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Wednesday, September 15, 2010

11 Year Old Girl Dies In ATV Accident

Location:
2779 Westville Road E/O Marydel, De

DATE and TIME:
Wednesday September 15, 2010 4:12 p.m.

Victim(s):
Cassandra R. Jones-11 Marydel, Delaware

All Terrain Vehicle:
2003 Honda Recon 250

Resume:

Marydel-Wednesday September 15, 2010 Delaware State Police responded to an accident involving an All-Terrain-Vehicle. The 2003 Honda Recon was being driven on private property by Cassandra R. Jones-11 of Marydel around 4:12 p.m. this afternoon.

The Delaware State Police investigation revealed that Cassandra was S/B on the ATV through a grass yard when its front tires struck a raised portion of an asphalt driveway. After the tires struck the driveway the ATV became airborne. As a result of the ATV’s rear tires still being in motion; when the ATV’s rear tires came down and struck the asphalt it caused the ATV to accelerate and flip backward onto Cassandra pinning her between the ATV and the asphalt driveway.

Jones was found by her Grandfather who then notified emergency services. Cassandra was taken to Kent General Hospital Dover suffering from severe head trauma. At 5:06 p.m. Cassandra succumbed from injuries sustained when her head struck the asphalt driveway.

Cassandra a 6th grade student at Fifer Middle School Camden, Delaware was not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident. Cassandra was on her Grandfather’s property at the time of the accident.

Mayor Ireton, Council Women, Debbie Campbell & Terry Cohen Pack The House Tonight



These are LIVE shots from the GOB as the Mayor and certain Council Members host a crime meeting tonight. The inside of the room is just packed with Slumlords and Students are packed outside the room as there's just no seats left. We'll update you later.

Wargotz Wins Republican Primary For US Senate


Annapolis - In a crowded Republican Primary with 11 candidates, Eric Wargotz M.D. decisively won the right to take on Barbara Mikulski in the battle for the United States Senate.

"My message of creating jobs, cutting spending, and lowering taxes is resonated with voters throughout the state." Wargotz said. "Voters want new leadership in the United States Senate."

Mikulski is more vulnerable now than at any point in her career. Recent polling shows her barely polling above 50%. Those polling numbers were before the Wargotz campaign started its nationally discussed "Political Insidersaurus" ad.

As a Washington political insider, Barbara Mikulski has raised taxes, increased our national debt, and destroyed our economy. Voters across the United States are crying out for new leadership and Eric Wargotz represents the fresh leadership voters in Maryland want

Wicomico State’s Attorney Results

Of all the local (county) races in Wicomico County, most eyes were turned to the Democrat primary for State’s Attorney. After the machines were dumped, and the count tallied, it appears that incumbent Davis Ruark was defeated by Salisbury attorney Seth Mitchell. The vote was 2837 for Mitchell – 2594 for Ruark.

The margin is 243 votes.

Can absentee ballots change the result? It’s doubtful. There were 781 absentee ballots issued. As of Tuesday, 507 absentee ballots have been returned to the Wicomico Board of Elections. The Board of Elections does not track how many Democrat vs. Republican primary ballots were issued.

Assume that the split is roughly that of the early and regular voting. If all absentees are returned there are probably 363 Democrat absentee ballots (that’s a BIG “IF”). Ruark would then need to grab a 244 vote margin.

Absentees tend to break down the same as the regular polling results (give or take a few points) unless a concerted absentee campaign was orchestrated by one of the candidates (not the case here).

Sadly for many of us, it appears that Wicomico County will have a new State’s Attorney. Fortunately for those of us who call the GOP home, the odds on favorite is Matt Maciarello.

State Police On Scene Of Bank Robbery

Location: Wilmington Trust, 10 Fox Hunt Drive, Fox Run Shopping Center, Bear, DE

Date of Occurrence: Wednesday, September 15, 2010 at approx. 11:30 a.m.

Suspect: White male with a stocky built last seen wearing a red hooded sweatshirt and jeans.

Resume:
State Police detectives are on the scene of a bank robbery that just occurred at the Wilmington Trust Bank Branch located in the Fox Run Shopping Center in Bear, DE. Preliminary indication is that the above listed suspect fled from the bank and was last seen traveling eastbound on US Rt. 40 in a tan Ford Focus. No weapon was displayed.

More information will be forthcoming.

Salisbury Police Department Press Releases

On September 13, 2010 at approximately 11:44 am, Officers of the Salisbury Police received a call to respond to the Walmart Department Store on North Salisbury Boulevard for the report of a shoplifter. Upon arrival the officers met with store security who advised that store employees had observed the below listed suspect take clothing from the store without any attempts at payment. The property was recovered and returned to the store.
ARRESTED: Alicia Sue’ann Barnes, 19 years of age
Salisbury, Maryland
CHARGES: Theft (under $ 100)
DISPOSITION: Released to Central Booking
CC # 201000036468

On September 13, 2010 at approximately 5:40 pm, Officers of the Salisbury Police received a call to respond to the Walmart Department Store on North Salisbury Boulevard for the report of a shoplifter. Upon arrival the officers met with store security who advised that store employees had observed the below listed suspect take clothing from the store without any attempt at payment. The items were recovered and returned to the store.
ARRESTED: Juvenile, 17 years of age
Salisbury, Maryland
CHARGES: Theft (under $ 100)
DISPOSITION: Released to guardian
CC # 201000036520

On September 14, 2010 at approximately 9:00 am, Officers of the Salisbury Police received a call to respond to the Walmart Department Store on North Salisbury Boulevard for the report of a shoplifter. Upon arrival the officers met with store security who advised that store employees had observed the below listed suspect take jewelry from the store without any attempt at payment. The items were recovered and returned to the store.
ARRESTED: Justin Dashaun Macon, 18 years of age
Norfolk, Virginia
CHARGES: Theft (under $ 100)
DISPOSITION: Released to Central Booking
CC # 201000036592

On September 14, 2010 at approximately 4:59 pm, Officers of the Salisbury Police received a call to respond to the K-mart Department Store for the report of two (2) juvenile shoplifters. Upon arrival the officers met with store security who advised the officers that store employees had observed the below listed suspects take clothing from the store without attempting to make payment. The items were recovered and retuned to the store.
ARRESTED #1: Juvenile, 17 years of age
Pocomoke, Maryland
ARRESTED #2: Juvenile, 16 years of age
Pocomoke, Maryland
CHARGES (Both): Theft (under $ 1000)
DISPOSITION: Both released to guardians
CC # 201000036637
Capt. Mark Tyler, 0182

PUBLIC NOTICE


THE CITY COUNCIL WILL CONVENE IN A CLOSED SESSION ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2010 FOR A PERSONNEL MATTER AS PERMITTED UNDER THE ANNOTATED CODE OF MARYLAND SECTIONS 10-508(A)(1).


THE CLOSED SESSION IS SCHEDULED FOR 1:30 P.M. IN CONFERENCE ROOM 306 OF THE GOVERNMENT OFFICE BUILDING (125 N. DIVISION STREET).

MD Primary Results – County Races

Select the county below and see the results (courtesy of Maryland Board of Elections):

Lower Shore -

Somerset

Wicomico

Worcester

Mid-Shore -

Caroline

Dorchester

Talbot

Upper Shore -

Cecil

Kent

Queen Anne’s

The General Election Campaign Begins Today

Dear Joe,

I wanted to write a quick note to thank you for your support in last night's primary election, and to announce that my campaign has produced our first TV ad which will begin airing today. The ad is entitled “American Dream” and I'm very proud of the story it tells about my family and my country.

The ad tells the story of my parents, both immigrants from Eastern Europe who fled communism and came to this country with only what they could carry in one suitcase. Like millions of other immigrants, they came in search of freedom and the American Dream. They raised four boys - all successful in their own way. The ad goes on to paint a portrait of the life they were able to create for me. My parents' success in this country gave me the opportunity to serve in the Naval Reserves, become a doctor and raise a family.

Unfortunately, I see the American Dream that my parents experienced slipping away day by day. I firmly believe the policies coming out of Washington, D.C. are robbing our children of that Dream. I will not stand by and allow that to happen. That's why I'm running for Congress.

Television ads are incredibly expensive. To run one 30-second spot on WBAL during the 11 o' clock news costs $1,600 and one ad during 60 Minutes on a Salisbury station costs $575! We need to raise $21,000 by Tuesday evening to complete our advertising buy for the first week.

I'm asking for your help to keep this ad on the air. Please go to our fully secure online donation center to make your most generous donation. Your donation of $100, $200 or even $500 will allow me to air this ad across the First District.

Your generous contributions to my campaign have helped us get this far. With the finish line in sight, I am asking you to be there for me again.

Thank you for your continued support.

Andy Harris, M.D.

MD Primary Results – Statewide and Legislative Races

NOTE:  We are only going to give the results for contested races or races that we had a special interest in.  For complete results, check out the Maryland Board of Elections site.  Also note that not all precincts have reported and that absentee ballots have yet to be counted.

Governor -

Bob Ehrlich (R)         154,673     75.38%     WIN

Brian Murphy (R)       50,529     24.62%

Democrat incumbent Martin O’Malley has 163,608 votes (83.15%).

Comptroller -

William H. Campbell (R)  98,624     63.50%     WIN

Armand F. Girard (R)         17,528     11.29%

Brendan Madigan (R)          39,158     25.21%

Democrat incumbent Peter Franchot received 161,571 votes in an uncontested primary.

US Senate -

Eric Wargotz (R)                69,015     38.73%     WIN

Jim Rutledge (R)               55,948     31.40%

There were nine other candidates for the GOP nomination.  Incumbent Democrat Barbara Mikulski received 158,058 votes (79.70%).

US House, District 1 -

Rob Fisher (R)            20,202     33.65%

Andy Harris (R)          39,836     66.35%     WIN

Democrat incumbent Frank Kratovil received 36,162 votes in an uncontested primary.

Maryland Senate – 02

Don Munson (R)          4,798     42.55%

Chris Shank (R)           6,478     57.45%     WIN

Chris Shank hammers incumbent Don Munson.

Maryland Senate – 7

Rebecca Weir Nelson (D)  1,143     55.16%     WIN

Jim Stavropoulos, Jr. (D)    929     44.84%

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

J. B. Jennings (R)           1,865     57.31%     WIN

Alfred W. Redmer, Jr. (R)      1,389     42.69%

In a heavily Republican district, this is a battle to succeed Maryland senator Andy Harris who is running for the US House (D-1).

Maryland Senate – 36

Robert J. Alt (D)              3,438     47.03%

Steven A. Mumford (D)   3,873     52.97%     WIN

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Donald Alcorn (R)          3,160     28.13%

E. J. Pipkin (R)              8,074     71.87%     WIN

Maryland Senate – 37

Chris Jakubiak (D)          1,400     18.08%

Tim Quinn (D)                 2,367     30.57%

Chris Robinson (D)         3,976     51.35%     WIN

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Richard F. Colburn (R)    7,367     76.80%     WIN

Paul Galanek (R)              2,226     23.20%

Maryland Senate – 38

Charles Mickey Lehrer (D)    1,224     14.20%         

Jim Mathias (D)          7,396     85.80%     WIN         

Republican Michael James received 8,609 votes in an uncontested primary.

Maryland House – 36

All candidates were unopposed, except in the GOP primary for Queen Anne’s County:

Stephen S. Hershey, Jr. (R)  5,317     51.06%     WIN

Richard Sossi (R)                  5,096     48.94%

Maryland House – 37-A

Rudolph C. Cane (D)  1,999     80.06%     WIN         

Lavonzella "Von" Siggers (D)       498     19.94%

Republican Dustin Mills received 1,082 votes in an uncontested primary.

Maryland House – 37-B

GOP incumbents Addie Eckardt and Jeannie Haddaway were unopposed and will face Democrat Patrice Stanley in the general.

Maryland House – 38-A

Julie D. Brewington (R)    359     9.90%         

John T. Cannon (R)         688     18.98%         

Charles Otto (R)           1,475     40.69%     WIN         

John K. Phoebus (R)    1,103     30.43%

Democrat Mike McCready received 18,876 votes in an uncontested primary.

Maryland House - 38-B

Norman H. Conway (D)     5,051     54.91%     WIN

Bernard John Hayden (D)   1,193     12.97%

Gee Williams (D)                 2,954     32.12%     WIN

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

A. Kaye Kenney (R)            2,835     24.93%

Mike McDermott (R)          3,897     34.27%     WIN

Marty Pusey (R)                  3,348     29.45%     WIN

Joe Schanno (R)                  1,290     11.35%

NO DOG ATTACK OCCURRED

Joe,

In reference to the dog incident posted today, the official police report is that the dog died of natural causes. This was determined after SPD interviews with several parties, including the woman who had her dog leashed and was passing by the property occupied by the soon-to-be deceased animal. The police could find no evidence of a dog fight (no wounds, no blood, no saliva on the dead dog's coat) or anyone who witnessed any sort of physical contact between the two. There was no crime committed.

The deceased dog was 12 years old.

Sincere condolences to the family who just lost their pet.


Tim Spies
President,
Camden Neighborhood Association

Election Results Coming Soon


Folks, last night was not only a busy night for us, it was a very late evening as well. As you can see from our first posts of the day, I didn't get to bed until around 2:30 AM and back up again by 7:00 AM.

We will provide detailed information for everyone to see and I plan on expressing my personal experiences yesterday in a different post.

So please be patient and we'll get to that information in the very near future.

Republican Establishment To O’Donnell: You're On Your Own


The National Republican Senatorial Committee does not plan to spend money on its Delaware Senate nominee, Christine O’Donnell, an NRSC official said last night.

O’Donnell, who defeated Republican stalwart Rep. Mike Castle in the state’s GOP Senate primary, surged in recent weeks amid donations from tea party groups and an endorsement from Sarah Palin. But she trails her general election opponent, Democrat Chris Coons, in most polls.

The official noted that if her position improves, the committee might reconsider its allocation of scarce resources.

More here

Primary Over, Mills Thanks Supporters


Dustin Mills, Republican candidate for House of Delegates, issued a statement today thanking his supporters. “Although I did not have a contested primary, I want to thank everyone who voted for me and supported my candidacy. The hard work begins now and I am looking forward to the November elections, when the voters of 37A will have an opportunity to take back their district and to change broken policies in Annapolis. They will have the opportunity to elect someone who will represent them and who will work hard for the district,” stated Mills.


When asked about his prospects in November, Mills said he believes that he has a great chance to defeat a 12-year incumbent. “I think people want someone who represents their values. Our message of smaller government, lower spending, cutting taxes and government accountability are resonating with everyone I talk to. The message is one people believe in and I know they will support me in November.”


Mills also wanted to take the opportunity to recognize his new opponent. “I want to congratulate Mr. Cane on his primary victory. I welcome him to this race and believe it will be spirited and based upon issues. I look forward to opportunities to debate him and discuss what matters in front of the voters.”


For further information, visit Dustin’s website, http://www.electdustinmills.com/, or to schedule an interview please contact Campaign Manager Mark Biehl, or e-mail the campaign at: electdustinmills2010@gmail.com.

Thank You


Thank you everyone for your encouragement and support in my first run for elective office. I lost this race but gained a great appreciation and understanding in the process. It has been a great honor and blessing for me to have had your support and to know that you did what you could to help elect me, a newcomer to politics.

I know for a fact that our message resonated with the people I met from all across the District and from all walks of life. We ran a good race and now it’s time to look forward and help Chris Robinson. He has a solid base of support and each of us can help grow that base of support into a winning force for November.

Chris Jakubiak

Today's Survey Question


Are You Satisfied With The Local Election Results?

Justice IG Probing Black Panther Case


The Justice Department's Civil Rights Division — in the wake of the New Black Panther Party case — is being investigated by the department's office of inspector general to determine whether voting section employees have been harassed for participating in specific investigations or prosecutions.

In an end run around policy barring IG investigations of Justice Department litigators, Inspector General Glenn A. Fine said his office will review what types of cases are being investigated, whether there have been changes in enforcement policies and procedures, and whether the civil rights laws are being enforced in a non-discriminatory manner.

Christopher Coates, the veteran Justice Department voting section chief who recommended going forward on the civil complaint against the New Black Panther Party, was removed from his post and transferred to the U.S. attorney's office in South Carolina. New Black Panther Party members had disrupted a Philadelphia polling place in the November 2008 elections, one of whom intimidated would-be voters with a nightstick.

J. Christian Adams, the lead attorney in the case, resigned, citing what he called concerns about the Justice Department's refusal to prosecute the New Black Panther Party case after a federal judge in Philadelphia had ruled in favor of the government's case.

Mr. Adams accused Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. of dropping the charges for racially motivated reasons, saying that he and other Justice Department lawyers working on the case were ordered to dismiss it.

In a letter Monday to Republican Reps. Lamar Smith of Texas and Frank R. Wolf of Virginia, Mr. Fine said he has stated publicly "on many occasions that I believe the provision of the Inspector General's Act that removes the OIG's jurisdiction investigation of department attorneys' handling of litigation should be changed." The Washington Times obtained a copy of the letter.

"But unless and until the law is changed, I have an obligation to follow it," he said. "However, we believe we do have the authority to conduct the broader program review … regarding the Civil Rights Division's enforcement of voting rights law, and we intend to conduct such a review."

Mr. Fine noted that while the review will include information about such cases as the New Black Panther Party matter and others, it will be focused "more broadly on the overall enforcement of civil rights laws by the Voting Section rather than on a single case."

More here

Save The Quran, Burn The Constitution

You can't burn a Koran in a crowded theater, and Supreme CourtJustice Stephen Breyer suggests that to placate foreign extremists, Koran burning might be banned everywhere else in America too.

In an interview aired Tuesday on ABC's "Good Morning America,"Justice Breyer, who is on tour promoting his new book, averred that in the Internet age, speech traditionally protected by the First Amendment may have to be weighed against its global impact. George Stephanopoulos asked the justice about the canceled Sept. 11 Koran burning proposed by Pastor Terry Jones, and whether the fact that people riot in Afghanistan over what happens in the United States poses a challenge to the First Amendment or could "change the nature of what we can allow and protect."

Justice Breyer's largely rhetorical answer invoked the late Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes. "Holmes said [free speech] doesn't mean you can shout 'fire' in a crowded theater," Justice Breyer said. "Well, what is it? Why? Because people will be trampled to death. And what is the crowded theater today? What is the being trampled to death?" The implication, which Mr. Stephanopoulos reinforced, was that today the crowded theater is the entire world, and any speech that foments violence by anyone for any reason could fall outside First Amendment protections.

The analogy is extremely poor. Shouting fire in a crowded theater doesn't incite an angry riot but a chaotic every-person-for-themselves scramble for safety. The potential danger is understood by everyone present, all of whom are threatened. The darkness of the theater, the confined and ungainly space and the likelihood of the quick spread of fire make quick action imperative. In only one context does shouting fire in a crowded theater make sense: when there actually is a fire.

Holmes' "clear and present danger" test doesn't apply to Koran burning because there is no imminent danger. The world is not a small, dark, crowded room with few exits. Safely burning a Koran does not physically threaten anyone, not even those who think the book reflects the word of God. There is no need for immediate action. There is no potential for the same type of close-quarters chaos. The violence that may arise in response to it is calculated and directed, and such a riot is as much political theater as the Koran burning itself.

It's troubling that a member of the Supreme Court would imply that anything that happens abroad in response to the exercise of free speech in this country should somehow inform the high court in assessing the boundaries of the First Amendment. This is symptomatic of creeping internationalism in the thinking of some justices. In this case, though, the suggestion is not simply to follow the lead of foreign courts, but to take into consideration the violent actions of foreign radicals when weighing American freedoms. Justice Breyer seems open to such a balancing test, in which acts should be banned if they offend a small minority of anti-American extremists who respond with irrational violence.

More from The Washington Times

Shariah A Danger To U.S., Security Pros Say

A panel of national security experts who worked under Republican and Democratic presidents is urging the Obama administration to abandon its stance that Islam is not linked to terrorism, arguing that radical Muslims are using Islamic law to subvert the United States.

In a report set for release today, the panel states that "it is vital to the national security of the United States, and to Western civilization at large, that we do what we can to empower Islam's authentic moderates and reformers."

The study group, sponsored by the conservative-oriented Center for Security Policy, says in its report that proponents of advancing Islamic law mark the "crucial fault line" in Islam's internal divisions separating truly moderate Muslims, like the late Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid, from the large portion of the world's 1 billion Muslims who advocate imposing what they call Shariah law throughout the world.

Mr. Wahid, who died in December, is a widely respected Muslim visionary who promoted pluralism in Indonesia, which has the world's largest population of Muslims.

According to the report, proponents of Shariah are "Muslim supremacists" waging "civilization jihad" along with the Islamist terrorists engaged in violent jihad, like al Qaeda.

Included in the team of former defense, law enforcement and intelligence officials were Clinton administration CIA Director R. James Woolsey and Andrew C. McCarthy, former assistant U.S. attorney in New York, a career counterterrorism prosecutor during the Clinton administration.

Frank Gaffney, director of the Center for Security Policy, said the Obama administration's policy is based on an incorrect assumption. The Team B report seeks to expose flaws in anti-terror programs, including the policy of not referring to al Qaeda and similar groups as "Islamist" to avoid offending Muslims, he said.

"What if it turns out that some of the people the Obama administration has been embracing are actually promoting the same totalitarian ideology and seditious agenda as al Qaeda, only they're doing it from White House Iftar dinners?" said Mr. Gaffney, referring to the daily meal eaten by Muslims to break their fast during Ramadan.

More

It's Ehrlich vs. O'Malley

Domenico Montanaro writes: AP has declared former Maryland Gov. Bob Ehrlich the winner tonight of the Republican nomination for governor over Sarah Palin-backed Brian Murphy. It sets up an Ehrlich vs. incumbent Gov. Martin O'Malley showdown.

This may be a blue state, but don't underestimate Republicans' chances here. Just look at the results from Delaware Senate tonight. So far, Christine O'Donnell leads 56%-45% over Mike Castle with 37% of precincts reporting.

Anything can happen, especially if Democrats sit on their hands. And Ehrlich is a much more credible candidate than O'Donnell as Maryland, like many other states, is having to make serious budget cuts. That said, Democrats in Maryland are more engaged voters than in many places. Either way, this is one to watch.

Tea Party Favorite Stuns GOP With Delaware Win


Putting an exclamation point on an unpredictable primary season, tea party-backed candidate Christine O'Donnell beat moderate and longtime front-runner Rep. Mike Castle in Delaware's GOP Senate primary Tuesday.

GO HERE to read more.

States Cutting Benefits for Public-Sector Retirees

The security guards at the headquarters of New Jersey's pension fund have never seen anything like it before: lines of public employees extending out the door and into the street.

Day after day, workers come in droves to apply for retirement. They often line up before dawn.

The rush has been set off in part by Republican Gov. Chris Christie's campaign in this cash-strapped state to make government employment — and retirement — less lucrative.

Since 2008, New Jersey and at least 19 other states from Wyoming to Rhode Island have rolled back pension benefits or seriously considered doing do — and not just for new hires, but for current employees and people already retired.

After telegraphing his intentions for months, Christie spelled out the details of his proposal Tuesday. They include: repealing an increase in benefits approved years ago; eliminating automatic cost-of-living adjustments; raising the retirement age to 65 from 60 in many cases; reducing pension payouts for many future retirees; and requiring some employees to contribute more to their pensions.

"We must reverse the damage caused by fairy-tale promises that have fattened benefits and pensions to unsustainable levels," the governor said.

To be sure, the looming benefit changes are not the only reason many public employees in New Jersey are retiring. Some say they want out for the usual reasons — to spend time with the grandchildren or go fishing, for example — or complain that government layoffs and other cutbacks are making work unbearable. But other employees figure that by retiring now, they can lock in certain benefits before it is too late.

Christie has warned that New Jersey's pension fund will go belly up unless something is done to close the $46 billion gap between how much the state expects to bring into the system and how much it has promised to workers. Other states' pension funds are in shaky condition, too.

The Pew Center on the States reported this year that in eight states, at least one-third of the future pension obligations for all public employees, including teachers, are unfunded. As of 2008, Pew said, state and local governments had pension obligations totaling $3.35 trillion — $1 trillion of that not covered by the future stream of government and employee contributions specified under current law.

More

Reid Wants To Attach DREAM Act To Defense Bill

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Tuesday he wants to attach an amendment to an upcoming defense policy bill that would help young people in the country illegally become legal U.S. residents.

The Nevada Democrat said at a Capitol news conference that the legislation known as the DREAM Act is long overdue. But he wouldn't say whether he has the votes for the amendment. The act allows young people who attend college or join the military to become legal U.S. residents.

The young people must have come to the country when they were under 16 years of age and have been in the country five years. They have to serve in the military at least two years and complete two years of college.

Democrats have also promised gay rights groups an end to the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell Policy." That is in the bill that Reid said he'll try to take up next week.

Republicans oppose both measures.

Asked whether he had the votes for the DREAM Act, Reid responded: "I sure hope so."

More here

War On Peace: Rocket Attack Near Ashdod


Terrorists in Hamas-controlled Gaza escalated rocket fire Wednesday morning and fired what apparently was a Grad missile that flew over Ashkelon and exploded near Ashdod. No one was injured and no damage was reported.

A Kassam rocket and at least three more mortars exploded in the Eshkol region south of Ashkelon in the second round of attacks in several hours, bringing to 10 the total number of rocket and mortar fire. An Eshkol regional council official said mass media mistakenly call the locations of rocket explosions “open areas.”

“These are farm areas and are not in the middle of the desert. People work there. The mortars and rockets fall near them,” he told Voice of Israel government radio. Several agriculture workers have been killed or wounded in previous attacks.

The Israeli Air Force bombed targets in Gaza, killing at least one terrorist after the massive missile and mortar barrage on southern Israel Wednesday morning.

At least 10 explosions rocked the area from the western Negev to an area between the port cities of Ashkelon and Ashdod. A major electricity generating station and oil and gas pipelines are located in Ashkelon. Ashdod is home to dozens of oil refineries.

Arab sources said one terrorist was killed in an attack at Rafiah, a city the straddles the border between Gaza and Egypt and which is a prime source of smuggling tunnels. The IDF aerial attack came hours before Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu at his official residence in Jerusalem.

More from INN

Was The Great Panic Of 2008 Preventable?

It's been two years since Lehman Brothers failed (Sept. 15, 2008), and we still can't conclusively answer this question: what if the government had saved Lehman? Its bankruptcy was pivotal.

Until then, deteriorating housing and mortgage markets had triggered what seemed a serious—but not unprecedented—recession. Once Lehman failed, the economy went into a frenzied free fall. It's hard not to wonder whether some of the ensuing turmoil could have been avoided. Consider what happened after Lehman:

Credit tightened. Banks wouldn't lend to each other, except at exorbitant interest rates. Rates on high-quality corporate bonds went from 7 percent in August to nearly 10 percent by October.

Stocks tanked. After its historical high of more than 14,000 in October 2007, the Dow Jones industrial average was still trading around 11,400 before the bankruptcy. By October, it was about 8,400; by March 2009, 6,600.

Consumer spending and business investment (on machinery, computers, buildings)—together about four-fifths of the economy—declined sharply. Already-depressed vehicle sales fell a third from August to February.

Employment collapsed. Five million payroll jobs disappeared in the eight months following Lehman's collapse. The unemployment rate went from 6.2 percent in September to 9.5 percent in June 2009.

Lehman's failure had dire consequences because it suggested that government had lost control.

No one knew which financial institutions would be protected and which wouldn't; AIG soon received a massive loan. Uncertainty rose; panic followed.

GO HERE to read more.

CBS Show Catches Up With Manson follower 'Squeaky' Fromme In Rome


UTICA — Marcy resident and former would-be assassin Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme got some apparently unwanted publicity again Tuesday when the CBS show "Inside Edition" aired images of her taken at a local Walmart.

Fromme, 61, was a follower of cult leader Charles Manson in the 1970s and attempted to assassinate President Gerald Ford in 1975. She served 34 years in prison before being paroled in August 2009.

After she was paroled, Fromme moved to Marcy to live with her boyfriend, a fact confirmed by Oneida County District Attorney Scott McNamara, but officials would not release her exact address.

The "Inside Edition" story on Fromme aired one year to-the-day after the Observer-Dispatch first reported the story.

Pictures shown on air and on the shows website Tuesday show Fromme taking a swing at a camera in the parking lot of the Rome Walmart store, a car with a 'Born Again Pagan' bumper sticker, and an unusually shaped home in Marcy the show says is her current residence.

O-D reporters visited the same home last year, but were asked to leave the property by a man who answered the door.

Source

Bank Of America Warns Of New Fees After Financial Reforms

Bank of America will charge clients new monthly fees if their accounts do not meet a minimum balance, the bank's CEO Brian Moynihan said on Tuesday.

"We will increase the account balance minimums or charge monthly fees in lieu thereof, which is the choice of the customer," Moynihan said at a Barclays Capital conference in New York.

These and other measures will allow the bank to compensate for revenue lost due to new regulations put in place following the 2008 financial crisis that led the US government to salvage many bank with massive bailouts, he said.

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Missing Tiger Statue


Joe,

I've been a loyal reader to your site for about 4 years now and I love all the work you do. I'm writing today because I need your help. Sometime late Monday night an object was stolen off of my mother's front lawn in Ocean City. It's a granite stone tiger (statue) about 3-4 feet long, its not a statue you would normally see around here. It weighs around 400 pounds and is not easy to move. For it to be stolen it had to be carefully planned out by someone (or a group) that knew of the statue and how it had to be moved. The thieves went to great lengths to take it. This potentially could be some type of college prank (it is the season for that). I have enclosed a picture of the tiger.

This statue has been in the family many years and means a lot to us. I'm hoping one of your readers have seen it. Maybe in a place where college age students stay (in Salisbury or the surrounding areas). Though I don't want to single them out. I'm just hoping the statue can be found. I'm offering a $150.00 reward to someone who can bring the statue back to us. If anyone has any information I ask that they please call me at 410-430-1066 or e-mail to richdrake@aol.com. Thank you so much.

Rich Drake
Ocean City, MD

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Sad & Maddening Story

"This evening while walking my dog in the Pinehurst area a neighbor stopped me to ask if I knew anyone who had a black medium size dog because earlier in the evening a woman walking the dog witnessed her dog attack and kill another dog who was in his own yard. A young boy carried his dead dog into his house and the woman just took off. I believe that this is a crime equivalent to a hit and run and should be punished as such. I hope that SBY news believes this is worthy of a post and can help expose the person that did not care enough to stay and help with a tragedy that she was responsible for."

Countries That Offer Birthright Citizenship

HERE ARE ALL THE DEVELOPED NATIONS OF THE WORLD THAT OFFER BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP TO THE BABIES OF TOURISTS AND ILLEGAL ALIENS:

United States
That’s right, every other modern Developed nation in the world has gotten rid of birthright citizenship policies.

Yet, most of U.S. news media and politicians the last two weeks have ridiculed the comments by some other politicians that it is time for the U.S. to put an end to birthright citizenship for tourists and illegal aliens.

Folks, the U.S. stands alone.

There used to be all kinds of Developed countries that gave away their citizenship as freely as we do in the U.S. But one by one they all have recognized the folly of that policy.

SOME MODERN COUNTRIES THAT RECENTLY ENDED THEIR BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP POLICY:
Canada was the last non-U.S. holdout. Illegal aliens stopped getting citizenship for their babies in 2009.

Australia’s birthright citizenship requirements are much more stringent than those of H.R. 1868 and took effect in 2007.

New Zealand repealed in 2006
Ireland repealed in 2005
France repealed in 1993
India repealed in 1987
United Kingdom repealed in 1983
Portugal repealed in 1981

The United States is the laughing stock of the modern world. Only the U.S. values its citizenship so lowly as to distribute it promiscuously to the off-spring of foreign citizens visiting Disney World on tourist visas and to foreign citizens who have violated their promises on their visitor, work and student visas to stay illegally in the country, as well as to those who sneak across our borders.

Breaking News From Cuba

Farmers In Somerset County Show Up In Tractors To Vote


Farmers made a huge difference for Charles Otto in Somerset County, some even showing up at the polls yesterday riding in their farm tractors. Lesson: Don't Ever Underestimate A Farmer's Power At The Polls.

MDGOP Chairman Scott Primary Night Statement


SALISBURY –Maryland Republican Party Chairman Audrey Scott issued the following statement regarding tonight’s Primary Election results:

“Congratulations to all Maryland Republican candidates who won their Primaries this evening. Win or lose, I applaud all of our Republicans candidates for putting their name on the ballot and for their willingness to serve our State. Maryland Republicans made their voices heard today, selecting an exceptional slate of GOP candidates poised to return fiscal responsibility and a pro-jobs agenda back to Annapolis and DC. Our new GOP team led by Bob Ehrlich and Andy Harris has the common sense solutions needed to put our economy back and get Marylanders back to work. Come November, our new Republican candidates will provide a credible alternative to the Maryland Democrats’ failed economic agenda

Low Turnout Primary Made A Bad Day For State Senate Incumbents

Tuesday’s low turnout primary turned out to be a bad day for state Senate incumbents challenged in their own primaries, with five current senators losing their seats to delegates who challenged them. Three others were locked in races so tight that absentee ballots will likely determine the outcome.

Members of the House of Delegates, who typically run in multi-member districts, fared much better, with only a few in tight primary contests.

Only incumbent Republican Sen. Ed Reilly, appointed to his seat in Anne Arundel County’s District 33, had a clear 1,400-vote victory over Del. James King.

In the statewide races, the results were much as expected.

GO HERE to read more.

Study Says Small Businesses Hurt Economy

Conventional wisdom says small businesses are the backbone of the economy, but a new study counters that mom-and-pop businesses are an economic cancer instead.

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Walmart's New Cellphone Plans Are Great If You Skip The Data

Yesterday, Walmart announced that starting next week it will offer a new wireless plan under its own brand, but running on T-Mobile's network. The rates are good compared to national carriers: $45 per month for unlimited texting and minutes, and $25 per month for each additional line. There's also no contract, and you pay the bill at the end of each month instead of loading up a pre-pay account. It's one of the better family-style deals available, except for one thing: the data plans are actually more expensive than AT&T or T-Mobile.

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Law Enforcement Group: Legalize Pot So Cops Have Time To Fight Real Crime

In November, California voters will have their say on Proposition 19, which would make it legal to grow, possess and use up to an ounce of marijuana for personal use. And as that decision day draws near, a group of law enforcement insiders has come out in support of the proposition, saying it would free up the police to focus its efforts on more serious crimes.

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Fired Domino's Worker Torches Two Of Its Stores

A disgruntled ex-Domino's Pizza employee was arrested after starting fires inside two of the chain's stores. The blazes began when he came to the places after hours and lit piles of pizza boxes on fire.

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Corporations Stole Billions Of Dollars Of Gas From Landowners

Energy companies were supposed to compensate rural Virginians for the billions of dollars worth of gas they sucked from their land, but a local newspaper's Pulitzer Prize-winning investigation found that the money has instead been diverted into escrow accounts for over 20 years. If the landowner even knows the money is there, it's nigh impossible to get it out, and in any event, the companies have only been putting in a fraction of what they're supposed to. A rubber-stamping regulatory board that hadn't done an audit for a decade only compounded the problem. I drink your milkshake, indeed.

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Early Morning Lane Closure Needed On Route 1 Southbound For Indian River Inlet Bridge Construction

Indian River -- The Department of Transportation advises motorists that two steel beams used in the falsework structure for the new Indian River Inlet Bridge need to be moved from the northside of the work zone to the southside of the work zone. Tower cranes on each side of the bridge structure will move the beams onto a tractor trailer which will carry the beams along Route 1 southbound to the southside work zone.

This work will require an approximate 15-20 minute closure of both lanes of Route 1 southbound. The lane closure will occur on Thursday, September 16, 2010 at 4:00 a.m. and will be lifted as soon as the beam is safely on the southside of the bridge.

Route 1 northbound will not be impacted by this work and will remain open at all times.

Chairman Scott Statement on Bob Ehrlich's Primary Victory

SALISBURY - Maryland Republican Party Chairman Audrey Scott issued the following statement tonight regarding Bob Ehrlich's Primary Election Victory:

"Congratulations to Bob Ehrlich for his victory in tonight's Primary Election. Bob Ehrlich's sweeping victory not only shows he has a winning message but it reaffirms that the GOP in Maryland is unified behind the top of the ticket. Voters will have a clear choice this November between the failed economic policies of Martin O'Malley and Bob Ehrlich's proven record of private sector job creation. I am fully confident that with Bob Ehrlich at the top of the ticket, our Party is poised for success in November."

Andy Harris Wins Every County In Republican Primary

SALISBURY, Md. – Andy Harris tonight celebrated his Primary Election victory winning all 12 counties in the First Congressional District.

“I am honored to be the Republican nominee in the First District,” said Andy Harris. “Despite being heavily outspent, I am humbled by the outpouring of support for my campaign today from all areas of the First District – each and every county. But today’s Primary was just the first step in stopping Nancy Pelosi and Congressional Democrats’ job-killing policies. The First District wants someone with a proven record of cutting spending and fiscal discipline representing them in Washington. I’m proud to be the only candidate in the General Election who will protect small businesses and stop Washington's out-of-control spending and taxation.”

Harris watched the election returns at the Maryland GOP Victory Headquarters in Salisbury along with supporters and other Republican Candidates.

Andy Harris is a Republican candidate running for Maryland’s 1st Congressional District. Harris, a practicing physician, and his wife Cookie have five children. For more information, please visit www.andyharris.com.