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Sunday, August 30, 2015

Wes Craven, Horror Maestro, Dies at 76

Wes Craven, the famed writer-director of horror films known for the Nightmare on Elm Street and Scream movies, died Sunday after a battle with brain cancer. He was 76.

Craven, whose iconic Freddy Krueger character horrified viewers for years, died at his home in Los Angeles, his family announced. Survivors include his wife, producer and former Disney Studios vp Iya Labunka, 


Craven claimed to have gotten the idea for Elm Street when living next to a cemetery on a street of that name when growing up in the suburbs of Cleveland. His five Nightmare on Elm Street films were released from 1984-89.
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Maryland’s 56th Governor, Marvin Mandel Has Died At The Age of 95

BALTIMORE (WJZ)—Marvin Mandel, Maryland’s 56th governor has died at the age of 95.

In a statement released by the family, Mandel passed away peacefully after having spent two days visiting family in St. Mary’s County.

Born in 1920 in Baltimore, Mandel served the state of Maryland from 1969 to 1979.

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Troopers Investigate Shooting Near Ocean View

Ocean View, DE – Troopers are investigating a shooting that occurred in a family residence near Ocean View injuring a two year old child.

The incident occurred around 1:10 a.m. this morning, Sunday August 30, 2015 when troopers and EMS were dispatched to a residence located in the 37000 block of Muddy Neck Road, after a 9-1-1 call was received stating a child had been shot. Upon the arrival of troopers and local municipal police departments from Ocean View, Bethany Beach, and South Bethany Beach, it was determined that the father of the female child had allegedly shot his two year old daughter in the left leg while he was showing his wife a gun he had just received. Troopers immediately took Joseph M. Jenkins Jr., 38, into custody without incident.

Further investigation revealed that a burglary report had been taken around 9:00 p.m. on Saturday evening from Jenkins and his wife when his shotgun and some cash had been stolen from their house. After troopers departed his home, Jenkins left and went to a friend's house where he obtained a .40 caliber handgun. Jenkins returned to his residence around 1:00 a.m. and upon entering, his wife woke up from sleeping on the floor in the living room. The couple's three children, two girls ages two and six, and a son age 10, were all asleep on a sofa nearby when Jenkins sat on the floor next to his wife to show her the gun. As Jenkins pulled back on the slide of the gun and let it go, a bullet fired and struck the two year old in the leg.

The mother immediately contacted 9-1-1 and EMS and Delaware State Police Aviation (Trooper 2) arrived to transport the young girl to A.I. DuPont Hospital where she is currently being treated for the wound.

Joseph Jenkins was transported back to Troop 4 in Georgetown where he was charged with Assault 1st, Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, and three counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child. He was arraigned at JP3 and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution in lieu of $41,500.00 secured bond.

Found Yorkie

Hi Joe,

Could you please post this in order to find this dog’s owner. This kind couple is walking the Pinehurst neighborhood asking if anyone recognizes him. Found on Riverside Drive. Their cell phone number is 703-439-9446. They just moved here and do not have internet set up yet. Yes, we did suggest checking for micro-chip tomorrow.

Wicomico County Assistant Director of Administration to Retire


Wicomico County Executive Bob Culver announced today that Sharon Morris, Wicomico County Assistant Director of Administration, is retiring from county service effective August 27th. Mrs. Morris has been an employee of Wicomico County since March, 1986.

Mr. Culver commented, “I am appreciative of the service rendered by Mrs. Morris to the citizens of Wicomico County and wish her well in retirement.”


This Is Why No One Wants To Run For Mayor Of Salisbury







Because Salisbury is a joke. It is a run down City perfectly conditioned for people like Jim Ireton and Jake Day. Always in turmoil, dilapidation, always loaded with crime and drugs and by golly these guys are going to be heroes and they are going to save your precious city. 

BUT WAIT, how is what they will promise you going to work? Well, it won't. Why, because every building you look at is owned by one of the Good Ol' Boys. Guys like me, well, we just sell out and get the hell out of Salisbury because people like me aren't in the Good Ol' Boy system and we get fines for little strips of grass growing in our curbs IN THE STREET in front of our buildings while the former Mayor and her husband get no fines for broken windows and entrance doors to their building. 

Heck, the former Mayor Tilghman and her husband couldn't care less what you think, (last two pictures) while they are obviously too cheap to replace simple and extremely inexpensive glass. If a window broke in my old building it was replaced that day or the very next day. There was never a need to call code and compliance. 

I told all of you years ago, "It's Your Election To Lose". A simple and quick walk around just a small part of Downtown shows that neither Jim Ireton or Jake Day actually give a crap about a better Salisbury. Looks to me like they're more interested in controlling Salisbury instead. 

Sister In Law Arrested For Trying To Have Greg Steen Killed

Greg Steen owns Steen Realty. We've been told Greg's Wife's sister is the woman who has been charged with attempted first degree murder after allegedly paying half the money up front to have him killed. Hopefully we'll see a press release on this soon. 

BREAKING NEWS: Wicomico County Acting Director of Parks & Rec Andy Wisk Resigns


BREAKING NEWS: Rick Konrad Just Retired From Wicomico County

The Director of Purchasing in Wicomico County has just resigned. 

Update On River's Edge In Salisbury

Just wanted to tell you I went into rivers edge apartments today and an African American woman came in with her housing voucher. So it wasn't a good visit and I'm over it and done. I hope they are happy with the section 8 housing tenants.

OCPD installs second license plate scanner

The Ocean City Police Department on Thursday installed the resort’s second license plate scanner, which tracks all cars entering Ocean City, with this one going in near the Route 90 bridge.

Now, every license plate entering Ocean City via Routes 50 and 90 will be scanned, that information will be checked against a database for potential violations and if one is found, a picture of the vehicle will be taken, OCPD Public Information Officer Lindsay Richard said.

Where that database is and how long that information will remain on it is unclear.

“It goes to a state agency,” Richard said. “We don’t store it. The dispatch center will get an alert, and that way we have an approximate location and a description of the vehicle.”

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Maryland First State in US to Issue Guidelines on Police Profiling

Police will be banned from using race, religion, or sexual orientation as factors in making routine stops

Maryland has become the first state to adopt rules against police profiling. Police will be banned from using race, religion, or sexual orientation as factors in making routine stops, and can’t stop everyone in a neighborhood when a crime is reported.

“Police do a dangerous, difficult job, and they do it well. But experience shows that improper profiling by police does terrible damage,” said Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh while unveiling the new guidelines in a nine-page memorandum on Tuesday.

Under the rules, officers are banned from using race or ethnicity in making decisions during routine operations, investigations, and traffic stops. The guidelines also include a ban on profiling based on national origin, identity, disability, or religion.

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Publishers Notes: Can you guess who's testimony this is from the above image?

FATHER OF SLAIN VIRGINIA REPORTER VOWS TO ‘SHAME LEGISLATORS’ INTO PASSING MORE GUN CONTROL

Following Allison Parker’s August 26 shooting death at the hands of former station employee Vester Lee Flanagan, her father, Andy Parker, vowed to “shame politicians” into supporting more gun control.

According to Mail Online, Andy said, “I am going to do something, whatever it takes, to shame legislators about closing loopholes in background checks to make sure crazy people don’t get guns.”

But here’s problem—there are no “loopholes” in the background check system and, although Flanagan was admittedly angry and churning inside, there were no legal grounds on which to deny him a gun purchase. No one has come forward to show that he had a criminal record or an order to undergo a psychiatric evaluation or involuntary mental health treatment, so no criteria exists to deny him a gun purchase.

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Thank God Its Friday 8-28-15

What will you be doing this weekend?

WDBJ Virginia Shooting: Freemason-Illuminati Media HOAX!

Major Board Of Education Issues Just Before School Starts

My name is Joel. We had a house built in a brand new neighborhood (SandyWood Estates, just off of the west side of Forest Grove Rd in Parsonsburg, MD) . Part of the reason my wife and I had the house built where we did is because not only did the realtors tell us that the neighborhood was in the Willards/Pittsville school district but the WBOE also confirmed that it was. In speaking with many of our neighbors who will soon have school age children as well as a soon to be neighbor who is currently having a house built and does have school age children, they too either in part bought or built homes in this neighborhood because of the school district. We got a letter in the mail earlier this summer from Willards Elementary informing us that our 7 year old is now enrolled into their school based on where we live. They sent us a list of the bus routes and info on how to contact the bus company who comes closest to our home (Hollaway). We then contacted Hollaway Transportation about having our child picked up for school and they informed us that they would not reroute their bus a half mile in order to pick up our child because there is a Beaver Run Bus that passes by our neighborhood. We then contacted the head of transportation at the WBOE, and he was absolutely no help. He basically told us that transportation can do that if they want. We've since left a message with his boss and have not heard back. Last night my daughter and wife went to Willards Elementary for their open house and met her home room teacher. Here it is Thursday, 08/27/15, and the first day of school is Monday, 08/31/15, and my daughter still does not have a bus that will transport her to the school that she is rightfully enrolled in based on the school district we live in. Because we seem to be getting no where with the WBOE nor Hollaway Transportation, we don't know where to turn for help with this issue.

ANOTHER VIEWER WRITES:

So we were contacted by Beaver Run earlier this summer and they informed us that we are actually in the Willards/Pittsville school district. This is what we've wanted all along, it's part of the reason we built the house where we did. We received a letter from Willards accepting our daughter into the school. She is currently enrolled, has a home room teacher and a schedule. So she not currently enrolled in Beaver Run. Now transportation is trying to say that they won't reroute a bus, less than half a mile to pick her up since a Beaver Run bus already goes by our house. How can transportation dictate this when transportation is contracted to get kids to their proper schools? We've contacted the head of transportation at WBOE, he was absolutely no help. We've also left a message with his boss and have yet to hear anything back. We've spoken with our neighbors about this issue and they agree, part of the reason the built/or bought in this neighborhood is because of the Willards/Pittsville school district. They want their children to go to those schools as well. It's only 4 days until the first day of school and we plan on fighting this issue to the very end, as do our neighbors.

Pressure Mounts On Senator Cardin To Decide Iran Deal Vote

Pressure continues to mount on Maryland Senator Ben Cardin to decide which way he will vote on the Iran nuclear deal. Supporters and opponents of the deal continue to hold rallies, trying to help sway his vote.

Derek Valcourt has the messages both sides are sending.

Both sides are growing impatient as the wait for Cardin to announce where he comes down on the deal that faces strong Republican opposition.

The MoveOn.org crowd is the latest to put pressure on Maryland Senator Ben Cardin.

“I think supporting the nuclear treaty is a step away from war and a step toward peace,” said John Barnes.

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Chuck-E-Cheese in Kentucky Refuses to Serve a Police Officer With Firearm

As if no-gun policies weren’t already stupid enough, a Chuck-E-Cheese in Kentucky has just taken the cake when it comes to idiotic policies. Because they have a “no guns” policy, staff thought it made perfect sense to refuse service to a police officer carrying his weapon. Brilliant.

A Kentucky Chuck E. Cheese appears to have taken the kid-friendly chain’s “no guns” policy too far, refusing to serve a police officer who entered the restaurant with a firearm.

The gun-toting officer encountered the problem at the Chuck E. Cheese in the Greenwood Mall in the city of Bowling Green, prompting outrage from some people, including a sheriff from a neighboring jurisdiction, WBKO-TV reported Friday.

“I was upset,” Edmonson County Sheriff Shane Doyle told the station. “I was shocked for that officer and also for all the patrons there because you know if you have an obvious police officer and they’re wearing police clothing, then I don’t understand what the problem would be having someone like that with the training and experience of a police officer [coming] into an establishment.”

Chuck E. Cheese’s national headquarters called the situation an unfortunate misunderstanding.

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PETA Wants Pennsylvania to Erect a Grave Marker Where Pigs Died in Highway Crash

On August 17, a tractor-trailer hauling pigs overturned on Route 30 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, killing several pigs. Now animal rights group PETA is demanding that state officials erect a grave marker to memorialize the lives of the pigs at the site of the crash.

The truck was reportedly carrying some 80 pigs to market but several were euthanized because of the accident.

Animal rights group People For The Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is demanding that the state of Pennsylvania “erect a 5-foot tombstone” on the side of the highway next to the site where the accident occurred.

The PETA press release said that Pennsylvania has a responsibility to push the PETA ideology. The group said the state must memorialize the “terrified animals” that died in the crash in order to “give motorists food for thought by calling on caring people to spare pigs the terrifying journey to slaughter by going vegan.”

“This memorial is intended to remind tractor-trailer drivers of their responsibility to the thousands of animals they carry to their deaths every year,” says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. “PETA hopes to encourage motorists to help make roads safer for everyone by choosing healthy vegan foods and eliminating this dangerous and frightening trip entirely.”

Here’s a question: when will PETA bother itself with memorials to humans killed in highway crashes? But then, PETA believes that animals are more valuable than people, don’t they?


WELL?


Killer of Virginia News Crew Said He Killed White People to Try and Start Race War

It has now been revealed that the murderer of two Virginia TV reporters said he killed white people as part of a race war and in response to the killings of black people in a Charleston church last month.

The killer, Vester Lee Flanagan, faxed a rambling 23-page letter to ABC in New York explaining his actions. In his letter he admitted that he wanted a race war and that he was killing for racial reasons.

“Why did I do it? I put down a deposit for a gun on 6/19/15. The Church shooting in Charleston happened on 6/17/15…”

“What sent me over the top was the church shooting. And my hollow point bullets have the victims’ initials on them.”

It is unclear whose initials he is referring to. He continues, “As for Dylann Roof? You (deleted)! You want a race war (deleted)? BRING IT THEN YOU WHITE …(deleted)!!!” He said Jehovah spoke to him, telling him to act.

Later in the manifesto, the writer quotes the Virginia Tech mass killer, Seung Hui Cho, calls him “his boy,” and expresses admiration for the Columbine High School killers. “Also, I was influenced by Seung–Hui Cho. That’s my boy right there. He got NEARLY double the amount that Eric Harris and Dylann Klebold got…just sayin.'”

This was a hate crime, folks.

Source

Limbaugh: Media conflicted since TV shooter is black

Radio host Rush Limbaugh said the national news media will be conflicted in their reporting on Wednesday’s slaughter of a Virginia news crew live on the air because the shooter was reportedly a black man, and his victims were white.

The shooter has been identified as Vester Flanagan, 41, who also went by the professional name of Bryce Williams. The victims are reporter Alison Parker, 24, and photographer Adam Ward, 27, who were gunned down during a live broadcast from the Bridgewater Plaza in Moneta, Virginia.

“A reporter of color is the shooter. Now there’s a conflict. Now what do they (the media) do?” asked Limbaugh on his national broadcast Wednesday. “If you take out the color [of the individuals involved] … you might not even hear about it.”
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Baltimore Police Officer Arrested In OC This Morning


Officer suspended after arrestOn August 26, 2015 the Baltimore Police Department was informed by the Ocean City Police...
Posted by Baltimore Police Department on Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Alleged Suspect Tweets His Own Videos Of Live Newscast Shooting

The alleged suspect in the shooting death of two Virginia journalists on Wednesday morning began publishing what appear to be his own videos of the shooting.

Authorities identified the suspect as Vester Lee Flanagan, who also goes by Bryce Williams, to Richmond television station WWBT. Flanagan allegedly set up a Twitter account as Bryce Williams.

The suspect in the shooting shot himself on I-66 in Faquier County, Virginia, on Wednesday morning, state police told WDBJ. There were conflicting reports about whether Flanagan died. The latest from WDBJ indicates that he did not die.

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7TH CIRCUIT COURT: ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS HAVE SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS TOO

In a case regarding a specific gun control law which bans “unauthorized aliens” (illegal immigrants) from possessing firearms in the United States, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit did the work of a contortionist by upholding the law while also pointing out that they “see no principled way to carve out the Second Amendment and say that the unauthorized (or maybe all noncitizens) are excluded.”

In a word—illegal immigrants have Second Amendment rights too.

The case was titled United States v. Meza-Rodriguez, and the decision was handed down on August 20.

The Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal Sentinel reports that the decision was written by Judge Diane Wood “for a panel that included Judges Frank Easterbrook and Joel Flaum.”

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Two suicides are linked to Ashley Madison leak

Texas police chief takes his own life just days after his email is leaked in cheating website hack

Two people have taken their own lives after their details were leaked by the Ashley Madison hackers, it was disclosed today.

Captain Michael Gorhum, who served for 25 years with the San Antonio Police Department in Texas, was named as one of the suicide victims.

And at a press conference on Monday, Canadian police confirmed a second suicide of a person also believed to have been using the extramarital affairs website.

Police are investigating if the deaths are as a direct result of the leak of Ashley Madison users.

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Man suspected of fatally shooting 2 journalists in Moneta, Va. has committed suicide

MONETA, Va. (WSET/AP/WJLA) — The man suspected of fatally shooting 2 journalists in Moneta, Va. has committed suicide, WDBJ reports.

A television reporter and cameraman were shot to death on the air during a live broadcast at Bridgewater Plaza in Moneta, Virginia Wednesday morning.

The Augusta County Sheriff's Department tells ABC 7 that the shooting suspect has been identified as Vester Lee Flanagan, 41, of Roanoke.

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EDITORS NOTE:  It is now being reported that he is not dead but in critical condition.  

Ted Cruz Not Happy With Question From Megyn Kelly, Says It’s What ‘Liberal Journalist’ Would Ask

Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz was seemingly unhappy with a question on immigration Tuesday night from Fox News host Megyn Kelly, telling her it was something he’d expect to be asked from a “liberal journalist.”

Kelly asked the Texas senator the same question Donald Trump faced on the cable-news network Monday.

“If you have a husband and a wife who are illegal immigrants, and they had two children here who are American citizens — would you deport all of them? Would you deport the American citizen children?” she asked.

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Duke Freshmen Boycott Summer Reading Due To ‘Christian Moral Beliefs’

Some incoming Christian freshmen at Duke University are boycotting a summer reading book, because they say its “graphic” illustrations depicting sex and nudity conflict with their religious beliefs.

Freshman Brian Grasso posted in the Class of 2019 Facebook page July 26 that he would not read Alison Bechdel’s “Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic,” because of its “graphic visual depictions of sexuality,” the school’s student daily Duke Chronicle reported.

“I feel as if I would have to compromise my personal Christian moral beliefs to read it,” Mr. Grasso wrote in the post, which ignited a debate among students.

Several freshmen agreed with Mr. Grasso about the graphic novel, which chronicles Ms. Bechdel’s relationship with her father and her issues with sexual identity.

Freshman Bianca D’Souza said that while the novel discussed important topics, she did not find the sexual interactions appropriate and could not bring herself to view the images depicting nudity, The Chronicle reported.

Mr. Grasso said that many students privately messaged him to thank him for standing up for Christian values, The Chronicle reported.

More here

Topless protesters take over New York and 60 other cities worldwide for 'free the nipple' campaign

Bare-chested protesters took to the streets of 60 cities around the world on Sunday as part of a campaign to 'free the nipple'.

One of the biggest events for GoTopless Day was a semi-naked parade through New York City - where officials are debating whether topless tip-seekers should be allowed in Times Square.

Rachel Jessee, an actress and model who leads the GoTopless group in NYC, explained that Sunday's topless campaigners want women to have the same right as men to go topless in public.

'Our goal is for equal gender topless rights to be enforced worldwide, freeing women's nipples,' she said.

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Atheists Warn Coaches Not to 'Instill Christianity in Vulnerable Young Men'

(CNSNews) - An atheist group is demanding that publicly funded universities take immediate steps to bar Christian coaches and chaplains from "converting football fields into mission fields."

"The words of coaches and chaplains make clear that their purpose is to instill Christianity in vulnerable young men," the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) says in a new report, titled "Pray to Play."

"Public universities and their employees cannot endorse, promote, or favor religion," the report states. "Yet, many football coaches at public universities bring in chaplains -- often from their own church or even members of their own family -- to prey on and pray with students, with no regard for the rights of those students or the Constitution.

"These coaches are converting playing fields into mission fields and public universities are doing nothing to halt this breach of trust. They are failing their student athletes."

In an August 18 letter to the University of Missouri chancellor, FFRF warned of the "legal liability that the University of Missouri exposes itself to by allowing its chaplaincy to continue," adding, "it is not a matter of if but when an issue will arise from this entanglement."

More here

Orlando Int'l Airport To Open a $250,000 'Mosque' Despite Already Having an Interfaith Prayer Room

Although it already has an interfaith prayer room, the Orlando International Airport is building a new $250,000 "Reflection Room" for Muslims, a facility that should be called what it truly is, "a mosque," said Rev. Franklin Graham.

He also questioned how loud objections would be if the airport spent $250,000 on a "room exclusively for evangelical Christians."

"You won’t believe this one," said Rev. Graham in an Aug. 21post on Facebook. "A public airport in the United States spending $250,000 to open a prayer room for Muslims? Orlando International Airport is doing just that, and it’s scheduled to open September 1!"

"Let’s call this what it is—a mosque," said Rev. Graham.

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WBI PRESS RELEASE CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT MURDER 8-25-15

SCHOOL FINGERPRINTS ELEMENTARY STUDENTS FOR LUNCH PROGRAM

“Biometric identification to match a finger scan with a personal identification number"

The grumbling in New Albany cafeterias isn’t coming from students’ stomachs. It’s from parents.

The southern Indiana school district is one of the latest to deploy technology which “biometric identification to match a finger scan with a personal identification number,” WAVE reports.

According to a notification issued by the New Albany Floyd County school system, the technology is used to “eliminate pin numbers, eliminate misused pin numbers, maintain the privacy of students on subsidized food programs and speed up the amount of time in the lunch line.”

School administrators “refused” to go on camera to discuss the new technology.

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County Executive Culver Announces Fuel Savings to County

County Executive Bob Culver announced today that he has saved taxpayers approximately 4,000 gallons of fuel in the first six months of 2015 with his cost cutting measures.
Executive Culver stated: “The results are clear with the changes I have made in policy to take-home vehicles and fuel expenditures – savings for the Wicomico County taxpayers.”

Upon taking office, County Executive Culver eliminated the privilege for a County employee to take home a Wicomico County owned vehicle. The County also discussed with departments different strategies that could save fuel usage.

A Viewer Writes: Ridiclous Weeds

The city only wants to enforce rules when its profitable. When its their fault, weeds grow tall enough that they could cover signs.

Which color does Larry Hogan look better in?

Alright Maryland: time for an NFL preseason contest. Which color does Larry Hogan look better in?

Vote HERE

Activists Want Changes To Police Officers’ Bill Of Rights

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Advocates for police accountability reforms are calling for changes to the Maryland Law Enforcement Officers’ Bill of Rights.

Civil rights and police reform activists have set a news conference Monday to criticize the number of law enforcement officials who have been scheduled to testify before a panel of state lawmakers who are considering changes to the law, compared to the number of representatives from groups that are seeking reforms.

Critics say the state’s bill of rights for law enforcement officers creates roadblocks in holding police accountable in cases of misconduct or brutality.

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A Comment Worthy Of A Post 8-24-15


Anonymous said...
Joe contact P.R.M.C. the neo unit is packed with addicted babies. The fact is Salisbury probably has more addicted babies being born per capita then Baltimore or New York.

Why are we as a society sitting back and doing nothing. I know liberals do not want these mother arrested because they fear harm to the child on a emotional level after birth. They also fear the women will do harm to the fetus if they will come back postive for narcotics.

I say the damage is already done. It is a law and should be enforced. Maybe our State's Attorney can shed some light as to this liberal agenda.

These babies are born sick and at times with severe mental illness. Does this child not have rights. It is barbaric that we allow children not right to a quality life. If more women went to jail for using while pregnant I can assure you the numbers would drop. It is like calling Black on Black murders a social crime. The Liberal left makes me sick. No more excuses for law breakers and child abusers.

Enough is enough

Was the Civil War About Slavery?

Why a Virginia principal refuses to take down her school’s Confederate flags

As students entered Hurley High School in Hurley, Va., for the first day of classes this week, they passed through a set of bright red doors on which the Confederate battle flag is boldly painted.

Once inside, they encountered decorative battle flags throughout the building, from the walls of the school’s main office to the equipment in the weight room to center court in the school gym, according to USA Today.

If those students were members of the the Hurley Rebels football team, they wore helmets at practice featuring an image of the flag flying from a saber, the paper reported.

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As Hillary implodes, the Democrats have no real Plan B

The summer has not been kind to Hillary Clinton. The drip-drip-drip of revelations about her possible misuse and mishandling of classified information threatens to become a deluge in the fall. They have taken a serious toll on her reputation — and even more notably, her treatment by liberal media figures who surely would rather she be elected even if the Risen Christ were to be the Republican nominee.

Democrats are worried — so worried five donors who raised millions for President Obama as well as Obama’s chief Florida strategist have both sworn off Hillary and joined an effort to draft Vice President Joe Biden to save the party from an unelectable (or, dare we say it, indicted) nominee.

Should they be worried? Sure. People in politics should always worry, and since she kicked off her presidential campaign by talking about being “dead broke,” Hillary has been a worry-generating machine for any rational non-Pollyanna Democrat who doesn’t live in a Media Matters for America bubble.

But is Joe Biden a serious Plan B? No. There is no Plan B.

First, the case for Democratic panic. We begin with the perception problem. I’m profoundly skeptical about polling results these days, but politics runs on them, and Democrats are looking at polls that suggest Americans as a whole view her as dishonest and untrustworthy — polls in which the numbers are getting worse as the months pass.

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WHY DOES GOD ALLOW SUFFERING?

Each and every day, thousands of people lose their homes, are victims of abuse or die in senseless accidents. Children are diagnosed with cancer, fathers walk out on their families and mothers lose the fight against drugs. There is a lot of evil and misfortune in this world.

So, if you are wondering “Why does God allow suffering,” honestly, I don’t blame you.


Of all of the questions people ask about Christianity, “Why does God allow suffering” is one of the most difficult to answer, but also one of the most important.

Unsure of what to say, many Christians often just try to gloss over the question and give a canned answer. Unfortunately, this approach doesn’t help anyone. A fair response is desperately needed, and today I have three.

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The naked truth about Germany: Clothing is optional

BERLIN — The middle-aged German was enjoying cooling down in the waters of a rural lake when he was approached by a woman who had a request: Would he please put on a bathing suit?

"There are children around, after all," she said.

"Including my son, who's also without a suit," he replied. She splashed off, angry at the impasse, as another woman approached, nodded at the woman who was leaving, and noted, simply and using the slang term for West Germans: "Wessies. Prudes."

It's summer in Germany, which means nakedness abounds. In the cities, in the countryside, at lakes and beaches, in city parks, even sometimes in restaurants and certainly in yards where yard work needs doing, Germans who've shed their clothes are visible to all. Indoor public pools have "naked days." There are naked mountain hiking trails. In the winter, some places offer naked sledding.

Yet while the German newspaper Die Welt once famously observed "Only naked are all Germans equal," the reality is that 25 years after East and West Germany became a single Germany, one great divide remains: Those who spend their days naked, and those who don't.

The divide goes to the very top. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who grew up in the East, reportedly prefers nude bathing, though she hasn't since becoming the world's most powerful woman (those who have seen her swimming recently note that she appears almost embarrassed at wearing a suit, but the prospect of having nude photos appear on the front page of newspapers worldwide is a clear deterrent).

A 2014 Expedia.com survey of 11,000 people from 24 countries found nude bathing was most popular among Germans. The poll found that 28 percent of Germans said they had sunbathed naked on a beach. The numbers were similar in the very similar Austria, then dropped significantly to Norway and Spain (both 17 percent). Japan had the lowest numbers of nude bathers, 2 percent. A summary of the poll by the travel website didn't discuss nude bathing in the United States.

Old polls from East Germany noted 80 percent of East Germans bathed nude.

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