Iowa Democratic Caucus: Hillary Still A Bad Campaigner

With Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley out of the race, the Democratic field is now Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Hillary Clinton. The average age of the Democratic field is 71. First, read Guy’s post about how the Clinton campaign isnervous about Monday night’s tallies, where she barely eked out a win over Sanders, mostly due to coin tosses. Another surprise was the fact that Sanders apparently overcame thebiggest turnout obstacles he faced in the state: turning out voters who really don’t vote. And the voters we’re talking about are young liberals.

In that breakdown, it truly is the old guard vs. an emerging new order, despite both candidates being part of the Washington beltway for at least two decades.

17-29 year olds: 84/14–Sanders
30-44 year olds: 58/37–Sanders
45-64 year olds: 58/35–Clinton
65 and over: 69/26–Clinton

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Salisbury Fire Department Says Goodbye To Don Records

The members of the Salisbury Fire Company No. 2 are deeply saddened by the sudden loss of one of our own. Retired Assistant Chief Donald Records has answered his last alarm. Chief Records was an innovator and deeply devout to his craft and his family. Rest assured, Chief, knowing that we will continue to do what you taught us to do: fight.

Faith Filled Women’s Conference Returns to WY&CC March 12

Tickets Available Now

(Salisbury, MD) The 5th Annual Faith Filled Women's Conference will return to the WY&CC on Saturday, March 12 from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Doors open at 9 a.m. The event is open to women of all ages, stages and backgrounds who want to grow in their faith and connect with other women on the same journey.

The conference will feature inspirational speakers, uplifting praise music, unique vendors, irreplaceable faith filled moments with friends, as well as a delicious buffet lunch. The keynote speaker will be Liz Curtis Higgs, author of more than 30 best-selling books, including the popular Bad Girls of the Bible Series.

Early bird tickets are on sale now through February 15 for $40 per person. After February 15, regular tickets will be sold for $50 per person. Tickets are available atwww.faithfilledwomen.com or by calling 410-849-9079.

Make The Right Call Before Game Day Designate A Sober Driver

As Super Bowl Sunday approaches, troopers suggest fans take time to make the right call to save lives and designate a sober driver.

Maryland state troopers are anticipating fans will be traveling on Super Bowl Sunday to and from different locations to enjoy the game. With this in mind, Maryland State Police Superintendent Colonel William M. Pallozzi, has directed each of the 23 barracks to conduct saturation patrols focusing on impaired, aggressive, and distracted drivers. Additional troopers will be assigned.

Last year, on Super Bowl Sunday, troopers arrested 53 drunk drivers. Driving with a blood alcohol content of .08 is evidence of intoxication and is against the law. A driver under the age of 21, with any measurable alcohol in their system is in violation of alcohol laws in Maryland.

“If drinking and driving is a part of your play book, know that troopers will be on the defense to tackle drunk drivers,” said Colonel Pallozzi. “Drinking and driving should never mix. There will be zero tolerance for anyone who elects to jeopardize the safety of others by choosing to drive while impaired.”

In addition to the many troopers who will be out on patrol, Maryland State Police has its own DUI enforcement team. The S.P.I.D.R.E Team is a full time team of troopers dedicated to identifying and arresting impaired drivers. Enforcement initiatives will be joint operations with local law enforcement throughout the state this Super Bowl weekend.

How Artificially Low Interest Rates Have Penalized Retirees

It’s One More Reason To Take An Active Role
In Planning For Retirement, Says Financial Advisor

Retirees who depend on interest from savings to make it month to month haven’t had much to cheer about for several years.

Interest rates were so low they might as well have been set at zero.

“Those low rates have been great for Wall Street, but not so great for retirees,” says investment advisory representative Joshua Mellberg, founder of J.D. Mellberg Financial (www.jdmellbergfinancial.com).

“Short term, Wall Street would prefer zero interest rates because it’s essentially free money to borrow, which allows for higher corporate earnings. Savers and retirees, on the other hand, have taken it on the chin.

“They can’t generate much of a return on their savings, and they may not be in a position to risk their money in the markets where a higher yield is possible.”

Interest rates, though, are about to get a boost. The Federal Reserve recently announced plans to hike its benchmark interest rate by about ¼ percentage point, the first increase in nearly a decade and a signal that the Fed is confident the U.S. economy has improved.

But if you are a retiree who depends on interest income, don’t look for this to be a miracle fix, Mellberg says. It’s an improvement, but savers aren’t going to see a large enough jump in interest to suddenly turn their finances – and retirements – completely around.

“You hear complaints from retirees about the interest rates and you can’t blame them,” Mellberg says. “Many older people put their money into treasury bonds or CDs, and live off that interest. They have been penalized the hardest over the last several years because the Fed decided to artificially keep rates low.”
That experience shows why it’s important for people to take an active role in their retirements, Mellberg says. He suggests three important points to keep in mind when planning for those so-called golden years so you can thrive and not just try to survive:

Paradise Energy Solutions To Hold Tax Strategy Seminar at the WY&CC on Feb. 11

(Salisbury, MD) Do you want to eliminate your 2016 taxes and recoup your 2015 taxes? Do you want to save thousands on electricity costs? Do you want to reduce your overhead expenses? If so, join Paradise Energy Solutions for their Tax Strategy Seminar at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center on Thursday, February 11 from 7:30 - 10:30 a.m.

During the seminar, Paradise Energy Solutions will share the benefits of going solar. Representatives from various other companies will be on hand to share their expertise in their specified fields. Breakfast will be provided.

The seminar’s schedule is as follows:

7:30-8:15: Breakfast and Networking

8:15-8:30: Introduction

8:30-10:00: Presentations

10:0-10:15: Final Comments

10:15-10:30: Networking

There is no cost to attend this event. Register online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/eastern-shore-tax-strategy-seminar-tickets-20261471607.

2011 Hot Lotto Winner Sues Over Jackpot That Could Have Been Bigger

A lottery winner from five years ago is suing the very entity that runs the games, claiming that he should have won a bigger prize. You may remember the reason why that’s a valid argument: a former security official with the Multi-State Lottery Association has been convicted of rigging the random-number-generating computer that picks the winning numbers for Hot Lotto. Now a 2011 winner is suing, arguing that his own jackpot should have been larger. 

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DSP Hosted Honorary Commander Induction Ceremony

The Delaware State Police conducted a ceremony which recognized the selection of the 2016 Honorary Commanders on February 3, 2016 at the DSP Academy located at 1441 North DuPont Highway, Dover De. 19901. This ceremony was the first formal event with each partnered civilian commander. (photo attached)

Troop 1: Captain Jennifer Griffin partnered with Representative Bryon Short

Representative Short was elected in 2007 to Delaware’s General Assembly following the House of Representatives 7th District special election. He holds the Chairmanship of the Economic Development, Banking, Insurance and Tourism Committee. He is also co-chair and founding member of the ad-hoc Small Business Caucus.

Troop 2: Captain Jason Sapp partnered with Donald C. Keister, Jr.

Don is a native Delawarean who served in the United States Army as an artillery officer stationed in Germany. Currently, he is headmaster at Caravel Academy, and in 2013 helped in founding a nonprofit organization called “atTAcK addiction” in which their mission is to spread the word about addiction by educating students and the community, assisting families in their quest for information, and supporting those in recovery.

Troop 2 CIU: Captain Pete Sawyer partnered with Jose M. Somalo

Jose is the publisher/owner of HOY en Delaware Newspaper, the largest and longest running Hispanic publication in the state, covering all three counties on a monthly basis since 1996. HOY en Delaware was recognized at the national level with the 2013 José Martí Gold Award for Outstanding Newspaper (less than weekly) by the National Association of Hispanic Publications (NAHP), and the local level with the 2014 DCRAC Board of Director Award.

Troop 3: Captain Glen Dixon partnered with Ava Stallings-Hardy

Ms. Hardy has worked as a Community & Economic Development Specialist with First State Community Action Agency, Inc. since 2004, providing leadership & resource development training, community & capacity building and strategic planning to low-income, at-risk communities throughout Kent & NC, Counties. 

Troop 4: Captain Rodney Layfield partnered with Robert B. Arlett

Robert serves as the 5th district councilman on the Sussex County Council, representing southern Sussex County, extending from the Maryland line to the Atlantic Ocean, including the communities of Dagsboro, Delmar, Fenwick Island, Frankford, Laurel, Millville, Millsboro, Selbyville and South Bethany.  Elected to County Council in 2014, Mr. Arlett is a new face to County government who brings with him a strong desire to “preserve the past and prepare for the future.” Among his goals as Sussex County’s newest councilman are growing the economy, promoting transparency in government, and preserving Sussex County’s way of life.

See Ya, Scion: Toyota To Absorb Youth-Focused Brand After 13 Years

Starting later this year, Scion will join a long list of vehicle brands — think Mercury, Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Saturn — in the dustbin of history, as Toyota plans to end production of the brand after 13 years. 

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NFL Refuses To Purchase The Only Known Tape Of First Super Bowl

Around 4pm ET on Sunday, Jan. 15, 1967, the National Football League’s Green Bay Packers squared off against the American Football League’s Kansas City Chiefs in the first ever Super Bowl. Some 50 million people watched the game, simulcast on both NBC and CBS, but neither network retained their footage of the historic event — and the one guy that does have a tape of the game isn’t allowed to sell it. 

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Ashley Madison Offering Profile Photo Masks, Rendering Users Completely Unrecognizable To Their Loved Ones

Isn’t it creepy when your husband/boyfriend leaves the room for a second, and then a stranger with a mask over his eyes enters it right after, and you’re like, “Whoa! Who are you and what have you done with my husband/boyfriend?!” Because everyone knows that disguises that only cover half your face can fool loved ones into thinking you’re a total stranger, Ashley Madison is offering users new tools to keep their identities secret. 

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Western PA Humane Society director on leave amid 'collie controversy'

PITTSBURGH, Pa. —The director of the Western Pennsylvania Humane Society has been placed on paid administrative leave following a petition calling for her removal amid a controversy over her alleged purchase of a collie.

The petition on change.org supported by more than 900 people, accuses Joy Braunstein of paying $1000 to a breeder for a collie from "Carter Collies" in North Carolina.

"If you are the director of an animal shelter you should not be buying an animal of any kind from a breeder. Shame on her," wrote one supporter of the petition.

Another poster went even deeper.

"Joy Braunstein, you are a disgrace to the rescue community… and should be removed from your position effective immediately. Paying $1000 to a breeder when you are … going over a list of dogs to decide whether or not you will euthanize them is a complete conflict of interest," they wrote.

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Toyota Must Pay $22M For Charging Higher Interest To Non-White Borrowers

Under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, creditors are prohibited from discriminating against loan applicants based on race or national origin. But that was a rule Toyota’s financing unit allegedly violated, resulting in thousands of African-American, Asian and Pacific Islander borrowers paying higher interest rates than their white counterparts. Now, in an effort to resolve charges filed by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Toyota Motor Credit Corporation must pay $21.9 million to wronged consumers.  

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Maryland Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Transporting Child Pornography into United States

A Maryland man was sentenced to 10 years in prison today for transporting child pornography into the United States, Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Robert L. Capers of the Eastern District of New York announced.

Victor Otubu, 50, previously pleaded guilty to transporting child pornography. U.S. District Judge Dora L. Irizarry of the Eastern District of New York also ordered Otubu to serve 10 years of supervised release following his prison sentence.

In connection with his plea, Otubu admitted that when he arrived at John F. Kennedy International Airport on Sept. 6, 2014, from Nigeria, his suitcase contained an external hard drive and several DVDs containing hundreds of child exploitation files. Otubu was arrested on Sept. 10, 2014, in Houston as he attempted to flee prosecution by boarding a flight back to Lagos, Nigeria.

HSI’s Cyber Crimes Center Child Exploitation Investigations Unit and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) High Tech Investigations Unit investigated the case. CEOS Trial Attorney Amy Larson and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ameet Kabrawala of the Eastern District of New York prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

Md. parents charged with scalding, binding 7-year-old son with plastic wrap, zip ties

CLARKSBURG, Md. (ABC7) — A father and step-mother in Clarksburg have been charged with first-degree child abuse after their 7-year-old son told hospital workers and police that he had been scalded with hot water and had been regularly restrained with plastic wrap around his body, held in place with belts or zip ties.

According to charging documents, the boy was taken to Shady Grove Hospital on December 2 with a possible seizure and multiple abrasions, blisters, and bruises over his body and head.

Craig Anthoney Williams, 42, and Nicole Williams, 39, both of Clarksburg, were charged with child abuse. They were given high bonds of $300,000 and $400,000, but a judge lowered that to $10,000 each and they have been released.

Five other children, ages 1, 4, 6, 12, and 17, live in the home with the parents. Some of the children told police that they had been hit by both their father and mother with a belt.

The boy told the investigating officer that he is often bound all day in his room and sometimes not allowed to eat. He said that on Thanksgiving Day, he was restrained in plastic wrap all day and only released to come to the dinner table.

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63% of Israelis Rank President Obama ‘Worst for Israel in The Last 30 Years’

A survey shows that Jewish Israelis rank Barack Obama as the “worst” U.S. president in relation to Israel in the last 30 years -- 63% of Israelis put Obama in the “worst” category while 16% rated Jimmy Carter as the second “worst” president.

The survey was conducted by Panels Politics in Tel Aviv, and the results were published in the Jewish Journal.

In the survey, Israelis were asked to identify the “best for Israel” U.S. president of the last 30 years, and the “worst for Israel” U.S. president. These included Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barak Obama.

Here's the survey results..

Federal Court Orders Delaware Donut Business and Its Owner to Pay Federal Payroll Taxes on Time

A federal court has ordered Chel-C Ventures Inc., which operated Donut Connection stores in Milford, Georgetown, and Harbeson, Delaware, to file its federal payroll tax returns on time and pay federal payroll taxes as they become due, the Justice Department announced. Although Chel-C Ventures has said that it closed the stores after the United States filed its civil complaint in this case, the court’s order directs Chel-C Ventures and its owner, Elva Davidson of Sussex County, Delaware, to file the returns and pay the taxes on time if the business starts operating again. The injunction is effective immediately.

According to the United States’ civil complaint in the case, Chel-C Ventures repeatedly failed over a period of years to fully pay its payroll taxes. The court’s order also determined that Chel-C Ventures was liable for more than $645,000 in federal payroll taxes, penalties and interest and that Davidson was personally liable to the United States for more than $250,000. Chel-C Ventures and Davidson agreed to entry of the court’s order, but did not admit to the allegations in the United States’ civil complaint in the case.

Acting Assistant Attorney General Caroline D. Ciraolo of the Tax Division thanked the revenue officer of Internal Revenue Service’s Field Collection for investigating and preparing the civil case.

Additional information about the Tax Division and its enforcement efforts may be found on the Division’s website.

CDC Cover-Up of Autism and Vaccine Link Continues

While Congress plans a hearing on Feb. 3 concerning the contamination of Flint, Michigan's water supply with lead, it has yet to address another health crisis: the possibility — some even say the likelihood — that autism is caused by childhood vaccines.

Autism now strikes one out of every 45 children in every city and community in every state in the United States. "Autism is rising at an exponential rate," says nationally known holistic doctor David Brownstein.

"The same U.S. House Oversight and Government Reform Committee has failed to schedule hearings about another health crisis — whether or not the current childhood vaccination schedule, including the MMR vaccine given before 36 months of age causes autism," says Dr. Brownstein.

Several studies have found no link between autism and the MMR vaccine, including a 2015 study funded by the National Institutes of Health. The study, which tracked 95,000 children, found no link between autism and the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine.

Most mainstream doctors believe the vaccines are safe and effective, but Dr. Brownstein is not alone in his fear that the MMR vaccine is linked to autism.

Many health experts have been calling for congressional hearings since August 2014, when a senior researcher for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. William Thompson, claimed that the CDC found and then hid data from a study that linked the MMR vaccine to autism.

According to Thompson, the CDC published a study saying there was no link between childhood vaccines and autism even though their own data proved otherwise. So far, Congress has chosen not to act.

Read more here

Cruz voicemail 1 - Carson Dropping Out - Galveston, Texas - 7:07 p.m. CST

Cruz voicemail 2 - Carson Dropping Out - Cruz Volunteer Line - 7:29 p.m. CST