DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Thursday, November 19, 2015
Ohio Police Arrest Five Foreign Nationals, Seize Passports After Search During Traffic Stop Yields Unexpected Find
According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol incident summary, the group of men were initially stopped for an improper lane change. Once stopped, officers executed a probable cause search, where they found a machine that creates and duplicates credit cards.
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PAUL RYAN TELLS SEAN HANNITY HE WILL NOT SUPPORT ANY CUTS TO MUSLIM IMMIGRATION: ‘THAT’S NOT WHO WE ARE’
In an interview with Sean Hannity on Fox News, Ryan declared that considering an applicant’s religion would not be “appropriate” and would be fundamentally un-American— insisting “that’s not who we are.”
In his questioning of Ryan, Hannity cited populist thought leader
Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL), who chairs the Senate Immigration Subcommittee and whose office has put out a series of analyses in recent months detailing the enormous scope of immigration into the United States in general, as well as the vast scope Muslim immigration in particular.
Since 9/11, the U.S. has accepted more than 2 million immigrants, refugees and asylees from predominantly Muslim nations. Sessions has repeatedly called on Congress to reduce the number of green cards issued, including in an op-ed last week one day prior to the Paris attack.
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Nomi Prins: Crony Capitalism & Corruption - An Entirely Rigged Political-Financial System
Too big to fail is a seven-year phenomenon created by the most powerful central banks to bolster the largest, most politically connected US and European banks. More than that, it’s a global concern predicated on that handful of private banks controlling too much market share and elite central banks infusing them with boatloads of cheap capital and other aid.
Synthetic bank and market subsidization disguised as ‘monetary policy’ has spawned artificial asset and debt bubbles - everywhere. The most rapacious speculative capital and associated risk flows from these power-players to the least protected, or least regulated, locales.
There is no such thing as isolated 'Big Bank' problems. Rather, complex products, risky practices, leverage and co-dependent transactions have contagion ramifications, particularly in emerging markets whose histories are already lined with disproportionate shares of debt, interest rate and currency related travails.
The notion of free markets, mechanisms where buyers and sellers can meet to exchange securities or various kinds of goods, in which each participant has access to the same information, is a fallacy. Transparency in trading across global financial markets is a fallacy. Not only are markets rigged by, and for, the biggest players, so is the entire political-financial system.
The connection between democracy and free markets is interesting though. Democracy is predicated on the idea that every vote counts equally, and in the utopian perspective, the government adopts policies that benefit or adhere to the majority of those votes. In fact, it's the minority of elite families and private individuals that exercise the most control over America's policies and actions.
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Synthetic bank and market subsidization disguised as ‘monetary policy’ has spawned artificial asset and debt bubbles - everywhere. The most rapacious speculative capital and associated risk flows from these power-players to the least protected, or least regulated, locales.
There is no such thing as isolated 'Big Bank' problems. Rather, complex products, risky practices, leverage and co-dependent transactions have contagion ramifications, particularly in emerging markets whose histories are already lined with disproportionate shares of debt, interest rate and currency related travails.
The notion of free markets, mechanisms where buyers and sellers can meet to exchange securities or various kinds of goods, in which each participant has access to the same information, is a fallacy. Transparency in trading across global financial markets is a fallacy. Not only are markets rigged by, and for, the biggest players, so is the entire political-financial system.
The connection between democracy and free markets is interesting though. Democracy is predicated on the idea that every vote counts equally, and in the utopian perspective, the government adopts policies that benefit or adhere to the majority of those votes. In fact, it's the minority of elite families and private individuals that exercise the most control over America's policies and actions.
More
Shocked Grandmom Says She Would’ve Never Found Out About Teacher’s Islam Song if Her Grandson Didn’t Accidentally Bring the Lyrics Home
The song, set to the tune of the pop ballad “Fight Song,” was said by the teacher to be a tool to help her seventh-graders learn about the religion, according to KCAL-TV:
Like a sandstorm in the desert, sending camels into motion,The teacher then involved students, but Susan Negron, the grandmother of one student in the class, said she would not have known the middle schoolers were singing the song had her grandson not accidentally brought the lyrics home.
like how a single faith can make a heart open,
they might only have one god,
but they can make an explosion.
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The University Gone Feral
On campus, social norms no longer apply.
The university, long exempted from social norms and rules, has gone wild in the 21st century — or rather, regressed to pre-puberty.
The University of Missouri campus police now request that students — a group not known for polite vocabulary — call law enforcement if someone disparages them with hurtful names.
On the same campus, a media professor shouts for students in the vicinity to strong-arm a student photographer to stop him from taking pictures in a way that she does not approve. Other staff members try to block and push away a journalist they find bothersome.
On the same campus, a media professor shouts for students in the vicinity to strong-arm a student photographer to stop him from taking pictures in a way that she does not approve. Other staff members try to block and push away a journalist they find bothersome.
Since when do thuggish faculty, in Michael Corleone fashion, call in muscle to intimidate students who are exercising their First Amendment rights? Since when do quite privileged Yale students — in mini–Cultural Revolution style — surround and, teary-eyed, shout obscenities at their professor? Their target was declared to be guilty of some infraction against the people by an ad hoc court of whiny elites, poorly acting the role of the Committee of Public Safety. Apparently his offense was to suggest that students should not become hysterical when they see Halloween costumes they don’t like. Shouting down guest speakers, disrupting events, and mobbing individuals would not be tolerated at Disney World, so why on campus?
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ISIS Videos Show Children Training To Kill
Disturbing videos have been smuggled out of Syria by activists.
Posted by CNN on Thursday, November 19, 2015
Government Schools Are a Catastrophe
The 2015 National Assessment of Educational Progress report, also known as The Nation’s Report Card, shows that U.S. educational achievement, to put it nicely, leaves much to be desired.
When it comes to reading and math skills, just 34 percent and 33 percent, respectively, of U.S. eighth-grade students tested proficient or above — that is, performed at grade level or above. Recent test scores show poor achievement levels in other academic areas. Only 18 percent of eighth-graders are proficient in U.S. history. It’s 27 percent in geography and 23 percent in civics.
The story is not much better when it comes to high schoolers. According to 2010 and 2013 NAEP test scores, only 38 percent of 12th-graders were proficient in reading. It was 26 percent in math, 12 percent in history, 20 percent in geography and 24 percent in civics (http://www.nationsreportcard.gov).
Many of these poorly performing youngsters gain college admission. The National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education reports, “Every year in the United States, nearly 60 percent of first-year college students discover that, despite being fully eligible to attend college, they are not ready for postsecondary studies.” That means colleges spend billions of dollars on remedial education. Many of the students who enroll in those classes never graduate from college. The fact that many students are not college-ready takes on even greater significance when we consider that many college courses have been dumbed down.
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When it comes to reading and math skills, just 34 percent and 33 percent, respectively, of U.S. eighth-grade students tested proficient or above — that is, performed at grade level or above. Recent test scores show poor achievement levels in other academic areas. Only 18 percent of eighth-graders are proficient in U.S. history. It’s 27 percent in geography and 23 percent in civics.
The story is not much better when it comes to high schoolers. According to 2010 and 2013 NAEP test scores, only 38 percent of 12th-graders were proficient in reading. It was 26 percent in math, 12 percent in history, 20 percent in geography and 24 percent in civics (http://www.nationsreportcard.gov).
Many of these poorly performing youngsters gain college admission. The National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education reports, “Every year in the United States, nearly 60 percent of first-year college students discover that, despite being fully eligible to attend college, they are not ready for postsecondary studies.” That means colleges spend billions of dollars on remedial education. Many of the students who enroll in those classes never graduate from college. The fact that many students are not college-ready takes on even greater significance when we consider that many college courses have been dumbed down.
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Rawlings-Blake calls for $6M in affordable housing gap financing
The mayor wants an affordable housing gap financing fund set up under Baltimore's November 2016 general obligation bond package. Voters would see it on the ballot next fall as a standalone initiative.
"This is the first time ever that bond funding will be marked specifically for affordable housing development," Rawlings-Blake said.
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Huma Abedin And State Department Staffer in Emails - Hillary ‘Often Confused,’ ‘In Bed For a Nap’
After reviewing more than 35 pages of email from top Hillary Clinton aide Huma Abedin, Judicial Watch observes that Abedin advised a State Department staffer that it was “very important” to review phone calls with Clinton because she was “often confused.”
Judicial Watch notes that Abedin emailed State Department Clinton aide and companion Monica Hanley from her “Huma@clintonemail.com” to alert her about the need to go over phone calls with Clinton.
Additionally, Abedin’s emails reveal “repeated security breaches, with the Secretary’s schedule and movements being sent and received through Abedin’s non-governmental and unsecured Clinton server account,” states Judicial Watch.
On January 26, 2013, Abedin had the following email exchange with Hanley:
Abedin: Have you been going over her calls with her? So she knows singh is at 8? [India Prime Minister Manmohan Singh]
Hanley: She was in bed for a nap by the time I heard that she had an 8am call. Will go over with her
Abedin: Very imp to do that. She’s often confused.
The emails also provide specific details of Clinton’s last day in office on January 31, 2013. Exact times and locations of all her appointments during the day are given.
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Judicial Watch notes that Abedin emailed State Department Clinton aide and companion Monica Hanley from her “Huma@clintonemail.com” to alert her about the need to go over phone calls with Clinton.
Additionally, Abedin’s emails reveal “repeated security breaches, with the Secretary’s schedule and movements being sent and received through Abedin’s non-governmental and unsecured Clinton server account,” states Judicial Watch.
On January 26, 2013, Abedin had the following email exchange with Hanley:
Abedin: Have you been going over her calls with her? So she knows singh is at 8? [India Prime Minister Manmohan Singh]
Hanley: She was in bed for a nap by the time I heard that she had an 8am call. Will go over with her
Abedin: Very imp to do that. She’s often confused.
The emails also provide specific details of Clinton’s last day in office on January 31, 2013. Exact times and locations of all her appointments during the day are given.
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Maryland agency has concerns over plan to create 1,000 hospital jobs
Maryland hospitals in September proposed a plan to create 1,000 jobs for low-income residents, paid for through a quarter-percent increase to hospital rates paid by private insurers, Medicare, Medicaid and uninsured individuals. Staff of the state's hospital rate-setting agency, which would need to approve the plan, said in a review and recommendation that the idea of creating jobs builds on the commission’s work to improve public health. But the staff expressed concern about whether the hospitals’ proposal stretched the rate-setting agency’s authority.
“All parties have acknowledged the importance of jobs in reducing economic disparities,” staff wrote in their report for the Health Services Cost Review Commission. “However, there are critical differences in thinking about how creating job opportunities should be addressed and who should provide the funding for job creation.”
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Free Thanksgiving dinners offered in Ocean City, Berlin
Celebrate Thanksgiving with a free meal and fellowship at two local churches.
For the 37th year, the Ocean City Baptist Church will be having its annual Thanksgiving dinner at the North Division Street parish.
Members of the church and community volunteers prepare and serve dinner which includes turkey, stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, corn, string beans, cranberry sauce, pumpkin and cherry pie with whipped cream, coffee, tea, cider and rolls.
“It is a family event and we always tell people don’t be alone. It’s great fellowship and you always meet someone you never met before,” said Pastor Sean Davis.
About 150 volunteers will be on hand to help out during this year’s dinner and most live in the community.
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For the 37th year, the Ocean City Baptist Church will be having its annual Thanksgiving dinner at the North Division Street parish.
Members of the church and community volunteers prepare and serve dinner which includes turkey, stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, corn, string beans, cranberry sauce, pumpkin and cherry pie with whipped cream, coffee, tea, cider and rolls.
“It is a family event and we always tell people don’t be alone. It’s great fellowship and you always meet someone you never met before,” said Pastor Sean Davis.
About 150 volunteers will be on hand to help out during this year’s dinner and most live in the community.
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Police Civil Asset Forfeitures Exceed The Value Of All Burglaries In 2014
Between 1989 and 2010, U.S. attorneys seized an estimated $12.6 billion in asset forfeiture cases. The growth rate during that time averaged +19.4% annually.
In 2010 alone, the value of assets seized grew by +52.8% from 2009 and was six times greater than the total for 1989.
Then by 2014, that number had ballooned to roughly $4.5 billion for the year, making this 35% of the entire number of assets collected from 1989 to 2010 in a single year.
Now, according to the FBI, the total amount of goods stolen by criminals in 2014 burglary offenses suffered an estimated $3.9 billion in property losses. This means that the police are now taking more assets than the criminals.
The police have been violating the laws to confiscate assets all over the country. A scathing report on California warns of pervasive abuse by police to rob the people without proving that any crime occurred. Even Eric Holder came out in January suggesting reform because of the widespread abuse of the civil asset forfeiture laws by police.
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In 2010 alone, the value of assets seized grew by +52.8% from 2009 and was six times greater than the total for 1989.
Then by 2014, that number had ballooned to roughly $4.5 billion for the year, making this 35% of the entire number of assets collected from 1989 to 2010 in a single year.
Now, according to the FBI, the total amount of goods stolen by criminals in 2014 burglary offenses suffered an estimated $3.9 billion in property losses. This means that the police are now taking more assets than the criminals.
The police have been violating the laws to confiscate assets all over the country. A scathing report on California warns of pervasive abuse by police to rob the people without proving that any crime occurred. Even Eric Holder came out in January suggesting reform because of the widespread abuse of the civil asset forfeiture laws by police.
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Man detained during riots suing Baltimore police
The alleged incident took place at the center of the unrest in April after Freddie Gray's death.
Branden Owens' lawsuit claims police officers violated his rights when he tried to go to a grocery store and asked two questions along the way.
"I just saw a group of police officers with shields and helmets," Owens said.
Unaware of the brewing tensions, Owens said he walked passed Frederick Douglass High School and tried to talk to officers on a hill outside the Shopper's grocery store at Mondawmin Mall. He asked them if the store was open but got no response. Then, the group of officers charged past him, the last officer striking him.
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Clinton Foundation amends four years of tax returns
The Clinton Foundation announced late Monday that it had amended its tax return forms from four separate years due to errors in the reporting of donations from foreign governments.
Foundation President Donna Shalala said in a statement that the returns were revised after a voluntary review of the charity's past tax returns. She added that the corrections were not required by law.
"There is no change in our bottom line numbers: assets, liabilities, and net assets," Shalala wrote in a statement to the foundation's supporters that was obtained by Reuters. "There is nothing to suggest that the Foundation intended to conceal the receipt of government grants, which we report on our website."
The amended Form 990 tax returns were for the years 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013. An affiliated charity, the Clinton Health Access Initiative, also amended its returns for 2012 and 2013.
The foundation now reports receiving $20 million in government funds between 2010 and 2013, most of it from foreign governments. The foundation had neglected to state its government funding separately from other funding sources in its original returns.
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Foundation President Donna Shalala said in a statement that the returns were revised after a voluntary review of the charity's past tax returns. She added that the corrections were not required by law.
"There is no change in our bottom line numbers: assets, liabilities, and net assets," Shalala wrote in a statement to the foundation's supporters that was obtained by Reuters. "There is nothing to suggest that the Foundation intended to conceal the receipt of government grants, which we report on our website."
The amended Form 990 tax returns were for the years 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013. An affiliated charity, the Clinton Health Access Initiative, also amended its returns for 2012 and 2013.
The foundation now reports receiving $20 million in government funds between 2010 and 2013, most of it from foreign governments. The foundation had neglected to state its government funding separately from other funding sources in its original returns.
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Can You ID Credit Card Fraud Suspect?
Credit card fraud suspect/can u id (15-43578) pic.twitter.com/JkPYR2zjII
— Salisbury Police (@SalisburyPD) November 19, 2015Can You ID 2 Shoplifters From Kohls?
Can u id 2 shoplifters from Kohls (15-42879) pic.twitter.com/884FEd0UHd
— Salisbury Police (@SalisburyPD) November 19, 2015Former NFL QB Doug Flutie says both parents die in same hour
BOSTON (AP) — Former NFL quarterback Doug Flutie says both of his parents died within an hour of each other.
Flutie said Wednesday on his Facebook page that father Dick died of a heart attack in a Florida hospital and that mother Joan also suffered a heart attack and died less than an hour later.
Flutie wrote: “They say you can die of a broken heart and I believe it.”
Flutie did not elaborate on the circumstances of their deaths, but called them “incredible parents and grandparents” who had been married for 56 years and were always there for their children.
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Flutie said Wednesday on his Facebook page that father Dick died of a heart attack in a Florida hospital and that mother Joan also suffered a heart attack and died less than an hour later.
Flutie wrote: “They say you can die of a broken heart and I believe it.”
Flutie did not elaborate on the circumstances of their deaths, but called them “incredible parents and grandparents” who had been married for 56 years and were always there for their children.
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BREAKING NEWS: House approves Syrian refugee screening bill
The House, in a 289-137 vote, approved a bill to toughen screening for Syrian and Iraqi refugees, with dozens of Democrats joining majority Republicans in defiance of a White House veto threat.
‘Close the Borders’ Movement Sweeping Nation
Backlash grows against Obama's migrant resettlement plan
Americans are starting to melt down phone lines in Washington, D.C., as backlash explodes against President Obama’s migrant resettlement program.
People are flooding social media to encourage Americans to call their congressional representatives to stop the resettlement of Middle Eastern migrants after government officials and contractors admitted the migrants cannot be tracked or vetted properly.
“Call your congressperson now and demand defunding Obama’s Syrian refugee plan,” one tweet of many states.
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Americans are starting to melt down phone lines in Washington, D.C., as backlash explodes against President Obama’s migrant resettlement program.
People are flooding social media to encourage Americans to call their congressional representatives to stop the resettlement of Middle Eastern migrants after government officials and contractors admitted the migrants cannot be tracked or vetted properly.
“Call your congressperson now and demand defunding Obama’s Syrian refugee plan,” one tweet of many states.
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The state of federal technology: ‘A crisis bigger than Y2K’
Scott said the use of decades old systems impacts cybersecurity, mission effectiveness and the ability to be more mobile.
“We are facing a crisis that is bigger than Y2K. It’s just there is no Dec. 31, 1999. Much of the government today runs on very old, outdated technology. The people that understand it, who built it and are running it are leaving every day. We are not building capacity with those skill sets,” Scott said Nov. 16 at the President’s Management Advisory Board meeting in Washington. “And just to do a lift and shift with those old architectures is the wrong answer. Moving to a more shared infrastructure, shared capability is probably a better model, one that is cloud based. But it will take some significant transformation and significant re-architecting of what we have.”
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BREAKING NEWS: Former Subway pitchman Jared Fogle sentenced to more than 15 years in prison
BREAKING NEWS: American among 3 killed in West Bank
An 18-year-old American tourist reportedly is among three people who were killed in a Palestinian terrorist attack in the West Bank -- the gunman reportedly was shot and arrested. Earlier, two other people were killed by a knife-wielding Palestinian who carried out a stabbing attack at a Tel Aviv office building.
Clinton Foundation Donor Conducted Review of Clinton Foundation Tax Returns
DLA Piper is also a top contributor to Hillary Clinton’s campaign
A review of the Clinton Foundation’s tax returns was conducted by a tax lawyer at DLA Piper, a law firm that has already contributed $171,200 to Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign and is a Clinton Foundation donor.
Multiple years of revised tax returns were filed to the IRS on Monday to correct previous errors. The foundation decided to hire a third party to conduct a review of the tax returns after reports revealed the foundation failed to report government grants received from 2010 to 2012.
The third party hired was not free of Clinton ties.
Kathy Keneally, a top tax litigation lawyer for DLA Piper, conducted the review of Clinton Foundation tax documents. DLA Piper has given between $50,001 and $100,000 to the Clinton Foundation.
Employees of the firm have also contributed $171,200 to Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign, making it the fifth largest contributor thus far, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.
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A review of the Clinton Foundation’s tax returns was conducted by a tax lawyer at DLA Piper, a law firm that has already contributed $171,200 to Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign and is a Clinton Foundation donor.
Multiple years of revised tax returns were filed to the IRS on Monday to correct previous errors. The foundation decided to hire a third party to conduct a review of the tax returns after reports revealed the foundation failed to report government grants received from 2010 to 2012.
The third party hired was not free of Clinton ties.
Kathy Keneally, a top tax litigation lawyer for DLA Piper, conducted the review of Clinton Foundation tax documents. DLA Piper has given between $50,001 and $100,000 to the Clinton Foundation.
Employees of the firm have also contributed $171,200 to Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign, making it the fifth largest contributor thus far, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.
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Blumenthal: IRS Could Use Private Debt Collectors Against You
Provision “hidden” within recent federal transportation bill would unleash private debt collectors on delinquent taxpayers...
U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn, is warning that a provision “hidden” within the recent federal transportation funding bill would unleash private debt collectors on delinquent taxpayers.
“With widespread allegations of harassment and abuse, the private debt collection industry is riddled with bad actors,” Blumenthal said.
“Congress should be doing more to protect taxpayers and students from this unscrupulous industry, not unleashing these firms on millions of struggling Americans,” the senator said. “While I strongly support investment in our nation’s transportation infrastructure, subjecting families to ceaseless and aggressive collection tactics is simply not the way to do it.”
The long-term surface transportation bill, known as the DRIVE Act, currently calls for $2.4 billion to be “saved” over the next ten years by requiring the IRS to enlist private debt collectors.
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U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn, is warning that a provision “hidden” within the recent federal transportation funding bill would unleash private debt collectors on delinquent taxpayers.
“With widespread allegations of harassment and abuse, the private debt collection industry is riddled with bad actors,” Blumenthal said.
“Congress should be doing more to protect taxpayers and students from this unscrupulous industry, not unleashing these firms on millions of struggling Americans,” the senator said. “While I strongly support investment in our nation’s transportation infrastructure, subjecting families to ceaseless and aggressive collection tactics is simply not the way to do it.”
The long-term surface transportation bill, known as the DRIVE Act, currently calls for $2.4 billion to be “saved” over the next ten years by requiring the IRS to enlist private debt collectors.
Read more
Ethanol Loses Its Few Friends
Early in his campaign, now top-tier Republican presidential candidate, Ben Carson, supported ethanol—a position for which I called him out. It has long been thought, that to win in Iowa, a candidate must support ethanol.
However, in a major policy reversal, Carson told a national audience during the CNBC GOP debate that he no longer supports subsidies for any industry, including U.S. ethanol producers: “I have studied that issue in great detail and what I’ve concluded, the best policy is to get rid of all government subsidies and get the government out of our lives and let people rise and fall based on how good they are.”
The ethanol industry shot back immediately, saying it receives no government subsidies. But it neglected to mention a very important fact. Instead of subsidies, ethanol producers get something better: a mandate that orders refiners to blend ethanol into motor fuels which forces consumers to buy their product. A federally guaranteed market beats a subsidy every time.
The ethanol industry also benefits indirectly from agriculture programs that support farmers who grow corn for ethanol. And recently, the Obama Administration announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture is offering $100 million in grants to subsidize the installation of blender pumps at gas stations all over the country.
In attempt to push more ethanol into the motor fuel market, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) readily admits it plans to “drive growth in renewable fuels by providingappropriate incentives. (Italics added.)”
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However, in a major policy reversal, Carson told a national audience during the CNBC GOP debate that he no longer supports subsidies for any industry, including U.S. ethanol producers: “I have studied that issue in great detail and what I’ve concluded, the best policy is to get rid of all government subsidies and get the government out of our lives and let people rise and fall based on how good they are.”
The ethanol industry shot back immediately, saying it receives no government subsidies. But it neglected to mention a very important fact. Instead of subsidies, ethanol producers get something better: a mandate that orders refiners to blend ethanol into motor fuels which forces consumers to buy their product. A federally guaranteed market beats a subsidy every time.
The ethanol industry also benefits indirectly from agriculture programs that support farmers who grow corn for ethanol. And recently, the Obama Administration announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture is offering $100 million in grants to subsidize the installation of blender pumps at gas stations all over the country.
In attempt to push more ethanol into the motor fuel market, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) readily admits it plans to “drive growth in renewable fuels by providingappropriate incentives. (Italics added.)”
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Thanks Janet - The Cost Of 'Renting' In America Is Rising At Its Fastest Pace In 8 Years
The cost of 'living' in America in anything but a cardboard box under an overpass is rising at its fastest rate in 8 years. Both overall "shelter" and "rent" inflation are running at their hottest pace of the 'recovery'... and this is happening as wage growth remains stagnant despite the promises that any minute now it will rise. Well done Janet...
Neofeudalism rules...
Neofeudalism rules...
Petitioners: Chicken poop not renewable energy
Food and Water Watch, a consumer advocacy group, says the state categorizes burning animal waste and trash with its top-tier renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar power, which receive incentives. The petitioners believe incinerating poultry poop can be as hazardous to the environment as burning coal.
"While I guess technically trash and animal waste are renewable, it violates the spirit and intention of the RPS," said Phil Ateto, a solar energy consultant, using the acronym for Maryland's renewable portfolio standards.
A handful of residents rallied in Annapolis Wednesday before they said they would deliver 700 petitions and 30 handwritten letters to House Speaker Michael E. Busch's staff. They stood in front of miniature wind turbines.
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Mass. Gov. Mandates Affirmative Action Program for LGBT Contractors
(CNSNews) – Massachusetts Republican Gov. Charlie Baker issued an executive order last week mandating that the state add lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT)-owned businesses to its Supplier Diversity Program (SDP).
Baker touted the "first-in-the-nation LGBT-owned business certification partnership" between the state and the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC).
The SDP was established in 2010 to promote affirmative action by including minority- and women-owned businesses in public contracting.
In fiscal year 2014, the commonwealth awarded $991.5 million in total combined spending through the program’s Supplier Diversity Office.
In addition to adding businesses run by veterans and the disabled to the SDP list of approved contractors, LGBT-owned enterprises will also qualify for the program if they are certified by the NGLCC.
“Only an inclusive marketplace that offers competitive opportunity for businesses as diverse as the people of this Commonwealth can promote economic prosperity for all,” the executive order stated,
“We are committed to ensuring diversity as the state engages business suppliers and contractors and are excited about this opportunity to include LGBT, disability and veteran business owners in the state’s network and procurement chain,” Baker, who was elected governor in 2014, said in a press release.
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Baker touted the "first-in-the-nation LGBT-owned business certification partnership" between the state and the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC).
The SDP was established in 2010 to promote affirmative action by including minority- and women-owned businesses in public contracting.
In fiscal year 2014, the commonwealth awarded $991.5 million in total combined spending through the program’s Supplier Diversity Office.
In addition to adding businesses run by veterans and the disabled to the SDP list of approved contractors, LGBT-owned enterprises will also qualify for the program if they are certified by the NGLCC.
“Only an inclusive marketplace that offers competitive opportunity for businesses as diverse as the people of this Commonwealth can promote economic prosperity for all,” the executive order stated,
“We are committed to ensuring diversity as the state engages business suppliers and contractors and are excited about this opportunity to include LGBT, disability and veteran business owners in the state’s network and procurement chain,” Baker, who was elected governor in 2014, said in a press release.
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GOP Candidates Reject Obama's Refugee Plan: 'Lunacy'
The terror attacks in Paris have focused new attention on the issue of Syrian refugee admissions, with several Republican presidential candidates hardening opposition to President Obama’s decision to allow 10,000 of them to settle in the United States during the current fiscal year.
“Bringing people into this country from that area of the world I think is a huge mistake,” retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson said on Fox News Sunday. “Because why wouldn’t they infiltrate them with people who are ideologically opposed to us? It would be foolish for them not to do that.”
Carson said the U.S. should be compassionate, and support Syrian refugees to resettle in their region of origin.
“But to bring them here under these circumstances is a suspension of intellect.”
“President Obama and Hillary Clinton’s idea that we should bring tens of thousands of Syrian Muslim refugees to America, it is nothing less than lunacy,” said Senator Ted Cruz.
“It makes no sense whatsoever for us to be bringing in refugees who our intelligence cannot determine if they are terrorists here to kill us or not. Those who are fleeing persecution should be resettled in the Middle East, in majority Muslim countries,” he said.
“Now on the other hand, Christians who are being targeted, for genocide, for persecution, Christians who are being beheaded or crucified, we should be providing safe haven to them,” Cruz said. “But President Obama refuses to do that …”
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“Bringing people into this country from that area of the world I think is a huge mistake,” retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson said on Fox News Sunday. “Because why wouldn’t they infiltrate them with people who are ideologically opposed to us? It would be foolish for them not to do that.”
Carson said the U.S. should be compassionate, and support Syrian refugees to resettle in their region of origin.
“But to bring them here under these circumstances is a suspension of intellect.”
“President Obama and Hillary Clinton’s idea that we should bring tens of thousands of Syrian Muslim refugees to America, it is nothing less than lunacy,” said Senator Ted Cruz.
“It makes no sense whatsoever for us to be bringing in refugees who our intelligence cannot determine if they are terrorists here to kill us or not. Those who are fleeing persecution should be resettled in the Middle East, in majority Muslim countries,” he said.
“Now on the other hand, Christians who are being targeted, for genocide, for persecution, Christians who are being beheaded or crucified, we should be providing safe haven to them,” Cruz said. “But President Obama refuses to do that …”
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Commander in Chief 'Not Interested' in 'Winning'
Just when you thought you’ve heard it all… Hours before Islamic State jihadis killed 129 people in Paris Friday, Barack Obama boasted that his strategy had “contained” the group formerly known as the JV team. Clearly, that self-praise was incredibly ill-timed. Undeterred, at a press conference Monday, he proceeded to utter what might become the defining statement of his atrocious presidency: “What I’m not interested in doing is posing or pursuing some notion of American leadership or America winning.”
Let that sink in for a minute. The president of the United States of America — the commander in chief of our Armed Forces — just said he isn’t interested in leading or winning. If Franklin Roosevelt had uttered those words, we’d all be speaking German or Japanese.
Obama meant his remarks as a rebuttal to a certain GOP presidential candidate who talks a lot about “winning.” Obama dismissed “whatever other slogans they come up with that has no relationship to what is actually going to work to protect the American people and to protect the people in the region who are getting killed and to protect our allies and people like France.” He concluded, “I’m too busy for that.”
Maybe if the commander in chief is too busy (golfing?) to worry about such inconsequential things as leadership and winning, he should retire now instead of making us suffer through another 14 months of his contemptible rein.
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Let that sink in for a minute. The president of the United States of America — the commander in chief of our Armed Forces — just said he isn’t interested in leading or winning. If Franklin Roosevelt had uttered those words, we’d all be speaking German or Japanese.
Obama meant his remarks as a rebuttal to a certain GOP presidential candidate who talks a lot about “winning.” Obama dismissed “whatever other slogans they come up with that has no relationship to what is actually going to work to protect the American people and to protect the people in the region who are getting killed and to protect our allies and people like France.” He concluded, “I’m too busy for that.”
Maybe if the commander in chief is too busy (golfing?) to worry about such inconsequential things as leadership and winning, he should retire now instead of making us suffer through another 14 months of his contemptible rein.
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Former Ambassador to UN: US Has ‘No Obligation’ to Accept Syrian Refugees
John Bolton, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, said Sunday that the U.S. has “no obligation” to accept Syrian refugees.
“We have no obligation to bring them into this country,” Bolton told Fox News’ Justice host Jeanine Pirro.
He added that the U.S. can refuse to allow Syrian refugees entry “without in any way violating our humanitarian obligations.”
Bolton also dismissed White House Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes’ statement Sunday that the refugees are being vetted in Iraq before they are brought to the U.S.
“I don’t know who else believes this other than the White House,” Bolton said in response to Rhodes’ assertion that the U.S. has “very robust vetting procedures for those refugees.”
The former ambassador to the U.N. pointed out that “there are international conventions on how to handle massive numbers of refugees” from war-torn areas, adding that “this system has completely broken down.”
The U.N.’s 1951 Convention and Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees, which was amended in 1967, defines a refugee as “someone who is unable or unwilling to return to their country of origin owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion.”
The convention affirms the right of such refugees “to seek asylum from persecution.” But Bolton noted that many of the refugees flooding into Europe “are not even from Syria.”
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“We have no obligation to bring them into this country,” Bolton told Fox News’ Justice host Jeanine Pirro.
He added that the U.S. can refuse to allow Syrian refugees entry “without in any way violating our humanitarian obligations.”
Bolton also dismissed White House Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes’ statement Sunday that the refugees are being vetted in Iraq before they are brought to the U.S.
“I don’t know who else believes this other than the White House,” Bolton said in response to Rhodes’ assertion that the U.S. has “very robust vetting procedures for those refugees.”
The former ambassador to the U.N. pointed out that “there are international conventions on how to handle massive numbers of refugees” from war-torn areas, adding that “this system has completely broken down.”
The U.N.’s 1951 Convention and Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees, which was amended in 1967, defines a refugee as “someone who is unable or unwilling to return to their country of origin owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion.”
The convention affirms the right of such refugees “to seek asylum from persecution.” But Bolton noted that many of the refugees flooding into Europe “are not even from Syria.”
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If it walks like a duck...
Mike Gallagher
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He compiled and wrote the following essay entitled, "Obama: It was You."
President Obama:
This is why you didn't go to France to show solidarity against the Muslim terrorists:
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It was you who spoke these words at an Islamic dinner -"I am one of you."
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It was you who on ABC News referenced -"My Muslim faith ."
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It was you who gave $100 million in U.S. taxpayer funds to re-build foreign mosques.
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It was you who wrote that in the event of a conflict-"I will stand with the Muslims ."
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It was you who assured the Egyptian Foreign Minister that -"I am a Muslim ."
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It was you who bowed in submission before the Saudi King.
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It was you who sat for 20 years in a Liberation Theology Church condemning Christianity and professing Marxism.
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It was you who exempted Muslims from penalties under Obamacare that the rest of us have to pay.
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It was you who purposefully omitted - "endowed by our Creator " - from your recitation of The Declaration Of Independence.
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It was you who mocked the Bible and Jesus Christ's Sermon On The Mount while repeatedly referring to the 'HOLY' Qur'an.
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It was you who traveled the Islamic world denigrating the United States Of America.
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WHITE HOUSE WON’T TELL GOVERNORS WHERE REFUGEES BEING SENT
Governors press White House for refugee information...
In a call with senior Obama administration officials Tuesday evening, several governors demanded they be given access to information about Syrian refugees about to be resettled by the federal government in their states. Top White House officials refused.
Over a dozen governors from both parties joined the conference call, which was initiated by the White House after 27 governors vowed not to cooperate with further resettlement of Syrian refugees in their states. The outrage among governors came after European officials revealed that one of the Paris attackers may have entered Europe in October through the refugee process using a fake Syrian passport. (The details of the attacker’s travels are still murky.)
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In a call with senior Obama administration officials Tuesday evening, several governors demanded they be given access to information about Syrian refugees about to be resettled by the federal government in their states. Top White House officials refused.
Over a dozen governors from both parties joined the conference call, which was initiated by the White House after 27 governors vowed not to cooperate with further resettlement of Syrian refugees in their states. The outrage among governors came after European officials revealed that one of the Paris attackers may have entered Europe in October through the refugee process using a fake Syrian passport. (The details of the attacker’s travels are still murky.)
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Mother Who Used Medical Cannabis to Treat Deadly Disease Had Her Son Taken Away, Faces 28 Years in Prison
You don't want to be a medical marijuana patient in Kansas. You could face, arrest, prosecution, imprisonment, and the loss of your children. Just ask Shona Banda, who endured the latest chapter of her ordeal Monday.
The Garden City mother faces five marijuana-related charges, including three felonies, and had her 11-year-old son taken away by the state after the boy piped up during an anti-drug class at school to say that his mom "smokes a lot."
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Baltimore settles lawsuits against police officers
BALTIMORE —Baltimore City officials have approved spending more than $100,000 to settle two lawsuits against city police officers.
One of the cases settled Wednesday concerns a police officer who now faces serious trouble but apparently went unnoticed internally a year earlier after the previous incident that led to the lawsuit.
Officer Wesley Cagle is charged with attempted murder. He's accused of shooting unarmed burglary suspect Michael Johansen in the groin after Johansen had already been shot and wounded by other officers. The incident happened in December.
"(He was) calling me all sorts of names and he shot me while I was on the ground," Johansen said.
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One of the cases settled Wednesday concerns a police officer who now faces serious trouble but apparently went unnoticed internally a year earlier after the previous incident that led to the lawsuit.
Officer Wesley Cagle is charged with attempted murder. He's accused of shooting unarmed burglary suspect Michael Johansen in the groin after Johansen had already been shot and wounded by other officers. The incident happened in December.
"(He was) calling me all sorts of names and he shot me while I was on the ground," Johansen said.
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CONGRESS CREATES “TRANSGENDER TASK FORCE”
Tranny task force wants to remove "barriers to the American dream"
The Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus announced its new “Transgender Task Force” to promote “transgender rights.”
The new task force, made up of nine members of the House of Representatives, wants to advance the transgender community using congressional resources.
“The purpose of the task force is to analyze the challenges and barriers and figure out what the government’s role is in making life easier for transgenders,” Roddy Flynn, the executive director of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus told The Christian Science Monitor. “We need much more data about these barriers to the American dream.”
And LGBT Equality Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.) lamented that transgendered people are often “left out” of LGBT campaigns.
“We all celebrate the great strides we’ve made in recent years in the LGBT rights movement, but too many times, the ‘T’ in LGBT has been an afterthought,” he told reporters Tuesday.
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The Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus announced its new “Transgender Task Force” to promote “transgender rights.”
The new task force, made up of nine members of the House of Representatives, wants to advance the transgender community using congressional resources.
“The purpose of the task force is to analyze the challenges and barriers and figure out what the government’s role is in making life easier for transgenders,” Roddy Flynn, the executive director of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus told The Christian Science Monitor. “We need much more data about these barriers to the American dream.”
And LGBT Equality Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.) lamented that transgendered people are often “left out” of LGBT campaigns.
“We all celebrate the great strides we’ve made in recent years in the LGBT rights movement, but too many times, the ‘T’ in LGBT has been an afterthought,” he told reporters Tuesday.
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Obama rejects France’s call to ramp up war against ISIS
French President François Hollande on Mondaycalled for the United States and Russia to join his country in an all-out war against ISIS — but PresidentObama expressed a much less aggressive stance, and said putting more US troops on the ground “would be a mistake.”
In a role reversal from the 2003 US war against Iraq, which France opposed, Hollande told French lawmakers he is committed to “destroying” ISIS, “a result that has been too long in coming.”
Speaking at a rare joint session of Parliament at the Palace of Versailles, Hollande said he wanted to create “a union of all who can fight this terrorist army in a single coalition.”
“I will call both Obama and [Russian President Vladimir] Putin to unite our efforts and seek a solution,” Hollande said.
Obama, however, flatly rejected Hollande’s plea to ramp up the US military effort, instead defending his own strategy of targeted airstrikes and aiding anti-ISIS fighters.
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In a role reversal from the 2003 US war against Iraq, which France opposed, Hollande told French lawmakers he is committed to “destroying” ISIS, “a result that has been too long in coming.”
Speaking at a rare joint session of Parliament at the Palace of Versailles, Hollande said he wanted to create “a union of all who can fight this terrorist army in a single coalition.”
“I will call both Obama and [Russian President Vladimir] Putin to unite our efforts and seek a solution,” Hollande said.
Obama, however, flatly rejected Hollande’s plea to ramp up the US military effort, instead defending his own strategy of targeted airstrikes and aiding anti-ISIS fighters.
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Obama Comes Under Criticism From Dems Over Paris Rhetoric
President Obama is coming under criticism from some in his own party over his comments Monday about last week's terrorist attacks in Paris.
Influential liberal columnists and Democratic strategists say Obama came off as condescending and scornful during his press conference in Antalya, Turkey — missing an opportunity to show strength and leadership in the fight against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS).
“I don’t want him shooting from the hip and making empty threats, but I think he could have done a better job in articulating the anger that many people feel toward what happened in not only Paris but Beirut as well,” said Democratic strategist Jim Manley, a former adviser to Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.).
“What happened in Paris and in Beirut is going to require an aggressive response.”
Those comments echoed Washington Post columnist Eugene Robinson’s assessment that Obama’s tone “was all wrong” in addressing the Paris attacks.
Typically an Obama ally, Robinson in a column published on Tuesday wrote that “at times he was patronizing, at other times he seemed annoyed and almost dismissive.”
“That’s not the tone you want to strike to the public, that’s not the tone you want to send to our allies and enemies,” said Democratic strategist Brad Bannon.
More here
Influential liberal columnists and Democratic strategists say Obama came off as condescending and scornful during his press conference in Antalya, Turkey — missing an opportunity to show strength and leadership in the fight against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS).
“I don’t want him shooting from the hip and making empty threats, but I think he could have done a better job in articulating the anger that many people feel toward what happened in not only Paris but Beirut as well,” said Democratic strategist Jim Manley, a former adviser to Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.).
“What happened in Paris and in Beirut is going to require an aggressive response.”
Those comments echoed Washington Post columnist Eugene Robinson’s assessment that Obama’s tone “was all wrong” in addressing the Paris attacks.
Typically an Obama ally, Robinson in a column published on Tuesday wrote that “at times he was patronizing, at other times he seemed annoyed and almost dismissive.”
“That’s not the tone you want to strike to the public, that’s not the tone you want to send to our allies and enemies,” said Democratic strategist Brad Bannon.
More here
NBC exec's 'illegals' remark angers Hispanic lawmakers
'We love the Hispanic community. Yo hablo español,' NBC News President Deborah Turness said at a contentious meeting with Latino House members.
Hispanic lawmakers hoped a meeting with top executives from MSNBC and NBC News Wednesday would smooth over hard feelings from Donald Trump’s appearance on “Saturday Night Live.” Instead, it had the opposite effect.
NBC News President Deborah Turness committed a major blunder — as far as the Hispanic lawmakers were concerned — when she described undocumented immigrants as “illegals," a term that many in the Latino community find highly offensive.
Turness was describing NBC's integration with their Spanish-language network Telemundo, which included coverage of Pope Francis’ visit to the U.S. and his interaction with a young girl who was afraid her parents would be deported because they’re “illegals.”
“I’m going to stop you right there. We use the term undocumented immigrants,” Rep. Juan Vargas (D-Calif.) interrupted.
Turness apologized.
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Hispanic lawmakers hoped a meeting with top executives from MSNBC and NBC News Wednesday would smooth over hard feelings from Donald Trump’s appearance on “Saturday Night Live.” Instead, it had the opposite effect.
NBC News President Deborah Turness committed a major blunder — as far as the Hispanic lawmakers were concerned — when she described undocumented immigrants as “illegals," a term that many in the Latino community find highly offensive.
Turness was describing NBC's integration with their Spanish-language network Telemundo, which included coverage of Pope Francis’ visit to the U.S. and his interaction with a young girl who was afraid her parents would be deported because they’re “illegals.”
“I’m going to stop you right there. We use the term undocumented immigrants,” Rep. Juan Vargas (D-Calif.) interrupted.
Turness apologized.
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Indian-Americans Feel 'Disappointed,' 'Abandoned' By Bobby Jindal
In suspending his campaign for president, Bobby Jindal gave a nod to his immigrant roots.
"To put this in perspective, my parents came to this country 45 years ago; they came here for freedom and opportunity," Jindal told Fox News Tuesday night. "I don't think in a million years they would have ever imagined that I'd be governor, or that one day I would be running for president of the United States."
Jindal, the governor of Louisiana, was the first Indian-American politician to run for president, but his historic bid for the White House didn't feel so historic to many Indian-Americans. There were Indians on the left who mocked him, and Indians on the right who questioned him.
He changed his first name from Piyush to Bobby and converted to Christianity in high school. Overall, Jindal's brand of identity politics (or lack of identity politics) disappointed many of his fellow South Asians.
But it wasn't always that way. When Jindal first ran for office in 2003, many Indian-Americans considered him a breakout star.
Sure, he was Republican and most of them were Democrats.
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"To put this in perspective, my parents came to this country 45 years ago; they came here for freedom and opportunity," Jindal told Fox News Tuesday night. "I don't think in a million years they would have ever imagined that I'd be governor, or that one day I would be running for president of the United States."
Jindal, the governor of Louisiana, was the first Indian-American politician to run for president, but his historic bid for the White House didn't feel so historic to many Indian-Americans. There were Indians on the left who mocked him, and Indians on the right who questioned him.
He changed his first name from Piyush to Bobby and converted to Christianity in high school. Overall, Jindal's brand of identity politics (or lack of identity politics) disappointed many of his fellow South Asians.
But it wasn't always that way. When Jindal first ran for office in 2003, many Indian-Americans considered him a breakout star.
Sure, he was Republican and most of them were Democrats.
More
Vladimir Putin Reveals That ISIS Is Funded by 40 Countries
The Russian president also reiterated the need to stop the illegal oil trade by ISIS.
Russian president Vladimir Putin has announced that he has shared intelligence with the other G20 member states, which reveals the 40 countries from which ISIS finances the majority of their terrorist activities. The list reportedly included a number of G20 countries.
“I provided examples based on our data on the financing of different Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) units by private individuals. This money, as we have established, comes from 40 countries and, there are some of the G20 members among them,” Putin told reporters.
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Russian president Vladimir Putin has announced that he has shared intelligence with the other G20 member states, which reveals the 40 countries from which ISIS finances the majority of their terrorist activities. The list reportedly included a number of G20 countries.
“I provided examples based on our data on the financing of different Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) units by private individuals. This money, as we have established, comes from 40 countries and, there are some of the G20 members among them,” Putin told reporters.
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Government selling seized wedding dresses at discount
One thing she hadn't counted on: Buying her wedding dress from the federal government.
When an Upper Marlboro woman was convicted in 2013 of embezzling more than $5 million from the nonprofit Association of American Medical Colleges, the U.S. Marshals Service seized her assets — including a bridal shop she owned.
That left the authorities with 2,000 gowns and other accessories, which the court ordered sold. They are selling them this week at a discount and donating the proceeds back to the nonprofit.
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NIH Retires The Last Of Its Research Chimps
The 50 chimpanzees were kept in case they were needed in a public health emergency, but now they will be moving into a federal sanctuary as soon as there is room.
"It's time to say we've reached the point in the U.S. where invasive research on chimpanzees is no longer something that makes sense," said Dr. Francis Collins, director of NIH, according to the Associated Press.
As NPR previously reported, the vast majority of the primates were used in studies related to genetics and behavior. In recent years, the scientific community has begun to feel even these studies are unnecessary.
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Lost Dog 11-19-15: UPDATE
State Dept.: Refugees Can Go 'Wherever They Want'
The State Department said Tuesday that it believes state governors have little say over whether they will house refugees from Syria or anywhere else in the world, and that once they arrive, refugees can choose to live in any state they want.
"They can ultimately choose wherever they want to go," State Department spokesman Mark Toner told reporters.
The question of refugee rights has come up as many governors have said they would refuse people from Syria, over fears that members of the Islamic State may try to slip in posing as refugees. One of the Paris attackers entered France that way.
The Obama administration has said it would make no changes to its plan to take up to 10,000 Syrian refugees this year. Toner said under current law, any refugee who land in the U.S. is "protected by the Constitution and federal law."
Refugees must apply to be permanent residents, but the are able to live where they want.
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"They can ultimately choose wherever they want to go," State Department spokesman Mark Toner told reporters.
The question of refugee rights has come up as many governors have said they would refuse people from Syria, over fears that members of the Islamic State may try to slip in posing as refugees. One of the Paris attackers entered France that way.
The Obama administration has said it would make no changes to its plan to take up to 10,000 Syrian refugees this year. Toner said under current law, any refugee who land in the U.S. is "protected by the Constitution and federal law."
Refugees must apply to be permanent residents, but the are able to live where they want.
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Ginni Thomas Endorses Ted Cruz
Ginni Thomas has endorsed Ted Cruz for president.
Thomas is a prominent conservative activist, as well as the wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.
"I relish the opportunity to change this town, but what I really love are the people outside of this beltway of Washington and the people who see we can have a strong America again," Thomas said in a video of her endorsement released by the Cruz campaign. "Ted Cruz has got the scars to show that he's tangled with the top Republican leaders and Democrat leaders in town. It was so refreshing to see Ted Cruz come and be truthful principled, and conservative, even under attack."
More here
Thomas is a prominent conservative activist, as well as the wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.
"I relish the opportunity to change this town, but what I really love are the people outside of this beltway of Washington and the people who see we can have a strong America again," Thomas said in a video of her endorsement released by the Cruz campaign. "Ted Cruz has got the scars to show that he's tangled with the top Republican leaders and Democrat leaders in town. It was so refreshing to see Ted Cruz come and be truthful principled, and conservative, even under attack."
More here
FBI Braces For Holiday Terror Attacks
In the wee hours of July 4, FBI counter-terrorism agents in the Boston area scrambled to thwart the last of a string of Islamic State terror plots they feared could be conducted during the patriotic holiday or soon after.
Just weeks earlier, an agent and Boston officers had shot and killed an ISIS sympathizer on the same streets, right before he boarded a bus armed with a military-style knife and plans to attack cops and behead a woman.
Now, an undercover operative set up a weapons buy on the streets with a young Massachusetts man, the son of a respected cop but now someone who had been radicalized by the Islamic State. Agents believed he was plotting to shoot or blow up students at an out-of-state campus with bombs laced with Styrofoam, which sticks to skin and worsens the burns.
The buy went down, the young man was arrested and a search of his apartment quickly confirmed agents’ fears.
The harrowing ending to the two Boston cases this summer seemed ripped from a Hollywood movie script — except the threats were real and the consequences of stumbling could have been lethal.
More here
Just weeks earlier, an agent and Boston officers had shot and killed an ISIS sympathizer on the same streets, right before he boarded a bus armed with a military-style knife and plans to attack cops and behead a woman.
Now, an undercover operative set up a weapons buy on the streets with a young Massachusetts man, the son of a respected cop but now someone who had been radicalized by the Islamic State. Agents believed he was plotting to shoot or blow up students at an out-of-state campus with bombs laced with Styrofoam, which sticks to skin and worsens the burns.
The buy went down, the young man was arrested and a search of his apartment quickly confirmed agents’ fears.
The harrowing ending to the two Boston cases this summer seemed ripped from a Hollywood movie script — except the threats were real and the consequences of stumbling could have been lethal.
More here
Abedin: Clinton ‘often confused,’ needed hand-holding about calls with foreign leaders
Hillary Clinton needed hand-holding with her daily schedule and was ‘often confused’ while she was secertary of state, her former top aide and ‘body woman’ Huma Adebin wrote a colleague in a January 2013 email.
The message, to coworker Monica Hanley, followed a back-and-forth about Clinton’s schedule of calls with foreign leaders, including an 8:00 a.m. appointment to speak with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
‘Have you been going over calls with her for tomorrow? So she knows singh[sic] ls at 8?’ Abedin asked Hanley just before 5:00 p.m. on a Saturday.
‘She was in bed for a nap by the time I heard that she had an 8am call,’ Hanley replied three minutes later. ‘Will go over with her.’
‘Very imp[ortant] to do that. She’s often confused,’ Abedin told her.
It wasn’t the first time Hanley had to keep up with Clinton’s weekend sleeping schedule. In an email released by the State Department in May, she tried to reach the then-secretary of state four days after the deadly terror attacks in Benghazi, Libya.
Clinton missed a meeting at the White House for President Obama’s daily national security briefing because she overslept.
Hanley emailed Clinton at 9:17 that morning to let her know that White House Senior Adviser Dan Pfeiffer’ had ‘some sensitive items that he would like to personally show you when he arrives.’
Read more
The message, to coworker Monica Hanley, followed a back-and-forth about Clinton’s schedule of calls with foreign leaders, including an 8:00 a.m. appointment to speak with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
‘Have you been going over calls with her for tomorrow? So she knows singh[sic] ls at 8?’ Abedin asked Hanley just before 5:00 p.m. on a Saturday.
‘She was in bed for a nap by the time I heard that she had an 8am call,’ Hanley replied three minutes later. ‘Will go over with her.’
‘Very imp[ortant] to do that. She’s often confused,’ Abedin told her.
It wasn’t the first time Hanley had to keep up with Clinton’s weekend sleeping schedule. In an email released by the State Department in May, she tried to reach the then-secretary of state four days after the deadly terror attacks in Benghazi, Libya.
Clinton missed a meeting at the White House for President Obama’s daily national security briefing because she overslept.
Hanley emailed Clinton at 9:17 that morning to let her know that White House Senior Adviser Dan Pfeiffer’ had ‘some sensitive items that he would like to personally show you when he arrives.’
Read more
State police dive team plunges into its work
"You can't see anything. We tell school kids it's like putting on a blindfold and getting in your closet, closing the door, turning out the light, and trying to find your favorite shirt," said 1st Sgt. Chris Davala, commander of the Underwater Recovery Team.
It's also often cold and dangerous because of hazards found underwater.
And they do it anyway.
None of the 15-member team — 11 fully qualified primary divers and four probationary divers — are full-time. They do regular patrol duty at state police barracks across Maryland and don the diving gear when called upon.
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Syrian ‘Refugee’ Already MISSING IN LOUISIANA
Liberals continue to tell us the “vetting process” for refugees is under control. They insist the federal government is monitoring every Syrian once they make it to America.
But, of course, that’s a total fallacy.
Take a look at what just happened in Louisiana.
One Syrian is on the loose–
The Hayride reports:
At least one Syrian refugee that was in the process of resettling in the Baton Rouge area has already gone missing,according to a report by WBRZ.
Catholic Charities helped the refugee who settled in Baton Rouge, but said the immigrant left for another state after a couple of days, and they don’t know where the refugee went since they don’t track them.
As reported earlier by the Hayride, there are another 7 Syrian refugees in Kenner and 6 more in the New Orleans area.
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But, of course, that’s a total fallacy.
Take a look at what just happened in Louisiana.
One Syrian is on the loose–
The Hayride reports:
At least one Syrian refugee that was in the process of resettling in the Baton Rouge area has already gone missing,according to a report by WBRZ.
Catholic Charities helped the refugee who settled in Baton Rouge, but said the immigrant left for another state after a couple of days, and they don’t know where the refugee went since they don’t track them.
As reported earlier by the Hayride, there are another 7 Syrian refugees in Kenner and 6 more in the New Orleans area.
More
BREAKING NEWS: 2 Israelis dead, at least 3 wounded in Palestinian stabbing attack
Two Israelis killed and three others wounded in a stabbing attack in Tel Aviv. The attacker -- identified as a Palestinian -- is in custody, according to reports from Israeli media and Algemeiner.com.
So Far: Syrian Refugees in U.S. Include 2,098 Muslims, 53 Christians
(CNSNews) – President Obama said Monday that calls from some quarters for the U.S. to admit only Christian refugees from Syria were “shameful,” yet the reality is that today’s refugee system discriminates, not against Syrian Muslims, but against Christians and other non-Muslim minorities.
Critics say this is because the federal government relies on the United Nations in the refugee application process – and since Syrian Christians are often afraid to register with the U.N., they and other non-Muslims in invariably left out.
Fleeing persecution at the hands of Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and other jihadist groups, Syrian Christians generally avoid U.N. refugee camps because they are targeted there, too.
Most refugees considered for resettlement in the U.S. are referred by the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Applications are then handled by one of nine State Department-managed resettlement support centers around the world, a process that includes vetting and interviews by the Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and takes an average of 18-24 months. There are occasions when a process can begin without UNHCR referral, but this usually applies in cases of close relatives of refugees already in the U.S.
Of 2,184 Syrian refugees admitted into the U.S. since the Syrian civil war erupted in 2011, only 2.4 percent have been Christians while 96 percent have been Muslims, according to State Department statistics updated on Monday.
More here
Critics say this is because the federal government relies on the United Nations in the refugee application process – and since Syrian Christians are often afraid to register with the U.N., they and other non-Muslims in invariably left out.
Fleeing persecution at the hands of Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and other jihadist groups, Syrian Christians generally avoid U.N. refugee camps because they are targeted there, too.
Most refugees considered for resettlement in the U.S. are referred by the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Applications are then handled by one of nine State Department-managed resettlement support centers around the world, a process that includes vetting and interviews by the Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and takes an average of 18-24 months. There are occasions when a process can begin without UNHCR referral, but this usually applies in cases of close relatives of refugees already in the U.S.
Of 2,184 Syrian refugees admitted into the U.S. since the Syrian civil war erupted in 2011, only 2.4 percent have been Christians while 96 percent have been Muslims, according to State Department statistics updated on Monday.
More here
Silent and Calm, Terrorists Fired Into the Crowd For ‘Ten Minutes, Ten Horrific Minutes’
France woke Saturday shaken by Europe’s greatest loss of life at the hands of Islamic terrorists since the Madrid bombing 11 years ago – at least 120 people killed in six evidently coordinated gun and bomb attacks over a three-hour period, including a horror scenario in which terrorists held concert-goers hostage, gunned down dozens and detonated explosive belts.
At the Bataclan Theater, at least 75 people attending a concert by a U.S. rock band were killed and many more injured, according to authorities. Eyewitnesses spoke of two young men armed with AK47 assault rifles firing repetitively and dispassionately into the crowded venue, targeting helpless victims cowering on the floor.
Julien Pearce, a radio reporter who was inside the concert hall, told CNN he saw two terrorists at the back of the venue, “firing randomly to the crowd. People yelled, screamed, everybody lying on the floor. And it lasted for ten minutes, ten minutes, ten horrific minutes, where everybody was on the floor covering their heads.”
“We heard so many gunshots. The terrorists were very calm, very determined, and they reloaded three or four times their weapons. They didn’t shout anything, they didn’t say anything,” he said. “They were unmasked, and they were wearing black clothes, and they were shooting at people on the floor, executing them…”
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At the Bataclan Theater, at least 75 people attending a concert by a U.S. rock band were killed and many more injured, according to authorities. Eyewitnesses spoke of two young men armed with AK47 assault rifles firing repetitively and dispassionately into the crowded venue, targeting helpless victims cowering on the floor.
Julien Pearce, a radio reporter who was inside the concert hall, told CNN he saw two terrorists at the back of the venue, “firing randomly to the crowd. People yelled, screamed, everybody lying on the floor. And it lasted for ten minutes, ten minutes, ten horrific minutes, where everybody was on the floor covering their heads.”
“We heard so many gunshots. The terrorists were very calm, very determined, and they reloaded three or four times their weapons. They didn’t shout anything, they didn’t say anything,” he said. “They were unmasked, and they were wearing black clothes, and they were shooting at people on the floor, executing them…”
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Widower of 9/11 hero returns Glamour's 'Woman of the Year' award in Caitlyn Jenner protest
The widower a New York City police officer killed on 9/11 has returned his wife’s posthumous “Woman of the Year” award after Glamour magazine gave the same honor to Caitlyn Jenner last week.
NYPD Officer Moira Smith was posthumously given the award in 2001 after she was killed helping people evacuate out of the south tower. Her husband, James Smith, told the New York Post that he has yanked the award off the shelf in his Long Island home and FedExed it back to Glamour, after learning that the transgender woman formerly known as Bruce was honored last week.
“I was shocked and saddened to learn that Glamour has just named Bruce Jenner ‘Woman of the Year,’ ” Mr. Smith wrote in a letter to Glamour.
“Was there no woman in America, or the rest of the world, more deserving than this man?” he wrote. “At a time when we have women in the armed forces fighting and dying for our country, heroic doctors fighting deadly diseases, women police and firefighters putting their lives on the line for total strangers, brave women overcoming life threatening diseases … the list of possibilities goes on … is this the best you could do?”
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NYPD Officer Moira Smith was posthumously given the award in 2001 after she was killed helping people evacuate out of the south tower. Her husband, James Smith, told the New York Post that he has yanked the award off the shelf in his Long Island home and FedExed it back to Glamour, after learning that the transgender woman formerly known as Bruce was honored last week.
“I was shocked and saddened to learn that Glamour has just named Bruce Jenner ‘Woman of the Year,’ ” Mr. Smith wrote in a letter to Glamour.
“Was there no woman in America, or the rest of the world, more deserving than this man?” he wrote. “At a time when we have women in the armed forces fighting and dying for our country, heroic doctors fighting deadly diseases, women police and firefighters putting their lives on the line for total strangers, brave women overcoming life threatening diseases … the list of possibilities goes on … is this the best you could do?”
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FBI admits there's no way to screen all the Syrian refugees the Obama administration plans to accept into the US
FBI Director James Comey on Wednesday told Congress that the federal government cannot conduct thorough checks on all of the coming influx of 10,000 refugees from Syria.
Appearing before the House Committee on Homeland Security, Comey said Syrians who aren't already in the FBI's database are unknown to the agency, meaning their backgrounds cannot be adequately scoured for a risk of terrorism.
'We can only query against that which we have collected,' Comey told the committee under questioning.
'So if someone has never made a ripple in the pond in Syria in a way that would get their identity or their interest reflected in our database, we can query our database until the cows come home, but there will be nothing show up because we have no record of them.
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Appearing before the House Committee on Homeland Security, Comey said Syrians who aren't already in the FBI's database are unknown to the agency, meaning their backgrounds cannot be adequately scoured for a risk of terrorism.
'We can only query against that which we have collected,' Comey told the committee under questioning.
'So if someone has never made a ripple in the pond in Syria in a way that would get their identity or their interest reflected in our database, we can query our database until the cows come home, but there will be nothing show up because we have no record of them.
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State of Md. settles over conditions in Baltimore jail
BALTIMORE (AP) — The state of Maryland has agreed to make major improvements to a Baltimore city jail after agreeing to a settlement in a federal lawsuit over the facility’s squalid conditions.
The American Civil Liberties Union and the Public Justice Law Center reached a settlement agreement with the state over conditions at the Baltimore City Detention Center on Wednesday, and are requesting that a judge approve the agreement and issue an order.
The agreement stipulates that the state will overhaul its system for distributing medicine to inmates, as well as how detainees are screened and treated for mental illness.
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The American Civil Liberties Union and the Public Justice Law Center reached a settlement agreement with the state over conditions at the Baltimore City Detention Center on Wednesday, and are requesting that a judge approve the agreement and issue an order.
The agreement stipulates that the state will overhaul its system for distributing medicine to inmates, as well as how detainees are screened and treated for mental illness.
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BREAKING NEWS: Mastermind of Paris massacre killed in police raid
French officials confirm that the suspected mastermind of last Friday's terrorist massacre in Paris that left 129 people dead was killed in a police raid.
US Postal Service Lost $5.1B in FY2015
(CNSNews.com) – Despite an increase in revenue of $1.1 billion, the U.S. Postal Service reported a net loss of $5.1 billion for Fiscal Year 2015, which ended on September 30th.
"The U.S. Postal Service reported a net loss of $5.1 billion for fiscal year 2015 (October 1, 2014 - September 30, 2015)," the Postal Service said in an news release.
It was the ninth year in a row that USPS ended its fiscal year in the red.
“We achieved controllable income in excess of $1 billion for the second consecutive fiscal year giving us some limited flexibility to make critical investments in the future of the organization,” Postmaster General Megan Brennan said in a statement. “To maintain this success, we will need to continue our efforts to grow the business and drive operational efficiencies.
“However, we will also need the enactment of legislation that makes our retiree health benefit (RHB) system affordable and that provides increased pricing and product flexibility.”
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"The U.S. Postal Service reported a net loss of $5.1 billion for fiscal year 2015 (October 1, 2014 - September 30, 2015)," the Postal Service said in an news release.
It was the ninth year in a row that USPS ended its fiscal year in the red.
“We achieved controllable income in excess of $1 billion for the second consecutive fiscal year giving us some limited flexibility to make critical investments in the future of the organization,” Postmaster General Megan Brennan said in a statement. “To maintain this success, we will need to continue our efforts to grow the business and drive operational efficiencies.
“However, we will also need the enactment of legislation that makes our retiree health benefit (RHB) system affordable and that provides increased pricing and product flexibility.”
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Harley “Lee” Joseph
Millsboro, DE- Harley “Lee” Joseph passed away peacefully with his loving wife by his side on Friday, November 13, 2015 at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore MD. He was 69 years old. Lee was born in Salisbury, Md on March 12, 1946. He graduated from Millsboro High School in 1964. In 1967 he married the love of his life, Barbara Lynch Joseph. They were blessed to celebrate their 48th wedding anniversary on November 11, 2015.
Lee was a Vietnam veteran, having served four years in the U.S. Navy. He was also a lifetime member of the Frankford Volunteer Fire Company, Delaware Lodge #37, VFW Post 7234, and the DMS. He attended Gumboro Wesleyan Church.
He worked in the poultry industry for 38 years, retiring in 2011. His favorite pastimes included working in the yard, telling jokes, woodworking, watching the Orioles, Redskins, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. He loved spending time with his grand children and great grandchild.
Lee was easy going, loved to laugh, and took pride in everything he did. He will be missed by many.
His father, Clayton Joseph, preceded him in death in 1987. He is survived by his wife Barbara, a daughter Wendy Murray (Keith), a son Mark Joseph (Jackie), five grandchildren: Kaylin and Leanne Murray, Lindsay Lathbury, Racquel and Jarrett Joseph, and a great granddaughter Teagan Bradley. He is also survived by his mother, Nina Sviontek, a brother, Ronnie Joseph (Colleen), and a host of sister and brother in laws, nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held on Friday, November 20, at 1:00 p.m. at the Frankford Fire Hall. A private interment will be held at the Veteran’s Cemetery in Georgetown.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations to: Gumboro Wesleyan Church 36842 Millsboro Hwy, Millsboro DE 19966, or The Frankford Volunteer Fire Co. P.O. Box 99 Frankford, DE 19945
Lee was a Vietnam veteran, having served four years in the U.S. Navy. He was also a lifetime member of the Frankford Volunteer Fire Company, Delaware Lodge #37, VFW Post 7234, and the DMS. He attended Gumboro Wesleyan Church.
He worked in the poultry industry for 38 years, retiring in 2011. His favorite pastimes included working in the yard, telling jokes, woodworking, watching the Orioles, Redskins, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. He loved spending time with his grand children and great grandchild.
Lee was easy going, loved to laugh, and took pride in everything he did. He will be missed by many.
His father, Clayton Joseph, preceded him in death in 1987. He is survived by his wife Barbara, a daughter Wendy Murray (Keith), a son Mark Joseph (Jackie), five grandchildren: Kaylin and Leanne Murray, Lindsay Lathbury, Racquel and Jarrett Joseph, and a great granddaughter Teagan Bradley. He is also survived by his mother, Nina Sviontek, a brother, Ronnie Joseph (Colleen), and a host of sister and brother in laws, nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held on Friday, November 20, at 1:00 p.m. at the Frankford Fire Hall. A private interment will be held at the Veteran’s Cemetery in Georgetown.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations to: Gumboro Wesleyan Church 36842 Millsboro Hwy, Millsboro DE 19966, or The Frankford Volunteer Fire Co. P.O. Box 99 Frankford, DE 19945
States Slowly Scale Back Juvenile Sex Offender Registries
After years of establishing and strengthening sex offender registries, some states are rethinking policies allowing juveniles to be placed on them.
In states such as Oregon and Delaware, lawmakers have given judges more power to review who goes on the registry. In Pennsylvania, courts have ended lifetime registration for juveniles.
Driving the changes are concerns that putting juveniles’ names and photos on a registry—even one only available to law enforcement, as in some states—stigmatizes them in their schools and neighborhoods and makes them targets of police, sometimes for inappropriate behavior rather than aggressive crimes. Also of concern are laws that add youth sex offenders to adult registries once they turn 18 or 21, even though they were tried as juveniles, not adults.
Human Rights Watch in a 2013 report pointed to the case of a 10-year-old Michigan girl who served time after she and her younger brothers flashed one another in 1991. She was placed on the state’s adult registry when she turned 18. The report also cited a Texas juvenile court that convicted a 10-year-old of indecency with a child for touching a younger cousin—a crime resulting in lifetime registration.
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In states such as Oregon and Delaware, lawmakers have given judges more power to review who goes on the registry. In Pennsylvania, courts have ended lifetime registration for juveniles.
Driving the changes are concerns that putting juveniles’ names and photos on a registry—even one only available to law enforcement, as in some states—stigmatizes them in their schools and neighborhoods and makes them targets of police, sometimes for inappropriate behavior rather than aggressive crimes. Also of concern are laws that add youth sex offenders to adult registries once they turn 18 or 21, even though they were tried as juveniles, not adults.
Human Rights Watch in a 2013 report pointed to the case of a 10-year-old Michigan girl who served time after she and her younger brothers flashed one another in 1991. She was placed on the state’s adult registry when she turned 18. The report also cited a Texas juvenile court that convicted a 10-year-old of indecency with a child for touching a younger cousin—a crime resulting in lifetime registration.
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