These 13 men were charged with conspiring to kidnap Whitmer: Here's what we know

Federal authorities say six men helped orchestrate a plot to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer from her vacation home before the Nov. 3 election. The six were arrested and placed in custody, charged with multiple felonies that could result in life in prison for some if convicted.

State officials also charged seven different men in connection to related activities of the Wolverine Watchmen, a militia group accused of attempting to commit several crimes, including kidnapping public officials.

All 13 defendants or their attorneys could not be reached immediately for comment.

State law enforcement authorities wrote in court documents that "the Wolverine Watchmen have called on members to identify law enforcement officers' home addresses in order to target the officers, have made threats of violence to instigate a civil war leading to societal collapse, and have engaged in planning and training for an operation to attack the Capitol of Michigan, and kidnap Government officials including the Governor of Michigan."

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Vice presidential debate: Harris, Pence spar on plexiglass-divided stage over coronavirus, Supreme Court

Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris and Vice President Mike Pence didn't waste time trading fire over President Trump's handling of the coronavirus pandemic, the idea of packing the Supreme Court and taxes as they faced off Wednesday in their first and only debate during the general election.

Pointing to a national death toll from the virus that's surpassed 210,000 -- with more than 7.5 million confirmed cases -- the Democratic senator from California charged that "the American people have witnessed what is the greatest failure of any presidential administration in the history of our country."

Pence, defending the administration, emphasized that "from the very first day, President Donald Trump’s has put the health of the American people first."

Touting the president's curtailing of nearly all airline flights incoming from China, where the pandemic originated, Pence said "that decision along by President Trump bought us invaluable time to stand up the greatest national mobilization since World War Two and I believe it saved hundreds of thousands of American lives."

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Vice presidential debate: Pence raises Biden plagiarism scandal in defending coronavirus response

Vice President Mike Pence, in Wednesday's vice presidential debate in Utah, brought up the plagiarism scandals that embroiled Joe Biden decades ago when arguing that the Democratic nominee’s coronavirus plan looks a lot like President Trump’s.

“When you read the Biden plan it reads a lot like what Trump and I have been doing every step of the way,” Pence told his debate opponent, Biden running mate Sen. Kamala Harris, noting advanced testing and building up personal protective equipment. “It looks a little bit like plagiarism, something Joe Biden knows a little bit about.”

Biden released a coronavirus plan in March and a plan for reopening in April.

Earlier Wednesday, Biden again reversed course on a national mask mandate, saying on Twitter he would institute such a mandate as president. He also said he would ensure access to free testing and accelerate vaccine developments.

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Washington Post's Jennifer Rubin suggests Congress defund Walter Reed following Trump's release

Washington Post columnist Jennifer Rubin called on Congress to consider defunding Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Monday, lambasting the hospital's doctors for agreeing to release President Donald Trump back to the White House following treatment for COVID-19.

Fox News reported that Rubin went on a Twitter tirade after the president announced he would be heading home after roughly three days at the facility. The president tweeted, "I will be leaving the great Walter Reed Medical Center today at 6:30 P.M. Feeling really good! Don't be afraid of Covid. Don't let it dominate your life. We have developed, under the Trump Administration, some really great drugs & knowledge. I feel better than I did 20 years ago!"

Rubin tweeted in response, "If he falls ill and relapses or infects anyone else his doctors will be responsible."

"Is there no one at Walter Reed with the nerve to speak out publicly to warn others and express they objected to this dangerous course of conduct?" she continued. "After election there's going to need to be a thorough review and [American Medical Association] will need to consider discipline if appropriate."

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Kirstie Alley trounces CNN reporter over President Trump's return to the White House: 'You hate him. Just report that.'

Actress Kirstie Alley trampled on criticism from a CNN reporter being leveled against the president over his actions after returning to the White House from the Walter Reed Medical Center.

President Donald Trump took his mask off before cameras after arriving at the White House. Some in the media and many of his critics pounced on the moment to accuse him of being irresponsible.

"Only days into his diagnosis, the first thing President Trump does when he gets back to the White House is take his mask off," CNN's Kaitlan Collins said.

Alley ripped into Collins with an expletive-ridden response.

"What would you like him to do? Start crying like a little b***h so you can report that he's ...crying like a little b***h? He could have a hazmat suit on and you would report ... he's a f***ing lunatic in a hazmat suit," Alley said.

"You hate him. Just report that," Alley concluded.

Collins had been accused of being a "Faker" by the president himself in a previous kerfuffle where the reporter had been caught pulling off her mask when she thought cameras were off after she had criticized the administration for the same offense. She tweeted later that she had only taken off her mask for six seconds.

Baltimore police prepare for possible protests during voting period

The Baltimore Police Department is preparing to handle any possible protests or demonstrations during the voting period.

The commissioner said the department does not have specific information about planned disruptions during in-person voting, but they are putting together a plan in the event demonstrations unfold.

The department has held two training sessions to go over how officers should handle any disruptions at the polls.

Baltimore Police Commissioner Michael Harrison said no disruptions are expected, but the department is aware of the heated national rhetoric and the deep partisan divide.

"We are all seeing the same energy. We are all seeing the same social media conversations that there could be protests at voting locations. How do we do it, how do we keep people safe?" Harrison said.

Harrison said voters could see officers at voting centers in Baltimore. He said they are being careful not to appear to be overpolicing but instead responding to concern about safety.

Shot-up home of 2 NJ officers with newborn was wrong address

Four men were at the wrong New Jersey address last month when they fired bullets into a house occupied by two New Jersey officers and their newborn baby, authorities said.

The four were arrested over the weekend, Camden County police said Monday. No one in the house was injured. A reward for information leading to arrests in the case reached $100,000.

The officers whose home was shot up Sept. 15 are members of the Camden department, and detectives feared they had been targeted because of their law enforcement work, according to reports. The six shots that struck the house were fired from a vehicle that sped away.

Anne Arundel County Board of Education passes plan allowing return of sports

The Anne Arundel County school board passed a plan Tuesday that will allow for the return of sports.

The two-semester plan will have sports practices resuming Oct. 19, with each season having four weeks of practice starting with fall sports.

Groups of 50 student-athletes would stay together and there would be no extensive contact.

The competitive season will start with winter sports on Feb. 1, 2021 and each season would have five weeks of competition. The seasons will end on June 19, 2021.

There will be two in-person practices and one virtual session per week per sport. The board also strongly encouraged the addition of inter-scholastic school scrimmages.

Wicomico Began Welcoming Some Students Back To School This Week

Small groups of Wicomico County students returned to school on Oct. 5 as part of the school system’s ongoing recovery efforts.

As Wicomico County Public Schools wrapped up its first month of virtual learning, Superintendent Donna Hanlin announced last week the school system’s plans for bringing back small groups of students beginning Monday.

“As of Oct. 5 we will have students coming to schools in small numbers for Special Education, English Language Learners, Career & Technical Education, secondary math tutoring and some Advanced Placement science labs,” Hanlin said in a message to families. “After that, working by grade level, we will gradually bring back students who choose to return.”

Beginning Oct. 19, prekindergarten students will return to the classroom in small numbers with health and safety precautions, Hanlin said, followed by kindergarten students a week later. Other grades and programs will follow in the weeks ahead with communication forthcoming for families, and as health conditions in the community allow.

“Please note that before a student may return to a school or use school transportation, a COVID-19 Parent/Guardian Agreement must be signed online,” Hanlin said. “The link will be provided by the student’s school when the student is identified as part of a group or grade that will be returning.”

School sports will not resume today, as previously planned.

Hanlin said the school system’s recovery plan, posted on www.wcboe.org, has been updated, and families are encouraged to review it.

Video shows Seattle-area teacher scold 10-year-old for admiring Trump

A Seattle-area middle school teacher scolded a 10-year-old student and briefly kicked him out of his virtual classroom last week after the child said he admires President Trump, his mother said.

Brendan Stanton, a sixth-grade teacher at Perry G. Keithley Middle School in Tacoma, asked his students on Friday to name a person they admire and to state why. Students were supposed to type their answers in a chat room.

"I admire Donald J. Trump because he is making America great again," the child wrote, according to the "The Jason Rantz Show." "And because he is the best president the United States of America could ever, ever have. And he built the wall so terrorists couldn’t come into in the U.S. Trump is the best person in the world. And that’s why I had admire him."

Stanton reportedly booted the child from the chat and proceeded to berate Trump without saying his name.

"The example that was shared in the chat, which I went ahead and erased for us, was not appropriate right?” Stanton told the class. “Especially as that individual has created so much division and hatred between people and specifically spoken hatred to many different individuals, OK?"

He referred to Trump as an "individual" who "has spoken hate to many individuals and I don’t think is an appropriate example for a role model that we should be admiring.”

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Trump authorizes declassification of all Russia collusion, Hillary Clinton email probe documents

President Trump on Tuesday said he has “fully authorized the total Declassification of any & all documents" related to the Russia investigation and the FBI’s investigation into former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server.

“I have fully authorized the total Declassification of any & all documents pertaining to the single greatest political CRIME in American History, the Russia Hoax. Likewise, the Hillary Clinton Email Scandal. No redactions!” The president tweeted Tuesday night.

"All Russia Hoax Scandal information was Declassified by me long ago," Trump tweeted. "Unfortunately for our Country, people have acted very slowly, especially since it is perhaps the biggest political crime in the history of our Country."

He added: "Act!!!"

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Biden raises eyebrows after telling 'these beautiful young ladies' he wants to 'see them dancing when they're four years older'

Joe Biden has been raising eyebrows again with remarks he made to a group of "beautiful young ladies" during a campaign stop in Miami. While paying a visit on Monday to the Little Haiti Cultural Center, Biden closed his remarks by quipping to the crowd, "the good news is, for me, I'm here. The bad news for you is I'm coming back." He then spotted a gathering of young girls to the side. "And I want to see these beautiful young ladies- I want to see them dancing when they're four years older too," Biden pointed, sparking laughs from attendees. Footage of the remark went viral, sparking allegations from some of "creepy" behavior. These weren't the only Biden remarks that caused a stir on social media this week. A resurfaced clip from a September 15 campaign event showed the Democratic nominee suggesting why people were able to quarantine during the coronavirus pandemic. "They're saying, 'Jeez, the reason I was able to stay sequestered in my home is because some Black woman was able to stack the grocery shelf,'" Biden is heard saying in the clip.

Twitter, Facebook censor Trump's message comparing coronavirus to flu

Tech giants Twitter and Facebook both cracked down on President Trump comparing COVID-19 to the seasonal flu on Tuesday, resulting in the president calling for a repeal of Section 230.

“Flu season is coming up! Many people every year, sometimes over 100,000, and despite the Vaccine, die from the Flu,” Trump tweeted. “Are we going to close down our Country? No, we have learned to live with it, just like we are learning to live with Covid, in most populations far less lethal!!!”

Twitter put up a warning that shields the tweet from followers: “This Tweet violated the Twitter Rules about spreading misleading and potentially harmful information related to COVID-19. However, Twitter has determined that it may be in the public’s interest for the Tweet to remain accessible.”

Trump’s followers had to select “view” in order to see the message that was covered by Twitter’s warning.

Eddie Van Halen, legendary rock guitarist, dead at 65

One of rock 'n' roll's singular and most gifted guitarists, Eddie Van Halen, has died. He was 65. Van Halen's son, Wolf, confirmed the news on Tuesday. "I can't believe I'm having to write this, but my father, Edward Lodewijk Van Halen, has lost his long and arduous battle with cancer this morning," he wrote on Twitter. "He was the best father I could ever ask for. Every moment I've shared with him on stage and off stage was a gift," Wolf continued. "My heart is broken and I don't think I'll ever fully recover from this loss." "I love you so much, Pop," he concluded. According to TMZ, citing sources, Van Halen died at a Santa Monica hospital on Tuesday. Wolf, his brother Alex, and his wife, Janie, were by his side. Van Halen told Billboard magazine in 2015 that he had one-third of his tongue removed due to cancer that had also spread to his esophagus. “I used metal picks -- they’re brass and copper -- which I always held in my mouth, in the exact place where I got the tongue cancer,” he said at the time. “Plus, I basically live in a recording studio that’s filled with electromagnetic energy. So that’s one theory. I mean, I was smoking and doing a lot of drugs and a lot of everything. But at the same time, my lungs are totally clear. This is just my own theory, but the doctors say it’s possible.”

CNN’s Chris Cuomo slammed for coronavirus hypocrisy after ‘off-the-wall rant’ attacking Trump

CNN’s Chris Cuomo was roasted on Monday night after attacking President Trump’s return to the White House amid a battle with coronavirus.

Cuomo, the younger brother of Democratic New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, specifically questioned Trump’s timeline even though the CNN anchor’s own coronavirus timeline was scrutinized earlier this year.

The “Cuomo Prime Time” namesake famously videotaped his “official reentry” into normal society after recovering from coronavirus back in April, claiming he had been stuck in his basement for weeks. But Cuomo had previously admitted he was involved in a heated altercation that took place outside his second property, not the home where he was allegedly confined to the basement.

New York Times media columnist Ben Smith even mocked the situation at the time, comparing CNN to a reality TV show.

Days later, Cuomo dug himself a hole when he tried to combat a Twitter critic by claiming he was “past quarantine” on the date of a now-infamous altercation with a cyclist, which appears to have occurred days before he claimed he was first healthy enough to emerge from his basement.

But Cuomo’s debacle didn’t stop him from criticizing Trump’s return to the White House.

New York woman accused of using six kids to steal Trump lawn signs

A woman was arrested Sunday for allegedly using six kids to steal Trump campaign lawn signs from numerous sites in upstate New York, a report said.

Deana Algarin, 45, was busted with the signs in her car by the New York State police on Highway 103 in Montgomery County, Fox News reported, citing the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office.

The stolen signs were from locations in Montgomery and Schenectady counties, the report said.

Algarin was charged with six counts of endangering the welfare of a child, criminal possession of stolen property, petit larceny and marijuana possession, police said.

She was also slapped with two citations for seatbelt violations.

It’s unclear if Algarin was related to any of the children.

Pence faces tall task in VP debate

Vice President Pence faces a challenging environment in the first vice presidential debate on Wednesday, which will take place against an unprecedented backdrop of events.

Pence will take the stage as President Trump, his running mate, battles the coronavirus. Trump left the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Monday evening amid continued questions about his health.

The White House is also dealing with a growing outbreak within its walls. On Monday, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany and two of her deputies came down with COVID-19.

A Biden aide said Harris will continue the Biden campaign’s strategy of homing in on Trump’s failed leadership “which of course includes the handling of COVID-19.”

“Harris has every advantage coming into this debate,” one GOP strategist conceded. “Pence is going to have to try and turn this around all on his own and that’s a pretty daunting situation to be in.”

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Speaker Pelosi, House Democrats leave town, fail the American people

Wheels up, off to California after adjourning the House until after Election Day. It’s a shameful display of partisanship in the wake of our recovery from the coronavirus. Rather than help small businesses continue to access unused funds from the Paycheck Protection Program, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is willing to block reasonable relief efforts, all in the name of politics. She doesn’t want to risk President Trump and congressional Republicans getting an ounce of credit in the final weeks of this election.

Some things are simply more important than political posturing, like ensuring American small businesses can weather the storm of the coronavirus pandemic. We have unspent funds from the Paycheck Protection Program, a COVID relief program that saved 51 million jobs in the United States, 2 million in Ohio alone. Its authorization is expiring, meaning the program is closing up shop, despite $138 billion left in the coffers.

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Virginia governor displaying mild symptoms after positive COVID-19 diagnosis

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam (D) said Monday that he is displaying mild symptoms after testing positive for COVID-19 last week.

The 61-year-old Democratic governor released a video on Facebook, in which he said he and first lady Pam Northam “continue to make good progress” in their recovery. Northam reported he developed “mild cold-like symptoms” and lost his sense of smell.

“But otherwise, we’re doing well and staying in good spirits,” he said, while sitting next to his dog Pearl.

Northam told The Washington Post in an interview, shortly after the Facebook video went up, that he hasn’t experienced a fever, shortness of breath or coughing and said Pam “is doing well also.” The couple has not received treatment for the virus but are making efforts to keep track of their health and oxygen levels.

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Here’s What You Need To Know About The Donut Hole And Medicare Open Enrollment

The Medicare Open Enrollment Period (OEP) is a very important time for anyone who has a Medicare Advantage or Part D drug plan. Here are some important points.

The OEP begins October 15 and ends December 17. This is your opportunity to review your coverage for next year.
Watch for a notice of changes from your plan around October 1.
Review the changes and figure out the impact on you.
If you are satisfied with the premium, benefits, and costs, don’t do anything and your plan will renew automatically. However, if there are changes that you don’t like or they won’t work for you, review other plans and enroll in one by December 7. The new coverage will begin January 1.

Remember: If you do not take action, you’ll be stuck with whatever coverage you have, come January 1. Pay attention and avoid unpleasant surprises.
The donut hole

Those who take costly medications should know about the donut hole.

Its official name is the Coverage Gap.
It is the third payment stage in Medicare Part D drug coverage.
In 2016, over 5 million beneficiaries hit the donut hole.
By design, the beneficiary is responsible for most or all of the costs in this stage. However, discounts were introduced in 2012.
In 2020, the donut hole closed and discounts on all medications now and in the future will be 25%.

Statement from Comptroller Peter Franchot

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (October 5, 2020) - Comptroller Peter Franchot announces that Len Foxwell will no longer serve as chief of staff as of today and will separate from the agency at the end of the month.

Comptroller Franchot thanks Mr. Foxwell for his 12 years of dedicated service and contributions to the Comptroller’s Office and the State of Maryland, and wishes him the best in his future endeavors.

Emmanuel Welsh will assume the role of acting chief of staff. Mr. Welsh has served as deputy chief of staff since 2016.

New Blog Host

We do finally have a new blog host, and designers will be working on Tuesday to design the blog as closely to the old format as possible.  

We are hoping to be able to redirect you by sometime tomorrow afternoon.  

Thanks so much, 

Joe 

Trump, first lady experiencing 'mild symptoms' as WH doc releases details about treatment

President Trump's physician released details about the commander-in-chief's medical condition and treatment Friday, following the bombshell announcement hours earlier that the first couple had been stricken with COVID-19.

On Friday afternoon, Dr. Sean P. Conley, the president’s physician, released an update on the president's condition.

“Following PCR-confirmation of the President’s diagnosis, as a precautionary measure he received a single 8-gram dose of Regeneron’s polyclonal antibody cocktail,” a memo released Friday afternoon by Dr. Sean P. Conley, the president’s physician, stated. "He completed the infusion without incident.”

"In addition tot he polyclonal antibodies, the President has been taking zinc, Vitamin D, famotidine, melatonin and a daily aspirin," Conley said.

Conley added that "as of this afternoon, the President remains fatigued but in good spirts."

"He’s being evaluated by a team of experts, and together we’ll be making recommendations to the President and First Lady in regards to next best steps," Conley said.

Conley added that the first lady "remains well with only a mild cough and headache, and the remainder of the First Family are well and tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 today."

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Pro-Life Activist Sued by Kamala Harris Says “Everyone should be afraid” of VP Nominee

In August, pro-life activist David Daleiden told Fox News’s Tucker Carlson that during her time as California’s Attorney General, Kamala Harris used her power to attack his First Amendment rights as an undercover journalist.

Daleiden alleges that Harris conspired with Planned Parenthood to suppress his rights after he released undercover videos showing Planned Parenthood executives discussing the buying and selling of aborted fetal remains.

According to federal law, the buying and selling of human body parts is illegal. Engaging in the traffick of aborted baby body parts is punishable by 10 years in jail and fines up to $500,000.

After a Congressional investigation, Congress made dozens of referrals for criminal and regulatory charges to local authorities against Planned Parenthood.

At the time, Kamala Harris was California’s Attorney General. She had received $15,000 in contributions from Planned Parenthood during her 2014 reelection campaign. Instead of opening an investigation into Planned Parenthood, Harris went after Daleiden. Harris sued Daleiden under a California eavesdropping law that had never been used against an undercover reporter. In addition, she met with 6 Planned Parenthood executives in early 2016 in what Daleiden alleges was a conspiracy to put an end to his investigations and to suppress his First Amendment rights.

“So she used the power of armed law enforcement to crush someone who criticized her donors,” Tucker Carlson concluded in August’s interview.

“Exactly,” Daleiden responded. “Everyone should be afraid,” he said of Harris, and “her radical disrespect and contempt for the First Amendment.”

In response to the videos, both Planned Parenthood and the National Abortion Federation filed lawsuits against Daleiden. Planned Parenthood was awarded $2.2 million by a San Fransisco jury hearing the case last November.

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President Trump, first lady test positive for coronavirus, set to quarantine at White House

President Trump announced early Friday that both he and first lady Melania Trump tested positive for COVID-19 and will quarantine at the White House, sending shockwaves through the political universe and igniting an outpouring of support for the first family.

He added: “We will get through this TOGETHER!”

Melania Trump also tweeted, "As too many Americans have done this year, @POTUS & I are quarantining at home after testing positive for COVID-19. We are feeling good & I have postponed all upcoming engagements. Please be sure you are staying safe & we will all get through this together."

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Black Chairman of Proud Boys Speaks Out after Liars Joe Biden and Chris Wallace Call Them White Supremacists

For months now violent leftists, antifa terrorists and Black Lives Matter have been torching businesses, terrorizing communities, shooting cops, looting stores and rioting in cities across America.

But at Tuesday night’s debate Chris Wallace demanded that President Trump denounce white supremacist violence in our streets. And Joe Biden added that Trump needed to condemn the white supremacist Proud Boys group.

On Wednesday Proud Boy International Chairman Enrique Tarrio, an African-Hispanic American, spoke out against the smear that Proud Boys is a white supremacist group as Joe Biden claims.

Joe Biden, Chris Wallace and the media are LYING TO YOU!

Leftist Former CEO of Twitter Dick Costolo Wants to Watch His Political Opponents Get Lined Up Against a Wall and Shot in the “Revolution”

Former Twitter CEO and multi-millionaire Dick Costolo admitted on Wednesday night that he wants to murder those people he doesn’t agree with politically.

Costolo tweeted this out on Wednesday night.

Seagram’s heir sentenced to prison in branded sex slave case

A wealthy benefactor of Keith Raniere, the disgraced leader of a self-improvement group in upstate New York convicted of turning women into sex slaves who were branded with his initials, was sentenced Wednesday to almost seven years in prison in the federal conspiracy case.

Seagram’s liquor fortune heir Clare Bronfman was taken into custody to begin her 81-month sentence immediately after her appearance in federal court in Brooklyn.

Bronfman, 41, admitted in a guilty plea last year that she harbored someone who was living in the U.S. illegally for unpaid “labor and services” and that she committed credit card fraud on behalf of Raniere, leader of the group called NXIVM.

At trial, prosecutors told jurors the 60-year-old Raniere’s organization, NXIVM — pronounced NEHK-see-uhm, operated like a cult whose members called him “Vanguard.” To honor him, the group formed a secret sorority comprised of brainwashed female “slaves” who were branded with his initials and forced to have sex with him, the prosecutors said.

Bronfman’s lawyers argued she deserved leniency because she had no direct involvement in the most disturbing allegations and has a health condition that could put her at greater risk for a coronavirus infection if incarcerated.

The defendant had long been affiliated with NXIVM, giving away tens of million of dollars to bankroll Raniere and his program of intense self-improvement classes. She also paid for lawyers to defend the group against a lawsuit brought by its critics.

State Lawmakers Vow To Pursue Stronger Legislation After the chaos in OC

The resort area’s representatives in Annapolis have vowed to pursue even stronger legislation aimed at thwarting some of the behavior associated with the pop-up car rally that inundated Ocean City again last weekend.

State Delegate Wayne Hartman (R-38C), who represents Ocean City and Worcester County, was on the front lines for much of the weekend, riding along with the Ocean City Police Department on Friday and the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office on Saturday. Hartman said in a taped message what was displayed in pictures and videos of the unofficial event did not do it justice.

“It’s hard to describe and hard to imagine what happened in Ocean City and how intense it was and the magnitude of it,” he said. “It was typical for 12 to 15 law enforcement officers to be dispatched to a particular site to disperse crowds. More often than not, those law enforcement officers were met with rocks, water bottles, beer cans and fireworks being shot at them.”

Hartman, who was instrumental in getting the enhanced special event zone legislation through the General Assembly last winter, vowed to go back to the drawing board this year.

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Hollywood celebrities fuel Texas Democrats' fundraising push in bid to turn Lone Star State blue

Hollywood celebrities are flocking to support Texas Democrats, urging their fans to chip in $38 to help turn the Lone Star state blue in the November election.

The group of celebrities, which includes Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Amy Schumer, Mark Ruffalo and Pink, asked for supporters to chip in $38 for Democratic causes in Texas to buoy Biden's chances of securing the state's 38 electoral votes -- one of the biggest delegate prizes on Election Day.

"There’s no debate: If we #TurnTexasBlue, Trump is through. $38 for 38 electoral votes. Match me: 38for38.com," they tweeted, sharing a message that has gone viral across social media.

The "Turn Texas Blue" campaign began percolating on social media ahead of the first presidential debate.

According to an aggregate of polls from RealClearPolitics, Trump is leading Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden by 3.2 percentage points in Texas, and incumbent Republican Sen. John Cornyn is polling ahead of his Democratic challenger, M.J. Hegar, by more than 8 percentage points.

Berlin Ethics Commission investigates conflict of interest complaints after Austin Purnell appointment

The town’s ethics commission on Wednesday dismissed complaints filed regarding a recent planning commission appointment.

The Berlin Ethics Commission met Wednesday to review five complaints filed regarding the appointment of Austin Purnell to the Berlin Planning Commission. Purnell was nominated by Mayor Gee Williams and approved by the town council on Monday.

“The ethics commission unanimously voted there was no violation,” Town Administrator Jeff Fleetwood said.

"Purnell is the son of a sitting councilman and works with his father, who is heavily involved in local real estate." said one of the citizens. She went on to say, “Austin Purnell’s position on the planning commission would always be suspect in any decisions that were made whether he recused himself or not.”

“Under the manipulative hand of Mayor Williams, the elected leadership of Berlin has routinely failed the taxpayer,” another citizen said. He then added, “Today the appointed members of the ethics commission fell in line with their appointer’s wish, a local developer/councilman gets another ‘in’ and the taxpayer will again be left to suffer the consequences of poor leadership.”

Williams, however, maintains that he would not have nominated Purnell for the position if there was any question regarding ethics.

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California GOP lawmakers demand Newsom cancel $35M voter outreach contract awarded to Dem consulting firm

California’s secretary of state has reportedly awarded a $35 million voter outreach contract to a consulting firm with close ties to the Democratic Party. Now, California Republicans are calling upon Gov. Gavin Newsom to cancel the contract for compromising the integrity of the 2020 presidential election.

The California agency responsible for overseeing elections awarded the contract last month to SKD Knickerbocker, a Washington, D.C.-based public affairs firm whose managing director is Anita Dunn, a senior advisor on Joe Biden’s presidential campaign and White House communications director under President Barack Obama.

Under the terms of the “Vote Safe California” contract, the money was intended to help counties prepare for the November election amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. California’s budget allows the money to cover costs like ballot printing, mailing and postage, extra staffing, and outreach, among other needs, the Sacramento Bee reported.

But the nature of the contract and the process by which it was awarded to SKD Knickerbocker – who have openly declared themselves on “Team Biden” – has come under some scrutiny.

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Ocean City PD to expand despite budget challenge

Resort officials this week approved the recruiting and hiring of 10 new full-time police officers for the Ocean City Police Department, acknowledging the challenge will likely be how to pay for them.

During Tuesday’s work session, Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) Chief Ross Buzzuro and OCPD Captain Mike Colbert came before the Mayor and Council seeking approval to hire 10 new full-time sworn officers. Buzzuro said the number of full-time officers has been stagnant for as long as he has been chief in 2013, while the town’s offseason special events have multiplied and in-season crowds have increased.

Buzzuro also said with police departments all over the country under increased scrutiny, the challenges in recruiting summer seasonal officers has increased in kind. His recommendation was to beef up the full-time year-round police force and scale back somewhat on the seasonal officer program.

“We’re seeing increased difficulty with the seasonal officer program,” he said. “We’ve seen a decline in applications in recent years, especially with the challenges facing police departments all over the country.”

Buzzuro said the department would like to add more full-time police officers over time and reduce the reliance on the seasonal officer program.

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New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio says NYPD officers not wearing masks should face ‘penalties’

New York City police officers who don’t wear coronavirus masks should face “penalties,” according to Mayor Bill de Blasio.

“Our officers should be held to the same standard as all citizens, all public standards,” he said at a news conference Wednesday. “If they don’t, there should be penalties.”

Despite the statement, de Blasio said most police officers do wear masks on the job in the Big Apple. But the New York Post reported that at the same time the mayor made that statement, more than 30 officers in the building’s hallway were not wearing masks.

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Council Votes 4-3 To Lift Boardwalk Mask Requirement In Ocean City

The majority of the Ocean City Council voted not to extend the Boardwalk mask requirement for another 30 days, but the mayor’s declaration of a state of emergency will remain in effect.

At the close of Tuesday’s work session, City Solicitor Heather Stansbury pointed out Mayor Rick Meehan’s declaration of a state of emergency, including the amendment requiring the wearing of masks on the Boardwalk, was set to expire. The council needed to take action on the Boardwalk mask requirement specifically and the state of emergency declaration in general, or the directives could simply expire.

While the key COVID-19 metrics appear to have stabilized, some on the council believed it was time to simply let the Boardwalk mask requirement expire. However, Meehan urged his colleagues to extend it another 30 days.

“I’ve been up there and I think the large majority are wearing masks,” he said. “I think we’re sending the right message. We’re going to see a lot of busy weekends in October, and I just think we should keep this directive in place.”

Councilman John Gehrig said the mask directive was largely hollow because it wasn’t being enforced to a large degree.

Meehan said the directive should probably be extended if only for appearances.

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House Democrats’ stimulus bill includes stimulus checks for illegal immigrants, protections from deportations

A stimulus package proposed by Democrats in the House of Representatives includes a number of items that will benefit illegal immigrants -- including an expansion of stimulus checks and protections from deportations for illegal immigrants in certain “essential” jobs.

The $2.2 trillion bill includes language that allows some illegal immigrants -- who are “engaged in essential critical infrastructure labor or services in the United States” -- to be placed into “a period of deferred action” and authorized to work if they meet certain conditions.

It also grants protections to those employers who hire those undocumented immigrants, ordering that “the hiring, employment or continued employment” of the defined group is not in violation of the Immigration and Nationality Act. That lasts until 90 days after the public health emergency is ended.

A Democratic description of that part of the bill says that “such workers are deemed to be in a period of deferred action and to be authorized for employment, and employers are shielded from certain immigration-related violations for employing such workers."

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Fredericksburg’s Slave Auction Block Will Be Moved to a Museum

In early June, officials in Fredericksburg, Virginia, removed a stone block that commemorates the auctioning of enslaved people from a public sidewalk. Now, reports Cathy Jett for the Free Lance-Star, the controversial artifact is set to go on view in a local museum with added contextualization.

The 800-pound block of sandstone once stood at the corner of William and Charles Streets in the city’s historic center. Beginning in the 1830s, enslavers routinely auctioned off groups of enslaved African Americans near the site.

As Michael S. Rosenwald wrote for the Washington Post in June, the block and its painful history have been the subject of debate for decades. This year, the stone came under renewed scrutiny as protests against racial injustice and police brutality swept the country. During marches in Fredericksburg, protesters reportedly spray-painted it and chanted, “Move the block!”

City officials voted to remove the stone last year. But lawsuits and the Covid-19 pandemic delayed the actual event until this summer, notes Jett in a separate Free Lance-Star article. In the coming months, a temporary panel called “A Witness to History” is slated to be installed where the block once stood.

Per the Free Lance-Star, the stone will go on display at the Fredericksburg Area Museum (FAM) by mid-November at the earliest. Eventually, the museum plans to feature the block in a permanent exhibition about Fredericksburg’s African American history.

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Ocean City Special Event Zone Tuesday, October 6 to Sunday, October 11

With thousands of car enthusiasts in our resort community this week, Ocean City will be designated a Special Event Zone beginning Tuesday, October 6 through Sunday, October 11, during the Endless Summer Cruisin’ event.

The Special Event Zone reduces established speed limits in the zone and increases fines for violations. Additionally, legislation signed in 2020 allows for increased penalties for specific motor vehicle violations. Similar to a Construction Zone, violators will face increased fines or, in some cases, arrest.

During this time frame, citizens should expect to see a large police presence as officers from multiple allied agencies will be assisting the Ocean City Police Department. Officers from the Ocean City Police Department, Maryland State Police, and the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office will be strictly enforcing all traffic laws. In addition, significant traffic congestion, and alternate traffic patterns is anticipated throughout the weekend.

Spectators are urged to keep the sidewalks clear for pedestrian traffic and should not incite the spinning of wheels or “burn-outs” by motorists. Officers will enforce all laws for spectators who incite drivers, as well as enforce the violations with the driver. Further, with high pedestrian traffic expected, pedestrians are urged to Walk Smart! and always use crosswalks when crossing roadways. Wait for the signal to change and be sure that drivers see you while crossing.

For more information on the Ocean City Special Event Zones, visit www.oceancitymd.gov/specialeventzone.

Fifty Years After the Beatles Broke Up, Trove of Memorabilia Goes on Auction

If you’ve ever dreamed of wearing a pair of John Lennon’s iconic round glasses, now’s your chance—as long as you have $50,000 or so to spare.

A half-century after the Beatles’ breakup, Sotheby’s is auctioning a wide-ranging collection of objects related to the beloved band, including a set of the signature Windsor spectacles.

The 63 lots up for auction span the Beatles’ career, starting before John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr began playing together in Liverpool in the late 1950s and early ’60s and continuing through their rise to superstardom.

Among the items featured are a signed, seven-inch vinyl record of the band’s first single, “Love Me Do”; fan club newsletters; posters; and royalty statements.

The glasses, which are expected to sell for between £30,000 and £40,000 (roughly $38,700 to $51,650 USD), may have been Lennon’s first pair in that style. He gave them to his housekeeper, Dorothy “Dot” Jarlett, in 1965. At the time, the musician was wearing contact lenses during public appearances; he only began wearing glasses publicly the following year.

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Governor Hogan on COVID-19’s Impact on Maryland’s Budget: “The Biggest Fiscal Challenge We Have Ever Faced”

Governor Larry Hogan today issued the following statement after a meeting of the Board of Revenue Estimates:

“The COVID-19 pandemic has caused an unprecedented fiscal crisis for state and local governments nationwide, which according to Moody’s Analytics will face $500 billion in shortfalls over the next two fiscal years, with more than 4 million jobs at stake.

“Today’s revenue estimates are still nearly $1 billion less than what was budgeted prior to the pandemic. Because of our early and aggressive actions, Maryland’s fiscal situation remains challenging, but is significantly less painful than it could have been.

“Nearly six months ago, after dire projections by the Bureau of Revenue Estimates, I immediately implemented a budget freeze and directed the Department of Budget and Management to make recommendations for budget cuts in all state agencies. In addition, the Board of Public Works unanimously approved a series of targeted reductions. And, unlike many states, we were able to keep more than 70 percent of our economy open throughout the entire crisis.

“With this public health and fiscal crisis far from over, it is no time to declare victory. Though we are in a better position both economically and health-wise than much of the country, this is still the biggest fiscal challenge we have ever faced. We will continue to plan for the worst, press Congress to act on additional relief, and make the tough decisions necessary to balance our budget.”

NYC vote counters can’t even keep track of their tablets: DOI probe

Here’s one more thing the Board of Elections can’t count!

The Big Apple’s scandal-marred elections agency failed to keep track of the thousands of computer tablets it uses for poll books, to train staff and to transmit unofficial results on Election Night, The Post has learned.

The Department of Investigation audit uncovered the startling failures in March 2020 as they inspected the Board of Elections headquarters and borough offices, the documents, obtained under the Freedom of Information Law, show.

Only the BOE’s Brooklyn operation kept track of the Apple iPads it was assigned as part of the $24 million effort to digitalize Gotham’s old-school poll books, which voters must sign before casting their ballots.

An official at the Queens office guessed they kept 800 of the ‘poll pads’ on hand — but had no hard count, the DOI reported.

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Presidential debate: Trump, Biden clash over Barrett Supreme Court nomination, ObamaCare as insults fly

President Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden kicked off their first presidential debate sparring over the Supreme Court nomination and ObamaCare, but it quickly devolved into Trump interrupting and Biden calling the president a "clown" and a "liar."

And it spiraled downward from there...

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Letter from a Police Officer that worked the Trump rally in Newport News, last Friday night!

This is long, but worth the read. It speaks volumes........

"I attended the President’s rally in Newport News, yesterday. Not like I wanted to though, I was deployed there in my official capacity. Got the word late Thursday night, and answered the call.

I’m exceptionally thankful for this experience because I got to see oil and water, SIDE BY SIDE. Literally a few feet apart. I’m now even more absolutely certain that I support the correct side. I’d like to tell anyone that wants to hear it, what I saw.

The first half of the assignment I was overwhelmed by the community support! While moving to our staging point, the citizens were phenomenal in their vocal support of us. American flags/blue line flags/Trump flags were waiving, people were thanking us, praying for us, letting us know how much the “silent majority” supports us and how they will be heard on Election Day. Contrary to what the media and the left would report, I saw THOUSANDS of beautiful, patriotic blacks, Asians, Latinos, whites, and everything in between, being respectful and conducting themselves with the utmost decency. They said they loved us and were praying for us. You would have thought that this event was a parade to honor the police. I cannot lie to you, I teared up more than once. You can listen to the media garbage if you like, but something real is happening just like it did 4 years ago.

Not long after the sun set, BLM showed up. I do not support this Marxist organization, but I do have to protect their free speech. I stood in the two feet between them and the passing rally participants. I am absolutely convinced of a demonic influence in the group. I (we) have absorbed a lot over the last 3-4 months, but last night was exceptionally evil. I listened to BLM tell us that our mothers should have aborted us, they called us bastards, pigs, racists, bacon, etc, etc. I even saw a guy dressed like satan trying to stare a hole through me. Once they realized we were not phased by their garbage, they turned it on the rally participants. Respectful and peaceful men, women and children of all shapes, sizes and colors, were then getting the vitriol that had been hurled at the police. I expect this garbage because I wear a badge and I am the symbol of what they hate. But these innocent people did not deserve any of it. Even amongst the most vile comments being shouted at them, most of which I will not repeat, many rally participants did not hesitate to continue thanking us and praying for our safety. When BLM could not get anyone to “bite their hooks,” They moved to the city streets. We spent the rest of the night keeping them from impeding traffic.

I lost track of how many times someone threatened to “beat my ass,” but I recall how quickly a particular male (I won’t say “man,” because he was clearly a coward, and not worthy of being referred to as a man) shut his mouth and backed up when I promptly stepped over the line that he indicated would result in my ass-beating. 50-60 humans with their cell phones, megaphones and whinny voices, and not one honorable man or woman among them. Just foul-mouthed garbage, yelling factually incorrect media lies, all night. At the end they were indicating that they were not tired and could go all night. It was near midnight when they almost immediately dispersed. I guess they were actually tired and hungry, and needed to get back to their parent’s basement. I know this group does not represent the entirety of the left, but I believe the Democratic Party has been high-jacked by evil, and they are turning our young people into useful idiots.

The blue line, each of us clad in nearly 60lbs of gear matched them step for step, and held the line until the cowards dispersed. I serve with some truly amazing and honorable people!

Keep America Great!!!"

Kamala Harris doesn't take questions after speech ripping Trump's Supreme Court push

Democratic vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris faced renewed scrutiny for her lack of press availability on Monday after she abruptly exited the stage after a speech in North Carolina in which she criticized President Trump’s bid to fill a Supreme Court seat before the election.

Harris did not take any questions from the media after her speech at Shaw University, one of North Carolina’s historically black colleges and universities. The event was closed to the general public and attended only by news reporters, according to the Fayetteville Observer.

In her speech, which was criticized by the research wing of the Republican National Committee, Harris ripped the GOP for moving forward with the nomination so close to an election.

“We will not give up, and we will not give in," Harris said. “We will not let the infection that President Trump has injected into the presidency and into Congress, that has paralyzed our politics and pitted Americans against each other, spread to the United States Supreme Court."

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Biden wants a break every 30 minutes during tonight's debate

After Trump asked that the candidates be swept for electronic devices, the Biden campaign submitted a request from the Trump campaign as well, asking for two breaks during the evening's program, meaning a disruption in the debate every thirty minutes.The Trump campaign denied the request for brief intermissions.

A Trump spokesperson told Fox News "our guy doesn't need breaks. He gives 90-minute speeches all the time."

The negotiations are reportedly still ongoing for Tuesday night's debate, as well as the two subsequent debates in the coming weeks.

Trump camp seeks extra debate rule: Third party inspectors to look for electronic devices in candidates' ears

President Trump is asking for an additional ground rule ahead of Tuesday night’s first presidential debate between himself and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden. But the Biden campaign is rejecting it.

Fox News has learned that the president’s re-election campaign wants the Biden campaign to allow a third party to inspect the ears of each debater for electronic devices or transmitters. The president has consented to this kind of inspection, but a source said the Biden campaign has declined the ear check.

The Trump campaign, in the hours ahead of the debate, claimed Biden's campaign had agreed to such an inspection before reversing themselves.

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Governor Hogan Announces Extension of Homeowners’ and Renters’ Property Tax Credit Deadlines

 ANNAPOLIS, MD—Governor Larry Hogan today announced that the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT) is extending the deadline to apply for 2020 Homeowners’ and Renters’ Property Tax Credits from October 1 to October 31. These two tax credit programs save Marylanders more than $65 million per year, with homeowners receiving an average credit of $1,348 on their tax bill and renters receiving an average direct payment of $414. Applications can be submitted online through Maryland OneStop.

“This is yet another step our administration is taking to ensure more of our citizens can remain safe and secure in their homes,” said Governor Hogan. “Tens of thousands of Marylanders who have not yet applied may still be eligible for these tax credits, and now have an additional month to apply for this much-needed relief.”

The Homeowners’ Property Tax Credit Program provides relief for eligible homeowners by setting a limit on the amount of property taxes owed based on their income. If a resident has already paid their property tax and applies before October 31, any tax credit that the homeowner may be eligible for will be refunded by their local county finance office. Many counties and municipalities also provide supplemental homeowners’ credits, which will be automatically applied if the applicant is approved for the state homeowners’ credit.

The Renters’ Property Tax Credit Program provides tax relief for eligible renters who pay high monthly rent relative to their total income and do not receive federal or state housing subsidies or reside in public housing. The credit is issued in the form of a direct check payment of up to $1,000.

SDAT is also encouraging Maryland homeowners to submit an application for the Homestead Tax Credit if they have not yet done so. Once approved, the Homestead Credit accrues over time by limiting the increase in taxable assessment each year to a fixed percentage, and is a one-time application without a specific filing deadline. The Homestead Credit provides nearly $20 billion in assessment relief per year.

Sufficiently completed tax credit applications will be processed 30-90 days after they are submitted, although online applications will be processed significantly faster than those submitted by mail. For additional questions about these credits, applicants should visit www.taxcredits.sdat.maryland.gov or contact SDAT as follows:

• Homeowners’ Property Tax Credit Program: sdat.homeowners@maryland.gov, 410-767-4433
• Renters’ Property Tax Credit Program: sdat.renters@maryland.gov, 410-767-4433
• Homestead Property Tax Credit Program: sdat.homestead@maryland.gov, 410-767-4433 

For more information about these programs, please visit dat.maryland.gov/Pages/Tax-Credit-Programs.

A Viewer Writes

At 3:55 pm I came across this trio of cars just as they finished destroying the trump sign at the corner of rt 610 and old ocean city road. 

I saw two young black males running from the field to their cars. 

I wasn't able to get close enough for tag numbers of the white suv and the black Honda car in the picture but did get the tag number in the picture of the black Chevrolet truck. 

People have no respect for other peoples property and they should be held responsible. Hopefully this will help whomever put the sign there to get justice.

Florida bars packed after state lifts COVID-19 restrictions

Crowds packed into some Florida bars over the weekend after Gov. Ron DeSantis lifted coronavirus restrictions on them and other businesses, according to a report.

Footage showed patrons overflowing out of the Elbo Room in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday after the governor’s surprise order, news station WPLG reported.

“I’m healthy, I’m strong and I feel comfortable with all my friends,” said Dan Gibby, who was at the watering hole.

In Davie, Gaffer’s Pub owner Debbie Qualls said the greenlight to reopen was a lifesaver for the business.

“We’ve had to pay the rent, the electric, all the bills. If it was too much longer, we wouldn’t be here,” Qualls said.

DeSantis’s announcement Friday allowed all bars and restaurants to reopen effectively immediately — and prevented local municipalities from implementing restrictions that would force them to operate at less than half-capacity unless it can be justified for health or economic reasons.

“We’re not closing anything going forward,” DeSantis said.

Progressive groups buy Amy Coney Barrett domain name in attempt to smear her

Progressive groups launched the first salvo in the looming war to stop the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court, buying up her domain name online.

Anyone searching for more information at AmyConeyBarrett.com will now be redirected to a site owned by the liberal activist organization Demand Justice.

“Amy Coney Barrett is exactly who Donald Trump said he would pick as a Supreme Court justice: someone who could be counted on to overturn Roe v. Wade and end the Affordable Care Act,” reads a sparse website statement.

“Barrett has also ruled repeatedly for companies that discriminate — including one that employed a “separate but equal” system of sorting employees by race,” the group said.

These are just a few of the lies published on the website.

Democrats will stop at nothing.

Video Shows Biden Calling Soldiers 'Stupid Bastards'

Just when you think Joe Biden could not embarrass himself any more, he can’t help but prove you wrong.

A recently resurfaced video now making the rounds shows the Democratic presidential nominee calling a crowd of U.S. service members “stupid bastards.”

This most recent gaffe is not a new one, but it is certainly just as cringeworthy as the rest of Biden’s biggest hits.

“I have incredibly good judgment,” Biden says in the video.

“One, I married Jill, and two, I appointed Johnson to the academy. I just want you to know that.”

There is then a short pause as Biden awkwardly waits for applause that isn’t going to come.

“Clap for that, you stupid bastards,” he says

GOP fights back against attacks on Amy Coney Barrett’s adopted children

So much for keeping kids out of politics.

Liberals on social media are questioning whether two children adopted by President Trump’s expected Supreme Court nominee, Judge Amy Coney Barrett, were adopted legitimately — as Senate Republicans leaped to defend her.

“Some adoptions from Haiti were legit. Many were sketchy as hell,” wrote a Democratic activist and former Capitol Hill staffer, Dana Houle, in a since-deleted tweet on Friday. “Would it matter if her kids were scooped up by ultra-religious Americans, or … when there was family in Haiti?”

Another left-wing activist, John Lee Brougher of the NextGen America PAC, added fuel to the fire.

“As an adoptee, I need to know more about the circumstances of how Amy Coney Barrett came to adopt her children, and the treatment of them since,” Brougher wrote, according to Breitbart News. “Transracial adoption is fraught with trauma and potential for harm.” Brougher’s tweet has also been removed.

Houle’s tweet served as cannon fodder for Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton, who has set up a campaign-style online “war room” to combat Democrats’ attacks.

“Disgusting,” Cotton responded in a tweet that was amplified on his Supreme Court War Room website. “The left now smearing Amy Coney Barrett for adopting children.”

“It was the most predictable thing in the world that Democrats would attack Amy Coney Barrett’s children,” Cotton posted Saturday.

Sarah Palin Shreds Lisa Murkowski, Then Threatens Primary Run Against Her

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin dared Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska to “do the right thing” in terms of the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court, and said there could be consequences in 2022, including a challenge from Palin herself.

Palin made her comments in videos released on Instagram Saturday and also shared on YouTube.

After the Sept. 18 death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Murkowski said she opposed filling Ginsburg’s seat before the November elections.

Palin, playing off the SNL skit "I can see Russia from my house" told the sitting Senator, If you can’t do that, remember my house? I can see a lot of things from my house. … Lisa, I can see 2022 from my house,” Palin said.

Grandma dubbed ‘Zoom Karen’ goes viral after interrupting virtual class to blast BLM, Obama

A TikTok video of a grandmother becoming enraged after hearing Black Lives Matter discussed in her grandchild’s virtual Zoom class has gone viral.

The video posted by TikTok user @stayflyest, “Karen found in Zoom Class going off,” appears to interrupt her grandchild’s class to confront the teacher over “talking about BLM and all that stuff.”

The woman, whose face has been blurred out, waves her hands at the teacher, who calmly explains that the lesson was a discussion of historical events.

“No, you’re talking about BLM and all that stuff. And we’re not going to talk about it. Unless you want to hear what I have to say,” she said, before adding, “And Barack Obama was biracial. He wasn’t just black. He should have owned both sides of his family.”

“Karen found in Zoom Class going off,” has been viewed over a million times and earned nearly 400,000 likes and nearly 8,000 comments.

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Man who defied governor's order by holding bonfire sentenced

A Charles County man will serve one year in jail for violating the governor's state of emergency executive order.

In March, police were called twice to respond to Shawn Myers' home in Hughesville, where he threw a party with more than 50 people. Gov. Larry Hogan's executive order banned large gatherings of any kind.

The second time police responded to his home, Myers became argumentative and told his guests to stay.

Prosecutors announced Myers was convicted Friday after a bench trial on two counts of failure to comply with an emergency order.

Myers, 42, was also sentenced to serve three years of probation upon release from jail.

Lawyer says cop shot Jacob Blake after hearing a mother's plea: 'He's got my kid. He's got my keys'

Police Officer Rusten Sheskey has told investigators that it wasn't just his life he was defending when he fired his weapon seven times at Jacob Blake last month in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

He said he used deadly force during the chaotic encounter because he was afraid Blake, while attempting to flee the scene, was trying to kidnap a child in the backseat of the vehicle.

"He's got my kid. He's got my keys," Sheskey heard a woman say, according to attorney Brendan Matthews, who is representing the officer. If Sheskey had allowed Blake to drive away and something happened to the child "the question would have been 'why didn't you do something?'" Matthews said.

That explanation, provided in an exclusive interview with CNN, offers the most detailed rationale to date for Sheskey's highly scrutinized decision to shoot Blake, who is Black, as he leaned into an SUV with his children inside it on Aug. 23.

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More than 100 arrested in Ocean City during 'unruly' rally; trooper knocked unconscious

Police in Ocean City arrested more than 100 people this past weekend.

Officials said people who attended the H2o popup rally became unruly and destructive throughout the night Saturday. Those arrested were charged with various criminal and traffic offenses.

Ocean City Police Chief Ross Buzzuro said the visitors were not car enthusiast, but rather were in town to "disrupt, destroy and disrespect our community and our law enforcement officers Our policing philosophy is to be friendly, fair and firm. Unfortunately, this disorderly behavior and unruly crowds left no choice but to shift out philosophy and take additional stapes to protect our officers and our community."

A 23 year old Norfolk, Virginia man was arrested and charged after he resisted arrest and knocked a State Police Officer unconscious.

Philadelphia treasurer charged with embezzlement, entering sham marriage

Philadelphia’s treasurer was fired Friday after federal authorities charged him with embezzlement and entering into a sham marriage to obtain US citizenship.

Although the allegations against Christian Dunbar did not involve his work with the city, Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney said that he had asked the city’s inspector general to review the treasurer’s office during Dunbar’s tenure beginning in 2016, the Associated Press reported.

“This review can help resolve any concerns about the office´s conduct and transactions during this period,” Kenney said.

Federal prosecutors said that Dunbar, 40, stole $15,000 from two of his clients while working at Wells Fargo as a financial adviser, before he began working in city government. In both instances, he was assisting customers who wanted to transfer funds and had them sign several documents, including a blank withdrawal slip.

He later allegedly used the blank slips to withdraw cash from both victims’ accounts and deposit those funds into his own bank account, prosecutors said.

Dunbar, who was born in Liberia, allegedly entered into a fake marriage with a former classmate at Temple University, prosecutors said.

During his marriage, he secretly wed another classmate in a ceremony in the bride’s home country in Senegal in 2013, according to the indictment, which also alleges that the woman entered into her own shame marriage to obtain permanent residency status in the US. After he became a US citizen, he divorced his first wife in 2016, prosecutors said.

Delaware State University denies Biden was a student after claim he ‘got started’ there

Delaware State University has denied that Joe Biden was ever  a student there, after the presidential candidate’s claim that he “got started” at the historically black college.

The 77-year-old Democrat made his claim while praising historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) during a town hall event last October before the South Carolina Democratic primary, video shows.

“I got started out of a HBCU, Delaware State,” he told pupils at Wilson High School in Florence, which was founded in 1866 by the Freedmen’s Bureau for Black children seeking an education.

“Now, I don’t want to hear anything negative about Delaware State. They’re my folks,” he told the pupils to chuckles.

However, the politician’s claim came back to haunt him when the university said he had only been a commencement speaker there decades after his start in politics.

“Vice President Biden did not attend DSU,” the college’s director of news service, Carlos Holmes said.

Biden did graduate from University of DE, and he went on to study at Syracuse University College of Law. where he failed a class after being accused of plagiarism.