Attention

The opinions expressed by columnists are their own and do not represent our advertisers

Thursday, January 16, 2020

NOI 1/15/2020 Wicomico Vacant Dwelling Fire Onley Road

new patch

NOTICE OF INVESTIGATION

Date:  January 15, 2020
Time:  10:40 p.m.
Location / Address:  143 Onley Rd., Salisbury, Wicomico Co.
Type of Incident:  Fire
Description of Structure / Property:  Vacant one story wood frame single family dwelling        
Owner / Occupants:  Nick Fenzel
Injuries or Deaths:  None
Estimated $ Loss: Structure:  $80,000                    Contents: $5,000
Smoke Alarm Status: Present, activated
Fire Alarm / Sprinkler Status: n/a
Arrests(s):  None
Primary Responding Fire Department: Salisbury Fire Department
# of Alarms:   1    # Of Firefighters:  25
Time to Control:   15 minutes
Discovered By:  Salisbury University Police Department
Area of Origin:   Front bedroom
Preliminary Cause:  Under Investigation
Additional Information:  Anyone with information is asked to call the Salisbury Office of the Maryland State Fire Marshal at (410) 713-3780.
Hurst

Does the Right to Bear Arms Include a Right to Carry Handguns in Public?

29 criminal aliens released by Franklin County Sheriff's Office in recent weeks

COLUMBUS — The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office has released 29 criminal aliens and immigration violators since November 2019, despite written detainer requests filed with them by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
“When dangerous criminal aliens are released into the community, public safety is needlessly put at risk because of the individual’s propensity to re-offend,” said Rebecca Adducci, field office director for ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) in Michigan and Ohio. “ICE remains committed to arresting and removing criminal aliens in the interest of public safety and national security, despite local decisions to not honor detainers and jeopardize the safety of its citizens.”
ICE recently apprehended the following criminal alien after his release from the Franklin County Sherriff’s Office with an active detainer in place:
  • Hajir Muhammud, a 59-year old national of Somalia, was arrested by local authorities Dec. 27, for failure to register as a Tier 1 sex offender. He is a convicted sex offender for crimes involving children. ICE lodged a detainer following his arrest. He was subsequently released after Franklin County declined to honor the ICE detainer. On Jan. 6, ICE arrested Muhammud, and he is currently in custody pending removal proceedings.
However, several criminal aliens released by the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office are currently at-large. Efforts by ICE to apprehend these men are currently underway. They include: 

What is an Atmos Clock?

Imagine a device you use every day, whether that’s a remote control, an electric toothbrush or your smartphone.

Now imagine you never had to change or charge up the batteries. How freeing would that be?

Our toothbrushes would never fizzle out, our smartphones would never hit 0 percent and that beeping from the smoke detector would stop.

In the watch world, we think of watches without batteries simply as automatics. They wind by movement from your wrist and arm throughout the day. The Atmos clock, however, doesn’t need movement from a human and surely doesn’t require a battery.

More here

‘Fist Bumps And High Fives’: Kellyanne Conway Blasts Pelosi For ‘Embarrassing’ Impeachment Souvenir Pens

White House counselor Kellyanne Conway blasted House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Thursday over the “embarrassing” pens used to sign the articles of impeachment.

Pelosi faced criticism after handing out souvenir impeachment signing pens Wednesday. The moment came during the transmission of the articles of impeachment.

“It was historic but for a different reason,” Conway said Thursday on Fox News. “Nancy Pelosi’s fist bumps and high fives and commemorative pens. It was embarrassing. It was anything but solemn and bipartisan. I think that she really screwed up this process from the beginning.”

More/Watch

Dr. Drew Pinsky floats running against Schiff for Congress

Celebrity doctor Dr. Drew Pinsky says he's considering challenging Rep. Adam Schiff for his seat in the U.S. House.

“I was watching all the impeachment proceedings and I was going, ‘Oh my God, our Congress is tied up and we’re dying out here in California. What are these people doing?" Pinsky told the Hill. “I wake up every day and drive through this town and I am morally moved where I feel like I have to do something."

Pinsky has been outspoken against Democrats in the past. His television show was canceled after he made negative and false claims about Hillary Clinton's health.

More

#Expose2020 - PART II: Sanders Staffer “There Are Things More Important Than the Rule of Law in USA”

*Update* Troopers Arrest Suspect in String of Church Burglaries – Sussex County

Sussex County- The Delaware State Police have arrested 31-year-old Adam M. Calloway in connection with recent multiple church burglaries in Sussex County.
In the beginning of January 2020, the Delaware State Police began investigating burglaries to various churches in the Laurel, Seaford, Millsboro and Georgetown areas including the following:
  • Carey’s United Methodist Church located at 22053 Careys Camp Road, Millsboro which occurred on January 11, 2020, during the overnight hours.
  • Saint Johns AME Church located at 31034 East Trap Pond Road, Laurel which occurred between January 8 and January 11, 2020.
  • Trinity Church located at 17237 Phillips Hill Road, Millsboro which occurred between January 6 and January 11, 2020.
  • Iglesai Evangelica Betana Church located at 22143 Coverdale Road, Seaford which occurred between January 6 and January 12, 2020.
  • Mt. Olivet Church located at 28096 Shortly Road, Georgetown which occurred between January 11 and January 12, 2020.
It was learned that in all of these incidents, the point of entry was an exterior window in which the suspect used force to break the glass.  Through further investigations, Adam Calloway was identified as the suspect.
On January 15, 2020, Troopers responded to the Sunrise Motel located at 22512 Sussex Highway, Seaford, where Calloway was located. Upon contact with Calloway in the motel room, Troopers observed crack cocaine in plain view and a .22 caliber bullet.  Calloway was taken into custody and as he was being escorted outside of the motel room to the patrol vehicle, he proceeded to resist arrest and flee on foot. Calloway was subsequently apprehended a short time later.
Detectives obtained a search warrant for the motel room in which Calloway was staying.  Upon the execution of the search warrant, Detectives located numerous amounts of what was believed to be stolen property and seized the items. It was later learned that during the overnight hours of January 14, 2020, Troopers responded to an address in the 26000 block of Butler Branch Road, Seaford, in reference to a burglary complaint.  Detectives recovered items in the motel room belonging to the victim. Calloway was subsequently identified as the suspect in this residential burglary incident as well as another residential burglary that occurred on January 4, 2020 at a residence in the 24000 block of Concord Pond Road, Seaford.
Calloway was transported back to Troop 4 where he was charged with the following:
  • Burglary Second Degree (2 counts)
  • Attempted to Commit Burglary Third Degree (2 counts)
  • Burglary Third Degree (3 counts)
  • Theft (Felony) (2 counts)
  • Attempted to Commit Theft (2 counts)
  • Theft Under $1500
  • Criminal Mischief (4 counts)
  • Possession of a Firearm or Ammunition by a Person Prohibited
  • Resisting Arrest
  • Possession of a Controlled Substance
Calloway also had 13 active arrest warrants out of various agencies in Delaware.
Calloway was arraigned before the Justice of the Peace Court and committed to the Sussex Correctional Institution on $29,507.00 secured and $11,200.00 cash only bond.
The investigation continues to remain active and ongoing with further charges pending.

ANTI-TRUMP ACTIVISTS VOW TO WALK IN CIRCLES UNTIL HE IS REMOVED FROM OFFICE

Wicomico Opts For Post-Labor Day School Start Date

SALISBURY – The school board voted this week to approve an amended calendar for the 2020-2021 academic year after receiving more than 1,600 responses from the community.

On Tuesday, the Wicomico County Board of Education approved on second reading a 2020-2021 school calendar for that will begin the academic year on Sept. 8 and end the academic year on June 15.

“We are presenting a calendar for consideration and second reading,” Kim Miles, assistant superintendent for student and family services, told the board this week. “This calendar takes into account the feedback, which we were extremely excited about.”

In December, school officials presented two proposed school calendars for 2020-2021. In the first version of the calendar, Draft A, the academic year started on Aug. 31 and ended on June 9. In the second version, Draft B, the academic year started on Sept. 8 and ended on June 14.

More

Pocomoke City Council Under Fire Again

A small Eastern Shore town that fired its first Black police chief amid allegations of racism is under fire again after hiring a new city manager from a nearby community, who was also embroiled in a scandal involving policing and race.

The Pocomoke City Council approved the appointment of Jeanette DeLude as the town’s new city manager last week. She takes over a city now under a federal consent decree, which requires the town to address a history of discrimination and retaliation against African American employees, through new policy and reform.

The hiring comes shortly after the city settled a federal discrimination lawsuit brought by its former Police Chief Kelvin Sewell, who was fired by the council in 2015 without explanation. The settlement includes a consent decree which require the city to implement new policies to handle discrimination claims.

More

Trump boasts record number of federal judges appointed in first term

President Trump celebrated the number of conservative federal judges his administration has appointed to federal courts across the country.

"Now up to 187 Federal Judges, and two great new Supreme Court Justices," Trump tweeted in the early hours of Wednesday morning. "We are in major record territory. Hope EVERYONE is happy!"

Along with his tweet, Trump promoted a video from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, laying out how the Republican-controlled Senate has added 50 circuit court judges during his tenure.

"Mitch McConnell is giving the nation's courts a face-lift," the video boasts.

More

"I Think You Just Called Me A Liar": Ex-Native-American Liz Warren Snaps At Bernie On Hot Mic

Having spent most of her political life lying about her heritage, Senator Elizabeth Warren dropped the liar-liar-pants-on-fire hammer on Senator Bernie Sanders last night in what was by far the most entertaining - albeit brief - part of the entire night's Democratic debate.

CNN has released the audio to go with the most awkward viral moment following the debate on stage where Warren refused to shake hands with Sanders.

CNN reports that the conversation was not captured on the primary audio feed from the candidates' podiums. After the debate, CNN did an inventory of the audio equipment that was used and found two backup recordings from the microphones Sanders and Warren were wearing.

CNN then synchronized the audio recordings with the footage that was broadcast live on Tuesday night.

The conversation played out on the debate stage, in public view, and occurred before Sanders and Warren's clip-on microphones were removed.

More

NOI 1/16/20 Wicomico Multi-Family Dwelling Hearn Lane

new patch

NOTICE OF INVESTIGATION

Michael Avenatti is ARRESTED by Feds for 'bail violations' during disciplinary hearing with California's State Bar Court ahead of his extortion trial

California attorney Michael Avenatti has been rearrested for alleged bail violations, prosecutors in New York told a judge late Tuesday.

The prosecutors said in a one-page letter to U.S. District Judge Paul G. Gardephe that they were told by prosecutors in Los Angeles that an arrest warrant had been issued and it was expected Avenatti would be arrested soon.

'We understand that has now occurred,' the New York prosecutors said in the letter.

'We are still gathering information and will provide an update to the Court as soon as we can,' the letter added.

More

#RedforEd Teachers Step Up 2020 Political Engagement in Florida

The #RedforEd teachers’ movement continued to step up its 2020 political engagement with a rally Monday afternoon in Tallahassee, the capital of the battleground state of Florida.

Though it was an official school day for public schools in Florida, a crowd of several thousand teachers and supporters, most wearing the movement’s trademark red t-shirts, rallied to “Take on Tallahassee” where they highlighted their demands for more pay and more school funding to the Florida State Legislature, which returns to session on Tuesday.

Last week in Minnesota, “The #RedforEd teachers’ movement confirmed it is a purely political movement designed to help elect Democrats and stop the re-election of President Donald Trump in 2020.

More

[“We’re proud to have teachers as our top donors by occupation because they hold the key to a more prosperous future for younger generations.” --Sen. Bernie Sanders]

Governor Hogan Announces More Than $1 Billion in Tax Relief for Maryland Retirees

Biggest Tax Reduction in Maryland in More Than Two Decades
Retirees with Maryland Income Up to $50,000 Would Pay No State Income Tax Whatsoever
Next Step in Fulfilling Commitment to Eliminate All Retirement Taxes in Maryland

ANNAPOLIS, MD—Governor Larry Hogan today announced a more than $1 billion tax relief proposal to make it more affordable for retirees to stay in Maryland. This legislation, which would lower taxes for more than 230,000 Marylanders, is the biggest tax reduction in Maryland in more than two decades.

“People who have been lifelong Marylanders and have contributed so much, and still have more to offer, are moving to other states for one reason—our state’s sky-high retirement taxes,” said Governor Hogan. “When I first ran for governor, I said that once we solved the budget crisis and turned our economy around I wanted to eventually reach the point where we could eliminate all retirement taxes just as other states have done. That is still our goal, and this tax cut is a major step toward achieving it.”

The Retirement Tax Reduction Act of 2020 will cut retirement taxes for Marylanders by more than $1 billion over five years. This legislation will eliminate all state tax on the first $50,000 of income for retirees making up to $100,000 in federally adjusted gross income. Retirees with Maryland income up to $50,000 will pay no state tax whatsoever in the state of Maryland. This tax reduction will be phased in over five years, beginning in FY22.

Gen. Michael Flynn Moves to Withdraw Guilty Plea

Former Trump National Security Advisor and retired Army Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn filed a motion Tuesday to withdraw his guilty plea as part of a plea deal in the Russia inquiry, according to his lawyer Sidney Powell.

She tweeted:

"We just filed a Motion to Withdraw the plea of @GenFlynn because the government acted in bad faith, with vindictiveness, and breached the plea agreement pursuant to which he has cooperated fully at great personal expense and “held back nothing” according to #prosecuters until @GenFlynn refused to LIE on demand from #prosecutors in EDVA in Rafiekian case."

Powell also said in a statement sent to OANN’s Jack Posobiec:

"Gen. Flynn is innocent of all charges, the government’s allegations are false, and evidence the government released only recently needs to be reviewed and addressed. Mr. Flynn was always truthful, and future filings will make that clear. Gen. Flynn has been targeted by vindictive and unprincipled prosecutors."

She argued that Flynn upheld his end of the plea deal in being truthful, but the government did not uphold its end and tried to coerce Flynn to lie.

More

WaPo, NYT Aiding China’s Global Propaganda Efforts, Watchdog Warns

America’s "leading newspapers" are aiding China’s communist regime by running the oppressive government’s propaganda, respected watchdog organization Freedom House reported.

The Washington Post, Wall Street Journal and New York Times have all run paid supplements from China Daily, the Chinese government’s state media arm. The paid supplements, dubbed “China Watch,” are designed to look like real news articles.

The paid supplements are a way in which Chinese state media “exploit foreign media outlets,” Freedom House warned in its report, “Beijing’s Global Megaphone.”

“In the case of the Washington Post and some other publications, China Watch also appears as an online feature, further blurring the lines between Chinese state media content and the host outlet’s own reporting,” the report noted.

The Daily Caller News Foundation reached out to all three newspapers to ask if they would commit to cease running the paid supplements, given the Chinese regime’s persecution of ethnic and religious minorities, and whether they would disclose how much revenue they received from the Chinese advertisements.

More

Here’s How Govt Spends Your Tax Money, Cardi B!

New Hampshire bill would limit women's sports participation to biological females

A bill proposed in the New Hampshire statehouse would limit participation in women's sports to only biological females and has sparked accusations of discrimination from advocates for transgender rights in the state.

“I am a commonsense mom and a woman, and I don’t have to put quote marks around it,” Victoria Galla said during a public hearing on House Bill 1251, according to the Union-Leader. “When I hear people put quote marks around it, that is insulting to me as a woman. If you are endorsing transgender kids, you are endorsing child abuse.”

Proponents of the bill argued allowing biological males to compete in womens sports is unfair and takes spots on school teams away from women.

More

Wisconsin Court Temporarily Blocks Purge of Up to 209,000 Names From Voter Rolls

A Wisconsin appeals court ordered the state on Jan. 14 to temporarily halt the removal of more than 200,000 people from its voter registration rolls for failing to answer questions about their addresses.

The removal of as many as 209,000 names was put on hold a day after an Ozaukee County judge found three members of the Wisconsin Elections Commission in contempt of court for ignoring an order he gave in December 2019.

An appeals court judge also blocked the contempt finding in a separate order, putting on hold a decision that fined the three Democratic members $250 a day each until they voted to purge the names.

The appeals court on Jan. 14 ordered that the lower court’s order against the commissioners and a Dec. 13 order to purge the names from voter rolls be “stayed until further order of this court,” the court clerk wrote.

More

Fact Check: No CNN, Trump Does Not Want to Cancel Coverage for Pre-Existing Conditions

CLAIM: President Donald Trump wants to cancel health insurance coverage for people with pre-existing conditions.

VERDICT: False. Trump supports repealing Obamacare but has always backed coverage for pre-existing conditions.

CNN moderator Abby Phillip stated several false or contested claims as facts at the Democrat debate on Tuesday night.

One was the claim that President Trump wants to end health insurance coverage for pre-existing conditions, simply because the president also supports a court challenge to Obamacare. In fact, while repealing the individual mandate of Obamacare, and backing a full “repeal and replace,” Trump has always insisted on covering people with pre-existing health conditions.

More

New Evidence In Michael Flynn Case Shows Government Prosecutors Pushed Him To Lie

Michael Flynn’s attorney, Sidney Powell, has filed a Motion to Withdraw his Guilty Plea, arguing the government breached its obligations under the plea agreement the retired general had entered with the special counsel’s office in late 2017. Prosecutors had promised in that plea agreement to “file a departure motion pursuant to Section 5K1.1 of the Sentencing Guidelines” if Flynn provided substantial assistance to the government.

The government kept that pledge—until it didn’t.

On December 4, 2018, prosecutors working for the special counsel’s office filed a Memorandum in Aid of Sentencing, stating that the government has moved for a downward departure pursuant to Section 5K1.1, to reflect Flynn’s “substantial assistance to the government.”

Section 5K1.1 authorizes a judge to depart from the sentencing guideline—a set of standards used to assess an appropriate sentencing range for a defendant—if the government files a motion “stating that the defendant has provided substantial assistance in the investigation or prosecution of another person who has committed an offense . . .” A court cannot depart from the guidelines under Section 5K1.1, unless the prosecution files such a motion.

The government re-iterated its position on December 18, 2018, at Flynn’s originally scheduled sentencing hearing. “Mr. Flynn should receive probation,” prosecutors said, with lawyer Brandon Van Grack, who represented the special counsel’s office, “thoroughly prais[ing] Mr. Flynn, telling the court: ‘I’d like to highlight that General Flynn has held nothing back, nothing in his extensive cooperation with the Special Counsel’s Office. He’s answered every question that’s been asked. I believe they feel that he’s answered them truthfully, and he has. He’s complied with every request that’s been made, as has his counsel. Nothing has been held back.”

More

The Biggest Loser of Tuesday's Dem Debate Wasn't Any of the Candidates

CNN’s bias was in full force Tuesday evening during the seventh Democratic debate, particularly in the way the moderators clearly favored Sen. Elizabeth Warren over Sen. Bernie Sanders.

Moderator Abby Phillip asked Sanders about the private meeting he had with Warren in which he allegedly told her (according to the network's reporting) that he didn't think a woman could win the election.

The Vermont senator said the idea he would believe that is “incomprehensible” and pointed to footage of him from 30 years ago talking about how a woman could become president of the United States.

More

Gun advocates see ‘registry’ and ‘confiscation’ coming to Virginia

Despite the expansion of “gun sanctuaries” to a record 130 Virginia towns and counties Wednesday, covering most of the state, foes of gun control legislation speeding through Richmond are raising new fears they will be forced to register weapons, a move that could lead to “confiscation.”

Second Amendment lobbyists and advocates reviewing the initial gun control moves by a state Senate committee credit the exploding sanctuary movement for forcing Democrats to accept some compromises, including a less strict universal background check and delay in introducing a ban on “assault weapons.”

But they are concerned that even watered down gun control legislation will eventually lead to broader restrictions and bans.

More

LAST CHANCE: Rock Out with a Knock Out


Boxing returns to Salisbury’s Main St Gym on Sat Jan 18th in the event dubbed “Rock Out With a Knockout.” 


Sponsored by Pohanka of Salisbury, this USA Boxing sanctioned event will start at 7pm with doors opening at 6pm. “Rock Out” feature some of the toughest fighters from up and down the east coast. 

Six boxers from the Main St Gym will be featured through the night as well as others from neighboring states. All of them will be putting it on the line for bragging rights. 

The Main St Gym fighters that will enter the square circle on Sat, Jan 18th are, 
  • Jack Giordano a 4th grader at Wicomico Day School, 
  • Carter Harris, a student at West Side Elementary, 
  • hard hitting Jordan Trotter a student at Wi Middle, 
  • eleven year veteran, Erick Acosta a freshman at Parkside High school and 
  • open class 152 lb Corey Moore of Salisbury. 
  • Brandon Carey of Princess Anne will be making his ring debut. 

The night will be rocking with music by That DJ Guy and food by Jade Catering. Tables are still available at $400 for 8 persons and General admission Tickets are $25, $15 under 16yrs w/proof of age. For Tickets call 410-430-6687 

Event: ”ROCKOUT with a KNOCKOUT", 
Live Boxing Time /Date: Sat Jan 18th 7pm 
Location:  Main St Gym 310 Bowl Dr ( off Northwood Dr) 
Food by: Dave Easton (Jade Catering) 
Doors open 6pm Music, Food, Fun, and Fights all under one roof. Tickets and Tables Available call Coach Hal 410-430-6687 

Trump says he will try to attend July 4 fireworks at Mount Rushmore

President Trump said he would try to visit Mount Rushmore on the Fourth of July to watch the planned fireworks.

"I called up our people and in 15 minutes got it approved, and we will have the first fireworks display at Mount Rushmore, and I will try and get out there if I can," Trump said Wednesday.

Trump has brushed off environmental concerns about the fireworks display at the South Dakota landmark, which has not had fireworks since 2009 when they were discontinued over concerns related to the pine beetle infestation in the Black Hills National Forest.

More

Supreme Court chief asks if ‘OK, boomer’ qualifies as workplace age discrimination

Chief Justice John Roberts questioned whether using the phrase "OK, boomer" would qualify as age discrimination.

On Wednesday, the court heard oral arguments for the case of Norris Babb, a Department of Veterans Affairs employee who says she was fired because of her age and gender. Babb sued the department because she was one of four women over the age of 50 to be denied a high-paying position on an innovative patient care program in Florida in 2010. She claimed that less qualified, younger female pharmacists were appointed to the team, as were older male doctors.

Babb’s attorneys claim that her age was a “motivating factor” in the decision not to promote her to the program. The department argued the law says that discrimination occurred if the individual would have gotten the job “but for” his or her age. The latter argument creates a much higher standard of evidence because the individual must prove that age was the only factor for being refused a position.

More

Breaking: West Virginia Lawmakers Invite Persecuted Pro-Second Amendment Counties in Virginia to Join Their State

West Virginia lawmakers introduced legislation to invite persecuted pro Second Amendment Counties to join their state.

The West Virginia Senate adopted a resolution to remind Virginia residents from Frederick County that they have a standing invite — from 1862 — to become part of West Virginia.

West Virginia freedom fighters broke away from Virginia Democrat slave owners during the Civil War.

This week West Virginia has once again invited persecuted Virginia pro 2-A counties to come join their state.

Sounds like a winning plan!

More

Hunter Biden tops GOP Senate impeachment witness wish list

Senate Republicans say Hunter Biden, former Vice President Joe Biden’s son, is the first person they think the President Trump’s defense team should call as a witness if they get a chance in the upcoming impeachment trial of Trump.

Seven House managers named by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Wednesday will present their case in the Senate trial, set to start Jan. 21. It's an open question whether they'll get to call witnesses to bolster their case for two impeachment counts against Trump in the Ukraine military aid affair.

Senate Democrats are clamoring for witnesses, starting with former Trump administration national security adviser John Bolton. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York also wants testimony from acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney, Associate Director for National Security at the Office of Management and Budget Michael Duffey, and administration official Robert Blair.

More

Political Memes







Thursday Morning Funnies






Dance Group Autism With Attitude Earns Standing Ovation