The University of Wisconsin-Madison has gone full-on racist. They are offering a course entitled “African 405: The Problem of Whiteness” for its Spring 2018 semester despite GOP lawmakers’ calls to have the class struck from the syllabus. It’s part of the African Cultural Studies program. It claims that it will help students, “understand how whiteness is socially constructed and experienced in order to help dismantle white supremacy” and also examines how whites “consciously and unconsciously perpetuate institutional racism and how this not only devastates communities of color but also perpetuates the oppression of most white folks along the lines of class and gender.”
This is yet another college I would never send my kids to or go to myself. It engenders racial division and spreads lies to tear us apart. The course also pushes class and gender warfare. That’s just hateful, sick and twisted. Other aims of the course include defining what it means to be “woke,” as well as examining what an “ethical white identity” entails. I don’t even know what that means, but I know I don’t like it.
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DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Saturday, January 06, 2018
OH BOTHER: This ‘Bitter Cold’ Is What Global Warming Looks Like, Explains Al Gore
When you hear “global warming” what do you imagine? First, you probably think of Al Gore (or ManBearPig, if you’re into that.) Next, you likely imagine rising temperatures that cause melting ice caps, rising water, and buildings floating in the water.
According to Al Gore, global warming doesn’t just mean “warming.” In fact, it can mean bitterly cold temperatures as well! How’s that for a leap in logic? No wonder they switched to “climate change.” Even liberals might begin to question the veracity of the global warming myth if it meant they were also hot and cold.
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According to Al Gore, global warming doesn’t just mean “warming.” In fact, it can mean bitterly cold temperatures as well! How’s that for a leap in logic? No wonder they switched to “climate change.” Even liberals might begin to question the veracity of the global warming myth if it meant they were also hot and cold.
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California city official is gunned down while vacationing in Mexico
An American tourist was shot and killed while apparently being robbed in a resort town on Mexico’s Pacific Coast that has become popular with surfers and Hollywood stars.
Douglas Bradley was killed Thursday in the hotel zone of Ixtapa. He was on Christmas vacation in neighboring Zihuatanejo and would have turned 50 the next day.
The city of Imperial Beach in San Diego County announced Bradley’s death on Friday. He was the city’s director of finance.
“Doug Bradley was loved by all that knew him,” said Imperial Beach Mayor Serge Dedina. “He was always positive, loved to surf, and had helped to turn around the City of Imperial Beach’s financial management as well as restructure city administration to make it more efficient and resident-friendly.”
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Douglas Bradley was killed Thursday in the hotel zone of Ixtapa. He was on Christmas vacation in neighboring Zihuatanejo and would have turned 50 the next day.
The city of Imperial Beach in San Diego County announced Bradley’s death on Friday. He was the city’s director of finance.
“Doug Bradley was loved by all that knew him,” said Imperial Beach Mayor Serge Dedina. “He was always positive, loved to surf, and had helped to turn around the City of Imperial Beach’s financial management as well as restructure city administration to make it more efficient and resident-friendly.”
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http://www.foxnews.com/us/2017/12/30/california-city-official-is-gunned-down-while-vacationing-in-mexico.html
NOI 1/2/18 Somerset Dwelling Halls Creek Road
NOTICE OF INVESTIGATION
Date: January 2, 2018
Time: 1:49 p.m.
Location / Address: 8103 Halls Creek Rd., Westover, Somerset Co.
Type of Incident: Fire
Description of Structure / Property: One story wood frame single family dwelling
Owner / Occupants: Jim Tabor
Injuries or Deaths: None
Estimated $ Loss: Structure: $80,000 Contents: $20,000
Smoke Alarm Status: Unknown
Fire Alarm / Sprinkler Status: n/a
Arrests(s): None
Primary Responding Fire Department: Fairmount
# of Alarms: 1 # Of Firefighters: 25
Time to Control: 55 minutes
Discovered By: Neighbor
Area of Origin: Exterior rear
Preliminary Cause: Accidental, heat pump system
Additional Information: A family pet perished as a result of the fire.
German Government Study Links Rise in Violent Crime To Mass Migration
A study conducted by the German Federal Ministry for Family Affairs has found a direct correlation between the mass influx of migrants during the migrant crisis and the rising level of violent crime in Germany.
The criminologists behind the study looked at the period between 2014 and 2016 in the state of Lower Saxony and found that before the migrant crisis violent crime had only increased by 10.4 per cent compared to after the height of the crisis where the number had dramatically increased to 92.1 per cent, Die Welt reports.
Migrants have been shown to commit far more violent acts proportionally to their size of the population in Germany and according to the researchers, they accounted for suspects in one in every eight violent crime cases.
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The criminologists behind the study looked at the period between 2014 and 2016 in the state of Lower Saxony and found that before the migrant crisis violent crime had only increased by 10.4 per cent compared to after the height of the crisis where the number had dramatically increased to 92.1 per cent, Die Welt reports.
Migrants have been shown to commit far more violent acts proportionally to their size of the population in Germany and according to the researchers, they accounted for suspects in one in every eight violent crime cases.
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Most People Killed By Cops Were Armed
Police killed 987 people in 2017 and only 68 of them were unarmed, according to a Friday report from The Washington Post.
The report follows years of protests against police for allegedly misusing deadly force since the 2014 death of 18-year-old Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo. Black males accounted for 19 of the 68 unarmed deaths, a figure that has nearly been cut in half since the 2015 total of 36. White males accounted for the largest number of armed people who were killed at 330, and 160 armed black males were killed.
“The numbers indicate that this is not a trend, but a robust measure of these shootings,” Geoff Alpert, a criminologist at the University of South Carolina told the Post. “We now have information on almost 3,000 shootings, and we can start looking to provide the public with a better understanding of fatal officer-involved shootings.”
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The report follows years of protests against police for allegedly misusing deadly force since the 2014 death of 18-year-old Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo. Black males accounted for 19 of the 68 unarmed deaths, a figure that has nearly been cut in half since the 2015 total of 36. White males accounted for the largest number of armed people who were killed at 330, and 160 armed black males were killed.
“The numbers indicate that this is not a trend, but a robust measure of these shootings,” Geoff Alpert, a criminologist at the University of South Carolina told the Post. “We now have information on almost 3,000 shootings, and we can start looking to provide the public with a better understanding of fatal officer-involved shootings.”
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Baltimore Gas & Electric Co. wants to pass on $82M in tax savings to customers after federal tax reform
Baltimore Gas & Electric Co. plans to pass on about $82 million in tax savings to customers as a result of the federal tax reform passed by Republicans in December that lowered the corporate tax rate.
The Baltimore-based utility announced the pending rate cuts Friday, saying the average residential electric customers can expect their monthly bill to decrease by $2.31 beginning in February. Bills will go down by an average of $4.27 a month for customers who buy both electricity and natural gas from BGE.
“For us it was real simple,” said BGE CEO Calvin G. Butler Jr. . “We wanted to share those benefits with consumers.”
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Publishers Notes: Articles like this have to kill the liberal reporter that has to write it.
The Baltimore-based utility announced the pending rate cuts Friday, saying the average residential electric customers can expect their monthly bill to decrease by $2.31 beginning in February. Bills will go down by an average of $4.27 a month for customers who buy both electricity and natural gas from BGE.
“For us it was real simple,” said BGE CEO Calvin G. Butler Jr. . “We wanted to share those benefits with consumers.”
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Left and Right UNITE To Demand Trump Fire Sessions Over Tyrannical War On Pot
Democrats and Republicans alike are coming together to fight against the tyranny of Jeff Sessions and his war on cannabis.
This week, President Donald Trump’s Attorney General, Jeff Sessions turned back all the progress made in the war on drugs and began a federal attack on states’ rights by rescinding a policy that allowed states to make up their own minds on cannabis legalization.
This move will inevitably lead to more crime, put more cops in danger, fill more prisons, oppress more people, and bolster the police state in general.
When the federal government interferes with states’ rights by kidnapping, caging, and killing people over a plant their citizens agreed to legalize—this is not freedom—it is tyranny.
What’s more, promising to attack peaceful people for choosing to ingest a plant that can treat illness, cure addiction, and simply make people happy is the complete opposite of #MAGA.
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This week, President Donald Trump’s Attorney General, Jeff Sessions turned back all the progress made in the war on drugs and began a federal attack on states’ rights by rescinding a policy that allowed states to make up their own minds on cannabis legalization.
This move will inevitably lead to more crime, put more cops in danger, fill more prisons, oppress more people, and bolster the police state in general.
When the federal government interferes with states’ rights by kidnapping, caging, and killing people over a plant their citizens agreed to legalize—this is not freedom—it is tyranny.
What’s more, promising to attack peaceful people for choosing to ingest a plant that can treat illness, cure addiction, and simply make people happy is the complete opposite of #MAGA.
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Berlin barrack Worcester County Snow Emergency Plan lifted Sat 1/6/2018 at 2000 hours
SNOW EMERGENCY LIFTED
Effective Saturday 01/06/2018 at 2000 hours (8 pm), the Maryland State Police Berlin Barrack in Worcester County in conjunction with local agencies and the State Highway Administration will be lifting the Snow Emergency Plan.
Please use caution on roadways in and around the Worcester County area. Be mindful of black ice at night and try to limit travel after dark.
Benjamin Harnwell: Bannon Is 'Concentrating' on Helping Trump Fulfill His Agenda
Friday on BBC radio’s “World Service,” the Director of the Human Dignity Institute Benjamin Harnwell said Breitbart executive chairman Steve Bannon was “concentrating on helping” President Donald Trump from outside.
On Bannon’s reported comments in Michael Wolff ‘s book “Fire and Fury,” Harnwell said, “I think what people need to do is zoom out slightly and look precisely at what he said in the context of what people are saying. And I think it’s clear that he wasn’t attacking, or betraying even the President, nor his family.”
He continued, “I would think that Steve’s comments were directed principally against Paul Manafort rather than against either Jared Kushner or Donald, Jr.”
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On Bannon’s reported comments in Michael Wolff ‘s book “Fire and Fury,” Harnwell said, “I think what people need to do is zoom out slightly and look precisely at what he said in the context of what people are saying. And I think it’s clear that he wasn’t attacking, or betraying even the President, nor his family.”
He continued, “I would think that Steve’s comments were directed principally against Paul Manafort rather than against either Jared Kushner or Donald, Jr.”
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"It Felt Like Being In The Matrix" - James Risen's Stunning Inside Story
During his extended tenure working for the NYT, James Risen became a legend in the world of investigative and national security journalism: Risen broke some of the most important stories of the post 9/11 era, from the warrantless surveillance against Americans conducted under the Bush-Cheney administration, to black prison sites run by the CIA, to failed covert actions in Iran, stories for which Risen won the Pulitzer among other awards.
But what Risen is perhaps most famous for, is fighting a battle under both the Bush and Obama administrations as they demanded — under threat of imprisonment —the name of one of Risen’s alleged confidential sources. In the end, Risen prevailed and refused to testify and he was not locked up. But during the course of his case, there were rulings that could have far reaching implications for journalists.
But it isn’t just the government that Risen had to fight. He also battled his own editors and other powerful figures at the New York Times. Some of those people pushed the narrative that Iraq had WMDs and they regularly colluded with senior officials at the CIA, NSA, and White House in an effort to kill — or delay publication of — Risen’s stories. This morning, James Risen has written an extensive account of his years at the New York Times and he names names.
Risen is now a senior national security correspondent at The Intercept where his incredible inside story has now been published. Below we present some excerpts from "My Life as a New York Times Reporter in the Shadow of the War on Terror"
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But what Risen is perhaps most famous for, is fighting a battle under both the Bush and Obama administrations as they demanded — under threat of imprisonment —the name of one of Risen’s alleged confidential sources. In the end, Risen prevailed and refused to testify and he was not locked up. But during the course of his case, there were rulings that could have far reaching implications for journalists.
But it isn’t just the government that Risen had to fight. He also battled his own editors and other powerful figures at the New York Times. Some of those people pushed the narrative that Iraq had WMDs and they regularly colluded with senior officials at the CIA, NSA, and White House in an effort to kill — or delay publication of — Risen’s stories. This morning, James Risen has written an extensive account of his years at the New York Times and he names names.
Risen is now a senior national security correspondent at The Intercept where his incredible inside story has now been published. Below we present some excerpts from "My Life as a New York Times Reporter in the Shadow of the War on Terror"
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FBI Chief FOIA Officer: "Every Single Memo Comey Leaked Was Classified"
As James Comey trots around the country on his book-selling tour, tweeting bible quotes and nature scenes, a less serene series of events is playing out in Washington D.C. which suggests the former FBI Director may be in trouble over the memos he leaked to Columbia law professor Daniel Richman, allegedly detailing conversations between Comey and President Trump.
While Richman told CNN "No memo was given to me that was marked 'classified,' and James Comey told Congressional investigators he tried to "write it in such a way that I don't include anything that would trigger a classification," it appears the FBI's chief FOIA officer disagrees.
While we previously reported that Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) said four of the 7 Comey memos he reviewed were "marked classified" at the "Secret" or "Confidential" level - tonight we find out that every single Comey memo was classified at the time, per Judicial Watch director of investigations Chris Farrell - who has a signed declaration from the FBI's chief FOIA officer to that effect:
We have a sworn declaration from David Hardy who is the chief FOIA officer of the FBI that we obtained just in the last few days, and in that sworn declaration, Mr. Hardy says that all of Comey's memos - all of them, were classified at the time they were written, and they remain classified. -Chris Farrell, Judicial Watch
Therefore, Farrell points out, Comey mishandled national defense information when he "knowingly and willfully" leaked them to his friend at Columbia University.
It's also mishandling of national defense information, which is a crime. So it's clear that Mr. Comey not only authored those documents, but then knowingly and willfully leaked them to persons unauthorized, which is in and of itself a national security crime. Mr. Comey should have been read his rights back on June 8th when he testified before the Senate.
In closing, Farrell tells Dobbs "Recently retired and active duty FBI agents have told me - and it's several of them, they consider Comey to be a dirty cop."
More/Video
While Richman told CNN "No memo was given to me that was marked 'classified,' and James Comey told Congressional investigators he tried to "write it in such a way that I don't include anything that would trigger a classification," it appears the FBI's chief FOIA officer disagrees.
While we previously reported that Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) said four of the 7 Comey memos he reviewed were "marked classified" at the "Secret" or "Confidential" level - tonight we find out that every single Comey memo was classified at the time, per Judicial Watch director of investigations Chris Farrell - who has a signed declaration from the FBI's chief FOIA officer to that effect:
We have a sworn declaration from David Hardy who is the chief FOIA officer of the FBI that we obtained just in the last few days, and in that sworn declaration, Mr. Hardy says that all of Comey's memos - all of them, were classified at the time they were written, and they remain classified. -Chris Farrell, Judicial Watch
Therefore, Farrell points out, Comey mishandled national defense information when he "knowingly and willfully" leaked them to his friend at Columbia University.
It's also mishandling of national defense information, which is a crime. So it's clear that Mr. Comey not only authored those documents, but then knowingly and willfully leaked them to persons unauthorized, which is in and of itself a national security crime. Mr. Comey should have been read his rights back on June 8th when he testified before the Senate.
In closing, Farrell tells Dobbs "Recently retired and active duty FBI agents have told me - and it's several of them, they consider Comey to be a dirty cop."
More/Video
SATURDAY UPDATE: PLOWING, WASTE REMOVAL, CITY HOURS OF OPERATION
Snow removal efforts continue across the City this morning, with plowing and salting operations focused on residential streets early, and snow emergency routes later in the morning. There are several key pieces of information for you to know this morning:
PLOWING
-The Civil and Snow Emergency orders were lifted last night at 10:00 p.m.
-There may be some streets where only one (1) lane width is available for travel, so drivers are urged to be cautious and slow down. Those areas will be revisited and widened as conditions allow.
-This snow event marks only the second time that City crews have been able to plow every street in the City. Typically, improving conditions help us do the work of clearing the roads – however, with this storm, conditions were so bad that plow operators ended up having to make pass after pass along the snow emergency routes.
-We ask for patience as the unique wind and temperature conditions presented by this storm have made digging out more challenging than they otherwise would be. Even with all residential streets having been plowed, we don’t expect it to be “clear sailing” until Monday morning.
-The City is tremendously thankful for our hardworking snow plow drivers. Their work is difficult and even dangerous, and the hours are very long. We appreciate them so very much.
WATER MAIN REPAIRS
Cold temperatures presented several other challenges for City crews, further complicating the snow removal process. Since snowfall began, there have been four (4) water main breaks:
Thursday morning – 6” water main break on Pearl St. at Fitzwater St. Ten (10) homes were affected by low water pressure. The break was repaired Thursday afternoon.
Friday morning – Water main break on College Ave. between Russel St. and Camden Ave. 20 homes were affected by low water pressure. The break was repaired on Friday afternoon.
Friday afternoon – Water main break on Lake St. at Mack and Tangier Streets. 20 homes were affected by low pressure. The break was repaired in the overnight hours Friday into Saturday.
Saturday morning – Water main break on Riverside Dr. between Riverview Ave. and W. College Ave. 25 homes affected with no water. Riverside Dr. is being closed in both directions between Riverview Ave. and W. College Ave., and a detour is established. Repairs are currently underway.
TRASH & RECYCLING
Residential trash and recycling will resume normal operations on Monday, January 8th. Residents whose trash and recycling were not picked up on Thursday the 4th or Friday the 5th will have their trash and recycling picked up on MONDAY wherever possible. Please note that some areas may be difficult for sanitation trucks to access trash cans. We appreciate everyone's patience during this emergency.
POLICE CALLS FOR SERVICE
Since the beginning of the storm, SPD has answered 285 calls for service.
During the same period, SPD investigated 14 motor vehicle crashes, 2 of which involved personal injury.
SPD has assisted motorists with 129 disabled vehicles as a result of this storm.
FIRE HYDRANTS
The Salisbury Fire Department asks for your assistance in clearing snow from fire hydrants. If you have a hydrant along your section of sidewalk, the Fire Department kindly asks that you assist them by sweeping the snow away from the hydrant, to make it easier for them to find and access in case of emergency.
GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS/CITY OFFICES
At this time, barring any unforeseen issues, the City of Salisbury anticipates returning to normal hours of operation on Monday morning, January 8th. All City offices are expected to open at 8:30 that morning.
Again, the City appreciates your patience as we continue to dig out from this unprecedented snow event.
For service calls after normal business hours, please contact the Salisbury Police Department at 410-548-3165. For emergency situations, please dial 911 immediately.
PLOWING
-The Civil and Snow Emergency orders were lifted last night at 10:00 p.m.
-There may be some streets where only one (1) lane width is available for travel, so drivers are urged to be cautious and slow down. Those areas will be revisited and widened as conditions allow.
-This snow event marks only the second time that City crews have been able to plow every street in the City. Typically, improving conditions help us do the work of clearing the roads – however, with this storm, conditions were so bad that plow operators ended up having to make pass after pass along the snow emergency routes.
-We ask for patience as the unique wind and temperature conditions presented by this storm have made digging out more challenging than they otherwise would be. Even with all residential streets having been plowed, we don’t expect it to be “clear sailing” until Monday morning.
-The City is tremendously thankful for our hardworking snow plow drivers. Their work is difficult and even dangerous, and the hours are very long. We appreciate them so very much.
WATER MAIN REPAIRS
Cold temperatures presented several other challenges for City crews, further complicating the snow removal process. Since snowfall began, there have been four (4) water main breaks:
Thursday morning – 6” water main break on Pearl St. at Fitzwater St. Ten (10) homes were affected by low water pressure. The break was repaired Thursday afternoon.
Friday morning – Water main break on College Ave. between Russel St. and Camden Ave. 20 homes were affected by low water pressure. The break was repaired on Friday afternoon.
Friday afternoon – Water main break on Lake St. at Mack and Tangier Streets. 20 homes were affected by low pressure. The break was repaired in the overnight hours Friday into Saturday.
Saturday morning – Water main break on Riverside Dr. between Riverview Ave. and W. College Ave. 25 homes affected with no water. Riverside Dr. is being closed in both directions between Riverview Ave. and W. College Ave., and a detour is established. Repairs are currently underway.
TRASH & RECYCLING
Residential trash and recycling will resume normal operations on Monday, January 8th. Residents whose trash and recycling were not picked up on Thursday the 4th or Friday the 5th will have their trash and recycling picked up on MONDAY wherever possible. Please note that some areas may be difficult for sanitation trucks to access trash cans. We appreciate everyone's patience during this emergency.
POLICE CALLS FOR SERVICE
Since the beginning of the storm, SPD has answered 285 calls for service.
During the same period, SPD investigated 14 motor vehicle crashes, 2 of which involved personal injury.
SPD has assisted motorists with 129 disabled vehicles as a result of this storm.
FIRE HYDRANTS
The Salisbury Fire Department asks for your assistance in clearing snow from fire hydrants. If you have a hydrant along your section of sidewalk, the Fire Department kindly asks that you assist them by sweeping the snow away from the hydrant, to make it easier for them to find and access in case of emergency.
GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS/CITY OFFICES
At this time, barring any unforeseen issues, the City of Salisbury anticipates returning to normal hours of operation on Monday morning, January 8th. All City offices are expected to open at 8:30 that morning.
Again, the City appreciates your patience as we continue to dig out from this unprecedented snow event.
For service calls after normal business hours, please contact the Salisbury Police Department at 410-548-3165. For emergency situations, please dial 911 immediately.
A Tale Of Two Americas: Where The Rich Get Richer And The Poor Go To Jail
Aided and abetted by the likes of Attorney General Jeff Sessions—a man who wouldn’t recognize the Constitution if it smacked him in the face—the American dream has become the American scheme: the rich are getting richer and more powerful, while anyone who doesn’t belong to the power elite gets poorer and more powerless to do anything about the nation’s steady slide towards fascism, authoritarianism and a profit-driven police state.
Not content to merely pander to law enforcement and add to its military largesse with weaponry and equipment designed for war,Sessions has made a concerted effort to expand the police state’s power to search, strip, seize, raid, steal from, arrest and jail Americans for any infraction, no matter how insignificant.
Now Sessions has given state courts the green light to resume their practice of jailing individuals who are unable to pay the hefty finesimposed by the American police state. In doing so, Sessions has once again shown himself to be not only a shill for the Deep State but an enemy of the people.
First, some background on debtors’ prisons, which jail people who cannot afford to pay the exorbitant fines imposed on them by courtsand other government agencies.
Congress banned debtors’ prisons in 1833.
In 1983, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the practice to be unconstitutional under the Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection clause.
Where things began to change, according to The Marshall Project, was with the rise of “mass incarceration” when we started to imprison more people for lesser crimes.
By the late 1980s and early 90s, “there was a dramatic increase in the number of statutes listing a prison term as a possible sentence forfailure to repay criminal-justice debt.” During the 2000s, the courts started cashing in big-time “by using the threat of jail time – established in those statutes – to squeeze cash out of small-time debtors.”
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Not content to merely pander to law enforcement and add to its military largesse with weaponry and equipment designed for war,Sessions has made a concerted effort to expand the police state’s power to search, strip, seize, raid, steal from, arrest and jail Americans for any infraction, no matter how insignificant.
Now Sessions has given state courts the green light to resume their practice of jailing individuals who are unable to pay the hefty finesimposed by the American police state. In doing so, Sessions has once again shown himself to be not only a shill for the Deep State but an enemy of the people.
First, some background on debtors’ prisons, which jail people who cannot afford to pay the exorbitant fines imposed on them by courtsand other government agencies.
Congress banned debtors’ prisons in 1833.
In 1983, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the practice to be unconstitutional under the Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection clause.
Where things began to change, according to The Marshall Project, was with the rise of “mass incarceration” when we started to imprison more people for lesser crimes.
By the late 1980s and early 90s, “there was a dramatic increase in the number of statutes listing a prison term as a possible sentence forfailure to repay criminal-justice debt.” During the 2000s, the courts started cashing in big-time “by using the threat of jail time – established in those statutes – to squeeze cash out of small-time debtors.”
More
Christopher Steele Has Been Referred To The FBI For Criminal Investigation
Two top Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee are asking the Justice Department and FBI to open up a criminal investigation into dossier author Christopher Steele.
Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley and South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham alleged in a letter to FBI Director Christopher Wray and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein that Steele may have made false statements to the FBI about his communications with U.S. news outlets regarding the dossier.
Citing information contained in a classified memo, Grassley and Graham said that they were “respectfully referring Mr. Steele to you for investigation of potential violations of 18 U.S.C. § 1001, for statements the Committee has reason to believe Mr. Steele made regarding his distribution of information contained in the dossier.”
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Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley and South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham alleged in a letter to FBI Director Christopher Wray and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein that Steele may have made false statements to the FBI about his communications with U.S. news outlets regarding the dossier.
Citing information contained in a classified memo, Grassley and Graham said that they were “respectfully referring Mr. Steele to you for investigation of potential violations of 18 U.S.C. § 1001, for statements the Committee has reason to believe Mr. Steele made regarding his distribution of information contained in the dossier.”
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Bastardi blasts those linking brutal blizzard to climate change
Meteorologist Joe Bastardi had a decidedly unscientific term for the effort to link Thursday’s frigid winter storm to human-caused climate change: “witchcraft.”
This is flat out insanity and deception now To tell the public that events that have occurred countless times before with no climate change attribution, is now just that, is not science, its witchcraft, NO PROOF AT ALL. Its climate ambulance chasing, nothing more
— Joe Bastardi (@BigJoeBastardi) January 4, 2018
The winter blast unleashed snow, high winds and freezing temperatures on the eastern seaboard this week as it moved from the Southeast to New England, resulting in snowflakes as far south as northern Florida and a record cold snap in Boston.
The fierce storm also triggered a rash of climate-change sightings as activists moved to deflect wisecracks about “global cooling” by arguing that the bitter cold was actually consistent with a warming planet.
“This is simply a classic nor’easter. Such storms are common along the East Coast in winter,” said Mark Serreze, director of the National Snow & Ice Data Center in Boulder, Colorado.
this has happened countless times before and it wasnt global warming then and is not now Solid use of past patterns predicted Major early cold from OCTOBER!, I have tweeted that dozens of times showing the analog years I used, No co2 then https://t.co/kHDOkHeOII
— Joe Bastardi (@BigJoeBastardi) January 4, 2018
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This is flat out insanity and deception now To tell the public that events that have occurred countless times before with no climate change attribution, is now just that, is not science, its witchcraft, NO PROOF AT ALL. Its climate ambulance chasing, nothing more
— Joe Bastardi (@BigJoeBastardi) January 4, 2018
The winter blast unleashed snow, high winds and freezing temperatures on the eastern seaboard this week as it moved from the Southeast to New England, resulting in snowflakes as far south as northern Florida and a record cold snap in Boston.
The fierce storm also triggered a rash of climate-change sightings as activists moved to deflect wisecracks about “global cooling” by arguing that the bitter cold was actually consistent with a warming planet.
“This is simply a classic nor’easter. Such storms are common along the East Coast in winter,” said Mark Serreze, director of the National Snow & Ice Data Center in Boulder, Colorado.
this has happened countless times before and it wasnt global warming then and is not now Solid use of past patterns predicted Major early cold from OCTOBER!, I have tweeted that dozens of times showing the analog years I used, No co2 then https://t.co/kHDOkHeOII
— Joe Bastardi (@BigJoeBastardi) January 4, 2018
More
Rep. Cummings in hospital with knee infection
BALTIMORE — Rep. Elijah E. Cummings was admitted to the hospital for a procedure to his knee on Friday, a statement said.
Cummings was admitted to Johns Hopkins Hospital for a bacterial infection in his knee, a statement from his office said. The statement said doctors drained his knee in a minor procedure and he is expected to make a full recovery.
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Cummings was admitted to Johns Hopkins Hospital for a bacterial infection in his knee, a statement from his office said. The statement said doctors drained his knee in a minor procedure and he is expected to make a full recovery.
More/Video
Survey Shows Majority Of Pensioners Have No Idea Their Pensions Are Underfunded
Over the past several years, we've written a countless number of posts on the precarious financial situation of numerous state and local public pensions around the country all while frustratingly wondering how the massive $3-$6 trillion dollar ticking time bomb doesn't seem to be that much of a concern to frothy asset markets. As it turns out, precisely no one (our readers excluded, of course), including the workers who are active participants in insolvent public pension ponzi schemes, have any idea just how underfunded they really are.
According to a staggering new survey conducted by Spectrem Group, 6 out of 10 CalPERS retirees and 8 out of 10 NYC retirees are apparently under the illusion that their pensions are fully funded...
NYC Funds pension members were the most likely to indicate that their pension is fully funded (80%) while the CalPERS members were the least likely to indicate that their pension was fully funded (63%). Sixty-six percent of National members indicated that they believe their pension fund is fully funded. In reality, none of these pensions are fully funded. Based upon annual reports, CalPERS is funded at 68.1% and NYC Funds is funded at 62%.
According to a staggering new survey conducted by Spectrem Group, 6 out of 10 CalPERS retirees and 8 out of 10 NYC retirees are apparently under the illusion that their pensions are fully funded...
NYC Funds pension members were the most likely to indicate that their pension is fully funded (80%) while the CalPERS members were the least likely to indicate that their pension was fully funded (63%). Sixty-six percent of National members indicated that they believe their pension fund is fully funded. In reality, none of these pensions are fully funded. Based upon annual reports, CalPERS is funded at 68.1% and NYC Funds is funded at 62%.
Bannon's Target Isn't Trump, It's Still Kushner
The former Chief Strategist Steve Bannon fires up the feud against his nemesis during the White House days, Jared Kushner.
The January 3rd edition of the British newspaper Guardianopens with “explosive revelations”. Michael Wolff interviews Steve Bannon about the latter’s book “Fire and Fury: inside the Trump White House”, which calls Donald Jr’s (Trump’s first born son) meetings with the Russian lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya “treasonous” and “unpatriotic”.
Most media stop there. Most liberals, fueled by their hatred towards Donald Trump, also stop there and take it to Twitter because that’s how far their political slacktivism can go. Then Trump replied on the wave of emotions and everything went nuclear. Since everyone seems to be too emotional not only to read through the lines, but actually to simply read the lines, we’ll offer some strategic analysis and put everything into context.
Let’s start with Bannon’s quotes: “Even if you thought that this was not treasonous, or unpatriotic, or bad shit, and I happen to think it’s all of that, you should have called the FBI immediately. (…)You realise where this is going. This is all about money laundering. Mueller chose [senior prosecutor Andrew] Weissmann first and he is a money-laundering guy. Their path to fucking Trump goes right through Paul Manafort, Don Jr and Jared Kushner … It’s as plain as a hair on your face.”
If you want to know what Bannon thinks, you either ask him or read Breitbart, which presents the same revelations with a rather different focus, ignoring Donald Jr. while highlighting Kushner’s role.
A second article on the topic targets the power couple Jared and his wife Ivanka.
Most importantly, the first article on the home page, highlighted in capital letters, is again about Jared Kushner.The article is penned by Adam Shaw, who happens to be one of Bannon’s most trusted writers, and lists essentially everything that’s wrong with Kushner, suggesting what Trump should do with him.
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The January 3rd edition of the British newspaper Guardianopens with “explosive revelations”. Michael Wolff interviews Steve Bannon about the latter’s book “Fire and Fury: inside the Trump White House”, which calls Donald Jr’s (Trump’s first born son) meetings with the Russian lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya “treasonous” and “unpatriotic”.
Most media stop there. Most liberals, fueled by their hatred towards Donald Trump, also stop there and take it to Twitter because that’s how far their political slacktivism can go. Then Trump replied on the wave of emotions and everything went nuclear. Since everyone seems to be too emotional not only to read through the lines, but actually to simply read the lines, we’ll offer some strategic analysis and put everything into context.
Let’s start with Bannon’s quotes: “Even if you thought that this was not treasonous, or unpatriotic, or bad shit, and I happen to think it’s all of that, you should have called the FBI immediately. (…)You realise where this is going. This is all about money laundering. Mueller chose [senior prosecutor Andrew] Weissmann first and he is a money-laundering guy. Their path to fucking Trump goes right through Paul Manafort, Don Jr and Jared Kushner … It’s as plain as a hair on your face.”
If you want to know what Bannon thinks, you either ask him or read Breitbart, which presents the same revelations with a rather different focus, ignoring Donald Jr. while highlighting Kushner’s role.
A second article on the topic targets the power couple Jared and his wife Ivanka.
Most importantly, the first article on the home page, highlighted in capital letters, is again about Jared Kushner.The article is penned by Adam Shaw, who happens to be one of Bannon’s most trusted writers, and lists essentially everything that’s wrong with Kushner, suggesting what Trump should do with him.
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Live Traffic Cameras on the Eastern Shore
BREAKING NEWS: MULTIPLE PEOPLE TRAPPED IN THE ICE IN BERLIN: UPDATE
Berlin Fire EMS has been dispatched to Rum Point golf course in South point. Multiple people trapped in the ice trying to rescue a dog that fell through the ice. Ocean City has been requested to assist.
Customers of Six Detroit Restaurants Warned to Get Hepatitis A Vaccinations
The Detroit area is dealing with a significant Hepatitis A outbreak. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) reports 630 known cases in Southeast Michigan in 2017, twenty of them resulting in death. There were 150 cases diagnosed in the city of Detroit alone last year. Public health officials are especially troubled by the number of food handlers who have been infected with the disease.
The Detroit Health Department has been sending out alerts, warning the public about restaurants with infected food handlers. On October 30 they announced they were investigating two separate cases of Hepatitis A, one at the Firewater Bar and Grill and a second at a Little Caesars restaurant.
"The Detroit Health Department is conducting a thorough investigation of both establishments to ensure appropriate food handing [sic] and cleaning protocols are being followed," the alert said. "The Detroit Health Department has notified both establishments that infected employees are not to return to work until approved by their doctor. Both employees stopped working at the establishments once the diagnosis was confirmed. Both establishments have been cooperative with the investigation."
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The Detroit Health Department has been sending out alerts, warning the public about restaurants with infected food handlers. On October 30 they announced they were investigating two separate cases of Hepatitis A, one at the Firewater Bar and Grill and a second at a Little Caesars restaurant.
"The Detroit Health Department is conducting a thorough investigation of both establishments to ensure appropriate food handing [sic] and cleaning protocols are being followed," the alert said. "The Detroit Health Department has notified both establishments that infected employees are not to return to work until approved by their doctor. Both employees stopped working at the establishments once the diagnosis was confirmed. Both establishments have been cooperative with the investigation."
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U.S. freezes grant to UNRWA
The United States administration froze a $125 million grant to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), the UN’s agency for “Palestinian refugees”, which was supposed to be delivered on January 1, Channel 10 News reported on Friday, citing three Western diplomats.
The amount frozen is one-third of the annual funding the United States provides the organization, according to the report.
President Donald Trump is considering cutting this amount completely and could even increase the cut to $180 million, which would be half the total U.S. funding for UNRWA.
For years, UNRWA has been a target for criticism in light of Hamas's activity in its educational institutions and the use of its facilities by Palestinian Arab terrorist organizations in Gaza.
UNRWA was documented storing Hamas rockets and weapons "designed to kill Israeli citizens" in its schools, a fact which the UNRWA chief admitted himself.
More here
[Related: UNRWA Won’t Say How Many Palestinian ‘Refugees’ It Helps After Census Finds Gross Exaggeration]
The amount frozen is one-third of the annual funding the United States provides the organization, according to the report.
President Donald Trump is considering cutting this amount completely and could even increase the cut to $180 million, which would be half the total U.S. funding for UNRWA.
For years, UNRWA has been a target for criticism in light of Hamas's activity in its educational institutions and the use of its facilities by Palestinian Arab terrorist organizations in Gaza.
UNRWA was documented storing Hamas rockets and weapons "designed to kill Israeli citizens" in its schools, a fact which the UNRWA chief admitted himself.
More here
[Related: UNRWA Won’t Say How Many Palestinian ‘Refugees’ It Helps After Census Finds Gross Exaggeration]
Appeals court strikes down Baltimore law targeting disclaimers at pregnancy centers
A federal appeals court unanimously found Baltimore’s ordinance to make pregnancy centers post signs about abortion is unconstitutional.
The 4th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals affirmed a lower court’s ruling that the ordinance, which requires pregnancy care centers run by anti-abortion groups to post notices that they don't provide abortions in their waiting rooms, violates the First Amendment.
The three-judge panel ruled that the ordinance compelled a “politically and religiously motivated group to convey a message fundamentally at odds with its core belief and mission,” according to the opinion written by Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson III, a President Ronald Reagan appointee.
He was joined by Judges Allyson Duncan and G. Steven Agee, both appointed by former President George W. Bush.
The case centered on the Greater Baltimore Center for Pregnancy Concerns, a nonprofit Christian organization that aims to deter women from getting abortions.
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The 4th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals affirmed a lower court’s ruling that the ordinance, which requires pregnancy care centers run by anti-abortion groups to post notices that they don't provide abortions in their waiting rooms, violates the First Amendment.
The three-judge panel ruled that the ordinance compelled a “politically and religiously motivated group to convey a message fundamentally at odds with its core belief and mission,” according to the opinion written by Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson III, a President Ronald Reagan appointee.
He was joined by Judges Allyson Duncan and G. Steven Agee, both appointed by former President George W. Bush.
The case centered on the Greater Baltimore Center for Pregnancy Concerns, a nonprofit Christian organization that aims to deter women from getting abortions.
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Man Accused of Sexually Assaulting Sleeping Woman on Flight to Detroit
Authorities are accusing a man of sexually assaulting a sleeping woman on a flight from Las Vegas to Detroit.
The woman claimed she fell asleep on the plane and awoke “to a hand in her pants and noticed that her pants and shirt were unbuttoned,” according to the criminal complaint.
Police arrested Prabhu Ramamoorthy as soon as the flight arrived at Detroit Metro Airport Wednesday morning on suspicion of aggravated sexual abuse.
The suspect initially told authorities that he had been asleep and did not know where his hand had been, but later told another investigator that he “might have” unhooked the woman’s bra and put his hands on her breasts over her shirt.
More here
The woman claimed she fell asleep on the plane and awoke “to a hand in her pants and noticed that her pants and shirt were unbuttoned,” according to the criminal complaint.
Police arrested Prabhu Ramamoorthy as soon as the flight arrived at Detroit Metro Airport Wednesday morning on suspicion of aggravated sexual abuse.
The suspect initially told authorities that he had been asleep and did not know where his hand had been, but later told another investigator that he “might have” unhooked the woman’s bra and put his hands on her breasts over her shirt.
More here
WH Deadlocked on Saving Iran Nuclear Deal As Protests Rock Islamic Republic
The White House is facing a deadline that could force the administration to provide continuing sanctions relief to Iran—including to several key entities that bolster the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, or IRGC.
Within the next week, the Trump administration will have to decide whether it will again waive economic sanctions on key Iranian entities, including its Central Bank, which provides the IRGC with a significant portion of its funding. Insiders worry this decision could solidify Iran's hardline ruling regime at a time when protesters are coming out en masse against it.
"If you're the president and you're seeing Iranians pouring out into the streets to protest the regime, how do you waive sanctions to keep the money flowing to the regime and the IRGC?" asked Richard Goldberg, a former top official for former senator Mark Kirk (R., Ill.) and original architect of congressional sanctions against Iran.
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Within the next week, the Trump administration will have to decide whether it will again waive economic sanctions on key Iranian entities, including its Central Bank, which provides the IRGC with a significant portion of its funding. Insiders worry this decision could solidify Iran's hardline ruling regime at a time when protesters are coming out en masse against it.
"If you're the president and you're seeing Iranians pouring out into the streets to protest the regime, how do you waive sanctions to keep the money flowing to the regime and the IRGC?" asked Richard Goldberg, a former top official for former senator Mark Kirk (R., Ill.) and original architect of congressional sanctions against Iran.
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‘Why Isn’t Trump Banned from Twitter?’ The Leftist Media Wants to Know
Left-wing media is up in arms, demanding to know why the President of the United States has not been banned from Twitter.
Op-eds in the New York Times, the Washington Post, and Canada’s second-largest newspaper, the Globe and Mail, have all published op-eds and analyses over the past 24 hours, all tackling the same question of President Trump’s continued presence on the social media platform.
While they have raised the topic before, the latest round of whinging has been prompted by the President’s recent mockery of North Korean leader Kim Jong-nn over the effectiveness of his nuclear arsenal.
An analysis column for the Washington Post suggests that bruising the North Korean leader’s ego might be classified as “hateful conduct”..
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Op-eds in the New York Times, the Washington Post, and Canada’s second-largest newspaper, the Globe and Mail, have all published op-eds and analyses over the past 24 hours, all tackling the same question of President Trump’s continued presence on the social media platform.
While they have raised the topic before, the latest round of whinging has been prompted by the President’s recent mockery of North Korean leader Kim Jong-nn over the effectiveness of his nuclear arsenal.
An analysis column for the Washington Post suggests that bruising the North Korean leader’s ego might be classified as “hateful conduct”..
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Labor Rule Aims to Help 11 Million Americans Find Employer Health Coverage
On Thursday, the Department of Labor announced a new rule that aims to help 11 million Americans find coverage by giving more flexibility to employers to offer health insurance coverage.
While most Americans receive health care coverage through their employer, there are still roughly 11 million Americans working for either sole proprietors or small businesses who are not insured because coverage is either too cumbersome or expensive.
The rule attempts to help these uncovered individuals by helping businesses band together to offer higher quality and more affordable insurance for their workers.
"The proposed rule, which applies only to employer-sponsored health insurance, would allow employers to join together as a single group to purchase insurance in the large group market," the agency explains. "By joining together, employers may reduce administrative costs through economies of scale, strengthen their bargaining position to obtain more favorable deals, enhance their ability to self-insure, and offer a wider array of insurance options."
Thomas Miller, a resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, said the rule redefines and opens up the parameters for who can be involved in an Association Health Plan.
More details here
While most Americans receive health care coverage through their employer, there are still roughly 11 million Americans working for either sole proprietors or small businesses who are not insured because coverage is either too cumbersome or expensive.
The rule attempts to help these uncovered individuals by helping businesses band together to offer higher quality and more affordable insurance for their workers.
"The proposed rule, which applies only to employer-sponsored health insurance, would allow employers to join together as a single group to purchase insurance in the large group market," the agency explains. "By joining together, employers may reduce administrative costs through economies of scale, strengthen their bargaining position to obtain more favorable deals, enhance their ability to self-insure, and offer a wider array of insurance options."
Thomas Miller, a resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, said the rule redefines and opens up the parameters for who can be involved in an Association Health Plan.
More details here
Democrats Increasingly Worried Over Tammy Baldwin’s Senate Seat
Democrats are quietly fretting over Sen. Tammy Baldwin's Wisconsin senate seat, which could become a top priority for both political parties leading up to the 2018 elections, according to a report.
The Huffington Post reports that Democrats are increasingly worried about Baldwin's seat in a state that saw President Donald Trump defeat two-time failed presidential candidate Hillary Clinton—who did not once step foot in Wisconsin during the campaign—by less than one percentage point. Sen. Ron Johnson, an underdog months before the election, ended up pulling off a four-point victory over former Democratic Sen. Russ Feingold and ultimately garnered more votes than Trump in the state.
Republican groups have had their sights set on Baldwin, who was first elected to the Senate in 2012, and who is now the only statewide Democrat in Wisconsin, since last year.
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The Huffington Post reports that Democrats are increasingly worried about Baldwin's seat in a state that saw President Donald Trump defeat two-time failed presidential candidate Hillary Clinton—who did not once step foot in Wisconsin during the campaign—by less than one percentage point. Sen. Ron Johnson, an underdog months before the election, ended up pulling off a four-point victory over former Democratic Sen. Russ Feingold and ultimately garnered more votes than Trump in the state.
Republican groups have had their sights set on Baldwin, who was first elected to the Senate in 2012, and who is now the only statewide Democrat in Wisconsin, since last year.
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FCC Chairman Cancels CES Appearance over Death Threats
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai has canceled his scheduled appearance at the Consumer Electronics Show, reportedly due to death threats.
Recode reports that FCC Chairman Ajit Pai has canceled an appearance set for this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) due to threats against his life. This isn’t the first time that Pai has received direct threats; past threats occurred during the FCC’s vote on net neutrality in December of 2017 when a bomb threat was called in which resulted in the evacuation of the building. Pai has also been harassed by protesters at his home, who held signs directed at his children. “They will come to know the truth. Dad murdered democracy in cold blood,” stated one sign. “Families … should remain out of it and stop harassing us at our homes,” said Pai on Fox & Friends.
The nature of the current threats against Pai have not yet been made public with a spokesman for the FCC and Pai simply stating, “We do not comment on security measures or concerns.” But according to Recode’s sources, federal law enforcement has stepped in on the matter and are expected to brief other FCC offices about the threats.
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Recode reports that FCC Chairman Ajit Pai has canceled an appearance set for this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) due to threats against his life. This isn’t the first time that Pai has received direct threats; past threats occurred during the FCC’s vote on net neutrality in December of 2017 when a bomb threat was called in which resulted in the evacuation of the building. Pai has also been harassed by protesters at his home, who held signs directed at his children. “They will come to know the truth. Dad murdered democracy in cold blood,” stated one sign. “Families … should remain out of it and stop harassing us at our homes,” said Pai on Fox & Friends.
The nature of the current threats against Pai have not yet been made public with a spokesman for the FCC and Pai simply stating, “We do not comment on security measures or concerns.” But according to Recode’s sources, federal law enforcement has stepped in on the matter and are expected to brief other FCC offices about the threats.
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Is Mitt the Next McCain?
As he's expressed his desire to join the U.S. Senate, Mitt Romney has privately revealed that a driving purpose of his service would be to emulate a former rival and fellow foiled Republican presidential nominee: Sen. John McCain.
"There's got to be somebody who can stand up to the president," Romney told members of the Utah congressional delegation in recent weeks, according to a person with knowledge of his comments. "Who's going to stand up to Trump?"
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"There's got to be somebody who can stand up to the president," Romney told members of the Utah congressional delegation in recent weeks, according to a person with knowledge of his comments. "Who's going to stand up to Trump?"
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Illegal immigrant who killed Kate Steinle sentenced to time served
The illegal immigrant and seven-time felon who was acquitted of murder and assault in the 2015 San Francisco fatal shooting of 32-year old Kate Steinle was sentenced to three years in prison on Friday.
Jose Ines Garcia Zarate, who has been in custody since shortly after the shooting, was credited for time served. He will be on parole for 48 months and will remain in custody to face federal charges.
The case sparked national debate over immigration reform and so-called Sanctuary Cities that shield illegals from deportation, of which San Francisco is one.
The felony possession was the only conviction to come out of Garcia Zarate’s trial in November. The jury decided Steinle's death, the result of a ricochet bullet fired from roughly 100 feet away, was an accident.
At a hearing Friday, Garcia Zarate entered the courtroom wearing huge oversized bright orange sweatshirt and sweatpants. He was uncuffed and smiling as he shook the hand of each member of his defense team, including new attorney Tony Serra.
His attorneys requested a new trial, but the judge denied the motion.
More/Video
Jose Ines Garcia Zarate, who has been in custody since shortly after the shooting, was credited for time served. He will be on parole for 48 months and will remain in custody to face federal charges.
The case sparked national debate over immigration reform and so-called Sanctuary Cities that shield illegals from deportation, of which San Francisco is one.
The felony possession was the only conviction to come out of Garcia Zarate’s trial in November. The jury decided Steinle's death, the result of a ricochet bullet fired from roughly 100 feet away, was an accident.
At a hearing Friday, Garcia Zarate entered the courtroom wearing huge oversized bright orange sweatshirt and sweatpants. He was uncuffed and smiling as he shook the hand of each member of his defense team, including new attorney Tony Serra.
His attorneys requested a new trial, but the judge denied the motion.
More/Video
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2018/01/05/illegal-immigrant-who-killed-kate-steinle-likely-will-be-sentenced-to-time-served.html
IG: DHS data inaccurate for nearly $2B in transactions
A review of the Department of Homeland Security’s spending data for Q2 of fiscal year 2017 revealed $1.9 billion of the department’s transactions were not linked to their corresponding award-level transactions through unique identification numbers, one of several accuracy issues cited in a recent inspector general report.
While acknowledging DHS is improving its data reconciliation procedures to reduce these misalignments, the IG determined the department needs to have greater oversight into the quality of data submitted by its component agencies under the Digital Accountability and Transparency Act of 2014 (DATA Act).
“DHS’ internal controls over its DATA Act processes were not sufficient to support the submission of accurate, complete and timely spending data for FY 2017/Q2. Until DHS strengthens its existing controls and applies additional controls over its DATA Act processes, the quality and transparency of its published spending data remains questionable,” the report said.
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While acknowledging DHS is improving its data reconciliation procedures to reduce these misalignments, the IG determined the department needs to have greater oversight into the quality of data submitted by its component agencies under the Digital Accountability and Transparency Act of 2014 (DATA Act).
“DHS’ internal controls over its DATA Act processes were not sufficient to support the submission of accurate, complete and timely spending data for FY 2017/Q2. Until DHS strengthens its existing controls and applies additional controls over its DATA Act processes, the quality and transparency of its published spending data remains questionable,” the report said.
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Understanding Why You Sometimes See Snow Plow Trucks Driving With Their Blade Up
Did you know that the County is forbidden to use their plows on state roads and City of Salisbury roads. That's a fact. So when you see a county plow riding along with their blade up, now you know why. Another reason you might see a plow blade in the upright position is because they blew a hydraulic line.
The county has 720 miles of roads to plow and let me assure you, the county is doing a far better job clearing the roads then the City. In fact, the City is using huge trucks to clear side roads when they should be using pickup trucks.
The County has 44 snow plows on the road right now and get this, County Executive Culver and Councilman Joe Holloway are on the roads right now as we speak driving these vehicles and clearing the roads.
VA says Justice Department crackdown on marijuana won’t hit veterans
WASHINGTON — Veterans who talk to their doctors about medical marijuana use won’t be hurt by the new Justice Department crackdown on the drug, according to officials at the Department of Veterans Affairs.
But advocates worry the mixed message currently coming from federal officials will further stigmatize use and research into cannabis, potentially shutting down a valuable medical option for ailing veterans.
“We continue to be stuck in this gray zone on policy,” said Nick Etten, founder of the Veterans Cannabis Project. “The reality is this leaves physicians at VA in a compromised position when talking about cannabis. And it’s why veterans in states where it’s legal often don’t get medical cards: fear of prosecution and fear of a loss of benefits.”
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But advocates worry the mixed message currently coming from federal officials will further stigmatize use and research into cannabis, potentially shutting down a valuable medical option for ailing veterans.
“We continue to be stuck in this gray zone on policy,” said Nick Etten, founder of the Veterans Cannabis Project. “The reality is this leaves physicians at VA in a compromised position when talking about cannabis. And it’s why veterans in states where it’s legal often don’t get medical cards: fear of prosecution and fear of a loss of benefits.”
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At Least 18 'Classified Emails' on Convicted Felon Weiner's Laptop
The government watchdog group Judicial Watch, which has filed numerous Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuits to obtain government documents for the public to see, announced today that at least 18 "classified emails" from the State Department were sent through Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's private server to the laptop of Anthony Weiner, who is married to Clinton's former deputy chief of staff, Huma Abedin, and is a convicted felon who sexted a 15-year-old girl.
The work-related emails of Huma Abedin, who worked with Clinton at the State Department, were discovered by the FBI when they were investigating Anthony Weiner for his sexting crimes with a minor. Abedin "kept a non-State.gov email account on Hillary Clinton's notorious email server that she used repeatedly for government business," said Judicial Watch in a statement.
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The work-related emails of Huma Abedin, who worked with Clinton at the State Department, were discovered by the FBI when they were investigating Anthony Weiner for his sexting crimes with a minor. Abedin "kept a non-State.gov email account on Hillary Clinton's notorious email server that she used repeatedly for government business," said Judicial Watch in a statement.
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Snow Emergency Lifted for Dorchester and Talbot Counties
The Maryland State Police at the Easton Barrack in Talbot County in conjunction with local agencies and the State Highway Administration have lifted the Snow Emergency Plan for Talbot and Dorchester Counties.
Effective on 1/6/2018 at 0900 a.m. the Snow Emergency Plan has been lifted for Talbot and Dorchester Counties. All motorists are still urged to use caution when traversing the roadways due to possible slippery areas and partial snow covering some secondary roadways.
Effective on 1/6/2018 at 0900 a.m. the Snow Emergency Plan has been lifted for Talbot and Dorchester Counties. All motorists are still urged to use caution when traversing the roadways due to possible slippery areas and partial snow covering some secondary roadways.
Woman avoids charges after injuring husband’s genitals in bath-time fight
Prosecutors announced they dropped assault charges against Abigail Geiger after she attacked her husband’s genitals amid a bath-time feud at their Lititz, Pennsylvania, home, Law & Crime reported.
Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office spokesman Brett Hambright said the charges were dismissed since she completed a treatment program following the Sept. 19 incident.
Geiger admitted to police that she injured her husband’s privates when a fight in the shower turned physical.
Police said that the man was hospitalized with “puncture marks and scratch marks to his genitals.”
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Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office spokesman Brett Hambright said the charges were dismissed since she completed a treatment program following the Sept. 19 incident.
Geiger admitted to police that she injured her husband’s privates when a fight in the shower turned physical.
Police said that the man was hospitalized with “puncture marks and scratch marks to his genitals.”
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Millennial Deaths Surge As Opioid Crisis Deepens
Despite all the chatter surrounding the ‘globalized synchronized growth’ narrative rocketing equity markets to the moon, and or the constant bombardment of news stories about newly minted Bitcoin and Ripple millionaires living in their parents’ basement, the fracturing of the real and the financial economies has become more evident than ever, as many young millennials who are trapped in the real economy with high debts and wage stagnation are dying at an alarming clip.
The figures are so concerning that millennials deaths have shifted the overall life expectancy rate for the United States lower for the second consecutive year. The last time this occurred, it was the early 1960s when the stock market zoomed to new highs, but then, shortly thereafter, experienced a sizeable downturn,
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The figures are so concerning that millennials deaths have shifted the overall life expectancy rate for the United States lower for the second consecutive year. The last time this occurred, it was the early 1960s when the stock market zoomed to new highs, but then, shortly thereafter, experienced a sizeable downturn,
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Snow Plow Covers Sidewalk In Salisbury
The Wicomico Landfill & Convenience Center On Brick Kiln Road Is Open Today
All other convenience centers are closed.
Rand Paul Calls for Ending Foreign Aid to Countries That Threaten Us
Foreign aid eats up a surprising amount of our federal budget. While our nation slides deeper and deeper into debt, we continue to hand out cash to other nations.
Often it's in our best interests, like when we give money and defensive weapons to Ukraine, which is under constant threat from Vladimir Putin. We can understand that. We may actually need that military beefed up, after all.
But all too often we give money to nations that would love to see us burn. That's why Rand Paul's recent call to end that practice seems to make just too much sense.
"I would take the money that we send to a lot of countries that aren’t necessarily our friends like Pakistan, I would redirect that money into building roads and bridges here," Paul argued on Fox and Friends. He added, "I have a bill that I will introduce next week that will take the about $2 billion we spend in Pakistan, let’s spend it in the United States. … Let’s don’t give it to people who hate us and burn our flag and chant: ‘Death to America.'"
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Often it's in our best interests, like when we give money and defensive weapons to Ukraine, which is under constant threat from Vladimir Putin. We can understand that. We may actually need that military beefed up, after all.
But all too often we give money to nations that would love to see us burn. That's why Rand Paul's recent call to end that practice seems to make just too much sense.
"I would take the money that we send to a lot of countries that aren’t necessarily our friends like Pakistan, I would redirect that money into building roads and bridges here," Paul argued on Fox and Friends. He added, "I have a bill that I will introduce next week that will take the about $2 billion we spend in Pakistan, let’s spend it in the United States. … Let’s don’t give it to people who hate us and burn our flag and chant: ‘Death to America.'"
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Journalist Describes How Fusion GPS Smeared Him as a 'Pedophile,' 'Extortionist' and 'Drug Trafficker'
The shady, liberal opposition research firm behind the discredited anti-Trump dossier uses smear tactics and intimidation to discredit people who go against its clients, a London-based Venezuelan journalist told Fox News Thursday.
In congressional testimony as well, Alek Boyd said Fusion GPS labeled him a “pedophile,” “extortionist” and “drug trafficker” after he criticized Derwick Associates, one of its clients.
“I believe that Fusion GPS’s business is to do basically whatever the paymasters tell them to do,” Boyd said in his first American TV interview. “They are particularly good at spreading misinformation, disinformation and smears.”
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In congressional testimony as well, Alek Boyd said Fusion GPS labeled him a “pedophile,” “extortionist” and “drug trafficker” after he criticized Derwick Associates, one of its clients.
“I believe that Fusion GPS’s business is to do basically whatever the paymasters tell them to do,” Boyd said in his first American TV interview. “They are particularly good at spreading misinformation, disinformation and smears.”
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Don’t believe the fake media - Trump’s first year a great success
How has Donald Trump done during his first year in office?
The first year of the presidency of Donald Trump is coming to a close. It has been a roller-coaster ride of highs and lows but leaves us with enough evidence to sift through the confusion and chaos to make a determination if he has fulfilled the promises that propelled him to his stunning takedown of Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential race.
Let’s set the stage: from the moment Trump was sworn in, the Democrats and the mainstream media (one and the same many believe) declared war on him. He had defied all their projections and predictions and stripped them of most of their credibility with his improbable win.
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The first year of the presidency of Donald Trump is coming to a close. It has been a roller-coaster ride of highs and lows but leaves us with enough evidence to sift through the confusion and chaos to make a determination if he has fulfilled the promises that propelled him to his stunning takedown of Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential race.
Let’s set the stage: from the moment Trump was sworn in, the Democrats and the mainstream media (one and the same many believe) declared war on him. He had defied all their projections and predictions and stripped them of most of their credibility with his improbable win.
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LEGENDARY COMMENTS BY GEORGE CHEVALLIER 1-6-18
Ashtrays
Another iconic item that has gone by the wayside is the advertising ashtray. I have always collected the square ones with a 4-digit phone number from Salisbury. But like any collector, I have relaxed my standards. Since I couldn’t find enough to fill my collector craving, I started collecting any ashtray from Salisbury. There are ashtrays from hotels, motels, restaurants, drive-ins, clubs/bars, energy/transportation companies, banks, insurance companies, miscellaneous businesses, events and one generic one with a sailboat on it. They tell a story of life in Salisbury that evaporated years ago. Now that it is not fashionable (or healthy) to smoke anymore, the advertising ashtray has disappeared.
I collected match books when I was in high school, but the quantity I amassed caused my mother to end my hobby. She said she was afraid that the whole mess could go up in flames and destroy our home. I didn’t know how to collect match books and if I had just taken the matches out, she probably wouldn’t have had a problem with them. I regret that I don’t have them now, because I’m sure a lot of Salisbury history went into the trash.
Some of the ashtrays I have found tell me things that I never knew. I have found four different ashtrays from Andrew J. Evans. He lived behind me on Holland Avenue and sold “America’s finest lamps”. I played basketball with his son, Jackie, every day in my back yard and never knew his father sold lamps.
There were two ways that the ashtrays found their way into the hands of the public. The first was that they were given away as advertising items. The second was that it was filched from the place of issue. They represent a history of Salisbury by advertising such places as Victor Lynn Lines, a familiar sight on the south side of the harbor from 1921 to the discontinuance of its boat service in 1954.
My 2 personal favorites are ones from R. D. Grier & Sons and Firestone Stores with the tires encircling them. Usually, this type is found with a myriad of burn marks on the tire left by a lingering cigarette. These two are perfect. The tires look like they would fit on a lawn mower and have all the markings of a full size Good Year and Firestone tire.
The ashtrays from the old Wicomico Hotel and the William Penn Hotel tell of a bustling downtown in years gone by. Other downtown businesses represented are the Chantry House, the Farmers & Merchants Bank, the County Trust Company of Maryland, Harris J. Riggin Agency, Booth & Brown Insurance and Avery Hall Insurance.
Out Main St. was the Union Bus Terminal next to Mrs. Blaine Drive-in. Many of the businesses are familiar names even to late comers to the Salisbury area. Names such as E. S. Adkins, Johnny’s and Sammy’s, the Oaks Drive-in, Buck’s Radiator Service, Eastern Shore Glass Co. and Benedict the Florist jump out at you as familiar Salisbury establishments. Some places have earned their notoriety by their contribution to Salisbury’s night life. The Pines and the Blue Moon are two of the night spots represented by ashtrays in my collection. These and memories are all that is left of these places.
Wicomico County Board of Education Schedule Update
After an initial opportunity for community input on two draft versions of the 2018-2019 school calendar, the Board of Education at its Dec. 12 meeting approved a proposed calendar on 1st reading. Additional comment on this draft is welcome prior to the 2nd reading and final vote at the Jan. 9 Board meeting.
View the draft: http://www.wcboe.org/cms/One.aspx…
The Board of Education and Wicomico County Public Schools welcome parent, student, staff and community input on the proposed 2018-2019 school year calendar. Please share input to comments@wcboe.org.
This proposed calendar is a slight variation on Draft B, which was one of two drafts posted for public input in November/December. The proposed calendar shifts the November professional day from Wednesday, Nov. 7 to Monday, Nov. 5, allowing for more continuity in a week when schools will already be closed Tuesday, Nov. 6 for the general Election. The calendar includes the Friday, March 15 professional day that was on the Draft B calendar. This proposed calendar meets the governor's requirement that the school year begin after Labor Day and end by June 15.
View the draft: http://www.wcboe.org/cms/One.aspx…
The Board of Education and Wicomico County Public Schools welcome parent, student, staff and community input on the proposed 2018-2019 school year calendar. Please share input to comments@wcboe.org.
This proposed calendar is a slight variation on Draft B, which was one of two drafts posted for public input in November/December. The proposed calendar shifts the November professional day from Wednesday, Nov. 7 to Monday, Nov. 5, allowing for more continuity in a week when schools will already be closed Tuesday, Nov. 6 for the general Election. The calendar includes the Friday, March 15 professional day that was on the Draft B calendar. This proposed calendar meets the governor's requirement that the school year begin after Labor Day and end by June 15.
Attorney General Frosh Statement on Trump Administration’s Plan to Expand Drilling off America’s Coastlines
BALTIMORE, MD – Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh today released the following statement on President Trump’s plan to expand drilling off America’s coastlines:
“The risks posed to our environment and local economies as a result of offshore drilling are unacceptable. Environmental disasters in the Gulf of Mexico and around the country should serve as stark reminders of the permanent damage that results in offshore drilling.
Read more in the full press release:http://www.marylandattorneygeneral.gov/press/2018/010418.pdf
“The risks posed to our environment and local economies as a result of offshore drilling are unacceptable. Environmental disasters in the Gulf of Mexico and around the country should serve as stark reminders of the permanent damage that results in offshore drilling.
Read more in the full press release:http://www.marylandattorneygeneral.gov/press/2018/010418.pdf
Comptroller Franchot Announces Opening of Tax Season January 29
Tax filing deadline is April 17 this year
ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Comptroller Peter Franchot announced today that Maryland will begin processing personal income tax returns for Tax Year 2017 on January 29 – the same day the Internal Revenue Service begins accepting returns. The Comptroller's Office will not immediately process a state tax return if W-2 information is not on file. Employers are required to report wage information to the Comptroller on or before Jan. 31.
Processing of business tax returns begins Monday, January 8.
This year, the filing deadline for 2017 tax returns is Tuesday, April 17 rather than the traditional April 15. In 2018, April 15 falls on a Sunday and Emancipation Day – a legal holiday in the District of Columbia – falls on April 16, which pushes the filing deadline to the following day.
Last year, the Comptroller's Office stopped accepting income tax returns from 95 companies doing business in 113 locations for submitting numerous highly suspicious returns. Collectively, they filed thousands of state returns that the agency believed were fraudulent.
"In 2017, my office blocked more than 10,000 fraudulent returns worth more than $16 million," said Comptroller Franchot. "I urge Marylanders to be on the lookout for those who want to steal taxpayers' identities and personal financial information. Any taxpayer with concerns about a tax preparation business should call my office. We remain vigilant in our efforts to thwart these unscrupulous practices."
Taxpayers are encouraged to file their returns electronically for the fastest possible processing and to ensure they receive all possible refunds. A list of approved vendors for use in filing your electronic return can be found at www.marylandtaxes.com.
Free state tax assistance is available at all of the agency's 12 taxpayer service offices Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. A list of office locations can be found at www.marylandtaxes.com.
For more information on any tax-related matter, please visit Comptroller's website at www.marylandtaxes.com or call 1-800-MD-TAXES (1-800-638-2937) or 410-260-7980 in Central Maryland.
ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Comptroller Peter Franchot announced today that Maryland will begin processing personal income tax returns for Tax Year 2017 on January 29 – the same day the Internal Revenue Service begins accepting returns. The Comptroller's Office will not immediately process a state tax return if W-2 information is not on file. Employers are required to report wage information to the Comptroller on or before Jan. 31.
Processing of business tax returns begins Monday, January 8.
This year, the filing deadline for 2017 tax returns is Tuesday, April 17 rather than the traditional April 15. In 2018, April 15 falls on a Sunday and Emancipation Day – a legal holiday in the District of Columbia – falls on April 16, which pushes the filing deadline to the following day.
Last year, the Comptroller's Office stopped accepting income tax returns from 95 companies doing business in 113 locations for submitting numerous highly suspicious returns. Collectively, they filed thousands of state returns that the agency believed were fraudulent.
"In 2017, my office blocked more than 10,000 fraudulent returns worth more than $16 million," said Comptroller Franchot. "I urge Marylanders to be on the lookout for those who want to steal taxpayers' identities and personal financial information. Any taxpayer with concerns about a tax preparation business should call my office. We remain vigilant in our efforts to thwart these unscrupulous practices."
Taxpayers are encouraged to file their returns electronically for the fastest possible processing and to ensure they receive all possible refunds. A list of approved vendors for use in filing your electronic return can be found at www.marylandtaxes.com.
Free state tax assistance is available at all of the agency's 12 taxpayer service offices Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. A list of office locations can be found at www.marylandtaxes.com.
For more information on any tax-related matter, please visit Comptroller's website at www.marylandtaxes.com or call 1-800-MD-TAXES (1-800-638-2937) or 410-260-7980 in Central Maryland.
Attorney General Frosh Joins Amicus Brief to Protect Maryland Cities and Police Departments from Funding Cuts
Byrne-JAG Grants Fund Critical Vital Public Safety Initiatives Including Efforts to Reduce Gun Violence and Combat the Opioid Epidemic
BALTIMORE, MD – Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh today joined 15 Attorneys General in an amicus brief to protect Maryland’s cities and police departments from federal funding cuts, supporting a challenge to the Trump administration’s efforts to punish so-called “sanctuary” jurisdictions by putting immigration-related conditions on federal law enforcement grants. The Attorneys General argue that these conditions interfere with states’ and localities’ right to set their own law enforcement policies and that the Department of Justice lacks the authority to impose these new conditions.
Read more in the full press release:http://www.marylandattorneygeneral.gov/press/2018/010518.pdf
BALTIMORE, MD – Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh today joined 15 Attorneys General in an amicus brief to protect Maryland’s cities and police departments from federal funding cuts, supporting a challenge to the Trump administration’s efforts to punish so-called “sanctuary” jurisdictions by putting immigration-related conditions on federal law enforcement grants. The Attorneys General argue that these conditions interfere with states’ and localities’ right to set their own law enforcement policies and that the Department of Justice lacks the authority to impose these new conditions.
Read more in the full press release:http://www.marylandattorneygeneral.gov/press/2018/010518.pdf
Labor Department eyes drug test rule for unemployment pay
Republicans in March repealed Obama-era rule limiting ability of states to drug test
The Trump administration is looking to bring back and broaden a rule that Congress killed last year requiring drug testing for unemployment benefits.
Using the Congressional Review Act (CRA), Republicans in March repealed an Obama-era rule that limited the ability of states to drug test people applying for unemployment pay.
Republicans said the 2016 rule was too narrow because it only allowed states to drug test people whose occupations already regularly required it. That category included airplane pilots, flight crews and air traffic controllers, commercial and public transit drivers and any job requiring an employee to carry a firearm.
More
The Trump administration is looking to bring back and broaden a rule that Congress killed last year requiring drug testing for unemployment benefits.
Using the Congressional Review Act (CRA), Republicans in March repealed an Obama-era rule that limited the ability of states to drug test people applying for unemployment pay.
Republicans said the 2016 rule was too narrow because it only allowed states to drug test people whose occupations already regularly required it. That category included airplane pilots, flight crews and air traffic controllers, commercial and public transit drivers and any job requiring an employee to carry a firearm.
More