The Obama administration hasn't learned a damn thing. Their latest foreign policy debacle? Shipping arms to the Libyan "unity" government. Per Townhall:
The new Libyan government has only been in power for six weeks, but on Tuesday, Secretary of State John Kerry signaled the U.S. is ready to help train and armits forces in the fight against ISIS.
Speaking in Vienna, Kerry urged the international community to support the new unity government, which he said was “the only legitimate one in Libya and which must now start to work.”
Part of this support would also mean backing the new government’s efforts to secure an exemption from a United Nations arms embargo.
The fledgling government, which arrived by boat from neighboring Tunisia on March 31, “is the only entity that can unify the country,” Kerry said. "It is the only way to generate the cohesion necessary to defeat" Islamic State.
Libyan Prime Minister Fayez Serraj, who appeared with Kerry, said he welcomed the support. […]
The oil-rich country has faced political chaos and violence since the NATO bombing campaign helped rebels oust and kill longtime ruler Moammar Kadafi in 2011. It remains beset by armed militias, as well as Islamic State, and until recently had two rival governments.
Kerry announced the joint decision after diplomats from more than 20 countries, including the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, met to discuss the growing extremist threat in Libya.
The U.N. sanctions committee must approve an exemption to the arms embargo, but that is now all but assured.
Kerry said the international community must find a “delicate balance” to prevent arms from falling into enemy hands.
Many conservatives, most notably Rand Paul and Donald Trump, have questioned the wisdom of providing American weapons to unstable Middle Eastern groups that have no clear purpose or stability, warning that they're likely to end up in the hands of America's enemies. So what about the Libyan "Unity" government. It's a mess. As Voice of America notes:
Stabilizing Libya is an urgent goal for the West as it tries to combat IS more effectively and counter the smuggling of migrants to Europe.
The unity government, installed in March, was meant to be a first step in bringing order to a country that has known little since Gadhafi’s ouster. Western officials have placed hope in war fatigue, the allure of foreign aid and development money, and the growing threat of IS to build popular momentum for the unity government.
But in large parts of Libya, questions remain about the GNA’s legitimacy.
Under the U.N. negotiated deal, the GNA is meant to be sharing power with two rivals: the east’s National Salvation Government, an arm of the House of Representatives (HoR); and the rump of the General National Congress, which refused to stand aside after Libyans voted for the HoR to replace it as the country’s legislature in 2014.
But the GNA has struggled to consolidate its position in the Libyan capital, let alone expand its authority to the rest of the country. It remains dependent on the support of powerful western militias, whose loyalty remains suspect and who may be biding their time to see how the unity government fares.
In short, the Libyan government appears to be built on the hopes and dreams of the United Nations, a fickle coalition of groups without a common interest and dubious loyalties.
Sounds like another nightmare.
Source: AAN
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Thursday, May 19, 2016
Black Leaders Trash Obama's Transgender Agenda
Black Americans are sick and tired of being used as a tool to advance the radical gay and transgender agenda, and they have a message for President Obama: knock it off!
Conservative black leaders have criticized the Obama administration's comparison of North Carolina's transgender law to Jim Crow edicts, saying it trivializes the importance of the civil rights movement, Christian Post Politics reports.
When the Justice Department last week filed a lawsuit against North Carolina for its law requiring people to use bathrooms in government buildings that match their birth sex, Attorney General Loretta Lynch said: "This is not the first time that we have seen discriminatory responses to historic moments of progress for our nation. We saw it in the Jim Crow laws that followed the Emancipation Proclamation.
The comparisons were too much for some to take. Project 21, a nationwide group of black conservative leaders, issued a statement saying they disagreed with opposition to the North Carolina law itself, but were even more outraged by the analogy.
Project 21 member Nadra Enzi said that "as a Black Southern man who grew up fighting what I call 'Jim Crow-lite' in the 1970s-1980s, in Savannah, Georgia… I find the ridiculous transgender/civil rights movement comparison insulting and disrespectful.
"Middle-and upper-income whites in search of artificial oppressed person status can do so without using our history to prop up delusional defenses.
Another member, Derryck Green, said: "Attaching this insanity to the legacy of civil rights… trivializes everything the brave men and women experienced and sacrificed in the pursuit of social, economic and legal equality…", while Christopher Arps added that "Civil rights champions were not spat upon, beaten with police batons and sometimes murdered for the right of men to go to the same restroom with little girls.
Source: AAN
Conservative black leaders have criticized the Obama administration's comparison of North Carolina's transgender law to Jim Crow edicts, saying it trivializes the importance of the civil rights movement, Christian Post Politics reports.
When the Justice Department last week filed a lawsuit against North Carolina for its law requiring people to use bathrooms in government buildings that match their birth sex, Attorney General Loretta Lynch said: "This is not the first time that we have seen discriminatory responses to historic moments of progress for our nation. We saw it in the Jim Crow laws that followed the Emancipation Proclamation.
The comparisons were too much for some to take. Project 21, a nationwide group of black conservative leaders, issued a statement saying they disagreed with opposition to the North Carolina law itself, but were even more outraged by the analogy.
Project 21 member Nadra Enzi said that "as a Black Southern man who grew up fighting what I call 'Jim Crow-lite' in the 1970s-1980s, in Savannah, Georgia… I find the ridiculous transgender/civil rights movement comparison insulting and disrespectful.
"Middle-and upper-income whites in search of artificial oppressed person status can do so without using our history to prop up delusional defenses.
Another member, Derryck Green, said: "Attaching this insanity to the legacy of civil rights… trivializes everything the brave men and women experienced and sacrificed in the pursuit of social, economic and legal equality…", while Christopher Arps added that "Civil rights champions were not spat upon, beaten with police batons and sometimes murdered for the right of men to go to the same restroom with little girls.
Source: AAN
NEW EVIDENCE ABOUT THE DANGERS OF MONSANTO’S ROUNDUP
JOHN SANDERS WORKED in the orange and grapefruit groves in Redlands, California, for more than 30 years. First as a ranch hand, then as a farm worker, he was responsible for keeping the weeds around the citrus trees in check. Roundup, the Monsanto weed killer, was his weapon of choice, and he sprayed it on the plants from a hand-held atomizer year-round.
Frank Tanner, who owned a landscaping business, is also a Californian and former Roundup user. Tanner relied on the herbicide starting in 1974, and between 2000 and 2006 sprayed between 50 and 70 gallons of it a year, sometimes from a backpack, other times from a 200-gallon drum that he rolled on a cart next to him.
The two men have other things in common, too: After being regularly exposed to Roundup, both developed non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a blood cancer that starts in the lymph cells. And, as of April, both are plaintiffs in a suit filed against Monsanto that marks a turning point in the pitched battle over the most widely used agricultural chemical in history.
Until recently, the fight over Roundup has mostly focused on its active ingredient, glyphosate. But mounting evidence, including one studypublished in February, shows it’s not only glyphosate that’s dangerous, but also chemicals listed as “inert ingredients” in some formulations of Roundup and other glyphosate-based weed killers. Though they have been in herbicides — and our environment — for decades, these chemicals have evaded scientific scrutiny and regulation in large part because the companies that make and use them have concealed their identity as trade secrets.
Now, as environmental scientists have begun to puzzle out the mysterious chemicals sold along with glyphosate, evidence that these so-called inert ingredients are harmful has begun to hit U.S. courts. In addition to Sanders and Tanner, at least four people who developed non-Hodgkin lymphoma after using Roundup have sued Monsanto in recent months, citing the dangers of both glyphosate and the co-formulants sold with it. As Tanner and Sanders’s complaint puts it: Monsanto “knew or should have known that Roundup is more toxic than glyphosate alone and that safety studies of Roundup, Roundup’s adjuvants and ‘inert’ ingredients” were necessary.
Research on these chemicals seems to have played a role in the stark disagreement over glyphosate’s safety that has played out on the international stage over the last year. In March 2015, using research on both glyphosate alone and the complete formulations of Roundup and other herbicides, the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) declared glyphosate a probable human carcinogen. The IARC report noted an association between non-Hodgkin lymphoma and glyphosate, significant evidence that the chemical caused cancer in lab animals, and strong evidence that it damaged human DNA.
More
Frank Tanner, who owned a landscaping business, is also a Californian and former Roundup user. Tanner relied on the herbicide starting in 1974, and between 2000 and 2006 sprayed between 50 and 70 gallons of it a year, sometimes from a backpack, other times from a 200-gallon drum that he rolled on a cart next to him.
The two men have other things in common, too: After being regularly exposed to Roundup, both developed non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a blood cancer that starts in the lymph cells. And, as of April, both are plaintiffs in a suit filed against Monsanto that marks a turning point in the pitched battle over the most widely used agricultural chemical in history.
Until recently, the fight over Roundup has mostly focused on its active ingredient, glyphosate. But mounting evidence, including one studypublished in February, shows it’s not only glyphosate that’s dangerous, but also chemicals listed as “inert ingredients” in some formulations of Roundup and other glyphosate-based weed killers. Though they have been in herbicides — and our environment — for decades, these chemicals have evaded scientific scrutiny and regulation in large part because the companies that make and use them have concealed their identity as trade secrets.
Now, as environmental scientists have begun to puzzle out the mysterious chemicals sold along with glyphosate, evidence that these so-called inert ingredients are harmful has begun to hit U.S. courts. In addition to Sanders and Tanner, at least four people who developed non-Hodgkin lymphoma after using Roundup have sued Monsanto in recent months, citing the dangers of both glyphosate and the co-formulants sold with it. As Tanner and Sanders’s complaint puts it: Monsanto “knew or should have known that Roundup is more toxic than glyphosate alone and that safety studies of Roundup, Roundup’s adjuvants and ‘inert’ ingredients” were necessary.
Research on these chemicals seems to have played a role in the stark disagreement over glyphosate’s safety that has played out on the international stage over the last year. In March 2015, using research on both glyphosate alone and the complete formulations of Roundup and other herbicides, the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) declared glyphosate a probable human carcinogen. The IARC report noted an association between non-Hodgkin lymphoma and glyphosate, significant evidence that the chemical caused cancer in lab animals, and strong evidence that it damaged human DNA.
More
Media Ignoring a MAJOR Part of the Facebook Scandal
The liberal media are all over one part of the Facebook scandal story - and ignoring another. Generally, media have covered the accusations that the social media site is censoring conservative news and sources from their trending news feed. Coincidentally, this is also the part of the Facebook story affecting the media.
Potentially a bigger scandal (because it affects more people) is the accusation that Facebook censors individual member pages, blogs, smaller media outlets, and discussion groups reflecting a conservative point of view. Sometimes, the sites are shut down, sometimes they are simply threatened into silence.
In 2013, a Facebook page for the conservative website "Chicks on The Right" was threatened with a shut-down after posting a message criticizing White House Press Secretary Jay Carney. According to the site, the "offending" message of “Jay Carney can kiss my assular area” violated the site’s standards, so it blocked the "Chicks" site. Only because Fox News' Todd Starnes learned of and publicized the incident was "Chicks on The Right" was saved from a permanent place in the Facebook penalty box.
Starnes' interest in Facebook censorship may stem from the time he was placed in the Facebook penitentiary. You may want to make sure there are no kids in the room before you go on because the Fox News host's "horrible" violation was a post mentioning four offensive subjects in the same paragraph. The proper nouns were: Paula Deen, Chick-fil-A, the NRA and Jesus Christ.
"I'm about as politically incorrect as you can get. I'm wearing an NRA ball cap, eating a Chick-fil-A sandwich, reading a Paula Deen cookbook and sipping a 20-ounce sweet tea while sitting in my Cracker Barrel rocking chair with the Gaither Vocal Band singing 'Jesus Saves' on the stereo and a Gideon's Bible in my pocket. Yes sir, I'm politically incorrect and happy as a June bug."
Potentially a bigger scandal (because it affects more people) is the accusation that Facebook censors individual member pages, blogs, smaller media outlets, and discussion groups reflecting a conservative point of view. Sometimes, the sites are shut down, sometimes they are simply threatened into silence.
In 2013, a Facebook page for the conservative website "Chicks on The Right" was threatened with a shut-down after posting a message criticizing White House Press Secretary Jay Carney. According to the site, the "offending" message of “Jay Carney can kiss my assular area” violated the site’s standards, so it blocked the "Chicks" site. Only because Fox News' Todd Starnes learned of and publicized the incident was "Chicks on The Right" was saved from a permanent place in the Facebook penalty box.
Starnes' interest in Facebook censorship may stem from the time he was placed in the Facebook penitentiary. You may want to make sure there are no kids in the room before you go on because the Fox News host's "horrible" violation was a post mentioning four offensive subjects in the same paragraph. The proper nouns were: Paula Deen, Chick-fil-A, the NRA and Jesus Christ.
"I'm about as politically incorrect as you can get. I'm wearing an NRA ball cap, eating a Chick-fil-A sandwich, reading a Paula Deen cookbook and sipping a 20-ounce sweet tea while sitting in my Cracker Barrel rocking chair with the Gaither Vocal Band singing 'Jesus Saves' on the stereo and a Gideon's Bible in my pocket. Yes sir, I'm politically incorrect and happy as a June bug."
Republican Gov. Signs Most Comprehensive Birth Control Law in The Nation
(CNSNews.com) – Maryland Republican Gov. Larry Hogan has signed into law what’s being called the most sweeping birth control legislation in the country.
Last week Hogan signed the “Contraceptive Equity Act,” which prohibits insurers from charging a co-payment for any federally-approved method of birth control, including aborti-facients and sterilization.
“Family planning is essential for women’s rights, and cost is a factor in family planning,” Maryland Del. Ariana B. Kelly (D-Montgomery), the lead sponsor of the bill in the House, said in a May 10 Washington Post article on the law. “This legislation is going to help eliminate barriers and reduce costs for women and for men.”
The law – which was signed last week and goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2018 – covers insurance plans regulated by the state and expands the coverage already provided through Medicaid, the federal-state insurance program for the poor, according to the Post.
The Baltimore Sun reported that the Maryland law “goes further than President Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act.”
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Last week Hogan signed the “Contraceptive Equity Act,” which prohibits insurers from charging a co-payment for any federally-approved method of birth control, including aborti-facients and sterilization.
“Family planning is essential for women’s rights, and cost is a factor in family planning,” Maryland Del. Ariana B. Kelly (D-Montgomery), the lead sponsor of the bill in the House, said in a May 10 Washington Post article on the law. “This legislation is going to help eliminate barriers and reduce costs for women and for men.”
The law – which was signed last week and goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2018 – covers insurance plans regulated by the state and expands the coverage already provided through Medicaid, the federal-state insurance program for the poor, according to the Post.
The Baltimore Sun reported that the Maryland law “goes further than President Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act.”
More
'Stunning': EPA had to pay $55K to get child molester to retire
The Environmental Protection Agency was forced to pay $55,000 to get an employee to retire because the EPA was unable to fire him, even though he was a convicted child molester who also imitated a police officer, officials testified Wednesday.
The settlement was discussed at a House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform hearing on EPA employee misconduct Wednesday.
Read the full story here.
The settlement was discussed at a House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform hearing on EPA employee misconduct Wednesday.
Read the full story here.
Congressman Harris’ Statement on Overtime Rule
“The Labor Department’s drastic changes to the federal overtime rule will force millions of workers to adhere to strict limits on the number of hours they work, lose their ability to work from home, and diminish their opportunity for advancement in the workplace. As a result of the new rule, many businesses will need to lay off employees and actually reduce hourly pay. Instead of working with Congress to update the federal overtime rules, President Obama unilaterally made yet another job-killing decree, which will have devastating consequences on our economy and working families.”
BE SAFE THE MOVIE: INTERACTIVE SCREENING
Wednesday, June 8, 2016 6:30pm- 9:00pm
Don’t miss this community event for teens and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder and related disabilities (along with their parents, caregivers, teachers, therapists and staff). We will view scenes from BE SAFE The Movie, the exciting new video modeling tool that shows what to do and say in different types of police encounters. Local police will be on hand to try out fun safety activities with the audience. The messages of safety, boundaries, and following instructions in this presentation are relevant to every teen and adult, and can even be life-saving. Click here HERE to watch the video.
This FREE community event will be held at: Wor-Wic Community College, Guerrieri Hall 101, 32000 Campus Dr., Salisbury, MD 21804
LIMITED SEATING IS AVAILABLE. Please RSVP today by contacting Etta Smith: esmith@worwic.edu.
Sponsored by the Wicomico-Somerset-Worcester Crisis Intervention Team
Kerry to State Department Staff on Iran Deal: 'Embellish it a Little Bit For the Grandchildren'
Earlier today Secretary of State John Kerry addressed the staff of the U.S. Embassy in Vienna, Austria, where much of the work on last year's Iran nuclear deal took place. Kerry often addresses the embassy staff as he travels from country to country, thanking them for their behind the scenes work and engaging in lighthearted banter with his audience. In this case, Kerry suggested that the staff in Vienna would have some good stories to tell their grandchildren about their time in the embassy as the nuclear talks with Iran were taking place:
[W]e jammed you all last year and the year before with countless meetings here. So you've been very, very much a part of an extraordinary journey that has produced an historic outcome, and that's something that you can take with you forever, maybe tell – embellish it a little bit for the grandchildren, tell them how you sat in a room and got Zarif to give in to your mighty persuasion. (Laughter.) Whatever you want, folks. (Laughter.)
The Obama administration and Kerry in particular have come under increasing fire for the way the Iran deal came about, especially in light of recent admissions by White House advisor Ben Rhodes about how the deal was sold to the media and the public.
More
[W]e jammed you all last year and the year before with countless meetings here. So you've been very, very much a part of an extraordinary journey that has produced an historic outcome, and that's something that you can take with you forever, maybe tell – embellish it a little bit for the grandchildren, tell them how you sat in a room and got Zarif to give in to your mighty persuasion. (Laughter.) Whatever you want, folks. (Laughter.)
The Obama administration and Kerry in particular have come under increasing fire for the way the Iran deal came about, especially in light of recent admissions by White House advisor Ben Rhodes about how the deal was sold to the media and the public.
More
Tennessee Sheriff in Legal Showdown with Atheist Group
A Tennessee lawman who posted an Easter message and other religious-themed comments on Facebook said Tuesday he is ready for a legal showdown with an atheist group that accused him of violating the Constitution.
Bradley County Sheriff Eric Watson, who had the message posted on the department’s Facebook page on Easter, said he is considering a countersuit against American Atheists and a woman identified as “Jane Doe,” after they sued him in federal court over the message.
"Today is one of the most historic days; not only did Jesus die on the cross for our sins, but he rose on this day,” read the post. “Jesus paid the ultimate sacrifice, and offered himself for our sins. This day represents the best gift any of us could receive, which is 'Eternal Life' with our Heavenly Father."
Watson says the response to the post has been overwhelmingly positive.
“It has come to a point I can’t even keep up with the positive and ongoing images, texts and emails we have received supporting this effort in standing up for our religious freedom,” Watson told the Cleveland Daily Banner. “I am up until 2 and 3 o'clock in the morning responding.”
American Atheists denounced both the message and the apparent scrubbing of comments critical of the Easter post and Watson's religious views. The group’s federal complaint charged that Watson's religious post and subsequent deletion of critical comments "have caused and are causing immediate and irreparable injury, loss or damage" to the plaintiffs.
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Bradley County Sheriff Eric Watson, who had the message posted on the department’s Facebook page on Easter, said he is considering a countersuit against American Atheists and a woman identified as “Jane Doe,” after they sued him in federal court over the message.
"Today is one of the most historic days; not only did Jesus die on the cross for our sins, but he rose on this day,” read the post. “Jesus paid the ultimate sacrifice, and offered himself for our sins. This day represents the best gift any of us could receive, which is 'Eternal Life' with our Heavenly Father."
Watson says the response to the post has been overwhelmingly positive.
“It has come to a point I can’t even keep up with the positive and ongoing images, texts and emails we have received supporting this effort in standing up for our religious freedom,” Watson told the Cleveland Daily Banner. “I am up until 2 and 3 o'clock in the morning responding.”
American Atheists denounced both the message and the apparent scrubbing of comments critical of the Easter post and Watson's religious views. The group’s federal complaint charged that Watson's religious post and subsequent deletion of critical comments "have caused and are causing immediate and irreparable injury, loss or damage" to the plaintiffs.
More
Troopers Searching For Suspect In Caroline Co. Stabbings
The victims are identified as Heather R. Hill, 33, of Greensboro, Md., and Jackie R. Roach, 53, of Camden, De. Hill was flown by Maryland State Police helicopter to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center where she is being treated for her injuries. Roach was treated at the scene for stab/cut wounds by emergency medical services personnel and was not immediately transported to a hospital.
At about 1:00 a.m. today, troopers from the Easton Barrack responded to a disturbance call for victims of a possible stabbing in the 9100-block of Andersontown Road, Denton, Md. Responding troopers found the two victims, who had both been assaulted and sustained stab/cut wounds. Investigators from the State Police Criminal Enforcement Division responded to continue the investigation.
The preliminary investigation indicates that at about 9:30 p.m. yesterday, both victims had been dropped off at the residence and intended to visit a friend who lived there. Unknown to either victim at the time was that Hill’s former boyfriend was also at the residence. Hill had recently ended their relationship and the two had reportedly been arguing throughout yesterday.
House Passes Upgraded International Religious Freedom Law
(CNSNews.com) – The House of Representatives unanimously passed the Frank Wolf International Religious Freedom Act Monday afternoon, which upgrades the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 giving the administration and the State Department new resources to help combat the worldwide escalation in persecution of religious minorities.
The bill’s author Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.) said upon the bill’s passage that “the world is experiencing an unprecedented crisis of international religious freedom, a crisis that continues to create millions of victims.”
The legislation would amend the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (IRFA) to “locate the Office on International Religious Freedom in the Office of the Secretary of State” and include “mandatory training on religious freedom for all Foreign Service officers.”
More here
The bill’s author Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.) said upon the bill’s passage that “the world is experiencing an unprecedented crisis of international religious freedom, a crisis that continues to create millions of victims.”
The legislation would amend the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (IRFA) to “locate the Office on International Religious Freedom in the Office of the Secretary of State” and include “mandatory training on religious freedom for all Foreign Service officers.”
More here
Press Release: Ocean City Police Investigating Fatal Collision
The preliminary investigation revealed that an allied law enforcement agency attempted to stop the motorcycle for a traffic violation minutes before the collision. The motorcycle fled from the officer, at which time the officer did not pursue the vehicle and lost site of the driver.
Moments later, at approximately 12:08 p.m., the motorcycle crashed into a Ford F-350 pickup truck. The driver of the motorcycle was deceased upon arrival of first responders. The driver of the pickup truck was not injured.
At the time of this release, Ocean City’s Traffic Safety Unit, Patrol Division and Criminal Investigation Division were on the scene of the crash. The investigation is ongoing.
Photo Release: Carozza’s Bomb Threat Prosecution Bill Signed into Law
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jimmy Williams, (410) 841-3356
Photo Release: Carozza’s Bomb Threat Prosecution Bill Signed into Law
ANNAPOLIS – Delegate Mary Beth Carozza’s (District 38C) bomb threat prosecution bill, HB 121, was signed into law today by Governor Larry Hogan.
This new law, which goes into effect on October 1, 2016, will allow law enforcement to prosecute the crime of making a false bomb threat in the jurisdiction in which the destructive device or toxic material was stated or rumored to be located, regardless of where the call originated or was received. Carozza introduced this legislation on the heels of repeated false bomb threats against schools and other public facilities on the Eastern Shore and across Maryland earlier this year.
Delegate Mary Beth Carozza in the House of Delegates Chamber in the Maryland State House with representatives from Wicomico County who came to Annapolis for the signing of House Bill 121. From left to right are: Humza Yahya, a graduate of Wicomico County Schools, Wicomico County Superintendent Dr. John Fredericksen, parent Farah Yahya, Delegate Carozza, Wicomico County State’s Attorney Matt Maciarello, student Johnathan Maciarello, and Wicomico County Supervisor of Safe Schools Andrew Turner.
Sen. Reid Ducks Question on Transgenders Using Capitol Bathrooms
(CNSNews.com) - Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) says the Obama administration's "guidance" requiring public schools to allow transgender students use the restroom of their choice "is not some new theory that they came up with."
Reid told a news conference on Tuesday that the guidance is "long-established law, and we should follow the law here and every place else."
At the same time, Reid refused to say whether restrooms on Capitol Hill should follow the same guidance given to public schools.
A reporter asked Reid if he agrees that the administration's directive to schools should be applied to the "Capitol at large," including Senate and House office buildings.
"I got your question," Reid interrupted. "Here's -- here's my -- here's how I feel about this..
More
Reid told a news conference on Tuesday that the guidance is "long-established law, and we should follow the law here and every place else."
At the same time, Reid refused to say whether restrooms on Capitol Hill should follow the same guidance given to public schools.
A reporter asked Reid if he agrees that the administration's directive to schools should be applied to the "Capitol at large," including Senate and House office buildings.
"I got your question," Reid interrupted. "Here's -- here's my -- here's how I feel about this..
More
Gowdy, Defending Sen. Cotton, Questions Ben Rhodes’ Qualifications
Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.) ripped into the administration Tuesday for criticizing Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) over his stance on Iran.
Gowdy contrasted Cotton, a U.S. Army veteran, to Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes, who is under fire over the way the White House sold the Iran nuclear deal to the American people.
Speaking during a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing at which the White House did not allow Rhodes to testify, Gowdy noted that Rhodes has a Master’s degree in creative writing.
While Cotton was serving combat tours in Afghanistan and Iraq, he said, “Ben Rhodes was navigating the mean streets of a creative writing curriculum.”
“And if you’re interested in writing haikus and sonnets and novellas, he’s probably the right guy,” Gowdy continued. “On the other hand, if you’re advising the leader of the free world on foreign policy matters, I don’t know how a haiku helps.”
Gowdy said he would like to have been able to ask Rhodes “how his background prepared him to sell the Iranian deal, yet Tommy Cotton’s background did not prepare him to criticize the Iranian deal.”
“That would have been an interesting dichotomy for me.”
More here
Gowdy contrasted Cotton, a U.S. Army veteran, to Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes, who is under fire over the way the White House sold the Iran nuclear deal to the American people.
Speaking during a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing at which the White House did not allow Rhodes to testify, Gowdy noted that Rhodes has a Master’s degree in creative writing.
While Cotton was serving combat tours in Afghanistan and Iraq, he said, “Ben Rhodes was navigating the mean streets of a creative writing curriculum.”
“And if you’re interested in writing haikus and sonnets and novellas, he’s probably the right guy,” Gowdy continued. “On the other hand, if you’re advising the leader of the free world on foreign policy matters, I don’t know how a haiku helps.”
Gowdy said he would like to have been able to ask Rhodes “how his background prepared him to sell the Iranian deal, yet Tommy Cotton’s background did not prepare him to criticize the Iranian deal.”
“That would have been an interesting dichotomy for me.”
More here
Subject: Ted Cruz: Ignore Obama's Opinion on Gender Identity
Sen. Ted Cruz says parents and schools should not pay attention to President Barack Obama's edict that transgender students be able to use the bathrooms and locker rooms of their preferred sex.
"America has woken up to yet another example of President Barack Obama doing through executive fiat what he cannot get done through our democratic process. Today, he decreed that schools across the country must allow men and boys to use the restrooms, locker rooms, and shower facilities previously reserved for girls," Cruz said in a Friday statement posted on his website.
"Not only is this decree contrary to law, but it makes no sense. There is a reason that we give girls access to their own changing rooms: It is for their privacy, safety, and security.
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"America has woken up to yet another example of President Barack Obama doing through executive fiat what he cannot get done through our democratic process. Today, he decreed that schools across the country must allow men and boys to use the restrooms, locker rooms, and shower facilities previously reserved for girls," Cruz said in a Friday statement posted on his website.
"Not only is this decree contrary to law, but it makes no sense. There is a reason that we give girls access to their own changing rooms: It is for their privacy, safety, and security.
More
Did Administration Lie About Sending Gitmo Detainees to Countries That Could Handle Them?
(CNSNews.com) – House Foreign Affairs Chairman Ed Royce on Tuesday questioned the truth of administration assertions that Guantanamo Bay detainees have never been knowingly transferred to countries not equipped to minimize the risk that they’ll return to terrorism.
In letters to Secretary of State John Kerry and Defense Secretary Ashton Carter, Royce (R-Calif.) cited recent testimony by two key officials, saying it appeared to conflict with classified reports submitted to Congress in line with U.S. law.
Special envoys for Guantanamo closure Paul Lewis (Defense Department) and Lee Wolosky (State Department) were asked during a March 23 committee hearing whether a Guantanamo detainee had ever knowingly been sent “to a country that did not exhibit the ability to substantially mitigate the risk [of recidivism] by maintaining control of that individual.”
Lewis replied “no” and Wolosky said that, while he could not speak for the previous administration, he was unaware of any such case.
But Royce said their replies do not comport with information in classified reports submitted by the Pentagon to Congress in May 2013, July 2014 and August 2015.
More
In letters to Secretary of State John Kerry and Defense Secretary Ashton Carter, Royce (R-Calif.) cited recent testimony by two key officials, saying it appeared to conflict with classified reports submitted to Congress in line with U.S. law.
Special envoys for Guantanamo closure Paul Lewis (Defense Department) and Lee Wolosky (State Department) were asked during a March 23 committee hearing whether a Guantanamo detainee had ever knowingly been sent “to a country that did not exhibit the ability to substantially mitigate the risk [of recidivism] by maintaining control of that individual.”
Lewis replied “no” and Wolosky said that, while he could not speak for the previous administration, he was unaware of any such case.
But Royce said their replies do not comport with information in classified reports submitted by the Pentagon to Congress in May 2013, July 2014 and August 2015.
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Judge dismisses fine against New Jersey homeowner who flew Trump flags
A New Jersey man who faced a fine for flying flags outside his home supporting Donald Trump had his charges dropped by a judge Wednesday.
Joseph Hornick was ticketed in March for violating a West Long Branch ordinance that restricts the display of political signs until 30 days before an election. New Jersey’s primary is set for June 7.
He was ticketed March 25 after a resident who is a former Democratic councilman called police and questioned why his complaints about the flags to the municipal code enforcement officer had not resulted in a citation, NJ.com reported, citing a police report.
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Joseph Hornick was ticketed in March for violating a West Long Branch ordinance that restricts the display of political signs until 30 days before an election. New Jersey’s primary is set for June 7.
He was ticketed March 25 after a resident who is a former Democratic councilman called police and questioned why his complaints about the flags to the municipal code enforcement officer had not resulted in a citation, NJ.com reported, citing a police report.
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Oregon man hurt in crane jump at Maryland construction site
WHITE MARSH, Md. (AP) — Maryland authorities say an Oregon man was injured after he jumped from a construction site crane and his parachute failed to fully deploy.
Baltimore County police said in a statement Wednesday that police and fire personnel were called Monday to a construction site in White Marsh for a report of an injured person and found 33-year-old David Mazik of King City, Oregon.
Police say Mazik, who worked for the construction company, had two cameras on his helmet when he jumped from a 160-foot crane, but his parachute didn’t fully deploy. He landed on a steel box and was injured.
Mazik was taken to Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center. Officials say he is in fair condition. Police say the crane is at the construction site of an iFLY Indoor Skydiving facility.
Source
Baltimore County police said in a statement Wednesday that police and fire personnel were called Monday to a construction site in White Marsh for a report of an injured person and found 33-year-old David Mazik of King City, Oregon.
Police say Mazik, who worked for the construction company, had two cameras on his helmet when he jumped from a 160-foot crane, but his parachute didn’t fully deploy. He landed on a steel box and was injured.
Mazik was taken to Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center. Officials say he is in fair condition. Police say the crane is at the construction site of an iFLY Indoor Skydiving facility.
Source
'60 Minutes' correspondent Morley Safer dead at 84
“60 Minutes” correspondent Morley Safer, who retired just a week ago after 52 years at CBS, has died, the network announced on Thursday. He was 84.
"60 Minutes" said goodbye to Safer on Sunday, honoring the newsman who was a fixture at the CBS newsmagazine.
The tribute marked the close of a decades-long career for Safer, who, according to the program, had the longest-ever run on prime-time television.
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"60 Minutes" said goodbye to Safer on Sunday, honoring the newsman who was a fixture at the CBS newsmagazine.
The tribute marked the close of a decades-long career for Safer, who, according to the program, had the longest-ever run on prime-time television.
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Feds: Pa Teenager tweeted names, addresses of service members
Jalil Ibn Ameer Aziz, 19, of Harrisburg, was charged with solicitation to commit a crime of violence and transmitting a communication containing a threat to injure.
Prosecutors allege he tweeted the names, addresses, photographs and military branches of about 100 service members with statements such as “kill them in their own lands, behead them in their own homes, stab them to death as they walk their street thinking that they are safe” and “Identities of Military personnel that bombed Muslims. Find them, Kill them!”
Assistant federal public defender Thomas Thornton said the charges involve “a 19-year-old kid tweeting and retweeting” from his bedroom. He also said the conduct alleged was before his client’s arrest last year.
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OPA and BEACON terminate contract
The OPA and Salisbury University group BEACON have terminated a contract between the two for services that involved the development of a new comprehensive plan.
In 2015, the OPA board voted 5-1 to hire the Business, Economic, and Community Outreach Network for that purpose, at a cost of $33,000.
BEACON Director Dr. Memo Diriker at the time said a grant would cover half that cost. The balance was to be split into two payments of $8,250.
Diriker was apparently paid $8,250 before the termination, which happened during a closed meeting two weeks ago, and was approved by a unanimous vote of the directors.
The relationship between SU and BEACON seemed to sour following a meeting in March of this year, when, possibly because of scheduling confusion, Diriker did not show up. Members of the Pines Comprehensive Planning Committee who then tried to run the meeting – essentially providing an update on their work on the survey – seemed ill prepared to do so.
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In 2015, the OPA board voted 5-1 to hire the Business, Economic, and Community Outreach Network for that purpose, at a cost of $33,000.
BEACON Director Dr. Memo Diriker at the time said a grant would cover half that cost. The balance was to be split into two payments of $8,250.
Diriker was apparently paid $8,250 before the termination, which happened during a closed meeting two weeks ago, and was approved by a unanimous vote of the directors.
The relationship between SU and BEACON seemed to sour following a meeting in March of this year, when, possibly because of scheduling confusion, Diriker did not show up. Members of the Pines Comprehensive Planning Committee who then tried to run the meeting – essentially providing an update on their work on the survey – seemed ill prepared to do so.
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BREAKING: Fatal Motorcycle Accident In Ocean City
Fatal Accident In Ocean City
A fatal accident involving a pickup truck and a motorcycle took place this afternoon Police and fire units are on the scene. The pickup truck is pictured at 28th Street. According to witnesses, the motorcycle was traveling at a high rate of speed north on Coastal Highway when it was struck by the pickup. Photo by Fish in OC
Woman discovers man in changing room; what happens next is UNREAL
A woman in Texas was shopping at her local Ross department store when she said the store manager allowed a man into the women’s dressing room,according to CBS DFW.
“I was in the dressing room, when we heard a man’s voice,” said Lisa Stickles, who says she quickly told a manager.
“She went inside the dressing room, came right back out and called me to the side and told me… he was representing himself as a woman today,” Stickles said.
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Press Release: Wicomico County Retirees Insurance Change
Salisbury, MD… On August 31, 2016, the County will replace CareFirst Blue Cross BlueShield’s Medicare Complementary Plan with UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company’s AARP Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan F and the AARP MedicareRX Preferred Plan.
Wicomico County Executive Bob Culver has announced that by changing the insurance provider for retiree benefits, the County will realize approximately $364,000 in insurance premium savings in the upcoming year. Along with the County’s savings each retiree’s cost will be reduced roughly $30-$50 per month also.
We are working with UnitedHealthcare to make this transition as smooth as possible for our retirees. An open enrollment meeting for all retirees is scheduled for Tuesday, June 14, 2016 at 10:00 AM in the Midway Room at the Wicomico County Civic Center. Licensed insurance agents will be present to answer any questions retirees may have about the insurance plan options. Enrollment needs to be accomplished by August 31, 2016. When the enrollment kits are received, retirees are encouraged to enroll by mail, telephone or internet.
Those insured by AARP Plan have reported a satisfaction rate of 96%. The County is convinced that its retirees will receive the exceptional medical coverage that they are deserving for their dedication as a county employee.
For more information, contact the Director of Human Resources at 410-334-3105.
Despite $10B 'Fix,' Veterans Are Waiting Even Longer To See Doctors
Many veterans are still waiting to see a doctor.
Two years ago, vets were waiting a long time for care at Veterans Affairs clinics across the country. At one facility in Phoenix, for example, veterans waited an average of 115 days for an appointment. Adding insult to injury, some VA schedulers were told tofalsify data to make it look like the waits weren't that bad.
The whole scandal ended up forcing the resignation of Eric Shinseki, secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs at the time.
Congress and the VA came up with a fix: Veterans Choice, a $10 billion program that was supposed to give veterans a card that would let them see a non-VA doctor if they were more than 40 miles away from a VA facility or they were going to have to wait longer than 30 days for a VA provider to see them.
There was a problem, though. Congress gave the VA only 90 days to set up the system. Facing that extremely tight time frame, the VA turned to two private companies to administer the program and help veterans get an appointment with a doctor and then work with the VA to pay that doctor.
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Two years ago, vets were waiting a long time for care at Veterans Affairs clinics across the country. At one facility in Phoenix, for example, veterans waited an average of 115 days for an appointment. Adding insult to injury, some VA schedulers were told tofalsify data to make it look like the waits weren't that bad.
The whole scandal ended up forcing the resignation of Eric Shinseki, secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs at the time.
Congress and the VA came up with a fix: Veterans Choice, a $10 billion program that was supposed to give veterans a card that would let them see a non-VA doctor if they were more than 40 miles away from a VA facility or they were going to have to wait longer than 30 days for a VA provider to see them.
There was a problem, though. Congress gave the VA only 90 days to set up the system. Facing that extremely tight time frame, the VA turned to two private companies to administer the program and help veterans get an appointment with a doctor and then work with the VA to pay that doctor.
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Older Voters To Candidates: Don't Forget About Us
Older voters might wonder this campaign season whether presidential candidates are taking them for granted. People 65 and older make up more than a fifth of the electorate, but the issues that concern them are rarely mentioned on the campaign trail.
Rudy Pavini, 81, and Tommie Ward, 84, recently spent lunchtime dancing at theSanta Clarita Valley Senior Center north of Los Angeles. It takes their minds off their worries about Social Security.
"Some people say they're gonna change it, destroy it. And I live on Social Security, so we need more," Pavini says. "We need to live. We can't survive; we'll be out in the street."
Ward lives with her niece because she says she doesn't get enough money from Social Security. "If something should happen to her, I don't know what would happen with me," she says.
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Rudy Pavini, 81, and Tommie Ward, 84, recently spent lunchtime dancing at theSanta Clarita Valley Senior Center north of Los Angeles. It takes their minds off their worries about Social Security.
"Some people say they're gonna change it, destroy it. And I live on Social Security, so we need more," Pavini says. "We need to live. We can't survive; we'll be out in the street."
Ward lives with her niece because she says she doesn't get enough money from Social Security. "If something should happen to her, I don't know what would happen with me," she says.
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Think you know your trucks?
Smugglers made over $5 billion from migrants in 2015: report
People smugglers raked in more than $5 billion during Europe’s migrant influx last year, according to a joint Interpol-Europol report, released Tuesday.
Ninety percent of migration to the EU is “predominantly facilitated by members of a criminal network,” the agencies said, with smugglers coming from more than 100 countries. About 1 million migrants reached Europe in 2015, most of whom traveled by sea between Turkey and Greece.
The report found migrants paid on average between $3,200 and $6,500, mostly in cash, giving smugglers an “average turnover of $5 to $6 billion in 2015.”
The report found no evidence of fighting — what it called “violent competition” — between smugglers, but said larger criminal networks were gradually taking over from “smaller opportunistic” groups.
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Fewer kids could receive free school meals under House bill
WASHINGTON (AP) — Fewer students would receive free and reduced-price meals at school under legislation that Republicans pushed through a House committee Wednesday.
On a vote of 20-14, the Education and Workforce Committee backed the bill, which would scale back the number of schools in which all students receive free or reduced-price meals. The measure would allow a trial period of so-called block grants for school meals in three states — meaning those states would no longer receive unlimited federal dollars for students who qualify for the free and reduced-price lunches, and states wouldn’t have to follow most federal nutrition standards.
The legislation, which the full House will consider, would also roll back some healthier school nutrition rules championed by first lady Michelle Obama. Some schools say they are too restrictive and the healthier meals are not appetizing enough to students.
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On a vote of 20-14, the Education and Workforce Committee backed the bill, which would scale back the number of schools in which all students receive free or reduced-price meals. The measure would allow a trial period of so-called block grants for school meals in three states — meaning those states would no longer receive unlimited federal dollars for students who qualify for the free and reduced-price lunches, and states wouldn’t have to follow most federal nutrition standards.
The legislation, which the full House will consider, would also roll back some healthier school nutrition rules championed by first lady Michelle Obama. Some schools say they are too restrictive and the healthier meals are not appetizing enough to students.
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Driver enters guilty plea in Montgomery Co. officer’s death
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| Rich Leotta speaks after the man who hit his son, Noah Loetta pleaded guilty Wednesday. (WTOP/Megan Cloherty) |
Luis Gustavo Reluzco’s plea was not unexpected as paperwork was filed with the court last week. In entering a guilty plea, Reluzco all but gives up his right to appeal and forgoes a trial.
“Not having to go to trial alleviates some of that pain and suffering going through all the details but the pain and suffering of losing our son doesn’t change,” said Leotta’s father Rich Leotta following the hearing.
Sitting in a green prison jumpsuit with his family behind him, Reluzco told Judge Ann Harrington he is guilty of hitting and killing Officer Leotta on Dec. 3, 2015.
“He’s had problems handling what he has done. He fully knows the gravamen of his actions,” said defense attorney John Roth.
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Truck with 15 Illegal Aliens Stopped by Barrier at Texas Navy Base
On Thursday evening, about 8 p.m., the truck loaded down beyond capacity with suspected illegal aliens drove past the initial gate at the Kingsville NAS. Kingsville is located about 125 miles north of the Texas/Mexico border in Brownsville just off Highway 77.
After they vehicle charged past the initial security point, Navy security guards initiated what is known as a “final defense barrier,” a NAS Kingsville public information officer posted on Facebook. This device is a combination of steel cables and rubberized posts that will stop, nearly instantly, a vehicle attempting to make an illegal entry. It is designed with the capability to stop a semi-trailer truck at high speed, Navy officials report.
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Former High School Coach Gets Probation In Sex Offense Case
Online court records show that the trial of 24-year-old Catherine Czapski was held Thursday in Allegany County District Court.
She pleaded not guilty to one count of fourth-degree sex offense and was granted probation before judgment after a trial. Probation before judgment is not a conviction, and Czapski can apply to have the entire matter expunged if she successfully completes one year of supervised probation.
The judge suspended a one-year jail term and a $1,000 fine.
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ILLEGAL ALIEN GANGS MAKING A COMEBACK IN NORTHERN VA
As the investigation transitions into prosecution, Alexandria Police were careful about letting out too many details on the case. However, the emerging information suggests that each of the suspects involved in the homicides were somehow connected to the international gang Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13). The homicides are the latest in a string of violent crimes throughout Northern Virginia committed by members of the gang over the last few years.
On Nov. 9, the body of Jose Luis Ferman Perez was found in Alexandria’s Beverley Park. The cause of death was stab wounds to the head and neck. Police say three suspects were involved in the murder: a 17-year-old male charged with the murder, an adult that Police Chief Earl Cook said was not much older than the other who was being held in another state awaiting extradition, and a 16-year-old female in custody to be charged as an accomplice. Because he was still being held in another state, police were unable to give the name or current location of the suspect. According to police, the two men are members of MS-13, while the girl was considered a gang associate.
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Md. Beer Company To Establish Freedom of Speech Organization With Damages From ‘Raging Bitch’ Lawsuit
The United States Court of Appeals ruled last March that the commissioners violated the company’s right to freedom of expression when they banned the sale of Raging Bitch Belgian-Style IPA in the state.
“The First Amendment affects (and makes possible) all aspects of our lives, yet is consistently being threatened by the same democratic body that established it,” Flying Dog CEO Jim Caruso said.
“It’s imperative that we continue this fight beyond the courtroom.”
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Input on Budget Sought at Board of Education Budget Hearing 5:30 p.m. Thursday, May 19
The Wicomico County Board of Education’s second public budget hearing for the fiscal year 2016-2017 General Fund Operating Budget will be held at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, May 19 in the Board of Education Auditorium, 101 Long Ave., Salisbury. Parents, students, community members and Board staff are invited to come with comments. Public input is critically important in the budget process for Wicomico County Public Schools. For information please call 410-677-4561.
Glen Ave. Road Closure Announced for Salisbury University Commencement
Salisbury, MD – The Wicomico Youth & Civic Center is scheduled to host Salisbury University’s 2016 commencement ceremonies for graduate students on Wednesday, May 18 at 6 p.m. and undergraduate students on Thursday, May 19 at 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. To protect the safety of graduates and their families, a portion of Glen Ave. in front of the WY&CC will close from 4:30 – 9 p.m. on Wednesday, May 18 and 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 19. The closed portion runs from Civic Avenue to St. Albans Drive.
New Legislation Tries To Clear Up Confusion Over “Sell By,” “Best By” & Other Expiration Dates
Stroll around your favorite supermarket and you’ll see a cornucopia of deadlines stamped and printed on your food. That carton of milk says “Sell By,” the box of mac and cheese says “Best Before,” and the jar of horseradish has a “Use By,” none of which are official or necessarily an indicator of safety or quality, resulting in millions of pounds of food being wasted every year based on sometimes arbitrary dates. New legislation coming this week in both the House and Senate hopes to clear up the confusion over the many expiration date labels you find on food.
Supreme Court: Liberals vs. Nuns- Who Won?
The Supreme Court just issued a shocking opinion that is a major victory for religious liberty. As the ACLJ's Jay Sekulow notes:
In a per curiam opinion, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ordered lower courts to help the Little Sisters of the Poor and other religious organizations work out a compromise with the Obama Administration.
This is a significant victory for religious freedom.
From the very beginning, we have been adamant that the Obama Administration’s war against faith-based organizations squarely put religious liberty at great risk. It would have been ideal for the high Court to step in today and rule on the merits of the case. But its decision to instead vacate the troubling decisions in place by sending the cases back to lower courts for resolution amounts to a significant victory for religious freedom. We’re confident that, with the guidance offered by the high Court, a solution will be found to protect the religious freedom of these organizations.
This is a major victory for the Little Sisters of the Poor. The case falls specifically within the parameters of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, a law passed in the wake of the controversial Oregon v. Smith case, meant to protect religious groups burdened by government regulations that violate their precepts. RFRA imposes a test for deciding whether or not a law burdens religious freedom. The law states that the government may only burden religious freedom if there is 1) a compelling reason to do so and they're using the 2) least restrictive means possible to further that compelling interest.
Before Antonin Scalia's untimely death, this case was a slam dunk. Writing at The Week, Michael Brendan Dougherty explained:
In a per curiam opinion, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ordered lower courts to help the Little Sisters of the Poor and other religious organizations work out a compromise with the Obama Administration.
This is a significant victory for religious freedom.
From the very beginning, we have been adamant that the Obama Administration’s war against faith-based organizations squarely put religious liberty at great risk. It would have been ideal for the high Court to step in today and rule on the merits of the case. But its decision to instead vacate the troubling decisions in place by sending the cases back to lower courts for resolution amounts to a significant victory for religious freedom. We’re confident that, with the guidance offered by the high Court, a solution will be found to protect the religious freedom of these organizations.
This is a major victory for the Little Sisters of the Poor. The case falls specifically within the parameters of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, a law passed in the wake of the controversial Oregon v. Smith case, meant to protect religious groups burdened by government regulations that violate their precepts. RFRA imposes a test for deciding whether or not a law burdens religious freedom. The law states that the government may only burden religious freedom if there is 1) a compelling reason to do so and they're using the 2) least restrictive means possible to further that compelling interest.
Before Antonin Scalia's untimely death, this case was a slam dunk. Writing at The Week, Michael Brendan Dougherty explained:
Pop Up Store At Parker Place on the Plaza
Breaking: EgyptAir flight MS804 disappears from radar between Paris and Cairo
A further update from EgyptAir:
It confirms that 56 passengers were on board, including one child and two babies
It says the captain has 6,275 flying hours, including 2,101 on the A320; the copilot has 2,766.
The plane was manufactured in 2003.
Specialist teams and the Egyptian armed forces are still searching for the plane.
Egypt air is following the situation closely with the relevant authorities through the integrated operations centre.
The company also provides free contact numbers: 0800 7777 0000 from any landline in Egypt and + 202 2598 9320 outside Egypt or any mobile in Egypt.
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Wicomico Recreation’s Free Youth Fishing Derby is back on June 4
Salisbury, MD – The water at the Salisbury City Park will be packed with fish for children to catch during Wicomico Recreation’s Annual Free Youth Fishing Derby.
This year’s Fishing Derby is set for Saturday, June 4, at the Salisbury City Park. Registration opens at 8 a.m., with fishing from 9-11 a.m. Food and drinks will be provided for youth participants after that, and there will also be trophies awarded. Among the categories children can compete in are Most Fish Caught, Most Unusual Catch and Biggest Fish.
The Fishing Derby is for boys and girls age 15 and younger, and participants should bring their own bait and rods. The Department of Natural Resources will be adding about 500 blue gills to the pond’s catfish, largemouth bass, perch and carp.
For more information, visit www.WicomicoRecandParks.org or contact Allen Swiger at 410-548-4900 x108 or aswiger@wicomicocounty.org.
This year’s Fishing Derby is set for Saturday, June 4, at the Salisbury City Park. Registration opens at 8 a.m., with fishing from 9-11 a.m. Food and drinks will be provided for youth participants after that, and there will also be trophies awarded. Among the categories children can compete in are Most Fish Caught, Most Unusual Catch and Biggest Fish.
The Fishing Derby is for boys and girls age 15 and younger, and participants should bring their own bait and rods. The Department of Natural Resources will be adding about 500 blue gills to the pond’s catfish, largemouth bass, perch and carp.
For more information, visit www.WicomicoRecandParks.org or contact Allen Swiger at 410-548-4900 x108 or aswiger@wicomicocounty.org.
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