Michigan A Step Closer To Detroit Takeover

DETROIT — Heading down a path that could lead to the state of Michigan taking over the running of Detroit, Gov. Rick Snyder on Tuesday appointed a team to review the city's finances.

The team was named after a preliminary review of city finances showed "probable financial stress" after Detroit was unable to tackle its mounting deficits.

The team, which includes State Treasurer Andy Dillon and other local officials, has 60 days to complete its work. The formal review was announced last week.

More

BICYCLIST FOUND UNRESPONSIVE AFTER FALL

On December 22, 2011, at approximately 7:50 p.m., Ocean City Police responded to the area of 11621 Coastal Highway for a check on the welfare of an individual who was observed lying on the ground near a bicycle. When officers arrived on scene, they located a man, who was later identified as Paul Christopher Day, 54, of Ocean City, on the ground and unresponsive.

Officers began administering CPR on Day until Ocean City Paramedics arrived at the
scene and subsequently transported Day to Atlantic General Hospital. An investigation
revealed that Day had fallen from his bicycle and struck his head. On December 24, 2011 at approximately 1:20 a.m., Ocean City officers were advised that Day had not recovered from his injuries and was deceased.

Nebraska Sen. Ben Nelson Announces Retirement

Nebraska Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson, a pivotal figure in the health care debate, announced his retirement Tuesday in a letter to Nebraskans, saying, "Simply: it's time to move on."

"It's time for me to step away from elective office, spend more time with my family and look for new ways to serve our state and nation. Therefore, I am announcing today that I will not seek reelection," he said.

Read More

OCEAN CITY NARCOTICS INVESTIGATION LEADS TO ARREST

The Ocean City Police Department’s Narcotics Unit recently concluded a follow-up investigation that stemmed from a vehicle collision on December 16, 2011. Andrea James Kaczynski, 47, of Ocean City, was charged with driving while impaired, after the pick-up truck he was driving at a high rate of speed struck another vehicle that was stopped at a red light.

Officers located an amount of Phencyclidine (PCP), a schedule II, controlled dangerous substance, in Kaczynski’s pick-up, which initiated the investigation. On December 22, 2011, Ocean City Police, with the assistance of the Worcester County Sheriff’s Department, the Worcester County State’s Attorney’s Office and the Ocean Pines Police Department, executed a search and seizure warrant at Kaczynski’s home and found amounts of marijuana and PCP.

Kaczynski, who was not at home at the time of the search, was arrested and charged with possession of PCP and possession of marijuana.

Bob's Auto Repair

Absentee Ballots Key To Florida GOP Primary

The attention may be focused on the Republican presidential contests around the corner in Iowa and New Hampshire, but the candidates ignore what’s under way in Florida at their peril.

More Florida Republicans — about 370,000 — already have requested absentee ballots for the Jan. 31 primary than the number of Republicans who voted in the 2008 Iowa and New Hampshire contests combined.

The ever-growing volume of votes cast before Election Day in Florida is one of the factors that make the state a very different challenge from the earliest elections in Iowa Jan. 3, New Hampshire Jan. 10 and South Carolina Jan. 21. Candidates not only have to grapple with the sheer size and diversity of Florida, but they must prepare for a contest where half the votes or more are in well before Election Day.

“Under the old model in Florida, a campaign would work toward a 72-hour program going into Election Day,’’ said Republican strategist Brett Doster, who is leading Mitt Romney’s Florida effort.

Now, ballots come in right after the start of the new year, followed by a lull, then more absentees, then early voting, then Election Day.

In theory, that means a successful statewide campaign in Florida requires a formidable campaign apparatus to chase absentee ballots to bank as many votes as possible. But there’s a little secret that most professional campaign operatives in Florida prefer not to acknowledge: It’s not at all clear the ground game matters much in a presidential election.

Florida’s GOP primary results will be driven much more by national momentum — the results in Iowa and New Hampshire and what’s being broadcast on Fox News — than by campaign get out the vote efforts.

John McCain mounted a minimal field campaign in Florida four years ago and still won the primary with 36 percent of the vote to 31 percent for Romney. McCain did benefit, though, from an aggressive absentee ballot program mounted by supporters of the “Save Our Homes” property tax initiative as well as by targeting moderate Republicans in South Florida.

This year, it appears that Romney has the campaign operation best equipped to compete in Florida. He has not only campaign professionals and a grass roots operation built up over seven years, but the financial resources to campaign in a vast state with 10 major television markets.

More

Seaford Man Arrested On Drugs, Weapons Charges After Being Caught Loitering Outside Apartment Complex

A man loitering in the parking lot of an apartment complex on Christmas Eve is in jail after being arrested for drug and weapons offenses.

Around 9 o’clock Saturday night, Seaford Police say 22-year-old Brandon Ways of Seaford was loitering in the parking lot of the Chandler Heights Apartment Complex, and crouched down as an officer passed. While he was crouched down, police say Ways then threw several items under a fence. The officer says he found a loaded handgun, along with cocaine, ecstasy and pot.

More

Clerk Punches, Knocks Out Armed Robber

A clerk at a business in Western North Carolina punched a would-be robber and knocked him out cold just minutes after the man barged in with a gun and demanded money.

It happened about 15 minutes before closing time Friday night at We Buy Gold store in Hendersonville.

“When he came through the door he told me had a gun and he even flashed it," said Derek Mothershead. “I stood up and threw my hands up and said, 'Take the money.'”

Mothershead said the man came behind the counter with a bag.“I got the money and he had the bag out and instead of putting it in the bag I stuck it out and said, 'Just take it.'

So, when he reached out, I took a step in, I cocked back and preloaded and I hit him hard,” Mothershead told News 4's Mike McCormick.

The punch knocked out the would-be thief.

Mothershead was able to grab the man's weapon and realized it was a pellet gun.

“When I pulled it out of his waistband I started laughing,” said Mothershead. “I said, 'Man, you came in here with a fake gun?'"

Mothershead said he dragged the man over to a desk and held him down with one hand and called 911 with the other.

The man eventually regained consciousness.“He kind of begged me, begged me to let him go,” Mothershead said. “I said, 'You came in and tried to rob us. You’re going to jail.'

”While they waited for police and paramedics, Mothershead gave the man a roll of paper towels, sprayed the floor with cleaner and told him to clean up his own blood.

Police identify the would-be robber as Mostafa Kamel Hendi.

More

Obama Wants ANOTHER $1.2 Trillion Dollars

It's déjà vu all over again. President Obama plans to ask Congress for authority to borrow another $1.2 trillion, the New York Times reports. That would raise the national debt to $16.4 trillion. No more increases would be needed until after the 2012 elections. The last raise in the debt ceiling resulted in a bitter fight on Capitol Hill. That might not happen this time. The borrowing would be in accordance with spending levels Republicans and Democrats agreed to under the Budget Control Act. The government has been borrowing 36 cents for every dollar it spends. Fiscal 2011 added $1.3 trillion to the debt.

Wicomico County Council President Joe Holloway On Benett Middle & More

Funding Decisions for Bennett Middle School

December 21, 2011

Much of our community is engaged in a discussion to replace the Bennett Middle School, a project which would already be under construction, except for a collision with the worst economic recession since the Great Depression., The recession has had a crippling affect on the financial strength of the Wicomico County government. There is great concern that this will continue for some time to come. Adjusting to continuously declining revenues over the past three years, the county has shrunk the size of its workforce and furloughed remaining employees, significantly decreased the level of county services and increased user fees for many of the services remaining. What has been most objectionable to many county residents has been our inability to adequately maintain our roads system, to adequately fund public education, or to fund capital infrastructure, of which 80% is dedicated to school projects.

With the hope of jump starting the project, a community forum was held at BMS on December 13th, at which the Board of Education and its staff, the County Executive and his staff, the County Council and interested citizens gathered to assess the project’s current status and to identify what is needed to put the project back on track. Director of Facilities Planning for the school board, Brian Foret, was the principal speaker.

Mr. Foret gave an informative presentation, clearly laying out that the projected cost of the school is $75.3 million, which through value engineering and cost shifting, will be a savings of $3.8 million from the previous estimate. Of the total project cost, the county will pay $42.8 million and the state will pay $32.5 million. All of the county portion will come from sale of capital improvements bonds.

Subsequent to the December 13th meeting, the Daily Times published an editorial in support of the project; in so doing it erroneously gave readers the impression that the state will pay 96% of the BMS project cost, sdding that it should be an easy decision for the county to pay its small share. Using Mr. Foret’s figures, it is clear that the cost to county taxpayers will be much more than 4%; it will be more than half of the total cost. Whatever percentage it may be, the school will cost Wicomico County $42.8 million.

We agree with the newspaper that building a school is an investment in the future of our community. The County Council still has the concern and it should be everyone’s concern, that if we borrow the money to build BMS, the principal and interest payments won’t add so much to our annual budget to make the county less able to fund the schools operating budget and the budgets of other essential county services. Many county residents argue that these are already unacceptably under funded.

On Tuesday, December 20, 2011 the County Council held a public work session on the BMS project, at which Mr. Foret and Mr. Bruce Ford, Comptroller for the Board; Dr. Frederickson, Superintendent; other Board staff and members of the Board of Education; County Executive, Pollitt and his staff, including Finance Director, Andrew Mackel; met with the County Council. The purpose of that meeting was to determine if, when, and how the county could afford to pay for its share of the project, whether the county would have to borrow all of the money, could the cash flow needs of the project be such that the county could spread the borrowing over several years and will the state money be available when it is needed to meet project cash flow needs.

The County Council asked Mr. Mackel about the county’s current bonded indebtedness and how much will be paid off over the next few years. He said there will soon be relief from bond issues that will be paid off. The Council asked Mr. Mackel about revenue projections and what tax rate he would anticipate the county would need to fund the BMS project. Mr. Mackel responded that he thought the current tax rate would not support funding the BMs project, as well as level funding for other operating expenses, but that the Constant Yield Tax Rate, or the tax rate allowed by the Revenue Cap would both support level funding for current expenses, the BMS project and funding for some other smaller capital projects, or some other budget increases. The Constant Yield Tax Rate and the Revenue Cap Allowed Tax Rate would represent about a 5.4 and 7 cent property tax increase next year respectively.

We asked what other capital projects will be coming in the years when borrowing for BMS would be needed and afterward. Mr. Foret responded that there are school capital needs of an additional $40 million, or so, in the queue for the years after the Bennett Middle School.

On January 25th the Maryland Board of Public Works will decide whether to fund the state’s share of the next round of BMS funding. Approval will depend on whether the county commits to fund the project next year. County Executive, Rick Pollitt committed to ask Dr. David Lever, Director of the IAC which recommends state funding for schools, to intercede on behalf of the county for a grace period before the BPW meeting to allow the county to make a decision.

While all the answers are not in yet, the County Council expects to have answers to the remaining questions for its next meeting on January 3, 2012. The difficult decision for the County Council will be whether to commit to an increase in the property tax rate of 5 to 7 cents now for next year, so the BMS project may proceed, without knowing what else will be required in next year’s operating budget and without knowing whether revenue for next year may decline more than expected. Committing to increase taxes months ahead of the next year’s budget being prepared is without precedent in this county and carries considerable risk.

Wicomico County Council


Joe Holloway
Council President

Police Ask For Help In Finding Missing Pregnant Woman

Wilmington police are asking you for your help in finding a missing pregnant woman.They've issued a Gold Alert for 24-year-old Davenah Brightwell of Chester, Pa., walked away from St. Francis Hospital in Wilmington on Christmas day.

More

TSA Worker Destroyed My Luggage

Fox News Radio host Todd Starnes is blaming agents with the Transportation Security Administration for removing his employer’s logo from his bag and ultimately damaging his luggage as he traveled by air over the holiday weekend.

“TSA ripped off my Fox News logo and sliced up my luggage,” Starnes, host of “Fox News & Commentary,” posted on Twitter.

The host said a TSA agent instructed him to “call the government” for a refund on the allegedly destroyed bag, and that it could take six months for the agency to investigate his claim.

More

New Year Could Mean New County Pension Plan

GEORGETOWN — Future Sussex County employees may not have the same retirement benefit enjoyed by the 500 current employees. New employees will likely have to pay into their retirement plans.

Currently, the county pays 100 percent of pension costs; pension funds are a big ticket item in each year's budget. County council recently approved more than $6 million in contributions to the two funds.

More

A Letter To The Editor 12-28-11

Mr. Albero,

Here is a little something for your readers and Bernadette and her hit squad headed up by Lt. Elton Harmon. So I’m in roll call the other night with probationary Sgt. Doug Smith and apparently an officer wrote something on the blog regarding Sgt. Doug Smith. Well Sgt. Smith ordered us to write a 95 (formal department memo) to him stating if we wrote anything on the blog site. We were also ordered not to discuss it….yeah right!

Under the 1st Amendment we are entitled to Freedom of Speech, however Sgt. Doug Smith feels as though he is above the Founding Fathers of the United States Constitution. How is that? Oh I forgot…he’s an OCPD Sergeant. So the officers have been placed between a rock and a hard place. Fess up and tell Smith if you’ve said anything on the blog site OR don’t say anything and if he finds out the result will be the same….RETALIATION OCPD STYLE! Which is already happening while we are at work right Doug?

I’ll tell you another incident Mr. Albero. I had the unfortunate experience to witness Sgt. Doug Smith one night this past August show another subordinate officer a photocopy of a man and woman. Apparently one or both were of interest to OCPD. Well the glorious PROBATIONARY Sgt. Doug Smith shows the photocopy of this couple to a subordinate TSU (Traffic Safety Unit) officer and makes the comment, “If you look hard enough you can see the outline of her pus*y through her pants”. Whooooooooooooo Nellie I thought to myself! Here we have a PROBATIONARY sergeant that is a supervisor and is suppose to set a professional example to other subordinate officers and he is commenting about this woman’s pus*y. And Sgt. Doug Smith is concerned about what other officers are saying? Hmmmm..maybe he should be concerned about himself.

So now another cat (meow) is out of the bag and I’m sure Lt. Guiton (internal affairs) is going to read this post. Do you think anything is going to happen to PROBATIONARY Sgt. Doug Smith? The answer is no. He is one of DiPino’s protected handpicked golden children.

There’s more where this came from Mac. Do you want to hear more? We have lots more! It’s not just 3 or 4 past officers Mac! Get a clue and get on board or go play tennis with Bernadette!

UPDATE: Ralph J. Mitchell Jr. Charged In Christmas Party Groping

A 60-year-old Georgetown man was charged with unlawful sexual contact after police say he touched a coworker inappropriately during a Christmas party.

The two were sitting across from each other at Smitty McGee's Restaurant in Selbyville Dec. 15 when Ralph J. Mitchell Jr. reached across the table and touched a 42-year-old woman, said Sgt. Paul Shavack of the Delaware State Police.

More

Embolism After Long Flight Killed Rapper Heavy D

A pulmonary embolism brought on by a long flight killed rapper Heavy D, according to a report from the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office released Tuesday.

Heavy D (real name: Dwight Arrington Myers) collapsed and died suddenly outside his Beverly Hills home on Nov. 8 at age 44.  His cause of death was a blood clot in his lung, but he also suffered from deep vein thrombosis and heart disease.

More

From Tanning Beds To Immigration Policies, States Set To Enact Controversial Laws

The federal government may have been bogged down in a quagmire this year, but states across the country actively passed a slew of new laws -- ranging from conventional to controversial -- that are set to go into effect in 2012. California takes the lead in the number of new laws that will be enacted Jan. 1, according to a list compiled by the National Conference of State Legislatures.

More

Mom Of 4 Reflects On First Year In Prison For $31 Pot Sale

TAFT - Wearing prison-issue yellow clothes, Patricia Spottedcrow reflects on her first year in prison through the lens of tears and determination.

One year ago, on the week of Christmas, the first-time offender was checked into the Eddie Warrior women's prison - the first holiday away from her four young children.

"I cried and cried just thinking of my kids opening presents on Christmas and I wasn't there," she said. "This year, it's going to be any other day. I try not to keep up with days in here."

At her mother's home in Kingfisher, there is a somber tone among her children - ages 2, 4, 5 and 10.

More

5 Charged After A Fight Involving Police Officers Leaves Several Injured

ONSLOW COUNTY -- This happened Christmas Eve on Davis Street in Jacksonville.

Police initially responded to a call for a fight on Davis Street around 4 p.m.

Another fight broke out several minutes later that injured several people including police officers.

I spoke with the people who are accused of assaulting the police officers. They told me the incident all started because the officers targeted the wrong person.

37-year-old Jonathan Guiterrez, of Miami had just arrived in Jacksonville hours before the incident happened. He was charged with two counts of assaulting a government official, failure to disperse and injury to personal property, according to warrants.


More

Today's Weather 12/28/11

Today

High
47.0°

Precip
0%

Tonight

Overnight Low
28.0°

Precip
0%

Weather Channel

Store Proprietors Don't Know Powerball Winner

ELKTON, Md. - Proprietors of a family-run restaurant and liquor store in Elkton say they don't know much about the man who purchased a winning $125 million Powerball ticket there.

The Baltimore Sun reports that the Maryland Lottery doesn't know the winner's name either. Someone called the store on Christmas morning to ask for the winning numbers, and when the clerk read them, the man said, "Looks like I am the winner" .

More

Baltimore May See Lowest Homicide Count Since '80s

BALTIMORE (AP) - The city known nationwide as a homicide hot spot thanks to TV crime dramas could record its lowest annual homicide total since the early 1980s. Through midday Friday, Baltimore has recorded 194 homicides this year, putting it on track to see fewer than 200 homicides for the year and the lowest homicide rate in more than 20 years.


More

Iran Reportedly Threatens to Cut Off Oil Flow Through Key Route Over Nuclear Sanctions

Iran is threatening to stop the flow of oil through the Strait of Hormuz – a key world oil route in the Persian Gulf – if the West imposes more sanctions over its controversial nuclear energy program.

The sanctions stem from a U.N. watchdog report that alleges the country may be developing nuclear weapons. Iran has denied the claims, stating that its program is for peaceful purposes, Reuters reports.

"If [the West] impose sanctions on Iran's oil exports, then even one drop of oil cannot flow from the Strait of Hormuz," Iran's First Vice President Mohammad Reza Rahimi told Iranian news agency IRNA.

"Our enemies will give up on their plots against Iran only if we give them a firm and strong lesson," he added.

More

Governor O'Malley Press Release

GOVERNOR MARTIN O’MALLEY TO HOST END-OF-YEAR PRESS ROUNDTABLE

ANNAPOLIS, MD (December 27, 2011) – On Thursday, December 29^th, Governor Martin O’Malley will host an end-of-year press roundtable to discuss this year’s challenges, opportunities and successes with a preview of the year ahead.

WHAT:           Governor to host end-of-year press roundtable

WHEN:           THURSDAY, December 29^th at 11:00 a.m.

                         

WHERE:         Governor’s Reception Room

                        2^nd Floor, State House

Annapolis, MD

More And More Women Embracing Gun Ownership

(CBS News)  

The face of the American gun owner is changing.

More women than ever are picking up rifles, shotguns, and handguns. And target shooting is one of the fastest-growing female sports.

But, looks can be deceiving. We're not talking "Dirty Harriet" here, notes "Early Show" contributor Katrina Szish.

Female participation in target shooting in the U.S. has nearly doubled in the last decade, growing to nearly five million women since 2001.

More

French Insurance To File Criminal Complaint On Breast Implants

France’s national health insurance agency will file a criminal complaint in a breast implant scandal, an official said Saturday, after authorities recommended that women with potentially faulty implants have them removed and agreed to pay for the procedure.

The agency will file the complaint for deception and fraud in the coming days, according to the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity citing policy. It will most likely not name specific people or the company behind the implants, though specific targets could be added later.

Read More

Carlyle Group To Get A Man On The Federal Reserve Board

It's all about insiders when it comes to the Federal Reserve.

A White House statement says President Obama will nominate two former U.S. Treasury Department officials for the Federal Reserve Board.

Obama's picks are Jerome Powell, an attorney who was a Treasury undersecretary for former President George H.W. Bush, and Jeremy Stein, a Harvard University economist who has advised the current administration.

David Rubinstein is popping champagne. Powell from 1997 through 2005, was a partner at The Carlyle Group, where he founded and led the Industrial Group within the U.S. Buyout Fund.


More

Speak Out And You May Be Targeted, Warns Breached Security Firm Stratfor

Be careful what you say, or say nothing at all, advises hacked international intelligence and threat analysis firm Stratfor, after revealing hackers may be targeting members who offer public support for the company in the wake of a serious security breach. Stratfor was allegedly infiltrated Sunday night by hacktivist group Anonymous. Anonymous announced on Twitter that it had stolen thousands of credit card numbers as well as the personal information of Stratfor’s clients, posting links to some of that information Sunday and again on Monday.

Read More

Home Prices Drop For 2nd Straight Month, Survey Shows

WASHINGTON — U.S. home prices fell in most major cities for the second straight month, further evidence that the housing recovery will be bumpy. The Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller index released Tuesday showed prices dropped in October from September in 19 of the 20 cities tracked.

More

Egyptian Court Rules Against Virginity Tests

Cairo (CNN) -- An Egyptian administrative court issued an order Tuesday banning virginity tests for female detainees, months after several women alleged they were subjected to such examinations following a March protest in Cairo's Tahrir Square. The ruling comes in the case of Samira Ibrahim, a 25-year-old marketing manager who took the country's military led-government to court in August, alleging she was among those subjected to the test after her arrest during the March 9 protest. She said she faced death threats after bringing the case.

More

Neighbor Chopped up Missing Indiana Girl With Hacksaw, Police Say

FORT WAYNE, Ind. –  A babysitter and trusted neighbor has confessed that he bludgeoned a 9-year-old Indiana girl to death with a brick then dismembered her, hiding her head, hands and feet at his home and dumping the rest of her remains nearby, police said Tuesday.

Allen County sheriff's investigators said in an affidavit that 39-year-old Michael Plumadore admits he killed Aliahna Lemmon on Thursday.

More

Sears - Stock Price (SHLD) - Drops 27%

Sears announced closure of 100 stores today. The stock price - (SHLD trading symbol) - ended the day down 27%.
Click here for more: http://www.google.com/finance?q=NASDAQ:SHLD#

Powerful New Painkillers Have Addiction Experts Worried

Drug companies are working to develop a pure, more powerful version of the nation’s second most-abused medicine, which has addiction experts worried that it could spur a new wave of abuse.

The new pills contain the highly addictive painkiller hydrocodone, packing up to 10 times the amount of the drug as existing medications such as Vicodin. Four companies have begun patient testing, and one of them — Zogenix of San Diego — plans to apply early next year to begin marketing its product, Zohydro.

More

8 Health Stories To Watch In 2012

These events captivated the American public in 2011 — and they may matter even more in 2012. Keep an eye out.
If you flew on a plane this year, you were probably asked by an agent at airport security to assume the position — hands up, feet apart. Across the country, the U.S. government has installed full-body scanners, which are designed to generate detailed, three-dimensional contours of the body, so that security agents can more easily spot any weapons, from ceramic knives to explosives, that may be hiding under clothing and would be missed by metal detectors. Sounds like a good idea, but the problem lies in how the machines do their duty.

Read More

Congress To Fund Massive Expansion Of TSA Checkpoints

Congress is set to give the green light on funding for a massive expansion of TSA checkpoints, with the federal agency already responsible for over 9,000 such checkpoints in the last year amidst increased fears America is turning into a police state following the passage of the ‘indefinite detention’ bill.


The increase in funding has nothing to do with the TSA’s role in airports – this is about creating 12 more VIPR teams to add the federal agency’s 25 units that are already scattered across the country and responsible for manning checkpoints on highways, in bus and train terminals, at sports events and even high school prom nights.


More

The NDAA Repeals More Rights

Little by little, in the name of fighting terrorism, our Bill of Rights is being repealed. The 4th Amendment has been rendered toothless by the PATRIOT Act. No more can we truly feel secure in our persons, houses, papers and effects when now there is an exception that fits nearly any excuse for our government to search and seize our property. Of course, the vast majority of Americans may say, "I'm not a terrorist so I have no reason to worry." However, innocent people are wrongly accused all the time. The Bill of Rights is there precisely because the founders wanted to set a very high bar for the government to overcome in order to deprive an individual of life or liberty. To lower that bar is to endanger everyone. When the bar is low enough to include political enemies, our descent into totalitarianism is virtually assured.


More

YOU AIN’T SEEN NOTHING YET

The story below is happening across the country in every township, municipality, and county in America. It will take years to play out. The implications of the largest housing bubble in history, created by the Wall Street criminal syndicate, are far reaching and will affect the country for a decade. It is now five years since the bubble popped and prices are still falling. The false MSM storyline of housing recovery is growing stale. The false boom created by the criminal Wall Street banks led to massive inflows of property taxes and transfer taxes into the coffers of localities across the land. The boneheaded bureaucrats who run your towns believed these tax revenues were permanent and would keep flowing in forever. They built new municipal buildings, built bridges to nowhere, bought more cop cars and fire engines, while signing gold plated union contracts with their teachers and municipal workers.


More

Percentage Of Voting Population Doesn’t Guarantee Seats In Legislature

The African-American witnesses at Thursday’s hearing on the proposed legislative redistricting map consistently made the case that there should have been 14 predominately black Senate districts out of 47, not the 12 proposed. But the decision by a three-judge federal court the next day on the congressional districts maps undermined some of these arguments based on the percentage of the population.

More

The New Republican Primary Rules Make It Possible For The Republican Establishment To Steal The Nomination From A Candidate They Don't Like

New Republican primary rules are going to make it basically impossible for any candidate to wrap up the Republican nomination very early in 2012. In fact, the new Republican primary rules make a "brokered convention" much more likely and they also make it much more likely that the Republican establishment will attempt to steal the nomination away from a candidate that they do not like. How exactly they would do this will be discussed later in the article. The key is that most Republican primaries and caucuses will now allocate delegates using a proportional system rather than a "winner take all" system. Back in 2008, John McCain did very well in early "winner take all" primaries and wrapped up the Republican nomination very, very quickly. Nothing like that will happen in 2012. In fact, if the field remains crowded it is going to be very difficult for any candidate to accumulate more than 50 percent of the delegates by the time the Republican national convention rolls around. As will be discussed later on in this article, that would move the power into the hands of the Republican establishment.

First, let's try to understand what these new changes are. Sadly, it appears that even most Republican voters do not understand how things have changed.

The following rule was adopted by the Republican Party back in August 2010....

"Any presidential primary, caucus, convention, or other meeting held for the purpose of selecting delegates to the national convention which occurs prior to the first day of April in the year in which the national convention is held, shall provide for the allocation of delegates on a proportional basis."


This new rule means that delegates will be apportioned to candidates on a proportional basis in Republican caucuses and primaries that are conducted prior to April 1st. One notable exception to this rule is Florida, which got approval to remain a "winner take all" state. So Florida will be very important.

More

Legal Online Gambling May Be On The Way, Courtesy Of Justice Department

Online poker and other forms of non-sports internet gambling could become legal, thanks in part to a recently released U.S. Department of Justice opinion on a 50-year-old law.

More

Gay Couples Lose Big On Tax Breaks Because Their Marriages Aren't Recognized

Gay couples whose marriages aren't viewed as legitimate by the federal government have to pay heavily due to the indignity. Same-sex couples reportedly pay as much as $6,000 more a year in taxes because they aren't allowed to file jointly.

More

FTC Wants Your Input

The Federal Trade Commission is exploring ways to develop new facial recognition technology and it wants your input. The FTC explored the future commercial applications of facial recognition technologies at a recent workshop. It's asking for public comment to answer questions that came out of that meeting. Those include: how consumers can benefit from the technologies?; what privacy and security might arise?; and what are best practices for providing consumers with notice and choice with these new technologies? The deadline for filing comments is Jan. 31, 2012. (FTC)

Tracking Santa

North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD, set new records in its annual Santa Claus tracking exercise. NORAD, headquartered at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., received more than 100,000 phone calls, up from 80,000 last year. Facebook likes rose to nearly a million. Twitter followers jumped to 89,000. NORAD's Elf-Toss smart phone app logged 700,000 downloads. NORAD has been tracking Santa's yearly trek since 1955. Meanwhile, a National Science Foundation interview with one economist shows U.S. consumer Christmas spending ranks only 20th among nations.

The Agriculture Department To Stop Publishing Several Reports

The Agriculture Department is reversing a decision to stop publishing several periodic reports. The agency estimated it could save about $10 million by eliminating or reducing the frequency of 14 crop and livestock reports. Two months later, USDA says it will reinstate the reports for categories including catfish and trout, fruits and vegetables, and bees and honey. The move comes after farmers complained they were left guessing how much to produce and when to sell. USDA says efficiencies in other operations will let the department reinstate the reports.

Federal Pay Safe, For Now

Federal pay and benefits are safe in the two-month payroll tax cut extension signed by the president just before Christmas. House Republicans passed the bill before the benefits expired at the end of December. The legislation buys time for talks early next year on how to finance a year-long extension. That fight promises to be contentious. For now the stop-gap bill renews the expiring payroll tax cuts for every worker, extends unemployment benefits for millions of Americans and prevents doctors from absorbing cuts in Medicare payments

Ron Paul: The NDAA Codifies Obama's Power Grab

Another Blow To Krugman: Consumer Confidence At 8 Month High

The Conference Board reports that its Consumer Confidence Index rose almost 10 points to 64.5, up from a revised 55.2 in November.

The surge builds on another big increase in November, when the index rose almost 15 points from the month before.

Krugman-like Keynesian analysts were scorched again. They had expected the index would come in at 59.

Consumer confidence isn't my favorite indicator because it will be slow in detecting tops in the business cycle. But strong confidence at the beginning of an upturn in the Fed created boom-bust cycle suggests that individuals will be lowering their desire to hold cash balances, which points to accelerating price inflation.

Thus this is a double-whammy to NYT Keynesian economist Paul Krugman, who only weeks ago said we remain under depression coniditions and who believes that inflation is under control.

Source

Had To Happen

Sears And Kmart Closing More Than 100 Stores

Sears Holdings reports a sharp drop in holiday sales compared to a year ago, and says that means it will have to close 100 to 120 Sears and Kmart stores.

More

STATE OF THE COUNTY SPEECH - WEDNESDAY, 12/28/11 - 10AM

WHO: Wicomico County Executive Richard M. Pollitt, Jr.

WHAT: Annual State of the County Speech Distribution of “Report to the People”

WHERE: Government Office Building Council Chambers

WHEN: Wednesday, 12/28/11 – 10:00 A.M.

2011 Christmas Lights- Thank You Troops And Veterans! Thanks For Your Votes!

Bay Bridge Revenue Up 25 Percent

After increase last month, bridge traffic dips 2 percent

New, higher tolls on the Bay Bridge netted the state about $739,000 more last month than during the same month in 2010, according to preliminary statistics released by the Maryland Transportation Authority.

More

Wicomico County Sheriff's Office Press Releases 12-27-11

Incident: Attempted Burglary
Date of Incident: 23 December 2011
Location: Jackson Road Fruitland, MD
Suspect: Melissa S. Pond, 30, Salisbury, MD

Narrative: On 23 December 2011, a deputy from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office responded to a reported suspicious person on Jackson Road in Fruitland. An investigation revealed that the suspect, Melissa Pond, appeared to be intoxicated and was attempting to enter a residence. The occupants of the residence did not know Pond. Pond also damaged a flower pot at the residence. Pond was placed under arrest, and charged with the below offenses.

The deputy transported Pond to the Central Booking Unit where she was processed and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner. After an initial appearance, the Commissioner placed a $10,000 bond on Pond.

Charges: Attempted Burglary
Trespass
Malicious Destruction of Property

Incident: Possession of CDS
Date of Incident: 21 December 2011
Location: Beaglin Park Drive Salisbury, MD
Suspect: Michael J. Dryden, 18, Salisbury, MD

Narrative: On 21 December 2011 a deputy from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a subject possessing contraband. During the ensuing investigation, the deputy located a smoking device containing suspected marijuana residue, in the back pocket of the suspect, Michael Dryden.

The deputy transported Dryden to the Central Booking Unit where he was processed and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner. After an initial appearance, the Commissioner placed a bond of $10,000 on Dryden.

Charges: Possession of Marijuana
Possession of CDS Paraphernalia

Daily Times Blog Article Yesterday Was Bogus

A reader sent in the following.

In the Oregon case the Federal judge - Marco Hernandez has gone way beyond his scope of authority in that he has re-written the 1st Amendment - Freedom of Press. In fact, I would go so far as to say that he himself has opened up a case against himself - for his attempt to circumvent our US Constitution.

This case is perfectly set-up to be challenged on appeal - and that is exactly what I predict will happen.

Publisher's Notes: I find it ironic that the Daily Times would publish such information, almost as if they were sending a warning shot over the bow. The hilarious part about the article is the fact that I have personally been challenged three times referencing this matter and they never once sited my victory all three times.

Am I supposed to get so scared I'll just stop blogging? Then they interview Jonathan Taylor in which he says he always consults an attorney before he published anything. YOUR TAX DOLLARS HARD AT WORK FOLKS. The man doesn't even have a job and lives off of disability and entitlements from YOU the taxpayers, yet he can afford an attorney before he published articles.

The Daily Times is publishing CRAP any more. Fear messages that are supposed to create an image, they must be stopped or challenged. Well, I say, bring it on. They had to go to a case in OREGON? Yet they already had case law from Tilghman vs. Albero, right here on the Eastern Shore?

Anything to discredit Salisbury News as we continue to grow, AND THEY KNOW IT TO BE A FACT. Don't you think for a second that the Daily Times isn't completely aware of how fast we continue to grow and how they are quickly falling apart.

Nice try Boys.

Very Cool Holiday Message

GO HERE

Sears, K-mart - Could This Be The Beginning of the End

A few days ago SBYnews released the latest sales tax collection data for Wicomico County.

2003 - $55,487,221

2004 - $60,701,335

2005 - $68,168,174

2006 - $76,160,447

2007 - $76,254,189

2008 - $75,892,624 - (Sales tax rate increased from 5% to 6%)

2009 - $74,451,792

2010 - $70,996,975

Moments ago - Sears stock value had declined by almost $11/Share and is now trading at its 52 week low $34.80.

SBYnews has been predicting that one or more of our areas local big box retailers could fold as a result of our deepening recession. Stay tuned - because the ride could prove to be very interesting.

http://money.msn.com/ways-to-invest/articles.aspx?post=928527db-24b8-400d-8021-26f5a32b828c

Land Of The Freebies, Home Of The Enslaved

A Letter To The Editor 12-27-11

Can you help me remove a dead deer from the roadside on Pemberton Road?

If you have driven on Pemberton Road during the last month, you have noticed a dead deer, just across the street from the daycare center, just west of the Williams market, about 40 feet from the state road. It’s easy to spot, it now also has a Christmas wreath that someone placed on the site recently.

I know that the animal didn’t choose to be killed on the state road then dragged into the field. A more respectful place might be the right answer for this dead
animal, do you think?

I have a truck, a trailer, and a tarp needed to remove this deer. I need someone to help me remove the dead deer, should only take a half hour of your time. My cell number is 443.690.9299.

Thank You
R. Turner

PS – When you throw the fast food trash out your window, it will draw hungry wildlife onto the road. Please put trash in a trash can.

Today's Survey Question 12-27-11

Will NASA eventually find another planet that could sustain life like Earth?

Whose Country Is It, Anyway?

Half a century ago, American children were schooled in Aesop's fables. Among the more famous of these were "The Fox and the Grapes" and "The Tortoise and the Hare."

Particularly appropriate this Christmas season, and every Christmas lately, is Aesop's fable of "The Dog in the Manger."

The tale is about a dog who decides to take a nap in the manger. When the ox, who has worked all day, comes back to eat some straw, the dog barks loudly, threatens to bite him and drives him from his manger.

The lesson the fable teaches is that it is malicious and wicked to deny a fellow creature what you yourself do not want and cannot even enjoy.

What brings the fable to mind is this year's crop of Christmas-haters, whose numbers have grown since the days when it was only the village atheist or the ACLU pest who sought to kill Christmas.

The problem with these folks is not simply that they detest Christmas and what it represents, but that they must do their best, or worst, to ensure Christians do not enjoy the season and holy day they love.

More

Doing A Background Check On CNN

Since CNN broadcasters seem so intent on looking back decades into promo letters and newletters put out by one of Ron Paul's organizations,when everyone admits Ron Paul did not write the letters, lets take a look at the background of some of those affiliated with CNN. It's as elitist as you can get, with strong ties to the CIA recruiting ground, Yale University.

CNN is owned by Times Warner who's CEO Jeffery L. Bewkes is a director of the Council on Foreign Relations and also serves on the board of Yale University.

Also affiliated with Yale and CNN are Anderson Cooper and David Gergen.

Anderson Cooper spent time interning, during his summer breaks in his sophomore and junior years at Yale, at the CIA.

Cooper is the son of Gloria Vanderbilt and the great-great-great-grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt. It was J.P. Morgan, Rockefeller and Vanderbilt who developed Jekyll Island, where the Wall Street elite developed the plan to launch the Federal Reserve.

Cooper is also a member of the Manuscript Society (aka The Wrexham Foundation). The Manuscript Society is a secret society at Yale University, like Skull & Bones. The society holds an annual gathering in its tomb on Halloween.

CNN senior political correspondent, David Gergen, is also a member of the Manuscript Society and was a presidential advisor who served during the administrations of Nixon, Ford, Reagan, and Clinton.

More

Montanans Launch Recall Of Senators Who Approved NDAA Military Detention

On Christmas Day the US Senate voted 86 - 14 to pass the National Defense Authorization Act of 2011 which allows for the indefinite military detention of American citizens without charge or trial. Now, Montanans have announced the launch of recall campaigns against Senators Max Baucus and Jonathan Tester, who voted for the bill, reports Salem-News.com.

Montana is one of nine states with provisions that say that the right of recall extends to recalling members of its federal congressional delegation, pursuant to Montana Code 2-16-603, on the grounds of physical or mental lack of fitness, incompetence, violation of oath of office, official misconduct, or conviction of certain felony offenses, according to SNC.

Montana law requires grounds for recall to be stated which show conformity to the allowed grounds for recall. The draft language of the Montana petitions, "reason for recall" reads:

The Sixth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guarantees all U.S citizens:

"a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed..."

The National Defense Authorization Act of 2011 (NDAA 2011) permanently abolishes the Sixth Amendment right to a jury trial, "for the duration of hostilities" in the War on Terror, which was defined by President George W. Bush as "task which does not end" to a joint session of Congress on September 20, 2001.

More

THE OLD MAN AND THE SEA - 2011

“Though the Federal Reserve policy harms the average American, it benefits those in a position to take advantage of the cycles in monetary policy. The main beneficiaries are those who receive access to artificially inflated money and/or credit before the inflationary effects of the policy impact the entire economy. Federal Reserve policies also benefit big spending politicians who use the inflated currency created by the Fed to hide the true costs of the welfare-warfare state.” – Ron Paul

Ernest Hemingway and Ron Paul never met. Ron Paul was completing medical school in 1961 when Hemingway committed suicide at his home in Idaho. I think they would have hit it off. I stumbled across the quote from Hemingway above. Those words could have come directly out of the mouth of Ron Paul. Both men spent their whole lives seeking the truth and presenting their ideas in a blunt straightforward manner. Hemingway is one of the most renowned writers in American history, with classics such as A Farewell to Arms, For Whom the Bell Tolls, and The Sun Also Rises to his credit. He won the Nobel Prize for literature in 1954. He constructed a new literary style characterized by lean, hard, sparse dialogue. He influenced literature and young authors for decades. As a teenager I was immediately drawn to his gritty realistic novels. There was no nonsense to his novels. They always involved man’s struggle against death and hardship. Most of his best work was done in the 1920s and 1930s, but he produced one of his finest works in 1951 towards the end of his life. Hemingway won the Pulitzer Prize for his story about an epic battle between an old man and a great marlin.

Ernest Hemingway was bigger than life. Hemingway’s real life reads like a Stephen Spielberg Indiana Jones movie. He was an ambulance driver in World War I, where he was seriously wounded. He had four wives. He lived in Paris during the 1920s associating with other famous “Lost Generation” writers. He was a correspondent during the Spanish Civil War and World War II, while also joining in the fighting. He survived two plane crashes and multiple car accidents. He battled alcoholism and mental illness, eventually taking his own life, just as his father, brother and sister had done before him. His novels reflected the pain, struggle and inevitability of death that permeated his own life.

More

Governor’s Challenge – Which Team will Take The Cake, Or Pie?

Salisbury, MD – For years, the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center has brought high school basketball players together in competition over the holiday break. In 2010 Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley placed a unique spin on this tradition by issuing a challenge to Delaware’s Governor Jack Markell. The wager: a Maryland Smith Island Cake to a Delaware Peach Pie. The inaugural Governor’s Challenge Basketball Tournament was born as a result, bringing with it a new level of excitement to the holiday basketball tradition seen on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.

The tradition will continue this year at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center from Tuesday, December 27 through Friday, December 30, 2011 as teams from Delaware, the reigning champions, go up against teams from Maryland in the M&T Cup. Tip-off for dual games played simultaneously on two NCAA 94’ regulated courts in the main arena will take place at 2pm Tuesday through Thursday, while play on Friday will begin at 12:30pm.

This year, as the competition continues to evolve, coordinators announced the addition of two new cups. The Dr. Pepper 10 will bring some of Maryland’s best teams head-to-head against one another including local favorites James M. Bennett and Wicomico. Games for the Dr. Pepper 10 will kick-off on Tuesday, December 27th at 8pm. Play will continue throughout the week before the final games on Friday, December 30th beginning at 3:30pm.

The East Coast Challenge has pulled together four of the region’s top-seeded high school basketball teams to compete including nationally ranked St. Frances Academy (MD), Red Lion Christian Academy (DE), St. Johns College High School (MD) and Paul Laurence Dunbar High School (MD). The competition will be intense as each team competes for the win over the course of the week beginning Wednesday at 8:00pm. The winner will be declared during the final spotlight games on Friday, December 30th at 6:30pm and 8:00pm.

The Governor’s Challenge is open to the public for daily admission. Students (with ID) are $5 while adults are $10. Tickets will be sold at the gate. For a complete team list, schedule and more information visit www.SalisburyChampionships.org. Teams and/or schedule may change as the competition nears.

Ocean City Should Investigate Chief DiPino's Command, Policies

I have lived in Ocean City for 30-plus years and seen three police chiefs. The tenure of Chief Bernadette Dipino has been controversial.

Ocean City Police Department has been sued by officers many times; there were Fraternal Order of Police votes of no-confidence and too many whispers and rumors of misconduct by command staff.

FOP leaders seem to leave sooner than they should. One ex-FOP leader seems doomed to be a sergeant until retirement.

Jim Hall did the right thing by getting the Town Council to instruct DiPino to offer Earl Campbell money for the dog's medical bills. The K-9 got a Hollywood ending, but what about the officer who sacked his career? He was barred by OCPD rules from going public; OCPD is a paramilitary organization with a strict chain of command. If the officer filed a grievance, would he last as long as our ex-FOP presidents do?

The Salisbury blog that festers political controversy commented that the Campbell incident set a record in responses. I think people should sign their comments, but the alleged police commenters had no choice but to hide their names. I have heard DiPino travels too much. Instead of padding her resume, she could be more hands-on. I have heard more than once that favoritism and grudges dictate promotions.

Let's ask our council to create a panel to look at the Campbell incident and OCPD's command staff. Grant officers immunity to speak candidly -- outside the chain of command. If DiPino or anyone else needs to be fired, now is the time. We don't need all these lawsuits from police officers.

Rob Greenebaum

Ocean City

Source

Recruiting Tightens Race For Control Of Senate

Just six months ago, Senate Republicans seemed poised to march to victory in 2012 and easily retake control of the upper chamber of Congress, but some successful Democratic recruiting and some unintentional help from the tea party in recent months have made next year’s overall contest more competitive.

Numbers alone mean the Democrats still face very tough odds, since they are defending 23 of the 33 Senate seats up for election next year, and few seats held by Republicans are considered competitive races for now.

Republicans must pick up just three or four seats to retake the chamber, depending on who wins the presidency, and the economy and President Obama’s sagging poll numbers aren’t likely to do Democrats any favors on down-ballot races.

But in recent months, Democrats have bolstered their position by amassing early campaign cash and fielding a handful of candidates whose campaigns have caught fire and are positioned to run hard against Republicans.

Here is more