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"It's Kind Of Despicable": Chicago Is Rigging Red Light Cameras To Rack Up Millions In Fines

It appears as though someone figured out that red light cameras could rack up tons more in fines if the number of times a light changes to red increases. This has led to nefariously shorter green lights in certain areas of Chicago.

Intersections where drivers are issued hundreds of thousands of dollars in tickets have been unfairly racked up, according to ABC's investigative reporting team. The team timed traffic lights at intersections where cameras were present and found that drivers had less time to legally get through intersections in directions where cameras where watching.

In once case, yellow and green lights were only 20 seconds - combined.

The city - which has been in a perpetual state of financial peril thanks to horrifying mismanagement of its pension liabilities - took in $35 million from the city's 300 red light cameras so far in 2019.

Kevin O'Malley, managing deputy commissioner of the Chicago Department of Transportation, said: "We believe it improves traffic safety which in the end saves injuries and saves lives."

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'One of the toughest goodbyes': Tim Tebow mourns the death of his beloved dog, Bronco

Tim Tebow is grieving his beloved dog, Bronco, who died after spending nine loving years with the athlete.

Tebow bid farewell to Bronco in a wrenching Instagram post. He shared a video crying and cradling Bronco in his final moments.

"One of the toughest goodbyes," he wrote. "Wanted to make a special tribute to the sweetest boy ever — thank you for all the joy you brought and all the memories."

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How to Disunite America

This week, Chick-fil-A, the immensely popular Christian-owned chicken sandwich giant, caved to the cultural left.

For years, the left targeted Chick-fil-A, dating back to the 2012 revelation that Chairman and CEO Dan Cathy supports traditional marriage—and, horror of horrors, that charities given donations by Chick-fil-A support traditional marriage.

This prompted paroxysms of outrage in the media, who quickly demanded that Chick-fil-A toe the Democrat Party line, despite the fact that then-President Barack Obama did not officially endorse same-sex marriage until May 2012.

The rage of the cultural left led to unsuccessful boycotts—Chick-fil-A’s business expanded from $1 billion in 2001 to $5 billion in 2013 to $10.5 billion today—but successful hijackings of local government. When the cultural left can’t achieve what it wants through public mobilization, it simply uses the power of government to blackmail those it dislikes.

So, despite the fact that Chick-fil-A had never discriminated against gay customers—it would sell a chicken sandwich to anyone—then-Boston Mayor Thomas Menino promised to ban the franchise from the city. Then-Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel quickly followed suit, pledging to support an alderman’s plan to block Chick-fil-A from opening a restaurant at Chicago O’Hare Airport.

San Antonio recently blocked Chick-fil-A from opening a restaurant at its airport, and the airport in Buffalo, New York, followed suit. San Jose, California, pledged not to renew Chick-fil-A’s lease when it ran out.

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Anti-Trump Deep State Blocked Trump Supporters from White House Jobs: Destroyed Database Created to Recruit Trump Supporters for WH Positions

The Obama deep state was VERY ACTIVE sabotaging the Trump Administration before President Trump was ever sworn in.
Surrounding President Trump with an angry horde of Never-Trumpers was a major coup for the deep state.

Since 2017 the White House has been dealing with these saboteurs on a daily basis.

Here is a timely reminder of the deep state’s treachery against this administration…

As originally reported by Joe Hoft back in September 2017

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Bridgeville Police Department Press Release 11-21-19 (Gas Station Skimmers)


On November 21, 2019, at approximately 0030 hours, a Bridgeville Police Officer observed a vehicle commit two traffic violations. The officer stopped the vehicle and made contact with the two occupants, Salvador Rodriguez Fernandez of Miami, Florida and Yordan Reyna Cardenas of Orlando, Florida. The officer believed that the actions of both individuals were suspicious.

The officer then called for assistance from the Greenwood Police Department. After a consent search of the vehicle, the officers located numerous bank card skimming devices that are used to copy bank cards when swiped. Officers also located numerous tools used to open the gas pumps to install the skimmers.

Both men were charged with numerous offenses and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution on $42,000 cash bail.

It is believed that numerous gas stations in Kent and Sussex County have been hit with these skimmers. Please remain vigilant when using your bank card at local gas stations.

15,000 #RedforEd Teachers Skip Classes for Indiana Rally

An estimated 15,000 public school teachers skipped classes in Indiana on Tuesday to lobby the state legislature for more pay as part of the “#Red for Ed Action Day.”

“More than half of the school districts in the state closed their doors Tuesday for Red for Ed, with some converting the day into either an e-learning day or an employee workday. And teachers attended from all ends of the state, some leaving as early as 5 a.m. to drive to Indianapolis,” the Indianapolis Star reported

Chanting “Red for Ed” and carrying signs, crowds formed around each side of the building starting early in the morning. Before 10 a.m. the crowd was shoulder to shoulder on the south lawn, waving signs as a band played and union leaders made remarks.

As the Indianapolis Star reported, the Indiana State Teachers Association, which represents the public school teachers participating in the “#RedforEd Action Day” rally, has three key political objectives it wants to accomplish with the state legislature:

1. It wants an investment from the state in teacher pay.

2. It wants lawmakers to make good on a promise to hold schools and teachers harmless from state test scores, which dropped sharply when the state introduced the new ILEARN test in the spring.

3. It wants a new professional development requirement repealed.

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[Look carefully at those 3 points. What do they tell you about RedForEd? --Editor]

U.S. Creates Sanctuaries for Migrants in Latin American Countries

A new regulation will allow U.S. border officers to send asylum seekers to several Latin American countries instead of being released into the United States.

Reuters posted a report saying:

In a fast-track regulation set to publish in the Federal Register on Tuesday, the administration has created a framework that will allow asylum seekers to be sent to other nations that have negotiated bilateral agreements to accept them.

Previously, officials in the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump have argued that migrants with a valid need for asylum should seek protection in the first “safe” country where they have the chance to apply, since many migrants travel through multiple countries on their way to the U.S. border.

However, the new regulation states that asylum seekers may be sent [from Texas] to any other countries with which the United States has asylum agreements that permit such an action – even if they did not first transit through those nations.

For example, migrants from Cameroon in Africa, or Bangalore in India, or Honduras in Central America might be told to ask for asylum in Guatemala instead of the United States. If they are given asylum in Guatemala, then U.S. officials will be legally free to deny them the right to request asylum in the United States. Once denied, the migrants cannot use the catch-and-release rules to repay their smuggling debts with cash from jobs in the United States.

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Hero: NFL Star JJ Watt Will Use Profits From His Reebok Shoe Line To Fund Honor Flight


Football star J.J. Watt is already well known for his charity, having raised and given tens of millions to hurricane victims in his adopted home town of Houston, Texas, but he’s now extending his commitment to helping others to the veteran community, pledging to use the proceeds from his new Valor 2 shoe line to fund Honor Flight.

Honor Flight’s mission is to “transport America’s veterans to Washington, D.C. to visit the memorials dedicated to honoring those who have served and sacrificed for our country,” according to their website. Honor Flight is best known for honoring World War II veterans — a mission that grows in urgency every day as the generation that fought in World War II slowly passes away — but they’ve now expanded to help veterans of the Korean and Vietnam Wars.

Their drive is simply “to show our nation’s veterans the appreciation and honor they deserve,” they say, and they provide the trips for veterans free of charge.

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Troopers Arrest Delmar Man For Firing Shots- Delmar


Delmar– The Delaware State Police have arrested 26-year-old Tabvon L. Sabb for weapons charges after it was discovered that he fired rounds.

The incident occurred on November 20, 2019 at approximately 9:56 p.m., when Troopers were dispatched to the 14000 block of Oak Branch Road, Delmar for a report of shots being fired. Upon arrival, Troopers determined that the shots were heard coming from Sabb’s residence. Troopers responded to Sabb’s residence where they discovered three empty 270 Winchester rifle bullets on the back porch. Further investigation, revealed an unloaded Remington 270 Winchester rifle inside the residence. Upon contact with Sabb at the residence, Troopers detected an odor of alcohol. A computer inquiry revealed that Sabb was a person prohibited from possessing a firearm. Sabb was taken into custody without incident and transported back to Troop 5 where he was charged with the following:
  • Possession of a Firearm or Ammunition by a Person Prohibited
  • Possession of a Firearm while under the influence

Sabb was arraigned before the Justice of the Peace Court and released on $11000.00 unsecured bond.

Catherine Pugh enters guilty plea for 4 charges in indictment


BALTIMORE —Former Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh entered a guilty plea Thursday to four of the 11 federal charges filed against her, based on accusations she used her children's books as a ruse to raise money for her campaign and a new house.

Pugh, 69, was charged Nov. 14 with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, seven counts of wire fraud, conspiracy to defraud the United States and two counts of tax evasion. The charges were made public Wednesday.

Pugh pleaded guilty to the conspiracy and tax evasion charges. The remaining charges generally get dismissed at sentencing, officials said.

Pugh now admits she used the sale of her "Healthy Holly" books to fund her 2016 mayoral campaign through straw donors and to finance the cash to purchase her house. She also admits to cheating on her taxes.

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NSC Superiors Voiced Serious Concerns About Alexander Vindman’s Judgment

National Security Council supervisors and colleagues raised concerns about Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman’s judgment on multiple occasions, according to testimony Tuesday from former National Security Director of Russia and European affairs Tim Morrison.

Morrison said his predecessor Dr. Fiona Hill and other staff at the NSC had raised concerns about Vindman’s judgment, as well as Deputy Senior Director for Europe John Erath.

A full range of Morrison’s concerns were not discussed, as his counsel asked him only to respond on issues with Vindman regarding Ukraine and the current case.

But Morrison did acknowledge that Vindman had a problem with working outside the chain of command.

Vindman, Morrison recalled, also expressed frustrations that he was not included on the Ukraine trip and on other conversations with ambassadors.

During Morrison’s transition into the NSC, he detailed what predecessor Dr. Hill told him about Vindman.

Walsh: The Left’s ‘Toxic Masculinity,’ ‘MeToo’ Agenda Is Crushing Boys

At a Young America’s Foundation-sponsored event on the campus of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Tuesday evening, Daily Wire podcast host and columnist Matt Walsh addressed the growing war on masculinity, particularly as conducted through rhetoric about “toxic masculinity” and the excesses of the “MeToo” movement. We are “ruining ours sons,” he said, by giving into the “worst kind of selfishness” and “narrow-mindedness” in our approach to boyhood and masculinity.

Among the ways that our increasingly “progressive” society is crushing boys, he explained in the speech, are the education system, which is effectively punishing standard male behavior, and the general denigration of masculinity, particularly in the form of the “toxic masculinity” rhetoric espoused by left-wing thought leaders. Along with the proliferation of pornography and the promotion of gender confusion, specifically directed at boys, Walsh maintained, we are seeing an unprecedented war on boyhood that is destined to result in disaster.

“Obviously, we need to teach our boys to be obedient and respectful, and they really do need to calm down sometimes and be quiet,” he said (video below). “But boys also need to be boys.”

“I’m afraid they’re not always given that opportunity these days because they’re always being told, no, stop, calm down, be quiet, sit still,” Walsh continued. “Maybe in school we carve out 45 minutes for them to let out their energy — and I’m told now that even that, gym class, they’re getting rid of.”

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Burisma Indictment Reveals Ex-President Yanukovich Illegally Obtained $7.4 Billion Laundered Thru Fund “Close to US Democratic Party”

The head of Burisma Holdings was indicted this week in Ukraine!

Ukrainian Prosecutor General indicted Burisma owner Nikolai Zlochevsky.

The claim alleges that Hunter Biden and his partners received $16.5 million for their ‘services’

Vice President Joe Biden’s son Hunter Biden took a lucrative post on the Burisma Board in 2014.
Hunter Biden was making millions from the corrupt Ukrainian oil and gas company.

New memos released earlier this month reveal Burisma Holdings, Hunter Biden’s Ukrainian natural gas company, pressured the Obama State Department to help end the corruption investigation during the 2016 election cycle just one month before then-Vice President Joe Biden forced Ukraine to fire Viktor Shokin, the prosecutor probing his son Hunter.

Joe Biden bragged about getting Viktor Shokin fired during a 2018 speech to the Council on Foreign Relations.

Here’s more…

The Burisma indictment reveals that former Ukrainian President Yanukovich illegally obtained $17.4 billion and laundered it through an investment fund close to the US Democratic Party.


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Accused ‘Diversity Visa’ ISIS Murderer: ‘I Am Following Orders of Allah’

The Islamic State (ISIS) terror suspect — who came to the United States on the “Diversity Visa Lottery” — accused of murdering eight people in New York City, said in court he is “following orders of Allah.”

In October 2017, 31-year-old Uzbek national Sayfullo Saipov allegedly mowed down eight individuals in the Tribeca neighborhood of New York City after securing a visa in 2010 through the Diversity Visa Lottery, which President Trump has asked Congress to end.

The Diversity Visa Lottery randomly gives out about 55,000 visas every year to foreign nationals from a multitude of countries, including those with known terrorist problems – such as Afghanistan, Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Syria, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela, Yemen, and Uzbekistan.

According to a report by the New York Post, Saipov told U.S. Southern District of New York Judge Vernon Broderick that he has no respect for his authority because he only follows “orders of Allah.”

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WCSAO Press Releases - Nov. 21, 2019




Incident: Possession of CDS
Date of Incident: 19 November 2019
Location: N. Salisbury Blvd at Dagsboro Rd., Salisbury, MD
Suspects:
1. Ruth A. West, 58, Laurel, DE
2. Cintoria L. Jacobs, 34, Laurel, DE
Narrative: On 19 November 2019 at 11:53 PM a deputy stopped a vehicle operated by Ruth West for an equipment violation and a moving violation. Upon approaching West’s vehicle, the deputy detected a very strong odor of burnt marijuana emanating from within. During a subsequent search of West’s vehicle, the deputy located marijuana along with what was identified as a small amount of cocaine.
During a search of West’s passenger, Cintoria Jacobs, the deputy recovered oxycodone and suboxone, neither which were prescribed to Jacobs.
The deputy placed both West and Jacobs under arrest and transported them to the Central Booking Unit where they were processed and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner. Following an initial appearance, the Commissioner released them both on Personal Recognizance.
Charges: Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia


Incident: Illegal Possession of a Firearm
Date of Incident: 20 November 2019
Location: S. Salisbury Blvd. at Kay Avenue, Salisbury, MD
Suspect: Avion L. Wilson, 23, Salisbury, MD
Narrative: On 20 November 2019 at 9:52 PM a deputy stopped a vehicle for speeding on South Salisbury Boulevard. Upon approaching the vehicle, the deputy detected the odor of burnt marijuana emanating from within the vehicle. Upon initiating a search, the front seat passenger, Avion Wilson exited the vehicle upon request and was subjected to a pat down for weapons. During that pat down, the deputy could feel the outline of a handgun in Wilson’s waistband.
The deputy then pulled a loaded 9mm semi-automatic handgun from Wilson’s waistband and placed him under arrest. Further investigation of Wilson revealed that he was prohibited from possessing that handgun due to a recent criminal conviction in September.
Wilson was transported to the Central Booking Unit where he was processed and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner. Following an initial appearance, the Commissioner detained Wilson without bond in the Detention Center. Following a District Court Bond Review, Wilson remained in a “No Bond” status.
Charges: Possession of a Regulated Firearm by a Prohibited Person, Possession of a Firearm after Conviction for a Felony, Handgun on Person, Wear/Carry a Loaded Handgun, Handgun in a Vehicle and Possession of Ammunition by a Prohibited Person

‘Did I Make You Proud?’ Biden Camp Blasts Out Post-Debate Fundraising Email…Several Hours Before Debate Begins

Joe Biden’s staff blasted out a post-debate email begging for money and asking for feedback on his debate performance….several hours before the debate began Wednesday.

The subject line of the email, which was blasted out seven hours before the debate was scheduled to kick off read, “Did I make you proud?”

“I’m leaving the fifth Democratic debate now,” the email said. “I hope I made you proud out there, and I hope I made it clear to the world why our campaign is so important.”

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Baltimore attorney previews what could happen next in Pugh case

BALTIMORE —Thursday will be former Mayor Catherine Pugh's first court appearance since investigators raided her home and offices, and she resigned from office.

A Baltimore attorney shares his thoughts on what could be expected to happen next in court.

The indictment is 34 pages long and reveals that prosecutors have been investigating Pugh for years. She's expected in court at 1 p.m. on Thursday.

Pugh is scheduled to appear in court to hear the 11 counts against her and enter a plea.

"I think she's going to plead guilty tomorrow," Baltimore attorney Andrew Alperstein said.

Alperstein is a Baltimore criminal defense attorney and former prosecutor.

"I think there's a plea agreement in place, and we know that because this case, it's scheduling is skipping earlier parts of the process. The initial appearance is being done at the same time as the arraignment -- that doesn't normally happen that way, and usually the only reason that happens is if she's going to plead guilty," he said.

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Alexander: A strategic overview of the Coup, Part 2.

As our longtime readers know, we are diligent in our morning editor’s call to select only those news and policy matters that have significant implications for American Liberty. Thus, the brief analytical reports that make the cut in The Patriot Post Mid-Day Digest are worthy of your time — and it’s easy to navigate through what does and does not interest you. In other words, we avoid the relentless churn and click-bait that the rest of the mainstream media depend on for advertising revenue, and we focus on what actually matters — which is one reason we accept no advertising.

But this task is made difficult when there are long-term “investigations” whose sole objective is nullifying the election of a duly elected president.

Just 20 minutes after Donald Trump was sworn in on January 20, 2017, The Washington Post ran a prophetic headline declaring, “The campaign to impeach President Trump has begun.”

That headline foretold how, for 30 months, the Democrat Party (with the full support of its Leftmedia public relations conglomerates), would collude with deep-state operatives in the CIA and FBI, essentially saboteur holdovers from the Obama administration, to undermine the Trump administration. The Russian-collusion hoax amounted to, in effect, a coup d’état against the Trump administration.

From its outset, we waded through the Mueller investigation that, predictably, failed to provide any shred of evidence of Russian collusion with the Trump campaign. In fact, we learned unequivocally that Hillary Clinton’s corrupt campaign had actually colluded with Russia, but the damage had already been done: Democrats seized on the phony “Trump Colluded!” narrative to take control of the House of Representatives in the 2018 midterms, which has given them free rein to harass and obstruct the Trump administration via endless subpoenas and witch hunts.

(BTW, recall that Ukrainian oligarch, Victor Pinchuk donated more than $10 million to the Clinton Foundation between 2009 and 2013, including when Clinton was secretary of state. Hillary had deep ties to Ukraine.)

It may be too little too late, but the upcoming Justice Department reports from Inspector General Michael Horowitz and U.S. Attorney John Durham will unveil some of this Demo/deep-state criminal conspiracies.

Intellectual conservatism group denied: may ‘cause stress to the student body’

Two female conservative students who recently tried to obtain official club status for an Intercollegiate Studies Institute chapter at Hobart and William Smith Colleges had their request denied, reportedly over concerns it may “cause stress to the student body.”

The nonprofit Intercollegiate Studies Institute explores intellectual conservatism, such as free markets and Constitutional liberty, and supports campus chapters across the nation. It prioritizes educating minds over campus activism to allow students to learn about principles they might not hear from their typical college professors.

ISI chapters host speakers, read and discuss books with varying conservative viewpoints, and coordinate meet-ups with like-minded students.

Hannah Sailer and Jenny Yuodsnukis, students at Hobart and William Smith Colleges, two private liberal arts colleges in New York that work together to educate students, said they wanted a fresh place to discuss conservative ideas and decided to form an ISI chapter earlier this fall semester.

More here

PHOTO: Alleged whistleblower Eric Ciaramella shakes hands with Barack Obama in Oval Office

A year after Ukraine official and alleged whistleblower Eric Ciaramella left President Trump’s White House, a picture of him shaking Barack Obama’s hand was published on a close friend's wedding website.

The Oval Office photograph, obtained by the Washington Examiner, is circulating among Trump allies who consider it evidence that the alleged whistleblower is biased against Trump and had partisan motivations when he filed an Aug. 12 complaint that sparked impeachment proceedings.

In the photograph, a smiling Ciaramella, then Ukraine director on the National Security Council at the White House, is shown shaking Obama's hand. They are standing in front of a portrait of Abraham Lincoln by George Henry Story.

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Solicitor: Baltimore will consider suing gun manufacturers, if Sandy Hook suits succeed

BALTIMORE (WBFF) – Baltimore City Solicitor Andre Davis said the city will consider suing gun manufacturers if lawsuits related to the Sandy Hook shooting are successful.

The U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled Sandy Hook families can pursue legal action against Remington Arms.

Councilman Zeke Cohen brought up the matter at Tuesday’s city council hearing asking Davis what the city is doing to hold gun manufacturers accountable now.

Solicitor Davis told Cohen every city in America is monitoring what's happening with the Sandy Hook lawsuits.

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'Distraught' Duke of York summoned to Buckingham Palace by the Queen and told to stand down

The Queen 'sacked' Prince Andrew from royal duties after discussing the crisis with Prince Charles and summoning her distraught 'favourite son' to Buckingham Palace to learn his fate.

The Duke of York is today being urged to fly to America to speak to the FBI with lawyers for Jeffrey Epstein's victims warning him 'any delay' must lead to US agents heading to London to interview him before Christmas.

Attorney Lisa Bloom, who represents five of Epstein's 'slaves', has said she is ready to subpoena Andrew and force him to give evidence in the US - but prosecutors would treat him as a witness to help prosecute Epstein's 'helpers' and co-conspirators rather than a criminal suspect.

Ms Bloom said: 'Andrew and his staff must cooperate with all investigations, show up for civil depositions and trials, and produce all documents. Nobody is above the law and everybody should have to answer questions'.

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Tulsi Gabbard blasts Hillary Clinton weeks after calling her 'personification' of Democratic Party 'rot'

Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard built on disparaging remarks about former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during Wednesday night's presidential debate.

Gabbard, 38, feuded with the former presidential candidate recently after Clinton attacked the Hawaii congresswoman and suggested she was supported by the Kremlin.

"That our Democratic Party, unfortunately, is not the party that is of, by, and for the people. It is a party that has been and continues to be influenced by the foreign policy establishment in Washington represented by Hillary Clinton and others foreign policy, by the military-industrial complex, and other greedy corporate interests," Gabbard stated.

"I’m running for president to be the democratic nominee that rebuilds our Democratic Party, takes it out of their hands, and truly puts it in the hands of the people of this country," she continued. "A party that actually hears the voices of Americans who are struggling all across this country. And puts it in the hands of veterans and fellow Americans who are calling for an end to this ongoing Bush, Clinton, Trump foreign policy doctrine of regime change wars, overthrowing dictators in other countries."

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American Medical Association calls for an immediate BAN on all electronic cigarettes and vaping devices amid spate of at least 42 deaths in the US

A leading US health body has called for an immediate nationwide ban on all vaping devices.

The American Medical Association (AMA) said the spate of deaths linked to e-cigarette use had 'shined a light' on how little experts know about them.

A ban would see all products pulled from shelves that are not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to help wean people off traditional cigarettes.

But that would include every vaping device currently on the market, because none have been reviewed or approved - despite being around for more than a decade.

The FDA has been widely criticized for repeatedly pushing back its deadline to begin reviewing them, at one point up until 2022. The deadline is now next May.

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VA County Sends Signal: Won’t Enforce Democrat Governor’s Gun Control

While Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam (D) is preparing a war on guns when the Democrat majority takes its seat in the legislature, Appomattox County is making clear it does not intend to play along.

On November 18, 13News reported that Appomattox County’s Board of Supervisors passed a Second Amendment Sanctuary resolution, making clear the board will oppose efforts to “unconstitutionally restrict gun rights.”

The Washington Examiner published an excerpt of the resolution:

Harris Announces More than a Million Dollars in Grants for Mass Transit on the Eastern Shore

WASHINGTON, DC: Rep. Andy Harris, M.D. (MD-01) announced the award of a $850,000 grant for Shore Transit, serving Somerset, Wicomico and Worcester counties, and a $248,000 grant for Delmarva Community Services, serving Kent, Caroline, Talbot and Dorchester counties. The grants were awarded by the Department of Transportation.

According to the Department of Transportation, the grants will assist in the financing of buses and bus facilities capital projects, including replacing, rehabilitating, purchasing or leasing buses or related equipment, and rehabilitating, purchasing, constructing or leasing bus-related facilities.

Congressman Harris made the following statement:

“Transportation is important to economic growth on the Eastern Shore. As a member of the Committee on Appropriations, I applaud the award of these grants for transit programs in our local communities and will continue to work to ensure that rural towns are not forgotten.”

Baltimore’s Answer to High Homicide Rates and Low School Performance? Ban Plastic Bags.

What do you do when your community faces crushing poverty, failing schools, and disturbing homicide rates?

In Baltimore, the answer is: Ban plastic bags, of course. Yes, Charm City is saving the world, one plastic bag at a time.

The Baltimore City Council passed a citywide ban on retailers’ use of plastic bags at checkout on a 13 to one vote Monday. If that weren’t enough, the city will now put a 5-cent charge on paper bags.

The legislation now awaits signature by Mayor Bernard Young. If he signs it, it wouldn’t take effect until late next year.

Councilwoman Danielle McCray was the sole vote against the measure. Though she supported the ban on plastic bags, McCray opposed the new 5-cent tax on paper bags.

“I know that pennies add up,” she said on Baltimore’s WJZ-TV Channel 13. “I know that dollars add up, and my vote will be a consistent ‘no’ when it comes to unnecessary taxes on my constituents.”

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Maryland Department of Health investigating E. coli cluster

Consumers advised not to eat Ready Pac Bistro® Bowl Chicken Caesar Salad, lot #255406963, “Best By” date Oct. 31, 2019

Baltimore, MD — The Maryland Department of Health is investigating a cluster of Escherichia coli O157:H7 (E. coli O157) infections among seven patients in Maryland. All reported eating Ready Pac Bistro® Bowl Chicken Caesar Salad purchased from various Sam’s Club locations in Maryland. There has been one hospitalization and no deaths associated with these cases.  

Consumers are advised not to eat Ready Pac Bistro® Bowl Chicken Caesar Salad, lot #255406963, “Best By” date Oct. 31, 2019. Testing of unopened salad purchased by one of the patients identified the presence of E. coli O157 in the romaine lettuce. In addition to Sam’s Club, these salad bowls are distributed to many other retailers. The investigation is ongoing and additional laboratory testing is pending. There have been prior outbreaks of E. coli O157 linked to romaine lettuce.

Symptoms of E. coli O157 infection often include severe stomach cramps, diarrhea (often bloody) and vomiting. Some people may have a fever. Most people with an E. coli O157 infection start feeling sick three to four days after eating or drinking something that contains the bacteria. However, illnesses can start anywhere from one to 10 days after exposure. 

Most people recover within five to seven days. Some infections are very mild, but others are severe or even life-threatening. E. coli O157 infections can lead to serious complications, like hemolytic uremic syndrome, which may be fatal.  

Consumers are advised to seek medical advice if they have diarrhea that lasts for more than three days, or diarrhea that is accompanied by a fever higher than 102 degrees Fahrenheit, blood in the stool or ongoing vomiting.

'That's locked': Lindsey Graham announces release date for FISA report

Senate Judiciary Chairman Lindsey Graham announced a date for the release of the Justice Department inspector general's report on alleged Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act abuses.

During an appearance on Fox News, the South Carolina Republican said Inspector General Michael Horowitz's findings will be released on Monday, Dec. 9.

"It'll be December 9th -- you'll get the report," he told Fox News host Sean Hannity on Wednesday. "That's locked," he added.

Graham provided no other details, including how he learned the date, but the senator did receive an update from Attorney General William Barr earlier this month. The announcement comes a couple of days after Graham scheduled a hearing on Dec. 11 for Horowitz to testify about his forthcoming report on FBI intelligence-gathering activities related to the 2016 presidential election.

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Business Groups Warn Against Tax Hikes to Fund Kirwan Reforms

ANNAPOLIS, MD – SEIU, the union representing public schools, colleges, and universities, has recommended that Maryland raise taxes an additional $1.6 billion annually to fund the Kirwan Commission’s recommendation for a large increase in school funding. NFIB, the Maryland Chamber of Commerce and the Maryland Retailers Association—partners in protecting the business community in Maryland—warn that any drastic increase in state taxes will ultimately fall upon taxpayers and small businesses.

“The union said they propose raising taxes on ‘profitable corporations and super-rich individuals,’ but large employers can easily pick up, move to a business-friendly state, and take their employees with them. We’ve already seen it happen in Maryland,” said Mike O’Halloran, state director of NFIB in Maryland. “Then any massive increase in school funding falls on the backs of small businesses and all taxpayers who are left holding the bag.”

“The Maryland business community has a longstanding commitment to supporting education, and this misguided proposal will hamper our ability to continue to invest in educational programs and workforce development opportunities for students across the state,” added Christine Ross, president and CEO of the Maryland Chamber of Commerce. “In addition, it will hurt our small businesses, who make up 92 percent of companies in the state and employ more than 1 million Marylanders.”

“This union-backed plan of more taxes will create an untenable situation for small businesses, their employees, and Maryland taxpayers,” said Cailey Locklair, president of the Maryland Retailers Association. “Labor unions are going back to the well with this plan. The public understands more taxes mean less opportunities for growth.”

The SEIU report also suggests a number of changes to the state’s individual income tax laws. Among the proposed changes are:
  • Increasing the state’s highest marginal income tax rate to 7 percent for Marylanders earning $1 million or more annually;
  • Initiating combined reporting for businesses operating in multiple states on the amount of business they conduct in Maryland;
  • Eliminating some tax credit and subsidy programs; and
  • Lowering the state’s estate tax exemption limit.

To read more, CLICK HERE

Jordan blasts Sondland over omitting Trump's 'no quid pro quo' demand

Rep. Jim Jordan tore into Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland over his decision to not detail President Trump’s explicit no “quid pro quo” demand in a 23-page opening statement during Wednesday’s impeachment hearing.

The Ohio Republican suggested Mr. Sondland didn’t understand that a “quid pro quo” means “this for that” after the ambassador told lawmakers there was a quid pro quo between a White House meeting with Mr. Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in return for public announcements of corruption investigations into the 2016 election interference and a Ukrainian energy company linked to former Vice President Joseph R. Biden’s son Hunter.

“You said to the president of the United States, ‘What do you want from Ukraine?’ The president: ‘I want nothing. I want no quid pro quo. I want Zelensky to do the right thing,’ ” Mr. Jordan said.

“You can’t find time to put that in a 23-page opening statement?” he quizzed.

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Judicial Watch Sues DOJ Over ‘Missing’ Strzok-Page Text Messages Deleted by Mueller Special Counsel

Judicial Watch announced that it filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Justice for text message records of former FBI officials Peter Strzok and Lisa Page believed to be in the possession of the office of Special Counsel Robert Mueller and for other special counsel communications with the FBI relating to Strzok and Page (Judicial Watch, Inc. v. U.S. Department of Justice (No. 1:19-cv-02693)).

The text messages in question would have been sent and received on Justice Department issued iPhones assigned to Strzok and Page during their respective assignments to the Special Counsel’s Office and should have been recovered, reviewed and preserved by the Special Counsel Office before the phones were sent back to the Justice Department Justice Management Division for reassignment.

“The Justice Department IG was unable to recover any text messages from Strzok’s and Page’s phones because the compromised Mueller operation wiped them,” said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton. “Judicial Watch is skeptical that these texts are really gone, and the DOJ’s stonewalling suggests we are right to be suspicious.”

In February 2019, DOJ records showed that former FBI General Counsel James Baker discussed the investigation of Clinton-related emails on Anthony Weiner’s laptop with Clinton’s lawyer David Kendall. Baker then forwarded the conversation to his FBI colleagues. The documents also further describe a previously reported quid pro quo from the Obama State Department offering the FBI more legal attaché positions if it would downgrade a redaction in an email found during the Clinton email investigation “from classified to something else.”

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The Way It Ought To be

So many members of Congress are retiring in hopes of “locking-in” their future retirement payments. Currently their monthly retirement checks are equal to their monthly salaries. They hope to freeze their retirement as it stands. I'm with Trump on this one. Trump is asking everyone to forward this Email to a minimum of 20 people and to ask each one of them to do likewise.

This makes too much sense not to be passed on. In 3 days, most people in the United States will have the message. This is why the idea should be passed around, regardless of Political Party.

The Trump Rule’s Congressional Reform Act Of 2019:

1– No Tenure / No Pension. A Congressman / Woman, collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when they're out of office. No more perks go with them.

2– Congressman / Woman (past, present & future) participate in social security. All funds in the Congressional Retirement Fund move to the Social Security System immediately. All future funds flow into the Social Security System, and Congress participates with the American People. It may not be used for any other purposes.

3– Congress must purchase their own retirement plan, just as all Americans do.

4– Congress will no longer vote themselves pay increases. Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.

5– Congress loses their current Healthcare System and participates in the same Healthcare System as the American people.

6– Congress must equally abide by all the laws, they impose on the American people.

7– All contracts with past and present Congressman / Woman are void. The American people did not make these contracts with Congressmen / Women. The Congress made all these contracts for themselves. Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators should serve their terms, then go home and go back to work, and not get all kinds of freebies!

No wonder they're fighting THIS TOOTH AND NAIL!

If each person contacts a minimum of 20 people, It will only take 3 days for most people in the United States to receive this message. It’s time for us to take action now!


Editor's note: While we could find nothing on "The Trump Rule’s Congressional Reform Act Of 2019" we did find a few petitions and H.R.1935 - Congressional Pension Reform Act.  I doubt Congress would agree to take away any of their benefits.