"...a recount that reverses an initial margin of more than a few hundred votes would be unprecedented..."
Heading into the recounts, Republicans Ron DeSantis and Rick Scott lead the two big Florida races for governor and U.S. Senate by counts of 33,669 and 12,536, respectively. So what are the chances that the recount will reverse the outcomes? According to the 26 elections that have experienced a recount in recent history, almost zero. In fact, the average number of total votes that actually changed from recounts of similar elections was just 311 votes.
As votes trickled in from Democrat strongholds Broward County and Palm Beach County, the vote gap between DeSantis and Democrat Andrew Gillum fell under 0.5%, automatically triggering a machine recount. The margin of Scott's victory over incumbent Democrat Sen. Bill Nelson fell below 0.25%, requiring a hand-recount. A third recount race, for agricultural commissioner, is led by Democrat Nikki Fried over Republican Matt Caldwell by about 5,300 votes.
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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, November 15, 2018
Texas Board Of Education Considers Eliminating Hillary Clinton From Curriculum
The Texas State Board of Education will take a preliminary vote on Tuesday on whether to eliminate some historical figures from the state's social studies curriculum — including Hillary Clinton.
The board, which has a majority of Republicans, wants to reduce the amount of material required for elementary, middle and high school students. In addition to eliminating Clinton, the proposal would also excise Helen Keller, the first deaf and blind person to graduate from college, and others, the Austin-American Statesman reports.
Donna Bahorich, the board’s chairwoman, says the reduced curriculum is not political, and notes that Barry Goldwater, the 1964 Republican presidential nominee who is often considered the father of the modern conservative movement, would also be removed from the required teaching list.
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The board, which has a majority of Republicans, wants to reduce the amount of material required for elementary, middle and high school students. In addition to eliminating Clinton, the proposal would also excise Helen Keller, the first deaf and blind person to graduate from college, and others, the Austin-American Statesman reports.
Donna Bahorich, the board’s chairwoman, says the reduced curriculum is not political, and notes that Barry Goldwater, the 1964 Republican presidential nominee who is often considered the father of the modern conservative movement, would also be removed from the required teaching list.
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Why victory isn't the goal in Afghanistan
When Lt. Gen. David Petraeus returned from an inspection tour of Afghanistan in 2005 to brief then Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, he began with a simple image.
“The very first slide in the briefing that I gave to him was, ‘Afghanistan ≠ Iraq.’ And I then laid out to him the areas and issues in which you could compare and contrast the two countries and situations,” Petraeus recalled in an interview this month. “That comparison clearly established why, frankly, Afghanistan is a tougher nut to crack."
Events have vindicated his warning. As the seemingly intractable war stretches into its 18th year, military commanders who argue that any end is in sight are finding it a harder and harder sell.
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“The very first slide in the briefing that I gave to him was, ‘Afghanistan ≠ Iraq.’ And I then laid out to him the areas and issues in which you could compare and contrast the two countries and situations,” Petraeus recalled in an interview this month. “That comparison clearly established why, frankly, Afghanistan is a tougher nut to crack."
Events have vindicated his warning. As the seemingly intractable war stretches into its 18th year, military commanders who argue that any end is in sight are finding it a harder and harder sell.
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Pelosi warns against ousting a woman
She and her allies argue she can’t be denied the speakership after Democrats seized the House on a wave of female support.
Nancy Pelosi is making gender a central part of her bid to reclaim the speaker’s gavel — leaning hard into the pitch that Democrats cannot oust the only woman at their leadership table following a historic election for women.
In addition to arguing she’s the best qualified for the job, the California Democrat and her allies are also framing a Pelosi victory as a matter of protecting political progress for women at a critical moment. Push her out, and men may take over the party at a time when more than 100 women are heading to Capitol Hill and after female voters have been thoroughly alienated by President Donald Trump. Embrace her, and she’ll prioritize legislation empowering women on issues ranging from equal pay to anti-harassment legislation.
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Nancy Pelosi is making gender a central part of her bid to reclaim the speaker’s gavel — leaning hard into the pitch that Democrats cannot oust the only woman at their leadership table following a historic election for women.
In addition to arguing she’s the best qualified for the job, the California Democrat and her allies are also framing a Pelosi victory as a matter of protecting political progress for women at a critical moment. Push her out, and men may take over the party at a time when more than 100 women are heading to Capitol Hill and after female voters have been thoroughly alienated by President Donald Trump. Embrace her, and she’ll prioritize legislation empowering women on issues ranging from equal pay to anti-harassment legislation.
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Every Week, Illegal Border Crossings Dwarf Caravan That’s ‘Hundreds Of Miles Away’
The massive procession of migrants winding through Mexico may be weeks away from the southwest border, but a “caravan”-sized number of people cross into the U.S. illegally every single day.
That fact has been overshadowed by coverage of the 4,000-strong caravan and President Donald Trump’s reaction to it, particularly his deployment of thousands of active duty troops to three border states. Commentators are quick to note that the caravan is still hundreds of miles from the nearest U.S. port of entry, and its members are unlikely to swarm across the border when it does arrive.
But the caravan is only a small — if highly publicized — part of a much larger phenomenon that has completely swamped the U.S. asylum system.
After falling to historic lows in the early months of the Trump administration, illegal immigration across the southwest border has risen in nearly every single month since, driven largely by a wave of people traveling together as families. Arrests of so-called “family units” — the vast majority of them from Central America — have now reached unprecedented levels, according to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) figures.
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That fact has been overshadowed by coverage of the 4,000-strong caravan and President Donald Trump’s reaction to it, particularly his deployment of thousands of active duty troops to three border states. Commentators are quick to note that the caravan is still hundreds of miles from the nearest U.S. port of entry, and its members are unlikely to swarm across the border when it does arrive.
But the caravan is only a small — if highly publicized — part of a much larger phenomenon that has completely swamped the U.S. asylum system.
After falling to historic lows in the early months of the Trump administration, illegal immigration across the southwest border has risen in nearly every single month since, driven largely by a wave of people traveling together as families. Arrests of so-called “family units” — the vast majority of them from Central America — have now reached unprecedented levels, according to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) figures.
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'No Consistent Evidence' $3 Billion Disability Program Helps Recipients Find a Job
'Very few participants return to work'
The Social Security Administration has spent $3 billion on programs designed to incentivize disability recipients to go back to work over the past 16 years. So far, less than 3 percent of beneficiaries have signed up, with "no consistent evidence" the program has helped participants find a job.
The inspector general for the agency released an audit last week calling for Congress to evaluate the "viability" of the programs, including Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency (TTW) and Achieve Self-Support (PASS).
"SSA has spent about $3 billion administering two ongoing congressionally mandated return-to-work programs and a time-limited demonstration project designed to determine whether a policy change would help beneficiaries return to work," the inspector general said. "However, these programs and demonstration project enticed a small percentage of disabled individuals to return to work."
The Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency program provides tickets to disabled beneficiaries that they can use at partnering organizations for a job or vocational rehabilitation.
The audit found the program can save taxpayers money, though few have signed up, and the program lacks evidence that recipients are actually finding employment.
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The Social Security Administration has spent $3 billion on programs designed to incentivize disability recipients to go back to work over the past 16 years. So far, less than 3 percent of beneficiaries have signed up, with "no consistent evidence" the program has helped participants find a job.
The inspector general for the agency released an audit last week calling for Congress to evaluate the "viability" of the programs, including Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency (TTW) and Achieve Self-Support (PASS).
"SSA has spent about $3 billion administering two ongoing congressionally mandated return-to-work programs and a time-limited demonstration project designed to determine whether a policy change would help beneficiaries return to work," the inspector general said. "However, these programs and demonstration project enticed a small percentage of disabled individuals to return to work."
The Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency program provides tickets to disabled beneficiaries that they can use at partnering organizations for a job or vocational rehabilitation.
The audit found the program can save taxpayers money, though few have signed up, and the program lacks evidence that recipients are actually finding employment.
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Obama's Divided America
“Everything is terrible. We’re so divided.” If you spend any time at all on social media, you have likely seen several versions of that statement from pretty much everyone. We are most definitely divided and have no common ground anymore. We share no first principles with each other and should go our separate ways, but that’s another matter. Rather than speak about where we are going, perhaps we should find out where this divide began. It began with Barack Obama.
Obama wasn’t the one who pushed us over the edge on excessive spending, unaffordable healthcare, or any of our other issues. Though he was certainly a huge contributor to those problems. The tangible problems we face as a nation have many an author. What Obama did was completely change the political culture and how we relate to one another. That issue, he owns alone. Sure there were many on the Left and Right who made contributions to this divide. Lyndon Johnson stands out as one of the worst offenders. Trump, when all is said and done, certainly won’t be remembered as a great unifier either as he’s fully embraced this modern political climate. But America reached its final form under Obama. Obama was the tipping point. He was when America crossed the Rubicon and now exists politically in a constant state of strife and angst.
Due to a broken American media that fell in love with him, Obama was a man most didn’t fully understand. On top of his radical associations, he was not a man seasoned by long years in D.C. politics. Nor was he a man who worried about the collateral damage of his political style. Barack Obama learned politics in Chicago. And they don’t call it “The Chicago Way” because it is clean and polite. It is “The Chicago Way” because it is vicious and without scruples. And it doesn’t hesitate to kick a man when he’s down.
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Obama wasn’t the one who pushed us over the edge on excessive spending, unaffordable healthcare, or any of our other issues. Though he was certainly a huge contributor to those problems. The tangible problems we face as a nation have many an author. What Obama did was completely change the political culture and how we relate to one another. That issue, he owns alone. Sure there were many on the Left and Right who made contributions to this divide. Lyndon Johnson stands out as one of the worst offenders. Trump, when all is said and done, certainly won’t be remembered as a great unifier either as he’s fully embraced this modern political climate. But America reached its final form under Obama. Obama was the tipping point. He was when America crossed the Rubicon and now exists politically in a constant state of strife and angst.
Due to a broken American media that fell in love with him, Obama was a man most didn’t fully understand. On top of his radical associations, he was not a man seasoned by long years in D.C. politics. Nor was he a man who worried about the collateral damage of his political style. Barack Obama learned politics in Chicago. And they don’t call it “The Chicago Way” because it is clean and polite. It is “The Chicago Way” because it is vicious and without scruples. And it doesn’t hesitate to kick a man when he’s down.
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Maxine Waters's Daughter Will Pocket More Than $200K For Campaign Operation
Karen Waters paid $108K for slate mailers during midterms, owed another $94K
The daughter of Rep. Maxine Waters (D., Calif.) will collect more than $200,000 from her mother's campaign after its debts are paid off for leading a lucrative slate mailer operation, Federal Election Commission filings show.
Karen Waters has pulled in hefty payments from the campaign to run a slate mailer operation after the FEC issued an advisory opinion in October 2004 allowing Waters to run the operation from the Citizens for Waters, her mother's campaign committee. Prior to 2006, Karen ran the arrangement through LA Vote, a state committee in California.
Karen is in charge of slate mailers, or endorsement mailers, in which candidates pay Rep. Waters's campaign to appear on mailers that are sent to more than 200,000 residents in the South Central Los Angeles area, where Waters holds a good amount of clout. The mailers contain a sample ballot and quotes of support from Waters.
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The daughter of Rep. Maxine Waters (D., Calif.) will collect more than $200,000 from her mother's campaign after its debts are paid off for leading a lucrative slate mailer operation, Federal Election Commission filings show.
Karen Waters has pulled in hefty payments from the campaign to run a slate mailer operation after the FEC issued an advisory opinion in October 2004 allowing Waters to run the operation from the Citizens for Waters, her mother's campaign committee. Prior to 2006, Karen ran the arrangement through LA Vote, a state committee in California.
Karen is in charge of slate mailers, or endorsement mailers, in which candidates pay Rep. Waters's campaign to appear on mailers that are sent to more than 200,000 residents in the South Central Los Angeles area, where Waters holds a good amount of clout. The mailers contain a sample ballot and quotes of support from Waters.
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Toyota to Replace Burnt Tundra as a Thank You to Brave Nurse
For many Californians, the past few days have been a hellish nightmare. Tens-of-thousands of residents have been uprooted from their homes as fires ravage their communities from all sides – and their have been more than 40 deaths. But, with all tragedies, heroes are born, and a nurse, Allyn Pierce, was one of them. Even though his SUV was literally burned on all sides, Pierce repeatedly drove his vehicle through the fires, back to his hospital where he and other medical professionals and emergency responders evacuated patients in Paradise, California.
Pierce is OK, but, he lost his home and although his truck is still operational, it suffered serious fire damage. Responding to that news, Toyota has offered to replace his truck.
Read more at Business Insider.
Pierce is OK, but, he lost his home and although his truck is still operational, it suffered serious fire damage. Responding to that news, Toyota has offered to replace his truck.
Read more at Business Insider.
Off-Road Jamboree Event Set For Pittsville This Weekend
PITTSVILLE — Jeep and 4×4 enthusiasts of all shapes and sizes will have the opportunity to get out and put their vehicles through their paces this weekend with a jamboree at a big venue in Pittsville.
Live Wire Media, the company that produces Jeep Week in Ocean City each year, is hosting a Jeep 4×4 and Outdoor Jamboree at the Mid-Atlantic Youth Sportsplex (MAYS) venue in Pittsville on Saturday and Sunday. The event will allow Jeep owners and other 4×4 enthusiasts to drive their vehicles over a carefully designed course at the MAYS complex for two days on Saturday and Sunday.
The event will feature four-wheeling over an off-road obstacle course along with live music, some vendors and other family-friendly activities including activities for kids. The jamboree is set for Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. The only real requirement is that all participating vehicles must have a wheelbase under 120 inches. Other than that, the event is open to all off-road vehicles. Prizes will be awarded to the winners in different categories.
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Live Wire Media, the company that produces Jeep Week in Ocean City each year, is hosting a Jeep 4×4 and Outdoor Jamboree at the Mid-Atlantic Youth Sportsplex (MAYS) venue in Pittsville on Saturday and Sunday. The event will allow Jeep owners and other 4×4 enthusiasts to drive their vehicles over a carefully designed course at the MAYS complex for two days on Saturday and Sunday.
The event will feature four-wheeling over an off-road obstacle course along with live music, some vendors and other family-friendly activities including activities for kids. The jamboree is set for Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. The only real requirement is that all participating vehicles must have a wheelbase under 120 inches. Other than that, the event is open to all off-road vehicles. Prizes will be awarded to the winners in different categories.
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Attorney General Frosh Files Motion Challenging the Appointment of Whitaker as Acting Attorney General
BALTIMORE, MD (November 13, 2018) - Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh today filed a motionchallenging the appointment of Matthew G. Whitaker as Acting Attorney General in the State’s lawsuit,Maryland v. U.S. et al., which seeks to uphold the Affordable Care Act’s protection of people with preexisting conditions and other key provisions. In his motion, Attorney General Frosh argues that President Trump’s appointment of Whitaker is illegal and unconstitutional, and Deputy U.S. Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein must be named Acting Attorney General in his stead. Attorney General Frosh asks the Court to declare Rosenstein Acting Attorney General and to recognize his authority to represent the United States in this case.
“The Constitution and Congress have established vitally important processes for filling high-level vacancies in the federal government,” said Attorney General Frosh. “Few positions are more critical than that of U.S. Attorney General, an office that wields enormous enforcement power and authority over the lives of all Americans. President Trump’s brazen attempt to flout the law and Constitution in bypassing Deputy U.S. Attorney General Rosenstein in favor of a partisan and unqualified staffer cannot stand.”
Read more in the full press release:http://www.marylandattorneygeneral.gov/press/2018/111318.pdf
“The Constitution and Congress have established vitally important processes for filling high-level vacancies in the federal government,” said Attorney General Frosh. “Few positions are more critical than that of U.S. Attorney General, an office that wields enormous enforcement power and authority over the lives of all Americans. President Trump’s brazen attempt to flout the law and Constitution in bypassing Deputy U.S. Attorney General Rosenstein in favor of a partisan and unqualified staffer cannot stand.”
Read more in the full press release:http://www.marylandattorneygeneral.gov/press/2018/111318.pdf
America's deadliest jobs, revealed – with construction and agriculture among the most risky
Construction, cross-country trucking and cattle ranching are among the deadliest professions in the U.S., according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
A total of 5,190 people died of injuries in American workplaces in 2016, the most recent year for which data is available. It represents a 7 percent increase compared to 4,836 deaths at work in 2015.
Nationwide, 40 percent, or 2,083 on-the-job deaths in 2016 were related to transportation – typically deaths while workers were driving.
Another 866 (nearly 17 percent) were due to violence or injuries by another person or animal, while 849 (16 percent) were due to falls, slips and trips.
Construction was one of the deadliest industries, with 991 deaths in 2016, including 384 due to falls and slips; 246 due to transportation (driving) incidents and 166 from coming into contact with objects and equipment.
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A total of 5,190 people died of injuries in American workplaces in 2016, the most recent year for which data is available. It represents a 7 percent increase compared to 4,836 deaths at work in 2015.
Nationwide, 40 percent, or 2,083 on-the-job deaths in 2016 were related to transportation – typically deaths while workers were driving.
Another 866 (nearly 17 percent) were due to violence or injuries by another person or animal, while 849 (16 percent) were due to falls, slips and trips.
Construction was one of the deadliest industries, with 991 deaths in 2016, including 384 due to falls and slips; 246 due to transportation (driving) incidents and 166 from coming into contact with objects and equipment.
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Rare polio-like disease strikes 90 US children and 252 under investigation, new CDC data reveal
Now 90 cases of the rare polio-like disease, acute flaccid myelitis (AFM), striking US children have been confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The disease has been reported in 27 states, and the numbers announced today reflect an 18-case increase from the CDC's October 31 update.
Another 162 cases are still under investigation as the agency scrambles to work out what might be causing the mysterious illness causing paralysis in American children.
On a call with reporters, the CDC insisted that there have been no AFM fatalities this year - despite accusations that the agency is ignoring the deaths this year of two children who developed AFM in 2016 published just hours ago by CNN.
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The disease has been reported in 27 states, and the numbers announced today reflect an 18-case increase from the CDC's October 31 update.
Another 162 cases are still under investigation as the agency scrambles to work out what might be causing the mysterious illness causing paralysis in American children.
On a call with reporters, the CDC insisted that there have been no AFM fatalities this year - despite accusations that the agency is ignoring the deaths this year of two children who developed AFM in 2016 published just hours ago by CNN.
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Wednesday Short Cuts
Hypocrite: “Think how demeaning our politics has become in terms of how we talk about one another. There’s the opposition, not the enemies. In a week following another contentious political season, the presentation of the Liberty Medal is a critical reminder that neither Republicans nor Democrats hold a monopoly on the values and the ideals that define us as a nation.” —Joe “Put Y'all Back in Chains” Biden
Pre-election: “I will serve my six-year term.” —Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
Post-election: “I’m thinking about.” —Kirsten Gillibrand when asked on “The View” if she’s running for president
At least she’s honest: “I do have my own biases, specifically to blond women. Blond hair on white women just triggers me, and I’ve had to catch myself. … We, even as black women, have to be willing to look at our biases that keep us from being able to bridge the gap.” —actress Jada Pinkett Smith
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Breaking Report: Broward County Deputy Says Civil Rights Attorneys Were Handing Out Absentee Ballots to Inmates AFTER ELECTION? (Update)
A Broward County Sheriff’s deputy says attorneys were collecting ballots AFTER the election last Tuesday.
We are looking into this—
Friday Novemeber 9, 2018 5:30pm — Annie Marie Delgado, President of TrumpTeam Florida 2020, conference called Ann Vandersteel with a a current DOJ employee and was a former high ranking Broward County law enforcement officer. He stated at 7:00 AM that same morning he received a call from a deputy in the Broward County jail. The Deputy said there was “corruption going on inside the jail and that he had never seen anything like it.”
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We are looking into this—
Friday Novemeber 9, 2018 5:30pm — Annie Marie Delgado, President of TrumpTeam Florida 2020, conference called Ann Vandersteel with a a current DOJ employee and was a former high ranking Broward County law enforcement officer. He stated at 7:00 AM that same morning he received a call from a deputy in the Broward County jail. The Deputy said there was “corruption going on inside the jail and that he had never seen anything like it.”
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Maryland to sue Trump over appointing Whitaker to temporarily head up DOJ
The state of Maryland intends to ask a federal judge to declare Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein as acting attorney general in place of Matt Whitaker who was appointed to that position last week after former Attorney General Jeff Sessions was axed, NBC News reported Tuesday.
Maryland becomes the second jurisdiction to challenge Mr. Whitaker’s appointment. San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera on Monday sent a letter to the Justice Department asking for the legal justification for bypassing Mr. Rosenstein as head of the Justice Department and threatening court action if he doesn’t get it.
Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh, a Democrat, is expected to file court documents Tuesday, arguing that President Trump violated federal law and exceeded his authority by skipping the Justice Department’s statutory line of succession, NBC News said.
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Maryland becomes the second jurisdiction to challenge Mr. Whitaker’s appointment. San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera on Monday sent a letter to the Justice Department asking for the legal justification for bypassing Mr. Rosenstein as head of the Justice Department and threatening court action if he doesn’t get it.
Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh, a Democrat, is expected to file court documents Tuesday, arguing that President Trump violated federal law and exceeded his authority by skipping the Justice Department’s statutory line of succession, NBC News said.
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Trump mocks France for occupations, demands payment for NATO
President Trump slammed French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday over NATO burden sharing and trade relationships, while mocking the long-time ally for being occupied during the World Wars.
Emmanuel Macron suggests building its own army to protect Europe against the U.S., China and Russia. But it was Germany in World Wars One & Two - How did that work out for France? They were starting to learn German in Parisbefore the U.S. came along. Pay for NATO or not!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 13, 2018
Mr. Trump also accused France of slapping tariffs on American wine.
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Emmanuel Macron suggests building its own army to protect Europe against the U.S., China and Russia. But it was Germany in World Wars One & Two - How did that work out for France? They were starting to learn German in Parisbefore the U.S. came along. Pay for NATO or not!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 13, 2018
Mr. Trump also accused France of slapping tariffs on American wine.
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Social Media Linked To Loneliness And Depression, New Study Finds
Social media use has once again been linked to loneliness and depression. Research has been hinting at the connection for several years, but scientists from the University of Pennsylvania say thatthis new study is the most comprehensive and rigorous to date.
Social media is not all bad, as not much really is, but most people tend to have a difficult time using their social media accounts in moderation. That, according to the new study, can leave a person’s mental state a little lacking. There are even therapies and rehabilitation for those who have an addiction to social media.
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Social media is not all bad, as not much really is, but most people tend to have a difficult time using their social media accounts in moderation. That, according to the new study, can leave a person’s mental state a little lacking. There are even therapies and rehabilitation for those who have an addiction to social media.
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Florida Democrats Urged Voters to Submit Absentee Ballots After Election Day Using Altered Forms
Florida Democrats urged voters to submit absentee ballots after Election Day, using an official form that had been altered to make it look like they were doing so within the legal deadline, hoping a judge would later allow the votes.
That attempt to add Democrat votes, which critics say is possible election fraud, was reported Thursday morning by Ana Ceballos of the Naples Daily News, who notes the scheme has already been reported to federal prosecutors.
Ceballos reported:
A day after Florida’s election left top state races too close to call, a Democrat party leader directed staffers and volunteers to share altered election forms with voters to fix signature problems on absentee ballots after the state’s deadline.
The altered forms surfaced in Broward, Santa Rosa, Citrus and Okaloosa counties and were reported to federal prosecutors to review for possible election fraud as Florida counties complete a required recount in three top races.
But an email obtained by the USA TODAY NETWORK-Florida shows that Florida Democrats were organizing a broader statewide effort beyond those counties to give voters the altered forms to fix improper absentee ballots after the Nov. 5 deadline. Democrat party leaders provided staffers with copies of a form, known as a “cure affidavit,” that had been modified to include an inaccurate Nov. 8 deadline.
More here
That attempt to add Democrat votes, which critics say is possible election fraud, was reported Thursday morning by Ana Ceballos of the Naples Daily News, who notes the scheme has already been reported to federal prosecutors.
Ceballos reported:
A day after Florida’s election left top state races too close to call, a Democrat party leader directed staffers and volunteers to share altered election forms with voters to fix signature problems on absentee ballots after the state’s deadline.
The altered forms surfaced in Broward, Santa Rosa, Citrus and Okaloosa counties and were reported to federal prosecutors to review for possible election fraud as Florida counties complete a required recount in three top races.
But an email obtained by the USA TODAY NETWORK-Florida shows that Florida Democrats were organizing a broader statewide effort beyond those counties to give voters the altered forms to fix improper absentee ballots after the Nov. 5 deadline. Democrat party leaders provided staffers with copies of a form, known as a “cure affidavit,” that had been modified to include an inaccurate Nov. 8 deadline.
More here
Mueller Grand Jury Witness Accuses Clinton-Linked Prosecutor Of Conflict Of Interest
An attorney who appeared as a witness before the Mueller grand jury is accusing the special counsel’s office of a conflict of interest because one of the prosecutors involved in the special counsel’s case has worked for Hillary Clinton and the Clinton Foundation.
The prosecutor, Jeannie Rhee, has questioned witnesses about Roger Stone, the Trump confidant who is one of the targets of the investigation, numerous sources tell The Daily Caller News Foundation. Rhee questioned Tyler Nixon, an attorney for Stone, just before his grand jury appearance on Nov. 2.
“[Rhee’s involvement] was not disclosed to me prior to my testimony, and I find this to be deeply troubling and certainly Ms. Rhee should be recused or removed from the investigation,” Nixon told TheDCNF.
Recusals related to special counsel Robert Mueller’s probe became an issue after the appointment of Matthew Whitaker as acting attorney general on Nov. 7.
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The prosecutor, Jeannie Rhee, has questioned witnesses about Roger Stone, the Trump confidant who is one of the targets of the investigation, numerous sources tell The Daily Caller News Foundation. Rhee questioned Tyler Nixon, an attorney for Stone, just before his grand jury appearance on Nov. 2.
“[Rhee’s involvement] was not disclosed to me prior to my testimony, and I find this to be deeply troubling and certainly Ms. Rhee should be recused or removed from the investigation,” Nixon told TheDCNF.
Recusals related to special counsel Robert Mueller’s probe became an issue after the appointment of Matthew Whitaker as acting attorney general on Nov. 7.
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Pat Buchanan Blasts Macron: "What Country Do You Put First?"
As for Trump’s policy of “America first,” Macron trashed such atavistic thinking in this new age
By saying we put ourselves first and the others don’t matter, we erase what a nation holds dearest, what gives it life, what makes it great and what is essential: its moral values.”
Though he is being hailed as Europe’s new anti-Trump leader who will stand up for transnationalism and globalism, Macron reveals his ignorance of America.
Trump’s ideas are not ideological but rooted in our country’s history.
America was born between the end of the French and Indian War, the Declaration of Independence in 1776 and the ratification of the Constitution in 1788. Both the general who led us in the Revolution and the author of that declaration became president. Both put America first. And both counseled their countrymen to avoid “entangling” or “permanent” alliances with any other nation, as we did for 160 years.
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By saying we put ourselves first and the others don’t matter, we erase what a nation holds dearest, what gives it life, what makes it great and what is essential: its moral values.”
Though he is being hailed as Europe’s new anti-Trump leader who will stand up for transnationalism and globalism, Macron reveals his ignorance of America.
Trump’s ideas are not ideological but rooted in our country’s history.
America was born between the end of the French and Indian War, the Declaration of Independence in 1776 and the ratification of the Constitution in 1788. Both the general who led us in the Revolution and the author of that declaration became president. Both put America first. And both counseled their countrymen to avoid “entangling” or “permanent” alliances with any other nation, as we did for 160 years.
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Thousands Protest American Bishops Conference in Maryland Over Sex Abuse Scandal
A large crowd of Catholics met in Baltimore, Md., on Tuesday outside the hotel where the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops was meeting to discuss the sex abuse crisis in the Church. At the last minute, orders from Rome forbade the bishops from voting on their planned changes to protocol in dealing with predatory bishops. Some, like modernist Cardinal Blase Cupich, claim this shows the pope's dedication to the cause, while others, more orthodox, see it as more foot-dragging and time-wasting from the Holy See.
Thousands of Catholics rallied under the #SilentNoMore banner to hear speakers ranging from victims to theologians discussing the sex scandal in the church. James Grein came out, for the first time using his whole name, as a victim of Theodore McCarrick, a former cardinal of the Church.
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Thousands of Catholics rallied under the #SilentNoMore banner to hear speakers ranging from victims to theologians discussing the sex scandal in the church. James Grein came out, for the first time using his whole name, as a victim of Theodore McCarrick, a former cardinal of the Church.
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Ben Shapiro: Nationalism and Patriotism Don't Have to Be Opposites
On Sunday, French President Emmanuel Macron spoke at a ceremony marking the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I. There, he took the opportunity to slam President Trump’s “America First” nationalism. “Patriotism,” Macron said, “is the exact opposite of nationalism: Nationalism is a betrayal of patriotism. By putting our interests first, with no regard for others, we erase the very thing that a nation holds dearest, and the thing that keeps it alive: its moral values.”
This statement has a sort of European charm. It’s also false. And dangerous.
Nationalism, when opposed to patriotism, can indeed be terrible. It can suggest that the interests of one nation override the interests of every other nation, that imperialism and colonialism are worth pursuing out of love of blood and soil. But when combined with patriotism, nationalism can also be a bulwark against tyranny. Nationalism can stand up to international communism. Nationalism can refuse to bow before the dictates of multiculturalism, which suggest that all cultures and practices are of equal value.
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This statement has a sort of European charm. It’s also false. And dangerous.
Nationalism, when opposed to patriotism, can indeed be terrible. It can suggest that the interests of one nation override the interests of every other nation, that imperialism and colonialism are worth pursuing out of love of blood and soil. But when combined with patriotism, nationalism can also be a bulwark against tyranny. Nationalism can stand up to international communism. Nationalism can refuse to bow before the dictates of multiculturalism, which suggest that all cultures and practices are of equal value.
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Pelosi Thanks Al Sharpton for ‘Saving America’
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) on Wednesday praised MSNBC host Rev. Al Sharpton and thanked him for "saving America."
Pelosi spoke at the National Action Network's (NAN) legislative and policy conference, where she laid out the Democrat Party's agenda before introducing Sharpton, who founded the non-profit civil rights organization in 1991. The organization was focused on turning out voters during the midterms.
"We are going to be visionary. We are going to be unifying. We are going to be healing. We are going to be transparent in how we do this. We are going to be respectful of other views, but we are going to try to find our common ground where we can," Pelosi said. "We have a responsibility to do that, but where we can't, stand our ground like a rock. That's what Thomas Jefferson advised us to do."
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Pelosi spoke at the National Action Network's (NAN) legislative and policy conference, where she laid out the Democrat Party's agenda before introducing Sharpton, who founded the non-profit civil rights organization in 1991. The organization was focused on turning out voters during the midterms.
"We are going to be visionary. We are going to be unifying. We are going to be healing. We are going to be transparent in how we do this. We are going to be respectful of other views, but we are going to try to find our common ground where we can," Pelosi said. "We have a responsibility to do that, but where we can't, stand our ground like a rock. That's what Thomas Jefferson advised us to do."
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CIA looked into potential truth serum for post-9/11 interrogations
The CIA considered using a drug it believed would act as a truth serum when interrogating prisoners about potential terror attacks following the Sept. 11 attacks, according to a recently declassified report.
The report, which was made public Tuesday, detailed “Project Medication,” in which the CIA’s Office of Medical Services researched on whether Versed, a psychoactive medication, could be used to interrogate prisoners.
The CIA believed that the drug should be considered for a trial if “unequivocal legal sanction first were obtained." However, the report said the agency chose not to go forward with asking for approval for using the drug.
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The report, which was made public Tuesday, detailed “Project Medication,” in which the CIA’s Office of Medical Services researched on whether Versed, a psychoactive medication, could be used to interrogate prisoners.
The CIA believed that the drug should be considered for a trial if “unequivocal legal sanction first were obtained." However, the report said the agency chose not to go forward with asking for approval for using the drug.
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Judge could put the squeeze on Hillary Clinton for testimony on emails
A conservative watchdog group seeking to compel testimony from Hillary Clinton will get a hearing in federal court on the matter Wednesday afternoon.
Judicial Watch announced Tuesday that U.S. District Court Judge Emmet Sullivan will hear the case, which stems from a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit regarding the controversial employment status of longtime Clinton aide Huma Abedin, who was granted a "special government employee" designation to accept outside employment while she was working at the State Department.
Clinton submitted written testimony under oath in October 2016, but Judicial Watch took issue with her answering that she "does not recall" for multiple questions regarding her Clinton.com, non-state.gov email system.
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Judicial Watch announced Tuesday that U.S. District Court Judge Emmet Sullivan will hear the case, which stems from a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit regarding the controversial employment status of longtime Clinton aide Huma Abedin, who was granted a "special government employee" designation to accept outside employment while she was working at the State Department.
Clinton submitted written testimony under oath in October 2016, but Judicial Watch took issue with her answering that she "does not recall" for multiple questions regarding her Clinton.com, non-state.gov email system.
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Bernie Sanders’ wife Jane escapes prosecution over bad land deal
Jane Sanders, the wife of Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., will reportedly not face charges after federal prosecutors wrapped up their investigation into a soured land deal involving Burlington College that was brokered while she was president of the institution.
“Jane Sanders has been informed that the U.S. Attorney in Vermont has closed its investigation of the Burlington College land deal and has decided not to bring charges of any kind,” Jeff Weaver, who served as Bernie Sanders' 2016 presidential campaign manager, wrote in a Tuesday statement, according to CNN and Politico.
“Jane is grateful that the investigation has come to an end,” Weaver said. “As she has said from the beginning she has done nothing wrong and Jane is pleased that the matter has now come to a conclusion."
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“Jane Sanders has been informed that the U.S. Attorney in Vermont has closed its investigation of the Burlington College land deal and has decided not to bring charges of any kind,” Jeff Weaver, who served as Bernie Sanders' 2016 presidential campaign manager, wrote in a Tuesday statement, according to CNN and Politico.
“Jane is grateful that the investigation has come to an end,” Weaver said. “As she has said from the beginning she has done nothing wrong and Jane is pleased that the matter has now come to a conclusion."
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DC Carry Permits Jump Over 1440 Percent Since District Went ‘Shall Issue’
WASHINGTON — The number of Washington D.C. concealed carry permit holders skyrocketed a little over 1440 percent since the District lost a key legal battle related to its previous restrictive gun permitting process at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia last year.
The Metropolitan Police Department confirmed to The Daily Caller Tuesday that 1,896 concealed carry permits were issued by MPD for the calendar year to date 2018.
MPD noted that several hundred approvals came from applications submitted in late 2017. These were included in the current 2018 approval number, which is why the total number of 2018 applications for DC concealed carry permits to date is 1508 — a number lower than the 2018 approval number.
Prior the court ruling, according to The Washington Post, only 123 people had active D.C. concealed carry permits and MPD previously denied 77 percent of applicants for not providing the once-mandated “good reason” to carry.
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The Metropolitan Police Department confirmed to The Daily Caller Tuesday that 1,896 concealed carry permits were issued by MPD for the calendar year to date 2018.
MPD noted that several hundred approvals came from applications submitted in late 2017. These were included in the current 2018 approval number, which is why the total number of 2018 applications for DC concealed carry permits to date is 1508 — a number lower than the 2018 approval number.
Prior the court ruling, according to The Washington Post, only 123 people had active D.C. concealed carry permits and MPD previously denied 77 percent of applicants for not providing the once-mandated “good reason” to carry.
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Students Appear Hesitant To Donate To Ocasio-Cortez’s Apartment Search After Finding Out What Her Salary Will Be
Congresswoman-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez made headlines last week when she said that she couldn’t afford an apartment in Washington, D.C., until she starts getting paid. Many students at American University appeared ready to help her out — that is, until they found out what her salary will be during her time in Congress.
“I have three months without a salary before I’m a member of Congress, so how do I get an apartment?” Ocasio-Cortez stated on Thursday. “Those little things are very real.”
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“I have three months without a salary before I’m a member of Congress, so how do I get an apartment?” Ocasio-Cortez stated on Thursday. “Those little things are very real.”
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Subject: ‘She’s Not Very Good At Her Job’ — Tucker’s Guest Attacks Brenda Snipes And Her Role In Florida’s Recount
A researcher at the Government Accountability Institute attacked Broward County Elections Supervisor Brenda Snipes on Tuesday night for her inability to uphold the election law during an interview with Tucker Carlson.
Eric Eggers appeared on “Tucker Carlson Tonight” to discuss the litany of mistakes, intentional or not, that cloud her time in her position.
WATCH:
Eric Eggers appeared on “Tucker Carlson Tonight” to discuss the litany of mistakes, intentional or not, that cloud her time in her position.
WATCH:
Feds Investigating Altered Election Documents Tied To Florida Democratic Party
The Florida Department of State (DoS) last week has asked federal prosecutors to investigate official election documents with the dates changed, which the department says can be tied to the Florida Democratic Party, according to Politico.
The concerns, which the department says can be tied to the Florida Democratic Party, center around date changes on forms used to fix vote-by-mail ballots sent with incorrect or missing information. Known as “cure affidavits,” those documents used to fix mail ballots were due no later than 5 p.m. on Nov. 5 — the day before the election. But affidavits released on Tuesday by the DOS show that documents from four different counties said the ballots could be returned by 5 p.m. on Thursday, which is not accurate. -Politico
Unsurprisingly, one of the counties under scrutiny is Broward - which is now conducting no less than six recounts, after the results of three statewide races and three local legislative races have been called into question amid mysteriously found ballots and lingering questions over the chain of custody governing the proper handling of voting materials.
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The concerns, which the department says can be tied to the Florida Democratic Party, center around date changes on forms used to fix vote-by-mail ballots sent with incorrect or missing information. Known as “cure affidavits,” those documents used to fix mail ballots were due no later than 5 p.m. on Nov. 5 — the day before the election. But affidavits released on Tuesday by the DOS show that documents from four different counties said the ballots could be returned by 5 p.m. on Thursday, which is not accurate. -Politico
Unsurprisingly, one of the counties under scrutiny is Broward - which is now conducting no less than six recounts, after the results of three statewide races and three local legislative races have been called into question amid mysteriously found ballots and lingering questions over the chain of custody governing the proper handling of voting materials.
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Election Fraud Expert: Broward County’s Brenda Snipes ‘Found Ballots’ in 2012 Too
Broward County, Florida election official Brenda Snipes — who is continuing to find new ballots in the recent statewide midterm elections for Governor and the U.S. Senate — was previously accused of finding ballots after an election in 2012.
Government Accountability Insititute (GAI) research director Eric Eggers exclusively told SiriusXM Patriot’s Breitbart News Tonight‘s Senior Editor-at-Large Rebecca Mansour that Snipes allegedly “found ballots” following an election in 2012.
Eggers said:
She’s also been accused of illegally opening ballots. The Florida GOP sued her for this and when they brought her to court, they said ‘Hey, your office is opening ballots outside the presence of the canvassing board … what’s your explanation?’ And again, the woman in charge of elections in Florida’s second most populous county argued she thought it was okay because her office didn’t understand the meaning of the word ‘canvassing.’
…
This is also not the first time that her office has just found ballots. There was actually a canvassing official back in 2012 that complained that heading into a weekend, they were told there were about 150 votes left to be counted and then Monday morning, well actually there are about 950 votes still to go.
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Government Accountability Insititute (GAI) research director Eric Eggers exclusively told SiriusXM Patriot’s Breitbart News Tonight‘s Senior Editor-at-Large Rebecca Mansour that Snipes allegedly “found ballots” following an election in 2012.
Eggers said:
She’s also been accused of illegally opening ballots. The Florida GOP sued her for this and when they brought her to court, they said ‘Hey, your office is opening ballots outside the presence of the canvassing board … what’s your explanation?’ And again, the woman in charge of elections in Florida’s second most populous county argued she thought it was okay because her office didn’t understand the meaning of the word ‘canvassing.’
…
This is also not the first time that her office has just found ballots. There was actually a canvassing official back in 2012 that complained that heading into a weekend, they were told there were about 150 votes left to be counted and then Monday morning, well actually there are about 950 votes still to go.
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Palm Beach County's Voting Machines Overheat, Forcing Another Recount Of 175,000 Votess
The vote counting situation in Florida's Palm Beach County is going from bad to worse.
As Democratic attorneys push to allow Florida counties "as much time as they need" to finish a machine recount that threatens to switch the outcomes for the state's gubernatorial and senate races from the Republican to the Democratic column (a recount is also being held for the state's Agricultural Commissioner position), ballot counting machines in problem-plagued Palm Beach have broken down, forcing the county to restart its recount of 175,000 ballots, according to the Miami Herald.
This latest setback means the county likely won't meet a Thursday afternoon deadline to finish the recount, and its election officials, including Elections Supervisor Susan Bucher, are scrambling to request more time after losing a whole day's worth of work. Bucher has insisted that employees are working "24-7" to ensure that the ballots are counted accurately. Even before the breakdown of the machines, Bucher had maintained that she didn't think the county could meet the Thursday deadline, though she had struggled to find an excuse to justify an extension. Yet, as fate would have it, one has apparently arrived.
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As Democratic attorneys push to allow Florida counties "as much time as they need" to finish a machine recount that threatens to switch the outcomes for the state's gubernatorial and senate races from the Republican to the Democratic column (a recount is also being held for the state's Agricultural Commissioner position), ballot counting machines in problem-plagued Palm Beach have broken down, forcing the county to restart its recount of 175,000 ballots, according to the Miami Herald.
This latest setback means the county likely won't meet a Thursday afternoon deadline to finish the recount, and its election officials, including Elections Supervisor Susan Bucher, are scrambling to request more time after losing a whole day's worth of work. Bucher has insisted that employees are working "24-7" to ensure that the ballots are counted accurately. Even before the breakdown of the machines, Bucher had maintained that she didn't think the county could meet the Thursday deadline, though she had struggled to find an excuse to justify an extension. Yet, as fate would have it, one has apparently arrived.
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Koch Brothers Look to Ram Through DACA Amnesty Before New Year
The pro-mass immigration GOP megadonor billionaire Koch brothers will “work aggressively” before the year’s end to obtain amnesty for the 3.5 million illegal aliens who are enrolled and eligible for President Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
The Koch brothers’ network of organizations — which campaigned for Democrats’ open borders policies in the midterm elections — are seeking to ram through their agenda of amnesty, prison release, and more free trade during the lame duck session of Congress before House Democrats are handed the majority in the new year. The year-end agenda is being launched with a multi-million dollar campaign.
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The Koch brothers’ network of organizations — which campaigned for Democrats’ open borders policies in the midterm elections — are seeking to ram through their agenda of amnesty, prison release, and more free trade during the lame duck session of Congress before House Democrats are handed the majority in the new year. The year-end agenda is being launched with a multi-million dollar campaign.
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Alexander: Winning Elections the Democrat Way
"The more time that passes since Election Day, the better things keep looking for Democrats." —Demo Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer
In the inimitable words of Baseball Hall of Fame sage Yogi Berra, “It’s déjà vu all over again.” Who could’ve guessed that, after the closing bell of the 2018 midterm election, the Florida results would turn into a ballot brawl, tied up in nine legal challenges (at current count)?
Perhaps Karl Marx got something correct when noting that history repeats itself, “first as tragedy, then as farce”
Given the Trump administration’s extraordinary midterm scorecard of domestic and foreign policy achievements, it’s unfortunate that Republicans lost control of the House. Still, it wasn’t anything like the 63-seat bloodbath Barack Obama suffered in his first midterm referendum.
But in the end, the combined “Hate Trump” salvos from the Democrat Party and its Leftmedia advocates was enough to saturate the polls.
Though Obama’s Democrats also lost six Senate seats in his first midterm, it appears that Trump’s Republicans have gained two seats — maybe.
A week ago, it looked like Republicans had picked up three seats, with former Air Force fighter pilot Martha McSally capturing the Senate seat being vacated by anti-Trump Republican Jeff Flake. Instead, she conceded Monday in a narrow loss to a petulant leftist, Kyrsten Sinema. The latter once described her state as “a meth lab of democracy,” a dig at Arizona’s “deplorables.”
More here
In the inimitable words of Baseball Hall of Fame sage Yogi Berra, “It’s déjà vu all over again.” Who could’ve guessed that, after the closing bell of the 2018 midterm election, the Florida results would turn into a ballot brawl, tied up in nine legal challenges (at current count)?
Perhaps Karl Marx got something correct when noting that history repeats itself, “first as tragedy, then as farce”
Given the Trump administration’s extraordinary midterm scorecard of domestic and foreign policy achievements, it’s unfortunate that Republicans lost control of the House. Still, it wasn’t anything like the 63-seat bloodbath Barack Obama suffered in his first midterm referendum.
But in the end, the combined “Hate Trump” salvos from the Democrat Party and its Leftmedia advocates was enough to saturate the polls.
Though Obama’s Democrats also lost six Senate seats in his first midterm, it appears that Trump’s Republicans have gained two seats — maybe.
A week ago, it looked like Republicans had picked up three seats, with former Air Force fighter pilot Martha McSally capturing the Senate seat being vacated by anti-Trump Republican Jeff Flake. Instead, she conceded Monday in a narrow loss to a petulant leftist, Kyrsten Sinema. The latter once described her state as “a meth lab of democracy,” a dig at Arizona’s “deplorables.”
More here
Warning about ‘sparks’ from power lines day before deadly wildfire
A woman in Northern California said Monday that the Pacific Gas & Electric Co. contacted her about “sparks” in power lines on her property one day before the deadly wildfire in Paradise began.
Betsy Ann Cowley said the power company emailed her on Wednesday and warned that they were “having problems with sparks” and needed access to her property in the small town of Pulga.
On Thursday, the wildfire started near Pulga and incinerated the neighboring town of Paradise.
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Betsy Ann Cowley said the power company emailed her on Wednesday and warned that they were “having problems with sparks” and needed access to her property in the small town of Pulga.
On Thursday, the wildfire started near Pulga and incinerated the neighboring town of Paradise.
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Acting AG Whitaker: 'Special Counsel is Required' To Investigate Clinton Foundation
Matthew Whitaker, the acting attorney general of the United States and a former U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Iowa, said in a 2016 interview that there is enough evidence "in the public domain" to warrant the appointment of a "special prosecutor" to investigate the Clinton Foundation. He added that the Foundation was "clearly a pay-to-play situation" where if you gave money to the Foundation, you got "preferential treatment" at the State Department, which was headed by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton from 2009 to 2013.
Hillary Clinton's emailing of classified documents through her private computer server was a "serious" problem, but the "real ballgame" is "where Clinton Foundation donors were given preferential treatment," said Whitaker in an Aug. 25, 2016 interview with Breitbart News Daily.
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Hillary Clinton's emailing of classified documents through her private computer server was a "serious" problem, but the "real ballgame" is "where Clinton Foundation donors were given preferential treatment," said Whitaker in an Aug. 25, 2016 interview with Breitbart News Daily.
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IDF Preps Largescale Offensive as Hamas Fires Over 300 Terror Rockets
The Times of Israel reports: The Israeli military deployed additional troops and tanks to the Gaza Strip border on Monday following the largest barrage of rockets and mortar shells fired at Israel from the coastal enclave in a single day.
The army was reportedly given a green light from policymakers to pummel terror groups in the Strip if they continued with the barrages, as the terror organizations in the Strip vowed to do.
We struck Hamas’ military intelligence HQ in response to the 300+ rockets that terrorists in #Gaza fired at #Israel.
This is where Hamas' intelligence operatives gathered information to launch attacks on Israelis.
Hamas intentionally established their HQ next to a school. pic.twitter.com/nuHoLmlcD9
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[Update: 400 rockets fired at Israel, IDF hits 150 terror targets in Gaza ]
The army was reportedly given a green light from policymakers to pummel terror groups in the Strip if they continued with the barrages, as the terror organizations in the Strip vowed to do.
We struck Hamas’ military intelligence HQ in response to the 300+ rockets that terrorists in #Gaza fired at #Israel.
This is where Hamas' intelligence operatives gathered information to launch attacks on Israelis.
Hamas intentionally established their HQ next to a school. pic.twitter.com/nuHoLmlcD9
More here
[Update: 400 rockets fired at Israel, IDF hits 150 terror targets in Gaza ]
Shapiro: Media Will Ignore Rocket Attacks on Israel ‘Until Israel Fights Back’
On his daily Facebook Live video podcast “The Ben Shapiro Show” Tuesday, host and Editor-in-Chief of the Daily Wire Ben Shapiro slammed the media for ignoring recent rocket attacks on Israel, saying that they will continue to ignore the attacks “until Israel fights backs,” and then the media will blame the Jews.
“And what you’re going to see from the press is nothing about the hundreds of rockets falling into the civilian areas of a democratic ally of the United States, until Israel fights back, at which point you’re going to see the press say, ‘Mighty Israel strikes the poor, quivering Palestinian population,’” stated Ben Shapiro. “And all the Palestinians have to do in the Gaza Strip is elect a government that is not Hamas. All they have to do is elect a government that wants to make peace with Israel.”
Ben Shapiro’s comments came after, according to Arutz Sheva israelnationalnews.com, rockets were “fired at Israel,” the Israeli Defense Forces reporting “that nearly 400 rockets and mortars had been fired from the Gaza Strip into Israel."
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“And what you’re going to see from the press is nothing about the hundreds of rockets falling into the civilian areas of a democratic ally of the United States, until Israel fights back, at which point you’re going to see the press say, ‘Mighty Israel strikes the poor, quivering Palestinian population,’” stated Ben Shapiro. “And all the Palestinians have to do in the Gaza Strip is elect a government that is not Hamas. All they have to do is elect a government that wants to make peace with Israel.”
Ben Shapiro’s comments came after, according to Arutz Sheva israelnationalnews.com, rockets were “fired at Israel,” the Israeli Defense Forces reporting “that nearly 400 rockets and mortars had been fired from the Gaza Strip into Israel."
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Maryland Fishing Report
Young Isaac looks like he was having a great time catching catfish recently. Photo by Eric Packard
As cold weather prevails, water temperatures are dropping, which is limiting some fishing opportunities but is expanding others. Many of our resident fisheries are in transition — striped bass fishing is still good but slowing down, white perch are active but now are schooled up in deeper water. Trout fishing is very good as is fishing for walleye, yellow perch, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass and chain pickerel. At the coastal areas, summer species are being replaced by cold water fish such as sea bass and tautog.
An often overlooked species is our catfish in Maryland, and cooler water temperatures tend to kick their feeding activity into high gear. We have two native species of catfish in Maryland, the white and the bullhead. Introduced catfish species are the channel, flathead and blue catfish.
Whether you choose to eat them or just catch them, they can provide some exciting and fun fishing from docks and piers, a favorite shoreline or a small boat. They can be caught by watching a baited line while relaxing along a sunny shore and they provide plenty of enjoyment for our younger anglers. If a good tussle and plenty of fishing action that is easy to arrange sounds good to you, give it a try.
Forecast Summary: Nov. 14 – 20
As water temperatures cool and approach 50 degrees, our tasty blue crabs are moving towards the deeper channel edges to bury in the mud for the winter. Chesapeake Bay anglers need to get out there as fish feed heavily to prepare for winter conditions or migrate out of the bay. With plenty of cool waters and oxygen from surface to bottom, avoid waters with poor water clarity from recent, heavy rains. For tidal rivers and main bay areas, focus on areas with good structure such as underwater points, oyster bottom, reefs, channel edges, and large schools of baitfish. During lower light conditions, hungry rockfish will also roam the nearby shallow water areas looking for an easy meal.
Temperatures will be cooler this week as another chance of rain rolls in on Thursday. Expect windy conditions on both Thursday and Friday. Expect sunny to partly cloudy conditions most of the other days with air temperatures in the 40s to lower 50s and nighttime temperature in the high 30s to low 40s. At the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration buoys, water temperatures continue to cool, with Annapolis now at 52 degrees, Gooses Reef at 55 degrees and Point Lookout at 56 degrees.
There is still poor water clarity on the main bay down below the mouth of the Chester River and on the Potomac River down to near Colonial Beach. In addition, expect water clarity to decline at localized and nearshore areas due to the rain. There will be above average tidal currents on Monday and Tuesday as a result of the full moon on Nov. 24.
For the full weekly fishing conditions summary and more, please be sure to check out Click Before You Cast.
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Temperatures will be cooler this week as another chance of rain rolls in on Thursday. Expect windy conditions on both Thursday and Friday. Expect sunny to partly cloudy conditions most of the other days with air temperatures in the 40s to lower 50s and nighttime temperature in the high 30s to low 40s. At the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration buoys, water temperatures continue to cool, with Annapolis now at 52 degrees, Gooses Reef at 55 degrees and Point Lookout at 56 degrees.
There is still poor water clarity on the main bay down below the mouth of the Chester River and on the Potomac River down to near Colonial Beach. In addition, expect water clarity to decline at localized and nearshore areas due to the rain. There will be above average tidal currents on Monday and Tuesday as a result of the full moon on Nov. 24.
For the full weekly fishing conditions summary and more, please be sure to check out Click Before You Cast.
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LPR Alert Leads to Early Morning Arrest
OCEAN CITY, MD – (November 14, 2018): Shortly before 9 a.m. on Tuesday, November 13, 2018, Ocean City Emergency Communications received an alert from a license plate reader (LPR) located on eastbound Route 90 for a vehicle registered to a wanted individual driving into Ocean City. A traffic stop was initiated on the vehicle shortly after by an Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) officer on Coastal Highway on 94th Street. As the officer was waiting for additional police to arrive for backup, the vehicle fled the traffic stop and drove southbound on Coastal Highway.
The vehicle made a right turn onto 65th Street and collided with a marked OCPD patrol car being driven by a Public Safety Aide. The vehicle continued to flee west on 65th Street, eventually came to a stop in the Ocean City Public Works Complex and attempted to flee on foot but was quickly apprehended by police.
The driver of the vehicle was placed under arrest and identified as Anthony J. Roper, 39, of Delmar, MD. The Public Safety Aide in the patrol car that was struck was transported to Atlantic General Hospital as a precaution. He sustained a minor neck injury. Roper was not injured during the incident.
Roper was wanted for several drugs and weapons charges stemming from Wicomico County, MD. Ocean City Police have charged him with failure to immediately stop at the scene of an accident involving an injury, reckless driving, attempt to elude uniformed police, and multiple other traffic violations. He was seen by a Maryland District Court Commissioner and transferred to the Worcester County Jail without bond.
The vehicle made a right turn onto 65th Street and collided with a marked OCPD patrol car being driven by a Public Safety Aide. The vehicle continued to flee west on 65th Street, eventually came to a stop in the Ocean City Public Works Complex and attempted to flee on foot but was quickly apprehended by police.
The driver of the vehicle was placed under arrest and identified as Anthony J. Roper, 39, of Delmar, MD. The Public Safety Aide in the patrol car that was struck was transported to Atlantic General Hospital as a precaution. He sustained a minor neck injury. Roper was not injured during the incident.
Roper was wanted for several drugs and weapons charges stemming from Wicomico County, MD. Ocean City Police have charged him with failure to immediately stop at the scene of an accident involving an injury, reckless driving, attempt to elude uniformed police, and multiple other traffic violations. He was seen by a Maryland District Court Commissioner and transferred to the Worcester County Jail without bond.
Coast Guard to offload 18.5 tons of cocaine in Port Everglades
MIAMI — The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter James (WMSL-754) is scheduled to offload approximately 18.5 tons of cocaine Thursday in Port Everglades worth an estimated $500 million wholesale seized in international waters in the Eastern Pacific Ocean.
The drugs were interdicted off the coasts of Mexico, Central and South America by multiple U.S. Coast Guard cutters.
The offload represents 15 separate, suspected drug smuggling vessel interdictions by the Coast Guard:
- The cutter James was responsible for nine cases seizing an estimated 19,288 pounds of cocaine.
- The Coast Guard Cutter Bear (WMEC-901) was responsible for one case, seizing an estimated 44 pounds of cocaine.
- The Coast Guard Cutter Stratton (WMSL-752) was responsible for one case, seizing an estimated 440 pounds of cocaine.
- The Coast Guard Cutter Active (WMEC-618) was responsible for two cases, seizing an estimated 3,148 pounds of cocaine.
- The Coast Guard Cutter Dauntless (WMEC-624) was responsible for two cases, seizing an estimated 2,050 pounds of cocaine.
- The Coast Guard Cutter Venturous (WMEC-625) was responsible for two cases seizing an estimated 3,100 pounds of cocaine.
- The Coast Guard Cutter Spencer (WMEC-905) was responsible for one case seizing an estimated 4,497 pounds of cocaine.
- The Coast Guard Cutter Campbell (WMEC-909) was responsible for one case seizing an estimated 5,441 pounds of cocaine.
Numerous U.S. agencies from the Departments of Defense, Justice and Homeland Security are involved in the effort to combat transnational organized crime. The Coast Guard, Navy, Customs and Border Protection, FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement along with allied and international partner agencies play a role in counter-drug operations. The fight against transnational organized crime networks in the Eastern Pacific requires unity of effort in all phases from detection, monitoring and interdictions, to prosecutions by U.S. Attorneys in California, on the East Coast, and in Puerto Rico.
“This multi-ton offload of cocaine represents not just the work of the men and women of Coast Guard Cutter James, but that of our partners and allies that work every day to dismantle the criminal organizations that seek to profit from trafficking drugs and other illicit items to our shores,” said Capt. Jeffrey Randall, commanding officer of the cutter James. "It takes a network to defeat a network, and we will continue to expand our capabilities and leverage these partnerships to amplify our impact and stop this illegal trade which threatens our national security and breads instability in our partner nations."
The Coast Guard increased U.S. and allied presence in the Eastern Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Basin, which are known drug transit zones off of Central and South America, as part of its Western Hemisphere Strategy. During at-sea interdictions in international waters, a suspect vessel is initially located and tracked by allied, military or law enforcement personnel. The interdictions, including the actual boarding, are led and conducted by U.S. Coast Guardsmen. The law enforcement phase of counter-smuggling operations in the Eastern Pacific are conducted under the authority of the Coast Guard 11th District headquartered in Alameda, California.
The cutter Bear is a 270-foot medium endurance cutter homeported in Portsmouth, Virginia. The cutter Stratton is a 418-foot legend-class cutter homeported in Alameda, California. The cutter Active is a 210-foot reliance-class cutter homeported in Port Angeles, Washington. The cutter Dauntless is a 210-foot reliance-class cutter homeported in Pensacola, Florida. The cutter Venturous is a 210-foot reliance-class cutter homeported in St. Petersburg, Florida. The cutter James is a 418-foot legend-class cutter homeported in North Charleston, South Carolina. The cutter Spencer is a 270-foot medium endurance cutter homeported in Boston, Massachusetts. The cutter Campbell is a 270-foot medium endurance cutter homeported in Kittery, Maine.
Baby Atlantic sturgeon found in Virginia river for first time in nearly a decade
For nearly a decade, researchers with Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond would conduct a trawl survey on the James River, never to come across any baby Atlantic sturgeon — a species that was listed as endangered in 2012.
But recently that changed, raising researchers’ hopes that what the university says was “once-plentiful ancient fish” is making a comeback in the area.
Researchers with the Rice Rivers Center — which “is at the center of the Virginia Sturgeon Restoration Team’s effort to restore the sturgeon to its native range and historical stature within state waters,” according to a news release from Virginia Commonwealth University — found the fish earlier this month while conducting a trawl survey, a method of catching fish with a net attached to a boat.
As of Monday, nearly 148 baby sturgeon have been found in the James River.
“We’re really excited,” one of the researchers, Matt Balazik, said in a statement. “It’s been very encouraging. After going out all those times and catching nothing, it’s been rewarding to start to see these fish at this stage.”
Though researchers have previously identified more than 600 different adult sturgeon, the “imbalance between researchers’ findings of adult fish and younger fish has been a source of concern because it indicates possible issues preventing survival at a rate to sustain the population in the James,” the university explained.
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But recently that changed, raising researchers’ hopes that what the university says was “once-plentiful ancient fish” is making a comeback in the area.
Researchers with the Rice Rivers Center — which “is at the center of the Virginia Sturgeon Restoration Team’s effort to restore the sturgeon to its native range and historical stature within state waters,” according to a news release from Virginia Commonwealth University — found the fish earlier this month while conducting a trawl survey, a method of catching fish with a net attached to a boat.
As of Monday, nearly 148 baby sturgeon have been found in the James River.
“We’re really excited,” one of the researchers, Matt Balazik, said in a statement. “It’s been very encouraging. After going out all those times and catching nothing, it’s been rewarding to start to see these fish at this stage.”
Though researchers have previously identified more than 600 different adult sturgeon, the “imbalance between researchers’ findings of adult fish and younger fish has been a source of concern because it indicates possible issues preventing survival at a rate to sustain the population in the James,” the university explained.
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Recent Appointments
Wicomico County Executive Bob Culver Announces the Appointments of Lori Carter as Director of Planning and Zoning and Keith Hall as Deputy Director of Planning and Zoning
Salisbury, MD… Wicomico County Executive Bob Culver is pleased to announce the appointment of Lori A. Carter to the position of Director of Planning, Zoning and Community Development for Wicomico County. She first joined the County as a Planner in 1987, was later promoted to Chief of Community Development, and has served as Deputy Director since 2001. Ms. Carter holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Urban Studies and Regional Planning from Morgan State University. She succeeds Jack Lenox, who recently announced his pending retirement after 16 years as Director.
The County Executive Bob Culver also announced the appointment of Keith D. Hall to the position of Deputy Director. Mr. Hall first joined the County as a Planner in 2007, and was later promoted to Chief of Long Range Planning and Transportation. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Geography and Regional Planning from Salisbury University, and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners.
Mr. Culver noted the satisfaction of having such local talent and experience available to work with on behalf of our residents and businesses.
Wicomico County Executive Bob Culver Announces the Appointments of John R. Monar as Director of the Department of Information Technology and Lonnie Uptegrow,Jr. as Deputy Director of Information Technology
Salisbury, MD… Wicomico County Executive Bob Culver is pleased to announce the appointment of John Monar as the Director of the Department of Information Technology. The Wicomico County Council confirmed Monar’s appointment during its October 2, 2018 legislative session.
Mr. Monar began work at Wicomico County in 1999 as a Senior Network Engineer. In 2012 he was appointed to Deputy Director of IT Department until accepting the appointment as Director of IT.
Mr. Monar came to the county after working at Harvard Custom Manufacturing. He is a 1997 graduate of Franklin P. Perdue School of Business.
Mr. Uptegrow began work at Wicomico County in 2002 and rose through the ranks from Emergency Services as a technician at both Emergency Service and Information Technology to Senior Network Engineer.
Mr. Uptegrow holds a Bachelor of Science degree from University of Maryland in Computer Networks and Security and an Applied Science degree from ECPI College of Technology in Computer Electronics Technology.
Salisbury, MD… Wicomico County Executive Bob Culver is pleased to announce the appointment of Lori A. Carter to the position of Director of Planning, Zoning and Community Development for Wicomico County. She first joined the County as a Planner in 1987, was later promoted to Chief of Community Development, and has served as Deputy Director since 2001. Ms. Carter holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Urban Studies and Regional Planning from Morgan State University. She succeeds Jack Lenox, who recently announced his pending retirement after 16 years as Director.
The County Executive Bob Culver also announced the appointment of Keith D. Hall to the position of Deputy Director. Mr. Hall first joined the County as a Planner in 2007, and was later promoted to Chief of Long Range Planning and Transportation. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Geography and Regional Planning from Salisbury University, and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners.
Mr. Culver noted the satisfaction of having such local talent and experience available to work with on behalf of our residents and businesses.
Wicomico County Executive Bob Culver Announces the Appointments of John R. Monar as Director of the Department of Information Technology and Lonnie Uptegrow,Jr. as Deputy Director of Information Technology
Salisbury, MD… Wicomico County Executive Bob Culver is pleased to announce the appointment of John Monar as the Director of the Department of Information Technology. The Wicomico County Council confirmed Monar’s appointment during its October 2, 2018 legislative session.
Mr. Monar began work at Wicomico County in 1999 as a Senior Network Engineer. In 2012 he was appointed to Deputy Director of IT Department until accepting the appointment as Director of IT.
Mr. Monar came to the county after working at Harvard Custom Manufacturing. He is a 1997 graduate of Franklin P. Perdue School of Business.
Mr. Uptegrow began work at Wicomico County in 2002 and rose through the ranks from Emergency Services as a technician at both Emergency Service and Information Technology to Senior Network Engineer.
Mr. Uptegrow holds a Bachelor of Science degree from University of Maryland in Computer Networks and Security and an Applied Science degree from ECPI College of Technology in Computer Electronics Technology.
November 19, 2018 Work Session Cancelled
The Monday, November 19, 2018 Work Session has been cancelled.
The Public Notice is attached and posted on the website at the link below:
https://salisbury.md/11/14/2018/notice-of-cancellation-11-19-18-city-council-work-session
The Public Notice is attached and posted on the website at the link below:
https://salisbury.md/11/14/2018/notice-of-cancellation-11-19-18-city-council-work-session
Wicomico County Alcohol Compliance Spot Check on 11/12/18
On November 12, 2018 The Wicomico County Alcohol Task Force conducted a routine compliance check named “Operation Spot
Check”. The Task Force is comprised of the Wicomico County Liquor License Department, the Maryland State Police, the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office, Salisbury Police Department, the Fruitland Police Department and the Wicomico County States Attorney’s Office. Thirteen licensed establishments were checked and zero establishments failed for a 100% pass rate.
The following establishments passed.
Walston Switch Sunoco 31997 Beaver Run Drive Salisbury MD
Busters Seafood & Grill 1210 Nanticoke Road Salisbury MD
Parsonsburg Quick Stop 7181 Parsonsburg Road Parsonsburg MD
Center City Exxon 500 S. Salisbury Blvd. Salisbury MD
Shore Stop 1140 Parsons Road Salisbury MD
Winterplace Market 6731 Hobbs Road Salisbury MD
Vintage Beer & Wine 610 Snow Hill Road Salisbury MD
Pittsville Mart 3440 Old Ocean City Road Pittsville MD
Shore Stop 1020 Eastern Shore Drive Salisbury MD
T’s Mini Market 400 N. Salisbury Blvd. Salisbury MD
Autumn Grove Tiger Mart 1801 Autumn Grove Court Salisbury MD
Truitt Street Goose Creek 111 Truitt Street Salisbury MD
Shell Quick Stop 900 Snow Hill Road Salisbury MD
The following establishments failed.
Zero failed
Licensee’s for the establishments who failed the compliance check will be summoned before the Board of License Commissioners for a Show Cause hearing whereupon a fine or a suspension or both may be levied against their license. The clerks who sold the alcohol will be charged by the officers of the Task Force.
Check”. The Task Force is comprised of the Wicomico County Liquor License Department, the Maryland State Police, the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office, Salisbury Police Department, the Fruitland Police Department and the Wicomico County States Attorney’s Office. Thirteen licensed establishments were checked and zero establishments failed for a 100% pass rate.
The following establishments passed.
Walston Switch Sunoco 31997 Beaver Run Drive Salisbury MD
Busters Seafood & Grill 1210 Nanticoke Road Salisbury MD
Parsonsburg Quick Stop 7181 Parsonsburg Road Parsonsburg MD
Center City Exxon 500 S. Salisbury Blvd. Salisbury MD
Shore Stop 1140 Parsons Road Salisbury MD
Winterplace Market 6731 Hobbs Road Salisbury MD
Vintage Beer & Wine 610 Snow Hill Road Salisbury MD
Pittsville Mart 3440 Old Ocean City Road Pittsville MD
Shore Stop 1020 Eastern Shore Drive Salisbury MD
T’s Mini Market 400 N. Salisbury Blvd. Salisbury MD
Autumn Grove Tiger Mart 1801 Autumn Grove Court Salisbury MD
Truitt Street Goose Creek 111 Truitt Street Salisbury MD
Shell Quick Stop 900 Snow Hill Road Salisbury MD
The following establishments failed.
Zero failed
Licensee’s for the establishments who failed the compliance check will be summoned before the Board of License Commissioners for a Show Cause hearing whereupon a fine or a suspension or both may be levied against their license. The clerks who sold the alcohol will be charged by the officers of the Task Force.
Democrats extend lead in seven out of 10 undecided House races as ballot-counting continues
As ballot-counting continues, Democrats have extended their lead in seven out of 10 undecided House races.
Democrats gained ground in two undecided House races in Orange County, California, raising the possibility of a Democratic sweep of four closely contested congressional races in the one-time Republican stronghold.
In the 45th District in Orange County, Democrat Katie Porter jumped into a 261-vote lead over Republican Rep Mimi Walters, after trailing the incumbent since Election Day.
And in the 39th District, anchored in Orange County, Democrat Gil Cisneros tightened the gap with Republican Young Kim.
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Democrats gained ground in two undecided House races in Orange County, California, raising the possibility of a Democratic sweep of four closely contested congressional races in the one-time Republican stronghold.
In the 45th District in Orange County, Democrat Katie Porter jumped into a 261-vote lead over Republican Rep Mimi Walters, after trailing the incumbent since Election Day.
And in the 39th District, anchored in Orange County, Democrat Gil Cisneros tightened the gap with Republican Young Kim.
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