13 Things From Maryland That We Should Be Eternally Grateful For

1. Snowballs

Whatever you call the summer treat, it got its start in Baltimore during the Industrial Revolution, when children would ask for shavings from ice wagons, and their mothers — the true innovators — added homemade flavorings, aka marshmallow.

2. Berger Cookies

Henry Berger (whom the cookie is named after) started his bakery in Baltimore in1835. And people from all over — not just Maryland — think that these hand-dipped chocolate fudge cookies are simply a treat! 

3. The National Anthem

 Those “bombs bursting in air” — they originally burst over Baltimore Harbor. An attorney from Frederick County, Francis Scott Key wrote “The Star-Spangled Banner” in 1814. Little did he know it would bring every sports fan to their feet at arenas.
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The 10 most important things in the world right now

1. The Dutch Safety Board released a video animation of the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine after concluding in its final report that the plane was hit by a Buk surface-to-air missile.

2. Thousands of Iranian troops are now in Syriapreparing for ground offensives in support of President Bashar al-Assad.

3. Israel has authorised police to close off Arab parts of Jerusalem amid an increase in violence and stabbings between Israelis and young Palestinians.

4. Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton ripped into her chief rival Senator Bernie Sanders over his opposition to several gun control measures in the first Democratic Presidential debate on Tuesday night.

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Baltimore could be the next city to join the White House's TechHire initiative

Baltimore could be the next city to join a White House effort to quickly train workers for jobs in the technology sector.

The city is in line to be named part of President Barack Obama's TechHire initiative as early as next month, said Michael Cryor, the chairman of the OneBaltimore program. TechHire tries to bring together cities or states with colleges, nontraditional training efforts and employers to get workers into information technology jobs that don't require four-year degrees.

A total of 31 other cities and states have already joined TechHire, including Philadelphia and the state of Delaware. The White House has a goal of growing the initiative to 40 communities by the end of the year.

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Hollywood Can’t Handle the Truth

There are many things that real people do to become the subject of sympathetic movies. Make a flawless emergency landing in the Hudson River with a disabled passenger jet full of passengers. 

Survive a devastating storm atop Mount Everest. Become the most lethal sniper in the history of the U.S. military. Before the advent of the movie Truth, no one would have thought broadcasting a shoddy and immediately discredited report that ruined the careers of the journalists involved and gave their storied network a black eye would make the list.

Truth is All the President’s Men for reporters who botched their story about the president. 

In their perversely titled film, Robert Redford plays Dan Rather and Cate Blanchett plays Mary Mapes, the erstwhile CBS News anchor and producer who collaborated on a spectacularly flawed September 2004 story about George W. Bush’s National Guard service. Their report should be taught at journalism schools for a long time to come as an object lesson in how not to attempt journalism.

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Bridge Repairs Done For This Week, Will Resume Next Week

OCEAN CITY — The tedious process repairing sections of a failing concrete surface on the underbelly of the Route 50 Bridge began this week, forcing single-lane closures that will resume next week.

State Highway Administration (SHA) crews on Tuesday began systematically chipping away at the underside of the Harry Kelley Memorial Bridge, removing chunks, or in many cases, small pieces of failing concrete that run the risk of falling onto vessels below or into the bay. While boaters are supposed to use the navigable channel under the bridge’s draw span, some smaller vessels go under the bridge at various other points.

On Tuesday, SHA crews began working on the project on the eastbound side of the bridge with a large “snooper,” or cherry-picker of sorts, extended over the side of the bridge to provide workers with access to the underneath portion of the span. The work resulted in single-lane closure for much of Tuesday and Wednesday. SHA’s original plan was to complete the entire project in two days this week, but the work proved tedious and crews will return next week to complete the westbound side of the bridge.

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The Odds

O.C.toberfest Events Planned For Next Two Weekends

OCEAN CITY — Free family fun is returning to Ocean City for the 4th Annual O.C.toberfest on Oct. 17-18 and Oct. 24-25.

Come experience all the thrills of the giant Halloween Beach Maze during it’s two-weekend run. Kids of all ages, and the kids at heart, can enjoy a friendly fright as they meander the sands of the giant, bigger and better than ever, beach maze. Wicked witches, pirates of the sand, scary scarecrows, ghouls in the graveyard, creepy clowns, zombies and more will be waiting around every twist and turn.

Another event that will take place as part of the O.C.toberfest events will be the “Howl-O-Ween Pet Parade” on Oct. 17 at 1 p.m. on the Boardwalk near North Division Street. Dress up your pets and parade the boards or sit back, relax and cheer for your favorite. Lots of prizes and surprises will be awarded. While the event is free to participate, donations of pet supplies and monetary donations will be collected for the Worcester County Humane Society.

The fun continues with “The Great Pumpkin Race” on Saturday, Oct. 24 at 1 p.m. on the Boardwalk near North Division Street. Build your own pumpkin race car to bring and compete in this wacky and zany side-by-side downhill race. Prizes will be awarded in each division as well as for creativity. For complete rules visit www.octoberfestmd.com.

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Obama Will Be the Only Person Sticking to Iran Deal

Sometime this week, President Obama is scheduled to sign an executive order to meet the Oct. 15 "adoption day" he has set for the nuclear deal he says he has made with Iran. According to the president's timetable the next step would be "the start day of implementation," fixed for Dec. 15.

But as things now stand, Obama may end up being the only person in the world to sign his much-wanted deal, in effect making a treaty with himself.

The Iranians have signed nothing and have no plans for doing so. The so-called Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) has not even been discussed at the Islamic Republic's Council of Ministers. Nor has the Tehran government bothered to even provide an official Persian translation of the 159-page text.

The Islamic Majlis, the ersatz parliament, is examining an unofficial text and is due to express its views at an unspecified date in a document "running into more than 1,000 pages," according to Mohsen Zakani, who heads the "examining committee."

"The changes we seek would require substantial rewriting of the text," he adds enigmatically.

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Identical twins could be born up to 4 months apart

KIRKLAND, Wash. — Identical twin brothers are off to a very unusual start in life.

One is in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, born extremely prematurely. The other is still in the womb and hopefully won't be born until January.

Baby Link weighed just 1 lb, 2 oz. when he was born 23 weeks into his mother's pregnancy. It's a gestational time considered to be on the cusp of viability. While Link has heart and lung issues, he is doing well considering his medical hurdles.

The tiny baby is an identical twin, and doctors originally expected to have both newborns in the NICU at EvergreenHealth Medical Center. But instead, brother Logan is still in their mother's womb.

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2016 Democratic Convention Schedule

Breaking News : 2016 Democratic Convention Schedule Leaked

 

11:15 AM  Free Lunch, "medical" marijuana, and bus ride to the Convention. Forms passed out for Food Stamp enrollment

 

2:30 PM  Group Voter Registration for Undocumented Immigrants

 

4:00 PM  Opening Flag Burning Ceremony sponsored by CNN

 

4:05 PM  Singing of God #$% America , led by the Righteous Reverend Jeremiah Wright

 

4:10 PM Pledge of Allegiance to Comrade Obama.

 

4:15 PM Ceremonial "I Hate America" led by Michelle Obama.

 

4:30 PM Tips on How to keep your man trustworthy & true to you while you travel the world by Hillary Clinton

 

4:45 PM How to have a successful career without ever having a job, and still avoid paying taxes! Al Sharpton / Jesse Jackson Seminar

 

5:30 PM Hillary Clinton speaks on "Being broke and not being able to pay your mortgages" via Satellite with event attendees given autographed souvenir photographs of Hillary and Chelsea dodging Sniper Fire in Bosnia.

 

5:45 PM Tribute to All 57 States from Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi

 

6:00 PM  General vote on praising Baltimore rioters, and on using the term "Alternative Shoppers" instead of "looters"

 

7:30 PM The White House "Semantics Committee" meeting to figure out how NOT to acknowledge that Muslims are killing non-Muslims all over the world daily. Followed by general vote on now terming Muslim Terror as "Random Acts of Islamic Exuberance"

 

9:00 PM Liberal Bias in Media - How we can make it work for you. Tutorial sponsored by CBS, NBC, ABC, CNN, the Washington Post and the New York Times

 

9:15 PM Tribute Film to the Brave Freedom Fighters still incarcerated at GITMO -  Michael Moore

 

9:45 PM Personal Finance Seminar - "Businesses Don't Create Jobs" - Hillary Clinton

 

10:00 PM Group Denunciation of Bitter Gun Owners and Bible Readers.

 

10:30 PM Ceremonial We Surrender Waving of the White Flag to Afghanistan, Russia and ISIS.

 

11:00 PM Short film, "Setting Up Your Own Illegal Email Server While Serving in A Cabinet Post, and How to Pretend it's No Big Deal", hosted by Hillary Clinton

 

11:30 PM "ISIS is not actually Islamic, Despite it's Name" seminar, led by "Sneaky Joe" Biden.

 

12:00 AM Official Nomination of Hillary by Bill Maher and Chris "He sends a thrill up my leg" Matthews

 

12:01 AM Hillary Accepts Nomination as Lord and Savior while the Celestial Choirs Sings

Traveling exhibit honors Vietnam vets from Maryland

BETHESDA, Md. — Montgomery County is hosting a display that honors and thanks Marylanders who served in the military during the Vietnam era.

The MPT Salutes Vietnam Veterans Traveling Exhibit is currently at the Bethesda Library and will remain there until Oct. 19. After that, it will be at the Rockville Library through Nov. 9.

“I love the fact that it has veterans’ pictures and their stories,” says Nancy Benner, agency manager of the Bethesda Library. “It’s important for public libraries to be a forum or a venue for this kind of exhibit, and especially for this issue of honoring Vietnam veterans,” Benner adds.

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Democrats Are Starting To Line Up Against Obama’s Clean Power Plan

Obama’s Clean Power Plan (CPP) is facing some opposition from his own party in Kentucky and Missouri. The ambitious green energy plan aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least 30 percent from 2005 levels by 2030. It’s a regulatory nightmare that will hurt millions of Americans, especially those in rural areas and living on fixed-incomes. It will impact Americans’ electrical costs, and possibly gut millions of jobs within the black and Hispanic communities. Also, states that didn’t vote for Obama in 2012 are disproportionately impacted. In Missouri, the Clean Power Plan was projected to cost the state $6 billion by 2030, which is why Attorney General and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Chris Koster has planned to join other states suing to block these regulations

The state’s utilities, including Ameren Missouri, had urged Koster to jointhe states — most of them Republican-led — fighting the rules. Koster, the only Democrat running for governor in Missouri, has sued the EPA over other recent regulations, including the controversial “Waters of the U.S.” rule strongly opposed by large agricultural interests.

Koster made the announcement Friday in a speech at a meeting of rural electric cooperative members in Branson. He argued that the state’s businesses rely on lower-cost energy and costs would rise under the EPA’s rules, which would shift Missouri’s heavy reliance on coal power to renewables and natural gas.

“The EPA’s Clean Power rule effectively eliminates Missouri’s competitive advantage as a low energy-cost state,” Koster said according to a transcript of his speech released Friday.

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Lawmakers investigate whether students are overtested

ANNAPOLIS, Md. —Maryland state lawmakers are investigating whether students are overtested.

It's a common complaint heard from parents and teachers across the state. But who decides how many tests are too many?

"We're hoping to have an answer one way or the other. We had requested this information during the session, and this is the hearing to have both the House and the Senate to get answers from the Maryland state Department of Education," said Baltimore County Delegate Adrienne Jones, D-District 10.

The numbers are hard to pin down. The state has pressed school districts to do the math using surveys, but the data is not exact

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Carson holds double-digit lead on Clinton in new poll

Four Republican presidential candidates lead Hillary Clinton nationally in head-to-head match-ups, according to a new poll.

The Fox News survey released on Tuesday shows Ben Carson running the strongest against Clinton, with the retired neurosurgeon taking 50 percent, compared to only 39 percent for the former secretary of State.

Donald Trump leads Clinton by 45 percent to 40, Jeb Bush leads Clinton 44 to 40 and Carly Fiorina leads Clinton 42 to 39, the poll found.

While it can be dangerous to read too much into any poll this early in the presidential contest, the Fox News survey wil give ammunition to those arguing that Vice President Biden would be a stronger Democratic candidate than Clinton.

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SALISBURY DRUG DEALER SENTENCED TO 25 YEARS WITHOUT PAROLE

On October 15, 2015, a Wicomico County judge sentenced Major Lenell Richardson, age 43, to 25 years in the Division of Corrections (D.O.C.) for Possession With Intent to Distribute Cocaine. Richardson was sentenced as a subsequent offender so his 25 year sentence is without the possibility of parole.

On January 28, 2015, members of the Wicomico County Narcotics Task Force and Gang Enforcement Unit conducted an investigation that revealed Major L. Richardson was engaged in the sale of Cocaine and Heroin in a supermarket parking lot. The investigation culminated in a traffic stop of a vehicle occupied by Richardson and a female driver. A K-9 scan of the vehicle was conducted and the K-9 alerted to the odor of narcotics. Officers observed that the female driver’s pants were unbuttoned. She immediately told the detectives that her pants were unbuttoned because she had just concealed narcotics for Richardson. A later search of the driver revealed a capsule containing 53 individually-wrapped pieces of crack cocaine, a capsule containing .2 grams of heroin, and another bag containing .1 grams of cocaine. Richardson was found with $2,417.00 on his person. Both the driver and Richardson made inculpatory statements to the police.

The State pursued subsequent offender penalties against Richardson. During today’s hearing, a Circuit Court Judge found Richardson to be a subsequent narcotics offender as he had been previously convicted of felony drug charges. Consequently, the Court imposed a sentence of 25 years without the possibility of parole.

This case was prosecuted by Wicomico County State’s Attorney, Matthew A. Maciarello. Mr. Maciarello commends the Wicomico County Narcotics Task Force and the Gang Enforcement Unit for their efforts in this investigation and prosecution.

Woman sentenced in Cumberland puppy mill case

CUMBERLAND — A Ridgeley, W. Va., woman was sentenced Tuesday after pleading guilty to 10 animal cruelty charges in connection with an illegal puppy mill operation at 617 Maryland Avenue.

Pepper Taylor, 42, pleaded guilty before Judge H. Jack Price in a plea agreement between Assistant State's Attorney Linda Thomas and Cumberland defense attorney G.V. McKinley. The plea included dismissal of more than 140 animal cruelty charges.

Taylor was sentenced to 90 days in jail for each of the 10 counts, totaling about 2 1/2 years of jail time the judge suspended.

Judge Price also ordered Taylor to make restitution of $4,324.24 to Animal Control and for service rendered by local veterinarians for more than about 35 dogs that were taken out of the feces-filled residence and a backyard shed on June 16-17.

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Drug Task Force Arrest Felton Man for Marijuana Growing Operation

 

Felton, DE – The Delaware State Police Kent County Drug Task Force has arrested a Felton man after the culmination of a month long investigation into illegal drug activity from a residence on South DuPont Highway.

On Thursday October 15, 2015 around 8:55 a.m., the Kent County Drug Task Force with the assistance of the Kent County Governor's Task Force conducted a search warrant in the 13000 block of South DuPont Highway. Michael P. Garcia, 29, was taken into custody without incident. The search of the property and the house revealed a total of 13,381 grams of marijuana being grown outside the house and dried in a barn. A Ruger .22 caliber handgun, a Sig Sauer .223 caliber rifle, and a Remington .308 caliber rifle were all located inside the residence.

Michael Garcia was transported back to Troop 3 where he was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance in a Tier 5 Quantity, Possession with Intent to Deliver Marijuana, four counts of Possession of a Firearm/Ammunition by a Person Prohibited, three counts of Possession of a Deadly Weapon by a Person Prohibited who also Possesses a Controlled Substance, and two counts of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He was arraigned at JP2 and was release after posting $24,200.00 secured bond.

Cyclist witnesses machete murder of jogger in Dallas

A former Texas A&M football player as been identified by police as the machete murderer who hacked a jogger to death on a trail Monday, to the horrifying witness of a passing cyclist.

Former wide receiver Thomas Johnson, 21, allegedly admitted to the brutal slaying that was apparently carried out in anger, Dallas News reported citing local police.

A witness, identified only as Brandon by NBC in Dallas Fort-Worth, told the station he was riding his bicycle along the popular Northeast Dallas trail when he came upon the grisly attack.

"As I get closer and closer I could tell it was a machete and there are repeated blows that are occurring," Brandon recalled to the station. "As I get closer, I could see what's being hit is a person, lying face down on the ground. It was apparent to me by the time I got close that there was nothing that could be done for the person."

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NAHMIR BUNDY SENTENCED FOR RIDGE ROAD BURGLARY

On October 15, 2015, a Wicomico County judge sentenced Nahmir Tareek Bundy, age 17, to thirty (30) years—suspend all but fifteen (15) years--for his role in a Burglary and Armed Robbery that took place on April 23, 2015 on Ridge Road in Salisbury, Maryland. The first five years of the Defendant’s sentence is without the possibility of parole. On September 3, 2015, Bundy pleaded guilty to 1st Degree Burglary, Armed Robbery (2 counts), and Use of a Firearm During a Crime of Violence. Bundy was 16 years of age at the time that he committed this crime-- he was prosecuted and sentenced as an adult offender. After serving his active period of incarceration, Bundy will serve three years on supervised probation. In the first year he will wear a GPS monitor and must pay restitution to the victims as a condition of his probation.

In the early morning hours of April 23, 2015, the Defendant and his accomplices, Darrell Dixon (19), and Malik Moore (19), were in the area of Virginia Avenue on bicycles. There they came across a .22 caliber rifle that was stored in an unlocked truck toolbox. The men stole the .22 caliber rifle and later searched cars for valuables on Ridge Road. While in the driveway of one of the residences, the Defendants observed some X-Box video games that were visible through the home’s windows. The men made entry into the home through a side window carrying with them a baseball bat and the .22 caliber rifle that they stole earlier in the evening. Once inside, the men immediately began stuffing backpacks full of items from the house. Two of the home’s occupants were accosted in their beds at gunpoint by one of the co-defendants. One of the victims was then held by the Defendant at gunpoint on a living room sofa while the other men continued to fill three backpacks full of the victims’ property.

The Salisbury Police Department had at least two score officers working the case and they followed leads throughout the morning. By sunrise on April 23rd, SPD investigatory leads led to search warrants being executed on 214 Delaware Avenue. Once officers made entry into the home, the Defendant was found in the home’s basement in possession of several of the items stolen from the residents. Dixon and Moore were observed outside of the residence by police just before they made entry into the house. Further investigation, revealed the extent of the Defendant’s, Moore’s and Dixon’s involvement in this crime. 

Darrell Lamont Dixon pleaded guilty to Conspiracy-Home Invasion, First Degree Assault and Firearm Use During a Crime of Violence on September 1, 2015. Dixon is scheduled to be sentenced on November 2, 2015. On September 30, 2015, a Wicomico County Jury convicted Malik Dajour Moore, age 19, of Salisbury, Maryland, of multiple crimes, including: First Degree Burglary, Armed Robbery (two (2) counts), False Imprisonment (two (2) counts), Conspiracy-First Degree Burglary, Conspiracy-Armed Robbery (two (2) counts), Theft $1000-$10,000 (two (2) counts), and Theft under $1,000. The Court has ordered a pre-sentence investigation in that case and sentencing will be scheduled on a later date.

This case was prosecuted by Wicomico County State’s Attorney, Matthew A. Maciarello. Mr. Maciarello commends the brave victims in this case who participated in the Salisbury Police Department investigation and in Defendant Moore’s trial. Maciarello further commends the men and women of the Salisbury City Police Department (including Lead Detective, A.J. Foy) who worked diligently to ensure that the offenders were brought to justice in this case.

Maryland High School Students Asked To Change Out Of Clothes With Confederate Symbol

Brunswick High School students were asked Tuesday to change out of clothes displaying a flag of the Confederacy because administrators found the insignia potentially disruptive, according to the school district.

This week is Spirit Week for Brunswick High, in which students wear an outfit matching a daily theme. Tuesday marked USA Day, in which students would wear patriotic colors.

An emailed newsletter from the school on Friday indicates USA Day is a chance for students to wear red, white and blue.

At least two students wore the Confederate symbol Tuesday, but those students were asked to change their clothes, district spokesman Michael Doerrer said. School administrators also confiscated a Confederate flag another student brought to school, Doerrer said.

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