Vandals topple graves, deface tombstones at historic Confederate cemetery

Vandals spray-painted “KKK” and “White Supremacist” on the headstones of several high-ranking Civil War officials in a Raleigh, North Carolina cemetery last week, the latest in a series of similar stunts.

“Cowardly acts like this, under the cover of darkness, late at night, aren’t perpetrated by decent and thoughtful citizens,” Oakwood Cemetery Executive Director Robin Simonton said in a statement, according to the News & Observer.

“In these modern times, conversations on divisive issues should be held in person. Midnight assassinations don’t accomplish anything positive. Mature, non-emotional dialogue more often leads to agreement, or at least compromise.”

Simonton’s view on the controversial folks resting in Oakwood Cemetery is a big reason why she hosts coffeehouse chats on morality and sunrise yoga on the grounds – to discuss important and divisive issues like race and slavery through civil discourse.

More

JUST IN: North Korea says it conducted successful hydrogen bomb test

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea said Wednesday it had conducted a hydrogen bomb test, a defiant and surprising move that, if confirmed, would put Pyongyang a big step closer toward improving its still-limited nuclear arsenal.

A television anchor read a typically propaganda-heavy statement on state TV that said North Korea had tested a “miniaturized” hydrogen bomb, elevating the country’s “nuclear might to the next level” and providing it with a weapon to defend against the United States and its other enemies.

The statement said the test was a “perfect success.”

The test, if confirmed by outside experts, will lead to a strong push for new, tougher sanctions at the United Nations and further worsen already abysmal relations between Pyongyang and its neighbors.

More

Did Hillary Clinton pay a young boy to ask THIS question?

New DHS Rule Would Let Businesses Bypass H-1B Cap Set By Congress

President Barack Obama’s Department of Homeland Security (DHS) proposed a new rule Thursday that would blow the lid off the current cap on the number of foreign workers businesses can hire via the H-1B visa program.

Each year, demand for these temporary foreign workers far exceeds the supply — which is capped at 65,000 — but the proposed rule would exempt certain types of workers from that cap. Any business could hire an unlimited number of foreign workers on H-1Bs under the rule, so long as the workers spent 51 percent of their time working for a university, non-profit or government research agency.

The visas are intended to help companies bring in highly-skilled foreign workers for jobs Americans can’t fill, but some companies are reportedly using them to cut labor costs. The Walt Disney Company, Southern California Edison, Fossil Group and other companies have reportedly laid off hundreds of tech workers in the past year, replacing them with foreign workers on H-1B visas hired by contractors.

More

Trump to Bill Clinton: I Dare You to Address Women’s Issues

When you are the victim of a serial sexual exploiter but you refused to stand up for other women who were abused by the same person, that makes you a hypocrite. And Donald Trump is rightly calling Hillary and her infamously exploitative husband out on this one. You can’t champion women by staying silent about their abuse.

Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump is daring former president Bill Clinton to talk about women’s issues on behalf of his wife’s presidential campaign.

“I hope Bill Clinton starts talking about women’s issues so that voters can see what a hypocrite he is and how Hillary abused those women,” Trump said in a tweet Saturday, referring to sexual allegations made against the 42nd president.

More

Washington Post Writer Calls Crowd Photo at Donald Trump Massachusetts Rally ‘Absolutely Mind-Boggling’

Photos of an arena filled to the brim and vast lines of supporters waiting to see GOP presidential front-runner Donald Trump is “absolutely mind-boggling,” according to a Washington Post reporter.

Chris Cillizza speculated that the photos of the colossal number of supporters at the Lowell, Massachusetts, rally Monday night could be evidence that the assumption held by many observers that Trump’s supporters won’t turn out to actually vote could be erroneous.

“[T]he willingness of so many people to wait so long in such cold temperatures simply for the chance to see Trump speak would suggest that the idea that his supporters won’t be the sort of people to sit through the long caucus process of Iowa or turn out to vote in the frigid cold of New Hampshire might be misguided,” Cillizza wrote.

More

Judge Jeanine: Stop blaming guns; start shooting terrorists

Maryland Man Pleads Guilty for Role in Massive Identity Theft and Tax Fraud Scheme

Stole Identities from D.C. Government Agency for Use in Filing False Tax Returns

A resident of Bowie, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to federal charges for his involvement in a far-reaching identity theft and tax fraud scheme in which he assisted in the filing of fraudulent federal income tax returns seeking more than $4.4 million in refunds, announced Acting Assistant Attorney General Caroline D. Ciraolo of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips for the District of Columbia, Special Agent in Charge Thomas Jankowski of the Washington Field Office of the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Inspector in Charge David G. Bowers of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s (USPIS) Washington, D.C., Division and Assistant Inspector General for Investigations John L. Phillips of the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

Marc A. Bell, 49, admitted taking part in a massive and sophisticated identity theft and false tax return scheme that involved an extensive network of more than 130 people, many of whom were receiving public assistance. According to court documents, the scheme involved the filing of at least 12,000 fraudulent federal income tax returns that sought refunds of at least $40 million from the U.S. Treasury. The false tax returns sought refunds for tax years 2005 through 2013 and were often filed in the names of people whose identities had been stolen, including the elderly, people in assisted living facilities, drug addicts and incarcerated prisoners. In other cases, the refunds were sent to people who were willing participants in the scheme. The refunds listed more than 400 “taxpayer” addresses located in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia. Bell is one of approximately 15 people who have pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia for their role in this scheme.

HORRIFYING: Pregnant Woman Beaten By Group Of Female Thugs

JESSUP COMPANY TO APPEAR ON SHARK TANK

A Maryland small business is about to get some serious national exposure.

Hungry Harvest, a Jessup-based company that repurposes surplus produce, will appear on ABC’s reality show Shark Tank airing on January 8, 2016 at 9pm EST. Hungry Harvest was founded in 2014 by Evan Lutz, a graduate of the University of Maryland, after he learned how much produce was being discarded because it wasn’t aesthetically appealing. The company offers a subscription service; for a monthly fee, Hungry Harvest will deliver a selection of produce directly to your door on a weekly basis.

Shark Tank is a reality show with an entrepreneurial twist. A panel of “sharks” – also known as the investors – considers potential businesses to invest in as they are presented. Hungry Harvest will be the first Maryland-based company to appear on Shark Tank, and Lutz has high hopes for success.

“Having the opportunity to appear on Shark Tank is a dream come true,” said Lutz. “I believe that Shark Tank is the vehicle to help propel our local, mission-driven business to scale across the country.”

During the episode there will be an opportunity for local viewers to participate in an episode-related trivia quiz on social media with the opportunity to win six months’ worth of produce. Learn more on Hungry Harvest’s website.

Obama Administration hides gay agenda in vandalism crime at Missouri Mosque

The DOJ misreported anti-Muslim graffiti on a Missouri Mosque by leaving out very important details that will change one’s perspective on the crime. The DOJ reported it as an ordinary hate crime towards Muslims and the mean words spray painted on a mosque then seemed to be from a random “hater” of Islam and a senseless act. However, the vandalism was actually a pro-homosexual response to the way Muslims mistreat gays.

The DOJ only reported a few of the slurs spray painted onto the mosque, particularly leaving out the pro-homo vocabulary, thus misreporting this to gain traction on what may be a hidden pro-Islamic agenda.

(i) “Allahu F*ckbar;” (ii) “Queer insurrection;” (iii) “It’s okay to be gay!” (iv) “Now is our time!” (v) “Bash Back;” (vi) “You bash us in Pakistan we bash here;” (vii) “Allah was gay;” (viii) “[illegible] unite;” (ix) “Satanic trans” (with circle around Star of David above); (x) “F*ck straights;” and (xi) “Bash Back lives.”

More

Governor Hogan, Mayor Rawlings-Blake Partner to Address Blight in Baltimore City, Announce State Project

Project C.O.R.E. to Provide $94 Million to Demolish Thousands of Vacant Buildings; State to Offer $600 Million in Reinvestment Funds

ANNAPOLIS, MD - Governor Larry Hogan and Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake today announced a multi-year, multi-hundred-million dollar initiative to address blight in Baltimore, declaring that the joint city-state partnership will bring significant resources to demolish thousands of vacant buildings and replace them with green space and a stronger foundation for redevelopment and reinvestment in the city.

The governor and the mayor kicked off Project C.O.R.E, or Creating Opportunities for Renewal and Enterprise, in West Baltimore’s Sandtown-Winchester neighborhood, where the entire 1000 block of N. Stricker Street is slated for demolition.
“Fixing what is broken in Baltimore requires that we address the sea of abandoned, dilapidated buildings infecting entire neighborhoods,” said Governor Hogan. “Together, we will transform these neighborhoods from centers for crime and drugs, to places our city, and our entire state, can be proud of. Working with the private sector to invest in projects like affordable housing, retail, and other new businesses will help ensure that Baltimore becomes a better place to live, work, and retire.”

Governor Larry Hogan: I'm a Guy on a Mission, Who Wants to Get Things Done

Bernie Sanders Denies Being A Career Politician On His 25th Anniversary Of Being In Congress

Bernie Sanders denies that he is a career politician on the 25th anniversary of being elected to Congress.

Appearing on ABC’s “This Week” with Martha Raddatz on Sunday, Sanders claimed, “Well think if you look at my record, I’m not exactly a career politician.”

In 1991, Sanders started his congressional tenure in the House of Representatives, in which he served until 2006.

In 2006, he was elected to the Senate, where he is still serving.

More

Porter Attorneys Seek To Quash Subpoena To Compel Testimony At Goodson, White Trial

As the trial of Officer Caesar Goodson is about to begin, the first officer to stand trial in the death of Freddie Gray is trying to block a subpoena forcing him to testify.

Attorneys for Officer William Porter in court motions filed Monday seek to quash a subpoena forcing him to testify at Officer Goodson's trial, and the trial of Sgt. Alicia White, set to begin on January 25.

Porter's attorneys Gary Proctor and Joe Murtha argue that the subpoena would violate Porter's constitutional rights and create a "quagmire in which rights are trampled on all sides."

Porter's attorneys note the state was going to officer Porter immunity, as he faces a retrial in June. They call the offer of immunity, "a farce," and note Porter also faces a federal investigation and possible prosecution.

More

Governor Larry Hogan: Creating Opportunities for Renewal and Enterprise

TEXAS GOVERNOR CHALLENGES OBAMA ON GUN CONTROL: ‘COME AND TAKE IT’

Governor invokes revolutionary battle cry in defense of Texans' Second Amendment rights

On New Year’s Day, Texas Governor Greg Abbott had a strong message for President Obama regarding his upcoming plan to unilaterally enact gun control legislation: “Come and take it.”

“Obama wants to impose more gun control,” Abbott tweeted Friday. “My response? COME & TAKE IT.”

The Republican governor’s statement comes amid announcements the Obama administration will act later this month to impose stricter rules on the selling and purchase of firearms.

The president will meet with Attorney General Loretta Lynch Monday to discuss what actions can be taken to circumvent the Second Amendment without congressional authorization, the Washington Post reports.

The new rules will reportedly seek to require private sellers to conduct background checks, as well as prevent people on the no-fly list from being able to purchase firearms.

Meanwhile, Governor Abbott has made a strong show of support for Texans’ Second Amendment rights.

More

Rev. Westley West charged with theft

BALTIMORE —The Rev. Westley West, a candidate for Baltimore City Council, was charged last week with theft.

According to the Baltimore County State's Attorney's Office, West allegedly transferred money from a former employer to pay his bills and transfer money to his church.

West is accused of stealing between $700 and $800.

He has a court hearing scheduled for Feb. 22.

Source

TRUMP: IRAN DEAL WAS SO BAD IT’S SUSPICIOUS

Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump says the nuclear deal with Iran is so bad, he is close to wondering whether it was done poorly on purpose.

“It’s almost like there has to be something else going on,” he said Saturday night at a rally in Biloxi, Miss. “I don’t think there is, I just don’t think they’re competent.”

Trump said he couldn’t believe the U.S. would agree to a deal with Iran that did not include the return of Americans held prisoner in Iran.

“Who would make that deal?” he asked, suggesting Tehran was celebrating as the agreement was being negotiated.

Read more

Marine arrested in Sara Mutschlechner's shooting death

Authorities arrested an active U.S. Marine Tuesday in the shooting death of a Texas college student who was slain after an apparent road rage incident.

Eric Jamal Johnson, 25, was taken into custody in Yuma, Ariz., after a warrant was served by the U.S. Marshals Service, Denton police said.

Johnson — who was stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, officials confirmed — was wanted in the New Year's Eve shooting of Sara Mutschlechner, 20, a junior at the University of North Texas.

Mutschlechner was driving in Denton about 2 a.m. Friday after attending a party with her sorority sisters from Zeta Tau Alpha when a black SUV pulled up beside them.

More

Congressman Andy Harris’ Statement on President Obama’s Executive Action on Gun Control

WASHINGTON, DC: Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01) released the following statement in response to President Obama’s announcement of his executive actions on gun control:

“President Obama's executive actions on gun control infringe on the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens, while doing nothing to prevent the true origins of gun violence. Cities such as Baltimore, Washington, and Chicago have among the strictest gun control laws and background check systems - and yet have among the highest gun violence rates in the country. If the President was truly serious about protecting American lives he would get serious about the threat of terrorism. I will continue to work to support the rights of every American under the Second Amendment and to resist what I believe are the many unilateral unconstitutional actions taken by the current administration.”

TRUMP: I WILL VETO OBAMA ACTIONS ON GUNS

"We're not changing the Second Amendment."

Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump told supporters Saturday that he will veto President Obama’s actions on guns if elected to the White House.

“The Second Amendment, it’s so great to me,” Trump said at a campaign rally in Biloxi, Miss.

“We’re not changing the Second Amendment.”

Trump said to loud cheers that there is an “assault” on the Second Amendment as Obama considers executive action on gun control.

“I will veto that. I will unsign that so fast,” Trump said.

Read more

Bar manager's reply to angry customer goes viral

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - A woman suffered a heart attack during a New Year’s Eve celebration at a downtown Indianapolis bar, but a customer’s complaint about the response fueled a social media firestorm.

According to a manager at Kilroy’s Downtown Indy, a 70-year-old woman suffered the heart attack while celebrating New Year's Eve with her family. A customer named Holly Jones took to Facebook to complain that the response to the event ruined her holiday celebration. The woman said she believed someone had suffered a drug overdose and was upset the wait staff wasn’t attentive to her and her guests:

“I will never go back to this location for New Year’s Eve!!! After the way we were treated when we spent 700+ and having our meal ruined by watching a dead person being wheeled out from an overdose my night has been ruined!!! Every year we have come to Kilroys to enjoy New Years Eve and tonight we were screamed at and had the manager walk away from use while (we) were trying to figure out our bill being messed up. The manager also told us someone dying was more important then us being there making us feel like our business didn’t matter, but I guess allowing a Junkie in the building to overdose on your property is more important then paying customers who are spending a lot of money!! Our waitress when we were trying to ask about our bill being messed up also said “what do you want me to do (expletive) pay your bill for you?” What a great way to talk to a paying customer! I get that working on New Years Eve (is) stressful but being a complete (expletive) to us all night knowing you get an automatic gratuity is not right!!!”

Kilroy's manager Chris Burton replied to the woman’s post and clarified the woman had not suffered a drug overdose, but had a heart attack.

"First of all, the “overdosing junkie” that you speak of was a 70-year-old woman who had a heart attack. Thankfully she was revived at the hospital and survived. It sounds like you were very concerned about her so I thought you should know. This poor lady, who was celebrating New Year’s Eve with her husband and son, had to be placed on the floor of a completely packed bar and have her shirt removed in front of everyone so the paramedics could work on her.
More

DOE Drops 1,200 Pages Of Heavily Redacted Docs On Green Energy Loans

The Department of Energy recently turned over more than 1,200 pages of heavily redacted documents in response to a records request about a subsidized biofuels company from The Daily Caller News Foundation.

In October, The DCNF filed a FOIA request with the Energy Department, asking for email records from government officials regarding federal loan guarantees given to Abengoa, a Spanish-based green energy company. The request came on the heels of reports Abengoa was running into big financial problems, despite being given generous taxpayer-backed loans.

The DOE gave The DCNF the records it requested Dec. 18, and after spending time reviewing the documents, it’s apparent there’s a lot of information the department did not want the public to see. The DOE redacted virtually all information specific to Abengoa — in many cases whole pages were blacked out.

Reporters were mostly interested in Abengoa’s $400 million biofuels plant near Hugoton, Kansas. The company got a $132 million federal loan and a $97 million grant to build the plant, but after a year of operation the plant seemed to be having problems of its own. Despite the hype surrounding the plant, Abengoa has filed for bankruptcy and halted operations in Hugoton.

A DOE FOIA officer handed over 1,239 pages of “previously released documents, along with the response letters that accompanied them, in regards to DOE’s Abengoa project.” He added that all “personal information in the response letters has been redacted.”

DOE also redacted “capitalized interest amounts” on Abengoa’s biofuel loan, along with internal agency communications they argued fell under the “deliberative process privilege.” DOE also argued portions of the risk assessment reports on Abengoa were redacted to protect the “deliberative process” of granting federal loans.

Apparently that’s everything in Abengoa’s risk assessments except for some generic language.

More here

Troopers Investigate Home Invasion, Rehoboth

Rehoboth – Troopers are investigating a home invasion that occurred in the Colonial East Development north of Rehoboth Beach late Monday evening.

The incident occurred at approximately 10:45 p.m. Monday January 4, 2016 in the unit block of Carriage Lane as two residents of the home, a 42-year-old female and a 43-year-old male, were in the living room watching television. The two heard a noise coming from outside the house and when the female victim opened the front door, three masked males pushed the door open and entered. The female victim was able to run from the house while the three males entered and confronted the male victim with a gun. The suspects then removed the two victim’s cell phones and a lunch box before fleeing the residence in an unknown direction. The female was able to run to a neighbor’s house where she called 9-1-1 to report the incident. Both victims were uninjured.

All three suspects were described as males wearing dark clothing with masks and gloves (No further physical or clothing description available). One of the suspects was possibly armed with an unknown type handgun

Troopers have determined through preliminary interviews and investigation that this was not a random act and believe the victims may have been targeted in the home invasion.

If anyone has any information in reference to this incident, they are asked to contact Troop 4 Major Crimes Unit at 302-856-5850. Information may also be provided by calling Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333, via the internet atwww.delaware.crimestoppersweb.com, or by sending an anonymous tip by text to 274637 (CRIMES) using the keyword "DSP."

What's For Dinner: Creamy Garlic Penne Pasta

CREAMY GARLIC PENNE PASTA

Adapted from Food.com

Ingredients

• 1 pound box of Penne Pasta (cooked according to directions on box )
• 1/4 cup salted butter
• 5-6 cloves of garlic, minced
• 4 tablespoons flour
• 1 1/2 cups chicken broth
• 1 1/2 cups whole milk
• 4 teaspoons parsley flakes
• 2/3 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Prepare pasta according to directions on box, drain, set aside and keep warm.  

In a medium size sauce pan, over medium heat, melt butter and then add garlic, cook for 1 1/2 minutes. Next, add flour and cook for 1 1/2 minutes, stirring continuously. Slowly add milk and chicken broth, stirring continuously, until sauce begins to boil and thicken. Once sauce thickens, add parsley and Parmesan cheese and blend until cheese has melted. Once sauce is ready, pour over pasta, toss and serve immediately. Serve with you favorite veggies and salad.  

Tips

• Great as a main or side dish. 
• Serve along side or toss with precooked veggies (broccoli is terrific), chicken or seafood (shrimp and pan-seared scallops).  

Source

Parents Sought Who had Children Attend Handy’s Little Disciples Daycare - Millsboro

Millsboro, De - The Delaware State Police Homicide Unit detectives are continuing the investigation into the death of a ten month old infant that occurred at a Millsboro daycare.

Valorie Handy, 51 of Millsboro, was indicted on Monday, July 27, 2015, on one charge of Murder by Abuse or Neglect 1st Degree in the death of the baby who was in her care at the daycare in January 2015. The death of the child has been ruled a homicide. The investigation by the homicide unit detectives is ongoing.

The Attorney General’s Office working with the Delaware State Police Homicide Unit would like to speak with the parents or guardians of any children who have ever attended this day care.

If your child ever attended Handy's Little Disciples daycare located at 28194 Layton-Davis Road, Millsboro please contact Detective J. King at (302)-698-8561 or Attorney General Investigator P. Fraley at (302)-856-5353.

Dorchester County Sheriff's Office Press Release 1-5-16

On December 19, 2015 a deputy from the Dorchester County Sheriff’s office arrested 23 year old Jawaun Billy Jones of 6227-A Jones Village Road, Hurlock, Md. He was wanted in connection with the abandonment of a 2 month old infant on December 12, 2015 on Jones Village Road. The suspect and the mother of the child became involved in an argument and placed the infant in a child safety seat and abandoned the infant in the travelled portion of the roadway around 3:00 a.m. The child was recovered and turned over to other family members. The suspect has been charged with Second Degree Child Abuse, Reckless Endangerment and Neglect of a Minor and was ordered Held on $300,000.00 Bond.

On December 29, 2015 a deputy from the Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office arrested 21 year old Brittany Dawn Schuyler of 5619 Mt. Holly Road, East New Market, Md. She was wanted for Failure to appear in District Court on October 28, 2015. While searching her subsequent to arrest she was found to be in possession of Heroin and Cocaine. She was charged with 2 counts of Possession of Paraphernalia, Possession of Cocaine and Possession of Heroin and incarcerated on $8,000.00 for the drugs and $5,000.00 for the Failure to Appear. 

Governor Larry Hogan Announces New Staff Appointments

ANNAPOLIS, MD – Governor Larry Hogan today announced two new appointments within his Executive Staff: Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio as Deputy Chief of Staff and Mathew Palmer as Deputy Legislative Officer. Haddaway-Riccio will replace current Deputy Chief of Staff Michael Richard, who is being nominated for an appointment to the Maryland Public Service Commission. Palmer succeeds Patrick Hogan ahead of the upcoming 2016 Legislative Session.

Haddaway-Riccio currently serves as Director of Intergovernmental Affairs to Governor Hogan where she acts as the governor’s liaison to local governments, including working with the Maryland Association of Counties and the Maryland Municipal League. She will continue to assist Governor Hogan in that capacity until a new director is appointed. Previously, she served as District 37B Delegate from 2003 to 2015, where she was a member of numerous committees including the Economic Matters Committee, the Joint Committee on Federal Relations, and the Legislative Policy Committee. She also served as Minority Whip from 2011-2013 and as House Chair for the Talbot County Delegation from 2003-2015. In addition, Haddaway-Riccio has worked for the Maryland Department of Environment’s Air and Radiation Management Administration as well as the National Audubon Society.

“Jeannie is a competent and capable professional with a wealth of experience in government administration, as well as a knowledgeable and trusted member of my staff,” said Governor Hogan. “I have every confidence that she will continue to be an asset to our administration in her new role as a Deputy Chief of Staff."

General Motors Invests $500M in Ride-Sharing Firm Lyft, Forms Partnership

General Motors Co. and ride-hailing company Lyft Inc. are forming an unprecedented partnership that could help them beat their rivals to the self-driving future.

Lyft said Monday that GM invested $500 million in the company as part of a round of a $1 billion round of fund-raising.

GM gets a seat on Lyft's board and access to the three-year-old company's software, which matches riders with drivers and automates payments. It also becomes a preferred vehicle provider, with the chance to get many more people behind the wheel of a Chevrolet, Buick, GMC or Cadillac.

San Francisco-based Lyft gets the expertise of a 108-year-old automaker with decades of experience in making connected and autonomous vehicles. Detroit-based GM also has an enviable global reach; it sells almost 10 million cars each year in more than 100 countries. Lyft operates in 190 U.S. cities, although it recently formed partnerships with ride-sharing services in China and India.

More

Term Limits and Why We Need Them on the Federal Level

By Thorton Crowe

It was never meant to be a life-long career…

With familiarity comes both contempt and perpetuation of rut, so why do citizens continue to advocate and subscribe to the same politicians, election after election? While on a local level this can be damaging to a community such as Salisbury because one needs to have the ability to shakes things up a bit. Having the same mayors, council members and such, year in and year out, it becomes a tedious drill of lip service with no tangible return for a person’s vote. The same potholes remain along with all the other complaints campaign promises are built on – yet as citizens, we allow it.

Looking at the Federal arena, it is staggering how long people are elected to do the same horrible job they’ve done for decades. Barbara Milkulski has frankly done a atrocious job representing our area. She flagrantly passed that mess we now know as Obamacare, which becomes more and more putrid with each passing day while costing many Marylanders (and Salisburians) job security and – guess what? Health Insurance! She has assisted in diminishing Maryland’s the ability to attract younger citizenry as a viable place to raise a family and discouraged small businesses (and some big ones) from even setting up shop. Yet, she has been allowed to enjoy her reign of nuisance by the citizenry she hurts since January 3, 1987. That’s a whopping twenty-nine years for all those without their cellphone calculators handy. The questions are A) Why? and B) When will her treacherous rule end?

Historically, the House and Senate were supposed to be for representatives of a community that worked their ‘regular’ jobs and professions in ADDITION to their duties in DC in their home territory. Even Washington didn’t sell the plantation when he was elected President. Hence, only when our representatives are actually in communication with us can they truly provide our voice in Washington.

Instead of working citizens representing us, we have pre-fab, groomed politicians whom see their political lives as their personal end game with absolutely no idea what we need or desire. Additionally, these policymakers have never owned or run a business – or studied business for that matter – and they are so out of sync with their so-called communities, it’s a good day when they can even remember the townships’ names they supposedly represent.

Politicians run amuck with their special interests and aisle-crossing is no way to run neither a community nor a country. Term limits are essential to ensure we have a real say in this country (the way it was designed to work) rather than voters as passive stakeholders without a clue. Furthermore and more importantly, it provides the necessary checks and balances a democracy requires to continue as, well, a democracy.

How say you?

STAY SAFE DURING COLD WEATHER

(Salisbury, MD) The recent dip in temperature is an important reminder to area residents to take seriously the health risks associated with cold temperatures. “It’s important to know how to prevent health problems during cold weather, whether you stay inside or have to venture outside.” said Lori Brewster, Wicomico County Health Officer.

Being aware of upcoming weather is the first line of defense. Listen to local radio or television news regularly. Weather reports usually inform you several days in advance when severe weather is heading your way. Use that lead time to get ready.

Be sure to dress properly whenever you have to be outside in cold weather. “Wind chills make the reported temperature feel colder, and cause the body to lose heat at a faster rate,” said Brewster. Cover your head, ears, and the lower part of your face to avoid frostbite. Drape a scarf over your mouth to avoid directly inhaling very cold air. Wear several layers of lightweight clothing and two pairs of socks. Choose mittens rather than gloves, to keep your hands warmer. Wear boots with slip-resistant treads to help keep you from slipping on ice, and use sunglasses to protect your eyes from winter sun glare.

Staying inside out of icy conditions reduces the risk of falls due to ice and car accidents, but can have its own hazards. “Using space heaters and fireplaces to keep warm increases the risk of household fires and carbon monoxide poisoning,” Brewster said. Rooms where a space heater is used should be well ventilated, with the interior door left open. Place heaters at least three feet away from furniture, draperies, and other objects. Space heaters should never be used to dry wet clothing, blankets, or other flammable items. Keep children and pets away from the heater. Be sure to turn off and unplug the heater before leaving the room or going to bed.

WCSO Press Release 1-5-16

Mills, Gabriel

Incident: Failure to Comply with a Protective Order
Date of Incident: 31 December 2015
Location: Tilghman Road at Mt. Hermon Road, Salisbury, MD
Suspect: Gabriel Antwan Mills, 36, Willards, MD
Narrative: On 31 December 2015 a deputy stopped a vehicle operated by Gabriel Mills for a traffic violation and discovered that he had as a passenger a subject that Mills was barred from having contact with due to a protective order.
The deputy placed Mills under arrest and transported him to the Central Booking Unit where he was processed and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner. Following an initial appearance, the Commissioner detained Mills in the Detention Center in lieu of $20,000.00 bond
Charges: Violation of a Protective Order

Corbin, Na'Ja

Incident: Assault / Resisting Arrest
Date of Incident: 1 January 2016
Location: 400 block of Keene Avenue, Salisbury, MD
Suspect: Na Ja R. Corbin, 22, Salisbury, MD
Narrative: On 1 January 2016 at 3:31 AM a deputy responded to a residence in the 400 block of Keene Avenue for a reported domestic related altercation. According to the male subject at the residence, he became embroiled in a verbal altercation with Na Ja Corbin that turned physical. According to the male victim, Corbin repeatedly stuck and slapped him and at one point charged at him with a knife. During the investigation, the deputy observed signs of injury along with a knife that corroborated the victim’s account. Upon attempting to place Corbin under arrest, she resisted efforts by the deputy to be taken into custody and struggled against the deputy. Corbin was observed by the deputy to be visibly intoxicated.
The deputy placed Corbin under arrest and transported her to the Central Booking Unit where she was processed and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner. Following an initial appearance, the Commissioner detained Corbin in the Detention Center in lieu of $25,000.00 bond.
Charges: Assault 1st Degree, Assault 2nd Degree and Resisting Arrest

Schweiger, Ian

Incident: Assault
Date of Incident: 1 January 2016
Location: 32000 block of Old Ocean City Road, Parsonsburg, MD
Suspect: Ian Thomas Schweiger, 40 Parsonsburg, MD
Narrative: On 1 January 2016 at 6:30 PM a deputy arrested Ian Schweiger in connection with a domestic related assault that took place at a residence in the 32000 block of Old Ocean City Road in Parsonsburg. During this incident, it was alleged that Schweiger became irate with his parents who he resides with and a physical altercation ensued. According to his parents he struck his father and pushed his mother down a flight of stairs. It is also alleged that while Schweiger was in his irate state, he also damaged several areas inside the residence with a hatchet.
Upon arrest the deputy transported Schweiger to the Central Booking Unit where he was processed and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner. Following an initial appearance, the Commissioner detained Schweiger in the Detention Center in lieu of $20,000.00 bond.
Charges: Assault 2nd Degree, Reckless Endangerment and Malicious Destruction of Property

Siffray, Arnold

Incident: Driving Suspended
Date of Incident: 2 January 2016
Location: Salisbury Parkway at Cypress Street, Salisbury, MD
Suspect: Arnold Siffray, 47, Salisbury, MD
Narrative: On 2 January 2016 at 12:02 AM a deputy stopped a vehicle operated by Arnold Siffray for a registration violation. The deputy discovered on a registration plate query that the registration of Siffray’s vehicle had been suspended for no insurance. Upon further query of the license status of Siffray, the deputy discovered that Siffray’s license to drive had been suspended. The deputy also uncovered that Siffray had been charged four times since August 2015 for driving while suspended. There was also an outstanding warrant for one of those driving suspended charges that was issued after Siffray failed to appear for a court appearance.
Siffray was also transporting two children, 2 and 4 years old, in the vehicle.
The deputy placed Siffray under arrest for this driving suspended violation and the outstanding warrant. Siffray was transported to the Central Booking Unit where he was processed and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner. Following an initial appearance the Commissioner released Siffray on Personal Recognizance on all charges.
Charges: Driving While Suspended, Driving with a Suspended Vehicle Registration, Driving Without Insurance, Transporting a Child Under 8 Without a Safety Seat and Failure to Appear
 

Adaquin, Gerson

Incident: DUI / Wanted Subject
Date of Incident: 3 January 2016
Location: Salisbury Parkway at Ward Street, Salisbury, MD
Suspect: Gerson Ricardo Adaquin, 24, Salisbury, MD
Narrative: On 3 January 2016 at 12:50 AM a deputy stopped a vehicle operated by Gerson Adaquin after the deputy observed Adaquin driving extremely erratically which included striking a curb. Upon making contact with Adaquin, the deputy detected a strong odor of alcohol. That odor along with other mannerisms including the observation of Adaquin’s driving prompted the deputy to initiate sobriety testing. Following the conclusion of that testing the deputy placed Adaquin under arrest for DUI.
During subsequent processing, Adaquin submitted to the breath test with a result of .16.
Adaquin was charged with DUI upon the issuance of citations.
The deputy also discovered that Adaquin was wanted by the State of Florida after he failed to appear for a CDS case in that state. The deputy charged Adaquin as a fugitive from the State of Florida and he was detained at the Detention Center without bond pending extradition back to Florida.
Charges: Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol and Fugitive from the State of Florida

Economy Would Be Better with a Republican President

Hillary Clinton wants Americans to believe the economy does better with a Democratic president than a Republican in the White House — that is simply false.

Unless a president presides over an absolute economic disaster — as did George W. Bush or Herbert Hoover — comparing one with another is tricky business.

So much depends on the circumstances each inherits and the state of the wider global economy.

The best apples to apples comparison is between the rather difficult conditions Presidents Reagan and Obama inherited and how the fortunes of America's families then progressed — with Reagan relying on conservative prescriptions and Mr. Obama on activist government to stimulate growth.

More

US manufacturing hit a 3-year low in December

Manufacturing in the US is in a bad place.

Markit's latest reading on US manufacturing activity in December fell slightly to 51.2 from a preliminary reading of 51.3, though this reading was better than 51.1 that was estimated.

This is the lowest level for the reading since October 2012.

The Institute for Supply Management followed on Monday with its own reading that showed manufacturing in the US is in contraction.

ISM's index came in at 48.2, down from 48.6 in November and below the 49.0 that was expected. December's reading was the lowest since June 2009.

All readings below 50 indicate contraction in the sector.

More

Predicting Weather About To Be Easier Thanks To Md. Computer

BALTIMORE (WJZ) — A smarter computer is promising better predictions of dangerous weather.

Alex DeMetrick reports that faster information is downloading right here in Maryland.

The old joke about the weather changing every 20 minutes in Maryland is no joke when time is needed to get out of the way of the worst kinds of weather.

NOAA’s Weather and Climate Prediction Center in College Park is working to increase that warning time. A new super computer upgrade is making it the forecasting center for the nation.

“That then can take all of that information and put it all together into essentially a one-stop shop,” said Senator Barbara Mikulski.

More

How Mitt Romney backed down after saying, 'I want to be president'

On Sunday, The Washington Post published some of the backstory on former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney's (R) decision not to run for president in 2016.

In a massive, year-end summation of the presidential race so far, the 2012 Republican nominee surprised his inner circle at one point last January by declaring that he was seriously considering the race.

"I want to be president," Romney reportedly told the group then.

And as he looked at the polling data, Romney apparently found evidence that he could win.

"It's like, 'Wow. Wow.' That's not a bad place to start from," Romney told The Post of his thinking at the time.

However, Romney felt a little boxed out by former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R), who had already announced his exploration of a campaign and was aggressively fundraising for it.

"This wasn't going to happen by a claim of some kind or other people having a difficult time getting traction and then people turning to me and asking me to run," Romney recalled during a late-December interview with The Post.

He continued: "If I wanted to be president, it was a decision I had to make. And Jeb, I think very wisely, had begun raising money and getting things started early on, so the time frame to make that decision was earlier than I might have thought."

More

Carson Campaign 'Finished,' Reagan's Top Strategist Says

Ronald Reagan's top political strategist has declared the presidential campaign of Ben Carson is essentially over.

"At this point, I think his candidacy is finished," Ed Rollins, a top Republican strategist who managed President Reagan's 1984 re-election, told The Washington Post late last week.

Rollins' comments came on the heels of the announcement made just before the New Year that some 20 Carson staffers had quit the campaign, including its manager, Barry Bennett, and two senior aides.

"He has money but his staffers are gone and nothing really to keep him going. Iowa isn't seriously in play, he has no strength in New Hampshire," Rollins said.

Carson, who once led polls in Iowa, now places in third or fourth.

More

This Time Isn't Different

Last year ended with a whimper on Wall Street. The S&P 500 was down 1% for the year, down 4% from its all-time high in May, and no higher than it was 13 months ago at the end of QE3. The Wall Street shysters and their mainstream media mouthpieces declare 2016 to be a rebound year, with stocks again delivering double digit returns. When haven’t they touted great future returns. They touted them in 2000 and 2007 too. No one earning their paycheck on Wall Street or on CNBC will point out the most obvious speculative bubble in history. John Hussman has been pointing it out for the last two years as the Fed created bubble has grown ever larger. Those still embracing the bubble will sit down to a banquet of consequences in 2016.

At the peak of every speculative bubble, there are always those who have persistently embraced the story that gave the bubble its impetus in the first place. As a result, the recent past always belongs to them, if only temporarily. Still, the future inevitably belongs to somebody else. By the completion of the market cycle, no less than half (and often all) of the preceding speculative advance is typically wiped out.
Hussman referenced the work of Reinhart & Rogoff when they produced their classic This Time is Different. Every boom and bust have the same qualities. The hubris and arrogance of financial “experts” and government apparatchiks makes them think they are smarter than those before them. They always declare this time to be different due to some new technology or reason why valuations don’t matter. The issuance of speculative debt and seeking of yield due to Federal Reserve suppression of interest rates always fuels the boom and acts as the fuse for the inevitable explosive bust.

More

Democrats Not Confident Hillary Could Beat Trump in a General Election

Some Democrats are losing faith that their presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton can win in a general election fight against Donald Trump, the fierce-tongued GOP front-runner who already has obliterated many of his opponents in his own party.

Early polls indicated Clinton would easily defeat Trump in a November head-to-head matchup, but a more recent Rasmussen poll shows the two in a statistical tie.

According to The Washington Times, some of Clinton's supporters still believe she can best a Trump candidacy, but others fear her past provides too much grist for Trump, who already has gone after her husband, former President Bill Clinton, for his past with women, and has said Hillary Clinton is partially to blame for the creation of the Islamic State (ISIS)because of her time as President Barack Obama's secretary of state.

More

THIS IS HOW DRUNK DRIVING COPS ARE TREATED BY OTHER COPS

Maryland is among the top states where people are moving out of

Maryland is among the top states in the U.S. where people are moving out.

United Van Lines ranks Maryland No. 10 on a new list of the top outbound states of 2015. The moving company reports Maryland 55 percent of moves to and from the state are being outbound.

United Van Lines compiled the list by by tracking customers’ state-to-state migration patterns over the past year.

More

A TANGLED WEB: HOW THE MEDIA MISLEADS THE PUBLIC ON TERRORIST THREATS

Public perception about the so-called “Global War on Terror” is manipulated in various ways by a trail of misinformation and disinformation.

This article is a case study on the October 22, 2015 lone gunman rampage of Parliament Hill in Ottawa that was used by the government of Steven Harper to justify the Canadian entry into the US war in Iraq and, later, the US-led war on Syria. Despite being proven otherwise, the attack by Michael Zehaf-Bibeau was reported as being linked to the so-called Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/DAESH/ISIS/IS).

How and Why Facts Get Lost or are Ignored

On the day that Michael Zehaf-Bibeau went on his rampage, a tangled web of information was erected. In all the reporting by the media, the sources were lost. What resulted from this was the perception that Canada was under a foreign-planned attack led by the ISIL/DAESH.

One important source, @ArmedResearch, a US-based Twitter account that presents itself as a microblog for military studies, claimed that the Ottawa attack on October 22 was connected to an attack which took place two days earlier at Saint Jean-sur-Richelieu, Québec (October 20).

More

Jeb Bush Cancels Early State Ad Buys

ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST?

The once front-running campaign of former Florida governor Jeb Bush is cancelling more than $3 million in television advertising in early-voting Iowa and South Carolina.

“It’s instead increasing direct voter contact with a total of 60 additional staffers,” reported The Des Moines Register.

Really? So to recap: Bush is now freeing up television money for staff … after a previous staff downsizing aimed at freeing up more money for television.

Hmmm …

“The Bush camp also said it plans to increase its advertising on conservative talk radio stations in South Carolina, a cheaper, lower-profile and less effective way to reach GOP base voters,” a follow-up report by The Washington Post added.

More

Would You Share A Hotel Room With A Stranger For Half Off Your Bill?

What would you be willing to do in order to cut your next hotel bill in half? How about sharing the space with a stranger? That’s the idea behind a new startup that aims to bring people together and lighten the strain on their wallets. 

[More]

WATCH: Woman Confronts Starbucks Employee Over Alleged Credit Card Theft

A California woman confronted a Starbucks cashier for allegedly going on a spending spree with her credit card.

"We got you on camera yesterday at Ralph's for $200, so just know that the cops are coming up here," Juana Martinez told the 19-year-old worker at the Lakewood location.

Martinez told the cashier she remembered her disappearing with the card briefly to get more "receipt paper."


"You took a copy of my [expletive] card on New Year's Day. You know what you did, right?"

More

How I Feel About Obama's Newest Threat

As all of you know, I have been doing this for a lot of years now. One of the main reasons I started Salisbury News was because the rest of the local Liberal Media completely fails to either keep you informed and or simply cover up the TRUTH. They tend to follow the Liberal political agenda of forcing change while keeping the public uneducated with one sided information hand fed to them. 

For example, (a small one) the City of Salisbury introduced legislation years ago creating a charge for ambulance service while telling the public if the bill hadn't been paid by their 3rd attempt the City would simply write it off. Funny how out of nowhere, the City now sends those people to collections.

My point is, LIBERALS introduce what I call SOFT LEGISLATION just to get things through without the masses complaining. Obama's proposal on guns is just that, SOFT. Once Obama moves forward with this, (God Forbid Hillary get elected) it will then be her new policy to make those new laws even stronger. I mean, after all, LIBERALS will claim that the majority of Americans must support it because well, the majority of Americans supporter her.

This is just one of many reasons why I support Donald Trump for President. The political games need to end. Look how the majority of Americans do not support gay marriage, yet somehow it passed. The majority of Marylander's did not support a Rain Tax, yet it passed. I could spend an entire year showing all of you the actual PORK added to bills in the Senate and Congress used as blackmail to get Republicans to agree to certain legislation. 

Trump will STOP all this crap. However, he can't do it alone. We need to elect Trump minded thinkers into the Senate and Congress as well. The only way we're going to see progress is to stop our elected officials in their tracks and finally hold them accountable. 

The proven traffic on Salisbury News PROVES the MAJORITY of locals visit us far more then anywhere else. Why, because we EDUCATE, we CHALLENGE and we give YOU the opportunity to express yourselves without fear of RETALIATION. Yeah, the Liberals want to shut people like me down too. 

Say NO to President Obama and his SOFT attempt to change our 2nd Amendment Rights.

Obama Shoots

Blizzard kills Thousands of Texas Dairy Cows

AUSTIN, Texas, (UPI) -- Winter storms that ripped through the central and Southern United States at the end of 2015 dealt a blow to Texas' dairy industry.

The Texas Association of Dairymen said in a statement Saturday that winter storm conditions killed about 5 percent of mature dairy cows in the state. The group does not know how many heifers and calves have been lost. Executive director Darren Turley said as farmers continue to assess the damage, the number of losses is expected to rise.

"The immediate challenge is how to handle these sudden, massive losses of animals," Turley said in the statement. "The ordinary methods for disposal cannot handle the volume of deaths we are seeing from this storm. The Texas Association of Dairymen is working with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and other agencies to determine how the animals can be disposed of both quickly and safely."

More

Bill Clinton's Campaign Schedule

PA TURNPIKE WILL HAVE TOLLS INCREASED BY 6% THIS SUNDAY

If you were planning to go from New Jersey to Pennsylvania this weekend, you must keep in mind that the PA Turnpike will have tolls increased by 6% this Sunday. This raise will become common in the next few years as state officials plan to make this a yearly plan until 2044, with increases ranging from 3% to 6% annually.

Fortunately, the turnpike tolling plaza will become cashless after this 2nd of January’s midnight. After that point, a camera will snap a picture of your license plate and send the bill to your home. Hopefully, this will provide a constant flow in traffic, without any bustles at tolling points.

The toll-by-plate program is the first of its kind, being conducted at the Delaware bridge, and is part of a larger $1.4 billion dollar plan to connect Interstate 95 to the turnpike, according to the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission. Bills will arrive in your mail starting with the 25th of January.

More

Marylanders mixed over president's gun measures

BEL AIR, Md. —President Barack Obama said Monday he will soon introduce a new set of initiatives to toughen gun control laws.

The president met Monday with Attorney General Loretta Lynch, FBI Director James Comey and other top law enforcement officials at the White House. They talked about options for gun control measures the president can take without congressional approval, but the president didn't say what exactly he'll be doing.

"The good news is, is that these are not only recommendations that are well within my legal authority and the executive branch, but they are also ones that the overwhelming majority of the American people, including gun owners, support and believe it," the president said.

In Maryland, word of the president's planned executive action is getting praise from some and deep concern from others. Vincent de Marco of Marylanders to Prevent Gun Violence called it the right step.

More

Woman Travels The World By Getting Online Men To Fund Dates

Let’s just put aside the fact that any one of these men could be off-their-rocker crazy and rape, murder, torture, etc. this woman, why would you want to go to a foreign place with a person you don’t even know?

A 25-year-old woman has revealed that she travels the world for free by getting men she meets online to fund her trip.

Monica Lynn, from Alabama, has travelled to Italy, Barbados and the Phillipines – and calls the experience like ‘dating on steroids’.

Before January 2015, Monica Lynn had never even left the US but a year on, she has seen nine different countries and done everything from camel trekking in Dubai to shopping sprees in Hong Kong – all apparently paid for by dates she met on the internet.

The former financial advisor, who ditched the nine-to-five grind to see the world, estimates her lavish trip would have taken a decade of saving if she’d funded it herself.

Her adventure began in January, when she came across an article about dating site MissTravel, where singles can pay to bring prospective partners on holiday with them.

Miss Lynn explained: ‘I came across Miss Travel in an article about weird websites. I thought, ‘Yes, that sounds weird – but also kind of cool.’

More

Supreme Court Prepares to Hear Key Texas Abortion Case

As the U.S. Supreme Court prepares to hear its first abortion case in nearly a decade, both sides have been quietly gathering vivid personal accounts from women to supplement the dry legal arguments, believing the effort could appeal particularly to swing-vote Justice Anthony Kennedy.

The case, which arises from a challenge to new Texas regulations covering clinics and physicians that perform abortions, could have broad political repercussions in a presidential election year. Depending how the nine justices rule, the court could embolden -- or discourage -- other states in imposing regulations affecting women's access to abortion.

A ruling in the dispute over the socially and politically contentious issue of abortion rights is expected by late June.

Some opponents of abortion are seizing on past comments by Kennedy, who has said that some women come to "regret" the procedure and, while affirming a right to abortion, has voted for certain regulations governing the procedure. Seeking to bolster the argument for Texas's strict requirements, they are signing up women who say they suffered medical complications.

The group of health clinics challenging the state, meanwhile, is trying to counter any perception of abortion as an option used only by the young and inexperienced.

Taking a page from the successful approach of gay-marriage proponents, they have sought lawyers and other professional women who say abortions helped them for economic, medical or other reasons. They hope the vignettes from lawyers will help justices identify with their view.

More here

Clinton Foundation accepted over $50M from countries that kill gays

Settlement Reached In "Sex For Repairs" Lawsuit

The details are not known, but WBAL NewsRadio 1090 confirms a settlement has been reached in the "sex for repairs" lawsuit filed against the Baltimore City Housing Authority by 19 women who lived in public housing.

The federal class action lawsuit alleged that maintenance staff of the housing authority demanded sex from the women who were seeking repair work on their apartments.

Each plaintiff has been seeking $10-million.

"The parties have reached a settlement subject to approval by HUD and the Court," plaintiffs attorney Cary Hansel and the Housing Authority said in a joint statement issued Monday night.

More

This Sign Was Removed In 1977

This KKK sign was removed back in 1977. It took the County/Town bringing in the National Guard to cut it down because members of the KKK threatened harm.

Hard to believe this was still accepted in North Carolina, especially posted on an Interstate Highway. 

New Executive Action To Reduce Gun Violence

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

FACT SHEET: New Executive Actions to Reduce Gun Violence and Make Our Communities

Gun violence has taken a heartbreaking toll on too many communities across the country. Over the past decade in America, more than 100,000 people have been killed as a result of gun violence—and millions more have been the victim of assaults, robberies, and other crimes involving a gun. Many of these crimes were committed by people who never should have been able to purchase a gun in the first place. Over the same period, hundreds of thousands of other people in our communities committed suicide with a gun and nearly half a million people suffered other gun injuries. Hundreds of law enforcement officers have been shot to death protecting their communities. And too many children are killed or injured by firearms every year, often by accident. The vast majority of Americans—including the vast majority of gun owners—believe we must take sensible steps to address these horrible tragedies.

The President and Vice President are committed to using every tool at the Administration’s disposal to reduce gun violence. Some of the gaps in our country’s gun laws can only be fixed through legislation, which is why the President continues to call on Congress to pass the kind of commonsense gun safety reforms supported by a majority of the American people. And while Congress has repeatedly failed to take action and pass laws that would expand background checks and reduce gun violence, today, building on the significant steps that have already been taken over the past several years, the Administration is announcing a series of commonsense executive actions designed to:

1. Keep guns out of the wrong hands through background checks.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is making clear that it doesn’t matter where you conduct your business—from a store, at gun shows, or over the Internet: If you’re in the business of selling firearms, you must get a license and conduct background checks.

ATF is finalizing a rule to require background checks for people trying to buy some of the most dangerous weapons and other items through a trust, corporation, or other legal entity.

Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch has sent a letter to States highlighting the importance of receiving complete criminal history.