DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Wednesday, August 16, 2017
What Happens When Walmart Decides To Close A Store?
At the beginning of 2016, Walmart did something unusual. The mega-retailer closed 269 stores, 154 of which were in the United States. While Walmart also opened hundreds of stores around the world last year, keeping its net store count the same, its pullout was devastating for rural communities where smaller retailers had closed their doors when Walmart came to town.
When Walmart closes a store, it’s more likely to open a larger one next door or a few miles down the road than to leave town entirely. If you live in an area that hasn’t spent decades fighting off Walmart and its fellow big boxes, you can probably think of a handful of examples off the top of your head.
Just having a store move down the road can have devastating consequences for local governments and the chain’s strip mall neighbors. In an article published on Medium, Christopher Peak detailed the struggles of the former neighbors of Walmart in Seabrook, NH, when the store moved down the road, breaking a lease that kept the store from selling groceries.
Its neighbors were locked into long-term leases and couldn’t afford to move. Even an optometrist in the same plaza suffered: While the Walmart had a vision department, the locally owned shop benefited from foot traffic and customers who couldn’t be fitted at Walmart.
More here
When Walmart closes a store, it’s more likely to open a larger one next door or a few miles down the road than to leave town entirely. If you live in an area that hasn’t spent decades fighting off Walmart and its fellow big boxes, you can probably think of a handful of examples off the top of your head.
Just having a store move down the road can have devastating consequences for local governments and the chain’s strip mall neighbors. In an article published on Medium, Christopher Peak detailed the struggles of the former neighbors of Walmart in Seabrook, NH, when the store moved down the road, breaking a lease that kept the store from selling groceries.
Its neighbors were locked into long-term leases and couldn’t afford to move. Even an optometrist in the same plaza suffered: While the Walmart had a vision department, the locally owned shop benefited from foot traffic and customers who couldn’t be fitted at Walmart.
More here
Deputy First Class Brian K. Heller Memorial Classic
Dear Mr. Albero,
My Name is Connie Widmann, I am the mother of Worcester County D.F.C. Brian K. Heller killed in the line of duty 6/14/2000. I have put together a trap shoot in my son’s memory it is to be held Sept. 9,2017 at the Salisbury Gun Club, in Salisbury MD.
I would cordially like to invite your and your readers to attend as a shooter or as a shopper (Come shop for your Christmas Gifts at our Silent Auction. We have everything from Fishing Trips,Ward Museum carved decoys,drawings and prints, theater tickets, restaurants gift cards, to Dog Grooming and people grooming. We have something for everyone.
All the Proceeds will benefit the Maryland Chapter of COPS and Wor-Wic Community College where I have established a Scholarship in my son’s name.
I have attached a flyer *see bottom of post* and here is a little information where the money is going.
As you know there have been a 25% increase this year alone on line of duty deaths
Over two hundred families losing their loved one. The one who made the supreme sacrifice to protect each and every one of you !!
We have established this fund raiser to help support equally THE MARYLAND CHAPTER OF COPS (Concerns Of Police Survivors) and The D.F.C Brian K. Heller Scholarship Fund
Brief description of both recipients
1) D.F.C. Brian K. Heller Scholarship Fund was founded in 2004 at Wor-Wic Community College it is Endowed and over the years, it has been awarded to 14 students enrolled in the criminal justice program for a total of $7,704 dollars given as of this date.
AND
2) The Maryland Chapter of COPS (Concern of Police Survivors) is a statewide 501(c)3 non-profit organization established 1997 providing programs and services for the survivors of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty. Their mission is to help rebuild shattered lives of survivors and co-workers affected by line of duty deaths. They respond to EVERY line of duty death in the State of Maryland. Respond means going to the hospital to be with the officer and families of the injured officer or going to the his\or her home to help console the wife, children, parents. Should the incident become grave and the officer passes, COPS presents the family funds to assist them with immediate needs. This may include helping with the funeral, food, clothing etc. Maryland COPS serves as a partner with law enforcement also. Meeting with the officers on shift where the officer worked, proving counseling if needed. COPS attends the funeral and various memorial serves that take place immediately and after the death. COPS host retreats helping to provide counseling, education, and some relaxation to the families. Maryland COPS also has a scholarship for the dependent children that can be applied for each semester to aid the children in their educational needs.
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I feel our support for the education of criminal justice students is a must in today’s society. Without our law enforcement members where would we be?
I also feel honoring the officers who have given the utmost sacrifice to our community is important.
I hope you feel the same way
If you don't shoot feel free to just come out and say hello or shop and show your support for two good causes.
If you don't shoot feel free to just come out and say hello or shop and show your support for two good causes.
Thank you for you time
Connie Widmann mother of D.F.C. Brian Heller E.O.W. June 14,2000
Feds: Cook County's Soda Tax Collection Violates Food Stamp Rules
Cook County's sweetened beverage tax has landed the state in hot water with the feds, potentially causing roughly $87 million in federal food stamp money to be withheld, Illinois officials said Thursday.
The problem: Purchases made with federal food stamp benefits are exempt from the soda tax under federal law, but Cook County has allowed retailers to tax those purchases and provide refunds as a workaround for stores that haven't been able to program their point-of-sale systems.
Earlier this week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Services, the federal agency overseeing the SNAP food stamp program -- officially known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program -- warned Illinois that federal money could be withheld if the problem isn't fixed.
USDA officials told the county the regulation was "unacceptable" in a phone call in late June, according to its memo to the state.
"It is (Food and Nutrition Services') strict interpretation that retailers may not charge the tax to SNAP recipients at any time and that providing an immediate subsequent refund at a customer service does not cure the problem or the violation of the law," said James Dimas, secretary of the Illinois state Department of Human Services, in his memo relaying the message to Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle on Wednesday.
Preckwinkle spoke at the Cook County Democratic Party's slating event Thursday. Asked about the memo afterward, she declined to comment because she hadn't yet reviewed it.
More
The problem: Purchases made with federal food stamp benefits are exempt from the soda tax under federal law, but Cook County has allowed retailers to tax those purchases and provide refunds as a workaround for stores that haven't been able to program their point-of-sale systems.
Earlier this week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Services, the federal agency overseeing the SNAP food stamp program -- officially known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program -- warned Illinois that federal money could be withheld if the problem isn't fixed.
USDA officials told the county the regulation was "unacceptable" in a phone call in late June, according to its memo to the state.
"It is (Food and Nutrition Services') strict interpretation that retailers may not charge the tax to SNAP recipients at any time and that providing an immediate subsequent refund at a customer service does not cure the problem or the violation of the law," said James Dimas, secretary of the Illinois state Department of Human Services, in his memo relaying the message to Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle on Wednesday.
Preckwinkle spoke at the Cook County Democratic Party's slating event Thursday. Asked about the memo afterward, she declined to comment because she hadn't yet reviewed it.
More
Here is why the violence is going to escalate, and escalate quickly
Ben Domenech, no fan of the alt-right, got labeled as a member of the alt-right for pointing out the following:
Oakland 2009, Akron 2009, Pittsburgh 2009, Santa Cruz 2010, Oakland 2010, Los Angeles 2010, Oakland 2011, Chicago 2012, Anaheim 2012, Brooklyn 2013, Ferguson 2014, New York City 2014, Baltimore 2015, Anaheim 2016, Chicago 2016, St Paul 2016, Milwaukee 2016, Charlotte 2016, Standing Rock 2016, Oakland 2016, Portland 2016, Washington DC 2017, Berkeley 2017, Anaheim 2017, Berkeley (again) 2017, Berkeley (again again) 2017, Olympia 2017, and Portland 2017. This is a list of overwhelmingly leftist protests [that turned violent].
There is no comparable list of “alt-right” protests. Though there have been some, there have not been as many. The violence at these events has included molotov cocktails, shattered windows, punches thrown, and public property destroyed. Last night, a group of leftwing activists tore down a confederate statue without permission.
But in pointing all of this out, prominent voices on the left will angrily reply that Black Lives Matter, Antifa, union goons, etc. are all working for equality, justice, or some other noble end. They will wave away legitimate comparisons between the alt-left and alt-right providing moral justification for the left.
There have been far more conservatives willing to call out the alt right than there have been progressives calling out the alt-left.
More
Oakland 2009, Akron 2009, Pittsburgh 2009, Santa Cruz 2010, Oakland 2010, Los Angeles 2010, Oakland 2011, Chicago 2012, Anaheim 2012, Brooklyn 2013, Ferguson 2014, New York City 2014, Baltimore 2015, Anaheim 2016, Chicago 2016, St Paul 2016, Milwaukee 2016, Charlotte 2016, Standing Rock 2016, Oakland 2016, Portland 2016, Washington DC 2017, Berkeley 2017, Anaheim 2017, Berkeley (again) 2017, Berkeley (again again) 2017, Olympia 2017, and Portland 2017. This is a list of overwhelmingly leftist protests [that turned violent].
There is no comparable list of “alt-right” protests. Though there have been some, there have not been as many. The violence at these events has included molotov cocktails, shattered windows, punches thrown, and public property destroyed. Last night, a group of leftwing activists tore down a confederate statue without permission.
But in pointing all of this out, prominent voices on the left will angrily reply that Black Lives Matter, Antifa, union goons, etc. are all working for equality, justice, or some other noble end. They will wave away legitimate comparisons between the alt-left and alt-right providing moral justification for the left.
There have been far more conservatives willing to call out the alt right than there have been progressives calling out the alt-left.
More
http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2017/08/15/here-is-why-violence-is-going-to-escalate-and-escalate-quickly.html
BBQ Chicken This Friday & Saturday
Ooooooo that smell, Can't you smell that smell. Ooooooo that smell, that smell of barbeque chicken!!!! That's right ladies and gentlemen, we are back at it this Friday and Saturday August 18 and 19 from 1030am until we sell out. $8 platters include chicken halve, pickle slice, dinner roll, and a bag of chips. Get them while they last. If you have not had our chicken, then you are mistreating your taste buds. Come on out and see us at 800 Snow Hill Road, Salisbury MD.
We will Deliver!!!! If you order 5 or more platters and are located within a 5-10 minute drive, we will deliver to you at no extra cost. Call 443-213-0166, message us on here, or email us at salisburyindependentvfc1@gmail.com
University of San Francisco to host blacks-only student orientation
Program will ‘address the specific needs’ of black students
The University of San Francisco this week is scheduled to host a segregated orientation dedicated to black students, a program that takes place in addition to its standard welcoming activities for all students.
The Black Student Orientation is slated for Aug. 18, the day prior to the university’s New Student Orientation.
The day-long event–billed as having been “designed by Black students, faculty, and staff to welcome new Black students to the USF Black Experience”–will “address the specific and particular needs of African American/Black students at USF,” according to the school’s website.
The program includes workshops such as “Community Building” and “Creating a 4 Year Plan.”
More
The University of San Francisco this week is scheduled to host a segregated orientation dedicated to black students, a program that takes place in addition to its standard welcoming activities for all students.
The Black Student Orientation is slated for Aug. 18, the day prior to the university’s New Student Orientation.
The day-long event–billed as having been “designed by Black students, faculty, and staff to welcome new Black students to the USF Black Experience”–will “address the specific and particular needs of African American/Black students at USF,” according to the school’s website.
The program includes workshops such as “Community Building” and “Creating a 4 Year Plan.”
More
Report: ‘Unite the Right’ Organizer Jason Kessler Was Obama Supporter Involved With Occupy Movement
Per the Southern Poverty Law Center:
Rumors abound on white nationalist forums that Kessler’s ideological pedigree before 2016 was less than pure and seem to point to involvement in the Occupy movement and past support for President Obama.
At one recent speech in favor of Charlottesville’s status as a sanctuary city,Kessler live-streamed himself as an attendee questioned him and apologized for an undisclosed spat during Kessler’s apparent involvement with Occupy. Kessler appeared visibly perturbed by the woman’s presence and reminders of their past association.
Kessler himself has placed his “red-pilling” around December of 2013 when a PR executive was publicly excoriated for a tasteless Twitter joke about AIDS in Africa.
Regarding the incident, Kessler stated “… so it was just a little race joke, nothing that big of a deal, she didn’t have that many followers, she probably didn’t think anybody was gonna see it,”
Regardless of Kessler’s past politics, the rightward shift in his views was first put on display in November, 2016 when his tirade against Wes Bellamy began.
Kessler was chased away from his own press conference on Sunday, given in the aftermath of the deadly riots the previous day.
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Florida pediatric offices refusing to see kids who are not vaccinated
“We want everyone vaccinated and caught up with the CDC schedule by age of 2,” said Dr. Thomas Connolly, a pediatrician with the Carithers Pediatric Group.
It turns out, the decision to not vaccinate their kids is becoming more common locally.
First Coast News compared numbers from the 2002-2003 school year to the 2016-1017 school year for Clay, Duval and St. Johns' public schools. The number of religious exemptions for kindergarten students went up seven times in Clay County, 17 times for Duval County and 25 times for St. Johns County. However, data also shows that 93 percent to 96 percent of students have all the vaccinations required to start school.
Connolly said he strongly encourages all of his patients to get vaccinated.
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Protester Who Toppled Durham Confederate Statue Shocked When She's Arrested at Press Conference
It turns out, you probably shouldn't admit to malicious destruction of property, even at an 'Antifa' rally
A North Carolina Central University student found herself in handcuffs late Tuesday, after she admitted at an "anti-fascist" rally in front of the Durham, North Carolina, county courthouse, that she ws the one who tossed a rope over a monument to conscripted Confederate soldiers and pulled it down.
Takiyah Fatima Thompson was shocked - shocked - when officers arrested her and booked her on charges of felony participation in a riot with property damage, and felony incitement of a riot. She had been leading a press conference on the courthouse steps to call for amnesty for those who did the "public service" of removing the monument.
A video, posted earlier on Tuesday, clearly shows Thompson leaning a ladder up against the statue and throwing a rope over its neck. She then enlists the help of fellow protesters to yank the statue down, eventually collapsing it onto the ground. The statue, which honored soldiers of the Confederate Army during the Civil War, has stood in Durham's public square since 1924.
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FRUITLAND: Passing of Lifetime Member Mr. Doug McIntyre
Arrangements are as follows:
Friday, August 18th, 2017
Viewing: 1300 hours - Service: 1400 hours
Holloway Funeral Home, Snow Hill Rd, Salisbury MD
Any department that would like to attend contact 315 Chief Robin Townsend by 1800 hours on August 17th.
DOJ Demands 1.3 Million IP Addresses Of Visitors To Antifa Website Used To Coordinate Riots
In what is shaping up to be a contentious battle over privacy rights and free speech, the Department of Justice has formally requested that web hosting firm ‘DreamHost’ turn over 1.3 million IP addresses and other information to ‘unmask‘ visitors to the anti-Trump Antifa website ‘disruptj20.org,’ as part of the investigation into crimes committed on and around January 20 by protesters. DreamHost has challenged the request, claiming the scope of data requested violates the first and fourth amendments because it is too broad.
DisruptJ20.org was registered in October of 2016 by the ‘DC Anti-fascist Coalition,’ and promoted along with the hashtag #DisruptJ20, as a central resource for anti-Trump protesters to coordinate various plots over social media intended disrupt the presidential inauguration on and around January 20. The website connected users through mailing lists and planned meet-ups, and provided a calendar of anarchistic events as well as resources to help people prepare for the mayhem. The site also provides a ‘legal guide’ for those arrested.
More
DisruptJ20.org was registered in October of 2016 by the ‘DC Anti-fascist Coalition,’ and promoted along with the hashtag #DisruptJ20, as a central resource for anti-Trump protesters to coordinate various plots over social media intended disrupt the presidential inauguration on and around January 20. The website connected users through mailing lists and planned meet-ups, and provided a calendar of anarchistic events as well as resources to help people prepare for the mayhem. The site also provides a ‘legal guide’ for those arrested.
More
School District: No Outdoor Recess During Eclipse
MECHANICSBURG, Pa. (WHTM) – The Cumberland Valley School District will keep students indoors for afternoon recess during next week’s partial solar eclipse.
In a letter to parents, school administrators said the decision was made after consulting with the district physician.
“While we recognize that the opportunity to view an eclipse is a rare occurrence, our number one priority is the health, safety, and well being of our students and staff,” the letter states. “There are possible hazards associated with exposure to potentially harmful rays during the partial eclipse.”
NASA says the only safe way to look directly at the partially eclipsed sun is through special-purpose solar filters, such as “eclipse glasses” or hand-held solar viewers. Homemade filters or ordinary sunglasses, even very dark ones, are not safe.
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George Soros Lobbying hard
Billionaire George Soros, no doubt still reeling from the White House win of President Donald Trump — whom he steadfastly opposed, and still does — has decided to pour even more money into Congress, in hopes of furthering his progressive visions, a new report finds.
And this, ladies and gentlemen, is why you shouldn’t trust any member of Congress, neither Democrat nor Republican.
The money seems to be coming from the Open Society Policy Center, a nonprofit based in Washington, D.C., an analysis from the Washington Free Beacon shows. And already, the outfit’s spent as much on lobbying in 2017 — $4.6 million, so far — than over the course of the entire 2016 year.
Here’s a taste of what the media outlet found: “The group has three in-house lobbyists who lobby the U.S. Senate, House of Representatives, National Security Council, the Department of Defense, and the Department of State. … [They] worked on issues such as the Restricting First Use of Nuclear Weapons Act of 2017 and the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2018, among others.”
More here
And this, ladies and gentlemen, is why you shouldn’t trust any member of Congress, neither Democrat nor Republican.
The money seems to be coming from the Open Society Policy Center, a nonprofit based in Washington, D.C., an analysis from the Washington Free Beacon shows. And already, the outfit’s spent as much on lobbying in 2017 — $4.6 million, so far — than over the course of the entire 2016 year.
Here’s a taste of what the media outlet found: “The group has three in-house lobbyists who lobby the U.S. Senate, House of Representatives, National Security Council, the Department of Defense, and the Department of State. … [They] worked on issues such as the Restricting First Use of Nuclear Weapons Act of 2017 and the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2018, among others.”
More here
Illegal immigrant accused of raping a child ‘thousands of times’
Michel-Lara’s arrest report indicates the 32-year-old resident of Cedar City, Utah, faces two first-degree felony charges of rape of a child. He was arrested Sunday and has since been placed on an immigration detainer.
A probable cause statement, filed in the 5th District Court Monday, says the alleged victim reported Michel-Lara had molested her “many times,” and had raped her thousands of times, over the last six months.
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ObamaCare Is Dumping Millions of Middle Class to Insure More Poor
While Democrats like to point to the increasing numbers of individuals receiving ObamaCare’s subsidized insurance coverage, they are ignoring a dirty little secret. The number of Americans with unsubsidized individual coverage has decreased precipitously. From March 2016 to March 2017, some 2.6 million fewer people had unsubsidized policies, an overall decrease of 15% in one year alone.
But the unsubsidized coverage bleed is not limited to the individual market..
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Somerset States Attorney Dan Powell is Gov Hogans pick for circuit court judge
ANNAPOLIS, MD - Governor Larry Hogan today announced the appointment of Daniel Powell to the Somerset County Circuit Court. The governor made the appointment after reviewing submissions from the Judicial Nominating Commission for Somerset County.
“After conducting a thorough vetting process, I am confident that Mr. Powell is the most qualified candidate to fill this vacancy,” said Governor Hogan. “His wealth of legal knowledge has prepared him to serve with distinction and to be a strong advocate for justice for the people of Somerset County.”
Daniel Powell is currently serving as the State’s Attorney for Somerset County; he has held this position since 2011. Prior to his current position, he was a prosecutor for most of his career, spent three years in private practice as a civil litigator, and served three years as the County Administrator for the Board of County Commissioners for Somerset County. Mr. Powell received his bachelor’s degree from Salisbury University and his J.D. from the University of Baltimore School of Law.
Baltimore's new speed cameras issued double tickets to hundreds of drivers
The re-launch of the city’s problem-plagued speed camera system tripped on its first day. Baltimore Department of Transportation Director Michelle Pourciau said 900 drivers caught speeding on July 31 were issued two tickets instead of one. Those driver's tickets will be cancelled.
"They found the error early on. And so, they'll probably get the notice of their violation being cancelled, even before they get the second ticket," said Pourciau.
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UN to Trump: Stop Detaining Illegal Aliens
The United Nations Human Rights Council is now demanding President Trump enact a full open borders policy that would release more than 350,000 illegal aliens and foreign refugees into the public.
In a 23-page report by the U.N. Human Rights Council, Trump is requested to set free all foreign nationals who are currently awaiting immigration hearings in the United States, Reuters reported.
“The Working Group is of the view that all administrative detention, in particular of immigrants in an irregular situation, should be in accordance with international human rights law; and that such detention is to be a measure of last resort, necessary and proportionate and be not punitive in nature, and that alternatives to detention are to be sought whenever possible,” the panel said.
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In a 23-page report by the U.N. Human Rights Council, Trump is requested to set free all foreign nationals who are currently awaiting immigration hearings in the United States, Reuters reported.
“The Working Group is of the view that all administrative detention, in particular of immigrants in an irregular situation, should be in accordance with international human rights law; and that such detention is to be a measure of last resort, necessary and proportionate and be not punitive in nature, and that alternatives to detention are to be sought whenever possible,” the panel said.
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Sold to the Highest Bidder: Lack of Protections Puts the Privacy of Students and their Families at Risk
Digital technologies used in schools are increasingly being harnessed to amplify corporate marketing and profit-making and extend the reach of commercializing activities into every aspect of students’ school lives. In addition to the long-standing goal of providing brand exposure, marketing through education technology now routinely engages students in activities that facilitate the collection of valuable personal data and that socialize students to accept relentless monitoring and surveillance as normal, according to a new report released by the National Education Policy Center.
In Asleep at the Switch: Schoolhouse Commercialism, Student Privacy, and the Failure of Policymaking, the NEPC’s 19th annual report on schoolhouse commercialism trends, University of Colorado Boulder researchers Faith Boninger, Alex Molnar and Kevin Murray examine how technological advances, the lure of “personalization,” and lax regulation foster the collection of personal data and have overwhelmed efforts to protect children’s privacy. They find that for-profit entities are driving an escalation of reliance on education technology with the goal of transforming public education into an ever-larger profit center—by selling technology hardware, software, and services to schools; by turning student data into a marketable product; and by creating brand-loyal customers.
Boninger points out that “policymaking to protect children’s privacy or to evaluate the quality of the educational technology they use currently ranges from inadequate to nonexistent.”
“Schools and districts are paying huge sums of money to private vendors and creating systems to transfer vast amounts of children’s personal information to education technology companies,” explains Molnar. “Education applications, especially applications that ‘personalize’ student learning, are powered by proprietary algorithms, without anyone monitoring how student data are being collected or used.”
More
In Asleep at the Switch: Schoolhouse Commercialism, Student Privacy, and the Failure of Policymaking, the NEPC’s 19th annual report on schoolhouse commercialism trends, University of Colorado Boulder researchers Faith Boninger, Alex Molnar and Kevin Murray examine how technological advances, the lure of “personalization,” and lax regulation foster the collection of personal data and have overwhelmed efforts to protect children’s privacy. They find that for-profit entities are driving an escalation of reliance on education technology with the goal of transforming public education into an ever-larger profit center—by selling technology hardware, software, and services to schools; by turning student data into a marketable product; and by creating brand-loyal customers.
Boninger points out that “policymaking to protect children’s privacy or to evaluate the quality of the educational technology they use currently ranges from inadequate to nonexistent.”
“Schools and districts are paying huge sums of money to private vendors and creating systems to transfer vast amounts of children’s personal information to education technology companies,” explains Molnar. “Education applications, especially applications that ‘personalize’ student learning, are powered by proprietary algorithms, without anyone monitoring how student data are being collected or used.”
More
Maryland regulators approve eight new medical marijuana growers
Several companies said they are ready to begin growing immediately, while others say they will take weeks to get started.
“Now, we have a real industry,” said Cary Millstein, CEO of newly licensed grower Freestate Wellness in Howard County.
Until Monday, just one of the 15 selected firms had received final permission to start cultivating medical marijuana, which was first legalized in the state in 2013. Even at full capacity, one firm could not produce nearly enough to support 102 planned dispensaries.
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Meet Billionaire Kevin Plank: Maryland's Corporate Welfare King
A corporate cronyism scandal could be brewing out of Baltimore, Maryland this month involving Billionaire Kevin Plank (CEO of Under Armour). What is alleged per The Baltimore Post are Baltimore County Council members supporting a ‘conditional grant in an amount up to $ 2,000,000 to Under Armour, inc from the Maryland Department of Commerce pursuant to the Maryland Economic Development Assistance Fund’. The purpose of the grant is for the redevelopment of Tradepoint Atlantic (TPA) of Sparrows Point, where the 3,100 acre site use to be the home of the world’s largest steel producer called Bethlehem Steel.
In this case, Maryland’s economic development assistance fund is better known as ‘corporate welfare’. The article goes on to say,
someone please explain to me why Mr. Plank, who according to Forbes Magazine has a net worth around $1.74 billion, needs $2 million from us regular middle class taxpayers.
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In this case, Maryland’s economic development assistance fund is better known as ‘corporate welfare’. The article goes on to say,
someone please explain to me why Mr. Plank, who according to Forbes Magazine has a net worth around $1.74 billion, needs $2 million from us regular middle class taxpayers.
More
What Does the National Opioid Emergency Mean for States and Cities?
There are still some major unanswered questions about Trump's declaration.
After at least six states declared the opioid epidemic an emergency in their states as opioid deaths continue to rise, President Donald Trump declared it a "national emergency" on Thursday. But what does that mean for governors and mayors who have been grappling with opioid abuse for years?
Nothing -- at least not yet.
First, the White House has to decide what kind of emergency the opioid epidemic is, exactly. There are several different kinds of emergency declarations. While they accomplish similar things, they serve different purposes.
The President’s Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis recommends that the disaster be declared through either the Stafford Act or the Public Health Service Act. The Stafford Act is usually initiated for natural disasters, such as hurricanes and tornadoes, and normally requires a request from a governor. It would trigger the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to dole out financial and technical assistance to states and cities.
The Public Health Service Act, on the other hand, allows the secretary of health and human services -- not the president -- to declare a public health emergency and deploy medical staff to areas in need. This was used for the outbreak of the Zika virus and the H1N1 virus, for example.
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After at least six states declared the opioid epidemic an emergency in their states as opioid deaths continue to rise, President Donald Trump declared it a "national emergency" on Thursday. But what does that mean for governors and mayors who have been grappling with opioid abuse for years?
Nothing -- at least not yet.
First, the White House has to decide what kind of emergency the opioid epidemic is, exactly. There are several different kinds of emergency declarations. While they accomplish similar things, they serve different purposes.
The President’s Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis recommends that the disaster be declared through either the Stafford Act or the Public Health Service Act. The Stafford Act is usually initiated for natural disasters, such as hurricanes and tornadoes, and normally requires a request from a governor. It would trigger the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to dole out financial and technical assistance to states and cities.
The Public Health Service Act, on the other hand, allows the secretary of health and human services -- not the president -- to declare a public health emergency and deploy medical staff to areas in need. This was used for the outbreak of the Zika virus and the H1N1 virus, for example.
More
Tear Down the University of Virginia!
When Thomas Jefferson died on July 4th, 1826, the 50th anniversary of our Declaration of Independence, he had left explicit instructions on what was to be engraved on his headstone: “Here was buried Thomas Jefferson, Author of the Declaration of American Independence, of the Statute of Virginia for religious freedom, and Father of the University of Virginia.” In his letter of instruction, Jefferson noted that “these, as testimonials that I have lived, I wish most to be remembered.” (Notably, there is no mention of his two presidential terms.)
Last October, a battle began brewing in Charlottesville — an effort to purge Thomas Jefferson from the University of Virginia he founded, because he had slaves on his Monticello plantation. Jefferson even fathered a child with one of those slaves, the half-sister of his deceased wife, Sally Hemings.
In January, after Hillary Clinton’s demise and Donald Trump’s inauguration, Charlottesville Mayor Mike Signer hosted a rally declaring his town a “capital of resistance.” Signer, who was chosen to be mayor by Charlottesville’s leftist city council, a group of Berkeley wannabes, is himself a graduate of UC Berkeley and a rising darling of the Left.
Signer is a political hack for Virginia’s alien governor and noted Clintonista, Terry McAuliffe. He worked with John Podesta to electBarack Obama in 2008, and the following year joined McAuliffe’s finance team.
More here
Last October, a battle began brewing in Charlottesville — an effort to purge Thomas Jefferson from the University of Virginia he founded, because he had slaves on his Monticello plantation. Jefferson even fathered a child with one of those slaves, the half-sister of his deceased wife, Sally Hemings.
In January, after Hillary Clinton’s demise and Donald Trump’s inauguration, Charlottesville Mayor Mike Signer hosted a rally declaring his town a “capital of resistance.” Signer, who was chosen to be mayor by Charlottesville’s leftist city council, a group of Berkeley wannabes, is himself a graduate of UC Berkeley and a rising darling of the Left.
Signer is a political hack for Virginia’s alien governor and noted Clintonista, Terry McAuliffe. He worked with John Podesta to electBarack Obama in 2008, and the following year joined McAuliffe’s finance team.
More here
A Viewer Writes: FYI-Left trying to make gains after Charlottesville
A friend of mine was sent the following e-mail from a group called Genprogress.org. It even has a script you can use to complain about civil war statues. What is next, burning books you don't like? How about placing people we see as a threat in special camps? Didn't someone already try this in the 1940"s? Like the way Trump is the problem. Last I checked he was in New Jersey on Saturday. Please use the e-mail below if you like. I am a big fan of your Blog.
Hey ********
As a proud, black, UVA alum, it broke my heart to see racism, violence, and terror erupt in Charlottesville. The events last weekend were a devastating reminder that racism, hated, and bigotry still exist in our neighborhoods. White supremacy and violent extremism have a home in too many of our communities — and in the White House — and we all must take steps to call out and stand against those who wish to divide us.
Here are a few ways you can take action right now to show solidarity with Charlottesville and speak out against hatred, violence, racism, and bigotry in your own community:
We must take swift and decisive action to show those who want to divide us that will always stand for justice, equality, and civil rights for all.
Thank you for taking action,
Connor Maxwell UVA Alum Research Associate, Progress 2050
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Generation Progress 1333 H St. NW Floor 10 Washington, DC 20005 United States
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Au Revoir, Maryland
Everything that God made, He made a little better in Maryland.
The beaches, the rivers, the fields and the mountains, but mostly the people.
Everything that man made, Democrats have made a little less, if not a lot less, in our once-Free State. In fact, the state has been hollowed out economically, except for the Federal Government largesse spilling out of the District of Columbia.
Light and heavy industry are gone and have not been replaced in Western Maryland.
Baltimore has enough abandoned row houses to solve the nation’s homeless problem. The murder rate is so high in forever Democrat Party controlled Charm City that it is now called Harm City.
Maryland’s lax enforcement of its laws attracts wage-depressing illegal immigration, while our tax policy repels job-creating businesses. Marriott had to be bribed to stay in Bethesda. The rest of us get to pay the piper.
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What It Really Costs When Walmart Comes to Town
It's more bad news for Walmart. After a New York Times story alleged that Walmart bribed officials in Mexico to allow the company to open stores in that country, another new report reveals exactly how much it costs a community in dollars and cents when Walmart comes to town.
The research, done by a Northwest community group, estimates that one Walmart store, which is set to open in a Washington neighborhood, will decrease the community's economic output over 20 years by an estimated $13 million. It also estimates the Walmart will cost the community an additional $14 million in lost wages over the next 20 years.
"We know now the true economic impact a Walmart store has on a neighborhood when it moves in," Christopher Fowler, who conducted the research for Puget Sound Sage, said. "The research shows that the negative impact is due to the use of the Walmart business model. A new 'generic' grocery store does not equal economic harm, but a new Walmart does."
"Walmart may say they help people 'Live Better,'" said David West, executive director of Puget Sound Sage, a nonprofit public policy organization that looks at regional economic issues. "But this study shows that communities will be much worse off, with lower wages and less money in the community, after a Walmart opens."
More here
The research, done by a Northwest community group, estimates that one Walmart store, which is set to open in a Washington neighborhood, will decrease the community's economic output over 20 years by an estimated $13 million. It also estimates the Walmart will cost the community an additional $14 million in lost wages over the next 20 years.
"We know now the true economic impact a Walmart store has on a neighborhood when it moves in," Christopher Fowler, who conducted the research for Puget Sound Sage, said. "The research shows that the negative impact is due to the use of the Walmart business model. A new 'generic' grocery store does not equal economic harm, but a new Walmart does."
"Walmart may say they help people 'Live Better,'" said David West, executive director of Puget Sound Sage, a nonprofit public policy organization that looks at regional economic issues. "But this study shows that communities will be much worse off, with lower wages and less money in the community, after a Walmart opens."
More here
In Angry, Fiery Press Conference, Trump Says "Blame On Both Sides" For Violence
During a fiery, improvized press conference that was supposed to address Trump's infrastructure proposal but quickly veered into an angry back and forth between President Trump and the media over Saturday's tragic events in Virignia, Donald Trump defended his initial response to the weekend violence in Charlottesville, saying he needed to "know the facts" before specifically calling out racist groups, and stating that there was “blame on both sides” for the violent clashes that erupted in Charlottesville over the weekend.
“You had a group on one side that was bad and you had a group on the other side that was also very violent and nobody wants to say that but I’ll say it right now,” the president said. He added: “You had a group on the other side that came charging in without a permit. They were very violent.”
Claiming he needed more information, Trump said “I didn't wait long” to condemn the violence, saying “I wanted to make sure, unlike most politicians, that what I said was correct, not make a quick statement."
He then said that "the statement I made on Saturday, the first statement, was a fine statement, but you don't make statements that direct unless you know the fact. It takes a little while to get the facts. You still don't know the facts. And it's a very, very important process to me. And it's a very important statement. So I don't want to go quickly and just make a statement for the sake of making a political statement. I want to know the facts.”
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“You had a group on one side that was bad and you had a group on the other side that was also very violent and nobody wants to say that but I’ll say it right now,” the president said. He added: “You had a group on the other side that came charging in without a permit. They were very violent.”
Claiming he needed more information, Trump said “I didn't wait long” to condemn the violence, saying “I wanted to make sure, unlike most politicians, that what I said was correct, not make a quick statement."
He then said that "the statement I made on Saturday, the first statement, was a fine statement, but you don't make statements that direct unless you know the fact. It takes a little while to get the facts. You still don't know the facts. And it's a very, very important process to me. And it's a very important statement. So I don't want to go quickly and just make a statement for the sake of making a political statement. I want to know the facts.”
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FBI agents went undercover in Florida's capital for the 'biggest investigation in years'
TALLAHASSEE - Buff, bearded and handsome, Atlanta developer Mike Miller sat sipping a cocktailone afternoon last summer outside the spiffy Power Plant Cafe in the city’s new central park. Relaxed, with shirt collar open, he chatted up the head of the local Community Redevelopment Agency, spinninghis grand plans to redevelop a not-yet-gentrified block in the shadow of Florida’s Capitol.
The meeting was one of many Miller had with local elected officials and hot-shot developers, beginning in 2015, when he rolled into the steamy, Spanish-moss draped seat of Florida state government. More south Georgia than South Beach, Tallahassee was hungry for the likes of Miller, an out-of-towner willing to spend millions to revitalize downtown as the capital city ached to rebrand itself as a place open for business.
But Miller was not what he appeared. After spending nearly two years infiltrating the burgeoning ranks of up-and-coming entrepreneurs and wooing the town’s politicians over wine and tapas, he vanished.
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The meeting was one of many Miller had with local elected officials and hot-shot developers, beginning in 2015, when he rolled into the steamy, Spanish-moss draped seat of Florida state government. More south Georgia than South Beach, Tallahassee was hungry for the likes of Miller, an out-of-towner willing to spend millions to revitalize downtown as the capital city ached to rebrand itself as a place open for business.
But Miller was not what he appeared. After spending nearly two years infiltrating the burgeoning ranks of up-and-coming entrepreneurs and wooing the town’s politicians over wine and tapas, he vanished.
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The Best Places to See the Eclipse
For University of Idaho scientist Luigi Boschetti, that spot will be high in the Sawtooth Mountains with a stunning view of an alpine lake. When the eclipse reaches totality, he will be ready with solar glasses, a camera on a tripod, and a spectroradiometer that will measure which wavelengths of light vary the most as the Moon’s shadow passes.
Boschetti’s perch near Stanley, Idaho, will put him near the middle of the path of totality, the 70-mile-wide band of shadow that will move across the continental United States. People standing in this path will see the Moon completely cover the disk of the Sun, making it possible to temporarily see with the naked eye the semi-transparent corona.
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Aren't Landmarks, Plaques, Statues, Documents & Images Made To Educate In The First Place?
Not too long ago a white politician attempted to change the name of Negro Mountain because the name was “embarrassing and offensive.” He may well have succeeded if not for the efforts of a group of African American historians, who raised an outcry of “Don’t you dare!” Good for them.
The mountain was named by Thomas Cresap, circa 1756. Cresap was an early settler, who built a fort, and trading post on what was then the western frontier of Maryland. You probably won’t see his name in a school textbook, because someone famous didn’t write a silly poem about him. Cresap did a lot of trading with the Native Americans that frequented the area, and they referred to his trading post as “The big spoon,” because he was famed for feeding any and all who came. He was even invited to the council fires of one tribe, an honor seldom bestowed.
Tiger Woods DUI Arrest: Golfer Had Five Drugs in System, Toxicology Report Shows
The report says the five different drugs that were traced in his system were: Hydrocodone, an opioid pain medication; Hydromorphone, another type of painkiller; Alprazolam, an anxiety drug also under the brand name Xanax; Zolpidem, a sleep drug also under the brand name Ambien; and Delta-9 carboxy THC, which is found in marijuana.
The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office did not say whether Woods had prescriptions for all of the medications or medicinal marijuana, which is legal in Florida.
Earlier this month, Woods agreed to enter a diversion program that would see his driving under the influence charge dropped later this year.
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Inside The Opioid Crisis That You're Not Allowed To See
Earlier this month, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions unveiled a plan to go after doctors and pharmacies suspected of healthcare fraud by oversubscribing opioids. America’s opioid epidemic killed 33,000 people in 2015 making it the worst drug crisis in our history. Last week, President Donald Trump declared the opioid crisis a national emergency allowing the executive branch to direct funds towards treatment facilities and supplying police officers with naloxone.
As a socio-economist on the front lines of the opioid crisis in Baltimore, Maryland, I am about to take you through an opioid experience like you’ve never seen before. We’re going to travel into the inner city of Baltimore and interview current and former addicts of opioids and heroin. Some of these individuals used heroin 15-minutes before the cameras started rolling.
These individuals have never been given the chance to tell their story until now. Baltimore’s mainstream news is not allowed to share this because it breaks the narrative that everything is awesome. It turns out that Baltimore could have the largest methadone clinic in the United States called Turning Point Clinic. Each of the interviewees are current and past patients of the clinic and speak very negatively about it. A similar description of Baltimore is heard from each of the interviewees of a hellacious city with decades of deindustrialization, drug abuse, and violent crime.
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As a socio-economist on the front lines of the opioid crisis in Baltimore, Maryland, I am about to take you through an opioid experience like you’ve never seen before. We’re going to travel into the inner city of Baltimore and interview current and former addicts of opioids and heroin. Some of these individuals used heroin 15-minutes before the cameras started rolling.
These individuals have never been given the chance to tell their story until now. Baltimore’s mainstream news is not allowed to share this because it breaks the narrative that everything is awesome. It turns out that Baltimore could have the largest methadone clinic in the United States called Turning Point Clinic. Each of the interviewees are current and past patients of the clinic and speak very negatively about it. A similar description of Baltimore is heard from each of the interviewees of a hellacious city with decades of deindustrialization, drug abuse, and violent crime.
More/Video
The Truth About Robert E. Lee That Liberals Hope You Never Hear
The removal of a statue of Robert E. Lee was the flashpoint that brought white supremacists to Charlottesville, Virginia, and reignited a national debate over Confederate monuments. But what do most Americans know about the Confederate general?
Not enough, says George Rasley, editor of Conservative HQ — especially racists want to use Lee as a symbol of white supremacy and liberals want to see him erased from American history. In a Conservative HQ n op-ed titled “Misusing Robert E. Lee,” Rasley argues that both sides in the debate over Lee’s legacy miss that he opposed slavery and helped end the Civil War before it turned into a bloody guerrilla war.
Knowing Lee’s place in history is important, particularly as the left seeks to use him as a symbol of division. Progressives know that Lee has many defenders — and they also know that conservatives who stand up for Lee’s memory can be falsely painted as apologists for slavery and the old order of the Confederacy.
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Not enough, says George Rasley, editor of Conservative HQ — especially racists want to use Lee as a symbol of white supremacy and liberals want to see him erased from American history. In a Conservative HQ n op-ed titled “Misusing Robert E. Lee,” Rasley argues that both sides in the debate over Lee’s legacy miss that he opposed slavery and helped end the Civil War before it turned into a bloody guerrilla war.
Knowing Lee’s place in history is important, particularly as the left seeks to use him as a symbol of division. Progressives know that Lee has many defenders — and they also know that conservatives who stand up for Lee’s memory can be falsely painted as apologists for slavery and the old order of the Confederacy.
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Federal Judge Orders $281K Bond Before Hearing White Marlin Open Verdict Appeal
In June, a U.S. District Court judge ruled in favor of the White Marlin Open (WMO) and the other plaintiffs in a federal interpleader case against the supposed winner of the glamour white marlin division in the 2016 tournament. Angler Phil Heasley and the Kallianassa out of Naples, Fla. caught the only qualifying white marlin during the 2016 WMO and was symbolically awarded a tournament-record $2.8 million.
The prize money was withheld when questions about the time of the catch and subsequent deceptive polygraph examinations by Heasley and the Kallianassa captain and crew landed the case in U.S. District Court. In mid-June, after an eight-day trial, U.S. District Court Judge Richard Bennett ruled Heasley and the Kallianassa crew should be ineligible for the $2.8 million record prize because of the apparent rules violations regarding the time of catch and the failed polygraph exams and prize money should be redistributed to the winners in several other categories in the 2016 tournament.
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Should We Do The Same With Tilghman Road, NO!
Trump Blasts Reporters For One-Sided Charlottesville Reporting
President Donald Trump blasted establishment and left-wing media on Tuesday afternoon for failing to report the facts on violent left-wing protesters in Charlottesville, Virginia over the weekend.
In the main lobby of Trump Tower in New York City, the president grew combative after a throng of reporters started shouting questions about why he “waited” to specifically condemn neo-Nazis and white nationalists.
“There was no way of making a correct statement that early,” he said, defending his first statement on Saturday before the facts were in. “Unlike you and unlike the media, before I make a statement, I like to know the facts.”
As reporters grew more agitated, Trump continued defending his decision and condemning the media for their one sided reporting.
Trump again denounced racist elements among the protesters, including people supporting the KKK, neo-Nazis, and white nationalists, but clarified that he still believed that there was blame on both sides.
“I think there is blame on both sides,” Trump said. “I have no doubt about it and you don’t have any doubt about it either, and if you reported it accurately, you would say that.”
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In the main lobby of Trump Tower in New York City, the president grew combative after a throng of reporters started shouting questions about why he “waited” to specifically condemn neo-Nazis and white nationalists.
“There was no way of making a correct statement that early,” he said, defending his first statement on Saturday before the facts were in. “Unlike you and unlike the media, before I make a statement, I like to know the facts.”
As reporters grew more agitated, Trump continued defending his decision and condemning the media for their one sided reporting.
Trump again denounced racist elements among the protesters, including people supporting the KKK, neo-Nazis, and white nationalists, but clarified that he still believed that there was blame on both sides.
“I think there is blame on both sides,” Trump said. “I have no doubt about it and you don’t have any doubt about it either, and if you reported it accurately, you would say that.”
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Limbaugh to activists: ‘Get rid of the Democrat Party’
‘The Klan was all Democrats, and the segregationists in the South were all Democrats’
Radio host Rush Limbaugh has wry advice for activists targeting historical monuments to combat racism: “You’ve got to get rid of the Democrat Party.”
Criticism of the Jefferson Memorial by the Rev. Al Sharpton, coupled with the tearing down of Confederate monument in North Carolina this week, prompted a race monologue by the eponymous host of “The Rush Limbaugh Show” on Tuesday.
The man behind “the golden EIB microphone” told his millions of listeners that left-wing activists “cannot be mollified” by ridding the nation of Civil War monuments before jokingly laying out a blueprint for success.
“Their whole argument resides on the notion that it hasn’t changed, that there still is, for all intents and purposes, slavery. There still is racism. There still is bigotry,” Mr. Limbaugh said in response to Mr. Sharpton’s appearance Monday night on PBS host Charlie Rose’s show.
Mr. Sharpton called the Jefferson Memorial a “personal” affront akin to subsidizing insults towards his family.
More here
Radio host Rush Limbaugh has wry advice for activists targeting historical monuments to combat racism: “You’ve got to get rid of the Democrat Party.”
Criticism of the Jefferson Memorial by the Rev. Al Sharpton, coupled with the tearing down of Confederate monument in North Carolina this week, prompted a race monologue by the eponymous host of “The Rush Limbaugh Show” on Tuesday.
The man behind “the golden EIB microphone” told his millions of listeners that left-wing activists “cannot be mollified” by ridding the nation of Civil War monuments before jokingly laying out a blueprint for success.
“Their whole argument resides on the notion that it hasn’t changed, that there still is, for all intents and purposes, slavery. There still is racism. There still is bigotry,” Mr. Limbaugh said in response to Mr. Sharpton’s appearance Monday night on PBS host Charlie Rose’s show.
Mr. Sharpton called the Jefferson Memorial a “personal” affront akin to subsidizing insults towards his family.
More here
Report: Charlottesville Racist Leader Was Former Occupy Activist, Obama Supporter
The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) reports that Jason Kessler, the organizer of last Saturday’s white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, is rumored to be a former Occupy Wall Street activist and supporter of Barack Obama.
The left-wing SPLC is often partisan and overzealous in targeting hate groups, lumping legitimate conservative organizations together with actual extremists. Therefore its identification of Kessler’s left-wing roots is significant..
More details here
The left-wing SPLC is often partisan and overzealous in targeting hate groups, lumping legitimate conservative organizations together with actual extremists. Therefore its identification of Kessler’s left-wing roots is significant..
More details here
College student, 22, arrested for her role in toppling Confederate statue in North Carolina
Protesters topple confederate statue in Durham, NC
A college student was arrested Tuesday for toppling a nearly century-old statue of a Confederate soldier Monday in North Carolina in front of a cheering crowd.
WARNING: ARREST VIDEO CONTAINS PROFANITY
Takiya Thompson, 22, brought a ladder up to the statue and used a rope to pull down the Confederate Soldiers Monument that was dedicated in 1924, according to The Associated Press. A diverse crowd of dozens cheered as the statue of a soldier holding a rifle fell to the ground in front of an old courthouse building that now houses local government offices in Durham County.
Seconds after the monument fell, protesters began kicking the crumpled bronze monument.
“I’m tired of white supremacy keeping its foot on my neck and the necks of people who look like me,” Thompson said at a news conference. “That statue glorifies the conditions that oppressed people live in, and it had to go.”
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Gubernatorial Candidate Ben Jealous Among Arrests At Protest Outside White House
Kevin Harris, a campaign spokesman, said in an email that Jealous participated in an immigrant rights rally hosted by Maryland and Washington advocacy groups in support of the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. Jealous spoke at the event and led a march around the White House before he was taken into custody by United States Park Police.
"His actions today are consistent with his life-long work as a civil rights leader and community organizer, including his successful efforts to steer passage of the Maryland Dream Act," Harris said.
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‘Cowards’ Remove Confederate Statues, Says Black Fmr. Dallas Councilwoman
Former Dallas city councilwoman Sandra Crenshaw told a local CBS reporter, “I’m not intimidated by Robert E. Lee’s statue. I’m not intimidated by it. It doesn’t scare me.”
“We don’t want America to think that all African Americans are supportive of this,” Crenshaw said. She expressed that she believes the thoughts of those wanting to tear down these statues are “misguided.”
“Some people think that by taking a statue down, that’s going to erase racism,” she explained.
She is now joining with Buffalo Soldier historians and Sons of Confederate Veterans groups to protect the statues that many seek to tear down.
More here
Confederate Polls Taken On Facebook
