Sheriff: Veterans Grave Markers Stolen.

Police in Queen Anne's County have charged one woman and are still looking for a Delaware man in connection with the theft and scrap of American Legion and VFW grave markers.

The Queen Anne's County Sheriff's Office was contacted by a recycling facility about two individuals that had scrapped 60 to 70 American Legion and VFW grave markers on October 31 and November 2, 2012.

The business identified the sellers as Ivan Benson and Destiny Guest of Smyrna, Delaware. The two were paid a total of $281.55 for the items. On November 9, the same company contacted police and told investigators that Benson had just tried to sell additional markers, but the company refused.
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Salisbury Police Department Way Underfunded

Photo not from this accident.

Last weekend there were calls coming into the SPD left and right about shots being fired. Officers were out and about searching the neighborhoods where the complaints were coming in. 

One Officer was cruising down the street when out of nowhere the entire wheel assembly on the front end fell completely off the car. 

Now just imaging if this Officer had been in a high speed chase. Fortunately in this case no one was hurt. But think deeper.

HOW could the entire front end fall off this vehicle without someone knowing it was a danger? The ball joints were, (so we're told) completely worn out. The vehicle had over 170,000 miles on it. For what it's worth, if the vehicle was properly maintained, ball joints and all other mechanical parts lubed on a regular basis, this would not have happened. Keep in mind as well, we're talking about a few dollars in grease.

Now I don't know if what I'm about to tell you is true or not but my sources tell me that the SPD isn't even maintaining their vehicles with the required oil changes because they don't have the proper funding. 

Will it take an Officer getting killed in a vehicle accident or even someone else that they hit because of poor maintenance? 

Mayor Ireton has all of his priorities in the wrong places. New Fire Boat, new $3,000,000.00 building at the Zoo that we'll have to also maintain, Fire Department getting pretty much anything and everything they want. Yet our first responders in the Police Department have to beg to get just about anything, this is very wrong. 

Are you with me on this Folks. Do you agree we finally need to equip the SPD with the proper tools to do their job? Perhaps I'm missing something here. I believe we need to rethink our priorities in Salisbury and this is yet another reason I'm running for Mayor. 

Casa De Maryland Offers Job Training In Slow Winter Months

The winter months can be the most difficult time for some works. Hiring for labor-intensive jobs tend to slow down, but one local community group takes advantage of this time by offering training to improve skills and make prospects more employable.

Fabien Nguekam arrived to the U.S. in 2007 from Cameroon and struggled to find consistent work. But then he discovered services offered at Casa de Maryland. The group works with its community for job placement, training, and other resources.

“I don’t know what I would have done if Casa was not around,” he says.

Five years later he can list a number of skills that he learned by taking classes during the winter semester program.
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REPUBLICANS LEAD THE BEST-RUN STATES IN AMERICA, DEMOCRATS DOMINATE THE WORST

The annual Best and Worst Run States in America survey by 24/7 Wall St. came out today, revealing that the top 5 states are led by Republicans while the bottom five are dominated by Democrats.

The list is based on a review of data for financial health, standard of living and government services. While noting that current situations may stem from decisions made years ago and that external factors like weather can be as much to blame as poor governance, 24/7 Wall St. also points out that all of the high-ranking states have “well-managed budgets” and the worst states have “high debt relative to both income and expenditure.”

Here’s how it breaks down at the top and bottom of the list cross-referenced with details on party control based on this map from Americans for Tax Reform:
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It’s Time To Make Taxes Non-Toxic

The drama surrounding the so-called “fiscal cliff” is like a soap opera for wonks: policymaking by suicide pact that makes for terrible governance but suspenseful viewing. And it seems the role of citizens, besides suffering endless cliff puns by the pundits, is simply to tune into the contrived crisis as anxious spectators.

That’s how Grover Norquist wants it. The grand enforcer of right-wing anti-tax orthodoxy recently proposed that every moment of negotiations be aired live on C-SPAN — not just the floor debates and votes that are already televised. Railing against backroom conspiracies and secret pacts (and pointing out, correctly, that President Obama once promised such transparency), he’s calculating that most politicians are loath to be captured on camera raising taxes.

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CDC: HIV Spread High In Young Gay Males

Health officials say 1 in 5 new HIV infections occur in a tiny segment of the population — young men who are gay or bisexual.

The government on Tuesday released new numbers that spotlight how the spread of the AIDS virus is heavily concentrated in young males who have sex with other males. Only about a quarter of new infections in the 13-to-24 age group are from injecting drugs or heterosexual sex.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said blacks represented more than half of new infections in youths. The estimates are based on 2010 figures.
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Adults Read Too Much Into “Sesame Street”

Many adults who have been tracking the story about Elmo-creator Kevin Clash’s departure from Sesame Street might be surprised to learn that they’re part of the show’s target audience. As the Sesame Workshop explained last year, in response to parental outcry over an apparently risqué Katy Perry segment recorded with Elmo (but not aired), “Sesame Street has always been written on two levels…We use parodies and celebrity segments to interest adults in the show because we know that a child learns best when co-viewing with a parent or caregiver.”

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Road Rage Karma

‘Tis The Season To Pack On Pounds: Tips For Healthier Holiday Eating

It's that time of year--the holiday season. That means plenty of reuniting, entertaining, and of course, eating. Whether you're on the road or at a party, here are tips for not overdoing it this year.

The Thanksgiving meal is now behind us, but the holiday eating season is just beginning. Over the next couple of months, friends and family will call, party invitations will arrive, and busy schedules will mean holiday cheer bursting with waist-expanding calories.

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Md. First Lady Talks About Anti-Bullying Efforts

Maryland first lady Catherine Curran O’Malley has held a Google Plus video chat to talk about the state’s efforts to stop bullying in schools.

The first lady spoke Tuesday evening from the Governor’s Reception Room in Annapolis with Lillian Lowery, the state’s superintendent of schools, and Ann Chafin, the assistant state superintendent of schools. They were joined in the online chat by experts on bullying.

O’Malley has made the issue a priority of the first lady’s office. She says the state has worked to increase awareness by partnering with Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice, Facebook and Time Warner’s Cartoon Network.
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Why Parents With Disabilities Are Losing Custody Of Their Kids

Two years ago, Erika Johnson gave birth to her first child. When she had trouble breast-feeding, a nurse soothed her by saying that many mothers find nursing hard at first. Then the nurse called social services.

Johnson and her husband are both blind, which concerned the nurse and caused a social worker to put their baby Mikaela in foster care for 57 days. “It was sickening that they assumed because we’re blind we can’t take care of her,” says Johnson, who lives in Independence, Mo. “I was angry, upset, sad, frustrated. It was my first child.”

Johnson’s story is just one of many that humanize a 445-page report issued by the National Council on Disability about the myriad ways in which disabled parents encounter discrimination.

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The Reason Why The World Is In Chaos

Autism And Air Pollution: The Link Grows Stronger

Children with autism are two to three times more likely than other children to have been exposed to car exhaust, smog, and other air pollutants during their earliest days, according to a new study.

That new research adds to a mounting body of evidence that shows a link between early-life exposure to pollution and autism spectrum disorders.

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Parents Of Truant Students Could Face Fines

ROCHESTER, N.H. -The Rochester School District is trying a new approach in its effort to cut down on truancy.

Starting in January, parents of chronically absent students will be given a court summons and a chance to get their children in school.

Prosecutors will offer parents the choice to either enter a diversion program or plead not guilty and move forward with a trial.

If the parents opt for the diversion program, they will attend four, hour-long classes with their children. The classes will emphasize the importance of going to school and how it will improve a child's future
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Delmarva Education Foundation Donation

Kat Harting (left), Delmarva Education Foundation board member, presents a check for $18,895.38 to Mike Pennington, president of the Delmarva Education Foundation board of directors, on Nov. 15. The donation represents the final portion of a $175,000 bequest to the Delmarva Education Foundation from the estate of Dr. Donald Harting, the organization's founder. Dr. Harting passed away last year. The Delmarva Education Foundation promotes college access and success for residents of Worcester, Wicomico and Somerset counties, largely by helping students find money to continue their education.

Fiscal Battle Over Mortgage Deduction

Washington should stay away from touching the mortgage interest tax deduction, warns the U.S. housing industry.

Lately, housing is on the mend and one of the few bright spots in a lumbering economic recovery. Taking away a key tax break could throw a wrench into home buying plans and hurt a long-sputtering recovery.

Lawmakers in both parties are on the lookout for tax revenue as a way to avert the fiscal cliff.

But the housing industry is preparing to fight against any move to get rid of the mortgage interest tax break.
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Public Notification- DSP Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team Training For Bethany Beach

Location: 

• Delaware National Guard Training Facility, Bethany Beach, DE

 

Dates/Times:

• Wednesday, November 28, 2012, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• Thursday, November 29, 2012, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

 

Resume:

Bethany Beach- The Delaware State Police Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team (EOD) will be conducting High Energy Dynamic Entry Training on Wednesday, November 28, 2012 and Thursday, November 29, 2012 at the Delaware National Guard Training Facility located in Bethany Beach, Delaware. Training exercises will commence at 8:00 a.m. and conclude at 4:00 p.m. on both days and will involve small amounts of various types of explosives.

 

During these times residents may occasionally hear loud pops or bangs which may be described as explosions as a result of this scheduled training. The blasts are a part of the training exercises, controlled and pose no danger to the public or surrounding properties. The training is not open to the public.

Powerball Jackpot Grows To $500M

Lottery officials said the Powerball jackpot for Wednesday has now reached $500 million.

The $500 million annuity jackpot has a $327 million cash option, officials said.

This jackpot has rolled at least 14 times (15 times without a jackpot win) since early October and, depending on sales, could increase again before Wednesday’s drawing, according to the Maryland Lottery website.
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EmblemHealth Won’t Talk To Me About My Husband’s Coverage Because We’re Both Men

John and his husband, who live in New York where same sex marriage is legal, are both covered by John’s employer-sponsored insurance from EmblemHealth. But John says that every time he tries to contact Emblem about anything regarding his husband’s coverage — no matter how trivial — the company refuses to acknowledge the two men are married.

According to John, whenever he contacts Emblem and brings up the topic of his husband’s coverage, he is told that nothing can be discussed unless John first obtains a signed, notarized affidavit giving him power of attorney over his husband’s affairs.

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ACLU Sues Pentagon Over Women in Combat

The American Civil Liberties Union announced Tuesday it is suing the Department of Defense to lift immediately all restrictions on women serving in combat units.

The military does not currently allow women to serve in ground combat units, such as infantry, artillery, armor or as special operations commandos. Recent wars without clear front lines have frequently pushed women assigned to support roles directly into the fighting.

The suit, which the ACLU announced at a press conference Tuesday afternoon, follows the military's ongoing analysis of what would happen if it introduced women into combat roles. The ACLU says the Pentagon is not moving quickly enough and the policy itself is unconstitutional. 
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Salvation Army Exec Charged With Being Real-Life Grinch, Stealing $2 Million In Toys

A former executive director of the Salvation Army in Canada has turned himself in to authorities to face charges that he was allegedly behind the theft of $2 million worth of toys from the charity.

Toronto police say that the toys were given to the Salvation Army but that they were stolen over a two-year period with the intention of selling at a profit.

The missing toys were turned up by an internal Salvation Army audit. A whistle-blower reportedly alerted Army leadership to the thefts earlier this year and the exec was placed on paid leave in August pending investigation.

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Caption This Photo 11-28-12

Third Accuser Of Kevin Dash To Claim Sexual Relationship With Underage Boy

Again, any time these lawsuits against Kevin Dash come out, I’m leery  The first one proved to be a hoax and was later revoked. The second one is asking for $5 million, and nothing has been proven yet. And now it sounds like a third accuser is about ready tofile a lawsuit against Elmo from Sodomy Street. Dash is innocent until proven guilty, but if he did pull a Jerry Sandusky, this says a lot about PBS and Sodomy Street.

The third accuser is likely to go by the name John Doe as he wants to remain anonymous. Good luck with that.

Barack Obama Isn’t Anyone’s “Lord And Savior”

“Liberals hate religion because politics is a religion substitute for liberals and they can’t stand the competition.” — Ann Coulter

The sort of mindless hero worship liberals engage in with politicians is a bit outside the reality of most normal people. Even Republicans, who think Ronald Reagan was the greatest, bestest, dreamiest politician ever wouldn’t say something blasphemous and creepy like this about him.

Given the job that Barack Obama did in his first term, anybody who’s waiting for Barack Obama to be his “lord and savior” is going to be waiting a long, long time.

Source

The Future Of Marriage: Why “The Inevitable” Is Not Inevitable

Election Day was a drubbing for marriage. The ballot initiatives to protect marriage lost by over 4% in Maine, Minnesota, Washington State, and Maryland. Those who support same-sex “marriage” reportedly spent over $33 million, while those who defend marriage spent just over $10 million.

Many friends have said that same-sex marriage is inevitable. It is not. I have confidence that fence-sitters will enter the fray in support of traditional marriage. As we continue to debate this issue, three important forces can shift the outcome in favor of marriage as the union of one man and one woman. Consider first, public opinion; second, the methods and the message of LGBT activists; and third, reality.

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Do You Live In A Death Spiral State?

Don’t buy a house in a state where private sector workers are outnumbered by folks dependent on government.

Thinking about buying a house? Or a municipal bond? Be careful where you put your capital. Don’t put it in a state at high risk of a fiscal tailspin.

Eleven states make our list of danger spots for investors. They can look forward to a rising tax burden, deteriorating state finances and an exodus of employers. The list includes California, New York, Illinois and Ohio, along with some smaller states like New Mexico and Hawaii.

If your career takes you to Los Angeles or Chicago, don’t buy a house. Rent.

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Today's Advertiser Of The Day 11-29-12

Today's Advertiser Of The Day 11-28-12

Obama’s Convoluted Tax Policies

Here’s President Obama in August 2009 discussing the link between tax increases, recessions and business growth: “The last thing you want to do is raise taxes in the middle of a recession because that would just suck up, take more demand out of the economy and put business in a further hole.”

Today, in a still weak economy, raising taxes has moved from being the “last thing” to do to being Mr. Obama’s top priority.

Single-handedly, ObamaCare, counting premium mandates and penalties, is likely to become the largest tax increase in U.S. history.

And that’s just the beginning. On the Obama administration’s to-do list to create a world that’s fairer and cleaner are higher taxes on dividends, capital gains, high-earners, interest income, overseas profits, inheritances and fossil fuels.

When Obama delivered the aforementioned warning about the negative impact on business from hiking taxes during a recession, the U.S. economy was growing at a faster pace than this year’s economy.

“Real GDP increased 3.5 percent in the third quarter of 2009,” reports the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Economic Analysis.

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Grapefruit May Turn More Drugs Deadly

Eating a grapefruit or drinking its juice can be a great way to get vitamin C, but it can also be dangerous when taking certain prescription drugs.

A study says grapefruit juice can interact with more than 85 oral medications, with almost 45 of them leading to severe, even deadly, consequences.

Pharmacologist David Bailey of Western University in London, Ont., says adverse effects can include sudden death, acute kidney or respiratory failure, and gastrointestinal bleeding.
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BEWARE OF BOGUS E MAIL

Help Needed !!!!! Dale White Hello Good Morning , I'm writing this with tears in my eyes due to an unforeseen circumstance that I encountered.My family and I came down here to Manila,Philippines for a short vacation. unfortunately,we were  mugged at the park of the hotel where we stayed,all cash and credit cards including all cell phones were stolen off us but luckily for us we still have our passports with us.     We've been to the Embassy and the Police here but they're not helping issues at all and our flight leaves in few hours from now but we're having problems settling the hotel bills and the hotel manager won't let us leave until we settle the bills. Well I really need your financial assistance with a quick loan,Promise to def refund it back as soon as we get back home...Please, let me know if you can help us out? Am freaked out at the moment!! Dale White Sales and Service Shore Emergency Equipment, LLC.. 38377 Firemans Road Millsboro, DE 19966 Cell:(443) 726-7294 Fax: (302) 284-7295   Dale White President Willards LL Cell:(443) 295-2849

Cuban-American Vote Explains Everything

If you want to understand why President Obama was re-elected despite a largely unsuccessful presidency and almost unprecedentedly high and continuous unemployment, just look at the Cuban-American vote.

In fact, if you want to understand America today — specifically, why it is in decline — just look at the Cuban-American vote.

As reported in the Wall Street Journal, “The president captured 48 percent of the Cuban-American vote in Florida — a record high for a Democrat.”

Democratic presidential nominees went from 25 percent of the Cuban-American vote in 2000, to 29 percent in 2004, to 35 percent in 2008 to 48 percent on 2012.

We obviously have a dramatic trend here.

Now, why would that be?

There are two reasons: No experience of evil and American education.

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Today's Survey Question 11-28-12

Do you believe the Salisbury Police Department is underfunded?

7 Reasons To Be Optimistic About America’s Future

Although studies show that we conservatives are usually happier and more optimistic than most about our personal lives, we also tend to be a bit more pessimistic than the average person about the country. We look at our unsustainable level of spending, the dramatically expanding, increasingly lawless welfare state, encouragement of tribalism and class hatred as a political tactic, hostility towards Christianity, schools that teach socialism and liberalism, the morally bankrupt entertainment industry and the reelection of a man who may have had the single worst performance as President of anyone in our nation’s history and we quite naturally fear for the future of our country. This is appropriate and anyone who tells you that our nation isn’t in serious jeopardy right now is either ignorant or lying to you. Yet and still, there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic about this country’s future.

1) The reelection of Barack Obama has the potential to be a turning point. Despite Barack Obama being a mean-spirited, habitually dishonest socialist who was presiding over a terrible economy and a record of incompetence unprecedented in America’s history, he was reelected anyway. This should be a wake-up call for the Republican Party. The GOP’s messaging, choice of candidates, fidelity to its principles and most importantly, minority outreach just isn’t good enough. The same goes for results the deep pocketed donors in the party are getting for their contributions. Their money isn’t being used wisely. The grassroots have now been alerted that just showing up at a Tea Party isn’t good enough either. Social conservatives and the Christian church should be shocked out of their complacency as well. Although Obama seems likely to make a mess of things in his second term, that will give the American people more insight into the wages of liberalism while the Republican majority in the House and the three conservatives and two right leaning moderates on the Supreme Court will hopefully keep Obama from doing too much damage. God willing, as terrible as Barack Obama’s election seems to be for the country today, it will turn out to be a positive turning point.

Once again, you can read it all here.

CRISFIELD UPDATE

FEMA went out yesterday doing another round of “PDAs” or preliminary damage assessments. They have to find a certain level of damage for our area to get the individual assistance. I’m rather pessimistic about our chances.

Today we have the Mennonite national team coming in, who will oversee the rebuilding of homes that were destroyed. What we are going to have to do is to find the building supplies that they will need to rebuild the homes.

Saturday we went door to door and found a lot more affected homes.

Maryland Behind 11 States, Tied With Five Others On Graduation Rates

While many officials hail Maryland schools as No. 1 in the nation, new data show that the state is behind 11 others in the percentage of students that graduate.

The U.S. Department of Education released statistics Monday ranking states by high school graduation rates, reflecting new data reported consistently nationwide.

At an 83 percent graduation rate, Maryland falls behind 11 other states and ties five states out of 49 education systems, including the District of Columbia and the Bureau of Indian Education. Data were not available for four education systems.
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The Colleges With The Best Value

College is expensive, but if you choose carefully, it really pays off.

PayScale surveyed full-time U.S. employees with bachelors degrees to find out which colleges have the best returns on investment.

This year, Harvey Mudd College took the top spot, edging out Ivies such as Stanford, Harvard, and M.I.T.

And Colorado School of Mines made its first appearance on the list.

For the list, PayScale projected the average future income of each school's graduates. Then it compared the future income to the cost of the college's tuition.

Not surprisingly, technical schools and Ivies ranked pretty high. But small state school and small religious schools didn't fare so well.

This is part of our series on The Best Colleges In America.

Click here to see the schools >

Audit Reveals Less Than Half Of Speeders Issued Tickets

An audit of the Maryland State Highway Administration is revealing that citations were issued to less than half the drivers caught speeding in work zones during the first 9 months of the state's work-zone speed camera program.

The audit-- which was released on Tuesday-- indicated that between October 2009 and June 2010 only 44 percent of violators who were photographed got tickets.The rest were thrown out "due to reliability and readability issues."
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Colonel Robert M. Coupe Retirement Announcement

The Delaware State Police announces today, the retirement of the Superintendent of the State Police, Colonel Robert M. Coupe, effective Friday, December 21, 2012. Colonel Coupe has served the residents of Delaware with distinction for almost 28 years.

 

Colonel Coupe joined the State Police ranks in 1985 and has served as Troop Commander, Internal Affairs Investigator, Homicide Detective, Training Officer at the DSP Training Academy and as a member of the DSP Honor Guard Unit, and a founding member of the DSP Pipes & Drums. In July 2009, Governor Jack Markell appointed him to the position of Superintendent, with the rank of Colonel.

 

“Since assuming the role of Superintendent, Colonel Coupe has led the State Police overseeing 676 sworn Troopers and 262 civilian employees. Colonel Coupe was focused on creating a climate of trust through open and honest communication, and transparency,” said Sergeant Paul G. Shavack, Director of Public Information for the Delaware State Police. “One of his main priorities was to prepare the Division for the future by effectively developing the future leadership of the Division and giving them their opportunity to lead. Colonel Coupe ensured that the Division continued to provide effective and proficient law enforcement services with an attitude of professionalism and compassion while maintaining open and healthy relationships with the agency, the media, and the public.”

 

“I am humbled and proud to have had the privilege to serve as the Superintendent of the Delaware State Police.  I have done my best to serve with dignity and honor befitting the integrity of the Division,” said Colonel Coupe.

“I am grateful to Governor Markell and Secretary Schiliro for giving me this opportunity, and for the support and guidance they have provided to me during my tenure.   I offer my sincere thanks and appreciation to the Executive Staff, our Troopers and our Civilian staff, they have never wavered on their commitment to the mission and the citizens we serve; for that I am truly grateful.”

 

Coupe continued to say, “I will look back on my twenty-eight years of service to the State of Delaware fondly, and cherish the memories and the people I met along the way.   It has truly been an honor and a privilege to serve the citizens of Delaware as a Trooper with the Delaware State Police.”

 

During his tenure with the State Police, Coupe served on many related councils and organizations such as the Delaware Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics, International Association Chiefs of Police, Delaware Police Chiefs Council, Delaware Criminal Justice Council, Child Protection Advocacy Council, Governor’s Advisory Council to the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health, Governor’s Homeland Security Advisory Committee, American Bar Association Racial Justice Improvement Project Task Force Member, Delaware Sentencing Accountability Commission, Fund to Combat Violent Crimes Committee, and the Juvenile Justice Advisory Council. He holds a B.S. in Criminal Justice from the Wilmington University and an A.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the Delaware Technical and Community College. In addition Colonel Coupe is a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy, considered the West Point of law enforcement.

 

Colonel Coupe is a Saint Mark’s High School graduate and resides in Claymont with his wife, Pamela. He is the proud father of two children, Jocelyn and Tyler.

 

“Col. Coupe began his tenure as having a reputation of being a troopers’ trooper. Over last 4 years, he has without question, met that standard. He has instilled a sense of integrity, objectivity and compassion.  For all who have had the privilege to work with him, it has been an incredible time to watch the agency move in the direction it is now taking," said Lewis D. Schiliro, Secretary of Safety and Homeland Security.

 

"Colonel Coupe's leadership of the Delaware State Police the last four years has been exceptional, inspiring dedication and loyalty from senior leadership to the rank and file troopers,” said Governor Jack Markell.  “His focus on professionalism, integrity and transparency has served both the Delaware State Police and the citizens of Delaware well.  Colonel Coupe is one of the best and brightest in the law enforcement profession.  He has worked relentlessly protecting and serving our citizens."

Did The International Atomic Energy Agency Fudge The Numbers?

The Light At The End Of The Tunnel

To think you can now see Brew River from Market Street is just amazing. Over time it will only get better. This week the building to the right will come down as well and you'll have an open view of the Wicomico River. Construction workers wasted no time this morning bringing the second building down and I can't wait to see that third one down. It's an exciting time for Downtown Salisbury. More to come soon.

Climate Chief Had Tough Words With Obama

The UN's climate chief had tough words for President Obama and the United States this weekend – urging the world's superpower to take the lead on global climate change. 

The top UN diplomat for international climate negotiations, Christina Figueres said in an interview that Hurricane Sandy is "yet another wake-up call" for the United States to curb carbon pollution. Figueres said referring to actions on climate change, "It is quite a unique position that the United States is in and one that frankly they have not responded to in a commensurate manner...If the United States does not strengthen its participation in the global climate regime under the newly re-elected president I think there will be increased frustration with the United States." She's right – but as long as oil barons control Washington, DC – then there will be no serious action on climate change. The best way to end corporate America's outsized influence on our government is to go to MoveToAmend.org.

Delegate Weighing AG Run

Baltimore County Delegate Jon Cardin says he has launched an exploratory committee to consider a run for Maryland Attorney General in 2014.

Cardin, who is the nephew of U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin, has served in the House of Delegates since 2003.

In a statement released by his campaign Cardin said, "The Attorney General is an independently elected officer whose job is to bring fairness, safety and protection to the people of Maryland. This is the same vision I have dedicated my legal career, legislative priorities, and lifetime activities to for more than a decade. Therefore, I am exploring a run for this office to bring fairness and protection to Maryland’s consumers, students, environment, and economy and to keep it as the best state to live, work and recreate. I guarantee that I will continue to bring a balanced, pragmatic, honest and aggressive approach to executing my duties, and I can think of no more meaningful aspiration than to make all Marylanders, from our working poor to our business leaders, feel safe and secure in Maryland."
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So Much For That 2014 Withdraw Date From Afghanistan

The New York Times is reporting that senior officials within the Obama Administration are working on plans to keep thousands of American military troops in Afghanistan beyond 2014. 

One scenario leaves up to 10,000 US and several thousand NATO troops in Afghanistan after 2014 to "assist" with Afghan security forces and police. This is, by far, the longest war in our nation's history – and keeping more troops there beyond the withdraw date is dangerously misguided. It's time for the President to stand up for the peace he talks about – and also end the covert drone war that he doesn't talk about.

Chart Of The Day: Continued Collapse In Capital Goods New Orders Confirms US Is In Recession

While the just released Durable Goods orders report for October came in modestly better than expected (which many thought would be a decline due to Hurricane Sandy), the primary driver of this continues to be record durable good inventory accumulation. Excluding the noise, and focusing only on real, non-noisy economic strength metrics such as New Capital Goods Orders (technically defined as the year over year change in Non-Defense Capital Goods Excluding Aircraft), a very different and far uglier picture emerges. In fact, the October Y/Y Plunge of -8.1% in this major indicator was the biggest drop since 2009.

 

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Big Brother

It could get a lot easier for authorities to snoop through your e-mail. 

The Senate is about to vote on legislation to update old 1980s surveillance laws to account for the new digital world. In earlier versions of the bill, the Democratic Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Vermont's Patrick Leahy, said the law should protect internet users by requiring law enforcement agencies to obtain a search warrant before looking at any email. But a new version of the bill – heavily influenced by law enforcement agencies – makes it even easier for the government to read our emails. As CNET reports, the new bill would give 22 different agencies the legal authority to read emails, private Google Docs, person-to-person Twitter messages, and private Facebook posts – all without a search warrant. The law also doesn't even require the FBI and Homeland Security to notify the user or even a judge. This is the latest unconstitutional assault on our individual privacy in post-9/11 America. Call your Members of Congress and tell them to stop this attempt to further shred the Constitution.

Maryland Giving $5.5M To Community Legacy Projects

Maryland is giving $5.5 million in Community Legacy grants to projects across the state.

Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown plans to announce the funding on Wednesday in Baltimore. The grants will fund nearly five dozen projects in 19 counties and the city of Baltimore. The grants are designed to strengthen communities by retaining and attracting businesses and encouraging home ownership. Projects include façade improvements, rehabilitation of blighted commercial properties and streetscape upgrades.
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Finland's Education System Best In World

A new global league table, produced by the Economist Intelligence Unit for Pearson, has found Finland to be the best education system in the world.

The rankings combined international test results and data such as graduation rates between 2006 and 2010, the BBC reports.

For Finland, this is no fluke. Since it implemented huge education reforms 40 years ago, the country's school system has consistently come at the top for the international rankings for education systems.

But how do they do it?

It's simple — by going against the evaluation-driven, centralized model that much of the Western world uses.

Click on to take a tour of one of the most successful education systems in the world >

Food Processing Company To Expand in Cambridge

BALTIMORE - A food processing company is expanding in Cambridge.

Gov. Martin O'Malley announced Tuesday that Protenergy Natural Foods plans to add up to 100 new full-time jobs by April 2013 and hiring another 27 employees over the next five years as it increases production capacity to meet growing demands for its soups, broths and sauces. The company currently employees about 53 people.
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THE JOKE IS ON YOU

Over the last few days we have received an unusual amount of very nasty comments which include personal attacks, racist comments and other comments loaded with curse words, as if they're going to get published.

Just in case you have forgotten, unless the comment has your registered name on it, we won't publish it. However, if your man enough to use your own name and want to be responsible for the words you put out there, so be it, you own it.

Yeah, we have to read these comments, as we do every comment. However, we just hit the spam button and away you go for good. That's right, if you can't say nothing nice, don't say nothing at all.

The funny part is, certain individuals spend all that time writing these nasty comments knowing they're going to be rejected or spammed, yet they have this mental problem whereas they go ahead and try to get it published anyway.

So the next time you sit there and write a nasty comment, think in your head the smile we get on our face when we hit that spam button. Then think about this. Once a month or so I'll actually go look at the spam messages that are automatically deleted by Blogger, (after we hit spam) and crack up seeing all of those comments they continued to try to get through but automatically went into spam before we ever saw it.

In the end, THE JOKE IS ON YOU.

QUOTES OF THE DAY 11-28-12

“The Master said, “If your conduct is determined solely by considerations of profit you will arouse great resentment.”
― Confucius

“They have succeeded in accumulating a greater mass of objects, but the joy in the world has grown less.”
― Fyodor Dostoyevsky, The Brothers Karamazov

“Cultivate poverty like a garden herb, like sage. Do not trouble yourself much to get new things, whether clothes or friends. Turn the old; return to them. Things do not change; we change. Sell your clothes and keep your thoughts. God will see that you do not want society.”
― Henry David Thoreau, Walden, or Life in the Woods

“Money is a great servant but a bad master.”
― Francis Bacon

“When somebody says it’s not about the money, it’s about the money.”
― H.L. Mencken

“The shame and the downfall of a modern materialistic society is her inability to treasure, care for, admire, adore, cherish, value, revere, respect, uphold, uplift, protect, shield, defend, safeguard, treasure and love her children. I praise all the cultures of this world that naturally harbor and actively manifest these instincts. If a nation or if a population of people fails to recognize the excellent value and distinction of the lives of her children and is defective enough to have lost the capability of expressing and acting upon these instincts then there is nothing that can save that nation or those people. The prosperity of a people is not measured in banks, financial markets, economy and the death of its humanity is evident not through the loss of life but in the loss of love for its children.”
― C. JoyBell

“The European talks of progress because by the aid of a few scientific discoveries he has established a society which has mistaken comfort for civilisation.”
― Benjamin Disraeli

Maryland Fines DC Area Water Utility

The Maryland Department of the Environment says Philadelphia-based Sunoco and a suburban Washington water utility have been fined for alleged violations.

The department says the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission paid $55,925 for sewer overflows in 2011. The 163 overflows totaled nearly 1.8 million gallons in 2011, including an 847,000 gallon overflow.
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SENATORS 'DISTURBED,' 'TROUBLED' AFTER SUSAN RICE MEETING

After today's meeting with U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Susan Rice regarding Benghazi, Senators John McCain (R-AZ), Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), and Lindsey Graham (R-SC), emerged more troubled than ever.

Said McCain: "We are significantly troubled by many of the answers that we got and some that we didn't get, concerning evidence that was overwhelming leading up to the attack on our consulate, [and] the tragic deaths of four brave Americans."

McCain said the degree to which Rice was prepped for her Sept. 16 comments was not clear, but what was clear was the fact that "the information she gave the American people was incorrect," when she described the Benghazi attack "as a spontaneous demonstration triggered by a hateful video." Added McCain: "There was strong evidence at the time that this was not correct."
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