Area youth to compete in Major League Baseball® Pitch Hit & Run™ Competition

Wicomico County Recreation, Parks & Tourism will host a free Major League Baseball® Pitch Hit & Run™ Competition for area youth on April 5 (softball) and April 12 (baseball).

Each event will begin at 6 p.m. at the Henry S. Parker Athletic Complex, located at 711 W. Naylor Mill Road in Salisbury.

Pitch Hit & Run™ is the official skills competition of Major League Baseball®. This grassroots program is designed to provide youngsters with an opportunity to compete, free of charge, in a competition that recognizes individual excellence in core baseball/softball skills.

Boys and girls are divided into four age divisions – 7/8, 9/10, 11/12 and 13/14 – and have the chance to advance through four levels of competition, including Team Championships at Major League ballparks and the National Finals during the 2019 MLB™ All-Star Week®. Each participant’s age is determined as of July 17, 2019.

The individual pitching, hitting and running champions and the all-around champion in each division at the local competition will be awarded and advance to the sectional level of competition.

All participants must bring a copy of a valid birth document for age verification and have their parent or guardian fill out a registration/waiver form prior to the start of the competition.

Registration is available at www.PitchHitRun.com. Direct links to register for the Henry S. Parker Athletic Complex competitions can be found at www.WicomicoRecandParks.org.


For questions concerning the competition, contact your local coordinator, Brian Workman, at bworkman@wicomicocounty.org or Kaila Beach at kbeach@wicomicocounty.org.

OCPD Expecting Traffic Delays & Heavy Pedestrian Traffic During St. Patrick’s Day Festivities

OCEAN CITY, MD –: The Ocean City Police Department is reminding citizens to expect traffic delays this St. Patrick’s Day weekend, as the Delmarva Irish-American Club host their Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival. The tradition, which has become the second largest St. Patrick’s Day parades in Maryland, will take place on Saturday, March 16, 2019. The parade begins at 12 noon at 57th Street and marches south on Coastal Highway to the 45th Street Shopping Center.

In order to offer an ample amount of space for the parade’s participating floats, bands and motorized units, southbound traffic with be reduced to one lane from 63rd Street to 43rd Street. Northbound traffic will remain open, however, no left turns or U-turns will be allowed along the parade route from the northbound lane including 62nd Street.

Residents and visitors will see traffic delays on southbound Coastal Highway as early as 9 a.m. and should expect congestion until after 2 p.m. To avoid traffic delays, viewers and visitors are urged to arrive before 10:30 a.m. Ocean City Police are recommending motorists entering the Town of Ocean City use Maryland Route 50, as traffic is not expected to be as heavy in the south end of town.

In addition, heavy pedestrian traffic is also expected along the parade route and in surrounding areas. Pedestrians are encouraged to use crosswalks and cross with caution.

Kentucky Becomes 16th Permit-less Gun-Carry State

Kentucky became the latest state to adopt a permit-less gun-carry system when Republican governor Matt Bevin signed Senate Bill 150 into law on Monday.

The law will allow anyone who is over the age of 21 to legally carry a concealed firearm on their person so long as they are legally allowed to possess a firearm under state and federal law. It eliminates the state's previous permitting system as well as the training requirements and fees associated with it. Kentucky is now the 16th state to adopt permit-less carry, often called "constitutional carry," and the third to do so this year.

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‘Zombie deer’ disease keeps spreading across country, hunters fear it could impact industry

STARKVILLE, Miss - At least 16 states have come up with new regulations to prevent hunters from transporting deer from areas where deer have tested positive for Chronic Wasting Disease.

The Carolinas are among the states that have stricter guidelines. In North Carolina for example, hunters must follow the state's new packaging and processing regulations which require meat from deer to be cut off the bone and wrapped before being transported through the state.

The state also forbids hunters from transporting any part of a deer's spinal column. In South Carolina the state Department of Environment and Resources now requires hunters to label carcass parts with identifying information like the name and address of the individual importing the carcass parts; the state and/or country of origin; the date the deer was killed and the hunter's license or permit number. It’s all a part of an effort to prevent the spread of so-called “zombie-deer” and wipe it out of existence.

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https://www.foxnews.com/great-outdoors/how-states-are-hoping-to-stop-the-spread-of-zombie-deer-after-disease-spreads-across-country

Finland's Government Collapsed Under Weight Of Socialized Healthcare

Finland’s government has collapsed just weeks before the general election. New socialist and communist reforms have failed due to the rising costs of healthcare.

Healthcare costs, which are high because of governments, have caused the collapse of the Finnish government. Prime Minister Juha Sipila and the rest of the cabinet resigned after the governing coalition failed to pass reforms in parliament to the country’s regional government and health services, the Wall Street Journal reports.

Finland, like much of the developed world, faces an aging population, with around 26 percent of its citizens expected to be over 65 by the year 2030, an increase of 5 percent from today. The strain on the socialized medical system is impossible to ignore, and cannot be fixed by more government interference.

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Black Lawmakers Blocking Legal Marijuana in New York Over Inequality Concerns

Black lawmakers are blocking a push to legalize recreational marijuana in New York, warning that Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s proposal could perpetuate the racial inequality fostered under current drug laws.

The lawmakers say that unless people of color are guaranteed a share of the potentially $3 billion industry, there may be no legalization this year. They want to be assured that some of that money will go toward job training programs, and that minority entrepreneurs will receive licenses to cultivate or sell the marijuana.

Ten states and Washington, D.C., have legalized recreational marijuana, and as lawmakers elsewhere consider their own laws, they seem intent on not repeating what they see as other states’ mistakes.

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Ilhan Omar Violates House Bigotry Resolution She Helped Write, Denies Opponent’s Humanity

Anti-Semitic Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar has already violated the broad anti-hate resolution recently passed by the House by claiming President Donald Trump is not human.

After Omar’s absurd anti-Semitic tweets and comments put a magnifying glass on the Democratic Party and its ties to anti-Semitic and anti-Israel activists, the party’s response was to draft an anti-bigotry resolution.

But instead of addressing Omar by name and focusing on anti-Semitism specifically, the House Foreign Affairs Committee drafted a resolution that condemned all forms of “bigotry” and “persecution.”

It’s hard to take the Democrats’ bill seriously after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi vigorously defended Omar.

Omar’s position on the Foreigh Affairs Committee, where she could help write the resolution, doesn’t help.

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Get Ready for a Dem Meltdown over Trump’s Latest Immigration Comment: ‘I Don’t Want People That Need Welfare’

As has been made abundantly clear over the past few years, orderly immigration of foreign nationals into the United States is an incredibly important topic for President Donald Trump, one he has sought to address in a myriad of ways since taking office.

Despite the insistence to the contrary of the president’s detractors, Trump has shown no signs of hating all foreigners and immigrants, or wanting to close the nation’s borders entirely to all newcomers.

He clearly understands the economic necessity of migrant workers for certain jobs, not to mention the longstanding American tradition of welcoming those who wish to contribute to this great nation.

Those two points — the economic need for migrant workers and a desire for them to be self-sustaining and productive members of society — were addressed by Trump in a recent exclusive interview in the Oval Office with reporters for Breitbart News.

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‘Press 2 for Spanish,’ Similar Programs Cost Billions, but Trump Could End It

The federal government recently shut down after Congress refused to approve the $5.7 billion requested by President Trump for a border wall … but what if it could be funded by ending one wasteful government program being used by foreigners?

A report from The Washington Times has revealed that billions and billions of dollars have been spent providing language support to non-English speakers. Most of those, ironically enough, speak Spanish — and Trump could redirect that funding with a few signatures from the Oval Office.

Back in August of 2000, less than six months before President Bill Clinton left office, he signed an executive order regarding “limited English proficiency,” or LEP. In basic terms, Clinton declared that it was the government’s job to make sure that people who don’t speak English could access federal services.

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WaPo Gives Ocasio-Cortez Three Pinocchios for ‘Misleading’ Claims About Trump, Opioid Crisis

The Washington Post‘s fact checker gave Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D., N.Y.) "Three Pinocchios" for her "misleading" claims about President Donald Trump's use of federal funds to address the nation's opioid crisis.

"Amount President Trump has transferred from other agencies to fund his ‘Build the Wall’ Emergency: $10s of millions, & has identified billions more. Amount he’s transferred to address the Opioid National Emergency: $0," Ocasio-Cortez wrote in a tweet last week.

The freshman congresswoman's comments came in response to a C-SPAN tweet, which included a video of her questioning James W. Carroll, the White House’s director of drug policy.

"So, we’ve got two emergencies, one is treated with an actual action and the other is just to raise awareness," Ocasio-Cortez was quoted as saying in the C-SPAN tweet.

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Former Maryland Gov. Harry Hughes dies at 92

ANNAPOLIS, Md. —Former Maryland Gov. Harry Hughes has died.

Hughes served as the state's 57th governor. He was 92.

According to the Maryland State Archives, Hughes was born in Easton and grew up in Denton. He attended Mercersberg Academy in Pennsylvania and Mount St. Mary's College.

During World War II, Hughes enlisted with the U.S. Navy Air Corps and later entered the University of Maryland where he earned his bachelor's degree in 1949. He received his law degree from George Washington University School of Law in 1952.

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Greenpeace Co-founder: ‘Climate Crisis’ Not Only ‘Fake News’ — ‘It’s Fake Science’

Patrick Moore, the co-founder of Greenpeace, appeared Tuesday on “Fox & Friends” to discuss Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s (D-NY) Green New Deal.

Moore, who called Ocasio-Cortez a “pompous little twit,” slammed the so-called “climate crisis,” calling it “fake news” and “fake science.”

“[Ocasio-Cortez] really rubbed me the wrong way when she said she’s the boss because she can make up a proposal that’s completely ridiculous and no one else did,” Moore said. “That is what is wrong about this. In fact, the whole climate crisis as they call it is not only fake news, it’s fake science. There is no climate crisis. There is weather and climate all around the world, and in fact, carbon dioxide is the main building block in all life.”

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Seek Treatment, Access to Naloxone: Three Suspected Heroin Overdose Deaths in Sussex Co. Involving Same Packet Stamp

NEW CASTLE (March 13, 2019) – Health and public safety officials are urging people in active use of heroin or other opioids and their families to seek immediate treatment and acquire the overdose-reversing medication naloxone on hand in the wake of three suspected heroin overdose deaths in five days in Sussex County involving the same packet stamp.

Through death investigations, the Division of Forensic Science identified the same stamp on packets that are suspected of being used by the three individuals or were found at the scenes of their deaths. The division is doing toxicology testing of the substances involved. The stamp is not being identified to prevent people in active use from seeking it.

The three suspected overdose deaths happened in Sussex County between March 9 and March 13, the Division of Forensic Science staff reported. As of today, March 13, the Division of Forensic Science has reported a total of 50 suspected overdose deaths in Delaware this year. Preliminary estimates for 2018 indicate 419 overdose deaths across the state, an increase of 21 percent from the 2017 total of 345 deaths.

“While the Division of Forensic Science determines the particular chemical make-up of the substances involved in these deaths, it is critical that people be aware of the dangers,” Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) Secretary Dr. Kara Odom Walker said. “If you have a loved one in active use, please have naloxone in your home. If you see someone overdose, call 9-1-1 immediately, begin rescue breathing and administer naloxone, which can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, and save the person in distress.”

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LISA PAGE: EVERYONE AT FBI OPPOSED LETTING HILLARY’S LAWYERS ATTEND FBI INTERVIEW

Former FBI attorney Lisa Page said in congressional testimony that she and her colleagues disagreed with the decision to allow the aides of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to attend her FBI interview.

Republican Georgia Rep. Doug Collins, the former chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, released 370 pages of closed-door testimony from Page to his committee in July 2018. One answer from Page that caught people’s attention was a reply to former Republican South Carolina Rep. Trey Gowdy.

Gowdy questioned why Clinton’s lawyers were allowed to sit in on her FBI interview when they were potential witnesses, and Page agreed that was odd.

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Students to demand action on climate change at State House on March 15th

Maryland students will gather steps from the State House from noon to 2 p.m. on March 15 to hold a climate strike to demand legislative action to address the effects of climate change.

The youth-led rally aims to give high school students, many of whom can’t vote yet due to their age, a voice in supporting policies to limit the negative effects of a warming climate.

The students will gather at the Revenue and Treasury Courtyard at 80 Calvert Street in Annapolis for the rally. Around 1 p.m. they plan to march from the courtyard to the Annapolis City Dock. They’ll be supporting legislation in the Maryland General Assembly such as the Healthy Green Amendment, as well as bills that protect oysters in the Chesapeake and the state’s forests. More than 50 students as well as other environmental advocates are expected to attend the rally and march.

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Trump says FAA will ground Boeing 737 Max 8, 737 Max 9 planes following deadly Ethiopian Airlines crash

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Wednesday ordered two Boeing 737 Max jets — one model of which was involved in the fatal Ethiopian Airlines crash that killed 157 people — to be temporarily grounded in the U.S.

The agency said the decision was made to ground both the Boeing 737 Max 8 and 737 Max 9 models "as a result of the data gathering process and new evidence collected at the site and analyzed."

"The grounding will remain in effect pending further investigation, including examination of information from the aircraft's flight data recorders and cockpit voice recorders," the FAA said.

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https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-says-faa-will-ground-boeing-737-max-8-737-max-9-planes-following-deadly-ethiopian-airlines-crash

California governor to block more than 700 executions with executive order

Sacramento, Calif. -- California Gov. Gavin Newsom is halting the execution of more than 700 condemned inmates on the nation's largest death row for at least as long as he's governor. California hasn't executed anyone since 2006.

Newsom's office told The Associated Press he will issue an executive order Wednesday granting a reprieve to every condemned inmate.

He's also withdrawing the lethal injection regulations that death penalty opponents have already tied up in court. And he's shuttering the execution chamber at San Quentin State Prison that has never been used.

Voters have narrowly supported the death penalty, most recently in 2016 when they voted to speed up the process. California hasn't executed anyone since 2006, under then-Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, and inmates are far more likely to die of old age.

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Trump's budget calls for ending student loan forgiveness program

President Trump's 2020 budget proposal calls for eliminating a loan forgiveness program for public employees and advocates other changes that could cost struggling students more.

The budget blueprint released by the White House on Monday says "streamlining and improving student loan repayment" is a priority, but includes proposals cutting several current programs and initiatives. That includes an elimination of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, which was created under President George W. Bush in 2007. The program forgives student loans for workers in the government and some nonprofits after they make payments for 10 years.

Under Mr. Trump's proposal, the program would no longer apply to new student loans taken out after July 1, 2020, which the White House projects would save about $53 billion over nine years.

The president's budget also suggests for additional education cuts, including:

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Rep. Chip Roy Bill Declares Specific Mexican Cartels as Foreign Terrorist Orgs

Two congressmen filed a bill in the House to direct the U.S. State Department to designate specific Mexican cartel factions as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs). The bill follows a letter from lawmakers to Secretary Mike Pompeo calling for the designations. President Donald Trump said he is considering the matter in an Oval Office interview on Monday.

“Cartels are the problem and it is time we started acting like it,” Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) said in a written statement. “My colleague Rep. Mark Green (R-TN) and I are asking Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to conduct a review in order to designate these specific Mexican drug cartels Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs).”

The bill from the Republican representatives calls for the designation of the following cartel factions as FTOs:

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