WASHINGTON – In a surprise decision the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that ObamaCare, including the individual mandate, is constitutional. Bush appointee, Chief Justice Roberts ruled with the liberal majority.
BREAKING NEWS – Fire in McDonalds at North Salisbury Wal-Mart
May 15, 2012 by 1 Comment
SALISBURY, MD – A fire has been reported at the McDonalds in the North Salisbury Wal-Mart. Units of the Salisbury Fire Department are responding.
BREAKING NEWS – Hostage Situation at Parkside Apartments in Salisbury
May 7, 2012 by 1 Comment
SALISBURY, MD – A hostage situation is underway at the Parkside Apartments at the intersection of Glen Avenue and Beaglin Park Drive in Salisbury.
UPDATE – the perpetrator was hit with tasers and has been taken into custody.
Gas Leak at Federalsburg Day Care
May 3, 2012 by Leave a Comment
FEDERALSBURG, MD – The Star Democrat reports that emergency crews have responded to ABC Child Development Center on Laurel Grove Road in Federalsburg for a propane leak. The staff and children were evacuated while the problem was repaired.
The leak appears to have been caused by a pilot light going out. There are no reports of injury from the gas.
Accident Near Fruitland Wal-Mart
May 2, 2012 by Leave a Comment
FRUITLAND, MD – A multi-car accident occurred Wednesday night on Cedar Lane at the south entrance to the Fruitland Wal-Mart.
BREAKING NEWS – Chinese Dissident Wants to Come to US
May 2, 2012 by Leave a Comment
BEIJING – Blind Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng has told the AP that US Embassy staff relayed a message to him that the Chinese government threatened to beat his wife to death if he did not leave the American compound in Beijing.
Chen, who fled to the embassy six day ago, left under an agreement in which he would receive medical care, be reunited with his family and allowed to attend university in a safe place. He says he now fears for his safety and wants to leave.
A U.S. official denies knowledge of the threat, but says Chen was told his family would be sent back home if he stayed in the embassy.
Chen left the US Embassy because of those threats and is now in a Beijing hospital.
BREAKING NEWS – Pollitt Fails to Present Budget, Betting on Come
April 17, 2012 by 4 Comments
SALISBURY, MD – Wicomico County Executive Rick Pollitt hid from the County Council today; sending his Administrator and Finance Director to appear before council and ask for an extension in presenting the FY 2013 budget.
Traffic Accident Blocking Snow Hill Road at Nutter’s Crossing
April 17, 2012 by Leave a Comment
SALISBURY, MD – People heading in either direction on MD Route 12 (Snow Hill Road) should expect delays due to a traffic accident just west of the entrance to the Nutter’s Crossing subdivision. The two car crash occurred just before 7:30 AM this morning. While only the east-bound lane is blocked, traffic heading into Salisbury is blocked due to debris from the crash.
Traffic Accident Blocking Snow Hill Road at Nutter’s Crossing
April 17, 2012 by Leave a Comment
SALISBURY, MD – People heading in either direction on MD Route 12 (Snow Hill Road) should expect delays due to a traffic accident just west of the entrance to the Nutter’s Crossing subdivision. The two car crash occurred just before 7:30 AM this morning. While only the east-bound lane is blocked, traffic heading into Salisbury is blocked due to debris from the crash.
Red Flag Warning for Talbot County
April 10, 2012 by Leave a Comment
EASTON, MD – The Talbot County Department of Emergency Services has issued a red flag warning for Talbot County and asks that all residents refrain from any outdoor burning until 8:00 PM tonight.
DES Division Chief Tim McNeal who heads the County’s 9-1-1 Center (Talbot Center) said, in the release: "In addition to asking there be no outdoor burning at this time, we also want to remind the public to contact Talbot Center (410-822-0095) in the future to report any controlled burning. This will prevent us from dispatching fire units to a controlled burning.”
A Red Flag Warning means high fire danger with increased probability of a fire quickly spreading.
Source – Star Democrat
Stuck in a Hostage Situation
March 20, 2012 by Leave a Comment
NEWPORT NEWS, VA – I came down to Newport News last night to take of a few things for the in-laws. The day started plainly enough. I dropped my in-laws off in Hampton for my father-in-law’s cataract surgery. I then left to run some errands for my mother-in-law. Now I’m sitting in Oyster Point Park, blocked in by the Newport News police while they resolve a hostage situation.
So far we’ve seen police evacuate people from the Yeatts Building at 728 Thimble Shoals Blvd. The police are letting cars out of the lot next door to the Yeatts Building but are keeping us blocked in.
I’ll post again when the situation is resolved.
BREAKIING NEWS – Santorum Wins AL and MS
March 13, 2012 by Leave a Comment
JACKSON, MS – Former Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA) had a big night, winning the Alabama and Mississippi primaries. While former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney still holds a sizable lead in the delegate count, the two conservative candidates (Santorum and former Speaker Newt Gingrich) beat Romney by a 2-1 margin.
3 Year Olds at Play
March 5, 2012 by 2 Comments
SALISBURY, MD – The democratic process evidently no longer applies in Salisbury city government. If you are Mayor Jim Ireton, Councilwoman Laura Mitchell, or Councilwoman Shanie Shields all is right with the world ONLY if you get your way. Being outvoted by a majority is meaningless.
At today’s council work session council president Terry Cohen had to recess the meeting because Shields refused to answer a simple question and instead attempted a filibuster. Mitchell attempted the same thing, complaining that her voice wasn’t heard – as evidenced by the fact that she didn’t get her way.
Mitchell also claimed that she was being denied access to the city attorney’s office. City attorney Susan Tilghman expressed surprise that Mitchell had left a message and that her call was not returned.
More to follow…
BREAKING NEWS – Accident Closes Dover Bridge
February 6, 2012 by Leave a Comment
PRESTON, MD – The Star Democrat reports:
A three-car accident has caused Dover bridge to be closed. There are no apparent injures involved but the accident has blocked access to the bridge.
BREAKING NEWS – State Refuses to Fund Bennett Middle
January 31, 2012 by 2 Comments
SALISBURY, MD – Sources in the Salisbury / Wicomico Government Office Building (GOB) state that the Wicomico County government has been notified that the Maryland Board of Public Works will not fund the Bennett Middle School project in this round of school construction funding.
Tamara Lee-Brooks, Wicomico County Public Information Officer, was unable to confirm that funding had been denied. The Board of Public Works did confirm that the proposed Bennett Middle project was given “B” status, meaning that the project would not be funded in the current round unless new monies are found. The BPW’s ruling is being appealed.
MORE TO COME …
BREAKING NEWS–Salisbury Council Dumps Wilber, Hires Mark Tilghman
January 23, 2012 by Leave a Comment
SALISBURY, MD – After a marathon meeting that included a break for a closed session, the Salisbury City Council retained Mark Tilghman, of Seidel, Baker & Tilghman, as the city’s new city attorney. The vote was 3-1, with councilwoman Shanie Shields opposed and councilwoman Laura Mitchell abstaining.
As expected, this matter took the majority of the time spent on tonight’s meeting. Mitchell started off the discussion earlier this evening by calling for councilman Tim Spies to recuse himself because of a citation he recently received from the city’s Department of Neighborhood Services and Code Compliance (NSCC). She was informed by Spies and City Administrator John Pick that the citation in question had been vacated and that no conflict existed. Mitchell then claimed that there was a conflict with Seidel, Baker & Tilghman, one of two firms who expressed interest in the city solicitor’s contract, was conflicted because one partner was the county attorney for Wicomico County. It was after 10PM when the public was notified that, again, an assertion by Ms. Mitchell lacked any basis in fact. Ed Baker has been Wicomico County’s full time county attorney since 2008 and no longer has a financial relationship with the firm that still bears his name.
Council members Debbie Campbell, Terry Cohen, and Tim Spies all acknowledged that Tilghman, or members of his family, had been campaign contributors. Campbell acknowledged that she had used the firm for legal work in the past. Cohen drew an excellent distinction between having a relationship with an individual versus having a conflict of interest as defined by the city’s code.
BREAKING NEWS – Wicomico Council to Re-Visit Bennett Middle School
January 23, 2012 by 1 Comment
SALISBURY, MD – After an intense, sometimes mudslinging campaign against the Wicomico County Council members who last week voted to not fund the construction of a new Bennett Middle School, councilwoman Stevie Prettyman (R-2) has changed her mind and is supporting a re-visit of the Bennett Middle issue. Tomorrow morning the Wicomico County Council will hold a special legislative session where Prettyman is expected to flip her vote and join fellow council members John Hall (R-4), Matt Holloway (R-At Large), and Sheree Sample-Hughes (D-1) in approving construction of the school. This also locks the council in to a 7 cent increase in the real property tax rate (along with the corresponding 10% increase in personal property and inventory taxes)
Prettyman’s motivation may center around word from the County Executive’s office that it is now possible to finance the school without dipping into previously bonded funds earmarked for the new Bennett High School and other projects. Council members, and the public, may question how this money – approximately $14 million – suddenly appeared in the county’s coffers. Is this real, or is this phantom bookkeeping by County Executive Rick Pollitt and his Finance Director Andy Mackel? The answer appears to be that it is real.
Rather than using monies already borrowed for other projects (which would require that the Council pass, and the Executive sign, two additional pieces of legislation before the funds could be legally used) new monies will have to be bonded. This is expected to add approximately $300,000 to the cost of the project to taxpayers over the next 10 – 20 years.
UPDATE – Meeting will be at 11 AM in the council chambers.
Gingrich Wins South Carolina Primary
January 21, 2012 by 1 Comment
COLUMBIA, SC – Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich has come from behind to beat the frontrunner, former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, in today’s South Carolina GOP primary. As this goes to post, Gingrich enjoys a 14% edge over Romney. Former senator Rick Santorum, of Pennsylvania, is third and Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) is finishing fourth.
After South Carolina, three different candidates have won the first three nomination events. Santorum won a narrow victory in the Iowa caucuses; Romney won decisively in the New Hampshire primary and Gingrich has chalked up a decisive win in South Carolina.
The question remains, that with two conservatives in the race challenging the moderate Romney and the libertarian Paul, can Romney be stopped without either Gingrich or Santorum dropping out?
BREAKING NEWS – Perry to Drop Out and Support Gingrich
January 19, 2012 by Leave a Comment
COLUMBIA, SC – Texas governor Rick Perry has dropped out of the 2012 race for the GOP presidential nomination. In addition to dropping out, Perry is throwing his support behind former House Speaker Newt Gingrich. This comes on the heels of another key endorsement for Gingrich – SC Huntsman chairman (and 2008 SC Huckabee chairman) Mike Campbell.
A win in South Carolina, along with Perry’s dropping out, could signal a conservative resurgence rallying around Gingrich. To date, the success of former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney has been largely a function of having no clear, conservative consensus candidate. While it is possible that conservatives will coalesce around Gingrich, it may require former Sen. Rick Santorum dropping out for Romney to be toppled as the frontrunner.
Perry, et al, Will Not Be On Virginia Primary Ballot
January 13, 2012 by Leave a Comment
RICHMOND, VA – US District Court Judge John Gibney has ruled that Texas governor Rick Perry, former Speaker Newt Gingrich, former Senator Rick Santorum, and former Utah governor John Huntsman will not be allowed on Virginia’s GOP Primary ballot. Judge Gibney stated that the candidates knew the rules months ago and should have challenged them then.
Only Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) and former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney will be on the March 6th primary ballot.
BREAKING NEWS – John McCain to Endorse Mitt Romney
January 4, 2012 by Leave a Comment
WASHINGTON – It has been confirmed that 2008 GOP presidential nominee Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) will endorse former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney today.
"John McCain of course is beloved in many parts of the country, particularly New Hampshire. Some call him Mr. New Hampshire. So if, in fact, he makes an announcement today that would be big for me in a state he knows very, very well," Romney told Fox News.
BREAKING NEWS – Bachmann Cancels SC Trip … Dropping Out?
January 4, 2012 by Leave a Comment
DES MOINES, IA – GOP Presidential hopeful Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) has cancelled a planned trip to South Carolina. She has called a press conference for later this morning.
After a disappointing 6th place finish in last night’s Iowa caucuses, it is anticipated that she will drop out of the race.
BREAKING NEWS – Ice on New Castle County Roads
January 4, 2012 by Leave a Comment
NEW CASTLE, DE – DelDOT is reporting that ice can be found on some New Castle County Roads this morning. Motorists are advised to show caution as they go out this morning.
BREAKING NEWS – Wind Warning in Effect on Chesapeake Bay Bridge
January 2, 2012 by Leave a Comment
ANNAPOLIS, MD – The Maryland Transportation Authority has issued a wind warning for the William Preston Lane Jr. Memorial Bridge. A wind warning is issued when sustained wind speeds are 30-39 mph. When wind warnings are in effect, operators of house trailers, box trailers, motorcycles, vehicles with roof-mount racks containing cargo or any other vehicle that may be subject to high winds are advised to use caution while traveling across the bridge.
Plane Makes Emergency Landing Northwest of Easton
December 28, 2011 by Leave a Comment
EASTON, MD – The Star Democrat reports:
A plane in distress reportedly made an emergency landing in the area of Bruffs Island and Copperville roads, northwest of Easton. Three occupants were out of the plane with no injuries reported, according to scanner reports. The plane reportedly ran out of fuel and landed safely.
BREAKING NEWS–Police Officer Killed at Virginia Tech
December 8, 2011 by Leave a Comment
SECOND VICTIM FOUND … POLICE HUNT GUNMAN
BLACKSBURG, VA – Two individuals were gunned down on the Virginia Tech campus today.
From FOXNews:
Two people, including a police officer, were gunned down on Virginia Tech’s campus on Thursday, according to the university.
A Virginia Tech police officer was shot shortly after noon during a traffic stop in the Coliseum parking lot near McComas Hall, a campus gymnasium. The unidentified officer later died.
Witnesses reported to police that the shooter fled on foot toward a parking lot, where a second unidentified victim was found dead.
BREAKING NEWS – HazMat Team at Easton’s Shore Memorial Hospital
November 22, 2011 by Leave a Comment
EASTON, MD – WBOC-TV is reporting that there is a hazardous materials incident at Shore Memorial Hospital in Easton. While originally reporting that the hospital was being evacuated, Talbot county officials state that the hospital is open, but that the emergency room is closed due to a “suspicious smell”.
UPDATE: WBOC reports that the situation was caused by a computer battery exploding at around 4:30 AM. Talbot County Emergency Service officials are telling residents that if the have a medical emergency they should go to Dorchester General Hospital in Cambridge or Kent & Queen Anne’s Hospital in Chestertown.
