Little Tikes™ Recall on the 2-in-1 Snug ‘n Secure Pink Swing

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Recall Date: February 23, 2017

Recall Number: 17-096

WASHINGTON, D.C. –In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Little Tikes Company, of Hudson, Ohio, is implementing a correction action plan involving approximately 540,000 units of the “2-in-1 Snug ‘n Secure” pink swings manufactured during the time period of November 2009 and December 2013.

Model #: 615573

UPC: 0-50743-61557-3

Units: About 540,000

Manufacturer: Little Tikes, of Hudson, Ohio

Hazard: The plastic seat can crack or break, posing a fall hazard.

Incidents/Injuries: The firm has received about 140 reports of the swing breaking, including 39 injuries to children including abrasions, bruises, cuts and bumps to the head. Two of the reported injuries included children with a broken arm.

Description: This recall involves Little Tikes 2-in-1 Snug’n Secure pink toddler swings. The swings have a pink T-shaped restraint in front with a Little Tikes logo. The swing is suspended by four yellow ropes.  The model number 615573 is molded on the back of the swing seat and there is a manufacturing date code stamp on the back of the seat. The molded INNER arrow of the date code stamp points to “10”, “11”, “12” or “13”, it is included in the recall.  In addition, swings with a date code stamp of “9” on the INNER arrow combined with “43” or higher number stamped on the OUTER are included in this recall. No other date codes or other colored swings are affected.

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Left-Wing Front Groups Make Anti-Trump Money Untraceable

Dark money advocacy groups are required to disclose little about their donors, but two left-wing organizations fighting President Donald Trump's cabinet nominations are using a tax law loophole to make their finances even more opaque.

Allied Progress claimed credit on Wednesday for Andy Puzder's withdrawal as Trump's nominee for labor secretary. It has also battled Trump nominees to lead the Department of Commerce and the Treasury.

The group's "Trump Transparency Project" is "dedicated to holding President-elect Donald Trump’s transition and eventual administration accountable for its economic appointments and policies that betray hardworking Americans," its website says.

Allied Progress's advocacy arm ran television ads explicitly opposing Puzder and Steve Mnuchin, who was confirmed last week to lead Treasury. It also released opposition research dossiers, organized Senate letter-writing campaigns, and launched websites to house its grassroots lobbying efforts.

OpposePuzder.org, the micro-site targeting the former Labor nominee, now redirects to a page opposing his replacement, former U.S. Attorney Alexander Acosta.

The resources that Allied Progress and its advocacy arm are devoting to their anti-Trump efforts, as well as the sources of that money, are virtually unknowable due to the groups' arrangements with two left-wing organizations that effectively hide their finances from public view.

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Free Naloxone Training Offered at Upcoming Opiate Abuse Event in Ocean City

OCEAN CITY, MD – : The Ocean City Police Department, in cooperation with the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office and Worcester County State’s Attorneys’ Office, is hosting a free event, open to the public focusing on heroin and opioid abuse awareness. The event will take place on March 1, 2017, at 6 p.m. at the ocean City Performing Arts Center, located at 4001 Coastal Highway. Doors will open at 5 p.m.

During the event, a documentary will be shown entitled “Chasing the Dragon: The Life of an Opiate Addict”. In addition, free naloxone training will be offered by the Worcester County Health Department and law enforcement officials from local, state and federal agencies will discuss the epidemic we face today. Local addiction resource organizations will also be available to speak with attendants.

The documentary being shown at the event was produced by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in response to the widespread heroin epidemic. The film gives very raw and emotional stories describing the devastating effects of heroin and opiate abuse and discusses the issues our country faces.

Citizens may visit ocpdmd.eventbrite.com for more information and to register for this free community event. Please be advised that this film contains adult topics and strong language. For additional questions, contact the Ocean City Police Department Public Affairs Office at 410-520-5395 or email lrichard@oceancitymd.gov.

Brzezinski: ‘Our Job’ Is to Control ‘Exactly What People Think’

Controlling "exactly what people think" is the job of the media, MSNBC's Mika Brzezinski boldly declared Wednesday morning.

While discussing President Trump's entreaties to the American people to remain skeptical of the press, Bzezinski worried that if the economy turns south, Americans may end up trusting him over the media.

"And it could be that while unemployment and the economy worsens, he could have undermined the messaging so much that he can actually control exactly what people think," Brzezinski said. "And that, that is our job."

SCARBOROUGH: "Exactly. That is exactly what I hear. What Yamiche said is what I hear from all the Trump supporters that I talk to who were Trump voters and are still Trump supporters. They go, 'Yeah you guys are going crazy. He's doing -- what are you so surprised about? He is doing exactly what he said he is going to do.'"

BRZEZINSKI: "Well, I think that the dangerous, you know, edges here are that he is trying to undermine the media and trying to make up his own facts. And it could be that while unemployment and the economy worsens, he could have undermined the messaging so much that he can actually control exactly what people think. And that, that is our job."

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Single mom goes viral after using tax return to pay rent for a year

Most of us anxiously wait for tax-return season so we can buy a new gadget, or redecorate a room or take a much-needed trip, and while there is nothing wrong with splurging on yourself, some people chose to use the money a little differently.
Christina Knaack, a single mom and recovering addict from South Carolina never thought she'd go viral after sharing a message about her tax return on her Facebook.

"I got back $5600 on my taxes. Instead of buying my kids the latest Jordans or fancy electronics I paid my rent for the YEAR," wrote Knaack. "I'm a single mom and I do it all buy myself on a minimum wage job. I kno [sic] that a roof over my kids' head is what's important. My kids don't want for anything because my priorities are straight. And this also means I will have that extra 450 a month to do things with my kids."
People sent all kinds of comments to Knaack, some positive and others not so much

Many commentors posted things like "good job" or "smart thinking" or a short congratulatory comment.

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Atheist forces school to drop Ten Commandments

A Pennsylvania school district capitulated to the demands of a militant atheist who filed a federal lawsuit demanding the district remove a Ten Commandments monument erected on a public high school campus.

New Kensington-Arnold School District agreed to remove the massive monument within 30 days – ending a lawsuit filed in 2012 by self-avowed atheist Marie Schaub.

Schaub claimed the 6-foot stone monument erected outside Valley High School was a religious symbol and therefore was a violating of the U.S. Constitution.

“It’s unfortunate that many people in my community don’t understand or appreciate the separation of church and state, but I hope this settlement serves as an important lesson,” she told the Valley News Dispatch.

Under the agreement to remove the monument, the school district's insurance company will pay $163,500 in legal fees, including more than $40,000 to the Freedom From Religion Foundation.

“We’re very pleased,” Freedom From Religion Foundation attorney Patrick Elliott told the Valley News Dispatch. “It means that the Constitution is being followed by the school district.”

The Freedom From Religion Foundation is a group of perpetually offended atheists, agnostics and self-professed free-thinkers based in Wisconsin. Their staff of full-time lawyers bully and intimidate small towns and communities in their quest to eradicate Christianity from the public marketplace.

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Virginia city cancels visit to Ark Encounter after atheist protest

A Virginia city's Parks and Recreation Department has canceled a planned trip to The Ark Encounter and Creation Museum for families after an atheist group claimed it would violate the Constitution due to the exhibit's "Christian and proselytizing nature."

The Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation claimed that it was informed by a "concerned local resident" about the planned visit in early April to the museum in Kentucky and therefore it "urged" the city to "refrain from organizing an outing to such overtly religious sites."

"Advertising and organizing a trip to a Christian ministry constitutes government endorsement of religion and alienates those Christiansburg residents who are not Christian and are non-religious," FFRF Attorney Andrew Seidel wrote to Brad Epperley, director of the Christiansburg Parks and Recreation Department..

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Again! Robert Reich Implies Trump Incited Sweden’s Migrant Riots

Robert Reich, a professor at UC Berkeley and former [Clinton] U.S. Secretary of Labor, has insinuated that President Donald Trump incited Monday’s riots in Sweden — echoing his unproven conspiracy theory just weeks ago that Breitbart News organized violent demonstrations at his university.

“Trump’s lies have consequences,” Reich wrote Tuesday afternoon on Twitter. “48 hrs after his comments on Sweden, riots broke out in an immigrant community.” His statement refers to President Trump’s comments at a Florida rally this weekend, describing problems in the European country due to heavy migration from Muslim-majority nations..

Earlier this month, Reich similarly blamed conservatives for violence that made national headlines and embarrassed leftists. After protesters shut down a speech at UC Berkeley by then-Breitbart Tech Senior Editor Milo Yiannopoulos, Reich claimed that he “heard there’s some relationship there between [instigators of arson and physical attacks] and the right wing and the movement that is affiliated with Breitbart News.”

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Napolitano: Revenge of the Deep State

Last week, The Wall Street Journal revealed that members of the intelligence community — part of the deep state, the unseen government within the government that does not change with elections — now have acquired so much data on everyone in America that they can selectively reveal it to reward their friends and harm their foes. Their principal foe today is the president of the United States.

Liberty is rarely lost overnight. The wall of tyranny often begins with benign building blocks of safety — each one lying on top of a predecessor — eventually collectively constituting an impediment to the exercise of free choices by free people, often not even recognized until it is too late.

Here is the back story.

In the pre-Revolutionary era, British courts in London secretly issued general warrants to British government agents in America. The warrants were not based on any probable cause of crime or individual articulable suspicion; they did not name the person or thing to be seized or identify the place to be searched. They authorized agents to search where they wished and seize what they found.

The use of general warrants was so offensive to our Colonial ancestors that it whipped up more serious opposition to British rule and support for the revolutionaries than the "no taxation without representation" argument did. And when it came time for Americans to write the Constitution, they prohibited general warrants in the Fourth Amendment, the whole purpose of which was to guarantee the right to be left alone by forcing the government to focus on bad guys and prohibit it from engaging in fishing expeditions. But the fishing expeditions would come.

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Sen. Mathias sponsors bills aimed at treating cancer

Maryland State Sen. Jim Mathias (D-38), a longtime advocate for cancer victims, is continuing the fight this legislative session as the primary sponsor of several bills aimed at easing insurance restrictions and improving access to treatment.

Senate Bill 61, which was passed 46-0 on Feb.9, will prohibit insurance companies from charging higher copays for digital tomography to produce 3-D mammograms as compared to the charges for other breast cancer screening methods. Mathias pursued the same measure last year.

The bill, which was supported by CareFirst Blue Cross and Blue Shield, prohibits insurers from charging higher co-pays for breast exams using 3-D tomography, which Mathias said provides a superior resolution and image.

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Social Media Is Driving Americans Insane

If you pull out your phone to check Twitter while waiting for the light to change, or read emails while brushing your teeth, you might be what the American Psychological Association calls a “constant checker.” And chances are, it’s hurting your mental health.

Last week, the APA released a study finding that Americans were experiencing the first statistically significant stress increase in the survey’s ten year history. In January, 57 percent of respondents of all political stripes said the U.S. political climate was a very or somewhat significant source of stress, up from 52 percent who said the same thing in August.

On Thursday, the APA released the second part of its 1 findings, “Stress In America: Coping With Change,” examining the role technology and social media play in American stress levels.

Social media use has skyrocketed from 7 percent of American adults in 2005 to 65 percent in 2015. For those in the 18-29 age range, the increase is larger, from 12 percent to a whopping 90 percent.

But while an increase in social media usage is hardly surprising, the number of people who just can’t tear themselves away is stark: Nowadays, 43 percent of Americans say they are checking their emails, texts, or social media accounts constantly. And their stress levels are paying for it: On a 10-point scale, constant checkers reported an average stress level of 5.3. For the rest of Americans, the average level is a 4.4.

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Jesse Jackson Jr gets $138K a year from federal government

Disgraced former Representative Jesse Jackson Jr. is claiming $138,400 a year from the federal government in benefit checks, it has emerged.

The former Democrat politician and son of Reverend Jesse Jackson, 51, was sentenced to 30 months in prison in 2013 for taking $750,000 from his own campaign funds.

Now, details of his benefits package - which he gets for bipolar disorder and depression - have emerged, leaving critics questioning how he is eligible for the money, the Chicago Tribune has reported.

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The Five Worst Things about Obamacare

In passing Obamacare, its supporters promised the moon. Obamacare was allegedly going to cost $938 billion over ten years, result in 23 million people getting insurance through its exchanges as of 2017, reduce the typical family's premiums by $2,500 a year, and make sure that if you liked your health plan and doctor, you could keep your health plan and doctor.

Seven years later, Obamacare is projected to cost $1.938 trillion over ten years (exactly $1 trillion more), only 9 million people have insurance through its exchanges as of 2017 (just 40 percent of the original CBO projection), the typical family's premiums have exploded, and millions of people who liked their plans lost their plans, as Obamacare effectively banned them. Many of them lost their doctors as well.

But since we're now a fair ways removed from those fateful days in 2010 when the Democrats rammed Obamacare through the Senate (with no votes to spare) and the House (with three votes to spare) over unanimous Republican opposition, it's perhaps worth offering a quick refresher course on why, exactly, Obamacare is so bad. Here are arguably the five worst things about it:

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Poll: Vast majority of Americans oppose sanctuary cities

A new Harris poll shows that 80% of voters say local authorities should have to comply with the law by reporting to federal agents the illegal immigrants they come into contact with. The poll also shows that President Trump enjoys broad public support to crack down on sanctuary cities.

The Hill:

As it stands, hundreds of cities across the nation – many with Democratic mayors or city councils – are refusing to do so.

Trump has signed an executive order directing Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly to find ways to starve these sanctuary cities of federal funding. A Reuters analysisfound the top 10 sanctuary cities in the U.S. receive $2.27 billion in federal funding for programs ranging from public health services to early childhood education.

Kelly is expected to hire thousands of new immigration enforcement agents with broad authority to detain and deport those in the country illegally, potentially setting up a showdown between the federal government and sanctuary cities.

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Trials set for men involved in August boating accident

Trial dates have been set for two men who were charged in connection with the August boating accident that killed 9-year-old Kaden Frederick, who was struck multiple times by the boat’s propeller after he fell from the bow of the boat.

The operator of the boat, Dustin Healey, of Freehold New Jersey, is charged with one count of negligent operation. Healey, 26, will have his trial on March 20 in Ocean City District Court.

He faces a $500 fine.

Healey was not an experienced boater but had completed the requisite training course for rental boats, according to Natural Resources Police. He told investigators that he knew passengers were sitting on the bow, but could not see Frederick from the boat’s controls.

Healey was only alerted to the boy’s fall only when passengers began screaming, according to the report.

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MSNBC Anchor Admits "Our Job" Is To "Control Exactly What People Think"

During a lively discussion centered on fears that President Trump is "trying to undermine the media," MSNBC's Mika Brzezinski let slip the awesome unspoken truth that the media's "job" is to "actually control exactly what people think."

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China Preparing to Install Long-Range Missiles in South China Sea

China has built artificial islands and military bases, annexing regions belonging to other countries, all in violation of international law, and specifically declared illegal by the United Nations Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in the Hague last year, but that isn’t stopping China from continuing its massive illegal and dangerous military buildup in the South China Sea.

On Wednesday, reports emerged from unnamed US intelligence officials that China has built on its artificial islands more than twenty buildings designed to hold long-range surface-to-air missiles. The buildings are concrete structures with retractable roofs. The structures appear to be 20 meters (66 feet) long and 10 meters (33 feet) high.

When asked, China’s foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang evaded the issue by saying, “China carrying out normal construction activities on its own territory, including deploying necessary and appropriate territorial defense facilities, is a normal right under international law for sovereign nations.”

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Virtually Everyone Agrees That A Great Stock Market Crash Is Coming

Current stock market valuations are not sustainable.

If there is one thing that I want you to remember from this article, it is that cold, hard fact. In 1929, 2000 and 2008, stock prices soared to absolutely absurd levels just before horrible stock market crashes. What goes up must eventually come down, and the stock market bubble of today will be no exception. In fact, virtually everyone in the financial community acknowledges that stock prices are irrationally high right now. Some are suggesting that there is still time to jump in and make money before the crash comes, while others are recommending a much more cautious approach. But what almost everyone agrees on is the fact that stocks cannot go up like this forever.

On Tuesday, the Dow, the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq all set brand new record highs once again. Overall, U.S. stocks are now up more than 10 percent since the election, and this is probably the greatest post-election stock market rally in our entire history.

But stocks were already tremendously overvalued before the election, and at this point stock prices have reached a level of ridiculousness only matched a couple of times before in the past 100 years.

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Worcester County reduces cell tower distances

Providing optimal cell service along busy highways in Worcester County is the intent of a zoning text amendment approved by the county commissioners on Tuesday.

The amendment establishes a separation distance of 500 feet for cell towers along high demand transportation corridors, which is half the previous permitted distance, but would require a special exception from the county Board of Zoning Appeals.

The proposal was submitted by attorney Raymond Smethurst Jr. on behalf of the Columbia-based Cellco Partnership, operating under the Verizon Wireless moniker, and only affects roads with an average daily traffic volume exceeding 10,000 trips per day.

Zoning Deputy Director Phyllis Wimbrow said the only area roads carrying that volume of traffic are routes 50, 90, 12 113 and a portion of Route 589.

The continually increasing demand for cell service necessitated the zoning revision, Smethurst said.

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Congressman Andy Harris Announces Upcoming Town Hall Meetings

WASHINGTON, DC: Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01) released the following statement regarding upcoming town halls and tele-town halls in his district:

After reaching over 4,500 constituents through his last tele-town hall, Congressman Harris will be hosting two more tele-town halls next week. The first will be Monday, February 27 at 5:30 PM and the second on Tuesday, February 28 at 6:00 PM before the State of the Union address. Congressman Harris has also said he would hold brick-and-mortar, in-person town hall meetings when an ObamaCare replacement has been proposed. Since one should be available by the end of March, Dr. Harris will be hosting a brick-and-mortar town hall on the Middle Shore in Easton on Friday, March 31 to discuss Congress’ new plan to replace ObamaCare and repair the country’s health care system. "It's important to me that we have the proposed plan details in hand to share with attendees of the brick-and-mortar town hall so that I can answer their specific questions at the town hall, rather than offer only speculation, which is all we have at this time,” Congressman Harris said.

The time and exact location for the town hall are not yet finalized, but details will be made available on the Congressman’s website and social media accounts as soon as they are confirmed. Dr. Harris looks forward to answering questions about the proposed replacement plan, and to continuing his proud tradition of holding public forums (over 60 brick-and-mortar town halls and over 50 tele-town halls since 2011). Feel free to contact his office at 202-225-5311 if you have any questions about these events.

Obama Lawyers Unite to Launch Legal Attacks Against Trump Administration

Lawyers who worked with former President Barack Obama have formed a nonprofit called United to Protect Democracy, which aims at filing lawsuits against President Donald Trump's administration.

The group plans to investigate Trump, give information to the press to build the pressure for Congressional investigations, and eventually file lawsuits, Politico reported on Thursday.

The leader of the group and former associate White House counsel Ian Bassin warned that democracies don't end quickly. He said they often "decline over a period of years that happen through a series of much smaller steps," in an apparent suggestion that the Trump administration would contribute to that decline.

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A Viewer Writes...

Just heard there was a big fight at Pocomoke high school today. Someone had to go to hospital. The School wants the news not to know this. Also, a girl tried to hang herself at Vo Tech today. Schools are really changing!

A banned chemical weapon, VX nerve agent, was used to kill the half-brother of North Korea’s dictator, the Malaysian police said

The poison used to kill Kim-Jong-nam, the brother of the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, was VX nerve agent, a substance listed as a chemical weapon, the Malaysian police announced on Friday.

In a brief statement, Khalid Abu Bakar, the national police chief, said the substance was listed as a chemical weapon under Chemical Weapons Conventions of 1997 and 2005.

Samples were taken from Mr. Kim’s skin and eye. The poison was identified in preliminary analysis by the Centre for Chemical Weapons Analysis of the Chemistry Department of Malaysia, Mr. Khalid said.

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Worcester School Board Approves $105M Budget; Plan Highlighted By Salary Increases

SNOW HILL – School system officials adopted a proposed $105 million budget, highlighted by salary increases and a handful of capital projects, for the coming year.

On Tuesday, the Worcester County Board of Education approved a $104,767,501 budget for FY18. An expenditure increase of $1.8 million is expected to fund salary increases for school system employees. Agreements with the Worcester County Teachers Association and the Worcester County Education Support Personnel Association are being ratified.

“A table agreement was reached with both units about a week and a half ago,” said Vince Tolbert, the school system’s chief financial officer.

While the school board has adopted a budget, county officials aren’t set to begin reviewing it until March. As proposed, the bulk of the school system’s budget—$84,912,776—would be funded by the county. That amount represents a 4 percent increase in county funding over what was provided for the current fiscal year.

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This brave man withstood the troops at the Not My President Rally in NYC

Rescue dog’s afraid of everyone, but when she realizes everything’s going to be okay… Wow.

Just before euthanization, this dog got a second chance. The beginning is hard to watch, but at the 1:30 mark it’s like she realizes everything is going to be okay. One of the most touching moments I’ve ever seen.

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Get your tissues out!

Google launches robo-tool to flag hate speech online

New York Times and other news media testing AI software that spots abusive comments

Google has launched an artificial intelligence tool that identifies abusive comments online, helping publishers respond to growing pressure to clamp down on hate speech.

High quality global journalism requires investment. Please share this article with others using the link below, do not cut & paste the article.

Google’s freely available software, known as Perspective, is being tested by a range of news organisations, including The New York Times, The Guardian and The Economist, as a way to help simplify the jobs of humans reviewing comments on their stories. “News organisations want to encourage engagement and discussion around their content, but find that sorting through millions of comments to find those that are trolling or abusive takes a lot of money, labour and time,” said Jared Cohen, president of Jigsaw, the Google social incubator that built the tool. “As a result, many sites have shut down comments altogether. But they tell us that isn’t the solution they want.”

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N.H. eliminates concealed carry license requirement

It’s now legal to carry a concealed, loaded gun in New Hampshire without a license.

In his first bill signing since taking office, Republican Gov. Chris Sununu signed so-called constitutional carry into law Wednesday.

“It is common-sense legislation,” he said during a ceremony in Executive Council chambers. “This is about making sure that our laws on our books are keeping people safe while remaining true to the live-free-or-die spirit.”

The moment marked a GOP victory one week after the bruising defeat of right-to-work, one of Sununu’s top priorities. Republicans in control of the Legislature have sought to repeal the licensing requirement in recent years, but Democratic Gov. Maggie Hassan consistently vetoed the change, saying it threatened to weaken public safety.

Cheers erupted from dozens of supporters who crowded around Sununu on Wednesday as he sat at a long wooden table and put pen to paper. Afterward, the governor posed for pictures.

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Petition to Stop Section 8 Expansion in Maryland

Whereas: The continued expansion of Section 8 housing in Maryland is ruining our communities; and

Whereas: Section 8 has been shown to reduce property values. This amounts to stealing people's property which they worked so hard to earn; and

Whereas: No private business should be forced to accept payment methods that they are uncomfortable with - including Section 8 vouchers; and

Whereas: It is blatant corruption for politicians to confiscate your income and redistribute it in the form of free or low-cost housing in order to secure votes from those who benefit from this scheme.

Therefore: We, the citizens of Maryland, oppose legislation to expand Section 8 housing and we demand that the Maryland General Assembly votes against it.

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Thank God Its Friday 2-24-17

What will you be doing this weekend?

Unleashing Wall Street

To Unleash or Not to Unleash, That is the Question…

LOVINGSTON, VIRGINIA – Corporate earnings have been going down for nearly three years. They are now about 10% below the level set in the late summer of 2014. Why should stocks be so expensive?

Example of something that one should better not unleash. The probability that a win-lose proposition will develop upon meeting it seems high. It wins, because it gets to eat…

Get $1000 in commission-free trades to use with our top-rated technology. Open and fund an account today to take advantage of this deal on online trades for a full 60 days. Plus, you can keep saving with our low rates after that! Optionshouse has one of the best values in the industry, get started now!

Oh, yes… because the Trump Team is going to light a fire under Wall Street. But they must be wondering about that, too. Raising up stock prices – as we’ve seen over the last eight years – is not the same as restoring economic growth and family incomes.

And as each day passes, the list of odds against either seems to be getting longer and longer. As the petty fights, silly squabbles, and tweet storms increase, the less ammunition the administration has available to fight a real battle with Congress or the Deep State.

Still – “Goldman Stock Hits Record on Bets Trump Will Unleash Wall Street,” reads a Bloomberg headline. Goldman Sachs is a pillar of the Establishment, with its man, Steve Mnuchin, heading the Department of the Treasury. So a win for Goldman is not necessarily a win for us.

“Unleashing” suggests a win-win deal, as in allowing the financial industry to get on with its business. But there are different kinds of “unleashings.” Some things – like Dobermans – are kept on a leash for a good reason. Unleashing the mob… or a war… might not be a good idea, either.

Untying Wall Street from bureaucratic rules is at least heading in the right direction. But it will only benefit the Main Street economy if Wall Street is doing business honestly, facilitating win-win deals by matching real capital up with worthy projects.

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Pink Ribbon Bingo tickets still available!

CLICK HERE TO ORDER TICKETS Thurs. March 9, 2016 Salisbury Moose Lodge  833 Snow Hill Road   MUST BE 18 TO ENTER! Doors Open At 5:00 pm Games Start At 6:30 pm Tickets $20 In Advance  $25 At The Door *No holds unless paid for in advance* 50/50 AND RAFFLES! Food for sale starting at 5pm   Prizes From:                    Thank you to our annual sponsors:                CLICK HERE TO ORDER TICKETS

Women Supporting Women 1320 Belmont Ave. Suite 402 Salisbury MD, 21804 410-548-7880 Visit our website!

WBOC's Brian Keene Too Afraid To Say When It Will Rain On Saturday

I've watched three different segments of WBOC's weather forecast this morning. Usually they would say it will rain in the early morning, afternoon or evening but today they simply won't say when. All they'll say is that we can expect rain. 

Is this the new and safer way to deliver the weather, for WBOC, that is. Viewers want to plan their weekend Brian, so tell us when it's going to allegedly rain on Saturday. Get out that crystal ball and PREDICT. 

**Update – Subject Arrested** Detectives Seek Public’s Assistance in Locating Wanted Subject

Stephon R. Jackson

Laurel – State Police have arrested Stephon R. Jackson, 18 of Seaford, after a brief pursuit in the Concord area.

Jackson was apprehended by the Troop 5 Pro-Active Criminal Enforcement (P.A.C.E.) team around 5:00 p.m. Thursday February 23, 2017 while he was riding a motorcycle on Henry Drive east of Seaford. Upon locating Jackson, he attempted to flee on foot, but was quickly taken into custody without further incident. A computer check of the motorcycle revealed it was stolen from the Seaford area.

Stephon Jackson was transported back to Troop 5 where he was charged with two counts of Possession of a Firearm or Ammunition by a Person Prohibited as well as the two new charges of Receiving Stolen Property and Resisting Arrest. He was arraigned at JP3 and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution on $22,000.00 cash bond.

McCain Fingered as Major Trump Leaker

Via The Daily Bell

White House Fingers John McCain As Media Leak; Believes U.S. Senator Eavesdropped on Trump’s Classified Phone … This could be the beginning of the end for embattled Sen. John McCain’s life in politics. – True Pundit

Just the other day we wrote an article about John McCain and how he was trying to undermine President Donald Trump.

We suggested that if Trump could do something to rein in McCain that would be a net positive because McCain was being so destructive, not just to Trump but to the country generally.

McCaine tends to concentrate on areas that make him a male form of Hillary Clinton. Like Hillary he badly wants a war or vastly escalated tensions with Russia. He wants to stitch Ukraine firmly to Europe and wants to strip Russia of Crimea as well.

One reason McCain is so focused on international policy is because that’s where the wars are. For last 75 years, and even before that, America has been turned into a kind of beast of burden for international banking. It’s been made to shoulder numerous wars that were stalemated at best.

Gradually America is bleeding to death from these wars at the same time as China in particular has been raised up. McCain’s preoccupation is more with tearing America down. But meanwhile China is gaining in power and prestige.

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HEARING ALERT: Road Kill Bill Repeal

Emergency Legislation to Repeal Legislative Mandated Scoring System Which Threatens 66 Top Priority Transportation Projects
Note: Senate Budget and Taxation Committee to Hold Hearing on SB 307 on February 22, 2017, 1:00 PM

"This disaster of a law will wreak havoc on our state transportation system and usurp important authority away from local governments and away from the executive branch of state government, giving authority instead to lobbyists and special interest groups. I will not stop fighting until this catastrophic bill is repealed.” - Governor Larry Hogan, February 7, 2017

After Eight Years Of Neglect, Governor Hogan Has Kept His Campaign Promise To Improve Maryland’s Roads And Bridges

Candidate Larry Hogan: “We’re Going To Focus On Building Roads, And That’s Something This Administration Has Not Done.” (Michael Dresser, “Governor Candidates Are On Separate Tracks,” The Baltimore Sun, 9/17/14)
In The 2017- 2022 CTP The Hogan Administration Has Invested $14.8 Billion In Transportation Projects; 60% ($7.8 Billion) Of Which Toward Roads And Bridges. (Maryland Department Of Transportation, 2/21/17)
Currently, Over 1,000 Transportation Projects Totaling Nearly $8 Billion Are Under Construction Across The State - The Most Ever In History. (Maryland Department Of Transportation 2/21/17)
In June 2015, Governor Hogan Announced $1.97 Billion In Funding For 84 Highway And Bridge Projects Across The State. (Press Release, “Governor Larry Hogan Announces $1.97 Billion In Transportation Funding,”Office Of The Governor, 6/25/15)

Governor Hogan Has Been An Outspoken Critic Of The Road Kill Bill; Disastrous Legislation Does Nothing To Move Maryland Forward

In His Veto Letter, Governor Hogan Criticized The Lack Of Transparency When Passing The Bill; Stated That Authority Would Be Stripped From The Executive Branch And Local Governments. “In a worrying preview of what could happen in future years, this bill was constructed in a secretive and haphazard manner with enormous input from political pressure groups but with no real thought and no meaningful input from the Department of Transportation. The obvious intent of this legislation is to severely limit the decision making of local governments, to strip the Executive Branch of its authority over transportation decisions and to create new mechanisms to divert taxpayer dollars away from highway infrastructure. Vague and imprecise language as well as multiple technical problems associated with the implementation of this bill only further diminish the quality of what was already poorly conceived legislation.” (Letter From Governor Larry Hogan To Speaker Mike Busch: HB 1013, Office Of The Governor, 4/1/16)

Governor Hogan Announced His Intention To Fight For The Repeal Of The Law At The Maryland Association Of Counties (MACo) Summer Conference

HEARING ALERT: More Jobs for Marylanders Act of 2017

Important Legislation Ensures A Continued Strong, Thriving Workforce, Without Leaving Any Jurisdiction Behind
Note: Senate Budget And Taxation Committee to Hold Hearing on SB 317 on February 22, 2017, 1:00 PM

“We still have Marylanders who are struggling in parts of our state like Baltimore City, Western Maryland, and the Lower Eastern Shore, where, unfortunately, unemployment is still higher than it is in the rest of the state. Which is why we must come together to enact the Maryland Jobs Initiative, an innovative, bipartisan proposal, which will provide incentives for the creation of thousands of jobs in the places that need them the most.” - Governor Larry Hogan, February 2, 2017

Economic Development And Job Creation Are A Primary Focus Of The Hogan Administration

Governor Hogan: “Creating jobs and growing Maryland’s economy is a top priority of our administration.” (Press Release, “Amazon Plans Fulfillment Center In Cecil County, 700 New Jobs,” Office Of The Governor, 1/18/17)
Since Governor Hogan Has Taken Office, Maryland Has Moved Into The Top 10 States In The Nation For Overall Economic Performance. (Louis Jacobson, “The Best Of Times, The Worst Of Times: A Ranking Of State Economies,” Governing, 8/22/16)
73,000 Jobs Have Been Created Since Governor Hogan Took Office. (“Maryland: Total Nonfarm Employment,”Bureau Of Labor Statistics, Accessed: 2/21/17)
Maryland’s Unemployment Rate Has Dropped To 4.2%, A Decrease Of 0.6% Since Governor Hogan Took Office. (“Maryland: Local Area Unemployment Statistics,” Bureau Of Labor Statistics, 2/21/17)

The Hogan Administration Has Been Successful In Retaining And Attracting New Businesses
Kept McCormick & Co. In Maryland (Press Release, “McCormick Selects Hunt Valley Site As Preferred Location For New Headquarters,” McCormick Corporation, 4/28/15)
Announced 30-Year Port Of Baltimore Contract With Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics, Supports 2,500 Jobs(Press Release, “Governor Larry Hogan Announces New 30-Year Contract For Port Of Baltimore,” Office Of The Governor, 12/3/15)
Announced Plans For Under Armour To Open E-Commerce Distribution House, To Create 1,000 Jobs. (Press Release, “Under Armour Announces Plan To Open E-Commerce Distribution House In Maryland,” Office Of The Governor, 8/30/16)
Announced Plans For Amazon Fulfillment Center, To Create 700 Jobs.(Press Release, “Amazon Plans Fulfillment Center In Cecil County, 700 New Jobs,” Office Of The Governor, 1/18/17)

Maryland Has Experienced A Manufacturing Resurgence Since Governor Hogan Took Office

HEARING ALERT: Student Debt Relief Act Of 2017

Important Legislation Offering Vast Majority Marylanders Student Loan Debt Relief
Note: Senate Budget And Taxation Committee to Hold Hearing on SB 320 on February 22, 2017, 1:00 PM

“We are asking for your help to tackle the growing problem of college debt by passing the Student Debt Relief Act, which will allow Marylanders to deduct one hundred percent of the interest paid on their student loans from their state income tax return.” - Governor Larry Hogan, February 1, 2017

Governor Hogan Has Recognized The Impact Student Loan Debt Has On Marylanders

Governor Hogan: “Having a college education is more important now than ever before, but the harsh reality many face today is that earning a college degree often goes hand-in-hand with accumulating crippling college debt.” (Press Release, “Governor Hogan Announces 2017 Student Debt And Tuition Relief Initiative, Investments In Higher Education,” Office Of the Governor, 1/10/17)
In 2016 U.S. Student Loan Debt Hit A Record $1.31 Trillion. “Total U.S. student debt hit a record $1.31 trillion last year, the 18th consecutive year Americans' education debt rose, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.” (Shahien Nasiripour,” Bloomberg, 2/17/17)
Nearly 60% Of College Students In Maryland Graduate College With Student Debt Averaging More Than $27,000. (“Project On Student Debt,” The Institute For College Access & Success, Accessed: 2/21/17)

The Hogan Administration Has Put Forth Innovative Measures To Offer Individuals Relief From Student Debt

In 2016, Governor Hogan Introduced Legislation To Create The Maryland SmartBuy Program.
Governor Hogan Signed The Legislation Into Law; Legislation Received Near Unanimous Support In Both Chambers Of The Maryland General Assembly. (“Senate Bill 381,” Maryland General Assembly, 4/26/16)

HEARING ALERT: Public Integrity Act Of 2017

Important Legislation Aims to Eliminate Conflicts of Interest that Erode Trust in Public Officials
Note: House Environment And Transportation Committee to Hold Hearing on HB 879 on February 22, 2017, 1:00 PM

"Today we are introducing the Public Integrity Act of 2017. We cannot allow the unethical behavior of the few to tarnish the goodwill of the many in our state capital. We cannot allow a culture of corruption to take root and to grow in our state. Together we have a shared obligation to restore the honor and the foundation of public trust that these proud institutions once held.” - Governor Larry Hogan, January 19, 2017

Governor Hogan Pledged That He Would Restore Integrity To Annapolis

Candidate Larry Hogan: “On Day One We Are Going To Get To Work On Cleaning Up The Mess In Annapolis And Restoring Integrity To Our State Capital.” (“Larry Hogan Gubernatorial Announcement Speech,” Change Maryland, 1/31/14)

The Hogan Administration Has Worked To Root Out Corruption Across The State

Following His Inauguration, Governor Hogan Acted Quickly And Signed An Executive Order To Hold Public Officials Accountable; Executive Order Outlined The Standards Of Conduct For All Members Of The Executive Branch.
Executive Order Barred Members Of The Executive Branch From Certain Activities. "Less than three hours after taking office, Hogan had already signed his first executive order. It bars state employees from the executive branch from soliciting any kind of gift from anyone doing business with the state, and he ordered state employees not to give anyone any special treatment. ‘My first act as Governor holds all those who serve in the Executive Branch of state government to the highest possible ethical standards,’ Governor Hogan said in a news release announcing the executive order.” (“Larry Hogan Sworn In As Maryland’s 62nd Governor,” WBAL, 1/21/15)

Governor Hogan Worked In Conjunction With State And Federal Partners To Target Corruption At The Eastern Correctional Institution; Efforts Led To The Arrest Of 80 Individuals Involved In A Racketeering Conspiracy, The Largest Federal Indictment In State History. “Federal authorities have won indictments against 80 people, including corrections officers and inmates, in an alleged conspiracy to sneak heroin, cocaine, cellphones, pornography and other contraband into the Eastern Correctional Institution in Westover. The largest federal indictment in Maryland history is the latest to allege that officers and inmates used sex, drugs and violence to run a criminal enterprise out of a state prison facility.” (Kevin Rector, Justin Fenton, and Jessica Anderson, “Feds Indict 80 People - Including 18 Corrections Officers - In ‘Massive’ Maryland Prison Corruption Case,” The Baltimore Sun, 10/5/16)
Governor Hogan: “The indictments announced today are a clear victory in the fight against corruption, and I want to thank all the hardworking federal and state law enforcement officers whose tireless dedication and sacrifice made it possible. This morning, I spoke with Maryland U.S. Attorney Rod Rosenstein and personally commended him for his work and partnership with our state investigators to successfully execute this complex operation. While running for office, I made it clear that the systemic corruption that had been allowed to take hold in our state prison system was unacceptable, and I promised Marylanders that our administration would combat it head on. Today, together with our federal partners, we have taken decisive action to make good on that promise.” (Press Release, “Statement From Governor Larry Hogan On Eastern Correctional Institution Corruption Indictments,” Office Of The Governor, 10/5/16)

HEARING ALERT: Military Retiree Tax Relief and Hometown Heroes Act

Important Pieces of Legislation Offering Relief to Retired Military Members and First Responders
Note: Senate Budget And Taxation Committee to Hold Hearings on SB 321 and SB 322 on February 22, 2017, 1:00 PM

“But, let’s get started moving toward that goal right now by passing the Hometown Heroes Act to eliminate income taxes on the pensions of those who have put their lives on the line for us: our retired military, police, fire, and first responders.” - Governor Larry Hogan, February 1, 2017

Governor Hogan Campaigned On Providing Tax Relief For Retired Military Personnel And First Responders

In 2014, Candidate For Governor Larry Hogan Stated That He Would Fight To Eliminate Income Tax On The Pensions Of Military Retirees; Stated Veterans Deserve Better. “Republican Larry Hogan says he would push to eliminate Maryland’s income tax on military pensions, if he is elected governor. Hogan spoke Wednesday to the Maryland American Legion’s annual convention in Ocean City. He says veterans deserve much better than they have been getting from the state or federal government. Hogan says veterans have earned the tax break. He also says the tax is bad economic policy.” (“Hogan: Eliminate Income Tax On Military Pensions,” The Associated Press, 7/16/14)

In 2014, Candidate For Hogan Stated That Members Of Law Enforcement “Deserve” To Not Pay State Income Tax On Their Pensions. “Maryland Republican gubernatorial nominee Larry Hogan plans to voice his support Tuesday for eliminating the state income tax on pensions of law enforcement officers. Hogan, an Anne Arundel County businessman, will make the announcement during an appearance before the Maryland Fraternal Order of Police, according to aides… ‘You deserve these tax breaks,’ Hogan says in prepared remarks to the group. ‘You earned them. It’s not just good economic policy for the state, it’s the right thing to do.’” (John Wagner, “Hogan To Call For Tax Break For Retired Md. Law Enforcement Officers,” The Washington Post, 8/12/14)

During The 2015 Legislative Session, Governor Hogan Introduced Legislation To Eliminate Taxes On Pensions For Retired Military Personnel And First Responders

Governor Hogan Proposed Legislation To Eliminate Income Tax On The Pensions Of All Military Retirees.
Legislation Proposed By The Governor Was Altered; Governor Hogan Signed Legislation Which Increased The Tax Exemption On Military Retiree Pensions To $10,000 For Military Retirees At Least 65 Years Old.”The subtraction under subsection (a) of this section includes:... If on the last day of the taxable year, the individual is at least 65 years old, the first $10,000 of military retirement income received by an individual during the taxable year.” (“Senate Bill 592,” Maryland General Assembly, 5/12/15)
Governor Hogan: ‘We are also making sure our veterans will be taxed less. Signing this bill is not only the right thing to do for our men and women in uniform, but it will also encourage more people to live and retire in our state. It’s a small token of the respect and appreciation we have for their service and sacrifice.” (Press Release, “Governor Larry Hogan Signs Rain Tax Repeal And Military Retiree Tax Relief Legislation,” Office Of The Governor, 5/12/15)

Michigan Union Executives Removed Over Embezzlement Scandal

Michigan’s Service Employee International Union (SEIU) has confirmed it has removed two top officials from their positions amid an investigation into a large amount of money missing from the organization’s treasury.

The 9,000-member healthcare workers union announced that Union President Marge Robinson and the union’s secretary-treasurer Shalaya Bryant were summarily removed from office while the investigation into the missing funds continues.

The union refused to put a dollar amount on the missing money, but it is clearly substantial since the two well-known, and active officers of the union were removed from office.

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Donald Trump Previews Budget: ‘We Must Do a Lot More with Less’

President Donald Trump previewed his administration’s budget, promising to hold each branch of his cabinet accountable.

“We must do a lot more with less,” he said prior to a working lunch with economic and political advisers. Trump described the current financial situation of the country as “a mess” and vowed to fix it.

“The finances of this country are a mess, but we’re going to clean that up,” Trump said, pointing out that he had only been president for four weeks. “I can’t take too much of the blame for what’s happened, but it is absolutely out of control.”

Trump met with his Budget Director Mick Mulvaney, as well as Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin. He was joined by his senior staff, including Jared Kushner, Reince Priebus, Steve Bannon, and his economic adviser Gary Cohn.

He asserted that funding the military was a priority, and promised to negotiate more deals for the government.

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