Drones Will Look For Stray Dogs In Houston

AND THEN INSTANTLY CAST THEM ON A REALITY SHOW

Drones, as low-cost flying machines, make great rescue tools. They can look and go places people can’t--or at least can’t go safely--and with infrared cameras, they can sometimes see beyond what human eyes can. In Houston, the World Animal Awareness Society plans to use them to track stray dogs, combining a drone's utility as a mapping device with its rescue abilities.

While the world has never been better documented than it is today, maps are static, which make them inaccurate at best for tracking transient populations. Counting the homeless populations in dense cities like San Francisco, even with hundreds of human volunteers on foot, is an incredibly hard undertaking with imperfect results. Mapping, counting, and tracking stray dogs before the advent of drone technology would have been impossible to the point of laughable, especially in such a vast city as Houston.

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Can’t slow down on the road? Soon, your car can do it

WASHINGTON — Are you tired of getting speeding tickets, but you just can’t seem to drive as slowly as the signs instruct? Technology might, once again, be your best friend.

Engadget reports that Ford’s new Intelligent Speed Limiter will use a camera mounted on the dashboard to look for speed-limit signs and adjusts the speed accordingly.

The switch for the limiter is on the steering wheel, and you activate it like you would cruise control. Also, it also displays the speed limits and other warnings from road signs (no passing, etc.) on the dashboard.

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Hispanic Activists Want Tougher Immigration Laws

HOUSTON (FOX 26) - Pedro Rivera is 53 years old, Hispanic, and a retired military man. He's also part of a growing number of Hispanic Texans pushing for stronger immigration enforcement, including the passage of SB 185, which would stop cities from implementing policies banning local cops from asking immigration-related questions.

“I'm an American citizen and I believe in the rule of law,” Rivera said. “And being Hispanic, I should not be granted special privilege in avoiding the law. We need officers to have all the tools available to them to keep us safe. That includes asking the question, when you're being detained for a crime or being arrested for an offense, ‘ are you here illegally? Are you a US citizen?'”

Rivera is working with Maria Espinoza, director of the Remembrance Project. Espinoza's Houston-based organization works with families of Americans killed by people in the United States illegally.

“This is a new initiative,” Espinoza said, of an effort to recruit Hispanic conservatives to speak out in support of SB 185.

Espinoza's new group, which isn't exclusive to people of Hispanic origin, traveled to Austin last week and asked lawmakers to stop Texas cities, like Houston , from adopting their own immigration related policies. It's not a new fight. The Texas Senate actually passed a similar measure in 2011. It prompted protests, then stalled before becoming state law. Espinoza says a lot has changed in four years.

“We have more Latinos who are behind this issue and also law enforcement,” she said. “We have (four) sheriffs who testified with us to remove sanctuary city policies.“

More here

Md. Bill Would Add School Funds To Address High Enrollment

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Maryland House Speaker Michael Busch is backing a measure to boost school construction money for counties experiencing high student enrollment growth.

The measure outlined Friday is sponsored by two Montgomery County Democrats: Del. Sheila Hixson and Sen. Nancy King.

The bill would provide roughly $20 million annually to be divided among counties where student enrollment growth exceeds 150 percent of the statewide average over the past five years. Counties with an average of more than 300 re-locatable classrooms in the past five years also would be eligible.

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REDNECK CENSUS FORM Check appropriate box

First name: [_] Billy-Bob [_] Bobby-Sue [_] Billy-Joe [_] Bobby-Jo [_] Billy-Ray [_] Bobby-Ann [_] Billy-Sue [_] Bobby-Lee [_] Billy-Mae [_] Bobby-Ellen [_] Billy-Jack [_] Bobby-Beth Ann Sue   Age: ____ (if unsure, guess)   Sex: ____ M _____ F _____ Not sure   Shoe Size: ____ Left ____ Right   Occupation: [_] Farmer [_] Mechanic [_] Hair Dresser [_] Waitress [_] Un-employed [_] Dirty Politician   Spouse's Name: __________________________   2nd Spouse's Name: __________________________   3rdSpouse's Name: __________________________   Lover's Name: __________________________   2nd Lover's Name: __________________________   Relationship with spouse: [_] Sister [_] Aunt [_] Brother [_] Uncle [_] Mother [_] Son [_] Father [_] Daughter [_] Cousin [_] Pet   Number of children living in household: ___   Number of children living in shed: ___   Number of children that are yours: ___   Mother's Name: _______________________   Father's Name: _______________________ (If not sure, leave blank)   Education: 1 2 3 4 (Circle highest grade completed)   Do you [_] own or [_] rent your mobile home? (Check appropriate box)   Vehicles you own and where you keep them: ___ Total number of vehicles you own ___ Number of vehicles that still crank ___ Number of vehicles in front yard ___ Number of vehicles in back yard ___ Number of vehicles on cement blocks   Firearms you own and where you keep them: ____ truck ____ kitchen ____ bedroom ____ bathroom ____ shed   Model and year of your pickup: _____________ 194__

Boardwalk Display Changes Eyed To Clarify Enforcement

OCEAN CITY – Proposed changes to the section of the City Code regarding display of outdoor merchandise on the Boardwalk aims to clarify confusion and allow for easier enforcement.

Last week the Planning and Zoning Commission held a public hearing concerning proposed changes to the City Code involving outdoor display of merchandise standards for properties fronting the Boardwalk.

The first proposed change was amending the title of the Boardwalk Development Association (BDA) to the Ocean City Development Corporation Boardwalk Committee (OCDCBC) due to the association joining forces with OCDC.

The main issue was OCDCBC had proposed to scratch, “Properties with a 32-foot setback from the Boardwalk are allowed a 12-foot display area adjacent to the building. The display area within the setback may not exceed 30 percent of the setback display area; the allowed amount of merchandise may be displayed no closer than 10 feet to the Boardwalk” and “Properties with less than a 32-foot setback from the Boardwalk area are allowed an 8 foot display area to the building. The display area within the setback may not exceed 30 percent pf the setback display area; the allowed amount of merchandise may be displayed no closer than 10 feet to the Boardwalk.”

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Police now say California woman's kidnap report was a hoax

VALLEJO, Calif. (AP) — Investigators in Northern California say they were suspicious from the start of a boyfriend's report of the violent abduction of his girlfriend for an $8,500 ransom, yet had to take it seriously for the two days she was missing.

But on the same day Denise Huskins reappeared 400 miles away in Southern California, police revealed Wednesday that they had no evidence of any kidnapping, and instead believe the entire affair was a hoax concocted by the couple.

"It was such an incredible story, we initially had a hard time believing it," Vallejo police Lt. Kenny Park said of the abduction report from Aaron Quinn. "Upon further investigation we couldn't substantiate any of the things he was saying."

The investigation will now turn to Huskins, 29, and Quinn, 30, to determine whether they did anything illegal, Park said. He would not say whether the two may have had any accomplices.

The day began with what seemed to be a happy ending when Huskins showed up unharmed outside her father's apartment.

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Veterans Appreciation Day

Why more U.S. colleges will go under in the next few years

When officials at Sweet Briar College announced earlier this month that the Virginia women's’ school would close at the end of this year, the news drew the attention of countless national media outlets and panicked alumnae looking for ways to save the school.

After all, how often does a “rich girl’s school,” as one student described Sweet Briar in the New York Times, just suddenly shut down?

It’s pretty rare for a more than 100-year-old school with a national reputation for a beautiful campus, close-knit community and accessible professors to just up and close. In the 10 years leading up to 2013, five nonprofit colleges and universities closed a year on average, according to a study from higher education researchers at Vanderbilt University. But the trend is likely to accelerate in the coming years, as colleges cope with lower tuition revenue due in part to lackluster enrollment, student worries about employment prospects and being saddled with debt after graduation.

“We expect that there will be more college closures over the next three to four years,” Susan Fitzgerald, a senior vice president at Moody’s. “I don’t think it’s going to be a landslide of college closures, but we are coming through a very tough period of time.”

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Beef & Beer Fundraiser

It looks like this for-profit college could be in financial trouble

Apollo Education Group, the parent company of The University of Phoenix, announced its second-quarter earnings this morning, and things don't look great for the for-profit college.

The company's shares fell 16% to $23.39, on news that total enrollments were down 15% and revenues were down 14%.

Apollo Chief of Staff, Mark Brenner, acknowledged the declining enrollment numbers and said that it was a challenging quarter and that certain changes should be made to improve the downward trend.

"I think what we've learned over the last couple of quarters we need to continued to invest in creating a better student experience, we need to have the best online classroom for students ... and we need to provide outsize value for students and align all of the curriculum and all of the teaching to career relevant outcomes for students," Brenner told Business Insider.

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Gay country star Steve Grand: ‘99% of the hate I get is from other gay people’

Steve Grand has claimed that the majority of hateful comments he gets online come from people in the gay community.

Grand shot to fame with the release of his gay-themed single All American Boy in 2013. Following one of the most successful Kickstarter music campaigns in the crowdfunding site’s history, he released his anticipated debut album last week.

In a new interview, the openly gay singer has revealed that “99% of the hate” that he gets online is from gay people who appear to think that he is trying to represent the entire gay community.

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Thoughts From A Retired Person's Perspective

1. I'm not saying let's go kill all the stupid people. I'm just saying let's remove all the warning labels and let the problem work itself out. 

2. I changed my car horn to gunshot sounds. People move out of the way much faster now. 

3. You can tell a lot about a woman's mood just by her hands. If they are holding a gun, she's probably ticked. 

4. Gone are the days when girls cooked like their mothers. Now they drink like their fathers. 

5. You know that tingly little feeling you get when you really like someone you've just met? That's common sense leaving your body. 

6. I don't like making plans for the day. Because then the word "premeditated" gets thrown around in the courtroom a lot. 

7. I didn't make it to the gym today. That makes 1,500 days in a row. 

8. I decided to change calling the bathroom the John and renamed it the Jim. I feel so much better saying I went to the Jim this morning. 

9. Dear paranoid people who check behind shower curtains for murderers. If you find one, what's your plan? 

10. Everyone has a right to be stupid. Politicians just abuse the privilege.

19 Photos Sure to Make You Cry

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State Dept's Jen Psaki: Bowe Bergdahl Swap ‘Absolutely’ Worth It

Governor Hogan Announces Supplemental Budget Supporting Maryland State Police

Actions Will Provide Funding For 100 New Troopers, Reopen Annapolis Barrack

ANNAPOLIS, MD – Today at a swearing-in ceremony for Colonel William M. Pallozzi as superintendent of the Maryland State Police, Governor Hogan announced the administration’s plan to introduce a second supplemental budget, which, in part, will add funding for 100 new Maryland State Police troopers and reopen the barrack in Annapolis.

The announcement reaffirms the Hogan administration’s commitment to making sure that the Maryland State Police remains among the most effective, trusted, and respected police forces in the United States.

The supplemental budget will provide an additional $6.8 million to recruit, train, and equip 100 new troopers. These troopers will be added through two classes, the first of which is scheduled for graduation this year. It will also provide an additional $1.4 million to reopen the Maryland State Police “Barrack J” in Annapolis that was closed by the previous administration in 2008. The governor has instructed Colonel Pallozzi to begin the process of restoring “Barrack J” to an operational state within the next few months.

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2016 brawl breaks out on Senate floor

Paul lashes Cruz, Rubio for ‘dangerous' and ‘reckless' positions on government spending.

The 2016 Republican nomination contest spilled onto the Senate floor Thursday, turning a marathon budget debate into a battle over which candidate is prepared to lead the country at a time of war.

Four GOP senators are trying to gain the upper hand on the commander-in-chief test — Marco Rubio, Rand Paul, Ted Cruz and Lindsey Graham — and their competition was on vivid display as the Senate took up a Rubio plan to pump tens of billions of dollars more into the Pentagon budget. Paul blasted the idea because the new spending wasn’t offset by other cuts. And caught in the middle was Cruz, who’s pitching himself as a fiscal conservative who can appeal to the hawkish and libertarian wings of the GOP but ultimately sided with Rubio and Graham.

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Woolly Mammoth DNA Successfully Spliced Into Elephant Cells

BUT DON’T EXPECT MAMMOTH CLONES ANYTIME SOON

A group of researchers are getting closer to bringing the extinct woolly mammoth back to life. Geneticist George Church’s lab at Harvard University successfully copied genes from frozen woolly mammoths and pasted them into the genome of an Asian elephant.

Using a DNA editing tool called CRISPR, the scientists spliced genes for the mammoths’ small ears, subcutaneous fat, and hair length and color into the DNA of elephant skin cells. The tissue cultures represent the first time woolly mammoth genes have been functional since the species went extinct around 4,000 years ago.

The research has not yet been peer-reviewed or published in a scientific journal “because there is more work to do,” Church told the U.K.’s Sunday Times, “but we plan to do so.”

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The Words Hillary’s Supporters Won’t Let You Say

Do you work in the media and have the gall to think that the entire Webster’s dictionary is at your disposal? Think again, you sexist.

When it comes to reporting on Hillary Clinton, George Carlin’s “Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television” have turned into “Twelve Words You Can Never Say About a Powerful Politician.”

“We will be watching, reading, listening and protesting coded sexism,” the pro-Hillary group HRC Super Volunteers warned The New York Times’ Amy Chozick Wednesday.

Here are the words that you can’t use to describe Clinton:

Polarizing

Yup. Nothing polarizing about this.

Calculating

I usually pair this with the term “cold.” As in, “Cold War.” Or, “cold, loveless marriage.”

Disingenuous

Like when chicks say “I’m not looking for anything serious.” Or, you know, “I’m on the pill.”

Or when, you know, Bill pretended he was crying about the death of Ron Brown when actually he was laughing.

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SPD Press Release 3-27-15 (Telephone Fraud Investigation)

Congressman Harris: State of Maryland Misled the Federal Government in Health Exchange Debacle

Harris Requested Audit of State Exchange

WASHINGTON, DC: Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01) commended the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General for releasing their report on the failed Maryland Health Exchange and uncovering that the state of Maryland intentionally misled the federal government in allocating funds to the exchange. Congressman Harris, along with then Congressman Jack Kingston (GA-01), requested this audit of the Maryland Health Exchange after the disastrous rollout. The audit found that the state had misled the federal government and misallocated $28.4 million in taxpayer dollars to the failed health exchange. The Inspector General is recommending to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) that Maryland be forced to repay the money in total.

“We knew the launch of the website was a disaster, but now we know the O’Malley Administration misallocated federal funds. This audit was critically important, and I believe the state will have to return the appropriate amount of money to the federal government. This is just another example of Governor Hogan having to clean up Governor O’Malley’s mistakes,” said Congressman Harris.

It is possible the state may be able to lower the number from $28.4m because the money could be recouped from Medicaid. This audit did not look at other items related to the exchange but focused solely on whether the state followed federal guidelines. The audit looked at failures of the state as a whole, and does not assign specific blame to individuals.

BREAKING NEWS: Al-Shabaab gunmen launch attack on Mogadishu hotel, reportedly killing 7

Gunmen belonging to the Al-Shabaab Islamic terrorist group in Somalia attack popular Mogadishu hotel, reportedly killing 7 and possibly taking hostages, local police say.

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Delmar School District Teacher of the Year

Do you know a classroom teacher who is dedicated, inspiring, and making a difference? If so, please take the time to recommend this person by completing and submitting this nomination form on/before Wednesday, April 15. Administrators, staff members, parents, students, and community members are encouraged to participate. Each candidate will be scored based on the criteria below: 1. Have a superior ability to inspire students of all backgrounds and abilities to learn. 2. Be an exceptionally skilled and dedicated educator in a public or charter school. 3. Have the respect and admiration of students, parents, and colleagues; and 4. Demonstrate a strong ability to foster excellence in education as evidenced by ongoing contributions to the improvement of student learning and the learning environment. IMPORTANT Note: According to state guidelines, nominees shall be skillful and dedicated teachers, pre-kindergarten through grade 12. The nominee must not have been the District Teacher of

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CONGRATULATIONS TO WICOMICO'S ALL SHORE BAND AND CHORUS STUDENTS

Wicomico County Middle and High School Band and Chorus Students Receive All Shore, All State, Regional Honors

Congratulations to the 2015 All Shore musicians and singers from Wicomico County Public Schools. All Shore Band honorees will participate in All Shore Band April 10-11 at Easton High School, with the concert at 7 p.m. April 11. The All Shore Chorus concert for both middle and high school students will take place at 7 p.m. Friday, April 17 at Wicomico High School in Salisbury. These concerts are open to the public for a small admission fee, and tickets may be purchased at the door.

Ten students from Wicomico Schools also earned 2015 All State recognition, and they performed at the Maryland Music Educators Conference. In addition to the students included in the listing below, Parkside High School’s Miyuki Schoyen, viola, was selected for All State Junior Orchestra, and James M. Bennett High’s Teresa Miller, soprano, was selected for All State Junior Chorus.

Honors for three students who earned recognition at the regional level are also noted. The school system’s music education opportunities are music educators are top-notch: Wicomico County Public Schools recently learned that it has received the 2015 Best Communities in the United States for Music Education Award from the NAMM Foundation.

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Come Join Us Tonight!

Dark Gold Jazz is a 3 piece Jazz Band with R&B and Funk mix. Members are ken, Dave, and ruke. They start at 9. 

Slick

Fears of martial law as special ops set to swarm Texas and Southwest

Seven Southwestern states will soon be swarmed by 1,200 military special ops personnel as part of a controversial domestic military training in which some of the elite soldiers will operate undetected among civilians.

Operation Jade Helm begins in July and will last for eight weeks. Soldiers will operate in and around towns in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah and Colorado where some of them wil drop from planes while carrying weapons loaded with blanks in what military officials have dubbed Realistic Military Training.

But with residents of the entire states of Texas and Utah dubbed 'hostile' for the purposes of the exercises, Jade Helm has some concerned the drills are too realistic.

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CBS tries getting Ted Cruz on Obamacare question, response is LEGENDARY

The NAACP's Fomenters of Fear

They just can't help themselves — and their agenda-driven media enablers never, ever learn.

This week, the NAACP made national front-page headlines with a local press release demanding that the feds investigate the hanging death of a local man in Port Gibson, Miss. Derrick Johnson, president of the NAACP Mississippi State Conference, immediately invoked the specter of a "hate crime." In response, the Obama Justice Department flooded the zone with a whopping 30 federal agents.

News outlets grabbed the bait. USA Today asked ominously: "Was it a lynching?" The discovery of ex-con Otis Byrd's body swinging from a tree by a bed sheet "brought back unpleasant memories of America's violent, racially charged past," the paper's video reporter asserted. Voice of America similarly intoned: "Mississippi hanging death raises lynching specter." The Los Angeles Times leaped into the fray with: "Why this story haunts the nation."

Whoa there, teeth-gnashing Nellies. Didn't we just recently witness the implosion of an NAACP-incited non-hate crime with the same exact narrative? Why, yes. Yes, we did.

Continued here

Tree sitter protesting new golf course falls onto ground

NEW ORLEANS — A man who had occupied a cypress tree for 11 days to block construction of a premier golf course in New Orleans' large public park has fallen and injured himself.

The man, identified as Lloyd Boover, fell out of the tree in City Park on Tuesday morning.

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Top DHS official gave special favors to Hillary Clinton's brother

A top Department of Homeland Security official improperly used his influence to help Tony Rodham – Hillary Clinton's youngest brother – with visas for his company's foreign investors, according to a new inspector general report.

Investigators said Alejandro Mayorkas helped efforts to secure the visas in ways that created the appearance of favoritism and special access.

He also helped Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe's green-car venture in 'unprecedented' fashion, according to the inspector general, and a casino company whose success was a pet project of then-Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

Mayorkas was at the time in charge of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Mrs. Clinton's latest 'brother eruption' could complicate her quest for the White House.

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Oil prices go crazy as Saudis go to war in Yemen

There’s nothing like a scare about the safety of middle-eastern sea-lanes to send oil prices higher, particularly when the scare involves fears of a conflict between the region’s two biggest powers.

Crude oil prices were back at their highest in two weeks at $51.32 a barrel by mid-morning in Europe, after Saudi Arabia and its allies launched airstrikes against the Houthi rebels who have overrun much of Yemen, including a military airbase that was used until recently by U.S. forces.

Prices have now surged 8% in the last 48 hours. The impact of the flare-up has been magnified by the fact that many participants in the market have bet on prices staying low all through the year. Those caught in ‘short’ positions have had to cover those positions in a hurry as the price rebounds. Fundamentally, though, the market remains oversupplied, and U.S. stocks of crude and fuel are at record highs.

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House effort would completely dismantle Patriot Act

A pair of House lawmakers wants to completely repeal the Patriot Act and other legal provisions to dramatically rein in American spying.

Reps. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) and Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) on Tuesday unveiled their Surveillance State Repeal Act, which would overhaul American spying powers unlike any other effort to reform the National Security Agency.

“This isn’t just tinkering around the edges,” Pocan said during a Capitol Hill briefing on the legislation. “This is a meaningful overhaul of the system, getting rid of essentially all parameters of the Patriot Act.”

The bill would completely repeal the Patriot Act, the sweeping national security law passed in the days after Sept. 11, 2001, as well as the 2008 FISA Amendments Act, another spying law that the NSA has used to justify collecting vast swaths of people's communications through the Internet.

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Audit: Maryland misallocated $28.4M for health exchange

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — A federal audit says Maryland misallocated $28.4 million in federal money for its flawed health care exchange and is recommending the state pay the money back.

The inspector general of the Department of Health and Human Services is releasing the audit Friday.

It says Maryland misallocated costs to federal grants instead of the Medicaid program in 2013 and 2014. The audit says Maryland did not use updated estimated enrollment data when it became available.

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Details emerge in Berlin vandalism

The Worcester County State’s Attorney’s office continues a quiet approach to the Jan. 25 vandalism spree in downtown Berlin suspected to have been perpetrated by a trio of teenagers, but more details continue to emerge from other sources.

According to a statement of charges, Berlin Police were dispatched to the municipal parking lot at 103 Williams Street at approximately 11:38 that evening in response to a call that several vehicles had been spray-painted.

Law enforcement logged 10 vehicles, three buildings, four trashcans and 10 electric meters tagged with spray paint at the site.

On the following morning, police received 23 additional reports of damaged vehicles and recovered several discarded cans of spray paint.

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Thank God Its Friday 3-27-15

What will you be doing this weekend?

Somerset School System to be featured on National Broadcast

On Saturday, March 28th, 2015, at 5:00 P.M. EDT, the Fox Business Network will air a program that will discuss nationwide educational issues and some which are close to home. In this special edition half hour show, the work of Somerset County Public Schools and its efforts toward greater excellence and system-wide improvement will be featured. It is a show that informs the viewer of ideas and solutions being utilized to continue to improve our school system. A number of staff and students will be featured. Larry King will serve as the host.

Hilarious! Daredevil Grandma rides roller coaster for the first time

SOMERSET COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING March 30, 2015

Congressman Harris: Taxpayer Dollars are Going to Pro-Abortion Groups

WASHINGTON, DC: Congressman Andy Harris, M.D. (MD-01) condemned findings from a recent U.S. Government Accountability Office report that revealed millions of federal taxpayer dollars are indeed going to fund abortion advocacy organizations. In February of 2013, Congressman Harris and several of his colleagues in the House urged the GAO to investigate how much federal funding went to several abortion advocacy organizations, such as Planned Parenthood. The report found that from 2010 to 2012, the six abortion advocacy groups received $481 million in federal funding, in addition to $1.2 billion in combined federal and state funds within federal health programs that call for shared funding.

“This new report clearly shows that we are in violation of the Hyde Amendment, giving federal taxpayer funds to organizations that perform abortion procedures. As a physician, I find it hard to believe that Planned Parenthood, an organization where 94% of their services are made up of abortions, is not using any of their federal funding for these procedures,” said Congressman Harris.

Under the Hyde Amendment, no federal dollars are to be used to fund abortions, except for in cases of rape and incest. Planned Parenthood performed 327,653 abortions in 2013, yet they only provided 1,880 adoption referrals and 18,684 prenatal services in the same time. They are the largest abortion provider in the United States, and the GAO report found that, despite the Hyde Amendment, they receive more than $500 million a year in federal funding.

Since coming to Congress in 2010, Congressman Harris has fought for pro-life issues, including ensuring that taxpayer dollars are not used to fund abortions, a position shared by a majority of Americans.

STATE APPROVES WICOMICO'S WAIVER REQUEST, LAST DAY IS JUNE 17

State Superintendent of Schools Approves Wicomico's Three-Day Waiver Request; Last Day of School Will Be June 17
 
Maryland Superintendent of Schools Dr. Lillian Lowery has notified Superintendent Dr. John Fredericksen that the request by Wicomico County Public Schools for a waiver of three missed school days has been approved, making it possible for Wicomico to end the 2014-2015 school year on Wednesday, June 17. The last three days (June 15, 16 and 17) will be early dismissal days. The state superintendent, in granting the waiver request, said Wicomico has met the minimum threshold for instructional hours, and that it has modified the school calendar to make up six of the nine days missed due to weather and road conditions.

Wicomico’s waiver request letter included the change of a professional day to a regular school day (April 7) and the extension of the school year by five days (June 11, 12, 15, 16, 17) to make up six of the nine missed days. The Board approved the following calendar revisions last month and at the March Board meeting:

Tuesday, March 31: Early dismissal day for students, with schools dismissing two hours early for students to give teachers time for professional development work. (This had previously been scheduled as a full school day, but is now an early dismissal day.)

Tuesday, April 7: Regular school day (Professional day on that date moved to June, after the end of the school year). Wicomico students and schools will now have a regular school day on Tuesday, April 7 to make up one missed day. April 7 had been scheduled as a professional day, with part of the day for SLOs (Student Learning Objectives). Now, teachers will have time on March 31 to work on their SLOs. Parents and guardians of students who will be absent on April 7 due to prior family plans must provide the school with written notice before April 7 for the student to have an excused absence for that school day.

Thursday, June 11-Wednesday, June 17: Wicomico students will make up five of the nine missed school days by attending on these days, as stated on the approved 2014-2015 calendar. June 15, 16 and 17 will be early dismissal days.
 
Friday, June 19: Last day for teachers


Note: Bennett Middle School students will end the school year on Friday, June 5, as time is needed to relocate teachers, staff and equipment to the new Bennett Middle and to begin the decommissioning of the current Bennett Middle School.

WWI photos

Lest we forget

Photos, A Century Later

Here

Hammer Time

Beer Goggles

Salisbury Advisory Council on Youth Activities Offers Summer Youth Sports Programs

Salisbury, MD – The Salisbury Advisory Council on Youth Activities (SACYA) will offer three youth sports programs this summer.

Tee Ball for boys and girls ages 4 – 6 will be held June 13 – July 25 (no program on July 4) on Saturdays from 8 – 9 a.m. at Billy Gene Jackson Jr. Park. Participants should bring their own glove. The program fee is $15 per participant.

Youth Tennis for boys and girls ages 7 – 15 will be held June 13 – July 25 (no program on July 4) on Saturdays from 8 – 9 a.m. at Billy Gene Jackson Jr. Park. Participants should bring their own tennis racket. The program fee is $20 per participant.

Youth Golf Lessons for boys and girls ages 7 – 17 will be held June 24 – July 29 on Wednesdays from 10 – 11 a.m. Lessons will be held at Billy Gene Jackson Jr. Park, UMES and Horse Bridge Golf Course. Golf clubs are recommended, but not required to participate. Lessons will be led by William Dillon of UMES. The program fee is $20 per participant.

Registration for these programs is open now through May 31 online atwww.WicomicoRecandParks.org or in person at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center Box Office (500 Glen Avenue, Salisbury, M – F, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.). For more information, contact Cortney Kline at 410-548-4900 x 109 or ckline@wicomicocounty.org.

Congressman Harris Applauds Veterans Choice Program Change

Harris has been outspoken advocate for this change

WASHINGTON, DC: Congressman Andy Harris, M.D., a Navy veteran and physician who worked in both the military and veteran health systems, applauded the Department of Veterans’ Affairs announcement that will change the formula to determine eligibility in the Veterans Choice Program. Congressman Harris has repeatedly urged the VA to reconsider how they measure the 40 mile distance necessary to take part in the Veterans Choice Program and seek care from a private medical facility. The VA will now determine eligibility based on driving distance, instead of a straight line distance.

“Our veterans put their lives on the line for our nation; they deserve the best possible care, whether they seek it at the VA or a private facility. The change in policy for the Veterans Choice Program is great news for our veterans who have suffered long distances to get routine care. Many veterans will now have a choice in their health care,” said Congressman Harris.

The Veterans Choice Program was created by the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 (VACAA), which was passed by Congress and signed into law by the President last August. Many of the veterans in Maryland’s First District that live on the Eastern Shore are separated from VA facilities in Baltimore by the Chesapeake Bay and must travel long distances to receive care.

“During my training, I worked in a VA hospital and I understand the bureaucratic mess that has done a disservice to those who have fought to protect our freedom. I will continue to fight for our veterans to ensure that they receive the care they need and deserve,” added Congressman Harris.

Congressman Harris has been a vocal leader in the fight to reform the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

For more information on the policy change, visit the VA’s website.

Maryland Internet Crimes Against Children Child Pornography Arrest

Maryland State Police Press Release

03/26/2015

(Columbia, MD)Members of the Maryland State Police, Computer Crimes Section, Maryland Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) arrest Howard County individual on child pornography related charges.

The suspect is identified as Alexander Hart Martin, 26, from Columbia, Maryland. He was arrested without incident. Martin was charged with for Distributing Child Pornography via a file sharing network, Possession of Child Pornography, and Visual Surveillance with Prurient Intent.

As a result of the investigation a search and seizure warrant was executed at Martin's residence during March 2015 by a Maryland State Police Computer Crimes investigator and agents from the Department of Homeland Security. Martin was identified by investigators as the focus of the investigation. Execution of the search warrant resulted in numerous types of digital media seized including computers and external hard drives. These items were found to contain images of child pornography. Martin was transported to the Howard County Detention Center and is awaiting a hearing by the District Court Commissioner.

The Maryland Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force is comprised of police agencies from around the state. Its primary mission is to protect children from computer-facilitated sexual exploitation. The Task Force works cooperatively with law enforcement agencies and prosecutors to provide resources to combat these crimes. Additionally, the Task Force provides community awareness campaigns helping to prevent the spread of these crimes through education.

Iran Gains Control of US Intelligence Files in Yemen

A U.S. intelligence network in Yemen has been compromised after files were taken by Iranian-backed militia leaders amid violent protests in the Middle Eastern country.

According to a Los Angeles Times report, officials from the Yemen government have given other files about American intelligence operations in Yemen to Iranian advisers as well.

Houthi militias took over Yemen's capital of Sana last fall and overthrew the government, with President Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi being placed under house arrest. He eventually fled to Aden, a city in the southwest corner of the country.

On Wednesday, Hadi evacuated Yemen by boat as militants closed in on him, the New York Times reports. A reported $20 million bounty had been issued for his capture.

The theft of the files deals a significant blow to intelligence activities in the region. The L.A. Times reports the program had been implemented to track down and kill operatives from Al-Qaida. A facet of the terror group, Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), is based in Yemen and is considered by the U.S. to be the most dangerous branch of the group.

When Houthi forces recently gained control of Yemen's National Security Bureau office, it became clear the identities of local agents working for the Americans were uncovered, the L.A. Times reports.

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3 coffins bringing life to early Maryland history

BALTIMORE — Thoughts of colonial Maryland conjure images of dark suits, white-powdered coiffed hair and shiny black leather buckle shoes.

But when a team of workers discovered three lead coffins dating back to the 17th century in the foundation of a long-gone chapel in St. Mary’s City, a remote historical settlement on the southern tip of Maryland and the Chesapeake’s western shore, they were in for a shock.

Expecting to find well-preserved skeletons, Henry Miller, researcher and Maryland heritage scholar with Historic St. Mary’s City and co-director of the project, said he opened the first coffin to find bone that had turned to a white crystal material from the waist up — leading to a burst of perfectly preserved, shoulder-length red hair.

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Cornell University: ISIS Welcome On Campus

A top administrator at Cornell University has said that the institution would be open to the creation of a group supporting the Islamic State (ISIS) and to hosting a training camp for militants on campus.

Project Veritas sent an undercover reporter posing as a Moroccan student to question Cornell's assistant dean for students, Joseph Scaffido.

Scaffido was open to inviting an ISIS "freedom fighter" to the campus and likened a possible training camp to bringing in a coach to the school for a sports camp.

"You would be allowed to do something like that. It's just like bringing in a coach, to do a training, a sports trainer or something," the Cornell official said.

He also appeared to agree with the suggestion of allowing the group to provide material support for the militant group in the form of "care packages, whether it be food, water, electronics."

When asked whether the group could also support Hamas, Scaffido said it would not be a problem either.

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ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations arrests 200th criminal alien convicted of sex crime under Sex Offender Registration Initiative

One of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) priorities is arresting child predators and bringing them to a court of law where they face justice, or in some cases, sending them back to their home countries.

But first, convicted child sexual predators, some of whom are in the country illegally, must be located. The Fugitive Operations Support Center (FOSC) and Fugitive Operations Teams (FOT) of ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) tracks and targets criminal aliens convicted of sexual crimes against children.

ERO’s Sex Offender Registration (SOR) initiative, which started two years ago, has so far resulted in the arrest of 200 criminal aliens convicted of sex crimes, with the most recent arrest taking place on March 1. On that day, FOT officers from New York City, acting on a lead from the FOSC, located and arrested a 28 year-old criminal alien convicted of felony sexual abuse and sexual contact with a child under the age of 14. The subject is now in ICE custody and awaiting removal from the United States.

The 200 criminal aliens arrested were convicted of crimes such as sexual assault and battery, rape and indecent exposure. A 39-year-old Iraqi national was convicted of sexual exploitation of a minor via telecommunications; a 31-year-old Salvadoran national was convicted of 3rd degree rape of a victim under the age of 17 and a 22-year-old national of Thailand was convicted of lewd or lascivious acts upon a child under the age of 14.

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Republican-Controlled House OKs Balanced Budget Plan

The Republican-controlled House has approved a budget blueprint that projects balance by the end of the decade and includes trillions of dollars in savings from benefit programs.

The vote in favor of the plan was 228-199.

The blueprint itself is non-binding, but sets Republicans on a path to pass legislation that repeals the health care law, remakes Medicare and overhauls the tax code, in addition to other steps to implement their plan.

The GOP-controlled Senate is at work on a slightly different budget plan, with a vote expected by week's end.

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100 YEARS AND TICKING

They were dubbed the greatest generation, and after spending an hour or so with Linwood Thumm, known more affectionately as "Tick," it's easy to understand why. Two weeks shy of his 100th birthday, his recollection of his service in the Coast Guard during
WWII are as vivid as if he just left the battle. Humble about his service yet excited to share his memories, this is just a brief glimpse into the story of Tick Thumm.

Thumm’s military service began in 1942 with the U.S. Navy, when he answered America's call after WWII broke out. His service in the Navy, however, didn't extend any further than the entrance process when, according to Thumm, he was turned down because he didn't have three matching molars. Not willing to take no for an answer, Thumm turned to the U.S. Coast Guard.

Having grown up on the water, Thumm figured he would take to the Coast Guard like the Wright brothers took to flying. After joining the Coast Guard and becoming a seaman 1st class, he tested for the Coast Guard Academy. Thumm’s proficiency in math paid off on the exam when he achieved a near perfect score on the celestial navigation portion. Having entered and successfully completed the program, he became an officer and was given command of an 83-foot cutter crew stationed at Naval Base Little Creek in what is now Virginia Beach, Virginia.

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Dershowitz: Obama, McDonough Acting Like 'Petulant Children'

White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough's contention this week that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is doing an about-face on his remarks on the eve of the Israeli elections that he opposed a Palestinian state is ludicrous, Harvard law professor Alan Dershowitz said Wednesday on Newsmax TV's "America's Forum."

"Both the president and his chief of staff are acting like petulant children rather than statesmen," said Dershowitz. "A statesman takes two statements – one by Netanyahu saying he opposes the two-state solution and then the second one saying he doesn't – and always the statesman will focus on the positive and say thank you so much for clarifying, let's move forward, let's emphasize what you said most recently."

"Even Israel's staunchest enemies now think that the Obama administration, and particularly President Obama, is overplaying its hand, it's acting immaturely and is not producing anything that would lead in the right direction.

"Republicans are correct in pointing that out and holding the president's feet to the fire."

Netanyahu has also not changed his tune on a deal with Iran or a two-state solution with the Palestinians, but rather shown that he is an astute negotiator, according to Dershowitz.

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CLEAN-UP BERLIN DAY

CLEAN-UP BERLIN DAY

Saturday, April 11, 2015

Spring is in the air and it’s time for spring-cleaning! For more than a decade volunteers have dedicated a few hours on an April Saturday to help give Berlin’s Parks and Downtown an after-winter spruce up. This year Clean-Up Day will be Saturday, April 11, 2015. Individuals and teams are needed to help with planting, weeding, raking, mulching and whatever else needs attention.

Sign-up begins at 8:30 AM in both Stephen Decatur and Henry Parks, or you can pre-register by clicking here, or via FaceBook at “Take Pride in Berlin Week” (click on the Sign-Up link under our cover photo). Some supplies will be available for use, but participants are encouraged to bring their own if possible.

Lunch will be provided by SonRise Church at Henry Park for all volunteers.

Keep an eye out for more information about Take Pride in Berlin Week, which will be April 18, 2015 to April 25, 2015. For more information, please call 410-641-4314 or email mbohlen@berlinmd.gov.

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Man With Concealed Carry Stops Slaughter

An armed passerby, carrying his permitted pistol, is being credited with saving the lives of several people when he stepped in off the street and killed a gunman shooting at occupants of a Philadelphia barbershop.

The incident Sunday began when a man, identified by police only by his age, 40, pulled out a gun and opened fire on barbers and customers inside Falah Barber Shop.

While the gunman was shooting, a passerby responded to the gunfire, running into the shop and pulling his own gun. He opened fire and struck the gunman in the chest.

More here

Dem Rep. Tries to Park Car, Fails Miserably. How She Left It Suggests She Had No Idea She Was on Video.

Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) was captured on video trying — and failing miserably — to park her vehicle in a wide open parking space between two House office buildings on Wednesday.

A “tipster” who caught the stunning incident on video claimed Norton grazed the vehicle parked next to her several times but didn’t even leave a note, which Norton’s office later disputed.

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Ben Carson: Obama Is A 'Psychopath'

Ben Carson, an emerging presidential candidate for the Republican Party, was captured in an unguarded moment by a GQ reporter calling President Obama a “psychopath” for the seeming ease with which he lies to the American public.

GQ reports that Carson “had come to the Capitol Hill home of Armstrong Williams, a conservative media impresario who officially serves as Carson’s business manager,” for the president’s State of the Union speech. Shortly after, the two began discussing the speech and Obama.

Williams said, GQ reported: “He looks good. He looks clean. Shirt’s white. The tie. He looks elegant.”

And Carson’s quick reply?

“Like most psychopaths,” Carson said, the news site said. “That’s why they’re successful. That’s the way they look. They all look great.”

More here

CONGRESSMAN HARRIS APPLAUDS VETERANS CHOICE PROGRAM CHANGE

Harris has been outspoken advocate for this change

WASHINGTON, DC: Congressman Andy Harris, M.D., a Navy veteran and physician who worked in both the military and veteran health systems, applauded the Department of Veterans’ Affairs announcement that will change the formula to determine eligibility in the Veterans Choice Program. Congressman Harris has repeatedly urged the VA to reconsider how they measure the 40 mile distance necessary to take part in the Veterans Choice Program and seek care from a private medical facility. The VA will now determine eligibility based on driving distance, instead of a straight line distance.

“Our veterans put their lives on the line for our nation; they deserve the best possible care, whether they seek it at the VA or a private facility. The change in policy for the Veterans Choice Program is great news for our veterans who have suffered long distances to get routine care. Many veterans will now have a choice in their health care,” said Congressman Harris.

The Veterans Choice Program was created by the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 (VACAA), which was passed by Congress and signed into law by the President last August. Many of the veterans in Maryland’s First District that live on the Eastern Shore are separated from VA facilities in Baltimore by the Chesapeake Bay and must travel long distances to receive care.

“During my training, I worked in a VA hospital and I understand the bureaucratic mess that has done a disservice to those who have fought to protect our freedom. I will continue to fight for our veterans to ensure that they receive the care they need and deserve,” added Congressman Harris.

Congressman Harris has been a vocal leader in the fight to reform the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

For more information on the policy change, visit the VA’s website.

Watch this raw video of the building fire in New York's East Village

Watch this raw video of the building fire in New York's East Village. For the latest details and to watch live video: http://bit.ly/1byns1A

Posted by ABC 7 News - WJLA on Thursday, March 26, 2015

SU Men’s Lacrosse v Stevenson – It Was Not to Be!

Stevenson men's lacrosse junior Pat Candon scored his third game-winning goal of the season with just 1:22 remaining in overtime to lift the No. 7 Mustangs to a 9-8 road victory over rival and 12th-ranked Salisbury Wednesday at Sea Gull Stadium. It was the Seagulls second overtime loss this year.

Wednesday marked just the second overtime game out of 18 in the Salisbury-Stevenson series and the first since May 23, 2010. Stevenson (5-3) has now won three of the last four in the series. Salisbury is the leader overall, however.

After three-straight goals to start the fourth quarter by seniors Paul Danko and Tony Rossi and junior Stephen Banick, the Mustangs held an 8-6 lead with just 2:55 remaining. The Sea Gulls (6-4) scored two goals in the final 1:10, tying the game on a 6-on-4 extra-man opportunity with just 11 seconds remaining.

Salisbury then had a chance to win the game with 2:46 left in overtime after a Stevenson penalty gave the Sea Gulls their seventh extra-man opportunity of the night which led to a one-on-none opportunity for Mike Kane that was saved by junior Ben Richards.

On the ensuing possession, the Mustangs called a timeout while waiting for the penalty to expire before Candon beat his man one-on-one and scored in front of the crease to give Stevenson back-to-back wins over Cortland and Salisbury.

Richards, who finished with a season-high 13 saves, totaled seven in the fourth quarter and overtime, including the one on Kane to extend the game for the Mustangs. He highlighted a defensive effort that held the Sea Gulls without a shot for a span of 16:03 over the third and fourth quarters while holding Salisbury to just 1-for-7 on the extra-man.

Senior Josh Rufolo also added four caused turnovers while freshman Dom DeFazio had five ground balls in his first career start, filling in for senior Taylor Morgan.

Led by three goals from Carson Kalama, the Sea Gulls jumped out to a 3-1 lead until Danko scored with just five seconds left in the first quarter to key a 3-0 run for the Mustangs who took a 4-3 advantage with 13:14 remaining in the second.

After man-up goals by junior Matt Tompkins and senior Colin Dabney just 24 seconds apart, Kalama scored his fourth goal of the game to tie the game at 4-4 with 8:28 to play in the half. Candon put Stevenson back in front with a third-straight man-up goal before Sean Fitzgerald scored at 1:55 to tie the game at 5-5 at halftime.

The Mustangs outshot Salisbury 40-33, but won just 5-of-19 faceoffs. Candon finished with two goals and now leads the team with 14 this season while Banick totaled four points on two goals and two assists.

Kalama totaled four goals for the Sea Gulls while Fitzgerald had one goal and four assists. Connor Anderson made 11 saves.

There were numerous penalties, including one of three minutes against Salisbury for an illegal stick.

This loss probably means that the Seagull’s only chance to make the NCAA tournament field is to win the Capital Conference championship.

BRIDGING THE GAP: Connecting Community, Education and Success.

SEVP releases 2015 international student data, launches interactive mapping tool

STUDENT AND EXCHANGE VISITOR PROGRAM

14.18 percent increase in international students since January 2014

 WASHINGTON — "SEVIS by the Numbers," a quarterly report on international students studying in the United States, was released Wednesday by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), part of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). The report highlights February 2015 data from the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), a Web-based system that includes information about international students, exchange visitors and their dependents while they are in the United States. New this edition, users can also visit the Study in the States website to review international student data from "SEVIS by the Numbers" via an interactive mapping tool.

Based on data extracted from SEVIS Feb. 6, 1.13 million international students, using an F (academic) or M (vocational) visa, were enrolled at nearly 8,979 U.S. schools. This marked a 14.18 percent increase in international students when compared to January 2014 data. The number of certified schools remained relatively static, increasing just more than one percent, during the same time period.

Seventy-six percent of all international students were from Asia. The top 10 countries of citizenship for international students included: China, India, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Canada, Japan, Vietnam, Taiwan, Mexico and Brazil.

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The Medal of Honor Recipient Used to Look Like This, But See Just How Far He’s Come…

Maybe you’ve heard of Kyle Carpenter, who dove in front of an incoming grenade in Afghanistan in 2010 to protect a fellow Marine.

 
In 2014, he became the 8th and youngest living recipient of the Medal of Honor.
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Statement From Governor Larry Hogan On Unanimous Passage Of Budget In Senate

ANNAPOLIS, MD – Governor Larry Hogan today released the following statement in response to the unanimous vote in the Maryland Senate on the FY 2016 budget:

“I want to thank President Miller, Chairman Kasemeyer and every member of the Maryland Senate for their hard work on this budget and for the unanimous vote. Putting Maryland on sound financial footing is a shared responsibility and today’s vote shows leadership as we work together in a bi-partisan fashion toward a common goal.

“The foundation of the budget introduced by my administration in January was structural balance and record investment in education, without the burden of increased taxes or growth in state debt. Throughout the budget process we have asked both Democratic and Republican legislators for their input on how to further expand our increased investments in education while still adhering to our basic principles of fiscal responsibly.

“While I believe we are headed in the right direction overall, I do remain concerned about the General Assembly’s reallocation of funding originally intended to address shortfalls in the State pension system. As the budget process moves to conference committee, my administration will be seeking assurances from leadership in the legislature to ensure that pension funding will be addressed in a responsible way. We cannot ignore our responsibility to current and retired state employees.

“Finally, the budget will not be completed without meaningful discussion on the many tax relief measures our administration has introduced for struggling Maryland families, small businesses, retirees, and veterans.

“We look forward to continuing to work with the leaders of the House and Senate over the next 18 days as the work of the General Assembly comes to a conclusion.”

Capitol Police beg lawmakers to end their out-of-control parties

WASHINGTON (CNN) - Congressional law enforcement officials want to rein in the growing number of parties in the Capitol during the annual Memorial Day and July Fourth concerts, according to a letter from the U.S. Capitol Police Board that was sent to top congressional leaders earlier this month.

The letter cites security concerns, mounting overtime costs and an abundance of "coolers containing liquids" as prompting the need for action. It says the changes are needed "in light of the current heightened threat environment" and "to reduce the potential for a breach of decorum or conduct that could prove embarrassing to the Congress."

Authorities are concerned the parties, hosted by lawmakers, their staffs and organizers of a nationally televised concert and fireworks display, have grown out of control and potentially dangerous in recent years. During July Fourth celebrations last year the U.S. Capitol was overrun with heavy drinking party-goers. And it wasn't the first time the building was filled with drunken revelers wandering the historic hallways during patriotic celebrations.

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Detroit woman arrested after 2 kids found dead in freezer

DETROIT — A Detroit mother was arrested Tuesday after the frozen bodies of a boy and girl were found in a deep freezer in the family's home, police said.

Court officers found the children's bodies while carrying out an eviction order at the 3-bedroom home in the apartment complex just east of downtown. An autopsy will determine how they died.

Police initially reported a woman's body was found in the freezer, but later said it was actually the bodies of the two children in a plastic bag.

The boy was about 11 and the girl was 14, said police Chief James Craig who called it a "terrible find."

The woman was not in the apartment when the court officers or police arrived. "One of the community members here ... approached our officers and advised that they knew where the parent was located," Craig said.

The children's mother was found in a nearby apartment and questioned. She was arrested later Tuesday. Her name has not been released.

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Cornell University Wants Students to Celebrate Islamist Terrorism and Start an ‘ISIS Club’

EX-Teacher felons convicted for raping children are STILL paid millions of dollars from state taxpayer-funded pensions

Personally, I think if you’re a teacher who raped students you should never see the light of day let alone your pension, Yet, they still do and Washington state lawmakers are looking to change that…

Laurence Hill is a convicted rapist. His victims were 10- and 11-year-old girls he taught in a Seattle school. He served five years in prison for his crimes, and the Seattle School District paid his victims a $3 million settlement.

And yet, Hill has never missed a monthly pension paycheck. So far, he’s collected $208,000 more from a state taxpayer-funded pension than he put into the system before getting fired.

Critics say Hill and more violent predators shouldn’t get a dime.

“For them to now be in prison, a felony charge against them, and still be eligible to collect a state pension that the taxpayers also pay into, is not satisfactory,” Washington state Sen. Barbara Bailey said.

Sen. Bailey has introduced a bill that would penalize those who violate the public trust. A hearing was scheduled for this week.

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