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Neurologist disputes state’s attorney’s office description. A neurologist who treated Zach Sowers following his brutal attack in a street robbery last summer has challenged statements by a high-ranking official in the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s office regarding Sowers’ medical condition. Dr. Marek Mirski, director of the Neuroscience Critical Care Division and vice chairman of anesthesia and critical care medicine at the Johns Hopkins Hospital, said in a July 7 letter to Margaret T. Burns, chief of communications and governmental affairs in the state’s attorney’s office, that Burns’ comments reported in the June issue of Exhibit A, contained “gross inaccuracies.” In...

Several Prince George's County {MD} correctional officers who had access to a 19-year-old inmate found strangled in solitary confinement Sunday have initially declined to speak to investigators of the slaying, a source familiar with the interrogations said. The Maryland State Police and federal agents were investigating the death of Ronnie L. White, who was killed less than 36 hours after he was booked into the county correctional center on first-degree murder charges in the hit-and-run death Friday of county police Cpl. Richard S. Findley.....

PRICELESS!!! It was a hot and humid day with a passing shower. After dealing with the dilapidated umbrella that I gave [Mr] Trooprally for our 1st Rain FReep , he gave us big umbrellas just in case! The shower was quick and luckily not enough to even break out the umbrellas. It was, however, enough to get a rain drop on [Mrs] Trooprally's camera lens at one point. So, when you see a little spot in the middle of a few pictures, you will know the reason! Great pics courtesy of [Mrs] T. What a day full of surprises...

We had our 1st Rain FReep last week and now the first hot and humid FReep/Rally of summer. I began the FReep alone and then my mom-in-law was kind enough to join me. All In The Family (Tree) meaning my mom-in-law and I shared a tree for shade! Sorry, folks - not much to report and no pictures for this week but we were there to Support Our Troops. We received a good amount of beeps, waves and thumbs up. A lady walked by and said "God Bless You". A guy in a GoArmy.com car stopped to thank us...

A new report issued by the American Textbook Council says books approved for use in local school districts for teaching middle and high school students about Islam caved in to political correctness and dumbed down the topic at a critical moment in its history. "Textbook editors try to avoid any subject that could turn into a political grenade," wrote Gilbert Sewall, director of the council, who railed against five popular history texts for "adjust[ing] the definition of jihad or sharia or remov[ing] these words from lessons to avoid inconvenient truths." Sewall complains the word jihad has gone through an "amazing...

A textbook monitoring group said that Maryland middle and high school students will be required to read about Islamic teachings that have been dumbed down and are products of political correctness. According to the New York Examiner, a new report issued by the American Textbook Council said that administrators who approved books for use in the Montgomery County school district caved into pressure by pro-Islamic groups seeking to present a less violent interpretation of Islam. Gilbert Sewall, director of the council, stated that, for example, the definition of jihad has gone through "amazing cultural reorchestration" in textbooks, losing any connotation...

Federal agents seized bank statements, tax records and correspondence, and found marijuana during a search at the home of state Sen. Ulysses Currie, according to court documents. The documents show agents found marijuana and "drug packaging materials" in a bag on a dresser and in other bags on the floor of a room in the house last week. * * * Currie, 70, is one of the most influential lawmakers in Maryland. The Democrat leads the budget-writing committee that steers state spending.

It finally happened. Our 1st Rain FReep/Rally in Westminster! Since October 2007, we have managed to stay outside the window of rain. Well, not today. It rained steadily the entire time. [Mr] Trooprally came from Olney to join us. Wouldn’t it figure that he missed the rain at Walter Reed and Olney but got soaked in Westminster. I think the rain really likes [Mr] T! Just as I helped Anomoly99 unfurl the flags, [Mr] T pointed out the rain was going to hit and also found a good spot under one of the shop canopies for My Hero (Chris) and...

Memorial Weekend – A time to remember and honor our fallen heroes who have proudly served their country and bravely defended our freedoms. Because of their sacrifices, we celebrate this Memorial Weekend. God Bless Our Heroes and the USA! It was a beautiful spring day with plenty of sunshine. We received our share of beeps, waves and thumbs up. We got one salute and a SEMPER FI shout. A man across the street gave us thumbs up. One lady approached us to tell us we were doing a great job. Two ladies on scooters, who are becoming regulars riding by,...

A few miles off Interstate 270, in the heart of bustling Montgomery County, a once-thriving neighborhood has taken on the feel of a ghost town. Half the homes are vacant, their windows broken or boarded up. Driveways are strewed with debris. "No Trespassing" and "Beware of Dog" signs dot trees. Banging sounds come from empty houses where burglars pry copper pipes from the walls. The culprit is not foreclosure but the imminent arrival of the six-lane intercounty connector that will slice through the Derwood neighborhood. This week, highway workers demolished a brick house and will soon raze five more on...

ARMED FORCES DAY MAY 17, 2008 I would like to take a moment to thank all of our brave men and womenwho have served and currently serve in the Armed Forces. We take pride in standing up for you and showing our support. It is the least we can do for the true heroes that protect and defend our freedom and enable us to live in the great USA! From the bottom of our hearts - THANK YOU! After a 2 week absence due to prior commitments and a Festival in Westminster, we were Back In The Saddle Again...

Tornado Warning TORNADO WARNING MDC017-033-VAC059-153-179-090415- /O.NEW.KLWX.TO.W.0007.080509T0333Z-080509T0415Z/ BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED TORNADO WARNING NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC 1133 PM EDT THU MAY 8 2008 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STERLING VIRGINIA HAS ISSUED A * TORNADO WARNING FOR... PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY IN CENTRAL MARYLAND FAIRFAX COUNTY IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA STAFFORD COUNTY IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA CHARLES COUNTY IN SOUTHERN MARYLAND * UNTIL 1215 AM EDT * AT 1132 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A DEVELOPING TORNADO NEAR TRIANGLE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 27 MPH. * LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... WOODBRIDGE... INDIAN HEAD... LORTON... FORT...

Saying "I divorce thee" three times, as men in Muslim countries have been able to do for centuries when leaving their wives, is not enough if you're a resident of Maryland, the state's highest court ruled yesterday. Yesterday, the Court of Appeals rejected a Pakistani man's argument that his invocation of the Islamic talaq, under which a marriage is dissolved simply by the husband's say-so, allowed him to part with his wife of more than 20 years and deny her a share of his $2 million estate. The justices affirmed a lower court's decision overturning a divorce decree obtained in...

In the community of Shady Grove Woods, trees are becoming more and more scarce. Residents and other anti-Intercounty Connector activists marched through the neighborhood on Saturday, pointing out the trees that were cut down to make way for the six-lane highway. ‘‘It’s just that we didn’t have a say in it in so many ways and we’re not talking about a two-lane road, we’re talking about a major highway running through here,” resident Sam Chim said of the ICC. ‘‘We have a lot of nice, private woods back here and now we’re going to have a highway running through instead....

BALTIMORE (AP) As Maryland's white population shrinks, the number of minorities, and particularly Latinos, continues to increase, according to U.S. Census Bureau Figures released Thursday. The figures indicate non-Hispanic whites in Maryland decreased by 21,428 between 2006 and 2007, while the Latino population of all races increased by 17,779. Latinos now make up slightly more than 6 percent of the state's 5.6 million people, whose overall numbers inched up marginally in last year. Whites represent 63.6 percent of Maryland's population, African-Americans 29.5 percent and Asians 5 percent. ''Maryland has been changing for a while, and these numbers reflect that continuing...

Legs (Trooprally) was the 1st at our Westminster Rally. Check out Post #3 by WVNan and then my Post #5. Our comments grew on Legs as shown in Post #6. Legs just craved the attention for himself before my hubby- Anomoly99, My Hero and I joined him! Jimmy Valentine's brother continues the fun and encourages the ego of Legs Trooprally! LOL Honestly, I don't know if it was the USA and USMC Flags that Mr. T was flying proudly or newly nicknamed "Legs" getting the positive responses! All joking aside, we know that people appreciate us being out in Westminster...

<p>At 3:00 Wednesday, April 30, Second Amendment Sisters is sponsoring a photo shoot with two news organizations at a shooting range near the DC area. Junior shooters are welcome with a parent or guardian over 21.</p> <p>You are welcome to bring your own pistol, revolver, or air pistol or borrow one at the event. Due to the way the range is set up, weather will not be a factor.</p>

On May 14, 2008, at the Comfort Inn Conference Center located 4500 Crain Hwy in P.G. County (Maryland), Tony Snow will be there for a meet & greet and speech. Just dinner is 75.00 per person but the VIP Reception & dinner is 150.00 per person (prepaid - costs more at the door). I would like to go but don't know if we can afford it. Would any of you go? If you did, what type of question(s) would you ask Tony?

PatrioticMarineMom and I had a warm, windy day consisting of spring flurries. Flurries of supporters and white petals from the flowering pear trees that line Main Street! PatrioticMarineMom was holding her USMC Flag and her favorite Marine son sign. I had my USA Flag and one of my favorite signs: God Bless The Military and Their Families. We received a decent amount of beeps, waves and thumbs up. We also received a few salutes, SEMPER FI and OOORAH shouts. Those are always good gestures to see and hear. One man thanked us for being there. We told him that we...

·11250 Waples Mill Road ·   Fairfax, Virginia 22030    ·800-392-8683   Maryland State Police Seeking to Retool Ballistic Imaging Program!   Monday, April 21, 2008   Please Make Your Voice Heard Today! The Maryland State Police have quietly drafted new regulations on the state’s ballistic imaging program, the Maryland Integrated Ballistics Identification System (MD-IBIS).   Current regulations require that “The pertinent data base be searchable for comparison purposes to shell casings from crime scenes for the purpose of identifying the source of these casings.” If the new regulations are adopted the language concerning crime scenes will be removed and require that “The pertinent data...

YES, we have the moonbats on the run once again! Around 2:15pm, a moonbat whom we nicknamed “Howard” as in Stern, walked to his position to see nobody there! He walked across the street to talk to us. He approached me first as I was the closest. He asked me how I thought the war was going. I told him I thought it was going fairly well. He then wanted to see if he understood us. He asked if we were for peace but just in a different way. I told him that was right, that we believe in peace...

Finally, SPRING arrived in Westminster! PatrioticMarineMom and I were blessed with beautiful blue skies and sunny warm temps. Not much excitement for this particular FReep/Rally, but we did get our share of beeps, waves, thumbs up and a few conversations. One young girl driving by held her military cap out the car window. An Army wife walking by stopped to praise us and tell us she was an Army wife and they needed to be supported too. We agreed. Too bad all you male FReepers missed this one. The warm weather brought quite a few ladies out! A few said...

We held down the fort on Saturday while PatrioticMarineMom and hubby were away for the weekend. Mr. T helped us out and brought along Kristinn, another fine, dedicated DC Chapter FReeper. It was pretty quiet at first, but things started to pick up. A girl driving by said her husband was in the Army. I said God bless him and thank him. There were a couple of drivers that saluted us. A Vietnam Vet held his hat out the window and we thanked him. A younger Military guy held his hat out the window as we thanked him also. These...

Md. Boy, 12, Kills Man Attacking MotherOfficials Undecided On Filing Charges By Avis Thomas-Lester and Hamil R. HarrisWashington Post Staff WritersWednesday, April 2, 2008; A01 The 12-year-old boy had finished his homework and was playing a video game when he heard his mother cry out. Rushing to her aid, he found her on the kitchen floor, straddled by a fellow resident of their Prince George's County boarding house, the man's hands wrapped tightly around her neck, the boy said yesterday."I kept saying, 'Stop! Stop! Stop!' " the boy said, describing the events of Monday night. "But he just ignored me....

WESTMINSTER, MD RECRUITER APPRECIATION FReep - AAR BACKGROUND ON MILITARY RECRUITMENTtaken from WikipediaPrior to the outbreak of WWI, military recruitment in the US was conducted primarily by individual states. Upon entering the war, however, the need for a large and quickly mobilized military shifted the responsibility to the federal government. The increased emphasis on a national effort was reflected in WWI recruitment methods. Peter A. Padilla and Mary Riege Laner define six basic appeals to these recruitment campaigns: patriotism, job/career/education, adventure/challenge, social status, travel, and miscellaneous. Between 1915 and 1918, 42% of all army recruitment posters were themed primarily...

We were back in Westminster after our big trip to Walter Reed and Washington DC the previous weekend. There were some snow flurries and rain ahead of time but it cleared up and sprinkled a little at the end. It was a mellow but supportive Rally. We were getting a few beeps here and there. Just as I mentioned to PatrioticMarineMom that we weren't getting many beeps, a few drivers must have heard me because we got more! Quite a few people waved and gave us thumbs up. PatrioticMarineMom and I were on our own this Saturday. PatrioticMarineMom brought her...

Public anger against illegal immigrants, already entrenched in parts of Northern Virginia, is seeping into Maryland. With legislators facing unprecedented demands to take action, fears of a crackdown are spreading among illegal immigrants in a state that has been more tolerant of them.A record 20 bills targeting illegal immigrants have been introduced in the state legislature this session. Although none of the bills is expected to survive, their supporters are far more vocal and organized than in the past, and the movement has gained recent support in Maryland communities that include Mount Rainier, Gaithersburg and Taneytown."If there is any doubt...

How much would you be willing to pay to cut 30 minutes off your commute? A study released this week suggests adding variably-priced toll lanes to highways in the Washington region could reduce traffic tie-ups while generating funds for road improvements. The report from the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments evaluates several scenarios -- from adding new lanes and placing tolls on major and secondary highways to a more conservative plan to place tolls on existing lanes of the region's parkways. Although costs vary depending on the plan, for I-270 in Frederick County, the study suggests tolls between 30 cents...

Loose cigars are safe, cloned meat doesn't have to be labeled and English won't become Maryland's official language. Bills dealing with those issues are among the dozens that state lawmakers in Annapolis have rejected. When House members returned for a rare Saturday session, they found a long list of proposed bills that were rejected by committees, or in some cases, withdrawn by their sponsors. The losing bills include a formal recognition of English as the state's official language and a bill to ban the sale of cigars in packages of less than five.

The Maryland House of Delegates voted 90 to 45 yesterday to pass the governor's speed cameras legislation, allowing police departments to install roadside cameras to ticket speeding motorists in work areas, school zones and residential neighborhoods across the state. The Senate has passed a similar bill. If the two chambers agree on a final version, Maryland would join the District in using cameras to enforce speed limits. In Maryland, speed cameras are legal only in Montgomery County. The legislation would allow the state's 23 other jurisdictions to use the technology.(snip) The speed camera bill, which was proposed by Gov. Martin...

There was no Westminster Rally this Saturday as PatrioticMarineMom, her hubby, my hubby, my son, my dad and I headed to Washington DC for the Support the Troops March. Gathering together and joining hundreds of Vets, Military Family Members, Eagles, FReepers and True Patriots was a truly incredible experience. There is just no way to convey the pride and joy we felt standing up for America and our brave Troops who defend us and our freedoms. All that patriotism was so astonishing and what a wonderful sight to see all the RED WHITE & BLUE marching towards the Capitol then...

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - The Maryland Senate shot down a proposal to make room in the state's budget to repeal a highly criticized tax on computer services on Wednesday, but rising heat from the industry has lawmakers considering ways to soften the blow. On a day when opponents rallied against the so-called "Tech Tax," Sen. David Brinkley, R-Frederick, proposed an amendment to the Senate's budget bill to make up for an estimated $214 million the tax is estimated to generate.(snip) "This was a bad idea from the start," Brinkley said. "The question now is what do we do ... How do...

State lawmakers are considering a bill that would grant free college tuition for some juvenile offenders. Supporters say it's a way to encourage troubled youth to get their lives back on track. John Dixon, Deputy Secretary for the MD Department of Juvenile Services says, "The kids the department serves face a lot of obstacles and challenges when they return to the community. This bill will allow kids who are interested in attending public institution to go there tuition free."

Looks like the moonbats' CUT and RUN was temporary. They outnumbered us 10-4 but we still received the majority of beeps, waves, thumbs up and positive verbal responses. A few beeps and peace signs were enough to please the moonbats. We had much more reason to be happy though. Will get to that in a minute but the first thing that caught us off guard was Death driving by in yet another truck (think that is the 3rd different one). Not to mention all that OIL he needs to supply them with, he just had to shout at us. He...

BALTIMORE (Map, News) - Tolls on Maryland tunnels and bridges could increase more than 70 percent over the next five years to help pay for building the InterCounty Connector in Prince George’s and Montgomery counties, and the new express toll lanes on Interstate 95 in Baltimore and Harford counties, a fiscal analyst told lawmakers Monday. Based on information the Maryland Transportation Authority sent to lawmakers, average tolls throughout the system are expected to go up $1.20 (48 percent) as early as 2010 and 85 cents (23 percent) two years later. This would push one-way tolls at the Susquehanna River bridge...

After narrowly failing last year, advocates are trying again to make Maryland one of a handful of states that publicly fund campaigns for office, a reform they believe will diminish the influence of moneyed special interests. "I think politicians should be beholden to the public, not to big donors," said Sen. Paul G. Pinsky, a Prince George's County Democrat who sponsored legislation the past two years that would provide state funds to political candidates who volunteer to forgo most funding from private donors. A big donor "gets responded to more quickly than someone who doesn't give," he said. "That's a...

<p>1. Russians Suspected in Shooting of Kremlin Critic Near D.C.</p> <p>One year ago, Kremlin critic Paul Joyal was gunned down in the driveway of his suburban Maryland home. The case remains unsolved — but some see the hand of Russia in the shooting.</p>

I may be overly sensitive on this subject but my first reaction is that these victims of a Maryland street-racing incident were unlucky, undeserving and incredibly foolish: “A car plowed into a crowd that had gathered to watch a drag race on a suburban road early Saturday, killing eight people and injuring at least five, police said. Police said the white sedan was not involved in the street race but accidentally drove into the crowd of about 50 people that had spilled onto the highway to watch two racing cars speed off. *** According to police, two cars had lined...

Delegate Robert A. McKee, chairman of the General Assembly's western Maryland delegation, resigned Friday, saying in a statement that he has "entered treatment" after investigators searched his home during a child pornography investigation. The FBI's cyber crimes unit is helping Washington County authorities in analyzing materials seized from McKee's home near Hagerstown, an FBI spokesman said Friday. The cyber crimes unit investigates computer crimes including malicious hacking, child pornography and Internet fraud. "For me, this is deeply embarrassing," McKee said in a statement faxed to news organizations. "It reflects poorly on my service to the community as a state delegate...

Here we go again!! Kristinn and the D.C. Chapter of FreeRepublic.com invites all Freepers and lurkers in good standing to join us in defending the Armed Forces Recruiting Center, 8200 block of Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, Maryland, opposite Silver Spring Avenue. Friday, February 15, 2008 from 4 PM to 6 PMCode Pink is again targeting that recruiting center. We cannot allow them to get away with this. The anti-American left has not given up, even with the success of the surge, so we cannot let down our guard against them. As always, the D.C. Chapter's rules for protesting will be...

COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- Hundreds of students have been diagnosed with the flu in recent weeks at the University of Maryland College Park campus. Officials are calling it the most severe outbreak in 10 years, News4's Cheryl Butler reported. More than 400 students have been diagnosed with the flu on campus, and that number is rising. Students are lining up at the university's health center for diagnosis and relief. Junior music major Rachel Israel said the flu has made her miss clarinet rehearsals and classes. "It started with a really severe cough and then a fever. It got worse from...

EMMITSBURG, Md. — Police have arrested two men they say vandalized the Grotto of Lourdes at Mount St. Mary’s University. Police estimated the damage at about $1,500. The Frederick County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release that Timothy A. Hines, 20, of Silver Spring, Md.; and Jesse R. Huston, 20, of Derwood, Md., were arrested early Sunday. Both are charged with malicious destruction of property over $500, malicious destruction of property under $500, trespassing and defacing religious property, police said. Police said the men entered the Grotto of Lourdes and allegedly damaged a large cross and several glass jars...

A nine-term Republican congressman critical of the Iraq war has been defeated by a well-funded state senator in Maryland's primary. Rep. Wayne Gilchrest was narrowly defeated Tuesday by state Sen. Andy Harris. Gilchrest voted to go to war in Iraq but later said he regretted the decision. A year ago, he was one of two Republicans in Congress to vote for a withdrawal timeline. Gilchrest called the campaign the most intense of his political career. Harris depicted Gilchrest as too moderate for Maryland's 1st congressional district, which includes the state's Eastern Shore and parts of the Baltimore suburbs.

Clinton gets 'Obama-ed' TRIBUNE-REVIEW By Salena Zito Hillary Clinton did not look back in the rearview mirror tonight after getting “Obama-ed” in the "Potomac Primary." Instead, she did what she does best: move on and move forward to the next contest. Kicking off in El Paso in what has now become the most important phase of the primary campaign, she hit the border at the same time her campaign became more marginalized by stinging defeats to Barack Obama in Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia.

For those not familiar with Maryland, we are like that that red/blue map of America. Most of the state is conservative but is overwhelmed by the liberals concentrated in Baltimore City and the DC suburbs. Until recently Maryland was divided 4/4 in its congressional representation until the dems redistricted (gerrymandered) Republicans into two main congressional districts. This pretty much guarantees republican wins for these two congressional seats but the problem is that one of these seats is held by a "RINO"-Wayne Gilchrest. Gilcrest voted with Nancy Pelosi more than any other (r)epublican in congress. He is the poster boy for...

BALTIMORE - Maryland election officials got a judge to give voters an extra 90 minutes to get to the polls Tuesday after icy weather created traffic gridlock in parts of the state. The polls were scheduled to close at 8 p.m., but hours were extended to 9:30 p.m. Voter turnout had been expected to be high in Maryland's Democratic primary between Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama, but the inclement weather made elections officials question whether the turnout would remain high. Accidents were reported along busy U.S. 50 and Interstate 97 in central Maryland, said state elections chief Linda Lamone....

I haven't heard of either candidate. Are there any Western Howard County FReepers that can give me the low down? Neither candidate has a web site that I could find and the MD Republican Party web site has nothing on them either.

Is the U.S. Failing in Afghanistan? It was malice in wonderland at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Thursday as Bush Administration envoys insisted things are getting better in Afghanistan, while angry lawmakers from both parties cited facts and figures showing just the opposite. Even the senior Republican on the panel, Senator Richard Lugar, found the Administration's claims wanting. "I'm not sure that we have a plan for Afghanistan," he said. Long seen as the "forgotten war" eclipsed by Iraq in U.S. priorities, Afghanistan is in the Washington spotlight this week with the release of three independent reports concluding...

The thought of having to dignify the legacy of the Confederacy’s only president by driving my car over his highway rather than his decrepit corpse is enough to make me want to vomit...If there is to be a Jefferson Davis Highway it should begin at the African Civil War Memorial and end at his grave, where onlookers can pull over and spit.

Chris Plante is subbing this morning for Chris Core. Plante will return to his regular time slot tomorrow night, Tuesday, 1/29, from 8 -10 p.m. 630 WMAL will broadcast a special interview of President Bush by Ann Compton tonight at 8 p.m., followed by the State of the Union address at 9 p.m. Tune in through streaming audio (or radio in the D.C. region) for two hours of the most fun-filled, fastest-growing and sensational radio talk show, “The Chris Plante Show”, transmitting LIVE from Washington, D.C.’s 630AM - WMAL (see links below). If you want a serious political conversation mixed...