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OC Restaurant Files For Reorganization

A long-time restaurant has filed for Chapter 11 reorganization this week after a tumultuous start to the year.

Satellite Restaurants Inc. owns and operates the 120th Street Crabcake Factory USA, which turns 25 years old next year.

“Crabcake Factory is an Ocean City icon and we don’t plan on changing a thing in regards to ability to deliver the delicious food and drinks that Ocean City knows and loves. This is a COVID and business issue that requires a reorganization solution. Our quality and service will not be compromised. We are not going anywhere,” said Johnny Brooks, owner and CEO of Crabcake Factory USA since 1996. “Unfortunately recent events relating to COVID-19 and the restrictions placed on restaurants coupled with some long standing wage and tax liabilities have tied our hands going into an uncertain offseason. We want to be proactive protecting the legacy of Crabcake Factory for another 25 years in Ocean City.”

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Phil Collins sues ex-wife Orianne after she allegedly refused to move out

Talk about “separate lives.”

Phil Collins has filed a lawsuit against his ex-wife, Orianne Cevey, after she allegedly refused to leave his Miami Beach, Florida, home after marrying another man in Las Vegas in August. Collins, 69, claimed he gave Cevey, 46, until Monday, Oct. 12 to move out but she failed to do so, according to People.

Filed on Wednesday, the lawsuit accuses Cevey of unlawful detainer and forcible entry. In the documents, Collins claims Orianne and her new husband, Thomas Bates, have “taken possession of the property by a show of force” and allegedly have hired “armed guards to patrol the Property with openly displayed firearms.”

Five hurt after store explosion near Virginia’s James Madison University

Five people were hurt after a likely gas explosion at a strip mall in Harrisonburg, Va., just blocks from the campus of James Madison University, according to reports.

The early Saturday blast could be felt for miles around and sparked a fire that eventually caused so much damage, several shops were razed.

Among the victims were three James Madison University students who suffered minor injuries.

The trio had been standing outside the store when the explosion occurred, part of an Army ROTC running group which had been involved in a 10-mile race, the finish line of which was just yards from the explosion site.

While Gov. Ralph Northam identified the source of the incident as a gas explosion, local officials could not confirm the cause, saying more investigation was needed.

Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, still sexy at 69, won’t cancel Halloween

Even Elvira won’t be going trick-or-treating this year — but she’s not giving up on her big day.

Actress Cassandra Peterson revived her seductively spooky persona from 1988’s “Elvira: Mistress of the Dark” in a new public service announcement urging others to party inside this Halloween to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

 

Women’s March in D.C. draws thousands in protest of Supreme Court nominee, Trump

Wearing costumes and carrying signs, thousands of people gathered for the Women’s March in downtown Washington and in cities across the country Saturday to protest the Supreme Court nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett and to build momentum to vote President Trump out of the White House.

Women wore white lace collars and black robes to honor the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and red robes and white bonnets to mock the woman expected to take her seat — vivid reminders of the cultural battles playing out in the country and the intensity of emotions swirling in the weeks before the election. Some there for the march faced off in a tense confrontation with a group of counterprotesters at the Supreme Court who had come to support Barrett and oppose abortion, yelling, “Keep your laws off my body!”

Ginger Belmonte, 23, said she has come from her home in Frederick County, Md., to Washington every weekend since Ginsburg died.

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Pro-Trump artist wants NYC mayor’s job, says ‘monkey with no eyes’ could do better than Bill de Blasio

A conservative Staten Island artist, known for painting American flag murals in each of the 50 states, is planning a mayoral run in New York City, where he said “a monkey with no eyes” could do a better job than the current administration.

“I’m not a politician, but neither was Ronald Reagan, neither was Donald Trump,” Scott LoBaido, a 55-year-old self-described “creative patriot” told Fox News on Thursday evening. “Why shouldn’t I run? I can’t do any worse than this clown.”

He criticized New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, a Democrat, over the city’s high taxes, handling of the coronavirus, small-business regulations, lack of support for police and exodus of residents and businesses.

“I think a monkey with no eyes could take over this office and fix this insanity,” he said. “So I think I could do it.”

De Blasio’s ongoing feuds with the city’s police, religious communities and even Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a fellow Democrat, have plagued his administration.

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House Republicans ask FBI if it had Hunter Biden's alleged laptop during Trump's impeachment

House Republicans are calling on the FBI to reveal whether it was in possession of a laptop that reportedly contained emails by Hunter Biden during the impeachment of President Trump -- and claiming the agency committed a “gross error in judgement” if it did not inform the White House.
“If the FBI was, in fact, in possession of this evidence and failed to alert the White House to its existence that would have given even more weight to the president’s legal defense, this was a gross error in judgement and a severe violation of trust,” the letter says.

The letter was written after the New York Post published emails suggesting that Hunter Biden introduced his father to a top executive at Ukrainian natural gas firm Burisma Holdings in 2015 -- one year before his father allegedly pressured the country's government to fire a prosecutor who had launched an investigation into the company.

The Post reported that the FBI was in possession of the laptop on which the emails were found in December 2019 -- right in the middle of the impeachment of President Trump over remarks he made to the Ukrainian president about Biden’s conduct in the country.

Trump was impeached by the Democratic-controlled House but later acquitted by the Republican-controlled Senate.

A burning desire for a fire, leads to a $50k budget surplus in Ocean City

Tuesday's budget presentation revealed that the bonfire permit program was totally hot this summer.

While most other sources of entertainment went up in flames for the resort city, due to Covid-19 restrictions, it appears, visitors opted to spend their time on the beach in the evening enjoying their friends, family, fresh air, and fires!

Budget Manager Jennie Knapp said the program came in $50,000 over budget, which is significant considering the price tag for a permit is $75.

Mayor Meehan agreed that the program was a huge money maker. That means there were an additional 660 bonfires,” he said. “That number is above what was budgeted, so I’m guessing we’re probably closer to 1,000 bonfires on the beach.”

There were days in July when there were 50 individual permits issued for beach bonfires, sometimes two at the same street. There were 34 bonfire permits issued on a Saturday in mid-August, as another example.

With the arrival of fall and cooler weather, the program still appears to be going strong. For example, there were 14 bonfire permits issued last Friday and another 26 last Saturday. Already, as of this past Thursday, there were 23 bonfire permits issued for today.

Meehan, said he believes one thing that has attributed to the increase is the ease of obtaining a permit.

A couple of years ago, the Ocean City Fire Marshal’s Office adopted an online platform to allow visitors and residents to apply for beach bonfire permits, streamlining the former in-person method.

Oh rats! Here’s where NYC ranks on list of ‘America’s Rattiest Cities’

Rats in the Big Apple are gnawing their way to the top!

New York City came in at No. 3 on a list of “America’s Rattiest Cities” — fueled in part by restaurant closures amid the coronavirus crisis.

Only Los Angeles and Chicago ranked worse in food-scrap-starved rats running wild, according to a report from the pest control company Orkin.

“The pandemic-driven closure of restaurants forced rodents to find new food sources. Without food waste to consume, these pests were seen scavenging new areas and exhibiting unusual or aggressive behavior,” the company said in a press release.

To determine which cities were most infested with the filthy furballs, the company reviewed the number of new rodent treatments administered in residential and commercial buildings over the past year.

Washington, DC, came in just after the Big Apple, ranking fourth-worst, followed by San Francisco and Detroit.

It was the third year in a row perpetually rat-plagued New York City came in at No. 3, while Chicago was ranked first for the sixth consecutive year.

A spokeswoman for the city said a strong effort is underway to kill off rodents in the Big Apple.

Cops arrest two more members of gang with ties to Cardi B

Cops have caught up to two more members of a violent city Bloods gang whose leaders include a close pal of hip-hop star Cardi B, authorities said Friday.

Robert Baley, a 43-year-old with the street name of “Dead Eye,” was arrested Thursday in Scranton, Pa., and 49-year-old Augustus Ingram, a k a the “Elevator,” was busted Wednesday in New York City, according to federal and local police.

The two men were arrested in connection with the 59 Brims gang, a murderous drug-trafficking ring that has been around for at least a decade, authorities said.

Earlier this year, the feds charged Willie Evans and Yonette Respass — the alleged godfather and godmother of the gang.

Respass is more widely known a close friend of Cardi B, who has been a vocal supporter of the 29-year-old.

Members of the gang have “promoted and celebrated, in music and on social media” their criminal exploits and threatened witnesses with violence, the indictment reads.

The gang had been running a criminal enterprise since 2011 that pushed drugs, including crack, heroin and fentanyl, and was connected to bank and wire fraud, as well as murder, according to the indictment.

One suspect, 23-year-old Quaveon Ross dubbed “Bullet,” named in the most recent indicted filed in the Southern District remains on the loose, authorities said.

Governor Hogan Announces Updated Safe Capacity Limits For Outdoor Sporting Venues

 ANNAPOLIS, MD—Governor Larry Hogan and Maryland Secretary of Health Robert Neall today issued orders updating safe capacity limits for outdoor sporting and entertainment venues, while maintaining face covering requirements and strict public health protocols.

“With our key health metrics low and stable, we are taking steps to allow more spectators, including fans of the Baltimore Ravens and the Washington Football Team, to safely attend games in the stands,” said Governor Hogan. “It remains important to continue following all of the mitigation measures and public health protocols that keep us safe, including wearing masks and practicing physical distancing.”

OUTDOOR SPORTING VENUES. The governor's order limits spectators at outdoor sporting venues to 10% of total capacity, including at M&T Bank Stadium and FedEx Field.

OUTDOOR ENTERTAINMENT VENUES. The governor's order limits occupancy to 10% for outdoor entertainment venues that have a total capacity greater than 2,500.

FACE COVERINGS AND PUBLIC HEALTH PROTOCOLS. The governor’s order requires face coverings at all outdoor sporting and entertainment venues. Under the health secretary’s order, venues must follow social distancing protocols, and social gatherings at the venue—such as tailgating—are prohibited.

Logan Hogan Maryland's disgrace to Democracy throws vote away "to make a statement"

The Republican (in name only) governor of Maryland recently received his presidential ballot and did not vote for his party's leader, Donald Trump.

Instead, Gov. Larry Hogan told The Washington Post that he cast a write-in vote last week for late President Ronald Reagan.

Hogan, 64, said that by throwing away his vote to make a statement, he thought he “could help a little bit and show Democrats the kind of Republican they can feel comfortable voting for.”

“I know it’s simply symbolic. It’s not going to change the outcome in my state,” Hogan told the Post, referring to Maryland's reliable history of voting Democratic. “But I thought it was important to just cast a vote that showed the kind of person I’d like to see in office.”

Hogan is not alone: A vocal minority of GOP state leaders have turned their back on Trump during his push for re-election.

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker told CNN earlier this month that he won’t vote for Trump, while their Republican colleague in Vermont, Gov. Phil Scott, has also said he won’t cast a vote for the president in the Nov. 3 election.

ABC silent after Biden town hall attendees identified as ex-Obama speechwriter, wife of prominent Democrat

So much for fair and unbiased. However we should expect nothing less from media giant ABC, who is keeping silent amid growing criticism of its town hall with Joe Biden after two of the attendees who asked the Democratic nominee questions were identified as an Obama speechwriter and the wife of a prominent Pennsylvania Democrat.

One of the questioners was Nathan Osburn, who worked for the Office of Public Affairs at the Commerce Department under the Obama-Biden administration and at the Small Business Administration.

Osburn's profession was listed as "communications" on a graphic and his home city was listed as Philadelphia.

Another questioner was Mieke Haeck, who ABC identified as a physical therapist from State College, Pa.

Haeck is also the wife of Ezra Nanes, who in 2018 ran for Pennsylvania state Senate Republican Majority Leader Jake Corman. Nanes is currently an at-large member of the Centre County Democratic Committee.

Nanes praised his wife's appearance at the town hall on Twitter.

Supposedly, these were two of  Stephanopoulos's undecided voters from Thursdays Town Hall with Joe Biden.

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DEA seizes record amount of meth in Southern California stash houses

The US Drug Enforcement Administration recovered over 2,200 pounds of methamphetamine earlier this month in Southern California, the agency’s largest-ever domestic seizure of the drug, officials said Wednesday.

The agency executed the bust on Oct. 2 at stash houses in Riverside County, east of Los Angeles, with ties to the Sinaloa cartel, the DEA said in a statement.

“The largest DEA domestic seizure of methamphetamine in history is a significant blow to the cartels, but more importantly it is a gigantic victory for communities throughout Southern California and the United States who have had to deal with the torrent of methamphetamine coming into their neighborhoods,” DEA Acting Administrator Timothy Shea said at a Wednesday press conference.

Along with 2,224 pounds of meth, the DEA also seized 893 pounds of cocaine and 13 pounds of heroin.

Text messages show raw and intimate exchange between Joe and Hunter Biden

A raw series of text messages show Joe Biden offering fatherly comfort as his son, Hunter, lamented from a rehab facility about being a “f–ked up addict who can’t be trusted” and had damaged his dad’s political career.

The intimate family exchange took place on February 24, 2019, two months before Joe launched his campaign for the White House.

“Good morning my beautiful son. I miss you and love you. Dad,” the elder Biden wrote at 6:57 a.m.

Hunter responded with a lengthy diatribe about his ex-wife, Kathleen Buhle, and his father’s political advisers, and he also complained bitterly about a conversation with his sister-in-law-turned-lover, Hallie Biden.

“For f–ks sake hallie for the first time [in] 17 days talks to me to say im an embarrassment. To MY family,” Hunter wrote.

He then admitted, “Well dad, the truth is as you and hallie point out — I am a f–ked up addict that cant be…Trusted relied upon nor defended.”

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Bill banning ‘no-knock’ raids in Virginia sent to Gov. Northam

Virginia’s General Assembly passed a bill banning “no-knock” search warrants Wednesday, clearing the way for it to go to Gov. Ralph Northam’s desk.

“I applaud my colleagues in the General Assembly for supporting HB 5099,” Virginia Delegate Lashrecse Aird, who introduced the bill, said in a statement. “This bill was drafted with significant input from stakeholders from both law enforcement and the criminal justice community, working together towards the goal of protecting more lives in the Commonwealth.”

The bill passed the House of Delegates last month. However, It's just now being reported!

The legislation, in part, is a response to the death of Breonna Taylor in Kentucky earlier this year. She was killed at home after officers entered to serve a no-knock drug warrant connected with a suspect who did not live there and was already in police custody.

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2-year-old girl’s arm ripped off after she reaches into cage of wolfdog

A 2-year-old Michigan girl’s arm was torn off when she reached inside the cage of a wolfdog at her grandmother’s sanctuary and tried to grab its collar, according to reports.

Brenda Pearson, who founded the Howling Timbers Animal Sanctuary in Muskegon, described the horrifying July incident involving Sophia Scraver in a lengthy post on Facebook.

She wrote that she believes her granddaughter “was interested in the shiny collar being worn by one of the wolf dogs. A wolf dog that was friendly, loved to be groomed and preferred human attention over treats.”

Pearson continued: “We believe she grabbed his collar and he pulled to get away. She then got her arm stuck in the fence at the elbow and lost her arm.

Pearson said she was investigated by Child Protective Services officials “who found no wrong doing on my part.”

Last Friday, authorities said they found 47 “illegal” wolfdogs at the facility, in addition to “six red foxes, three coyotes, four eastern box turtles and two fawns,” according to the Mirror.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources said the sanctuary is believed to have been illegally breeding animals, according to the news outlet.

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San Francisco may change 'inappropriate' names of 44 city schools, including Washington and Lincoln

At least 44 schools in San Francisco could see their names changed, as officials believe some were named after those with potential connections to slavery, genocide and colonization, according to a report on Thursday.

The San Francisco School Names Advisory Committee researched school names and identified certain ones for renaming. Some Principals and parents questioned the wisdom of devoting energy on this issue when so many children continue to take remote lessons.

Jonathan Alloy, whose children attend one of the schools on the list, criticized the timing. He said kids are already forced to conduct distance learning, which negatively impacts minorities more so than their peers, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

“Principals are devoting resources to this," he said. “We’re not actually helping disadvantaged children by changing the name of the school they can’t attend."

Some of the schools listed under the proposed name changes included Abraham Lincoln High School, George Washington High School, Roosevelt Middle School, and Jefferson Elementary.

According to the paper, certain criteria by the committee included: "Anyone directly involved in the colonization of people, those connected to any human rights or environmental abuses, slave owners or participants in enslavement, and known racists and/or white supremacists and/or espoused racist beliefs."

Notre Dame colleagues call on Amy Coney Barrett to halt Supreme Court confirmation

Eighty-eight faculty members at the University of Notre Dame have penned an open letter to colleague and Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett, asking her to halt the confirmation process until after the presidential election.

The group — which does not include any instructors at Notre Dame Law School, where Barrett, 48, teaches — called on her to “take this unprecedented step” in light of three considerations.

“First, voting for the next president is already underway,” the letter read. “According to the United States Election Project, more than seven million people have already cast their ballots, and millions more are likely to vote before election day.

“The rushed nature of your nomination process, which you certainly recognize as an exercise in raw power politics, may effectively deprive the American people of a voice in selecting the next Supreme Court justice.”

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