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Monday, September 21, 2015

Dad's 911 call: "I just drowned my two daughters"

DURHAM, N.C. -- A North Carolina man tried to drown his three children in a pond at an apartment complex and then begged a 911 dispatcher to send help, sobbing as he explained that authorities were trying to take them away, according to emergency calls released Monday.

Alan Tysheen Eugene Lassiter, 29, is charged with three counts of attempted murder and is jailed on a bond of $2 million, according to the Durham County Jail. His 3- and 5-year-old daughters who had to be rescued from the water remain hospitalized following the Sunday night incident. His 7-year-old son escaped and ran for help, police said.

"Please send an ambulance. My daughters are in the lake, drowning. Both of my young daughters," the distraught man tells a dispatcher as he tries to explain where he is so police can come help. Later in the call, he tells a bystander: "I just drowned my two daughters in the lake back there."

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Kerry: U.S. to accept 85,000 refugees in 2016

Obama admin. wants to radically transform America

Scrambling to address a growing Syrian refugee crisis, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry announced Sunday that the United States would significantly increase the number of worldwide migrants it takes in over the next two years, though not by nearly the amount many activists and former officials have urged.

The U.S. will accept 85,000 refugees from around the world next year, up from 70,000, and that total would rise to 100,000 in 2017, Kerry said at a news conference with German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier after they discussed the mass migration of Syrians fleeing their civil war.

Many, though not all, of the additional refugees would be Syrian, U.S. officials have said. Others would come from strife-torn areas of Africa. The White House had previously announced it intended to take in 10,000 additional Syrian refugees over the next year. Asked why the U.S. couldn’t take more, Kerry cited post-Sept. 11 screening requirements and a lack of money made available by Congress.

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Kids with cancer and their parents ejected from park near White House

The U.S. Secret Service ordered hundreds of parents and their cancer-stricken children out of Lafayette Square on Saturday night, barricading the park for at least two hours and disrupting the group’s plans for a candlelight vigil to raise awareness of and research funding for childhood cancer, participants said.

Some of the parents and children expressed hurt and disappointment that the Secret Service and Park Police, citing security precautions, virtually shut down part of a two-day event called CureFest for Childhood Cancer.

“We ended up waiting at the gates for two hours, and they never let us in,” said Natasha Gould, an 11-year-old from Canada who started a blog after being diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor this year. “And to be clear, the entire crowd was half kids. I cried last night in my hotel room because it was my first CureFest, and I couldn’t believe people were acting like they don’t care about children.”

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15,000 More Refugees To Be Resettled In U.S. Next Year

The additional refugees, up from 70,000 in the current fiscal year that ends Sept. 30, will come from countries around the world

BERLIN—
The United States will increase its cap on the number of refugees it admits and resettles to 85,000 in the coming fiscal year and to 100,000 in 2017, Secretary of State John F. Kerry said Sunday.

The additional refugees, up from 70,000 in the current fiscal year that ends Sept. 30, will come from countries around the world. But the increase largely reflects the 10,000 Syrian refugees that the White House earlier this month promised to admit. Kerry said the administration is exploring ways to admit even more, but Congress must approve enough money to cover the extra cost of resettlement.

“This step is in keeping with America’s best tradition as a land of second chances and a beacon of hope,” Kerry said in announcing the increase during a visit to Berlin to discuss the Syrian refugee crisis with his German counterpart, Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

Even before Syrian refugees began streaming into Europe in recent weeks, the State Department had been considering a modest increase of about 5,000 refugees, including more from Congo, where human rights abuses are rampant. At the end of each fiscal year, the State Department announces the new target number for refugees.

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Donald Trump: I'm not 'obligated' to defend Obama

Washington (CNN) Donald Trump on Saturday said it is not his job to correct supporters' claims about the President, defending his decision not to take issue with a man who disparaged Muslims and said President Barack Obama is not an American.

Trump did not dispute the man's allegations made at a town hall event this week, and added that if someone criticized him to Obama, there would be "no chance" the President would come to his defense.

"Am I morally obligated to defend the president every time somebody says something bad or controversial about him?

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Somerset County Sheriff's Office Arrest Activity

Recent Sheriff's Office Arrest Activity

Charles Elroy Turpin of Washington DC, arrested 9-4-15 for Driving while Impaired by Alcohol, Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, Malicious Destruction of Property, CDS Possession not Marijuana, Possession of Marijuana, Disorderly Conduct and Failure to Obey a Lawful Order. Turpin was held without bond pending his initial appearance. The arrest was the result of a traffic stop conducted by deputies in the area of Williams St, Princess Anne.

Ketsia Manaka Bisselele of Princess Anne, criminal summons served 9-7-15 for Theft less than $1,000. Bisselele was released on signature pending court action.

Elizabeth Ann Thomas of Crisfield, arrested 9-8-15 on a warrant for CDS Possession not Marijuana, CDS Possession with the Intent to Distribute and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Thomas was held on a $250,000 bond.

NY couple beats 1-in-50 million odds with identical triplets

The 2-year-old brother of rare identical triplets born to a Long Island couple has his own way of identifying them — he just calls them all by the same name.

Owen, Noah and Miles Finley were introduced to the world Thursday more than two months after they beat the odds with a 1 in 50 million grand entrance six weeks before they were due.

Each of the boys weighed less than three pounds, but they're all healthy and more than a handful for their baby weary Patchogue parents,

"Some people hit the money lottery,” said their dad, Jason Fenley, a 38-year-old attorney. “We hit the genetic lottery and we couldn't be happier,"

That’s easy for him to say.

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More Traffic Ticket Troubles For Montgomery County Council Member

A Montgomery County lawmaker found himself on the wrong side of the law yet again, as Maryland court records show that Council member Craig Rice received two traffic tickets this past August.

In December 2013, it was reported that Montgomery County Council member Craig Rice had run up over $1000 worth of unpaid traffic and parking tickets before being confronted by the press. Mr Rice was apparently cited for traffic violations yet again this summer, when court records show that Mr Rice received citations for speeding and “changing lanes when unsafe”while in Ocean City Maryland on August 13.


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MIKULSKI, CARDIN, SENATE COLLEAGUES PUSH TO KEEP FEDERAL WORKERS ON THE JOB DESPITE THREATS OF SHUTDOWN

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Barbara A. Mikulski and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.), together with Democratic Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) andSenators Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Tom Carper (D-Del.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and Mark Warner (D-Va.), have introduced legislation that would end Republican plans to use federal workers as pawns in their effort to shut down the federal government as a means to defund the important health care services provided by Planned Parenthood.

“Federal employees deserve a government on their side working as hard for them as they work each and every day for America,” said Senator Mikulski. “Federal employees have been undervalued and underappreciated for too long. Each and every day, federal employees stand up for America. They shouldn’t be penalized because of the shutdown, slamdown politics of Congress. That’s why I will continue to stand up for federal employees, fighting for the pay and benefits they’ve earned and deserve.”

“Our bill is the right thing to do and the fair thing to do. Federal workers are dedicated public servants who simply want to do their jobs on behalf of the American people. They shouldn’t suffer because of extreme partisan gamesmanship,” said Senator Cardin. “Our tasks here in Congress are simple – not easy, perhaps, but simple: we need to keep the government open for business across the country and keep federal workers on the job.”

S. 2035, the Federal Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2015, requires that all federal workers furloughed as a result of any lapse in appropriations that may begin as soon as October 1st will receive their pay retroactively as soon as is practicable. The legislation was placed directly on the Legislative Calendar under Rule XIV of the Standing Rules of the Senate. Portions of the federal government would need to cease operations should the Republican majority refuse to compromise with [Democrats and] the administration on a spending bill, or even a Continuing Resolution, before the start of the new fiscal year on October 1.

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10 Surprising Facts About Dizziness and Vertigo

Feeling a little lightheaded? Here’s what you should know about causes of dizziness and vertigo.

Occasional dizziness is very common in adults, but it may surprise you to learn that vertigo — a related but more serious condition that makes you feel like the room is spinning as you stand still — affects nearly 40 percent of people over 40 at least once, according to the University of California San Francisco Medical Center.

While dizziness can make you feel momentarily unbalanced, and ranges in severity from merely annoying to seriously debilitating, vertigo may be a major symptom of a balance disorder. It can also cause nausea and vomiting.

To get the facts about both conditions and learn how to differentiate between the two, we asked a few of the nation’s leading experts on dizziness and balance problems to share their insights. Here’s what they had to say:

1. Feeling Dizzy Could Be a Sign of an Inner Ear Problem

“One of the most surprising causes of dizziness is benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, or BPPV,” says Gregory Whitman, MD, an ear and brain specialist with Massachusetts Eye and Ear's Balance and Vestibular Center at Braintree Rehabilitation Hospital. Your inner ear contains calcium and protein-based sensing crystals called otoconia, says Dr. Whitman. If these crystals are dislodged and float into your inner ear’s canals, you may have a brief spinning sensation. “It’s a simple mechanical problem that can and should be corrected with physical therapy, and not with medication or surgery,” says Whitman.

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GOP Official Wishes Some Candidates For President Would Drop Out

He doesn't endorse candidates in a primary, as a Maryland Republican Party official.

However, Joe Cluster, executive director of the Maryland Republican Party tells Maryland's News This Week that there are too many Republican candidates running for president.

Cluster told Maryland's News This Week that 15 candidates in the race, it makes it difficult for the candidates to get on a stage to debate the issues.

He notes that was a problem with last week's CNN debate, where Cluster says the candidates simply attacked each other.

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Le Petit Chef

The French restaurant «Le Petit Chef» (Little Chef) came up with an original way to entertain guests while waiting for your order - using a projector on the ceiling, and the animation on the table there is a small chef who prepared on your plate. And at the same time it makes a good laugh. A great way to cheer up. Creative, beautiful and interesting idea.

Breaking News: Scott Walker to drop out of 2016 race

WASHINGTON (CNN) —Scott Walker is dropping out of the Republican presidential race, according to a GOP strategist close to the campaign and a senior GOP adviser with knowledge of his plans.
 

The governor of Wisconsin entered the primary in July as a front-runner -- a darling of both the conservative base and powerful donors after winning his battles against public unions in his left-leaning home state.

Walker has called a 6 p.m. ET news conference in Madison, Wisconsin, where he is expected to announce his decision to withdraw from the race.

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Nearly 50 Million Americans Now on Food Stamps

Editor’s Note: And you know who makes the most money off of Food Stamps? Megabanks like JP Morgan Chase and big box stores like Walmart.

For much of the presidency of Barack Obama, a record number of Americans have subsisted in part or in whole on taxpayer-subsidized programs.

For much of his presidency, Obama has claimed that is because he “inherited” the worst economy in modern history and that government programs were necessary in order to keep families from starving.

In 2009, Obama and fellow Democrats declared the Great Recession officially over. In spite of this, the number of Americans who have become dependent on various food assistance programs is the highest it has ever been in relation to the total population.

Ed Feulner wrote in The Daily Caller that in 2008, fewer than 30 million Americans utilized the so-called “food stamp” program, which is administered by the Department of Agriculture. Today, that figure is roughly 46.5 million.

Even though the figure is down slightly from a high of 47.6 million in 2013, Feulner notes that the slight downtrend is not a good sign, according to the 2015 Index of Culture Opportunity.
Why are the dependency numbers staying so high?

Berlin Packs Them In Again


You just can't go wrong making plans to visit Berlin on any given weekend. 

We drove by an art event in Salisbury recently and while the entire event was fenced in, other then vendors, NO ONE was there. No one was willing to pay the $10.00 to get in.

When will liberals learn, make the event FREE and you'll make up the difference elsewhere. 

Authorities: Gun tests tie suspect to Arizona freeway shootings

PHOENIX - Soft-spoken and handcuffed, a 21-year-old landscaper insists that he is not responsible for a string of Phoenix freeway shootings and that his gun has been sitting in a pawn shop for months.

Despite Leslie Allen Merritt Jr.'s impromptu assertion in court Saturday, investigators said they have proof that the gun wasn't in any pawn shop at the time of four shootings they say he carried out.

Newly released charging documents detail the detective work that traced the gun to the suspect after he took it to a pawn shop. Weapons from various local pawn shops were test-fired at the state lab, Arizona Department of Public Safety spokesman Bart Graves said.

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Revealed... the 10 things you can do to PREVENT cancer - and it's as simple as ditching salt, cutting out vitamin tablets and exercising

Doing more exercise and drinking less alcohol sounds like advice from a nagging mother.

But experts say such lifestyle changes really can cut a person's risk of cancer.

More than 84,000 cases of the disease could be prevented a year if Britons lost weight, took more exercise or cut back on drinking, experts claim.

They estimate that almost a third of the common types of cancer could be avoided by adopting a healthier lifestyle.

This includes 20,300 cases of breast cancer, 19,800 cases of bowel cancer, 2,200 cases of kidney cancer and 1,400 pancreatic cancer.

The World Cancer Research Fund, which carried out the analysis, said even ‘simple changes’ such as doing ten minutes exercise a day could make a difference.

Here, experts reveal the 10 simple things you can do to cut your risk of 13 types of cancer.

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US Government's "Real ID Act" Soon to Require Passport for Americans to Fly from State to State

The fix is so simple a "caveman government" could accomplish it, right?

But, that would fecklessly assume that ulterior motives weren't being brandished from beyond the all-seeing eye of government.

The problem, in America's case, is the fact that our borders are as porous as a tattered sea sponge.

The answer, which most politicians refuse to address, would be the ever-so-simple enforcement of existing border laws, or, let's make that "exacting enforcement."

Instead, however, we need to rework everything so that politics and the donor class get to lobby themselves into the mix, which means that by the time the political class gets done with the problem, their solution won't even come close to fixing the original problem.

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New Zealand zoo won't euthanize tiger that killed zookeeper

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — A New Zealand zoo decided Monday that it won't euthanize a Sumatran tiger that attacked and killed a veteran zookeeper.

The male tiger named Oz killed 43-year-old Samantha Kudeweh Sunday morning inside the animal's enclosure at the Hamilton Zoo. Kudeweh had been a zookeeper for more than 20 years and was the mother of two children, aged nine and three.

The zoo, which houses five Sumatran tigers, is owned and operated by the Hamilton City Council. Lance Vervoort, the council's general manager for the community, said in a statement there was always a risk for zoo staff in managing big animals like Oz but the tiger didn't pose a wider risk.

"Oz is a significant animal for his species," Vervoort said. "He is the father of our two cubs, and he is vital to the ongoing breeding program to conserve this rare species."

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America’s News Is Heavily Censored

On 7 September 2002, U.S. President George W. Bush blatantly lied to concoct a “new report” by the IAEA about Saddam Hussein’s weapons of mass destruction program, and the U.S. news-media reported the statement but hid that it was a lie.

He said (and CNN and others quoted it): “a report came out of the Atomic — the IAEA that they were six months away from developing a weapon. I don’t know what more evidence we need,” when he was asked at a press conference, “Mr. President, can you tell us what conclusive evidence of any nuclear — new evidence you have of nuclear weapons capabilities of Saddam Hussein?” Immediately, the IAEA said then that there was no such “new report,” and that the last they were able to find, there was nothing left of WMD in Iraq.

The American news-media simply ignored the IAEA’s denial, and we invaded Iraq, almost six months after that boldfaced lie, a lie the press refused to expose, at all — ever. They still haven’t exposed it, even to the present day; and instead there remains a ‘debate’ as to whether George W. Bush lied or was instead merely misled by “defective U.S. intelligence.” In this particular instance, he wasn’t even citing U.S. intelligence, but instead the IAEA, and they immediately denied it, but the press failed to report that; so, really, the President was simply lying, and the press just continue to lie by saying he had only “been misled by the CIA” (which he actually controlled; but he didn’t control the IAEA). The American press hide the fact that the American President lied his nation into invading Iraq. The press lie that it was only “bad intelligence,” no lying President.

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George W. Bush Made Retroactive N.S.A. ‘Fix’ After Hospital Room Showdown

WASHINGTON — President George W. Bush sought to retroactively authorize portions of the National Security Agency’s post-9/11 surveillance and data collection program after a now-famous incident in 2004 in which his attorney general refused to certify the program as lawful from his hospital bed, according to newly declassified portions of a government investigation.

Mr. Bush’s effort to salvage the surveillance program without changes did not satisfy top Justice Department officials, who threatened to resign. But the newly disclosed passages of a report by inspectors general of six agencies suggest that the confrontation in the hospital room came after the Justice Department identified several problems, including a “gap” between what Mr. Bush had authorized the N.S.A. to collect and what the agency was collecting in practice.

A leak of government documents in 2013 revealed that the fight had been partly about the legality of the N.S.A.’s collection of data about Americans’ emails in bulk. But the latest disclosure shows that the Justice Department had additional concerns.

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UN nuke agency: Iran's role in nuclear probe meets standards

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — The chief of the U.N. nuclear agency has acknowledged that it agreed to have Iranian experts take samples it wants to analyze for signs that Tehran might have worked on atomic arms. But it says that the probe meets strict agency standards.

Such sampling is usually done by experts of the U.N.'s International Atomic Energy Agency. But IAEA chief Yukiya Amano says that Iranians carried out that part of the probe at Parchin, where the agency suspects that explosive triggers for nuclear weapons might have been tested.

The transfer appeared to be part of a confidential draft agreement with the agency that allows Iran to gather its own samples. It wasn't immediately clear if IAEA experts were present during the sampling.

However, Amano said Monday that the procedure meets strict agency criteria. He says the IAEA confirms "the integrity of the sampling process and the authenticity of the samples."

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Joe Biden Gets Wife’s Permission: Let’s Do This!

I can now officially say, “I told you so.” Biden jumping in is the first half of my prediction on this… picking Elizabeth Warren as his VP is the second. Biden running was a foregone conclusion with the Hildabeast being mortally wounded politically from scandal fallout. What I find disgusting here is the faux premise of getting his wife’s support. Really, Joe? You had to get your wifie’s permission to run for the most powerful position in the land? If that were true (which it isn’t), that would mean she would be running the country and Biden would be hiding behind her skirts. How ridiculous. Even worse, is this revolting play on his son’s death and the emotional turmoil surrounding his passing. Biden is using it as a political prop. Shameful.

From NBC News:

Contrary to reports suggesting Vice President Joe Biden’s wife remains an obstacle to his potential presidential run, sources tell NBC News that Jill Biden is fully behind him for another bid.

Jill Biden, sources tell NBC’s Chuck Todd, is 100 percent on-board with a presidential run, despite reports indicating her hesitation is part of what’s keeping Biden from jumping into the race.

And that looks more likely by the day, as sources have indicated Biden’s been meeting with Democratic leaders during his travels around the nation over the past week to tell them he wants to do it and thinks there’s room for him to make a credible bid if he does.

The key question that’s still weighing on his mind as he decides whether to make another go of it: Does he have the emotional energy to give it his all, sources say.

But Biden knows that if he has any hopes of winning the nomination, he’s better off deciding whether to run by Oct. 1 than waiting until the drop-dead deadline of Nov. 5, the day before the first Democratic primary filing deadline, in Alabama.

Deciding within the next three weeks would give him a slot in the first Democratic primary debate, on Oct. 13 in Las Vegas.

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Black Student Admits Hanging ‘White Only,’ ‘Black Only’ Signs

BUFFALO, N.Y. – Cries of racism broke out across the campus of the University of Buffalo this week when students found Jim Crow-esque signs in a building on campus.

Someone had posted “White Only” and “Black Only” signs near several bathrooms and water fountains in Clemens Hall.

“It brought up feelings of the past of a past that our generation has never seen which I think is why it was so shocking for us to see,” Micah Oliver, president for the Black Student Union, tells ABC 27.

More than 100 students turned out to a Black Student Union meeting to discuss the signs.

“There was fear expressed, anger, disappointment – all of that,” according to Oliver.

And then, Ashley Powell, a black graduate student, stood up in the meeting to admit she had hung the signs, claiming it was part of an “art project,” The Buffalo News reports.

“I apologize if you were hurt, but I do not apologize for what I did. "

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Worcester County Sheriff's Office Press Releases 9-21-15


On September 19, 2015 at approximately 2347 hours, A deputy was patrol on Old Bridge Rd. in the area of Keyser Point Rd. West Ocean City, Md. when they stopped a vehicle for a moving violation. Upon contact with the operator and passengers of the vehicle, a K9 scan was conducted on the vehicle resulting in a positive alert. A search of the vehicle was conducted and deputies located an amount of heroin and paraphanalia. The operator was identified as, Shawn James Lewis, 25, Dagsboro, Delaware. Mr. Lewis was arrested and charged with: possession of a controlled dangerous substance – not marijuana, possession with intent to distribute, and 2 counts of possession of drug paraphanalia. Lewis was taken before a district court commissioner where he was held in on $5000.00 bond pending a trial date.

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On September 18, 2015 at approximately 2105 hours, Deputies were conducting a premise check at 12848 Ocean Gateway, West Ocean City Park and Ride, Ocean City, Md. when they were approached by a citizen reporting a male harassing a female in the area of the bus station. Deputies identified the female as Kim Van Duuren, 37, Salisbury ,Md. While speaking with Van Duuren, she admitted to having marijuana in the bag. A search of the bag revealed Van Duuren was in possession of various types and amounts of narcotic prescription pills of which she was not prescribed. Through further investigation, Deputies learned Van Duuren purchased the prescribed narcotic pills from another individual who they were prescribed too. Van Duuren was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance-not marijuana. Ms. Van Duuren was taken before a district court commissioner where she was released pending trial 

Volkswagen Stock Plummets As CEO Apologizes For Emissions Cheat

"I personally am deeply sorry that we have broken the trust of our customers and the public," says Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn, days after the EPA said the German carmaker had purposefully rigged its diesel cars to pass emissions tests.

The CEO's sentiments did not stop investors from punishing VW's stock Monday, when they hacked away nearly a quarter of the company's market value.

"The shares plunged as much as 23 percent to 125.40 euros in Frankfurt, extending the stock's slump for the year to 31 percent," Bloomberg reports. "The drop wiped out about 15.4 billion euros ($17.4 billion) in value."

The steep drop came Monday, the first day of trading since the Environmental Protection Agency said it had found Volkswagen had for years used trickery to get around U.S. emissions laws.

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FEC Chair: Feds Must Help Americans Make 'Thoughtful' Contributions

The chairwoman of the federal agency responsible for overseeing the nation's campaign finance laws has suggested that federal authorities should help Americans to make "thoughtful" political contributions.

The comment came during a Thursday meeting of the Federal Election Commission. The agency was considering whether to issue an advisory decision for an organization called "Democracy Rules" that created a game-like platform for making political contributions.

According to the rules of the platform, participants vote for one of a few issues in a given category, like immigration, that matter the most to them. Democracy Rules then identifies non-profit organizations or candidates likely to support the objectives of the winning side, and individuals pledge cash — as little as a dollar — in order to receive a vote on who should receive the money. In the last round, participants vote on whether to send the pooled funds to the winning organization or candidate.

The FEC's three Republicans voted to issue an advisory opinion of approval, while the three Democrats voted against granting permission.

"Yes, I believe the American people are intelligent enough to make decisions," said Democratic FEC chairwoman Ann Ravel. "But many of them also contribute to ... sham PACs, over which we have no control. So in some cases, there's a necessity for protection for some people to ensure that they're not, that they're able to make thoughtful, fair decisions."

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When Is Assassination Not Assassination? When the Government Says So

“If it’s premeditated assassination, why call it a ‘targeted killing?’”

It’s one of the most memorable scenes in Apocalypse Now. Martin Sheen’s Green Beret captain is being briefed on his mission to find Col. Walter Kurtz, played by Marlon Brando. “He’s out there operating without any decent restraint, totally beyond the pale of any acceptable human conduct,” a general tells the captain. A civilian spook then gives him a coded order: “Terminate with extreme prejudice.”

The line was no Hollywood creation but a euphemism that came to light in 1969, after a group of real Army Green Berets murdered a suspected Vietnamese double agent. The phrase, some of the soldiers said, was the CIA’s suggestion to them on dealing with the supposed turncoat.

Today, the preferred line for assassination is “targeted killing,” as in Greg Miller’s recent Washington Post exposé revealing that CIA and special operations forces have launched “a secret campaign to hunt terrorism suspects in Syria as part of a targeted killing program.”

How — or if — killing a human with a remote-controlled flying robot differs from, say, a Green Beret killing a rogue colonel, has been discussed and debated for years now. “If it’s premeditated assassination, why call it a ‘targeted killing?’” wrote Margaret Sullivan, the New York Times’ public editor, in 2013, channeling some of the complaints she received from readers.

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Carson on Immigration: ‘My Plan Is Not Amnesty’

Retired neurosurgeon Dr. Ben Carson said Wednesday at the GOP presidential debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Calif., that his immigration plan is “not amnesty,” because the illegal immigrants who will be allowed to stay in the U.S. as guest workers don’t have the privileges of U.S. citizens.

“Senator [Ted] Cruz describes plans such as yours as amnesty. Why is your plan not amnesty?” CNN’s Jake Tapper asked.

“My plan is not amnesty for a number of reasons. Number one, you know, I've talked to farmers, and they said they cannot hire Americans to do the kind of job that I'm talking about, and the second reason is because the individuals who register as guest workers, they don't get to vote. They are not American citizens, and they don't get the rights and privileges of American citizens. So that's key,” said Carson.

“Those who are here, you know, we have to recognize that we can't just round them up, but we can give them an opportunity to register. I would give them a six-month period, and if they register and they have a pristine record, they haven't been causing problems, I would give them an opportunity to become guest workers, not citizens, not voting people, not people who get goodies,” Carson said at the time.

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Former California Governors Call for Change to Teacher Tenure Laws

Former California Govs. Pete Wilson and Arnold Schwarzenegger and constitutional scholar Laurence Tribe have submitted a court filing arguing that California’s teacher tenure laws enable incompetent teachers to keep their jobs, hurting some of the state’s neediest students.

In a filing to the Second District Court of Appeal in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Tribe and lawyers for Wilson and Schwarzenegger argue that it is “nearly impossible to remove ineffective teachers from classrooms” because of California state laws.

California’s tenure laws allow a school to fire a teacher for any reason during the first two years of employment. After that it is required to show of “good cause” before an independent panel for dismissals. Schools must also dismiss the least-experienced teachers first during layoffs, but make exceptions for newer teachers whose specialized training and experience meet their district’s needs. A 2005 California ballot initiative that would increase the time a teacher could be fired from two years to five was voted down by 55 percent.

The appeals court is reviewing a June 2014 ruling by Rolf Treu, a Superior Court judge in Los Angeles, declaring the tenure and seniority laws unconstitutional. Treu found the laws violate the right of students to educational equality and “impose a disproportionate burden on poor and minority students,” who are more likely to be taught by inexperienced and unqualified teachers. It was the first such ruling by any state in the nation.

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The Anchor Baby Myth

There is a raging political debate about immigration in the U.S., or more specifically about the consequences of illegal immigration. Solutions have been hotly contested and evaded for decades.

In the current election cycle, Donald Trump has reignited that debate. Trump rightly states, “The U.S. has become a dumping ground for everybody else’s problems.” His mantra on the topic is, “They’ve got to go!”

Regardless of your opinion of Trump’s populist antics, making immigration a centerpiece of his presidential rhetoric has forced both Republicans and Democrats to clarify their positions on this issue — and not a minute too soon!

The current debate centers on whether or not to “repeal” birthright citizenship. But framing this argument with the word “repeal,” whether by legislation or constitutional amendment, implies that there is something in our Constitution or subsequent legislation that already affirms a right to birthright citizenship. No such provision exists, except as wholly misinterpreted by courts and propagated by politicians pandering for mostly Hispanic and Latino votes.

Note that in Jefferson’s words regarding immigration he specifies “our laws acknowledge … your right to join us” and the requirement that immigrants conform “to our established rules.”

But, as usual, “laws” and “rules” are now wholly ignored in favor of political expedience.

What law was Jefferson referencing?

Before addressing the current immigration fiasco, let’s revisit some fundamental constitutional Rule of Law in regard to immigration.

State Wants Certain Officer To Go On Trial 1st In Gray Case

Prosecutors want a specific police officer to go on trial first in the Freddie Gray case because they say the officer will be called as a witness to testify against two other members of the force, according to a letter sent to the judge.

Gray died after suffering a critical spinal injury while in police custody and six officers have been charged in his arrest and death.

Chief Deputy State's Attorney Michael Schatzow asked Judge Barry Williams on Tuesday to schedule Officer William Porter's trial first because he is "a necessary and material witness in the cases against" Officer Caesar Goodson and Sgt. Alicia White.

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TAKING BIOSECURITY MEASURES TO LIMIT YOUR LEGAL LIABILITY FOR THE SPREAD OF AVIAN INFLUENZA

The possibility of an avian influenza (AI) outbreak on the Delmarva is a scary possibility. The recent AI outbreak in the Midwest has resulted in the infection of over 48 million birds on 223 farms. Infected birds are euthanized to help contain the disease, resulting in large economic loss to both the grower and integrator.

With this in mind, poultry growers and companies often have questions about potential liability if AI breaks out on one farm (Grower A) and then on a neighboring farm (Grower B). Could Grower A be liable to Grower B for damages caused by the disease? Under the traditional view, Grower A would not be liable for the spread of the disease unless it was shown that Grower A was negligent. Growers, poultry companies, and contractors practicing biosecurity measures can demonstrate he/she was not negligent and is working to prevent the spread of AI.

Negligence

Negligence is simply failure to exercise a duty of careunder the circumstances. This means that you failed to act as a reasonable and prudent person would have in the same situation. Courts have found that negligence has four elements which need to be proven:
Party owed a duty of care to act reasonable under the circumstances to the injured party;
Party breached that duty of care;
Breach was the proximate cause of the injury; and
Actual damages occurred.

When looking at negligence in a livestock contagious disease situation, a grower would have a duty to conduct the operation in a reasonably safe way and in a reasonable fashion to prevent a contagious disease from spreading to neighboring operations. Breaching that duty would come from failure to practice good biosecurity protocols to prevent the spread of AI. The proximate cause of the breach would be from the failure to practice biosecurity, causing a neighboring landowner to have an outbreak of AI. Actual damages would be shown through loss of income due to loss of birds from the decontamination process.

For example, Grower A is concerned he has AI in a house and calls neighbor, Grower B, to compare birds. Grower A enters Grower B’s poultry house without cleaning his boots or putting on booties, gloves, or any other protective gear. A few days later, Grower B’s birds show signs of AI. Grower B could potentially recover from Grower A in a lawsuit for negligence.

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Cardin Addressed NAACP Rally for Justice, Calls for Ending Racial Profiling, Restoring Voting Rights, Promoting Economic Equality

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), author of the End Racial Profiling Act, discussed the need to continue to fight for justice, civil rights, voting rights and equal economic opportunity at the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People’s (NAACP) America’s Journey for Justice rally at the U.S. Capitol Wednesday.

“The NAACP’s Justice Summer March gives me great hope for this country. I was honored to stand among the men and women who have trekked more than a thousand miles to call on Congress to restore voting rights, end racial profiling and promote economic equality for all Americans. The immense diversity of people representing civil rights groups, religious groups, environmental groups and the hard working men and women of our labor unions shows just how deep the desire for justice is in this country.

Congressman Andy Harris to Participate in the Washington Post’s “Religion in America” Event

WASHINGTON, DC: Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01) will be participating in the Washington Post’s “Religion in America” event on Monday, September 21st, 2015. “Religion in America” will be an in-depth conversation on how Pope Francis is shaping global politics and Catholicism. Congressman Harris will be joined on stage by Chris Matthews, host of MSNBC’s “Hardball with Chris Matthews,” Rep. Loretta Sanchez, andHon. Francis Rooney, Former U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See.

The event will be live streamed on the Washington Post’s website. For those who would like to attend please see attached invitation on click here to learn more about the event and RSVP.

Doors open at 8:45 a.m. and the program will begin promptly at 9:15 a.m. Congressman Harris’ panel will begin at approximately 9:45 a.m.

Date: Monday, September 21, 2015

Time: 9:15-10:15 a.m.

Location: The Washington Post, 1150 15th St NW, Washington, DC 20071

Five lessons about the way we treat people


    1 - First Important Lesson - Cleaning Lady.


During my second month of college, our professor 

Gave us a pop quiz. I was a conscientious student


And had breezed through the questions until I read

The last one:


"What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?"

Surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the 

Cleaning woman several times. She was tall,

Dark-haired and in her 50's, but how would I know her name?



I handed in my paper, leaving the last question

Blank. Just before class ended, one student asked if 

The last question would count toward our quiz grade.



"Absolutely, " said the professor.. "In your careers,

You will meet many people.  All are significant.. They

Deserve your attention and care, even if all you do 

Is smile and say "hello.."



I've never forgotten that lesson.. I also learned her

Name was Dorothy. 



2. - Second Important Lesson - Pickup in the Rain       



One night, at 11:30 p.m., an older African American

Woman was standing on the side of an Alabama highway

Trying to endure a lashing rain storm. Her car had

Broken down and she desperately needed a ride.

Soaking wet, she decided to flag down the next car. 

A young white man stopped to help her, generally

Unheard of in those conflict-filled 1960's. The man

Took her to safety, helped her get assistance and

Put her into a taxicab.



She seemed to be in a big hurry, but wrote down his

Address and thanked him. Seven days went by and a

Knock came on the man's door. To his surprise, a

Giant console color TV was delivered to his home. A 

Special note was attached.



It read:

"Thank you so much for assisting me on the highway

The other night. The rain drenched not only my

Clothes, but also my spirits.  Then you came along. 

Because of you, I was able to make it to my dying

Husband's' bedside just before he passed away... God

Bless you for helping me and unselfishly serving

Others."



Sincerely, 

Mrs. Nat King Cole. 



3 - Third Important Lesson - Always remember those

Who serve. 



In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less,
A 10-year-old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and
Sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of water in
Front of him.

"How much is an ice cream sundae?" he asked.
"Fifty cents," replied the waitress.


The little boy pulled his hand out of his pocket and
Studied the coins in it. "Well, how much is a plain dish
of ice cream?" he inquired.


By now more people were waiting for a table and the
Waitress was growing impatient.. 

"Thirty-five cents," she brusquely replied.
The little boy again counted his coins.

"I'll have the plain ice cream," he said.
The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on
The table and walked away The boy finished the ice
Cream, paid the cashier and left.  When the waitress
Came back, she began to cry as she wiped down
   
the  Table.  There, placed neatly beside the empty dish,

Were two nickels and five pennies..

You see,  he couldn't  have the sundae, because he had
To have enough left to leave her a tip. 



  
4 - Fourth Important Lesson. - The obstacle in Our Path. 


In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a
Roadway.  Then he hid himself and watched to see if
Anyone would remove the huge rock.  Some of the
King's' wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by
And simply walked around it..  Many loudly blamed the
King for not keeping the roads clear, but none did
Anything about getting the stone out of the way.

Then a peasant came along carrying a load of
Vegetables.  Upon approaching the boulder, the
peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the
stone to the side of the road.  After much pushing
and straining, he finally succeeded. After the
peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed
a purse lying in the road where the boulder had
been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note
from the King indicating that the gold was for the
person who removed the boulder from the roadway.  The
peasant learned what many of us never understand!

Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve
our condition. 




5 - Fifth Important Lesson - Giving When it Counts...       


Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at a
hospital, I got to know a little girl named Liz who
was suffering from a rare & serious disease.  Her only
chance of recovery appeared to be a blood
transfusion from her 5-year old brother, who had
miraculously survived the same disease and had
developed the antibodies needed to combat the
illness.  The doctor explained the situation to her
little brother, and asked the little boy if he would
be willing to give his blood to his sister. 

I saw him hesitate for only a moment before taking a
deep breath and saying, "Yes I'll do it if it will
Save her."  As the transfusion progressed, he lay in bed
next to his sister and smiled, as we all did, seeing
the color returning to her cheek. Then his face
grew pale and his smile faded.

He looked up at the doctor and asked with a
trembling voice, "Will I start to die right away
   ?   

Being young, the little boy had misunderstood the
doctor; he thought he was going to have to give his
sister all of his blood in order to save her. 

Pedestrian Killed After Being Struck by Train

Newport - The Delaware State Police are currently investigating a collision involving an Amtrak train that struck and killed a pedestrian near Newport.

The incident occurred at approximately 1:07 a.m. this morning, Sunday September 20, 2015, on the train tracks between Water Street and E. Ayre Street approximately .4 miles east of SR141. A preliminary investigation indicates an Amtrak train struck and killed a pedestrian. The pedestrian, who has not yet been identified, was removed from the scene by the Delaware Division of Forensic Science.

Detectives are continuing their investigation into this incident and more information will be released when it becomes available.