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Monday, September 10, 2018

Judge Dismisses $7.5M Lawsuit Over Dredge Pipe Injuries

OCEAN CITY — A federal judge last week dismissed a $7.5 million case filed by a truck driver who was crushed when a massive dredge pipe rolled off of his flatbed on a lot in the downtown area.

In September 2014, Florida-based Goodloe Marine was working on a project contracted by the Army Corps of Engineers to dredge navigational channels in and around the Ocean City area. A South Carolina truck driver delivered a load of 30 dredge pipes, each 50-foot long and 16 inches in diameter and weighing 1,600 pounds to Goodloe Marine’s staging area on a vacant lot along the bay at 1st Street.

While the Goodloe Marine employee was offloading the massive pipes with a fork-lift-type loader, one of the pipes rolled off the flat-bed truck, crushing the truck driver, Roger Childress III, who was on the ground removing straps from the bundles of pipes. Childress, who suffered traumatic and lasting injuries as a result of being pinned and crushed by one of the massive pipes, filed a civil suit in federal court seeking $7.5 million asserting Goodloe Marine and its employee onsite who was offloading the pipes were negligent.

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Worcester rabies cases up, 18 confirmed so far this year

Confirmed cases of rabies are up this year, a Worcester County Health Department official said on Tuesday, and pet owners are being encouraged to be vigilant in ensuring rabies vaccinations are up to date.

The health department confirmed four cases of rabies last month: a raccoon in Berlin Aug. 2, a raccoon in Snow Hill Aug. 25, a fox in Berlin Aug. 28 and a cat in Girdletree Aug. 28.

A health department press release last week reported an eight-week-old female tabby kitten tested positive near Girdletree. The pet owners were not known.

“Health department officials are concerned that there may have been other contacts to this kitten and warn that any person, pet or other animal that may have had contact with this kitten could be at risk for rabies exposure,” officials said in the release.

“If you believe that you or a member of your family had any contact with, or exposure to, the kitten, call the Worcester County Health Department immediately at 410-641-9559 or consult with your medical provider. If you call after hours or on the weekend, call Worcester County Emergency Services at 410-632-1311 to reach health department on-call staff.

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Bitter Barack Breaks Months of Silence to Trash Trump

Former President Barack Obama broke his promise to stay quiet after leaving office, condemning the path of the United States under President Donald Trump.

“Just a glance at recent headlines should tell you that this really is different,” Obama said about the upcoming midterm election being “most important” in their lifetime.

Obama acknowledged that he wished to address the country as a “fellow citizen” not an “ex-president” but said that the moment was too great to remain silent.

The former president addressed students at the University of Illinois, criticizing everything about Trump’s presidency, calling it a “dark” period of American history.

He reminded them that periods of progress in American were frequently followed by periods of resistance to change and a “step back.”

He pointed to the rise of white-nationalism and racial division and condemned Republicans for stoking resentment to remain in power.

“Over the past few decades the politics of division and resentment and paranoia has unfortunately found a home in the Republican party,” Obama said.

He implied that his presidency was a period of progress, that was followed by Trump.

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Liz Peek: Angry Obama still doesn't get it as he hits the campaign trail

President Obama is mighty confused.

In a fiery campaign speech at the University of Illinois, the former president suggested that Donald Trump was elected in 2016 by the “powerful and the privileged.” He also railed at voters for failing to show up, and for permitting such a damaging “threat to our democracy.”

But here’s the truth: it wasn’t the powerful elites that voted for Donald Trump in Michigan and Ohio. It was blue collar workers who felt they had been overlooked by Obama and by Democrats. Who were offended by the headlong rush into identity politics, and by policies that protected everything but their jobs and their livelihoods.

It was voters in Ohio and Pennsylvania, who had seen local industries move overseas, and it was voters in Michigan, who were aggrieved that Hillary Clinton took their votes for granted.

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Infectious Theory of Alzheimer's Disease Draws Fresh Interest

Dr. Leslie Norins is willing to hand over $1 million of his own money to anyone who can clarify something: Is Alzheimer's disease, the most common form of dementia worldwide, caused by a germ?

By "germ" he means microbes like bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites. In other words, Norins, a physician turned publisher, wants to know if Alzheimer's is infectious.

It's an idea that just a few years ago would've seemed to many an easy way to drain your research budget on bunk science. Money has poured into Alzheimer's research for years, but until very recently not much of it went toward investigating infection in causing dementia.

But this "germ theory" of Alzheimer's, as Norins calls it, has been fermenting in the literature for decades. Even early 20th century Czech physician Oskar Fischer — who, along with his German contemporary Dr. Alois Alzheimer, was integral in first describing the condition --noted a possible connection between the newly identified dementia and tuberculosis.

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Desperate Democrats Trot Out Children to Testify Against Kavanaugh

If you want proof that our system is broken, you need only look at today's hearing on the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, where children who aren't old enough to vote testified against the nominee. The great sages of the Democratic Party are kids who know little-to-nothing about the role of the Supreme Court, as their testimonies demonstrated today.

First up was Parkland shooting survivor Aalayah Eastmond. "I am very concerned since learning Brett Kavanaugh’s views on guns, and how he would strike down any assault weapons ban," she explained — an opinion no doubt informed by her close reading of his opinions on the matter as well as her knowledge of precedents on the Second Amendment. (Or were they informed by her activist handlers on the left.) She also took the time to call out "Second Amendment extremist groups" and "other domestic terrorists."

"Like many of my brothers and sisters of color, I am not comforted by deputies with handguns, let alone assault rifles," she opined, which leads one to wonder whether Miss Eastmond and her media coaches have really thought through what would happen in, say, Chicago, if we disarmed the police.

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Town of Ocean City Monitoring Path of Hurricane Florence

Town of Ocean City Monitoring Path of Hurricane Florence
Citizens Encouraged to PLAN AHEAD; Have A Kit, Make A Plan, Stay Informed
OCEAN CITY, MD – (September 10, 2018):  Ocean City Emergency Management officials are continuing to monitor the projected path of Hurricane Florence.  Currently, the storm is tracking toward North Carolina and South Carolina; however, effects of the storm are expected to be in the Ocean City area beginning late Thursday night, September 13, and into Friday, September 14.  Along with moderate wind and rain, tidal surges will likely lead to flooding along the bay.
The Town of Ocean City preparedness efforts have begun in advance of the storm, with staff completing pre-storm action items. These items include removing the walkways and trash cans from the beach, as well as closing the sea wall gates.  Residents and property owners should also prepare now by making an emergency preparedness kit and having a family communications plan. Preparedness efforts also include tying up water vessels, removing outdoor furniture and securing objects susceptible to wind and flooding.
Lastly, it’s imperative to stay informed before, during and after a storm. The Town of Ocean City will be posting storm related information on various websites, social media outlets and through the Emergency Alert system.  In an effort to keep citizens informed with the most updated and accurate information, the Town of Ocean City will be posting storm related information on the following outlets:
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The Town of Ocean City’s Emergency Services personnel will be working closely with local and state representatives to provide citizens with timely, accurate and essential information before, during and after the storm.  Citizens are encouraged to Know Your Zone and Division and be prepared for any impact the storm may have on Ocean City.  To begin preparing, citizens should build an emergency kit and make a family communications plan for potential relocation during a flooding event.  For more information regarding storm preparedness, please visit:http://www.ready.gov/hurricanes.
4 p.m. – Florence – #1

New Hampshire man fined $124 for kicking seagull that tried to eat his cheeseburger

A man accused of kicking a seagull that tried to eat his cheeseburger at a New Hampshire beach has been fined $124.

Police investigated the report from a bystander at Hampton Beach earlier this summer.

NH1 reports the man Nate Rancloes, said he had just returned from getting a cheeseburger and fries and was sitting on the sand. He said seagulls got to the burger, and he spun around with his leg to shoo one away, but struck the bird. He said it was a simple mistake.

A witness said it appeared the bird’s leg was injured and that it struggled to fly away.

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Governor Larry Hogan Declares State of Emergency for Hurricane Florence



Executive Order Issued Ahead of Storm Making Projected Landfall on the U.S. East Coast


ANNAPOLIS, Md. (September 10, 2018)–Governor Larry Hogan today signed Executive Order 01.01.2018.22 declaring a state of emergency beginning Monday, September 10, 2018 ahead of the landfall of Hurricane Florence. The executive order will allow the state to more efficiently coordinate support and provide assistance.

You may view the latest post at
http://news.maryland.gov/mema/2018/09/10/governor-larry-hogan-declares-state-of-emergency-for-hurricane-florence/

Obama Returns, Gives A Speech Reminding Americans Of Why Trump Is President

On Friday, former President Barack Obama gave a speech at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. The central conceit of the speech was that President Donald Trump had broken American politics. And the central lie of the speech is that time began on November 8, 2016 – that the collapse of America’s social fabric and civic institutions had nothing to do with Barack Obama. The reality of the situation, of course, is that Trump is a symptom of the slow-rolling collapse of those institutions, brought about in large part by the disingenuous gaslighting in which Obama engaged for a decade: promoting a better discourse while engaging identity politics, championing supposed honesty in politics while simultaneously presiding over an administration rife with malfeasance, and demonizing opponents while claiming to fly above the fray.

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Congressional Black Caucus Chairman Slams Kavanaugh for Writing 'In the Eyes of Government, We Are Just One Race'

Congressional Black Caucus Chairman Cedric Richmond (D-LA) spoke against the confirmation of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court Friday, telling the Senate Judiciary Committee Kavanaugh’s statement that “in the eyes of government we are just one race” is damning.

Richmond painted Kavanaugh’s nomination as part of an injection of “bigots” into the federal judiciary, although he stopped short of describing Kavanaugh himself as a bigot. “President Trump has seized on this opportunity to pack the court by selecting judicial nominees who lack pragmatism and are often strikingly unqualified and proven intolerant bigots,” he said. “We’re in the midst of a fundamental shift towards nominees that embrace ideology at the fringes of mainstream legal thought.”

Richmond claimed that “voting rights,” “education,” and “criminal law outcomes,” would “be greatly endangered” by Judge Kavanaugh – to whom he referred only as “Mr. Kavanaugh” – taking a seat on the Supreme Court.

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Trump Holds the Cards

You have to know when to hold ’em and know when to fold ’em.

At long last, Special Counsel Mueller blinked. He sent a letter to President Trump’s lawyers this week saying that yes, he would accept written answers to certain questions that he wants to ask the President. The Trump legal team has been coy, but they must know that the game is about over.

Mueller tacitly admitted what Trump and his legal team already knew. He has been bluffing.

He has (at best) a pair of deuces while Mueller knows that the President is sitting with a full house. Sooner or later, they have to lay down their cards. Pretending and playing Go Fish may work in a friendly game with your buddies in the biased media. It doesn’t work in a high stakes game on the Trump Poker Tour.

The Go Fishing expedition has produced nothing linking Team Trump and Russian Collusion. Because there was never anything there to find. It is mind bending to see the extraordinary lengths that the Mueller band of partisans have gone to in their quest to find a crime, any crime that they could pin on our duly elected President.

Granted, not reporting income or paying your taxes are serious offenses. But, charging a distinguished military leader with lying to the FBI even when the very people who conducted the interviews believed that he told the truth? Breaking into domiciles with loaded guns in the middle of the night, ransacking homes and offices, bringing charges, some of which were previously deemed unworthy of prosecution by the Justice Department. None of which involve supposed Russian Collusion. Trampling on the attorney-client privilege? Getting Trump’s attorney to plead guilty to a campaign finance charge that may not even be a real crime?

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George Mason University in Virginia hosts a separate orientation day for black freshmen

New freshmen at George Mason University in Virginia are being offered another orientation created especially for black students, sparking anger from critics.

The event, called the 'Black Freshmen Orientation', was held on August 25, and advertised as an opportunity for students to learn more about the 'black community at Mason'.

It is now held every year and is organized by the Black Student Alliance, which says it is for 'freshmen who identify as black or are supporters of black people'. Students who attend must also go to the regular university orientation as well.

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Kamala Harris Given LAPD Protection, Even When She Wasn't in LA

Armed, plain-clothes LAPD officers were dispatched to California cities outside of Los Angeles at least a dozen times to provide security for U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris at public events, media appearances, and a party.

LA taxpayers paid for airline tickets, hotel stays, car rentals, and meals, according to detailed expense reports obtained by NBC News. The total cost of the trips, not including the officers' overtime, topped $28,000.

The LAPD routinely provides security for dignitaries and officials visiting LA, but a senior retired department official said the courtesy extended to Sen. Harris for her travels to other cities was unprecedented.

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Conn. Workers Sue SEIU for Back Dues

Government workers in Connecticut have filed a class-action suit to recover their wages in the wake of the Supreme Court's ruling against coercive unionism.

Employees with the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection are suing the state chapter of Service Employees International Union, Local 2001, to win back dues and agency fees the state required them to pay as a condition of employment. The suit comes just months after the Supreme Court declared forced-dues schemes in the public sector an unconstitutional violation of the First Amendment. It alleges the department and union have made no effort to reimburse workers for mandatory payments.

"Local 2001 and the State Defendants acting under color of state law to force employees to join a union or pay a fee as a condition of continued employment have violated Plaintiffs' rights," the suit says. "Defendants, acting in concert with one another, have deprived, and continue to deprive, Plaintiffs and class members' of their constitutional rights."

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Breaking News: The U.S. threatened sanctions if a war crimes court investigated its troops in Afghanistan, and moved to close the P.L.O. office in Washington.

“The United States will use any means necessary to protect our citizens and those of our allies from unjust prosecution by this illegitimate court,” President Trump’s national security adviser, John R. Bolton, said in a speech on Monday in Washington.

Study: Dogs Morph Into Heroic First Responders At Sound Of Owners’ Cries

With their wagging tails, slobbery kisses and unconditional cuddles, our beloved best friends are dedicated to making us feel like top dogs. But just how loyal to you is your precious pooch? Would he or she instinctively push doors open to rescue you should you need help? Believe it or not, they might just do that — and a lot more, according to a new study.

Researchers at Johns Hopkins University tested the extent dogs would go to check upon the state of a crying owner, measuring just how far and fast they’d go to get to their loved ones.

“Every dog owner has a story about coming home from a long day, sitting down for a cry and the dog’s right there, licking their face. In a way, this is the science behind that,” says lead author Emily Sanford, a graduate student in psychological and brain sciences at the university, in a statement.

Previous studies explained canines’ strong reactions to human crying, but this study sought to demonstrate the science behind the speedy responses.

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Strzok’s ‘Fingerprints’ Are on Comey’s Letter About the Weiner Laptop

Judicial Watch has added two new pieces to the giant jigsaw puzzle showing the effort to undermine President Trump. They show more of the workings of the disgraced former FBI Director James Comey and fired FBI official Peter Strzok.

We have released 424 pages of FBI records, including an email revealing that Strzok created the initial draft of the October 2016 letter Comey sent to Congress notifying lawmakers of the discovery of Hillary Clinton emails on the laptop of disgraced former Congressman Anthony Weiner.

Another email suggests that the FBI had not yet completed its review of Clinton’s emails by the time Comey sent a second letter to Congress on November 6, 2016, reconfirming his belief that Hillary Clinton shouldn’t be charged with a crime.

The records were produced as a result of a June 2018 Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit filed after the DOJ failed to respond to a September 1, 2017, request.

The documents reveal that on October 27, 2016, Peter Strzok emailed other senior FBI officials a draft notice letter from Comey to Congress about the Weiner laptop discovery and the reopening of the Clinton investigation. The emails indicated that Strzok and another official Jon (Last Name Unknown) authored the notification to Congress. The notification, according the DOJ IG, came a full month after the emails were discovered by the FBI on the Weiner laptop.

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"This Is A Coup, Okay": Bannon Weighs In On Anonymous Anti-Trump Op-Ed

Responding to an anonymous Op-Ed in the New York Times detailing an active resistance within the Trump White House, former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon told Reuters that President Trump is facing a "coup" the likes of which haven't been seen since the American Civil War.

“What you saw the other day was as serious as it can get. This is a direct attack on the institutions,” Bannon said while flying to Italy. “This is a coup, okay”.

The Wednesday column in the New York Times slams Trump's "amorality" and claims that "Many of the senior officials in his own administration are working diligently from within to frustrate parts of his agenda and his worst inclinations."

Bannon told Reuters that the last time a sitting US president had been challenged like this was during the American Civil War when Democratic General George B. McClellan went after Republican President Abraham Lincoln.

"This is a crisis. The country has only ever had such a crisis in the summer of 1862 when General McClellan and the senior generals, all Democrats in the Union Army, deemed that Abraham Lincoln was not fit and not competent to be commander in chief," said Bannon - whose departure from the White House was in large part over a fallout with Trump's "establishment" advisers. Bannon said at the time that the "Republican establishment" sought to nullify the results of the 2016 election and effectively neuter Trump.

“There is a cabal of Republic establishment figures who believe Donald Trump is not fit to be president of the United States. This is a crisis,” Bannon said in Rome.

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Papadopoulos Defends Trump, Insists He Never Told Campaign About Russian 'Dirt'

After spending more than a year in hock to the FBI, former Trump campaign advisor George Papadopoulos has finally received his sentence - 14 days in federal prison - for allegedly deceiving investigators pursuing operation Crossfire Hurricane, the bureau's official pre-Mueller probe into potentially illicit connections between the Trump campaign and the Russian government. And with his involvement with the investigation behind him, Papadopoulos is free for the first time to share his side of the story with the press. And share he has.

In a pair of interviews with CNN and ABC, Pap offered convincing rebuttals to allegations that he provided the initial spark that ignited the Russia probe, and - more importantly -that he informed Trump campaign operatives about Maltese professor Joseph Mifsud's claims that Russia had unspecified "dirt" on then-candidate Hillary Clinton.

While Papadopoulos readily admits to telling then-candidate Trump and other senior campaign officials about his efforts to organize a summit between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin during the now-infamous March 2016 meeting of the Trump campaign's national security advisors, he eagerly pushed back against allegations that he told campaign officials about the alleged "dirt", arguing that, at the time, he harbored doubts about Mifsud's credibility and the legitimacy of his claims. Pap also pointed out that if he had indeed informed John Mashburn about Mifsud's claims via email - as Mashburn testified - then that email would've been produced as evidence (and, we imagine, probably been leaked to the press). But alas, no such email has ever been entered into evidence.

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Billionaire Blamed For Opioid Crisis Patents New Drug To Fight Opioid Addiction

A member of the billionaire family that owns Purdue Pharmaceuticals, which is currently the target of multiple lawsuits over its complicity in perpetuating the opioid crisis, just received rights to a patent for a drug intended to curb the opioid crisis.

Dr. Richard Sackler is listed as one of six inventors of the patent, which was approved in January but came to light this week in a report from the Financial Times. The patent office granted the rights to Rhodes Pharmaceuticals, a subsidiary of Purdue.

The patent is for a new version of the drug buprenorphine, which is already FDA approved in tablet and film form. The new version would come in wafer form, meaning it can dissolve more quickly. According to claims in the patent, the faster the treatment dissolves, the less risk of diversion among addicts.

The patent was granted amid lawsuits from 1,000 jurisdictions against Purdue Pharmaceuticals, which has been accused of marketing Oxycontin, a popular opioid, despite knowing the great risks of addiction the drug carried. Another suit targets the Sackler family directly.

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How Hurricane Florence could be an extended problem for the DC region

Hurricane Florence is tracking toward the East Coast with inevitability rarely seen in storms several days away from landfall. While forecasters were careful to cite “high uncertainty” in recent days, their tone changed after watching the storm’s eventual path barely shift from what they had considered to be a worst-case scenario.

Monday morning, as the storm rapidly gained strength, the National Hurricane Center was forecasting Florence to become a strong Category 4 storm before making landfall along the Southeast or Mid-Atlantic coast on Thursday.

Computer model forecasts have generally converged on the storm coming ashore in southeast North Carolina, although shifts in the track are still possible and storm impacts will expand great distances beyond where landfall occurs.

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Finding Clarity On The Road To Civil War

If there’s one thing that makes this job difficult it is the endless smokescreens. Filtering out the noise is draining. From the double-speak of politicians to the endless manipulations of financial markets by central bankers the world is awash in fake news, fake prices and fake geniuses.

So, when a series of events occur that bring clarity to the circus that is world politics, my first reaction is to distrust them. It’s that weird moment when the evil-doers rip off their masks and just start telling you what their intentions are. This creates cognitive dissonance in those of us conditioned to reading between the thinnest of lines.

But, sometimes things are exactly what they appear to be.

And what is clear to me now is that the Deep State is done whipping the progressive Left into a frenzy over Donald Trump. They are now openly handing them pitchforks and mustering for a hostile takeover of the Oval Office.

The anonymous op-ed published by the New York Times timed perfectly with the leaked quotes from moldy old Bob Woodward’s new book “Fear – Trump in the White House” are clarion calls for a challenge of Trump’s competency via the 25th amendment.

We are in the last 60 days before the mid-term elections. The fear of loss by the Deep State is palpable. If Trump survives this election with his base and any form of congressional majority intact he will finally be able to go to town on these people who are a threat not just to the country but to humanity itself.

This narrative about Trump being unstable and insane began during the campaign and those that need to believe in this were always willing to keep this fire stoked. After that it’s simply a matter of repeating the lie over and over until, hopefully, they’ve manufactured a bonfire big enough to roast Trump on the altar of their agenda.

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As Hurricane Approaches, Governors Declare States of Emergency

The 2018 hurricane season blew into high gear on Sunday.

In its 11 p.m. Sunday advisory, the National Hurricane Center upgraded Tropical Storm Isaac to a Category 1 hurricane, with winds of nearly 75 mph.

Isaac became the fifth hurricane of the 2018 Atlantic Season and the third storm being actively tracked in a busy weather weekend.

But the gravest threat to the U.S. remains Hurricane Florence, which is expected to strengthen considerably by Monday night and remain "an extremely dangerous major hurricane" through Thursday, according to the Hurricane Center.

Florence continued its west-northwest crawl toward the southeastern U.S. coast, packing maximum sustained winds of 90 mph.

The center of the hurricane is predicted to move over the southwestern Atlantic Ocean between Bermuda and the Bahamas by Wednesday and could intensify into a Category 4 storm, with winds reaching 130-156 mph, before it makes U.S. landfall sometime Thursday or early Friday.

Forecasters said it was too soon to determine the exact timing, location and magnitude of storm surges and flooding Florence will cause.

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Chicken Growers Should Prepare Now for Hurricane Florence

SEPTEMBER 10, 2018 -- It has been several years since Delmarva has felt the full force of a hurricane, but this week, Hurricane Florence appears poised to approach the East Coast, and it is highly likely to produce troublesome winds and rain on Delmarva. The National Weather Service forecasts the potential for tropical storm force winds to affect all of Delmarva, with the Eastern Shore of Virginia facing the greatest likelihood of strong rain and wind. Chicken growers everywhere on Delmarva should be preparing now for the possibility of heavy rain and damaging winds. Here are steps chicken growers should take now to prepare for a hurricane.

Check the operating condition of your backup generators. Have adequate fuel and filters for several days of operations. Make sure automatic starting systems are ready to go.
Make sure there is adequate propane gas on the farm and arrange an earlier than normal delivery if necessary.
Check your feed inventory and notify the chicken company if there is reason to believe a delivery will be needed before the next normal delivery.
Make sure cell phones are fully charged, and have rechargeable battery packs on hand in case land-line telephone service is lost.
Secure outside objects on your farm -- signs, tools, boxes -- so they don’t blow and cause damage.
Check the security of roofing materials, chicken house siding, and windows and doors to make sure they will not blow off or blow open. Corners and edges of buildings are particularly vulnerable.
Be sure drainage ditches are free of debris and are adequate to move large volumes of water away from the chicken houses.
Be prepared to keep birds longer than normal in case processing plants are unable to operate.
Be sure that all equipment such as tractors and skid loaders are fully fueled.
Put important documents into waterproof containers.
Have cash on hand, since some merchants without electricity might not be able to process credit and debit cards.
If there is no electricity whatsoever, monitor house conditions more frequently and make adjustments as needed.
If strong winds knock down trees, make farm lanes and houses accessible to delivery vehicles as soon as it is safe to do so.

Hurricane Florence "Nightmare Scenario" Could Be "Worst Natural Disaster" For Carolinas And Virginia

The latest report from the National Hurricane Center (NHC) indicates that Hurricane Florence is on the verge of becoming a monster storm, which strengthened rapidly overnight as it continued to gain strength over the Atlantic, 625 miles southeast of Bermuda.

Florence had maximum sustained winds of 105 mph and was moving west-northwest at nine mph, making it a Category 2 hurricane, the NHC said. An increase in maximum sustained wind speed is expected over the next several days, as government officials from the Carolinas to the Mid-Atlantic on Monday were preparing for a direct hit later this week.

“Rapid strengthening is forecast, and Florence is forecast to become a major hurricane this morning and is expected to remain an extremely dangerous major hurricane through Thursday,” the NHC said.

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3rd person charged in murder of North Carolina mayor, wife

A woman and two men were charged after the mayor of a small North Carolina town and his wife were found murdered in their home, police said.

Dakeithia Nesha Andrews, 30, was the third person arrested in connection with the deaths of Leggett Mayor Gary Skelton and his wife, Jackie Skelton, The Charlotte Observer reported. The Edgecombe County Sheriff’s Office said Saturday that Andrews was charged with conspiracy robbery with a dangerous weapon and is being held on $100,000 bond.

Keith Earl Williams, 25, and Mitchell Brinson, 18, were charged with first-degree murder on Friday.

The Skeltons were found dead Thursday in their home after officers responded to a welfare check. Police did not provide the identities of the victims, but Leggett Town Commissioner Teresa Summerlin confirmed to the Charlotte Observer that Gary and Jackie Skelton died.

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Crazy Conspiracy Theories That People Actually Believe

The world is a strange place... but how strange is it?

In a world where "fake news" abounds, it's sometimes hard to tell the difference between what is real and what is patently false. As informed citizens, it's our duty to embrace a certain amount of skepticism, because you really can't believe everything you read. Yet there are times when the truth is definitely stranger than fiction.

According to research conducted by the New York Times, even the most rational people believe some of the more "out-there" conspiracy theories. Theoretically, buying into these theories gives the powerless a feeling of power; granting believers a way of dealing with the uncertainty and lack of control that we all feel in the modern world. And of course, the internet just makes it worse:

"The Internet and other media have helped perpetuate paranoia. Not only does more exposure to these alternative narratives help engender belief in conspiracies, but the Internet’s tendency toward tribalism helps reinforce misguided beliefs."

While some of the conspiracy theories circulating around the internet are actually kind of plausible, some are so far-fetched that we can't believe anyone would ever think they're true! So put on your shiniest tinfoil hat and check out 15 of the weirdest conspiracy theories ever hatched.

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Miami Dolphins players kneel during national anthem, bringing controversial protests to 2018 NFL season

Three Miami Dolphins players silently protested during the national anthem on Sunday ahead of their home game against the Tennessee Titans in what were the first demonstrations of the 2018 National Football League season.

Miami Dolphins wide receivers Kenny Stills and Albert Wilson knelt during the anthem, which according to ESPN reporter Cameron Wolfe was in protest of social injustice and police brutality. Their teammate Robert Quinn raised a fist. 

Gold Star Wife Drops Challenge On Nike, Kaepernick: ‘Meet Me And My Son At Arlington’

Gold Star wife Brittany Jacobs issued a stark challenge to former 49er and new face of Nike, Colin Kaepernick, suggesting Sunday that they ought to meet her and her son at Arlington National Cemetery.

“They can personally look in the eyes of my son and see what a dear sacrifice was made,” she explained, “and they can look around and see thousands and thousands of people who also sacrificed everything for something that they believed in.”

WATCH:

Media determined to 'prove' that Donald Trump is unfit to be President.

My first reaction to the anonymous anti-Trump op-ed in the New York Times was perhaps unusual for a resident of the swamp, which has been so hyper this week: I chuckled, rolled my eyes, and didn’t even make it to the end of the article before losing interest.

It probably helps that I spent the week in Colorado and Utah, where seemingly no one cares. In the conversations in which I have participated or overheard, this subject has come up zero times. Muted televisions in airports and hotel lounges, which still carry CNN and its angry commentators out of habit, are blissfully ignored as life happens.

Most people outside the swamp either know what the media is up to or just don’t care anymore.

As someone who has held appointed positions in two Republican administrations including the incumbent one, I fall in the former category. I’m quite familiar with the methods the media uses to get unattributed disgruntled junior staff to convey the agenda it desires, which is what’s happening here.

I’m also familiar with the nature of an administration, in which many people who “work for the president” or “work in the White House” may have never met the man who sits in the Oval Office, and who certainly have never provided (or withheld) advice or information that matters to government policy.

Next to the White House sits the imposing Eisenhower Executive Office Building. Across Pennsylvania Avenue from that building is the ugly New Executive Office Building, which is neither new nor executive. It overlooks townhouses surrounding Lafayette Park that provide offices for still more officials. All of these people say they work for the White House, as all are administratively part of what is known as the Executive Office of the President. President Trump probably knows the names of about 3 to 4 percent of these people, tops. Fewer still provide him advice that matters.

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Angel Mom: ‘We’re Tired of Being Collateral Damage’ for Open Borders Agenda

Angel Moms Mary Ann Mendoza and Vicki Lyon say they are fed up with the lack of progress to stop illegal immigration, telling SiriusXM Patriot’s Breitbart News Daily that Americans are “tired of being collateral damage” for open borders.

In an exclusive interview with Breitbart News Editor-in-Chief Alex Marlow, Mendoza—whose 32-year-old son, police officer Brandon Mendoza, was killed by a drunk illegal alien in Mesa, Arizona—spoke directly to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY).

Mendoza said:

"You need to start taking Americans’ safety very seriously. We’re fed up. We’re tired of being collateral damage to your agenda. Do something."

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Stop Caving In To Baltimore's Bike Lobby

The bicycle lobby seems to have taken over Baltimore. This tiny group claims on its web page to — in essence — control our city government. “We elected a new mayor and a majority new city council,” it proclaims. Given the obstacles they have had the city lay in our streets, their boast seems true.

Bike lanes have created problems for motorists trying to park on Roland Avenue. On Maryland Avenue, the city has eliminated one traffic lane to create a bicycle lane, making it exceedingly difficult to go to the Inner Harbor. Many motorists now avoid that route by using St. Paul Street, which now is often clogged as well.

The city has been engaged in a mammoth project on West Mt. Royal Avenue installing a lane wide enough to accommodate two-way bike traffic. In the process, the city has eliminated all parking in the westbound lanes. Disabled people now have no easy access to the offices and businesses along the street. The mail carrier is blocked because the city has taken away his parking space. It is nearly impossible to deliver supplies to offices or provide maintenance services. Apparently to make room for all this the city also took out a row of trees along the median strip, which surely was not an environmentally friendly act.

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Bastardi: Florence = FLOODING

Monday's Daily Update on Weatherbell.com is signalling DISASTER for the Carolinas and Appalachia this weekend and beyond-- rain measured in feet, not inches.

Joe Bastardi is usually very accurate-- an old-school meteorologist. What he says here is well worth hearing. This storm is bringing big trouble, and

everyone (including Delmarva) needs to prepare.

Look for the Daily Update about midway down the webpage.

We will be watching this storm very closely.

False Message On Social Media About Crisfield Evacuation

A false rumor is circulating on Social Media that Crisfield residents are to evacuate on Tuesday. See screenshot below. If and when you are instructed to evacuate, you will be notified by Public Officials. Evacuations are ordered by the Somerset County Commissioners. Messaging will be available via R911, Radio, TV and the official Somerset County FB and Twitter pages. Information on shelters will be included in that public messaging. Please call us at 410-651-3457 with any questions.

Transgender Pronouns Are Just the Beginning.

During the past decade, transgender ideology has gained significant ground in society and culture. And, as its demands have been translated into public policy, it threatens not only the livelihood of public employees who don’t conform to speech codes, but also the free and democratic nature of American society.

These are not idle fears. Consider that in the United Kingdom, a Reformed Baptist doctor was recently fired by the National Health Service for his belief that a person’s sex is biologically determined rather than “assigned” at birth. A Christian math teacher was suspended and is under investigation for saying, “Well done, girls” to a group of students that included a transgender student who identifies as a boy.

Similarly, in the United States, the University of Minnesota recently introduced a draft policy that would coerce faculty, staff, and students to use pronouns such as “ze,” “sie,” “zir,” “hir,” “co,” “ev,” “xe,” and “thon.” Students who defy this draft would risk expulsion, while faculty and staff would risk disciplinary action—or termination.

Brown University recently censored one of its own social science professors for publishing research showing that “rapid-onset gender dysphoria” is often caused by peer pressure.

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President Trump Tackles Obama, Hillary In Early Morning Tweets

President Donald Trump took a moment Sunday morning to take swipes at both former President Barack Obama and his former rival, Hillary Clinton.

He began by tweeting “Happy Anniversary!” to Clinton, along with a video clip of her on the 2016 campaign trail. That video, dated September 9, 2016, showed Clinton coining the phrase “basket of deplorables” to describe supporters of then-candidate Donald Trump.

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Benghazi Survivor Refuses To Stand Down As Obama Attacks Benghazi ‘Wild Conspiracy’ Theorists

Obama accused the GOP of meddling in conspiracy theories while giving a much-anticipated political speech at the University of Illinois Friday.

Obama scoffed at some of the GOP’s agenda items in his speech, critiquing the Republican-control Congresses.

“This Congress has championed the unwinding of campaign finance laws to give billionaires outside influence over our politics, systematically attacked voting rights to make it harder for young people and minorities and the poor to vote, handed out tax cuts without regard to deficits, slashed the safety net wherever it could, cast dozens of votes to take away health insurance from order Americans…” Obama started.

The former president then accused the GOP of “embracing wild conspiracy theories — like those surrounding Benghazi. Or my birth certificate.”

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Assateague State Park beach access at Day use and campground will be closed until further notice

Due to dangerous surf, waves 12ft+, and higher than normal tide levels, Assateague State Park beach access at Day use and campground will be closed until further notice. Beach access crossovers will be chained and signed. Day use lot will be open (visitors will be able to go to top of dune to view but will not be allowed on the beach or in the water.)

‘Plaid Shirt Guy’ Booted From Montana Trump Rally Was Wearing A ‘Democratic Socialists Of America’ Pin

The man who earned the nickname “plaid shirt guy” for making exaggerated facial expressions during President Trump’s Billings, Montana rally on Thursday night was wearing a “Democratic Socialists of America” pin.

In a Friday night interview with CNN’s Don Lemon, high school senior Tyler Linfesty described his motivations for attending the rally, his reasoning behind the facial expressions he gave, and his experience being briefly interviewed by Secret Service.

WATCH:

Republic vs. Democracy: What Is the Difference?

In both a republic and a democracy, citizens are empowered to participate in a representational political system. They elect people to represent and protect their interests in how the government functions.

In a republic, an official set of fundamental laws, like the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights, prohibits the government from limiting or taking away certain “inalienable” rights of the people, even if that government was freely chosen by a majority of the people.

In a pure democracy, the voting majority has almost limitless power over the minority.

The United States, like most modern nations, is neither a pure republic nor a pure democracy. Instead, it is a hybrid democratic republic.

The main difference between a democracy and a republic is the extent to which the people control the process of making laws under each form of government.

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The Thrill Is Gone: Only 750 Turn Out to See Former President Obama in Far-Left California

This weekend, in an unprecedented move, former President Barack Obamawent on the campaign trail to push the far-left Democrat agenda in the upcoming November elections.

But, it didn’t quite turn out like he expected.

Only 750 people showed up at his event in far left California!

Far left George Soros related Think Progress reported over the weekend about former President Obama’s event in Anaheim, California –

ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA — Former President Obama made his first campaign stop of the midterm elections in Orange County, California Saturday to stump for seven Democratic House candidates running in districts currently held by Republicans but that Hillary Clinton won in 2016.

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Worcester County Fair Has Been Cancelled

It is with great disappointment that we must share with all of you, our Worcester County Fair will not happen in 2018. We had such high hopes for a refreshed event and we know you all did, too. One thing we cannot control is the weather and it clearly was not on our side. If you have questions, concerns, comments, or suggestions, please bring them to the next meeting of the Worcester County Fair Board on Tuesday, October 2 at 7:00 p.m. at the Extension office. Call 410-632-1972 if you plan to attend so we have enough chairs set up. Thank you all for your support and understanding as we look ahead to 2019.