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Friday, April 13, 2012

TSA May Have To Pony Up Cash

The Transportation Security Administration might need to give up the cash it finds at airport checkpoints. Fliers have left behind an estimated $1 million over the past couple of years, and the TSA has gotten to keep that money. But there's a bill that would force TSA to give it up to the USO. The Congressional Budget Office said moving the money would actually cost $1 million in the short term. But CBO expects an offset later because of lower outlays for aviation security.

A Comment Worthy Of A Post 4-13-12

My name is Jennifer Overholt and these were my dogs that got hit. Finn, my Lab-Pit mix was 4 years old and the other one is Cooper, my 7 year old Boxer. They were well behaved dogs but sometimes Finn felt that he needed a run. He has taken off before but never gone towards the bypass. We always found him at Woody's Pest Control around the horses. Cooper normally didn't take off but I am assuming that he wanted to keep Finn company. My father was out looking for them and when my husband and daughter got home, they started looking for them as well. Fortunately I had a Home Again microschip put in Finn's neck and the Fruitland Police contacted my old address. My husband and father then went to pick up the dogs. My family is still hurting and it is very hard to explain something like this to a 6 year old. I do not think that it was Joe Albero's problem to find the dogs or to contact us but I appreciate that this was posted and someone tried to get us help. For those of you who gave the others a hard time about who to call, back off. I doubt you would have done anything had you been there. You probably wouldn't have called the police either. You would have called the owners reckelss and probably thought we got what we deserved for letting the dogs loose. I loved these two dogs with all of my heart as does the rest of my family.

The Public Eye

Thanks for reading my column this week. Gracias por leer mi columna de esta semana.

For English, please press one followed by the pound sign. Para espaƱol, presione dos, seguida por el signo de libra.

Did I mention that I called Comcast this week?

It’s not that I mind these menu-driven switchboard systems, but I have always believed – and call me crazy — that they would be more efficient if they GOT YOU WHERE THE H*** YOU WANTED TO GO.

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Obama, No Ban On Discrimination Against Gay Contractors

President Obama does not plan to issue a ban on discrimination against gay federal contractors. Some gay rights groups had asked for a presidential order to that effect.

Press secretary Jay Carney said the president would support legislation banning discrimination against gay contractors. Gay rights groups said that Congress won't pass such a law. They said the White House should step in with an executive order.

Rachel Maddow's Deceit About Michigan GOP Borders on Pathological

How do you know when Rachel Maddow isn't telling the truth? If any sentence she utters includes the words "Michigan" and "Republican."

This habit of hers has become so ingrained that Maddow runs the risk of caricature, as in -- there she goes again, pulling a Maddow.

Think I'm exaggerating? Allow me to cite examples from her MSNBC show in the last week.

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State Officials’ Financial Disclosures To Go Online

State lawmakers and their executive appointees would now post their required ethics statements and financial disclosure reports on the Internet beginning January 2013, if the governor signs the bill as expected. Co

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Md. Grand Jury Indicts OC Man On Five Counts

OCEAN CITY -- An Ocean City man, arrested on child pornography charges last year after an investigation into his alleged illicit activities dating back to June 2010, was formally indicted last week in U.S. District Court by a Maryland state grand jury.

In December, Ocean City Police arrested Laurence John Bode, 60, of Ocean City after a Worcester County grand jury indicted him on 16 child pornography possession and distribution charges. The county grand jury indicted Bode after a nearly two-year investigation into his alleged activities dating back to June 2010. However, before Bode’s case could come to trial in Worcester County Circuit Court, a Maryland grand jury indicted him in U.S. District Court last week on five counts ranging from possession to distribution of child pornography, turning the case into a federal one.

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Economists Say Maryland Needs Wind Energy, But Fracking More

Economists that political bickering should not overshadow that Maryland needs to find new solutions for its energy future. They say the state should consider a range of resources -- not just offshore wind and natural gas, but land-based wind, solar, geothermal and nuclear, too. The state currently imports about 30% of its electricity, making it the fourth largest energy importer in the U.S.. (Watch animation of fracking and see map of offshore wind.)

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Report Warns US Educational Failures Pose National Security Threat

A new report finds that the United States' education system is putting the country's national security at risk.

The independent study, sponsored by The Council on Foreign Relations, finds K-12 school systems across the country are failing to adequately prepare kids to grow up and protect the U.S.

"For starters, we don't have nearly enough people who are capable in the STEM fields: science, technology, engineering and math," said former Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings, a member of the council's task force that wrote the report, titled "U.S. Education Reform and National Security."

Families Now Spend More On Transportation Than Food

The average American family now spends more than $7,600 annually on transportation, according to a recent government study. To put that amount in perspective, it's more than what's spent on food and over twice as much as on health care. The reason cited by the Treasury Department report is due to the increasing cost of gasoline and, consequently, traveling by car.

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Daily Presidential Tracking Poll

The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Thursday shows that 27% of the nation's voters Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as president. Forty percent (40%) Strongly Disapprove, giving Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of -13 (see trends).

Twenty-nine percent (29%) believe the country is generally heading in the right direction.

In a hypothetical Election 2012 matchup, President Obama and Mitt Romney are tied at 45%. Matchup results are updated daily at 9:30 a.m. Eastern (sign up for free daily e-mail update). Texas Congressman Ron Paul holds a one-point edge over the president, 44% to 43%. See tracking history for the Republican candidates.

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Stop Pre-Rinsing And Let The Dishwasher Do Its Job

Some time-worn habits are hard to break like rinsing your dishes before you put them in the dishwasher. But stopping this ritual pays off in time and money. Not only will you save water but the energy it takes to heat it as well. Dishwashers are made to do dirty jobs so just scrape the excess food from the plates and let the machine do the rest of the work.

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NOW Prez: Ann Romney Lacks 'Life Experience' And 'Imagination'

Back up the bus! After bouncing Hilary Rosen beneath the
Greyhound, President Obama and friends might have to throw it in reverse again over the person of Dem surrogate Terry O'Neill. The NOW president suggested to Ed Schultz tonight that Ann Romney, along with Mitt, lacks "life experience" and "imagination" needed to understand most Americans.

For good measure, in the very same segment Dem congresswoman Maxine Waters called the Republican candidate for president Mitt "Rot-ney." Classy bunch! View the video after the jump.

WCSO Press Release 4-13-12

Incident: DUI
Date of Incident: 12 April 2012
Location: Eastern Shore Drive Salisbury, MD
Suspect: Andrew J. Durkin, 23, Salisbury, MD

Narrative: On 12 April 2012
at about 2:15 AM a deputy from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle for speeding and failing to stop for a red signal. The driver of the vehicle was identified as Andrew J. Durkin. During the investigation, the deputy detected an odor of alcohol on Durkin’s breath. Field sobriety tests were conducted which led to Durkin being placed under arrest. A breath test was completed which confirmed that Durkin was over the legal limit. Durkin was
later released with the issuance of citations.

Charges: Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol

Md. Passes Measure to Address Child Identity Theft

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - As more and more children are having their credit ratings damaged by identity theft before they think of borrowing a dime, Maryland lawmakers have approved a first-of-its-kind measure to enable parents to take steps to protect their kids.

The Maryland Child Identity Lock bill, which a spokeswoman for Gov. Martin O'Malley says he is likely to sign, will allow parents to take the step of freezing their child's credit at any time. Supporters hope it will be a model for other states to protect not only children, but also disabled and elderly people who can be particularly vulnerable to identity theft as well.

"This just freezes the information to ensure that it's not used for ill purposes," said Delegate Craig Zucker, a Democrat who sponsored the bill in the Maryland House of Delegates.

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Who Is This Man?


This painted portrait was discovered in the Poplar Hill Mansion. It is 3 feet high and 2 feet wide with an ornate glded frame. If anyone can tell me who it is, I would greatly appreciate it. It is a mystery to be solved. Thank you. George

Court Urged to Halt Procedures Against Marine Obama Critic

Documents filed today in court in the case of a Marine facing discharge for making statements critical of President Obama reveal multiple procedural violations, including ignoring testimony from a former staff judge advocate for the commandant of the Marines, a retired brigadier general, stating there was no basis for discharging Stein.

Brig. Gen. David Brahms said in a written statement, “I do not believe that … the behavior in question violates the cited UCMJ provision.”

The statement was among filings presented to Judge Marilyn Huff with the U.S. District Court in California asking her to stop the Marine Corps from fast-tracking a discharge of Sgt. Gary Stein.

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SPD Press Release 4-13-12

On April 8, 2012 Salisbury Police officers responded to the Days Inn located at 2525 N. Salisbury Blvd. for a reported armed robbery. Officers learned that two hotel guests were robbed at gunpoint by two masked men as they entered their room at the rear of the hotel. The suspects stole various property and US currency prior to fleeing in a vehicle belonging to one of the victims.

Detectives investigating the incident developed evidence indicating that one of the victims had been involved in planning the armed robbery. That individual, identified as Davonna Lee Shockley, 30yoa of Federalsburg, MD, was arrested and charged with Conspiracy to commit Armed Robbery and related counts.

Shockley was released to the Wicomico County Detention Center. Further investigation identified one of the gunmen as Derral Eugene Washington, 26yoa of Hurlock, MD. An arrest warrant was obtained charging Washington with Armed Robbery and related counts.

Washington was located in Caroline County where he was taken into custody and is currently being held without bond.

Investigation is continuing. Anyone with any information on this incident should contact the Salisbury Police Department at 410.548.3165 or Crime Solvers at 410.548.1776

OC Bridal Show Marks 10 Years

OCEAN CITY -- The 10th Annual OC Bridal Show will take place on Sunday, April 15 at Seacrets from 1-4 p.m. A special ribbon cutting will open the event at 12:30 p.m.

The event provides an exciting opportunity for brides to catch up on their wedding planning while enjoying a fabulous day at the beach.

Amber Nicole’s Bridal of Salisbury will be providing the lady’s fashion expo on Morley Hall’s main stage. You’re Invited of Ocean City will launch the Men’s Fashion demonstration. The main stage will also feature an entertainment lineup of Zumba and chair dancing. Rox Entertainment’s DJ Armando will be teaching guests the latest in club line dancing.

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SBYNews To Deliver Powerful Post Tomorrow Morning


I have put together what I feel is a very powerful message to be delivered at 7:00 AM tomorrow morning. Hopefully the majority of our viewers will take a few minutes out of their weekend to read this article.