Due to a paperwork mix-up, the demotions of two high-ranking officials at the Department of Veterans Affairs has been put on hold and will have to be reissued once the paperwork is sorted out, the agency said Thursday.
In the wake of a VA inspector general report saying that Diana Rubens and Kimberly Graves of the Veterans Benefits Administration had manipulated the agency’s hiring process to secure for themselves sweetheart job transfers, the VA announced in November that the two employees were being demoted.
They went from being senior executives — the highest career employee rank —to being general workers.
Ms. Rubens and Ms. Graves “exercised their statutory right to appeal their demotion” and the appeals process would put on hold their geographic reassignments to their lower-paying jobs, Ryan Hedgepeth, VA oversight director, said in a statement.
An agency lawyer had discovered that one of five binders of evidence supporting the demotion hadn’t been given to the employees.
“To rectify this omission, the department must rescind and reissue the proposed demotions and afford the employees the opportunity to respond to the additional supporting evidence,” Mr. Hedgepeth said. “This process is now underway.
More here
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Saturday, December 05, 2015
US Department of Homeland Security Has 72 Employees on US Terrorist Watch List
With refugees flooding in unvetted, at the insistence of the Obama regime coupled with the fact that the female jihadist in San Bernardino, who had, as confirmed by officials, pledged her allegiance to ISIS, but was fully vetted by immigration officials, on her admittance to the US, somehow.
The threat, unchecked, from our own government's redoubtable efforts, is real.
This endemic Federal denial as a direct threat, was made even more stark several days ago when Congressman Stephen Lynch, a Boston Democrat, disclosed an alarming fact.
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2 people doused with gasoline set on fire; man charged
Investigators said an argument turned violent between four people Friday night.
Firefighters were called around 4:45 p.m. to Pulaski Highway near Allender Road in the White Marsh area, where the confrontation happened.
Investigators said four co-workers traveling in two cars walked to a gas station when one of the cars ran out of gas. When they got back to their cars, an argument ensued and turned into a fight.
Police said Christopher Harrison, 28, poured gas on two of his co-workers and set them on fire.
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Researchers Uncover 8 Ways Coffee Improves Health
Coffee's reputation as a food to avoid has been replaced with hundreds of studies that show coffee may be one of the healthiest drinks in the world.
A Harvard study released this month found that coffee drinkers who drink three to five cups a day are less likely to die from any cause than nondrinkers.
The study, published in Circulation, found that coffee drinkers of both regular and decaf had lower rates of dying from heart disease, stroke, neurological diseases, and suicide. Overall, the risk of dying was reduced by 15 percent.
Check out the following health problems coffee can help protect against :
Heart risk: A study released in June found that drinking three to five cups of coffee every day lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) by up to 21 percent, according to a report presented at a meeting of the European Society of Cardiology.
Diabetes: The recent study presented to the European Society of Cardiology also found that coffee reduces the risk of diabetes. Those who drank three to four cups a day lowered their risk of developing Type 2 diabetes by 25 percent when compared to those who drank fewer than two cups daily. Other studies have shown even better results — up to 67 percent.
More here
A Harvard study released this month found that coffee drinkers who drink three to five cups a day are less likely to die from any cause than nondrinkers.
The study, published in Circulation, found that coffee drinkers of both regular and decaf had lower rates of dying from heart disease, stroke, neurological diseases, and suicide. Overall, the risk of dying was reduced by 15 percent.
Check out the following health problems coffee can help protect against :
Heart risk: A study released in June found that drinking three to five cups of coffee every day lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) by up to 21 percent, according to a report presented at a meeting of the European Society of Cardiology.
Diabetes: The recent study presented to the European Society of Cardiology also found that coffee reduces the risk of diabetes. Those who drank three to four cups a day lowered their risk of developing Type 2 diabetes by 25 percent when compared to those who drank fewer than two cups daily. Other studies have shown even better results — up to 67 percent.
More here
George Zimmerman booted off Twitter for posting nude photos
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Trump: I'm Going to Israel to Meet Netanyahu
Donald Trump is planning a trip to Israel soon to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, he said at a rally late Wednesday.
"I love Israel and Israel is our real strong supporter. Very soon I'm going to Israel and I'll be meeting with Bibi Netanyahu," the billionaire said during a campaign rally.
Trump did not give specifics of the trip and neither did his campaign. He told reporters that he had recorded an advertisement for the Israeli prime minister during Netanyahu's reelection bid in 2013.
Trump is scheduled to participate in a presidential forum hosted by the Republican Jewish Coalition on Friday.
Earlier, Wednesday, the Associated Press published an interview with Trump where he discussed Israel and the Mideast.
More here
"I love Israel and Israel is our real strong supporter. Very soon I'm going to Israel and I'll be meeting with Bibi Netanyahu," the billionaire said during a campaign rally.
Trump did not give specifics of the trip and neither did his campaign. He told reporters that he had recorded an advertisement for the Israeli prime minister during Netanyahu's reelection bid in 2013.
Trump is scheduled to participate in a presidential forum hosted by the Republican Jewish Coalition on Friday.
Earlier, Wednesday, the Associated Press published an interview with Trump where he discussed Israel and the Mideast.
More here
Violent Crime In California Is Above National Average Despite Strict Gun Control
Statistics released by the FBI for 2013-2014 show the national rate of violent crime is 375.7 per 100,000 people — which is on the decline. In California, however, the violent crime rate is 396.1 per 100,000 people
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White House: Obama Thinks Gun Control Will Deter Terrorists
White House spokesman Josh Earnest said that President Obama thinks that gun control would help deter terrorists. Earnest made the comments Thursday at the White House's daily press briefing.
Peter Doocy: "President Obama yesterday jumped to say that this mass shooting means it's time for commonsense gun laws. Does the President really think that common sense gun laws would deter terrorists now that he has admitted that these two may have been terrorists?"
White House press secretary Josh Earnest: "Yes. The president believes that passing common sense gun laws that makes it harder for people with bad intentions to get guns, makes the country safer."
Peter Doocy: "But so the president thinks that when there are potentially two terrorists sitting around planning a mass murder they may call it off because President Obama has put in place common sense gun laws?"
More (with video)
Peter Doocy: "President Obama yesterday jumped to say that this mass shooting means it's time for commonsense gun laws. Does the President really think that common sense gun laws would deter terrorists now that he has admitted that these two may have been terrorists?"
White House press secretary Josh Earnest: "Yes. The president believes that passing common sense gun laws that makes it harder for people with bad intentions to get guns, makes the country safer."
Peter Doocy: "But so the president thinks that when there are potentially two terrorists sitting around planning a mass murder they may call it off because President Obama has put in place common sense gun laws?"
More (with video)
Feds investigating teen's arrest for taking clock to school
Lynch confirmed Thursday that the department was investigating Ahmed Mohamed's arrest.
Mohamed was detained, but quickly released, after police became suspicious of a clock he brought to school. His family questioned whether he was mistreated due to his religion.
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Panic City: The GOP's Pipsqueak 'Revolt' Against The Donald
Another day, another GOP panic.
The media underestimated Donald Trump from day one. The Republican power brokers underestimated Donald Trump from day one. And now journalists are quoting GOP hotshots as suddenly scared about what has been obvious for months: that Trump is in a strong position to seize their nomination.
After various stages of grief and denial, the noise from the “establishment”—or what remains of it, in this Super PAC era—is growing louder.
The New York Times is the latest to sound the alarm:
“Irritation is giving way to panic as it becomes increasingly plausible that Mr. Trump could be the party’s standard-bearer and imperil the careers of other Republicans.”
Which is pretty much the same P-word that the Washington Post used on Nov. 12:
“Less than three months before the kickoff Iowa caucuses, there is growing anxiety bordering on panic among Republican elites about the dominance and durability of Donald Trump and Ben Carson and widespread bewilderment over how to defeat them.”
Is there something stronger than panic? Because we seem to be careening there.
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The media underestimated Donald Trump from day one. The Republican power brokers underestimated Donald Trump from day one. And now journalists are quoting GOP hotshots as suddenly scared about what has been obvious for months: that Trump is in a strong position to seize their nomination.
After various stages of grief and denial, the noise from the “establishment”—or what remains of it, in this Super PAC era—is growing louder.
The New York Times is the latest to sound the alarm:
“Irritation is giving way to panic as it becomes increasingly plausible that Mr. Trump could be the party’s standard-bearer and imperil the careers of other Republicans.”
Which is pretty much the same P-word that the Washington Post used on Nov. 12:
“Less than three months before the kickoff Iowa caucuses, there is growing anxiety bordering on panic among Republican elites about the dominance and durability of Donald Trump and Ben Carson and widespread bewilderment over how to defeat them.”
Is there something stronger than panic? Because we seem to be careening there.
More
Man Facing Federal Charges After Cutting Firefighter Hose During Riots
Officials say Gregory Lee Butler Jr., also known as Greg Baly, is charged with obstructing firefighters during a civil disorder and for aiding and abetting arson. He faces up to 25 years in prison.
An indictment against Butler was unsealed late Thursday, and an initial court appearance is set for Monday.
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Marijuana breathalyzer test could be coming soon
A marijuana breathalyzer will begin clinical trials early next year, the Oakland, California-based Hound Labs Inc. announced this week.
"The idea is that law enforcement will have one device out on the road to test for both THC [a marijuana component] and alcohol," said Hound Labs CEO and founder Dr. Mike Lynn, an emergency room physician at Highland Hospital, in Oakland.
Typically, measuring the level of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) -- the psychoactive component in cannabis that gives users a "high" -- is done using urine, blood, or saliva tests. The results can show if marijuana has been used in recent days or weeks, but they are not a very accurate way to measure real-time impairment, said Lynn.
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No, there haven’t been 355 mass shootings this year
Here’s an article from the Washington Post making the allegation:
The San Bernardino shooting is the 355th mass shooting this year, according to a mass shooting tracker maintained by the Guns Are Cool subreddit. The Reddit tracker defines mass shootings as incidents in which four or more people, including the gunman, are killed or injured by gunfire.Let that sink in: mass shootings in the U.S. now happen on a more-than-daily basis. The figure was then quoted by other news sites like PolicyMic, which has called for politicizing mass shootings in the past.
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EuroParliament Prez: Christians ‘Not Safe In Our Continent’
In a high-level meeting on religious persecution in Brussels, the President of the European Parliament (EP) said that Europe cannot afford to continue ignoring the fate of Christians, who are “clearly the most persecuted group” in the world.
In Wednesday’s meeting, EP President Martin Schulz said that the persecution of Christians is “undervalued” and does not receive enough attention, which has also meant that it “hasn’t been properly addressed.”
Schulz’s concerns were echoed by EP Vice President Antonio Tajani, who warned that Europe sometimes “falls into the temptation of thinking we can ignore this task,” referring to the protection Christians throughout the world who suffer persecution.
Speakers cited the work of Open Doors, a human rights organization that monitors the persecution of Christians, noting that 150 million Christians worldwide suffer torture, rape and arbitrary imprisonment. Christians in Iraq, Somalia, Syria, Pakistan, North Korea and Nigeria are among those hardest hit.
More here
In Wednesday’s meeting, EP President Martin Schulz said that the persecution of Christians is “undervalued” and does not receive enough attention, which has also meant that it “hasn’t been properly addressed.”
Schulz’s concerns were echoed by EP Vice President Antonio Tajani, who warned that Europe sometimes “falls into the temptation of thinking we can ignore this task,” referring to the protection Christians throughout the world who suffer persecution.
Speakers cited the work of Open Doors, a human rights organization that monitors the persecution of Christians, noting that 150 million Christians worldwide suffer torture, rape and arbitrary imprisonment. Christians in Iraq, Somalia, Syria, Pakistan, North Korea and Nigeria are among those hardest hit.
More here
Hogan: Gun control "not the only" answer
Hogan told reporters that the killing of 14 people in San Bernadino, California this week was an "outrage" and terrible tragedy, but that gun control was "not the only solution."
"This issue goes beyond gun control," the Republican said outside a Baltimore diner.
"California has the toughest laws in the country. We probably have the second toughest. It hasn't stopped us. We have more than 315 murders here in Baltimore City, we had a tragedy in California," Hogan said. "We've got to come up with better answers."
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Middle Eastern Men Arrested Near Mexican Border with Steel Cylinders
Five young Middle Eastern men were apprehended by the U.S. Border Patrol this week in an Arizona town situated about 30 miles from the Mexican border, law enforcement and other sources told Judicial Watch.
Border Patrol agents spotted the men crossing a ranch property in the vicinity of Amado, which is located about 35 miles south of Tucson and has a population of 275. Two of the Middle Eastern men were carrying stainless steel cylinders in backpacks, JW’s sources say, alarming Border Patrol officials enough to call the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for backup. A multitude of federal agents descended on the property and the two men carrying the cylinders were believed to be taken into custody by the FBI.
Only three of the men’s names were entered in the Border Patrol’s E3 reporting system, which is used by the agency to track apprehensions, detention hearings and removals of illegal immigrants. E3 also collects and transmits biographic and biometric data including fingerprints for identification and verification of individuals encountered at the border. The other two men were listed as “unknown subjects,” which is unheard of, according to a JW federal law enforcement source. “In all my years I’ve never seen that before,” a veteran federal law enforcement agent told JW.
The disturbing incident comes just days after six men—one from Afghanistan, five from Pakistan—were arrested in nearby Patagonia, a quaint ranch town that sits 20 miles north of the Mexican border city of Nogales. Federal authorities have confirmed the November 17 arrests and a local news outlet published a story that includes an official statement from the Border Patrol. Special Agent Kurt Remus in the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Phoenix headquarters told JW that the agency’s Joint Terrorism Task Forces vetted and interviewed the six men and determined that there were “no obvious signs of terrorism” so they were returned to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody.
However, Special Agent Remus told JW that there is no record of this week’s incident in Amado and that he knew nothing about it.
More here
Border Patrol agents spotted the men crossing a ranch property in the vicinity of Amado, which is located about 35 miles south of Tucson and has a population of 275. Two of the Middle Eastern men were carrying stainless steel cylinders in backpacks, JW’s sources say, alarming Border Patrol officials enough to call the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for backup. A multitude of federal agents descended on the property and the two men carrying the cylinders were believed to be taken into custody by the FBI.
Only three of the men’s names were entered in the Border Patrol’s E3 reporting system, which is used by the agency to track apprehensions, detention hearings and removals of illegal immigrants. E3 also collects and transmits biographic and biometric data including fingerprints for identification and verification of individuals encountered at the border. The other two men were listed as “unknown subjects,” which is unheard of, according to a JW federal law enforcement source. “In all my years I’ve never seen that before,” a veteran federal law enforcement agent told JW.
The disturbing incident comes just days after six men—one from Afghanistan, five from Pakistan—were arrested in nearby Patagonia, a quaint ranch town that sits 20 miles north of the Mexican border city of Nogales. Federal authorities have confirmed the November 17 arrests and a local news outlet published a story that includes an official statement from the Border Patrol. Special Agent Kurt Remus in the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Phoenix headquarters told JW that the agency’s Joint Terrorism Task Forces vetted and interviewed the six men and determined that there were “no obvious signs of terrorism” so they were returned to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody.
However, Special Agent Remus told JW that there is no record of this week’s incident in Amado and that he knew nothing about it.
More here
San Bernardino Shooters Took Advantage Of Flaw In Immigration System
Farook and Tashfeen Malik met on a dating website and maintained an online relationship prior to Malik coming to the U.S. in July, 2014. Malik, a Pakistani citizen, entered the country on a K-1 visa, commonly known as a fiance visa.
Numbers from the U.S. Department of State show the K-1 visa has a much higher admittance rate than practically any other type of visa.
David North, a fellow at The Center for Immigration Studies, warned about the outstanding acceptance rate years ago, and says it keeps climbing with very few cases being rejected.
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DOD: Women 'May' Need to Register for Selective Service
(CNSNews) - Following his announcement that he is opening all positions in the U.S. military--including all combat positions--to women who can meet the standards, Defense Secretary Ash Carter was asked on Thursday if that means women will have to register with the Selective Service, just as men must do.
"It may," he said.
A reporter asked Carter, "Mr. Secretary, does this decision now lead to a -- a greater debate about whether women need to register for Selective Service?"
"It may do that, Phil," Carter replied. "That is a matter of legal dispute right now, and in fact, litigation. So...I don't know how that will turn out.
"I--by the way-- the legal, that legal determination won't affect what I announce today; that is, our timetable for the implementation of the decisions I've announced today. But it is an issue that's out there. Unfortunately, it's subject to litigation."
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"It may," he said.
A reporter asked Carter, "Mr. Secretary, does this decision now lead to a -- a greater debate about whether women need to register for Selective Service?"
"It may do that, Phil," Carter replied. "That is a matter of legal dispute right now, and in fact, litigation. So...I don't know how that will turn out.
"I--by the way-- the legal, that legal determination won't affect what I announce today; that is, our timetable for the implementation of the decisions I've announced today. But it is an issue that's out there. Unfortunately, it's subject to litigation."
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City facing replacement of core radio system in FY17
It’s more complicated than just picking up some walkie-talkies at Wal-Mart.
Replacing the city’s core radio network is arguably the most important infrastructure purchase one could make, Emergency Services Director Joe Theobald argued, given that the system handles nearly every vital function in the municipality.
The current system was purchased in 1992 from Ericsson (then a GE company) and installed in 1993-1994. Through a series of mergers and acquisitions, the technology is now owned by the Harris Corporation.
“The system is now 23 years old,” Theobald said. “The name has changed seven times. What we then bought from GE is now a Harris product. But come July 1, 2017, Harris will no longer be providing parts or technical support. They’re simply not making these anymore.”
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European Regulators Investigating Clinical Trial of Drug Led By Obama FDA Nominee
President Obama’s nominee to head the FDA helped “design and oversee” an approved drug whose clinical trial is now under investigation by European regulators.
Robert Califf, the deputy commissioner of the FDA, co-chaired the executive committee of the Xarelto clinical trial while at the Duke Institute for Clinical Research. Xarelto, a drug used to thin the blood in heart patients, could put patients “at greater risk of harm from stroke and/or bleeding.”
The drug’s trial came under criticism but was ultimately approved in 2011 despite concerns from some scientists. The official who issued the FDA’s approval of the drug expressed additional concerns of his own, the Project on Government Oversight reports.
More than 2,000 lawsuits have been filed around the United States alleging uncontrollable bleeding from patients taking Xarelto which in some cases led to death.
Xarelto is manufactured by Bayer and marketed in the United States by Janssen Pharmaceuticals, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson. Califf was a paid consultant for numerous companies while at the Duke Institute for Clinical Research, including Johnson & Johnson. In 2012, Califf received an $87,500 payment from the company.
More here
Robert Califf, the deputy commissioner of the FDA, co-chaired the executive committee of the Xarelto clinical trial while at the Duke Institute for Clinical Research. Xarelto, a drug used to thin the blood in heart patients, could put patients “at greater risk of harm from stroke and/or bleeding.”
The drug’s trial came under criticism but was ultimately approved in 2011 despite concerns from some scientists. The official who issued the FDA’s approval of the drug expressed additional concerns of his own, the Project on Government Oversight reports.
More than 2,000 lawsuits have been filed around the United States alleging uncontrollable bleeding from patients taking Xarelto which in some cases led to death.
Xarelto is manufactured by Bayer and marketed in the United States by Janssen Pharmaceuticals, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson. Califf was a paid consultant for numerous companies while at the Duke Institute for Clinical Research, including Johnson & Johnson. In 2012, Califf received an $87,500 payment from the company.
More here
Emmanuel Wesleyan Presents - Under A Starry Sky
- Thursday, December 10th - 7pm
- Friday, December 11th - 7pm
- Saturday, December 12th - 7pm
- Sunday, December 13th - 10:30am & 6:30pm
217 Beaglin Park Dr
Salisbury, Mary
Second NY Sheriff Urges Licensed Gun Owners to Carry Their Weapons
“Licensed gun owners should carry their licensed handguns if they feel that they are comfortable and proficient enough to do so,” Sullivan County (N.Y.) Sheriff Michael Schiff said on Thursday.
He made the announcement shortly after Ulster County (N.Y.) Sheriff Paul Van Blarcum urged licensed gun owners to carry their weapons -- "in light of recent events that have occurred in the United States and around the world."
“I concur with Ulster County Sheriff Paul Van Blarcum that licensed gun owners should carry their licensed handguns if they feel that they are comfortable and proficient enough to do so. They should also be familiar with State and local laws that govern firearms and the use of deadly physical force,” Sheriff Schiff said in a Facebook post.
“I also join Sheriff Van Blarcum in urging off duty police/peace officers and qualified retired law enforcement personnel to carry their firearms as well.
“The police cannot be everywhere.
More here
He made the announcement shortly after Ulster County (N.Y.) Sheriff Paul Van Blarcum urged licensed gun owners to carry their weapons -- "in light of recent events that have occurred in the United States and around the world."
“I concur with Ulster County Sheriff Paul Van Blarcum that licensed gun owners should carry their licensed handguns if they feel that they are comfortable and proficient enough to do so. They should also be familiar with State and local laws that govern firearms and the use of deadly physical force,” Sheriff Schiff said in a Facebook post.
“I also join Sheriff Van Blarcum in urging off duty police/peace officers and qualified retired law enforcement personnel to carry their firearms as well.
“The police cannot be everywhere.
More here
Judge declines petition
U.S. District Court Judge Richard Bennett issued his final opinion last week with regard to a case filed by the organization known as Ocean City Taxpayers for Social Justice, which spearheaded a petition drive to create a referendum on the next municipal ballot potentially limiting the city’s property tax rate.
The city has challenged OCTSJ’s petition in Maryland Circuit Court for Worcester County, questioning the ability of voters to dictate a specific tax rate via charter amendment, and citing a previous decision in the case of Anne Arundel County vs. Smallwood.
Subsequently, OCTSJ frontman Tony Christ filed for relief in federal court, claiming, in short, that the city’s attempt to prevent the petition from hitting the ballot, by citing the Smallwood precedent, denied the public’s First Amendment right to petition its government.
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9.4%: Black Unemployment More Than Double White Unemployment
(CNSNews) – Data released today by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) show that the unemployment rate for blacks in November was more than double the rate for whites, and was also much higher than Asian and Latino unemployment.
The rate of white unemployment nationwide in November was 4.3%, slightly down from the 4.4% in October. (That’s seasonally adjusted, workers age 16 and over.)
However, the rate of unemployment for black workers ages 16 and older was 9.4% in November, up from the 9.2% rate in October.
9.4% is more than double 4.3%.
For Asian workers 16 years and over, the rate of unemployment in November was 3.9%, slightly up from 3.5% in October, but still lower than white unemployment and far lower than black unemployment.
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The rate of white unemployment nationwide in November was 4.3%, slightly down from the 4.4% in October. (That’s seasonally adjusted, workers age 16 and over.)
However, the rate of unemployment for black workers ages 16 and older was 9.4% in November, up from the 9.2% rate in October.
9.4% is more than double 4.3%.
For Asian workers 16 years and over, the rate of unemployment in November was 3.9%, slightly up from 3.5% in October, but still lower than white unemployment and far lower than black unemployment.
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Washington Post: Gun Violence Declining, Except in Gun-Free Zones
According to WaPo, “In 1993, there were seven homicides by firearm for every 100,000 Americans. … By 2013, that figure had fallen by nearly half, to 3.6 [per 100,000].”
Breitbart News previously pointed to this decline and explained it correlated with a massive increase in privately owned firearms over the same period of time. For example, Congressional Research Service showed that the number of privately owned firearms increased from 192 million in 1994 to 310 million in 2009. And record background checks under Obama make it easy to see how tens of millions more privately owned guns have found their way into Americans’ hands since 2009.
So gun ownership increased for 20 years, but “gun homicides” decreased–except in gun free zones.
More here
Cruz: ‘We Are At War & Need a Wartime President’
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) said that Wednesday's mass shooting at a social service center in southern California “underscores that we are at war and need a wartime president.”
Cruz began his speech at the Republican Jewish Coalition 2016 Presidential Candidates Forum on Thursday with a moment of silence honoring the victims of the bloody attack in San Bernardino, Calif.
"Coming on the wake of the terror attack in Paris, this horrific murder underscores that we are at a time of war. Whether or not the current administration realizes it or is willing to acknowledge it, our enemies are at war with us. And I believe this nation needs a wartime president to defend it.”
“I’ll tell you when it comes to radical Islamic terrorism, I think our strategy, to borrow a page from Ronald Reagan in the Cold War, should be very simple: We win, they lose."
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Cruz began his speech at the Republican Jewish Coalition 2016 Presidential Candidates Forum on Thursday with a moment of silence honoring the victims of the bloody attack in San Bernardino, Calif.
"Coming on the wake of the terror attack in Paris, this horrific murder underscores that we are at a time of war. Whether or not the current administration realizes it or is willing to acknowledge it, our enemies are at war with us. And I believe this nation needs a wartime president to defend it.”
“I’ll tell you when it comes to radical Islamic terrorism, I think our strategy, to borrow a page from Ronald Reagan in the Cold War, should be very simple: We win, they lose."
More
DOJ Will Target Anti-Muslim Speech
On Thursday, Attorney General Loretta Lynch, speaking at the Muslim Advocate’s 10th anniversary dinner, shockingly refused to focus on the Muslim community after the terrorist attacks committed by Muslims in San Bernardino and Paris.
Instead, she reassured her audience, “We stand with you in this.”
In another astonishing moment, Lynch said that since the Paris attacks, her greatest concern has been the “incredibly disturbing rise of anti-Muslim rhetoric … that fear is my greatest fear.” One hundred thirty people were massacred by Muslim terrorists in Paris last month, added to the 17 killed in the Charlie Hebdo and kosher supermarket attacks in Paris, plus the 14 slaughtered in San Bernardino, the 13 soldiers murdered at Fort Hood, and the four Marines killed in Chattanooga. Lynch would not say how many Muslims have been killed in the United States because of backlash.
Lynch pontificated, “When we talk about the First Amendment we [must] make it clear that actions predicated on violent talk are not American. They are not who we are, they are not what we do, and they will be prosecuted …"
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Instead, she reassured her audience, “We stand with you in this.”
In another astonishing moment, Lynch said that since the Paris attacks, her greatest concern has been the “incredibly disturbing rise of anti-Muslim rhetoric … that fear is my greatest fear.” One hundred thirty people were massacred by Muslim terrorists in Paris last month, added to the 17 killed in the Charlie Hebdo and kosher supermarket attacks in Paris, plus the 14 slaughtered in San Bernardino, the 13 soldiers murdered at Fort Hood, and the four Marines killed in Chattanooga. Lynch would not say how many Muslims have been killed in the United States because of backlash.
Lynch pontificated, “When we talk about the First Amendment we [must] make it clear that actions predicated on violent talk are not American. They are not who we are, they are not what we do, and they will be prosecuted …"
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What Does Airbnb Popularity Spike Mean For Ocean City? Concerns Abound For Rental Industry
“They are here, and we are concerned,” said Daria Uhlig, Ocean City Vacation Rental Manager with Long and Foster. “With sites like Airbnb, customers have fewer protections. In our business, we operate at a high level of responsibility both legally and ethically. Without us, guests are more vulnerable to falling prey to scams.”
A Growing Trend
Currently, there are more than 175 listings in Ocean City on the popular website Airbnb, and across the Delmarva Peninsula, there are more than 300 listings. They range in price and length of stay, (the average is a little more than $200 a night), and users, once registered, can contact the owners personally and set everything up for their getaway to the resort without the help of a rental agent.
Still, the number of listings in the resort pales in comparison to major cities around the world, as Airbnb has become a multi-billion dollar phenomenon since its humble beginnings in 2007, offering its 10 million registered guests more than half a million listings spread across the globe in almost 200 countries.
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Female Attacker Pledged Allegiance to Islamic State, Al Qaeda Links Emerge
Syed Farook and Tashfeen Malik, who killed 14 people and injured dozens more on Wednesday, have connections to radical Islamic groups, officials say.
New details related to the Islamic terrorist attacks in San Bernardino, California have emerged, revealing the possibility that the shooters were in contact with members of Al Qaeda and the Islamic State.
Investigators believe that the female attacker pledged allegiance to the Islamic State as the rampage was ongoing.
During the jihadi attack, Tashfeen Malik posted on Facebook that she was pledging allegiance to Islamic State “caliph” Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi, officials told CNN. The investigators said she used an account under a different name.
Law enforcement sources told multiple news outlets that the bombs created by the two jihadis resembled models for which instructions were provided in Al Qaeda’s “Inspire” magazine, which was thought to be the creation of deceased Al Qaeda leader Anwar Al-Awlaki. One particular issue of “Inspire” printed a guide on “how to build a bomb in the kitchen of your mom.”
Awlaki – who served as the Imam of the Dar al-Hijrah mosque in Virginia during the 9/11 attacks, then left the country to become a leader in Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula – has been credited as the inspiration for several other Islamic terror attacks in the United States. The Fort Hood jihadi, Nidal Hasan, had a demonstrated connection to Awlaki, communicating with Al Qaeda’s chief recruiter directly. Additionally, the Boston Marathon bombers, Dzokhar and Tamerlan Tsarnaev, held a collection of propaganda clips from Awlaki.
More here
New details related to the Islamic terrorist attacks in San Bernardino, California have emerged, revealing the possibility that the shooters were in contact with members of Al Qaeda and the Islamic State.
Investigators believe that the female attacker pledged allegiance to the Islamic State as the rampage was ongoing.
During the jihadi attack, Tashfeen Malik posted on Facebook that she was pledging allegiance to Islamic State “caliph” Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi, officials told CNN. The investigators said she used an account under a different name.
Law enforcement sources told multiple news outlets that the bombs created by the two jihadis resembled models for which instructions were provided in Al Qaeda’s “Inspire” magazine, which was thought to be the creation of deceased Al Qaeda leader Anwar Al-Awlaki. One particular issue of “Inspire” printed a guide on “how to build a bomb in the kitchen of your mom.”
Awlaki – who served as the Imam of the Dar al-Hijrah mosque in Virginia during the 9/11 attacks, then left the country to become a leader in Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula – has been credited as the inspiration for several other Islamic terror attacks in the United States. The Fort Hood jihadi, Nidal Hasan, had a demonstrated connection to Awlaki, communicating with Al Qaeda’s chief recruiter directly. Additionally, the Boston Marathon bombers, Dzokhar and Tamerlan Tsarnaev, held a collection of propaganda clips from Awlaki.
More here
FBI Neglect of San Bernardino Crime Scene Fits a Pattern
The shocking sight of journalists storming into the apartment of the San Bernardino terrorists, less than 48 hours after the attack, was apparently allowed by the FBI, which handed the apartment back over to the landlord, who let the media in with a crowbar.
CNN had a reporter on the scene, but its own analyst Harry Houck was shocked, calling it a “screw-up.”
Media digs thru terrorists photo album in the bathroom. pic.twitter.com/KoA7gmViJH
— John Nolte (@NolteNC) December 4, 2015
While the journalists’ behavior was disturbing, it fit a pattern: the Obama administration is careless about, or is reluctant to find, evidence of terrorism.
For example, the government has done almost nothing with the treasure trove of intelligence information it recovered during the raid on Osama bin Laden’s compound in May 2011. Stephen F. Hayes of the Weekly Standard has waged a lonely battle to force the government to take the intelligence seriously–intelligence that could disrupt terror networks and prevent future attacks around the world. “They haven’t done anything close to a full exploitation,” perhaps only 10%, he quoted one analyst in May 2015.
More here
CNN had a reporter on the scene, but its own analyst Harry Houck was shocked, calling it a “screw-up.”
Media digs thru terrorists photo album in the bathroom. pic.twitter.com/KoA7gmViJH
— John Nolte (@NolteNC) December 4, 2015
While the journalists’ behavior was disturbing, it fit a pattern: the Obama administration is careless about, or is reluctant to find, evidence of terrorism.
For example, the government has done almost nothing with the treasure trove of intelligence information it recovered during the raid on Osama bin Laden’s compound in May 2011. Stephen F. Hayes of the Weekly Standard has waged a lonely battle to force the government to take the intelligence seriously–intelligence that could disrupt terror networks and prevent future attacks around the world. “They haven’t done anything close to a full exploitation,” perhaps only 10%, he quoted one analyst in May 2015.
More here
Gun-control Fans Mock Republicans for ‘Thoughts and Prayers’
Gun-control advocates slammed Republicans calling for “thoughts and prayers” in the aftermath of the horrific San Bernardino shooting, prompting accusations of “prayer shaming” on the right.
Sen. Chris Murphy, Connecticut Democrat, sparked the outcry on social media by appearing to mock the traditional call for “thoughts and prayers” following the Wednesday shooting, saying on Twitter that, “Your ‘prayers’ should be for forgiveness if you do nothing—again.”
The hashtags #thoughtsandprayers and #prayershaming continued to draw myriad comments Thursday on both sides of the gun-control debate.
Igor Volsky, contributing editor for the left-wing website ThinkProgress, said on Twitter, “Thanks for tweeting, following, & watching today as we shamed NRA-bought lawmakers for #thoughtsandprayers.”
The New York Daily News ran the dramatic headline “God Isn’t Fixing This” on its front page Thursday, alongside highlighted statements asking for prayers from Republican presidential candidates Ted Cruz, Lindsey Graham and Rand Paul, as well as House Speaker Paul Ryan.
“As the latest batch of innocent Americans are left lying in pools of blood, cowards who could truly end gun scourge continue to hide behind meaningless platitudes,” said the cover of the newspaper, which regularly advocates for tougher gun-control measures.
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Sen. Chris Murphy, Connecticut Democrat, sparked the outcry on social media by appearing to mock the traditional call for “thoughts and prayers” following the Wednesday shooting, saying on Twitter that, “Your ‘prayers’ should be for forgiveness if you do nothing—again.”
The hashtags #thoughtsandprayers and #prayershaming continued to draw myriad comments Thursday on both sides of the gun-control debate.
Igor Volsky, contributing editor for the left-wing website ThinkProgress, said on Twitter, “Thanks for tweeting, following, & watching today as we shamed NRA-bought lawmakers for #thoughtsandprayers.”
The New York Daily News ran the dramatic headline “God Isn’t Fixing This” on its front page Thursday, alongside highlighted statements asking for prayers from Republican presidential candidates Ted Cruz, Lindsey Graham and Rand Paul, as well as House Speaker Paul Ryan.
“As the latest batch of innocent Americans are left lying in pools of blood, cowards who could truly end gun scourge continue to hide behind meaningless platitudes,” said the cover of the newspaper, which regularly advocates for tougher gun-control measures.
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Terror Suspect Named By Police BEFORE Obama’s Initial Briefing
The timeline of events in the Islamist massacre Tuesday in San Bernardino, California, shows that Syed Farook’s name was announced on a publicly available police scanner several times prior to President Barack Obama being briefed on the subject – and long before White House officials started to portray the apparent jihad shooting as a “workplace” or “gun control” issue.
11:00 am – Police receive 911 calls saying shots have been fired inside the Inland Regional Center.
11:40 am — Police announce the suspect’s name on police scanner: Syed Farook. This is tweeted by several people who heard it.
12:00pm — Police repeat the suspect’s name, Syed Farook, several times.
12:25 pm – President Obama is briefed on the situation.
6:45 pm – One of the suspects is named in media reports as Syed Farook.
That’s seven hours after the police has announced Syed Farook’s name several times on the police scanner that the media finally reported it. In the meantime, the President, Democrat politicians and the media pushed the “gun violence” narrative.
As Breitbart News reported, even on Friday morning, the Obama White House was refusing to call the San Bernardino Christmas party slaughter terrorism:
More here
11:00 am – Police receive 911 calls saying shots have been fired inside the Inland Regional Center.
11:40 am — Police announce the suspect’s name on police scanner: Syed Farook. This is tweeted by several people who heard it.
12:00pm — Police repeat the suspect’s name, Syed Farook, several times.
12:25 pm – President Obama is briefed on the situation.
6:45 pm – One of the suspects is named in media reports as Syed Farook.
That’s seven hours after the police has announced Syed Farook’s name several times on the police scanner that the media finally reported it. In the meantime, the President, Democrat politicians and the media pushed the “gun violence” narrative.
As Breitbart News reported, even on Friday morning, the Obama White House was refusing to call the San Bernardino Christmas party slaughter terrorism:
More here
Police/Courts 12/04/2015
Travis Corl, 22, of Howard, Pa., was arrested for allegedly carrying a concealed handgun without a Maryland permit.
OCPD Pfc. Michael Dzurnak pulled Corl over for a broken headlight at 8:20 a.m. on Nov. 30 around 40th Street, according to charging documents.
Dzurnak wrote that he asked Corl if he had a concealed carry permit in Pennsylvania, which Corl apparently freely shared that he did.
Dzurnak then searched the car, finding a Springfield XDS 9mm handgun in the driver’s side map pocket.
Hot boxed
Ocean City police charged three people in relation to a Jeep being driven up Baltimore Avenue with an “overwhelming” amount of marijuana smoke, as well as other illicit substances.
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U of CA ‘White Student Union’ Issues List of Demands, Sets Date For ‘White Student Walk Out’
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Members of a recently formed White Student Union at the University of California Santa Barbara are showing their serious by releasing a list of demands, and organizing a walkout for next month.
Students created the Facebook page “UCSB White Student Union” in late November “to challenge its membership to actively address political, social, and cultural injustices while at the same time celebrating and acknowledging the advancement of People of European Descent (PED) at the University of California, Santa Barbara and Beyond,” according to the page description.
The page surfaced online along with similar Facebook pages for more than two dozen colleges across the United States, as well as others in places like Australia. The groups instantly sparked charges of racism, as well as messages of support, though many news sites dismissed the White Student Union pages as hoaxes launched by racists who don’t attend the schools.
Breitbart.com debunked that notion in interviews with several students who started the pages, including nonwhite students who were inspired by “what they see as unchecked hostility towards their fellow white students,” according to the site.
The UCSB White Student Union – which is not formally recognized by the university – is also eager to set the record straight, and released a list of demands on its Facebook page yesterday it views as essential to countering hostilities against PED.
“We, students of European descent at UCSB, refuse to accept the negative social climate created towards our peers of European descent and other marginalized groups. We have begun a movement, UCSB white Student Union, in an effort to change the status quo for a more just and inclusive environment within our campus,” the statement read.
More here
Students created the Facebook page “UCSB White Student Union” in late November “to challenge its membership to actively address political, social, and cultural injustices while at the same time celebrating and acknowledging the advancement of People of European Descent (PED) at the University of California, Santa Barbara and Beyond,” according to the page description.
The page surfaced online along with similar Facebook pages for more than two dozen colleges across the United States, as well as others in places like Australia. The groups instantly sparked charges of racism, as well as messages of support, though many news sites dismissed the White Student Union pages as hoaxes launched by racists who don’t attend the schools.
Breitbart.com debunked that notion in interviews with several students who started the pages, including nonwhite students who were inspired by “what they see as unchecked hostility towards their fellow white students,” according to the site.
The UCSB White Student Union – which is not formally recognized by the university – is also eager to set the record straight, and released a list of demands on its Facebook page yesterday it views as essential to countering hostilities against PED.
“We, students of European descent at UCSB, refuse to accept the negative social climate created towards our peers of European descent and other marginalized groups. We have begun a movement, UCSB white Student Union, in an effort to change the status quo for a more just and inclusive environment within our campus,” the statement read.
More here
Latest Busker Lawsuit Targets City, Attorney, Boardwalk Stores
OCEAN CITY – The Town of Ocean City is facing yet another street performer lawsuit, but this time, it isn’t the only defendant in the case.
Eight street performers, acting under the supervision and guidance of local rabble rouser Tony Christ, filed a $2 million lawsuit on Nov. 20 in the United States District Court of Maryland against the Town of Ocean City, City Solicitor Guy Ayres and unnamed businesses on the Boardwalk.
“These performers feel that their livelihoods are in jeopardy, and the town has made a huge investment in an ordinance we believe is unconstitutional,” said Christ.
Harsh Claims Made
The lawsuit is seeking $1 million in compensatory and punitive damages from the town and another $1 million from unnamed shop owners identified only as “John Does” in the filing for “harassing, interfering, threatening, and in general, acting in a manner to drive and eliminate performers from the Boardwalk.”
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Eight street performers, acting under the supervision and guidance of local rabble rouser Tony Christ, filed a $2 million lawsuit on Nov. 20 in the United States District Court of Maryland against the Town of Ocean City, City Solicitor Guy Ayres and unnamed businesses on the Boardwalk.
“These performers feel that their livelihoods are in jeopardy, and the town has made a huge investment in an ordinance we believe is unconstitutional,” said Christ.
Harsh Claims Made
The lawsuit is seeking $1 million in compensatory and punitive damages from the town and another $1 million from unnamed shop owners identified only as “John Does” in the filing for “harassing, interfering, threatening, and in general, acting in a manner to drive and eliminate performers from the Boardwalk.”
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Baltimore Liberals Demand Governor Reverse Appointment of Conservative to School Board
Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz wrote the governor last week to object to Hogan’s appointment because of Miller’s views on issues like illegal immigrants, same-sex marriage, transgender rights and Common Core national education standards, The Baltimore Sun reports.
“An effective school board member must be tolerant and respectful of Baltimore County’s increasingly diverse population and must be an advocate for all children attending public school,” Kamentez wrote.
Gustavo Torres, head of the immigration rights group Casa de Maryland, also wrote the governor to complain Miller would stand in the way of “fair and equitable access to resources and educational diversity,” according to the news site.
“We strongly believe in social justice for all and can’t abide her narrow-minded attacks,” Abby Beytin, president of the radically liberal Baltimore teachers union, told the Sun.
Read more here
Found Dog. Mardela Springs
Democrat Congressmen to Visit D.C. Terror Mosque
WASHINGTON— In the wake of a radical Islamic terror attack in San Bernardino, California, that saw 14 people dead and a dozen others wounded, three Democrat Congressman will show “solidarity” with the American Muslim community by visiting a mosque once led by Anwar al-Awlaki, the deceased chief recruiter for Al Qaeda.
Awlaki is no more, but the mosque where he once served as Imam still stands openly and proudly just outside of Washington, D.C., in the Falls Church neighborhood of Northern Virginia.
Democrat Representatives Rep. Donald Beyer (D-VA), Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN), and Rep. Joseph Crowley (D-NY) announced in a letter: “We must show that we will not tolerate islamophobia and that those who propagate it do not represent the melting-pot America that we celebrate.”
“We invite you to join in this Friday to stand in solidarity with Dar Al-Hijrah Mosque — the mosque that received the hoax bomb — and with all our American Muslim communities, by attending Friday prayers and joining us for a short press conference against bigotry,” the Democratic House members said.
“Help us show solidarity with the American Muslim community by joining us on Friday,” they asked.
The Dar Al-Hijrah mosque was founded thanks to a $5 million dollar grant from Saudi Arabia’s Embassy in the United States, which allowed for the large facility to accommodate some 5,000 Muslims.
More here
Awlaki is no more, but the mosque where he once served as Imam still stands openly and proudly just outside of Washington, D.C., in the Falls Church neighborhood of Northern Virginia.
Democrat Representatives Rep. Donald Beyer (D-VA), Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN), and Rep. Joseph Crowley (D-NY) announced in a letter: “We must show that we will not tolerate islamophobia and that those who propagate it do not represent the melting-pot America that we celebrate.”
“We invite you to join in this Friday to stand in solidarity with Dar Al-Hijrah Mosque — the mosque that received the hoax bomb — and with all our American Muslim communities, by attending Friday prayers and joining us for a short press conference against bigotry,” the Democratic House members said.
“Help us show solidarity with the American Muslim community by joining us on Friday,” they asked.
The Dar Al-Hijrah mosque was founded thanks to a $5 million dollar grant from Saudi Arabia’s Embassy in the United States, which allowed for the large facility to accommodate some 5,000 Muslims.
More here
The Biggest Victim of Weekly Newspapers' Demise: Good Government
Alternative weekly newspapers are going out of business all over the country, leaving a huge void in local government coverage. Who will scrutinize city halls now?
The front page of the Philadelphia City Paper’s final issue, which came out in early October, showed a typewriter sitting on a desk and a simple message: “Goodbye, Philadelphia.” The old-school image carried both sentimental and symbolic value. The black Royal typewriter in the picture originally belonged to the alternative newsweekly’s first publisher when he helped found the paper in 1981. Somehow it stayed with the staff, even through four office moves, as new technologies rendered it completely obsolete, and as the weekly’s circulation climbed to 300,000 in the mid 1990s and then dwindled to 56,000 by the time it ceased publishing.
City Paper joins a number of high-profile alternative weeklies that have succumbed to changing media trends in recent years. The Boston Phoenix and San Francisco Bay Guardian, both venerable publications, closed. The Village Voice in New York City let go of most of its best-known writers in 2013. Indeed, layoffs have been common throughout the industry, thanks to declining circulation among the biggest alt-weeklies. The country’s top 20 alternative weeklies lost an aggregated 6 percent of their audience just within one year, 2014, according to the Pew Research Center. Only three of the 20 papers increased their circulation.
Everybody knows times have been tough for local journalism, and there’s been plenty of attention anytime a mainstream daily newspaper has shut down (the Rocky Mountain News, The Cincinnati Post), ceased daily printing (New Orleans’ Times-Picayune, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer) or scaled back staff (basically everyone). These events have tremendous implications for how government is covered. Often it means readers get less information about far-off places, whether they be foreign cities or state capitals.
More
The front page of the Philadelphia City Paper’s final issue, which came out in early October, showed a typewriter sitting on a desk and a simple message: “Goodbye, Philadelphia.” The old-school image carried both sentimental and symbolic value. The black Royal typewriter in the picture originally belonged to the alternative newsweekly’s first publisher when he helped found the paper in 1981. Somehow it stayed with the staff, even through four office moves, as new technologies rendered it completely obsolete, and as the weekly’s circulation climbed to 300,000 in the mid 1990s and then dwindled to 56,000 by the time it ceased publishing.
City Paper joins a number of high-profile alternative weeklies that have succumbed to changing media trends in recent years. The Boston Phoenix and San Francisco Bay Guardian, both venerable publications, closed. The Village Voice in New York City let go of most of its best-known writers in 2013. Indeed, layoffs have been common throughout the industry, thanks to declining circulation among the biggest alt-weeklies. The country’s top 20 alternative weeklies lost an aggregated 6 percent of their audience just within one year, 2014, according to the Pew Research Center. Only three of the 20 papers increased their circulation.
Everybody knows times have been tough for local journalism, and there’s been plenty of attention anytime a mainstream daily newspaper has shut down (the Rocky Mountain News, The Cincinnati Post), ceased daily printing (New Orleans’ Times-Picayune, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer) or scaled back staff (basically everyone). These events have tremendous implications for how government is covered. Often it means readers get less information about far-off places, whether they be foreign cities or state capitals.
More
Climate report details erosion, rising sea levels on Delmarva
Whether it’s Assateague Island or Ocean City on the eastern side or Smith Island to its west, the Delmarva Peninsula is taking on water and while beach replenishment — among other climate change countermeasures — are having an effect, recent studies cited a new federal report say it’s time to do more.
“Changing climate has its consequences for parks, for people and for the planet,” Liz Davis, interpretation and education chief at the National Seashore, said. “The parks are responding. The choices we make now can avoid catastrophe in the future.”
Released last week in conjunction with the 21-nation climate change conference taking place in Paris were the results of 24 case studies of several different parks, including Assateague and Yellowstone.
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“Changing climate has its consequences for parks, for people and for the planet,” Liz Davis, interpretation and education chief at the National Seashore, said. “The parks are responding. The choices we make now can avoid catastrophe in the future.”
Released last week in conjunction with the 21-nation climate change conference taking place in Paris were the results of 24 case studies of several different parks, including Assateague and Yellowstone.
More
Transgender Boy Allowed To Shower In Girls' Locker
Facings federal threats of lost millions in funding for the children of taxpaying parents, a school district in the suburbs of Chicago voted on Thursday to allow a male high school student who dresses like a girl and otherwise identifies as female to use the girls’ locker room and shower there.
The student will use a separate, semi-private area in the girls’ locker room of his public high school.
The settlement between the U.S. Department of Education and the school district — the largest in Illinois — provides that the male student can use girls’ locker rooms as long as he changes in changing stations described as private, according to a Department of Education statement.
The feds have also deigned to allow the district to install curtains in the girls’ locker room for use by any actual, biological girls who want privacy.
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The student will use a separate, semi-private area in the girls’ locker room of his public high school.
The settlement between the U.S. Department of Education and the school district — the largest in Illinois — provides that the male student can use girls’ locker rooms as long as he changes in changing stations described as private, according to a Department of Education statement.
The feds have also deigned to allow the district to install curtains in the girls’ locker room for use by any actual, biological girls who want privacy.
More
Holiday Weekend Attendance Breaks OC Winterfest Record
Winterfest of Lights, Ocean City’s centerpiece attraction based at Northside Park during the holiday season, drew 22,423 visitors from Wednesday through Sunday, setting a new record for the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. The previous record for the same time frame for Thanksgiving weekend was set in 2011 when 21,149 enjoyed Winterfest of Lights. Last year, 19,918 came through the gates at Winterfest over the same weekend. Last year’s Winterfest set the overall attendance record for the 23-year special event.
Last weekend’s record was largely weather-driven, with daytime temperatures in the upper 60s and low 70s for much of the weekend and evening temps not dipping much further below. Big crowds strolled the Boardwalk and enjoyed the beach and even a handful of late fall swimmers enjoyed a dip in the ocean. Anecdotally, around 6 p.m. on Friday, the line of vehicles in the center lane of Coastal Highway waiting to enter the Winterfest of Lights area at Northside Park at 125th Street was backed up to about 118th Street.
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A Viewer Writes: Article from 1930
Thought you might find the imagery from 85 years ago interesting considering the time's we're in today.
Governor Larry Hogan, First Lady To Host Holiday Open House at Government House
All Marylanders Welcome for Public Celebration
ANNAPOLIS, MD – Governor Larry Hogan and First Lady Yumi Hogan invite Marylanders and their families to join them for a Holiday Open House on Saturday, December 12, from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM at Government House. The event is free of charge, open to the public, and no reservations are required.
The First Family asks that guests consider bringing unwrapped toys that will be donated to those in need during this holiday season. On behalf of Toys for Tots, the Marine Corps Reserve will be collecting donations under a tent by the front gate.
The decorations for the open house will include Christmas trees provided by Lowe’s Bayshore Nursery in Stevensville, MD, and refreshments will include assortments of holiday cookies, brownies, and desert bars prepared by Government House chefs. Hot Wassail will also be available for guests waiting in line outside of Government House and live music will be provided by Maryland high school groups, with a different performance each hour.
Holiday ornaments provided by the Foundation for the Preservation of Government House of Maryland will be sold inside, proceeds from which will help support and maintain the historical significance of Government House with repairs, remodeling, and preservation.
Earlier this week, the governor and first lady also welcomed members of garden clubs from all 24 Maryland jurisdictions to the State House to personally deliver and decorate a Christmas tree in the rotunda. The governor and first lady presented a certificate of appreciation and Christmas ornaments to each club. Menorahs have also been placed in the State House and Government House, the first candles of which will be lit Sunday at sundown in recognition of the beginning of Hanukkah.
ANNAPOLIS, MD – Governor Larry Hogan and First Lady Yumi Hogan invite Marylanders and their families to join them for a Holiday Open House on Saturday, December 12, from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM at Government House. The event is free of charge, open to the public, and no reservations are required.
The First Family asks that guests consider bringing unwrapped toys that will be donated to those in need during this holiday season. On behalf of Toys for Tots, the Marine Corps Reserve will be collecting donations under a tent by the front gate.
The decorations for the open house will include Christmas trees provided by Lowe’s Bayshore Nursery in Stevensville, MD, and refreshments will include assortments of holiday cookies, brownies, and desert bars prepared by Government House chefs. Hot Wassail will also be available for guests waiting in line outside of Government House and live music will be provided by Maryland high school groups, with a different performance each hour.
Holiday ornaments provided by the Foundation for the Preservation of Government House of Maryland will be sold inside, proceeds from which will help support and maintain the historical significance of Government House with repairs, remodeling, and preservation.
Earlier this week, the governor and first lady also welcomed members of garden clubs from all 24 Maryland jurisdictions to the State House to personally deliver and decorate a Christmas tree in the rotunda. The governor and first lady presented a certificate of appreciation and Christmas ornaments to each club. Menorahs have also been placed in the State House and Government House, the first candles of which will be lit Sunday at sundown in recognition of the beginning of Hanukkah.
Governor Larry Hogan Announces New 30-year Contract for Port of Baltimore
Norway-based Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics Long-Term Extension Supporting Nearly 1,000 Direct Jobs
ANNAPOLIS, MD – Governor Larry Hogan, along with state and local elected officials, today announced a new 30-year contract between the Maryland Department of Transportation’s Maryland Port Administration and the Helen Delich Bentley Port of Baltimore’s top roll on/roll off customer, global shipping and logistics giant Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics (WWL). Roll on/roll off cargo includes everything from cars to heavy farm and construction machinery such as harvesters, combines, excavators, and dump trucks. The new partnership guarantees that WWL will continue serving the Port of Baltimore through 2045.
“Our entire administration is committed to making Maryland more business friendly, and today we add WWL to our state's growing list of business success stories," said Governor Hogan. "This new contract, tying WWL's success to that of the Port of Baltimore for the next three decades, will support nearly 1,000 jobs here in Maryland and is a ringing endorsement of the strength and importance of this partnership.”
The new contract replaces an existing 20-year deal between WWL and the Port that was due to expire in 2021. It also supports nearly 1,000 direct jobs at the Port of Baltimore and 1,500 indirect jobs that are generated by WWL business in the state.
WWL has played a large role in developing the Port of Baltimore into the number one auto and ro/ro port in the nation. In 2014, the Port of Baltimore handled a record 792,000 cars, which was more than any other U.S. port. It also saw more than 861,000 tons of ro/ro equipment cross its piers.
“Baltimore is WWL’s largest port of business in the Americas, and a gateway to key markets in the U.S. and around the globe,” said Raymond Fitzgerald, President – Atlantic at Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics. “WWL-operated ships call Baltimore nearly 150 times each year to accommodate the needs of our customers—some of the largest and top vehicle, heavy machinery and RoRo shippers in the world.”
The Port of Baltimore’s public marine terminals had a record year in 2014 and overall the Port saw 29.5 million tons of international cargo cross its docks at a value of nearly $53 billion. Baltimore is ranked as the top port among all U.S. ports for handling autos and light trucks, farm and construction machinery, imported forest products, imported sugar and imported aluminum. Overall, Baltimore is ranked ninth for the total dollar value of cargo and 13th for cargo tonnage for all U.S. ports. Earlier this year the Port of Baltimore was named as the top U.S. port for container berth productivity by a leading industry media company.
Business at the Port of Baltimore generates about 13,650 direct jobs, while about 127,600 jobs in Maryland are linked to Port activities. The Port is responsible for nearly $3 billion in personal wages and salary and more than $300 million in state and local tax revenues.
ANNAPOLIS, MD – Governor Larry Hogan, along with state and local elected officials, today announced a new 30-year contract between the Maryland Department of Transportation’s Maryland Port Administration and the Helen Delich Bentley Port of Baltimore’s top roll on/roll off customer, global shipping and logistics giant Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics (WWL). Roll on/roll off cargo includes everything from cars to heavy farm and construction machinery such as harvesters, combines, excavators, and dump trucks. The new partnership guarantees that WWL will continue serving the Port of Baltimore through 2045.
“Our entire administration is committed to making Maryland more business friendly, and today we add WWL to our state's growing list of business success stories," said Governor Hogan. "This new contract, tying WWL's success to that of the Port of Baltimore for the next three decades, will support nearly 1,000 jobs here in Maryland and is a ringing endorsement of the strength and importance of this partnership.”
The new contract replaces an existing 20-year deal between WWL and the Port that was due to expire in 2021. It also supports nearly 1,000 direct jobs at the Port of Baltimore and 1,500 indirect jobs that are generated by WWL business in the state.
WWL has played a large role in developing the Port of Baltimore into the number one auto and ro/ro port in the nation. In 2014, the Port of Baltimore handled a record 792,000 cars, which was more than any other U.S. port. It also saw more than 861,000 tons of ro/ro equipment cross its piers.
“Baltimore is WWL’s largest port of business in the Americas, and a gateway to key markets in the U.S. and around the globe,” said Raymond Fitzgerald, President – Atlantic at Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics. “WWL-operated ships call Baltimore nearly 150 times each year to accommodate the needs of our customers—some of the largest and top vehicle, heavy machinery and RoRo shippers in the world.”
The Port of Baltimore’s public marine terminals had a record year in 2014 and overall the Port saw 29.5 million tons of international cargo cross its docks at a value of nearly $53 billion. Baltimore is ranked as the top port among all U.S. ports for handling autos and light trucks, farm and construction machinery, imported forest products, imported sugar and imported aluminum. Overall, Baltimore is ranked ninth for the total dollar value of cargo and 13th for cargo tonnage for all U.S. ports. Earlier this year the Port of Baltimore was named as the top U.S. port for container berth productivity by a leading industry media company.
Business at the Port of Baltimore generates about 13,650 direct jobs, while about 127,600 jobs in Maryland are linked to Port activities. The Port is responsible for nearly $3 billion in personal wages and salary and more than $300 million in state and local tax revenues.
Wicomico County’s Recreation, Parks & Tourism Honors Volunteers at Annual Banquet
Salisbury, MD – Each year, community members dedicate over 4,000 hours of time to Wicomico County’s Recreation, Parks and Tourism Department. These volunteers, who are working to make a positive difference in Wicomico County, were honored at the annual Volunteer Appreciation and Sportsmanship Awards Banquet on Wednesday, December 2 at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center.
Nearly 20 volunteers were nominated this year by their peers. Based on the nominations submitted, the Recreation Commission presented awards to the following recipients.
Award recipients included:
Outstanding Youth Coach Sportsmanship Allen Seaton
Outstanding Youth Sportsmanship Maggie Ford
Outstanding Sports Coach Sheila Loar
Outstanding Citizen Volunteer Derrek Richardson
Outstanding Community Volunteer Ann Dyke
Outstanding Civic Booster Westside Missions
Outstanding Environmental Improvement Volunteer Dawn Bounds
Outstanding Tourism Volunteer Lee Whaley
Outstanding Recreation Council Volunteer Raeshema Hitch-Whaley & Dia Hitch
Outstanding Youth Volunteer Kyle Dickerson & Megan Rickards
Lorne C. Rickert Lifetime Volunteer Ralph Cordrey
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Photo: Back, L-R: Doug Bounds (accepting for Dawn Bounds), Allen Seaton, Westside Missions, Kyle Dickerson; Front, L-R: Megan Rickards, Ann Dyke, Maggie Ford, Austin Loar (accepting for Sheila Loar), Raeshema Hitch-Whaley
Chick-Fil-A Customer Stunned By What He Finds On Unattended Table… He Was Speechless
This time it did so by unveiling an amazing Veterans Day tribute that left Georgia resident Eric Comfort in complete shock.
According to a Facebook post he published on Monday, when he walked into a local Chick-fil-A, Comfort discovered a “Missing Man Table” that contained a single rose, a Bible and a folded American flag, as well as a plaque within which was the following explanation:
“This table is reserved to honor our missing comrades in arms. The tablecloth is white — symbolizing the purity of their motives when answering the call of duty. The single red rose, displayed in a vase, reminds us of the life of each of the missing and their loved ones and friends of these Americans who keep the faith, awaiting answers. The vase is tied with a red ribbon, symbol of our continued determination to account for our missing. A pinch of salt symbolizes the tears endured by those missing and their families who seek answers. The Bible represents the strength gained through faith to sustain those lost from our country, founded as one nation under God. The glass is inverted — to symbolize their inability to share this evening’s toast. The chair is empty — they are missing.”
After the story went viral, the store manager, Alex Korchan, explained to WSB that his team members had set up the table because they “wanted to honor veterans.”
Furthermore, he revealed that he planned to offer free meals to all veterans and their family members this Veterans Day between the hours of 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Korchan also put up a poster so that customers could write in the names of loved ones who they have lost.
“We’ve had a lot of people who have come in and seen it and been touched by it,” Korchan continued. “It’s been special to see.”
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