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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.
Misinformation concerning ICE operations generates unnecessary fear in local community
DENVER — Misinformation and rumors concerning U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) presence in neighborhoods conducting enforcement operations continues to be promoted without merit by those with political agendas. Allegations that ICE is violating its sensitive locations policy are completely false.
“Let me be very clear, ICE does not conduct patrols, raids, or sweeps looking for illegal aliens. Individuals and groups making such accusations are doing nothing but fearmongering and in turn, putting the public and our officers at risk. ICE strictly conducts targeted enforcement actions and continues to focus its limited resources first and foremost on those who pose the greatest threat to public safety,” said John Fabbricatore, acting field office director, ICE ERO, Denver. “Our officers are professionals who uphold the law as written by Congress. If anyone has an issue with the law, they need to take it to their Congressional representative and stop directing their frustrations with the law at federal employees.”
ICE encourages public leaders, advocacy groups and the community to share accurate information to ensure the safety of both those utilizing public transportation and those charged with ensuring their safety while aboard.
ICE makes targeted arrests every day; ICE does not conduct “raids”
- ICE does not conduct raids or sweeps and does not operate roadblocks or checkpoints. The use of these terms evokes images of indiscriminate targeting of neighborhoods and spreads fear in immigrant communities.
- ICE focuses its limited resources, first and foremost, on those who pose the greatest threat to public safety and border security, and our officers make arrests every single day.
- ICE does not target aliens indiscriminately; the agency conducts investigations and gathers intelligence on specific individuals and targets them for immigration enforcement.
- Targets are often those who were arrested on local criminal charges or have blatant disregard for U.S. immigration laws. The agency’s arrest statistics clearly reflect this. Nationally, approximately 90 percent of all people arrested by ICE during fiscal year 2018 either had a criminal conviction, a pending criminal charge, had illegally re-entered the United States after being previously removed (a felony charge) or were an immigration fugitive subject to a judge’s final order of removal.
A Guide: How To Prepare Your Home For Coronavirus
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is telling Americans that they should be prepared for the possibility of a COVID-19 outbreak in their community.
But what does preparedness look like in practice? The short answer: Don't panic — but do prepare.
That "means not only contingency planning but also good old-fashioned preparedness planning for your family," says Rebecca Katz, director of the Center for Global Health Science and Security at Georgetown University. In other words, what you'd do in case of a possible hurricane or another natural disaster.
We spoke with Katz and other health experts about common-sense things you can do to be ready should the virus hit where you live.
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But what does preparedness look like in practice? The short answer: Don't panic — but do prepare.
That "means not only contingency planning but also good old-fashioned preparedness planning for your family," says Rebecca Katz, director of the Center for Global Health Science and Security at Georgetown University. In other words, what you'd do in case of a possible hurricane or another natural disaster.
We spoke with Katz and other health experts about common-sense things you can do to be ready should the virus hit where you live.
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Hearse stolen outside Pasadena church with woman's corpse inside crashes on 110 Freeway
PASADENA, Calif. - A hearse that was stolen outside a Pasadena church with a woman's corpse inside was involved in a short pursuit before it crashed on the 110 Freeway Thursday morning, officials said.
Shortly after 8 p.m. Wednesday, a mortician parked an SUV customized for mortuaries outside Saint Anthony Greek Orthodox Church located in the 700 block of Rosemead Boulevard to deliver another body for an upcoming memorial service. While inside the church, someone stole the customized black Lincoln Navigator SUV, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said.
Officials say the deceased body inside the hearse was not connected to the church.
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Shortly after 8 p.m. Wednesday, a mortician parked an SUV customized for mortuaries outside Saint Anthony Greek Orthodox Church located in the 700 block of Rosemead Boulevard to deliver another body for an upcoming memorial service. While inside the church, someone stole the customized black Lincoln Navigator SUV, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said.
Officials say the deceased body inside the hearse was not connected to the church.
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Parents Organize to Fight Back
Brian was a 15-year-old big man on campus. Good-looking and witty, he had a way with the girls, and the guys thought he was fun too.
But Brian’s party spirit included consuming lots of alcohol. Soon he was smoking pot, and then even that was not enough. In a few months he was not only using hard drugs but selling them, too.
For a while he was able to maintain his charm and respectful attitude at home. Inevitably, his personality and health quickly plummeted along with his school attendance and grades.
Thankfully, his parents finally recognized the problem before it was too late and enrolled Brian in a private residential drug-rehab clinic.
The reality that Brian had become a secret addict under their noses crushed his mom and dad. They felt guilty, helpless, and heartbroken.
On their knees before God, they pledged to do everything possible to help their son and committed to change their lives so they could be a bigger part of his.
When they called the clinic to arrange a meeting and seek reconciliation with their beloved boy, they were told that they could have no contact.
As a physician, Brian’s dad asked to review the medical records and speak to the doctor so he might understand the treatment. He was flatly turned down.
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But Brian’s party spirit included consuming lots of alcohol. Soon he was smoking pot, and then even that was not enough. In a few months he was not only using hard drugs but selling them, too.
For a while he was able to maintain his charm and respectful attitude at home. Inevitably, his personality and health quickly plummeted along with his school attendance and grades.
Thankfully, his parents finally recognized the problem before it was too late and enrolled Brian in a private residential drug-rehab clinic.
The reality that Brian had become a secret addict under their noses crushed his mom and dad. They felt guilty, helpless, and heartbroken.
On their knees before God, they pledged to do everything possible to help their son and committed to change their lives so they could be a bigger part of his.
When they called the clinic to arrange a meeting and seek reconciliation with their beloved boy, they were told that they could have no contact.
As a physician, Brian’s dad asked to review the medical records and speak to the doctor so he might understand the treatment. He was flatly turned down.
More
Accused serial killer healthcare worker tied to a THOUSAND unexplained deaths of elderly patients is indicted on additional murder charges
An immigrant healthcare worker has been indicted on two further counts of capital murder in North Texas after previously being charged with smothering almost a dozen elderly women to death.
A Dallas County Grand Jury on Tuesday indicted Billy Chemirmir, 47, on murder charges in the deaths of Leah Corken, 83, and Juanita Prudy, 82.
The two women lived in The Tradition-Prestonwood in Dallas and died suddenly in the summer of 2016.
Court documents claim that Chemirmir smothered the women to death with a pillow.
Chemirmir is suspected of being involved with more than 1,000 unexplained deaths in Texas.
The Kenyan, who worked as a home healthcare aide, was initially charged in 2018 with the murder of 81-year-old Lu Thi Harris.
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A Dallas County Grand Jury on Tuesday indicted Billy Chemirmir, 47, on murder charges in the deaths of Leah Corken, 83, and Juanita Prudy, 82.
The two women lived in The Tradition-Prestonwood in Dallas and died suddenly in the summer of 2016.
Court documents claim that Chemirmir smothered the women to death with a pillow.
Chemirmir is suspected of being involved with more than 1,000 unexplained deaths in Texas.
The Kenyan, who worked as a home healthcare aide, was initially charged in 2018 with the murder of 81-year-old Lu Thi Harris.
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Immigrants to comprise highest-ever percentage of electorate in 2020
Immigrants who became U.S. citizens will make up 1-in-10 American adults eligible to vote in the November election, the highest percentage ever, according to a report released Wednesday.
A new study by nonpartisan think tank Pew Research concluded approximately 23.2 million immigrants, or naturalized citizens who were born outside of the United States, will be able to vote in the presidential election, as well as state and local elections this year. That figure is nearly double the 12 million immigrants who were eligible to vote in 2000. It has climbed over the past two decades and stood at 20.6 million in 2016.
As the number of immigrants eligible to vote has increased through the years, so has the percentage of immigrants within the eligible voting population. In 2000, 6.2% of voters were born outside the U.S. That percentage has grown with every presidential election cycle to 9.8% in 2020.
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A new study by nonpartisan think tank Pew Research concluded approximately 23.2 million immigrants, or naturalized citizens who were born outside of the United States, will be able to vote in the presidential election, as well as state and local elections this year. That figure is nearly double the 12 million immigrants who were eligible to vote in 2000. It has climbed over the past two decades and stood at 20.6 million in 2016.
As the number of immigrants eligible to vote has increased through the years, so has the percentage of immigrants within the eligible voting population. In 2000, 6.2% of voters were born outside the U.S. That percentage has grown with every presidential election cycle to 9.8% in 2020.
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Lori Loughlin’s lawyer says new evidence proves innocence in college admissions scandal
The lawyer for Lori Loughlin and her fashion designer husband claim new evidence exonerates the couple in the “Varsity Blues” college admissions scandal.
The “Full House” actress’s defense has hinged on the argument that she believed the money she paid to the sham charity of scandal’s mastermind, Rick Singer, were truly donations–and not bribes.
Notes from Singer’s iPhone released in Boston federal court Wednesday appear to back up that claim, according to Loughlin’s lawyer, Sean M. Berkowitz, according to ABC News.
Singer–who pleaded guilty to racketeering and fraud in the scandal–complained in his notes sent to his lawyer that he had argued with FBI agents over the phone after they instructed him to accurately describe where payments to him were actually going–what he described as a “fib.”
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The “Full House” actress’s defense has hinged on the argument that she believed the money she paid to the sham charity of scandal’s mastermind, Rick Singer, were truly donations–and not bribes.
Notes from Singer’s iPhone released in Boston federal court Wednesday appear to back up that claim, according to Loughlin’s lawyer, Sean M. Berkowitz, according to ABC News.
Singer–who pleaded guilty to racketeering and fraud in the scandal–complained in his notes sent to his lawyer that he had argued with FBI agents over the phone after they instructed him to accurately describe where payments to him were actually going–what he described as a “fib.”
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Lawsuit: University of Maryland fed gluten to student with celiac disease
COLLEGE PARK, Md. — A student who has celiac disease says in a lawsuit that a Maryland state university deliberately served her food containing gluten.
The lawsuit from Allegany County native Hannah Smith said the University of Maryland, College Park, violated the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 by serving her food with gluten at least three times in the span of an academic year, news outlets reported. The lawsuit was filed Feb. 20.
Smith was diagnosed as a teen with celiac disease, an autoimmune disease that can damage the body's intestinal walls and cause long-term health complications. A gluten-free diet is one way to treat the disease.
The lawsuit said Smith and her father spoke to the university about her dietary needs before committing for her to live on campus. Students who live on campus are required to buy a meal plan.
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The lawsuit from Allegany County native Hannah Smith said the University of Maryland, College Park, violated the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 by serving her food with gluten at least three times in the span of an academic year, news outlets reported. The lawsuit was filed Feb. 20.
Smith was diagnosed as a teen with celiac disease, an autoimmune disease that can damage the body's intestinal walls and cause long-term health complications. A gluten-free diet is one way to treat the disease.
The lawsuit said Smith and her father spoke to the university about her dietary needs before committing for her to live on campus. Students who live on campus are required to buy a meal plan.
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Bill passes that would allow classes about Bible to be taught in W.Va. schools
CHARLESTON, W.Va (WCHS / WVAH) Several bills have made their way through the West Virginia Legislature this session, but one sparked a lot of controversy Tuesday.
Delegates passed House Bill 4780 that would allow classes about the Bible to be taught in schools across the state.
After a lengthy debate, the delegates voted to pass the bill about elective classes on the Old and New Testaments. Some said the Bible has had a major historical impact, and it should be taught to students. But others said the classes would discriminate against students who practice other religions or no religion at all.
"If we're going to teach the Bible, Old Testament, New Testament, why not teach the Quran as well?" Nasir Abdussalam of the Islamic Association of West Virginia said.
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Delegates passed House Bill 4780 that would allow classes about the Bible to be taught in schools across the state.
After a lengthy debate, the delegates voted to pass the bill about elective classes on the Old and New Testaments. Some said the Bible has had a major historical impact, and it should be taught to students. But others said the classes would discriminate against students who practice other religions or no religion at all.
"If we're going to teach the Bible, Old Testament, New Testament, why not teach the Quran as well?" Nasir Abdussalam of the Islamic Association of West Virginia said.
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Bernie Sanders keeping key indicator of heart health secret, cardiology director says
Sen. Bernie Sanders has withheld a key measure that could indicate how healthy his heart is, according to a leading cardiologist.
After the Vermont senator claimed last week that his team released the "full report of that heart attack" he suffered earlier in his campaign as well as letters from doctors outlining his health, the president of the American College of Cardiology reviewed the letters and said they omit a "standard" indicator of heart health.
The indicator, called the left ventricular ejection fraction, measures how much blood volume the heart pushes out with one heartbeat and correlates with the risk for future cardiac-related incidents.
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After the Vermont senator claimed last week that his team released the "full report of that heart attack" he suffered earlier in his campaign as well as letters from doctors outlining his health, the president of the American College of Cardiology reviewed the letters and said they omit a "standard" indicator of heart health.
The indicator, called the left ventricular ejection fraction, measures how much blood volume the heart pushes out with one heartbeat and correlates with the risk for future cardiac-related incidents.
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Public schools are teaching our children to hate America
“A government is like everything else: to preserve it, we must love it.”
When he was young, Thomas Jefferson carefully copied those words — a quote from the great political philosopher Montesquieu — into his “commonplace book,” the private journal he kept as a student for future inspiration.
“Everything, therefore, depends on establishing this love in a republic,” the passage continued. “And to inspire it ought to be the principal business of education.”
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When he was young, Thomas Jefferson carefully copied those words — a quote from the great political philosopher Montesquieu — into his “commonplace book,” the private journal he kept as a student for future inspiration.
“Everything, therefore, depends on establishing this love in a republic,” the passage continued. “And to inspire it ought to be the principal business of education.”
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'No enforcement mechanism': Georgia lawmaker introduces bill to crush sanctuary cities
A Republican lawmaker in Georgia introduced a bill that would force local governments to transfer detained illegal immigrants to the custody of federal law enforcement.
House Bill 915, introduced by Rep. Philip Singleton, would require local police to turn undocumented immigrants they arrest over to federal immigration authorities.
“There is a sanctuary city portion of our code that prevents it in the state of Georgia, but there is no enforcement mechanism,” Singleton said Monday on Fox & Friends. "Our own statistics say that over 1,500 people that went into the system in November were repeat-offender criminal aliens. About 14% of those were sexual assault, about 10% for murder, and about 8% for rape."
So-called sanctuary cities are municipalities that have indicated they will not help Immigration and Customs Enforcement or any other federal agencies find and detain immigrants who have entered the country illegally.
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House Bill 915, introduced by Rep. Philip Singleton, would require local police to turn undocumented immigrants they arrest over to federal immigration authorities.
“There is a sanctuary city portion of our code that prevents it in the state of Georgia, but there is no enforcement mechanism,” Singleton said Monday on Fox & Friends. "Our own statistics say that over 1,500 people that went into the system in November were repeat-offender criminal aliens. About 14% of those were sexual assault, about 10% for murder, and about 8% for rape."
So-called sanctuary cities are municipalities that have indicated they will not help Immigration and Customs Enforcement or any other federal agencies find and detain immigrants who have entered the country illegally.
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2020’s Property Taxes by State
Depending on where you live, property taxes can be a small inconvenience or a major burden. The average American household spends $2,375 on property taxes for their homes each year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, and residents of the 27 states with vehicle property taxes shell out another $441. Considering these figures and the rising amount of debt in America, it should come as no surprise that more than $14 billion in property taxes go unpaid each year, the National Tax Lien Association has found.
And though property taxes might appear to be a non-issue for the 36 percent of renter households, that couldn’t be further from the truth. We all pay property taxes, whether directly or indirectly, as they impact the rent we pay as well as the finances of state and local governments.
But which states have the largest property tax load, and what should residents keep in mind when it comes to meeting and minimizing their tax obligations? In search of answers, we analyzed the 50 states and the District of Columbia in terms of real-estate and vehicle property taxes. We also asked a panel of property-tax experts for practical and political insight. Read on for our findings and a full description of our methodology.
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And though property taxes might appear to be a non-issue for the 36 percent of renter households, that couldn’t be further from the truth. We all pay property taxes, whether directly or indirectly, as they impact the rent we pay as well as the finances of state and local governments.
But which states have the largest property tax load, and what should residents keep in mind when it comes to meeting and minimizing their tax obligations? In search of answers, we analyzed the 50 states and the District of Columbia in terms of real-estate and vehicle property taxes. We also asked a panel of property-tax experts for practical and political insight. Read on for our findings and a full description of our methodology.
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Trump campaign to open urban field offices as part of massive effort to win black votes
President Trump is opening 15 urban campaign field offices in an aggressive bid to improve his performance with black voters, who for decades have been an overwhelmingly Democratic constituency.
Sleek and situated in retail shopping districts to generate foot traffic, this unique collection of regional “community centers” is a critical component of the Trump campaign’s multimillion-dollar strategy to double in 2020 the 8% support the president received from black voters nearly four years ago. Senior Trump campaign officials unveiled office design mock-ups and fresh “Black Voices for Trump” merchandise during a Wednesday briefing for reporters.
“You’re never going to get the votes you don’t ask for,” said Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law and close adviser. “Last time, it was, ‘What the hell do you have to lose?’ Now, we’re going to show them what they’ve gained from President Trump and what more they can gain if they get four more years.”
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Sleek and situated in retail shopping districts to generate foot traffic, this unique collection of regional “community centers” is a critical component of the Trump campaign’s multimillion-dollar strategy to double in 2020 the 8% support the president received from black voters nearly four years ago. Senior Trump campaign officials unveiled office design mock-ups and fresh “Black Voices for Trump” merchandise during a Wednesday briefing for reporters.
“You’re never going to get the votes you don’t ask for,” said Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law and close adviser. “Last time, it was, ‘What the hell do you have to lose?’ Now, we’re going to show them what they’ve gained from President Trump and what more they can gain if they get four more years.”
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Pro-abortion politicians kill vote to protect pain-capable preborn babies and abortion survivors
The Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act and the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act both died today on the Senate floor. The two bills were blocked after short debate because the motions to proceed failed to reach the required cloture — or 60 votes — in favor of moving the legislation forward for actual votes.
The Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act was introduced by Republican Senator Lindsey Graham and would have protected preborn children in the U.S. from abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy. The United States is one of only seven countries in the world, including China and North Korea, that allows elective abortion after this point.
According to a 2020 Marist poll, 55 percent of Americans support banning abortion after five months. This includes 45 percent of self-identified pro-choicers. A WomanTrend poll from 2017 found that 78 percent of Millennial voters, 67 percent of women voters, and 70 percent of African-American voters all support abortion bans after five months.
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The Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act was introduced by Republican Senator Lindsey Graham and would have protected preborn children in the U.S. from abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy. The United States is one of only seven countries in the world, including China and North Korea, that allows elective abortion after this point.
According to a 2020 Marist poll, 55 percent of Americans support banning abortion after five months. This includes 45 percent of self-identified pro-choicers. A WomanTrend poll from 2017 found that 78 percent of Millennial voters, 67 percent of women voters, and 70 percent of African-American voters all support abortion bans after five months.
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GOP challenger tweets 'I am an American' in response to Ilhan Omar describing herself six other ways
Republican congressional candidate Dalia al Aqidi replied to one of Rep. Ilhan Omar’s viral tweets describing herself in a variety of ways with a patriotic message.
“I am, Hijabi, Muslim, Black, Foreign born, Refugee, Somali,” the Minnesota Democrat tweeted earlier this week.
The tweet received more than 29,000 likes but also got some negative comments, including one from a user who pointed out that Omar “leaves out” the word “American” and suggests it didn’t “even occur” to her to include it.
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“I am, Hijabi, Muslim, Black, Foreign born, Refugee, Somali,” the Minnesota Democrat tweeted earlier this week.
The tweet received more than 29,000 likes but also got some negative comments, including one from a user who pointed out that Omar “leaves out” the word “American” and suggests it didn’t “even occur” to her to include it.
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BREAKING Former Mayor Catherine Pugh Sentenced
BALTIMORE (WBFF)-- Former Mayor Catherine Pugh was sentenced Thursday to 3 years behind bars for a scheme involving the sale of her children's book, Healthy Holly.
She plead guilty in November to federal charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to defraud the United States, and two counts of tax evasion. The charges all stem from the so-called “Healthy Holly” scandal, which first broke in February of 2019.
The Healthy Holly books were written and published between 2011 and August of 2017, and were sold directly to non-profits and foundations that either did business, or were seeking to do business with either the State of Maryland, or Baltimore City. The indictment reports that Pugh enlisted the help of Gary Brown, Jr., a legislative aide who later followed Pugh to Baltimore City Hall following her election in December of 2016, to help in promoting and distributing the books.
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She plead guilty in November to federal charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to defraud the United States, and two counts of tax evasion. The charges all stem from the so-called “Healthy Holly” scandal, which first broke in February of 2019.
The Healthy Holly books were written and published between 2011 and August of 2017, and were sold directly to non-profits and foundations that either did business, or were seeking to do business with either the State of Maryland, or Baltimore City. The indictment reports that Pugh enlisted the help of Gary Brown, Jr., a legislative aide who later followed Pugh to Baltimore City Hall following her election in December of 2016, to help in promoting and distributing the books.
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MVC On Route 50 Bridge
OC fire EMS dispatched to the rt.50 bridge for a serious motor vehicle accident. Reported a construction worker struck by a vehicle. Bridge is shut down at this time.
ICE has run facial-recognition searches on millions of Maryland drivers
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials have been permitted to run facial-recognition searches on millions of Maryland driver’s license photos without first seeking state or court approval, state officials said — access that goes far beyond what other states allow and that alarms immigration activists in a state that grants special driver’s licenses to undocumented immigrants.
More than 275,000 such licenses have been issued statewide since 2013, when the state became the first on the East Coast to defy federal guidelines and allow undocumented immigrants to obtain a license without having to provide proof of legal status. The technology now under scrutiny could let an ICE official run a photograph of an unknown person through the system and see if any potentially undocumented immigrants are returned as a match.
“It’s a betrayal of immigrants’ trust for the [state] to turn around and let ICE run warrantless searches on their faces,” said Harrison Rudolph, a senior associate at Georgetown University Law School’s Center on Privacy and Technology. “It’s a bait-and-switch. … ICE is using biometric information in the shadows, without government notice or public approval, to hunt down the most vulnerable people.”
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More than 275,000 such licenses have been issued statewide since 2013, when the state became the first on the East Coast to defy federal guidelines and allow undocumented immigrants to obtain a license without having to provide proof of legal status. The technology now under scrutiny could let an ICE official run a photograph of an unknown person through the system and see if any potentially undocumented immigrants are returned as a match.
“It’s a betrayal of immigrants’ trust for the [state] to turn around and let ICE run warrantless searches on their faces,” said Harrison Rudolph, a senior associate at Georgetown University Law School’s Center on Privacy and Technology. “It’s a bait-and-switch. … ICE is using biometric information in the shadows, without government notice or public approval, to hunt down the most vulnerable people.”
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$425M in World Bank catastrophe bonds set to default if coronavirus declared a pandemic by June
Investors betting big against catastrophic diseases are watching the World Health Organization closely as insurance bonds tied to whether the organization labels COVID-19 a pandemic are set to mature in June.
In 2017, the World Bank designed a new way to raise money: Pandemic Emergency Financing bonds. Over $425 million worth of such bonds, which bet against a global outbreak of infectious diseases and will default if WHO declares the coronavirus a pandemic, were sold by the World Bank in its first-ever issuance of catastrophe bonds. In the event of no pandemic, investors would be paid a healthy annualized return. Meanwhile, the World Bank could use the bonds to insure itself against the risk of a global outbreak.
“As an investor, we do not want to lose money,” said Chin Liu, a portfolio manager at Amundi Pioneer, a Boston-based firm that purchased the bonds as a way to diversify the company's $1 billion catastrophe fund. “But then, we also understand if it’s unfortunately triggered, it benefits every single person, including ourselves, to keep the virus controlled.”
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In 2017, the World Bank designed a new way to raise money: Pandemic Emergency Financing bonds. Over $425 million worth of such bonds, which bet against a global outbreak of infectious diseases and will default if WHO declares the coronavirus a pandemic, were sold by the World Bank in its first-ever issuance of catastrophe bonds. In the event of no pandemic, investors would be paid a healthy annualized return. Meanwhile, the World Bank could use the bonds to insure itself against the risk of a global outbreak.
“As an investor, we do not want to lose money,” said Chin Liu, a portfolio manager at Amundi Pioneer, a Boston-based firm that purchased the bonds as a way to diversify the company's $1 billion catastrophe fund. “But then, we also understand if it’s unfortunately triggered, it benefits every single person, including ourselves, to keep the virus controlled.”
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Maryland man is arrested for stabbing a woman in the buttocks with a syringe at a supermarket
A man has been arrested for allegedly stabbing a women with a syringe inside a Maryland grocery store.
The Anne Arundel police department has charged Thomas Stemen with assault and reckless endangerment after arresting him Tuesday.
This is the latest encounter with the law for Stemen, who was also served a warrant in 1999 as a fugitive from justice, according to Maryland online court records.
The records also show he went to court in 2013 for a domestic violence civil suit.
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The Anne Arundel police department has charged Thomas Stemen with assault and reckless endangerment after arresting him Tuesday.
This is the latest encounter with the law for Stemen, who was also served a warrant in 1999 as a fugitive from justice, according to Maryland online court records.
The records also show he went to court in 2013 for a domestic violence civil suit.
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Route 50 Bridge Repair....Currently stuck in Open Position
Update (11:46 a.m.): The Route 50 Drawbridge is currently stuck in the open position.
TRAVEL ADVISORY (2/27/2020): starting at 10:00 a.m. State Highway will be testing the completed repairs to the Route 50 Drawbridge with several openings. Be prepared for these openings and the potential for traffic delays.
'Hot mess': Tim Scott rips Democrats for 'pandering' to black voters with 'patronizing' debate comments
Sen. Tim Scott said he found the discourse onstage during Tuesday night's Democratic presidential debate insulting to black voters in his home state of South Carolina.
"It was a hot mess," the Republican lawmaker said Wednesday morning on Fox & Friends. "What you saw on the stage yesterday was as if there were no white folks watching seven white candidates talk about black people."
Scott said, "It was a really good night for Republicans ... and a pathetic performance from my perspective" by Democrats.
"What you saw last night was really pandering and patronizing," he added.
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"It was a hot mess," the Republican lawmaker said Wednesday morning on Fox & Friends. "What you saw on the stage yesterday was as if there were no white folks watching seven white candidates talk about black people."
Scott said, "It was a really good night for Republicans ... and a pathetic performance from my perspective" by Democrats.
"What you saw last night was really pandering and patronizing," he added.
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BLACK DEMOCRATS EXPLAIN WHY THEY’D VOTE FOR TRUMP OVER JOE BIDEN
Black Democrat voters residing in rural Georgia say they would vote for President Trump over Democrat Joe Biden in the general election due to the progress he’s made for the country.
Speaking to The Wall Street Journal about a hypothetical general election match-up between the incumbent and the former vice president, one man said, as a Democrat, he liked Biden – just not enough to vote for him.
“I’m a registered Democrat and Joe Biden would be my choice – but that doesn’t mean that’s who I want to vote for for president in the election,” Macon County resident Howard James said.
While distancing himself from Trump as a person, the voter said he couldn’t deny the president is consistently looking out for the country.
“As it stands now, Trump looks attractive,” James stated. “I’ve made it clear I don’t like Trump, but I’m looking for what’s best for the country.”
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Speaking to The Wall Street Journal about a hypothetical general election match-up between the incumbent and the former vice president, one man said, as a Democrat, he liked Biden – just not enough to vote for him.
“I’m a registered Democrat and Joe Biden would be my choice – but that doesn’t mean that’s who I want to vote for for president in the election,” Macon County resident Howard James said.
While distancing himself from Trump as a person, the voter said he couldn’t deny the president is consistently looking out for the country.
“As it stands now, Trump looks attractive,” James stated. “I’ve made it clear I don’t like Trump, but I’m looking for what’s best for the country.”
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'Pelosi is incompetent': Trump says speaker 'trying to create a panic' by attacking his coronavirus knowledge
President Trump launched a firestorm of criticisms against House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer while addressing the coronavirus during a White House press conference.
On Wednesday, the president spoke alongside healthcare professionals on the growing coronavirus outbreak. While answering questions from reporters, he was asked to comment on Pelosi's criticisms of the administration's handling of the illness.
“What he’s doing is late, too late — anemic," Pelosi said earlier on Wednesday.
She also said, "I don’t think the president knows what he’s talking about, once again."
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On Wednesday, the president spoke alongside healthcare professionals on the growing coronavirus outbreak. While answering questions from reporters, he was asked to comment on Pelosi's criticisms of the administration's handling of the illness.
“What he’s doing is late, too late — anemic," Pelosi said earlier on Wednesday.
She also said, "I don’t think the president knows what he’s talking about, once again."
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Fact Check: Elizabeth Warren Falsely Claims She Was Fired from Her First Teaching Job for Being Pregnant
CLAIM: Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) claimed at the Democrat debate in Charleston, South Carolina, broadcast on CBS Tuesday night that she was fired from her first teaching job for being pregnant. Specifically, Warren said that after she was visibly pregnant, her principal “wished me luck and gave my job to someone else. Pregnancy discrimination? You bet.”
VERDICT: False. Warren has been making this claim on the campaign trail since June 2019, but all the documentary evidence surrounding her departure from her first job as a public school teacher in New Jersey during the 1970-1971 academic year indicates it was voluntary. In a 2007 interview, she also described her departure from that job as voluntary.
CBS reported on the story back in October:
VERDICT: False. Warren has been making this claim on the campaign trail since June 2019, but all the documentary evidence surrounding her departure from her first job as a public school teacher in New Jersey during the 1970-1971 academic year indicates it was voluntary. In a 2007 interview, she also described her departure from that job as voluntary.
CBS reported on the story back in October:
Fresh out of the University of Houston, Warren was hired by the Riverdale Board of Education in New Jersey as a speech pathologist for the 1970-1971 school year. Since she began her campaign for the presidency, she has repeatedly said that she was “shown the door” after just a year as a result of her pregnancy.More
“By the end of the first year I was visibly pregnant, and the principal did what principals did in those days: wished me luck, showed me the door, and hired someone else for the job,” she said at a town hall in Oakland in June.
Students sue over being banned from wearing pro-gun shirts in school
A pair of lawsuits filed by high school and middle school students in Wisconsin allege their First Amendment rights have been violated by school officials who told them they could not wear shirts with pro-gun messages.
A total of three students in two separate Wisconsin school districts say they were told they could not wear clothing depicting pro-gun messages to class.
In the first case, a pair of sophomores at Kettle Moraine High School say principal Beth Kaminski told each student the shirts violated the school's dress code and they must keep them covered with their jackets, the Milwaukee Sentinel Journal reported.
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A total of three students in two separate Wisconsin school districts say they were told they could not wear clothing depicting pro-gun messages to class.
In the first case, a pair of sophomores at Kettle Moraine High School say principal Beth Kaminski told each student the shirts violated the school's dress code and they must keep them covered with their jackets, the Milwaukee Sentinel Journal reported.
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LGBT Activists Promote ‘Trans Reading Day’ in Public Schools
It started as just one rogue Wisconsin school, showing its LGBT pride. Now, five years later, it’s a national movement in public schools—and most parents have no idea it’s happening.
Do you want your child to be psychologically manipulated at school Thursday? Most moms and dads would say no.
But on Thursday, the Human Rights Campaign and its pals at the powerful National Education Association are teaming up to promote “Jazz and Friends National Day of School & Community Readings.”
“We want the listeners to know,” Family Research Council’s Meg Kilgannon told me on “Washington Watch,” “This could be happening in your school. Your children could be hearing a book [that is] very disturbing to young children.”
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Do you want your child to be psychologically manipulated at school Thursday? Most moms and dads would say no.
But on Thursday, the Human Rights Campaign and its pals at the powerful National Education Association are teaming up to promote “Jazz and Friends National Day of School & Community Readings.”
“We want the listeners to know,” Family Research Council’s Meg Kilgannon told me on “Washington Watch,” “This could be happening in your school. Your children could be hearing a book [that is] very disturbing to young children.”
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GOP rep shouts down hearing witness for claiming nobody has died due to gun restrictions
A House Oversight Committee hearing on voter suppression in minority communities erupted into a shouting match Wednesday when Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., tried to draw parallels between laws that restrict people's ability to vote -- like ID requirements and restrictions on ex-felons -- and gun control measures.
Toward the end of Massie's time, witness Timothy Jenkins, who serves on the board of social justice organization Teaching for Change, criticized Massie for steering the hearing in what he believed was the wrong direction. To underscore his point, Jenkins claimed that "nobody has died" because they were deprived of the right to carry a gun. Massie was quick to tell him otherwise.
"Mr. Jenkins, that’s absolutely false. I can give you multiple examples," Massie replied, only for Jenkins to insist, "No, it's not false!" This prompted Massie to raise his voice while recalling a tragedy involving a former staff member.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/gop-rep-shouts-down-hearing-witness-for-claiming-nobody-has-died-due-to-gun-restrictions
Toward the end of Massie's time, witness Timothy Jenkins, who serves on the board of social justice organization Teaching for Change, criticized Massie for steering the hearing in what he believed was the wrong direction. To underscore his point, Jenkins claimed that "nobody has died" because they were deprived of the right to carry a gun. Massie was quick to tell him otherwise.
"Mr. Jenkins, that’s absolutely false. I can give you multiple examples," Massie replied, only for Jenkins to insist, "No, it's not false!" This prompted Massie to raise his voice while recalling a tragedy involving a former staff member.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/gop-rep-shouts-down-hearing-witness-for-claiming-nobody-has-died-due-to-gun-restrictions
AOC: Trump too 'scared' to criticize me to my face
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said President Trump is too afraid to criticize her in person the way he does on Twitter.
“Oh, no, he would not. Yeah, he never would,” the New York congresswoman said when asked during an interview with The Breakfast Club radio show whether the president would criticize her to her face. “Like, keep that same energy when you meet me.”
Co-host Angela Yee said it’s a “compliment” to be criticized by Trump.
“Yeah, well, I mean, I think he’s scared,” Ocasio-Cortez replied.
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“Oh, no, he would not. Yeah, he never would,” the New York congresswoman said when asked during an interview with The Breakfast Club radio show whether the president would criticize her to her face. “Like, keep that same energy when you meet me.”
Co-host Angela Yee said it’s a “compliment” to be criticized by Trump.
“Yeah, well, I mean, I think he’s scared,” Ocasio-Cortez replied.
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How to Educate an American
Like a growing number of American families, my wife and I homeschool our young children. Why? A number of reasons, primarily the fact that studies show homeschooled kids are better-educated, better-socialized, and better-behaved than public schoolchildren. But our initial motivation was the conviction that the current American educational system is hopelessly broken, from pre-K all the way through college graduation. As every conservative knows, the leftist death grip on our schools has largely replaced education with indoctrination.
But we are fortunate; not every concerned family is in a position to homeschool, and simply abandoning our public schools to their ugly, Progressive fate is a surrender, not a solution. How then, do we reclaim American education so that all our children can be put back on track to a more prosperous, civically literate, empowered future? That is the theme of an important new book from Templeton Press titled, How to Educate an American: The Conservative Vision For Tomorrow’s Schools, a collection of essays from over twenty stellar contributors ranging from William J. Bennett and Mona Charen to Heather Mac Donald and Arthur C. Brooks, edited by Michael J. Petrilli and Chester E. Finn, Jr.
Petrilli is president of the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, a research fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution, executive editor of Education Next, and a Distinguished Senior Fellow for the Education Commission of the States. Finn is Distinguished Senior Fellow and President Emeritus of the Fordham Institute and a Senior Fellow at Stanford's Hoover Institution. In other words, they know this field, and for this volume they sought out, not fellow policy wonks, but “big thinkers – public intellectuals and scholars whose work includes education but doesn’t focus on policy prescriptions.” This makes for a highly readable and more wide-ranging collection of creative answers to the questions of where America is headed and the role education should play in getting us there.
More here
Tebow Hits Monster Home Run at Mets Spring Training
This is a big year for Tim Tebow as he continues his quest to become a Major League Baseball player, and Tebow is off to a big start.
The former Heisman winner and current Mets minor leaguer hit a mammoth home run shot on Tuesday against the Detroit Tigers at Publix Field.
“I feel like I am seeing the ball pretty well besides my first at-bat of the spring when I was super-aggressive,” Tebow told reporters “After that I feel like I have been seeing it, three walks, so trying to see more pitches and the home run today, really had a chance to work that count and try to see some too. I am just trying to improve a little bit every day.”
The early returns back up Tebow’s claims that he’s seeing the ball better. Tebow has walked twice in his first three games.
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The former Heisman winner and current Mets minor leaguer hit a mammoth home run shot on Tuesday against the Detroit Tigers at Publix Field.
“I feel like I am seeing the ball pretty well besides my first at-bat of the spring when I was super-aggressive,” Tebow told reporters “After that I feel like I have been seeing it, three walks, so trying to see more pitches and the home run today, really had a chance to work that count and try to see some too. I am just trying to improve a little bit every day.”
The early returns back up Tebow’s claims that he’s seeing the ball better. Tebow has walked twice in his first three games.
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FRC: 'Keep Your Kids Home on Transgender Propaganda Day,' Thursday, Feb. 27
"Do you want your child to be psychologically manipulated at school on Thursday? Might be a good day for a Mommy Date at the museum!" said the FRC's Cathy Ruse in a post on the group's website.
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Public schools are teaching our children to hate America
“A government is like everything else: to preserve it, we must love it.”
When he was young, Thomas Jefferson carefully copied those words — a quote from the great political philosopher Montesquieu — into his “commonplace book,” the private journal he kept as a student for future inspiration.
“Everything, therefore, depends on establishing this love in a republic,” the passage continued. “And to inspire it ought to be the principal business of education.”
In other words, as Jefferson might put it today to our public schools: You had one job — and you failed.
“Today we talk as if it’s all about college and career readiness,” education scholar Michael J. Petrilli told The Post. “But going back to the 1780s, the argument in favor of having public education at all has been first and foremost to develop democratic citizens.”
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When he was young, Thomas Jefferson carefully copied those words — a quote from the great political philosopher Montesquieu — into his “commonplace book,” the private journal he kept as a student for future inspiration.
“Everything, therefore, depends on establishing this love in a republic,” the passage continued. “And to inspire it ought to be the principal business of education.”
In other words, as Jefferson might put it today to our public schools: You had one job — and you failed.
“Today we talk as if it’s all about college and career readiness,” education scholar Michael J. Petrilli told The Post. “But going back to the 1780s, the argument in favor of having public education at all has been first and foremost to develop democratic citizens.”
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