Journalist @baltimoresun writer artist runner #amwriting Chaplain PIO #partylikeajournalist

Journalist @baltimoresun writer artist runner #amwriting Chaplain PIO #partylikeajournalist
Journalist @baltimoresun writer artist runner #amwriting Md Troopers Assoc #20 & Westminster Md Fire Dept Chaplain PIO #partylikeajournalist

Monday, May 05, 2014

Mo Krome, retired Md. St. Police Major from Carroll Co., honored for continued outstanding service

RETIRED STATE POLICE MAJOR FROM CARROLL CO. HONORED FOR
CONTINUED OUTSTANDING SERVICE

Mo Krome, retired Md. St. Police Major from Carroll Co., honored for continued outstanding service




According to a media release by Maryland State Police spokesperson Greg Shipley:

Maryland State Police Superintendent Colonel Marcus L. Brown today acknowledged the outstanding contributions of a retired Major and Carroll County resident who continued to serve and support troopers through his service as a trustee on the Maryland State Retirement and Pension System Board.
Major (Retired) Morris L. Krome, of Carroll County, was presented a Superintendent’s Commendation by Colonel Brown today.  The presentation came during ceremonies that acknowledged more than 100 state troopers, civilian employees, and allied law enforcement personnel for their bravery, commitment, compassion and outstanding service to the people of Maryland.

“After 29 years as a sworn state trooper, Major Krome continued his service to the men and women of the Maryland State Police during more than 23 years of working on pension issues, including 16 years as a member of the Maryland State Retirement and Pension System Board of Trustees,” Colonel Brown said.  “His valued leadership has helped guide the board and he contributed significantly to the enhancement of benefits for state troopers and their families.  He continues to be an important member of the Maryland State Police family whose dedication to his fellow troopers will long be remembered.”

Major (Retired) Krome spent 29 years with the Maryland State Police, serving as commander of the Maryland State Police Personnel Management Division, and later as Assistant Chief to the Administrative Bureau.  This is where his interest began in retirement issues.

Following his retirement in 1991, Major Krome served on the Department of Legislative Reference’s Pension Code Revision Sub-Committee with the Maryland State Retirement Agency.  He began representing the interests of troopers on employee organizations and testified before the Maryland General Assembly on retirement issues.
Major Krome was then elected to the Maryland State Retirement and Pension System Board of Trustees in 1998.  He will have served four terms on the Board of Trustees when his retirement takes place in July 2014.

As a Trustee of the Maryland State Retirement and Pension System Board, Major Krome helped bring a successful resolution to a court case which awarded $73 million to the system.  He worked two years with the Maryland General Assembly to win passage of benefits for the spouses of deceased retired state troopers.   He served as a member of both the Audit Committee and the Investment Committee and was Vice Chairman of the Administrative Committee.

As the Board of Trustees’ longest serving member, Major Krome shared his knowledge and expertise with fellow board members, while providing a valuable historical perspective to the retirement issues of the day.  For his outstanding service as a member of the Maryland State Retirement and Pension System Board of Trustees and his committed service in support of thousands of troopers even after his retirement from the Maryland State Police, Major (Retired) Morris L. Krome was awarded a Superintendent’s Commendation.
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19-year-old arrested for killing two Alaska State troopers in Tanana; 2nd man charged after standoff

19-year-old arrested for killing two troopers in Tanana; 2nd man charged after standoff BY SUZANNA CALDWELL AND TEGAN HANLON Alaska Dispatch / Anchorage Daily News May 2, 2014 

Labels:  - See more at: http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/#sthash.E9gLdeFq.dpuf

Note: This story has been updated. See the latest version hereUPDATE 10:30 AM FRIDAY:
The Alaska State Troopers say they have taken two men into custody in connection with the shooting deaths of two troopers in Tanana on Thursday.
Nathanial Lee Kangas, 19, of Tanana was arrested Thursday for the murders of Sgt. Patrick "Scott" Johnson and Trooper Gabriel "Gabe" Rich, according to a troopers release issued Friday morning. Formal charges are being prepared by the troopers with the help of the Office of Special Prosecutions and Appeals.
Arvin Morse Kangas, 58, of Tanana was charged Thursday with fourth-degree assault and driving with a revoked license on Wednesday, according to a state courts database and troopers. Troopers say the charges stem from an incident with a Tanana village public safety officer Wednesday.
CHECK BACK FOR UPDATES ON THIS DEVELOPING STORY. THE ORIGINAL STORY IS BELOW.
Read more here: http://www.adn.com/2014/05/02/3451145/two-alaska-state-troopers-killed.html#emlnl=Breaking_News#storylink=cpy*****

quintonreport.com: The City Paper on Martin O’Malley’s Reddit AMA

The City Paper on Martin O’Malley’s Reddit AMA
quintonreport.com

Supreme Court ruling supports Christian prayers at public meetings

Washington Post News Alert: Supreme Court ruling supports Christian prayers at public meetings

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/high-court-ruling-favors-prayer-council-meeting

The Supreme Court says prayers that open town council meetings do not violate the Constitution even if they routinely stress Christianity. The ruling is consistent with past decisions about prayer in public places. In 1983, the court upheld an opening prayer in the Nebraska legislature and said that prayer is part of the nation's fabric, not a violation of the First Amendment. 

Read more at: 
http://bigstory.ap.org/article/high-court-ruling-favors-prayer-council-meeting 


The New York Times is also carrying the story here: 

Monday, May 5, 2014 10:30 a.m.


Supreme Court Allows Opening Prayer at Town Board Meeting
The Supreme Court on Monday ruled that a town in upstate New York may begin its public meetings with a prayer from a “chaplain of the month.”
Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, writing for the majority in the 5-to-4 decision, said “ceremonial prayer is but a recognition that, since this nation was founded and until the present day, many Americans deem that their own existence must be understood by precepts far beyond that authority of government to alter or define.”
In dissent, Justice Elena Kagan said the town’s practices could not be reconciled “with the First Amendment’s promise that every citizen, irrespective of her religion, owns an equal share of her government.”
Town officials said that members of all faiths, and atheists, were welcome to give the opening prayer. In practice, the federal appeals court in New York said, almost all of the chaplains were Christian.

READ MORE  http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/06/nyregion/supreme-court-allows-prayers-at-town-meetings.html?emc=edit_na_20140505&nlid=45685287&_r=0 

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St. Michaels Running Festival to bring more participants than ever

 St. Michaels Running Festival to bring more participants than ever
Thursday, May 1, 2014 By JOSH BOLLINGER 

ST. MICHAELS — A record number of runners will feel the burn Saturday, May 17, at the third annual St. Michaels Running Festival, and it’s for good causes, too. 

Former Secretary of State Rice backs out of Rutgers commencement

Former Secretary of State Rice backs out of Rutgers commencement

May 3, 2014

According to Kristina Wong, writing for The Hill on May 3, 2014, “Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice declined Rutgers University’s invitation as commencement speaker after some students staged a sit-in protest of her support for the Iraq War. Read more here: http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/205115-condoleezza-rice-backs-out-of-rutgers-commencement

[…]

However, Rutgers faculty at its New Brunswick campus approved a resolution calling for Rice to be disinvited to the May 18 ceremony, according to the National Review Online, citing the Bush’s administration’s “effort to mislead the American people about the presence of weapons of mass destruction.”

Students protested with signs calling Rice a “war criminal.”

On May 3, 2014, Secretary Rice said on her Facebook page, “Commencement should be a time of joyous celebration for the graduates and their families. Rutgers' invitation to me to speak has become a distraction for the university community at this very special time.

I am honored to have served my country. I have defended America's belief in free speech and the exchange of ideas. These values are essential to the health of our democracy. But that is not what is at issue here. As a Professor for thirty years at Stanford University and as its former Provost and Chief academic officer, I understand and embrace the purpose of the commencement ceremony and I am simply unwilling to detract from it in any way.

Good luck to the graduates and congratulations to the families, friends and loved ones who will gather to honor them.


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Saturday, May 03, 2014

Dinner at the Asian Sakae 405 N. Center St. Ste 22 Westminster MD

#KED

News from The Hill The 18-month battle to get White House Benghazi emails - By Kristina Wong

News from The Hill: The 18-month battle to get White House Benghazi emails By Kristina Wong

It took 18 months for Judicial Watch to unearth the emails on Benghazi that led Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) on Friday to say he’s forming a special committee to look into the issue.

“This material was not voluntarily disclosed,” Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton told The Hill during a phone interview.

The emails have given new life to Republican attacks on Benghazi. They include a key email from White House official Ben Rhodes outlining “goals” for the talk-show appearances of Susan Rice, who was serving as ambassador to the United Nations at the time.

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Friday, May 02, 2014

MediaBistro TVNewser: How The Evening Newscasts Reported The New Benghazi Emails

MediaBistro TVNewser: How The Evening Newscasts Reported The New Benghazi Emails

How The Evening Newscasts Reported The New Benghazi Emails (TVNewser) 
CBS Evening News With Scott Pelley was the only evening newscast Wednesday night to not cover newly uncovered emails from White House adviser Ben Rhodes, which provided talking points to former U.N. ambassador Susan Rice before her Sunday show interviews several days after the attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya in Sept. 2012. Rhodes' email to Rice advised her to stress that the Benghazi attacks were rooted in a controversial YouTube video, "and not a broader failure of policy."


Mediaite When the new Benghazi information was made public this week, CBS News covered the new details online (with a disclosure that Ben Rhodes is the brother of CBS News president David Rhodes) but not in its CBS Evening News broadcast. Some conservative sites claimed a serious conflict of interest, with the Heritage Network blog and the Washington Free Beacon picking up on the familial connection. 


HuffPost According to a network spokesperson, David Rhodes was not involved in editorial discussions on Wednesday about whether CBS Evening News should cover the email. Fox News and other conservative outlets have long claimed that the Benghazi attack hasn't received enough media attention, even as the subject's been hashed out numerous times in White House briefing room and journalists have covered the story consistently. 


The Daily Caller ABC World News ran a lengthy segment on the revelations Wednesday, saying the White House was "feeling the heat" and that the "email seems to call into question what the White House said about its role" in deceiving the public about the cause of the Benghazi attacks. Likewise, NBC Nightly News highlighted the new emails Wednesday night. 
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The Dogwood is starting to blossom along railroad tracks at the Green St bridge

The Dogwood is starting to blossom along railroad tracks at the Green St bridge #KED

Sherrill Cooper explains aspects of her art at her opening at Off Track Art

Sherrill Cooper explains aspects of her art at her opening at Off Track Art #KED

Sherrill Cooper and Judy Goodyear shared some insights Off Track Art Westminster

Art Off Track Art, Art Artists Cooper Sherrill, Art Artists, #KED

Thursday, May 01, 2014

MIKULSKI, CARDIN APPLAUD SENATE CONFIRMATION OF HAZEL AND CHUANG FOR MARYLAND DISTRICT COURT SEATS

MIKULSKI, CARDIN APPLAUD SENATE CONFIRMATION OF HAZEL AND CHUANG FOR MARYLAND DISTRICT COURT SEATS

Senators Recommended Hazel and Chuang for Federal Bench to President Obama

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Barbara A. Mikulski and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) today applauded the Senate’s confirmation of George Jarrod Hazel and Theodore David Chuang to fill vacancies on the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, Southern Division, located in Greenbelt. Senators Mikulski and Cardin recommended Hazel and Chuang to President Obama for these positions on the federal bench.  The Senate confirmed the nominations of Hazel, who currently serves as the Chief Deputy State’s Attorney for Baltimore City, and Chuang, who currently serves as Deputy General Counsel of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

“I applaud today’s confirmation of George Hazel and Theodore Chuang to serve on the U.S. District Court of Maryland, and was proud to recommend them for the job,” Senator Mikulski said. “When I consider nominees for the federal bench, I have four criteria: absolute integrity, judicial competence and temperament; a commitment to core constitutional principles, and a history of civic engagement in Maryland. George Hazel and Theodore Chuang not only meet these standards, they exceed them.  Maryland deserves to have highly qualified judges who will uphold the law to provide equal justice for all, and we have that in these two men.”

“Committed and principled judges are critical to a healthy judicial system and I am confident that George Hazel and Theo Chuang are two Marylanders who will serve with distinction on the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, Southern Division that sees an incredibly diverse case load,” said Senator Cardin. “Mr. Chuang has a broad range of legal experience in all three branches of the federal government, and is the son of immigrants from Taiwan who came to America seeking freedom and a better life for their family. Mr. Hazel has fought to keep our communities safe as a prosecutor, and is an active member of local organizations. Both have a strong record helping to provide access to justice to low-income residents in our state.”

Mr. Chuang will occupy the seat currently held by Judge Roger Titus who has advised the President of his intention to take senior status in January 2014.  Mr. Hazel will fill the seat formerly held by Judge Alexander Williams, who retired in May 2013.

MR. THEODORE DAVID CHUANG

Theodore David Chuang, of Bethesda MD, currently serves as Deputy General Counsel of the United States Department of Homeland Security, where he has worked since 2009.  Chuang received his J.D. magna cum laude in 1994 from Harvard Law School and his B.A. summa cum laude in 1991 from Harvard University.

Prior to his current position, Mr. Chuang served as Chief Investigative Counsel for the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce in 2009 and Deputy Chief Investigative Counsel for the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform from 2007 to 2009.  He also spent six years as an Assistant United States Attorney and two years in the Civil Rights Division of the United States Department of Justice. 

MR. GEORGE JARROD HAZEL
George Jarrod Hazel, of North Potomac, MD, has served as the Chief Deputy State’s Attorney for Baltimore City since 2011.  Hazel received his J.D. in 1999 from Georgetown University Law Center and his B.A. cum laude in 1996 from Morehouse College.

Before his position with the Baltimore State’s Attorney’s Office, Mr. Hazel served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the District of Maryland from 2008 to 2010 and as an Assistant United States Attorney in the District of Columbia from 2005 to 2008.  He began his legal career in private practice at Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP in Washington, D.C. from 1999 to 2004. 
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Two Alaska State Troopers killed in Tanana, agency says

Two Alaska State Troopers were killed in Tanana Thursday during an investigation, troopers said in a news release....  

http://www.adn.com/2014/05/01/3451145/two-alaska-state-troopers-killed.html#emlnl=Breaking_News
BY TEGAN HANLON 

Anchorage Daily News and Alaska Dispatch staff May 1, 2014
Two Alaska State Troopers were killed in the Yukon River village of Tanana Thursday while conducting an investigation, a trooper spokeswoman said.
The troopers responded to Tanana to follow up on a report Wednesday that a suspect had brandished a firearm in the village, according to a news release from spokeswoman Megan Peters. She said the details surrounding the death are unknown, but one person has been detained...  http://www.adn.com/2014/05/01/3451145/two-alaska-state-troopers-killed.html#emlnl=Breaking_News
Read more here: http://www.adn.com/2014/05/01/3451145/two-alaska-state-troopers-killed.html#emlnl=Breaking_News#storylink=cpy
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State Police Employees and Allied Officers Awarded for Bravery and Outstanding Service

Maryland State Police Press Release
05/01/2014 16:47

STATE POLICE EMPLOYEES AND ALLIED OFFICERS AWARDED FOR BRAVERY AND OUTSTANDING SERVICE
(TIMONIUM, MD) -- Maryland State Police Superintendent Colonel Marcus L. Brown today presented awards ranging from Superintendent’s Salutes to Governor’s Citations to more than 100 state troopers, civilian employees, and allied law enforcement personnel in a ceremony that acknowledged their bravery, commitment, compassion and outstanding service to the people of Maryland.

The Maryland State Police Award Ceremony was held at the Maryland State Fairgrounds and was attended by families, friends, and co-workers of award recipients. Awards were presented for incidents involving troopers who were assaulted by armed suspects, a trooper who saved the life of a man at an Orioles game who turned out to be a long lost friend and employees who went above and beyond the call of duty while serving and protecting the people of Maryland. Colonel Brown even presented a dog bone to Jillie, a State Police K-9 who helped troopers find a suicidal man in time to rescue him and save his life.

“The narratives of today’s awards were only brief reflections of the deep level of commitment to public service the men and women of the Maryland State Police and our allied law enforcement partners possess,” Colonel Brown said. “The courage, bravery, and dedication to duty exhibited during the past year by our troopers and civilian employees resulted in lives saved, criminals brought to justice, traffic crashes and injuries reduced, and ultimately, a safer Maryland. I am proud to be a part of this outstanding law enforcement organization where integrity, fairness, and service to our citizens are our daily priorities.”

Space does not permit the listing of all the award narratives. The following are just a few.

Lifesaving Award - TFC Nathan L. Steelman – Glen Burnie Barrack

On June 1, 2013, TFC Steelman was off-duty, attending an Orioles baseball game at Camden Yards. His attention was drawn to two men assaulting another man.

As a result of the assault, the victim fell over a retaining wall and landed on an observation deck, six feet below. The fall incapacitated the victim and knocked him unconscious. TFC Steelman immediately responded to the victim and found his airway was blocked. He also recognized the victim as an old friend whom he had not seen for years.

TFC Steelman conducted a finger-sweep of the victim’s throat and removed what was blocking the victim’s airway. While restoring the victim’s breathing, TFC Steelman identified himself as a Maryland State trooper to the two assailants, and informed them they were under arrest.

TFC Steelman’s friend was transported to Shock Trauma for treatment of a traumatic brain injury. There is no doubt that TFC Steelman performed life-saving actions by clearing a blocked airway and stabilizing the victim’s cervical spine, preventing further trauma injuries. TFC Steelman's friend attended today's ceremony to show his support and appreciation to the trooper who helped save his life.

Lifesaving Award - TFC James C. Egros,
TFC Richard R. Roberts, TFC Barry Stonestreet, – Frederick Barrack

On August 21, 2012, the Frederick Barrack received a request from the Westminster Barrack to assist with attempting to locate a suicidal person. Investigators developed a possible location, which K-9 handlers TFC Egros and TFC Stonestreet tracked to a location in Frederick County. TFC Roberts joined the search and followed K9 bloodhound Jillie to a thickly wooded area where he and the other troopers found the missing suicidal person. The man had hung himself from a tree where he was found unconscious by the troopers.

TFC Egros used his utility knife to cut the ligature and lowered the man to the ground. All three troopers initiated CPR until emergency services arrived. If it had not been for the rapid investigative efforts by the troopers, immediate deployment of Jillie the bloodhound, and the instant initiation of rescue CPR by troopers, a State Police helicopter would not have been unable to deliver the suicidal man to the UMD Shock Trauma Center in stable and alert condition. The actions of these troopers and their K-9 resulted in a life being saved.

Governor’s Citation - Corporal Kevin Watkins – JFK Highway Barrack

During the early morning hours of November 12, 2012, while driving his patrol vehicle off-duty, Corporal Watkins arrived at the scene of a motor vehicle crash on I-95 in Harford Co, where one of the vehicles was on fire. Corporal Watkins immediately assessed the imminent danger and notified the barrack. He then began to extricate all three passengers in the vehicle that was on fire.

Further complicating matters, two occupants of the vehicle went into cardiac arrest at the scene. While Harford County EMS personnel administered CPR to one of the occupants, Corporal Watkins administered CPR to the other.

Medical care provided by EMS personnel included transporting Corporal Watkins to the hospital for smoke inhalation injuries. Despite overwhelming odds and tremendous adversity, Corporal Watkins’ immediate extrication of the occupants of the vehicle, while it was on fire, saved the life of one of the occupants and exhibited his courage in the face of obvious danger.

Superintendent’s Commendation
Criminal Enforcement Division State Apprehension Team
Sergeant – CED/MSAT
Corporal – CED/MSAT
Senior Trooper – CED/MSAT
TFC – CED/MSAT

Certificate of Recognition
Deputy First Class – Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office
Detective – Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services
Supervisory Inspector – United States Marshals Service

(NOTE: Names are deleted for safety reasons because these officers often work undercover.)

On March 5, 2013, the Maryland State Apprehension Team (MSAT) received a warrant from the Wicomico County Bureau of Investigations for suspects wanted in several burglaries. The investigation revealed at least one of the suspects was armed and dangerous. Criminal intelligence information led the apprehension team to conduct surveillance on a residence of a known associate.

During the surveillance operation, the burglary suspect was observed entering the residence. The apprehension team converged on the home and arrested the suspect without injury to the team members. Investigators interviewed the suspect and were informed of another home invasion committed by the suspect just hours earlier.

Furthering their investigation, the MSAT team responded to the address of the last known home invasion crime scene. It was there the MSAT team members found an 89-year old female, bound and gagged, lying beneath a coffee table on the living room floor, unable to move. She had been left for dead by the suspects who invaded her home and robbed her. The team members removed the bindings and called for an ambulance for treatment of the injuries she had sustained during the home invasion.

The suspects were subsequently charged with this crime and several other home invasions. Due to the investigative thoroughness of the members of the Maryland State Apprehension Team, they removed a dangerous criminal from Maryland communities and most likely saved the life of the most recent victim.

Superintendent’s Commendation – Major (Retired) Morris L. Krome

Major (Ret) Krome spent 29 years with the Maryland State Police. Upon his retirement, he served on the Department of Legislative Reference’s Pension Code Revision Subcommittee with the Maryland State Retirement Agency. He was elected to the Maryland State Retirement and Pension System Board of Trustees in 1998 and will have served four terms upon his retirement in July 2014. He has worked tirelessly in this role on behalf of retired Maryland state troopers. He helped bring a successful resolution to a court case which awarded $73 million to the retirement system. He served in multiple positions on the board and was a committed advocate on behalf of thousands of state troopers and their families.

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Baltimore Sun Media Group buys The Capital in Annapolis and the Carroll County Times



May 1, 2014 | 11:13 AM The Baltimore Sun Media Group announced today that it purchased The Capital in Annapolis, the Carroll County Times and the Maryland publications and websites affiliated with those news organizations from Landmark Media Enterprises.... Read more: http://www.baltimoresun.com/business/bal-baltimore-sun-media-group-buys-the-capital-in-annapolis-and-the-carroll-county-times,0,1541424.story

Carroll County Times Breaking News: Sun group acquires Times, Capital


The Baltimore Sun Media Group this morning announced it has purchased Landmark Community Newspapers of Maryland, publishers of the Carroll County Times, from Landmark Publishing…

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