Tuesday, May 02, 2017

Why Democrats Are Delighted With The Republican Spending Bill

Why were Democrats unable to hide their enthusiasm for the latest Omnibus spending bill proposed by House Republicans? Simple: because, as the Washington Examiner's Philip Klein writes, "Dems basically got everything. It's like they control House, Senate, & WH rather than the other way around."

Some big picture details:
Deal totals just over $1 trillion
Deal allows for an increase of $12.5bn in defense spending, which is 18bn less than Trump requested. However, if Trump makes strides with Isis, an addition 2.5bn will be made available.
Includes permanent fix to fund coal miners' health care instead of a temporary extension.
Democrats win: There will be no wall funding; instead Trump will get $1.5bn in border security funds, which is half the original request; it will be used to support existing infrastructure.
Democrats win again: Puerto Rico will receive an emergency injection for Medicaid health insurance supports
Democrats win again2: Planned Parenthood, a key issue for Democrats, will be saved from cuts, while the National Institute of Health will see a $2bn hike in funding.
Democrats win again3: Cuts in the Environmental Protection Agency appear avoided for the remainder of the year.
Democrats win again4: The omnibus funds California high speed rail

Additionally as Bloomberg adds, "Republicans failed to get a number of conservative provisions in the bill, including one that would have blocked the Labor Department’s fiduciary rule limiting financial advice to retirees."

Also snuck inbetween the cracks there’s also a new $100 million fund to counter Russian influence in Europe.
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How Hungary Managed To Erase Illegal Immigration

When other countries welcomed refugees with open arms, Hungary decided it was time to eradicate illegal immigration at any cost.

The country succeeded, but that success damaged relations with the European Union in the process.

Hungary’s second border fence has just been completed in the southern town of Asotthalom. The 96-mile long, 14 ft. tall double-line of defense doesn’t look too intimidating from a distance. Go a little closer and you’ll notice several layers of razor-wire capable of delivering electric shocks, cameras, heat sensors and loud speakers ready to tell migrants they’re about to break Hungarian law if they as much as touch the fence.

Add a few hundred military officers and “border hunters” and it’s virtually impossible to break.

Almost every police officer in the country is part of a rotation to make sure the grounds are covered at all times. Temporary military bases have been set up by the border to house them while they do their rotation.

More here

Berlin Advances To Next Round In National Contest Worth $25,000

BERLIN – Berlin is one step closer to taking home a $25,000 grant after being named a quarterfinalist in a national contest.

Berlin has been named one of 25 quarterfinalists in the Independent We Stand America’s Main Streets contest. The 10 quarterfinalists that receive the most online votes between now and May 28 will be considered by a panel of judges in the final phase of the contest.

“There were 242 nominees so the fact that we made it to the top 25 is pretty outstanding,” said Ivy Wells, the town’s economic development director.

Wells is encouraging Berlin’s supporters to continue to vote for the town daily in the online contest. To vote, visit www.iloveberlinmd.com. Wells is thrilled with the support the town has received so far and hopes it will continue. She says residents can expect a celebration if the town wins the grand prize.

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Drinking coffee basically keeps you alive

Three strong cups of coffee a day slashes the risk of prostate cancer by half, a study revealed this week.

And that’s only one of its benefits.

Prevents high cholesterol

Coffee helps prevent clogging of the arteries, according to a study in the British Medical Journal.

And a US team found women drinking a cup a day can slash the risk of stroke by up to 25 percent.

Reduces risk of heart disease

Three to four cups daily cuts the risk of heart disease, a Portuguese study found.

In the US, Harvard researchers found that low consumption of coffee and deaths from heart-related illnesses are linked.

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Applications now being Accepted for Fisheries Advisory Commissions

The Sport Fisheries Advisory Commission (recreational fisheries) and Tidal Fisheries Advisory Commission (commercial fisheries) have membership seats expiring June 30, 2017, and they need to be filled.

The commissions advise the Director of Fishing and Boating Services on all matters brought to the commissions.

Membership is comprised of individuals from across the state that represent the interests of various fisheries-related constituencies and stakeholders. All commission meetings are held at the Tawes State Office Building in Annapolis, Maryland.

If you or someone you know is interested in applying for a vacant seat, please apply online. Here is a link to the application: govapps.md.gov/appointments/apply/.

Please apply by May 15 for consideration.

If you have any additional questions, please contact Paul Genovese at your earliest convenience.

How Cool Is This...

Fractal art, Phillip Richard Berryhill. Find him in Delmarva Trash and Treasures or on Facebook and pm him.

45% Of Americans Spend Up To Half Their Income Repaying Credit Card Debts

On several occasions we've pointed out that the baby boomer generation is, to put it mildly, ill-prepared for retirement. In fact, over 50% of baby boomers have basically no savings set aside for retirement at all. Now, a new survey from Northwestern Mutual helps to shed some light on why Americans are completely incapable of saving money.

First, roughly 50% of Americans have debt balances, excluding mortgages mind you, of over $25,000, with the average person owing over $37,000, versus a median personal income of just over $30,000.

Therefore, it's not difficult to believe, as Northwestern Mutual points out, that 45% of Americans spend up to half of their monthly take home pay on debt service alone....which, again, excludes mortgage debt.

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University of Maryland grad student restores movement to mice crippled with multiple sclerosis

Crippled by multiple sclerosis, the lab mice's hind legs and tails were limp with paralysis, but Lisa Tostanoski had an idea about how she could treat them.

With a tiny needle, the doctoral student at the University of Maryland, College Park injected the mice with a dose of time-released medicine. Two weeks later the mice were scampering around their cages.

"They were able to stand up on their hind legs," Tostanoski said. "We reversed the paralysis."

The treatment, a complex combination of immunology and engineering, earned Tostanoski, 26, a prestigious Lemelson-MIT Student Prize, awarded to her and eight other students and teams earlier this month. The prize for the most promising young inventors in America awards her $15,000 for her medical invention to reverse symptoms of debilitating autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis. Her novel approach has shown promise for developing treatments in an area that has long eluded researchers.

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Looks Like It's Going To Be Another Great Day On SBYNews: (8:00 am)

Jim Jordan: Conservatives Won't Back Spending Bill

Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, a founding member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, ripped into the new government spending bill and said he expects a lot of conservatives to be against it.

"Look, money goes to Planned Parenthood," Jordan told CNN's "New Day" program on Monday. "Money continues to go to sanctuary cities. But no money for the border wall. I think you're going to see conservatives be against this plan this week.

"Why did we last fall do a short-term spending bill if we weren't going to actually fight for the things we told the voters we were going to fight for?" he said.

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Mayor Asking FBI For Help With Investigating City Crime, Rising Murder Rate

The mayor pulled no punches earlier this week when she said the murder rate is out of control. She wants to bring in the FBI to the city, but will it make a difference? Some people are skeptical of that.

Violence in Baltimore has reached a crisis level, with the number of killings shattering a 20-year high this early in the year, Baltimore’s mayor was blunt.

“I’m calling on all the assistance we can possibly get because I can’t imagine going into our summer months with our crime rate where it is today, what that’s going to look like by the end of the summer,” says Mayor Catherine Pugh.

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Austria Seeks to Tax Google Searches

Austria is seeking ways to make digital services like Alphabet Inc.’s Google or Facebook Inc. pay taxes for transactions with the nation’s internet users including internet searches, reports Bloomberg.

The Social Democrats’ plan has two other elements targeted at internet companies: It would extend the Austrian tax on advertising revenue to digital formats, and it would tax purely digital services that are acquired by Austrian customers from companies with no physical presence in the country.

“We need a new approach to make sure that taxes are paid where revenue and profit is made,” Andreas Schieder, the parliamentary head of Austrian Chancellor Christian Kern’s Social Democrats said.

Former Gov. McDonnell: 'I Wouldn't Take Any Gifts' If I Could Do It Over

The former Virginia governor who accepted $177,000 from a local businessman in personal loans and expensive gifts in exchange for political favors said in a "60 Minutes" interview that aired Sunday that he would take it all back if he could.

Bob McDonnell appeared on the CBS show three years after he and his wife, Maureen, were indicted on corruption charges. He was found guilty but fought the case all the way to the Supreme Court, where his conviction was overturned because "setting up a meeting" or "hosting an event" for Jonnie Williams, the businessman, did not constitute a crime.

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Biden: I'm Not Running in 2020

Former Vice President Joe Biden will not run for president in 2020, he said Sunday during a speech in New Hampshire.

Biden made his comments the same day a Politico report said he and his staff had been strategizing on how to best get his campaign off the ground if he does decide to give it another shot. Biden sought the Democratic nomination in 1988 and 2008.

He supported Hillary Clinton in 2016, and Sunday at the state Democratic Party dinner backed her again, thanking crowdgoers for voting for her.

"She would have made a great president," he said.

Biden also took a shot at President Donald Trump while addressing the effect he's had on the United States since taking office, stating "This bile sucked up all the oxygen."

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BRIDGE PROJECT ON SCHEDULE; SALISBURY BYPASS RETURNS TO FULL CAPACITY NORTH OF US 50 BY LATE MAY

Brief, Full Closure Required May 11 to Initiate Traffic Shift

(May 2, 2017) – With the busy summer travel season just around the corner, the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) will be shifting the US 13/US 50 (Salisbury Bypass) traffic back to the regular two-lane, two-way configuration beginning May 10. The shift will occur in two stages:

A) During the overnight hours of May 10-11 SHA will remove the bidirectional traffic pattern north of US 50 (Ocean Gateway). The resulting pattern will be one lane in each direction on the inner and outer Bypass loops. This work will require a full closure of the Salisbury Bypass Thursday morning, May 11, from 3 a.m. to 6 a.m. All northbound traffic must exit the Bypass at MD 12 (Snow Hill Road) and southbound traffic must exit at US 50. Motorists should plan alternate routes for travel during these hours.

B) Crews will then complete median work and shift traffic back to the regular pattern, two lanes in each direction, no later than Wednesday, May 24, weather permitting.

The bidirectional pattern south of US 50 will remain in place through early summer for completion of bridge repairs at MD 350 (Mount Hermon Road) and Parker Pond. Motorists are encouraged to plan extra travel time during construction.

Click here for information about the overall $28 million project to rehabilitate 11 bridges on the Salisbury Bypass. The entire project will be completed by summer 2018.

Stay alert and look for reduced speed limits, narrow driving lanes and highway workers. Slow down and don’t follow too closely. Work Zone Safety is in Your Hands. Maryland drivers can also know before they go by calling 511 or visiting www.md511.org for live traffic updates, including construction delays and lane closures.

Pope Urges US, North Korea to Avert Devastating War

Pope Francis said on Saturday a third country, such as Norway, should try to mediate the dispute between North Korea and Washington, to cool a situation that had become "too hot" and posed the risk of nuclear devastation.

Francis said he believed "a good part of humanity" would be destroyed in any widespread war.

Speaking to reporters aboard the plane taking him back from Cairo, Francis also said he was ready to meet U.S. President Donald Trump when he is in Europe next month but that he was not aware that Washington had made a request for a meeting.

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Breaking News: The Writers Guild of America and Hollywood studios have agreed on a new contract in last-second talks, averting a strike

Hollywood writers reached a tentative deal for a new three-year contract with television and movie studios early Tuesday, averting a strike in dramatic overtime negotiations.

More States Adopt ‘Click It or Ticket’ Laws; Do They Work?

In his 28 years with the Utah Highway Patrol, Lt. Lee Perry has seen a lot of carnage from crashes in which motorists weren’t wearing seat belts. One crash in 2013 really struck home: He arrived at a scene where two teen passengers in a truck had been ejected in a rollover and discovered one was the son of a family friend. Both teens died.

Perry, who is also a state representative, later met with the mothers of the two teens, who urged him to take action. He did. He sponsored a bill that would let police stop a car and ticket people solely for not wearing a seat belt — a move designed to act as a deterrent to scofflaws by increasing the chances they could get pulled over and possibly pay a $45 fine.

When his bill became law in 2015, Utah became the 34th state, along with the District of Columbia, to have a “primary seat belt,” or “click it or ticket,” enforcement law.

“I’m hoping this will not only save lives, but it will save tax dollars,” Perry, a Republican, said. “We spend a lot of money on hospital costs, and commerce gets shut down on our highways for long periods of time if we have to block them when there’s a serious accident and someone is ejected. When you start to look at the dollars and cents, it made sense.”

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Climate Change Alarmists Have To Postpone HUGE Rally…Because Of Snow Storm!

Well…That was unexpected…And HILARIOUS!

A mid-spring snowstorm in Colorado over the weekend was exactly what the Climate Change Protesters were fearing, as they were hoping to push their political agenda further down the path of crazed insanity with a rally to bring awareness to “global warming”, as well as “climate change” and the Trump administration’s policies that seem to be causing chaos all over the world!…But the event had to be postponed until Sunday.

The rally march on Saturday had to be cancelled after weather forecasters expected heavy snowfall and blizzard-like conditions. There was actually only a few inches of snow that fell in the Colorado Springs area, but more than a foot of it fell in other parts all around the state.

“Sometimes Mother Nature throws you a curveball! We know we aren’t in the business of risking anyone’s safety. Dangerous conditions and wet heavy snow in the forecast for tomorrow,” one local climate change organization had to release.

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Utah Brings Back the Firing Squad for Executions

Three convicted murderers will face execution in Utah. All three have chosen firing squad as the method. Utah Governor Gary Herbert brought this method back as a legal means of execution in 2015 after a hiatus of 11 years. The dates for these executions have not yet been set.

As a method of execution, firing squad is one of the older ones in our nation, with hanging being the other. As is the case with other means of carrying out the death penalty, such as lethal injection or electric chair, there is a protocol to be followed. In the case of the firing squad, each person who participates in firing a weapon at the execution must complete three rehearsals, be a licensed law enforcement official and pass a firearms proficiency test.

The three condemned individuals who have selected firing squad in Utah are cold blooded killers. They are Taberon Dave Honie, Troy Michael Kell, and Ralph Leroy Menzies. They are all guilty of murder, with Honie also guilty of raping the mother of his ex-girlfriend in front of her grandchildren. Justice can’t come soon enough for evil human beings like these.

Capital punishment is exactly what it says; punishment. It is punishment for crimes so heinous that only death is an appropriate sentence. If an individual wants to avoid the death penalty then he should refrain from killing people. There is no sympathy for a person who chooses to take the life of another. And for justice to be served, his life will be required of him.

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Boston Globe made huge mistake Tweeting this, then bigger mistake right after

People couldn’t believe the picture and story that the Boston Globe tweeted the other day. It was a picture of a KKK party burning a cross and swastika like they’re at a fun loving family reunion. Then the Boston Globe made it seem like a normal everyday thing where groups of white supremacists were gathering to talk about how they’re going to unite and do great things together, basically normalizing “white power” groups.

Then the Boston Globe deleted the Tweet, which made them look even worse because then the entire Internet mocked them for it. Either leave your story posted and let the world have their way with it, or don’t post it at all. Some people are wondering if they were hacked, the editor was intoxicated, or they simply made a really stupid decision. Either way, the Internet ROASTED them really bad for it. The Tweets below make a bad tweet turn into a hilarious goldmine of laughs.

White supremacy and doing things in the picture below are not something that should ever be normalized. That would be the equivalent of saying it’s OK for Black Lives Matter to gather in neighborhoods and loot stores. None of that behavior is acceptable and should not ever be normalized as if it’s an everyday part of people’s lives that is acceptable. You don’t have to tolerate or enjoy the company of everyone, but burning crosses like the KKK or burning down stores like BLM should be things you try to avoid.

And maybe someone should relay that information to whomever posted this for the Boston Globe.

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College students petition to have “clapping” and “cheering” BANNED because…

When the liberals go off on the rails with their nonsense, especially the college aged wombats, this is the type of hilarious things they come up with. Delegates from the The National Union of Students seriously tried to suggest that anyone who whoops, cheers, or claps should get in trouble because it excludes deaf people.

Let that sink in for a few moments.

When I grew up, there wasn’t any deaf students at any of my schools. Therefore, under this hilarious law, my entire school life growing up would’ve had no cheers for anything, even though no one would’ve been affected.

Delegates are suggesting that people use “jazz hands” instead of making noise. Can you imagine a college football stadium with xx,xxx people all going like this:

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“FREE & FAIR ELECTIONS” INITIATIVE WOULD BAN CORPORATE DOLLARS IN LOCAL ELECTIONS

Youngstown residents propose law to prohibit outside campaign spending

“It’s time to take back our democracy”

YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO: Frustrated by the influence of outside money on local elections, community members in Youngstown are kicking off their petition campaign for a “free and fair elections” law. The measure – known as the Peoples’ Bill of Rights for Fair Elections and Access to Local Government – prohibits campaign contributions from outside individuals and corporations. Specifically:

“Corporations, labor unions, political action committees, political parties, and all other campaign funding entities shall be prohibited from donating to local candidate and issue campaigns or spending money to influence the outcome of any ballot measure or candidate, as those contributions unfairly influence electoral outcomes and undermine the peoples’ right to fair elections.”

In addition, the proposed law – which applies to both candidate and ballot measure campaigns – would establish contribution limits.

The measure was drafted by community members with assistance from the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund(CELDF).

The proposed law follows a national election in which corporate and deep-pocketed donors spent millions of dollars to influence voters in the swing-state of Ohio. As well, it comes after years in which Youngstown residents have been outspent 50-to-1 by the oil and gas industry and their allies. Those corporate interests successfully sought to influence voters to vote against local fracking bans.

When This Boat Crew Realized What They Were Seeing, It Was Almost Too Late To Escape Alive!

The crew of the Maiken sailed through the South Pacific when they spotted a strange discoloration on the water. They moved in closer to inspect it, but by the time they realized what it was, it was too almost too late to escape alive!

We might not realize it in front of our eyes, but the Earth is still changing all the time! It just happens so slowly that we can’t really perceive it. Every now and then, things speed up… a lot!

The crew of the Maiken was enjoying a leisurely sail through the South Pacific when they spotted a strange discoloration on the water. They moved in closer to inspect it, but by the time they realized what it was, it was too late…

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DNC Chair: Party Will Exclude Pro-Life Candidates

Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chairman Tom Perez’s announcement that pro-lifers are not welcome in his party has planted the seeds of rebellion among some Democrats and sharpened the view that the party is now primarily defined by its embrace of abortion on demand.

“Every Democrat, like every American, should support a woman’s right to make her own choices about her body and her health,” Perez said, as the HuffPost reported. “That is not negotiable and should not change city by city or state by state.”

Perez’s comments came after the DNC decided to support Heath Mello in the Omaha, Nebraska, mayoral race. Mello, it was discovered, had previously voted in the state legislature consistent with his personal pro-life views:

More here

Heroic 5-Year-Old Boy Escapes Wreck To Help Rescue His Father

A small Kentucky boy pulled off huge heroics this past week, helping to rescue his father from the wreckage of a car.

Tuesday was dad-and-son time, as Ayden Ison, 5, and his dad, Shane, were driving along Route 7 in Whitesburg, Ky.

Then a tire blew.

The car went out of control and careened down a 20-foot embankment, ending up just a few feet away from a stream.

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Former Federal Prosecutor: Liberal Media Bias Got Trump Elected

“He’s solidified the Supreme Court for a generation.” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell gets an “A plus” from diGenova, too, for his stratagem on judges.

DiGenova adds Trump’s “instincts are superb. The best example? Look at what he has done with communist China on North Korea. He has changed their behavior in a couple of months by the use of raw military power and the persuasiveness of his conversations over some of the best ice cream in history apparently.”

He offers suggestions in this exclusive interview for The Daily Caller News Foundation focused on personnel. He says the biggest threat to Trump’s agenda is the burrowed-in Obama holdovers within the federal government. If the new White House finalizes their political appointments, they can thwart the resistance movement taking hold inside of the federal government, he says. FBI Director James Comey, for example, is someone diGenova calls “dangerous” and should have been replaced by Trump.

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WATCH: A massive explosion is caught on camera in Ohio after a wrong-way driver slams into a tanker.

New Report: A More Conservative Alternative To Fox News Is In The Works

The canning of Bill O’Reilly by Fox News has now created an opportunity for an alternative conservative news network. Fox fans have been all over the spectrum in their reaction to the latest moves by Fox. Overall, they are seemingly taking a left turn in their position on things politic. It is feared that they will no longer live up to their promise of Fair And Balanced. Who are the conservative “fat cats” that may be looking at this? Feel free to speculate among yourselves, but read the guesses below.

According to a source close with the negotiations, “conservative fat cats” are talking very seriously about launching a rival to Fox News Network. The reports come amid continued internal turmoil within the solitary mainstream right-leaning news network, turmoil largely caused by external scrutiny over sexual harassment allegations directed at two high-profile figures and what appears to be a power shift at the top.

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Home Depot customers' private data is at risk...again

ATLANTA, Ga. —Your personal information may be at risk if you're a Home Depot customer.

According to the Consumerist on Friday, the Atlanta-based retail chain has been storing massive amounts of customer data on unencrypted, publicly available web pages, leaving it open to hackers and identity thieves.

Some customers' files were even findable through search engines like Google.

Up to 8,000 shoppers' personal information was stored in vulnerable Excel documents, which included some customers' photos and past purchases.

The leak did not compromise any financial data, such as credit or debit card numbers and bank account information.

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How to Get Free Food Just for Joining

Get Free Food Even When It's Not Your Birthday

Planning a night out but don't want to break the bank? I've got you covered with this huge list of restaurants that give you free food just for signing up with them.

In exchange for you signing up for the restaurant's loyalty program or downloading their mobile app, they want to reward you with giving you something for free. This can mean a free appetizer, dessert, or even getting an entree for free.

As a member, you'll also score a lot of free birthday meals.

This list is divided into two different sections. The first section is programs that you can sign up for that will give you free food without you having to make any purchase at all. The bottom section is free food offers that do require you to make a minimum purchase in order to redeem the reward.

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Breaking News: Bill Shine, a top Fox News executive, is out. Several sexual harassment lawsuits said he enabled Roger Ailes's behavior.

Fox News announced the exit of one of its co-presidents, Bill Shine, removing a holdover from the Roger Ailes era and signaling that the network is prepared to shake up its executive ranks as it tries to move past a season of turmoil that has engulfed it since last summer.

Mr. Shine is a veteran newsman and a longtime lieutenant to Mr. Ailes, the former chairman who was forced out amid a sexual harassment scandal in July. Although Mr. Shine was seen as a source of stability in the news division at a turbulent time, his presence was viewed by some employees as a sign that Fox News’s parent, 21st Century Fox, was not serious about its stated commitment to reform the culture of the network.

State Officials and Local Traffic-Safety Leaders Join to Help End Fatal Crashes in Maryland

Linthicum Heights, MD – Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) Secretary Pete K. Rahn today joined top law enforcement officials and traffic-safety advocates to issue a call-to-action to eliminate highway fatalities in Maryland. Preliminary data collected by MDOT indicates that in 2016, 523 people died in traffic crashes on the state’s roads, up from the 521 who died in 2015. Across the nation, preliminary numbers from the National Safety Council show roadway fatalities rose by more than six percent last year to more than 40,000 total.

“Every life lost is an avoidable tragedy,” said Transportation Secretary Rahn. “We are counting on you to take responsibility for your life and the life of everyone in your car. Don’t start the car until everyone buckles up. Your life depends on it.”

Over the last two years, from 2014 to 2016, people drove two billion more miles on Maryland roads due to low gas prices and other economic factors. Maryland continues to work hard to make our highways safer by strengthening and enforcing traffic laws, funding roadway improvements, and educating Marylanders about the role they play in highway safety.

Heritage Foundation goes establishment, again

Board dumps DeMint, replaces him with predecessor

WASHINGTON – The Heritage Foundation, which, under the leadership of former Sen. Jim DeMint, became a strongly conservative think tank that embraced the Trump revolution and anti-establishment Republicanism, just threw it in reverse.

DeMint is out. Former president Ed Fuelner, 75, who earlier retired, is back.

“This is a big setback for real, vibrant, anti-establishment, grass-roots conservatism,” said one Heritage insider. “Big donors – be they foreign or globalist corporate interests – will be back along with establishment Republicanism.”

DeMint’s undoing with board members is said to be Heritage’s siding with House Freedom Caucus firebrands in pushing for repeal of Obamacare over House Speaker Paul Ryan’s incrementalist approach, which many conservatives saw as a sellout.

Nobody at Heritage is talking on the record.

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MILITARY BANNER PROGRAM RETURNING TO STREETS OF MARDELA SPRINGS

MILITARY BANNER PROGRAM RETURNING TO

STREETS OF MARDELA SPRINGS

The popular banners honoring local Delmarva men and women who served in our nation’s military services will be returning to the small town of Mardela Springs soon.

For those who purchased banners last year, this will mark the second year their loved ones will be so honored. Veterans may have served at any time in our nation’s history (last year’s oldest was a World War One vet) or may be currently in service. For any who did not purchase banners last year, the opportunity to do so is now returning. Chairman Charles Echard Jr. is accepting applications, which can be found on Westside Historical Society’s web site, www.Barrencreekheritage.org or is available by emailing westsidehistorical@gmail.com or phoning 410-726-8047 or 443-783-9612. Echard hopes to have the banners mounted on the light poles along Main and Bridge (perhaps more this year) Streets by Memorial Day. It takes approximately two weeks from the time the application is received to get the large (plus two smaller) banners returned and ready for display. Veterans do not have to be Mardela Springs natives. Veterans honored with banners last year were from all over the lower Shore. In addition to the large 2’x3’ banner hung in town, each purchaser also receives two smaller banners (1’x1.5’), all on heavy vinyl, which can be displayed any way the family wishes. Large banners will be displayed for three years. To view more about this program as it has been done in other towns around the country, visit www.TroopBanners.com .

The cost for the three banners, and for materials needed for hanging them, is $100. A good quality photograph is requested, but if no photo is available, a silhouette can be substituted on the banners. All submitted photos will be returned, unharmed, to the applicant.

1994: Maxine Waters Embarrasses Herself (THROWBACK) - "SHUT UP!!!"

PRESS RELEASE: 911 VIP Awards Ceremony

Trump to stick with conservative list for next Supreme Court pick

President Trump will turn to the same list of conservative potential U.S. Supreme Court nominees he rolled out during the campaign to fill the next vacancy on the high court, he told The Washington Times in an exclusive interview in which he also predicted his first pick, Justice Neil Gorsuch, will leave a lasting impression on the court.

Mr. Trump said he’s heard rumors about the chances that one of the justices will retire when the current court session ends in June, but said he doesn’t have any inside knowledge.

“I don’t know. I have a lot of respect for Justice Kennedy, but I just don’t know,” Mr. Trump said, referring to the senior member of the bench, Justice Anthony M. Kennedy. “I don’t like talking about it. I’ve heard the same rumors that a lot of people have heard. And I have a lot of respect for that gentleman, a lot.”

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WCSO Press Releases - May 1, 2017

Incident: Assault
Date of Incident: 27 April 2017
Location: 500 block of Hearn Lane, Salisbury, MD
Suspect: Dayquan Tyrez Williams, 21, Salisbury, MD
Narrative: On 27 April 2017 at 4:14 PM a deputy arrested Dayquan Williams following an allegation of an assault. According to the victim in this case, she was arguing with Williams when he grabbed the victim by the back of the neck and threw her on a bed several times. The victim stated she tried to exit the room but Williams grabbed her again preventing her from leaving.
The deputy transported Williams to the Central Booking Unit where he was processed and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner. Following an initial appearance, the Commissioner detained Williams in the Detention Center in lieu of $5,000.00 bond.
Charges: Assault 2nd Degree, Reckless Endangerment, False Imprisonment

Incident: Assault
Date of Incident: 26 April 2017
Location: 700 block of College Lane, Salisbury, MD
Suspect: Aaron Devon Greene, 31, Salisbury, MD
Narrative: On 26 April 2017 at 11:24 a deputy arrested Aaron Greene following an allegation of an assault. According to the victim in this case, she became involved in an argument with Greene that turned physical. The victim stated that Green pushed the victim and also choked her.
Upon arrest Greene was transported to the Central Booking Unit where he was processed and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner. Following an initial appearance, the Commissioner detained Greene on a bond of $5,000.00.
Charges: Assault 2nd Degree and Reckless Endangerment

Incident: DUI
Date of Incident: 30 April 2017
Location: Naylor Mill Road, Salisbury, MD
Suspect: David Campbell, 59, Salisbury, MD
Narrative: On 30 April 2017 at 6:20 PM, a deputy observed a vehicle driving very slowly through a restricted entry area marked by signage on the property of the Sheriff’s Office. That same deputy then approached the vehicle after the operator parked into the front parking lot, taking up two spaces. Upon identifying the operator as David Campbell of Salisbury, the deputy learned that Campbell was at the Wicomico Public Safety complex to pick his “buddy” up from the county Detention Center. The deputy also detected a strong odor of alcohol emanating from Campbell and suspected that Campbell was operating his vehicle while under the influence. This was further supported after the deputy observed that Campbell was staggering and using his vehicle for support.
Campbell was also found to have an unopened small bottle of vodka in the cargo pocket of his pants.
Following the administration of sobriety testing, the deputy placed Campbell under arrest for DUI. During subsequent processing, Campbell provided a breath sample of .23.
Campbell was released to a sober driver upon the issuance of citations.
Charges: Driving Under the influence of Alcohol per se

‘I feel vindicated’: Former Va. Gov. McDonnell speaks to ’60 Minutes’

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously overturned former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell’s 2014 corruption conviction in June 2016. This year, McDonnell discusses the case that cost the former Republican politician his reputation and $27 million in legal fees in a “60 Minutes” interview Sunday.

“At this point, I feel vindicated,” McDonnell told “60 Minutes.”

But when asked if the issue fit the churchgoer’s moral code, McDonnell replied, “If I’d do it over again, I was governor, I wouldn’t take any gifts. I didn’t need them.”

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Indicted Fmr Dem Rep. Corrine Brown Spent Campaign Cash After Primary Loss

Expensed $13,476 in petty cash, hotels, travel after electoral defeat

The campaign committee of former Rep. Corrine Brown (D., Fla.), who is currently on trial for corruption charges, spent thousands on hotels and small travel expenses after Brown was defeated in the Democratic primary last year.

Brown, who lost to former Florida State Sen. Al Lawson in the August 2016 primary, spent $11,278 on "lodging" at a Marriot Hotel in Bethesda, Maryland in late September 2016, nearly one month after the election.

In addition to the hotel expenditures, the campaign disclosed three "petty cash" transactions totaling more than $2,000 during the two-week span between October 16 and November 4.

A small amount ($185) also was spent on travel expenses in Houston, Texas and Jacksonville,Florida.

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JUST IN: Multiple People Stabbed On UT Campus

AUSTIN (CBSDFW.COM) – Multiple people were stabbed on the The University of Texas at Austin campus, according to a tweet from the Austin Police Department.

The attack happened near Gregory Gym, according to the tweet.

One person is in custody ‘yet police are telling people to avoid the area.

The following tweet from a college student whose Twitter handle is “Tarzan” tweeted the following video of paramedics treating one of the victims.

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UPDATE: Dallas EMT & Civilian Wounded In East Dallas Shooting

DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) – A Dallas Fire & Rescue EMT and an unidentified civilian were wounded in a shooting in east Dallas, in the 3200 block of Reynolds Street, just south of I-30 near Dolphin Rd.

Emergency crews responded to a call around 11:30 Monday morning when they came under fire.

Dallas Fire-Rescue said as paramedics were beginning treatment on a shooting victim, a suspect approached and opened fire.

The EMT who was shot was rushed to Baylor Medical Center. The EMT remains in critical but stable condition.

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First group of alleged inaugural rioters appears in DC court

WASHINGTON — Twelve people charged with inaugural rioting in D.C. appeared before a Superior Court Judge on Friday.

Their arraignment came hours after a grand jury issued a superseding indictment, which added more charges against those arrested Jan. 20.

Appearing Friday in court was the first group of the 214 arrested and charged in the unrest on 16 city blocks that occurred while President Trump was being inaugurated. During that mayhem, several businesses had windows broken and other property damage. Rioters also threw rocks and other objects at officers.

Judge Lynn Leibovitz heard two cases — the first involving an alleged rioter from Florida, the other involving the pleas of 11 indicted on a charge of inciting a riot and destruction of property, among other charges.

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WILL TRUMP RELEASE THE MISSING JFK FILES?

The answer must come within months

The nation’s conspiracy-theorist-in-chief is facing a momentous decision. Will President Donald Trump allow the public to see a trove of thousands of long-secret government files about the event that, more than any other in modern American history, has fueled conspiracy theories – the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy?

The answer must come within months. And, according to a new timeline offered by the National Archives, it could come within weeks.

Under the deadline set by a 1992 law, Trump has six months left to decide whether he will block the release of an estimated 3,600 files related to the assassination that are still under seal at the Archives. From what is known of the JFK documents, most come from the CIA and FBI, and a number may help resolve lingering questions about whether those agencies missed evidence of a conspiracy in Kennedy’s death. As with every earlier release of JFK assassination documents in the 53 years since shots rang out in Dealey Plaza in Dallas, it is virtually certain that some of the files will be seized on to support popular conspiracy theories about Kennedy’s murder; other documents are likely to undermine them.

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NOI 5/1/17 Wicomico Dwelling Fire Camden Avenue

NOTICE OF INVESTIGATION

Date: May 1, 2017

Time: 2:32 a.m.

Location / Address: 1602 Camden Ave., Salisbury, Wicomico Co

Type of Incident: Fire

Description of Structure / Property: Split level wood framed single family dwelling

Owner / Occupants: Consuelo Gallardo

Injuries or Deaths: None

Estimated $ Loss: Structure: $1,000 Contents: $100

Smoke Alarm Status: Present, not working

Fire Alarm / Sprinkler Status: n/a

Arrests(s): None

Primary Responding Fire Department: Fruitland

# of Alarms: 1 # Of Firefighters: 15

Time to Control: 10 minutes

Discovered By: Occupants

Area of Origin: Basement level family room

Preliminary Cause: Accidental, electrical

Additional Information:

Report: Sanders’ wife involved in college scandal being probed by the Feds

Claims have been made that Vermont senator Bernie Sanders’ wife Jane knowingly misrepresented finances to obtain loans for Burlington College, where she was president until she resigned in 2011.

According to public records released by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), an investigation into the activities of the now-defunct college is in progress. In May 2016, the “crushing weight of debt” incurred by Jane O’Meara Sanders, wife of Bernie Sanders, forced closure of the college.

As president of the institution from 2004-2011, Jane Sanders “oversaw an aggressive effort to enroll more students and expand the campus to accommodate a bigger student body.”

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Severe Weather Possible in Maryland This Afternoon and Evening

Residents Can Take Action to Prepare for Spring Storms

REISTERSTOWN, Md. (May 1, 2017) — The National Weather Service is forecasting possible severe thunderstorms throughout much of Maryland beginning this afternoon and evening. These storms bring the possibility of heavy rain, flooding, high winds, and even tornadoes—hazards that increase in likelihood during the spring season.

“Residents should constantly monitor weather forecasts and take action to prepare before severe weather begins,” said MEMA Executive Director Russ Strickland. “If a severe storm or tornado warning is issued, get indoors to a safe space, then, communicate with your neighbors, friends and family to make sure they’re aware of the situation.”

The following preparedness tips can help keep you and your family safe if a severe storm occurs in your area today or anytime this spring:

Charge your mobile devices in advance of a severe storm—these storms cause power outages and it is important to be able to communicate after a storm.
If a severe thunderstorm warning is issued or you are experiencing strong winds, get to a sturdy shelter and stay indoors away from windows.
Tornadoes can form rapidly in the right conditions. If there is a tornado warning or you see a tornado, quickly get inside and go to the lowest floor possible.
Know the difference between a tornado watch and warning. A watch means tornadoes are possible in and near the watch area. A warning means residents need to take action because a tornado has been sighted or is indicated by radar.
Communicate with your neighbors, friends and family when severe storms are forecast. Following a strong storm or tornado, check in to make sure that they are safe.
If you are outside with no shelter when a tornado warning is issued, immediately get into a vehicle, buckle your seat belt and try to drive to the closest sturdy shelter.
Watch out for flying debris. Flying debris from severe storms can cause fatalities and injuries.

Follow MEMA on Twitter and Facebook for updates throughout the afternoon and evening.

AG Sessions to MS-13 Gang: ‘We Are Targeting You’

U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions vowed to eradicate the hyperviolent MS-13 transnational criminal gang during a speech he gave while in New York.

Sessions visited Long Island on Friday to deliver a message of hope to the area embattled by MS-13, The New York Times reported.

Speaking at the United States Courthouse in Central Islip, Sessions had a very simple message for MS-13: “We are targeting you.”

“The MS-13 motto is kill, rape and control,” Sessions said. “I have a message to the gangs that are targeting our young people: We are targeting you. We are coming after you.”

The trip by Sessions to Long Island comes after four teenagers were found brutally murdered near a soccer field on April 13. Before Sessions arrival, Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D)announced on Wednesday that a new unit had been created by the New York State Police to combat MS-13. The announcement by Cuomo came just as officials with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced that Long Island is home to over 200 “hardcore members” of MS-13.

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Retailer Sentenced to 2.5 Years in Federal Prison for Food Stamp Fraud

Baltimore, Maryland – On April 27, 2017, U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett sentenced Shaheen Tasewar Hussain, age 61, of Columbia, Maryland to 30 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to commit food stamp fraud and wire fraud in connection with a scheme to illegally redeem food stamp benefits in exchange for cash. Judge Bennett also ordered Hussain to pay restitution in the amount of $778,183.00.

The sentence was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Stephen M. Schenning; Special Agent in Charge Bethanne M. Dinkins of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General, Northeast Region; and Special Agent in Charge Gordon B. Johnson of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), previously known as the Food Stamp Program, is administered by the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), together with state agencies. The program funds low-income individuals to allow them to obtain a more nutritious diet. In Maryland, the program provides eligible individuals with an electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card called the Independence Card, which operates like a debit card. Recipients obtain EBT cards through the state Department of Human Resources, then use the EBT card to purchase approved food items from participating retailers.

SPD Press Release - Weekly Shoplifting Arrests 5-1-17

South African civil war imminent as Zulu could seize land

On stage in a stadium in Soweto, the township at the heart of the uprising against apartheid, South Africa’s president, in a green and gold leather jacket, was dancing a Zulu war jig.

A court order against ‘hate speech’ meant Jacob Zuma, a former cattle herder, was banned from singing his favourite ‘liberation’ songs, including Bring Me My Machine Gun and Shoot The Boer.

But, after listening to speeches in which a succession of obsequious cronies described him as a ‘giant’ alongside African leaders such as Nelson Mandela, Zuma delighted supporters at his 75th birthday celebrations a few days ago with fiery rhetoric instead — and in doing so sounded the death knell for the Rainbow Nation.

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Attention

Tuesday, May 02, 2017

Monday, May 01, 2017

State Officials and Local Traffic-Safety Leaders Join to Help End Fatal Crashes in Maryland

NOTICE OF INVESTIGATION