Post Alleging Starbucks Refused to Let Police Sergeant Use Restroom Goes Viral

A downtown Philadelphia Starbucks is at the center of controversy this weekend after a Facebook post alleging that an employee of the coffee shop refused to allow a uniformed Philadelphia Police sergeant use the restroom went viral.

The post, which does not identify the sergeant involved, says he walked into the Starbucks at 13th and Chestnut streets and asked to use the restroom, for which a key code is required. The employee, according to the post, "State[d] in a loud voice ... that the bathroom is for paying customers only." The post goes on to say that the sergeant asked politely to use the restroom anyway, and that the Starbucks employee declined to grant access.

Officer Joe Leighthardt, who knows the sergeant, was the first to share his fellow officer's post about the incident, which happened Thursday or Friday of last week. Leighthardt said he personally has been to that Starbucks location several times on calls for service, but never as a customer.

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Army To Open A Hearing On Former Taliban Prisoner, An Accused Deserter

Army Sgt. Robert "Bowe" Bergdahl will be in a military courtroom in Texas Thursday, for the start of a hearing that will determine if he will face a court-martial on desertion and other charges. He could face a sentence of life in prison.

Whether the military proceeds with a court-martial will hinge, in part, on the events of the night of June 30, 2009. That's when Bergdahl went missing from his unit's outpost in a remote part of eastern Afghanistan.

Initially, Sgt. Bergdahl claimed in a Taliban video that he was captured when he lagged behind on patrol. U.S. military radio intercepts of conversations between insurgents that were later released by WikiLeaks reported that the Taliban said they captured Bergdahl while he squatting, going to the latrine.

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Palestinian kids aspire to 'blow up the Jews'

A Palestinian television show features two interviewees in military fatigues who declare their aspiration in life is to “blow up the Jews.”

They’re about 6 years old.

The boys appear on a children’s show moderated by a girl who is not much older than they are, reports the Middle East Media Research Institute, a nonprofit that spotlights reports from Middle East media.

MEMRI said the show was on Al-Aqsa TV, the official channel of Hamas, the jihadist organization that governs Gaza.
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Martin O’Malley to Obama: 10,000 Syrian Refugees Not Enough

The U.S. should accept at least 65,000 Syrian refugees by the end of 2016, acceding to Democratic presidential candidate Martin O’Malley. The former Maryland governor says President Obama’s move to accept 10,000 Syrian refugees next year is no more than “a token increase.”

In a letter to Obama Tuesday, O’Malley expressed disappointment at the levels the administration is moving to welcome.

“The images from Europe this month reminded the world that more than four million Syrians have been made refugees. Many governments are responding admirably by significantly increasing their refugee quotas to match the depth of the crisis,” O’Malley wrote.

“I appreciate your administration’s attention to this issue, but I was disappointed to learn that the United States would accept only 10,000 Syrian refugees next year,” he added.

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We showed Iranians photos of Republican candidates -- here's what they told us

Tehran, Iran (CNN)The Republican 2016 hopefuls may have spent most of Wednesday night's CNN debate savaging each other on everything from marijuana and immigration to abortion and taxes, but they also devoted plenty of time to their favorite boogeyman abroad: Iran.

From frontrunner Donald Trump to underdog Ted Cruz, candidate after candidate lined up to burnish their foreign policy credentials by slamming the nuclear agreement between Iran and world powers.
We've heard what the Republicans have to say about Iran -- but what do Iranians think of the candidates?

We stopped people in the streets of Tehran today and asked them if they could recognize photos of four of the most prominent candidates -- and then asked them to respond to their stances on Iran.

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PALESTINIAN BOY WANTS TO BE AN ENGINEER SO HE ‘CAN BLOW UP THE JEWS’

In a recent segment on Palestinian television about the future ambitions of young children, two Palestinian boys revealed that their most prominent desire was to kill Jews.

The Palestinian woman who hosted the show began by asking a young boy, decked out in military fatigues, to recite a poem that he was particularly passionate about. The boy, named Muhammad, revealed that his mother had taught him the poem.

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7 Members Appointed To Review Baltimore’s Confederate Statues, Historical Assets

BALTIMORE (WJZ)—The murders of nine church members in South Carolina this summer sparked a controversy in Baltimore: What to do about honoring the confederacy on public property?

WJZ’s Pat Warren has the details.

Seven members have been appointed to a special commission to review all of Baltimore’s Confederate statues and historical assets.

Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake selected four members from the Baltimore City Commission for Historical and Architectural Preservation (CHAP) and three members from the Baltimore City Public Arts Commission.

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EIGHT-YEAR-OLD FACED EXPULSION FOR DRAWING GUN, BUT MUSLIM STUDENT GETS WHITE HOUSE INVITE AFTER ‘HOAX BOMB’

Following news that high school freshman Ahmed Mohamed brought a homemade clock which police described as a “hoax bomb” onto campus, police declined to file charges and President Obama reached and invited Mohamed to bring his clock and visit the White House. Contrast that with the experience of an unnamed elementary school student who was threatened with expulsion–and ultimately pulled from the school–for drawing a picture of a Ninja holding a gun.

Or contrast Mohamed’s experience with that of the Washington state elementary school students who were suspended for bringing a Nerf gun to school. It was June 2013 when theNew York Daily News reported that the students were suspended for violating the school’s “zero tolerance” on guns–Nerf or otherwise. Or consider the 7-year-old student whose parents had to hire a lawyer after the school threatened to suspend the child for chewing a Pop-Tart into the shape of a gun. CBS News reported that the incident occurred in March 2013–that the student chewed the Pop-Tart into just the right shape then said, “Look, I made a gun.”

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Baltimore Police Body Camera Testing To Begin In October

BALTIMORE (WJZ) — Balitmore Mayor Stephanie-Rawlings Blake announced Thursday that the police department will begin testing body cameras in October.

“I am pleased that we are moving forward with our plans to bring body-worn cameras to our officers, because I believe they will help to bring a greater level of accountability and trust to our efforts to improve police-community relations,” Rawlings-Blake said. “I have made it clear that I want us to do this right, and this pilot program will ensure that we find the right solution for Baltimore.”

Three vendors were selected by the city to participate in the pilot program that will begin Oct. 26 and end on Dec. 18.

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LEWISVILLE WHATABURGER “DON’T SERVE POLICE”

According to the officers, workers at the restaurant denied them service

Officer Cameron Beckham and reserve deputy Michael Magovern were set to work overnight traffic security at a construction area along Stemmons Freeway. But prior to the start of their shift, they stopped by a Whataburger location in Lewisville for a bite to eat.

The visit did not turn out so well.

According to the officers, workers at the restaurant denied them service. An employee told the men, “We don’t serve police.”

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Laundry ‘pods’ get makeover after child safety risks

After tens of thousands of calls from frightened caregivers to poison control centers across the country, your laundry detergent may be getting a fresh look.

According to the American Association of Poison Control Centers, the new highly-concentrated, single-load liquid laundry detergent packets sometimes cause children to experience excessive vomiting and difficulty breathing when ingested.

Liquid laundry detergent packets, often known as “pods,” first hit the market in 2012. They’re convenient to use and extremely popular — but they also carry hidden dangers.

Between January and July there were 7,184 incidents reported to the A.A.P.C.C. involving kids younger than six years old. That number is on track to exceed the total number of incidents reported in all of 2014 (11,714). This has prompted consumer advocacy groups to ask for stronger warnings on laundry pods.

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Hillary’s Game of Thrones

The bad news has continued to cascade onto the Hillary Clinton for President campaign, and none of it has anything to do with Clinton’s opinions on issues. It all is about her fitness for office.

Since Labor Day, we have learned that the folks into whose hands Clinton reposed her computer server for safe keeping do not believe it has been wiped clean of all emails, as her lawyer told a federal judge it was. That means the 33,000 emails she thought she destroyed probably still could be recovered. What will they reveal?

And we learned earlier this week that of the emails released thus far — those Clinton did not attempt to destroy — there is a five- month gap for which no emails were produced. For a government official who sent or received about 15,000 emails a year, five months of silence is not believable. Two of those months followed the assassination of the U.S. Ambassador to Libya in Benghazi. Where are her emails from that time period?

Why should you care about this?

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BREAKING NEWS: ‘Baby Doe’ identified; mother and boyfriend charged

Massachusetts authorities confirmed the identity of the murdered 'Baby Doe' as 2-year-old Bella Bond; her mother, Rachelle Bond, and her boyfriend, Michael McCarthy, have been arrested in her death. 

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Rt. 50 Closed West Bound In Salisbury

There's been a serious motorcycle vs. vehicle accident on Rt. 50 between Walston Switch Rd. and Hobbs Rd. Possible compound fracture. Rt. 50 west bound is shut down at the moment. 

UPDATE:
Situation is under control. 1 priority 2 patient was transported to PRMC.

Summer Survey Provides Some Surprises About Visitors

OCEAN CITY — Ocean City tourism officials this week reviewed the results of a summer-long survey of a large segment of the visitors to the resort, providing a snapshot of pertinent information such as how often they come, how long they stay, where do they stay and what do they do when they get here.

Ocean City Tourism Director Donna Abbott presented the findings of the survey to the town’s Tourism Commission on Monday. She said the survey was conducted from Memorial Day to Labor Day and roughly 2,000 visitors participated. The surveys were conducted at the Roland E. Powell Convention Center, which produced better and more tangible results than prior attempts.

“I think it has a lot of good information,” said Abbott. “Last year, we took the survey at different places and we found people didn’t want to take the time to complete it if they were on the beach or Boardwalk. In the Convention Center setting, more were willing to take the time because they were already likely there to collect information about the resort.”

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Chincoteague Police Investigating Alleged Theft Of ‘Buyback Foal’

CHINCOTEAGUE, Va. (WJZ) — A buyback foal was taken from the carnival grounds in Chincoteague, Va, according to the local fire department.

Dreamer’s Faith was taken from the grounds on Sept. 6 or Sept. 7. She was designated a “buyback foal” by the fire company to return to Assateague Island to live out her life.

The pony was a part of the foals who take part in the the annual pony swim between Assateague Island to Chincoteague Island. She was not auctioned off like some of the others are to help control the island’s wild pony population.

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RECORD 46.7 MILLION AMERICANS LIVE IN POVERTY; HOUSEHOLD INCOME BACK TO 1989 LEVELS

What recovery?

At this moment, president Obama is taking to the Business Roundtable where as noted previously he will discuss “the turnarounds in the stock market, housing iprices [sic?] and job growth.”

In other words: helping wealth inequality hit record levels, permitting Chinese and other offshore “investors” to push high-end US real estate prices to never before seen levels, while everyone else “benefits” from record jobs for bartenders and waiters.

As for the stock market, other socialist leaders will laugh at Obama’s puny returns.

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Sponsors Yank Ads From ‘The View’ After Disrespectful Nurse Jokes

Two sponsors have yanked ads from “The View” after the show’s hosts made critical comments about a Miss America contestant who dedicated her talent to nurses.

Johnson & Johnson and Eggland’s Best dropped their ads after Joy Behar and Michelle Collins said Miss Colorado’s monologue was not a real talent

“Johnson & Johnson values and appreciates nurses and we respect the critical role they play in our healthcare system,” the company wrote in a Facebook post. “We disagree with recent comments on daytime television about the nursing profession, and we have paused our advertising accordingly.”

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Fatal Crash Involving Stolen Dirt Bike Under Investigation

BALTIMORE (WJZ) — A fatal crash involving a stolen dirt bike is under investigation in the city.

Police say the dirt bike and a minivan collided at the intersection of Biddle Street and Patterson Park Avenue in East Baltimore.

The operator of the dirt bike was taken to an area hospital. The 27-year-old later died from his injuries.

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U.S. NAVY AND MARINE CORPS TO OPEN ALL JOBS TO WOMEN

U.S. Navy Secretary announces both the Navy and the Marine Corps will now allow women to hold any job they offer

Integration of the sexes in the U.S. Armed Forces took a giant leap as U.S. Navy Secretary Ray Mabus announced both the Navy and the Marine Corps will now allow women to hold any job they offer.

The move comes after a series of measures by top U.S. military officials to study how such integration could be possible. U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter called for a reviews of integration obstacles by October 1.

One study conducted by the Marine Corps compared combat units with female members to combat units with all-male teams, and claimed units with female members suffered more injuries, and under-performed in speed and accuracy.

Secretary Mabus criticized the the study a few days prior to the announcement, saying proper leadership and training could close any gap indicated in the study, and maintains there will be no exceptions for either branch.

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Delmar Police Department Press Release 9-18-15

BREAKING NEWS: Identity of little girl whose remains were found in June is confirmed by Massachusetts officials

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker confirms the identity of a little girl whose remains were found last June as 'Bella,' and that her mother and boyfriend are being questioned by police about the circumstances of her death.

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Maryland doctor: The state should implement a mandatory flu vaccine for preschoolers in licensed facilities.

Maryland should implement mandatory influenza vaccination for children in licensed child care and preschool programs.

Influenza, a serious preventable viral disease that peaks in frequency during the winter season, is associated with high morbidity and mortality in younger children and the elderly. It is easily prevented through vaccination. Among all age groups, influenza infection rates are highest in pre-school and school-aged children. The Centers for Disease Control estimates that 20 percent to 50 percent of children under age 5 are infected with the influenza virus annually. Children also carry a higher viral load and stay contagious for longer time periods compared to adults. These findings have major public health implications, as the disease burden associated with influenza in children ultimately leads to a domino effect and can help cause an influenza epidemic.

The public health ramifications of an influenza outbreak are significant, resulting in huge social and economic burdens. In the United States, about 1 out of every 1,000 children infected with influenza annually is hospitalized. The CDC estimates that an average of 73 hours of work time is lost for caregivers of hospitalized children. One U.S. study demonstrated that for every 100 children followed during the influenza season, 28 developed influenza. This was associated with 68 missed school days, 20 missed work days by parents, and 22 transmissions of influenza to other household members. This translates to a high loss of productivity for children in terms of missed schoolwork and for adults in terms of missed work.

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EPA charges VW cheated on emissions testing for nearly 500,000 cars

The Environmental Protection Agency accuses Volkswagen of installing software known as a 'defeat device' in nearly a half-million of its diesel cars to cheat emissions testing.

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OC Bike Week In Full Swing

I made a couple road trips today to and from Ocean City and let me tell you, there are bikers everywhere. I did find my experience a bit disturbing this year as many bikers were taking up both lanes in masses and only doing 55 mph, as shown in the above picture. No one was willing to move over and even though I too am a rider, I respect other people on the road and move over.

Coming in to Ocean City, (first picture) traffic was backed up into Berlin but is moving along with no problem. 

Please be aware of the bikers on the road and please look twice before you pull out onto any road. Remember, they bring in MILLIONS of revenue throughout the entire Shore and they'll be on their way home in two days. 

Bike Week At Oasis

ANDREW HULL JURY CONVICTION AND SENTENCE

WALKERSVILLE MAN CONVICTED AND SENTENCED ON RAPE 2nd DEGREE, SEXUAL OFFENSE 2nd DEGREE AND RELATED CHARGES

  On June 3, 2015, Andrew Hull, age 25, of Walkersville, Maryland, was convicted by a Wicomico County Jury of Rape 2nd Degree, Sexual Offense 2ndDegree, Sodomy, and related charges. An investigation conducted by the Salisbury Police Department revealed that on November 1, 2014, Hull attended a party hosted by the victim at her home. In the early morning hours of November 2, 2014, Hull entered the bedroom of the victim and engaged in vaginal intercourse as well as anal intercourse without the knowing consent of the victim.

On September 18, 2015, Hull was sentenced to 20 years in the Division of Corrections on Rape 2nd Degree, and 20 years in the Division of Corrections on Sexual Offense 2nd Degree, to run concurrent. Hull will have to register as a Tier III sex offender for a term of life. Wicomico County State’s Attorney, Matthew A. Maciarello, commended the Salisbury City Police Department, Det. Thompsen and State’s Attorney Investigator Tracy Kilgore for their work in the investigation and prosecution of this case. Mr. Maciarello also thanked the citizens of Wicomico County who sat on the jury, and Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Kristen Schultz who prosecuted the case.

For more information or for an interview please call the Office of the State’s Attorney at (410) 548-4880 or go to www.wicomicosao.com.

Trump: Baltimore Gangs Tied To Undocumented Immigrants

BALTIMORE (WJZ) — Gangs full of illegal immigrants on the streets of Baltimore? Those are the claims by Donald Trump that have city leaders and immigrant groups furious.

Trump made the comments in Wednesday night’s Republican presidential debate.

Christie Ileto has the growing outrage in Baltimore.

Donald Trump is no stranger to controversial remarks, but a local group says, this time, he’s crossed the line.

Baltimore gangs tied to undocumented immigrants? That’s what Donald Trump believes.

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Did Hillary Clinton Sign This Classified Information Form?

Amid the many unanswered questions in the Hillary Clinton email scandal is whether the former secretary of state signed an official document acknowledging that she turned over all of the classified information in her possession to the State Department when she left office in Feb. 2013.

The “Classified Information Nondisclosure Agreement” — Special Form 312 — also requires incoming government officials to acknowledge that classified information can be either “marked” or “unmarked” as such.

But finding out whether Clinton signed the document has been difficult.

The State Department declined to say whether she signed the form. The Daily Caller has also learned that the agency has not turned SF-312s for Clinton and several of her top aides over to the Senate Judiciary Committee, which requested them on Aug. 5.

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REMINDER: All You Can Eat Breakfast Buffet.....Lunch To follow

JUST IN: House OKs bill blocking Planned Parenthood funding

The House voted Friday to block federal funding to Planned Parenthood for a year, in the chamber's first legislative response to videos showing the abortion provider's tissue harvesting practices.

The bill passed 241-187. The Senate has not yet acted on the issue.

Lawmakers are voting next on a related bill to curb some abortion procedures.

But hanging over the debate is the looming possibility of a government shutdown showdown.

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Police Searching For Wanted Armed Robber

Worcester County Sheriff's Office

Crisfield Police and the Somerset County Sheriff's Office are searching for an armed robbery suspect they say is armed and dangerous.

Officers have identified the man as 38-year-old Clarence Nicholson of Princess Anne. They say Thursday at around 4:10 p.m. he entered the Somers Cove Market on Cove Street, displayed an automatic handgun and took cash from the register. According to police, Nicholson then locked the store manager inside the restroom and fled in an unknown direction.

Crisfield Police identified the suspect within two hours of the armed robbery. They say he does have family living in the area, even though he is from Princess Anne.

Anyone who knows where Nicholson may be, should contact your local Law Enforcement Agency.

Rodney Square stabbing victim hailed as a hero

WILMINGTON Thomas Cottingham, convicted of fracturing a man’s skull with a hatchet in 2010 and known as “Cannibal,” was hailed as a hero Tuesday after he was stabbed to death protecting a young mother and her baby from a knife-wielding attacker the night before in Rodney Square, police said.

Cottingham, 27, of Wilmington, was stabbed repeatedly near a bus stop at 10th and North King streets, shortly after 9:30 p.m. Monday, police said.

Calvin Hooker III, 25, of Wilmington, is being held without bail on charges including first-degree murder, Sgt. Andrea Janvier said. Hooker was caught several blocks away after he ran off a DART bus after being spotted by police.

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White Police Chief Forced to Resign For Telling the Truth About Criminal Black Lives Matter Movement

The so-called black lives matter movement is a criminal movement. But if you are a white police officer you’ll lose your job for telling the truth, at least that was the case in Surf City, North Carolina where Police Chief Mike Halstead was forced to resign after a statement about the riot-pushing, cop-killers of black lives matter.

The chief was basically forced out yesterday for telling the truth.

Town Manager Larry Bergman, Surf City Mayor Zander Guy called the emergency meeting in reference to Chief Halstead’s post made to his personal Facebook page on Sept. 3. It read:

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A Viewer Writes: POST OFFICE CONDEMNED?

Seems the Princess Anne Post Office bldg has been condemned and Operations moved to Salisbury.. Does anyone have info about this? Is it temporary or permanent??

Is Biden Inevitable?

Some are born great. Others achieve greatness. And some have greatness thrust upon them. William Shakespeare might have been thinking of Joe Biden. While the Democratic world ruminates on whether the vice president has the emotional strength to run for president, the political realities are such that he may have to run. Ready or not.

Hillary Clinton is not merely sinking in the polls. She is imploding. Let’s look at the data.

National Dem Primary Polls:
Date: Clinton Sanders Biden
Sept. 11: 37 27 20 (CNN)
Aug. 2: 45 22 18 (Quin)
Aug. 2: 45 19 18 (Quin)
July 3: 55 17 13 (Quin)

And Clinton has fallen behind, by double digits in Iowa and by 22 points in New Hampshire. Even where she is running ads and campaigning in person, she continues to plunge.

As her crash accelerates, the prospect that Bernie Sander will be the party’s standard-bearer in November will loom larger in Democratic nightmares.

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Ocean City to oppose offshore seismic testing

If you think your upstairs neighbor’s constant thumping is bad, imagine how the fish are going to feel.

Ocean City may be passing a resolution next week opposing federal plans to permit the use of underwater sound cannons to test for oil and gas deposits below the ocean floor off of the resort’s beach.

The Assateague Coastal Trust is trying to rally support for the resolution, to be presented to the city council at this coming Monday’s session.

“I think we would likely send a letter to our congressional delegation and to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management,” said City Engineer Terry McGean.

“It’s the council’s decision, but my personal recommendation was that the potential benefit of any jobs created from offshore oil and gas exploration is probably pretty far outweighed by the risk to an industry we already have, which is fishing.”

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Attack on Teachers

As the new school year begins, you might like to be updated on some school happenings that will no doubt be repeated this academic year. After this update, I have some questions one might ask the black leadership.

The ongoing and escalating assault on primary- and secondary-school teachers is not a pretty sight. Holly Houston is a post-traumatic stress specialist. She counsels teachers in Chicago public schools and reported, “Of the teachers that I have counseled over the years who have been assaulted, 100 percent of them have satisfied diagnostic criteria for PTSD.” It’s not just big-city schoolteachers traumatized. Dr. Darlyne Nemeth, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, said last year, “I have treated many teachers with PTSD, and I am currently following a few of them.”

A Philadelphia seventh-grade girl with a history of incidents against her teacher sprayed perfume in the teacher’s face after telling her that she smelled “like old white pussy.” After telling her classmates “I’m about to kick this bitch’s white ass,” she shoved the teacher, knocking her to the floor. In 2014, a Philadelphia 68-year-old substitute teacher was knocked out cold by a student (http://tinyurl.com/orldslb). Earlier that year, two other teachers in the same school were assaulted. By the way, Philadelphia schools employ close to 400 school police officers.

In a school district near St. Louis, teachers have had pepper spray and dog repellant sprayed in their faces. A Baltimore teacher had his jaw broken. In Baltimore, each school day in 2010, an average of four teachers and staff were assaulted. A 325-pound high-school student in Houston knocked out his 66-year-old female teacher (http://tinyurl.com/oqxmrfg). Nationally, an average of 1,175 teachers and staff were physically attacked each day of the 2011-12 school year.

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Best Trump zingers of the CNN Republican debate

Study Finds Link Between Agent Orange and Blood Cancer

Even 30 years after exposure

Scientists are more certain than ever that Agent Orange is causing cancer in Vietnam War veterans.

A recent study of 479 Vietnam veterans who were involved in Agent Orange defoliation efforts in that country found that these individuals are twice as likely to develop a blood condition known as monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance, or MGUS. The disorder is a precursor for multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer.

During the Vietnam War, Agent Orange was used by U.S. forces to kill off trees and vegetation in the jungles of Vietnam and Cambodia that the enemy used as cover. The chemical is composed of several herbicides – including 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid – nicknamed for the orange stripe on the barrels in which they were stored. When these two herbicides are combined, they create a carcinogen dioxin known as TCDD, which is the most toxic of dioxins.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs recognizes that Agent Orange causes multiple myeloma, several types of leukemia, and other cancers, as well as diabetes, heart disease, and Parkinson’s disease. Veterans are supposed to receive care for their medical problems if they can prove they were exposed to the chemical, and they can get disability compensation.

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Ocean City Planning Rental License Fee Increase; $500 Fine For No License Likely

OCEAN CITY — Ocean City officials moved forward this week with a stopgap measure of sorts for the larger R-1A single-family neighborhood rental issue, but not before adding some teeth to the proposed rental license application process.

Throughout the last year, town officials have been wrestling with the issue of vacation rentals in Ocean City’s quieter single-family home neighborhoods. The issue came to a head last summer when property owners in at least one residential neighborhood complained of the noise, parking problems, trash and often crime in their otherwise quiet communities.

Earlier this summer, the Mayor and Council tabled a decision on the creation of a new R-1A zoning designation that would insulate some quiet neighborhoods from vacation rentals, vowing to revisit the issue during the upcoming comprehensive plan process. In the meantime, town officials are moving forward with a more stringent rental application process in its R-1 districts in an effort to ease enforcement efforts and increase awareness about the rental license requirements.

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Democratic Presidential Hopeful Vows Marijuana Change

DENVER (AP) — Democratic presidential hopeful Martin O’Malley met with Colorado marijuana regulators Thursday and vowed immediate change on marijuana policy if he takes office — even as he laid out contradictory plans about how he’d do that.

The former Maryland governor repeated his pledge to reclassify marijuana under federal drug laws if elected. He sat down with state pot regulators, along with marijuana activists and a few representatives from the industry.

Reclassification could open the door to doctors being able to prescribe marijuana, which currently has no accepted medical use under federal law. Such a change would place the drug under control of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, not the states.

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9/11 Experiments: The Great Thermate Debate

Donald Trump is Getting Under President Obama’s Skin

Ahead of second GOP debate, the president responded to the candidate’s attacks.

Don­ald Trump is fi­nally get­ting to Pres­id­ent Obama.

On Wed­nes­day, the pres­id­ent de­fen­ded Amer­ica’s eco­nom­ic stand­ing in the world. And, ahead of the second GOP primary de­bate Wed­nes­day night—and without ever say­ing his name—he un­veiled a hearty de­fense against the busi­ness mogul and GOP front-run­ner.

“In the echo cham­ber that is pres­id­en­tial polit­ics, everything is dark and everything is ter­rible,” he lamen­ted at the Busi­ness Roundtable headquar­ters in Wash­ing­ton. Pres­id­en­tial can­did­ates, “don’t seem to of­fer many solu­tions for the dis­asters that they per­ceive, but they’re quick to tell you who to blame.”

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It's time we start voting for or against all laws. Do you agree?

Hillary Isn’t Biden’s Problem — Obama Is

Many praised Biden’s “honesty” for saying to Stephen Colbert on CBS’ “The Late Show”: “I don’t think any man or woman should run for president unless, number one, they know exactly why they would want to be president, and two, they can look at folks out there and say, ‘I promise you, you have my whole heart, my whole soul, my energy and my passion to do this.’ And I’d be lying if I said that I knew I was there. I’m being completely honest. Nobody has a right, in my view, to seek that office unless they’re willing to give it 110 percent of who they are.”

Actually, a completely honest answer would have been, “I’m watching the polls to make sure Hillary Clinton is completely dead, and I’m secretly meeting with donors to insure I’ll be the recipient of their money when she implodes.”

Biden may think the main issue is whether Hillary Rodham Clinton has sunk far down enough for him safely to jump in. But his problem is more fundamental. A Biden candidacy represents a third term for Obama. For what reason, on what grounds, should Americans give the policies of the Obama administration four more years?

The latest poll of likely voters from Rasmussen Reports found 64 percent think the country is on the “wrong track” and only 29 percent believe it’s headed in the “right direction.”

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Hogan And Franchot Criticize Kamenetz For Lack Of Air Conditioning In Baltimore County Schools

Gov. Larry Hogan and Comptroller Peter Franchot have called out Baltimore County leaders over the lack of air conditioning in more than four dozen schools.

During Wednesday's Board of Public Works meeting, Hogan and Franchot said they plan to summon county schools Superintendent Dallas Dance and County Executive Kevin Kamenetz to Annapolis to give an update on how they are addressing the problem.

"It's an absolutely disgraceful and unacceptable situation," Hogan said during the meeting. "There's no excuse not to have air conditioning fixed."

Baltimore County Public Schools have shortened the school day or canceled after-school activities three times this school year due to heat. Franchot has been taking Baltimore County to task on the issue for years.

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Dress Code Drama: What's A Principal To Do?

Imagine you're a principal, walking through the crowded halls of your school. You're on your way to 11th grade chemistry, to watch a science lab. They're expecting you in two minutes.

It already feels like a long day and it's not even lunchtime. You're nearly there, 30 seconds to spare, but then — out of the corner of your eye — you see a student wearing cutoff shorts. And they're really, really short.

What should you do?

Stopping to have a disciplinary chat is probably the last thing you want to do. But, rules are rules, right?

"We don't get into the line of business that we are in because we enjoy enforcing rules," says Erik Burmeister, an assistant superintendent with the Menlo Park school district near San Francisco and a former principal himself.

"The challenge of any administrator is the urgent displacing the important," Burmeister adds. And questions about what students can and can't wear have definitely become urgent.

One big reason: A growing number of students and parents feel that dress codes are biased toward female students. And that has led to complaints and protests around the country.

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The US government is out of options. You’re not.

Six months ago, on March 16, 2015, the government of the United States of America once again reached its statutory debt limit.

In other words, the Land of the Free had maxed out its credit card and was legally barred from borrowing a penny more.

That’s pretty sad when you think about it.

The supposedly richest country in the world is such a deadbeat that they had borrowed the maximum amount of money as permitted by its own law.

They call it the ‘debt ceiling’. And the only way to borrow more is for Congress to pass a new law… something that, embarrassingly enough, has occurred dozens of times over the past few decades.

The US is undoubtedly addicted to debt.

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Don't Take A Deep Breath: Outdoor Pollution Kills 3.3 Million A Year

More people die prematurely because of the air they breathe than the 2.8 million who die each year of HIV/AIDS and malaria combined.

That's the startling statistic from a new study in this week's journal Nature. The annual global death toll from outdoor air pollution is 3.3 million. (Premature death is a medical term that means a usually preventable death that occurs before expected — for instance, earlier than the life expectancy of age 78 in the U.S.).

If the world carries on business as usual — that is, the businesses of agriculture, traffic, industry and residential cooking and heating — that number is predicted to double by 2050.

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Spy on Your Customers or Else

Do you distrust the banking system? Prefer to do business in cash? Complain about the encroachment of Big Brother into every facet of your life?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you’d better watch out. You’re a “person of interest” – and a growing number of businesses must report your “suspicious activities” to the feds. If they don’t, they can be fined and the responsible parties even imprisoned.

These requirements originated in a law called the “Bank Secrecy Act” (BSA). Of course, this Orwellian law has nothing at all to do with protecting bank secrecy. Indeed, the BSA has all but eliminated confidentiality.

Regulations issued under the BSA require financial institutions to notify the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), a Treasury Department bureau, of any unusual transactions in which their customers engage. Reporting is mandatory for transactions that exceed $10,000 and are not the sort in which the particular customer would normally be expected to engage. For money transmitter businesses, a $2,000 threshold applies.

The businesses covered by these requirements must file “suspicious activities reports” (SARs) secretly, without your knowledge or consent. FinCEN makes the reports available electronically to every US Attorney’s office and to dozens of law enforcement agencies. No court order, warrant, subpoena, or even written request is needed to access a report.

What exactly is suspicious? According to official Treasury guidance, suspicious behavior includes:

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Analysis: Maryland tops states for wealth

WASHINGTON — Maryland is the wealthiest state in the union, according to an analysis by 24/7 Wall St.

Virginia isn’t far behind, coming in as the eighth wealthiest state. The District was not evaluated by the Delaware-based finance news site.

The site based its rankings on 2014 census data and Bureau of Labor Statistics information.

Maryland earned the top spot with the highest median household income in the nation, $73,971, and the second lowest poverty rate at 10.1 percent.

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Dear Mr. President and Ahmed

Thank God Its Friday 9-18-15

What will you be doing this weekend?

Salisbury University Students Can Proceed With Excessive Force Lawsuit

SALISBURY, Md. (AP) — A judge has allowed four Salisbury University students to proceed with their civil-rights lawsuit against the city.

The Daily Record reports last week, a judge rejected the city’s request to dismiss the lawsuit, which says that the Salisbury Police Department has a pattern or custom of targeting and harassing the university’s students. The lawsuit was filed last September.

In the lawsuit, the students say that former police officer Justin Aita used excessive force in falsely arresting them in May 2014.

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Elusive crime wave data shows frightening toll of illegal immigrant criminals

The federal government can tell you how many "Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders" stole a car, the precise number of "American Indian or Alaska Natives" who were arrested for vagrancy or how many whites were busted for counterfeiting in any given year. But the government agencies that crunch crime numbers are utterly unable -- or unwilling -- to pinpoint for the public how many illegal immigrants are arrested within U.S. borders each year.

In the absence of comprehensive data, FoxNews.com examined a patchwork of local, state and federal statistics that revealed a wildly disproportionate number of murderers, rapists and drug dealers are crossing into the U.S. amid the wave of hard-working families seeking a better life. The explosive figures show illegal immigrants are three times as likely to be convicted of murder as members of the general population and account for far more crimes than their 3.5-percent share of the U.S. population would suggest. Critics say it is no accident that local, state and federal governments go to great lengths to keep the data under wraps.

"There are a lot of reasons states don’t make this information readily available, and there is no clearinghouse of data at high levels," said former Department of Justice attorney J. Christian Adams, who has conducted exhaustive research on the subject. "These numbers would expose how serious the problem is and make the government look bad.”

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Urban Artscapes: September 18!

September 18th from 5-8pm is the next 3rd Friday in Downtown Salisbury.  This month's theme:  URBAN ARTSCAPES! Explore Downtown Salisbury's urban landscape with tours, building histories and architectural scavenger hunts! On the Plaza, you can listen to The Larks  funky brand of jazz while you enjoy the wide range of local artists, crafters and community groups that participate each month.   Test your eyes with the 3rd Annual Architectural Scavenger Hunt and search for architectural details in an attempt to identify the building to which they belong!   The  Wicomico Public Library  and Salisbury Neighborhood Housing  will both be on the Plaza helping kids explore architecture with Legos! The  Ward Museum  will also be hosting an amazing craft, where kids can create their very own movable person!  The craft is inspired by artist  Keith Haring  who was a very famous urban artist in the 80's and had a very inspirational effect on children during that time.   Salisbury University Join SU President Janet Dudley-Eshbach for the ribbon cutting ceremony for the recently donated Gallery Building at 5pm, with reception to follow.   The  donation by benefactors Palmer Gillis and Tony Gilkerson marks a momentous turning point for the Downtown Plaza, and SU's presence in our City's center.  Downtown Trolley service will start earlier at 5 PM in front of the Perdue School of Business and will run until 7 PM. Service will resume later that night at 9 PM and run until 2 AM. Boarding is only $1 and will bring you from Salisbury University and surrounding areas to 3rd Friday, and its several downtown stops. St. Peter's Church Down St. Peters Alley, you can enjoy free guided tours of one of Downtown's oldest and most beautiful buildings,  St. Peter's Church , built in 1887.  Tours will be held from 5:30 - 7:30, and children can enjoy free 'create your own stained glass' crafts!   Memories of Downtown Off the Plaza, in Parker Place Garden Center, two special displays will take place.  First, the  Memories of Downtown  tapestry will again be on  display. Originally created in 2009 as part of a temporary, interactive multimedia installation, Memories of Downtown captured the oral histories and memories of  Salisbury's locals and elders on film.  Artist Susan Holt, then took phrases from their favorite memories, and weaved them together on strips of fabric; literally weaving a tapestry out of memories of our Downtown's fabled past.   The tapestry  will be on display, and volunteers will be on hand conducting interviews, so stop by, share your memories, and become a part of the collective memory of Downtown Salisbury!  Also on display, The Salisbury Arts & Entertainment District   will present an exhibit detailing the districts purpose, benefits, signature programs, newly expanded boundaries, and vision for the future!  Salisbury Arts and Entertainment The  Salisbury Arts and Entertainment District Committee, in celebration of its expansion, will also host  will also host Upstairs Downtown and All That Jazz, a self-guided walking tour will highlight renovations and new assets within the District.   Among the tour stops are the penthouse ballroom at One Plaza East, featuring music from Dark Gold Jazz,The Brick Room,  SU Galleries- Downtown Campus, Headquarters Live, the lux apartments above Chesapeake East and the all new  Rivers Edge Apartments and Studio for the Arts. Tour maps and times will be available at the Salisbury Arts & Entertainment District table, on center Plaza.      On North Division Street, large displays will share the histories of some of Downtown's most notable buildings, and how changes in our society have molded their use over the years.  On Government Office Building Lawn,  Soul Yoga Studio  will be giving a free yoga class from 6 - 7pm and on Government Office Building Steps, the  Fenix Youth Project  will hold The Rize to Power Youth Talent Showcase from 5:30 - 7pm.  The Fenix Youth Project is an organization designed to encourage youth to use their creative talents to impact social change, and the talent showcase gives voice to creative expressions and performances by both youth and young adults, against our urban backdrop.     Down on Poplar Hill Avenue, The  Salisbury Wicomico Arts Council  will host an Arts Block Party, with artists, vendors and live music from Ted Nichols & Drums Around the World .  This 3rd Friday SWAC presents Back To School Art, with kids school supplies, arts and crafts.   Stop by for great sounds and entertainment, refreshments and fun times on SWAC Street!  Stop on Season's Best Antiques too for great Back to School bargains!         For the art enthusiasts, The  Art Institute & Gallery  will display the  Clay Guild  of the Eastern Shore Members Exhibition. The showcase and sale includes a wide range of clay works and paintings of these local artists, including lovely pots, platters, vases, animal pieces, sconces, and more! The show will be open through October 9th. During 3rd Friday, pottery demos will take place on the Plaza to promote the sale inside.  The AI&G is located on the lower level of the Gallery Building on the Plaza. Salisbury University Art Galleries | Downtown Campus will host opening receptions for its two exhibitions.   The Great American Landscape : Photographs by Ansel Adams, George Alexander Grant, Eliot Porter and the National Park Service combines works from SU's permanent collection of early 20th century nature photography, with a digital exhibition of the work of George Alexander Grant, famous photographer buried in Snow Hill, MD.  The opening reception will also feature a book signing by guidebook authors Ren and Helen Davis who have co-authored the newly released  'Landscapes for the People: George Alexander Grant, First Chief Photographer of the National Park Service' from 5-7pm.  Also open at  Salisbury University Art Galleries | Downtown Campus ,  It's Fine  is a collaborative project of graduates of the SU Graphic Design program. In an experiment of pushing boundaries, asking questions, and getting hands dirty, It's Fineblurs the dividing line between "graphic" and "fine" art, arguing that the heart of each discipline pumps the same blood of process and passion, and driving the audience to challenge and redefine their understanding of graphic design.  The downtown shops and boutiques have special events and sales planned.   Maya Bella's Pizzeria  will be celebrating their 2 year anniversary with a birthday party and, of course, 2 slice deals!   Cake Art  will have their ever popular create your own cupcake night, only $3.50 with drink.  Corsets and Cogs  will be open, downtown's very own handmade design boutique filled with skirts, vests, kilts, jewelry, and most importantly, corsets!  Barefoot Baby Boutique  will be open with info their recent collaboration with a fitness trainer, to bring MommyWalk- a fun way to workout with your baby, to Downtown Salisbury!  All you need is a stroller! Angello's Unique gifts , will be doing a Stonewall Kitchen Tasting, and aGeorge's Bloody Mary Mix  Tasting, and now carries Not Your Father's Root Beer!  Chesapeake East,  on the west end of the District is showing off their  recent renovations as well as their fine art and crafts, fair trade clothing and unique gifts.   The downtown bars and restaurants are also ready for a night filled with special events and entertainment.  Headquarters Live  will have  The Chris Duarte Group  live in concert featuring Blessed Gypsy for only $10.  A portion of the night's ticket sales will go to benefit  Main Street Gym  as they approach the final night of their fundraiser drive, and the winner of their charter fishing raffle will be announced during the show!    Roadie Joe's , now an all-ages venue, will have great dinner specials for the whole family and live music by  Breakfast  from 10 to close!  Brew River  will be having a Friday Night Dock Bar Party, all ages before 10pm, with live music from  Haleytown  at 6PM and DJ C-Dub til close.   The Brick Room , now serving food, will have live music from Emily Moses  from 5-8 and the  Double Nickels  from 9 to midnight. For the after dinner crowd,  Mojo's  has local favorite  Flint Eastwood , and  Market Street  has DJ B-Side playing all of the favorites!    Stay tuned with all the latest info on our Facebook Event!  3F is an all-volunteer effort, a downtown economic development initiative and a project of the Salisbury Arts & Entertainment District Committee.  There is no charge for local artists to set up, but online advance registration is required. For More Information: 3rdFridaySby.com