Saturday, May 11, 2019

Violent felon guilty of illegally entering the US for a fifth time

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – An illegal alien and violent felon who has previously illegally entered the United States on at least four occasions, pleaded guilty today to his fifth instance of illegally entering the United States.

According to court documents, Jose Edgardo Diaz-Ramos, 36, is a native and citizen of Honduras. Prior to his previous removal, Diaz-Ramos was convicted of a violent felony in California of willful infliction of corporal injury on a spouse. In 2014, after serving a sentence of six years in prison, Diaz-Ramos was deported at taxpayer expense for a fourth time. Sometime thereafter, Diaz-Ramos illegally reentered the United States again.

Diaz-Ramos pleaded guilty to illegal reentry of a removed alien after commission of a felony, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison when sentenced on July 26. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

“ERO prioritizes the prosecution and removal of criminal aliens committing egregious and violent felonies that victimize our communities,” said Lyle A. Boelens, Acting Field Office Director for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Washington, D.C. “Virginia residents can be assured that ERO officers will continue to pursue violent criminal aliens for prosecution and removal, particularly those who demonstrate a constant disregard for our laws.”

G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Lyle A. Boelens, Acting Field Office Director for ICE's ERO Washington, D.C., made the announcement after Senior U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis accepted the plea. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan P. Geary is prosecuting the case.

Maryland Parks and Playgrounds Receive $2.5 Million in Funding

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is pleased to announce the award of 19 Community Parks and Playgrounds grants, totaling $2.5 million, to municipalities across the state.

The Community Parks and Playgrounds Program provides flexible grants to municipalities to rehabilitate, expand or improve existing parks, create new parks, or purchase and install playground equipment.

“From Garrett County to Worcester County, these projects provide important outdoor recreation opportunities and green space to communities in every corner of our state, particularly in older neighborhoods and intensely developed areas,” Maryland Natural Resources Secretary Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio said. “We are very proud of this program which helps children learn, thrive, and play in healthy environments.”

To date, the program has funded more than 740 projects totaling more than $72 million.

The following projects were included in Governor Larry Hogan’s Fiscal Year 2020 budget and will be presented to the Board of Public Works for final approval in the coming weeks.

State Agencies Enhance Outreach and Enforcement Efforts In Response to Bald Eagle Poisonings

The Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources are working together to address the continued illegal use of carbofuran—a banned pesticide that has been implicated in recent poisoning events in Kent and Talbot counties that have killed at least seven bald eagles and one horned owl. This is the latest in a string of incidents that date back to February 2016, when 13 bald eagles were poisoned under similar circumstances in Caroline County.

“We are all very troubled by the continued use of this highly toxic banned pesticide,” said Agriculture Secretary Joe Bartenfelder. “Carbofuran has been banned for a reason, and this trend of wildlife poisonings on the Eastern Shore is unacceptable. I urge anyone still in possession of carbofuran to contact our pesticide regulation section immediately and arrange for proper disposal.”

“We are extremely concerned about the death of these magnificent birds, including our nation’s symbol. Our first priority is to prevent any further events of this type from occurring,” said Natural Resources Secretary Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio. “We are making it a priority to inform and educate the public on how destructive carbofuran is to our wildlife and that they should do the right thing and properly dispose of any remaining stock.”

MDA’s pesticide regulation section has issued an enforcement advisory regarding the persistent illegal use of carbofuran, which was commonly sold under the trade name Furadan. In 2009, federally approved uses of carbofuran were voluntarily cancelled after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) concluded that its dietary, worker, and ecological risks were unacceptable for all uses.

It is illegal to use or sell or these products under state and federal law. Any violation of Maryland’s Pesticide Applicator Law is subject to a fine of up to $25,000 and/or prison. These violations may also be subject to additional penalties from the EPA.

While it is not illegal to possess an unregistered or banned pesticide, it must be stored in compliance with state regulations and may not be used, sold, or traded. The department urges any individual in possession of carbofuran to responsibly dispose of the pesticide immediately.

For directions on the proper disposal of pesticides, please contact 410-841-5710, or pest.reg@maryland.gov.

The Maryland Natural Resources Police and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) are investigating the most recent cases, and have urged anyone with relevant and specific information to come forward. USFWS has offered a reward of up to $10,000 to eligible individuals for information that furthers this investigation.

The Real Democrat Agenda

And you thought Democrats won the House out of fear Republicans would drop coverage of pre-existing conditions. That they wanted to spend this Congress addressing the cost of prescription drugs, building roads and bridges, resolving the legal status of DACA recipients, expanding gun background checks.

Don't be silly! Rashida Tlaib let spill the real Democrat agenda back in January, when she said they were going to "impeach the motherf—er."

Democrats have a problem. The base wants to impeach President Trump, ASAP, but the public does not. Indeed, Trump's approval rating is the highest it’s been in the Gallup survey, right around Obama's at this point in his term. The brute facts of public opinion suggest that the impeachment of Trump would look more like Bill Clinton's trial than Richard Nixon's. Not only would Trump remain in office; the backlash might deprive the Democrats of their 17-seat House majority.

For months, Nancy Pelosi's solution has been to walk right up to the line of impeachment without actually crossing it. Unleash committee chairmen to fire their subpoena cannons in every direction. Make unrealistic demands of Attorney General Barr. Have Swalwell and Lieu and the rest of the cable gang keep alive the conspiracy theory that the Trump campaign was in criminal cahoots with Russia. Drag out the process into next year, when a weakened and bedraggled Trump faces the eventual Democrat nominee. That way Pelosi gets the political benefits of impeachment without the costs.

It's not working.

The story behind the outrage: Why a school bus driver got no jail time for raping 14-year-old girl

A judge in upstate New York has sparked national outrage with a probation-only sentence for a school bus driver who admitted to raping a 14-year-old girl. But a state court spokesman says the judge was "well within" the sentencing range for a negotiated plea conviction for third-degree rape, which in New York means the victim can't consent to sex because they are under the age of 17.

Jefferson County Supreme Court Judge James McClusky last week sentenced 26-year-old Shane Piche to 10 years of sex offender probation after Piche pleaded guilty to raping the victim at his Watertown home in June. Piche has since been fired from his job driving a bus in the victim's school district, according to his defense attorney.

Sentencing guidelines for a class E felony such as third-degree rape call for anywhere from five years of probation to 1-1/3 to 4 years in prison, New York courts spokesman Lucian Chalfen said.

The lack of jail time for Piche was harshly criticized on social media as being too lenient, with critics blasting McClusky for imposing a sentence they said didn't fit the severity of the crime. An online petition calling for McClusky's removal has amassed more than 50,000 signatures.

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POPE FRANCIS ISSUES CHURCH LAW GOVERNING SEX ABUSE REPORTING AND INVESTIGATION

Pope Francis announced a new church law Thursday establishing universal protocols for the church concerning reporting and investigating allegations of clergy sex abuse.

The pontiff’s announcement of the new law – a motu proprio entitled Vos estis lux mundimeaning “You are the light of the world” – came in the wake of the Vatican’s February summit on sex abuse meant to equip bishops to face the church’s global sex abuse crisis.

The law establishes investigation and reporting procedures in cases where those accused of sexual abuse are bishops or higher ranking leaders of the church, according to The Associated Press

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HUD SAYS TRUMP PLAN TO EVICT ILLEGALS COULD LEAVE 55,000 CHILDREN HOMELESS

The Department of Housing and Urban Development concluded a new proposal to evict illegal aliens from government-subsidized homes would send over 55,000 children out into the streets.

The proposal, which was first reported by The Daily Caller in April, is meant to tighten regulations surrounding federal subsidies for low-income housing.

Under current law, illegal immigrants are barred from receiving federal housing subsidies, but families of mixed-immigration status can score these benefits if at least one of the members was born in the U.S. or is the spouse of a citizen. The new White House proposal, pushed by senior adviser Stephen Miller, would require that all family members be of “eligible immigration status.”

“We’ve got our own people to house and we need to take care of our citizens,” an administration official told The Caller in April. “Because of past loopholes in HUD guidance, illegal aliens were able to live in free public housing desperately needed by so many of our own citizens. As illegal aliens attempt to swarm our borders, we’re sending the message that you can’t live off of American welfare on the taxpayers’ dime.”

Flashback: Nadler Complains About ‘Shameful, Politically-Motivated’ Contempt Vote of Eric Holder

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler (D-NY) complained in 2012 about the Republicans’ “shameful, politically-motivated” vote to hold then-Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt.

The Democrat-controlled House Judiciary Committee voted in favor of holding Attorney General William Barr in contempt of Congress for refusing to hand over the un-redacted Robert Mueller report and its underlying documents, which would violate federal law.

As Nadler moved to hold Barr in contempt, Nadler declared the move necessary as the country enters a “constitutional crisis.”

However, Nadler took a similar approach when House Republicans moved to hold Barack Obama’s attorney general in contempt for refusing to hand over documents relating to the Fast and Furious gun-running scandal, wherein Justice Department officials tracked thousands of guns smuggled through the border but did nothing to stop the gun-trafficking.

“Just joined the #walkout of the House chamber to protest the shameful, politically-motivated GOP vote holding AG Holder in contempt,” Rep. Nadler tweeted in 2012.

During the Wednesday House Judiciary Committee hearing on Wednesday, Rep. Ken Buck (R-CO) quoted Nadler’s 1998 opposition to the release of Ken Starr’s report detailing how Bill Clinton lied.

The Colorado Republican also referenced Nadler’s comments that grand jury testimony is often “unverified” and could be “salacious,” and its release would be “unfair.”

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7 kids left in hot car in Maryland mall parking lot, 4-year-old used cell phone to call 911

WASHINGTON -- A 4-year-old used a cell phone to call 911 after they and six other kids were left inside a hot car while the woman watching them went into a mall.

It happened Friday afternoon at the St. Charles Mall in Maryland.

Emergency responders were able to track the location of the cell phone and found the kids in the car after asking them what color and make it was.

According to the Charles County Sheriff’s Office, the 37-year-old woman who owned the car came out after about 10 minutes and found the fire department with the kids. She told them she had only run inside to use the bathroom.

She also said only two of the kids in the car were hers, and she was babysitting the others.

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Remember the ‘travel ban’? Lower courts seeking to ‘overturn’ that Supreme Court decision

For several generations, we have been told by the political elites that the Supreme Court stands above the other two branches of government, even when the high court violates the Constitution or claims to decide a broad public policy question squarely within the purview or powers of the other branches. Now, it appears that any lower court can simply issue a ruling more progressive than what the Supreme Court just said, and the other branches feel compelled to abide by that ruling!

Remember when a slew of lower courts created a right to immigrate for the first time and issued unprecedented injunctions demanding that Trump surrender to the courts his control over the right of entry into the United States? Well, we all thought that insanity was put to rest when the Supreme Court ruled in Trump v. Hawaii that the president has unquestionable authority to shut off any or all forms of immigration when he believes it’s detrimental to American interests, as it plainly says in 8 U.S.C. §1182.

Evidently, some of the lower court judges who were overturned by the Supreme Court on this issue are now granting standing to some of the same groups to sue again! U.S. District Judge Theodore Chuang of Maryland ruled last Thursday that a lawsuit can proceed against the travel ban from five countries.

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Pentagon shifting funds for border wall

The Pentagon is shifting $1.5 billion in funds originally targeted for support of the Afghan security forces and other projects to help pay for construction of 80 miles of wall at the US-Mexican border, officials said Friday, according to The Associated Press.

Congress was notified of the move Friday. It follows the Pentagon's decision in March to transfer $1 billion from Army personnel budget accounts to support wall construction.

The border wall has been a point of contention between President Donald Trump and the Democrats, who are opposed to the construction of the wall.

Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan, who has said he plans to visit the border on Saturday, said Friday in announcing the shift of funds that the Pentagon is "fully engaged" in fixing the border crisis.

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Anti-abortion activists target minors at schools

After anti-abortion activists set up outside a D.C. high school Wednesday - with graphic posters - and began shouting at students, while filming their conversations, parents, teachers and the kids themselves are upset.

"It was chaotic, and uncalled for," said Markita Bryant, a youth advocate who was there and works with students from Dunbar High School.

As confrontations between students and the protesters grew more intense, school officials put up a tarp to escort students to and from the premises.

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UNDERSTANDING SOCIALISM

LANGUAGE WARNING

Unlike capitalism, socialism is not about our individual happiness, but rather on a very strong, emotional sense of interconnectedness. Firewall host Bill Whittle has devised a thought experiment that lets you experience that emotional reactor that drives the socialist movement.

Schweizer: Unlike Don Jr., Hunter Biden ‘Actually Had Foreign Deals’

Peter Schweizer, president of the Government Accountability Institute and senior editor-at-large at Breitbart News, described the news media and political establishment’s dis-interest in Hunter Biden’s business deals with foreign states as “stunning.”

Schweizer contrasted this dis-interest with the treatment of Donald Trump Jr.’s “deal that actually never happened” in the Trump Organization’s contemplated construction of a skyscraper in Moscow, Russia.

Schweizer joined Wednesday’s edition of SiriusXM’s Breitbart News Tonight for an interview with hosts Rebecca Mansour and Joel Pollak.

“When you look at the two cases in parallel, it’s really astonishing that the one they are most fixated on is the one with Don Jr.,” stated Schweizer. “Why do I say that? First of all, in the case of the Moscow Trump Tower deal, there was no deal. It was something that was talked about. It was something that they were hopeful they were going to be able to negotiate, but nothing was even close to ever being consummated. So there was never a deal.”

Schweizer continued, “Contrast that with the case of Hunter Biden. Hunter Biden actually has real deals. The Ukrainian energy company Burisma actually transferred $3.1 million to an account over 14 months that he drew money from. There was a deal there. The deal with the Chinese, same thing. he flies over on Air Force Two with his father – ten days after they return, his firm has a $1.5 billion private equity deal with the Chinese government.”

More here

National Bike To Work Day

Tuesday, May 14th is National Bike to Work Day, and we're celebrating by hosting a group ride from Salisbury University to Downtown Salisbury! Join us at 7:30 a.m. in front of Holloway Hall. We'll make our way down Camden, and over to Riverside where a stop at Rise Up Coffee Roasters will hold us up for just long enough to get that morning go-juice. Then it's on to Downtown and a wonderful workday! We'll see you on the 14th!

Democrats Invited Anti-Israel Imam Omar Suleiman to Give House Invocation

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi is facing criticism after Democrats invited anti-Israel Imam Omar Suleiman to deliver the invocation at the opening of the U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday.

Suleiman, who gave the invocation on the occasion of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, was invited by Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX). He delivered the invocation as Pelosi looked on, stressing themes of peace and unity.

Despite the ecumenical spirit of Suleiman’s prayer, the Jerusalem Post noted that Suleiman is “known for his Israel-bashing antics.” It provided an extensive list of examples:

As the 2014 Gaza War broke out, Suleiman said on social media: “How befitting that the 3rd Intifada starts on the 27th night of Ramadan as worshippers are denied prayer in Masjid Al Aqsa.” He ended his post with a prayer of sorts: “God willing on this blessed night as the 3rd Intifada begins, the beginning of the end of Zionism is here. May Allah help us overcome this monster, protect the innocent of the world, and accept the murdered as martyrs. ameen.”

House panel subpoenas Treasury, IRS for Trump’s tax returns

A House committee on Friday subpoenaed Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and the head of the Internal Revenue Service over their refusal to hand over President Trump’s tax returns.

House Ways and Means Committee chairman Rep. Richard Neal (D-Massachusetts) subpoenaed Mnuchin and IRS commissioner Charles Rettig after the treasury secretary rejected a request from the committee for the tax filings.

“After reviewing the options available to me, and upon the advice of counsel, I issued a subpoena today to the secretary of the Treasury and the commissioner of the I.R.S. for six years of personal and business returns,” Neal said in a statement.

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Trump admin cuts off power to commie squatters at DC Venezuelan embassy

The Trump administration is taking steps to restore order at the Venezuelan embassy in Washington, D.C., which is currently occupied by radical-left activists seeking to protect the status of socialist dictator Nicolas Maduro.

On Wednesday night, power and water were cut off to the diplomatic compound, which is located in the Georgetown neighborhood of the nation’s capital. Moreover, police stopped allowing food deliveries to be made to the leftist squatters, who are illegally occupying the embassy grounds.

NBC Washington reports:

President Donald Trump’s administration has said the activists are trespassing Venezuelan sovereign territory and need to leave. Gustavo Vecchio, Guaidó’s appointee as ambassador to Washington, has said he’s signed all necessary documents and it is now up to U.S. authorities to clear the building.

Opioid Operational Command Center Releases 2018 Annual Report

Opioid Operational Command Center Releases 2018 Annual ReportIncludes 2018 Preliminary Opioid-Related Overdose Death Data

ANNAPOLIS, MD — The Opioid Operational Command Center (OOCC) today released its 2018 annual report, which includes 2018 preliminary opioid-related overdose death data, performance measures related to metrics set by state agencies and Maryland’s 24 opioid intervention teams (OITs), opioid-related spending, as well as additional information regarding Maryland’s fight against the heroin and opioid epidemic.

“Since Governor Hogan declared a state of emergency in response to the opioid crisis in March 2017, Maryland has made tremendous progress in implementing prevention and educational programs, stepping up enforcement, and expanding treatment and recovery programs throughout the state,” said Steve Schuh, executive director, OOCC. “The Opioid Operational Command Center monitors more than 200 performance measures pertaining to programs and best practices, and, as you will see in this report, virtually all of those measures are moving in a positive direction.”

The OOCC tracks 36 local-level programs and initiatives implemented by various local partners through the OITs. The following represent just a few included in the report.

Prevention and Education

Why Do Old People Smell? The Science of Body Odor and Aging

"Old people smell" is a real phenomenon. The chemical composition of odor-producing molecules changes as we age, plus there are other factors that affect scent. Here's a look at the causes of "old people smell," the biological reason for changing odor, and tips for minimizing the scent (should you wish to).

Body Odor Changes as We Age
There are several reasons why the retirement home smells different from the high school gym:

Body chemistry changes over time. The characteristic scent associated with the elderly is the same, regardless of a person's ethnicity or culture. Scientists have figured out what's happening. As people age, fatty acid production in the skin increases while antioxidant production decreases. Polyunsaturated fatty acids are oxidized, sometimes increasing the amount of a chemical called 2-nonenal. Nonenal is an unsaturated aldehyde known for its grassy, greasy scent. Some researchers did not detect 2-nonenal, but did find higher levels of the stinky organics nonanal, dimethylsulfone, and benzothiazole in the body odor of older subjects.

$2.5 trillion 'Holy Grail' found? Breakthrough discovery could lead to 100 percent recyclable plastics, scientists say

Plastic pollution in the world's oceans may have a $2.5 trillion impact, negatively affecting "almost all marine ecosystem services," including areas such as fisheries, recreation and heritage. But a breakthrough from scientists at Berkeley Lab could be the solution the planet needs for this eye-opening problem – recyclable plastics.

The study, published in Nature Chemistry, details how the researchers were able to discover a new way to assemble the plastics and reuse them "into new materials of any color, shape, or form."

“Most plastics were never made to be recycled,” said lead author Peter Christensen, a postdoctoral researcher at Berkeley Lab’s Molecular Foundry, in the statement. “But we have discovered a new way to assemble plastics that takes recycling into consideration from a molecular perspective.”

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https://www.foxnews.com/science/holy-grail-recyclable-plastics

Are You an 'Alpha' Beta-Male?

Colorado students walk out of school shooting vigil after politicians take the mic

Students in Colorado stormed out of a vigil Wednesday night for the victims of this week’s school shooting at STEM School Highlands Ranch after two Democratic politicians took the stage and called for gun control, according to local news reports.

The two Democrats who spoke at the vigil were Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet, who is running for president, and Rep. Jason Crow, whose congressional district includes STEM.

“STEM School students walked out of a vigil tonight after @RepJasonCrow & @SenatorBennet spoke,” tweeted Kyle Clark, an anchor with 9NEWS in Denver. “Students said their grief was being politicized. They later returned, took the mic, and some said they didn't want to be used to promote gun control.”

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https://www.foxnews.com/politics/colorado-students-walk-out-of-school-shooting-vigil-after-politicians-take-the-mics

Judge rules 3-year-old must receive chemotherapy against parents' wishes

TAMPA, Fla. —A Florida judge ruled Wednesday that a 3-year-old diagnosed with leukemia must continue chemotherapy treatment against the wishes of his parents.

Noah McAdams, who was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in April, was ordered by a Hillsborough County judge to complete at least the first phase of a prescribed chemotherapy treatment.

His parents, Taylor Bland and Joshua McAdams, had asked the court to allow them to forgo chemotherapy, in favor of alternative treatments, including medicinal cannabis, vitamins and diet, according to WFLA.

The judge's ruling says the parents are free to pursue other alternatives while Noah continues with treatment.

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Free at Last! Asia Bibi Touches down in Canada

It's one thing to be acquitted and another to be free. No one knows that better than Pakistani Christian Asia Bibi, who may have been released from prison last October but spent months living in fear for her life. For Bibi, who won a historic victory from nine-year-old blasphemy charges in court, the idea of seeing her children and living a somewhat normal life seemed impossible. Until now.

This morning, after weeks of grim reports on international religious liberty, people around the world finally got the news they'd been waiting for: the brave mom was finally safe on Canadian soil! "It is a big day," her attorney, Saiful Malook, told reporters. After seven months of living under guard, "Asia Bibi has left Pakistan and reached Canada. She has reunited with her family. Justice has been dispensed." Malook tipped his hat to the global cooperation that helped them smuggle Bibi out of Pakistan, where riots and protests carried on for days after her charges were overturned. At several points, no one was sure if Bibi would make it out alive on the streets where men held signs saying, "Hang Asia Bibi!"

Leaders around the world deserve credit, Malook insisted, for "st[anding] by Bibi in hard times and work[ing] for her freedom." Across North America, diplomats are breathing a sigh of relief. If there is a silver lining to the case, which resulted in the assassination of at least two of Bibi's outspoken defenders, it's that the world finally understands the danger of apostasy, blasphemy, and anti-conversion laws. Just last week, FRC released a report on the status of apostasy, blasphemy, and anti-conversion laws, which threaten the ability to freely live out, choose, or change one's faith.

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Worcester County State's Attorney Press Release (Monqual Sturgis)

Md. agriculture officials issue warnings on pesticide implicated in bald eagle deaths

Maryland’s Department of Agriculture is issuing warnings about the illegal use of the pesticide carbofuran as state and federal officials continue their investigation into the poisoning deaths of bald eagles on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.

The advisory reminds farmers, applicators and retailers that using or selling carbofuran — sold as Furadan — is illegal under state and federal law, even when applied as directed. Penalties can include prison and a fine of up to $25,000.

The EPA revoked use of carbofuran in 2009. Officials with Marylands’ Department of Agriculture say it’s not illegal to possess the pesticide, but it has to be stored properly and cannot be used, sold or traded.

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Liberals Break the Facts Machine

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) just learned what a garbage disposal is, but she says it’s American men who don’t know anything about plumbing! In a pair of incoherent tweets Tuesday night, the former bartender blasts the new abortion limits in Georgia by arguing that “Most of the men writing these bills don’t know the first thing about a woman’s body.” But maybe the real problem is that some Democrats don’t know the first thing about reading the bills she’s talking about!

What the LIFE Act does and what abortion extremists say it does are two very different things. Like a lot of far-Left radicals, Ocasio-Cortez is running around social media insisting that Georgia’s new law bans abortion before a woman even knows she’s pregnant. “It’s relatively common for a woman to have a late period [and] not be pregnant,” she argues. “So this is a backdoor ban.” But if a woman isn’t pregnant, how is anyone denying her an abortion? Either Ocasio-Cortez is confused, or Democrats are calling this an attack on women who aren’t even expecting!

“I don’t think you understand how these bills work,” Lila Rose politely tweeted back. “They ban abortion after the baby’s heartbeat can be heard by an ultrasound, which is around six weeks.” Of course, in this new House majority, it’s impossible to know whether Democrats are just criticizing bills they didn’t bother to read — or they’re intentionally trying to mislead people. Either way, Lila points out, “A lot of women support these life-saving laws. Myself included. You should join us.” Then, in a subtle jab at Ocasio-Cortez’s earlier comment, she posted, “Glad some of ‘the men’ are on board, too.”

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"James Comey Is In Trouble And He Knows It": Former FBI Official

As the establishment trots out James Comey to slam Attorney General William Barr out on national television - on the day of Barr's Congressional contempt vote for refusing to hand over an unredacted version of the Mueller report - pressure continues to mount on the former FBI Director who oversaw investigations into both Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton during the 2016 US election.

During a Wednesday appearance on "CBS This Morning," Comey said of Barr's four-page summary of the Mueller report: "I’m not suggesting it was intentionally misleading, but it was inadequate to summarize that work."

Comey also said that the FBI does not spy - it "investigates" - referring to the agency's decision to send in noted spy Stefan Halper and an FBI employee posing as his assistant, "Azra Turk," to approach Trump campaign adviser George Papadopoulos under false pretenses for the purposes of espionage investigating.

"I have no idea what [Barr’s]) talking about. The FBI doesn’t spy. The FBI investigates," said Comey. "The Republicans need to breathe into a paper bag. If we had confronted the same facts with a different candidate, say a Democrat candidate ... they would be screaming for the FBI to investigate, and that’s all we did."

An Epidemic of Loneliness

“All the lonely people/ Where do they all come from?/ All the lonely people/ Where do they all belong?” —Eleanor Rigby, Lennon/McCartney, 1966

Perhaps there is no greater irony in modern day America than the reality that we have more ways of communicating than ever before even as millions of American are suffering from loneliness that has reached epidemic levels.

“Since the turn of the century, Americans have been dying from suicide, alcohol-related illnesses, and drug overdoses at a rate that has never before been seen,” reveals Francie Hart Broghammer, MD, chief psychiatry resident at UC Irvine Medical Center. “Princeton economists Anne Case and Angus Deaton have aptly named these tragedies ‘Deaths of Despair.’ In fact, suicide is now the second leading cause of death for American teenagers and the tenth leading cause of death for Americans, overall.”

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New rules would let debt collectors text, email borrowers as much as they want

NEW YORK — Debt collectors will be able to start contacting borrowers via text and email under new regulations proposed by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

The rules released Tuesday are an update to debt collection regulations enacted in the 1970s, which never took into account changes in technology, like the use of cellphones, email or the internet.

Under the new rules, third-party debt collectors will be able to call a delinquent borrower up to seven times a week, leaving voicemails if necessary. They will have to leave borrowers alone for at least a week after they reach them by phone.

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Inside Chinese negotiating deception

China is playing games with President Trump by delaying the contentious trade talks that have been underway for months, according to an administration official.

The Chinese game plan, an administration insider tells Inside the Ring, is to put off reaching a trade agreement by stretching out the talks through delaying tactics.

Mr. Trump weighed in Wednesday, tweeting that China pulled back from finalizing a deal and tried to renegotiate the entire package in a bid to wait out the administration. China hopes “they will be able to ‘negotiate’ with Joe Biden or one of the very weak Democrats, and thereby continue to rip off the United States (($500 Billion a year)) for years to come,” the president tweeted.

“Guess what, that’s not going to happen!” he tweeted, adding that he’s skeptical that the latest Chinese trade delegation expected in Washington on Thursday for the 10th round of talks is coming to make a deal. “We’ll see, but I am very happy with over $100 Billion a year in Tariffs filling U.S. coffers-- great for U.S., not good for China!”

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Sunscreen Chemicals Enter Body at Unsafe Levels: Study

The active ingredients of commonly-used sunscreens end up in the bloodstream at much higher levels than current U.S. guidelines from health regulators and warrant further safety studies, according to a small study conducted by U.S. Food and Drug Administration researchers.

The over-the-counter products originally marketed to prevent sunburn with little regulation are widely used to block radiation from the sun that can cause skin cancer, the most common malignancy in the United States.

The study of 23 volunteers tested four sunscreens, including sprays, lotion and cream, applied to 75 percent of the body four times a day over four days, with blood tests to determine the maximum levels of certain chemicals absorbed into the bloodstream conducted over seven days.

The study, published Monday, found maximum plasma levels of the chemicals it tested for - avobenzone, oxybenzone, octocrylene and in one sunscreen ecamsule - to be well above the level of 0.5 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL) at which FDA guidelines call for further safety testing.

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Prosecutor: 11 more possible victims come forward against pediatrician accused of raping patient

Against the wishes of prosecutors, a judge has granted bail to a Frederick County pediatrician charged with raping a patient.

Dr. Ernesto Torres was arrested Tuesday after being indicted by a grand jury on accusations that he raped an 18-year-old female during an examination at his medical practice.

During a Wednesday bond review hearing, Frederick County State's Attorney Charles Smith requested Circuit Court Judge Julia Martz-Fisher to deny Torres bail, insisting there could be more victims;

"We believe, based on the allegations, that Dr. Torres poses a significant threat to the public, which is why we requested he be held without bond," Smith said. "To date, we have had 11 additional potential victims come forward. We will review each one independently of the other to determine whether they are sufficient to charge. We again encourage anyone with information regarding the case to contact authorities immediately.”

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Physician Facing Federal Indictment for Passport Fraud, Falsely Claiming U.S. Citizenship, and Illegal Voting by an Alien

Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury has indicted Michael Nana Baako, age 50, a native of Ghana residing in Fulton, Maryland, on the federal charges of passport fraud, falsely claiming U.S. citizenship, and illegal voting by an alien. Baako was a physician who practiced in hospitals in Maryland and maintained his own clinic, Biazo Healthcare. The indictment was returned on May 1, 2019, and was unsealed at his initial appearance today.

The indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur and Special Agent in Charge Edwin Guard of the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) Washington Field Office.

According to the indictment, since at least 2001, Baako and R.A.A., also born in Ghana, have lived together in Howard County, Maryland and are the parents of two minor children. Baako and R.A.A. entered the United States legally after obtaining a visa in 1995. In 1996, Baako applied for certification of his Ghanian medical education in the United States through the Educational Commission for Foreign Graduates. In 1998, Baako married a U.S. citizen in Virginia, who filed a petition for Baako to become a naturalized United States citizen. On June 20, 2000, the petition was denied after immigration officials concluded that Baako’s marriage was a “sham” marriage entered into for the sole purpose of obtaining immigration benefits. In 2001, Baako was licensed to practice in Maryland as a physician.

The indictment alleges that on November 29, 2005, Baako registered to vote in Maryland, swearing that he was a United States citizen, and subsequently voted in 10 elections between November 7, 2006 and November 6, 2018.

Dems’ Wednesday Talking Point: ‘Constitutional Crisis’

Nadler: ‘We Are Now in a Constitutional Crisis’

Schiff: We’re in a Constitutional Crisis

Biden: ‘We’re Getting Close’ to a Constitutional Crisis

Pelosi: ‘Yes, I Do Agree’ We Are in a Constitutional Crisis

Congressman Harris Announces $1 Million Grant for Restoration

WASHINGTON, DC: Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01) announced that the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), in conjunction with the Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center (CBEC), has been selected to receive $1 million in grant funds from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as part of their National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program.

Funds from this grant will go towards multiple restoration projects on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, including the restoration of 50 acres of coastal wetlands and 21 acres of freshwater wetlands, the creation of one acre of oyster reef and 3.5 acres of intertidal coastal wetland, and permanent protection of 307 acres at CBEC and Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge.

Congressman Harris made the following statement regarding the announcement:

“I am excited that the Fish and Wildlife Service has approved this grant funding for multiple restoration projects in the First District. These projects will further our mission of restoring the Chesapeake Bay for future generations. The restoration will provide important water quality benefits to the Chester River and the fish and wildlife that call it home. Having seen living shoreline projects first hand, I recognize the crucial role they play in mitigating the loss of critical ecological habitats. I am also pleased to hear that Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge, which is a significant economic engine for Kent County, will benefit from this grant.”

Inside the sex-crazed final weeks at America’s elite colleges

John Avendano, Columbia College’s 2018 senior class president, received only one piece of advice from his predecessor.

“She said, ‘Your best friends are going to ask who put them down for senior scramble, and you can’t tell them,’ ” Avendano, now 23 and applying to medical school, tells The Post. “It was probably the hardest thing I had to deal with in my tenure.”

In addition to his official student council role, Avendano ran the Senior Underground — a technically unaffiliated group that plans senior bar crawls, final banquets and the senior scramble, an annual, classwide matchmaking dating service that has students rank their top 10 college crushes in the hopes of sealing the deal before graduation.

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TOMORROW: Unreserved Estate Auction

Massive Migration From Guatemala, Honduras

Just how bad is the immigration crisis at the U.S. southern border? Well, here’s an instance where percentages can help people gain a greater overall perspective of the immensity of the problem. According to active Homeland Security Department Secretary Kevin McAleenan, since September of last year over 1% of the entire populations of both Guatemala and Honduras have crossed into the U.S. McAleenan stated, “The current migration flows, especially of vulnerable families and children, from Central America through Mexico, to remote areas all along the U.S. border, represent both a security and humanitarian crisis. The situation is not sustainable.”

As we recently noted, you know it’s gotten bad when even The New York Times admits there’s a crisis.

McAleenan noted, “In March, we had over 103,000 irregular arrivals of undocumented migrants — 90% crossing the U.S. border unlawfully and unsafely in the hands of human smugglers. We will see similar numbers in April.” And the reality is the situation is not getting better. McAleenan further explained, “These trends are deepening and accelerating. According to a recent USAID funded study conducted by Vanderbilt University’s Latin American Public Opinion Project in Guatemala earlier this year, 1 in 4 Guatemalans have an intention to migrate from Guatemala, with 85% of them expressing the United States as their preferred destination.”

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Another Obama Gender-Agenda Fail

At the end of April, the U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA), without explanation, removed its Commandant of Cadets, Brig. Gen. Kristin Goodwin. It is unusual to remove an officer from command prior to his or her next rotation. According to the Public Information Office, “Effective immediately, Brig. Gen. Kristin Goodwin is no longer performing her duties as the commandant of cadets pending the results of an ongoing investigation.”

Goodwin is a ‘93 USAFA graduate, and spent most of her pilot years with bomber groups, but coming to the Academy from her staff job as a military assistant to Barack Obama’s inept and unqualified Air Force Secretary, Deborah Lee James. She was on a short list for the USAFA Commandant post with other qualified candidates, but she had one extra qualification important to the Obama administration — gender dysphoria.

Obama loathed our military, and disgracefully used its service branches and their respective academies to implement and enforce his cultural agenda. The Air Force Academy was his favorite target, having the most conservative culture of the service academies.

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Continetti: It Wasn’t a ‘Constitutional Crisis’ When Republicans Demanded Docs From Eric Holder

Washington Free Beacon editor in chief Matthew Continetti pointed out Wednesday that it was not considered a constitutional crisis when Republicans demanded documents from then-Attorney General Eric Holder and held him in contempt of Congress.

"This happened in 2011 with Holder and it wasn't a constitutional crisis then, when Republicans were demanding documents over the Fast and Furious scandal. Now suddenly it's a constitutional crisis over—what is it—1.5 percent of the Mueller Report that is still redacted and the underlying evidence? That's a constitutional crisis?" Continetti said during an appearance on MSNBC's Meet the Press Daily on Wednesday.

Continetti also argued against conflating Donald Trump, Jr. with the White House while the panel discussed Sen. Richard Burr's (R., N.C.) decision to issue a subpoena for the president's son.

Former Associated Press Washington bureau chief Ron Fournier argued the current crisis is "bigger than even Watergate," arguing there has not been "a time where the party under attack is this dug in and behind the president, and almost lemming-like following the president."

"We just spent time talking about Burr subpoenaing the president's son. How is that lemming-like in line?" Continetti asked.

"He's one lone voice in a party that has fallen behind the president," he replied.

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WCSAO: Lee R. Brayboy Convicted Of First Degree Murder

Nancy Pelosi’s meeting with MSNBC host Al Sharpton raises eyebrows

MSNBC host Rev. Al Sharpton raised eyebrows Wednesday when he met with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, with critics pointing out that conservatives are scolded for similar relationships.

Sharpton’s “Politics Nation” is a weekend news program on the leftist network. Mediaite’s Caleb Howe spotted a photo of the meeting on Sharpton’s Twitter feed and pondered why MSNBC isn’t criticized in the same way conservative outlets are when pundits meet with GOP lawmakers.

“The question raised today was whether MSNBC, through Sharpton, should be subject to the same criticism,” Howe wrote.

Conservative strategist Chris Barron echoed Howe’s thoughts, ripping liberal media watchdogs in the process.

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US OFFICIALS ANNOUNCE ‘FIRST-EVER SEIZURE’ OF NORTH KOREAN SHIP ALLEGEDLY USED TO BUST SANCTIONS

In an unprecedented move, the U.S. government seized a North Korean cargo vessel that was allegedly used to violate sanctions placed against the North Korean government.

National security officials announced Thursday the U.S. had seized the Wise Honest, a 17,061-ton ship that is registered in North Korea.

The Wise Honest was intercepted April 2, 2018, while carrying coal from North Korea. The ship had not operated its automatic signaling system since Aug. 4, 2017, according to the Justice Department.

The ship was used to “illicitly ship coal from North Korea and to deliver heavy machinery” to the North Korean government, the Justice Department said. Payments to maintain the vessel were reportedly made in American currency routed through unwitting American banks.

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WCSO Crime Statistics- April 2019

Monthly Crimes Reported to the WCSO

Updated by the 7th of Each Month for the Month Prior

Sector 1- Salisbury, Allen, Deer Harbour, Fruitland, Fox Chase
Sector 2- Parsonsburg, Delmar
Sector 3- Delmar, Log Cabin Road, Adkins Road
Sector 4- Nanticoke, Waterview, White Haven, Tyaskin
Sector 5- Booth Street, Reservation
Sector 6- Hebron, Mardela Springs, Sharptown
Sector 7- Pittsville, Willards, Powellville

Unsure of your WCSO Sector? Click on HERE for the interactive map

McConnell Slams Schumer for Opposing Judicial Nominee He Praised in 2005

Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) laid into Democratic leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) for his vote against confirming a federal judge who was previously praised by Schumer as "outstandingly qualified" and a "great guy," calling it further proof that Schumer's votes are not based on qualifications but rather opposition to President Donald Trump.

Joseph Bianco, a New Yorker who had served as a federal court judge in the state since 2005, was confirmed for a seat on the Court of Appeals on Wednesday despite opposition from both Schumer and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D., N.Y.). He received support from just two Democratic senators, West Virginia's Joe Manchin and Alabama's Doug Jones.

McConnell took specific aim on Thursday at Schumer's opposition to Bianco, who Schumer labeled a "far-right nominee" earlier this year. McConnell questioned how Schumer's opinion of Bianco had shifted so far in the years since 2005, when Bianco was introduced on the Senate floor by none other than Schumer.

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'The Hero Solution': Courageous acts thwart mass shooters

The shooters may have thought they were destined for fame when they attacked the STEM School in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, but instead the world is talking about the brave, bespectacled 18-year-old who gave his life to protect his classmates.

Kendrick Castillo is being hailed as a hero. So is Riley Howell, the 21-year-old who died last week after body-slamming the University of North Carolina at Charlotte shooter. And so is Lori Gilbert-Kaye, 61, who was killed shielding her rabbi in last month’s assault on the Poway synagogue.

Not only did their sacrifice help staunch what could have been much higher casualty counts — four people died in the three would-be mass shootings from April 27 to May 7 — but the stories of extraordinary courage have dominated the news cycle, depriving the alleged shooters of the media oxygen needed to achieve lasting notoriety.

Make no mistake, that’s what would-be mass shooters want, said Tom Teves, whose son Alex was killed in the 2012 Aurora theater shooting. He and his wife Caren Teves founded No Notoriety, a group aimed at keeping media mentions of the attackers to a minimum.

“Slowly, people are starting to recognize that the contagion impact is real,” said Mr. Teves. “We’re not espousing censorship. We’re asking for responsibility.”

His group has asked the press to elevate the names, images and stories of victims and heroes while limiting suspects or perpetrators to one reference per story, but no headline mentions and no photos over the fold.

More here

BACKFIRE: Anti-Gun Group Faces Backlash For Politicizing Vigil For School Shooting

The radical gun control group Moms Demand Action, founded by far-left activist Shannon Watts, is facing mounting backlash on social media after the organization politicized a vigil on Wednesday night for the STEM School Highlands Ranch shooting.

The Daily Wire reported Thursday morning that students stormed out of the vigil after Democrat politicians and Moms Demand Actions' Laura Reeves "heavily politicized" the event, in the words of a student who was in attendance.

Reeves suggested to students that they should be like her and work to elect anti-gun Democrat lawmakers and that they needed to register people to vote in the upcoming election, lead walkouts and demonstrations, write op-eds, raise money, and use social media to push for gun control.

KDVR reporter Ashley Michels, who was at the event, tweeted: "According to students and parents at HRHS vigil, students stormed out in protest because they say gun control advocates were trying to get STEM students to talk about gun control policies during the vigil instead of talking about their classmates."

Hunter Pollack, whose sister Meadow was killed last year in the Parkland shooting, tweeted: "Democrats couldn’t even wait until the body was buried to politicize the shooting; pushing their useless gun control agenda."

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Dems Claim 'Constitutional Crisis' Over Faux Scandal

“Not one of the six Democrats granted access to what amounts to 99.9 percent of volume II of the Mueller report, which details the president’s behavior as it relates to obstruction of justice, have taken the opportunity to examine it,” writes National Review’s Jack Crowe. But according to House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler (D-NY), there’s a “constitutional crisis” after President Donald Trump, at the request of the Justice Department, asserted executive privilege to protect Attorney General William Barr from being held in contempt of Congress. Undeterred, Democrats maintained their vacuous assertion that Barr is hiding something and voted to hold him in contempt anyway.

Spare us the hand-wringing over constitutional fidelity and the Rule of Law. This is nothing more than pure Democrat political theater meant to advance their manufactured faux scandal. Nadler peddles a myth when claiming that Barr is “not being truthful with Congress.” How has Barr not been truthful? In fact, the AG went above and beyond the requirements of law in order to get as much of Robert Mueller’s report to the American public as is legally possible. Anyone can get a copy, and key Democrats even have access to all but a few lines of redacted material.

But that’s not enough for Democrats. Their demand is that Barr break the law by presenting the report fully un-redacted. As Hans von Spakovsky of The Heritage Foundation explains, “Unless Congress’s request for Rule 6(e) grand jury material falls squarely into one of the statutory or court-created exceptions, the attorney general — any attorney general — is prohibited from disclosing that material to Congress. And the congressional request doesn’t fit any of the exceptions.”

Why are Democrats making this demand?

Delaware Permit Holder Fires at Shoplifters, Faces Possible Problems

After a group of alleged shoplifters rammed a mall security vehicle, a Delaware permit holder fired multiple rounds at the suspects’ tires. The suspects ended up still getting away. And the permit holder might face from legal problems.

The incident began at the Brandywine Hundred Concord Mall, according to Delaware Online. Supposedly, four individuals had stolen items from inside the mall before trying to get away in a vehicle. As they were fleeing, the driver intentionally ran into a security vehicle. That’s when the permit holder, who was carrying his gun, opened fired at the tires of the vehicle. The suspects then jumped from the disabled vehicle and fled on foot.

The permit holder waited at the scene for police to arrive. The suspects got away, but left their vehicle at the scene. No one has reported any injuries in the incident. State police are searching for the alleged shoplifters and investigating whether this was a justified shooting.
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Thank God It's Friday

What will you be doing this weekend?

TONIGHT!! Grilled Pork Chop dinner

The public is invited to join the Delmar VFW Auxiliary for a Grilled Pork Chop Dinner on Friday, May 10, from 5 - 8 p.m.,at the VFW Post, 200 W. State St.,Delmar,MD.

The menu includes a large savory grilled pork chop that has marinated for 24 hours, a tossed salad with choice of dressing, a seasoned baked potato with sour cream and/or butter, choice of succotash or broccoli with or without melted cheese,and a dinner roll. Cost is $12 per person. Desserts will also be available.

Carry outs may be ordered in person only after 5 p.m. Proceeds benefit the many local charities and organizations supported by the Delmar VFW Auxiliary.

Seaford Police Investigate Kidnapping

The Seaford Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division is currently investigating a kidnapping that occurred in the 600 Block of North Porter Street in Seaford on Friday May 10th, 2019 shortly after 5 P.M. The male victim was attacked from behind and forced into a vehicle with their head covered. Several minutes later, the victim was pushed from the moving vehicle south of the Blades town limits along Seaford Road (Alternate 13). The victim received numerous minor injuries and is being treated for them. The Seaford Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division is requesting that anyone who may have been a witness or has any information regarding this investigation to please call the Seaford Police Department at (302)629-6644 or the Seaford Police Department and 911 Center Facebook page. Information can also be submitted to Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333. All tips can remain anonymous.

Senior Corporal Eric Chambers
Public Information Officer