Maryland Tax Preparer Pleads Guilty to Preparing False Returns and Aggravated Identity Theft

Office Sign Advertised Identities for Sale

Greenbelt, Maryland – Maria Espinal, age 53, of Montgomery Village, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to aiding and assisting in filing false tax returns and aggravated identity theft.

The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division; Special Agent in Charge Kelly R. Jackson of the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, Washington, D.C. Field Office; and Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Maria Espinal owned and operated a tax return preparation business located in Gaithersburg, Maryland. From 2011 through 2017, Maria Espinal prepared and filed fraudulent tax returns on behalf of her clients with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Comptroller of Maryland that claimed tax refunds to which the clients were not entitled. To generate a fraudulent refund, Espinal altered legitimate Forms W-2 in the names of third parties and replaced the third party’s name with her client’s name. As a result, her client claimed the third-party’s withholdings as his or her own, which generated fraudulent tax refunds.

Lindsey Graham Promises to Call in EVERY PERSON Who Signed Bogus Carter Page FISA Warrants …Comey, McCabe, Yates, Rosenstein

Senator Lindsey Graham, the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, joined Maria Bartiromo on Sunday Morning Futures earlier today.

Graham promised Maria Bartiromo he will call in EVERY PERSON who signed the bogus Carter Page FISA Warrants.

The list includes:
James Comey — Then-FBI Director James Comey signed the first three FISA applications on behalf of the FBI
Andrew MCabe — Then-Deputy Director Andrew McCabe signed the fourth one
Sally Yates — Then-DAG Sally Yates
Dana Boente — then Acting DAG Dana Boente and
Rod Rosenstein — DAG Rod Rosenstein signed one or more FISA applications on behalf of the DOJ, according to the FISA memo

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Police: Man accused of armed robbery at Pizza Hut left DNA after face-planting into locked door

LAS CRUCES, N.M. —An accused armed robber's clumsy escape literally left a mark.

Police in Las Cruces, New Mexico, said they found DNA evidence from where a man crashed head-first into a Pizza Hut door as he tried to flee the store.

The Las Cruces Police Department released surveillance video from the June robbery on Thursday and officials said they've charged 19-year-old Markell Deshaun Barnes with attempted armed robbery and attempted aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

Police linked Barnes to two robberies that occurred on June 25.

Barnes first robbed a gas station around 12:15 a.m. that day, and then at 10:30 p.m., attempted to rob the Pizza Hut restaurant, police said.

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Ted Cruz Blasts Spending Bill: Funds Planned Parenthood, Gun Control

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) blasted the $1.4 trillion spending bill that passed the House and Senate this week and was signed into law by President Donald Trump on Friday.

The 2,313-page piece of legislation spends $1.4 trillion and will fund the government until September 30, 2020, through most of what is anticipated to be a combative election season.

“Deals cut in the dead of night,” Cruz asserted in a Twitter video message this week that summarized some of the provisions in the spending package.

The senator said the spending deal benefits the “lobbyists who are bankrupting this country,” and told CBS 11 it represents “lobbyists’ Christmas present.”

“While you were with your family, shopping for Christmas, the lobbyists were spending and spending,” Cruz said in his video message.

“Nobody’s read it,” Cruz said. “There isn’t a person alive who has read this piece of garbage.”

More details here

MSP Princess Anne October/November DUI Arrests

The following persons were arrested by Troopers assigned to the Maryland State Police Princess Anne Barracks and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs during the months of October/November 2019.

• Henry Fitchett, 29 YOA, Crisfield, MD
• Geo Mar Lenn Handy, 30 YOA, Fairmount, MD
• Ryan Onley, 43 YOA, Pocomoke, MD
• Gerardo Martinez, 30 YOA, Gaithersburg, MD
• Rena Holbrook, 29 YOA, Princess Anne, MD
• Jessica Cody, 34 YOA, Deer Park, DE
• Stephanie Dixon, 21 YOA, Seaford, DE
• Raymond Holbrook, 34 YOA, Princess Anne, MD
• Barry Wessells, 49 YOA, Painter, VA
• Joaquin Araujo, 28 YOA, Fremont, NC
• David Justice, 32 YOA, Pocomoke, MD Arrested 11/15/19
• Robert Hyle, 68 YOA, Fruitland, MD
• David Justice, 32 YOA, Pocomoke, MD Arrested 11/22/19
• Thomas White, 46 YOA, Lincoln, DE
• Jacolby Roberts, 29 YOA, Pocomoke, MD
• Colin Jones, 21 YOA, Eden, MD

How a Man Drinks Responsibly: Ask These 3 Questions

The other evening I took my wife and kids out to eat at a fun, all-ages restaurant located near a shopping mall in the suburbs.

We’ve been to this restaurant lots of times, but I guess they’d recently introduced a new menu because I had never seen this before. A large picture near the front of their menu showcased a tall, frosty glass of beer along with this slogan—

“Celebrate adulthood: get a drink!”

Chalk it up perhaps to the sensitivities of being a father of young children — I felt that same sort of wince a dad feels when he’s at the playground with his kid and hears a teenager shout profanity nearby. Our order was taken, our food arrived, and as we sat munching our burgers and fries I found myself still wrestling with the implications of that slogan.

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New Zealand Gun Buyback Was An ‘Unmitigated Failure’

Many New Zealand gun owners have refused to participate in a mandatory buyback program of military-style semi-automatic weapons implemented after the Christchurch massacre in March.

Despite a penalty of up to five years in prison, up to two-thirds of firearms banned by the legislation were not turned in before the Friday deadline by New Zealand gun owners, the Washington Post reported.

While 47,000 semi-automatic rifles have been collected, according to police statistics, a government commissioned study determined that the small nation likely contains between 56,000 and 170,000 now-banned weapons, according to 1 News.

New Zealand’s largest gun rights advocacy group, the Licensed Firearms Owners Council, remarked that the buyback program has been an “unmitigated failure.”

Police Minister Stuart Nash blamed the government’s inability to enforce its buyback scheme on a lack of gun registration. “The problem is we just don’t know exactly how many guns are out in the community, this is why we need a register, to enable Police to better track firearms,” he said, according to 1 News.

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New Zealanders hand in 50,000 guns after the government banned assault rifles in wake of mosque massacre -

New Zealand authorities said Saturday their country will be a safer place after owners handed in more than 50,000 guns during a buyback program following a ban on assault weapons. But critics say the process was flawed and many owners have illegally stashed their firearms.

The government banned the most lethal types of semi-automatic weapons less than a month after a lone gunman in March killed 51 worshippers at two Christchurch mosques. The police then launched a six-month program to buy the newly banned weapons from owners.

The buyback ended midnight Friday, with gun collection events staying open late as police reported in a surge in last-minute returns.

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WCSO Press Releases -Dec. 23, 2019

Incident: Assault
Name of Suspect: Williams, Barry James; 49, of Willards, MD
Date of Incident:  12-21-19
Location:  7600 block of Bethel Rd, Willards, MD
Narrative: On the evening of 12-21-19, Deputies were dispatched to PRMC for an assault. Deputies met with the victim who advised that she was assaulted during a domestic disturbance at a residence on Bethel Rd, Willards. The victim said that she was assaulted and injured by Barry Williams.
Williams was located and arrested. Williams was taken before the District Court Commissioner at Central Booking where he was held without bond pending the bond review.
Charges: 2nd Degree Assault

Incident: Motor Vehicle Theft
Name of Suspect: Holmes, Quinton Elden; 36 of Parsonsburg, MD
Date of Incident: 12-21-19
Location: Airport Rd, Salisbury
Narrative: On 12-21-19, Deputies were dispatched to a location on Airport Rd, Salisbury. Deputies met with the complainant who advised that a Ford F 550 work truck had been stolen. The victim further advised that he had hired Quinton Holmes to wash his trucks. When the victim returned, the truck and Holmes were missing.
Deputies located the truck in Parsonsburg near Holmes’ residence. Holmes was quickly located and arrested. Investigation revealed that Holmes sold fuel from the truck before it was located.
Holmes was taken to Central Booking to see the District Court Commissioner.
Charges: Unlawful taking of a Motor Vehicle and Theft

Northwestern U. FINED Protesters Who Disrupted Jeff Sessions Speech

Northwestern University has fined several students $125 for their participation in a protest effort against Jeff Sessions back in November. The students were cited with disorderly conduct after they disrupted the event by shouting. The university claimed that some protesters pushed and kicked police officers as they were removed from the event.

According to a report by Campus Reform, Northwestern University has finally punished a group of student protesters that disrupted a November 5 guest lecture event featuring former Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

Some of those students have been fined $125 by the university’s police department for their participation in the protests that disrupted the Sessions event for five minutes. The students were cited for “disorderly conduct” and “interfering with the duties of a police officer.” Northwestern claimed this week that some of the protesters pushed, grabbed, and even kicked police officers as they attempted to remove them from the venue.

A statement published by the university claims that it was motivated to levy the fine on the student protesters for “disorderly conduct,” in part, because “vigorous debate and free expression” are essential values at Northwestern.

More here

Study: Immigration to Redistribute 26 Congressional Seats to Blue States for 2022 Election

The nation’s illegal and legal immigration system will help shift 26 congressional seats, primarily from red states, and redistribute them to mostly blue states next year, according to new analysis.

Every year, the United States imports about 1.2 million legal immigrants who largely arrive to reunite with foreign relatives already in the country. This level of annual legal immigration is in addition to the hundreds of thousands of foreign workers who arrive on work visas every year and nearly a million illegal aliens who successfully enter the U.S.

Research by the Center for Immigration Studies’ Steven Camarota and Karen Zeigler finds that annual illegal and legal immigration to the U.S. will redistribute political power in the form of 26 House seats away from a number of red states and towards massively populated blue states like California and New York.

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Maryland’s suburbs saw a large influx of prescription opioids

ANNAPOLIS, Maryland — Between 2006 and 2012, Maryland saw a large influx of prescription opioids, more of which, per person, were sent to suburban areas of the state than the urban or rural areas, according to a Drug Enforcement Administration database published by The Washington Post.

Much of the rest of the nation saw suburban areas hit harder than rural or urban areas. However, Maryland saw fewer pills per person on average than across the nation. Additionally, urban areas in Maryland had the lowest number of pills per person — compared with rural areas and suburbs — whereas nationally, urban areas had the second-largest influx of prescription opioids per person.

Utilizing The Washington Post’s Drug Enforcement Administration ARCOS database, Capital News Service found that counties on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, specifically Cecil and Kent counties, had some of the highest number of pills per person than other counties throughout the state. Cecil County led the state with 69.7 opioid pills per person in 2011, the highest number during this time period.

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'Awesome display of athleticism': K-9 breaks through car window to take down suspect

Police in California captured a suspect after a car chase that ended with officers using rubber pellets to shoot out the windows of the man’s car, allowing a K-9 unit to break through.

Fontana police were dispatched to a call regarding 31-year-old stalking suspect Julio Vasquez around midnight on Friday when they say Vasquez took off in his vehicle, leading them and the California Highway Patrol on an almost hourlong pursuit.

The car was stopped after the highway patrol was able to force the man to a stop by using spike strips and a PIT maneuver, which is when a law enforcement vehicle forces the car it is pursuing to lose control.

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Frederick pediatrician sentenced to 1 year in jail

A former Frederick pediatrician found guilty of a sexual offense involving a patient will serve less than a year behind bars.

Judge William R. Nicklas Jr. sentenced Dr. Ernesto Torres, 69, to a one-year sentence in the Frederick County Detention Center. He granted a request from Torres’ attorney Margaret Teahan to give Torres credit for time served since he began home detention on May 7, approximately 230 days.

Nicklas did not announce if probation will be included with the sentence.

Nicklas found Torres guilty of fourth-degree sex offense and second-degree assault after a bench trial Nov. 1. During sentencing, he merged the two sentences.

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Wicomico County School Calendar Survey

Quote of the Day

“Parents can only give good advice or put them on the right paths, but the final forming of a person's character lies in their own hands.”
― Anne Frank

'12 Most Mortifying Media Moments of 2019'

My immediate reaction to seeing this story was, "They only found 12"?

Indeed, the media was a target-rich environment this past year. MAGA hat rage, Jussie Smollett, the dud Mueller report, "collusion" meltdown; the list could be endless.

Grabien, which has specialized in these "video montages" of idiotic media moments, outdid themselves this year with "The 12 Most Mortifying Media Moments of 2019."

A lot of these media flubs are of the "Don't you wish you knew what we know now" variety," like Jussie Smollett.

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South Carolina Democrat facing backlash after Army, Navy personnel cleared of 'white power' hand-signal allegations

A Democratic state lawmaker from South Carolina was facing backlash Saturday from critics who accused her of going silent after previously accusing Army and Navy personnel of being "cruel and disrespectful" at last weekend's Army-Navy football game in Philadelphia.

In a since-deleted tweet, state Rep. Mandy Powers Norrell wrote, “Three separate candidates making the white power symbol on television. Wonder what the culture is like for the cadet in the front? There’s no excuse and he and other minorities there shouldn’t have to deal with such a cruel and disrespectful environment.”

But since her tweet appeared, U.S. Military Academy cadets and U.S. Naval Academy midshipmen have been cleared of wrongdoing in separate military investigations.

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/south-carolina-rep-silent-on-naval-cadets-being-cleared-in-white-power-investigation-after-accusing-them-of-racism

Candace Owens: ‘Impeachment Fiasco’ Is Good for 2020 Election

Blexit founder Candace Owens told Breitbart News on Friday she believes the “impeachment fiasco” is good for President Donald Trump’s 2020 reelection campaign, as more and more moderate Democrats are waking up to the fact their party stands for “damaging America as a whole.”

“I see the silver lining in that, I think it’s great for Trump,” said Owens, after speaking to thousands of young conservatives at Turning Point USA’s fifth annual Student Action Summit in West Palm Beach, Florida.

“I think it’s going to help him, and that’s going to lead to a landslide,” said Owens. “Because as I’m seeing, more moderate Democrats are waking up to the fact that they really don’t recognize their own party — it’s not for freedom, it’s for damaging America as a whole.”

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JUST IN: Former Del. Cheryl Glenn charged with wire fraud, bribery

BALTIMORE —Former Maryland Del. Cheryl Glenn of Baltimore has been charged with wire fraud and bribery, U.S. Attorney Robert Hur announced Monday morning.

The criminal information was filed in July and unsealed on Monday.

Glenn is accused of accepting $33,750 in bribes in exchange for voting for a bill to increase medical marijuana grower licenses. She is also accused of promising to lead the effort to change the law in order to provide a preference for Maryland residency to instate medical marijuana applicants.

It is alleged that Glenn took the money in exchange for her work on legislation concerning medical marijuana, opioid therapy clinics ad liquor licenses dating back to March 2018.

Glenn resigned from her seat last week, citing personal reasons.

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RELATED:
[Former Delegate Cheryl Glenn Facing Foreclosure]

GLAAD Complains After Politico Uses ‘Sexist and Homophobic’ Term ‘Pillow Fight’

Gay rights advocacy group GLAAD complained to Politico that its use of the term "pillow fight" in its coverage of Thursday night's Democrat primary debate was "sexist and homophobic."

"For women and LGBTQ people at the workplace, hearing phrases like ‘dramatic,' ‘over the top,' and even ‘pillow fight' during office disagreements fosters negative stereotypes and diminishes a person simply because of who they are," GLAAD's Drew Anderson wrote in an email.

Politico used the term in its post-debate newsletter, writing that 2020 Democrat presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg had been "side-tracked by his pillow fight with Elizabeth Warren."

"Disagreements happen in politics, but using these loaded terms during disputes feed into the sexist and homophobic tropes that simply have no place in our political coverage and rhetoric," Anderson wrote in his email.

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REPUBLICANS HEAD INTO ELECTION YEAR WITH SEVEN TIMES MORE CASH THAN DEMOCRATS

The Republican National Committee heads into the 2020 election year with more than seven times as much cash on hand as the Democratic National Committee, the parties’ FEC filings show.

FEC filings from both parties show the RNC has $63 million in cash on hand compared to the DNC’s $8.3 million, Bloomberg reported. This is more than seven times as much cash on hand as the DNC has, according to Axios.

The RNC in November raised $20.6 million compared to the DNC’s $8 million, FEC filings show. The DNC did not immediately return the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.

News of these funds came after the RNC reported more than 600,000 new donors since Democrats began attempting to impeach President Donald Trump.

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Trump Advocate Launches “Last Hope USA” To Stand Against Indoctrination

The America First movement knows high-school senior CJ Pearson as one of President Donald J. Trump’s most aggressive and effective advocates on social media, who implores the nation’s youth to support Donald Trump’s presidency. He has used his platform, which counts nearly a half of million followers, to fight the fake news attacks on President Trump and his supporters.

Pearson is one of MAGA’s rising stars. He has survived racist attacks from the mainstream media and leftist commentators, evangelizing for President Trump’s reforms and allies with an acute precision.

There’s nothing like being told by white liberals – because I won’t believe what they want for me to believe – that I’m a “traitor to my race”.
Like sorry, massa, did I hurt your feelings?

— CJ Pearson (@thecjpearson) December 21, 2019

Instead of simply enjoying his vast digital media following and planning for college, Pearson announced several days ago that he has launched Last Hope USA, a 501c3 organization that aims to educate our students about our founding documents and provide them the needed tools to fight against indoctrination from educators.

Over the course of my high school career, I’ve witnessed firsthand the pervasive liberal indoctrination that exists within our schools.

it’s time for conservatives to fight back and I’m founding @lasthopeusa to do just that.
— CJ Pearson (@thecjpearson) December 16, 2019

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Suspect Arrested For Serious Assault In Worcester Co.

(WEST OCEAN CITY, MD) – A suspect is under arrest in Worcester County and charged with the assault of another man who is in critical condition in a Baltimore hospital.

The suspect is identified as Eric J. Jarrett, 48, of no fixed address. After consultation with the Worcester County State’s Attorney’s Office, Maryland State Police have charged Jarrett with first degree assault, second degree assault and reckless endangerment. He is currently being held in the Worcester County Detention Center.

The victim is identified as George L. Stinnet, 58, of no fixed address. Stinnet is at the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center where he is in critical condition.

Shortly after 12:30 p.m. on December 19, 2019, troopers from the Berlin Barrack were dispatched to assist emergency medical services personnel at an apartment in the 10000-block of Golf Course Road, West Ocean City, Md. Arriving troopers found an EMS team attending to an unconscious man, later identified as Stinnet, who was in the apartment. An ambulance crew transported Stinnet from the scene, but a Maryland State Police helicopter was soon called and the victim was flown to the Shock Trauma Center.

Troopers called for criminal investigators to respond. Personnel from the Worcester County Bureau of Investigation and the Maryland State Police Criminal Enforcement Division and Homicide Unit responded.

The preliminary investigation indicates both the victim and suspect are homeless and were in an apartment with other individuals. During the evening of December 18th, information developed during the investigation indicates the suspect assaulted the victim while in the apartment. Details of that assault are still being investigated. When someone could not wake the victim the next afternoon, they called for an ambulance to respond.

Investigators developed additional information about the suspect and requested assistance from the Ocean City Police Department. The suspect was taken into custody by that department for another unrelated assault yesterday evening. He has since been charged with the crimes listed above in connection with the assault on Stinnet.

A motive for the assault has not been identified at this time. The investigation is continuing and additional charges are possible.

Multiple agencies assisted with this investigation. They include the Worcester County Bureau of Investigation, Worcester County State’s Attorney’s Office, Worcester County Sheriff’s Office, Ocean City Police Department, Berlin Police Department, Pocomoke Police Department and the Maryland State Police Homicide Unit, Criminal Enforcement Division, Crime Scene Unit, Berlin Barrack and the Computer Crimes Unit.

“I’ve Seen the Documents”

On Friday night former US Attorney and US House Rep. John Ratcliffe went on with Jason Chaffetz on Hannity and revealed he has seen the documents that indicate that Comey and Brennan were running an op BEFORE the opening of Crossfire Hurricane.

Fired FBI Director James Comey stated in March of 2017 under oath that the FBI investigation into the Trump – Russia scandal started in July 2016.

Comey lied.

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Nigerian man in ICE custody passes away in Maryland

WASHINGTON – A Nigerian man in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Enforcement (ICE) at the Worcester County Jail in Snow Hill, Maryland, passed away Saturday morning at the facility.

Anthony Oluseye Akinyemi, 56, was pronounced dead at 5:23 a.m. local time December 21, 2019, after he was found unresponsive in his cell and efforts by facility staff and emergency personnel to revive him were unsuccessful. The preliminary cause of death appears to be self-inflicted strangulation; however, the case is currently under investigation.

Consistent with the agency’s protocols, the appropriate agencies have been notified about the death, including the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General, and the ICE Office of Professional Responsibility. Additionally, ICE has notified the Nigerian consulate and Mr. Akinyemi’s next of kin.

ICE is firmly committed to the health and welfare of all those in its custody and is undertaking a comprehensive agency-wide review of this incident, as it does in all such cases. Fatalities in ICE custody, statistically, are exceedingly rare and occur at a fraction of the national average for the U.S. detained population.

This agency’s comprehensive review will be conducted by ICE senior leadership to include Enforcement and Removal Operations, the Office of Professional Responsibility and the Office of the Principal Legal Advisor.

Mr. Akinyemi had been in ICE custody less than 24 hours. He entered ICE custody December 20, one day after he was convicted in Baltimore City Circuit Court for a sex offense and assault.

ICE had previously lodged an immigration detainer against Mr. Akinyemi July 23, 2019, pursuant to his arrest for sexual abuse of a minor.

Mr. Akinyemi entered the U.S. lawfully on a non-immigrant visa in December 2017, but he failed to comply with the terms of his admission. At the time of his death, Mr. Akinyemi was in removal proceedings before the federal immigration courts.

A viewer Writes........OCPD Officier Needs Our Help

Merry Christmas Joe!

A local Ocean City police officer is undergoing cancer treatment while his wife just gave birth to their second child. She is on unpaid maternity leave as a special ed teacher and he on medical leave. Can you post this link, or story on your page? I KNOW your readers, like myself, are the giving kind.

Thank you very much and have a wonderful holiday!

https://www.oceancitytoday.com/news/ocpd-s-berry-plays-bad-hand-he-s-been-dealt/article_268c8078-2296-11ea-b926-27cd2717a7f9.html

Story link for you to check out:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/family-faces-cancer-with-baby-on-the-way?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unknown&utm_campaign=comms_bmq3+family-faces-cancer-with-baby-on-the-way

A ring for a ring: Tiffany & Co. jewelry worth thousands dropped in Annapolis Salvation Army red kettle

One donor answered the ring of the Salvation Army bell with a ring of her own — and two bracelets.

Capt. Ryan Vincent, commander of the Salvation Army in Annapolis, said a woman came up to a kettle worker outside the Festival at Riva shopping center on Tuesday, slipped the jewelry into the slot of the donation bucket, said “Merry Christmas” and walked away.
 
One of the bracelets, made of yellow gold by Tiffany & Co., was valued at $6,000 by a jeweler. The Salvation Army sold the bracelet for $1,500 worth of donation money.

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Trump Announces ‘Unprecedented’ Gift For U.S. Military Members

President Donald Trump announced on Friday that his administration had secured a large pay increase for those serving in the U.S. military, and that the accomplishment was “unprecedented” since this is the third year in a row that the administration has secured such pay increases.

“As president, I have been steadfast in my efforts to ensure that the courageous patriots of our Military Forces have the full support of the United States Government,” Trump wrote in a letter addressed to U.S. service members. “That is why I fought so hard to secure another pay raise this year for our great troops. Starting January 1, 2020, each service member will see their PAY INCREASE by 3.1% – the largest raise for our Military in more than 10 years.”

“While previous administrations allowed military pay to stagnate, my administration has secured pay raises for our Troops in each of the past 3 years – every year of my Presidency,” Trump continued. “This is unprecedented. But when it comes to supporting our heroes in uniform, no measure can ever convey the depth of our gratitude or extent of our obligation."

More here

Red State Democrat Governors Approve More Refugees for Their States

Democrat governors representing red states such as Kentucky, North Carolina, Montana, and Kansas have approved more refugee resettlement in 2020 for their states.

For Fiscal Year 2020, President Donald Trump will continue cutting refugee admissions by reducing former President Barack Obama’s refugee inflow by at least 80 percent. This reduction would mean a maximum of 18,000 refugees can be resettled in the U.S. between October 1, 2019, and September 30, 2020. This is merely a numerical limit and not a goal federal officials are supposed to reach.

Coupled with the refugee reduction, Trump signed an executive order that gives localities, counties, and states veto power over the resettlement of refugees in their communities.

The newly-elected Democrat Governor of Kentucky, Andy Beshear, has formally asked Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to continue resettling refugees into the state. Likewise, Democrat governors such as Steve Bullock, Roy Cooper, and Laura Kelly representing red states such as Montana, North Carolina, and Kansas have approved more refugees for resettlement.

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Trump hosts Amish in historic Oval Office visit

President Trump began the holiday break by hosting an Amish delegation in the Oval Office, the first time members of the reclusive community have received that honor.

They might be an odd pairing — the brash and extravagant billionaire president and the famously humble Amish — but they enjoy a kinship in their Christian faith and work ethic, the Amish visitors told The Washington Times.

The Amish men described themselves as strong supporters of Mr. Trump and each denounced the House Democrats’ impeachment of the president as a waste of taxpayer money.

“He is a common man just like me and everybody else — very common, very friendly. He called us friends when we walked in there,” said Levi Miller, 56, an Amish farmer from Ohio. “It gets people excited that we have somebody in there who is not afraid to talk about Jesus Christ.”

“We read the newspaper and it is just impeachment this and impeachment that. It’s a lot of hogwash,” said Ben Hostetler, 51, a woodworker.

“What they are blaming Trump for is what they did themselves.”

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Policy change will allow Purple Heart recipients, former POWs to shop at on-base PX

More than four million more people will be eligible to shop at an Army or Air Force base effective January 1 when the Army & Air Force Exchange Service loosens its requirements to allow veterans with service-connected disabilities, former POWs or Purple Heart recipients

In the past, only active and retired military members along with their direct family members — along with veterans with 100 percent service-connected disabilities — could shop at the Army PX.

The new policy came about because of the Purple Heart and Disabled Veterans Equal Access Act of 2018.

More here

63-car pileup in Virginia leaves several with life-threatening injuries

A massive “chain reaction” pileup on an interstate in Virginia early Sunday left multiple people with injuries ranging from minor to life-threatening, authorities said.

At least 63 vehicles crashed in the westbound lanes of I-64 near Williamsburg at 7:51 a.m., Virginia State Police wrote on Twitter after earlier saying 35 cars were involved in the wreck. At the time of the crash, police said ice was present on the Queens Creek Bridge and heavy fog covered the area.

In addition to closing all westbound lanes, officials said eastbound lanes were shut down due to rubber-necking at the crashes.

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https://www.foxnews.com/auto/massive-car-pileup-virginia-injuries

Political Memes

Monday Morning Funnies

NOI 12-22-19 Wicomico Accidental S/F Dwelling Warren Rd Pittsville

NOTICE OF INVESTIGATION Date:  December 22, 2019 Time:  8:51 pm Location / Address:  34277 Warren Road, Pittsville, Wicomico County Type of Incident:   Fire Description of Structure / Property:   one story wood frame single family dwelling Owner / Occupants:  Thomas & Kip Harr Injuries or Deaths:  none Estimated $ Loss: Structure: $ 20,000.00   Contents: $ 2,000.00 Smoke Alarm Status:  present & activated Fire Alarm / Sprinkler Status:  n/a Arrests(s):  n/a Primary Responding Fire Department:  Pittsville Volunteer Fire Department # of Alarms:  1   # Of Firefighters:  15 Time to Control:  20 minutes Discovered By: occupant Area of Origin:  Bedroom Preliminary Cause:  Accidental, as a result of a  decorative electric window candle Additional Information:  The occupants have been displaced and are being assisted by the American Red Cross.