New York City Bill de Blasio became enraged over the weekend when throngs of city residents emerged from their two-month hibernations and went (gasp!) outside.
New Yorkers packed the sidewalks, flocked to the beaches and gathered outside of bars, many of which are still closed but are still allowed to serve drinks.
The mayor didn’t like people living their lives — not one bit. So on Sunday, he threatened city residents.
“The police department will be out, the sheriff’s office will be out watching very carefully on the Upper East Side in particular,” he said. “We’re not going to tolerate people congregating. It’s as simple as that.”
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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
Tuesday, May 19, 2020
Katie Hill Threw a Tantrum Because Republican Mike Garcia Won Her Vacant Seat
Former Rep. Katie Hill (D-CA) was forced to resign after the House Ethics Committee launched an investigation into her private life. She was allegedly having an extra-marital affair with her Legislative Director, Graham Kelly, and a throuple relationship with a female campaign staffer.
Hill repeatedly said she was going through a divorce from her abusive husband but text messages show Hill, her husband, Kenny Heslep, and the female staffer had an ongoing relationship. The husband admitted in text messages to the campaign staffer that he and Hill abused her.
The former representative had a meltdown after learning that the Republican Party was successful in flipping her seat red with congressman-elect Mike Garcia.
Warning: Strong language.
Hill repeatedly said she was going through a divorce from her abusive husband but text messages show Hill, her husband, Kenny Heslep, and the female staffer had an ongoing relationship. The husband admitted in text messages to the campaign staffer that he and Hill abused her.
The former representative had a meltdown after learning that the Republican Party was successful in flipping her seat red with congressman-elect Mike Garcia.
Warning: Strong language.
The Obama Administration Almost Pulled Off a Soviet-style Election Coup
Even the most conniving leaders of the old Soviet Union would have been impressed with the brazenness of the Obama administration’s disinformation campaign to cover up its botched attempt to hijack America’s last presidential election. Joseph Stalin would be proud of the complete and comprehensive use (and abuse) of intelligence and law enforcement tools to spy and undermine political enemies…this has become Obama’s most redeeming legacy.
Thanks to recent bombshell revelations, we now know that the Federal Bureau of Investigation grossly abused its power for political purposes during and after the 2016 election, illegally spying on American citizens who were part of the Trump campaign. More importantly, authorities had no legal justification to “unmask” the identity of the former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn — an honorable statesman whom the FBI entrapped based on a run-of-the-mill discussion he had with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak.
"They did not have a basis for a counterintelligence investigation against Flynn at that stage, based on a perfectly legitimate and appropriate call he made as a member of the transition," Attorney General William Barr said in a recent interview.
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Thanks to recent bombshell revelations, we now know that the Federal Bureau of Investigation grossly abused its power for political purposes during and after the 2016 election, illegally spying on American citizens who were part of the Trump campaign. More importantly, authorities had no legal justification to “unmask” the identity of the former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn — an honorable statesman whom the FBI entrapped based on a run-of-the-mill discussion he had with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak.
"They did not have a basis for a counterintelligence investigation against Flynn at that stage, based on a perfectly legitimate and appropriate call he made as a member of the transition," Attorney General William Barr said in a recent interview.
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Fauci: ‘No doubt’ Trump will face surprise infectious disease outbreak
Anthony S. Fauci, MD, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said there is “no doubt” Donald J. Trump will be confronted with a surprise infectious disease outbreak during his presidency.
Fauci has led the NIAID for more than 3 decades, advising the past five United States presidents on global health threats from the early days of the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s through to the current Zika virus outbreak.
During a forum on pandemic preparedness at Georgetown University, Fauci said the Trump administration will not only be challenged by ongoing global health threats such as influenza and HIV, but also a surprise disease outbreak.
“The history of the last 32 years that I have been the director of the NIAID will tell the next administration that there is no doubt they will be faced with the challenges their predecessors were faced with,” he said.
While observers have speculated since his election about how Trump will respond to such challenges, Fauci and other health experts said Tuesday that preventing disease pandemics often starts overseas and that a proper response means collaboration between not only the U.S. and other countries, but also the public and private health sectors.
“We will definitely get surprised in the next few years,” he said.
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Fauci has led the NIAID for more than 3 decades, advising the past five United States presidents on global health threats from the early days of the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s through to the current Zika virus outbreak.
During a forum on pandemic preparedness at Georgetown University, Fauci said the Trump administration will not only be challenged by ongoing global health threats such as influenza and HIV, but also a surprise disease outbreak.
“The history of the last 32 years that I have been the director of the NIAID will tell the next administration that there is no doubt they will be faced with the challenges their predecessors were faced with,” he said.
While observers have speculated since his election about how Trump will respond to such challenges, Fauci and other health experts said Tuesday that preventing disease pandemics often starts overseas and that a proper response means collaboration between not only the U.S. and other countries, but also the public and private health sectors.
“We will definitely get surprised in the next few years,” he said.
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NBC News Slapped With $2.85 Billion Lawsuit by SmileDirectClub
“We stand by our reporting and believe this is a meritless claim,” an NBC News spokesperson told TheWrap
SmileDirectClub, the online dentistry company that sells at-home teeth-straightening aligners, filed a $2.85 billion lawsuit against NBCUniversal on Monday, arguing that news reports from NBC News defamed the company.
The lawsuit takes aim at an “NBC Nightly News” segment that aired on Feb. 13 and its accompanying online article, which looked into customer complaints about SmileDirectClub’s aligners and featured comments from an orthodontics professor discussing the potential dangers of online dentistry. The suit claims that the patients who complained about the dental aligners were lying about the pain and other physical problems they faced to “retaliate” against SmileDirectClub, adding that the NBC News pieces defamed the company with incorrect reporting about the safety of its products.
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SmileDirectClub, the online dentistry company that sells at-home teeth-straightening aligners, filed a $2.85 billion lawsuit against NBCUniversal on Monday, arguing that news reports from NBC News defamed the company.
The lawsuit takes aim at an “NBC Nightly News” segment that aired on Feb. 13 and its accompanying online article, which looked into customer complaints about SmileDirectClub’s aligners and featured comments from an orthodontics professor discussing the potential dangers of online dentistry. The suit claims that the patients who complained about the dental aligners were lying about the pain and other physical problems they faced to “retaliate” against SmileDirectClub, adding that the NBC News pieces defamed the company with incorrect reporting about the safety of its products.
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The Government Has a Lot More Emergency Powers Than Libertarians Like, but It Still Can’t Control Everything
In the last month, I’ve found myself in the awkward position of defending all sorts of outlandish government actions. Yes, the president really can requisition ventilators and masks from manufacturers that can produce them, under the Defense Production Act, but he has to pay for them. This is a rewrite of government‐contracting law, not Harry Truman’s seizure of steel mills during the Korean War.
Yes, governors really can require travelers from coronavirus hotspots to self‐quarantine, provided this also applies to returning residents, not just visitors. And yes, mayors can force businesses to close and stop people from congregating, assuming they don’t contradict what their governors are doing and otherwise follow applicable state law.
But how can I say that? Isn’t the Cato Institute a libertarian think tank dedicated to individual liberty, free markets, and limited government? And don’t I run Cato’s constitutional studies shop, which rails against government excess of all kinds?
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Yes, governors really can require travelers from coronavirus hotspots to self‐quarantine, provided this also applies to returning residents, not just visitors. And yes, mayors can force businesses to close and stop people from congregating, assuming they don’t contradict what their governors are doing and otherwise follow applicable state law.
But how can I say that? Isn’t the Cato Institute a libertarian think tank dedicated to individual liberty, free markets, and limited government? And don’t I run Cato’s constitutional studies shop, which rails against government excess of all kinds?
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'Law & Order: SVU' star Christopher Meloni compares Trump-supporting kids to 'Nazi Youth'
“Law & Order: SVU” star Christopher Meloni jokingly compared two children showing support for Donald Trump to “Nazi Youth.”
The actor, who has previously used his Twitter to speak out against the Trump administration, commented on a video shared by New York Times columnist Charles M. Blow that shows a woman talking to her two nephews who are wearing shirts that read “United States of Awesome.”
The clearly scripted video shows the two children lamenting being stuck inside for so long due to the coronavirus pandemic and asking for some good news. The woman responds by telling them that the Republican National Convention is coming up, prompting the kids to excitedly ask if Trump will be there. In the video, they note that Trump is “fighting for our freedoms,” “keeping us safe” and has made the country “stronger” and “tougher.”
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The actor, who has previously used his Twitter to speak out against the Trump administration, commented on a video shared by New York Times columnist Charles M. Blow that shows a woman talking to her two nephews who are wearing shirts that read “United States of Awesome.”
The clearly scripted video shows the two children lamenting being stuck inside for so long due to the coronavirus pandemic and asking for some good news. The woman responds by telling them that the Republican National Convention is coming up, prompting the kids to excitedly ask if Trump will be there. In the video, they note that Trump is “fighting for our freedoms,” “keeping us safe” and has made the country “stronger” and “tougher.”
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American Colleges Are Headed for a Meltdown
They've been through riots, protests, and natural disasters—but America's colleges have never seen anything like the financial meltdown the coronavirus is about to bring to their campuses.
The rising wave of health fears, added costs, and vanishing tuition payments could crush small colleges, many of which were already hanging by a financial thread. Those that can weather the crisis—including big-name universities with billions in their bank accounts—in turn stand to gain big from the fallout.
The emptying out of schools and the mass transition to distance learning has already been "the largest all-sector hit that we've ever seen," Jim Hundrieser, a vice president with the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO), told the Washington Free Beacon. But the challenges of this spring pale in comparison to the shock many colleges are expecting in the fall, when social distancing measures and a possible second wave could create the most surreal semester ever.
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The rising wave of health fears, added costs, and vanishing tuition payments could crush small colleges, many of which were already hanging by a financial thread. Those that can weather the crisis—including big-name universities with billions in their bank accounts—in turn stand to gain big from the fallout.
The emptying out of schools and the mass transition to distance learning has already been "the largest all-sector hit that we've ever seen," Jim Hundrieser, a vice president with the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO), told the Washington Free Beacon. But the challenges of this spring pale in comparison to the shock many colleges are expecting in the fall, when social distancing measures and a possible second wave could create the most surreal semester ever.
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Newt Gingrich says it's 'tragic' to watch governors 'behave like dictators'
Referencing stay-at-home order restrictions that are intended to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich said on Monday that it's been "tragic" to see American politicians “behave like dictators."
“We’ve seen this all across the country,” Gingrich told “Fox & Friends.”
“The governor of Minnesota protected Planned Parenthood but closed churches. Pretty hard to argue that Planned Parenthood is more important than a church or a synagogue. They’re seeing all of these kinds of political games by politicians and I think that they ought to back off,” Gingrich said.
"Americans are adults, Americans can make rational decisions and they ought to engage in social spacing and, if they do that, what’s the beef?”
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https://www.foxnews.com/media/newt-gingrich-tragic-governors-dictators-planned-parenthood-open-churches-closed
“We’ve seen this all across the country,” Gingrich told “Fox & Friends.”
“The governor of Minnesota protected Planned Parenthood but closed churches. Pretty hard to argue that Planned Parenthood is more important than a church or a synagogue. They’re seeing all of these kinds of political games by politicians and I think that they ought to back off,” Gingrich said.
"Americans are adults, Americans can make rational decisions and they ought to engage in social spacing and, if they do that, what’s the beef?”
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https://www.foxnews.com/media/newt-gingrich-tragic-governors-dictators-planned-parenthood-open-churches-closed
House Republican Introduces Bill to Ban ‘Ballot Harvesting’
Rep. Rodney Davis (R-IL), ranking member of the Committee on House Administration, introduced a bill last week to ban the practice of “ballot harvesting,” which allows anyone to deliver unlimited numbers of mail-in ballots on others’ behalf.
The practice, legalized by Democrats in California in 2016, is banned in most of the rest of the country, except for immediate family members. It is also unknown in the rest of the world, because of its high susceptibility to fraud.
In 2018, California Democrats used “ballot harvesting” as part of a successful effort to flip seven Republican-held seats. Hundreds of thousands of ballots were dropped off by Democratic Party operatives.
More here
The practice, legalized by Democrats in California in 2016, is banned in most of the rest of the country, except for immediate family members. It is also unknown in the rest of the world, because of its high susceptibility to fraud.
In 2018, California Democrats used “ballot harvesting” as part of a successful effort to flip seven Republican-held seats. Hundreds of thousands of ballots were dropped off by Democratic Party operatives.
More here
Trump Cuts China’s Huawei Off From World’s Top Chip Maker; China Threatens ‘Biggest Counterattack’
The Trump administration has cut off China’s Huawei from being able to receive products from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd (TSMC), which is the world’s largest manufacturer of advanced microchips.
TSMC “has stopped new orders from Huawei Technologies in response to Washington’s move aimed at further limiting chip supplies to the Chinese company,” Reuters reported. “A new rule, unveiled by the U.S. Commerce Department on Friday, expands U.S. authority to require licenses for sales to Huawei of semiconductors made abroad with U.S. technology, vastly expanding its reach to halt exports to the world’s No. 2 smartphone maker.”
The news hit Beijing hard with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) responding that it will take “all necessary measures” to respond to the devastating news technology restrictions.
More here
TSMC “has stopped new orders from Huawei Technologies in response to Washington’s move aimed at further limiting chip supplies to the Chinese company,” Reuters reported. “A new rule, unveiled by the U.S. Commerce Department on Friday, expands U.S. authority to require licenses for sales to Huawei of semiconductors made abroad with U.S. technology, vastly expanding its reach to halt exports to the world’s No. 2 smartphone maker.”
The news hit Beijing hard with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) responding that it will take “all necessary measures” to respond to the devastating news technology restrictions.
More here
Virginia May 19 COVID-19 update: 1,005 new cases, 27 deaths reported; Most Accomack chicken plant cases likely still not added
PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — Virginia reported its fourth highest number of daily COVID-19 cases on Tuesday with 1,005, as its daily COVID-19 deaths rebounded with 27 after two days of deaths in single digits.
Just over half of those cases were in Northern Virginia, with only 17 new cases reported between Accomack and Northampton counties on the Eastern Shore, where most of Accomack’s 510 chicken plant cases still haven’t been added to the overall count. The Virginia Department of Health, which announced the cases on Friday, said it’s having to manually insert the cases and some of the workers don’t live in Virginia, delaying the data input.
Daily cases had dipped slightly past two days, but the overall trend of cases is still rising, VDH’s chart shows.
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Just over half of those cases were in Northern Virginia, with only 17 new cases reported between Accomack and Northampton counties on the Eastern Shore, where most of Accomack’s 510 chicken plant cases still haven’t been added to the overall count. The Virginia Department of Health, which announced the cases on Friday, said it’s having to manually insert the cases and some of the workers don’t live in Virginia, delaying the data input.
Daily cases had dipped slightly past two days, but the overall trend of cases is still rising, VDH’s chart shows.
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Obamagate Isn’t a Conspiracy Theory
Those sharing #Obamagate on Twitter would do best to avoid the hysterics we saw from Russian-collusion believers, but they have no reason to ignore the mounting evidence that suggests the Obama administration engaged in serious corruption.
Democrats and their allies, who like to pretend that President Barack Obama’s only scandalous act was wearing a tan suit, are going spend the next few months gas-lighting the public by focusing on the most feverish accusations against Obama. But the fact is that we already have more compelling evidence that the Obama administration engaged in misconduct than we ever did for opening the Russian-collusion investigation.
It is not conspiracy-mongering to note that the investigation into Donald Trump was predicated on an opposition-research document filled with fabulism and, most likely, Russian disinformation.
We know the Justice Department withheld contradictory evidence when it began spying on those in Trump’s orbit. We have proof that many of the relevant FISA warrant applications—almost every one of them, actually—were based on “fabricated” evidence or riddled with errors. We know that members of the Obama administration, who had no genuine role in counterintelligence operations, repeatedly unmasked Trump’s allies. And we now know that, despite a dearth of evidence, the FBI railroaded Michael Flynn into a guilty plea so it could keep the investigation going.
What’s more, the larger context only makes these facts more damning. By 2016, the Obama administration’s intelligence community had normalized domestic spying.
More here
Democrats and their allies, who like to pretend that President Barack Obama’s only scandalous act was wearing a tan suit, are going spend the next few months gas-lighting the public by focusing on the most feverish accusations against Obama. But the fact is that we already have more compelling evidence that the Obama administration engaged in misconduct than we ever did for opening the Russian-collusion investigation.
It is not conspiracy-mongering to note that the investigation into Donald Trump was predicated on an opposition-research document filled with fabulism and, most likely, Russian disinformation.
We know the Justice Department withheld contradictory evidence when it began spying on those in Trump’s orbit. We have proof that many of the relevant FISA warrant applications—almost every one of them, actually—were based on “fabricated” evidence or riddled with errors. We know that members of the Obama administration, who had no genuine role in counterintelligence operations, repeatedly unmasked Trump’s allies. And we now know that, despite a dearth of evidence, the FBI railroaded Michael Flynn into a guilty plea so it could keep the investigation going.
What’s more, the larger context only makes these facts more damning. By 2016, the Obama administration’s intelligence community had normalized domestic spying.
More here
Harris to Continue His "Let's Safely Re-open Our Community Restaurants" Tour
Approximately 11:30 AM
Fisherman’s Inn and Crab Deck
3032 Kent Narrows Way S.
Grasonville, MD 21638
Approximately 12 PM
The Big Owl Tiki Bar
3015 Kent Narrows Way S.
Grasonville, MD 21618
Approximately 1 PM
Evergrain Bread Company
201 High Street
Chestertown, MD 21620
Approximately 1:25 PM
The Kitchen at the Imperial
208 High Street
Chestertown, MD 21620
Approximately 2:30 PM
Tenchi’s
103 South Main Street
Greensboro, Maryland 21639
Approximately 3:30 PM
Harry’s on the Green
4 1st Street
Denton, MD 21629
Approximately 4 PM
Joviality Gift Shop
214 Market Street
Denton, MD 21629
Professor Arrested over Financial Ties to Chinese Government
A professor at Case Western Reserve University’s School of Medicine was arrested on Wednesday over his alleged financial ties to the Chinese government. The FBI alleges that professor Qing Wang was providing research funded with taxpayer money to the Chinese communist government.
According to a report by Campus Reform, Professor Qing Wang was arrested in Shaker Heights, Ohio, on Wednesday on wire fraud charges. Wang allegedly failed to disclose his affiliations with several Chinese universities.
The FBI accused Wang of trying to provide the Chinese government with American taxpayer-funded research. Wang received $3.6 million in taxpayer funds from the National Institutes of Health for research he conducted at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation.
Robert R. Wells, acting assistant director of the FBI’s Counterintelligence Division, said that the Chinese-government is bribing professors of all nationalities to provide China with American research. Breitbart News reported in January that Harvard Chemistry Chair Charles Lieber had been arrested and charged with fraud over his financial ties to the Chinese government.
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According to a report by Campus Reform, Professor Qing Wang was arrested in Shaker Heights, Ohio, on Wednesday on wire fraud charges. Wang allegedly failed to disclose his affiliations with several Chinese universities.
The FBI accused Wang of trying to provide the Chinese government with American taxpayer-funded research. Wang received $3.6 million in taxpayer funds from the National Institutes of Health for research he conducted at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation.
Robert R. Wells, acting assistant director of the FBI’s Counterintelligence Division, said that the Chinese-government is bribing professors of all nationalities to provide China with American research. Breitbart News reported in January that Harvard Chemistry Chair Charles Lieber had been arrested and charged with fraud over his financial ties to the Chinese government.
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Flynn attorneys ask federal appeals court to remove judge overseeing case
Attorneys for Michael Flynn on Tuesday asked a federal appeals court to dismiss his case and remove the judge overseeing it, saying he overstepped his authority by resisting the Justice Department’s bid to drop the charges.
“The district judge’s latest actions … bespeaks a judge who is not only biased against petitioner, but also revels in the notoriety he has created by failing to take the simple step of granting a motion he has no authority to deny,” Flynn attorney Sidney Powell wrote in a brief filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.
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“The district judge’s latest actions … bespeaks a judge who is not only biased against petitioner, but also revels in the notoriety he has created by failing to take the simple step of granting a motion he has no authority to deny,” Flynn attorney Sidney Powell wrote in a brief filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.
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Obama Fired an Inspector General to Cover Up a Sex Scandal and No One Said Boo About It
On Friday, Trump fired the inspector general of the State Department, Steve Linick. In accordance with the 2008 Inspector General Reform Act, which protects inspectors general from being fired without cause, Trump informed Congress in writing about the intent to fire Linick, expressing that he no longer had the “fullest confidence” in Linick, who was appointed to that position in 2013 by Barack Obama.
Democrats naturally have come out of the woodwork to express their faux outrage, and to launch an investigation into the firing over allegations that Trump acted to protect Pompeo.
But where were these Democrats in 2009 when Barack Obama fired the inspector general of the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), Gerald Walpin?
Gerald Walpin was in the middle of an investigation when he was called by White House counsel Norman Eisen, who informed him that he had an hour to resign or be fired. This was in violation of the Reform Act, which Obama co-sponsored as a U.S. senator. Walpin refused.
After Walpin’s refusal, Obama wrote a letter to Congress, giving the following explanation: “It is vital that I have the fullest confidence in the appointees serving as Inspectors General. That is no longer the case with regard to this Inspector General.”
But here’s what really happened.
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Democrats naturally have come out of the woodwork to express their faux outrage, and to launch an investigation into the firing over allegations that Trump acted to protect Pompeo.
But where were these Democrats in 2009 when Barack Obama fired the inspector general of the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), Gerald Walpin?
Gerald Walpin was in the middle of an investigation when he was called by White House counsel Norman Eisen, who informed him that he had an hour to resign or be fired. This was in violation of the Reform Act, which Obama co-sponsored as a U.S. senator. Walpin refused.
After Walpin’s refusal, Obama wrote a letter to Congress, giving the following explanation: “It is vital that I have the fullest confidence in the appointees serving as Inspectors General. That is no longer the case with regard to this Inspector General.”
But here’s what really happened.
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Putting 'Federal Stimulus Payments' to Good Use
And I thought about the plight of a real patriot.. Lt. General Mike Flynn. He and his family were destroyed by the FBI. He had to sell his home, and is still facing huge legal bills as a result of the fraudulent case concocted against him by the previous administration.
I think a contribution to the Mike Flynn Defense Fund would be a great way to put some of that money to a very good use. He and the exceptional attorney that is representing him are still doing battle daily, trying to get the phony charges dropped and to restore his good name and reputation. There are significant expenses in a fight like this one, but it is a fight that will benefit all of America. He was framed, and we are being scammed.
I am going to make a donation to his defense fund today, as a way of saying thanks to him for his great life of service to the United States, and to let him know that we stand behind him. He was one of the few who spoke the truth to those in power, and it has cost him dearly.
I hope others will do the same, and will pray for him and his family.
Overseas Fraud Ring Steals Millions in U.S. Unemployment Funds
A Nigerian fraud ring has allegedly stolen millions of U.S. unemployment benefits meant to help jobless Americans.
The complex scheme stole identities from citizens, including social security numbers, to file invalid claims on behalf of workers who may not even be unemployed, the New York Times reported.
Federal authorities believe that most of the false claims were filed in Washington state, though there is evidence that similar attacks took place in six states: North Carolina, Massachusetts, Florida, Oklahoma, Wyoming, and Rhode Island, according to a Secret Service memo obtained by the Times.
The fraud ring could end up stealing “hundreds of millions of dollars” from individual state unemployment departments overwhelmed by Americans looking for a lifeline as economies ground to a halt.
More here
The complex scheme stole identities from citizens, including social security numbers, to file invalid claims on behalf of workers who may not even be unemployed, the New York Times reported.
Federal authorities believe that most of the false claims were filed in Washington state, though there is evidence that similar attacks took place in six states: North Carolina, Massachusetts, Florida, Oklahoma, Wyoming, and Rhode Island, according to a Secret Service memo obtained by the Times.
The fraud ring could end up stealing “hundreds of millions of dollars” from individual state unemployment departments overwhelmed by Americans looking for a lifeline as economies ground to a halt.
More here
JCPenney Post-Bankruptcy Plan Includes Closing 29% of Stores
J.C. Penney Co., the department-store chain that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Friday, said it will close about 29% of its stores.
The retailer will reduce its store count to about 604, down from the 846 it currently has across the U.S, according to a company filing on Monday. In fiscal 2019, those locations brought in $9.2 billion in net sales. With the smaller store fleet, it expects net sales of $7.5 billion. It will also close two of its distribution centers.
The remaining stores, which made up 82% of net fiscal 2019 sales, “represent the highest sales-generating, most profitable, and most productive stores in the network,” according to the company filing.
The filing said that 192 closures would take place in fiscal 2020, with the closing and sale of 50 more company-owned stores the following year. The company is in the process of determining when and which stores will be closed.
More here
The retailer will reduce its store count to about 604, down from the 846 it currently has across the U.S, according to a company filing on Monday. In fiscal 2019, those locations brought in $9.2 billion in net sales. With the smaller store fleet, it expects net sales of $7.5 billion. It will also close two of its distribution centers.
The remaining stores, which made up 82% of net fiscal 2019 sales, “represent the highest sales-generating, most profitable, and most productive stores in the network,” according to the company filing.
The filing said that 192 closures would take place in fiscal 2020, with the closing and sale of 50 more company-owned stores the following year. The company is in the process of determining when and which stores will be closed.
More here
BREAKING: New Mexico County Refuses to Enforce Governor’s Health Orders, Tells Business Owners It’s Their Decision Whether to Open
New Mexico’s state government has yet to significantly roll back its lockdown order, but that’s not stopping Lea County.
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has taken some steps to relax the COVID-19 response in her state, like allowing restaurants to serve guests at 25% capacity, but businesses considered to be recreational or “close contact” (barbershops and salons, for example) are still ordered to stay closed.
Lea County Manager Mike Gallagher is having none of that bullsh*t.
“Several people have asked me when will Lea County open up for business? sic My answer is businesses will open when a business owner decides to open. It has always been the decision of a business owner to close or to open. The county will not stand in their way.”
Huh. Government officials just trusting people to make the right decision for themselves. Who’s ever heard of such a crazy thing?
Of course, Lea County isn’t exempt from state regulations, which means they can still definitely get in trouble with officials at the state level. Gallagher is very clear about that– but he’s also clear about other expectations.
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Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has taken some steps to relax the COVID-19 response in her state, like allowing restaurants to serve guests at 25% capacity, but businesses considered to be recreational or “close contact” (barbershops and salons, for example) are still ordered to stay closed.
Lea County Manager Mike Gallagher is having none of that bullsh*t.
“Several people have asked me when will Lea County open up for business? sic My answer is businesses will open when a business owner decides to open. It has always been the decision of a business owner to close or to open. The county will not stand in their way.”
Huh. Government officials just trusting people to make the right decision for themselves. Who’s ever heard of such a crazy thing?
Of course, Lea County isn’t exempt from state regulations, which means they can still definitely get in trouble with officials at the state level. Gallagher is very clear about that– but he’s also clear about other expectations.
More
Outer Banks tourists taking selfies chase young wild horse away from mother, park says
Three Outer Banks tourists are being sought for questioning after witnesses say they tried to capture a month-old wild foal in an attempt to get selfies, according to the National Park Service.
The incident, which was caught on camera, took place around 4:30 p.m. Friday on the Shackleford Banks, which is part of Cape Lookout National Seashore.
It is illegal to get within 50 feet of the wild horses that roam the park, in part because they are known to kick and bite.
The incident, which was caught on camera, took place around 4:30 p.m. Friday on the Shackleford Banks, which is part of Cape Lookout National Seashore.
It is illegal to get within 50 feet of the wild horses that roam the park, in part because they are known to kick and bite.
A Viewer Writes - Council Members Hose Residents on Water to Airport
Residents who live in the areas where the new water line runs to the airport were assured that they could not be annexed into the city and have to pay additional property taxes. Two council members repeatedly assured residents this could not happen with this type of an agreement. You know the one, the agreement that says only the airport can tie into this line and no one else can hook up to it. Except maybe if there is an emergency. Like the Beaver Run Elementary School hook up, which I believe was an emergency or so we were told. I mean if the water supply in that area is so, so bad then what about the people who live next to or across the street from this school. I mean, who defines "the Emergency"? Perhaps it was just cheaper to do it this way.
As you travel east out of Salisbury, past the stadium, there is a road, John Deer Road that runs parallel to Rt 50. It dead ends just after all the doctors offices. At the end of that dead end there has been property for sale for years but hasn't been sold. Amazingly, less than a week after council approved water to the airport an additional sign was attached on top of the old sign. Not kidding. You can still see the footprints of the persons who modified the signs. What does it say in bright red letters? "Water/Sewer". I believe the realtors have already listed what emergencies they can use to tie in and sell their long unsold properties. I believe there are listings on a little used (except by realtors) web site called Zillo that have predated the council's decision. I would love to have a realtor's crystal ball.
Now if if you still want to believe all these rules the council spouted just remember (except in emergencies, etc.). Also go back and look at the council meeting tapes and you will see where our realtors submitted this in a dual legislation manner where they say they don't really need public input on this resolution. They were just being nice!
So citizens, how does it feel being hosed by the Council? Mr. Holloway seems to be the only real councilman with the citizens concerns in his mind. Election/Changes.
As you travel east out of Salisbury, past the stadium, there is a road, John Deer Road that runs parallel to Rt 50. It dead ends just after all the doctors offices. At the end of that dead end there has been property for sale for years but hasn't been sold. Amazingly, less than a week after council approved water to the airport an additional sign was attached on top of the old sign. Not kidding. You can still see the footprints of the persons who modified the signs. What does it say in bright red letters? "Water/Sewer". I believe the realtors have already listed what emergencies they can use to tie in and sell their long unsold properties. I believe there are listings on a little used (except by realtors) web site called Zillo that have predated the council's decision. I would love to have a realtor's crystal ball.
Now if if you still want to believe all these rules the council spouted just remember (except in emergencies, etc.). Also go back and look at the council meeting tapes and you will see where our realtors submitted this in a dual legislation manner where they say they don't really need public input on this resolution. They were just being nice!
So citizens, how does it feel being hosed by the Council? Mr. Holloway seems to be the only real councilman with the citizens concerns in his mind. Election/Changes.
South Korean soccer club apologizes for putting sex dolls in stands
FC Seoul thought it was getting standard mannequins from a local company, Dalkom, that wanted to lend a hand with their efforts. But fans watching at home began to notice that they looked suspiciously like sex dolls, which the club still tried to deny.
“We would like to apologize to the fans. We are very sorry about the supporting mannequins that were placed during the game on May 17,” the club said in a statement. “These mannequins may have been made to look and feel like real humans but they are not for sexual use — as confirmed by the manufacturer from the beginning.
“Our intention was to do something lighthearted in these difficult times,” the club said. “We will think hard about what we need to do to ensure that something like this never happens again.”
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Memorial Day Ceremony will not take place this month
SALISBURY, Md. – The Memorial Day Ceremony that is held each year at the Wicomico War Veterans’ Memorial will not take place this month because of COVID-19 gathering restrictions.
This year’s ceremony, organized by members of the Wicomico County War Memorial Committee, would have been the 18th annual event. Memorial Day is Monday, May 25.
“Although we will not have our program on May 25th, we will provide a Memorial Day service honoring our veterans both past and present as soon as it is totally safe for our senior veterans and all others to meet in a group setting,” said Tony Sarbanes, chairman of the committee. “We appreciate the understanding of all of our veterans, their families and other interested citizens.”
The memorial is located in front of the Wicomico Civic Center, which is a war memorial in itself. When information is available about a future service, it will be shared at www.WicomicoCivicCenter.org.
This year’s ceremony, organized by members of the Wicomico County War Memorial Committee, would have been the 18th annual event. Memorial Day is Monday, May 25.
“Although we will not have our program on May 25th, we will provide a Memorial Day service honoring our veterans both past and present as soon as it is totally safe for our senior veterans and all others to meet in a group setting,” said Tony Sarbanes, chairman of the committee. “We appreciate the understanding of all of our veterans, their families and other interested citizens.”
The memorial is located in front of the Wicomico Civic Center, which is a war memorial in itself. When information is available about a future service, it will be shared at www.WicomicoCivicCenter.org.
Chincoteague Cancels Carnival and Pony Penning
Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic and after carefully analyzing the three Phases as set forth by Governor Northam for opening Virginia, the Board of Directors of the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company voted to cancel the 2020 Chincoteague Volunteer Fireman’s Carnival & Pony Penning celebration scheduled to begin July 2, 2020. Please understand that this was not an easy decision to make, with the last pony penning being cancelled over 78 years ago during the second World War. We know how much this community loves this fire company and supports our carnival but with the restrictions put into the phases to prevent the spread of the corona virus, it was the only logical decision to make.
With this said, the foals of the pony herd will be sold by way of online auction, with a date to be determined by the Pony Committee. Plans are still being arranged as to where the ponies will physically be during the auction and we encourage you to keep a close watch on the developments as plans are made public on the auction. Our longtime auctioneer Tim Jennings will be conducting the auction and it should be a positive event for this fire company.
I pray all of you are staying safe, and please don’t hesitate to call us if you need us. We will always be here for you!
Alex Tucker, President
Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company, Inc
With this said, the foals of the pony herd will be sold by way of online auction, with a date to be determined by the Pony Committee. Plans are still being arranged as to where the ponies will physically be during the auction and we encourage you to keep a close watch on the developments as plans are made public on the auction. Our longtime auctioneer Tim Jennings will be conducting the auction and it should be a positive event for this fire company.
I pray all of you are staying safe, and please don’t hesitate to call us if you need us. We will always be here for you!
Alex Tucker, President
Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company, Inc
Wanna know where the missing 96% of your tax dollars went?
Hard to believe but look it up on Congress website for HR 748 from 116th Congress.
American population: 330,483,530
Stimulus bill: $2,000,000,000,000
Dividing the cost by every in America is $6,051.74
The government could have given every person over $6,000, but instead will give $1,200 to each adult under a certain income.
Wanna know where the missing 96% of your tax dollars went?
$300,000,000 for Migrant and Refugee Assistance pg 147
$10,000 per person for student loan bailout
$100,000,000 to Nasa, because, who knows why.
$20,000,000,000 to the USPS, because why the hell not
$300,000,000 to the Endowment for the Arts - because of it
$300,000,000 for the Endowment for the Humanities/ because no one even knew that was a thing
$15,000,000 for Veterans Employment Training / for when the GI Bill isn't enough
$435,000,000 for mental health support
$30,000,000,000 for the Department of Education stabilization fund/ because that will keep people employed
$200,000,000 to Safe Schools Emergency Response to Violence Program
$300,000,000 to Public Broadcasting / NPR has to be bought by the Dems
$500,000,000 to Museums and Libraries / Who the hell knows how we are going to use it
$720,000,000 to Social Security Admin / but get this only 200,000,000 is to help people. The rest is for admin costs
$25,000,000 for Cleaning supplies for the Capitol Building / I shit you not it's on page 136
$7,500,000 to the Smithsonian for additional salaries
$35,000,000 to the JFK Center for performing Arts
$25,000,000 for additional salary for House of Representatives
$3,000,000,000 upgrade to the IT department at the VA
$315,000,000 for State Department Diplomatic Programs
$95,000,000 for the Agency of International Development
$300,000,000 for International Disaster Assistance
$90,000,000 for the Peace Corp pg 148
$13,000,000 to Howard University pg 121
9,000,000 Misc. Senate Expenses pg 134
$100,000,000 to Essential Air carriers pg 162 This of note because the Airlines are going to need billions in loans to keep them afloat. $100,000,000 is chump change
$40,000,000,000 goes to the Take Responsibility to Workers and Families Act This sounds like it's direct payments for workers. Pg 164
$1,000,000,000 Airlines Recycle and Save Program pg 163
$25,000,000 to the FAA for administrative costs pg 165
$492,000,000 to National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) pg 167
$526,000,000 Grants to Amtrak to remain available if needed through 2021 pg 168 (what are the odds that doesn't go unused)
Hidden on page 174 the Secretary has 7 days to allocate the funds & notify Congress
$25,000,000,000 for Transit Infrastructure pg 169
$3,000,000 Maritime Administration pg 172
$5,000,000 Salaries and Expensive Office of the Inspector General pg 172
$2,500,000 Public and Indian Housing pg 175
$5,000,000 Community Planning and Development pg 175
$2,500,000 Office of Housing
What DOES ALL of this have to do with the Virus?
The government could have given every person over $6,000, but instead will give $1,200 to each adult under a certain income.
Wanna know where the missing 96% of your tax dollars went?
$300,000,000 for Migrant and Refugee Assistance pg 147
$10,000 per person for student loan bailout
$100,000,000 to Nasa, because, who knows why.
$20,000,000,000 to the USPS, because why the hell not
$300,000,000 to the Endowment for the Arts - because of it
$300,000,000 for the Endowment for the Humanities/ because no one even knew that was a thing
$15,000,000 for Veterans Employment Training / for when the GI Bill isn't enough
$435,000,000 for mental health support
$30,000,000,000 for the Department of Education stabilization fund/ because that will keep people employed
$200,000,000 to Safe Schools Emergency Response to Violence Program
$300,000,000 to Public Broadcasting / NPR has to be bought by the Dems
$500,000,000 to Museums and Libraries / Who the hell knows how we are going to use it
$720,000,000 to Social Security Admin / but get this only 200,000,000 is to help people. The rest is for admin costs
$25,000,000 for Cleaning supplies for the Capitol Building / I shit you not it's on page 136
$7,500,000 to the Smithsonian for additional salaries
$35,000,000 to the JFK Center for performing Arts
$25,000,000 for additional salary for House of Representatives
$3,000,000,000 upgrade to the IT department at the VA
$315,000,000 for State Department Diplomatic Programs
$95,000,000 for the Agency of International Development
$300,000,000 for International Disaster Assistance
$90,000,000 for the Peace Corp pg 148
$13,000,000 to Howard University pg 121
9,000,000 Misc. Senate Expenses pg 134
$100,000,000 to Essential Air carriers pg 162 This of note because the Airlines are going to need billions in loans to keep them afloat. $100,000,000 is chump change
$40,000,000,000 goes to the Take Responsibility to Workers and Families Act This sounds like it's direct payments for workers. Pg 164
$1,000,000,000 Airlines Recycle and Save Program pg 163
$25,000,000 to the FAA for administrative costs pg 165
$492,000,000 to National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) pg 167
$526,000,000 Grants to Amtrak to remain available if needed through 2021 pg 168 (what are the odds that doesn't go unused)
Hidden on page 174 the Secretary has 7 days to allocate the funds & notify Congress
$25,000,000,000 for Transit Infrastructure pg 169
$3,000,000 Maritime Administration pg 172
$5,000,000 Salaries and Expensive Office of the Inspector General pg 172
$2,500,000 Public and Indian Housing pg 175
$5,000,000 Community Planning and Development pg 175
$2,500,000 Office of Housing
What DOES ALL of this have to do with the Virus?
Are you angry yet?
Texas Supreme Court blocks plan to allow mail-in ballots amid coronavirus
The Texas Supreme Court has blocked a plan to allow voters who fear the coronavirus to use mail-in ballots for the November election.
The court late Friday granted a stay that overruled a lower-court order that had temporarily lifted mail-in voting restrictions to allow residents to vote by mail if they cite concerns about catching the coronavirus at polling places, according to the Dallas Morning News.
Republican state Attorney General Ken Paxton spearheaded the effort to stop the mail-in voting initiative and had petitioned the Supreme Court for the stay.
The high court’s order stops the distribution of mail-in ballots to those who fear getting infected by voting in person for the election, at least until Paxton’s appeal is heard later this week.
“I am pleased that today the Texas Supreme Court confirmed that my office may continue to prosecute voter fraud and issue guidance on mail-in ballots” while an appeal plays out, Paxton said in a statement.
Paxton’s appeal is scheduled to be heard Wednesday.
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The court late Friday granted a stay that overruled a lower-court order that had temporarily lifted mail-in voting restrictions to allow residents to vote by mail if they cite concerns about catching the coronavirus at polling places, according to the Dallas Morning News.
Republican state Attorney General Ken Paxton spearheaded the effort to stop the mail-in voting initiative and had petitioned the Supreme Court for the stay.
The high court’s order stops the distribution of mail-in ballots to those who fear getting infected by voting in person for the election, at least until Paxton’s appeal is heard later this week.
“I am pleased that today the Texas Supreme Court confirmed that my office may continue to prosecute voter fraud and issue guidance on mail-in ballots” while an appeal plays out, Paxton said in a statement.
Paxton’s appeal is scheduled to be heard Wednesday.
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Maryland COVID-19 Data 5-19-2020
COVID-19 Statistics in Maryland
Number of confirmed cases : 41,546
Number of negative test results : 167,112
Number of confirmed deaths : 1,963
Number of probable deaths : 118
Currently hospitalized : 1,421
Acute care : 884
Intensive care : 537
Ever hospitalized : 7,199
Released from isolation : 2,868
Number of negative test results : 167,112
Number of confirmed deaths : 1,963
Number of probable deaths : 118
Currently hospitalized : 1,421
Acute care : 884
Intensive care : 537
Ever hospitalized : 7,199
Released from isolation : 2,868
Cases and Deaths Data Breakdown:
Parenthesis = Confirmed death, laboratory-confirmed positive COVID-19 test result
Asterisk = Probable death, death certificate lists COVID-19 as the cause of death but not yet confirmed by a laboratory test
NH = Non-Hispanic
Parenthesis = Confirmed death, laboratory-confirmed positive COVID-19 test result
Asterisk = Probable death, death certificate lists COVID-19 as the cause of death but not yet confirmed by a laboratory test
NH = Non-Hispanic
By County
| County | Cases | Deaths | |
| Allegany | 166 | (14) | |
| Anne Arundel | 2,981 | (137) | 8* |
| Baltimore City | 4,002 | (202) | 8* |
| Baltimore County | 4,920 | (247) | 16* |
| Calvert | 255 | (12) | 1* |
| Caroline | 208 | ||
| Carroll | 712 | (69) | |
| Cecil | 323 | (18) | |
| Charles | 895 | (62) | 1* |
| Dorchester | 122 | (2) | |
| Frederick | 1,491 | (83) | 7* |
| Garrett | 7 | ||
| Harford | 709 | (32) | 3* |
| Howard | 1,465 | (46) | 3* |
| Kent | 144 | (14) | |
| Montgomery | 8,950 | (465) | 38* |
| Prince George's | 12,240 | (424) | 21* |
| Queen Anne's | 133 | (11) | |
| St. Mary's | 338 | (12) | |
| Somerset | 62 | (1) | |
| Talbot | 68 | (1) | |
| Washington | 352 | (8) | |
| Wicomico | 839 | (21) | |
| Worcester | 164 | (5) | 1* |
| Data not available | (77) | 11* |
By Age Range and Gender
| Age/Gender | Cases | Deaths | |
| 0-9 | 837 | ||
| 10-19 | 1,602 | (1) | |
| 20-29 | 5,520 | (10) | 1* |
| 30-39 | 7,617 | (24) | 3* |
| 40-49 | 7,495 | (53) | 4* |
| 50-59 | 6,964 | (131) | 10* |
| 60-69 | 5,050 | (306) | 10* |
| 70-79 | 3,351 | (478) | 16* |
| 80+ | 3,110 | (884) | 63* |
| Data not available | (76) | 11* | |
| Female | 21,686 | (967) | 68* |
| Male | 19,860 | (996) | 50* |
By Race and Ethnicity
| Race/Ethnicity | Cases | Deaths | |
| African-American (NH) | 12,454 | (815) | 39* |
| Asian (NH) | 787 | (69) | 6* |
| White (NH) | 8,365 | (817) | 54* |
| Hispanic | 9,525 | (160) | 7* |
| Other (NH) | 2,007 | (24) | 1* |
| Data not available | 8,408 | (78) | 11* |
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