Minggu, 22 Maret 2020

Salisbury News

Salisbury News


Governor Hogan Announces Maryland’s Official Designation for SBA Economic Injury Loans During COVID-19 Pandemic

Posted: 21 Mar 2020 08:30 PM PDT

Small Businesses Can Apply Directly to SBA For Financial Assistance

ANNAPOLIS, MD—Governor Larry Hogan today announced that Maryland has received official designation from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for its Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, which provides low-interest federal disaster loans for small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the SBA, the loans will help alleviate financial strain and allow businesses to pay bills, payroll, and accounts payable, with long-term payments stretching up to 30 years. Small businesses and private non-profit organizations can apply directly to the SBA for financial assistance here.

"Our first and foremost priority is protecting the health and safety of Marylanders, but we are also deeply concerned about the economic impact of this pandemic, which is why we worked quickly with our federal partners to apply for this designation," said Governor Hogan. "This program will offer immediate relief to our small business community and help them to remain afloat during this difficult time."

In order to receive designation, the state was required to provide at least five examples of companies that have suffered a significant economic injury due to COVID-19. With the recent executive order closing restaurants, bars, fitness centers, and theaters, along with the prohibition of gatherings of more than 10 people, several businesses across the state have reported substantial impacts and are in need of immediate financial assistance.

"Maryland's small businesses are critically important to our economy and we recognize the impact this crisis is having on them," said Maryland Commerce Secretary Kelly M. Schulz. "This loan program, combined with other state and federal assistance, will give businesses the support and resources they need to continue to operate."

"This assistance is available to those businesses who have suffered economic hardship as a result of COVID-19," said Russell Strickland, executive director of the Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA). "MEMA worked closely with local emergency management agencies to expedite the request for assistance from the SBA. These loans will help those hit hardest by the effects of COVID-19."

For additional business resources available during the COVID-19 outbreak, please visit businessexpress.maryland.gov/coronavirus.

For details on the administration's ongoing response, visit governor.maryland.gov/coronavirus.

We Are The World - 35 Years 'Singers Before And After'

Posted: 21 Mar 2020 08:00 PM PDT

Dr. Nicole Saphier: Trump Offers ‘Glimmer of Hope’ with Chloroquine, but Stop Hoarding

Posted: 21 Mar 2020 07:30 PM PDT

Dr. Nicole Saphier told Breitbart News Daily on Friday morning that there was hope chloroquine and other drugs could treat coronavirus — but that people who did not need the medicines should stop hoarding them.

Saphier, a former microbiologist, is a Fox News contributor and the author of Make America Healthy Again: How Bad Behavior and Big Government Caused a Trillion-Dollar Crisis. She spoke with host Alex Marlow about the latest developments in the fight against the pandemic.

She explained that chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, two drugs the president discussed Thursday at the White House press briefing, are malaria drugs that incorporate themselves into viral RNA and stop a virus from replicating. They also stop inflammatory immune responses, which is why they are used in arthritis.


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It's Know As The "Pool Of Death"

Posted: 21 Mar 2020 07:00 PM PDT

Sending in the troops: More than 3,300 National Guard soldiers are deployed across 28 states

Posted: 21 Mar 2020 06:30 PM PDT

With tens of millions of Americans on lockdown and more expected, the United States military is likely to take on a greater role in helping to stop the spread of the coronavirus in the coming days and weeks.

The US Army Corps of Engineers is looking at converting more than 10,000 rooms in New York, potentially in hotels and college dorms, into medical care units to help address the fast-spreading coronavirus, the commanding general of the Army Corps said on Friday.

President Trump on Friday declared New York State a major disaster area as the number of confirmed coronavirus cases skyrockets and New York City was declared the epicenter of the US outbreak by Mayor Bill de Blasio.

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The End of Civilization?

Posted: 21 Mar 2020 06:00 PM PDT

Governments all over the world are using the alleged threat of a COVID-19 pandemic to shut down the world's economy. Daniel Lacalle, an authority on energy economics, writes: "The decision to shut down air travel and close all nonessential businesses is now a reality in major global economies. The United States has banned all European flights as Italy enters a complete lockdown, Spain declares a state of emergency, and France closes all nonessential public places and businesses."

Further, he points out, governments can't solve the problems they have created through massive spending programs and bigger deficits. These policies make things worse: "Governments will implement large demand-side policies that are the wrong answer to a shutdown of the economy. Most businesses will suffer from the collapse in sales and subsequent working capital build, and none of that will be solved with deficit spending. You cannot mitigate a supply shock with demand policies, which increase debt and overcapacity in the already indebted and bloated sectors and do not help the sectors that are suffering an abrupt collapse in activity." And government printing of money, i.e., outright inflationism, is even more dangerous.

Lacalle's remarks bring to mind the trenchant comments on Ludwig von Mises. He warns against attempts to shore up disastrous policies by printing more money. Mises says, "No emergency can justify a return to inflation. Inflation can provide neither the weapons a nation needs to defend its independence nor the capital goods required for any project. It does not cure unsatisfactory conditions. It merely helps the rulers whose policies brought about the catastrophe to exculpate themselves." He tells us where a policy of inflationism will end: "Inflation is the fiscal complement of statism and arbitrary government. It is a cog in the complex of policies and institutions which gradually lead toward totalitarianism."

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The Fear Factor ... An Insidious Contagion

Posted: 21 Mar 2020 05:30 PM PDT

Rachel Maddow demands that networks STOP airing Trump's press conferences about coronavirus crisis and blasts his 'fairytale' promises about malaria drug to combat the pandemic

Posted: 21 Mar 2020 05:00 PM PDT

MSNBC host Rachel Maddow has demanded that networks stop airing White House updates about the coronavirus pandemic, excoriating President Donald Trump for making optimistic promises about an unproven drug to treat the infection.

'I know we ought to be getting used to this kind of thing by now, but I'm not,' Maddow said on her show Friday night. 'President Trump today, again, just flat-out wrong in public about this malaria drug that has gotten stuck in his mind, quite some distance from the facts.'

Maddow was referring to Trump's sweeping claims about a malaria drug called hydroxychloroquine, which is being investigated as a potential treatment for coronavirus patients.

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Debunking Nature Magazine's "COVID-19 Definitely Didn't Come From A Lab" China Propaganda

Posted: 21 Mar 2020 04:30 PM PDT

Nature magazine has censored over 1,000 articles at the request of the Chinese government over the past several years. And it seems pretty clear that their recent article, "The proximal origin of SARS-CoV-2" is just one more example of their influence.

China bought off the head of Harvard's chemistry department, you don't think they could buy off run-of-the-mill research scientists scrambling for tenure and funding and publication? It's absolutely horrific that so many scientists and researchers are taking part in what's really clearly a disinformation campaign orchestrated by the Chinese Communist Party, and willfully spreading a smokescreen about something that's already killed thousands and is projected to kill millions more across the planet.

And while the mainstream corporate media mindlessly regurgitates claims from the Chinese government that are falsifiable with the simplest of google searches, allowing the public to be lulled into a false sense of security and complacency, and Reddit rapidly censors and moderates anything that might indicate that this virus leaked from a Chinese lab and so the Chinese government is to blame for this pandemic – sites like ZeroHedge, that have been at the forefront of keeping the lines of investigation open, have been banished from Twitter and marginalized.

Below is a takedown of that article, and the good news is a much more nuanced and honest look at the origins of COVID-19, the Wuhan Strain of coronavirus is just a click away.

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Worcester Health Confirms second case of COVID-19 in Worcester County

Posted: 21 Mar 2020 04:00 PM PDT


(Snow Hill, MD)- The Worcester County Health Department (WCHD) confirmed the second positive test for a case of COVID-19 in Worcester County on March 21, 2020. The patient is a female in her 20s who lives in Worcester County and is recovering at home. This case is a close household contact of the first positive COVID-19 case in the county, reported earlier this week, and has been in quarantine since known exposure. Worcester County Health Department is conducting a contact investigation of this second case and appropriate close contacts will have arrangements made for testing if indicated.

If you are experiencing possible COVID-19 symptoms (fever, cough, shortness of breath) contact your primary care doctor for further screening to determine if you should be tested. Unless you are suffering a medical emergency, please do not show up unannounced at an emergency room or other medical facility. You should speak with your healthcare provider, who can alert an emergency room so that its staff is ready with proper protective gear. To protect yourselves and others, wash your hands often, cover cough/sneezes, clean and disinfect surfaces, and stay home if sick. For more information on Coronavirus and prevention tips, visit WorcesterHealth.org or call 410-632-1100 option #8 to connect to our call center (Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm). For COVID-19 information in the State of Maryland, please dial 2-1-1.

PRMC Treating Patient with COVID-19

Posted: 21 Mar 2020 03:30 PM PDT


Wicomico County playgrounds, pavilions, tennis courts, basketball courts and pickle ball courts to close Monday, March 23

Posted: 21 Mar 2020 02:30 PM PDT

SALISBURY, Md. – Following guidance from the state of Maryland, Wicomico County officials will close playgrounds, pavilions, tennis courts, basketball courts and pickle ball courts at county parks effective Monday, March 23.

Day use areas and trails will remain accessible during posted hours. Visitors should follow gathering and social distancing guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC; https://www.cdc.gov/) and the Maryland Department of Public Health (MDH; https://health.maryland.gov/) to ensure a safe environment for themselves and others.

Marinas and boat ramps will also remain open for public use at this time.

In a statement released on March 18, the National Recreation and Park Association expressed support of the safe use of parks and open spaces during the COVID-19 outbreak.

The NRPA's statement read, "In places where there are no restrictions on the use of local parks, trails and open spaces, we encourage all users to follow these recommendations,"
  • Refrain from using parks or trails if they are exhibiting symptoms.
  • Follow CDC's guidance on personal hygiene prior to and during use of parks or trails.
  • Prepare for limited access to public restrooms or water fountains.
  • While on trails, warn other users of their presence and as they pass, and step aside to let others pass.
  • Follow CDC guidance on the recommended size of social gatherings including outdoor picnicking, pick-up sports and other group hangouts, and maintain proper physical distance at all times.
  • Observe CDC's minimum recommended social distancing of 6 feet from other individuals at all times. If this is not possible, users should find an alternate location or depart that space.
  • Consult their local and state ordinances and guidelines for the most up to date recommendations on park and trail use.
Playgrounds, pavilions, tennis courts, basketball courts and pickle ball courts will remain closed until further notice. Decisions made by county officials are fluid and can be changed at any time.

The Wicomico Recreation, Parks, Tourism and Civic Center department will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation through regular updates from the Wicomico County Health Department and the Department of Emergency Services. Updates will be shared with the press, as well as posted to department websites and social media outlets.

Second Confirmed Case of Covid-19 In Wicomico County

Posted: 21 Mar 2020 02:00 PM PDT


What the MSM Was Afraid to Tell You

Posted: 21 Mar 2020 01:30 PM PDT

5 Reasons to Doubt China’s Claim It Has Stopped Seeing Coronavirus Cases

Posted: 21 Mar 2020 01:00 PM PDT

China's report of zero new coronavirus cases sparked celebration across the globe, with some viewing the communist regime's Thursday report as a beacon of hope.

While global efforts to curb the impact of the virus continue, there is reason to doubt China's "milestone" claim of no new local coronavirus infections.

1. There are still cases of people reporting symptoms, but China is reportedly refusing to test them.

One patient in China, identified as Ms. Fu, told the anti-communist publication the Epoch Times that her condition deteriorated after officials released her from a "makeshift" hospital. The city has since shut temporary hospitals down, a move which coincided with Chinese leader Xi Jinping's Wuhan visit this month.

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Coronavirus cases in New York State now top 10,000

Posted: 21 Mar 2020 12:43 PM PDT

New York City alone has 6,211 cases, an increase of about 1,800, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said Saturday morning that the number of coronavirus cases in the state has increased by more than 3,000 and now tops 10,000.

The state has conducted 45,437 tests, he said, and now has a total of 10,356 coronavirus cases.

"The more tests you take, the more positives you find," he said, adding that New York is now conducting more tests per capita than China or South Korea.

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Coronavirus killing more than a person an hour in NYC

Posted: 21 Mar 2020 12:32 PM PDT

The coronavirus killed city residents at a rate of more than one per hour on Friday.

Between just 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., 14 people in New York City died from the virus, pushing the Big Apple's total death toll to 43.

The toll had been 29 prior to Friday's jump in deaths.

It was the first time that the city's single-day toll had hit double digits.

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Governor Carney considers closing Delaware beaches

Posted: 21 Mar 2020 12:30 PM PDT

A packed beach in Lewes March 20 prompted Gov. John Carney to doubt that the public is following the social distancing recommendations state officials have issued to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Carney said he is now considering closing beaches and other public areas.

"If we get to the point that we can't see the kind of social distancing that we need, that may be something we do," he said.

Speaking at Cape Henlopen State Park, Carney said he came to the Sussex County state park to encourage people to get out and exercise. There were plenty of people enjoying the balmy 80-degree weather, but many were not heeding the 6 feet of separation doctors say are needed to prevent germs from spreading.

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New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy issues stay-at-home order for nearly all of state's 9M residents

Posted: 21 Mar 2020 12:22 PM PDT

"We must flatten the curve and ensure residents are practicing social distancing," the governor said in announcing the sweeping mandate.

The governor of New Jersey on Saturday issued a stay-at-home order for nearly all of the state's 9 million residents in the fight against the spread of the coronavirus.

Similar sweeping mandates have been made in California, Illinois, New York and Pennsylvania.

"We must flatten the curve and ensure residents are practicing social distancing," New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said in announcing the new restrictions. But, he added, "Even with this order in effect … life in New Jersey does not have to come to a complete standstill."

The governor told residents not to panic, but, he said, "We're at war."

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James Rosen Drops Bombshell Report That the CDC ‘Lied’ to the White House About Wuhan Virus Testing

Posted: 21 Mar 2020 12:00 PM PDT

I'll preface this by saying that it's possible "lie" is too strong of a word here. Nonetheless, James Rosen dropped a bombshell report today that could explain the early slow distribution of Wuhan virus tests. It involves a former official speaking on the record about what he saw at the time.

You can watch the full hit above, which includes the comments from the former official about the CDC misleading the Trump administration on the viability of their early testing regimes. That's been a hot topic in regards to judging how quickly the President did or didn't act, often used as a bludgeon within the current news coverage.

This has actually been a question for quite a while, with strong evidence to support the idea that CDC, operating within all the red tape previously created, had really dropped the ball. Tests from overseas were rejected that could have gotten the U.S. testing capacity up and going much sooner. Eventually, the CDC would admit that their early tests were giving false positives, requiring a rework. That's how we ended up where we are today, with private companies doing the lion's share of the heavy lifting to get this done. The fact that those private companies had to get involved is a pretty good signal that the CDC screwed this up.

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Delaware Gov. Carney 'absolutely' considering stay-at-home order

Posted: 21 Mar 2020 11:30 AM PDT

Delaware Gov. John Carney says he is "absolutely" considering a stay-at-home order after seeing a lack of social distancing in his state. He says is speaking with Gov. Tom Wolf of Pennsylvania, Gov. Larry Hogan of Maryland, and Gov. Phil Murphy of New Jersey so the states can have a "consistent set of requirements and restrictions" across the four states.

Source

Maryland COVID-19 (3-21-2020)

Posted: 21 Mar 2020 11:30 AM PDT

Affected Counties


3-20-2020   149 cases

UPDATED: Gov Carney Orders Delaware Beaches to Close at 5pm Saturday

Posted: 21 Mar 2020 11:27 AM PDT

Governor John Carney has issued a third modification to his emergency declaration. The new orders close Delaware beaches to help slow the spread of the coronavirus. The public is prohibited from accessing the beach except to exercise or walk their dogs where dogs are permitted. Local officials may choose to enact tighter restrictions.

These modifications go into effect at 5:00pm tonight, March 21, and will last until May 15, or until the public health threat of COVID-19 has been eliminated.

"We need everyone to take this situation seriously. We saw too many people on the beaches yesterday and we weren't seeing the kind of social distancing that we need in order to slow the spread of coronavirus," said Governor Carney. "This was a difficult decision, but we need folks to follow the rules to keep all Delawareans safe. Don't go out in public unnecessarily. Wash your hands and disinfect surfaces frequently. Stay home, especially if you feel sick and even if you have mild symptoms. We will get through this together."

"We fully understand Governor Carney's decision to close the beaches," said City of Rehoboth Mayor Paul Kuhns. "This move is for the health and safety for all our citizens."

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Maryland National Guard units activated in response to Hogan’s order

Posted: 21 Mar 2020 11:07 AM PDT

Maryland National Guard units and service members started the process of activation Friday in preparation for the state's response to the coronavirus outbreak.

Gov. Larry Hogan, who declared a state emergency on March 5, activated the Guard a week later. More than 2,000 members of the Guard are expected to be called to duty statewide.

Lt. Col. Wayde Minami said members of the Guard were being processed into service in small groups and heading out for various missions. While some guard members and their vehicles were spotted on the streets of Baltimore near Camden Yards and a downtown hotel Friday afternoon, no mission has yet been established in the city, Minami said.

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2020 End of Session Wrap Up

Posted: 21 Mar 2020 11:00 AM PDT

Senator Addie Eckardt, District 37
End of Session Wrap Up
March 20, 2020

For the first time since the Civil War, the Maryland General Assembly adjourned early on March 18, 2020 due to the spread of COVID-19. Under the guidance of Senate President Bill Ferguson and Speaker of the House Adrienne A. Jones, the Maryland General Assembly adjourned with a plan to reconvene for a special session in the last week of May. I would like to thank Senate President Ferguson, Speaker Jones, and Governor Larry Hogan for their leadership and commitment to the State of Maryland during this State of Emergency. 
Despite the early adjournment, I want to thank those who participated in making this year's legislative year so successful. A big thank you to all of those who came to testify and sent in testimony for this year's bills; it is important that all Marylanders continue to have a voice in the Legislative session. Even in this time of emergency and shortened legislative session, the Maryland General Assembly was able to work together in a bipartisan fashion on a number of important policy initiatives to benefit residents across Maryland. 
Below, please find a summary of key legislation that I sponsored or supported, as well as other bills of interest from this legislative session. During the interim, please do not hesitate to reach out to my office should you have any questions about recent or future legislation.


Fiscal Year 2021 Operating Budget
Again, I am proud to serve on the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee to help allocate funding for the final FY 2021 budget, a product of compromise between both parties, the Governor, and the legislature. 
The budget leaves a general fund balance of at least $100 million and eliminates the structural shortfall for fiscal year 2021. In addition, the budget leaves a fund balance of $129.1 million and produces a structural surplus of $29 million. The budget leaves $1.2 billion in the Rainy Day Fund and $129.1 million in the general fund. Growth was limited to .6% ($113.1 million).
Support for public schools exceeds $7.2 billion and direct aid increases 3.7% ($230.3 million). The budget includes $362 million for the Kirwan Commission. Support for public colleges and universities grows by 2% ($65.2 million) which caps undergraduate tuition increases at 2%. The budget provides $18.2 million in aid for community colleges and funding for community colleges increases by 11% ($36.6 million).
The budget allows the State to cover 1.4 million of our residents in medicaid ($11.9 billion). The budget also funds the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Maryland Public Television, and economic development projects.
We were able to maintain the 4% rate increases for providers serving the developmentally disabled and those with behavioral health needs. Rate increases of 2% are funded for human service providers.
State employees will receive a 2% general salary increase effective January 1, 2021. Law enforcement officers will receive a 5% increase effective July 1, 2020.
Local Initiatives in the Capital Budget




Senator Eckardt's 2020 Passed Sponsored and Co-Sponsored Legislation
Senate Bill 100: Dorchester County - Alcoholic Beverages - Class C Beer, Wine, and Liquor License authorizes the Board of License Commissioners for Dorchester County, rather than the Dorchester County Council, to issue a Class C beer, wine, and liquor license and alters the authorized holders of the license to include a nonprofit organization operating at Governors Hall at Sailwinds Park.
Senate Bill 103: Health Occupations - Diagnostic Evaluation and Treatment of Patients - Disciplinary Actions (The Patient's Access to Integrative Healthcare Act of 2020) prohibits health occupation boards from disciplining integrative physicians solely based on their use of integrative treatments. The bill protects our integrative physicians and their patients that benefit from this treatment, especially Lyme's patients.
Senate Bill 121: Sales and Use Tax - Aircraft Parts and Equipment - Exemption exempts from the State sales and use tax the sale of materials, parts, or equipment used to repair, maintain, or upgrade aircraft or the avionics systems of aircraft if installed on an aircraft that has (1) a maximum gross takeoff weight of less than 12,500 pounds or (2) a maximum gross takeoff weight of 12,500 pounds or more and is primarily used in interstate or foreign commerce.
House Bill 1035 (Senate Bill 495): Bay Restoration Fund - Use of Funds - Municipal Wastewater Facilities expands the authorized uses of the Bay Restoration Fund's (BRF) Septics Account to include specified costs associated with connecting a property using a septic system to an existing municipal wastewater facility that has signed a funding agreement with the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) and is under construction to achieve, enhanced nutrient removal (ENR) or biological nutrient removal (BNR) level treatment. This bill will help connect failing septic systems to municipal wastewater treatment facilities
Senate Bill 576: Health Occupations - Nurse Practitioners - Certifications of Competency and Incapacity authorizes a nurse practitioner who has examined a disabled person to be one of the two health care practitioners who may sign a certificate of competency for a petition for guardianship of a disabled person. The bill also authorizes a nurse practitioner to be one of the two health care practitioners permitted, under specified circumstances, to certify that a patient is (1) incapable of making an informed decision regarding specified treatment or (2) in a terminal condition or has an end-stage condition.
House Bill 999 (Senate Bill 540): Member-Regulated Cooperatives - Establishment (Rural Broadband for the Eastern Shore Act of 2020) establishes a process for an electric cooperative to operate as a member-regulated cooperative. A member-regulated cooperative may provide broadband internet access to its members. This can be done through a vote by members or the pursuit of an expedited affiliate waiver from the public service commission. This bill will allow Choptank Electric to begin offering broadband to rural customers, so long as they become a member-regulated cooperative.
 
Important Legislation of 2020:  
Below are important and notable pieces of legislation that passed this session.

COVID-19 
Senate Bill 1080: State Government – State of Emergency and Catastrophic Health Emergency – Authority of Governor and Unemployment Insurance Benefits (COVID–19 Public Health Emergency Protection Act of 2020) authorizes the Governor, for the duration of the emergency, to take specified actions relating to health insurance, Medicaid, retailer profits, employer actions, and personnel at State health care facilities as a result of the March 5, 2020 proclamation declaring a state of emergency and the existence of a catastrophic health emergency (or any other specified proclamation related to the outbreak of "COVID-19"). The bill also authorizes the Secretary of Labor to determine that an individual is eligible for unemployment insurance (UI) benefits under specified circumstances due to COVID-19.
 
Schools and Education
House Bill 1300: Blueprint for Maryland's Future - Implementation (Kirwan) substantially alters State aid and State policy for public schools known as the Blueprint for Maryland's Future. The bill establishes in law the policies and accountability recommendations of the Commission on Innovation and Excellence in Education, including creation of a new Accountability and Implementation Board to oversee implementation of the policies and funding provided under the Blueprint. We had significant concerns regarding Kirwan, however it was amended with an emphasis on outcomes and accountability. In addition, the bill includes aspects to ensure that teachers can control classroom environments and provides behavioral and mental health resources. The bill includes an annual review to see if funds are available and a five year review to confirm that outcomes are improving. These reviews will give the legislature a chance to decide if the program should proceed. We will continue to examine funding mechanisms and work on reducing the burden on counties. The bill is already funded for the first two years.
House Bill 1: Built to Learn Act of 2020 authorizes the Maryland Stadium Authority (MSA) to issue up to $2.2 billion in revenue bonds, backed by annual payments from the Education Trust Fund (ETF), for public construction in the State. This bill codifies the ETF lockbox.
House Bill 617: Public and Nonpublic Schools - Medical Cannabis - Policy for Administration During School Hours and Events (Connor and Raina's Law) requires the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) and the Natalie M. LaPrade Medical Cannabis Commission to jointly develop guidelines for public schools allowing the administration of medical cannabis during school hours, school-sponsored activities, and while on a school bus to students who are qualifying patients.

Public Safety
Senate Bill 156: Handgun Qualification License - Training Requirement - Exemption which exempts active or retired correctional officers, sheriffs, or deputy sheriffs from completing firearm safety courses for a handgun license. These individuals are exempt so long as they completed an initial correctional officer, sheriff, or deputy sheriff firearms training course approved by the Secretary of State Police.
Senate Bill 347: Public Safety - Certification of Police Officers specifies that employment by a business licensed as a medical cannabis dispensary, grower, or processor does not constitute involvement in the illegal distribution, production, cultivation, transportation, or sale of a controlled dangerous substance (CDS) for purposes of police officer certification or recertification.

Health Care       
Senate Bill 915: Maryland Insurance Administration - Pharmacy Services Administrative Organizations - Regulation requires a "pharmacy services administrative organization" (PSAO) to register with the Insurance Commissioner. PSAO's negotiate reimbursement rates and payments for thousands of independent pharmacies. This bill will allow the State to provide oversight on these organizations.
Senate Bill 402: Health Care Practitioners – Telehealth and Shortage authorizes a health care practitioner to establish a practitioner-patient relationship through a telehealth interaction under specified circumstances.
 
Veterans & First Responders
Senate Bill 488: Income Tax - Subtraction Modification - Military and Public Safety Retirement Income increases the subtraction modification for Maryland income tax to $20,000 for military retirement income for those at least 55 years old. In addition, the bill increases the subtraction modification to $20,000 for first responders aged 55 and older.
Senate Bill 25: Hunting and Fishing Licenses - Active Military, Former Prisoners of War, Recipients of the Purple Heart Award, and Disabled Veterans makes permanent the ability of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to extend complimentary fishing privileges to former prisoners of war and service-disabled veterans.

Other Topics of Interest
Senate Bill 4:  Gaming - Sports Betting - Implementation authorizes sports betting in the State, pending a constitutional referendum. Revenue from sports betting will be used primarily for education, including funding the Blueprint for Maryland's future. 
House Bill 737: Local Governments - Income Tax Disparity Grants - Amounts raises State funding provided under the disparity grant program. This bill will help our local counties that receive disparity grants, to receive higher State funding. 
Senate Bill 523: Income Tax – Pass–Through Entities and Corporations authorizes a pass-through entity (PTE) to elect to be taxed at the entity level for  the income tax. This bill will restore the federal income tax deduction to individuals and PTE's when filing their federal income tax return. This bill will ease tax burdens on our small businesses

Opposed Legislation
Below is legislation that I opposed, but passed this session. We will continue to work to protect the 2nd amendment rights of our constituents and oppose placing undue burdens on our law-abiding gun owners. In addition, we will work to prevent tax increases that will impact our small businesses and everyday Marylanders.
House Bill 4: Public Safety – Rifles and Shotguns – Sales, Rentals, and Transfers requires, with specified exceptions, that a licensed firearms dealer facilitate the "transfer" of a rifle or shotgun. "Transfer" means a sale, a rental, a furnishing, a gift, a loan, or any other delivery, with or without consideration. A dealer may charge a reasonable fee for facilitating a transfer of a rifle or shotgun. A person who violates the bill may face up to 5 years imprisonment and up to a $10,000 fine. 
House Bill 732: Taxation – Tobacco Tax, Sales and Use Tax, and Digital Advertising Gross Revenues Tax increases the tobacco tax rate from $2.00 to $4.00 per pack of cigarettes; (2) generally increases the other tobacco products (OTP) tax rate from 30% to 86% of the wholesale price; (3) imposes an electronic smoking device (ESD) tax equal to 86% of the wholesale price; (4) requires the Governor to include at least $21 million in annual funding for the Tobacco Use Prevention and Cessation Program; (5) removes the prohibition from local governments imposing a tax on OTP and cigarettes; and (6) alters the definitions of electronic smoking devices and OTP

Berlin man needs kidney donation

Posted: 21 Mar 2020 10:30 AM PDT

Berlin resident Nick Morris, 74, is in dire need of a kidney transplant and is searching for an O-positive donor in the area.

Morris has been a resident of Worcester County since 1975, and has been an English teacher, college instructor, long-time employee of the Alaska Stand, and lifeguard for the Ocean City Beach Patrol, Assateague Island National Seashore and Ocean Pines.

Two years ago, Morris was diagnosed with an enlarged prostate, which in turn caused his kidneys to fail. He has been waiting for a kidney transplant since January 2019.

Since his diagnosis, he noticed his energy levels dropping.

"My levels go up and down, up and down [and then] I have to come to grips mentally with this [condition] that you've got to monitor all the time." Morris said. "There are days when I'll start out and never quite feel as if I am really ever at 100 percent. I start out at a lower level and then by the end of the day, I'm done.

"Some days I ask myself, 'Is this a sign that I should go right to the doctor,'" he continued.

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Why No One Trusts the Mainstream Media

Posted: 21 Mar 2020 09:48 AM PDT

Pelosi demands increased unemployment insurance, Medicaid, and paid sick leave in stimulus deal

Posted: 21 Mar 2020 09:30 AM PDT

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a Friday letter to rank-and-file Democrats she would not greenlight a major coronavirus stimulus deal with the GOP unless it "greatly" increases unemployment insurance and Medicaid and expands paid and sick family leave.

Pelosi wrote to House Democrats as the House and Senate engaged in intense, bipartisan negotiations on a stimulus package likely to cost more than $1 trillion. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, has set up a Senate vote to advance a deal on Sunday, even as the two sides continued talking on Friday.

"Our committees are hard at work on legislation that is truly visionary, fast-acting, and evidence-based," Pelosi, a California Democrat, said. "They are also engaged in conversations with the Senate about provisions that could be added to improve the Senate bill."

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Israeli drug company donating 6M doses of malaria drug to US to combat coronavirus

Posted: 21 Mar 2020 09:00 AM PDT

Israel's leading drug producer announced Thursday it will donate 6 million doses of anti-malaria drugs to the United States in hopes that it could be helpful treating coronavirus symptoms.

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries says the drug could potentially treat people with the coronavirus and will ship the hydroxychloroquine tablets through wholesalers nationwide by the end of the month and will provide 10 million doses in total, according to Breitbart News.

"We are committed to helping to supply as many tablets as possible as demand for this treatment accelerates at no cost," Teva Executive Vice President Brendan O'Grady said about the move.

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Judicial Watch: FBI Finds New Clinton Emails, Including Discussion about Benghazi and Additional Classified Material

Posted: 21 Mar 2020 08:30 AM PDT

(Washington, DC) – Judicial Watch today released 80 pages of new emails recently found by the FBI that further document how former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton used her unsecure, non-government email to transmit classified and other sensitive government information. The documents include 11 new Clinton email documents. The emails include an email sent by Mrs. Clinton a month after the Benghazi terrorist attack referencing a "Benghazi security" issue. The emails also include talking points, which are redacted, for a meeting with President Obama. (This is the second release from the batch of Clinton emails the FBI inexplicably found late last year.)

The State Department previously claimed it had produced all releasable Clinton emails, including emails recovered by the FBI that Hillary Clinton tried to destroy or withhold. The State Department initially claimed all responsive emails had been produced in 2018, but then found more emails, which were produced for the first time early this year.

The emails were produced to Judicial Watch in a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit for all of Clinton's government emails sent or received on her non-government system (Judicial Watch v. U.S. Department of State (No. 1:15-cv-00687)):

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RESEARCHERS USING WORLD’S FASTEST COMPUTER TO FIND CORONAVIRUS CURE

Posted: 21 Mar 2020 08:00 AM PDT

In an effort to find a cure for the COVID-19 coronavirus, researchers are using the world's most powerful supercomputer, the IBM-built Summit, to find potential compounds that could be used to fight the pandemic.

Researchers at the US Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee are screening through more than 8,000 compounds to determine which ones can bind to a so-called S-protein spike. Viruses infect host cells when they inject them with a "spike" of the virus's genetic material. If scientists find compounds that bind to the spike, they could potentially stop the virus from infecting host cells.

So far, the computer has identified 77 compounds that may potentially be used and has ranked them according to how likely they are to bind to the spike protein of the coronavirus. The research has been published in the journal ChemRxiv.

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Garth Brooks will be livestreaming a concert on Facebook, and he's taking requests

Posted: 21 Mar 2020 07:30 AM PDT

Country music superstar Garth Brooks announced during his Facebook Live show on Monday that he will livestream an acoustic concert next week, and he's taking requests.

Brooks answered a fan's question about livestreaming a show for those who need entertainment during this time, and he said, "Let's do that!"

Brooks said he will play a 30-minute acoustic show, and that fans can submit requests ahead of time through his Facebook page.

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Police try to identify teens who taped themselves coughing on produce in Va. grocery store

Posted: 21 Mar 2020 07:00 AM PDT

Young people videotaped themselves coughing on produce in a Purcellville, Virginia grocery store, Wednesday, and police are investigating and narrowing their search for the juveniles.

The Purcellville Police Department said the store, which has not been identified, immediately removed the affected items, and took measures to ensure the safety of shoppers.

Friday, deputy chief Dave Dailey told WTOP police have not been able to find the video.

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Coronavirus Latest: FedEx Field Could Become COVID-19 Testing Site; National Guard Helping Set Up

Posted: 21 Mar 2020 06:30 AM PDT

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, Md. (WJZ) —A caravan of National Guard vehicles made their way through Baltimore Friday en route to FedEx Field, which officials said could become a coronavirus testing site.

Prince George's County Executive Angela Alsobrooks' office said county and state health officials are creating a "limited closed PILOT program for screening" at the site several miles outside the nation's capital.

"The goal for the site is to become a testing location in the future. At the direction of Governor Larry Hogan, the Maryland National Guard is assisting in building the site, and we thank the Washington Redskins for allowing us to utilize the FedExField parking lot," Alsobrooks' office said in a statement Friday evening.

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Brian Griffiths: Hogan should veto every bill passed by a reckless General Assembly during pandemic

Posted: 21 Mar 2020 06:00 AM PDT

What we have seen in Maryland during this pandemic crisis has been a tale of two distinct types of leadership.

Gov. Larry Hogan has been an exemplary leader at a time when we needed it most. He has been calm, providing us what we need to know in a way that has not incited panic. He has been blunt, telling us exactly what we need to know without any spin. He's been decisive, making decisions in the best interest of the public good. And he's been hands-on with this crisis, handing off day-to-day control of the rest of the state government over to the capable Lt. Governor Boyd Rutherford.

When they write the new crisis management books, they'll write extensively about Hogan's decisive leadership in a time of a public health emergency. Especially compared to what's been happening at the other end of Route 50.

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Country Music Icon Kenny Rogers Dies at 81

Posted: 21 Mar 2020 05:26 AM PDT

Kenny Rogers, a longtime star of country music, died Friday night, according to a statement posted by his family. He was 81.

Known for such hits as "The Gambler," "Lady," "Islands in the Stream," and "Lucille," Rogers died peacefully at home in Sandy Springs, Ga., of natural causes at 10:25 p.m., the statement said.

Rogers later developed "The Gambler" into a series of television movies in which he starred.

In all, Rogers had 24 No. 1 hits and was the winner of six CMA Awards and three Grammys, the family's statement said.

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https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/kenny-rogers-country-music-icon-dead-at-81

MD National Guard staging in Baltimore

Posted: 21 Mar 2020 04:00 AM PDT

BALTIMORE (WBFF) - Military vehicles were spotted today in downtown Baltimore, and the Maryland National Guard confirmed they have troops on active duty in Baltimore that are awaiting missions.

Also, National Guardsmen were seen going in and out of SpringHill Suites by Marriott downtown. The National Guard confirmed that members of the National Guard are staying at the hotel.

The vehicles were seen underneath a bridge near M&T Bank Stadium.

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Political Memes

Posted: 21 Mar 2020 03:00 AM PDT






Saturday Morning Funnies

Posted: 21 Mar 2020 02:00 AM PDT





Budget Public Hearing Date Change

Posted: 21 Mar 2020 01:00 AM PDT


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