DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Thursday, September 10, 2015
JetBlue Offering Deals As Low As $49 Making The End Of Summer Less Painful
JetBlue is inviting you to "fall head over deals" this week with a two-day sale, with fares as low as $54. All you have to do is book a flight by Wednesday, September 9, 2015.
The sale applies to travel from September 22, 2015 to December 16, 2015. Some epic deals we've found so far are a $49 flight from Charleston to Washington, DC, a $54 flightfrom Boston to Philadelphia and a $149 flight from Fort Lauderdale to San Francisco. Other great deals include Orlando to Nassau for $149, Sacramento to Long Beach for $79 and Chicago to San Juan for $189. To find even more great deals, check out the sale here.
When booking your trip, just make sure to remember that the travel dates are from September 22 to December 16 for Monday through Thursday and Saturday travel only. Certain blackout dates also apply: October 12 and November 20-December 1, 2015 for all cities and November 4-November 9, 2015 at all New York city-based airports. Just make sure to buy your ticket ASAP, because all deals end tomorrow.
Happy booking!
The sale applies to travel from September 22, 2015 to December 16, 2015. Some epic deals we've found so far are a $49 flight from Charleston to Washington, DC, a $54 flightfrom Boston to Philadelphia and a $149 flight from Fort Lauderdale to San Francisco. Other great deals include Orlando to Nassau for $149, Sacramento to Long Beach for $79 and Chicago to San Juan for $189. To find even more great deals, check out the sale here.
When booking your trip, just make sure to remember that the travel dates are from September 22 to December 16 for Monday through Thursday and Saturday travel only. Certain blackout dates also apply: October 12 and November 20-December 1, 2015 for all cities and November 4-November 9, 2015 at all New York city-based airports. Just make sure to buy your ticket ASAP, because all deals end tomorrow.
Happy booking!
Heavy Welfare Use by Legal Immigrants — Yes, Legal Immigrants
Two new reports from the Center for Immigration Studies show very high rates of welfare use by immigrants. The first, released last week, looked at all immigrant households, legal and illegal, and found that 51 percent accessed one or more welfare programs.
This week we released a second report, looking at the same data but separating out legal and illegal immigrants. While we found that illegal-immigrant households make significant use of welfare, here I want to focus on the far bigger problem of legal immigrants’ welfare use. Three-quarters of all immigrant households using welfare are headed by legal immigrants. Legal immigration is a discretionary policy that is supposed to benefit the country; we can allow in or keep out anyone we want. Yet our current legal-immigration system has produced a flow of immigrants in which a large share cannot support themselves or their children.
To study immigrant welfare use, we used the Census Bureau’s Survey of Income and Program Participation. Like other researchers, we identified legal and illegal immigrants based on various questions in the survey. We estimated that 49 percent of households headed by legal immigrants used one or more welfare programs in 2012, compared with 30 percent of households headed by the native-born. Legal immigrants have significantly higher use rates than native-born households overall and for cash programs, food programs, and Medicaid; use of housing programs is about the same as for natives. Among legal-immigrant households with children, the rate of welfare use is an astonishing 72 percent. There is no evidence that these numbers represent fraud; instead, they represent a profound problem with the selection criteria we use to admit legal immigrants.
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This week we released a second report, looking at the same data but separating out legal and illegal immigrants. While we found that illegal-immigrant households make significant use of welfare, here I want to focus on the far bigger problem of legal immigrants’ welfare use. Three-quarters of all immigrant households using welfare are headed by legal immigrants. Legal immigration is a discretionary policy that is supposed to benefit the country; we can allow in or keep out anyone we want. Yet our current legal-immigration system has produced a flow of immigrants in which a large share cannot support themselves or their children.
To study immigrant welfare use, we used the Census Bureau’s Survey of Income and Program Participation. Like other researchers, we identified legal and illegal immigrants based on various questions in the survey. We estimated that 49 percent of households headed by legal immigrants used one or more welfare programs in 2012, compared with 30 percent of households headed by the native-born. Legal immigrants have significantly higher use rates than native-born households overall and for cash programs, food programs, and Medicaid; use of housing programs is about the same as for natives. Among legal-immigrant households with children, the rate of welfare use is an astonishing 72 percent. There is no evidence that these numbers represent fraud; instead, they represent a profound problem with the selection criteria we use to admit legal immigrants.
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Hungarian TV camerawoman fired for kicking fleeing migrants
A Hungarian TV camerawoman was fired Tuesday after footage appeared to show her kicking migrants, including children, as they ran from a police line during disturbances at Roszke, southern Hungary.
The woman, later named as Petra Laszlo, can be seen tripping a man sprinting with a child in his arms, and kicking another running child in two separate incidents.
Footage of the incident from the camerawoman's perspective later appeared on N1TV, an internet-based TV station close to Hungary's far-right Jobbik party.
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The woman, later named as Petra Laszlo, can be seen tripping a man sprinting with a child in his arms, and kicking another running child in two separate incidents.
Footage of the incident from the camerawoman's perspective later appeared on N1TV, an internet-based TV station close to Hungary's far-right Jobbik party.
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6th Annual Chefs for Habitat Culinary Celebration
Please join Habitat for Humanity of Wicomico County for our
6th Annual Chefs for Habitat Culinary Celebration
Date: September 19, 2015 at 5:30
Location: Dove Pointe
1225 Mount Hermon Road
Salisbury, MD 21801
Tickets: $75 per ticket
Sponsorships: start at $250 and include event tickets!
Extraordinary chefs will prepare samplings of their signature dish to be shared with our guests. The evening will consist of the live music, a lively waiters race, and chances to bid on an array of Live and Silent Auction prizes featuring sumptuous dinners and parties catered by some of the Shore’s best chefs.
For more information contact our office: 410-546-1551
Tourist dies after 300-metre cliff fall in Norway while having photo taken
Kristi Kafcaloudis, 24, was posing for a photograph at Trolltunga, or 'Troll's Tongue', on Saturday when she fell 300 metres to her death.
The site is visited by thousands of tourists and famously has no safety rail, despite being so high up.
Kristi, originally from Melbourne, was an arts and science degree student who had started studying at the University of Bergen in Norway last month, reports the BBC.
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Gorgeous rainbow this evening over Route 90
Gorgeous rainbow this evening over Route 90. Photo by Sue Walter
Posted by The Dispatch on Thursday, September 10, 2015
Expansion coming to Ocean Downs
Details were sparse on the specifics, but the Casino at Ocean Downs on Tuesday began work on an expansion project, the purpose of which remains undefined.
General Manager Joe Cavilla confirmed the work was under way.
“The foundation for the expansion building construction did start this morning,” he said Tuesday. “It is the shell for the building expansion, and all we’re doing right now is foundations and the actual shell of the building itself.”
Cavilla said there was no announcement on what the interior of the building would hold, adding that it was still “to be determined.”
“It is an expansion to the existing building,” he said. “It’ll tie in to the existing casino building, but as far as what the interior would hold, we’re not prepared to release that at this point.”
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General Manager Joe Cavilla confirmed the work was under way.
“The foundation for the expansion building construction did start this morning,” he said Tuesday. “It is the shell for the building expansion, and all we’re doing right now is foundations and the actual shell of the building itself.”
Cavilla said there was no announcement on what the interior of the building would hold, adding that it was still “to be determined.”
“It is an expansion to the existing building,” he said. “It’ll tie in to the existing casino building, but as far as what the interior would hold, we’re not prepared to release that at this point.”
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Pastor Outed In Ashley Madison Hack Commits Suicide
“He talked about depression. He talked about having his name on there, and he said he was just very, very sorry.”
John Gibson, a 56-year-old pastor who taught at the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary was found dead by his wife, Christi, on August 24 in their on-campus home.
Gibson had committed suicide, his family said.
“It was a moment that life doesn't prepare you for,” Christi told CNN this week. “I had to call my kids. How do you tell your kids that their dad is gone and that he took his own life?”
Less than a week before, Gibson had been one of the more than 30 million people whose names were leaked by hackers of Ashley Madison, the hookup website for people seeking extramarital affairs.
Christi said that being outed “carried such a shame” for her husband.
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John Gibson, a 56-year-old pastor who taught at the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary was found dead by his wife, Christi, on August 24 in their on-campus home.
Gibson had committed suicide, his family said.
“It was a moment that life doesn't prepare you for,” Christi told CNN this week. “I had to call my kids. How do you tell your kids that their dad is gone and that he took his own life?”
Less than a week before, Gibson had been one of the more than 30 million people whose names were leaked by hackers of Ashley Madison, the hookup website for people seeking extramarital affairs.
Christi said that being outed “carried such a shame” for her husband.
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Barbershop Slapped with $750 Fine for Refusing to Cut Woman's Hair
Barbiere owner John Interval was fined for gender discrimination after a woman came in with her boyfriend and requested a fade haircut. Interval claims that his staff recommended other locations and offered to pay for her haircut elsewhere.
According to Interval, his barbershop is a place where men go to be around other men. He referred to it as “a little getaway,” which features complimentary spirits and beer on tap.
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Why solar energy is poised for yet another record year
The U.S. solar industry is on course for a new growth record in 2015, according to a new report that finds that solar photovoltaic installations now exceed 20 gigawatts in capacity and could surpass an unprecedented 7 gigawatts this year alone across all segments. A gigawatt is equivalent to 1 billion watts and can power some 164,000 homes, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA).
The new report, from GTM Research and SEIA, covers the second quarter of 2015, which set a new record for residential rooftop solar installations in particular, a category that saw 70 percent year-over-year growth. 473 megawatts of residential solar capacity were installed, or nearly half a gigawatt.
“It’s setting records every quarter,” says Shayle Kann, senior vice president of GTM Research and lead author of the report, of the residential segment.
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The new report, from GTM Research and SEIA, covers the second quarter of 2015, which set a new record for residential rooftop solar installations in particular, a category that saw 70 percent year-over-year growth. 473 megawatts of residential solar capacity were installed, or nearly half a gigawatt.
“It’s setting records every quarter,” says Shayle Kann, senior vice president of GTM Research and lead author of the report, of the residential segment.
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Oregon Police Chief, Who Allegedly Compared African Americans to Monkeys, Resigns
Marvin Hoover, the head of the Clatskanie force, had been on administrative leave pending an investigation into claims that he began imitating a monkey as he was told of a black woman’s complaints against him.
An Oregon police chief who was placed on administrative leave amid a racial controversy has resigned. He had reportedly made racist remarks on learning that a black woman threatened to file a discrimination lawsuit.
According to KOIN, Clatskanie Police Chief Marvin Hoover had been on administrative leave since August after Officer Dustin Stone, a member of the Police Department in the small northern Oregon town, alleged that Hoover began imitating a monkey during a debriefing regarding a complaint from a black woman.
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An Oregon police chief who was placed on administrative leave amid a racial controversy has resigned. He had reportedly made racist remarks on learning that a black woman threatened to file a discrimination lawsuit.
According to KOIN, Clatskanie Police Chief Marvin Hoover had been on administrative leave since August after Officer Dustin Stone, a member of the Police Department in the small northern Oregon town, alleged that Hoover began imitating a monkey during a debriefing regarding a complaint from a black woman.
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Freddie Gray Family Lawyer Billy Murphy Speaks Out On $6.4 Million Wrongful Death Settlement
Attorney Billy Murphy said Wednesday that if a lawsuit had been filed, it could have taken years to play out in the courts. He says the settlement is civil justice for the Gray family. Murphy declined to say what percentage of the settlement deal he will receive.
Murphy also says the mayor has pledged to start a pilot program where police in the Western District neighborhood, where Gray was arrested, will wear body cameras. He says the cameras will help drastically reduce police misconduct as well as frivolous complaints from citizens.
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Jon Stewart Set to Lobby Congress to Renew 9/11 Health Bill
Former “Daily Show” host joins Ground Zero first responders on Capitol Hill to support program that monitors people for health problems related to the attacks
Jon Stewart is putting his political knowledge and popularity into action by heading to Congress next week to lobby for the renewal of a health bill that supports 9/11 first responders.
The former “Daily Show” host will offer his support to continue a program that monitors thousands of people for health problems related to their work at Ground Zero, the senator leading the lobbying effort said Tuesday.
Stewart will join Ground Zero first responders making the rounds on Capitol Hill and “will help them amplify their voices” in promoting the need to renew the program, Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York told USA Today.
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Jon Stewart is putting his political knowledge and popularity into action by heading to Congress next week to lobby for the renewal of a health bill that supports 9/11 first responders.
The former “Daily Show” host will offer his support to continue a program that monitors thousands of people for health problems related to their work at Ground Zero, the senator leading the lobbying effort said Tuesday.
Stewart will join Ground Zero first responders making the rounds on Capitol Hill and “will help them amplify their voices” in promoting the need to renew the program, Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York told USA Today.
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Local Activist, Pastor Arrested In Connection With Sept. 2 Freddie Gray Protests
Police confirm to WJZ that prominent pastor Westley West was arrested tonight and was taken into custody without incident.
According to authorities, following the conclusion of peaceful protests during the first hearing in the Freddie Gray case, Westley West allegedly lead a group of assembled protesters southbound on Guilford Avenue which blocked traffic.
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Kansas St. to Pay 5,000 Fine for Offensive Marching Band Formation
Kansas State will pay the price for “inadvertently” performing a not-safe-for-work halftime show, after its marching band appeared to form a penis, along with its rival’s mascot, during Saturday’s home opener against South Dakota.
As reported by the New York Daily, Kansas State agreed to sanctions placed by the Big 12 and a 1-game suspension of the band director.
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As reported by the New York Daily, Kansas State agreed to sanctions placed by the Big 12 and a 1-game suspension of the band director.
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40-year prison sentence for Maryland music teacher who sexually abused children
Lawrence Joynes, 56, of Dundalk, Maryland, sexually abused 14 children in kindergarten through second grade in his classroom at the New Hampshire Estates Elementary school in Silver Spring, Maryland, where he was a music teacher. In the 1990s, Joynes also sexually abused another child, who is now an adult.
Joynes’ 27 year-career with the Montgomery County public school system, his days of freedom and, most importantly, his ability to sexually molest innocent children were numbered beginning in Oct. 2012 when an HSI partnering agency, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) sent a photo of a child being molested to the HSI Cyber Crimes Center (C3) for examination.
After intense investigation, forensic experts at C3 determined that Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, was the location where the photo was taken, and HSI Charleston was contacted.
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Scientists Will Bring Mystery Virus Found in 30,000 Year Old Ice Back to Life
It’s something out of a disaster movie. A mysterious virus is discovered in 30,000 year old ice, perfectly preserved, and modern day scientists put in motion a plan to bring it back to life.
However, this isn’t a story being made in a Hollywood movie studio, but rather in a Siberian tundra.
The French National Centre for Scientific Research team has discovered a prehistoric virus that it believes has been perfectly frozen in ice for 30,000 years. The virus, Mollivirus sibericum, is classified as a “giant virus” due to its relatively large size of .6 microns.
The team plans to reanimate the virus under controlled conditions in order to learn if it presents a possible threat to humans, livestock or other animals. The scientists warn that these viruses could be unleashed on their own due to either climate change or civilization expanded into more remote areas.
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However, this isn’t a story being made in a Hollywood movie studio, but rather in a Siberian tundra.
The French National Centre for Scientific Research team has discovered a prehistoric virus that it believes has been perfectly frozen in ice for 30,000 years. The virus, Mollivirus sibericum, is classified as a “giant virus” due to its relatively large size of .6 microns.
The team plans to reanimate the virus under controlled conditions in order to learn if it presents a possible threat to humans, livestock or other animals. The scientists warn that these viruses could be unleashed on their own due to either climate change or civilization expanded into more remote areas.
More
Fun PUBLIC ART pARTy
Tickled Paint ARTworks Studio
Fun PUBLIC ART pARTy
Friday September 11th
7 pm – 9 pm
Funky Tree at Midnight
PUBLIC WELCOME
Studio located next to Edible Arrangements Sign up @ www.tickled-paint.com
Call 410-713-2013 Limited Seats
U.S. District Court sets date for Berlin Fire Company trial
A trial date has been set for the civil case of Zackary Tyndall versus the Berlin Fire Company, for Jan. 11-22 at U.S. District Court in Baltimore.
In July, U.S. District Court Judge Ellen Lipton Hollander denied the Fire Company’s motion for a partial summary judgment.
Tyndall, a former fire company employee, originally filed a harassment complaint in August 2013.
Lipton’s 63-page opinion said the case concerned allegations of employment discrimination and “intentional infliction of emotional distress” against two former coworkers of Tyndall, Bryon Trimble and Derrick Simpson.
According to Tyndall, he was fired from the job in retaliation for reporting certain activities at the department. Among his allegations was that the defendants created a hostile work environment that led to his severe depression.
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In July, U.S. District Court Judge Ellen Lipton Hollander denied the Fire Company’s motion for a partial summary judgment.
Tyndall, a former fire company employee, originally filed a harassment complaint in August 2013.
Lipton’s 63-page opinion said the case concerned allegations of employment discrimination and “intentional infliction of emotional distress” against two former coworkers of Tyndall, Bryon Trimble and Derrick Simpson.
According to Tyndall, he was fired from the job in retaliation for reporting certain activities at the department. Among his allegations was that the defendants created a hostile work environment that led to his severe depression.
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Dog Treats
The Worcester County Sheriff’s Office greatly appreciates their kindness and compassion toward our K-9s.
Ocean City Reverses Course On Special Events Ordinances; Enforcing Existing Laws A Major Focus
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Ever since the spring Cruisin’ event, with its big traffic jams, crowds of often unruly and disruptive onlookers lining the streets and jamming into business parking lots and generally disorderly behavior, town officials have wrestled with ideas on how to foster a welcoming attitude for the special events while toning down some of the illicit behavior. Borne out of those debates was a pair of proposed ordinances introduced last which, if passed, would have seriously put a damper on the special events-related festivities.
One of the proposed ordinances would have expanded the Ocean City Police Department’s ability to enforce open container and public consumption of alcohol laws on certain private property including the parking lots of shopping centers, hotels and motels and restaurants, for example. One of the major issues with some of the vehicle-related special events are the crowds of onlookers who gather with coolers in the private parking areas along the highway, some merely enjoying the parade of vehicles and others egging on illicit behavior from the drivers. The belief was strengthening the public consumption and open container ordinances would curtail some of that activity.
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Disgrace: Andrea Mitchell Admits She Was Afraid to Press Hillary On Emails
NBC’s Andrea Mitchell admitted Tuesday that when it came to pressing Hillary Clinton on her email scandal that she “couldn’t ask everything that I did want to ask … out of concern” Team Clinton would cut the interview short.
“We were told we had a 15-minute interview,” Mitchell told hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.” “I asked more than 12 minutes on emails before I felt — out of concern that they would cut it off, obviously — that I had to move on.
“I couldn’t ask everything that I did want to ask,” she added.
What we have here is just another example of our corrupt mainstream media selling their own journalistic soul to shield a Democrat. And then, in order to cover up their gutless questioning, fabricating an excuse that only reveals a whole lot more.
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“I couldn’t ask everything that I did want to ask,” she added.
What we have here is just another example of our corrupt mainstream media selling their own journalistic soul to shield a Democrat. And then, in order to cover up their gutless questioning, fabricating an excuse that only reveals a whole lot more.
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Hillary Clinton Hacked Emails For Sale
Just as email-gate looked to be winding down, RadarOnline.com has exclusively learned a person claiming to be a computer specialist has come forward with the stunning news that 32,000 emails from Hillary Clinton‘s private email account are up for sale. The price tag — a whopping $500,000!
Promising to give the trove of the former Secretary of State’s emails to the highest bidder, the specialist is showing subject lines as proof of what appear to be legitimate messages.
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Promising to give the trove of the former Secretary of State’s emails to the highest bidder, the specialist is showing subject lines as proof of what appear to be legitimate messages.
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OCVFD Swears In Newly Elected Members
Congratulations to our OCVFC members Roger Steger(left) and Skip Carey(center) who were sworn into the Worcester County...
Posted by Ocean City Fire Department on Thursday, September 10, 2015
Maryland hospitals have a $40M plan to address unemployment and poor health
Hospital executives on Wednesday will present their proposal the Health Services Cost Review Commission, the state’s hospital rate-setting agency. Executives will ask the board to fund the $40 million program through a quarter-percent increase to hospital rates. The board is expected to make a decision in October.
The plan calls for hospitals to hire and train 1,000 workers from low-income, high-unemployment neighborhoods, an effort that hospital executives say would help address unemployment and poor health in poor neighborhoods. Jobs could include entry-level positions such as cleaning and patient transport that would be attainable to people with limited education and criminal records.
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Attorneys, prosecutor argue over moving Freddie Gray trials
BALTIMORE (AP) — The trials for six police officers charged in the Freddie Gray case should be moved out of town in part because the city already settled with Gray’s family for $6.4 million, sending a message that the officers are guilty, an attorney for one of them said Thursday.
Prosecutors argued that high-profile trials such as the Boston Marathon bomber and the D.C. sniper were held locally. The only circumstance under which a change of venue is appropriate is in “a small community where you have an armed lynch mob at the door,” Chief Deputy State’s Attorney Michael Schatzow said.
Gray was a 25-year-old black man who died after being fatally injured while in police custody in April. Attorneys for the officers have said days of protests and riots, a city-wide curfew and other pretrial publicity would taint a jury pool made up of Baltimore residents.
And the settlement announced earlier this week sways prospective jurors and indicates “these officers are guilty, and if they are not guilty, why are we paying them $6.4 million?” said attorney Ivan Bates, who argued on behalf of all six officers.
In his argument, Schatzow said the riots were “confined to a relatively small geographic area” and not widespread enough to impact each and every Baltimore citizen.
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175 Days: Treasury Says Debt Has Been Frozen at $18,112,975,000,000
(CNSNews.com) - The portion of the federal debt that is subject to a legal limit set by Congress closed Friday, Sept. 4, at $18,112,975,000,000, according to the latest Daily Treasury Statement, which was published at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday.
That, according to the Treasury's statements, makes 175 straight days the debt subject to the limit has been frozen at $18,112,975,000,000.
$18,112,975,000,000 is about $25 million below the current legal debt limit of $18,113,000,080,959.35.
On July 30, Treasury Secretary Jacob Lewsent a letter to the leaders of Congresssaying he was extending a “debt issuance suspension period” through October 30.
That means the Treasury believes it can continue for at least the next seven weeks to issue Daily Treasury Statements that show the federal debt subject to the limit beginning and ending each day frozen just below that limit.
The Daily Treasury Statement for March 13 was the first to show the debt subject to the limit closing the day at $18,112,975,000,000. Every Daily Treasury Statement since then has reported the same thing: the debt closing the day at $18,112,975,000,000.
Every Daily Treasury Statement since Monday, March 16, has also reported the debt beginning and ending each day at $18,112,975,000,000.
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That, according to the Treasury's statements, makes 175 straight days the debt subject to the limit has been frozen at $18,112,975,000,000.
$18,112,975,000,000 is about $25 million below the current legal debt limit of $18,113,000,080,959.35.
On July 30, Treasury Secretary Jacob Lewsent a letter to the leaders of Congresssaying he was extending a “debt issuance suspension period” through October 30.
That means the Treasury believes it can continue for at least the next seven weeks to issue Daily Treasury Statements that show the federal debt subject to the limit beginning and ending each day frozen just below that limit.
The Daily Treasury Statement for March 13 was the first to show the debt subject to the limit closing the day at $18,112,975,000,000. Every Daily Treasury Statement since then has reported the same thing: the debt closing the day at $18,112,975,000,000.
Every Daily Treasury Statement since Monday, March 16, has also reported the debt beginning and ending each day at $18,112,975,000,000.
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REPUBLICANS THWART BOEHNER PLAN TO MOVE FORWARD ON OBAMA’S NUCLEAR ARMS DEAL WITH IRAN
WASHINGTON, D.C. — A full-scale revolt against House Speaker
Rep. John Boehner (R-OH) 35% — including a looming resolution that could come up for a vote at any time that would remove him from the speakership—has thrown into disarray the House GOP leadership’s previously carefully laid plans to push President Obama’s nuclear arms deal with Iran through Congress without a fight.
Amid a rebellion in the House GOP conference meeting on Wednesday morning, leadership canceled a previously scheduled rule vote that would have set up the House putting through a resolution of disapproval of the president’s Iran deal under the terms of legislation previously signed into law from Sens.
Rep. John Boehner (R-OH) 35% — including a looming resolution that could come up for a vote at any time that would remove him from the speakership—has thrown into disarray the House GOP leadership’s previously carefully laid plans to push President Obama’s nuclear arms deal with Iran through Congress without a fight.
Amid a rebellion in the House GOP conference meeting on Wednesday morning, leadership canceled a previously scheduled rule vote that would have set up the House putting through a resolution of disapproval of the president’s Iran deal under the terms of legislation previously signed into law from Sens.
Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN) 51% and Ben Cardin (D-MD). This all happened as a result of an argument furthered by Reps.
Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-KS) 78% and Pete Roskam (R-IL) that Congress shouldn’t even vote on the Corker-Cardin resolution, either approving or disapproving of the Iran deal, since the president has not yet complied with the law regarding the release of text of the deal including “side deals” cut with Tehran.
Politico’s Jake Sherman reported midday on Wednesday about a new plan cooked up by House leadership that he later reported via Twitter that Pompeo and Roskam say they support.
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Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-KS) 78% and Pete Roskam (R-IL) that Congress shouldn’t even vote on the Corker-Cardin resolution, either approving or disapproving of the Iran deal, since the president has not yet complied with the law regarding the release of text of the deal including “side deals” cut with Tehran.
Politico’s Jake Sherman reported midday on Wednesday about a new plan cooked up by House leadership that he later reported via Twitter that Pompeo and Roskam say they support.
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Donald Trump vs. the Party: Why He’s Still Such a Long Shot
When Donald Trump reached the top of the polls in July, his candidacy seemed very familiar, at least to me.
His coalition was ideologically incoherent, and he had no support from party elites. His surge looked like a media-driven phenomenon with no foundation — exactly the sort of candidacy prone to collapse once coverage turned negative. It was a story that played out over and over again in the 2012 campaign.
Two months later, Mr. Trump has not gone bust, as I thought he would. He has demonstrated that he can drive the media as much as the media is driving his support. And his coalition is united as much by affection for his demeanor as his policies — insulating him from fallout over inflammatory remarks that would doom other candidates.
Suddenly, the question isn’t whether Mr. Trump is different from someone like Herman Cain in 2012, but how different? Is he so different that he could survive not just for a month or two, but all the way to Iowa and New Hampshire? Is he so different that he could even win?
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His coalition was ideologically incoherent, and he had no support from party elites. His surge looked like a media-driven phenomenon with no foundation — exactly the sort of candidacy prone to collapse once coverage turned negative. It was a story that played out over and over again in the 2012 campaign.
Two months later, Mr. Trump has not gone bust, as I thought he would. He has demonstrated that he can drive the media as much as the media is driving his support. And his coalition is united as much by affection for his demeanor as his policies — insulating him from fallout over inflammatory remarks that would doom other candidates.
Suddenly, the question isn’t whether Mr. Trump is different from someone like Herman Cain in 2012, but how different? Is he so different that he could survive not just for a month or two, but all the way to Iowa and New Hampshire? Is he so different that he could even win?
More
Monthly Speaker Series and General Meeting provided by the Worcester County Tea Party
Speaker: Thomas Locastro & Mathew Locastro, Co-Founders, Locastro Design, LLC
Topic: Two young filmmakers will introduce their latest expose on the hot topic of "Civil Asset Forfeiture". Could it happen to you?
Date: Thursday September 17, 2015
Time: Meeting begins at 7PM, doors open at 6:30PM
Location: Worcester County Library - Ocean Pines Branch, 11107 Cathell Rd., Ocean Pines, MD 21811
Admission: Free and Open to the Public.
For more information email WCTPPatriots@gmail.com, go to the web site www.worcestercountyteaparty.com, https://www.facebook.com/WorcesterCountyTeaParty or call 443-614-7214
A Letter To The Editor 9-10-15
Dear Editor,
This week marks a critical turning point for the future of the public school system in Wicomico County.
At 6 PM on Thursday evening September 10th at the Wicomico youth and Civic Center a public hearing will be held. Citizens of Wicomico County will have an opportunity to tell State Legislators that we want to decide who makes decisions about our children’s education and not leave it to politicians and political appointees.
There are only 3 of 23 counties statewide that still have all school board members appointed by the governor. Currently the Wicomico County Democrat and Republican Central Committees submit names of candidates to the Governor for review. The Governor can appoint any person that he chooses regardless of the names submitted by the committees. Also there is no formal process for unaffiliated voters (N/A) to submit names of candidates. There are over 10,000 U/A voters in Wicomico County. Of the 7 members on the current school board, none are U/A. We have an opportunity to change this.
We decide is a grass roots organization made up of concerned citizens that believe a 100% elected school board would result in more accountability to citizens, parents and students of Wicomico County. WE Decide proposes to adopt a100% elected school board system. The easiest and most equitable way to do this is adopt the county council election model. The county is divided into 5 districts. The county council is made up of members from each district. In addition the council has two members elected at large.
There have been attempts for years to convert to an elected school board. These attempts have been blocked by our past and present locally elected state officials. In 2014 the county council and county executive unanimously agreed on proposed legislation to convert to an elected school board, this attempt was blocked by Senator Jim Mathis. Jim Mathis has requested that a series of public hearings be held and he has promised to support the outcome of these hearings. Interestingly, Jim Mathis represents 3 counties. Somerset and Worcester Counties have elected school boards. Wicomico County has its members appointed by the governor.
For more information check out our web site at www.wedecidewicomico.org and please come to the public hearing and let your voice be heard.
Mark McIver
DEA Impersonating Medical Board Investigators To Gain Access To Personal Health Records
DEA has been sifting through hundreds of supposedly private medical files, looking for Texas doctors and patients to prosecute without the use of warrants
Medical records have long been given an increased expectation of privacy, something that dates back to before the passage of HIPAA. (See also: Hippocratic Oath.) Consultations with doctors — and the written records resulting from them — have generally been treated as confidential, seeing as they contain potentially embarrassing/damaging information. Personal health information can be reported to law enforcement for many reasons: suspicion of criminal activity on the health entity’s property, suspicion of criminal activity related to an off-site emergency, reporting a death, patients with stabbing/gunshot wounds, or in the case of a serious/immediate threat. Otherwise, HIPAA’s rules for law enforcement say personal information can only be released under the following conditions:
To comply with a court order or court-ordered warrant, a subpoena or summons issued by a judicial officer, or an administrative request from a law enforcement official (the administrative request must include a written statement that the information requested is relevant and material, specific and limited in scope, and de-identified information cannot be used).
The bar is set pretty low and the DEA has been taking advantage of it. Jon Cassidy of Watchdog.org is reporting that the agency is rooting around in medical records in hopes of finding patients or health care providers who might be abusing drugs.
The Drug Enforcement Administration has been sifting through hundreds of supposedly private medical files, looking for Texas doctors and patients to prosecute without the use of warrants.
More
Medical records have long been given an increased expectation of privacy, something that dates back to before the passage of HIPAA. (See also: Hippocratic Oath.) Consultations with doctors — and the written records resulting from them — have generally been treated as confidential, seeing as they contain potentially embarrassing/damaging information. Personal health information can be reported to law enforcement for many reasons: suspicion of criminal activity on the health entity’s property, suspicion of criminal activity related to an off-site emergency, reporting a death, patients with stabbing/gunshot wounds, or in the case of a serious/immediate threat. Otherwise, HIPAA’s rules for law enforcement say personal information can only be released under the following conditions:
To comply with a court order or court-ordered warrant, a subpoena or summons issued by a judicial officer, or an administrative request from a law enforcement official (the administrative request must include a written statement that the information requested is relevant and material, specific and limited in scope, and de-identified information cannot be used).
The bar is set pretty low and the DEA has been taking advantage of it. Jon Cassidy of Watchdog.org is reporting that the agency is rooting around in medical records in hopes of finding patients or health care providers who might be abusing drugs.
The Drug Enforcement Administration has been sifting through hundreds of supposedly private medical files, looking for Texas doctors and patients to prosecute without the use of warrants.
More
Government Employees Outnumber Manufacturing Employees 1.8 to 1
21,995,000 to 12,329,000
Those employed by government in the United States in August of this year outnumbered those employed in the manufacturing sector by almost 1.8 to 1,according to data published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
There were 21,995,000 employed by federal, state and local government in the United States in August, according to BLS. By contrast, there were only 12,329,000 employed in the manufacturing sector.
The BLS has published seasonally-adjusted month-by-month employment numbers for both government and manufacturing going back to 1939. In the first 50 years of the 76-year span since then, manufacturing out-employed government. But in August 1989, government overtook manufacturing as a U.S. employer.
That month, government employed 17,989,000 and manufacturing employed 17,964,000.
Read more
Maryland Settles Inmate’s Excessive Force Lawsuit
The attorney general’s office said Tuesday the settlement with inmate Wayne Boone is far below the $10,000 level that would require Board of Public Works approval. Spokesman David Nitkin wouldn’t disclose the exact amount.
Boone’s lawyer declined to comment.
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Chicken Industry Response to EIP Report
Statement of Delmarva Poultry Industry, Inc. on the More Phosphorus, Less Monitoring report by the Environmental Integrity Project
With just a little bit of time to read, understand, and analyze the More Phosphorus, Less Monitoring “report” by the anti-chicken industry group Environmental Integrity Project, it is impossible to offer complete comments on it. However, these points are worth making.
As with any industry, updated and modern facilities are required to keep businesses competitive, including farm family-owned chicken farms. The new chicken houses include the latest technology and have landscape designs and environmental protection systems that exceed existing chicken housing. Water quality improvements are likely to be enhanced with the new chicken houses and their stormwater management plans.
Under the state of Maryland’s Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations program that covers most of the Eastern Shore’s chicken houses and newly constructed ones, chicken houses, through this federally-approved U.S. Environmental Protection Agency permit system, are allowed zero discharge of nutrients to waters of the state except for discharges during a 24-hour, 25 year storm which is about 6 inches of rain in a 24 hour period. So under normal weather conditions, there will be no discharges of nutrients to the waters of the state from the hundreds of chicken houses covered by the state permit.
The authors of the report conclude that a 1 to 2 percent annual growth in chicken meat production in the last 30 years on the Delmarva Peninsula is dangerous trend. That is nonsense.
The report uses 1985 as a baseline for some its data. According to data produced by Delmarva Poultry Industry, Inc., the capacity of all chicken houses on Delmarva from 1985 until 2014 went up by 37% in those 30 years; about 1 percent per year.
From 1995 until 2014, the number of chicken houses on Delmarva went down by 25%.
In the last 10 years, the capacity of all the Delmarva chicken houses went down about 3% while the number of operating chicken houses went down 12%. This is hardly an explosive growth that needs to be stopped by government actions.
After several years of economic sluggishness and regulatory hurdles, chicken house construction throughout Delmarva is catching up to the more normal level. For several years until last year, only a handful of chicken houses were built on Delmarva. Now, the pent-up demand for new houses is resulting in new construction.
A moratorium on new house construction until 2024 is ridiculous. The oft-cited Maryland Phosphorus Management Tool regulation in Maryland will limit manure applications on some farmland in the state and during the early phase-in period soil phosphorus levels will be computed and analyzed.
Opponents of the chicken industry who favor the moratorium on chicken house construction until full implementation of the Phosphorus Management Tool regulation in 2024 are hoping that by killing construction they will kill the chicken industry.
The report, though focused on the chicken industry and chicken manure, says nothing about the growth of the human being population in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed and the growth of houses, businesses, and impervious surfaces that contribute to water pollution.
Delmarva’s chicken industry has examined more than 70 proposed technologies that seek to do something with the manure other than direct farmland application as a locally produced organic fertilizer. For a variety of reasons, there are no commercially operating alternative use facilities on Delmarva, except the Perdue AgriRecycle plant in southern Delaware.
Delmarva’s chicken growers and farm families that handle chicken manure are making progress in water quality protection and more progress will be made. A moratorium on chicken house construction will not be part of the solution.
With just a little bit of time to read, understand, and analyze the More Phosphorus, Less Monitoring “report” by the anti-chicken industry group Environmental Integrity Project, it is impossible to offer complete comments on it. However, these points are worth making.
As with any industry, updated and modern facilities are required to keep businesses competitive, including farm family-owned chicken farms. The new chicken houses include the latest technology and have landscape designs and environmental protection systems that exceed existing chicken housing. Water quality improvements are likely to be enhanced with the new chicken houses and their stormwater management plans.
Under the state of Maryland’s Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations program that covers most of the Eastern Shore’s chicken houses and newly constructed ones, chicken houses, through this federally-approved U.S. Environmental Protection Agency permit system, are allowed zero discharge of nutrients to waters of the state except for discharges during a 24-hour, 25 year storm which is about 6 inches of rain in a 24 hour period. So under normal weather conditions, there will be no discharges of nutrients to the waters of the state from the hundreds of chicken houses covered by the state permit.
The authors of the report conclude that a 1 to 2 percent annual growth in chicken meat production in the last 30 years on the Delmarva Peninsula is dangerous trend. That is nonsense.
The report uses 1985 as a baseline for some its data. According to data produced by Delmarva Poultry Industry, Inc., the capacity of all chicken houses on Delmarva from 1985 until 2014 went up by 37% in those 30 years; about 1 percent per year.
From 1995 until 2014, the number of chicken houses on Delmarva went down by 25%.
In the last 10 years, the capacity of all the Delmarva chicken houses went down about 3% while the number of operating chicken houses went down 12%. This is hardly an explosive growth that needs to be stopped by government actions.
After several years of economic sluggishness and regulatory hurdles, chicken house construction throughout Delmarva is catching up to the more normal level. For several years until last year, only a handful of chicken houses were built on Delmarva. Now, the pent-up demand for new houses is resulting in new construction.
A moratorium on new house construction until 2024 is ridiculous. The oft-cited Maryland Phosphorus Management Tool regulation in Maryland will limit manure applications on some farmland in the state and during the early phase-in period soil phosphorus levels will be computed and analyzed.
Opponents of the chicken industry who favor the moratorium on chicken house construction until full implementation of the Phosphorus Management Tool regulation in 2024 are hoping that by killing construction they will kill the chicken industry.
The report, though focused on the chicken industry and chicken manure, says nothing about the growth of the human being population in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed and the growth of houses, businesses, and impervious surfaces that contribute to water pollution.
Delmarva’s chicken industry has examined more than 70 proposed technologies that seek to do something with the manure other than direct farmland application as a locally produced organic fertilizer. For a variety of reasons, there are no commercially operating alternative use facilities on Delmarva, except the Perdue AgriRecycle plant in southern Delaware.
Delmarva’s chicken growers and farm families that handle chicken manure are making progress in water quality protection and more progress will be made. A moratorium on chicken house construction will not be part of the solution.
Second Hearing In Freddie Gray Case: What You Need To Know
Derek Valcourt has the decision facing the judge.
Attorneys for all six officers accused in the April death of 25-year-old Freddie Gray plan to argue round-the-clock news coverage of Gray’s arrest and death, the riots that followed and extensive reporting on the six officers accused will make it impossible for the defendants to get a fair and unbiased jury in Baltimore.
“The defense is worried—not unreasonably—that a Baltimore City jury would either be inclined to find guilt or would be scared of the result if they voted not guilty,” said Andrew Levy.
The potential for more riots and violence may not be a factor in Judge Barry Williams’ decision—but protestors warn it may be a reality.
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Today in history
Do you know what happened 165 years ago this summer...
September 10, 1850?
California became a state! The people had no electricity, the state had no money and almost everyone spoke Spanish. There were gunfights in the streets.
So basically NOTHING has changed except back then the women had real breasts and the men didn't hold hands.
And that, my friends, is your history lesson for today.
September 10, 1850?
California became a state! The people had no electricity, the state had no money and almost everyone spoke Spanish. There were gunfights in the streets.
So basically NOTHING has changed except back then the women had real breasts and the men didn't hold hands.
And that, my friends, is your history lesson for today.
Woodgrain Millwork to Open Distribution Facility in Baltimore City, Create 65 Jobs
Hogan Administration, City Officials Welcome One of the Country’s Largest Woodwork Manufacturers
ANNAPOLIS, MD – Woodgrain Millwork, a family-owned and operated business that is one of the largest millwork operations in the country, has announced plans to open a new distribution center in Baltimore City. The company – a manufacturer of mouldings and turnings, and distributor of doors, windows, and other woodwork – will locate the new facility near Montgomery Park on Washington Boulevard and supply about 300 home improvement stores on the East Coast. Over the next three years, Woodgrain Millwork plans to hire 65 new full-time employees.
“Job creation and economic development are our primary focus in Maryland, and welcoming Woodgrain Millwork to our state is a shining example of the progress we are making,” said Governor Larry Hogan. “This is exciting news for Baltimore City, and exactly what my administration wants for Maryland – thriving businesses that provide the citizens of our state with great jobs and opportunity.”
To assist the company with establishing operations in Baltimore City, the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development (DBED) has approved a $250,000 conditional loan through its Maryland Economic Development Association and Fund (MEDAAF) program. Additionally, the Baltimore Development Corporation (BDC) is also providing a $250,000 loan to help the company complete the project.
“Baltimore represents an exciting opportunity for Woodgrain Millwork to grow in a supportive, progressive business environment. We look forward to bringing new jobs to the city, while working alongside the many other industry leaders who call Baltimore home,” said Barry Dale, president of Woodgrain Distribution. “The area's economic development organizations worked with us throughout the process to ensure this was truly a home run for everyone involved.”
“The City of Baltimore and the BDC are thrilled that Woodgrain selected Montgomery Park as the location for their new distribution center,” said Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake. “The site is conveniently located for the company to provide support to key retail locations, as well as being in the Enterprise and Focus area. We are glad to assist companies interested in growing in Baltimore City and look forward to Woodgrain’s continued success.”
Woodgrain Millwork began in 1954 as “Dame Moulding and Lumber Company” before moving its corporate offices from Utah to Idaho in 1969. The Baltimore distribution center will be a part of the Woodgrain Distribution Division, which serves large retail and wholesale building materials companies. Woodgrain Distribution has seven distribution centers covering 20 states.
“Job creation and economic development are our primary focus in Maryland, and welcoming Woodgrain Millwork to our state is a shining example of the progress we are making,” said Governor Larry Hogan. “This is exciting news for Baltimore City, and exactly what my administration wants for Maryland – thriving businesses that provide the citizens of our state with great jobs and opportunity.”
To assist the company with establishing operations in Baltimore City, the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development (DBED) has approved a $250,000 conditional loan through its Maryland Economic Development Association and Fund (MEDAAF) program. Additionally, the Baltimore Development Corporation (BDC) is also providing a $250,000 loan to help the company complete the project.
“Baltimore represents an exciting opportunity for Woodgrain Millwork to grow in a supportive, progressive business environment. We look forward to bringing new jobs to the city, while working alongside the many other industry leaders who call Baltimore home,” said Barry Dale, president of Woodgrain Distribution. “The area's economic development organizations worked with us throughout the process to ensure this was truly a home run for everyone involved.”
“The City of Baltimore and the BDC are thrilled that Woodgrain selected Montgomery Park as the location for their new distribution center,” said Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake. “The site is conveniently located for the company to provide support to key retail locations, as well as being in the Enterprise and Focus area. We are glad to assist companies interested in growing in Baltimore City and look forward to Woodgrain’s continued success.”
Woodgrain Millwork began in 1954 as “Dame Moulding and Lumber Company” before moving its corporate offices from Utah to Idaho in 1969. The Baltimore distribution center will be a part of the Woodgrain Distribution Division, which serves large retail and wholesale building materials companies. Woodgrain Distribution has seven distribution centers covering 20 states.
Police Return Woman’s Stolen Car With Drugs, Weapons Still Inside It
When your car is stolen, you can’t always expect to get it back. And if you are lucky enough to be reunited, you might then expect that a few things could be missing — nice electronics, your collection of road trip CDs featuring cool jams from the ’90s, etc. But in the case of a Calgary woman whose stolen car was returned to her recently by police, she was definitely surprised to find her missing vehicle had a few things it didn’t have when it went missing, including drugs, weapons and other illicit items.
Google Wants To Get Into Fresh Grocery Delivery Game
After years of running its Google Express service — which offers same-day delivery on merchandise and packaged foods from a variety of retailers to customers in a handful of markets around the country — the Internet giant is now reportedly confident enough to try its hand at bringing fresh food and groceries to consumers’ doors.
Lawmakers Call On USDA To Reduce Farmers’ Reliance On Antibiotics In Chickens
Following a 17-month outbreak of salmonella poisoning that sickened at least 600 people around the country, a Dept. of Agriculture advisory committee will meet tomorrow discuss strategies for effectively controlling the spread of salmonella in poultry. In advance of that meeting, two members of Congress are calling on the USDA to take a three-pronged approach to fighting drug-resistant bacteria.
Woman who jumped into bay to flee cops gets arrested in Oakland
The woman accused of crashing a stolen car on the Bay Bridge last month, then jumping 70 feet into the bay to evade arrest, was taken into police custody Monday, the California Highway Patrol reported.
Erlynn Sanchez-Edwards, 25, whose last known residence was Richmond, was arrested in Oakland without incident, officials said. She was booked into Santa Rita Jail on suspicion of several crimes, including vehicle theft, hit-and-run, driving under the influence and resisting arrest.
The fate of Sanchez-Edwards after her chilly plunge Aug. 12 was unknown until a dump truck driver in Oakland picked up a woman in soggy clothing believed to be the suspect, officials said. He drove her to San Francisco before learning about the bridge crash on the news, then notified authorities.
The incident unfolded just after 2 a.m. when CHP officers heading west on the Bay Bridge spotted a Nissan Maxima spin and crash on the eastbound side.
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Erlynn Sanchez-Edwards, 25, whose last known residence was Richmond, was arrested in Oakland without incident, officials said. She was booked into Santa Rita Jail on suspicion of several crimes, including vehicle theft, hit-and-run, driving under the influence and resisting arrest.
The fate of Sanchez-Edwards after her chilly plunge Aug. 12 was unknown until a dump truck driver in Oakland picked up a woman in soggy clothing believed to be the suspect, officials said. He drove her to San Francisco before learning about the bridge crash on the news, then notified authorities.
The incident unfolded just after 2 a.m. when CHP officers heading west on the Bay Bridge spotted a Nissan Maxima spin and crash on the eastbound side.
More