Page 8147 – Shore News Network

Crystal Ball Shifts Virginia Governor’s Race To ‘Lean Republican’ A Day Before Voters Head To The Polls

by The Daily Caller November 1, 2021

By The Daily Caller

Crystal Ball Shifts Virginia Governor’s Race To ‘Lean Republican’ A Day Before Voters Head To The Polls

Election forecaster Sabato’s Crystal Ball shifted the Virginia governor’s race from the “Leans Democratic” column to the “Leans Republican” column the day before voters head to the polls.

Miles Coleman and Kyle Kondik, the site’s editors, said Republican candidate Glenn Youngkin’s momentum going into the election was what ultimately tipped their decision, even though both he and former Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe each had their own respective advantages.

“Youngkin has the enthusiasm, the environment, the history, and perhaps even the issues (given his focus on education and its increasing salience in polling),” they wrote. “McAuliffe has the state’s Democratic lean in his favor.”

Like previous elections, Crystal Ball moves races out of the “Toss-up” column before the election, but its decision to move it from “Leans Democratic” underscores not only how close the race is, but how Youngkin has erased McAuliffe’s lead in a state that President Joe Biden won by 10 points just a year ago.

The duo also commented on McAuliffe’s efforts to tie Youngkin to former President Donald Trump, who twice lost the state and remains deeply unpopular among the Democratic base.

“Our sense is that the race has been moving toward Youngkin, in large part because of the political environment,” they wrote. “McAuliffe’s Trump-centric campaign also just doesn’t seem as potent in a non-federal race with the former president no longer in the White House.”

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Unlike McAuliffe, Youngkin has increasingly focused on education as his driving issue, rallying against issues like Critical Race Theory in hopes of energizing parents who have expressed frustration at schools and local elected officials.

Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact [email protected]. Read the full story at the Daily Caller News Foundation

November 1, 2021 0 comments

US and World News

Ohio Man Pleads Guilty To Trying To Help ISIS

by The Daily Caller November 1, 2021

By The Daily Caller

An Iraqi-born Ohio man pleaded guilty to one count of attempting to provide support to ISIS and ISIS-K, the Department of Justice announced on Monday.

Naser Almadaoji, 22, of Beavercreek, Ohio, bought a plane ticket for Oct. 24, 2018, and was arrested after checking in for his flight and getting a boarding pass, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ). Almadaoji planned to fly to Astana, Kazakhstan, where he’d be smuggled into Afghanistan and then trained by ISIS-K.

Almadaoji said he wanted “weapons experts training, planning and executing, hit and run, capturing high value targets, ways to break into homes and avoid security guards. That type of training,” from someone he believed to be an ISIS supporter, according to the DOJ.

Almadaoji started planning his travels in September 2018 and previously traveled to Egypt and Jordan to join the ISIS affiliate group ISIS Wilayat Sinai, but was unsuccessful, according to the DOJ.

He asked someone posing as an ISIS supporter online how to make a car bomb and told them he wanted to start a conflict between anti-government militias and the U.S. federal government, according to the DOJ. Almadaoji also told the purported ISIS supporter he was “always willing” to help with “projects” in the U.S.

Almadaoji recorded himself pledging allegiance to the leader of ISIS and translated one of the terror organization’s Arabic documents to English, according to the DOJ. He told a point of contact he thought to be part of ISIS, “don’t thank me … it’s my duty.”

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He’s scheduled for sentencing on Jan. 31 and faces up to 20 years in prison, according to the DOJ.

ISIS-K is an affiliate of ISIS that first emerged in Pakistan around 2015 and is made up of militants from other Pakistani groups including the Taliban, CBS News reported. ISIS-K militants generally believe the Taliban is impure and not extremist enough, the “K” stands for the Khorasan province in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The DOJ did not respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.

November 1, 2021 0 comments

Featured News US and World News

World’s Third-Largest Emitter Pledges To Achieve Carbon Neutrality Two Decades Later Than Climate Summit Goal

by The Daily Caller November 1, 2021

By The Daily Caller

World’s Third-Largest Emitter Pledges To Achieve Carbon Neutrality Two Decades Later Than Climate Summit Goal

India, the world’s third-largest emitter of carbon dioxide after China and the U.S., pledged to achieve carbon neutrality by 2070, two decades later than the goal being promoted at the United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP26), BBC News reported.

A key goal of the summit is for all countries to commit to carbon neutrality by 2050, BBC News reported. India had yet to declare a net zero target year before the summit began, unlike other major polluters.

The country made the announcement as part of five major promises made at the summit, India Today reported. Prime Minister Narendra Modi committed additionally to increase India’s non-fossil energy capacity to 500 GW, fulfill 50% of its energy requirements from renewable sources, reduce its total projected carbon emissions by 1 billion tons and reduce the carbon intensity of its economy to 45% all by 2030.

“Today the entire world acknowledges that India is the only big economy in the world that has delivered in letter and spirit to its Paris commitments,” Modi said at the summit, BBC News reported.

India is the third biggest emitter of carbon dioxide — the fourth biggest, if the European Union is included — after China and the U.S., according to BBC News. In 2019, India emitted 2,597 megatons of carbon dioxide, equaling 1.9 tons per capita.

The 2050 target was set by United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who spoke at the summit, BBC News reported. Johnson made an analogy comparing the state of the world to the end of a James Bond film, when the hero is “strapped to a doomsday device, while a red digital clock ticks down remorselessly to a destination that will end human life as we know it,” Yahoo News reported.

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“We are in roughly the same position, my fellow world leaders, as James Bond today, except this is not a movie, and the doomsday device is real,” Johnson warned. “The clock is ticking to the furious rhythm of hundreds of billions of engines and furnaces and turbines that are enveloping the Earth in an invisible and suffocating blanket of CO2.”

Johnson’s spokesperson defended the prime minister’s decision to travel back from the summit on a private jet, instead of by train, arguing he has “significant time constraints,” BBC News reported. The spokesperson added the jet uses a mix of “sustainable” aviation fuel and is one of the most carbon-efficient aircraft of its size.

November 1, 2021 0 comments

Featured News US and World News

Wyoming Sen. Barrasso Demands Carbon Footprint Info Of Biden’s Trip To UN Climate Conference

by The Daily Caller November 1, 2021

By The Daily Caller

Wyoming Sen. Barrasso Demands Carbon Footprint Info Of Biden’s Trip To UN Climate Conference

A top Senate Republican sent letters to several Biden administration officials, demanding information on their travels to Glasgow, Scotland, for a global climate summit.

Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member John Barrasso asked the officials how many staff from their agency are attending the conference, how much that travel will cost U.S. taxpayers and what the total carbon footprint will be as a result of their trips, according to the letters sent Monday. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen were among those Barrasso requested information from.

“In addition to the staggering cost of the conference, I am concerned that what appears to be a bloated US delegation will prove counterproductive to the COP’s mission,” the Wyoming senator wrote.”These commitments strike a tone of insincerity as a majority of COP26 delegates will have contributed a significant amount of carbon emissions to attend COP26.”

Barrasso noted that people around the world successfully transitioned to teleconferencing for meetings, conferences and work during the pandemic. He added that it is “perplexing” that Biden administration officials opted to contribute to growing carbon emissions in light of their ability to participate remotely.

On Sunday, the United Nations kicked off its annual climate change summit, COP26, where world leaders are expected to hash out a new agreement for rapidly cutting carbon emissions over the coming decades. During the two-week conference, 13 Biden administration cabinet officials will take part in negotiations with their foreign counterparts, CNN reported.

President Joe Biden attended the COP26 opening event Monday, calling upon the world to solve the “climate crisis.”

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“This is the decade that will determine the answer. This decade,” the president remarked. “The science is clear: We only have a brief window left before us to raise our ambitions and to raise — to meet the task that’s rapidly narrowing.”

However, tens of thousands of climate diplomats, activists and business leaders are expected to travel to the conference via planes, trains and cars. The U.N. also chartered gas-guzzling cruise ships to house many of the attendees during the two-week summit.

Barrasso’s list of questions for the Biden administration officials included whether the relevant agency has made efforts to offset emissions from COP26 travel.

The White House didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment from the Daily Caller News Foundation.

November 1, 2021 0 comments

US and World News

Twitter Rolls Out ‘Pre-Bunk’ Feature To Counter Climate Change Denial

by The Daily Caller November 1, 2021

By The Daily Caller

Twitter announced that it would introduce a feature to combat climate change denial and promote “authoritative information” on Monday.

The so-called “pre-bunk” feature will be a digital hub on Twitter’s website where users can find resources and commentary from environmental experts about climate change, the social media platform said. The announcement coincided with the start of the United Nations Climate Conference (COP26), a high-level summit where world leaders hope to set ambitious goals for cutting global emissions over the next several decades.

“We’re committed to elevating the latest, most authoritative information about (COP26),” Twitter said in a blog post.

Twitter’s pre-bunk portal will also have live conversations with experts who will discuss topics in focus at COP26, according to Axios which first reported the announcement. The company will not remove individual tweets with false information about climate change as part of the pre-bunk roll out.

Other social media websites, meanwhile, have opted for a more aggressive approach to fighting climate change misinformation. In September, Facebook said it would begin giving grants to fact checkers who correct climate denialism posts and Google announced in October that it would demonetize advertisers and YouTube content creators who counter “well-established scientific consensus” on climate change.

“This new policy not only will help us strengthen the integrity of our advertising ecosystem, but also it aligns strongly with the work we’ve done as a company over the past two decades to promote sustainability and confront climate change head-on,” Google said in an Oct. 7 press release.

Social media platforms have also instituted various rules prohibiting fake content about COVID-19 vaccines. Facebook, YouTube and Twitter have instituted such rules and in some cases have suspended high-profile users promoting anti-vaccine information.

Twitter didn’t respond to a request for comment from the Daily Caller News Foundation.

November 1, 2021 0 comments

US and World News

Humanitarian Group Pressuring Elon Musk For Money Is Already Flush With Cash

by The Daily Caller November 1, 2021

By The Daily Caller

Humanitarian Group Pressuring Elon Musk For Money Is Already Flush With Cash

The U.N’s World Food Programme said billionaires including Tesla CEO Elon Musk need to give them billions of dollars or 42 million people would die.

Despite its complaints of reduced funding and purported need to cut food rations to Kenya, the World Food Programme (WFP) received $8.4 billion in contributions in 2020 alone and closed the year with $16 billion in assets.

In response to a CNN article titled “2% of Elon Musk’s wealth could help solve world hunger,” Musk said, “If WFP can describe on this Twitter thread exactly how $6B will solve world hunger, I will sell Tesla stock right now and do it.”

WFP Director David Beasley, who told CNN billionaires like Musk needed to step up “on a one-time basis” and give the organization $6 billion, clarified on Twitter that the donation would not end world hunger, but would “prevent geopolitical instability, mass migration and save 42 million people on the brink of starvation.”

“$6 billion to help 42 million people that are literally going to die if we don’t reach them. It’s not complicated,” Beasley said, according to CNN.

Musk responded, “What happened here?,” and linked to an article which claimed U.N. peacekeepers raped children as young as nine in a warzone and gave starving children food in exchange for sex while U.N. officials allegedly looked the other way.

The U.N. WFP, started in 1961, is primarily funded by the U.S. The WFP did not respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s requests for comment regarding how the additional $6 billion would supplement its programs.

November 1, 2021 0 comments

US and World News

Kavanaugh And Barrett Had Some Tough Questions About Texas’ Novel Abortion Ban

by The Daily Caller November 1, 2021

By The Daily Caller

The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments for three hours Monday regarding Texas’ Heartbeat Act, which bans most abortions at about 6 weeks after conception.

The majority of the justices asked questions that suggested they believe abortion providers should be able to challenge the Texas law, according to a transcript.

The novel legislation is enforced through civil lawsuits by private individuals, who can be awarded $10,000 for reporting those who knowingly perform or assist in performing illegal abortions. Because the state of Texas is technically not enforcing the law, it has been difficult for abortion advocate to challenge the law — which goes against the court’s ruling in Roe v. Wade — in court.

While the court did not release a decision, a majority of the justices, including Justice Brett Kavanaugh and Justice Amy Coney Barrett, expressed skepticism of the Texas law, according to the transcript. Their questions seemed to suggest a belief that abortion providers should be able to challenge the law in court.

Kavanaugh asked Texas Solicitor General Judd Stone if other states could use the blueprint of the Texas Heartbeat Act to restrict constitutionally protected rights.

“Second Amendment rights, free exercise of religion rights, free speech rights, could be targeted by other states,” Kavanaugh explained. “Say everyone who sells an AR-15 is liable for a million dollars to any citizen … Would that kind of law be exempt from preenforcement review in federal court?”

Stone conceded Kavanaugh’s point, agreeing after some back and forth that, by his own reasoning, impediments on religious and Second Amendment liberties could be exempt from preenforcement review.

Justice Barrett stated that a person counseling a woman to get an abortion could be sued under Texas’ law, posing a potential First Amendment violation.

“For two generations, the U.S. Supreme Court has shackled states like Texas to a radical policy of abortion on demand until birth, well past the point when unborn babies can clearly feel pain. The overwhelming majority of Americans agree this is inhumane,” the Susan B. Anthony List said in a statement Monday.

“The Supreme Court should continue to let Texans protect their own children by upholding this lifesaving law. The Court must also overrule the fallacious and embarrassing precedents of Roe and her progeny and recognize the promise of equal protection under … the 14th amendment,” Live Action President Lila Rose told the Daily Caller News Foundation.

A decision by the Court to allow a constitutional challenge to the law by abortion providers would not necessarily result in the law being struck down, but would allow proceedings to go forward in lower courts.

November 1, 2021 0 comments

Maryland News

Maryland’s GoVAX Call Center Surpasses 11 Million Outreach Calls, Over 1.5 Million Outbound Texts

by Press Release November 1, 2021

By Press Release

ANNAPOLIS, MD—Governor Larry Hogan today provided an update on the state’s multilingual GoVAX Call Center, which has helped schedule more than 460,000 vaccination appointments and made more than 11 million outreach calls to Marylanders.

“Our call center—one of the first of its kind in the country—has played a critical role in Maryland’s leading vaccination rates,” said Governor Hogan. “In addition to helping Marylanders seven days a week with scheduling vaccination appointments, the call center is conducting aggressive outreach to those who are unvaccinated and newly eligible for booster shots. I want to thank all the people working at the call center around the clock for their tireless efforts.”

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The GoVAX Call Center was established in February 2021, early in the state’s vaccine program, so that residents could schedule appointments simply by calling 1-855-MD-GOVAX. On its first day, the call center received over 80,000 calls. Nearly 75,000 more calls followed on the second day. Within a few weeks, the call center was also placing nearly 5,000 outbound calls a day to assist those who had the most urgent needs with appointment pre-registration.

“We saw how effective the call center was in the first few days of operation,” said Secretary Dennis R. Schrader of the Maryland Department of Health. “It became clear that we could utilize the call center as a resource for a variety of activities designed to put vaccines in the arms of every Marylander, regardless of their circumstance.”

By April, the call center expanded its operations to support Maryland’s No Arm Left Behind effort, a series of statewide initiatives designed to reach seniors, homebound individuals, college students, Hispanic residents, employers, and more. To date, call center staff have placed tens of thousands of referrals to vaccine programs including rideshare, homebound support, mobile clinics, and MyIR.

The call center continues much of the daily work that it started earlier in the pandemic. The team remains busy delivering COVID-19 test results, informing Marylanders when they are eligible for booster shots, helping the state’s managed-care organizations get Medicaid recipients vaccinated, and providing real-time information on COVID-19-related resources.

To schedule a COVID-19 vaccination appointment, or see if you are eligible for a COVID-19 booster shot, call 1-855-MD-GOVAX (1-855-634-6829) or visit covidvax.maryland.gov. To find a location to get a COVID-19 test, visit covidtest.maryland.gov.

November 1, 2021 0 comments

Maryland News

Re-Fund The Police: Governor Hogan Statement on Maryland State Police Salary Increases

by Press Release November 1, 2021

By Press Release

ANNAPOLIS, MD—Governor Larry Hogan today issued the following statement after the Maryland State Police announced that effective January 1, 2022, the state will increase the starting pay of trooper candidates by 45%:

“Today, we are taking the first step in implementing our $150 million Re-Fund The Police Initiative by ensuring that we offer more competitive salaries to the troopers who will be putting their lives on the line every day to keep the rest of us safe. We need more investment in public safety so that we can recruit and retain quality officers, increase diversity, expand community policing efforts, improve training, and provide better technology and equipment,” Governor Hogan said. “Instead of defunding the police, we are re-funding the police.”

November 1, 2021 0 comments

Maryland News

Governor Hogan Announces $10 Million plan to revitalize Baltimore and Cambridge

by Press Release November 1, 2021

By Press Release

ANNAPOLIS, MD—Governor Larry Hogan today announced the launch of the Homeownership Works (HOW) pilot program, a $10 million economic recovery initiative that will rehabilitate homes to create new homeownership opportunities while revitalizing Johnston Square in Baltimore City and Pine Street in Cambridge.

“Homeownership Works is a game-changing approach that will serve as a national best practice for community renewal,” said Governor Hogan. “The program will revitalize neighborhoods to encourage new homeownership while helping existing homeowners and creating healthier housing markets.”

The Homeownership Works pilot program will be administered by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). Through a mix of grant and loan investment, more than 100 Maryland homeowners are expected to benefit from new affordable homeownership opportunities, critical home repairs for existing homeowners, and an increase to the health and stability of targeted housing markets.

“Even if a home is historic, it needs to be maintained, and housing values in many older historic neighborhoods are declining due to aging and the prevalence of vacant and deteriorated housing stock, and the cost to restore or build new housing,” said Secretary Kenneth C. Holt of DHCD. “This new, targeted homeownership initiative will help fill that financial gap, creating new affordable homeownership opportunities, helping existing homeowners, and stabilizing irreplaceable historic communities.”

HOW Pilot Program. The $10 million pilot program will focus on concentrated areas in one urban community and one rural community, Johnston Square in east Baltimore City and the Pine Street Historic District in Cambridge. In each target area, HOW investment will:

DHCD is working with the City of Cambridge and Habitat for Humanity Choptank on the Pine Street initiative, and with the nonprofits Rebuild Metro Baltimore and Rebuild Johnston on the Johnston Square initiative. Over the next year, DHCD will work with these partners to finance the rehabilitation of vacant homes and the infill construction of new homes for affordable homeownership as well as recruit existing homeowners in need of critical home repair and improvements.

November 1, 2021 0 comments

Maryland News

Governor Hogan Announces Judicial Appointments

by Press Release November 1, 2021

By Press Release

ANNAPOLIS, MD—Governor Larry Hogan today announced that he has appointed Charles Blomquist to the Baltimore City Circuit Court and Cara Lewis to the Carroll County District Court.

“I am pleased to appoint such experienced and accomplished members of the bar to Maryland’s court system,” said Governor Hogan. “I am grateful for their willingness to serve the people of our state, and I am confident that they will bring years of legal service and knowledge to the bench.”

Charles Blomquist has spent his entire legal career as a prosecutor and is currently a deputy state prosecutor in the Office of State Prosecutor. After clerking for the Honorable John Carroll Byrnes at the Baltimore City Circuit Court, Blomquist worked in the Office of the State’s Attorney for Baltimore City from 2001 to 2020, ultimately becoming the division chief of the Gun Violence Enforcement Division. After completing a two-year assignment with the Peace Corps as a small business advisor, Blomquist began a military career, and remains an active member of the Maryland Army National Guard. He has achieved the rank of colonel, and is currently deployed overseas. He will continue his career of public service by taking the bench upon his return.

Blomquist holds a B.A. from Grinnell College, a Master of Divinity from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, a Master of Public Administration from the University of Pittsburgh School of Public and International Affairs, a Master of Strategic Studies the United States War College, and a J.D. from the University of Baltimore School of Law.

Cara Lewis serves as special counsel in the Office of the State’s Attorney for Carroll County, where she supervises four units within the office, its business operations, and maintains a felony caseload. Lewis has been a prosecutor for nearly 10 years in both the Office of the State’s Attorney for Baltimore City and the Office of the State’s Attorney for Carroll County, where she previously served as the Maryland Criminal Intelligence Network site coordinator, focusing on cross-jurisdictional data sharing and investigations targeting gangs, drugs, firearms, and human trafficking. Prior to becoming a prosecutor, she clerked for the Honorable Robert E. Cahill, Jr. in the Baltimore County Circuit Court and was an associate at Tydings & Rosenberg LLP, where she practiced in the bankruptcy litigation and commercial/business litigation groups.

Lewis received her B.A. from the University of Maryland, College Park and her J.D. from the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law.

November 1, 2021 0 comments

Maryland News

Get a Boost: Governor Hogan, State Health Officials Urge Marylanders with Comorbidities to Get a COVID-19 Booster Shot

by Press Release November 1, 2021

By Press Release

ANNAPOLIS, MD—Following final CDC approval, Governor Larry Hogan today announced the updated status of COVID-19 booster shot eligibility in the State of Maryland and the opportunity to mix and match vaccines. State health officials are strongly recommending that anyone with an underlying health condition or comorbidity get a booster shot as soon as possible.

“From day one of this crisis, our focus has always been on preventing hospitalizations and deaths, and these vaccines have all proven to be extremely effective at this,” said Governor Hogan. “However, the data we now have clearly does show that the level of protection does begin to wane over time, beginning after five or six months, especially for those who are immunocompromised, have comorbidities, and are most vulnerable. State health officials have issued an advisory strongly urging people with comorbidities to get a booster dose as soon as possible.”

November 1, 2021 0 comments

Maryland News

Maryland’s COVID-19 Health Metrics Continue to Decline, 98% of Seniors Vaccinated

by Press Release November 1, 2021

By Press Release

ANNAPOLIS, MD—Maryland’s COVID-19 health metrics continue to decline across the board, as the state has achieved 98% of seniors receiving at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

“As one of the most vaccinated states, Maryland’s case rate and positivity rate are among the lowest in the country, and they are continuing to drop,” said Governor Hogan. “Maintaining immunity is critical to keeping our health and economic recovery going, and we urge eligible Marylanders to get a booster shot as soon as possible.”

Today at 2 p.m., Governor Hogan will provide a COVID-19 update to Marylanders from the State House.

Positivity Rate, Case Rate, Hospitalizations Continue to Decline Across the Board

Official data is available at coronavirus.maryland.gov.

More Than 8.3 Million Vaccinations, Nearly 280,000 Booster Shots Administered

To date, Maryland has reported 8,321,465 vaccinations.

To find a vaccine provider, visit covidvax.maryland.gov or call 1-855-MD-GOVAX.

November 1, 2021 0 comments

Maryland News

Governor Hogan Celebrates Groundbreaking for Baltimore Penn Station Redevelopment Project

by Press Release November 1, 2021

By Press Release

ANNAPOLIS, MD—Governor Larry Hogan today joined federal, state, and local officials at the groundbreaking ceremony for the redevelopment of Baltimore Penn Station. The project is a part of Amtrak’s $150 million commitment to improve customer service and grow passenger rail along the Northeast corridor.

Watch the announcement.

“It has been 110 years since Penn Station opened and nearly 40 years since any kind of major renovation, which is why the State of Maryland was proud to invest in this project to help modernize Baltimore City’s most important transportation hub,” said Governor Hogan. “When I think about how hard we have all worked over the last seven years to encourage economic development and to make Maryland open for business, this is exactly the kind of project that symbolizes just how far we have come.”

The Baltimore Penn Station redevelopment project is designed to expand and modernize the station in order to accommodate high levels of travel, improve customer service, and revitalize civic space. The last major renovation of Penn Station was completed in 1984 as part of the Northeast Corridor Investment Project.

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Penn Station is the primary transportation hub of Baltimore and annually serves more than 3 million MARC and Amtrak passengers.

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In June, the governor announced Maryland’s commitment to work with the federal government and Amtrak to replace the 148-year-old B&P Tunnel in Baltimore City. The construction of the new tunnel is expected to generate 30,000 jobs in the region, maximize train capacity, and allow for express train service in under 30 minutes between Baltimore and Washington, D.C.

November 1, 2021 0 comments

MIsc. News

Breadsticks recalled due to salmonella contamination

by Public Safety Announcement November 1, 2021

By Public Safety Announcement

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert because Euro Foods, a Freeland, Penn. establishment, produced ready-to-eat (RTE) Italian-style salame stick products that may be contaminated with Salmonella. A recall was not requested because FSIS has not identified a specific contaminated lot or lots, and it is believed that potentially affected products are no longer available to be directly purchased by retail consumers.

The Italian-style salame stick items were produced prior to October 25, 2021. The following product is subject to the public health alert [view labels]:

The products subject to the public health alert bear establishment number “EST. 4010” inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to retail locations nationwide and exported to Bermuda.

FSIS has been working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state public health partners to investigate a multistate outbreak of 21 Salmonella I 4,[5],12:i:- illnesses in eight states with onset dates ranging from September 18, 2021 through October 3, 2021. The epidemiologic and traceback investigation identified that ill people consumed Citterio Italian-style Salame Sticks produced by Euro Foods Inc. FSIS continues to work with federal and state public health partners to determine if there are additional illnesses linked to these products.

Consumption of food contaminated with Salmonella can cause salmonellosis, one of the most common bacterial foodborne illnesses. The most common symptoms of salmonellosis are diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within 6 hours to 6 days after eating the contaminated product. The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days. Most people recover without treatment. In some persons, however, the diarrhea may be so severe that the patient needs to be hospitalized. Older adults, infants, and persons with weakened immune systems are more likely to develop a severe illness. Individuals concerned about an illness should contact their health care provider.

FSIS is concerned that some product may be in consumers’ refrigerators or freezers. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.

Consumers with food safety questions can call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) or live chat via Ask USDA from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Consumers can also browse food safety messages at Ask USDA or send a question via email to [email protected]. For consumers that need to report a problem with a meat, poultry, or egg product, the online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System can be accessed 24 hours a day at https://foodcomplaint.fsis.usda.gov/eCCF/.

November 1, 2021 0 comments

Monmouth County News New Jersey News OMG!Police Blotter

Wall teen reported missing on Halloween found dead in Howell Township

by Charlie Dwyer November 1, 2021

By Charlie Dwyer

HOWELL TOWNSHIP, NJ – A teenager from Wall Township that was reported missing in Howell Township on Sunday has been found dead after police used aerial drones to conduct a search for him.

“There is a significant emergency services presence on Rt.547 near the Howell Ice World. We are searching for a person who has implied harming themself. Our police drone, ATVs, K9 and police personnel are searching the area. NJSP aviation had also been requested. There’s no harm to the public. Please avoid the area,” police said in a statement during the search.

Police said the teenager left his home in Wall at around 3:45 p.m. Sunday night and never returned. The search took place in the area of Allaire State Park.

At 10:30 a.m. on Monday, police reported the search was over.

“The search has ended. The person has been located deceased. There will be no further update to this incident,” the Howell Police Department said.

Police said the teen’s body was found approximately one mile from his home near Hurley Pond Road.

November 1, 2021 0 comments

Police Blotter

Another body pulled Timber Creek

by Charlie Dwyer November 1, 2021

By Charlie Dwyer

Glendora, N.J. – The body of a deceased male was pulled from Timber Creek in Gloucester Township, announced Acting Camden County Prosecutor Jill S. Mayer and Gloucester Township Police Chief David Harkins. The body was found floating in the water on Monday morning, November 1st in the area of the 400 block of Front Street.

Another body was pulled from Timber Creek in September near Gloucester City, further down stream.

No further details are available at this time. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Tanner Ogilvie with the CCPO’s Major Crimes Unit at 856-650-6398 or Gloucester Township Police Detective Nicholas Aumendo at 856-228-4500.

At the end of September, police officers responded to the 600 block of Broadway after train operators spotted a body in the water. Officers located the body of a 66-year-old male floating face down in the creek. Marine unit members from the Westville and Bellmawr Fire Departments retrieved the body from the water.

Body found in Gloucester Creek, police report accidental drowning, no foul play

November 1, 2021 0 comments

Entertainment News

Alec Baldwin breaks silence after shooting, killing cinematographer on Rush movie set

by Jessica Woods November 1, 2021

By Jessica Woods

Her dying words after being shot and killed by actor Alec Baldwin, cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was quoted as saying, “That was no good.”

Hutchins later died after a prop gun fired by Baldwin ended her life. Today, Baldwin spoke publicly for the first time about the shooting on the New Mexico set. He said he did not expect filming for the movie to resume.

“This is a one in a trillion episode,” Baldwin said about the shooting. “I’ve been ordered by the Sheriff’s department in Santa Fe not to answer any questions. It’s an active investigation.”

“She was my friend,” Baldwin said, adding that he took her to dinner the day she arrived on set. Baldwin and his Hilaria Thomas Baldwin got testy with reporters who failed to name Hutchins by name, instead referring to the cinematographer as “her”.

“Her name is Haylna,” Mrs. Baldwin shouted.

Now, we’re hearing there were two accidental discharges of prop guns on the set and questions regarding safety of firearms.

November 1, 2021 0 comments

US and World News

Russia, China Leaders Total No-Shows At UN Climate Conference

by The Daily Caller November 1, 2021

By The Daily Caller

Russia, China Leaders Total No-Shows At UN Climate Conference

Elliot Dordick on November 1, 2021

The leaders of Russia and China plan to give the United Nations climate conference the cold shoulder despite being among the biggest emitters of greenhouse gases in the world.

Russia and China, which account for about 35% of global greenhouse gas emissions, have largely backed out of the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in the U.K. where leaders hope to produce an ambitious agreement on fighting climate change. Russian President Vladimir Putin plans to deliver a recorded video message to the summit while Chinese President Xi Jinping opted to give a written statement.

“The disappointment relates to the fact that Russia and — and — and including not only Russia, but China, basically didn’t show up in terms of any commitments to deal with climate change,” President Joe Biden said during a Sunday press conference. “And there’s a reason why people should be disappointed in that. I found it disappointing myself.”

Biden’s remarks followed the G20 Summit in Rome, Italy, where the Russian and Chinese delegations were headed by foreign ministers instead of Putin and Jinping. Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov said he spoke with Biden over dinner on Saturday.

Russia and China, meanwhile, have made little strides on climate change policy, instead choosing to work against global commitments by doubling down on fossil fuel production. Russia has boosted natural gas exports, which Europe is reliant on, while China has ramped up domestic coal production to full capacity.

The Climate Action Tracker, a group that analyzes global climate commitments, rated Russia’s policies as “critically insufficient” and China’s as “highly insufficient.” China and Russia both failed to outline climate proposals prior to COP26 as many other top emitters did, The Guardian reported.

The world must “balance environmental protection and economic development, address climate change and safeguard people’s livelihood,” Xi said in remarks to the G20 over the weekend, according to the Guardian.

November 1, 2021 0 comments

US and World News

Supreme Court Hears Arguments On Texas Heartbeat Act

by The Daily Caller November 1, 2021

By The Daily Caller

The United States Supreme Court heard arguments Monday on the constitutionality of Texas’ Heartbeat Act.

The Texas law effectively bans most abortions after a fetal heartbeat can be detected, which typically occurs around 6 weeks after conception. The law is enforced through civil lawsuits against individuals who perform abortions illegally or who knowingly help women to get abortions after the baby has a heartbeat.

The private enforcement mechanism was a response to district attorneys stating their intent to not enforce any abortion bans, according to Republican Texas state Sen. Brian Hughes. While abortion bans are frequently blocked in court, Texas’ Heartbeat Act quickly resulted in a 50% decline in abortions performed in the state, according to The New York Times.

Justice Brett Kavanaugh questioned Texas about the prospect of other states creating laws with similar enforcement mechanisms to block constitutionally protected rights such as freedom of religion.

Marc Hearron, senior counsel to the Center for Reproductive Rights, told Justice Sonia Sotomayor the law created a “chilling effect” on the exercise of constitutional rights. Justice Gorsuch questioned Hearron on whether this effect was unique, citing gun restrictions, pandemic restrictions and restrictions on religious liberty.

The Supreme Court will hear Dobbs v. Jackson Women’ Health Organization Dec. 1. The case is a direct challenge to Roe v. Wade and Casey v. Planned Parenthood.

November 1, 2021 0 comments

US and World News

Barclays CEO Resigns Over Alleged Ties To Jeffrey Epstein

by The Daily Caller November 1, 2021

By The Daily Caller

Barclays chief executive Jes Staley will resign after reports of an investigation into his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, the bank announced Monday.

Staley will be replaced by C.S. Venkatakrishnan, Barclay’s head of global markets, the bank said in a statement released Monday.

The bank said it was made aware of the preliminary conclusion of the investigation by the U.K’s Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority on Friday night, according to the company’s statement.

The investigation was into “Mr Staley’s characterisation to Barclays of his relationship with late Mr Jeffrey Epstein and the subsequent description of that relationship in Barclays’ response to the FCA,” according to the press release. The investigation did not find evidence that “Staley saw or was aware of any of Epstein’s alleged crimes.”

In a personal memo sent to Barclays employees, Staley claimed the investigation was about “a professional relationship I developed earlier in my career,” The New York Times reported. “I do not want my personal response to those matters to be a distraction from the fantastic work you do every day to support our customers and clients,” Staley added.

Staley, 64, became CEO of Barclays in October 2015 and said his relationship with Epstein ended in 2015, Reuters reported.

The bank said it organized a succession plan and identified Venkatakrishnan as the preferred candidate over a year ago.

“The Board has long been confident in Venkat’s capabilities to run the Barclays group and is delighted to have such a strong internal candidate,” the company said.

Barclays directed the Daily Caller News Foundation to its Monday statement in response to a request for comment.

November 1, 2021 0 comments

Featured News US and World News

Prisons Short Staffed Due To COVID-19 Risks, Officers Retiring And Quitting

by The Daily Caller November 1, 2021

By The Daily Caller

U.S. prisons are experiencing staffing shortages as officers retire, quit and risks associated with COVID-19, the Associated Press reported on Monday.

Corrections officers are exposed to dangerous working conditions including exposure to COVID-19, and paid low wages, contributing to widespread staff shortages, according to the AP. At the same time, prisoner populations are starting to increase after dropping off at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I would have liked to stay till I was 50,” said former Texas corrections officer Lance Lowry, 48, the AP reported. “But the pandemic changed that.”

Lowry served as a corrections officer for 20 years and quit for a truck driving job after losing superior support and seeing coworkers die of COVID-19, according to the AP.

Unions representing corrections officers said vaccine mandates will likely cause unvaccinated employees to quit and make the staffing shortage worse, the AP reported.

“There are dozens of reasons to leave and very few to stay,” said Brian Daw, national director of nonprofit One Voice United, according to the AP. “Understaffing, poor pay, poor benefits, horrendous working conditions. … Officers and their families in many jurisdictions have had enough.”

One corrections officer told Georgia lawmakers that on a “good day” there are six or seven officers for around 1,200 prisoners, the AP reported. The officer added that there aren’t enough medical workers and that he was recently assigned to oversee 400 prisoners by himself.

“All the officers … absolutely despise working there,” the officer said, according to the AP. He didn’t want to use his name out of fear of retaliation.

A shortage of corrections officers makes prisons less safe for everyone in them, including the inmates, according to the AP. Around 93% of the front-line guard positions are filled, though there are around 1,000 vacancies, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

Some prisons in Georgia say their positions are 70% vacant, while three prisons have closed and vacancy rates have nearly doubled in Florida, according to the AP. Guards have protested understaffing at federal prisons as facility teachers and dentists are put on security shifts.

November 1, 2021 0 comments

Department of Justice Press Releases

Illinois Man Sentenced To Five Years In Federal Prison For Viewing Child Sex Abuse Images While Traveling On A Commercial Airplane

by DOJ Press November 1, 2021

By DOJ Press

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Donald Max Ingram (70, Illinois) to five years in federal prison for possessing and viewing images of children being sexually abused as he traveled onboard a commercial flight to Florida. The court also ordered Ingram to forfeit the electronic devices used in the commission of the offense, serve a lifetime term of supervised release, and register as a sex offender. As part of his sentence, the court also ordered Ingram to pay $3,000 in restitution to the victims of the offense.

Ingram had pleaded guilty on May 18, 2021.

According to court documents, on September 14, 2020, Ingram was on board a domestic flight to Florida when another passenger observed Ingram viewing child sex abuse material on his cellphone. The passenger alerted law enforcement when the plane landed at St. Pete – Clearwater International Airport. Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office deputies assigned to the airport detained Ingram and requested assistance from the FBI. During an interview, Ingram admitted that he had used his cellphone to access and view child sex abuse images and consented to a search of his phone. A subsequent forensic analysis of Ingram’s cellphone revealed that he possessed 59 images depicting children being sexually abused. Some of the images depicted children younger than 12 years old.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lisa M. Thelwell.

This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

Making sure that victims of federal crimes are treated with compassion, fairness and respect.

November 1, 2021 0 comments

Department of Justice Press Releases

Tennessee Sex Offender Sentenced for Failing to Register in Mississippi

by DOJ Press November 1, 2021

By DOJ Press

GREENVILLE, Miss. – A Tennessee man was sentenced on Thursday to 30 months in prison for failing to register as a sex offender in Mississippi. According to court documents, the United States Marshals Service found that Lafayette McKay, 58 years old, of Holladay, Tennessee, was living in Potts Camp, Mississippi rather than at his registered address in Tennessee. At a sentencing hearing on Wednesday in Greenville, Chief U.S. District Judge Debra M. Brown sentenced McKay to prison for Failure to Register.

McKay was initially convicted of Aggravated Statutory Rape in Benton County Tennessee in 2012, a conviction which requires him to register as a sex offender wherever he resides, is employed, attends school, or is a temporary resident. He was also recently convicted of sexual battery on a minor victim arising from an incident in September of 2020. Despite living in Potts Camp for over two months, McKay never registered as a sex offender in Mississippi.

“The Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act was put into place to help inform and protect the public.” remarked Acting U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner. “It is extremely important for every sex offender to comply with the law and register as required and this office will continue to aggressively prosecute those sex offenders who fail to comply with their registration duties.”

The United States Marshals Service investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Parker S. Kline prosecuted the case.

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November 1, 2021 0 comments

Department of Justice Press Releases

Beavercreek man pleads guilty to attempting to travel overseas to join ISIS-K

by DOJ Press November 1, 2021

By DOJ Press

DAYTON, Ohio – A Beavercreek man who was arrested by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force at John Glenn International Airport in 2018 while trying to travel to Afghanistan to join ISIS Wilayat Khorasan (ISIS-K) has pleaded guilty in federal court.

Naser Almadaoji, 22, an Iraqi-born United States citizen, was scheduled to start jury trial today. He pleaded guilty Friday evening to one count of attempting to provide material support – himself, as personnel – to foreign terrorist organizations, namely ISIS and ISIS-K.

“This is now the second person from the Dayton area held accountable in recent times for trying to join ISIS,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Vipal J. Patel. “Whatever grievances might exist with our government, our country, or our way of life, violence is not the answer. Providing material support in whatever form – personnel, services, funding, or otherwise – to designated foreign terrorist groups simply begets more terror, and every effort will be made to hold accountable those who provide such support.”

According to court documents, Almadaoji purchased a plane ticket for travel on October 24, 2018, and was arrested after checking in and obtaining his boarding pass.

The defendant intended to travel to Astana, Kazahkstan, where he planned to be smuggled into Afghanistan so that he could join and receive military training from ISIS-K in support of both that terrorist group and ISIS. Almadaoji explained to an individual whom he believed to be an ISIS supporter that he wanted “weapons experts training, planning and executing, hit and run, capturing high value targets, ways to break into homes and avoid security guards. That type of training.” He began making travel plans in September 2018.

Prior to that, between February 16 and 24, 2018, Almadaoji traveled to Egypt and Jordan for the purpose of joining ISIS’s affiliate in the Sinai Peninsula, ISIS Wilayat Sinai, another designated foreign terrorist organization, but he ultimately was unsuccessful.

Almadaoji told an individual posing as an ISIS supporter online about his proposed plot to start a conflict in the United States between the federal government and anti-government militias. He asked the purported ISIS supporter for a guide on how to make a car bomb.

In August 2018, Almadaoji also told the purported ISIS supporter that he was “always willing” to assist with “projects” in the United States.

Almadaoji recorded and sent a video of himself wearing a headscarf and pledging allegiance to the leader of ISIS.

In addition, Almadaoji translated a purported ISIS document from Arabic to English, and he told his contact—whom Almadaoji believed to be part of ISIS—“Don’t thank me . . . it’s my duty.”

Attempting to provide material support and resources to a foreign terrorist organization is a federal crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Congress sets the maximum statutory sentence. Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.

“This case is another example of how the agents and officers of the Joint Terrorism Task Force continue to work each day to protect the community and disrupt those intent on aiding and supporting terrorist groups,” stated FBI Cincinnati Special Agent in Charge J. William Rivers. “The task force brings together federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to expertly investigate developing threats and those who may be focused on violence.”

Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; J. William Rivers, Special Agent in Charge of the Cincinnati Division of the FBI; Alan J. Hill, Oakwood Public Safety Director; and Greene County Sheriff Gene Fischer announced the plea entered into before Senior U.S. District Judge Walter H. Rice. Assistant United States Attorneys Dominick S. Gerace and Nicholas A. Dingeldein and Trial Attorney Justin Sher of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are representing the United States in this case.

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