Attention

The opinions expressed by columnists are their own and do not represent our advertisers

Friday, March 18, 2011

Exclusive Field Notes By Delegate Mike McDermott


Field Notes
Observations and Reflections on Legislative Activities
By Delegate Mike McDermott
March 14th-18th, 2011
  1. On Monday evening prior to session, there was a significant union rally on the Lawyer’s  Mall which greeted us as we moved toward the State House. It was all about the Governor’s budget and their dislike for what has been proposed by the O’Malley Administration. I found it interesting that the governor actually came out and took the stage to speak to the crowd and proclaimed, “I don’t like the budget either!!!” Of course, the crowd was happy about this proclamation. So, I guess it may be true for democratic governor’s in Annapolis...you can have your cake and eat it too!
  2. On Tuesday morning, the session was brief and we only voted on one bill:
  1. HB-209: Vote 139-0 On Third Reader in Favor. Authorizing the purchase of agricultural land preservation easements if the land meets specified requirements and is subject to specified regulations governing the use of the land; clarifying that specified provisions of the Act do not exempt a landowner from complying with specified local laws or State or local requirements; prohibiting land subject to agricultural easement from being used for specified purposes; allowing a landowner to reserve up to three 1-acre lots to construct single-family residential dwellings, etc.        
  1. On Tuesday afternoon, I met with a sub committee to review the Child Neglect statute being championed by Lt. Governor Brown. We made many recommendations for changing the bill and hope to have it ready for committee soon.
  2. On Tuesday, the following bills were heard in the Judicary Committee
  1. HB-1174: Would give more power to the Division of Parole and Probation when it comes to reimposing sentences for violations of parole or probation. It would allow for lesser sentences on minor offenses and should reduce some prison costs.
  2. HB-899: Would provide police powers to a unit within the Division of which deal specifically with the apprehension of offenders on Warrant Retake Orders. Currently, officers are not able to arrest for violations which occur in the process of their warrant service or other related actions.
  3. HB-677: Would make it a crime in Maryland for any municipality or government to grant “sanctuary status” to illegal aliens. It would require the state to enforce federal laws addressing illegal immigration. It was argued clearly on both sides, but it is clear that Maryland is fast becoming a sanctuary for illegal immigrants due to our lax enforcement policies and the current lack of enforcement by authorities from ICE.
  4. HB-724: Would increase the statute of limitations for 4th Degree Sex Offense from one year to three. This bill will probably be amended to allow for extended limitations in the case where a victim is a juvenile.
  5. HB-898: Would not allow for Bondsmen to fail to collect the full amount of their bond premium through various finance arrangements made with bonding companies. It does not allow for these companies to finance bonds, merely have an arrangement for collecting payment over time.
  6. HB-1207: Would allow local government entities to prohibit the sale of drug paraphernalia to a minor. It allows for the revocation of business licenses, etc by the local authorities for violations. It is believed that this type of tie in would impact the sale of drug paraphernalia items to minors locally. Based on questions asked, the bill may create confusion across county or municipal boundaries.
  7. HB-1075: Would repeal the Death Penalty in Maryland. This bill seeks to respond to the finding of the Maryland Commission on Capitol Punishment completed in 2008 which recommended abolishing the death penalty in Maryland in favor of Life in Prison.
  8. HB-1074: Would provide an exemption for any Division of Correction employee or other related service employee to exempt themselves from participating in the process of a state execution. This is a no brainer,  though, in all fairness, we simply do not exercise the death penalty in Maryland.
  9. HB-804: Would require the MVA to place a certain notation on the driver’s license and state issued ID’s of convicted sex offenders. It is said this may aid law enforcement officers in identifying potential bad guys who may be involved in an abduction when stopped for another violation.
  10. HB-1128: Would alter the definition of sexual contact to include any penetration by any part of the body or object. The current law does not make provision for penetration by other parts of the human body. Some recent cases have made this an issue that needs to be addressed according to some state’s attorney’s who testified in favor of the bill.
  1. On Wednesday, the following bills were heard in the Judiciary Committee:
  1. HB-1277: Would set the policy of the State so as to encourage the use of special needs trusts or supplemental needs trusts by individuals with disabilities of all ages to preserve funds in order to provide for the needs of the individuals not met by public benefits and to enhance their quality of life. The bill encourages self reliance on the part of those with disabilities.
  2. HB-1296: Would allow for the electronic transmission of Eviction related documents. This is currently being done manually by the Clerks and Sheriff’s Office personnel. This would save time and certainly speed up the process by which these papers are transferred and eventually served.
  1. On Thursday morning, the following bills were presented for Third Reader:

        Third Reading Calendar (House Bills) #18

Third Reading Passed (104-33)
Third Reading Passed (138-0)
Third Reading Passed (136-0)
Third Reading Passed (140-0)
Third Reading Passed (139-0)
Third Reading Passed (137-3)
Third Reading Passed (140-0)
Third Reading Passed (94-46)
Third Reading Passed (140-0)
Third Reading Passed (139-0)

Third Reading Calendar (House Bills) #19

Third Reading Passed (137-2)
Third Reading Passed (135-5)
Third Reading Passed (140-0)
Third Reading Passed (138-0)
Third Reading Passed (139-0)
Third Reading Passed (103-35)
Third Reading Passed (140-0)
Third Reading Passed (108-32)
Third Reading Passed (119-20)
Third Reading Passed (130-3)

Third Reading Calendar (House Bills) #20

Third Reading Passed (140-0)
Third Reading Passed (139-0)
Third Reading Passed (140-0)
Third Reading Passed (140-0)
Third Reading Passed (140-0)
Third Reading Passed (130-10)
Third Reading Passed (122-9)
Third Reading Passed (139-0)
Third Reading Passed (140-0)
Third Reading Passed (140-0)
Third Reading Passed (140-0)
  1. On Thursday afternoon, the Judiciary Committee heard the following bills:
  1. HB-1118: Requiring the juvenile court, in specified child in need of assistance hearings, to send written findings to specified individuals and agencies if the court finds that specified reasonable efforts were made but that a specified condition exists. Bills like this are generally procedural applications which may slightly modify one aspect of an existing law.
  2. HB-1190: Seeks to expand a pilot program dealing with children in need of supervision to Cecil County and Prince Georges County. The program has been used successfully to divert children from the juvenile delinquency system. They wish to see it work in a more rural county. The bill carries a fiscal note of $250,000.00 and this may be a stumbling block.
  3. HB-790: Seeks to create a crime of Home Invasion and see it classified as a violent crime. There was testimony that these crimes are often being treated as property crimes instead of violent offenses. We heard from several victims of home invasions.
  4. HB-1305: Would expand the notification that a school receives when a student is arrested for certain offenses. It would add the charges of drug distribution to the offenses reported to certain school officials. This makes a lot of sense.
  5. HB-825: Would provide a method for a juvenile defendant who has been waived to adult court to appeal the decision to the Court of Appeals. This may create some unnecessary delays in criminal trials for a very low number of instances annually in Maryland. I think it may need further review before implementation.
  1. On Friday, the following bills were voted on during the morning session:

        Third Reading Calendar (House Bills) #21

Third Reading Passed (139-0)
Third Reading Passed (118-22)
Third Reading Passed (139-0)
Third Reading Passed (138-1)
Third Reading Passed (138-0)
Third Reading Passed (139-0)
Third Reading Passed (139-0)
Third Reading Passed (127-11)

Third Reading Calendar (House Bills) #22

Third Reading Passed (138-0)
Third Reading Passed (136-2)
Third Reading Passed (139-0)
Third Reading Passed (139-0)
Third Reading Passed (140-0)
Third Reading Passed (139-0)
Third Reading Passed (139-0)

Third Reading Calendar (House Bills) #23

Third Reading Passed (108-30)
Third Reading Passed (140-0)
Third Reading Passed (102-36)
Third Reading Passed (133-4)
Third Reading Passed (138-0)
Third Reading Passed (139-0)
Third Reading Passed (139-0)

Third Reading Calendar (House Bills) #24

Third Reading Passed (130-8)
Third Reading Passed (138-0)
Third Reading Passed (138-0)
Third Reading Passed (139-0)
Third Reading Passed (139-0)
Third Reading Passed (139-0)
Third Reading Passed (139-0)
Third Reading Passed (140-0)

Third Reading Calendar (House Bills) #25

Third Reading Passed (140-0)
Third Reading Passed (138-0)
Third Reading Passed (139-0)
Motion Special Order until 3/22 (Delegate Feldman) Adopted
Third Reading Passed (138-0)
Third Reading Passed (140-0)
Third Reading Passed (140-0)

Third Reading Calendar (House Bills) #26

Third Reading Passed (133-6)
Third Reading Passed (139-0)
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
Third Reading Passed (139-0)
Third Reading Passed (125-14)
Third Reading Passed (138-0)
Third Reading Passed (138-0)
  1. On Friday afternoon, the Judiciary Committee voted on the following bills:
Favorable:  HB-921, HB-1072, HB-1118, HB-1174
Unfavorable:  HB-835, H-872, HB-1037,
at No comments:

Found Dog


A woman at work found this dog at the shell station on Snow Hill Rd yesterday.  She is taking him to the humane society today because her lease does not allow animals.  Her number is 443-397-2149. 
at No comments:

Wicomico County Sheriff's Office DUI Enforcement

Incident: DUI Enforcement

Date of Incident: 17 March 2011

Location: Wicomico County

Narrative: On 17 March 2011 beginning at 8:00 PM, the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office coordinated a multi-jurisdictional DUI Enforcement Initiative. During this operation, additional law enforcement resources were our roadways seeking out those behind the wheel that have had too much to drive. Deputies from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office teamed up with troopers from the Salisbury Barracks of the Maryland State Police along with officers from the Salisbury Police, Fruitland Police, Princess Anne Police and the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office in an effort to curtail drunk driving from our roadways.

Arrested for DUI:
Antwone J. Johnson, 27, Salisbury, MD
Marcel David Jones, 40, New Jersey
Brian Allen Caswell, 27, Salisbury, MD
Juan Jose Cervantes, 19, Fruitland, MD

Driving While Suspended
Marquise O’Bryan Drummond, 25, Fruitland, MD

These are in addition to numerous warning and citations issued for various infractions of the Maryland Transportation Article.
at 2 comments:

The Twenty One Gun Salute

Today we say our final goodbye's to my Father In Law Art Goetz. Art will be laid to rest today in Arlington Cemetery where our Military will pay their respects with the traditional twenty one gun salute and a formal ceremony.

Dot and Art Goetz raised 6 beautiful Daughters while Art served in two wars in the Marine Corps. They say, "You can't pick your relatives." Well, fortunately for me, I could and I did. We may have been related by marriage but no one could ever say Art Goetz wasn't one of the best Father's, providers and examples of a damn good American.

Art was one of my biggest supporters with Salisbury News and my Freedom of Speech. Several times over the past few years I debated giving it up. Art always had my back and encouraged me to move forward.

Rest In Peace my dear friend and Thank You for protecting my rights and protecting America. God Speed.
at 4 comments:

STATE POLICE DRUNK DRIVING ARRESTS TOP SAME DAY LAST YEAR

(PIKESVILLE, MD) – Maryland state troopers issued thousands of citations and warnings, arrested more drunk drivers than on the same day last year, and made numerous felony and warrant arrests yesterday during an intense traffic enforcement campaign across the state.

Troopers at each of the 22 Maryland State Police barracks were assigned to special drunk driving saturation patrols to supplement the regular patrol troopers who were also on the alert for increased numbers of drunk drivers. Statewide, troopers arrested 69 drunk drivers, compared with 42 arrested on St. Patrick’s Day 2010. The most DUI arrests were made by troopers at the JFK Highway Barracks, who patrol I-95 from the Baltimore City line north to Delaware. Troopers there arrested nine drunk drivers.

Troopers also issued approximately 1,800 traffic citations and 1,900 warnings for a variety of traffic violations. Troopers made 13 drug arrests, 13 arrests for other criminal offenses, and arrested 26 people wanted on warrants.

Troopers at the Golden Ring Barrack conducted a focused enforcement campaign on I-83 from Baltimore City to the Pennsylvania state line in response to several recent serious crashes and numerous complaints of aggressive driving. Troopers on I-83 issued 120 traffic citations, 192 warnings, and made four warrant arrests. Troopers from the Golden Ring Barrack made a total of six drunk driving arrests yesterday, as did troopers at the Bel Air Barrack and Hagerstown Barrack.

Troopers in the Washington Metro Troop conducted another Operation Centipede patrol around the Capital Beltway. Troopers there issued 185 traffic citations and 113 warnings. They made eight drunk driving arrests, three felony drug arrests and three warrant arrests.

There were no fatal traffic crashes investigated by members of the Maryland State Police yesterday. Overtime funding for additional patrols was provided by grants from the Maryland Highway Safety Office. Additional enforcement efforts will continue throughout the weekend.
at 4 comments:

Video: Bear Makes Den, Has Cubs Beneath Maryland Porch

SWANTON, Md. - A house with a den is nice. But a house with a bear den is another story.

A Maryland Department of Natural Resources biologist said Tuesday that a 327-pound black bear spent the winter hibernating under the back deck of a summer home at Deep Creek Lake in western Maryland.

Clarissa Harris says the bear also gave birth to three cubs there.

She says the homeowner learned of the bear recently when he heard some strange noises while standing on his back porch.

Harris says the mother and cubs have been moved to a substitute den in the nearby Savage River State Forest.

She says the house is for sale, and prospective buyers might not consider a bear den an attractive feature.

Video
at No comments:

Do You Know Anything About This Necklace?


Montgomery County investigators are hoping information about a unique piece of jewelry may shed some light on why someone would set off a pipe bomb in front of an empty Potomac mansion.

More
at 4 comments:

Library Kicks Off “Love Your Library” Campaign


WHAT:  Fundraising campaign
WHO:  Wicomico Public Library
WHEN: Starting Friday, March 18
WHERE: All library locations

SALISBURY, MD – March 17, 2011 – Wicomico Public Library is kicking off a “Love Your Library” fundraising campaign on Friday, March 18. 

Everyone loves the library. It's the first thing patrons say about the services provided by Wicomico Public Library. The nice part is that the Library is free to citizens, right?

While services seem free, they are not. Funding comes from the State of Maryland and Wicomico County. Reductions in County funding have led to purchase of fewer books and replacement computers, fewer programs and events and finally fewer staff and reduced public service hours at all locations, including the bookmobile.  Our local funding is at a 13 year low and among the lowest in the state on a per capita basis.  We can't meet the current need and demand for library services in Wicomico County. 

We are asking Wicomico County citizens to assist us so we may keep helping people as part of our Love Your Library campaign. We make a difference in the lives of people everyday.  We help children learn to read; we help adults get jobs. Now we need the support of our patrons.

A recent comment card we received says, "Wicomico Public Library is very important to my family.  I am a single mother of three children.  We live on a very limited budget.  WPL is the place where we can see the latest movies, read enlightening novels, and stay current on nationwide and international events.  Please don't cut anymore services."

At our Job Search Center, we assisted first-time user Shawn P. with writing his first resume.  Shawn has been a CDL Truck Driver and has never found a need for a resume, but in today's labor market it is necessary.  He was quite pleased with his first effort.

Donating is easy - you can use your credit card at our website www.wicomicolibrary.org, you can make a cash or check donation at the check-out desks at the Main Library and the Centre and Pittsville branches, or you can mail it in.  Donation envelopes are available inside all library locations and on the bookmobile.  Any size donation is welcome.

“We want to provide the best services we can and do more than we are currently doing because the library is a benefit to all.  Community financial support is the only way for us to continue to do this,” says Library Board member Scott Duncan.
  
Wicomico Public Library: Supporting Learning, Building Community, Enriching Lives
at 1 comment:

OYSTER SANDWICH LUNCHEON

Also soup hot dogs, beverages & desserts---
plus a bake table
 carry outs also available
Saturday, March 19th 10:00 am----2pm
St. Andrew's U. Methodist Church
400  E. Vine St, Salisbury, MD
at 1 comment:

Notes From The March Meeting Of The Wicomico County Board Of Education

Bennett Middle Project
The Board of Education pulled from its March 8 agenda an action item that would have removed the Bennett Middle School replacement project from its fiscal year 2012 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). This amendment to the CIP would be needed, in the wake of the County Council’s decision not to consider the Bennett Middle project until fiscal year 2013, for the school system to notify the state that the school system was withdrawing its request for construction funding for fiscal year 2012.

Board members said during the March 8 meeting that they were unwilling to withdraw the project from fiscal year 2012 plans until every avenue for moving the project forward had been explored. The Board plans to work cooperatively with the County on options for funding and redesign over the next several weeks, in an attempt to resolve the Council’s funding concerns prior to the April 1 deadline by which the school system must notify the state if it plans to withdraw Bennett Middle from its fiscal year 2012 state funding request. Any delay on the Bennett Middle project schedule would further delay other school projects throughout the county and the completion of the James M. Bennett High School project.

“I want to be able to say that we looked at every option available to use before I give up,” Board President L. Michelle Wright said.

More
at 5 comments:

Check Out School Activities Happening This Weekend

Two places to help out students by enjoying a spaghetti dinner tonight, and the fun-filled Destination ImagiNation Eastern Region Tournament Saturday at Salisbury Middle School.

The Westside Schools PTA will have a spaghetti dinner and auction at the Intermediate School from 5:30-9 p.m. Friday, March 18. This is a fun event for the entire family. There will be lots of great baskets and items for silent auction, live auction, 50/50 and more. Tickets for the spaghetti dinner are $7 adults and $4 kids, for spaghetti with sauce and meatballs, salad, bread, drink and desserts. For tickets please contact Michelle Corbin at 443-783-4582 or dmcorbin@verizon.net.

The Pittsville Band Boosters will have a spahetti dinner from 6-8 p.m. tonight at the Powellville Firehouse. The cost is $9. Call 410-677-5811 for information.

Saturday, March 19
Destination ImagiNation Eastern Region Tournament
Salisbury Middle School

All are invited to attend the 2011 Eastern Region Destination Imagination Tournament on Saturday, March 19, at Salisbury Middle School from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. The Awards Ceremony will begin at 3 p.m. in the Gymnasium. Admission is free.

You will see many clever solutions to this year’s challenges. Come show your support for our 37 Wicomico County elementary, middle and high school DI teams. Teams compete at the Regional Tournament to earn the right to advance to the Maryland State Tournament on April 2 at UMBC. Qualifying teams can then earn the right to advance to represent the state of Maryland at Global Finals in May at the University of Tennessee.
at No comments:

Wicomico County Board Of Education Approves 2012 Proposed Consolidated Current Expense Budget

The Wicomico County Board of Education on March 8 approved the fiscal year 2012 Proposed Consolidated Current Expense Budget in the amount of $180,014,143, with $168,255,537 in the unrestricted portion of the budget and $11,758,606 in the Restricted Current Expense Budgets.

The Board of Education and Superintendent said that by state law, the proposed budget is a maintenance effort budget that reflects the county providing a total of $50,126,691 for FY 2012, an increase of $6.9 million over FY 2011. While state law requires the Board to approve a budget at maintenance of effort level, the school system does not anticipate receiving that level of funding from the county. In fact, the Board is anticipating another year of reduced revenue from the County and as a result has been developing budget plans to accommodate such a reduction.

The fiscal year 2012 approved Proposed Consolidated Current Expense Budget is posted at www.wcboe.org. Click on “budget” on the home page, or go directly to http://www.wcboe.org/departments/BusinessSupportServices/reports.php?section=budget to see documents associated with the budget process. The March 8 budget presentation by Dr. John Fredericksen, Superintendent of Schools, is also posted.

The Board delivered the approved proposed budget to the County by the County’s March 15 deadline. It will be incorporated into the County Executive’s budget proposal in April, and a public hearing on the County Executive’s budget proposal will be held. The Board of Education, which held a public budget hearing in January, will hold a second public hearing at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 24. Once it has received the final budget numbers from the County, the Board will adopt its final budget by June 30 for the fiscal year that will begin July 1.

In many ways, the Board and school system have been preparing for two years for the challenge of developing a balanced budget for fiscal year 2012 that protects education in the classroom in a time of declining revenue.

• For fiscal year 2010, the Board returned to the County $2 million from the School Construction Savings Fund to enable the County to meet maintenance of effort. Throughout fiscal year 2010, the school system saved money anywhere it could and, with the County’s approval, set aside $4 million in savings to be applied to the fiscal year 2012 budget, when federal funding from the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act would no longer be available.

• For fiscal year 2011 (this year), the Board made $11 million in budget reductions by eliminating 32 positions, eliminating programs including Adult Education and the Delmar Year Round program, moving grade 5 to the Delmar School District, eliminating the Beyond the Limits Rope Course, and reducing two bus contracts and expenditures on textbooks, materials of instruction, equipment and technology, capital outlay and professional development.

That preparation was critical, because this year the school system faces an anticipated $6.6 million reduction in funding, on top of $11 million in cuts last year. Without the $4 million carried forward from fiscal year 2010, Dr. Fredericksen said, the school system would have to make more than $10 million in cuts. The Superintendent told the Board that he was leaving no stone unturned in looking for places to cut costs. The Board has spent the past several months discussing cost-cutting options.

To respond to the necessity of reducing the budget by $6.6 million, the Board will combine the utilization of one-time revenue sources with additional expenditure reductions as follows:

• $2.6 million in one-time funding from the Healthcare Rate Stabilization Fund to cover the approximately 7 percent increase in healthcare premium costs
• $825,000 in one-time grant funding from the Federal Education Jobs Fund will be used to cover nine special education assistant positions and eight teacher positions formerly paid for by federal Elementary and Secondary Education Aid Title IIA funds
• transfer $1 million from the School Construction Savings Fund
• the remaining $2.2 million will come in the form of cuts in expenditures. Among the many items on the table for cuts:
o Nearly 13 full-time equivalent positions
o Conversion of some 12-month employees to 11-month positions
o No employer contribution to the employees’ 401(a) Retirement Plan for FY 2012
o 4 bus contracts that will be turned in at the end of this year will not be replaced
o $150,000 in textbook funding
o Some of the tutoring and support for High School Assessment (HSA)
o $163,000 for capital outlay
o $100,000 (5%) for School Climate initiatives (though the School Resource Officers and crossing guards would not be affected)
o Student agendas and the school system calendar/handbook
o Contractual hourly wages across all programs
o Contracted services for Student Linkages and other programs
o Field trip support for schools
o HSA transportation
o $52,000 for math supplies and equipment

The Board is also looking to reinstate Athletic and High School Band participation fees for students, and new or increased fees for staff professional development courses, fingerprinting, and facility rentals.
at 2 comments:

Fukushima Situation Remains Critical But Fairly Stable

It has been confirmed by the IAEA the level of nuclear accident at Fukushima Daiichi has been raised to 5. There are seven points on the scale. The disaster at Chernobyl in 1986 was at 7 on the scale. Three Mile Island, America's worst commercial nuclear accident in 1979 was at 5 on the scale.

There is more detail about why the IAEA raised the nuclear alert level for Japan. A spokesman said it was done because of the condition of reactors 1, 2, and 3 at the plant. "The cooling function was lost and the reactor cores were damaged. Radioactive particles continue to be released in the environment," he is quoted by the AFP news agency as saying.

More on the cooling operation from a live press conference with Japan's chief cabinet secretary. "We observed vapour after water was deposited in [reactor 3] so we believe that water did reach the pool for sure," Yukio Edano says.

Around 50 tonnes of water were sprayed in about 40 minutes onto the storage pool at the reactor in Fukushima on the second day of the operation.

News just in: Electricity could be restored on Saturday morning at the Reactor 4 at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, operator Tokyo Electric Power says, according to the Reuters news agency.

BBC
at No comments:

Union Equates Lavish Benefits To Black Civil Rights

"Madison is just the beginning!" AFL-CIO chief Richard Trumka told a union rally in Annapolis on Monday. "Like that old song goes, 'You ain't seen n-n-n-n-nothing yet!' "

Fresh from defeat in Wisconsin, union leaders are planning a new campaign not just to head off future challenges to their collective bargaining powers but also to make the case that organized labor's benefits and prerogatives -- wages, health care, and pensions that are more generous than those of comparable workers in the private sector -- are the moral equivalent of rights won by black Americans during the civil rights movement.

To make the point, the AFL-CIO is planning a series of nationwide events on April 4, the 43rd anniversary of the day the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated after speaking in Memphis, Tenn., on behalf of striking black garbage collectors.

The message: King's cause, and that of angry schoolteachers in Madison, are one.

More
at 4 comments:

Two Charged In Tea Party Election Fraud

PONTIAC, Mich.  – Two former leaders of the Oakland County Democratic Party are facing a total of nine felonies for allegedly forging election paperwork to get fake Tea Party candidates on November’s ballot.

“It is not a partisan statement, and we need to make that very clear,” said Oakland County Prosecutor Jessica Cooper.

Former Oakland County Democratic Chair Mike McGuinness and former Democratic Operations Director Jason Bauer face up to 14 years in prison if convicted.

Read more
at No comments:

Homeless High Risk Tier I Sex Offender Notification


Scott A. Klinger- 40, Middletown, DE
5’09” tall, 135 lbs.
Brown hair, brown eyes
 
Resume:
Middletown- Scott A. Klinger is not wanted. This is a Homeless Sex Offender Public Notification. Cash is a High Risk Tier I sex offender who has registered as homeless in Middletown, DE. If you have information that Klinger is occupying a residence please contact 302-739-5882. Tips may also be submitted through lines maintained by Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333. Tips may also be submitted through the use of your cellular phone by texting keyword “DSP” and then your message to 274637 (CRIMES) or through the internet at www.tipsubmit.com.
at 3 comments:

Proposal Would Exempt Slots Parlors From Local Tax

Maryland senators are seeking to exempt the state's slots operators from potentially paying millions of dollars in local taxes each year.

Although state-owned property -- like the slot machines vendors lease from Maryland -- is exempt from local taxes, operators must still pay the local personal property tax because they are for-profit companies, according to an Attorney General's opinion obtained by The Associated Press Thursday.

Three of the five locations voters approved for slots in 2008 are either up and running or being built. The state has yet to issue licenses for two locations -- in Baltimore and Western Maryland.

The senators seeking the exemption say it was never their intent when they approved slots to have operators pay the personal property tax.

at 2 comments:

GUILTY!

at 1 comment:

Caption This Photo

at 3 comments:

Solution To The Problem In Libya

They want a new Muslim leader,
I say, give them ours.
 
Solves 2 problems.
at 5 comments:

Consignment Show

We are having a huge consignment show for infants and all the way up to teens. Its thousands of brand name clothing and priced to sell. We all know in these times it is hard to go out shopping but we all want our children to look there best. This is the opportunity for the public to do so, you wont be disappointed with what you see. 
 
Teens to Tots clothing consignment. Quality New & Pre-Owned BRAND NAME clothing and accessories for spring and summer. 1 DAY ONLY! Saturday March 26th 8:00am to 4:00pm. Located in the conference room at the Hampton Inn Fruitland, MD. Clothing Includes Abercrombie, Hollister, Gap, Osh Kosh, Ralph Lauren Polo, Carters, Justice, American Eagle, Old Navy and more. All brand names. No off brands. Boys & Girls- Infants to Teens. Priced to sell. Hope to see everyone there!!!

at No comments:

Asbury Troop 151 Spaghetti Dinner

Where: Asbury UM Church 1401Camden Ave.
Date: Saturday, March 26th
Time: 5:00-7:30pm
Cost: $8.00 per person (6 & under free)
Menu: Spaghetti w/meatballs, bread, salad,
dessert, drink. All you can eat.
Carry-Out Available
Call 410-726-3289
A Scout will Deliver your Tickets
at 2 comments:

Fundraiser

at No comments:

Senate Committee Approves Medical Marijuana Use, Ignition Locking For Drunk Drivers And Deadline For Governor’s Commutations

In a marathon voting session on almost 50 bills to meet a Tuesday deadline for action , the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee on Thursday approved: ● the use of medical marijuana overseen by a new commission; ● mandatory ignition locking devices for almost all people convicted of drunk driving; ● a new 180-day deadline for the governor to act on parole board recommendations commuting the sentences for prisoners who had served more than 25 years of their life terms.

Continue Reading...
at 4 comments:

Los Angeles County Battles Puppy Mills With Law

In an effort to make it tougher for breeders to crank out dogs as though they were on an assembly line, Los Angeles County passed a law that's meant to curtail puppy mills.

More »
at 1 comment:

Chase Tests Out $5 ATM Fees

Banks are continuing to amp up the threat of making consumers pay for the price of increased regulation. Chase is testing out charging non-customers in Illinois $5 for withdrawal fees. In Texas, they're trying a $4 charge on for size. Consumer advocates say its a scare tactic meant to muddy up Congressional waters, but banking experts disagree. "I think customers have taken for granted the cost of banks' infrastructure," says Margaret Kane, president and CEO of Kane Bank Services told ABC News. "ATMs are very expensive to install and maintain."

More »
at 3 comments:

Thank God Its Friday

What Will You be Doing This Weekend?
at 4 comments:

Man Wins $5,000 Suing Debt Collectors, Thanks To Google Voice

Reader PJ sued a bunch of harassing debt collectors and won $5,000, and Google Voice made doing it really easy. Someone had put down his work cellphone number on their credit applications and ran up a bunch of debts and collectors started calling him multiple times per day. He told them he wasn't the guy and asked them nicely to stop, but that only made it worse.

More »
at No comments:

4 New York Times Journalists Found In Libya

NEW YORK -- The New York Times says four of its journalists who were reported missing while covering the Libya conflict have been found. The Times reported on its website that the four were captured by forces loyal to Muammar al-Qaddafi and will be released Friday.

The Times say his son, Seif Islam el-Qaddafi, gave the information to Christiane Amanpour in an ABC News interview.

at No comments:

Michigan Democrats Indicted On Forgery And Perjury Charges


Multisource political news, world news, and entertainment news analysis by Newsy.com
Two former Michigan Democratic party members were indicted yesterday on nine felony counts for allegedly adding candidates to a November ballot.
at No comments:

Minuscule Radioactive Fallout Reaches U.S.

VIENNA -- A diplomat with access to U.N tracking of Japan's radioactive fallout says it has reached Southern California but first readings are "about a billion times beneath levels that would be health threatening."

The diplomat was citing readings Friday from California-based measuring station of the Vienna-based CTBTO. He asked for anonymity because the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organization does not make its data public.

at No comments:

Bailout Still $123 Billion In The Red

The administration has been on a PR offensive [1] in recent months to tell the good news about the TARP. As the Treasury Department official in charge of the TARP is saying at a congressional hearing this morning [2], the bailout won't cost anywhere near the full $700 billion Congress authorized. In fact, many of its investments have turned a profit, and some of its most infamous bailouts -- such as the rescue of AIG -- won't end up being the tax dollar black holes [3] they once seemed sure to be.

But the true picture isn't so rosy.

More
at No comments:

Libya Declares Cease-Fire, Foreign Minister Says

Earlier, Gadhafi forces attacked key rebel-held city, killing at least four people

Libya has declared a cease-fire and is halting all military operations, Libya's foreign minister said Friday.
Foreign Minister Moussa Koussa said the decision would "take the country back to safety" and ensure security for all Libyans.

"We decided on an immediate cease-fire and on an immediate stop to all military operations," he told reporters.

"(Libya) takes great interest in protecting civilians," he said, adding that the country would also protect all foreigners and foreign assets in Libya.

The move comes after the United Nations Security Council voted to authorize a no-fly zone and "all necessary measures" to protect Libyan people. The resolution authorized the use of military strikes.

Earlier Friday, forces loyal to Moammar Gadhafi bombarded the rebel-held city of Misrata with heavy weapons.

at No comments:

BREAKING NEWS:

Four New York Times journalists found in Libya.

More to come.
at No comments:

Feds Find 'Systemic Violations Of Civil Rights' By New Orleans Police Department

The Justice Department’s report may lead to federal monitoring of the troubled police force, a step designed to bring about a culture change that has eluded local authorities.

More
at 1 comment:

Deputy Chief Of Homeland Security Demoted

The Homeland Security Department demoted a senior career employee who blew the whistle on political appointees. And a powerful member of Congress wants to know why. The employee, Catherine Papoi, was deputy chief of Homeland Security's FOIA section. She complained to the DHS inspector general that political appointees were interfering with FOIA requests from journalists and watchdogs. Now she's on leave, although still receiving her salary. Republican representative Darryl Issa, chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, warns in a letter that the demotion looks like an act of retaliation. He tells DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano, interference with FOIA is against the law.
at 2 comments:

Senate Votes Today On Three Week Spending

The Senate votes today on a three-week spending package to fund the government through April 8. The measure has already been approved by the House. The continuing resolution in effect now, expires tomorrow. Senator Minority Leader Mitch McConnell vows that when Congress returns from recess March 28, he'll work to get the Pentagon funded for the remaining six months of fiscal 2011. Disagreements over spending cuts and social issues have kept Democrats and Republicans from reaching a deal for a 2011 budget.
at No comments:

Thousands Of Jobs To Be Cut At Department Of Defense

More than 300 top officers and senior executive service members in the Defense Department are about to lose their jobs. Secretary Robert Gates outlines management job reductions that will save the department hundreds of millions of dollars next year. Thousands of contractors will feel the ax, too.  

Read Full Story
at 1 comment:

UN Reported Only A Fraction Of Civilian Deaths From US Raids

Washington/Kabul - The number of civilians killed in U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF) raids last year was probably several times higher than the figure of 80 people cited in the U.N. report on civilian casualties in Afghanistan published last week, an IPS investigation has revealed.

The report also failed to apply the same humanitarian law standard for defining a civilian to its reporting on SOF raids that it applied to its accounting for Taliban assassinations.

More
at No comments:

Libyan Rebels Plead For Support

Rebels in Libya are calling for international assistance as forces loyal to Moammar Gaddafi surround a rebel stronghold and batter the loose organization of resisters, according to NPR. The US wants the UN Security Council to approve broad international military intervention to halt Gaddafi s assault on the rebels, but does not want to put US troops on the ground there. Opposition fighters say they are prepared to hold their ground, but some analysts say the rebels could be out-gunned by loyalist forces.

at 1 comment:

White House Condemns GOP Attempt To Strip NPR Funding

The Obama administration released a statement today condemning a move in the House of Representatives to strip National Public Radio (NPR) of government funding. The House Rules Committee approved the bill in an emergency hearing yesterday, and the statement from the Obama administration was released just ahead of a pending House vote. The White House warned the bill could force small rural public radio stations to shut down by denying them federal funding to purchase content. Republicans began an offensive against NPR after a video was released showing a former fundraising official denouncing the Tea Party.

at 1 comment:

US Military Invests In Spyware For Social Networking

The Pentagon is developing software that will allow US military personnel to secretly influence social media and spread pro-American propaganda through fake Internet personas, according to an exclusive report by The Guardian UK.  The military awarded a contract to a California-based company to develop an “online personal management service” that will allow online spies to control ten personas at once. Web experts are comparing the program to China's attempt to stifle free speech and web surfing.

at 1 comment:

Death Penalty Opponents Continue Push For Repeal

By The Associated Press, The Capital (Annapolis)Death penalty opponents in Maryland say they have the largest number of lawmakers supporting repeal than ever before, but the state Senate president says there still aren't enough votes to pass the bill.

More
at 2 comments:

Japan Sends Soldiers On Emergency Mission At Crippled Reactor

The Japanese government sent soldiers on a dangerous emergency mission to reduce radiation leaks at the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant on Thursday, The Washington Post reports. After police failed to keep the reactor cool with water cannons used for riot control, soldiers arrived and dumped 30 tons of water from fire hoses and aircraft on the reactor that was damaged by an earthquake and tsunami earlier this week. The government took these emergency measures after US officials told Americans to stay at least 50 miles away from the plant to avoid radiation. The announcement raised doubts in the Japanese assessment of the situation as the government there is allowing people to be much closer to the plant.
at 1 comment:

U.N. Security Council Authorizes Action Against Moammar Kadafi

U.S. and allied forces began preparing for military operations against Libya despite doubts the outgunned rebels can be saved.

U.S. and allied forces prepared to conduct military operations against Libya after the United Nations Security Council authorized international action to prevent Libyan leader Moammar Kadafi from using indiscriminate slaughter to quell a monthlong revolt.

With the outgunned rebels in retreat, the council on Thursday authorized "all necessary measures" to protect civilians, giving its blessing to attacks on Libyan aircraft and ground forces now encircling the final opposition stronghold of Benghazi.

More
at No comments:

National Zoo’s Lowland Gorilla Euthanized

WASHINGTON (AP) — The National Zoo says its 44-year-old western lowland gorilla has been euthanized.

Officials say the female gorilla, named Haloko, had suffered from congestive heart failure since December. This week, Haloko’s condition deteriorated, and the decision was made to euthanize her on Thursday.

More
at No comments:

Senate Panel Rejects Rear Seat Belt Use Mandate

A Senate committee has rejected a bill that would have required all occupants of a car, including adults in the rear seat, to have their seat belts buckled while the vehicle was in motion.

The bill, whose prospects had appeared good in a House subcommittee just Thursday morning, was voted down by the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee in the afternoon.

The Senate bill, sponsored by Montgomery County Democrat Jennie Forehand, would have applied the current seat belt violation fine of $25 for drivers to all passengers 16 and older as well.

Current law requires seat belt use by rear seat passengers only if they are younger than 16.

Source
at 1 comment:

Health Department Finds Likely Rat Poison At Annapolis Fuddrucker's

Tip to agency lead to surprise investigation

Following up on an anonymous tip, Anne Arundel County health authorities Wednesday carried out a surprise inspection of the Fuddrucker's restaurant, 175 Jennifer Road in Annapolis. They discovered what appeared to be rat poison pellets on trays of raw hamburger patties in a walk-in refrigerator.

The restaurant, opposite the Annapolis Mall, was ordered closed immediately while restaurant personnel destroyed the tainted food and cleaned the premises and anything that was in contact with the suspected poison. It re-opened on Thursday.

Health officials reported the incident to Anne Arundel County police. "The pellets would not have appeared on their own without a person putting them there," said Elin Jones, a spokeswoman for the county Health Department.

After the tipster's report, she said, the green pellets were found quickly. "It was in the refrigerator area, so it was not difficult for the inspectors to find," she said.
More
at 2 comments:

Study -- State Parks Contribute More Than $650M A Year

By The Associated Press, The Capital (Annapolis)A study of Maryland state parks found they contribute more than $650 million a year to the state's economy.
at No comments:

Miller Says Lawmakers Working On Alcohol Tax

By The Associated Press, The Capital (Annapolis)
Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller says lawmakers are working on how to impose an increase in Maryland's alcohol tax.
at 3 comments:

Guilty Verdict In Murder Trial Of Man Who Ran Over Mother

The Pennsylvania man accused of killing his elderly mother by running her over several times with his truck in September was found guilty of second-degree murder last Thursday.

Full Story
at No comments:

Dates Announced For Spring Flushing Of OC Water Mains

The town of Ocean City Water Department will conduct its spring flushing of water mains Sunday through Thursday, March 27-31, between the hours of midnight and 7 a.m. Should any discoloration of water occur during this period, residents are reminded to allow the faucet to run for several minutes until the water clears.

Full Story
at No comments:

Voters Unhappy With Boardwalk Vote Can Still Be Heard

Although the Ocean City Council decided last week that the Boardwalk will be renovated with an all-wood surface with no concrete lane, residents who disagree with the decision have one recourse left.

Full Story
at No comments:

Atlantic Hotel Controversy Continues In Berlin

Some Berlin Town Council members and locals are pressuring Mayor Gee Williams to request a letter of legal opinion to define his authority relating the town’s Historic District Commission.

Full Story
at No comments:

NO MORE TANNING FOR TEENS?

Dark days ahead or a lighter shade of pale for kids?
Teens planning to hit salons and get a darker tone before prom or spring break may soon be out of luck if Maryland politicians ban minors from tanning lamp use. Maryland state law allows teens to tan with parental permission, but the Senate and the House of Delegates have held hearings on bills that would make tanning teens at spas similar to selling them cigarettes.

Full Story
at No comments:

Fukushima Update

Radiation readings at the stricken Fukushima Daiichi plant have been falling on Friday morning, according to Japan's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency. Measurements taken about a kilometer from the plant were 279.4 microsieverts per hour, vs. 292.2 microsieverts per hour on Thursday evening.

Chief government spokesman Yukio Edano's news conference-- he says officials are still working to evaluate the results of water spraying at the Fukushima Daiichi power station. He says operations to try to cool Reactor 3 will resume on Friday afternoon. Meanwhile, Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco), which operates the plant, is still trying to restore power to the site, Mr Edano says. A cable has been run to the site.

Japanese officials are planning to restart water-spraying at Fukushima later on Friday, Kyodo reports. The restoration of electricity at Fukushima's reactors 3 and 4 is expected on Sunday.

Yukiya Amano, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency is to meet Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan on Friday afternoon, Kyodo reports.

(Tokyo stocks ended the morning trading session up 1.77%.)

BBC
at 1 comment:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)