LEWISBURG, W.VA. — Two West Virginia police officers were injured in a New Year's Day shootout when they stopped a suspected stolen vehicle and the driver opened fire, an emergency dispatch official said.
The two Lewisburg officers, and the driver, were being treated for injuries that were not life-threatening, said Donna Hinkle, administrator of the Greenbrier County 911 center.
A second man was also arrested when he passed the scene and opened fire at the officers before he left Interstate 64 westbound and was captured about 90 minutes later in woods, Hinkle said. She said police were tipped off by a passer-by.
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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
Thursday, January 01, 2015
JUST IN: Mario Cuomo, former New York governor, dead at 82
Cuomo passed away six hours after his oldest son, Gov. Andrew Cuomo, was formally sworn-in to a second term in Manhattan. The elder Cuomo was too ill with a serious heart condition to attend.
"He couldn't be here physically today ... but my father is in this room," Andrew Cuomo said in his inaugural address.
"He's in the heart and mind of every person who is here. His inspiration and his legacy and his spirit is what has brought this day to this point."
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Two Dogs Found 1-1-15: UPDATE
Just found them off Colburn Mill Rd.
Owner please call Ron
410-430-3951
Wednesday, December 31, 2014
State, local governments face massive, growing budget gaps in 2015 and beyond
As the calendar flips to 2015, fiscal pressures will continue to tax the budgets of state and local governments.
And that could mean higher taxes for many Americans.
Projections released this month by the Government Accountability Office show that state and local governments will see current gaps between revenues and expenditures continue to widen in 2015 and beyond. In aggregate, those governments are already underwater, and the amount of red ink will continue to grow over the next 50 years, unless changes are made, the GAO says.
Closing the gap will require aggregate budget cuts or tax increases of 18 percent.
"We calculated that closing the fiscal gap would require action to be taken today and maintained for each year equivalent to an 18 percent reduction in the state and local government sector's current expenditures. Closing the fiscal gap through revenue increases would require action of similar magnitude through increases in state and local tax revenues," the GAO found. "More likely, closing the fiscal gap would involve some combination of both expenditure reductions and revenue increases."
Translation: governments will continue to stare down the question of cutting budgets or raising taxes.
Click for more from Watchdog.org.
And that could mean higher taxes for many Americans.
Projections released this month by the Government Accountability Office show that state and local governments will see current gaps between revenues and expenditures continue to widen in 2015 and beyond. In aggregate, those governments are already underwater, and the amount of red ink will continue to grow over the next 50 years, unless changes are made, the GAO says.
Closing the gap will require aggregate budget cuts or tax increases of 18 percent.
"We calculated that closing the fiscal gap would require action to be taken today and maintained for each year equivalent to an 18 percent reduction in the state and local government sector's current expenditures. Closing the fiscal gap through revenue increases would require action of similar magnitude through increases in state and local tax revenues," the GAO found. "More likely, closing the fiscal gap would involve some combination of both expenditure reductions and revenue increases."
Translation: governments will continue to stare down the question of cutting budgets or raising taxes.
Click for more from Watchdog.org.
Winston Churchill's Family Was Worried He'd Convert To Islam
The woman would would one day be Winston Churchill’s sister-in-law was so worried he might convert to Islam, she wrote a letter urging he rein in his enthusiasm for the religion to which he had been exposed as a British officer serving in Sudan.
In a newly-discovered letter dated August 1907, Lady Gwendoline Bertie, who later married Churchill’s brother Jack, described what she saw as an alarming fascination with Islamic culture.
“Please don’t become converted to Islam; I have noticed in your disposition a tendency to orientalize, Pasha-like tendencies, I really have,” she wrote in the letter that was discovered by Cambridge University history research fellow Warren Dockter.
“If you come into contact with Islam your conversion might be effected with greater ease than you might have supposed, call of the blood, don’t you know what I mean, do fight against it,” she wrote in the letter that was widely reported in the British media Sunday.
But were Lady Gwendoline’s fears based in a reliable assessment of Churchill’s mindset?
“Churchill never seriously considered converting,” Dockter told The Independent. “He was more or less an atheist by this time anyway. He did however have a fascination with Islamic culture which was common among Victorians.”
That fascination was expressed in a letter to Lady Lytton in 1907 in which Churchill wrote he “wished he were” a Pasha (a high-rank in the Ottoman Empire).
He also occasionally privately dressed in Arab-style clothing along with his friend, poet Wilfrid S. Blunt.
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In a newly-discovered letter dated August 1907, Lady Gwendoline Bertie, who later married Churchill’s brother Jack, described what she saw as an alarming fascination with Islamic culture.
“Please don’t become converted to Islam; I have noticed in your disposition a tendency to orientalize, Pasha-like tendencies, I really have,” she wrote in the letter that was discovered by Cambridge University history research fellow Warren Dockter.
“If you come into contact with Islam your conversion might be effected with greater ease than you might have supposed, call of the blood, don’t you know what I mean, do fight against it,” she wrote in the letter that was widely reported in the British media Sunday.
But were Lady Gwendoline’s fears based in a reliable assessment of Churchill’s mindset?
“Churchill never seriously considered converting,” Dockter told The Independent. “He was more or less an atheist by this time anyway. He did however have a fascination with Islamic culture which was common among Victorians.”
That fascination was expressed in a letter to Lady Lytton in 1907 in which Churchill wrote he “wished he were” a Pasha (a high-rank in the Ottoman Empire).
He also occasionally privately dressed in Arab-style clothing along with his friend, poet Wilfrid S. Blunt.
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McCain Wages 'All-Out War' to Rid Arizona GOP of Tea Party
Arizona GOP Sen. John McCain's team is on a campaign to rid the Arizona Republican Party of tea party officials, replacing them with allies to the senator in advance of an expected bid for a sixth term in 2016.
According to Politico. which spoke to nearly a dozen sources, McCain's team has been working with strategists and fundraisers across the country to undermine the standing of conservatives in his state who could pose a challenge to his political future.
"There's been a huge organizational effort that I've never seen before," Gordon James, an Arizona public relations executive and McCain ally, told Politico. "A lot of the party folks who were hostile to John McCain have been marginalized, and that's a good thing."
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According to Politico. which spoke to nearly a dozen sources, McCain's team has been working with strategists and fundraisers across the country to undermine the standing of conservatives in his state who could pose a challenge to his political future.
"There's been a huge organizational effort that I've never seen before," Gordon James, an Arizona public relations executive and McCain ally, told Politico. "A lot of the party folks who were hostile to John McCain have been marginalized, and that's a good thing."
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Voters agree: No to Jeb Bush and Mitt Romney
American voters appear eager to find a new Republican name to run for president in 2016, with majorities rejecting Mitt Romney and Jeb Bush, according to a new poll.
Rasmussen Reports reveals Monday that 53 percent of likely voters do not want Bush to run for president. And 56 percent reject a third Romney candidacy, said the polling outfit.
That might not come as a shock, but Rasmussen also found that Republicans aren’t jazzed by Bush either, despite other polls showing him to be the GOP leader.
When asked if Bush should run, 33 percent of Republicans said yes, 34 percent no. And Rasmussen revealed that number of GOPers who are less likely to vote for another Bush is up from 22 percent in March to 30 percent today.
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Rasmussen Reports reveals Monday that 53 percent of likely voters do not want Bush to run for president. And 56 percent reject a third Romney candidacy, said the polling outfit.
That might not come as a shock, but Rasmussen also found that Republicans aren’t jazzed by Bush either, despite other polls showing him to be the GOP leader.
When asked if Bush should run, 33 percent of Republicans said yes, 34 percent no. And Rasmussen revealed that number of GOPers who are less likely to vote for another Bush is up from 22 percent in March to 30 percent today.
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Pastor Shoots Church Attacker Inside Church
Benjamin Parangan, a maintenance man at Osceola, Florida’s Living Water Fellowship, drew a gun and shot at Pastor Terry Howell on Friday. He missed, and Howell responded by drawing his own gun, shooting and critically wounding the maintenance man.
According to News 13, a meeting was being held to “fire” Parangan when he drew his gun “and fired multiple shots.” Unscathed, Howell drew his own gun “and fired back.” Police said the attack and Howell’s response were witnessed by “several church employees,” all of whom gave the same account of the things that happened.
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According to News 13, a meeting was being held to “fire” Parangan when he drew his gun “and fired multiple shots.” Unscathed, Howell drew his own gun “and fired back.” Police said the attack and Howell’s response were witnessed by “several church employees,” all of whom gave the same account of the things that happened.
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Don't Just Follow The Money - Follow The Income
Lies are no substitute for truth and fantasy is no substitute for reality.
Follow the money is a good start--but what matters going forward is income, and most especially, net income and disposable income. Debt is important, money/capital flow is important, but when push comes to shove, all that matters is having net income/disposable income: to service debts, to invest, to spend.
Debt can be substituted for income, but not for long. Central banks have been playing a game for six long years: by lowering interest rates and making credit available, the central banks have encouraged households, enterprises and governments to substitute borrowed money (debt) for income.
This works as a stop-gap, but debt accrues a funny thing called interest that eventually eats the borrower alive. Income is (supposedly) the driver of stock valuations, the financial foundation of rental property and the ultimate arbiter of solvency: households, enterprises and governments whose income cannot meet their debt and spending obligations are insolvent and eventually declare bankruptcy.
The reality that all that really matters is income incentivizes gaming income. Corporations and their officers/stockholders benefit greatly when net income appears to rise smartly, as rising income boosts stock prices and the value of stock options.
So it's no wonder that S&P 500 Profits Are 86% Higher Than They Would Be Without Accounting Fudges. Fudging operating income with accounting trickery pays such huge dividends, why not indulge in a bit of financial flummery? The chances of anyone questioning the sleight of hand is nil, since the entire financial sector relies on systemic flummery for its profits.
Following the income leads us to wonder how the 99% of households whose income is declining in real terms can borrow and spend more every year.
Follow the money is a good start--but what matters going forward is income, and most especially, net income and disposable income. Debt is important, money/capital flow is important, but when push comes to shove, all that matters is having net income/disposable income: to service debts, to invest, to spend.
Debt can be substituted for income, but not for long. Central banks have been playing a game for six long years: by lowering interest rates and making credit available, the central banks have encouraged households, enterprises and governments to substitute borrowed money (debt) for income.
This works as a stop-gap, but debt accrues a funny thing called interest that eventually eats the borrower alive. Income is (supposedly) the driver of stock valuations, the financial foundation of rental property and the ultimate arbiter of solvency: households, enterprises and governments whose income cannot meet their debt and spending obligations are insolvent and eventually declare bankruptcy.
The reality that all that really matters is income incentivizes gaming income. Corporations and their officers/stockholders benefit greatly when net income appears to rise smartly, as rising income boosts stock prices and the value of stock options.
So it's no wonder that S&P 500 Profits Are 86% Higher Than They Would Be Without Accounting Fudges. Fudging operating income with accounting trickery pays such huge dividends, why not indulge in a bit of financial flummery? The chances of anyone questioning the sleight of hand is nil, since the entire financial sector relies on systemic flummery for its profits.
Following the income leads us to wonder how the 99% of households whose income is declining in real terms can borrow and spend more every year.
Detainee Transfer Announced
Release No: NR-634-14
Detainee Transfer Announced
The Department of Defense announced today the transfer of Asim Thabit Abdullah Al-Khalaqi, Muhammad Ali Husayn Khanayna, Sabri Muhammad Ibrahim Al Qurashi, Adel Al-Hakeemy, and Abdullah Bin Ali Al-Lufti from the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay to Kazakhstan.
As directed by the president's Jan. 22, 2009, executive order, the interagency Guantanamo Review Task Force conducted a comprehensive review of this case. As a result of that review, which examined a number of factors, including security issues, these men were unanimously approved for transfer by the six departments and agencies comprising the task force.
In accordance with statutory requirements, the secretary of defense informed Congress of the United States’ intent to transfer these individuals and of his determination that this transfer meets the statutory standard.
The United States coordinated with the Government of Kazakhstan to ensure these transfers took place consistent with appropriate security and humane treatment measures.
Today, 127 detainees remain at Guantanamo Bay.
Doctor shortage feared as Medicaid rolls swell
'It was built on an antiquated system'
(NYTIMES) — WASHINGTON — Just as millions of people are gaining insurance through Medicaid, the program is poised to make deep cuts in payments to many doctors, prompting some physicians and consumer advocates to warn that the reductions could make it more difficult for Medicaid patients to obtain care.
The Affordable Care Act provided a big increase in Medicaid payments for primary care in 2013 and 2014. But the increase expires on Thursday — just weeks after the Obama administration told the Supreme Court that doctors and other providers had no legal right to challenge the adequacy of payments they received from Medicaid.
The impact will vary by state, but a study by the Urban Institute, a nonpartisan research organization, estimates that doctors who have been receiving the enhanced payments will see their fees for primary care cut by 43 percent, on average.
(NYTIMES) — WASHINGTON — Just as millions of people are gaining insurance through Medicaid, the program is poised to make deep cuts in payments to many doctors, prompting some physicians and consumer advocates to warn that the reductions could make it more difficult for Medicaid patients to obtain care.
The Affordable Care Act provided a big increase in Medicaid payments for primary care in 2013 and 2014. But the increase expires on Thursday — just weeks after the Obama administration told the Supreme Court that doctors and other providers had no legal right to challenge the adequacy of payments they received from Medicaid.
The impact will vary by state, but a study by the Urban Institute, a nonpartisan research organization, estimates that doctors who have been receiving the enhanced payments will see their fees for primary care cut by 43 percent, on average.
Medicare Cuts Await Doctors Without Electronic Health Records
The Obama administration has been trying since 2011 to increase the use of electronic health records by healthcare providers — offering a combination of carrots and sticks for those who are reimbursed by Medicare and Medicaid.
Now, Congress is weighing action that would protect physicians who treat Medicare patients from being penalized for not moving fast enough in their use of electronic medical records, Politico reported.
If no action is taken, some 257,000 doctors who can't prove they have made "meaningful" progress to integrate electronic health records into their practices could see their reimbursements from Medicare reduced by 1 percent next year, The Wall Street Journal reported.
Most office-based doctors are already using some form of computerized medical records, according to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Nearly all hospitals now use electronic records.
The administration would like to see upward of $30 billion invested in digitizing the country's medical records, according to Politico.
While $9 billion has been distributed to encourage computerization of medical records among doctors who treat Medicaid patients, just how many physicians are actually digitized is not known, according to Politico.
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Now, Congress is weighing action that would protect physicians who treat Medicare patients from being penalized for not moving fast enough in their use of electronic medical records, Politico reported.
If no action is taken, some 257,000 doctors who can't prove they have made "meaningful" progress to integrate electronic health records into their practices could see their reimbursements from Medicare reduced by 1 percent next year, The Wall Street Journal reported.
Most office-based doctors are already using some form of computerized medical records, according to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Nearly all hospitals now use electronic records.
The administration would like to see upward of $30 billion invested in digitizing the country's medical records, according to Politico.
While $9 billion has been distributed to encourage computerization of medical records among doctors who treat Medicaid patients, just how many physicians are actually digitized is not known, according to Politico.
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Dispatcher Defends Anti-Police Comments In You Tube Video
In a You Tube video posted on the page of LBS (Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle), Murray said she is not "anti-police."
"I've worked with officers. I've had officers who are Facebook friends. I have relatives who are officers. I'm not anti-police. I'm anti-police brutality," Murray says in the video.
Murray maintains that she was concerned about the safety of her son.
In her original post, Murray said she would rather her son be, "approached by so called THUGS then be approached by a police officer."
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Antiviral Flu Drugs are Dangerous and Don't Work: Top Doc
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has announced that the flu vaccine isn't a good match for this year's strain. So, even more people than ever can expect the fever, chills, aches, nausea, and other symptoms associated with influenaza. What can you do? The CDC recommends taking an antiviral such as Tamiflu or Relenza to reduce the flu's duration.
Not so fast, says holistic physician Dr. David Brownstein. "Forget it," he tells Newsmax Health. "It doesn't work, it's expensive, and it has side effects.
"Tamiflu is the most commonly prescribed antiviral medication for treating the symptoms of the flu," he says.
"You would think that Tamiflu must work well since it's widely prescribed by conventional doctors. However, a Cochrane report stated, 'Treating previously healthy patients with Tamiflu reduces the duration of influenza symptoms by approximately 21 hours.'
"Less than a day?" he asks in amazement. "And that's only when it's given within 48 hours of contracting the flu. Honestly, I can't make this stuff up."
"Tamiflu costs approximately $120 for a full course of treatment," says Dr. Brownstein. "It's a waste of your hard-earned money.
"Not only does Tamiflu fail to treat the flu, it is also associated with a host of adverse effects including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, and abdominal pain.
"Wait a minute," he says. "I thought those were the symptoms of the flu! Tamiflu has also been associated with more severe side effects such as hepatitis, anaphylaxis, cardiac arrhythmias, seizures, and dangerous neuropsychiatric side effects such as hallucinations and suicide.
"Honestly, do you think all those side effects are worth it to reduce the severity of the flu by 21 hours?"
Dr. Brownstein also sees little benefit of taking Relenza, another antiviral drug given to flu patients. He says that studies have shown that Relenza also cuts flu symptoms by less than a day.
Not so fast, says holistic physician Dr. David Brownstein. "Forget it," he tells Newsmax Health. "It doesn't work, it's expensive, and it has side effects.
"Tamiflu is the most commonly prescribed antiviral medication for treating the symptoms of the flu," he says.
"You would think that Tamiflu must work well since it's widely prescribed by conventional doctors. However, a Cochrane report stated, 'Treating previously healthy patients with Tamiflu reduces the duration of influenza symptoms by approximately 21 hours.'
"Less than a day?" he asks in amazement. "And that's only when it's given within 48 hours of contracting the flu. Honestly, I can't make this stuff up."
"Tamiflu costs approximately $120 for a full course of treatment," says Dr. Brownstein. "It's a waste of your hard-earned money.
"Not only does Tamiflu fail to treat the flu, it is also associated with a host of adverse effects including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, and abdominal pain.
"Wait a minute," he says. "I thought those were the symptoms of the flu! Tamiflu has also been associated with more severe side effects such as hepatitis, anaphylaxis, cardiac arrhythmias, seizures, and dangerous neuropsychiatric side effects such as hallucinations and suicide.
"Honestly, do you think all those side effects are worth it to reduce the severity of the flu by 21 hours?"
Dr. Brownstein also sees little benefit of taking Relenza, another antiviral drug given to flu patients. He says that studies have shown that Relenza also cuts flu symptoms by less than a day.
Governor O’Malley Appoints Judges in Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Howard, Montgomery, and Prince George’s Counties
ANNAPOLIS, MD – Governor O’Malley announced today the appointments of ten judges to the Maryland Circuit and District Courts. These appointees bring a diverse array of legal experiences to their new positions. They also represent the ethnic and gender diversity of our great state.
The newly appointed judges were recommended to Governor O’Malley by local trial court judicial nominating commissions.
“I am honored to appoint such an accomplished and diverse group of candidates to the Maryland Circuit and District Courts,” said Governor O’Malley. “These appointees will bring to the bench a true commitment to public service and a wide range of legal expertise.”
Governor O’Malley made two appointments to the Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County.
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The newly appointed judges were recommended to Governor O’Malley by local trial court judicial nominating commissions.
“I am honored to appoint such an accomplished and diverse group of candidates to the Maryland Circuit and District Courts,” said Governor O’Malley. “These appointees will bring to the bench a true commitment to public service and a wide range of legal expertise.”
Governor O’Malley made two appointments to the Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County.
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Pinkos Produce Red Ink
“Pinkos produce red ink.” — North’s law of unregulated media
The Huffington Post is a major liberal outlet. It has never made a profit.
At the end of 2013, AOL chief executive Tim Armstrong told Reuters he expected the site to be profitable in 2014. But during an interview earlier this month at Business Insider’s Ignition conference, Armstrong said the ongoing international rollout, which includes about a dozen foreign editions from Brazil to France to Maghreb, had prevented HuffPost from breaking into the black. Annual revenues are in the hundreds of millions, Armstrong said, declining to provide a specific dollar figure.
It is now going to drop AP stories. It will substitute in-house stories on foreign affairs, which most Americans are not interested in. HuffPo will save money but lose even more readers.
The journal is simply an amusement for Ariana Huffington, who has enough money to bankroll this experiment in red ink.
Across the media landscape, liberal outlets are losing money. To save them, rich people who made billions in digital communications are buying them up at bargain-basement prices. The take-over of The New Republic and the resulting change in policy led to mass resignations early this month. On the 100th anniversary year of that liberal outlet, it went the way of all flesh.
Liberalism bet the farm on its FCC-licensed TV network monopolies and its city monopolies over newspapers. These monopolies are now facing shrinking markets. Red ink beckons as far as the eye can see.
The Web is undermining liberalism all over the world.
Continue Reading on www.capitalnewyork.com
The Huffington Post is a major liberal outlet. It has never made a profit.
At the end of 2013, AOL chief executive Tim Armstrong told Reuters he expected the site to be profitable in 2014. But during an interview earlier this month at Business Insider’s Ignition conference, Armstrong said the ongoing international rollout, which includes about a dozen foreign editions from Brazil to France to Maghreb, had prevented HuffPost from breaking into the black. Annual revenues are in the hundreds of millions, Armstrong said, declining to provide a specific dollar figure.
It is now going to drop AP stories. It will substitute in-house stories on foreign affairs, which most Americans are not interested in. HuffPo will save money but lose even more readers.
The journal is simply an amusement for Ariana Huffington, who has enough money to bankroll this experiment in red ink.
Across the media landscape, liberal outlets are losing money. To save them, rich people who made billions in digital communications are buying them up at bargain-basement prices. The take-over of The New Republic and the resulting change in policy led to mass resignations early this month. On the 100th anniversary year of that liberal outlet, it went the way of all flesh.
Liberalism bet the farm on its FCC-licensed TV network monopolies and its city monopolies over newspapers. These monopolies are now facing shrinking markets. Red ink beckons as far as the eye can see.
The Web is undermining liberalism all over the world.
Continue Reading on www.capitalnewyork.com
The winter rain makes a mess of West Phoenix. It turns dirt yards into mud and forms reefs of garbage in the streets. Junk food wrappers, diapers, and Spanish-language porn are swept into the gutters. On West Roosevelt Avenue, security guards, two squad cars, and a handful of cops watch teenagers file into the local high school. A sign reads: Carl Hayden Community High School: The Pride’s Inside.
There certainly isn’t a lot of pride on the outside. The school buildings are mostly drab, late ’50s-era boxes. The front lawn is nothing but brown scrub and patches of dirt. The class photos beside the principal’s office tell the story of the past four decades. In 1965, the students were nearly all white, wearing blazers, ties, and long skirts. Now the school is 92 percent Hispanic. Drooping, baggy jeans and XXXL hoodies are the norm.
The school PA system crackles, and an upbeat female voice fills the bustling linoleum-lined hallways. “Anger management class will begin in five minutes,” says the voice from the administration building. “All referrals must report immediately.”
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