China and Russia appear to be planning to attack American military forces if they invade their ally North Korea, Newsweek reported Monday.
Newsweek cited two former military officials, including Lieutenant General Wang Hongguang, former deputy commander of China's Nanjing Military Region.
"[T]he war on the Korean Peninsula might break out anytime between now and March next year," Wang said Saturday at a conference hosted by The Global Times, the newspaper of China's ruling Communist Party.
On Sunday, the paper quoted military expert Song Zhongping as saying China could attack U.S. forces if they are perceived as a threat.
More
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Tuesday, December 19, 2017
Reporters Without Borders Says 65 Journalists Killed in 2017
A total of 65 journalists and media workers were killed in 2017, the lowest toll in 14 years, according to figures released on Tuesday by Reporters Without Borders.
The non-governmental organization said 60 percent of those killed were murdered. It added that 326 people working in media — including 202 professional journalists — are also being detained.
According to RSF, 26 people "were killed in the course of their work, the collateral victims of a deadly situation such as an air strike, an artillery bombardment, or a suicide bombing."
It said the remaining 39 "were murdered, and deliberately targeted because their reporting threatened political, economic, or criminal interests."
Overall, RSF said the decrease in deaths is due to journalists fleeing "countries such as Syria, Yemen and Libya that have become too dangerous." But it also noted "a growing awareness of the need to protect journalists."
More
The non-governmental organization said 60 percent of those killed were murdered. It added that 326 people working in media — including 202 professional journalists — are also being detained.
According to RSF, 26 people "were killed in the course of their work, the collateral victims of a deadly situation such as an air strike, an artillery bombardment, or a suicide bombing."
It said the remaining 39 "were murdered, and deliberately targeted because their reporting threatened political, economic, or criminal interests."
Overall, RSF said the decrease in deaths is due to journalists fleeing "countries such as Syria, Yemen and Libya that have become too dangerous." But it also noted "a growing awareness of the need to protect journalists."
More
FBI allegedly offered spy $50K to verity Trump dossier
Claims have resurfaced that the FBI offered the British spy behind the 'golden showers' dirty dossier $50,000 to corroborate his claims about now-President Donald Trump.
'I believe, just from examining the public sources, that the FBI offered Christopher Steele $50,000 if he could corroborate the dossier. He either couldn't, didn't, wouldn't, and they didn't pay him the money,' news analyst Andrew Napolitano told Stuart Varney on Fox Business Monday.
Former MI6 agent Steele's dossier claims the Russians possess compromising information that could be used to blackmail Trump, and alleges the Trump campaign colluded with Russia during the 2016 election.
Napolitano appears to be basing his claim on an April report from the New York Times, which cited two sources claiming that an FBI agent met Steele in Rome in October of 2016, just weeks before the presidential election.
The agent offered Steele $50,000 if he could get 'solid corroboration of his reports', which the FBI ultimately never paid out, the report said.
Last week, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein refused to tell the House Judiciary Committee whether the FBI had paid or offered to pay for the dossier.
More
'I believe, just from examining the public sources, that the FBI offered Christopher Steele $50,000 if he could corroborate the dossier. He either couldn't, didn't, wouldn't, and they didn't pay him the money,' news analyst Andrew Napolitano told Stuart Varney on Fox Business Monday.
Former MI6 agent Steele's dossier claims the Russians possess compromising information that could be used to blackmail Trump, and alleges the Trump campaign colluded with Russia during the 2016 election.
Napolitano appears to be basing his claim on an April report from the New York Times, which cited two sources claiming that an FBI agent met Steele in Rome in October of 2016, just weeks before the presidential election.
The agent offered Steele $50,000 if he could get 'solid corroboration of his reports', which the FBI ultimately never paid out, the report said.
Last week, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein refused to tell the House Judiciary Committee whether the FBI had paid or offered to pay for the dossier.
More
Charlottesville police chief retires after rally criticism
Charlottesville's police chief, who oversaw the department's widely criticized response to a violent white nationalist rally this summer, abruptly retired Monday, the city said.
In a brief statement, the city did not give a reason for Chief Al Thomas' departure.
Earlier this month, a former federal prosecutor released a report that was sharply critical of Thomas' 'slow-footed response' as the violence began to escalate on August 12, the day of the 'Unite the Right' rally that drew hundreds of white nationalists from across the country.
More
In a brief statement, the city did not give a reason for Chief Al Thomas' departure.
Earlier this month, a former federal prosecutor released a report that was sharply critical of Thomas' 'slow-footed response' as the violence began to escalate on August 12, the day of the 'Unite the Right' rally that drew hundreds of white nationalists from across the country.
More
Why Innocent Men Have to be Worried About the #MeToo Movement
“It now takes only one accusation to destroy a man’s life. Just one for him to be tried and sentenced in the court of public opinion, overnight costing him his livelihood and social respectability. We are on a frenzied extrajudicial warlock hunt that does not pause to parse the difference between rape and stupidity. The punishment for sexual harassment is so grave that clearly this crime—like any other serious crime—requires an unambiguous definition. We have nothing of the sort.” – Claire Berlinski
Men and women have different roles in the mating process. A man who isn’t willing to be the aggressor will likely spend his life alone. You’ve got to interpret signals to see if there’s a chance for you, then be willing to risk rejection, ask women out and instigate everything from the first date, to the first kiss, to the first sexual encounter to marriage if it gets that far. Granted, there are exceptions, but this is generally the role that men play.
On the other hand, most women play a much more passive role. They tend to give out subtle and oftentimes erratic signals, wait for men to come to them and then decide whether they will allow things to move forward.
Note that when I say “subtle and oftentimes erratic signals,” I am not kidding. Just to give you some real world examples of what that can entail…
* A woman may flirt with you solely because she wants the attention.
* A woman may just be habitually flirty.
* A woman may flirt with you despite having no intentions of going any further, because she already has a boyfriend, but wants an orbiter waiting in the wings just in case things don’t work out.
* A woman may be really flirty today, meet a guy tomorrow and then lose all interest.
* A woman may talk dirty to you like she’s ready to have sex; then when she arrives at your house, she loses her nerve.
* A woman may drink so that she can have sex, use the alcohol as an excuse and not feel like a slut later.
* A woman may say “no” to doing something physical now, change her mind 5 minutes later, and then allow things to go forward.
* A woman who would never go to your house specifically to have sex, will go because of the most laughable premise imaginable because that way, she can tell herself the “sex just happened” and she won’t feel like a slut.
* A woman may talk dirty, give every signal imaginable that she’s into you and still refuse to have sex because she has a three date rule.
Men and women have different roles in the mating process. A man who isn’t willing to be the aggressor will likely spend his life alone. You’ve got to interpret signals to see if there’s a chance for you, then be willing to risk rejection, ask women out and instigate everything from the first date, to the first kiss, to the first sexual encounter to marriage if it gets that far. Granted, there are exceptions, but this is generally the role that men play.
On the other hand, most women play a much more passive role. They tend to give out subtle and oftentimes erratic signals, wait for men to come to them and then decide whether they will allow things to move forward.
Note that when I say “subtle and oftentimes erratic signals,” I am not kidding. Just to give you some real world examples of what that can entail…
* A woman may flirt with you solely because she wants the attention.
* A woman may just be habitually flirty.
* A woman may flirt with you despite having no intentions of going any further, because she already has a boyfriend, but wants an orbiter waiting in the wings just in case things don’t work out.
* A woman may be really flirty today, meet a guy tomorrow and then lose all interest.
* A woman may talk dirty to you like she’s ready to have sex; then when she arrives at your house, she loses her nerve.
* A woman may drink so that she can have sex, use the alcohol as an excuse and not feel like a slut later.
* A woman may say “no” to doing something physical now, change her mind 5 minutes later, and then allow things to go forward.
* A woman who would never go to your house specifically to have sex, will go because of the most laughable premise imaginable because that way, she can tell herself the “sex just happened” and she won’t feel like a slut.
* A woman may talk dirty, give every signal imaginable that she’s into you and still refuse to have sex because she has a three date rule.
"These Are The Darkest Hours..."
The Tax “Reform” bill working its way painfully out the digestive system of congress like a sigmoid fistula, ought be re-named the US Asset-stripping Assistance Act of 2017, because that’s what is about to splatter the faces of the waiting public, most of whom won’t have a personal lobbyist / tax lawyer by their sides holding a protective tarpaulin during the climactic colonic burst of legislation.
Sssshhhh…. The media has not groked this, but the economy is actually collapsing, and the nova-like expansion of the stock markets is exactly the sort of action you might expect in a system getting ready to blow. Meanwhile, the more visible rise of the laughable scam known as crypto-currency, is like the plume of smoke coming out of Vesuvius around 79 AD — an amusing curiosity to the citizens of Pompeii below, going about their normal activities, eating pizza, buying slaves, making love — before hellfire rained down on them.
Whatever the corporate tax rate might be, it won’t be enough to rescue the Ponzi scheme that governing has become, with its implacable costs of empire. So the real aim here is to keep up appearances at all costs just a little while longer while the table scraps of a four-hundred-year-long New World banquet get tossed to the hogs of Wall Street and their accomplices. The catch is that even hogs busy fattening up don’t have a clue about their imminent slaughter.
More
Sssshhhh…. The media has not groked this, but the economy is actually collapsing, and the nova-like expansion of the stock markets is exactly the sort of action you might expect in a system getting ready to blow. Meanwhile, the more visible rise of the laughable scam known as crypto-currency, is like the plume of smoke coming out of Vesuvius around 79 AD — an amusing curiosity to the citizens of Pompeii below, going about their normal activities, eating pizza, buying slaves, making love — before hellfire rained down on them.
Whatever the corporate tax rate might be, it won’t be enough to rescue the Ponzi scheme that governing has become, with its implacable costs of empire. So the real aim here is to keep up appearances at all costs just a little while longer while the table scraps of a four-hundred-year-long New World banquet get tossed to the hogs of Wall Street and their accomplices. The catch is that even hogs busy fattening up don’t have a clue about their imminent slaughter.
More
FBI: Hillary's “Shadow Government” Buried Email Scandal
State Dept. offered FBI “quid pro quo” to reclassify Clinton emails
WASHINGTON, D.C. – A “shadow government” within John Kerry’s State Department was constituted to review all FOIA requests to prevent public disclosure of classified information Hillary Clinton may have transmitted over her private email server, FBI documents reveal.
The newly released “FBI Vault” release on Hillary Clinton makes clear Clinton “fixer” in the State Department, Deputy Secretary of State Patrick F. Kennedy, pressured the FBI to downgrade the classification status of various Clinton emails from “classified” to “unclassified,” offering the FBI a “quid pro quo” in exchange for the FBI agreeing to cooperate in the subterfuge.
The Clinton documents released in the FBI Vault are the source documents that led to reports published by the Washington Post in an Oct. 17, 2016 report that State Department official Kennedy had pressured the BI “to change its determination that at least one of the emails on Hillary Clinton’s private server contained classified content, prompting discussion of a possible trade to resolve the issue, two FBI employees told colleagues investigating Clinton’s use of a private server last year.”
More
WASHINGTON, D.C. – A “shadow government” within John Kerry’s State Department was constituted to review all FOIA requests to prevent public disclosure of classified information Hillary Clinton may have transmitted over her private email server, FBI documents reveal.
The newly released “FBI Vault” release on Hillary Clinton makes clear Clinton “fixer” in the State Department, Deputy Secretary of State Patrick F. Kennedy, pressured the FBI to downgrade the classification status of various Clinton emails from “classified” to “unclassified,” offering the FBI a “quid pro quo” in exchange for the FBI agreeing to cooperate in the subterfuge.
The Clinton documents released in the FBI Vault are the source documents that led to reports published by the Washington Post in an Oct. 17, 2016 report that State Department official Kennedy had pressured the BI “to change its determination that at least one of the emails on Hillary Clinton’s private server contained classified content, prompting discussion of a possible trade to resolve the issue, two FBI employees told colleagues investigating Clinton’s use of a private server last year.”
More
Washington Post Investigation: DEA Agents Livid Obama Administration Minimized Their Opioid Case
Can you guess what names do not appear in this article? Neither Barack Obama nor Loretta Lynch. Had this ocurred fully under a Republican President, the Blamestorming would have been epic. In fact, they almost make it seem as if it was Trump’s DOJ which settled this case, instead of prosecuting it, early on
‘We feel like our system was hijacked’: DEA agents say a huge opioid case ended in a whimper
After two years of painstaking investigation, David Schiller and the rest of the Drug Enforcement Administration team he supervised were ready to move on the biggest opioid distribution case in U.S. history.
The team, based out of the DEA’s Denver field division, had been examining the operations of the nation’s largest drug company, McKesson Corp. By 2014, investigators said they could show that the company had failed to report suspicious orders involving millions of highly addictive painkillers sent to drugstores from Sacramento, Calif., to Lakeland, Fla. Some of those went to corrupt pharmacies that supplied drug rings.
The investigators were ready to come down hard on the fifth-largest public corporation in America, according to a joint investigation by The Washington Post and “60 Minutes.” (WT: this article is well worth the read, which includes an interview with retired DEA Agent David Schiller)
The DEA team — nine field divisions working with 12 U.S. attorney’s offices across 11 states — wanted to revoke registrations to distribute controlled substances at some of McKesson’s 30 drug warehouses. Schiller and members of his team wanted to fine the company more than $1 billion. More than anything else, they wanted to bring the first-ever criminal case against a drug distribution company, maybe even walk an executive in handcuffs out of McKesson’s towering San Francisco headquarters to send a message to the rest of the industry.
“This is the best case we’ve ever had against a major distributor in the history of the Drug Enforcement Administration,” said Schiller, who recently retired as assistant special agent in charge of DEA’s Denver field division after a 30-year career with the agency. “I said, ‘How do we not go after the number one organization?’ ”
But it didn’t work out that way.
More
‘We feel like our system was hijacked’: DEA agents say a huge opioid case ended in a whimper
After two years of painstaking investigation, David Schiller and the rest of the Drug Enforcement Administration team he supervised were ready to move on the biggest opioid distribution case in U.S. history.
The team, based out of the DEA’s Denver field division, had been examining the operations of the nation’s largest drug company, McKesson Corp. By 2014, investigators said they could show that the company had failed to report suspicious orders involving millions of highly addictive painkillers sent to drugstores from Sacramento, Calif., to Lakeland, Fla. Some of those went to corrupt pharmacies that supplied drug rings.
The investigators were ready to come down hard on the fifth-largest public corporation in America, according to a joint investigation by The Washington Post and “60 Minutes.” (WT: this article is well worth the read, which includes an interview with retired DEA Agent David Schiller)
The DEA team — nine field divisions working with 12 U.S. attorney’s offices across 11 states — wanted to revoke registrations to distribute controlled substances at some of McKesson’s 30 drug warehouses. Schiller and members of his team wanted to fine the company more than $1 billion. More than anything else, they wanted to bring the first-ever criminal case against a drug distribution company, maybe even walk an executive in handcuffs out of McKesson’s towering San Francisco headquarters to send a message to the rest of the industry.
“This is the best case we’ve ever had against a major distributor in the history of the Drug Enforcement Administration,” said Schiller, who recently retired as assistant special agent in charge of DEA’s Denver field division after a 30-year career with the agency. “I said, ‘How do we not go after the number one organization?’ ”
But it didn’t work out that way.
More
Escalating the War on Christmas at the University of Minnesota
Everything that reminds progressives of Christmas must be suppressed, even wrapped packages:
An academic department at the University of Minnesota declared that “bows/wrapped gifts” are “not appropriate for gatherings and displays at this time of year.”
According a copy of the guidelines obtained by Campus Reform, UMN’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS) encouraged its employees “to recognize holidays in ways that are respectful of the diversity of our community” …
As we all know by now, being respectful of diversity means ruthlessly repressing the culture of the core population. This cultural Marxist objective, as much as hatred of Christianity, drives the War on Christmas.
More
An academic department at the University of Minnesota declared that “bows/wrapped gifts” are “not appropriate for gatherings and displays at this time of year.”
According a copy of the guidelines obtained by Campus Reform, UMN’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS) encouraged its employees “to recognize holidays in ways that are respectful of the diversity of our community” …
As we all know by now, being respectful of diversity means ruthlessly repressing the culture of the core population. This cultural Marxist objective, as much as hatred of Christianity, drives the War on Christmas.
More
Alcee Hastings Named Top Ethics Violator for Maxed Out Congressional Payments to Girlfriend
A government watchdog group has named Rep. Alcee Hastings (D., Fla.) one of the top ethics violators of the year for his continued maxed out congressional payments to his longtime girlfriend, based on reporting from the Washington Free Beacon.
The Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust (FACT), a Washington, D.C.-based watchdog group, released the list of its top five ethics violators on Monday that includes the unknown members of Congress who are tied to sexual harassment settlement funds, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz for employing a House IT aide under criminal investigation, Rep. John Lewis for employing and compensating his current chief of staff as a campaign treasurer, Rep. Hastings for his lucrative congressional payments to his girlfriend, and the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and DNC Chair Tom Perez for illegally transferring funds from his campaign committee to his former opponents.
The Free Beacon previously reported that Hastings was paying Patricia Williams, his longtime girlfriend who served as his co-counsel during his impeachment trail as a federal judge in the 1980's, the maximum congressional salary of $168,411 to work as the deputy district director in his in Broward County, Fla., office.
More
The Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust (FACT), a Washington, D.C.-based watchdog group, released the list of its top five ethics violators on Monday that includes the unknown members of Congress who are tied to sexual harassment settlement funds, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz for employing a House IT aide under criminal investigation, Rep. John Lewis for employing and compensating his current chief of staff as a campaign treasurer, Rep. Hastings for his lucrative congressional payments to his girlfriend, and the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and DNC Chair Tom Perez for illegally transferring funds from his campaign committee to his former opponents.
The Free Beacon previously reported that Hastings was paying Patricia Williams, his longtime girlfriend who served as his co-counsel during his impeachment trail as a federal judge in the 1980's, the maximum congressional salary of $168,411 to work as the deputy district director in his in Broward County, Fla., office.
More
Report: Obama Let Hezbollah Run Drugs And Arms To Get The Bad Iran Deal
Yesterday, we found out that the Obama DOJ and high levels of the DEA spiked a DEA investigation into a big opioid maker. Now we find, via Politico (glad they can tell us this stuff now), that the Obama administration spiked another investigation involving the DEA, along with other agencies. Ed Morrissey writes
Did the current administration “collude” with Russia? So far no evidence at all has emerged to support that hypothesis, but Politico’s Josh Meyer digs deep into another curious set of circumstances in the Obama White House and its own operations with a foreign power. Perhaps the media will start asking whether the previous administration colluded with Iran to let terrorists and drug dealers go free in order to score one of the worst deals ever in international relations.
Before Barack Obama decided to pursue the nuclear deal with Iran, the DEA had a major operation called Project Cassandra. This operation had identified Hezbollah as a major supplier of cocaine to the US and other countries, along with its usual terrorist activities on behalf of its sponsors in Tehran. The DEA and FBI had built criminal cases against major players in Hezbollah’s drug and arms networks, succeeding in getting sealed indictments and finding witnesses for prosecution.
It was pretty much a slam dunk case. But, Obama wanted his deal, regardless of how much it helped Iran and Hezzbollah
More
Did the current administration “collude” with Russia? So far no evidence at all has emerged to support that hypothesis, but Politico’s Josh Meyer digs deep into another curious set of circumstances in the Obama White House and its own operations with a foreign power. Perhaps the media will start asking whether the previous administration colluded with Iran to let terrorists and drug dealers go free in order to score one of the worst deals ever in international relations.
Before Barack Obama decided to pursue the nuclear deal with Iran, the DEA had a major operation called Project Cassandra. This operation had identified Hezbollah as a major supplier of cocaine to the US and other countries, along with its usual terrorist activities on behalf of its sponsors in Tehran. The DEA and FBI had built criminal cases against major players in Hezbollah’s drug and arms networks, succeeding in getting sealed indictments and finding witnesses for prosecution.
It was pretty much a slam dunk case. But, Obama wanted his deal, regardless of how much it helped Iran and Hezzbollah
More
The RussiaGate Witch-Hunt: Stockman Names Names In The Deep State's "Insurance Policy"
There was a sinister plot to meddle in the 2016 election, after all. But it was not orchestrated from the Kremlin; it was an entirely homegrown affair conducted from the inner sanctums---the White House, DOJ, the Hoover Building and Langley----of the Imperial City.
Likewise, the perpetrators didn't speak Russian or write in the Cyrillic script. In fact, they were lifetime beltway insiders occupying the highest positions of power in the US government.
Here are the names and rank of the principal conspirators: John Brennan, CIA director; Susan Rice, National Security Advisor; Samantha Power, UN Ambassador; James Clapper, Director of National Intelligence; James Comey, FBI director; Andrew McCabe, Deputy FBI director; Sally Yates, deputy Attorney General, Bruce Ohr, associate deputy AG; Peter Strzok, deputy assistant director of FBI counterintelligence; Lisa Page, FBI lawyer; and countless other lessor and greater poobahs of Washington power, including President Obama himself.
To a person, the participants in this illicit cabal shared the core trait that made Obama such a blight on the nation's well-being. To wit, he never held an honest job outside the halls of government in his entire adult life; and as a careerist agent of the state and practitioner of its purported goods works, he exuded a sanctimonious disdain for everyday citizens who make their living along the capitalist highways and by-ways of America.
The above cast of election-meddlers, of course, comes from the same mold. If Wikipedia is roughly correct, just these 10 named perpetrators have punched in about 300 years of post-graduate employment---and 260 of those years (87%) were on government payrolls or government contractor jobs.
As to whether they shared Obama's political class arrogance, Peter Strzok left nothing to the imagination in his now celebrated texts to his gal-pal, Lisa Page:
More
Likewise, the perpetrators didn't speak Russian or write in the Cyrillic script. In fact, they were lifetime beltway insiders occupying the highest positions of power in the US government.
Here are the names and rank of the principal conspirators: John Brennan, CIA director; Susan Rice, National Security Advisor; Samantha Power, UN Ambassador; James Clapper, Director of National Intelligence; James Comey, FBI director; Andrew McCabe, Deputy FBI director; Sally Yates, deputy Attorney General, Bruce Ohr, associate deputy AG; Peter Strzok, deputy assistant director of FBI counterintelligence; Lisa Page, FBI lawyer; and countless other lessor and greater poobahs of Washington power, including President Obama himself.
To a person, the participants in this illicit cabal shared the core trait that made Obama such a blight on the nation's well-being. To wit, he never held an honest job outside the halls of government in his entire adult life; and as a careerist agent of the state and practitioner of its purported goods works, he exuded a sanctimonious disdain for everyday citizens who make their living along the capitalist highways and by-ways of America.
The above cast of election-meddlers, of course, comes from the same mold. If Wikipedia is roughly correct, just these 10 named perpetrators have punched in about 300 years of post-graduate employment---and 260 of those years (87%) were on government payrolls or government contractor jobs.
As to whether they shared Obama's political class arrogance, Peter Strzok left nothing to the imagination in his now celebrated texts to his gal-pal, Lisa Page:
More
French Mayors Panic As Migrants Overwhelm Cities, Beg Macron For Help
Mayors from seven major French cities overwhelmed by the flow of migrants, have written a joint letter to Paris published in LeMonde on Saturday, begging the government to step in and help.
According to the letter, the cities of Lille, Bordeaux, Strasbourg, Grenoble, Rennes, Toulousa and Nantes are taking in "several thousand" refugees per month, which the mayors say is causing a social emergency as they are "backed up against a wall" and "completely saturated" by a seemingly endless flood of asylum seekers.
The year 2017 ends with a massive rise in the demand for asylum and the arrival of newcomers puts extreme tension - particularly with the onset of the cold wave - of the classic public and institutional policies. In a proportion never before known, the mechanisms allocated to housing asylum seekers, led by the State, often with the support of our communities, are indeed completely saturated, despite the steady increase the number of places ... The evidence is there, before our eyes, in our streets, in homes and shelters: there is urgency.
Every month, several thousand people arrive in our cities. Integrating those recognized as refugees and helping those who have lost their right of asylum who still remain in our territory is a major issue. -Le Monde (translated)
More
According to the letter, the cities of Lille, Bordeaux, Strasbourg, Grenoble, Rennes, Toulousa and Nantes are taking in "several thousand" refugees per month, which the mayors say is causing a social emergency as they are "backed up against a wall" and "completely saturated" by a seemingly endless flood of asylum seekers.
The year 2017 ends with a massive rise in the demand for asylum and the arrival of newcomers puts extreme tension - particularly with the onset of the cold wave - of the classic public and institutional policies. In a proportion never before known, the mechanisms allocated to housing asylum seekers, led by the State, often with the support of our communities, are indeed completely saturated, despite the steady increase the number of places ... The evidence is there, before our eyes, in our streets, in homes and shelters: there is urgency.
Every month, several thousand people arrive in our cities. Integrating those recognized as refugees and helping those who have lost their right of asylum who still remain in our territory is a major issue. -Le Monde (translated)
More
On This Day In History, President Bill Clinton Was Impeached Dec. 19th 1998
In November 1995, Clinton began an affair with Monica Lewinsky, a 21-year-old unpaid intern. Over the course of a year and a half, the president and Lewinsky had nearly a dozen sexual encounters in the White House. In April 1996, Lewinsky was transferred to the Pentagon. That summer, she first confided in Pentagon co-worker Linda Tripp about her sexual relationship with the president. In 1997, with the relationship over, Tripp began secretly to record conversations with Lewinsky, in which Lewinsky gave Tripp details about the affair.
In December, lawyers for Paula Jones, who was suing the president on sexual harassment charges, subpoenaed Lewinsky. In January 1998, allegedly under the recommendation of the president, Lewinsky filed an affidavit in which she denied ever having had a sexual relationship with him. Five days later, Tripp contacted the office of Kenneth Starr, the Whitewater independent counsel, to talk about Lewinsky and the tapes she made of their conversations. Tripp, wired by FBI agents working with Starr, met with Lewinsky again, and on January 16, Lewinsky was taken by FBI agents and U.S. attorneys to a hotel room where she was questioned and offered immunity if she cooperated with the prosecution. A few days later, the story broke, and Clinton publicly denied the allegations, saying, “I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Ms. Lewinsky.”
More
NTSB: Amtrak Washington Train Was Traveling At 80 MPH In 30 MPH Zone
The National Transportation Safety Board says an Amtrak passenger train that derailed from an overpass south of Tacoma, Wash., leaving at least three people dead, was traveling at 80 mph in a 30 mph zone.
At a news conference late Monday Pacific Time, NTSB board member Bella Dinh-Zarr said that the speed of the train at the time of the accident had been determined by downloading the Event Data Recorder from the train's rear locomotive.
More
At a news conference late Monday Pacific Time, NTSB board member Bella Dinh-Zarr said that the speed of the train at the time of the accident had been determined by downloading the Event Data Recorder from the train's rear locomotive.
More
The Real Victim Is the IRS?
Did you know that conservative activists are politically targeting government to the point of making bureaucracy ineffective? That’s what The Washington Post alleges in a story that may as well have been written by infamous former IRS agent Lois Lerner. “Years of conservative attacks on the Internal Revenue Service have greatly diminished the ability of agency regulators to oversee political activity by charities and other nonprofits,” the Post tells us. Cue the world’s smallest violin.
The paper does go on to note the IRS’s Tea Party targeting, albeit with scare quotes: “It represents a success for conservatives who have long sought to scale back the IRS and shrink the federal government. They capitalized on revelations in 2013 that IRS officials focused inappropriately on tea party and other conservative groups based on their names and policy positions, rather than on their political activity, in assessing their applications for tax-exempt status. Among conservatives, the episode has come to be known as the ‘IRS targeting scandal.’”
More here
The paper does go on to note the IRS’s Tea Party targeting, albeit with scare quotes: “It represents a success for conservatives who have long sought to scale back the IRS and shrink the federal government. They capitalized on revelations in 2013 that IRS officials focused inappropriately on tea party and other conservative groups based on their names and policy positions, rather than on their political activity, in assessing their applications for tax-exempt status. Among conservatives, the episode has come to be known as the ‘IRS targeting scandal.’”
More here
REPORT: Rancher Target Of Aggressive Raid
An investigation into the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) handling of the 2014 Nevada standoff with rancher Cliven Bundy revealed “incredible bias,” widespread misconduct and likely illegal actions by the BLM.
Prosecutors shared the report with the Bundys’ defense attorneys, prompting a petition to Judge Gloria Navarro for a mistrial, or for the case to be dismissed altogether, The Oregonian reports. Navarro’s judgement is expected to come down Wednesday.
“It’s time for our men to go home and start making a living for their families,” Carol Bundy, Cliven Bundy’s wife, told The Daily Caller News Foundation. “We’re two years behind. We’ve got a lot of catching up to do.”
More
Prosecutors shared the report with the Bundys’ defense attorneys, prompting a petition to Judge Gloria Navarro for a mistrial, or for the case to be dismissed altogether, The Oregonian reports. Navarro’s judgement is expected to come down Wednesday.
“It’s time for our men to go home and start making a living for their families,” Carol Bundy, Cliven Bundy’s wife, told The Daily Caller News Foundation. “We’re two years behind. We’ve got a lot of catching up to do.”
More
Time to rethink incinerator subsidy
A generation ago, waste-to-energy was a pretty attractive option if it meant less reliance on costly solid waste landfills to receive trash and coal-fired power plants to generate electricity. So it made sense not only to permit a facility like Baltimore’s Wheelabrator incinerator but to subsidize it.
Times have changed.
As The Sun’s Scott Dance reports in the second in his series of articles about questions surrounding Maryland’s green energy policies, the view of the South Baltimore trash-burning facility near Russell Street and Interstate 95 is quite different. Not only is there growing opposition from neighbors because of the toxic substances that pour out of its smokestack, but the notion that a trash incinerator ought to be subsidized by ratepayers — to the tune of $10 million over the last six years alone — seems counter-productive.
In 1985, when BRESCO first came on line, the prospects for renewable energy seemed limited. Solar power was mostly a novelty (thin-film photovoltaic cells hadn’t even been invented yet), and half the world’s wind power was generated at one facility: Altamont Pass in Northern California. It was also a peak year for U.S. coal consumption with nearly 60 percent of power generated by coal, a number that’s fallen below 40 percent today.
More
Times have changed.
As The Sun’s Scott Dance reports in the second in his series of articles about questions surrounding Maryland’s green energy policies, the view of the South Baltimore trash-burning facility near Russell Street and Interstate 95 is quite different. Not only is there growing opposition from neighbors because of the toxic substances that pour out of its smokestack, but the notion that a trash incinerator ought to be subsidized by ratepayers — to the tune of $10 million over the last six years alone — seems counter-productive.
In 1985, when BRESCO first came on line, the prospects for renewable energy seemed limited. Solar power was mostly a novelty (thin-film photovoltaic cells hadn’t even been invented yet), and half the world’s wind power was generated at one facility: Altamont Pass in Northern California. It was also a peak year for U.S. coal consumption with nearly 60 percent of power generated by coal, a number that’s fallen below 40 percent today.
More
HOUSE PASSES TAX BILL
The House on Tuesday approved the most sweeping tax overhaul in decades, voting along party lines to enact deep and permanent tax cuts for corporations and temporary cuts for individuals. The vote puts Republicans one Senate vote and one presidential signature away from their first significant legislative achievement.
The Senate is expected to approve the $1.5 trillion tax bill on Tuesday night or Wednesday, clearing the way for President Trump to sign it into law by Christmas.
House Speaker Paul D. Ryan of Wisconsin, speaking on the House floor, called the vote “a turning point” saying “this is our chance, this is our moment.”
Passage of the bill came over the strenuous objections of Democrats in both the House and the Senate, who have accused Republicans of giving a gift to corporations and the wealthy and driving up the federal debt in the process. The final vote tally can be found here.
Twelve House Republicans also voted no on the bill, including lawmakers from high-tax states like New York, New Jersey and California.
More
The Senate is expected to approve the $1.5 trillion tax bill on Tuesday night or Wednesday, clearing the way for President Trump to sign it into law by Christmas.
House Speaker Paul D. Ryan of Wisconsin, speaking on the House floor, called the vote “a turning point” saying “this is our chance, this is our moment.”
Passage of the bill came over the strenuous objections of Democrats in both the House and the Senate, who have accused Republicans of giving a gift to corporations and the wealthy and driving up the federal debt in the process. The final vote tally can be found here.
Twelve House Republicans also voted no on the bill, including lawmakers from high-tax states like New York, New Jersey and California.
More
Update On Missing Person...
UPDATE: On 12/19/2017, McCullough was located in Delaware. She was transported to Nanticoke Memorial for treatment, and her condition is unknown at this time. No further information is available.
Lockheed Martin plans supersonic business jet
Bethesda-based Lockheed Martin Corporation has signed a memorandum of understanding with Las Vegas-based Aerion Corporation that could bring a supersonic business jet Aerion has been developing to market within seven years.
WASHINGTON — Bethesda-based Lockheed Martin Corporation has signed a memorandum of understanding with Las Vegas-based Aerion Corporation that could bring a supersonic business jet Aerion has been developing to market within seven years.
Aerion has developed advanced aerodynamics and structural designs of its AS2 through a previous engineering collaboration agreement with Airbus. That led to Aerion’s preliminary wing and airframe designs, systems layout and preliminary fly-by-wire flight control system for the AS2.
Under the one-year Lockheed partnership, the two will develop a framework for further development of the AS2, including engineering, certification and production.
“Following our initial review of Aerion’s aerodynamic technology, our conclusion is that the Aerion AS2 concept warrants the further investment of our time and resources,” said Orlando Carvalho, executive vice president of Lockheed Martin Aerodynamics.
Separately, Bloomberg News reported Friday that Aerion would sell up to $200 million in debt to fund the jet’s design phase.
More
WASHINGTON — Bethesda-based Lockheed Martin Corporation has signed a memorandum of understanding with Las Vegas-based Aerion Corporation that could bring a supersonic business jet Aerion has been developing to market within seven years.
Aerion has developed advanced aerodynamics and structural designs of its AS2 through a previous engineering collaboration agreement with Airbus. That led to Aerion’s preliminary wing and airframe designs, systems layout and preliminary fly-by-wire flight control system for the AS2.
Under the one-year Lockheed partnership, the two will develop a framework for further development of the AS2, including engineering, certification and production.
“Following our initial review of Aerion’s aerodynamic technology, our conclusion is that the Aerion AS2 concept warrants the further investment of our time and resources,” said Orlando Carvalho, executive vice president of Lockheed Martin Aerodynamics.
Separately, Bloomberg News reported Friday that Aerion would sell up to $200 million in debt to fund the jet’s design phase.
More
Exclusive: Why Paul Ryan Is Resigning
DC insiders reveal two reasons for Ryan’s exit
House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.) is resigning due to potential fallout over the debunked Russia dossier now threatening to take down high-level FBI officials as well as the brewing scandal involving former House IT staffer Imran Awan.
Ryan, who was never a fan of Donald Trump, isn’t far removed from the key players involved in the dossier, including GOP super donor Paul Singer, whose web site, the Washington Free Beacon, was reportedly the first to hire dossier maker Fusion GPS to probe Trump’s background.
The FBI may have used the dossier, which claimed Trump had “golden shower” parties with foreign hookers, as “justification” to spy on Trump’s presidential campaign.
More
House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.) is resigning due to potential fallout over the debunked Russia dossier now threatening to take down high-level FBI officials as well as the brewing scandal involving former House IT staffer Imran Awan.
Ryan, who was never a fan of Donald Trump, isn’t far removed from the key players involved in the dossier, including GOP super donor Paul Singer, whose web site, the Washington Free Beacon, was reportedly the first to hire dossier maker Fusion GPS to probe Trump’s background.
The FBI may have used the dossier, which claimed Trump had “golden shower” parties with foreign hookers, as “justification” to spy on Trump’s presidential campaign.
More
Police: Man Robs Woman Of $2 After Helping Her Carry Groceries
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — Police are looking for a man who they said robbed a woman inside an elevator in Harlem after helping her with her groceries.
The incident was captured on surveillance video. It happened just before 4 p.m. Saturday in the area of West 122 Street and Manhattan Avenue.
Police said the man first helped 74-year-old Betsy Brady carry groceries into the lobby of her building.
“I said thank you several times, ‘Oh, thank you very much for the help,'” Brady told CBS2’s Reena Roy.
He then followed her into the elevator, where investigators said he demanded all of her money.
“I was just about to ask him what floor and he said, ‘no don’t make any noise just give me your money,'” Brady said. “I said I don’t really have any money.”
More
The incident was captured on surveillance video. It happened just before 4 p.m. Saturday in the area of West 122 Street and Manhattan Avenue.
Police said the man first helped 74-year-old Betsy Brady carry groceries into the lobby of her building.
“I said thank you several times, ‘Oh, thank you very much for the help,'” Brady told CBS2’s Reena Roy.
He then followed her into the elevator, where investigators said he demanded all of her money.
“I was just about to ask him what floor and he said, ‘no don’t make any noise just give me your money,'” Brady said. “I said I don’t really have any money.”
More
"Corker Kickback" Scandal Grows As Orrin Hatch Suddenly 'Misremembers' When Provision Was Added
Late last week, the GOP tax reform legislation looked to be a done deal after Senator Corker (R-TN) - who has publicly feuded with President Trump and famously compared the West Wing to an "adult daycare center" - announced he would support the tax bill after previously voting against it.
Then, Corker's sudden change of heart took another surprising turn when it was discovered over the weekend that it came only after new language was inserted that could be worth roughly $1 million to him personally...language which has since been dubbed the "Corker Kickback".
Now, adding to a scandal that Democrats will undoubtedly attempt to leverage in their last minute efforts to block tax reform, Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) admits that he drafted the controversial language that helped flip Corker to a 'yes' vote, but his memory is a little more 'fuzzy' when it comes to recalling whether or not the provision was already incorporated in previous versions of the bill. Despite Hatch's insistence that a similar provision was passed in the House version of the GOP's tax bill, tax experts interviewed by the International Business Times say that's simply not true:
More
Then, Corker's sudden change of heart took another surprising turn when it was discovered over the weekend that it came only after new language was inserted that could be worth roughly $1 million to him personally...language which has since been dubbed the "Corker Kickback".
Now, adding to a scandal that Democrats will undoubtedly attempt to leverage in their last minute efforts to block tax reform, Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) admits that he drafted the controversial language that helped flip Corker to a 'yes' vote, but his memory is a little more 'fuzzy' when it comes to recalling whether or not the provision was already incorporated in previous versions of the bill. Despite Hatch's insistence that a similar provision was passed in the House version of the GOP's tax bill, tax experts interviewed by the International Business Times say that's simply not true:
More
Docudrama Shot On Assateague To Air Next Week
On Dec. 26, “The Sultan and the Saint,” a historical film that dramatizes the dialogues between St. Francis of Assisi and Sultan Muhammad Al-Kamil during the Fifth Crusade, will air on national television.
Earlier last year, Baltimore-based Unity Productions Foundation began filming parts of the docudrama on the beaches of Assateague Island. Over the course of several days, filmmakers transformed the barrier island into the port city of Damietta, Egypt, where hundreds of locals were cast as clashing crusaders and Muslim armies.
“The Sultan and the Saint” tells the little-known story of St. Francis of Assisi and Egyptian Sultan Muhammad Al-Kamil, two men of different faiths who met on a bloody battlefield and found common ground. The film takes place in 1219 during the height of the crusades – a religious war between Muslims and Christians – and depicts the compassion of both St. Francis and Al-Kamil during an attack on Damietta, Egypt.
More
MAGA-- Black Unemployment Rate Lowest in 17 Years
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics( BLS), the unemployment rate for black Americans is the lowest it has been since the year 2000, 17 years ago.
In November, the national unemployment rate for black Americans, ages 16 and over, was 7.3%.
The last time it was 7.3% was in the year 2000, during the months September, October and November.
During the Bush and Obama years (2001 -2016), the black unemployment rate fluctuated between 7.7% and a high of 16.8%.
More here
In November, the national unemployment rate for black Americans, ages 16 and over, was 7.3%.
The last time it was 7.3% was in the year 2000, during the months September, October and November.
During the Bush and Obama years (2001 -2016), the black unemployment rate fluctuated between 7.7% and a high of 16.8%.
More here
US judge steps down after accusations of sexual misconduct
A prominent U.S. appeals court judge announced his retirement Monday days after women alleged he subjected them to inappropriate sexual conduct or comments.
Judge Alex Kozinski of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said in a statement that a battle over the accusations would not be good for the judiciary. He said he'll step down, effective immediately.
The Washington Post reported last week that at least 15 women made allegations against Kozinski that go back decades. The allegations include inappropriate touching and lewd comments.
Kozinski, 67, was chief judge of the 9th Circuit, the largest federal appeals court circuit in the country, from 2007 to 2014. He is known for his irreverent opinions, and his clerks often win prestigious clerkships at the U.S. Supreme Court.
Kozinski's retirement leaves five seats open on the 9th Circuit, with two more judges already having announced their intention to retire next year. That gives President Donald Trump potentially seven seats to fill on the largest and most liberal appeals court in the country.
Even if all those judgeships are filled, however, Democratic appointees still will maintain a healthy majority on the court with 17 of the 29 seats.
More here
Judge Alex Kozinski of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said in a statement that a battle over the accusations would not be good for the judiciary. He said he'll step down, effective immediately.
The Washington Post reported last week that at least 15 women made allegations against Kozinski that go back decades. The allegations include inappropriate touching and lewd comments.
Kozinski, 67, was chief judge of the 9th Circuit, the largest federal appeals court circuit in the country, from 2007 to 2014. He is known for his irreverent opinions, and his clerks often win prestigious clerkships at the U.S. Supreme Court.
Kozinski's retirement leaves five seats open on the 9th Circuit, with two more judges already having announced their intention to retire next year. That gives President Donald Trump potentially seven seats to fill on the largest and most liberal appeals court in the country.
Even if all those judgeships are filled, however, Democratic appointees still will maintain a healthy majority on the court with 17 of the 29 seats.
More here
Holder, liberal activists gear up for Mueller 'firing' with elaborate protest plans
Obama officials and liberal activists already are calling for organized protests to defend the “Republic” if President Trump fires Special Counsel Robert Mueller — even though the commander-in-chief says he has no plans to do so.
Republican frustration over Mueller’s probe has indeed intensified in recent weeks amid allegations of bias on his investigative team. Complaints have focused lately on the disclosure of anti-Trump text messages between two former Mueller investigators.
But the burst of warnings about a Mueller firing -- which Trump denies -- stems in part from an unconfirmed rumor. Democratic California Rep. Jackie Speier claimed Friday that “the rumor on the Hill” was Trump would fire Mueller at the end of this week, after lawmakers leave D.C. for the recess.
Eric Holder, former President Barack Obama's first attorney general, tweeted an all-caps warning that this would cross a “RED LINE” triggering demonstrations.
“Speaking on behalf of the vast majority of the American people, Republicans in Congress be forewarned: any attempt to remove Bob Mueller will not be tolerated. These are BS attacks on him/his staff that are blatantly political–designed to hide the real wrongdoing. Country not party,” Holder tweeted last Thursday.
More here
Republican frustration over Mueller’s probe has indeed intensified in recent weeks amid allegations of bias on his investigative team. Complaints have focused lately on the disclosure of anti-Trump text messages between two former Mueller investigators.
But the burst of warnings about a Mueller firing -- which Trump denies -- stems in part from an unconfirmed rumor. Democratic California Rep. Jackie Speier claimed Friday that “the rumor on the Hill” was Trump would fire Mueller at the end of this week, after lawmakers leave D.C. for the recess.
Eric Holder, former President Barack Obama's first attorney general, tweeted an all-caps warning that this would cross a “RED LINE” triggering demonstrations.
“Speaking on behalf of the vast majority of the American people, Republicans in Congress be forewarned: any attempt to remove Bob Mueller will not be tolerated. These are BS attacks on him/his staff that are blatantly political–designed to hide the real wrongdoing. Country not party,” Holder tweeted last Thursday.
More here
Baltimore Residents Losing Homes Amid Crippling Increases In Water Bills To Pay For Crumbling Infrastructure
In 8 percent of the city’s census tracts, the poorest fifth of households face water bills costing more than 20 percent of their income, Colton estimated. In a quarter of the tracts, the poorest fifth face bills amounting to between 10 and 20 percent of their income.
By 2019, Colton concluded, water won’t be affordable for households making 150 percent of the federal poverty rate, which is $36,450 for a family of four. A third of city households make that much or less.
Colton defined affordability as a household paying less than 2 percent of it’s income for water. The federal Environmental Protection Agency uses a threshold of 4.5 percent.
“People just genuinely can't afford to pay ever-increasing water rates,” she said.
More
NBC Still Investigating NBC: Chris Matthews Is 9th Staffer Accused of Misconduct
NBC paid off a Chris Matthews accuser with $40,000, which means that the network has now had nine of its staffers and contributors accused of some sort of misconduct.
This news also means that all the while, as prominent NBC figures like Chuck Todd, Rachel Maddow, Savannah Guthrie, Joe Scarborough, Mika Brzezinski, Katie Tur, and the like, were attempting to disqualify President Trump, Roy Moore, Todd Akin, and other Republicans from holding public office over various allegations (or in Akin’s case — mere words) the network was enabling and concealing its own hotbed of sexual harassment.
The real news, though, is that despite the fact NBC has a very serious cultural problem when it comes to its treatment of women, the network is still refusing to go the Fox News route by calling for an outside investigation. After the fall of Roger Ailes and Bill O’Reilly over harassment allegations (both denied), Fox hired an outside law firm to investigate the allegations as well as how the network handled them.
Nevertheless, the same NBC News that spiked Ronan Farrow’s bombshell Harvey Weinstein reporting, is the same NBC that still insists it should be allowed to investigate itself.
More
This news also means that all the while, as prominent NBC figures like Chuck Todd, Rachel Maddow, Savannah Guthrie, Joe Scarborough, Mika Brzezinski, Katie Tur, and the like, were attempting to disqualify President Trump, Roy Moore, Todd Akin, and other Republicans from holding public office over various allegations (or in Akin’s case — mere words) the network was enabling and concealing its own hotbed of sexual harassment.
The real news, though, is that despite the fact NBC has a very serious cultural problem when it comes to its treatment of women, the network is still refusing to go the Fox News route by calling for an outside investigation. After the fall of Roger Ailes and Bill O’Reilly over harassment allegations (both denied), Fox hired an outside law firm to investigate the allegations as well as how the network handled them.
Nevertheless, the same NBC News that spiked Ronan Farrow’s bombshell Harvey Weinstein reporting, is the same NBC that still insists it should be allowed to investigate itself.
More
Obama protected Hezbollah drug ring to save Iran nukes deal
The Obama administration stymied a sprawling investigation into the terror group Hezbollah — and its highly lucrative drug- trafficking networks — to protect the Iran nuclear deal, according to a bombshell report.
A team at the Drug Enforcement Administration had been working for almost a decade to bring down the Iran-backed militant organization’s sophisticated $1 billion-a-year drug ring, which laundered money and smuggled cocaine into the United States, Politico reported.
But the departments of Justice and Treasury repeatedly undermined agents’ efforts to arrest and prosecute key members of the criminal network — because the Obama White House feared upsetting Tehran ahead of the nuclear agreement, according to Politico.
More
A team at the Drug Enforcement Administration had been working for almost a decade to bring down the Iran-backed militant organization’s sophisticated $1 billion-a-year drug ring, which laundered money and smuggled cocaine into the United States, Politico reported.
But the departments of Justice and Treasury repeatedly undermined agents’ efforts to arrest and prosecute key members of the criminal network — because the Obama White House feared upsetting Tehran ahead of the nuclear agreement, according to Politico.
More
15 Robberies In Salisbury Maryland Over The Past Month
Robbery
100 Block UNION AV
00317-ROBBERY: FIREARM, MISC
Dec 17, 2017
around 9 PM
Robbery
600 Block HILL ST
00315-ROBBERY: FIREARM, RESID
Dec 16, 2017
around 4 AM
Robbery
2600 Block N SALISBURY BLVD
00347-ROBBERY: STNGARM, MISC
Dec 7, 2017
around 12 AM
Robbery
BAKER ST & E RAILROAD AV
00347-ROBBERY: STNGARM, MISC
Dec 6, 2017
around 9 PM
Robbery
400 Block E MAIN ST
00341-ROBBERY: STRNGARM, HWY
Dec 5, 2017
around 8 AM
Robbery
500 Block S SALISBURY BLVD
00327-ROBBERY: KNIFE, MISC
Dec 2, 2017
around 6 PM
Robbery
ROLAND ST & DOWNING ST
00324-ROBBERY: KNIFE, CHAIN
Dec 1, 2017
around 5 PM
Robbery
600 Block S SALISBURY BLVD
00347-ROBBERY: STNGARM, MISC
Dec 1, 2017
around 1 PM
Robbery
WAVERLY DR & OHIO AV
00341-ROBBERY: STRNGARM, HWY
Dec 1, 2017
around 3 AM
Robbery
300 Block N PARK DR
00331-ROBBERY: OTHWEAPON HWY
Nov 29, 2017
around 10 PM
Robbery
200 Block TILGHMAN ST
00341-ROBBERY: STRNGARM, HWY
Nov 27, 2017
around 6 PM
Robbery
ROGER ST & MCKINLEY ST
00317-ROBBERY: FIREARM, MISC
Nov 24, 2017
around 2 PM
Robbery
BAKER ST & CHARLES ST
00341-ROBBERY: STRNGARM, HWY
Nov 22, 2017
around 3 PM
Robbery
700 Block S SALISBURY BLVD
00321-ROBBERY: KNIFE, HWY
Nov 20, 2017
around 11 PM
BREAKING: Antifa-Linked Group Bragged About "Railline Disruptions" Last Week - Were They Behind Today's Amtrak Crash?
Just days before today’s reportedly deadly Amtrak crash in Washington State, the Puget Sound Anarchists – an Antifa-linked group that routinely calls for its members to engage in direct action against its perceived oppressors – bragged about initiating “Railline Distruptions” [sic] in the area.
On December 9th, an anonymous poster on the Puget Sound Anarchists’ website wrote: “During this week we attached wire and jumper cables to the main Union Pacific rail line running through the state of Nebraska to disrupt rail signals and delay trains that mainly carry coal from the mountainous west to population centers in the east.”
Moreover, the author noted that “Inspiration for us came from the blockade in Olympia, Unist’ot’en camp in unceded Wet’suwet’en territory, and other actions large and small across turtle island.”
The post then ended with a disturbing cryptic message:
“until the complete destruction of time itself,
love and rage from the middle of nowhere”
More
On December 9th, an anonymous poster on the Puget Sound Anarchists’ website wrote: “During this week we attached wire and jumper cables to the main Union Pacific rail line running through the state of Nebraska to disrupt rail signals and delay trains that mainly carry coal from the mountainous west to population centers in the east.”
Moreover, the author noted that “Inspiration for us came from the blockade in Olympia, Unist’ot’en camp in unceded Wet’suwet’en territory, and other actions large and small across turtle island.”
The post then ended with a disturbing cryptic message:
“until the complete destruction of time itself,
love and rage from the middle of nowhere”
More
Newt to GOP Lawmakers: Repeal Obamacare Mandate, But Be Cautious
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich said repealing Obamacare's individual mandate in the tax bill is a good step, but lawmakers must proceed with caution.
Gingrich's comments came in a column for The Hill.
"As President (Donald) Trump and congressional Republicans move toward passing a critical tax cut and reform package to boost the economy, they also have the opportunity to start repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act," he said.
"Repealing the individual mandate in the tax bill is a good first step toward a better market for health insurance that would give Americans what they really need — the freedom to buy the insurance they want to serve their own needs and not those of the federal government."
But he added: "In doing so, however, Republicans must proceed with caution. They must not shrug off the issue of market instability. Their goal should be giving Americans more healthcare choices and lowering premiums, not cratering the system."
More here
Gingrich's comments came in a column for The Hill.
"As President (Donald) Trump and congressional Republicans move toward passing a critical tax cut and reform package to boost the economy, they also have the opportunity to start repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act," he said.
"Repealing the individual mandate in the tax bill is a good first step toward a better market for health insurance that would give Americans what they really need — the freedom to buy the insurance they want to serve their own needs and not those of the federal government."
But he added: "In doing so, however, Republicans must proceed with caution. They must not shrug off the issue of market instability. Their goal should be giving Americans more healthcare choices and lowering premiums, not cratering the system."
More here
Ex-Dem IT aide Imran Awan could flee to Pakistan if restrictions lifted
The Justice Department warned Monday that ex-Capitol Hill IT aide Imran Awan is a “flight risk” and could flee to Pakistan if a judge approves his request to lift “all of the conditions of his release.”
U.S. Attorney Jessie Liu filed a motion before the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, urging the court to deny the request from Awan, who is facing fraud and other charges.
Awan, a former IT aide for Democratic Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, is currently enrolled in the High Intensity Supervision Program (HISP) with conditions that he abide by an electronically monitored curfew of 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. and a limit on traveling beyond 150 miles from his residence, according to court documents. Awan and his attorney want to lift those conditions, including the electronic monitoring bracelet.
Federal prosecutors warned this could give Awan an opening.
“While the government possesses Awan’s Pakistani passport, nothing prevents him from obtaining a new Pakistani passport at the Embassy in D.C.
More
U.S. Attorney Jessie Liu filed a motion before the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, urging the court to deny the request from Awan, who is facing fraud and other charges.
Awan, a former IT aide for Democratic Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, is currently enrolled in the High Intensity Supervision Program (HISP) with conditions that he abide by an electronically monitored curfew of 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. and a limit on traveling beyond 150 miles from his residence, according to court documents. Awan and his attorney want to lift those conditions, including the electronic monitoring bracelet.
Federal prosecutors warned this could give Awan an opening.
“While the government possesses Awan’s Pakistani passport, nothing prevents him from obtaining a new Pakistani passport at the Embassy in D.C.
More
Man Fires At Cambridge Officers Who Return Fire – No Injuries Reported
(CAMBRIDGE, MD) — A search is continuing for a suspect who fired at Cambridge Police Department officers overnight, but neither police officers or the suspect are believed to have been injured in the exchange of gunfire.
The suspect is described only as an African American male, believed to be wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt and a winter hat. He fled on foot from officers and investigators have found no signs that he was injured.
Shortly after 11:30 p.m. yesterday, two officers from the Cambridge Police Department were conducting a crime reduction patrol in an area of the city where thefts from vehicles had been occurring. The officers were in uniform, but were operating a vehicle not readily identified as a police vehicle.
According to the preliminary investigation, the officers were traveling in the area of Race Street and Goldsborough Avenue, when they observed the suspect walking along the street. As they drove toward him, the man was seen reaching into his waistband. Before the officers could stop their vehicle, the suspect withdrew a large caliber handgun and fired what is believed to be one time at the officers.
One of the Cambridge Police Department officers got out of the vehicle and fired what is believed to be one time at the suspect, who fled the area on foot. The officer pursued the suspect on foot, but no additional shots were fired by either the suspect or the officer.
Assistance was requested and additional officers from Cambridge, as well as troopers from the Maryland State Police responded to assist with a search. A Maryland State Police helicopter and K-9 team were also part of the search effort. The suspect was not located.
The Cambridge Police Department requested the Maryland State Police Homicide Unit investigate the police-involved shooting and investigators responded to do so. State Police Forensic Sciences Division crime scene technicians have conducted a search and processed the extensive scene for evidence. Investigators have recovered a handgun and other items believed to have been discarded by the suspect as he fled.
The search for the suspect is continuing today, with assistance being provided by the Cambridge Police Department, Maryland State Police, Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office and allied police departments in the region. Anyone with information about the suspect involved in this shooting or his location, is urged to contact Maryland State Police immediately at the Easton Barrack at 410-822-3101, or the Cambridge Police Department at 410-228-3333. Callers may remain anonymous.
The investigation is continuing.
The suspect is described only as an African American male, believed to be wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt and a winter hat. He fled on foot from officers and investigators have found no signs that he was injured.
Shortly after 11:30 p.m. yesterday, two officers from the Cambridge Police Department were conducting a crime reduction patrol in an area of the city where thefts from vehicles had been occurring. The officers were in uniform, but were operating a vehicle not readily identified as a police vehicle.
According to the preliminary investigation, the officers were traveling in the area of Race Street and Goldsborough Avenue, when they observed the suspect walking along the street. As they drove toward him, the man was seen reaching into his waistband. Before the officers could stop their vehicle, the suspect withdrew a large caliber handgun and fired what is believed to be one time at the officers.
One of the Cambridge Police Department officers got out of the vehicle and fired what is believed to be one time at the suspect, who fled the area on foot. The officer pursued the suspect on foot, but no additional shots were fired by either the suspect or the officer.
Assistance was requested and additional officers from Cambridge, as well as troopers from the Maryland State Police responded to assist with a search. A Maryland State Police helicopter and K-9 team were also part of the search effort. The suspect was not located.
The Cambridge Police Department requested the Maryland State Police Homicide Unit investigate the police-involved shooting and investigators responded to do so. State Police Forensic Sciences Division crime scene technicians have conducted a search and processed the extensive scene for evidence. Investigators have recovered a handgun and other items believed to have been discarded by the suspect as he fled.
The search for the suspect is continuing today, with assistance being provided by the Cambridge Police Department, Maryland State Police, Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office and allied police departments in the region. Anyone with information about the suspect involved in this shooting or his location, is urged to contact Maryland State Police immediately at the Easton Barrack at 410-822-3101, or the Cambridge Police Department at 410-228-3333. Callers may remain anonymous.
The investigation is continuing.
THIS IS CNN: Hypes Children’s Book Portraying Santa Claus As a Gay Man
When asked in a recent interview on CNN, how he came up with the idea, here’s what he said, “It was sort of inspired by the annual tradition we have in this country of pretending that there’s a giant war on Christmas, and that traditional Christmas is under attack. So, among other things, we were reading all of the news about the Mall of America hiring a black Santa Claus last year.
And me and my now-wife made a joke on Twitter that, if we ever had a child, they would only know about black Santa Claus — and if they saw a white Santa Claus at the mall, we would just explain, “Well, that’s his husband.” And then Ashley and I knew each other from the internet and from her illustration already, and she jumped into my Twitter mentions and said, “Boom — new book.”
More
College President Says ‘Hate Speech’ Is Not ‘Free Speech’
The president of a public community college in San Antonio, Texas, argues that “hate speech” is not “free speech.”
Northwest Vista College President Ric Baser argued in a recent op-ed for the San Antonio Express-News that speech deemed hateful should not receive First Amendment protections on college campuses.
The short column, which is titled “Hate Speech Does Not Equal Free Speech,” laments that controversial ideologues are using First Amendment protections to speak without consequence on college campuses.
“As members of the Higher Education Council of San Antonio, we — the presidents of colleges and universities throughout this community, and supporters — feel it is important to speak out and make a distinction between diversity of thought and disingenuous misrepresentation of free speech,” Baser wrote. “We further attest that hate speech has no place at our colleges and universities. Inappropriate messages, such as banners and flyers that are meant to provoke, spread hate or create animosity and hostility, are not welcome or accepted.”
More
Northwest Vista College President Ric Baser argued in a recent op-ed for the San Antonio Express-News that speech deemed hateful should not receive First Amendment protections on college campuses.
The short column, which is titled “Hate Speech Does Not Equal Free Speech,” laments that controversial ideologues are using First Amendment protections to speak without consequence on college campuses.
“As members of the Higher Education Council of San Antonio, we — the presidents of colleges and universities throughout this community, and supporters — feel it is important to speak out and make a distinction between diversity of thought and disingenuous misrepresentation of free speech,” Baser wrote. “We further attest that hate speech has no place at our colleges and universities. Inappropriate messages, such as banners and flyers that are meant to provoke, spread hate or create animosity and hostility, are not welcome or accepted.”
More
WICOMICO COUNTY HOLIDAY SCHEDULE
On Monday, December 25, 2017, Wicomico County Government Offices, the Newland Park Landfill and Brush Drop-Off Area, all other Convenience Centers, and the Whitehaven & Upper Ferries will be closed.
Obama Axed DEA Prosecution of Hezbollah to Push Through Iran Nuke Deal
The Obama administration stopped a DEA task force from prosecuting Hezbollah so that the Iran nuclear deal would not be derailed, Politico reports.
The DEA created Project Cassandra task force in 2008 to gather evidence against the Iranian-financed group, according to the political news website.
It put together criminal cases against top figures in charge of players in Hezbollah's drug and arms operations and even got sealed indictments against them, Politico says.
But the federal agency found itself being stonewalled by the administration when it asked for permission to prosecute, members of Project Cassandra told Politico.
"This was a policy decision, it was a systematic decision," said David Asher, who helped put the task force together.
"They serially ripped apart this entire effort that was very well supported and resourced, and it was done from the top down."
More here
The DEA created Project Cassandra task force in 2008 to gather evidence against the Iranian-financed group, according to the political news website.
It put together criminal cases against top figures in charge of players in Hezbollah's drug and arms operations and even got sealed indictments against them, Politico says.
But the federal agency found itself being stonewalled by the administration when it asked for permission to prosecute, members of Project Cassandra told Politico.
"This was a policy decision, it was a systematic decision," said David Asher, who helped put the task force together.
"They serially ripped apart this entire effort that was very well supported and resourced, and it was done from the top down."
More here
Realtor.com Is Obviously Not A Reliable Source
Top Tinsel Towns: 10 Surprising Cities Whose Holiday Charms Are Worth Unwrapping
Accept it, the winter holidays overshadow everything in December, whether you're a Scrooge or a Tiny Tim. The majority of us fall somewhere in the middle. Along with the joy, there's the stress: making the frenzied rounds of holiday parties, wandering the aisles of CVS for pre-packaged mistletoe or the last box of Hannukah candles, dutifully enduring the office potluck.
But there are some who truly adore this time of year. They festoon their homes with pine branches, pinecones, and pine-scented Febreze; they install outdoor holiday lighting that rivals the Vegas Strip. They revel in heading to the Christmas tree farm to cut down a fresh spruce, watching "Love Actually" on autorepeat, or going with that special someone to a menorah lighting.
So these folks need to find metros that share their ardor. As it turns out, some cities are more on this celebratory wavelength than others. We set out to find those festive places that go all out for tree lightings, parades, and holiday-themed everything.
More
#8. Salisbury, MD
Median home price: $299,950.00
Holiday highlights: Throw a rock in any direction in December, and you'll hit either a holiday shop or a Christmas parade. So don't throw rocks, OK?
In Salisbury, holiday traditions seem to stick around. There's the annual Salisbury Christmas Parade, from Mount Hermon Road to East Main Street, which has been going strong for 71 years. The parade includes fire trucks, marching bands, Santa Claus, and Saul the Salisbury Jaycees Bear.
The Emmanuel Wesleyan Church in Salisbury hosts a Christmas Eve candlelight service and a Christmas play called "How to Have the Best Christmas Ever!" Be prepared to take notes.
In nearby Ocean City, which is part of the Salisbury metro area, holiday lovers can enjoy the Winterfest of Lights. This is the 25th year of the event, which illuminates more than 1 million light bulbs. Imagine the electricity bill!
Accept it, the winter holidays overshadow everything in December, whether you're a Scrooge or a Tiny Tim. The majority of us fall somewhere in the middle. Along with the joy, there's the stress: making the frenzied rounds of holiday parties, wandering the aisles of CVS for pre-packaged mistletoe or the last box of Hannukah candles, dutifully enduring the office potluck.
But there are some who truly adore this time of year. They festoon their homes with pine branches, pinecones, and pine-scented Febreze; they install outdoor holiday lighting that rivals the Vegas Strip. They revel in heading to the Christmas tree farm to cut down a fresh spruce, watching "Love Actually" on autorepeat, or going with that special someone to a menorah lighting.
So these folks need to find metros that share their ardor. As it turns out, some cities are more on this celebratory wavelength than others. We set out to find those festive places that go all out for tree lightings, parades, and holiday-themed everything.
More
#8. Salisbury, MD
Median home price: $299,950.00
Holiday highlights: Throw a rock in any direction in December, and you'll hit either a holiday shop or a Christmas parade. So don't throw rocks, OK?
In Salisbury, holiday traditions seem to stick around. There's the annual Salisbury Christmas Parade, from Mount Hermon Road to East Main Street, which has been going strong for 71 years. The parade includes fire trucks, marching bands, Santa Claus, and Saul the Salisbury Jaycees Bear.
The Emmanuel Wesleyan Church in Salisbury hosts a Christmas Eve candlelight service and a Christmas play called "How to Have the Best Christmas Ever!" Be prepared to take notes.
In nearby Ocean City, which is part of the Salisbury metro area, holiday lovers can enjoy the Winterfest of Lights. This is the 25th year of the event, which illuminates more than 1 million light bulbs. Imagine the electricity bill!
California to reduce and wipe away marijuana convictions
Hundreds of thousands of Californians could be gifted the second chance of meaningful employment next month when the state legalizes the sale of recreational marijuana.
Thanks to a lesser-known provision in the new legislation, up to one million people convicted of possession or even dealing will be able to apply to have their charges reduced or even cleared.
So far at least 4,500 people have filed petitions to have their sentences thrown and state officials are hoping that the effects of decades of strict laws which have adversely affected low-income minorities could be overturned.
In essence, the state is providing another opportunity to those who've been charged with almost any crime associated with weed.
From infractions to misdemeanors, all the way to felonies, former convicted criminals could have their records wiped or have their charges reduced, significantly.
More
Thanks to a lesser-known provision in the new legislation, up to one million people convicted of possession or even dealing will be able to apply to have their charges reduced or even cleared.
So far at least 4,500 people have filed petitions to have their sentences thrown and state officials are hoping that the effects of decades of strict laws which have adversely affected low-income minorities could be overturned.
In essence, the state is providing another opportunity to those who've been charged with almost any crime associated with weed.
From infractions to misdemeanors, all the way to felonies, former convicted criminals could have their records wiped or have their charges reduced, significantly.
More
East Salisbury Surprise
A Christmas surprise at East Salisbury Elementary School on Monday December 18th, 2017. 5th Grader Jeremiah Ward's brother, Army PFC Timothy Oradat, surprised him by showing up in Jeremiah's class. Timothy has been away for a year serving in Germany, and was allowed to come home to surprise his brother for Christmas.
To My Democratic and Republican Friends
To My Democratic Friends:
Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low-stress, non-addictive, gender-neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasion and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all.
I also wish you a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2018, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make America great. Not to imply that America is necessarily greater than any other countries nor the only "America" in the Western Hemisphere. Also, this wish is made without regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith or sexual preference of the wishes.
To My Republican Friends:
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low-stress, non-addictive, gender-neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasion and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all.
I also wish you a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2018, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make America great. Not to imply that America is necessarily greater than any other countries nor the only "America" in the Western Hemisphere. Also, this wish is made without regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith or sexual preference of the wishes.
To My Republican Friends:
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
Let Us Not Forget...The REAL Clinton Legacy
Nineteen years ago today, Bill Clinton was Impeached by Congress for committing perjury during the Ken Starr investigation of his sexual misconduct. By not enforcing the entire process, this set up a harbinger of misdeeds and further unscrupulous folly perpetrated by the Clintons.
First, due to the Senate not having there wherewithal to finish the deal by removing him from office, in essence, created an undeserving martyr. To this day, his supporters like Barbra Streisand swear by him and continue to support and defend both Clintons as if all their criminality is nonexistent.
Second, the real crimes at the time, far exceeded sexual misconduct. The sex scandal was merely subterfuge, casting shadow on bigger ticket items. For example, the massive Clinton fire sale of our intellectual property to China.
Third, it allowed the Clintons two additional years in the White House to have the taxpayers pay for the creation of their money laundering outfit, now known as the Clinton Foundation. As many have learned over the last couple years, the Foundation was used for a pay-to-play scheme where foreign (mostly hostile) agents made donations under the guise of philanthropy or paid speeches for the former president in order to curry favor with Senator and then Secretary of State. Quite a lucrative deal considering the Clintons amassed $145M+ from their various wheels and deals.
Additionally, their Foundation also profited many of their cronies (Crony Capitalism) in various schemes - think Haiti. Their various criminal activities are well-documented in Clinton Cash
Fourth, the fact the Clintons were allowed to continue on in the presidency, we had the value add of having many criminals released from prison - namely Weathermen prophet Bill Ayers - the godfather of the Obama factor in years to follow. The post-Impeachment period also helped promote the rise of many unsavory characters like now-disgraced ex-FBI Director James Comey, whom we've found out of late, conspired against Donald Trump - both as candidate and President - while providing cover for the Clinton Crime Family.
The Clintons are continuously given free passes for their crimes while others who've done much less, rot in jails. Reality dictates, this period was the beginning of our justice system's decay - a most unfortunately consequence of letting them go unscathed.
Will we finally learn from our history or are we destined to keep repeating it?
More people choosing Uber for a hospital ride over an ambulance: study
LOS ANGELES -- More people appear to be choosing to use an Uber for rides to the hospital over an ambulance, a recent study has found, CBS Los Angeles writes. Two professors looked at data from places across America.
David Slusky, an assistant professor of economics at the University of Kansas, along with co-author Leon Moskatel, examined ambulance rates in more than 750 U.S. cities nationwide.
The data looked at ambulance usage rates since Uber was introduced in those markets between the years 2013 and 2015.
The data, according to the study (which you can read here), appeared to show that ambulance usage rates had declined by at least 7 percent in those markets.
"Many patients don't need something that can break traffic laws and don't need something staffed by paramedics with a bunch of fancy equipment," Slusky said.
More
David Slusky, an assistant professor of economics at the University of Kansas, along with co-author Leon Moskatel, examined ambulance rates in more than 750 U.S. cities nationwide.
The data looked at ambulance usage rates since Uber was introduced in those markets between the years 2013 and 2015.
The data, according to the study (which you can read here), appeared to show that ambulance usage rates had declined by at least 7 percent in those markets.
"Many patients don't need something that can break traffic laws and don't need something staffed by paramedics with a bunch of fancy equipment," Slusky said.
More
Lead BLM Investigator Blows Whistle, Exposes Government Conspiracy Against The Bundy Family
The lead BLM investigator in the Bundy Ranch case has blown the whistle exposing “far-reaching misconduct, recklessness and unrestrained antipathy toward the family.”
Bunkerville, NV — The Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) lead investigator into the failed Bundy Ranch operation that took place April of 2014 has blown the whistle in an effort to expose far-reaching misconduct, recklessness, corruption and unrestrained persecutory behavior toward the Bundy family.
The Bundys and other defendants are currently on trial for conspiring to stop federal authorities from confiscating family cattle after Cliven Bundy failed to pay grazing fees and fines for years. They’re also facing charges relating to using or carrying a firearm in a crime of violence, threatening a federal law enforcement officer, obstruction of justice and extortion. Their trial began Nov. 14 in Las Vegas.
More
Bunkerville, NV — The Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) lead investigator into the failed Bundy Ranch operation that took place April of 2014 has blown the whistle in an effort to expose far-reaching misconduct, recklessness, corruption and unrestrained persecutory behavior toward the Bundy family.
The Bundys and other defendants are currently on trial for conspiring to stop federal authorities from confiscating family cattle after Cliven Bundy failed to pay grazing fees and fines for years. They’re also facing charges relating to using or carrying a firearm in a crime of violence, threatening a federal law enforcement officer, obstruction of justice and extortion. Their trial began Nov. 14 in Las Vegas.
More
Burlington Rebrands Itself To Show It's More Than Just Coats: Read Publishers Notes Below
There was a bit too much emphasis on coats, many believed, and not enough on T-shirts, dresses, table linens, fragrances, makeup and other things that exist outside the business of cold winters — in essence, the sales opportunities for retailers in the other three seasons.
But after being taken private a decade ago and public again in 2013, the off-price chain — now called Burlington Stores (BURL) — has tried to turn that perception around. Perhaps most importantly, Burlington has put more effort into expanding and improving its home, beauty and women's sportswear items, which can work better as gifts and draw more store traffic in the non-winter months.
"And now obviously they don't call themselves Burlington Coat Factory," RBC analyst Brian Tunick told IBD. "So that should be some signal to you and the shoppers that they used to make (all) of their profits in the holiday quarter, and they would live and die by the cold winter."
More
Publishers Notes: Yesterday WBOC, WMDT and the DT's seemed to make a massive deal about Burlington coming to the Centre at Salisbury. However, what cracked me up is the following, (and above). They ALL called them "Burlington Coat Factory". Wait, it gets even funnier. I know for a fact that they run commercials whereas Burlington flat out expresses how they rebranded their name and yet these sources don't even watch their own commercials to know better. Maybe WBOC needed this exposure after eating crow yesterday bragging about a local business closing.
Peter Schweizer: ‘Conflicts Upon Conflicts Upon Conflicts of Interest’ in FBI Investigations of Trump and Clinton
Breitbart News Senior Editor-at-Large Peter Schweizer talked during his appearance on Friday’s Breitbart News Tonight with SiriusXM hosts Rebecca Mansour and John Carney about the discovery of politically charged text messages between Peter Strzok, an FBI official involved in both the Trump and Clinton investigations, and his mistress.
“We all expect that people at the FBI are going to have private political opinions,” Schweizer allowed. “You know, these people vote, and they have views, and that’s fine. In this particular case, Strzok had particularly strong feelings about Trump.”
He said the text message of greatest concern was part of a conversation between Strzok and the woman with whom he was having an extramarital affair, in which they talked about developing an “insurance policy” in the event Donald Trump won the 2016 election.
“They never sort of spell out what the insurance policy is, but it’s kind of implied in the context of the communication and what’s going on at the time, which is this FBI investigation,” he observed.
More
“We all expect that people at the FBI are going to have private political opinions,” Schweizer allowed. “You know, these people vote, and they have views, and that’s fine. In this particular case, Strzok had particularly strong feelings about Trump.”
He said the text message of greatest concern was part of a conversation between Strzok and the woman with whom he was having an extramarital affair, in which they talked about developing an “insurance policy” in the event Donald Trump won the 2016 election.
“They never sort of spell out what the insurance policy is, but it’s kind of implied in the context of the communication and what’s going on at the time, which is this FBI investigation,” he observed.
More
Democrats hold biggest lead in congressional preference since 2008
WASHINGTON — Fresh off their victory in Alabama’s special Senate election, Democrats now enjoy their largest advantage in congressional preference in nine years, according to the latest NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll, signaling a dangerous political environment for Republicans entering next year’s midterm elections.
Fifty percent of registered voters say they prefer a Democratic-controlled Congress, versus 39 percent who want Republicans in charge.
More
Fifty percent of registered voters say they prefer a Democratic-controlled Congress, versus 39 percent who want Republicans in charge.
More
Russian animal shelter finds stray dog 'with a bear face'
The odd-looking dog was brought into an animal shelter in Chelyabinsk in south-central Russia's Cheliabinsk Oblast region and has baffled locals who say they have 'never seen anything like it before'.
The stray dog, nicknamed Medvebaka from the Russian words for bear and dog, appears to have the body of a canine with a bear-like snout and head.
More
Atlanta airport loses power, trapping travelers in planes and terminals
ATLANTA — A huge power outage brought the world's busiest airport to a standstill over the weekend, ruining holiday travel for thousands with hundreds of flights on Monday already canceled.
Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta lost power shortly after 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, leaving passengers trapped inside airport terminals and some in planes on the tarmac for hours.
By late Sunday, the airport had canceled 1,173 flights and delayed 207, according to FlightAware.com. Delta Air Lines, which is headquartered in Atlanta, said it was canceling another 300 flights, mostly to Atlanta, on Monday.
More
Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta lost power shortly after 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, leaving passengers trapped inside airport terminals and some in planes on the tarmac for hours.
By late Sunday, the airport had canceled 1,173 flights and delayed 207, according to FlightAware.com. Delta Air Lines, which is headquartered in Atlanta, said it was canceling another 300 flights, mostly to Atlanta, on Monday.
More
Burglar caught by 95-year-old veteran and his daughter
WEST ALLIS, Wis. — A career criminal who was interrupted as he broke into a Wisconsin home is now in custody.
Mary Bennett knew something was wrong when her dog barked and her dad hollered her name.
"When I came down, my dad is laying on the floor here, and the guy's standing, and my dad's got his arms wrapped around the guy. I just tackled him," Bennett said.
Her 95-year-old dad had caught a burglar. Bennett told him to call 911 while she grappled with the guy.
"As I was wrestling him in the house I could tell that I could kind of take him," Bennett said.
Finally, the burglar got out their back door, but Bennett followed. She chased him nearly a half mile in bare feet and her yoga clothes.
More/Video
Mary Bennett knew something was wrong when her dog barked and her dad hollered her name.
"When I came down, my dad is laying on the floor here, and the guy's standing, and my dad's got his arms wrapped around the guy. I just tackled him," Bennett said.
Her 95-year-old dad had caught a burglar. Bennett told him to call 911 while she grappled with the guy.
"As I was wrestling him in the house I could tell that I could kind of take him," Bennett said.
Finally, the burglar got out their back door, but Bennett followed. She chased him nearly a half mile in bare feet and her yoga clothes.
More/Video
Salisbury MSP: Fatal Motor Vehicle Collision Press Release 12-18-17
Location: Ocean Gateway E/O Wallertown Road, Wicomico County, MD.
Deceased: Unknown male
Vehicle #1: 2013 Buick Regal
Vehicle #2: 2004 Freightliner Tractor Trailer
Vehicle #2 Operator: Petion Cetoute, 37 y/o, Pheonix, AZ.
Brief Resume: On 12/16/2017 at approximately 1750 hrs., Troopers, of the Maryland State Police Salisbury Barrack, responded to Ocean Gateway east of Wallertown Road, Mardela Springs, Maryland for a motor vehicle collision.
Upon arrival, Troopers found that a 2013 Buick Regal collided with a 2004 Freightliner Tractor Trailer. As a result of the collision the Buick became trapped underneath the trailer that was being pulled by the Freightliner. After the collision, the trailer and the Buick became engulfed in fire as they came to rest in lane two of the travel portion of eastbound Ocean Gateway. Preliminary investigation revealed that both vehicles were eastbound on Ocean Gateway when the Buick struck the trailer, being pulled by the Freightliner, and was dragged under the trailer for a short distance. The Freightliner and the Buick came to rest in lane two of Ocean Gateway. The operator of the Freightliner refused treatment at the scene.
As a result of the collision, and the fire, the operator of the Buick was pronounced deceased at the scene. The operator of the Buick has not been appropriately identified, and his name is therefore being withheld at this time.
The investigation is still active, and speed is believed to be a factor into the collision. The Maryland State Police were assisted by the State Highway Administration, and Mardela Springs Fire Company for the road closure
MISSING PERSON
Date and Time: 12-18-17 @ 7:20 pm
Location: 1103 Pine St, Delmar Wicomico County Md
Missing Person: Anita Ophelia Mccullough
On 12-18-17 at approximate 7:20 PM the State Police were called to a residence in Delmar for a report of a missing 78 y/o B/F 501 approximate 190 lbs short black hair last seen 8:30 AM at her residence on Pine St in Delmar. Mccullough was last known to be driving a Burgandy For Fusion Md tags HCE838.
Anyone with information as to the location or if you have seen this person, please contact the Maryland State Police Salisbury Barrack.
Pirro: Members of FBI, DOJ 'Did Everything They Could' to Exonerate Hillary, Incriminate Trump With 'Non-Existent Crime'
Saturday on Fox News Channel’s “Justice,” host Jeanine Pirro reiterated her call for members of the FBI and Department of Justice to be taken away in handcuffs.
Pirro doubled down, adding the members, some of whom ended up on FBI special counsel Robert Mueller’s team, “did everything they could” to exonerate Hillary Clinton and instead incriminate President Donald Trump with a “non-existent crime” in regards to the ongoing probe into Russia’s interference in the 2016 presidential election.
“What would you say if I told you your vote doesn’t count?” Pirro asked. “[And] that all the effort you put into the issues and candidates is a waste of time, that there are people at the citadel of power who believe that it is their right to invalidate your choice if they don’t agree with it? Folks, this is not about politics. It’s much bigger. I doubt in American presidential history there has been as great a crime or as large a stain on our democracy than that committed by a criminal cabal in our FBI and Department of Justice who think they know better than we who our president should be.”
More
Pirro doubled down, adding the members, some of whom ended up on FBI special counsel Robert Mueller’s team, “did everything they could” to exonerate Hillary Clinton and instead incriminate President Donald Trump with a “non-existent crime” in regards to the ongoing probe into Russia’s interference in the 2016 presidential election.
“What would you say if I told you your vote doesn’t count?” Pirro asked. “[And] that all the effort you put into the issues and candidates is a waste of time, that there are people at the citadel of power who believe that it is their right to invalidate your choice if they don’t agree with it? Folks, this is not about politics. It’s much bigger. I doubt in American presidential history there has been as great a crime or as large a stain on our democracy than that committed by a criminal cabal in our FBI and Department of Justice who think they know better than we who our president should be.”
More