Some polls surprisingly find that Joe Biden is mounting a serious bid for president despite being a man who has unsuccessfully run for president in nearly every cycle since 1988.
The former vice president has been topping polls recently as he criss-crosses the country stumping for Democrats in the 2018 midterm primaries, according to The Hill newspaper.
At least one recent poll found Biden leading Senator Bernie Sanders (I, VT) 26 to 18 percent, the paper says.
While many Democrats are talking about the need for “fresh faces” in Democrat politics, Biden is bucking that trend as the 75-year-old’s longtime presence in the party continues to draw interest.
“A fresh face is important, but Democrats need three things: someone to win the White House, someone who can elevate the rest of the ticket and a candidate who understands and appreciates governance where this president has shown disdain for it,” the executive director of the New York Democratic Party, Basil Smikle, told The Hill. “Biden fits that bill.”
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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
Thursday, June 07, 2018
Missouri Audit Finds Thousands of Dead People, Inmates Using Food Stamps
A state audit of Missouri’s food stamp program found thousands of prison inmates and dead people redeemed food stamp benefits for food purchases.
The report found that “3,668 food purchases” had been made by a person other than the person receiving food assistance more than a month after the benefit recipient’s death.
The report also noted 2,358 instances where the benefit recipient had been in jail, but someone else made purchases using the cardholder’s benefits.
“These situations exist because Social Services does not have effective controls to detect when benefits are issued to deceased or incarcerated recipients,” state auditor Nicole Galloway told reporters Tuesday in Kansas City, according to the Kansas City Star. “It heightens the risk of abuse or misuse of the benefit program.”
Galloway said that most of the transactions raising red flags over the past 18 months came from people using their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits outside of Missouri.
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The report found that “3,668 food purchases” had been made by a person other than the person receiving food assistance more than a month after the benefit recipient’s death.
The report also noted 2,358 instances where the benefit recipient had been in jail, but someone else made purchases using the cardholder’s benefits.
“These situations exist because Social Services does not have effective controls to detect when benefits are issued to deceased or incarcerated recipients,” state auditor Nicole Galloway told reporters Tuesday in Kansas City, according to the Kansas City Star. “It heightens the risk of abuse or misuse of the benefit program.”
Galloway said that most of the transactions raising red flags over the past 18 months came from people using their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits outside of Missouri.
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The Less Gun Availability
Having enjoyed my 82nd birthday, I am part of a group of about 50 million Americans who are 65 years of age or older. Those who are 90 or older were in school during the 1930s. My age cohort was in school during the 1940s. Baby boomers approaching their 70s were in school during the 1950s and early ’60s.
Try this question to any one of those 50 million Americans who are 65 or older: Do you recall any discussions about the need to hire armed guards to protect students and teachers against school shootings? Do you remember school policemen patrolling the hallways? How many students were shot to death during the time you were in school? For me and those other Americans 65 or older, when we were in school, a conversation about hiring armed guards and having police patrol hallways would have been seen as lunacy. There was no reason.
What’s the difference between yesteryear and today? The logic of the argument for those calling for stricter gun control laws, in the wake of recent school shootings, is that something has happened to guns. Guns have behaved more poorly and become evil. Guns themselves are the problem. The job for those of us who are 65 or older is to relay the fact that guns were more available and less controlled in years past, when there was far less mayhem. Something else is the problem.
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Try this question to any one of those 50 million Americans who are 65 or older: Do you recall any discussions about the need to hire armed guards to protect students and teachers against school shootings? Do you remember school policemen patrolling the hallways? How many students were shot to death during the time you were in school? For me and those other Americans 65 or older, when we were in school, a conversation about hiring armed guards and having police patrol hallways would have been seen as lunacy. There was no reason.
What’s the difference between yesteryear and today? The logic of the argument for those calling for stricter gun control laws, in the wake of recent school shootings, is that something has happened to guns. Guns have behaved more poorly and become evil. Guns themselves are the problem. The job for those of us who are 65 or older is to relay the fact that guns were more available and less controlled in years past, when there was far less mayhem. Something else is the problem.
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Maryland Donors Beware of Charity Scams in the Wake of the Ellicott City Floods
Be Vigilant, Donate Wisely
BALTIMORE, MD - Appeals for charitable donations will most certainly surge as Ellicott City recovers from the effects of the recent flooding that devastated the area for the second time in 22 months. As the public demand for donations increase for Main Street, Ellicott City, many Marylanders may feel compelled to donate. For those that do choose to make a donation to support those in the impacted areas, the Secretary of State John C. Wobensmith and Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh advise consumers to be vigilant to donate wisely.
“In the aftermath of these devastating floods, scam artists may attempt to prey on your generosity and use all types of scams, frauds or deceptive acts to line their own pockets,” warns Secretary Wobensmith. “Be sure you know who you are giving to and it is best to give directly to well-established charitable organizations.”
The Office of the Secretary of State registers and regulates charitable organizations that solicit charitable contributions in Maryland. Together with the Attorney General’s Office, the Secretary of State’s Office works to ensure that charitable contributions go to qualified charitable organizations and are used for their intended purpose. Visithttp://sos.maryland.gov/Charity/Pages/Giving-Wisely.aspx on the SOS’s website for tips on how to give wisely to charities.
"Natural disasters often bring out the best in people, with neighbors helping neighbors," said Attorney General Frosh. "Unfortunately, disasters also can bring out the worst in people, particularly those seeking to profit from the misfortune of others. It is always wise to research a charity first before donating, and avoid any charity or fundraiser that is reluctant to provide information on how donations are used."
To find out whether a particular charity is registered in Maryland, the Secretary of State’s Office maintains a public registryhttp://sos.maryland.gov/Charity/Pages/SearchCharity.aspx.of charitable organizations authorized to solicit in Maryland. The Attorney General’s Office Consumer Protection Division offers tips on giving wisely and can be found here .http://www.marylandattorneygeneral.gov/CPD%20Documents/Tips-Publications/147.pdf.
If you believe you may have been a victim of a deceptive or illegal charitable solicitation, you should contact the Charities and Legal Services Division of the Secretary of State’s Office at 410-260-3859.
Senate Probe Exposes Obama's Secret Iran Deal To Sidestep US Sanctions
Seemingly not satisfied with airlifting billions in US taxpayer cash on pallets to Tehran, AP reports that the Obama administration secretly sought to give Iran access to the U.S. financial system by sidestepping sanctions kept in place after the 2015 nuclear deal, despite repeatedly telling Congress and the public it had no plans to do so.
An investigation by Senate Republicans released Wednesday that exposes the Obama administration's politically-motivated actions to secretly offer help to Iran while withholding the truth from the American taxpayers about the extent of Washington's handouts to Tehran. As AP reports,
The report by the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations revealed that under President Barack Obama,the Treasury Department issued a license in February 2016, never previously disclosed, that would have allowed Iran to convert $5.7 billion it held at a bank in Oman from Omani rials into euros by exchanging them first into U.S. dollars. If the Omani bank had allowed the exchange without such a license, it would have violated sanctions that bar Iran from transactions that touch the U.S. financial system.
While issuing the license was not illegal, AP reports that it still went above and beyond what the Obama administration was required to do under the terms of the nuclear agreement.
Under that deal, the U.S. and world powers gave Iran billions of dollars in sanctions relief in exchange for curbing its nuclear program. Last month, President Donald Trump declared the U.S. was pulling out of what he described as a “disastrous deal.”
The license issued to Bank Muscat stood in stark contrast to repeated public statements from the Obama White House, the Treasury and the State Department, all of which denied that the administration was contemplating allowing Iran access to the U.S. financial system.
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An investigation by Senate Republicans released Wednesday that exposes the Obama administration's politically-motivated actions to secretly offer help to Iran while withholding the truth from the American taxpayers about the extent of Washington's handouts to Tehran. As AP reports,
The report by the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations revealed that under President Barack Obama,the Treasury Department issued a license in February 2016, never previously disclosed, that would have allowed Iran to convert $5.7 billion it held at a bank in Oman from Omani rials into euros by exchanging them first into U.S. dollars. If the Omani bank had allowed the exchange without such a license, it would have violated sanctions that bar Iran from transactions that touch the U.S. financial system.
While issuing the license was not illegal, AP reports that it still went above and beyond what the Obama administration was required to do under the terms of the nuclear agreement.
Under that deal, the U.S. and world powers gave Iran billions of dollars in sanctions relief in exchange for curbing its nuclear program. Last month, President Donald Trump declared the U.S. was pulling out of what he described as a “disastrous deal.”
The license issued to Bank Muscat stood in stark contrast to repeated public statements from the Obama White House, the Treasury and the State Department, all of which denied that the administration was contemplating allowing Iran access to the U.S. financial system.
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Instead Of Falling For FBI Perjury Trap, Trump Should Cut DOJ and FBI Budgets
The pernicious Trump “collusion” probe is a stupid waste of money and an unnecessary national embarrassment that will backfire on Democrats.
It is what the Russians wanted, and they knew we would overreact. Dems took the bait. They want the verdict now and the trial later. The whole thing is a conspiracy in search of some facts.
In reality, if you give the ex-FBI chief $15 million, a big all-Democrat donor staff, and all our laws-layered-upon-laws in America, they will get 90 percent of us guilty of something. This is what should worry us all, Democrats included.
Is this the legal system we want? One that indicts out of political vengeance with antiquated laws no one understands?
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It is what the Russians wanted, and they knew we would overreact. Dems took the bait. They want the verdict now and the trial later. The whole thing is a conspiracy in search of some facts.
In reality, if you give the ex-FBI chief $15 million, a big all-Democrat donor staff, and all our laws-layered-upon-laws in America, they will get 90 percent of us guilty of something. This is what should worry us all, Democrats included.
Is this the legal system we want? One that indicts out of political vengeance with antiquated laws no one understands?
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Donald Trump pardons Alice Johnson after Kim Kardashian visit
President Donald Trump has commuted the sentence of Alice Johnson, the 63-year-old Tennessee woman who was sentenced to life in prison in 1996 on non-violent drug charges, the White House announced Wednesday.
“BEST NEWS EVER!!!!” tweeted Kim Kardashian West, who met in the Oval Office last week with the president and his senior adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner to lobby the commander-in-chief to give Johnson a break.
“So grateful to @realDonaldTrump, Jared Kushner & to everyone who has showed compassion & contributed countless hours to this important moment for Ms. Alice Marie Johnson. Her commutation is inspirational & gives hope to so many others who are also deserving of a second chance,” she added later on Twitter.
The White House later issued a statement on the commutation.
“Ms. Johnson has accepted responsibility for her past behavior and has been a model prisoner over the past two decades. Despite receiving a life sentence, Alice worked hard to rehabilitate herself in prison, and act as a mentor to her fellow inmates,” the statement read.
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“BEST NEWS EVER!!!!” tweeted Kim Kardashian West, who met in the Oval Office last week with the president and his senior adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner to lobby the commander-in-chief to give Johnson a break.
“So grateful to @realDonaldTrump, Jared Kushner & to everyone who has showed compassion & contributed countless hours to this important moment for Ms. Alice Marie Johnson. Her commutation is inspirational & gives hope to so many others who are also deserving of a second chance,” she added later on Twitter.
The White House later issued a statement on the commutation.
“Ms. Johnson has accepted responsibility for her past behavior and has been a model prisoner over the past two decades. Despite receiving a life sentence, Alice worked hard to rehabilitate herself in prison, and act as a mentor to her fellow inmates,” the statement read.
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Maryland Fishing Report: June 6
The northern snakehead has gotten a lot of press attention and has been called “Frankenfish.” It inspired a movie called “Snakehead Terror” about an 8-foot long fish terrorizing a lakeside community, which helped create a common belief that snakeheads can walk on land.
In reality, snakeheads are an invasive species that is spreading quickly through the Chesapeake Bay watershed. They eat anything that moves within their watery environment and they grow large. One saving grace is they make excellent eating and are often what’s for dinner for many fishermen.
The use of any legal recreational gear is considered eligible for a Maryland state record in the invasive division of state records. A Virginia angler currently holds the world record for a hook-and-line snakehead at 17 pounds, 12 ounces. Maryland anglers have taken several larger than that with bow and arrow, including our new state record of 19.9 pounds set on May 24 by Andy Fox in Charles County.
Now we need someone to top these records with hook and line and bring Maryland the bragging rights for the world record – so here’s a tip: Northern snakeheads are aggressive predators and nothing seems to drive them crazier than a buzzbait over or near grass beds.
Don’t forget there are some free fishing days coming up June 9 and July 4. If you can think of someone you might like to introduce to fishing, this is a great opportunity for someone to try the sport without buying a license.
In reality, snakeheads are an invasive species that is spreading quickly through the Chesapeake Bay watershed. They eat anything that moves within their watery environment and they grow large. One saving grace is they make excellent eating and are often what’s for dinner for many fishermen.
The use of any legal recreational gear is considered eligible for a Maryland state record in the invasive division of state records. A Virginia angler currently holds the world record for a hook-and-line snakehead at 17 pounds, 12 ounces. Maryland anglers have taken several larger than that with bow and arrow, including our new state record of 19.9 pounds set on May 24 by Andy Fox in Charles County.
Now we need someone to top these records with hook and line and bring Maryland the bragging rights for the world record – so here’s a tip: Northern snakeheads are aggressive predators and nothing seems to drive them crazier than a buzzbait over or near grass beds.
Don’t forget there are some free fishing days coming up June 9 and July 4. If you can think of someone you might like to introduce to fishing, this is a great opportunity for someone to try the sport without buying a license.
Weekly Fishing Conditions Forecast Summary: June 6-12
Expect muddy waters to continue to reduce water clarity in most areas of Maryland’s waters. Anglers will experience mild, partly cloudy fishing conditions for most of this upcoming week.
Bay temperatures have cooled slightly from recent cloudy, cool, rainy conditions to the lower 70 degree mark, but will slowly rise this week due to mild air temperatures and long daylight hours. Be aware that areas from Swan Point south to Plum Point are showing poor bottom oxygen conditions below about 20 feet. However, other portions of the main bay and tidal rivers have much better oxygen conditions, so be sure to check the full forecast and the Don’t Fish Below this Depth for conditions in your area. There will be above average tidal currents Sunday through next Tuesday as a result of the new moon on June 14.
For the full weekly fishing conditions summary and more detailed and up-to-date fishing conditions in your area of the bay, be sure to check out Eyes on the Bay’s Click Before You Cast.
Expect muddy waters to continue to reduce water clarity in most areas of Maryland’s waters. Anglers will experience mild, partly cloudy fishing conditions for most of this upcoming week.
Bay temperatures have cooled slightly from recent cloudy, cool, rainy conditions to the lower 70 degree mark, but will slowly rise this week due to mild air temperatures and long daylight hours. Be aware that areas from Swan Point south to Plum Point are showing poor bottom oxygen conditions below about 20 feet. However, other portions of the main bay and tidal rivers have much better oxygen conditions, so be sure to check the full forecast and the Don’t Fish Below this Depth for conditions in your area. There will be above average tidal currents Sunday through next Tuesday as a result of the new moon on June 14.
For the full weekly fishing conditions summary and more detailed and up-to-date fishing conditions in your area of the bay, be sure to check out Eyes on the Bay’s Click Before You Cast.
Upper Chesapeake Bay
Despite some stained water in the very upper reaches of the bay, fishing for striped bass is very good in the lower Susquehanna River and the channels leading to the Susquehanna and Elk rivers. Since June 1 all areas of the bay and tributaries are open to striped bass fishing. The Conowingo Dam is currently in a power generating schedule that starts in the early mornings and lasts till the evening hours. The striped bass are being caught by those casting swimshads, bucktails and crankbaits but also by fishing with white perch. Some are live-lining them with circle hooks but others are taking freshly caught white perch and using them as cut bait with excellent success.
Farther down the upper bay region there are excellent chumming opportunities for striped bass. Swan Point, Love Point, Podickory Point, and some of the shoal areas such as the 7-foot and 9-foot knolls have been good places to set up chum slicks or chunk. As is often the case, the largest striped bass are being caught in the back of the chum slick on baits left to sit on the bottom. A good tide is needed, and many report the last of a flood tide can offer some of the best fishing.
Trolling is another good option in the upper bay, and the eastern side of the bay tends to have clearer water, so the Love Point area down to the Bay Bridge has been a popular place to troll. Mixed spreads of bucktails, swimshads, parachutes, spoons and umbrella rigs have all been popular. Dark colors, gold spoons and of course chartreuse have been doing well.
Jigging is another good option along the channel edges with the 30-foot curve tending to hold the most fish. The Love Point channel edge and the Bay Bridge piers have been popular places to jig. Many are using 8-foot or more of soft plastic trailers in dark colors as well as pink with as light of a jig head as possible.
Don Goff holds up a nice striped bass while fishing from his kayak. Photo courtesy of Don Goff
Farther down the upper bay region there are excellent chumming opportunities for striped bass. Swan Point, Love Point, Podickory Point, and some of the shoal areas such as the 7-foot and 9-foot knolls have been good places to set up chum slicks or chunk. As is often the case, the largest striped bass are being caught in the back of the chum slick on baits left to sit on the bottom. A good tide is needed, and many report the last of a flood tide can offer some of the best fishing.
Trolling is another good option in the upper bay, and the eastern side of the bay tends to have clearer water, so the Love Point area down to the Bay Bridge has been a popular place to troll. Mixed spreads of bucktails, swimshads, parachutes, spoons and umbrella rigs have all been popular. Dark colors, gold spoons and of course chartreuse have been doing well.
Jigging is another good option along the channel edges with the 30-foot curve tending to hold the most fish. The Love Point channel edge and the Bay Bridge piers have been popular places to jig. Many are using 8-foot or more of soft plastic trailers in dark colors as well as pink with as light of a jig head as possible.
Middle Bay
Striped bass fishing opportunities abound this week in the middle bay region, as surface water temperatures are in the low 70s and striped bass feel comfortable at most any depth and location. Trolling has been popular along the shipping channel edges and other prominent channel areas. A mixed spread of medium sized bucktails, parachutes, spoons and umbrella rigs are common. The eastern shipping channel edge south of the Bay Bridge past Bloody Point and all the way down to the CP Buoy has been a good place to troll. The western side of the channel in front of Hacketts Bar and Chesapeake Beach down past Parkers Creek has also been holding good numbers of striped bass.
Jigging is a great option this week and light tackle anglers are enjoying plenty of striped bass action near channel edges, structure and anywhere fish can be spotted on a depth finder. The tributaries are open now to striped bass fishing, and some of the steep edges in Eastern Bay off Tilghman Point are great places to jig.
Chumming is a very popular way to fish this week at many of the traditional locations. The outside edge of Hacketts, the Hill and numerous channel edges are great places to set up a chum slick or to do some chunking for striped bass. As is usually the case with chumming or chunking, the best grade of fish are coming from baits allowed to sink to the bottom at the back of the chum slick.
Light tackle fishing in the shallower areas of the bay and tidal rivers has been spotty this week for those casting topwater lures in the mornings and evenings. Some days the fish are there and other times somewhere else. It is always a great time to be out on quiet water whether one is casting a popper with a spinning rod or skipping bugs with a fly rod. Many of the fish are just under or over the 19-inch minimum but are still plenty of fun either way. The rocks at Poplar Island and locations in all of the major tidal rivers offer good places to fish.
Nick Pirchio caught this nice striped bass while jigging off the Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant warm water discharge. Photo courtesy of Nick Pirchio
Jigging is a great option this week and light tackle anglers are enjoying plenty of striped bass action near channel edges, structure and anywhere fish can be spotted on a depth finder. The tributaries are open now to striped bass fishing, and some of the steep edges in Eastern Bay off Tilghman Point are great places to jig.
Chumming is a very popular way to fish this week at many of the traditional locations. The outside edge of Hacketts, the Hill and numerous channel edges are great places to set up a chum slick or to do some chunking for striped bass. As is usually the case with chumming or chunking, the best grade of fish are coming from baits allowed to sink to the bottom at the back of the chum slick.
Light tackle fishing in the shallower areas of the bay and tidal rivers has been spotty this week for those casting topwater lures in the mornings and evenings. Some days the fish are there and other times somewhere else. It is always a great time to be out on quiet water whether one is casting a popper with a spinning rod or skipping bugs with a fly rod. Many of the fish are just under or over the 19-inch minimum but are still plenty of fun either way. The rocks at Poplar Island and locations in all of the major tidal rivers offer good places to fish.
Lower Bay
This is a great week to be fishing for striped bass, as they tend to be spread over a wide area of the lower bay region. Trolling has been a popular option along the shipping channel edges and other prominent channels. The eastern side of the shipping channel from the CP Buoy down to Buoy 68 as well as the western side from Chesapeake Beach south to Point Lookout has been very good. The lower Potomac and Patuxent rivers are also good places to try trolling. There are a lot of borderline 19-inch striped bass out there and trolling tends to produce larger fish. Medium-sized bucktails, parachutes, spoons and umbrella rigs are good choices for trolling.
Chumming and chunking has also been a great way to catch striped bass this week along channel edges. The rock piles just north of Point Lookout, the edge off St. Georges Island and Buoys 70 and 72 have been popular locations this week.
Another great fishing option this week is jigging along channel edges or wherever suspended striped bass can be found on depth finders. There are a lot of striped bass holding in the lower Patuxent and Potomac rivers providing for plenty of fishing action. These fish are also providing a lot of fun light tackle cast action. In many areas there is good fishing from shore or in small boats. For example the fishing pier under the Route 4 Bridge has been a great place to cast bucktails and swimshads for striped bass. The cuts through Hooper Island are holding striped bass that can be caught by working bucktails or soft plastic jigs. The shorelines of both the western and eastern sides of the bay are providing good shallow water casting with topwater lures and scent enhanced soft plastic swimshads. The marsh edges of Dorchester and Somerset counties are wonderful places to find a mix of striped bass, speckled trout and a few slot-sized red drum.
Fishing for white perch continues to good in the tidal rivers in all regions of the bay. Bottom rigs baited with bloodworms and fished over oyster bottom or hard bottom has been providing great fishing. Docks, piers and rock jetties provide structure for white perch which often hold close. Fishing these spots with simple bottom rigs baited with bloodworms or grass shrimp is a good way to catch them. Small jigs baited with the same will do the job also. Casting small jigs, spinners or spinnerbaits is a fun way to fish for white perch along shallower shoreline structure in the mornings and evenings.
Recreational crabbing continues to be tough, with poor to fair catches prevailing in the upper and middle bay regions. The heavy runoff in the tidal rivers has driven crabs deep or to the lower regions of the rivers. The lower Eastern Shore tidal rivers and creeks of Dorchester and Somerset counties offer the best opportunity to catch crabs with trotlines or collapsible crab traps this week.
This is a great week to be fishing for striped bass, as they tend to be spread over a wide area of the lower bay region. Trolling has been a popular option along the shipping channel edges and other prominent channels. The eastern side of the shipping channel from the CP Buoy down to Buoy 68 as well as the western side from Chesapeake Beach south to Point Lookout has been very good. The lower Potomac and Patuxent rivers are also good places to try trolling. There are a lot of borderline 19-inch striped bass out there and trolling tends to produce larger fish. Medium-sized bucktails, parachutes, spoons and umbrella rigs are good choices for trolling.
Chumming and chunking has also been a great way to catch striped bass this week along channel edges. The rock piles just north of Point Lookout, the edge off St. Georges Island and Buoys 70 and 72 have been popular locations this week.
Another great fishing option this week is jigging along channel edges or wherever suspended striped bass can be found on depth finders. There are a lot of striped bass holding in the lower Patuxent and Potomac rivers providing for plenty of fishing action. These fish are also providing a lot of fun light tackle cast action. In many areas there is good fishing from shore or in small boats. For example the fishing pier under the Route 4 Bridge has been a great place to cast bucktails and swimshads for striped bass. The cuts through Hooper Island are holding striped bass that can be caught by working bucktails or soft plastic jigs. The shorelines of both the western and eastern sides of the bay are providing good shallow water casting with topwater lures and scent enhanced soft plastic swimshads. The marsh edges of Dorchester and Somerset counties are wonderful places to find a mix of striped bass, speckled trout and a few slot-sized red drum.
Fishing for white perch continues to good in the tidal rivers in all regions of the bay. Bottom rigs baited with bloodworms and fished over oyster bottom or hard bottom has been providing great fishing. Docks, piers and rock jetties provide structure for white perch which often hold close. Fishing these spots with simple bottom rigs baited with bloodworms or grass shrimp is a good way to catch them. Small jigs baited with the same will do the job also. Casting small jigs, spinners or spinnerbaits is a fun way to fish for white perch along shallower shoreline structure in the mornings and evenings.
Recreational crabbing continues to be tough, with poor to fair catches prevailing in the upper and middle bay regions. The heavy runoff in the tidal rivers has driven crabs deep or to the lower regions of the rivers. The lower Eastern Shore tidal rivers and creeks of Dorchester and Somerset counties offer the best opportunity to catch crabs with trotlines or collapsible crab traps this week.
Freshwater Fishing
Voters Recall Judge in Brock Turner Rape Case
The California judge who prompted a national outcry after handing former Stanford University swimmer Brock Turner a six-month sentence for sexual assault has been recalled by voters in Santa Clara County.
With 43 percent of county precincts reporting, 59 percent of voters favored the recall of Superior Court Judge Aaron Persky, 41 percent opposed the recall, according to The Associated Press, who called the vote early Wednesday.
Persky becomes the first California judge in 86 years to be recalled.
Women outraged by Turner's lenient sentence led the charge to recall Persky from his post, saying he is unfit to serve out the remaining four years of his term. Persky's defenders argued that a recall would undermine judicial independence and might unintentionally lead to longer sentences for far less privileged felons.
Turner was convicted in 2016 of sexually assaulting an unconscious woman behind a dumpster at a fraternity party when he was a student at Stanford University.
With 43 percent of county precincts reporting, 59 percent of voters favored the recall of Superior Court Judge Aaron Persky, 41 percent opposed the recall, according to The Associated Press, who called the vote early Wednesday.
Persky becomes the first California judge in 86 years to be recalled.
Women outraged by Turner's lenient sentence led the charge to recall Persky from his post, saying he is unfit to serve out the remaining four years of his term. Persky's defenders argued that a recall would undermine judicial independence and might unintentionally lead to longer sentences for far less privileged felons.
Turner was convicted in 2016 of sexually assaulting an unconscious woman behind a dumpster at a fraternity party when he was a student at Stanford University.
View Full Story From NPR
Thomas Gallatin: Bill Clinton Defends Himself Against #MeToo
“If the facts were the same today, I wouldn’t [change my decision],” Bill Clinton responded to a question posed by NBC “Today Show” interviewer Craig Melvin. Melvin asked whether the #MeToo movement would have caused Clinton to resign when his affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky came to light. Clinton added, “I think I did the right thing. I defended the Constitution.”
We apologize if you just spewed coffee all over your keyboard.
Melvin set up his question by quoting from a Vanity Fair op-ed Lewinsky wrote earlier this year, in which she explained, “[Clinton] was my boss. He was the most powerful man on the planet. He was 27 years my senior with enough life experience to know better. He was at the time at the pinnacle of his career, while I was at my first job out of college.”
Clinton was clearly perturbed by the line of questioning, telling Melvin that he “ignored gaping facts” and suggesting that he didn’t “even know them.” But Melvin continued to press, asking if Clinton had ever apologized to Lewinsky personally. It quickly became apparent (again) that Clinton has never accepted blame for doing anything seriously wrong or immoral. Clinton argued, “You think President Kennedy should resign? Do you believe President Johnson should resign? Someone should ask you these questions because of the way you formulate the questions. I dealt with it 20 years ago, plus, and the American people — two-thirds of them stayed with me.” In other words, Other presidents had affairs while in office, and nobody cared, so why was I forced to answer for it?
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We apologize if you just spewed coffee all over your keyboard.
Melvin set up his question by quoting from a Vanity Fair op-ed Lewinsky wrote earlier this year, in which she explained, “[Clinton] was my boss. He was the most powerful man on the planet. He was 27 years my senior with enough life experience to know better. He was at the time at the pinnacle of his career, while I was at my first job out of college.”
Clinton was clearly perturbed by the line of questioning, telling Melvin that he “ignored gaping facts” and suggesting that he didn’t “even know them.” But Melvin continued to press, asking if Clinton had ever apologized to Lewinsky personally. It quickly became apparent (again) that Clinton has never accepted blame for doing anything seriously wrong or immoral. Clinton argued, “You think President Kennedy should resign? Do you believe President Johnson should resign? Someone should ask you these questions because of the way you formulate the questions. I dealt with it 20 years ago, plus, and the American people — two-thirds of them stayed with me.” In other words, Other presidents had affairs while in office, and nobody cared, so why was I forced to answer for it?
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REPORT: Comey Was ‘Insubordinate’ As FBI Director, Loretta Lynch ‘Rebuked’ For Handling Of Clinton Emails
A new ABC report indicates that a draft DOJ internal report states that James Comey overstepped his authority as former FBI director.
It also states that Attorney General Loretta Lynch’s handling of the Clinton email case was rebuked by Inspector General Michael Horowitz.
ABC News writes:
“The Justice Department’s internal watchdog has concluded that James Comey defied authority at times during his tenure as FBI director, according to sources familiar with a draft report on the matter.”
ABC also explains that according to one source, the draft report said Comey was “insubordinate.”
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It also states that Attorney General Loretta Lynch’s handling of the Clinton email case was rebuked by Inspector General Michael Horowitz.
ABC News writes:
“The Justice Department’s internal watchdog has concluded that James Comey defied authority at times during his tenure as FBI director, according to sources familiar with a draft report on the matter.”
ABC also explains that according to one source, the draft report said Comey was “insubordinate.”
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Ron Paul: "A Cashless Society Is Very, Very Dangerous"
As the global war on cash continues to accelerate, outspoken libertarian Ron Paul summarizes the effort to eliminate cash perfectly - as an “attack on individual freedom.”
Restricting and discouraging the use of cash, suggests Paul, has always been a goal of statists as a means to reduce individuals’ independence.
“A cashless society is very, very dangerous,” continues Paul.
Watch the complete interview, which includes an extensive discussion of economic issues and the Federal Reserve, here:
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Restricting and discouraging the use of cash, suggests Paul, has always been a goal of statists as a means to reduce individuals’ independence.
“A cashless society is very, very dangerous,” continues Paul.
Watch the complete interview, which includes an extensive discussion of economic issues and the Federal Reserve, here:
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ICE and DOJ return Christopher Columbus letter to Spain
WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) returned a more than 500-year-old copy of Christopher Columbus’ letter describing his discoveries in the Americas to Spain during an evening repatriation ceremony at the Residence of the Spanish Ambassador to the United States. The letter, originally written in 1493, was stolen from the National Library of Catalonia in Barcelona and sold for approximately $1 million.
“I am pleased to be able to return a priceless piece of cultural property to its rightful owners,” said HSI Acting Deputy Executive Associate Director Alysa D. Erichs. “I would like to thank Ambassador Morenés for his hospitality in hosting us tonight, HSI Wilmington, Madrid, Brasilia, and Paris for their excellent work on this investigation, as well as the tremendous assistance by our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Delaware, without whom today’s repatriation would not be possible,” Erichs added.
The return of the letter was the culmination of a seven-year investigation jointly conducted by ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Delaware. It began in 2011 when HSI Wilmington (Del.) and the Delaware U.S. Attorney’s Office received a tip that several 15th century original manually printed copies of the Columbus Letter were stolen from European libraries and replaced with forgeries without the knowledge of library officials or local law enforcement. The investigation determined that the stolen Columbus Letter from Spain was sold in November of 2005 for 600,000 Euros by two Italian book dealers.
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“I am pleased to be able to return a priceless piece of cultural property to its rightful owners,” said HSI Acting Deputy Executive Associate Director Alysa D. Erichs. “I would like to thank Ambassador Morenés for his hospitality in hosting us tonight, HSI Wilmington, Madrid, Brasilia, and Paris for their excellent work on this investigation, as well as the tremendous assistance by our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Delaware, without whom today’s repatriation would not be possible,” Erichs added.
The return of the letter was the culmination of a seven-year investigation jointly conducted by ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Delaware. It began in 2011 when HSI Wilmington (Del.) and the Delaware U.S. Attorney’s Office received a tip that several 15th century original manually printed copies of the Columbus Letter were stolen from European libraries and replaced with forgeries without the knowledge of library officials or local law enforcement. The investigation determined that the stolen Columbus Letter from Spain was sold in November of 2005 for 600,000 Euros by two Italian book dealers.
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Former Obama Staffer Comforts Himself — ‘America In 20 Years’ Will Be More Like Obama Than Trump
Former Obama adviser Ben Rhodes comforted himself after Trump’s loss by remembering that “America in 20 years” will look more like Obama than President Trump.
Talking about how he felt after Trump won the 2016 election, Rhodes told WAMU Wednesday, “[W]hen we went abroad, the consequences of the election felt more stark, because the rest of the world was just dumbfounded at what had happened. … I think America in 20 years is going to look a lot more like Barack Obama than Donald Trump, but you know, we certainly felt obliged to wrestle with these questions and to second-guess ourselves to understand the result of what happened in November of 2016.”
Rhodes’s real time reaction on election night could be seen in a recent documentary aired on HBO.
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Talking about how he felt after Trump won the 2016 election, Rhodes told WAMU Wednesday, “[W]hen we went abroad, the consequences of the election felt more stark, because the rest of the world was just dumbfounded at what had happened. … I think America in 20 years is going to look a lot more like Barack Obama than Donald Trump, but you know, we certainly felt obliged to wrestle with these questions and to second-guess ourselves to understand the result of what happened in November of 2016.”
Rhodes’s real time reaction on election night could be seen in a recent documentary aired on HBO.
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Grassley BLASTS Rosenstein in Scathing Letter For Giving Senate Judiciary Committee ‘Insufficient Documents’ Relating to Flynn Interview
Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) sent a letter to FBI Director Christopher Wray and Deputy AG Rod Rosenstein on May 11th stating Comey testified the FBI didn’t think General Flynn lied.
Grassley demanded the FBI and DOJ produce the transcript of Flynn’s intercepted calls with Russian Ambassador Kislyak and the 302’s by May 25th.
Rosenstein refuses to give the Senate Judiciary Committee the requested documents. Instead, Rosenstein provided “insufficient” documents prompting Grassley to send a scathing letter to the Deputy AG.
On Wednesday, Chuck Grassley sent Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein a second scathing letter stating the documents on Flynn’s testimony the DOJ provided to the Senate Judiciary Committee are “insufficient” and further warned there will be problems “if the facts are inconsistent with the plea agreement.”
Grassley accused Rosenstein of providing ‘evidence’ that is already publicly available. Typical of Rosenstein to stonewall, and play these types of games.
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Grassley demanded the FBI and DOJ produce the transcript of Flynn’s intercepted calls with Russian Ambassador Kislyak and the 302’s by May 25th.
Rosenstein refuses to give the Senate Judiciary Committee the requested documents. Instead, Rosenstein provided “insufficient” documents prompting Grassley to send a scathing letter to the Deputy AG.
On Wednesday, Chuck Grassley sent Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein a second scathing letter stating the documents on Flynn’s testimony the DOJ provided to the Senate Judiciary Committee are “insufficient” and further warned there will be problems “if the facts are inconsistent with the plea agreement.”
Grassley accused Rosenstein of providing ‘evidence’ that is already publicly available. Typical of Rosenstein to stonewall, and play these types of games.
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Democrats' IT scandal set to explode with possible plea deal
The curious case of Imran Awan, which sounds like an international spy thriller, is entering its third act. Awan was a congressional IT aide to Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., and he was finally fired just after he was arrested trying to fly to Pakistan last summer.
Awan and his wife, Hina Alvi, were charged last summer with bank fraud. They now appear poised to strike a plea deal with the Department of Justice. A plea agreement hearing is set for July 3 before U.S. District Judge Tanya S. Chutkan in Washington, Fox News reported Wednesday.
As I’ve dug deep into this case for my book “Spies in Congress” (out later this year), sources have made it clear that the bank fraud charges in this case, though very real, are just a way to hold the defendants.
Alleged theft of congressional equipment, massive data breaches of Congress members’ emails, likely espionage and more are all wrapped up in this case that involves data from 40 or more Democratic members of Congress.
Sources tell me that the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force has been looking into this matter since well before Awan and his crew of Pakistani congressional IT aides were booted off the House computer network in February 2017.
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Awan and his wife, Hina Alvi, were charged last summer with bank fraud. They now appear poised to strike a plea deal with the Department of Justice. A plea agreement hearing is set for July 3 before U.S. District Judge Tanya S. Chutkan in Washington, Fox News reported Wednesday.
As I’ve dug deep into this case for my book “Spies in Congress” (out later this year), sources have made it clear that the bank fraud charges in this case, though very real, are just a way to hold the defendants.
Alleged theft of congressional equipment, massive data breaches of Congress members’ emails, likely espionage and more are all wrapped up in this case that involves data from 40 or more Democratic members of Congress.
Sources tell me that the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force has been looking into this matter since well before Awan and his crew of Pakistani congressional IT aides were booted off the House computer network in February 2017.
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http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2018/06/06/democrats-it-scandal-set-to-explode-with-possible-plea-deal.html
Guns Haven't Changed in America. People Have.
Having enjoyed my 82nd birthday, I am part of a group of about 50 million Americans who are 65 years of age or older.
Those who are 90 or older were in school during the 1930s. My age cohort was in school during the 1940s. Baby boomers approaching their 70s were in school during the 1950s and early ’60s.
Try this question to any one of those 50 million Americans who are 65 or older: Do you recall any discussions about the need to hire armed guards to protect students and teachers against school shootings? Do you remember school policemen patrolling the hallways? How many students were shot to death during the time you were in school?
For me and those other Americans 65 or older, when we were in school, a conversation about hiring armed guards and having police patrol hallways would have been seen as lunacy. There was no reason.
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Those who are 90 or older were in school during the 1930s. My age cohort was in school during the 1940s. Baby boomers approaching their 70s were in school during the 1950s and early ’60s.
Try this question to any one of those 50 million Americans who are 65 or older: Do you recall any discussions about the need to hire armed guards to protect students and teachers against school shootings? Do you remember school policemen patrolling the hallways? How many students were shot to death during the time you were in school?
For me and those other Americans 65 or older, when we were in school, a conversation about hiring armed guards and having police patrol hallways would have been seen as lunacy. There was no reason.
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Bernie Sanders Speaks Out Against ‘Superdelegate’ System That Made Clinton In 2016
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders spoke out against the Democratic party’s superdelegate system Wednesday morning — a system that contributed to his failure to secure the Democratic nomination for president against former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in 2016.
“Right now, as you know, and when I ran, you had many, many superdelegates. Almost all of them ended up supporting Hillary Clinton,” Sanders told The Washington Post at a conference Wednesday.
“And, I think there is a widespread understanding that just is not right. In fact, you had superdelegates voting for Clinton in states that I won pretty handsomely,” Sanders said.
What the independent senator is saying is valid. For instance, Sanders absolutely dominated against Clinton in New Hampshire in 2016, but she ultimately gained as many delegates in the state because many of the superdelegates supported her.
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“Right now, as you know, and when I ran, you had many, many superdelegates. Almost all of them ended up supporting Hillary Clinton,” Sanders told The Washington Post at a conference Wednesday.
“And, I think there is a widespread understanding that just is not right. In fact, you had superdelegates voting for Clinton in states that I won pretty handsomely,” Sanders said.
What the independent senator is saying is valid. For instance, Sanders absolutely dominated against Clinton in New Hampshire in 2016, but she ultimately gained as many delegates in the state because many of the superdelegates supported her.
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NBC Employees, Journalists Attack Bill Clinton Over NBC Interview
A number of anchors and journalists at NBC and MSNBC took issue with former President Bill Clinton’s assertions that the network edited its interview with him to make it sound like he had no remorse for his sexual relationship with Monica Lewinsky.
While talking with Stephen Colbert on the Tonight Show Tuesday night, Clinton accused the “Today” show of selectively editing his remarks after he was asked whether he should apologize to the former White House intern.
“They had to distill it and it looked like it said I didn’t apologize and had no intention to, and I was mad at me,” Clinton told Colbert. “Here is what I want to say, ‘It wasn’t my finest hour.'”
At a separate New York Times event, Clinton belittled Today anchor Craig Melvin for his age and implied he was inexperienced.
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While talking with Stephen Colbert on the Tonight Show Tuesday night, Clinton accused the “Today” show of selectively editing his remarks after he was asked whether he should apologize to the former White House intern.
“They had to distill it and it looked like it said I didn’t apologize and had no intention to, and I was mad at me,” Clinton told Colbert. “Here is what I want to say, ‘It wasn’t my finest hour.'”
At a separate New York Times event, Clinton belittled Today anchor Craig Melvin for his age and implied he was inexperienced.
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Former USA Gymnastics CEO Told Staff To Keep Alleged Abuse Quiet, Waited To Tell FBI
The former president and CEO of USA Gymnastics, Steve Penny, was dismissed from a hearing before a U.S. Senate subcommittee investigating the sexual abuse of athletes by ex-team doctor Larry Nassar on Tuesday after Penny refused to answer questions by lawmakers.
Penny, who answered only one question, about how long he was employed by USA Gymnastics, was subpoenaed to testify but asserted his Fifth Amendment rights six times and made it clear he would not respond to the senators' queries.
As he hurriedly left the room a woman in the audience yelled out a single cry of "shame!"
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Penny, who answered only one question, about how long he was employed by USA Gymnastics, was subpoenaed to testify but asserted his Fifth Amendment rights six times and made it clear he would not respond to the senators' queries.
As he hurriedly left the room a woman in the audience yelled out a single cry of "shame!"
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Space Station For Sale: NASA Administrator Is In Talks With International Companies
NASA's Soyuz MS-09 is scheduled to blast off Wednesday morning with its three-member crew to begin what is billed as Expeditions 56-57 at the International Space Station.
But new NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine, this week is talking openly about a very different future the International Space Station and space travel in general. The big idea is less government and more private investment.
In an interview with the Washington Post published Tuesday, Bridenstine says he is in talks with international companies about commercial management of the space station.
Bridenstine, who was sworn in this past April, says there are many large corporations that are interested the commercial potential of the ISS.
"We're in a position now where there are people out there that can do commercial management of the International Space Station," Bridenstine told The Post.
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But new NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine, this week is talking openly about a very different future the International Space Station and space travel in general. The big idea is less government and more private investment.
In an interview with the Washington Post published Tuesday, Bridenstine says he is in talks with international companies about commercial management of the space station.
Bridenstine, who was sworn in this past April, says there are many large corporations that are interested the commercial potential of the ISS.
"We're in a position now where there are people out there that can do commercial management of the International Space Station," Bridenstine told The Post.
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DNA Site MyHeritage 92M Accounts Compromised
Your DNA data is safe, though... for now
Over 92 million account details from genealogy and DNA testing service MyHeritage were found on a private server, according to a release made by the company on Monday.
According to the release, the breach occurred on October 26th, 2017, and the data discovered includes users who signed up for the service on or before that date, totaling 92,283,889 people.
MyHeritage is an Israel-based ancestry platform where users can create family trees and search through familial and historical records.
MyHeritage became aware of the breach after a security researcher reached out to the company’s chief information security officer with “a file named myheritage containing email addresses and hashed passwords, on a private server outside of MyHeritage,” the release read. According to the researcher, no other data was discovered on the server.
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Over 92 million account details from genealogy and DNA testing service MyHeritage were found on a private server, according to a release made by the company on Monday.
According to the release, the breach occurred on October 26th, 2017, and the data discovered includes users who signed up for the service on or before that date, totaling 92,283,889 people.
MyHeritage is an Israel-based ancestry platform where users can create family trees and search through familial and historical records.
MyHeritage became aware of the breach after a security researcher reached out to the company’s chief information security officer with “a file named myheritage containing email addresses and hashed passwords, on a private server outside of MyHeritage,” the release read. According to the researcher, no other data was discovered on the server.
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OIG Report Finds Comey "Defied Authority" And Was "Insubordinate"
The Department of Justice's internal watchdog has found that James Comey defied authority several times while he was director of the FBI, according to ABC, citing sources familiar with the draft of a highly anticipated OIG report on the FBI's conduct during the Clinton email investigation.
One source told ABC News that the draft report explicitly used the word "insubordinate" to describe Comey's behavior. Another source agreed with that characterization but could not confirm the use of the term.
In the draft report, Inspector General Michael Horowitz also rebuked former Attorney General Loretta Lynch for her handling of the federal investigation into Hillary Clinton's personal email server, the sources said. -ABC
President Trump complained on Tuesday of "numerous delays" in the release of the Inspector General's report, which some have accused of being slow walked or altered to minimize its impact on the FBI and DOJ.
"What is taking so long with the Inspector General's Report on Crooked Hillary and Slippery James Comey," Trump said on Twitter. "Hope report is not being changed and made weaker!"
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One source told ABC News that the draft report explicitly used the word "insubordinate" to describe Comey's behavior. Another source agreed with that characterization but could not confirm the use of the term.
In the draft report, Inspector General Michael Horowitz also rebuked former Attorney General Loretta Lynch for her handling of the federal investigation into Hillary Clinton's personal email server, the sources said. -ABC
President Trump complained on Tuesday of "numerous delays" in the release of the Inspector General's report, which some have accused of being slow walked or altered to minimize its impact on the FBI and DOJ.
"What is taking so long with the Inspector General's Report on Crooked Hillary and Slippery James Comey," Trump said on Twitter. "Hope report is not being changed and made weaker!"
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Great question: "Is there ANY reporter willing to ask Bill Clinton about RAPING me?" —Juanita Broaddrick
Insight: “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.” —Aristotle (384-322 BC)
For the record: “He was my boss. He was the most powerful man on the planet. He was 27 years my senior with enough life experience to know better. He was at the time at the pinnacle of his career, while I was at my first job out of college.” —Monica Lewinsky on Bill Clinton, who is making the rounds this week saying justice prevailed in this case
Great question: “Is there ANY reporter willing to ask Bill Clinton about RAPING me?” —Juanita Broaddrick
Alpha Jackass: “I wish that I didn’t suspect that the prolonged, poorly explained public absence of Melania Trump could be about concealing abuse. I wish that it was a ludicrous prospect. I wish that [Donald Trump] wasn’t a man with a history of abusing women, including those to whom he is married.” —Rolling Stone’s Jamil Smith
Progressive bromides: “Republicans are told ‘read the Wall Street Journal, play golf, and talk about pro sports.’ The men especially are all programmed a certain way. They don’t have too many outliers, Republicans. They all behave basically the same.” —MSNBC’s Chris Matthews
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For the record: “He was my boss. He was the most powerful man on the planet. He was 27 years my senior with enough life experience to know better. He was at the time at the pinnacle of his career, while I was at my first job out of college.” —Monica Lewinsky on Bill Clinton, who is making the rounds this week saying justice prevailed in this case
Great question: “Is there ANY reporter willing to ask Bill Clinton about RAPING me?” —Juanita Broaddrick
Alpha Jackass: “I wish that I didn’t suspect that the prolonged, poorly explained public absence of Melania Trump could be about concealing abuse. I wish that it was a ludicrous prospect. I wish that [Donald Trump] wasn’t a man with a history of abusing women, including those to whom he is married.” —Rolling Stone’s Jamil Smith
Progressive bromides: “Republicans are told ‘read the Wall Street Journal, play golf, and talk about pro sports.’ The men especially are all programmed a certain way. They don’t have too many outliers, Republicans. They all behave basically the same.” —MSNBC’s Chris Matthews
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'I just let loose': Memphis man kills two intruders with AK-47
A man in Tennessee says he “just let loose” with his AK-47 on two burglars who he found in his home Friday night.
The man, who chose not to be identified for fear of his safety, told WMC-TV he found two gunman when he arrived at his Memphis home.
“I see my house being ransacked and the dog was still going hysterical in the cage,” the unidentified man said.
The intruders noticed the man.
"One of them “picked up his weapon, turned around and points them at me,” he told FOX 13. “Two pistols.”
One of the guns jammed and the intruders fled the house, he reportedly said. The homeowner then retrieved his AK-47 from a closet and fired at them.
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The man, who chose not to be identified for fear of his safety, told WMC-TV he found two gunman when he arrived at his Memphis home.
“I see my house being ransacked and the dog was still going hysterical in the cage,” the unidentified man said.
The intruders noticed the man.
"One of them “picked up his weapon, turned around and points them at me,” he told FOX 13. “Two pistols.”
One of the guns jammed and the intruders fled the house, he reportedly said. The homeowner then retrieved his AK-47 from a closet and fired at them.
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http://www.foxnews.com/us/2018/06/06/just-let-loose-memphis-man-kills-two-intruders-with-ak-47.html
Wasserman Schultz Assisted Imran Awan with Land Deal – Screamed “F*cking Islamophobe!” at House Official Investigating Her Dear Imran
Remember: Democrats will kill this investigation if they win back the House
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Pakistani IT “expert” Imran Awan were very close.
The more you learn about Democratic IT scammer Imran Awan — the more you see the profile of a bold and careless criminal mind.
Imran Awan worked for Debbie Wasserman Schultz for thirteen years since she came into office in 2004 as a Florida representative. She would have kept paying her “IT expert” even when he was living in Pakistan.
Three Pakistani brothers who managed the IT affairs for several Democratic government officials were relieved of their duties in February 2017 on suspicion that they accessed specific computer networks without permission, also known as hacking.
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Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Pakistani IT “expert” Imran Awan were very close.
The more you learn about Democratic IT scammer Imran Awan — the more you see the profile of a bold and careless criminal mind.
Imran Awan worked for Debbie Wasserman Schultz for thirteen years since she came into office in 2004 as a Florida representative. She would have kept paying her “IT expert” even when he was living in Pakistan.
Three Pakistani brothers who managed the IT affairs for several Democratic government officials were relieved of their duties in February 2017 on suspicion that they accessed specific computer networks without permission, also known as hacking.
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Troopers Arrest Georgetown Man for Child Abuse
The investigation began on May 27, 2018 at approximately 12:03 p.m. when troopers were dispatched to the Nanticoke Memorial Hospital for a possible child abuse case. 24-year-old, Eduar E. Guzman-Cruz, brought his daughter to the emergency room as she was acting abnormal. It was determined that the child suffered a serious brain injury and was subsequently transported to the Nemours Alfred I. duPont Hospital.
On May 31, 2018, Detectives were advised that the injuries to the baby were catastrophic and significant to the extent that they were life threatening. It was determined that the baby suffered an acute injury consistent with abusive head trauma and child physical abuse immediately prior to her admission to the hospital.
Through investigative measures, a warrant was obtained and Guzman-Cruz was arrested on Tuesday, June 5, 2018 at approximately 8:44 p.m. for Child Abuse 1st Recklessly/Intentionally Causes Serious Physical Injury to a Child. He was arraigned before the Justice of the Peace Court 2 and committed to the Sussex Correctional Institution on $10,000.00 cash only bond. Guzman-Cruz was also issued a no contact order for the victim and his 2 year old daughter.
Senate Releases Unredacted Strzok-Page Texts Showing FBI Initiated MULTIPLE SPIES in Trump Campaign in December 2015
The US Senate today released over 500 pages of information related to the Spygate scandal.
Hidden in the information are unredacted Strzok – Page texts that show the FBI initiated actions to insert multiple spies in the Trump campaign in December 2015.
Once again Internet sleuths unearthed damning evidence that the FBI was engaged in Spygate long before they let on.
As we reported previously, according to far left Politico, Comey stated in March of 2017 under oath that the FBI investigation into the Trump – Russia scandal started in July 2016:
FBI Director James Comey told lawmakers Monday that his agency has been investigating possible coordination between the Trump campaign and Russian officials since last July [2016].
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Hidden in the information are unredacted Strzok – Page texts that show the FBI initiated actions to insert multiple spies in the Trump campaign in December 2015.
Once again Internet sleuths unearthed damning evidence that the FBI was engaged in Spygate long before they let on.
As we reported previously, according to far left Politico, Comey stated in March of 2017 under oath that the FBI investigation into the Trump – Russia scandal started in July 2016:
FBI Director James Comey told lawmakers Monday that his agency has been investigating possible coordination between the Trump campaign and Russian officials since last July [2016].
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‘Hope Report Isn’t Being Changed’ POTUS Trump Furious With Delays on IG Report on ‘Crooked Hillary and Slippery James Comey’
President Trump unleashed fury from his Twitter account Tuesday morning.
The President asked ‘what is taking so long with the IG report?’ then slammed AG Sessions for recusing himself on the first day of the job.
Where is the the IG report on the FBI’s (mis)handling of Crooked Hillary’s private server? We keep hearing it will be released this month to only be disappointed by another set back.
Inspector General Michael Horowitz informed lawmakers three weeks ago on Capitol Hill his much-anticipated report on the FBI’s handling of Hillary Clinton’s email investigation entered the final stages.
The Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the Inspector General’s report that was supposed to be held on June 5th just got pushed back another week.
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The President asked ‘what is taking so long with the IG report?’ then slammed AG Sessions for recusing himself on the first day of the job.
Where is the the IG report on the FBI’s (mis)handling of Crooked Hillary’s private server? We keep hearing it will be released this month to only be disappointed by another set back.
Inspector General Michael Horowitz informed lawmakers three weeks ago on Capitol Hill his much-anticipated report on the FBI’s handling of Hillary Clinton’s email investigation entered the final stages.
The Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the Inspector General’s report that was supposed to be held on June 5th just got pushed back another week.
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Pelosi on Supreme Court Ruling: Bake That Cake, Christians!
Would-be Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) slammed Monday’s 7-2 Supreme Court ruling in the Masterpiece Bakeshop case, attacking “discriminatory practices behind the guise of religious liberty.”
The Court found in favor of a Colorado baker who was sued when he declined to bake a wedding cake for a same-sex marriage because of his Christian beliefs. The baker asserted his religious liberty under the First Amendment.
The decision avoided ruling on the broader question of whether religious liberty trumps non-discrimination on the basis of sexuality, and held only that the Colorado Civil Rights Commission had not given the baker a fair hearing.
Still, Pelosi made clear that she found any defense of religious liberty intolerable.
Her full statement is as follows:
The Court found in favor of a Colorado baker who was sued when he declined to bake a wedding cake for a same-sex marriage because of his Christian beliefs. The baker asserted his religious liberty under the First Amendment.
The decision avoided ruling on the broader question of whether religious liberty trumps non-discrimination on the basis of sexuality, and held only that the Colorado Civil Rights Commission had not given the baker a fair hearing.
Still, Pelosi made clear that she found any defense of religious liberty intolerable.
Her full statement is as follows:
Teen Arrested After Motel Staff Finds Large Amount of Drugs
OCEAN CITY, MD – On Monday, June 5, 2018 officers were dispatched to a motel in the area of 1stStreet and Baltimore Avenue. The sole tenant of the unit, Justin L. Culley, 19, of Enola, PA, had not checked out at the scheduled time. When staff entered the room to clean and re-rent the room, a large amount of drugs were seen in plain view in the room. Staff immediately called police.
Officers seized several pounds of marijuana, over 300 prescription pills, and a large amount of mushrooms, LSD, MDMA, and additional drug paraphernalia in the room. A K-9 team scanned the suspect’s vehicle where additional mushrooms and over $1,100 in currency was also located.
Culley eventually returned to the motel hours later and was placed under arrest. He has been charged with three counts of possession with intent to distribute LSD, possession of marijuana over 10 grams, two counts of possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute, and four counts of possession of a controlled dangerous substance. Culley was seen by a Maryland District Court Commissioner and transferred to the Worcester County Jail where he is being held without bond.
Officers seized several pounds of marijuana, over 300 prescription pills, and a large amount of mushrooms, LSD, MDMA, and additional drug paraphernalia in the room. A K-9 team scanned the suspect’s vehicle where additional mushrooms and over $1,100 in currency was also located.
Culley eventually returned to the motel hours later and was placed under arrest. He has been charged with three counts of possession with intent to distribute LSD, possession of marijuana over 10 grams, two counts of possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute, and four counts of possession of a controlled dangerous substance. Culley was seen by a Maryland District Court Commissioner and transferred to the Worcester County Jail where he is being held without bond.
China Flight Tests New Multi-Warhead ICBM
Defense officials said the flight test of the multi-warhead DF-41 took place May 27 at the Taiyuan Space Launch Center in northern China and flew overland several thousand miles to an impact zone in the western Gobi Desert.
"We are aware of recent flight tests and we continue to monitor weapons development in China but we cannot provide information on specific tests," Pentagon spokesman Marine Corps Lt. Col. Christopher Logan told the Washington Free Beacon.
The flight test comes amid growing tensions between the United States and China over Beijing's militarization of islands in the South China Sea and a looming trade war over the Trump administration's aggressive posture toward unfair Chinese trade practices.
The flight test last week was the 10th known launch of the DF-41 that will be armed with up to 10 multiple, independently targetable re-entry vehicles or MIRV warheads.
The intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) system will be deployed on a road-mobile ICBM capable of targeting all of the United States. The mobility and ability to hide the weapon from intelligence detection poses serious challenges for U.S. strategic nuclear deterrence.
More here
Troopers Arrest Millsboro Man on Multiple Burglary Charges
Timothy Robert Elliott
Millsboro - Delaware State Police have arrested a Millsboro man in connection with multiple burglaries and other related offenses.
On Tuesday, June 5, 2018 at approximately 5:32 a.m., troopers were dispatched to the 36000 block of Pine Drive, Mariner’s Cove development, for a report of a domestic. Upon arrival contact was made with the homeowner, who advised that he was awoken by loud noises outside. As he went outside to investigate, he discovered a plethora of stolen property surrounding his residence. Additionally, he discovered his son, 48-year-old Timothy R. Elliott Jr. across the street inside a neighbor's boat attempting to remove a seat.
Upon arrival, troopers observed this plethora of property which included but not limited to; numerous large appliances, heavy landscaping stones, copper piping, furniture, lumber, an HVAC, toilets, and a kitchen sink and countertop. The investigation revealed that Elliott had dismantled and removed the interior contents of 5 neighboring, seasonal residences.
Prior to the troopers arrival, Elliott had fled on foot. With the assistance of Troop 7 K-9 Fifo, Elliott was discovered hiding in the crawlspace to his residence. Elliott was subsequently taken into custody and transported to Troop 7 where he was charged with 3 counts of Burglary 3rd (Felony), 2 counts of Possession of Burglary Tools (Felony), 3 counts of Theft (Felony), 2 counts of Criminal Mischief, 2 counts of Theft, Resisting Arrest, and 2 counts of Criminal Trespass. He was arraigned before the Justice of the Peace Court 2 and committed to the Sussex Correctional Institution on $13,002.00 secured bond.
EPA's new super fuel could spell trouble for ethanol
The Environmental Protection Agency is about to allow a new renewable fuel to be sold at the pump, which could revolutionize the fuel business while eliminating the use of corn ethanol in gasoline altogether.
For some, the prospects of no longer having to use ethanol under the EPA’s renewable fuel mandate is reason enough to support the new super fuel.
“We started to look at what would be an alternative, rather than just say ‘no, no, no, we don’t like ethanol,’” said John McKnight, senior vice president for environmental policy with the National Marine Manufacturers Association.
His trade group opposes moving to higher levels of ethanol under EPA’s Renewable Fuel Standard because of the damage the fuel causes to marine engines that power everything from 75-foot yachts to fishing boats and jet skis. Some of McKnight's members include engine makers Volvo, Honda, Kawasaki, Caterpillar, Cummins and Mercury.
“Is there something that’s out there that’s better?” was the question McKnight asked about 10 years ago.
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For some, the prospects of no longer having to use ethanol under the EPA’s renewable fuel mandate is reason enough to support the new super fuel.
“We started to look at what would be an alternative, rather than just say ‘no, no, no, we don’t like ethanol,’” said John McKnight, senior vice president for environmental policy with the National Marine Manufacturers Association.
His trade group opposes moving to higher levels of ethanol under EPA’s Renewable Fuel Standard because of the damage the fuel causes to marine engines that power everything from 75-foot yachts to fishing boats and jet skis. Some of McKnight's members include engine makers Volvo, Honda, Kawasaki, Caterpillar, Cummins and Mercury.
“Is there something that’s out there that’s better?” was the question McKnight asked about 10 years ago.
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Obama Admin Secretly Tried to Let Iran Convert $5.7 Billion Through U.S. Banks
The Obama administration secretly sought to give Iran access — albeit briefly — to the U.S. financial system by sidestepping sanctions kept in place after the 2015 nuclear deal, despite repeatedly telling Congress and the public it had no plans to do so.
An investigation by Senate Republicans released Wednesday sheds light on the delicate balance the Obama administration sought to strike after the deal, as it worked to ensure Iran received its promised benefits without playing into the hands of the deal’s opponents. Amid a tense political climate, Iran hawks in the U.S., Israel and elsewhere argued that the United States was giving far too much to Tehran and that the windfall would be used to fund extremism and other troubling Iranian activity.
The report by the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations revealed that under President Barack Obama, the Treasury Department issued a license in February 2016, never previously disclosed, that would have allowed Iran to convert $5.7 billion it held at a bank in Oman from Omani rials into euros by exchanging them first into U.S. dollars. If the Omani bank had allowed the exchange without such a license, it would have violated sanctions that bar Iran from transactions that touch the U.S. financial system.
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An investigation by Senate Republicans released Wednesday sheds light on the delicate balance the Obama administration sought to strike after the deal, as it worked to ensure Iran received its promised benefits without playing into the hands of the deal’s opponents. Amid a tense political climate, Iran hawks in the U.S., Israel and elsewhere argued that the United States was giving far too much to Tehran and that the windfall would be used to fund extremism and other troubling Iranian activity.
The report by the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations revealed that under President Barack Obama, the Treasury Department issued a license in February 2016, never previously disclosed, that would have allowed Iran to convert $5.7 billion it held at a bank in Oman from Omani rials into euros by exchanging them first into U.S. dollars. If the Omani bank had allowed the exchange without such a license, it would have violated sanctions that bar Iran from transactions that touch the U.S. financial system.
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New Jersey and Gun Control
The gun control conundrum will continue ad infinitum. But what is happening in New Jersey should frighten anyone -- gun owner or not. NJS102 will most likely be affirmed by the Democrat senate majority in the NJ legislature. The NJ Assembly has already passed the following:
A1217, which would create restraining orders in the state allowing family members and others to ask a judge to have a person's guns seized and ban them from buying weapons for up to a year.
A2757, which would require all private gun sales in the state to go through a licensed dealer who can perform an additional background check at the point of sale.
A2759, which would create an outright ban in the state on possessing armor-piercing bullets.
A2761, which would ban magazines in the state that hold more than 10 rounds, with some exceptions.
How will this affect gun owners? The proposed legislation states that
No person shall be convicted of an offense… for possessing any firearms, weapons, destructive devices, large capacity ammunition magazines, silencers or explosives, if after giving written notice of his intention to do so, including the proposed date and time of surrender, he voluntarily surrendered [emphasis mine] the weapon, device, instrument or substance in question to the superintendent or to the chief of police in the municipality in which he resides, provided that the required notice is received by the superintendent or chief of police before any charges have been made or complaints filed [.]
Furthermore, a firearm with a fixed magazine capacity holding up to 15 rounds which is incapable of being modified to accommodate 10 or less rounds is to be registered. If not, the firearms owner "must complete a registration statement to be prescribed by the Superintendent of the State Police, and produce for inspection a valid firearms purchaser identification card, permit to carry a handgun, or permit to purchase a handgun."
Moreover, "the heir or estate of an owner of a firearm which has been registered pursuant to this section shall within 90 days after the owner's death dispose of that firearm in accordance to the sections of the proposed law.”
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A1217, which would create restraining orders in the state allowing family members and others to ask a judge to have a person's guns seized and ban them from buying weapons for up to a year.
A2757, which would require all private gun sales in the state to go through a licensed dealer who can perform an additional background check at the point of sale.
A2759, which would create an outright ban in the state on possessing armor-piercing bullets.
A2761, which would ban magazines in the state that hold more than 10 rounds, with some exceptions.
How will this affect gun owners? The proposed legislation states that
No person shall be convicted of an offense… for possessing any firearms, weapons, destructive devices, large capacity ammunition magazines, silencers or explosives, if after giving written notice of his intention to do so, including the proposed date and time of surrender, he voluntarily surrendered [emphasis mine] the weapon, device, instrument or substance in question to the superintendent or to the chief of police in the municipality in which he resides, provided that the required notice is received by the superintendent or chief of police before any charges have been made or complaints filed [.]
Furthermore, a firearm with a fixed magazine capacity holding up to 15 rounds which is incapable of being modified to accommodate 10 or less rounds is to be registered. If not, the firearms owner "must complete a registration statement to be prescribed by the Superintendent of the State Police, and produce for inspection a valid firearms purchaser identification card, permit to carry a handgun, or permit to purchase a handgun."
Moreover, "the heir or estate of an owner of a firearm which has been registered pursuant to this section shall within 90 days after the owner's death dispose of that firearm in accordance to the sections of the proposed law.”
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COVE ROAD BEACH ADVISORY
(Nanticoke, MD) - Cove Road Beach is currently under an advisory due to elevated bacteria levels. These elevated levels are typically seen after prolonged periods of heavy rainfall. It will be re-sampled today and results will be available tomorrow afternoon.
Children, the elderly, pregnant women, and those with a weakened immune system are most likely to get sick from swimming in contaminated water. They are also most likely to become seriously ill from exposure to waterborne illnesses.
Exposure to bacteria, viruses, and parasites in contaminated water can cause symptoms and diseases ranging from ear, nose, and eye infections to diarrhea, vomiting, hepatitis, encephalitis, skin rashes, and respiratory illnesses. You can reduce your risk of getting sick by following these tips:
· Pay attention to contamination and advisory warnings and stay out of polluted water.
· Avoid swimming at beaches after heavy rainfall.
· Stay out of murky or foul-smelling water.
· Avoid beach water if you have an open wound or infection.
· Swim without putting your head under water.
Roaring Point Beach does not have elevated bacteria levels.
For questions, residents may call the Department of Environmental Health at (410) 546-4446 or visit www.wicomicohealth.org.
Children, the elderly, pregnant women, and those with a weakened immune system are most likely to get sick from swimming in contaminated water. They are also most likely to become seriously ill from exposure to waterborne illnesses.
Exposure to bacteria, viruses, and parasites in contaminated water can cause symptoms and diseases ranging from ear, nose, and eye infections to diarrhea, vomiting, hepatitis, encephalitis, skin rashes, and respiratory illnesses. You can reduce your risk of getting sick by following these tips:
· Pay attention to contamination and advisory warnings and stay out of polluted water.
· Avoid swimming at beaches after heavy rainfall.
· Stay out of murky or foul-smelling water.
· Avoid beach water if you have an open wound or infection.
· Swim without putting your head under water.
Roaring Point Beach does not have elevated bacteria levels.
For questions, residents may call the Department of Environmental Health at (410) 546-4446 or visit www.wicomicohealth.org.
DUI 6th Offense (Felony)
Crime: DUI 6th Offense (Felony)
Various Vehicle Registration Violations
Bail: Committed to the Department of Corrections in lieu of $3,452.00 secured bail
Defendant: Robin Bailey, 46 YOA, Felton Delaware
Crime: Possession controlled substance, Crack Cocaine
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, 3 counts
Bail: Released on $1,000.00 unsecured bail
On 06/05/2018 An officer with the Seaford Police Department conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle on Front Street for registration violations. Further investigation into the traffic stop revealed that the operator of the vehicle, Wayne O’Neal, 49 YOA from Laurel Delaware, was operating the vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. A computer check revealed that O’Neal has five previous DUI convictions. The passenger in the vehicle, Robin Bailey 46 YOA from Felton Delaware, was found to have an active capias for her arrest out of Justice of the Peace Court #4 and she was taken into custody. She was later found to be in possession of approximately .4 grams of crack cocaine and various forms of drug paraphernalia.
O’Neal was charged with 6th Offense DUI (Felony) and various vehicle registration violations. He was arraigned before Justice of the Peace Court #3 and committed to the Department of Corrections in lieu of $3,452.00 secured bail.
Bailey was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance (Crack Cocaine) and three counts of Possession of Drug paraphernalia. She was arraigned before Justice of the Peace Court #3 and released on $1,000.00 unsecured bail.
Bill Clinton is now staring at the underside of the Democrats' bus
Karma finally has caught up with Bill Clinton. It wasn't supposed to turn out this way, in his mind, and it's all Donald Trump's fault (as is everything wrong with the world, if you are a national Democrat). Had Hillary brought him back to the White House as the historic "first gentleman," none of the humiliation that he now is enduring would be his lot. Harvey Weinstein would still be raising megabucks for Democrats; Charlie Rose would still be interviewing bien pensant politicians, actors, and writers; and the thriller novel purportedly "co-written" by James Patterson and Bill Clinton would be receiving nothing but adoring reviews and softball questions on the publicity tour.
Instead, the explosion of the #MeToo movement, aimed at hyping the gravity of sexual improprieties by powerful men with powerless women (this means you, Donald "you can grab 'em by the p----" Trump!), has unleashed the furies long bottled up by the political utility of Bill Clinton.
Thus, Craig Melvin of NBC News dared to ask Bill Clinton and his "co-author," James Patterson, about Monica Lewinsky and whether she was owed an apology.
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Instead, the explosion of the #MeToo movement, aimed at hyping the gravity of sexual improprieties by powerful men with powerless women (this means you, Donald "you can grab 'em by the p----" Trump!), has unleashed the furies long bottled up by the political utility of Bill Clinton.
Thus, Craig Melvin of NBC News dared to ask Bill Clinton and his "co-author," James Patterson, about Monica Lewinsky and whether she was owed an apology.
More/Video
Maryland State Police Investigating Wicomico County Homicide
(SALISBURY, Md.) — Maryland State Police are investigating a homicide reported Wednesday evening in Wicomico County.
Shortly after 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, investigators responded to a home on the 600 block of Priscilla Street in Salisbury, Md., on a report of an apparent homicide. The victim, identified as Shawn Goslee Johnson, 29, of Fruitland, Md., had been shot multiple times.
Johnson was transported to Peninsula Regional Medical Center, where he died. His body was taken to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner where an autopsy will be conducted.
No arrests have been made in this case. The Maryland State Police Homicide Unit, along with the Salisbury Police Department, are continuing to investigate this homicide.
Anyone with information on this case is asked to contact the Salisbury Barrack at 410-749-3101.
New Details on Past Crime of Teen Accused of Killing Cop
BALTIMORE (WBFF) - Three days from the new year of 2018, a woman returns to a restaurant parking lot to find her Chrysler minivan, missing. This is one of the new details Operation: Crime and Justice has found relating to a crime committed by Dawnta Harris. Harris is charged with the first degree murder of Baltimore County Police Officer Amy Caprio.
Hours after the minivan went missing, police respond to a car accident less than a mile away. The stolen minivan crashed into a parked car. Police say the sleeping driver behind the wheel was 15-year old Dawnta Harris.
In March, court records show Harris was found guilty of the theft in juvenile court. He never showed up for his sentencing.
He was arrested, placed in detention, and then released about a month later.
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Hours after the minivan went missing, police respond to a car accident less than a mile away. The stolen minivan crashed into a parked car. Police say the sleeping driver behind the wheel was 15-year old Dawnta Harris.
In March, court records show Harris was found guilty of the theft in juvenile court. He never showed up for his sentencing.
He was arrested, placed in detention, and then released about a month later.
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Glen Ave. Road Closure Announced for Delmar High School Commencement Ceremony
UPDATE: Confirmed Murder/Homicide In Salisbury Maryland
Salisbury Police @SalisburyPD
At approximately 7:30 pm this evening SPD Detectives and MSP Detectives began working together to resolve a confirmed homicide which occurred in the area of Johnson and Priscilla streets, shooting victim is a 29 YO male from Salisbury.
At approximately 7:30 pm this evening SPD Detectives and MSP Detectives began working together to resolve a confirmed homicide which occurred in the area of Johnson and Priscilla streets, shooting victim is a 29 YO male from Salisbury.
410-548-1776
A closer look at SCOTUS's gay cake decision
The Supreme Court decided 7-2 that cake-maker Jack Phillips apparently did not have to make a cake for a homosexual ceremony. I say "apparently" because the court's reasoning was convoluted. Instead of saying outright that custom cake-makers don't have an obligation to produce custom made cakes for homosexual cermonies, the court simply said the local human rights commission didn't consider his right to follow his religious belief when he refused to make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple.
By a 7-2 vote, the court said Jack Phillips, the Colorado baker, was treated with hostility and bias by a state commission that concluded his actions violated a state anti-discrimination law.
"The commission's hostility [to Phillips and his religious beliefs] was inconsistent with the First Amendment's guarantee that our laws be applied in a manner that is neutral toward religion," [Justice] Kennedy wrote. "Phillips was entitled to a neutral decision-maker who would give full and fair consideration to his religious objection."
So the Court decided for Phillips without giving a broader ruling.
"The outcome of other cases like this in other circumstances must await further elaboration in the courts," said Kennedy, who has authored most of the court's most significant gay rights cases.
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By a 7-2 vote, the court said Jack Phillips, the Colorado baker, was treated with hostility and bias by a state commission that concluded his actions violated a state anti-discrimination law.
"The commission's hostility [to Phillips and his religious beliefs] was inconsistent with the First Amendment's guarantee that our laws be applied in a manner that is neutral toward religion," [Justice] Kennedy wrote. "Phillips was entitled to a neutral decision-maker who would give full and fair consideration to his religious objection."
So the Court decided for Phillips without giving a broader ruling.
"The outcome of other cases like this in other circumstances must await further elaboration in the courts," said Kennedy, who has authored most of the court's most significant gay rights cases.
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McConnell Cancels August Recess … Kind Of
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced Tuesday afternoon he is canceling the August recess.
Senators are expected to return home for state work during the first week of August, but are expected to be in for the remaining three weeks of the month.
“Due to the historic obstruction by Senate Democrats of the president’s nominees, and the goal of passing appropriations bills prior to the end of the fiscal year, the August recess has been canceled,” McConnell announced Tuesday in a statement. “Senators should expect to remain in session in August to pass legislation, including appropriations bills, and to make additional progress on the president’s nominees.”
The announcement comes after a group of 16 Republican senators, with Republican Sen. David Perdue of Georgia leading the charge, pressured McConnell in early May to cancel the August recess.
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Senators are expected to return home for state work during the first week of August, but are expected to be in for the remaining three weeks of the month.
“Due to the historic obstruction by Senate Democrats of the president’s nominees, and the goal of passing appropriations bills prior to the end of the fiscal year, the August recess has been canceled,” McConnell announced Tuesday in a statement. “Senators should expect to remain in session in August to pass legislation, including appropriations bills, and to make additional progress on the president’s nominees.”
The announcement comes after a group of 16 Republican senators, with Republican Sen. David Perdue of Georgia leading the charge, pressured McConnell in early May to cancel the August recess.
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Salisbury Maryland Shooting Is Now A Murder
Coming Soon To West Ocean City
Slam-dunk video exposes CNN-MSNBC idiocy on Trump
Cable news Trump-haters, besotted with outrage, don't sweat the details when it comes to venting their spleen on President Trump. Finding something – anything – on which to express outrage is their daily challenge.
Last Friday, when President Trump tweeted that he was looking forward to the jobs report, about to be released, they went into high dudgeon.
Amusing though that sort of indignation can be, it gets hilarious when they make up an imaginary contrast with their fantasies about the wonderfulness of ex-President Obama. Add in a dare to find an example of Obama doing the horrible, terrible, probably illegal and impeachable thing that President Trump did, and they set themselves up for serious embarrassment and humiliation,
Watch the one-minute video from the GOP below and be rewarded with a dose of exquisite schadenfreude.
More/Video
Last Friday, when President Trump tweeted that he was looking forward to the jobs report, about to be released, they went into high dudgeon.
Amusing though that sort of indignation can be, it gets hilarious when they make up an imaginary contrast with their fantasies about the wonderfulness of ex-President Obama. Add in a dare to find an example of Obama doing the horrible, terrible, probably illegal and impeachable thing that President Trump did, and they set themselves up for serious embarrassment and humiliation,
Watch the one-minute video from the GOP below and be rewarded with a dose of exquisite schadenfreude.
More/Video
Thomas Gallatin: Bill Clinton Defends Himself Against #MeToo
He insisted it was right not to resign because he was defending the Constitution.
“If the facts were the same today, I wouldn’t [change my decision],” Bill Clinton responded to a question posed by NBC “Today Show” interviewer Craig Melvin. Melvin asked whether the #MeToo movement would have caused Clinton to resign when his affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky came to light. Clinton added, “I think I did the right thing. I defended the Constitution.”
We apologize if you just spewed coffee all over your keyboard.
Melvin set up his question by quoting from a Vanity Fair op-ed Lewinsky wrote earlier this year, in which she explained, “[Clinton] was my boss. He was the most powerful man on the planet. He was 27 years my senior with enough life experience to know better. He was at the time at the pinnacle of his career, while I was at my first job out of college.”
Clinton was clearly perturbed by the line of questioning, telling Melvin that he “ignored gaping facts” and suggesting that he didn’t “even know them.” But Melvin continued to press, asking if Clinton had ever apologized to Lewinsky personally. It quickly became apparent (again) that Clinton has never accepted blame for doing anything seriously wrong or immoral. Clinton argued, “You think President Kennedy should resign? Do you believe President Johnson should resign? Someone should ask you these questions because of the way you formulate the questions. I dealt with it 20 years ago, plus, and the American people — two-thirds of them stayed with me.” In other words, Other presidents had affairs while in office, and nobody cared, so why was I forced to answer for it?
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“If the facts were the same today, I wouldn’t [change my decision],” Bill Clinton responded to a question posed by NBC “Today Show” interviewer Craig Melvin. Melvin asked whether the #MeToo movement would have caused Clinton to resign when his affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky came to light. Clinton added, “I think I did the right thing. I defended the Constitution.”
We apologize if you just spewed coffee all over your keyboard.
Melvin set up his question by quoting from a Vanity Fair op-ed Lewinsky wrote earlier this year, in which she explained, “[Clinton] was my boss. He was the most powerful man on the planet. He was 27 years my senior with enough life experience to know better. He was at the time at the pinnacle of his career, while I was at my first job out of college.”
Clinton was clearly perturbed by the line of questioning, telling Melvin that he “ignored gaping facts” and suggesting that he didn’t “even know them.” But Melvin continued to press, asking if Clinton had ever apologized to Lewinsky personally. It quickly became apparent (again) that Clinton has never accepted blame for doing anything seriously wrong or immoral. Clinton argued, “You think President Kennedy should resign? Do you believe President Johnson should resign? Someone should ask you these questions because of the way you formulate the questions. I dealt with it 20 years ago, plus, and the American people — two-thirds of them stayed with me.” In other words, Other presidents had affairs while in office, and nobody cared, so why was I forced to answer for it?
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More than $2 Million in State Grants Available to Protect Children from Internet Crimes
Funding to Assist Law Enforcement, Advocacy Centers
ANNAPOLIS, MD – The Hogan Adminstration today announced that the Governor’s Office of Crime Control & Prevention has made more than $2 million available to protect Maryland children as part of the Internet Crimes Against Children grants initiative. This funding will assist child advocacy centers and law enforcement agencies in developing an effective response to online child sexual exploitation and provide agencies with support for forensic and investigative components, training and technical assistance, victim services, prevention, and community education.
“Our administration is committed to helping all victims of internet crime, particularly our children, who are the most vulnerable among us,” said Governor Larry Hogan. “We all must work together to ensure the safety and well-being of our children in an increasingly digital world, and these grants help do just that.”
Funding from Fiscal Year 2018 was distributed to eligible applicants, which include child advocacy centers, local law enforcement, and the Maryland State Police. The 2019 fiscal year award period runs from July 1, 2018 through June 30, 2019.
“The Hogan-Rutherford administration is committed to protecting all children from online crimes, including sexual child exploitation, and this funding will help provide resources and services that can make a real difference in their lives,” said Glenn Fueston, executive director of the Governor’s Office of Crime Control & Prevention.
The Governor’s Office of Crime Control & Prevention serves as a coordinating office that advises the governor on criminal justice strategies. The office plans, promotes, and funds efforts with government entities, private organizations, and the community to advance public policy, enhance public safety, reduce crime and juvenile delinquency, and serve victims. Learn more by visiting our website at goccp.maryland.gov and connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.
ANNAPOLIS, MD – The Hogan Adminstration today announced that the Governor’s Office of Crime Control & Prevention has made more than $2 million available to protect Maryland children as part of the Internet Crimes Against Children grants initiative. This funding will assist child advocacy centers and law enforcement agencies in developing an effective response to online child sexual exploitation and provide agencies with support for forensic and investigative components, training and technical assistance, victim services, prevention, and community education.
“Our administration is committed to helping all victims of internet crime, particularly our children, who are the most vulnerable among us,” said Governor Larry Hogan. “We all must work together to ensure the safety and well-being of our children in an increasingly digital world, and these grants help do just that.”
Funding from Fiscal Year 2018 was distributed to eligible applicants, which include child advocacy centers, local law enforcement, and the Maryland State Police. The 2019 fiscal year award period runs from July 1, 2018 through June 30, 2019.
“The Hogan-Rutherford administration is committed to protecting all children from online crimes, including sexual child exploitation, and this funding will help provide resources and services that can make a real difference in their lives,” said Glenn Fueston, executive director of the Governor’s Office of Crime Control & Prevention.
The Governor’s Office of Crime Control & Prevention serves as a coordinating office that advises the governor on criminal justice strategies. The office plans, promotes, and funds efforts with government entities, private organizations, and the community to advance public policy, enhance public safety, reduce crime and juvenile delinquency, and serve victims. Learn more by visiting our website at goccp.maryland.gov and connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.
Maryland State Police Easton Barrack End of May Criminal and Arrest Warrants
(Easton, Maryland) Troopers of the Maryland State Police Easton barrack made the following arrests during the second half of the month of May.
May 16, 2018, Ally Emaline Flayler, 20 of Chester, surrendered to Troopers at the Easton Barrack regarding an active Bench warrant for Violation of Probation. She was taken before a court commissioner and released pending a court date.
May 16, 2018, Andre Roger Clark, 27 of D.C., surrendered to Troopers in Easton regarding an active warrant. He was taken before a court commissioner and released on $7500.00 bond.
May 17, 2018, Jeffrey Alan Welch Jr, 25 of Greensboro, was arrested for failure to appear regarding an active bench warrant for driving without a license after an accident investigation in Queen Anne’s County. He was turned over to troopers of the Easton Barrack. He was taken before a court commissioner and released pending a court date.
May 18, 2018, Darrell Larmont Nichols, 27 of Federalsburg, was arrested for failure to appear for court regarding driving on a suspended license after a traffic stop in Cambridge, Md. He was taken before a court commissioner and released pending a court date.
May 19, 2018, Philip Bryan Freeman, 46 of Ridgely, was arrested on an active bench warrant for driving without a license. He was arrested at the 500 Block of Central Ave., Ridgely, Md. He was taken before a court commissioner and held without bond.
May 21, 2018, Ryan Clyde Collier, 59 of Rhodesdale, was arrested on a bench warrant for Theft and Burglary after a traffic stop in Cambridge, Md. He was taken before a court commissioner and released pending a court date.
May 22, 2018, Peter Aniefuna Okemmuo Jr., 29 of Delmar, was arrested on a bench warrant for failure to appear for court regarding possession of marijuana after a traffic stop in Easton, Md. He was taken before a court commissioner and released pending a court date.
May 22, 2018, Kevron Lamont Chase, 29 of Easton, was arrested for providing a false name to a police officer. He was taken before a court commissioner and released pending a court date.
May 23, 2018, Brittany Yost, 26 and Joshua Lee White, 28, both of Denton were arrested at the 400 Block of Marvel Court, on an arrest warrant for child abuse and child neglect Both were taken before a court commissioner and released on a $10,000.00 bond.
May 23, 2018, Gelvin Etmudi Bautista, 25 of Ridgely, was served a traffic summons for negligent driving in Denton. She was seen by a court commissioner and released pending a court date.
May 23, 2018, Gary Wayne Jackson, 42 of Hurlock, was arrested in Denton for an active arrest warrant regarding a theft scheme under/over $100.00-$1500.00. He was seen by a court commissioner and released pending a court date.
May 24, 2018, Troopers responded to the 14000 block of Benedictine Lane, Ridgely, regarding a disturbance. Victor Vontrel Simms, 25 of Hurlock, was arrested for second degree assault. He was taken before a court commissioner and released pending a court date.
May 26, 2018, Cathy Ann Pharis 54 of Marydel, was arrested on an active arrest warrant for failure to appear regarding driving without a license. She was seen by a court commissioner and released pending a court date.
May 29, 2018, Douglas Allen Bridges, 28 of McDaniel, was served a criminal summons at the Talbot District Court for Violation of Protective Order. He was released on signature pending a court date.
May 29, 2018, Babakode Alamlde-D Bamiduro, 25 of Baltimore, was arrested on an active arrest warrant for Theft after a traffic stop in Easton, Md. He was taken before a court commissioner and released on $2000.00 bond.
May 30, 2018, Baronica Bowens, 42 of Baltimore, was arrested on a active arrest warrant for failure to return a rental vehicle after a traffic stop in Easton, Md. She was taken before a court commissioner and released pending a court date.
Anyone with information regarding criminal activity is encouraged to contact the Maryland State Police Easton Barrack at 410-819-4747 or email msp.easton@maryland.gov.
May 16, 2018, Ally Emaline Flayler, 20 of Chester, surrendered to Troopers at the Easton Barrack regarding an active Bench warrant for Violation of Probation. She was taken before a court commissioner and released pending a court date.
May 16, 2018, Andre Roger Clark, 27 of D.C., surrendered to Troopers in Easton regarding an active warrant. He was taken before a court commissioner and released on $7500.00 bond.
May 17, 2018, Jeffrey Alan Welch Jr, 25 of Greensboro, was arrested for failure to appear regarding an active bench warrant for driving without a license after an accident investigation in Queen Anne’s County. He was turned over to troopers of the Easton Barrack. He was taken before a court commissioner and released pending a court date.
May 18, 2018, Darrell Larmont Nichols, 27 of Federalsburg, was arrested for failure to appear for court regarding driving on a suspended license after a traffic stop in Cambridge, Md. He was taken before a court commissioner and released pending a court date.
May 19, 2018, Philip Bryan Freeman, 46 of Ridgely, was arrested on an active bench warrant for driving without a license. He was arrested at the 500 Block of Central Ave., Ridgely, Md. He was taken before a court commissioner and held without bond.
May 21, 2018, Ryan Clyde Collier, 59 of Rhodesdale, was arrested on a bench warrant for Theft and Burglary after a traffic stop in Cambridge, Md. He was taken before a court commissioner and released pending a court date.
May 22, 2018, Peter Aniefuna Okemmuo Jr., 29 of Delmar, was arrested on a bench warrant for failure to appear for court regarding possession of marijuana after a traffic stop in Easton, Md. He was taken before a court commissioner and released pending a court date.
May 22, 2018, Kevron Lamont Chase, 29 of Easton, was arrested for providing a false name to a police officer. He was taken before a court commissioner and released pending a court date.
May 23, 2018, Brittany Yost, 26 and Joshua Lee White, 28, both of Denton were arrested at the 400 Block of Marvel Court, on an arrest warrant for child abuse and child neglect Both were taken before a court commissioner and released on a $10,000.00 bond.
May 23, 2018, Gelvin Etmudi Bautista, 25 of Ridgely, was served a traffic summons for negligent driving in Denton. She was seen by a court commissioner and released pending a court date.
May 23, 2018, Gary Wayne Jackson, 42 of Hurlock, was arrested in Denton for an active arrest warrant regarding a theft scheme under/over $100.00-$1500.00. He was seen by a court commissioner and released pending a court date.
May 24, 2018, Troopers responded to the 14000 block of Benedictine Lane, Ridgely, regarding a disturbance. Victor Vontrel Simms, 25 of Hurlock, was arrested for second degree assault. He was taken before a court commissioner and released pending a court date.
May 26, 2018, Cathy Ann Pharis 54 of Marydel, was arrested on an active arrest warrant for failure to appear regarding driving without a license. She was seen by a court commissioner and released pending a court date.
May 29, 2018, Douglas Allen Bridges, 28 of McDaniel, was served a criminal summons at the Talbot District Court for Violation of Protective Order. He was released on signature pending a court date.
May 29, 2018, Babakode Alamlde-D Bamiduro, 25 of Baltimore, was arrested on an active arrest warrant for Theft after a traffic stop in Easton, Md. He was taken before a court commissioner and released on $2000.00 bond.
May 30, 2018, Baronica Bowens, 42 of Baltimore, was arrested on a active arrest warrant for failure to return a rental vehicle after a traffic stop in Easton, Md. She was taken before a court commissioner and released pending a court date.
Anyone with information regarding criminal activity is encouraged to contact the Maryland State Police Easton Barrack at 410-819-4747 or email msp.easton@maryland.gov.
Maryland State Police Easton Barrack drunk driving arrests and alcohol violations
(Easton, Maryland) Troopers from the Maryland State Police Easton Barrack made the following drunk driving arrests and issued alcohol violation citations during the second half of the month of May.
May 16, 2018, Merrick Monte Murray, 19 of St. Michaels, was issued a civil citation for the possession of alcohol after a traffic stop in Easton, Md.
May 19, 2018, Tommie Devon Spencer, 21 of Hurlock, was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol after a traffic collision in Easton, Md.
May 20, 2018, Michael Anthony Bowerson, 25 of Delaware, was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol after a traffic stop in Greensboro, Md.
May 20, 2018, Chrischelle Ford, 21 of Delaware, was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol after a traffic stop in Hurlock, Md.
May 20, 2018, Justin Arbogast Scharf, 27 of Ridgely, was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol after a traffic stop in Cordova, Md.
May 21, 2018, The Maryland State Police Easton Barrack received a call from a concern citizen regarding a possible drunk driver. Troopers located the vehicle and arrested Beverly Redon Landers, 55 of Chestertown after a traffic stop in Trappe, Md.
May 24, 2018, Michael Lance Dillon, 31 of Easton, was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol after a traffic stop in St. Michaels, Md.
May 24, 2018, Tierro LaPrix Williams, 32 of Cambridge, was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol after a traffic stop in East New Market, Md.
May 24, 2018, Troopers responded to Logan Lane, Greensboro, regarding a loud party. Troopers located 9 juveniles, between 14-17 years of age, in possession of alcohol and intoxicated. A juvenile, 14, was taken to the hospital for alcohol intoxication. All 9 juveniles were cited for possession of alcohol.
May 25, 2018, Michael Dominic Casey, 30 of Baltimore, was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol after a traffic stop in Easton, Md.
May 26, 2018, Brian Lee Tolley, 46 of Hurlock, was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol after a traffic stop in East New Market, Md.
May 26, 2018, Roshonda Leann Murray, 23 of Easton, was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol after a traffic stop in Denton, Md. She was taken before a court commissioner and held on $3000.00 bond.
May 27, 2018, Sergio Yafte Hernandez, 28 of Annapolis, was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol after a traffic stop in Oxford, Md.
May 16, 2018, Merrick Monte Murray, 19 of St. Michaels, was issued a civil citation for the possession of alcohol after a traffic stop in Easton, Md.
May 19, 2018, Tommie Devon Spencer, 21 of Hurlock, was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol after a traffic collision in Easton, Md.
May 20, 2018, Michael Anthony Bowerson, 25 of Delaware, was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol after a traffic stop in Greensboro, Md.
May 20, 2018, Chrischelle Ford, 21 of Delaware, was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol after a traffic stop in Hurlock, Md.
May 20, 2018, Justin Arbogast Scharf, 27 of Ridgely, was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol after a traffic stop in Cordova, Md.
May 21, 2018, The Maryland State Police Easton Barrack received a call from a concern citizen regarding a possible drunk driver. Troopers located the vehicle and arrested Beverly Redon Landers, 55 of Chestertown after a traffic stop in Trappe, Md.
May 24, 2018, Michael Lance Dillon, 31 of Easton, was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol after a traffic stop in St. Michaels, Md.
May 24, 2018, Tierro LaPrix Williams, 32 of Cambridge, was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol after a traffic stop in East New Market, Md.
May 24, 2018, Troopers responded to Logan Lane, Greensboro, regarding a loud party. Troopers located 9 juveniles, between 14-17 years of age, in possession of alcohol and intoxicated. A juvenile, 14, was taken to the hospital for alcohol intoxication. All 9 juveniles were cited for possession of alcohol.
May 25, 2018, Michael Dominic Casey, 30 of Baltimore, was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol after a traffic stop in Easton, Md.
May 26, 2018, Brian Lee Tolley, 46 of Hurlock, was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol after a traffic stop in East New Market, Md.
May 26, 2018, Roshonda Leann Murray, 23 of Easton, was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol after a traffic stop in Denton, Md. She was taken before a court commissioner and held on $3000.00 bond.
May 27, 2018, Sergio Yafte Hernandez, 28 of Annapolis, was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol after a traffic stop in Oxford, Md.
Analysis: There Is a Meth Crisis in America
Methamphetamine overdose deaths have skyrocketed in the past decade, hitting numbers unheard of during the mid-2000s meth epidemic as tens of thousands of pounds of the drug flow across the southwest border.
An analysis conducted by the Free Beacon, based on publicly available data, shows that meth-associated overdose deaths rose more than 450 percent between 2008—the trough of the last meth crisis—and 2016. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Free Beacon's analysis, that spike was instigated not by domestically produced meth, but by a surge of amphetamines trafficked by Mexican cartels into the United States.
Many Americans think of meth as a thing of the past, an early-2000s craze that gave way to the current opioid epidemic. Indeed, the number of meth overdose deaths began to spike in 2001, rising continuously until 2005.
This prompted action by Congress and state legislatures, leading to a reduction in meth overdose deaths over the next three years. Legislation targeted the supply of precursors, primarily the cold medication Sudafed. "Mom-and-pop" meth labs, keys actors in the crisis, were starved out of existence.
"Most of the methamphetamine available in the United States is produced clandestinely in Mexico and smuggled across the [Southwestern Border]," the DEA reports.
More here
An analysis conducted by the Free Beacon, based on publicly available data, shows that meth-associated overdose deaths rose more than 450 percent between 2008—the trough of the last meth crisis—and 2016. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Free Beacon's analysis, that spike was instigated not by domestically produced meth, but by a surge of amphetamines trafficked by Mexican cartels into the United States.
Many Americans think of meth as a thing of the past, an early-2000s craze that gave way to the current opioid epidemic. Indeed, the number of meth overdose deaths began to spike in 2001, rising continuously until 2005.
This prompted action by Congress and state legislatures, leading to a reduction in meth overdose deaths over the next three years. Legislation targeted the supply of precursors, primarily the cold medication Sudafed. "Mom-and-pop" meth labs, keys actors in the crisis, were starved out of existence.
"Most of the methamphetamine available in the United States is produced clandestinely in Mexico and smuggled across the [Southwestern Border]," the DEA reports.
More here