestic law enforcement concerns civil libertarians and lawmakers.
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The existence of the technology was first reported last year but the collaboration between the CIA — which helped develop the $100 million technology that tricks phones into revealing their registration data — and the Marshals has only now come to light, The Wall Street Journal reported.
The CIA is legally prohibited from hunting terrorists inside the U.S. while the Marshals are charged with tracking down criminal suspects in the homeland.
The technology, dubbed "dirtbox," is operated from small fixed-wing planes flying over the country vacuuming up cellphone signals by mimicking cellphone towers, and tricks cellphones into revealing their unique registration. Telephone data that is not suspect is "let go," officials say, as the system concentrates on "sought after" numbers.
The technology is capable of pinpointing the location of a phone authorities are searching for within a couple of yards, according to the Journal.
The high-tech collaboration between the CIA, which is barred from conducting most types of operations on U.S. soil, and domestic law enforcement concerns civil libertarians and lawmakers.
More
A Letter to the Editor: 3-13-15
Dear Mr. Albero,
"Salisbury University is home to many great organizations and foundations that promote prosperity and good will in the community. One organization is also home to a foundation made in a founding member’s honor. The Pi Sigma Chapter of Kappa Sigma was chartered on May 9, 2009 by over 50 men who wanted to make a positive influence on the community. Zachary Gerald Knight was the first president of the chapter and the size of Big Z himself was only rivaled by the size of his heart. He led Pi Sigma to be one of the most influential fraternities on campus through his emphasis on community service, his dedication to raise the most money in Relay For Life, and his desire to be inclusive and make every person he met smile.
When he died on June 5, 2010, shock and pain was felt through every life he had touched. However, his parents, Jerry and Sue Knight, knew the tragedy could have some positive effect for others and they established the Zachary Gerald Knight (ZGK) Foundation in his honor. The foundation awards deserving members of the Pi Sigma Chapter at Salisbury University for being positive role models, showing kindness, and leadership in their college career. It is meant to honor the exceptional values and qualities that Zachary held to promote compassion and goodwill to others. Members of the chapter are nominated by those on campus and members of the community that notice their kind acts and positive role-modeling. The foundation, now run by a board of alumni, parents, and family friends, personally reads each nomination and decides which graduating members deserve the award each spring.
To date, over $10,000 has been awarded to great role models in the fraternity so that they can jump start their post-collegiate lives. We welcome you and the whole community to be a part of the nominating process. To learn more, make a nomination, or make a donation, please go tohttp://zackknightfoundation.org/about-zack/. "
"Salisbury University is home to many great organizations and foundations that promote prosperity and good will in the community. One organization is also home to a foundation made in a founding member’s honor. The Pi Sigma Chapter of Kappa Sigma was chartered on May 9, 2009 by over 50 men who wanted to make a positive influence on the community. Zachary Gerald Knight was the first president of the chapter and the size of Big Z himself was only rivaled by the size of his heart. He led Pi Sigma to be one of the most influential fraternities on campus through his emphasis on community service, his dedication to raise the most money in Relay For Life, and his desire to be inclusive and make every person he met smile.
When he died on June 5, 2010, shock and pain was felt through every life he had touched. However, his parents, Jerry and Sue Knight, knew the tragedy could have some positive effect for others and they established the Zachary Gerald Knight (ZGK) Foundation in his honor. The foundation awards deserving members of the Pi Sigma Chapter at Salisbury University for being positive role models, showing kindness, and leadership in their college career. It is meant to honor the exceptional values and qualities that Zachary held to promote compassion and goodwill to others. Members of the chapter are nominated by those on campus and members of the community that notice their kind acts and positive role-modeling. The foundation, now run by a board of alumni, parents, and family friends, personally reads each nomination and decides which graduating members deserve the award each spring.
To date, over $10,000 has been awarded to great role models in the fraternity so that they can jump start their post-collegiate lives. We welcome you and the whole community to be a part of the nominating process. To learn more, make a nomination, or make a donation, please go tohttp://zackknightfoundation.org/about-zack/. "
Sen. Cornyn: Obama's 'Unilateralism' Reason for Iran Letter
Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn defended the controversial GOP letter to Iranian leaders as he ripped into President Barack Obama for acting like he’s the sole authority on foreign policy in Washington.
In a wide-ranging interview with Yahoo News, the Texas senator said that the president is "in denial" about Iran and that "Congress has a role" to play in the negotiations with the Islamic-led state to prevent the country from building nuclear weapons.
"I know that the president is in denial and wants to reject Congress' appropriate role," Cornyn said during the 30-minute conversation in his office overlooking the Supreme Court. "All our letter pointed out is that our government isn’t a monolith, and that the president doesn’t wield all the authority and power under our Constitution — that we’re a government of separated and divided powers."
He continued, "In particular, I think the important point was made that the term of any agreement [the president] might strike with Iran will not outlast his term of office, absent Congressional approval.
"What the president seems to be on a path to doing is trying to secure some sort of legacy settlement with Iran over its nuclear weapons, but it can’t last more than 21 more months if it was signed today."
Drawn up by Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton, the letter from 47 Republican senators warned Iranian leaders that any nuclear deal reducing tough economic sanctions against the Mideast country should have congressional approval or the next president could overturn it in 2017.
"Congress has an appropriate role to play, and the president has rejected that. I think all this letter does is state the fact that the president doesn’t have plenary authority under our form of government."
More
In a wide-ranging interview with Yahoo News, the Texas senator said that the president is "in denial" about Iran and that "Congress has a role" to play in the negotiations with the Islamic-led state to prevent the country from building nuclear weapons.
"I know that the president is in denial and wants to reject Congress' appropriate role," Cornyn said during the 30-minute conversation in his office overlooking the Supreme Court. "All our letter pointed out is that our government isn’t a monolith, and that the president doesn’t wield all the authority and power under our Constitution — that we’re a government of separated and divided powers."
He continued, "In particular, I think the important point was made that the term of any agreement [the president] might strike with Iran will not outlast his term of office, absent Congressional approval.
"What the president seems to be on a path to doing is trying to secure some sort of legacy settlement with Iran over its nuclear weapons, but it can’t last more than 21 more months if it was signed today."
Drawn up by Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton, the letter from 47 Republican senators warned Iranian leaders that any nuclear deal reducing tough economic sanctions against the Mideast country should have congressional approval or the next president could overturn it in 2017.
"Congress has an appropriate role to play, and the president has rejected that. I think all this letter does is state the fact that the president doesn’t have plenary authority under our form of government."
More
Holder, Others in Obama WH Used Fake Names on Official Emails
Outgoing Attorney General Eric Holder has maintained several government email accounts under aliases, according to Politico.
Revelations that former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton used a personal email account, rather than one maintained by the Department of State, for government business has raised concerns by lawmakers responsible for the agency's oversight and advocates of governmental transparency.
Holder used a number of pseudonyms, including Henry Yearwood (a combination of family names) and David Kendricks (from two members of The Temptations), according to The Huffington Post. Since all were nonetheless official @usdoj.gov accounts, they are retained on government servers.
A Justice Department spokesman told Huffington that other Cabinet members have also used pen names and that Holder did so to enhance security and thwart efforts to flood his email account. DOJ staff responsible for responding to Freedom of Information requests are aware of the aliases and, when appropriate, have made available messages from all of Holder's accounts, though the confidential addresses are redacted.
Besides Holder, other members of the Obama administration also used aliases, including former Health and Human Services secretary Kathleen Sebelius and former EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, The Associated Press reported in 2013.
Former Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel used two BlackBerry phones, one for personal use and the other for his government work. "He understood the need to keep the two separate and to keep government business on his official email," a Pentagon spokesman said.
More here
Revelations that former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton used a personal email account, rather than one maintained by the Department of State, for government business has raised concerns by lawmakers responsible for the agency's oversight and advocates of governmental transparency.
Holder used a number of pseudonyms, including Henry Yearwood (a combination of family names) and David Kendricks (from two members of The Temptations), according to The Huffington Post. Since all were nonetheless official @usdoj.gov accounts, they are retained on government servers.
A Justice Department spokesman told Huffington that other Cabinet members have also used pen names and that Holder did so to enhance security and thwart efforts to flood his email account. DOJ staff responsible for responding to Freedom of Information requests are aware of the aliases and, when appropriate, have made available messages from all of Holder's accounts, though the confidential addresses are redacted.
Besides Holder, other members of the Obama administration also used aliases, including former Health and Human Services secretary Kathleen Sebelius and former EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, The Associated Press reported in 2013.
Former Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel used two BlackBerry phones, one for personal use and the other for his government work. "He understood the need to keep the two separate and to keep government business on his official email," a Pentagon spokesman said.
More here
Statement From Governor Larry Hogan On House Appropriations Budget Recommendations
ANNAPOLIS, MD – Governor Larry Hogan today released the following statement in response to the House Appropriations Committee making its final budget recommendations:
“Just 24 hours after being sworn in as governor, we introduced a structurally balanced budget without raising taxes or increasing state debt, while also announcing record investment in education. Throughout this process and during numerous meetings with both Democratic and Republican legislators, we asked for their ideas on how to further expand our increased investments in education while still adhering to the basic principles originally outlined for a fiscally responsible budget. While this is just the mid-point in a long process, and there are concerns about certain proposals in the committee’s recommendations, I believe we are headed in the right direction overall.
“I want to thank Chairwoman McIntosh, Speaker Busch, and the House for their hard work so far and for their recognition that this year’s budget must put Maryland on sound financial footing.
“Ultimately, the budget process will not be completed without meaningful discussion on the many tax relief measures our administration has introduced for struggling Maryland families, small businesses, retirees, and veterans. We look forward to continuing to work with the leaders of the House and Senate over the next 30 days to meet our goals and we are hopeful that we will be able to reach a bipartisan agreement on the budget.”
How Americans Clobbered an Ammo Ban
At the end of February, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms issued a lengthy epistle on "determining whether certain projectiles are 'primarily intended for sporting purposes.'" Anyone who read the 17-page memo would learn that the ATF was considering a ban on M855 ball ammunition, and that citizens had until March 16 to comment.
Now that the ATF has buckled, and bailed on the rule, we can find lessons in the wreckage.
Anyone who had a glancing familiarity with gun rights or gun owners—anyone, it seems, who didn't work for the ATF—could have predicted the next step. M855 "green tip" ammo flew off the shelves, as ammo and guns have every time President Barack Obama's administration made a move. Obama's election in 2008 kicked off a surge of gun-buying, and it's never been controversial to call him America's "number one gun salesman." On conservative news sites, at gun shows, it's been easy to find people fretting the coming gun grab. And here was the Obama administration, grabbing ammo.
"He can't win at the ballot box, he can't win in the Congress," said NRA vice president Wayne LaPierre to Fox News last week. "Now, he is trying to act like a dictator and planning on forcing this ban, ammo ban, on the American public by executive regulation."
Outside the conservative media, coverage of the panic came in two flavors. The first: Color stories about people snapping up ammo. The second: Eye-rolling about the Republicans telling people to fight the ATF rule. TheDaily Beast, for example, used a PAC message about the rule from Kentucky Senator Rand Paul as a case study in how he seized on conservative panics to build his e-mail list.
There's more here
Now that the ATF has buckled, and bailed on the rule, we can find lessons in the wreckage.
Anyone who had a glancing familiarity with gun rights or gun owners—anyone, it seems, who didn't work for the ATF—could have predicted the next step. M855 "green tip" ammo flew off the shelves, as ammo and guns have every time President Barack Obama's administration made a move. Obama's election in 2008 kicked off a surge of gun-buying, and it's never been controversial to call him America's "number one gun salesman." On conservative news sites, at gun shows, it's been easy to find people fretting the coming gun grab. And here was the Obama administration, grabbing ammo.
"He can't win at the ballot box, he can't win in the Congress," said NRA vice president Wayne LaPierre to Fox News last week. "Now, he is trying to act like a dictator and planning on forcing this ban, ammo ban, on the American public by executive regulation."
Outside the conservative media, coverage of the panic came in two flavors. The first: Color stories about people snapping up ammo. The second: Eye-rolling about the Republicans telling people to fight the ATF rule. TheDaily Beast, for example, used a PAC message about the rule from Kentucky Senator Rand Paul as a case study in how he seized on conservative panics to build his e-mail list.
There's more here
Border Patrol Preps for Another Surge
According to new Border Patrol statistics and projections, while the surge will likely be smaller this year, Border Patrol is expecting to catch about 39,000 unaccompanied children and about 53,000 families on the southern border in 2015.
If the projections are correct, it would represented a 43 percent decrease in unaccompanied children and a 23 percent decrease in families compared to last year, but even with the projected decline, the number of families crossing the border illegally would be more than triple the number who crossed in 2013, the Times said.
More than half of those crossing appear to be coming through the Rio Grande Valley, which saw a decrease of 17 percent since the same time last year, Border Patrol reported.
"I don't think the conditions in those countries have changed to stop the push" for families and children to immigrate to the U.S., Bryan Johnson, a New York-based lawyer who works for immigrant youth and families, told the Times.
More here
NAACP Battles Latino Groups Over Public Schools
WASHINGTON – A plan that would dedicate two public high schools in suburban Washington to immigrants and students struggling with English is pitting black and Hispanic communities -– usually allies -- against one another.
The Prince George’s County, Md., chapter of the NAACP is strongly opposing the plan -- which would take effect next school year, and cover about 800 students having English language difficulties -- claiming it will pull resources from other students and unfairly redistribute them to Hispanic students. Some critics go so far as to compare the plan to segregation.
“It’s a slap in the face,” Bob Ross, president of the Prince George’s County branch of the NAACP, told FoxNews.com.
Ross believes the proposal to open two new schools violates the landmark 1954 Brown v. Board of Education decision that ruled separate schools for black and white students violated the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
“It risks turning Prince George’s County into a segregated school system,” Ross said, adding that he realizes the need for better education in the county but believes it should not come at the cost of existing students.
Latino advocacy group CASA de Maryland sees it differently. The group, which has pushed for the schools, argues that it’s not a violation of the Constitution because the schools are not mandatory and are being built to provide options to immigrants
More here
The Prince George’s County, Md., chapter of the NAACP is strongly opposing the plan -- which would take effect next school year, and cover about 800 students having English language difficulties -- claiming it will pull resources from other students and unfairly redistribute them to Hispanic students. Some critics go so far as to compare the plan to segregation.
“It’s a slap in the face,” Bob Ross, president of the Prince George’s County branch of the NAACP, told FoxNews.com.
Ross believes the proposal to open two new schools violates the landmark 1954 Brown v. Board of Education decision that ruled separate schools for black and white students violated the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
“It risks turning Prince George’s County into a segregated school system,” Ross said, adding that he realizes the need for better education in the county but believes it should not come at the cost of existing students.
Latino advocacy group CASA de Maryland sees it differently. The group, which has pushed for the schools, argues that it’s not a violation of the Constitution because the schools are not mandatory and are being built to provide options to immigrants
More here
Investigation Leads To Arrest of Two High Level Heroin Dealers
Wilmington-The FBI Task Force have arrested two subjects following the discovery of drugs and a weapon during the execution of search warrants. The warrants stemmed from an investigation which began during the summer of 2014.
On March 11, 2015 at 8:40 p.m. the FBI Task Force, which is made up of officers from the New Castle County Police Department, Probation and Parole, Wilmington Police Department, and the Delaware State Police, executed four search warrants in the Wilmington, DE area. The search warrants were executed in the unit block of Lea Blvd., which is the location of a recording studio belonging to Jai Albert, 42, of Wilmington. As a result of the search, officers located 2,207 bags of heroin (34.605 grams) as well as a loaded handgun. The search also revealed an abandoned vehicle used by both Jai Albert and Richard E. Wilson Jr, 38, from Wilmington. That vehicle was used to store the heroin. A total of 4,017 bags (60.225 grams) were located in the trunk of the vehicle. The heroin was found to have the word “Vamp” stamped on it. The street value of the heroin is estimated to be just under $20,000.00.
The FBI Task Force arrested and charged the following individuals:
Jai Albert 42, from Wilmington, De. AKA “Gotti” (black shirt)
Charges:
Possesses a controlled substance in a Tier 5 quantity
Deliver a controlled substance in a Tier 4 quantity
Possession Fire Arm by person convicted of a violent felony
Possession of ammunition by a person convicted of a violent felony
Conspiracy Second degree
Arraigned at Justice of the Peace Court 11 and committed to the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution for lack of $350,000.00 cash bail.
Richard E.Wilson Jr. 38, from Wilmington, De. AKA “Pretty Ricky” (grey shirt)
Charges:
Possesses a controlled substance in a Tier 5 quantity
Deliver a controlled substance in a Tier 4 quantity
Possession Fire Arm by person convicted of a violent felony
Possession of ammunition by a person convicted of a violent felony
Conspiracy Second degree
Arraigned at Justice of the Peace Court 11 and committed to the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution for lack of $275,000.00 cash bail.
The NRA Wins Again on Armor-piercing Bullets, But Common Sense Was Already Lost
A week before the ATF was going to stop receiving public comments about its proposal to ban so-called 'armor-piercing' ammo the agency shut down the whole process, announced they were going back to the drawing board and, at some later date not specified, would revisit the whole issue again. The ATF received more than 80,000 emails and if you think some of them came from the International Bible Holiness Movement or another of the frontline anti-gun violence groups, think again.
And if you don't believe the NRA isn't celebrating, you're wrong on that one, too. They immediately posted victory statements from Wayne and Chris, sent news releases out to ever-welcoming Fox which featured their next President, Rand Paul, speaking out against the ATF, and of course went out of their way to label the ATF decision as a "defeat" of their arch-enemy and all-time best gun salesman, a.k.a. Barack.
Any time the gunnies can push back the U.S. Government on a gun issue, they'll celebrate their victory as yet another step towards enshrining the 2nd Amendment as the unquestioned law of the land. By the same token, the gun-sense folks will bemoan yet another defeat at the hands of a seemingly all-powerful NRA and try to figure out how to keep this embarrassing loss from happening again.
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And if you don't believe the NRA isn't celebrating, you're wrong on that one, too. They immediately posted victory statements from Wayne and Chris, sent news releases out to ever-welcoming Fox which featured their next President, Rand Paul, speaking out against the ATF, and of course went out of their way to label the ATF decision as a "defeat" of their arch-enemy and all-time best gun salesman, a.k.a. Barack.
Any time the gunnies can push back the U.S. Government on a gun issue, they'll celebrate their victory as yet another step towards enshrining the 2nd Amendment as the unquestioned law of the land. By the same token, the gun-sense folks will bemoan yet another defeat at the hands of a seemingly all-powerful NRA and try to figure out how to keep this embarrassing loss from happening again.
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GOP Sneaks Anti-Abortion Language Into Bipartisan Human Trafficking Bill
WASHINGTON -- The fate of what should have been noncontroversial legislation to crack down on human trafficking is uncertain after Democrats discovered that Republicans had slipped anti-abortion language into the bill.
The Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act, introduced by Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), creates a fund to help victims by using fees charged to traffickers. It easily passed the Senate Judiciary Committee with bipartisan support late last month.
But Democrats learned this week that the legislation contains Hyde Amendment language, which restricts federal funding for abortion and other health care services. They're vowing to hold up the entire bill until the controversial provision is removed.
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The Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act, introduced by Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), creates a fund to help victims by using fees charged to traffickers. It easily passed the Senate Judiciary Committee with bipartisan support late last month.
But Democrats learned this week that the legislation contains Hyde Amendment language, which restricts federal funding for abortion and other health care services. They're vowing to hold up the entire bill until the controversial provision is removed.
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Republicans Admit: That Iran Letter Was a Dumb Idea
A day after releasing a letter that potentially threatened the administration’s negotiations with Iran, some Republicans who signed on are realizing it was a bad call.
Behind the scenes, Republicans are wondering if sending an open letter to Iran’s leaders was the best strategy to keep a bad nuclear deal from being negotiated.
Earlier this week, 47 Republican senators signed a letter warning the Iranian government that many of them would remain in office long after President Barack Obama’s second term was over, meaning any deal reached between the U.S. and Iran could be easily reversed by the next president.
But even among Republicans whose offices have signed the letter, there is some trepidation that the Iran letter injects partisanship into the Iran negotiations, shifting the narrative from the content of the deal to whether Republicans are unfairly trying to undercut the president.
“Before the letter, the national conversation was about Netanyahu’s speech and how Obama’s negotiations with Iran are leading to a terrible deal that could ultimately harm U.S. national security. Now, the Obama administration and its Capitol Hill partisans are cynically trying to push the conversation away from policy, and towards a deeply political pie fight over presidential and congressional prerogatives,” said a Senate Republican aide whose boss signed the letter.
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Behind the scenes, Republicans are wondering if sending an open letter to Iran’s leaders was the best strategy to keep a bad nuclear deal from being negotiated.
Earlier this week, 47 Republican senators signed a letter warning the Iranian government that many of them would remain in office long after President Barack Obama’s second term was over, meaning any deal reached between the U.S. and Iran could be easily reversed by the next president.
But even among Republicans whose offices have signed the letter, there is some trepidation that the Iran letter injects partisanship into the Iran negotiations, shifting the narrative from the content of the deal to whether Republicans are unfairly trying to undercut the president.
“Before the letter, the national conversation was about Netanyahu’s speech and how Obama’s negotiations with Iran are leading to a terrible deal that could ultimately harm U.S. national security. Now, the Obama administration and its Capitol Hill partisans are cynically trying to push the conversation away from policy, and towards a deeply political pie fight over presidential and congressional prerogatives,” said a Senate Republican aide whose boss signed the letter.
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Breaking News: Armed Robbery @ M&T Bank Ocean Pines
There looking for a blue Kia Spectra with possible tag number 9BA 7999. The suspect is a short male with an accent wearing a ski mask.
More to come
UPDATE: Car has been found abandoned behind Food Lion. Suspect is on foot. K-9 and aviation en route.
UPDATE#2: Our source was wrong on the name of the Bank. It was the BB&T Bank.
Update#3: Schools have been placed on lock down.
This is a SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT for Friday, March 13, 2015:
2:12 p.m.: At this time, school dismissals are scheduled to occur on schedule.
1:40 p.m.: As a precautionary measure, the Worcester County Sheriff's Department has advised a lockdown at Showell Elementary School due to an active police investigation in the nearby area. Again, this is a precautionary measure. All other schools in the Northend of the county are in a Code Yellow, or Shelter in Place.
Musical
Mardela Middle and High is presenting
“SEUSSICAL THE MUSCIAL”
March 20th and 21st
7:00 pm
Tickets: Adults $8.00
Students $5.00
Water Fluoridation Linked to Higher ADHD Rates
New research shows there is a strong correlation between water fluoridation and the prevalence of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD, in the United States.
It’s the first time that scientists have systematically studied the relationship between the behavioral disorder and fluoridation, the process wherein fluoride is added to water to prevent cavities.
The study, published in the journal Environmental Health, found that states with a higher portion of artificially fluoridated water had a higher prevalence of ADHD. This relationship held up across six different years examined. The authors, psychologists Christine Till and Ashley Malin at Toronto’s York University, looked at the prevalence of fluoridation by state in 1992 and rates of ADHD diagnoses in subsequent years.
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It’s the first time that scientists have systematically studied the relationship between the behavioral disorder and fluoridation, the process wherein fluoride is added to water to prevent cavities.
The study, published in the journal Environmental Health, found that states with a higher portion of artificially fluoridated water had a higher prevalence of ADHD. This relationship held up across six different years examined. The authors, psychologists Christine Till and Ashley Malin at Toronto’s York University, looked at the prevalence of fluoridation by state in 1992 and rates of ADHD diagnoses in subsequent years.
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Texas lawmaker identifies himself as a 'former fetus' on a sign outside his officeFetus
On a sign outside of his office door, Stickland now identifies himself as a "FORMER FETUS" — right next to "District 92."
Stickland wrote on Facebook that he posted the new sign "in honor" of Planned Parenthood's visit to the Legislature.
"Today Planned Parenthood is visiting and lobbying the Capitol. In honor of their visit, I put this sign up on my office door," he wrote. "Organizations that murder children are not welcome in my office."
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Suspicious Fires Twice Destroyed Key Sharpton Records
And he didn’t comply with tax and campaign filing requirements.
As Al Sharpton ran for mayor of New York City in 1997 and for president in 2003, fires at his offices reportedly destroyed critical financial records, and he subsequently failed to comply with tax and campaign filing requirements.
The first fire began in the early hours of April 10, 1997, in a hair-and-nail salon one floor below Sharpton’s campaign headquarters at 70 West 125th Street. From the start, investigators deemed the fire “suspicious” because of “a heavy volume of fire on arrival” and because many of the doors remained unlocked after hours, according to the New York Fire Department’s fire-and-incident report.
As the fire crept upward into Sharpton’s headquarters, it destroyed nearly everything, including computers, files, and campaign records, the Reverend’s spokesperson at the time told Newsday, adding that “we have lost our entire Manhattan operation.” But a source knowledgeable about the investigation tells National Review Online that Sharpton’s office was mostly empty, and that the damage was not extensive.
Top city officials, including then-mayor Rudy Giuliani, said initial suspicions centered on the hair-and-nail salon, not on Sharpton’s campaign, Newsday reported. The fire department sent the case as an arson/explosion investigation to the New York Police Department. By the time of publication of this report, the NYPD had not provided the records requested by National Review Online on December 16, 2014, but it confirmed that the investigation had been closed without an arrest.
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As Al Sharpton ran for mayor of New York City in 1997 and for president in 2003, fires at his offices reportedly destroyed critical financial records, and he subsequently failed to comply with tax and campaign filing requirements.
The first fire began in the early hours of April 10, 1997, in a hair-and-nail salon one floor below Sharpton’s campaign headquarters at 70 West 125th Street. From the start, investigators deemed the fire “suspicious” because of “a heavy volume of fire on arrival” and because many of the doors remained unlocked after hours, according to the New York Fire Department’s fire-and-incident report.
As the fire crept upward into Sharpton’s headquarters, it destroyed nearly everything, including computers, files, and campaign records, the Reverend’s spokesperson at the time told Newsday, adding that “we have lost our entire Manhattan operation.” But a source knowledgeable about the investigation tells National Review Online that Sharpton’s office was mostly empty, and that the damage was not extensive.
Top city officials, including then-mayor Rudy Giuliani, said initial suspicions centered on the hair-and-nail salon, not on Sharpton’s campaign, Newsday reported. The fire department sent the case as an arson/explosion investigation to the New York Police Department. By the time of publication of this report, the NYPD had not provided the records requested by National Review Online on December 16, 2014, but it confirmed that the investigation had been closed without an arrest.
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Did Hillary Sign Document About Emails in 2013?
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, like all departing federal employees, was required to fill out and sign a separation agreement affirming that she had turned over all classified and other official documents, including all emails dealing with official business.
Fox News Megyn Kelly reported Wednesday evening on the requirement and that a spokesman for Clinton had not responded to a request for comment, including an explanation of when the former chief U.S. diplomat signed the mandatory separation agreement or, if she didn't, why didn't she.
Here is more
Fox News Megyn Kelly reported Wednesday evening on the requirement and that a spokesman for Clinton had not responded to a request for comment, including an explanation of when the former chief U.S. diplomat signed the mandatory separation agreement or, if she didn't, why didn't she.
Here is more
Nearly 11.7 million signed up for Obamacare health insurance
Nearly 11.7 million people have either signed up or re-enrolled for insurance coverage under the U.S. healthcare reform law, more than the 9.1 million predicted by the Obama administration,health officials said on Tuesday.
As of Feb. 22, about 8.8 million signed up in one of the 37 states that use online exchanges operated by the federal government and 2.85 million were in the 14 states, and Washington, D.C., that operate their own exchanges, the Department of Health and Human Services said in a statement.
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As of Feb. 22, about 8.8 million signed up in one of the 37 states that use online exchanges operated by the federal government and 2.85 million were in the 14 states, and Washington, D.C., that operate their own exchanges, the Department of Health and Human Services said in a statement.
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'Not Legally Binding'
The Obama administration won't submit any deal limiting Iran's nuclear ambitions to Congress for approval because it won't be legally binding, Secretary of State John Kerry said Wednesday.
"We've been clear from the beginning we're not negotiating a legally binding plan. We're negotiating a plan that will have a capacity for enforcement," he told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
"We don't even have diplomatic relations with Iran right now."
Kerry, who was visibly irritated by what he called misconceptions by lawmakers about the ongoing talks, was criticizing an open letter to Iran's leaders signed by 47 Republican senators. The letter has angered Democrats, but appears not to have slowed bipartisan efforts to force congressional approval of a deal, in spite of stiff opposition by the Obama administration.
As he spoke, committee Chairman Bob Corker, R-Tenn., who did not sign the letter but is a sponsor of legislation to require approval of any deal, cut him off.
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"We've been clear from the beginning we're not negotiating a legally binding plan. We're negotiating a plan that will have a capacity for enforcement," he told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
"We don't even have diplomatic relations with Iran right now."
Kerry, who was visibly irritated by what he called misconceptions by lawmakers about the ongoing talks, was criticizing an open letter to Iran's leaders signed by 47 Republican senators. The letter has angered Democrats, but appears not to have slowed bipartisan efforts to force congressional approval of a deal, in spite of stiff opposition by the Obama administration.
As he spoke, committee Chairman Bob Corker, R-Tenn., who did not sign the letter but is a sponsor of legislation to require approval of any deal, cut him off.
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Hillary Insider: Email Scandal 'Inside Job' By Obama
Clinton insider Ed Klein believes Hillary Clinton’s email scandal may have been prompted by President Obama and ordered by top adviser Valerie Jarrett.
In an interview Wednesday with the Fox News Channel’s “Fox and Friends,” Klein said he’s not the only one who thinks that.
“Bill Clinton thinks this as well. He has said, according to my sources, that the White House is leaking to their … friends in the mainstream media stories about the Clintons; not only Hillary, but him, what she did while in the State Department.”
Klein said his sources in the White House have disclosed that the Clintons “know that Hillary is under not one but six different investigations prompted by the White House.”
More here
In an interview Wednesday with the Fox News Channel’s “Fox and Friends,” Klein said he’s not the only one who thinks that.
“Bill Clinton thinks this as well. He has said, according to my sources, that the White House is leaking to their … friends in the mainstream media stories about the Clintons; not only Hillary, but him, what she did while in the State Department.”
Klein said his sources in the White House have disclosed that the Clintons “know that Hillary is under not one but six different investigations prompted by the White House.”
More here
Letter to the Editor: Healthcare Reform
Hi, Joe
I've come up with some rough ideas for getting health care once the Obamacare monstrosity implodes. I know you are an astute businessman and a clever fellow, and I would love to hear what you think of these ideas.
Under this plan, folks would buy insurance, or be self-pay with catastrophic coverage available (or perhaps some combination of those).
Insurance companies would offer insurance by categories (think 'modules') of coverage/services, usinguniversally-defined category options, like:
Primary care (basic)
Specialist care
Basic testing (X-ray/lab work)
Advanced testing (basic plus MRI, CT scans, etc.)
Preventative (Colonoscopy, etc)
OB/GYN
Prescriptions (including pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals)
Cancer coverage
Vision
Dental
Long-term care
Catastrophic coverage only (various levels) -- mainly for self-pay individuals.
All insurance providers would sell policies nationally, either as for-profit or mutual.
All services and categories would be thoroughly defined as to what is to be covered and how, so that everyone is doing it the same way.
Standardized forms used for all claims and record keeping by all companies and providers.
Choice of deductibles at various levels that are specific (ie- $1000, $2000, $5000/yr., etc.) and well defined as to what is a deductible expense.
Elimination of contracts between providers and insurance companies, including any type of agreement that hinders competition or penalizes patients or physicians.
Providers may offer whatever discounts they choose to self-pay patients, especially since no claim needs to be filed. Any attempt by an insurance company to interfere in the relationship between doctors and self-pay patients should be a criminal offense. (This allows physicians to compete using discount offers as they see fit.)
Cost-sharing entities/ministries would operate as an organized group of self-pay individuals, perhaps with an option to pre-negotiate discounts from providers.
Tax-exempt medical savings accounts could be used to pay premiums, deductibles, and self-pay fees, and any subsidies can be given through such accounts.
I've come up with some rough ideas for getting health care once the Obamacare monstrosity implodes. I know you are an astute businessman and a clever fellow, and I would love to hear what you think of these ideas.
Under this plan, folks would buy insurance, or be self-pay with catastrophic coverage available (or perhaps some combination of those).
Insurance companies would offer insurance by categories (think 'modules') of coverage/services, usinguniversally-defined category options, like:
Primary care (basic)
Specialist care
Basic testing (X-ray/lab work)
Advanced testing (basic plus MRI, CT scans, etc.)
Preventative (Colonoscopy, etc)
OB/GYN
Prescriptions (including pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals)
Cancer coverage
Vision
Dental
Long-term care
Catastrophic coverage only (various levels) -- mainly for self-pay individuals.
All insurance providers would sell policies nationally, either as for-profit or mutual.
All services and categories would be thoroughly defined as to what is to be covered and how, so that everyone is doing it the same way.
Standardized forms used for all claims and record keeping by all companies and providers.
Choice of deductibles at various levels that are specific (ie- $1000, $2000, $5000/yr., etc.) and well defined as to what is a deductible expense.
Elimination of contracts between providers and insurance companies, including any type of agreement that hinders competition or penalizes patients or physicians.
Providers may offer whatever discounts they choose to self-pay patients, especially since no claim needs to be filed. Any attempt by an insurance company to interfere in the relationship between doctors and self-pay patients should be a criminal offense. (This allows physicians to compete using discount offers as they see fit.)
Cost-sharing entities/ministries would operate as an organized group of self-pay individuals, perhaps with an option to pre-negotiate discounts from providers.
Tax-exempt medical savings accounts could be used to pay premiums, deductibles, and self-pay fees, and any subsidies can be given through such accounts.
After Hearing, Authorization of War Against ISIS Uncertain
During a hearing Wednesday with top Obama administration officials, members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee made clear their desire to debate and pass an authorization for the use of military force against ISIS. At the same time, however, it’s clear that stark divisions remain over the language of such an authorization.
Secretary of State John Kerry, Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter and Gen. Martin Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, appeared before the panel to make the case for the White House’s proposed authorization. President Obama sent the AUMF language to Capitol Hill last month, but a large number of senators on both sides of the aisle immediately took issue with the proposal. Wednesday’s hearing rehashed those concerns.
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Secretary of State John Kerry, Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter and Gen. Martin Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, appeared before the panel to make the case for the White House’s proposed authorization. President Obama sent the AUMF language to Capitol Hill last month, but a large number of senators on both sides of the aisle immediately took issue with the proposal. Wednesday’s hearing rehashed those concerns.
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2 expelled from Md. school over sex assault allegations
BALTIMORE (AP) – School officials say two University of Maryland-Baltimore County students have been expelled following an investigation into allegations that a female student was gang-raped on campus.
The investigation was prompted by a complaint from a female student that she was gang-raped by four male students in a dorm room, but was so drunk she couldn’t remember what happened.
The students admitted to having sex with the female student, but maintained that it was consensual.
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The investigation was prompted by a complaint from a female student that she was gang-raped by four male students in a dorm room, but was so drunk she couldn’t remember what happened.
The students admitted to having sex with the female student, but maintained that it was consensual.
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Ocean City Eyes Mobile Pay Parking App For Coming Season
OCEAN CITY – The Town of Ocean City is planning to collect proposals for a pay-by-phone smart phone app for parking in the hopes of having it active by this summer season.
The Transportation Commission met on Tuesday morning to discuss the potential of a parking pay-by-phone smart phone app. Following the presentation, the commission was in consensus to forward a favorable recommendation to the full Mayor and City Council at the work session later that day for approval to pursue vendors in order to have the app active by the 2015 summer season.
Public Works Deputy Director John VanFossen recognized a pay-by-phone app as an “On the Horizon” objective in the town’s Strategic Plan for “Quality of Life Services”, and Public Works has been reviewing information on mobile applications to provide pay-by-phone services for Ocean City’s Cale parking meter program. Using a smart phone app, patrons will have the convenience to pay for parking using their smart phone or tablet. This type of program would improve services by offering an additional option of payment for the Town of Ocean City.
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The Transportation Commission met on Tuesday morning to discuss the potential of a parking pay-by-phone smart phone app. Following the presentation, the commission was in consensus to forward a favorable recommendation to the full Mayor and City Council at the work session later that day for approval to pursue vendors in order to have the app active by the 2015 summer season.
Public Works Deputy Director John VanFossen recognized a pay-by-phone app as an “On the Horizon” objective in the town’s Strategic Plan for “Quality of Life Services”, and Public Works has been reviewing information on mobile applications to provide pay-by-phone services for Ocean City’s Cale parking meter program. Using a smart phone app, patrons will have the convenience to pay for parking using their smart phone or tablet. This type of program would improve services by offering an additional option of payment for the Town of Ocean City.
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Arkansas Legislator Justin Harris Performed Exorcisms On Adopted Daughters Before Giving Them Away: Report
Arkansas state legislator Rep. Justin Harris gave his adopted daughters away because he and his wife thought they were possessed by demons, according to a report in the Arkansas Times.
The revelation is particularly shocking because one of the girls was eventually raped by the new foster parent, who was one of Harris' former staffers, the New York Daily News reports.
The Harrises, who have three other children and run a pre-school in West Fork, Arkansas, told the Times that they couldn't handle the girls' behavior. They claimed that the girls, aged 3 and 6, were violent and that one of them crushed a family pet to death. So they gave the girls away to Eric Francis, who was arrested six months later and is now serving a 40-year sentence for sexually assaulting the 6-year-old child.
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The revelation is particularly shocking because one of the girls was eventually raped by the new foster parent, who was one of Harris' former staffers, the New York Daily News reports.
The Harrises, who have three other children and run a pre-school in West Fork, Arkansas, told the Times that they couldn't handle the girls' behavior. They claimed that the girls, aged 3 and 6, were violent and that one of them crushed a family pet to death. So they gave the girls away to Eric Francis, who was arrested six months later and is now serving a 40-year sentence for sexually assaulting the 6-year-old child.
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3D Hillary Clinton action figure! (Emails not included)
FCTRY, the Brooklyn-based production studio behind the 2008 Barack Obama action figure that became a hit seller during his successful White House bid, is creating an "iconic" Clinton doll, complete with baby-blue pantsuit.
"We want to kickstart this product, and jumpstart Hillary's campaign all at the same time," FCTRY co-founder Jason Feinberg says in a two-minute, 43-second video pitch to cloudfunding platform Kickstarter introduced this week.
"Honestly, the world kind of needs a Hillary action figure," he added.
The jury is still out on that. But while the project has yet to fully get off the ground, it looked increasingly likely it would.
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Bills would change how police officers are held accountable
ANNAPOLIS, Md. —Hundreds of law enforcement officers and residents from all over Maryland converged on Annapolis Thursday, taking opposite sides over several pieces of legislation designed to hold police more accountable.
About 500 people signed up to testify on 17 bills before the House Judiciary Committee.
Going from chants to change, people from all walks of life and from all over the state want to effect a sea change in police policies.
"We are diverse and most importantly we are united. Our unity is our greatest power," said Farajii Muhammad, with the Young Leaders for Peace Coalition.
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About 500 people signed up to testify on 17 bills before the House Judiciary Committee.
Going from chants to change, people from all walks of life and from all over the state want to effect a sea change in police policies.
"We are diverse and most importantly we are united. Our unity is our greatest power," said Farajii Muhammad, with the Young Leaders for Peace Coalition.
More
Team Defends Down Syndrome Cheerleader
A group of middle school basketball players walked off the court in the middle of a game when they heard bullying coming from the stands directed at cheerleader, Desiree Andrews, who has Down syndrome.
“One of the kids stepped up and said, ‘Don’t mess with her,’” Brandon Morris, who was the boys seventh-grade coach at Lincoln Middle School in Wisconsin, told Kenosha News.
Eighth-graders Chase Vasquez, Miles Rodriguez and Scooter Terrien stormed off the court to confront the bully, who was giving Andrews a hard time.
“We were mad; we didn’t like that,” Rodriguez told the paper. “We asked our sports director to talk to the people and tell them not to make fun of her.”
In a video on TMJ4 news in Wisconsin, Andrews called the gesture “sweet, kind, awesome, amazing.”
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“One of the kids stepped up and said, ‘Don’t mess with her,’” Brandon Morris, who was the boys seventh-grade coach at Lincoln Middle School in Wisconsin, told Kenosha News.
Eighth-graders Chase Vasquez, Miles Rodriguez and Scooter Terrien stormed off the court to confront the bully, who was giving Andrews a hard time.
“We were mad; we didn’t like that,” Rodriguez told the paper. “We asked our sports director to talk to the people and tell them not to make fun of her.”
In a video on TMJ4 news in Wisconsin, Andrews called the gesture “sweet, kind, awesome, amazing.”
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13 things you didn't know about Friday the 13th
It's Friday the 13th. If you're superstitious, you're likely under the impression that this is the most unlucky day on the calendar. Here are 13 facts about Friday the 13th to help keep your mind off all bad things that could happen today:
1. This is the second of three Friday the 13ths on the calendar in 2015: We’ll have a Friday the 13th in March, exactly four weeks after February’s Friday the 13th! Then we’ll have a Friday the 13th in November. That's exactly 39 weeks (3 x 13 weeks) after February’s Friday the 13th! 2012 was the last year with three Friday the 13ths. The next will be 2026.
2. The 1980 film "Friday the 13th" grossed nearly $40 million during its initial cinema run, according to information from the Internet Movie Database .
3. Fear of the number 13 is known as triskaidekaphobia, while fear of Friday the 13th is known as paraskavedekatriaphobia.
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1. This is the second of three Friday the 13ths on the calendar in 2015: We’ll have a Friday the 13th in March, exactly four weeks after February’s Friday the 13th! Then we’ll have a Friday the 13th in November. That's exactly 39 weeks (3 x 13 weeks) after February’s Friday the 13th! 2012 was the last year with three Friday the 13ths. The next will be 2026.
2. The 1980 film "Friday the 13th" grossed nearly $40 million during its initial cinema run, according to information from the Internet Movie Database .
3. Fear of the number 13 is known as triskaidekaphobia, while fear of Friday the 13th is known as paraskavedekatriaphobia.
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Criminal Illegals Kept In US Under Obama Action
WASHINGTON – Federal agents in a sweep targeting the most dangerous criminal immigrants arrested 15 people who have been allowed to remain in the U.S. under President Barack Obama's executive action intended to protect children who came to the U.S. years ago with their parents, The Associated Press has learned.
Fourteen of the 15 had been convicted of a crime, the Homeland Security Department confirmed late Thursday. In at least one case, the Obama administration renewed the protective status for a young immigrant after that person's conviction in a drug case, a U.S. official briefed on the arrests said.
One of the eligibility requirements for the program is that immigrants not have a criminal history. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because this person was not authorized to discuss the matter by name.
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Fourteen of the 15 had been convicted of a crime, the Homeland Security Department confirmed late Thursday. In at least one case, the Obama administration renewed the protective status for a young immigrant after that person's conviction in a drug case, a U.S. official briefed on the arrests said.
One of the eligibility requirements for the program is that immigrants not have a criminal history. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because this person was not authorized to discuss the matter by name.
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Rush Limbaugh blames hip-hop music for exposing people to the N-word
No stranger to courting controversy, Rush Limbaugh has suggested rapper Kanye West would have a hit record if he recorded the same racist chant that cost the SAE fraternity its University of Oklahoma house.
Speaking about Sigma Alpha Epsilon's slurs on Wednesday's show, Limbaugh dragged the Grammy-winning rapper into his monologue and claimed hip-hop shared the blame for capitalizing on the N-word in so many lyrics.
'If this had been a song by Kim Kardashian's husband, and they'd sung this song at the Grammys, this would be a hit. Can we all agree with that?' he asked.
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Speaking about Sigma Alpha Epsilon's slurs on Wednesday's show, Limbaugh dragged the Grammy-winning rapper into his monologue and claimed hip-hop shared the blame for capitalizing on the N-word in so many lyrics.
'If this had been a song by Kim Kardashian's husband, and they'd sung this song at the Grammys, this would be a hit. Can we all agree with that?' he asked.
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PRAISE The Lord
Demolition Crews are finally down at the Spring Hill Church tearing down the structure. Hopefully we get word if they are in need of any help rebuilding. I'm sure many of you would be willing to step up and help, if needed.
Cambridge’s Leaky Pete’s Eyes 2nd Restaurant In Berlin
Leaky Pete’s Oyster and Wine Bar, located on Race Street in Cambridge, will open a second location in downtown Berlin in early April. The restaurant, to be called Leaky Pete’s Oyster Bar and Chophouse, will take over the Tex-Mex and Country Cook’n building.
“This’ll be fun for Berlin,” owner Terry Feehley said.
Feehley, who’s had Leaky Pete’s in Cambridge for the past five years, said he’s been considering starting a second location for some time. He initially looked for a spot in Ocean City but decided Berlin was more to his liking.
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TROOPERS TO BEGIN STATEWIDE DUI ENFORCEMENT INITIATIVES TODAY
(PIKESVILLE, MD) – St. Patrick’s Day may still be a few days away, but Maryland State Police troopers are working coordinated statewide special impaired driving enforcement initiatives that begin today and continue through the holiday.
Maryland State Police Acting Superintendent Colonel William M. Pallozzi today announced a statewide focus on finding and arresting impaired drivers before their bad decisions impact the safety of others on Maryland roads. “Beginning today, troopers across the state will be involved in a variety of enforcement efforts, all with the goal of identifying and apprehending impaired drivers,” Colonel Pallozzi said. “Deploying additional troopers and working in coordination with local law enforcement agencies will reduce the risk of an impaired driving tragedy by increasing the potential impaired drivers will be arrested and taken off the road before those tragedies occur.”
Maryland State Police Acting Superintendent Colonel William M. Pallozzi today announced a statewide focus on finding and arresting impaired drivers before their bad decisions impact the safety of others on Maryland roads. “Beginning today, troopers across the state will be involved in a variety of enforcement efforts, all with the goal of identifying and apprehending impaired drivers,” Colonel Pallozzi said. “Deploying additional troopers and working in coordination with local law enforcement agencies will reduce the risk of an impaired driving tragedy by increasing the potential impaired drivers will be arrested and taken off the road before those tragedies occur.”
Maine senator won't resign over post tying Obama to IS group
AUGUSTA, Maine — A Maine senator says he has no intention of resigning over a series of offensive Facebook posts, including one that suggests President Barack Obama's family members are part of the Islamic State group.
Republican state Sen. Michael Willette asked his colleagues for their forgiveness Wednesday and promised his "mistake in judgment" won't be repeated.
The Democratic Party says Willette should step down over a "prolific online history of racist and bigoted remarks."
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Republican state Sen. Michael Willette asked his colleagues for their forgiveness Wednesday and promised his "mistake in judgment" won't be repeated.
The Democratic Party says Willette should step down over a "prolific online history of racist and bigoted remarks."
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How to Make Cocaine Less Addictive
Researchers learn more about the brain on cocaine
New research in rats suggests that it might be possible to dull the vivid memories of cocaine, a finding that could lead to potential therapies that might one day make drugs less addictive.
In the new study, published in the Journal of Neuroscience,researchers at Washington State University experimented with rats and showed that it’s possible to interfere with the brain’s memory creation process, which is involved in cocaine addiction. Altering this process could make the drug less desirable.
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New research in rats suggests that it might be possible to dull the vivid memories of cocaine, a finding that could lead to potential therapies that might one day make drugs less addictive.
In the new study, published in the Journal of Neuroscience,researchers at Washington State University experimented with rats and showed that it’s possible to interfere with the brain’s memory creation process, which is involved in cocaine addiction. Altering this process could make the drug less desirable.
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Canadian PM's comments on Muslim veil set off Twitter flurry
Twitter users turned to Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper for tongue-in-cheek fashion advice on Wednesday, the day after he said the niqab, a face covering veil worn by some Muslims, was rooted in an "anti-women" culture.
Using the hashtag #dresscodePM, users of the social media service criticized Harper, who made the comment as part of an ongoing push by the ruling Conservatives to ban face coverings in Canadian citizenship ceremonies.
"I'm thinking of wearing white shoes before May 24. Is that still considered tacky," asked Toronto Twitter user Sarah Dearing, who uses the handle @sarahdearing, while Hamilton, Ontario user Sarah S., who tweets as @FrugalRock, wrote: "What's your take on leggings @pmharper? Do they count as pants?"
Shireen Ahmed, a Toronto-area woman who tweets as @_shireenahmed_, posted a picture of herself wearing a hockey jersey and a hijab head scarf, asking: "@pmharper My outfit OK? Am I still part of the 'Canadian family'?"
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Using the hashtag #dresscodePM, users of the social media service criticized Harper, who made the comment as part of an ongoing push by the ruling Conservatives to ban face coverings in Canadian citizenship ceremonies.
"I'm thinking of wearing white shoes before May 24. Is that still considered tacky," asked Toronto Twitter user Sarah Dearing, who uses the handle @sarahdearing, while Hamilton, Ontario user Sarah S., who tweets as @FrugalRock, wrote: "What's your take on leggings @pmharper? Do they count as pants?"
Shireen Ahmed, a Toronto-area woman who tweets as @_shireenahmed_, posted a picture of herself wearing a hockey jersey and a hijab head scarf, asking: "@pmharper My outfit OK? Am I still part of the 'Canadian family'?"
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Shopping Malls, Middle-Class Face a Bleak Future
Online shopping, declining retail traffic and a beleaguered middle class are hollowing out the retail sector.
A tissue-box-sized goodie-bag of shampoos, perfumes and beauty products shows up on Rachel Guarisco’s porch every month in rural Lexington, Virginia.
Guarisco, a 21-year-old senior at Washington & Lee University, has had cosmetics shipped straight to her home since her freshman year through Birchbox – a subscription-based third-party service that mails monthly assortments of mostly travel-sized toiletries across the country, with international operations in Canada, France, Spain, the U.K. and Belgium.
"Normally, you'd have to drive to Sephora, which is an hour away from us, spend $60 on a full-sized thing and find out you don't even like it," says Guarisco. "The advantage to this is having all the samples and having a bunch of different brands. You can find what you want without having to go anywhere."
There are plenty of other benefits: The cosmetically savvy get to sample new products. Beauty beginners avoid wandering through store aisles filled with confusing options. Birchbox’s business partners gain access to potential new clients. And Birchbox itself profits off of subscription fees.
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A tissue-box-sized goodie-bag of shampoos, perfumes and beauty products shows up on Rachel Guarisco’s porch every month in rural Lexington, Virginia.
Guarisco, a 21-year-old senior at Washington & Lee University, has had cosmetics shipped straight to her home since her freshman year through Birchbox – a subscription-based third-party service that mails monthly assortments of mostly travel-sized toiletries across the country, with international operations in Canada, France, Spain, the U.K. and Belgium.
"Normally, you'd have to drive to Sephora, which is an hour away from us, spend $60 on a full-sized thing and find out you don't even like it," says Guarisco. "The advantage to this is having all the samples and having a bunch of different brands. You can find what you want without having to go anywhere."
There are plenty of other benefits: The cosmetically savvy get to sample new products. Beauty beginners avoid wandering through store aisles filled with confusing options. Birchbox’s business partners gain access to potential new clients. And Birchbox itself profits off of subscription fees.
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U.S. hate groups on decline but extremist violence persists, study finds
The number of hate groups in the United States declined by 17 percent in 2014 as compared to the year before, though violent acts by domestic extremists have not abated, a report released on Tuesday by the Southern Poverty Law Center found.
Many former members of hate groups, which include neo-Nazis, black separatists and organizations targeting gays, Muslims and immigrants, have left to spread their views anonymously on the Internet, said Mark Potok, a senior fellow at the SPLC.
"Domestic terrorists and other extremists with criminal intentions also are increasingly acting alone, choosing to commit lethal attacks without the help of an organized group," Potok said in a statement.
Dozens of incidents identified by the SPLC as acts of "domestic terror" and resulting in 63 deaths have occurred in the U.S. over the past six years, the vast majority carried out by one or two people rather than by organized groups, the SPLC said.
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Many former members of hate groups, which include neo-Nazis, black separatists and organizations targeting gays, Muslims and immigrants, have left to spread their views anonymously on the Internet, said Mark Potok, a senior fellow at the SPLC.
"Domestic terrorists and other extremists with criminal intentions also are increasingly acting alone, choosing to commit lethal attacks without the help of an organized group," Potok said in a statement.
Dozens of incidents identified by the SPLC as acts of "domestic terror" and resulting in 63 deaths have occurred in the U.S. over the past six years, the vast majority carried out by one or two people rather than by organized groups, the SPLC said.
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Quitting smoking? FDA flags alcohol, seizure risks for Chantix users
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning smokers who are trying to quit that they may have trouble tolerating alcohol if they are taking Chantix.
Reports made to the FDA and to Chantix manufacturer Pfizer include cases of patients who became more inebriated than usual, were uncharacteristically aggressive and had blacked out after drinking.
"Until patients know how Chantix affects their ability to tolerate alcohol, they should decrease the amount of alcohol they drink," the FDA said in a statement issued this week.
The agency also said that there have been "rare accounts" of seizures in patients taking Chantix. Some of these patients had seizure disorders that were previously under control; others had no history of seizures.
Details about both of these side effects have been added to the Chantix drug label as "Warnings and Precautions."
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Reports made to the FDA and to Chantix manufacturer Pfizer include cases of patients who became more inebriated than usual, were uncharacteristically aggressive and had blacked out after drinking.
"Until patients know how Chantix affects their ability to tolerate alcohol, they should decrease the amount of alcohol they drink," the FDA said in a statement issued this week.
The agency also said that there have been "rare accounts" of seizures in patients taking Chantix. Some of these patients had seizure disorders that were previously under control; others had no history of seizures.
Details about both of these side effects have been added to the Chantix drug label as "Warnings and Precautions."
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'Bowel movement bandit' who pooped on 19 parked cars sought by Ohio police
Officers are searching for someone they said has defecated on 19 parked cars in driveways since May 2012.
The bowel movement bandit strikes between 4 and 6 a.m. On Wednesday morning, a resident caught the suspect on film. She set up a camera after the seventh time that someone had pooped on her car while it was parked in her driveway.
One man said that the defecator has struck his car six times, and has even smeared it on his hood, door handles, gas tank cover, windshield and mirrors.
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Native American Council Offers Amnesty to 240 Million Undocumented Whites
At a meeting on Friday in Taos, New Mexico, Native American leaders weighed a handful of proposals about the future of the United State’s large, illegal European population. After a long debate, NANC decided to extend a road to citizenship for those without criminal records or contagious diseases.
“We will give Europeans the option to apply for Native Citizenship,” explained Chief Sauti of the Nez Perce tribe. “To obtain legal status, each applicant must write a heartfelt apology for their ancestors’ crimes, pay an application fee of $5,000, and, if currently on any ancestral Native land, they must relinquish that land to NANC or pay the market price, which we decide.
“Any illegal European who has a criminal record of any sort, minus traffic and parking tickets, will be deported back to their native land. Anybody with contagious diseases like HIV, smallpox, herpes, etc, will not qualify and will also be deported.”
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Serious Questions About Secret Service Following Latest Incident
There are now serious questions about the Secret Service agency’s ability to protect the president.
Rick Ritter has the very latest on the investigation.
The Department of Homeland Security has taken charge of the investigation–an alleged incident local lawmakers say tarnishes the agency’s reputation.
It’s just the latest incident rocking the White House. Heavy allegations against a pair of agents have the Secret Service under fire once again.
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Ocean City 25th on TripAdvisor’s U.S. beaches list
Ocean City continues to be listed at or near the top of various rankings, and this time it took the 25th spot on TripAdvisor’s 2015 Travelers Choice top 25 beaches in the United States.
“It’s an extraordinary honor to be named one of Trip Advisors’ top 25 beaches,” said Jessica Waters, communications manager for the Town of Ocean City. “We have been on numerous top lists for vacationing lately, which shows that our vibrant coastal resort has left a positive impression on our visitors.”
The winners were chosen by millions of travelers and most of the beaches making the list were located in California, Hawaii or Florida. Only three other beaches on the East Coast besides Ocean City were picked by visitors.
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“It’s an extraordinary honor to be named one of Trip Advisors’ top 25 beaches,” said Jessica Waters, communications manager for the Town of Ocean City. “We have been on numerous top lists for vacationing lately, which shows that our vibrant coastal resort has left a positive impression on our visitors.”
The winners were chosen by millions of travelers and most of the beaches making the list were located in California, Hawaii or Florida. Only three other beaches on the East Coast besides Ocean City were picked by visitors.
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Three Dog Night keyboardist Jimmy Greenspoon dies
The band also posted this message on its Facebook page:
“We are very saddened at the passing of our dear friend and longtime band mate, Jimmy Greenspoon. Jimmy died peacefully at home today surrounded by his family. Please keep him and his loved ones in your prayers and your hearts.”More
Official confirmation came Thursday with this statement from Motorized Music Group:
Keyboard player Jimmy Greenspoon, an original band member of the iconic American band Three Dog Night, has died at his home in North Potomac, Maryland. He was 67.
Harris: Drugs are a life-ruining choice
The congressman was in Cecil County on a multi-stop visit, which included a meeting with county officials.
Cecil County Health Officer Stephanie Garrity updated Harris on the county’s efforts to reduce substance abuse and overdose deaths over the last year.
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DSP S.O.A.R. Searching for Wanted Sex Offender
Investigators have obtained warrants for Kevin L. Woods, 28, who is a medium risk Tier 2 sex offender and may be living in the Seaford area.
Woods is a black male, 5'04” tall, 15 lbs., with black hair and brown eyes. He is wanted for Failure to Re-Register and is also wanted out of Sussex County Superior Court for Violation of Probation.
The Delaware State Police Sex Offender Apprehension and Registration Unit is asking anyone who may know the location of Woods to call 302-672-5306. Information may also be provided by calling Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333, via the internet atwww.tipsubmit.com, or by sending an anonymous tip by text to 274637 (CRIMES) using the keyword "DSP."
Just To Set The Record Straight
Nevertheless, I wanted everyone to see that they not only admit to making the calls, I answered the phone twice, (out of several times) just in case it was someone else with a real issue.
It was said this morning that Barbara Duncan has already started to place people on administrative leave. I'm sure she has seen the nasty comments about my Wife and Grandson on another Site and realizes that not only are these innocent, defenseless people, she wouldn't want such things stated about her or her Family either. And YES, I am VERY familiar about the things said about her in Mt. Vernon but I would NEVER state such names about ANY female.
I will say, the phone calls have ended. I want to make something else very clear here. It is against the law to make phone calls to advertisers, (like these people have) and discourage them doing business with us. Jonathan Taylor has been known to do this in the past. Our advertisers are very good people. LYING too them and making claims of things I've never done is also against the law.
IF ANY of you think I won't spend the money to come after you, (and that includes you Jonathan Taylor) and you think you are tough guys, DO IT AGAIN and see what happens. I will make you front page news for a very long time and NOT just on Salisbury News. I was kind to Barrie Tilghman and Chief Webster as I did not counter sue them. I WILL defend Salisbury News and I will sue you. This too is my final warning. Oh, you should know. They are calling these advertisers on RESTRICTED phone numbers. Sound familiar?
Perdue shouldn't dump its toxic waste hexane into our air: From Ray Wallace
Plant application should be denied
Chicken seller Perdue should withdraw its application for a state Department of Environmental Protection permit to pollute our local air with toxic hexane that will be emitted from the soybean oil extraction facility they are proposing to build in Conoy Township.
This facility is an unnecessary threat to public health, since soybean oil can be prepared from soybeans using the non-hexane expeller method. Perdue claims that the expeller method is less profitable than the hexane method. But isn’t this extra profit being made at the expense of taxpayers who will have to foot the bill for the potential health impacts of Perdue’s toxic hexane pollution? To my knowledge, Perdue has not provided the public or DEP with an objective cost-benefit analysis comparing the two methods.
Do we need to pollute our air with toxic hexane in order to benefit the soybean farmers of our region?
Unlike Perdue, other businesses, such as chicken-seller Bell and Evans in nearby Lebanon County, do not feed hexane-extracted soybean meal to their chickens. This business is now expanding and plans to provide a market to our local soybean farmers equal to that of Perdue’s — without adding toxic hexane to the already polluted air in our region.
The proposed Perdue facility is unhealthy, obsolete and unnecessary. Perdue should withdraw its DEP permit application, and Gov. Tom Wolf should deny the company’s request for unnecessary taxpayer funding under the R-Cap grant program and use this grant money for businesses that will not use our air for a toxic dumping ground in order to make a profit at taxpayers’ expense.
Warren H. Evans, Ph.D.
Retired Cancer Research Biochemist
Hellam Township