DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Saturday, January 02, 2016
Exports of Taxpayer-Subsidized Ethanol to China Grew 975% in 2015
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services Michael Scuse, who led a trade mission of representatives from nine state departments of agriculture and 28 U.S. companies to northeast China in 2014, announced that United States ethanol exports to China have increased exponentially.
Scuse stated, “U.S. ethanol exports to China have jumped from $8 million to more than $86 million since our May 2014 visit. In October, we exported more ethanol to China than in the previous 10 years combined.”
Ethanol production in America is subsidized to the tune of billions of dollars each year by the government. This production has grown since an increasing number of taxpayer dollars have been added to subsidy.
Taken together, this means that Americans are subsidizing ethanol for China.
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Scuse stated, “U.S. ethanol exports to China have jumped from $8 million to more than $86 million since our May 2014 visit. In October, we exported more ethanol to China than in the previous 10 years combined.”
Ethanol production in America is subsidized to the tune of billions of dollars each year by the government. This production has grown since an increasing number of taxpayer dollars have been added to subsidy.
Taken together, this means that Americans are subsidizing ethanol for China.
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Members of Congress Seek to Derail IRS’ Proposed Change to ‘Giving Rule’
(CNSNews.com) -- Members of Congress in both the House and Senate are trying to legislatively derail a proposed Internal Revenue Service (IRS) “giving rule” that would change the way charitable gifts are reported.
The proposed amendment, which was published Sept. 17 in the Federal Register, would alter Section 170(f)(8) of the IRS Code that requires taxpayers seeking charitable tax exemptions to provide the IRS with a “contemporaneous written acknowledgement” (CWA) of any donations larger than $250.
It would give non-profits the option to file information on donors - including their Social Security numbers - on a new form that would be sent directly to the IRS no later than Feb. 28 of the year after the donation was made.
On Dec. 8, Sen. Pat Roberts (R-KS) introduced a bill that would “prohibit the Internal Revenue Service from modifying or amending the standards and regulations governing the substantiation of charitable contributions.”
A similar bill introduced in the House by Congressmen Keith Rothfus (R-PA) and Brian Higgins (D-NY) would directly “prohibit the inclusion of social security numbers of donors in charitable contribution substantiation acknowledgeents.”
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The proposed amendment, which was published Sept. 17 in the Federal Register, would alter Section 170(f)(8) of the IRS Code that requires taxpayers seeking charitable tax exemptions to provide the IRS with a “contemporaneous written acknowledgement” (CWA) of any donations larger than $250.
It would give non-profits the option to file information on donors - including their Social Security numbers - on a new form that would be sent directly to the IRS no later than Feb. 28 of the year after the donation was made.
On Dec. 8, Sen. Pat Roberts (R-KS) introduced a bill that would “prohibit the Internal Revenue Service from modifying or amending the standards and regulations governing the substantiation of charitable contributions.”
A similar bill introduced in the House by Congressmen Keith Rothfus (R-PA) and Brian Higgins (D-NY) would directly “prohibit the inclusion of social security numbers of donors in charitable contribution substantiation acknowledgeents.”
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R&B Singer Chris Brown Accused of Battery; Las Vegas Police Investigating
Lt. Jeff Goodwin says authorities received a call shortly before 10:30 a.m. Saturday about the alleged battery at the Palms Casino Resort. Goodwin would not release any details about the allegation, saying the investigation is still going on.
A woman told TMZ she was at a private party in Brown’s suite, got her cellphone past security, snapped a photo of Brown — and she claimed he yelled at her and punched her once in her eye.
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Planned Parenthood's New Annual Report: 323,999 Abortions; $553.7M in Government Money
(CNSNews.com) – Planned Parenthood says in its new 2014-2015 annual report, which was released this month, that its affiliates around the country did 323,999 abortion procedures in the fiscal year that ended on Sept. 30, 2014 and that those affiliates received $553.7 million in “government health services grants and reimbursements” in the year that ended on June 30, 2015.
In its previous annual report, Planned Parenthood had reported that its affiliates did 327,653 abortions in the fiscal year that ended on Sept. 30, 2013 and that those affiliates had received $528.4 million in “government health services grants and reimbursements” in the year that ended on June 30, 2014.
Earlier Planned Parenthood annual reports say its affiliates did 327,166 abortion procedures in fiscal 2012 and 333,964 in fiscal 2011.
The amount of government money Planned Parenthood reported that its affiliates received increased in the latest annual report, climbing $25.3 million from $528.4 million in the year that ended on June 30, 2014 to the $553.7 million they received in the year that ended on June 30, 2015.
CNSNews.com contacted Planned Parenthood to ask why the organization has different 12-month periods for reporting services and revenues but no response was received.
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In its previous annual report, Planned Parenthood had reported that its affiliates did 327,653 abortions in the fiscal year that ended on Sept. 30, 2013 and that those affiliates had received $528.4 million in “government health services grants and reimbursements” in the year that ended on June 30, 2014.
Earlier Planned Parenthood annual reports say its affiliates did 327,166 abortion procedures in fiscal 2012 and 333,964 in fiscal 2011.
The amount of government money Planned Parenthood reported that its affiliates received increased in the latest annual report, climbing $25.3 million from $528.4 million in the year that ended on June 30, 2014 to the $553.7 million they received in the year that ended on June 30, 2015.
CNSNews.com contacted Planned Parenthood to ask why the organization has different 12-month periods for reporting services and revenues but no response was received.
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Arizona 12-Year-Old Collects 1,000 Coats For The Homeless: ‘If I Was Out There, I Would Want Someone To Care For Me.’
Makenna Breading-Goodrich of Surprise, Arizona, has collected coats for those in need for the last four years.
She even founded an organization, Makenna’s Coats for a Cause, which works to ensure that those in need are able to stay warm.
“It gets really cold around here at night, like 30 degrees, and I want to make sure homeless people aren’t walking around without jackets or blankets at night!” Breading-Goodrich told People Magazine. “I just want people to know someone cares about them.”
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Shore Projects Score Big With State Rehab Grants; Resort Hotel Demo Project Gets $200K Boost
Hogan announced on Tuesday the roughly $11 million in grants will be made available to local jurisdictions, including Ocean City, Berlin and Snow Hill and Worcester and also Wicomico County.
The neighborhood revitalization grants generally fall under two major categories including the Community Legacy Program and the Strategic Demolition Fund, although there is also a category dubbed the Baltimore Regional Neighborhoods Initiative.
“My administration is committed to revitalizing Maryland’s older communities,” said Hogan. “These grants will help local communities make necessary improvements while paving the way for additional public and private investments in their neighborhoods and along their streets.”
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Obama Preparing To Take Executive Action On Guns
President Obama is preparing to take executive action on guns soon, after being rebuffed by Congress in his effort to crack down on gun violence.
Gun control advocates say the move could come as early as next week.
"The president has made clear he's not satisfied with where we are and expects that work to be completed soon," said White House spokesman Eric Schultz.
Obama has been frustrated by his inability to push gun safety legislation through Congress, despite a major effort three years ago after the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., which left 26 people dead including 20 children.
After another deadly massacre in October at an Oregon community college, Obama asked his advisers to look again for actions he could take on his own. One idea that has been floated is designed to narrow the number of gun sales that take place without a background check.
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Gun control advocates say the move could come as early as next week.
"The president has made clear he's not satisfied with where we are and expects that work to be completed soon," said White House spokesman Eric Schultz.
Obama has been frustrated by his inability to push gun safety legislation through Congress, despite a major effort three years ago after the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., which left 26 people dead including 20 children.
After another deadly massacre in October at an Oregon community college, Obama asked his advisers to look again for actions he could take on his own. One idea that has been floated is designed to narrow the number of gun sales that take place without a background check.
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Mosque Linked To Muslim Brotherhood Has Received Millions In Federal Grants
A Kansas City mosque owned by an Islamic umbrella organization with deep ties to the U.S. arm of the Muslim Brotherhood has received millions of dollars in federal grants over the past several years, according to a federal spending database.
The Islamic Center of Greater Kansas City has received $2,739,891 from the Department of Agriculture since 2010, a Daily Caller analysis has found. The money largely went to the mosque’s Crescent Clinic to provide services through the Women, Infant and Children nutrition program, known as WIC.
The most recent federal payment — in the amount of $327,436 — was handed out Oct. 1.
Property records show the mosque is owned by the North American Islamic Trust (NAIT), which acts as a financial holding company for Islamic organizations. It offers sharia-compliant financial products to Muslim investors, operates Islamic schools and owns more than 300 other mosques throughout the U.S.
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The Islamic Center of Greater Kansas City has received $2,739,891 from the Department of Agriculture since 2010, a Daily Caller analysis has found. The money largely went to the mosque’s Crescent Clinic to provide services through the Women, Infant and Children nutrition program, known as WIC.
The most recent federal payment — in the amount of $327,436 — was handed out Oct. 1.
Property records show the mosque is owned by the North American Islamic Trust (NAIT), which acts as a financial holding company for Islamic organizations. It offers sharia-compliant financial products to Muslim investors, operates Islamic schools and owns more than 300 other mosques throughout the U.S.
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New York Company Says It Will Be The First To Offer Kosher Certified Medical Marijuana
There are all kinds of foods that can be kosher, so why not marijuana? A pot grower in New York says its products have been certified kosher by the Orthodox Union, and will be ready to go when the state’s medical pot program starts up in January.
Vireo Health of New York was one of five companies picked by New York to grow and distribute medical pot. It says it’ll now be the first “medical cannabis company in the world” to have the “OU” symbol on its oils, vaporization cartridges and other products, reports the New York Daily News.
“Being certified kosher by the OU will not only help us serve the dietary needs of the largest Jewish community in the United States, but also combat unfortunate stigmas associated with medical cannabis,” said Vireo CEO Ari Hoffnung.
The company’s growing operation is in upstate New York, and it also has plans to open a dispensary in Queens sometime in January.
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Vireo Health of New York was one of five companies picked by New York to grow and distribute medical pot. It says it’ll now be the first “medical cannabis company in the world” to have the “OU” symbol on its oils, vaporization cartridges and other products, reports the New York Daily News.
“Being certified kosher by the OU will not only help us serve the dietary needs of the largest Jewish community in the United States, but also combat unfortunate stigmas associated with medical cannabis,” said Vireo CEO Ari Hoffnung.
The company’s growing operation is in upstate New York, and it also has plans to open a dispensary in Queens sometime in January.
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DC Politician Calls Man ‘White Supremist’ For Live-Tweeting A Meeting
Audio recorded at a May meeting of an Advisory Neighborhood Commission meeting shows commissioner Kathy Henderson berating two men for simply recording the deeds of government officials.
“You know something? You do this deliberately. I know you sit here, sit here innocently like you’re just recording something. But the whole goal is that you, this white supremist [sic] here,” Henderson says before being interrupted by shouts of “oh, wow” and “what?” from shocked attendees.
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GOOGLE NOW CENSORING TRUMP FROM INTERNET
Filtering out front-runner will do nothing to stop his meteoric rise in the polls
Hate Donald Trump? Want to erase him from the internet? There’s an app for that—or a Google Chrome web browser extension.
The Trump Filter, developed by Rob Spectre, blocks websites covering the front-runner and, according to the filter’s website, “makes America great again.”
“Eliminate Donald Trump from all your web browsing without leaving the Internet. Donald simply disappears from your view of every web page.”
According to Spectre, blocking news coverage of Donald Trump will “give concerned citizens the opportunity to actually focus on other candidates and learn about the issues.”
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Hate Donald Trump? Want to erase him from the internet? There’s an app for that—or a Google Chrome web browser extension.
The Trump Filter, developed by Rob Spectre, blocks websites covering the front-runner and, according to the filter’s website, “makes America great again.”
“Eliminate Donald Trump from all your web browsing without leaving the Internet. Donald simply disappears from your view of every web page.”
According to Spectre, blocking news coverage of Donald Trump will “give concerned citizens the opportunity to actually focus on other candidates and learn about the issues.”
More
Maryland State Police clear trooper who fatally shot Cecil County man
Trooper Daryl Brackett shot 30-year-old Charles Hall while both were in Hall's vehicle in the parking lot of a Walmart in North East.
State police said Hall was fighting arrest. His wife, who spoke to the 11 News I-Team on Aug. 25, said there was no fight. She said the incident went from the trooper talking to Hall to using Mace on him and shooting him within a very short time.
It happened Aug. 21 as Hall and his wife were loading their car with packages and the trooper approached.
Hall had an outstanding warrant at the time for failing to appear a few weeks ago in drug court.
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GOVERNMENT CONSIDERING BANNING DONALD TRUMP
GOP frontrunner not "conducive to the public good"
The British government is considering ‘excluding’ Donald Trump from entering the country. The announcement came in response to a recentpetition signed by 565,000 citizens calling for a Trump ban.
The UK Home Secretary, Theresa May, announced that she “may exclude” those who are not “conducive to the public good”.
A statement from the Home Office declared that “The Home Secretary may exclude a non-European Economic Area national from the UK if she considers their presence in the UK to be non-conducive to the public good.”
“Exclusion powers are very serious and are not used lightly. The Home Secretary will use these powers when justified and based on all available evidence.” The statement explained, adding that visiting the UK is a privilege and not a right.
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The British government is considering ‘excluding’ Donald Trump from entering the country. The announcement came in response to a recentpetition signed by 565,000 citizens calling for a Trump ban.
The UK Home Secretary, Theresa May, announced that she “may exclude” those who are not “conducive to the public good”.
A statement from the Home Office declared that “The Home Secretary may exclude a non-European Economic Area national from the UK if she considers their presence in the UK to be non-conducive to the public good.”
“Exclusion powers are very serious and are not used lightly. The Home Secretary will use these powers when justified and based on all available evidence.” The statement explained, adding that visiting the UK is a privilege and not a right.
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Video Compilation of Hillary Clinton Lying. Enjoy...
Video Compilation of Hillary Clinton Lying. Enjoy...
Posted by John Conley on Wednesday, December 16, 2015
Source: Obama Taking Executive Action on Gun Checks Next Week
President Barack Obama is expected to take executive action next week to expand background checks on gun sales, according to an individual whose gun control advocacy group has been briefed by administration officials about the timing.
The person was not authorized to discuss details before the announcement and spoke on condition of anonymity. White House officials won't confirm the timing. Spokesman Eric Schultz said the president would prefer that Congress act, but he knows that prospect is unlikely.
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The person was not authorized to discuss details before the announcement and spoke on condition of anonymity. White House officials won't confirm the timing. Spokesman Eric Schultz said the president would prefer that Congress act, but he knows that prospect is unlikely.
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Worcester’s North-End Property Values Increase
According to the most recent report released this week by the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation, of the 24 counties in the state, Worcester ranks fifth in highest full cash value change for residential properties at 9.9%, behind only Anne Arundel (10.1%), Baltimore (10.9%), Charles (12.1%) and Prince George’s (29.8%) counties.
Worcester’s jump in real residential property value is slightly above the state’s median increase of 9.5% and marks the first real jump in value since the epic market crash of 2008.
On the commercial side, Worcester’s 7% gains don’t fare quite as well as the state’s median gains of 16.1%.
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Liberal DC “Republican” Wants Higher Internet Taxes
LAMAR ALEXANDER WANTS YOU TO PAY MORE ONLINE
There’s just no difference between Democrats and “Republicans” these days in Washington, D.C. In fact there’s been no real difference between the two parties for years when it comes to the core issues of governing (taxes and spending).
The only difference now is that it’s all out in the open. The GOP has officially come out of the closet as the other party of big government – indistinguishable from its “rival” on virtually all meaningful fiscal issues.
Take Lamar Alexander, a liberal U.S. Senator from Tennessee who is leading the fight to expand internet taxation in America. Alexander and several Democrats are blocking a popular federal ban on web-only taxes – hoping to force Congress into adopting measures that will enhance states’ web-based tax collection efforts.
In a rare moment of clarity, the increasingly left-leaning editorial board of The Wall Street Journal blasted Alexander – not only for his fiscal liberalism but for “mis-defining federalism to justify more taxing.”
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There’s just no difference between Democrats and “Republicans” these days in Washington, D.C. In fact there’s been no real difference between the two parties for years when it comes to the core issues of governing (taxes and spending).
The only difference now is that it’s all out in the open. The GOP has officially come out of the closet as the other party of big government – indistinguishable from its “rival” on virtually all meaningful fiscal issues.
Take Lamar Alexander, a liberal U.S. Senator from Tennessee who is leading the fight to expand internet taxation in America. Alexander and several Democrats are blocking a popular federal ban on web-only taxes – hoping to force Congress into adopting measures that will enhance states’ web-based tax collection efforts.
In a rare moment of clarity, the increasingly left-leaning editorial board of The Wall Street Journal blasted Alexander – not only for his fiscal liberalism but for “mis-defining federalism to justify more taxing.”
More
Get Ready for More Gas Savings in 2016
Right before Christmas, the U.S. average for a gallon of gas dropped south of $2 for the first time in close to seven years, showing just how far pump prices have fallen in most regions of the country. More than half of all states are below the $2 milestone, based on GasBuddy.com data, and two-thirds of gas stations across America are selling regular gas for $1.99 a gallon or less.
Road-trippers can expect more savings to come. The U.S. Energy Information Administration believes retail prices are on pace to average $2.43 a gallon this year and will slip a little further to an annual average of $2.36 in 2016, which is a buck less than the average price of gas in 2014.
Diesel is also poised for another year of cheaper prices, as the EIA’s outlook calls for a 2016 average of $2.67, or about four cents below the current year.
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MEGA SHIPS ARRIVE IN AMERICA
IS YOUR PORT READY?
Behold the CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin … the largest container ship ever to sail to the United States.
This massive vessel called on the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro, California last weekend, officially ushering in the “mega-ship” era in the United States.
Built in China, registered in Great Britain and owned by a French shipping fleet, the Franklin holds a whopping 18,000 TEUs (or twenty-foot equivalent units, the industry metric). That makes it roughly a third bigger than the largest ships currently visiting U.S. ports.
You know, when they’re open.
Take a look …
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US stocks close out the worst year for the market since 2008
U.S. stocks closed lower on Thursday, capping the worst year for the market since 2008.
The Standard & Poor’s 500 index ended essentially flat for the year after the day’s modest losses nudged it into the red for 2015. Even factoring in dividends, the index eked out a far smaller return than in 2014.
The Dow Jones industrial average also closed out the year with a loss. The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite fared better, delivering a gain for the year.
“It’s a lousy end to a pretty lousy year,” said Edward Campbell, portfolio manager for QMA, a unit of Prudential Investment Management. “A very unrewarding year.”
Trading was lighter than usual on Thursday ahead of the New Year’s Day holiday. Technology stocks were among the biggest decliners, while energy stocks eked out a tiny gain thanks to a rebound in crude oil and natural gas prices.
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US Fails to Track Foreign Visitors Who Overstay Visas
Federal officials admit they've lost track of how many foreign visitors overstay their visas every year – despite a nearly 20-year-old law requiring the government to develop a tracking system, The New York Times reports.
Federal agencies haven't even provided a new report to Congress on overstays since 1994, the Times reports.
"Since 1996, Congress has required that an exit system be put in place to determine visa overstays," the House Oversight Committee sternly noted prior to a hearing on the issue Dec. 17.
"The biometric exit system has yet to be put in place, and DHS has failed to issue a mandated report to Congress on the number of overstays who remain in the U.S. in violation of the law."
Lawmakers worry radical Islamic terrorists could exploit the visa program because the United States doesn't routinely collect biometric information on people leaving the country – including fingerprints, iris scans and photographs.
And at the Dec. 17 House Oversight hearing, an official revealed that of 9,500 visas revoked over terrorism concerns since 2001, the United States doesn't know where all those former visa-holders are.
"Having accurate data on who is coming and going — not who is pretending to be coming and going — is essential to curtailing the insidious and increasing direct threat that ISIS is loudly declaring at our homeland," Janice Kephart, former counsel for the Senate Judiciary Committee and a staff member on the 9/11 Commission, warned Congress last year, the Times reports.
At the House oversight hearing last month, however, Alan Bersin, the assistant secretary for international affairs at DHS, conceded "we don't know" when asked about the number of visa overstays.
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Federal agencies haven't even provided a new report to Congress on overstays since 1994, the Times reports.
"Since 1996, Congress has required that an exit system be put in place to determine visa overstays," the House Oversight Committee sternly noted prior to a hearing on the issue Dec. 17.
"The biometric exit system has yet to be put in place, and DHS has failed to issue a mandated report to Congress on the number of overstays who remain in the U.S. in violation of the law."
Lawmakers worry radical Islamic terrorists could exploit the visa program because the United States doesn't routinely collect biometric information on people leaving the country – including fingerprints, iris scans and photographs.
And at the Dec. 17 House Oversight hearing, an official revealed that of 9,500 visas revoked over terrorism concerns since 2001, the United States doesn't know where all those former visa-holders are.
"Having accurate data on who is coming and going — not who is pretending to be coming and going — is essential to curtailing the insidious and increasing direct threat that ISIS is loudly declaring at our homeland," Janice Kephart, former counsel for the Senate Judiciary Committee and a staff member on the 9/11 Commission, warned Congress last year, the Times reports.
At the House oversight hearing last month, however, Alan Bersin, the assistant secretary for international affairs at DHS, conceded "we don't know" when asked about the number of visa overstays.
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OC Tax Rollback Challenge Renewed In Circuit Court
OCEAN CITY — Defeated but not disheartened at the federal level, a group of Ocean City taxpayers last week filed suit in Worcester County Circuit Court as expected seeking a roll-back of sorts in the property tax rate in the resort to 2009 levels.
In June, a group operating under the guise of the Ocean City Taxpayers for Social Justice submitted to the Mayor and Council a petition containing nearly 1.500 signatures validated by the state Board of Elections essentially seeking a return of the property tax rate in the resort from the current 48 cents per $100 of assessed value to 38 cents, or the rate at which it was set in 2009. The petition sought a referendum within 90 days of its filing, or the next scheduled election, which would be November 2016.
Early in July, the Mayor and Council filed a petition for declaratory judgment against the OCTSJ and petition organizer Tony Christ in Worcester County Circuit Court seeking a judicial review of the validity of the petition and its attempts to launch a referendum. Anticipating the Mayor and Council’s move at the Circuit Court level, Christ along with three other named plaintiffs, including John Medlin, Herb Pawlukewicz and former Ocean City Councilman Joe Hall filed a complaint in U.S. District Court seeking a habeas corpus hearing at the federal level. Essentially, the four named plaintiffs were not confident the petition to return the tax rate to the 2009 level would not get a fair shake in Worcester County Circuit Court.
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In June, a group operating under the guise of the Ocean City Taxpayers for Social Justice submitted to the Mayor and Council a petition containing nearly 1.500 signatures validated by the state Board of Elections essentially seeking a return of the property tax rate in the resort from the current 48 cents per $100 of assessed value to 38 cents, or the rate at which it was set in 2009. The petition sought a referendum within 90 days of its filing, or the next scheduled election, which would be November 2016.
Early in July, the Mayor and Council filed a petition for declaratory judgment against the OCTSJ and petition organizer Tony Christ in Worcester County Circuit Court seeking a judicial review of the validity of the petition and its attempts to launch a referendum. Anticipating the Mayor and Council’s move at the Circuit Court level, Christ along with three other named plaintiffs, including John Medlin, Herb Pawlukewicz and former Ocean City Councilman Joe Hall filed a complaint in U.S. District Court seeking a habeas corpus hearing at the federal level. Essentially, the four named plaintiffs were not confident the petition to return the tax rate to the 2009 level would not get a fair shake in Worcester County Circuit Court.
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Maryland Startup Redirects River Of Rejected Gifts
We change our minds about purchases a lot in the U.S., especially after the buying binge of the holidays. Returns cost retailers about $260 billion each year. That doesn't include the cost to the environment of all that producing, shipping, and throwing away.
One of the companies on the receiving end of all those returns is trying to reduce the cost to retailers, and the cost to the environment.
The Optoro warehouse in Maryland is a hoarder's dream — the building is packed, floor to ceiling, with returned merchandise. The CEO, Tobin Moore, stands neck deep in stuff that people changed their minds about.
"This is probably 10 truckloads just right here — air compressors, power drills, lawn mower I think, carseat down on the bottom," Moore says.
You might think that when you return something, it goes back on the shelf. But it's often too much hassle for the stores to sort and restock. Returns might go to liquidators or resellers, or straight to the landfill.
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One of the companies on the receiving end of all those returns is trying to reduce the cost to retailers, and the cost to the environment.
The Optoro warehouse in Maryland is a hoarder's dream — the building is packed, floor to ceiling, with returned merchandise. The CEO, Tobin Moore, stands neck deep in stuff that people changed their minds about.
"This is probably 10 truckloads just right here — air compressors, power drills, lawn mower I think, carseat down on the bottom," Moore says.
You might think that when you return something, it goes back on the shelf. But it's often too much hassle for the stores to sort and restock. Returns might go to liquidators or resellers, or straight to the landfill.
More
20 Things Everyone MUST DO In Maryland In 2016
With the new year just around the corner, you may already be thinking about how you’ll spend your time. Maryland has plenty of locations and activities to choose from whether you’re looking to take a day trip or try out a new hobby. The list below is full of ideas you won’t regret partaking in this year. Perhaps you’ll want to add a few of these items to your bucket list as well!
1) Visit Smith Island.
If you're looking for a peaceful day trip look no further than Smith Island. This secluded place is full of serenity and old town traditions. Find out more on their website here.
2) Explore Crystal Grottoes Caverns
These caverns located in Boonsboro are one of the most unique places you'll ever visit. For more information click here.
3) Ride the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad.
This is fun for all ages year-round and the best way to view the western mountains. WMSR Website
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1) Visit Smith Island.
2) Explore Crystal Grottoes Caverns
3) Ride the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad.
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HILLARY SAYS SHE LIED TO BENGHAZI FAMILIES DUE TO “FOG OF WAR”… DONALD TRUMP RESPONDS
On New Year’s Day Donald Trump let Hillary have it
In early December Hillary Clinton told ABC liberal hack and friend George Stephanopoulos she didn’t lie when she told the Benghazi families that the attack was in response to the film.
She told “This Week” viewers she suffered from a military phenomenon know as the ‘fog of war’ More
In early December Hillary Clinton told ABC liberal hack and friend George Stephanopoulos she didn’t lie when she told the Benghazi families that the attack was in response to the film.
She told “This Week” viewers she suffered from a military phenomenon know as the ‘fog of war’ More
Rubio Defends NSA Spying on Netanyahu In Private, Condemns It In Public
BOONE, IOWA – Republican presidential candidate Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) privately defended the National Security Agency’s (NSA) spying on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, even as he publicly condemned the practice.
Rubio and his ally Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-SC) discussed the matter privately in a room away from reporters early Wednesday morning at the Royal Amsterdam Hotel in Pella, Iowa. The two men talked before they set out on a three-stop Iowa campaign tour to showcase Gowdy’s endorsement of Rubio.
This reporter heard the conversation while picking up a laptop computer and other materials left in a back room, away from where reporters were eating breakfast. Rubio, Gowdy, a couple of campaign staffers, and a Secret Service agent were the only ones present in the back room.
The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday that the NSA monitored Netanyahu’s conversations, including conversations with U.S. legislators
“We spy on everyone,” Rubio told Gowdy, defending the practice of spying on a U.S. ally. “That’s the nature of intelligence.”
“It’s more complicated than the [WSJ] story makes it seem,” Rubio added.
Gowdy responded that people are upset because the U.S. decided to stop spying on leaders of Germany and some other nations, but still spies on Israel.
But Rubio sang a different tune around the same time Wednesday morning on the Fox News program “Fox and Friends.”
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Rubio and his ally Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-SC) discussed the matter privately in a room away from reporters early Wednesday morning at the Royal Amsterdam Hotel in Pella, Iowa. The two men talked before they set out on a three-stop Iowa campaign tour to showcase Gowdy’s endorsement of Rubio.
This reporter heard the conversation while picking up a laptop computer and other materials left in a back room, away from where reporters were eating breakfast. Rubio, Gowdy, a couple of campaign staffers, and a Secret Service agent were the only ones present in the back room.
The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday that the NSA monitored Netanyahu’s conversations, including conversations with U.S. legislators
“We spy on everyone,” Rubio told Gowdy, defending the practice of spying on a U.S. ally. “That’s the nature of intelligence.”
“It’s more complicated than the [WSJ] story makes it seem,” Rubio added.
Gowdy responded that people are upset because the U.S. decided to stop spying on leaders of Germany and some other nations, but still spies on Israel.
But Rubio sang a different tune around the same time Wednesday morning on the Fox News program “Fox and Friends.”
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Bank Files Court Action To Seize WOC Theater Property
The U.S. Bank on Tuesday filed a complaint seeking emergency injunctive relief against West Ocean City business owner David Weatherholtz and other named defendants in an attempt to take control of the property that most recently hosted the O.C. Jamboree on Route 611. Last March, Weatherholtz was indicted in federal court on several felonies including producing and possessing child pornography and attempting to entice minors to engage in sex, among others.
With Weatherholtz awaiting trial in a federal medical facility in Massachusetts and the O.C. Jamboree long since shuttered, the U.S. Bank filed the emergency complaint this week seeking to take control of the property through a third-party receiver. The U.S. Bank holds a promissory note on the O.C. Jamboree property in an amount over $400,000 and is seeking to protect its interest by having a third-party receiver take control of and protect its assets, which are in danger of falling into disrepair.
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DEMAND FOR ‘PANIC ROOMS’ GROWING
Industry keeps local man’s company ‘busy full time’
It’s a business that requires client confidentiality, and even most satisfied customer isn’t likely to brag about their purchase.
A safe room is a highly secure space inside a home designed to be discreet and to offer protection during a home invasion, terrorist attack or other life-threatening event. Most safe rooms include some type of communication system or closed-circuit television so those inside can contact the police.
The 2002 movie “ Panic Room” with Jodie Foster gave instant publicity to safe rooms, and a New York Times article in May reported the industry continues to grow.
Nick Paster of American Saferoom Door builds panic rooms, but he’s tight-lipped about the number of rooms installed in a year, saying only that he has “enough business to keep us busy full time.”
“We do see it fluctuate, depending on what’s going on in the world,” Paster said.
Read more
It’s a business that requires client confidentiality, and even most satisfied customer isn’t likely to brag about their purchase.
A safe room is a highly secure space inside a home designed to be discreet and to offer protection during a home invasion, terrorist attack or other life-threatening event. Most safe rooms include some type of communication system or closed-circuit television so those inside can contact the police.
The 2002 movie “ Panic Room” with Jodie Foster gave instant publicity to safe rooms, and a New York Times article in May reported the industry continues to grow.
Nick Paster of American Saferoom Door builds panic rooms, but he’s tight-lipped about the number of rooms installed in a year, saying only that he has “enough business to keep us busy full time.”
“We do see it fluctuate, depending on what’s going on in the world,” Paster said.
Read more
Ted Cruz Rakes In $20 Million in Fourth Quarter of 2015
Now the Wall Street Journal reports some extra promising news for the conservative Texan: he raised a whopping $20 million in the fourth quarter of 2015.
“Sen. Ted Cruz raised almost $20 million for his presidential campaign in the fourth quarter — a 66% increase over the previous three-month period, according to campaign officials and a memo that shows how the Texas Republican’s fundraising pace accelerated as he has gained in the polls,” the Wall Street Journal’s Janet Hook wrote.
In a staff memo that Hook obtained, Cruz campaign manager Jeff Roe recounted how the Texas Senator and conservative firebrand’s campaign has raked in more than $45 million in 2015. Those numbers are hands down more than likely to be more than any other 2016 GOP presidential candidate’s actual campaign sans their Super PACs.
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Like Night And Day: How Two States' Utilities Approach Solar
This was a record-breaking year for rooftop solar power. It's booming across the country. But as more homeowners make their own power, electric utilities are making less money and that's shaking up their business model.
Utilities in two states — California and Georgia — are handling the growth of solar in dramatically different ways.
Matt Brown recently got solar panels on his Oakland, Calif., home, but it's dark out right now — his panels aren't working. So Brown's appliances are running on electricity he's buying from his utility, Pacific Gas & Electric.
So even with solar panels, you might think his utility bill is pretty high.
"Right now we're projected basically to have a zero bill," he says. Zero dollars. That's because during the day, when Brown's panels are cranking out electricity, he sells the extra back to PG&E. The power he sells cancels out the power he buys. That's what makes solar so financially attractive — at least, for him.
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Utilities in two states — California and Georgia — are handling the growth of solar in dramatically different ways.
Matt Brown recently got solar panels on his Oakland, Calif., home, but it's dark out right now — his panels aren't working. So Brown's appliances are running on electricity he's buying from his utility, Pacific Gas & Electric.
So even with solar panels, you might think his utility bill is pretty high.
"Right now we're projected basically to have a zero bill," he says. Zero dollars. That's because during the day, when Brown's panels are cranking out electricity, he sells the extra back to PG&E. The power he sells cancels out the power he buys. That's what makes solar so financially attractive — at least, for him.
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Americans Back Religious Rights But Lose Confidence in Government Protection
Americans strongly support preservation of religious freedoms, although fewer believe their rights will be protected by the government, a survey says.
Moreover, not all Americans are enthusiastic about giving Islam full religious liberty protections.
Eight in 10 Americans say it is very important or extremely important for people like themselves to be allowed to practice their religion freely, said the survey of some 1,000 people released Wednesday by The Associated Press and NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.
However, the survey showed that people’s confidence that the U.S. government would protect their religious freedoms has fallen steeply: An AP-NORC poll in 2011 found that 75 percent of Americans thought the government was doing a good job defending religious liberty.
Only 55 percent said the same in the poll taken Dec. 10-13.
Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League, said Wednesday that religious liberty issues will loom large in 2016, with “new alliances” — such as atheist groups and Satanist groups — already forming to attack Christians.
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Moreover, not all Americans are enthusiastic about giving Islam full religious liberty protections.
Eight in 10 Americans say it is very important or extremely important for people like themselves to be allowed to practice their religion freely, said the survey of some 1,000 people released Wednesday by The Associated Press and NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.
However, the survey showed that people’s confidence that the U.S. government would protect their religious freedoms has fallen steeply: An AP-NORC poll in 2011 found that 75 percent of Americans thought the government was doing a good job defending religious liberty.
Only 55 percent said the same in the poll taken Dec. 10-13.
Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League, said Wednesday that religious liberty issues will loom large in 2016, with “new alliances” — such as atheist groups and Satanist groups — already forming to attack Christians.
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EBONY EDITOR: WE’D ALL BE EASIER ON COSBY IF HE SUPPORTED #BLACKLIVESMATTER
Brought to you by MSNBC.
In a conversation with resident race-baiter Melissa Harris-Perry on MSNBC about the sexual assault charge against Bill Cosby, Ebony senior editor Jamilah Lemieux implied that if the embattled comedy legend were to have been known as a supporter of the “Black Lives Matter” movement, he wouldn’t have faced as much criticism.
And I can’t help but to wonder — say Mr. Cosby didn’t have that sort of respectability politics, you know, heavy-handed against single-mothers and complicating sounding names and wearing your pants low and listening to hip-hop. Say that wasn’t who he was. Say that he was a supporter of the Black Lives Matter movement. Say that he was a leftist. Say that he was really on our side, quote unquote, politically. Would we be having this conversation? How willing would people be to turn their backs on him?
In a conversation with resident race-baiter Melissa Harris-Perry on MSNBC about the sexual assault charge against Bill Cosby, Ebony senior editor Jamilah Lemieux implied that if the embattled comedy legend were to have been known as a supporter of the “Black Lives Matter” movement, he wouldn’t have faced as much criticism.
And I can’t help but to wonder — say Mr. Cosby didn’t have that sort of respectability politics, you know, heavy-handed against single-mothers and complicating sounding names and wearing your pants low and listening to hip-hop. Say that wasn’t who he was. Say that he was a supporter of the Black Lives Matter movement. Say that he was a leftist. Say that he was really on our side, quote unquote, politically. Would we be having this conversation? How willing would people be to turn their backs on him?
Filing Says Freddie Gray Complained Of Back Problem
The incident, first disclosed to defense attorneys during the trial for William Porter that ended in a mistrial earlier this month, is detailed in a police document that was until recently under seal. In the May 1 document, Baltimore Police Sgt. John Herzog says that during a March 31 meeting with Gray at the Western District station house, Gray “was awkwardly sitting in the chair, leaning to the left.” Herzog wrote that when he asked Gray about his position, he responded “something to the effect of `I hurt my back’ or `I have a bad back.”‘
Herzog went on to write that the incident had slipped his mind but his memory was “jogged” after “rumors and information was released that Freddie Gray possibly had been involved in a car accident.” Herzog said Gray had come to the station to provide information about a string of robberies in the neighborhood.
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Send Us Your Trophy Shots
Nearly 200 Muslim Workers Fired in Colorado After Walkout Over Prayer Dispute
DENVER — Nearly 200 Muslim workers have been fired from their jobs at a Colorado meat-packing plant after walking out in a dispute over accommodating prayer in the workplace.
The company, Cargill Meat Solutions, fired about 190 workers after they staged a walkout earlier this month after they say they were told to pray at home instead of being allowed to pray in a specially designated room at the plant in Fort Morgan, Colorado.
Company officials and representatives for the workers, including the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said they continue to engage in negotiations.
The dispute appears to center on the time of day at which workers are able to pray, which changes according to the season in the Muslim faith.
In a statement to 9News in Denver, Cargill said that its policy on accommodating prayer in the workplace had not changed.
“In the Fort Morgan plant, a reflection area for use by all employees to pray was established in April 2009, and is available during work shifts based on our ability to adequately staff a given work area,” said the statement.
More here
The company, Cargill Meat Solutions, fired about 190 workers after they staged a walkout earlier this month after they say they were told to pray at home instead of being allowed to pray in a specially designated room at the plant in Fort Morgan, Colorado.
Company officials and representatives for the workers, including the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said they continue to engage in negotiations.
The dispute appears to center on the time of day at which workers are able to pray, which changes according to the season in the Muslim faith.
In a statement to 9News in Denver, Cargill said that its policy on accommodating prayer in the workplace had not changed.
“In the Fort Morgan plant, a reflection area for use by all employees to pray was established in April 2009, and is available during work shifts based on our ability to adequately staff a given work area,” said the statement.
More here
State Dept. Still Doesn’t Have All of Clinton’s Emails
Clinton did not turn over emails sent or received between January and March 2009; State Dept. making little effort to get them
Despite the high-profile release of Hillary Clinton’s emails each month, voters are unlikely to get a chance to read all of her correspondence.
That’s because Clinton failed to hand over all her work emails, despite being asked to do so repeatedly, and the State Department is not searching for them elsewhere.
The Democratic front-runner for president said she is unable to access emails she sent or received in her first two months as secretary of state in 2009 because her emails were not yet being captured on her private computer server.
The Defense Department in the fall gave the State Department a chain of emails between Clinton and former Army Gen. David Petraeus, who at the time headed the military’s U.S. Central Command, responsible for running the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Clinton had not turned those emails over.
But other federal agencies have not been asked to search their archives for Clinton emails, according to a McClatchy survey of more than a dozen agencies with which Clinton was most likely to interact. Some, including the Energy Department and the Defense Intelligence Agency, said they had not received requests. Others, including the Interior and Justice departments, declined to speak on the record and referred questions to State.
It’s unclear how the Defense Department determined it had the Clinton emails and why it turned them over. Defense and State officials declined to comment.
More here
Despite the high-profile release of Hillary Clinton’s emails each month, voters are unlikely to get a chance to read all of her correspondence.
That’s because Clinton failed to hand over all her work emails, despite being asked to do so repeatedly, and the State Department is not searching for them elsewhere.
The Democratic front-runner for president said she is unable to access emails she sent or received in her first two months as secretary of state in 2009 because her emails were not yet being captured on her private computer server.
The Defense Department in the fall gave the State Department a chain of emails between Clinton and former Army Gen. David Petraeus, who at the time headed the military’s U.S. Central Command, responsible for running the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Clinton had not turned those emails over.
But other federal agencies have not been asked to search their archives for Clinton emails, according to a McClatchy survey of more than a dozen agencies with which Clinton was most likely to interact. Some, including the Energy Department and the Defense Intelligence Agency, said they had not received requests. Others, including the Interior and Justice departments, declined to speak on the record and referred questions to State.
It’s unclear how the Defense Department determined it had the Clinton emails and why it turned them over. Defense and State officials declined to comment.
More here
HISTORICAL COMMENTS BY GEORGE CHEVALLIER 1-2-16
Aunt Jemima
Little did I know back in December, 1955, that the Aunt Jemima serving up the pancake and sausage dinner was not the original Aunt Jemima. But I had her sign a paper plate and graciously took one of the Aunt Jemima Breakfast Club pins and meticulously filed them away in my scrapbook where they have resided until today.
The original company was started by a newspaperman named Chris Rutt and another man named Charles Underwood. They bought the Pearl Milling Company and had the original idea of developing and packaging a ready-mixed, self rising pancake flour. To survive in a highly competitive business, the man needed an image for their product. In 1889, Rutt attended a vaudeville show where he heard a catchy tune called “Aunt Jemima” sung by a blackface performer who was wearing and apron and bandanna headband. He decided to call their pancake flour “Aunt Jemima”.
In 1890, they were broke so they sold the formula to the R. T. Davis Milling Company. Mr. Davis began looking for a black woman to employ as a living trademark for his product. He found Nancy Green in Chicago. She was 56 years old. The Aunt Jemima Pancake Mix was introduced in St. Joseph, MO.
In 1893, the Davis Milling Company began and all-out promotion of “Aunt Jemima” at the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago, The Columbian Exposition was the venue for the debut of consumer products which are so familiar today – including Cream of Wheat, Shredded Wheat, Pabst Beer, Aunt Jemima syrup and Juicy Fruit gum. Nancy Green, as “Aunt Jemima” demonstrated the pancake mix and served thousands of pancakes. Green was a hit, friendly, a good storyteller, and a good cook. Her warm and appealing personality made her the ideal “Aunt Jemima”, a living trademark. Her exhibition booth drew so many people that special policemen were assigned to keep the crowds moving. The Davis Milling Company received over 50,000 orders, and Fair officials awarded Nancy Green a medal and certificate for her showmanship.
She was proclaimed “Pancake Queen”. She was signed to a lifetime contract and traveled on promotional tours all over the country. Flour sales were up all year and pancakes were no longer considered exclusively for breakfast.
Nancy Green maintained this job until a car crash in Chicago killed her on September 23, 1923. The company has had other representatives impersonating “Aunt Jemima”, but the original was Nancy Green, a former slave from Montgomery County, Kentucky. She was born on November 17, 1834.
An actress, Rosie Hall was the last to portray Aunt Jemima, giving demonstrations at state fairs from 1950-1967. The company is now part of the Quaker Oats family of commercial products.
The original company was started by a newspaperman named Chris Rutt and another man named Charles Underwood. They bought the Pearl Milling Company and had the original idea of developing and packaging a ready-mixed, self rising pancake flour. To survive in a highly competitive business, the man needed an image for their product. In 1889, Rutt attended a vaudeville show where he heard a catchy tune called “Aunt Jemima” sung by a blackface performer who was wearing and apron and bandanna headband. He decided to call their pancake flour “Aunt Jemima”.
In 1890, they were broke so they sold the formula to the R. T. Davis Milling Company. Mr. Davis began looking for a black woman to employ as a living trademark for his product. He found Nancy Green in Chicago. She was 56 years old. The Aunt Jemima Pancake Mix was introduced in St. Joseph, MO.
In 1893, the Davis Milling Company began and all-out promotion of “Aunt Jemima” at the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago, The Columbian Exposition was the venue for the debut of consumer products which are so familiar today – including Cream of Wheat, Shredded Wheat, Pabst Beer, Aunt Jemima syrup and Juicy Fruit gum. Nancy Green, as “Aunt Jemima” demonstrated the pancake mix and served thousands of pancakes. Green was a hit, friendly, a good storyteller, and a good cook. Her warm and appealing personality made her the ideal “Aunt Jemima”, a living trademark. Her exhibition booth drew so many people that special policemen were assigned to keep the crowds moving. The Davis Milling Company received over 50,000 orders, and Fair officials awarded Nancy Green a medal and certificate for her showmanship.
She was proclaimed “Pancake Queen”. She was signed to a lifetime contract and traveled on promotional tours all over the country. Flour sales were up all year and pancakes were no longer considered exclusively for breakfast.
Nancy Green maintained this job until a car crash in Chicago killed her on September 23, 1923. The company has had other representatives impersonating “Aunt Jemima”, but the original was Nancy Green, a former slave from Montgomery County, Kentucky. She was born on November 17, 1834.
An actress, Rosie Hall was the last to portray Aunt Jemima, giving demonstrations at state fairs from 1950-1967. The company is now part of the Quaker Oats family of commercial products.
Growth in ‘coolest’ town undeniable
Last year, a majority of the headlines in Berlin centered on its “Coolest Small Town” designation, to the point where the Gazette considered a temporary moratorium on the dreaded “c-word.”
Growth in the small town has been undeniable, however, and that trend continued throughout 2015, when change came in both small and large doses.
Several new businesses opened doors in and around Main Street, considered the hotbed of commerce in Berlin, including new restaurants at the north (Leaky Pete’s) and south (Crush ‘n Crab) ends. In between, a new fine arts gallery, Art in the Fields, opened with an exhibition featuring legendary pop artist Andy Warhol.
On the outskirts of town, Rinnier Development Company introduced plans for Oceans East, a major new housing complex with potentially 700-plus units on Seahawk Road, near Stephen Decatur High School.
Berlin annexed the property in March, although a text amendment battle over just how wide each building of the complex could be continued into November, when a 3-1 vote decided to set the magic number at 36 units – at maximum – with future discretion given to the town’s planning commission.
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Growth in the small town has been undeniable, however, and that trend continued throughout 2015, when change came in both small and large doses.
Several new businesses opened doors in and around Main Street, considered the hotbed of commerce in Berlin, including new restaurants at the north (Leaky Pete’s) and south (Crush ‘n Crab) ends. In between, a new fine arts gallery, Art in the Fields, opened with an exhibition featuring legendary pop artist Andy Warhol.
On the outskirts of town, Rinnier Development Company introduced plans for Oceans East, a major new housing complex with potentially 700-plus units on Seahawk Road, near Stephen Decatur High School.
Berlin annexed the property in March, although a text amendment battle over just how wide each building of the complex could be continued into November, when a 3-1 vote decided to set the magic number at 36 units – at maximum – with future discretion given to the town’s planning commission.
More
Chick-fil-A ditching cole slaw this month
The company, on its Facebook page, said it was a “difficult decision.”
“We know many of our customers love our Cole Slaw, yet we have also heard from them they are looking for new tastes and healthier ways to eat in our restaurants. It is important to us to provide a wide variety of menu options and this will occasionally mean we have to remove one menu item to make room for another,” Chick-fil-A wrote in response to a customer who asked about the company’s plans.
“Superfood sides,” such as a kale a broccolini salad, will replace the cole slaw, according to Business Insider.
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President Obama's 2016 wish list
"We think the lame duck moniker is dead," a senior administration official told CBS News. Another official told CBS that the president has instructed his senior staff to "squeeze every last drop of progress out of the final year."
The president will fight to preserve gains in areas including "access to affordable health care, expanding the green economy, implementing the Iran deal" and continuing the normalization of relations with Cuba," the official said.
Here's where he may make some progress:
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Vehicle Stolen From Downtown Salisbury
Please help! My husband's 2001 black gmc yukon has been stolen from down town Salisbury between 2am-2pm today. This...
Posted by Emily Nichols on Friday, January 1, 2016
COAST GUARD SUSPENDS SEARCH FOR MAN OVERBOARD OFF ANNAPOLIS, MD.
Coast Guard Sector Baltimore watchstanders received a report Thursday at approximately 9 p.m. from Anne Arundel Fire Rescue stating a man not wearing a life jacket fell overboard from a sailboat.
Coast Guard crews involved in the search efforts included:
- A 29-foot response boat crew from Coast Guard Station Oxford, Maryland
- A 45-foot response boat crew from Coast Guard Station Annapolis, Maryland
- A helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City, New Jersey
Coast Guard crews searched approximately 11 hours and covered more than 75 square nautical miles.
"After more than 11 hours of cumulative search efforts by the Coast Guard, MNRP, Maryland State Police and Anne Arundel County Fire Rescue, the Coast Guard made the difficult decision to suspend its search," said Cmdr. Michael Keane, chief of response at Coast Guard Sector Baltimore. "This decision is never an easy one, and our thoughts are with the boater's family."
States to Colleges: Prove You’re Worth It
New College of Florida doesn’t offer pre-professional degrees, like nursing or engineering. Students choose the public liberal arts college because they want an intellectual experience. Many take a year off after graduation to pursue research or community service.
Yet last fall, New College opened a flashy new career center on its Sarasota campus. It needed to prove to the state that it was helping students find jobs and graduate on time, or risk losing $1.1 million in state aid. “That’s a big deal for us,” David Gulliver, media relations coordinator for New College, said of the money.
This fiscal year, Florida was one of 26 states to fund their two- or four-year college systems (or both) partly based on outcomes such as graduation rates, according to HCM Strategists, a consulting firm. Mississippi, Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio and Tennessee all spent over half their higher education budgets that way.
The idea of using outcomes — not enrollments — to guide public funding of higher education has so much bipartisan backing that both President Barack Obama and Florida’s Republican Gov. Rick Scott support it. In July, the Florida Board of Education approved a performance-funding system for state colleges, adding to its existing system for state universities.
It’s too early to say whether performance-based funding will drive the changes lawmakers want. But the policy so aligns with national concerns about the cost and payoff of a college education that it’s likely here to stay.
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Yet last fall, New College opened a flashy new career center on its Sarasota campus. It needed to prove to the state that it was helping students find jobs and graduate on time, or risk losing $1.1 million in state aid. “That’s a big deal for us,” David Gulliver, media relations coordinator for New College, said of the money.
This fiscal year, Florida was one of 26 states to fund their two- or four-year college systems (or both) partly based on outcomes such as graduation rates, according to HCM Strategists, a consulting firm. Mississippi, Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio and Tennessee all spent over half their higher education budgets that way.
The idea of using outcomes — not enrollments — to guide public funding of higher education has so much bipartisan backing that both President Barack Obama and Florida’s Republican Gov. Rick Scott support it. In July, the Florida Board of Education approved a performance-funding system for state colleges, adding to its existing system for state universities.
It’s too early to say whether performance-based funding will drive the changes lawmakers want. But the policy so aligns with national concerns about the cost and payoff of a college education that it’s likely here to stay.
More
First Baby Born in 2016 At PRMC
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