DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Bank Robber Takes Hostage, Slips And Falls On Ice, Then Shot And Killed By Police
WARNING - GRAPHIC VIDEO
TAKOMA PARK, Md. - Police shot and killed a suspected bank robber trying to flee a suburban Washington bank with a female hostage Friday after he stumbled in a pile of snow from this week's storm and the woman broke free, authorities said.
Montgomery County Police Assistant Chief Drew Tracy said the suspect had pistol-whipped a customer who saw him take a handgun from his pocket while standing in line at a Capital One Bank and then tried to stop him. The bank is at New Hampshire Avenue and University Boulevard.
Police said the suspect then placed a 4-inch by 5-inch hoax bomb -- a sponge wrapped in foil and duct tape with copper wires sticking out of it -- by a teller station and walked behind the counter. Police arrived a minute later and he went behind bulletproof glass, where he kept hostages at gunpoint, Tracy said.
GO HERE to read more.
16th Homicide In Prince George's County
Prince George's County, Md., recorded its 16th homicide of the year early Saturday morning.
Officers found a person suffering trauma to the body. Not other information is available.
Source
Yaalon: Hizbullah Operating In Gaza
Hizbullah agents have infiltrated Gaza and are teaching local terrorist groups more advanced tactics, Minister of Strategic Affairs Moshe Yaalon warned Thursday. The Lebanon-based terrorist group even has a special unit that deals with terrorists in Gaza, Judea and Samaria, he said.
Yaalon, a former IDF Chief of Staff, said Hizbullah agents could enter Gaza “like the Iranian rockets are coming to Gaza.” Rockets are smuggled into Gaza from Egypt via a system of tunnels under the border.
Terrorists can move from Lebanon to Sudan, then to Egypt, and from there to Gaza, he said.
Hamas denied Hizbullah involvement in Gaza. “All the factions in Gaza are Palestinians,” said spokesman Fawzi Barhoum.
More from INN
Yaalon, a former IDF Chief of Staff, said Hizbullah agents could enter Gaza “like the Iranian rockets are coming to Gaza.” Rockets are smuggled into Gaza from Egypt via a system of tunnels under the border.
Terrorists can move from Lebanon to Sudan, then to Egypt, and from there to Gaza, he said.
Hamas denied Hizbullah involvement in Gaza. “All the factions in Gaza are Palestinians,” said spokesman Fawzi Barhoum.
More from INN
Bedouin Terrorists Attempt Takeover Of Northern Sinai, 12 Dead
Twelve Bedouin terrorists and Egyptian security forces were killed south of Gaza where Bedouin tried to take control Saturday of territory that serves for smuggling. Egypt has sent more forces into the region and has closed the Rafiah border.
Armed terrorists attacked Egyptian police in Rafiah, which straddles the border between Gaza and Egypt, and they torched at least one police station, according to the Bethlehem-based Ma'an news agency.
Part of the barrier was destroyed, but Hamas reportedly repaired the breach to prevent a mass exodus of Gaza Arabs.
Bedouin tribes had taken advantage of a pullback of Egyptian police and army forces, which the Mubarak government brought closer to Cairo and the Suez areas to suppress rallies calling for the resignation of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. Rocket-propelled grenades and rifle shots accompanied the attempted takeover.
The northern Sinai Peninsula is the center of smuggling of drugs, terrorists, weapons into Gaza, and is also a passage area for Africans seeking better economic conditions in Israel. Egypt has failed to stop the smuggling operations, despite a promise by the United States to install monitoring devices as an inducement for Israel to agree to a ceasefire in the three-week Operation Cast Lead counterterrorist campaign two years ago.
More here
Armed terrorists attacked Egyptian police in Rafiah, which straddles the border between Gaza and Egypt, and they torched at least one police station, according to the Bethlehem-based Ma'an news agency.
Part of the barrier was destroyed, but Hamas reportedly repaired the breach to prevent a mass exodus of Gaza Arabs.
Bedouin tribes had taken advantage of a pullback of Egyptian police and army forces, which the Mubarak government brought closer to Cairo and the Suez areas to suppress rallies calling for the resignation of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. Rocket-propelled grenades and rifle shots accompanied the attempted takeover.
The northern Sinai Peninsula is the center of smuggling of drugs, terrorists, weapons into Gaza, and is also a passage area for Africans seeking better economic conditions in Israel. Egypt has failed to stop the smuggling operations, despite a promise by the United States to install monitoring devices as an inducement for Israel to agree to a ceasefire in the three-week Operation Cast Lead counterterrorist campaign two years ago.
More here
Exodus In Egypt: US Suggests Fleeing As Soon As Possible
The U.S. embassy in Cairo has told its citizens to consider leaving the country as soon as possible and has warned against traveling in the country.
Approximately 90,000 Americans are estimated to live, work and study in Egypt, and several companies have told their employees’ families to leave.
The warning is more severe than the previous statement to citizens to avoid non-essential travel in Egypt.
Dozens of wealthy Egyptians beat the rush Saturday night and fled on private planes as the flames of rebellion continued to burn. Relative quiet has returned to the streets, but thousands of protesters continued to appear Sunday morning to call for the resignation of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.
Saudi Arabia, Lebanon and Jordan also are organizing flights to evacuate their citizens, while Israel was the first to do so. Relatives of diplomats and dozens of tourists were flown home, but senior diplomats remain in Cairo, although their offices are closed.
In the United States, sympathizers with the opposition movement rallied Saturday outside the United Nations and in Chicago, Atlanta, Seattle, San Francisco and Los Angeles.
The protesters also turned their wrath on U.S. President Barack Obama, whom they accused of being too mild in his comments Saturday night that President Mubarak should guarantee freedom of expression to opposition activists and to halt the violence that has claimed more than 100 deaths.
“You cannot be neutral between right and wrong,” Mahmoud Hamad, an assistant professor of politics at Drake University in Des Moines, told the Chicago newspaper. “You cannot be neutral between a dictatorship and freedom.”
More from INN
Approximately 90,000 Americans are estimated to live, work and study in Egypt, and several companies have told their employees’ families to leave.
The warning is more severe than the previous statement to citizens to avoid non-essential travel in Egypt.
Dozens of wealthy Egyptians beat the rush Saturday night and fled on private planes as the flames of rebellion continued to burn. Relative quiet has returned to the streets, but thousands of protesters continued to appear Sunday morning to call for the resignation of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.
Saudi Arabia, Lebanon and Jordan also are organizing flights to evacuate their citizens, while Israel was the first to do so. Relatives of diplomats and dozens of tourists were flown home, but senior diplomats remain in Cairo, although their offices are closed.
In the United States, sympathizers with the opposition movement rallied Saturday outside the United Nations and in Chicago, Atlanta, Seattle, San Francisco and Los Angeles.
The protesters also turned their wrath on U.S. President Barack Obama, whom they accused of being too mild in his comments Saturday night that President Mubarak should guarantee freedom of expression to opposition activists and to halt the violence that has claimed more than 100 deaths.
“You cannot be neutral between right and wrong,” Mahmoud Hamad, an assistant professor of politics at Drake University in Des Moines, told the Chicago newspaper. “You cannot be neutral between a dictatorship and freedom.”
More from INN
Why Hawaii Now Wants To Sell 'Birth Certificate'
Despite national press reports to the contrary, the Hawaii state legislature has no intention of releasing Barack Obama's long-form, hospital-generated birth certificate – not even for $100.
By introducing HB1116 into the Hawaii legislature last week, five Democrats are giving the impression they are willing to make Obama's long-form, hospital-generated birth certificate available to the public for a fee.
Instead, the plan is for the state of Hawaii to create a completely new document that will be carefully designed to carry the seal of the state of Hawaii without ever having to certify details of parentage and birthplace.
Hawaii's Revised Statute HRS338 restricts making public birth certificates and other vital records available only to those who have a "direct and tangible interest"-- namely the person applying for the certified birth certificate copy, a member of the immediate family, or others with a legal interest such as an adoptive parent or a legal guardian.
Now, the language of HB1116 attempts to skirt these restrictions by modifying Hawaii law such that for a fee of $100, the Hawaii Department of Health will release "a copy of a birth record" for those HB1116 defines as "persons of prominence."
In a separate development, it is now confirmed Dr. Neal Palafox did not withdraw his nomination as the new director of Hawaii's Department of Health, as was initially reported from Hawaii.
By introducing HB1116 into the Hawaii legislature last week, five Democrats are giving the impression they are willing to make Obama's long-form, hospital-generated birth certificate available to the public for a fee.
Instead, the plan is for the state of Hawaii to create a completely new document that will be carefully designed to carry the seal of the state of Hawaii without ever having to certify details of parentage and birthplace.
Hawaii's Revised Statute HRS338 restricts making public birth certificates and other vital records available only to those who have a "direct and tangible interest"-- namely the person applying for the certified birth certificate copy, a member of the immediate family, or others with a legal interest such as an adoptive parent or a legal guardian.
Now, the language of HB1116 attempts to skirt these restrictions by modifying Hawaii law such that for a fee of $100, the Hawaii Department of Health will release "a copy of a birth record" for those HB1116 defines as "persons of prominence."
In a separate development, it is now confirmed Dr. Neal Palafox did not withdraw his nomination as the new director of Hawaii's Department of Health, as was initially reported from Hawaii.
Instead, the governor's staff has now revealed that Gov. Neil Abercrombie asked Palafox to withdraw.
"While the governor's staff would not discuss the reasons or circumstances surrounding the sudden departure, Donalyn Dela Cruz, the governor's spokeswoman, confirmed last night that it was the governor and not Palafox who asked for the withdrawal," Derrick DePledge reported in the Honolulu Star Advertiser Friday.
Also cast in doubt as a possible "cover story" was the initial allegation Palafox had withdrawn his nomination because he was involved in a fraud investigation.
"He did not volunteer it on his own,” Brook Hart, Palafox's attorney, told the Star Advertiser. "He had no idea why the governor asked him to resign. But he did because the governor asked him to do so."
Hart also told the newspaper that Palafox has no information about any fraud investigation.
WHO LOST EGYPT?
By DICK MORRIS
Published on DickMorris.com <http://reports.dickmorris.com/t/2020179/7305257/9873/0/> on January 29, 2011
In the 1950s, the accusation "who lost China" resonated throughout American politics and led to the defeat of the Democratic Party in the presidential elections of 1952. Unless President Obama reverses field and strongly opposes letting the Muslim brotherhood take over Egypt, he will be hit with the modern equivalent of the 1952 question: Who Lost Egypt?
The Iranian government is waiting for Egypt to fall into its lap. The Muslim Brotherhood, dominated by Iranian Islamic fundamentalism, will doubtless emerge as the winner should the government of Egypt fall. The Obama Administration, in failing to throw its weight against an Islamic takeover, is guilty of the same mistake that led President Carter to fail to support the Shah, opening the door for the Ayatollah Khomeini to take over Iran.
The United States has enormous leverage in Egypt - far more than it had in Iran. We provide Egypt with upwards of $2 billion a year in foreign aid under the provisos of the Camp David Accords orchestrated by Carter. The Egyptian military, in particular, receives $1.3 billion of this money. The United States, as the pay master, needs to send a signal to the military that it will be supportive of its efforts to keep Egypt out of the hands of the Islamic fundamentalists. Instead, Obama has put our military aid to Egypt "under review" to pressure Mubarak to mute his response to the demonstrators and has given top priority to "preventing the loss of human life."
President Obama should say that Egypt has always been a friend of the United States. He should point out that it was the first Arab country to make peace with Israel. He should recall that President Sadat, who signed the peace accords, paid for doing so with his life and that President Mubarak has carried on in his footsteps. He should condemn the efforts of the Muslim Brotherhood extremists to take over the country and indicate that America stands by her longtime ally. He should address the need for reform and urge Mubarak to enact needed changes. But his emphasis should be on standing with our ally.
The return of Nobel laureate Dr. Mohamed ElBaradei, the former head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has to Egypt as the presumptive heir to Mubarak tells us where this revolution is headed. Carolyn Glick, a columnist for the Jerusalem Post, explains how dangerous ElBaradei is. "As IAEA head," she writes, "Elbaradei shielded Iran's nuclear weapons program from the Security Council. He [has] continued to lobby against significant UN Security Council sanctions or other actions against Iran...Last week, he dismissed the threat of a nuclear armed Iran [saying] 'there is a lot of hype in this debate'."
As for the Muslim Brotherhood, Glick notes that "it forms the largest and best organized opposition to the Mubarak regime and [is] the progenitor of Hamas and al Qaidi. It seeks Egypt's transformation into an Islamic regime that will stand at the forefront of the global jihad."
Now is the time for Republicans and conservatives to start asking the question: Who is losing Egypt? We need to debunk the starry eyed idealistic yearning for reform and the fantasy that a liberal democracy will come from these demonstrations. It won't. Iranian domination will.
Egypt, with 80 million people, is the largest country in the Middle East or North Africa. Combined with Iran's 75 million (the second largest) they have 155 million people. By contrast the entire rest of the region -- Algeria, Morocco, Libya, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Syria, Tunisia, Jordan, UAE, Lebanon, Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar combined-- have only 200 million.
We must not let the two most populous and powerful nations in the region fall under the sway of Muslim extremism, the one through the weakness of Jimmy Carter and the other through the weakness of Barack Obama.
Published on DickMorris.com <http://reports.dickmorris.com/t/2020179/7305257/9873/0/> on January 29, 2011
In the 1950s, the accusation "who lost China" resonated throughout American politics and led to the defeat of the Democratic Party in the presidential elections of 1952. Unless President Obama reverses field and strongly opposes letting the Muslim brotherhood take over Egypt, he will be hit with the modern equivalent of the 1952 question: Who Lost Egypt?
The Iranian government is waiting for Egypt to fall into its lap. The Muslim Brotherhood, dominated by Iranian Islamic fundamentalism, will doubtless emerge as the winner should the government of Egypt fall. The Obama Administration, in failing to throw its weight against an Islamic takeover, is guilty of the same mistake that led President Carter to fail to support the Shah, opening the door for the Ayatollah Khomeini to take over Iran.
The United States has enormous leverage in Egypt - far more than it had in Iran. We provide Egypt with upwards of $2 billion a year in foreign aid under the provisos of the Camp David Accords orchestrated by Carter. The Egyptian military, in particular, receives $1.3 billion of this money. The United States, as the pay master, needs to send a signal to the military that it will be supportive of its efforts to keep Egypt out of the hands of the Islamic fundamentalists. Instead, Obama has put our military aid to Egypt "under review" to pressure Mubarak to mute his response to the demonstrators and has given top priority to "preventing the loss of human life."
President Obama should say that Egypt has always been a friend of the United States. He should point out that it was the first Arab country to make peace with Israel. He should recall that President Sadat, who signed the peace accords, paid for doing so with his life and that President Mubarak has carried on in his footsteps. He should condemn the efforts of the Muslim Brotherhood extremists to take over the country and indicate that America stands by her longtime ally. He should address the need for reform and urge Mubarak to enact needed changes. But his emphasis should be on standing with our ally.
The return of Nobel laureate Dr. Mohamed ElBaradei, the former head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has to Egypt as the presumptive heir to Mubarak tells us where this revolution is headed. Carolyn Glick, a columnist for the Jerusalem Post, explains how dangerous ElBaradei is. "As IAEA head," she writes, "Elbaradei shielded Iran's nuclear weapons program from the Security Council. He [has] continued to lobby against significant UN Security Council sanctions or other actions against Iran...Last week, he dismissed the threat of a nuclear armed Iran [saying] 'there is a lot of hype in this debate'."
As for the Muslim Brotherhood, Glick notes that "it forms the largest and best organized opposition to the Mubarak regime and [is] the progenitor of Hamas and al Qaidi. It seeks Egypt's transformation into an Islamic regime that will stand at the forefront of the global jihad."
Now is the time for Republicans and conservatives to start asking the question: Who is losing Egypt? We need to debunk the starry eyed idealistic yearning for reform and the fantasy that a liberal democracy will come from these demonstrations. It won't. Iranian domination will.
Egypt, with 80 million people, is the largest country in the Middle East or North Africa. Combined with Iran's 75 million (the second largest) they have 155 million people. By contrast the entire rest of the region -- Algeria, Morocco, Libya, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Syria, Tunisia, Jordan, UAE, Lebanon, Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar combined-- have only 200 million.
We must not let the two most populous and powerful nations in the region fall under the sway of Muslim extremism, the one through the weakness of Jimmy Carter and the other through the weakness of Barack Obama.
Muir Boda Campaign Message
Crime is down, calls for service up
As Mayor Ireton has pointed out, Part One crime is down in Salisbury and that is a good thing. Especially given the fact we had an interim Police Chief for most of the year in Ivan Barkley, who did an excellent job stepping up to the plate. What is interesting is the fact that calls for service were up 9.8% in 2010.
Muir W. Boda
So far in January of 2011 SPD has over 3,500 calls for service and that is trending down from last January, which saw 4,600 calls for service. There are several things to take into consideration when crunching all these numbers. It does not include when someone files charges at the commissioners office. It does not include arrests made by other agencies in the city, including Salisbury University Police, whose 2010 statistics are not yet available.
When analyzing the gradual rise in crime over the past 10 years, we must not be satisfied until we can make drastic reductions. The current level of criminal activity is unacceptable and looking at SPD’s 10 year comparison will tell that story.
What we must understand is that we are talking about people's lives, not numbers. Many are living in fear from what they see, hear and experience and that lingers much longer than the drop in crime rates. It will take time to change those perceptions and feelings. Working together, not against each other is the key.
Many of us are looking forward to what Mayor Ireton will put forth in the next phase of Safe Streets. If elected, I pledge to work with Mayor Ireton on his initiatives. We may not always agree on the details but we do agree that we want our Police Department to have the tools and direction they require as they combat crime in our city.
In the end, we all want Salisbury to be a better place to live, work and play for our family, friends and our future generations.
Muir W. Boda
Candidate for Salisbury City Council
(410)603-3347
Authority Muir Boda for Salisbury, Deborah Anderson Treasurer
Congressional Review Sought Of 'Forced Unionization'
A report to be published next month by the Capital Research Center in Washington will call on Congress to investigate what it describes as the "forced unionization" of workers in the United States, and how "Big Brother" government is playing a role.
The report was assembled by Barbara Comstock, a former counsel for the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and founder of Comstock Strategies, which deals with labor union issues.
A copy was provided to WND in advance of publication by the CRC.
"In November 2010, Delta Air Lines Flight Attendants voted against unionization. This was the third time that the employees have defeated the Association of Flight Attendants in the past decade," the report says. "Yet the union continues to challenge the votes and the will of the Delta employees and insists on holding up the integration of the merged company (Delta Air Lines and Northwest merged in 2008)."
It continues, "If they can't get a union by the voting process, the unions are demonstrating that they will use their political muscle to push for unionization by regulation and bureaucratic fiat."
The report cites the votes in 2002 and 2008 that defeated union efforts to sign up 13,000 dues-paying members.
"In 2010 they tried again, and there was much more at stake. By this time, non-union Delta Airlines had merged with union Northwest Airlines. By calling for the election, AFA stood not only to gain those 13,000 new members, but if the union lost, it would have to relinquish 7,000 pre-merger Northwest flight attendants that it had represented," the report said.
Voters, again, handed the union a defeat.
But, Comstock writes, all was not lost even yet for organizers.
"The union now seeks back door help from the Obama administration to force unionization on the flight attendants by using an obscure government board to overturn the votes and the will of the employees and order a new election," the report said. "We are essentially living in a world where the unions are saying, 'It's not over until we say it's over.'
More
The report was assembled by Barbara Comstock, a former counsel for the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and founder of Comstock Strategies, which deals with labor union issues.
A copy was provided to WND in advance of publication by the CRC.
"In November 2010, Delta Air Lines Flight Attendants voted against unionization. This was the third time that the employees have defeated the Association of Flight Attendants in the past decade," the report says. "Yet the union continues to challenge the votes and the will of the Delta employees and insists on holding up the integration of the merged company (Delta Air Lines and Northwest merged in 2008)."
It continues, "If they can't get a union by the voting process, the unions are demonstrating that they will use their political muscle to push for unionization by regulation and bureaucratic fiat."
The report cites the votes in 2002 and 2008 that defeated union efforts to sign up 13,000 dues-paying members.
"In 2010 they tried again, and there was much more at stake. By this time, non-union Delta Airlines had merged with union Northwest Airlines. By calling for the election, AFA stood not only to gain those 13,000 new members, but if the union lost, it would have to relinquish 7,000 pre-merger Northwest flight attendants that it had represented," the report said.
Voters, again, handed the union a defeat.
But, Comstock writes, all was not lost even yet for organizers.
"The union now seeks back door help from the Obama administration to force unionization on the flight attendants by using an obscure government board to overturn the votes and the will of the employees and order a new election," the report said. "We are essentially living in a world where the unions are saying, 'It's not over until we say it's over.'
More
Thousands In Jordan Protest, Demand PM Step Down
Thousands of Jordanian opposition supporters took to the streets Friday in the country's capital demanding the prime minister step down and venting their anger at rising prices, inflation and unemployment.
It was the third consecutive Friday of protests following Muslim prayers in Jordan, inspired by the unrest in Tunisia and rallies in Egypt demanding the downfall of the country's longtime president.
About 3,500 opposition activists from Jordan's main Islamist opposition group, trade unions and leftist organizations gathered in Amman's downtown, waving colorful banners reading: "Send the corrupt guys to court."
The crowd denounced Jordanian Prime Minister Samir Rifai's unpopular policies. Many shouted: "Rifai go away, prices are on fire and so are the Jordanians."
Another 2,500 people also took to the streets in six other cities across the country after the noon prayers. Those protests also called for Rifai's ouster.
King Abdullah II has promised some reforms, particularly on a controversial election law. But many believe it's unlikely he will bow to demands for popular election of the prime minister and Cabinet officials, traditionally appointed by the king.
Rifai also announced a $550 million package of new subsidies in the last two weeks for fuel and staple products like rice, sugar, livestock and liquefied gas used for heating and cooking. It also includes a raise for civil servants and security personnel.
Still, Jordan's economy struggles, weighed down by a record deficit of $2 billion this year. Inflation has also risen by 1.5 percent to 6.1 percent just last month, unemployment and poverty are rampant — estimated at 12 and 25 percent respectively.
Members of the Islamic Action Front, the political wing of the powerful Muslim Brotherhood and Jordan's largest opposition party, swelled the ranks of the demonstrators, massing outside the al-Husseini mosque in Amman and filling the downtown streets with their prayer lines.
As they broke into a procession, the demonstrators chanted, "In the name of God, the government must change" and the Muslim holy book "Koran is our constitution, jihad is our path."
More from JPost
It was the third consecutive Friday of protests following Muslim prayers in Jordan, inspired by the unrest in Tunisia and rallies in Egypt demanding the downfall of the country's longtime president.
About 3,500 opposition activists from Jordan's main Islamist opposition group, trade unions and leftist organizations gathered in Amman's downtown, waving colorful banners reading: "Send the corrupt guys to court."
The crowd denounced Jordanian Prime Minister Samir Rifai's unpopular policies. Many shouted: "Rifai go away, prices are on fire and so are the Jordanians."
Another 2,500 people also took to the streets in six other cities across the country after the noon prayers. Those protests also called for Rifai's ouster.
King Abdullah II has promised some reforms, particularly on a controversial election law. But many believe it's unlikely he will bow to demands for popular election of the prime minister and Cabinet officials, traditionally appointed by the king.
Rifai also announced a $550 million package of new subsidies in the last two weeks for fuel and staple products like rice, sugar, livestock and liquefied gas used for heating and cooking. It also includes a raise for civil servants and security personnel.
Still, Jordan's economy struggles, weighed down by a record deficit of $2 billion this year. Inflation has also risen by 1.5 percent to 6.1 percent just last month, unemployment and poverty are rampant — estimated at 12 and 25 percent respectively.
Members of the Islamic Action Front, the political wing of the powerful Muslim Brotherhood and Jordan's largest opposition party, swelled the ranks of the demonstrators, massing outside the al-Husseini mosque in Amman and filling the downtown streets with their prayer lines.
As they broke into a procession, the demonstrators chanted, "In the name of God, the government must change" and the Muslim holy book "Koran is our constitution, jihad is our path."
More from JPost
Islamists Advancing On Russian Territory
Reports out of Russia appear to be confirming that the suicide bomber in Monday's attack at Domodedovo airport, which killed 35 and injured nearly 200, may have been a convert to Islam on jihad, according to a Joseph Farah's G2 Bulletin.
Authorities haven't revealed all details of the attacker, but analysts now are raising concerns that the explosion may have been an opening shot by al-Qaida in a war over central Asian territory, including parts of Russia, it wants as its own.
Militants in the northern part of Afghanistan and central Asia appear to be trying to convince Russia that they should be in control of its predominantly Islamic southern tier provinces of Chechnya, Ingushetica, Dagestan and Kabardino-Balkaria.
Analysts even wonder if the goal is for those regions to become "separate" from Russia.
Read more at WND
Authorities haven't revealed all details of the attacker, but analysts now are raising concerns that the explosion may have been an opening shot by al-Qaida in a war over central Asian territory, including parts of Russia, it wants as its own.
Militants in the northern part of Afghanistan and central Asia appear to be trying to convince Russia that they should be in control of its predominantly Islamic southern tier provinces of Chechnya, Ingushetica, Dagestan and Kabardino-Balkaria.
Analysts even wonder if the goal is for those regions to become "separate" from Russia.
Read more at WND
With Pence Out, Republican Presidential Field Open
Conservative insiders were not surprised by Indiana Republican Mike Pence’s decision not to run for president in 2012, but all agree his bowing out leaves the GOP nomination — in the phrase used again and again — “wide open.”
One source familiar with the effort to recruit Pence tells National Review Online that while Pence “could have united the conservative movement,” his departure leaves a Republican field that “is never going to be as wide-open again.”
“In six years or ten years it’s going to be an incredibly full field: The 2012 field is the Washington Nationals. Subsequent fields will be the 1927 New York Yankees,” the source says.
“The question is: Does this cause people to rethink? Does this make Jim DeMint rethink? Does anyone who feels disappointed in the current field rethink? It’s never been easier or cheaper to communicate with millions of people.”
While ruling himself out, Sen. Jim DeMint (R., S.C.) agreed, telling NRO that with the congressman gone as a paragon of “pro-growth, limited-government” conservatism, “there will be a lot of surprises” in terms of who jumps into the race.
According to sources close to Pence with knowledge of Indiana politics, a number of factors influenced the congressman’s decision to forgo a presidential run and instead turn his attention toward a possible gubernatorial run.
One source who met with Pence several times over the last few months tells NRO the conservative Hoosier “was extremely torn while he deliberated.” Another who met with Pence feels his heart was never completely in a bid for president.
Someone close to Pence explains that “the people closest to him, the friends and people he knew best from Indiana, wanted to see him come back to Indiana.” By contrast, “the support for him to run nationally was in large part from leaders of the national conservative movement” — who perhaps didn’t have the same sway as his longtime supporters.
Pence’s young family — he has three school-aged children — were also a factor in his decision, according to this source.
Then there was the difficult timing and the uncertainty of a presidential run. Because of his relatively low name recognition, the window for Pence to begin a blitz on early battleground states was closing rapidly. He would have had to kick into high campaign gear quickly — and without knowing whether Sarah Palin or other conservatives might jump into the race and overshadow him in his quest for the Tea Party vote.
Compared with all that, a run for governor seems simple. With the announcements that neither former senator Evan Bayh (D.) nor current lieutenant governor Becky Skillman (R.) would run to succeed Mitch Daniels, Pence, 51, became easily the most well-known, and well-liked, of potential candidates.
Indeed, the Republican Governors Association has been aggressively recruiting Pence to hold the Indiana executive mansion. RGA head Gov. Rick Perry of Texas and vice chairman Gov. Bob McDonnell of Virginia both put in calls to Pence urging a run.
Read more here
One source familiar with the effort to recruit Pence tells National Review Online that while Pence “could have united the conservative movement,” his departure leaves a Republican field that “is never going to be as wide-open again.”
“In six years or ten years it’s going to be an incredibly full field: The 2012 field is the Washington Nationals. Subsequent fields will be the 1927 New York Yankees,” the source says.
“The question is: Does this cause people to rethink? Does this make Jim DeMint rethink? Does anyone who feels disappointed in the current field rethink? It’s never been easier or cheaper to communicate with millions of people.”
While ruling himself out, Sen. Jim DeMint (R., S.C.) agreed, telling NRO that with the congressman gone as a paragon of “pro-growth, limited-government” conservatism, “there will be a lot of surprises” in terms of who jumps into the race.
According to sources close to Pence with knowledge of Indiana politics, a number of factors influenced the congressman’s decision to forgo a presidential run and instead turn his attention toward a possible gubernatorial run.
One source who met with Pence several times over the last few months tells NRO the conservative Hoosier “was extremely torn while he deliberated.” Another who met with Pence feels his heart was never completely in a bid for president.
Someone close to Pence explains that “the people closest to him, the friends and people he knew best from Indiana, wanted to see him come back to Indiana.” By contrast, “the support for him to run nationally was in large part from leaders of the national conservative movement” — who perhaps didn’t have the same sway as his longtime supporters.
Pence’s young family — he has three school-aged children — were also a factor in his decision, according to this source.
Then there was the difficult timing and the uncertainty of a presidential run. Because of his relatively low name recognition, the window for Pence to begin a blitz on early battleground states was closing rapidly. He would have had to kick into high campaign gear quickly — and without knowing whether Sarah Palin or other conservatives might jump into the race and overshadow him in his quest for the Tea Party vote.
Compared with all that, a run for governor seems simple. With the announcements that neither former senator Evan Bayh (D.) nor current lieutenant governor Becky Skillman (R.) would run to succeed Mitch Daniels, Pence, 51, became easily the most well-known, and well-liked, of potential candidates.
Indeed, the Republican Governors Association has been aggressively recruiting Pence to hold the Indiana executive mansion. RGA head Gov. Rick Perry of Texas and vice chairman Gov. Bob McDonnell of Virginia both put in calls to Pence urging a run.
Read more here
Israel Fears Radical Takeover In Egypt
The security official made it clear that Israel’s peace treaty with Egypt constitutes an important strategic asset, “which enables the IDF to focus on other theaters.” The defense source said that the IDF would have to dedicate major resources in order to devote any attention to the Egyptian front as well.
Defense officials are closely monitoring developments in Israel’s southern neighbor, considered the “heart of the Arab world.” The immediate Israeli concern has to do with possible developments on the Egypt-Gaza border, where Egyptian forces have been working intensely as of late to curb weapons smuggling. According to security officials, the riots currently raging across Egypt may have negative implications on its Gaza border.
Another concern voiced within Israel’s defense establishment has to do with Egypt’s advanced army, which includes thousands of tanks, hundreds of fighter jets, and dozens of vessels.
“This is a Western army in every way and it enjoys US aid,” one security official said. “There is no doubt that should we see an extremist regime over there controlling such army, this will place Israel in a wholly different position.”
“There is no doubt that in the coming days, many eyes have to be monitoring Egypt. Later we’ll make all the calculations as to the implications,” the official said.
More here
ACLU, Feds Coordinated Attack On Arizona
A public interest organization that uncovers and prosecutes corruption in government said it has confirmed from Department of Justice documents that the federal agency under Barack Obama's command worked hand-in-hand with the American Civil Liberties Union to attack Arizona over its tough new immigration law.
That law, SB 1070, now is being challenged before the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. It created applause from secure borders advocates and a furor among a wide range of immigrant rights advocacy organizations last year when state officials adopted plans to let state law enforcement officials crack down on illegal aliens who already are violating federal law.
Judicial Watch, the corruption-fighting Washington organization, earlier had submitted a filing in the court case on behalf of Arizona state Sen. Russell Pearce, the author of the state's SB 1070, asking the appeals court to reverse a preliminary injunction granted by a district court in July, just as the law was about to take effect.
That injunction has not yet been lifted.
The district court judge suspended four of SB 1070's key provisions as the Obama administration called the plan racist even though it specifically prohibits racial profiling.
Now Judicial Watch has posted online a file of nearly 100 pages of documents it obtained from the government, revealing that the DOJ "worked hand-in-hand with the American Civil Liberties Union."
The documents, obtained through the Federal Freedom of Information Act, revealed that there was an exchange of "touching base" e-mails between Lucas Guttentag, chief of the ACLU's Immigrants' Rights Project, and Edwin Kneedler, deputy solicitor general under the Obama administration's Department of Justice.
Read more here
That law, SB 1070, now is being challenged before the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. It created applause from secure borders advocates and a furor among a wide range of immigrant rights advocacy organizations last year when state officials adopted plans to let state law enforcement officials crack down on illegal aliens who already are violating federal law.
Judicial Watch, the corruption-fighting Washington organization, earlier had submitted a filing in the court case on behalf of Arizona state Sen. Russell Pearce, the author of the state's SB 1070, asking the appeals court to reverse a preliminary injunction granted by a district court in July, just as the law was about to take effect.
That injunction has not yet been lifted.
The district court judge suspended four of SB 1070's key provisions as the Obama administration called the plan racist even though it specifically prohibits racial profiling.
Now Judicial Watch has posted online a file of nearly 100 pages of documents it obtained from the government, revealing that the DOJ "worked hand-in-hand with the American Civil Liberties Union."
The documents, obtained through the Federal Freedom of Information Act, revealed that there was an exchange of "touching base" e-mails between Lucas Guttentag, chief of the ACLU's Immigrants' Rights Project, and Edwin Kneedler, deputy solicitor general under the Obama administration's Department of Justice.
Read more here
Suicide Bomber Blown Up By Spam Text Message
A "Black Widow" suicide bomber planned a terrorist attack in central Moscow on New Year's Eve but was killed when an unexpected text message set off her bomb too early, according to Russian security sources.
The unnamed woman, who is thought to be part of the same group that struck Moscow's Domodedovo airport on Monday, intended to detonate a suicide belt near Red Square on New Year's Eve in an attack that could have killed hundreds.
Security sources believe a message from her mobile phone operator wishing her a happy new year received just hours before the planned attack triggered her suicide belt, killing her at a safe house.
Islamist terrorists in Russia often use mobile phones as detonators. The bomber's handler, who is usually watching their charge, sends the bomber a text message in order to set off his or her explosive belt at the moment when it is thought they can inflict maximum casualties.
More here
The unnamed woman, who is thought to be part of the same group that struck Moscow's Domodedovo airport on Monday, intended to detonate a suicide belt near Red Square on New Year's Eve in an attack that could have killed hundreds.
Security sources believe a message from her mobile phone operator wishing her a happy new year received just hours before the planned attack triggered her suicide belt, killing her at a safe house.
Islamist terrorists in Russia often use mobile phones as detonators. The bomber's handler, who is usually watching their charge, sends the bomber a text message in order to set off his or her explosive belt at the moment when it is thought they can inflict maximum casualties.
More here
White House Crisis Team Meets On Egyptian Unrest
The White House crisis response team convened for more than two hours on Saturday morning to discuss and strategize on the crisis in Egypt.
Tens of thousands continued to protest on Saturday, despite warnings from President Hosni Mubarak and a pledge to enact reforms.
Those present at the White House meeting included Vice President Biden, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen, National Security Adviser Tom Donilon, Chief of Staff William Daley, chief counterterrorism adviser John Brennan, U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice, CIA Director Leon Panetta and Director of National Intelligence James Clapper.
President Obama went to his daughter's basketball game on Saturday morning.
More here
Tens of thousands continued to protest on Saturday, despite warnings from President Hosni Mubarak and a pledge to enact reforms.
Those present at the White House meeting included Vice President Biden, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen, National Security Adviser Tom Donilon, Chief of Staff William Daley, chief counterterrorism adviser John Brennan, U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice, CIA Director Leon Panetta and Director of National Intelligence James Clapper.
President Obama went to his daughter's basketball game on Saturday morning.
More here
Groundhog Day Storm May Affect More Than 100 Million People
The latest indications continue to point toward a large storm forming amidst a building temperature contrast over the middle of the nation. Precipitation and strong cold air/warm air circulation around that storm will affect many millions of people from the interior West to the Atlantic Coast as next week progresses.
We are calling this system the Groundhog Day storm, and it will likely severely impact ground travel, and lead to canceled flights, school delays and closures. The storm is not only a concern for Wednesday, but for much of the week as the system moves along.
Depending on the storm's configuration as it heads to the eastern half of the nation, a zone of heavy snow and ice may form from parts of the Ohio Valley to the mid-South and mid-Atlantic.
Depending on the track of the storm and how quickly it re-forms along the Atlantic Coast, heavy snow could blast part of the Great Lakes and much of the Northeast.
Some benefits from the storm would be more needed rain in the Deep South, moisture for the southern Plains, and the stirring out of fog over parts of the interior West.
How nasty the storm gets and the primary form of precipitation for the Northeast, Midwest, interior South, and Plains depend on the exact track of the storm, still days away.
We will be watching.
Accuweather
SHOREBIRDS COACHING STAFF SET FOR 2011 SEASON
Minor, Mattes Return; Jose Hernandez added
Salisbury, Md. – In conjunction with the Baltimore Orioles, the Delmarva Shorebirds are pleased to announce the coaching staff for the 2011 season. Ryan Minor will return for his second season as manager and his fourth season on the coaching staff. Troy Mattes is back for his second season as the Shorebirds pitching coach and his fifth in the Orioles system. The lone newcomer to the staff is 15-year MLB veteran Jose Hernandez, who takes over for Mike Devereaux as the field coach.
The three coaches that will guide the Shorebirds in 2011 have a total of 20 years of Major League Baseball experience combined. In addition, Minor (’97) and Mattes (’96) both played for the Shorebirds during the early years of the franchise.
“We are excited to have Minor and Mattes back because of how well connected they are to the history of the club and the addition of Jose Hernandez is fantastic,” said Shorebirds general manager Chris Bitters. “The wealth of knowledge that all three provide will be a huge bonus for our players and fans this year.”
Minor, 37, is back for his second season as the manager of the Shorebirds. He joined the Shorebirds staff in 2008 as the hitting coach and served two seasons in that role. In 2010, Minor was promoted to manager of the Shorebirds and led the club to a 59-81 record. Since 2008, Minor has tutored many Orioles prospects on Delmarva including: Matt Angle, Ryan Adams, Joe Mahoney, Kieron Pope and more.
After being drafted in the 33rd round of the 1996 draft by the Orioles, Minor played a starrring role on the Delmarva Shorebirds in 1997, who finished 77-65. The 77 wins by Minor’s ‘97 Shorebirds team ranks fourth in franchise history. Then 23-years old, Minor put together one of the greatest single seasons in the history of the franchise, batting .307 with 24 home runs and 97 RBIs. He also notched 150 hits and 42 doubles.
Minor catapulted up through the minor leagues and was on the Baltimore Orioles roster by the 1998 season. In three seasons with the Orioles (1998-2000), Minor played in 87 games and hit three home runs. His final season in the major leagues, 2001, was spent with the Montreal Expos. In a single-season high 55 games, he hit two home runs and drove in 13. Minor is best remembered for the September 20, 1998 night when he replaced Cal Ripken, Jr. and the consecutive games played streak came to a close at 2,632.
Minor was also a gifted basketball player at the University of Oklahoma. He ranks sixth all-time at OU in points scored with 1,946 and he was named the Big Eight Player of the Year following the 1994-95 season. Minor was selected in the second round (32nd pick) of the 1996 NBA draft by the Philadelphia 76ers.
Mattes, 36, returns for his second season as the Shorebirds pitching coach and his fifth overall as a pitching coach in the Orioles minor league system. Under Mattes’ watch, six different Shorebirds pitchers earned promotions to Frederick last season. Mattes helped young prospects Jesse Beal and Bobby Bundy blossom into future stars. Beal was named a SAL All-Star and posted seven wins while Bundy flurished after the all-star break, posting a 3.45 ERA.
The Champaign, Illinois native and Sarasota, Florida resident spent his first three years in the Orioles system with the Bluefield Orioles. In his final year in Bluefield (2009), the pitching staff’s ERA ranked fifth in the Appalachian League at 3.84. Mattes nurtured many of the top pitching prospects in the Orioles system. In 2007, Sean Gleason finished sixth in the Appalachian League in ERA while Colin Allen finished second in the league in ERA in 2008.
Mattes pitched for the Delmarva Shorebirds during the inaugural 1996 season. He finished with a 10-9 record and a 2.89 ERA in 173.0 innings pitched. Mattes recorded five complete games during the 1996 season. The former 16th round draft pick of the Montreal Expos spent one season in the major leagues in 2001. In eight starts, he went 3-3 with a 6.00 ERA.
Hernandez, 41, will begin his first season as the field coach for the Shorebirds and his second season in the Orioles organization. Last year, he served as the field coach for the Gulf Coast League Orioles. Over his 15-year MLB career (1991-2006), Hernandez played in 1,587 career games. The former shortstop played for nine different teams over his long career; Texas Rangers, Cleveland Indians, Chicago Cubs, Atlanta Braves, Milwaukee Brewers, Colorado Rockies, Pittsburgh Pirates, Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies. His career totals include 168 home runs and 603 RBIs.
Hernandez had his finest season in 2002 with the Milwaukee Brewers when he was named to the National League All-Star team.
Will Lawhorn will serve as the Shorebirds trainer in 2011. Lawhorn was the athletic trainer for the Gulf Coast League Orioles the last two seasons.
Minor, Mattes and Hernandez will lead the Shorebirds into the 2011 season on April 5 with a special exhibition game against Salisbury University. The Shorebirds open the South Atlantic League portion of their schedule on April 7 against the Greensboro Grasshoppers at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium.
Mike Devereaux was promoted to Frederick, where he will serve in the same capacity.
For more information about the Delmarva Shorebirds, contact us by calling 410-219-3112 or by logging onto www.theshorebirds.com.
Superbowl: Green Bay Packers
First, and foremost!!!
I am a Raven’s Fan, but this is worth sharing!!
Every Red Blooded American should jump in line to support theGreen Bay Packers! The Packers defeated the Chicago Bears on Sunday afternoon thus earning them the opportunity to go to theSuper Bowl. By doing so, they saved the Hard-Working, Red Blooded, Taxpaying Americans literally several million dollars of tax money. How you say? Simple... we were told that if the Chicago Bears had won, that President Obama (and probably his family)would be attending the Super Bowl to cheer on his hometown team. Since the Bears lost...the President won't be attending. The money saved from not using Air Force 1, the limousines, all the additional security, and let's not forget Michelle Obama's entourage, is literally several million dollars! Therefore every American should cheer on the Green Bay Packers at the Super Bowl to show them our gratitude.
With that said...let's circulate this email to everyone we know so they can understand why they should cheer for America's tax saving team...the Green Bay Packers!
Drop In Home Values Raises Debate About Tax Notices
Lower assessments mean rates can go up without public knowing it
Harford County Executive David Craig is loathe to raise taxes, but he and other local government officials are particularly miffed about a state requirement that they publish notice of property tax increases even if rising assessments are to blame.But in a new twist, plummeting real estate assessments could for the first time allow cash-strapped jurisdictions to raise tax rates without providing that notice. Most homeowners would not see a significant change to their tax bill, because the higher rate would be offset by the lower property assessment.
Since 1977, counties have been required to notify taxpayers and conduct a public hearing before setting a property tax rate higher than that which would render the same revenue as the year before, known as the "constant yield" rate.
Because property assessments typically grow in value, constant yield rates historically have been lower than the previous year's actual tax rate. Often, counties will leave their property tax rate unchanged but have to give notice that they are proposing to "raise" taxes because assessments and projected revenue have increased.
The requirement was written at a time "when no one contemplated that housing prices would fall dramatically," Howard County Executive Ken Ulman said.
GO HERE to read more.
Municipality - Vallejo CA - May Repay It's Creditors As Little As 5% Of Claims
SBYnews has been warning its readers about an impending crisis that threatens the very fabric of this nation. Defaulting municipalities are very likely to develop over the next year as municipal government's budgets continue to erode as our nation's economy sputters. Our readers will want to read how the US Federal Bankruptcy Court treats municipalities as they seek bankruptcy protection to thwart off paying creditors.
Meredith Whitney has been predicting that between 50-100 municipalities will fail in the ensuing months as a result of our nations deep recession. She is the notorious person that predicted the financial system meltdown - prior to its collapse.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Stimulus Funds Help Wire Rural Homes For Internet
Up in rural northern Vermont, it took until the 1960s to run power lines to some towns — decades after the rest of America got turned on.
These days, it's the digital revolution that remains but a rumor in much of rural America.
Dial-up user Val Houde knows this as well as anybody. After moving here four years ago, the 51-year-old mother of four took a correspondence course for medical transcription, hoping to work from home. She plunked down $800, took the course, then found out the software wasn't compatible with dial-up Internet, the only kind available to her.
Selling items on eBay, watching videos, playing games online? Forget it. The connection from her home computer is so slow, her online life is one of delays, degraded quality and "buffering" warning messages. So she waits until the day a provider extends broadband to her house.
"I feel like these companies, they don't care about these little pockets of places," she said one night recently, showing a visitor her computer's slow Internet service. "And I know we're not the only ones."
For Houde and millions of other Americans laboring under slow or no Internet service, help is on the way.
Bolstered by billions in federal stimulus money, an effort to expand broadband Internet access to rural areas is under way, an ambitious 21st-century infrastructure project with parallels to the New Deal electrification of the nation's hinterlands in the 1930s and 1940s.
In the Depression, it was power to the people — for farm equipment and living-room lamps, cow-milking machines and kitchen appliances. Now, it's online access — to YouTube and digital downloads, to videoconferencing and Facebook, to eBay and Twitter.
"Rural areas all across the country are wrestling with this, somewhat desperately," said Paul Costello, executive director of the Vermont Council on Rural Development. "Young people who grow up with the media will not live where they can't be connected to digital culture. So most rural communities have been behind the eight ball."
Seventy years ago, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt realized that if private industry wouldn't run power lines out to the farthest reaches of rural areas, it would take government money to help make it happen. In 1935, the Rural Electrification Administration was established to deliver electricity to the Tennessee Valley and beyond.
Now, money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is doing the same with broadband, which is typically defined as DSL (digital subscriber line), cable modem, fiber optic or fixed wireless.
The stimulus act set aside $7.2 billion for expansion of broadband access, believing it will spur economic growth, boost educational opportunities and create jobs. The money has jump-started what were existing efforts by states and telecom providers to bridge the digital divide of rural America.
In its national broadband plan issued last year, the Federal Communications Commission pinpointed schools' use of online resources as one of the key targets of the stimulus-funded expansion efforts.
"With broadband, students and teachers can expand instruction beyond the confines of the physical classroom and traditional school day," the plan says. "Broadband can also provide more customized learning opportunities for students to access high-quality, low-cost and personally relevant educational material."
Schools in many rural districts lack that now.
More
These days, it's the digital revolution that remains but a rumor in much of rural America.
Dial-up user Val Houde knows this as well as anybody. After moving here four years ago, the 51-year-old mother of four took a correspondence course for medical transcription, hoping to work from home. She plunked down $800, took the course, then found out the software wasn't compatible with dial-up Internet, the only kind available to her.
Selling items on eBay, watching videos, playing games online? Forget it. The connection from her home computer is so slow, her online life is one of delays, degraded quality and "buffering" warning messages. So she waits until the day a provider extends broadband to her house.
"I feel like these companies, they don't care about these little pockets of places," she said one night recently, showing a visitor her computer's slow Internet service. "And I know we're not the only ones."
For Houde and millions of other Americans laboring under slow or no Internet service, help is on the way.
Bolstered by billions in federal stimulus money, an effort to expand broadband Internet access to rural areas is under way, an ambitious 21st-century infrastructure project with parallels to the New Deal electrification of the nation's hinterlands in the 1930s and 1940s.
In the Depression, it was power to the people — for farm equipment and living-room lamps, cow-milking machines and kitchen appliances. Now, it's online access — to YouTube and digital downloads, to videoconferencing and Facebook, to eBay and Twitter.
"Rural areas all across the country are wrestling with this, somewhat desperately," said Paul Costello, executive director of the Vermont Council on Rural Development. "Young people who grow up with the media will not live where they can't be connected to digital culture. So most rural communities have been behind the eight ball."
Seventy years ago, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt realized that if private industry wouldn't run power lines out to the farthest reaches of rural areas, it would take government money to help make it happen. In 1935, the Rural Electrification Administration was established to deliver electricity to the Tennessee Valley and beyond.
Now, money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is doing the same with broadband, which is typically defined as DSL (digital subscriber line), cable modem, fiber optic or fixed wireless.
The stimulus act set aside $7.2 billion for expansion of broadband access, believing it will spur economic growth, boost educational opportunities and create jobs. The money has jump-started what were existing efforts by states and telecom providers to bridge the digital divide of rural America.
In its national broadband plan issued last year, the Federal Communications Commission pinpointed schools' use of online resources as one of the key targets of the stimulus-funded expansion efforts.
"With broadband, students and teachers can expand instruction beyond the confines of the physical classroom and traditional school day," the plan says. "Broadband can also provide more customized learning opportunities for students to access high-quality, low-cost and personally relevant educational material."
Schools in many rural districts lack that now.
More
U.S. Security Leaders Worry About Egypt's Future (And Weapons)
The turmoil in Egypt kept America's security and military leaders on edge Saturday, fearful of a worst-case scenario in which a massive arsenal supplied by the U.S. falls into the hands of Islamic extremists.
Egypt's massive military, with more than 1000 M1 Abrams battle tanks, 220 F-16 fighter jets and 150 attack helicopters including Apaches, has grown through the years after the historic peace settlement with Israel in the 1970s. U.S. foreign policy has seen investment in Egypt's military as a key to stability in the region. But with control of the country uncertain, that military becomes a wildcard.
"The substantial military resources of Egypt falling into the hands of an unknown future Egyptian government has a much greater potential to being a security risk for the US," said a U.S. military official, on condition of anonymity.
On Saturday, after the Egyptian cabinet formally resigned at the demand of Mubarek, an official who spoke to The Washington Examiner by phone said "no one is speaking [for the government] because in reality we have no government."
The Muslim Brotherhood, the largest opposition movement in Egypt, has called on President Hosni Mubarek, 82, to resign. The group is not listed by U.S. State Department as a terrorist organization, but many western analysts see its views as extremist. Egyptian law does not allow the Muslim Brotherhood to run for parliamentary elections, although some members run as independents.
James Carafano, senior defense analyst with the Heritage Foundation in Washington, said the situation in Egypt resembles the same shift in power during the Iranian Revolution in 1979, but that it is still too early to predict that Mubarek will be succeeded by an extremist government.
Carafano compared the Obama administration's Middle East policies with those of former President Jimmy Carter's before the revolution in Iran.
"If Egypt became an Islamist state it would be a huge setback for the administration," Carafano said. "In the last two years, Obama played nice with Iran, made speeches in Cairo and pushed for talks with the Palestinians" instead of holding those accountable for their actions and policies.
More from The Washington Examiner
Egypt's massive military, with more than 1000 M1 Abrams battle tanks, 220 F-16 fighter jets and 150 attack helicopters including Apaches, has grown through the years after the historic peace settlement with Israel in the 1970s. U.S. foreign policy has seen investment in Egypt's military as a key to stability in the region. But with control of the country uncertain, that military becomes a wildcard.
"The substantial military resources of Egypt falling into the hands of an unknown future Egyptian government has a much greater potential to being a security risk for the US," said a U.S. military official, on condition of anonymity.
On Saturday, after the Egyptian cabinet formally resigned at the demand of Mubarek, an official who spoke to The Washington Examiner by phone said "no one is speaking [for the government] because in reality we have no government."
The Muslim Brotherhood, the largest opposition movement in Egypt, has called on President Hosni Mubarek, 82, to resign. The group is not listed by U.S. State Department as a terrorist organization, but many western analysts see its views as extremist. Egyptian law does not allow the Muslim Brotherhood to run for parliamentary elections, although some members run as independents.
James Carafano, senior defense analyst with the Heritage Foundation in Washington, said the situation in Egypt resembles the same shift in power during the Iranian Revolution in 1979, but that it is still too early to predict that Mubarek will be succeeded by an extremist government.
Carafano compared the Obama administration's Middle East policies with those of former President Jimmy Carter's before the revolution in Iran.
"If Egypt became an Islamist state it would be a huge setback for the administration," Carafano said. "In the last two years, Obama played nice with Iran, made speeches in Cairo and pushed for talks with the Palestinians" instead of holding those accountable for their actions and policies.
More from The Washington Examiner
Lost Dog
Hey Joe,
My neighbor's dog ran off after a stray dog in their yard this morning and nobody can find him.. He's a Jack Russel Terrier, and this was in the area of Zion Rd and Dagsboro Rd. His name is Mickey..
Anybody with information can call Kevin Robertson 443 614 7648.
Thanks Joe, I appreciate your help.
Judge Rules Pregnancy Center Ordinance Unconstitutional
Says abortion sign requirement violates free speech rights
A federal judge has struck down the city ordinance requiring faith-based pregnancy counseling centers to tell clients upfront that they won't help them get an abortion.
Baltimore drew national attention 14 months ago with the legislation, sponsored by Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake when she was City Council president, that required the centers to post signs saying that they don't refer clients for abortions or birth control.
In a decision issued Friday, U.S. District Judge Marvin J. Garbis wrote that the requirement violates the centers' constitutional right to free speech. Ruling in a lawsuit brought against the city by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Baltimore and a counseling center it supports, he declared the ordinance "unenforceable."
GO HERE to read more.
Baltimore drew national attention 14 months ago with the legislation, sponsored by Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake when she was City Council president, that required the centers to post signs saying that they don't refer clients for abortions or birth control.
In a decision issued Friday, U.S. District Judge Marvin J. Garbis wrote that the requirement violates the centers' constitutional right to free speech. Ruling in a lawsuit brought against the city by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Baltimore and a counseling center it supports, he declared the ordinance "unenforceable."
GO HERE to read more.
Tanks Roll Into Cairo As Protests Continue
Dozens of tanks and armored personnel carriers fanned out across the city of 18 million, guarding key government building a day after large, violent confrontations emboldened the movement demanding a change of leadership. There was rampant looting across the sprawling city of 18 million and a growing feeling of fear and insecurity.
JPost
O'Malley Budget Punts To General Assembly
When you start pulling the O'Malley administration's budget apart, it's like eating cotton candy: There's far less there than anticipated.
This budget doesn't live up to its advanced billing. There's nothing Draconian about it. Martin O'Malley is keeping spending a bit above current levels, just as he's done in the recent past.
There's no attempt to downsize government or make state agencies more efficient and less cumbersome.
Voters across the nation may be screaming for bad-tasting budget medicine, but in Maryland the governor continues to dispense sugar pills.
His blueprint maintains the status quo. It represents a brief pause in the upward climb of social spending in Annapolis.
O'Malley didn't even follow the lead of the president he's trying to impress, Barack Obama, who on Tuesday announced a five-year freeze of most federal domestic programs.
GO HERE to read more.
This budget doesn't live up to its advanced billing. There's nothing Draconian about it. Martin O'Malley is keeping spending a bit above current levels, just as he's done in the recent past.
There's no attempt to downsize government or make state agencies more efficient and less cumbersome.
Voters across the nation may be screaming for bad-tasting budget medicine, but in Maryland the governor continues to dispense sugar pills.
His blueprint maintains the status quo. It represents a brief pause in the upward climb of social spending in Annapolis.
O'Malley didn't even follow the lead of the president he's trying to impress, Barack Obama, who on Tuesday announced a five-year freeze of most federal domestic programs.
GO HERE to read more.
Politicians Can't Keep Hands Off Trust Fund
Dedicated transportation source must be protected
In his State of the Union address Tuesday night, President Barack Obama vowed to "put more Americans to work repairing crumbling roads and bridges." He highlighted the need for major infrastructure improvements and advancements in the United States, including high-speed rail. After the speech, Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin (D-Md.) touted a new federal transportation bill and urged fellow lawmakers to study Maryland's "comprehensive transportation plan."The 2009 Maryland Transportation Plan, a 20-year vision covering all means of transportation, included among its goals and objectives: Secure transportation assets for the movement of people and goods; maximize operational performance and efficiency of existing systems; provide balanced, seamless, and accessible multimodal transportation options for people and goods, and facilitate linkages within and beyond Maryland to support a healthy economy.
Given even those basic goals, it's small wonder that a good many people — lawmakers, commuters, business interests, visionaries — are upset that the state's Transportation Trust Fund has, once again, become the funding piñata of choice, as evidenced by Gov. Martin O'Malley's latest budget proposal.
O'Malley's spending plan, which was released Jan. 21, calls for redirecting $100 million from the already-depleted fund to help close the state's budget deficit of well over $1 billion. If that wasn't bad enough, in the past three years, more than $2 billion has been appropriated from the trust fund for other budgetary purposes.
Now, a group called the State Transportation Alliance to Restore the Trust, or Start, has formed to advocate for a strong fund. Its 32 members include AARP, AAA, the Greater Washington Board of Trade, the Greater Baltimore Committee and the Maryland Chamber of Commerce. The first order of business, the alliance says, is replenishing the fund.
GO HERE to read more.
Egypt Kills 100 Protesters; Israel Evacuates Diplomats
Egypt copied Iranian tactics of two years ago and used brutal force by police and prisoners against anti-government protesters Saturday, killing at least 108. The army is standing by but has not taken part in stamping out opposition rallies.
Meanwhile, Israel was the first country to evacuate diplomats and their families. The Republic of the Philippines is preparing to evacuate 6,500 Filipinos working and studying in Egypt in case the situation grows worse.
Israel's Foreign Ministry said it brought in special flights to carry diplomatic families and 40 other Israelis visiting Egypt who wanted to leave the country. The Israeli government so far has remained silent about the growing crisis, but Jerusalem unofficially has expressed concern that if Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak is forced to resign, a long period of instability might follow.
The Palestinian Authority has expressed solidarity with Mubarak, who has ruled Egypt with an iron hand for 30 years.
U.S. President Barack Obama stated, "The people of Egypt have rights that are universal" and added, "Suppressing ideas never succeeds in making them go away." He spoke with Mubarak for 30 minutes on Friday.
Protesters followed the lead of Tunisians two weeks ago who bought about the end of the rule of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. Egypt has responded with club-wielding and riot police, who also are using live fire. The death toll in the protests has ranged from 75 to 108, and at least eight were killed by gunshots near a Cairo jail after several police stations and government buildings were set on fire.
The Egyptian government has said it is operating with “zero tolerance". However, Fawaz Gerges, director of the Middle East Centre at the London School of Economics, told Al Jazeera:
“Obviously the [Mubarak] regime has decided to crack down very hard on the protesters, but the protesters and the popular uprising [are] much more deeply entrenched,”
“The most important point … is that the barrier of fear has collapsed, has fallen. Egyptians now are no longer terrified of the security apparatus as they used to be,” he said.
Egyptian forces Friday took into custody Nobel Prize winner Mohamed ElBaradei, the former chief of IAEA, the United Nation’s nuclear watchdog agency, and prominent anti-government figure who returned from Vienna to join the protests. He was placed under house arrest.
More from INN
Meanwhile, Israel was the first country to evacuate diplomats and their families. The Republic of the Philippines is preparing to evacuate 6,500 Filipinos working and studying in Egypt in case the situation grows worse.
Israel's Foreign Ministry said it brought in special flights to carry diplomatic families and 40 other Israelis visiting Egypt who wanted to leave the country. The Israeli government so far has remained silent about the growing crisis, but Jerusalem unofficially has expressed concern that if Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak is forced to resign, a long period of instability might follow.
The Palestinian Authority has expressed solidarity with Mubarak, who has ruled Egypt with an iron hand for 30 years.
U.S. President Barack Obama stated, "The people of Egypt have rights that are universal" and added, "Suppressing ideas never succeeds in making them go away." He spoke with Mubarak for 30 minutes on Friday.
Protesters followed the lead of Tunisians two weeks ago who bought about the end of the rule of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. Egypt has responded with club-wielding and riot police, who also are using live fire. The death toll in the protests has ranged from 75 to 108, and at least eight were killed by gunshots near a Cairo jail after several police stations and government buildings were set on fire.
The Egyptian government has said it is operating with “zero tolerance". However, Fawaz Gerges, director of the Middle East Centre at the London School of Economics, told Al Jazeera:
“Obviously the [Mubarak] regime has decided to crack down very hard on the protesters, but the protesters and the popular uprising [are] much more deeply entrenched,”
“The most important point … is that the barrier of fear has collapsed, has fallen. Egyptians now are no longer terrified of the security apparatus as they used to be,” he said.
Egyptian forces Friday took into custody Nobel Prize winner Mohamed ElBaradei, the former chief of IAEA, the United Nation’s nuclear watchdog agency, and prominent anti-government figure who returned from Vienna to join the protests. He was placed under house arrest.
More from INN
Egyptian Civil Strife Sends Oil Close To $100 On Suez Canal Fears
As Egypt’s youth battles the police’s rubber bullets and tear gas with Molotov cocktails and rocks, Egyptian equity markets have been taking an expected beating. The EGX30 equity index lost 10.5% on Thursday January 27 hitting its lowest level in 19 months.
Authorities in Egypt have blocked out internet and mobile phone access in an attempt to disrupt the protests.
The situation could have ripple effects worldwide if the Suez Canal becomes jeopardized or even shut down. According to Canaccord Genuity, “this may be impactful as approximately 1.8 million bb/d of oil was transported through the Suez Canal in 2009. A closure of the canal would result in an extra 6,000 miles of travel for any oil being transported out of the region, an additional cost which could drive up oil prices.” International oil prices are already racing towards the $100 a barrel mark. Brent crude oil contracts for March, “the global benchmark,” hit their highest level since late 2008 at $99.63 per barrel on January 28. West Texas Intermediate March futures were up 4.2% to $89.21. Even gold began to pick up, with Comex February gold spiking in tandem with oil, up 1.7% on January 28 to $1,341.20.
More here
Phone, Internet Companies Urged To Defy Egypt's Orders
Rep. David Wu (D-Ore.) urged Western communications companies to defy orders from Egypt's government to shut down their services.
The comments came during a day of violent protests and a sweeping attempt by the Egyptian government to block Internet services, a move analysts are calling "unprecedented in Internet history."
Wu, an outspoken opponent of online censorship and the co-founder of the Internet freedom caucus, rejected the idea that Western companies should comply with orders from Egypt's government.
"Have some courage. These international companies really ought to know better," he said in an interview with The Hill. "They should do the right thing."
Wu said he could understand why Egyptian companies would comply, but that western firms who follow the orders are "abetting suppression and repression."
International companies including the U.K.-based Vodafone have received orders from the Egyptian government to shut off communications services. Vodafone said it cooperated because the mandate fell within the bounds of Egyptian law.
"That's bunk," Wu said. "For a [non-Egyptian] company, come on. What [these companies] really care about is their long term business interests in Egypt, not Egyptian law."
Wu called on companies to "follow the Google motto and 'don't be evil,'" referring to the search giant's decision to narrow its business operations in China because it did not want to censor Web content.
More here
The comments came during a day of violent protests and a sweeping attempt by the Egyptian government to block Internet services, a move analysts are calling "unprecedented in Internet history."
Wu, an outspoken opponent of online censorship and the co-founder of the Internet freedom caucus, rejected the idea that Western companies should comply with orders from Egypt's government.
"Have some courage. These international companies really ought to know better," he said in an interview with The Hill. "They should do the right thing."
Wu said he could understand why Egyptian companies would comply, but that western firms who follow the orders are "abetting suppression and repression."
International companies including the U.K.-based Vodafone have received orders from the Egyptian government to shut off communications services. Vodafone said it cooperated because the mandate fell within the bounds of Egyptian law.
"That's bunk," Wu said. "For a [non-Egyptian] company, come on. What [these companies] really care about is their long term business interests in Egypt, not Egyptian law."
Wu called on companies to "follow the Google motto and 'don't be evil,'" referring to the search giant's decision to narrow its business operations in China because it did not want to censor Web content.
More here
Cantor, Hoyer Urge Anti-Israel UN Resolution Veto
House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., and Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, D-Md., are certainly in agreement on one issue. They sent a letter to President Barack Obama Thursday urging the U.S. to veto a resolution at the U.N. Security Council that would declare any post-1967 Israeli settlements, including East Jerusalem, illegal, The Hill reports.
The Palestinian Authority and the Arab League want the resolution to be adopted. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton voiced opposition to the measure last week. She says the Israelis and Palestinians should solve their conflict through negotiations. But she didn’t commit to a veto, a power the United States possesses as one of five permanent members on the Security Council.
More
The Palestinian Authority and the Arab League want the resolution to be adopted. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton voiced opposition to the measure last week. She says the Israelis and Palestinians should solve their conflict through negotiations. But she didn’t commit to a veto, a power the United States possesses as one of five permanent members on the Security Council.
More
Mideast Expert Phares: Egyptian Turmoil Could Push It Into Jihadist Hands
The unrest in Egypt could lead to a Muslim Brotherhood takeover that would shift the U.S. ally away from the Free World and into the arms of jihad, Mideast expert Walid Phares tells Newsmax.TV. The Obama administration has abandoned those representing the best hope for democracy, the author and terrorism expert says.
“The main concern in the United States is that if the opposition wins . . . and the Muslim Brotherhood are the ones who take over, and that’s only an if, then we’re going to see Egypt shifting away from the relationship with the Free World and actually connecting with the forces of jihad in the region,” he said.
The worst-case scenario would be toppling Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and bringing in the Muslim Brotherhood, said Phares, a Beirut native who now is a U.S. citizen. “Egypt will shift completely and become an Islamist, jihadist state,” he said.
Another troubling scenario would be a protracted struggle that would be felt not only in Egypt but also in Israel, Iran, and throughout the Mideast.
Read more
“The main concern in the United States is that if the opposition wins . . . and the Muslim Brotherhood are the ones who take over, and that’s only an if, then we’re going to see Egypt shifting away from the relationship with the Free World and actually connecting with the forces of jihad in the region,” he said.
The worst-case scenario would be toppling Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and bringing in the Muslim Brotherhood, said Phares, a Beirut native who now is a U.S. citizen. “Egypt will shift completely and become an Islamist, jihadist state,” he said.
Another troubling scenario would be a protracted struggle that would be felt not only in Egypt but also in Israel, Iran, and throughout the Mideast.
Read more
Scalia Draws Few Lawmakers To Constitutional Talk
A talk on constitutional law with a sitting Supreme Court justice was clearly not the ticket on Capitol Hill this week, the Washington Wire Blog of the Wall Street Journal reports. Fewer than three dozen of the House’s 435 invited members showed up on Monday for a seminar with Justice Antonin Scalia organized by Rep. Michele Bachmann.
One rookie lawmaker who did attend was surprised to hear the conservative jurist shoot down some conservative policy memes.
“He said, ‘States rights? Fuhgeddaboudit!’” said Rep. Joe Walsh, a tea party-backed Illinois Republican who also heard Scalia dismiss the line-item veto as unconstitutional.
Newsmax
One rookie lawmaker who did attend was surprised to hear the conservative jurist shoot down some conservative policy memes.
“He said, ‘States rights? Fuhgeddaboudit!’” said Rep. Joe Walsh, a tea party-backed Illinois Republican who also heard Scalia dismiss the line-item veto as unconstitutional.
Newsmax
Salisbury Police Department Press Releases
On January 27, 2011 at approximately 8:40 pm, Officers of the Salisbury Police received a call to respond to the four hundred (400)
block of Decatur Avenue for the report of a shooting. Upon arrival the officers found a male victim, later identified as 20 year old Darrell Antonio Neal of Salisbury, suffering from two (2) gunshot wounds. Neal had a wound to the left calf area and to the right shoulder. Neal was transported to the Peninsula Regional Medical Center for treatment where it was determined that the injuries were not life threatening. Neal advised Salisbury Detectives that he was walking west bound on Decatur Avenue when he passed an unknown suspect. Neal continued that after passing the suspect, Neal turned to look at the suspect and observed the suspect in possession of a handgun. The suspect fired the handgun striking Neal who fled to a nearby residence for assistance. Neal described the suspect as:
Black male, late teens to early twenties in age, six (6) feet tall, thin build, clean shaven with shoulder-length dreadlock hair. The suspect was wearing all dark or black clothing.
If anyone has any information regarding this incident, they are asked to contact the Salisbury Police at 410-548-3165 or Crime Solvers at 410-548-1776. Information may be given to both agencies anonymously.
CC # 201100003326
On January 27, 2011 at approximately 7:27 am, Officers of the Salisbury Police arrested the below listed suspect on an outstanding arrest warrant obtained for an incident that occurred on January 26, 2011. On that date the officers had responded to a residence on Caroline Street for the report of a domestic assault. Upon arrival the officers met with an adult female victim who advised that she had been assaulted by the suspect during an argument. The victim advised that the suspect had attempted to assault the victim with two (2) butcher type knives then had struck her repeatedly in the head and face with his fists. During the assault, the victim attempted to escape from the suspect, but was unable to do so. The suspect had left the premises prior to the arrival of the officers.
During the arrest on the warrant, a routine warrant check revealed that Kingery was also wanted on an outstanding warrant in Delaware for failure to appear in court.
ARRESTED: Michael Delaney Kingery, 32 years of age Salisbury, Maryland
CHARGES:
Attempted first degree murder
Attempted second degree murder
First degree assault
Second degree assault
Reckless endangerment
False imprisonment
Fugitive – Delaware
Failure to appear in court
DISPOSITION: Released to Central Booking
CC # 201100003196/201100003241
On January 27, 2011 at approximately 2:38 pm, Officers of the Salisbury Police arrested the below listed suspect on an outstanding arrest warrant obtained for an incident that was reported on January 17, 2011. On that date the Salisbury Police had responded to a residence on South Park Drive for the report of a burglary.
Upon arrival the officers found that unknown suspects had made entry into the residence and had stolen property from the residence. Salisbury Detectives were able to recover a portion of that property and identified the suspect as involved in the burglary. Further arrests are anticipated.
ARRESTED: Aaron Jessie Carey, 24 years of age Salisbury, Maryland
CHARGES:
First degree burglary
Third degree burglary
Fourth degree burglary
Theft (over $ 1,000)
Malicious destruction of property
DISPOSITION: Released to Central Booking
CC # 201100002037
block of Decatur Avenue for the report of a shooting. Upon arrival the officers found a male victim, later identified as 20 year old Darrell Antonio Neal of Salisbury, suffering from two (2) gunshot wounds. Neal had a wound to the left calf area and to the right shoulder. Neal was transported to the Peninsula Regional Medical Center for treatment where it was determined that the injuries were not life threatening. Neal advised Salisbury Detectives that he was walking west bound on Decatur Avenue when he passed an unknown suspect. Neal continued that after passing the suspect, Neal turned to look at the suspect and observed the suspect in possession of a handgun. The suspect fired the handgun striking Neal who fled to a nearby residence for assistance. Neal described the suspect as:
Black male, late teens to early twenties in age, six (6) feet tall, thin build, clean shaven with shoulder-length dreadlock hair. The suspect was wearing all dark or black clothing.
If anyone has any information regarding this incident, they are asked to contact the Salisbury Police at 410-548-3165 or Crime Solvers at 410-548-1776. Information may be given to both agencies anonymously.
CC # 201100003326
On January 27, 2011 at approximately 7:27 am, Officers of the Salisbury Police arrested the below listed suspect on an outstanding arrest warrant obtained for an incident that occurred on January 26, 2011. On that date the officers had responded to a residence on Caroline Street for the report of a domestic assault. Upon arrival the officers met with an adult female victim who advised that she had been assaulted by the suspect during an argument. The victim advised that the suspect had attempted to assault the victim with two (2) butcher type knives then had struck her repeatedly in the head and face with his fists. During the assault, the victim attempted to escape from the suspect, but was unable to do so. The suspect had left the premises prior to the arrival of the officers.
During the arrest on the warrant, a routine warrant check revealed that Kingery was also wanted on an outstanding warrant in Delaware for failure to appear in court.
ARRESTED: Michael Delaney Kingery, 32 years of age Salisbury, Maryland
CHARGES:
Attempted first degree murder
Attempted second degree murder
First degree assault
Second degree assault
Reckless endangerment
False imprisonment
Fugitive – Delaware
Failure to appear in court
DISPOSITION: Released to Central Booking
CC # 201100003196/201100003241
On January 27, 2011 at approximately 2:38 pm, Officers of the Salisbury Police arrested the below listed suspect on an outstanding arrest warrant obtained for an incident that was reported on January 17, 2011. On that date the Salisbury Police had responded to a residence on South Park Drive for the report of a burglary.
Upon arrival the officers found that unknown suspects had made entry into the residence and had stolen property from the residence. Salisbury Detectives were able to recover a portion of that property and identified the suspect as involved in the burglary. Further arrests are anticipated.
ARRESTED: Aaron Jessie Carey, 24 years of age Salisbury, Maryland
CHARGES:
First degree burglary
Third degree burglary
Fourth degree burglary
Theft (over $ 1,000)
Malicious destruction of property
DISPOSITION: Released to Central Booking
CC # 201100002037
Benefit For Saylor Hayes Ends Badly
First of all, I would like to thank the outpour of support given to 2 yr old Saylor Hayes who is recovering from cancer. Last night there was a well planned benefit to help her family with medical expenses held at the Laurel Fire Dept. As a resident of Laurel for the past 30 years I am very embarrassed by the actions of a few females who immaturely decided this was a time and place to put their hands on eachother and fight. We were there for Saylor and for these people to do this was uncalled for. As for everyone else who attended and knew how to act, on behalf of the family and the residents here, we thank you
Sincerely,
Laurel Resident
HISTORICAL COMMENTS BY GEORGE CHEVALLIER
Allen Memorial Baptist Church
The history of the Baptist Church is not something I want to attempt here. But, I do have a few interesting facts about the local Allen Memorial Baptist Church. It was originally founded as the New Light Baptist Church with 12 members on September 29, 1859. The first pastor was the Rev. O.F. Flippo. They bought the Presbyterian Church building on North Division Street for $1100.00 and named it the Division Street Baptist Church. The church is pictured above in the lower right hand portion of the picture. In 1936, they built another new building to replace this one. It is pictured on the postcard on the upper right.
This is where the mystery begins. George Corddrey states in his History of Wicomico County that the Church was renamed the Allen Memorial Church in memory of Walter K. Allen. He was a son of Walter F. Allen, the prominent agriculturalist whose extensive lands are now covered by much of Salisbury University. W. K. Allen was ordained in the Division Street Baptist Church and became a missionary for the Baptist Church and traveled to India, where he died of typhoid fever in 1925. As the Church Directory of 1928 shows, however, the Church was named the Walter F. Allen Memorial Baptist Church. It is now known as the Allen Memorial Baptist Church and is located in a large new facility on Snow Hill Road. According to Erica Henry at Allen Memorial, the actual name of the Church is the Walter K. Allen Memorial Baptist Church. Apparently the Church Directory of 1928 was incorrect. This could have been a printing error by a well-meaning printer who used the more familiar name of Walter F. Allen. That is why it is so important to look up and seek out many sources before putting the history of anything to paper. The daughter of the pastor, James N. Stewart, in 1928 was Audrey Stewart, a long-time educator in Wicomico County.
The members of this congregation were different from the Old School Baptist Church, whose building is still standing on the corner of Church and Baptist Streets, although it is no longer a church. There was also the Forest Grove Baptist Church, which belonged to the Old School Baptists. My great-grandmother belonged to the Old School Baptist Church and is buried, according to her wishes, at Forest Grove. This was contrary to the plans of her daughters to inter her next to her late husband in Parsons Cemetery. She declared that she wanted to be buried “next to Momma at Forest Grove”. When her daughters exclaimed that they thought she would want to be with her late husband, Frank, she told them that she had lain next to him for 40 years and wasn’t going to lie next to him for all eternity.
Now, there are several Baptist Churches in the Salisbury area. It seems that a very few people can form their own church and meet anywhere they want.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)