DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Friday, February 05, 2016
A Viewer Writes: Today's accident in Bishopville
All the guys give their picks for Super Bowl 50!.
All the guys give their picks for Super Bowl 50!... And I TRY to... #SuperBowl
Posted by Jeff Dunham on Tuesday, February 2, 2016
Close Calls
Well that was close...
Posted by EXTREME on Thursday, December 17, 2015
Drug dealers are making counterfeit 'Xanax' pills out of a dangerous painkiller responsible for an overdose crisis
Public health officials are warning that drug dealers are counterfeiting Xanax pills and selling them on the streets. The fake Xanax pills contain a lethal dose of fentanyl, and have already been responsible for a number of overdoses.
The latest warning comes from the Illinois State Police and Monroe County Sheriff Neal Rohlfing. The health warning is nothing new, and sadly, it must be repeated occasionally across the nation.
Sheriff Rohlfing said Xanax is one of the most abused prescriptions medications by people with addictions. "We want the public to be aware. We want everyone to know the current dangers of this drug trend." He added the fake pills contain a deadly mixture of an opioid called fentanyl.
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The latest warning comes from the Illinois State Police and Monroe County Sheriff Neal Rohlfing. The health warning is nothing new, and sadly, it must be repeated occasionally across the nation.
Sheriff Rohlfing said Xanax is one of the most abused prescriptions medications by people with addictions. "We want the public to be aware. We want everyone to know the current dangers of this drug trend." He added the fake pills contain a deadly mixture of an opioid called fentanyl.
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America's largest Christian cross set for construction
The Corpus Christi Cross Project kicked off with a groundbreaking at the Abundant Life Fellowship campus off Interstate 37. And the church pastor, Rick Milby, said it will be the largest cross of its kind in the Western Hemisphere, ultimately reaching 210 feet into the sky and 95 feet wide, Newser reported.
Milby said he got the idea for the cross after he saw a massive cross in Houston and learned about “lives that were changed, suicides that were aborted, relationships that were restored because of the influence of the cross,” he wrote on the project’s website.
The Corpus Christi cross is so big it allows for “a two-foot deflection at the top – it will actually sway in the wind two feet back and forth,” Milby said to KRIS TV.
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A major figure in the Black Lives Matter movement is running for mayor of Baltimore
In the 18 months since that event, Mckesson has become a full-time activist, working within the loosely organized Black Lives Matter movement, helping formulate its related police-reform campaign known as Campaign Zero, and traveling across the country to protest and support those working in support of those efforts.
Mckesson is now formally jumping into politics.
On Wednesday, Mckesson announced that he has filed to run for the mayor of Baltimore. A native of the city, Mckesson will run in the Democratic primary.
"I am running to be the 50th Mayor of Baltimore in order to usher our city into an era where the government is accountable to its people and is aggressively innovative in how it identifies and solves its problems. We can build a Baltimore where more and more people want to live and work, and where everyone can thrive," Mckesson said in a statement posted on Medium.
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Some Oklahoma schools display signs warning staffers could be armed
The signs were erected at public schools in Okay, according to the Muskogee Phoenix. The town's police department was reportedly disbanded in 2014, and even though sheriff's deputies are available, Superintendent Charles McMahan says that may not be enough.
"We don't want to be a soft target," he told the newspaper.
One sign reads, "ATTENTION: Please be aware that certain staff members at Okay Public Schools can be legally armed and may use whatever force is necessary to protect our students."
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This 3D-printed automatic gun is semi-automatic, untraceable, and totally legal
In the case of a YouTube user known simply as Derwood, he’d prefer spending his weekend 3D printing a working semi-automatic weapon; within the boundaries of the law, of course.
Shown off via a YouTube video published late last month, Derwood’s creation is self-described as a “mostly” 3D-printed firearm with roughly 95 percent of the construction done through prints. T
he resulting product (seen in the video below) is completely void of a serial number, impossible to trace back to Derwood, and entirely legal — which is perhaps its most controversial feature.
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Google unleashes free speedy Internet service on low-income homes
The Mountain View, California, company said in a blog post Wednesday that it will give public housing residents free access to its Google Fiber broadband service. It's kicking off the effort in Kansas City, where Google first deployed the all-fiber network in 2011.
Google already provides free service to the poor in Austin, Texas. But the speed offered there for free is lower than the 1 gigabit-per-second connection it provides to its paying customers and will be providing to low-income residents in Kansas City.
Google charges $70 for the 1Gbps service, which is 100 times faster than the typical home broadband connection. The offer of free high-speed Internet takes one burden off the shoulders of the poor.
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'I'm prejudiced — I want Donald Trump to win the nomination'
During a CNN town-hall event, Sanders told moderator Anderson Cooper that he liked his odds against the real-estate mogul.
"Frankly, I'm prejudiced: I want Trump to win the Republican nomination," Sanders said. "I would love the opportunity to run against him. I think we'd win."
Sanders pointed out earlier in the night that some hypothetical head-to-head matchups showed Sanders in a better position than his rival Hillary Clinton to defeat Trump in the general election.
The Vermont senator railed against Trump during Wednesday's town hall. He criticized the tycoon for his plan to deport the approximately 11 million immigrants living in the US without permission, as well as his plan to ban many Muslim tourists and immigrants from entering the US.
"It is not only his bigoted remarks against Latinos, suggesting Mexicans coming into this country are rapists or drug dealers. Or his absurd remark that we should not let Muslims into this country," Sanders said.
Sanders also mocked Trump for his views on wages and climate change.
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Aetna Joins Growing Chorus Warning About ObamaCare Failing
Insurance giant Aetna (AET) has joined a growing number of insurers warning that the ObamaCare exchanges are failing in just the way critics said they would. This year’s anemic enrollment won’t help.
This week, Aetna CEO Mark Bertolini warned that “we continue to have serious concerns about the sustainability of the public exchanges.” Aetna lost more than $100 million last year on the 750,000 enrollees it has through ObamaCare exchanges.
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Answer To Today's Puzzle 2-5-16
Can you find the 6 hidden words
Click 'READ MORE' below to see the answers
Zika Virus: How Worried Should You Be?
The World Health Organization has declared the Zika virus an international public health emergency. It has already affected 24 countries including Africa, Asia, and Latin America. WHO predicts the mosquito-borne virus will likely end up in every country in the Americas.
So how worried should you be? With no vaccine and treatments unreliable, health experts say we should all take precautions to lower risks — particularly women of child-bearing age and those who travel to regions of the world where the virus poses a grave threat.
“With no imminent vaccine on the horizon, we must all be vigilant,” Dr. Robert G. Silverman a health care expert from White Plains, New York, tells Newsmax Health.
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So how worried should you be? With no vaccine and treatments unreliable, health experts say we should all take precautions to lower risks — particularly women of child-bearing age and those who travel to regions of the world where the virus poses a grave threat.
“With no imminent vaccine on the horizon, we must all be vigilant,” Dr. Robert G. Silverman a health care expert from White Plains, New York, tells Newsmax Health.
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Montgomery Co. preparing to house Syrian refugees
“I think we have a public perception problem when it comes to refugees,” Councilman Craig Rice said during a session of the Montgomery County Health and Human Services Committee.
The panel sought input from organizations on helping refugees resettle and how to reassure residents who may be concerned about taking in individuals from Syria.
Concerns have been raised on a national level about the vetting process and its ability to screen dangerous people.
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2.5 Million Gun Background Checks in January Set Record for 9th Month in Row
The number was lower than the 3.3 million all-time record set in December, but the most for the month of January in any year since the checks began in late 1998.
The number also represented a monthly record for the ninth month in a row and the third month in a row with more than 2 million checks.
The FBI notes that the figures from month-to-month are not hard data on the number of guns sold since states differ in their laws. In some instances, one background check can cover the purchase of more than one gun, and some sheriff's require background checks to obtain a concealed carry permit even if a gun is not being purchased at the time.
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Your Voice is Making a Difference!
Joe -
Your efforts have stalled the partisan insiders in the State Senate!
Over the past week, many of you have sent e-mails or called your State Senator and let them know that you didn't want murderers, rapists, kidnappers, and other current felons voting until they have completely repaid their debt to society. With such a tremendous response, they have to listen. Now more than ever, we need you to keep the pressure on your State Senator and make sure your voice is heard. If we relax now, they will surely grant CURRENT FELONS voting privileges and ignore an overwhelming majority of Marylanders. Contact your State Senator and tell them that you stand with Governor Hogan and his common-sense veto requiring current felons to completely repay their debt to society before they can vote! |
Nancy Pelosi Quotes Mohammad at National Prayer Breakfast
quoted Mohammad, the author of Islam’s Koran, before she read from the gospel of John.
“We know that this message, this command of love, is not confined to New Testament,” she said. “The same message stands at the center of the Tora and the teachings of the Prophet Mohammad too.”
Pelosi quoted Mohammad’s teaching that, “None of you has faith until he loves for his brother or his neighbor what he loves for himself.”
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Robert Durst's Gun Charge Guilty Plea May Set Wheels in Motion for Murder Trial
Durst, 72, could be sentenced to seven years and one month in prison under his plea agreement, followed by three years of supervised release. He was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm after a search of his New Orleans hotel room last March turned up a handgun.
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Game Plan for Super Bowl 50: Are you Drinking or Are you Driving?
OCEAN CITY, MD – The Super Bowl is America’s most watched national sporting event. On Super Bowl 50 Sunday, February 7, there will be lots of game day socializing that may include drinking. The Ocean City Police Department is urging football fans to call the play now: drinking OR driving. If you plan on drinking on Super Bowl Sunday, designate a sober driver to get you home safely.
“The driver is ultimately responsible for their own safety,” stated Chief Ross Buzzuro. “If citizens choose to drink alcohol, we strongly recommend that they have a designated driver, call a cab or catch a city bus.”
According to data from NHTSA, in 2014 9,967 people were killed in alcohol-impaired-driving crashes in the United States—31 percent of all vehicle crash fatalities in the nation. The numbers go even higher on weekends. A driver is considered alcohol-impaired with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or higher, the set limit in all states. This February 7, don’t become a tragic Super Bowl stat.
If you’re attending a Super Bowl party or watching the game at a sports bar or restaurant:
- Download Maryland’s new smartphone app known as ENDUI (pronounced END-DUI) for free from the iTunes store and the Google Play store;
- With key features such as creating a designated driver list or instantly locating the nearest taxi service or public transportation, ENDUI makes it easier than ever to prevent impaired driving.
- Designate your sober driver, or plan another way to get home safely before the party begins.
- If you don’t have a designated driver, then ask a sober friend for a ride home; call a cab, friend, or family member to come and get you.
- Never let friends drive if they have had too much to drink.
If you’re hosting a Super Bowl party:
- Make sure all your guests designate a sober driver in advance, or arrange for alternate transportation to ensure they get home safely.
- Serve food and include non-alcoholic beverages at the party.
- Stop serving alcohol at the end of the third quarter of the game and begin serving coffee and dessert.
- Keep the numbers for local cab companies handy.
Boosting Life Span By Clearing Out Cellular Clutter
So-called senescent cells no longer divide, but they secrete a mixture of chemicals that can trigger inflammation, which is involved in many age-related disorders. What if the cells were removed?
Mice were much healthier and lived about 25 percent longer when scientists killed off a certain kind of cell that accumulates in the body with age.
What's more, the mice didn't seem to suffer any ill effects from losing their so-called senescent cells.
These are cells that have stopped dividing, though not necessarily because the cells themselves are old. "It's a normal cell that experienced an unusual amount of stress, and it decided to stop dividing," says Jan van Deursen, who studies senescent cells at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine in Rochester, Minn.
Older creatures have a lot more of these cells than young 'uns. And even though the cells aren't dividing, they do keep busy — they secrete a mixture of chemicals that can trigger inflammation, which seems to be involved in just about every major age-related disease.
So van Deursen and his colleagues wanted to know: What would happen if you simply got rid of senescent cells? That's tough to do in humans, but possible in mice.
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Mice were much healthier and lived about 25 percent longer when scientists killed off a certain kind of cell that accumulates in the body with age.
What's more, the mice didn't seem to suffer any ill effects from losing their so-called senescent cells.
These are cells that have stopped dividing, though not necessarily because the cells themselves are old. "It's a normal cell that experienced an unusual amount of stress, and it decided to stop dividing," says Jan van Deursen, who studies senescent cells at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine in Rochester, Minn.
Older creatures have a lot more of these cells than young 'uns. And even though the cells aren't dividing, they do keep busy — they secrete a mixture of chemicals that can trigger inflammation, which seems to be involved in just about every major age-related disease.
So van Deursen and his colleagues wanted to know: What would happen if you simply got rid of senescent cells? That's tough to do in humans, but possible in mice.
More
Retired Ohio police officer gets to buy K-9 partner for $1
Officials in Marietta had created a social-media stir when they said Matt Hickey's police dog, Ajax, had to be sold at auction because it was city property and could still work. Hickey and Ajax worked together for three years, and the dog lived with him.
Hickey was allowed to buy Ajax from the city on Thursday.
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Britain To Foreign Workers: If You Don't Make $50,000 A Year, Please Leave
To reduce the number of foreign workers, some of those making less than $50,000 won't qualify to stay in Britain beyond April. Critics say the deal would cause labor shortages.
Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron promised back in 2010 to bring net migration down to 100,000 people a year. Six years later, it's more than three times that number.
That's one reason the government's Home Office decided that non-Europeans on skilled worker visas — known as Tier 2 visas — are not welcome to stay unless they are making at least 35,000 British pounds (about $50,000 a year).
The message is aimed at slashing migration to Britain and goes into effect in April. But critics call the new rule discriminatory and say it will strip Britain of lower-paid artists, health care workers and tradespeople.
"The estimates put the GDP loss at 181 million [pounds, equivalent to $264 million] to 761 million [pounds, equivalent to $1.1 billion], so that's a massive blow in the first year alone, for starters," Joshua Harbord says.
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Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron promised back in 2010 to bring net migration down to 100,000 people a year. Six years later, it's more than three times that number.
That's one reason the government's Home Office decided that non-Europeans on skilled worker visas — known as Tier 2 visas — are not welcome to stay unless they are making at least 35,000 British pounds (about $50,000 a year).
The message is aimed at slashing migration to Britain and goes into effect in April. But critics call the new rule discriminatory and say it will strip Britain of lower-paid artists, health care workers and tradespeople.
"The estimates put the GDP loss at 181 million [pounds, equivalent to $264 million] to 761 million [pounds, equivalent to $1.1 billion], so that's a massive blow in the first year alone, for starters," Joshua Harbord says.
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Countdown To The Superbowl: DIPPED FOOTBALL STRAWBERRIES
- 1 basket large strawberries with stems, cleaned and dried
- 12 oz Ghirardelli Dark Melting Wafers
- 4 oz Ghirardelli White Melting Wafers
Directions
Place Ghirardelli Dark Melting Wafers in a microwave-safe container and microwave at half power or defrost setting for 30 seconds. Stir thoroughly (product keeps its original shape until stirred). If not completely melted, continue to microwave in 15 second intervals and stir until smooth. Overheating can cause wafers to burn.
Hold each strawberry by stem and dip into melted wafers. Place coated strawberries on waxed paper. Cool in refrigerator for 10-15 minutes, or until firm.
Melt White Wafers (using the same method outlined above) and pour into a piping bag or plastic zip bag with the tip cut off. Make one vertical line down the middle of the long side of the strawberry, and four short horizontal lines across the vertical line to create the football laces.
Cool in refrigerator for 10-15 more minutes before serving.
Note: You can substitute Ghirardelli Dark Melting Wafers with Ghirardelli 60% Cacao Bittersweet Chocolate Chips and Ghirardelli White Melting Wafers with Ghirardelli Classic White Chips by adding 1.5 tbsp. vegetable shortening per 12 oz Chips and following the melting directions above.
Source
Black History Month Is About Recalling Church’s Influence, Not Bondage of Economic Enslavement
As of Monday, it’s now Black History Month, a time to reflect and celebrate the achievements of American blacks in this great nation. We must look to the past in order to inspire us towards a brighter future. Here’s what I focus on in this month, remembering those who went before me, enabling me to be who and where I am.
My first sense of pride comes from having two great parents, the stable black family. This is the strength of our community. Sadly it has been utterly decimated in the past 50 years since the infamous liberal progressive policy endeavor called “The Great Society.”
I remember growing up in Atlanta’s Old Fourth Ward and learning not just from my folks, but from all the ol’ folks who imparted their wisdom if you would listen. Sure, there were knuckleheads when I was growing up, but for the most part there was a sincere respect for authority. My greatest fear was simple: having the teacher call my folks, Buck and Snooks West. Man, I would clean all the blackboards and sweep all the classrooms just so that wouldn’t happen. And there at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School, Sister Judith wielded a mean paddle — and contrary to Dr. Spock, I grew up just fine.
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My first sense of pride comes from having two great parents, the stable black family. This is the strength of our community. Sadly it has been utterly decimated in the past 50 years since the infamous liberal progressive policy endeavor called “The Great Society.”
I remember growing up in Atlanta’s Old Fourth Ward and learning not just from my folks, but from all the ol’ folks who imparted their wisdom if you would listen. Sure, there were knuckleheads when I was growing up, but for the most part there was a sincere respect for authority. My greatest fear was simple: having the teacher call my folks, Buck and Snooks West. Man, I would clean all the blackboards and sweep all the classrooms just so that wouldn’t happen. And there at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School, Sister Judith wielded a mean paddle — and contrary to Dr. Spock, I grew up just fine.
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Reading Your Comcast Bill
When you sign up for services — some combination of TV, broadband, and/or phone — from your cable company, you’re told you’ll pay something like $49 or $89 a month… and yet the price you actually pay can be 30-40% or more on top of that, thanks to a heap of sometimes confusing charges and fees. Which ones do you blame the government for, and which are made up by your cable company? One cable company at a time, we’re going to use real customers’ bills to break it down. First up: Comcast.
The below bill was provided to Consumerist by a real-life Comcast customer who subscribes to a triple-play (TV, broadband, and phone) package for the advertised rate of $99/month.
But when you add on the $39.93 in fees they pay on top of that rate, that total soars to $138.93, almost 40% more than the stated price for their bundle.
To better understand each of these fees, we’ll go through the bill line-by-line:
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The below bill was provided to Consumerist by a real-life Comcast customer who subscribes to a triple-play (TV, broadband, and phone) package for the advertised rate of $99/month.
But when you add on the $39.93 in fees they pay on top of that rate, that total soars to $138.93, almost 40% more than the stated price for their bundle.
To better understand each of these fees, we’ll go through the bill line-by-line:
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IS CONGRESS DECLARING WAR ON ISIS…OR ON YOU?
The measure allows the president to place troops anywhere he determines ISIS is operating
Passage of Senator Mitch McConnell’s authorization for war against ISIS will not only lead to perpetual US wars across the globe, it will also endanger our civil and economic liberties.
The measure allows the president to place troops anywhere he determines ISIS is operating. Therefore, it could be used to justify using military force against United States citizens on US territory. It may even be used to justify imposing martial law in America.
The President does not have to deploy the US military to turn America into a militarized police state, however. He can use his unlimited authority to expand programs that turn local police forces into adjuncts of the US military, and send them increasing amounts of military equipment. Using the threat of ISIS to justify increased police militarization will be enthusiastically supported by police unions, local officials, and, of course, politically-powerful defense contractors. The only opposition will come from citizens whose rights have been violated by a militarized police force that views the people as the enemy.
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Passage of Senator Mitch McConnell’s authorization for war against ISIS will not only lead to perpetual US wars across the globe, it will also endanger our civil and economic liberties.
The measure allows the president to place troops anywhere he determines ISIS is operating. Therefore, it could be used to justify using military force against United States citizens on US territory. It may even be used to justify imposing martial law in America.
The President does not have to deploy the US military to turn America into a militarized police state, however. He can use his unlimited authority to expand programs that turn local police forces into adjuncts of the US military, and send them increasing amounts of military equipment. Using the threat of ISIS to justify increased police militarization will be enthusiastically supported by police unions, local officials, and, of course, politically-powerful defense contractors. The only opposition will come from citizens whose rights have been violated by a militarized police force that views the people as the enemy.
More
New city manager comes full circle
“It feels like a homecoming,” he said. “My first position in this business was in Snow Hill.”
Last September, Miller was perusing the International City/County Management Association website when an intriguing city manager vacancy caught his attention.
“I saw Ocean City was open,” he said.
The vacancy occurred with the departure last July of City Manager David Recor and the listing on the association’s site was part of the effort to recruit applicants.
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84 MPG and Only $6,800? Here's My Test Drive
You should hope this new Elio Motors car hits production, because you can get it almost for free with a unique financing option.
What would you say about a car that gets 84 miles per gallon, costs only $6,800, and can actually be "free" with some unique financing? There has to be a catch, right?
Well, sort of. But only sort of.
The car is the three-wheeled Elio, from startup Elio Motors. It only seats two, and then only with the passenger directly behind the driver. Also, founder Paul Elio is still lining up funding, and should everything fall into place, the first car would be delivered in late 2016.
When Elio talks about the various segments of the car-buying market, it's easy to see why he's excited. Consider these four segments:
New-car market, with sales of about 17 million expected next year.
Used-car market, which is three times larger than the new-car market.
"Third-vehicle" market. Most middle- and upper-income households have at least one single-occupant vehicle, also known as an "and" vehicle.
"Clunker" market, with 234 million older cars on the road -- and 95 million of them 11 years old or older.
Elio says he won't make much of a dent in the new-car market, but the other three segments can be lucrative. For used cars, the decision may be between a 120,000-mile Civic or a new Elio under warranty for less than $7,000. The third-vehicle market is self-explanatory -- why spend extra on a lot of car when you don't need a lot of car?
What would you say about a car that gets 84 miles per gallon, costs only $6,800, and can actually be "free" with some unique financing? There has to be a catch, right?
Well, sort of. But only sort of.
The car is the three-wheeled Elio, from startup Elio Motors. It only seats two, and then only with the passenger directly behind the driver. Also, founder Paul Elio is still lining up funding, and should everything fall into place, the first car would be delivered in late 2016.
When Elio talks about the various segments of the car-buying market, it's easy to see why he's excited. Consider these four segments:
New-car market, with sales of about 17 million expected next year.
Used-car market, which is three times larger than the new-car market.
"Third-vehicle" market. Most middle- and upper-income households have at least one single-occupant vehicle, also known as an "and" vehicle.
"Clunker" market, with 234 million older cars on the road -- and 95 million of them 11 years old or older.
Elio says he won't make much of a dent in the new-car market, but the other three segments can be lucrative. For used cars, the decision may be between a 120,000-mile Civic or a new Elio under warranty for less than $7,000. The third-vehicle market is self-explanatory -- why spend extra on a lot of car when you don't need a lot of car?
DID HILLARY STEAL IOWA FROM BERNIE: HERE’S THE EVIDENCE SO FAR
This particular primary election looks incredibly shady
I don’t think anybody has any illusions about Hillary Clinton. And with the exception of her core supporters, I don’t think the people who voted for her have any illusions either.
In their minds, she is simply the lesser of two evils, but evil nonetheless. It’s impossible to deny the fact that Hillary is a liar, a chronic flip-flopper, and most likely a criminal whose maliciousness knows no bounds. And now that the Iowa primary has come and gone, we may be able to add “cheater” to that list as well. Or at the very least, some powerful people in high places may have given her a hand in Iowa.
I’m no friend of socialism, nor do I approve of any of Bernie Sanders policies, but if we’re going have a political system that lets its citizens participate, then we always have to point out when electoral fraud is afoot. And this particular primary election looks incredibly shady.
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I don’t think anybody has any illusions about Hillary Clinton. And with the exception of her core supporters, I don’t think the people who voted for her have any illusions either.
In their minds, she is simply the lesser of two evils, but evil nonetheless. It’s impossible to deny the fact that Hillary is a liar, a chronic flip-flopper, and most likely a criminal whose maliciousness knows no bounds. And now that the Iowa primary has come and gone, we may be able to add “cheater” to that list as well. Or at the very least, some powerful people in high places may have given her a hand in Iowa.
I’m no friend of socialism, nor do I approve of any of Bernie Sanders policies, but if we’re going have a political system that lets its citizens participate, then we always have to point out when electoral fraud is afoot. And this particular primary election looks incredibly shady.
More
Pat Toomey Will Throw Support Behind Rubio
Sen. Marco Rubio is set to win the endorsement of Pennsylvania Sen. Pat Toomey Wednesday, two days after the 2016 hopeful finished a strong third in the Iowa caucuses.
A source with knowledge of the plans confirmed the impending announcement to the Washington Examiner, which could come as early as today.
News of the planned endorsement comes one day after South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott announced his support of the Florida senator, who is working to coalesce members of the party behind him with the New Hampshire primary only six days away. Tuesday, Rubio also won endorsements from Reps. Steve Womack and Rick Crawford.
He would become the sixth U.S. senator to endorse Rubio, topping the five backing former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush for most of anyone in the GOP field.
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[ You can see Marco Rubio's other current endorsements here.. ]
A source with knowledge of the plans confirmed the impending announcement to the Washington Examiner, which could come as early as today.
News of the planned endorsement comes one day after South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott announced his support of the Florida senator, who is working to coalesce members of the party behind him with the New Hampshire primary only six days away. Tuesday, Rubio also won endorsements from Reps. Steve Womack and Rick Crawford.
He would become the sixth U.S. senator to endorse Rubio, topping the five backing former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush for most of anyone in the GOP field.
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[ You can see Marco Rubio's other current endorsements here.. ]
Wave Machine Definition Clarified; Amenity Must Be In Amusement District
Last year, a downtown business owner requested permission to install a wave machine on a vacant lot that was part of the old Cropper concrete plant on the bayside at 1st Street. Satisfied the wave machine fit the definition of a water-related recreational activity, the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) granted a special use exception for the site, but it was never developed.
Instead, the prospective business owner made a pitch to develop the wave machine at the 45thStreet Village site, but that proposal was challenged and the appeal is still active in Worcester County Circuit Court. In the meantime, the Planning and Zoning Commission has been wrestling with a clear definition of the proposed wave machine and similar devices, how they fit into the zoning code and, consequently, where they can be located.
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Ryan Asks Conservatives: Don't Revolt in 2016
House Speaker Paul Ryan kicked off a policy summit at the Heritage Foundation with a clear message for the conservatives who have been his allies over the years but made life hard for former Speaker John Boehner: Please don't revolt, at least not this year.
"The Left would love nothing more, they would love nothing more than for a fragmented conservative movement to stand in a circular firing squad and fire so that progressives can win by default," Ryan said at the 2016 Conservative Policy Summit, hosted by Heritage Action.
Ryan was warmly received at Heritage, but his call for unity included a mild rebuke for the conservatives who have hounded GOP leadership in recent years. He issued it while warning that conservatives may have to ignore some of President Obama's unilateral executive actions, which Ryan described as "distractions" designed to prevent the Republican party from uniting around a conservative agenda.
Ryan urged the Heritage crowd not to "take the bait" when Obama tries to provoke the GOP. In exchange, he promised to spend the next years preparing to push a conservative agenda, including a politically risky plan for entitlement reform, if a Republican wins the presidency in 2017. "I am fine if I lose my seat in 2018 after doing the right thing to save America," Ryan said.
The newly minted House speaker seemed concerned that some activists leaders would thwart that opportunity by channeling their anger over Obama's maneuvers towards Republicans this year.
"We have to be straight with each other and more importantly we have to be straight with the American people," he said. "When voices in the conservative movement demand things that they know we can't achieve with a Democrat in the White House, all it does is depress our base, and in turn help Democrats stay in the White House."
More here
"The Left would love nothing more, they would love nothing more than for a fragmented conservative movement to stand in a circular firing squad and fire so that progressives can win by default," Ryan said at the 2016 Conservative Policy Summit, hosted by Heritage Action.
Ryan was warmly received at Heritage, but his call for unity included a mild rebuke for the conservatives who have hounded GOP leadership in recent years. He issued it while warning that conservatives may have to ignore some of President Obama's unilateral executive actions, which Ryan described as "distractions" designed to prevent the Republican party from uniting around a conservative agenda.
Ryan urged the Heritage crowd not to "take the bait" when Obama tries to provoke the GOP. In exchange, he promised to spend the next years preparing to push a conservative agenda, including a politically risky plan for entitlement reform, if a Republican wins the presidency in 2017. "I am fine if I lose my seat in 2018 after doing the right thing to save America," Ryan said.
The newly minted House speaker seemed concerned that some activists leaders would thwart that opportunity by channeling their anger over Obama's maneuvers towards Republicans this year.
"We have to be straight with each other and more importantly we have to be straight with the American people," he said. "When voices in the conservative movement demand things that they know we can't achieve with a Democrat in the White House, all it does is depress our base, and in turn help Democrats stay in the White House."
More here
HildaBeast Booed in NH Debate
Sparks fly at Clinton, Sanders debate over who is more progressive
Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders clashed sharply Thursday over who is more progressive, at a debate that saw the former secretary of state ratcheting up her criticism of the Vermont senator on several fronts – even accusing him of engineering an “artful smear” with suggestions she could be “bought” by donors.
The debate, the first since the Iowa caucuses and last before next week’s critical New Hampshire primary, was by far the most confrontational of the Democratic primary race.
Clinton, coming off a narrow Iowa win and trying to shrink Sanders’ huge lead in Granite State polls, stayed on offense for most of the night. She slammed Sanders’ campaign promises as too costly, while standing firm in claiming she’s a true “progressive” despite Sanders’ comments to the contrary.
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Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders clashed sharply Thursday over who is more progressive, at a debate that saw the former secretary of state ratcheting up her criticism of the Vermont senator on several fronts – even accusing him of engineering an “artful smear” with suggestions she could be “bought” by donors.
The debate, the first since the Iowa caucuses and last before next week’s critical New Hampshire primary, was by far the most confrontational of the Democratic primary race.
Clinton, coming off a narrow Iowa win and trying to shrink Sanders’ huge lead in Granite State polls, stayed on offense for most of the night. She slammed Sanders’ campaign promises as too costly, while standing firm in claiming she’s a true “progressive” despite Sanders’ comments to the contrary.
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Hillary Steals Obama’s 2008 Playbook: Minority Support, Voter Fraud
Eight years ago, Hillary Clinton watched as Barack Obama crushed her dreams, then used her body as a stepping stone to the presidency. Now, she has determined that she will become Obama.
Hillary rightfully should have won the 2008 primaries – she had all the advantages on her side. She didn’t, because Barack Obama seized it from her arthritic hands thanks to three distinct phenomena: wildly disproportionate support from the minority community, a friendly media unwilling to ask tough questions, and voter fraud.
Hillary has learned her lesson.
Minority Support. In 2008, Hillary won a heavy majority of the white vote in the primaries, but lost because the black vote went almost universally for Obama. According to The Washington Post, this phenomenon was clear as early as mid-February:
Read more here
Hillary rightfully should have won the 2008 primaries – she had all the advantages on her side. She didn’t, because Barack Obama seized it from her arthritic hands thanks to three distinct phenomena: wildly disproportionate support from the minority community, a friendly media unwilling to ask tough questions, and voter fraud.
Hillary has learned her lesson.
Minority Support. In 2008, Hillary won a heavy majority of the white vote in the primaries, but lost because the black vote went almost universally for Obama. According to The Washington Post, this phenomenon was clear as early as mid-February:
Read more here
The Primary Known Unknowns
The results of the Iowa caucuses have shown us several important things. 1) Everybody hates the establishment of both parties. 2) No one trusts the media anymore. 3) Pollsters have no clue how to conduct polling in the fast-paced world of smartphones and social media.
Ted Cruz easily won the Iowa caucuses on the Republican side, despite trailing Donald Trump by as much as 20 points in some polls, and despite the GOP establishment and the ethanol lobby doing their best to take him down. In fact, the establishment’s scorn is a huge part of Cruz’s appeal. Cruz’s net favorability leads all Republican candidates with a rating of +45% (61% favorable, 16% unfavorable) among Republicans and Republican-leaning independents, according to a recent Gallup poll. Establishment favorite Jeb Bush has a net favorability of -1%.
The top five vote-getters on the GOP side were all anti-establishment/outsider candidates: Ted Cruz (28%), Donald Trump (24%), Marco Rubio (23%), Ben Carson (9%) and Rand Paul (5%) (though Paul just announced he is ending his campaign). That is an astonishing 89% of votes cast. And before anyone claims that Rubio, among the first Tea Party candidates elected, is now an establishment guy, ask yourself why theestablishment attacks against him are second in intensity only to those waged against Cruz. Rubio has a lifetime American Conservative Union rating of 98 (out of 100). He has a perfect NRA rating. Citizens Against Government Waste gives him a 95, and National Right to Life gives him a 100. Without Rubio’s participation in the Gang of Eight fiasco, he would arguably be the undisputed favorite at this point, with heavy support from the conservative grassroots — because he’s a genuine conservative.
Now the questions are these: What does this all mean? Is Trump now mortally wounded? Does Cruz have a clear path to the nomination? Is Rubio’s rise a growing fire or a shooting star?
Keep reading..
Ted Cruz easily won the Iowa caucuses on the Republican side, despite trailing Donald Trump by as much as 20 points in some polls, and despite the GOP establishment and the ethanol lobby doing their best to take him down. In fact, the establishment’s scorn is a huge part of Cruz’s appeal. Cruz’s net favorability leads all Republican candidates with a rating of +45% (61% favorable, 16% unfavorable) among Republicans and Republican-leaning independents, according to a recent Gallup poll. Establishment favorite Jeb Bush has a net favorability of -1%.
The top five vote-getters on the GOP side were all anti-establishment/outsider candidates: Ted Cruz (28%), Donald Trump (24%), Marco Rubio (23%), Ben Carson (9%) and Rand Paul (5%) (though Paul just announced he is ending his campaign). That is an astonishing 89% of votes cast. And before anyone claims that Rubio, among the first Tea Party candidates elected, is now an establishment guy, ask yourself why theestablishment attacks against him are second in intensity only to those waged against Cruz. Rubio has a lifetime American Conservative Union rating of 98 (out of 100). He has a perfect NRA rating. Citizens Against Government Waste gives him a 95, and National Right to Life gives him a 100. Without Rubio’s participation in the Gang of Eight fiasco, he would arguably be the undisputed favorite at this point, with heavy support from the conservative grassroots — because he’s a genuine conservative.
Now the questions are these: What does this all mean? Is Trump now mortally wounded? Does Cruz have a clear path to the nomination? Is Rubio’s rise a growing fire or a shooting star?
Keep reading..
Prominent Psychiatrist: Transgender is ‘Emotional Unhappiness … Purely Psychological’
Dr. Joseph Berger, a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, states that from “a scientific perspective,” being “transgendered” is a psychological issue – “emotional unhappiness” – and “cosmetic surgery” is not the “proper treatment.”
Dr. Berger, who also is a past president of the Ontario District Branch of the American Psychiatric Association, presented his remarks before the Canadian House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights when it was considering a bill (C-279) in 2013 to “include gender identity as a prohibited ground of discrimination.”
The proposed legislation, popularly known as the “bathroom bill,” essentially would prohibit discrimination against the transgendered. In the bill, “gender identity” is defined as “the individual’s deeply felt internal and individual experience of gender, which may or may not correspond with the sex that the individual was assigned at birth.”
Dr. Berger told the committee, “From a scientific perspective, let me clarify what ‘transgendered’ actually means. I am speaking now about the scientific perspective – and not any political lobbying position that may be proposed by any group, medical or non-medical.”
“‘Transgendered’ are people who claim that they really are or wish to be people of the sex opposite to which they were born, or to which their chromosomal configuration attests,” he stated. “Sometimes, some of these people have claimed that they are ‘a woman trapped in a man’s body’ or alternatively ‘a man trapped in a woman’s body.’”
“Scientifically, there is no such thing,” he said.
“The medical treatment of delusions, psychosis or emotional happiness is not by surgery,” continued the doctor.
“On the other hand,” he said...
Dr. Berger, who also is a past president of the Ontario District Branch of the American Psychiatric Association, presented his remarks before the Canadian House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights when it was considering a bill (C-279) in 2013 to “include gender identity as a prohibited ground of discrimination.”
The proposed legislation, popularly known as the “bathroom bill,” essentially would prohibit discrimination against the transgendered. In the bill, “gender identity” is defined as “the individual’s deeply felt internal and individual experience of gender, which may or may not correspond with the sex that the individual was assigned at birth.”
Dr. Berger told the committee, “From a scientific perspective, let me clarify what ‘transgendered’ actually means. I am speaking now about the scientific perspective – and not any political lobbying position that may be proposed by any group, medical or non-medical.”
“‘Transgendered’ are people who claim that they really are or wish to be people of the sex opposite to which they were born, or to which their chromosomal configuration attests,” he stated. “Sometimes, some of these people have claimed that they are ‘a woman trapped in a man’s body’ or alternatively ‘a man trapped in a woman’s body.’”
“Scientifically, there is no such thing,” he said.
“The medical treatment of delusions, psychosis or emotional happiness is not by surgery,” continued the doctor.
“On the other hand,” he said...
Sowell: After Iowa
Senator Ted Cruz’s upset victory against Donald Trump has robbed “The Donald” of his stock answer to any criticism from rivals — that he is winning and his critics are losers.
Now that he has lost, Mr. Trump may finally have to try to come up with some substantive arguments about the complex issues facing this country, rather than simply boast about the great things he will do when he becomes president.
Trump may turn out to be like the Wizard of Oz, after the curtain was pulled back to reveal the real man who was been busy projecting an awesome image.
Everything, however, depends on Trump’s followers, and on how much they have what William James called “the will to believe.” Iowa’s system of caucuses forced those followers to confront other people with different views before they could vote. In other states, they can simply walk into the voting booth and vote their unchallenged beliefs.
Although Trump was defeated in Iowa, he was by no means routed. Without the special handicap that the Iowa caucuses presented, he may still bluff his way through to the Republican nomination. And with Hillary Clinton’s lies and illegalities catching up with her more and more, this could still end up with a President Trump in the White House.
With this country at a crossroads, facing social degeneration at home and dire threats from abroad, the last thing we need is an uninformed bluffer with a runaway ego in charge of our fate. Neither Trump’s talent as a media performer nor his wheeler-dealer economic success is a substitute for the depth of knowledge and the chastening experience required for governing a great nation.
What about the alternatives to Trump?
Now that he has lost, Mr. Trump may finally have to try to come up with some substantive arguments about the complex issues facing this country, rather than simply boast about the great things he will do when he becomes president.
Trump may turn out to be like the Wizard of Oz, after the curtain was pulled back to reveal the real man who was been busy projecting an awesome image.
Everything, however, depends on Trump’s followers, and on how much they have what William James called “the will to believe.” Iowa’s system of caucuses forced those followers to confront other people with different views before they could vote. In other states, they can simply walk into the voting booth and vote their unchallenged beliefs.
Although Trump was defeated in Iowa, he was by no means routed. Without the special handicap that the Iowa caucuses presented, he may still bluff his way through to the Republican nomination. And with Hillary Clinton’s lies and illegalities catching up with her more and more, this could still end up with a President Trump in the White House.
With this country at a crossroads, facing social degeneration at home and dire threats from abroad, the last thing we need is an uninformed bluffer with a runaway ego in charge of our fate. Neither Trump’s talent as a media performer nor his wheeler-dealer economic success is a substitute for the depth of knowledge and the chastening experience required for governing a great nation.
What about the alternatives to Trump?
WHY BERNIE SANDERS HAS TO RAISE TAXES ON THE MIDDLE CLASS
Sanders’ proposals (free college, free health care, jobs programs, more Social Security, etc.) are way too heavy for the rich alone to carry, and he knows it
Willie Sutton was one of the most infamous bank robbers in American history. Over three decades, the dashing criminal robbed a hundred banks, escaped three prisons, and made off with millions. Today, he is best known for Sutton’s Law: Asked by a reporter why he robbed banks, Sutton allegedly quipped, “Because that’s where the money is.”
Sutton’s Law explains something unusual about Bernie Sander’s tax plan: it calls for massive tax hikes across the board. Why raise taxes on the middle class? Because that’s where the money is.
The problem all politicians face is that voters love to get stuff, but they hate to pay for it. The traditional solution that center-left politicians pitch is the idea that the poor and middle class will get the benefits, and the rich will pay for it.
More
Willie Sutton was one of the most infamous bank robbers in American history. Over three decades, the dashing criminal robbed a hundred banks, escaped three prisons, and made off with millions. Today, he is best known for Sutton’s Law: Asked by a reporter why he robbed banks, Sutton allegedly quipped, “Because that’s where the money is.”
Sutton’s Law explains something unusual about Bernie Sander’s tax plan: it calls for massive tax hikes across the board. Why raise taxes on the middle class? Because that’s where the money is.
The problem all politicians face is that voters love to get stuff, but they hate to pay for it. The traditional solution that center-left politicians pitch is the idea that the poor and middle class will get the benefits, and the rich will pay for it.
More
Number of Federal workers making at least $100,000 tops half-million
"IT analyst. Specialist. Let's see here," said Felipe Gonzalez, as he scrolled through an online list of federal job postings. Gonzalez moved to the D.C. area eight years ago. In that time, he's had the same private sector job, which he likes. But he's always been enticed to work for the federal government.
"The scheduling. The money. The benefits," stated Gonzalez. "Holidays off. Who wouldn't want that job?"
And many do. The average job posting on USAjobs.gov gets 75 applicants. The jobs are so popular, websites like Indeed, AARP, and Monster provide tips to get hired.
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SO IT BEGINS HERE: U.S. CITY ‘OVERRUN’ WITH CRIMINAL REFUGEES
'We've got 42 languages being fielded by our 9-1-1 call centers'.
More than 120 people braved the snow and ice Monday to rally in front of the Missoula County Courthouse, protesting an effort by the Obama administration and its army of community organizers to plant foreign “refugees” into small cities in western Montana.
One of the speakers was a woman who moved recently to Montana from Amarillo, Texas, which has been inundated with thousands of refugees over the past 15 years.
“Amarillo is overrun with refugees,” said Karen Sherman, who stood and spoke to the crowd amid blowing wind and falling snowflakes. Sherman just moved to Missoula, a college town that serves as home to the University of Montana.
More
More than 120 people braved the snow and ice Monday to rally in front of the Missoula County Courthouse, protesting an effort by the Obama administration and its army of community organizers to plant foreign “refugees” into small cities in western Montana.
One of the speakers was a woman who moved recently to Montana from Amarillo, Texas, which has been inundated with thousands of refugees over the past 15 years.
“Amarillo is overrun with refugees,” said Karen Sherman, who stood and spoke to the crowd amid blowing wind and falling snowflakes. Sherman just moved to Missoula, a college town that serves as home to the University of Montana.
More
Oregon Governor Abandons $15+ Minimum Wage
Facing a barrage of criticism from business, and labor skepticism over threats of higher unemployment, Oregon Governor Kate Brown is scaling back her $15.52 minimum wage proposal.
Brown has been trying to be the most “Left Coast” governor by pushing a minimum wage that would surpass that of California’s Jerry Brown and Washington’s Jay Inslee.
But the Economist has called Brown’s proposals to move from the eighth-highest-in-the-nation minimum wage in the nation to the first–with $15.52-per-hour around Portland, and $13.50 for the rest of the state–as “A Reckless Wager,” a “gamble with people’s futures,” and causing “harm to the very people they are supposed to help.”
In a legislative hearing on the impacts to employment from either the Governor’s 45-percent increase or the 66-percent increase in one of Oregon’s ballot initiatives, staff admitted that there had been no studies on such large increases.
When questioned by Eastern Oregon assemblymen about the potential devastating competition in their communities from adjacent Idaho’s far lower $7.25-per-hour minimum wage, the governor’s staff justified their proposals by saying, “We have to do this because the ballot measures are so much worse.”
More
Brown has been trying to be the most “Left Coast” governor by pushing a minimum wage that would surpass that of California’s Jerry Brown and Washington’s Jay Inslee.
But the Economist has called Brown’s proposals to move from the eighth-highest-in-the-nation minimum wage in the nation to the first–with $15.52-per-hour around Portland, and $13.50 for the rest of the state–as “A Reckless Wager,” a “gamble with people’s futures,” and causing “harm to the very people they are supposed to help.”
In a legislative hearing on the impacts to employment from either the Governor’s 45-percent increase or the 66-percent increase in one of Oregon’s ballot initiatives, staff admitted that there had been no studies on such large increases.
When questioned by Eastern Oregon assemblymen about the potential devastating competition in their communities from adjacent Idaho’s far lower $7.25-per-hour minimum wage, the governor’s staff justified their proposals by saying, “We have to do this because the ballot measures are so much worse.”
More
House Votes to End Millionaires’ Abuse of Low-Income Housing
The House of Representatives voted Tuesday to end fraud within the Department of Housing and Urban Development that has allowed millionaires to live in low-income housing for as low as $300 per month.
Rep. Vern Buchanan (R., Fla.) added an amendment to the Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act, which unanimously passed the chamber Tuesday, to improve the way landlords of public housing authorities verify tenants’ income.
An audit last summer by the agency’s inspector general revealed that the government has been giving low-income housing to millionaires. The inspector general identified more than 25,000 families who were living in subsidized housing even though they earned too much to qualify, costing taxpayers $104.4 million last year.
One man lived in low-income housing for five years in Oxford, Nebraska, paying only $300 a month. He had assets over $1.6 million.
“Public housing should be for those who need it, not wealthy people with large bank accounts,” Buchanan said upon the passage of his amendment. “Our country is $19 trillion in debt yet we’re giving subsidies to rich people?”
Buchanan said the legislation was “long overdue.”
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Rep. Vern Buchanan (R., Fla.) added an amendment to the Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act, which unanimously passed the chamber Tuesday, to improve the way landlords of public housing authorities verify tenants’ income.
An audit last summer by the agency’s inspector general revealed that the government has been giving low-income housing to millionaires. The inspector general identified more than 25,000 families who were living in subsidized housing even though they earned too much to qualify, costing taxpayers $104.4 million last year.
One man lived in low-income housing for five years in Oxford, Nebraska, paying only $300 a month. He had assets over $1.6 million.
“Public housing should be for those who need it, not wealthy people with large bank accounts,” Buchanan said upon the passage of his amendment. “Our country is $19 trillion in debt yet we’re giving subsidies to rich people?”
Buchanan said the legislation was “long overdue.”
More
Yeah, Download That Weather App Driven By Horse Crap
I am getting reports from drivers saying things are getting really bad out there, especially the bypass. No state trucks have put salt on the roads so it is very slushy and slippery. One person told me they started hydroplaning and the overpasses are very slippery as to be expected.
Maryland To Use Paper Ballots, Not Touch Screens, For Early Voting, Primary
The 5-0 vote took place Thursday afternoon, after Elections Administrator Linda Lamone expressed concern about the touch-screen machines.
She says the format can create a disadvantage for candidates with last names that are further down the alphabet. She also says it can be confusing and time-consuming for voters to navigate between multiple pages of candidates.
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Send Us Your Snow Pictures
Tax Preparation Assistance Feb 9-April 12
MAC Incorporated, the Area Agency on Aging, has once again joined with AARP to offer free tax preparation assistance to area seniors.
Volunteers will be at MAC in Salisbury on Tuesdays, Feb. 9 through April 12, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The volunteers, who have been trained and are seasoned volunteers with the AARP tax program, will prepare Federal and Maryland returns. Participants are required to bring last year’s tax return.
This is a free service, but appointments are required. Call 410-742-0505, ext. 100. While there are still plenty of appointments in March and April, time slots will fill quickly.
Those with more complicated returns, which include several sources of income, may not be eligible for this free service.
Volunteers will be at MAC in Salisbury on Tuesdays, Feb. 9 through April 12, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The volunteers, who have been trained and are seasoned volunteers with the AARP tax program, will prepare Federal and Maryland returns. Participants are required to bring last year’s tax return.
This is a free service, but appointments are required. Call 410-742-0505, ext. 100. While there are still plenty of appointments in March and April, time slots will fill quickly.
Those with more complicated returns, which include several sources of income, may not be eligible for this free service.
Report from Delegate Impallario
Fourth District U. S. Court of Appeals Affirms Second Amendment Rights
Today, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit issued an opinion in the Kolbe v. Hogan case (formerly Kolbe v. O’Malley), which challenges the Firearm Safety Act (FSA) (SB 281, passed by the O'Malley administration in 2013).
This opinion is a big win for supporters of the Second Amendment.
This highlight list was put together by Del. Wilson and the staff of the House GOP Caucus.
US Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit
Opinion on Kolbe v. Hogan
Firearms Safety Act (SB281) Challenge
Action: Court vacated the district court’s denial of the Plaintiff’s Second Amendment claims and sent the case back to the district court to apply strict scrutiny.
? Court found that FSA does substantially infringe upon the 2nd Amendment.
? The court acknowledged the 2nd Amendment Right to individual self-defense.
? The court recognized an individual’s right to self-defense in the home.
? The court acknowledged that AR15’s (and similar rifles) and 10+ round clips are commonly possessed weapons.
? Rejected the state’s argument that magazines are not covered by the 2nd Amendment ? Stated that Maryland is trying to circumvent the law by prohibiting independent components.
? Rejected the state’s “dangerous” argument.
? Found the ban on magazines and rifles substantially burdens the fundamental rights of citizens.
? Cited legitimate and lawful reasons for citizens to prefer semi-automatic rifles.
? Found the law substantially burdens the right to arm oneself at home.
Notable Quotes from the opinion:
“First, the FSA’s ban on semi-automatic rifles and larger-capacity magazinesburdens the availability and use of a class of arms for self-defense in the home, where the protection afforded by the Second Amendment is at its greatest.”
“Second, we conclude that the challenged provisions of the FSA substantially burden this fundamental right. The burden imposed in this case is not merely incidental. Maryland law imposes a complete ban on the possession by law-abiding citizens of AR-15 style rifles—the most popular class of centerfire semi-automatic rifles in the United States. As we explained in Section III.A., these weapons are protected under the Second Amendment.”
“We therefore struggle to see how Maryland’s law would not substantially burden the core Second Amendment right to defend oneself and one’s family in the home with a firearm that is commonly possessed by law-abiding citizens for such lawful purposes.”
“Moreover, the FSA also reaches every instance where an AR-15 platform semi-automatic rifle or LCM might be preferable to handguns or bolt-action rifles--for example hunting, recreational shooting, or competitive marksmanship events, all of which are lawful purposes protected by the Constitution.”
“As Judge Kavanaugh noted in dissent in Heller II, prohibiting this group of weapons might be ‘equivalent to a ban on a category of speech’.”
“Contrary to the district court’s conclusion, the fact that handguns, bolt-action and other manually-loaded long guns, and, as noted earlier, a few semi-automatic rifles are still available for self-defense does not mitigate this burden.”
The full opinion can be found at: http://michellawyers.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Kolbe-v.-Hogan_Opinion.pdf
Today, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit issued an opinion in the Kolbe v. Hogan case (formerly Kolbe v. O’Malley), which challenges the Firearm Safety Act (FSA) (SB 281, passed by the O'Malley administration in 2013).
This opinion is a big win for supporters of the Second Amendment.
This highlight list was put together by Del. Wilson and the staff of the House GOP Caucus.
US Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit
Opinion on Kolbe v. Hogan
Firearms Safety Act (SB281) Challenge
Action: Court vacated the district court’s denial of the Plaintiff’s Second Amendment claims and sent the case back to the district court to apply strict scrutiny.
? Court found that FSA does substantially infringe upon the 2nd Amendment.
? The court acknowledged the 2nd Amendment Right to individual self-defense.
? The court recognized an individual’s right to self-defense in the home.
? The court acknowledged that AR15’s (and similar rifles) and 10+ round clips are commonly possessed weapons.
? Rejected the state’s argument that magazines are not covered by the 2nd Amendment ? Stated that Maryland is trying to circumvent the law by prohibiting independent components.
? Rejected the state’s “dangerous” argument.
? Found the ban on magazines and rifles substantially burdens the fundamental rights of citizens.
? Cited legitimate and lawful reasons for citizens to prefer semi-automatic rifles.
? Found the law substantially burdens the right to arm oneself at home.
Notable Quotes from the opinion:
“First, the FSA’s ban on semi-automatic rifles and larger-capacity magazinesburdens the availability and use of a class of arms for self-defense in the home, where the protection afforded by the Second Amendment is at its greatest.”
“Second, we conclude that the challenged provisions of the FSA substantially burden this fundamental right. The burden imposed in this case is not merely incidental. Maryland law imposes a complete ban on the possession by law-abiding citizens of AR-15 style rifles—the most popular class of centerfire semi-automatic rifles in the United States. As we explained in Section III.A., these weapons are protected under the Second Amendment.”
“We therefore struggle to see how Maryland’s law would not substantially burden the core Second Amendment right to defend oneself and one’s family in the home with a firearm that is commonly possessed by law-abiding citizens for such lawful purposes.”
“Moreover, the FSA also reaches every instance where an AR-15 platform semi-automatic rifle or LCM might be preferable to handguns or bolt-action rifles--for example hunting, recreational shooting, or competitive marksmanship events, all of which are lawful purposes protected by the Constitution.”
“As Judge Kavanaugh noted in dissent in Heller II, prohibiting this group of weapons might be ‘equivalent to a ban on a category of speech’.”
“Contrary to the district court’s conclusion, the fact that handguns, bolt-action and other manually-loaded long guns, and, as noted earlier, a few semi-automatic rifles are still available for self-defense does not mitigate this burden.”
The full opinion can be found at: http://michellawyers.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Kolbe-v.-Hogan_Opinion.pdf
Valentine's Weekend
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