DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Monday, June 12, 2017
Congressman: Trump Fired Comey, Now Do The Same To Koskinen
Congressman Ron DeSantis from Florida says in an exclusive interview with The Daily Caller News Foundation that the FBI has a “fresh start” following James Comey’s firing, and now it’s time President Donald Trump clean out the IRS, starting with Commissioner John Koskinen.
In this wide-ranging video interview, he spoke with passion, authority and principle on issues ranging from media bias, the IRS, James Comey’s testimony, terrorism, the Paris Treaty and Obamacare. A graduate of Harvard Law School and decorated veteran, DeSantis was elected to the House in 2012, ran for the Senate in Florida until Sen. Marco Rubio re-entered that race, and is now considering running for governor.
“Mr. President, you removed James Comey and we now have a fresh start at the FBI. Do the same at the IRS,” he says.
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In this wide-ranging video interview, he spoke with passion, authority and principle on issues ranging from media bias, the IRS, James Comey’s testimony, terrorism, the Paris Treaty and Obamacare. A graduate of Harvard Law School and decorated veteran, DeSantis was elected to the House in 2012, ran for the Senate in Florida until Sen. Marco Rubio re-entered that race, and is now considering running for governor.
“Mr. President, you removed James Comey and we now have a fresh start at the FBI. Do the same at the IRS,” he says.
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Touch Trucks in America’s Coolest Small Town
Touch Trucks in America’s Coolest Small Town,
Children of all ages get to see, touch and explore their favorite truck or vehicle
Children of all ages get to see, touch and explore their favorite truck or vehicle
Berlin’s Touch A Truck event will held on Saturday, June 17th from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m. in Berlin’s Stephen Decatur Park on Tripoli Street.
Several Town Departments are joining together to hold the free event, which includes a police vehicle, bucket truck, digger derrick, vacuum truck, camera truck and garbage truck, along with a fire rescue squad vehicle and ladder truck. This year the Maryland State Troopers and Perdue Farms will be joining the event. In addition to getting a chance to touch their favorite truck, people attending the event will see employees from the Town using the equipment.
“We’ll be demonstrating how to set an electric pole and using our ‘Power Town’ display to show everyone how to be safe around electricity,” added Electric Utility Director Tim Lawrence. “We are handing out free information and activities books for children ages 6 to 12, available on a first come first served basis.”
“In addition to seeing the equipment in action, we’ll show how Police Officers use trained dogs in searches,” stated Town Administrator Laura Allen.
Hamburgers, hotdogs and ice cream will be available for sale throughout the event.
Trump: "Cowardly Comey" Leaks "Far More Prevalent Than Anyone Ever Thought Possible"
After waking up on Sunday, Trump didn't waste much time before taking to his favorite social network, where in a series of tweets, he first took credit for the latest Dow Jones record high, while praising the record "business and economic enthusiasm", slamming "obstructionist" Democrats who "have no message, not on economics, not on taxes, not on jobs, not on failing #Obamacare", and lashing out at "cowardly" Comey’s “leaks” will be “far more prevalent than anyone ever thought possible.”
"I believe the James Comey leaks will be far more prevalent than anyone ever thought possible. Totally illegal? Very 'cowardly!',Trump said in a Tweet at 8:30am on Sunday.
... suggesting that Comey's admission that he leaked information to the NYT is just the tip of the iceberg.
Trump's tweet was his latest response to Comey's testimony to the Senate Intelligence Committee where as a reminder the former FBI director said he leaked notes of his conversations with the president to the NYT through a friend in the hopes it would lead to the appointment of a special prosecutor. Comey said his decision was prompted by Trump’s suggestion, made on Twitter three days after his firing, that he may have secret recordings of their conversations, something Trump made a cryptic refernce to during a Friday press conference when he refused to address the subject but said the media would be "disappointed" with the outcome.
“My judgment was, I need to get that out into the public square,” Comey told the intelligence panel. “I asked a friend of mine to share the content of the memo with a reporter. Didn't do it myself for a variety of reasons. I asked him to because I thought that might prompt the appointment of a special counsel.”
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"I believe the James Comey leaks will be far more prevalent than anyone ever thought possible. Totally illegal? Very 'cowardly!',Trump said in a Tweet at 8:30am on Sunday.
Trump's tweet was his latest response to Comey's testimony to the Senate Intelligence Committee where as a reminder the former FBI director said he leaked notes of his conversations with the president to the NYT through a friend in the hopes it would lead to the appointment of a special prosecutor. Comey said his decision was prompted by Trump’s suggestion, made on Twitter three days after his firing, that he may have secret recordings of their conversations, something Trump made a cryptic refernce to during a Friday press conference when he refused to address the subject but said the media would be "disappointed" with the outcome.
“My judgment was, I need to get that out into the public square,” Comey told the intelligence panel. “I asked a friend of mine to share the content of the memo with a reporter. Didn't do it myself for a variety of reasons. I asked him to because I thought that might prompt the appointment of a special counsel.”
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Engineering without a License
Mats Jarlston is an engineer — but not according to Oregon.
Beginning this week, Washington hopes that infrastructure, which is a product of civil engineering, will be much discussed. But if you find yourself in Oregon, keep your opinions to yourself, lest you get fined $500 for practicing engineering without a license. This happened to Mats Jarlstrom as a result of events that would be comic if they were not symptoms of something sinister.
Jarlstrom’s troubles began when his wife got a $150 red-light-camera ticket. He became interested in the timing of traffic lights and decided there was something wrong with the formula used in Oregon and elsewhere to time how long traffic lights stay yellow as they transition from green to red. He began thinking, Googling, corresponding, and — here he made his big mistake — talking about this subject. He has ignored repeated demands by the Oregon State Board of Examiners for Engineering and Land Surveying that he pipe down. So the board considers him to be, like Jesse James, Al Capone, and John Dillinger, a dangerous recidivist.
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Delta and Bank of America abandon Trump-like 'Julius Caesar'
Delta Air Lines (DAL) and Bank of America (BAC) pulled their support following criticism on social media. The play has come under fire from Fox News and one of Trump's sons.
"No matter what your political stance may be, the graphic staging of 'Julius Caesar' at this summer's Free Shakespeare in the Park does not reflect Delta Air Lines' values," the airline said in a tweeted statement. "Their artistic and creative direction crossed the line on the standards of good taste. We have notified them of our decision to end our sponsorship as the official airline of The Public Theater effective immediately."
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This is why American tourists don’t want to travel to Cuba
A flash of excitement about travel to Cuba after the country opened its borders to the U.S. in 2016 for the first time in decades may have lost some of its shine.
Americans are less interested in travel to Cuba this year than they were in 2016, a survey from insurance provider Allianz Global Assistance found. Some 76% of the 1,514 respondents said they were not likely to plan a trip to Cuba in 2017 compared to 70% in 2016. Only 2% of those surveyed planned to visit Cuba in the next six months or by the end of 2017, the same as 2016 despite a projected increase in travelers from the country’s ministry of tourism. It also found that 60% of Americans said “would not like to travel to Cuba” compared to just 58% in 2016.
Although some of these shifts may be expected after the initial flurry of interest, flight trends also suggest demand is lower than initially expected, said Brian Sumers, an airline analyst at travel site Skift. “When the country opened up, just about every U.S. airline was obsessed with getting as many routes into Havana as it possibly could — they thought it was going to be a gravy train,” he said. “Now, as I understand it, a lot of the flights are empty.”
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Americans are less interested in travel to Cuba this year than they were in 2016, a survey from insurance provider Allianz Global Assistance found. Some 76% of the 1,514 respondents said they were not likely to plan a trip to Cuba in 2017 compared to 70% in 2016. Only 2% of those surveyed planned to visit Cuba in the next six months or by the end of 2017, the same as 2016 despite a projected increase in travelers from the country’s ministry of tourism. It also found that 60% of Americans said “would not like to travel to Cuba” compared to just 58% in 2016.
Although some of these shifts may be expected after the initial flurry of interest, flight trends also suggest demand is lower than initially expected, said Brian Sumers, an airline analyst at travel site Skift. “When the country opened up, just about every U.S. airline was obsessed with getting as many routes into Havana as it possibly could — they thought it was going to be a gravy train,” he said. “Now, as I understand it, a lot of the flights are empty.”
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ICE Newark arrests 113 criminal targets in 5-day enforcement surge
NEWARK — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Newark Field Office arrested 113 criminal targets during an operation Jun. 5-9, as part of the agency’s ongoing public safety and national security efforts. The operation was supported by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s New Jersey Field Office, the New Jersey State Parole Office, and ICE Homeland Security Investigations.
All of the targets in this operation were criminal in nature. 93% of those that were arrested were convicted criminals and 87% of them had prior felony convictions.
“The continued results of our Fugitive Operations officers and their law enforcement partners underscore ICE’s ongoing and steady commitment to public safety,” said John Tsoukaris, field office director of ERO Newark. “As part of this operation, we continue focus on the arrest of individuals who are criminal and are a threat to public safety and national security. Because of the tireless efforts of these professional officers, there are 113 fewer criminals in our communities,” he added.
“U.S. Customs and Border Protection is extremely proud to have assisted in this operation,” said Leon Hayward, Acting Director New York Field Office. “It is through collaborative efforts, such as the one leading to today’s arrests, that law enforcement agencies can combat illegal acts and apprehend criminals who pose a threat to the Homeland.”
Trump slogans photoshopped out of high school yearbook
Wall Township HS junior Grant Berardo with the Trump shirt he wore for his class photo and the photoshopped version he saw when he received his yearbook this week.
Fake photos!
Parents at a New Jersey high school are outraged that their kids’ yearbook photos were Photoshopped to remove pro-Trump slogans on their clothing.
One student at Wall HS had the “TRUMP Make America Great Again” motto deleted from his T-shirt, while a junior classmate had his fleece “Trump” vest sanitized. A third student, the freshman class president, was stunned to see that her selected quote — a Trump utterance — never made it to print.
“I want all the yearbooks reissued. Everybody gets a brand-new yearbook,” fumed Joseph Berardo, whose 17-year-old son, Grant, donned the Trump T-shirt on picture day last fall.
“And I want a letter from the administration explaining why the yearbooks are being reissued, and it should be used as a teaching moment related to the First Amendment in civil discourse,” the father added.
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Ocean City actively tracking online rentals
While the lodging industry is waiting for the resurrection of legislation regulating online short-term rentals, Ocean City officials are keeping an eye on listings.
To operate a short-term rental through an online company, such as Airbnb, FlipKey, VRBO and OneFineStay, Ocean City property owners are required to get a business license. That way, city government staff can ensure that the resort is getting its cut of room tax.
Realtors also provide paperwork for the license when they close a deal in the resort, should the owner wants to rent the property. As for those properties that are unregistered, License Inspector Mike Sherman is searching the websites to find them.
It’s a tedious task, as Airbnb has roughly 300 listings in Ocean City alone. Complicating matters is the need to weed out legitimate businesses from those trying to fly under the radar.
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To operate a short-term rental through an online company, such as Airbnb, FlipKey, VRBO and OneFineStay, Ocean City property owners are required to get a business license. That way, city government staff can ensure that the resort is getting its cut of room tax.
Realtors also provide paperwork for the license when they close a deal in the resort, should the owner wants to rent the property. As for those properties that are unregistered, License Inspector Mike Sherman is searching the websites to find them.
It’s a tedious task, as Airbnb has roughly 300 listings in Ocean City alone. Complicating matters is the need to weed out legitimate businesses from those trying to fly under the radar.
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Restaurant Sales, Traffic Tumble: "The Industry Hasn't Reported A Positive Month Since February 2016"
There appeared to be a glimmer of hope for the restaurant industry last month, when despite ongoing negative restaurant sales and traffic performance in April, BlackBox Intelligence Executive Director, Victor Fernandez said that "there are some reasons to be cautiously optimistic about the second quarter, at least in terms of improvement over what we’ve seen in the recent past" adding that "the move of the Easter holiday meant that April’s results were likely softer than they would have been without this shift, meaning spending in restaurants was probably a little stronger than the numbers show."
Alas, any trace of optimism was doused with the latest BlackBox snapshot report (based on weekly sales data from over 27,000 restaurant units, and 155 brands representing $67 billion dollars in annual revenue) which found that May was another disappointing month for chain restaurants by virtually all measures.
Same-store sales were down -1.1%, which represents a 0.1% decline from April. At the same time, same-store traffic "growth" also dropped by -3.0% in May, down 3.2% on a rolling 3 month basis. Although traffic results improved from prior month, the growth in check average was lower than it has been in recent months, causing the fall in sales growth vs. March and April.
More concerning is that the restaurant industry has not reported a month of positive sales since February of 2016, according to BlackBox.
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Alas, any trace of optimism was doused with the latest BlackBox snapshot report (based on weekly sales data from over 27,000 restaurant units, and 155 brands representing $67 billion dollars in annual revenue) which found that May was another disappointing month for chain restaurants by virtually all measures.
Same-store sales were down -1.1%, which represents a 0.1% decline from April. At the same time, same-store traffic "growth" also dropped by -3.0% in May, down 3.2% on a rolling 3 month basis. Although traffic results improved from prior month, the growth in check average was lower than it has been in recent months, causing the fall in sales growth vs. March and April.
More concerning is that the restaurant industry has not reported a month of positive sales since February of 2016, according to BlackBox.
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Parasite Kills About 80 Ducks In Lincoln Memorial Pool
BALTIMORE (WJZ)– There has a problem lurking in the water at the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool.
The National Park Service says during a two-day period last month, approximately 80 ducks were found dead in the pool.
The problem is a water borne parasite that was found in the snails that live in the pool.
This weekend, the Park Service will be draining out the water.
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NASA PREPARES ARTIFICIAL CLOUD DISPLAY
Tonight, June 12th, between 9:04 to 9:19 p.m. Eastern Time, NASA plans to launch a sounding rocket from Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.
About 100 miles above Earth's surface, the payload will release a network of red and blue-green vapors. Tracking the motions of the colorful gases will help researchers study the dynamics of Earth's ionosphere. The vapor tracers may be visible from New York to North Carolina and westward to Charlottesville, Virginia.
(spaceweather.com)
About 100 miles above Earth's surface, the payload will release a network of red and blue-green vapors. Tracking the motions of the colorful gases will help researchers study the dynamics of Earth's ionosphere. The vapor tracers may be visible from New York to North Carolina and westward to Charlottesville, Virginia.
(spaceweather.com)
Large Anti-Sharia Rallies at San Bernardino Terror Site, LAX
On Saturday, hundreds gathered to protest against Islam’s sharia law at the site of the December 2015 terror attack in San Bernardino, California, and elsewhere throughout the state.
Protest rallies sponsored by ACT for America — Bridgette Gabriel’s anti-jihadist group — were held nationwide.
As the Los Angeles Times noted, a diverse group of over 500 demonstrators gathered at the Inland Regional Center in San Bernardino to protest what they described as the spread of sharia law in the United States.
They were met by smaller groups of counter-demonstrators, many from so-called “Antifa” groups. San Bernardino Police Officers handled security without any major incidents, except a few scuffles on the Anitfa side.
The San Bernardino protest was organized by Latinos for Trump co-founders Marco Gutierrez and Denise Ruiz.
Marco, who grew up in Mexico, became a US citizen in 2003, married his high school sweetheart in California, and founded Latinos For Trump in 2016.
Gutierrez told Breitbart News, “We’re here to defend our country, because our way of life is threatened now.
“It’s the totalitarian idea that you’ll do this or else — reminds me of the fight in Mexico between the Catholics and the Masons –so we have some experience with this kind of tyranny.”
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Protest rallies sponsored by ACT for America — Bridgette Gabriel’s anti-jihadist group — were held nationwide.
As the Los Angeles Times noted, a diverse group of over 500 demonstrators gathered at the Inland Regional Center in San Bernardino to protest what they described as the spread of sharia law in the United States.
They were met by smaller groups of counter-demonstrators, many from so-called “Antifa” groups. San Bernardino Police Officers handled security without any major incidents, except a few scuffles on the Anitfa side.
The San Bernardino protest was organized by Latinos for Trump co-founders Marco Gutierrez and Denise Ruiz.
Marco, who grew up in Mexico, became a US citizen in 2003, married his high school sweetheart in California, and founded Latinos For Trump in 2016.
Gutierrez told Breitbart News, “We’re here to defend our country, because our way of life is threatened now.
“It’s the totalitarian idea that you’ll do this or else — reminds me of the fight in Mexico between the Catholics and the Masons –so we have some experience with this kind of tyranny.”
More
Feds: Michigan man was trained bomb maker for terror group
Samer el Debek, 37, of Dearborn, and Ali Kourani, 32, of the Bronx, N.Y., were arrested a week ago and charged with training and working on behalf of Hezbollah, a U.S.-designated terrorist organization based in Lebanon.
"FBI bomb technicians have assessed that el Debek received extensive training as a bomb-maker," the Justice Department stated.
The charges were unsealed in Manhattan federal court Thursday, one week after federal agents raided a Dearborn home in what they described as an operation involving national security.
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Accident At Sixty Foot and Route 50
UPDATE: Accident is at Route 50 and Main Street Ext in the Eastbound lanes
Luis Gutierrez Whines: Breitbart News Coverage of Illegal Immigrants, Muslim Refugees Too Harsh
“Breitbart and Fox News didn’t invent their opinions on Mexicans and Central Americans or Muslims,” he claimed the day after the London Bridge terror attacks. “They’re just recycling them.”
He told Cambridge College’s graduates, “I say lift the Muslim ban and tell the Supreme Court to say it’s unconstitutional and un-American.”
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Suspect Arrested As More Are Sought In Salisbury Murder
The suspect is identified as Ryan C. Holden, 20, of Salisbury, Md. After consultation with the Wicomico County State’s Attorney’s Office, Holden was charged with first degree murder, second degree murder, first degree assault, and use of a firearm in the commission of a violent crime. He is currently being held in the Wicomico County Detention Center.
Holden is charged in connection with the murder of Anthony Cropper, 57, of Salisbury, Md. Cropper was shot just after 1:00 a.m. on June 10th, after he answered a knock at the door of a friend’s home and exchanged words with several individuals.
Maryland State Police Homicide Unit investigators, assisted by the State Police Criminal Enforcement Division and the Salisbury Police Department Criminal Investigation Division, conducted numerous interviews and developed evidence and information that led to the identification of Holden as a suspect. After a review of evidence by the Wicomico County State’s Attorney’s Office, State Police homicide investigators applied for and obtained an arrest warrant for Holden.
Holden was arrested by members of the Maryland State Apprehension Team at this residence at about 9:00 p.m. on June 10th. He was arrested without incident.
Evidence and information indicate others were involved in this homicide. State Police investigators continue to urge anyone with information about those involved in Cropper’s murder to contact police immediately at either the State Police Salisbury Barrack at 410-749-3101, or the Salisbury PD at 410-548-3165. Callers may remain anonymous. Information may also be provided confidentially on-line at salisburypd.com
Drunken driver who had skipped hearing gets 50 years in fatal crash
Before his first sentencing hearing on May 12, Kenneth Kelley, 27, was out on bond. When the day came to receive his punishment after pleading guilty, he was a no-show.
Kelley was supposed to have a GPS monitoring device on at the time, but for unknown reasons it either didn’t work or was removed.
He disappeared for several days before a tip led police to his location at a Suitland, Maryland, hotel.
On Friday, Kelley — dressed in an orange jumpsuit — was escorted into the courtroom by Prince George’s County Sheriff’s Office deputies.
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Tennessee Prison Hosts Program to Help Inmates Become Better Fathers
The selected inmates graduated from the Malachi Dads program at the Morgan County Correctional Complex, which teaches inmates decision-making skills and fosters personal growth so inmates can become better fathers, WBIR reported.
“I picked the streets before my family, and this program has shown me that God is first, then my family second,” inmate Darryl Wiseman said.
For the past year, Wiseman has been taking classes facilitated by volunteer mentors of the program.
The program culminates Saturday with the Returning Hearts Celebration, where the fathers reunite with their families in the prison yard and participate in carnival-like activities with them.
“I think I’m going to cry real hard first,” Wiseman said ahead of Saturday’s celebration. “I’m going to be nervous to see them because I want them to see a new side of me. They’re going to be able to see that I have that glow, that I have that light and that I’m walking for Him now, for Jesus. They’re going to see the gentler side of me.”
More here
Delaware Troopers Seek Public’s Assistance in Locating Wanted Subject From Seaford
Kaylene Lowe is wanted by troopers in connection with the burglary investigation that occurred this past May for entering a residence in the 24000 block of Jamore Drive and removing various items.
If anyone has any information in reference to Kaylene Lowe’s whereabouts, they are asked to contact Lt. M. Wheeler at 302-232-3423. Information may also be provided by calling Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333, via the internet at www.delaware.crimestoppersweb.com, or by sending an anonymous tip by text to 274637 (CRIMES) using the keyword “DSP.”
Elder Abuse: Program planned for Thursday, June 15, 2017
Special program planned on elder abuse awareness
The thought of a vulnerable older person being abused is horrifying, but it can happen anywhere and to almost anyone.
Elder abuse can occur in the home, nursing homes or other institutions – anywhere, according to the National Center on Elder Abuse.
Elder abuse knows no socio-economic, racial or cultural boundaries.
Studies show that women are more likely to be victims, the NCEA reports.
And, it is estimated that as few as one in five cases are reported.
“It can happen to anyone, at any place, at any time,” said Cheryl Senkbeil, MAC Inc.’s Ombudsman, who works to safeguard area elderly who live in nursing homes or assisted-living facilities. “It could be your loved one. It could be you.”
In observance of June 15 as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, the community is encouraged to stop by MAC to learn more about elder abuse: the types, the signs, and where to go for help.
Leading liberals develop plan to expand 'deep state' and undercut Trump
Forlorn liberals took refuge at the American Constitution Society's national convention in Washington this week, discussing whether to encourage the growth of the "deep state" resistance inside the government or fight President Trump from outside.
"The election of Donald Trump was an assault on the federal bureaucracy," William Yeomans said to a room full of students and civil servants, including those recently displaced by Trump's administration. "His values are simply not consistent with the values of people who are committed to public service and who believe deeply in the importance of public service."
Yeomans, an American University law professor with more than 25 years of experience at the Justice Department, was holed up inside the Capital Hilton hotel downtown on a sunny Friday afternoon leading a panel of bureaucrats and scholars divided about how best to fight Trump.
UCLA law professor Jon Michaels said he favors filling the Trump administration with liberals opposed to Trump's agenda.
Michaels listed his ideas for how to ensure the success of the "deep state..."
"The election of Donald Trump was an assault on the federal bureaucracy," William Yeomans said to a room full of students and civil servants, including those recently displaced by Trump's administration. "His values are simply not consistent with the values of people who are committed to public service and who believe deeply in the importance of public service."
Yeomans, an American University law professor with more than 25 years of experience at the Justice Department, was holed up inside the Capital Hilton hotel downtown on a sunny Friday afternoon leading a panel of bureaucrats and scholars divided about how best to fight Trump.
UCLA law professor Jon Michaels said he favors filling the Trump administration with liberals opposed to Trump's agenda.
Michaels listed his ideas for how to ensure the success of the "deep state..."
NOI 6/9/17 Wicomico Fence Fire Buckingham Circle
NOTICE OF INVESTIGATION
Date: June 9, 2017
Time: 9:02 p.m.
Location / Address: 735 Buckingham Circle, Salisbury, Wicomico Co.
Type of Incident: Fire
Description of Structure / Property: Wooden fence
Owner / Occupants: Christopher Krest
Injuries or Deaths: None
Estimated $ Loss: Structure: $500 Contents: $0
Smoke Alarm Status: n/a
Fire Alarm / Sprinkler Status: n/a
Arrests(s): None
Primary Responding Fire Department: Salisbury
# of Alarms: 1 # Of Firefighters: 6
Time to Control: 10 minutes
Discovered By: Neighbor
Area of Origin: Flower bed
Preliminary Cause: Accidental, careless discard of fire pit ashes into flower bed
Additional Information: The fire extended from the flower bed to the fence line causing damage in the amount of $5,000.00 to the neighboring pool equipment.
What are those workers on the Bay Bridge doing?
“It’s an older bridge, so we have to continue to maintain it,” said Maryland’s’ Deputy Secretary of Transportation Jim Ports. “It’s all regular, rehab maintenance.”
All Maryland bridges are, or will be, getting attention as part of a six-year safety and restoration plan.
On the Bay Bridge, brackets are being changed on the outsides of some trusses, suspension wire work is underway, and later there will be some painting from platforms under the bridge.
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NASA's Wallops Flight Facility Will Attemp To Launch Again Tonight
'Is Ramallah afraid of Wonder Woman?'
Gal Gadot, an Israeli actress who played supporting roles in major Hollywood pictures including Batman v Superman and The Fast and the Furious franchise, was cast for the title role in the DC Comics blockbuster, Wonder Woman.
Gadot’s role in the film has led several Arab countries, including Lebanon, Tunisia, and Algeria, to ban the film.
Following Lebanon’s lead, a movie theater in the Palestinian Authority-controlled city of Ramallah has decided not to screen the movie.
More here
Local Health Officials Offer Tips to Keep Cool in Extreme Heat
(June 12, 2017, Salisbury, MD) Our area is experiencing a period of extreme heat as temperatures are expected to be in the 90s and upper 80s the first part of this week. Health Officials in Wicomico County are reminding residents to stay cool and well hydrated. Individuals can quickly develop a heat-related illness, which can become life-threatening if not properly treated. Sweating is the body’s way to cool itself, but under some conditions, sweating isn’t enough. This can cause a person’s body temperature to rise rapidly. A very high body temperature may damage the brain or other vital organs. Infants, young children, young athletes, obese persons, those older than 65 years of age, outdoor workers, and persons with diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease or a mental illness are at high risk.
The Wicomico County Health Department offers these tips to help you stay healthy and cool:
· Stay indoors. Seek air-conditioned environments such as malls, libraries and public places.
· Schedule outdoor activities before 10:00 am and after 6:00 pm.
· Wear loose fitting, light-colored clothes.
· Take cool baths or showers.
· Minimize direct exposure to the sun; if you must be outdoors, seek shade.
· Drink plenty of fluids without sugar, caffeine, or alcohol.
· If outdoors, schedule frequent water breaks and drink 2 – 4 glasses (16 – 32 oz.) of fluid each hour.
· Eat light, cool, non-spicy, easy-to-digest foods such as fruit or salads.
· Limit the use of the stove or oven.
· Check on others such as co-workers, the elderly, and those living alone at least twice a day.
· Bring pets indoors. If they must remain outside, make sure they have shade and plenty of clean, fresh water.
For more tips on how to stay cool, visit www.cdc.gov/disasters/extremeheat.
Republicans reject White House order, sympathize with minority party on oversight requests
The White House hasn’t found support for its effort to freeze out Democrats’ oversight requests among Republicans — who remember all too well the difficulties they faced as the minority party trying to pry information from the Obama administration.
Several prominent Republican leaders have lashed out in recent days after the Trump administration reportedly directed federal agencies to ignore requests for information from Democrats and offered withering criticism of a recent legal opinion from the Justice Department that appears to give the White House legal cover to do so.
Last week, Republican leaders recounted their difficulties as the minority party in Congress in getting the Obama Justice Department to divulge facts about Fast and Furious, the botched gun-walking operation of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Sen. Chuck Grassley, the Iowa Republican who pressed for the congressional investigation into the operation, highlighted the delays he faced getting information about the case when he testified last week before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee and advocated for legislative changes to ensure that members of the executive branch “cannot rely on phony privilege claims and delay tactics” to avoid responding to congressional inquiries.
“Sometimes you are in the majority and sometimes you are in the minority, and there is a process that has to be available,” Mr. Grassley said.
Reflecting on the struggles Mr. Grassley encountered at the time, Rep. Darrell E. Issa, California Republican, likened them to the problems Democrats are facing today.
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Several prominent Republican leaders have lashed out in recent days after the Trump administration reportedly directed federal agencies to ignore requests for information from Democrats and offered withering criticism of a recent legal opinion from the Justice Department that appears to give the White House legal cover to do so.
Last week, Republican leaders recounted their difficulties as the minority party in Congress in getting the Obama Justice Department to divulge facts about Fast and Furious, the botched gun-walking operation of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Sen. Chuck Grassley, the Iowa Republican who pressed for the congressional investigation into the operation, highlighted the delays he faced getting information about the case when he testified last week before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee and advocated for legislative changes to ensure that members of the executive branch “cannot rely on phony privilege claims and delay tactics” to avoid responding to congressional inquiries.
“Sometimes you are in the majority and sometimes you are in the minority, and there is a process that has to be available,” Mr. Grassley said.
Reflecting on the struggles Mr. Grassley encountered at the time, Rep. Darrell E. Issa, California Republican, likened them to the problems Democrats are facing today.
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Lynch should testify in wake of Comey claims, Graham says
Former Attorney General Loretta Lynch should testify before the Senate, top Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham said Sunday, in the wake of fired FBI Director James Comey calling into question her handling of the Hillary Clinton email probe.
“I want to hear from Loretta Lynch,” Graham said.
The call follows Comey’s claim during a Senate committee hearing that Lynch once directed him to describe the email probe as a "matter" and not an "investigation” -- an alleged intervention Comey said made him “queasy.” He also said that directive, combined with Lynch's unusual Arizona tarmac meeting with former President Bill Clinton, led him to make his independent announcement regarding the Clinton email probe last July.
Several GOP lawmakers have shown interest in learning more about Lynch’s actions following Comey’s testimony.
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“I want to hear from Loretta Lynch,” Graham said.
The call follows Comey’s claim during a Senate committee hearing that Lynch once directed him to describe the email probe as a "matter" and not an "investigation” -- an alleged intervention Comey said made him “queasy.” He also said that directive, combined with Lynch's unusual Arizona tarmac meeting with former President Bill Clinton, led him to make his independent announcement regarding the Clinton email probe last July.
Several GOP lawmakers have shown interest in learning more about Lynch’s actions following Comey’s testimony.
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Sharia’s Incompatibility With America On Display
Islamic law based on the Koran cannot co-exist with the U.S. Constitution
Sharia law, which is taken from the Muslim holy book of the Koran as well as from the Hadith — traditions and sayings handed down from Muhammad that have become enshrined in Islam as law — is incompatible with the West, with the Constitution and with America.
Stand strong on this point, patriots, Christians and freedom lovers.
The left, Muslim advocacy groups and the secular media will label all those who oppose Sharia on human rights’ grounds as Islamophobes. But letting that devil in the gate is a point from which there is no return.
Sharia drowns freedom. And in America, it’s being pressed under a guise of First Amendment religious rights.
Be not confused.
Allowing Sharia to take religious root in this country would eventually crumble the Constitution. The two cannot co-exist.
The left and Muslim advocacy groups spin objections to Sharia as rooted in Islamophobia..
But they’re largely silent on the explanation of how America’s concepts of women’s rights — the right to walk in public without a male escort, the right to drive a car, the right to wear clothing of one’s choosing, the right to drink alcohol or smoke cigarettes and so on and so forth — can remain not only available but unpunished under a Sharia system.
More here
Sharia law, which is taken from the Muslim holy book of the Koran as well as from the Hadith — traditions and sayings handed down from Muhammad that have become enshrined in Islam as law — is incompatible with the West, with the Constitution and with America.
Stand strong on this point, patriots, Christians and freedom lovers.
The left, Muslim advocacy groups and the secular media will label all those who oppose Sharia on human rights’ grounds as Islamophobes. But letting that devil in the gate is a point from which there is no return.
Sharia drowns freedom. And in America, it’s being pressed under a guise of First Amendment religious rights.
Be not confused.
Allowing Sharia to take religious root in this country would eventually crumble the Constitution. The two cannot co-exist.
The left and Muslim advocacy groups spin objections to Sharia as rooted in Islamophobia..
But they’re largely silent on the explanation of how America’s concepts of women’s rights — the right to walk in public without a male escort, the right to drive a car, the right to wear clothing of one’s choosing, the right to drink alcohol or smoke cigarettes and so on and so forth — can remain not only available but unpunished under a Sharia system.
More here
Manchin: We Haven’t Seen Any Evidence of Collusion ‘Whatsoever’
Sen. Joe Manchin (D., W. Va.) said Sunday that he has seen no evidence of collusion "whatsoever" between the Trump campaign and Russian entities.
Manchin was interviewed by ABC's George Stephanopoulos on Sunday morning regarding former FBI director James Comey's testimony before the Senate Intelligence Committee, which Manchin sits on, which delved into the investigations into the Trump campaign and Russian entities.
Stephanopoulos asked Manchin if he felt there was collusion, which President Donald Trump has repeatedly denied..
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Manchin was interviewed by ABC's George Stephanopoulos on Sunday morning regarding former FBI director James Comey's testimony before the Senate Intelligence Committee, which Manchin sits on, which delved into the investigations into the Trump campaign and Russian entities.
Stephanopoulos asked Manchin if he felt there was collusion, which President Donald Trump has repeatedly denied..
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Feinstein: Congress needs to investigate whether Loretta Lynch covered for Clinton campaign
Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein said Sunday Congress needs to investigate whether former Attorney General Loretta Lynch gave cover to Hillary Clinton's campaign when she told former FBI Director James Comey to call the probe into Clinton's emails "a matter" instead of "an investigation."
"I think we need to know more about that," Feinstein said on CNN's "State of the Union." "And there's only one way to know about it, and that's to have the judiciary committee take a look at that."
Comey testified Thursday to Congress that Lynch's request made him feel "queasy."
Feinstein, the top Democrat on the committee, said she would have had "a queasy feeling, too."
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"I think we need to know more about that," Feinstein said on CNN's "State of the Union." "And there's only one way to know about it, and that's to have the judiciary committee take a look at that."
Comey testified Thursday to Congress that Lynch's request made him feel "queasy."
Feinstein, the top Democrat on the committee, said she would have had "a queasy feeling, too."
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Trump attorney signals a firm stance in dealing with special prosecutor
President Trump will not unconditionally cooperate with special counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s recently opened investigation into Russia’s interference in the 2016 election and any possible coordination with the Trump campaign, a defense lawyer for Trump signaled on Sunday.
The lawyer, Jay Sekulow, also asserted that former FBI Director James B. Comeysubmitted for Mueller’s advance review the prepared testimony that he delivered last week to the Senate Intelligence Committee. Comey denied doing so in an exchange during that hearing.
Though noting that Trump said Friday he would answer Mueller’s questions under oath, Sekulow declined to rule out ordering at some later date the firing of the widely praised Mueller, who preceded Comey as FBI director.
“The president is going to seek the advice of his counsel and inside the government as well as outside,’’ Sekulow told ABC’s “This Week,’’ adding, “I’m not going to speculate on what he will or will not do.’’
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The lawyer, Jay Sekulow, also asserted that former FBI Director James B. Comeysubmitted for Mueller’s advance review the prepared testimony that he delivered last week to the Senate Intelligence Committee. Comey denied doing so in an exchange during that hearing.
Though noting that Trump said Friday he would answer Mueller’s questions under oath, Sekulow declined to rule out ordering at some later date the firing of the widely praised Mueller, who preceded Comey as FBI director.
“The president is going to seek the advice of his counsel and inside the government as well as outside,’’ Sekulow told ABC’s “This Week,’’ adding, “I’m not going to speculate on what he will or will not do.’’
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Pajama Boy Redux: The Male in Modern Society
From wastefulness ("The modern man checks the status of his Irish Spring bar before jumping in for a wash. Too small, it gets swapped out"), to silliness ("Does the modern man have a melon baller? What do you think? How else would the cantaloupe, watermelon and honeydew he serves be so uniformly shaped?"), to the assumption that he lives in the city ("The modern man has no use for a gun. He doesn’t own one, and he never will") to the relaxation of expectations ("The modern man cries. He cries often"), the modern male-identity situation has deteriorated into ambiguity.
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High School Student Realizes His Trump T-Shirt Was Edited In His Yearbook
A school in New Jersey is being accused of censoring students in the annual yearbook after one student noticed someone had edited his class photo to remove the Trump logo on his t-shirt.
Grant Berardo wore a shirt that said TRUMP: Make America Great Again for school picture day in the fall of 2016. His photo in the school’s electronic ID system and the proofs he was presented with feature his shirt as-is, but when he received his yearbook, the logo had been removed.
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Ben Shapiro Takes Aim at Myth of 'Toxic Masculinity'
As I've said before, the concept of "toxic masculinity" in Western society is a myth. It's a bugaboo feminists use to blame any criminal or otherwise immoral act committed by a man on masculinity as a whole. Of course they offer no evidence to back the assertion, as, simply put, the whole thing doesn't exist.
That said, it's a pervasive myth among women on the left. So much so that actress and singer Bette Midler reportedly blamed the London terror attack on men and "religion" -- without saying the name of the religion in question.
Ben Shapiro, writing at National Review, took issue with that and some other examples:
Put aside the inanity of lumping together all religion as “worthless” thanks to the acts of radical Islamists, who are devotees of a religion she refuses to mention, presumably out of sheer cowardice. Focus instead on her belief that “ men ... are worthless.” It’s indicative of a general belief among members of the Left that masculinity itself is toxic and must be quashed.
Hillary Clinton spoke last month at a Planned Parenthood gala where drinks called “toxic masculinity” were served; she explained that men are “doing everything they can to roll back the rights and progress we’ve fought so hard for over the last century.” Men, you see, are the problem. Men make war; men commit crimes; men rape; men infuse their aggression into everything.
Midler and those of like mind are wrong to lump all men together, of course. It was male police officers who arrived to kill the terrorists. It is male soldiers attempting to liberate women from the depravity of ISIS terrorists. Males destroy, but males also build.
But in their effort to eradicate the destructive male tendency, the Left has pushed emasculation as a solution. While they champion the notion that women can do anything they set their minds to (true!), they simultaneously castigate men as the barriers to progress and masculinity as a condition to be avoided.
The goal of the Left, therefore, becomes to train boys not to become men. Instead, boys should be feminized; they should never be encouraged to “be a man.” That’s too pressure-filled, too nasty, too mean.
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That said, it's a pervasive myth among women on the left. So much so that actress and singer Bette Midler reportedly blamed the London terror attack on men and "religion" -- without saying the name of the religion in question.
Ben Shapiro, writing at National Review, took issue with that and some other examples:
Put aside the inanity of lumping together all religion as “worthless” thanks to the acts of radical Islamists, who are devotees of a religion she refuses to mention, presumably out of sheer cowardice. Focus instead on her belief that “ men ... are worthless.” It’s indicative of a general belief among members of the Left that masculinity itself is toxic and must be quashed.
Hillary Clinton spoke last month at a Planned Parenthood gala where drinks called “toxic masculinity” were served; she explained that men are “doing everything they can to roll back the rights and progress we’ve fought so hard for over the last century.” Men, you see, are the problem. Men make war; men commit crimes; men rape; men infuse their aggression into everything.
Midler and those of like mind are wrong to lump all men together, of course. It was male police officers who arrived to kill the terrorists. It is male soldiers attempting to liberate women from the depravity of ISIS terrorists. Males destroy, but males also build.
But in their effort to eradicate the destructive male tendency, the Left has pushed emasculation as a solution. While they champion the notion that women can do anything they set their minds to (true!), they simultaneously castigate men as the barriers to progress and masculinity as a condition to be avoided.
The goal of the Left, therefore, becomes to train boys not to become men. Instead, boys should be feminized; they should never be encouraged to “be a man.” That’s too pressure-filled, too nasty, too mean.
More
Gingrich: Mueller Will Not Conduct a Neutral Investigation
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich Sunday cast doubt on special counsel Robert Mueller's ability to remain neutral in his investigation of President Donald Trump's campaign and collusion with Russia, saying fired FBI Director James Comey's testimony has already tainted the investigation.
"Look at what Comey said," Gingrich told "Fox News Sunday," during a panel discussion. "He said 'I deliberately leaked, through an intermediary, to create this counsel,' who happens to be one of his closest friends...the director of the FBI was deliberately leaking in order to create a special counsel, who we are supposed to believe will be this neutral figure. I think this is just nonsense."
Gingrich said it looks to him like there are efforts being set up to go after Trump, "including people who have been reprimanded for hiding from the defense, information into major cases. I think this is going to be a witch hunt."
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"Look at what Comey said," Gingrich told "Fox News Sunday," during a panel discussion. "He said 'I deliberately leaked, through an intermediary, to create this counsel,' who happens to be one of his closest friends...the director of the FBI was deliberately leaking in order to create a special counsel, who we are supposed to believe will be this neutral figure. I think this is just nonsense."
Gingrich said it looks to him like there are efforts being set up to go after Trump, "including people who have been reprimanded for hiding from the defense, information into major cases. I think this is going to be a witch hunt."
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Governor of West Virginia Auctioning Off Three Virginia Properties
The Colonial-era plantations will hit the block June 28
The auction of three Colonial-era plantations belonging to the governor of West Virginia is right around the corner.
Gov. Jim Justice and his family are unloading the vast estates outside of Richmond in the neighboring state of Virginia at the end of this month, as they seek to downsize their company’s agricultural operations, the family said in a statement this week. The properties total 3,879 acres and were on the market at various times for a combined $40.2 million.
“Our family has owned these plantations for quite some time, and now with my dad’s duties as Governor of West Virginia, we have decided to auction these incredible properties so that a new owner can enjoy all that they have to offer,” said Jay Justice, the governor’s son who now leads James C. Justice Cos. and is overseeing the auction.
West Virginia elected Jim Justice, a longtime Republican who flipped to the Democratic Party in 2014 and the state’s only billionaire, in November. His business endeavors, including coal, soybeans and corn, have amassed a fortune worth some $1.59 billion, Forbes estimates.
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The auction of three Colonial-era plantations belonging to the governor of West Virginia is right around the corner.
Gov. Jim Justice and his family are unloading the vast estates outside of Richmond in the neighboring state of Virginia at the end of this month, as they seek to downsize their company’s agricultural operations, the family said in a statement this week. The properties total 3,879 acres and were on the market at various times for a combined $40.2 million.
“Our family has owned these plantations for quite some time, and now with my dad’s duties as Governor of West Virginia, we have decided to auction these incredible properties so that a new owner can enjoy all that they have to offer,” said Jay Justice, the governor’s son who now leads James C. Justice Cos. and is overseeing the auction.
West Virginia elected Jim Justice, a longtime Republican who flipped to the Democratic Party in 2014 and the state’s only billionaire, in November. His business endeavors, including coal, soybeans and corn, have amassed a fortune worth some $1.59 billion, Forbes estimates.
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Confirmed: Comey Committed Perjury to Congress
NYT debunked: Trump didn't directly order end of Flynn investigation
Despite admitting President Trump “simply hoped” the FBI would drop its probe into former national security advisor Michael Flynn, former FBI Director James Comey said he interpreted this as a direct order, which contradicts his sworn Senate testimony on May 3.
Comey now confirms Trump simply hoped the investigation into Flynn would end during their Feb. meeting in the White House, which Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) pointed out was a “wish” rather than an actual directive from the president:
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Despite admitting President Trump “simply hoped” the FBI would drop its probe into former national security advisor Michael Flynn, former FBI Director James Comey said he interpreted this as a direct order, which contradicts his sworn Senate testimony on May 3.
Comey now confirms Trump simply hoped the investigation into Flynn would end during their Feb. meeting in the White House, which Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) pointed out was a “wish” rather than an actual directive from the president:
More/Video
'Obstruction of Justice' Wikipedia Entry Edited to Include Donald Trump
During the James Comey hearing Thursday, someone edited the Wikipedia entry for "obstruction of justice" to list President Donald Trump as one of many "notable examples." Trump has not been convicted of obstruction, and Comey's testimony did not suggest he should be. Worse, the anonymous editor altered the entry from a congressional IP address.
"Obstruction of justice Wikipedia article edited anonymously from US House of Representatives," tweeted congress-edits, a bot account that reports on anonymous Wikipedia edits made from IP addresses in the U.S. Congress. The edits can be viewed at this link.
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"Obstruction of justice Wikipedia article edited anonymously from US House of Representatives," tweeted congress-edits, a bot account that reports on anonymous Wikipedia edits made from IP addresses in the U.S. Congress. The edits can be viewed at this link.
Obstruction of justice Wikipedia article edited anonymously from US House of Representatives en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?di…
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