Mike Wilson has been shooting competitively since 2004. He’s held four International Benchrest Shooters (IBS) records, and he’s currently ranked third nationally among IBS Long Range Marksmen. But even he couldn’t believe his eyes last Saturday when he approached his 1000-yard target at the Hawks Ridge Gun Club in Ferguson, N.C.
“I was stunned. It was such a small group,” he said in an interview with GunsAmerica. “I was pretty emotional. I’ve been doing it so long, I have such a love for the sport. It’ll get to you, when you love it that much.”
Wilson’s world record-setting 5-shot group measured 1.068 inches or, in angular terms, a stunning 0.102 minutes of angle (MOA). He even managed to land all five rounds in the center X-ring for a perfect score. (The previous 5-shot, light gun IBS record, set in 2007, measured 1.397 inches.)
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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
Friday, August 03, 2018
ATF: Gun Dealers Cannot Transfer Firearms to Genderqueers Who Fail to Check 'Male' or 'Female' on 4473s
The National Shooting Sports Foundation, the firearms industry trade association, asked the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives about how gun shops should process paperwork for genderqueer gun purchasers. Below is the Q&A:
Question: If a transferee (consumer) presents a current, valid “non-binary” driver’s license as a form of government issued identification to establish their identity and proof of residency and then declines to select either “male” or “female” when answering Question 6, how is an FFL to proceed?
ATF’s Response: FFLs may accept non-binary identification documents The Gun Control Act (GCA) at 18 U.S.C. § 922(t)(1)(C) requires licensees to verify the identity of each transferee by examining a valid identification document of the transferee containing a photograph of the transferee. An identification document is defined by 18 U.S.C. § 1028(d) in relevant part as:
. . .a document made or issued by or under the authority of the United States Government . . . when completed with information concerning a particular individual, is of a type intended or commonly accepted for the purpose of identification of individuals.
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Question: If a transferee (consumer) presents a current, valid “non-binary” driver’s license as a form of government issued identification to establish their identity and proof of residency and then declines to select either “male” or “female” when answering Question 6, how is an FFL to proceed?
ATF’s Response: FFLs may accept non-binary identification documents The Gun Control Act (GCA) at 18 U.S.C. § 922(t)(1)(C) requires licensees to verify the identity of each transferee by examining a valid identification document of the transferee containing a photograph of the transferee. An identification document is defined by 18 U.S.C. § 1028(d) in relevant part as:
. . .a document made or issued by or under the authority of the United States Government . . . when completed with information concerning a particular individual, is of a type intended or commonly accepted for the purpose of identification of individuals.
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Businesses Reminded of Handbill Ordinance, Local Business Employees Cited $1,000
OCEAN CITY, MD – The Ocean City Police Department is conducting an investigation into the illegal distribution of restaurant menus at several hotels throughout the resort. During the course of this investigation, officers have cited two employees of White House Pizza located at 15th Street with a fine amount of $1,000. This investigation is ongoing.
The Ocean City Police Department would like to remind business owners of a municipal ordinance restricting the distribution of advertisements and handbills in the Town of Ocean City.
The ordinance states “it shall be unlawful for any person or persons to cast, throw, place or distribute any advertisements, circulars, handbills or wastepaper in the vestibules, doorways, porches or yards of private property or upon private vehicles, from which they may be blown upon and into the public streets, alleys or public places within the corporate limits of Ocean City.” The penalty for violating this ordinance is up to $1,000. Repeated violations could trigger a business license suspension hearing before town officials.
This nuisance crime often causes excessive litter and leaves the property unsightly.
Any property owner that experiences this ordinance violation is asked to contact the Ocean City Police Department at 410-723-6600.
The Ocean City Police Department would like to remind business owners of a municipal ordinance restricting the distribution of advertisements and handbills in the Town of Ocean City.
The ordinance states “it shall be unlawful for any person or persons to cast, throw, place or distribute any advertisements, circulars, handbills or wastepaper in the vestibules, doorways, porches or yards of private property or upon private vehicles, from which they may be blown upon and into the public streets, alleys or public places within the corporate limits of Ocean City.” The penalty for violating this ordinance is up to $1,000. Repeated violations could trigger a business license suspension hearing before town officials.
This nuisance crime often causes excessive litter and leaves the property unsightly.
Any property owner that experiences this ordinance violation is asked to contact the Ocean City Police Department at 410-723-6600.
"In Government, Scum Rises To The Top"
Some Ideas To Think About
Poverty is no mystery, and it's easily avoidable. The poverty line that the Census Bureau used in 2016 for a single person was an income of $12,486 that year. For a two-person household, it was $16,072, and for a four-person household, it was $24,755. To beat those poverty thresholds is fairly simple. Here's the road map: Complete high school; get a job, any kind of a job; get married before having children; and be a law-abiding citizen.
How about some numbers? A single person taking a minimum wage job would earn an annual income of $15,080. A married couple would earn $30,160. By the way, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, less than 4 percent of hourly workers in 2016 were paid the minimum wage. That means that over 96 percent of workers earned more than the minimum wage. Not surprising is the fact that among both black and white married couples, the poverty rate is in the single digits. Most poverty is in female-headed households.
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Poverty is no mystery, and it's easily avoidable. The poverty line that the Census Bureau used in 2016 for a single person was an income of $12,486 that year. For a two-person household, it was $16,072, and for a four-person household, it was $24,755. To beat those poverty thresholds is fairly simple. Here's the road map: Complete high school; get a job, any kind of a job; get married before having children; and be a law-abiding citizen.
How about some numbers? A single person taking a minimum wage job would earn an annual income of $15,080. A married couple would earn $30,160. By the way, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, less than 4 percent of hourly workers in 2016 were paid the minimum wage. That means that over 96 percent of workers earned more than the minimum wage. Not surprising is the fact that among both black and white married couples, the poverty rate is in the single digits. Most poverty is in female-headed households.
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Police: New York Man Attacked on Bus Just for 'Being White'
Police in New York City are looking for an African American man who they say attacked a man on a city bus just because the victim was white.
The attack reportedly occurred on Monday, July 30, at about 10 AM in Brooklyn, Fox 5 New York reported.
Police say that a 29-year-old white man was riding the bus on Fulton Street when a black man approached him, yelled racial epithets, and punched him in the face causing swelling and pain.
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The attack reportedly occurred on Monday, July 30, at about 10 AM in Brooklyn, Fox 5 New York reported.
Police say that a 29-year-old white man was riding the bus on Fulton Street when a black man approached him, yelled racial epithets, and punched him in the face causing swelling and pain.
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Afghan Heroin Production ‘Flourishes’ in Territory Held by Kabul
The unprecedented level of Afghan opium cultivation has spread across the country to areas held by both Taliban terrorists and the U.S.-backed Kabul government.
This transition makes Kabul the top owner of areas producing the deadly heroin that has become a scourge across the globe, according to an assessment released by an American watchdog this week.
Citing the United Nations and the U.S.-NATO mission Resolute Support (RS), the latest quarterly (April 1 to June 30) report prepared for American lawmakers by U.S. Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) – an office created by Congress to keep tabs on the nearly 17-year-old war – found the U.S.-backed Afghan government controls more of “the highest intensity” poppy cultivating areas.
More here
This transition makes Kabul the top owner of areas producing the deadly heroin that has become a scourge across the globe, according to an assessment released by an American watchdog this week.
Citing the United Nations and the U.S.-NATO mission Resolute Support (RS), the latest quarterly (April 1 to June 30) report prepared for American lawmakers by U.S. Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) – an office created by Congress to keep tabs on the nearly 17-year-old war – found the U.S.-backed Afghan government controls more of “the highest intensity” poppy cultivating areas.
More here
'The Incendiaries' Is A Poignant And Powerful Look At Campus Life
R.O. Kwon's new novel explores the attractions — and dangers — of faith, against the overheated, over-the-top backdrop of an upper-crust college somewhere in the Northeastern United State.
Rivaling Donna Tartt's celebrated debut, A Secret History, in its fevered treatment of American university life, R.O. Kwon's first novel The Incendiaries gives readers a juicy look at campus mores, though sometimes that juice is more bitter than sweet. Hormonal fumblings in the dark halls of post-adolescence can be painfully entertaining and entertainingly painful — I am reminded of what Lena Dunham's middle-aged gynecologist tells her character on Girls, after listening to Hannah's jejune blathering: "You could not pay me enough to be 24 again." Instead, we can rely on intense smarties like Kwon to tell us all about it.
In The Incendiaries, men and women on the cusp of adulthood bring loaded back stories to their couplings and uncouplings, leading inexorably (and a bit predictably) to tragic results. (Not a spoiler; the author spoils it for us on the second page, writing, "Buildings fell. People died.")
Phoebe Haejin Lin's unhappy past is at odds with her high-rolling life at a fictional school called Edwards, somewhere in the northeastern United States. She has become the campus It Girl, the ravishing one everyone wants to sleep with, wants to be. While others see only surface perfection — her long, glossy black hair, flawless skin and exquisite features — we get the real story in the character's first-person confessionals. The death of her mother in a car accident haunts her; an inexperienced Phoebe was at the wheel and her mom threw her body across that of her daughter to protect her. Another, more minor, secret: Phoebe was a piano prodigy until she abruptly quit, realizing she could never measure up to the masters. The failure dogs her.
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Rivaling Donna Tartt's celebrated debut, A Secret History, in its fevered treatment of American university life, R.O. Kwon's first novel The Incendiaries gives readers a juicy look at campus mores, though sometimes that juice is more bitter than sweet. Hormonal fumblings in the dark halls of post-adolescence can be painfully entertaining and entertainingly painful — I am reminded of what Lena Dunham's middle-aged gynecologist tells her character on Girls, after listening to Hannah's jejune blathering: "You could not pay me enough to be 24 again." Instead, we can rely on intense smarties like Kwon to tell us all about it.
In The Incendiaries, men and women on the cusp of adulthood bring loaded back stories to their couplings and uncouplings, leading inexorably (and a bit predictably) to tragic results. (Not a spoiler; the author spoils it for us on the second page, writing, "Buildings fell. People died.")
Phoebe Haejin Lin's unhappy past is at odds with her high-rolling life at a fictional school called Edwards, somewhere in the northeastern United States. She has become the campus It Girl, the ravishing one everyone wants to sleep with, wants to be. While others see only surface perfection — her long, glossy black hair, flawless skin and exquisite features — we get the real story in the character's first-person confessionals. The death of her mother in a car accident haunts her; an inexperienced Phoebe was at the wheel and her mom threw her body across that of her daughter to protect her. Another, more minor, secret: Phoebe was a piano prodigy until she abruptly quit, realizing she could never measure up to the masters. The failure dogs her.
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Ill. Lawmaker Quits After Ex-Girlfriend Says He Posted Her Nude Photos To Instagram
Republican Rep. Nick Sauer allegedly opened an account in the former girlfriend's name and then posted the pictures as a ploy to lure men into "graphic conversations."
Rep. Nick Sauer, a first-term Republican, wrote a letter Wednesday to the Clerk of the House of Representatives in Illinois tendering his resignation.
"As a result of the allegations by Kate Kelly, a former girlfriend, I have decided to resign," Sauer wrote.
"My ability to fulfill my obligations as a State Representative and public servant will be affected by the distraction of addressing these allegations," he wrote. "After speaking with my family, I feel it best to step away from my public responsibilities."
According to the Chicago Tribune, "Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner said Sauer's departure was 'the right thing to do' but said his political nemesis Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan has fostered a culture of abuse at the Capitol."
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Rep. Nick Sauer, a first-term Republican, wrote a letter Wednesday to the Clerk of the House of Representatives in Illinois tendering his resignation.
"As a result of the allegations by Kate Kelly, a former girlfriend, I have decided to resign," Sauer wrote.
"My ability to fulfill my obligations as a State Representative and public servant will be affected by the distraction of addressing these allegations," he wrote. "After speaking with my family, I feel it best to step away from my public responsibilities."
According to the Chicago Tribune, "Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner said Sauer's departure was 'the right thing to do' but said his political nemesis Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan has fostered a culture of abuse at the Capitol."
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Google Testing A Censored Search Engine Just For China
Google is testing a mobile version of its search engine that will adhere to the Chinese government's censorship demands, including the blocking of certain websites and search terms, according to multiple reports.
China's government goes to great lengths to control its citizens' access to information on the Internet, creating what's been dubbed the "Great Firewall."
Google removed its search engine service from China in 2010 and said at the time that it "could no longer continue censoring our results" in the country.
The website The Intercept, which first reported the program, said the search engine "will blacklist websites and search terms about human rights, democracy, religion, and peaceful protest."
The Intercept reports Google's new app could launch within six to nine months, though The Wall Street Journal and New York Times reported separately, citing anonymous sources, that the product is only being tested and may never be deployed.
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China's government goes to great lengths to control its citizens' access to information on the Internet, creating what's been dubbed the "Great Firewall."
Google removed its search engine service from China in 2010 and said at the time that it "could no longer continue censoring our results" in the country.
The website The Intercept, which first reported the program, said the search engine "will blacklist websites and search terms about human rights, democracy, religion, and peaceful protest."
The Intercept reports Google's new app could launch within six to nine months, though The Wall Street Journal and New York Times reported separately, citing anonymous sources, that the product is only being tested and may never be deployed.
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New Zealand's Prime Minister Ready To Return To Duties After Maternity Leave
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will be back on the job soon, after taking six weeks of maternity leave.
Ardern, who assumed office in October, is only the second sitting world leader in modern times to give birth while in office, after Pakistan's Benazir Bhutto. Ardernannounced in January that she would temporarily step aside, leaving her duties while on leave to Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters.
On June 21, Ardern gave birth to her first child, a girl that she and partner Clarke Gaylord named Neve Gayford.
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Ardern, who assumed office in October, is only the second sitting world leader in modern times to give birth while in office, after Pakistan's Benazir Bhutto. Ardernannounced in January that she would temporarily step aside, leaving her duties while on leave to Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters.
On June 21, Ardern gave birth to her first child, a girl that she and partner Clarke Gaylord named Neve Gayford.
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9 Most shocking Vaccine Ingredients of 2018
(Natural News) The year is 2018, and it would be nice to brag about science and medicine having come “so far,” but that’s impossible in regards to vaccines when they’re used to make humans sick and dysfunctional, especially newborn babies, infants and children. The theory of vaccines is legitimate, and the idea that doctors who attend eight years of medical school recommend all of them sounds convincing, but today’s nerve-and-immune-system-crippling ingredients should sound off all of your common sense alarms like ambulance sirens heading to the scene of a life or death emergency.
The problem with questioning anything at all about vaccines is that you’re immediately labeled “anti-science” and “anti-vax” by the pro-vaccine cult – the same goons and trolls who want to have you burned at the stake if you get cancer and refuse chemotherapy.
Another huge problem with questioning anything about vaccines is that, if you do, you’re immediately labeled a conspiracy theorist, but then again, most of the “conspiracy theories” of the past decade or two have been proven true, like the U.S. government spying via Prismon all of its own citizens, and the CDC covering up health detriment caused to babies by thetoxic MMR vaccine, or the Obama Administration running a shadow government the past two years, and we could just go on and on.
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The problem with questioning anything at all about vaccines is that you’re immediately labeled “anti-science” and “anti-vax” by the pro-vaccine cult – the same goons and trolls who want to have you burned at the stake if you get cancer and refuse chemotherapy.
Another huge problem with questioning anything about vaccines is that, if you do, you’re immediately labeled a conspiracy theorist, but then again, most of the “conspiracy theories” of the past decade or two have been proven true, like the U.S. government spying via Prismon all of its own citizens, and the CDC covering up health detriment caused to babies by thetoxic MMR vaccine, or the Obama Administration running a shadow government the past two years, and we could just go on and on.
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Iranian Regime says not interested in Negotiating w US
(CNSNews.com) – President Trump’s comment Monday that he was ready to meet with Iranian leaders came just hours after the regime’s foreign ministry rejected the idea of negotiations with the U.S., saying Washington had proven to be “untrustworthy” and dismissing reports speculating that mediation efforts may be underway.
Speaking alongside visiting Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, Trump said he would meet with President Hassan Rouhani whenever the Iranians wanted to do so.
“I don’t know that they’re ready yet. They’re having a hard time right now,” he said, alluding to the protests and economic difficulties confronting Tehran. Ahead of the reimposition of U.S. sanctions, Iran’s rial has plummeted to a new low against the U.S. dollar.
Trump said he was willing to meet with “no preconditions.” He also linked any prospective meeting to the need to reach an agreement with Iran in place of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) nuclear deal, from which he withdrew last May.
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Speaking alongside visiting Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, Trump said he would meet with President Hassan Rouhani whenever the Iranians wanted to do so.
“I don’t know that they’re ready yet. They’re having a hard time right now,” he said, alluding to the protests and economic difficulties confronting Tehran. Ahead of the reimposition of U.S. sanctions, Iran’s rial has plummeted to a new low against the U.S. dollar.
Trump said he was willing to meet with “no preconditions.” He also linked any prospective meeting to the need to reach an agreement with Iran in place of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) nuclear deal, from which he withdrew last May.
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BREAKING NEWS: Very Serious Accident On Whaleyville Road
Majority of Democrats: Illegal Aliens Should be Given the Right to Vote
54 percent of Democrats said illegal aliens in the U.S. should be given the right to vote so long as they pay taxes
A majority of Democrat voters now say that the 12 million illegal aliens currently residing in the United States should be given the right to vote.
In a new poll by Rasmussen Reports, a majority of 54 percent of Democrats said illegal aliens in the U.S. should be given the right to vote so long as they pay taxes. Illegal aliens paying taxes ensures the identity theft of Americans.
Likewise, 53 percent of self-described liberal voters said they too support giving the 12 million illegal aliens in the U.S. the right to vote.
While the majority of Democrats support illegal aliens having the right to vote, the plan is very unpopular with American voters overall. Nearly 60 percent of voters said illegal aliens should not be given voting rights.
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A majority of Democrat voters now say that the 12 million illegal aliens currently residing in the United States should be given the right to vote.
In a new poll by Rasmussen Reports, a majority of 54 percent of Democrats said illegal aliens in the U.S. should be given the right to vote so long as they pay taxes. Illegal aliens paying taxes ensures the identity theft of Americans.
Likewise, 53 percent of self-described liberal voters said they too support giving the 12 million illegal aliens in the U.S. the right to vote.
While the majority of Democrats support illegal aliens having the right to vote, the plan is very unpopular with American voters overall. Nearly 60 percent of voters said illegal aliens should not be given voting rights.
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TRUMP DOUBLES DOWN: GOVT SHUTDOWN ‘SMALL PRICE TO PAY’ TO FIX IMMIGRATION LAW
‘I don’t care what the political ramifications are,’ he says
President Trump doubled down on his consideration of shutting down the federal government to force Congress to address the country’s weak immigration and border laws.
“I don’t care what the political ramifications are, our immigration laws and border security have been a complete and total disaster for decades, and there is no way that the Democrats will allow it to be fixed without a Government Shutdown,” Trump tweeted Tuesday.
“Border Security is National Security, and National Security is the long-term viability of our Country. A Government Shutdown is a very small price to pay for a safe and Prosperous America!”
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President Trump doubled down on his consideration of shutting down the federal government to force Congress to address the country’s weak immigration and border laws.
“I don’t care what the political ramifications are, our immigration laws and border security have been a complete and total disaster for decades, and there is no way that the Democrats will allow it to be fixed without a Government Shutdown,” Trump tweeted Tuesday.
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Dem governor flees to $7M Italian vacation home as political, personal problems mount
His constituents are complaining about the state's crumbling transit system. His own party wants to strip him of gubernatorial powers. The soccer team he owns is living in dire conditions, and one of his sons has been in trouble with the law.
What's a newly elected governor with no experience in elected office to do? He takes a vacation far, far away.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy raised eyebrows last week as he embarked on a swanky 11-day trip to Italy, where he owns a $7 million home he bought during his 23-year stint at Goldman Sachs.
The trip comes just six months after Murphy -- a Democrat and former diplomat under President Barack Obama -- was elected to the top job in the state.
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What's a newly elected governor with no experience in elected office to do? He takes a vacation far, far away.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy raised eyebrows last week as he embarked on a swanky 11-day trip to Italy, where he owns a $7 million home he bought during his 23-year stint at Goldman Sachs.
The trip comes just six months after Murphy -- a Democrat and former diplomat under President Barack Obama -- was elected to the top job in the state.
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http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/08/01/dem-governor-flees-to-7m-italian-vacation-home-as-political-personal-problems-mount.html
BREAKING: Trump to Declassify Infamous FISA Memo
President Trump is expected to imminently declassify and release a memo written by Republicans on the House Intelligence Committee. The memo reportedly outlines FISA abuses and shows misconduct from the FBI during the 2016 presidential election.
During the State of the Union address Tuesday, Trump told a Republican lawmaker the memo will "100 percent" be released. Chief of Staff John Kelly said Wednesday the memo will be reviewed and released soon.
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During the State of the Union address Tuesday, Trump told a Republican lawmaker the memo will "100 percent" be released. Chief of Staff John Kelly said Wednesday the memo will be reviewed and released soon.
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Gold Alert Issued for Missing Bridgeville Woman
Theresa A. Gattone
Bridgeville- The Delaware State Police is issuing a Gold Alert for 23-year-old Theresa Gattone who was reported missing on Friday, August 3, 2018 at approximately 8:30 a.m., from the Bridgeville area.
Theresa was last seen wearing a black t-shirt and unknown color shorts. She has auburn hair and is approximately 5'03" tall and 115 lbs.
Theresa was last seen driving a rental, 2018 silver Ford Escape (VA reg. UYR1626).
Troopers have been unable to make contact with Theresa to check on her welfare. Attempts to locate her have been unsuccessful and there is a real concern for her safety and welfare.
If anyone has any information in reference to her whereabouts, they are asked to please contact Troop 5 at 302-337-8253. Information may also be provided by contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333 or via the internet athttp://www.delaware.crimestoppersweb.com.
Potential College Lake Dam failure spurs evacuations in Lynchburg, Virginia
The situation at the College Lake Dam, located in Lynchburg, Virginia, has stabilized for the time being, officials said shortly before 1 p.m. Friday. However, the potential for renewed heavy rain on Friday is prompting concerns for more flooding.
"Officials have reported that flooding over Lakeside Drive has ended and that water is holding within the shores of College Lake," according to a statement from the National Weather Service.
Late Thursday into Friday, water was overflowing the top of the dam and officials said it on was the brink of failure due to recently heavy rainfall. If the dam fails, portions of Lynchburg could flood within minutes.
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"Officials have reported that flooding over Lakeside Drive has ended and that water is holding within the shores of College Lake," according to a statement from the National Weather Service.
Late Thursday into Friday, water was overflowing the top of the dam and officials said it on was the brink of failure due to recently heavy rainfall. If the dam fails, portions of Lynchburg could flood within minutes.
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Explaining The High Cost Of US Health Care: No Skin In The Game
Costs are expensive because there is almost no skin in the game. Graft has taken over.
The Wall Street Journal has an interesting article on healthcare: Why Americans Spend So Much on Health Care—In 12 Charts.
The U.S. spends more per capita on health care than any other developed nation. It will soon spend close to 20% of its GDP on health—significantly more than the percentage spent by major Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development nations.
What is driving costs so high? As this series of charts shows, Americans aren’t buying more health care overall than other countries. But what they are buying is increasingly expensive. Among the reasons is the troubling fact that few people in health care, from consumers to doctors to hospitals to insurers, know the true cost of what they are buying and selling.
Contributions to employer-sponsored health coverage aren’t taxed, which makes it less expensive for companies to pay workers with health benefits than wages. Generous benefits lead to higher spending, according to many economists, because employees can consume as much health care as they want without having to pay significantly more out of their own pockets.
The prices of many medicines are hidden because pharmacy-benefit managers—the companies that administer drug benefits for employers and health insurers—negotiate confidential discounts and rebates with drugmakers.
More
The Wall Street Journal has an interesting article on healthcare: Why Americans Spend So Much on Health Care—In 12 Charts.
The U.S. spends more per capita on health care than any other developed nation. It will soon spend close to 20% of its GDP on health—significantly more than the percentage spent by major Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development nations.
What is driving costs so high? As this series of charts shows, Americans aren’t buying more health care overall than other countries. But what they are buying is increasingly expensive. Among the reasons is the troubling fact that few people in health care, from consumers to doctors to hospitals to insurers, know the true cost of what they are buying and selling.
Contributions to employer-sponsored health coverage aren’t taxed, which makes it less expensive for companies to pay workers with health benefits than wages. Generous benefits lead to higher spending, according to many economists, because employees can consume as much health care as they want without having to pay significantly more out of their own pockets.
The prices of many medicines are hidden because pharmacy-benefit managers—the companies that administer drug benefits for employers and health insurers—negotiate confidential discounts and rebates with drugmakers.
More
Prosecutors dismissed sex abuse case against Moonves in the 80s
A woman last year told LA police that CBS chief Les Moonves sexually assaulted her in the 1980s — but prosecutors declined to prosecute the case due to the statute of limitations, according to new reports.
The unnamed woman, who knew Moonves through the TV industry, went to cops in December 2017 to report three incidents — involving forced oral sex, battery and indecent exposure, according to the LA Times.
One of the alleged incidents took place in 1986 and two in 1988.
California scrapped its 10-year statue of limitations on rape and sex assault cases last year, but the change wasn’t retroactive, so this case would still be considered too old for criminal charges.
The LA District Attorney’s office officially declined to file charges in February, NBC News reports.
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The unnamed woman, who knew Moonves through the TV industry, went to cops in December 2017 to report three incidents — involving forced oral sex, battery and indecent exposure, according to the LA Times.
One of the alleged incidents took place in 1986 and two in 1988.
California scrapped its 10-year statue of limitations on rape and sex assault cases last year, but the change wasn’t retroactive, so this case would still be considered too old for criminal charges.
The LA District Attorney’s office officially declined to file charges in February, NBC News reports.
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Fire At 40th Street In Ocean City
Leaving Illinois: How Simple Math Chased Away A Village Mayor & His Family
If there was one guy you’d think wouldn’t succumb to the pressures of living in Illinois, it’s Lakewood Mayor Paul Serwatka.
He’s a reformer and a fighter. In the past year he’s succeeded where most politicians refuse to go. He lowered the Village of Lakewood’s property taxes by 10 percent and eliminated a TIF district, going against the trend of higher spending and bigger tax bills in communities across the state. And he did all that without cutting services. He was showing Illinoisans what reform-oriented leadership could look like.
But every family that’s chosen to flee Illinois in recent years hit a breaking point and Serwatka finally hit his. For him, it was the risk he wouldn’t be able to care financially for his growing family.
You can’t blame him and those families that have already left. For many, it’s become too expensive to live in Illinois. For others, good-paying working class and manufacturing jobs have disappeared. And for yet others, they’re tired of being taken for granted and mistreated by their politicians.
At the core of the decision for many families to leave is the burden of higher property taxes. They’ve become punitive in too many parts of the state, as Wirepoints has covered in detail.
That’s true even in Lakewood, a city of nearly 5,000 people located in McHenry County. Residents in that county pay some of the state’s – and the nation’s – highest effective tax rates, measured as a percentage of household incomes.
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He’s a reformer and a fighter. In the past year he’s succeeded where most politicians refuse to go. He lowered the Village of Lakewood’s property taxes by 10 percent and eliminated a TIF district, going against the trend of higher spending and bigger tax bills in communities across the state. And he did all that without cutting services. He was showing Illinoisans what reform-oriented leadership could look like.
But every family that’s chosen to flee Illinois in recent years hit a breaking point and Serwatka finally hit his. For him, it was the risk he wouldn’t be able to care financially for his growing family.
You can’t blame him and those families that have already left. For many, it’s become too expensive to live in Illinois. For others, good-paying working class and manufacturing jobs have disappeared. And for yet others, they’re tired of being taken for granted and mistreated by their politicians.
At the core of the decision for many families to leave is the burden of higher property taxes. They’ve become punitive in too many parts of the state, as Wirepoints has covered in detail.
That’s true even in Lakewood, a city of nearly 5,000 people located in McHenry County. Residents in that county pay some of the state’s – and the nation’s – highest effective tax rates, measured as a percentage of household incomes.
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South Africa to change constitution to allow redistribution of land
South Africa is to change its constitution to speed up redistribution of white-owned land to the country's poor black majority.
President Cyril Ramaphosa said his ruling ANC party will push ahead with the amendment to allow for the expropriation of land without compensation.
Much of the most productive land in South Africa is still owned by white people, 24 years after the end of apartheid which systematically disenfranchised black people.
White farmers control 73 percent of arable areas and it is widely understood to be that land which could be forcibly seized and transferred to the previously disadvantaged.
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President Cyril Ramaphosa said his ruling ANC party will push ahead with the amendment to allow for the expropriation of land without compensation.
Much of the most productive land in South Africa is still owned by white people, 24 years after the end of apartheid which systematically disenfranchised black people.
White farmers control 73 percent of arable areas and it is widely understood to be that land which could be forcibly seized and transferred to the previously disadvantaged.
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Stingray Devices Face Public Oversight
Fourth Amendment violations need to stop
This is the Fourth Amendment…it reads, “The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.”
So why is it that we have to adopt laws to enforce this law of the land against the very organizations sworn to uphold it? It’s madness…
World Net Daily reports, “Shahid Buttar explained at the Electronic Frontier Foundation a California bill, SB 1186, would ‘vastly strengthen oversight relative to the indefensible and completely opaque status quo.’ EFF supports the bill because it would expand transparency and community control over the acquisition of surveillance technology.”
“For nearly a decade, the company Harris Corp. sold sophisticated military surveillance equipment to police departments across the U.S. ‘without any elected policymakers knowing that their tools even existed.’ The company builds cell-site simulators, sometimes described as a ‘Stingray,’ after the trade name of an early version.”
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This is the Fourth Amendment…it reads, “The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.”
So why is it that we have to adopt laws to enforce this law of the land against the very organizations sworn to uphold it? It’s madness…
World Net Daily reports, “Shahid Buttar explained at the Electronic Frontier Foundation a California bill, SB 1186, would ‘vastly strengthen oversight relative to the indefensible and completely opaque status quo.’ EFF supports the bill because it would expand transparency and community control over the acquisition of surveillance technology.”
“For nearly a decade, the company Harris Corp. sold sophisticated military surveillance equipment to police departments across the U.S. ‘without any elected policymakers knowing that their tools even existed.’ The company builds cell-site simulators, sometimes described as a ‘Stingray,’ after the trade name of an early version.”
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British Military Rescued Manchester Bomber From Libya Before He Blew Up An Ariana Grande Concert
The British military rescued the Manchester bomber from Libya less than three years before he killed 22 people at an Ariana Grande concert on May 22, 2017.
Before British citizen Salman Abedi blew himself up in Manchester, he was picked up by the United Kingdom’s Border Force in Tripoli, Libya, in August 2014, reported The Independent. Violence in Libya and the possibility of airport shutdowns forced Abedi, his brother and more than 200 other British citizens to travel back to the U.K. aboard the HMS Enterprise.
“The Border Force was sent over to assist the evacuation of British citizens and their dependants known to be in the area, or who had contacted the government for help,” a government source told The Independent.
The source said rescuing Abedi was unfortunate “in hindsight, but a British national needed help abroad and we were assisting them to leave Libya.”
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Before British citizen Salman Abedi blew himself up in Manchester, he was picked up by the United Kingdom’s Border Force in Tripoli, Libya, in August 2014, reported The Independent. Violence in Libya and the possibility of airport shutdowns forced Abedi, his brother and more than 200 other British citizens to travel back to the U.K. aboard the HMS Enterprise.
“The Border Force was sent over to assist the evacuation of British citizens and their dependants known to be in the area, or who had contacted the government for help,” a government source told The Independent.
The source said rescuing Abedi was unfortunate “in hindsight, but a British national needed help abroad and we were assisting them to leave Libya.”
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Newspaper Fell For Now-Discredited Sean Spicer ‘Racism’ Tip-Off From Ex-Convict
Sean Spicer, President Donald Trump’s former press secretary, threatened legal action after the Associated Press picked up a Newport Daily New video of Boston-area man Alex Lombard accusing him on Friday of using a racial slur in the 1980s when the two men attended the same high school.
Breitbart News has learned that the viral video of Lombard confronting Spicer at a book signing that began the national media frenzy had its genesis when Lombard, a man with a history of trouble with the law, told the local paper he was planning the stunt.
Sources familiar with the matter told Breitbart News that a Newport Daily News representative admitted at least one of their employees was in contact with Lombard before the incident, setting up the filming with the expectation the incident would take place. The newspaper declined to comment on this, referring Breitbart News to their legal team.
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Breitbart News has learned that the viral video of Lombard confronting Spicer at a book signing that began the national media frenzy had its genesis when Lombard, a man with a history of trouble with the law, told the local paper he was planning the stunt.
Sources familiar with the matter told Breitbart News that a Newport Daily News representative admitted at least one of their employees was in contact with Lombard before the incident, setting up the filming with the expectation the incident would take place. The newspaper declined to comment on this, referring Breitbart News to their legal team.
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Ron Paul: Government-Funded 'Free' Healthcare Is "Preposterous & Deadly"
Day after day, the newly minted hordes of 'Democratic Socialists' proclaim "free stuff" for all as their platform to grabbing the greater fool's marginal vote.
And finally, after Ocasio-Cortez' embarrassing display of ignorance, Mike Shedlock notes, cost estimates for "free stuff" are pouring in. The sticker price for "Medicare for All" is shocking.
"Medicare for All" sounds great. And every unthinking socialist wants it. But here's the deal: ‘Medicare for All’ Would Cost $32.6 Trillion Over 10 Years.
Sen. Bernie Sanders' "Medicare for all" plan would boost government health spending by $32.6 trillion over 10 years, requiring historic tax hikes, says a study released Monday by a university-based libertarian policy center.
That's trillion with a "T."
The latest plan from the Vermont independent would deliver significant savings on administration and drug costs, but increased demand for care would drive up spending, according to the analysis by the Mercatus Center at George Mason University in Virginia. Doubling federal individual and corporate income tax receipts would not cover the full cost, the study said.
The Mercatus analysis estimated the 10-year cost of "Medicare for all" from 2022 to 2031, after an initial phase-in. Its findings are similar to those of several independent studies of Sanders' 2016 plan. Those studies found increases in federal spending over 10 years that ranged from $24.7 trillion to $34.7 trillion.
Ron Paul raged on his Facebook page: $32 Trillion! ... that's how much "FREE" costs.
Government intrusion (often welcomed by crony corporations) has ruined the healthcare industry in America.
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And finally, after Ocasio-Cortez' embarrassing display of ignorance, Mike Shedlock notes, cost estimates for "free stuff" are pouring in. The sticker price for "Medicare for All" is shocking.
"Medicare for All" sounds great. And every unthinking socialist wants it. But here's the deal: ‘Medicare for All’ Would Cost $32.6 Trillion Over 10 Years.
Sen. Bernie Sanders' "Medicare for all" plan would boost government health spending by $32.6 trillion over 10 years, requiring historic tax hikes, says a study released Monday by a university-based libertarian policy center.
That's trillion with a "T."
The latest plan from the Vermont independent would deliver significant savings on administration and drug costs, but increased demand for care would drive up spending, according to the analysis by the Mercatus Center at George Mason University in Virginia. Doubling federal individual and corporate income tax receipts would not cover the full cost, the study said.
The Mercatus analysis estimated the 10-year cost of "Medicare for all" from 2022 to 2031, after an initial phase-in. Its findings are similar to those of several independent studies of Sanders' 2016 plan. Those studies found increases in federal spending over 10 years that ranged from $24.7 trillion to $34.7 trillion.
Ron Paul raged on his Facebook page: $32 Trillion! ... that's how much "FREE" costs.
Government intrusion (often welcomed by crony corporations) has ruined the healthcare industry in America.
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Trump calls for food stamp work requirements in farm bill
President Trump on Thursday urged House and Senate lawmakers to adopt strict work requirements for food stamps when they craft a merged farm bill.
“When the House and Senate meet on the very important Farm Bill – we love our farmers - hopefully they will be able to leave the WORK REQUIREMENTS FOR FOOD STAMPS PROVISION that the House approved,” Trump tweeted. “Senate should go to 51 votes!”
Both the House and Senate passed their respective farm bills in June. However, the House bill imposes new work requirements on the food stamps program and tightens overall eligibility on who can qualify for the federal assistance.
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“When the House and Senate meet on the very important Farm Bill – we love our farmers - hopefully they will be able to leave the WORK REQUIREMENTS FOR FOOD STAMPS PROVISION that the House approved,” Trump tweeted. “Senate should go to 51 votes!”
Both the House and Senate passed their respective farm bills in June. However, the House bill imposes new work requirements on the food stamps program and tightens overall eligibility on who can qualify for the federal assistance.
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Shock Video Shows Migrants Storming Beach in Spain
Alarmed sunbathers look on in disbelief
An alarming new video out of Cádiz, Spain shows a boat load of migrants arriving on a beach before swarming onshore as sunbathers look on in shock.
The clip shows a boat arriving on the beach before around two dozen migrants leap off and immediately head for the town.
People in the comments of the video on YouTube noted that the “refugees” were virtually all men and looked to be in good health.
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An alarming new video out of Cádiz, Spain shows a boat load of migrants arriving on a beach before swarming onshore as sunbathers look on in shock.
The clip shows a boat arriving on the beach before around two dozen migrants leap off and immediately head for the town.
People in the comments of the video on YouTube noted that the “refugees” were virtually all men and looked to be in good health.
More/Video
Major Chicago roadway closes during afternoon rush as protesters demand Rahm Emanuel's resignation
An anti-violence march in Chicago briefly closed Lake Shore Drive on Thursday afternoon, as protesters demonstrated against the city's spiraling crime crisis and called for Mayor Rahm Emanuel to step down.
A spokesman for Chicago police said Lake Shore Drive was closed for about 35 minutes on Thursday afternoon, as demonstrators marched toward Wrigley Field, where the Cubs were scheduled to play later in the evening.
Once the marchers arrived at Wrigley Field, roughly 400 protesters spent approximately 45 minutes chanting, praying, and delivering speeches before dispersing.
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A spokesman for Chicago police said Lake Shore Drive was closed for about 35 minutes on Thursday afternoon, as demonstrators marched toward Wrigley Field, where the Cubs were scheduled to play later in the evening.
Once the marchers arrived at Wrigley Field, roughly 400 protesters spent approximately 45 minutes chanting, praying, and delivering speeches before dispersing.
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http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/08/02/chicago-roadway-closes-during-afternoon-rush-as-protesters-demand-rahm-emanuels-resignation.html
Smug Seattle keeps throwing money after streetcar, bike lane fiasco that’s totally off the rails
Once again, the oh-so progressive, oh-so enlightened Seattle City Council is showing the rest of the country what not to do. The idealistic leftists who control the Council are wasting millions of hard-earned taxpayer dollars in failed attempts to solve problems the Council members created.
All this is turning Seattle into the poster city for the failure of Big Government. The city best known for fish markets, coffee stores, rain and flannel-wearing musicians is now becoming legendary for its incompetent leadership and its financial boondoggles.
The latest example of Seattle senselessness is the Council’s costly and deeply flawed efforts to get more people riding public transportation and bicycles. Other than spending lots of money, this effort isn’t accomplishing anything.
Seattle was one of the first cities to get electric streetcars in the U.S., with the first electric car entering service in 1889. With over a century of experience, you would think the city would know how to handle public transit. Not so. Taxpayers are paying a big price for the incompetence of city officials.
The public transportation system in Seattle is a mess. Construction costs for new and upgraded streetcar and light rail lines are skyrocketing well above estimated costs.
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All this is turning Seattle into the poster city for the failure of Big Government. The city best known for fish markets, coffee stores, rain and flannel-wearing musicians is now becoming legendary for its incompetent leadership and its financial boondoggles.
The latest example of Seattle senselessness is the Council’s costly and deeply flawed efforts to get more people riding public transportation and bicycles. Other than spending lots of money, this effort isn’t accomplishing anything.
Seattle was one of the first cities to get electric streetcars in the U.S., with the first electric car entering service in 1889. With over a century of experience, you would think the city would know how to handle public transit. Not so. Taxpayers are paying a big price for the incompetence of city officials.
The public transportation system in Seattle is a mess. Construction costs for new and upgraded streetcar and light rail lines are skyrocketing well above estimated costs.
More
'Flood Is Coming': FBI Front Office Discussed Trump Dossier With CNN
Wait—so, disgraced Deputy FBI Director Andrew McCabe not only lied to investigators multiple times about unauthorized media leaks, he also discussed the infamous Trump dossier with CNN? The funny thing is the reason then-FBI Director James Comey said he briefed the president on the dossier, which was an opposition research project funded by the Democrats and the Hillary Clinton campaign, is that CNN had it. In a series of emails obtained by Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI), chair of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, it shows top FBI officials were in contact with the news organizations about the dossier.
McCabe is seen writing, “a flood is coming.” All of this on top of the allegation that the FBI had someone spying on the Trump campaign. Comey said prior to the briefing that CNN was angling for a “news hook.” Well, what better way to unleash the Russian collusion hysteria than the top domestic law enforcement and intelligence chief briefing the incoming president about a document that’s one of the centerpieces of this shoddy theory. Just a friendly reminder, there is zero evidence that the Kremlin colluded with the Trump team to tilt an election. Zero.
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McCabe is seen writing, “a flood is coming.” All of this on top of the allegation that the FBI had someone spying on the Trump campaign. Comey said prior to the briefing that CNN was angling for a “news hook.” Well, what better way to unleash the Russian collusion hysteria than the top domestic law enforcement and intelligence chief briefing the incoming president about a document that’s one of the centerpieces of this shoddy theory. Just a friendly reminder, there is zero evidence that the Kremlin colluded with the Trump team to tilt an election. Zero.
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Trump Tells Jeff Sessions To End Mueller Investigation "Right Now"
President Trump was later then normal to take to his Twitter account this morning, but nevertheless provided a triumvirate of tweets that doubled down on his views of the Russia probe and what should be done about it.
Trump began with a two-fer tweet, quoting Alan Dershowitz:
“FBI Agent Peter Strzok (on the Mueller team) should have recused himself on day one. He was out to STOP THE ELECTION OF DONALD TRUMP. He needed an insurance policy. Those are illegal, improper goals, trying to influence the Election. He should never, ever been allowed to remain in the FBI while he himself was being investigated. This is a real issue. It won’t go into a Mueller Report because Mueller is going to protect these guys. Mueller has an interest in creating the illusion of objectivity around his investigation.”
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Trump began with a two-fer tweet, quoting Alan Dershowitz:
“FBI Agent Peter Strzok (on the Mueller team) should have recused himself on day one. He was out to STOP THE ELECTION OF DONALD TRUMP. He needed an insurance policy. Those are illegal, improper goals, trying to influence the Election. He should never, ever been allowed to remain in the FBI while he himself was being investigated. This is a real issue. It won’t go into a Mueller Report because Mueller is going to protect these guys. Mueller has an interest in creating the illusion of objectivity around his investigation.”
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Finally... A Major Victory For Common Sense
In a major victory for common sense, a group of cosmetologists defeated an insanely stupid regulation passed down by the state of Louisiana.
Louisiana, just like the other 49 states in the Land of the Free, governs licensing requirements for dozens… hundreds of professions… ranging from athletic trainers to tour guides to barbers and cosmetologists.
And most of the time the licensing requirements are just plain idiotic.
In Louisiana, for example, the State Board of Cosmetology had formerly required an unbelievable 750 hours of training (which costs thousands of dollars) simply to be able to thread eyebrows.
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Louisiana, just like the other 49 states in the Land of the Free, governs licensing requirements for dozens… hundreds of professions… ranging from athletic trainers to tour guides to barbers and cosmetologists.
And most of the time the licensing requirements are just plain idiotic.
In Louisiana, for example, the State Board of Cosmetology had formerly required an unbelievable 750 hours of training (which costs thousands of dollars) simply to be able to thread eyebrows.
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Trump slams FBI for not warning him Manafort was under investigation
President Trump went after the Department of Justice and the FBI on Wednesday, arguing that his 2016 campaign team should have been warned that campaign chairman Paul Manafort was under investigation at the time.
In a tweet, Trump questioned why law enforcement didn't "tell me" that Manafort was being investigated at the time of his hiring, noting that his former aide had previously worked for GOP figures such as President Reagan and Sen. Bob Dole (R-Kan.).
"Paul Manafort worked for Ronald Reagan, Bob Dole and many other highly prominent and respected political leaders. He worked for me for a very short time. Why didn’t government tell me that he was under investigation. These old charges have nothing to do with Collusion — a Hoax!" Trump wrote.
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In a tweet, Trump questioned why law enforcement didn't "tell me" that Manafort was being investigated at the time of his hiring, noting that his former aide had previously worked for GOP figures such as President Reagan and Sen. Bob Dole (R-Kan.).
"Paul Manafort worked for Ronald Reagan, Bob Dole and many other highly prominent and respected political leaders. He worked for me for a very short time. Why didn’t government tell me that he was under investigation. These old charges have nothing to do with Collusion — a Hoax!" Trump wrote.
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Bermuda Triangle mystery 'solved,' scientists claim
British scientists believe 100ft ‘rogue’ waves could be the reason why so many boats have been sunk in the mysterious Bermuda Triangle.
The infamous body of water in the western part of the North Atlantic Ocean stretches 700,000 square km (270,271 square miles) between Florida, Bermuda and Puerto-Rico.
Also known as the Devil’s Triangle, the area features multiple shipping lanes and has claimed over 1,000 lives in the last 100 years.
But experts at the University of Southampton believe the mystery can be explained by a natural phenomenon known as “rogue waves.”
Appearing on Channel 5 documentary “The Bermuda Triangle Enigma,” the scientists use indoor simulators to re-create the monster water surges.
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The infamous body of water in the western part of the North Atlantic Ocean stretches 700,000 square km (270,271 square miles) between Florida, Bermuda and Puerto-Rico.
Also known as the Devil’s Triangle, the area features multiple shipping lanes and has claimed over 1,000 lives in the last 100 years.
But experts at the University of Southampton believe the mystery can be explained by a natural phenomenon known as “rogue waves.”
Appearing on Channel 5 documentary “The Bermuda Triangle Enigma,” the scientists use indoor simulators to re-create the monster water surges.
More
http://www.foxnews.com/science/2018/08/01/bermuda-triangle-mystery-solved-scientists-claim.html
Germs Gaining Resistance to Hand Gels in Hospitals
Potentially dangerous bacteria already resistant to antibiotics are now developing resistance to common alcohol-based hand gels, a new study reports.
A bacteria called Enterococcus faecium is a leading cause of hospital-acquired infections, and it's been shrugging off antibiotics at an increasing rate, said senior researcher Timothy Stinear. He is a molecular microbiologist at the University of Melbourne in Australia.
"It's a WHO [World Health Organization] and CDC-recognized superbug," Stinear said. "In the hospital it is already resistant to nearly all classes of antibiotics."
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A bacteria called Enterococcus faecium is a leading cause of hospital-acquired infections, and it's been shrugging off antibiotics at an increasing rate, said senior researcher Timothy Stinear. He is a molecular microbiologist at the University of Melbourne in Australia.
"It's a WHO [World Health Organization] and CDC-recognized superbug," Stinear said. "In the hospital it is already resistant to nearly all classes of antibiotics."
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Hillary Clinton, Steven Spielberg to Produce Women's Voting Rights Drama
Hillary Clinton and Steven Spielberg are joining forces to bring Elaine Weiss’ The Woman’s Hour: The Great Fight to Win the Vote to television.
Amblin TV, the television production division of Spielberg’s Amblin Partners, has named Clinton as an executive producer of the project, with talks still ongoing as to whether to turn the critically acclaimed book into a series or TV movie. Reports say Netflix, Amazon, Apple and HBO are among the online stream and premium cable networks that Amblin TV will pitch the project to.
The Hollywood Reporter writes:
The book, published in March, follows the activists who led the decades-long fight to grant women the right to vote and sheds light on how close the battle to ratify the 19th Amendment really was. The book celebrates those who changed history and laid the foundation for the civil rights movement that came decades later.
…
Sources say as Weiss was writing the book, she was struck by the parallels between the women’s suffrage movement and the 2016 presidential election between Clinton and Donald Trump. It then became a priority for the author and journalist — whose work has appeared in multiple publications and on NPR — to get her book in Clinton’s hands. Eventually, she met a bookstore owner who delivered The Woman’s Hour to Clinton. The latter, sources say, loved the contemporary and relevant issues the book tackled and felt it would be an important story to tell on TV while also creating strong roles for women.
Amblin TV, the television production division of Spielberg’s Amblin Partners, has named Clinton as an executive producer of the project, with talks still ongoing as to whether to turn the critically acclaimed book into a series or TV movie. Reports say Netflix, Amazon, Apple and HBO are among the online stream and premium cable networks that Amblin TV will pitch the project to.
The Hollywood Reporter writes:
The book, published in March, follows the activists who led the decades-long fight to grant women the right to vote and sheds light on how close the battle to ratify the 19th Amendment really was. The book celebrates those who changed history and laid the foundation for the civil rights movement that came decades later.
…
Sources say as Weiss was writing the book, she was struck by the parallels between the women’s suffrage movement and the 2016 presidential election between Clinton and Donald Trump. It then became a priority for the author and journalist — whose work has appeared in multiple publications and on NPR — to get her book in Clinton’s hands. Eventually, she met a bookstore owner who delivered The Woman’s Hour to Clinton. The latter, sources say, loved the contemporary and relevant issues the book tackled and felt it would be an important story to tell on TV while also creating strong roles for women.
DNA Testing Companies Agree to Follow New Guidelines on Third Party Sharing
A number of major genomic testing companies have agreed to a new set of guidelines on the sharing of DNA with law enforcement and other third parties.
Under new rules set about by various companies including 23andMe, Ancestry, Habit, Helix, and MyHeritage, and published by The Future of Privacy Forum, such businesses must obtain separate consent from customers before sharing “individual-level information” with organizations such as law enforcement and research companies.
The guidelines, which seek to advance “responsible data practices in support of emerging technologies,” that involves the obtaining “express consent for the collection, analysis, sharing, or reporting of Genetic Data,” and providing “clear and complete information regarding the Company’s policies and procedures for the management of personal data.”
“Companies should provide a public report describing requests from law enforcement for Genetic Data,” the guidelines continue. “Such reports should be made on at least an annual basis.”
The question of DNA sharing came to a head in April after the arrest of 72-year-old Joseph DeAngelo, 72, who was charged with serial of murders that led to the name “Golden State Killer.” He was arrested after crime scene DNA matched that of a relative who previously sent his DNA to the analysis firm GEDmatch, raising privacy concerns about how such companies handle people’s personal data.
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Under new rules set about by various companies including 23andMe, Ancestry, Habit, Helix, and MyHeritage, and published by The Future of Privacy Forum, such businesses must obtain separate consent from customers before sharing “individual-level information” with organizations such as law enforcement and research companies.
The guidelines, which seek to advance “responsible data practices in support of emerging technologies,” that involves the obtaining “express consent for the collection, analysis, sharing, or reporting of Genetic Data,” and providing “clear and complete information regarding the Company’s policies and procedures for the management of personal data.”
“Companies should provide a public report describing requests from law enforcement for Genetic Data,” the guidelines continue. “Such reports should be made on at least an annual basis.”
The question of DNA sharing came to a head in April after the arrest of 72-year-old Joseph DeAngelo, 72, who was charged with serial of murders that led to the name “Golden State Killer.” He was arrested after crime scene DNA matched that of a relative who previously sent his DNA to the analysis firm GEDmatch, raising privacy concerns about how such companies handle people’s personal data.
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Paramount Owes America an Apology for Jay-Z's Trayvon Series
On Monday evening, the Paramount Networks aired the first part of a six-part documentary series on the death of Trayvon Martin called Rest in Power: The Trayvon Martin Story.
If multimedia impresario Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter had chosen to tell it, there was a story to be told here: a story about a boy bounced around among his biological parents and other relatives after his parents' divorce; a story of a boy whose descent into drugs, guns, fighting, and burglary accelerated after his father left his stepmother, Alicia, his "rock," when Trayvon was 15.
There was a story to be told of how Trayvon's school shielded him from the criminal justice system – much as the schools in neighboring Broward County shielded Parkland's Nikolas Cruz – even after Trayvon was apprehended at school with a weapon, a burglary tool, and stolen jewelry.
This cautionary tale of abandonment and betrayal was not the one Jay-Z chose to tell. Instead, he submitted his audience to a TV hour of racially incendiary hokum shamelessly untethered from the inarguable facts of the case. The next five hours will not be any better.
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If multimedia impresario Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter had chosen to tell it, there was a story to be told here: a story about a boy bounced around among his biological parents and other relatives after his parents' divorce; a story of a boy whose descent into drugs, guns, fighting, and burglary accelerated after his father left his stepmother, Alicia, his "rock," when Trayvon was 15.
There was a story to be told of how Trayvon's school shielded him from the criminal justice system – much as the schools in neighboring Broward County shielded Parkland's Nikolas Cruz – even after Trayvon was apprehended at school with a weapon, a burglary tool, and stolen jewelry.
This cautionary tale of abandonment and betrayal was not the one Jay-Z chose to tell. Instead, he submitted his audience to a TV hour of racially incendiary hokum shamelessly untethered from the inarguable facts of the case. The next five hours will not be any better.
More
Maxine Waters Hit with FEC Complaint over Campaign Mailers
Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA), the California congresswoman known for being an outspoken member of the “resistance” against President Donald Trump, is getting slammed with an ethics complaint from the Federal Election Commission (FEC) over money raised from her campaign mailers.
The FEC complaint filed by the National Legal and Policy Center (NLPC) in July claimed that Waters broke federal election law for reportedly making a $35,000 payment to her campaign fund from the Democrat State Central Committee of California (DSCCC).
The FEC claims that the DSCCC made the payment during the California Democrat’s last re-election campaign to get Waters to include then-Senate candidate Kamala Harris on her campaign’s slate mailer.
“The Democrat State Central Committee of California’s $35,000 contribution to Citizens for Waters violated campaign finance limits,” the complaint states.
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The FEC complaint filed by the National Legal and Policy Center (NLPC) in July claimed that Waters broke federal election law for reportedly making a $35,000 payment to her campaign fund from the Democrat State Central Committee of California (DSCCC).
The FEC claims that the DSCCC made the payment during the California Democrat’s last re-election campaign to get Waters to include then-Senate candidate Kamala Harris on her campaign’s slate mailer.
“The Democrat State Central Committee of California’s $35,000 contribution to Citizens for Waters violated campaign finance limits,” the complaint states.
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Kroger threatens ban on Visa cards at stores nationwide
CINCINNATI, OH (WCMH) -- The nation's largest grocery store chain will no longer accept Visa credit cards at one of its subsidiaries and hasn't ruled out a ban at all Kroger locations nationwide.
The dispute is over Visa's high annual swipe fees. Foods Co., a California' subsidiary of the Ohio based grocery chain, says it will no longer accept Visa at its locations starting Aug. 14.
“Visa's rates and fees are among the highest of any credit card brand,” Foods Co. said in a statement Monday. “The savings will be passed along to Foods Co. customers in the form of low everyday prices on the items shoppers purchase most.”
Bloomberg reports Kroger may expand the ban to some of its other 2,779 stores.
“If we have to expand that beyond Foods Co., we’re prepared to take that step,” Kroger CIO Chris Hjelm told Bloomberg. Visa’s card fees are “out of alignment” he said. “We don’t believe we have a choice but to use whatever mechanism possible to get it back in alignment.”
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The dispute is over Visa's high annual swipe fees. Foods Co., a California' subsidiary of the Ohio based grocery chain, says it will no longer accept Visa at its locations starting Aug. 14.
“Visa's rates and fees are among the highest of any credit card brand,” Foods Co. said in a statement Monday. “The savings will be passed along to Foods Co. customers in the form of low everyday prices on the items shoppers purchase most.”
Bloomberg reports Kroger may expand the ban to some of its other 2,779 stores.
“If we have to expand that beyond Foods Co., we’re prepared to take that step,” Kroger CIO Chris Hjelm told Bloomberg. Visa’s card fees are “out of alignment” he said. “We don’t believe we have a choice but to use whatever mechanism possible to get it back in alignment.”
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Its Free Pool Friday Again
Migrants Bitch About Free Food, Having to Work
Migrants in France are protesting against the free food provided to them and the fact they're expect to work in exchange for shelter, according to French media.
A protest of at least 100 migrants erupted in Varennes-sur-Allier, a commune of central France, over what the migrants called "substandard food" and work expectations of at least seven hours a day.
In response, one French official said that while service to migrants has declined in quality due to recent budget cuts, overall the migrants "eat well and have very satisfactory living conditions."
"There is a lot of anxiety among residents related to the uncertainty of their future and their administrative situation, which could cause this discontent," the official, Fabien Guieze, said.
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A protest of at least 100 migrants erupted in Varennes-sur-Allier, a commune of central France, over what the migrants called "substandard food" and work expectations of at least seven hours a day.
In response, one French official said that while service to migrants has declined in quality due to recent budget cuts, overall the migrants "eat well and have very satisfactory living conditions."
"There is a lot of anxiety among residents related to the uncertainty of their future and their administrative situation, which could cause this discontent," the official, Fabien Guieze, said.
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Congressional Black Caucus to Challenge Nancy Pelosi for Speaker
The Congressional Black Caucus is reportedly planning to challenge House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) for the position of Speaker of the House after the November midterm elections — assuming Democrats win the majority.
In May, Pelosi, 78, declared that she intended to reclaim the Speaker’s gavel if Democrats won. “We will win. I will run for speaker. I feel confident about it. And my members do, too,” Pelosi told the Boston Globe. In February, she showed that she still has the sheer physical stamina for the job by staging a record-setting eight-hour-plus speech on the floor of the House of Representatives. And sheremains one of the Democratic Party’s most important fundraisers, meaning that many members feel they owe her their positions.
However, Republicans managed to stave off Democratic challengers in several special elections last year by tying them to Pelosi. In 2018, many of the Democrats who have won special elections in Republican districts have done so by promising explicitly not to support Pelosi’s return as Speaker. And dozens of Democratic candidates have promised not to vote for her if they are elected to the House.
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In May, Pelosi, 78, declared that she intended to reclaim the Speaker’s gavel if Democrats won. “We will win. I will run for speaker. I feel confident about it. And my members do, too,” Pelosi told the Boston Globe. In February, she showed that she still has the sheer physical stamina for the job by staging a record-setting eight-hour-plus speech on the floor of the House of Representatives. And sheremains one of the Democratic Party’s most important fundraisers, meaning that many members feel they owe her their positions.
However, Republicans managed to stave off Democratic challengers in several special elections last year by tying them to Pelosi. In 2018, many of the Democrats who have won special elections in Republican districts have done so by promising explicitly not to support Pelosi’s return as Speaker. And dozens of Democratic candidates have promised not to vote for her if they are elected to the House.
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Facebook uncovers attempts to influence upcoming US elections
Social media colossus Facebook said Tuesday that it had identified a coordinated effort to influence US politics, with dozens of bogus accounts and pages engaging in political skulduggery before midterm elections — and that the sophisticated effort could be linked to Russia.
Company officials told lawmakers this week that it detected the influence campaign on Facebook and Instagram as part of its probe into election interference, according to The New York Times, which first reported the story.
Facebook in a statement said it had no evidence yet linking the effort to Russia, whose Internet Research Agency was at the center of a series of indictments by special counsel Robert Mueller, who is probing Russian election interference and possible collusion with President Trump’s campaign.
But company officials told lawmakers during a series of hearings on Capitol Hill that Russia was possibly involved.
“We’re still in the very early stages of our investigation and don’t have all the facts — including who may be behind this,” the company said in a statement.
“But we are sharing what we know today given the connection between these bad actors and protests that are planned in Washington next week.”
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Company officials told lawmakers this week that it detected the influence campaign on Facebook and Instagram as part of its probe into election interference, according to The New York Times, which first reported the story.
Facebook in a statement said it had no evidence yet linking the effort to Russia, whose Internet Research Agency was at the center of a series of indictments by special counsel Robert Mueller, who is probing Russian election interference and possible collusion with President Trump’s campaign.
But company officials told lawmakers during a series of hearings on Capitol Hill that Russia was possibly involved.
“We’re still in the very early stages of our investigation and don’t have all the facts — including who may be behind this,” the company said in a statement.
“But we are sharing what we know today given the connection between these bad actors and protests that are planned in Washington next week.”
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Governor Larry Hogan Announces Expanded Eligibility for Maryland’s Child Care Subsidy Program
Twice as Many Working Families Can Now Access Assistance for Child Care Costs
ANNAPOLIS, MD - Governor Larry Hogan today announced that Maryland’s Child Care Subsidy (CCS) Program will now allow more children across the state to access quality child care and educational programs due to historic changes to the program.
Effective today, August 1, 2018, annual income eligibility limits for the CCS Program will double from $35,702 to $71,525 for a family of four. This increase and additional programmatic changes to the CCS Program this year will result in more Maryland children arriving at elementary school with the educational foundation needed for success during their school years, and in life.
“This program is critically important to expanding educational opportunities for Maryland's low-income working families who depend on this assistance," said Governor Hogan. "Doubling this funding allows us to provide more families with much-needed relief and ensure that more of our kids have access to quality child care and educational programs, providing the foundation for success in the classroom."
The CCS Program is funded through a combination of state and federal sources, which provide financial assistance to help eligible families working or attending educational/training programs to afford child care costs by issuing vouchers.
“High-quality care and education programs at a young age translate to a better start in kindergarten,” said Dr. Karen Salmon, State Superintendent of Schools. “We want families to take advantage of this important expansion in eligibility.”
In February, Governor Hogan approved the funding needed to lift the CCS Program waitlist that was established in March 2011. In addition, the governor provided much needed funding to increase the CCS Program provider reimbursement rate by 8 percent. During this past legislative session, the governor signed into law legislation which increases provider reimbursement rates over the next three years to not less than the 60th percentile of the cost of child care market rate by 2022. These actions, combined with improved federal funding through the Child Care Development Block Grant, means that Maryland will reach more eligible families.
The revision of the CCS Program income eligibility guidelines to 65 percent of State Median Income, and the increase in provider reimbursement rates, means more children will be able to access high-quality early care and education programs while their parents work or participate in school/training programs across Maryland.
For those who want to apply to the program, the Child Care Subsidy application can be found here. The Child Care Subsidy Income guidelines effective August 1 can be found here.
ANNAPOLIS, MD - Governor Larry Hogan today announced that Maryland’s Child Care Subsidy (CCS) Program will now allow more children across the state to access quality child care and educational programs due to historic changes to the program.
Effective today, August 1, 2018, annual income eligibility limits for the CCS Program will double from $35,702 to $71,525 for a family of four. This increase and additional programmatic changes to the CCS Program this year will result in more Maryland children arriving at elementary school with the educational foundation needed for success during their school years, and in life.
“This program is critically important to expanding educational opportunities for Maryland's low-income working families who depend on this assistance," said Governor Hogan. "Doubling this funding allows us to provide more families with much-needed relief and ensure that more of our kids have access to quality child care and educational programs, providing the foundation for success in the classroom."
The CCS Program is funded through a combination of state and federal sources, which provide financial assistance to help eligible families working or attending educational/training programs to afford child care costs by issuing vouchers.
“High-quality care and education programs at a young age translate to a better start in kindergarten,” said Dr. Karen Salmon, State Superintendent of Schools. “We want families to take advantage of this important expansion in eligibility.”
In February, Governor Hogan approved the funding needed to lift the CCS Program waitlist that was established in March 2011. In addition, the governor provided much needed funding to increase the CCS Program provider reimbursement rate by 8 percent. During this past legislative session, the governor signed into law legislation which increases provider reimbursement rates over the next three years to not less than the 60th percentile of the cost of child care market rate by 2022. These actions, combined with improved federal funding through the Child Care Development Block Grant, means that Maryland will reach more eligible families.
The revision of the CCS Program income eligibility guidelines to 65 percent of State Median Income, and the increase in provider reimbursement rates, means more children will be able to access high-quality early care and education programs while their parents work or participate in school/training programs across Maryland.
For those who want to apply to the program, the Child Care Subsidy application can be found here. The Child Care Subsidy Income guidelines effective August 1 can be found here.
Ex-CIA Chief John Brennan Panics! Calls on Congress to Warn POTUS of “Dire Consequences” If Mueller Probe Ended
Former CIA Director-turned-Twitter-troll John Brennan once again fired off a warning shot to President Trump Wednesday.
President Trump unleashed on Mueller’s corrupt probe Wednesday morning, saying AWOL Sessions should stop the rigged witch hunt right now.
Trump tweeted: ..This is a terrible situation and Attorney General Jeff Sessions should stop this Rigged Witch Hunt right now, before it continues to stain our country any further. Bob Mueller is totally conflicted, and his 17 Angry Democrats that are doing his dirty work are a disgrace to USA!
John Brennan responded to President Trump by accusing him of obstructing justice by stating AG Sessions should stop the rigged witch hunt.
Brennan then called on Congress to warn the President of “dire consequences” should he decided to end the Mueller investigation.
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President Trump unleashed on Mueller’s corrupt probe Wednesday morning, saying AWOL Sessions should stop the rigged witch hunt right now.
Trump tweeted: ..This is a terrible situation and Attorney General Jeff Sessions should stop this Rigged Witch Hunt right now, before it continues to stain our country any further. Bob Mueller is totally conflicted, and his 17 Angry Democrats that are doing his dirty work are a disgrace to USA!
Brennan then called on Congress to warn the President of “dire consequences” should he decided to end the Mueller investigation.
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