CHRISTIANSBURG, Va. (WDBJ7) - Christiansburg Police have released dashcam video of Virginia State Delegate Chris Hurst (D-12) being pulled over and going through sobriety tests Sunday morning.
Hurst issued a statement about being pulled over Sunday by a police officer who saw him swerving and speeding, but he was not charged.
The statement reads, “I am very sorry this happened and take full responsibility for exercising such poor judgment. This mistake is not something I take lightly. The work before us in the General Assembly this session is more important than ever before. I look forward to continued efforts to build a better 12th District and Commonwealth of Virginia.”
About 2 a.m. January 26, according to a statement from the town of Christiansburg, a town police officer pulled Hurst over on the U.S. 460 Bypass, between the exits for downtown Christiansburg and Peppers Ferry Road. The officer said he saw the driver swerve across the right side fog line several times and drive above the posted speed limit.
When the officer approached the driver, according to the city's statement, he noticed the driver's eyes were red, and the officer smelled alcohol coming from within the vehicle.
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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
Wednesday, January 29, 2020
Iconic OLD BAY coming out as new hot sauce
Well, now it's coming out as a hot sauce.
The unique blend of herbs and spices has been around for more than 75 years, and Marylanders don't just put it on crabs, but just about everything else.
"OLD BAY Seasoning and hot sauce go together like, well, OLD BAY and everything," Jill Pratt, with OLD BAY marketing excellence, said in a statement. "Our fans are always super excited to share with us all the ways they're using the seasoning and celebrating their love of OLD BAY -- from costumes and themed weddings to home decor and even tattoos. We can't wait to hear what they think of our new hot sauce."
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UPDATE:
Update on OLD BAY HOT SAUCE:
Your ❤️ for all things OLD BAY may have broken the Internet. 🔥 Thanks for always being ready to try something new. We’re currently SOLD OUT, but RESTOCKING SOON. Sign up for availability alerts at oldbay.com
DHS: China Has Most Student Visas in U.S., Nearly Half a Million in 2018
Federal data shows that roughly 480,000 Chinese students studied in the United States in 2018, delivering more than $10 billion in fees to universities nationwide.
China is the leading source of foreign students, far ahead of India’s 250,000 students, Korea’s 90,000 students, and Saudi Arabia’s 6o,000 students. Ten European countries provided fewer than 100,000 students, according to the visa data provided by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Amid rising concern about China’s coronavirus, the huge inflow creates healthcare problems for U.S. universities, but also for the many companies that have hired Chinese graduates in place of Americans.
Many of the foreigners come to the United States to get work permits and U.S. jobs, mostly via the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program, which is open to foreign graduates of U.S. universities. For example, the DHS data showed that Facebook hired 725 of the foreign OPT workers in 2018, alongside several hundred new H-1B visa workers.
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China is the leading source of foreign students, far ahead of India’s 250,000 students, Korea’s 90,000 students, and Saudi Arabia’s 6o,000 students. Ten European countries provided fewer than 100,000 students, according to the visa data provided by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Amid rising concern about China’s coronavirus, the huge inflow creates healthcare problems for U.S. universities, but also for the many companies that have hired Chinese graduates in place of Americans.
Many of the foreigners come to the United States to get work permits and U.S. jobs, mostly via the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program, which is open to foreign graduates of U.S. universities. For example, the DHS data showed that Facebook hired 725 of the foreign OPT workers in 2018, alongside several hundred new H-1B visa workers.
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Drag queens will appear in Super Bowl commercial for the very first time as RuPaul’s Drag Race alumni Kim Chi and Miz Cracker make their historical debut for new Sabra Hummus and tease campaign by attempting to put a football helmet over a VERY large wig
Drag queens are to appear in a Super Bowl commercial for the very first time this Sunday.
Kim Chi and Miz Cracker who appeared on RuPaul's Drag Race will end up making history when they appear in an advert for Sabra hummus on February 2 when the Kansas City Chiefs take on the San Francisco 49ers.
In a teaser for the advert which the company posted onto its YouTube channel last week, Miz Cracker attempts to put on a football helmet over one of her huge wigs.
'I hope this doesn't give me helmet hair,' she says, while Kim Chi watches.
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Kim Chi and Miz Cracker who appeared on RuPaul's Drag Race will end up making history when they appear in an advert for Sabra hummus on February 2 when the Kansas City Chiefs take on the San Francisco 49ers.
In a teaser for the advert which the company posted onto its YouTube channel last week, Miz Cracker attempts to put on a football helmet over one of her huge wigs.
'I hope this doesn't give me helmet hair,' she says, while Kim Chi watches.
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Governor Hogan Provides Update on Maryland’s Response to Novel Coronavirus
No Confirmed Cases in Maryland To Date, Health Officials Mobilizing Aggressive Response
ANNAPOLIS, MD—At today’s Board of Public Works meeting, Governor Larry Hogan detailed the steps that Maryland officials are taking to respond to the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak in Asia. While there have been no confirmed cases of coronavirus in Maryland, one individual has met the criteria for testing by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The individual is in good condition and remains in isolation pending the results of CDC testing.
“This morning, I received a thorough briefing from state health officials regarding our coordinated response to the novel coronavirus outbreak, which has become a major public health crisis in China,” said Governor Hogan. “At my direction, the state is taking every precaution to prepare and mobilize whatever resources are necessary to address the coronavirus. Our state government team is in close communication with federal officials and will continue to remain so on an ongoing basis. Maryland is fortunate to have some of the top health research facilities in the world, and I am confident in our state’s ability to respond to any potential cases of the virus, and I expect that we will be a leader in developing treatments and perhaps even a vaccine. While there is no need for immediate concern, we are taking this issue very seriously, and we encourage Marylanders to stay informed.”
The State Emergency Operations Center’s activation level has been raised to “Enhanced” in support of a local incident and novel coronavirus response in Maryland. The Maryland Department of Health (MDH) has issued clinical guidance to the state’s 20,472 physicians, 2,786 nurse practitioners, 1,301 pharmacists, and local health departments. The department has held briefings for Maryland Strategic National Stockpile partners and public health and hospital emergency managers. In addition, the department has held an informational webinar for local health departments, and is scheduled to hold a preparedness webinar for healthcare facility infection leaders later today.
Investigators: Crashed helicopter carrying Kobe Bryant and 8 others was 20 to 30 feet from clearing hilltop
CALABASAS, Calif. —The helicopter carrying basketball superstar Kobe Bryant and eight others crashed into a Calabasas, California, hillside with a "high energy impact," the National Transportation Safety Board said Tuesday.
As federal investigators wrapped up operations at the crash site, NTSB member Jennifer Homendy said preliminary information suggests the plane descended rapidly and was likely in one piece before it slammed into the hill.
"The descent rate for the helicopter was over 2,000 feet a minute, so we know that this was a high energy impact crash," Homendy said. "This is a pretty steep descent at high speed. So it wouldn't be a normal landing speed."
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As federal investigators wrapped up operations at the crash site, NTSB member Jennifer Homendy said preliminary information suggests the plane descended rapidly and was likely in one piece before it slammed into the hill.
"The descent rate for the helicopter was over 2,000 feet a minute, so we know that this was a high energy impact crash," Homendy said. "This is a pretty steep descent at high speed. So it wouldn't be a normal landing speed."
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Man arrested for smoking marijuana while in court for marijuana charge
WILSON COUNTY, Tenn. —Spencer Boston had a message. And nothing was going to stop him from delivering it -- not even jail time.
Boston, 20, was in court Monday in Wilson County, Tennessee, facing a simple marijuana possession charge, according to Wilson County Sheriff's Department Lt. Scott Moore. But as he stood to face Judge Haywood Barry, he began expressing his views on why weed should be legalized.
And to amplify his point, he reached into his jacket and slipped out a single marijuana cigarette. He then pulled out a box of matches and lit it up.
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Boston, 20, was in court Monday in Wilson County, Tennessee, facing a simple marijuana possession charge, according to Wilson County Sheriff's Department Lt. Scott Moore. But as he stood to face Judge Haywood Barry, he began expressing his views on why weed should be legalized.
And to amplify his point, he reached into his jacket and slipped out a single marijuana cigarette. He then pulled out a box of matches and lit it up.
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Accident Today In Princess Anne
Florida nine-year-old is arrested for 'attempting to murder his five-year-old sister by stabbing her multiple times while shouting "die, die"'
A nine-year-old boy in Florida is facing an attempted first-degree murder charge for allegedly stabbing his five-year-old sister multiple times while saying 'die, die'.
The boy claims the thought of killing his sister came into his mind a few days previously and he couldn't stop thinking about it. A judge has ordered an immediate psychiatric evaluation.
His sister was airlifted to hospital but is said to have been alert and conscious after the attack.
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The boy claims the thought of killing his sister came into his mind a few days previously and he couldn't stop thinking about it. A judge has ordered an immediate psychiatric evaluation.
His sister was airlifted to hospital but is said to have been alert and conscious after the attack.
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AMERICAN HEART MONTH “FEBRUARY”2020
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. American Heart Month is held every year to educate people how to prevent heart disease and increase awareness of its effects.
You can make healthy changes to lower your risk of developing heart disease. Controlling and preventing risk factors is also important for people who already have heart disease. Some things you can do to lower your risk or help manage heart disease are:
· Control your cholesterol and blood pressure.
· Watch your weight.
· Get active and eat healthy.
· Quit smoking and stay away from secondhand smoke.
The Wicomico County Health Department offers programs that can help:
1) SCALE (Sustainable Change and Lifestyle Enhancement) for Families will start a new 12-week group beginning February 6, 2020, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m., at the Richard A. Henson Family YMCA, 715 S. Schumaker Dr., Salisbury, MD. SCALE is open to women ages 18 to 55 and their children ages 7 to 17.
The program offers interactive educational sessions about making simple changes around healthier eating and increased physical activity that can add up to weight loss and a healthier lifestyle. Sessions include group exercise, a cooking demonstration and a grocery store tour, as well as incentives and tools to implement these changes.
2) The Stop Smoking Program’s on-going community class is held on Thursdays, 12 noon – 1:00 pm at the Health Department’s location at 801 N. Salisbury Blvd. (Suite 202), Salisbury, MD and is open to any adult who lives or works in Wicomico County.
This program offers the stop smoking medications nicotine patch or gum, and Chantix. The interactive educational sessions also offer group support from fellow quitters.
To find out more or to register for either of these classes, please call 410-334-3480 extension 0 or visit www.wicomicohealth.org. Funding for SCALE is provided by the Maryland Community Health Resource Commission. Funding for the Stop Smoking Program is provided by Maryland’s Cigarette Restitution Fund.
For more information on heart disease and American Heart Month, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s page at www.cdc.gov/heartdisease.
US military source says there were NO CIA staff on Afghanistan crash jet after Iranian media claimed officer 'behind Soleimani's death' was among those killed
A US military source today said there were no CIA staff on a jet which crashed in Afghanistan on Monday after Iranian media claimed the officer behind Qassem Soleimani's death was among those killed.
The source told the MailOnline the wild claim that Michael D'Andrea was aboard the jet which crashed in Dih Yak, or indeed that any CIA members had been killed, was absurd.
A US official earlier confirmed the bodies of two American personnel had been recovered from the crash site while denying Taliban claims the E-11A communications jet containing 'high ranking officers' had been shot down.
Iranian media had amplified the Taliban narrative, claiming that D'Andrea - who played 'a pivotal role in many acts of terror, including the assassination of IRGC Quds Force commander Lieutenant General Qasem Soleimani' - had been killed.
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The source told the MailOnline the wild claim that Michael D'Andrea was aboard the jet which crashed in Dih Yak, or indeed that any CIA members had been killed, was absurd.
A US official earlier confirmed the bodies of two American personnel had been recovered from the crash site while denying Taliban claims the E-11A communications jet containing 'high ranking officers' had been shot down.
Iranian media had amplified the Taliban narrative, claiming that D'Andrea - who played 'a pivotal role in many acts of terror, including the assassination of IRGC Quds Force commander Lieutenant General Qasem Soleimani' - had been killed.
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Obamacare Expanded Insurance Coverage of Contraceptives. Prices Soared.
In today’s Los Angeles Times, Cato senior fellow Dr. Jeffrey A. Singer and I note that once the Affordable Care Act’s contraceptives‐coverage mandate took full effect in 2014, “prices for hormones and oral contraceptives stopped falling and instead skyrocketed. By 2019, they had risen three times as fast as prices for prescription drugs overall.”
Here we provide the underlying data:
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) dramatically expanded insurance coverage for prescription contraceptives such as “the pill.” From August 2012 through January 2014, the federal government phased in the ACA’s requirement that nearly all private health insurance plans must cover all Food and Drug Administration‐approved prescription contraceptives with no cost‐sharing. In addition, from 2014 through 2017, the ACA enrolled an estimated 5 million previously uninsured women of child‐bearing age in either private insurance plans subject to that mandate or in Medicaid, which also covers prescription contraceptives with no cost‐sharing.
As a result of these changes, the share of consumers who are sensitive to the price of contraceptives plummeted. The Kaiser Family Foundation reports that, among women with large‐employer coverage who use oral contraceptives, “the share experiencing out‐of‐pocket spending…declined from 94 percent in 2012 to 11 percent in 2017.” From 2012 through 2014, ACA‐mandated coverage of contraceptives all by itself “account[ed] for nearly two‐thirds (63%) of the drop in out‐of‐pocket spending on retail drugs” across all consumers.
The ACA’s reshaping of the market for oral contraceptives precisely coincided with a dramatic increase in prices for those items.
Here we provide the underlying data:
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) dramatically expanded insurance coverage for prescription contraceptives such as “the pill.” From August 2012 through January 2014, the federal government phased in the ACA’s requirement that nearly all private health insurance plans must cover all Food and Drug Administration‐approved prescription contraceptives with no cost‐sharing. In addition, from 2014 through 2017, the ACA enrolled an estimated 5 million previously uninsured women of child‐bearing age in either private insurance plans subject to that mandate or in Medicaid, which also covers prescription contraceptives with no cost‐sharing.
As a result of these changes, the share of consumers who are sensitive to the price of contraceptives plummeted. The Kaiser Family Foundation reports that, among women with large‐employer coverage who use oral contraceptives, “the share experiencing out‐of‐pocket spending…declined from 94 percent in 2012 to 11 percent in 2017.” From 2012 through 2014, ACA‐mandated coverage of contraceptives all by itself “account[ed] for nearly two‐thirds (63%) of the drop in out‐of‐pocket spending on retail drugs” across all consumers.
The ACA’s reshaping of the market for oral contraceptives precisely coincided with a dramatic increase in prices for those items.
The Biden family’s Ukraine games cried out for investigation
House Democrats impeached President Trump for putting his own political fortunes ahead of the national interest in dealing with Ukraine. But it’s Joe Biden who should be on the hot seat for that.
Trump is criticized for a July 25 phone call, when he asked the president of Ukraine for help investigating what Biden did as vice president to get a prosecutor there fired. At the time, Biden’s son Hunter was on the payroll of a corrupt Ukrainian energy company, Burisma, which was targeted by authorities.
Democrats claim it was wrong to ask for the investigation; Trump’s defense lawyers say there was every reason to ask. The evidence backs up Team Trump.
It’s not just the $1 million a year Burisma paid Hunter, though he had no energy or Ukraine expertise. That’s what the defense team focused on, but it’s small potatoes.
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Trump is criticized for a July 25 phone call, when he asked the president of Ukraine for help investigating what Biden did as vice president to get a prosecutor there fired. At the time, Biden’s son Hunter was on the payroll of a corrupt Ukrainian energy company, Burisma, which was targeted by authorities.
Democrats claim it was wrong to ask for the investigation; Trump’s defense lawyers say there was every reason to ask. The evidence backs up Team Trump.
It’s not just the $1 million a year Burisma paid Hunter, though he had no energy or Ukraine expertise. That’s what the defense team focused on, but it’s small potatoes.
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Amazon's Ring app is handing over user data to Facebook, Google and other third-parties without permission, reveals a new report
Amazon's Ring is under fire yet again after security experts discovered that the Android app is sending customer information to third parties.
The names, private IP addresses, mobile network carriers, persistent identifiers and sensor data were discovered in the exchange with Facebook and Google, among others.
The report also found that some Ring users whose identity was shared with Facebook do not have an account with the social media network.
The findings were uncovered by the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), a non-profit organizations that defends civil liberties in the digital world, which noted the information was encrypted in a way that it would go undetected by security researchers.
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The names, private IP addresses, mobile network carriers, persistent identifiers and sensor data were discovered in the exchange with Facebook and Google, among others.
The report also found that some Ring users whose identity was shared with Facebook do not have an account with the social media network.
The findings were uncovered by the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), a non-profit organizations that defends civil liberties in the digital world, which noted the information was encrypted in a way that it would go undetected by security researchers.
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Doctors told to consider shortness of breath and coughing as symptoms of LUNG CANCER because they are the earliest signs of the killer disease
Doctors are being told to be alert to shortness of breath and a cough as potential predictors of lung cancer.
The are becoming more common as the first symptom before diagnosis than they were previously, a study suggests.
Researchers examined nearly 28,000 medical records of adults who were diagnosed with lung cancer between 2000 and 2017 at more than 600 UK GP practices.
Coughing up blood is no longer reported as a first symptom of the disease, despite being regarded as such for decades.
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The are becoming more common as the first symptom before diagnosis than they were previously, a study suggests.
Researchers examined nearly 28,000 medical records of adults who were diagnosed with lung cancer between 2000 and 2017 at more than 600 UK GP practices.
Coughing up blood is no longer reported as a first symptom of the disease, despite being regarded as such for decades.
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Biden Snaps At Voter: ‘Go Vote For Someone Else’
Democratic 2020 candidate Joe Biden snapped at an Iowa voter on Tuesday, telling the man to “go vote for someone else” after he asked the former vice president not to support building new pipelines.
The man said that he would support Biden in the general election against President Donald Trump, but that he planned to support billionaire Tom Steyer in the Democratic primary.
“I’m going to support you if you win the nomination because we’ve got to get rid of Trump, but what are we going to do about climate change?” the man asked Biden.
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The man said that he would support Biden in the general election against President Donald Trump, but that he planned to support billionaire Tom Steyer in the Democratic primary.
“I’m going to support you if you win the nomination because we’ve got to get rid of Trump, but what are we going to do about climate change?” the man asked Biden.
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China Has Not Accepted U.S. Offers to Send CDC Experts to Aid in Coronavirus Fight
U.S. health officials said that they have been offering for weeks to send experts to help China combat the coronavirus that has claimed at least 106 lives.
At press conference Tuesday, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said the U.S. first offered to send experts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on January 6 but China has not yet accepted the offer.
“CDC experts are standing by, ready willing and able to go immediately to China, either on a bilateral basis or under the auspices of the World Health Organization,” Azar said. “This is a major public health issue and we basically just need the best public health people we have in the world working on this.”
U.S. personnel could aid China in answering critical public health questions about how the virus spreads, its incubation period, and if it can be spread by those not yet showing symptoms, CDC Director Robert Redfield said.
“We are urging China: more cooperation and transparency are the most important steps you can take toward a more effective response,” Azar said.
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At press conference Tuesday, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said the U.S. first offered to send experts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on January 6 but China has not yet accepted the offer.
“CDC experts are standing by, ready willing and able to go immediately to China, either on a bilateral basis or under the auspices of the World Health Organization,” Azar said. “This is a major public health issue and we basically just need the best public health people we have in the world working on this.”
U.S. personnel could aid China in answering critical public health questions about how the virus spreads, its incubation period, and if it can be spread by those not yet showing symptoms, CDC Director Robert Redfield said.
“We are urging China: more cooperation and transparency are the most important steps you can take toward a more effective response,” Azar said.
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Va. Senate passes bill to allow firefighters, EMTs to conceal-carry
RICHMOND, Va. (WSET) -- A bill that would allow firefighters, EMTs, and paramedics, who are former law enforcement officers or veterans, to carry a concealed firearm has passed the Senate and will head to the House.
The Washington Post reported that the bill is sponsored by Sen. Amanda Chase, the mother of an EMT and narrowly passed with a 21-19 vote.
Sen. Chase is known for being armed on the Senate floor.
SB 1012 would require emergency personnel to get a concealed-carry permit as well as permission from their chief.
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The Washington Post reported that the bill is sponsored by Sen. Amanda Chase, the mother of an EMT and narrowly passed with a 21-19 vote.
Sen. Chase is known for being armed on the Senate floor.
SB 1012 would require emergency personnel to get a concealed-carry permit as well as permission from their chief.
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Johnson & Johnson to create coronavirus vaccine
Pharmaceutical company Johnson & Johnson is working on a vaccine to counter the deadly coronavirus. In a recent interview, the chief scientist for Johnson & Johnson, Dr. Paul Stoffels, said he’s confident they can create a vaccine within months. However, it could take up to a year before it becomes available to the public.
This comes after the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reported more than 100 people across 26 states are currently being screened for the fast spreading illness.
Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar spoke out on the current state of the epidemic Tuesday.
This comes after the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reported more than 100 people across 26 states are currently being screened for the fast spreading illness.
Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar spoke out on the current state of the epidemic Tuesday.
Governor Hogan Introduces Common Sense Legislation to Return School Start to After Labor Day
Move Supported by Overwhelming Majority of Marylanders Will End Mass Confusion of Having Maryland’s Counties Starting on Different Dates
ANNAPOLIS, MD—Governor Larry Hogan today announced that he is introducing the Universal School Start Act of 2020 requiring Maryland public schools to start after Labor Day, and ending the mass confusion of having Maryland’s counties each starting on different dates. This mass confusion was created by the General Assembly’s actions in 2019, when it cynically overturned the governor’s popular executive order requiring that school start after Labor Day.
“We have taken a lot of actions over the past five years, but I can’t think of a single one that has more widespread, enthusiastic support across the state,” said Governor Hogan. “But after two years of it working very well, and after the 2018 election was completed, last year in 2019 special interests snuck a bill in and legislators reversed himself and ignored the people again by reversing this common sense action with a misguided piece of legislation, which has the potential to cause mass confusion this fall and in future years with a potential for 24 different start dates spread over several weeks.”
(Watch)
The Universal School Start Act of 2020 directly repeals the General Assembly’s politically motivated 2019 legislation and codifies the governor’s 2016 executive order requiring that Maryland’s public schools begin after Labor Day, and complete the 180 days that are required under state law. Polling has consistently shown that the overwhelming majority of Marylanders want school to start after Labor Day.
“The Universal School Start Act will repeal the legislature’s 2019 misguided bill and return our state to what the citizens actually want and have been demanding for years: the return of the school start to after Labor Day,” continued the governor.
School After Labor Day in Maryland: A Timeline
In 2013, following years of public pressure to return to a traditional school calendar, the Maryland General Assembly voted by an overwhelming 170-7 margin to pass legislation creating a state commission to study moving the school start date to after Labor Day, which was signed into law by former Governor Martin O’Malley.
This initiative had the support of Comptroller Peter Franchot, as well as legislative leaders including Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller. From 2013 to 2016, a total of five bills were introduced to require starting school after Labor Day—sponsored by dozens in both parties—which failed to pass, in large part due to political pressure.
In September 2016, after the General Assembly repeatedly failed to act, Governor Hogan signed an executive order to finally enact the recommendation of the legislative task force and the will of Marylanders by requiring school calendars to start classes after Labor Day beginning in the 2017-18 school year.
However, in 2019, the General Assembly again ignored the will of the people and passed legislation to turn back the clock on this common sense action, creating the mass confusion of different counties starting school on different dates. The Universal School Start Act of 2020 repeals that irresponsible action and restores what the overwhelming majority of Marylanders want and have been demanding.
The Betrayal of an American Patriot Continues
When it comes to the Global War on Terror, America has a lot of thinking to do about the lessons we have learned and what the future course should be. The country must also confront the fact that it has left some of those who stepped up to protect this country high and dry.
In particular, we’re talking about Patriots who stepped up to get very committed, high-ranking members of al-Qaida to talk. To do so, they developed enhanced-interrogation techniques that ultimately succeeded against Abu Zubaydah and Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, among others. That success proved to be vital — almost as vital as the code-breaking efforts of Joe Rochefort prior to the World War II Battle of Midway.
It should be noted that in some corners, Rochefort’s efforts were seen as underhanded. In fact, codebreaking was once shut down prior to World War II while one politician huffed, “Gentlemen don’t read each other’s mail.” For reasons of national security (and bureaucratic infighting by DC insiders who were shown up), Rochefort’s vital contributions remained in the shadows for decades. But today, Rochefort is recognized as a hero.
Sadly, those who got KSM and other high-ranking terrorists to talk not only saw their efforts prematurely exposed but also have been dealing with an ongoing betrayal stretching over a decade of persecution by a Gitmo Bar that makes Hanoi Jane look like a piker.
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In particular, we’re talking about Patriots who stepped up to get very committed, high-ranking members of al-Qaida to talk. To do so, they developed enhanced-interrogation techniques that ultimately succeeded against Abu Zubaydah and Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, among others. That success proved to be vital — almost as vital as the code-breaking efforts of Joe Rochefort prior to the World War II Battle of Midway.
It should be noted that in some corners, Rochefort’s efforts were seen as underhanded. In fact, codebreaking was once shut down prior to World War II while one politician huffed, “Gentlemen don’t read each other’s mail.” For reasons of national security (and bureaucratic infighting by DC insiders who were shown up), Rochefort’s vital contributions remained in the shadows for decades. But today, Rochefort is recognized as a hero.
Sadly, those who got KSM and other high-ranking terrorists to talk not only saw their efforts prematurely exposed but also have been dealing with an ongoing betrayal stretching over a decade of persecution by a Gitmo Bar that makes Hanoi Jane look like a piker.
More
South Dakota bill would bar transgender procedures on those younger than 16
South Dakota lawmakers are expected to vote Wednesday on legislation that would limit doctors from prescribing puberty-blocking or hormone drugs and performing sex reassignment surgeries on persons under the age of 16.
Supporters of the bill believe that transgender adolescents under 16 are too young to begin a medical transition to the opposite sex. Opponents, including doctors, Democrats, libertarians, and transgender people, say it will harm the teenagers who seek treatment and incriminate doctors, who could face up to one year in jail for violating the law. Lawmakers who voted against the bill said they heard from young transgender people and their families who said the treatment had proven integral to the child's well-being.
The bill was introduced last year by Rep. Fred Deutsch, who says he was inspired by stories on the internet of people who regretted their decision. "I Googled ‘transgender medicine South Dakota,’ and I found a handful of doctors, not many, that do the procedures," Deutsch said, "and that’s the genesis of the concept of this bill."
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Supporters of the bill believe that transgender adolescents under 16 are too young to begin a medical transition to the opposite sex. Opponents, including doctors, Democrats, libertarians, and transgender people, say it will harm the teenagers who seek treatment and incriminate doctors, who could face up to one year in jail for violating the law. Lawmakers who voted against the bill said they heard from young transgender people and their families who said the treatment had proven integral to the child's well-being.
The bill was introduced last year by Rep. Fred Deutsch, who says he was inspired by stories on the internet of people who regretted their decision. "I Googled ‘transgender medicine South Dakota,’ and I found a handful of doctors, not many, that do the procedures," Deutsch said, "and that’s the genesis of the concept of this bill."
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Sen. Cotton: Trump Should Consider Banning Non-Essential Travel from China
In an interview with Breitbart News on Tuesday, Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AK) said the Trump administration should consider banning all “non-essential travel” from China into the United States given the risks associated with the ongoing coronavirus outbreak in the one-party state.
“Persons infected with coronavirus can transmit it before it [they] are symptomatic, which is very dangerous from an epidemiological standpoint,” said Cotton. Non-symptomatic carriers of the coronavirus would be unidentifiable as threats via screening mechanisms protocols to filter infected persons in the context of international travel.
Cotton determined, “I believe the administration should begin to plan for the prospect of having to suspend all non-essential travel from China to the United States.”
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“Persons infected with coronavirus can transmit it before it [they] are symptomatic, which is very dangerous from an epidemiological standpoint,” said Cotton. Non-symptomatic carriers of the coronavirus would be unidentifiable as threats via screening mechanisms protocols to filter infected persons in the context of international travel.
Cotton determined, “I believe the administration should begin to plan for the prospect of having to suspend all non-essential travel from China to the United States.”
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New York City police commissioner blames new bail reforms for sudden crime spike
The uptick in crime across New York City since the new year began is a direct result of the city's newly implemented bail reform laws, Police Commissioner Dermot Shea said.
“In the first three weeks of this year, we’re seeing significant spikes in crime. So either we forgot how to police New York City, or there’s a correlation,” Shea told reporters Friday. "If you let out individuals that commit a lot of crime, that’s precision policing in reverse, and we’re seeing the effects in a very quick time, and that is why we’re so concerned.”
As of Friday at midnight, robberies in New York City are up 32.5%, car theft is up 61%, and burglaries are up 18% compared with the same time period last year, the New York Post reported.
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“In the first three weeks of this year, we’re seeing significant spikes in crime. So either we forgot how to police New York City, or there’s a correlation,” Shea told reporters Friday. "If you let out individuals that commit a lot of crime, that’s precision policing in reverse, and we’re seeing the effects in a very quick time, and that is why we’re so concerned.”
As of Friday at midnight, robberies in New York City are up 32.5%, car theft is up 61%, and burglaries are up 18% compared with the same time period last year, the New York Post reported.
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Leftist Values Are Causing Young Americans to Be Miserable
I began part one of “Why Are So Many Young People Unhappy?” with data showing the apparently unprecedentedly high rate of unhappiness among young people in America (and elsewhere, but I am focusing on America).
The rates of suicide, self-injury, depression, mass shootings, and loneliness (at all ages) are higher than ever recorded.
It seems that Americans may have been happier, and certainly less lonely, during the Great Depression and World War II than today, even with today’s unprecedentedly high levels of health, longevity, education, and material well-being.
There is, of course, no single explanation, and I listed a number of possible explanations:
Increased use of illicit drugs and prescription drug abuse, and less human interaction because of constant cellphone use are two widely offered, valid explanations. Less valid explanations include competition, grades anxiety, capitalism, and income inequality. And then there are young people’s fears that because of global warming, they have a bleak, and perhaps no, future.
But I do believe that a loss of values and meaning are the two greatest sources of unhappiness...
The rates of suicide, self-injury, depression, mass shootings, and loneliness (at all ages) are higher than ever recorded.
It seems that Americans may have been happier, and certainly less lonely, during the Great Depression and World War II than today, even with today’s unprecedentedly high levels of health, longevity, education, and material well-being.
There is, of course, no single explanation, and I listed a number of possible explanations:
Increased use of illicit drugs and prescription drug abuse, and less human interaction because of constant cellphone use are two widely offered, valid explanations. Less valid explanations include competition, grades anxiety, capitalism, and income inequality. And then there are young people’s fears that because of global warming, they have a bleak, and perhaps no, future.
But I do believe that a loss of values and meaning are the two greatest sources of unhappiness...
The New “Beauty Trend” For 2020 – To Decorate Your Nails With Tiny Hands And Feet
The video posted by the very popular Instagram account @nail_sunny, renowned for doing unconventional and over-the-top manicures, confused many.
The short tutorial video shows the Russian Instagram nail artist crafting her fingernails into small hands and feet!
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'Disgusting': Ivanka Trump tears into CNN panel for mocking President Trump supporters
White House adviser Ivanka Trump blasted a panel of pundits who appeared on CNN over the weekend and mocked supporters of her father, President Trump.
"You consistently make fun of half the country and then complain that it is divided," the first daughter tweeted Tuesday. "The arrogance, mocking accents and smug ridicule of this nation’s ‘Real Elites’ is disgusting."
Appearing on Don Lemon's CNN Tonight over the weekend, panelists Wajahat Ali and Rick Wilson imitated what they believe a typical Trump supporter might sound or think like.
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"You consistently make fun of half the country and then complain that it is divided," the first daughter tweeted Tuesday. "The arrogance, mocking accents and smug ridicule of this nation’s ‘Real Elites’ is disgusting."
Appearing on Don Lemon's CNN Tonight over the weekend, panelists Wajahat Ali and Rick Wilson imitated what they believe a typical Trump supporter might sound or think like.
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BREAKING NEWS: Shotti's Point Restaurant Showing Smoke, Possible Fire: UPDATE
Ocean City and Berlin on the scene of a building fire, Shotti's Point restaurant. 35th and coastal. Smoke showing.
PETA: Retire Punxsutawney Phil and replace with animatronic groundhog
PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. —People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is calling on the keepers of the weather-forecasting groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, to let him retire -- and to be replaced by an animatronic groundhog.
PETA wrote in a letter to the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club on Monday that it was time for the beloved tradition to change.
Every Feb. 2, Phil gets dragged out of his hole and held up to flashing lights and crowds in what is a highly stressful experience for him, PETA said. And his current accommodations don't allow him to dig, burrow or forage like non-famous groundhogs naturally do.
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PETA wrote in a letter to the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club on Monday that it was time for the beloved tradition to change.
Every Feb. 2, Phil gets dragged out of his hole and held up to flashing lights and crowds in what is a highly stressful experience for him, PETA said. And his current accommodations don't allow him to dig, burrow or forage like non-famous groundhogs naturally do.
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National supporter for Sanders campaign blamed US for 9/11
A national supporter for the Bernie Sanders campaign once claimed that the United States was to blame for the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Phillip Agnew, who joined the Sanders campaign in July 2019, has blamed the U.S. for 9/11 several times.
"Tomorrow America remembers the day that she turned on herself, dismantled her constitution, and killed her own citizens in the name of money," Agnew tweeted out on the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.
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Phillip Agnew, who joined the Sanders campaign in July 2019, has blamed the U.S. for 9/11 several times.
"Tomorrow America remembers the day that she turned on herself, dismantled her constitution, and killed her own citizens in the name of money," Agnew tweeted out on the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.
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Florida governor announces official end to Common Core and outlines new standards
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Friday that he has officially ended Common Core in his state and outlined new standards that he says “embrace common sense.”
“When I took office, I made a pledge to the citizens of Florida to overhaul our educational standards to remove all vestiges of Common Core and return to the basics of reading, writing, and arithmetic,” the Republican governor said in a press conference.
“It really goes beyond Common Core to embrace common sense.”
Conservatives have long been opponents of the controversial Common Core teaching practices, and many believe the reform harms innovation, school choice, and, ultimately, students.
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“When I took office, I made a pledge to the citizens of Florida to overhaul our educational standards to remove all vestiges of Common Core and return to the basics of reading, writing, and arithmetic,” the Republican governor said in a press conference.
“It really goes beyond Common Core to embrace common sense.”
Conservatives have long been opponents of the controversial Common Core teaching practices, and many believe the reform harms innovation, school choice, and, ultimately, students.
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Law Professor: Democrats Are Guessing Trump’s Motives to Turn ‘Legitimate Actions of Government’ into ‘Impeachable Conduct’
Democrats seek to frame President Donald Trump’s “perfectly legitimate” actions as “impeachable conduct” by accusing the president of malicious intent, explained John Yoo, professor of law at the University of California, Berkeley, visiting scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, and visiting fellow at the Hoover Institution. He offered his analysis on Monday’s edition of SiriusXM’s Breitbart News Tonight.
Attribution of unverifiable malicious motives to Trump’s conduct is an attempt to criminalize lawful execution of presidential authority, explained Yoo.
“The only thing that really separates for the Democrats what would be perfectly legitimate on its face — asking for the investigation [of Joe Biden in Ukraine], delaying the aid [to Ukraine] a little bit — to something impeachable, the only thing that makes it impeachable is what was in President Trump’s mind when he did it,” said Yoo. “What was his mental state? This is an argument you have seen Democrats make repeatedly against President Trump in things like the travel ban to the wall.”
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[This is the very same logic that was used to create "hate" crimes. --Editor]
Attribution of unverifiable malicious motives to Trump’s conduct is an attempt to criminalize lawful execution of presidential authority, explained Yoo.
“The only thing that really separates for the Democrats what would be perfectly legitimate on its face — asking for the investigation [of Joe Biden in Ukraine], delaying the aid [to Ukraine] a little bit — to something impeachable, the only thing that makes it impeachable is what was in President Trump’s mind when he did it,” said Yoo. “What was his mental state? This is an argument you have seen Democrats make repeatedly against President Trump in things like the travel ban to the wall.”
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[This is the very same logic that was used to create "hate" crimes. --Editor]
Report: China Deliberately Spreading Mis-information About Coronavirus
Facebook, Twitter, Google, and other internet powerhouses are scrambling to control the flood of mis-information surrounding the coronavirus, a new and seemingly deadly disease responsible for dozens of deaths in China now spreading to other parts of the globe.
But the Chinese government, it now seems, is working against the tide, spreading mis-information of their own to convince foreign governments and world health officials that they’re efficiently handling the outbreak.
The Daily Beast reports that Chinese state media is tweeting photos of roadblocks, checkpoints, and even a hastily constructed hospital to show it’s “on top of things.”
“People’s Daily, owned by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the most-circulated newspaper in China, and Lijian Zhao, a deputy director of information with the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, tweeted an image Monday morning of a building they claimed was a hospital in Wuhan, China, the center of the recent coronavirus outbreak,” the Daily Beast reported Tuesday. “The publication and the bureaucrat said enterprising workers in Wuhan had constructed the hospital in just 16 hours.
“In reality, the picture showed an apartment building more than 600 miles away.”
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But the Chinese government, it now seems, is working against the tide, spreading mis-information of their own to convince foreign governments and world health officials that they’re efficiently handling the outbreak.
The Daily Beast reports that Chinese state media is tweeting photos of roadblocks, checkpoints, and even a hastily constructed hospital to show it’s “on top of things.”
“People’s Daily, owned by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the most-circulated newspaper in China, and Lijian Zhao, a deputy director of information with the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, tweeted an image Monday morning of a building they claimed was a hospital in Wuhan, China, the center of the recent coronavirus outbreak,” the Daily Beast reported Tuesday. “The publication and the bureaucrat said enterprising workers in Wuhan had constructed the hospital in just 16 hours.
“In reality, the picture showed an apartment building more than 600 miles away.”
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Quote of the Day
“Man is condemned to be free; because once thrown into the world, he is responsible for everything he does.
It is up to you to give [your life] a meaning.” --Jean-Paul Sartre
It is up to you to give [your life] a meaning.” --Jean-Paul Sartre
Footage shows ROBOTS delivering food to people trapped in quarantined hotel in China in efforts to stop the spread of deadly coronavirus
New footage shows robots delivering food to people trapped in a quarantined hotel in China in efforts to stop the spread of coronavirus.
The robots were programmed to stop by the room doors to deliver meals and sing to entertain the guests while they were in the quarantined zone to contain the deadly disease.
More than 200 tourists were housed in the isolation point in Hangzhou, east China, after their flight landed in the city.
Some of the passengers on board came from Wuhan, the city where the virus that has killed more than 131 people originated from.
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The robots were programmed to stop by the room doors to deliver meals and sing to entertain the guests while they were in the quarantined zone to contain the deadly disease.
More than 200 tourists were housed in the isolation point in Hangzhou, east China, after their flight landed in the city.
Some of the passengers on board came from Wuhan, the city where the virus that has killed more than 131 people originated from.
More