Kamis, 29 Desember 2016

Salisbury News

Salisbury News

Police: Suspect Dead After Targeting Armed Gun Store Owner

Posted: 29 Dec 2016 09:00 PM PST

An armed, Mableton, Georgia, gun store owner shot and killed one of two suspects who allegedly ordered him to the floor Monday morning during a burglary gone wrong.

The incident occurred at Dixie Gun and Pawn just as the store was opening for the day.
Ross Cavitt | WSB-TV ✔@RossCavittWSB
Store owner shoots, kills one of two armed robbers who entered Cobb County Gun and Pawn shop. @wsbtv
1:54 PM - 26 Dec 2016

According to Action News 5, store owner Jimmy Groover said that "two men wearing masks came in with guns drawn, demanding that he get on the floor, while shouting they were going to kill him." But Groover was wearing a handgun on his hip, and according to Fox 13 Memphis, "Police said [Groover] pulled out his gun and fired, hitting one of the gunmen."

Read Gary the Dog's heartbreaking Twitter tributes to Carrie Fisher, Debbie Reynolds

Posted: 29 Dec 2016 08:49 PM PST

Carrie Fisher may have been a mega star, but her dog, Gary, was no slouch in the fame department either.

The actress and prolific writer, 60, suffered from bipolar disorder, and the adorable French bulldog acted as not just her furry pal but also an emotional companion. Gary has been a red carpet staple since 2014, frequently stealing the show from his famous mama -- and even has his own Twitter account that boasts more than 61,000 followers.

The dog's tweets are witty and irreverent, just like his mom was, but since Fisher's death on Tuesday after she went into cardiac arrest on a plane from London to Los Angeles, the posts have been heartbreaking.

Shortly after the news broke, Gary wrote the tweet heard around the world that turned us all into a collective ball of tears: "Saddest tweets to tweet. Mommy is gone. I love you @carrieffisher."

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Man killed 4-year-old son when he wandered into murder scene

Posted: 29 Dec 2016 08:00 PM PST

The confessed killer of an ex-girlfriend in her Harlem home strangled their 4-year-old son when he stumbled onto the crime scene, police sources told the Daily News.

Miguel Barahona was in the bathroom when an enraged Isaac Infante attacked Felicia Barahona, and the killer was standing over her lifeless body when the little boy emerged, the sources said.

Duran then choked his helpless son to death, placing the boy's body into the bathtub before fleeing the apartment during the Dec. 22 rampage, the sources said Wednesday.

"The defendant detailed the taking of a cord and taking it to (Barahona's) neck until she turned blue and the life drained from her body," said Assistant District Attorney Nicole Blumberg. "The unsuspecting child had no idea he would be the defendant's next victim."

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When dogs experience snow for the first time!

Posted: 29 Dec 2016 07:30 PM PST

Leading DNC Candidates Duck Debate Over Obama's Handling Of UN Israel Resolution

Posted: 29 Dec 2016 07:00 PM PST

The Obama administration's abstention from a United Nations resolutioncondemning Israeli settlement activity in the West Bank and East Jerusalem has engendered impassioned reaction from all corners of the political universe, save one.

The candidates running to take over the Democratic National Committee have, so far, steadfastly avoided the topic, even as it divides their own party.

A spokesperson for Labor Secretary Tom Perez told The Huffington Post that Perez wouldn't be weighing in on the matter "given his role in the cabinet." Several requests for comment sent over several days to Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) were not returned. A similar request to New Hampshire Democratic Party Chairman Ray Buckley went unanswered, while a statement from South Carolina Democratic Party Chairman Jaime Harrison notably avoided taking a position.

"Supporters of a two-state solution may differ on the tactics that are most likely to bring it about. Where there are good-faith policy disagreements among Democrats, it is not the role of the DNC Chair to take sides," Harrison said. "What I will do as DNC Chair is lead the charge where Democrats are united. Here, that means maintaining our support for a two-state solution and opposing any measures the Trump Administration may take to undermine Israel's future as Jewish and democratic, principles which the President-elect appears to have minimal appreciation for."

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Spare a dime? Cities install meters to combat panhandling

Posted: 29 Dec 2016 06:30 PM PST

NEW HAVEN, Conn. -- In cities across the country, parking-style meters collect loose change from donors in an attempt to cut down on panhandling - a strategy critics argue is wrongheaded and in vain.

New Haven is among the latest to install the meters, which sit curbside and collect donations in the form of cash or credit cards for programs that benefit the homeless. The city has four brightly colored meters in areas where panhandling has been a problem and plans to install six more to support local, nonprofit organizations that help the homeless.

"It's meant to generate supplemental funds for homeless services and steer well-meaning, generously donated cash away from the business of panhandling," Mayor Toni Harp said.

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Philippines Leader Duterte: I Threw Rape Suspect From Helicopter, Would Do it Again

Posted: 29 Dec 2016 06:00 PM PST

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has threatened government officials with the prospect of being thrown out of a helicopter mid-air if they are found to be corrupt, claiming he had done it before and had no qualms about doing it again.

The former prosecutor said he once hurled a Chinese man suspected of rape and murder out of a helicopter.

"If you are corrupt, I will fetch you using a helicopter to Manila and I will throw you out. I have done this before, why would I not do it again"? Duterte said during a speech to victims of a typhoon on Tuesday.

Duterte's latest threat comes just a few weeks after he admitted killing peopleduring his 22 years as a mayor of Davao City, sometimes riding a motorcycle looking for "encounters to kill".

He said those killings were part of legitimate police operations, including a hostage incident. Some U.S. senators have warned Duterte he risks impeachment over his comments.

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Tax Preparedness Series: What to Do Before the Tax Year Ends on Dec. 31

Posted: 29 Dec 2016 05:30 PM PST

ANNAPOLIS – As tax filing season approaches, the Internal Revenue Service is reminding taxpayers there are things they should do now to get ready for filing season.

For most taxpayers, Dec. 31 is the last day to take actions that will impact their 2016 tax returns. For example, charitable contributions are deductible in the year made. Donations charged to a credit card before the end of 2016 count for the 2016 tax year, even if the bill isn't paid until 2017. Checks to a charity count for 2016 as long as they are mailed by the last day of the year.

Taxpayers who are over age 70½ are generally required to receive payments from their individual retirement accounts and workplace retirement plans by the end of 2016, though a special rule allows those who reached 70½ in 2016 to wait until April 1, 2017 to receive them. Most workplace retirement account contributions should be made by the end of the year, but taxpayers can make 2016 IRA contributions until April 18, 2017. For 2016, the limit for a 401(k) is $18,000. For traditional and Roth IRAs, the limit is $6,500 if age 50 or older and up to $15,500 for a Simple IRA for age 50 or older.

Taxpayers who have moved should tell the U.S. Postal Service, their employers and the IRS. To notify the IRS, mail IRS Form 8822, Change of Address, to the address listed on the form's instructions. For taxpayers who purchase health insurance through the Health Insurance Marketplace, they should also notify the Marketplace when they move out of the area covered by their current Marketplace plan.

For name changes due to marriage or divorce, notify the Social Security Administration (SSA) so the new name will match IRS and SSA records. Also notify the SSA if a dependent's name changed. A mismatch between the name shown on your tax return and the SSA records can cause problems in the processing of your return and may even delay your refund.

Effective Jan. 1, 2017, any Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) not used at least once on a tax return in the past three years will no longer be valid for use on a return. In addition, an ITIN with middle digits 78 or 79 will also expire on Jan. 1. Those with expiring ITINs who need to file a return in 2017 must renew their ITIN. Affected ITIN holders can avoid delays by starting the renewal process now.

Taxpayers should allow seven weeks from Jan. 1, 2017, or the mailing date of the Form W-7, whichever is later, for the IRS to notify them of their ITIN application status – nine to 11 weeks if taxpayers wait to submit Form W-7 during the peak filing season, or send it from overseas. Those who fail to renew before filing a return could face a delayed refund and may be ineligible for some important tax credits. For more information, including answers to frequently-asked questions, visit the ITIN information page on IRS.gov.

Keeping copies of tax returns is important as the IRS makes changes to protect taxpayers and authenticate their identity. Beginning in 2017, taxpayers using a software product for the first time may need their Adjusted Gross Income amount from a prior tax return to verify their identity. Taxpayers can learn more about how to verify their identity and electronically sign their tax return at Validating Your Electronically Filed Tax Return.

For more information, visit IRS.gov.

IBM Working On Robotic Roommate That Helps Elderly Folks Stay Safe

Posted: 29 Dec 2016 05:00 PM PST

While many people would love to live out the rest of their days happily ensconced in their home, living alone is not always the safest option for elderly folks. But because around-the-clock care — either in a nursing home, assisted living, or from a personal nurse — isn't always feasible, IBM is working on a robot designed to keep an eye on senior citizens and help them stay safe. 

NEW YEAR’S TRADITIONS ON THE EASTERN SHORE

Posted: 29 Dec 2016 04:30 PM PST

As 2016 comes to an end, the majority of us are now planning our New Year's Eve festivities and New Year's Day feasts. Growing up in Pennsylvania, it was considered all but a federal offense to not eat pork and sauerkraut on New Year's Day. It wasn't until I moved to the Eastern Shore that I heard about the black-eyed pea tradition. This all begs the question, "why do I have to eat something special on New Year's Day?" Curiosity got the best of me and, hence, this article was born.

Pork and Sauerkraut

Let's start with the Pennsylvania Dutch. We have the Pennsylvania Dutch to thank for this New Year's Day tradition of pork and sauerkraut. This tradition was brought to central Pennsylvania by German settlers. This is all well and good but it still doesn't answer the question of "why?" According to Food Historian, William Woys Weaver, the superstition is that pigs "root forward" whereas chickens and turkeys scratch backwards. This "rooting forward" is a sign of moving forward and progress. The Pennsylvania Dutch are also known to say you're in for a "sweet year" if you eat sauerkraut on New Year's Day.

Black-Eyed Peas

Then, I moved to the Eastern Shore and everyone mentioned eating black-eyed peas on New Year's Day. Having never heard of this tradition, I was tempted to learn more about the origin of this superstition. One such tale dates back to the Civil War. During the war, General Sherman's Union troops decided the peas were beneath them and during a raid on the Confederates' food supplies, they took everything they had aside from their black-eyed peas and some salted pork. The Confederates were thankful to have been left with anything and, even with scarce supplies, they miraculously survived the winter. This event lead people to associate black-eyed peas with good luck.

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Keith Ellison Backs Out of Radical Muslim Conference

Posted: 29 Dec 2016 04:00 PM PST

Minnesota congressman Keith Ellison cancelled his scheduled appearance the Muslim American Society's annual conference, where he was slated to deliver the keynote address.

Ellison's name and picture, which were previously featured prominently on the convention website's homepage, have been removed completely. He was also removed from the full list of convention speakers.

Ellison was scheduled to deliver the keynote address at the convention's "appreciation dinner" in Chicago on Tuesday.

An updated version of the conference program shows that Ellison's speaking slot has been removed. He was originally scheduled to deliver a 20-minute speech entitled "Our Voice will be Heard."

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How an Uber driver stopped child sex trafficking

Posted: 29 Dec 2016 03:30 PM PST

An Uber driver who suspected child sex trafficking might be taking place in his vehicle reported it to police Monday. He said the signs were obvious and he couldn't stay silent.

Keith Avila, who had barely surpassed his one-month mark with Uber, picked up two women and a girl from Oak Park with the intention of taking them to a hotel in Elk Grove.

The ride, which figured to net Avila less than $8, was supposed to be a short one.

"It was about 13 minutes. Something like that. I'm going off memory but about 13 minutes," he recalled.

What ensued was anything but a routine Uber fare.

Avila said the girl who rode next to him in the front seat appeared to be about 12 years old and was dressed in attire that was not age appropriate.

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Cotton Urges Trump: Slow Immigration to Boost Wages

Posted: 29 Dec 2016 03:00 PM PST

GOP Sen. Tom Cotton says President-elect Donald Trump should quickly use his electoral mandate to raise Americans' wages by reducing the supply of wage-cutting, low-skilled legal immigrants.

"For too long, our immigration policy has skewed toward the interests of the wealthy and powerful: Employers get cheaper labor, and professionals get cheaper personal services like housekeeping," Cotton writes in the New York Times. "We now need an immigration policy that focuses less on the most powerful and more on everyone else."

"In this election, Americans finally demanded an end to this unthinking immigration system. President-elect Trump and Congress should take that mandate and act on it promptly in the new year," Cotton wrote, adding that "higher wages, better benefits and more security for American workers are features, not bugs, of sound immigration reform."

Each year, roughly 4 million young Americans enter the job market — and the federal government provides work permits to roughly 1 million new legal immigrants and to almost 1 million temporary contract-workers.

There are some 42.4 million legal and illegal immigrants, aliens, contract workers, students, refugees, and more residing in the U.S. as of 2014, comprising 13.3 percent of the population. Since the housing recession began in 2007, 8.7 million additional migrants have arrived and settled in the U.S.

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Tiny homes a growing trend in Maryland, nation

Posted: 29 Dec 2016 02:30 PM PST

There's part of a growing movement of people who want to downsize to a lifestyle that fits into less than 400 square feet.

They want to live in tiny houses.

This includes one woman who is challenging local laws so she can make her dream home a reality.

Liza Rowe is part of the tiny house movement.

"People are fascinated by them," Rowe said. "Usually entertaining the idea, 'Would I be able to do that?' Some people are, 'Maybe I could do that.' I'm one of those people."

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List of 28 Sears and Kmart Stores to close

Posted: 29 Dec 2016 02:00 PM PST

Syracuse, N.Y. — Sears will be closing more Sears and Kmart stores in early 2017.

Business Insider, citing information provided by half a dozen of the retailer's employees, is reporting that Sears will close 28 Sears and Kmart stores between late January and mid April. Most of the stores will begin liquidation sales on Jan. 6, according to the report.

Sears Holdings, the owner of the two retail chains, has only announced the closings internally and has made no mention of them on its website. Business Insider said it confirmed its list of the stores slated for closing with store employees.

None of the stores on the list are in the Syracuse area. The nearest ones on the latest closing list are a Kmart in New Hartford, near Utica, and Sears stores in Cheektowaga and Amherst, near Buffalo.

A store-closing sale sign went up at the Sears Outlet store in the Destiny USA mall in Syracuse earlier this month. A mall representative said Wednesday the store will be closing in late January.

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6-year-old uses sleeping mom's thumb to go on Amazon shopping spree

Posted: 29 Dec 2016 01:30 PM PST

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (WKRC) - Gifts were sent to a family in Arkansas all thanks to a crafty 6-year-old.

Ashlynd Howell loves Pokemon. So, just before Christmas she had a little bit of childhood ingenuity kick in. She took her mom's thumb, who was sleeping, and used it to unlock an iPhone. Then she went on a little Amazon shopping spree.

The total haul was $250 worth of Pokemon toys. Her mom thought she had been hacked but everything was delivered to her home.

And Ashlynd fessed up, saying she went shopping.

She wound up getting to keep most of the toys.

Source

I Will Never Let A White Boy Beat Me

Posted: 29 Dec 2016 01:00 PM PST

A Viewer Writes: Police Activity

Posted: 29 Dec 2016 12:44 PM PST

Joe,

I just observed 8 MSP units moving fast over eastbound 90 passing Ocean Pines toward OC - lights/sirens and at a high rate of speed.

New Age Progression Photos of Missing Hoggle Children

Posted: 29 Dec 2016 12:30 PM PST

BALTIMORE (WJZ)– Montgomery County Police are still searching for Jacob and Sarah Hoggle who've been missing since September of 2014.

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children used age progression technology for the two kids.

Jacob would now be 4 and Sarah 6. Both are biracial, black and white.

Police say the children's mother, Catherine Hoggle of Clarksburg, is diagnosed as having paranoid schizophrenia.

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TV REPORTER FIRED FOR SUPPORTING TRUMP

Posted: 29 Dec 2016 12:00 PM PST

8-Year-Old Transgender Boy Asked To Leave Cub Scouts

Posted: 29 Dec 2016 11:30 AM PST

SECAUCUS, N.J. (AP) — The family of an 8-year-old New Jersey boy says he was kicked out of Cub Scouts because he is transgender, a move that could open a new front in the debate over discrimination in Scouting.

Joe Maldonado joined Pack 87 in Secaucus in October and was asked to leave about a month later, according to The Record.

"I'm way more angry than sad," Joe said in a story published Tuesday. "My identity is a boy. If I was them, I would let every person in the world go in. It's right to do."

Joe was born a girl but has identified as male for more than a year. His mother, Kristie Maldonado, said Joe is accepted as a boy at school and that it was complaints from parents — not Joe's fellow Scouts — that led to his ouster.

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NEW YEAR’S HOLIDAY LANDFILL & CONVENIENCE CENTER SCHEDULE

Posted: 29 Dec 2016 11:00 AM PST

Salisbury, MD … The Newland Park Landfill and Public Works Solid Waste Convenience Centers will be closed on Sunday, January 1, 2017 and Monday, January 2, 2017 in observance of the holiday.

The Convenience Center located at the Newland Park Landfill, 6948 Brick Kiln Road, will be open Monday, January 2, 2017, from 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM.

For more information, please contact the Newland Park Landfill at 410-548-4935.

Del. Aquaculture Order’s Uncertainty Sparks Concerns

Posted: 29 Dec 2016 10:30 AM PST

FENWICK ISLAND – The Coalition for Little Assawoman Bay, a group consisting of eight communities, is urging officials to change two aspects of aquaculture regulations after a statewide leasing process was approved last week that will facilitate commercial shellfish farming.

David Small, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) secretary, said the approved permitting process will make it easier and faster for commercial start-ups to lease portions of regulated subaquatic land, aptly named Shellfish Aquaculture Development Areas (SADA), and will restrict and regulate activity in Delaware's three inland bays — Rehoboth, Indian River, and Little Assawoman.

"It is an inherent incentive to use areas adopted by statewide approvals," Small said. "Businesses look for certainty, and I think we have accomplished that through the statewide approval and the maps."

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Salisbury Police Refuse To Show/Expose Murder

Posted: 29 Dec 2016 10:00 AM PST

http://www.salisburypd.com/userfiles/files/cfs122616.pdf

Above is the link for SPD calls for service for 12-26-16................ it has no mention of the homicide or any event occurring around 9:30-9:40.

Obama Quietly Signs The "Countering Disinformation And Propaganda Act" Into Law

Posted: 29 Dec 2016 09:53 AM PST

Late on Friday, with the US population embracing the upcoming holidays and oblivious of most news emerging from the administration,Obama quietly signed into law the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) which authorizes $611 billion for the military in 2017.

In a statement, Obama said that:

Today, I have signed into law S. 2943, the "National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017." This Act authorizes fiscal year 2017 appropriations principally for the Department of Defense and for Department of Energy national security programs, provides vital benefits for military personnel and their families, and includes authorities to facilitate ongoing operations around the globe. It continues many critical authorizations necessary to ensure that we are able to sustain our momentum in countering the threat posed by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant and to reassure our European allies, as well as many new authorizations that, among other things, provide the Departments of Defense and Energy more flexibility in countering cyber-attacks and our adversaries' use of unmanned aerial vehicles."

Much of the balance of Obama's statement blamed the GOP for Guantanamo's continued operation and warned that "unless the Congress changes course, it will be judged harshly by history," Obama said. Obama also said Congress failed to use the bill to reduce wasteful overhead (like perhaps massive F-35 cost overruns?) or modernize military health care, which he said would exacerbate budget pressures facing the military in the years ahead.

But while the passage of the NDAA - and the funding of the US military - was hardly a surprise, the biggest news is what was buried deep inside the provisions of the Defense Authortization Act.

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When Assets (Such As Real Estate) Become Liabilities

Posted: 29 Dec 2016 09:45 AM PST

It will be the middle class that accepted the notion that "real estate is the foundation of family wealth" that will be stripmined by higher taxes on immobile assets such as real estate.

Correspondent Joel M. submitted an article that struck me as a harbinger of the future: In Greece, Property Is Debt:

"At law courts throughout Greece, people are lining up to file papers renouncing their inheritance. Not necessarily because some feckless uncle left them with a pile of debt at the end of his revels; they are turning their backs on what used to be a pillar of Greece's economy and society: real estate.

Growing personal debt, declining incomes and ever higher taxes as Greece's depression grinds on have turned property and the dream of easy money into dread of a catastrophic burden.

After many years in which only very valuable properties were taxed, many Greeks went from paying almost no taxes on real estate to not having enough money to pay.

In 2010, property taxes accounted for 0.26 percent of gross domestic product, while this year they are around 2 percent, according to state budget figures. 'Suddenly, the state treated the Greeks as if they were rich, at the precise moment that they ceased to be rich.'

Among the many disruptions of the past few years, this one shows how traditional conceptions — and a sense of security — can be shattered. With a history full of wars, bankruptcies and rampant inflation, Greeks had always seen land as a haven.

But it is private debt — at 222 billion euros last year — that may prove an even greater danger. This shows in government revenues. With the unified tax, ownership of every kind of property is now subject to taxation.

It will be very difficult for the Greeks to get out from under this mountain of debt. Delinquent loans, which at the end of June made up 31.7 percent of all housing loans, were a mere 5.3 percent of the total in 2008."

The self-reinforcing dynamics in this narrative profoundly reverse time-honored concepts of value: assets that once held or gained value now carry high costs of ownership and lose value.

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100% Of US Warming Is Due To NOAA Data Tampering

Posted: 29 Dec 2016 09:37 AM PST

Climate Central just ran this piece, which the Washington Post picked up on. They claimed the US was "overwhelmingly hot" in 2016, and temperatures have risen 1,5°F since the 19th century.

The first problem with their analysis is that the US had very little hot weather in 2016. The percentage of hot days was below average, and ranked 80th since 1895. Only 4.4% of days were over 95°F, compared with the long term average of 4.9%. Climate Central is conflating mild temperatures with hot ones.

They also claim US temperatures rose 1.5°F since the 19th century, which is what NOAA shows.

The problem with the NOAA graph is that it is fake data. NOAA creates the warming trend by altering the data. The NOAA raw data shows no warming over the past century.

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Commissioners To Weigh Ag District Special Events

Posted: 29 Dec 2016 09:30 AM PST

SNOW HILL – Following introduction last week, the Worcester County Commissioners are set to consider two text amendments in the new year that would allow for special events in the county's agricultural districts.

On Tuesday, the commissioners introduced two bills that related to commercial non-agricultural functions in the county's A-1 and A-2 districts. One would allow for special events at wineries while another would permit events at farms and in agricultural buildings.

"This is for introduction only today," said Ed Tudor, the county's director of development review and permitting.

According to Tudor, the text amendment submitted by Barry Mariner would allow wineries to host certain non-agricultural functions such as weddings, family reunions, birthday parties and the like. Mariner and his family are in the process of establishing Windmill Creek Winery on Old Worcester Highway. The facility will feature a vineyard and the family would like to have a tasting room and special event venue.

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Evidence backs claim that Hillary armed ISIS

Posted: 29 Dec 2016 09:23 AM PST

'They are supporting all the terror groups'

NEW YORK – Documents made public by the Washington watchdog group Judicial Watch and separately by Wikileaks Julian Assange back up Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan's assertion on Tuesday that U.S.-led coalition forces have given support to terror groups, including ISIS in Syria.

In an interview with Democracy Now's Juan González on July 25, Assange said the thousands of documents released by Wikileaks through its "Hillary Clinton Email Archive" contain some 1,700 emails that connect Clinton to al-Qaida and ISIS in both Libya and Syria, demonstrating Clinton supplied weapons to ISIS via Syria.

"So, those Hillary Clinton emails, they connect together with the cables that we have published of Hillary Clinton, creating a rich picture of how Hillary Clinton performs in office, but, more broadly, how the U.S. Department of State operates," Assange said in the interview.

"So, for example, the disastrous, absolutely disastrous intervention in Libya, the destruction of the Gadhafi government, which led to the occupation of ISIS of large segments of that country, weapons flows going over to Syria, being pushed by Hillary Clinton, into jihadists within Syria, including ISIS, that's there in those emails."

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Government Destroys Couple's Rights Over Rainwater: "If You're Honest, They Take Everything Away"

Posted: 29 Dec 2016 09:15 AM PST

With each passing year, SHTFPlan.com's Mac Slavo notes there are more and more challenges to personal property and individual sovereignty.

Despite the resilience it lends to our national security, the government has proven again and again that it wishes to clamp down on the ability to prep, survive and self-sustain off grid, and without the need for the system's supply chain.

You can hardly build your own place, grow your own food, collect your own water or take care of yourself without the intervention of those in authority. There is need to push back against this continued intrusion of our lives.

Couple Forced to Destroy 40-Year-Old Pond On Their Own Property Because Govt Owns The Rainwater

Authored by Claire Bernish via The Free Thought Project,

An Oregon couple has been told they must destroy a 2-acre pond on their land — the property's most attractive feature — because the government said so.

Although Jon and Sabrina Carey purchased the 10-acre property near Butte Falls two and a half years ago, the pond has been in place for 40 years — but that fact doesn't matter to the Jackson County Watermaster's Office.

"I basically bought a lemon," said Jon, who became teary-eyed at the edge of the partially ice-covered body of water being targeted by government, in an interview with the Mail Tribune. "That's how they explained it to me."

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Federal Appeals Court Revives Hillary Email Case Leaving Key Decision To Trump's Attorney General

Posted: 29 Dec 2016 09:07 AM PST

A federal appeals court for the District of Columbia has breathed new life into the Hillary email-gate scandal which will be music to the ears of Trump's "lock her up" supporters. The case was filed by watchdog groups Judicial Watch and Cause of Action seeking to force the State Department to instruct the Department of Justice to file a federal records suit to recover Hillary's missing emails. A lower court had previously ruled that the State Department's efforts to recover Hillary's emails were sufficient and threw the cases out. But D.C. Circuit Judge Stephen Williams, a Ronald Reagan appointee, had a different view. Per The Hill:

U.S. District Court Judge James Boasberg had previously ruled that state's efforts to recover the documents — tens of thousands of which Clinton turned over voluntarily in 2014 — were sufficient and threw out the cases.

But the three-judge appeals court panel on Tuesday said that State had not done enough.

"Even though those efforts bore some fruit, the Department has not explained why shaking the tree harder — e.g., by following the statutory mandate to seek action by the Attorney General — might not bear more still," D.C. Circuit Judge Stephen Williams, a Ronald Reagan appointee, wrote in the court's opinion. "It is therefore abundantly clear that, in terms of assuring government recovery of emails, appellants have not 'been given everything [they] asked for."

"Absent a showing that the requested enforcement action could not shake loose a few more emails, the case is not moot."

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Under Obama, 10.7 Million More Use Food Stamps—A 32 Percent Jump

Posted: 29 Dec 2016 09:00 AM PST

As President Obama prepares to leave office, his legacy will include an increase in the number of Americans using food stamps.

The number of food stamps recipients went up by 10.7 million people, a 32 percent jump, since President Obama took office in 2009, according to data released by the Department of Agriculture (USDA).

In 2009, 33,490,000 people received food stamp benefits. As of October 2016, the last month reported for FY 2016, 44,219,123 people received food stamp benefits, an increase of about 10,729,000.

The U.S. population as of October 1, 2016 was 324,607,826, according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates. Therefore, the 44,219,123 people on food stamps represented 13.6 percent of the population.

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Mother / Daughter / Priceless

Posted: 29 Dec 2016 08:45 AM PST

Carrie Fisher watches her mom, Debbie Reynolds, on stage at the Riviera Hotel in Las Vegas, 1963. Rest In Peace.

Hospital’s 23rd Annual Penguin Swim Set For New Year’s Day

Posted: 29 Dec 2016 08:30 AM PST

OCEAN CITY – As Atlantic General Hospital's (AGH) 23rd Annual Penguin Swim approaches, event officials are looking to raise $76,000 for free and low-cost programs.

Joy Stokes, event coordinator and development assistant for the Penguin Swim, said AGH has gathered roughly $34,000 for this year's event as of Tuesday, but added that these funds will increase on the day of the swim, where participants and big event sponsors, such as Bull on the Beach and Ocean City Ravens Roost 44, will submit their donations.

"We always aim a little lower and get a little higher," Stokes said.

The financial goal for this year's swim falls in line with proceeds from recent years, according to Stokes. In 2014, swimmers and sponsors raised more than $78,000. This number decreased to more than $77,000 the following year. Last year's annual Penguin Swim, however, saw the most participants.

"The 2016 event was an overwhelming success with a record-breaking 1,035 swimmers, 60 teams, and support from 46 sponsors, which raised more than $106,000," she said.

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JUST IN: Pro Bowl Baltimore Colts Bruce Laird Arrested For DUI In Ocean City

Posted: 29 Dec 2016 08:36 AM PST


More Information/History

Court System:

District Court For Worcester County - Traffic System
Location:Ocean City
Citation Number:0530D00
Case Title:State of Maryland vs. BRUCE ALLAN LAIRD
Case Type:Citation - Traffic
Filing Date:12/29/2016
Violation Date:12/28/2016Violation Time:09:13:00 PM
Violation County:Worcester County
Agency Name:OCEAN CITY POLICE DEPT
Officer ID:8249Officer Name:ARLINGTON, LIKEKE
Case Status:Open
Case Disposition:Disposition Date:
Other Reference Numbers
Same Incident :0540D00
Same Incident :0550D00
Defendant Information
Defendant
Name:LAIRD, BRUCE ALLAN
Address:1405 MARGARETTE AVE
City:TOWSONState:MDZip Code:21286-0000
Race:WhiteSex:MaleHeight:6'2"Weight:195
DOB:05/23/1950
Involved Parties Information
Plaintiff
Name:State of Maryland

Attorney(s) for the Plaintiff
Name:State's Attorney - Worcester County
Address Line 1:106 Franklin Street
City:Snow HillState:MDZip Code:21863
Officer - Arresting/Complainant
Name:ARLINGTON
AgencyName:OCEAN CITY POLICE DEPT
Address:6501 COASTAL HWY.
City:OCEAN CITYState:MDZip Code:21842
Charge and Disposition Information
Charge No:1Statute Code:TA.21.902.A1
Charge Description:DRIVING VEHICLE WHILE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL
Speed Limit:0Recorded Speed:0Location Stopped:N/B 115TH STREET @ MD 528
Probable Cause Indicator:NoContributed to Accident:NoPersonal Injury:0
Property Damage:NoSeat Belts Used:No
Mandatory Court Appearance:YesFine Amount Owed:$0.00
Vehicle Tag:8CB1539State:MDVehicle Description:15 VW
Disposition
Convicted Speed:0Contributed to Accident:NoPersonal Injury:0
Plea:Plea Date:
Disposition:Disposition Date:

Suspect Dead After Shooting Queen Anne’s Co. Deputy

Posted: 29 Dec 2016 08:21 AM PST


(CHESTERTOWN, MD) – At the request of the Queen Anne's County Sheriff's Office, the Maryland State Police Homicide Unit is investigating the death of a suspect in a domestic violence situation who shot and wounded a deputy sheriff before being fatally wounded by the injured deputy early this morning.

The Queen Anne's County Sheriff's Office deputy is identified as Deputy First Class Warren S. Hogan, 32, a four-year-veteran of the department. He is currently undergoing treatment for a gunshot wound at the University of Maryland R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, where he is listed in critical condition.

The suspect is identified as James L. Rich II, 52, of the 200-block of Edmore Road, Chestertown, Md. He was pronounced deceased at the Chester River Hospital early this morning.

At the request of Queen Anne's County Sheriff Gary Hofmann, the Maryland State Police Homicide Unit responded to conduct an investigation into the deputy-involved shooting. The preliminary investigation has revealed the following information.

At about 9:30 p.m. yesterday, the suspect's girlfriend, who had been staying with him at his residence, sent a text message to her father stating she and the suspect had been in a physical altercation and requested he call police. Her father called 911 and Deputy Hogan and another deputy responded to the home, but both the suspect and victim had left. It was later learned the victim's father had picked her up and transported her to the Queen Anne's County Sheriff's Office.

Deputy Hogan returned to the sheriff's office and took a report from the victim concerning the domestic violence incident with the suspect earlier in the evening. The victim requested to return to the residence to obtain some belongings and asked the deputy to accompany her there.

The investigation indicates that shortly after midnight, Deputy Hogan returned to the home with the victim and her parents. The suspect and his teenage son were already at the home.

Deputy Hogan and the victim went into the one-story, single-family home and she began to retrieve her things. The victim and suspect became involved in another argument upon her entry to the home.

The preliminary investigation indicates the suspect went into a room in the back of the residence and obtained a shotgun. He came out of the room and fired one round. He then continued walking toward the deputy and was in close proximity when the suspect and deputy exchanged gunfire. Both were struck by the other's gunfire. The deputy was armed with his department-issued Smith and Wesson .45 caliber pistol.

EMS personnel were summoned to the scene and transported both the deputy and the suspect. No one else at the home was struck by gunfire.

Maryland State Police criminal investigators and crime scene personnel remain on the scene. Investigators are obtaining a search warrant and will be searching and processing the scene after the search warrant is signed.

Deputy Hogan was wearing a body camera. Investigators will be reviewing any camera footage as part of the ongoing criminal investigation. At this stage of the investigation, any camera footage is considered investigative information and will not be released.

This information is preliminary and the investigation is continuing. Upon completion, the investigation will be submitted to the Queen Anne's County State's Attorney's Office for review, as is procedure.

10 Lies Secretary of State Kerry Told During His Big Middle East Peace Speech

Posted: 29 Dec 2016 08:15 AM PST

On Wednesday, Secretary of State John Kerry gave a speech on his proposed plan for peace between Israelis and Arabs. His plan: blame the Jews, pretend that Palestinian terrorism and incitement isn't representative of the actual Palestinian government, and then blather for 69 more minutes. His speech razed facts to the ground in a fashion reminiscent of Genghis Khan.

Here were ten of the worst lies and lies-by-omission Kerry purveyed in his ode to lying and self-indulgence:

1. Equating Jewish Settlements and Palestinian Terrorism. Israel has been wracked by a wave of stabbings and shootings and rocket attacks from Palestinian terrorists over the last two years. Kerry spent a few minutes on that, but only in order to draw moral equivalence with Jews building additional bathrooms in East Jerusalem, the capital of Israel. "The truth is that trends on the ground, violence, terrorism, settlement expansion, and the seemingly endless occupation, they are combining to destroy hopes for peace on both sides," Kerry said. This is nonsense. Before there wereany Jewish settlements – when Israel did not control Judea, Samaria, or Gaza – the Palestine Liberation Organization called for the "liberation" of Palestine, meaning the complete destruction of Israel. The problem isn't people building homes. It's Palestinians murdering Jews, and refusing to accept that any home built by a Jew ought to exist in the Middle East.

2. "If The Choice Is One State, Israel Can Either Be Jewish Or Democratic. It Cannot Be Both."

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Jackie Evancho's music sales boom after announcing inauguration performance

Posted: 29 Dec 2016 08:00 AM PST

While some singers have pulled out of performing at President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration, Jackie Evancho isn't backing down.

The 2010 "America's Got Talent" runner-up says that while she's been criticized for agreeing to sing the National Anthem at the inauguration, she is choosing to ignore the haters.

"My family is kind of a big target. I have a transgender sister and so a lot of hate goes towards us," Evancho told People. "But I also get a lot of love. So, we pay most attention to that. Sometimes we get really annoyed with the hate, everyone does, we have to admit it but we just ignore it."

While some have been critical of Evancho's upcoming performance, a lot of fans have shown their support by buying the singer's music.

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Oh No: That Other Time A Super-Rich President Appointed Family Advisers To Top Roles In The White House

Posted: 29 Dec 2016 07:45 AM PST

Donald Trump is not the first president to get a head start from dad, be worth a billion dollars, or even bring members of his nuclear family into the White House as close advisers. Indeed, another president did all of those things — and not a Founding Father or some forgotten 19th-century bureaucrat, but a television man.

Unsurprisingly, the average consumer of news would not know any of this, because according to Democrats and a lot of talkers in the media, Trump — the rich guy with a rich dad and close familial advisers — is something American politics has never ever seen before. "Unprecedented" is one of the words they like most. Search Google News for "Trump unprecedented," and you'll find 1,530,000 results in under a second. This is hardly scientific, but the trend is clear.

And these results are not surprising at all. A knowledge of history is simply not part of the job-description for reporters and commentators. Some can't even remember the headline they wrote a week before.

But the man who went before is one John F. Kennedy, so darling to our media his family rule was nicknamed "Camelot."

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Man ignites toilet paper inside state police holding cell

Posted: 29 Dec 2016 07:30 AM PST

MCHENRY, Md. (AP) — Maryland State Police say a man faces arson charges after setting a roll of toilet paper on fire inside a holding cell in a state police barrack in the western Maryland town of McHenry.

Lt. Brian Kloos said Wednesday that troopers who searched 28-year-old Jeffrey Wiland after arresting him on assault charges somehow missed a small lighter before locking up the unruly suspect early Monday morning.

Kloos says Wiland was handcuffed and shackled but still managed to start the fire. The lieutenant says the officer in charge immediately stamped out the flames.

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Obama Added $7.917 Trillion to the National Debt, 68 Percent Spike

Posted: 29 Dec 2016 07:15 AM PST

President Barack Obama added an additional $7.917 trillion to America's national debt, which amounts to a 68 percent increase from the $11.657 trillion debt level President George W. Bush accrued by the end of his presidency.

While there are several ways to determine a president's contribution to the U.S. debt, the most accurate figure is achieved by combining the budget deficits from each fiscal year and adding the total amount to whatever the debt level was at when the last president left office.

For example, when President George W. Bush took office the national debt level was at $5.8 trillion. Bush added $5.849 trillion to the national debt. So when President Obama was sworn in, the national debt level was at $11.657 trillion.

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Rep. Maxine Waters vows to fight Trump ‘every inch of the way’

Posted: 29 Dec 2016 07:00 AM PST

Rep. Maxine Waters made clear she has no plans to reach across the aisle to work with Donald Trump, vowing on Monday to fight the president-elect "every inch of the way."

The California Democrat told MSNBC corespondent Jacob Soboroff that her party has a problem of bending over backward to work with Republicans.

"I tell you, that has been a problem in my party," Mrs. Waters said. "That when we're in power, we're nice. We bend over backwards to work with people. Trump has stepped on everybody. He has no respect for his own colleagues, let alone those on the opposite side of the aisle.

"He's called names, he's lied. He's done everything to show that he doesn't have good values and he can't be trusted," she continued. "Why should we work with someone that we can't trust? He'll tell you one thing today and another thing tomorrow. As a matter of fact, those people who voted for [him] ought to be really concerned about the fact that he has already backpedaled on some of the promises he made.

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[ FLASHBACK: Inside the Maxine Waters Ethics Committee Debacle ]

UN resolution condemning Israel is Wiesenthal Center's top anti-Semitic incident of 2016

Posted: 29 Dec 2016 06:53 AM PST

The latest diplomatic ambush of Israel was only made possible by the US' historic reversal of its decades-long Mideast policy of vetoing one-sided anti-Israel initiatives at the United Nations Security Council.

President Obama's ambassador's "abstention" last week at the United Nations was actually an endorsement of an onerous one-sided resolution that among other items, defines Judaism's holiest site as "occupied Palestinian territory" and encourages nations to undertake the boycott of goods made by Jews in East Jerusalem and the West Bank. That's why we've named it our top anti-Semitic incident of 2016.

Make no mistake. This new resolution—developed with the Obama administration's knowledge and some say with its collusion -- is much worse and more dangerous than the U.N.'s notorious 1975 Zionism equals Racism resolution.

It radically undermines, if not destroys, Israel's relationship with the U.N.

It makes any role for the U.N. in future Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations impossible.

To date, there has been not a word from President Obama and his Secretary of State, not a peep from the hypocrites seated around the Security Council about the real obstacle to a two state solution, the continued control of Hamas in Gaza.

More here

Mumps spreads on college campuses

Posted: 29 Dec 2016 06:45 AM PST

Caroline Brown, a sophomore at the University of Missouri, got a fever over Thanksgiving break. Soon it became painful to bite down, and her cheek began to swell. A trip to her physician confirmed it: she had the mumps.

"Mumps kind of sounds like this archaic thing," Brown said. "We get vaccinated for it; it just sounds like something that nobody gets. So I just didn't think that it was possible that I would get it."

But mumps is back, and is having its worst year in a decade, fueled in part by its spread on college campuses. Since classes began at the University of Missouri in August, school officials have identified 193 mumps cases on campus. Nationwide, more than 4,000 cases have been reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - nearly triple the number in 2015 and the largest increase in 10 years.

Some public health officials are asking questions about the vaccine protocol.

Dr. Susan Even, executive director of the University of Missouri's Student Health Center, said she hasn't seen anything like the current outbreak in her 31 years at the school. She said all of the students her team treated for mumps had two MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella) vaccine doses - a school requirement - but they got sick anyway.

"The fact that we have mumps showing up in highly immunized populations likely reflects something about the effectiveness of the vaccine," Even said.

Outbreaks are affecting several other universities..

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Fear of Trump Triggers Deep Spending Cuts by Nation's Second Largest Union

Posted: 29 Dec 2016 06:37 AM PST

In a clear sign that labor unions are bracing for lean times under Donald Trump, the massive Service Employees International Union is planning for a 30 percent budget cut over the next year, according to an internal memo reviewed by Bloomberg Businessweek.

"Because the far right will control all three branches of the federal government, we will face serious threats to the ability of working people to join together in unions," SEIU President Mary Kay Henry wrote in an internal memo dated Dec. 14.

SEIU, like most of its peers, was already in a state of slow-motion crisis before Trump's victory. Things will only get worse after inauguration, when organized labor will find itself without a friend in the White House.

More here

MARYLAND’S NEWEST DISTILLERY IS ON THE USS CONSTELLATION

Posted: 29 Dec 2016 06:30 AM PST

An old tradition is coming back to life thanks to a local distillery and a Navy warship.

Tobacco Barn Distillery of Southern Maryland and the Historic Ships in Baltimore have teamed up to create a Maryland-made rum, complete with molasses from Baltimore's Domino Sugar.

The two 53-gallon rum barrels – weighing approximately 500 pounds each – were hoisted aboard the USS Constellation earlier this month with help from the partnering organizations. The barrels are currently stored in the lower level of the ship, where they will age for the next four months.

It's been more than 150 years since the USS Constellation sailed with barrels of rum resting on the backbone of the ship. Back in the 1800's, rum was routine for sailors—a tradition that the Navy abolished in 1862.

"The rum…was part of the daily ration for sailors originally on the Constellation back in 1854 when she was commissioned," said Scott Sanders, a retired rear admiral and partner of Tobacco Farm Distillery.

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Ability, not diversity, is key in Donald Trump’s color-blind Cabinet

Posted: 29 Dec 2016 06:23 AM PST

A top adviser to Donald Trump on diversity issues is offering no apologies for the preponderance of white men filling the Cabinet and key jobs in the new administration, insisting that the lack of minorities reflected the president-elect's color-blind approach to hiring decisions.

Bruce Levell, who spearheaded a minority outreach effort for the Trump campaign and now serves as an adviser to the transition team, said that Mr. Trump isn't looking to check off diversity boxes with his hiring decisions — and that's OK with black and Hispanic Americans.

"President-elect Trump doesn't really so much look at the Cabinet and say, 'Hey, I need a black guy over here and I need a woman over there,' " said Mr. Levell, executive director of the National Diversity Coalition for Trump. "He fights very hard to put the best individual that's qualified who can run the agency for his administration. Most people of color are OK with the fact that, 'Hey, if this person is qualified and can do the job, then God bless him.' "

As for his own organization, Mr. Levell added, "We're not so hung up on how many black appointees there are going to be or how many Hispanic appointees there's going to be. We generally want the best qualified."

More here

51% of voters now view Donald Trump favorably

Posted: 29 Dec 2016 06:15 AM PST

Multiple national polls revealed this week that American optimism and good feeling is on a marked upswing as the nation heads for 2017. Now voters appear to be warming to President-elect Donald Trump as well.

A new Rasmussen Reports survey released Tuesday finds that 51 percent of likely U.S. voters have a favorable opinion of Mr. Trump — a number which includes 29 percent who view him "very" favorably. The landmark finding follows weeks of rising poll numbers for the incoming president. His favorability numbers among all voters have increased on average from the low-30 percentage point range to the mid-40s. None have gone over 50 percent in recent days.

More here

You Better Make Reservations From Here On out

Posted: 29 Dec 2016 06:07 AM PST



Even though it is the "off season" in Ocean City, when we first started going to a Touch of Italy on 65th street pretty much every table was available. Now that we've exposed their Wednesday night special, the place is absolutely packed. Heck, I didn't even know they had another dining room in the back, that was packed too. 

So if you'd like to join us, be sure to call ahead and make a reservation. If you'd like your business to enjoy the same kind of results, well, I guess you'll need to call me to discuss running an ad. 

UPDATE: DEPUTY INVOLVED SHOOTING

Posted: 29 Dec 2016 06:03 AM PST

***SEE UPDATES AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST***
DEPUTY INVOLVED SHOOTING

Wednesday evening @ 2136 Hours, the Sheriff's Office responded to a domestic disturbance at 209 Edmore Road, Chestertown (QA County). The female involved later responded to the Sheriff's Headquarters.

Shortly after midnight, the female was escorted to the residence on a domestic standby in order to get clothing.

While inside the residence, the suspect armed himself with a shotgun and fired at the Deputy, who returned fire. Both subjects were injured.

The Deputy, a four year veteran was flown to Shock Trauma and is currently in surgery and at this time is considered to be in critical condition. No information is available on the condition of the suspect.

The Maryland State Police – Homicide Unit is lead investigators of this incident.

There will be a Press Release issued later this morning by MSP and QACSO.

UPDATE:

Identity of the injured deputy shot this morning is Dfc. Warren Scott Hogan.

Dfc. Hogan is out of surgery and remains in critical condition.

Your prayers, posts and messages are appreciated.

9:01am UPDATE: The man who shot and injured Deputy Warren Hogan with the Queen Anne's Sheriff Department has died after the deputy returned fire, Maryland State Police confirmed this morning.




Sen. Lindsey Graham: 100 Senators Believe Russia Meddled in US Election

Posted: 29 Dec 2016 06:00 AM PST

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said he and 99 other senators believe Russia interfered in the presidential election and "we'll have the hearings and put sanctions together that will hit [President Vladimir] Putin as an individual and his inner circle."

"They're doing it all over the world, not just in the United States," Graham told Jim Sciutto on CNN on Tuesday. "They're interfering in elections and in democratic countries' efforts to self-determination all over the world."

"Vladimir Putin is a thug and a bully — and I believe that that has become apparent," McCain said. "There is no doubt about it.

"We have to act, and we have to have a policy, which this administration does not have, and a strategy, which this administration does not have, and address this threat to our national security."

"If they're able to undermine an election, they are able, then, to undermine democracy," McCain said.

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[ Odd that we see no mention of George Soros.. --Editor ]

Police Want To Find Out If Amazon Echo Recorded Evidence Of Homicide

Posted: 29 Dec 2016 05:30 AM PST

The issue of who can access information stored on your electronic devices has become increasingly controversial in the last year, with authorities obtaining search warrants to unlock smartphones for everyone in an office building, courts ruling that police can force smartphone users to give up their devices' passcodes, and federal lawmakers trying to force weakened encryption on consumers. Now, police investigating a homicide are hoping to get a look under the hood of Amazon's Echo speaker to see if its virtual "Alexa" assistant might have recorded evidence of a murder. 

A Handy Guide To This Year’s Biggest Post-Christmas Mall Brawls

Posted: 29 Dec 2016 05:00 AM PST

All across the country, mall shoppers took Boxing Day way too literally this year, with high-profile skirmishes, arrests, and evacuations occurring at shopping centers in nearly a dozen states.

To help you sort through all those bruised and battered return receipts, here's our rundown of the biggest post-Christmas mall brawls for 2016:

Tempe, AZ: Fights broke out in the food court and near the Legoland Discovery Center, and a loud noise caused mall-goers to panic, believing that shots had been fired. Shoppers ran for the exits, and police put the mall on lockdown. Two people were arrested, and police say that no shots were fired.

Aurora, CO: Hundreds of people gathered around one fight in the food court of the Town Center at Aurora on Monday afternoon, and police called in reinforcements from the local sheriff's department and the city of Denver. One person sustained serious injuries, and another minor injuries. Five people, all minors, were arrested.

Manchester, CT: A fight involving "eight to ten" teen shoppers at the Buckland Hills Mall turned into multiple brawls including hundreds of teens, and the local cops called neighboring departments and the state police to help sort the situation out. Ultimately, seven people were arrested.

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Perdue Farms recognized with SmartCEO Magazine’s Corporate Culture Award

Posted: 29 Dec 2016 04:00 AM PST

Salisbury, Md. — Perdue Farms has been named a 2016 Corporate Culture Award winner by Baltimore Smart CEO for fostering a "creative collaborative workplace culture that has helped enhance performance and sustain a competitive advantage."

Perdue Farms was one of 50 companies that received the award earlier this month at the annual Corporate Culture Awards event in Baltimore. All winners are featured in the November/December issue of SmartCEO magazine.

"The 2016 Corporate Culture Award winners have realized that running a company is more than head count and the bottom line. It's about creating a place where creativity, energy and ideas are cultivated. Through this they are able to not only enhance performance and sustain their companies' competitive advantages but also enrich the lives of those they employ and inspire them to make a greater impact on the world," says Jaime Nespor-Zawmon, President of SmartCEO. "We're honored to celebrate with the leaders of Baltimore's top company cultures and recognize them for building true performance-driven cultures."

"As a major employer in Maryland and across the country, we take tremendous pride in our people and our culture. In fact, we have a people-first philosophy that has guided our company culture for nearly a century," said Chairman Jim Perdue. "We're pleased that Smart CEO chose to recognize Perdue for a company culture that our people work so hard to uphold every day."

A Culture Guided By Company Values
At Perdue, the culture is guided by the company's values of quality, integrity, teamwork and stewardship, and a commitment to a people-first philosophy. These values require us to act responsibly and with integrity as we pursue our vision "to be the most-trusted name in food and agricultural products."

Perdue is committed to treating all associates with dignity and respect, and providing a safe, productive and rewarding workplace. Perdue associates have access to all levels of management to resolve a conflict or misunderstanding through the company's long-standing Open Door Policy.

Perdue's safety programs create a culture of safety at its operations and position the workplace as among the safest in the manufacturing sector.

Associates have access to onsite Wellness Centers that are staffed by healthcare providers from the community, and provide associates and their dependents convenient access to affordable primary care. The company's voluntary Health Improvement Program helps associates adopt healthy lifestyles and targets major preventable diseases, such as diabetes and hypertension.

In a survey of more than 16,000 Perdue associates conducted in November 2015, 90 percent of associates were positive about their jobs, and 88 percent were positive about safety and working conditions.

About the Corporate Culture Awards

The Corporate Culture Awards program honors companies that foster a creative, collaborative workplace culture to enhance performance and sustain a competitive advantage. Smart leaders understand that culture is a company's greatest asset, driving performance and growth. What's more, a successful culture is actively and intentionally cultivated and developed. Corporate Culture Awards winners have championed for a positive, productive culture in their organization, and have worked with employees to develop successful cultural practices.

House Report: Hezbollah Trafficking Drugs ‘Virtually Unopposed’ in Latin America

Posted: 29 Dec 2016 03:00 AM PST

Shiite Iran's narco-jihadist proxy Hezbollah is operating a "virtually unopposed drug trafficking operation" in South America with links to the terrorist group Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), reports the bipartisan House Task Force to Investigate Terrorism Financing.

Hezbollah is also involved in money laundering and provides its expertise in the illicit practice to other drug trafficking groups in Latin America, including Los Zetas in Mexico.

"Multiple financial actions by the [U.S.] Treasury Department in recent years have highlighted the ability of Hezbollah, a terrorist group with reputedly sophisticated financial expertise, to exploit the international financial system and move and store illicit assets," notes the House Financial Services Committee Task Force to Investigate Terrorism Financing in its report.

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Lost Drone

Posted: 29 Dec 2016 02:00 AM PST

If anyone finds a lost drone in the Waller Road area please call 443-496-5573.

New Year's Eve

Posted: 29 Dec 2016 01:00 AM PST


EVOLUTION CRAFT BREWING CO.
PUBLIC HOUSE

You're invited to celebrate New Year's Eve at EVO!

Offering a special a la carte menu from Chef David Wells... 
Call for dining room reservations ~ 443.260.2337


Up for a party??? 
NYE BASH ~ EVO Tasting Room 
Doors open for ticket holders at 8:00pm! 

$50 per person / Available Now in the Tasting Room
Includes "Lite Fare" upon arrival; 
Charcuterie Display of Artisan Meats, Assorted Cheese, Breads, Jams, Nuts & Fruits, Hummus & Flatbreads.
Dinner Buffet 9:30pm; Smoked Brisket, Rolls, Cole Slaw, Jumbo Chicken Wings, Crab Mac & Cheese, Crab Dip w/ Soft Pretzels, Brussels Au Gratin & Roasted Red Potatoes.

DJ Memory Mixer 9:30pm until.
Choice of CHAMPAGNE or EVO BEER toast @ midnight!
CASH BAR AVAILABLE. Must be 21 or older to attend.

Tasting Room Party will be open to non-ticket holders after 11pm.
Tasting Room is open to the public from noon until 8:00pm.

EVOLUTION CRAFT BREWING CO. PUBLIC HOUSE
201 E. VINE STREET  SALISBURY, MD  21804
443.260.2337   evolutioncraftbrewing.com

Caption This Photo 12-29-16

Posted: 29 Dec 2016 12:00 AM PST

Make Up Your Mind!

Posted: 28 Dec 2016 11:00 PM PST
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