A proposal to expand the number of visas offered to high-tech workers to help corporations broaden their talent pools has divided Senate Republicans, some of whom argue it only makes immigration problems worse, The Hill reported.
A large number of the H1-B visas for foreign workers are given to technical industry companies, but at least two GOP lawmakers on the Senate Judiciary Committee complained that proposed increases — from 65,000 to 115,000 — will be abused as more foreign workers get hired at the expense of U.S. workers, The Hill said.
"It doesn’t close the loopholes or prevent abuse. It doesn’t make sure that American workers are put before foreign workers," Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, an Iowa Republican, said at a hearing Tuesday. "It only increases the supply of cheaper foreign labor."
His colleague, Sen. Jeff Sessions of Alabama, who has spoken out loudly against comprehensive immigration reform, noted a "huge degree" of abuses in the program, The Hill said.
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DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Attention
Thursday, March 19, 2015
WCSO Press Releases - March 19, 2015
Incident: False Name to Avoid Prosecution
Date of Incident: 12 March 2015
Location: E/B Rt. 50, Salisbury, MD
Suspect: Ta’sha Rashawn Ward, 23, Salisbury, MD
No Photo Available
Narrative: On 12 March 2015 a deputy stopped a vehicle operated by Ta’sha Ward of Salisbury after clocking her on radar at 80 mph on Rt. 50.Upon identifying herself to the deputy; she had trouble reciting her date of birth. During subsequent contact with Ward, the deputy began to doubt the veracity of the identity she provided and she was also unable to produce any identification. Ward relented and provided her true name. Ward stated that he license was currently suspended which is what lead to her attempt to provide a false identity.
The deputy also observed that Ward had a four year old child in the vehicle that was not restrained in a car seat.
The deputy placed Ward under arrest and transported her to the Central Booking Unit where she was processed and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner. After an initial appearance, the Commissioner released Ward on Personal Recognizance.
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Incident: Driving While Revoked
Date of Incident: 15 March 2015
Location: Walnut Street, Hebron, MD
Suspect: Scott Alan Hastings, 21, Mardela Springs, MD
Scott Hastings
Narrative: On 15 March 2015 a deputy stopped a vehicle operated by Scott Hastings of Mardela Springs for an equipment violation. During the stop, the deputy learned that the State of Maryland had revoked Hastings’ privilege to drive back in 2013.
The deputy placed Hastings under arrest and transported him to the Central booking Unit where he was processed and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner. After an initial appearance, the Commissioner released Hastings on Personal Recognizance.
Charges: Driving While Revoked
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Incident: Burglary / Theft
Date of Incident: 17 March 2015
Location: 26000 block of Pratt Road, Hebron, MD
Suspect: Jacob Alexander Morris, 18, Hebron, MD
Jacob Morris
Narrative: On 17 March 2015 a deputy arrested Jacob Morris for the theft of motor vehicle. During the investigation, the deputy took a report for the theft of a vehicle from a residence in the 26000 block of Pratt Road. After taking the report, the deputy observed the vehicle being driven by a neighbor in the vicinity of where the theft occurred. The deputy stopped the vehicle and discovered that the operator, Jacob Morris, had entered the victim’s residence through an unlocked door and took the key to the car, all without the victim’s permission. Morris is a neighbor to the victim.
Morris also helped himself to money from the victim’s residence too.
The deputy placed Morris under arrest and transported him to the Central Booking Unit where he was processed and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner. After an initial appearance, Commissioner detained Morris in the Detention Center in lieu of $75,000.00 bond.
Charges: Burglary 1st Degree
Motor Vehicle Theft
Theft
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Incident: Attempted Murder
Date of Incident: 17 March 2015
Location: 1000 block of Nokomis Avenue, Salisbury, MD
Suspect: Amanda Myeisha Holbrook, 29, Salisbury, MD
No Photo Available
Narrative: On 17 March 2015 at 5:13 PM, deputies responded to a reported stabbing in the 1000 block of Nokomis Avenue in Salisbury. Upon arrival, it was discovered that the resident, Amanda Holbrook, was sitting in her living room, armed with a knife waiting for a male acquaintance to enter her residence. Upon the subject entering and making contact with her, she stabbed him in the chest.
During the investigation, Holbrook made statements that implicated her intent to do harm to the male subject. The victim in this case was transported to PRMC with a serious injury as a result of the stabbing.
The deputy placed Holbrook under arrest and transported her to the Central Booking Unit where she was processed and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner. After an initial appearance, the Commissioner detained Holbrook in the Detention Center without bond.
Charges: Attempted Murder
Assault 1st Degree
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Incident: Most Wanted Arrest
Date of Incident: 18 March 2015
Location: Salisbury, MD
Suspect: Holly Ann Lathbury, 29, Millsboro, DE
Holly Lathbury
Narrative: On 18 March 2015 a wanted fugitive, Holly Lathbury, surrendered herself at the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office. Lathbury was being sought on a District Court Bench Warrant that was issued for failure to appear in a Driving Suspended Case. Lathbury had also recently been featured on WBOC’s Delmarva Life as a “Most Wanted” fugitive.
The case stems from February 2009 when Lathbury was charged with driving while suspended. During the history of this case, Lathbury failed to appear for trial on four separate occasions, each time resulting in the issuance of a bench warrant. Her most recent failure to appear in this case dated from July 2014.
The District Court Commissioner detained Lathbury in the Detention Center in lieu of $25,000.00 bond pending her next court date in this case.
Charges: Failure to Appear
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Incident: Vandalism
Date of Incident: 18 March 2015
Location: 8000 block of Doris Street, Delmar, DE
Suspect: Danielle Ann Brown, 27, Laurel, DE
Danielle Brown
Narrative: On 18 March 2015 at 1:50 AM a deputy responded to a report of a disorderly and intoxicated female that would not leave a residence in the 8000 block of Doris Street in Delmar. Upon arrival, the deputy met with the individual in question, Danielle Brown of Laurel. During the investigation the deputy learned that Brown had become disorderly outside the residence and allegedly threw a flower pot into the windshield of a pick-up truck.
The deputy placed Brown under arrest and transported her to the Central Booking unit where she was processed and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner. After an initial appearance, the Commissioner released Brown on Personal Recognizance.
Charges: Disorderly Conduct
Malicious Destruction of Property
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Incident: Assault
Date of Incident: 18 March 2015
Location: 9000 block of Bethel Road, Willards, MD
Suspect: Brandon W. Linton, 29, Willards, MD
No Photo Available
Narrative: On 18 March 2015 at 11:00 PM a deputy responded to a residence in the 9000 block of Bethel Road in Willards for an altercation between two roommates. During the investigation, it was told to the deputy that Brandon Linton assaulted his roommate during an argument over gasoline. During the investigation the deputy observed signs of injury on the victim that corroborated the account.
The deputy placed Linton under arrest and transported him to the Central Booking Unit where he was processed and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner. After an initial appearance, the Commissioner detained Linton in the Detention Center in lieu of $5,000.00 bond.
Charges: Assault 2nd Degree
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Incident: WCSO Activity
Date of Incident: 17 March 2015
Location: Wicomico County
On 17 March 2015 a deputy arrested Paul A. Calderon, 21 of Laurel, DE. On a Circuit Court Bench Warrant that was issued after Calderon violated the terms of his probation in a CDS Possession and Contributing to the Condition of a Child case. Calderon was detained without bond.
Paul Calderon
On 17 March 2015 a deputy arrested Shaunteya R. Williams, 21 of Laurel, DE, on a District Court Bench Warrant that was issued after Williams violated the terms of her probation in a theft case. Williams was detained on a bond of $5,000.00
Shaunteya Williams
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Incident: WCSO Activity
Date of Incident: 18 March 2015
Location: Wicomico County
On 18 March 2015 a deputy arrested Brett Morton Dilworth Jr., 22 of Salisbury, on a District Court Bench Warrant that was issued after Dilworth violated the terms of his probation in a theft case. Dilworth was detained on a bond of $25,000.00
Brett Dillworth
On 18 March 2015 a deputy arrested Justin Paul Marvel, 24 of Salisbury, on two Circuit Court Bench Warrants. The warrants were issued after Marvel violated the terms of his probation in two Burglary cases. Marvel was detained on a bond of $50,000.00
Justin Marvel
On 18 March 2015 a deputy arrested Johmon L. Handy, 24 of Salisbury, on a Circuit Court Bench Warrant that was issued after Handy violated the terms of his probation in a Robbery case. Handy was detained without bond.
Johmon Handy
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Incident: Most Wanted Arrest
Date of Incident: 18 March 2015
Location: Wicomico County
Suspect: Michael Wayne Carey, 35, Greenbackville, VA
Michael Wayne Carey
Narrative: On 18 March 2015 one of Wicomico County’s Most Wanted Fugitives was located in Snow Hill following his recent profile on local media sites, to include 47 ABC’s Fugitive Friday. Carey was sought on two Wicomico County warrants issued in August 2014 after he violated the terms of his probation following convictions for credit card fraud. Additionally, an additional warrant held by the Anne Arundel County Sheriff in connection with a theft case was also served on Carey.
Carey was detained without bond in the Detention Center pending an initial appearance in front of a Circuit Court Judge.
Charges: Violation of Probation
Releasing Authority: Lt. Tim Robinson Date: 19 March 2015
Nigerian, Cameroon troops oust Boko Haram from town, village
LAGOS, Nigeria — Nigerian troops have ousted Boko Haram from a northeastern town while Cameroon soldiers killed several of the extremists in an attack on a Nigerian village, military officials reported Monday of the latest successes in a multinational bid to curb the Islamic uprising in northeast Nigeria.
"FLASH: Nigerian troops have this afternoon routed terrorists from Bama ... Mopping up operation is ongoing," the Nigerian Defense Headquarters announced on Twitter referring to a town held by the insurgents for more than six months.
An earlier tweet Monday said they had "completed clearing terrorists out of Goniri" in neighboring Yobe state.
By last week, the regional offensive that began at the end of January had liberated 36 towns, Mike Omeri, the Nigerian government spokesman on the insurgency, said Wednesday.
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"FLASH: Nigerian troops have this afternoon routed terrorists from Bama ... Mopping up operation is ongoing," the Nigerian Defense Headquarters announced on Twitter referring to a town held by the insurgents for more than six months.
An earlier tweet Monday said they had "completed clearing terrorists out of Goniri" in neighboring Yobe state.
By last week, the regional offensive that began at the end of January had liberated 36 towns, Mike Omeri, the Nigerian government spokesman on the insurgency, said Wednesday.
More
Three deaths linked to tainted ice cream in Kansas, prompting recall
Three patients at a Kansas hospital have died after eating Blue Bell ice cream tainted with listeria, but food-borne illness was not the sole cause of their deaths, health officials said Saturday.
"These people had been in and out of the hospital for other reasons," Sara Belfry, spokeswoman for the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, told the Los Angeles Times. "This was a contributing cause, not the only cause."
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said five people in all were infected, all of whom were being treated in the same hospital for unrelated problems. Four of the victims drank milkshakes made with a single serving of Blue Bell's Scoops ice cream at the hospital, a finding "that strongly suggests their infections were acquired in the hospital," the CDC said.
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"These people had been in and out of the hospital for other reasons," Sara Belfry, spokeswoman for the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, told the Los Angeles Times. "This was a contributing cause, not the only cause."
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said five people in all were infected, all of whom were being treated in the same hospital for unrelated problems. Four of the victims drank milkshakes made with a single serving of Blue Bell's Scoops ice cream at the hospital, a finding "that strongly suggests their infections were acquired in the hospital," the CDC said.
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3rd Friday: March 20
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Bay Health: Md. Gov Finds Middle Ground On Fertilizer Rules
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Watchdogs concerned with the health of the Chesapeake Bay found common ground Wednesday with farmers on some changes to Maryland’s long-range plan for managing phosphorous and other fertilizer runoff that pollute the watershed.
The administration of Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan confirmed Wednesday that stakeholders from the agricultural and environmental community are agreed on the creation of an advisory committee to be tasked with overseeing and promoting anti-polluting regulations to be put in practice by 2022.
“There has always been agreement on the problem,” Hogan spokesman Doug Mayer said. “Now we have agreement on a solution that represents one of the most important steps forward in environmental policy in the last decade.”
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The administration of Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan confirmed Wednesday that stakeholders from the agricultural and environmental community are agreed on the creation of an advisory committee to be tasked with overseeing and promoting anti-polluting regulations to be put in practice by 2022.
“There has always been agreement on the problem,” Hogan spokesman Doug Mayer said. “Now we have agreement on a solution that represents one of the most important steps forward in environmental policy in the last decade.”
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Sheriff Joe Plea: Rein In Obama 'Power Grab'
Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Maricopa County, Arizona, is asking an appeals court in Washington, D.C., to rein in the massive power that would be granted to President Obama and future presidents if a lower court’s decision stands.
The ruling threw out a legal challenge to Obama’s executive-memo driven amnesty program for millions of illegal aliens, despite the fact that amnesty was rejected by Congress and the plan would contradict state law.
Arpaio, represented by attorney Larry Klayman of Freedom Watch, is asking the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia to step into the case thrown out earlier by Judge Beryl Howell.
Arpaio contends the administration’s claim that “prosecutorial discretion” allows Obama to promise the benefits of citizenship to millions of illegal aliens is wrong.
“What is to stop a future president from simply directing the Internal Revenue Service to stop collecting taxes on capital gains or stop collecting income taxes above a rate lower than set by Congress?” asked a reply brief and request for oral argument filed Monday.
“Indeed, who would have standing to challenge taxes left uncollected from another person? What is to stop a future president from refusing to enforce environmental laws, labor union protections, securities laws, voting rights laws, or civil rights laws, on a claim of prosecutorial discretion?
“May a future president direct the IRS not to collect the penalty supporting Obamacare’s ‘individual mandate,’ producing actuarial collapse?”
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The ruling threw out a legal challenge to Obama’s executive-memo driven amnesty program for millions of illegal aliens, despite the fact that amnesty was rejected by Congress and the plan would contradict state law.
Arpaio, represented by attorney Larry Klayman of Freedom Watch, is asking the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia to step into the case thrown out earlier by Judge Beryl Howell.
Arpaio contends the administration’s claim that “prosecutorial discretion” allows Obama to promise the benefits of citizenship to millions of illegal aliens is wrong.
“What is to stop a future president from simply directing the Internal Revenue Service to stop collecting taxes on capital gains or stop collecting income taxes above a rate lower than set by Congress?” asked a reply brief and request for oral argument filed Monday.
“Indeed, who would have standing to challenge taxes left uncollected from another person? What is to stop a future president from refusing to enforce environmental laws, labor union protections, securities laws, voting rights laws, or civil rights laws, on a claim of prosecutorial discretion?
“May a future president direct the IRS not to collect the penalty supporting Obamacare’s ‘individual mandate,’ producing actuarial collapse?”
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Firefly tickets on track to sell out
DOVER — The 2015 Firefly Music Festival in Dover is gearing up to be the biggest one yet.
An increased demand for four-day passes, which start at $299, is reaching the sold-out mark of 90,000 attendees returning to the Woodlands for the four-day-long music event Thursday June 18, through Sunday, June 21. Event organizers announced March 18 that single-day general passes will not be available for the fourth Firefly Festival.
“We've seen an unprecedented increase each year since Firefly's inaugural 2012 festival derived from our success in multiple areas,” Firefly Music Festival Director Greg Bostrom said in a press release. “This, in turn, eliminated our ability to offer single-day general admission passes in 2015 as we plan to welcome 90,000 attendees, which will bring us to capacity this year."
Festival organizers also have released the daily lineup, which reveals that Paul McCartney will be the headliner Friday, June 19, followed by Kings of Leon Saturday, June 20, and The Killers Sunday, June 21.
More
An increased demand for four-day passes, which start at $299, is reaching the sold-out mark of 90,000 attendees returning to the Woodlands for the four-day-long music event Thursday June 18, through Sunday, June 21. Event organizers announced March 18 that single-day general passes will not be available for the fourth Firefly Festival.
“We've seen an unprecedented increase each year since Firefly's inaugural 2012 festival derived from our success in multiple areas,” Firefly Music Festival Director Greg Bostrom said in a press release. “This, in turn, eliminated our ability to offer single-day general admission passes in 2015 as we plan to welcome 90,000 attendees, which will bring us to capacity this year."
Festival organizers also have released the daily lineup, which reveals that Paul McCartney will be the headliner Friday, June 19, followed by Kings of Leon Saturday, June 20, and The Killers Sunday, June 21.
More
Chicago Law Prof on Obama: “Professors hated him because he was lazy, unqualified & never attended any of the faculty meetings”
Isn’t it refreshing to know we have such a competent Commander-in-Chief?
Doug Ross reported this and more:
I spent some time with the highest tenured faculty member at Chicago Law a few months back, and he did not have many nice things to say about “Barry.” Obama applied for a position as an adjunct and wasn’t even considered.
A few weeks later the law school got a phone call from the Board of Trustees telling them to find him an office, put him on the payroll, and give him a class to teach. The Board told him he didn’t have to be a member of the faculty, but they needed to give him a temporary position. He was never a professor and was hardly an adjunct.
More
Doug Ross reported this and more:
I spent some time with the highest tenured faculty member at Chicago Law a few months back, and he did not have many nice things to say about “Barry.” Obama applied for a position as an adjunct and wasn’t even considered.
A few weeks later the law school got a phone call from the Board of Trustees telling them to find him an office, put him on the payroll, and give him a class to teach. The Board told him he didn’t have to be a member of the faculty, but they needed to give him a temporary position. He was never a professor and was hardly an adjunct.
More
Maryland budget receives preliminary OK in House
ANNAPOLIS, Md. —A Maryland budget plan restoring education funds and state employee pay that had been scaled back in Republican Gov. Larry Hogan's budget proposal advanced in the House of Delegates on Wednesday.
The House, which is controlled by Democrats, gave initial approval to legislation containing the state's $40.7 billion budget. The House is scheduled to work on a companion bill needed to balance the budget Wednesday evening.
"We restored our priorities: education, taking care of our state workers and critical, critical social and health needs that our Maryland citizens deserve," said Del. Maggie McIntosh, a Baltimore Democrat who chairs the House Appropriations Committee. "We did this without raising taxes."
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The House, which is controlled by Democrats, gave initial approval to legislation containing the state's $40.7 billion budget. The House is scheduled to work on a companion bill needed to balance the budget Wednesday evening.
"We restored our priorities: education, taking care of our state workers and critical, critical social and health needs that our Maryland citizens deserve," said Del. Maggie McIntosh, a Baltimore Democrat who chairs the House Appropriations Committee. "We did this without raising taxes."
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Myanmar jails New Zealander for 2.5 years over Buddha insult ad
A New Zealand bar manager and his two Myanmar colleagues were sentenced Tuesday to two and a half years in jail by a Yangon court for using a Buddha image to promote a cheap drinks night.
The ad posted on Facebook in December triggered outrage in the former junta-ruled country, where surging Buddhist nationalism and religious violence has sparked international concern.
Philip Blackwood, who worked at the VGastro bar in Yangon, was found guilty of insulting religion along with the bar's Myanmar owner and manager, after the New Zealander posted the offending mocked-up photo of the Buddha wearing DJ headphones.
The trio were sentenced to two years in jail for insulting religion through written word or pictures and a further six months -- both terms carrying the punishment of hard labour -- for breaching local authority regulations.
They were held responsible for protests that erupted outside the bar over the image.
Judge Ye Lwin said that although Blackwood, 32, posted an apology, he had "intentionally plotted to insult religious belief" when he uploaded the photo.
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The ad posted on Facebook in December triggered outrage in the former junta-ruled country, where surging Buddhist nationalism and religious violence has sparked international concern.
Philip Blackwood, who worked at the VGastro bar in Yangon, was found guilty of insulting religion along with the bar's Myanmar owner and manager, after the New Zealander posted the offending mocked-up photo of the Buddha wearing DJ headphones.
The trio were sentenced to two years in jail for insulting religion through written word or pictures and a further six months -- both terms carrying the punishment of hard labour -- for breaching local authority regulations.
They were held responsible for protests that erupted outside the bar over the image.
Judge Ye Lwin said that although Blackwood, 32, posted an apology, he had "intentionally plotted to insult religious belief" when he uploaded the photo.
More
Selbyville mother pleads guilty to child endangerment
SELBYVILLE — A mother who sent her 4-year-old daughter to daycare with a backpack full of heroin has pleaded guilty to one charge of endangering the welfare of a child.
Selbyville resident Ashley Tull, 30, was arrested Oct. 6 after sending her daughter to a Selbyville daycare with the backpack.
Judge E. Scott Bradley sentenced Tull to one year of probation and substance abuse evaluation and possible treatment. She also must fully cooperate with the Division of Family Services. Tull's attorney Thomas Pedersen said Tull has custody of her daughter and two older children, a 9-year-old boy and an 11-year-old girl.
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Selbyville resident Ashley Tull, 30, was arrested Oct. 6 after sending her daughter to a Selbyville daycare with the backpack.
Judge E. Scott Bradley sentenced Tull to one year of probation and substance abuse evaluation and possible treatment. She also must fully cooperate with the Division of Family Services. Tull's attorney Thomas Pedersen said Tull has custody of her daughter and two older children, a 9-year-old boy and an 11-year-old girl.
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Ex-FOIA Chief: Hillary Emails Just Latest Clinton Records Scandal
A former federal official who spent 25 years handling Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests says former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's explanation of her use of private email defies reality and the practice was against the law.
In a column in Politico, Dan Metcalfe, a former director of the Office of Information and Privacy at the Justice Department who was responsible for overseeing the implementation of the Freedom of Information Act for the executive branch, says Clinton violated the Federal Records Act by using her personal email account exclusively for all official communications.
"I thought when I retired from the Justice Department in 2007, I was done with records-related scandals," Metcalfe said, noting that he served as the federal government's chief information-disclosure "guru."
"In that position, I had weathered many a Clinton records scandal during the 1990s — about two dozen, all told, including two that amazingly have still never become public — and I thought I had seen the last of them. At the very least, I thought I had become immune to being shocked by anything in that vein.
"It turns out I was wrong on both counts," Metcalfe wrote.
Metcalfe said that beyond breaking the Official Records Act, Clinton's decision to maintain all of her emails on a private server also shields her emails from FOIA, which he said is "truly unprecedented."
More
In a column in Politico, Dan Metcalfe, a former director of the Office of Information and Privacy at the Justice Department who was responsible for overseeing the implementation of the Freedom of Information Act for the executive branch, says Clinton violated the Federal Records Act by using her personal email account exclusively for all official communications.
"I thought when I retired from the Justice Department in 2007, I was done with records-related scandals," Metcalfe said, noting that he served as the federal government's chief information-disclosure "guru."
"In that position, I had weathered many a Clinton records scandal during the 1990s — about two dozen, all told, including two that amazingly have still never become public — and I thought I had seen the last of them. At the very least, I thought I had become immune to being shocked by anything in that vein.
"It turns out I was wrong on both counts," Metcalfe wrote.
Metcalfe said that beyond breaking the Official Records Act, Clinton's decision to maintain all of her emails on a private server also shields her emails from FOIA, which he said is "truly unprecedented."
More
ACLU: Better record needed of police-related deaths
BALTIMORE —The American Civil Liberties Union is calling for better record-keeping of citizen deaths that happen during an encounter with police.
The ACLU said it's not just a Baltimore City or Prince George's County issue. This is something that impacts Maryland statewide.
"Everybody tries to make up their own excuses, but all we want to do is get to the truth," the Rev. Mildred Fisher said.
More
The ACLU said it's not just a Baltimore City or Prince George's County issue. This is something that impacts Maryland statewide.
"Everybody tries to make up their own excuses, but all we want to do is get to the truth," the Rev. Mildred Fisher said.
More
NO WAY: Michelle Obama’s mom said why she didn’t want her to marry Barry
American voters fell all over themselves to vote for the first black man as president. But of course he’s not really black. He’s half black. And half white.
And that was a problem initially to none other than Michelle Obama’s mother.
As the New York Post reports, “long before Michelle Obama became First Lady, her mother had misgivings about her marrying a young man named Barack Obama — because he was biracial.”
“In a Chicago TV interview that aired during Obama’s 2004 U.S. Senate campaign — and newly resurrected by Michelle Obama biographer Peter Slevin in a book due out next month — Marion Robinson confessed to being “a little bit” wary about her future son-in-law being the product of a white mom and black dad.”
But it could’ve been worse.
“That didn’t concern me as much as had he been completely white,” Robinson laughed in the appearance on WTTW’s “Chicago Tonight.”
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And that was a problem initially to none other than Michelle Obama’s mother.
As the New York Post reports, “long before Michelle Obama became First Lady, her mother had misgivings about her marrying a young man named Barack Obama — because he was biracial.”
“In a Chicago TV interview that aired during Obama’s 2004 U.S. Senate campaign — and newly resurrected by Michelle Obama biographer Peter Slevin in a book due out next month — Marion Robinson confessed to being “a little bit” wary about her future son-in-law being the product of a white mom and black dad.”
But it could’ve been worse.
“That didn’t concern me as much as had he been completely white,” Robinson laughed in the appearance on WTTW’s “Chicago Tonight.”
More
Wasserman Schultz Won't Run for Senate
Congresswoman and Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz will seek a seventh term in the U.S. House instead of running for the U.S. Senate.
Spokesman Sean Bartlett confirmed her plans Tuesday, saying she can be most effective in her current seat and wants to use her DNC position to help elect a Democratic president next year.
Wasserman Shultz's term as party chair expires in January 2017. Her decision ends speculation that she would seek the seat held by Republican Sen. Marco Rubio if he decides to run for president instead of a second term.
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Spokesman Sean Bartlett confirmed her plans Tuesday, saying she can be most effective in her current seat and wants to use her DNC position to help elect a Democratic president next year.
Wasserman Shultz's term as party chair expires in January 2017. Her decision ends speculation that she would seek the seat held by Republican Sen. Marco Rubio if he decides to run for president instead of a second term.
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Cardin, Reid, Leahy, Durbin Lead Reintroduction Of Bill To Create Nationwide Standard For Restoring Voting Rights For Americans Released From Prison
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), along with Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Constitution Subcommittee Richard Durbin (D-Ill.), and Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) have introduced a bill, the Democracy Restoration Act, to strengthen communities by reducing recidivism rates through the restoration of voting rights to individuals after they have served their time and have been released from incarceration. S. 772 would restore voting rights in federal elections to the million Americans who are out of prison and living in the community. Studies indicate that former prisoners who have voting rights restored are less likely to reoffend, and that disenfranchisement hinders their rehabilitation and reintegration into their community. Once again, companion legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives by Congressman John Conyers (D-Mich.), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee.
In the United States, an estimated 5.85 million adult citizens are currently disenfranchised as a result of a criminal conviction. While 15 states and the District of Columbia already restore voting rights upon release from prison, 35 states continue to restrict the voting rights of people who are no longer incarcerated. In 11 States, a conviction can result in lifetime disenfranchisement. Several States deny the right to vote to individuals convicted of certain misdemeanors. Earlier this month, the Maryland Senate passed legislation that would restore voting rights for former felons on parole or probation.
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In the United States, an estimated 5.85 million adult citizens are currently disenfranchised as a result of a criminal conviction. While 15 states and the District of Columbia already restore voting rights upon release from prison, 35 states continue to restrict the voting rights of people who are no longer incarcerated. In 11 States, a conviction can result in lifetime disenfranchisement. Several States deny the right to vote to individuals convicted of certain misdemeanors. Earlier this month, the Maryland Senate passed legislation that would restore voting rights for former felons on parole or probation.
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France likely to pass bill banning super-skinny models
France's government is likely to back a bill banning excessively thin fashion models as well as potentially fining the modeling agency or fashion house that hires them and sending the agents to jail, the health minister said on Monday.
Style-conscious France, with its fashion and luxury industries worth tens of billions of euros (dollars), would join Italy, Spain and Israel which all adopted laws against too-thin models on catwalks or in advertising campaigns in early 2013.
"It's important for fashion models to say that they need to eat well and take care of their health, especially for young women who look to the models as an aesthetic ideal," Health Minister Marisol Touraine told BFM TV on Monday.
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Style-conscious France, with its fashion and luxury industries worth tens of billions of euros (dollars), would join Italy, Spain and Israel which all adopted laws against too-thin models on catwalks or in advertising campaigns in early 2013.
"It's important for fashion models to say that they need to eat well and take care of their health, especially for young women who look to the models as an aesthetic ideal," Health Minister Marisol Touraine told BFM TV on Monday.
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Mandatory Voting? Obama Says It Would Be 'Transformative'
They say the only two things that are certain in life are death and taxes. President Barack Obama wants to add one more: voting.
Obama floated the idea of mandatory voting in the U.S. while speaking to a civic group in Cleveland on Wednesday. Asked about the corrosive influence of money in U.S. elections, Obama digressed into the related topic of voting rights and said the U.S. should be making it easier — not harder— for people to vote.
Just ask Australia, where citizens have no choice but to vote, the president said.
"If everybody voted, then it would completely change the political map in this country," Obama said, calling it potentially transformative. Not only that, Obama said, but universal voting would "counteract money more than anything."
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Obama floated the idea of mandatory voting in the U.S. while speaking to a civic group in Cleveland on Wednesday. Asked about the corrosive influence of money in U.S. elections, Obama digressed into the related topic of voting rights and said the U.S. should be making it easier — not harder— for people to vote.
Just ask Australia, where citizens have no choice but to vote, the president said.
"If everybody voted, then it would completely change the political map in this country," Obama said, calling it potentially transformative. Not only that, Obama said, but universal voting would "counteract money more than anything."
More
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