Several House Republicans walked out of a closed-door briefing on the coronavirus by Trump administration health officials after a Democratic chairman railed against the White House response to the crisis.
Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, the leading House health appropriator, kicked off the briefing by criticizing the administration for being disorganized and lacking urgency in its response. Several GOP members started to boo before most Republicans got up and walked out.
"If I wanted to hear the politics of it, I'd read Politico or something, let's be serious," said Rep. Paul Mitchell of Michigan. Even Democrats were uncomfortable with DeLauro's tirade.
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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
Saturday, February 29, 2020
EXCLUSIVE: 1,155 Chinese Nationals Apprehended After Illegally Entering U.S. in FY2020
U.S. Border Patrol agents apprehended 1,155 Chinese migrants this fiscal year after they illegally entered from Mexico, Canada, or coastal boundaries. More than 95 percent came over the southwestern border between October 1, 2019, and January 31, 2020.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials responded to an inquiry from Breitbart Texas and reported that Border Patrol agents apprehended 1,155 Chinese nationals who illegally crossed into the United States. Of those, 1,114 were apprehended after crossing between ports of entry in the nine Border Patrol sectors making up the southwestern border with Mexico. Of the remaining, 17 were apprehended after illegally crossing the Canadian border and 24 were apprehended along coastal boundaries.
Breitbart Texas investigated the matter after Border Patrol agents in the Rio Grande Valley, Laredo, and Del Rio Sectors commented on the increasing numbers of Chinese migrants appearing in their sectors.
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U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials responded to an inquiry from Breitbart Texas and reported that Border Patrol agents apprehended 1,155 Chinese nationals who illegally crossed into the United States. Of those, 1,114 were apprehended after crossing between ports of entry in the nine Border Patrol sectors making up the southwestern border with Mexico. Of the remaining, 17 were apprehended after illegally crossing the Canadian border and 24 were apprehended along coastal boundaries.
Breitbart Texas investigated the matter after Border Patrol agents in the Rio Grande Valley, Laredo, and Del Rio Sectors commented on the increasing numbers of Chinese migrants appearing in their sectors.
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Gingrich: Asking the right questions about coronavirus
After listening to the Democrats attack President Trump and smear Vice President Mike Pence over the coronavirus, it hit me that it is vital for Republicans to focus on the virus – specifically its challenges to human health, jobs, and the economy.
There is a real temptation to descend to the level of the left’s dishonest, false, and often vicious attacks about the Trump administration’s response to the potential pandemic. However, that would be exactly the wrong reaction.
Just as the contrast between Trump in India and the pathetic South Carolina debate emphasized the stature difference between the president as a world leader and a group of noisy, desperate politicians, there is an opportunity for the Trump administration and congressional Republicans to demonstrate patriotism, seriousness and focusing on solving real problems for real people.
The contrast between bitterly partisan, negative, and divisive Democrats such as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and the serious, focused effort of Trump and Pence is important. It can go a long way toward convincing the country that there is a serious, problem-solving Republican Party and a petty, divisive Democrat Party.
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https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/newt-gingrich-asking-the-right-questions-about-coronavirus
There is a real temptation to descend to the level of the left’s dishonest, false, and often vicious attacks about the Trump administration’s response to the potential pandemic. However, that would be exactly the wrong reaction.
Just as the contrast between Trump in India and the pathetic South Carolina debate emphasized the stature difference between the president as a world leader and a group of noisy, desperate politicians, there is an opportunity for the Trump administration and congressional Republicans to demonstrate patriotism, seriousness and focusing on solving real problems for real people.
The contrast between bitterly partisan, negative, and divisive Democrats such as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and the serious, focused effort of Trump and Pence is important. It can go a long way toward convincing the country that there is a serious, problem-solving Republican Party and a petty, divisive Democrat Party.
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https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/newt-gingrich-asking-the-right-questions-about-coronavirus
US and Taliban sign peace deal that will send ALL American troops home in 14 months and pave way to end of 18-year Afghanistan war
The United States and the Taliban have signed a peace agreement aimed at ending the 18-year war in Afghanistan, potentially helping President Donald Trump fulfill a key campaign promise to extract America from its 'endless wars.'
The deal was signed on Saturday in the Qatari capital Doha by U.S. special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad and Taliban political chief Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was on hand to witness the ceremony.
Under the agreement, the U.S. will begin withdrawing thousands of troops in exchange for Taliban commitments to prevent Afghanistan from being a launchpad for terrorist attacks.
If the Taliban meet their commitments, all U.S. troops would leave in 14 months.
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The deal was signed on Saturday in the Qatari capital Doha by U.S. special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad and Taliban political chief Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was on hand to witness the ceremony.
Under the agreement, the U.S. will begin withdrawing thousands of troops in exchange for Taliban commitments to prevent Afghanistan from being a launchpad for terrorist attacks.
If the Taliban meet their commitments, all U.S. troops would leave in 14 months.
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Trump Tells CPAC He's Delivering the 'Hope and Change' Liberals Promised 'And It’s Driving Them Crazy'
NATIONAL HARBOR, MD — Near the conclusion of the four-day Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), President Donald Trump spoke. The 45th president was scheduled to hit the stage at 3 p.m., but conservative activists of all different ages, races, and both genders waited in the Potomac Ballroom of the Gaylord National Resort and Conference Center for hours to hear him speak.
The president ran a little late, but the audience was treated to highlight videos about Trump and his history with CPAC, and the efforts of the American Conservative Union launching CPACs in other regions of the country, as well as around the world in Australia, Japan, and elsewhere.
Matt Schlapp, the chairman of the American Conservative Union, went on stage first to introduce President Trump. Schlapp said that he believes Nancy Pelosi would love to rip up the speech that Trump would soon be giving, but said of Pelosi, “You can’t rip up the spirit of the American people, and those yearning for freedom across the globe.”
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The president ran a little late, but the audience was treated to highlight videos about Trump and his history with CPAC, and the efforts of the American Conservative Union launching CPACs in other regions of the country, as well as around the world in Australia, Japan, and elsewhere.
Matt Schlapp, the chairman of the American Conservative Union, went on stage first to introduce President Trump. Schlapp said that he believes Nancy Pelosi would love to rip up the speech that Trump would soon be giving, but said of Pelosi, “You can’t rip up the spirit of the American people, and those yearning for freedom across the globe.”
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Fears for 50 staff and residents at nursing facility after they are confirmed with coronavirus symptoms - two miles from Washington hospital where man, 50, becomes the first to die from the virus in the US and Donald Trump urges public not to panic
Fears are mounting for 50 staff and residents at a nursing facility in Washington state after they have shown coronavirus symptoms, on the same day that the US has its first confirmed coronavirus death and Donald Trump continued to urge the public not to panic.
More than 50 staff and residents of the nursing facility where two new coronavirus cases have been confirmed are now showing symptoms of the disease, health officials said during a teleconference with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
At the Life Care nursing facility in Kirkland, Washington state, around 27 of the 108 residents and 25 of the 180 staff have some symptoms, including some cases where the individuals have contracted pneumonia.
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More than 50 staff and residents of the nursing facility where two new coronavirus cases have been confirmed are now showing symptoms of the disease, health officials said during a teleconference with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
At the Life Care nursing facility in Kirkland, Washington state, around 27 of the 108 residents and 25 of the 180 staff have some symptoms, including some cases where the individuals have contracted pneumonia.
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ICYMI: Toneisha Harris - Foreigner's "I Want to Know What Love Is" - Voice Blind Auditions
JMB Graduate Toneisha Harris
Houses frozen over near Lake Erie in New York due to cold temps
Homeowners on South Shore Drive woke to the ice completely covering their doors and windows. In some cases, their homes were dark because of how thick the ice was.
Ed Mis, resident and homeowner in Hoover Beach, says he's never seen conditions this bad before. The front of his home is completely covered in ice that is likely one to three feet thick.
"I actually had to go out a secondary door and then chisel my way back into the house by breaking the ice," he told 2 On Your Side's Karys Belger.
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'A lot of cocktails': Pompeo mocks John Kerry for 'fancy' trips to foreign countries
NATIONAL HARBOR, Maryland — Secretary of State Mike Pompeo mocked one of his predecessors for what he described as a lavish lifestyle, including trips to foreign countries funded by American taxpayers.
"You should know that different secretaries kind of roll different. I’m not in it, I'm not in it for the fancy dinners in Paris or Switzerland or Vienna," Pompeo said during a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference on Friday.
"One of my predecessors went 62 times," he added, referencing former Secretary of State John Kerry.
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"You should know that different secretaries kind of roll different. I’m not in it, I'm not in it for the fancy dinners in Paris or Switzerland or Vienna," Pompeo said during a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference on Friday.
"One of my predecessors went 62 times," he added, referencing former Secretary of State John Kerry.
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Trump to renominate John Ratcliffe for director of national intelligence
President Trump is renominating Texas Rep. John Ratcliffe to become the next director of national intelligence.
"I am pleased to announce the nomination of @RepRatcliffe (Congressman John Ratcliffe) to be Director of National Intelligence (DNI)," the president tweeted on Friday. "Would have completed process earlier, but John wanted to wait until after IG Report was finished. John is an outstanding man of great talent!"
Trump had previously nominated the Texas Republican to replace Dan Coats as the director last summer, but Ratcliffe was forced to withdraw, blaming what he described as a partisan nomination process after senators, including Republicans, questioned his credentials. He was also accused of overstating his professional record regarding the prosecution of Hamas terrorists.
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"I am pleased to announce the nomination of @RepRatcliffe (Congressman John Ratcliffe) to be Director of National Intelligence (DNI)," the president tweeted on Friday. "Would have completed process earlier, but John wanted to wait until after IG Report was finished. John is an outstanding man of great talent!"
Trump had previously nominated the Texas Republican to replace Dan Coats as the director last summer, but Ratcliffe was forced to withdraw, blaming what he described as a partisan nomination process after senators, including Republicans, questioned his credentials. He was also accused of overstating his professional record regarding the prosecution of Hamas terrorists.
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Lee proposes constitutional carry legislation
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee on Thursday proposed constitutional carry gun legislation that would permit law-abiding residents who are at least 21 years old to carry a handgun without a permit, except in certain restricted areas.
Constitutional carry applies to both open carry and concealed carry. Current state law requires a permit for both.
“The Second Amendment is clear and concise and secures the freedoms of law-abiding citizens to keep and bear arms,” Lee said in his announcement. “I am pleased to announce constitutional carry legislation today that will protect the Second Amendment rights of Tennesseans, while also stiffening penalties on criminals who steal or illegally possess firearms. I appreciate Lt. Governor [Randy] McNally and Speaker [Cameron] Sexton for helping to lead the way on this important issue.”
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Constitutional carry applies to both open carry and concealed carry. Current state law requires a permit for both.
“The Second Amendment is clear and concise and secures the freedoms of law-abiding citizens to keep and bear arms,” Lee said in his announcement. “I am pleased to announce constitutional carry legislation today that will protect the Second Amendment rights of Tennesseans, while also stiffening penalties on criminals who steal or illegally possess firearms. I appreciate Lt. Governor [Randy] McNally and Speaker [Cameron] Sexton for helping to lead the way on this important issue.”
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Dr. Seigel slams 'bunch of alarmists' at World Health Organization
Fox News medical correspondent Dr. Marc Seigel criticized the World Health Organization (WHO) as “a bunch of alarmists” Friday for raising their assessment of the global coronavirus risk from “high” to “very high.”
A “very high” global risk assessment is the most serious assessment in the WHO's new four-stage alert system. The head of the organization, Dr. Tedros Adhanom, cited the "continued increase in the number of cases and the number of affected countries" in raising the risk level.
“They always overstate the problem and they always make it seem like the world is going to end,” Seigel told “The Five," noting that the WHO is part of the United Nations.
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https://www.foxnews.com/media/dr-marc-seigel-who-alarmists-coronavirus
A “very high” global risk assessment is the most serious assessment in the WHO's new four-stage alert system. The head of the organization, Dr. Tedros Adhanom, cited the "continued increase in the number of cases and the number of affected countries" in raising the risk level.
“They always overstate the problem and they always make it seem like the world is going to end,” Seigel told “The Five," noting that the WHO is part of the United Nations.
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https://www.foxnews.com/media/dr-marc-seigel-who-alarmists-coronavirus
'Dems called it VERY wrong!': Trump defends coronavirus response after Bloomberg calls him 'incapable'
President Trump slammed Democrats for casting doubts about his response to the coronavirus threat after Michael Bloomberg questioned his leadership capabilities.
The late-night Twitter barrage from the White House began with the president chiding Bloomberg for his first two debate performances in the Democratic primary contest.
"Word is that Mini Mike Bloomberg performed so poorly in the two debates, that he is thinking about dropping out of the Democrat Primary," Trump said late Thursday. "The fact is, he was not true to himself, and the public was able to quickly figure him out. Not a good experience for Mini Mike!”
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The late-night Twitter barrage from the White House began with the president chiding Bloomberg for his first two debate performances in the Democratic primary contest.
"Word is that Mini Mike Bloomberg performed so poorly in the two debates, that he is thinking about dropping out of the Democrat Primary," Trump said late Thursday. "The fact is, he was not true to himself, and the public was able to quickly figure him out. Not a good experience for Mini Mike!”
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Pollak: 5 Reasons to Stop Freaking Out About Coronavirus
Coronavirus is an “info-demic,” a panic caused by the spread of partial and often misleading information about a health risk, sometimes deliberately.
The virus is real, and a small number of people have been infected. But it is going to pass.
It is an unpleasant respiratory illness, but it is not an organ-destroying horror like Ebola. Precautions are being taken, a vaccine will emerge, and life will continue as usual.
Here are five specific reasons to chill out.
1. Coronavirus is a familiar illness, and not as bad as others.
The virus is real, and a small number of people have been infected. But it is going to pass.
It is an unpleasant respiratory illness, but it is not an organ-destroying horror like Ebola. Precautions are being taken, a vaccine will emerge, and life will continue as usual.
Here are five specific reasons to chill out.
1. Coronavirus is a familiar illness, and not as bad as others.
Federal appeals court blocks Trump policy ordering asylum-seekers to stay in Mexico
The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against President Trump’s policy which required asylum-seekers from Central America to stay in Mexico while waiting for a ruling.
On Friday, a three-judge panel in San Francisco ruled that the administration could not require asylum-seekers to await their approval south of the border. The “Remain in Mexico” policy was implemented in late 2018 as the country’s southern border was being overwhelmed by caravans of migrants seeking asylum in the United States.
Lawyers representing the American Civil Liberties Union and several other advocacy groups in opposing Trump’s policy argued that the president broke federal law, which requires the protection of asylum-seekers fleeing persecution, by forcing migrants to remain in tent encampments in Mexico which have experienced an uptick in violent kidnappings by the criminal cartels in Mexico.
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On Friday, a three-judge panel in San Francisco ruled that the administration could not require asylum-seekers to await their approval south of the border. The “Remain in Mexico” policy was implemented in late 2018 as the country’s southern border was being overwhelmed by caravans of migrants seeking asylum in the United States.
Lawyers representing the American Civil Liberties Union and several other advocacy groups in opposing Trump’s policy argued that the president broke federal law, which requires the protection of asylum-seekers fleeing persecution, by forcing migrants to remain in tent encampments in Mexico which have experienced an uptick in violent kidnappings by the criminal cartels in Mexico.
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House Democrats go full nanny state and pass overkill vape flavor ban
Nanny-state politicians in Washington already raised the legal age to purchase tobacco and vaping products to 21. Now, as if they’re determined to make things worse, the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives just passed a bill to outright ban flavored e-cigarette products.
The bill, the “Reversing the Youth Tobacco Epidemic Act of 2019,” was sponsored by Rep. Frank Pallone, a Democrat from New Jersey. It bans the online sale of vaping products and generally prohibits the sale and use of flavored e-cigarettes. With 124 Democratic co-sponsors, the bill has the broad backing of the Democratic Party.
But two House Republicans, Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick and Rep. Peter King, have backed the bill as well. So much for individual liberty and free markets, huh?
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The bill, the “Reversing the Youth Tobacco Epidemic Act of 2019,” was sponsored by Rep. Frank Pallone, a Democrat from New Jersey. It bans the online sale of vaping products and generally prohibits the sale and use of flavored e-cigarettes. With 124 Democratic co-sponsors, the bill has the broad backing of the Democratic Party.
But two House Republicans, Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick and Rep. Peter King, have backed the bill as well. So much for individual liberty and free markets, huh?
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California: Twice-Deported Illegal Alien Arrested for Triple Homicide
A twice-deported illegal alien, accused of murdering three men in the sanctuary state of California, has been arrested by law enforcement officials.
Jose Luis Torres Garcia, a 33-year-old illegal alien from Mexico, was identified this week by Riverside County Sheriff’s Office in Southern California for allegedly murdering three men execution-style, as Breitbart News reported. The victims include 50-year-old Jaime Covarrubias Espindola, 38-year-old Jose Maria Aguilar-Espejel, and 28-year-old Rodrigo Aguilar-Esepjel.
Garcia had been on the run, fleeing to Cheyenne, Wyoming, but was arrested by local authorities there when he was pulled over for a traffic stop. During his arrest, police found 15 pounds of marijuana in his vehicle.
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Jose Luis Torres Garcia, a 33-year-old illegal alien from Mexico, was identified this week by Riverside County Sheriff’s Office in Southern California for allegedly murdering three men execution-style, as Breitbart News reported. The victims include 50-year-old Jaime Covarrubias Espindola, 38-year-old Jose Maria Aguilar-Espejel, and 28-year-old Rodrigo Aguilar-Esepjel.
Garcia had been on the run, fleeing to Cheyenne, Wyoming, but was arrested by local authorities there when he was pulled over for a traffic stop. During his arrest, police found 15 pounds of marijuana in his vehicle.
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Black supporters cheer Trump as former NFL player anoints him 'first black president'
Former NFL player Jack Brewer declared that President Trump, not President Barack Obama, was the first black president.
"Mr. President, I got to interrupt," Brewer said Thursday during a roundtable event to celebrate Black History Month. "But I've got to say this because this is Black History Month: Man, you the first black president."
The former NFL player's comment elicited a round of applause from the other black supporters of the president at the table.
"Still president of the United States, absolutely," Diamond and Silk chimed in.
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"Mr. President, I got to interrupt," Brewer said Thursday during a roundtable event to celebrate Black History Month. "But I've got to say this because this is Black History Month: Man, you the first black president."
The former NFL player's comment elicited a round of applause from the other black supporters of the president at the table.
"Still president of the United States, absolutely," Diamond and Silk chimed in.
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‘Sex Change’ Isn’t Surgically Possible, My Surgeon Testified in Court
Many people wonder why I’m so outspoken about the madness of prescribing cross-sex hormones and genital mutilation surgery for patients who suffer from the desire to be the opposite sex, known clinically as gender dysphoria.
I speak out because I consulted the “gender experts” when I had gender confusion, and they told me sex change was the only way to get relief.
But they were wrong. I didn’t need sex change—I needed effective psychotherapy to resolve childhood issues.
“Sex change” is pure balderdash. No one can change his or her sex. I have the document saying so.
Here’s how it came about.
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I speak out because I consulted the “gender experts” when I had gender confusion, and they told me sex change was the only way to get relief.
But they were wrong. I didn’t need sex change—I needed effective psychotherapy to resolve childhood issues.
“Sex change” is pure balderdash. No one can change his or her sex. I have the document saying so.
Here’s how it came about.
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'Not true': White House denies it cut funding for CDC to fight infectious diseases
White House officials hit back at allegations that cuts to infectious disease budgets were putting people at risk from a coronavirus outbreak in the latest effort to ease public concern.
The Trump administration has been under growing scrutiny for claims it had cut funding at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, making it more difficult to respond to an epidemic.
Acting Director of the Office of Management and Budget Russ Vought said in a White House briefing that the headlines were untrue. He said savings were made through trimming waste and unnecessary programs rather than cutting anything connected to fighting infectious disease.
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The Trump administration has been under growing scrutiny for claims it had cut funding at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, making it more difficult to respond to an epidemic.
Acting Director of the Office of Management and Budget Russ Vought said in a White House briefing that the headlines were untrue. He said savings were made through trimming waste and unnecessary programs rather than cutting anything connected to fighting infectious disease.
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'White supremacists have done it': AOC compares religious liberty advocates to racists using Bible 'to justify bigotry'
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said religious liberty advocates are "weaponizing" the Bible to "justify bigotry," much like "those who justified slavery did."
During a Thursday House Oversight Committee hearing about the Trump administration's "religious liberty assault on LGBTQ rights," Ocasio-Cortez said people using religious exemptions to exclude gay and transgender citizens remind her of those who "weaponized" Scripture to enable slavery, white supremacy, and racism.
"It's very difficult to sit here and listen to arguments in the long history of this country of using Scripture and weaponizing and abusing Scripture to justify bigotry," the New York Democrat said to the panelists present at the committee hearing. "White supremacists have done it. Those who justified slavery did it. Those who fought against integration did it, and we're seeing it today."
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During a Thursday House Oversight Committee hearing about the Trump administration's "religious liberty assault on LGBTQ rights," Ocasio-Cortez said people using religious exemptions to exclude gay and transgender citizens remind her of those who "weaponized" Scripture to enable slavery, white supremacy, and racism.
"It's very difficult to sit here and listen to arguments in the long history of this country of using Scripture and weaponizing and abusing Scripture to justify bigotry," the New York Democrat said to the panelists present at the committee hearing. "White supremacists have done it. Those who justified slavery did it. Those who fought against integration did it, and we're seeing it today."
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Maryland bill strives to limit minors’ access to firearms
ANNAPOLIS, Md. — A bill in the Maryland General Assembly changes the language of existing law in prohibiting an individual from storing a firearm — loaded or unloaded — in a location where an unsupervised minor “could” gain access to it.
Under current law, “a person may not store or leave a loaded firearm in a location where the person knew or should have known that an unsupervised child would gain access to the firearm,” according to a legislative analysis.
The proposal comes as a result of accidents where minors have gained access to a family member’s, friend’s or parent’s firearms and either accidentally shot themselves or others, committed suicide or committed a school shooting, the legislation’s lead sponsor, Delegate Dana Stein, D-Baltimore County, said at the bill’s hearing on Feb. 19.
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Under current law, “a person may not store or leave a loaded firearm in a location where the person knew or should have known that an unsupervised child would gain access to the firearm,” according to a legislative analysis.
The proposal comes as a result of accidents where minors have gained access to a family member’s, friend’s or parent’s firearms and either accidentally shot themselves or others, committed suicide or committed a school shooting, the legislation’s lead sponsor, Delegate Dana Stein, D-Baltimore County, said at the bill’s hearing on Feb. 19.
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How ‘White Fragility’ Theory Turns Classrooms Into Race-Charged Power Struggles
On Feb. 28, 2020, Dr. Robin DiAngelo delivers the keynote speech at the annual meeting of the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education in Atlanta, Georgia. DiAngelo has become “perhaps the country’s most visible expert in anti-bias training.” She is also the author of a best-selling book on “why it’s so hard for white people to talk about racism.”
The answer, she says, is “white fragility,” defined as “a state in which even a minimum amount of racial stress becomes intolerable, triggering a range of defensive moves.” This “racial stress” is the direct result of “implicit bias,” which runs so strong in white people that it is a core reason racism persists in America. This claim is based on a worldview, advanced by an increasingly influential field called Whiteness Studies, that racism is inseparable from the reign of Whiteness.
Whiteness is seen as a central pillar of society. What is Whiteness? It is hard to say, but the basic idea is that all the institutions of society are “white”—made by white people, ruled by white people, and kept in place by white people to make sure that white people continue to benefit from “white privilege.” These institutions are infected by white supremacy, a result of the long arc of racism in American history. Whiteness works through implicit bias, which refers to a whole range of unconscious behaviors, speech, and beliefs that keep white supremacy in place.
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The answer, she says, is “white fragility,” defined as “a state in which even a minimum amount of racial stress becomes intolerable, triggering a range of defensive moves.” This “racial stress” is the direct result of “implicit bias,” which runs so strong in white people that it is a core reason racism persists in America. This claim is based on a worldview, advanced by an increasingly influential field called Whiteness Studies, that racism is inseparable from the reign of Whiteness.
Whiteness is seen as a central pillar of society. What is Whiteness? It is hard to say, but the basic idea is that all the institutions of society are “white”—made by white people, ruled by white people, and kept in place by white people to make sure that white people continue to benefit from “white privilege.” These institutions are infected by white supremacy, a result of the long arc of racism in American history. Whiteness works through implicit bias, which refers to a whole range of unconscious behaviors, speech, and beliefs that keep white supremacy in place.
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Court Rejects Appeal In Undercover Drug Buy Case
OCEAN CITY — In essentially what boiled down to a possession versus distribution issue, a state appeals court this week denied a request for a mistrial in a case involving an illegal drug sale to an undercover police officer on the Boardwalk.
On June 15, 2018, Dashawn Coward, now 21, of Pottsville, Pa., and Sean Dotson, 19, of Pottsville, approached an Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) undercover narcotics detective on the Boardwalk and asked the officer if he was interested in buying cocaine. OCPD undercover detectives agreed and followed Coward and Dotson off the Boardwalk to complete the sale.
According to the accepted facts in the case, Coward reached into his pants and produced two vials of cocaine, which he handed to Dotson. Dotson then handed to vials of cocaine to the undercover detective in exchange for the agreed-upon $80. Coward was arrested later that night and was charged with possession and distribution of cocaine.
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On June 15, 2018, Dashawn Coward, now 21, of Pottsville, Pa., and Sean Dotson, 19, of Pottsville, approached an Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) undercover narcotics detective on the Boardwalk and asked the officer if he was interested in buying cocaine. OCPD undercover detectives agreed and followed Coward and Dotson off the Boardwalk to complete the sale.
According to the accepted facts in the case, Coward reached into his pants and produced two vials of cocaine, which he handed to Dotson. Dotson then handed to vials of cocaine to the undercover detective in exchange for the agreed-upon $80. Coward was arrested later that night and was charged with possession and distribution of cocaine.
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'Whipping us with wet noodles': Trump has driven coronavirus response 'for weeks,' Cuccinelli says
Acting Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Ken Cuccinelli urged calm over fears of a coronavirus epidemic, crediting President Trump with a preemptive response to the global outbreak.
The president has been “whipping us with wet noodles for weeks now” to stay ahead of the spread of coronavirus, Cuccinelli said Friday at the Conservative Political Action Conference in National Harbor, Maryland. "There's a reason the threat is low in the United States as of now."
Cuccinelli stressed that while the president spoke about the risks of the outbreak for the first time this week, he has been "very aggressive" in wrangling a behind-the-scenes countervirus response.
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The president has been “whipping us with wet noodles for weeks now” to stay ahead of the spread of coronavirus, Cuccinelli said Friday at the Conservative Political Action Conference in National Harbor, Maryland. "There's a reason the threat is low in the United States as of now."
Cuccinelli stressed that while the president spoke about the risks of the outbreak for the first time this week, he has been "very aggressive" in wrangling a behind-the-scenes countervirus response.
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Sen. Mike Braun: ‘Schumer Trying to Weaponize Coronavirus Politically’
Indiana Sen. Mike Braun (R) affirmed that the United States is “in as good a shape” and “as prepared” as any nation to manage the coronavirus, given the infrastructure the country has, while Democrats like Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) are trying to “weaponize” the infection to win political points.
In an interview with Breitbart News Thursday, Braun said he was in the “behind closed door meeting” on Tuesday and concluded as a result that, given the infrastructure the country has, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the U.S. is ready to manage a spread of infection.
Braun stressed this coronavirus that causes the COVID-19 infection “should be an eye-opener for all of the world” and that the U.S. must remain “vigilant”
The senator suggests American companies will likely begin to scrutinize their relationships with China.
“Many companies are going to start looking at their supply chain,” he said. “You know, how deep it is in China, and probably get an eye-opener about what to do about that down the road.”
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In an interview with Breitbart News Thursday, Braun said he was in the “behind closed door meeting” on Tuesday and concluded as a result that, given the infrastructure the country has, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the U.S. is ready to manage a spread of infection.
Braun stressed this coronavirus that causes the COVID-19 infection “should be an eye-opener for all of the world” and that the U.S. must remain “vigilant”
The senator suggests American companies will likely begin to scrutinize their relationships with China.
“Many companies are going to start looking at their supply chain,” he said. “You know, how deep it is in China, and probably get an eye-opener about what to do about that down the road.”
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4K cases in jeopardy following questions into former MSP firearms expert
BALTIMORE COUNTY, Md. —There are 4,000 criminal cases across Maryland are now under review after new questions about the credibility of a former Maryland State Police firearms expert.
Joseph Kopera testified at thousands of trials. He retired and took his own life in 2007 when it was revealed he lied about his academic credentials. Now investigators are looking into whether he also forged initials of other employees to cover his work.
For Maryland prosecutors, public defenders and state police this has been a "here we go again" type of situation, and a man who is serving life without parole is hoping this investigation will help overturn his conviction.
Jeffrey Ebb Sr. was convicted of two counts of felony murder and other charges in the November 1992 triple shooting and attempted robbery at Brodie's Barbershop in Catonsville. James Brodie and a shop patron were killed, while a third man was wounded.
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Joseph Kopera testified at thousands of trials. He retired and took his own life in 2007 when it was revealed he lied about his academic credentials. Now investigators are looking into whether he also forged initials of other employees to cover his work.
For Maryland prosecutors, public defenders and state police this has been a "here we go again" type of situation, and a man who is serving life without parole is hoping this investigation will help overturn his conviction.
Jeffrey Ebb Sr. was convicted of two counts of felony murder and other charges in the November 1992 triple shooting and attempted robbery at Brodie's Barbershop in Catonsville. James Brodie and a shop patron were killed, while a third man was wounded.
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Yes, Women and Minorities Should Own Firearms
The next time a criminal tries to steal a woman’s purse or assault a seemingly defenseless female walking back to her apartment, he’s more likely to be staring down the barrel of a handgun. And she’s probably well trained on how to use that weapon. It’s the age of the firearm feminist, and it’s driving the Left crazy.
Igor Volsky, executive director of Guns Down America and former vice president of the Center for American Progress, recently complained that “gun makers are softening their image” in order to appeal to “women, children, and members of minority groups.”
But that’s good news, Igor.
Women and minorities should take advantage of their right to self-defense and learn how to protect themselves, especially in leftist-dominated urban centers where Rule of Law takes a backseat to “social justice.” And if children grow up knowing why the Second Amendment is important, they’ll learn how to become responsible gun owners themselves.
“People like Igor Volsky make a good living making a boogeyman out of the firearms industry,” writes Gabriella Hoffman at The Resurgent. “If he placed the same energy on criminals who are solely responsible for gun crimes rather than innocent law-abiding gun owners, perhaps he would be a more effective advocate of true gun safety.”
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Igor Volsky, executive director of Guns Down America and former vice president of the Center for American Progress, recently complained that “gun makers are softening their image” in order to appeal to “women, children, and members of minority groups.”
But that’s good news, Igor.
Women and minorities should take advantage of their right to self-defense and learn how to protect themselves, especially in leftist-dominated urban centers where Rule of Law takes a backseat to “social justice.” And if children grow up knowing why the Second Amendment is important, they’ll learn how to become responsible gun owners themselves.
“People like Igor Volsky make a good living making a boogeyman out of the firearms industry,” writes Gabriella Hoffman at The Resurgent. “If he placed the same energy on criminals who are solely responsible for gun crimes rather than innocent law-abiding gun owners, perhaps he would be a more effective advocate of true gun safety.”
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I have the coronavirus. So far, it isn't that bad.
I have the coronavirus. And it hasn't been that bad.
I am in my late 60s, and the sickest I've ever been was when I had bronchitis several years ago. That laid me out on my back for a few days. This has been much easier: no chills, no body aches. I breathe easily, and I don't have a stuffy nose. My chest feels tight, and I have coughing spells. If I were at home with similar symptoms, I probably would have gone to work as usual.
I caught the virus on the Diamond Princess, the cruise ship that was quarantined outside Yokohama for 14 days, at the end of a 16-day cruise I took with my wife, Jeri. When I left the ship a couple of weeks ago, I felt fine. We checked our temperatures throughout our quarantine. Jeri and I got a swab test for the virus. Our temperatures were normal; they'd get the swab results back in 48 hours. Our test results had not arrived before we boarded buses for the airport, where two U.S. government planes waited for us.
As we took off from Tokyo, I had a bit of a cough, but I chalked it up to the dry air in the cabin. I felt pretty tired - but who wouldn't, in our situation? I dozed off.
When I woke up, I had a fever. I made my way to the back of the cargo plane, where the Air Force had set up a quarantine area cordoned off with sheets of plastic. They took my temperature. It was over 103 degrees. So I took a seat in the quarantine area and fell back asleep until we touched down in California, at Travis Air Force Base.
Officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention came onto the plane and said that three of us who had been cordoned off would fly to Omaha (with our spouses, if they wanted to come along). The CDC had a quarantine location at the University of Nebraska's hospital. We arrived on Feb. 17, greeted by a fleet of ambulances and police cars. Officials put me on a stretcher and wheeled me into a van, which made for a very dramatic scene. I easily could have walked despite my exhaustion.
More here
I am in my late 60s, and the sickest I've ever been was when I had bronchitis several years ago. That laid me out on my back for a few days. This has been much easier: no chills, no body aches. I breathe easily, and I don't have a stuffy nose. My chest feels tight, and I have coughing spells. If I were at home with similar symptoms, I probably would have gone to work as usual.
I caught the virus on the Diamond Princess, the cruise ship that was quarantined outside Yokohama for 14 days, at the end of a 16-day cruise I took with my wife, Jeri. When I left the ship a couple of weeks ago, I felt fine. We checked our temperatures throughout our quarantine. Jeri and I got a swab test for the virus. Our temperatures were normal; they'd get the swab results back in 48 hours. Our test results had not arrived before we boarded buses for the airport, where two U.S. government planes waited for us.
As we took off from Tokyo, I had a bit of a cough, but I chalked it up to the dry air in the cabin. I felt pretty tired - but who wouldn't, in our situation? I dozed off.
When I woke up, I had a fever. I made my way to the back of the cargo plane, where the Air Force had set up a quarantine area cordoned off with sheets of plastic. They took my temperature. It was over 103 degrees. So I took a seat in the quarantine area and fell back asleep until we touched down in California, at Travis Air Force Base.
Officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention came onto the plane and said that three of us who had been cordoned off would fly to Omaha (with our spouses, if they wanted to come along). The CDC had a quarantine location at the University of Nebraska's hospital. We arrived on Feb. 17, greeted by a fleet of ambulances and police cars. Officials put me on a stretcher and wheeled me into a van, which made for a very dramatic scene. I easily could have walked despite my exhaustion.
More here
Friday, February 28, 2020
Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
Since 2000, March has been dedicated as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. As the third most common cancer and the second leading cause of death from cancer in the United States, colorectal cancer (cancer of the colon or rectum) is found most often in people 50 years and older, and affects all races and ethnicities. Although more than 90% of colorectal cancer cases are found in those 50 years and older, other risk factors include having an inflammatory bowel disease, a family history of colorectal cancer, a genetic syndrome like familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) or hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (Lynch syndrome), and other lifestyle factors (lack of exercise, poor diet, overweight/obesity, alcohol consumption, and tobacco use).
Changing lifestyle risks and getting regular screenings are two simple steps to help prevent colorectal cancer. In 2016, approximately 67.3% of adults in the United States aged 50 to 75 years were up-to-date on their colorectal cancer screenings while 25.6% of the same population had never been screened. The Wicomico County Health Department’s Colorectal Cancer Program provides no cost screenings to eligible individuals as well as help navigating the healthcare system. Last fiscal year, the program helped 35 eligible clients receive preventative screenings and has helped 20 more since July 2019.
The program also educates the community about colorectal cancer through health fairs, outreach events and social media. This March, the Colorectal Cancer Program will provide outreach at Chesapeake Health Care, Wor-Wic Community College, and MAC Inc. and will join Peninsula Regional Medical Center at Bennett High School for their annual HealthFest Event. Additionally, on March 21st, Oasis Radio will have a segment on colorectal cancer that will include discussion about the health department’s screening program. To help spread awareness about colorectal cancer, the Wicomico County Health Department will participate in Dress in Blue Day on March 6, 2020.
For more information on colorectal cancer and its awareness month, visit the Colorectal Cancer Alliance at www.ccalliance.org or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at www.cdc.gov . For information on the local Colorectal Cancer Program, including program eligibility or outreach opportunities, call (410) 548-5175 or connect with us on our website www.wicomicohealth.org , Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
STUDENTS STAGE SIT IN AFTER OKLAHOMA PROFESSOR QUOTES HISTORICAL DOCUMENT CONTAINING N-WORD
Students at the University of Oklahoma staged a sit in protest after a professor quoted a historical document that contained the n-word before demanding that a Popeyes chicken restaurant be opened inside the university as part of “diversity” reparations.
Yes, really.
A letter sent by OU President Joseph Harroz Jr. explains how a female professor gave a “trigger warning” before using the word but that this did “not lessen the pain caused by the use of the word.”
“For students in the class, as well as members of our community, this was another painful experience,” wrote Harroz Jr.
In response to the incident, the university is now instituting mandatory “diversity, equity, and inclusion” training for all faculty and staff, which will include “implicit bias” training.
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Yes, really.
A letter sent by OU President Joseph Harroz Jr. explains how a female professor gave a “trigger warning” before using the word but that this did “not lessen the pain caused by the use of the word.”
“For students in the class, as well as members of our community, this was another painful experience,” wrote Harroz Jr.
In response to the incident, the university is now instituting mandatory “diversity, equity, and inclusion” training for all faculty and staff, which will include “implicit bias” training.
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Hunter Biden must be at March deposition 'unless his hair is on fire': Judge
An Arkansas judge has ruled that Hunter Biden must make himself available for a March deposition in connection to his ongoing child support battle with a former stripper, despite his attempts to postpone the matter until April, according to court papers and a report from the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
Independence County Circuit Court Judge Holly Meyer handed down the order during a Wednesday afternoon conference call, the Gazette reported.
“He needs to make himself available and unless his hair is on fire, he needs to be in Arkansas and he needs to be in a deposition,” Meyer told attorneys during the call, according to the outlet.
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https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/hunter-biden-march-deposition-child-support-judge
Independence County Circuit Court Judge Holly Meyer handed down the order during a Wednesday afternoon conference call, the Gazette reported.
“He needs to make himself available and unless his hair is on fire, he needs to be in Arkansas and he needs to be in a deposition,” Meyer told attorneys during the call, according to the outlet.
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https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/hunter-biden-march-deposition-child-support-judge
Lawsuit: 1.6K Dead People Registered to Vote in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
A lawsuit filed against Allegheny County, Pennsylvania alleges that nearly 1,600 dead people are registered to vote in the 2020 election in the county.
The Public Interest Legal Foundation filed suit against Allegheny County, where Pittsburgh is located, for their alleged ineffectiveness in cleaning up their voter rolls. The lawsuit claims there are about 1,583 dead people still on the county voter rolls:
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The Public Interest Legal Foundation filed suit against Allegheny County, where Pittsburgh is located, for their alleged ineffectiveness in cleaning up their voter rolls. The lawsuit claims there are about 1,583 dead people still on the county voter rolls:
The Foundation reviewed birthdates from a portion of the County’s voter registration list against records in the Social Security Death Index. After matching other biographical information, the Foundation found 1,583 deceased registrants whose registrations should have been canceled, yet they remain actively registered to vote in the County. [Emphasis added]Similarly, the lawsuit claims there are close t0 7,500 voter registrations that have been flagged as duplicates but that remain on the voter rolls. In one case, the lawsuit claims, an individual registered to vote up to seven times in one day while out of state.
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Report: 38% of Americans would avoid Corona; company assures 'no link' to virus
WASHINGTON (SBG) — Name recognition is everything in business. But what happens when your brand name is associated with a deadly epidemic?
According to reports, more American consumers are linking the coronavirus to Corona beer amid growing fears about an outbreak.
"By and large consumers understand the virus has no connection to our business," said Stephanie McGuane a spokesperson for Corona's parent company, Constellation Brand.
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According to reports, more American consumers are linking the coronavirus to Corona beer amid growing fears about an outbreak.
"By and large consumers understand the virus has no connection to our business," said Stephanie McGuane a spokesperson for Corona's parent company, Constellation Brand.
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Police: Syringe used in Maryland assault was filled with semen
ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, Md. — Police say that they have learned the syringe used to stab a woman at an Anne Arundel County grocery store was filled with semen.
Suspect Thomas Stemen, 51, is being held without bond after he was arrested Wednesday. Police believe he is the same attacker who can be seen assaulting the victim on surveillance video.
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Suspect Thomas Stemen, 51, is being held without bond after he was arrested Wednesday. Police believe he is the same attacker who can be seen assaulting the victim on surveillance video.
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Japanese prime minister orders the closure of ALL schools in the country for a month in a bid to halt the spread of coronavirus
The Japanese prime minister has today ordered the closure of all schools in the country for a month in a bid to halt the spread of coronavirus.
Shinzo Abe said: 'The government considers the health and safety of children above anything else.
'We request all primary, junior high and high schools... across the nation to close temporarily from March 2 next week until their spring break.'
More than 200 people in Japan have so far contracted the virus and four people have died.
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Shinzo Abe said: 'The government considers the health and safety of children above anything else.
'We request all primary, junior high and high schools... across the nation to close temporarily from March 2 next week until their spring break.'
More than 200 people in Japan have so far contracted the virus and four people have died.
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CT scans may help doctors diagnose coronavirus patients four DAYS faster than the CDC's test by revealing lung damage
CT scans may be faster than nasal and throat swabs at diagnosing coronavirus, a new study suggests.
Doctors from The Mount Sinai Health System in New York were the first in the US to analyze lung scans of patients in China with the highly contagious disease.
They said they were able to identify specific patterns in the lungs as markers of the virus, also known as COVID-19, as it developed over the course of about two weeks
The researchers say these quicker diagnoses could help keep patients isolated in early stages of the disease, perhaps even before symptoms appear and when it may not show up on other scans such as chest X-rays.
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Doctors from The Mount Sinai Health System in New York were the first in the US to analyze lung scans of patients in China with the highly contagious disease.
They said they were able to identify specific patterns in the lungs as markers of the virus, also known as COVID-19, as it developed over the course of about two weeks
The researchers say these quicker diagnoses could help keep patients isolated in early stages of the disease, perhaps even before symptoms appear and when it may not show up on other scans such as chest X-rays.
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Twice-deported illegal immigrant suspected of killing three people in California
A twice-deported illegal immigrant accused of murdering three people is on the run in California.
Three bodies were found in a Perris, California, cemetery, and the Riverside County sheriff said 33-year-old Mexican national Jose Luis Torres Garcia is the primary suspect in what appears to have been an execution-style killing. He is on the run and considered armed and dangerous.
"At this time, we believe this person acted alone in the homicide. He should be considered armed and extremely dangerous," Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco told the public. "Do not make contact with him. Notify law enforcement immediately."
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Three bodies were found in a Perris, California, cemetery, and the Riverside County sheriff said 33-year-old Mexican national Jose Luis Torres Garcia is the primary suspect in what appears to have been an execution-style killing. He is on the run and considered armed and dangerous.
"At this time, we believe this person acted alone in the homicide. He should be considered armed and extremely dangerous," Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco told the public. "Do not make contact with him. Notify law enforcement immediately."
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Top Marine Corps official orders removal of all Confederate symbols from bases worldwide as over a third of active-duty troops claim to have witnessed racism in the military
The Marine Corps top commander called on his senior officials last week to review the removal of Confederate symbols or Confederate-related paraphernalia from bases worldwide.
A spokesperson for Commandant General David Berger confirmed on Wednesday that a directive was sent to his senior staff ordering that all Marine Corps installations remove symbols related to the Confederate States of America.
It is not known when they need to be removed by, and the exact types of symbols to be stripped were also not identified.
The order comes after a recent poll revealed 36 percent of active-duty troops in the U.S. military have witnessed white supremacy and racism in their ranks.
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A spokesperson for Commandant General David Berger confirmed on Wednesday that a directive was sent to his senior staff ordering that all Marine Corps installations remove symbols related to the Confederate States of America.
It is not known when they need to be removed by, and the exact types of symbols to be stripped were also not identified.
The order comes after a recent poll revealed 36 percent of active-duty troops in the U.S. military have witnessed white supremacy and racism in their ranks.
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A Zoo Comment And My Reply
If it has been over a year, why havn't the animals already been removed.
And Joe, if your wife was the vet how did she let 5000 animals die? Or is a vet tech someone not responsible for the care of the animals. I am sure I am missing something there, as well as 5000 seems like a high number. What kind of animals? Just curious.
My Wife was not there 24 hours a day and being the Vet Tech wasn't her only responsibility. Each Zookeeper, (at the time) worked a particular exhibit for six months and then transferred to a different exhibit for another six months. If the particular inexperienced Zookeeper didn't inform my Wife there was a question about the health of a particular animal she couldn't know something was wrong.
I can tell you a story in particular that really pissed me off. One of the Zookeepers was working a duck exhibit. When his six months was up and my Wife walked into that exhibit for the first time she found a mummified scull and bones of an exotic duck with an egg inside its body cavity. That means that duck had been dead for over a month and while the duck exhibit was small, clearly the drinking buddies of the former Director didn't do sh!t to clean or care for the animals. That's just SICK when someone is being paid and they ignore such mentioned animals.
That being said, my Wife complained to deaf ears for over a decade, hence why I personally went to the Mayor with documentation. The staff at the Zoo hate me because I called these a$$holes out and ultimately over time they've all been removed with the exception of a few. That Zoo should've been shut down years ago. If ALL people knew what goes on there they'd force it to be shut down.
So let's look at their current situation. No accreditation with the AZA, meaning the only oversight that held them even slightly accountable is gone. The Mayor now claims it doesn't mater, they don't need the AZA because he's spending millions on bike paths and couldn't care less of the gem of Salisbury, the Zoo. Do you not worry about these animals at this point?
The Zoo has always known in the past that they are in a flood plain. Hundreds of animals, (yes hundreds) have died by drowning, especially the Prairie Dogs. Jim, my Wife tried but couldn't save these animals and it broke her heart as she raised many, (if not most) of these animals at home when they were infants. The former Director insisted on putting sand in the soil and every veteran Zookeeper there begged him not to do so. The problem was, when it floods the burrows would collapse each and every time drowning hundreds of animals over the years. He was a very young a stupid Director but he was an a$$ kisser to the Mayor.
Shall I go on Jim???
3rd patient in Maryland now being tested for possible coronavirus
A third patient in Maryland is being tested for possible coronavirus, state health officials say, a day after Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan announced two people who had recently traveled to China have undergone testing for the virus.
As with the two patients Thursday, the third patient met the criteria from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to be tested for the new virus, known as COVID-19. This means the CDC will examine their cases and determine if they actually have the virus.
It’s unclear if the third patient recently traveled to China. Charlie Gischlar, a Maryland Department of Health Spokesman, told WTOP that two of three patients now under investigation traveled internationally. “At this time, we have no additional information about the third case,” he said in an email.
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As with the two patients Thursday, the third patient met the criteria from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to be tested for the new virus, known as COVID-19. This means the CDC will examine their cases and determine if they actually have the virus.
It’s unclear if the third patient recently traveled to China. Charlie Gischlar, a Maryland Department of Health Spokesman, told WTOP that two of three patients now under investigation traveled internationally. “At this time, we have no additional information about the third case,” he said in an email.
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State-run Cuban newspaper lauds 'unstoppable' Bernie Sanders after he voiced his support of Fidel Castro
US Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders has received a glowing report in a communist Cuban newspaper after he praised some of former dictator Fidel Castro's social programs in a TV interview.
Communist Party newspaper Granma referenced in its report the US Senator's praise of 'some of the social programs implemented by the historic leader of the Cuban Revolution Fidel Castro' including its 'progress in education and Cuba's role in 'sending doctors worldwide'.
Senator Sanders has been vocal in his praise for parts of Cuba's history of late, insisting communist dictator Fidel Castro's regime was 'not all bad' and praising his health care system during the 1980s.
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Communist Party newspaper Granma referenced in its report the US Senator's praise of 'some of the social programs implemented by the historic leader of the Cuban Revolution Fidel Castro' including its 'progress in education and Cuba's role in 'sending doctors worldwide'.
Senator Sanders has been vocal in his praise for parts of Cuba's history of late, insisting communist dictator Fidel Castro's regime was 'not all bad' and praising his health care system during the 1980s.
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CDC: More Than 4 in 10 Americans Are Obese
In a sign that suggests America's obesity epidemic is far from under control, a new government report shows that more than 40% of people in the United States are obese.
And almost 1 in 10 is severely obese, the researchers added.
"Over the time period from 1999 to 2018, the obesity prevalence increased about 12% — from 30.5% of Americans to 42.4% of Americans. Severe obesity almost doubled," said study author Dr. Craig Hales. He's a medical epidemiologist with the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Much more than just a cosmetic issue, obesity is associated with type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, fatty liver disease, sleep apnea, arthritis, gallbladder disease and more, according to the U.S. National Institute for Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
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And almost 1 in 10 is severely obese, the researchers added.
"Over the time period from 1999 to 2018, the obesity prevalence increased about 12% — from 30.5% of Americans to 42.4% of Americans. Severe obesity almost doubled," said study author Dr. Craig Hales. He's a medical epidemiologist with the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Much more than just a cosmetic issue, obesity is associated with type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, fatty liver disease, sleep apnea, arthritis, gallbladder disease and more, according to the U.S. National Institute for Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
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Globalist Response to Coronavirus: Open America’s Borders to the World
Globalist ideologues, bureaucrats, and elected Democrats have said the United States’ response to protecting American citizens from the coronavirus should be to keep America’s borders open to the world.
While the deadly coronavirus spreads across the globe, The Atlantic writer James Hamblin wrote this week that the U.S. should actually consider opening its borders:
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While the deadly coronavirus spreads across the globe, The Atlantic writer James Hamblin wrote this week that the U.S. should actually consider opening its borders:
Italy, Iran, and South Korea are now among the countries reporting quickly growing numbers of detected COVID-19 infections. Many countries have responded with containment attempts, despite the dubious efficacy and inherent harms of China’s historically unprecedented crackdown. Certain containment measures will be appropriate, but widely banning travel, closing down cities, and hoarding resources are not realistic solutions for an outbreak that lasts years. All of these measures come with risks of their own. Ultimately some pandemic responses will require opening borders, not closing them. At some point the expectation that any area will escape effects of COVID-19 must be abandoned: The disease must be seen as everyone’s problem. [Emphasis added]To the contrary, President Trump’s administration has imposed a travel ban on China where not only are Chinese nationals barred from entering the U.S. at this time, but foreign nationals who have recently visited China as well.
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A Viewer Writes.......Price Gouging
Price gouging on eBay for a $1.99 N95 mask .... $44.99 shipping.
Ohio market owners charged with running $10M food stamp fraud scheme
Two Somali specialty market owners in Ohio were recently charged with running a $10 million food stamp fraud operation.
Hassan Nuriso and Abdurahim Nuriso, former owners of Towfiq Market in Columbus, Ohio, were charged by a federal grand jury with conspiring to fraudulently redeem benefits over a nine-year period, according to WCMH.
“It’s very clear in all the regulations what you can and can’t do,” Assistant U.S. Attorney David Bosley said about the case. “You can’t give food stamps for cash, you can’t buy items that are not allowed under the food stamp program, you can’t buy things that aren’t food, and you can’t give credit.”
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Hassan Nuriso and Abdurahim Nuriso, former owners of Towfiq Market in Columbus, Ohio, were charged by a federal grand jury with conspiring to fraudulently redeem benefits over a nine-year period, according to WCMH.
“It’s very clear in all the regulations what you can and can’t do,” Assistant U.S. Attorney David Bosley said about the case. “You can’t give food stamps for cash, you can’t buy items that are not allowed under the food stamp program, you can’t buy things that aren’t food, and you can’t give credit.”
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Some Democrats fear Trump outreach to black voters might just work
Some Democrats are worried that the Trump campaign's outreach to black voters is working.
"It keeps me up at night," HIT Strategies partner Terrance Woodbury told the Washington Post. "The Trump campaign recognizes that while the Democratic Party is spending a significant amount of resources and effort to persuade white, suburban women back into their coalition, the Trump campaign has found a very susceptible and very different swing voter in black men."
President Trump won 13% of black male voters and 32% of Hispanic men but only 4% of black female and 25% of Hispanic female voters, according to 2016 exit polls, and campaign events in minority neighborhoods have brought in mostly men, Republican officials told the Washington Post.
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"It keeps me up at night," HIT Strategies partner Terrance Woodbury told the Washington Post. "The Trump campaign recognizes that while the Democratic Party is spending a significant amount of resources and effort to persuade white, suburban women back into their coalition, the Trump campaign has found a very susceptible and very different swing voter in black men."
President Trump won 13% of black male voters and 32% of Hispanic men but only 4% of black female and 25% of Hispanic female voters, according to 2016 exit polls, and campaign events in minority neighborhoods have brought in mostly men, Republican officials told the Washington Post.
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MILWAUKEE MASS SHOOTER IS A BLACK ELIZABETH WARREN SUPPORTER
The Milwaukee man who killed five co-workers at a beer company’s corporate office is a black Elizabeth Warren supporter, providing a clue as to why the mass shooting disappeared from the discussion so quickly.
51-year-old Anthony Ferrill showed up at the MillerCoors facility from where he had been fired earlier in the day wearing his uniform and carrying a silenced gun.
He proceeded to gun down five colleagues before turning the weapon on himself.
It subsequently emerged that Ferrill was an African-American Elizabeth Warren supporter (presuming that Ferrill shared the same political beliefs as his wife, who took a selfie with Warren at a rally last year).
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51-year-old Anthony Ferrill showed up at the MillerCoors facility from where he had been fired earlier in the day wearing his uniform and carrying a silenced gun.
He proceeded to gun down five colleagues before turning the weapon on himself.
It subsequently emerged that Ferrill was an African-American Elizabeth Warren supporter (presuming that Ferrill shared the same political beliefs as his wife, who took a selfie with Warren at a rally last year).
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The Politics of a 'Fear Pandemic'
Democrat Party leaders Sen. Chuck Schumer and Rep. Nancy Pelosi are in a quandary.
They have to decide which of the headline tragedies today make for better political fodder — do they keep feeding the coronavirus fears, or do they put that on pause and politicize the Milwaukee murders in order to advance their gun-confiscation agenda?
Yes, their political modus operandi is just that causticly crass.
It follows the model perfected by Barack Obama and his then-chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, who openly declared, “You don’t ever want a good crisis to go to waste; it’s an opportunity to do things you think you could not do before.” And that is exactly what they did in 2008, when Obama used a pandemic of financial fear as his ticket to the presidency. At the time, even Bill Clinton admitted that the Democrats were responsible for that crisis because they resisted “efforts by Republicans in the Congress … to put some standards and tighten up a little on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.” Clinton himself had loosened up those standards 10 years earlier, with disastrous financial consequences but fortuitous political consequences.
My point is not to re-litigate how the Democrats used that “fear pandemic” to ensure Obama’s election but to say they are experts at converting tragedy into political triumph. Their current “Hate Trump” platform is constructed on their perennial political foundation of fear, anger, and division.
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They have to decide which of the headline tragedies today make for better political fodder — do they keep feeding the coronavirus fears, or do they put that on pause and politicize the Milwaukee murders in order to advance their gun-confiscation agenda?
Yes, their political modus operandi is just that causticly crass.
It follows the model perfected by Barack Obama and his then-chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, who openly declared, “You don’t ever want a good crisis to go to waste; it’s an opportunity to do things you think you could not do before.” And that is exactly what they did in 2008, when Obama used a pandemic of financial fear as his ticket to the presidency. At the time, even Bill Clinton admitted that the Democrats were responsible for that crisis because they resisted “efforts by Republicans in the Congress … to put some standards and tighten up a little on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.” Clinton himself had loosened up those standards 10 years earlier, with disastrous financial consequences but fortuitous political consequences.
My point is not to re-litigate how the Democrats used that “fear pandemic” to ensure Obama’s election but to say they are experts at converting tragedy into political triumph. Their current “Hate Trump” platform is constructed on their perennial political foundation of fear, anger, and division.
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Illness forces the Pope to cancel an event in Rome a day after showing solidarity with coronavirus sufferers and shaking hands with congregation at weekly audience
Pope Francis has been forced to cancel a planned Mass in Rome with other clergy after suffering a 'slight illness'.
The Vatican said the 83-year-old pontiff had a 'slight indisposition' that meant he did not attend an event at the St John Lateran basilica in Rome on Thursday morning.
A spokesman said Francis would continue with the rest of his day's business, but preferred to stay within the Vatican rather than travel across the city.
There was no word from the Vatican about the nature of his illness, but the pope was seen coughing and blowing his nose during the Ash Wednesday Mass.
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The Vatican said the 83-year-old pontiff had a 'slight indisposition' that meant he did not attend an event at the St John Lateran basilica in Rome on Thursday morning.
A spokesman said Francis would continue with the rest of his day's business, but preferred to stay within the Vatican rather than travel across the city.
There was no word from the Vatican about the nature of his illness, but the pope was seen coughing and blowing his nose during the Ash Wednesday Mass.
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Green New Deal: $75,000 per house in first year, $40,000 after
The Green New Deal is going to put a lot of Americans in the red.
According to a new analysis, the liberal plan backed by Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez will cost households an average of $75,000 in the first year and $40,000 extra every year after.
The study of 11 states found that the initial year of the program will be especially high because businesses and households will have to get new equipment. The price tag includes increased costs for electricity, upgrading vehicles and housing, and shipping.
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According to a new analysis, the liberal plan backed by Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez will cost households an average of $75,000 in the first year and $40,000 extra every year after.
The study of 11 states found that the initial year of the program will be especially high because businesses and households will have to get new equipment. The price tag includes increased costs for electricity, upgrading vehicles and housing, and shipping.
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McConnell slams Schumer for 'partisan political attacks' with coronavirus
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said the Democrat leader has launched political attacks against the White House over the funding for coronavirus, calling for bipartisanship.
“As the administration did take action, to the apparent puzzlement of basically everyone, including his fellow Democrats, the Democrat Leader began launching partisan political attacks at the White House instead of working together to get this done,” the GOP leader said Thursday.
The Kentucky Republican said Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer urged the funding request, but when it arrived, he began saying it was too little too late.
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“As the administration did take action, to the apparent puzzlement of basically everyone, including his fellow Democrats, the Democrat Leader began launching partisan political attacks at the White House instead of working together to get this done,” the GOP leader said Thursday.
The Kentucky Republican said Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer urged the funding request, but when it arrived, he began saying it was too little too late.
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Tebow Would Rather Be Known for Saving ‘A Lot of Babies’ than ‘Winning the Super Bowl’
Former NFL player Tim Tebow recently said that he would rather be known as someone who saves babies, than for being a Super Bowl champion.
The current Double-A baseball player spoke at a banquet for Kansans for Life and said that his pro-life activism “really does mean a lot more than winning the Super Bowl,” National Rights to Life News reported.
The Heisman Trophy winner related the story about his own mother’s decision not to abort him even though doctors said the pregnancy could “cost her life.”
“You see, my mom 32 years ago had doctors tell her she needed to abort me because if she didn’t, it was going to cost her life,” Tebow said. “And they didn’t even believe that I was a baby. They thought I was a tumor.
“When I was born, they found out the placenta wasn’t actually attached,” Tebow continued. “So, the doctor looked at my mom after 37 years of being a doctor and said, ‘This is the biggest miracle I’ve ever seen because I’m not sure how he’s alive.’… I’m so grateful that my mom trusted God with my life and her life."
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The current Double-A baseball player spoke at a banquet for Kansans for Life and said that his pro-life activism “really does mean a lot more than winning the Super Bowl,” National Rights to Life News reported.
The Heisman Trophy winner related the story about his own mother’s decision not to abort him even though doctors said the pregnancy could “cost her life.”
“You see, my mom 32 years ago had doctors tell her she needed to abort me because if she didn’t, it was going to cost her life,” Tebow said. “And they didn’t even believe that I was a baby. They thought I was a tumor.
“When I was born, they found out the placenta wasn’t actually attached,” Tebow continued. “So, the doctor looked at my mom after 37 years of being a doctor and said, ‘This is the biggest miracle I’ve ever seen because I’m not sure how he’s alive.’… I’m so grateful that my mom trusted God with my life and her life."
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The Highest-Stakes Moment Brings the Worst Debate
The debate would have been only marginally less incoherent, noisy, and grating to the ears if CBS had broadcast two hours of static.
The last debate before the South Carolina primary featured so much shouting, you would think that the candidates had just been told their microphones weren’t working. This could well be the last debate for some of these candidates, and Amy Klobuchar, Pete Buttigieg, and Elizabeth Warren have rapidly shrinking paths to the nomination. Every candidate was itching to interject, interrupt, shout over, and have a dramatic moment.
If the polls are accurate, South Carolina will end with a Joe Biden win or a Biden tie with Bernie Sanders, and Sanders set to do well in most or all of the Super Tuesday states. Last week’s debate was Get Shorty. The mission of everybody on that stage tonight who wasn’t named Bernie Sanders was to go on stage and beat the tar out of Bernie Sanders. Bloomberg is not on the ballot in South Carolina, and he’s won no delegates so far.
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The last debate before the South Carolina primary featured so much shouting, you would think that the candidates had just been told their microphones weren’t working. This could well be the last debate for some of these candidates, and Amy Klobuchar, Pete Buttigieg, and Elizabeth Warren have rapidly shrinking paths to the nomination. Every candidate was itching to interject, interrupt, shout over, and have a dramatic moment.
If the polls are accurate, South Carolina will end with a Joe Biden win or a Biden tie with Bernie Sanders, and Sanders set to do well in most or all of the Super Tuesday states. Last week’s debate was Get Shorty. The mission of everybody on that stage tonight who wasn’t named Bernie Sanders was to go on stage and beat the tar out of Bernie Sanders. Bloomberg is not on the ballot in South Carolina, and he’s won no delegates so far.
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In Depth: Maryland Leaders and the History of Corruption
BALTIMORE (WBFF)--One the most notable Baltimore City leaders to get caught up in corruption is former Mayor Sheila Dixon.
In 1987, Dixon won a seat on the Baltimore City Council representing the 4th Council District, where she served twelve years. In 1999, Dixon was elected president of the city council, the first African-American woman elected to this position.
In 2003, she won her re-election race for president of the Baltimore City Council, defeating her nearest competitor and she became Mayor of Baltimore in January 2007 when then-Mayor Martin O'Malley resigned after being elected Governor of Maryland
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In 1987, Dixon won a seat on the Baltimore City Council representing the 4th Council District, where she served twelve years. In 1999, Dixon was elected president of the city council, the first African-American woman elected to this position.
In 2003, she won her re-election race for president of the Baltimore City Council, defeating her nearest competitor and she became Mayor of Baltimore in January 2007 when then-Mayor Martin O'Malley resigned after being elected Governor of Maryland
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Collins: Dems Don’t Want to Acknowledge ‘Coup Attempt’ from the FBI
Thursday during an appearance on Fox News Channel, Rep. Doug Collins (R-GA), formerly the ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, emphasized the threats of not putting into place FISA reforms, which is being held up by congressional Democrats.
The Georgia Republican congressman, who is running for U.S. Senate, accused his Democrat colleagues of playing “games.”
“[T]hey’re wanting to play games with the FISA,” Collins said. “I mean there are certain provisions that we do need to extend, and those are things like roving wiretaps, things that we’ve been dealing with that deal with terrorists around the world so that we can keep safe. But what they don’t want to deal with is the actual FISA process and FISA court itself, which — because they don’t want to acknowledge the Horowitz report."
He went on to add that Democrats are reluctant to acknowledge the need for changes to the FISA process because it would “acknowledge” the attempted “coup” against President Donald Trump.
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The Georgia Republican congressman, who is running for U.S. Senate, accused his Democrat colleagues of playing “games.”
“[T]hey’re wanting to play games with the FISA,” Collins said. “I mean there are certain provisions that we do need to extend, and those are things like roving wiretaps, things that we’ve been dealing with that deal with terrorists around the world so that we can keep safe. But what they don’t want to deal with is the actual FISA process and FISA court itself, which — because they don’t want to acknowledge the Horowitz report."
He went on to add that Democrats are reluctant to acknowledge the need for changes to the FISA process because it would “acknowledge” the attempted “coup” against President Donald Trump.
More here
Cuccinelli: Trump’s ‘Public Charge’ Ensures New Immigrants No Longer Burden American Taxpayers
President Trump’s newly implemented “Public Charge” rule ensures that American taxpayers are no longer burdened by a massive inflow of legal immigrants who cannot support themselves, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Acting Deputy Secretary Ken Cuccinelli says.
In an exclusive interview with SiriusXM Patriot’s Breitbart News Daily, Cuccinelli said Trump’s initiative to more effectively regulate legal immigration to the U.S. now requires that legal immigrants prove their ability to support themselves financially before they are given permanent residence.
“What it means is that people who apply today and after for a green card … we will filter through their ability to stand on their own two feet economically, whether it’s earning their own way or whether they have family that supports them who commit to doing so … to make sure that the American taxpayers aren’t going to be bearing the burden of new immigrants,” Cuccinelli said.
“The law we’re working from was passed in 1996 and signed by Bill Clinton. Steny Hoyer voted for it, Chuck Schumer voted for it.."
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In an exclusive interview with SiriusXM Patriot’s Breitbart News Daily, Cuccinelli said Trump’s initiative to more effectively regulate legal immigration to the U.S. now requires that legal immigrants prove their ability to support themselves financially before they are given permanent residence.
“What it means is that people who apply today and after for a green card … we will filter through their ability to stand on their own two feet economically, whether it’s earning their own way or whether they have family that supports them who commit to doing so … to make sure that the American taxpayers aren’t going to be bearing the burden of new immigrants,” Cuccinelli said.
“The law we’re working from was passed in 1996 and signed by Bill Clinton. Steny Hoyer voted for it, Chuck Schumer voted for it.."
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Chicken and Dumpling Dinner!!! Tonight In Delmar
Delmar VFW Post 8276 at 200 W.State Street DELMAR, MD invites the public to A chicken and dumpling dinner this Friday Feb. 28 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM.
Menu includes Chicken and Dumplings, green beans,mashed potatoes gravy and pickled beets. Cost: $12.00. Carry outs may be ordered in person only after 5:00 PM.
Proceeds benefit the many local charities and organizations supported by the Delmar VFW.
Menu includes Chicken and Dumplings, green beans,mashed potatoes gravy and pickled beets. Cost: $12.00. Carry outs may be ordered in person only after 5:00 PM.
Proceeds benefit the many local charities and organizations supported by the Delmar VFW.
LEMON PICKERS NEEDED IN FLORIDA
CITIZENS OR LEGAL IMMIGRANTS NEED APPLY
read the newspaper ad ..
Ms. Sally Mulligan of Coral Springs in Florida read it, and decided to apply for one of the jobs that most Americans are not willing to do.
She submitted her application for a job in a Florida lemon grove, but seemed far too qualified for the job. She has a liberal arts degree from the University of Michigan, and a master’s degree from Michigan State University.
For a number of years, she had worked as a social worker, and also as a school teacher.
The foreman studied her application, frowned, and said, "I see that you are well educated, and have an impressive resume. “However, I have to ask you,
have you had any actual experience in picking lemons?”
"Well, as a matter of fact, I have," she said. "I've been divorced three times, owned two Chryslers, voted twice for Obama, and once for Hillary.”
She started work yesterday.
read the newspaper ad ..
Ms. Sally Mulligan of Coral Springs in Florida read it, and decided to apply for one of the jobs that most Americans are not willing to do.
She submitted her application for a job in a Florida lemon grove, but seemed far too qualified for the job. She has a liberal arts degree from the University of Michigan, and a master’s degree from Michigan State University.
For a number of years, she had worked as a social worker, and also as a school teacher.
The foreman studied her application, frowned, and said, "I see that you are well educated, and have an impressive resume. “However, I have to ask you,
have you had any actual experience in picking lemons?”
"Well, as a matter of fact, I have," she said. "I've been divorced three times, owned two Chryslers, voted twice for Obama, and once for Hillary.”
She started work yesterday.
Thursday, February 27, 2020
California Monitoring 8,400 People for Coronavirus Symptoms
California is monitoring 8,400 people for coronavirus symptoms, the US's most populous state revealed in an update on the outbreak, the Financial Times reported Thursday.
They represent residents who arrived in California from domestic commercial flights, officials said at a briefing on Thursday afternoon, according to the Times.
So far, 33 people in the state have tested positive for coronavirus, with five of them having been moved out of the state.
But California has only about 200 test kits, a number Governor Gavin Newsom described as "inadequate." Still, he said, officials had been in touch with federal agencies - such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - that will be sending new test kits in coming days.
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They represent residents who arrived in California from domestic commercial flights, officials said at a briefing on Thursday afternoon, according to the Times.
So far, 33 people in the state have tested positive for coronavirus, with five of them having been moved out of the state.
But California has only about 200 test kits, a number Governor Gavin Newsom described as "inadequate." Still, he said, officials had been in touch with federal agencies - such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - that will be sending new test kits in coming days.
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AP Confirms: Democrats Are Lying to the Public About Coronavirus
An Associated Press fact check confirms what Breitbart News reported earlier this week: that Democrat presidential candidates are falsely claiming that President Donald Trump cut funding and personnel needed to fight coronavirus.
On Tuesday, Breitbart News fact-checked “mostly false” claims by former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg during the Democrat debate in South Carolina. Bloomberg claimed that Trump had “fired” a pandemic specialist at the White House, and “de-funded” the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The implication: Trump was to blame for the spread of coronavirus — even though there have been just over a dozen cases and no fatalities in the U.S.
The truth: the pandemic specialist had left voluntarily during a reorganization of the bloated National Security Council (NSC), and the CDC cuts — as the agency wound down its Ebola response — were only proposed, not enacted.
The AP confirmed Thursday, in an article titled “AP FACT CHECK: Democrats distort coronavirus readiness,” that much of what Democrats are saying about Trump’s response to the coronavirus challenge is simply not true:
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On Tuesday, Breitbart News fact-checked “mostly false” claims by former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg during the Democrat debate in South Carolina. Bloomberg claimed that Trump had “fired” a pandemic specialist at the White House, and “de-funded” the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The implication: Trump was to blame for the spread of coronavirus — even though there have been just over a dozen cases and no fatalities in the U.S.
The truth: the pandemic specialist had left voluntarily during a reorganization of the bloated National Security Council (NSC), and the CDC cuts — as the agency wound down its Ebola response — were only proposed, not enacted.
The AP confirmed Thursday, in an article titled “AP FACT CHECK: Democrats distort coronavirus readiness,” that much of what Democrats are saying about Trump’s response to the coronavirus challenge is simply not true:
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Governor Hogan Announces Additional Steps to Protect Marylanders From Coronavirus
Will Include $10 Million in Emergency Funding in Supplemental Budget, Details Statewide Preparedness Efforts Underway, Encourages Marylanders to Use 2-1-1 Hotline for Questions and Concerns, Discusses Coordinated Response with Vice President Pence
ANNAPOLIS, MD—At a press conference today at the State Emergency Operations Center of the Maryland Emergency Management Agency, Governor Larry Hogan provided an update and announced additional steps the state is taking to protect Marylanders from the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and prepare for any potential outbreak. Prior to the press conference, Governor Hogan convened a meeting with senior Cabinet officials and spoke to Vice President Mike Pence, who is leading the federal response.
“While there is currently no immediate public health emergency here in Maryland, based on the latest guidance from the CDC and our federal partners, we want our citizens to know that all levels of government are working together proactively and taking every possible precaution to respond to threats of public health,” said Governor Hogan. “We will continue to track this and will be receiving almost constant, up-to-the-minute information. The public should be assured that our state’s preparedness builds on decades of planning, experience, and expertise gained from previous and ongoing public health events. I would encourage all Marylanders not to panic, but to take this seriously and to continue to stay informed.”
Joined by senior Cabinet officials, the governor announced that he will submit a supplemental budget that will include $10 million for emergency coronavirus preparedness expenses. While there are still no confirmed cases of coronavirus in Maryland at this time, two patients have met the criteria for Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) testing. The governor stressed the importance of heeding the CDC’s guidance that local schools, businesses, and communities should be prepared for closures and disruptions to daily life.
In addition, the governor encouraged Marylanders to visit health.maryland.gov/coronavirus for the most up-to-date information, and to dial 2-1-1 to talk to experts about any questions or concerns.
The governor also announced that in addition to convening his full Cabinet tomorrow, administration officials will provide a detailed briefing to members of the General Assembly, as well as the Comptroller, the Attorney General, and the Treasurer.
Statewide Preparedness Efforts Continue
In January, Governor Hogan directed all state agencies to take every precaution and mobilize whatever resources are necessary to address COVID-19. Pursuant to his direction, the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) continues to coordinate with the Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) and all state, federal, and local partners to lead response efforts, all with the goal to minimize risk to the public.
MDH is engaged in regular communications with clinicians and health care providers across the state, working with local hospitals to develop comprehensive hospital surge plans to be activated if necessary. The department’s preparedness and response team is inventorying available resources at hospitals, local health departments, federally qualified healthcare centers, long term care facilities, dialysis centers, and other healthcare partners. MDH’s infectious disease experts are providing weekly briefings to all local health departments and healthcare facilities across the state.
MDH has worked with the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) to provide guidance to school systems across the state, and is coordinating with colleges and universities to address concerns with student and faculty populations. In coordination with the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT), MDH is actively engaged with travelers to ensure they have the information they need and are following CDC guidance to protect the safety of these travelers and the public.
Potential alternative housing, support and transportation are being developed should some Marylanders impacted by the virus not be able to recover at home.
Additionally, state agencies are participating in daily briefing and coordination calls with federal partners at the CDC, the U.S. Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, and the Department of Defense. Frequent calls are held with neighboring states to coordinate case surveillance, investigation and response activities (including senior health officials, epidemiologists and public health emergency preparedness directors).
What can Marylanders do to prepare?
Though the public health threat here in Maryland and across the United States remains low, you can take very basic steps to help keep yourself and your loved ones healthy.
- Stay informed — Visit cdc.gov for the most recent general updates and health.maryland.gov for the latest information on COVID-19 in Maryland.
- Practice everyday actions to promote good health and prevent the spread of respiratory viruses, including COVID-19:
- Wash your hands frequently with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer or soap and water
- Cover your mouth and nose while coughing or sneezing
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick
- If you are sick, stay home from work or school
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth
- Build a preparedness kit for your home in case you are sick with any respiratory virus and need to stay at home. See health.maryland.gov for details. Examples include:
- Pain relievers, fever reducers, decongestants, and cough drops
- Alcohol–based hand sanitizer
- Thermometer
- Facial tissues, paper products
- Nonperishable food
- Extended supply of prescription medications
- Diapers or pet supplies if needed
- There is no vaccine to prevent COVID-19, but you should get a flu shot — it’s not too late. It will not prevent COVID-19, but getting a flu shot will help keep you and your loved ones healthy as we continue to see widespread flu.
Visit health.maryland.gov/coronavirus for up-to-date information and resources, including the latest information on COVID-19 status in Maryland.