Man Beaten By Mob, In Critical Condition

MOBILE, Alabama --
Mobile police need your help to catch a mob that beat Matthew Owens so badly that he's in critical condition.

According to police, Owens fussed at some kids playing basketball in the middle of Delmar Drive about 8:30 Saturday night. They say the kids left and a group of adults returned, armed with everything but the kitchen sink.

Police tell News 5 the suspects used chairs, pipes and paint cans to beat Owens.

Owens' sister, Ashley Parker, saw the attack. "It was the scariest thing I have ever witnessed." Parker says 20 people, all African American, attacked her brother on the front porch of his home, using "brass buckles, paint cans and anything they could get their hands on."

Police will only say "multiple people" are involved.

What Parker says happened next could make the fallout from the brutal beating even worse. As the attackers walked away, leaving Owen bleeding on the ground, Parker says one of them said "Now thats justice for Trayvon." Trayvon Martin is the unarmed teenager police say was shot and killed February 26 by neighborhood watch captain George Zimmerman in Samford, Florida.

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The best exterior paints stand up to all weather conditions

The unpredictable weather that's assailed much of the nation this year might make it hard to get dressed in the morning. But you can always put on extra layers or pack a rain coat. Your home, on the other hand, has to make do with the same exterior finish no matter the conditions. Wild temperature swings, which cause wood and other siding materials to expand and contract, are particularly tough on paint, prompting less-flexible formulas to peel and flake. Consumer Reports' exterior paint test was designed with this variability in mind, so the products we recommend should perform predictably well in all conditions.

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Wi Hi Coach Pleads Guilty To Sex Abuse Of A Minor

Steven Mark Kiggins has pleaded guilty and will be sentenced to 4 years in jail. Salisbury News reported back in January this Post about this case. A few days later we followed up with this Post.

Of course, our main concern was how this individual had been ignored by the rest of the local MSM, especially with all of the contacts the Daily Times has within the Board of Education.

One victim stated she had been having sex with Kiggins once a week when she was 16 and 17 years old. Kiggins was placed on administrative leave, (WITH PAY) for several months. Once again, great work Mr. Fredericksen!

Va. and Md. Are Not Among Most Peaceful States

The Institute for Economics and Peace has put together a list of the most peaceful places to live.

The results are based on homicides, violent crime, incarceration rates, police force size and availability of small arms. The institute calls the findings the "Peace Index."

Maine is ranked No. 1 as the most peaceful state. Louisiana was ranked 50th -- the most violent state.

Virginia is 25th on the index. Maryland is 38th. 

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DART Announces 12th Annual Statewide Transit Poster Contest Winners

Wilmington -- DART First State announced today the winners of its 12th Annual Statewide Transit Theme Poster Contest. Seven winners will receive gifts and prizes from DART First State and one of its Business Partners, Wilmington Blue Rocks.

Over 120 students from 12 schools and after-school programs statewide participated in the contest, depicting their vision of the theme this year, Do Not Text and Drive! Commute Smart, Ride DART. Students researched the bus service and its various destinations and learned of the benefits of riding transit in Delaware. Students from 6th through 12th grade were invited to participate. A First Place Winner from each grade was chosen along with an overall Grand Prize Winner.

The Grand Prize Winner this year is Tiffany Tang, a 10th Grader at Wilmington Christian in Hockessin. The artwork by Tiffany will be placed on all DART First State buses statewide and her artwork will also be featured on our website, DartFirstState.com, and in the DART newsletters.

The 1st Place Winners by grade are: Leah Somerville, 6th Grade, Sanford School; Faith Ward, 7th Grade, Central Middle School; Kasai Guthrie, 8th Grade, Layton Preparatory School; Emily Patten, 9th Grade, Wilmington Christian School; Tiffany Tang, 10th Grade, Wilmington Christian School; Nicole Lebedz, 11th Grade Sussex Central High School; and Eyren Lindsay, 12th Layton Preparatory School. All first place winners will receive a number of prizes from DART and be recognized at a future Wilmington Blue Rocks game.

O'Malley Scheduled to Meet with Busch, Miller

ANNAPOLIS, Md - Gov. Martin O'Malley is scheduled to have breakfast with the Legislature's presiding officers to talk about holding a special session.
 
   O'Malley is set to meet at the governor's residence with House Speaker Michael Busch and Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller on Tuesday morning.
 
   The Maryland General Assembly ended up adjourning from their regular 90-day session earlier this month without passing a revenue package needed to avoid about a half a billion dollars in budget cuts.

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OCEAN CITY POLICE VISIT WORCESTER PREP UPPER SCHOOL TO DISCUSS PROM SAFETY

Ocean City Police Sergeant Dennis Eade recently spoke to a room full of upper school students at Worcester Preparatory School about a number of precautions they can take to ensure that they are safe during prom weekend.  The April 19^th presentation included a variety of subjects, including how students can avoid getting arrested, how to prevent dangerous and tragic situations and how making the right choices will result in a weekend full of wonderful memories instead of a troubled or disastrous situation.

Pictured: Nancy Decker, Head of Worcester Preparatory Upper School, junior Henry Hastings, senior Kaitlin Talbot and OCPD Sgt. Dennis Eade all sign the pledge to drive phone-free.

“I am thankful to Worcester Preparatory School for inviting me here,” commented Sgt. Eade.  “Not only does it give me the opportunity to discuss prom safety and tips about how to avoid drinking and drugs, but it also allows me to discuss the importance of their future and how the decisions they make today will affect them tomorrow.  If I am able to get that message through to at least one student then I think the presentation is worthwhile.”
In addition to impaired driving information, the Ocean City Police Department discussed distracted driving with Worcester Preparatory students.  “The under-20 age group has the greatest proportion of distracted drivers,” said Sgt. Eade.  “Of all drivers younger than 20 involved in fatal crashes, 16 percent were reported to have been distracted while driving.  This is a problem and I am hoping that Worcester students will help be part of the solution.”
As part of National Distracted Driving Prevention Month, nearly 100 students from Worcester Preparatory Upper School signed the OCPD pledge to drive phone free. “By signing the pledge, these students are not only setting an example amongst their peers but they are being leaders of the fight to end distracted driving,” Eade continued.  “They are protecting lives and making our community safer by never texting or talking on the phone while driving.”
The Ocean City Police Department is encouraging citizens to fight to end distracted driving and take the pledge to drive phone free.  To find out more information or to find out how to sign the pledge, visit:  http://ocpdmdinfo.blogspot.com/.

Twitter Death Threats Hurled at Zimmerman, Family, Lawyer, and Judge

It did not take long for death threats to arise on Twitter against George Zimmerman, his family, lawyer, and Circuit Judge Kenneth Lester, who allowed Zimmerman to be released on $150,000 bond. Mr. Zimmerman is charged with second degree murder for the February 26 killing of seventeen year old Trayvon Martin. Zimmerman is claiming self-defense.

After being fitted with a GPS monitoring device, Mr. Zimmerman left the Seminole County Jail in Sanford at midnight Monday morning. Below are examples of death threats being tweeted out:

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EPIC FAIL – PART ONE

 “Facts are to the mind what food is to the body.” – Edmund Burke

No wonder one third of Americans are obese. The crap we are shoveling into our bodies is on par with the misinformation, propaganda and lies that are being programmed into our minds by government bureaucrats, corrupt politicians, corporate media gurus, and central banker puppets. Chief Clinton propaganda mouthpiece, James Carville, famously remarked during the 1992 presidential campaign that, “It’s the economy, stupid”. Clinton was able to successfully convince the American voters that George Bush’s handling of the economy caused the 1991 recession. In retrospect, it was revealed the economy had been recovering for months prior to the election. No one could ever accuse the American people of being perceptive, realistic or critical thinking when it comes to economics, math, history or distinguishing between truth or lies. Our government controlled public school system has successfully dumbed down the populace to a level where they enjoy their slavery and prefer conscious ignorance to critical thought.

The next six months leading up to the November elections will surely provide a shining example of the degraded society we’ve become. Both parties and their propaganda machines, SuperPacs, and corporate media sponsors will treat the igadget distracted masses to hundreds of hours of lies, spin, and vitriol, designed to divert the public from the fact that both parties act on behalf of the same masters and have no intention of changing course of the U.S. Titanic to avert the iceberg dead ahead. We will be treated to storylines about race, gun control, the war on women, energy independence, global warming, the war on terror, the imminent threat of Iran and North Korea, Obamacare, Romneycare, and of course the economy, stupid.

There are 240 million voting age Americans. About 130 million will likely vote in the 2012 election based upon recent voter participation results. This means that 110 million Americans don’t give a crap about who runs this country or they’ve come to their senses and realize our votes don’t matter. Between 1840 and 1900 voter participation ranged between 70% and 82% as Americans took their civic duty seriously and believed their vote counted. Since 1913, when the politicians relinquished control of our currency to a private bank controlled by a small group of powerful men, voter participation for President has ranged between 49% and 62%. It hasn’t surpassed 57% since 1968. Now that corporations are people and our candidates are selected by a few rich men, the transformation from a republic to a corporate fascist state is almost complete. During the coming interminable political campaign you will hear about jobs until your ears bleed. I can guarantee that 98% of the rhetoric will be false. Neither party wants the American people to understand the truth about what happened to our economy and jobs over the last 100 years. It has been a bipartisan screw job and ignoring the facts doesn’t change them.

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Dear Mayor Ireton

5 years ago I made what I thought was a great investment in Downtown Salisbury. I purchased 300 W. Main Street. Over the past 5 years I have been constantly spending money improving the building. I have remodeled the apartments upstairs, everything brand new. I have improved the main floor and there's not a single person who comes in this building that isn't in awe over the improvements, including the former owners. I bought this building because I didn't want to be one of those people on the outside looking in complaining about Salisbury. I wanted to prove my interest financially and show I could make a difference. In 5 years I have paid almost $40,000.00 in taxes between the City, County and State. Now Mayor, let me ask you a very simply question. Just what am I getting for my $40,000.00/ Let's see, do I have parking spaces for my building, NO. I have to buy permits to park where I spend $8,000.00 a year in taxes. Do I get trash pickup? NO, I have to buy a permit, (out of state, mind you) to get a permit to bring trash to the dump. Do I get snow removal, NO. Do I get weeds removed, NO, I have been told I'll be fined if "I" don't remove the weeds, even those on the curbs in the street in front of my property. Here's what "I" see that I get for my $8,000.00 a year. Tax increases. Water and sewer increases, a $14,000,000.00 fire station, fire trucks, ambulances, millions of dollars dumped into a FREE Zoo, TIF money to developers and the old mall, pipe stem annexations at my expense, the Bricks, dozens of employees beautifying the Downtown Plaza one day a month, the Thursday before 3rd Friday. You see Mr. Ireton, I get treated like a whore and you are my Pimp. If people come visit me and happen to stay 5 minutes longer than they expected, they walk out to their vehicle only to see a ticket from your parking people. While many of you wonder why so many businesses are RUNNING out of Salisbury, just ask them and they'll quickly tell you their customers were sick and tired of the ticket police writing them tickets. The Mayor is making a small fortune off these tickets but what you don't know or hear is that those businesses that are left are getting hammered with tickets and customers are refusing to come back. BUT, if you happen to be a DEMOCRAT or are one of the Good Ol' Boys, (like Brew River) well, the City provides parking spaces for free and are too afraid to write tickets there. Yet they aren't afraid to write tickets to businesses like Market Street Inn. Then there's my 82 year old Mother In Law. She owns a very beautiful and well kept home on Camden Ave. Because crime is through the roof and her Husband passed away not long ago, she has decided, why live the rest of my life dealing with pain in the ass college students polluting in her yard and stealing anything that isn't tied down, she's moving to North Caroline, AT 82 YEARS OLD! You know what Mayor, F-You and even the former administration. She's considering putting her home on the market and guess what, the Realtors say it's not worth anywhere near what it should be worth. Pimp Ireton is now every one's Sugar Daddy and unless you can afford to lose money he couldn't care less about any one of you. So much so, tonight he'll be proposing yet ANOTHER tax increase. As if the parking Nazi's aren't bringing in enough extra cash, he wants more. Let's see my brotha pimp Ireton, it used to cost $1.00 to pay the fine, now it's $10.00. That's a 900% increase and now you have at least TWO people out there writing tickets. Yes, even Police Officers are encouraged to write tickets. As many of you know, many people have asked me to run for Mayor. I didn't want to mention this because I didn't want comments to come in just on that point, so please don't make mention of that. However, I will say, I refuse to buy my Mother In Law's home as I'll be damned if I'm going to spend another dime in the City of Salisbury. I refuse to raise our Grandson in a City the odds of him getting shot and killed in the 4th Most Dangerous City in America. Mr. Mayor, on your last 3rd Friday, someone threw 8 eggs on my building. Come on down Folks and take a look at what locals are capable of. No real police protection. I've had graffiti spray painted all the way up at the top of my building and no one was ever caught. I've had graffiti sprayed on the 1st level of my building, no one ever caught. I've caught people urinating on my building ON CAMERA and have been told, unless the Police see it there's nothing they can do about it. Yeah, I've had just about enough of Salisbury and Mayor Pimp Ireton. I refuse to be his whore any more and if it means we all have to take a loss and sell what we have, (or don't have) in Salisbury, so be it. Between the City Mayor and the County Executive, I've seen just about enough of their liberal BS. I bend over for no one and that's why I'm calling Mayor Ireton a Pimp. I'll pay my taxes one last time but I'm outta here and that's final.

QUOTE OF THE DAY 4-23-12

“Thus did a handful of rapacious citizens come to control all that was worth controlling in America. Thus was the savage and stupid and entirely inappropriate and unnecessary and humorless American class system created. Honest, industrious, peaceful citizens were classed as bloodsuckers, if they asked to be paid a living wage. And they saw that praise was reserved henceforth for those who devised means of getting paid enormously for committing crimes against which no laws had been passed. Thus the American dream turned belly up, turned green, bobbed to the scummy surface of cupidity unlimited, filled with gas, went bang in the noonday sun.”
Kurt Vonnegut

Michael Savage : Get Your Guns And Be Prepared

Did You Know

The color on the bread tab indicates how fresh the bread is -  And those colors are in alphabetical order: b, g, r, w, y.

Graphic Photo Of Zimmerman's Head Minutes After Shooting: ABC's Good Morning America

Source

The One Graphic You Need To See For 2012

Student Suspended For Hugging Teacher

Washington Post: Toss The All Volunteer Military

Welcome to Über Liberal World!

(Washington Post) Our lives are cluttered with unnecessary traditions, ideas and institutions. Warm weather came early this year, but there’s still time for a good spring cleaning. After purging old receipts, broken appliances and unloved outfits, what else should we toss? Outlook asked 10 writers what they thought we’d be better off without. From the Cabinet to premium gas to chick flicks, here are their picks.
1. All-volunteer military by Thomas E. Ricks
2. Premium gas by Jeff S. Bartlett
3. Home equity loans by Bethany McLean
4. 3 p.m. school day by Peter Orszag
5. Chick flicks by Melissa Silverstein
6. The Cabinet by Dana Milbank
7. Software patents by Christina Mulligan
8. The social kiss by Meghan Daum
9. Brainstorming by Jonah Lehrer
10. Grades by Melissa Harris-Perry

The above link goes to #1 on the list, the all-volunteer military, with links to the other 9 embedded at the beginning of the story

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Obamanomics: 50% Of New College Grads Unemployed/Underemployed

How’s that HopeyChangey crappola working for ya? (AP) The college class of 2012 is in for a rude welcome to the world of work. A weak labor market already has left half of young college graduates either jobless or underemployed in positions that don’t fully use their skills and knowledge. Young adults with bachelor’s degrees are increasingly scraping by in lower-wage jobs — waiter or waitress, bartender, retail clerk or receptionist, for example — and that’s confounding their hopes a degree would pay off despite higher tuition and mounting student loans. An analysis of government data conducted for The Associated Press lays bare the highly uneven prospects for holders of bachelor’s degrees. (snip) About 1.5 million, or 53.6 percent, of bachelor’s degree-holders under the age of 25 last year were jobless or underemployed, the highest share in at least 11 years. In 2000, the share was at a low of 41 percent, before the dot-com bust erased job gains for college graduates in the telecommunications and IT fields. More

Good News: Obama To Act More Like A Dictator

Obama has fully embraced the use of executive powers, and the NY Times works hard to say “yes, this is A-OK”. One has to wonder how they would react if it was a Republican president One Saturday last fall, President Obama interrupted a White House strategy meeting to raise an issue not on the agenda. He declared, aides recalled, that the administration needed to more aggressively use executive power to govern in the face of Congressional obstructionism. Yeah, it’s hard to ruin the country and act like Hugo Chavez when those damned Americans decided to provide a historic beatdown of the Party that controls the House because it was ruining America. “We had been attempting to highlight the inability of Congress to do anything,” recalled William M. Daley, who was the White House chief of staff at the time. “The president expressed frustration, saying we have got to scour everything and push the envelope in finding things we can do on our own.” For Mr. Obama, that meeting was a turning point. As a senator and presidential candidate, he had criticized George W. Bush for flouting the role of Congress. And during his first two years in the White House, when Democrats controlled Congress, Mr. Obama largely worked through the legislative process to achieve his domestic policy goals. But increasingly in recent months, the administration has been seeking ways to act without Congress. Branding its unilateral efforts “We Can’t Wait,” a slogan that aides said Mr. Obama coined at that strategy meeting, the White House has rolled out dozens of new policies — on creating jobs for veterans, preventing drug shortages, raising fuel economy standards, curbing domestic violence and more. Except, he isn’t creating jobs for veterans, or anyone else for that matter. He’s not preventing drug shortages, curbing domestic violence, “or more”. He did raise fuel economy standards, which will make motor vehicles more expense and less safe. Good job, PBO! More

War On The Shore

Language Warning

Coming To Your Wallet In 2013: Taxmaggeddon

Will Rogers once famously quipped that the “only difference between death and taxes is that death doesn’t get worse every time Congress meets.” He was wrong. Not only do taxes get worse when Congress is in session, but now they will get worse when they’re not—much worse. Coming in January, if Washington does not act, Americans can brace themselves for the biggest single yearly tax increase in the history of the world. What the Heritage Foundation calls Taxmageddon. A $494 billion spike. An average of $3,800 per person in 2013. Here’s what you have to look forward to: --The expiration of the much-maligned 2001 and 2003 Bush tax cuts. For political purposes, Democrats refer to them as “tax cuts for the wealthy.” In reality, the across-the-board cuts eased rates for nearly everyone, 60 percent of the benefit going to middle and low-income taxpayers. More

Obama Embraces Executive Power

With Congress deadlocked, President Obama is increasingly resorting to executive orders and recess appointments to achieve his objectives. Last fall, after the summer’s debt-deal negotiations, Obama told aides they needed to do be more aggressive about executive power and coined the slogan “We can’t wait.” Since then Obama has pushed through dozens of new policies aimed at things like jobs for veterans, preventing drug shortages, and easing the terms on student loans. Obama is set to unveil another such executive order—aimed at foreign nationals’ use of cellphone tracking and Internet monitoring to carry out human-rights abuses—later today. But the strategy opens Obama up to charges that he’s concentrating too much power in the executive branch and deprives him of the ability to blame Congress when he issues an order unpopular with his base, like overruling the EPA’s anti-smog rules. More

Is The Tea Party Still Relevant?

Is the tea party breaking up? After playing a dominant role in a number of elections in 2010 — Christine O’Donnell, anyone? — there is growing evidence that the power (and visibility) of the movement has faded somewhat of late. To wit: ●Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, the establishment candidate, secured the Republican presidential nomination after the tea party — and conservatives more generally — failed to unite around an alternative candidate. ●Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) very nearly escaped a primary challenge Saturday, almost two years that home-state colleague Bob Bennett was ousted at the state party convention thanks to tea party-fueled unrest directed at him. Hatch begins the primary race against a conservative former state senator as a favorite. ●Aside from Indiana Sen. Dick Lugar, who faces a serious primary fight from his ideological right next month, there are few signs tea party-led uprisings will threaten GOP incumbents this cycle in the same way they did in 2010. (Even Indiana is something short of a pure establishment vs. tea party race; Lugar’s challenger, Richard Mourdock, currently serves as the state treasurer — not exactly the credentials of a pure outsider.) ●In a Washington Post-ABC News poll conducted this month, more than six in 10 people said they were not interested in learning more about the movement, and a majority said the more they learned, the less they liked. Both of those numbers have increased significantly over the past two years. Conversations with a number of Republican strategists — both those of the tea party and those who count themselves as casual observers of the movement — suggest that the tea party isn’t dying, it’s just transforming into a new role. “The tea party clearly is not as successful in 2012 as in 2010, but it still plays a huge role in GOP primaries,” said Republican pollster Glen Bolger. More

Federal Food Inspectors Upset

Federal food inspectors upset over a plan to speed up poultry inspections are gathering support from all corners. The American Federation of Government Employees delivered nearly 150,000 petitions to the Agriculture Department. With criticism mounting, USDA said it would let the public comment on the proposal for one more month. The agency already has received nearly 600 comments, according to AFGE. The proposal would allow some poultry companies to inspect their own chickens. USDA said the move would allow its staff to focus on dangerous, but hard-to-detect, diseases like salmonella.

Since Many Of You Are Not Downtown...

The image above should give you an idea of just how vacant the Downtown Plaza actually is. The parking lot above is where MOST people would park business wise and customer wise on the Plaza. You see, since Pimp Ireton doesn't actually come down this way he has no clue what the reality actually is. Nevertheless, I'm sure he and his Staff are all over Salisbury News today, especially Chuck Cook. It's my job to show you the reality. It's their job to blow smoke, (you know where).

Soldiers Investigated For Suspicion Involving Heroin

Fifty-six soldiers in Afghanistan have been investigated on suspicion of using or distributing heroin, morphine or other opiates during 2010 and 2011 new information showed. During that time, eight soldiers died of drug overdoses. The country supplies up to 90 percent of the world's opium. The Army said opiate abuse has not been a pervasive problem for troops in Afghanistan. "We have seen sporadic cases of it, but we do not see it as a widespread problem, and we have the means to check," said Col. Tom Collins, an Army spokesman. Army officials said they do random drug testing through the service and the goal was that every soldier was tested at least once a year. Top Army leaders said they have not met that goal, but have been working steadily to substantially increase the number of those tested each year.

You Know Its Bad Downtown When Anne Taylor Packs Up And Leaves

As the above 6:00 PM Post states in detail, we just can't take it any more. Two Deli's have closed their doors and yes, while some other businesses have relocated to the Plaza, many are encouraged to do so at reduced rates because there just isn't any real traffic to support even the small Deli's that had struggled for some time to stay afloat. Another restaurant close their doors on the Plaza not that long ago too. You see, it's only a matter of time before people just give up. Anne Taylor from Parker Place, (who actually OWNS her building) chose to close her doors and relocate to an area where she knows there's traffic. Anne painfully stuck around dedicating quite a few years as the positive spokesperson for Downtown, but no more. People, I'm telling you, it's that bad around here. Ghost Towns are popping up. Many are foreclosing on their homes. People cannot sell to get out and are now better off just giving their homes and properties back to the Bank. It's actually cheaper to do so. To the liberals who's comments I rejected in my 6:00 PM Post, you claimed I'm bitching because I made a bad investment and I'm about to lose money. Well, you're WRONG. Unlike you pansy asses who suck off us real taxpayers, I CAN afford to take a loss. In fact, out of spite I'll guarantee you I will take a loss soas I don't have to pay any capitol gains taxes and YOU a-holes will eventually get stuck with my loss. So, back at ya, Idiot. I'm angry because good innocent people who have been suckered in, (like my In Laws) and have kept their investments in near perfect condition will lose a LOT of money because liberals have no clue how to run a business/town and obviously have no clue how to run government either. Mind you, I'm not saying republicans these days can do much better but one thing I'll give them, at least they care. Keep writing those parking tickets Pimp Ireton and watch just how many more businesses close their doors because you keep driving people away from Downtown. ALL parking should be FREE, period. Especially for us property owners who pay massive taxes Downtown. If you want to see the Downtown area grow you must provide free parking everywhere. For those of you who say the employees will take up all those spaces, shame them into not parking there. Get the Chamber of Commerce involved and make a mutual agreement those employees won't park in current metered locations/spaces. Show me a place where I can park for free and walk a little ways I'd be cool with that. Just make a choice. Either Downtown becomes a Ghost Town or you rebuild it with free parking. It's your call.

Star-Spangled Banner Trail

The National Park Service has released a long-term strategy to develop the Star-Spangled Banner trail that runs through Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C. The agency is asking for public comment on a couple of options, although it makes its preference clear. The Park Service wants to offer local authorities technical and financial help on a cost-sharing basis through cultural and natural resources, recreation and conservation programs. The 560-mile trail follows the path that British and American soldiers took during the War of 1812.

Medicare Experiment Wastes $8B

Medicare is wasting more than $8 billion on an experimental program that rewards providers of mediocre health care and is unlikely to produce useful results, federal investigators say.

A report to be issued today by the Government Accountability Office, a nonpartisan investigative arm of Congress, urges the Obama administration to cancel the program, which pays bonuses to health-insurance companies caring for millions of Medicare beneficiaries.

Administration officials refused to cancel the project, saying it could improve care for older Americans.

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OCEAN CITY POLICE SEEKING PUBLIC’S ASSISTANCE LOCATING MISSING MAN

Ocean City Police are asking for the public’s assistance in locating a missing 22-year-old man.  Lance Corey Gaines, who was visiting Ocean City with his family from upstate New York, was last seen on April 21, 2012at approximately 1 a.m.at The Sandbar on33rd Street and Coastal Highway.
Gaines, who was reported missing by his family, has brown hair, blue eyes and was last seen wearing a grey hooded sweatshirt.  He is approximately 6’-4” and approximately 190 pounds.
Ocean City Police are asking anyone who has seen Gaines or who has had contact with him to notify Detective Carl Perry with the Ocean City Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division at 410.723.6604.

Secret Service Investigation Continues

Congressional committees are launching wider investigations into Secret Service activities in Colombia involving prostitutes. The Senate Homeland Security Committee wants to determine whether the incident was an exception, or part of a pattern of misconduct. The House Homeland Security Committee sent Secret Service Director Mark Sullivan a list of 50 questions. Members wanted a comprehensive, minute-by-minute timeline of the event. A Defense spokesman said 11 members of the military are under investigation for misconduct. The alleged partying took place just before President Obama's arrival in Colombia last week.

The Cost of a Nation of Incarceration

(CBS News) Is it fair to call the United States the "incarceration nation"? That's what some experts say. And even some veteran law enforcement and correction officials think something's gone wrong. Our Cover Story is reported now by Martha Teichner:


At the Gadsden County Jail near Tallahassee, Fla., there are bunks, and mattresses on the floor.

The jail has a capacity of about 150 inmates, but there are presently 230 inmates in the facility right now.

Walter McNeil, president of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, sees the same story everywhere he goes in the U.S.

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Look Out! U.N. Now Invading Your Home

Brian Sussman, author of “Eco-Tyranny: How the Left’s Green Agenda will Dismantle America,” is warning that the federal government and the United Nations are teaming up to control energy usage in American homes. Sussman, who also wrote the blockbuster “Climategate,” says the move could lead to citizens losing the freedom even to run their appliances as they wish. The first step in the plan is the installation of “smart meters,” which are being introduced by power utilities nationwide. Unlike traditional spinning wheel electric meters, smart meters allow the power utilities to measure energy usage minute by minute. The Federal Energy Act of 2005, signed by George W. Bush, mandated that power utilities offer “each of its customer classes … a time-based rate schedule under which the rate charged by the electric utility varies during different time periods.” More

Jay Leno: Republicans 'Laugh at Themselves More' Than Democrats

A very common media contention is that liberals have a far greater sense of humor than conservatives.
 
Tonight Show host Jay Leno dispelled this myth this week in a Press Pass interview with NBC's David Gregory wherein he told the Meet the Press moderator, "Democrats and Republicans are interesting because Republicans really laugh at themselves more"

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Pelosi And Democrats Move To Change First Amendment

According to CNSnews.com, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and other Democrats in Congress announced on Thursday that they have moved to ratify an amendment to the United States Constitution that would give Congress power to control the political speech of corporations, including those corporations that produce films, newspapers, books, and radio broadcasts. The amendment would seek to reverse the Supreme Court’s decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission in which the High Court ruled that the First Amendment protects the right of free speech for corporations as well as individuals. It was this decision that President Obama openly criticized during his State of the Union address in January of 2010.

Minority Leader Pelosi said that the move to amend the Constitution was part of a three-pronged strategy that includes passage of the DISCLOSE Act, which would further regulate disclosure requirements for organizations that run political ads, and promotion of taxpayer funding of political campaigns. Ms. Pelosi said, “Our Founders had an idea. It was called democracy. It said elections are determined by the people, the voice and the vote of the people, not by the bankrolls of the privileged few. This Supreme Court decision flies in the face of our Founders’ vision and we want to reverse it.”

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Laurel Woman Dies From Injuries Sustained In Crash

Location: Old Furnace Road (CR46) at Rementer Road (CR 517A) east of Georgetown, DE

Date and Time of Occurrence: Monday, April 16, 2012 at 5:48 p.m.

Operators and Vehicles:

• Operator #1: Andrew Lamberton, 26, Bridgeville, DE
• Vehicle #1: 2000 Toyota Tacoma

• Operator #2: Russell G. Spicer, 46, Laurel, DE
• Vehicle #2: 2001 GMC S-10

Victim:

• Mary E. Spicer, 80, Laurel, DE (passenger in vehicle #2)

Resume:   

Georgetown, DE- The Delaware State Police Crash Reconstruction Unit is currently investigating a motor vehicle crash in which a Laurel woman has died that occurred last week.

The crash occurred at approximately 5:48 p.m. on Monday, April 16, 2012 as Russell Spicer, 46, was operating a GMC S-10 Pick up truck and was traveling eastbound on Old Furnace Road approaching the intersection of Rementer Road east of Georgetown. As Spicer attempted to make a left hand turn onto Rementer Road, the passenger side of his vehicle was struck by a 2000 Toyota Tacoma which was traveling on westbound Old Furnace Road and which was being operated by Andrew Lamberton, 26. After the collision the Toyota Tacoma traveled off of the roadway in a northwest direction where it struck a ditch before coming to rest. The GMC rotated in a counter-clockwise direction and came to rest in the roadway.

Russell Spicer as well as a female passenger in his vehicle, Mary Spicer, were both removed from the scene by EMS and transported to the Nanticoke Hospital. Russell Spicer was treated for his injuries and released. Mary Spicer was subsequently flown to the Baltimore Shock Trauma Unit where she was admitted. She was pronounced dead as a result of her injuries on Sunday, April 22.

This crash remains under investigation by the Delaware State Police Crash Reconstruction Unit.

Obama Lawyer Admits Birth Certificate Is A Forgery

A lawyer representing U.S. President Barack Obama has admitted the long-form birth certificate presented by the White House last year is a forgery – but that does not disqualify him from appearing on the ballot this November.

Defense attorney Alexandra M. Hill made the comments during a recent New Jersey ballot challenge hearing, brought about by Tea Party members who question his eligibility to appear on the state’s presidential primary ballot. Attorney for the plaintiffs, Mario Apuzzo, argued that President Obama has furnished proof of his “natural born” citizenship status to the state of New Jersey.

Apuzzo went on to say that Obama’s father was not an American citizen, meaning President Obama is not a “natural born” citizen and ineligible for the office he holds.

Hill tried to dismiss the suit because, while the U.S. Constitution limits the office of president to only those who have a “natural born” citizenship status, New Jersey law does not require a candidate to furnish proof of his or her status.

According to the Tea Party Tribune, Hill went on to admit that the long form birth certificate released online by the White House in April 2011 is indeed a forgery that did not originate from an actual paper document and therefore, it cannot be used as evidence to confirm his lack of natural born citizenship status.

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Van Jones to Conservatives: ‘How Many American Children Are You Willing to Kill for a Job?’

Speaking at the New York City Green Festival April 21st, Van Jones (Obama’s former Green Jobs Czar) claimed the right is waging an open campaign and willing to kill children to weaken the EPA to create a new job.

Video  Here

FISHWAGON COMING BACK IN MAY

FISH WAGON will be to THE FARMERS & PLANTERS COMPANY May 8th  with a complete inventory of fish for your lakes and ponds. Purchases of 1,200 or more fish will be delivered directly to your pond at no additional charge and everything that we sell is with a full replacement guarantee.  Pre-ordering is encouraged but not required.  We also have available the complete line of Moultrie Fish Feeders for those wishing to further enhance pond quality through supplemental feeding.  Details of our line of feeders and gift certificates can be found on our website at www.fishwagon.com.  If we may be of service to you, please call us toll free or email for information regarding locations, dates and times in your area.

Bill Elliott - Fish Wagon - 800-643-8439

This Day in History

Civil War 
Apr 23, 1865:  "Panic has seized the country," writes Davis

Confederate President Jefferson Davis writes to his wife, Varina, of the desperate situating facing the Confederates.

"Panic has seized the country," he wrote to his wife in Georgia. Davis was in Charlotte, North Carolina, on his flight away from Yankee troops. It was three weeks since Davis had fled the Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia, as Union troops were overrunning the trenches nearby. Davis and his government headed west to Danville, Virginia, in hopes of reestablishing offices there. When Confederate General Robert E. Lee was forced to surrender his army at Appomattox Court House, Virginia, on April 9, Davis and his officials traveled south in hopes of connecting with the last major Confederate army, the force of General Joseph Johnston. Johnston, then in North Carolina, was himself in dire straits, as General William T. Sherman's massive force was bearing down.

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WHITE HOUSE PAY INCREASES

Pork In The Park Was A Huge Success

I apologize for the delay in Posts over the past few days. I had a medical emergency in the Family and have been back and forth to the Hospital. That being said, I missed the ribbon cutting at Pork in the Park but I did find some time on Saturday to slip away and get a few shots. I was amazed at just how large the event was this year. However, I was disappointed they chose to use the gravel parking lot to expand into and allow me to explain why. If you weren't wearing the proper shoes, (women) you weren't going to make it through that area without breaking a leg. Parents pushing strollers, fagetaboutit! That was almost cruel to watch. The elderly were having a difficult time as well, so I highly recommend they make some changes next year. I have always had an issue eating the not so up to par bbq sold there by vendors. It would be nice to get food from those in the actual contest but it is what it is. Nevertheless, I was blown away by Paul's Legacy's Booth and the pulled pork they served. I'm sure many of you got a taste of their samples they were giving out and quite frankly it was to die for! My hat is tipped to Wicomico County for building this event to the level they have achieved. Great bands and family entertainment. I refused to head up there on Sunday and wondered, did they pack up and leave after all that rain?

Carl Snowden, Civil Rights Leader, Busted For Trace of Pot While Suing Indicted County Executiv

As longtime Maryland civil rights leader Carl Snowden pursues a planned lawsuit against Anne Arundel County Executive John Leopold, he was charged Friday with marijuana possession.

Leopold was indicted last month on charges of misconduct in office relating to how he used his security detail, including allegations that he told police to keep dossiers on political enemies, including Snowden.

Snowden's lawyer, Cary Hansel, says Snowden intends to pursue a lawsuit under laws that permit residents harmed by government officials to seek compensation. Hansel said Saturday he intends to wait a week or two before actually filing the lawsuit. A letter he sent offers to settle for $20 million.
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Opening Day Little League In Delmar

Thousands people gathered in Delmar to celebrate opening day for Little League. The Parade was a mile long with kids having a blast and throwing candy out to those who got up early to watch the festivities.

House To Add Small Business Flavor To Defense Authorization Bill

The committee will focus on making it easier for small firms to do business with the Pentagon. The military missed three of five small business goals in 2010. The Panel on Business Challenges in the Defense Industry made several recommendations to improve the success of small firms that want to do business with DoD.

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Measuring the Me Generation

Stephen Marche has written a thought-provoking piece about what he terms the “war against youth.” Although a bit whiny at times and sprinkled with class-envy rhetoric—he warns of “flowers of rage,” derides “virulently purified capitalism” and writes approvingly about “the protesters, the occupiers, the kids who screamed themselves hoarse in the parks of New York and Oakland last year”—the thrust of the essay highlights the selfishness of the Baby Boomer generation and the consequences of that selfishness.

Here are a few of the consequences that Marche identifies: Pointing to the “economic cloak of unreality that the Boomers have wrapped themselves in,” he argues that “There is a young America and there is an old America…One takes from the other.” He cites a 2009 Brookings Institution study to support his case: “The United States spends 2.4 times as much on the elderly as on children.”

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BREAKING NEWS: Pentagon Suspends Military Security Clearances In Sex Scandal

The Pentagon reportedly has suspended security clearances for military personnel implicated in a prostitution scandal in Colombia.
From Fox News

Daily Times Proves Once Again They Have A Special Agenda

In today's Daily Times Sarah Lake, (once again) proves just how big an Idiot she is by writing another article that tells half truths and sides with Mitchell and Shields.

You see, a week ago, (or so) we did an article about the increase in the City's attorney fees. We explained how they had actually under budgeted for those fees and if you looked at the average over the past several years, the fees they have proposed to increase recently, (they will vote on this tonight) are actually right in line with years past.

However, the Daily Times refuses to do their homework and instead are trying to use this as a way to make the other three council members look bad, go figure.

Of course the Daily Times makes no mention of how Shields, Comegys, Dunn, Cathcart, Smith and Tilghman got the taxpayers into such a legal mess to start with. You know, like the $1,000,000.00 liability clause in the Waste Water Treatment Plant, something unheard of in ANY business.

It is very clear, the Daily Times is simply out to smear Cohen, Campbell and Spies and that's it.

Today's Fill In The Blank 4-23-12

My vehicle gets ___ MPG.

Allen Hope Dies

The former Director of Urban Salisbury, Allen Hope, died in his apartment last Friday of natural causes. Allen, a Canadian Citizen, had no Family. Friends are trying to make arrangements on his behalf.

What Is The 'Original Price' After Kohl's Marks An Item Up?

When Scott found socks on "buy one, get one half off" sale at Kohl's, he picked up a few packages. The sale signage stipulated that the discount was off the original price...but was that the original price, or the original original price? Scott noticed that a sticker had been placed over the original tag, raising the price from $12 to $14. So what's the original price?
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Today's Advertiser Of The Day 4-23-12

Senator Bums Everyone Out, Says "Elderly People Love Junk Mail"

There are few images more heartbreakingly depressing than an elderly person who eagerly awaits the daily delivery of mail — even junk mail — just so they'll have something to look at that afternoon. But according to Nevada Senator Harry Reid, this is precisely why everything must be done to save the U.S. Postal Service.

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Congress Begins Uphill Battle to Approve Farm Bill

The Senate has begun laying the groundwork for a half-trillion-dollar farm and food bill that would end unconditional subsidies to farmers, but House Republicans’ resolve to cut its biggest component — food stamps — by $13 billion a year dims its prospects of passing Congress.

The current five-year farm bill expires at the end of September, and the Senate Agriculture Committee on Friday released a draft of its plan to redesign safety nets that help farmers weather bad times while achieving some $23 billion in deficit reduction.

The full committee is to vote this week on the plan, which consolidates conservation programs and takes several steps, such as stopping lottery winners from getting assistance, to make the food-stamp program more accountable. Of that $23 billion in savings projected over next 10 years, $4 billion comes from food stamps.

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A Comment Worthy Of A Post 4-23-12

Steven Rumney has left a new comment on your post "The Daily Times Is, Well, Worthless Any More":

You are correct about the selectivity and favoritism shown by the “Your View” section of The Daily Times. The purported purpose for this component of the paper is to allow commentary from readers on issues of local interest. In reality it is an outlet only for those views supported by the paper. Susan Parker will not post any comment if it does not agree with the ideas of the paper no matter how well written or researched. If you write an opinion critical of a protected institution (like PRMC) your article will never see the light of day. You will be aware that the process is underway when they tell you that your article is “In editorial review”. Here is an excerpt from my response to Susan Parker in July 2011 after an article I wrote about problems at PRMC was censored:

Let me be more direct. I am sure the Peninsula Regional Medical Center is a big advertiser at The Daily Times and it will be very difficult to run articles that are critical to the institution. We are all aware of the saying “Don’t bite the hand that feeds you” and I can’t help but think that this may be the case here. . . But it makes critical discussion of these protected institutions all the more difficult in the mainstream media. A real and open dialog and communication of ideas is usually a good thing”

That is, unless “Your View” does not agree with “Their View”!

Today's Survey Question 4-23-12

Would you favor a "stand your ground" law in Maryland/Delaware?

Study: Women Twice As Likely To Hit Gas Pedal By Mistake

A new study commissioned by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that women are more likely to accidentally step on the gas when they really mean to hit the brake. Just hold off on the jokes about women drivers, okay? Shh — stop it.

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Power is Top Prize in Arizona Immigration Battle

The Supreme Court’s health care showdown last month was all about Constitution theory and prerogatives. Wednesday’s arguments between Arizona and the Obama administration over the state’s tough immigration law looks to be all about power.

Arizona argues that the federal government has failed to enforce its laws on the books and says states should be free to enforce their own laws as long as they complement the national goals. Obama attorneys say the Constitution gives power over immigration to the federal government, and there can be no infringement.

The electorate is clearly on the side of Arizona: A Quinnipiac University Poll last week found that 62 percent of voters said they want the court to uphold the law.

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We Are Shocked, Shocked That Walmart May Have Been Bribing People In Mexico

Hold the darn phone — Walmart has been indicated in a bribery scandal in which the company's Mexican arm was bribing people to the tune of $24 million to obtain permits, and then attempted to cover up the whole scandal? We shan't believe it. Ha! Just kidding. That makes total sense.

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150 Million Adults Worldwide Would Migrate to the U.S.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- About 13% of the world's adults -- or more than 640 million people -- say they would like to leave their country permanently. Roughly 150 million of them say they would like to move to the U.S. -- giving it the undisputed title as the world's most desired destination for potential migrants since Gallup started tracking these patterns in 2007.

Results HERE

Caption This Photo 4-23-12

FBI Seizes Server From Progressive Internet Service Provider

In an attack on our infrastructure, our movement and the democratic Internet, the FBI seized a server yesterday from one of our cabinets in a colocation facility. The server is owned by our sister organization, Riseup, and is managed by ECN, a progressive technology provider in Italy. While the seizure of any equipment is pernicious and damaging, the pointlessness of this seizure suggests an inclination toward extrajudicial punishment and an attempted crackdown on the very possibility of anonymous speech online. The FBI has told us they are investigating bomb threats targeting the facilities and people at the University of Pittsburgh. They appear to believe that one of the servers used to transmit these threats was an anonymous e-mail server operated by ECN. Anonymous remailers have no logs or traces of who used them, so the FBI will not get any useful information from the stolen machine. More

BREAKING NEWS: Obama To Commemorate Holocaust In Speech

President Obama to commemorate Holocaust at memorial museum, discuss US strategy of preventing mass atrocities at 9:45 a.m. EST. Watch LIVE on Fox News and FoxNews.com.

Media Myth Debunked: Republicans Are More Informed About Politics Than Democrats

A consistent media contention is that liberals and Democrats are far more informed about politics than conservatives and Republicans.

A recent study from the Pew Research Center quite debunked this myth:

 

Republicans fare substantially better than Democrats on several questions in the survey, as is typically the case in surveys about political knowledge. The largest gaps are in awareness of which party is more supportive of reducing the size and scope of the federal government (30 points) and which party is more conservative (28 points).

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What If Pensions Funds Grabbed The Reins?

Public and private pension funds in the United States collectively have trillions of dollars in combined assets. They own more than a third of all domestic equity, with stakes in most public U.S. companies, and large holdings of corporate and government bonds, real estate, and infrastructure. They are unique in that they are both very large and have a much longer investment horizon than most other types of investors.

But, with few exceptions, American pension funds do not self-manage the majority of those assets, and they ignore the flexibility that their long-term horizon can bring, experts said. They employ private firms to invest their assets for them, often with a short-term focus and at a high cost. Many of their trustees are political appointees without any experience in finance. And so, instead of being viewed as powerful financial players, with the capacity to initiate deals and lead markets, pension funds act — and are treated by the financial advisors they employ — more like large customers.

"Collectively, pension funds have a huge amount of potential power," said James Hawley, a professor of business at St. Mary's College and an expert in fund management. "For the most part, that power is not being used."

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US, Afghanistan Reach Deal on Strategic Pact

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — The U.S. and Afghanistan reached a deal Sunday on a long-delayed strategic partnership agreement that ensures Americans will provide military and financial support to the Afghan people for at least a decade beyond 2014, the deadline for most foreign forces to withdraw.

The pact is key to the U.S. exit strategy in Afghanistan because it establishes guidelines for any American forces who remain after the withdrawal deadline and for financial help to the impoverished country and its security forces.

For the Afghan government, it is also a way to show its people that their U.S. allies are not just walking away.

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Audi Acquires Ducati, Gains Access To Motorcycle Maker's Engineering Talents

The past few years have seen the auto industry implode, reorganize, purge brands, strike new partnerships, and gain a new lease on life, with sales this calendar year finally lifting automakers from the dark days of the carpocalypse. Now, we're seeing another new sign of life in Audi acquiring Italian motorcycle company Ducati.

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Iran Says it Recovered Data from Captured US Drone

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - Iran claimed Sunday that it had recovered data from an American spy drone that went down in Iran last year, including information that the aircraft was used to spy on Osama bin Laden weeks before he was killed. Iran also said it was building a copy of the drone.

Similar unmanned surveillance planes have been used in Afghanistan for years and kept watch on bin Laden's compound in Pakistan. But U.S. officials have said little about the history of the particular aircraft now in Iran's possession.

Tehran, which has also been known to exaggerate its military and technological prowess, says it brought down the RQ-170 Sentinel, a top-secret drone equipped with stealth technology, and has flaunted the capture as a victory for Iran and a defeat for the United States.

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How Long To Keep Ketchup And Other Common Condiments

That mustard that's been in the refrigerator since last summer's cookout should still be okay to slather on a hot dog this weekend. But if you're pulling out pickles and ketchup of the same vintage, it's safer to toss them than dress your burger with them. Mustard typically keeps for a year in the refrigerator but the shelf life of most other condiments is much shorter.

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Md. Neighborhood Watch Trial Set Against Fla. Fury

BALTIMORE (AP) - Two brothers accused of beating a black teenager while patrolling an Orthodox Jewish neighborhood are set to go on trial Monday in a case with similarities to the Trayvon Martin shooting.

The brothers, who are white and Jewish, have claimed self-defense, saying the teen was holding a nail-studded board. Local civil rights activists hope the Martin case will draw more attention to what they believe was racial profiling by neighborhood watch vigilantes.

Eliyahu and Avi Werdesheim are accused of beating a 15-year-old boy who was walking through a Baltimore neighborhood in November 2010. The brothers pulled up next to the teen in a vehicle, then got out and "surrounded him," according to charging documents. The passenger threw the teen to the ground and the driver hit him in the head with a hand-held radio and patted him down.

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Video: ‘If I Wanted America to Fail’

A provocative new video from the folks over at Americans for Limited Government promoting a new project focused on economic liberty and free market policies. It’s very well done, if perhaps a little on the long side. Watch:

The message at the very end is especially poignant:

If I wanted America to fail I…I suppose I wouldn’t change a thing.

This is exactly right of course, and the prescription for change is more than just about electing a new president in November, or the GOP winning a majority in the Senate.  Yes, the destructive effects of big government on economic prosperity and individual liberty have been exponentially worse since Democrats won a majority in Congress in 2006. Culminating in the nightmare of 2009-2010. But America veered off course long before this, with both parties complicit in the growth of runaway government spending and the perpetual expansion of federal power.

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George Zimmerman Released From Florida Jail

George Zimmerman was released around midnight Sunday from a county jail on $150,000 bail as he awaits his second-degree murder trial for fatally shooting Trayvon Martin.
From Fox News

George Zimmerman Released From Florida Jail on $150,000 Bond

George Zimmerman has been released from a Florida jail after posting $150,000 bond as he awaits trial for the shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin.

Zimmerman exited the John E. Polk Correctional Facility (JEPCF) at the Seminole County Sheriff's Office at approximately midnight on Monday. The 28-year-old posted bond and was fitted with an electronic monitoring device prior to release, according to a statement from the Seminole County Sheriff's Office.

The GPS device, which can give immediate identification of an offender's whereabouts at any given time, will be monitored by the SCSO and Seminole County Probation.

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Inside The late Dick Clark's 'Flintstone-Esque' home

Who knew that the timeless music countdown maestro Dick Clark was also a lover of architecture as art? Or, make that, architecture as cave.

A new listing by the late “American Bandstand” host and host of countless New Year’s Eve nights in Times Square has hit the Malibu real estate market and caused a few heads to turn.

Of course, those heads have to turn up, since the cavern-like structure, listed for $3.5 million, is nestled on 22 acres on top of a mountain. The 1-bedroom, 2-bathroom specialty dwelling, which resembles something you'd see in 'The Flintstones,' affords some spectacular, 360-degree views of the Pacific Ocean, Boney Island, Channel Island, the Serrano Valley and the bright lights of Los Angeles.

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Homeland Security Raids Patapsco Flea Market

BALTIMORE -
Homeland Security Investigations special agents executed a federal search warrant at the Patapsco Flea Market Sunday.  Officials said the move was part of an ongoing criminal investigation.

The flea market is located at 1400 West Patapsco Avenue.  The popular venue for cheap and odd goods is open throughout the year.

Officials said the enforcement action was based on specific information developed during a two and-a half year long investigation involving violations of intellectual property rights law.

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U.S. Supreme Court Immigration Case Weighs States' Powers

A clash over immigration law will go before the U.S. Supreme Court this week, pitting the state of Arizona against President Barack Obama in a case with election-year political ramifications for him and Republican rival Mitt Romney.

In its second-biggest case this term, the court - fresh from hearing the Obama healthcare overhaul case - will consider on Wednesday whether a tough Arizona immigration crackdown strayed too far into the federal government's powers.

A pro-Arizona decision would be a legal and political setback for Obama, who has criticized the state's law and vowed to push for immigration legislation if re-elected on November 6.

A decision against Arizona would deal a blow to Romney, who has said the government should drop its challenge to the law.

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Alabama Forced to Keep Convicted Felon Because U.S. Won't Recognize Homeland

He’s a man without a country.

An immigrant in Alabama who has been arrested 35 times in 12 years cannot be extradited because the United States does not recognize his homeland, the Birmingham News reports.

According to the paper, federal authorities have tried to remove convicted felon Sofyan Eldani, 45, but couldn’t send him to his native Palestine because the U.S. does not recognize it as a country. Eldani says he is a native of Palestine, though he carries an Egyptian passport.

Eldani's arrests include assault, fraudulent checks, criminal mischief, resisting arrests, reckless endangerment, shoplifting, burglary, drug possession, failure to appear, probation violation, possession of a drug paraphernalia and DUI.

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A Soggy Earth Day for the D.C. area

WASHINGTON - It's going to be a soggy day for the D.C. area. While a rainy Sunday afternoon might not be ideal, the area sure could use it.

ABC 7 Meteorologist Mike Stinneford says the morning rain will pick up as the day goes on, and could be hard at times.

"We'll see anywhere between one to two inches of rain, maybe three inches in the eastern and southern parts of our region," says Stinneford.

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1 in 2 New Graduates Are Jobless or Underemployed

WASHINGTON (AP) - The college class of 2012 is in for a rude welcome to the world of work.

A weak labor market already has left half of young college graduates either jobless or underemployed in positions that don't fully use their skills and knowledge.

Young adults with bachelor's degrees are increasingly scraping by in lower-wage jobs _ waiter or waitress, bartender, retail clerk or receptionist, for example _ and that's confounding their hopes a degree would pay off despite higher tuition and mounting student loans.

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Super Fresh In West Ocean City Closed

The Super Fresh in West Ocean City has been closed down due to heavy water leaks in the roof.

Rep. King Wants to Know Whether 'Per Diem' Used to Pay Colombia Prostitutes

A top House Republican wants to know whether Secret Service employees involved in the prostitution scandal in Colombia used their taxpayer "per diem" to pay any of the women for their services.

House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Peter King, R-N.Y., posed the question along with dozens of others in a letter to Secret Service Director Mark Sullivan as part of his committee's escalating probe into the controversy. The questions covered everything from the potential security risks to internal training procedures.

On the issue of prostitute payment, King asked the director two questions -- how many agents paid the women, and how many "provided monetary remuneration to the female foreign nationals involved in the alleged incident in Colombia with the per diem provided by the U.S. government?"

It's unclear how much money the agents may have shelled out on the night in question, or whether any of that money came from the government pocketbook -- one of the women reportedly was paid $225 for the night. It's one of the many questions lawmakers have for the Obama administration as they launch their own investigations into the alleged misconduct.

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