Jumat, 07 Februari 2020

Salisbury News

Salisbury News


Senator Addie Eckardt, District 37 Weekly Wrap-Up February 7, 2020

Posted: 07 Feb 2020 09:00 PM PST

Senator Addie Eckardt, District 37
Weekly Wrap-Up
February 7, 2020
 
This week, I had the opportunity to attend the Sister States of Maryland Reception. Thank you to all who came from our 21 partnerships in 18 countries!

State of the State
This week, Governor Hogan delivered his State of the State address with four legislative priorities. We will focus on keeping our retirees in Maryland through tax relief, addressing the violent crime in Baltimore City, accountability in education reform, and reforming our redistricting process in preparation of the 2020 Census. 

Sports Betting
Senate Bill 4: Gaming - Sports Betting was heard in the Budget and Taxation Committee. I am a member of the sports betting work group and we have examined proposals for the expansion of sports betting in Maryland.

Specifically, we have looked at allowing casinos to engage in sports betting operations. These efforts may be accompanied by mobile apps for smartphones. We have also looked at allowing sports betting at our racetracks and fairgrounds. We will continue to review the scope of sports betting operations within Maryland to ensure the most revenue. Ultimately, however, the revenues from sports gambling will be used to offset the cost of the Kirwan Commission.


Tobacco Legislation
The Budget and Taxation Committee heard Senate Bill 3, which levies a tax on cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and other smoking devices. This bill attempts to curb the use of tobacco products by our youth. Smoking and the addictiveness of nicotine have been shown to be extremely damaging to developing brains.
There are concerns that the bill may prevent access to nicotine cessation devices to those attempting to quit tobacco use. These devices are an important tool in decreasing and eliminating tobacco use.
The bill, as introduced, impacts our local cigar shops and convenient stores. We will continue to look at efforts to prevent tobacco use by minors, while supporting our local businesses. 

Budget and Taxation Committee Hearings
This week the Budget and Taxation Committee heard Governor Hogan's retirement legislation, which eases tax burdens on our retired population.
We continue to examine the fiscal year 2021 budget and work to balance fiscal responsibility and funding the State's most important projects. As introduced, the budget will end fiscal year 2021 with $1.2 billion in our rainy day fund. 

Grant Awards
Four projects in our area were awarded grants by the Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture (MCAAHC) and the Maryland Historical Trust (MHT). These grants assist in the acquisition, construction, and improvement of sites related to African American heritage. The awards are as follows:
  • Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, Cambridge ($100,000)
  • Zion United Methodist Church, Federalsburg ($100,000)
  • Asbury M.E. Church, Easton ($100,000)
  • Fruitland Community Center, Fruitland ($44,000)

Upcoming Bill Hearings
Many of the bills I introduced have been given hearing dates in the Senate. If you have any questions about a particular bill please reach out to my office or visit the General Assembly website at http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/.
  • 2/11- SB 337 Splash Pads - Lifeguards
  • 2/11- SB 495 Bay Restoration Fund – Use of Funds – Municipal Wastewater Facilities
  • 2/12- SB 387 Housing - Community Development Program Act - Funding
  • 2/13- SB 576 Health Occupations - Nurse Practitioners - Certifications of Competency and Incapacity
  • 2/18- SB 541 Mental Health - Involuntary Admissions - Procedures
  • 2/25- SB 667 Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard - Municipal Electric Utilities
  • 2/25- SB 678 Natural Resources - Reclassification of Oyster Sanctuaries - Authorization
  • 2/25- SB 790 Information Technology - Communications Lines - Installation
  • 2/26- SB 788 Income Tax - Credit for Community-Based Faculty Clinicians
  • 2/28- SB 100 Dorchester County - Alcoholic Beverages - Class C Beer, Wine, and Liquor License
  • 3/4 - SB 312 Talbot County - Sunday Hunting - Deer Bow Hunting Season
  • 3/4- SB 500 Talbot County - Turkey and Deer Hunting - Sundays

Trump takes his revenge: Gordon Sondland is ousted as EU Ambassador just hours after Lt. Colonel Alexander Vindman was FIRED

Posted: 07 Feb 2020 08:30 PM PST

Gordon Sondland has become the second impeachment witness to be fired by President Trump, less than 48 hours after the Commander-in-chief was acquitted by the Senate on two charges.

Sondland, who was Ambassador to the European Union, released a statement Friday evening, which read: 'I was advised today that the president intends to recall me effective immediately'.

The statement continued: 'I am grateful to President Trump for having given me the opportunity to serve, to Secretary Pompeo for his consistent support, and to the exceptional and dedicated professionals at the U.S. Mission to the European Union.

'I am proud of our accomplishments. Our work here has been the highlight of my career.'

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Patients at Wuhan's coronavirus hospital are given TURTLES for dinner after contracting the deadly disease spread to humans from wild animals

Posted: 07 Feb 2020 08:00 PM PST

Patients at one of Wuhan's coronavirus hospitals have been given turtle meat for dinner while being quarantined, it has emerged.

'Today's meal includes softshell turtle meat,' one person in isolation claimed in a video released by Chinese media.

The contagious disease, which has killed 638 people, was passed onto humans from wild animals - especially bats and snakes - through other animals, experts believe.

Chinese scientists today suggested that pangolins might be the link which allowed the virus to spread from bats to mankind.

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Pancakes For Our Playground TOMORROW

Posted: 07 Feb 2020 07:30 PM PST


Coronavirus - China's Lies affect us all

Posted: 07 Feb 2020 07:00 PM PST

PETA's founder says calling your dog or cat a 'pet' is derogatory

Posted: 07 Feb 2020 06:30 PM PST

SAN ANTONIO (KABB) - People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is urging people to put an end to the use of the word "pet."

The founder of the animal activist group told a British media outlet that the term "pet" is derogatory and reduces animals from being a living, breathing organism to an inanimate object.

Founder Ingrid Newkirk instead wants people to use the term "animal companions" to describe dogs, cats and other domestic animals. She is also calling for people to refer to themselves as animal "guardians" instead of "owners."

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Elizabeth Warren apologizes after 6 women of color quit her Nevada campaign

Posted: 07 Feb 2020 06:00 PM PST

Sen. Elizabeth Warren apologized Thursday night after six staffers of color working in the early-voting state of Nevada left her campaign amid complaints of feeling tokenized and having to deal with a toxic work environment.

The staffers, all women, have all left Warren's 70-person Nevada team since November, with three of them saying they felt marginalized and that their grievances were not addressed despite taking them to their superiors or to human resources staff, Politico reported Thursday.

"During the time I was employed with Nevada for Warren, there was definitely something wrong with the culture," Megan Lewis, a field organizer who joined the campaign in May and departed in December, told Politico. "I filed a complaint with HR, but the follow-up I received left me feeling as though I needed to make myself smaller or change who I was to fit into the office culture."

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/women-of-color-quit-elizabeth-warrens-campaign-in-nevada-report

'It's awesome that he's dying': Milwaukee schoolteacher suspended after Rush Limbaugh tweet

Posted: 07 Feb 2020 05:30 PM PST

A Milwaukee public school teacher has been placed on leave after tweeting that he hoped conservative radio pioneer Rush Limbaugh dies from his recently diagnosed lung cancer.

"Limbaugh absolutely should have to suffer from cancer," high school teacher Travis Sarandos said on Twitter. "It's awesome that he's dying, and hopefully it is as quick as it is painful."

The school district initially declined to take action against the teacher and explained that Sarandos was not speaking for the school district. However, they confirmed later that Sarandos has been placed on leave pending an investigation, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

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Acquitted Forever

Posted: 07 Feb 2020 05:00 PM PST

Glenn Beck unveils money laundering scheme linked to Hunter Biden and Burisma

Posted: 07 Feb 2020 04:30 PM PST

In a Thursday night special, BlazeTV host Glenn Beck laid out the evidence implicating a possible international money laundering scheme linked to Ukrainian gas firm Burisma and former Burisma board member Hunter Biden.

The links provided by Beck show that $1.8 billion in U.S. taxpayer dollars sent to Ukraine during the Obama administration is unaccounted for — and raises the question: Why hasn't Congress launched an investigation into how those funds were spent?


What are the details?

During the special, Beck explained that in 2014, $23 million was sent to a bank in London via wire transfer by Mykola Zlochevsky, the head of Burisma. British authorities immediately froze the accounts and began tracing the funds back to their origins.

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FBI, DOJ Say China Is America's Greatest Threat

Posted: 07 Feb 2020 04:00 PM PST

FBI Director Christopher Wray on Thursday said that Chinese technology theft is rampant, and that "no country poses a greater threat than Communist China" right now, according to Reuters.

"As I stand here talking with you today, the FBI has about 1,000 investigations involving China's attempted theft of U.S.-based technology in all 56 of our field offices and spanning just about every industry sector," Wray told conference attendees at Washington's Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

Wray noted China's aggressive push to exploit US academic openness to use "campus proxies" for the theft of technology, as well as establishing "institutes on our campuses."

Attorney General William Barr also spoke at the conference, saying that China is now America's "top geopolitical adversary," pointing to Beijing's emerging dominance in next-generation 5g telecommunications technology.

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Creepy Hands Biden Makes Mad Dash For Young Girls at New Hampshire Event

Posted: 07 Feb 2020 03:30 PM PST

Biden is stumping in New Hampshire after taking a punch to the gut in Iowa.

Joe Biden looked defeated this week after he came in last place in the Iowa caucuses.

New Hampshire isn't looking good for him either.

But the former VP looked really excited at the site of a bevy of young girls and made a mad dash to sit in the middle of the group!

More/Video

FISA court dodges GOP questions about 'clearly biased' Obama official who worked on reforms

Posted: 07 Feb 2020 03:00 PM PST

The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court dodged questions posed by Republican congressmen concerned about its selection of Obama official and longtime FBI defender David Kris to advise it on FISA reforms.

Judge James Boasberg, the FISA court's presiding judge, did not mention Kris's name in the two-page letter obtained by the Washington Examiner, but said the input the court would receive from the hand-picked adviser, known as an amicus curiae, is "purely advisory, and it is the court, not the amicus, that oversees each matter and determines its outcome."

Reps. Jim Jordan of Ohio and Mark Meadows of North Carolina sent the FISA court a letter in mid-January, asking specific questions about which candidates aside from Kris the spy court had considered. In their letter, the lawmakers asked whether the court had considered biased writings and statements Kris made about the matter he was asked to about Trump campaign associate Carter Page, his criticisms of former House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes, and his defenses of the FBI's Trump-Russia actions.

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Trump endorses bill allowing victims of illegal immigrant crimes to sue sanctuary cities

Posted: 07 Feb 2020 02:30 PM PST

President Trump centered the immigration portion of his State of the Union speech on "sanctuary cities," calling for Congress to pass a Senate bill that would allow victims of crimes committed by illegal immigrants to sue the local or state government if it is a sanctuary.

"The United States of America should be a sanctuary for law-abiding Americans — not criminal aliens," Trump said in his speech at the U.S. Capitol Tuesday evening. He called for the Justice for Victims of Sanctuary Cities Act, by Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina, to be passed "immediately."

The president highlighted the story of Jody Jones, whose brother Rocky Jones was killed in December 2018 by a man who had been deported twice but illegally reentered the country.

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Treasury Dept Hands Over Highly Sensitive Financial Records About Hunter Biden to Expanding GOP Senate Probe

Posted: 07 Feb 2020 02:00 PM PST

The Treasury Department has complied with GOP Senators and handed over highly sensitive financial records on Hunter Biden and his associates.

GOP Senators Grassley (IA) and Johnson (WI) this week requested the official travel documents of Hunter Biden from the US Secret Service.

The Senators are expanding their investigation and just received "evidence of questionable origin" from the Treasury Department.

The Senate committee is also seeking documents on Hunter Biden from the State Department, Justice Department and the National Archives.

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JUST IN: Impeachment witness Vindman fired, escorted out of White House after Trump acquittal

Posted: 07 Feb 2020 01:36 PM PST

Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, who made waves as a witness during the Trump impeachment proceedings, was fired Friday by the National Security Council and escorted off of the White House grounds, Fox News has confirmed.

Vindman was on detail to the National Security Council from the Department of Defense, and it is expected he will return there. It comes just two days after President Trump was acquitted in the Senate on the impeachment charges brought by the House last year over his dealings with Ukraine.

In a lengthy statement, Vindman's attorney, David Pressman, confirmed that Vindman had been escorted out of the White House on Friday.

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/vindman-to-leave-nsc-after-trump-acquittal?

Ex-Romney spokesman: Impeachment vote 'motivated by bitterness and jealousy'

Posted: 07 Feb 2020 01:30 PM PST

The former press secretary for Sen. Mitt Romney's 2012 presidential campaign claimed envy motivated the Utah Republican to vote to convict President Trump on abuse of power.

"I believe Mitt Romney is motivated by bitterness and jealously that [Trump] accomplished what he has failed to do multiple times," Rick Gorka, who is now a communications director for the Republican National Committee, tweeted Wednesday.
"He has betrayed his Party and millions of voters," he added.

These are the same people that hated Mitt in 2012 and they will hate him again when they are done with him. It is sad to see that Mitt has not learned the lessons from 2012. Now he has betrayed his Party and millions of voters.— Rick Gorka (@Rick_Gorka) February 5, 2020
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Pa. Man Found Not Guilty Of Attempted Murder In Boardwalk Stabbing

Posted: 07 Feb 2020 01:00 PM PST

SNOW HILL — Just how much force is the appropriate or valid amount appears to have been the deciding factor in an attempted murder trial this week as the jury found a Pennsylvania man guilty of reckless endangerment for stabbing juveniles on the Boardwalk during a fight last summer.

For three-plus days, a Worcester County jury heard testimony in the cases against Harold Nunez-Dominguez, 19, of Harrisburg, Pa., who was charged with two counts of attempted murder, first- and second-degree assault and reckless endangerment for his role in a major melee on the Boardwalk last June 9. After deliberating for three hours, the jury returned late Thursday afternoon with a guilty verdict on the reckless endangerment count.

Nunez-Dominguez was acquitted on the most serious counts, including attempted second-degree murder, first- and second-degree assault. Each of the reckless endangerment convictions carries a maximum sentence of five years, although the sentencing guidelines for Nunez-Dominguez fall in the range of probation to two years incarceration. Following the jury verdict, a pre-sentence investigation was ordered and a sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to the facts in the case, a major fight broke out on the Boardwalk at Caroline Street around 12:30 a.m. on June 9 involving a friend of Nunez-Dominguez and a larger group of individuals including the eventual two victims. Defense attorney Richard Brueckner argued during trial this week the larger group was beating the defendant's friend to the point Nunez-Dominguez feared for his friend's life.

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February 7, 2020 Corona Virus

Posted: 07 Feb 2020 12:58 PM PST


Appeals court rules Democrats can't sue Trump over emoluments claims

Posted: 07 Feb 2020 12:30 PM PST

A federal appeals court in Washington, D.C., threw out a lawsuit accusing President Trump of illegally profiting off his private businesses while in office, ruling that the Democratic lawmakers who brought the suit lack legal standing.

A three-judge panel on the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday did not rule on whether the president was violating the Constitution by profiting off foreign governments' spending at his hotels. The judges unanimously said in a brief 12-page decision that the dispute centering around the Constitution's emoluments clauses has no place in the court system.

"The Members can, and likely will, continue to use their weighty voices to make their case to the American people, their colleagues in the Congress and the President himself, all of whom are free to engage that argument as they see fit," the judges wrote. "But we will not—indeed we cannot—participate in this debate."

Two of the three judges were appointed by Republican presidents and the other by a Democrat.

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Mild winter weather means ticks might be more active than usual

Posted: 07 Feb 2020 12:00 PM PST

If this mild winter weather has you spending more time outdoors, a Maryland professor wants you to keep in mind that you may be sharing nature's beauty with ticks.

"With all this crazy warm weather we're having this year … ticks are going to be active even in the middle of winter," said "Bug Guy" Mike Raupp, a professor of entomology at the University of Maryland.

He said without a host, such as a deer to latch on to, ticks go dormant when temperatures stay in the 20s and 30s. But when temperatures reach about 45 degrees, dormant ticks become active again.

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What is wrong in these pictures?? (Downtown Salisbury)

Posted: 07 Feb 2020 11:47 AM PST




‘Saved By The Bell’ Reboot To Feature Transgender Teen In Lead Role

Posted: 07 Feb 2020 11:30 AM PST

The hotly-anticipated "Saved by the Bell" reboot is moving forward with Josie Totah as its star.

Totah will play Lexi, described in press notes as "a beautiful, sharp-tongued cheerleader and the most popular girl at Bayside High" who is both "admired and feared" by her classmates. The Hollywood Reporter first reported the news early Monday.

Mario Lopez and Elizabeth Berkley, who starred in the original incarnation of "Saved by the Bell" from 1989 to 1993, will reprise their roles as A.C. Slater and Jessie Spano respectively in the revival. The new series will explore what happens when California Gov. Zack Morris (played by Mark-Paul Gosselaar in the original) closes many of the state's low-income high schools and reassigns affected students to higher-performing schools, including Bayside High.

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CRA/LA Agrees to Pay $3.1 Million to Resolve Alleged Misuse of Federal Funds for Inaccessible Housing

Posted: 07 Feb 2020 11:00 AM PST


CRA/LA agreed to pay $3.1 million to resolve allegations that its predecessor violated the False Claims Act by knowingly failing to comply with federal accessibility laws when it financed and assisted in the development of affordable housing in the City of Los Angeles supported by federal funds, the Department of Justice announced.

CRA/LA is the successor of the Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Los Angeles, a local redevelopment agency that financed and assisted in the development of multifamily affordable housing using local tax monies and federal community development grants. In June 2011, the State of California dissolved all redevelopment agencies. CRA/LA is winding down the affairs of its predecessor.

"Today's settlement demonstrates our continuing vigilance to ensure that developers receiving federal grant money for affordable housing satisfy their legal obligations to make such housing accessible to people with disabilities," said Assistant Attorney General Jody Hunt for the Department of Justice's Civil Division. "Grant recipients who knowingly discriminate against people with disabilities using taxpayer money will face serious consequences."

"Despite millions of dollars of federal taxpayer money sent to Los Angeles to create affordable housing over many years, the CRA opted to lie about its failure to ensure that these projects were accessible to everyone," said U.S. Attorney Nick Hanna for the Central District of California. "This settlement resolves only a small portion of this case, and we are prepared to litigate additional allegations that the City of Los Angeles covered up its failure to comply with federal laws enacted to protect the civil rights of all citizens."

"The basic tenant of fair housing translates into the premise of equal access for all, this is to include those citizens that face physical and functional challenges," said Inspector General Rae Oliver Davis of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. "This settlement reaffirms this office's steadfast resolve to ensure those who receive federal housing funds abide by this fundamental principle."

"This case demonstrates HUD's commitment to holding recipients of federal funds accountable for their failure to comply with HUD's accessibility requirements," said General Counsel Paul Compton of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. "We will continue to collaborate with our partners at the Department of Justice to ensure that HUD participants provide accessible housing to individuals with disabilities."

Recipients of federal housing development funds must comply with federal accessibility laws, including Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Fair Housing Act. These laws prohibit discrimination against people with disabilities in activities receiving federal financial assistance. For example, they require five percent of all units in certain federally-assisted multifamily housing be accessible for people with mobility impairments and an additional two percent be accessible for people with visual and auditory impairments. Recipients of federal funds must likewise implement accessible programs related to housing, including maintaining a publicly-available list of accessible units with a description of their accessibility features, adopting policies and procedures to ensure that people who need the accessibility features of particular units occupy them, and designating at least one individual to coordinate accessibility efforts.

The settlement resolves claims against CRA/LA in a lawsuit alleging that the CRA/LA's predecessor, along with the City of Los Angeles, received money from the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development based on false claims they were complying with federal accessibility laws. As to the CRA/LA's predecessor, the United States' lawsuit alleged at least nine multifamily housing properties fell significantly short of federal accessibility laws since 2005. Examples of alleged defects included:
  • slopes and ramps too steep for people in wheelchairs;
  • tall thresholds restricting wheelchair access;
  • kitchen cabinets, shelves, and surfaces outside the accessible reach range of people in wheelchairs;
  • sinks, grab bars, and mailboxes mounted outside the accessible reach range of people in wheelchairs;
  • uninsulated pipes below sinks and lavatories;
  • a lack of accessible parking spaces; and
  • insufficient visual alarms and tactile signs for people with hearing and visual impairments.
The United States' claims against the City of Los Angeles have not been resolved and are still pending in the litigation.

The agreement announced today partially resolves a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles by Mei Ling, a Los Angeles resident who uses a wheelchair, and the Fair Housing Council of San Fernando Valley, a nonprofit civil rights advocacy group. The lawsuit was filed under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act, which permit private parties to sue on behalf of the United States when they believe that a party has submitted false claims for government funds, and to receive a share of any recovery. The False Claims Act permits the government to intervene in such a lawsuit, as it has done in this case.

These matters were investigated and litigated by the Civil Division's Commercial Litigation Branch and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California. HUD's Office of Inspector General and Office of General Counsel also participated in the investigation.

The claims asserted against the CRA/LA and the City of Los Angeles are allegations only; there has been no determination of liability. The case is captioned United States ex rel. Ling, et al. v. City of Los Angeles, et al., No. CV11-00974-PSG (C.D. Cal.).

Stephanie Grisham: 'Democrats should be held accountable' for 'corrupt' impeachment

Posted: 07 Feb 2020 10:30 AM PST

White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham suggested that President Trump may take action against lawmakers and others who attempted to remove him from office.

Grisham appeared on Fox News on Thursday to discuss the president and his administration's plans after the Senate acquitted him on two impeachment articles that the House passed last year.

"People should be held accountable. The Democrats should be held accountable for not only what they did to the president and to his family and the administration but the country," she said.

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State Police Investigation Leads To Theft Charges In Princess Anne

Posted: 07 Feb 2020 10:00 AM PST


(PRINCESS ANNE, MD) – A Maryland State Police investigation leads to a suspect charged with theft from the town of Princess Anne.

The accused is identified as Deborah Hrusko, 56, of Salisbury, Maryland. Hrusko was issued a criminal summons on February 5, 2020 formally charging her with theft and theft scheme of $25,000 to under $100,000 from the town of Princess Anne from January 1, 2019 through January 10, 2020.

The Maryland State Police Criminal Enforcement Division Lower Shore began the investigation into the theft allegations on January 17, 2020, at the request of Chief Timothy Bozman of the Princess Anne Police Department. The ensuing investigation led to the discovery of evidence supporting the allegations of theft of up to $66,287 from the town of Princess Anne.

Investigators are consulting with the Somerset County State's Attorney as the investigation continues. For further information calls are being directed to the Town of Princess Anne at 410-651-1818.

The investigation is active and ongoing.

Punkin Chunkin Seeks Shore Return

Posted: 07 Feb 2020 09:45 AM PST

BERLIN — After a one-year hiatus in Illinois, the popular World Championship Punkin Chunkin event is seeking a new venue and a return to Delmarva.

For decades, the World Championship Punkin Chunkin Association hosted the iconic fall event in rural areas of neighboring Delaware, but had been without a home since 2016 when a television producer was injured and later sued. That case was ultimately dismissed and the association was cleared, but finding a new home remained a challenge.

Last year, the WCPCA pitched the idea of hosting Punkin Chunkin at the Inlet in Ocean City in October, and despite logistic and safety concerns associated with launching pumpkins thousands of feet into the ocean from downtown Ocean City, resort officials at least entertained the idea. Instead, the association moved the event to a rural area in Illinois last year.

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Killing of man set to testify against MS-13 gang members sparks controversy

Posted: 07 Feb 2020 09:30 AM PST

The killing of a man who was set to testify against MS-13 gang members in open court has ignited debate about New York state's new criminal justice reforms.

Wilmer Maldonado Rodriguez was found dead Sunday outside his home on Long Island, police said. Rodriguez had intervened as gang members were threatening two boys when he was stabbed and beaten in October of 2018.

New York's controversial new discovery law, enacted on Jan. 1 with a slew of other criminal justice reforms, dictates when prosecutors can release information about individuals involved in crimes, including identities. Weeks before Rodriguez's death, a judge ordered prosecutors to disclose his identity to the lawyers representing the gang members accused of attacking him.

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The Democratic Party is telling millions of pro-lifers to get out

Posted: 07 Feb 2020 09:15 AM PST

Until recently, I spent much of my time working hard to elect Democrats to public office — but the early presidential campaigning pushed me away from the party, as well prompting my resignation from the board of Democrats for Life, where I had served since 2014.

For someone who is progressive on most issues, this decision doesn't come easy. Like most Democrats, I believe government has an energetic role to play to support women, families and children. I support paid family leave, help with unaffordable child care, labor-union rights, the Affordable Care Act, child and adoption tax credits and much else of the kind.

I'm worried about climate change. I'm an outspoken vegetarian. I believe in welcoming refugees and immigrants. I oppose needless wars.

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ICE slams California sanctuary city laws after data shows thousands of criminal illegal immigrants released in one county

Posted: 07 Feb 2020 09:00 AM PST

Immigration and Customs Enforcement praised the sheriff of Orange County, California, for speaking up about the problems caused by the state's sanctuary city laws.

Sheriff Don Barnes released a report this week that indicates the number of inmates in his county with ICE detainers has increased thanks to sanctuary city laws, specifically SB 54, which severely restricts communications and coordination with ICE in the release of criminal illegal immigrants.

The data shows that more than 2,000 illegal immigrants were released from custody in Orange County alone in recent years, and more than 400 of them re-offended in that county.

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Brian Griffiths: In Maryland, death is treated differently based on how you die

Posted: 07 Feb 2020 08:30 AM PST

Here in Maryland, the issue gets treated differently depending on the political circumstances surrounding it.

Last week, hundreds of activists descended on Annapolis to support draconian new restrictions on private gun ownership. Ostensibly they support this legislation to save lives, even if the evidence is questionable.

In 2013, Maryland banned capital punishment. Ostensibly, this was not just to ensure that the state did not executive an innocent person, but also because it was immoral for the state to take a life.

Just last week, Anne Arundel County declared suicide a public health crisis. The resolution sponsored by County Councilman Nathan Volke identified suicide as a crisis and directed the county Health Department to take "immediate steps to identify residents living with mental illness and offer treatment and services to help those affected by mental illness and at risk of death by suicide."

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Right-wing activist wants to sue NFL because halftime show 'put me in danger of hell fire'

Posted: 07 Feb 2020 08:00 AM PST

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (WPEC) - This year's Super Bowl halftime show with Shakira and Jennifer Lopez has stirred controversy among many, but one man is taking it to another level.

Dave Daubenmire, a former central Ohio high school football coach and right-wing activist, said on his webcast that he wants to sue the NFL over how the show is keeping him "from getting into heaven" and that it put him "in danger of hell fire," the New York Daily News reported.

"I saw crotch shots... You didn't tell me I was going to watch it," he said. "You just brought it into my living room. You didn't tell me there were going to be crotch shots."

Daubenmire wants to file a class action lawsuit for $867 trillion as compensation for the "crotch shots" conservative viewers were forced to watch, according to the New York Daily News.

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Wicomico Conservation Easement Approved

Posted: 07 Feb 2020 07:30 AM PST

SALISBURY – Officials in Wicomico County approved the acquisition of a conservation easement on Porter Mill Road this week.

On Tuesday, the Wicomico County Council voted to approve a Rural Legacy Area easement acquisition on Porter Mill Road.

Frank McKenzie, chief of technical services and environmental planning for Wicomico County, said the landowners will receive $405,000 in exchange for a conservation easement that limits development potential on the property.

"What we are requesting tonight is your approval for us to proceed with this acquisition to purchase the easement of 270 acres," he said.

As part of the easement agreement, the property owners will be allowed to retain an existing dwelling unit and establish one new single-family dwelling and one accessory dwelling unit on existing parcels. However, they would forfeit rights to any further subdivision activity on the site.

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Joe Biden's brother Frank owes dead man's family $1 MILLION for 80mph car crash

Posted: 07 Feb 2020 07:00 AM PST

Joe Biden's brother is a scofflaw who is defying paying almost $1 million in compensation to the family of a young single father killed in a horrific car crash more than 20 years ago, DailyMail.com can reveal.

Frank Biden has failed to pay a dime to the family of Michael Albano despite having defaulted on a lawsuit filed against him for the death, our investigation uncovered.

And even though Albano's orphaned daughters pleaded more than a decade ago with Joe – then a senator - for help recovering the money from his brother it was to no avail, telling them he had 'deep sympathy' but his brother was penniless.

Since then Frank Biden has reportedly earned hundreds of thousands of dollars from a series of positions that appear to trade heavily on his family name - but Joe appears to have done nothing to persuade him to pay his debts.

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Two DEMOCRATS confront Nancy Pelosi over her ripping of Donald Trump's speech, telling speaker it was 'disrespectful' and 'inappropriate'

Posted: 07 Feb 2020 06:45 AM PST

Two freshman House Democrats confronted Nancy Pelosi on Thursday over her ripping up the text of President Trump's State of the Union address, telling the speaker her actions were 'inappropriate' and 'disrespectful.'

Reps. Joe Cunningham of South Carolina and Ben McAdams of Utah confronted Pelosi on the House floor when lawmakers were voting on a Republican resolution that expressed disapproval of the speaker's tearing up the president's remarks.

Democrats easily defended the GOP effort to publicly chastise Pelosi, voting to table the resolution 224 to 193.

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Donald Trump confirms al-Qaeda leader Qassim al-Rimi has been killed in U.S. operation in Yemen

Posted: 07 Feb 2020 06:30 AM PST

President Donald Trump has confirmed that the U.S. killed the leader of the Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula jihadist group who claimed responsibility for a mass shooting at an American naval base.

Trump said in a statement on Thursday that the U.S. at his direction conducted a counter-terrorism operation in Yemen that killed Qassim al-Rimi.

Al-Rimi is a founder of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.

The group has long been considered the global network's most dangerous branch for its attempts to carry out attacks on the U.S. mainland.

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Judges oppose governor's bill to publish sentences they hand down

Posted: 07 Feb 2020 06:15 AM PST

ANNAPOLIS, Md. —One of Gov. Larry Hogan's crime bills would require revealing the sentences handed out in criminal cases, which is meeting stiff opposition from judges.

The governor's legislative crime package addresses witness intimidation, and imposes tougher sentences for gun crimes, as well as publicizing sentences handed out by judges.

There's stiff resistance to the Judicial Transparency Act. The bill would require a state commission to publicize what sentences judges hand out in criminal cases.

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County Worried Over Immigration Detention Bill

Posted: 07 Feb 2020 06:00 AM PST

SNOW HILL – Worcester County could lose more than $5 million a year if a bill prohibiting Maryland counties from participating in immigration detention is passed.

House Bill 677, introduced Jan. 30, would prohibit counties from contracting with the federal government or any other entity to take in immigration detainees. Worcester County currently brings in more than $5 million a year by housing detainees for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

"It's something we're looking at very seriously," said Commissioner Joe Mitrecic. "There's a lot of ramifications to this."

The commissioners agreed this week to send the Eastern Shore Delegation a letter expressing their opposition to the bill, which was introduced Jan. 30 by Montgomery County Del. Vaughn Stewart. The bill states that the enforcement of civil immigration laws is the exclusive responsibility of the federal government.

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Thank God It's Friday

Posted: 07 Feb 2020 05:30 AM PST


What will you be doing this weekend?

Tucker Carlson: Criminals would be protected from deportation under bill AOC and other House Democrats back

Posted: 07 Feb 2020 05:00 AM PST

At this moment there is a bill pending in Congress called the New Way Forward Act. It's received almost no publicity, which is unfortunate as well as revealing.

The legislation is sponsored by 44 House Democrats, including Reps. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York. At roughly 4,400 words, it's almost exactly as long as the U.S. Constitution.

Like the Constitution, this legislation is designed to create a whole new country. The bill would entirely remake our immigration system, with the explicit purpose of ensuring that criminals are able to move here, and settle here permanently, with impunity.

https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/tucker-carlson-criminals-would-be-protected-from-deportation-under-bill-aoc-and-other-house-democrats-back

'Never say never': Hillary Clinton holds out possibility of becoming Vice President if the Democrats win in November as she urges voters to follow Mitt Romney's example and kick Trump out of office

Posted: 07 Feb 2020 04:00 AM PST

Hillary Clinton has refused to rule out taking on the job of Vice President if the Democrats win the election in November.

The former Secretary of State, who has run two failed campaigns to become president herself, said she 'probably won't be asked' to take the role by whoever becomes the Democrat nominee this time around.

But, speaking to Ellen DeGeneres on an episode of her show due to air Thursday, she added 'never say never' - recalling how she turned down Obama's offer of leading the State Department twice, before accepting and serving for four years.

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Political Memes

Posted: 07 Feb 2020 03:00 AM PST







Friday Morning Funnies

Posted: 07 Feb 2020 02:00 AM PST






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