A District of Columbia federal judge has ordered the IRS to give him a status update on the release of Lois Lerner's emails, as well as those by other IRS officials.
U.S District Judge Emmet Sullivan said in a June 18 order that he wants a status of the recovery and release of the emails recovered by the IRS watchdog agency, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA), sent to the court by June 29, Judicial Watch said in a statement. In addition, Sullivan set a hearing and a scheduling of a status conference for July 1.
"[F]ile a supplemental report, setting forth any new information regarding: (1) TIGTA’s recovery of emails from the backup tapes; (2) TIGTA’s production of emails to the IRS; (3) the IRS’s review of emails and production to the plaintiff; and (4) the status of the TIGTA investigation. This report shall be filed by no later than June 29, 2015," he wrote.
More here
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
It Has Been Reported Hebron Savings Bank has a new President
SCOTUS Strikes Down Order for USDA Seizure of California Raisins
The Supreme Court ruled on Monday that a federal program designed to regulate raisin supply and prices is unconstitutional.
The court sided with Fresno, Ca., raisin farmer Marvin Horne who challenged the 1949 marketing order that allowed the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to seize raisins from producers to ensure high prices. Justice John Roberts delivered the 8-1 decision of the court, joined by Antonin Scalia, Anthony Kennedy, Clarence Thomas, and Samuel Alito in full, and in part by Ginsburg, Breyer, and Kagan.
“The reserve requirement imposed by the Raisin Committee is a clear physical taking,” Chief Justice Roberts wrote. “Actual raisins are transferred from the growers to the government. Title to the raisins passes to the Raisin Committee. The Committee disposes of those raisins as it wishes, to promote the purposes of the raisin marketing order.”
The decision struck a blow against one of the New Deal era’s most enduring principles—that the government can confiscate or destroy crops to preserve prices and reserves.
The Obama administration defended the USDA order as a “win-win proposition,” claiming that prices remain high for farmers allowing them to donate excess supply.
More
The court sided with Fresno, Ca., raisin farmer Marvin Horne who challenged the 1949 marketing order that allowed the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to seize raisins from producers to ensure high prices. Justice John Roberts delivered the 8-1 decision of the court, joined by Antonin Scalia, Anthony Kennedy, Clarence Thomas, and Samuel Alito in full, and in part by Ginsburg, Breyer, and Kagan.
“The reserve requirement imposed by the Raisin Committee is a clear physical taking,” Chief Justice Roberts wrote. “Actual raisins are transferred from the growers to the government. Title to the raisins passes to the Raisin Committee. The Committee disposes of those raisins as it wishes, to promote the purposes of the raisin marketing order.”
The decision struck a blow against one of the New Deal era’s most enduring principles—that the government can confiscate or destroy crops to preserve prices and reserves.
The Obama administration defended the USDA order as a “win-win proposition,” claiming that prices remain high for farmers allowing them to donate excess supply.
More
Jesse Jackson Jr. Released From Halfway House In Baltimore
Jackson, an Illinois Democrat, was released from the Volunteers of America halfway house in Baltimore in the morning and left in one of two black SUVs that were there for him. He traveled to his home in Washington, where family members say he's expected to stay.
Jackson must spend three years on supervised release under jurisdiction of the U.S. Probation Office and complete 500 hours of community service. He briefly spoke to The Associated Press outside the family's home when asked how he was doing.
More
US General Denounces UN Report on Gaza War
U.S. Gen. Charles Wald, the leader of a task force of retired senior U.S. military officers who studied and reported on the 2014 Gaza War, issued a statement Monday denouncing the U.N. Human Rights Council’s report on that conflict.
He claims that the report is unbalanced and uneducated, referring to other, similar reports, which have been shown to be faulty in the past.
“The UNHRC report on the Gaza conflict is unbalanced and fails to accurately assess which parties violated the Law of Armed Conflict,” Wald said.
He continued, saying that the report represents faulty research, led by researchers who are not experts in military law, saying, “This report follows the same pattern of the UNHRC’s Goldstone Report, which assessed the previous Gaza conflict, but which was later repudiated by Mr. Goldstone himself, as well as being widely discredited by experts in laws applicable to war.
More here
He claims that the report is unbalanced and uneducated, referring to other, similar reports, which have been shown to be faulty in the past.
“The UNHRC report on the Gaza conflict is unbalanced and fails to accurately assess which parties violated the Law of Armed Conflict,” Wald said.
He continued, saying that the report represents faulty research, led by researchers who are not experts in military law, saying, “This report follows the same pattern of the UNHRC’s Goldstone Report, which assessed the previous Gaza conflict, but which was later repudiated by Mr. Goldstone himself, as well as being widely discredited by experts in laws applicable to war.
More here
WCSO Press Release 6-23-15 (Part 2 of 2)
Incident: Assault
Date of Incident: 21 June 2015
Location: 700 block of Friar Tuck Lane, Salisbury, MD
Suspect: Ronnie Lee McClean, 55, Salisbury, MD
Ronnie McClean
Narrative: On 21 June 2015 at 10:16 PM a deputy responded to a residence in the 700 block of Friar Tuck Lane in reference to a reported domestic related disturbance. Upon arrival, the deputy met with a male victim who advised that he had been assaulted by Ronnie McClean during an argument. Both the male victim and McClean resided together. During the investigation, the deputy observed signs of injury that corroborated the account.
The deputy placed McClean 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 McClean in the Detention Center in lieu of $10,000.00 bond.
Charges: Assault 2nd Degree
****************************************************
Incident: WCSO Warrant Arrests
Date of Incident: 16 June 2015
On 16 June 2015 a deputy arrested Kaitlin Elizabeth Frantz, 20 of Salisbury, on a District Court Bench Warrant. The warrant was issued after Frantz failed to appear for a Theft case. Frantz was detained on a bond of $20,000.00.
Kaitlin Frantz
On 16 June 2015 a deputy arrested Katherine Anne Palguta, 26 of Preston, MD; on a District Court Bench Warrant. The warrant was issued after Palguta violated the terms of her pre-trial release in a case where she was charged with CDS Possession. Palguta was detained without bond.
Katherine Palguta
****************************************************
Incident: WCSO Warrant Arrests
Date of Incident: 17/18 June 2015
On 17 June 2015 a deputy arrested Dana Lynn Chamberlain, 36 of Salisbury, on a District Court Bench Warrant. The warrant was issued after Chamberlain failed to appear for an Assault 2nd Degree case. Chamberlain was detained on a bond of $10,000.00
Dana Chamberlin
On 18 June 2015 a deputy arrested Victor Vaughn Armwood Jr., 28 of Salisbury, on a Circuit Court Bench Warrant. The warrant was issued in connection with a Child Support Case. Armwood was detained on a bond of $500.00
Victor Armwood
On 18 June 2015 a deputy arrested Melissa Ray Cooper, 37 of Willards, MD; on a District Court Bench Warrant. The Warrant was issued after Cooper failed to appear for a Driving Uninsured case. Cooper was detained on a bond of $1,000.00
Melissa Cooper
****************************************************
Incident: Fugitive from Delaware
Date of Incident: 20 June 2015
Location: 9000 block of Ocean Highway, Delmar, MD
Suspect: Samantha Rose Krumm, 24, Delmar, MD
Samantha Krumm
Narrative: On 20 June 2015 at 9:00 PM a deputy located a wanted fugitive from the State of Delaware at XXXX. Upon discovering that Delaware authorities wanted Krumm in connection with a CDS Possession with the Intent to Deliver case, the deputy placed Krumm under arrest.
Krumm was transported to the Central Booking Unit where she was processed and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner. Krumm was detained without bond pending extradition back to Delaware.
Charges: Fugitive from the State of Delaware
Releasing Authority: Lt. Tim Robinson Date: 23 June 2015
Hammerhead Shark Birthed About 20 Pups Before Dying, Witnesses Say
Just after midnight on Monday, a group, including Jess Rutherford and her brother Chad, of Harford County, along with friend Cory Yoviene of Easton, were surf fishing and hanging out on the beach at 144th Street. About a block south, another group was surf fishing at 143rd Street when they had an unusual and quite substantial catch, a roughly 10-foot female hammerhead.
Jess Rutherford said her group could hear the other group yelling and screaming about their large and unexpected catch and they ran down the beach to see what the commotion was all about. The other group had beached the hammerhead and were attempting to put the ailing shark back into the ocean. Rutherford and her group helped them attempt to put the shark back in the ocean when they made a surprise discovery.
More
Colorado teen dies from rare case of plague
A 16-year-old boy in Colorado who appeared to have the common flu has died from a rare case of the plague, officials said.
Taylor Gaes' illness didn't present with the telltale sign of the infection -- swollen lymph nodes -- which would have alerted officials to the illness sooner, said Katie O'Donnell, a Larimer County Health Department spokeswoman.
Instead, he suffered from a fever and muscle aches, which at first made his sickness look like the flu.
The plague is "very rare, which makes it hard to diagnose," O'Donnell said Saturday. Taylor died June 8 but officials revealed his illness Friday.
More
Taylor Gaes' illness didn't present with the telltale sign of the infection -- swollen lymph nodes -- which would have alerted officials to the illness sooner, said Katie O'Donnell, a Larimer County Health Department spokeswoman.
Instead, he suffered from a fever and muscle aches, which at first made his sickness look like the flu.
The plague is "very rare, which makes it hard to diagnose," O'Donnell said Saturday. Taylor died June 8 but officials revealed his illness Friday.
More
BREAKING NEWS: Obama to change longstanding policy of hostage ransoms
In a softening of longstanding policy, the Obama administration will tell families of Americans held by terror groups that they can communicate with captors and even pay ransom without fear of prosecution — part of a broad review of U.S. hostage guidelines that will be released Wednesday.
More
More
MARYLAND TASK FORCE INCLUDED IN NATIONAL INITIATIVE “OPERATION BROKEN HEART”
Maryland State Police Press Release
The Maryland Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) was one of 61 task forces included in the two month initiative, “Operation Broken Heart II.” This coordinated effort by law enforcement representing more than 3,000 federal, state and local law enforcement agencies with the purpose of arresting as many child predators as possible, along with internet safety education and outreach. Members from the Maryland ICAC worked tirelessly during the months of April and May in support of this initiative. Their efforts resulted in a total of 949 investigations initiated. Investigators executed 136 search warrants with 86 arrests. There were also six public outreach sessions which reached over 9,500 people. Investigators educated over 2,600 individuals during 45 educational programs.
The Maryland ICAC Task Force, comprised of police agencies from around the state, concentrated on those offenders who possess, manufacture, and distribute child pornography; engage in online enticement of children for sexual purposes; child prostitution, and those traveling abroad to sexually abuse foreign children. The Task Force’s primary mission continues to be to protect children from computer-facilitated sexual exploitation. This goal is achieved by cooperation between law enforcement agencies and prosecutors as they combine resources to combat these crimes. Additionally, the Task Force provides community awareness campaigns helping to prevent the spread of these crimes through education.
CONTACT: LT. Matthew Kail
Commander, Computer Crimes Section
Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force
410-653-4236
Pension tidal wave is about to crash down on taxpayers
Jersey officials could manipulate their pension system because local governments have latitude in how they run their own retirement plans. So what they did was not unique. Around the country, state and local officials have increasingly discovered over the years that they can exploit the complex and sometimes ill-defined accounting of government pension systems, as well as loopholes in their own laws governing those pensions.
Over time, elected officials came to promise workers politically popular new benefits without setting aside the money to pay for them, declared "holidays" from contributions into pension systems and changed their own accounting systems midstream to make the systems seem better funded — all just ways of passing obligations on to future taxpayers. In the process, government pension systems became one of the chief vehicles that state and local politicians used to massage their budgets.
Now we face the consequences. Our elected representatives played a deceptive game of chicken with pension funds. And now the chickens have come home to roost.
More
Top US CEO's Make 300 Times what Workers Earn
How do you value the efforts of America's top chief executives? Are they worth 10 times what their average worker makes, 20 times or even 100 times?
The current answer appears to be a ratio of more than 300-to-1, according to a new study from the left-leaning Economic Policy Institute. The meteoric rise of CEO pay is nothing short of breathtaking, outpacing not only the wages of ordinary workers, but also gains in the stock market and the not-too-shabby rise of income among America's 0.1 percent of top earners.
Surging CEO pay has potentially negative implications for other employees, leaving less on the table for wages, benefits and other compensation. Top execs at large public companies are keeping about 10 percent of their companies' net profits, about double the rate in the early 1990s, according to the AFL-CIO.
While some would argue that CEOs are earning more because they provide extraordinary benefits to their companies, EPI president Lawrence Mishel says the evidence doesn't support that.
More
The current answer appears to be a ratio of more than 300-to-1, according to a new study from the left-leaning Economic Policy Institute. The meteoric rise of CEO pay is nothing short of breathtaking, outpacing not only the wages of ordinary workers, but also gains in the stock market and the not-too-shabby rise of income among America's 0.1 percent of top earners.
Surging CEO pay has potentially negative implications for other employees, leaving less on the table for wages, benefits and other compensation. Top execs at large public companies are keeping about 10 percent of their companies' net profits, about double the rate in the early 1990s, according to the AFL-CIO.
While some would argue that CEOs are earning more because they provide extraordinary benefits to their companies, EPI president Lawrence Mishel says the evidence doesn't support that.
More
Theses States Depend on 'O Phone' the Most
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) wants to expand Lifeline, a government program that subsidizes telephone service for the poor. Yet very little is understood about the people who depend on the assistance.
California, New York and Florida are among the states that depend on the subsidy the most. The Golden State tops the list with about 1.5 million subscribers, according to data from the Universal ServiceAdministrative Company (USAC), while the Empire State has just under 1 million. Wyoming and South Dakota have the fewest subscribers.
States and tribal territories that offer both of the top Lifeline providers—Assurance Wireless, a subsidiary of Virgin Mobile, and SafeLink Wireless, a subsidy of TracFone—tend to have the largest subscriber figures, according to Philip Colvin of USAC, which serves as the program's administrator.
He added that those mobile providers are the most aggressive at promoting Lifeline plans, which is probably why they have the most subscribers.
More
California, New York and Florida are among the states that depend on the subsidy the most. The Golden State tops the list with about 1.5 million subscribers, according to data from the Universal ServiceAdministrative Company (USAC), while the Empire State has just under 1 million. Wyoming and South Dakota have the fewest subscribers.
States and tribal territories that offer both of the top Lifeline providers—Assurance Wireless, a subsidiary of Virgin Mobile, and SafeLink Wireless, a subsidy of TracFone—tend to have the largest subscriber figures, according to Philip Colvin of USAC, which serves as the program's administrator.
He added that those mobile providers are the most aggressive at promoting Lifeline plans, which is probably why they have the most subscribers.
More
Supreme Court Caught Messing With Marriage Case?
A series of events that has been described as a “troubling turn” has been found to have taken place at the U.S. Supreme Court regarding the justices’ looming decision on marriage – whether they will affirm the millennia old standard of one man and one woman or whether they will create a right to homosexual “marriage.”
The report is from the law firm of William J. Olson, P.C., the workplace of Olson, who served in several positions for the Reagan administration, and Herb Titus, a longtime constitutional law professor.
The organization has issued a series of reports on the issue of marriage, under funding from the United States Justice Foundation.
The circumstances concern efforts to have Ruth Ginsburg and Elena Kagan recused from the marriage case because they both have taken public advocacy positions for same-sex “marriage” by performing those ceremonies even while the case was pending before the justices.
More here
The report is from the law firm of William J. Olson, P.C., the workplace of Olson, who served in several positions for the Reagan administration, and Herb Titus, a longtime constitutional law professor.
The organization has issued a series of reports on the issue of marriage, under funding from the United States Justice Foundation.
The circumstances concern efforts to have Ruth Ginsburg and Elena Kagan recused from the marriage case because they both have taken public advocacy positions for same-sex “marriage” by performing those ceremonies even while the case was pending before the justices.
More here
Israel Fires Back At UN Report
A UN report released Monday found both Israel and Palestinians committed “serious violations” of international law and possible war crimes in last summer’s seven-week battle in Gaza, a finding Israel swiftly denounced.
The report from the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council was expected to come down on Israel, which publicized a preemptive report last week from military and political leaders around the world that determined Israel went to lengths above and beyond international requirements to minimize civilian casualties.
The report called for Israel to “break with its recent lamentable track record in holding wrongdoers accountable,” but also cited Palestinian militants for the “inherently indiscriminate nature” of rocket and mortar attacks on Israel and condemned Hamas’ summary executions of suspected collaborators.
Israel swiftly moved to dispute the report’s findings.
"In defending itself against attacks, Israel's military acted according to the highest international standards," the Foreign Ministry said.
The ministry said the findings failed to differentiate between Israel's" moral behavior" and the actions of Palestinian "terror organizations."
There was no immediate comment from Hamas, which the report said also may have committed war crimes in firing rockets at Israeli civilian population centers.
The Israeli government refused to cooperate with the Human Rights Council investigation, citing past reports it believes were biased against the Jewish State, and a former panel chairman who led inquiries even as he did legal work for the Palestine Liberation Organization.
More
The report from the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council was expected to come down on Israel, which publicized a preemptive report last week from military and political leaders around the world that determined Israel went to lengths above and beyond international requirements to minimize civilian casualties.
The report called for Israel to “break with its recent lamentable track record in holding wrongdoers accountable,” but also cited Palestinian militants for the “inherently indiscriminate nature” of rocket and mortar attacks on Israel and condemned Hamas’ summary executions of suspected collaborators.
Israel swiftly moved to dispute the report’s findings.
"In defending itself against attacks, Israel's military acted according to the highest international standards," the Foreign Ministry said.
The ministry said the findings failed to differentiate between Israel's" moral behavior" and the actions of Palestinian "terror organizations."
There was no immediate comment from Hamas, which the report said also may have committed war crimes in firing rockets at Israeli civilian population centers.
The Israeli government refused to cooperate with the Human Rights Council investigation, citing past reports it believes were biased against the Jewish State, and a former panel chairman who led inquiries even as he did legal work for the Palestine Liberation Organization.
More
Actor Dick Van Patten Has Died. He was 86
More
Its About Time
The U.S. Park Police has replaced longstanding policy for how it treats pregnant employees. The Washington Post reports that now the Park Police follow procedures under the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, which requires accommodation of pregnant women only after the pregnancy hinders their ability to work. Under the old policy, women were required to tell Park Service supervisors the moment they became pregnant. The policy change comes in response to a lawsuit by former officer Renee Abt. She also received a $300,000 pain-and-suffering settlement.
WCSO Press Release 6-23-15 (Part 1 of 2)
Incident: Assault
Date of Incident: 11 June 2015
Location: 34000 block of Main Street, Pittsville, MD
Suspect: 1. Herman R. Baumgartner, 50, Pittsville, MD
Herman Baumgartner
2. Christy Marie Baumgartner, 38, Pittsville, MD
Christy Baumgartner
Narrative: On 11 June 2015 at 8:13 PM a deputy responded to a reported domestic related altercation at a residence in the 34000 block of Main Street in Pittsville, MD. Upon arrival the deputy met with Herman and Christy Baumgartner who were husband and wife. Both told the deputy that each had been assaulted by the other. The deputy also observed that they both were visibly intoxicated. During the investigation the deputy observed signs on both that supported their claims of being assaulted.
Believing that a mutual assault had taken place, the deputy placed both under arrest and transported them to the Central Booking Unit where they were processed and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner. Following their initial appearance, both were detained in the Detention Center in lieu of $5,000.00 bond each.
Charges: Assault 2nd Degree
****************************************************
Incident: Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol
Date of Incident: 14 June 2015
Location: N/B Salisbury Blvd. at E. Ruark Drive, Salisbury, MD
Suspect: Gisela Tula Teles, 34, Salisbury, MD
No Photo Available
Narrative: On 14 June 2015 at 3:32 AM a deputy stopped a vehicle operated by Gisela Teles for erratic driving on N/B Salisbury Blvd. Upon making contact with Teles, the deputy detected a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from within the vehicle. Based on the odor and other physical indicators, the deputy initiated sobriety testing. At the conclusion of the tests, the deputy placed Teles under arrest for DUI.
During subsequent processing Teles provided a breath sample with a result of .11.
Teles was released upon the issuance of citations.
Charges: Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol Per Se
****************************************************
Incident: Assault
Date of Incident: 19 June 2015
Location: 100 block of Onley Road, Salisbury, MD
Suspect: Tyler D. Truitt, 30, Salisbury, MD
No Photo Available
Narrative: On 19 June 2015 at 2:27 AM a deputy responded to a reported domestic related altercation in the 100 block of Onley Road in Salisbury. Upon arrival the deputy met with a visibly distraught female who advised that she was involved in an altercation with her child’s father, Tyler Truitt that turned physical. It was alleged that Truitt kicked the female subject in the stomach and punched her in the ear as she was trying to make a call. The victim further told the deputy that she was assaulted “several times” and during the investigation the deputy observed signs of injury and a torn shirt on the victim the corroborated her account.
The deputy placed Truitt 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 Truitt in the Detention Center in lieu of $15,000.00 bond.
Charges: Assault 2nd Degree
****************************************************
Incident: Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol
Date of Incident: 21 June 2015
Location: 1000 block of Robins Avenue, Salisbury, MD
Suspect: Dalton Perry Baker, 19, Salisbury, MD
No Photo Available
Narrative: On 21 June 2015 at 7:39 PM a deputy stopped a vehicle operated by Dalton Baker for erratic driving on Robins Avenue in Salisbury. Upon making contact with Baker, the deputy detected a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage. Based on the odor and other physical indicators, the deputy initiated sobriety testing. It was following these tests that the deputy placed Baker under arrest for DUI.
During subsequent processing Dalton provided a breath sample with a result of .12.
Dalton was released upon the issuance of citations.
Charges: Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol Per Se
Releasing Authority: Lt. Tim Robinson Date: 23 June 2015
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)