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Attention
Monday, April 13, 2015
Retailers come under fire for Work Schedules
New York’s attorney general scrutinizes 13 big retailers, including Target and Gap, over their staffing practices
New York’s attorney general is scrutinizing 13 big retailers over their staffing practices and whether they require workers to show up or stay home with little notice.
The office of New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman sent letters warning Target Corp. TGT, +0.17% , Gap Inc. GAP, +3.99% and 11 others that it believes the chains are using on-call scheduling and that such practices may violate a New York law.
On-call scheduling systems have made big retailers more nimble, allowing them to staff stores during busy times and save on payroll during slow days. The software used by many retailers forecasts staffing needs based on real-time sales and traffic information.
Some employers require on-call workers to check in by phone, email or text shortly before their shift, Mr. Schneiderman’s office said.
If the store is expected to be busy, they must come in; if things are slow, they are told not to report for work and aren’t paid. These systems have been criticized by worker advocates, who say on-call scheduling makes workers’ lives and pay unpredictable.
In addition to Target and Gap, the retailers that received the letters are Abercrombie & Fitch Co. ANF, -1.27% ; Ann Inc. ANN, +0.48% ; Burlington Stores Inc. BURL, -0.03% ; Crocs Inc. CROX, +0.40% ; J.C. Penney Co. JCP, +0.22% ; J. Crew Group Inc.; L Brands Inc. LB, +0.19% ; Sears Holdings Corp. SHLD, +3.89% ; TJX Cos. TJX, +0.15% ; Urban Outfitters Inc. URBN, +0.76% ; and Williams-Sonoma Inc.WSM, +0.76%
More
New York’s attorney general is scrutinizing 13 big retailers over their staffing practices and whether they require workers to show up or stay home with little notice.
The office of New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman sent letters warning Target Corp. TGT, +0.17% , Gap Inc. GAP, +3.99% and 11 others that it believes the chains are using on-call scheduling and that such practices may violate a New York law.
On-call scheduling systems have made big retailers more nimble, allowing them to staff stores during busy times and save on payroll during slow days. The software used by many retailers forecasts staffing needs based on real-time sales and traffic information.
Some employers require on-call workers to check in by phone, email or text shortly before their shift, Mr. Schneiderman’s office said.
If the store is expected to be busy, they must come in; if things are slow, they are told not to report for work and aren’t paid. These systems have been criticized by worker advocates, who say on-call scheduling makes workers’ lives and pay unpredictable.
In addition to Target and Gap, the retailers that received the letters are Abercrombie & Fitch Co. ANF, -1.27% ; Ann Inc. ANN, +0.48% ; Burlington Stores Inc. BURL, -0.03% ; Crocs Inc. CROX, +0.40% ; J.C. Penney Co. JCP, +0.22% ; J. Crew Group Inc.; L Brands Inc. LB, +0.19% ; Sears Holdings Corp. SHLD, +3.89% ; TJX Cos. TJX, +0.15% ; Urban Outfitters Inc. URBN, +0.76% ; and Williams-Sonoma Inc.WSM, +0.76%
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Sharpton urges unity, praises S.C. mayor in wake of shooting
NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. -- The Rev. Al Sharpton called for unity during a vigil at the site where 50-year-old Walter Scott was fatally shot by a North Charleston police officer.
A small crowd assembled Sunday afternoon under cloudy skies in the grassy, fenced-in area to pray for Scott, his family and for justice.
Scott was shot after fleeing a traffic stop April 4. Then-officer Michael Slager initially said Scott was shot after a tussle over his stun gun, but witness video surfaced showing Scott being shot as he ran away. Slager was fired and has been charged with murder.
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A small crowd assembled Sunday afternoon under cloudy skies in the grassy, fenced-in area to pray for Scott, his family and for justice.
Scott was shot after fleeing a traffic stop April 4. Then-officer Michael Slager initially said Scott was shot after a tussle over his stun gun, but witness video surfaced showing Scott being shot as he ran away. Slager was fired and has been charged with murder.
More
Gold Alert Issued for Missing Dover Teen
Dover-The Delaware State Police are issuing a Gold Alert for Cah'lee J. Rogers of Dover who was last seen around 10:30 a.m. today, Monday April 13, 2015 at a residence on Saxton Road in Kent Acres.
Rogers is a black male, 16 years of age, 6'00” tall, 175 lbs., black hair and brown eyes. He may be riding a blue/green/yellow colored bicycle possibly in the areas of Rodney Village or Lakeland MHP. (Photo attached)
Troopers have been unable to make contact with Rogers to check on his welfare. Attempts to locate him have been unsuccessful and there is a real concern for his safety and welfare.
If anyone has any information in reference to his whereabouts, they are asked to contact Troop 3 at 302-697-4454 or by contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333 or via the internet at www.delaware.crimestoppersweb.com. Anonymous tips may be sent by text to 274637 (CRIMES) using the keyword "DSP."
Rogers is a black male, 16 years of age, 6'00” tall, 175 lbs., black hair and brown eyes. He may be riding a blue/green/yellow colored bicycle possibly in the areas of Rodney Village or Lakeland MHP. (Photo attached)
Troopers have been unable to make contact with Rogers to check on his welfare. Attempts to locate him have been unsuccessful and there is a real concern for his safety and welfare.
If anyone has any information in reference to his whereabouts, they are asked to contact Troop 3 at 302-697-4454 or by contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333 or via the internet at www.delaware.crimestoppersweb.com. Anonymous tips may be sent by text to 274637 (CRIMES) using the keyword "DSP."
A Message From Vice President Joe Biden
From Joe Biden democraticparty@democrats.org
To Joe Albero alberobutzo@wmconnect.com
Thanks, Joe
Joe --
People helping people, Joe: For my entire life, that's what Democrats have always stood for.
And for six years you and I, and Democrats all over have all stood with Barack Obama because we knew that, together, we could do big things. I can tell you with confidence that Barack is proud of what we've been able to accomplish because you were with him, and I am too.
Now Joe, a lot of stuff is going to happen and a bunch of things will be said in the coming weeks and months -- but one thing that cannot and will not change is the importance of all of us as Democrats sticking together and doing what we can to keep helping people live better, fuller lives. I know you're still proud to have the President's back, and if you're still in to keep fighting for every hardworking person in this country, let us know right now by adding your name here:
The fight to move forward never ends, Joe. Thanks for letting us know you're in this for the long haul.
Joe
To Joe Albero alberobutzo@wmconnect.com
Thanks, Joe
Joe --
People helping people, Joe: For my entire life, that's what Democrats have always stood for.
And for six years you and I, and Democrats all over have all stood with Barack Obama because we knew that, together, we could do big things. I can tell you with confidence that Barack is proud of what we've been able to accomplish because you were with him, and I am too.
Now Joe, a lot of stuff is going to happen and a bunch of things will be said in the coming weeks and months -- but one thing that cannot and will not change is the importance of all of us as Democrats sticking together and doing what we can to keep helping people live better, fuller lives. I know you're still proud to have the President's back, and if you're still in to keep fighting for every hardworking person in this country, let us know right now by adding your name here:
The fight to move forward never ends, Joe. Thanks for letting us know you're in this for the long haul.
Joe
Then and Now: The Cast of 'Grease'
Click HERE To see the Then and Now pictures of the cast of 'Grease'
POTENTIAL PALCOHOL 'PANDEMIC'? By Senator Steve Waugh
An emergency bill prohibiting a person from selling or offering to sell alcoholic beverages in powder or crystalline form to be used directly or in combination with water or any other substance, has passed the Senate.
The House agreed on a ban from June 1 to June 30, 2016. The Senate approved a two-year ban via Senate Bill 937. The two chambers will have to agree on the length of the ban in order for it to become a law. Six states have passed legislation to ban powdered alcohol and federal lawmakers are also working on a ban of this product.
Produced by Mark Phillips in 2012, powdered alcohol was originally sprinkled on foods and was snorted as a way of quickly getting drunk. Phillips, who plans to sell the powder for about $4 a drink, has defended his product saying it is no more dangerous than bottled alcohol sold in liquor stores.
Marketing will present it as a practical lightweight drink convenient for hikers, bikers, and kayakers who don't want to travel with heavy liquor bottles. The producer says that it needs to be used responsibly.
The company sells rum, vodka, and mixed drinks called Cosmopolitan, Lemon Drop and Powderita; each drink containing 10 percent alcohol by volume - equivalent to a glass of wine, or one ounce of powder and one ounce of alcohol in equal parts. Phillips hopes to have it on store shelves by this summer.
Lawmakers and public health officials are very concerned about the increased chances of underage drinking and the safety of teens and young adults who are calling it a form of 'Kool-Aid', a product easy to conceal.
Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot, asked wholesalers and retailers to enact a banon Palcohol. "The likelihood of widespread Palcohol abuse, particularly among underage consumers, carries a real possibility of tragic consequences, which is why I'm so pleased by the industry's unified response to protect the public from such a dangerous product," said Franchot.
The House agreed on a ban from June 1 to June 30, 2016. The Senate approved a two-year ban via Senate Bill 937. The two chambers will have to agree on the length of the ban in order for it to become a law. Six states have passed legislation to ban powdered alcohol and federal lawmakers are also working on a ban of this product.
Produced by Mark Phillips in 2012, powdered alcohol was originally sprinkled on foods and was snorted as a way of quickly getting drunk. Phillips, who plans to sell the powder for about $4 a drink, has defended his product saying it is no more dangerous than bottled alcohol sold in liquor stores.
Marketing will present it as a practical lightweight drink convenient for hikers, bikers, and kayakers who don't want to travel with heavy liquor bottles. The producer says that it needs to be used responsibly.
The company sells rum, vodka, and mixed drinks called Cosmopolitan, Lemon Drop and Powderita; each drink containing 10 percent alcohol by volume - equivalent to a glass of wine, or one ounce of powder and one ounce of alcohol in equal parts. Phillips hopes to have it on store shelves by this summer.
Lawmakers and public health officials are very concerned about the increased chances of underage drinking and the safety of teens and young adults who are calling it a form of 'Kool-Aid', a product easy to conceal.
Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot, asked wholesalers and retailers to enact a banon Palcohol. "The likelihood of widespread Palcohol abuse, particularly among underage consumers, carries a real possibility of tragic consequences, which is why I'm so pleased by the industry's unified response to protect the public from such a dangerous product," said Franchot.
Obama making gay rights his, Democrats’ legacy
With actions as sweeping as new workplace rules for gays and as symbolic as a gender-neutral bathroom in the White House, President Obama is stepping up his efforts in the sexual-orientation culture wars and trying to burnish his legacy as a champion of gay rights.
Activists in both parties say Mr. Obama’s renewed push for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) equality could have implications for the 2016 election, because his actions will be difficult for the next president to reverse, and because he is solidifying the Democratic Party’s already-strong ties to a part of its base that votes enthusiastically and raises campaign money prodigiously.
“Clearly, the president and his team are banking on milking the waning hours of the culture war,” said Greg McNeilly, a Republican strategist in Michigan who is gay. “It’s working for them now, and they’re trying to maximize that effect. I do see him accelerating his efforts.”
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Activists in both parties say Mr. Obama’s renewed push for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) equality could have implications for the 2016 election, because his actions will be difficult for the next president to reverse, and because he is solidifying the Democratic Party’s already-strong ties to a part of its base that votes enthusiastically and raises campaign money prodigiously.
“Clearly, the president and his team are banking on milking the waning hours of the culture war,” said Greg McNeilly, a Republican strategist in Michigan who is gay. “It’s working for them now, and they’re trying to maximize that effect. I do see him accelerating his efforts.”
More
He Couldn’t Get into Medical School – Until He Decided to Pass as Black
Vijay Chokal-Ingam is the brother of actress and comedian Mindy Kaling, and in 1998, he wanted to go to medical school. With a 3.1 grade point average, however, he wasn’t a compelling candidate. He sent in his application and was rejected.
Then he decided to try another tack. IJ Review tells the story:
“I was determined to become a doctor and I knew that admission standards for certain minorities under affirmative action were, let’s say…less stringent?”
He decided the best way to get into medical school with his underwhelming GPA was to be black.
He explains on his blog how he prepared:
“So, I shaved my head, trimmed my long Indian eyelashes, and applied to medical school as a black man. My change in appearance was so startling that my own fraternity brothers didn’t recognize me at first.
“I even joined the Organization of Black Students and started using my embarrassing middle name that I had hidden from all of my friends since I was a 9 years old.”
More
Then he decided to try another tack. IJ Review tells the story:
“I was determined to become a doctor and I knew that admission standards for certain minorities under affirmative action were, let’s say…less stringent?”
He decided the best way to get into medical school with his underwhelming GPA was to be black.
He explains on his blog how he prepared:
“So, I shaved my head, trimmed my long Indian eyelashes, and applied to medical school as a black man. My change in appearance was so startling that my own fraternity brothers didn’t recognize me at first.
“I even joined the Organization of Black Students and started using my embarrassing middle name that I had hidden from all of my friends since I was a 9 years old.”
More
Right to Bear Arms? Gun grabbing sweeping the nation
Cherished family heirlooms were among the 21 firearms Michael Roberts surrendered to the Torrance Police Department in 2010, after his doctor filed a restraining order against him.
The court order was the result of a dispute Roberts had with a member of the doctor’s staff and, after Roberts pleaded no contest, the matter was resolved. Yet, even though he filed the proper Law Enforcement Gun Release paperwork on four separate occasions, obtained clearance from the California Department of Justice and had two court orders commanding the return of his guns, police refused to hand them over.
With the backing of the National Rifle Association and California Rifle and Pistol Association, Roberts filed a federal lawsuit in May 2014, over the $15,500 worth of firearms. In the end he got the money, but not the guns. The police had had them destroyed.
More
The court order was the result of a dispute Roberts had with a member of the doctor’s staff and, after Roberts pleaded no contest, the matter was resolved. Yet, even though he filed the proper Law Enforcement Gun Release paperwork on four separate occasions, obtained clearance from the California Department of Justice and had two court orders commanding the return of his guns, police refused to hand them over.
With the backing of the National Rifle Association and California Rifle and Pistol Association, Roberts filed a federal lawsuit in May 2014, over the $15,500 worth of firearms. In the end he got the money, but not the guns. The police had had them destroyed.
More
Pakistan frees 2008 Mumbai terror attack 'mastermind', angering India
The alleged mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai terror attack which left 166 dead has been released on bail, Pakistani officials revealed.
Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi was allowed to leave Adiala Prison in Rawalpindi late on Thursday.
His release was slammed with Indians calling it an 'insult' to the victims of the three-day onslaught, which was blamed on the banned Pakistani militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
More
Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi was allowed to leave Adiala Prison in Rawalpindi late on Thursday.
His release was slammed with Indians calling it an 'insult' to the victims of the three-day onslaught, which was blamed on the banned Pakistani militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
More
‘Rev the Vote’ campaign targets NASCAR fans, could increase Republican voter turnout
A new nonprofit is hoping to rev up motor sports fans to participate in campaigns and elections, seeking partnerships with racing giants like NASCAR and support from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in an effort that political strategists say could increase GOP voter turnout.
The campaign, called “Rev the Vote,” originally launched during the 2014 election cycle as a nonpartisan campaign to engage a passionate racing fan base in the political arena. The campaign, modeled after MTV’s hugely successful “Rock the Vote” effort, partnered with the Chamber to connect race fans with easy-to-use voter tools in their home states.
Although the campaign never made it across the finish line in the last cycle, organizers are gearing up for an even bigger launch this year and have already recruited two former congressmen — Reps. Connie Mack of Florida, a Republican, and Democrat Heath Shuler of North Carolina — for the board of directors.
More
The campaign, called “Rev the Vote,” originally launched during the 2014 election cycle as a nonpartisan campaign to engage a passionate racing fan base in the political arena. The campaign, modeled after MTV’s hugely successful “Rock the Vote” effort, partnered with the Chamber to connect race fans with easy-to-use voter tools in their home states.
Although the campaign never made it across the finish line in the last cycle, organizers are gearing up for an even bigger launch this year and have already recruited two former congressmen — Reps. Connie Mack of Florida, a Republican, and Democrat Heath Shuler of North Carolina — for the board of directors.
More
Attorney General reminds employees prostitutes are the against rules
Attorney General Eric Holder sent a memo on Friday to Justice Department employees reminding them that soliciting prostitutes is against agency rules and can lead to suspension or firing.
His memo came weeks after a scathing inspector general's report found the Drug Enforcement Administration had mishandled allegations that several of its agents went to sex parties with prostitutes.
Holder said the department's prohibition on soliciting prostitutes applies even when employees are off duty or in foreign countries where prostitution may be legal.
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His memo came weeks after a scathing inspector general's report found the Drug Enforcement Administration had mishandled allegations that several of its agents went to sex parties with prostitutes.
Holder said the department's prohibition on soliciting prostitutes applies even when employees are off duty or in foreign countries where prostitution may be legal.
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Iran's supreme leader demands 'instant' suspension of all sanctions
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Thursday demanded that all sanctions on Iran be lifted at the same time as any final agreement with world powers on curbing Tehran's nuclear program is reached.
Khamenei, the Islamic Republic's most powerful figure and who has the last say on all state matters, was making his first comments on the interim deal reached last week in the Swiss city of Lausanne.
In remarks apparently meant to keep hardline loyalists in line, he warned about 'deceptive' intentions of the United States.
Reuters reported that the crowd chanted 'Death to America!' during the speech.
'Instant annulment of all sanction is one of the demands of our officials,' Khamenei said in a speech broadcast live on state television,' according to translations published by Reuters and the nonprofit Foundation for Defense of Democracies.
But he hedged on whether there will be a deal in place at all by the June 30 deadline.
'I neither support nor oppose the deal, since nothing has happened yet,' he said.
'All the trouble arises when the details will be discussed; it may be that the deceptive other side wants to restrict us in the details.'
More
Khamenei, the Islamic Republic's most powerful figure and who has the last say on all state matters, was making his first comments on the interim deal reached last week in the Swiss city of Lausanne.
In remarks apparently meant to keep hardline loyalists in line, he warned about 'deceptive' intentions of the United States.
Reuters reported that the crowd chanted 'Death to America!' during the speech.
'Instant annulment of all sanction is one of the demands of our officials,' Khamenei said in a speech broadcast live on state television,' according to translations published by Reuters and the nonprofit Foundation for Defense of Democracies.
But he hedged on whether there will be a deal in place at all by the June 30 deadline.
'I neither support nor oppose the deal, since nothing has happened yet,' he said.
'All the trouble arises when the details will be discussed; it may be that the deceptive other side wants to restrict us in the details.'
More
JUST IN: Jodi Arias Gets Life in Prison Without the Possibility of Parole
Jodi Arias has been sentenced to a natural life sentence with no possibility of parole.
Arias was found guilty in May 2013 of murdering her on-off boyfriend, Travis Alexander, five years earlier.
Because two previous juries were unable to decide whether or not she should receive the death penalty, the final sentencing decision was up to Judge Sherry Stephens at today's hearing. Stephens had to rule on whether Arias would serve her natural life in prison or have the possibility of parole after 25 years.
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Arias was found guilty in May 2013 of murdering her on-off boyfriend, Travis Alexander, five years earlier.
Because two previous juries were unable to decide whether or not she should receive the death penalty, the final sentencing decision was up to Judge Sherry Stephens at today's hearing. Stephens had to rule on whether Arias would serve her natural life in prison or have the possibility of parole after 25 years.
More
Philadelphia Finally Releases Results Of Comcast Customer Service Survey; It’s Not Pretty
Earlier this week we told you how the city leadership here in Comcast’s hometown of Philadelphia appeared to be dragging their feet in getting around to releasing the results of 15-month-old survey of city residents about Comcast service , even though the cable company had already been shown the report. Today, the city finally got around to sharing this info with the public and it’s about as unpleasant as you’d expect.
We’re still working our way through the massive 571-page Needs Assessment Report [PDF], but here are some figures that instantly pop out.
• Even though Philadelphia is the place Kabletown calls home (and which Comcast execs apparently actually refer to as “Kabletown”), the consultant who put together the report notes that the customer satisfaction level was the lowest, by as much as 11%, of other Comcast franchise areas studied over the last six years:
The Board of Education will meet at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday
The Board of Education will meet at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Board Office on Mt. Hermon Road and Long Avenue, Salisbury....
Posted by Wicomico County Public Schools on Monday, April 13, 2015
'Iran Helping Hamas, Hezbollah Build Suicide Drones'
Iran is building an explosive fleet of so-called “suicide kamikaze drones” while also providing know-how on assembling these new weapons to its terrorist allies Hamas and Hezbollah, according to a new report commissioned by the US Army.
The report, which was cited by the American daily newspaper The Washington Times and published by the Army's Foreign Military Studies Office at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, states that “no aspect of Iran’s overt military program has seen as much development over the past decade as Iranian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).”
“Whereas a decade ago Iran’s UAVs and drones were largely for show, a platform with little if any capability, the Iranian military today boasts widespread use of drones, employed not only by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC),
but also by the regular army, both regular and IRGC navy, and the regular and IRGC air forces.”
This development is significant for Israel because both Hamas and Hezbollah have sought to deploy drones which have penetrated Israeli airspace.
Thus far, they have not managed to cause damage, though drones outfitted with explosives could inflict casualties against soldiers and civilians.
More here
The report, which was cited by the American daily newspaper The Washington Times and published by the Army's Foreign Military Studies Office at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, states that “no aspect of Iran’s overt military program has seen as much development over the past decade as Iranian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).”
“Whereas a decade ago Iran’s UAVs and drones were largely for show, a platform with little if any capability, the Iranian military today boasts widespread use of drones, employed not only by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC),
but also by the regular army, both regular and IRGC navy, and the regular and IRGC air forces.”
This development is significant for Israel because both Hamas and Hezbollah have sought to deploy drones which have penetrated Israeli airspace.
Thus far, they have not managed to cause damage, though drones outfitted with explosives could inflict casualties against soldiers and civilians.
More here
Hollywood Jewish Heavyweights Poised To Unite Behind Clinton
As Hillary Clinton launches her second run for the White House, Hollywood Democrats appear ready to deliver a far more unified front than greeted her last campaign.
Some of the biggest industry fundraisers, like Jeffrey Katzenberg, who famously backed Obama over Clinton in the 2008 race, long ago pledged their support. With a lack of serious competitors, progressives who are lukewarm to her candidacy face a race with few alternatives. And for almost two years, a number of industry figures have been raising money in a kind of pre-campaign, as if to ensure that some of the bitter divisions of the last time around don't materialize again.
Fundraising sources say that Clinton's first swing through Los Angeles to raise money is in the planning for early May, with one of the events hosted by media mogul Haim Saban, longtime friend of the Clintons, at his home. A spokeswoman for Saban did not return multiple requests for comment.
Clinton entered her last campaign - "I'm in, and I'm in to win" - as the presumptive front-runner, but in the entertainment industry that quickly was countered by Barack Obama's entrance in the race.
Katzenberg, David Geffen and Steven Spielberg hosted the cycle's first major industry event for Obama in February, 2007, and a the next day, a Maureen Dowd interview with Geffen in which he bashed both Clintons triggered the first signs of acrimony between the two campaigns.
More here
Some of the biggest industry fundraisers, like Jeffrey Katzenberg, who famously backed Obama over Clinton in the 2008 race, long ago pledged their support. With a lack of serious competitors, progressives who are lukewarm to her candidacy face a race with few alternatives. And for almost two years, a number of industry figures have been raising money in a kind of pre-campaign, as if to ensure that some of the bitter divisions of the last time around don't materialize again.
Fundraising sources say that Clinton's first swing through Los Angeles to raise money is in the planning for early May, with one of the events hosted by media mogul Haim Saban, longtime friend of the Clintons, at his home. A spokeswoman for Saban did not return multiple requests for comment.
Clinton entered her last campaign - "I'm in, and I'm in to win" - as the presumptive front-runner, but in the entertainment industry that quickly was countered by Barack Obama's entrance in the race.
Katzenberg, David Geffen and Steven Spielberg hosted the cycle's first major industry event for Obama in February, 2007, and a the next day, a Maureen Dowd interview with Geffen in which he bashed both Clintons triggered the first signs of acrimony between the two campaigns.
More here
Bunker-Busting Bombs Ready to Go Against Iran
The United States has bunker-busting bombs that can "shut down, set back and destroy" Iran's nuclear program, and the military option has not been taken off the table when it comes to the ongoing negotiations with that country, according to Defense Secretary Ashton Carter.
"I believe the Iranians know that and understand that," Carter told CNN Friday, stressing that the Obama administration prefers handling the issue of Iran's nuclear weapons potential diplomatically, rather than through military means, "because military action is reversible over time."
The technical name for the powerful weapons Carter referenced is the Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP), which can explode 20 feet underground and destroy deeply buried and fortified targets, and those weapons are ready for use, he said.
Carter's reference to MOPS is the first made about specific military planning against Iran's fortified underground facilities, reports The Jerusalem Post.
At one of the facilities, Fordow, 20 percent enriched medium-grade uranium is produced, and Iran's government insists it will only be used for civilian purposes. However, other countries fear that the uranium could be further enriched to 90 percent, The Post reports, which would be the amount needed to make material that can be weaponized.
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"I believe the Iranians know that and understand that," Carter told CNN Friday, stressing that the Obama administration prefers handling the issue of Iran's nuclear weapons potential diplomatically, rather than through military means, "because military action is reversible over time."
The technical name for the powerful weapons Carter referenced is the Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP), which can explode 20 feet underground and destroy deeply buried and fortified targets, and those weapons are ready for use, he said.
Carter's reference to MOPS is the first made about specific military planning against Iran's fortified underground facilities, reports The Jerusalem Post.
At one of the facilities, Fordow, 20 percent enriched medium-grade uranium is produced, and Iran's government insists it will only be used for civilian purposes. However, other countries fear that the uranium could be further enriched to 90 percent, The Post reports, which would be the amount needed to make material that can be weaponized.
More
Fundraising Effort Underway For Local Teen Seeking Life-Changing Vision Technology
BERLIN — A beautiful sunset over the bay, a wild horse roaming on Assateague or a crowded beach on a perfect summer day are all images many take for granted, but for one local teen legally blind since birth, they are merely blurred visions left largely to his imagination.
Caleb Conner, a 15-year-old sophomore at Stephen Decatur High School, was born to parents Robert and Sheri Conner at 25 weeks and weighed just one pound, 13 ounces. He spent the first 14 weeks of his life in the NICU, battling and overcoming many life-threatening setbacks, but the one obstacle he could not overcome robbed him of his sight.
Caleb suffers from retinopathy of prematurity, which has left him completely blind in his right eye and severely near-sighted in his left eye. With just vision in only one eye, Caleb has limited peripheral vision and no depth perception. His corrected vision is 20/200 and the prescription for his contact is -25. His field of vision is approximately five feet and beyond that small distance is a blurry world that Caleb is missing out on.
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Caleb Conner, a 15-year-old sophomore at Stephen Decatur High School, was born to parents Robert and Sheri Conner at 25 weeks and weighed just one pound, 13 ounces. He spent the first 14 weeks of his life in the NICU, battling and overcoming many life-threatening setbacks, but the one obstacle he could not overcome robbed him of his sight.
Caleb suffers from retinopathy of prematurity, which has left him completely blind in his right eye and severely near-sighted in his left eye. With just vision in only one eye, Caleb has limited peripheral vision and no depth perception. His corrected vision is 20/200 and the prescription for his contact is -25. His field of vision is approximately five feet and beyond that small distance is a blurry world that Caleb is missing out on.
More
Kinchlow: Why Gay Agenda Is Not About Civil Liberties
The emerging and presently burgeoning [gay rights] discourse has nothing to do with civil rights. It is about bedroom behavior. What is being openly debated is the manner in which people have sex. Let us make that clear: Homosexuals are demanding that everyone agree with their method of having sexual intercourse. If someone dares to disagree with their choices, that person is immediately and consistently subjected to verbal abuse, if not threats, and mis-characterized as a bigot by the mainstream media and now by the courts.
Let’s cut to the chase: Homosexuality is 1) “of, relating to, or characterized by a tendency to direct sexual desire toward another of the same sex,” and 2) “of, relating to, or involving sexual intercourse between persons of the same sex” (free Merriam-Webster online dictionary).
The current propaganda is that a refusal to accept one’s manner of engaging in sexual activity is the same as racial bigotry. The assertion is that gays are like blacks were – being denied civil liberties and equal rights.
Nothing could be further from the truth, and only those who are not familiar with racial bias – by reason of experience – are deceived by this false claim. Let the record show, any homosexual (male or female) can walk in to any business in any location in any state in the United States and be served, regardless of how they dress. As a member of the group then known (politely) as “negroes” or “coloreds” in the ’40s, ’50s and ’60s, I can assure you all, that was most definitely not the case with blacks.
It did not matter how well we dressed, how well we articulated our positions or how large or small our purchases; we were not allowed in certain areas. Photographers, bakers, hotels, restauranteurs, etc., did not refuse to serve us based on private lifestyles or sexual behavior, but on our very existence. We sought acceptance simply as people.
Homosexuals are not seeking acceptance as people, but for a particular lifestyle.
More from Ben Kinchlow..
Let’s cut to the chase: Homosexuality is 1) “of, relating to, or characterized by a tendency to direct sexual desire toward another of the same sex,” and 2) “of, relating to, or involving sexual intercourse between persons of the same sex” (free Merriam-Webster online dictionary).
The current propaganda is that a refusal to accept one’s manner of engaging in sexual activity is the same as racial bigotry. The assertion is that gays are like blacks were – being denied civil liberties and equal rights.
Nothing could be further from the truth, and only those who are not familiar with racial bias – by reason of experience – are deceived by this false claim. Let the record show, any homosexual (male or female) can walk in to any business in any location in any state in the United States and be served, regardless of how they dress. As a member of the group then known (politely) as “negroes” or “coloreds” in the ’40s, ’50s and ’60s, I can assure you all, that was most definitely not the case with blacks.
It did not matter how well we dressed, how well we articulated our positions or how large or small our purchases; we were not allowed in certain areas. Photographers, bakers, hotels, restauranteurs, etc., did not refuse to serve us based on private lifestyles or sexual behavior, but on our very existence. We sought acceptance simply as people.
Homosexuals are not seeking acceptance as people, but for a particular lifestyle.
More from Ben Kinchlow..
New Mexico Ends Policing For Profit
Gov. Susana Martinez signed a bill Friday virtually ending the practice of civil forfeiture, making the state a leader in sharply restricting a contentious policy that critics say deprives citizens of due process and gives law enforcement a profit motive.
“This is landmark legislation to protect people’s property and due process rights,” said Lee McGrath, a lawyer with the Institute for Justice, a libertarian civil rights group that has long campaigned against the practice. The law preserves criminal forfeiture, in which assets tied to crime can be taken if the owner is convicted.
In a letter to lawmakers, Governor Martinez said the law improved constitutional protections even as she said that forfeiture funds had helped “in keeping our communities safe and in protecting our officers from harm.” Only one other state, North Carolina, does not permit civil forfeiture, but law enforcement officials there can still profit from forfeitures by cooperating with federal agents, Mr. McGrath said.
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“This is landmark legislation to protect people’s property and due process rights,” said Lee McGrath, a lawyer with the Institute for Justice, a libertarian civil rights group that has long campaigned against the practice. The law preserves criminal forfeiture, in which assets tied to crime can be taken if the owner is convicted.
In a letter to lawmakers, Governor Martinez said the law improved constitutional protections even as she said that forfeiture funds had helped “in keeping our communities safe and in protecting our officers from harm.” Only one other state, North Carolina, does not permit civil forfeiture, but law enforcement officials there can still profit from forfeitures by cooperating with federal agents, Mr. McGrath said.
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WCSO Most Wanted 4-13-15
William David Betts Jr.
• White Male, 6’00” 200 lbs
• DOB 06/18/1976 38 years of age
• Brown hair, Green eyes
• Betts’ last known address was Delmar, MD
• Betts is wanted by the Sheriff’s Office on a District Court Bench Warrant issued for Failure to Appear in November 2014 for a Violation of Probation hearing on the charge of Assault 2nd
• There is no preset bond, he must be brought before the court
• Betts has history of DRUG ABUSE
• The state will extradite him from DE and VA
Roland Adam Pianka
• White Male, 6’02” 160 lbs
• DOB 05/25/1984 30 years of age
• Black hair, Brown eyes
• Pianka’s last known address was Salisbury MD
• Pianka is wanted by the Sheriff’s Office on a District Court Bench Warrant issued for Violation of Probation in February 2015 on the charge of Theft under $1000
• The preset bond is $50,000
• The state will extradite him from DE and VA
• Pianka has history of DRUG ABUSE
Percy Lee Milbourne
• Black Male, 5’06” 150 lbs
• DOB 04/04/1995 20 years of age
• Black hair, Brown eyes
• Milbourne’s last known address was Salisbury, MD
• Milbourne is wanted by the Sheriff’s Office on a three (3) Circuit Court Bench Warrants issued for Failure to Appear in February and April 2015 on CDS Possess with Intent Distribute Narcotics charges, and Violation of Probation in February 2015 on Firearm Possession and Reckless Endangerment charges
• There is no preset bond, he must be brought before the court
• Milbourne should be considered ARMED, DANGEROUS, has history of VIOLENCE, and DRUG ABUSE
Chad Edward Harmon
• Black Male, 6’06” 195 lbs
• DOB 07/21/1983 31 years of age
• Brown hair, Brown eyes
• Harmon’s last known address was Millsboro, DE
• He also uses the name Chad Everett Harmon
• Harmon is wanted by the Sheriff’s Office on a District Court Bench Warrant issued in September for Violation of Probation on the charge of Assault 2nd
• There is no preset bond, he must be brought before the court
• The state will extradite him from DE and VA
• Harmon should be APPROACHED WITH CAUTION, he has history of RESIST ARREST and MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES
Descellus Daymar Hardy
• Black Male, 5’10” 160 lbs
• DOB 04/02/1987 28 years of age
• Black hair, Brown eyes
• Hardy’s last known address was Pocomoke, MD
• Hardy is wanted by the Sheriff’s Office on a Circuit Court Bench Warrant issued in January 2015 for Violation of Probation on Conspiracy-Theft $1000 to $10000
• The preset bond is $40,000
• Hardy has history of being ARMED, of DRUG ABUSE, and should be APPROACHED WITH CAUTION
Karl Gregory Hammerbacher
• White Male, 5’11” 135 lbs
• DOB 11/16/1984 30 years of age
• Black hair, Green eyes
• Hammerbacher’s last known address was Salisbury, MD
• Hammerbacher is wanted by the Sheriff’s Office on a District Court Bench Warrant issued for Failure to Appear in February 2015 for a Violation of Probation Hearing on the charge of DWI
• The preset bond is $10,000
IRS Ignores Deadline to Reveal Details of Deal With Atheists
Just as millions and millions of Americans across the land are meeting the approaching deadline set by the Internal Revenue Service to provide all sorts of information about themselves, and that signature on a check, the federal agency is putting itself on a different level.
One that is exempt from deadlines, according to a newly filed lawsuit against the agency.
The complaint alleges that the IRS was supposed to provide key information about a case in which it allegedly monitored various churches for suspected political activity, but refused to release details because the group that had complained withdrew its complaint.
The dispute already is the focal point of a lawsuit that was filed earlier by Washington watchdog Judicial Watch, which is demanding access to the communications that went on between the IRS and the Freedom From Religion Foundation.
The new complaint also is from Judicial Watch, on behalf of the Alliance Defending Freedom, which explained the IRS had a deadline last September to provide information, then a deadline in November, then January and then March.
None were met, the claim explains.
More here
One that is exempt from deadlines, according to a newly filed lawsuit against the agency.
The complaint alleges that the IRS was supposed to provide key information about a case in which it allegedly monitored various churches for suspected political activity, but refused to release details because the group that had complained withdrew its complaint.
The dispute already is the focal point of a lawsuit that was filed earlier by Washington watchdog Judicial Watch, which is demanding access to the communications that went on between the IRS and the Freedom From Religion Foundation.
The new complaint also is from Judicial Watch, on behalf of the Alliance Defending Freedom, which explained the IRS had a deadline last September to provide information, then a deadline in November, then January and then March.
None were met, the claim explains.
More here
Mom dangled son over cheetah exhibit before he fell in, Ohio zoo says
The toddler's parents jumped in and pulled him to safety Saturday afternoon. He was treated at a hospital for a few bumps and bruises, said Cleveland Fire Department spokesman Larry Gray.
The cheetahs didn't go toward the boy or his parents, said Chris Kuhar, executive director of Cleveland Metroparks Zoo.
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U.S. Workers Allegedly Fired, Told to 'Train Your Foreign Replacement'
Allegations have surfaced that a popular visa program is actually being misused by U.S. companies to fire thousands of U.S. workers and replace them with foreign labor.
Tucker Carlson pointed out on "Fox and Friends Weekend" that the H1-B program would seem to violate U.S. immigration law, which requires that the hiring of a foreign worker will not adversely affect the wages and conditions of U.S. workers comparably employed.
Professor of Public Policy at Howard University Ron Hira said that the tech industry in particular has tried to paint the visa program as a good deal, when in reality it's just undercutting Americans.
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Tucker Carlson pointed out on "Fox and Friends Weekend" that the H1-B program would seem to violate U.S. immigration law, which requires that the hiring of a foreign worker will not adversely affect the wages and conditions of U.S. workers comparably employed.
Professor of Public Policy at Howard University Ron Hira said that the tech industry in particular has tried to paint the visa program as a good deal, when in reality it's just undercutting Americans.
More
WOMAN FATALLY WOUNDED AFTER SHOOTING AT HER BROTHER IN CARROLL CO.
(TANEYTOWN, MD) -- A woman was fatally wounded last night after she arrived at a Carroll County home to visit her mother and entered the residence firing a pistol at her brother.
The deceased woman is identified as Mary J. Glacken, 68, of Taneytown, Md. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Glacken's brother is identified as Richard Hunter, 47, of Taneytown, Md. Hunter was interviewed by Maryland State Police Homicide Unit investigators and, after consultation with the Carroll County State's Attorney's Office, was released without charges at this time.
Just before 7:00 p.m. yesterday, a Carroll County Sheriff's Office deputy called the county 911 center to report a shooting in the 5000-block of Francis Scott Key Highway, Taneytown. The deputy said he just received a text from Hunter, who is a friend, reporting the shooting at his home. After calling 911, the deputy responded to the home and found Glacken deceased.
The Maryland State Police Homicide Unit responded to conduct the investigation. State Police homicide investigators, assisted by Carroll County Sheriff's Office crime scene technicians, and investigators and deputies from the State Police and Sheriff's Office, worked throughout the night processing the scene and conducting interviews.
The preliminary investigation indicates Hunter and his wife live at the home and care for his mother, who also lives there, and is seriously ill. Hunter and his sister reportedly had a strained relationship. Hunter and Glacken apparently talked by phone last night about her visiting her mother at the home and it was agreed to.
The investigation indicates when Glacken arrived at the home, Hunter saw her get out of her car and remove a handgun from her purse. She reportedly fired a shot into a door of the home. She entered the home and fired multiple rounds. Hunter retreated to a bedroom, obtained a shotgun and confronted Glacken, who was in the kitchen area. Hunter told investigators Glacken was raising the gun toward him when he fired the shotgun, striking her.
State Police investigators obtained a search warrant for the home before it was processed for evidence. A pistol was found in Glacken's hand and evidence was obtained indicating the handgun had been fired outside and inside the home. A loaded magazine was found in Glacken's purse and loose rounds of ammunition were found in her car. Crime scene technicians obtained evidence indicating one handgun round had entered the door to the bedroom where Hunter's wife and his mother were. Neither of them were injured.
Richard Hunter was taken to the Carroll County Sheriff's Office for questioning. The interview and evidence from the preliminary investigation was reviewed with a member of the Carroll County State's Attorney's Office, who was consulted throughout the investigation. It was determined Hunter would be released from custody last night.
A motive for Glacken's actions has not been identified. The investigation is continuing. Investigators will continue to update the Carroll County State's Attorney's Office. The State Police Homicide Unit will provide that office with a full investigative report upon completion of the investigation for review regarding charges.
The deceased woman is identified as Mary J. Glacken, 68, of Taneytown, Md. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Glacken's brother is identified as Richard Hunter, 47, of Taneytown, Md. Hunter was interviewed by Maryland State Police Homicide Unit investigators and, after consultation with the Carroll County State's Attorney's Office, was released without charges at this time.
Just before 7:00 p.m. yesterday, a Carroll County Sheriff's Office deputy called the county 911 center to report a shooting in the 5000-block of Francis Scott Key Highway, Taneytown. The deputy said he just received a text from Hunter, who is a friend, reporting the shooting at his home. After calling 911, the deputy responded to the home and found Glacken deceased.
The Maryland State Police Homicide Unit responded to conduct the investigation. State Police homicide investigators, assisted by Carroll County Sheriff's Office crime scene technicians, and investigators and deputies from the State Police and Sheriff's Office, worked throughout the night processing the scene and conducting interviews.
The preliminary investigation indicates Hunter and his wife live at the home and care for his mother, who also lives there, and is seriously ill. Hunter and his sister reportedly had a strained relationship. Hunter and Glacken apparently talked by phone last night about her visiting her mother at the home and it was agreed to.
The investigation indicates when Glacken arrived at the home, Hunter saw her get out of her car and remove a handgun from her purse. She reportedly fired a shot into a door of the home. She entered the home and fired multiple rounds. Hunter retreated to a bedroom, obtained a shotgun and confronted Glacken, who was in the kitchen area. Hunter told investigators Glacken was raising the gun toward him when he fired the shotgun, striking her.
State Police investigators obtained a search warrant for the home before it was processed for evidence. A pistol was found in Glacken's hand and evidence was obtained indicating the handgun had been fired outside and inside the home. A loaded magazine was found in Glacken's purse and loose rounds of ammunition were found in her car. Crime scene technicians obtained evidence indicating one handgun round had entered the door to the bedroom where Hunter's wife and his mother were. Neither of them were injured.
Richard Hunter was taken to the Carroll County Sheriff's Office for questioning. The interview and evidence from the preliminary investigation was reviewed with a member of the Carroll County State's Attorney's Office, who was consulted throughout the investigation. It was determined Hunter would be released from custody last night.
A motive for Glacken's actions has not been identified. The investigation is continuing. Investigators will continue to update the Carroll County State's Attorney's Office. The State Police Homicide Unit will provide that office with a full investigative report upon completion of the investigation for review regarding charges.
BREAKING NEWS: Rubio says he is running for president
In a conference call Monday, Sen. Marco Rubio tells his top donors that he is running for president, The Associated Press reports.
Report Of Shooting At Waynesboro Community College in North Carolina
A reliable source has informed me there's been a shooting at Waynesboro Community College in North Carolina. It has not hit the AP wire yet. More to come...
School Bus Drops Little Girl Off Miles From Home
A seven-year-old Massachusetts girl was dropped off alone miles from home after she got on the wrong school bus.
Anastajia Charley was left wandering unfamiliar streets crying, until someone saw her and called the police. Meanwhile, her parents were waiting for her at her usual bus stop in total panic.
Anastajia and her parents, Georgia and Jonathan Charley, spoke to Clayton Morris on "Fox and Friends Weekend" about the scary ordeal.
Georgia explained that her son got off at the bus stop and told her that Anastasia was on the wrong bus.
More
Anastajia Charley was left wandering unfamiliar streets crying, until someone saw her and called the police. Meanwhile, her parents were waiting for her at her usual bus stop in total panic.
Anastajia and her parents, Georgia and Jonathan Charley, spoke to Clayton Morris on "Fox and Friends Weekend" about the scary ordeal.
Georgia explained that her son got off at the bus stop and told her that Anastasia was on the wrong bus.
More
Can You Answer 11 Questions About The 1950s?
ONI Reveals Massive Chinese Naval Buildup
China has deployed a new high-speed anti-ship cruise missile and is sharply expanding an armada of advanced guided-missile warships and submarines, according to a naval intelligence report made public Thursday.
The Office of Naval Intelligence, in its first unclassified assessment of the Chinese navy in six years, revealed deployment of the new YJ-18 supersonic anti-ship cruise missile on warships and submarines that analysts say poses a major threat to U.S. and allied vessels.
China’s current naval force of 300 surface ships, submarines, amphibious ships, and missile-armed patrol craft is rapidly expanding, the report says.
According to the report, China began building or launched more than 60 naval ships and vessels last year, and a similar number of warships are under construction or deployed for 2015.
“Major qualitative improvements are occurring within naval aviation and the submarine force, which are increasingly capable of striking targets hundreds of miles from the Chinese mainland,” the report said, adding that despite some shortfalls, “it is emerging as a well equipped and competent force.”
More here
The Office of Naval Intelligence, in its first unclassified assessment of the Chinese navy in six years, revealed deployment of the new YJ-18 supersonic anti-ship cruise missile on warships and submarines that analysts say poses a major threat to U.S. and allied vessels.
China’s current naval force of 300 surface ships, submarines, amphibious ships, and missile-armed patrol craft is rapidly expanding, the report says.
According to the report, China began building or launched more than 60 naval ships and vessels last year, and a similar number of warships are under construction or deployed for 2015.
“Major qualitative improvements are occurring within naval aviation and the submarine force, which are increasingly capable of striking targets hundreds of miles from the Chinese mainland,” the report said, adding that despite some shortfalls, “it is emerging as a well equipped and competent force.”
More here
S.C. Man’s Traffic Stop Video: ‘There Are Good Cops Out There’
A video of a young black man recounting his experience with a white police officer during a traffic stop is going viral on social media in the wake of more outrage over the shooting of an unarmed black man in South Carolina.
Army National Guardsman Will Stack, 22, said Wednesday that there were “no problems” being pulled over for “improper use of the median” when he turned left out of the Lexington County Courthouse in South Carolina.
“I was in the wrong, I didn’t realize it,” Mr. Stack said in the video, which has been shared over 1 million times on Facebook. “I just did it out of habit.”
He said that while the officer was there with him, “I made sure my hands were on the steering wheel, I made sure to speak very politely as I always do. I did what he told me to do. I handed him the information and I sat there and waited and turned my music down.”
More here
Army National Guardsman Will Stack, 22, said Wednesday that there were “no problems” being pulled over for “improper use of the median” when he turned left out of the Lexington County Courthouse in South Carolina.
“I was in the wrong, I didn’t realize it,” Mr. Stack said in the video, which has been shared over 1 million times on Facebook. “I just did it out of habit.”
He said that while the officer was there with him, “I made sure my hands were on the steering wheel, I made sure to speak very politely as I always do. I did what he told me to do. I handed him the information and I sat there and waited and turned my music down.”
More here
Able-bodied, Childless Adults Required to Work for Food Stamps
The waivers for adults without children to receive food stamps are running out, and recipients are having to meet work requirements to keep receiving benefits.
They are known as ABAWDS (able-bodied adults without minor dependents) and have long been required to work, volunteer or take job-training courses to continue receiving benefits.
But emergency rules allowed for those requirements to be dropped during the prolonged economic crisis that made jobs hard to come by.
Now, with the economy improving, the exceptions are being dropped.
Some states, such as Maine, already are requiring food stamp recipients to work, volunteer or get training, The New York Times reports. The change will affect a million ABAWDS between 18 to 49 nationwide, the Times quoted the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities as saying.
Maine in 2014 went back to the three-month limit (over a three-year period) for childless adults.
"You've got to incentivize employment, create goals and create time limits on these welfare programs," Maine's commissioner of health and human services Mary Mayhew told the Times.
The change has dropped the number of recipients in Maine almost 80 percent, from 12,000 to 2,530.
More
They are known as ABAWDS (able-bodied adults without minor dependents) and have long been required to work, volunteer or take job-training courses to continue receiving benefits.
But emergency rules allowed for those requirements to be dropped during the prolonged economic crisis that made jobs hard to come by.
Now, with the economy improving, the exceptions are being dropped.
Some states, such as Maine, already are requiring food stamp recipients to work, volunteer or get training, The New York Times reports. The change will affect a million ABAWDS between 18 to 49 nationwide, the Times quoted the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities as saying.
Maine in 2014 went back to the three-month limit (over a three-year period) for childless adults.
"You've got to incentivize employment, create goals and create time limits on these welfare programs," Maine's commissioner of health and human services Mary Mayhew told the Times.
The change has dropped the number of recipients in Maine almost 80 percent, from 12,000 to 2,530.
More
Banning 'American Sniper' Screenings Hot Trend on Liberal Campuses
The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), a private science and engineering college in New York, has postponed its April 10 screening of "American Sniper" at its student-run theater after a Muslim students' group requested that it be canceled.
“RPI has long upheld the values of respect and coexistence, thus it is only our highest concern that this screening would not create any tensions or hatred among students at RPI,” explained the UPAC Cinema, a Student Union-run theater on the school's campus in Troy, N.Y., in a lengthy Facebook post, reports The Daily Caller.
The statement continued that the movie has caused "heightened tension across communities and college campuses nationwide, including violent actions and even murders, so instead of showing the biographical flick as a regular Friday night selection, it should be "coupled with an educational forum."
But, The Daily Caller points out, the same theater will show "The Losers," a violent movie about a stranded CIA team, and an advance screening of "Unfriended," a slasher movie about Internet bullying.
More here
“RPI has long upheld the values of respect and coexistence, thus it is only our highest concern that this screening would not create any tensions or hatred among students at RPI,” explained the UPAC Cinema, a Student Union-run theater on the school's campus in Troy, N.Y., in a lengthy Facebook post, reports The Daily Caller.
The statement continued that the movie has caused "heightened tension across communities and college campuses nationwide, including violent actions and even murders, so instead of showing the biographical flick as a regular Friday night selection, it should be "coupled with an educational forum."
But, The Daily Caller points out, the same theater will show "The Losers," a violent movie about a stranded CIA team, and an advance screening of "Unfriended," a slasher movie about Internet bullying.
More here
*Update* Game Changer OR Paradigm Shift ? – Walter Scott Shooting: Enhanced Video Shows Officer Slager With Taser Darts…
On the first day we saw the North Charleston, South Carolina, shooting video of Walter Scott by Officer Michael Slager we were as shocked as everyone. However, as our research now indicates, there is much more to the story.
What we cover here in the latest update might just change the entire way the story continues…
Day #1 April 7th – The shock of the video
Day #2 April 8th – The community reaction/response
Day #3 April 9th – The video witness comes forth – The Dash Cam Video released
Day #4 April 10th – Facts Being Assembled – Ryan Julison Discovered – The Passenger researched and Responding Officers statements reviewed
Day #5 April 11th – Research reveals media manipulating narrative – Uncomfortable evidence kept from public.
What we cover here in the latest update might just change the entire way the story continues…
Day #1 April 7th – The shock of the video
Day #2 April 8th – The community reaction/response
Day #3 April 9th – The video witness comes forth – The Dash Cam Video released
Day #4 April 10th – Facts Being Assembled – Ryan Julison Discovered – The Passenger researched and Responding Officers statements reviewed
Day #5 April 11th – Research reveals media manipulating narrative – Uncomfortable evidence kept from public.
N. Korea, Maybe Iran, Can Now Target US With EMP-Nukes
In a blockbuster admission, Admiral Bill Gortney, Commander of North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and US Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) disclosed that the Pentagon now believes North Korea has mastered the ability to miniaturize its nuclear bombs so they can be fitted onto their latest mobile KN-08 intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), which are capable of reaching the continental United States.
At the news conference, Adm. Gortney flatly stated, Pyongyang has “the ability to put a nuclear weapon on a KN-08 and shoot it at the homeland [the continental United States].” He expressed confidence that the US could knock down such a missile if launched by North Korea or its ally, Iran.
He also admitted, however, that it is “very difficult” for the US to counter the threat, because its intelligence is unable to follow the mobile ICBMs and give an efficient warning before they are launched.
The admission was accompanied by the announcement that NORAD is reopening its nuclear-EMP-proof Cheyenne Mountain bunker,
Despite Adm. Gortney’s concerns, he still believes that if a KN-08 was fired at the US homeland, in the Admiral’s words – “Should one get airborne and come at us [the US homeland], I’m confident we would be able to knock it down.”
Even if this is true, it is not clear if the US ballistic defense could knock down an incoming North Korean ICBM in time, if the nuke is intended as an EMP weapon, which explodes soon after re-entering the atmosphere.
Given the degree of cooperation between the Islamic Republic of Iran and North Korea, it is highly likely that any nuclear-EMP-technology mastered by North Korea has already been shared with Iran. Therefore, the EMP-proliferation danger from North Korea to Iran is a catastrophic danger.
More here
At the news conference, Adm. Gortney flatly stated, Pyongyang has “the ability to put a nuclear weapon on a KN-08 and shoot it at the homeland [the continental United States].” He expressed confidence that the US could knock down such a missile if launched by North Korea or its ally, Iran.
He also admitted, however, that it is “very difficult” for the US to counter the threat, because its intelligence is unable to follow the mobile ICBMs and give an efficient warning before they are launched.
The admission was accompanied by the announcement that NORAD is reopening its nuclear-EMP-proof Cheyenne Mountain bunker,
Despite Adm. Gortney’s concerns, he still believes that if a KN-08 was fired at the US homeland, in the Admiral’s words – “Should one get airborne and come at us [the US homeland], I’m confident we would be able to knock it down.”
Even if this is true, it is not clear if the US ballistic defense could knock down an incoming North Korean ICBM in time, if the nuke is intended as an EMP weapon, which explodes soon after re-entering the atmosphere.
Given the degree of cooperation between the Islamic Republic of Iran and North Korea, it is highly likely that any nuclear-EMP-technology mastered by North Korea has already been shared with Iran. Therefore, the EMP-proliferation danger from North Korea to Iran is a catastrophic danger.
More here
Md. ‘free range’ kids found alone again, taken into custody
WASHINGTON — The “free-range parents” who were accused of child neglect for allowing their two kids to roam free through Silver Spring ran afoul of Child Protective Services again on Sunday.
Danielle and Alexander Meitiv’s two children were taken into the custody of Child Protective Services after someone called about two unattended children near Fenton and Easley Streets in Silver Spring, says Paul Starks, of the Montgomery County Police. Officers got to the scene, called CPS and say they were told to take the children, ages 6 and 10, to CPS offices.
Our partners at NBC Washington say Child Protective Services spokeswoman Mary Anderson confirms that CPS is following up on this.
More
Danielle and Alexander Meitiv’s two children were taken into the custody of Child Protective Services after someone called about two unattended children near Fenton and Easley Streets in Silver Spring, says Paul Starks, of the Montgomery County Police. Officers got to the scene, called CPS and say they were told to take the children, ages 6 and 10, to CPS offices.
Our partners at NBC Washington say Child Protective Services spokeswoman Mary Anderson confirms that CPS is following up on this.
More
THE HAIRCUT
Blessed are those that can give without remembering, and take without forgetting.
One day a florist went to a barber for a haircut. After the cut, he asked about his bill, and the barber replied, 'I cannot accept money from you, I'm doing community service this week.'
The florist was pleased and left the shop.
When the barber went to open his shop the next morning, there was a 'thank you' card and a dozen roses waiting for him at his door.
Later, a cop comes in for a haircut, and when he tries to pay his bill, the barber again replied, 'I cannot accept money from you, I'm doing community service this week.' The cop was happy and left the shop.
The next morning when the barber went to open up, there was a 'thank you ' card and a dozen donuts waiting for him at his door.
Then a Congressman came in for a haircut, and when he went to pay his bill, the barber again replied, 'I can not accept money from you. I'm doing community service this week.' The
Congressman was very happy and left the shop.
The next morning, when the barber went to open up, there were a dozen Congressmen lined up waiting for a free haircut.
And that, my friends, illustrates the fundamental difference between the citizens of our country and the politicians who run it.
As Ronald Reagan said:
BOTH POLITICIANS AND DIAPERS NEED TO BE CHANGED OFTEN AND FOR THE SAME REASON!
One day a florist went to a barber for a haircut. After the cut, he asked about his bill, and the barber replied, 'I cannot accept money from you, I'm doing community service this week.'
The florist was pleased and left the shop.
When the barber went to open his shop the next morning, there was a 'thank you' card and a dozen roses waiting for him at his door.
Later, a cop comes in for a haircut, and when he tries to pay his bill, the barber again replied, 'I cannot accept money from you, I'm doing community service this week.' The cop was happy and left the shop.
The next morning when the barber went to open up, there was a 'thank you ' card and a dozen donuts waiting for him at his door.
Then a Congressman came in for a haircut, and when he went to pay his bill, the barber again replied, 'I can not accept money from you. I'm doing community service this week.' The
Congressman was very happy and left the shop.
The next morning, when the barber went to open up, there were a dozen Congressmen lined up waiting for a free haircut.
And that, my friends, illustrates the fundamental difference between the citizens of our country and the politicians who run it.
As Ronald Reagan said:
BOTH POLITICIANS AND DIAPERS NEED TO BE CHANGED OFTEN AND FOR THE SAME REASON!
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