A consensus is growing that federal student aid, however well-intentioned, is directly responsible for increases in college tuition over the past few decades. One studyestimates that expansions of federal student aid roughly doubled tuition costs relative to a baseline, while anotherfinds that each dollar of subsidized Stafford student loans boost tuition by 65 cents. The logic is simple: when students have access to a generous line of credit, colleges will raise their prices because their students can easily borrow the money to pay them.
In theory, since there is a cap on how much students may borrow through the Stafford student loan program (the most common form of student loan), there should be an upper limit to how much federal student aid can fuel tuition increases. Currently, the aggregate cap stands at $31,000 for undergraduate dependent students. But as the cost of college approaches this cap, more and more borrowers may take advantage of a back door—the Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students (PLUS) program.
PLUS loans are loans which the federal government makes to the parents of dependent undergraduate students to finance the students' tuition. (Independent graduate students are also eligible.) They carry a higher interest rate (6.8 percent) than Stafford loans, which have a rate of 4.3 percent for undergraduates. Parents are eligible if they or an "endorser" can pass a basic credit check. Most importantly, there is effectively no credit limit—parents may borrow up to their student's cost of attendance.
More
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Friday, March 11, 2016
MAYOR TELLS RESIDENTS TO STAY HOME DURING OBAMA VISIT
"...When his motorcade is on the move, you won’t be," mayor said.
Residents should stay home when President Obama visits Austin, Texas, on Friday, the mayor said.
Mayor Steve Adler cited highway shutdowns due to the Obama motorcade when he encouraged employers to allow residents to work from home.
“Safe to say, when his motorcade is on the move, you won’t be, at least downtown,” he said in a newsletter. “That’s why I am asking you to strongly consider either working from home or asking your employees to work from home on those days.”
More
Residents should stay home when President Obama visits Austin, Texas, on Friday, the mayor said.
Mayor Steve Adler cited highway shutdowns due to the Obama motorcade when he encouraged employers to allow residents to work from home.
“Safe to say, when his motorcade is on the move, you won’t be, at least downtown,” he said in a newsletter. “That’s why I am asking you to strongly consider either working from home or asking your employees to work from home on those days.”
More
UNLESS SOMEONE GETS TO 1,237 DELEGATES, THE REPUBLICAN CONVENTION IS GOING TO BE A GIANT MESS
Trump only has 44.8 percent of the delegates that have been awarded up to this point.
2016 is turning out to be the strangest election season that we have seen in decades, and it may soon get far stranger.
At this point, most people assume that Donald Trump is going to be the Republican nominee, and without a doubt he has had a tremendous amount of success. But because most of the states so far have apportioned delegates proportionally, Trump only has 44.8 percent of the delegates that have been awarded up to this point. So Trump is going to have to do significantly better through the rest of the process in order to get to the magic number of 1,237 delegates, especially since not all of the delegates are awarded through the primaries and caucuses. As Real Clear Politics has detailed, every state “is awarded so-called ‘RNC delegates,’ who are party officials with automatic credentials to the convention“.
Right now, more than 40 percent of all the delegates to the convention have already been awarded, and Trump is sitting at just 458. To get to 1,237, he is going to have to do really well in the upcoming winner-take-all states. That is why there is so much focus on Florida and Ohio on March 15th. If Trump wins both of them, he will have a path to 1,237 delegates. If he doesn’t, that is where things get tricky.
More
2016 is turning out to be the strangest election season that we have seen in decades, and it may soon get far stranger.
At this point, most people assume that Donald Trump is going to be the Republican nominee, and without a doubt he has had a tremendous amount of success. But because most of the states so far have apportioned delegates proportionally, Trump only has 44.8 percent of the delegates that have been awarded up to this point. So Trump is going to have to do significantly better through the rest of the process in order to get to the magic number of 1,237 delegates, especially since not all of the delegates are awarded through the primaries and caucuses. As Real Clear Politics has detailed, every state “is awarded so-called ‘RNC delegates,’ who are party officials with automatic credentials to the convention“.
Right now, more than 40 percent of all the delegates to the convention have already been awarded, and Trump is sitting at just 458. To get to 1,237, he is going to have to do really well in the upcoming winner-take-all states. That is why there is so much focus on Florida and Ohio on March 15th. If Trump wins both of them, he will have a path to 1,237 delegates. If he doesn’t, that is where things get tricky.
More
Bernie Sanders confronted with decades-old clip of him praising Fidel Castro
During the Wednesday-night Democratic debate, Univision moderator Maria Elena Salinas confronted Bernie Sanders with a decades-old clip of him heaping apparent praise on former Cuban President Fidel Castro.
Sanders, who has identified himself as a democratic socialist, had earlier in the debate called for "full and normalized political relations with Cuba" — a position he shares with Hillary Clinton, the Democratic frontrunner.
"I think at the end of the day, it will be a good thing for the Cuban people," Sanders said. "It will enable them, I think, when they see people coming into their country from the United States, move in a more Democratic direction, which I what I want to see."
More
Sanders, who has identified himself as a democratic socialist, had earlier in the debate called for "full and normalized political relations with Cuba" — a position he shares with Hillary Clinton, the Democratic frontrunner.
"I think at the end of the day, it will be a good thing for the Cuban people," Sanders said. "It will enable them, I think, when they see people coming into their country from the United States, move in a more Democratic direction, which I what I want to see."
More
The Chevy Volt is the perfect car — but nobody seems to care
Let me set the Wayback machine to 2010 for a moment.
Excitement then around electric cars and plug-in hybrid electric cars was running high. The Toyota Prius had revolutionized the way Americans thought about fuel economy.
But the original Prius design didn't involve all-electric operation. So the next logical step in the the evolution of the automobile was a different type of hybrid gas-electric design.
The Prius' parallel-hybrid powertrain, with gas and electric motors running at the same time, would be supplanted by a serial hybrid design, with an electric motor delivering about 40 miles of range before depleting its batteries, at which point, a small gas engine would kick in to generate more electricity.
More
Excitement then around electric cars and plug-in hybrid electric cars was running high. The Toyota Prius had revolutionized the way Americans thought about fuel economy.
But the original Prius design didn't involve all-electric operation. So the next logical step in the the evolution of the automobile was a different type of hybrid gas-electric design.
The Prius' parallel-hybrid powertrain, with gas and electric motors running at the same time, would be supplanted by a serial hybrid design, with an electric motor delivering about 40 miles of range before depleting its batteries, at which point, a small gas engine would kick in to generate more electricity.
More
This one photo shows how much of an engineering feat 'El Chapo' Guzmán's escape from prison was
It was soon discovered — as shown by the display below, from a new exhibit at The Mob Museum in Las Vegas — that the escape was also a marvel of clandestine engineering, featuring an elaborate tunnel passage designed by engineers trained in Germany specifically to build the tunnel.
Guzmán entered the mile-long tunnel through a hole in the floor of his cell's shower with a length and width of 1 1/2 feet. He then descended a 32-foot ladder into the tunnel, which was 5 1/2 feet high and 2 feet 7 inches wide.
More
Police Confiscate Guns from Concealed Permit Holder Who Believes in Bigfoot, UFOs
Police confiscated firearms from 74-year-old Ralph Gilbertsen, although he is not a felon or domestic abuser, and he has never been ruled dangerous to others because of mental illness.
Gilbertsen, who lives in Richfield, Minnesota, believes in Bigfoot and UFOs. And while he does receive treatment for a “mild” mental health disorder, the Star Tribune reports that a psychologist sent a letter to the judge in the case, stating that “Gilbertsen is compliant with his medications and poses no danger to himself or others.”
A former Marine, Gilbertsen is also a concealed carry permit holder, which means he passed the in-depth background check required to obtain such permit, and he was the proud owner of three handguns, until the police knocked on his door.
More
Gilbertsen, who lives in Richfield, Minnesota, believes in Bigfoot and UFOs. And while he does receive treatment for a “mild” mental health disorder, the Star Tribune reports that a psychologist sent a letter to the judge in the case, stating that “Gilbertsen is compliant with his medications and poses no danger to himself or others.”
A former Marine, Gilbertsen is also a concealed carry permit holder, which means he passed the in-depth background check required to obtain such permit, and he was the proud owner of three handguns, until the police knocked on his door.
More
Megyn Kelly to Be Honored at Variety ‘Power of Women’ Event
Kelly will join actresses Lupita Nyong’o and Julianne Moore, fashion designer Vera Wang and renowned ballet dancer Misty Copeland at the April 8 luncheon in New York, where the five women will be honored for their philanthropic endeavors.
“We are honored to provide a platform that celebrates the outstanding women in entertainment who support and promote philanthropic causes making the world a better place to live,” Variety publisher Michelle Sobrino said in a statement announcing the honorees.
More
US Air Force Veteran Convicted of Attempting to Join ISIS
A U.S. Air Force veteran was found guilty on Wednesday of attempting to join Islamic State, according to Newsday and other local media.
Tairod Pugh, 48, was convicted after a week-long trial in Brooklyn federal court. The case is the first in more than 75 Islamic State-related prosecutions brought since 2014 by the U.S. Department of Justice to reach a jury verdict.
Prosecutors said Pugh immersed himself in violent Islamic State propaganda for months before buying a one-way flight from his home in Egypt to Turkey, where he hoped to cross the Syrian border into territory controlled by the extremist group.
More
Tairod Pugh, 48, was convicted after a week-long trial in Brooklyn federal court. The case is the first in more than 75 Islamic State-related prosecutions brought since 2014 by the U.S. Department of Justice to reach a jury verdict.
Prosecutors said Pugh immersed himself in violent Islamic State propaganda for months before buying a one-way flight from his home in Egypt to Turkey, where he hoped to cross the Syrian border into territory controlled by the extremist group.
More
FBI Penetrated New York-based Russian Spy Ring Using Hidden Recorders
The FBI eavesdropped on meetings involving Russian intelligence personnel in New York City, including a suspected spy posing as a trade representative, by hiding recorders in binders containing supposedly confidential information about the energy sector, U.S. prosecutors said.
The hours of covert recordings from 2013 were disclosed in papers filed in Manhattan federal court on Tuesday in the case of Evgeny Buryakov, a Russian citizen who U.S. prosecutors say posed as a banker while participating in a Cold War-style spy ring.
More
The hours of covert recordings from 2013 were disclosed in papers filed in Manhattan federal court on Tuesday in the case of Evgeny Buryakov, a Russian citizen who U.S. prosecutors say posed as a banker while participating in a Cold War-style spy ring.
More
Cuba Says Obama 'Welcome' But Shouldn't Expect Much
Cuba's state newspaper said Wednesday US President Barack Obama will be warmly welcomed when he makes a historic visit this month, but warned him not to expect political concessions.
"The US leader will be welcomed by the government of Cuba and its people with the hospitality that distinguishes them and will be treated with all consideration and respect," official daily Granma said in an editorial.
But it hastened to add: "No one can harbor the slightest doubt about Cuba's unconditional adherence to its revolutionary and anti-imperialist ideals."
More
"The US leader will be welcomed by the government of Cuba and its people with the hospitality that distinguishes them and will be treated with all consideration and respect," official daily Granma said in an editorial.
But it hastened to add: "No one can harbor the slightest doubt about Cuba's unconditional adherence to its revolutionary and anti-imperialist ideals."
More
Iran Told to Pay $10.5 Billion to 9/11 Kin, Insurers
U.S. District Judge George Daniels in New York issued a default judgment Wednesday against Iran for $7.5 billion to the estates and families of people who died at the World Trade Center and Pentagon. It includes $2 million to each estate for the victims’ pain and suffering plus $6.88 million in punitive damages.
Daniels also awarded $3 billion to insurers including Chubb Ltd. that paid property damage, business interruption and other claims.
More
RNC Sues State Department for Clinton Aides' Email
The Republican National Committee sued the U.S. State Department seeking the release of years of records and e-mails from Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, her aides and associates.
The legal assault comes nine days after the State Department released the last of the more than 52,000 pages of messages stored on the former secretary of state’s private e- mail server. A judge ordered those released in a separate case - - one of more than a dozen lawsuits filed in relation to Clinton’s e-mails and use of the private server.
More
The legal assault comes nine days after the State Department released the last of the more than 52,000 pages of messages stored on the former secretary of state’s private e- mail server. A judge ordered those released in a separate case - - one of more than a dozen lawsuits filed in relation to Clinton’s e-mails and use of the private server.
More
Subject: Rubio's Campaign Tells Ohio Supporters to Vote for Kasich
Marco Rubio’s campaign says supporters of the Florida senator should back John Kasich in Ohio on Tuesday if they want to stop Donald Trump.
Republican presidential candidates have each called on voters to consolidate and unite behind their campaigns, but the Rubio campaign’s suggestion appears to be the fiercest example yet of the anti-Trump movement, aimed at doing whatever it takes to bar the New York billionaire from accruing the 1,237 delegates necessary to secure the Republican nomination outright.
Alex Conant, Rubio’s communications director, acknowledged that Kasich is the only candidate who can defeat Trump in Ohio, which awards all of its 66 delegates to the winner. “If you are a Republican primary voter in Ohio and you want to defeat Donald Trump, your best chance in Ohio is John Kasich,” Conant told CNN on Friday.
More
Republican presidential candidates have each called on voters to consolidate and unite behind their campaigns, but the Rubio campaign’s suggestion appears to be the fiercest example yet of the anti-Trump movement, aimed at doing whatever it takes to bar the New York billionaire from accruing the 1,237 delegates necessary to secure the Republican nomination outright.
Alex Conant, Rubio’s communications director, acknowledged that Kasich is the only candidate who can defeat Trump in Ohio, which awards all of its 66 delegates to the winner. “If you are a Republican primary voter in Ohio and you want to defeat Donald Trump, your best chance in Ohio is John Kasich,” Conant told CNN on Friday.
More
Newsmax/Fabrizio Lee Poll: Trump Trounces Clinton Among Independents
While the online survey of 1,500 registered voters shows the former secretary of state essentially tied with the GOP front-runner, 45 to 44 percent, the poll's most eye-popping result is Clinton's pronounced weakness among independent voters, where she trails Trump by 16 points.
More
Pat Caddell: When Trump Finds Out Kasich Voted for NAFTA, Kasich Will Lose Ohio
Veteran pollster Pat Caddell warns that Ohio Gov. John Kasich’s vote for the North American Free Trade Agreement during his tenure in Congress could cost him both his approval rating as governor and the critical state primary.
“I believe — I haven’t gone back and looked — but I think he was in Congress in ’93 and if so, I’d bet you he voted for NAFTA. How much do you want to bet? Somebody ought to look that one up. That’s the real point this morning that could change the election in Ohio,” he told Breitbart News executive chairman and host Stephen K. Bannon on Breitbart News Daily Friday morning.
“If he did, as I suspect, vote for NAFTA, he could get killed on this now,” he continued.
Caddell warned that voters who saw their state and the nation’s manufacturing core gutted by free trade deals would dump Kasich for Trump.
“If Kasich voted for NAFTA and Trump gets a hold of that, he will lose Ohio,” he said.
More
“I believe — I haven’t gone back and looked — but I think he was in Congress in ’93 and if so, I’d bet you he voted for NAFTA. How much do you want to bet? Somebody ought to look that one up. That’s the real point this morning that could change the election in Ohio,” he told Breitbart News executive chairman and host Stephen K. Bannon on Breitbart News Daily Friday morning.
“If he did, as I suspect, vote for NAFTA, he could get killed on this now,” he continued.
Caddell warned that voters who saw their state and the nation’s manufacturing core gutted by free trade deals would dump Kasich for Trump.
“If Kasich voted for NAFTA and Trump gets a hold of that, he will lose Ohio,” he said.
More
Flint Suspending Water Bills Amid Lead Crisis
The mayor of Flint, Michigan, on Wednesday announced the city will stop billing for water as it tries to implement a program designed to assist residents who have been exposed to lead poisoning.
Michigan's governor last week approved a $30 million plan to help Flint residents with water bills amid the "man-made disaster," Flint Mayor Karen Weaver said in a statement, and the bills are being suspended while the city tries to get that program going.
"Flint residents need and deserve this relief," Weaver said. "I've said from day one, Flint residents should not have to pay for water they can not and are not using.
More
Michigan's governor last week approved a $30 million plan to help Flint residents with water bills amid the "man-made disaster," Flint Mayor Karen Weaver said in a statement, and the bills are being suspended while the city tries to get that program going.
"Flint residents need and deserve this relief," Weaver said. "I've said from day one, Flint residents should not have to pay for water they can not and are not using.
More
Ben Carson Buries "The Hatchet," Endorses Donald Trump for President
PALM BEACH, Florida (AP) — Former Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson says he and Donald Trump have "buried the hatchet" after months of political wrangling, and he is endorsing the GOP front-runner's White House bid.
At a press conference in Palm Beach, Florida on Friday, Carson, who left the race earlier this month, described "two Donald Trumps" — the persona reflected on stage, and a private, "very cerebral" person who "considers things carefully."
In his introduction to Carson Friday, Trump described the retired neurosurgeon as a "special, special person — special man," and a "friend" who is respected by everyone.
More
Amazon to lease 20 Boeing aircraft for cargo delivery
Amazon.com Inc will lease 20 Boeing 767 freighter aircraft, lessor Air Transport Services Group Inc said on Wednesday, as the online retailer moves closer to setting up its own air delivery network.
The deal comes at a time when Amazon, which offers fast and increasingly free deliveries for millions of online orders, has been trying to make shipments even faster as well as assume more control over its business and costs.
The e-commerce giant has been testing deliveries by drones, but has not said when it expects to have them in service.
The duration of the leases will be five to seven years, ATSG said.
More
The deal comes at a time when Amazon, which offers fast and increasingly free deliveries for millions of online orders, has been trying to make shipments even faster as well as assume more control over its business and costs.
The e-commerce giant has been testing deliveries by drones, but has not said when it expects to have them in service.
The duration of the leases will be five to seven years, ATSG said.
More
Obama Admin Knew About Benghazi Before It Happened
Judicial Watch: Defense, State Department Documents Reveal Obama Administration Knew that al Qaeda Terrorists Had Planned Benghazi Attack 10 Days in Advance
Administration knew three months before the November 2012 presidential election of ISIS plans to establish a caliphate in Iraq
Administration knew of arms being shipped from Benghazi to Syria
(Washington, DC) – Judicial Watch announced today that it obtained more than 100 pages of previously classified “Secret” documents from the Department of Defense (DOD)and the Department of State revealing that DOD almost immediately reported that the attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi was committed by the al Qaeda and Muslim Brotherhood-linked “Brigades of the Captive Omar Abdul Rahman” (BCOAR), and had been planned at least 10 days in advance. Rahman is known as the Blind Sheikh, and is serving life in prison for his involvement in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing and other terrorist acts. The new documents also provide the first official confirmation that shows the U.S. government was aware of arms shipments from Benghazi to Syria. The documents also include an August 2012 analysis warning of the rise of ISIS and the predicted failure of the Obama policy of regime change in Syria.
The documents were released in response to a court order in accordance with a May 15, 2014, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit filed against both the DOD and State Department seeking communications between the two agencies and congressional leaders “on matters related to the activities of any agency or department of the U.S. government at the Special Mission Compound and/or classified annex in Benghazi.”
Spelling and punctuation is duplicated in this release without corrections.
More
Administration knew three months before the November 2012 presidential election of ISIS plans to establish a caliphate in Iraq
Administration knew of arms being shipped from Benghazi to Syria
(Washington, DC) – Judicial Watch announced today that it obtained more than 100 pages of previously classified “Secret” documents from the Department of Defense (DOD)and the Department of State revealing that DOD almost immediately reported that the attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi was committed by the al Qaeda and Muslim Brotherhood-linked “Brigades of the Captive Omar Abdul Rahman” (BCOAR), and had been planned at least 10 days in advance. Rahman is known as the Blind Sheikh, and is serving life in prison for his involvement in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing and other terrorist acts. The new documents also provide the first official confirmation that shows the U.S. government was aware of arms shipments from Benghazi to Syria. The documents also include an August 2012 analysis warning of the rise of ISIS and the predicted failure of the Obama policy of regime change in Syria.
The documents were released in response to a court order in accordance with a May 15, 2014, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit filed against both the DOD and State Department seeking communications between the two agencies and congressional leaders “on matters related to the activities of any agency or department of the U.S. government at the Special Mission Compound and/or classified annex in Benghazi.”
Spelling and punctuation is duplicated in this release without corrections.
More
Subject: Illegal Alien Crime Accounts for over 30% of Murders in Many States
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump deserves credit for forcing all 17 Republican candidates to talk about the social costs of illegal immigration, but it is not “Trump’s issue.” We will be making a fatal mistake if we let the media discuss it that way.
As Ann Coulter has pointed out, this is the most critical issue of the 2016 race because this is the issue that will define whether or not there will even be an American nation recognizable as the “home of the free and land of the brave.”
But illegal immigration is not “Ann Coulter’s issue” any more than it is “Tom Tancredo’s issue.” It is America’s issue — not only because it will define America in the 21st Century but because it also defines American elections and who will be voting in elections in 2020 and beyond. It also illuminates the power of the mainstream media to keep issues off the national stage.
More
As Ann Coulter has pointed out, this is the most critical issue of the 2016 race because this is the issue that will define whether or not there will even be an American nation recognizable as the “home of the free and land of the brave.”
But illegal immigration is not “Ann Coulter’s issue” any more than it is “Tom Tancredo’s issue.” It is America’s issue — not only because it will define America in the 21st Century but because it also defines American elections and who will be voting in elections in 2020 and beyond. It also illuminates the power of the mainstream media to keep issues off the national stage.
More
Donald Trump, The Next President of the United States
Registration opens for Wicomico County Recreation’s summer camps
Salisbury, MD – Summer is right around the corner, and it’s time to sign up for Kids Klub Summer Escape and Pemberton Historical Park’s Summer Nature Camp.
Kids Klub Summer Escape, for children ages 5-13, runs from June 20-Aug. 19 and will be held from 7 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday-Friday.
There are nine weeks of camp, each with a different theme. The cost per week is $115 for full-time participants and $90 for part-time participants, with scholarships or other discounts available to some children.
During the first seven weeks, Kids Klub Summer Escape will be held at Delmar Elementary, North Salisbury Elementary and Westside Intermediate schools, and during the last two weeks, camp will be held at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center. There are optional field trips on Wednesdays at the cost of $20/trip.
Pemberton Historical Park’s Summer Nature Camp, for children ages 6-14, runs from June 20-Aug. 26, with 10 weeks of different themes.
The cost per week is $150 and the camp runs from 7 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday-Friday at Pemberton Historical Park.
Participants need to bring their own lunches for both the Kids Klub Summer Escape and the Summer Nature Camp. For the Nature Camp, each child should also bring water, a towel, bug spray, sunscreen, a change of clothes and shoes that can get wet and dirty (no flip-flops).
Registration is available at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center Box Office (Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.–6 p.m.) and online atwww.WicomicoRecandParks.org. For more information on Wicomico County Recreation’s summer camps, contact Cortney Kline at 410-548-4900 x109 ckline@wicomicocounty.org.
Kids Klub Summer Escape, for children ages 5-13, runs from June 20-Aug. 19 and will be held from 7 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday-Friday.
There are nine weeks of camp, each with a different theme. The cost per week is $115 for full-time participants and $90 for part-time participants, with scholarships or other discounts available to some children.
During the first seven weeks, Kids Klub Summer Escape will be held at Delmar Elementary, North Salisbury Elementary and Westside Intermediate schools, and during the last two weeks, camp will be held at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center. There are optional field trips on Wednesdays at the cost of $20/trip.
Pemberton Historical Park’s Summer Nature Camp, for children ages 6-14, runs from June 20-Aug. 26, with 10 weeks of different themes.
The cost per week is $150 and the camp runs from 7 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday-Friday at Pemberton Historical Park.
Participants need to bring their own lunches for both the Kids Klub Summer Escape and the Summer Nature Camp. For the Nature Camp, each child should also bring water, a towel, bug spray, sunscreen, a change of clothes and shoes that can get wet and dirty (no flip-flops).
Registration is available at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center Box Office (Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.–6 p.m.) and online atwww.WicomicoRecandParks.org. For more information on Wicomico County Recreation’s summer camps, contact Cortney Kline at 410-548-4900 x109 ckline@wicomicocounty.org.
Delegate Anderton Gets Distillery Bill Passed Through The House
Delegate Anderton put forth a proposed bill that passed the House today and will now move to the Senate for approval.
The state of Maryland allowed seven distillery licenses, Seacrets has one of them. An interested party who holds one of those seven licenses would like to open a facility in Wicomico County but the legislation was not in place.
Anderton's Bill is proposed for all counties across the entire state so everyone doesn't have to go through this again for each county.
Source: Clinton IT Specialist 'Devastating Witness'
Former Hillary Clinton IT specialist Bryan Pagliano, a key witness in the email probe who struck an immunity deal with the Justice Department, has told the FBI a range of details about how her personal email system was set up, according to an intelligence source close to the case who called him a “devastating witness.”
The source said Pagliano told the FBI who had access to the former secretary of state’s system – as well as when – and what devices were used, amounting to a road map for investigators.
"Bryan Pagliano is a devastating witness and, as the webmaster, knows exactly who had access to [Clinton's] computer and devices at specific times. His importance to this case cannot be over-emphasized," the intelligence source said.
The source, who is not authorized to speak on the record due to the sensitivity of the ongoing investigation, said Pagliano has provided information allowing investigators to knit together the emails with other evidence, including images of Clinton on the road as secretary of state.
The cross-referencing of evidence could help investigators pinpoint potential gaps in the email record. "Don't forget all those photos with her using various devices and it is easy to track the whereabouts of her phone," the source said. "It is still boils down to a paper case. Did you email at this time from your home or elsewhere using this device? And here is a picture of you and your aides holding the devices."
A source close to Pagliano did not dispute the basic details of what was provided to the FBI, but said the highly skilled former State Department IT specialist had met with the bureau on a "limited basis" and was at best a "peripheral" player in the investigation.
More here
The source said Pagliano told the FBI who had access to the former secretary of state’s system – as well as when – and what devices were used, amounting to a road map for investigators.
"Bryan Pagliano is a devastating witness and, as the webmaster, knows exactly who had access to [Clinton's] computer and devices at specific times. His importance to this case cannot be over-emphasized," the intelligence source said.
The source, who is not authorized to speak on the record due to the sensitivity of the ongoing investigation, said Pagliano has provided information allowing investigators to knit together the emails with other evidence, including images of Clinton on the road as secretary of state.
The cross-referencing of evidence could help investigators pinpoint potential gaps in the email record. "Don't forget all those photos with her using various devices and it is easy to track the whereabouts of her phone," the source said. "It is still boils down to a paper case. Did you email at this time from your home or elsewhere using this device? And here is a picture of you and your aides holding the devices."
A source close to Pagliano did not dispute the basic details of what was provided to the FBI, but said the highly skilled former State Department IT specialist had met with the bureau on a "limited basis" and was at best a "peripheral" player in the investigation.
More here
HS finds homework in a backpack reason to evacuate
ATLANTA, Ga. – Officials at an Atlanta middle school evacuated the building and called in local police and the Department of Homeland Security after allegedly receiving a bomb threat and finding a “suspicious package” on campus.
Firetrucks, ambulances, police cars, and other first responders descended on Brown Middle School Wednesday after a report of a suspicious package prompted school officials to evacuate the building, WXIAreports.
Students mulled around the school year and the perimeter of the campus as the Department of Homeland Security analyzed the situation, and police combed the school for explosives, Atlanta Public Schools spokeswoman Kimberly Willis Green told the Atlanta Journal Constitution.
“Atlanta Public Schools can confirm that Brown Middle School received a bomb threat,” a district statement read. “The school was placed on lockdown while the Atlanta Police and the Department of Homeland Security swept the campus. They found a bag and advised the school administrators to evacuate the building. APD and Homeland Security are currently analyzing the contents of the bag. All students and staff are safe.”
“And just what was in the bag?” the Constitution reports. “Homework, Atlanta police spokeswoman Kim Jones said.”
More
Firetrucks, ambulances, police cars, and other first responders descended on Brown Middle School Wednesday after a report of a suspicious package prompted school officials to evacuate the building, WXIAreports.
Students mulled around the school year and the perimeter of the campus as the Department of Homeland Security analyzed the situation, and police combed the school for explosives, Atlanta Public Schools spokeswoman Kimberly Willis Green told the Atlanta Journal Constitution.
“Atlanta Public Schools can confirm that Brown Middle School received a bomb threat,” a district statement read. “The school was placed on lockdown while the Atlanta Police and the Department of Homeland Security swept the campus. They found a bag and advised the school administrators to evacuate the building. APD and Homeland Security are currently analyzing the contents of the bag. All students and staff are safe.”
“And just what was in the bag?” the Constitution reports. “Homework, Atlanta police spokeswoman Kim Jones said.”
More
Rescue Interrupted
Full Measure investigates new information about what may be the most confounding mystery surrounding the Benghazi controversy: Why no outside US military help came to the rescue as terrorists battered two compounds and the Americans inside over nearly eight long hours.
GO HERE to view.
GO HERE to view.
State Police Task Force Arrest Seaford Man After Heroin Investigation
On Thursday March 10, 2016 around 5:00 p.m., the Sussex County Governor's Task Force with the assistance of the Sussex County Drug Task Force conducted a search warrant on a residence located in the 600 block of North Porter Street. When troopers arrived at the apartment building, Leondre M. Williams, 38 of that address, was observed sitting in his Dodge Ram pickup truck and was immediately taken into custody without incident. Upon conducting the search warrant, detectives located 2,765 bags of heroin weighing 41.475 grams, 3.82 grams of marijuana, over $8,830.00 in suspected drug proceeds, and a loaded .357 caliber revolver that was reported stolen out of the Wicomico County Sherriff’s Office in January of 2015.
Leondre Williams was transported back to Troop 4 where he was charged with Possession with Intent to Deliver Heroin, Possession of a Controlled Substance (Heroin), two counts of Possession of a Deadly Weapon or Ammunition by a Person Prohibited, Receiving a Stolen Firearm, Possession of Marijuana, Breech of Release, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He was arraigned at JP2 and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution on $247,101.00 cash bond.
Williams was also found to be wanted out of Seaford Police Department for Reckless Endangering and Offensive Touching as well as six capiases out of Sussex County Court of Common Pleas. He was arraigned on all those charges as well.
Oasis Featuring Dirt Road Outlawz April 2nd
Latest 4th Circuit Gun Ban Decision Highlights Legal Danger for Militia-Suitable Arms
Imagine the case being made in 1775 that this man had no right to his gun, and it was in the interests or public safety to take it from him– in other words, Gen. Gage’s position. Now imagine some Tory arguing such a gun was not in common use at the time. These lying arguments are exactly what modern gun-grabbers claim about today’s militia-suitable arms, and our right to keep and bear them.
The lawsuit challenging Maryland’s ban, enacted by “we must do something” opportunists following Sandy Hook, resulted in what attorney Andrew Branca called a “Big #2A Win,” in that the panel applied “strict scrutiny,” a standard of legal review requiring a “law must advance not merely any governmental interest, but in particular a compelling governmental interest [and] the law must also be narrowly tailored to actually achieve that interest.”
That’s a much higher bar to meet than “intermediate scrutiny,” which pretty much allows a government to get away with whatever it wants with an unproven “public safety” claim. Under strict scrutiny, Branca noted, “the vast majority of gun laws currently on the books would inescapably be found to be unconstitutional infringements of the Second Amendment, and discarded.”
More
Judicial Watch Continues Fight over IRS Criminal Investigation Facts
Seeks Information on Obama, Democrat Donor Barbara Bosserman’s Involvement in IRS Investigation
(Washington, DC) – Judicial Watch is asking a federal appellate court to overturn a lower court’s ruling allowing the Obama Justice Department to withhold records detailing the number of hours that agency attorney Barbara Bosserman expended on the investigation of the IRS targeting of conservative groups seeking tax exempt status during the 2010 and 2012 elections cycles. The opening appellate brief was filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on February 16, 2016 (Judicial Watch v. U.S. Department of Justice (No. 15-5271)).
This lawsuit forced the Obama Justice Department to confirm the existence of a criminal investigation into the IRS’ abuses and that Bosserman, a major donor to Obama’s political campaigns and the Democratic National Committee, was part of the team of lawyers criminally investigating the issue. (On October 23, 2015, the Justice Department announced in a letter that it would not press any charges over the IRS abuse scandal.)
In 2014, Judicial Watch filed a 2014 Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit seeking records detailing the number of hours Bosserman expended on the IRS matter. In 2015, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ruled that the agency had properly withheld the Bosserman records under the “attorney work product doctrine.” Judicial Watch argues to the appellate court:
[T]he Department presented no evidence whatsoever that the records requested by Judicial Watch were created in anticipation of litigation. The District Court also did not make such a finding. Instead the Department argued and the court ruled that some of the information contained in the responsive records was protected by the attorney work product doctrine. Because the requested records were created in the ordinary course of business – to assist senior officials in their management responsibilities – the records do not fall within the scope of the attorney work product doctrine. The records are being improperly withheld in their entirety.
More
(Washington, DC) – Judicial Watch is asking a federal appellate court to overturn a lower court’s ruling allowing the Obama Justice Department to withhold records detailing the number of hours that agency attorney Barbara Bosserman expended on the investigation of the IRS targeting of conservative groups seeking tax exempt status during the 2010 and 2012 elections cycles. The opening appellate brief was filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on February 16, 2016 (Judicial Watch v. U.S. Department of Justice (No. 15-5271)).
This lawsuit forced the Obama Justice Department to confirm the existence of a criminal investigation into the IRS’ abuses and that Bosserman, a major donor to Obama’s political campaigns and the Democratic National Committee, was part of the team of lawyers criminally investigating the issue. (On October 23, 2015, the Justice Department announced in a letter that it would not press any charges over the IRS abuse scandal.)
In 2014, Judicial Watch filed a 2014 Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit seeking records detailing the number of hours Bosserman expended on the IRS matter. In 2015, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ruled that the agency had properly withheld the Bosserman records under the “attorney work product doctrine.” Judicial Watch argues to the appellate court:
[T]he Department presented no evidence whatsoever that the records requested by Judicial Watch were created in anticipation of litigation. The District Court also did not make such a finding. Instead the Department argued and the court ruled that some of the information contained in the responsive records was protected by the attorney work product doctrine. Because the requested records were created in the ordinary course of business – to assist senior officials in their management responsibilities – the records do not fall within the scope of the attorney work product doctrine. The records are being improperly withheld in their entirety.
More
Bush Family Links to Nazi Germany: “A Famous American Family” Made its Fortune from the Nazis
“A famous American family” made its fortune from the Nazis, according toJohn Loftus’ documented historical analysis.
The Bush family links to Nazi Germany’s war economy were first brought to light at the Nuremberg trials in the testimony of Nazi Germany’s steel magnate Fritz Thyssen. Thyssen was a partner of George W. Bush’s grandfather Prescott Bush:
From 1945 until 1949 in Nuremberg, one of the lengthiest and, it now appears, most futile interrogations of a Nazi war crimes suspect began in the American Zone of Occupied Germany.
Multibillionaire steel magnate Fritz Thyssen-the man whose steel combine was the cold heart of the Nazi war machine-talked and talked and talked to a joint US-UK interrogation team.
… What the Allied investigators never understood was that they were not asking Thyssen the right question. Thyssen did not need any foreign bank accounts because his family secretly owned an entire chain of banks.
He did not have to transfer his Nazi assets at the end of World War II, all he had to do was transfer the ownership documents – stocks, bonds, deeds and trusts–from his bank in Berlin through his bank in Holland to his American friends in New York City: Prescott Bush and Herbert Walker [father in law of Prescott Bush]. Thyssen’s partners in crime were the father and [grandfather] of a future President of the United States [George Herbert Walker Bush]. (John Loftus, How the Bush family made its fortune from the Nazis: The Dutch Connection, Global Research, February 2002, edit by GR)
More
The Bush family links to Nazi Germany’s war economy were first brought to light at the Nuremberg trials in the testimony of Nazi Germany’s steel magnate Fritz Thyssen. Thyssen was a partner of George W. Bush’s grandfather Prescott Bush:
From 1945 until 1949 in Nuremberg, one of the lengthiest and, it now appears, most futile interrogations of a Nazi war crimes suspect began in the American Zone of Occupied Germany.
Multibillionaire steel magnate Fritz Thyssen-the man whose steel combine was the cold heart of the Nazi war machine-talked and talked and talked to a joint US-UK interrogation team.
… What the Allied investigators never understood was that they were not asking Thyssen the right question. Thyssen did not need any foreign bank accounts because his family secretly owned an entire chain of banks.
He did not have to transfer his Nazi assets at the end of World War II, all he had to do was transfer the ownership documents – stocks, bonds, deeds and trusts–from his bank in Berlin through his bank in Holland to his American friends in New York City: Prescott Bush and Herbert Walker [father in law of Prescott Bush]. Thyssen’s partners in crime were the father and [grandfather] of a future President of the United States [George Herbert Walker Bush]. (John Loftus, How the Bush family made its fortune from the Nazis: The Dutch Connection, Global Research, February 2002, edit by GR)
More
NASA's Bug Repellent Aims to Save Airlines Millions in Fuel Cost
The next frontier of aircraft design is taming bug splats.
NASA scientists are patenting substances that act like non-stick cookware, blocking dead insects from adhering to surfaces so air flows more smoothly over the wings and fuselage.
The new coatings could solve one of aviation’s oldest problems: how to take advantage of a super-smooth flow of air called “laminar flow” that dramatically reduces drag and improves fuel efficiency. Up to now, this has been almost impossible to achieve in the real world because even the smallest debris -- including insect carcasses -- triggers swirling air turbulence that roils the airstream.
“I think we’re definitely on the right track,” Fay Collier, project manager of NASA’s Environmentally Responsible Aviation Project, said in an interview. “This has been a tremendous step forward.”
More
NASA scientists are patenting substances that act like non-stick cookware, blocking dead insects from adhering to surfaces so air flows more smoothly over the wings and fuselage.
The new coatings could solve one of aviation’s oldest problems: how to take advantage of a super-smooth flow of air called “laminar flow” that dramatically reduces drag and improves fuel efficiency. Up to now, this has been almost impossible to achieve in the real world because even the smallest debris -- including insect carcasses -- triggers swirling air turbulence that roils the airstream.
“I think we’re definitely on the right track,” Fay Collier, project manager of NASA’s Environmentally Responsible Aviation Project, said in an interview. “This has been a tremendous step forward.”
More
Republican National Committee Files FOIA Request on Hillary Clinton Personnel Practices
It's the latest round in a continuing scrutiny of the Democratic frontrunners' managerial practices as secretary of state.
The Republican National Committee is pressing the State Department for information on whether former secretary of state Hillary Clinton and her chief of staff at the department, Cheryl Mills, failed to disclose a special arrangement allowing Mills to hold outside jobs.
A Freedom of Information Act request the RNC sent to the department Friday demands a copy of all records related to Mills' "selection, approval, status, and/or classification of Mills" as a special government employee in 2009 and again in 2013. Coming on the heels of a disclosure that Clinton's release of business-related emails she sent on a private account was incomplete, the RNC's latest move underscores Republicans' determination to maintain a relentless focus on the Democratic presidential frontrunner's managerial practices.
More
The Republican National Committee is pressing the State Department for information on whether former secretary of state Hillary Clinton and her chief of staff at the department, Cheryl Mills, failed to disclose a special arrangement allowing Mills to hold outside jobs.
A Freedom of Information Act request the RNC sent to the department Friday demands a copy of all records related to Mills' "selection, approval, status, and/or classification of Mills" as a special government employee in 2009 and again in 2013. Coming on the heels of a disclosure that Clinton's release of business-related emails she sent on a private account was incomplete, the RNC's latest move underscores Republicans' determination to maintain a relentless focus on the Democratic presidential frontrunner's managerial practices.
More
Half of Federal Criminals Released From Jail Are Re-arrested
The United States Sentencing Commission Wednesday revealed that 49.3 percent of federal offenders released from prison or put on probation in 2005 were rearrested for either a new crime of probation violation within eight years.
The report found that younger jailbirds had the highest rate of returning to prison.
The report included surveyed the cases of 25,431 federal offenders.
Among the highlights from the report titled "Recidivism Among Federal Offenders: A Comprehensive Overview:"
-- Almost one-third (31.7%) of the offenders studied were reconvicted (as opposed to just rearrested), and one-quarter (24.6%) were re-incarcerated.
Read more here
The report found that younger jailbirds had the highest rate of returning to prison.
The report included surveyed the cases of 25,431 federal offenders.
Among the highlights from the report titled "Recidivism Among Federal Offenders: A Comprehensive Overview:"
-- Almost one-third (31.7%) of the offenders studied were reconvicted (as opposed to just rearrested), and one-quarter (24.6%) were re-incarcerated.
Read more here
Dinesh D'Souza: 'Vaguely Stalinist' for DOJ to Go After Climate 'Deniers'
Attorney Gen. Loretta Lynch's disclosure to a Senate committee that the Justice Department had discussed lawsuits against climate change "deniers" was "vaguely Stalinist," political commentator Dinesh D'Souza told Newsmax TV on Thursday.
"By that, I mean the notion that if you disagree with them," D'Souza told "The Steve Malzberg Show" in an interview. "You and I can look out the window and we can come to a different assessment of whether or not it's going to rain.
"These are creepy people and they have a creepy agenda," he told Malzberg. "There's a new sensibility afoot in America — and it's a very dark one."
More
"By that, I mean the notion that if you disagree with them," D'Souza told "The Steve Malzberg Show" in an interview. "You and I can look out the window and we can come to a different assessment of whether or not it's going to rain.
"These are creepy people and they have a creepy agenda," he told Malzberg. "There's a new sensibility afoot in America — and it's a very dark one."
More
Obama Mocks Cruz: ‘Where Else Could Boy Born in Calgary Run for President of United States?’
(Weekly Standard) – At tonight’s state dinner with Canada, President Obama took a swipe at Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz, who was born in Canada.
Via the pool report:
Pool was escorted into the East Room at 8:32, where POTUS had already begun delivering his toast. POTUS spoke for about 7 minutes[.]
The toast was filed with jokes. Among them: “If things get out of hand, remember the prime minister used to work as a bouncer.”
More
Via the pool report:
Pool was escorted into the East Room at 8:32, where POTUS had already begun delivering his toast. POTUS spoke for about 7 minutes[.]
The toast was filed with jokes. Among them: “If things get out of hand, remember the prime minister used to work as a bouncer.”
More
The Forgotten History Of Fat Men's Clubs
"We're fat and we're making the most of it!" was their mantra. "I've got to be good-natured; I can't fight and I can't run," was their motto. Members had to be at least 200 pounds, pay a $1 fee to enter and learn a secret handshake and password. Twice a year, members gathered, with meetings announced in advance to allow the men to stuff up in order to meet the minimum weight requirement. A 1904 Boston Globearticle described the biannual meetings colorfully:
"This village is full of bulbous and overhanging abdomens and double chins tonight, for the New England Fat Men's Club is in session at Hale's Tavern. The natives, who are mostly bony and angular, have stared with envy at the portly forms and rubicund faces which have arrived on every train."
The fat men's clubs of the late 19th and early 20th centuries were spectacular celebrations of the wealth and chubbiness of a bygone era. At once sociological curiosity and anthropological artifact, these clubs were a vestige of perhaps the last time society found corpulence to be worthy of celebration.
More
Senate FAA Bill Rejects Privatization of Air Traffic Controllers
A Senate panel on Wednesday announced a bipartisan proposal to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration. The proposal wouldn't allow for the privatization of the nation's air traffic control system, which could make it harder to pass in Congress this year.
The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation unveiled a plan to reauthorize the FAA that would make reforms to drone regulations, including a safety test requirement. It would also add consumer protections for airline passengers, and speed up implementation of a satellite-based system to oversee air traffic.
"The U.S. Senate has an opportunity to make our skies safer, promote responsible drone usage, make economically significant aerospace manufacturing reforms, and adopt beneficial new protections for the flying public," committee chair John Thune, R-S.D., said.
But the Senate proposal does not follow a House plan to privatize the nation's air traffic control system, which currently operates under the authority of the FAA.
House Transportation Committee Chairman Bill Shuster, R-Pa., said privatization would help the ATC system run more efficiently and safely, and speed up implementation of the NextGen satellite system for controlling air traffic.
More
The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation unveiled a plan to reauthorize the FAA that would make reforms to drone regulations, including a safety test requirement. It would also add consumer protections for airline passengers, and speed up implementation of a satellite-based system to oversee air traffic.
"The U.S. Senate has an opportunity to make our skies safer, promote responsible drone usage, make economically significant aerospace manufacturing reforms, and adopt beneficial new protections for the flying public," committee chair John Thune, R-S.D., said.
But the Senate proposal does not follow a House plan to privatize the nation's air traffic control system, which currently operates under the authority of the FAA.
House Transportation Committee Chairman Bill Shuster, R-Pa., said privatization would help the ATC system run more efficiently and safely, and speed up implementation of the NextGen satellite system for controlling air traffic.
More
Reagan’s Son Delivers BRUTAL Message to Obama for Skipping Nancy’s Funeral Read more: http://rightwingnews.com/#ixzz42ba8HdZe
President Obama has entirely ZERO respect for anyone other than himself. Not the military, not Justice Scalia, not the American people, and now, not even Nancy Reagan. Yet demands respect himself…classic Obama move. Now, Reagan’s Son is calling out Obama on his most recent disappointment…
From NewsMax:
Political commentator Michael Reagan slammed President Barack Obama for not planning to attend the funeral of his stepmother, Nancy Reagan, on Friday — telling Newsmax TV that “it seems that Barack Obama has never learned the right thing to do.”
“It would’ve been nice if he would’ve honored Nancy and been there, but I’m not surprised again,” Reagan, the eldest son of Mrs. Reagan and President Ronald Reagan, told host J.D. Hayworth on Newsmax TV’s “America Votes: 2016” in a telephone interview from Thailand. “Imagine if Nancy were a Democrat, liberal — or if Ronald Reagan was, he probably would be there.
“Sometimes, there’s a right thing to do,” he told Hayworth. “Whether you agree with something or not, sometime it’s just the right thing to do. He just keeps on missing the ball on that one.”
…
President Obama will be attending the South by Southwest Interactive Festival in Texas. First Lady Michelle Obama and former Democratic first lady Hillary Clinton will attend Nancy Reagan’s funeral.
More
From NewsMax:
Political commentator Michael Reagan slammed President Barack Obama for not planning to attend the funeral of his stepmother, Nancy Reagan, on Friday — telling Newsmax TV that “it seems that Barack Obama has never learned the right thing to do.”
“It would’ve been nice if he would’ve honored Nancy and been there, but I’m not surprised again,” Reagan, the eldest son of Mrs. Reagan and President Ronald Reagan, told host J.D. Hayworth on Newsmax TV’s “America Votes: 2016” in a telephone interview from Thailand. “Imagine if Nancy were a Democrat, liberal — or if Ronald Reagan was, he probably would be there.
“Sometimes, there’s a right thing to do,” he told Hayworth. “Whether you agree with something or not, sometime it’s just the right thing to do. He just keeps on missing the ball on that one.”
…
President Obama will be attending the South by Southwest Interactive Festival in Texas. First Lady Michelle Obama and former Democratic first lady Hillary Clinton will attend Nancy Reagan’s funeral.
More
More Blue-Collar Democrats Switching Parties for Trump
I wrote a few weeks back that thousands of former Democrats in Massachusetts had switched their party affiliation to Republican or unaffiliated. I guessed that this was probably a good sign for the Trump campaign, and well, the numbersdon't lie. Now, history appears to be repeating itself: In Pennsylvania, 46,000 people have switched their affiliation from Democrat to Republican.
Nearly 46,000 Pennsylvania Democrats have gone Republican since the start of 2016, twice as many as have shifted the other way, as a wild primary fight continues to upend the business of politics as usual and challenge the status quo.
Needless to say, much of this movement is being attributed to the rise of Donald Trump and the so-called "Ditch and Switch" movement, which leans on lifelong Democrats to abandon the party, register Republican and help ensure Trump's place in the November general election.
A website launched by two North Carolina sisters calling on Democrats to switch political parties and embrace Trump says, "For many years the Democratic Party has promoted agendas that most Americans did not agree with. Our country is deeply divided, and the silent majority has been bullied into silence by political posturing and underhanded agendas that favor the few while excluding the majority."
More
Nearly 46,000 Pennsylvania Democrats have gone Republican since the start of 2016, twice as many as have shifted the other way, as a wild primary fight continues to upend the business of politics as usual and challenge the status quo.
Needless to say, much of this movement is being attributed to the rise of Donald Trump and the so-called "Ditch and Switch" movement, which leans on lifelong Democrats to abandon the party, register Republican and help ensure Trump's place in the November general election.
A website launched by two North Carolina sisters calling on Democrats to switch political parties and embrace Trump says, "For many years the Democratic Party has promoted agendas that most Americans did not agree with. Our country is deeply divided, and the silent majority has been bullied into silence by political posturing and underhanded agendas that favor the few while excluding the majority."
More
White poverty and me
In his continuing effort to pit races and classes against each other, Democratic presidential candidate and socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-VT) has said that if you are white, “you don’t know what it’s like to be poor.”
He should drive some of the roads I’ve driven in West Virginia, among other places. Some of the homes of the white poor look like throwbacks from an earlier time.
Sanders attempted to “clarify” his comment (a political synonym for walking it back when it didn’t play well) during a town hall meeting Monday night in Detroit. Fox News anchor Bret Baier asked him about his remark and Sanders replied, “I know about white poverty. There is no candidate in this race who has talked more about poverty than I have.”
Therein lies the problem. The left talks a lot about poverty, but when it comes to programs and ideas to help people climb out of poverty their only solution is to spend more money. If money alone were enough to extricate people from poverty and help them sustain themselves with a job and a strong family, then the more than $1 trillion spent on anti-poverty programs since the Great Society was launched by President Johnson in 1964 would have reduced the number of poor people in America. And yet, the poverty rate changes very little. A rational person might conclude that spending more money on programs that have failed to achieve their stated goals is not the right answer.
In April and May of 1964, President Johnson and the first lady, Lady Bird Johnson, toured the Appalachian states. After their visit he vowed to wipe out poverty. He didn’t and his successors haven’t either.
What do I, a now “prosperous” white guy, know about poverty?
More
He should drive some of the roads I’ve driven in West Virginia, among other places. Some of the homes of the white poor look like throwbacks from an earlier time.
Sanders attempted to “clarify” his comment (a political synonym for walking it back when it didn’t play well) during a town hall meeting Monday night in Detroit. Fox News anchor Bret Baier asked him about his remark and Sanders replied, “I know about white poverty. There is no candidate in this race who has talked more about poverty than I have.”
Therein lies the problem. The left talks a lot about poverty, but when it comes to programs and ideas to help people climb out of poverty their only solution is to spend more money. If money alone were enough to extricate people from poverty and help them sustain themselves with a job and a strong family, then the more than $1 trillion spent on anti-poverty programs since the Great Society was launched by President Johnson in 1964 would have reduced the number of poor people in America. And yet, the poverty rate changes very little. A rational person might conclude that spending more money on programs that have failed to achieve their stated goals is not the right answer.
In April and May of 1964, President Johnson and the first lady, Lady Bird Johnson, toured the Appalachian states. After their visit he vowed to wipe out poverty. He didn’t and his successors haven’t either.
What do I, a now “prosperous” white guy, know about poverty?
More
Williams: The Seen and Unseen
Claude Frederic Bastiat (1801-50) -- a French classical liberal theorist, political economist and member of the French National Assembly -- wrote an influential essay titled "That Which Is Seen and That Which Is Not Seen." Bastiat argued that when making laws or economic decisions, it is imperative that we examine not only what is seen but what is unseen. In other words, examine the whole picture.
Americans who support tariffs on foreign goods could benefit immensely from Bastiat's admonition. A concrete example was the Bush administration's 8 to 30 percent tariffs in 2002 on several types of imported steel. They were levied in an effort to protect jobs in the ailing U.S. steel industry.
Those tariffs caused the domestic price for some steel products, such as hot-rolled steel, to rise by as much as 40 percent. The clear beneficiaries of the steel tariffs were steel industry executives and stockholders and the 1,700 or so steelworkers whose jobs were saved. But there is no such thing as a free lunch or a something-for-nothing machine. Whenever there is a benefit of doing something, there is a guaranteed cost.
A study by the Peterson Institute for International Economics, predicted that saving those 1,700 jobs in the steel industry would cost American consumers $800,000 per job, in the form of higher prices. That's just the monetary side of the picture. According to a study commissioned by the Consuming Industries Trade Action Coalition, steel-using industries -- such as the U.S. auto industry, its suppliers, heavy construction equipment manufacturers and others -- were harmed by higher steel prices.
There's more here
Americans who support tariffs on foreign goods could benefit immensely from Bastiat's admonition. A concrete example was the Bush administration's 8 to 30 percent tariffs in 2002 on several types of imported steel. They were levied in an effort to protect jobs in the ailing U.S. steel industry.
Those tariffs caused the domestic price for some steel products, such as hot-rolled steel, to rise by as much as 40 percent. The clear beneficiaries of the steel tariffs were steel industry executives and stockholders and the 1,700 or so steelworkers whose jobs were saved. But there is no such thing as a free lunch or a something-for-nothing machine. Whenever there is a benefit of doing something, there is a guaranteed cost.
A study by the Peterson Institute for International Economics, predicted that saving those 1,700 jobs in the steel industry would cost American consumers $800,000 per job, in the form of higher prices. That's just the monetary side of the picture. According to a study commissioned by the Consuming Industries Trade Action Coalition, steel-using industries -- such as the U.S. auto industry, its suppliers, heavy construction equipment manufacturers and others -- were harmed by higher steel prices.
There's more here
All the people Putin is suspected of assassinating
The Washington DC medical examiner's office has just confirmed that former Russian press minister Mikhail Lesin died of "blunt force trauma to the head." Lesin, who founded the English-language television network Russia Today (RT) was found dead in a Washington DC hotel room in November 2015.
The Daily Beast reports that before his death, Lesin was considering making a deal with the FBI to protect himself from corruption charges. For years, Lesin had been at the heart of political life in Russia and would have known a lot about the inner workings of the rich and powerful.
Lesin isn't the only person linked to Putin's government that has died in violent or mysterious circumstances. Here are some of the other people Putin is suspected of assassinating:
The Daily Beast reports that before his death, Lesin was considering making a deal with the FBI to protect himself from corruption charges. For years, Lesin had been at the heart of political life in Russia and would have known a lot about the inner workings of the rich and powerful.
Lesin isn't the only person linked to Putin's government that has died in violent or mysterious circumstances. Here are some of the other people Putin is suspected of assassinating:
Alexander Litvinenko
Be A Saint, Drive Sober this St. Patrick’s Day
According to the National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA), during the 2014 St. Patrick’s Day holiday period, 28 percent of all motor vehicle crash fatalities involved drunk drivers. From 2010 to 2014, nearly 75 percent of the drunk-driving fatalities during this holiday period involved drivers who had BACs well above the .08 legal limit, with 266 drunk-driving fatalities total.
“I encourage everyone to make a plan before heading out to their St. Patrick’s Day festivities. Designate a sober driver ahead of time, call a taxi or ride the municipal bus,” commented Chief Ross Buzzuro. “Our officers will be focused making sure everyone can enjoy the parade and other events in town safely, and that includes keeping our roads clear of drunk drivers.”
The OCPD recommends the following tips to ensure you have a safe St. Patrick’s Day:
When you’re making your plans for St. Patrick’s Day, think about how you and your friends will get home safely and stick to your plan.
If you’re impaired, call a taxi, a sober friend or hop on the municipal bus to get home safely.
If you see a drunk driver on the road, never hesitate to call us at 911 or 410-723-6600.
If a friend is about to drive while impaired, take their keys and help them make arrangements to get home safely.
We spent a day with the world’s most advanced missile system that has China and North Korea spooke
MCGREGOR RANGE, New Mexico — The most advanced missile system on the planet can hunt and blast incoming missiles right out of the sky with a 100% success rate — and we got to spend a day with it.
Meet the US's THAAD system.
THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) is a unique missile-defense system withunmatched precision, capable of countering threats around the world with its mobility and strategic battery-unit placement.
"It is the most technically advanced missile-defense system in the world," US Army Col. Alan Wiernicki, commander of the 11th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, told Business Insider in an interview.
"Combatant commanders and our allies know this, which puts our THAAD Batteries in very high global demand," Wiernicki added.
And that demand seems poised to rise.
More
Meet the US's THAAD system.
THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) is a unique missile-defense system withunmatched precision, capable of countering threats around the world with its mobility and strategic battery-unit placement.
"It is the most technically advanced missile-defense system in the world," US Army Col. Alan Wiernicki, commander of the 11th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, told Business Insider in an interview.
"Combatant commanders and our allies know this, which puts our THAAD Batteries in very high global demand," Wiernicki added.
And that demand seems poised to rise.
More
Bibi Denies Obama Snub, Cites Election
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's cancellation of a proposed meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama put more strain on their troubled ties on Tuesday just before a visit to Israel by Vice President Joe Biden.
The White House said on Monday it was "surprised" to learn first from Israeli media that Netanyahu had decided against coming to a conference of the pro-Israel lobby AIPAC in Washington on March 20, and the suggestion in some reports that among his reasons was Obama's unavailability to see him.
Zeev Elkin, an Israeli cabinet minister close to Netanyahu, countered that Israeli ambassador Ron Dermer had given the White House advance warning the trip might not happen.
Netanyahu's office said on Tuesday he would not attend the AIPAC event and voiced appreciation for Obama's willingness to host him.
It said Netanyahu was reluctant to be drawn into the U.S. presidential campaign, where candidates have been vying to assert their bona fides as friends of Israel.
In 2012, Netanyahu hosted then-Republican contender Mitt Romney in Israel in what many Democrats saw as a bid to undercut Obama's second-term run. Israel denied meddling.
More
The White House said on Monday it was "surprised" to learn first from Israeli media that Netanyahu had decided against coming to a conference of the pro-Israel lobby AIPAC in Washington on March 20, and the suggestion in some reports that among his reasons was Obama's unavailability to see him.
Zeev Elkin, an Israeli cabinet minister close to Netanyahu, countered that Israeli ambassador Ron Dermer had given the White House advance warning the trip might not happen.
Netanyahu's office said on Tuesday he would not attend the AIPAC event and voiced appreciation for Obama's willingness to host him.
It said Netanyahu was reluctant to be drawn into the U.S. presidential campaign, where candidates have been vying to assert their bona fides as friends of Israel.
In 2012, Netanyahu hosted then-Republican contender Mitt Romney in Israel in what many Democrats saw as a bid to undercut Obama's second-term run. Israel denied meddling.
More
Subject: Nestlé USA Announces Voluntary Recall of a Limited Number of DiGiorno, Lean Cuisine and Stouffer’s Products
Glendale, California,Mar 10, 2016
Nestlé USA is initiating a voluntary recall of a limited number of DiGiorno®, Lean Cuisine®, and Stouffer’s® products due to the potential presence of glass pieces. This voluntary recall covers only specific production codes of the following products:
DiGiorno Thin & Crispy Spinach and Garlic Pizza
DiGiorno Rising Crust Spinach and Mushroom Pizza
DiGiorno pizzeria Thin Crust Spinach and Mushroom Pizza
DiGiorno pizzeria Tuscan-style Chicken Pizza
Lean Cuisine Spinach and Mushroom Pizza
Lean Cuisine Spinach Artichoke Ravioli
Lean Cuisine Ricotta and Spinach Ravioli
Lean Cuisine Spinach, Artichoke & Chicken Panini
Lean Cuisine Mushroom Mezzaluna Ravioli
Stouffer’s Vegetable Lasagna (10 oz., 37 oz. and 96 oz. sizes)
Stouffer’s Spinach Soufflé
Stouffer’s Chicken Lasagna
The voluntary recall is limited to the production codes listed here.
Nestlé USA is initiating a voluntary recall of a limited number of DiGiorno®, Lean Cuisine®, and Stouffer’s® products due to the potential presence of glass pieces. This voluntary recall covers only specific production codes of the following products:
DiGiorno Thin & Crispy Spinach and Garlic Pizza
DiGiorno Rising Crust Spinach and Mushroom Pizza
DiGiorno pizzeria Thin Crust Spinach and Mushroom Pizza
DiGiorno pizzeria Tuscan-style Chicken Pizza
Lean Cuisine Spinach and Mushroom Pizza
Lean Cuisine Spinach Artichoke Ravioli
Lean Cuisine Ricotta and Spinach Ravioli
Lean Cuisine Spinach, Artichoke & Chicken Panini
Lean Cuisine Mushroom Mezzaluna Ravioli
Stouffer’s Vegetable Lasagna (10 oz., 37 oz. and 96 oz. sizes)
Stouffer’s Spinach Soufflé
Stouffer’s Chicken Lasagna
The voluntary recall is limited to the production codes listed here.
Posts Every Seven Minutes (or so)
Worcester County Sheriff’s Office Press Release 3-11-16
First Degree Burglary
Third Degree Burglary
Fourth Degree Burglary
Fourth Degree Burglary Tools
Rogue and Vagabond
Theft less than $100.00
Theft $100.00 less than $1000.00
Ms. Swartz was taken before the District Court Commissioner where she was held on $15000.00 bond.
On March 8, 2016 at approximately 1803 hours, a Worcester County Sheriff’s Office Deputy was patrolling the area of Route 50 and Route 818. While traveling westbound on Route 50, the deputy observed a Honda Civic, bearing a Delaware temporary registration that appeared to be altered.
The Deputy stopped the vehicle and confirmed the tag had been altered from an expiration of January 2016, to April 2016. The Deputy identified the driver as Molli Sue Feehley. 23 of Salisbury Md. Ms. Feehley had an active warrant through Ohio for Grand Theft Auto. After confirming the warrant and full extradition, Ms. Feehley was placed under arrest.
Ms. Feehley was taken to the Snow Hill Commissioner on a fugitive warrant and held without bond pending extradition back to Ohio.
On March 9, 2016 at approximately 1811 hours, a Worcester County Sheriff’s Office Deputy was patrolling the area of Route 113 and Timmons Road, Snow Hill, Maryland. The Deputy stopped a vehicle with an altered registration plate. The Deputy made contact with the driver who did not have a license.
The Driver gave a false name to the Deputy. A check using the name the driver gave showed an active warrant through Salisbury. After the Deputy placed the driver under arrest, she admitted she gave a false name to avoid a traffic arrest. The driver stated her real name was Shantelle Dion Tazwell 40 from Weirwood, Va. and that she was suspended through Virginia.
A check on Ms. Tazwell confirmed she was suspended through Virginia.
The temporary tag was confirmed to be altered and the vehicle was towed.
Ms. Tazwell was arrested and charged with the following:
Knowingly giving a false statement to a peace officer
Obstruction and Hindering
Driving an unregistered motor vehicle
Driving an uninsured motor vehicle
Driving on a suspended out of state license
Driving w/o a license
Knowingly inserting false information on a temp tag
Giving a false/fictitious name to police
Ms. Tazwell was taken before the Snow Hill Commissioner and was released on $2500 unsecured bond.
This Just In From Marco Rubio
There's no other way to say this: we will lose.
If we hand the conservative movement over to Donald Trump by making him the Republican nominee, we will lose.
It will be the most devastating setback to our cause in two generations -- and once that happens we may never have time to correct the course our country is on today.
A new poll out shows that if Donald Trump becomes our nominee, he will lose to Hillary Clinton by 13 points, the most catastrophic electoral landslide in decades.
It will be a total repudiation of the conservative agenda by the American people. We will lose all of the gains we have made since the Reagan Revolution.
Whatever issue is the most important to you -- the Second Amendment, the dignity of life, traditional values, economic mobility, a strong military, freedom from government overreach -- it's all on the line.
And if Donald Trump were to win Florida next week, he takes a huge step toward being our nominee, and the disaster that will follow. But it doesn't have to be that way.
If you help me win in Florida, I will be our party's nominee, I will unite our conservative movement, and I will win in November.
There's still time for you to chip in and fund our victory in Florida -- and this is my promise to you: every dollar you donate by clicking right here goes straight to Florida TODAY.
Let's earn this!
Marco
Nestle issues recall for DiGiorno, Lean Cuisine and Stouffer's products
Nestle USA says it is voluntarily recalling a limited number of DiGiorno, Lean Cuisine and Stouffer's products because of the possibility they might contain small pieces of glass.
The food giant said Thursday, the source of the glass is spinach that is a common ingredient in all three brands. The company did not elaborate.
No injuries have been reported.
The voluntary recall includes limited numbers of DiGiorno pizzas, Lean Cuisine pizzas, paninis and raviolis, and Stouffer's lasagnas and souffles.
(Source)
The food giant said Thursday, the source of the glass is spinach that is a common ingredient in all three brands. The company did not elaborate.
No injuries have been reported.
The voluntary recall includes limited numbers of DiGiorno pizzas, Lean Cuisine pizzas, paninis and raviolis, and Stouffer's lasagnas and souffles.
(Source)
Missouri's GOP Senate Busts Filibuster Against Religious Freedom Bill
The GOP-led Missouri Senate has given initial approval to a proposal to amend the Missouri Constitution to provide further religious protections for those objecting to gay marriage.
The 23-9 vote Wednesday came after Republicans broke a more than 30-hour Democratic filibuster.
The measure would prohibit government penalties against business owners and individuals who cite a "sincere religious belief" while declining to provide services involving "expressional or artistic creation" for same-sex weddings.
It also would shield clergy and worship places that decline to participate in such weddings.
More
The 23-9 vote Wednesday came after Republicans broke a more than 30-hour Democratic filibuster.
The measure would prohibit government penalties against business owners and individuals who cite a "sincere religious belief" while declining to provide services involving "expressional or artistic creation" for same-sex weddings.
It also would shield clergy and worship places that decline to participate in such weddings.
More
Subject: FBI Chief James Comey Stirs Tensions, Becomes Political Problem for WH
FBI Director James Comey's famously independent streak is reportedly ruffling feathers at the White House on issues ranging from cybersecurity to rising crime rates — and the potentially explosive investigation of Hillary Clinton's email server.
The Republican, praised for standing up to the Bush administration over a warrantless wiretapping program in 2004, may be proving more than President Barack Obama bargained for, The Hill reports.
"He takes very seriously the fact that he works for the executive branch," Leo Taddeo, a former agent in the FBI's cyber division, tells The Hill.
"But he also understands the importance of maintaining his independence as a law enforcement agency that needs to give not just the appearance of independence but the reality of it."
In the Clinton email server probe, for example, Obama has publicly defended Clinton, saying she "made a mistake" with the setup but that it wasn't "a situation in which America's national security was endangered."
The Hill reports that Comey pushed back, saying the president wouldn't have any knowledge of the probe, and Comey ensured lawmakers last week he's "very close, personally" to the investigation, The Washington Times reports.
The FBI director is proving he is "not attached to the strings of the White House," Ron Hosko, the former head of the FBI's criminal investigative division, tells The Hill, which characterizes him as a critic of Obama's law enforcement strategies.
More
The Republican, praised for standing up to the Bush administration over a warrantless wiretapping program in 2004, may be proving more than President Barack Obama bargained for, The Hill reports.
"He takes very seriously the fact that he works for the executive branch," Leo Taddeo, a former agent in the FBI's cyber division, tells The Hill.
"But he also understands the importance of maintaining his independence as a law enforcement agency that needs to give not just the appearance of independence but the reality of it."
In the Clinton email server probe, for example, Obama has publicly defended Clinton, saying she "made a mistake" with the setup but that it wasn't "a situation in which America's national security was endangered."
The Hill reports that Comey pushed back, saying the president wouldn't have any knowledge of the probe, and Comey ensured lawmakers last week he's "very close, personally" to the investigation, The Washington Times reports.
The FBI director is proving he is "not attached to the strings of the White House," Ron Hosko, the former head of the FBI's criminal investigative division, tells The Hill, which characterizes him as a critic of Obama's law enforcement strategies.
More
Senator: Record number of unaccompanied minors set to flood southern border
Homeland Security officials are on track to apprehend a record number of unaccompanied minors trying to enter the U.S. from Mexico, the Senate Homeland Security chairman suggested on Tuesday.
From the beginning of the fiscal year, Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson told the committee, officials have apprehended 23,533 unaccompanied minors trying to cross the border.
"I think we're possibly beyond crisis proportions here," said Chairman Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis. "Four months and we're up to 23,000 already… 2014 was a crisis, right now I think we're running ahead of 2014 levels," Johnson added.
"If we maintain this pace, we'll have 77,000 in 2016," he said. The record was set in 2014, when Customs and Border Protection reported a total of 68,541 were apprehended at the border.
The exchange follows a report by the Center for Immigration Studies earlier this week that estimated a record 61 million immigrants and American-born children living in the United States, including 15.7 million doing so illegally.
More
From the beginning of the fiscal year, Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson told the committee, officials have apprehended 23,533 unaccompanied minors trying to cross the border.
"I think we're possibly beyond crisis proportions here," said Chairman Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis. "Four months and we're up to 23,000 already… 2014 was a crisis, right now I think we're running ahead of 2014 levels," Johnson added.
"If we maintain this pace, we'll have 77,000 in 2016," he said. The record was set in 2014, when Customs and Border Protection reported a total of 68,541 were apprehended at the border.
The exchange follows a report by the Center for Immigration Studies earlier this week that estimated a record 61 million immigrants and American-born children living in the United States, including 15.7 million doing so illegally.
More
DOJ Announces New Effort to 'Promote Religious Freedom' in the Nation's Schools
(CNSNews.com) - Under the banner of civil rights enforcement, the U.S. Justice Department plans to "promote religious freedom" in the nation's public schools by cracking down on discrimination and bullying, especially as it may affect Muslims.
The new enforcement effort announced on Tuesday will "expand" DOJ's ability to investigate and prosecute complaints; lead community outreach; and develop guidance for federal prosecutors.
Vanita Gupta, head of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division, said one goal of the new initiative is to promote religious pluralism and create safe, supportive and inclusive schools for all children.
Following acts of terrorism, including 9-11 and San Bernardino, "too many Muslim Americans and those perceived as Muslim suffer a backlash of violence and discrimination," Gupta said.
More
The new enforcement effort announced on Tuesday will "expand" DOJ's ability to investigate and prosecute complaints; lead community outreach; and develop guidance for federal prosecutors.
Vanita Gupta, head of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division, said one goal of the new initiative is to promote religious pluralism and create safe, supportive and inclusive schools for all children.
Following acts of terrorism, including 9-11 and San Bernardino, "too many Muslim Americans and those perceived as Muslim suffer a backlash of violence and discrimination," Gupta said.
More
IRS Has Answered Only 15.6 Percent of Calls This Tax Filing Season
Audit finds increasing problems with customer service and tax fraud
The IRS has answered only 15.6 percent of customer service calls during the 2016 tax-filing season so far, according to testimony from the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.
As of Feb. 27, 2016, there were 40.5 million attempted calls on toll-free assistance lines to contact the IRS. Agents answered only 6.3 million calls, or 15.6 percent of the total. After the call was routed to the call center, customers waited on the phone for 9.6 minutes before they were able to speak with an agent.
“For the IRS toll-free lines, there have been long customer wait times, resulting in abandoned calls, and customers redialing,” states the inspector general. “Despite other available options most taxpayers continue to use the telephone as the primary method to contact the IRS.”
In the 2015 tax-filing season, there were 83.2 million attempts to reach the IRS and 8.3 million were answered, which means that only 10 percent of calls were answered. Customers waited average of 23.5 minutes before reaching an agent after being routed to the call center.
The audit found that the inventory of unresolved correspondence with taxpayers, or cases where the IRS failed to respond to the taxpayer within 45 days had grown from 40 percent in fiscal year 2012 to 49 percent in fiscal year 2015.
Identify theft continues to be an issue, as the report found that the IRS took an average of 278 days to resolve tax accounts affected by fraud and the agency did not correctly resolve 17 percent of them.
More
The IRS has answered only 15.6 percent of customer service calls during the 2016 tax-filing season so far, according to testimony from the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.
As of Feb. 27, 2016, there were 40.5 million attempted calls on toll-free assistance lines to contact the IRS. Agents answered only 6.3 million calls, or 15.6 percent of the total. After the call was routed to the call center, customers waited on the phone for 9.6 minutes before they were able to speak with an agent.
“For the IRS toll-free lines, there have been long customer wait times, resulting in abandoned calls, and customers redialing,” states the inspector general. “Despite other available options most taxpayers continue to use the telephone as the primary method to contact the IRS.”
In the 2015 tax-filing season, there were 83.2 million attempts to reach the IRS and 8.3 million were answered, which means that only 10 percent of calls were answered. Customers waited average of 23.5 minutes before reaching an agent after being routed to the call center.
The audit found that the inventory of unresolved correspondence with taxpayers, or cases where the IRS failed to respond to the taxpayer within 45 days had grown from 40 percent in fiscal year 2012 to 49 percent in fiscal year 2015.
Identify theft continues to be an issue, as the report found that the IRS took an average of 278 days to resolve tax accounts affected by fraud and the agency did not correctly resolve 17 percent of them.
More
Dear Republicans, It's Ted Cruz
What is the rationale for Marco Rubio’s candidacy?
The latest poll out from the classiest and most reliable Florida pollster, Quinnipiac University, says there is none.
After a week of disappointing elections for Rubio, the Florida Q Poll is the dagger to the heart of his presidential aspirations. Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush can be happy that while his own bid failed, at least he killed the one his campaign staff called "Judas." Enjoy Fisher Island.
The poll shows frontrunner Donald Trump doubling up Florida freshman Rubio with less than a week to go before the winner-take-all contest for 99 delegates. Coming after a disastrous election night it should be enough to send Rubio packing.
The only argument for Rubio’s continued candidacy was the “Romney Plan” in which voters should support any candidate in any race that can beat Donald Trump or deny him delegates. It worked pretty well in Michigan where Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas and Ohio Gov. John Kasich soaked up the majority of delegates with their tie for second place behind Trump.
But there is no hope that Rubio can be the guy to stop Trump in Florida anymore. While Republicans have resisted Cruz, despite his repeated successes, it may be time for the party to admit that Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., is quite right: Cruz is the only candidate who has any shot of denying Trump the nomination.
While there was a wintertime flirtation with Trump as the more establishment-friendly and malleable candidate for the GOP, springtime has brought a new realization that Trump could mean not just a general election wipeout, but also generational damage to the party’s brand. Cruz has never been the GOP’s dream date, but if he can beat Trump it may be enough.
More
The latest poll out from the classiest and most reliable Florida pollster, Quinnipiac University, says there is none.
After a week of disappointing elections for Rubio, the Florida Q Poll is the dagger to the heart of his presidential aspirations. Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush can be happy that while his own bid failed, at least he killed the one his campaign staff called "Judas." Enjoy Fisher Island.
The poll shows frontrunner Donald Trump doubling up Florida freshman Rubio with less than a week to go before the winner-take-all contest for 99 delegates. Coming after a disastrous election night it should be enough to send Rubio packing.
The only argument for Rubio’s continued candidacy was the “Romney Plan” in which voters should support any candidate in any race that can beat Donald Trump or deny him delegates. It worked pretty well in Michigan where Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas and Ohio Gov. John Kasich soaked up the majority of delegates with their tie for second place behind Trump.
But there is no hope that Rubio can be the guy to stop Trump in Florida anymore. While Republicans have resisted Cruz, despite his repeated successes, it may be time for the party to admit that Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., is quite right: Cruz is the only candidate who has any shot of denying Trump the nomination.
While there was a wintertime flirtation with Trump as the more establishment-friendly and malleable candidate for the GOP, springtime has brought a new realization that Trump could mean not just a general election wipeout, but also generational damage to the party’s brand. Cruz has never been the GOP’s dream date, but if he can beat Trump it may be enough.
More
Which Candidate Won Last Night's GOP Debate?
The candidates all needed to change the narrative and stop Trump’s momentum. The problem is that they largely failed and the Trump train will only gain more steam with Ben Carson’s endorsement tomorrow.
Here’s who won and lost the 12th Republican debate:
1) Donald Trump: Trump was very civil and would not allow himself to be baited by Ted Cruz into making personal attacks. He even came off as…...presidential at times. Trump was also more substantive on some issues than usual. He most likely established himself as *the* frontrunner tonight. The only downside is that he may have been dinged in an exchange with Marco Rubio on Cuba, but our guess is that the Cuban-American vote by and large isn’t going to Trump. Also, most Americans and even Republicans are supportive of establishing relations with Cuba and ending the embargo, so Trump will take that.
2) Marco Rubio: Just as Rand Paul’s final debate was by far his best (he actually won that one), the debate that is likely Rubio’s final debate was his best. He was statesmanlike, articulate, and surprisingly energetic. Rubio was most effective on Cuba and on Israel. However, Rubio’s debate performance cannot mask the stench of death emanating from his campaign. It’s likely too little, too late to make a difference.
3) Ted Cruz: Not a terrible night, but not a great night either. It was an okay night. He tried to bait Trump into a fight, but Trump didn’t take it. Cruz was very lawyerly tonight. Also, no one believes Cruz is as anti-trade as he portrayed himself as tonight. In the end, he failed to make a serious challenge to Trump’s frontrunner status.
4) John Kasich: Kasich is running for VP at this point. Positive, but largely forgettable.
Source: AAN
Meghan McCain Shocks With Sudden Endorsement
Former Republican presidential candidate Carly Fiorina's endorsement of Texas Sen. Ted Cruz Wednesday prompted another unexpected Cruz ally to come out of the woodwork.
Meghan McCain, the daughter of former GOP nominee and Arizona Sen. John McCain, told Fox News hours after Fiorina showed up at a Cruz campaign rally in Miami that she, too, has chosen to support the Texas senator.
"I was a huge, huge Carly Fiorina fan and supporter," McCain told Fox News' Neil Cavuto. "And I think she has the capacity to get a lot of young, conservative women taking a second look at Ted Cruz.
She then added, "For me, honestly, I've been hesitant about Ted Cruz and the Carly Fiorina endorsement has swayed my personal opinion."
More
Meghan McCain, the daughter of former GOP nominee and Arizona Sen. John McCain, told Fox News hours after Fiorina showed up at a Cruz campaign rally in Miami that she, too, has chosen to support the Texas senator.
"I was a huge, huge Carly Fiorina fan and supporter," McCain told Fox News' Neil Cavuto. "And I think she has the capacity to get a lot of young, conservative women taking a second look at Ted Cruz.
She then added, "For me, honestly, I've been hesitant about Ted Cruz and the Carly Fiorina endorsement has swayed my personal opinion."
More
Obama Committed to Pacific Trade Deal, Even As Opposition Spreads
Barack Obama is fully committed to pushing for Congress to ratify the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) deal despite anti-trade sentiment gaining steam on the presidential election campaign trail, National Security Adviser Susan Rice said on Wednesday.
Voter anxiety and anger over international trade and the 12-nation Pacific trade pact have helped propel the campaign of Donald Trump, the Republican front-runner, as well as Senator Bernie Sanders, who is running against Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination.
"The president remains fully committed to working to achieve ratification on the U.S. side and encouraging all of our TPP partners to move through their domestic processes to do the same," Rice told Reuters in an interview on Wednesday.
For Obama, the TPP is a legacy issue, and standing firm on the pact reassures other nations with high expectations for the deal. At the same time, it highlights a division with Clinton, a close political ally, who has been grappling with Democratic anxiety about trade on the campaign trail.
Obama's commitment to the trade deal means that it will likely remain a hot campaign issue and exposes Clinton to trade-bashing rhetoric ahead of the Nov. 8 vote to elect Obama's successor.
More
Voter anxiety and anger over international trade and the 12-nation Pacific trade pact have helped propel the campaign of Donald Trump, the Republican front-runner, as well as Senator Bernie Sanders, who is running against Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination.
"The president remains fully committed to working to achieve ratification on the U.S. side and encouraging all of our TPP partners to move through their domestic processes to do the same," Rice told Reuters in an interview on Wednesday.
For Obama, the TPP is a legacy issue, and standing firm on the pact reassures other nations with high expectations for the deal. At the same time, it highlights a division with Clinton, a close political ally, who has been grappling with Democratic anxiety about trade on the campaign trail.
Obama's commitment to the trade deal means that it will likely remain a hot campaign issue and exposes Clinton to trade-bashing rhetoric ahead of the Nov. 8 vote to elect Obama's successor.
More
Clinton Foundation Hires H-1B Guest Workers in Place of American Graduates
The Clinton family charities have outsourced many U.S. white-collar jobs to foreign college graduates instead of hiring American college graduates.
The outsourcing started in 2004 and it continues to this year. When asked if the foundation is still hiring foreign white-collar workers via the controversial H-1B visa program, Vena Cooper, one of the foundation’s personnel officers, responded “We do.”
The foundations declined to answer questions from Breitbart News, but available data shows they sought to hire up to 130 foreign graduates. That’s roughly half the number of 250 jobs outsourced by Disney last October, which has reignited political criticism of the middle-class outsourcing program.
The 130 foreign graduates sought by the Clinton’s foundations were and are not immigrants. Instead, they’re temporary “guest” workers who fill outsourced professional jobs for up to six years.
More
The outsourcing started in 2004 and it continues to this year. When asked if the foundation is still hiring foreign white-collar workers via the controversial H-1B visa program, Vena Cooper, one of the foundation’s personnel officers, responded “We do.”
The foundations declined to answer questions from Breitbart News, but available data shows they sought to hire up to 130 foreign graduates. That’s roughly half the number of 250 jobs outsourced by Disney last October, which has reignited political criticism of the middle-class outsourcing program.
The 130 foreign graduates sought by the Clinton’s foundations were and are not immigrants. Instead, they’re temporary “guest” workers who fill outsourced professional jobs for up to six years.
More
Motor Vehicle Theft
US Rt. 50 @ MD Rt. 346
Berlin, Maryland
Charges: Motor Vehicle Theft
Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle
Second Degree Assault
Fourth Degree Burglary
Malicious Destruction of Property Less Than $1,000
Trespassing
DUI/DWI
Victim: Shynika Lovelle Bowen, 33 yoa, Berlin, MD
Arrested: Damian M. Hitchens, 32 yoa, Bishopville, MD
Narrative: On 03/10/2016 at approximately 1331 hours, Shynika Bowen of Berlin, MD, responded to the Berlin Barrack to report her vehicle, 2006 black Ford Escape bearing Maryland registration 6CC1291, stolen.
Bowen stated that on 03/10/2016 at approximately 1315 hours, she was traveling on E/B US Rt. 50 in the area of MD Rt. 346 when she engaged in an argument with her right front seat passenger Damian Hitchens. During the argument, Hitchens kicked the windshield causing it to crack. Bowen pulled over to the right shoulder to call 911. Once on the right shoulder, Hitchens began kicking the steering wheel subsequently striking Bowen on her right hand. Bowen exited her vehicle for her safety. Hitchens then got into the driver’s seat and proceeded to travel E/B on US Rt. 50 toward the Berlin area.
Investigation revealed that Hitchens drove Bowen’s vehicle to 113 Flower St. where he made unlawful entry into her residence. Hitchens then left the area on foot and was located by
Troopers in the area of the Bay Terrace Apartments. When Troopers attempted to make contact with Hitchens he fled on foot. With the assistance of the Berlin Police Department, Hitchens was located at 307 Maple Ave. where he was taken into custody without further incident.
Once in custody, a strong odor of an alcohol beverage was detected coming from Hitchens’ breath. Hitchens refused to perform field sobriety testing and subsequently refused to submit to an alcohol concentration test.
Hitchens was transported to the Berlin Barrack for processing and later taken before the Snow Hill Commissioner.
Disposition: Held $20,000 bond
Berlin, Maryland
Charges: Motor Vehicle Theft
Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle
Second Degree Assault
Fourth Degree Burglary
Malicious Destruction of Property Less Than $1,000
Trespassing
DUI/DWI
Victim: Shynika Lovelle Bowen, 33 yoa, Berlin, MD
Arrested: Damian M. Hitchens, 32 yoa, Bishopville, MD
Narrative: On 03/10/2016 at approximately 1331 hours, Shynika Bowen of Berlin, MD, responded to the Berlin Barrack to report her vehicle, 2006 black Ford Escape bearing Maryland registration 6CC1291, stolen.
Bowen stated that on 03/10/2016 at approximately 1315 hours, she was traveling on E/B US Rt. 50 in the area of MD Rt. 346 when she engaged in an argument with her right front seat passenger Damian Hitchens. During the argument, Hitchens kicked the windshield causing it to crack. Bowen pulled over to the right shoulder to call 911. Once on the right shoulder, Hitchens began kicking the steering wheel subsequently striking Bowen on her right hand. Bowen exited her vehicle for her safety. Hitchens then got into the driver’s seat and proceeded to travel E/B on US Rt. 50 toward the Berlin area.
Investigation revealed that Hitchens drove Bowen’s vehicle to 113 Flower St. where he made unlawful entry into her residence. Hitchens then left the area on foot and was located by
Troopers in the area of the Bay Terrace Apartments. When Troopers attempted to make contact with Hitchens he fled on foot. With the assistance of the Berlin Police Department, Hitchens was located at 307 Maple Ave. where he was taken into custody without further incident.
Once in custody, a strong odor of an alcohol beverage was detected coming from Hitchens’ breath. Hitchens refused to perform field sobriety testing and subsequently refused to submit to an alcohol concentration test.
Hitchens was transported to the Berlin Barrack for processing and later taken before the Snow Hill Commissioner.
Disposition: Held $20,000 bond
Motor Vehicle Collision- Personal Injury
Location: 9818 Winding Trail Dr, @ Md. Rt. 611, Worcester County, Md.
Driver of Vehicle #1- Not injured.
Driver of bicycle – Minor left leg injury. Transported to AGH.
Charges: None
On 3/10/2016 at approximately 1605 hours, the Maryland State Police Berlin Barrack responded to a motor vehicle collision in the area of 9818 Winding Trail Dr. @ Md. Rt. 611, Worcester County, Maryland.
The preliminary investigation indicated a 2012 blue Ford F150 operated by James Simmons, 61 yoa of Ocean City, Md, was stopped in the driveway of 9818 Winding Trail Dr. checked left and right and proceeded onto Md. Rt. 611 when he struck a bicyclist that was traveling N/B Rt. 611 on the S/B shoulder. The bicycle was ridden by Yesenia Gutierrez Vega 21 yoa of Ocean City, Md. Gutierrez was transported to Atlantic General Hospital with minor injuries to her left leg.
Driver of Vehicle #1- Not injured.
Driver of bicycle – Minor left leg injury. Transported to AGH.
Charges: None
On 3/10/2016 at approximately 1605 hours, the Maryland State Police Berlin Barrack responded to a motor vehicle collision in the area of 9818 Winding Trail Dr. @ Md. Rt. 611, Worcester County, Maryland.
The preliminary investigation indicated a 2012 blue Ford F150 operated by James Simmons, 61 yoa of Ocean City, Md, was stopped in the driveway of 9818 Winding Trail Dr. checked left and right and proceeded onto Md. Rt. 611 when he struck a bicyclist that was traveling N/B Rt. 611 on the S/B shoulder. The bicycle was ridden by Yesenia Gutierrez Vega 21 yoa of Ocean City, Md. Gutierrez was transported to Atlantic General Hospital with minor injuries to her left leg.