Armstrong Tells Oprah He Doped

Lance Armstrong confessed to Oprah Winfrey during an interview Monday that he used performance-enhancing drugs to win the Tour de France, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the interview is to be broadcast Thursday on Winfrey's network.

Armstrong was stripped of all seven Tour titles last year following a voluminous U.S. Anti-Doping Agency report that portrayed him as a ruthless competitor, willing to go to any lengths to win the prestigious race.
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Change Maryland To Martin O'Malley: Follow Andrew Cuomo

Annapolis - Underscoring the steady erosion of the state's manufacturing sector, Change Maryland Chairman Larry Hogan called on the Governor and General Assembly leaders to enact corporate income tax reform. There is no indication that such reform will be among the Governor's legislative priorities, and the General Assembly's presiding officers and key committee chairs have also been silent in the lead up to this year's session.
"It is not just red states moving to cut taxes," said Hogan. "Governor Andrew Cuomo has aggressively moved to improve New York's business climate and cut the corporate income tax on manufacturers to stem job losses in that sector, and it's working."
Change Maryland, citing Bureau of Labor Statistics figures, issued a report showing the state has the second-worst decline year-over-year in manufacturing of any state. Maryland's loss of 4500 manufacturing jobs, a 4% loss, is eclipsed only by West Virginia which saw a 5.4% decline in the same period. The long-term decline in this sector transcends governors' administrations. Since 2002, Maryland has lost 33% of its manufacturing jobs, the sixth-worst decline in the nation.
The dismal trend has only worsened since O'Malley became governor. Since 2007, Maryland lost 20% of its manufacturing employment base, the 10th worst decline in the country. Over 26,000 manufacturing jobs vanished during that time.
"It is unacceptable that the state's most powerful elected officials do nothing with numbers as clear and convincing as these," said Hogan. "These are the results when economic development is nothing more than cherry-picked pie charts and bar graphs in the Governor's power point demonstrations."
Just over a year ago, Governor Cuomo forged an agreement with the senate majority leader and assembly speaker on executive proposals to cut taxes and create jobs in advance of the 2012 legislative session. The corporate income tax rate for New York manufacturers was cut to 6.25%. Maryland's rate is 8.25%
New York's decline of year-over-year manufacturing jobs is 1.4%, less than half of Maryland's decline during the same period.
About the plan to cut the corporate income tax, New York's Democratic house speaker said the state "wins when manufacturers thrive, so by decreasing their tax burden, manufacturing companies will be more likely to hire and spur the economy."
"As he has done on other high-profile issues, O'Malley should follow Cuomo's lead and build support for manufacturing jobs with the General Assembly," said Hogan. "I also applaud the minority party for pushing to lower corporate income taxes and recognizing that over-reliance on government employment and dismissing the private sector spell economic trouble for Maryland."
Change Maryland reported on O'Malley's tax-raising legacy which includes 24 tax and fee hikes since 2007, including raising the corporate income tax from 7% to 8.25%.

Obama: No Haggling On Debt Ceiling, Can Use Executive Action To Tighten Gun Laws

President Obama on Monday warned congressional Republicans again that he will not negotiate over the debt ceiling, saying Washington must increase the limit to pay its bills and that such brinksmanship would be “absurd” and “irresponsible.”

“The issue here is whether Washington will pay its bills,” Obama said in the final press conference of his first term. “We are not a deadbeat nation.”

The president’s comments opened the roughly 30-minute White House question-and-answer session with reporters that focused largely on the debt ceiling and Obama’s gun-control plans in the aftermath of last month’s mass shooting at an elementary school in Newtown, Conn., in which 26 were killed.
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Wicomico Public Library

· Provide multiple points of contact for the community to become better informed of the resources already at their disposal for improving their quality of life

· Provide a platform for the numerous community service organizations in the area to spotlight their services and resources and demonstrate the quality resources currently available to County residents

· Result in a more informed populace

· Result in better citizen utilization of community support, information and service organizations in the area

To discuss this joint effort for the community, Wicomico Public Library invites you to a Press Conference:

DATE: Friday, January 18, 2013

TIME: 9:00 a.m.

PLACE: Wicomico Public Library, 122 S. Division St., (410) 749-3612 ext. 113 (Andrea Berstler)

PARTICIPANTS:

Roger Follebout, Jr., Community Relations Director, Peninsula Regional Medical Center

Karen Reddersen, Area Extension Director, University of Maryland Extension

Tamara Lee-Brooks, Public Information Officer, Wicomico County

Andrew Kitzrow, Recreation Superintendent, Wicomico County Recreation & Parks

The purpose of this news conference is to alert the press and public to the launch of this joint effort in helping the citizens of Wicomico County live more informed, healthier, and well-rounded lives.

Md. Gun, Knife Show Sees Increase In Attendance

More than 30,000 people flocked to the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium this weekend for a three-day gun and knife show.

Event vendors said curiosity about gun restrictions and national talks about renewing the assault weapons ban prompted high turnout at this year's event.

According to licensed gun dealer Neil Kravitz, the line outside the show wrapped around the building when the doors first opened Friday morning. He called it "panic purchasing."
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Be Very Careful Where You Prep Your FOOD!

When your in the restaurant business and you choose to prep food OUTSIDE your business, you might want to make sure someone isn't around with a camera.

Yes, the Health Department is in possession of this photo and the restaurant IS under investigation as we speak.

AGENDA: COUNTY COUNCIL OF WICOMICO COUNTY, MARYLAND

Room 301, Government Office Building, Salisbury, Maryland

LEGISLATIVE SESSION 2013-1

January 15, 2013 10:00 a.m.

10:00 a.m. Matt Holloway, President

Call meeting to order

Opening Prayer

10:03 a.m. Proclamation:
Wicomico County Emergency Operations Center Appreciation

National Mentoring Month

10:15 a.m. Approval of Minutes from December 18, 2012

10:17 a.m. Matthew Creamer: Council Administrator:

1. Karen Knapik, Public Affairs Specialist with U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Disaster Assistance Presentation

2. Resolution 01-2013- Confirming the reappointment of Robert Franklin to the Wicomico County Board of Electrical Examiners

3. Resolution 02-2013- Confirming the appointment of Richard McGee to the Wicomico County Board of Electrical Examiners

4. Resolution 03-2012-Making a supplemental appropriation from Contingency to the County Executive’s Office in the amount of Two Thousand, Five Hundred Dollars ($2500)

5. Resolution 04-2013- Confirming the reappointment of John B. Hall to the Wicomico County Airport Commission

6. Resolution 05-2013-Making a supplemental appropriation from Contingency to the Department of Recreation, Parks and Tourism in the amount of Nine Thousand, Eight Hundred Dollars ($9,800)

7. Resolution 06-2013- Confirming the reappointment of Bob Culver as a Designated Director of PAC 14, Inc.

8. Resolution 07-2013- Accepting the Annual Report submitted by the Office of the Internal Auditor

9. Resolution 08-2013-Making a supplemental appropriation from Contingency to the Wicomico County Department of Law in the amount of Ten Thousand, Eight Hundred Six Dollars ($10,806)

10. Tier Assessment Discussion

10:30 a.m. Edgar A. Baker, Jr., County Attorney:

Resolution 09-2013- To authorize the County to acquire an easement over certain parcels of land located along and binding College Avenue and Beaglin Park Drive for the purpose of constructing a sidewalk

10:50 a.m. Public Comments-Please limit all public comments to five minutes or less; any presented material may be submitted to Council members-Please include eight copies.

11:00 a.m. Council Comments

11:05 a.m. Council President’s Comments

11:10 a.m. Adjourn

11:20 a.m. Open Work Session

Legislative Bill 2012-17- An act to amend Chapter 225 of the Wicomico County Code, titled “Basic Definitions and Interpretations,” Article VI, titled “Terms Defined,” Section 225-25, titled “Definitions of basic terms,” and Chapter 225, Attachment I, titled “Table of Permitted Uses, Part I, Resource Conservation and Residential Districts” to define the term “Utility Operation Center” and to permit the use of a Utility Operation Center by special exception in various zoning districts

Legislative Bill 2012-18-An act to amend the Wicomico County Classification and Pay Plan by the addition of a new position to the job classification in the Department of Recreation, Parks and Tourism and establishing a job title and grade

12:00 p.m. LUNCH

12:30 p.m. Closed Work Session:

Health Officer Discussion

Fruitland Transfer Station

OBAMA LOOKALIKE IN DEMAND FOR INAUGURATION SEASON

The lanky man has the security detail, the prominent ears and the U.S. flag pin, but substitute teacher Larry Graves is no Barack Obama. He's a professional lookalike for the president.

They have something else in common, too: a frantic schedule leading up to the inauguration.

"It's definitely a busy time," Graves said in an interview. "Between the campaign season and the inauguration, it's been prime time. Barack Obama is a respectable guy. People want to have him at their parties."

Recent weeks have seen a flurry of events for Graves, from corporate gatherings to special appearances and photo-ops.

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Its Been A Perfect Winter So Far

BREAKING NEWS: Armstrong Confesses, AP Source Says

Cyclist Lance Armstrong admitted in an interview with Oprah Winfrey to using performance-enhancing drugs, an Associated Press source says .

From Fox News

72% of U.S. Casualities in Afghan War Under Obama's Watch

President Barack Obama said U.S. and coalition forces in Afghanistan will adopt a “support role” starting in the spring of 2013, to allow Afghan police and soldiers to take full responsibility of the country’s security, a nation where 2,053 American soldiers have died since the war started on Oct. 7, 2001.

Seventy-two percent of those casualties occurred during Obama's first term.

“And today we agreed, as Afghan forces take the lead and as President Karzai announces the final phase of the transition, coalition forces will move to a support role this spring,” Obama said Friday at the White House, alongside Afghan President Hamid Karzai.
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GM Tunnel Of Love

Thousands March In Moscow To Protest Russian Adoption Ban

Thousands of people marched through Moscow on Sunday to protest Russia's new law banning Americans from adopting Russian children, a far bigger number than expected in a sign that outrage over the ban has breathed some life into the dispirited anti-Kremlin opposition movement.

Shouting "shame on the scum," protesters carried posters of President Vladimir Putin and members of Russia's parliament who overwhelmingly voted for the law last month. Up to 20,000 took part in the demonstration on a frigid, gray afternoon.

The adoption ban has stoked the anger of the same middle-class, urban professionals who swelled the protest ranks last winter, when more than 100,000 people turned out for rallies to demand free elections and an end to Putin's 12 years in power. Since Putin began a third presidential term in May, the protests have flagged as the opposition leaders have struggled to provide direction and capitalize on the broad discontent. 
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Do Sports Players Control Their Own Bodies?

Washington Redskins star quarterback Robert Griffin III is defending his decision to play on a hurt knee in yesterday’s playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks. ”Many may question, criticize & think they have all the right answers. But few have been in the line of fire in battle,” Griffin tweeted, and he’s right: An athlete should be able to decide if he wants to play hurt, certainly when he has access to information to make that decision an informed one, as was the case with RG3. He had a knee injury (sprained LCL) that was at risk to get worse (and it did,) but it was not a life threatening situation. People go against doctor’s orders all the time. An injury is the team’s liability but it’s our body and we can control it.
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WCSO Press Release 1-14-13

• 01/14/2013 Theft - Ayres
• 01/14/2013 Fugitive - Griffin
• 01/14/2013 Fugitive - Dupont
• 01/14/2013 DUI - Adkins
• 01/14/2013 Fugitive - Pusey
• 01/14/2013 Warrant - Donoway
• 01/14/2013 Fugitive - Colon

Why 2012 Was A Terrible Year For Restaurants

As 2013 gets underway, I can’t stop thinking about what I lost in 2012. In particular, I keep thinking about the fate of Bill’s Gay Nineties.

Bill’s Gay Nineties was a very old, very awesome New York piano bar. The food consisted of shrimp cocktails and steak on toast points, stuff like that. Bill’s closed down last year, and has now been replaced with a retro concept, also called Bill’s, with a kind of art-directed décor meant to suggest the thing it displaced. That kind of processed nostalgia is a hustle and a hoax; it posits a nonexistent past for the purpose of creating a fraudulent present. But restaurants can become landmarks, and it wasn’t just Bill’s Gay Nineties that was lost. 2012 brought a blizzard of closures, including Charlie Trotter’s in Chicago and Le Bec Fin in Philadelphia. I’m betting that there is some place old and wonderful in your town that went under this year, too.

It’s been a rough stretch for restaurants. While gastrocrats continue to support supper high-end tweezer-food palaces, the middle-of-the-road places have been hit hard by the recession. According to the market research company NPD Group, restaurant visits in the U.S. fell from 62.7 billion in 2008 to 60.6 billion in 2011. In an atmosphere like that, third and fourth generation businesses are particularly vulnerable.

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WBOC Post Comments

Mr Albero

WBOC seems to have had a change of heart and put up my post....AMAZING..
Thank you.

Week Two: O'Malley To Unveil Budget

The 2013 Session of the Maryland General Assembly starts its second week tonight.

All eyes will be on Governor O'Malley on Wednesday when he unveils his Fiscal 2014 budget.

It's not certain if the governor will include a plan to increase transportation funding.

Last year, he waited until later in the session to introduce a plan to impose the sales tax on gasoline, a plan which never made it out of committee.
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Have We Become Too Obsessed With “Energy”?

This past year, we became aware of the dangers of energy drinks. Amid allegations linking these popular beverages to various illnesses and even death, the Food and Drug Administration has launched an investigation. However, the ongoing probe hasn’t seemed to have dampened enthusiasm for energy drinks. In fact, consumption is skyrocketing—sales topped $8 billion in 2012 in the U.S. alone, a nearly 15 % increase from a year ago. What’s more, the success of energy drinks has inspired the launch of “energy” versions of popular snacks like popcorn, potato chips, jelly beans, and even sunflower seeds.

We have become obsessed with the concept of “energy” and yet display a profound misunderstanding of what energy is. On a purely biological level, it’s molecules that help cells do the work they need to do—the carbohydrate, protein and fat we get from food that feeds our muscles and brain. By contrast, the active ingredient in “energy” drinks is not energy but a chemical stimulant: caffeine.

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BRAKING NEWS

PUBLIC NOTICE

TODAY’S SALISBURY CITY COUNCIL MEETING WILL BE HELD AT THE SALISBURY FIRE STATION #16, LOCATED AT 325 CYPRESS STREET DUE TO REPAIRS BEING MADE TO THE ELEVATOR IN THE GOVERNMENT OFFICE BUILDING. THE SALISBURY FIRE STATION #16 IS FULLY ACCESSIBLE FOR THE HANDICAPPED.

THE PUBLIC WILL BE UNABLE TO VIEW THE COUNCIL MEETING LIVE THIS EVENING, BUT THE MEETING WILL BE RUN ON PAC14 AT A LATER DATE.