Incident:

Assault

Date of Incident:

5 May 2011

Location:

31000 block of Old Ocean City Rd., Salisbury, MD

Suspects:

 

Narrative

residence in the 31000 block of Old Ocean City Road. Upon arrival, the deputy learned that Kevin Wright

was involved in a verbal altercation with a female subject he resided with when the altercation turned

physical. The deputy observed signs of physical injury on the female that corroborated the account which

led to the deputy placing Wright under arrest.

The deputy transported Wright to the Central Booking Unit where he was processed and taken in front of

the District Court Commissioner. After an initial appearance, the Commissioner released Wright on

Personal Recognizance.

: On 5 May 2011 at 11:00 PM, a deputy investigated an altercation occurring inside aCharges:

Incident:

Burglary Investigation

Date of Incident:

7 May 2011

Location:

9000 block of Green Branch Road, Willards, MD

Suspects:

 

Narrative

investigation into a residential burglary that occurred in the 9000 block of Green Branch Road. Upon the

return home of the residents in the evening hours of 7 May, they discovered that an unknown perpetrator

had entered their residence through an unlocked window and removed several home electronic devices.

Anyone who has any information about this crime is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office at 410-548-

4891. You may also provide information anonymously through Crime Solvers at 410-548-1776.

Refer to case 11-1794

: On 7 May 2011 at 8:18 PM, a deputy from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office began anCharges:

Incident:

Assault

Date of Incident:

7 May 2011

Location:

4000 block of Allen Road, Eden, MD

Suspects:

2. Jacqueline A. Parsons, 21, Eden, MD

1. Charles O. Parsons, 70, Eden, MD

Narrative

responded to a reported altercation inside a residence in the 4000 block of Allen Road. Upon arrival the

deputy met with Charles Parsons and his daughter Jacqueline Parsons. The pair allegedly became

involved in a verbal altercation over the daughter’s boyfriend staying at the residence when the argument

turned physical. Charles is alleged to have dragged Jacqueline by her hair across the floor while

Jacqueline is alleged to have scratched her father.

The deputy placed both under arrest for assault and transported them to the Central Booking facility

where they were processed and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner. After an initial

appearance, the Commissioner released both on Personal Recognizance.

: On 7 May 2011 at 10:09 PM, a deputy from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s OfficeCharges:

Incident:

Theft from Motor Vehicles

Date of Incident:

5 May 2011

Location:

Wicomico County

Suspects:

2. Jennifer L. Foskey, 25, No Fixed Address

1. John F. Russell, 40, Westover, MD

Narrative

items from unattended vehicles parked at the Wicomico County Youth and Civic Center. On 5 May 2011

at 9:00 AM, a deputy began investigating an additional theft from another vehicle in a parking lot in the

same vicinity. This time, a witness was able to provide a suspect description and the deputy quickly

located the perpetrators on a nearby street.

Upon contacting the suspects, John Russell and Jennifer Foskey, the deputy concluded that the pair were

not only the ones responsible for the theft he was investigating, but also were the pair responsible for the

thefts reported the previous weekend at the Civic Center.

The deputy transported both Russell and Foskey to the Central Booking Unit where they were processed

and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner. After an initial appearance, the Commissioner

detained Russell in the Detention Center in lieu of a total of $20,000.00 bond and Foskey in lieu of

$5,000.00 bond.

The Wicomico Bureau of Investigation assisted with the investigation of this case.

: On 30 April 2010 the Wicomico County Sheriff’s began an investigation into the theft of

Charges:

TheftRogue and VagabondAssault 2nd DegreePending

PendingAssault

Kevin L. Wright, 46, Salisbury, MD

CEO Bonuses Rose by Nearly 20 Percent In 2010, While Average Worker Saw Income Stagnate

As most American families continue to struggle withhigh unemploymentandstagnant wages, CEOs at the country's 350 biggest companies saw their pay jump 11% last year to a median of $9.3 million, according to astudyconducted for the Wall Street Journal. Thesurveylooked at direct compensation — salary, bonuses, and long-term incentive awards — and did not include assets like stock options:

For the surveyed CEOs, the sharpest pay gains came via bonuses, which soared 19.7% as profits recovered, especially in some hard-hit industries. … Net income rose by a median of 17%; shareholders at those companies enjoyed a median return, including dividends, of 18%.

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Religious Civil Rights: Why Have The Washington Times And The Air Force Academy Savaged Them?

Albert Einstein once famously said, "There are only two things that are infinite; the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe." To that end, especially that part about the infinite depth of human stupidity, one is compelled to pose the following question; has The Washington Times editorial staff fallen so low on the ethical, rational, reasonable and integrity scale that they've taken to "drunk dialing in" their editorials now?

Last Thursday evening, May 5, 2011, The Washington Times published a breathtakingly hurtful and almost preposterously ignorant screedentitled"Air Force witchcraft: political correctness casts a spell on the armed forces." In this pathetic and putrescent journalistic piece of filth, parading as the opinion of an alleged so-called leader of the "conservative" newspaper world, the Times revels itself to be just another run-of-the-mill, prejudiced bully cum bigot.

Among other asinine assertions, the Times argues that certain nonmainstream religious faiths being practiced in the United States military are "fringe ideas" not worthy of any institutional respect, and even derides one faith group's worship area at the United States Air Force Academy as "a pile of rocks." A complete detailing of the Times' egregious savaging of the legitimate, religious civil rights of honorable US military members, who apparently don't meet the Times' own convenient "religious test of legitimacy," is beyond the intended scope of this brief rebuttal. I will restrict my responsive comments to two substantially enormous errors committed by this degradingly disgusting Times editorial; to wit, (1) the illegality and real-world danger of the Times' "religiously profiling" any faith as "fringe"; and, (2) the Times' selection of the United States Air Force Academy as the would-be quintessential example of too much religious accommodation gone awry.

It seems that the Times has either suspiciously forgotten or is engaged in "willful ignorance" (i.e., being stupid on purpose) regarding the purpose of the Bill of Rights of the United States Constitution. This compendium of the first ten Amendments was absolutely not passed for the convenience of the majority, but to protect the minority from the tyranny of the majority. Who is the Times to establish a "Religion Legitimacy Star Chamber" to seemingly render verdicts, sua sponte, on which faiths are "mainstream" and, thus, deserving of constitutional rights in our nation's armed forces and, alternatively, which are "fringe" and, consequently, should inherit the wind?

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SIX Years Ago Today

Spend Your Gas Money Wisely!

Ocean City, Md., is less than a four-hour drive from your front door

(May 9, 2011) – With gasoline prices at $4 a gallon, everyone’s budget is crunched for the summer. Where you take your summer vacation matters: Don’t blow it on a lame day trip.

 

There is no better reason to fill up your tank than the 2011 OC Air Show in Ocean City, Maryland!

The 2011 OC Air Show promises to answer the question: Who said raptors are extinct? Come see the Air Force F-22 Raptor and the Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier jet demonstration team.

 

This year’s show will deliver the “Year of Extreme Flight,” with performers that will leave you picking your jaw up from off the Boardwalk!

 

Don’t miss a special appearance by pilot Chuck Aaron and his Red Bull Helicopter. You’ve never seen a chopper do flips and turns like this one!

 

So spend your gas money wisely! Take the whole family to the 2011 OC Air Show for the best vacation you’ll have all year. Getting here is easy: Ocean City is within a four-hour drive of half the East Coast.

 

Show Center Beach, extending from 14th to 17th streets, will offer premium viewing in the Drop Zone, Waterfront Clubhouse and the new VIP Penthouse on the rooftop of the Quality Inn 16th Street. Both Clubhouse and Penthouse tickets include reserved parking!

 

For more information and to buy tickets, visit http://www.ocairshow.com/ or call (888) 695-0888.

***

IF YOU GO
2011 OC Air Show
June 11-12, noon – 3:30 pm
16th Street, Ocean City, Md.

Tickets: 888-695-0888
http://www.ocairshow.com/

Join The Petition Drive

Under the Maryland Constitution, aggrieved citizens are allowed to petition bills passed by the General Assembly under a process known as "the referendum."

Grassroots activists are currently engaged in a petition drive to take Senate Bill 167 to referendum so that citizens can decide whether the state will allow in-state tuition for illegal immigrants. If the petition drive is successful, the bill becomes ineffective until its fate is determined at the ballot box on November 6, 2012.

The Maryland Senate Republican Caucus voted unanimously against Senate Bill 167 that would create taxpayer-subsidized tuition rights for illegal immigrants.

We encourage you to visit the website http://mdpetitions.com and use the "Sign the Petition" link to print out your personalized petition to sign and mail in.

In addition, we have posted below a column written by Senator Joe Getty (R-Baltimore and Carroll) and published in today's edition of the Northern News that describes substantive policy reasons in opposition to Senate Bill 167: 

Statement On Wicomico Middle School

As a followup to Friday's inspection of Wicomico Middle School by Facility Services staff and the Salisbury Fire Department, Facility Services returned to the school Monday for a thorough check and found nothing at the school that presented an environmental hazard or could have caused adverse health symptoms.

Facility Services staff spent five hours Monday checking the school, in cooperation with the Maryland Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MOSHA). MOSHA will make its own report.

The staff of Wicomico Middle School and administrators from Central Office worked cooperatively with the Salisbury Fire Department Friday afternoon as the fire department's hazardous materials team investigated a report of a possible leak at the school.

The building was evacuated in an orderly fashion between about 1:30 and 1:40 p.m., with the 700 students and 100 staff members moving to prearranged areas around the Wicomico Middle property. The fire department's hazardous materials team checked throughout the school and found an old empty freon container on the third floor. The container was removed, and the building was reopened at 2:55 p.m. Students and staff were dismissed within minutes of the usual 3 p.m. dismissal time. The fire department's report on its findings at Wicomico Middle stated that the container was capped and removed, and that there were no alarms or readings of hazardous materials on any of the hazmat team's monitoring equipment.

Earlier in the day Friday, three staff members had reported feeling ill and left the school. The school system will continue to investigate the situation and evaluate the procedures used to respond to it.

May 9, 2011

Poplar Hill Mansion Goes National In Early American Life Magazine

Mayor James Ireton, Jr. is proud to announce Poplar Hill Mansion is featured in Early American Life, a national magazine dedicated to the preservation and design on Early American interiors. The two page article was written by Louise Cordeman of “The Historic Interior”, a website devoted to historic interior design and restoration.

Aleta Davis, Board Chair, Friends of Poplar Hill Mansion said, “Ms. Cordeman had called to talk about historic interior restoration for a column she was doing for Early American Life. During our discussions I told her that we were actually nearing completion of our own historic interior paint project. She was very excited about our work, having done an article for The Historic Interior on our Clara Gunby Art exhibit a couple of years ago. I sent her information about our restoration, information about Ageless Treasures, who was restoring the interior according to a paint analysis done in 2007, and photos by Dean Davis, Rita Tiso and myself.”

Mrs. Davis continued, “To see Poplar Hill Mansion in a national magazine devoted to authentic restoration of historic interiors is gratifying and a tribute to all of the Board and Friends of Poplar Hill Mansion who have given time, money, expertise, and countless hours of research and planning to see that Poplar Hill Mansion once again looks as glorious as it did over 200 years ago. Poplar Hill Mansion is a treasure that Salisbury can be proud to share with the entire country.”

Delaware Does More For Senior Drivers

DMV to Hold Two Senior Driver Days in May

Dover -- The Department of Transportation's (DelDOT) Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) announces that May 2011 has been declared as Older Americans Month and Driver Safety Month nationally. In celebration of this declaration, the DMV will be offering two different opportunities for senior drivers to visit DMV locations and get assistance with driver services that they need, as well as to get information that they may find useful.

The two Senior Driver Day events will be held on Saturday, May 14, from 8:30 a.m. to noon, at the Greater Wilmington DMV facility at 2230 Hessler Boulevard in New Castle and on Saturday, May 21, from 8:30 a.m. to noon, at the Georgetown DMV facility at 23737 DuPont Boulevard, Georgetown. During both events, seniors and their families are invited to come out and discover what Delaware is doing to assist seniors in their cars and on the road.

"These two events give us the opportunity to highlight the ongoing outreach efforts of the members of the Senior Driver Task Force who are dedicated to keeping seniors safe and mobile," said DMV Director Jennifer Cohan. "By partnering with other state and local organizations, these events are a one-stop shop of information that can benefit them, their families, and even their vehicles."

DMV has partnered with several agencies, bringing valuable events and information to one location. Senior Day events include information from the Senior Driver Task Force Partners and the AARP CarFit program, which offers a team of trained technicians working with each participant to ensure they "fit" their vehicle properly for maximum comfort and safety.

DMV services available to seniors during the events include vehicle inspection, registration, driver license, handicap placards, and self assessments, which help promote safer driving by comparing current driving abilities with the requirements for safe driving. Even if your vehicle is not due for inspection, come by and get a free safety and emissions check.

Additional information will be available from our partners at Beebe Medical Center, the Office of Highway Safety, the Delaware Aging Network, the Delaware Safety Council, the Delaware Transit Corporation, DelDOT Traffic, and the Delaware Division of Services for Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities.

For more information about these events or to call ahead to make your CarFit appointment, please call 302-744-2562 or visit the Senior Driver Web site at http://www.seniordriver.dmv.de.gov/.

Do Wicomico Voters Really Want A Tax Rate Increase?

Well, there’s no real evidence to think so.  However, Wicomico Public Information Officer Jim Fineran wants us to believe that.

Last week Fineran penned a letter to the Daily Times where he argued that those attending the Wicomico Council’s budget hearing spoke up in favor of County Executive Rick Pollitt’s 5 cent tax rate increase by a margin of more than two to one.  We are somehow supposed to draw the inference that taxpayers are in support of the rate hike.

While attendance at Tuesday's hearing was miniscule in comparison to the overall population of Wicomico County, its content offers the only barometer of public opinion on the proposed nickel tax increase. From this, a conclusion could be drawn that the participating public understands a small increase in the real property tax rate is needed to maintain the current level of county services.

It is possible that Wicomico voters want to pay more in taxes than they otherwise would have to.  Lacking any objective polling data, I can’t say with any confidence.  However, before Mr. Fineran (or his boss) attempt to claim that a majority of citizens don’t mind paying a higher rate they should consider a few other things:

• Wicomico County voters instituted the revenue cap by an overwhelming majority.
  
• We are still in the midst of a recession.  I haven’t come across too many folks (other than government employees and their spouses) who think that paying higher taxes right now is a good thing.

IF Fineran wants to use a handful of people at a budget hearing as a barometer for public opinion, perhaps he should consider a larger sample.  SbyNEWS hosted a live blog of that hearing.  Over 450 people participated.  I honestly don’t recall anyone commenting that they wanted to pay a higher rate.  A very small number of readers did vote for a rate hike in an interactive poll we ran within the event.

Are SbyNEWS readers more representative of Wicomico’s voters as a whole?  They are definitely more representative than the sample Fineran points to.  Almost all of those who spoke in favor of the tax rate increase fall into one (or more) of three categories:

• Government employees
  
• Spouses (or other family) of government employees V
• Members of various boards who have a personal interest in seeing that their favorite part of the county government isn’t cut any more.

C’mon Jim!  If you are trying to show the county council that you earn your paycheck don’t look foolish while you’re trying.

Bombshell: U.S. Government Questioned Obama Citizenship

Said it lacked documents to determine birth country

The U.S. government is on record questioning President Obama's citizenship status as early as when he was 5 years old, stating it lacked documentation to determine his citizenship, WND has learned.

The citizenship inquiry dated back to 1966, when Obama's mother, Stanley Ann Dunham, was attempting to secure a waiver so her second husband, Indonesian citizen Lolo Soetoro, could return to the country after his visa had expired.

Dunham separated from her first husband, Barack Obama Sr., in 1963 when the future president was 2 years old. Dunham and Obama Sr. are reported to have divorced in 1964.

In 1965 in Hawaii, Dunham married Soetoro, an Indonesian, and moved to Indonesia in October 1967.

Soetoro had been studying at the University of Hawaii as part of a State Department-initiated student exchange program.

Soetoro's student visa had been sponsored by the University of Hawaii's Center for Cultural and Technical Interchange between East and West. The program enforced strict visa limitations, requiring foreign students to return to their home countries after two years.

According to U.S. immigration files obtained and reviewed by WND, Soetoro was approved for a 21-month study grant beginning Sept. 1, 1962, at the East-West Center.

A memorandum from the center dated July 7, 1965, relates how Soetoro had his Class J visa briefly extended after he married Dunham due to a claimed illness on the part of Dunham. His visa had been set to expire June 15, 1964.

"He gave his wife's illness as the reason for his visa extension request," stated the center's memo.

The memo said Soetoro claimed Dunham had been "suffering from a stomach ailment which may, according to her physician, require surgery."

"When I pressed Mr. Soetoro for more information regarding the name of the physician, etc., he claimed that he could not remember exactly," continued the memo, signed by Robert Wooster of the University of Hawaii's exchange program.

Further notes from the exchange program that year related how Soetoro worked at the time for Hawaii-Pacific Engineers Surveyors.

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Fly Flags At Half Mast

"This is to advise you that Governor Martin O'Malley has ordered the United States Flag and Maryland State Flag flown at half staff on Tuesday, May 10, 2011, from sunrise to sunset. This is in memory of Air Force MSgt. Tara R. Brown of Bowie Maryland who was killed in action while serving as a NATO Air Training Commander-Afghanistan Communication Advisor in Kabul, Afghanistan."

SUSPECTS SOUGHT IN CECIL CO. HOME INVASION AND SHOOTING

(ELKTON, MD) -- Maryland State Police are continuing their search for three suspects wanted in connection with a home invasion late Saturday night in which a Cecil County man sustained a gunshot wound and facial contusions during an assault.

The first of the three suspects is described as a white male in his late twenties, 5’7”, thin build, with a neatly trimmed beard, who was wearing a white t-shirt and jeans. The second suspect is said to be a light-complected African American male, 5’8”, with a single gold tooth, who was wearing a red jacket and jeans. The third suspect is described only as an African American male, 6’4”, with a large build and wearing dark clothing.

The victim is identified as Matthew Connor, of the unit-block of Elma Drive, Elkton, Md. He sustained a gunshot wound to the foot, as well as numerous facial contusions. Connor was transported to Christiana Hospital after the assault. He was treated and released yesterday.

Troopers from the North East Barrack responded to Connor’s residence after receiving a 911 call from Connor’s girlfriend, who was hiding in the bathroom and said a home invasion was underway and shots were fired. She was not injured in the incident. Troopers arrived at the mobile home after the suspects had fled and met Connor and his girlfriend.

Connor said that at about 10:30 p.m. on May 7, 2011, he answered a knock at the door and two of the suspects forced their way inside demanding money. Connor said he was thrown to the floor and punched repeatedly in the head and face. When he fought back, Connor said he was struck in the head by the handgun. Connor said he struggled with the smaller African American suspect for the gun, at which time he was shot in the foot. He said the suspect fired more shots at his chest, but missed him.

After the shots were fired, the suspects fled from the trailer to a waiting car parked nearby. A witness told police that car may have been a dark colored Saturn.

Maryland State Police criminal investigators and crime scene technicians responded to the scene. Troopers found a semi-automatic pistol in a wooded area near the trailer that may have been used in the shooting.

Detectives from the Elkton Police Department and the Cecil County Drug Task Force are assisting State Police investigators with the ongoing investigation. Anyone with information about this incident or the suspects involved is urged to contact Maryland State Police at the North East Barrack at 410-996-7800.

OC Air Show

Spend Your Gas Money Wisely!

Ocean City, Md., is less than a four-hour drive from your front door

(May 9, 2011) – With gasoline prices at

$4 a gallon, everyone’s budget is crunched for the summer. Where you take your summer vacation matters: Don’t blow it on a lame day trip. There is no better reason to fill up your tank than the 2011 OC Air Show in Ocean City, Maryland!

The 2011 OC Air Show promises to answer the question: Who said raptors are extinct? Come see the

Don’t miss a special appearance by pilot Chuck Aaron and his

So spend your gas money wisely! Take the whole family to the 2011 OC Air Show for the best vacation you’ll have all year.

Show Center Beach, extending from 14th to 17th streets, will offer premium viewing in the Drop Zone, Waterfront Clubhouse and the new VIP Penthouse on the rooftop of the Quality Inn 16

 

For more information and to buy tickets, visit

http://www.ocairshow.com/ or call (888) 695-0888.

***

IF YOU GO

2011 OC Air Show

June 11-12, noon – 3:30 pm

16

Tickets: 888-695-0888

http://www.ocairshow.com/

PRESS INQUIRIES

Brian Shane

OC Air Show public relations

bwshane@yahoo.com

410-726-0516

th Street, Ocean City, Md.

Air Force F-22 Raptor and the Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier jet demonstration team. This year’s show will deliver the “Year of Extreme Flight,” with performers that will leave you picking your jaw up from off the Boardwalk!Red Bull Helicopter. You’ve never seen a chopper do flips and turns like this one!Getting here is easy: Ocean City is within a four-hour drive of half the East Coast.th Street. Both Clubhouse and Penthouse tickets include reserved parking!

Thank You

Mr. Albero,

Thank you so much for posting information about out chocolate lab, Emmitt.  Within a matter of hours, I had received a wonderful phone call that he was being watched after a few developments away.  I had also received a few phone calls trying to help us by saying they had seen a chocolate lab in certain areas.  After spending all Mother's Day searching for my boy, I was thrilled when I received the phone call he was safe.  The best part has been telling my 8-year old son that he was found.  Emmitt was a present to him when his little brother came along.  I can't thank all those who called and especially the wonderful person who took care of him for the night.  Thank you for all you did to ensure his safe return home.

Sincerely,
Renee Hall

GOVERNOR O’MALLEY TO JOIN PRESIDENT OBAMA’S DRUG CZAR FOR ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION ON NEW PRESCRIPTION DRUG MONITORING PROGRAM

ANNAPOLIS, MD (May 9, 2011) – Governor Martin O’Malley will convene a roundtable discussion tomorrow on Maryland’s new Prescription Drug Monitoring Program, which he will sign into law tomorrow morning.  The Governor will be joined at the event by Gil Kerlikowske, Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy and Dr. Joshua Sharfstein, Secretary of the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. 

Establishing prescription drug monitoring programs nationwide is a top priority for President Obama’s Office of National Drug Control Policy.  The Office’s Director, commonly referred to as the nation’s “Drug Czar,” will travel to Maryland tomorrow to celebrate the progress in Maryland.

Also in attendance will be representatives of the medical pharmaceutical and law enforcement communities. The organizations represented tomorrow will make up an Advisory Board on Prescription Drug Monitoring to be created under the new law.

WHAT:            Governor O’Malley, ONDCP Director Kerlikowske to hold roundtable discussion on new prescription drug monitoring program in Maryland

WHEN:            TOMORROW, Tuesday, May 10 at 2:30 p.m.

WHERE:         Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center

National Institute on Drug Abuse, Intramural Research Program

                        251 Bayview Boulevard

Baltimore, MD 21224

GOVERNOR O’MALLEY, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR ANTHONY BROWN, SENATE PRESIDENT MILLER, HOUSE SPEAKER BUSCH TO HOLD BILL SIGNING CEREMONY TOMORROW

ANNAPOLIS, MD (May 9, 2011) – Governor Martin O’Malley, Lieutenant Governor Anthony Brown, Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr. and House Speaker Michael Busch will hold a bill signing ceremony tomorrow.  Among legislation to be signed tomorrow are Governor O’Malley’s public safety initiatives, including a prescription drug monitoring program and legislation tightening Maryland’s gun possession laws. 

Governor O’Malley will also add his signature to SB 167 tomorrow, which extends the opportunity for affordable college to the children of undocumented citizens, provided they graduated from a Maryland high school, paid taxes in Maryland, and are on a path toward citizenship.

Missing Cat

Missing cat near Adkins and Waller Rds in Delmar, MD

8 year old female Tabby with very short tail (aka: domestic bobcat)

Very Friendly, lovable house cat with no collar

Answers to Snubby  

Went missing Sunday May 8^th.

Contact:  443-614-3968

Thanks for your help!

Crista

BREAKING NEWS: Arizona Appeals To Supreme Court On Immigration Law Ruling

PHOENIX -- Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer wants the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn a ruling that put the most controversial parts of the state's immigration enforcement law on hold.

The appeal comes after Brewer lost an initial appeal April 11, when a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals refused to reverse a lower court's order that prevented key parts of the law from being enforced.

The U.S. Justice Department filed a lawsuit in a bid to invalidate the law. 

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Attempted Murder

Worcester County Bureau of Investigation
Case #  11-0116
    
LOCATION: 9752 Hotel Road, Bishopville, Maryland 21813

CRIME:  “Attempted Second Degree Murder”, “Assault: First Degree”, “Reckless
Endangerment”
       
VICTIM: Robert Lee Leonard,  age 64 Bishopville, Maryland 21813

ACCUSED: Alice Carmita Johnson, age 72 Bishopville, Maryland 21813
           
CHARGES:   “Attempted Second Degree Murder”, “Assault: First Degree”, “Reckless Endangerment”

NARRATIVE:    On Monday, May 9, 2011 at 1028 hours, Robert Lee Leonard of 9752 Hotel Road, Bishopville, Maryland, called the Worcester County 911 Dispatch Center and stated that his wife, Alice Carmita Johnson had just shot him in the abdomen during a domestic argument.
    
Upon their arrival, Deputies from the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office met with Leonard who handed them a .22 caliber pistol with which he stated he had been shot. The weapon appeared to have been freshly fired. Leonard stated that he and his wife had gotten into an argument and which time Johnson produced the pistol, aimed it at Leonard’s abdomen and fired a round which entered his body. Leonard stated that he was able to grab the weapon from his wife's hands which prevented any further injuries.
  
The Worcester County Bureau of Investigation was contacted and arrived to continue the investigation. Alice Johnson was arrested and charged. Alice Johnson is currently being held at the Worcester County jail. On
$150,000.00 bond.

Lost Dog: UPDATE

We're looking for your help. A Chocolate Lab went missing on Mother's Day in the Pemberton Ponds area. I'm confident someone took Emmit in and his Family is desperate to find him.

We don't have an image to publish at the moment but we're working on it. However, in the mean time, if you happened to find Emmit yesterday please call Renee at 443-614-8727.

UPDATE: If there's only one feature about Salisbury News we can ALL be proud of its reuniting animals with their loved ones.

Because of ALL of you, Salisbury News maintains a 100% success ratio reuniting animals with their owners and this is yet another success story out of three in the last 15 hours or so.

A big THANK YOU to everyone helping out. From taking in these lost animals to those passing on tips as to where these animals might be. Of course we can't thank you enough for visiting so regularly because that's how we find these animals.

Next Mayor's Neighborhood Roundtable Meeting

MEETING NOTICE

The next meeting of the Mayor’s Neighborhood Roundtable will be Tuesday, May 17, 2011, at 1:00 p.m., in room 306 of the Government Office Building.

AGENDA

1. Updated Crime Statistics
2. Storm Water Utility
3. Waste Water Treatment Plant Update
4. Neighborhood Updates/Concerns - All neighborhood associations are asked to bring in their updated officers listings and the remaining meeting dates for 2011

Please call the office at 410-548-3100 if you have any questions about the meeting.

GOVERNOR MARTIN O’MALLEY AND LT. GOVERNOR ANTHONY G. BROWN HIGHLIGHT FORECLOSURE PREVENTION IN MARYLAND

Maryland officially becomes the first state in the nation to close an Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program loan

ANNAPOLIS, MD (May 9, 2011) – Governor Martin O’Malley and Lt. Governor Anthony G. Brown today joined members of the Administration, community leaders and local elected officials at the home of Prince George’s County resident Fanny Melvin to encourage homeowners at risk of losing their homes to take advantage of foreclosure prevention programs in Maryland, including the Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program (EMA), the MDHOPE Network and available counseling services throughout the state.

“There is no more powerful place in our State than a family’s home,” said Governor O’Malley. “In Maryland, we’ve undertaken an array of reforms and actions to prevent foreclosures. I am pleased that our federal partners, through initiatives like the Emergency Mortgage Assistance program, and our local leaders have joined together to preserve homeownership, the cornerstone of a strong and growing upwardly mobile middle class.”

In April, the O’Malley-Brown Administration announced the launch of the Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program, a $40 million program to assist homeowners in addressing back mortgage payments. The funding comes from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development with the goal of helping homeowners who are facing foreclosure due to job loss or a decrease in wages, including those who lost income due to illness.

Today, the Governor also announced that Maryland is the first state in the nation to close an EMA loan. Fanny Melvin has been approved and Lisa Barnes of Montgomery County is the first homeowner in Maryland approved for a loan through this initiative.

                                          

“Under Governor O’Malley’s leadership, Maryland has taken significant steps to help struggling homeowners because hard-working Marylanders like Fanny Melvin shouldn’t have to worry about losing their homes due to circumstances beyond their control,” said Lt. Governor Brown.  “I hope hearing Fanny’s story will encourage others to take advantage of our Emergency Mortgage Assistance program and all the resources that Maryland has to offer for those at risk of losing their homes.”

The Governor and Lt. Governor have been traveling the state today to highlight housing programs and services available to Marylanders.

Congresswoman Donna Edwards said, “Our economic recovery depends on helping people like Fanny Melvin increase their skills, take care of their families, and stay in their homes. At the federal, state, and local levels we are working to combat the foreclosure rate in Prince George’s County, and I commend Governor O’Malley for his tireless efforts. However, we must to continue to focus like a laser beam on helping families stay in their homes while making critical investments to educate our young people and grow our economy.”

“I have long said that America will survive this storm, but the question is who will have your job, and who will be in your home,” Congressman Elijah Cummings said.  “We have seen the constant and devastating toll that foreclosures can have on our neighbors and on our neighborhoods.  I commend Governor O’Malley for the State’s innovative programs to keep Maryland families in their homes. It is critical that we continue to do anything we can to help our fellow Americans avoid the pain and devastation created by foreclosures.” 

Prince George’s County has been hard hit by the foreclosure crisis, and the Administration has taken action to fight on behalf of residents in the County and across the state. To date, over 57,000 homeowners statewide have received foreclosure prevention counseling through the MDHope Network since the crisis began.

"I want to thank Governor O'Malley and Lieutenant Governor Brown for this proactive initiative to address one of the most pressing problems in Prince George's County - foreclosures," said Prince George's County Executive Rushern L. Baker, III. "It is imperative that those who need mortgage assistance seek help and assistance now and not wait until it's too late."

"These are difficult times, but, Maryland has new options which will bring new hope to our Maryland homeowners for our foreclosure prevention resources," said Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Secretary Raymond Skinner. "I applaud the dedicated housing counselors, underwriters, pro bono attorneys and program coordinators who have provided homeowners with a seamless process to apply for an EMA loan. As a result, today, we are pleased to hear from two very ecstatic homeowners."

Maryland has passed what the Washington Post called some of the most “sweeping” legislation in the country, giving distressed homeowners more time to work out alternatives to foreclosure. In 2010, the Administration successfully fought for legislation to create the Foreclosure Mediation Program to bring mortgage giants to the table with homeowners and give every Maryland family facing foreclosure the legal right to request mediation with foreclosure seeking lenders. Through Chief Judge Robert Bell’s pro-bono project, the State’s foreclosure mitigation strategies have recruited and trained over 1,100 pro-bono attorneys to help Maryland homeowners and assisted nearly 1,000 homeowners. Since 2007, through the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation, the Administration has recovered over $9 million from financial institutions for consumers who were charged fees that were unlawful or improperly imposed.

Homeowners can get more details on the Administration’s foreclosure prevention initiatives and Maryland’s Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program by visiting the HOPE website at http://www.mdhope.org%20or/ by calling the HOPE hotline (877) 462-7555 to find a housing counselor in their area for free counseling and assistance.

ANNUAL WALK @ LUNCH SET FOR WEDNESDAY, MAY 18TH

In observation of National Employee Health & Fitness Day, Wicomico County Executive Rick Pollitt has announced that the Wicomico County Executive’s Fitness Council is proud to sponsor the 11th annual Walk @ Lunch on Wednesday, May 18th.

Sharon E. Cooper, Wicomico County Health Department Community Health Educator and the co-chairperson of the event, is encouraging everyone to, “Enjoy a short walk on our new route and then join us for a healthy lunch with dessert and giveaways.” The course will be open from 11:00 A.M. to 1:30 P.M. and participants can begin at any time during that period.

The event is free and open to the public but participants need to register online at http://www.wicomicohealth.org/ by May 16^th. Walkers may register the day of the event but they will not be guaranteed a free lunch. The walk will take place on a “rain or shine” basis.

The event showcases the ease of including walking as part of one’s workday. Studies show that including at least 30 minutes of physical activity each day can improve or maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Mr. Pollitt pointed out that, “While the Executive’s Fitness Council is organizing this ‘fun, popular’ event, I want to acknowledge our many sponsors. They are: Avery Hall Insurance, CFS Retirement & Tax Solutions, Market Street Inn, First Shore Federal, Frito Lay, PNC Bank, Peninsula Insurance, PRMC, Pepsi Cola, Delmarva Ventures, City Florist, the Wicomico County Board of Education School Nutrition Services and the Wicomico County Health Department.”

Interested participants may call 410-546-5311 for more information.

We're Destroying America, Not The Farmers!

This weekend I spent some time in Downtown Salisbury and was disgusted with the conditions I saw on the River. After taking the above photos I immediately made contact with members of the City Council who in turn contacted the Mayor. Both City Council Members and the Mayor made the trip to this area of the River and immediately called in Public Works to clean it up.

Now, mind you, this consists of paying Public Works over time to come in on the weekend and take care of the problem. There were 7 large dead fish and one dead goose floating in just that area and heaven only knows what might be found elsewhere.

While Delegates, Senators and even the Governor try to pass blame on Famers for the condition of the Chesapeake Bay, come on Folks, the pictures do not lie. No sooner did this get cleaned up, (believe it or not) 20 minutes later there was yet another pile of pollution floating in that area all over again.

The last photo is just one of the reasons why we have such problems and pollution. The Council did their job, the Mayor did his job and Public Works did theirs. Now its time for you to do yours. We must, (as a community) do something to curb this problem.

Do you really want people visiting Salisbury and seeing these conditions. Use this Post to help come up with answers. You know money is tight. Can we get volunteers in pontoon boats to canvas the River on Friday's and Saturday's? Can we get volunteers to help pick up trash on a regular basis, including the Plaza area and well known areas like the last photo?

Give it some thought and lets see what we can do to help make the City of Salisbury something we can all be proud of. I look forward to your thoughts and ideas.

Lord’s Prayer Leaving Salisbury Council?

Since 1958, the Salisbury City Council has begun each legislative session by reciting the Lord’s Prayer. Tonight, that tradition will come to a halt. The council will not recite the prayer and instead observe a “moment of silence”. Is this a positive direction for the new city council?

Eliminating the prayer was originally proposed by newly elected councilwoman Laura Mitchell. The council has been briefed by the city attorney. Three proposals are currently on the table:

• Continue with a tradition of over 52 years.
• Eliminate the Lord’s Prayer and substitute a “moment of silence”.
• Institute a program of having a local clergyman begin each meeting with a non-sectarian prayer.

Because there is no consensus on council, Cohen announced last Monday that she would “err on the side of caution” and begin tonight’s meeting with a “moment of silence”.

Is eliminating the prayer a wise policy? In short – NO. Reciting the prayer is a tradition that is even older than the council saying the “Pledge of Allegiance” (which began a few years after the council started reciting the prayer). No one outside of council appears to be objecting to the prayer. No one has filed a lawsuit against the city for beginning each meeting with the prayer. We are then forced to ask – Why now?

The Wicomico County Council meets in the same chambers as the Salisbury City Council. They begin each meeting by reciting the Lord’s Prayer and with the “Pledge of Allegiance”. They show no signs of eliminating the practice anytime in the near future.

Has there been an outcry from local citizens who are not part of the Judeo-Christian tradition upon which our nation was founded? To the best of our knowledge the answer to that question is no.

Is Cohen uncomfortable leading the prayer? If so, that problem can be easily eliminated by asking another councilmember or a member of the audience to do so. However, it should be noted that Cohen made no objection during her first term on council.

Are Mitchell or councilman Tim Spies somehow offended by reciting the prayer? If so they can stand respectfully, and silently, while the prayer is said.

Arguing that beginning each meeting with the prayer is “unconstitutional” is little more than a red herring. IF someone sues the city, it is likely that a judge would rule that the prayer is unconstitutional. However, there is no reason to bow down before the false god of secularism until a judge forces the city to do so. The council should at least wait until such a suit is filed before deciding to scrap a tradition that appears to be near and dear to many citizens.

Tradition is not a bad thing. Simply because a minority MAY be offended is not sufficient reason to abolish a practice that appears to have served the city well for over 50 years. Should the city end its practice of reciting the “Pledge of Allegiance”? Some Christians refuse to say the pledge because their allegiance is to God and not to a government. Yet, they stand respectfully while others recite the pledge. They are not offended because such a practice is a matter of individual conscience and they respect a nation which upholds our right to worship (or not) as we choose.

Again we ask – Why now? Taking offense at a practice is different than being harmed. It is not the place of government to protect us from being offended. To those who are offended by the tradition of reciting the Lord’s Prayer we simply state that they can either buck up or file suit. To the members of the Salisbury council who wish to abolish a half century old tradition we can only hope that they realize their error before it is too late.

One Year Ago Today

It was one year ago today Governor O'Malley signed the new sex offender bills into law.

It was an emotional roller coaster but the end result was a bitter sweet victory. Convicted Sex Offenders in Maryland will now serve a minimum of 15 years in prison without the chance for parole and no time off for good behavior.

Two Years Ago Today

A Great Way To Get Rid Of Items

The Salisbury Flea Market also enjoyed great crowds this weekend as vendors packed the parking lot with tons of items for sale.

Salisbury Farmers Market Kicks Off With Huge Success

The Salisbury Farmers Market kicked off this weekend with some vendors selling out of everything they had. The early morning crowd was just unbelievable, so I'm told.

If your looking to support local growers, stop in every Saturday until November and enjoy great prices and fresh products. 

Home Values See Biggest Drop Since 2008 In First Quarter, Zillow Says

Number of homeowners under water amounted to 28.4% of single-family homeowners

NEW YORK — U.S. home values fell in the first quarter at the fastest rate since late 2008, real estate data firm Zillow Inc said Monday, suggesting that a bottom will not be seen until 2012 at the earliest.

Zillow said its home value index fell 3 percent in the first three months of the year from the previous quarter, and was down 8.2 percent year-over-year.

The number of homeowners under water -- or, those who owe more on the mortgage than their house is currently worth -- amounted to 28.4 percent of single-family homeowners, representing a peak since Zillow began calculating the data in 2009.

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Antiabortion Measures Flooding State Legislatures

By Robin Abcarian, Los Angeles TimesEnergized by Republican gains in the last election and still stinging from the passage of President Obama's healthcare overhaul, conservative lawmakers in statehouses around the country have put forward a torrent of measures aimed at restricting abortion.

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Montgomery Co. Bag Tax -- Coming Soon Statewide?

By Julie Bykowicz, The Sun (Baltimore)This week, Montgomery County approved a 5-cent levy on paper and plastic bags, becoming the first Maryland jurisdiction to institute a "bag tax." But it likely won't be the last. Already state lawmakers are laying the groundwork to expand the tax statewide.

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Senator Proposes "No-Ride List" For Amtrak

Apparently the only way for a terrorist to plant a bomb on any of the thousands and thousands miles of completely unsecured railroad track in this country is to actually be a passenger on a train — specifically an Amtrak train. Thus, Senator Chuck Schumer of NY has figured out a way to keep our entire rail system safe: A "no-ride list."

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Republicans Scramble To Avoid New York Special Election Loss

Republicans in New York may again face defeat in a safe district filled by a special election. The 26th District, formerly represented by “Craigslist Congressman” Christopher Lee, will be electing a new congressman later this month.

Three candidates have substantial support in polling. Republican Jane Corwin, Democrat Kathleen Hochul and Jack Davis, who is running as a Tea Party candidate.

In a late April Sienna poll, Corwin led with 36 percent of the vote to Hochul’s 31 percent. Davis, however, was supported by a significant 23 percent of respondents.

Republicans say that the Tea Party candidate is nothing more than a Democratic plant, chosen as a spoiler to confuse voters.

Corwin released an ad Thursday, calling voters’ attention to Davis’s past as a Democratic candidate for Congress. Corwin says that this puts her competitor in league with opponents of commonly accepted “Tea Party” ideals.

“Davis was a hand-picked candidate of Nancy Pelosi, and said he was proud to help her become speaker,” says the ad. “Davis took thousands of dollars from Barack Obama, and even endorsed his campaign for president.”

Davis ran in the district as a Democrat in 2004 and 2006.

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Ex-CIA Director: White House Should Have 'Kept Mouths Shut'

White House officials should have "kept their mouths shut" about the reported treasure trove of material and intelligence seized from Osama bin Laden's compound during last week's raid, charged former CIA Director James Woolsey during a radio interview.

Woolsey further criticized the Obama administration for entering a debate about whether to release a photo of bin Laden's body, advising the president's representatives to "calm down" with conflicting narratives.

On the issue of the announced seizure of material from bin Laden's house in Abbottabad, Pakistan, Woolsey said, "One of the things that I think the PR people in the administration should have kept their mouths shut about was our having collected a large amount of intelligence."

Continued Woolsey, "The story we should have put out is that we tried to get [the material] but we were too rushed and there was a lot there, but we couldn't get it out. And put that out from an unidentified official.

"Because one of the last things you want to do is tell people that you have captured a great amount of material," he said. "I have no idea why they felt they wanted to make that public."

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2012 And The Republican Rescue Fantasy

Talk to enough people around this key primary state and you'll learn two lessons, over and over again.  One is that there is absolutely, positively no unity among Republicans about any presidential candidate or potential candidate; there's no such thing as a frontrunner.  The other is that in the back of their minds, many Republicans are hoping that somewhere, somehow, a superhero candidate will swoop down out of the sky and rescue them from their current lackluster presidential field. 

They know it's a fantasy, but they still hope.

It's not just dissatisfaction with the field -- Tim Pawlenty, Rick Santorum, Herman Cain, Ron Paul, and Gary Johnson -- that took part in the first GOP debate on Thursday night.  Even if the other would-be candidates -- Mike Huckabee , Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, Mitch Daniels, Michele Bachmann, Jon Huntsman, and Donald Trump -- had all been onstage with the others Thursday, there still would have been plenty of unhappiness among South Carolina's political professionals, activists, and ordinary people who just follow politics.  Seeing each candidate as flawed, they focus on the unattainables -- Chris Christie, Paul Ryan, Marco Rubio -- who they believe might bring a fresh face and new hope to the GOP.

Of course, each of the unattainables is so new in his job -- governor of New Jersey, chairman of the House Budget Committee, senator from Florida -- that they could not easily drop their responsibilities and run for president, especially since they haven't been building campaigns for months, as most of the other would-be candidates have.  And of course, if any of the unattainables actually ran, the dissatisfied might quickly develop doubts about him, too.  But at least they'd be new doubts, rather than the old, lingering ones about some of the current candidates.

All this has led to intense frustration among Republicans in South Carolina -- and around the country, too.  They believe Barack Obama is eminently beatable, even after the recent triumph of killing Osama bin Laden.  When his bin Laden bounce settles down, it's likely that Obama will return to the mid-40s job approval range.  And yet Republicans are fighting the idea, heard not just in the press but among some of their own colleagues, that a president in the mid-40s can't be defeated.  It doesn't make sense to them.  So they hope for some new way out of the problem.

The one candidate already in the field who is generating excitement as a genuinely new face is Herman Cain, the talk radio host and former CEO of Godfather's Pizza. It's not because Cain is young -- at 65, he is the oldest candidate in the field, aside from Ron Paul -- but because he brings a businessman's credibility to a race dominated by economic issues; has a gift for commonsense talk; and does it all with a little showmanship (along with some startling weaknesses in the area of foreign policy and national security).  After Thursday's debate, when Frank Luntz conducted a focus group discussion for Fox News, Cain was the big winner.


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Senate Dems Get Ready To Spring A Stealth Budget

Congress is required, by law, to pass a budget resolution by April 15 every year. Last year, for the first time in the history of the modern budget process, both the House and Senate failed to even vote on a budget. This year, however, the House Budget Committee, led by Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., developed a budget draft, posted it online for public comment and analysis before committee markup, then secured House passage after a wide-open debate that permitted multiple amendments to be offered from the House floor. The Ryan budget, for fiscal 2012, was approved by the full House by the required deadline, and the country has benefited greatly from this open, honest debate.

Things are a bit different in the Senate. The April 15 deadline came and went again this year without any public budget documents from Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad, D-N.D. It has now been 768 days since the Democratic-controlled Senate last passed a budget. That momentous event took place on April 3, 2009, for fiscal 2010. The problem now is not that Senate Democrats do not have a budget proposal for 2012; Conrad spent a full day explaining it to the Democratic caucus last week. The snag is that many of Conrad's Democratic colleagues hate it. They reportedly think it cuts too much spending and doesn't raise taxes enough. And now Conrad is telling the budget panel's ranking Republican, Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., that Republicans will have to vote on a committee markup of the document just minutes after he releases it to the public either Monday or Tuesday. Call it the Democratic stealth budget.


More at the Washington Examiner

'Gang Of Six' Desperate To Find Budget Solution

Despite suspicions that the "Gang of Six" is doomed, this bipartisan group of senators looking to mediate the U.S. budget battle could be key to Vice President Joe Biden's long-range deficit-control efforts.

"The rumors of our demise are exaggerated," said one Senate aide familiar with the Group of Six's work.

The Obama administration and Congress are desperately searching for a bipartisan deficit-reduction deal. Getting one would clear the way for critical legislation to increase the U.S. government's borrowing authority.

Washington's failure to increase the $14.3 trillion U.S. debt limit would put the government on the cataclysmic path to a first-ever default on its debt obligations in early August.

Lately, the spotlight has shone on what's being called the "Group of Six Plus One" to save the day: Biden, three senators and three leading members of the House of Representatives.

They carry plenty of political heft and the ability to whip rank-and-file members of Congress into supporting a potential deal to enact a wide range of spending cuts.

But it is the Senate's Group of Six, which is avoiding the limelight, that is seen as having the heavyweight expertise to sort out complicated budget issues, along with the willingness to consider tax increases and popular benefit program cuts needed for a long-term fix of the country's fiscal mess.

"Everybody (in the Senate's Gang of Six) has a sense of urgency and wants to get an agreement soon. Hopefully, they'll work out the remaining issues that need to be addressed and announce a deal," said another aide familiar with the talks.

That is not to say their work is mostly done. "There are a number of remaining issues," the aide added.

A third aide said the six senators were "slogging through the issues one would expect to be difficult, which would be entitlements and revenues."

Without reform, entitlements -- the huge federal retirement and healthcare benefit programs, including Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid -- are on track to escalate government debt inexorably as the U.S. population ages.

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House Panel To Hear Firsthand Accounts Of Crime Along Mexican Border

Skewed reporting on crime along the U.S.-Mexico border will be the focus of a House Homeland Security Committee oversight hearing on Wednesday, according to the presiding lawmaker.

The hearing, entitled “On the Border and In the Line of Fire: U.S. Law Enforcement, Homeland Security and Cartel Violence,” is the second in a series of hearings initiated by Oversight subcommittee chairman Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas.)

McCaul wants to hear from high-level federal, state and local law enforcement officials entrenched in dealing with the on-going violence along the U.S. southern border, caused by the powerful Mexican drug cartels.

An aide on the committee told The Hill that Wednesday’s hearing will discuss the discrepancies in official data on the actual rate of violence on the border. Kidnappings and other offenses do not factor into the equation that results in the figures seen by lawmakers.

“This administration is not giving the American people a complete picture of security on our border with Mexico. It is not 'better now than it has ever been' and the data on spillover crimes and violence is deceiving and underreported. Our state and local law enforcement on the front lines need help. Their firsthand accounts will tell the real story of how we are outmanned, overpowered and in danger of losing control of our own communities to narco-terrorists,” McCaul said.

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Obama Birth Certificate Faked In Adobe Illustrator - Official Proof

Jewish Studies Blinded By Muslim Sympathy

It appears that the politicization contagion raging in Middle East studies programs has metastasized to Jewish studies.  Campus Watch  editors report that in March 2011 an open letter was signed by 30 University of California Jewish studies faculty members attempting to rationalize the disruption of a lecture by Michael Oren, Israeli ambassador to the United States, at the University of California, Irvine, campus in February 2010.

Posted as the “Stand With The Eleven” (the 11 being the offending members of the radical Muslim Student Union charged with misdemeanor conspiracy to disturb a meeting), the letter states:

“As faculty affiliated with Jewish Studies at the University of California, we are deeply distressed by the decision of the District Attorney in Orange County, California, to file criminal charges against Muslim students who disrupted Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren’s speech on the UC Irvine campus last year.  While we disagree with the students’ decision to disrupt the speech, we do not believe such peaceful protest should give rise to criminal liability.  The individual students and the Muslim Student Union were disciplined for this conduct by the University, including suspending the MSU from functioning as a student organization for a quarter.  This is sufficient punishment.  There is no need for further punitive measures, let alone criminal prosecution and criminal sanctions.”

One might assume that in the interests of a free and open campus, a college administration and faculty would recognize the implicit danger to the academic enterprise when force is employed to prevent a speaker from delivering his lecture.  Despite the claim in the letter, the protest was not peaceful, and the penalties imposed are mild by any reasonable standard.  But what is particularly notable, based on the research of Campus Watch editors, is that the signatories to the letter all share antipathy to the state of Israel.  One is an apologist for Hamas, another supports an Israeli divestment bill, a third refers to Israel as “an apartheid regime,” and a fourth claims the Israel lobby “has the power to silence its critics.”

Moreover, these same professors have averted their gaze from the rising tide of anti-Semitism on campus.  Jewish students reportedly have been subjected to swastikas, anti-Semitic graffiti, and physical and verbal aggression.  Yet campus response has been restrained (arguably nonexistent).   Kenneth Marcus, head of the Anti-Semitism Initiative at the Institute for Jewish and Community Research, wrote that the examples cited have “become sadly emblematic of a wave of anti-Israel and anti-Semitic incidents that have rippled across the county, nowhere more so than in the ‘Golden State,’ which has become an epicenter for the new Anti-Semitism in America.”

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