QA COUNTY PASSES BUCK ON SHELTER SITE NEAR COUNTY SCHOOLS

-Official Denies Responsibility for Location, Points Finger at Housing Authority 
-Documents Show County Employees Managed Entire Project Since 2009 

STEVENSVILLE, MD - Queen Anne’s County Commission Vice-President Paul Comfort has suggested that there is little “if anything” the commission can do to relocate the Stevensville homeless shelter project, financed with over $2 million in federal and state grants. The county has come under heavy criticism by a growing number of citizens who maintain the county failed to properly inform and involve the public when choosing a location..  They say the county’s failure to comply with both legal and moral obligations are the reason that a 44-bed homeless shelter is slated to be built alongside a public trail, major youth sports complex and a short walk from Kent Island’s four public schools.

In the email sent Friday, Comfort suggested citizens "take that up with the Housing Authority and/or HUD, not the Commissioners."  According to state law, Comfort wrote, the QAC Housing Authority is a separate body "over which the county has no oversight or control."

State records obtained through a Maryland Public Information Act request identify the recipient of nearly 1.1 million federal dollars as the “County Commissioners of Queen Anne's County.”  Agreements are signed by former commission presidents Steven Arentz and Gene Ransom, and the Housing Authority is identified in 2012 as the “Sub-recipient.”

While the County Housing Department and the Housing Authority are separate entities, federal regulations governing Community Development Block Grants state that "the recipient is responsible for ensuring that CDBG funds are used in accordance with all program requirements. The use of designated public agencies, subrecipients or contractors does not relieve the recipient of this responsibility."

"I...believe you should direct these complaints to the QAC Housing Authority…” Comfort wrote. However, the “QAC Citizen Participation Plan,” signed by Arentz in 2012, reads  "Citizens who wish to submit a complaint or grievance may do so by calling or writing: Queen Anne's County Department of Housing and Community Services,” followed by a County address and phone number.  

Comfort described the county’s role as "assisting in the administration of the grant…”  But in January 2014, then-commission president Phil Dumenil signed a Memorandum of Understanding in pursuit of state funding,  which reads: "The County will apply for and diligently pursue a grant...and will administer the project, including oversight and control of architecture, engineering, design, bid solicitation and award, site preparation and construction. The county shall be authorized to act on behalf of the housing authority with respect to the project and general administration and oversight thereof."  

An additional document reveals nearly $50,000 in county employee time spent on the shelter project during the 2013 fiscal year alone.  Executive Director of Housing and Community Services Michael Clark, staffers Candice Darling, Mickey Lomax and Priscilla Mileski together spent 564 working hours, worth $26,255.58, on the project and used another 72 hours, or $21,600.00 of QACTV services.

Gold Alert Issued for Missing Clayton Man

Clayton, DE-The Delaware State Police are issuing a Gold Alert for Mitchell G. McKinneywho was last seen at his residence located on E. Radison Run, Clayton on Tuesday January 27, 2015.

Mitchell McKinney is a white male, 48 years of age, 5’10” tall, 170 lbs., brown hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing military fatigues (camouflage). (Photo attached)

Troopers have been unable to make contact with McKinney to check on his welfare. Attempts to locate him have been unsuccessful and there is a real concern for his safety and welfare. It is believed that Mitchell McKinney may be in the area of Woodland Beach.

If anyone has any information in reference to his whereabouts, they are asked to contact Troop 9 at 302-378-5749. Information can also be provided to the Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333 or via the internet at www.tipsubmit.com. Send an anonymous tip by text to 274637 (CRIMES) using the keyword "DSP."

As 2016 race begins, GOP faces its Palin problem

DES MOINES — As a chance to evaluate possible 2016 Republican presidential candidates, the Freedom Summit here in Des Moines was a solid success. Several potential candidates — Scott Walker, Ted Cruz, Chris Christie, and a few others — left the 10-hour political marathon with their prospects undeniably enhanced.

All that was good news for Republicans. But at the same time, more than a few GOP loyalists came away shaking their heads at the performance of a party star, former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, whose long, rambling, and at times barely coherent speech left some wondering what role she should play in Republican politics as the 2016 race begins in earnest.

Palin made news when she arrived in Iowa saying she is seriously considering a run for president. In an interview with ABC the day before coming to Iowa, Palin answered "of course" when asked if she is interested in running in 2016. Then, when she arrived at a Des Moines hotel late Friday evening, she told the Washington Post, "Who wouldn't be interested?" Asked to clarify, Palin told the paper, "You can absolutely say that I am seriously interested."

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Google & NFL Strike Deal To Bring NFL Content To YouTube

Just in time for the Super Bowl this weekend, the National Football League has decided to play nice and share with others, announcing a partnership with Google this week that will bring game highlights to a YouTube channel and search results. 

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Mr. Coffee Introduces The Stupidest Smart Coffeemaker On The Market

I get annoyed when an electronic gadget has functions that you can only access through the remote control, so I am not a candidate to buy the Mr. Coffee Smart Optimal Brew. It’s a very nice new network-connected drip coffee machine that you can program remotely from your smartphone. The problem: you can only program it from your smartphone. 

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Historic Overhaul Seeks to Change How U.S. Pays the Doctor Bill

The Obama administration will make historic changes to how the U.S. pays its annual $3 trillion health-care bill, aiming to curtail a costly habit of paying doctors and hospitals without regard to quality or effectiveness.

Starting next year Medicare, which covers about 50 million elderly and disabled Americans, will base 30 percent of payments on how well health providers care for patients, some of which will put them at financial risk based on the quality they deliver. By 2018, the goal is to put half of payments under the new system.

For doctors and health facilities, the system will tie tens, and then hundreds, of billions of dollars in payments to how their patients fare, rather than how much work a doctor or hospital does, lowering the curtain on Medicare’s system of paying line-by-line for each scan, test and surgery.

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Biden to Doctors: Obamacare Settled It, Health Care is a 'Right'

Vice President Joe Biden wrapped up his California visit on Friday by telling doctors that the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, had “ended the debate” about whether health care is a privilege or a right, according to the Orange County Register.

Biden was speaking to the Patient Safety, Science & Technology Summit, congratulating doctors on a rapid reduction in the rate of hospital-borne infections in recent years. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also spoke to the meeting.

There is no provision in the Constitution or in the text of the Obamacare bill that refers to health care as a “right.” Nor are any other necessities–such as food, water, shelter and clothing–“rights” under any federal law or constitutional provision.

President Barack Obama has stated in the past that he believes health care is a right, most recently on the campaign trail in late 2014. However, the White House has not, apparently, made the claim that the debate over that issue has been “settled.”

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Rookie D.C. firefighter caught with marijuana, ammo drum, ski masks, latex gloves in his car

Handguns, gloves and ski masks are just some of the items police say they found in the car of a D.C. firefighter. Now, that firefighter and two others are facing serious charges.

Probationary firefighter Oshane Jones, 21, is now on paid administrative leave from the Engine 30 Firehouse where he worked. Prince George’s County Police say Saturday night, outside a Capitol Heights, Md. liquor store, Jones’ car was spotted in a handicapped parking space without a handicapped tag. An officer smelled marijuana coming from Jones’ car and spotted ammunition inside, including an ammo drum that holds 75 bullets.

Police confiscated a number of items from the car, including two Glock pistols, the ammo drum, two ski masks, latex gloves, a box of ammunition and $60 worth of marijuana. Jones and two others—St. Clair Edwards and Antonio Hensley—in his car were arrested on gun charges. Jones was later released on his own recognizance.

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A Physicist Emailed Us To Explain Exactly How The Patriots' Balls Could Magically Deflate

On Saturday, Patriots coach Bill Belichick gave a surreal press conference where he explained how the Patriots footballs could have deflated without any illegal action on his team's part.

His explanation wasn't the clearest thing I'd ever heard, and I said so in a post covering the press conference. In response to my post, Kirk Hackett, a retired physicist who worked for the Air Force, emailed me to explain exactly how the Patriots' balls could have deflated even when the Colts' balls did not.

It basically comes down to this: The Patriots do something to prepare the balls. Their preparation increases the PSI by 1 pound. Over time that PSI would naturally deflate by a pound once the preparation is done. But the Patriots also hand the ball to the referees, who artificially let out 1 pound. So, then the ball naturally loses about one more PSI, making it underinflated.

Make of that what you will!

Hackett emailed me his credentials after I asked for them. He says, "As far as I go, you might be able to google me. I am retired and used to work at the Air Force Research Laboratory in Directed Energy. At one time, I was President of the Directed Energy Professional Society. As far as academic credentials go, my Bachelors with a physics major is from Dartmouth (1977), and my PhD in Physics is from MIT (1983). I could dig my diplomas out of the closet, but that is a bit of a hassle."

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Swamped by an underwater home

On a cold Sunday afternoon 10 years ago, Comfort and Kofi Boateng stood with Comfort’s mother and their three children before a quarter-acre parcel in a brand-new subdivision in the center of Prince George’s County.

The place was called Fairwood. They stepped onto Lot 71, an empty stretch of gravel, and closed their eyes and bowed their heads. Comfort raised her hands to the sky.

“We sanctify the grounds with the blood of Jesus,” Kofi said.

The land had once been the site of Fairview, one of the Maryland’s largest slave plantations. Now it was Fairwood, an 1,800-home subdivision that would soon become the richest neighborhood in the richest African American county in the United States.

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What They Are Saying …

Governor Larry Hogan’s FY16 Budget Is “Balanced," "Evenhanded," and

puts "Maryland on the path to prosperity"

Senate Minority Leader J.B. Jennings (R): “In 24 hours he’s been able to do something that hasn’t been done in 10 years in bringing spending in line with revenue.” (Michael Dresser and Erin Cox, Hogan budget would cut state worker pay, city school aid, The Baltimore Sun, 01/22/15)
Senate President Mike Miller (D): “In terms of priorities – in terms of our priorities – he recognized them, and he dealt with them and the cuts weren’t as severe as could have been.” (Brian Witte, Hogan says budget has limits, butprovides record K-12 funds, The Capital Gazette, 01/23/15)

Senate President Mike Miller (D): [Hogan] “has done the best he can with what he has available to him.”(Hogan Unveils First Budget, WBAL News Radio 1090, 01/22/15)
House Speaker Mike Busch (D): “He was very gracious in saying he was open to discussion on all the issues that are in front of us, but he was committed to balancing the budget.” (Pat Warren, Hogan Introduces Budget Plan,CBS Baltimore, 01/22/15)
House Minority Whip Kathy Szeliga (R): “It is a great plan. This is what happens when you put a businessman in the governor’s mansion. It’s a plan that shows you can’t spend more than you get and you can’t solve Maryland’s problems with budget gimmicks.” (John Wagner and Ovetta Wiggins, Hogan's plan to cut salaries, education spending will test call for bipartisanship, The Washington Post, 01/22/15)

•        [Hogan] “is taking responsible steps to put Maryland on the path to prosperity.”

Senator George Edwards (R): “What we’ve got here is evidence of Gov. Hogan following through on his campaign trail promises. Plenty of people doubted that he could balance the budget without raising taxes or fees, but that’s exactly what he’s done. (Kaustuv Basu, Hogan's budget draws praise and criticism, Herald Mail Media, 01/25/15)

Anne Arundel’s County Executive Steve Schuh (R): “Governor Hogan is making the tough decisions to put Maryland on a fiscally sustainable path with a balanced, no new taxes budget.” (County Executive Steve Schuh, “County Executive Steve Schuh Releases Statement onGovernor’s Proposed Budget,” Press Release, 01/23/15)

•        “By slowing the rate of growth in state spending and setting clear priorities, the Governor’s budget will lead to a more efficient use of tax dollars, while maintaining a record level of education spending.

•        “After forty increases in taxes and fees in the last 8 years, the people of Maryland finally have a governor who understands raising taxes on working families is not the answer. I look forward to working with the Governor as we help secure the financial future of our state and the next generation of Anne Arundel County citizens.”

Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker II (D): “The big part of what was slowing us down was whether, in fact, the new administration will support the hospital and put the new money in there. Now, with this, I think we can move full-steam ahead.” (John Wagner and Arelis Hernandez, Md. Gov. Hogan's first budget reins in rise in education spending, imposes agency cuts, The Washington Post, 01/23/15)

The Washington Post Editorial Board: “Mr. Hogan proposes a sensible approach to spending cuts.” (Editorial,Mr. Hogan proposes a sensibleapproach to spending cuts, The Washington Post, 01/22/15)

•        “On balance, the cuts endorsed by Mr. Hogan, a Republican, look judicious…”

•        “Together, these measures amount to a reasonably even-handed approach to budgeting…”

Frederick News-Post Editorial Board: “Hogan is off to a good start…the budget is balanced, closing an anticipated shortfall of $750 million, and the painful cuts Hogan said might have to be made don’t seem as awful as they were made out to be.” (Editorial, Hogan is off to a good start, The Frederick Post, 01/23/15)
The Capital Gazette Editorial Board: “But this is why Hogan was elected – to give state taxpayers a break by throttling back on spending to the extent possible.” (Editorial, Our say: Hogan's budget doesn't give us shivers, The Capital Gazette, 01/25/15)

•        “…what we’ve seen so far, in general, is promising.”

Cecil Daily’s Editorial Board: “His fiscal year 2016 budget cuts all agency spending by 2 percent, but increases funding for K-12 schools and higher education. Bureaucracy in Maryland has been riding high on the hog ever over the past eight years of the O’Malley administration, so we certainly welcome news that the Republican governor doesn’t plan to back down on his big campaign promises. Keep up the good work.” (Editorial, All thumbs, Cecil Daily, 01/23/15)

CEO of the Tech Council of Maryland, Philip Schiff: “I think the message in this first round is, ‘I believe in the business community and the tech and life sciences.’ We knew everyone would have to take a hit somewhere.” (Scott Dance, Hogan's budget includes some cuts, some statusquo for economic development programs, The Baltimore Sun, 01/25/15)

Coalition for Smarter Growth Executive Director Stewart Schwartz: “We were pleased to see that both Purple Line and Red Line funding remaining in Governor Hogan’s first Maryland budget. The Purple Line is a good deal for Maryland, good for jobs, good for the economy and good for commuters.” (Aaron Kraut, Purple Line Funding in Hogan's Budget, For Now, Bethesda Now, 01/22/15)

Executive Director of the Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund, Dan Dincel: “We are incredibly pleased that Gov. Hogan and his team recognize the substantial value of the Maryland Stem Cell Research Commission's work and the critical funding it is able to provide for best-in-class scientists who choose to do their groundbreaking life science research in the State of Maryland.” (Scott Dance, Hogan's budget includes some cuts, some statusquo for economic development programs, The Baltimore Sun, 01/25/15)

Health reform highlights shortage of mental health workers

National health reform was supposed to open the doors to mental health services for hundreds of thousands of people who couldn't previously afford to get treatment, but Maryland patients are finding there aren't enough doctors.

A study released Monday by the Mental Health Association of Maryland found that consumers who buy private plans on a state exchange under health reform are supposed to have access to 1,154 psychiatrists. But when researchers tried to call these doctors, they found that only 14 percent were accepting new patients and available for an appointment within 45 days.

While mental health advocates have long heard anecdotes about a shortage of psychiatrists, the state insurance exchange offered a way to take a more detailed look at the issue because the network of doctors is open to the public, unlike with most private plans.

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Sling shots keep monkeys away from Obama

The Simian Secret Service: India hires slingshot shooters to keep MONKEYS at bay during Obama visit - as President and First Lady brave torrential downpours

City officials in New Delhi have hired men to fire slingshots at monkeys in the streets - so they don't get in President Obama's way during his state visit.

The animals usually hang from trees and walk among passing cars in the city and have become a nuisance in the city.

However, it's unlikely the stray creatures were the biggest concern of the US president on the second day of his Indian state trip, which saw the US pledge $4 billion in investments and loans just hours after the president and first lady took part in a rain-soaked parade for India's Republic Day.

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****MARYLAND CHILD AMBER ALERT****

UPDATE: The police say that Deare Denny has turned himself in in Prince George’s County, and baby Drew is safe.

 

****MARYLAND CHILD AMBER ALERT****

The Maryland State Police at the request of Montgomery County Police Department have issued a Maryland Child AMBER Alert for Drew Marie DENNY.

CHILD: Drew Marie DENNY is further described as being 2 feet 5 inches and 14 pounds. The child was last seen wearing Pajamas. She has brown eyes and black curly hair

LOCATION: The child was last observed at approximately 3:17

PM in the area of Hempstone Avenue Poolesville, Md. The child is believed to have been abducted with force by the suspect.

SUSPECT: Deare Marquis DENNY is described as being 5 feet 10 inches tall and 200 pounds. The suspect has long dreadlocks and several tattoo, Scooby on right arm, Tricy with 2 roses on right neck, suitland on left arm

VEHICLE: A possible suspect vehicle is a 2014 Black Chevy 4 door vehicle / small SUV bearing New Jersey registration: D97DRW.

Anyone with information is asked to immediately call 911 or Montgomery County Police at 301-279-8000. Do not take action which could endanger your safety or further endanger the abducted child. MEDIA INQUIRIES should be directed to call 240-773-5030.

Link to poster:http://www.missingkids.com/poster/USMD/aadenny01272015/1…

Super Bowl Sunday!

Evolution Craft Brewing Co. Public House will open Super Bowl Sun. Feb. 1st at 11:30am.  We invite you to come dine with us! Meet up with friends to watch the big game! Offering HAPPY HOUR prices all day...  Half Price Burgers!... Half Price Wings!...  $4 Chili... $5 Brats... Great carry-out deals!   Call ahead for carry-out orders!   443-260-2337(BEER)

www.evolutioncraftbrewing.com

Union Membership Rate Falls to 100-Year Low

New information from the federal government suggests workers’ interest in unions continues to fall, with union membership reaching its lowest rate in 100 years.

According to data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics today, the union membership rate fell to 11.1 percent, with just 14.6 million wage and salaried workers maintaining membership.

In 2013, the union membership rate was 0.2 percentage points higher, at 11.3 percent.

The rate of union membership has been on a steady decline over the past three decades. It grew slightly from 12.1 percent in 2007 to 12.4 percent in 2008. During President Obama’s first year in office, however, it fell once more.

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Car Falls Into Sinkhole in Maryland

A car fell into a sinkhole caused by a water main break in Bladensburg, Maryland, Tuesday morning.

Only the car's right, rear section was visible as water gushed around the hole. A nearby vehicle also appears to be falling towards the sinkhole. Some residents could be seen running back and forth from their home in an effort to save their belongings, News4's Megan McGrath reported.

WSSC crews are on the scene at Edmonston Road and Tilden Road.

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2015: The Year of Default

Making New Year “predictions” used to be an automatic, beginning-of-the-year exercise, to the point where readers generally expected such pieces from the pundits they follow. However, it is an activity which has died-out somewhat, a casualty of our propaganda-saturated Wonderland Matrix.

When all that we can see around us is nothing but fiction and illusion, all events appear to be arbitrary – since we are unable to observe cause-and-effect. By definition; arbitrary events cannot be predicted. Thus these New Year’s “predictions” have become a Fool’s Game, and having been burned once (several times?), most commentators have reached the similar conclusion that this is an exercise in futility.

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Maryland budget analyst criticizes unspecified cuts

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Gov. Larry Hogan’s proposal for a 2 percent cut across the board for state agencies without specifying what the cuts will be is “a very dangerous” approach to balancing the state’s finances, a top Maryland budget analyst said Monday, but the governor’s budget secretary said the idea was to give agency leaders more time to find efficiencies.

Warren Deschenaux, the director of the Office of Policy Analysis for the Department of Legislative Services, told a panel of lawmakers he believes lawmakers should know details about the cuts as they work on finalizing the governor’s budget plan by the end of the legislative session in April.

“This is a very dangerous, in my estimation, approach to budgeting,” Deschenaux said. “It’s too easy. It doesn’t let you see what you’re doing and what the impact of what’s going to happen will be.”

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Obama’s ‘Middle-Class Economics’

He proposes to tax savings plans that parents create for their children’s college education.

The million-dollar phrase used by President Obama in his State of the Union address last week was “middle-class economics.” What he didn’t explain is that his middle-class economics doesn’t actually help the middle class. It hurts them.

The latest war on the middle class comes with the taxing of 529 college savings plans — which currently grow tax-free. They are very popular among middle-class families who are trying to responsibly save for their children’s college tuition.

The White House has proposed taxing these plans as a way to “simplify the tax code.” How nice of our president to tax families responsibly saving, a move that would inevitably take away opportunities for their children. I guess that’s the definition of Obama’s middle-class economics. He did say that “an America built to last insists on responsibility from everybody.”

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