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Thursday, June 21, 2018

DOJ’s Watchdog: FBI Refusing To Allow Anti-Trump Agents To Be Named

The FBI has asked the Justice Department’s office of the inspector general to withhold from Congress the names of three bureau employees found to have exchanged anti-Trump text messages, including from one attorney who worked on the special counsel’s investigation.

“We went to the FBI. The FBI raised a concern because they work on counterintelligence matters, and we are working with the committee to try and get the information you’ve asked for,” Michael Horowitz, the DOJ’s inspector general, testified to Congress on Tuesday.

“So the FBI does not want their names released?” Texas Rep. Ted Poe asked Horowitz.

“Correct,” the inspector general replied.

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Report: Diane Feinstein’s Immigration Bill Would Prevent Almost Every Federal Arrest

Feinstein’s “Keep Families Together Act” would “essentially prevent arrest within 100 miles of the border, even if the person has committed a serious crime or is suspected of terrorist activities.”

Every single Senate Democrat has backed a bill by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) that would effectively prevent authorities from arresting illegal aliens within 100 miles of the U.S. border.

In the words of moderate Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, Feinstein’s “Keep Families Together Act” would “essentially prevent arrest within 100 miles of the border, even if the person has committed a serious crime or is suspected of terrorist activities.”

For that reason, Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) has called Feinstein’s bill the “Child Trafficking Encouragement Act,” since it would create incentives for illegal aliens to cross the border with children to evade arrest by authorities.

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Socialist Activist Who Harassed Homeland Security Secretary Works For The Department Of Justice

One of the activists who chased Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen out of a Mexican restaurant Tuesday night over the Trump administration’s immigration policies is an employee of the Department of Justice, The Daily Caller News Foundation has confirmed.

Members of the Washington, D.C., chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America crashed Nielsen’s meal with a demonstration full of chants and other outbursts.

One of those participants, Allison Hrabar, actually works for the Trump administration — as a paralegal in the DOJ.

“Kirstjen Nielsen, you’re a villain, locking up immigrant children,” activists can be heard saying in a video.

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Trump Campaign Manager: Fire Jeff Sessions, End Mueller Probe

President Donald Trump’s campaign manager on Tuesday called for the firing of Attorney General Jeff Sessions and an end to the special counsel’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.

“Time to fire Sessions. End the Mueller investigation,” Brad Parscale, the manager of Trump’s 2020 campaign committee, wrote on Twitter.

“You can’t obstruct something that was phony against you The IG report gives @therealDonaldTrump the truth to end it all.”

Parscale was referring to a Department of Justice inspector general’s report released Friday that showed that in August 2016 the top FBI agent who handled the Russia investigation wrote that “we’ll stop” Trump from becoming president.

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Bombshells Everywhere During Horowitz Day 2 Testimony

Inspector General Michael Horowitz returned to Capitol Hill on Tuesday to answer questions at a joint hearing of the House Judiciary and Oversight committees, one day after he testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee.

While Monday's testimony by Horowitz and FBI Director Christopher Wray was certainly eye-opening - Congressional Investigators uncovered several game-changing bombshells on Tuesday that will re-frame the entire discussion. Hat-tip to Paul Sperry for reporting these stunning developments in real time.

There were no actual subjects of the Hillary Clinton email investigation, meaning that neither Hillary nor any of her top aides - including Huma Abedin and the IT guys who set up her illegal server and then used "bleachbit" to destroy evidence (for which they received immunity) - were ever under any direct FBI scrutiny. Horowitz found this "surprising." 

FBI Agent Strzok Was Escorted Out Of FBI Building

In the aftermath of the publication of the Inspector General's report on FBI abuse, if there was one thing that was made abundantly clear, it was that FBI special agent Peter Strzok - who was in charge of the Clinton email investigation and then probed Trump for "Russian collusion" while texting his lover Lisa Page that "we'll stop" Trump from becoming president - was acting out of pure, political bias and anger at Clinton's loss. It was certainly not lost on Trump, who made his feelings on the subject abundantly clear on twitter:

Comey gave Strozk his marching orders. Mueller is Comey’s best friend. Witch Hunt! (source)

“The highest level of bias I’ve ever witnessed in any law enforcement officer.” Trey Gowdy on the FBI’s own, Peter Strzok. Also remember that they all worked for Slippery James Comey and that Comey is best friends with Robert Mueller. A really sick deal, isn’t it? (source)

The IG Report totally destroys James Comey and all of his minions including the great lovers, Peter Strzok and Lisa Page, who started the disgraceful Witch Hunt against so many innocent people. It will go down 
as a dark and dangerous period in American History! (source)

FBI Agent Peter Strzok, who headed the Clinton & Russia investigations, texted to his lover Lisa Page, in the IG Report, that “we’ll stop” candidate Trump from becoming President. Doesn’t get any lower than that! (source)

And while Lisa Page had the wits to quit shortly before the publication of the OIG report, Strzok did not and in fact was still employed at the time of the report's publication last Thursday. But maybe not much longer because as CNN first reported, Strzok was escorted out of the FBI building on Friday, even though he is still technically employed and, as we reported some time ago, he has been stationed in Human Resources since dismissal from Mueller team.

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Arkansas thief is busted after he tries to pay waitress with her OWN credit card that he stole from her two days earlier

An Arkansas waitress was left stunned after a customer tried to pay his check with her credit card that had been stolen just days earlier.

Flora Lunsford, 58, who works at Shannon's Restaurant in Pine Bluff, Arkansas was about to run Shamon West's credit card when she noticed her own name appearing on the plastic that he had given her.

Lunsford's purse had been stolen two days prior after her car had been broken into at a gas station, two blocks away from Shannon's Restaurant.

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Canada Becomes Second Country To Legalize Weed

Canada is on track to become the first G-7 nation to legalize marijuana, and the second country in the world (after Uruguay), after its Senate approved legislation in a 52-29 vote, paving the way for recreational cannabis to be legally bought and sold within the next few months.

The vote clears the way for the government in Ottawa to take the final step: The ceremonial approval of by the governor-general that would make Bill C-45 law. Still, not all of the details have been ironed out. For example, the date for when the law would take effect remains unclear. And lawmakers have said it will take a few months for producers and retail stores to stock up and get ready for legal sales to begin, according to Bloomberg.

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Michigan woman who lied about being raped on college campus sentenced to jail

A Michigan woman who lied about being raped on her college campus was sentenced to jail time on Monday.

Mary Zolkowski, 21, was sentenced to 45 days in jail after pleading guilty to fabricating a story about being sexually assaulted in a parking lot at Delta College in Bay County,MLive.com reported.

Judge Joseph Sheeran, who also ordered the woman receive a mental health assessment, did not give Zolwolski credit for previous time served.

Sheeran deferred the woman to an additional 220 days in jail, which she'll only have to serve if she violates probation, according to the news outlet. She will be on probation for two years after her jail term. Zolwolski will also have to be tested for drugs and alcohol and partake in substance abuse counseling.

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Taxation=Theft

Theft is defined as “the taking of another person’s property or services without that person’s permission or consent.”

Almost invariably, governments pass tax laws and set tax rates without any consultation with the citizenry. Further, no final approval is sought by the citizenry that they consent to the tax or the rates. It is simply imposed.

Most of us tend not to regard taxation as theft, yet, by definition, that’s exactly what it is.

But some countries, notably the US, go further in disguising the theft, by stating that the payment of tax is “voluntary.” I personally am not aware of a single instance in which an individual or corporation decided not to pay a tax and, if discovered, was allowed to go unpunished. A typical penalty is a fine equal to the tax amount, plus compounded interest on both the tax and the fine. Such a condition is anything but voluntary.

The US also has a tradition of treating the payment of tax as being “patriotic.” Avoiding tax is deemed unpatriotic—therefore, citizens should take pride in paying tax and, in fact, many Americans do claim that they’re proud to pay tax. It would also seem likely that some resent taxation, but want to appear patriotic, whilst others truly wear taxation as a hair shirt with pride.

However, if we define taxation as what it is—theft—it would be far less likely that either of these factions would be taking this position. After all, no one takes pride in being robbed.

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Analysis –Crooked Comey Reopened Hillary Email Case in October 2016 Because Good Cops in the FBI Leaked Info to Congress – Comey Later Fired the Good Cops

Fired and Corrupt FBI Head James Comey said that he only heard about Hillary’s emails located on Anthony Weiner’s laptop in late October of 2016. But then he said that he was scared that the FBI in New York would release the emails if he didn’t reopen the investigation.

After performing another fake review of the emails, the FBI again exonerated Hillary a few days before the November election.

Now Chairman Devin Nunes from the House reports that they had received the emails before the 2016 election. It looks more probable that the emails were leaked to Congress and that is why Comey reopened the case.

No worries, Comey made sure it doesn’t happen again as FBI Agents in New York were later fired as noted by corrupt FBI Agent Peter Strzok in a text to his corrupt FBI attorney girlfriend Lisa Page.

The FBI Director in Charge (ADIC) of New York Office William Sweeney was told about the discovery of huge numbers of Clinton emails on Anthony Weiner’s laptop on September 28, 2016. Weiner was a perp who was married to Hillary’s top aide Huma Abedin and was Senator Chuck Schumer’s protégé. He was under investigation for sexting an underage girl.

I'm going to piece this together from just two sources. The @JusticeOIG report and @Comey own book, "A Higher Loyalty"

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The Salisbury Zoo regretfully announces the passing of their 25-year-old male American Bison, Bubba

The Salisbury Zoo regretfully announces the passing of their 25-year-old male American Bison, Bubba, who was humanely euthanized this week.

He was born on July 12, 1993, at the Oglebay Good Zoo in Wheeling West Virginia. The Salisbury Zoo acquired the male bison at 4 months from Oglebay in October of 1993. He sired one female in 2001 which currently resides at the Salisbury Zoo. The Salisbury Zoo has been exhibiting this keystone land mammal for over 50 years and has a long history with American Bison conservation.

Within the last few months, zookeepers began to notice apparent changes in the bison’s mobility. Zookeepers addressed the symptoms with medication. But within this past month, his health declined rapidly. Staff assessed his quality of life and the decision was made to humanely euthanize him. A post-mortem exam is scheduled.

In 2016, President Obama signed the National Bison Legacy Act into law, making the American bison the national mammal of the United States. Bison were plentiful in the early 1800’s but by the late 1800’s there were only a few hundred left in the United States after unregulated shooting and habitat loss occurred during the settlement of the west. With the help of the Department of Interior, the American Bison Society, and the New York Zoological Society, the number of American Bison rose in the early 1900’s. Yellowstone National Park bison population is estimated at 4900.

Breaking News: Federal health officials asked the Pentagon to prepare to house as many as 20,000 unaccompanied migrant children on military bases

New, makeshift detention facilities are being envisioned to house thousands of immigrant families that are crossing illegally into the United States following President Trump’s executive order on Wednesday, which called for detaining parents and children together instead of separating them.

Hypocrats: Obama Used Same So-Called ‘Cages’ to Detain Child Border Crossers

The so-called “cages” being used by federal immigration officials to detain child border crossers in detention facilities are the same barriers that were used by former President Obama’s administration.

A series of rare photos taken from inside detention facilities where mostly Central American minors were held in detention under the Obama administration in 2014 reveals that detention of border crossers has largely remained the same under Trump as it was under the previous administration.

For weeks, the establishment media has referred to the detention facilities where federal immigration officials are holding child border crossers as “cages” and one Senate Democrat even called the facilities “dog kennels.”

CBS News, Time Magazine, Business Insider, NBC News, and their counterparts in the Democratic Party have continuously claimed migrant children are being held in cages, specifically pointing to photos from a detention facility in McAllen, Texas. These same barriers, though, were used in that McAllen detention facility under President Obama when the establishment media was silent on the issue.

These images from 2014 reveal how the Obama administration used the same so-called “cages” to detain child border crossers:

Mueller’s Bumbling Special Counsel Team Is Getting Pummeled in Court

The attorneys representing Concord Management, one of the Russian Companies that the corrupt Mueller team accused of impacting the 2016 Presidential election, crushed the “Unlawfully Appointed Special Counsel” in court last week again.
They continue to make a laughing stock out of the Mueller team of misfit and conflicted attorneys.

Mueller’s team of ignorant and misguided attorneys really have no chance. They never expected anyone to take them to court on their fake Russian indictments and are certainly no match for the attorneys representing Concord Management.

We first reported that Concord Management’s lawyer’s previously said Mueller indicted “the proverbial ham sandwich.” The reason the Concord Management attorneys called the case a ‘proverbial ham sandwich’ was because one of the entities indicted by the Mueller team, Concord Catering, was not in existence at the time the crimes were alleged to have taken place.

Next we reported on May 18th that the Mueller case against the Russians was falling apart. Lawyers defending the Russian company Concord Management indicted by the corrupt Mueller team again called out Mueller’s liberal hacks and labeled their allegations as “made up” nonsense. Concord Management’s lawyers revealed that Mueller’s team ignored over 70 discovery requests they had made for information before the case. In response Mueller’s team offered to give Concord Management’s lawyers a massive amount of social media data from those dangerous trolls (jk) who sought to influence the US election and the majority of it was in RUSSIAN. Mueller’s lawyers then admitted they don’t even have English translations for the Russian social media posts.

So Mueller’s lawyers don’t have English translations to the Russian social media posts but we’re supposed to believe that Americans were influenced by these posts?

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Why is the Democrats' bizarre IT scandal being ignored?

While the focus in Washington, D.C. remains centered on the Mueller Russia probe, we cannot lose sight of another ongoing investigation on Capitol Hill. At the center of this developing scandal are the nefarious actions of a former Democratic congressional IT aide indicted last year on bank fraud charges, who at the time was being paid by a high-profile member of Congress although he was barred from the House computer systems.

While the case has not received a lot of mainstream media attention, the details are sordid. Not only does the case raise serious national security and obstruction of justice concerns, it also suggests a blatant cover-up on the part of the lawmakers involved.

Our story begins in the early 2000s when an IT contractor named Imran Awan began doing work for a number of House Members. He was later joined in this work by seven other family members who had almost little or no computer technology expertise, including his wife and two brothers. One of Awan’s brothers at 20 years old was earning the same amount as a member of Congress. After being fired from one office for “incompetence” the other congressional offices continued to pay him.

In February of 2016 the House Office of Inspector General revealed that $120,000 in office equipment belonging to the office of Congresswoman Yvette Clarke, D-N.Y., went missing. At the time, Imran’s brother Abid Awan worked for Representative Clarke in an IT capacity and was believed to be involved in the equipment’s disappearance.

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http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2018/06/19/why-is-democrats-bizarre-it-scandal-being-ignored.html

Horowitz disputes Democrats' repeated assertion that he found no partisanship in FBI Hillary probe

A government watchdog on Monday challenged a favorite Democratic talking point that his review of the FBI’s conduct during the Hillary Clinton email investigation found no evidence of bias against President Donald Trump.

“We made very clear we were not saying that as to every single decision,” Department of Justice (DOJ) Inspector General (IG) Michael Horowitz told the Senate Judiciary Committee. Horowitz (pictured above left) was responding to a question from Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas).

Cornyn also asked if it was a fair inference that then-FBI Director James Comey’s belief that Clinton would be the next president and his desire to stay on the job affected his handling of the case.

“I think that was the concern we had. Certainly where it’s even clearer in that October time period, because of the testimony that indicated when he explained through his chief of staff why he was going to do what he did on October 28 [when he closed the investigation again] — he was concerned about his survivability,” Horowitz said.

Horowitz emphasized that hostility toward Trump may have impacted actions by the FBI after the no-prosecution decision was made.

More here

Southern Poverty Law Center's settlement with 'extremist' organization trashes credibility

The Southern Poverty Law Center took a devastating hit to its credibility and reinforced its reputation for unfairly wielding the “hate” label Monday by agreeing to pay millions of dollars to an organization previously included on a list of “extremists.”

In a stunning settlement, SPLC President Richard Cohen issued an apology and agreed to pay $3.375 million to the British-based Quilliam Foundation and founder Maajid Nawaz after they appeared in a since-deleted 2016 journalists’ guide to “anti-Muslim extremists.”

The agreement, reached after Mr. Nawaz threatened to sue, prompted the center’s many critics on the right to reissue calls for media outlets and companies, which include Google and Amazon, to stop relying on the center for neutral “hate group” assessments.

Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, one of 954 groups listed on the SPLC’s “hate map,” argued that the settlement terms “leave the media and big business with no excuse in continuing to use the SPLC as an objective, independent source.”

“It’s appalling and offensive for the Southern Poverty Law Center to compare peaceful organizations which condemn violence and racism with violent and racist groups just because it disagrees with their views,” said Alliance Defending Freedom Vice President Jeremy Tedesco.

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U.S. could back 1st marijuana-derived medicine, and some are worried

A British pharmaceutical company is getting closer to a decision on whether the U.S government will approve the first prescription drug derived from the marijuana plant, but parents who for years have used cannabis to treat severe forms of epilepsy in their children are feeling more cautious than celebratory.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is expected to decide by the end of the month whether to approve GW Pharmaceuticals‘ Epidiolex. It’s a purified form of cannabidiol — a component of cannabis that doesn’t get users high — to treat Dravet and Lennox-Gastaut syndromes in kids. Both forms of epilepsy are rare.

Meagan Patrick is among the parents using CBD to treat symptoms in their children. She moved from Maine to Colorado in 2014 so she could legally get CBD for her now-5-year-old daughter, Addelyn, who was born with a brain malformation that causes seizures.

Advocates like Patrick became particularly concerned when GW Pharmaceuticals‘ U.S. commercial business, Greenwich Biosciences, began quietly lobbying to change states’ legal definition of marijuana, beginning in 2017 with proposals in Nebraska and South Dakota.

Some worried the company’s attempt to ensure its product could be legally prescribed and sold by pharmacies would have a side effect: curtailing medical marijuana programs already operating in more than two dozen states.

The proposals generally sought to remove CBD from states’ legal definition of marijuana, allowing it to be prescribed by doctors and supplied by pharmacies. But the change only applies to products that have FDA approval.

“As a company, we understand there’s a significant bu$ine$$ building up,” spokesman Stephen Schultz said. “All we want to do is make $ure our product is acce$$ible.”

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BREAKING NEWS: FRUITLAND POLICE CHIEF MIKE PHILLIPS TO RETIRE JULY 1, 2018

The Fruitland City Council announces the retirement of Police Chief Michael J. Phillips, who will retire July 1st of this year. Under Chief Phillips’ leadership of over 10 years the department has proven to be one of the most professional and premier police departments resulting in Fruitland being one of the safest municipalities in the State. The Fruitland City Council, The Fruitland Police Department and city staff, wish Chief Phillips all the best in his retirement from law enforcement, a career spanning over 33 years, and thank him for his dedication and service.

Additionally, The Fruitland City Council announces that Fruitland City Police Lieutenant Brian Swafford will be promoted to the rank of Chief, effective July 1, 2018.

WCSO Press Release - June 20, 2018

Incident: Burglary
Date of Incident: 06-19-18
Location: 31000 block of Melson Rd, Delmar, MD
Suspect: Culley, Dylan Tyler. 18 of Delmar
Narrative: On 6-19-18, Deputies were dispatched to a residence in the 31000 block of Melson Rd, Delmar for a burglary in progress. The victim was hiding in the house and called police. The suspect, who is familiar with the residents, entered the house after being told not to trespass the day prior. The caller saw Dylan Culley exit the house and leave in a vehicle. Deputies located the vehicle fleeing the scene and arrested Culley without incident.

Charges: 4th degree Burglary, Trespassing

Here Are The Photos Of Obama’s Illegal Immigrant Detention Facilities The Media Won’t Show You

The media and political class become more and more outraged over the Trump administration’s decision to detain and prosecute immigrants illegally crossing the border.

Lost in the debate is any acknowledgment that President Obama’s administration also used detention facilities.

Current U.S. immigration laws, when enforced, have the consequence of temporarily separating adults who arrive with children into separate detention facilities in order to prosecute the adults.

The policy of prosecuting immigrants for crossing the border illegally has been in place for multiple administrations. The Obama administration prosecuted half a million illegal immigrants and similarly separated families in the process. So did the Bush administration.

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Southern Poverty Law Center Has More Than $90 Million In Offshore Funds

The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), a left-wing nonprofit known for its "hate group" designations, now has $92 million in offshore investment funds, according to financial statements.

The SPLC, which has come under fire from across the political spectrum for some of its "extremist" labeling of groups, has been thriving since President Donald Trump entered the White House.

The controversial organization reported $477 million in total assets and $132 million in contributions on its most recent tax forms, which cover Nov. 1, 2016 to Oct. 31, 2017. That represents an increase of $140 million in its total assets from the previous year. Millions flowed to the group following the deadly Charlottesville, Va. attacks from employees at companies including JP Morgan Chase and Apple as well as from actors such as George Clooney.

As part of its business dealings, the SPLC holds tens of millions in offshore entities.

"Those on both the Left and Right have the same question: what kind of nonprofit that has ‘poverty' in its name hoards nearly a hundred million dollars in offshore accounts? The SPLC will now have to update its treasure map to keep track of its massive offshore fortune," said Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Jerry Boykin, the executive vice president of the Family Research Council.

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Comey Hits Back At Hillary: "She Doesn't Understand What Her Case Was About"

James Comey hit back at Hillary Clinton after the former secretary of state sniped at him over a Justice Department inspector general report which revealed that the former FBI director used a private email address to conduct official business - while his FBI was investigating Hillary for her own use of private systems.
In an interview with the German newspaper Die Zeit, Comey refused to apologize to Clinton - stressing the difference between his personal use of email for unclassified information vs. her use, which involved classified information.

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Permits Plunge But Starts Surge As Housing Data Suggests Rough Future Ahead

After April's disappointing dip in starts and permits, and following an unexpected drop in homebuilder optimism (blamed on surging lumber prices, and therefore Trump), May was expected to see a modest rebound - but it didn't work out that way.

It was a very mixed picture that paints an ugly scenario for what comes next...

Housing Starts surged a huge 5.0% MoM in May (smashing the 1.9% rebound expected) after a revised 3.1% drop in April.

Building Permits plunged a shocking 4.6% MoM (notably worse than the 1.0% decline expected) and dramatically worse than the revised 0.9% MoM drop in April.

Starts rose most since January as Permits puked most since Feb 2017...

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Climate Resilience Grants Awarded to 14 Maryland Communities

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources today announced $700,000 inClimate Resilience Grants to help communities prepare for and recover from climate-related impacts. The competitive grants are designed to help strengthen a community’s ability to assess risk through planning and construct solutions to boost their capacity to withstand flooding and other weather-related events.

“We have already witnessed the devastating effects that severe rain and storms can cause in our communities,” Maryland Natural Resources Secretary Mark Belton said. “This program aims to help our local partners become better prepared and more resilient so they are able to recover from and respond to climate-related challenges, risks and threats, be it flooding or sea level rise.”

Maryland communities awarded grant funding this year include:
Anne Arundel County – Funding for the West River United Methodist Center to address erosion, sea level rise and stormwater pollution by a living shoreline and regenerative stormwater conveyance systems in the West River.
Cecil County – To develop a countywide green infrastructure network and plan using state planning tools and public input.
City of Annapolis – Assistance to the city in its application to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s National Flood Insurance Program’s Community Rating System and public outreach on risk reduction to flooding.
City of Annapolis – To assist St. Mary’s Catholic Church in the development of a living shoreline along Spa Creek that works in tandem with on-site stormwater practices to address water quality and quantity.
City of Laurel – Assistance to the city in its application to Federal Emergency Management Agency’s National Flood Insurance Program’s Community Rating System and public outreach on risk reduction to flooding.
Somerset County – To conduct an assessment of drainage ditches in two areas of Deal Island, which will also identify mitigation needed to alleviate localized flooding.
Talbot County – To develop communication strategies around flooding risk and impacts, what community members should do during a flood, and how flooding impacts may change in the future
Town of Berlin – To develop a Resilience Element for the Comprehensive Plan, including public engagement, and addressing short and long term climate impacts.
Town of Charlestown – To develop a system wide inventory of the town’s stormwater drainage system with a prioritized list of improvements. Evaluate the town’s floodplain management regulations.
Town of Deale Beach – Assistance to the Deale Beach Citizens Association in the design of a living shoreline and to address storm impacts and wave energy.
Town of Hebron – To support the development of a study and resulting stormwater management plan to mitigate flooding issues.
Town of Oxford – To design green infrastructure practices that address coastal storm impacts, tidal flooding, and stormwater runoff on public and private properties.
Worcester County – To design a natural shoreline stabilization and marsh restoration project along Isle of Wight Bay to address recurrent community flooding and sea level rise.
Worcester County – To develop a wetland restoration and natural shoreline stabilization project on Tizzard Island in Chincoteague Bay.
Grants will be used to identify and prioritize vulnerable communities, incorporate climate change data and information into existing plans and policies, and develop nature-based or natural solutions to control flooding.

As Smaller Marijuana Businesses Get Squeezed, State Revenue Takes a Hit

New California law may help big cannabis farmers to the detriment of small growers.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Tyler Kearns, owner of the cannabis cultivation company Seven Leaves, stood in one of his half-dozen temperature-controlled grow rooms on a recent day, surveying a crop derived from the same mother plant.

“We have really tried to educate the general public through talks, tours, communication and presentations,” Kearns said, “to bring a better understanding of the legal California cannabis industry.”

But winning public favor is only half the battle for operations such as Seven Leaves. The other challenge is trying to survive as a small business in the state’s increasingly crowded cannabis industry. At about 10,000 square feet of indoor marijuana canopy, Seven Leaves is small for a California cultivator — the kind of business the new law was supposed to help.

The ballot measure legalizing recreational marijuana in California, which voters approved in 2016, promised that the recreational marijuana industry would “be built around small and medium-sized businesses.” Lawmakers placed size limits on cannabis cultivators and prohibited monopolies in the recreational market.

The goal was to protect nascent businesses from being crushed by big farms or well-financed conglomerates. The protections also were supposed to give existing pot businesses — especially those in the black market — a chance to transition to the legal, taxable recreational marijuana industry.

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Demo Party Leaders Don't Care About Children — Unless...

Demos don't want an immigration solution. They want fodder for political talking points to advance their statist agenda and undermine the Trump adminstration's economic policy success before midterm elections.

“The bosom of America is open to receive not only the Opulent and respectable Stranger, but the oppressed and persecuted of all Nations and Religions; whom we shall welcome to a participation of all our rights and privileges, if by decency and propriety of conduct they appear to merit the enjoyment.” —George Washington (1783)
Oh, what to do?
Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) are scurrying around the congressional chambers trying to figure out how to derail Donald Trump’s highly successful Make America Great Again policies before the 2018 midterm elections. They have their work cut out for them.

According to current tracking by the reputable Gallup organization, satisfaction with the direction of the country is now higher than at any time since 2005. That’s higher than any year Barack Obama’s regime was in power. And President Trump’s approval ratings are slowly climbing.

Making matters worse, first-quarter GDP growth of 2.2% was better than expected. Headline unemployment dropped to 3.8%, the best since 2000. The U-6 unemployment rate is at 7.6%, the lowest since 2001. Black unemployment hit a record low of 5.9%. Female unemployment is at 3.6%, the lowest since 1953.

And worse yet, the paychecks of American workers are growing at a record pace. Consumer confidence is at an 18-year high and small business optimism is approaching a record high.

So how can Democrats stop this progress toward “Armageddon,” as Pelosi calls it? If they don’t, it will be Armageddon for their 2018 prospects, as well as for Pelosi’s chance to regain the speaker’s gavel.

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Maryland Fishing Report: June 20, 2018

Photo of Ava Krasauskis enjoying a day fishing with her father. Photo by Karl Krasauskis
Fishing offers many things to many people, and they all have their own reasons why it’s so special.
For some it’s an adventurous location or pursuit of a certain fish, usually preceded by a lot of study and anticipation before the big trip. For others it may be the unwinding process from a stressful day.
One thing many anglers get particular joy out of is sharing the experience with others – often the sign of a true sportsman is when they involve first-time anglers or children.
That’s why in these fishing reports we like to show our fishing community holding large, admirable fish, to inspire us all and to highlight the bounty we have available to us. Read more.

OCPD’s Newest Officer Graduates from Academy

OCEAN CITY, MD – On June 14, 2018, Ocean City Police Department’s newest officer, Michael Hamblin, graduated from the Eastern Shore Criminal Justice Academy’s 80th entrance level police academy class.

Ofc. Hamblin was formally recognized as a certified police officer of the OCPD after six months of intense training. His recruit class stemmed from various law enforcement agencies throughout Maryland’s Eastern Shore.

Graduates from the OCPD consistently earn top honors from the police academy and Ofc. Hamblin held true to that tradition earning the classification of “Pistol Expert”. Ofc. Hamblin was tied for the top scorer of his class in the firearms category with a score of 100 percent.

“Ofc. Hamblin has worked for us as a seasonal employee for three summers so we know that he will be a great fit for our agency,” commented Chief Ross Buzzuro. “I am proud to welcome him into our family.”

Ofc. Hamblin has now begun a nine week field training program where he will perfect the skills he acquired in the police academy under the direct supervision of veteran OCPD field training officers. He will be evaluated routinely and critiqued on his performance and will train with the various shifts and divisions that make up the OCPD.

Breaking News: Internet retailers can be required to collect sales taxes in states where they have no physical presence, the Supreme Court said

Brick-and-mortar businesses have long complained that they are disadvantaged by having to charge sales taxes while many of their online competitors do not.

The Truth Behind Viral Photo Of "Immigrant Child" Crying Inside A 'Cage'

We learnt a new word today (courtesy of Jim Quinn's Burning Platform blog), and it describes perfectly the current state of the 'weaponized' liberal media -

Calumny: the making of false and defamatory statements in order to damage someone's reputation.

And that is what we are seeing.

Many of those sharing it claim the image depicts a boy detained by ICE under the new Trump administration policy of referring all people who cross the border illegally for criminal prosecution.

Among them was journalist and filmmaker Jose Antonio Vargas who posted the photo last week on Twitter, saying: "This is what happens when a government believes people are 'illegal'. Kids in cages."

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Trump Signs Order Keeping Migrant Families Together At Border, "Zero-Tolerance" To Continue

Update 3: President Trump has signed an Executive Order titled "Affording Congress an Opportunity to Address Family Separation" to keep illegal immigrant families together at the border, while stating that his administration's "zero-tolerance" policy of enforcing Bush-era immigration laws will continue.

“We’re going to have strong, very strong borders, but we’re going to keep the families together,” Trump said. “I didn’t like the sight or the feeling of families being separated.”

As he signed the order, Trump who was flanked by VP Pence and Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said: “You're going to have a lot of happy people.”

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Pat Buchanan: "Where Many Americans See Illegal Intruders, Democrats See Future Voters"

“It is cruel. It is immoral. And it breaks my heart,” says former first lady Laura Bush of the Trump administration policy of “zero tolerance,” under which the children of illegal migrants are being detained apart from their parents.

“Disgraceful,” adds Dr. Franklin Graham.

“We need to be … a country that governs with a heart,” says first lady Melania Trump.

“No one likes this policy,” says White House aide Kellyanne Conway, even “the president wants this to end.”

And so it shall - given the universal denunciations and photos of sobbing children being pulled from parents. Yet striking down the policy will leave America’s immigration crisis still unresolved.

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Lawmakers Raise Security Concerns With Google Over Partnership With Huawei

A bipartisan group of lawmakers have raised concerns with Google CEO Sundar Pichai over his company's partnership with Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei, writing in a letter it could pose a risk to U.S. national security.

Sen. Tom Cotton (R., Ark.), Sen. Marco Rubio (R., Fla.), Rep. Mike Conway (R., Texas), Rep. Liz Cheney (R., Wyo.) and Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger (D., Md.) signed the letter discussing Huawei's ties to the communist Chinese government.

"We write to express our concerns about Google’s ‘strategic partnership' with Huawei Technologies. Chinese telecommunications companies, such as Huawei, have extensive ties with the Chinese Communist Party. As a result, this partnership between Google and Huawei could pose a serious risk to U.S. national security and American consumers," they wrote.

The letter quoted FBI Director Christopher Wray, who testified in February he was "deeply concerned about the risks of allowing any company or entity that is beholden to foreign governments that don't share our values to gain positions of power inside our telecommunications networks.'

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Overzealous Cop Mows Down Pedestrian While Attempting Traffic Stop

Government actions have unintended consequences. Even something as simple as trying to pull over a suspected drunk driver.

Tragically, a man was struck and killed by a vehicle early Sunday morning in St. Augustine Florida. It happened when a police officer started to pursue a suspected drunk driver.

But it wasn’t a drunk driver that struck and killed the man. It was the police officer behind the wheel of his cruiser who killed the innocent pedestrian.

As the cop whipped his car into a U-turn to pursue a vehicle for a traffic stop, he struck and killed a man crossing the road with his bike. The officer’s lights and siren were not on at the time. The man had no warning, and could not have predicted that the cruiser would reverse direction and slam into him.

To cover the cop’s tracks, the police and media tried to blame the victim,

[Florida Highway Patrol] investigators believe the pedestrian, Vincent Kinslow, 33, was impaired when he walked out into the road.

He was taken to Flagler Hospital where we was pronounced dead.

Kinslow was homeless and had been arrested in the past for DUI and battery.

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Facebook Will Harass You Mercilessly if You Try to Break Up

Breaking up with Facebook is apparently as difficult as breaking up with a bad boyfriend or girlfriend who won’t accept your decision. That’s the experience Henry Grabar of Slate had when he stopped signing on. He stopped logging in on June 6 and stayed off Facebook for ten days. He had been a member for over ten years and this was the longest period he had remained off the social network. But Facebook didn’t leave him alone. He received 17 email messages in a span of nine days urging him to return.

Grabar is not alone in trying to wean himself off Facebook for various reasons. Some do it because they realize it can be a waste of time, while others do it because of the company's inability to protect (or lack of interest in protecting) its members' personal data. The company has mistakenly released data of nearly 100 million of its members and friends of members to third parties, and many of them have used the data for illicit purposes. While Facebook says they are not losing members, some recent statistics paint a different story. According to a Pew study, only 51 percent of U.S. teenagers use the service now, down from 71 percent in 2015. This was the first time the numbers have fallen.

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Sick! Fox News Host Juan Williams Defends Peter Fonda’s Threat To Kidnap Barron Trump And Lock Him In Cage With Pedophiles

(Gateway Pundit) – As TGP’s Cassandra Fairbanks reported, Academy Award-nominated actor and filmmaker Peter Fonda is calling for Barron Trump to be placed in a cage with pedophiles, children of ICE agents to be threatened, and Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen to be stripped naked and whipped in public.

Below is a screenshot of Peter Fonda’s (Hanoi Jane Fonda’s brother) tweet because he deleted his post:

First Lady Melania called Secret Service after Peter Fonda threatened to kidnap her son, Barron Trump.

Fox News host of “The Five,” Juan Williams, defended Peter Fonda after he threatened to kidnap Barron Trump and lock him in a cage with pedophiles.

Juan Williams downplayed Peter Fonda’s criminal threat towards the President’s child and dismissed Gregg Gutfeld after he called Fonda’s tweet “disgusting” and said it was just “poorly worded,” which caused a huge backlash from his co-hosts.

“That’s not poorly worded,” shot back “The Five” co-host, Kimberly Guilfoyle who was appalled by Juan Williams. ‘What Peter Fonda did was call for a criminal sexual act against a child,’ Guilfoyle continued.

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Maryland Attorney General News Releases Update

Attorney General Frosh Joins Coalition of Attorneys General Demanding an End to Illegal and Cruel Immigration Tactics Harming Children

BALTIMORE, MD –
Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh, along with 20 other attorneys general, today called on United States Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen to end the cruel and illegal policy of forcibly separating all families that cross the border, including those lawfully seeking asylum in the United States.

“Terrorizing children and their parents is inhumane and immoral,” said Attorney General Frosh. “President Trump, Attorney General Sessions, and Secretary Nielsen must end this shameful policy.”

Read more in the full press release:http://www.marylandattorneygeneral.gov/press/2018/061918.pdf

China Industrial Policy Seeks to Steal ‘Crown Jewels’ of U.S. Tech

China's government is using a multi-pronged strategy to systematically steal advanced American technology as part of economic aggression against the United States, according to a White House report.

The report, based in part on declassified intelligence from the Pentagon and intelligence agencies, provides some of the first public details on China's industrial policies that have produced the world's second largest economy, often at the expense of American companies.

"The Chinese state seeks to access the crown jewels of American technology and intellectual property," says the report, made public Tuesday night.

China's economic strategy involves obtaining and utilizing technologies and know-how gathered from around the globe through a combination of state-sponsored theft, cyber attacks, violations of U.S. export controls, and counterfeiting and piracy.

However, most of the Chinese economic aggression has taken place in the United States or against American companies doing business in China.

China's economic aggression was defined by the White House as six behaviors: Theft, forced tech transfer, evasion of export controls, export restraints on raw materials, information-harvesting, and acquisitions.

More here

[Chinese 'students' harvest a tremendous amount of sensitive information from our universities. Yet they are still being given visas. --Editor]

Hooper’s Shopping Plaza Planned In West OC

SNOW HILL – Plans for a shopping plaza at the foot of the Route 50 bridge are expected to move forward following approval of a sewer allocation request this week.

On Tuesday the Worcester County Commissioners voted unanimously to grant a request for nine EDUs (equivalent dwelling units) to Hooper’s Shopping Plaza. The proposed 17,350-square-foot development, to be located next to Hooper’s Crab House, will include a coffee shop as well as office and retail space.

“They want to do something nice that’ll complement the existing development,” attorney Hugh Cropper said.

Hooper’s Crab House, which was established in 1982, was rebuilt in 2002 after a fire destroyed the building. Owners Pete and Royette Shepherd are now planning to develop the portion of the property that is currently used for overflow parking.

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Councilman’s Role With International Student Rentals Questioned; Long-Time Builder Believes Hartman Overstepped Ethical Boundary

OCEAN CITY — Allegations made this week by a prominent retired builder have raised questions about whether an Ocean City councilman has unethically used his elected office to settle personal vendettas or fill his own pockets in the seasonal rental market.

George Harkins, the retired owner of Harkins Contracting and Harkins Concrete Construction, made a name and a fortune for himself in the region in the 80’s and 90’s specializing in mid- and high-rise buildings up and down the coast. He estimates he’s built well over 150 buildings and says that “you can’t go two blocks in Ocean City without running into a building where I did pour the structural concrete.”

Historically speaking, he is among a handful of builders along the coastline who had an enormous impact on its current look.

But, after the housing market bottomed out in the late 2000’s, Harkins, who was nearing retirement and was transitioning out of his own businesses, decided to purchase a property in downtown Ocean City that he had built, and use it for international student housing.

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Vanishing Ocean City With Bunk Mann

Prior to the mid-1970s, Ocean City was a seasonal resort. The tourist season ran from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day and it was said, “you could fire a cannon down Baltimore Avenue the day after Labor Day and not hit a soul.” Less than 900 people lived in town year-round.

This aerial photo from the spring of 1955 shows a mostly vacant town with the Oceanic Motel down by the Inlet in the final stages of construction. The large dark building in the upper left is the Atlantic Hotel and the Inlet Lodge can be see on the far right. The building facing the Boardwalk with the cupola still houses Trimper’s beautiful 1912 carousel and popular kiddie rides but the Tidal Wave Roller Coaster was still 30 years in the future.

The Inlet Parking Lot was in its infancy and was only two lanes deep along a much more narrow beach.

Photo by Liz Sacca Kuczinski

Somerset County Sheriff's Office reports most recent arrests

Carla Ann Renee Ruf of Westover, arrested 5-28-18 on a warrant for violation of probation. Ruf was later held without bond.

Tavon Antonio Conner of Baltimore, arrested 6-6-18 on a warrants for failing to comply with a court order. Conner was later held without bond.

Angela Faith Diggs of Crisfield, criminal summons served 6-8-18 for 2nd degree assault. Diggs was later released on signature pending court action.

Carla Anne Renee Ruf of Westover, arrested 6-8-18 on a warrant for failing to appear in court. Ruf was later released on personal recognizance.

Albert Lybrant Christopher of Princess Anne, arrested 6-8-18 on a warrant for failing to appear in court. Christopher was later held without bond.

Nicholas Scott Vetra of Princess Anne, arrested 6-10-18 on a warrant for failing to appear in court. Vetra was later released on personal recognizance.

Kalin Danae Williams of Princess Anne, arrested 6-15-18 on a warrant for violation of probation. Williams was later held without bond.

Barry Dale Lowe Jr. of Westover, arrested 6-19-18 for driving under the influence of alcohol, driving while impaired by alcohol, and driving while impaired by drugs, and or alcohol. Lowe was later released on citations pending court actions. The arrest was the result of disabled vehicle investigation in the area of Fairmount Rd, near Waters Farm Rd.

Joshoua Alexander Thompson of Virginia Beach, arrested 6-19-18 for possession of marijuana over 10 grams, and speeding. Thompson was later released on citations pending court actions. The arrest was the result of a traffic stop conducted by Deputies in the area of Ocean Highway, and Curtis Chapel Rd, where Deputies later recovered an estimated 38 grams of suspected marijuana after a probable cause search of the vehicle.

Quote of the Day

"White liberals and the Democratic Party are the major beneficiaries of keeping black people fearful, angry, victimized and resentful. It's
crucial to both their political success and their efforts to change our
nation. Racial harmony would be a disaster for leftists, be they
politicians, academic liberals or news media people." --Dr. Walter Williams